Gender differences on preoperative psychologic factors affecting acute postoperative pain in patients with lumbar spinal disorders.

BACKGROUND: Psychosexual factors are one of the preoperative factors influencing acute postoperative pain. Because of gender differences in pain, the preoperative factors that influence acute postoperative pain may also differ between males and females. However, there have been no reports on such factors in patients with spinal disorders that focused on gender differences. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the preoperative factors that influence acute postoperative pain, focusing on gender differences. METHODS: The subjects were 75 males and 60 females admitted for surgery for lumbar spinal disorders. Preoperatively, the following were assessed: low back pain using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS); anxiety and depression using the Japanese version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); catastrophic thinking using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS); psychiatric problems using the Brief Scale for Psychiatric Problems in Orthopaedic Patients (BS-POP); and neurological assessments. Acute postoperative pain was also assessed using the NRS within 48 h, postoperatively. Based on these data, we analyzed gender differences in preoperative factors affecting acute postoperative pain in patients with lumbar spinal disorders. RESULTS: Postoperative NRS and preoperative PCS scores were higher in females compared to males. In the males, the coefficient of determination of the multiple regression equation was 0.088, and PCS (ß = 0.323, p = 0.015) was extracted as a significant factor. In the females, the coefficient of determination of the multiple regression equation was 0.075, and BS-POP (ß = 0.300, p = 0.019) was extracted as a significant factor. CONCLUSION: Preoperative factors influencing acute postoperative pain for patients with lumbar spinal disorders vary by gender. It was suggested that males should be screened using PCS. In females, on the other hand, PCS alone is not sufficient for evaluation. It was suggested that evaluation using BS-POP should be considered in addition to PCS.

Screening for DAX1/EWS-FLI1 functional inhibitors identified dihydroorotate dehydrogenase as a therapeutic target for Ewing's sarcoma.

OBJECTIVE: EWS-FLI1 is the most common oncogenic fusion protein in Ewing's sarcoma family tumors (ESFTs). DAX1, an orphan member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is up-regulated by EWS-FLI1 and plays a key role in the transformed phenotype of ESFTs. METHODS: To discover a functional inhibitor of DAX1 and EWS-FLI1, we screened small-molecular inhibitors using a DAX1 reporter assay system. RESULTS: K-234 and its derivatives, which were dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitors, showed inhibitory effects in the reporter assay. K-234 inhibited the growth of Ewing's sarcoma with various fusion types, and K-234 derivatives altered the expression of EWS-FLI1-regulated genes. The DAX1 expression had no effect on the growth inhibitory effect of the K-234 derivatives, while DHODH overexpression or uridine treatment attenuated their inhibitory effects, suggesting that inhibition by K-234 derivatives occurs through DHODH inhibition. An in vivo study showed that a K-234 derivative clearly inhibited tumor growth in an Ewing's sarcoma xenograft mouse model. CONCLUSION: Taken together, the present results suggest that DHODH inhibitors can inhibit the function of DAX1/EWS-FLI1 in ESFTs and might be a therapeutic agent with potent anti-tumor activity for Ewing's sarcoma patients.

Exploratory meta-analysis of hypoxic transcriptomes using a precise transcript reference sequence set.

Gene expression studies are intrinsically biased, with many studies influenced by concomitant information such as gene-disease associations. This limitation can be overcome using a data-driven analysis approach without relying on ancillary information. The FANTOM CAGE-Associated Transcriptome project provides a comprehensive meta-assembly of the human transcriptome using coding and noncoding genes. Hypoxia strongly influences gene expression; in addition, noncoding RNA (ncRNA) metabolism is down-regulated in response to hypoxic stimuli. We evaluated the differential response of various transcripts to hypoxia by determining their hypoxia responsiveness scores. Enrichment analysis revealed that several genes associated with ncRNA metabolism, particularly those involved in ribosomal RNA processing, were down-regulated in response to hypoxia. Previously published information from the FANTOM CAGE-Associated Transcriptome project was suitable for meta-analysis of the transcriptome sequencing data from both coding and ncRNAs and to evaluate the hypoxia responsiveness of target transcripts and relationship between sense-antisense transcripts from the same locus. Our results may facilitate functional annotation of various transcripts including ncRNAs, allowing for both sense and antisense and coding and noncoding evaluations.

