Deuterium oxide effects on excitation-contraction coupling of skeletal muscle

²H₂O (99.8%) Ringer's solution greatly reduces the twitch and tetanus of frog sartorius muscle and, as specially shown here, slows the onset features of the mechanical output of the twitch by: (a) increasing the time (L_R) from stimulus to start of latency relaxation; (b) slowing the developmet of the latency relaxation, and (c) greatly decreasing the rate of onset of tension development. These changes reflect effects of ²H₂O on excitation-contraction coupling and they represent the critical direct effects of ²H₂O on muscle since it does not depress either the action potential or the intrinsic myofibrillar contractility. The increase in L_R is attributed to slowed inward electrical propagation in the T-tubule. But the critical effect of ²H₂O on frog muscle is to greatly depress mobilization of activator Ca²⁺. The depression of the Ca²⁺ mobilization and of its effects on the activation of contraction evidently result from (a) a lowered rate of release of Ca²⁺ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, as indicated by the slowed development of the latency relaxation, (b) a decreased amount of Ca²⁺ released in a twitch, and (c) a reduced speed of diffusion of the Ca²⁺ to the contractile filaments. The depressed mobilization of Ca²⁺ is apparently the essential cause of ²H₂O's general depression of twitch and tetanus output.     

Guanylate Cyclase C Deficiency Causes Severe Inflammation in a Murine Model of Spontaneous Colitis

Background

Guanylate Cyclase C (GC-C; Gucy2c) is a transmembrane receptor expressed in intestinal epithelial cells. Activation of GC-C by its secreted ligand guanylin stimulates intestinal fluid secretion. Familial mutations in GC-C cause chronic diarrheal disease or constipation and are associated with intestinal inflammation and infection. Here, we investigated the impact of GC-C activity on mucosal immune responses.

Methods

We utilized intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide to elicit a systemic cytokine challenge and then measured pro-inflammatory gene expression in colonic mucosa. GC-C^+/+ and GC-C^−/− mice were bred with interleukin (IL)-10 deficient animals and colonic inflammation were assessed. Immune cell influx and cytokine/chemokine expression was measured in the colon of wildtype, IL-10^−/−, GC-C^+/+IL-10^−/− and GC-C^−/−IL-10^−/− mice. GC-C and guanylin production were examined in the colon of these animals and in a cytokine-treated colon epithelial cell line.

Results

Relative to GC-C^+/+ animals, intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide injection into GC-C^−/− mice increased proinflammatory gene expression in both whole colon tissue and in partially purified colonocyte isolations. Spontaneous colitis in GC-C^−/−IL-10^−/− animals was significantly more severe relative to GC-C^+/+IL-10^−/− mice. Unlike GC-C^+/+IL-10^−/− controls, colon pathology in GC-C^−/−IL-10^−/− animals was apparent at an early age and was characterized by severely altered mucosal architecture, crypt abscesses, and hyperplastic subepithelial lesions. F4/80 and myeloperoxidase positive cells as well as proinflammatory gene expression were elevated in GC-C^−/−IL-10^−/− mucosa relative to control animals. Guanylin was diminished early in colitis in vivo and tumor necrosis factor α suppressed guanylin mRNA and protein in intestinal goblet cell-like HT29-18-N2 cells.

Conclusions

The GC-C signaling pathway blunts colonic mucosal inflammation that is initiated by systemic cytokine burst or loss of mucosal immune cell immunosuppression. These data as well as the apparent intestinal inflammation in human GC-C mutant kindred underscore the importance of GC-C in regulating the response to injury and inflammation within the gut.     

Impaired phospholipases A2 production by stimulated macrophages from patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome

The aim of this study was to investigate whether early phase of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with changes in immune response, either systemic or localized to the lung. ARDS and control mechanically ventilated patients, as well as healthy volunteers were studied. Alveolar macrophages (AMΦ) and blood monocytes (BM) were treated ex vivo with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interferon-γ (IFNγ), and surfactant. Phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) activity and TLR4 expression were evaluated as markers of cell response. AMΦ from ARDS patients did not respond upon treatment with either LPS or IFN-γ by inducing PLA₂ production. On the contrary, upon stimulation, in control patients the intracellular PLA₂, (mainly cPLA₂) levels were increased, but secretion of PLA₂ (mainly sPLA₂-IIA) was observed only after treatment with LPS. Surfactant suppressed PLA₂ production in cells from both groups of patients. Increased relative changes of total PLA₂ activity and an upregulation of TLR4 expression upon stimulation was observed in BM from primary ARDS, control patients and healthy volunteers. In BM from secondary ARDS patients, however, no PLA₂ induction was observed, with a concomitant down-regulation of TLR4 expression. Cytosolic PLA₂, its activated form, p-cPLA_2, and sPLA₂-IIA were the predominant PLA₂ types within the cells, while extracellularly only sPLA₂-IIA was identified. These results support the concept of down-regulated innate immunity in early ARDS that is compartmentalized in primary and systemic in secondary ARDS. PLA₂ isoforms could serve as markers of the immunity status in ARDS. Finally, our data highlight the role of surfactant in controlling inflammation.     

