Dietary soy and tea mitigate chronic inflammation and prostate cancer via NFκB pathway in the Noble rat model

Chronic inflammation and nuclear factor-kappa B (NFκB) have been implicated in prostate cancer development; thus, dietary factors that inhibit NFκB may serve as effective chemo-preventative agents. Prostate cancer risk is significantly lower in Asian countries compared to the United States, which has prompted interest in the potential chemopreventative action of Asian dietary components such as soy and green tea. This study examined the effects of dietary soy and tea on NFκB activation and inflammation in vivo using a hormone-induced rat model for prostate cancer. Male Noble rats implanted with estradiol and testosterone were divided into 4 dietary groups: control, soy, tea, or soy+tea. NFκB activation and inflammatory cytokines were measured post implantation. The combination of soy and tea suppressed NFκB p50 binding activity and protein levels via induction of IκBα. Soy and tea also decreased prostate inflammatory infiltration, increased Bax/BcL2 ratio and decreased protein expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β compared to control. Soy and tea attenuated prostate malignancy by decreasing prostate hyperplasia. These effects were not apparent in groups treated with soy or tea alone. The ongoing in vivo studies thus far suggest that combination of foods, such as soy and tea, may inhibit hormone-induced proinflammatory NFκB signals that contribute to prostate cancer development.     

Synthesis and characterisation of a novel tubulin-directed DO3A-colchicine conjugate with potential theranostic features

Colchicine is a known tubulin binding agent enabling necrosis in tumors. A novel tubulin-directed DO3A-colchicine conjugate and its Gd(III) complex were prepared from N-deacetylcolchicine, coupling alkaloid and polyaza-alicyclic functions via a peptide coupling methodology. The longitudinal proton relaxivity of the Gd(III) complex in water at 4.7 T is 2.86 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹ and a similar efficacy as colchicine towards ovarian carcinoma cells in vitro.     

Activation of volume regulated chloride channels protects myocardium from ischemia/reperfusion damage in second-window ischemic preconditioning

Activation of volume regulated chloride channels (VRCCs) has been shown to be cardioprotective in ischemic preconditioning (IPC) of isolated hearts but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Recent independent studies support that ClC-3, a ClC voltage-gated chloride channel, may function as a key component of the VRCCs. Thus, ClC-3 knockout (Clcn3(-/-)) mice and their age-matched heterozygous (Clcn3(+/-)) and wild-type (Clcn3(+/+)) littermates were used to test whether activation of VRCCs contributes to cardioprotection in early and/or second-window IPC. Targeted disruption of ClC-3 gene caused a decrease in the body weight but no changes in heart/body weight ratio. Telemetry ECG and echocardiography revealed no differences in ECG and cardiac function under resting conditions among all groups. Under treadmill stress (10 m/min for 10 min), the Clcn3(-/-) mice had significant slower heart rate (648±12 bpm) than Clcn3(+/+) littermates (737±19 bpm, n=6, P<0.05). Ex vivo IPC in the isolated working-heart preparations protected cardiac function during reperfusion and significantly decreased apoptosis and infarct size in all groups. In vivo early IPC significantly reduced infarct size in all groups including Clcn3(-/-) mice (22.7±3.7% vs control 40.1±4.3%, n=22, P=0.004). Second-window IPC significantly reduced apoptosis and infarction in Clcn3(+/+) (22.9±3.2% vs 45.7±5.4%, n=22, P<0.001) and Clcn3(+/-) mice (27.5±4.1% vs 42.2±5.7%, n=15, P<0.05) but not in Clcn3(-/-) littermates (39.8±4.9% vs 41.5±8.2%, n=13, P>0.05). Impaired cell volume regulation of the Clcn3(-/-) myocytes may contribute to the failure of cardioprotection by second-window IPC. These results strongly support that activation of VRCCs may play an important cardioprotective role in second-window IPC.     

