Old-growth Acer macrophyllum trees host a unique suite of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and other root-associated fungal taxa in their canopy soil environment.

Canopy soils occur on tree branches throughout the temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest Coast and are recognized as a defining characteristic of these ecosystems. Certain tree species extend adventitious roots into these canopy soil environments. Yet, research on adventitious root-associated fungi remains limited. Our study used microscopy to compare fungal colonization intensity between canopy and forest floor roots of old-growth bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) trees. Subsequently, two high-throughput sequencing platforms were used to explore the spatial and seasonal variation of root-associated fungi between the two soil environments over one year. We found that canopy and forest floor roots had similar colonization intensity and were associating with a diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and other potential symbionts, many of which were resolved to species level. Soil environment and seasonality affected root-associated fungal community composition, and several fungal species were indicative of the canopy soil environment. In Washington State's (USA) temperate old-growth rainforests, these canopy soil environments host a unique suite of root-associated fungi. The presence of arbuscular mycorrhizae provides further evidence that adventitious roots form fungal associations to exploit canopy soils for resources, and there may be novel relationships forming with other fungi. These soils may be providing a redundancy compartment (i.e., "nutrient reserve"), imparting a resiliency to disturbances for certain old-growth trees.

ACU193, a Monoclonal Antibody that Selectively Binds Soluble Aß Oligomers: Development Rationale, Phase 1 Trial Design, and Clinical Development Plan.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease is a large and growing unmet medical need. Clinical trial designs need to assess disease-related outcomes earlier to accelerate the development of better treatments for Alzheimer's disease. ACU193 is a monoclonal antibody that selectively targets amyloid ß oligomers, thought to be the most toxic species of Aß that accumulates early in AD and contributes to downstream pathological effects. Nonclinical data indicate that ACU193 can reduce the toxic effects of amyloid ß oligomers. ACU193 is currently being investigated in a phase 1 clinical trial designed with the properties described in this report. This phase 1 trial is designed to provide data to enable a go/no-go decision regarding the initiation of a subsequent phase 2/3 study. OBJECTIVES: To design a phase 1 study that assesses target engagement and incorporates novel measures to support more rapid development of a potential disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer's disease. DESIGN: The INTERCEPT-AD trial for ACU193 is an ongoing randomized, placebo-controlled phase 1a/b study that assesses safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, target engagement, clinical measures, and several Alzheimer's disease biomarkers, including novel digital and imaging biomarkers. SETTING: For INTERCEPT-AD, brief inpatient stays for patients in the single ascending dose portion of the study, with the remainder of the evaluations being performed as outpatients at multiple clinical trial sites in the U.S. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with early Alzheimer's disease (mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia with a positive florbetapir positron emission tomography scan). INTERVENTION: ACU193 administered intravenously at doses of 2- 60 mg/kg. MEASUREMENTS: Safety assessments including magnetic resonance imaging for the presence of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities, clinical assessments for Alzheimer's disease including the Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale-cognition and Clinical Dementia Rating scale, pharmacokinetics, a measure of target engagement, and digital and imaging biomarkers, including a computerized cognitive test battery and a measure of cerebral blood flow using arterial spin labelling magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: A phase 1 study design was developed for ACU193 that allows collection of data that will enable a go/no-go decision for initiation of a subsequent adaptive phase 2/3 study. CONCLUSIONS: A phase 1a/b trial and an overall clinical development plan for an Alzheimer's disease treatment can be designed that maintains patient safety, allows informed decision-making, and achieves an accelerated timeline by using novel biomarkers and adaptive study designs.

NOL7 is a nucleolar candidate tumor suppressor gene in cervical cancer that modulates the angiogenic phenotype.

