Clinicopathological and cellular senescence biomarkers in chronic stalled wounds.

BACKGROUND: Chronic wounds have been associated with an elevated burden of cellular senescence, a state of essentially irreversible cell cycle arrest, resistance to apoptosis, and a secretory phenotype. However, whether senescent cells contribute to wound chronicity in humans remains unclear. The objective of this article is to assess the role of clinicopathological characteristics and cellular senescence in the time-to-healing of chronic wounds. METHODS: A cohort of 79 patients with chronic wounds was evaluated in a single-center academic practice from February 1, 2005, to February 28, 2015, and followed for up to 36 months. Clinical characteristics and wound biopsies were obtained at baseline, and time-to-healing was assessed. Wound biopsies were analyzed histologically for pathological characteristics and molecularly for markers of cellular senescence. In addition, biopsy slides were stained for p16INK4a expression. RESULTS: No clinical or pathological characteristics were found to have significant associations with time-to-healing. A Cox proportional hazard ratio model revealed increased CDKN1A (p21CIP1/WAF1 ) expression to predict longer time-to-healing, and a model adjusted for gender and epidermal hyperplasia revealed increased CDKN1A expression and decreased PAPPA expression to predict longer time-to-healing. Increased p16INK4a staining was observed in diabetic wounds compared to non-diabetic wounds, and the same association was observed in the context of high dermal fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this pilot study suggest that senescent cells contribute to wound chronicity in humans, especially in diabetic wounds.

Senescent and disease-associated microglia are modifiable features of aged brain white matter.

Brain white matter tracts undergo structural and functional changes linked to late-life cognitive decline, but the cellular and molecular contributions to their selective vulnerability are not well defined. In naturally aged mice, we demonstrate that senescent and disease-associated microglia (DAM) phenotypes converge in hippocampus-adjacent white matter. Through gold-standard gene expression and immunolabeling combined with high-dimensional spatial mapping, we identified microglial cell fates in aged white matter characterized by aberrant morphology, microenvironment reorganization, and expression of senescence and DAM markers, including galectin 3 (GAL3/Lgals3), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), and cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors, including Cdkn2a/p16ink4a. Pharmacogenetic or pharmacological targeting of p16ink4a or BCL2 reduced white matter GAL3+ DAM abundance and rejuvenated microglial fimbria organization. Our results demonstrate dynamic changes in microglial identity in aged white matter that can be reverted by senotherapeutic intervention to promote homeostatic maintenance in the aged brain.

Single allele loss-of-function mutations select and sculpt conditional cooperative networks in breast cancer.

The most common events in breast cancer (BC) involve chromosome arm losses and gains. Here we describe identification of 1089 gene-centric common insertion sites (gCIS) from transposon-based screens in 8 mouse models of BC. Some gCIS are driver-specific, others driver non-specific, and still others associated with tumor histology. Processes affected by driver-specific and histology-specific mutations include well-known cancer pathways. Driver non-specific gCIS target the Mediator complex, Ca++ signaling, Cyclin D turnover, RNA-metabolism among other processes. Most gCIS show single allele disruption and many map to genomic regions showing high-frequency hemizygous loss in human BC. Two gCIS, Nf1 and Trps1, show synthetic haploinsufficient tumor suppressor activity. Many gCIS act on the same pathway responsible for tumor initiation, thereby selecting and sculpting just enough and just right signaling. These data highlight ~1000 genes with predicted conditional haploinsufficient tumor suppressor function and the potential to promote chromosome arm loss in BC.