Targeted disruption of p53 attenuates doxorubicin-induced cardiac toxicity in mice

Use of the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin (Dox) is limited by dose-dependent cardiotoxic effects. The molecular mechanism underlying these toxicities are incompletely understood, but previous results have demonstrated that Dox induces p53 expression. Because p53 is an important regulator of the cell birth and death we hypothesized that targeted disruption of the p53 gene would attenuate Dox-induced cardiotoxicity. To test this, female 6–8 wk old C57BL wild-type (WT) or p53 knockout (p53 KO) mice were randomized to either saline or Dox 20 mg/kg via intraperitoneal injection. Animals were serially imaged with high-frequency (14 MHz) two-dimensional echocardiography. Measurements of left ventricle (LV) systolic function as assessed by fractional shortening (FS) demonstrated a decline in WT mice as early as 4 days after Dox injection and by 2 wk demonstrated a reduction of 31± 16% (P < 0.05) from the baseline. In contrast, in p53 KO mice, LV FS was unchanged over the 2 wk period following Dox injection. Apoptosis of cardiac myocytes as measured by the TUNEL and ligase reactions were significantly increased at 24 h after Dox treatment in WT mice but not in p53 KO mice. After Dox injection, levels of myocardial glutathione and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase were preserved in p53 KO mice, but not in WT animals. These observations suggest that p53 mediated signals are likely to play a significant role in Dox-induced cardiac toxicity and that they may modulate Dox-induced oxidative stress.These two authors equally contributed to this study.     

Transmitting tissue ECM distribution and composition, and pollen germinability in Sarcandra glabra and Chloranthus japonicus (Chloranthaceae)

BACKGROUND: and Aims Free-flowing surface exudates at the stigmatic (wet versus dry stigma) and adaxial epidermis at the site of angiospermy in carpels of Chloranthaceous species have been proposed to comprise a continuous extracellular matrix (ECM) operating in pollen tube transmission to the ovary. The aim of this research was to establish the spatial distribution and histo/immunochemical composition of the ECM involved in pollen tube growth in Sarcandra glabra and Chloranthus japonicus (Chloranthaceae). METHODS: Following confirmation of the pollen tube pathway, the histo/immunochemical make-up of the ECM was determined with histochemistry on fresh tissue to detect cuticle, esterase, proteins, pectins, and lipids and immunolocalization at the level of the TEM on sections from cryofixed/freeze-substituted tissue to detect molecules recognized by antibodies to homogalacturonans (JIM7, 5), arabinogalactan-proteins (JIM13) and cysteine-rich adhesion (SCA). KEY RESULTS: Pollen germinability is low in both species. When grains germinate, they do so on an ECM comprised of an esterase-positive cuticle proper (dry versus wet stigma). Pollen tubes do not track the surface ECM of stigma or adaxial epidermal cells at the site of angiospermy. Instead, tubes grow between stigmatic cells and subsequently along the inner tangential walls of the stigmatic and adaxial carpel cells at the site of angiospermy. Pollen tubes enter the ovary locule at the base of the funiculus. The stigmatic ECM is distinct by virtue of the presence of anti-JIM5 aggregates, lipids, and a protein recognized by anti-SCA. CONCLUSIONS: The Chloranthaceae joins a growing number of basal angiosperm taxa whereby pollen tubes germinate on a dry versus wet stigma to subsequently grow intercellularly en route to the ovary thereby challenging traditional views that the archetype pollen tube pathway was composed of the surface of stigma and adaxial epidermal cells covered with a free-flowing exudate.     

Staphylococcus aureus-derived peptidoglycan induces Cx43 expression and functional gap junction intercellular communication in microglia

Gap junctions serve as intercellular conduits that allow the exchange of small molecular weight molecules (up to 1 kDa) including ions, metabolic precursors and second messengers. Microglia are capable of recognizing peptidoglycan (PGN) derived from the outer cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus, a prevalent CNS pathogen, and respond with the robust elaboration of numerous pro-inflammatory mediators. Based on recent reports demonstrating the ability of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma to induce gap junction coupling in macrophages and microglia, it is possible that pro-inflammatory mediators released from PGN-activated microglia are capable of inducing microglial gap junction communication. In this study, we examined the effects of S. aureus-derived PGN on Cx43, the major connexin in microglial gap junction channels, and functional gap junction communication using single-cell microinjections of Lucifer yellow (LY). Exposure of primary mouse microglia to PGN led to a significant increase in Cx43 mRNA and protein expression. LY microinjection studies revealed that PGN-treated microglia were functionally coupled via gap junctions, the specificity of which was confirmed by the reversal of activation-induced dye coupling by the gap junction blocker 18-alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid. In contrast to PGN-activated microglia, unstimulated cells consistently failed to exhibit LY dye coupling. These results indicate that PGN stimulation can induce the formation of a functional microglial syncytium, suggesting that these cells may be capable of influencing neuro-inflammatory responses in the context of CNS bacterial infections through gap junction intercellular communication.     

