Runx1 Orchestrates Sphingolipid Metabolism and Glucocorticoid Resistance in Lymphomagenesis.

The three-membered RUNX gene family includes RUNX1, a major mutational target in human leukemias, and displays hallmarks of both tumor suppressors and oncogenes. In mouse models, the Runx genes appear to act as conditional oncogenes, as ectopic expression is growth suppressive in normal cells but drives lymphoma development potently when combined with over-expressed Myc or loss of p53. Clues to underlying mechanisms emerged previously from murine fibroblasts where ectopic expression of any of the Runx genes promotes survival through direct and indirect regulation of key enzymes in sphingolipid metabolism associated with a shift in the "sphingolipid rheostat" from ceramide to sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Testing of this relationship in lymphoma cells was therefore a high priority. We find that ectopic expression of Runx1 in lymphoma cells consistently perturbs the sphingolipid rheostat, whereas an essential physiological role for Runx1 is revealed by reduced S1P levels in normal spleen after partial Cre-mediated excision. Furthermore, we show that ectopic Runx1 expression confers increased resistance of lymphoma cells to glucocorticoid-mediated apoptosis, and elucidate the mechanism of cross-talk between glucocorticoid and sphingolipid metabolism through Sgpp1. Dexamethasone potently induces expression of Sgpp1 in T-lymphoma cells and drives cell death which is reduced by partial knockdown of Sgpp1 with shRNA or direct transcriptional repression of Sgpp1 by ectopic Runx1. Together these data show that Runx1 plays a role in regulating the sphingolipid rheostat in normal development and that perturbation of this cell fate regulator contributes to Runx-driven lymphomagenesis. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 1432-1441, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Antarctic krill sequester similar amounts of carbon to key coastal blue carbon habitats.

The carbon sequestration potential of open-ocean pelagic ecosystems is vastly under-reported compared to coastal vegetation 'blue carbon' systems. Here we show that just a single pelagic harvested species, Antarctic krill, sequesters a similar amount of carbon through its sinking faecal pellets as marshes, mangroves and seagrass. Due to their massive population biomass, fast-sinking faecal pellets and the modest depths that pellets need to reach to achieve sequestration (mean is 381 m), Antarctic krill faecal pellets sequester 20 MtC per productive season (spring to early Autumn). This is equates USD$ 4 - 46 billion depending on the price of carbon, with krill pellet carbon stored for at least 100 years and with some reaching as far as the North Pacific. Antarctic krill are being impacted by rapid polar climate change and an expanding fishery, thus krill populations and their habitat warrant protection to preserve this valuable carbon sink.

Pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase 1 (PDP1) null mutation produces a lethal infantile phenotype.

Pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase deficiency has previously only been confirmed at the molecular level in two brothers and two breeds of dog with exercise intolerance. A female patient, who died at 6 months, presented with lactic acidemia in the neonatal period with serum lactate levels ranging from 2.5 to 17 mM. Failure of dichloroacetate to activate the PDH complex in skin fibroblasts was evident, but not in early passages. A homozygous c.277G > T (p.E93X) nonsense mutation in the PDP1 gene was identified in genomic DNA and immunoblotting showed a complete absence of PDP1 protein in mitochondria. Native PDHC activity could be restored by the addition of either recombinant PDP1 or PDP2. This highlights the role of PDP2, the second phosphatase isoform, in PDP1-deficient patients for the first time. We conclude that the severity of the clinical course associated with PDP1 deficiency can be quite variable depending on the exact nature of the molecular defect.

A sea change in our view of overturning in the subpolar North Atlantic.

To provide an observational basis for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projections of a slowing Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (MOC) in the 21st century, the Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Program (OSNAP) observing system was launched in the summer of 2014. The first 21-month record reveals a highly variable overturning circulation responsible for the majority of the heat and freshwater transport across the OSNAP line. In a departure from the prevailing view that changes in deep water formation in the Labrador Sea dominate MOC variability, these results suggest that the conversion of warm, salty, shallow Atlantic waters into colder, fresher, deep waters that move southward in the Irminger and Iceland basins is largely responsible for overturning and its variability in the subpolar basin.

A novel mitochondrial DNA mutation in COX1 leads to strokes, seizures, and lactic acidosis.

