Kruppel-like factor 5 modulates p53-independent apoptosis through Pim1 survival kinase in cancer cells.

Although Kruppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) is a transcription factor that has been implicated in pathways critical to carcinogenesis, controversy persists as to whether it functions as a tumor suppressor or as an oncogene. Here, we describe a novel role for KLF5 in a p53-independent apoptotic pathway. Using RNA-interference technology, we show that cells deficient in KLF5 have increased sensitivity to DNA damage, regardless of p53 status. Both p53 and p53-dependent factors are unaffected by KLF5 depletion. Instead, the apoptotic phenotype consequent to damage is associated with reduced bad phosphorylation, and downregulation of Pim1. Consistently, transfection of wild-type Pim1 is sufficient to rescue this phenotype. Previous data have shown a number of putative Sp1-binding consensus sequences on the Pim1 promoter. Remarkably, chromatin immunoprecipitation studies show that KLF5 binds to the Pim1 promoter, and that binding increases soon after damage. These results identify a novel, p53-independent apoptotic pathway through which KLF5 functions in response to DNA damage. Therapeutic deregulation of this pathway could be used to modulate chemosensitivity.

Inadvertent intrathecal injection of labetalol in a patient undergoing post-partum tubal ligation.

After receiving a continuous spinal anesthetic for labor following an inadvertent dural puncture with a 17-gauge epidural needle, a morbidly obese parturient underwent post-partum tubal ligation 12 h after vaginal delivery. The patient received a total of 2 mL of 0.75% hyperbaric bupivacaine for the surgery. In response to moderate hypertension the patient received intravenous labetalol hydrochloride 20 mg. She subsequently was inadvertently administered approximately 15 mg of labetalol through the spinal catheter. The spinal catheter was removed immediately after the procedure. She suffered no apparent adverse neurologic effects.

Equilibrium and kinetic studies on the reactions of alkylcobalamins with cyanide.

Ligand substitution equilibria of different alkylcobalamins (RCbl, R = Me, CH(2)Br, CH(2)CF(3), CHF(2), CF(3)) with cyanide have been studied. It was found that CN(-) first substitutes the 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole (Bzm) moiety in the alpha-position, followed by substitution of the alkyl group in the beta-position trans to Bzm. The formation constants K(CN) for the 1:1 cyanide adducts (R(CN)Cbl) were found to be 0.38 +/- 0.03, 0.43 +/- 0.03, and 123 +/- 9 M(-1) for R = Me, CH(2)Br, and CF(3), respectively. In the case of R = CH(2)CF(3), the 1:1 adduct decomposes in the dark with CN(-) to give (CN)(2)Cbl. The unfavorable formation constants for R = Me and CH(2)Br indicate the requirement of very high cyanide concentrations to produce the 1:1 complex, which cause the kinetics of the displacement of Bzm to be too fast to follow kinetically. The kinetics of the displacement of Bzm by CN(-) could be followed for R = CH(2)CF(3) and CF(3) to form CF(3)CH(2)(CN)Cbl and CF(3)(CN)Cbl, respectively, in the rate-determining step. Both reactions show saturation kinetics at high cyanide concentration, and the limiting rate constants are characterized by the activation parameters: R = CH(2)CF(3), DeltaH = 71 +/- 1 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS = -25 +/- 4 J K(-1) mol(-1), and DeltaV = +8.9 +/- 1.0 cm(3) mol(-1); R = CF(3), DeltaH = 77 +/- 3 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS = +44 +/- 11 J K(-1) mol(-1), and DeltaV = +14.8 +/- 0.8 cm(3) mol(-1), respectively. These parameters are interpreted in terms of an I(d) and D mechanism for R = CH(2)CF(3) and CF(3), respectively. The results of the study enable the formulation of a general mechanism that can account for the substitution behavior of all investigated alkylcobalamins including coenzyme B(12).

The cannabinoid agonist WIN55,212-2 suppresses opioid-induced emesis in ferrets.

