Acid and Alkaline Phosphatases Specific activities and Expression as Biomarkers in Brain Tumor Grading and Correlation of Anaplastic Oligodendroglioma G-III to Meningiomas G-I among Brain Tumors and their primary culture.

BACKGROUND: Acid Phosphatase (ACP) and Alkaline Phosphatases (ALP) are hydrolases that remove phosphate groups from protein and nucleic acid respectively for regulation of cell function from ACP as lysosomal defence function and ALP membrane-bound as a barrier of the cell. The ACP and ALP-specific activities of Meningiomas (n = 75) and gliomas (n = 81) were compared among brain tumors, normal brain, and derived primary cell culture. METHODS: Total Protein and Phosphatases assays estimated by Spectrophotometer and Native PAGE Gel Electrophoresis. Brain tumor and primary explant lysosome studies were performed with an electron microscope. RESULTS: Average ACP specific activity exhibited 9.32617 ± 4.1144 for meningiomas (n = 55) and 5.91 ± 5.8305 for gliomas (n = 60) respectively as compared to normal brain 7.104 ± 1.33 (n = 120) nm/min/mg of protein. Average ALP exhibited 37.1862 ± 39.91 (n = 36) for meningiomas and 5.91 ± 5.83 (n = 60) for gliomas respectively as compared to normal brain (n = 117) 2.463 ± 1.01 nm/min/mg of protein. ACP and ALP exhibited higher activities for meningiomas but not for gliomas as compared to normal brain, in contrast, both expressed more activities in the majority of glioma cell lines and lower in meningioma cell lines. Interestingly gliomas exhibited similar average specific activities for ACP and ALP. While GBM IV exhibits lower ALP activities due to cell migration and higher ACP activity correlate too many storage lysosomes from Electron microscopic observation as compared to meningiomas. CONCLUSIONS: Higher ALP activities can be surrogate markers from meningiomas G-I, G-II to G-III respectively. However meningiomas G-III are similar to gliomas excluding Anaplastic Oligodendroglioma G- III which is similar to Meningiomas G-I even for cells growth patterns. Therefore, an ALP level in meningiomas indicates complementary diagnosis as antibody-ALP conjugates with anticancer drugs for efficiency in targeting brain tumor reduction.

Ultrastructural Features of Sperm Storage Tubules in the Oviduct of the Indian Garden Lizard, Calotes Versicolor.

This study provides the first description of the ultrastructural features of sperm storage tubules (SSTs) in the uterovaginal region of the oviduct of the Indian garden lizard, Calotes versicolor. Abundant spermatozoa along with copious secretory material were found in the lumen of the SSTs. These secretory granules appeared similar in electron density to those found in the epithelial cells lining the SSTs indicating their similar origin. The close physical proximity of sperm with these granules suggests an intimate association between the two. The present study is also the first report of recovery of motile sperm from the flushings of SSTs in C. versicolor. The density of sperm found in the flushings varied, being most abundant during the reproductive phase and minimum/absent during the regressive phase. Understanding the microenvironment of the SSTs, the nature of the secretory granules and their interaction with sperm can guide us in unraveling the biology of oviductal sperm storage.

Enhancement of immunogenicity and efficacy of a plasmid DNA rabies vaccine by nanoformulation with a fourth-generation amine-terminated poly(ether imine) dendrimer.

PURPOSE: Delayed onset of, and low magnitude of, protective immune responses are major drawbacks limiting the practical utility of plasmid vaccination against rabies. In this study we evaluated whether nanoformulation with the novel poly(ether imine) (PETIM) dendrimer can enhance the immunogenicity and efficacy of a plasmid-based rabies vaccine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A plasmid vaccine construct (pIRES-Rgp) was prepared by cloning the full-length rabies virus glycoprotein gene into pIRES vector. Drawing upon the results of our previous study, a dendriplex (dendrimer-DNA complex) of pIRES-Rgp was made with PETIM dendrimer (10:1 w/w, PETIM:pIRES-Rgp). In vitro transfection was done on baby hamster kidney (BHK)-21 cells to evaluate expression of glycoprotein gene from pIRES-Rgp and PETIM-pIRES-Rgp. Subsequently, groups of Swiss albino mice were immunized intramuscularly with pIRES-Rgp or PETIM-pIRES-Rgp. A commercially available cell culture rabies vaccine was included for comparison. Rabies virus neutralizing antibody (RVNA) titers in the immune sera were evaluated on days 14, 28, and 90 by rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test. Finally, an intracerebral challenge study using a challenge virus standard strain of rabies virus was done to evaluate the protective efficacy of the formulations. RESULTS: Protective levels of RVNA titer (≥0.5 IU/mL) were observed by day 14 in animals immunized with pIRES-Rgp and its dendriplex. Notably, PETIM-pIRES-Rgp produced 4.5-fold higher RVNA titers compared to pIRES-Rgp at this time point. All mice immunized with the PETIM-pIRES-Rgp survived the intracerebral rabies virus challenge, compared with 60% in the group which received pIRES-Rgp. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that nanoformulation with PETIM dendrimer can produce an earlier onset of a high-titered protective antibody response to a plasmid-based rabies vaccine. PETIM dendriplexing appears to be an efficacious nonviral delivery strategy to enhance genetic vaccination.