Alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is required for blood-brain barrier injury-related CNS disorders caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and HIV-1 associated comorbidity factors.

BACKGROUND: Cryptococcal meningitis is the most common fungal infection of the central nervous system (CNS) in HIV/AIDS. HIV-1 virotoxins (e.g., gp41) are able to induce disorders of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which mainly consists of BMEC. Our recent study suggests that α7 nAChR is an essential regulator of inflammation, which contributes to regulation of NF-κB signaling, neuroinflammation and BBB disorders caused by microbial (e.g., HIV-1 gp120) and non-microbial [e.g., methamphetamine (METH)] factors. However, the underlying mechanisms for multiple comorbidities are unclear. METHODS: In this report, an aggravating role of α7 nAChR in host defense against CNS disorders caused by these comorbidities was demonstrated by chemical [inhibitor: methyllycaconitine (MLA)] and genetic (α7(-/-) mice) blockages of α7 nAChR. RESULTS: As shown in our in vivo studies, BBB injury was significantly reduced in α7(-/-) mice infected with C. neoformans. Stimulation by the gp41 ectodomain peptide (gp41-I90) and METH was abolished in the α7(-/-) animals. C. neoformans and gp41-I90 could activate NF-κB. Gp41-I90- and METH-induced monocyte transmigration and senescence were significantly inhibited by MLA and CAPE (caffeic acid phenethyl ester, an NF-κB inhibitor). CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our data suggest that α7 nAChR plays a detrimental role in the host defense against C. neoformans- and HIV-1 associated comorbidity factors-induced BBB injury and CNS disorders.

Assessment of chlorpyrifos exposure and absorbed daily doses among infants living in an agricultural area of the Province of Jiangsu, China.

PURPOSE: Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is one of the most widely used organophosphorous pesticides in China. However, few reports on CPF pesticide exposure and body burden of infants at 2 years of age in China are available. The aim of this study was to assess the exposure level and the absorbed daily dose (ADD) of CPF among infants from an agricultural area of Jiangsu, China, and determine whether the infants' estimated dose exceeds the recommended reference dose (RfD) and the population adjusted dose (PAD) set by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). METHODS: In our study, 364 infants at 2 years of age who lived in the agricultural area of Jiangsu Province (China) were enrolled into the biomonitoring study from June 2011 to January 2012. CPF exposure was estimated based on both questionnaire survey and measured results of urinary metabolite 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy) of CPF by high-performance liquid chromatography. Furthermore, the ADD of CPF among infants was also evaluated and compared with the RfD and the PAD values issued by EPA. RESULTS: Urinary TCPy was detected in more than 70 % of the urine samples among 364 infants. The unadjusted and creatinine-adjusted geometric means in these subjects for TCPy were 1.33 µg/L and 6.73 µg/g Cre., respectively. Infants lived nearby (100 m distance) plantations or green parks present significantly higher levels of urinary TCPy than those lived far away (p = 0.045). Urinary TCPy levels were also significantly higher in infants who had frequent hand-to-mouth activities than those with less frequency (p = 0.037). Urinary TCPy concentrations in the infants at 2 years of age in Jiangsu were lower than those in the children at 2-6 years of age in the USA. The median estimated ADD of CPF in this study (0.07 µg/kg/day) was much lower than the acute and chronic RfDs (5 and 0.3 µg/kg/day, respectively) announced by EPA, but higher than the chronic PAD (cPAD) (0.03 µg/kg/day) for children. Additionally, the 75th percentile of the estimated ADD in our study was 2.5 times as much as the cPAD from EPA, even assuming only half of the TCPy amount from CPF exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed that infants at 2 years of age in Jiangsu of China were widely exposed to CPF pesticide. The estimated ADD probably suggested that about 25 % of the enrolled infants were at potential risk of pesticide exposure, which warned of urgency to eliminate the potential exposure risk to infants living in agricultural areas of China.

