Gender effect on neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder with aquaporin4-immunoglobulin G.

BACKGROUND: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder with aquaporin4-immunoglobulin G (NMOSD-AQP4) is an inflammatory disease characterised by a high female predominance. However, the effect of gender in patients with NMOSD-AQP4 has not been fully evaluated. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of gender in clinical manifestations and prognosis of patients with NMOSD-AQP4. METHODS: The demographics, clinical and radiological characteristics, pattern reversal visual evoked potential (VEP) test results, and prognosis of 102 patients (18 males) with NMOSD-AQP4 were assessed. RESULTS: Male patients had a higher age at onset (48.7 vs 41 years, p = 0.037) and less optic neuritis as the onset attack (17% vs 44%, p = 0.026), higher tendency to manifest as isolated myelitis over the follow-up period (67% vs 28%, p = 0.005), fewer optic neuritis attacks per year (0.08 vs 0.27, p < 0.001), and shorter relative P100 latency on VEP testing (97.1% vs 108.3%, p = 0.001). Moreover, male gender was significantly associated with the absence of optic neuritis attacks over the follow-up period independent of their age of onset. CONCLUSION: In NMOSD-AQP4 patients, gender impacts on disease onset age and site of attack. This may be an important clue in identifying NMOSD-AQP4 patients with limited manifestations as well as in predicting their clinical courses.

Statins Promote Long-Term Recovery after Ischemic Stroke by Reconnecting Noradrenergic Neuronal Circuitry.

Inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase (statins), widely used to lower cholesterol in coronary heart and vascular disease, are effective drugs in reducing the risk of stroke and improving its outcome in the long term. After ischemic stroke, cardiac autonomic dysfunction and psychological problems are common complications related to deficits in the noradrenergic (NA) system. This study investigated the effects of statins on the recovery of NA neuron circuitry and its function after transient focal cerebral ischemia (tFCI). Using the wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) transgene technique combined with the recombinant adenoviral vector system, NA-specific neuronal pathways were labeled, and were identified in the locus coeruleus (LC), where NA neurons originate. NA circuitry in the atorvastatin-treated group recovered faster than in the vehicle-treated group. The damaged NA circuitry was partly reorganized with the gradual recovery of autonomic dysfunction and neurobehavioral deficit. Newly proliferated cells might contribute to reorganizing NA neurons and lead anatomic and functional recovery of NA neurons. Statins may be implicated to play facilitating roles in the recovery of the NA neuron and its function.

Sirt6-Mediated Cell Death Associated with Sirt1 Suppression in Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related death, is strongly associated with H. pylori infection, although other risk factors have been identified. The sirtuin (Sirt) family is involved in the tumorigenesis of gastric cancer, and sirtuins can have pro- or anti-tumorigenic effects. METHODS: After determining the overall survival rate of gastric cancer patients with or without Sirt6 expression, the effect of Sirt6 upregulation was also tested using a xenograft mouse model. The regulation of Sirt6 and Sirt1, leading to the induction of mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), was mainly analyzed using Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining, and gastric cancer cell (SNU-638) death associated with these proteins was measured using flow cytometric analysis. RESULTS: Sirt6 overexpression led to Sirt1 suppression in gastric cancer cells, resulting in a higher level of gastric cancer cell death in vitro and a reduced tumor volume. ROS and MDM2 expression levels were upregulated by Sirt6 overexpression and/or Sirt1 suppression according to Western blot analysis. The upregulated ROS ultimately led to gastric cancer cell death as determined via Western blot and flow cytometric analysis. CONCLUSION: We found that the upregulation of Sirt6 suppressed Sirt1, and Sirt6- and Sirt1-induced gastric cancer cell death was mediated by ROS production. These findings highlight the potential of Sirt6 and Sirt1 as therapeutic targets for treating gastric cancer.

MDM2-dependent Sirt1 degradation is a prerequisite for Sirt6-mediated cell death in head and neck cancers.

Sirt6 is involved in multiple biological processes, including aging, metabolism, and tumor suppression. Sirt1, another member of the sirtuin family, functionally overlaps with Sirt6, but its role in tumorigenesis is controversial. In this study, we focused on cell death in association with Sirt6/Sirt1 and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). Sirt6 induced cell death, as widely reported, but Sirt1 contributed to cell death only when it was suppressed by Sirt6 via regulation of MDM2. Sirt6 and Sirt6-mediated suppression of Sirt1 upregulated ROS, which further led to HNSCC cell death. These results provide insight into the molecular roles of Sirt6 and Sirt1 in tumorigenesis and could therefore contribute to the development of novel strategies to treat HNSCC.