Functional groups based on leaf physiology: are they spatially and temporally robust?

The functional grouping concept, which suggests that complexity in ecosystem function can be simplified by grouping species with similar responses, was tested in the Florida scrub habitat. Functional groups were identified based on how species regulate exchange of carbon and water with the atmosphere as indicated by both instantaneous gas exchange measurements and integrated measures of function (%N, δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, C:N ratio) in fire-maintained Florida scrub, which was considered the natural state for scrub habitat. Using cluster analysis, five distinct physiologically based functional groups were identified in the fire-maintained scrub and were determined to be distinct clusters and not just arbitrary divisions in a continuous distribution by the non-parametric multivariate analysis of similarities (ANOSIM; R=0.649, P=0.005). These functional groups were tested for robustness spatially, temporally, and with management regime using ANOSIM. The physiological functional groups remained distinct clusters in this broader array of sites (R=0.794, P=0.001) and were not altered by plot differences, primarily, water table depth (R=−0.115, P=0.893) or by the three different management regimes: prescribed burn, mechanically treated and burned, and fire-suppressed (R=0.018, P=0.349). The physiological groupings also remained robust between the two climatically different years, with 1999 being a much wetter year than 2000 (R=−0.027, P=0.725). Easy-to-measure morphological characteristics, if they indicate the same functional groups, would be more practical for scaling and modeling ecosystem processes than detailed gas exchange measurements; therefore, we tested a variety of morphological characteristics as functional indicators. A combination of non-parametric multivariate techniques were used to compare the ability of life form, leaf thickness (LT), and specific leaf area (SLA) classifications to identify the physiologically based functional groups. Life form classifications (ANOSIM; R=0.629, P=0.001) were able to depict the physiological groupings more adequately than either SLA (ANOSIM; R=0.426, P=0.001) or LT (ANOSIM; R=0.344, P=0.001). The ability of life forms to depict the physiological groupings was improved by separating the parasitic Ximenia americana from the shrub category (ANOSIM; R=0.794, P=0.001). Therefore, a life form classification including parasites was determined to be a good indicator of the physiological processes of scrub species and would be a useful method of grouping species for scaling physiological processes to the ecosystem level.     

Accessibility of the distal heme face, rather than Fe-His bond strength, determines the heme-nitrosyl coordination number of cytochromes c': evidence from spectroscopic studies

The heme coordination chemistry and spectroscopic properties of Rhodobacter capsulatus cytochrome c' (RCCP) have been compared to data from Alcaligenes xylosoxidans (AXCP), with the aim of understanding the basis for their different reactivities with nitric oxide (NO). Whereas ferrous AXCP reacts with NO to form a predominantly five-coordinate heme-nitrosyl complex via a six-coordinate intermediate, RCCP forms an equilibrium mixture of six-coordinate and five-coordinate heme-nitrosyl species in approximately equal proportions. Ferrous RCCP and AXCP both exhibit high Fe-His stretching frequencies (227 and 231 cm(-)(1), respectively), suggesting that factors other than the Fe-His bond strength account for their differences in heme-nitrosyl coordination number. Resonance Raman spectra of ferrous-nitrosyl RCCP confirm the presence of both five-coordinate and six-coordinate heme-NO complexes. The six-coordinate heme-nitrosyl of RCCP exhibits a fairly typical Fe-NO stretching frequency (569 cm(-)(1)), in contrast to the relatively high value (579 cm(-)(1)) of the AXCP six-coordinate heme-nitrosyl intermediate. It is proposed that NO experiences greater steric hindrance in binding to the distal face of AXCP, as compared to RCCP, leading to a more distorted Fe-N-O geometry and an elevated Fe-NO stretching frequency. Evidence that RCCP has a more accessible distal coordination site than in AXCP stems from the fact that ferric RCCP readily forms a heme complex with exogenous imidazole, whereas AXCP does not. A model is proposed in which distal heme-face accessibility, rather than the proximal Fe-His bond strength, determines the heme-nitrosyl coordination number in cytochromes c'.