Hyperglycemia impedes definitive endoderm differentiation of human embryonic stem cells by modulating histone methylation patterns.

Exposure to maternal diabetes during fetal growth is a risk factor for the development of type II diabetes (T2D) in later life. Discovery of the mechanisms involved in this association should provide valuable background for therapeutic treatments. Early embryogenesis involves epigenetic changes including histone modifications. The bivalent histone methylation marks H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 are important for regulating key developmental genes during early fetal pancreas specification. We hypothesized that maternal hyperglycemia disrupted early pancreas development through changes in histone bivalency. A human embryonic stem cell line (VAL3) was used as the cell model for studying the effects of hyperglycemia upon differentiation into definitive endoderm (DE), an early stage of the pancreatic lineage. Hyperglycemic conditions significantly down-regulated the expression levels of DE markers SOX17, FOXA2, CXCR4 and EOMES during differentiation. This was associated with retention of the repressive histone methylation mark H3K27me3 on their promoters under hyperglycemic conditions. The disruption of histone methylation patterns was observed as early as the mesendoderm stage, with Wnt/ß-catenin signaling being suppressed during hyperglycemia. Treatment with Wnt/ß-catenin signaling activator CHIR-99021 restored the expression levels and chromatin methylation status of DE markers, even in a hyperglycemic environment. The disruption of DE development was also found in mouse embryos at day 7.5 post coitum from diabetic mothers. Furthermore, disruption of DE differentiation in VAL3 cells led to subsequent impairment in pancreatic progenitor formation. Thus, early exposure to hyperglycemic conditions hinders DE development with a possible relationship to the later impairment of pancreas specification.

[Identification of endogenous control genes for gene expression studies in peripheral blood of patients with coronary artery disease].

The selection of stable endogenous control genes is critical for normalization of quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) data. In this study, we aimed to identify a suitable set of control genes to be used as endogenous references for gene expression evaluation in human peripheral blood samples among coronary artery disease patients. The expression levels of 12 endogenous control genes procured from TATAA Biocenter (Goteborg, Sweden) were measured in five acute coronary syndrome patients and five chronic stable angina patients. Gene expression stability was analyzed using two different software applications i.e geNorm and NormFinder. Results suggested that beta-glucuronidase is the most stable endogenous control, followed by hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase. The NormFinder analysis further confirmed that beta-glucuronidase and hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase were on the first rank order with the most stable expression among endogenous control genes analyzed and 60S acidic ribosomal protein P0. Besides this, the expression levels of 18S rRNA were revealed to be highly variable between coronary heart disease patients. We thus recommend the use of beta-glucuronidase and hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase as reference genes for accurate normalization of relative quantities of gene expression levels in coronary artery disease patients using qPCR. Also the use of 18S rRNA as a control gene should be avoided.

Study of transforming growth factor alpha for the maintenance of human embryonic stem cells.

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have great potential for regenerative medicine as they have self-regenerative and pluripotent properties. Feeder cells or their conditioned medium are required for the maintenance of hESC in the undifferentiated state. Feeder cells have been postulated to produce growth factors and extracellular molecules for maintaining hESC in culture. The present study has aimed at identifying these molecules. The gene expression of supportive feeder cells, namely human foreskin fibroblast (hFF-1) and non-supportive human lung fibroblast (WI-38) was analyzed by microarray and 445 genes were found to be differentially expressed. Gene ontology analysis showed that 20.9% and 15.5% of the products of these genes belonged to the extracellular region and regulation of transcription activity, respectively. After validation of selected differentially expressed genes in both human and mouse feeder cells, transforming growth factor α (TGFα) was chosen for functional study. The results demonstrated that knockdown or protein neutralization of TGFα in hFF-1 led to increased expression of early differentiation markers and lower attachment rates of hESC. More importantly, TGFα maintained pluripotent gene expression levels, attachment rates and pluripotency by the in vitro differentiation of H9 under non-supportive conditions. TGFα treatment activated the p44/42 MAPK pathway but not the PI3K/Akt pathway. In addition, TGFα treatment increased the expression of pluripotent markers, NANOG and SSEA-3 but had no effects on the proliferation of hESCs. This study of the functional role of TGFα provides insights for the development of clinical grade hESCs for therapeutic applications.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenator support for cardiopulmonary failure. Experience in 28 cases.

