Eicosapentaenoic acid enhances skeletal muscle hypertrophy without altering the protein anabolic signaling pathway.

This study aimed to examine the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on skeletal muscle hypertrophy induced by muscle overload and the associated intracellular signaling pathways. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to oral treatment with either EPA or corn oil for 6 weeks. After 4 weeks of treatment, the gastrocnemius muscle of the right hindlimb was surgically removed to overload the plantaris and soleus muscles for 1 or 2 weeks. We examined the effect of EPA on the signaling pathway associated with protein synthesis using the soleus muscles. According to our analysis of the compensatory muscle growth, EPA administration enhanced hypertrophy of the soleus muscle but not hypertrophy of the plantaris muscle. Nevertheless, EPA administration did not enhance the expression or phosphorylation of Akt, mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), or S6 kinase (S6K) in the soleus muscle. In conclusion, EPA enhances skeletal muscle hypertrophy, which can be independent of changes in the AKT-mTOR-S6K pathway.

Effect of prior chronic aerobic exercise on overload-induced skeletal muscle hypertrophy in mice.

This study aimed to examine how regular aerobic training can affect the muscle hypertrophy induced by overloading. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into three groups: rest group, low-intensity aerobic exercise group, and high-intensity aerobic exercise group. Mice in the exercise groups were assigned to run at a speed of 10 m/min (low-intensity) or 25 m/min (high-intensity) for 30 min/day, five days/week, for four weeks. Then, the right hind leg gastrocnemius muscles were surgically removed to overload the plantaris and soleus muscles, while the left hind leg was subjected to a sham-operation. Both the plantaris and soleus muscles grew larger in the overloaded legs than those in the sham-operated legs. Muscle growth increased in the plantaris muscles in the low-intensity exercise group compared to that in the rest or high-intensity exercise groups at one and two weeks after overloading. This enhancement was not observed in the soleus muscles. Consistently, we observed changes in the expression of proteins involved in anabolic intracellular signaling, including Akt, mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), and p70S6K, in the plantaris muscles. Our data showed for the first time that chronic low-intensity aerobic exercise precipitates overload-induced muscle growth.

Luseogliflozin, A Sodium Glucose Co-transporter 2 Inhibitor, Alleviates Hepatic Impairment in Japanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Luseogliflozin, a selective inhibitor of sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2), was previously shown to improve the blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels of patients with type 2 diabetes in a clinical setting. Although patients with type 2 diabetes often have hepatic impairment, few reports have been published concerning the influence of luseogliflozin on HbA1c and hepatic function in patients with type 2 diabetes accompanied by hepatic impairment. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of luseogliflozin on HbA1c and hepatic function in patients with type 2 diabetes divided into 2 groups according to hepatic function parameters (a normal group and an elevated group). In this study, luseogliflozin significantly improved both HbA1c and body weight to similar extents in both the normal group and the elevated group, accompanied by marked reductions in the aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP) levels. These results suggested that luseogliflozin can be safely used in patients with type 2 diabetes who also exhibit hepatic impairment. The results additionally suggest the possibility that luseogliflozin might be capable of alleviating hepatic impairment in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Suppression of intestinal tumors by targeting the mitotic spindle of intestinal stem cells.

Human colorectal cancer is often initiated by the aberrant activation of Wnt signaling, notably following adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc) inactivation. Recent studies identified adult intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and demonstrated their role as the cells of origin for intestinal tumors. However, the early consequences of aberrant Wnt signaling activation remain to be fully elucidated. Here, using organoid cultures established from conditional knockout mice and in vitro gene ablation, we show that Apc inactivation led to aberrant ISC proliferation and the expansion of the crypt domain. This system was used to evaluate the potential of a cancer-related spindle protein, Tacc3, as a target of cancer therapy, as its disruption led to the suppression of tumor formation in an animal model of intestinal tumors. We found that Tacc3 is required for the proper mitosis of Apc-deficient ISCs, and its disruption significantly attenuated the expansion of the crypt domain. In vivo analysis of corresponding mutant mice demonstrated that Tacc3 disruption led to a significant decrease in tumor number and prolonged survival. These observations demonstrated that Tacc3 is a potential chemotherapeutic target for intestinal tumors by perturbing the aberrant cell proliferation of Apc-deficient ISCs and provides an opportunity for the development of novel cancer prevention and treatment.

