A Drimane Meroterpenoid Borate as a Synchronous Ca+ Oscillation Inhibitor from the Coral-Associated Fungus Alternaria sp. ZH-15.

Territrem F (1), a drimane meroterpenoid bearing a unique borate ring system, was isolated together with its diol precursor territrem B (2) from the fungus Alternaria sp. ZH-15 associated with the soft coral Lobophytum crassum collected in the South China Sea. The structure of the new compound was elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and an X-ray single-crystal diffraction study, representing a new type of boron-containing natural product. Both compounds significantly inhibited spontaneous synchronous Ca2+ oscillations (SCOs) and epileptic discharges induced by 4-aminopyridine, showing the potential for antiepileptic drug research. The 5,9-boronic ester derivative of 2 did not change its SCO inhibitory activity.

Immunosuppressive 9,10-Secosteroids from the Gorgonian Verrucella umbraculum Collected in the South China Sea.

Four new 9,10-secosteroids, verrucellols A-D (1-4), together with 12 known derivatives (5-16) were isolated from the gorgonian Verrucella umbraculum collected in the South China Sea. The structures of the new compounds were established by spectroscopic analysis and comparison with reported data. These compounds exhibited significant suppressive effects on CD4+ T lymphocyte cell differentiation in an in vitro bioassay. This is the first report of 9,10-secosteroids exhibiting immunomodulation activity.

Swinhoeisterols from the South China Sea Sponge Theonella swinhoei.

Swinhoeisterols C-F (1-4), four new steroids having a rearranged 6/6/5/7 ring system, were isolated from the Xisha sponge Theonella swinhoei, together with the known analogue swinhoeisterol A (5). Their structures were determined based on spectroscopic analysis, TDDFT-ECD and optical rotation calculations, and biogenetic correlations. In an in vitro assay, compound 1 showed an inhibitory effect on (h)p300 with an IC50 value of 8.8 µM, whereas compounds 2-4 were not active.

Alternarin A, a Drimane Meroterpenoid, Suppresses Neuronal Excitability from the Coral-Associated Fungi Alternaria sp. ZH-15.

Alternarin A (1), a rearranged drimane meroterpenoid characterized by a thioglycerate moiety, was isolated together with two known analogues from the coral-associated fungi Alternaria sp. ZH-15. Its structure was determined based on spectroscopic analysis, modified Mosher's method, and TDDFT/ECD calculations. In a primary cultured cortical neuronal network, compound 1 effectively inhibited the activity of spontaneous synchronous Ca2+ oscillations and 4-aminopyridine induced epileptic discharges in the low micromolar concentration range.

Isolation, growth and differentiation of hair cell progenitors from the newborn rat cochlear greater epithelial ridge.

Mammalian cochlear hair cell loss is irreversible and leads to permanent hearing loss. To restore hearing physiologically, it is necessary to generate new functional hair cells either from endogenous cells or from exogenously transplanted hair cells/progenitors. Previous studies suggest that cochlear greater epithelial ridge (GER) and lesser epithelial ridge (LER) cells are capable of differentiating into hair cells. While it was recently possible to obtain and culture pure LER progenitors, isolation of pure GER progenitors has not been reported. Here we describe a method that allows isolation of pure GER cells from neonatal rat cochleae. The cochlear epithelial sheet (CES) containing GER progenitor cells was mechanically separated from the underlying mesenchymal tissue after digestion with thermolysin. The GER area could then be dissected following mechanical removal of organ of Corti as well as all the lateral area. The isolated GER cells showed significant proliferation and expressed markers for GER cells but not markers for hair cells or LER. When the GER cells were cultured in serum-free medium containing epidermal growth factor, spheres were formed where they continued to proliferate. Furthermore, when GER cells were induced to express Hath1 or co-cultured with mesenchymal cells prepared from neonate rat cochleae, they showed the potential to differentiate into hair cell-like cells. Successful isolation, culture and differentiation of GER hair cell progenitors will shed additional light on the mechanism of hair cell differentiation and potential hair cell replacement.

