Disulphide-reduced psoriasin is a human apoptosis-inducing broad-spectrum fungicide.

The unexpected resistance of psoriasis lesions to fungal infections suggests local production of an antifungal factor. We purified Trichophyton rubrum-inhibiting activity from lesional psoriasis scale extracts and identified the Cys-reduced form of S100A7/psoriasin (redS100A7) as a principal antifungal factor. redS100A7 inhibits various filamentous fungi, including the mold Aspergillus fumigatus, but not Candida albicans. Antifungal activity was inhibited by Zn(2+), suggesting that redS100A7 interferes with fungal zinc homeostasis. Because S100A7-mutants lacking a single cysteine are no longer antifungals, we hypothesized that redS100A7 is acting as a Zn(2+)-chelator. Immunogold electron microscopy studies revealed that it penetrates fungal cells, implicating possible intracellular actions. In support with our hypothesis, the cell-penetrating Zn(2+)-chelator TPEN was found to function as a broad-spectrum antifungal. Ultrastructural analyses of redS100A7-treated T. rubrum revealed marked signs of apoptosis, suggesting that its mode of action is induction of programmed cell death. TUNEL, SYTOX-green analyses, and caspase-inhibition studies supported this for both T. rubrum and A. fumigatus. Whereas redS100A7 can be generated from oxidized S100A7 by action of thioredoxin or glutathione, elevated redS100A7 levels in fungal skin infection indicate induction of both S100A7 and its reducing agent in vivo. To investigate whether redS100A7 and TPEN are antifungals in vivo, we used a guinea pig tinea pedes model for fungal skin infections and a lethal mouse Aspergillus infection model for lung infection and found antifungal activity in both in vivo animal systems. Thus, selective fungal cell-penetrating Zn(2+)-chelators could be useful as an urgently needed novel antifungal therapeutic, which induces programmed cell death in numerous fungi.

Food Restriction Ameliorates the Development of Polycystic Kidney Disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a genetic disorder characterized by the accumulation of kidney cysts that ultimately leads to loss of renal function and kidney failure. At present, the treatment for ADPKD is largely supportive. Multiple studies have focused on pharmacologic approaches to slow the development of the cystic disease; however, little is known about the role of nutrition and dietary manipulation in PKD. Here, we show that food restriction (FR) effectively slows the course of the disease in mouse models of ADPKD. Mild to moderate (10%-40%) FR reduced cyst area, renal fibrosis, inflammation, and injury in a dose-dependent manner. Molecular and biochemical studies in these mice indicate that FR ameliorates ADPKD through a mechanism involving suppression of the mammalian target of the rapamycin pathway and activation of the liver kinase B1/AMP-activated protein kinase pathway. Our data suggest that dietary interventions such as FR, or treatment that mimics the effects of such interventions, may be potential and novel preventive and therapeutic options for patients with ADPKD.

Associations between sinus tachycardia and adverse cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Sinus tachycardia in cancer reflects a significant multi-system organ stressor and disease, with sparse literature describing its clinical significance. We assessed cardiovascular (CV) and mortality prognostic implications of sinus tachycardia in cancer patients. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study of 622 cancer patients at a U.S. urban medical center from 2008 to 2016. Cases had ECG-confirmed sinus tachycardia [heart rate (HR) ≥100 bpm] in ≥3 different clinic visits within 1 year of cancer diagnosis excluding a history of pulmonary embolism, thyroid dysfunction, left ventricular ejection fraction <50%, atrial fibrillation/flutter, HR >180 bpm. Adverse CV outcomes (ACVO) were heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), HF with reduced EF (HFrEF), hospital admissions for HF exacerbation (AHFE), acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Regression analyses were conducted to examine the effect of sinus tachycardia on overall ACVO and survival. RESULTS: There were 51 cases, age and sex-matched with 571 controls (mean age 70±10, 60.5% women, 76.4% Caucasian). In multivariate analysis over a 10-year follow-up period, sinus tachycardia (HR ≥100 vs. <100 bpm) was an independent predictor of overall ACVO (OR 2.8, 95% CI: 1.4-5.5; P=0.006). There was increased incidence of HFrEF (OR 3.3, 95% CI: 1.6-6.5; P=0.004) and AHFE (OR 6.3, 95% CI: 1.6-28; P=0.023), but not HFpEF or ACS (P>0.05) compared with controls. Sinus tachycardia was a significant predictor of overall mortality after adjusting for significant covariates (HR 2.9, 95% CI 1.8-5; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Independent of typical factors that affect cardiovascular disease, sinus tachycardia around the time of cancer treatment is associated with increased ACVO and mortality in cancer patients at 10 years of follow-up.

A methionine-Mettl3-N6-methyladenosine axis promotes polycystic kidney disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a common monogenic disorder marked by numerous progressively enlarging kidney cysts. Mettl3, a methyltransferase that catalyzes the abundant N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification, is implicated in development, but its role in most diseases is unknown. Here, we show that Mettl3 and m6A levels are increased in mouse and human ADPKD samples and that kidney-specific transgenic Mettl3 expression produces tubular cysts. Conversely, Mettl3 deletion in three orthologous ADPKD mouse models slows cyst growth. Interestingly, methionine and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) levels are also elevated in ADPKD models. Moreover, methionine and SAM induce Mettl3 expression and aggravate ex vivo cyst growth, whereas dietary methionine restriction attenuates mouse ADPKD. Finally, Mettl3 activates the cyst-promoting c-Myc and cAMP pathways through enhanced c-Myc and Avpr2 mRNA m6A modification and translation. Thus, Mettl3 promotes ADPKD and links methionine utilization to epitranscriptomic activation of proliferation and cyst growth.

Identification of a major yolk protein as an allergen in sea urchin roe.