[Using Mohs' Paste for Disease Control in a Case of Advanced Mucinous Breast Cancer with Continuous Bleeding from the Primary Tumor Surface].

We present the case of a 70-year-old woman with cancer affecting a substantial area of her breast, characterized by persistent bleeding from the primary tumor. Pathological findings revealed a hormone-sensitive mucinous carcinoma. CT indicated a primary tumor in close proximity to the greater pectoral muscle, left axillary lymph node metastasis, and oligometastases in her right lung. Although she declined surgery and chemotherapy, she agreed to receive Mohs' paste and endocrine therapy. The paste was applied locally, and local control was achieved after 2 weeks. Five years later, CR was still maintained in her left breast. Mohs' paste played a crucial role in achieving local control of the exudation and bleeding from the exposed, unresected cancer. It proved to be an outstanding component of hormone-sensitive local treatment, working synergistically with systemic drug therapy and hormonal therapy.

Lysophosphatidylcholine mediates fast decline in kidney function in diabetic kidney disease.

Some patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) show a fast progression of kidney dysfunction and are known as a "fast decliner" (FD). Therefore, it is critical to understand pathomechanisms specific for fast decline. Here, we performed a comprehensive metabolomic analysis of patients with stage G3 DKD and identified increased urinary lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) in fast decline. This was confirmed by quantification of urinary LPC using mass spectrometry and identified urinary LPC containing saturated fatty acids palmitic (16:0) and stearic (18:0) acids was increased in FDs. The upsurge in urinary LPC levels was correlated with a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate after 2.5 years. To clarify a pathogenic role of LPC in FD, we studied an accelerated rat model of DKD and observed an increase in LPC (16:0) and (18:0) levels in the urine and kidney tubulointerstitium as the disease progressed. These findings suggested that local dysregulation of lipid metabolism resulted in excessive accumulation of this LPC species in the kidney. Our in vitro studies also confirmed LPC-mediated lipotoxicity in cultured proximal tubular cells. LPC induced accumulation of lipid droplets via activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-δ followed by upregulation of the lipid droplet membrane protein perilipin 2 and decreased autophagic flux, thereby inducing organelle stress and subsequent apoptosis. Thus, LPC (16:0) and (18:0) may mediate a fast progression of DKD and may serve as a target for novel therapeutic approaches.

Comparison of Oxidative and Hypoxic Stress Responsive Genes from Meta-Analysis of Public Transcriptomes.

Analysis of RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data is an effective means to analyze the gene expression levels under specific conditions and discover new biological knowledge. More than 74,000 experimental series with RNA-seq have been stored in public databases as of 20 October 2021. Since this huge amount of expression data accumulated from past studies is a promising source of new biological insights, we focused on a meta-analysis of 1783 runs of RNA-seq data under the conditions of two types of stressors: oxidative stress (OS) and hypoxia. The collected RNA-seq data of OS were organized as the OS dataset to retrieve and analyze differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The OS-induced DEGs were compared with the hypoxia-induced DEGs retrieved from a previous study. The results from the meta-analysis of OS transcriptomes revealed two genes, CRIP1 and CRIP3, which were particularly downregulated, suggesting a relationship between OS and zinc homeostasis. The comparison between meta-analysis of OS and hypoxia showed that several genes were differentially expressed under both stress conditions, and it was inferred that the downregulation of cell cycle-related genes is a mutual biological process in both OS and hypoxia.

Multi-Omic Meta-Analysis of Transcriptomes and the Bibliome Uncovers Novel Hypoxia-Inducible Genes.