The Beneficial Effects of the DPP-4 Inhibitor Alogliptin on Hemoglobin A1c and Serum Lipids in Japanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

It has been reported that dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors improve hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels in diabetic patients and may also improve the serum lipids. However, few studies have examined relationship between the effects of the DPP-4 inhibitor and the pretreatment HbA1c levels in diabetic patients. Furthermore, it has been reported that prolonged treatment with DPP-4 inhibitors may make glycemic control difficult in some patients. In the present study, we investigated (1) the effect of the DPP-4 inhibitor alogliptin on HbA1c, blood glucose (BG), and serum lipid in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes, (2) the relationship between the HbA1c levels at baseline and the effects of alogliptin, and (3) the effects of switching of the DPP-4 inhibitor to alogliptin after 12 months' administration of sitagliptin on glycemic control and serum lipids. After 6-months' treatment with alogliptin, we found reductions of HbA1c, BG, and serum total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol levels. Pretreatment level of HbA1c was well correlated with the degree of reduction of both HbA1c and BG levels after the treatment. Also, alogliptin kept levels of HbA1c and BG reduced by sitagliptin for 12 months, and relapsing of these levels and serum lipids were not observed. This study revealed that alogliptin improved HbA1c, BG, and serum lipid profiles in type 2 diabetic patients, and the effect of alogliptin on HbA1c and BG levels was correlated with HbA1c level at pretreatment. Furthermore, long-term treatment with alogliptin did not cause relapsing of glycemic control and serum lipids.

DPP-4 Inhibitor Teneligliptin Improves Insulin Resistance and Serum Lipid Profile in Japanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors have been reported to improve the glycemic control and blood hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) concentrations. However, there are few reports as yet suggesting that DPP-4 inhibitors may also improve insulin resistance and the serum lipid profile in the clinical setting. This study was aimed at investigating the effect of 14-week treatment with teneligliptin (20 mg/day) on the homeostasis model assessment ratio (HOMA-R), an indicator of insulin resistance, and serum lipid profile in 9 patients with type 2 diabetes. The treatment produced a significant decrease of the blood glucose and HbA1c concentration (blood glucose: p=0.008; HbA1c: p=0.038), and also improved HOMA-R (p=0.039). Furthermore, the patients showed elevation of the serum HDL-cholesterol level (p=0.032), and a tendency towards reduction of the serum triglyceride level. The results indicate that teneligliptin acts not only to improve the blood glucose control, but also to improve the insulin resistance and serum lipid profile in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients.

A small compound targeting TACC3 revealed its different spatiotemporal contributions for spindle assembly in cancer cells.

The mitotic spindle is assembled by the coordinated action of centrosomes and kinetochore microtubules. An evolutionally conserved protein family, transforming acidic coiled-coil (TACC), has been shown to be involved in this process. In humans, TACC3 is aberrantly expressed in a variety of human cancers, but its biological significance remains to be elucidated. Here, using a novel compound targeting TACC3, spindlactone (SPL), we show that the perturbation of TACC3 selectively inhibited the nucleation of centrosome microtubules in ovarian cancer cells. In contrast to centrosome microtubules, the kinetochore microtubules were robustly assembled, forming ectopic spindle poles that resulted in multipolar spindles. Interestingly, the extensive inhibition of TACC3 partially suppressed the nucleation of kinetochore microtubules. These dose-dependent effects of SPL were consistent with the results observed by the depletion of TACC3 and its binding partner, colonic and hepatic tumor overexpressed gene protein (TOGp). Although these proteins both have roles in the assembly of centrosome and kinetochore microtubules, their contributions were spatiotemporally different. Notably, SPL did not affect spindle assembly in normal cells. Furthermore, the oral administration of SPL significantly suppressed tumor growth in vivo. The unique mechanism of action of SPL not only enables it to be used as a tool to dissect the molecular basis of spindle assembly but also to provide a rationale for the use of TACC3 as a molecular target for cancer treatment. This rationale offers an opportunity to develop new strategies for cancer chemotherapy that overcome the limitations of microtubule toxins and expand their scope and clinical efficacy.