Periostin Plays a Key Role in Radioresistance of Head and Neck Cancer Cells Via Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is an aggressive head and neck malignancy. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of periostin (POSTN) in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process mediating the acquisition of radioresistance in HNSCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression levels of EMT hallmark genes including POSTN and Erk/Akt signaling pathways were compared between radiosensitive and radioresistant HNSCC cells. RESULTS: POSTN mRNA expression was higher in radioresistant HNSCC cells, and silencing POSTN significantly impaired their invasiveness under the effect of EMT process represented by up-regulation of mesenchymal markers and down-regulation of an epithelial marker. Expression levels of Erk and Akt were higher in radioresistant cells. CONCLUSION: POSTN in association with the Erk and Akt signaling pathways was up-regulated during the EMT process, leading to the conversion of radiosensitive to radioresistant HNSCC cells. POSTN may be a key marker for predicting the radioresistance and therapeutic target of HNSCC.

Botulinum toxin enhances the implantation effect of adipocytes in C57/BL6 mice.

BACKGROUND: Recently, many plastic surgeons have been using adipogenic-differentiated cell implantation for remodeling scars in patients. However, this technique is not a long-term solution because implanted cells disappear gradually. Therefore, we investigated a method to increase the grafted cell preservation rate by using an effective adjuvant, botulinum toxin. METHODS: The adipogenic-differentiated cells were subcutaneously injected in the dorsal area of C57/BL6 mice with or without botulinum toxin. Two and six weeks later we analyzed the residual volume and confirmed the characteristics of the implanted cells by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Two and six weeks after transplantation we found that the residual volume of the transplantation site was higher in the botulinum toxin-treated group than in the untreated group. We also confirmed that the residual transplanted area has characteristics of adipogenic tissue by histological analysis. Next, to determine the mechanism related to the enhanced preservation rate of grafted cells via treatment with botulinum toxin, we performed immunohistochemical staining for the angiogenesis-related marker CD31. We found that CD31 expression was higher in the botulinum toxin-treated group than in the untreated group. CONCLUSION: We have shown that in vivo grafted adipocyte cell preservation can be enhanced by treatment with botulinum toxin as an adjuvant. We suggest that botulinum toxin further increases this graft preservation rate by enhancing angiogenesis.

Correction: Accuracy of the Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting Assay for the Aquaporin-4 Antibody (AQP4-Ab): Comparison with the Commercial AQP4-Ab Assay Kit.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162900.].

25-Hydroxycholesterol is involved in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

This study aimed to evaluate the levels of three major hydroxycholesterols (24-, 25-, and 27-hydroxycholesterols) in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as well as to show their role in the pathogenesis of ALS experimental models. The level of 25-hydroxycholesterol were higher in untreated ALS patients (n = 30) than in controls without ALS (n = 33) and ALS patients treated with riluzole (n = 9) both in their serum and CSF. The level of 25-hydroxycholesterol in the serum of ALS patients were significantly associated with their disease severity and rate of progression. In the motor neuron-like cell line (NSC34) with the human mutant G93A superoxide dismutase 1 gene (mSOD1-G93A), 25-hydroxycholesterol induced motor neuronal death/ apoptosis via glycogen synthase kinase-3ß and liver X receptor pathways; riluzole treatment attenuated these effects. The expressions of enzymes that synthesize 25-hydroxycholesterol were significantly increased in the brains of early symptomatic mSOD1G93A mice. Our data, obtained from patients with ALS, a cellular model of ALS, and an animal model of ALS, suggests that 25-hydroxycholesterol could be actively involved in the pathogenesis of ALS, mostly in the early symptomatic disease stage, by mediating neuronal apoptosis.

Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 mediates striatal degeneration via the regulation of C1q.

Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase-1 (ASK1), an early signaling element in the cell death pathway, has been hypothesized to participate in the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases. The systemic administration of 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) facilitates the development of selective striatal lesions. However, it remains unclear whether specific neurons are selectively targeted in 3-NP-infused striatal degeneration. Recently, it has been proposed that complement-mediated synapse elimination may be reactivated aberrantly in the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases. We hypothesized that ASK1 is involved in striatal astrocyte reactivation; reactive astrocyte secretes molecules detrimental to neuron; and striatal neurons are more susceptible to these factors. Our results indicate that striatal astrocyte is reactivated and ASK1 level increases after 3-NP general and chronic infusion. Reactive striatal astrocyte increases TGF-beta differentially to cortex and striatum. ASK1 may be involved in regulation of astrocyte TGF-beta and it is linked to the C1q level in spatial and temporal, and moreover in the earlier stage of progressing striatal neuronal loss. Conclusively the present study suggests that ASK1 mediates 3-NP toxicity and regulates C1q level through the astrocyte TGF-beta. And also it may suggest that C1q level may be a surrogate of prediction marker representing neurodegenerative disease progress before developing behavioral impairment.

