pubmed_id
stringlengths
39
43
abstract
stringlengths
3
18k
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16921380
1. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2006 Sep;13(9):815-22. doi: 10.1038/nsmb1135. Epub 2006 Aug 20. Cotranscriptional coupling of splicing factor recruitment and precursor messenger RNA splicing in mammalian cells. Listerman I(1), Sapra AK, Neugebauer KM. Author information: (1)Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany. Coupling between transcription and RNA processing is a key gene regulatory mechanism. Here we use chromatin immunoprecipitation to detect transcription-dependent accumulation of the precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) splicing factors hnRNP A1, U2AF65 and U1 and U5 snRNPs on the intron-containing human FOS gene. These factors were poorly detected on intronless heat-shock and histone genes, a result that opposes direct recruitment by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) or the cap-binding complex in vivo. However, an observed RNA-dependent interaction between U2AF65 and active forms of Pol II may stabilize U2AF65 binding to intron-containing nascent RNA. We establish chromatin-RNA immunoprecipitation and show that FOS pre-mRNA is cotranscriptionally spliced. Notably, the topoisomerase I inhibitor camptothecin, which stalls elongating Pol II, increased cotranscriptional splicing factor accumulation and splicing in parallel. This provides direct evidence for a kinetic link between transcription, splicing factor recruitment and splicing catalysis. DOI: 10.1038/nsmb1135 PMID: 16921380 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19411283
1. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2009 Jul;297(1):H322-30. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.01337.2008. Epub 2009 May 1. Postmyocardial infarction remodeling and coronary reserve: effects of ivabradine and beta blockade therapy. Christensen LP(1), Zhang RL, Zheng W, Campanelli JJ, Dedkov EI, Weiss RM, Tomanek RJ. Author information: (1)Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Internal Medicine, and Cardiovascular Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. We compared the effects of heart rate reduction (HRR) by the hyperpolarization-activated pacemaker current (I(f)) channel inhibitor ivabradine (MI+Iva) and the beta(1)-blocker atenolol (MI+Aten) on ventricular remodeling and perfusion after myocardial infarction (MI) in middle-aged (12 mo) Sprague-Dawley rats. Mean HRR was virtually identical in the two treated groups (19%). Four weeks after coronary artery ligation, maximal myocardial perfusion fell in the MI group but was preserved in infarcted rats treated with either Iva or Aten. However, coronary reserve in the remodeled hearts was preserved only with Iva, since Aten treatment elevated baseline perfusion in response to a higher wall stress. The higher maximal perfusion noted in the two treated groups was not due to arteriogenesis or angiogenesis. Plasma levels of angiotensin (ANG) II and myocardial ANG type 1 (AT(1)) receptor and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 were reduced during the first week of treatment by both Iva and Aten. Moreover, treatment also reduced arteriolar perivascular collagen density. Despite these similar effects of Iva and Aten on vascularity and ANG II, Iva, but not Aten, attenuated the decline in ejection fraction and lowered left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume (LVEDV)-to-LV mass ratio, determined by echocardiography. In conclusion, 1) Iva has advantages over Aten in postinfarction therapy that are not due to differential effects of the drugs on heart rate, and 2) age limits growth factor upregulation, angiogenesis, and arteriogenesis in the postinfarcted heart. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.01337.2008 PMID: 19411283 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24971511
1. PLoS One. 2014 Jun 27;9(6):e100429. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0100429. eCollection 2014. Alu and LINE-1 hypomethylation is associated with HER2 enriched subtype of breast cancer. Park SY(1), Seo AN(2), Jung HY(2), Gwak JM(3), Jung N(4), Cho NY(4), Kang GH(5). Author information: (1)Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea; Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, Korea. (2)Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, Korea. (3)Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea. (4)Laboratory of Epigenetics, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea. (5)Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea; Laboratory of Epigenetics, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea. The changes in DNA methylation status in cancer cells are characterized by hypermethylation of promoter CpG islands and diffuse genomic hypomethylation. Alu and long interspersed nucleotide element-1 (LINE-1) are non-coding genomic repetitive sequences and methylation of