Disruption of Tacc3 function leads to in vivo tumor regression.

The formation of the bipolar spindle is responsible for accurate chromosomal segregation during mitosis. The dynamic instability of microtubules has an important role in this process, and has been shown to be an effective target for cancer chemotherapy. Several agents that target non-microtubule mitotic proteins, including the motor protein Eg5, Aurora kinases and Polo-like kinases, are currently being developed as chemotherapeutic drugs. However, because the efficacies of these drugs remain elusive, new molecular targets that have essential roles in tumor cells are desired. Here, we provide in vivo evidence that transforming acidic coiled-coil-3 (Tacc3) is a potential target for cancer chemotherapy. Using MRI, we showed that Tacc3 loss led to the regression of mouse thymic lymphoma in vivo, which was accompanied by massive apoptosis. By contrast, normal tissues, including the thymus, showed no overt abnormalities, despite high Tacc3 expression. in vitro analysis indicated that Tacc3 depletion induced multi-polar spindle formation, which led to mitotic arrest, followed by apoptosis. Similar responses have been observed in Burkitt's lymphoma and T-ALL. These results show that Tacc3 is a vulnerable component of the spindle assembly in lymphoma cells and is a promising cancer chemotherapy target.

Thin cement mantle and osteolysis with a precoated stem.

The radiographic and clinical results of 55 hips (52 patients) implanted with the Harris precoat hip prosthesis using second generation cementing technique were investigated in this study. All metal backed sockets were fixed with cement. The preoperative diagnoses were osteoarthritis secondary to dysplastic hips in 42 patients, primary osteoarthritis in six, rapidly destructive coxarthrosis in five, and osteonecrosis of the femoral head in two. The average age of patients at the time of surgery was 67 years. The average duration of followup was 8 years. The rates of aseptic loosening and osteolysis in the femoral side were 5.5% (three hips) and 12.7% (seven hips), respectively. Three sockets were loosened, and no osteolysis was detected in the acetabular side. The mantle of cement in the femur was graded using the criteria described by Mulroy et al. Twenty-seven of 55 (49%) hips had regions with a thin cement mantle less than 1 mm in thickness or a defect in the cement mantle. Osteolysis was detected in seven of the 27 (26%) hips. Locations of osteolysis were coincidental with those of thin cement mantle or defect with the exception of one hip. This study clearly shows that a thin cement mantle less than 1 mm in thickness and a defect in the cement mantle lead to osteolysis.

Differing patterns of P-selectin expression in lung injury.

Using two models of acute lung inflammatory injury in rats (intrapulmonary deposition of immunoglobulin G immune complexes and systemic activation of complement after infusion of purified cobra venom factor), we have analyzed the requirements and patterns for upregulation of lung vascular P-selectin. In the immune complex model, upregulation of P-selectin was defined by Northern and Western blot analysis of lung homogenates, by immunostaining of lung tissue, and by vascular fixation of 125I-labeled anti-P-selectin. P-selectin protein was detected by 1 hour (long before detection of mRNA) and expression was sustained for the next 7 hours, in striking contrast to the pattern of P-selectin expression in the cobra venom factor model, in which upregulation was very transient (within the 1st hour). In the immune complex model, injury and neutrophil accumulation were P-selectin dependent. Upregulation of P-selectin was dependent on an intact complement system, and the presence of blood neutrophils was susceptible to the antioxidant dimethyl sulfoxide and required C5a but not tumor necrosis factor alpha. In contrast, in the cobra venom factor model, upregulation of P-selectin, which is C5a dependent, was also dimethyl sulfoxide sensitive but neutrophil independent. Different mechanisms that may explain why upregulation of lung vascular P-selectin is either transient or sustained are discussed.

Effect of SM-12502 on disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in tumor-bearing rats.

To investigate the role of PAF in tumor-associated disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), we have established the tumor-induced DIC model in rats and examined the effect of PAF-antagonist as compared with commonly used anti-DIC drugs. Four days after the intraperitoneal inoculation of rat ascites hepatoma AH-130, DIC-like hematological parameter changes such as decrease in platelet count, prolongation of PTT and increase in FDP were observed. In addition, serum levels of GOT and GPT were increased, indicating that liver injury was provoked. PAF-antagonist SM-12502 inhibited the development of DIC (PT, PTT and FDP) and liver injury. These results indicate that PAF plays an important role in tumor-associated DIC as well as accompanying organ failure.