Pre-Transplant Factors Influencing Rates of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence in Liver Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine factors influencing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence in a cohort of patients who underwent liver transplantation (LT) at a large, tertiary-care medical center. METHODS: A total of 132 patients with the diagnosis of HCC at time of transplant were evaluated for HCC recurrence over a 7-year period. Nine patients were found to have HCC recur post-LT. RESULTS: No significant demographic values were found to indicate recurrence. Pre-LT factors potentially influencing HCC recurrence rates included number of days between HCC diagnosis and date of LT (P = 0.015), caudate lobe involvement (P = 0.019), increased use of radiation therapies pre-LT (P = 0.011), and total number of locoregional therapies (LRT) pre-LT (P < 0.001). Post-transplant outcomes demonstrated a significant difference in deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the recurrent vs. non-recurrent groups (P = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HCC recurrence in this study was lower than the national average, yet difficulty still exists in predicting pre-LT factors which may influence HCC recurrence rates.

Esófago negro como causa de hemorragia digestiva alta: reporte de un caso / Black esophagus as a cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding: a case report

Resumen La esofagitis necrotizante aguda es una entidad poco común que afecta sobre todo a ancianos. La presentación clínica más común es hemorragia digestiva alta. El pronóstico depende de las enfermedades de base con una mortalidad de hasta el 50 %. Se presenta el caso de un varón de 77 años con historia de una semana de melena, 3 episodios de hematemesis y epigastralgia. La endoscopia digestiva alta reveló una mucosa con necrosis en parches y fibrina en el esófago medio y distal. La biopsia de esófago fue compatible con necrosis de mucosa.

Abstract Acute necrotizing esophagitis is a rare entity that affects mainly elderly patients. The most common clinical presentation is upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The prognosis depends on the underlying diseases, with a mortality of up to 50%. This is the case of a 77-year-old male patient who presented with melena, three episodes of hematemesis, and epigastric pain for a week. Upper endoscopy revealed mucosa with spotty necrosis and fibrin in the middle and distal esophagus. Esophageal biopsy was compatible with mucosal necrosis.

Effect of IL-1beta on survival and energy metabolism of R28 and RGC-5 retinal neurons.

PURPOSE: Interleukin-(IL)1beta expression is increased in the retina during a variety of diseases involving the death of retinal neurons and contributes to neurodegenerative processes through an unknown mechanism. This study was conducted to examine the effects of IL-1beta on the metabolism and viability of RGC-5 and R28 retinal neuronal cells. METHODS: Cellular reductive capacity was evaluated using WST-1 tetrazolium salt. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential was determined by JC-1 fluorescence. Cellular ATP levels were measured with a luciferase assay. Caspase-3/7 activation was detected with a DEVDase activity assay. Cell death and lysis was evaluated by measuring release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Glycolysis was assessed by measuring glucose disappearance and lactate appearance in cell culture medium. Cellular respiration was followed polarographically. RESULTS: IL-1beta treatment caused a pronounced decrease in cellular reductive potential. IL-1beta caused depletion of intracellular ATP, loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, caspase-3/7 activation, and LDH release. IL-1beta treatment increased rates of glucose utilization and lactate production. The cells were partially protected from IL-1beta toxicity by ample ambient glucose. However, glucose did not block the ability of IL-1beta to cause a decline in mitochondrial transmembrane potential or ATP depletion. IL-1beta decreased oxygen consumption of the R28 cells by nearly half, but did not lower cytochrome c oxidase activity. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that IL-1beta inhibits mitochondrial energy metabolism of these retinal neuronlike cells.

Resolution of inflammation: prostaglandin E2 dissociates nuclear trafficking of individual NF-kappaB subunits (p65, p50) in stimulated rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts.