these elements can be used as a surrogate marker for genome-wide methylation status. This study was designed to evaluate the changes of Alu and LINE-1 hypomethylation during breast cancer progression from normal to pre-invasive lesions and invasive breast cancer (IBC), and their relationship with characteristics of IBC. We analyzed the methylation status of Alu and LINE-1 in 145 cases of breast samples including normal breast tissue, atypical ductal hyperplasia/flat epithelial atypia (ADH/FEA), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and IBC, and another set of 129 cases of IBC by pyrosequencing. Alu methylation showed no significant changes during multistep progression of breast cancer, although it tended to decrease during the transition from DCIS to IBC. In contrast, LINE-1 methylation significantly decreased from normal to ADH/FEA, while it was similar in ADH/FEA, DCIS and IBC. In IBC, Alu hypomethylation correlated with negative estrogen receptor (ER) status, and LINE-1 hypomethylation was associated with negative ER status, ERBB2 (HER2) amplification and p53 overexpression. Alu and LINE-1 methylation status was significantly different between breast cancer subtypes, and the HER2 enriched subtype had lowest methylation levels. In survival analyses, low Alu methylation status tended to be associated with poor disease-free survival of the patients. Our findings suggest that LINE-1 hypomethylation is an early event and Alu hypomethylation is probably a late event during breast cancer progression, and prominent hypomethylation of Alu and LINE-1 in HER2 enriched subtype may be related to chromosomal instability of this specific subtype. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0100429 PMCID: PMC4074093 PMID: 24971511 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22479188
1. PLoS Genet. 2012;8(3):e1002530. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002530. Epub 2012 Mar 29. A quantitative, high-throughput reverse genetic screen reveals novel connections between Pre-mRNA splicing and 5' and 3' end transcript determinants. Albulescu LO(1), Sabet N, Gudipati M, Stepankiw N, Bergman ZJ, Huffaker TC, Pleiss JA. Author information: (1)Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America. Here we present the development and implementation of a genome-wide reverse genetic screen in the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, that couples high-throughput strain growth, robotic RNA isolation and cDNA synthesis, and quantitative PCR to allow for a robust determination of the level of nearly any cellular RNA in the background of ~5,500 different mutants. As an initial test of this approach, we sought to identify the full complement of factors that impact pre-mRNA splicing. Increasing lines of evidence suggest a relationship between pre-mRNA splicing and other cellular pathways including chromatin remodeling, transcription, and 3' end processing, yet in many cases the specific proteins responsible for functionally connecting these pathways remain unclear. Moreover, it is unclear whether all pathways that are coupled to splicing have been identified. As expected, our approach sensitively detects pre-mRNA accumulation in the vast majority of strains containing mutations in known splicing factors. Remarkably, however, several additional candidates were found to cause increases in pre-mRNA levels similar to that seen for canonical splicing mutants, none of which had previously been implicated in the splicing pathway. Instead, several of these factors have been previously implicated to play roles in chromatin remodeling, 3' end processing, and other novel categories. Further analysis of these factors using splicing-sensitive microarrays confirms that deletion of Bdf1, a factor that links transcription initiation and chromatin remodeling, leads to a global splicing defect, providing evidence for a novel connection between pre-mRNA splicing and this component of the SWR1 complex. By contrast, mutations in 3' end processing factors such as Cft2 and Yth1 also result in pre-mRNA splicing defects, although only for a subset of transcripts, suggesting that spliceosome assembly in S. cerevisiae may more closely resemble mammalian models of exon-definition. More broadly, our work demonstrates the capacity of this approach to identify novel regulators of various cellular RNAs. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002530 PMCID: PMC3315463 PMID: 22479188 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22551571
