A modified system using macrophage-conditioned medium revealed that the indirect effects of anti-inflammatory food-derived compounds improve inflammation-induced suppression of UCP-1 mRNA expression in 10T1/2 adipocytes.

Recently, it has been suggested that brown and beige adipocytes may ameliorate obesity because these adipocytes express uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1), which generates heat by consuming lipid. However, obesity-induced inflammation suppresses the expression of UCP-1. To improve such conditions, food components with anti-inflammatory properties are attracting attention. In this study, we developed a modified system to evaluate only the indirect effects of anti-inflammatory food-derived compounds by optimizing the conventional experimental system using conditioned medium. We validated this new system using 6-shogaol and 6-gingerol, which have been reported to show the anti-inflammatory effects and to increase the basal expression of UCP-1 mRNA. In addition, we found that the acetone extract of Sarcodon aspratus, an edible mushroom, showed anti-inflammatory effects and rescued the inflammation-induced suppression of UCP-1 mRNA expression. These findings indicate that the system with conditioned medium is valuable for evaluation of food-derived compounds with anti-inflammatory effects on the inflammation-induced thermogenic adipocyte dysfunction.

Progressive arteriopathy with vasospasm in focal cerebral arteriopathy in childhood: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Focal cerebral arteriopathy (FCA) is a clinically important disease that often causes progressive arteriopathy. We report a case of FCA with progressive arteriopathy due to arterial shrinkage of the outer diameter found on T2-weighted three-dimensional sampling perfection with application optimized contrasts using different flip angle evolutions (3D-SPACE) imaging. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 9-year-old girl who developed right hemiparesis. Acute infarction was detected in the basal ganglia. Vascular images revealed stenosis from the distal internal carotid artery (ICA) to the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Intravenous heparin was administered for 8 days, and the symptoms improved. However, 29 days after onset, right hemiparesis transiently developed again and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) showed progressive stenosis from the ICA to MCA, while 3D-SPACE showed similar shrinkage of the outer diameter. Aspirin was started, and there was no subsequent recurrence. After 12 months, MRA and 3D-SPACE showed improvement of stenosis and arterial shrinkage. CONCLUSIONS: Given the time course, the change in the outer diameter was thought to be vasospasm. Thus, vasospasm may be one of the causes of progressive arteriopathy in FCA.

(S)-Equol Is More Effective than (R)-Equol in Inhibiting Osteoclast Formation and Enhancing Osteoclast Apoptosis, and Reduces Estrogen Deficiency-Induced Bone Loss in Mice.

BACKGROUND: Equol, a metabolite of daidzein, binds to the estrogen receptor with greater affinity than daidzein and exhibits various biological properties. It exists as an enantiomer, either (S)-equol or (R)-equol. OBJECTIVES: We have previously shown that the inhibitory effect of (S)-equol on bone fragility is stronger than that of racemic equol in ovariectomized (OVX) mice; however, the effect of (R)-equol has not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to compare the activities of equol enantiomers on bone metabolism in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Bone marrow cells (BMCs) and RAW 264.7 cells were treated with equol enantiomers. The number of osteoclasts and caspase-3/7 activity were measured. We examined the effect of equol enantiomers on osteoblast differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells. In vivo, 8-wk-old female ddY mice were assigned to 4 groups: sham-operated (sham), OVX, OVX + 0.5 mg/d of (S)-equol (S-eq), and OVX + 0.5 mg/d of (R)-equol (R-eq). Four weeks after the intervention, femoral bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoclastic gene expression were analyzed, along with concentrations of equol enantiomers in the serum and tissues. RESULTS: (S)-equol and (R)-equol inhibited osteoclast differentiation in BMCs (97% and 60%, P < 0.05) and RAW 264.7 cells (83% and 68%, P < 0.05). (S)-equol promoted apoptosis of mature osteoclasts by inducing caspase-3/7 activity (29%, P < 0.05) and enhanced osteoblast differentiation (29%, P < 0.05). In OVX mice, BMD was ameliorated in (S)-equol-treated mice (11%, P < 0.05), but not in (R)-equol-treated mice. The concentrations of (S)-equol were greater than those of (R)-equol in the serum, tibia, liver, and kidney (by 148%, 80%, 22%, and 139%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that (S)-equol is more effective than (R)-equol in inhibiting osteoclast formation and enhancing osteoclast apoptosis in vitro, supporting the beneficial effect of (S)-equol to reduce estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss in OVX mice.