We have used extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for 28 patients (14 children and 14 adults) over a 5 year period. Nine patients improved on ECMO and 5 were long-term survivors. ECMO was used for pulmonary insufficiency in 24 patients. Initially, only moribund patients were treated, but recently the combination of open lung biopsy and pulmonary insufficiency index (PII) has been used to select patients. The best results have been obtained in newborn cases and the adult capillary leak syndromes; the major problem has been progression to fibrosis despite ECMO support. ECMO was used for cardiac failure in 4 patients. Children with postoperative cardiac failure did the best; profound shock was not reversed with venoarterial bypass. ECMO support is lifesaving in selected cases of pulmonary insufficiency. Initial trials in cardiac failure and the infant age group in this series suggest that ECMO will have an even greater role in those applications.

Inhibition of androgen-sensitive LNCaP prostate cancer growth in vivo by melatonin: association of antiproliferative action of the pineal hormone with mt1 receptor protein expression.

BACKGROUND: Potential involvement of the mt1 receptor in the antiproliferative action of melatonin on androgen-sensitive LNCaP cells, and melatonin-induced modulation of androgen-insensitive PC-3 cell growth, have been reported in vitro. The effects of melatonin on prostate cancer cell proliferation and their association with mt1 receptor expression were investigated in athymic nude mice xenograft models of LNCaP and PC-3 cells. METHODS: Daily saline or melatonin (4 microg/g body weight) was given to nude mice before or after tumor cell inoculation. Tumor volume was measured periodically, and expression of PCNA, cyclin A, PSA, and mt1 receptor was assessed by immunohisto(cyto)chemistry and/or Western blotting. RESULTS: Melatonin inhibited the growth of LNCaP tumors, without affecting the growth of PC-3 xenografts, in nude mice. It induced significant decreases in the expression of PCNA, cyclin A, and PSA in LNCaP tumors. Expression of mt1 receptor protein was demonstrated in LNCaP cells, but not in PC-3 cells, both in vivo and in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: The antiproliferative action of melatonin on LNCaP tumor growth was demonstrated in vivo, and its association with mt1 receptor protein expression suggests the potential involvement of the receptor in the antitumor activity of the pineal gland hormone.

Hematologic responses to prolonged extracorporeal circulation (ECC) with microporous membrane devices.

Twenty-four to 48 hr veno-arterial bypass with microporous membrane oxygenators causes moderate progressive thrombocytopenia associated with decreased platelet function, no significant change in clotting factors, fibrinogen, or the fibrinolytic system, and minimal change in white blood count, differential, and plasma hemoglobin. These effects are identical to those seen in previous studies following the same protocol with solid silicone rubber membrane oxygenators. Microporous membrane is suitable for prolonged extracorporeal support systems. This study suggests that the deleterious effects of a direct blood gas interface are caused by continuous renewal of the surface rather than the nature of the interface itself.

Prolonged partial venoarterial bypass: physiologic, biochemical, and hematologic responses.

Prolonged veno arterial extracorporeal bypass (50-80% of cardiac output) was evaluated in normal, unanesthetized sheep. The evaluation protocol included serial measurements of hemodynamics, pulmonary and renal function, serum enzymes to detect organ damage, and detailed studies of coagulation and platelets. Blood exposure surfaces were primarily polyvinyl chloride and silicone rubber. Gas interfaces were carefully excluded with the exception of four experiments utilizing bubble oxygenators. Heparin dose was titrated to maintain activated clotting to two to three times baseline. Characteristics of 48 hour uncomplicated extracorporeal circulation in 8 sheep included normal hemodynamics, mild respiratory alkolosis negligable hemolysis, slight gradual increase in heart, liver, and muscle enzymes. The most significant changes occurred in coagulation and platelets characterized by an initial reduction in coagulation factors with a continued reduction in platelet count and return to normal clotting factors during extracorporeal circulation. This is followed by a two times normal increase in platelets and fibrinogen following extracorporeal circulation.

Biological basis and possible physiological implications of melatonin receptor-mediated signaling in the rat epididymis.