1. Rev Neurol (Paris). 2012 Dec;168(12):910-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neurol.2011.11.008. Epub 2012 Apr 30. Recommendations for the management of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy in 2011. Attarian S(1), Salort-Campana E, Nguyen K, Behin A, Andoni Urtizberea J. Author information: (1)Centre of Reference for neuromuscular diseases and ALS, University Teaching Hospital, CHU La Timone, 264 rue Saint-Pierre, Marseille, France. sattarian@ap-hm.fr Comment in Rev Neurol (Paris). 2012 Dec;168(12):901. doi: 10.1016/j.neurol.2012.10.002. Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a neuromuscular disease, characterized by an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance, facial involvement, and selectivity and asymmetry of muscle involvement. In general, FSHD typically presents before age 20 years. Usually, FSHD muscle involvement starts in the face and then progresses to the shoulder girdle, the humeral muscles and the abdominal muscles, and then the anterolateral compartment of the leg. Disease severity is highly variable and progression is very slow. About 20% of FSHD patients become wheelchair-bound. Lifespan is not shortened. The diagnosis of FSHD is based on a genetic test by which a deletion of 3.3kb DNA repeats (named D4Z4 and mapping to the subtelomeric region of chromosome 4q35) is identified. The progressive pattern of FSHD requires that the severity of symptoms as well as their physical, social and psychological impact be evaluated on a regular basis. A yearly assessment is recommended. Multidisciplinary management of FSHD--consisting of a combination of genetic counselling, functional assessment, an assessment by a physical therapist, prescription of symptomatic therapies and prevention of known complications of this disease--is required. Prescription of physical therapy sessions and orthopedic appliances are to be adapted to the patient's deficiencies and contractures. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2011.11.008 PMID: 22551571 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7739631
1. Muscle Nerve Suppl. 1995;2:S81-4. Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy in the Dutch population. Padberg GW(1), Frants RR, Brouwer OF, Wijmenga C, Bakker E, Sandkuijl LA. Author information: (1)Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Extrapolating the figures from a previous study on FSHD in a province of The Netherlands to the entire Dutch population suggests that at present a nearly complete overview is obtained of all symptomatic kindred. In 139 families, dominant inheritance was observed in 97, a pattern compatible with germline mosaicism in 6, while sporadic cases were found in 36 families. A mutation frequency of 9.6% was calculated. Mental retardation and severe retinal vasculopathy were reported in low frequencies (1%). Early onset was seen more frequently in sporadic cases. Chromosome 4 linkage appeared excluded in 3 of 22 autosomal-dominant families. The clinical pictures in the linked and nonlinked families were identical. PMID: 7739631 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22975042
1. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2013 Jan;1829(1):134-40. doi: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2012.08.005. Epub 2012 Sep 7. Transcriptional elongation and alternative splicing. Dujardin G(1), Lafaille C, Petrillo E, Buggiano V, Gómez Acuña LI, Fiszbein A, Godoy Herz MA, Nieto Moreno N, Muñoz MJ, Alló M, Schor IE, Kornblihtt AR. Author information: (1)Departamento de Fisiología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Alternative splicing has emerged as a key contributor to proteome diversity, highlighting the importance of understanding its regulation. In recent years it became apparent that splicing is predominantly cotranscriptional, allowing for crosstalk between these two nuclear processes. We discuss some of the links between transcription and splicing, with special emphasis on the role played by transcription elongation in the regulation of alternative splicing events and in particular the kinetic model of alternative splicing regulation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: RNA polymerase II Transcript Elongation. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2012.08.005 PMID: 22975042 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16172632
1. PLoS Comput Biol. 2005 Sep;1(4):e39. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.0010039. Epub 2005 Sep 16. Analysis of a splice array experiment elucidates roles of chromatin elongation factor Spt4-5 in splicing. Xiao Y(1), Yang YH, Burckin TA, Shiue L, Hartzog GA, Segal MR. Author information: (1)Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Center for Bioinformatics and Molecular Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America. Splicing is an important process for regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes, and it has important functional links to other steps of gene expression. Two examples of these linkages include Ceg1, a component of the mRNA capping enzyme, and the chromatin elongation factors Spt4-5, both of which have recently been shown to play a role in the normal splicing of several genes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Using a genomic approach to characterize the roles of Spt4-5 in splicing, we used splicing-sensitive DNA microarrays to identify specific sets of genes