Glycan structure and serum half-life of recombinant CTLA4Ig, an immunosuppressive agent, expressed in suspension-cultured rice cells with coexpression of human ß1,4-galactosyltransferase and human CTLA4Ig.

Human cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4-immunoglobulin (hCTLA4Ig) is an immunosuppressive therapeutic, and recently produced rice cell-derived hCTLA4Ig (hCTLA4Ig(P)) reportedly exhibits in vitro immunosuppressive activities equivalent to those of Chinese hamster ovary cell-derived hCTLA4Ig (hCTLA4Ig(M)). However, limitations of hCTLA4Ig(P) include shortened in vivo half-life as well as the presence of nonhuman N-glycans containing (ß1-2)-xylose and α1,3-fucose, which cause immunogenic reactions in humans. In the present study, human ß1,4-galactose-extended hCTLA4Ig(P) (hCTLA4Ig(P)-Gal) was expressed through the coexpression of human ß1,4-galactosyltransferase (hGalT) and hCTLA4Ig in an attempt to overcome these unfavorable effects. The results indicated that both encoding hGalT and hCTLA4Ig were successfully coexpressed, and the analysis of N-glycan and its relative abundance in purified hCTLA4Ig(P)-Gal indicated that not only were the two glycans containing (ß1-4)-galactose newly extended, but also glycans containing both ß1,2-xylose and α1,3-fucose were markedly reduced and high-mannose-type glycans were increased compared to those of hCTLA4Ig(P), respectively. Unlike hCTLA4Ig(P), hCTLA4Ig(P)-Gal was effective as an acceptor via (ß1-4)-galactose for in vitro sialylation. Additionally, the serum half-life of intravenously injected hCTLA4Ig(P)-Gal in Sprague-Dawley rats was 1.9 times longer than that of hCTLA4Ig(P), and the clearance pattern of hCTLA4Ig(P)-Gal was close to that for hCTLA4Ig(M). These results indicate that the coexpression with hGalT and hCTLA4Ig(P) is useful for both reducing glycan immunogens and increasing in vivo stability. This is the first report of hCTLA4Ig as an effective therapeutics candidate in glycoengineered rice cells.

Effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields on NGF induced neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells.

Extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) affect various cellular processes and systems, such as cell proliferation, differentiation and metabolic pathways. The present study investigated ELF-MFs effect on nerve growth factor (NGF) induced neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells using proteomic applications to understand its role in the enhancement of neuronal differentiation. After 50 Hz, 1 mT ELF-MFs 5-day exposure on NGF induced PC12 cells, it was observed to increase neurite length as well as an increase in the number of neurite bearing cells. It was also discovered that there was a decrease in proliferation activity, which is associated with an increase in differentiated cells. Neuronal differentiation related mRNA levels and protein levels were increased in NGF induced PC12 cells. Compared with NGF induced group, ELF-MFs stimulated PC12 cells had different protein expression as measured with two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) gels. Consequently six differentially expressed spots were detected between the 2-DE maps, which were identified by electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-Q-TOF LC/MS/MS) as: peripherin, neurosecretory protein nerve growth factor inducible (VGF8a) precursor, dnaK-type molecular chaperone sp72-ps1 (HSP72-psI), low molecular weight (Mr) phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase isoenzyme AcP1 (LMW-PTP/ACP1), Tubulin alpha-1A (TUBA1A) chain, outcome predictor in acute leukemia 1 homolog (OPA1L). The identification of these proteins provides clues to the mechanism of ELF-MFs stimulation on NGF induced PC12 cells that occur during neuronal differentiation and may contribute to the development novel treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

Proteomic profiling of brain cortex tissues in a Tau transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves regionalized neuronal death, synaptic loss, and an accumulation of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and extracellular senile plaques. Although there have been numerous studies on tau proteins and AD in various stages of neurodegenerative disease pathology, the relationship between tau and AD is not yet fully understood. A transgenic mouse model expressing neuron-specific enolase (NSE)-controlled human wild-type tau (NSE-htau23), which displays some of the typical Alzheimer-associated pathological features, was used to analyze the brain proteome associated with tau tangle deposition. Two-dimensional electrophoresis was performed to compare the cortex proteins of transgenic mice (6- and 12-month-old) with those of control mice. Differentially expressed spots in different stages of AD were identified with ESI-Q-TOF (electrospray ionization quadruple time-of-flight) mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Among the identified proteins, glutathione S-transferase P 1 (GSTP1) and carbonic anhydrase II (CAII) were down-regulated with the progression of AD, and secerin-1 (SCRN1) and V-type proton ATPase subunit E 1 (ATP6VE1) were up-regulated only in the early stages, and down-regulated in the later stages of AD. The proteins, which were further confirmed by RT-PCR at the mRNA level and with western blotting at the protein level, are expected to be good candidates as drug targets for AD. The study of up- and down-regulation of proteins during the progression of AD helps to explain the mechanisms associated with neuronal degeneration in AD.

Hydrogen peroxide as an effective disinfectant for Pasteurella multocida.

Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida) infections vary widely, from local infections resulting from animal bites and scratches to general infections. As of yet, no vaccine against P. multocida has been developed, and the most effective way to prevent pathogenic transmission is to clean the host environment using disinfectants. In this study, we identified which disinfectants most effectively inhibited environmental isolates of P. multocida. Three readily available disinfectants were compared: 3% hydrogen peroxide (HP), 70% isopropyl alcohol, and synthetic phenol. In suspension tests and zone inhibition tests, 3% HP was the most promising disinfectant against P. multocida.