Hyaluronic acid receptor CD44 deficiency is associated with decreased Cryptococcus neoformans brain infection.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic yeast that can invade the brain and cause meningoencephalitis. Our previous in vitro studies suggested that the interaction between C. neoformans hyaluronic acid and human brain endothelial CD44 could be the initial step of brain invasion. In this report, we used a CD44 knock-out (KO or CD44(-/-)) mouse model to explore the importance of CD44 in C. neoformans brain invasion. Our results showed that C. neoformans-infected CD44 KO mice survived longer than the infected wild-type mice. Consistent with our in vitro results, the brain and cerebrospinal fluid fungal burden was reduced in CD44-deficient mice. Histopathological studies showed smaller and fewer cystic lesions in the brains of CD44 KO mice. Interestingly, the cystic lesions contained C. neoformans cells embedded within their polysaccharide capsule and were surrounded by host glial cells. We also found that a secondary hyaluronic acid receptor, RHAMM (receptor of hyaluronan-mediated motility), was present in the CD44 KO mice. Importantly, our studies demonstrated an in vivo blocking effect of simvastatin. These results suggest that the CD44 and RHAMM receptors function on membrane lipid rafts during invasion and that simvastatin may have a potential therapeutic role in C. neoformans infections of the brain.

Rare syringyl acylated flavonol glycosides from the aerial parts of Leonurus japonicus Houtt.

Five new syringyl acylated flavonol glycosides, named leonurusoides A (1), B (2), C (3), D (4), and E (5), together with one known one 6 were obtained from the aerial parts of Leonurus japonicus. Their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic methods (UV, IR, HRESI-TOF-MS, 1D and 2D NMR). Compounds 1-6 showed triglyceride (TG) accumulation inhibitory effects in free fatty acid-induced HepG2 cells.

[Determination of1-bromopropane in the workplace air by GC-FID].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method for determination 1-bromopropane (1-BP) in workplace air by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID). METHOD: 1-bromopropane in workplace air was collected with activated charcoal tube, then desorbed by carbon disulfide and determined by GC-FID. 1-bromopropane was quantitatively measured using retention time and peak area. RESULTS: Linear regression formula was Y = 3353.4x-10064 in a range of 2.50 ∼ 500.00 µg/ml with regression coefficient R = 0.9998. Detection limit was 0.25 µg/ml and the lowest detection concentration of 1-brmopropane in air was 0.14 mg/m(3) (at air volume 1.8L). The mean recoveries of 1-BP were between 96.8% and 102.6%, and relative standard deviation of inter and intra-assay was less than 10%. The average desorption efficiencies were between 93.2% and 104.4%. The samples in activated charcoal tube could be stably stored for 5 days at room temperature. CONCLUSION: The method could be feasible to determine 1-bromopropane in workplace air.

Invasion of Cryptococcus neoformans into human brain microvascular endothelial cells is mediated through the lipid rafts-endocytic pathway via the dual specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 3 (DYRK3).

Cryptococcus neoformans is a neurotropic fungal pathogen, which provokes the onset of devastating meningoencephalitis. We used human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) as the in vitro model to investigate how C. neoformans traverses across the blood-brain barrier. In this study, we present several lines of evidence indicating that C. neoformans invasion is mediated through the endocytic pathway via lipid rafts. Human CD44 molecules from lipid rafts can directly interact with hyaluronic acid, the C. neoformans ligand. Bikunin, which perturbs CD44 function in the lipid raft, can block C. neoformans adhesion and invasion of HBMEC. The lipid raft marker, ganglioside GM1, co-localizes with CD44 on the plasma membrane, and C. neoformans cells can adhere to the host cell in areas where GM1 is enriched. These findings suggest that C. neoformans entry takes place on the lipid rafts. Upon C. neoformans engagement, GM1 is internalized through vesicular structures to the nuclear membrane. This endocytic redistribution process is abolished by cytochalasin D, nocodazole, or anti-DYRK3 (dual specificity tyrosine-phosphorylation-regulated kinase 3) siRNA. Concomitantly, the knockdown of DYRK3 significantly reduces C. neoformans invasion across the HBMEC monolayer in vitro. Our data demonstrate that the lipid raft-dependent endocytosis process mediates C. neoformans internalization into HBMEC and that the CD44 protein of the hosts, cytoskeleton, and intracellular kinase-DYRK3 are involved in this process.