that are mis-spliced in ceg1, spt4, and spt5 mutants. In the context of a complex, nested, experimental design featuring 22 dye-swap array hybridizations, comprising both biological and technical replicates, we applied five appropriate statistical models for assessing differential expression between wild-type and the mutants. To refine selection of differential expression genes, we then used a robust model-synthesizing approach, Differential Expression via Distance Synthesis, to integrate all five models. The resultant list of differentially expressed genes was then further analyzed with regard to select attributes: we found that highly transcribed genes with long introns were most sensitive to spt mutations. QPCR confirmation of differential expression was established for the limited number of genes evaluated. In this paper, we showcase splicing array technology, as well as powerful, yet general, statistical methodology for assessing differential expression, in the context of a real, complex experimental design. Our results suggest that the Spt4-Spt5 complex may help coordinate splicing with transcription under conditions that present kinetic challenges to spliceosome assembly or function. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.0010039 PMCID: PMC1214541 PMID: 16172632 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Competing interests. The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15205169
1. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2004 Nov;287(5):H2216-25. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00137.2004. Epub 2004 Jun 17. Age-dependent biochemical and contractile properties in atrium of transgenic mice overexpressing junctin. Kirchhefer U(1), Baba HA, Hanske G, Jones LR, Kirchhof P, Schmitz W, Neumann J. Author information: (1)Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Domagkstrasse 12, 48149 Münster, Germany. kirchhef@uni-muenster.de Junctin is a transmembrane protein of the cardiac junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) that binds to the ryanodine receptor, calsequestrin, and triadin 1. This quaternary protein complex is thought to facilitate SR Ca2+ release. To improve our understanding of the contribution of junctin to the regulation of SR function, we examined the age-dependent effects of junctin overexpression in the atrium of 3-, 6-, and 18-wk-old transgenic mice. The ratio of atrial weight and body weight was unchanged between junctin-overexpressing (JCN) and wild-type (WT) mice at all ages investigated (n=6-8). The protein expression of triadin 1 was decreased starting in 3-wk-old JCN atria (by 69%), whereas the expression of the ryanodine receptor was diminished in 6- (by 48%) and 18-wk-old (by 57%) JCN atria compared with age-matched WT atria. Force of contraction was decreased by 35% in 18-wk-old JCN compared with age-matched WT left atrial muscle strips, which was accompanied by a prolonged time of relaxation (48.1 +/- 0.9 vs. 44.2 +/- 0.8 ms, respectively, n=6-8, P <0.05). The spontaneous beating rate of isolated right atria was higher in 18-wk-old JCN mice compared with age-matched WT mice (389 +/- 10 vs. 357 +/- 6 beats/min, respectively, n=6-8, P <0.05). Heart rate was lower by 9% in telemetric ECG recordings in 18-wk-old JCN mice during stress tests. Three-week-old JCN atria exhibited a higher potentiation of force of contraction at rest pauses of 30 s (by 13%) and of 300 s (by 35%), suggesting increased SR Ca2+ content. This was consistent with the higher force of contraction in 3-wk-old JCN atria (by 29%) compared with age-matched WT atria (by 10%) under the administration of caffeine. We conclude that in 3-wk-old atria, junctin overexpression was associated with a reduced expression of triadin 1 resulting in a higher SR Ca2+ load without changes in contractility or heart rate. In 6-wk-old JCN atria, the compensatory downregulation of the ryanodine receptor may offset the effects of junctin overexpression. Finally, the progressive decrease in ryanodine receptor density may contribute to the decreased atrial contractility and lower heart rate during stress in 18-wk-old JCN mice. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00137.2004 PMID: 15205169 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22025663