[Hair cells apoptosis and the activation of P53 protein in intensive impulse noise induced cochlear lesion].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the pattern of hair cell injury and expression of P53 apoptosis protein in intensive impulse noise injured cochlear hair cells in guinea pigs. METHODS: Twelve adult guinea pigs were exposed to a series of 40 pairs of impulse noise (2 second intervals) at the intensity of 168 dB (SPL). Animals were terminated at 3, 6 and 12 hours after noise exposure, respectively. Cochlear surface preparations were performed with a double staining of FITC-conjugated phalloidin and propidium iodide for the observations of the stereocilia and the nucleus. P53 immunochemical staining was also performed 12 hours post-noise exposure to observe if there was expression of p53 protein in injured hair cells. Results Three hours after noise exposure, the outer hair cells at the end of basal turn and beginning of second turn were destroyed first with a character of nuclear condensation. Six hours post-noise exposure, many hair cells in the center of damage region had nuclear fragmentations, and the damaging area expanded towards to basal turn and apical turn. Twelve hours after noise exposure, the nucleus in most outer hair cells and inner hair cells at the region of damage center were missing. The nuclear condensation and fragmentation were appeared in hair cells in both sides of the center region of degeneration. P53 immunoreactive products were also found in damaged hair cells, not only in the central damage area, but also in the basal turn and the third turn. CONCLUSIONS: Intensive impulse noise resulted in apoptosis of cochlear hair cells that initiated between the end of basal turn and the beginning of second turn. Hair cell degeneration spread to basal and third turn along the basilar membrane. P53 may play an important role in impulse noise induced-hair cell apoptosis.

Membrane disruption: an early event of hair cell apoptosis induced by exposure to intense noise.

Membrane leakage has been found in hair cells undergoing apoptosis following exposure to intense noise. However, it is not known whether this membrane damage is the consequence of apoptotic degeneration or direct mechanical stress. The current study was designed to investigate whether membrane damage occurred before the onset of apoptosis and to determine the level of the membrane damage. Chinchillas were exposed to an impulse noise at 155 dB peak SPL. The noise-induced membrane damage was assessed functionally, using membrane tracers with graded molecular sizes (propidium iodide and FITC-dextrans with molecular sizes of 3, 40, 500, and 2000 kDa), and morphologically, using DiO staining and semithin sections. The study revealed two major findings. First, exposure to intense noise caused a rapid increase in membrane permeability, and the onset of membrane leakage preceded the manifestation of nuclear condensation. This indicates that the early membrane damage observed in apoptosis is the direct consequence of mechanical stress. Second, the level of membrane damage was severe, allowing the entry of 3 kDa and 40 kDa FITC-dextrans, but the membrane was not completely broken down, as evidenced by the preservation of the ability to exclude 500 kDa and 2000 kDa FITC-dextran molecules and the maintenance of the cell boundary. Notably, despite the membrane damage, hair cells continue to undergo the apoptotic process, leading to the generation of a type of apoptosis with early membrane damage.

[In vitro culture of greater epithelial ridge cells from rat cochleae].

OBJECTIVE: To establish in vitro culture systems of greater epithelial ridge (GER) cells from rat cochlear and to investigate the characterization, growth pattern and ultrastructure of GER cells. METHODS: Using a combinatorial approach of enzymatic digestion and mechanical separation to allow isolation and culture of GER cells from P1 rat cochleae. The dissociated GER cells were cultured in serum-free or 10% fetal bovine serum DMEM respectively. BrdU, phalloidin, ZO1, calretinin and myosin VIIa immunostaining and scanning electron microscope observation were performed in GER cell cultures. RESULTS: The dissociated GER cell cultures showed positive to ZO1, phalloidin and BrdU staining, but negative to myosin VIIa and calretinin. They assumed a polygonal morphology which was similar to epithelial cells and grew in islands-like patches in medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum while forming spheres in serum-free medium. The GER cells presented significant ability to proliferate in both conditions. Scanning electron microscope showed that there was microvillus and centre bodies but not hair cell specific stereociliary bundles on the surface of GER cultures. CONCLUSIONS: The GER cell cultures showed significant ability to proliferate and grew in islands-like patches in medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum while forming spheres in serum-free medium. The dissociated GER cells expressed epithelial cell specific marker but not marker of hair cells.