Inhibition of the NAD-Dependent Protein Deacetylase SIRT2 Induces Granulocytic Differentiation in Human Leukemia Cells

Sirtuins, NAD-dependent protein deacetylases, play important roles in cellular functions such as metabolism and differentiation. Whether sirtuins function in tumorigenesis is still controversial, but sirtuins are aberrantly expressed in tumors, which may keep cancerous cells undifferentiated. Therefore, we investigated whether the inhibition of sirtuin family proteins induces cellular differentiation in leukemic cells. The sirtuin inhibitors tenovin-6 and BML-266 induce granulocytic differentiation in the acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cell line NB4. This differentiation is likely caused by an inhibition of SIRT2 deacetylase activity, judging from the accumulation of acetylated α-tubulin, a major SIRT2 substrate. Unlike the clinically used differentiation inducer all-trans retinoic acid, tenovin-6 shows limited effects on promyelocytic leukemia–retinoic acid receptor α (PML-RAR-α) stability and promyelocytic leukemia nuclear body formation in NB4 cells, suggesting that tenovin-6 does not directly target PML-RAR-α activity. In agreement with this, tenovin-6 induces cellular differentiation in the non-APL cell line HL-60, where PML-RAR-α does not exist. Knocking down SIRT2 by shRNA induces granulocytic differentiation in NB4 cells, which demonstrates that the inhibition of SIRT2 activity is sufficient to induce cell differentiation in NB4 cells. The overexpression of SIRT2 in NB4 cells decreases the level of granulocytic differentiation induced by tenovin-6, which indicates that tenovin-6 induces granulocytic differentiation by inhibiting SIRT2 activity. Taken together, our data suggest that targeting SIRT2 is a viable strategy to induce leukemic cell differentiation.     

Detection of high CD44 expression in oral cancers using the novel monoclonal antibody,C44Mab-5

CD44 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that regulates a variety of genes related to cell-adhesion, migration, proliferation, differentiation, and survival. A large number of alternative splicing isoforms of CD44, containing various combinations of alternative exons, have been reported. CD44 standard (CD44s), which lacks variant exons, is widely expressed on the surface of most tissues and all hematopoietic cells. In contrast, CD44 variant isoforms show tissue-specific expression patterns and have been extensively studied as both prognostic markers and therapeutic targets in cancer and other diseases. In this study, we immunized mice with CHO-K1 cell lines overexpressing CD44v3-10 to obtain novel anti-CD44 mAbs. One of the clones, C₄₄Mab-5 (IgG₁, kappa), recognized both CD44s and CD44v3-10. C₄₄Mab-5 also reacted with oral cancer cells such as Ca9-22, HO-1-u-1, SAS, HSC-2, HSC-3, and HSC-4 using flow cytometry. Moreover, immunohistochemical analysis revealed that C₄₄Mab-5 detected 166/182 (91.2%) of oral cancers. These results suggest that the C₄₄Mab-5 antibody may be useful for investigating the expression and function of CD44 in various cancers.     

Effect of contact location on vibrotactile thresholds at the fingertip

Vibrotactile thresholds depend on the characteristics of the vibration, the location of contact with the skin, and the geometry of the contact with the skin. This experimental study investigated vibrotactile thresholds (from 8 to 250?Hz) at five locations on the distal phalanx of the finger with two contactors: (i) a 1-mm diameter circular probe (0.78-mm² area) with a 1-mm gap to a fixed circular surround (i.e., 7.1-mm² excitation area), and (ii) a 6-mm diameter circular probe (28-mm² area) with a 2-mm gap to a fixed circular surround (i.e., 79-mm² excitation area). With both contactors, especially the smaller contactor at low frequencies (i.e., 8, 16, and 31.5?Hz), thresholds decreased towards the tip of the finger, although there was little variation around the whorl. With low frequencies of vibration, and at all five locations on the finger, similar thresholds were obtained with both contactors, consistent with the NPI channel not changing in sensitivity with a change in the area of stimulation. At high frequencies (i.e., 63, 125, and 250?Hz), thresholds were lower with the larger area of stimulation at all locations, except at the extreme tip of the finger, consistent with spatial summation in the Pacinian channel. It is concluded that with a 6-mm diameter contactor, moderate variations in location around the whorl have little influence on the measured thresholds. With the 1-mm diameter contactor there were greater variations in thresholds and extreme locations, near the nail and the distal interphalangeal joint, may be unsuitable for investigating sensorineural disorders.     