1. J Physiol. 2011 Dec 15;589(Pt 24):6063-80. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.215988. Epub 2011 Oct 24. Dual role of junctin in the regulation of ryanodine receptors and calcium release in cardiac ventricular myocytes. Altschafl BA(1), Arvanitis DA, Fuentes O, Yuan Q, Kranias EG, Valdivia HH. Author information: (1)Department of Physiology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI 53711, USA. Junctin, a 26 kDa intra-sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) protein, forms a quaternary complex with triadin, calsequestrin and the ryanodine receptor (RyR) at the junctional SR membrane. The physiological role for junctin in the luminal regulation of RyR Ca(2+) release remains unresolved, but it appears to be essential for proper cardiac function since ablation of junctin results in increased ventricular automaticity. Given that the junctin levels are severely reduced in human failing hearts, we performed an in-depth study of the mechanisms affecting intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis in junctin-deficient cardiomyocytes. In concurrence with sparks, JCN-KO cardiomyocytes display increased Ca(2+) transient amplitude, resulting from increased SR [Ca(2+)] ([Ca(2+)](SR)). Junctin ablation appears to affect how RyRs 'sense' SR Ca(2+) load, resulting in decreased diastolic SR Ca(2+) leak despite an elevated [Ca(2+)](SR). Surprisingly, the β-adrenergic enhancement of [Ca(2+)](SR) reverses the decrease in RyR activity and leads to spontaneous Ca(2+) release, evidenced by the development of spontaneous aftercontractions. Single channel recordings of RyRs from WT and JCN-KO cardiac SR indicate that the absence of junctin produces a dual effect on the normally linear response of RyRs to luminal [Ca(2+)]: at low luminal [Ca(2+)] (<1 mmol l(-1)), junctin-devoid RyR channels are less responsive to luminal [Ca(2+)]; conversely, high luminal [Ca(2+)] turns them hypersensitive to this form of channel modulation. Thus, junctin produces complex effects on Ca(2+) sparks, transients, and leak, but the luminal [Ca(2+)]-dependent dual response of junctin-devoid RyRs demonstrates that junctin normally acts as an activator of RyR channels at low luminal [Ca(2+)], and as an inhibitor at high luminal [Ca(2+)]. Because the crossover occurs at a [Ca(2+)](SR) that is close to that present in resting cells, it is possible that the activator-inhibitor role of junctin may be exerted under periods of prevalent parasympathetic and sympathetic activity, respectively. DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.215988 PMCID: PMC3286686 PMID: 22025663 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23394554
1. Curr Med Chem. 2013;20(14):1817-23. doi: 10.2174/0929867311320140002. Ivabradine: the hope for a good treatment of ischemic heart disease. Riccioni G(1). Author information: (1)Intensive Cardiology Care Unit, San Camillo de Lellis Hospital, Manfredonia, Foggia, Italy. griccioni@hotmail.com Chronic stable angina pectoris (CSAP) is the most common manifestation of coronary artery disease (CAD). Angina pectoris occurs as a result of an imbalance between myocardial perfusion and the demands of the myocardium. Elevated heart rate (HR) is an important pathophysiological variable that increases myocardial oxygen demand, and also limits tissue perfusion by reducing the duration of diastole during which most myocardial perfusion occurs. Elevated resting HR represents a significant predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the general population and patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) because it assists the progression of CVD through the development of atherosclerosis, plaque destabilization, and initiation of arrhythmias. Since β-blockers have been found to reduce HR, therefore, they are currently viewed as the first line therapy for CSAP and are associated with an improved prognosis after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or congestive heart failure (CHF). The classical treatments for HR reduction have shown negative aspects, such as β-blockers therapy which exerts negative effects on regional myocardial blood flow and function when HR reduction is eliminated by atrial pacing. Calcium channel antagonists functionally antagonize coronary vasoconstriction mediated through α-adrenoreceptors, and are thus devoid of this undesired effect, but the compounds are nevertheless negative inotrope. Ivabradine (IVA), a pure HR lowering drug, reduces the demand of myocardial oxygen during exercise, contributes to the restoration of oxygen balance and is therefore beneficial in chronic CVD. No relevant negative effects have been observed on cardiac conduction, contractility, relaxation, repolarization or blood pressure (BP). Beneficial effects of IVA have been noticed in CSAP and CHF, with optimal tolerability profile due to selective interaction with I(f) channel of sino atrial node cells. More recently, IVA has been highly recommended to be used in patients with CAD in association with β-blockers. This review highlights the importance of IVA in the treatment of ischemic heart disease. DOI: 10.2174/0929867311320140002 PMID: 23394554 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19248726
