A Healthy Vaginal Microbiota Remains Stable during Oral Probiotic Supplementation: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

The primary objective of this randomised, placebo-controlled, triple-blind study was to assess whether orally consumed Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14 (La-14) and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001 (HN001) colonise a healthy human vagina. Furthermore, potential effects on vaginal microbiota and immune markers were explored. Fifty women devoid of vaginal complaints (Nugent score 0-3 and vaginal pH ≤ 4.5) were randomised into a 2-week intervention with either La-14 and HN001 as the verum product or a comparable placebo. Vaginal swab samples were collected at baseline, after one and two weeks of intervention, and after a one-week follow-up, for assessing colonisation of the supplemented lactobacilli, vaginal microbiota, and six specific immune markers. Colonisation of L. acidophilus and L. rhamnosus was not observed above the assay detection limit (5.29 and 5.11 log 10 genomes/swab for L. acidophilus and L. rhamnosus, respectively). Vaginal microbiotas remained stable and predominated by lactobacilli throughout the intervention, and vaginal pH remained optimal (at least 90% of participants in both groups had pH 4.0 or 4.5 throughout the study). Immune markers elafin and human ß-defensin 3 (HBD-3) were significantly decreased in the verum group (p = 0.022 and p = 0.028, respectively) but did not correlate with any microbiota changes. Adverse events raised no safety concerns, and no undesired changes in the vaginal microbiota or immune markers were detected.

Finnish-specific AKT2 gene variant leads to impaired insulin signalling in myotubes.

Finnish-specific gene variant p.P50T/AKT2 (minor allele frequency (MAF) = 1.1%) is associated with insulin resistance and increased predisposition to type 2 diabetes. Here, we have investigated in vitro the impact of the gene variant on glucose metabolism and intracellular signalling in human primary skeletal muscle cells, which were established from 14 male p.P50T/AKT2 variant carriers and 14 controls. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and glucose incorporation into glycogen were detected with 2-[1,2-3H]-deoxy-D-glucose and D-[14C]-glucose, respectively, and the rate of glycolysis was measured with a Seahorse XFe96 analyzer. Insulin signalling was investigated with Western blotting. The binding of variant and control AKT2-PH domains to phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P3) was assayed using PIP StripsTM Membranes. Protein tyrosine kinase and serine-threonine kinase assays were performed using the PamGene® kinome profiling system. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in myotubes in vitro were not significantly affected by the genotype. However, the insulin-stimulated glycolytic rate was impaired in variant myotubes. Western blot analysis showed that insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of AKT-Thr308, AS160-Thr642 and GSK3ß-Ser9 was reduced in variant myotubes compared to controls. The binding of variant AKT2-PH domain to PI(3,4,5)P3 was reduced as compared to the control protein. PamGene® kinome profiling revealed multiple differentially phosphorylated kinase substrates, e.g. calmodulin, between the genotypes. Further in silico upstream kinase analysis predicted a large-scale impairment in activities of kinases participating, for example, in intracellular signal transduction, protein translation and cell cycle events. In conclusion, myotubes from p.P50T/AKT2 variant carriers show multiple signalling alterations which may contribute to predisposition to insulin resistance and T2D in the carriers of this signalling variant.

Skeletal muscle proteomes reveal downregulation of mitochondrial proteins in transition from prediabetes into type 2 diabetes.

Skeletal muscle insulin resistance is a central defect in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Here, we analyzed skeletal muscle proteome in 148 vastus lateralis muscle biopsies obtained from men covering all glucose tolerance phenotypes: normal, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and T2D. Skeletal muscle proteome was analyzed by a sequential window acquisition of all theoretical mass spectra (SWATH-MS) proteomics technique. Our data indicate a downregulation in several proteins involved in mitochondrial electron transport or respiratory chain complex assembly already in IFG and IGT muscles, with most profound decreases observed in T2D. Additional phosphoproteomic analysis reveals altered phosphorylation in several signaling pathways in IFG, IGT, and T2D muscles, including those regulating glucose metabolic processes, and the structure of muscle cells. These data reveal several alterations present in skeletal muscle already in prediabetes and highlight impaired mitochondrial energy metabolism in the trajectory from prediabetes into T2D.

