Expression of CYP2E1 in human nasopharynx and its metabolic effect in vitro

It was evident that nitrosamines can act directly on target tissue and result in carcinogenesis. As has been shown, the carcinogenic activity of nitrosamines relied on its bioactivation by Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1). In this study, we investigated the expression of CYP2E1 in Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells, embryonic nasopharyngeal epithelial tissue (ENET) specimens, and NPC biopsies by RT-PCR analysis. CYP2E1 was expressed in all NPC cell lines (6/6, including 7429) and ENET (6/6), and 80% of NPC biopsie (8/10). The fact that Human nasopharynx expresses CYP2E1 suggests that CYP2E1 may play an important role in the course of NPC by indirect carcinogens nitrosamines. To further evaluate the function of CYP2E1, the CYP2E1 was stably expressed in the cell line NIH 3T3/rtTA under a tetracycline-controlled transactivator. The expression of CYP2E1 was tightly regulated in a dose-dependent manner by Doxycycline (Dox) When the catalytic activity of CYP2E1 was assayed, the result showed that the generation of 6-hydroxychlorzoxazone (6-OH-CZ) from chlorzoxazone (CZ) was dose- and time-dependent on Dox addition to the medium. In the presence of 1 μg/ml Dox, the CZ 6-hydroxylase activity of the cell line was found to be 0.986 ± 0.034 nmol/10⁶ cells/h. The metabolic activation of Tet/3T3/2E1-6 cells was also assayed by N,N′-dinitrosopiperazine (DNP) cytotoxicity, and the viability of Tet/3T3/2E1-6 cells treated with Dox was lower than that of untreated cells with a significant difference between them in 80 and 160 μg/ml DNP (P ( 0.05, t test. This cell line will be useful not only to assess the metabolic characteristics of CYP2E1, but also will be useful to investigate the role of CYP2E1 in metabolic activation of carcinogenic nitrosamines in vitro.     

Role of cell surface oligosaccharides of mouse mammary tumor cell lines in cancer metastasis

Malignant transformation is associated with changes in the glycosylation of cell surface proteins and lipids. In tumor cells, alterations in cellular glycosylation may play a key role in their metastatic behaviour. In the present study, we have assessed the relationship between cell surface oligosaccharides and the metastasis ability of mouse mammary tumor cell lines 67NR and 4TO7. The cell surface oligosaccharides have been analyzed using specific binding assays with some plant lectins and the metastasis ability has been studied using transwell migration and invasion assays. In addition, we investigated the role of terminal sialic acids in the metastatic potential (cell adhesion on fibronectin, cell migration and invasion) in the 4TO7 cells on treatment with neuraminidase. The cell lines used in study have different metastasis abilities in vivo - the 67NR form primary tumors, but no tumor cells are detectable in any distant tissues, while cells of the 4TO7 line are able to spread to lung. In vitro metastasis experiments have revealed higher ability of adhesion, cell migration and invasion in the 4TO7 cells than the 67NR cells. Specific lectins binding assays show that the 4TO7 cells expressed more high-mannose type, multi-antennary complex-type N-glycans, beta-1,6-GlcNAc-branching, alpha-2,6-linked sialic acids, N-acetylgalactosamine and galactosyl(beta-1,3)-N-acetylgalactosamine. Removal of sialic acids on treatment with neuraminidase decreases adhesion, but increases the migration and has shown no significant change in the invasion ability of the 4TO7 cells. The study suggests that the sialic acids are not crucial for the cell migration and invasion in the 4TO7 cells. The findings provide the new insights in understanding the role of cell surface oligosaccharides in cancer metastasis.     

Effect of vagotomy on dynamics of mesenteric lymphatic vessels in the rat

The functional modulation of lymphatic vessels may be closely associated with intact structures of the vagus nerve. In the present study, the vagotomy was done in Wistar rat to investigate the effect of vagus nerves on dynamic changes of mesenteric lymphatic vessels. After denervation, the mesenteric lymphatics showed significant decreases in contraction rate, diameter in the static state and overall contractile activity under a microscopic observation. The lymphatic contraction rhythm and valve movement became irregular and inconsistent. These findings indicated that the lymphatic innervation might be an important factor for active lymph formation and transportation.     