Ca2+/Calmodulin induces translocation of membrane-associated TSC2 to the nucleus where it suppresses CYP24A1 expression.

Tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2) is a tumor-suppressor protein. A loss of TSC2 function induces hyperactivation of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR). The C-terminal region of TSC2 contains a calmodulin (CaM) binding region and the CaM-TSC2 interaction contributes to proper mTOR activity. However, other downstream signaling pathways/effectors activated by the CaM-TSC2 complex have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we found that activation of Ca2+/CaM signaling resulted in the translocation of membrane-associated TSC2 to the nucleus and suppressed the transcriptional activity of the vitamin D receptor (VDR). TSC2 was released from the membrane in an activated CaM-dependent state in rat brain and HeLa cells. It subsequently formed a transcriptional complex to partially suppress the transcription of CYP24A1, a well-known VDR target gene. These data suggest, in part, that TSC2 attenuates VDR-associated transcriptional regulation via Ca2+/CaM signaling.

In Vitro and in Silico Studies of Potential Coronavirus-Specific 3C-Like Protease Inhibitors.

We investigated similar compounds to ebselen and tideglusib, which exhibit strong activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), using Molecular ACCess System (MACCS) keys. Four candidate compounds were identified. One of them, phenyl-benzothiazol-3-one, showed coronavirus-specific 3C-like (3CL) protease inhibitory activity. The results indicated that a similarity score above 0.81 is a good indicator of activity for ebselen-and-tideglusib-like compounds. Subsequently, we simulated the ring-cleavage Michael reaction of ebselen at the Se center, which is responsible for its 3CL protease inhibitory activity, and determined the activation free energy of the reaction. The results showed that reaction simulation is a useful tool for estimating the activity of inhibitory compounds that undergo Michael addition reactions with the relevant cysteine S atom of 3CL proteases.

Randomized trial comparing the 25G and 22G Franseen needles in endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition from solid pancreatic masses for adequate histological assessment.

BACKGROUND: The effects of the Franseen needle size in endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) of solid pancreatic masses remain unclear. This study aimed to compare 25G and 22G Franseen needles in terms of adequate tissue acquisition from solid pancreatic masses. METHODS: In this single-center, crossover, randomized noninferiority trial, eligible patients underwent EUS-FNB with both 25G and 22G Franseen needles in a randomized order between November 2018 and August 2020. Tissue specimens from each pass were separately evaluated based on the cellularity scoring system. The primary outcome was the proportion of acquired specimens allowing adequate histological assessment (cellularity score ≥3). A -15% noninferiority margin was assumed. RESULTS: Data from 88 patients were analyzed, which showed malignant and benign lesions in 84 (95.5%) and four (4.5%) patients, respectively. Of the 88 specimens, 62 (70.5%) and 69 (78.4%) acquired using 25G and 22G needles, respectively, allowed adequate histological assessment. The adjusted proportion difference was -6.6% (95% confidence interval -8.8% to -4.5%), indicating noninferiority of the 25G Franseen needle (P < 0.001). The diagnostic accuracies of the 25G and 22G needles were 86.4% and 89.8%, respectively, with no significant difference (P = 0.180). Adverse events occurred in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: The 25G Franseen needle showed a noninferior adequate tissue acquisition and similar diagnostic performance compared to that of the 22G Franseen needle. However, a 15% noninferiority margin was high for clinical use; thus, further consideration is needed (Clinical Trial Registry no. UMIN000034596).

Adrenergic signaling promotes the expansion of cancer stem-like cells of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST), a highly malignant tumor that arises in peripheral nerve tissues, is known to be highly resistant to radiation and chemotherapy. Although there are several reports on genetic mutations and epigenetic changes that define the pathogenesis of MPNST, there is insufficient information regarding the microenvironment that contributes to the malignancy of MPNST. In the present study, we demonstrate that adrenaline increases the cancer stem cell population in MPNST. This effect is mediated by adrenaline stimulation of beta-2 adrenergic receptor (ADRB2), which activates the Hippo transducer, YAP/TAZ. Inhibition and RNAi experiments revealed that inhibition of ADRB2 attenuated the adrenaline-triggered activity of YAP/TAZ and subsequently attenuated MPNST cells stemness. Furthermore, ADRB2-YAP/TAZ axis was confirmed in the MPNST patients' specimens. The prognosis of patients with high levels of ADRB2 was found to be significantly worse. These data show that adrenaline exacerbates MPNST prognosis and may aid the development of new treatment strategies for MPNST.