Simvastatin profoundly impairs energy metabolism in primary human muscle cells.

OBJECTIVES: Simvastatin use is associated with muscular side effects, and increased risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D). In clinical use, simvastatin is administered in inactive lipophilic lactone-form, which is then converted to active acid-form in the body. Here, we have investigated if lactone- and acid-form simvastatin differentially affect glucose metabolism and mitochondrial respiration in primary human skeletal muscle cells. METHODS: Muscle cells were exposed separately to lactone- and acid-form simvastatin for 48 h. After pre-exposure, glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis were measured using radioactive tracers; insulin signalling was detected with Western blotting; and glycolysis, mitochondrial oxygen consumption and ATP production were measured with Seahorse XFe96 analyzer. RESULTS: Lactone-form simvastatin increased glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis, whereas acid-form simvastatin did not affect glucose uptake and decreased glycogen synthesis. Phosphorylation of insulin signalling targets Akt substrate 160 kDa (AS160) and glycogen synthase kinase 3ß (GSK3ß) was upregulated with lactone-, but not with acid-form simvastatin. Exposure to both forms of simvastatin led to a decrease in glycolysis and glycolytic capacity, as well as to a decrease in mitochondrial respiration and ATP production. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that lactone- and acid-forms of simvastatin exhibit differential effects on non-oxidative glucose metabolism as lactone-form increases and acid-form impairs glucose storage into glycogen, suggesting impaired insulin sensitivity in response to acid-form simvastatin. Both forms profoundly impair oxidative glucose metabolism and energy production in human skeletal muscle cells. These effects may contribute to muscular side effects and risk for T2D observed with simvastatin use.

Sequence analysis of pooled bacterial samples enables identification of strain variation in group A streptococcus.

Knowledge of the genomic variation among different strains of a pathogenic microbial species can help in selecting optimal candidates for diagnostic assays and vaccine development. Pooled sequencing (Pool-seq) is a cost effective approach for population level genetic studies that require large numbers of samples such as various strains of a microbe. To test the use of Pool-seq in identifying variation, we pooled DNA of 100 Streptococcus pyogenes strains of different emm types in two pools, each containing 50 strains. We used four variant calling tools (Freebayes, UnifiedGenotyper, SNVer, and SAMtools) and one emm1 strain, SF370, as a reference genome. In total 63719 SNPs and 164 INDELs were identified in the two pools concordantly by at least two of the tools. Majority of the variants (93.4%) from six individually sequenced strains used in the pools could be identified from the two pools and 72.3% and 97.4% of the variants in the pools could be mined from the analysis of the 44 complete Str. pyogenes genomes and 3407 sequence runs deposited in the European Nucleotide Archive respectively. We conclude that DNA sequencing of pooled samples of large numbers of bacterial strains is a robust, rapid and cost-efficient way to discover sequence variation.

Data supporting the regulation of FOXC2 in podocyte dysfunction.

This data article shows the expression levels of specific podocyte injury markers and podocyte slit diaphragm protein nephrin in obese and lean Zucker rat glomeruli. It also contains information on the effect of the overexpression of transcription factor FOXC2 on the ratio of F- and G-actin and the expression level of ZO-1 in differentiated human podocytes. The article also shows data on the effect of treatments of differentiated podocytes with various factors associated with obesity and diabetes on the expression level of FOXC2. The detailed interpretation of these data and other aspects of podocyte injury mediated by upregulation of FOXC2 can be found in "Overexpression of transcription factor FOXC2 in cultured human podocytes upregulates injury markers and increases motility [1].

Overexpression of transcription factor FOXC2 in cultured human podocytes upregulates injury markers and increases motility.

