CD133-positive cells are resistant to TRAIL due to up-regulation of FLIP

Recent research shows that Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are relatively resistant to apoptosis induction. We studied the effect of the immunological apoptogen TRAIL on Jurkat cells enriched in the CD133-positive population. CD133^high Jurkat cells were more resistant to apoptosis than their CD133^low counterparts, and showed higher level of expression of FLIP, an inhibitor of death receptor-mediated apoptosis. Breast cancer MCF7 cells showed high level of expression CD133 in the unseparated culture, with accompanying high level of FLIP. Down-regulation of FLIP by siRNA resulted in sensitisation of the cells to TRAIL, as documented by more robust apoptosis. We conclude that high expression of FLIP is at least one of the reasons for resistance of CSCs to apoptosis induced by the death ligand TRAIL.     

DiaPASEF proteotype analysis indicates changes in cell growth and metabolic switch induced by caspase-9 inhibition in chondrogenic cells

Caspase-9 is the major apical caspase responsible for triggering the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Our previous study indicated that specific inhibition of caspase-9 caused microscopically evident alterations in appearance of the primary chondrogenic cultures which cannot be explained by decrease in apoptosis. To describe a complex molecular background of this effect, proteomics analysis of control and caspase-9 inhibitor-treated chondrogenic cultures were performed. Proteins were extracted, identified and quantified using LC-MS in both data dependent and data independent acquisition (DIA) mode. While directDIA analysis of diaPASEF data obtained using timsTOF Pro LC-MS system revealed 7849 protein groups (Q-value <0.01), a parallel analysis of iTRAQ-2DLC-MS3 and conventional DIA-MS data identified only 5146 and 4098 protein groups, respectively, showing diaPASEF a superior method for the study. The detailed analysis of diaPASEF data disclosed 236/551 significantly down-/up-regulated protein groups after caspase-9 inhibition, respectively (|log2FC|>0.58, Q value <0.05). Classification of downregulated proteins revealed changes in extracellular matrix organization, collagen metabolism, and muscle system processes. Moreover, deregulations suggest a switch from glycolytic to lipid based metabolism in the inhibited cells. No essential changes were found in the proteins involved in apoptosis. The data indicate new non-apoptotic participation of caspases in chondrocyte homeostasis with potential applications in cartilage pathophysiology.     

Serum sclerostin in high-activity adult patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Introduction

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a disease associated with loss of bone mass, deterioration in bone mass quality and an increased risk of fractures. The objective of this study was to evaluate factors that predict bone mineral density (BMD) alterations in young adult patients with active JIA before and during therapy with tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) inhibitors.

Methods

Thirty-one patients (twelve males and nineteen females; mean age =25.1 ± 6.1 years) with active JIA (mean Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) =6.36 ± 0.64; mean high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) =18.36 ± 16.95 mg/L) were investigated. The control group consisted of 84 healthy individuals matched by sex and age. BMD, bone turnover markers and serum concentrations of soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand, osteoprotegerin, dickkopf Wnt signalling pathway inhibitor 1 (Dkk1) and sclerostin were evaluated.

Results

Baseline BMD values in the lumbar spine, proximal femur, femoral neck and distal radius were significantly lower in patients with JIA compared to healthy control participants. Baseline sclerostin serum concentrations were significantly higher in patients with JIA compared to control participants. After 2 years of treatment with TNFα inhibitors, BMD was significantly increased in the lumbar spine. This increase correlated with a drop in DAS28 score. A statistically significant correlation between hsCRP and Dkk1 was found at baseline, as well as during the 2-year follow-up period. A significant reduction in serum sclerostin after 1 year of therapy was predictive of a drop in DAS28 score observed with a 1-year delay after reduction of serum sclerostin.

Conclusion

A significant correlation between the sclerostin serum concentration and the number of tender and swollen joints, but not BMD, supports the hypothesis that chondrocytes and cells of the subchondral bone may contribute to circulating sclerostin in JIA.     

SeqHound: biological sequence and structure database as a platform for bioinformatics research

Background  

SeqHound has been developed as an integrated biological sequence, taxonomy, annotation and 3-D structure database system. It provides a high-performance server platform for bioinformatics research in a locally-hosted environment.     

A novel simplified ultra-rapid freezing technique for cryopreservation of tissue slices

Cryopreservation offers the potential to maximize the use and availability of biological materials that have a limited supply. This study demonstrates an enhanced technique for the parallel cryopreservation of a series of liver tissue slices using a tray modeled from aluminium foil and low concentrations of a cryoprotectant. Cooling and warming rates of approximately 2000 and 3900 degrees C min(-1), respectively, were achieved as the thermal capacity of the foil-tray was significantly reduced compared to the aluminium sandwich device introduced by Day et al. [S.H. Day, D.A. Nicoll-Griffith, J.M. Silva, Cryopreservation of rat and human liver slices by rapid freezing, Cryobiology 38 (1999) 154-159]. Additionally, the two critical steps involved in the sandwich approach, i.e., clamping the plates and complete filling of the entire space between the plates with liquid, can be omitted using the foil tray. The viability of the slices was verified by measuring tetrazolium salt reduction capacity, cytosolic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase leakage, and ethoxycoumarin metabolism.     

Effect of the matrix structure and concentration of polymer-immobilized Ni2+-iminodiacetic acid complexes on retention of IgG1

Terpolymer bead particles (100-350 microm in diameter) were prepared by suspension radical polymerization from methacrylate esters [2,3-epoxypropyl methacrylate (GMA), 2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate (DEGMA) and ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA)] and subsequently derivatized affording iminodiacetic acid (IDA) chelating sorbents. The sorbents differed in pore volumes (0-0.7 cm3/g) and specific surface areas (0.03-9.8 m2/g) of their matrices as well as in the amounts of immobilized Ni2+-IDA complexes (0.03-1.58 mmol/g). The binding of imidazole was studied by frontal chromatography to evaluate the accessibility of Ni2+-IDA complexes. It was found that an increase in the bonded imidazole content with increasing immobilized Ni2+-IDA concentration was strongly dependent on the matrix morphology. A higher pore volume of the matrix significantly improved the utilizability of Ni2+-IDA complexes for imidazole binding. The performance of the sorbents based on two porous matrices with immobilized Ni2+-IDA concentration (0.1-1.58 mmol/g) differing in pore size distributions was compared in immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) of monoclonal mouse immunoglobulin IgG1 specific against human choriogonadotropic hormone (GTH-spec IgG1). The results have shown that sorbents based on matrix with large pores (up to 20 microm in diameter) exhibited high protein binding capacities. The GTH-spec IgG1 (Mw=158,000) was eluted from all the sorbents in its native form as was confirmed by MALDI-TOF.