Lipid raft/caveolae signaling is required for Cryptococcus neoformans invasion into human brain microvascular endothelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Cryptococcus neoformans has a predilection for central nervous system infection. C. neoformans traversal of the blood brain barrier, composed of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC), is the crucial step in brain infection. However, the molecular mechanism of the interaction between Cryptococcus neoformans and HBMEC, relevant to its brain invasion, is still largely unknown. METHODS: In this report, we explored several cellular and molecular events involving the membrane lipid rafts and caveolin-1 (Cav1) of HBMEC during C. neoformans infection. Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to examine the roles of Cav1. The knockdown of Cav1 by the siRNA treatment was performed. Phosphorylation of Cav1 relevant to its invasion functions was investigated. RESULTS: We found that the host receptor CD44 colocalized with Cav1 on the plasma membrane, and knockdown of Cav1 significantly reduced the fungal ability to invade HBMEC. Although the CD44 molecules were still present, HBMEC membrane organization was distorted by Cav1 knockdown. Concomitantly, knockdown of Cav1 significantly reduced the fungal crossing of the HBMEC monolayer in vitro. Upon C. neoformans engagement, host Cav1 was phosphorylated in a CD44-dependent manner. This phosphorylation was diminished by filipin, a disrupter of lipid raft structure. Furthermore, the phosphorylated Cav1 at the lipid raft migrated inward to the perinuclear localization. Interestingly, the phospho-Cav1 formed a thread-like structure and colocalized with actin filaments but not with the microtubule network. CONCLUSION: These data support that C. neoformans internalization into HBMEC is a lipid raft/caveolae-dependent endocytic process where the actin cytoskeleton is involved, and the Cav1 plays an essential role in C. neoformans traversal of the blood-brain barrier.

[Induction of adventitious roots of Echinacea pallida and accumulation of caffeic acid derivatives].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of auxins 2,4-D,IAA,IBA,NAA on induction of adventitious roots as well as that of IBA concentrations on the growth of adventitious roots and the accumulation of caffeic acid derivatives, with test-tube seedling leaves Echinacea pallida as the explant, and cultivate adventitious roots in bioreactors. RESULT: 1.0 mg x L(-1) IBA was found the best for the induction of adventitious roots, with the numer of induced adventitious roots up to 22. 5 in each culture dish. Among different concentrations for suspension cultivation of IBA tested, 1.0 mg x L(-1) IBA was found the most suitable for the growth of adventitious roots and the accumulation of caffeic acid derivatives. In a 5 L balloon type bubble bioreactor, 8.98 g x L(-1) dry weight was achieved after one month, which was 2.05 times of 4.38 g x L(-1) dry weight cultivated in a triangular flask. The content of echinacoside cultivated in a bioreactor was 14.08 mg x g(-1) DW, which was 2.4 times of cultivated roots. The contents of chlorogenic acid, chicoric acid and total caffeic acid derivatives were 4.0-25.6 times of ultivated roots. CONCLUSION: The study can provide high-quality biomedical drugs containing such caffeic acid derivatives as echinacoside for mass production of Echinacea purpurea medicines.

