Inhibition of colony-stimulating factor-stimulated macrophage proliferation by tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IFN-gamma, and lipopolysaccharide is not due to a general loss of responsiveness to growth factor

The role of stimulatory factors, such as the CSF, in the regulation of hemopoiesis has been extensively documented. Less is known of the negative regulators of hemopoiesis. In this report, we show that the macrophage activating agents, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and LPS, are all potent inhibitors of CSF-1-stimulated murine bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMM) DNA synthesis and increase in cell numbers. The inhibitory effects of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma do not appear to be due to endotoxin contamination in the recombinant cytokine preparations. The inhibition of proliferation is reversible and is not due to a general loss of growth factor responsiveness, inasmuch as the three agents do not inhibit CSF-1-stimulated BMM survival, protein synthesis, or fluid phase pinocytosis. Because TNF-alpha and LPS are known to rapidly and potently down-modulate CSF-1 receptor levels in BMM, the results also suggest that low levels of receptor occupancy are sufficient for biological responses to CSF-1. The inhibitory effects of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, or LPS were also seen when granulocyte-macrophage-CSF or IL-3 was used to stimulate BMM DNA synthesis. The results suggest that TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and LPS appear to be inhibiting CSF-stimulated proliferation by acting at a post-receptor level, possibly by regulation of some critical event(s) in the mitogenic signaling pathway.     

Na+/H+ exchange involvement in colony-stimulating factor-1-stimulated macrophage proliferation. Evidence for a requirement during late G1 of the cell cycle but not for early growth factor responses

Na+/H+ exchange activation by growth factors is proposed to be an important early signal for mitogenesis; however, little is known of its duration and requirement during later stages of the cell cycle. Macrophage-specific colony factor (CSF-1) rapidly activates murine bone marrow-derived macrophage Na+/H+ exchange, resulting in stimulation of Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity. The response to CSF-1 is maintained for at least 24 h. Inhibition of Na+/H+ exchange with 5-N,N-dimethylamiloride prevents CSF-1-stimulated DNA synthesis and cell growth. This is unlikely to be due to cytoplasmic acidosis, but more likely reflects a requirement for Na+/H+ exchange-mediated Na+ influx. DMA addition even up to 8 h after the growth factors suppresses S-phase progression. Na+/H+ exchange appears not to be involved in the induction of other early growth factor responses (c-fos and c-myc mRNA induction and general RNA and protein synthesis). We propose that growth factor-stimulated Na+/H+ exchange late in G1 of the cell cycle is required for S-phase progression but not for certain early growth factor responses.     

An Enhanced Immune Response of Mclk1 +/? Mutant Mice Is Associated with Partial Protection from Fibrosis,Cancer and the Development of Biomarkers of Aging

The immune response is essential for survival by destroying microorganisms and pre-cancerous cells. However, inflammation, one aspect of this response, can result in short- and long-term deleterious side-effects. Mclk1 ^+/− mutant mice can be long-lived despite displaying a hair-trigger inflammatory response and chronically activated macrophages as a result of high mitochondrial ROS generation. Here we ask whether this phenotype is beneficial or simply tolerated. We used models of infection by Salmonella serovars and found that Mclk1 ^+/− mutants mount a stronger immune response, control bacterial proliferation better, and are resistant to cell and tissue damage resulting from the response, including fibrosis and types of oxidative damage that are considered to be biomarkers of aging. Moreover, these same types of tissue damage were found to be low in untreated 23 months-old mutants. We also examined the initiation of tumour growth after transplantation of mouse LLC1 carcinoma cells into Mclk1 ^+/− mutants, as well as during spontaneous tumorigenesis in Mclk1 ^+/− Trp53 ^+/− double mutants. Tumour latency was increased by the Mclk1 ^+/− genotype in both models. Furthermore, we used the transplantation model to show that splenic CD8+ T lymphocytes from Mclk1 ^+/− graft recipients show enhanced cytotoxicity against LLC1 cells in vitro. Mclk1 ^+/− mutants thus display an association of an enhanced immune response with partial protection from age-dependent processes and from pathologies similar to those that are found with increased frequency during the aging process. This suggests that the immune phenotype of these mutants might contribute to their longevity. We discuss how these findings suggest a broader view of how the immune response might impact the aging process.     

Informal education and health promoting approaches in adult cancer survivors

This review looks at the available data relating to the informal education aspects and other health promoting approaches applied by adult cancer survivors to reduce the risk of cancer. The implications of such behavioral interventions on oncology practice are discussed. We also highlight areas of future research to pursue. Available data show that many cancer survivors remain engaged in risky health behaviors post-diagnosis, which are associated with an increased risk of disease's recurrence. However, over the last years patients seem to increasingly receive adequate risk-based medical care. The application of appropriate informal education approaches, such as diet, exercise, and cessation of former unhealthy habits, such as smoking and alcohol has facilitated behavioral changes in cancer survivors, thoroughly improving their well being and overall quality of life (QOL). Most of the research studies published to date have applied structured lifestyle interventions on intensive, individualized counseling sessions delivered by trained personnel or psychosocial-based mediations and reported that these approaches are largely effective in promoting the adoption of a healthier lifestyle in cancer survivors. These interventions have been reported to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence and thus to obtain an obvious positive impact on their well-being and overall QOL. However, there is still insufficient evidence to conclude and support with confidence the effectiveness of any of these behavioral interventions and therefore future interventions should be initiated to assess the long-term effects and validating outcomes of lifestyle and other psychosocial interventions.     