Effectiveness of Menghini-Type Needles for Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration of Pancreatic Masses.

BACKGROUND: Cutting needles are thought to be effective as biopsy needles. A few types of cutting needles are available for endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA), and the Menghini-type needle is an end-type cutting needle. AIMS: A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare the results of EUS-FNA using a Menghini-type needle (needle M) versus a conventional needle (needle S). METHODS: The main eligibility criteria were as follows: patients with a pancreatic mass referred for EUS-FNA, ≥ 20 years old, and a performance status < 4. The primary outcome was the sample quality. The secondary outcomes were factors associated with the sample quality, diagnostic accuracy, and adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 97 patients were enrolled in this study. The sample quality for total puncture with needle M (92.8%) was significantly higher than that with needle S (81.4%) (p = 0.0305). The tumor size (p = 0.033) and type of needle (p = 0.031) were significant factors associated with adequate tissue collection in univariate and multivariate analyses (odds ratio [OR] 2.71; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-6.54; p = 0.027 for tumor size, and OR 2.93; 95% CI 1.23-8.21; p = 0.0153 for type of needle). The diagnostic accuracy of each needle was 88.7% (86/97) with needle M and 73.2% (71/97) with needle S. Adverse events occurred in 2 of the 97 patients (0.02%). CONCLUSION: A Menghini-type needle was able to obtain core tissue for histology more effectively than a conventional aspiration needle. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS: UMIN registration number of 000020668.

Endogenous nitrated nucleotide is a key mediator of autophagy and innate defense against bacteria.

Autophagy is a cellular self-catabolic process wherein organelles, macromolecules, and invading microbes are sequestered in autophagosomes that fuse with lysosomes. In this study, we uncover the role of nitric oxide (NO) as a signaling molecule for autophagy induction via its downstream mediator, 8-nitroguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-nitro-cGMP). We found that 8-nitro-cGMP-induced autophagy is mediated by Lys63-linked polyubiquitination and that endogenous 8-nitro-cGMP promotes autophagic exclusion of invading group A Streptococcus (GAS) from cells. 8-nitro-cGMP can modify Cys residues by S-guanylation of proteins. We showed that intracellular GAS is modified with S-guanylation extensively in autophagosomes-like vacuoles, suggesting the role of S-guanylation as a marker for selective autophagic degradation. This finding is supported by the fact that S-guanylated bacteria were selectively marked with polyubiquitin, a known molecular tag for selective transport to autophagosomes. These results collectively indicate that 8-nitro-cGMP plays a crucial role in cytoprotection during bacterial infections or inflammations via autophagy upregulation.

Best practices for the extraction of genomic DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue for cancer genomic profiling tests.

Recently, two cancer genomic profiling tests have been approved in Japan and implemented in routine clinical practice: the FDA-approved FoundationOne CDx test, and the OncoGuide NCC Oncopanel test. The quality and quantity of DNA significantly affects the sequencing results; therefore, preparing a sufficient amount of high-quality DNA for clinical cancer genomic profiling tests is important. We examined the best practices for the extraction of cancer genomic DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissues of pancreatic, lung and colon cancer specimens. We found that the quality of cancer genomic DNA extracted from 10-µm-thick FFPE samples improved significantly, compared with that from 4-µm-thick FFPE samples, suggesting that 10-µm-thick FFPE samples are preferable for clinical cancer genomic profiling tests. For convenience, we created a quick reference table for calculating the required number of FFPE slides.

Retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma in a female patient with a germline splicing variant RAD51D c.904-2A > T: a case report.