Cytochrome c oxidase (COX) is the terminal enzyme of the respiratory chain, with subunits originating both from the mitochondrial and nuclear genome. An eleven-year-old female presented initially with a seizure followed two months later with tonic-clonic seizures, weakness and aphasia. MRI of the cerebral hemispheres showed multiple infarcts. Previous history suggested gross and fine motor control deficits with learning difficulties. A muscle biopsy showed a specific decrease of COX staining in all fibres and pleomorphic mitochondria. Respiratory chain studies confirmed an isolated complex IV defect in muscle, whilst fibroblasts showed an initial COX activity below normal which rapidly came up to the normal range on culture. Sequencing of mtDNA revealed an heteroplasmic m.7023G>A mutation in the COX1 gene, with levels of 96% in muscle, 70% in blood and 50% in the initial skin fibroblast culture dropping to 10% in later passages. The mutation was present in a critical region of the COX1 gene, the V374M change being close to the two histidine residues His376 and His378 co-ordinating with the heme a and a (3), and His367 which co-ordinates a magnesium ion. This case highlights that a MELAS-like syndrome can occur with isolated COX deficiency.

Defects in the E2 lipoyl transacetylase and the X-lipoyl containing component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex in patients with lactic acidemia.

Three patients with chronic lacticacidemia and deficiency of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex demonstrated in cultured skin fibroblasts showed abnormalities on Western blotting with anti-pyruvate dehydrogenase complex antiserum which were not located in the E1 (alpha and beta) component of the complex. One of these patients had an enzymatically demonstrable deficiency in the E2 dihydrolipoyl transacetylase segment of the complex and very low observable E2 protein component on Western blotting of fibroblast proteins. The other two patients had abnormalities observable in the X component but no observable reduction in either E1, E2, or E3 enzymatic activities. One patient appeared to have a missing X component while the other had two distinct bands where X should be on Western blotting of fibroblast proteins. All three patients appeared to have severe clinical sequelae resulting from these defects. This is the first time that defects in either the E2 or the X component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex have been observed in the human population.

Runx2: a novel oncogenic effector revealed by in vivo complementation and retroviral tagging.

The Runx2 (Cbfa1, Pebp2alphaA, Aml3) gene was previously identified as a frequent target for transcriptional activation by proviral insertion in T-cell lymphomas of CD2-MYC transgenic mice. We have recently shown that over-expression of the full-length, most highly expressed Runx2 isoform in the thymus perturbs T-cell development, leads to development of spontaneous lymphomas at low frequency and is strongly synergistic with Myc. To gain further insight into the relationship of Runx2 to other lymphomagenic pathways, we tested the effect of combining the CD2-Runx2 transgene either with a Pim1 transgene (E(mu)-Pim1) or with the p53 null genotype, as each of these displays independent synergy with Myc. In both cases we observed synergistic tumour development. However, Runx2 appeared to have a dominant effect on the tumour phenotype in each case, with most tumours conforming to the CD3(+), CD8(+), CD4(+/-) phenotype seen in CD2-Runx2 mice. Neonatal infection of CD2-Runx2 mice with Moloney murine leukaemia virus (Moloney MLV) also led to a dramatic acceleration of tumour onset. Analysis of known Moloney MLV target genes in these lymphomas showed a high frequency of rearrangement at c-Myc or N-Myc (82%), and a significant number at Pim1 or Pim2 (23%), and at Pal1/Gfi1 (18%). These results indicate that Runx2 makes a distinct contribution to T-cell lymphoma development which does not coincide with any of the oncogene complementation groups previously identified by retroviral tagging.

Comparative efficiency of feline immunodeficiency virus infection by DNA inoculation.

Direct inoculation of genetic material in DNA form is a novel approach to vaccination that has proved efficacious for a number of viral agents. We are interested in the potential of this approach for the delivery of vaccines based on attenuated or replication-defective retroviruses. Toward this goal, we tested the effect of intramuscular inoculation of a plasmid containing the entire genome of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV-Petaluma, F14 clone). DNA delivery was compared with intramuscular or intraperitoneal inoculation of virus reconstituted from the same molecular clone. The outcome was monitored by serological analysis and quantitative virus load determination over a 31-week period. DNA inoculation was found to be a reliable means of infection, although seroconversion and the rise in PBMC virus load were delayed relative to intramuscular or intraperitoneal inoculation of virus. At 31 weeks, similar levels of proviral DNA were detected in central lymphoid tissue of all infected animals. In conclusion, DNA inoculation of proviral DNA will be of use as a novel method of cell-free virus challenge and may have further potential for the delivery of lentiviral vaccines.

Effects of three cobra venoms on blood coagulation, platelet aggregation, and fibrinolysis.

The effects of the venoms of Naja melanoleuca, Naja nigricollis, and Ophiophagus hannah on blood coagulation, platelet aggregation, and fibrinolysis were studied in vitro. All three venoms were shown to be anticoagulant. This action appeared to be due to an effect on both the extrinsic and blood thromboplastin mechanisms. Platelet aggregation in Chandler's tubes and adenosine diphosphate reactivity were inhibited by the three venoms, although in the case of Ophiophagus hannah venom they were inhibited only with intermediate concentrations. The three venoms possessed proteolytic properties, but when incorporated into purified caseinolytic systems and euglobulin clot lysis systems inhibition of plasmin activity was observed.

