Leucine and its transporter provide protection against cigarette smoke-induced cell death: A potential therapy for emphysema.

Cigarette smoke (CS) is a major risk factor for emphysematous changes in the lungs and the underlying mechanism involves CS-induced cell death. In the present study we investigated the ability of nutrients to rescue CS-induced cell death. We observed that pre-treatment with excess leucine can partially rescue CS extract-induced cell death in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and alveolar epithelial A549 cells. Excess dietary leucine was also effective in alleviating effects of CS in guinea pig lungs. Further investigation to understand the underlying mechanism showed that CS exposure causes downregulation of leucine transporter that results in inactivation of mTOR, which is a positive regulator of protein synthesis and cell proliferation. Notably, leucine supplemented diet ameliorated even existing CS-induced emphysematous changes in guinea pig lung, a condition hitherto thought to be irreversible. Thus the current study documents a new mechanism by which CS affects cellular physiology wherein leucine transporter is a key target.

Founder effect uncovers a new axis in polyethylene succinate bioremediation during biostimulation.

Biostimulation is a method of in situ bioremediation wherein native soil microbes are stimulated by nutrient supplementation. In a previous report, we showed considerable polyethylene succinate (PES) degradation by biostimulation. To gain an insight into this, this study was undertaken to investigate the different facets of the microbial population present in both soil and PES-films during biostimulation-mediated PES degradation. It was observed that addition of PES-films to both nutrient-treated and untreated soil resulted in significant reduction of soil microbial counts compared with the corresponding control. It was observed that a small microbial population containing both PES degraders and non-degraders translocated to PES surface. Over time, the population adhering to PES films changed from having both PES degraders and non-degraders to being mainly PES degraders. This newly developed microbial community on PES-films exhibited low diversity with a distinct cluster of metabolic fingerprinting and higher evenness compared with parent soil microbial population. Thus the establishment of a new community on the PES surface is an exhibition of founder effect, which subsequently resulted in the emergence of a more efficient PES-degrading population and subsequently led to considerable PES degradation.

Vitamin C forestalls cigarette smoke induced NF-κB activation in alveolar epithelial cells.

Cigarette smoking causes cellular oxidative stress resulting in inflammatory diseases of lung wherein transcription factor NF-κB plays an important role. It is possible that vitamin C, an antioxidant, may prevent cigarette smoke (CS)-induced NF-κB activation that involves degradation of I-κBε and nuclear translocation of c-Rel/p50 in alveolar epithelial cells. Therefore, to examine the hypothesis, we verified the effect of vitamin C on CS-induced expression of NF-κB driven luciferase reporter and NF-κB binding at its target DNA by EMSA in alveolar epithelial A549 cells. We also examined the level of I-κBε and sub-cellular distribution of c-Rel by western blotting and immunofluorescence respectively in CSE-treated A549 cells with or without vitamin C pretreatment. We observed a significant reduction in CSE induced luciferase expression, NF-κB DNA binding, I-κBε degradation and c-Rel nuclear translocation in cells pretreated with vitamin C. To further validate the result, we examined sub-cellular distribution of c-Rel in lungs of CS-exposed guinea pigs treated or untreated with vitamin C. Result showed that vitamin C treatment resulted in markedly reduced c-Rel nuclear translocation. All these results demonstrate that vitamin C prevents CS(E)-induced NF-κB activation and thus it could be used for the prevention of CS-induced inflammatory diseases.

Bioaugmentation of polyethylene succinate-contaminated soil with Pseudomonas sp. AKS2 results in increased microbial activity and better polymer degradation.

Pseudomonas sp. AKS2 isolated from soil degrades polyethylene succinate (PES) efficiently in the laboratory. However, this organism may not be able to degrade PES with similar efficiency in a natural habitat. Since in situ remediation is preferred for the effective removal of recalcitrant materials like plastic, in the current study, bioaugmentation potential of this organism was investigated. To investigate the potential of the AKS2 strain to bioaugment the PES-contaminated soil, a microcosm-based study was carried out wherein naturally attenuated, biostimulated, and AKS2-inoculated (bioaugmented) soil samples were examined for their ability to degrade PES. The results showed better degradation of PES by bioaugmented soil than other microcosms. Consistent with it, a higher number of PES-degrading organisms were found in the bioaugmented microcosm. The bioaugmented microcosm also exhibited a higher level of average well color development in BiOLOG ECO plate assay than the other two. The corresponding Shannon-Weaver index and Gini coefficient revealed a higher soil microbial diversity of bioaugmented microcosm than the others. This was further supported by community-level physiological profile of three different microcosms wherein we have observed better utilization of different carbon sources by bioaugmented microcosms. Collectively, these results demonstrate that bioaugmentation of PES-contaminated soil with AKS2 not only enhances polymer degradation but also increases microbial diversity. Bioaugmentation of soil with AKS2 enhances PES degradation without causing damage to soil ecology. Thus, Pseudomonas sp. AKS2 has the potential to be implemented as a useful tool for in situ bioremediation of PES.