BACKGROUND: Cannabinoid receptor agonists reverse nausea and vomiting produced by chemotherapy and radiation therapy in animals and humans but have not been tested against opioid-induced emesis. This study tests the hypothesis that cannabinoid receptor agonists will prevent opioid-induced vomiting. METHODS: Twelve male ferrets were used. They weighed 1.2-1.6 kg at the beginning and 1.8-2.3 kg at the end of the experiments. All drugs were injected subcutaneously. WIN55,212-2, a mixed CB1-CB2 cannabinoid receptor agonist, was administered 25 min before morphine. Retches and vomits were counted at 5-min intervals for 30 min after morphine injection. RESULTS: Retching and vomiting responses increased with increasing morphine doses up to 1.0 mg/kg, above which the responses decreased. Previous administration of naloxone prevented morphine-induced retching and vomiting. WIN55,212-2 dose-dependently reduced retching and vomiting. The ED50 was 0.05 mg/kg for retches and 0.03 mg/kg for vomits. At 0.13 mg/kg, retching decreased by 76% and vomiting by 92%. AM251, a CB1 receptor-selective antagonist, blocked the antiemetic actions of WIN55,212-2, but AM630, a CB2 receptor-selective antagonist, did not. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that WIN55,212-2 prevents opioid-induced vomiting and suggest that the antiemetic activity of WIN55,212-2 occurs at CB1 receptors. This is consistent with findings that CB1 receptors are the predominant cannabinoid receptors in the central nervous system and that antiemetic effects of cannabinoids appear to be centrally mediated.

Pathogenic conversion of live attenuated simian immunodeficiency virus vaccines is associated with expression of truncated Nef.

Rhesus macaques infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) containing either a large nef deletion (SIVmac239Delta(152)nef) or interleukin-2 in place of nef developed high virus loads and progressed to simian AIDS. Viruses recovered from both juvenile and neonatal macaques with disease produced a novel truncated Nef protein, tNef. Viruses recovered from juvenile macaques infected with serially passaged virus expressing tNef exhibited a pathogenic phenotype. These findings demonstrated strong selective pressure to restore expression of a truncated Nef protein, and this reversion was linked to increased pathogenic potential in live attenuated SIV vaccines.

Ligand substitution behavior of a simple model for coenzyme B12.

The ligand substitution reactions of trans-[CoIII(en)2(Me)H2O]2+, a simple model for coenzyme B12, were studied for cyanide and imidazole as entering nucleophiles. It was found that these nucleophiles displace the coordinated water molecule trans to the methyl group and form the six-coordinate complex trans-[Co(en)2(Me)L]. The complex-formation constants for cyanide and imidazole were found to be (8.3 +/- 0.7) x 10(4) and 24.5 +/- 2.2 M-1 at 10 and 12 degrees C, respectively. The second-order rate constants for the substitution of water were found to be (3.3 +/- 0.1) x 10(3) and 198 +/- 13 M-1 s-1 at 25 degrees C for cyanide and imidazole, respectively. From temperature and pressure dependence studies, the activation parameters delta H++, delta S++, and delta V++ for the reaction of trans-[CoIII(en)2(Me)H2O]2+ with cyanide were found to be 50 +/- 4 kJ mol-1, 0 +/- 16 J K-1 mol-1, and +7.0 +/- 0.6 cm3 mol-1, respectively, compared to 53 +/- 2 kJ mol-1, -22 +/- 7 J K-1 mol-1, and +4.7 +/- 0.1 cm3 mol-1 for the reaction with imidazole. On the basis of reported activation volumes, these reactions follow a dissociative mechanism in which the entering nucleophile could be weakly bound in the transition state.

Isotopic and hydrogeochemical evaluation of groundwater at Qusier-Safaga area, eastern desert, Egypt.

The groundwater resources of the El-Qusier-Safaga area on the Red Sea coastal zone have still to be utilised fully for social and economic development. In the present study, an inventory of recharge sources and quality of groundwater in different water bearing formations is made to assist in management of these vital resources. From a hydrochemical point of view, the origin of salinity in the five investigated aquifers are mainly dissolution of terrestrial minerals, leaching of soilsvia floods or ion exchanges processes. Stable isotope data clarify the interaction between different aquifers and indicate that the source of recharge is mainly meteoric water originating from palaeowater of the Pleistocene pluvial period, and from local precipitation as well as some marine water. Evaluation of the groundwater quality for domestic, irrigation and industrial purposes is discussed.

Chemical and isotopic investigation of groundwater in Tahta region, Sohag-Egypt.

Chemical and isotopic investigations indicate that the recharge source for the groundwater in the Tahta district, adjacent to the Nile, is mainly from the Nile water seeping from irrigation channels. The water's chemical type is sodium bicarbonate, with values of oxygen-18 and deuterium close to that of Nile water. Another minor source of recharge to the far west of the Nile bank is palaeowater. This water's chemical type is sodium sulphate and sodium chloride. The change of water quality in some groundwater samples could be due to the extensive use of fertilizers to improve soil characteristics in new reclamation projects. In addition, these wells are slightly depleted in oxygen-18, deuterium and tritium. Recommendations for the periodic monitoring of groundwater quality for proper use are given.