Genome-wide transcriptomics analysis identifies sox7 and sox18 as specifically regulated by gata4 in cardiomyogenesis.

The transcription factors GATA4, GATA5 and GATA6 are important regulators of heart muscle differentiation (cardiomyogenesis), which function in a partially redundant manner. We identified genes specifically regulated by individual cardiogenic GATA factors in a genome-wide transcriptomics analysis. The genes regulated by gata4 are particularly interesting because GATA4 is able to induce differentiation of beating cardiomyocytes in Xenopus and in mammalian systems. Among the specifically gata4-regulated transcripts we identified two SoxF family members, sox7 and sox18. Experimental reinstatement of gata4 restores sox7 and sox18 expression, and loss of cardiomyocyte differentiation due to gata4 knockdown is partially restored by reinstating sox7 or sox18 expression, while (as previously reported) knockdown of sox7 or sox18 interferes with heart muscle formation. In order to test for conservation in mammalian cardiomyogenesis, we confirmed in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) undergoing cardiomyogenesis that knockdown of Gata4 leads to reduced Sox7 (and Sox18) expression and that Gata4 is also uniquely capable of promptly inducing Sox7 expression. Taken together, we identify an important and conserved gene regulatory axis from gata4 to the SoxF paralogs sox7 and sox18 and further to heart muscle cell differentiation.

Adoptive transfer of murine T cells expressing a chimeric-PD1-Dap10 receptor as an immunotherapy for lymphoma.

Adoptive transfer of T cells is a promising cancer therapy and expression of chimeric antigen receptors can enhance tumour recognition and T-cell effector functions. The programmed death protein 1 (PD1) receptor is a prospective target for a chimeric antigen receptor because PD1 ligands are expressed on many cancer types, including lymphoma. Therefore, we developed a murine chimeric PD1 receptor (chPD1) consisting of the PD1 extracellular domain fused to the cytoplasmic domain of CD3ζ. Additionally, chimeric antigen receptor therapies use various co-stimulatory domains to enhance efficacy. Hence, the inclusion of a Dap10 or CD28 co-stimulatory domain in the chPD1 receptor was compared to determine which domain induced optimal anti-tumour immunity in a mouse model of lymphoma. The chPD1 T cells secreted pro-inflammatory cytokines and lysed RMA lymphoma cells. Adoptive transfer of chPD1 T cells significantly reduced established tumours and led to tumour-free survival in lymphoma-bearing mice. When comparing chPD1 receptors containing a Dap10 or CD28 domain, both receptors induced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines; however, chPD1-CD28 T cells also secreted anti-inflammatory cytokines whereas chPD1-Dap10 T cells did not. Additionally, chPD1-Dap10 induced a central memory T-cell phenotype compared with chPD1-CD28, which induced an effector memory phenotype. The chPD1-Dap10 T cells also had enhanced in vivo persistence and anti-tumour efficacy compared with chPD1-CD28 T cells. Therefore, adoptive transfer of chPD1 T cells could be a novel therapy for lymphoma and inclusion of the Dap10 co-stimulatory domain in chimeric antigen receptors may induce a preferential cytokine profile and T-cell differentiation phenotype for anti-tumour therapies.

An insight into the hepatocellular death induced by amphetamines, individually and in combination: the involvement of necrosis and apoptosis.

The liver is a vulnerable target for amphetamine toxicity, but the mechanisms involved in the drug's hepatotoxicity remain poorly understood. The purpose of the current research was to characterize the mode of death elicited by four amphetamines and to evaluate whether their combination triggered similar mechanisms in immortalized human HepG2 cells. The obtained data revealed a time- and temperature-dependent mortality of HepG2 cells exposed to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy; 1.3 mM), methamphetamine (3 mM), 4-methylthioamphetamine (0.5 mM) and D-amphetamine (1.7 mM), alone or combined (1.6 mM mixture). At physiological temperature (37 °C), 24-h exposures caused HepG2 death preferentially by apoptosis, while a rise to 40.5 °C favoured necrosis. ATP levels remained unaltered when the drugs where tested at normothermia, but incubation at 40.5 °C provoked marked ATP depletion for all treatments. Further investigations on the apoptotic mechanisms triggered by the drugs (alone or combined) showed a decline in BCL-2 and BCL- XL mRNA levels, with concurrent upregulation of BAX, BIM, PUMA and BID genes. Elevation of Bax, cleaved Bid, Puma, Bak and Bim protein levels was also seen. To the best of our knowledge, Puma, Bim and Bak have never been linked with the toxicity induced by amphetamines. Time-dependent caspase-3/-7 activation, but not mitochondrial membrane potential (∆ψm) disruption, also mediated amphetamine-induced apoptosis. The cell dismantling was confirmed by poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase proteolysis. Overall, for all evaluated parameters, no relevant differences were detected between individual amphetamines and the mixture (all tested at equieffective cytotoxic concentrations), suggesting that the mode of action of the amphetamines in combination does not deviate from the mode of action of the drugs individually, when eliciting HepG2 cell death.