Effect of the platelet activating factor antagonist (+)-cis-3,5-dimethyl-2-(3-pyridyl)thiazolidin-4-one hydrochloride on endotoxin-induced hypotension and hematological parameters in rats.

The intravenous administration of endotoxin to anesthetized rats resulted in different hypotensive reactions depending on its dosage. More than 10 mg/kg of endotoxin induced biphasic hypotension; the first phase consisted in a small and transient depression (approximately 15 mmHg) of mean arterial pressure occurred within 1 min after the administration, and the second phase was a large and sustained depression (maximally 40 mmHg) observed from 1 h after the injection. At less than 3 mg/kg of endotoxin, the first phase of hypotension did not occur whereas the second phase of hypotension was observed. Pre-treatment or post-treatment with a specific platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonist, SM-12502 ((+)-cis-3,5-dimethyl-2-(3-pyridyl)thiazolidin-4-one HCl, CAS 119383-00-5) inhibited the second phase of endotoxin (1 mg/kg)-induced hypotension. In addition, post-treatment with another PAF antagonist, (3-(4-(2-chlorophenyl)-9-methyl-6H-thieno (3,2-f) (1, 2,4)-thiazolo-phenone) also inhibited the second phase of hypotension. Blood PAF-like substance level, measured by the PAF radioimmunoassay, slightly increased at 1 min after administration of endotoxin (30 mg/kg). At 90 min after the injection, endotoxin (1 mg/kg) induced a significant increase of PAF-like substance level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of platelet activating factor receptor antagonists on intracellular platelet activating factor function in neutrophils.

We investigated the effects of the platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor antagonists, SM-12502 ((+)-cis-3,5-dimethyl-2-(pyridyl)- thiazolidin-4-one hydrochloride), WEB-2086 (3-(4-(2-chlorphenyl)-9-methyl-6H-thieno(3,2-f)-(1,2,4)triazolo(4, 3- a)(1,4)diazepin-2-yl)-1-(4-morpholinyl)-1-propanone) and RP-48740 (3-(3-pyridyl)-1H,3H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]thiazole-7-carboxamide) on the PAF-mediated activation of rat neutrophils. These antagonists inhibited PAF-induced degranulation and chemotaxis in neutrophils at a dose that correlated well with PAF-induced platelet aggregation based on the statistical analyses. N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L- phenylalanin (fMLP)-induced cellular responses were also inhibited by the PAF receptor antagonists, but their inhibitory potencies did not correlate with those for PAF-induced platelet aggregation. In addition, the doses required for inhibition were higher than those required against PAF-induced responses (i.e. IC50 ratio of WEB-2086, SM-12502 and RP-48740 in fMLP-induced/PAF-induced degranulation was 40.0, 2.8 and 5.6, respectively). PAF receptor antagonists inhibited inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate production and the release of Ca2+ from the intracellular store site after stimulation with PAF. In the fMLP-induced responses, PAF receptor antagonists did not inhibit IP3 production and Ca2+ release, but did inhibit transmembrane Ca2+ influx. These results suggest the presence of distinct PAF receptor subtype, to which exogenously added PAF binds, while endogenously produced PAF binds to the other. Intracellular PAF, which was produced by fMLP-stimulation, may play an important role in the late phase of signal transduction, and may participate in the transmembrane Ca2+ influx.

Biological effects of the new platelet-activating factor receptor antagonist (+)-cis-3,5-dimethyl-2-(3-pyridyl)thiazolidin-4-one hydrochloride.