Obesity and diabetes-related kidney diseases associate with renal failure and cardiovascular morbidity, and represent a major health issue worldwide. However, the molecular mechanisms leading to their development remain poorly understood. We observed increased expression of transcription factor FoxC2 in the podocytes of obese Zucker rats that are insulin resistant and albuminuric. We also found that depletion of adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived hormone whose secretion is decreased in obesity, upregulated FOXC2 in differentiated human podocytes in vitro. Overexpression of FOXC2 in cultured human podocytes led to increased nuclear expression of FOXC2 associated with a change of cellular morphology. This was accompanied by upregulation of vimentin, a key mesenchymal marker, and active beta-catenin, associated with podocyte injury. We also observed re-organization of the actin cytoskeleton, disrupted localization of the tight junction protein ZO-1, and increased motility of podocytes overexpressing FOXC2. These data indicate that the expression of FOXC2 in podocytes needs to be tightly regulated, and that its overexpression induces a chain of cellular events leading to podocyte dysfunction. These changes may lead to podocyte detachment and depletion ultimately contributing to albuminuria. We also suggest a novel molecular mechanism linking obesity-induced decrease in adiponectin to podocyte dysfunction via upregulation of FOXC2.

Expression of toll-like receptors in HPV-positive and HPV-negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma--an in vivo and in vitro study.

The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has increased over the past decades in many western countries. This trend is mainly attributed to the human papillomavirus (HPV). Cancer-related actions of immunological defense systems are being intensively researched. Human toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a family of pattern recognition receptors that participate in the immunological defense against pathogens, but their actions are also linked to cancer. The expression of TLRs in cervical epithelium alters both during the clearance of HPV infection and the HPV-induced neoplasia, but the expression of TLRs has not been studied in OPSCC. Thirty-five paraffin-embedded, formalin-fixed, squamous cell carcinoma tissue specimens were analyzed for TLRs 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 9 and HPV and p16 statuses. The TLR 9 expression was lower in HPV-positive tumors compared with HPV-negative tumors. TLR 7 was expressed in all cancer specimens, but elevated expression was evident in HPV and/or p16-positive tumors. The majority of p16-positive tumors did not express TLR 5, whereas its expression was stronger in p16-negative tumors. The results of in vitro analysis of five human OPSCC cell lines and one human oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line agree with the in vivo trends: low levels of TLR 5 and high levels of TLR 7 in p16-positive OPSCC. Overall, TLR 7 and 9 expression patterns are demonstrated here to relate to the HPV status in vivo and TLR 5 and 7 expression patterns to the p16 status in vivo and in vitro.

Predictive role of Toll-like receptors 2, 4, and 9 in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: The clinical behavior of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) can be unpredictable, and even small tumors may behave aggressively. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pattern-recognition molecules involved in innate immunity, and they are also expressed in many types of cancer. TLRs play an apparently pivotal role in some cancers related to tumor progression and, conversely, cancer inhibition, however their role in oral cancer is unclear. We therefore studied the expression of TLR-2, -4, -5, -7, and -9 in early-stage OTSCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tissue microarray technique and immunohistochemistry was employed to define the expression of TLRs from the tumors of 73 consecutive patients with Stage I-II OTSCC. Immunoexpression scores were compared with patient and tumor related characteristics and survival. RESULTS: All TLRs were expressed in OTSCC tissue. High/strong TLR-2, -4, and -9 expression correlated with deeper tumor invasion. Cytoplasmic TLR-2 and -4 also correlated significantly with higher tumor grade, whereas high TLR-5 expression associated with lower tumor grade. High expression of TLR-9 correlated with advanced tumor size. Negative or mild TLR-5 expression predicted poor disease-specific survival. CONCLUSION: All the studied TLRs showed high expression in early-stage OTSCC. More importantly, TLR-2, -4, and -9 seemed to predict invasive tumor growth.

Structure and genetic basis of Yersinia similis serotype O:9 O-specific polysaccharide.

The O-polysaccharide (OPS, O-Ag) cap of LPS is a major virulence factor of Yersinia species and also serves as a receptor for the binding of lytic bacteriophage φR1-37. Currently, the OPS-based serotyping scheme for the Yersinia pseudotuberculosis complex includes 21 known O-serotypes that follow three distinct lineages: Y. pseudotuberculosis sensu stricto, Y. similis and the Korean group of strains. Elucidation of the Y. pseudotuberculosis complex OPS structures and characterization of the OPS genetics (altogether 18 O-serotypes studied thus far) allows a better understanding of the relationships among the various O serotypes and will facilitate the analysis of the evolutionary processes giving rise to new serotypes. Here we present the characterization of the OPS structure and gene cluster of Y. similis O:9. Bacteriophage φR1-37, which uses the Y. similis O:9 OPS as a receptor, also infects a number of Y. enterocolitica serotypes, including O:3, O:5,27, O:9 and O:50. The Y. similis O:9 OPS structure resembled none of the receptor structures of the Y. enterocolitica strains, suggesting that φR1-37 can recognize several surface receptors, thus promoting broad host specificity.