[Effect of Biantie pretreatment on serum level of PHD2/HIF-1α and brain tissue damage in rats during acute hypobaric hypoxia exposure].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Biantie (bian stone plaste) pretreatment on serum level of prolyl hydroxylase domain 2 (PHD2) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in rats with acute hypobaric hypoxia induced-brain injury, and to explore the possible mechanism of Biantie on preventing brain injury at high altitude. METHODS: Forty-five male SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a Biantie group, a medication group and a Biantie+inhibitor group, 9 rats in each group. The rats in the Biantie group the and the Biantie+inhibitor group were pretreated with Biantie at "Taiyuan" (LU 9), "Neiguan" (PC 6) and "Renying" (ST 9), 2 h each time, once a day; the rats in the medication group were treated with intragastric administration of rhodiola capsule solution (280 mg/kg) for 14 d; the rats in the Biantie+inhibitor group were intraperitoneally injected with the PHD inhibitor dimethyloxalyl glycine (DMOG) at a dose of 40 mg/kg 24 h before the establishment of the model. After the intervention, except for the blank group, the rats in the remaining 4 groups were placed in the oxygen chamber to simulate a high-altitude environment to establish the acute hypobaric hypoxia brain injury model. The arterial blood-gas analysis indexes [blood oxygen saturation (SaO2), lactic acid (Lac), blood sodium (Na+), blood potassium (K+)] and brain water content were detected in each group; the histomorphology of cerebral cortex was observed by HE staining; the serum levels of PHD2 and HIF-1α as well as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected by ELISA; the VEGF protein expression in brain tissue was detected by Western blot; the VEGF mRNA expression in brain tissue was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the blank group, the levels of SaO2 and Na+ in the model group were decreased (P<0.05), while the levels of Lac and K+ as well as the water content of brain tissue were increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the level of SaO2 in the Biantie group and the medication group was increased (P<0.05), while the levels of Lac, K+ and the water content of brain tissue were decreased (P<0.05); the level of Na+ in the Biantie group was increased (P<0.05). Compared with the Biantie group, the level of SaO2 in the Biantie+inhibitor group was decreased (P<0.05), and the level of Lac and the water content of brain tissue were increased (P<0.05). In the model group, the cortical tissue cells were loose and disordered, the cortical blood vessels were dilated, and the cells were obviously swollen; the anoxic injury in the Biantie group and the medication group was lighter, and the anoxic injury in the Biantie+inhibitor group was more obvious than that in the Biantie group. Compared with the blank group, the serum PHD2 content in the model group was decreased and the HIF-1α content was increased (P<0.05), and the content of VEGF in serum and VEGF protein and mRNA expressions in brain were increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the content of PHD2 in serum in the Biantie group and the medication group was increased (P<0.05), and the level of HIF-1α was decreased (P<0.05), and the content of VEGF in serum as well as VEGF protein and mRNA expressions in brain were decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the Biantie group, the serum PHD2 content in the Biantie+inhibitor group was decreased and HIF-1α level were increased (P<0.05), and the content of VEGF in serum as well as VEGF mRNA expression in brain were increased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Biantie at "Taiyuan" (LU 9), "Neiguan" (PC 6) and "Renying" (ST 9) could regulate serum PHD2/HIF-1α to down-regulate VEGF expression, reduce brain edema and enhance anti-hypoxia ability, so as to achieve the purpose of preventing brain injury at high altitude.

Reticulate evolution: frequent introgressive hybridization among Chinese hares (genus lepus) revealed by analyses of multiple mitochondrial and nuclear DNA loci.

BACKGROUND: Interspecific hybridization may lead to the introgression of genes and genomes across species barriers and contribute to a reticulate evolutionary pattern and thus taxonomic uncertainties. Since several previous studies have demonstrated that introgressive hybridization has occurred among some species within Lepus, therefore it is possible that introgressive hybridization events also occur among Chinese Lepus species and contribute to the current taxonomic confusion. RESULTS: Data from four mtDNA genes, from 116 individuals, and one nuclear gene, from 119 individuals, provides the first evidence of frequent introgression events via historical and recent interspecific hybridizations among six Chinese Lepus species. Remarkably, the mtDNA of L. mandshuricus was completely replaced by mtDNA from L. timidus and L. sinensis. Analysis of the nuclear DNA sequence revealed a high proportion of heterozygous genotypes containing alleles from two divergent clades and that several haplotypes were shared among species, suggesting repeated and recent introgression. Furthermore, results from the present analyses suggest that Chinese hares belong to eight species. CONCLUSION: This study provides a framework for understanding the patterns of speciation and the taxonomy of this clade. The existence of morphological intermediates and atypical mitochondrial gene genealogies resulting from frequent hybridization events likely contribute to the current taxonomic confusion of Chinese hares. The present study also demonstrated that nuclear gene sequence could offer a powerful complementary data set with mtDNA in tracing a complete evolutionary history of recently diverged species.

Cytogenetic anchoring of radiation hybrid and virtual maps of sheep chromosome X and comparison of X chromosomes in sheep, cattle, and human.

A comprehensive physical map was generated for Ovis aries chromosome X (OARX) based on a cytogenomics approach. DNA probes were prepared from bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones from the CHORI-243 sheep library and were assigned to G-banded metaphase spreads via fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH). A total of 22 BACs gave a single hybridization signal to the X chromosome and were assigned out of 32 tested. The positioned BACs contained 16 genes and a microsatellite marker which represent new cytogenetically mapped loci in the sheep genome. The gene and microsatellite loci serve to anchor between the existing radiation hybrid (RH) and virtual sheep genome (VSG) maps to the cytogenetic OARX map, whilst the BACs themselves also serve as anchors between the VSG and the cytogenetic maps. An additional 17 links between the RH and cytogenetic maps are provided by BAC end sequence (BES) derived markers that have also been positioned on the RH map. Comparison of the map orders for the cytogenetic, RH, and virtual maps reveals that the orders for the cytogenetic and RH maps are most similar, with only one locus, represented by BAC CH243-330E18, mapping to relatively different positions. Several discrepancies, including an inverted segment are found when comparing both the cytogenetic and RH maps with the virtual map. These discrepancies highlight the value of using physical mapping methods to inform the process of future in silico map construction. A detailed comparative analysis of sheep, human, and cattle mapping data allowed the construction of a comparative map that confirms and expands the knowledge about evolutionary conservation and break points between the X chromosomes of the three mammalian species.

