Mitral regurgitation quantified by CMR 4D-flow is associated with microvascular obstruction post reperfused ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: Mitral regurgitation (MR) and microvascular obstruction (MVO) are common complications of myocardial infarction (MI). This study aimed to investigate the association between MR in ST-elevation MI (STEMI) subjects with MVO post-reperfusion. STEMI subjects undergoing primary percutaneous intervention were enrolled. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging was performed within 48-hours of initial presentation. 4D flow images of CMR were analysed using a retrospective valve tracking technique to quantify MR volume, and late gadolinium enhancement images of CMR to assess MVO. RESULTS: Among 69 patients in the study cohort, 41 had MVO (59%). Patients with MVO had lower left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) (42 ± 10% vs. 52 ± 8%, P < 0.01), higher end-systolic volume (98 ± 49 ml vs. 73 ± 28 ml, P < 0.001) and larger scar volume (26 ± 19% vs. 11 ± 9%, P < 0.001). Extent of MVO was associated with the degree of MR quantified by 4D flow (R = 0.54, P = 0.0003). In uni-variate regression analysis, investigating the association of CMR variables to the degree of acute MR, only the extent of MVO was associated (coefficient = 0.27, P = 0.001). The area under the curve for the presence of MVO was 0.66 (P = 0.01) for MR > 2.5 ml. We conclude that in patients with reperfused STEMI, the degree of acute MR is associated with the degree of MVO.

Early-life perturbations in glucocorticoid activity impacts on the structure, function and molecular composition of the adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) heart.

BACKGROUND: Transient early-life perturbations in glucocorticoids (GC) are linked with cardiovascular disease risk in later life. Here the impact of early life manipulations of GC on adult heart structure, function and gene expression were assessed. METHODS AND RESULTS: Zebrafish embryos were incubated in dexamethasone (Dex) or injected with targeted glucocorticoid receptor (GR) morpholino knockdown (GR Mo) over the first 120 h post fertilisation (hpf); surviving embryos (>90%) were maintained until adulthood under normal conditions. Cardiac function, heart histology and cardiac genes were assessed in embryonic (120 hpf) and adult (120 days post fertilisation (dpf)) hearts. GR Mo embryos (120 hpf) had smaller hearts with fewer cardiomyocytes, less mature striation pattern, reduced cardiac function and reduced levels of vmhc and igf mRNA compared with controls. GR Mo adult hearts were smaller with diminished trabecular network pattern, reduced expression of vmhc and altered echocardiographic Doppler flow compared to controls. Dex embryos had larger hearts at 120 hpf (Dex 107.2 ± 3.1 vs. controls 90.2 ± 1.1 µm, p < 0.001) with a more mature trabecular network and larger cardiomyocytes (1.62 ± 0.13 cells/µm vs control 2.18 ± 0.13 cells/µm, p < 0.05) and enhanced cardiac performance compared to controls. Adult hearts were larger (1.02 ± 0.07 µg/mg vs controls 0.63 ± 0.06 µg/mg, p = 0.0007), had increased vmhc and gr mRNA levels. CONCLUSION: Perturbations in GR activity during embryonic development results in short and long-term alterations in the heart.

E. coli NfsA: an alternative nitroreductase for prodrug activation gene therapy in combination with CB1954.

Prodrug activation gene therapy is a developing approach to cancer treatment, whereby prodrug-activating enzymes are expressed in tumour cells. After administration of a non-toxic prodrug, its conversion to cytotoxic metabolites directly kills tumour cells expressing the activating enzyme, whereas the local spread of activated metabolites can kill nearby cells lacking the enzyme (bystander cell killing). One promising combination that has entered clinical trials uses the nitroreductase NfsB from Escherichia coli to activate the prodrug, CB1954, to a potent bifunctional alkylating agent. NfsA, the major E. coli nitroreductase, has greater activity with nitrofuran antibiotics, but it has not been compared in the past with NfsB for the activation of CB1954. We show superior in vitro kinetics of CB1954 activation by NfsA using the NADPH cofactor, and show that the expression of NfsA in bacterial or human cells results in a 3.5- to 8-fold greater sensitivity to CB1954, relative to NfsB. Although NfsB reduces either the 2-NO(2) or 4-NO(2) positions of CB1954 in an equimolar ratio, we show that NfsA preferentially reduces the 2-NO(2) group, which leads to a greater bystander effect with cells expressing NfsA than with NfsB. NfsA is also more effective than NfsB for cell sensitisation to nitrofurans and to a selection of alternative, dinitrobenzamide mustard (DNBM) prodrugs.

Loss of cell cycle checkpoint control in Drosophila Rfc4 mutants.

Two alleles of the Drosophila melanogaster Rfc4 (DmRfc4) gene, which encodes subunit 4 of the replication factor C (RFC) complex, cause striking defects in mitotic chromosome cohesion and condensation. These mutations produce larval phenotypes consistent with a role in DNA replication but also result in mitotic chromosomal defects appearing either as premature chromosome condensation-like or precocious sister chromatid separation figures. Though the DmRFC4 protein localizes to all replicating nuclei, it is dispersed from chromatin in mitosis. Thus the mitotic defects appear not to be the result of a direct role for RFC4 in chromosome structure. We also show that the mitotic defects in these two DmRfc4 alleles are the result of aberrant checkpoint control in response to DNA replication inhibition or damage to chromosomes. Not all surveillance function is compromised in these mutants, as the kinetochore attachment checkpoint is operative. Intriguingly, metaphase delay is frequently observed with the more severe of the two alleles, indicating that subsequent chromosome segregation may be inhibited. This is the first demonstration that subunit 4 of RFC functions in checkpoint control in any organism, and our findings additionally emphasize the conserved nature of RFC's involvement in checkpoint control in multicellular eukaryotes.

A role for Drosophila SMC4 in the resolution of sister chromatids in mitosis.

BACKGROUND: Faithful segregation of the genome during mitosis requires interphase chromatin to be condensed into well-defined chromosomes. Chromosome condensation involves a multiprotein complex known as condensin that associates with chromatin early in prophase. Until now, genetic analysis of SMC subunits of the condensin complex in higher eukaryotic cells has not been performed, and consequently the detailed contribution of different subunits to the formation of mitotic chromosome morphology is poorly understood. RESULTS: We show that the SMC4 subunit of condensin is encoded by the essential gluon locus in Drosophila. DmSMC4 contains all the conserved domains present in other members of the structural-maintenance-of-chromosomes protein family. DmSMC4 is both nuclear and cytoplasmic during interphase, concentrates on chromatin during prophase, and localizes to the axial chromosome core at metaphase and anaphase. During decondensation in telophase, most of the DmSMC4 leaves the chromosomes. An examination of gluon mutations indicates that SMC4 is required for chromosome condensation and segregation during different developmental stages. A detailed analysis of mitotic chromosome structure in mutant cells indicates that although the longitudinal axis can be shortened normally, sister chromatid resolution is strikingly disrupted. This phenotype then leads to severe chromosome segregation defects, chromosome breakage, and apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that SMC4 is critically important for the resolution of sister chromatids during mitosis prior to anaphase onset.

An automated Elson-Morgan assay for 2-amino-2-deoxy-hexoses, with increased sensitivity.

The Elson-Morgan assay for 2-amino-2-deoxyhexoses, despite its many modifications, can still give variable results because of slight variations in reaction conditions. An automated method is reported which uses microgram samples and provides greater sensitivity than hitherto possible. The use of sodium orthophosphate and optimisation of the concentrations of the reagents provide conditions that are more stable, and results that are more reliable, than any previously reported.