Assessment of a prevention program for work-related stress among urban police officers.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of a primary prevention program designed to improve psychobiological responses to stress among urban police officers. METHODS: A random sample of 37 police cadets received complementary training in psychological and technical techniques to reduce anxiety and enhance performance when facing a series of police critical incidents. Training was done by Special Forces officers, trained by the authors in imaging. A random sample of 38 cadets, receiving training as usual, was followed in parallel. Assessment of somatic and psychological health, and stress biomarkers, was done at baseline, immediately following training, and after 18 months as regular police officers. Comparison was done using two-way repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) and logistic regression. RESULTS: The intervention group improved their general health and problem-based coping as compared to the control group. They also demonstrated lower levels of stomach problems, sleep difficulties, and exhaustion. Training was associated with an OR of 4.1 (95% CI, 1.3-13.7; p < 0.05) for improved GHQ scores during the study as compared to no changes or worsening score. CONCLUSIONS: This first primary prevention study of high-risk professions demonstrates the validity and functional utility of the intervention. Beneficial effects lasted at least during the first 2 years on the police force. It is suggested that preventive imagery training in first responders might contribute to enhanced resiliency.

Lactate Dehydrogenase Inhibitors Suppress Borrelia burgdorferi Growth In Vitro.

Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, has a highly reduced genome and relies heavily on glycolysis for carbon metabolism. As such, established inhibitors of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were evaluated in cultures to determine the extent of their impacts on B. burgdorferi growth. Both racemic and enantiopure (AT-101) gossypol, as well as oxamate, galloflavin, and stiripentol, caused the dose-dependent suppression of B. burgdorferi growth in vitro. Racemic gossypol and AT-101 were shown to fully inhibit spirochetal growth at concentrations of 70.5 and 187.5 µM, respectively. Differences between racemic gossypol and AT-101 efficacy may indicate that the dextrorotatory enantiomer of gossypol is a more effective inhibitor of B. burgdorferi growth than the levorotatory enantiomer. As a whole, LDH inhibition appears to be a promising mechanism for suppressing Borrelia growth, particularly with bulky LDH inhibitors like gossypol.

The mosquito effect: regulatory and effector T cells acquire cytoplasmic material from tumor cells through intercellular transfer.

The phenomenon of intercellular transfer of cellular material, including membranes, cytoplasm, and even organelles, has been observed for decades. The functional impact and molecular mechanisms of such transfer in the immune system remain largely elusive due to the absence of a robust in vivo model. Here, we introduce a new tumor mouse model, where tumor cells express the soluble ultra-bright fluorescent protein ZsGreen, which allows detection and measurement of intercellular transfer of cytoplasm from tumor cells to infiltrating immune cells. We found that in addition to various types of myeloid lineage cells, a large fraction of T regulatory cells and effector CD8 T cells acquire tumor material. Based on the distribution of tumor-derived ZsGreen, the majority of T cells integrate captured cytoplasm into their own, while most myeloid cells store tumor material in granules. Furthermore, scRNA-seq analysis revealed significant alterations in transcriptomes of T cells that acquired tumor cell cytoplasm, suggesting potential impact on T cell function. We identified that the participation of T cells in intercellular transfer requires cell-cell contact and is strictly dependent on the activation status of T lymphocytes. Finally, we propose to name the described phenomenon of intercellular transfer for tumor infiltrating T cells the "mosquito effect".

Let-7 enhances murine anti-tumor CD8 T cell responses by promoting memory and antagonizing terminal differentiation.