Cervical cancer is associated with human papilloma virus infection. However, this infection is insufficient to induce transformation and progression. Loss of heterozygosity analyses suggest the presence of a tumor suppressor gene (TSG) on chromosome 6p21.3-p25. Here we report the cloning NOL7, its mapping to chromosome band 6p23, and localization of the protein to the nucleolus. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis demonstrated an allelic loss of an NOL7 in cultured tumor cells and human tumor samples. Transfection of NOL7 into cervical carcinoma cells inhibited their growth in mouse xenografts, confirming its in vivo tumor suppressor activity. The induction of tumor dormancy correlated with an angiogenic switch caused by a decreased production of vascular endothelial growth factor and an increase in the production of the angiogenesis inhibitor thrombospondin-1. These data suggest that NOL7 may function as a TSG in part by modulating the expression of the angiogenic phenotype.

Cleavage of the MLL gene by activators of apoptosis is independent of topoisomerase II activity.

Exposure to topoisomerase II inhibitors is linked to the generation of leukemia involving translocations of the MLL gene, normally restricted to an 8.3 kbp tract, the breakpoint cluster region (BCR). Using an in vitro assay, apoptotic activators, including radiation and anti-CD95 antibody, trigger site-specific cleavage adjacent to exon 12 within the MLL BCR and promote translocation of the MLL gene in cells that can survive. To explore the mechanism of cleavage and rearrangement in more detail, the entire MLL BCR was placed into the pREP4 episomal vector and transfected into human lymphoblastoid TK6 cells. Episomes containing either the MLL BCR, or deletion constructs of 367 bp or larger, were cleaved at the same position as genomic MLL after exposure to apoptotic stimuli. Further analysis of sequence motifs surrounding the cleaved region of MLL showed the presence of both a predicted nuclear matrix attachment sequence and a potential strong binding site for topoisomerase II, flanking the site of cleavage. Inactivation of topoisomerase II by the catalytic inhibitor merbarone did not inhibit MLL cleavage, suggesting that the initial cleavage step for MLL rearrangement is not mediated by topoisomerase II.

Effects of intra-striatal GDNF on motor coordination and striatal electrophysiology in aged F344 rats.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether improvement in motor function could be demonstrated in old rats, and to see if GDNF affected post-synaptic DA function. Aged (20 month old) versus young rats were tested following GDNF treatment for postural control by using an inclined balance beam and a wire grip strength test. Rats were also examined electrophysiologically for spontaneous striatal cell firing rate alone and in the presence of DA receptor agonists, and histologically for the intensity of striatal TH staining, and number of DA containing nigral cells. Behavior was significantly improved in the aged animals who received central GDNF infusions, although the extent of improvement was less than what has been observed in 16-month-old rats. There was no effect of GDNF treatment in the aged animals on spontaneous firing rate in the striatum, or on the post synaptic response to locally applied D(1) and D(2) receptor family agonists. However, there was an effect of age alone on firing rate, and on the response to locally applied SKF 38393 and quinpirole. By using unbiased cell counting we observed no age-related decline in the number of TH positive cells in the substantia nigra. There was no effect of GDNF on the number of TH positive cells in the substantia nigra in either young or aged rats, although there were morphological improvements in DA neurons of the GDNF treated aged rats. These results replicate earlier studies showing an effect of age on striatal firing rate and dopamine receptor function, and suggest that the GDNF mediated improvement in behavior may be located other than post synaptically within the striatum.

Rewarding properties of beta-endorphin as measured by conditioned place preference.