Hypoxia is a condition in which cells, tissues, or organisms are deprived of sufficient oxygen supply. Aerobic organisms have a hypoxic response system, represented by hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α (HIF1A), to adapt to this condition. Due to publication bias, there has been little focus on genes other than well-known signature hypoxia-inducible genes. Therefore, in this study, we performed a meta-analysis to identify novel hypoxia-inducible genes. We searched publicly available transcriptome databases to obtain hypoxia-related experimental data, retrieved the metadata, and manually curated it. We selected the genes that are differentially expressed by hypoxic stimulation, and evaluated their relevance in hypoxia by performing enrichment analyses. Next, we performed a bibliometric analysis using gene2pubmed data to examine genes that have not been well studied in relation to hypoxia. Gene2pubmed data provides information about the relationship between genes and publications. We calculated and evaluated the number of reports and similarity coefficients of each gene to HIF1A, which is a representative gene in hypoxia studies. In this data-driven study, we report that several genes that were not known to be associated with hypoxia, including the G protein-coupled receptor 146 gene, are upregulated by hypoxic stimulation.

Chimeric Mice With Humanized Livers Demonstrate Human-Specific Hepatotoxicity Caused by a Therapeutic Antibody Against TRAIL-Receptor 2/Death Receptor 5.

The activation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor 2 (TRAIL-R2)/death receptor 5 (DR5) induces apoptosis in various tumor cells but not in normal human cells. Because some therapeutic antibodies targeting TRAIL-R2 have demonstrated severe hepatotoxicity in clinical applications, novel in vivo models reflecting clinical hepatotoxicity are now required. In this study, we investigated the hepatotoxicity caused by KMTR2, an anti-human TRAIL-R2 monoclonal antibody, in chimeric mice with humanized livers (PXB-mice). PXB-mice were exposed to KMTR2 by single or repeated (weekly for 4 weeks) intravenous administrations, and the analyses of blood chemistry, liver histopathology, hepatic gene expression, and toxicokinetics were performed. Treatment with 1 or 10 mg/kg of KMTR2 increased alanine transaminase (ALT) activity and human ALT1 levels in blood. Histopathological analysis revealed that cell death and degeneration with the infiltration of inflammatory cells in human but not mouse hepatocytes were increased in a time-dependent manner after KMTR2 administration. Furthermore, increases in TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive human hepatocytes and serum concentration of cleaved cytokeratin 18, a human-specific apoptosis marker, were observed. RNA sequence analysis showed that the gene expression profile changed in different manners between human and mouse hepatocytes and the up-regulation of TRAIL-R2-related genes was observed only in human hepatocytes. Taken together, these results indicate that KMTR2-mediated TRAIL-R2 activation induces apoptosis of human hepatocytes and hepatotoxicity in PXB-mice and suggest that chimeric mice with humanized liver can be novel tools for the evaluation of in vivo human-specific hepatotoxicity induced by therapeutic antibodies in pre-clinical studies.

A Docosahexaenoic Acid-Derived Pro-resolving Agent, Maresin 1, Protects Motor Neuron Cells Death.

Maresin 1 is a novel pro-resolving mediator derived from docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), with potent anti-inflammation effects against several animal models, including brain ischemia, sepsis, and lung fibrosis. However, its effect against motor neuron cell death is still not investigated. Therefore, we investigated the effects of maresin 1 on several stress-induced motor neuron cell death. Maresin 1 suppressed combinatorial stress which was evoked by superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)G93A and serum-free, -induced motor neuron cells death in a concentration-dependent manner, and had a stronger neuroprotective effective than DHA. Maresin 1 also had neuroprotective effects against transactivation response DNA-binding protein (TDP)-43A315T and serum-free stress, H2O2, and tunicamycin-induced cell death. Maresin 1 reduced the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production caused by SOD1G93A or TDP-43A315T. Moreover, maresin 1 suppressed the NF-κB activation induced by SOD1G93A and serum-free stress. These data indicate that maresin 1 has motor neuron protective effects against several stresses by reduction of ROS production or attenuation of the NF-κB activation. Maresin 1 also had neuroprotective effects against H2O2, and tunicamycin-induced cell death in a concentration-dependent manner. Finally, maresin 1 ameliorated the motor function deficits of spinal muscular atrophy model in which endoplasmic reticulum stress was upregulated. Thus, maresin 1 may be beneficial to protect against motor neuron diseases.