BACKGROUND: RAD51D (RAD51 paralog D) is an intermediate cancer susceptibility gene for primary ovarian cancer, including fallopian tube and peritoneal carcinomas and breast cancer. Although gynecological non-epithelial tumors such as uterine sarcomas are associated with genomic instability, including BRCA impairment, there is no clear evidence of the relationship between RAD51D variants and the risk of sarcoma development. CASE PRESENTATION: A Japanese woman in her 50s underwent multiple surgical resections and several regimens of chemotherapy for tumors that originated in the retroperitoneum and recurred in the peritoneum over a clinical course of approximately 4 years. The peritoneal tumor was histologically diagnosed as a leiomyosarcoma and was genetically identified to show a splice variant of RAD51D c.904-2A > T [NM_002878] through tumor profiling performed as a part of cancer precision medicine. The confirmatory genetic test performed after genetic counseling revealed that the RAD51D splicing variant detected in her tumor was of germline origin. In silico analyses supported the possible pathogenicity of the detected splice variant of RAD51D with a predicted attenuation in mRNA transcription and truncated protein production due to frameshifting, which was attributed to a single-nucleotide alteration in the splicing acceptor site at the 3'-end of intron 9 of RAD51D. Considering her unfavorable clinical outcome, which showed a highly aggressive phenotype of leiomyosarcoma with altered RAD51D, this case provided novel evidence for the relationship of a RAD51D splicing variant with malignant tumor development or progression. We report the findings of this rare case with possible involvement of the germline variant of RAD51D c.904-2A > T as a potential predisposing factor for malignant tumors, including leiomyosarcoma. CONCLUSIONS: We present the findings of a case of leiomyosarcoma in the peritoneum of a female patient with a novel germline splicing variant of RAD51D as potential evidence for the pathogenicity of the variant and its involvement in the risk of sarcoma etiology and/or development. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report describing a leiomyosarcoma carrying a germline RAD51D splicing variant and elucidating its pathogenicity on the basis of computational prediction of the impairment of normal transcription and the presumed loss of functional protein production.

Detection of Lung Cancer Cells in Solutions Using a Terahertz Chemical Microscope.

Cancer genome analysis has recently attracted attention for personalized cancer treatment. In this treatment, evaluation of the ratio of cancer cells in a specimen tissue is essential for the precise analysis of the genome. Conventionally, the evaluation takes at least two days and depends on the skill of the pathologist. In our group, a terahertz chemical microscope (TCM) was developed to easily and quickly measure the number of cancer cells in a solution. In this study, an antibody was immobilized on a sensing plate using an avidin-biotin reaction to immobilize it for high density and to improve antibody alignment. In addition, as the detected terahertz signals vary depending on the sensitivity of the sensing plate, the sensitivity was evaluated using pH measurement. The result of the cancer cell detection was corrected using the result of pH measurement. These results indicate that a TCM is expected to be an excellent candidate for liquid biopsies in cancer diagnosis.

Upregulation and stabilization of senescence marker protein-30 by epigallocatechin gallate against tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced liver injury in vitro and in vivo.

Senescence marker protein-30 (SMP30), a novel ageing marker, suppresses oxidative stress in the liver. However, studies on phytochemical-mediated regulation of SMP30 expression are lacking. Here, we showed that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), a polyphenol abundant in green tea, positively regulates SMP30 expression in the rat hepatoma-derived Fao cells. EGCg maintained SMP30 expression even in the presence of cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor. Furthermore, treatment of cells with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tert-BHP), an oxidative promoter, decreased SMP30 expression and ERK1/2 phosphorylation, while EGCg treatment inhibited these effects. Male mice (7-week-old) were divided into 4 groups-Control (saline), tert-BHP (1.5 mmol/kg tert-BHP), EGCg + tert-BHP (30 mg/kg/day of EGCg and 1.5 mmol/kg tert-BHP), and EGCg (30 mg/kg/day). After oral EGCg administration for 6 consecutive days, EGCg + tert-BHP group mice were administered tert-BHP. The tert-BHP-administered mice showed decreased SMP30 expression in the liver and increased aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase (hepatic injury marker enzymes) activities; however, EGCg treatment attenuated these changes. Thus, EGCg-induced SMP30 upregulation may alleviate tert-BHP-induced liver injury. The findings of this study offer new perspectives of the anti-ageing properties of EGCg.

Determination of Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Mouse Feces by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Using 2-Nitrophenylhydrazine as a Labeling Reagent.

It has been suggested that imbalances in gut microbiota are related to diseases associated with metabolism, the central nervous system, etc. Therefore, analysis of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by gut microbiota is very important as an indicator of causation, demonstrating the effects on the host due to changes in the gut microbiota. We developed a HPLC method for the determination of SCFAs in mouse feces. After homogenization, the SCFAs in mouse feces and 2-ethylbutyric acid (internal standard) were derivatized with 2-nitrophenylhydrazine (2-NPH) in the presence of 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide. The 2-NPH derivatives of SCFAs and the internal standard were separated on a reversed-phase column (octadecyl silyl column) by gradient elution using phosphoric acid (pH 2.5)-acetonitrile at 50°C and detected by absorbance measurement at 400 nm. The recovery of the method was 90-115%, with a precision (relative standard deviation) of 1.3-7.7%. The determination of SCFAs by the present method can provide useful information for biological and clinical research.