Zellweger spectrum disorder patient–derived fibroblasts with the PEX1-Gly843Asp allele recover peroxisome functions in response to flavonoids

Zellweger spectrum disorder (ZSD) results from biallelic mutations in PEX genes required for peroxisome biogenesis. PEX1-G843D is a common hypomorphic allele in the patient population that is associated with milder disease. In prior work using a PEX1-G843D/null patient fibroblast line expressing a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter with a peroxisome-targeting signal (GFP-PTS1), we demonstrated that treatments with the chemical chaperone betaine and flavonoid acacetin diacetate recovered peroxisome functions. To identify more effective compounds for preclinical investigation, we evaluated 54 flavonoids using this cell-based phenotype assay. Diosmetin showed the most promising combination of potency and efficacy (EC50 2.5 µM). All active 5′,7′-dihydroxyflavones showed greater average efficacy than their corresponding flavonols, whereas the corresponding flavanones, isoflavones, and chalcones tested were inactive. Additional treatment with the proteostasis regulator bortezomib increased the percentage of import-rescued cells over treatment with flavonoids alone. Cotreatments of diosmetin and betaine showed the most robust additive effects, as confirmed by three independent functional assays in primary PEX1-G843D patient cells, but neither agent was active alone or in combination in patient cells homozygous for the PEX1 c.2097_2098insT null allele. Moreover, diosmetin treatment increased PEX1, PEX6, and PEX5 protein levels in PEX1-G843D patient cells, but none of these proteins increased in PEX1 null cells. We propose that diosmetin acts as a pharmacological chaperone that improves the stability, conformation, and functions of PEX1/PEX6 exportomer complexes required for peroxisome assembly. We suggest that diosmetin, in clinical use for chronic venous disease, and related flavonoids warrant further preclinical investigation for the treatment of PEX1-G843D–associated ZSD.     

The phenology of the San Jose scaleQuadraspidiotus perniciosus [Hom.: Diaspididae] and its association with its natural enemies on almond trees in northern Greece

The phenology of the San Jose scale was studied in a heavily-infested almond orchard in northern Greece. It appears that the scale there completes 3 generations per year. The majority of the population hibernates as 1^st instar larvae. A series of releases were made using the introduced Hymenoptera parasiteProspaltella perniciosi Tower. Sampling results showed a very high mortality of the San Jose scale, Apart from the percentage due to climatic factors, the remainder is a result of the action of natural enemies. A considerable part of this action is attributable to the local entomophagous insects and especially the predators, of whichCybocephalus fodori Endrody-Younga appears to be the key species. The rest is attributable to the action of the released populations ofP. perniciosi. The main part of this paper was presented during the International Symposium held in Budapest (15–20 August 1983).     

Unravelling the conformational plasticity of the extracellular domain of a prokaryotic nAChR homologue in solution by NMR

Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) of the Cys loop family are transmembrane glycoproteins implicated in a variety of biological functions. Here, we present a solution NMR study of the extracellular domain of a prokaryotic pLGIC homologue from the bacterium Gloeobacter violaceus that is found to be a monomer in solution.     

Inhibition of the signaling pathways for macrophage proliferation by cyclic AMP. Lack of effect on early responses to colony stimulating factor-1.

Colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) stimulates DNA synthesis in quiescent murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM). CSF-1 action has been shown to involve activation of the CSF-1 receptor kinase. The protein kinase C activator, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (PMA), is itself weakly mitogenic and synergises with CSF-1 for stimulation of BMM DNA synthesis suggesting a possible role for protein kinase C in the stimulation of BMM DNA synthesis. In this report we show that several agents which raise intracellular cAMP (8-bromoadenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, cholera toxin, and prostaglandin E2) reversibly inhibit DNA synthesis in BMM induced by CSF-1, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor, interleukin-3, and PMA. The suppressive action of cAMP elevation on the proliferative response to CSF-1 can be manifested even late in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Several CSF-1-stimulated earlier responses, viz. protein synthesis, Na+/H+ exchange, Na+,K(+)-ATPase and c-myc-mRNA expression, were not inhibited thus showing a striking difference from some other cellular systems involving growth factor-mediated responses. c-fos-mRNA levels were raised and stabilized by the cAMP-elevating agents, and this modulation was not altered by CSF-1. Thus, the signaling pathways in the macrophages involving tyrosine kinase and protein kinase C activation are associated with increased proliferation while those involving elevation of cAMP (and presumably activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinases) appear to have an inhibitory effect.