Accuracy of the Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting Assay for the Aquaporin-4 Antibody (AQP4-Ab): Comparison with the Commercial AQP4-Ab Assay Kit.

BACKGROUND: The aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-Ab) is a disease-specific autoantibody to neuromyelitis optica (NMO). We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the FACS assay in detecting the AQP4-Ab compared with the commercial cell-based assay (C-CBA) kit. METHODS: Human embryonic kidney-293 cells were transfected with human aquaporin-4 (M23) cDNA. The optimal cut off values of FACS assay was tested using 1123 serum samples from patients with clinically definite NMO, those at high risk for NMO, patients with multiple sclerosis, patients with other idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating diseases, and negative controls. The accuracy of FACS assay and C-CBA were compared in consecutive 225 samples that were collected between January 2014 and June 2014. RESULTS: With a cut-off value of MFIi of 3.5 and MFIr of 2.0, the receiver operating characteristic curve for the FACS assay showed an area under the curve of 0.876. Among 225 consecutive sera, the FACS assay and C-CBA had a sensitivity of 77.3% and 69.7%, respectively, in differentiating the sera of definite NMO patients from sera of controls without IDD or of MS. Both assay had a good specificity of 100% in it. The overall positivity of the C-CBA among FACS-positive sera was 81.5%; moreover, its positivity was low as 50% among FACS-positive sera with relatively low MFIis. CONCLUSIONS: Both the FACS assay and C-CBA are sensitive and highly specific assays in detecting AQP4-Ab. However, in some sera with relatively low antibody titer, FACS-assay can be a more sensitive assay option. In real practice, complementary use of FACS assay and C-CBA will benefit the diagnosis of NMO patients, because the former can be more sensitive among low titer sera and the latter are easier to use therefore can be widely used.

Screening, Synthesis, and In Vitro Evaluation of Vinyl Sulfones as Inhibitors of Complement-Dependent Cytotoxicity in Neuromyelitis Optica.

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a demyelinating autoimmune disease of the optic nerve and spinal cord triggered by binding of NMO-specific immunoglobulin G (NMO-IgG) auto-antibodies to the water channel aquaporin-4 (AQP4) in astrocytes. To find potential NMO therapeutics, a screening system was established and used to identify inhibitors of NMO-IgG-mediated complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). The screening of approximately 400 compounds yielded potent hit compounds with inhibitory effects against CDC in U87-MG cells expressing human AQP4. Derivatives of the hit compounds were synthesized and evaluated for their inhibition of CDC. Of the small molecules synthesized, (E)-1-(2-((4-methoxyphenyl)sulfonyl)vinyl)-[4-[(3-trifluoromethyl)phenyl] methoxy]benzene (5 c) showed the most potent activity in both stably transfected U87-MG cells and mice-derived astrocytes. The results of this study suggest that 5 c, which targets NMO-IgG-specific CDC, may be useful as a research tool and a potential candidate for therapeutic development for the treatment of NMO.

Erythroid differentiation regulator 1, an interleukin 18-regulated gene, acts as a metastasis suppressor in melanoma.

Erythroid differentiation regulator (Erdr1) was first discovered in mouse leukemia cell lines and functions as a stress-related survival factor. This study investigated whether Erdr1 regulates murine melanoma progression, as well as the mechanism involved in Erdr1-regulated metastasis. The expression of Erdr1 is negatively correlated with IL-18 expression, which has a pro-cancer effect in melanoma. To study the role of Erdr1 as an anti-cancer factor, cell migration, invasion, and proliferation were measured. Erdr1 overexpression markedly inhibited the level of cell migration, invasion, and proliferation in B16F10 cells in vitro. In addition, Erdr1 overexpression significantly suppressed melanoma lung colonization, metastasis, and tumor growth in vivo. To identify the factors involved in Erdr1-reduced metastasis, heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), a well-known stress protein and contributor to tumor metastasis, was examined. We found that HSP90 was significantly decreased in Erdr1-overexpressing cells. Functional analysis demonstrated that HSP90 small-interfering RNA transfection reduced the migration ability and metastasis of melanoma. In conclusion, Erdr1 shows a powerful anti-metastasis effect that leads to the ability to reduce the metastatic potential of murine malignant melanoma cells. Erdr1 is an anti-metastatic factor that may be a possible therapeutic target for treatment of melanoma.