Enhanced accumulation of adipocytes in bone marrow stromal cells in the presence of increased extracellular and intracellular [Ca²⁺

The bone marrow stroma contains osteoblasts and adipocytes that have a common precursor: the pluripotent mesenchymal stem cell found in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). Local bone marrow Ca(2+) levels can reach high concentrations due to bone resorption, which is one of the notable features of the bone marrow stroma. Here, we describe the effects of high [Ca(2+)](o) on the accumulation of adipocytes in the bone marrow stroma. Using primary mouse BMSCs, we evaluated the level of adipocyte accumulation by measuring Oil Red O staining and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity. High [Ca(2+)](o) enhanced the accumulation of adipocytes following treatment with both insulin and dexamethasone together but not in the absence of this treatment. This enhanced accumulation was the result of both the accelerated proliferation of BMSCs and their differentiation into adipocytes. Using the fura-2 method, we also showed that high [Ca(2+)](o) induces an increase in [Ca(2+)](i). An intracellular Ca(2+) chelator suppressed the enhancement in adipocyte accumulation due to increased [Ca(2+)](o) in BMSCs. These data suggest a new role for extracellular Ca(2+) in the bone marrow stroma: increased [Ca(2+)](o) induces an increase in [Ca(2+)](i) levels, which in turn enhances the accumulation of adipocytes under certain conditions.     

Antagonistic effect of disulfide-rich peptide aptamers selected by cDNA display on interleukin-6-dependent cell proliferation

Several engineered protein scaffolds have been developed recently to circumvent particular disadvantages of antibodies such as their large size and complex composition, low stability, and high production costs. We previously identified peptide aptamers containing one or two disulfide-bonds as an alternative ligand to the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R). Peptide aptamers (32 amino acids in length) were screened from a random peptide library by in vitro peptide selection using the evolutionary molecular engineering method "cDNA display". In this report, the antagonistic activity of the peptide aptamers were examined by an in vitro competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an IL-6-dependent cell proliferation assay. The results revealed that a disulfide-rich peptide aptamer inhibited IL-6-dependent cell proliferation with similar efficacy to an anti-IL-6R monoclonal antibody.     

Recognition of heteropolysaccharide alginate by periplasmic solute-binding proteins of a bacterial ABC transporter

Alginate is a heteropolysaccharide that consists of β-D-mannuronate (M) and α-L-guluronate (G). The Gram-negative bacterium Sphingomonas sp. A1 directly incorporates alginate into the cytoplasm through the periplasmic solute-binding protein (AlgQ1 and AlgQ2)-dependent ABC transporter (AlgM1-AlgM2/AlgS-AlgS). Two binding proteins with at least four subsites strongly recognize the nonreducing terminal residue of alginate at subsite 1. Here, we show the broad substrate preference of strain A1 solute-binding proteins for M and G present in alginate and demonstrate the structural determinants in binding proteins for heteropolysaccharide recognition through X-ray crystallography of four AlgQ1 structures in complex with saturated and unsaturated alginate oligosaccharides. Alginates with different M/G ratios were assimilated by strain A1 cells and bound to AlgQ1 and AlgQ2. Crystal structures of oligosaccharide-bound forms revealed that in addition to interaction between AlgQ1 and unsaturated oligosaccharides, the binding protein binds through hydrogen bonds to the C4 hydroxyl group of the saturated nonreducing terminal residue at subsite 1. The M residue of saturated oligosaccharides is predominantly accommodated at subsite 1 because of the strict binding of Ser-273 to the carboxyl group of the residue. In unsaturated trisaccharide (ΔGGG or ΔMMM)-bound AlgQ1, the protein interacts appropriately with substrate hydroxyl groups at subsites 2 and 3 to accommodate M or G, while substrate carboxyl groups are strictly recognized by the specific residues Tyr-129 at subsite 2 and Lys-22 at subsite 3. Because of this substrate recognition mechanism, strain A1 solute-binding proteins can bind heteropolysaccharide alginate with different M/G ratios.     

Altered expression of diacylglycerol kinase isozymes in regenerating liver

The liver possesses the capacity to restore its function and mass after injury. Liver regeneration is controlled through complicated mechanisms, in which the phosphoinositide (PI) cycle is shown to be activated in hepatocytes. Using a rat partial hepatectomy (PH) model, the authors investigated the expression of the diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) family, a key enzyme in the PI cycle, which metabolizes a lipid second-messenger diacylglycerol (DG). RT-PCR analysis shows that DGKζ and DGKα are the major isozymes in the liver. Results showed that in the process of regeneration, the DGKζ protein, which is detected in the nucleus of a small population of hepatocytes in normal liver, is significantly increased in almost all hepatocytes. However, the mRNA levels remain largely unchanged. Double labeling with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), an S phase marker, reveals that DGKζ is expressed independently of DNA synthesis or cell proliferation. However, DGKα protein localizes to the cytoplasm in normal and regenerating livers, but immunoblot analysis reveals that the expected (80 kDa) and the lower (70 kDa) bands are detected in normal liver, whereas at day 10 after PH, the expected band is solely recognized, showing a different processing pattern of DGKα in liver regeneration. These results suggest that DGKζ and DGKα are involved, respectively, in the nucleus and the cytoplasm of hepatocytes in regenerating liver.     