[A Case of Advanced Breast Cancer Effectively Treated with Bevacizumab and Letrozole].

We report a case of primary advanced breast cancer that was locally controlled by treatment with bevacizumab. A 69-yearold woman presented at our hospital complaining of left breast hemorrhage. Her left breast had a large mass with an ulcer, and there was bleeding. Breast ultrasonography showed a large tumor that involved the whole left breast, and some swollen axillary lymph nodes. Breast MRI showed a mass of 77mm and skin invasion around the medial area of the left breast. Histopathological examination indicated invasive ductal carcinoma, ER(+), PgR(+), HER2(-), Ki-67 20%. We diagnosed left breast carcinoma, T4bN1M0, stage III B. She received paclitaxel plus bevacizumab as first-line therapy. Breast MRI showed a reduction in the primary tumor and axillary lymph node swelling. Adverse events including hypertension(Grade 3) and peripheral neuropathy(Grade 2)were observed. She received letrozole as second-line therapy. After commencing letrozole, the tumor reduced further, and the local ulcer disappeared showing only induration. Four years from the start of treatment, the woman has obtained good local control and has not developed other metastases.

Short-term effect of back school based on cognitive behavioral therapy involving multidisciplinary collaboration.

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to develop a comprehensive back school program that included elements of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), implement this through multidisciplinary collaboration, and ascertain its effectiveness as a pilot study. DesignThis school was implemented in the form of five 90-minute group sessions held every other week.MethodsParticipants comprised 7 chronic low back pain patients with poor improvement in the usual treatment. Practitioners were orthopaedic surgeon, physical therapist, and a clinical psychologist. This school contents were patient education, self-monitoring, back exercise, relaxation, stress management, cognitive restructuring, activity pacing, and exposure. ResultsFrom the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, each score of four scales or items (sense of control, PCS (pain catastrophizing), PASS-20 (escape/avoidance), FFD (finger-floor distance)) after this program significantly improved. Results of calculating the effect size, sense of control (d=0.55) is 'moderate', the PCS (d=1.12) and the PASS-20 (d=1.64) were 'large'.ConclusionsThis back school may be useful for physical function and psychological variables which much related to pain management and daily disabilities in patients with poor respond to standard orthopaedic treatment.

In Models of Intracerebral Hemorrhage, Rivaroxaban is Superior to Warfarin to Limit Blood Brain Barrier Disruption and Hematoma Expansion.

BACKGROUND: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) during oral anticoagulation therapy with an oral vitamin K epoxidase reductase such as warfarin is a life-threatening complication. However, whether direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are associated with larger hematoma volume and higher mortality rates remains controversial. We evaluated the hematoma volume and pathophysiology of ICH during anticoagulation with warfarin or rivaroxaban, an orally active direct factor Xa inhibitor. METHOD: Mice were orally pretreated with rivaroxaban (10 or 30 mg/kg), warfarin (4 mg/kg), or vehicle. ICH was induced by intrastriatal collagenase-injection. Hematoma volume and neurological deficits 24 h after ICH induction were significantly decreased in the rivaroxaban-pretreated group in comparison with the warfarin-pretreated group. Rivaroxaban did not increase the hematoma volume relative to that observed for vehicle, and improved survival rate 7 days after ICH induction compared with warfarin. RESULT: We evaluated blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability 6 h after ICH induction using Evans blue spectrophotometry. Evans blue extravasation was significantly reduced in the rivaroxaban group compared with the warfarin group. To investigate the mechanism underlying hematoma expansion and BBB permeability, we focused on thrombin, a clot-derived factor and one of the major contributors to ICH-induced brain injury. To investigate the effects of anticoagulant agents on thrombin-induced injuries, human brain endothelial cells were used in membrane permeability assays. Rivaroxaban, but not warfarin, significantly mitigated the thrombin-induced increase in membrane permeability. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that rivaroxaban decreases BBB disruption after ICH, and limits early hematoma expansion in these experimental models compared with warfarin. Our study suggests that rivaroxaban has advantages over warfarin with respect to ICH, an important complication during long-term anticoagulation therapy.