The mammalian epididymis plays an important role in sperm maturation, an important process of male reproduction. Specific high-affinity 2-[(125)I]iodomelatonin binding sites, satisfying the pharmacokinetic properties of specific receptors, have been found in the rat corpus epididymis, suggesting a direct melatonin action on epididymal physiology. Subsequent molecular and cell biology studies have identified these 2-[(125)I]iodomelatonin binding sites to be mt(1) (MEL(1A)) and MT(2) (MEL(1B)) melatonin receptor subtypes. Changes in the binding characteristics of these receptors in the rat corpus epididymis in response to castration and steroid hormones like testosterone and hydrocortisone indicated that these membrane melatonin receptors are biologically functional receptors, whose activities are differentially regulated by testosterone and hydrocortisone. These melatonin receptors are coupled to pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive G(i) protein and probably participate in androgenic and adrenergic regulation of rat corpus epididymal epithelial cell functions. Furthermore, rat corpus epididymal epithelial cell proliferation was stimulated by melatonin, whose action was dependent on the concentration and duration of exposure to the hormone. Interestingly, an MT(2) receptor ligand (4-phenyl-2-propionamidotetraline, 4-P-PDOT) induced a stimulatory effect on epididymal epithelial cell proliferation similar to that produced by melatonin. In contrast, a nuclear melatonin receptor agonist (1-[3-allyl-4-oxo-thiazolidine-2-ylidene]-4-methyl-thiosemi-car bazone , CGP52608) and 8-bromo-cAMP inhibited epididymal epithelial cell proliferation. Taken together, our data lead us to postulate that one of the possible physiological functions of melatonin on the rat epididymis is the stimulation of mt(1) and MT(2) melatonin receptors resulting in the inhibition of cAMP signaling and an increase in epithelial cell proliferation.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) cardiopulmonary support in infancy.

We have used prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the treatment of 13 moribund infants (including 9 neonates), with 4 survivors (3 neonates). Successfully treated cases include post-operative cardiac failure, infant respiratory distress syndrome, massive meconium aspiration, and persistent fetal circulation. All cases have been managed with veno-arterial bypass at flow rates of 80-100 cc/Kg/min. Carotid cannulation for arterial access and careful control of heparin anticoagulation based on whole blood activated clotting time are among the techniques which have contributed to this success. Progressive pulmonary or cardiac failure has been the major problem in older infants, intracranial bleeding is the major problem in neonates. Both of these problems could be minimized by instituting ECMO earlier in the clinical course, but this awaits development of reliable early predictors of mortality.

Synthetic, structural, electrochemical, and theoretical studies of heterometallic aggregates with a [Pt(2)(mu-S)(2)M] core (M = Hg, Au).

Novel electroactive multimetallic compounds based on the [Pt(2)(mu(2)-S)(2)M] core, viz. [Pt(2)(PPh(3))(4)(mu(3)-S)(2)HgFc]PF(6) (1) [Fc = (eta(5)-C(5)H(4))Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))] and [Pt(2)(PPh(3))(4)(mu(3)-S)(2)Hg(2)Fc'](PF(6))(2) (2) [Fc' = Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(4))(2)], have been synthesized under the guide of electrospray mass spectrometry. The electrochemistry of these ferrocene funtionalized compounds together with the reported [Pt(2)(PPh(3))(4)(mu(3)-S)(2)HgPPh(3)](PF(6))(2) (3), [Pt(2)(PPh(3))(4)(mu(2)-S)(mu(3)-S)HgPh]PF(6) (4), and [Pt(2)(PPh(3))(4)(mu(2)-S)(mu(3)-S)AuPPh(3)]PF(6) (5) have been investigated using cyclic voltammetry and DFT calculations. These results point to a prominent ligand-based oxidation.

Blood coagulation studies during six day heparinless venoarterial bypass in sheep.

Heparinless venoarterial bypass (HL-VAB) was carried out in 16 sheep for 6 days, by means of a closed circuit tubing coated with nonthrombogenic polyurethane-polyvinyl-graphite (PPG) and a roller pump. Nine experiments were completed uneventfully. Seven sheep died during bypass. The causes of death were pneumonia (2), caseous granulomatous lung abscess (3) or abdominal abscess (1), and thromboembolism (1). The last complication was caused by inadverten trauma to the PPG coating at the time of tubing connection. In the animals in which HL-VAB was uneventful, no significant changes were noted in the hematologic studies including white blood counts, platelet counts, hematocrit, plasma fibrinogen levels, prothrombin time, thrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, Factors V and VIII, and free plasma hemoglobin levels. Inconsistant changes in the above parmeters were noted in the animals which died of complications. In conclusion, prolonged HL-VAB has no adverse effects on blood coagulation mechanism.