Low-density polyethylene degradation by Pseudomonas sp. AKS2 biofilm.

Polyethylene materials are a serious environmental concern as their nondegradable nature allows them to persist in the environment. Recent studies have shown that polyethylene can be degraded by microbes at a very slow rate, whereby detectable changes are evident after several years. In the present study, we report the degradation of low-density polyethylene by Pseudomonas sp. AKS2. Unlike the previous reports, degradation by Pseudomonas sp. AKS2 is relatively fast as it can degrade 5 ± 1 % of the starting material in 45 days without prior oxidation. This degradation can be altered by agents that modulate hydrophobic interaction between polythene and the microbe. As mineral oil promotes hydrophobic interactions, it enhances bacterial attachment to the polymer surface. This enhanced attachment results in increased biofilm formation and enhanced polymer degradation. In contrast, Tween 80 reduces bacterial attachment to the polymer surface by lowering hydrophobic interactions and thereby reduces polymer degradation. Thus, this study establishes a correlation between hydrophobic interaction and polymer degradation and also relates the biofilm formation ability of bacteria to polymer degrading potential.

Isolation of a novel Pseudomonas sp from soil that can efficiently degrade polyethylene succinate.

PURPOSE: Polyethylene succinate (PES) is a biodegradable synthetic polymer and therefore widely used as a base material in plastic industry to circumvent the environmental problems related with the non-biodegradability of other polymers like polyethylene. Till date only few organisms have been reported to have the ability to degrade PES. Therefore for better management of PES-related environmental waste, the present study is targeted towards isolating mesophilic organism(s) capable of more efficient degradation of PES. RESULTS: Strain AKS2 was isolated from soil based on survival on a selection plate wherein PES was used as sole carbon source. Ribotyping and biochemical tests revealed that AKS2 is a new strain of Pseudomonas. Scanning electron and atomic force microscopic analysis of the PES films obtained after incubation with AKS2 confirmed PES-degradation ability of AKS2, wherein an alteration in surface topology was observed. The kinetics of PES weight loss showed that AKS2 degrades PES maximally during its logarithmic growth phase at a rate of 1.65 mg/day. This degradation is mediated by esterase activity and may also involve cell-surface hydrophobicity. It has also been observed that AKS2 is able to degrade PES considerably even in the presence of glucose, which is likely to increase the bioremediation potential of this isolate. CONCLUSION: A new strain of Pseudomonas has been isolated from soil that is able to adhere to PES and degrade this polymer efficiently. This organism has the potential to be implemented as a useful tool for bioremediation of PES-derived materials.

IKKalpha, a critical regulator of epidermal differentiation and a suppressor of skin cancer.

IkappaB kinase alpha (IKKalpha), one of the two catalytic subunits of the IKK complex involved in nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation, also functions as a molecular switch that controls epidermal differentiation. This unexpected function requires IKKalpha nuclear translocation but does not depend on its kinase activity, and is independent of NF-kappaB signalling. Ikkalpha(-/-) mice present with a hyperproliferative and undifferentiated epidermis characterized by complete absence of a granular layer and stratum corneum. Ikkalpha-deficient keratinocytes do not express terminal differentiation markers and continue to proliferate even when subjected to differentiation-inducing stimuli. This antiproliferative function of IKKalpha is also important for the suppression of squamous cell carcinogenesis. The exact mechanisms by which nuclear IKKalpha controls keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation remained mysterious for some time. Recent studies, however, have revealed that IKKalpha is a major cofactor in a TGFbeta-Smad2/3 signalling pathway that is Smad4 independent. This pathway controls cell cycle withdrawal during keratinocyte terminal differentiation. Although these are not the only functions of nuclear IKKalpha, this multifunctional protein is a key regulator of keratinocyte and epidermal differentiation and a critical suppressor of skin cancer.

IKKalpha is a critical coregulator of a Smad4-independent TGFbeta-Smad2/3 signaling pathway that controls keratinocyte differentiation.

