Selective decrease of chick embryonic primordial germ cells in vivo and in vitro by soft X-ray irradiation

The feasibility of soft (low-energy) X-ray irradiation as a means of depleting the endogenous primordial germ cell(s) (PGC) of chicken embryos, to improve the efficiency of germ cell-mediated transgenesis, was investigated. Eggs were subjected to a non-irradiated control treatment and embryos were exposed for 40s to soft X-ray at 15, 16.5, or 18 kV ( approximately 1.5, 1.65, and 1.8 Gy, respectively). Exposure of stage X embryos to each dose of X-ray resulted in a reduction of approximately 50% in the number of PGC apparent at stage 28, whereas the total number of gonadal cells was unaffected. Irradiation (16.5 kV) of embryos at stage 9 or 14 also resulted in similar decreases in the number of PGC with no effect on the total number of gonadal cells. Irradiation did not affect embryo hatchability, compared with the non-irradiated control treatment, although the hatch rate increased with the age of embryos at the time of irradiation. Exposure of gonadal cells isolated from stage 28 embryos to X-ray (16.5 kV, approximately 0.8 Gy) prevented the increase in PGC number during subsequent culture for 10 days; the increase in the total number of gonadal cells was not affected. In conclusion, exposure of chicken embryos to a low dose of soft X-rays is effective for depleting the endogenous PGC population without affecting embryo hatchability or somatic cell viability.     

Surgical influence of pancreatectomy on the function and count of circulating dendritic cells in patients with pancreatic cancer

Background: Dendritic cells (DCs) are important for an immune surveillance. Myeloid DCs (DC1) are important for an effective antitumor immune system. The function and count of circulating DC1 (cDC1) in hosts with a malignant tumor would be defective. This study focused on analyzing the immunological features of cDC1 in patients with pancreatic cancer during the perioperative period. Materials and methods: Thirty-two pancreatic cancer patients who underwent pancreatectomy and 18 age-matched healthy individuals as controls were enrolled in this study. The perioperative cDC count, the stimulatory capacity of cDC1 against allogeneic T cells and TGF-β1 level in the serum were measured. The cDC count was measured at 12 months after the operation. Results: The preoperative cDC1/cDC2 ratio, cDC1 count, and stimulatory capacity of cDC1 were impaired in patients in comparison to controls (P<0.05). The serum TGF-β1 level was significantly higher in patients than controls (P<0.001). The stimulatory capacity of cDC1 recovered after pancreatectomy (P<0.05). The serum TGF-β1 level significantly decreased after the operation (P<0.05); however, they were still significantly higher than controls (P<0.05). Although the cDC1/cDC2 ratio and the cDC1 count did not increase after the pancreatectomy, they recovered as the controls’ level at 12 months after the pancreatectomy in disease-free patients (P<0.05) and the serum TGF-β1 level in those patients at 12 months after the operation significantly decreased compared with those at the postoperative period (P<0.05). Conclusion: Surgical resection of pancreatic cancer could be associated with improved cDC1 function. When a patient remained disease free, the recovery of cDC1 counts was observed approximately 12 months after pancreatectomy. Further strategy will be needed to improve immune function in patients with pancreatic cancer.     

ANG II signaling in vasa recta pericytes by PKC and reactive oxygen species

ANG II constricts descending vasa recta (DVR) through Ca(2+) signaling in pericytes. We examined the role of PKC DVR pericytes isolated from the rat renal outer medulla. The PKC blocker staurosporine (10 microM) eliminated ANG II (10 nM)-induced vasoconstriction, inhibited pericyte cytoplasmic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](cyt)) elevation, and blocked Mn(2+) influx into the cytoplasm. Activation of PKC by either 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol (10 microM) or phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu; 1 microM) induced both vasoconstriction and pericyte [Ca(2+)](cyt) elevation. Diltiazem (10 microM) blocked the ability of PDBu to increase pericyte [Ca(2+)](cyt) and enhance Mn(2+) influx. Both ANG II- and PDBu-induced PKC stimulated DVR generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), measured by oxidation of dihydroethidium (DHE). The effect of ANG II was only significant when ANG II AT(2) receptors were blocked with PD-123319 (10 nM). PDBu augmentation of DHE oxidation was blocked by either TEMPOL (1 mM) or diphenylene iodonium (10 microM). We conclude that ANG II and PKC activation increases DVR pericyte [Ca(2+)](cyt), divalent ion conductance into the cytoplasm, and ROS generation.     

Extracts ofPhellinus gilvus andPhellinus baumii inhibit pulmonary inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide in rats

Compared to saline-challenged rats, rats exposed to 50 microg intratracheal lipopolysaccharide showed an increase of total white cells (from 0.3 x 10(6) to 2.4 x 10(6)), neutrophils (from 0.09 x 10(6) to 1.8 x 10(6)), the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (from 200 pg ml(-1) to 1200 pg ml(-1)), and interleukin (IL)-1beta (from 220 pg ml(-1) to 650 pg ml(-1)) in the bronchial lavage fluid. However, after pretreatment with extracts of Phellinus gilvus and Phellinus baumii, the total white cells, neutrophils, and the level of IL-1beta in lipopolysaccharide-challenged rats were similar to those in saline-challenged rats, except for TNF-alpha. The results indicate that extracts of P. gilvus and P. baumii may be useful in preventing acute pulmonary inflammation in human diseases.     