Anaphylaxis after eating sea urchin roe has been reported. However, its major allergens have not yet been identified. The aim of this study was to identify the major allergens of sea urchin roe. Proteins of sea urchin roe were separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). An immunoglobulin (Ig)E-binding protein was detected by immunoblotting using the patient's serum. An allergen isolated from 2DE-gel was identified by peptide mass fingerprinting using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry. Immunoblot analysis of sea urchin extracts showed that a 160-kDa protein at pI 6-7 was recognized by the patient's IgE. Peptide mass fingerprint analysis revealed that the protein was the major yolk protein (152 kDa, pI 6.9) of sea urchins. The results show that a major allergen of sea urchin roe is the major yolk protein.

Wilms' Tumor 1 (WT1): The Vaccine for Cancer.

Vaccines have been used to fight and protect against infectious diseases for centuries. With the emergence of immunotherapy in cancer treatment, researchers began investigating vaccines that could be used against cancer, especially against tumors that are resistant to conservative chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy. The Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) protein is immunogenic, has been detected in almost all types of malignancies, and has played a significant role in prognosis and disease monitoring. In this article, we review recent developments in the treatment of various types of cancers with the WT1 cancer vaccine; we also discuss theoretic considerations of various therapeutic approaches, which were based on preclinical and clinical data.

Metalloproteinase PAPP-A regulation of IGF-1 contributes to polycystic kidney disease pathogenesis.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common genetic cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The treatment options for ADPKD are limited. We observed an upregulation in several IGF-1 pathway genes in the kidney of Pkd1RC/RC mice, a model of ADPKD. Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), a metalloproteinase that cleaves inhibitory IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs), increasing the local bioactivity of IGF-1, was highly induced in the kidney of ADPKD mice. PAPP-A levels were high in cystic fluid and kidneys of humans with ADPKD. Our studies further showed that PAPP-A transcription in ADPKD was mainly regulated through the cAMP/CREB/CBP/p300 pathway. Pappa deficiency effectively inhibited the development of cysts in the Pkd1RC/RC mice. The role of PAPP-A in cystic disease appears to be regulation of the IGF-1 pathway and cellular proliferation in the kidney. Finally, preclinical studies demonstrated that treatment with a monoclonal antibody that blocks the proteolytic activity of PAPP-A against IGFBP4 ameliorated ADPKD cystic disease in vivo in Pkd1RC/RC mice and ex vivo in embryonic kidneys. These data indicated that the PAPP-A/IGF-1 pathway plays an important role in the growth and expansion of cysts in ADPKD. Our findings introduce a therapeutic strategy for ADPKD that involves the inhibition of PAPP-A.

Antifungal activity and mechanism of action of Ou-gon (Scutellaria root extract) components against pathogenic fungi.

Ou-gon, an extract from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi root, has been shown to exhibit pronounced antifungal activity. The present study aimed to identify antifungal components of Ou-gon and to determine their mechanism of action against pathogenic fungi. Antifungal activity was assessed by the microbroth dilution method using four common human pathogenic fungi, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Candida albicans. Components of crude Ou-gon extract were separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Active antifungal components were identified by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end-labelling assay, SYTOX® green uptake assay, determination of intracellular reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial membrane potential as well as microscopy (confocal laser microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy) were used to probe the mode of action. Two components with potent antifungal activity, baicalein and wogonin, were identified in Ou-gon. Baicalein showed potent antifungal activity against the four fungi tested. Wogonin displayed antifungal activity against all four fungi except C. albicans. The components are considered to induce apoptosis-like programmed cell death via hyperproduction of reactive oxygen species. This study enhances our understanding of the antifungal activity of Kampo medicine, and may contribute to the development of new and safe antifungal therapeutics.

In Vitro Antifungal Activity of Kampo Medicine Water Extracts against Trichophyton rubrum.

Kampo medicines consist of a variety of crude animal, plant, and mineral extracts that have long been used to relieve different symptoms, and are relatively safe. However, their mechanisms of actions have not been well investigated. We screened 61 commercially available Kampo medicines to determine if they contain constituents with antifungal activity against Trichophyton rubrum. The antifungal effect of the Kampo medicines was determined by measuring the mean absorbance of treated fungal culture media. Lower absorbance values suggested a higher inhibition of the growth rate of T. rubrum by the Kampo medicines. We found that seven of the evaluated formulations exhibited a comparable antifungal activity to that of fluconazole at 14 mg/mL. The seven active Kampo medicines were Saiko-keishi-kankyou-to, Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to, Saiko-keishi-to, Keishi-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to, Dai-saiko-to, Bohu-tsu-sho-san, and Otsu-ji-to. The seven Kampo medicines with antifungal activity contain 30 different crude extracts, and Ou-gon (Scutellaria root) is a supplement contained in six of the seven formulations. Therefore, Ou-gon was considered to play a major role in their antifungal effect. The antifungal assay of the Ou-gon water extract showed that it significantly inhibited the growth of T. rubrum at a concentration of 20 mg/mL. Future studies will focus on the isolation and identification of the antifungal components of the crude extracts of Ou-gon, which may be potentially useful, new, and safe antifungal drugs.

Condylomata acuminata in the neovagina after male-to-female reassignment treated with CO2 laser and imiquimod.

Condylomata acuminata are frequently occurring genital warts, but little is known about clinical features of the genital warts in transsexuals and their incidence. We report a case of condylomata acuminata arising on the neourethral meatus and the transplanted skin of the neovagina in a male-to-female transsexual, which was successfully treated with CO2 laser irradiation followed by topical application of imiquimod cream on the residual warts. This is a first report of using imiquimod cream for condylomata acuminata arising on the neovagina in a male-to-female transsexual.