The success of the CD8 T cell-mediated immune response against infections and tumors depends on the formation of a long-lived memory pool, and the protection of effector cells from exhaustion. The advent of checkpoint blockade therapy has significantly improved anti-tumor therapeutic outcomes by reversing CD8 T cell exhaustion, but fails to generate effector cells with memory potential. Here, using in vivo mouse models, we show that let-7 miRNAs determine CD8 T cell fate, where maintenance of let-7 expression during early cell activation results in memory CD8 T cell formation and tumor clearance. Conversely, let-7-deficiency promotes the generation of a terminal effector population that becomes vulnerable to exhaustion and cell death in immunosuppressive environments and fails to reject tumors. Mechanistically, let-7 restrains metabolic changes that occur during T cell activation through the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and production of reactive oxygen species, potent drivers of terminal differentiation and exhaustion. Thus, our results reveal a role for let-7 in the time-sensitive support of memory formation and the protection of effector cells from exhaustion. Overall, our data suggest a strategy in developing next-generation immunotherapies by preserving the multipotency of effector cells rather than enhancing the efficacy of differentiation.

Common aquatic pollutants modify hemocyte immune responses in Biomphalaria glabrata.

Disruptions to reproductive health in wildlife species inhabiting polluted environments is often found to occur alongside compromised immunity. However, research on impacts of aquatic pollution on freshwater mollusc immune responses is limited despite their importance as vectors of disease (Schistosomiasis) in humans, cattle and wild mammals. We developed an in vitro 'tool-kit' of well-characterized quantitative immune tests using Biomphalaria glabrata hemocytes. We exposed hemocytes to environmentally-relevant concentrations of common aquatic pollutants (17ß-estradiol, Bisphenol-A and p,p'-DDE) and measured key innate immune responses including motility, phagocytosis and encapsulation. Additionally, we tested an extract of a typical domestic tertiary treated effluent as representative of a 'real-world' mixture of chemicals. Encapsulation responses were stimulated by p,p'-DDE at low doses but were suppressed at higher doses. Concentrations of BPA (above 200 ng/L) and p,p'-DDE (above 500 ng/L) significantly inhibited phagocytosis compared to controls, whilst hemocyte motility was reduced by all test chemicals and the effluent extract in a dose-dependent manner. All responses occurred at chemical concentrations considered to be below the cytotoxic thresholds of hemocytes. This is the first time a suite of in vitro tests has been developed specifically in B. glabrata with the purpose of investigating the impacts of chemical pollutants and an effluent extract on immunity. Our findings indicate that common aquatic pollutants alter innate immune responses in B. glabrata, suggesting that pollutants may be a critical, yet overlooked, factor impacting disease by modulating the dynamics of parasite transmission between molluscs and humans.

Automated stress detection using mobile application and wearable sensors improves symptoms of mental health disorders in military personnel.

Leading causes in global health-related burden include stress, depression, anger, fatigue, insomnia, substance abuse, and increased suicidality. While all individuals are at risk, certain career fields such as military service are at an elevated risk. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is highly effective at treating mental health disorders but suffers from low compliance and high dropout rates in military environments. The current study conducted a randomized controlled trial with military personnel to assess outcomes for an asymptomatic group (n = 10) not receiving mental health treatment, a symptomatic group (n = 10) using a mHealth application capable of monitoring physiological stress via a commercial wearable alerting users to the presence of stress, guiding them through stress reduction techniques, and communicating information to providers, and a symptomatic control group (n = 10) of military personnel undergoing CBT. Fifty percent of symptomatic controls dropped out of CBT early and the group maintained baseline symptoms. In contrast, those who used the mHealth application completed therapy and showed a significant reduction in symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and anger. The results from this study demonstrate the feasibility of pairing data-driven mobile applications with CBT in vulnerable populations, leading to an improvement in therapy compliance and a reduction in symptoms compared to CBT treatment alone. Future work is focused on the inclusion of passive sensing modalities and the integration of additional data sources to provide better insights and inform clinical decisions to improve personalized support.

Cardiomyocyte Differentiation from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells.

In vitro generated mammalian cardiomyocytes provide experimental models for studying normal mammalian cardiomyocyte development, for disease modeling and for drug development. They also promise to inform future therapeutic strategies for repair of injured or diseased myocardium. Here we provide reliable protocols for differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into functional cardiomyocytes, together with Notes about trouble shooting and optimizing such protocols for specific cell lines.

Cardiomyocyte Differentiation from Human Embryonic Stem Cells.

In vitro generated human cardiomyocytes hold the ultimate promise for heart patients for repair of injured or diseased myocardium, but they also provide experimental models for studying normal cardiomyocyte development, for disease modeling and for drug development. Here we provide reliable protocols for differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into functional cardiomyocytes, together with Notes about troubleshooting and optimizing such protocols for specific cell lines. This chapter also briefly discusses other published protocols and those further adapted for differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells into cardiomyocytes.