1. Ideggyogy Sz. 2009 Jan 30;62(1-2):41-7. Genetically determined neuromuscular disorders of some Roma families living in Hungary. Aranka L(1), Peter M, Jeno K, Katalin R, Gyula T, Emoke E, Agnes H, Tibor H, Laszlo T, Edit B, Marta K, Janos S, Veronika K. Author information: (1)University of Szeged, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical and Pharmaceutical Centre, Department of Paediatrics, Szeged. laszloar@pedia.szote.u-szeged.hu The authors discuss the clinical and molecular genetic aspects of genetically determined neuromuscular disorders of some Roma families living in Hungary. Among the autosomal recessively inherited spinal muscular atrophic (SMA) group, 8 Caucasian children had the typical 7-8 exonal deletions of the SMA gene, but only 2 patients belonged to the Roma population. There was no difference in the molecular genetic findings among the Caucasian and the Roma SMA patients. All of them had 7-8 exonal deletions of the SMA gene. We wanted to call attention to the founder mutation of the Roma population in 7 patients suffering from congenital myasthenia (CMS) from 3 Roma families. The 1267G deletion for CMS was detected by molecular genetic method. Clinical onset was pubertal and relatively slow progression of specific and phenotypic features for this founder mutation of acetyl-cholin receptor epsylon gene. In 2 patients (sister and brother) the sarcoglycanopathy 2C type C283Q mutation was proven in one Roma family suffering from limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD). Two out of the three facioscapular-humeral dystrophy (FSHD) Roma families carried 21.8 kb and 18.5 kb alleles in FSHD A1 gene (D4S139). In one family together with prenatal diagnosis founder mutation in FSHD A1 gene was detected, according to the autosomal dominant (AD) inheritance. In (F2) prenatal diagnosis was carried out, 18.5 kb/18.5 kb homozygosity was proven in the fetus, so the pregnancy was interrupted. In the CMS, LGMD and FSHD Roma patients ancient typical Roma founder mutations were found. PMID: 19248726 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20662462
1. Cas Lek Cesk. 2009;148(11):544-8. [Wilson's disease]. [Article in Czech] Brůha R(1), Marecek Z, Martásek P, Nevsímalová S, Petrtýl J, Urbánek P, Kalistová H, Pospísilová L. Author information: (1)Univerzita Karlova v Praze, 1. lékarská fakulta, IV. interní klinika VFN. bruha@cesnet.cz Wilson's disease is an inherited disorder leading to accumulation of copper in tissues, mainly in the liver and brain. Genetic defect is in the gene coding ATPase type P (ATP7B). The inheritance is autosomal recessive. Up to now, more then 500 mutations causing Wilson's disease were described. The most frequent mutation in Central Europe is mutation H1069Q. The manifestation of Wilson's disease is usually hepatic or neurologic. Hepatic form is manifested by acute or chronic hepatitis, steatosis or cirrhosis. Neurologic involvement is manifested usually after 20 year of age by motor disturbances (tremor, disturbed speech, problems with writing), which could progress into severe extrapyramidal syndrome with tremor, rigidity, dysartria, dysfagia and muscle contracture. Diagnosis is based on clinical and laboratory examinations (neurologic symptoms, liver disease, low serum ceruloplasmin levels, elevated free copper concentration in serum, high urine copper excretion, and presence of Kayser-Fleischer rings). Confirmation of diagnosis is done by hepatic copper concentration in liver biopsy or by genetic examination. Untreated disease leads to the death of a patient. Treatment is based on chelating agents decreasing the copper content by excretion into urine (D-penicillamine, trientine) or on agents preventing absorption of copper from food (zinc, ammonium-tetrahiomolybdene). Patients with asymptomatic Wilson's disease have to be treated as well. In Czech Republic either penicillamine or zinc are used. Liver transplantation is indicated in patients with fulminant liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis. Screening in families of affected patients (all siblings) is obvious. PMID: 20662462 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22298808
1. Circ Res. 2012 Mar 2;110(5):663-8. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.111.263939. Epub 2012 Jan 31. Viral gene transfer rescues arrhythmogenic phenotype and ultrastructural abnormalities in adult calsequestrin-null mice with inherited arrhythmias. Denegri M(1), Avelino-Cruz JE, Boncompagni S, De Simone SA, Auricchio A, Villani L, Volpe P, Protasi F, Napolitano C, Priori SG. Author information: (1)Molecular Cardiology, IRCCS Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, Pavia, Italy. RATIONALE: Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia is an inherited disease that predisposes to cardiac arrest and sudden death. The disease is associated with mutations in the genes encoding for the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) and cardiac calsequestrin (CASQ2). CASQ2 mutations lead to a major loss of CASQ2 monomers, possibly because of enhanced degradation of the mutant protein. The decrease of CASQ2 is associated with a reduction in the levels of Triadin (TrD) and Junctin (JnC), two proteins that form, with CASQ2 and RyR2, a macromolecular complex devoted to control of calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. OBJECTIVE: We intended to evaluate whether viral gene transfer of wild-type CASQ2 may rescue the broad spectrum of abnormalities caused by mutant CASQ2. