Novel mass spectrometry imaging software assisting labeled normalization and quantitation of drugs and neuropeptides directly in tissue sections

MALDI MS imaging has been extensively used to produce qualitative distribution maps of proteins, peptides, lipids, small molecule pharmaceuticals and their metabolites directly in biological tissue sections. There is growing demand to quantify the amount of target compounds in the tissue sections of different organs. We present a novel MS imaging software including protocol for the quantitation of drugs, and for the first time, an endogenous neuropeptide directly in tissue sections. After selecting regions of interest on the tissue section, data is read and processed by the software using several available methods for baseline corrections, subtractions, denoising, smoothing, recalibration and normalization. The concentrations of in vivo administered drugs or endogenous compounds are then determined semi-automatically using either external standard curves, or by using labeled compounds, i.e., isotope labeled analogs as standards. As model systems, we have quantified the distribution of imipramine and tiotropium in the brain and lung of dosed rats. Substance P was quantified in different mouse brain structures, which correlated well with previously reported peptide levels. Our approach facilitates quantitative data processing and labeled standards provide better reproducibility and may be considered as an efficient tool to quantify drugs and endogenous compounds in tissue regions of interest.     

Host genetic background and the innate inflammatory response of lung to influenza virus

Many studies of influenza severity have focused on viral properties that confer virulence, whereas the contributory role of the host genetic background on infection severity remains largely unexplored. In this study, we measure the impact of inoculation with influenza virus in four strains of inbred mice - BALB/cByJ, C57BL/6 J, A/J, and DBA/2 J. To evaluate the extent to which responses are inherent to lung per se, as opposed to effects of the systemic response to lung infection, we also measured cytokines and chemokines in lung slices exposed to the virus in vitro. Finally, we evaluate the in vivo responses of recombinant inbred (RI) and select consomic strains of mice to search for genomic loci that contribute to phenotypic variance in response to influenza infection. We found marked variation among mouse strains after challenge with virus strain A/HKX31(H3N2), consistent with previous reports using more virulent strains. Furthermore, response patterns differ after in vivo versus in vitro exposure of lung to virus, supporting a predominant role of the systemic host inflammatory response in generating the strain differences. These results add to the body of information pointing to host genotype as a crucial factor in mediating the severity of influenza infections.     

Comparison of the variability of the annual rates of change in FEV1 determined from serial measurements of the pre- versus post-bronchodilator FEV1 over 5 years in mild to moderate COPD: Results of the lung health study

Background

The impact of interventions on the progressive course of COPD is currently assessed by the slope of the annual decline in FEV₁ determined from serial measurements of the post-, in preference to the pre-, bronchodilator FEV₁. We therefore compared the yearly slope and the variability of the slope of the pre- versus the post-bronchodilator FEV₁ in men and women with mild to moderate COPD who participated in the 5-year Lung Health Study (LHS).

Methods

Data were analyzed from 4484 of the 5887 LHS participants who had measurements of pre- and post-bronchodilator FEV₁ at baseline (screening visit 2) and all five annual visits. The annual rate of decline in FEV₁ (±SE) measured pre- and post-bronchodilator from the first to the fifth annual visit was estimated separately using a random coefficient model adjusted for relevant covariates. Analyses were performed separately within each of the three randomized intervention groups. In addition, individual rates of decline in pre- and post-bronchodilator FEV₁ were also determined for each participant. Furthermore, sample sizes were estimated for determining the significance of differences in slopes of decline between different interventions using pre- versus post-bronchodilator measurements.

Results

Within each intervention group, mean adjusted and unadjusted slope estimates were slightly higher for the pre- than the post-bronchodilator FEV₁ (range of differences 2.6-5.2 ml/yr) and the standard errors around these estimates were only minimally higher for the pre- versus the post-bronchodilator FEV₁ (range 0.05-0.11 ml/yr). Conversely, the standard deviations of the mean FEV₁ determined at each annual visit were consistently slightly higher (range of differences 0.011 to 0.035 L) for the post- compared to the pre-bronchodilator FEV₁. Within each group, the proportion of individual participants with a statistically significant slope was similar (varying by only 1.4 to 2.7%) comparing the estimates from the pre- versus the post-bronchodilator FEV₁. However, sample size estimates were slightly higher when the pre- compared to the post-bronchodilator value was used to determine the significance of specified differences in slopes between interventions.

