Oxytocinase-immunohistochemical demonstration in the immature and term human placenta

Summary Oxytocinase (cystine aminopeptidase) was purified from human retroplacental serum by a combination of fractional precipitation, hydroxylapatite chromatography and gel exlusion chromatography on Sephadex G-200. The purified enzyme possessed a specific activity of 980 mIU/mg using L-cystine-di-p-nitroanilide as substrate. This represented a 3200 fold concentration from the starting material in an overall yield of 12%. Antibodies against oxytocinase were raised in rabbits and the -globulin fraction labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate prior to its use in the immunofluorescence histochemical localization of the enzyme in human placental tissue. Oxytocinase was confined to the syncytiotrophoblastic cells of normal term, and immature placentas as well as in placentas from patients suffering from severe toxaemia. Specific immunofluorescence was also present in the outer margins of the chorion and to a lesser extent in the amnion.This work was financed by a grant from The Medical Research Council of New Zealand.     

Particle movement on microspikes : Absence of direct linkage with actin filaments

The addition of polystyrene latex spheres to the induced lamellae of Concanavalin A (ConA)-treated neuroblastoma cells results in a preferential association and inward movement of particles along the membrane surrounding and overlying the microfilament bundles. After extraction of cell monolayers with low concentrations of Triton X-100, followed by negative staining, both the actin filaments within the bundles and the peripheral membrane with attached particles could be visualized in the electron microscope. In such preparations, no direct association was detected between membrane-particle attachment sites and the actin filaments within the bundles.     

Glymphatic distribution of CSF-derived apoE into brain is isoform specific and suppressed during sleep deprivation

Background

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is a major carrier of cholesterol and essential for synaptic plasticity. In brain, it’s expressed by many cells but highly expressed by the choroid plexus and the predominant apolipoprotein in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The role of apoE in the CSF is unclear. Recently, the glymphatic system was described as a clearance system whereby CSF and ISF (interstitial fluid) is exchanged via the peri-arterial space and convective flow of ISF clearance is mediated by aquaporin 4 (AQP4), a water channel. We reasoned that this system also serves to distribute essential molecules in CSF into brain. The aim was to establish whether apoE in CSF, secreted by the choroid plexus, is distributed into brain, and whether this distribution pattern was altered by sleep deprivation.

Methods

We used fluorescently labeled lipidated apoE isoforms, lenti-apoE3 delivered to the choroid plexus, immunohistochemistry to map apoE brain distribution, immunolabeled cells and proteins in brain, Western blot analysis and ELISA to determine apoE levels and radiolabeled molecules to quantify CSF inflow into brain and brain clearance in mice. Data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA or Student’s t- test.

Results

We show that the glymphatic fluid transporting system contributes to the delivery of choroid plexus/CSF-derived human apoE to neurons. CSF-delivered human apoE entered brain via the perivascular space of penetrating arteries and flows radially around arteries, but not veins, in an isoform specific manner (apoE2?>?apoE3?>?apoE4). Flow of apoE around arteries was facilitated by AQP4, a characteristic feature of the glymphatic system. ApoE3, delivered by lentivirus to the choroid plexus and ependymal layer but not to the parenchymal cells, was present in the CSF, penetrating arteries and neurons. The inflow of CSF, which contains apoE, into brain and its clearance from the interstitium were severely suppressed by sleep deprivation compared to the sleep state.

Conclusions

Thus, choroid plexus/CSF provides an additional source of apoE and the glymphatic fluid transporting system delivers it to brain via the periarterial space. By implication, failure in this essential physiological role of the glymphatic fluid flow and ISF clearance may also contribute to apoE isoform-specific disorders in the long term.

     

A pharmacogenomic method for individualized prediction of drug sensitivity

Identifying the best drug for each cancer patient requires an efficient individualized strategy. We present MATCH (M erging genomic and pharmacologic A nalyses for T herapy CH oice), an approach using public genomic resources and drug testing of fresh tumor samples to link drugs to patients. Valproic acid (VPA) is highlighted as a proof‐of‐principle. In order to predict specific tumor types with high probability of drug sensitivity, we create drug response signatures using publically available gene expression data and assess sensitivity in a data set of >40 cancer types. Next, we evaluate drug sensitivity in matched tumor and normal tissue and exclude cancer types that are no more sensitive than normal tissue. From these analyses, breast tumors are predicted to be sensitive to VPA. A meta‐analysis across breast cancer data sets shows that aggressive subtypes are most likely to be sensitive to VPA, but all subtypes have sensitive tumors. MATCH predictions correlate significantly with growth inhibition in cancer cell lines and three‐dimensional cultures of fresh tumor samples. MATCH accurately predicts reduction in tumor growth rate following VPA treatment in patient tumor xenografts. MATCH uses genomic analysis with in vitro testing of patient tumors to select optimal drug regimens before clinical trial initiation.     

Lithium Effects on Inositol Phospholipids and Inositol Phosphates: Evaluation of an In Vivo Model for Assessing Polyphosphoinositide Turnover in Brain

Administration of lithium chloride to rats injected intracerebrally with [3H]inositol led to time- and dose-dependent increases in levels of labeled inositol monophosphates in brain. Quantitative analysis of the inositol phosphates by ion chromatography revealed 37- and 20-fold increases in the mass of myo-inositol 1-phosphate and 4-phosphate, respectively, at 4 h intraperitoneal after injections of 6 mEq/kg of lithium chloride. Albeit to a much lesser extent, lithium administration also resulted in an increase in the level of myo-inositol, 1,4-bisphosphate in brain. The lithium-induced increase in content of labeled inositol monophosphates was marked by a concomitant decrease in content of labeled inositol, and after injections of high doses of lithium, e.g., 10 mEq/kg, this was followed by a general decrease in labeling of the inositol phospholipids. In general, animals injected with [3H]inositol but not lithium did not reveal obvious differences in labeling of inositol monophosphates on stimulation by mecamylamine or pilocarpine. However, when animals were injected with [3H]inositol and then lithium, there were large increases in the levels of labeled inositol monophosphates on administration of these compounds. Administration of atropine to the lithium-treated mice led to a partial reduction in the amount of labeled inositol monophosphates accumulated due to the administration of lithium alone. Furthermore, atropine was able to block the pilocarpine-induced increase in level of labeled inositol monophosphates. These results demonstrate the suitable use of the radiotracer technique together with lithium administration for assessing the effects of drugs and receptor agonists on the signaling system involving polyphosphoinositide turnover in brain.