Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms predict infant NR3C1 1F and BDNF IV DNA methylation

Prenatal maternal psychological distress increases risk for adverse infant outcomes. However, the biological mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Prenatal stress can impact fetal epigenetic regulation that could underlie changes in infant stress responses. It has been suggested that maternal glucocorticoids may mediate this epigenetic effect. We examined this hypothesis by determining the impact of maternal cortisol and depressive symptoms during pregnancy on infant NR3C1 and BDNF DNA methylation. Fifty-seven pregnant women were recruited during the second or third trimester. Participants self-reported depressive symptoms and salivary cortisol samples were collected diurnally and in response to a stressor. Buccal swabs for DNA extraction and DNA methylation analysis were collected from each infant at 2 months of age, and mothers were assessed for postnatal depressive symptoms. Prenatal depressive symptoms significantly predicted increased NR3C1 1F DNA methylation in male infants (β = 2.147, P = 0.044). Prenatal depressive symptoms also significantly predicted decreased BDNF IV DNA methylation in both male and female infants (β = −3.244, P = 0.013). No measure of maternal cortisol during pregnancy predicted infant NR3C1 1F or BDNF promoter IV DNA methylation. Our findings highlight the susceptibility of males to changes in NR3C1 DNA methylation and present novel evidence for altered BDNF IV DNA methylation in response to maternal depression during pregnancy. The lack of association between maternal cortisol and infant DNA methylation suggests that effects of maternal depression may not be mediated directly by glucocorticoids. Future studies should consider other potential mediating mechanisms in the link between maternal mood and infant outcomes.     

Impacts of hunting on mammals in African tropical moist forests: a review and synthesis

• 1 Available information on the consumption of wild meat in West and Central Africa is reviewed. We show that mammals are the prime source of bushmeat, and that ungulates and rodents make up the highest proportion of biomass extracted.
• 2 We present data on current knowledge of extraction patterns of wild mammals in West and Central Africa, and evidence that at current off‐take levels, within the range states, mammals as bushmeat are being depleted on an unprecedented scale. Extraction rates are orders of magnitude higher there than in comparable ecosystems like the Amazon, and much less likely to be sustainable.
• 3 However, basic knowledge of the biology of harvestable tropical moist forest mammals, and the consequences of hunting on mammalian communities, which permits accurate estimation of maximal production rate (the excess of growth over replacement rate), is largely unavailable, and this hinders estimation of hunting quotas and sustainability. Comparisons are made with the existing information available on Amazon basin mammals and hunting patterns reported there.

     

New considerations of the Barclay-Butler rule and the behavior of water dissolved in organic solvents

The Barclay–Butler (B-B) rule, which states that a linear relationship exists between the standard ΔH_vap and ΔS_vap for simple, non-associated liquids and their solutions, has been used to distinguish associated (‘abnormal’) liquids from simple (‘normal’) liquids. The exact character of the B-B plots depends on the standard states chosen for the liquid/solution and vapor. We examine the effects of using number density for both vapor and liquid states for pure liquids, non-aqueous solutions, aqueous solutions and solutions in which water is the solute. The utility of B-B plots to detect solute-induced order is strengthened, and we also find remarkable changes in the modified B-B relationship: (1) the points for small, H-bonded liquids, including water, are pulled below the general B-B line; (2) many solutions containing small, simple solutes have negative entropies of vaporization; and (3) solutions of water in several organic solvents, relevant to studies of proteins and micelles, appear ‘abnormal’.     

Regeneration of fertile plants from Helianthus nuttallii T&G and Helianthus giganteus L. mesophyll protoplasts

Interspecific hybridisation in the genus Helianthus via somatic cell fusion is thought to play an important role in future sunflower breeding programs. The establishment of this technique requires, however, the development of single-cell-regeneration protocols. For this purpose, we applied a regeneration protocol recently developed for Helianthus annuus L. to mesophyll protoplasts of two wild sunflowers (H. nuttallii T&G, H. giganteus L). Protoplasts of both species were embedded in agarose droplets and covered by liquid mKM medium. After 4–5 weeks, callus was transferred onto solid differentiation medium yielding plating efficencies of 1.5% (H. nuttallii) and 2.5% (H. giganteus). Emerging shoots were elongated on hormone-free medium, and root formation was induced by an NAA treatment. Regenerated plants were transferred to the greenhouse where they grew up to a height of 2 m and flowered after 3 months. Seeds were harvested from regenerated plants of both species. Received: 22 October 1996 / Revision received: 30 December 1996 / Accepted: 30 January 1997     

Intestinal modifications of oak leaf tannins by Lymantria dispar L. (Lep., Lymantriidae) and possible effect on larval development

The mode of action of polyphenols within an insect is not well understood and it would be useful to investigate the behaviour pattern of single phenolic compounds within the gut of an insect in this context. In the present study, the phenolic composition of the food of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar , was compared with that of its frass by using high-performance liquid chromatography. The main difference was a shift in the concentration of phenolics in the frass with short retention times to those with longer ones, which, additionally, resulted in the appearance of new phenolic compounds. These new phenolics were hydrolysable tannins because after a cleavage via hydrolysation the hydrolysate contained high amounts of gallic acid. The appearance of these new phenolics in the frass of the larvae influenced growth negatively, as there was a negative correlation (P < 0.05) between their concentrations and the growth percentages of the larvae.     