Genome-wide transcriptomics analysis of genes regulated by GATA4, 5 and 6 during cardiomyogenesis in Xenopus laevis.

The transcription factors GATA4, GATA5 and GATA6 play important roles in heart muscle differentiation. The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled "Genome-wide transcriptomics analysis identifies sox7 and sox18 as specifically regulated by gata4 in cardiomyogenesis" (Afouda et al., 2017) [1]. The present study identifies genes regulated by these individual cardiogenic GATA factors using genome-wide transcriptomics analysis. We have presented genes that are specifically regulated by each of them, as well those regulated by either of them. The gene ontology terms (GO) associated with the genes differentially affected are also presented. The data set will allow further investigations on the gene regulatory network downstream of individual cardiogenic GATA factors during cardiac muscle formation.

Low-cost motility tracking system (LOCOMOTIS) for time-lapse microscopy applications and cell visualisation.

Direct visualisation of cells for the purpose of studying their motility has typically required expensive microscopy equipment. However, recent advances in digital sensors mean that it is now possible to image cells for a fraction of the price of a standard microscope. Along with low-cost imaging there has also been a large increase in the availability of high quality, open-source analysis programs. In this study we describe the development and performance of an expandable cell motility system employing inexpensive, commercially available digital USB microscopes to image various cell types using time-lapse and perform tracking assays in proof-of-concept experiments. With this system we were able to measure and record three separate assays simultaneously on one personal computer using identical microscopes, and obtained tracking results comparable in quality to those from other studies that used standard, more expensive, equipment. The microscopes used in our system were capable of a maximum magnification of 413.6×. Although resolution was lower than that of a standard inverted microscope we found this difference to be indistinguishable at the magnification chosen for cell tracking experiments (206.8×). In preliminary cell culture experiments using our system, velocities (mean µm/min ± SE) of 0.81 ± 0.01 (Biomphalaria glabrata hemocytes on uncoated plates), 1.17 ± 0.004 (MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells), 1.24 ± 0.006 (SC5 mouse Sertoli cells) and 2.21 ± 0.01 (B. glabrata hemocytes on Poly-L-Lysine coated plates), were measured and are consistent with previous reports. We believe that this system, coupled with open-source analysis software, demonstrates that higher throughput time-lapse imaging of cells for the purpose of studying motility can be an affordable option for all researchers.

A multidisciplinary investigation of a polycythemia vera cancer cluster of unknown origin.

Cancer cluster investigations rarely receive significant public health resource allocations due to numerous inherent challenges and the limited success of past efforts. In 2008, a cluster of polycythemia vera, a rare blood cancer with unknown etiology, was identified in northeast Pennsylvania. A multidisciplinary group of federal and state agencies, academic institutions, and local healthcare providers subsequently developed a multifaceted research portfolio designed to better understand the cause of the cluster. This research agenda represents a unique and important opportunity to demonstrate that cancer cluster investigations can produce desirable public health and scientific outcomes when necessary resources are available.

Spatially discordant alternans in cardiomyocyte monolayers.

Repolarization alternans is a harbinger of sudden cardiac death, particularly when it becomes spatially discordant. Alternans, a beat-to-beat alternation in the action potential duration (APD) and intracellular Ca (Cai), can arise from either tissue heterogeneities or dynamic factors. Distinguishing between these mechanisms in normal cardiac tissue is difficult because of inherent complex three-dimensional tissue heterogeneities. To evaluate repolarization alternans in a simpler two-dimensional cardiac substrate, we optically recorded voltage and/or Cai in monolayers of cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes during rapid pacing, before and after exposure to BAY K 8644 to enhance dynamic factors promoting alternans. Under control conditions (n = 37), rapid pacing caused detectable APD alternans in 81% of monolayers, and Cai transient alternans in all monolayers, becoming spatially discordant in 62%. After BAY K 8644 (n = 28), conduction velocity restitution became more prominent, and APD and Cai alternans developed and became spatially discordant in all monolayers, with an increased number of nodal lines separating out-of-phase alternating regions. Nodal lines moved closer to the pacing site with faster pacing rates and changed orientation when the pacing site was moved, as predicted for the dynamically generated, but not heterogeneity-based, alternans. Spatial APD gradients during spatially discordant alternans were sufficiently steep to induce conduction block and reentry. These findings indicate that spatially discordant alternans severe enough to initiate reentry can be readily induced by pacing in two-dimensional cardiac tissue and behaves according to predictions for a predominantly dynamically generated mechanism.