Effects of the venom of the rhinoceros horned viper (Bitis nasicornis) on blood coagulation, platelet aggregation, and fibrinolysis.

The venom of the rhinoceros horned viper (Bitis nasicornis) has been studied in vitro and has been shown to be anticoagulant. This action appeared to be due to an effect on both the extrinsic and intrinsic blood thromboplastin mechanisms. The venom was also proteolytic and in purified caseinolytic systems activated plasminogen, enhanced the activation of plasminogen by streptokinase, and potentiated the action of plasmin. In the euglobulin clot lysis system high concentrations of venom produced inhibition. The crude venom increased platelet adhesiveness but in high concentrations delayed the snowstorm effect in the Chandler's tube system and inhibited platelet adenosine diphosphate reactivity. Passage through carboxymethylcellulose yielded six fractions. One possessed anticoagulant activity, inhibited plasmin, and increased the optical density of platelet-rich plasma. The other five fractions shortened the plasma recalcification time but had no effect on plasmin activity. Four fractions aggregated platelets and enhanced platelet adenosine diphosphate reactivity.

Effect of feeding fat on fibrinolysis, Stypven time, and platelet aggregation in Africans, Asians, and Europeans.

The effects of acute fat feeding on fibrinolytic activity, platelet aggregation, and Stypven time in 10 Africans and 10 Asians are presented and compared with the results previously obtained in 10 Europeans. These indicated that the inhibition of fibrinolytic activity seen in Europeans does not occur in either Africans or Asians although the Stypven time was shortened in all three groups. Platelet aggregation, as measured by the Chandler's tube technique, was inhibited by fat feeding in Europeans but was unchanged in Africans and Asians. The results also indicate that the fibrinolytic activity of Africans and Asians is greater than that of Europeans.

Effect of feeding fat on fibrinolysis, stypven time, and platelet aggregation in elderly Africans.

The effects of acute fat feeding on fibrinolytic activity, platelet aggregation, and stypven time in six elderly Africans are presented. These indicate that there is no alteration in the pattern of response seen in Africans with advancing age.

Skeletal muscle metabolic and ionic adaptations during intense exercise following sprint training in humans.

The effects of sprint training on muscle metabolism and ion regulation during intense exercise remain controversial. We employed a rigorous methodological approach, contrasting these responses during exercise to exhaustion and during identical work before and after training. Seven untrained men undertook 7 wk of sprint training. Subjects cycled to exhaustion at 130% pretraining peak oxygen uptake before (PreExh) and after training (PostExh), as well as performing another posttraining test identical to PreExh (PostMatch). Biopsies were taken at rest and immediately postexercise. After training in PostMatch, muscle and plasma lactate (Lac(-)) and H(+) concentrations, anaerobic ATP production rate, glycogen and ATP degradation, IMP accumulation, and peak plasma K(+) and norepinephrine concentrations were reduced (P<0.05). In PostExh, time to exhaustion was 21% greater than PreExh (P<0.001); however, muscle Lac(-) accumulation was unchanged; muscle H(+) concentration, ATP degradation, IMP accumulation, and anaerobic ATP production rate were reduced; and plasma Lac(-), norepinephrine, and H(+) concentrations were higher (P<0.05). Sprint training resulted in reduced anaerobic ATP generation during intense exercise, suggesting that aerobic metabolism was enhanced, which may allow increased time to fatigue.

Diagnosis of acute atlanto-axial rotatory fixation.

We report three cases of atlanto-axial rotatory fixation in adults. Early diagnosis was made by clinical tests showing restricted head rotation in maximal neck flexion and asymmetry of the transverse processes of the atlas, confirmed by cineradiography. Early treatment by traction may obviate long-term problems of torticollis and instability.

Melanie Klein's metapsychology: phenomenological and mechanistic perspective.

Freud's metapsychology is the subject of an important debate. This is over whether psychoanalysis is best construed as a science of the natural science type or as a special human science. The same debate applies to Melanie Klein's work. In Klein's metapsychology are two different and incompatible models of explanation. One is taken over from Freud's structural theory and appears to be similarly mechanistic. The other is clinically based and phenomenological. These two are discussed with special reference to the concepts of "phantasy" and "internal object".

Scaling of human body mass with height: the body mass index revisited.

We adapt a biomechanical argument of Rashevsky, which places limits on the stress experienced by a torso supported by the legs, to deduce that body mass m of growing children should scale as the p th power of height h with 7/3 < p < 8/3. Further arguments based on stability and heat loss suggest that p should be close to 8/3. The arguments are extended to suggest that waist circumference w should scale as hq with q near the lower end of 2/3 < or = q < or = 1. Data from Hong Kong and British children are consistent with these hypotheses.