Characterization of the genome, proteome, and structure of yersiniophage ϕR1-37.

The bacteriophage vB_YecM-ϕR1-37 (ϕR1-37) is a lytic yersiniophage that can propagate naturally in different Yersinia species carrying the correct lipopolysaccharide receptor. This large-tailed phage has deoxyuridine (dU) instead of thymidine in its DNA. In this study, we determined the genomic sequence of phage ϕR1-37, mapped parts of the phage transcriptome, characterized the phage particle proteome, and characterized the virion structure by cryo-electron microscopy and image reconstruction. The 262,391-bp genome of ϕR1-37 is one of the largest sequenced phage genomes, and it contains 367 putative open reading frames (ORFs) and 5 tRNA genes. Mass-spectrometric analysis identified 69 phage particle structural proteins with the genes scattered throughout the genome. A total of 269 of the ORFs (73%) lack homologues in sequence databases. Based on terminator and promoter sequences identified from the intergenic regions, the phage genome was predicted to consist of 40 to 60 transcriptional units. Image reconstruction revealed that the ϕR1-37 capsid consists of hexameric capsomers arranged on a T=27 lattice similar to the bacteriophage ϕKZ. The tail of ϕR1-37 has a contractile sheath. We conclude that phage ϕR1-37 is a representative of a novel phage type that carries the dU-containing genome in a ϕKZ-like head.

Identification of the lipopolysaccharide core of Yersinia pestis and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis as the receptor for bacteriophage φA1122.

φA1122 is a T7-related bacteriophage infecting most isolates of Yersinia pestis, the etiologic agent of plague, and used by the CDC in the identification of Y. pestis. φA1122 infects Y. pestis grown both at 20 °C and at 37 °C. Wild-type Yersinia pseudotuberculosis strains are also infected but only when grown at 37 °C. Since Y. pestis expresses rough lipopolysaccharide (LPS) missing the O-polysaccharide (O-PS) and expression of Y. pseudotuberculosis O-PS is largely suppressed at temperatures above 30 °C, it has been assumed that the phage receptor is rough LPS. We present here several lines of evidence to support this. First, a rough derivative of Y. pseudotuberculosis was also φA1122 sensitive when grown at 22 °C. Second, periodate treatment of bacteria, but not proteinase K treatment, inhibited the phage binding. Third, spontaneous φA1122 receptor mutants of Y. pestis and rough Y. pseudotuberculosis could not be isolated, indicating that the receptor was essential for bacterial growth under the applied experimental conditions. Fourth, heterologous expression of the Yersinia enterocolitica O:3 LPS outer core hexasaccharide in both Y. pestis and rough Y. pseudotuberculosis effectively blocked the phage adsorption. Fifth, a gradual truncation of the core oligosaccharide into the Hep/Glc (L-glycero-D-manno-heptose/D-glucopyranose)-Kdo/Ko (3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulopyranosonic acid/D-glycero-D-talo-oct-2-ulopyranosonic acid) region in a series of LPS mutants was accompanied by a decrease in phage adsorption, and finally, a waaA mutant expressing only lipid A, i.e., also missing the Kdo/Ko region, was fully φA1122 resistant. Our data thus conclusively demonstrated that the φA1122 receptor is the Hep/Glc-Kdo/Ko region of the LPS core, a common structure in Y. pestis and Y. pseudotuberculosis.

WITHDRAWN:Curcumin, a dietary polyphenol, emerges as a novel inhibitor of DNA topoisomerase I of kinetoplastid parasite Leishmania donovani.

This paper published as an Immediate Publication on 29 September 2008 was withdrawn by the Editorial Board of the Biochemical Journal on 12 December 2008.

Targeting of parasite-specific immunoliposome-encapsulated doxorubicin in the treatment of experimental visceral leishmaniasis.