Down-regulation of senescence marker protein 30 by iron-specific chelator deferoxamine drives cell senescence.

To our knowledge, this is the first study to report down-regulation of senescence marker protein 30 (SMP30) by iron-specific chelator deferoxamine (DFO) on FAO cell senescence, using a DNA microarray. Furthermore, DFO treatment increased senescence marker ß-galactosidase activity, whereas this activity was attenuated by overexpression of SMP30. Our data suggested that down-regulation of SMP30 drives cell senescence in iron-chelated condition.

Sulforaphane inhibits osteoclast differentiation by suppressing the cell-cell fusion molecules DC-STAMP and OC-STAMP.

Sulforaphane (SFN), a kind of isothiocyanate, is derived from broccoli sprouts. It has anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidation activity. The molecular function of SFN in the inhibition of osteoclast differentiation is not well-documented. In this study, we assessed the effect of SFN on osteoclast differentiation in vitro. SFN inhibited osteoclast differentiation in both bone marrow cells and RAW264.7 cells. Key molecules involved in the inhibitory effects of SFN on osteoclast differentiation were determined using a microarray analysis, which showed that SFN inhibits osteoclast-associated genes, such as osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), nuclear factor of activated T cells cytoplasmic-1, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, and cathepsin K. Moreover, the mRNA expression levels of the cell-cell fusion molecules dendritic cell specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP) and osteoclast stimulatory transmembrane protein (OC-STAMP) were strongly suppressed in cells treated with SFN. Furthermore, SFN increased the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), a regulator of macrophage and osteoclast cell fusion. Thus, our data suggested that SFN significantly inhibits the cell-cell fusion molecules DC-STAMP and OC-STAMP by inducing the phosphorylation of STAT1 (Tyr701), which might be regulated by interactions with OSCAR.

The clinical presentation and genotype of protein C deficiency with double mutations of the protein C gene.

BACKGROUND: Severe protein C (PC) deficiency is a rare heritable thrombophilia leading to thromboembolic events during the neonatal period. It remains unclear how individuals with complete PC gene (PROC) defects develop or escape neonatal stroke or purpura fulminans (PF). PROCEDURE: We studied the onset of disease and the genotype of 22 PC-deficient patients with double mutations in PROC based on our cohort (n = 12) and the previous reports (n = 10) in Japan. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients in 20 unrelated families had 4 homozygous and 18 compound heterozygous mutations. Sixteen newborns presented with PF (n = 11, 69%), intracranial thromboembolism and hemorrhage (n = 13, 81%), or both (n = 8, 50%), with most showing a plasma PC activity of <10%. Six others first developed overt thromboembolism when they were over 15 years of age, showing a median PC activity of 31% (range: 19-52%). Fifteen of the 22 patients (68%) had the five major mutations (G423VfsX82, V339M, R211W, M406I, and F181V) or two others (E68K and K193del) that have been reported in Japan. Three of the six late-onset cases, but none of the 16 neonatal cases, had the K193del mutation, which has been reported to be the most common variant of Chinese thrombophilia. A novel mutation of A309V was determined in a family of two patients with late onset. CONCLUSIONS: The genotype of double-PROC mutants might show less diversity than heterozygous mutants in terms of the timing of the onset of thrombophilia (newborn onset or late onset).

Sulforaphene attenuates multinucleation of pre-osteoclasts by suppressing expression of cell-cell fusion-associated genes DC-STAMP, OC-STAMP, and Atp6v0d2.

We assessed the effect of sulforaphene (SFE) on osteoclast differentiation. SFE significantly decreased the number of RANKL-induced tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive cells and suppressed pre-osteoclast multinucleation. Furthermore, SFE downregulated mRNA expression of DC-STAMP, OC-STAMP, and Atp6v0d2, which encode cell-cell fusion molecules. Our data suggest that SFE attenuates pre-osteoclast multinucleation via suppression of cell-cell fusion.

Extracts of black and brown rice powders improve hepatic lipid accumulation via the activation of PPARα in obese and diabetic model mice.

Rice powder extract (RPE) from black and brown rice (Oryza sativa L. indica) improves hepatic lipid accumulation in obese and diabetic model mice via peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation. RPE showed PPARα agonistic activity which did not differ between black and brown RPE despite a higher anthocyanin content in black RPE.