Aging effects on the habitual expression of HSP70 mRNA in the hippocampus of rats

Heat shock proteins are induced by stressful stimuli and have been shown to protect cells and organs from such stresses both in vitro and in vivo. This study examined the regulation of HSP70 mRNA expression and detected the effect of aging on RNA expression in hippocampus of rats. The stress models were built by using forced-swimming in 25 degrees C and 4 degrees C water, respectively. Two groups of male rats, 2-month-old and 16-month-old, respectively, were randomly divided into three subgroups: acute stress (AS) model, chronic habituation stress (CHS) model and chronic dishabituation stress (CDS) model. Observation of exploratory behavior in an open-field (OF) test indicated stress levels. The expression of HSP70 mRNA in hippocampus was measured by RT-PCR after 0, 30, 60, 180, and 360 min of stress, respectively. Results showed that the number of quadrant crossing in both aged CHS and young CHS groups decreased gradually with the process of stress, reflecting an adaptation to the stress condition. Repeated swimming in warm water resulted in habitual expression of HSP70 mRNA in both young and aged CHS group, indicating an adaptation to the stress. The RNA expression of young CHS group was significantly stronger than that of the aged CHS group at 30, 60, 180, and 360 min after stress (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, in an intensive stress level in which the rats swam in 4 degrees C water, a high expression level of HSP70 mRNA was achieved in CDS groups, producing a dishabituation that proved the habitual expression from the other side. These results showed that senescence dramatically affected both exploratory behavior and HSP70 mRNA expression in rats' hippocampus. The results also suggested that chronic stress could lead to the habituational expression of HSP70 mRNA, but high intensive stress could reverse the habituational state and lead to the dishabituational expression. Moreover, the duration of stimuli is one of the important factors that affect the level of HSP70 mRNA expression.     

Adventitial fibroblasts are activated in the early stages of atherosclerosis in the apolipoprotein E knockout mouse

The role of the adventitia in vascular function and vascular lesion formation has been largely ignored. This study observed the activation of the adventitia and specifically the fibroblasts in the development of atherosclerosis in the apoE(-/-) mouse. The results showed a gradual increase in expression of collagen types I and III after 2, 4, and 8 weeks of hyperlipidic diet. The earliest expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) protein and mRNA was detected in the adventitial fibroblast before the formation of intimal lesions. Proliferation, too, was first found in the adventitial fibroblasts. We hypothesize that the adventitial fibroblast is activated in the early stage of atherosclerosis. Adventitial inflammation may be an early event in the development of atherosclerotic lesions.     

Cannabinoid receptor agonists are mitochondrial inhibitors: a unified hypothesis of how cannabinoids modulate mitochondrial function and induce cell death

Time-lapse microscopy of human lung cancer (H460) cells showed that the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide (AEA), the phyto-cannabinoid Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and a synthetic cannabinoid HU 210 all caused morphological changes characteristic of apoptosis. Janus green assays of H460 cell viability showed that AEA and THC caused significant increases in OD 595 nm at lower concentrations (10-50 μM) and significant decreases at 100 μM, whilst HU 210 caused significant decreases at all concentrations. In rat heart mitochondria, all three ligands caused significant decreases in oxygen consumption and mitochondrial membrane potential. THC and HU 210 caused significant increases in mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide production, whereas AEA was without significant effect. All three ligands induced biphasic changes in either mitochondrial complex I activity and/or mitochondrial complex II-III activity. These data demonstrate that AEA, THC, and HU 210 are all able to cause changes in integrated mitochondrial function, directly, in the absence of cannabinoid receptors.     

Probing the gamma2 calcium-binding site: studies with gammaD298,301A fibrinogen reveal changes in the gamma294-301 loop that alter the integrity of the "a" polymerization site