The limited immunomodulatory effects of escharectomy on the kinetics of endotoxin, cytokines, and adhesion molecules in major burns

Escharectomy has been shown to improve the survival rates and the outcomes in burns. This observational study was conducted to assess the role of escharectomy on the inflammatory mediators in major burns. Seventeen ASA physical status II or status III adult surviving major burn patients were recruited. When the escharectomy was scheduled, a series of blood samples was obtained at -3 and -1 days preoperation, and +1 and +3 postoperation. The changing levels of endotoxin, cytokines, and adhesion molecules were measured with a quantitative sandwich immunoassay. Extensive escharectomy did not appear to have any significant impact on the levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-10, soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1. Meanwhile, endotoxin and E-selectin were significantly decreased after escharectomy. Escharectomy appeared to have a limited immunomodulatory effect on the inflammatory mediators in systemic inflammatory responses induced by major burns. This is probably related to the timing and extent of surgery, and the complex nature of burn-related inflammation.     

Polymorphism and weak antiferromagnetic interactions in dibromo[(−)-sparteine-N,N]copper(II)

Two polymorphic crystal structures of the title compound, dibromo[(−)-sparteine-N,N^′]copper(II), 1, were determined. The structures of two isomorphs of 1, 1a [orthorhombic, P2₁2₁2₁, a=11.0463(9) Å, b=11.9839(15) Å and c=12.7835(19) Å] and 1b [orthorhombic, P2₁2₁2₁, a=7.6779(9) Å, b=12.0927(14) Å and c=18.090(2) Å], are composed of the same basic structural unit, Cu(C₁₅H₂₆N₂)Br₂. The bond distances in the molecular structures of 1a and 1b are identical to each other within the esds. However, there are slight differences in the bond angles around the Cu(II) center and considerable differences in their packing structure. Crystal 1a exhibits weak anti-ferromagnetism (J=−1.89 cm⁻¹) as opposed to the magnetically isolated paramagnetism observed for the analogous dichloro[(−)-sparteine]copper(II), 2. The results of a magneto-structural investigation of 1a and 2, and other supporting evidence, suggest that the pathway for the weak antiferromagnetic super-exchange in 1a might be through a Cu-Br ? Br-Cu contact.     

A molecular ruler for chain elongation catalyzed by octaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase and its structure-based engineering to produce unprecedented long chain trans-prenyl products

Octaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase (OPPs) catalyzes consecutive condensation reactions of farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) with five molecules of isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) to generate C(40) octaprenyl pyrophosphate (OPP) which constitutes the side chain of menaquinone. We have previously reported the X-ray structure of OPPs from Thermotoga maritima, which is composed entirely of alpha-helices joined by connecting loops and is arranged with nine core helices around a large central cavity [Guo, R. T., Kuo, C. J., Ko, T. P., Chou, C. C., Shr, R. L., Liang, P. H., and Wang, A. H.-J. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 4903-4912]. A76 and S77 are located on top of the active site close to where FPP is bound. A76Y and A76Y/S77F OPPs mutants produce C(20), indicating that the substituted larger residues interfere with the substrate chain elongation. Surprisingly, the A76Y/S77F mutant synthesizes a larger amount of C(20) than the A76Y mutant. In the crystal structure of the A76Y/S77F mutant, F77 is pushed away by Y76, thereby creating more space between those two large amino acids to accommodate the C(20) product. A large F132 residue at the bottom of the tunnel-shaped active site serves as the "floor" and determines the final product chain length. The substitution of F132 with a small Ala, thereby removing the blockade, led to the synthesis of a C(50) product larger than that produced by the wild-type enzyme. On the basis of the structure, we have sequentially mutated the large amino acids, including F132, L128, I123, and D62, to Ala underneath the tunnel. The products of the F132A/L128A/I123A/D62A mutant reach C(95), beyond the largest chain length generated by all known trans-prenyltransferases. Further modifications of the enzyme reaction conditions, including new IPP derivatives, may allow the preparation of high-molecular weight polyprenyl products resembling the rubber molecule.     

Chrysin-induced apoptosis is mediated through caspase activation and Akt inactivation in U937 leukemia cells

Chrysin is a natural, biologically active compound extracted from many plants, honey, and propolis. It possesses potent anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, and anti-oxidation properties. The mechanism by which chrysin initiates apoptosis remains poorly understood. In the present report, we investigated the effect of chrysin on the apoptotic pathway in U937 human promonocytic cells. We show that chrysin induces apoptosis in association with the activation of caspase 3 and that Akt signal pathway plays a crucial role in chrysin-induced apoptosis in U937 cells. Furthermore, we have shown that inhibition of Akt phosphorylation in U937 cells by the specific PI3K inhibitor, LY294002 significantly, enhanced apoptosis. Overexpression of a constitutively active Akt (myr-Akt) in U937 cells inhibited the induction of apoptosis, activation of caspase 3, and PLC-gamma1 cleavage by chrysin. Together, these findings suggest that the Akt pathway plays a major role in regulating the apoptotic response of human leukemia cells to chrysin and raise the possibility that combined interruption of chrysin and PI3K/Akt-related pathways may represent a novel therapeutic strategy in hematological malignancies.     

Morphology of calretinin-immunoreactive neurons in the superficial layers of hamster superior colliculus after enucleation: lack of co-localization with GABA

We recently reported on the distribution and effects of eye enucleation on the immunoreactivity of calretinin in the superficial layers of the hamster superior colliculus (SC). In the present study, we describe the types of labeled cells and compare this labeling to that of GABA, the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. An almost complete depletion of calretinin-immunoreactive (IR) fibers in the superficial layers of the contralateral SC was found following unilateral enucleation. On the contralateral SC, many calretinin-IR cells were newly appeared. The majority of the newly-appeared cells had small- to medium-sized round, oval, or vertical fusiform cell bodies. Two-color immunofluorescence revealed that none of these newly-appeared cells were labeled with an antibody to GABA. The present results show that the calretinin-IR cells are unique in the superficial hamster SC when compared to most of the other brain areas, where many calretinin-IR cells are GABAergic interneurons.