Cav3.1-driven bursting firing in ventromedial hypothalamic neurons exerts dual control of anxiety-like behavior and energy expenditure.

The central nervous system has evolved to coordinate the regulation of both the behavior response to the external environment and homeostasis of energy expenditure. Recent studies have indicated the dorsomedial ventromedial hypothalamus (dmVMH) as an important hub that regulates both innate behavior and energy homeostasis for coping stress. However, how dmVMH neurons control neuronal firing pattern to regulate chronic stress-induced anxiety and energy expenditure remains poorly understood. Here, we found enhanced neuronal activity in VMH after chronic stress, which is mainly induced by increased proportion of burst firing neurons. This enhancement of VMH burst firing is predominantly mediated by Cav3.1 expression. Optogenetically evoked burst firing of dmVMH neurons induced anxiety-like behavior, shifted the respiratory exchange ratio toward fat oxidation, and decreased food intake, while knockdown of Cav3.1 in the dmVMH had the opposite effects, suggested that Cav 3.1 as a crucial regulator. Interestingly, we found that fluoxetine (anxiolytics) could block the increase of Cav3.1 expression to inhibit the burst firing, and then rescued the anxiety-like behaviors and energy expenditure changes. Collectively, our study first revealed an important role of Cav3.1-driven bursting firing of dmVMH neurons in the control of anxiety-like behavior and energy expenditure, and provided potential therapeutic targets for treating the chronic stress-induced emotional malfunction and metabolism disorders.

Potassium channel Kir 4.1 regulates oligodendrocyte differentiation via intracellular pH regulation.

In humans, loss-of-function mutations of Kcnj10 in SeSAME/EAST syndrome, which encodes the inwardly rectifying K+ channel 4.1 (Kir 4.1), causes progressive neurological decline. Despite its rich expression in oligodendrocyte (OL) lineage cells and an emerging link with demyelinating disease, the function of Kir 4.1 in OLs is unclear. Here we show a novel role of Kir 4.1 in OL development. Kir 4.1 expression is markedly greater in OLs than in OL precursor cells (OPCs), and the down-regulation of Kir 4.1 impairs OL maturation by affecting OPC differentiation. Interestingly, Kir 4.1 regulates the intracellular pH of OPCs and OLs via the Na+ /H+ exchanger, which underlies impeded OPC differentiation by Kir 4.1 inhibition. Furthermore, Kir 4.1 regulates GSK3ß and SOX10, two molecules critical to OPC development. Collectively, our work opens a new avenue to understanding the functions of Kir 4.1 and intracellular pH in OLs.

[Clinical investigation of refractory lymphoma with HLA-mismatched stem-cell microtransplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy and safety of HLA-mismatched stem-cell microtransplantation in patients with refractory lymphoma. METHODS: This study included 10 patients with relapsing or refractory lymphoma at Department of Hematology, Second Artillery General Hospital from October 2009 to February 2012. All patients received programmed infusions of G-CSF-mobilized HLA-mismatched donor peripheral blood stem cell (G-PBSC) after each cycle of Hyper-CVAD/MA conditioning without graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. RESULTS: A total of 31 cycles of microtransplantation were performed. Among them, 6 patients achieved a complete remission (CR) and 2 got partial remission (PR). And the overall response was 8/10. The occurrence of grades III-IV neutrocytopenia and thrombocytopenia was almost 100% after Hyper-CVAD/MA conditioning, but the median recovery times of neutrophils and platelets were 9 days and 14 days respectively because of programmed infusions of G-PBSCs. And 18 bouts of G-PBSC infusion related fever were observed. No GVHD was observed in any of them during treatment. Up to March 2013, 6 patients survived while another 4 died. The 1- and 3-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were the same (60%). CONCLUSION: The novel therapy of microtransplantation may improve outcome and avoid GVHD in patients with relapsing or refractory lymphoma.

[Clinical Analysis of 4 AML Patients Aged Over 80 Years Treated with Chemotherapy Combined with Haploidentical Hematopoietic Stem Cell Infusion].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of MA (mitoxantrone and cytarabine) regimen chemotherapy combined with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized family related HLA-haploidentical donor peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell (G-PBHSC) infusion for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients aged over 80 years. METHODS: Four elderly patients with AML were treated in Chinese Second Artillery General Hospital from August 2008 to September 2013. The proportion of male to female was 1 : 3 and the median age 83 (80-85) years. All patients received programmed infusions of G-PBHSC after MA regimen chemotherapy without graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. After complete remission (CR), patients only received G-PBHSC infusion without chemotherapy. RESULTS: Three cases achieved CR and their disease free survival (DFS) time was 18, 8, 6 months, respectively. 1 case did not reach remission after 2 cycles chemotherapy. The median overall survival (OS) time was 10 (3-20) months. No GVHD was observed in any of the patients during treatment. Concludsion: The combination of chemotherapy and programmed haploidentical G-PBHSC infusion is an alternative approach for AML patients aged over 80 years.

Effects of metabolic uncouplers on excess sludge reduction and microbial products of activated sludge.

