Amelioration of the progression of an atopic dermatitis-like skin lesion by silk peptide and identification of functional peptides

The efficacy of silk peptide in treatment of atopic dermatitis was examined in a picryl chloride-induced atopic dermatitis model in NC/Nga mice. Silk peptide ameliorated the development of atopic dermatitis by lowering the serum IgE concentration. Treatment of cultured spleen cells with silk peptide reduced IgE production by enhancing the production of IFN-γ and reducing the level of IL-4. The functional peptides in the silk peptide were identified as mixture of GAGA sequences containing peptides by mass spectrometry and in vitro assay. Our findings indicate that silk peptide exerts an effect on atopic dermatitis by modulating the Th1/Th2 balance.     

Cytoskeleton alterations induced by Geodia corticostylifera depsipeptides in breast cancer cells

Crude extracts of the marine sponge Geodia corticostylifera from Brazilian Coast have previously shown antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic, haemolytic and neurotoxic activities. The present work describes the isolation of the cyclic peptides geodiamolides A, B, H and I (1-4) from G. corticostylifera and their anti-proliferative effects against sea urchin eggs and human breast cancer cell lineages. Its structure-activity relationship is discussed as well. In an initial series of experiments these peptides inhibited the first cleavage of sea urchin eggs (Lytechinus variegatus). Duplication of nuclei without complete egg cell division indicated the mechanism of action might be related to microfilament disruption. Further studies showed that the geodiamolides have anti-proliferative activity against human breast cancer cell lines (T47D and MCF7). Using fluorescence techniques and confocal microscopy, we found evidence that the geodiamolides A, B, H and I act by disorganizing actin filaments of T47D and MCF7 cancer cells, in a way similar to other depsipeptides (such as jaspamide 5 and dolastatins), keeping the normal microtubule organization. Normal cells lines (primary culture human fibroblasts and BRL3A rat liver epithelial cells) were not affected by the treatment as tumor cells were, thus indicating the biomedical potential of these compounds.     

Caissarolysin I (Bcs I), a new hemolytic toxin from the Brazilian sea anemone Bunodosoma caissarum: purification and biological characterization

Two cationic proteins, C1 and C3, were purified to homogeneity from the hemolytic fraction of the venom of Bunodosoma caissarum sea anemone. The purification processes employed gel filtration followed by ion exchange chromatography, being the purity and molecular mass confirmed by SDS-PAGE and mass spectrometry. Protein C1 represented the second major peak of the hemolytic fraction and was previously believed to be a cytolysin belonging to a new class of hemolysins. The C1 protein has a molecular mass of 15495 Da and was assayed for hemolysis, PLA2 activity and acute toxicity in crabs and mice, showing no activity in these assays. It has an amino terminal with no similarity to all known hemolysins and, therefore, should not be considered a toxin, being its function completely unknown. The protein C3 (19757 Da), that also lacks PLA2 activity, was recognized by antiserum against Eqt II and presented high hemolytic activity to human erythrocytes (ED50 of 0.270 microg/ml), being named Caissarolysin I (Bcs I). Its activity was inhibited by pre-incubation with sphingomyelin (SM) and also when in presence of erythrocytes pre-treated with the SMase P2, a phospholipase D from the brown spider Loxosceles intermedia, indicating that SM is the main target of Bcs I. Caissarolysin I is the first hemolysin purified from a sea anemone belonging to the genus Bunodosoma and belongs to the Actinoporin family of sea anemone hemolysins.     

Cancer metastasis directly eradicated by targeted therapy with a modified Salmonella typhimurium

Cancer metastasis is the life‐threatening aspect of cancer and is usually resistant to standard treatment. We report here a targeted therapy strategy for cancer metastasis using a genetically‐modified strain of Salmonella typhimurium. The genetically‐modified strain of S. typhimurium is auxotrophic for the amino acids arginine and leucine. These mutations preclude growth in normal tissue but do not reduce bacterial virulence in cancer cells. The tumor‐targeting strain of S. typhimurium, termed A1‐R, and expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP), was administered to both axillary lymph and popliteal lymph node metastasis of human pancreatic cancer and fibrosarcoma, respectively, as well as lung metastasis of the fibrosarcoma in nude mice. The bacteria were delivered via a lymphatic channel to target the lymph node metastases and systemically via the tail vein to target the lung metastasis. The cancer cells expressed red fluorescent protein (RFP) in the cytoplasm and GFP in the nucleus linked to histone H2B, enabling color‐coded real‐time imaging of the bacteria targeting the metastatic tumors. After 7–21 days of treatment, the metastases were eradicated without the need of chemotherapy or any other treatment. No adverse effects were observed. This new strategy demonstrates the clinical potential of targeting and curing cancer metastasis with engineered bacteria without the need of toxic chemotherapy. J. Cell. Biochem. 106: 992–998, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Cytotoxic labdane alkaloids from an ascidian Lissoclinum sp.: isolation, structure elucidation, and structure-activity relationship

Four labdane alkaloids, haterumaimides N-Q (1-4), were isolated from an ascidian Lissoclinum sp. and their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectral analyses. Investigation of the structure-activity relationships of haterumaimides J-K, N-Q, and 14 related compounds suggested that the presence of hydroxyl groups at C-6, C-7, C-12, and C-18, a chlorine atom at C-2, and an imido NH in ring C should be essential for cytotoxicity against P388 cells.     

Real‐time imaging of single cancer‐cell dynamics of lung metastasis

We have developed a new in vivo mouse model to image single cancer‐cell dynamics of metastasis to the lung in real‐time. Regulating airflow volume with a novel endotracheal intubation method enabled controlling lung expansion adequate for imaging of the exposed lung surface. Cancer cells expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the nucleus and red fluorescent protein (RFP) in the cytoplasm were injected in the tail vein of the mouse. The right chest wall was then opened in order to image metastases on the lung surface directly. After each observation, the chest wall was sutured and the air was suctioned in order to re‐inflate the lung, in order to keep the mice alive. Observations have been carried out for up to 8 h per session and repeated up to six times per mouse thus far. The seeding and arresting of single cancer cells on the lung, accumulation of cancer‐cell emboli, cancer‐cell viability, and metastatic colony formation were imaged in real‐time. This new technology makes it possible to observe real‐time monitoring of cancer‐cell dynamics of metastasis in the lung and to identify potential metastatic stem cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 109: 58–64, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Effects of compressed hydrocarbon gases on the growth activity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The inhibitory action of compressed hydrocarbon gases on the growth of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated quantitatively by microcalorimetry. Both the 50% inhibitory pressure (IP(50)) and the minimum inhibitory pressure (MIP), which are regarded as indices of the toxicity of hydrocarbon gases, were determined from growth thermograms. Based on these values, the inhibitory potency of the hydrocarbon gases increased in the order methane < ethane < propane < i-butane < n-butane. The toxicity of these hydrocarbon gases correlated to their hydrophobicity, suggesting that hydrocarbon gases interact with some hydrophobic regions of the cell membrane. In support of this, we found that UV absorbing materials at 260 nm were released from yeast cells exposed to compressed hydrocarbon gases. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy indicated that morphological changes occurred in these cells.     

Detection of Sapovirus in oysters

SaV sequences which are either genetically identical or similar were detected from oysters, feces from gastroenteritis patients, and domestic wastewater samples in geographically close areas. This is the first report of the detection of SaV in oysters which meet the legal requirements for raw consumption in Japan.