To determine the significance of the gamma2 calcium-binding site in fibrin polymerization, we synthesized the fibrinogen variant, gammaD298,301A. We expected these two alanine substitutions to prevent calcium binding in the gamma2 site. We examined the influence of calcium on the polymerization of gammaD298,301A fibrinogen, evaluated its plasmin susceptibility, and solved 2.7 and 2.4 A crystal structures of the variant with the peptide ligands Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro-amide (GPRP) and Gly-His-Arg-Pro-amide (GHRP), respectively. We found that thrombin-catalyzed polymerization of gammaD298,301A fibrinogen was modestly impaired, whereas batroxobin-catalyzed polymerization was significantly impaired relative to normal fibrinogen. Notably, the influence of calcium on polymerization was the same for the variant and for normal fibrinogen. Fibrinogen gammaD298,301A was more susceptible to plasmin proteolysis in the presence of GPRP. This finding suggests structural changes in the near-by "a" polymerization site. Comparisons of the structures revealed minor conformational changes in the gamma294-301 loop that are likely responsible for the weakened "a" site. When considered altogether, the data suggest that the gamma2 calcium-binding site does not significantly modulate polymerization. We cannot, however, rule out the possibility that the weakened "a" polymerization site masks an important role for the gamma2 calcium-binding site in normal polymerization. Somewhat unexpectedly, the structure data showed that GPRP bound to the "b" site and induced the same local conformational changes as GHRP to this site. This structure shows that "A:b" interactions can occur and suggests that these may participate in normal polymerization.     

HIV-1 integrase preassembled on donor DNA is refractory to activity stimulation by LEDGF/p75

LEDGF/p75 is known to enhance the integrase strand transfer activity in vitro, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Using an integrase assay with a chemiluminescent readout adapted to a 96-well plate format, the effect of LEDGF/p75 on both the 3'-processing and strand transfer steps was analyzed. Integrase inhibitors of the strand transfer reaction remained active in the presence of LEDGF/p75, but displayed 3- to 7-fold higher IC50 values. Our analyses indicate that, in the presence of 150 nM LEDGF/p75, active integrase/donor DNA complexes were increased by 5.3-fold during the 3'-processing step. In addition, these integrase/donor DNA complexes showed a 4.5-fold greater affinity for the target DNA during the subsequent strand transfer step. We also observed a 3.7-fold increase in the rate constant of catalysis of the strand transfer step when 150 nM LEDGF/p75 was present during the 3'-processing step. In contrast, when LEDGF/p75 was added at the beginning of the strand transfer step, no increase in either the concentration of active integrase/donor DNA complex or its rate constant of strand transfer catalysis was observed. This observation suggested that the integrase/donor DNA formed in the absence of LEDGF/p75 became refractory to the stimulatory effect of LEDGF/p75. Instead, this LEDGF/p75 added at the start of the strand transfer step was able to promote the formation of a new cohort of active integrase/donor DNA complexes which became functional with a delay of 45 min after LEDGF/p75 addition. We propose a model whereby LEDGF/p75 can only bind integrase before the latter binds donor DNA whereas donor DNA can engage either free or LEDGF/p75-bound integrase.     

Effects of circadian rhythms of fluctuating temperature on growth and biochemical composition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ulva pertusa</Emphasis>

The marcoalga Ulva pertusa was cultured under (20 ± 2)°C, (20 ± 4)°C, (20 ± 6)°C, (20 ± 8)°C and (20 ± 10)°C circadian rhythms of fluctuating temperature conditions, and constant temperature of 20°C was used as the control. The growth rate of macroalga at (20 ± 2)°C, (20 ± 4)°C and (20 ± 6)°C were significantly higher than that at constant temperature of 20°C, while growth rate at (20 ± 8)°C and (20 ± 10)°C were significantly lower than that at constant temperature of 20°C. The growth rate of macroalga was a quadratic function of the thermal amplitude. Such a growth model can be described by G = β ₀ + β ₁(TA) + β ₂(TA)², where G represents the relative growth rate, TA is thermal amplitude in degree Celsius, β ₀ is the intercept on the G axis, and β ₁ and β ₂ are the regression coefficients. The optimal thermal amplitude for the growth of thallus at mean temperature of 20°C was estimated to be ± 3.69°C. Analysis of biochemical composition at the final stages of thaulls growth revealed that diel fluctuating temperature caused various influences (P < 0.05). The content of chlorophyll, protein and total solute carbohydrate at (20 ± 2)°C and (20 ± 4)°C were slightly higher than those at constant temperature of 20°C, however no statistically significant differences were found among them (P > 0.05). While osmolytes (total solute carbohydrate and free proline) at (20 ± 10)°C were significantly higher than that at 20°C (P < 0.05). Therefore, more chlorophyll and carbohydrate production might account for the enhancement in the growth of macroalga at the diel fluctuating temperatures in the present study. Handling editor: S. M. Thomaz