The role of beta-endorphin as a possible mediator in the reinforcing properties of opiates was investigated using a conditioned place preference paradigm. Heroin, a synthetic opiate known to have reinforcing properties, produced a strong preference for an environment previously paired with heroin injection at all doses tested (0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mg/kg SC). No such place preference was observed following saline injections. Rats also showed dose-dependent place preference for the environment paired with beta-endorphin when injected intracerebroventricularly (significant dose was 2.5 micrograms). At higher doses (5.0 and 10.0 micrograms) rats showed no preference for the paired environment, but were catatonic. Pretreatment with naloxone (0.04, 0.2, 1.0 mg/kg SC) attenuated the rewarding effect of beta-endorphin (2.5 micrograms) at all doses tested. The lowest dose of naloxone which had no aversive effect when tested alone could also significantly block the positive effect of beta-endorphin. The reinforcing dose of beta-endorphin (2.5 micrograms) also produced an increase in locomotor activity, when tested in photocell cages. This suggests that the hyperactivity induced by beta-endorphin may contribute to the preference for an environment previously paired with the same drug. The reinforcing effect of beta-endorphin is most probably mediated by the mu and/or delta opioid subtype receptor, since beta-endorphin has a high affinity for these receptors. These results demonstrate positive reinforcing properties of beta-endorphin in the central nervous system.

Effects of ethanol and nomifensine on NE clearance in the cerebellum of young and aged Fischer 344 rats.

Rapid chronoamperometric recordings coupled with local application of drugs by pressure ejection were used to investigate the effects of nomifensine and ethanol (EtOH) on exogenous norepinephrine (NE) clearance in the cerebellum of young (5-month-old) and aged (24-26-month-old) male Fischer 344 rats. In the young rats, local nomifensine application prolonged exogenous NE clearance, indicating transporter mediated uptake inhibition. NE clearance was modestly but significantly prolonged in the aged rats as compared to the young rats, suggesting less efficient uptake. Consistent with this, there was little effect of nomifensine on NE clearance in the aged rats. In contrast to the effect of nomifensine, EtOH inhibited NE clearance in both young and aged rats. These data further support the hypothesis that one effect of EtOH in cerebellar NE systems is inhibition of NE uptake into NE-containing nerve terminals, and they also demonstrate that the effect of nomifensine on exogenous NE clearance in vivo in the cerebellum is altered by the aging process, while the effect of EtOH is not.

Caloric restriction enhances evoked DA overflow in striatum and nucleus accumbens of aged Fischer 344 rats.

Previous studies have shown deficits in DA neuronal systems in senescence. Other studies indicate that prolonged dietary restriction can attenuate many of the detrimental effects of age. We have shown previously using in vivo electrochemistry that K+-evoked striatal DA overflow decreases as a function of age. This was a regional effect that appeared to be due to functional changes in DA neurons, rather than a decrease in the storage and synthesis of DA. In the present studies, we used in vivo electrochemistry to investigate the effects of caloric restriction on age related decreases in K+-evoked DA overflow along a dorsal to ventral axis in the striatum of aged female Fischer 344 rats. Aged (26-28-month-old) diet restricted animals (DRF) showed evoked DA overflow that was significantly greater in amplitude and duration compared to aged (26-28-month-old) ad lib fed animals (ALF). These results provide additional evidence that decreased DA neuronal function resulting from age is improved by caloric restriction.

Hormone-mediated oviductal influence on mouse embryo development.

This study presents evidence that estradiol, mediated through oviduct fluid, may adversely affect the development of early embryos. Two-cell mouse embryos were cultured in Whitten-Biggers medium with or without 0.2 to 20 microgram/ml of estradiol or progesterone or in mouse oviduct fluid from donors treated with estradiol or estradiol and progesterone. Embryos cultured in fluid from estrogen-dominated donors were significantly less able to develop to morula (65%) or blastocyst (14%) than were those cultured in either Whitten-Biggers medium (91% and 41%) or progesterone-dominated fluid (87% and 36%). Transfer of cultured morulae and blastocysts to uteri of pseudopregnant recipients resulted in 2/3, 4/6, and 0/7 recipients' becoming pregnant for control, progesterone-dominated, and estrogen-dominated, respectively. When estradiol or progesterone was added directly to the control medium, no inhibitory effects were observed at levels higher than those found physiologically in plasma. Protein concentration and osmolalities for representative samples of oviduct fluid were 5.2 mg/ml and 329 mOsM for estrogen-dominated fluid and 1.6 mg/ml and 339 mOsM for progesterone-dominated fluid.