SM-12502 ((+)-cis-3,5-dimethyl-2-(3-pyridyl)thiazolidin-4-one HCl, CAS 119383-00-5) inhibited platelet-activating factor (PAF)-induced aggregation of rabbit and human platelets with IC50 values of 2.3 mumol/l and 4.7 mumol/l, respectively, but did not inhibit platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate, collagen, thrombin, arachidonic acid, U46619 (a thromboxane A2 agonist) or Ca2+ ionophore A23187 at concentrations up to 400 mumol/l. SM-12502 competitively antagonized 3H-PAF binding to rabbit platelets with an IC50 of 1.0 mumol/l. In contrast, the anti-PAF activity of the optical isomer SM-12501 ((-)-cis-3,5-dimethyl-2-(3-pyridyl)thiazolidin-4-one HCl) was much weaker and its IC50 was more than 100 mumol/l. SM-12502 prevented PAF-induced death in mice with ID50 values of 4.8 mg/kg (i.v.) or 68.6 mg/kg (p.o.). In guinea pigs, SM-12502 inhibited PAF (0.1 micrograms/kg)-induced hemoconcentration with ID50 values of 1.9 mg/kg (i.v.) or 40.2 mg/kg (p.o.). In addition, SM-12502 inhibited PAF (10 ng/kg)-induced hypotension in rats with ID50 values of 2.0 mg/kg (i.v.) or 6.5 mg/kg (p.o.). The in vivo effects of SM-12501 were much weaker. Orally administered SM-12502 showed rapid absorption and a long duration of pharmacological activity in rats. SM-12502 afforded dose-dependent protection against anaphylactic death in mice with ID50 values of 18.4 mg/kg (i.v.) and 136 mg/kg (p.o.). It also inhibited endotoxin (E. coli 0.55:B5, 60 mg/kg)-induced death in mice, with ID50 values of 119 mg/kg (i.v.) and 182 mg/kg (p.o.).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Gastric hyperacidity and mucosal damage caused by hypothermia correlate with increase in GABA concentrations of the rat brain.

The involvement of brain GABA mechanisms in acid secretion and maintenance of gastric mucosal integrity was studied in the anesthetized rat. Cold exposure lowered the rectal temperature and stimulated acid output in the anesthetized rat. The acid response to cold exposure was completely suppressed by surgical vagotomy. The substantial increase in brain GABA content evoked by pretreatment with aminooxyacetic acid (10 and 20 mg/kg s.c. x 3) significantly potentiated the gastric acid response to the cold exposure stress; suppression of the GABA content induced by semicarbazide (100 mg/kg s.c.) reduced the acid response to cold. Significant correlations were found between the brain GABA contents and the acid secretory activity and also between the GABA contents and the ulcer index of gastric lesions induced by the cold stress. These results indicate that hypothermia evoked by cold exposure stimulates gastric acid secretion and induces gastric lesions through central GABA mechanisms in the rat.

[Ulcerogenic effect of a GABA derivative, baclofen, in the rat: effect of hypothermia].

The ulcerogenic action of baclofen, a lipophilic derivative of GABA, was studied in the urethane anesthetized rat in relation to body temperature. Baclofen at the doses of 2, 4 and 8 mg/kg, s.c. induced gastric ulceration in a dose-dependent manner in the hypothermic (body temperature: 28-30 degrees C) rat. Duodenal ulcers were also observed in about 80% of the hypothermic animals treated with the highest dose of baclofen. Baclofen, even at 8 mg/kg, s.c., however, failed to induce gastric ulceration in the normothermic (body temperature: 37-38 degrees C) rat. Histamine, at the secretagogue dose causing acid secretion as potently as 8 mg/kg of baclofen, induced gastric ulcers in both the hypothermic and the normothermic rats. These results indicate that the ulcerogenic effect of baclofen is closely related to the thermoregulation mechanism and may provide important clues for clarifying the pathophysiology of gastroduodenal ulcers induced by hypothermic treatments such as water-immersion stress ulcers or cold exposure ulcers.

Direct evidence indicating that a GABA-mimetic stimulates acid secretion through central mechanisms.

Acid secretagogue effects of central and peripheral baclofen were compared in the rat. Intravenously (0.1-1.0 mg/kg) and intracerebroventricularly (0.1-1.0 micrograms) administered baclofen augmented acid output to the same degree in a dose-dependent manner. GABA microinjected into the lateral hypothalamus (200 and 400 micrograms) significantly increased acid output. These support the proposal that baclofen stimulates acid secretion through central mechanisms and also the possible role of GABA in central regulation mechanisms of acid secretion.