Cell-cycle exit and differentiation of suprabasal epidermal keratinocytes require nuclear IkappaB kinase alpha (IKKalpha), but not its protein kinase activity. IKKalpha also is a suppressor of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), but its mode of action remains elusive. Postulating that IKKalpha may serve as a transcriptional regulator in keratinocytes, we searched for cell-cycle-related genes that could illuminate this function. IKKalpha was found to control several Myc antagonists, including Mad1, Mad2, and Ovol1, through the association with TGFbeta-regulated Smad2/3 transcription factors and is required for Smad3 recruitment to at least one of these targets. Surprisingly, Smad2/3-dependent Mad1 induction and keratinocyte differentiation are independent of Smad4, the almost universal coregulator of canonical TGFbeta signaling. IKKalpha also is needed for nuclear accumulation of activated Smad2/3 in the epidermis, and Smad2/3 are required for epidermal differentiation. We suggest that a TGFbeta-Smad2/3-IKKalpha axis is a critical Smad4-independent regulator of keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation.

Black tea prevents cigarette smoke-induced apoptosis and lung damage.

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking is a major cause of lung damage. One prominent deleterious effect of cigarette smoke is oxidative stress. Oxidative stress may lead to apoptosis and lung injury. Since black tea has antioxidant property, we examined the preventive effect of black tea on cigarette smoke-induced oxidative damage, apoptosis and lung injury in a guinea pig model. METHODS: Guinea pigs were subjected to cigarette smoke exposure from five cigarettes (two puffs/cigarette) per guinea pig/day for seven days and given water or black tea to drink. Sham control guinea pigs were exposed to air instead of cigarette smoke. Lung damage, as evidenced by inflammation and increased air space, was assessed by histology and morphometric analysis. Protein oxidation was measured through oxyblot analysis of dinitrophenylhydrazone derivatives of the protein carbonyls of the oxidized proteins. Apoptosis was evidenced by the fragmentation of DNA using TUNEL assay, activation of caspase 3, phosphorylation of p53 as well as over-expression of Bax by immunoblot analyses. RESULTS: Cigarette smoke exposure to a guinea pig model caused lung damage. It appeared that oxidative stress was the initial event, which was followed by inflammation, apoptosis and lung injury. All these pathophysiological events were prevented when the cigarette smoke-exposed guinea pigs were given black tea infusion as the drink instead of water. CONCLUSION: Cigarette smoke exposure to a guinea pig model causes oxidative damage, inflammation, apoptosis and lung injury that are prevented by supplementation of black tea.

Alpha V integrin prolongs collagenase production through Jun activation binding protein 1.

Robust expression of alphav integrin and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) plays an important role in cancer metastasis and wound healing. A patient with an abnormal scar that appeared stretched and thinned out was found to have fibroblasts that overexpressed alphav integrin; therefore, a relationship between alphav integrin expression and MMP1 production was sought. A yeast 2 hybrid screen revealed alphav integrin interacts with jun activation binding domain-1 (JAB1). Mesenchymal-derived cells were transfected with the alphav integrin gene and incorporated into collagen lattices. Transfected cells maximally contracted collagen lattices beginning on day 5, whereas control transfected cells did not contract lattices. Late-phase collagen lattice contraction was inhibited by a pan-MMP inhibitor, BB4. Overexpression of alphav correlated with enhanced MMP1 transcription, as determined by a luciferase assay (P < or = 0.05). Diminution of JAB1 with JAB1 antisense abolished alphav integrin up-regulation of MMP1. We conclude alphav integrin signals through JAB1 to prolong MMP1 production and that this signaling pathway in fibroblasts may lead to abnormal scarring.

IkappaB kinase-alpha acts in the epidermis to control skeletal and craniofacial morphogenesis.

IkappaB kinase-alpha (IKK-alpha) exhibits protein-kinase-dependent and -independent functions. Its kinase activity is required for lymphoid organogenesis and mammary gland development, whereas a kinase-independent activity is required for epidermal keratinocyte differentiation. In addition to failed epidermal differentiation, IKK-alpha-deficient mice exhibit abnormal skeletal and craniofacial morphogenesis. As similar defects are not exhibited by mice that experience systemic inhibition of NF-kappaB, we postulated that the morphogenetic defects in IKK-alpha-deficient mice are not caused by reduced NF-kappaB activity but instead are due to failed epidermal differentiation that disrupts proper epidermal-mesodermal interactions. We tested this hypothesis by introducing an epidermal-specific Ikka (also known as Chuk) transgene into IKK-alpha-deficient mice. Mice lacking IKK-alpha in all cell types including bone and cartilage, but not in basal epidermal keratinocytes, exhibit normal epidermal differentiation and skeletal morphology. Thus, epidermal differentiation is required for proper morphogenesis of mesodermally derived skeletal elements. One way by which IKK-alpha controls skeletal and craniofacial morphogenesis is by repressing expression of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family members, such as FGF8, whose expression is specifically elevated in the limb bud ectoderm of IKK-alpha-deficient mice.