Repeated intravenous cocaine administration to rats produces behavioral sensitization without changing brain cocaine levels.

Repeated intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of cocaine to rats results in behavioral sensitization. However, augmented brain cocaine levels are also produced by this treatment. In the present study, a 43% increase in cocaine levels was observed in striatum in response to eight once-daily i.p. injections of cocaine (10 mg/kg). It has been suggested that this dispositional change does not occur with intravenous (i.v.) cocaine administration. In agreement with this suggestion, the striatal cocaine levels observed following either a single i.v. injection or eight once-daily i.v. injections of cocaine (1 mg/kg) were similar. Nonetheless, the rats became behaviorally sensitized in response to the repeated i.v. cocaine administration. These results suggest that the increased brain levels of cocaine observed following repeated i.p. cocaine administration cannot completely account for behavioral sensitization.

Stimulus generalization from cocaine to analogs with high in vitro affinity for dopamine uptake sites.

Previous research has shown that phenyltropane derivatives of cocaine are very potent ligands for dopamine transporters in in vitro binding and uptake, and in in vivo binding assays. In the present study, these analogs were tested for their ability to substitute for cocaine in rats trained to discriminate cocaine from saline. Results indicate that these compounds are from 6-13 times more potent than cocaine in producing cocaine-appropriate responding. This provides further evidence in support of the importance of dopamine uptake inhibition for the behavioral effects of cocaine, and suggests utility of these compounds in understanding cocaine abuse.

Localization of brainstem sites which mediate alfentanil-induced muscle rigidity in the rat.

Previous work has demonstrated that direct injections of methylnaloxonium (MN), a relatively lipophobic quaternary opiate antagonist, in the area of the nucleus raphe pontis (RPn) significantly attenuated alfentanil-induced rigidity. It was hypothesized that other hindbrain sites, particularly the other raphe nuclei, might play a role in this rigidity. Therefore, a study was performed in which 57 rats, divided into four groups, were implanted with chronic guide cannulae directed at brain sites anterior, lateral, or posterior to the RPn. After each animal was pretreated with intracerebral injections of MN, alfentanil (0.5 mg/kg) was administered subcutaneously. Electromyographic activity was recorded from the gastrocnemius muscle as a measure of hindlimb rigidity. Each animal was subsequently injected at 4 to 5 day intervals with MN two additional times at sites 1 and 2 mm deeper, respectively, than the initial injection. Data were thus obtained on animals treated with either MN or saline at 3 successive histologically identified sites which were either anterior, lateral or posterior to the RPn. The administration of MN into two specific sites in the region just lateral to the nucleus raphe pontis significantly [F(1,38) = 18.68 and 5.02 respectively, p less than 0.05] reversed the rigidity produced by systemic alfentanil administration. There was a weak effect of MN injections anterior to the RPn but this could not be localized to any one site. These results suggest that discrete brainstem regions involved in opiate action can be sensitively and selectively identified by direct intracranial injections of a lipophobic opiate antagonist.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of ethanol on striatal dopamine overflow and clearance: an in vivo electrochemical study.

Previous studies have shown that the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) is implicated in the reinforcing effects of ethanol and other abused drugs. Ethanol also alters DA overflow and uptake in vivo. Further studies of the role of DA in the behavioral and neurochemical effects of ethanol may help explain the pharmacological mechanisms by which these effects are produced. In these studies we used in vivo electrochemical recordings to investigate the effects of ethanol (EtOH) on the dynamics of evoked DA overflow and DA uptake in rat dorsal striatum. Local applications of EtOH from a multibarrel micropipette did not produce detectable changes in extracellular levels of endogenous DA in the dorsal striatum. EtOH application did attenuate potassium (K+)-evoked overflow of DA in a time-dependent fashion. In contrast, tyramine-induced DA overflow, a calcium-independent process thought to be carrier mediated, was not altered by local EtOH application in the dorsal striatum. Striatal uptake of locally applied exogenous DA was decreased by nomifensine, an effect that was attenuated by locally applied EtOH. Taken together, these data suggest that one of the effects of EtOH on DA-containing nerve endings in the rat striatum involves functional changes in the high-affinity DA transporter associated with these nerve endings.