Effects of Actinomycin D and Cycloheximide on Zinc Status in Marginally Zinc-Deficient Rats

During deficient zinc intake, rats are liable to suffer zinc deficiency under the following conditions: higher protein diet, diet containing higher quality (higher nutritive value) protein, and higher dietary intake. This suggests that a higher protein nutritional status (rapid increase in body protein) in rats leads to a lower zinc nutritional status (higher zinc requirement). In contrast, it is expected that a lower protein nutritional status (lowered body protein biosynthesis) is not liable to result in a lower zinc nutritional status. Therefore, the effects of protein biosynthesis inhibitors on zinc status were studied. Actinomycin D and cycloheximide were administered to rats under a marginally zinc-deficient condition. The growth of rats was depressed and serum and femur zinc concentrations were increased by administration of protein biosynthesis inhibitors. The carcasses of rats administered protein synthesis inhibitors had a higher zinc/protein ratio than those of the respective pair-fed (calorically equivalent to the zinc-deficient group) rats. Results suggest that zinc deficiency in rats is mainly alleviated by decreased food intake with administration of protein synthesis inhibitors. Furthermore, protein biosynthesis inhibition alone alleviated zinc deficiency.     

Sunitinib treatment for refractory malignant pheochromocytoma

We report the clinical response and adverse events of a female patient treated for recurrent malignant pheochromocytoma using the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sunitinib. A 41-year-old woman underwent adrenectomy and nephrectomy forpotentially malignant adrenal pheochromocytoma. Fifty-four months after surgery, abdominal computed tomography (CT) and Iodine-131 metaiodobenzylguanidine((131)I-MIBG) scintigraphy revealed multiple tumors in the liver. Two chemotherapy protocols were administered in succession (first line: cyclophosphamide/vinblastine/dacarbazine; second line: cisplatin/docetaxel/ifomide). Despite these treatments, however, the tumors continued to progress. Treatment with sunitinib was initiated, but the patient quickly developed critical hypertension caused by tumor lysis syndrome. The sunitinib dose was reduced, and a partial response, as defined by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), was observed after 6 treatment cycles. Moreover, no severe adverse events occurred during this lower-dose sunitinib treatment. Unfortunately, sunitinib treatment became unaffordable for the patient, who eventually resorted to palliative care and died 37 months later. This case study is consistent with previous reports indicating that appropriate doses of sunitinib can induce a partial antitumor response in patients with refractory pheochromocytoma.     

Molecular identification of GHS-R and GPR38 in Suncus murinus

We previously identified ghrelin and motilin genes in Suncus murinus (suncus), and also revealed that motilin induces phase III-like strong contractions in the suncus stomach in vivo, as observed in humans and dogs. Moreover, repeated migrating motor complexes were found in the gastrointestinal tract of suncus at regular 120-min intervals. We therefore proposed suncus as a small laboratory animal model for the study of gastrointestinal motility. In the present study, we identified growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R) and motilin receptor (GPR38) genes in the suncus. We also examined their tissue distribution throughout the body. The amino acids of suncus GHS-R and GPR38 showed high homology with those of other mammals and shared 42% amino acid identity. RT-PCR showed that both the receptors were expressed in the hypothalamus, medulla oblongata, pituitary gland and the nodose ganglion in the central nervous system. In addition, GHS-R mRNA expressions were detected throughout the stomach and intestine, whereas GPR38 was expressed in the gastric muscle layer, lower intestine, lungs, heart, and pituitary gland. These results suggest that ghrelin and motilin affect gut motility and energy metabolism via specific receptors expressed in the gastrointestinal tract and/or in the central nervous system of suncus.     

Effect of photoperiod and temperature on the induction of diapause in a Japanese strain of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphidoletes aphidimyza</Emphasis> (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

The aphidophagous gall midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a dominant natural enemy of aphids, has been used as a biological control agent in many countries to control aphids in greenhouses. As developmental arrest in diapause lowers the effectiveness of natural enemies, we studied the effect of photoperiod and temperature on the incidence of diapause in a Japanese strain of A. aphidimyza by examining diapause induction under different day-length conditions in the laboratory. The critical day length for diapause induction was determined to be 12.7 h at 20°C. Diapause incidence was completely prevented at 30°C even though the photoperiod used was 11L13D. We also examined diapause induction under changing temperature conditions while maintaining the critical day length (12.7L11.3D). Diapause incidence was 100% in both field and greenhouse conditions under alternating temperatures of 20/16 or 25/16°C while the critical day length of 12.7 h was maintained. The Japanese strain of A. aphidimyza was sensitive to diapause entry from the first to the third noncocooned instar larval stages. Its eggs do not seem to be sensitive to diapause induction. Our results suggest that constant short-day conditions for at least four days are needed to induce diapause in the Japanese strain of A. aphidimyza.