Retrospective study of preoperative chemoradiotherapy with capecitabine versus capecitabine plus oxaliplatin for locally advanced rectal cancer.

This study aimed to evaluate whether the addition of oxaliplatin to a neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) regimen could improve survival benefit in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients. We retrospectively analysed 73 LARC patients (cT2-4 and/or cN1-2) who received preoperative CRT with capecitabine followed by surgery (arm A, 43 patients) or capecitabine plus oxaliplatin followed by surgery (arm B, 30 patients). The main endpoints of the study were pathologic complete response (pCR) rate, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). The secondary endpoints included the sphincter preservation rate and safety. The pCR for arms A and B were 28% and 17% (P = 0.267). In arms A and B, the mean OS was 84.287 months (95% CI 68.413-100.160) and 106.333 months (95% CI 99.281-113.386) (P = 0.185); the mean DFS was 72.812 months (95% CI 56.271-89.353) and 95.073 months (95% CI 83.392-106.754) (P = 0.310); and the sphincter preservation rates were 72% and 67%, respectively (P = 0.619). The incidence of grade 3 toxicity was much higher in arm B than in arm A (57% vs. 21%, P = 0.002). Adding oxaliplatin to a preoperative CRT regimen for LARC did not improve the survival benefits of patients or increase toxicity.

Involvement of human CD44 during Cryptococcus neoformans infection of brain microvascular endothelial cells.

Pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans causes devastating cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. Our previous studies demonstrated that C. neoformans hyaluronic acid was required for invasion into human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC), which constitute the blood-brain barrier. In this report, we demonstrate that C. neoformans hyaluronic acid interacts with CD44 on HBMEC. Our results suggest that HBMEC CD44 is a primary receptor during C. neoformans infection, based on the following observations. First, anti-CD44 neutralizing antibody treatment was able to significantly reduce C. neoformans association with HBMEC. Second, C. neoformans association was considerably impaired using either CD44-knock-down HBMEC or C. neoformans hyaluronic acid-deficient strains. Third, overexpression of CD44 in HBMEC increased their association activity towards C. neoformans. Fourth, confocal microscopic images showed that CD44 was enriched at and around the C. neoformans association sites. Fifth, upon C. neoformans and HBMEC engagement, a subpopulation of CD44 and actin translocated to the host membrane rafts. Our results highlight the interactions between C. neoformans hyaluronic acid and host CD44 and the dynamic results of these interactions, which may represent events during the adhesion and entry of C. neoformans at HBMEC membrane rafts.

Invasion of Cryptococcus neoformans into human brain microvascular endothelial cells requires protein kinase C-alpha activation.

Pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans has a predilection for the central nervous system causing devastating meningoencephalitis. Traversal of C. neoformans across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a crucial step in the pathogenesis of C. neoformans. Our previous studies have shown that the CPS1 gene is required for C. neoformans adherence to the surface protein CD44 of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC), which constitute the BBB. In this report, we demonstrated that C. neoformans invasion of HBMEC was blocked in the presence of G109203X, a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, and by overexpression of a dominant-negative form of PKCalpha in HBMEC. During C. neoformans infection, phosphorylation of PKCalpha was induced and the PKC enzymatic activity was detected in the HBMEC membrane fraction. Our results suggested that the PKCalpha isoform might play a crucial role during C. neoformans invasion. Immunofluorescence microscopic images showed that induced phospho-PKCalpha colocalized with beta-actin on the membrane of HBMEC. In addition, cytochalasin D (an F-filament-disrupting agent) inhibited fungus invasion into HBMEC in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, blockage of PKCalpha function attenuated actin filament activity during C. neoformans invasion. These results suggest a significant role of PKCalpha and downstream actin filament activity during the fungal invasion into HBMEC.