Neuropeptide-inducible upregulation of proteasome activity precedes nuclear factor kappa B activation in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells

Background

Upregulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF??B) activity and neuroendocrine differentiation are two mechanisms known to be involved in prostate cancer (PC) progression to castration resistance. We have observed that major components of these pathways, including NF??B, proteasome, neutral endopeptidase (NEP) and endothelin 1 (ET-1), exhibit an inverse and mirror image pattern in androgen-dependent (AD) and -independent (AI) states in vitro.

Methods

We have now investigated for evidence of a direct mechanistic connection between these pathways with the use of immunocytochemistry (ICC), western blot analysis, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and proteasome activity assessment.

Results

Neuropeptide (NP) stimulation induced nuclear translocation of NF??B in a dose-dependent manner in AI cells, also evident as reduced total inhibitor ??B (I??B) levels and increased DNA binding in EMSA. These effects were preceded by increased 20?S proteasome activity at lower doses and at earlier times and were at least partially reversed under conditions of NP deprivation induced by specific NP receptor inhibitors, as well as NF??B, I??B kinase (IKK) and proteasome inhibitors. AD cells showed no appreciable nuclear translocation upon NP stimulation, with less intense DNA binding signal on EMSA.

Conclusions

Our results support evidence for a direct mechanistic connection between the NPs and NF??B/proteasome signaling pathways, with a distinct NP-induced profile in the more aggressive AI cancer state.     

Impact of <Emphasis Type="Italic">ZBTB7A</Emphasis> hypomethylation and expression patterns on treatment response to hydroxyurea

Background

We aimed to clarify the emerging epigenetic landscape in a group of genes classified as “modifier genes” of the β-type globin genes (HBB cluster), known to operate in trans to accomplish the two natural developmental switches in globin expression, from embryonic to fetal during the first trimester of conception and from fetal to adult around the time of birth. The epigenetic alterations were determined in adult sickle cell anemia (SCA) homozygotes and SCA/β-thalassemia compound heterozygotes of Greek origin, who are under hydroxyurea (HU) treatment. Patients were distinguished in HU responders and HU non-responders (those not benefited from the HU) and both, and in vivo and in vitro approaches were implemented.

Results

We examined the CpG islands’ DNA methylation profile of BCL11A, KLF1, MYB, MAP3K5, SIN3A, ZBTB7A, and GATA2, along with γ-globin and LRF/ZBTB7A expression levels. In vitro treatment of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) with HU induced a significant DNA hypomethylation pattern in ZBTB7A (p*, 0.04) and GATA2 (p*, 0.03) CpGs exclusively in the HU non-responders. Also, this group of patients exhibited significantly elevated baseline methylation patterns in ZBTB7A, before the HU treatment, compared to HU responders (p*, 0.019) and to control group of healthy individuals (p*, 0.021), which resembles a potential epigenetic barrier for the γ-globin expression. γ-Globin expression in vitro matched with detected HbF levels during patients’ monitoring tests (in vivo) under HU treatment, implying a good reproducibility of the in vitro HU epigenetic effect. LRF/ZBTB7A expression was elevated only in the HU non-responders under the influence of HU.

Conclusions

This is one of the very first pharmacoepigenomic studies indicating that the hypomethylation of ZBTB7A during HU treatment enhances the LRF expression, which by its turn suppresses the HbF resumption in the HU non-responders. Its role as an epigenetic regulator of hemoglobin switching is also supported by the wide distribution of ZBTB7A-binding sites within the 5′ CpG sequences of all studied human HBB cluster “modifier genes.” Also, the baseline methylation level of selective CpGs in ZBTB7A and GATA2 could be an indicator of the negative HU response among the β-type hemoglobinopathy patients.

     

Longterm quiescent cells in the aged human subventricular neurogenic system specifically express GFAP‐δ