In vitro antibacterial activities of three plants used in traditional medicine in Sierra Leone.

The antibacterial activities of the methanol and hot and cold aqueous extracts of the leaves of Aspilia africana, Ficus exasperata and Mareya micrantha were bioassayed against three Gram-negative and three Gram-positive bacterial species: Aerobacter aerogenes, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Bacillus subtilis, Clostridium sporogenes, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The methanol and aqueous extracts of the leaves of Aspilia africana and Mareya micrantha and the undiluted oil of M. micrantha exhibited differential antibacterial activities on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial species at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 g/ml. Extracts of Ficus exasperata leaves were inactive at all concentrations tested.

Does proximity to mature trees influence ectomycorrhizal fungus communities of Douglas-fir seedlings?

The influence of mature trees on colonization of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) seedlings by ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) is not well understood. Here, the EMF communities of seedlings planted near and far from trees are compared with each other, with EMF of seedlings potted in field soils and with EMF of mature trees. Seedlings were planted within 6 m, or beyond 16 m, from residual Douglas-fir trees in recently harvested green-tree retention units in Washington State, USA, or potted in soils gathered from near each residual tree. Mature tree roots were sampled by partly excavating the root system. The EMF communities were assessed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequence analysis of ribosomal RNA genes. Seedlings near trees had higher species richness and diversity of EMF communities compared with seedlings far from trees. The EMF communities of seedlings near trees were more similar to those of mature trees, while seedlings far from trees were more similar to glasshouse seedlings. By enhancing the EMF diversity of seedlings, residual trees may maintain or accelerate the re-establishment of mycorrhizal communities associated with mature forests.

Breeding laboratory cats during artificially induced estrus.

Mature female cats of known reproductive history were randomly divided into groups for natural breeding or mating following hormonal induction of estrus. Treatment with a single injection of 100 international units of pregnant mares' serum followed in 7 days by 50 international units of human chorionic gonadotropin produced results comparable to natural breeding. Daily injections of pregnant mares' serum (300-500 international units total) resulted in fewer successful pregnancies and adversely affected the ability of kittens to survive to weaning.

Toxic effects of the novel protein UpI from the sea anemone Urticina piscivora.

UpI is a basic protein, with molecular mass (approximately 28 kDa) and a pI > 9.4, isolated from the sea anemone Urticina piscivora. It is a potent cardiac stimulatory protein with the partial amino acid sequence D1ENEN5LYGPN10ENKAK15AKDLT20AGASY25LTKEA30GCTKL35QAGCT40MYQAY45N [1]. The toxic effects of UpI and the crude extract from which it was isolated have been investigated on three tumour cell lines: KB, L1210, and HEL 299 cells. UpI, however, was less potent on each cell line than the crude extract. Since previous experiments had shown extracts of U. piscivora to be haemolytic on erythrocytes of rat, guinea pig and dog, the haemolytic action of UpI was investigated. It was found to be a potent haemolysin on erythrocytes of rat, guinea pig, dog, pig and human, causing haemolysis on erythrocytes of each species tested at concentrations as low as 10(-10) M. Haemolysis was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by the phospholipid sphingomyelin but not cholesterol. Using scanning electron microscopy, it is now being shown that UpI produces significant structural damage to membranes of erythrocytes from rat and guinea pig. It proved to be a potent ichthyotoxin. These data suggest that sea anemone toxin not only possess different pharmacological activities but that UpI, one of the active constituents, could be responsible for the different pharmacological effects exhibited by the crude extract.