Complete viral RNA genome sequencing of ultra-low copy samples by sequence-independent amplification

RNA viruses are the causative agents for AIDS, influenza, SARS, and other serious health threats. Development of rapid and broadly applicable methods for complete viral genome sequencing is highly desirable to fully understand all aspects of these infectious agents as well as for surveillance of viral pandemic threats and emerging pathogens. However, traditional viral detection methods rely on prior sequence or antigen knowledge. In this study, we describe sequence-independent amplification for samples containing ultra-low amounts of viral RNA coupled with Illumina sequencing and de novo assembly optimized for viral genomes. With 5 million reads, we capture 96 to 100% of the viral protein coding region of HIV, respiratory syncytial and West Nile viral samples from as little as 100 copies of viral RNA. The methods presented here are scalable to large numbers of samples and capable of generating full or near full length viral genomes from clone and clinical samples with low amounts of viral RNA, without prior sequence information and in the presence of substantial host contamination.     

Loss and Gain of Natural Killer Cell Receptor Function in an African Hunter-Gatherer Population

Modulating natural killer cell functions in human immunity and reproduction are diverse interactions between the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) of Natural Killer (NK) cells and HLA class I ligands on the surface of tissue cells. Dominant interactions are between KIR2DL1 and the C2 epitope of HLA-C and between KIR2DL2/3 and the C1 epitope of HLA-C. KhoeSan hunter-gatherers of Southern Africa represent the earliest population divergence known and are the most genetically diverse indigenous people, qualities reflected in their KIR and HLA genes. Of the ten KhoeSan KIR2DL1 alleles, KIR2DL1*022 and KIR2DL1*026 likely originated in the KhoeSan, and later were transmitted at low frequency to the neighboring Zulus through gene flow. These alleles arose by point mutation from other KhoeSan KIR2DL1 alleles that are more widespread globally. Mutation of KIR2DL1*001 gave rise to KIR2DL1*022, causing loss of C2 recognition and gain of C1 recognition. This makes KIR2DL1*022 a more avid and specific C1 receptor than any KIR2DL2/3 allotype. Mutation of KIR2DL1*012 gave rise to KIR2DL1*026, causing premature termination of translation at the end of the transmembrane domain. This makes KIR2DL1*026 a membrane-associated receptor that lacks both a cytoplasmic tail and signaling function. At higher frequencies than their parental allotypes, the combined effect of the KhoeSan-specific KIR2DL1*022 and KIR2DL1*026 is to reduce the frequency of strong inhibitory C2 receptors and increase the frequency of strong inhibitory C1 receptors. Because interaction of KIR2DL1 with C2 is associated with risk of pregnancy disorder, these functional changes are potentially advantageous. Whereas all other KhoeSan KIR2DL1 alleles are present on a wide diversity of centromeric KIR haplotypes, KIR2DL1*026 is present on a single KIR haplotype and KIR2DL1*022 is present on two very similar haplotypes. The high linkage disequilibrium across their haplotypes is consistent with a recent emergence for these KIR2DL1 alleles that have distinctive functions.     

Antiangiogenic properties of Koetjapic acid, a natural triterpene isolated from Sandoricum koetjaoe Merr

Background

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, has become an important target in cancer therapy. Angiogenesis plays an important role in tumor growth and metastasis. Koetjapic acid (KA) is a seco-A-ring oleanene triterpene isolated from S. koetjape. The solvent extract of this plant species was shown previously to have strong antiangiogenic activity; however the active ingredient(s) that conferred the biological activity and the mode of action was not established. Given the high concentration of KA in S. koetjape, an attempt has been made in this study to investigate the antiangiogenic properties of KA.

Results

Treatment with 10-50 μg/ml KA resulted in dose dependent inhibition of new blood vessels growth in ex vivo rat aortic ring assay. KA was found to be non-cytotoxic against HUVECs with IC₅₀ 40.97 ± 0.37 μg/ml. KA inhibited major angiogenesis process steps, endothelial cell migration and differentiation as well as VEGF expression.

Conclusions

The non-cytotoxic compound, KA, may be a potent antiangiogenic agent; its activity may be attributed to inhibition of endothelial cells migration and differentiation as well VEGF suppression.