CREB5 promotes the proliferation and self-renewal ability of glioma stem cells.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most fatal form of brain cancer in humans, with a dismal prognosis and a median overall survival rate of less than 15 months upon diagnosis. Glioma stem cells (GSCs), have recently been identified as key contributors in both tumor initiation and therapeutic resistance in GBM. Both public dataset analysis and direct differentiation experiments on GSCs have demonstrated that CREB5 is more highly expressed in undifferentiated GSCs than in differentiated GSCs. Additionally, gene silencing by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) of CREB5 has prevented the proliferation and self-renewal ability of GSCs in vitro and decreased their tumor forming ability in vivo. Meanwhile, RNA-sequencing, luciferase reporter assay, and ChIP assay have all demonstrated the closely association between CREB5 and OLIG2. These findings suggest that targeting CREB5 could be an effective approach to overcoming GSCs.

Lentibacillus cibarius sp. nov., isolated from kimchi, a Korean fermented food.

Two bacterial strains designated NKC220-2T and NKC851-2 were isolated from commercial kimchi from different areas in Korea. The strains were Gram-positive, aerobic, oxidaseand catalase-positive, rod-shaped, spore-forming, non-motile, and halophilic bacteria. Both strains grew without NaCl, unlike type species in the genus Lentibacillus. The optimal pH for growth was 8.0, higher than that of the type species in the genus Lentibacillus, although growth was observed at pH 5.5-9.0. 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis indicated that the two strains (99.3-99.9% similarity) are grouped within the genus Lentibacillus and most closely related to Lentibacillus juripiscarius IS40-3T (97.4-97.6% similarity) isolated from fish sauce in Thailand. OrthoANI value between two novel strains and Lentibacillus lipolyticus SSKP1-9T (79.5-79.6% similarity) was far lower than the species demarcation threshold. Comparative genomic analysis displayed differences between the two strains as well as among other strains belonging to Lentibacillus. Furthermore, each isolate had strain-specific groups of orthologous genes based on pangenome analysis. Genomic G + C contents of strains NKC-220-2T and NKC851-2 were 41.9 and 42.2 mol%, respectively. The strains contained meso-diaminopimelic acid in their cell walls, and the major menaquinone was menaquinone-7. Phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, and an unidentified glycolipid, aminophospholipid, and phospholipid were the major polar lipid components of both strains. The major cellular fatty acids of the strains were anteiso-C15:0 and anteiso-C17:0. Based on phenotypic, genomic, phylogenetic, and chemotaxonomic features, strains NKC220-2T and NKC851-2 represent novel species of the genus Lentibacillus, for which the name Lentibacillus cibarius sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NKC220-2T (= KACC 21232T = JCM 33390T).

Salicibibacter kimchii gen. nov., sp. nov., a moderately halophilic and alkalitolerant bacterium in the family Bacillaceae, isolated from kimchi.

A moderately halophilic and alkalitolerant bacterial strain NKC1-1T was isolated from commercial kimchi in Korea. Strain NKC1-1T was Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile, and contained diaminopimelic acid-type murein. Cell growth was observed in a medium containing 0-25% (w/v) NaCl (optimal at 10% [w/v]), at 20-40°C (optimal at 37°C) and pH 6.5-10.0 (optimal at pH 9.0). The major isoprenoid quinone of the isolate was menaquinone-7, and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol and unidentified phospholipids. Cell membrane of the strain contained iso-C17:0 and anteiso-C15:0 as the major fatty acids. Its DNA G + C content was 45.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis indicated the strain to be most closely related to Geomicrobium halophilum with 92.7-92.9% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Based on polyphasic taxonomic evaluation with phenotypic, phylogenetic, and chemotaxonomic analyses, the strain represents a novel species in a new genus, for which the name Salicibibacter kimchii gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed (= CECT 9537T; KCCM 43276T).

Effect of albumin on 14C-alpha-Methyl-D-Glucopyranoside uptake in primary cultured renal proximal tubule cells: involvement of PLC, MAPK, and NF-kappaB.