A main neurogenic niche in the adult human brain is the subventricular zone (SVZ). Recent data suggest that the progenitors that are born in the human SVZ migrate via the rostral migratory stream (RMS) towards the olfactory bulb (OB), similar to what has been observed in other mammals. A subpopulation of astrocytes in the SVZ specifically expresses an assembly‐compromised isoform of the intermediate filament protein glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP‐δ). To further define the phenotype of these GFAP‐δ expressing cells and to determine whether these cells are present throughout the human subventricular neurogenic system, we analysed SVZ, RMS and OB sections of 14 aged brain donors (ages 74‐93). GFAP‐δ was expressed in the SVZ along the ventricle, in the RMS and in the OB. The GFAP‐δ cells in the SVZ co‐expressed the neural stem cell (NSC) marker nestin and the cell proliferation markers proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Mcm2. Furthermore, BrdU retention was found in GFAP‐δ positive cells in the SVZ. In the RMS, GFAP‐δ was expressed in the glial net surrounding the neuroblasts. In the OB, GFAP‐δ positive cells co‐expressed PCNA. We also showed that GFAP‐δ cells are present in neurosphere cultures that were derived from SVZ precursors, isolated postmortem from four brain donors (ages 63‐91). Taken together, our findings show that GFAP‐δ is expressed in an astrocytic subpopulation in the SVZ, the RMS and the OB. Importantly, we provide the first evidence that GFAP‐δ is specifically expressed in longterm quiescent cells in the human SVZ, which are reminiscent of NSCs.     

Murine guanylate cyclase C regulates colonic injury and inflammation

Guanylate cyclase C (GUCY2C or GC-C) and its ligands, guanylin (GUCA2A or Gn) and uroguanylin (GUCA2B or Ugn), are expressed in intestinal epithelial cells and regulate ion secretion, intestinal barrier function, and epithelial monolayer homeostasis via cGMP-dependent signaling pathways. The aim of this study was to determine whether GC-C and its ligands direct the course of intestinal inflammation. In this article, we show that dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced clinical disease and histological damage to the colonic mucosa were significantly less severe in GC-C(-/-) mice and moderately reduced in Gn(-/-) animals. Relative to wild-type controls, GC-C(-/-) and Gn(-/-) mice had reduced apoptosis and increased proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells during DSS colitis. Basal and DSS-induced production of resistin-like molecule β (RELMβ) was substantially diminished in GC-C(-/-) mice. RELMβ is thought to stimulate cytokine production in macrophages in this disease model and, consistent with this, TNF-α and IFN-γ production was minimal in GC-C(-/-) animals. RELMβ and cytokine levels were similar to wild-type in Gn(-/-) mice, however. Colonic instillation of recombinant RELMβ by enema into GC-C(-/-) mice restores sensitivity to DSS-mediated mucosal injury. These findings demonstrate a novel role for GC-C signaling in facilitating mucosal wounding and inflammation, and further suggest that this may be mediated, in part, through control of RELMβ production.     

The cabbage aphid: a walking mustard oil bomb

The cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae, has developed a chemical defence system that exploits and mimics that of its host plants, involving sequestration of the major plant secondary metabolites (glucosinolates). Like its host plants, the aphid produces a myrosinase (beta-thioglucoside glucohydrolase) to catalyse the hydrolysis of glucosinolates, yielding biologically active products. Here, we demonstrate that aphid myrosinase expression in head/thoracic muscle starts during embryonic development and protein levels continue to accumulate after the nymphs are born. However, aphids are entirely dependent on the host plant for the glucosinolate substrate, which they store in the haemolymph. Uptake of a glucosinolate (sinigrin) was investigated when aphids fed on plants or an in vitro system and followed a different developmental pattern in winged and wingless aphid morphs. In nymphs of the wingless aphid morph, glucosinolate level continued to increase throughout the development to the adult stage, but the quantity in nymphs of the winged form peaked before eclosion (at day 7) and subsequently declined. Winged aphids excreted significantly higher amounts of glucosinolate in the honeydew when compared with wingless aphids, suggesting regulated transport across the gut. The higher level of sinigrin in wingless aphids had a significant negative impact on survival of a ladybird predator. Larvae of Adalia bipunctata were unable to survive when fed adult wingless aphids from a 1% sinigrin diet, but survived successfully when fed aphids from a glucosinolate-free diet (wingless or winged), or winged aphids from 1% sinigrin. The apparent lack of an effective chemical defence system in adult winged aphids possibly reflects their energetic investment in flight as an alternative predator avoidance mechanism.     

Translation elongation can control translation initiation on eukaryotic mRNAs

Synonymous codons encode the same amino acid, but differ in other biophysical properties. The evolutionary selection of codons whose properties are optimal for a cell generates the phenomenon of codon bias. Although recent studies have shown strong effects of codon usage changes on protein expression levels and cellular physiology, no translational control mechanism is known that links codon usage to protein expression levels. Here, we demonstrate a novel translational control mechanism that responds to the speed of ribosome movement immediately after the start codon. High initiation rates are only possible if start codons are liberated sufficiently fast, thus accounting for the observation that fast codons are overrepresented in highly expressed proteins. In contrast, slow codons lead to slow liberation of the start codon by initiating ribosomes, thereby interfering with efficient translation initiation. Codon usage thus evolved as a means to optimise translation on individual mRNAs, as well as global optimisation of ribosome availability.