Identification of IbeR as a stationary-phase regulator in meningitic Escherichia coli K1 that carries a loss-of-function mutation in rpoS.

IbeR is a regulator present in meningitic Escherichia coli strain E44 that carries a loss-of-function mutation in the stationary-phase (SP) regulatory gene rpoS. In order to determine whether IbeR is an SP regulator in E44, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and LC-MS were used to compare the proteomes of a noninvasive ibeR deletion mutant BR2 and its parent strain E44 in the SP. Four up-regulated (TufB, GapA, OmpA, AhpC) and three down-regulated (LpdA, TnaA, OpmC) proteins in BR2 were identified when compared to E44. All these proteins contribute to energy metabolism or stress resistance, which is related to SP regulation. One of the down-regulated proteins, tryptophanase (TnaA), which is regulated by RpoS in other E. coli strains, is associated with SP regulation via production of a signal molecule indole. Our studies demonstrated that TnaA was required for E44 invasion, and that indole was able to restore the noninvasive phenotype of the tnaA mutant. The production of indole was significantly reduced in BR2, indicating that ibeR is required for the indole production via tnaA. Survival studies under different stress conditions indicated that IbeR contributed to bacteria stress resistance in the SP. Taken together, IbeR is a novel regulator contributing to the SP regulation.

Cryopreservation of Ginkgo biloba cell culture: effect of pretreatment with sucrose and ABA.

The report describes the impact of preculture with sucrose and sucrose + ABA on desiccation and cryopreservation tolerance of cell cultures of Ginkgo biloba L., an important landscape and medicinal tree. Callus clumps were incubated on MS medium supplemented with high sucrose concentrations (up to 24 percent, w/v), employed alone or with ABA (2-10 mg per L) for various durations followed by desiccation for 0-240 min and cryopreservation. The beneficial effect of preculture on regrowth after desiccation without cryopreservation was only observed for the cells with water content of 20 percent FW and was not influenced by presence of ABA. However, preculture of calli in presence of ABA resulted in a lower desiccation rate as compared with untreated controls and calli pretreated with sucrose alone. In calli precultured with sucrose alone, post-thaw regrowth was occasional regardless of the sugar concentration in the medium, while pretreatment of calli with ABA and sucrose ensured stable regrowth after cryopreservation. The highest post-thaw regrowth of 54 percent was achieved for calli precultured on medium supplemented with 10 percent (w/v) sucrose and 2 mg per L ABA for 21 days followed by desiccation for 150 min. The different effects of preculture treatments on post-thaw regrowth were associated with significant changes in content and in composition of endogenous soluble sugars in calli. Sucrose and glucose accumulated preferentially in ABA-precultured calli, while the fructose content was higher in calli precultured in absence of ABA. The possible role of preculture on desiccation and cryopreservation tolerance of G. biloba cell cultures is discussed.

Extracellular vesicles derived from natural killer cells use multiple cytotoxic proteins and killing mechanisms to target cancer cells.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted membrane vesicles, which play complex physiological and pathological functions in intercellular communication. Recently, we isolated natural killer (NK) cell-derived EVs (NK-EVs) from ex vivo expansion of NK cell cultures. The isolated NK-EVs contained cytotoxic proteins and several activated caspases, and they induced apoptosis in target cells. In this report, the protein levels of cytotoxic proteins from NK-EV isolates were analysed by ELISA. The mean values of perforin (PFN, 550 ng/mL), granzyme A (GzmA, 185 ng/mL), granzyme B (GzmB, 23.4 ng/mL), granulysin (GNLY, 56 ng/mL), and FasL (2.5 ng/mL) were obtained from >60 isolations using dot plots. The correlation between cytotoxicity and cytotoxic protein levels was examined by linear regression. PFN, GzmA, GzmB, GNLY all had a positive, moderate correlation with cytotoxicity, suggesting that there is not a single cytotoxic protein dominantly involved in killing and that all of these proteins may contribute to cytotoxicity. To further explore the possible killing mechanisms, cells were treated with NK-EVs, proteins extracted and lysates assessed by Western blotting. The levels of Gzm A substrates, SET and HMG2, were diminished in targeted cells, indicating that GzmA may induce a caspase-independent death pathway. Also, cytochrome C was released from mitochondria, a central hallmark of caspase-dependent death pathways. In addition, several ER-associated proteins were altered, suggesting that NK-EVs may induce ER stress resulting in cell death. Our results indicate that multiple killing mechanisms are activated by NK-derived EVs, including caspase-independent and -dependent cell death pathways, which can mediate cytotoxicity against cancer cells. Abbreviations: NK: natural killer cells; aNK: activated NK cells; EV: extracellular vesicles; ER: endoplasmic reticulum; ALL: acute lymphoblastic leukaemia; FBS: foetal bovine serum. GzmA: granzyme A; GzmB: granzyme B; GNLY: granulysin; PFN: perforin.