A parasite-specific 51-kDa protein has been isolated from the membrane of macrophages infected with Leishmania donovani, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis. Active targeting of doxorubicin to infected macrophages was studied by incorporating it in immunoliposomes prepared by grafting F(ab)'(2) of anti-51-kDa antibody onto the liposomal surface. In a 45-day mouse model of visceral leishmaniasis, complete elimination of spleen parasite burden was achieved by doxorubicin incorporated in immunoliposome (immunodoxosome) at a dose of 250 microg/kg/day that was given for 4 consecutive days. A similar dose of free and liposomal drug (doxosome) had 45% and 84% parasite suppressive effects, respectively. Immunodoxosome and doxosome were generally less toxic than the free drug, as determined by several clinical parameters of cardiotoxicity and liver toxicity. These results not only indicate the potential of doxorubicin as an effective chemotherapeutic agent but also establish the use of immunoliposomes as drug carrier in the therapy of leishmaniasis.

Targeting of immunostimulatory DNA cures experimental visceral leishmaniasis through nitric oxide up-regulation and T cell activation.

Active targeting of CpG-containing oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-ODN) to macrophages was studied by incorporating it in mannose-coated liposomes, using visceral leishmaniasis as the model macrophage disease. Mannosylated liposomal CpG-ODN was more effective than liposomal or free CpG-ODN in inhibiting amastigote multiplication within macrophages. Moreover, in a 60-day mouse model of visceral leishmaniasis, complete elimination of spleen parasite burden was achieved by mannosylated liposomal CpG-ODN, compared to 62% and 81% parasite suppression by free and liposomal ODN, respectively, at a similar dose. Although in vitro exposure of CpG-ODN did not induce marked nitric oxide (NO) generation by macrophages, considerably enhanced amount of NO was generated by macrophages of CpG-ODN-treated animals. Their splenocytes secreted soluble factors required for the induction of NO generation, and the increased NO generation was paralleled by an increase in antileishmanial activity. Inducible NO generation was suppressed by treating splenocyte supernatants with anti-IFN-gamma or anti-IL-12 antibodies, whereas in vivo administration of these anti-cytokine Ab along with CpG-ODN reversed protection against infection. CpG-ODN treatment resulted in reduced levels of IL-4, but increased levels of IFN-gamma, IL-12 and inducible NO synthase in infected spleen cells, which was magnified by encapsulation in mannose-coated liposomes. This targeted treatment was not only curative, but it also imparted resistance to reinfection. These results represent a general approach for intracellular targeting of CpG-ODN, which effectively enhances its therapeutic potential in redirecting curative Th1 responses in Th2-driven disorders.

Thearubigin, the major polyphenol of black tea, ameliorates mucosal injury in trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis.

Inflammatory bowel disease is characterized by oxidative and nitrosative stress, leukocyte infiltration and upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines. The aim of the present study was to examine the protective effects of thearubigin, an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant beverage derivative, on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in mice, a model for inflammatory bowel disease. Intestinal lesions (judged by macroscopic and histological score) were associated with neutrophil infiltration (measured as increase in myeloperoxidase activity in the mucosa), increased serine protease activity (may be involved in the degradation of colonic tissue) and high levels of malondialdehyde (an indicator of lipid peroxidation). Both nitric oxide (NO) and O(2)(-) were increased with concomitant upregulation in the mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokine response and inducible NO synthase (iNOS). Dose-response studies revealed that pretreatment of mice with thearubigin (40 mg kg(-1) day(-1), i.g. for 10 days) significantly ameliorated the appearance of diarrhoea and the disruption of colonic architecture. Higher dose (100 mg kg(-1)) had comparable effects. This was associated with a significant reduction in the degree of both neutrophil infiltration and lipid peroxidation in the inflamed colon as well as decreased serine protease activity. Thearubigin also reduced the levels of NO and O(2)(-) associated with the favourable expression of T-helper 1 cytokines and iNOS. Consistent with these observations, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) activation in colonic mucosa was suppressed in thearubigin-treated mice. The results of this study suggest that thearubigin, the most predominant polyphenol of black tea, exerts beneficial effects in experimental colitis and may, therefore, be useful in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.