Radical scavenging activity of spring mountain herbs in the Shikoku mountain area and identification of antiradical constituents by simple HPLC detection and LC-MS methods

The functionality of spring mountain herbs, which were collected in the Kajigamori mountain area of Shikoku area in Japan, was investigated in the course of our studies for utilizing local plant resources. The radical scavenging activity of the extracts from seventeen herbs was measured. Among these herbs, two extracts from Polystichym ovato-paleaceum (Japanese name: Tsuyanashiinode) and Sambucus racemosa subsp. sieboldiana (Japanese name: Niwatoko) showed potent DPPH radical scavenging activity. The material evidence for the potent activity of the extracts was studied by a combination of our developed method for detecting antiradical compounds, LC-MS/MS, and enzymatic hydrolysis.     

Golgi matrix protein gene, Golga3/Mea2, rearranged and re-expressed in pachytene spermatocytes restores spermatogenesis in the mouse

In a transgenic mouse, Golga3/Mea2 gene (human homolog: GOLGA3/golgin-160) was disrupted by a translocation at the site of the transgene integration. Exons 8-24 of the disrupted gene remained intact and formed a fusion gene (DeltaMea2) with the antisense strand of E. coli-derived transgene by means of a cryptic splice signal in there. The protein product of DeltaMea2, virtually a form truncated to 2/3 of the normal size, localized to Golgi apparatus of pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids. DeltaMea2 expression was specific to the testis, but varied among separate seminiferous tubules. It also showed variation among homozygous individuals from 0.5 to 4.3% of the wild type (wt) level. At the lowest levels, neither spermatids nor spermatozoa were present in the homozygous testes, but when the expression of DeltaMea2 increased to 4.3% of the wt level, high sperm production was restored and a sporadic (1/22) fertile homozygous male was obtained. The earliest apoptotic degeneration of pachytene spermatocytes evidenced at 17 dpp in homozygous testes in some discrete seminiferous tubules was preceded by DeltaMea2 expression in a variegated fashion at 16 dpp. These results consistently indicated that in homozygous testes, the pachytene spermatocytes which failed to express DeltaMea2 may undergo apoptotic degeneration. Golga3/Mea2, and DeltaMea2 in homozygotes, in a certain excessive amount may be important for survival of pachytene spermatocytes in the mouse.     

Small interfering RNA against CD86 during allergen challenge blocks experimental allergic asthma

Background

CD86-CD28 interaction has been suggested as the principal costimulatory pathway for the activation and differentiation of naïve T cells in allergic inflammation. However, it remains uncertain whether this pathway also has an essential role in the effector phase. We sought to determine the contribution of CD86 on dendritic cells in the reactivation of allergen-specific Th2 cells.

Methods

We investigated the effects of the downregulation of CD86 by short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) on Th2 cytokine production in the effector phase in vitro and on asthma phenotypes in ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized and -challenged mice.

Results

Treatment of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) with CD86 siRNA attenuated LPS-induced upregulation of CD86. CD86 siRNA treatment impaired BMDCs’ ability to activate OVA-specific Th2 cells. Intratracheal administration of CD86 siRNA during OVA challenge downregulated CD86 expression in the airway mucosa. CD86 siRNA treatment ameliorated OVA-induced airway eosinophilia, airway hyperresponsiveness, and the elevations of OVA-specific IgE in the sera and IL-5, IL-13, and CCL17 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, but not the goblet cell hyperplasia.

Conclusion

These results suggest that local administration of CD86 siRNA during the effector phase ameliorates lines of asthma phenotypes. Targeting airway dendritic cells with siRNA suppresses airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in an experimental model of allergic asthma.     

Liliosides D and E,two glycerol glucosides from Lilium japonicum

Two new glycerol glucosides, liliosides D and E, have been isolated from the leaves and stems of Lilium japonicum. Their structures have been elucidated by chemical, spectroscopic and synthetic methods.     

Koji glycosylceramide commonly contained in Japanese traditional fermented foods alters cholesterol metabolism in obese mice

ABSTRACT

Koji, which is manufactured by proliferating non-pathogenic fungus Aspergillus oryzae on steamed rice, is the base for Japanese traditional fermented foods. We have revealed that koji and related Japanese fermented foods and drinks such as amazake, shio-koji, unfiltered sake and miso contain abundant glycosylceramide. Here, we report that feeding of koji glycosylceramide to obese mice alters the cholesterol metabolism . Liver cholesterol was significantly decreased in obese mice fed with koji glycosylceramide. We hypothesized that their liver cholesterol was decreased because it was converted to bile acids. Consistent with the hypothesis, many bile acids were increased in the cecum and feces of obese mice fed with koji glycosylceramide. Expressions of CYP7A1 and ABCG8 involved in the metabolism of cholesterol were significantly increased in the liver of mice fed with koji glycosylceramide. Therefore, it was considered that koji glycosylceramide affects the cholesterol metabolism in obese mice.