Probiotics improve glucose and lipid metabolism in pregnant women: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to assess the effects of probiotic supplementation on the maternal metabolism and the risk of development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the pregnant women by a meta-analysis of relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: The medical literature was searched from PubMed, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library since inception to October 2017. Two investigators independently performed the data extraction and quality assessment. The mean differences (MD) or standardized mean differences (SMD) or relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with the random-effects model. RESULTS: From 648 citations, a total of ten RCTs published in 13 articles with 1,139 participants met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed that probiotics supplementation effectively reduced the fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels (MD -0.11 mmol/L, P=0.0003), serum insulin levels (MD -2.06 µU/mL, P<0.00001), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (MD -0.38, P<0.00001). The study found a significant effect of probiotics on decreasing the risk of GDM [risk ratio (RR) 0.52, P=0.003) in early pregnancy. Additionally, there were statistically significant reductions in the total cholesterol and triglycerides levels after probiotic interventions (SMD -0.56, P=0.03; SMD -0.66, P=0.04), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that the probiotic use was associated with improved glucose and lipid metabolism in the pregnant women, and might also contribute to the reduced risk of GDM.

Natural Killer-Derived Exosomal miR-186 Inhibits Neuroblastoma Growth and Immune Escape Mechanisms.

In neuroblastoma, the interplay between immune cells of the tumor microenvironment and cancer cells contributes to immune escape mechanisms and drug resistance. In this study, we show that natural killer (NK) cell-derived exosomes carrying the tumor suppressor microRNA (miR)-186 exhibit cytotoxicity against MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cell lines. The cytotoxic potential of these exosomes was partly dependent upon expression of miR-186. miR-186 was downregulated in high-risk neuroblastoma patients, and its low expression represented a poor prognostic factor that directly correlated with NK activation markers (i.e., NKG2D and DNAM-1). Expression of MYCN, AURKA, TGFBR1, and TGFBR2 was directly inhibited by miR-186. Targeted delivery of miR-186 to MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma or NK cells resulted in inhibition of neuroblastoma tumorigenic potential and prevented the TGFß1-dependent inhibition of NK cells. Altogether, these data support the investigation of a miR-186-containing nanoparticle formulation to prevent tumor growth and TGFß1-dependent immune escape in high-risk neuroblastoma patients as well as the inclusion of ex vivo-derived NK exosomes as a potential therapeutic option alongside NK cell-based immunotherapy.Significance: These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of NK cell-derived exosomes containing the tumor suppressor miR-186 that inhibits growth, spreading, and TGFß-dependent immune escape mechanisms in neuroblastoma.

Infectomic analysis of gene expression profiles of human brain microvascular endothelial cells infected with Cryptococcus neoformans.

In order to dissect the pathogenesis of Cryptococcus neoformans meningoencephalitis, a genomic survey of the changes in gene expression of human brain microvascular endothelial cells infected by C. neoformans was carried out in a time-course study. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed significant fluctuations in the expression levels of different groups of genes during the pathogen-host interaction. Self-organizing map (SOM) analysis revealed that most genes were up- or downregulated 2 folds or more at least at one time point during the pathogen-host engagement. The microarray data were validated by Western blot analysis of a group of genes, including beta-actin, Bcl-x, CD47, Bax, Bad, and Bcl-2. Hierarchical cluster profile showed that 61 out of 66 listed interferon genes were changed at least at one time point. Similarly, the active responses in expression of MHC genes were detected at all stages of the interaction. Taken together, our infectomic approaches suggest that the host cells significantly change the gene profiles and also actively participate in immunoregulations of the central nervous system (CNS) during C. neoformans infection.