Analysis of quantitative trait loci in mice suggests a role of Enoph1 in stress reactivity

Significant progress in elucidating the genetic etiology of anxiety and depression has been made during the last decade through a combination of human and animal studies. In this study, we aimed to discover genetic loci linked with anxiety as well as depression in order to reveal new candidate genes. Therefore, we initially tested the behavioral sensitivity of 543 F2 animals derived from an intercross of C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ mice in paradigms for anxiety and depression. Next, all animals were genotyped with 269 microsatellite markers with a mean distance of 5.56 cM. Finally, a Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) analysis was carried out, followed by selection of candidate genes. The QTL analysis revealed several new QTL on chromosome 5 with a common core interval of 19 Mb. We further narrowed this interval by comparative genomics to a region of 15 Mb. A database search and gene prioritization revealed Enoph1 as the most significant candidate gene on the prioritization list for anxiety and also for depression fulfilling our selection criteria. The Enoph1 gene, which is involved in polyamine biosynthesis, is differently expressed in parental strains, which have different brain spermidine levels and show distinct anxiety and depression‐related phenotype. Our result suggests a significant role in polyamines in anxiety and depression‐related behaviors.

     

Blood Glutathione S-Transferase-π as a Time Indicator of Stroke Onset

Background

Ability to accurately determine time of stroke onset remains challenging. We hypothesized that an early biomarker characterized by a rapid increase in blood after stroke onset may help defining better the time window during which an acute stroke patient may be candidate for intravenous thrombolysis or other intravascular procedures.

Methods

The blood level of 29 proteins was measured by immunoassays on a prospective cohort of stroke patients (N = 103) and controls (N = 132). Mann-Whitney U tests, ROC curves and diagnostic odds ratios were applied to evaluate their clinical performances.

Results

Among the 29 molecules tested, GST-π concentration was the most significantly elevated marker in the blood of stroke patients (p<0.001). More importantly, GST-π displayed the best area under the curve (AUC, 0.79) and the best diagnostic odds ratios (10.0) for discriminating early (N = 22, <3 h of stroke onset) vs. late stroke patients (N = 81, >3 h after onset). According to goal-oriented distinct cut-offs (sensitivity(Se)-oriented: 17.7 or specificity(Sp)-oriented: 65.2 ug/L), the GST-π test obtained 91%Se/50%Sp and 50%Se/91%Sp, respectively. Moreover, GST-π showed also the highest AUC (0.83) and performances for detecting patients treated with tPA (N = 12) compared to ineligible patients (N = 103).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that GST-π can accurately predict the time of stroke onset in over 50% of early stroke patients. The GST-π test could therefore complement current guidelines for tPA administration and potentially increase the number of patients accessing thrombolysis.     

Proteome profiling of peripheral mononuclear cells from human blood

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNCs) are accessible through blood collection and represent a useful source for investigations on disease mechanisms and treatment response. Aiming to build a reference proteome database, we generated three proteome data sets from MNCs using a combination of SDS‐PAGE and nanoflow LC‐MS. Experiments were performed in triplicates and 514 unique proteins were identified by at least two non‐redundant peptides with 95% confidence for all replicates. Identified proteins are associated with a range of dermatologic, inflammatory and neurological conditions as well as molecular processes, such as free radical scavenging and cellular growth and proliferation. Mapping the MNC proteome provides a valuable resource for studies on disease pathogenesis and the identification of therapeutic targets.     

Distinct phosphotyrosines on a growth factor receptor bind to specific molecules that mediate different signaling pathways.

The receptor for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) binds two proteins containing SH2 domains, GTPase activating protein (GAP) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase). The sites on the receptor that mediate this interaction were identified by using phosphotyrosine-containing peptides representing receptor sequences to block specifically binding of either PI3-kinase or GAP. These results suggested that PI3-kinase binds two phosphotyrosine residues, each located in a 5 aa motif with an essential methionine at the fourth position C-terminal to the tyrosine. Point mutations at these sites caused a selective elimination of PI3-kinase binding and loss of PDGF-stimulated DNA synthesis. Mutation of the binding site for GAP prevented the receptor from associating with or phosphorylating GAP, but had no effect on PI3-kinase binding and little effect on DNA synthesis. Therefore, GAP and PI3-kinase interact with the receptor by binding to different phosphotyrosine-containing sequence motifs.     