The present study investigated the influences of three metabolic uncouplers (pCP, oCP and oNP) on excess activated sludge reduction and microbial products of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and intracellular storage product (polyhydroxybutyrate, PHB) in short-term tests. Results showed sludge was reduced 58.2%, 59.8% and 80.8%, respectively, at pCP, oCP and oNP concentrations of 20mg/L. The dosage of three uncouplers had no obviously influences on COD removal and sludge settleability, but had significant inhibition effect on ammonia removal, especially for oNP. Low concentration of pCP and oNP (5mg/L) dosing resulted in protein and polysaccharide content increased in EPS, however, they were decreased at high pCP and oNP concentrations (>5mg/L). To oCP, the protein content in EPS was increased linearly with oCP concentration. Furthermore, metabolic uncouplers addition stimulated the production of PHB. Among three uncouplers, oCP could be an alternative uncoupler for sludge reduction in activated sludge process.

[Clinical analysis of lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia treated with Hyper-CVAD/MA regimen chemotherapy combined with haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell infusion].

This study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of Hyper-CVAD/MA regimen chemotherapy combined with haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell infusion for the treatment of lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia (LBL/ALL). Seven patients with LBL/ALL were treated in Second Artillery General Hospital from August 2009 to September 2012. All patients received programmed infusions of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized family related HLA-haploidentical donor peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell (G-PBHSC) after each of cycle of Hyper-CVAD/MA regimen chemotherapy without graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. A total of four cycles of therapy were planned. The interval between each cycle of treatment was 8 to 12 weeks. By April 2014, the median follow-up time was 41 (20-57) months. The results showed that the 7 patients totally received 30 cycles of treatment, and all patients achieved complete remission (CR). The patients were generally well-tolerated to therapy, and the most significant toxicities of grade 3 to 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia developed in nearly all of the patients after each course of the Hyper-CVAD/MA regimen. No GVHD was observed in any of the patients during treatment. Up to now, 5 patients were still alive, 2 patients were died of relapse. It is concluded that the combination of chemotherapy and programmed haploidentical G-PBHSC infusion is a promising approach to the treatment of LBL/ALL.

[Prophylactic G-CSF mobilized donor lymphocytes infusion after non-myeloablative stem cell transplantation prevents relapse in patients with high-risk leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti-leukemia effects of prophylactic G-CSF mobilized donor lymphocytes infusion (pG-DLI) and its relationship with the incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in high-risk leukemia patients with non-myeloablative stem cell transplantation (NST). METHODS: 12 patients with high-risk leukemia were analyzed, including Ph⁺ acute lymphocytic leukemia (n=1), acute leukemia (AL) with persistent non-complete remission (n=2), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with central nervous system (CNS) relapse (n=3), hybrid AL (n=1), secondary AML evolving from myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS/AML) (n=2), chronic myeloid leukemia in accelerated phase (CML-AP) (n=1), CML in blastic phase (CML-BP) (n=2). All patients received non-myeloablative conditioning and pG-DLIs were administered 30-40 days post transplantation if no signs of GVHD were present. The percentage of donor cell chimera was analyzed by short tandem repeat-polymerase chain reaction (STR-PCR) just before and after pG-DLI. The incidence of leukemia relapse and GVHD were observed. RESULTS: 12 high-risk leukemia patients with a median age of 38 (range: 29-52) years received G-DLI at a median interval of 35 (32-40) days. The median numbers of infused mononuclear cells (MNCs), CD34⁺, and CD3⁺ cells/kg recipient body weight was 2.3×108/kg, 1.7×106/kg, and 0.6×108/kg, respectively. 10 of 12 patients had full donor chimera before pG-DLIs and conversion from mixed to full donor chimera occurred in the other 2 patients shortly after pG-DLI. Grade II acute GVHD (aGVHD) was observed in only 2 patients and chronic GVHD (cGVHD) developed in 6 patients, including involvement of skin (n=3), skin and intestine (n=2), liver (n=1). 1 patient died of cGVHD. With a median follow-up of 40 (24-64) months, 7 patients are alive in remission, with 3-year actuarial overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates of the same 58.3%. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that pG-DLI after NST does not increase the risk of aGVHD, but could enhance the capacity graft-vs-leukemia and prevent relapse in high-risk leukemia patients.

[Construction and characterization of soluble HLA-A*0201-PR1 complex].

This study was aimed to construct the soluble HLA-A*0201-PR1 complex for preparation of HLA-A*0201-PR1 tetramer. The recombinant HLA-A*0201-BSP (BirA substrate peptide) fusion protein as heavy chain and beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2) m) as light chain were expressed highly as insoluble aggregates in Escherichia coli and then purified with gel filtration, and the final purity reached above 90%. The two subunits were refolded to form an HLA-A*0201-peptide complex by dilution method in the presence of an antigenic peptide PR1, a HLA-A2-restricted peptide from proteinase 3 (aa 169 - 177, VLQELNVTV). Refolded HLA-A*0201-PR1 complex was biotinylated using a BirA enzyme and purified by anion exchange chromatography on a Q-Sepharose (fast flow) column. The extent of reconstitution of the HLA-A*0201-PR1 complex was analyzed by HPLC gel filtration. The refolded and biotinylated products were detected by Western blot and ELISA with monoclonal antibody BB7.2 that recognized the natural conformations of HLA-A2 and streptavidin. The results showed that the refolded complex was composed of HLA-A*0201-BSP aggregate, HLA-A*0201-PR1 complex and beta(2) m, and reconstitution yields of 18% with PR1 was obtained. Refolded HLA-A*0201-PR1 complex could be confirmed by practical immunological method and biotinylated efficiently. It is concluded that the refolding and biotinylation of HLA-A*0201-PR1 complex is successfully obtained. This work provides the basis for the preparation of HLA-A*0201-PR1 tetramer.