Conclusion

Serial measurements of the pre-bronchodilator FEV₁ are generally sufficient for comparing the impact of different interventions on the annual rate of change in FEV₁.     

Hypoxia-induced DNA hypermethylation in human pulmonary fibroblasts is associated with Thy-1 promoter methylation and the development of a pro-fibrotic phenotype

Background

Pulmonary fibrosis is a debilitating and lethal disease with no effective treatment options. Understanding the pathological processes at play will direct the application of novel therapeutic avenues. Hypoxia has been implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis yet the precise mechanism by which it contributes to disease progression remains to be fully elucidated. It has been shown that chronic hypoxia can alter DNA methylation patterns in tumour-derived cell lines. This epigenetic alteration can induce changes in cellular phenotype with promoter methylation being associated with gene silencing. Of particular relevance to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the observation that Thy-1 promoter methylation is associated with a myofibroblast phenotype where loss of Thy-1 occurs alongside increased alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression. The initial aim of this study was to determine whether hypoxia regulates DNA methylation in normal human lung fibroblasts (CCD19Lu). As it has been reported that hypoxia suppresses Thy-1 expression during lung development we also studied the effect of hypoxia on Thy-1 promoter methylation and gene expression.

Methods

CCD19Lu were grown for up to 8 days in hypoxia and assessed for global changes in DNA methylation using flow cytometry. Real-time PCR was used to quantify expression of Thy-1, α-SMA, collagen I and III. Genomic DNA was bisulphite treated and methylation specific PCR (MSPCR) was used to examine the methylation status of the Thy-1 promoter.

Results

Significant global hypermethylation was detected in hypoxic fibroblasts relative to normoxic controls and was accompanied by increased expression of myofibroblast markers. Thy-1 mRNA expression was suppressed in hypoxic cells, which was restored with the demethylating agent 5-aza-2^′-deoxycytidine. MSPCR revealed that Thy-1 became methylated following fibroblast exposure to 1% O₂.

Conclusion

These data suggest that global and gene-specific changes in DNA methylation may play an important role in fibroblast function in hypoxia.     

Overexpression of NTPDase2 in gliomas promotes systemic inflammation and pulmonary injury

Gliomas are the most common and devastating type of primary brain tumor. Many non-neoplastic cells, including immune cells, comprise the tumor microenvironment where they create a milieu that appears to dictate cancer development. ATP and the phosphohydrolytic products ADP and adenosine by activating P2 and P1 receptors may participate in these interactions among malignant and immune cells. Purinergic receptor-mediated cell communication is closely regulated by ectonucleotidases, such as by members of the ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (E-NTPDase) family, which hydrolyze extracellular nucleotides. We have shown that gliomas, unlike astrocytes, exhibit low NTPDase activity. Furthermore, ATP induces glioma cell proliferation and the co-administration of apyrase decreases progression of injected cells in vivo. We have previously shown that NTPDase2 reconstitution dramatically increases tumor growth in vivo. Here we evaluated whether NTPDase2 reconstitution to gliomas modulates systemic inflammatory responses. We observed that NTPDase2 overexpression modulated pro-inflammatory cytokine production and platelet reactivity. Additionally, pathological alterations in the lungs were observed in rats bearing these tumors. Our results suggest that disruption of purinergic signaling via ADP accumulation creates an inflammatory state that may promote tumor spread and dictate clinical progression.     

Plasma marker proteins associated with the progression of lung cancer in obese mice fed a high-fat diet

Recent studies have indicated that obesity increases the risk of developing several types of cancers including lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. In the present study, we attempted to discover marker proteins associated with lung cancer progression mediated by treatment of a high-fat diet (HFD) using 2DE combined with MALDI-TOF-MS. Image analysis and further statistical analysis allowed for the detection and identification of 14 proteins, which consequently were classified into two groups based on their regulation patterns in response to diet and tumor. Interestingly, the protein abundances of ten proteins exhibited a synergistic effect when treated with HFD in tumor-bearing mice (Group I). Proteins that had a higher abundance in the plasma of tumor-bearing mice included FGB, Tf, Hpx, Cp, and Hp and the proteins that had a lower abundance included A1AT precursor, PON1, TTRt, and α2-M. These proteins can be used as molecular markers that contribute simultaneously to both obesity and cancer. Four other proteins showed an increase (complement C3 and FGA) or decrease (Apo H and AT III precursor) in the only tumor-bearing mice independently of diet (Group II). The marker proteins identified here may lead to the development of new therapeutics for obesity-causative treatment of lung cancer.     