Membrane Ig cross-linking regulates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in B lymphocytes.

Cross-linking of the B cell AgR results in activation of mature B cells and tolerization of immature B cells. The initial signaling events stimulated by membrane immunoglobulin (mIg) cross-linking are tyrosine phosphorylation of a number of proteins. Among the targets of mIg-induced tyrosine phosphorylation are the tyrosine kinases encoded by the lyn, blk, fyn, and syk genes, the mIg-associated proteins MB-1 and Ig-beta, phospholipase C-gamma 1 and -gamma 2, as well as many unidentified proteins. In this report we show that mIg cross-linking also regulates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PtdIns 3-kinase), an enzyme that phosphorylates inositol phospholipids and plays a key role in mediating the effects of tyrosine kinases on growth control in fibroblasts. Cross-linking mIg on B lymphocytes greatly increased the amount of PtdIns 3-kinase activity which could be immunoprecipitated with anti-phosphotyrosine (anti-tyr(P) antibodies. This response was observed after mIg cross-linking in mIgM- and mIgG-bearing B cell lines and after cross-linking either mIgM or mIgD in murine splenic B cells. Thus, regulation of PtdIns 3-kinase is a common feature of signaling by several different isotypes of mIg. This response was rapid and peaked 2 to 3 min after the addition of anti-Ig antibodies. The anti-Ig-stimulated increase in PtdIns 3-kinase activity associated with anti-Tyr(P) immunoprecipitates could reflect increased tyrosine phosphorylation of PtdIns 3-kinase, increased activity of the enzyme, or both. In favor of the first possibility, the tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin A blocked the increase in ant-Tyr(P)-immunoprecipitated PtdIns 3-kinase activity as well as the anti-Ig-induced tyrosine phosphorylation. Moreover, this response was not secondary to phospholipase C activation but rather seemed to be a direct consequence of mIg-induced tyrosine phosphorylation. Activation of the phosphoinositide pathway by a transfected M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor expressed in WEHI-231 B lymphoma cells did not increase the amount of PtdIns 3-kinase activity which could be precipitated with anti-Tyr(P) antibodies. Similarly, inhibition of the phosphoinositide pathway did not abrogate the ability of mIg cross-linking to stimulate this response. Thus, mIg-induced tyrosine phosphorylation regulates PtdIns 3-kinase, an important mediator of growth control in fibroblasts and potentially an important regulatory component in B cells as well.     

Prevalence of methotrexate intolerance in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis

Introduction

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal and behavioural symptoms occurring before (anticipatory/associative) and after methotrexate (MTX) administration, termed MTX intolerance, in rheumatoid (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods

Methotrexate Intolerance Severity Score (MISS), previously validated in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients, was used to determine MTX intolerance prevalence in 291 RA/PsA patients. The MISS consisted of four domains: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and behavioural symptoms, occurring upon, prior to (anticipatory) and when thinking of MTX (associative). MTX intolerance was defined as ≥6 on the MISS with ≥1 point on anticipatory and/or associative and/or behavioural items.

Results

A total of 123 patients (42.3%) experienced at least one gastrointestinal adverse effect. The prevalence of MTX intolerance was 11%. MTX intolerance prevalence was higher in patients on parenteral (20.6%) than on oral MTX (6.2%) (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Besides well-known gastrointestinal symptoms after MTX, RA and PsA patients experienced these symptoms also before MTX intake. RA and PsA patients on MTX should be closely monitored with the MISS for early detection of MTX intolerance, in order to intervene timely and avoid discontinuation of an effective treatment.