CD4+ virtual memory: Antigen-inexperienced T cells reside in the naïve, regulatory, and memory T cell compartments at similar frequencies, implications for autoimmunity.

It is widely accepted that central and effector memory CD4+ T cells originate from naïve T cells after they have encountered their cognate antigen in the setting of appropriate co-stimulation. However, if this were true the diversity of T cell receptor (TCR) sequences within the naïve T cell compartment should be far greater than that of the memory T cell compartment, which is not supported by TCR sequencing data. Here we demonstrate that aged mice with far fewer naïve T cells, respond to the model antigen, hen eggwhite lysozyme (HEL), by utilizing the same TCR sequence as their younger counterparts. CD4+ T cell repertoire analysis of highly purified T cell populations from naive animals revealed that the HEL-specific clones displayed effector and central "memory" cell surface phenotypes even prior to having encountered their cognate antigen. Furthermore, HEL-inexperienced CD4+ T cells were found to reside within the naïve, regulatory, central memory, and effector memory T cell populations at similar frequencies and the majority of the CD4+ T cells within the regulatory and memory populations were unexpanded. These findings support a new paradigm for CD4+ T cell maturation in which a specific clone can undergo a differentiation process to exhibit a "memory" or regulatory phenotype without having undergone a clonal expansion event. It also demonstrates that a foreign-specific T cell is just as likely to reside within the regulatory T cell compartment as it would the naïve compartment, arguing against the specificity of the regulatory T cell compartment being skewed towards self-reactive T cell clones. Finally, we demonstrate that the same set of foreign and autoreactive CD4+ T cell clones are repetitively generated throughout adulthood. The latter observation argues against T cell-depleting strategies or autologous stem cell transplantation as therapies for autoimmunity-as the immune system has the ability to regenerate pathogenic clones.

Glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB) promotes the progression of brain glioblastoma via Na+/K+-ATPase.

Glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB), which is involved in invasion and metastasis, was found to be overexpressed in various cancers. High levels of GPNMB and Na+/K+-ATPase α subunits are associated with a poor prognosis in glioblastoma patients. We showed that GPNMB interacts with Na+/K+-ATPase α subunits to activate PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK pathways. However, it remains unclear whether the interaction of GPNMB and Na+/K+-ATPase α subunits is involves in progression of glioma. The tumor size induced by the injection of glioma GL261 cells was larger in transgenic mice overexpressing GPNMB when compared with wild-type mice. Additionally, the interaction of GPNMB and Na+/K+-ATPase α subunits was identified in the murine glioma model and in the tumors of glioblastoma patients. Ouabain, a Na+/K+-ATPase inhibitor, suppressed the glioma growth induced by the injection of glioma cells in the transgenic mice overexpressing GPNMB and blocked the GPNMB-induced migration of glioma cells. These findings indicate that GPNMB promotes glioma growth via Na+/K+-ATPase α subunits. Thus, the interaction between GPNMB and Na+, K+-ATPase α subunits represents a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of brain glioblastomas.

Glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B extracellular fragment shows neuroprotective effects and activates the PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK pathways via the Na+/K+-ATPase.

Glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB) plays important roles in various types of cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The details of GPNMB function and its interacting protein have not been clarified. Therefore, to identify GPNMB binding partners on the cell membrane, we used membrane protein library/BLOTCHIP-MS technology, which enables us to analyze all cell membrane proteins as binding partners of the GPNMB extracellular fragment. As a result of a comprehensive search, we identified the alpha subunits of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase (NKA) as a possible binding partner. We confirmed the interaction between the GPNMB extracellular fragment and NKA by immunoprecipitation and immunostaining in NSC-34 cells. Indeed, endogenous GPNMB extracellular fragment bound to and colocalized with NKA alpha subunits. Furthermore, exogenous GPNMB extracellular fragment, i.e., human recombinant GPNMB, also bound to and colocalized with NKA alpha subunits. Additionally, we found that the GPNMB extracellular fragment had neuroprotective effects and activated the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK)/ERK pathways via NKA. These findings indicated that NKA may act as a novel "receptor" for the GPNMB extracellular fragment, offering additional molecular targets for the treatment of GPNMB-related diseases, including various types of cancer and ALS.

Simvastatin and atorvastatin facilitates amyloid ß-protein degradation in extracellular spaces by increasing neprilysin secretion from astrocytes through activation of MAPK/Erk1/2 pathways.

One of the major neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the deposition of amyloid ß-protein (Aß) in the brain. Aß accumulation seems to arise from an imbalance between Aß production and clearance. Neprilysin (NEP) and insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) are the important Aß-degrading enzymes in the brain, and deficits in their expression may promote Aß deposition in patients with sporadic late-onset AD. Statins, which are used clinically for reducing cholesterol levels, can exert beneficial effects on AD. Therefore, we examined whether various statins are associated with Aß degradation by inducing NEP and IDE expression, and then evaluating the relation between activation of intracellular signaling transduction, inhibition of cholesterol production, and morphological changes to astrocytes. Treating cultured rat astrocytes with simvastatin and atorvastatin significantly decreased the expression of NEP but not IDE in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The decrease in NEP expression was a result of activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) but not the reduction of cholesterol synthesis pathway. This NEP reduction was achieved by the release to the extracellular space of cultured astrocytes. Furthermore, the cultured medium prepared from simvastatin- and atorvastatin-treated astrocytes significantly induced the degradation of exogenous Aß. These results suggest that simvastatin and atorvastatin induce the increase of Aß degradation of NEP on the extracellular of astrocytes by inducing ERK-mediated pathway activity and that these reagents regulate the differential mechanisms between the secretion of NEP, the induction of cholesterol reduction, and the morphological changes in the cultured astrocytes.

Established Stem Cell Model of Spinal Muscular Atrophy Is Applicable in the Evaluation of the Efficacy of Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Analog.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive neuromuscular disorder characterized by the degeneration of spinal motor neurons. This disease is mainly caused by mutation or deletion of the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. Currently, no effective treatment is available, and only symptomatic treatment can be provided. Our purpose in the present study was to establish a human SMA-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (SMA-iPSC) disease model and assay a therapeutic drug in preparation for the development of a novel treatment of SMA. We generated iPSCs from the skin fibroblasts of a patient with SMA and confirmed that they were pluripotent and undifferentiated. The neural differentiation of SMA-iPSCs shortened the dendrite and axon length and increased the apoptosis of the spinal motor neurons. In addition, we found activated astrocytes in differentiated SMA-iPSCs. Using this model, we confirmed that treatment with the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) analog, 5-oxo-l-prolyl-l-histidyl-l-prolinamide, which had marginal effects in clinical trials, increases the SMN protein level. This increase was mediated through the transcriptional activation of the SMN2 gene and inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3ß activity. Finally, the TRH analog treatment resulted in dendrite and axon development of spinal motor neurons in differentiated SMA-iPSCs. These results suggest that this human in vitro disease model stimulates SMA pathology and reveal the potential efficacy of TRH analog treatment for SMA. Therefore, we can screen novel therapeutic drugs such as TRH for SMA easily and effectively using the human SMA-iPSC model. Significance: Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has recently been reported to produce the greatest increase in survival motor neuron protein levels by inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3ß; however, motor neurons lack PDGF receptors. A human in vitro spinal muscular atrophy-derived induced pluripotent stem cell model was established, which showed that the thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) analog promoted transcriptional activation of the SMN2 gene and inhibition of GSK-3ß activity, resulting in the increase and stabilization of the SMN protein and axon elongation of spinal motor neurons. These results reveal the potential efficacy of TRH analog treatment for SMA.

Glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B ameliorates skeletal muscle lesions in a SOD1G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of motor neurons and subsequent muscular atrophy. The quality of life of patients with ALS is significantly improved by ameliorating muscular symptoms. We previously reported that glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB; osteoactivin) might serve as a target for ALS therapy. In the present study, superoxide dismutase 1/glycine residue 93 changed to alanine (SOD1(G93A) ) transgenic mice were used as a model of ALS. Expression of the C-terminal fragment of GPNMB was increased in the skeletal muscles of SOD1(G93A) mice and patients with sporadic ALS. SOD1(G93A) /GPNMB transgenic mice were generated to determine whether GPNMB expression ameliorates muscular symptoms. The weight and cross-sectional area of the gastrocnemius muscle, number and cross-sectional area of myofibers, and denervation of neuromuscular junctions were ameliorated in SOD1(G93A) /GPNMB vs. SOD1(G93A) mice. Furthermore, direct injection of a GPNMB expression plasmid into the gastrocnemius muscle of SOD1(G93A) mice increased the numbers of myofibers and prevented myofiber atrophy. These findings suggest that GPNMB directly affects skeletal muscle and prevents muscular pathology in SOD1(G93A) mice and may therefore serve as a target for therapy of ALS.

Persistence of Autoreactive IgA-Secreting B Cells Despite Multiple Immunosuppressive Medications Including Rituximab.

IMPORTANCE: Immunobullous diseases mediated by IgA are often difficult to manage, but to date no mechanism has been proposed. Rituximab is an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that has demonstrated good efficacy in the treatment of refractory mucous membrane pemphigoid. However, not all cases of mucous membrane pemphigoid respond to rituximab. Herein we present a case of treatment-refractory mucous membrane pemphigoid and propose a mechanism to explain the lack of response to therapy. OBSERVATIONS: Before treatment, direct immunofluorescent examination of a biopsy sample from the patient's perilesional skin demonstrated linear deposition of IgG and IgA along the dermoepidermal junction. After a multidrug immunosuppressive regimen that included rituximab, results of a second biopsy demonstrated only IgA along the dermoepidermal junction. This finding correlated well with flow cytometry data from the same patient that demonstrated a persistent population of IgA-secreting plasmablasts/plasma cells, despite depletion of CD20⁺ cells. In addition, results of immunohistochemical analysis of the perilesional skin remained positive for CD19 and CD138 immune cells (plasmablast/plasma cell markers). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: These findings suggest that current available immunosuppressive medications, including rituximab, cannot eliminate IgA-secreting plasmablasts/plasma cells, which are likely central to the pathophysiology of IgA-mediated immunobullous diseases. Future studies are needed to develop alternative therapeutic strategies that target autoreactive IgA-secreting plasmablasts/plasma cells.

Nuclear-translocated Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate Dehydrogenase Promotes Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase-1 Activation during Oxidative/Nitrosative Stress in Stroke.

In addition to its role in DNA repair, nuclear poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) mediates brain damage when it is over-activated by oxidative/nitrosative stress. Nonetheless, it remains unclear how PARP-1 is activated in neuropathological contexts. Here we report that PARP-1 interacts with a pool of glyceradehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) that translocates into the nucleus under oxidative/nitrosative stress both in vitro and in vivo. A well conserved amino acid at the N terminus of GAPDH determines its protein binding with PARP-1. Wild-type (WT) but not mutant GAPDH, that lacks the ability to bind PARP-1, can promote PARP-1 activation. Importantly, disrupting this interaction significantly diminishes PARP-1 overactivation and protects against both brain damage and neurological deficits induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion in a rat stroke model. Together, these findings suggest that nuclear GAPDH is a key regulator of PARP-1 activity, and its signaling underlies the pathology of oxidative/nitrosative stress-induced brain damage including stroke.