NF-kappaB transcription factors regulate inflammatory responses to cytokines such as IL-1beta and TNF-alpha. We tested whether PGE2 regulated nuclear localization of individual NF-kappaB subunits, p65 and p50, in synovial fibroblasts harvested from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). IL-1beta/TNF-alpha stimulated the translocation of p65 and p50 from the cytosol to the nucleus of human RA synovial fibroblasts, as well as NF-kappaB activation measured by luciferase reporter assay. PGE2 (10 nM, 6 h) enhanced p50, but inhibited p65 translocation and NF-kappaB activation. In contrast, depletion of endogenous PGE2 by ibuprofen (100 microM) and celecoxib (5 microM) enhanced p65, but inhibited p50 nuclear translocation as well as binding to NF-kappaB DNA binding sites. PGE2 also blocked IL-1beta/TNF-alpha-stimulated ERK activation, and the ERK inhibitor, PD98059, mimicked PGE2 in blocking p65, but enhancing p50 nuclear translocation, suggesting that the effects of PGE2 on p65 and p50 are mediated via effects on ERK. PGE2 also enhanced the expression of IkappaBalpha in an ERK-independent manner, suggesting that PGE2 inhibits NF-kappaB activation by both ERK-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Our data indicate that PGE2 may act to attenuate cytokine-induced inflammatory responses in RA synovial fibroblasts via regulation of the localization of specific NF-kappaB family dimers.

Regulation of metalloproteinases and NF-kappaB activation in rabbit synovial fibroblasts via E prostaglandins and Erk: contrasting effects of nabumetone and 6MNA.

1 Nabumetone is a prodrug that is converted in vivo into 6-methoxy-2-naphthylacetic acid (6MNA), a cyclooxygenase inhibitor with anti-inflammatory properties. We tested the effects of nabumetone and 6MNA on the inflammatory responses of synovial fibroblasts (SFs). 2 Brief exposures to 6MNA (50-150 microm) had no effect on IL-1beta/TNF-alpha (each 20 ng ml(-1))-stimulated Erk activation. Longer exposures depleted prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) as much as 70%, and stimulated Erk as much as 300%. Nabumetone (150 microm) inhibited Erk activation by 60-80%. 6MNA (50-150 microm) stimulated (approximately 200%) and nabumetone (150 microm) inhibited (approximately 50%) matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, but not MMP-13 secretion from SFs. 3 6MNA stimulation of MMP-1 secretion was inhibited approximately 30% by PGE1 (1 microm) and approximately 80% by the Erk pathway inhibitor UO126 (10 microm), confirming that PGE depletion and Erk activation mediate MMP-1 secretion by 6MNA. 4 Consistent with its role as an Erk inhibitor, nabumetone (150 microm) abrogated 6MNA enhancement of MMP-1 secretion. 5 UO126 (10 microm) and nabumetone (150 microm) inhibited (approximately 70 and 40%, respectively), but 6MNA (150 microm) enhanced (approximately 40%), NF-kappaB activation. 6 Our data indicate that 6MNA shares with other COX inhibitors several proinflammatory effects on synovial fibroblasts. In contrast, nabumetone demonstrates anti-inflammatory and potentially arthroprotective effects that have not been previously appreciated.

Cyclooxygenase-2-derived E prostaglandins down-regulate matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression in fibroblast-like synoviocytes via inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation.

We examined the regulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production by mitogen-activated protein kinases and cyclooxygenases (COXs) in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSCs). IL-1beta and TNF-alpha stimulated FLSC extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation as well as MMP-1 and -13 release. Pharmacologic inhibitors of ERK inhibited MMP-1, but not MMP-13 expression. Whereas millimolar salicylates inhibited both ERK and MMP-1, nonsalicylate COX and selective COX-2 inhibitors enhanced stimulated MMP-1 release. Addition of exogenous PGE(1) or PGE(2) inhibited MMP-1, reversed the effects of COX inhibitors, and inhibited ERK activation, suggesting that COX-2 activity tonically inhibits MMP-1 production via ERK inhibition by E PGs. Exposure of FLSCs to nonselective COX and selective COX-2 inhibitors in the absence of stimulation resulted in up-regulation of MMP-1 expression in an ERK-dependent manner. Moreover, COX inhibition sufficient to reduce PGE levels increased ERK activity. Our data indicate that: 1) ERK activation mediates MMP-1 but not MMP-13 release from FLSCs, 2) COX-2-derived E PGs inhibit MMP-1 release from FLSCs via inhibition of ERK, and 3) COX inhibitors, by attenuating PGE inhibition of ERK, enhance the release of MMP-1 by FLSC.