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used an adeno-associated serotype 9 viral vector to express a green fluorescent protein-tagged CASQ2 construct. Twenty weeks after intraperitoneal injection of the vector in neonate CASQ2 KO mice, we observed normalization of the levels of calsequestrin, triadin, and junctin, rescue of electrophysiological and ultrastructural abnormalities caused by CASQ2 ablation, and lack of life-threatening arrhythmias. CONCLUSIONS: We have proven the concept that induction of CASQ2 expression in knockout mice reverts the molecular, structural, and electric abnormalities and prevents life-threatening arrhythmias in CASQ2-defective catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia mice. These data support the view that development of CASQ2 viral gene transfer could have clinical application. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.111.263939 PMID: 22298808 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15919200
1. Eur J Cancer. 2005 Jul;41(10):1467-73. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2005.03.021. Gefitinib-trastuzumab combination on hormone-refractory prostate cancer xenograft. Formento P(1), Hannoun-Levi JM, Gérard F, Mazeau C, Fischel JL, Etienne-Grimaldi MC, Gugenheim J, Milano G. Author information: (1)Oncopharmacology Unit, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France. New drugs and new combinations of drugs have recently shown promising clinical activity in hormone refractory prostate cancer. We studied the association of gefitinib with trastuzumab on the androgen-refractory prostate cancer cell line DU145 expressing both epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER-2. Drug combinations with radiotherapy (RT) were considered along with the analysis of factors linked to cell proliferation and apoptosis. The antitumour effects of gefitinib were more pronounced than those observed with trastuzumab. In mice receiving the gefitinib-trastuzumab combination, reduction in tumour volume was inferior to that predicted by the observed impact of the agents alone. The presence of trastuzumab markedly attenuated the relative increase on p27 expression and the Bax:Bcl2 ratio induced by gefitinib. The combination gefitinib-RT had similar antitumour effects as those predicted by the impact of the individual treatments, whereas the effect of the trastuzumab-RT combination was inferior to that predicted by the individual effects. The present data should be borne in mind when designing new clinical schedules for treatment of hormone-refractory prostate cancer including the use of HER inhibitors. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2005.03.021 PMID: 15919200 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17142577
1. J Clin Pathol. 2006 Dec;59(12):1327-30. doi: 10.1136/jcp.2005.035147. Adenoid cystic/basal cell carcinoma of the prostate strongly expresses HER-2/neu. Iczkowski KA(1), Montironi R. Author information: (1)Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Gainesville, Florida 32608-1197, USA. iczkoka@patholog.ufl.edu Adenoid cystic/basal cell carcinoma (ACBCC) is a rare neoplasm in the prostate. Definitive treatment is warranted, as among 19 patients previously reported by us, 5 had extraprostatic extension and 4 were metastatic. The HER-2/neu (c-erbB-2) gene has been reportedly overexpressed in adenoid cystic carcinomas in other organs, but its status in prostatic ACBCC was uncertain. Immunohistochemical staining and in situ hybridisation were carried out in 13 patients with ACBCC (11 from transurethral resection, 2 prostatectomy). One patient had metastasis to the lung. Citrate buffer and steam heat were used for antigen retrieval. Ten acinar adenocarcinomas of varying grades were also immunostained as controls. Protein and mRNA expression were 2+ to 3+ (of 3+) in all patients with ACBCC, compared to a breast cancer control with strong reactivity, whereas protein expression was noted in only one acinar carcinoma and mRNA expression was absent in all acinar carcinomas. Benign acini expressed HER-2/neu only in the basal layer. The finding of strong, consistent HER-2/neu expression in ACBCC suggests that treatment with Herceptin (trastuzumab) may be effective in patients with this rare tumour. DOI: 10.1136/jcp.2005.035147 PMCID: PMC1860524 PMID: 17142577 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Competing interests: None declared.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11069905