高海拔地区内毒素致绵羊多脏器功能障碍综合征的病理学改变

目的研究高海拔地区内毒素致绵羊多脏器功能障碍综合征（MODS）的病理学变化特征。方法将16只绵羊随机分为2组,中度海拔组和高海拔组,按相同的剂量静脉给予内毒素（6μg/kg）制作MODS模型,24h后麻醉处死绵羊,观察主要脏器的病理学变化。结果中度海拔和高海拔MODS组绵羊肺脏、肝脏、脾脏、肠粘膜均出现明显炎性改变,高海拔MODS组绵羊肺脏、肝脏病理学评分明显高于中度海拔MODS组。结论高海拔地区MODS的病理损伤较中度海拔明显加重。     

PRDM5 基因甲基化及在HTB-182、A549 中的表达

目的:本实验检测PRDM5在HTB-182、A549、HBE正常支气管上皮细胞系中甲基化状态及去甲基化处理对其表达的影响。方法:运用MSP甲基化特异性PCR检测PRDM5在A549、HTB-182和HBE正常支气管上皮细胞系的甲基化状态,再加入不同浓度的去甲基化药物检测PRDM5在A549、HTB-182和HBE正常支气管上皮细胞的甲基化状态,用RT-PCR检测PRDM5在加药前后的mRNA表达水平;用Western-Blot检测PRDM5在加药前后的蛋白表达水平。结果:在肺肿瘤细胞系中,PRDM5存在不同程度的高甲基化,加入不同浓度去甲基化药物后,甲基化表达水平逐渐减弱(P<0.05),mRNA表达水平逐渐增强(P<0.05),蛋白表达水平也逐渐增强(P<0.05)。结论:在肺癌细胞系中PRDM5启动子高甲基化是导致PRDM5表达水平降低的主要原因,PRD-M5启动子去甲基化可能成为肺癌治疗的新靶点。     

鸦胆子油乳联合NP 方案治疗晚期非小细胞肺癌的临床疗效观察

目的:观察鸦胆子油乳联合NP方案化疗与单纯NP方案化疗对晚期肺小细胞癌患者的疗效、生活质量等因素的影响。方法:将154例患有晚期非小细胞肺癌患者随机分为两组:治疗组,在NP方案化疗基础上使用鸦胆子油乳治疗;对照组,单纯接受NP方案化疗。对154例患者追踪3个月,观察并比较患者的疗效、体质量、生活质量、毒副反应等方面的差异。结果:在NP方案化疗基础上使用鸦胆子油乳治疗在患者疗效评价方面与单纯NP方案化疗相比不具有统计学差异(P>0.05);在提高患者体质量、改善患者临床症状和生活质量等方面均优于单纯NP方案化疗(P<0.05);在化疗所引发的白细胞、血红蛋白和血小板降低等部分毒副反应发生率方面低于单纯NP方案化疗组(P<0.05)。结论:鸦胆子油乳联合NP方案化疗治疗晚期非小细胞肺癌不仅可以起到化疗增效的作用,而且能够明显提高患者生活质量,有效的改善临床症候,降低化疗引发的毒副反应,这一联合治疗方案可以在临床治疗中广泛推广。     

褪黑素对肺腺癌A549 细胞增殖及核转录因子Bp65 核移位的影响

目的:探讨褪黑素(MLT)对体外培养的肺腺癌A549细胞增殖的影响及作用机制。方法:体外培养人肺腺癌A549细胞,通过不同浓度的褪黑素(0.1、1.0、2.5、5.0mmol/L)干预24、48、72h,通过噻唑蓝(MTT)法测定细胞增殖,DNA末端原位标记染色法(Tunel)检测细胞凋亡情况,蛋白印迹(Western-blot)法检测褪黑素对A549细胞核内核转录因子Bp65(NF-Bp65)蛋白水平的影响。结果:褪黑素能够抑制人肺腺癌A549细胞增殖,呈剂量、时间依赖性性;高浓度褪黑素作用后凋亡细胞比例明显升高,同时细胞核内NF-Bp65蛋白量明显减少。结论:褪黑素能够呈剂量、时间依赖性抑制人肺腺癌A549细胞的增殖,抑制核因子Bp65的核移位诱导细胞凋亡是可能作用路径之一。