A growing body of evidence implicates albumin has an important regulatory function in renal proximal tubule cells (PTCs). In present study, the effect of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on 14C-alpha-methyl-D-glucopyranoside (alpha-MG) uptake and its related signal molecules were examined in the primary cultured rabbit renal PTCs. BSA significantly increased uptake of alpha-MG, a distinctive proximal tubule marker, as well as expression level of Na+/glucose cotransporters (SGLT1 and SGLT2) proteins. The BSA-induced increase of alpha-MG uptake was completely blocked by actinomycin D and cycloheximide. Neomycin or U 73122 (PLC inhibitors), BAPTA/AM or TMB-8 (intracellular Ca2+ mobilization inhibitors) completely abolished BSA-induced increase of alpha-MG uptake. BSA significantly increased IPs accumulation, but did not affect Ca2+ uptake. Effect of BSA on alpha-MG uptake was blocked by PD 98059, but did not SB 203580. BSA increased phosphorylation of p44/42 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) in a time-dependent manner. NAC or catalase (antioxidants) significantly blocked BSA-induced increase of H2O2 formation and alpha-MG uptake. BSA activated NF-kappaB translocation into nucleus. PDTC, SN50, and TLCK (NF-kappaB inhibitors) also completely blocked BSA-induced increase of alpha-MG uptake, NF-kappaB p65 and phospho IkappaB-alpha activation. In conclusion, BSA stimulates alpha-MG uptake and its action is partially correlated with PLC, MAPK, or NF-kappaB signal molecules in primary cultured renal PTCs.

Ginsenosides inhibit EGF-induced proliferation of renal proximal tubule cells via decrease of c-fos and c-jun gene expression in vitro.

Recent epidemiological studies have demonstrated that ginseng intake is associated with a reduced risk for environmentally related cancers. However, the effects of ginsenosides on the proliferation of renal proximal tubule cells have not yet elucidated. This study investigated the effect of total ginsenosides, protopanaxatriol (PT) saponin, and protopanaxadiol (PD) saponin fraction on epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced renal cell proliferation and, furthermore, c-fos and c-jun gene expression. In the present study, total ginsenosides (10 -6 g/ml) completely blocked EGF-induced DNA synthesis and cell growth. In contrast, the PT and PD fractions partially blocked it. In addition, the EGF-induced increase of c-fos and c-jun gene expression was completely blocked by total ginsenosides and partially by PT and PD saponins. In conclusion, ginsenosides, in part, inhibit EGF-induced cell proliferation via decrease of c-fos and c-jun gene expression in primary cultured rabbit renal proximal tubular cells (PTCs). Abbreviations. EGF:epidermal growth factor PD:protopanaxadiol PT:protopanaxatriol PTCs:primary cultured renal proximal tubule cells

Resistance of mitochondrial DNA-deficient cells to TRAIL: role of Bax in TRAIL-induced apoptosis.

Mitochondrion is one of the master players in both apoptosis and necrosis. We studied the role of mitochondrial function in TRAIL-induced apoptosis. TRAIL killed SK-Hep1 cells with characteristic features of apoptosis such as DNA fragmentation, sub-G1 ploidy peak and cytochrome c translocation. In contrast, mitochondrial DNA-deficient SK-Hep1 rho(0) cells were resistant to TRAIL. Dissipation of mitochondrial potential or cytochrome c translocation did not occur in rho(0) cells after TRAIL treatment. TRAIL induced translocation of Bax subsequent to the cleavage of Bid in parental cells. However, Bax translocation was absent in rho(0) cells, accounting for the failure of cytochrome c release in rho(0) cells. Forced expression of Bax induced caspase-3 activity in rho(0) cells. Incubation of rho(0) cells with ADP+Pi to increase intracellular ATP restored sensitivity to TRAIL. Despite different sensitivity to TRAIL, parental cells and rho(0) cells did not show significant difference in susceptibility to agonistic anti-Fas antibody, TNF-alpha or staurosporine. Our results indicate that TRAIL-induced apoptosis is dependent on intact mitochondrial function and susceptibility of mitochondrial DNA-deficient cells to apoptosis depends on the type of apoptotic stimuli. Tumor cells with mitochondrial mutations or dysfunction might have the ability to evade tumor surveillance imposed by TRAIL in vivo.