1. J Biol Chem. 2001 Feb 9;276(6):4142-9. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M006443200. Epub 2000 Nov 7. Cardiac hypertrophy and impaired relaxation in transgenic mice overexpressing triadin 1. Kirchhefer U(1), Neumann J, Baba HA, Begrow F, Kobayashi YM, Reinke U, Schmitz W, Jones LR. Author information: (1)Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Gerhard-Domagk-Institut für Pathologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, 48149 Münster, Germany. kirchhef@uni-muenster.de Triadin 1 is a major transmembrane protein in cardiac junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), which forms a quaternary complex with the ryanodine receptor (Ca(2+) release channel), junctin, and calsequestrin. To better understand the role of triadin 1 in excitation-contraction coupling in the heart, we generated transgenic mice with targeted overexpression of triadin 1 to mouse atrium and ventricle, employing the alpha-myosin heavy chain promoter to drive protein expression. The protein was overexpressed 5-fold in mouse ventricles, and overexpression was accompanied by cardiac hypertrophy. The levels of two other junctional SR proteins, the ryanodine receptor and junctin, were reduced by 55% and 73%, respectively, in association with triadin 1 overexpression, whereas the levels of calsequestrin, the Ca(2+)-binding protein of junctional SR, and of phospholamban and SERCA2a, Ca(2+)-handling proteins of the free SR, were unchanged. Cardiac myocytes from triadin 1-overexpressing mice exhibited depressed contractility; Ca(2+) transients decayed at a slower rate, and cell shortening and relengthening were diminished. The extent of depression of cell shortening of triadin 1-overexpressing cardiomyocytes was rate-dependent, being more depressed under low stimulation frequencies (0.5 Hz), but reaching comparable levels at higher frequencies of stimulation (5 Hz). Spontaneously beating, isolated work-performing heart preparations overexpressing triadin 1 also relaxed at a slower rate than control hearts, and failed to adapt to increased afterload appropriately. The fast time inactivation constant, tau(1), of the l-type Ca(2+) channel was prolonged in transgenic cardiomyocytes. Our results provide evidence for the coordinated regulation of junctional SR protein expression in heart independent of free SR protein expression, and furthermore suggest an important role for triadin 1 in regulating the contractile properties of the heart during excitation-contraction coupling. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M006443200 PMID: 11069905 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22946920
1. Bioanalysis. 2012 Aug;4(16):2049-58. doi: 10.4155/bio.12.162. Utilization of hydrophilic-interaction LC to minimize matrix effects caused by phospholipids. Tan B(1), Negahban A, McDonald T, Zhang Y, Holliman C. Author information: (1)Dynamics & Metabolism Department, Pfizer Global Research & Development, Groton, CT 06340, USA. beijing.tan@pfizer.com BACKGROUND: In bioanalysis, phospholipids may affect the precision and accuracy of LC-MS/MS methods and compromise the quality of the results, especially when samples in complex biomatrices are extracted by protein precipitation techniques. RESULTS: It was found that the retentive behavior of both common pharmaceuticals and physiologically relevant phospholipids under bare silica hydrophilic-interaction LC (HILIC) is more predictable than under reversed-phase conditions. In particular, the retention time of phospholipids was not significantly affected by varying the salt and acid modifiers in the mobile phases, but common pharmaceuticals can be shifted away from these phospholipid interferences through mobile phase modifiers. Several mass spectrometric techniques were applied to confirm this finding. CONCLUSION: HILIC chromatography is a valued tool in the development of robust bioanalytical assays with minimal and predictable phospholipid interferences. Furthermore, addition of a small amount of ion-pairing additives can reliably move pharmaceutical compounds away from these suppressive regions. DOI: 10.4155/bio.12.162 PMID: 22946920 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23073287
1. J Chromatogr A. 2012 Nov 16;1264:31-9. doi: 10.1016/j.chroma.2012.09.059. Epub 2012 Sep 26. Evaluation of hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) versus C₁₈ reversed-phase chromatography for targeted quantification of peptides by mass spectrometry. Simon R(1), Enjalbert Q, Biarc J, Lemoine J, Salvador A. Author information: (1)UMR 5280, Institut des Sciences Analytiques, Université de Lyon, Lyon 1, France. Hydrophilic-interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) is a widely used technique for small polar molecule analysis and offers the advantage of improved sensitivity in mass spectrometry. Although HILIC is today frequently employed as an orthogonal fractionation method for peptides during the proteomic discovery phase, it is still seldom considered for quantification. In this study, the performances in terms of peak capacity and sensitivity of 3 HILIC columns were compared to traditional reversed phase liquid C(18) column in the context of targeted quantification of proteotypic peptides using selected reaction monitoring mode (SRM). The results showed that the maximum sensitivity in HILIC chromatography was achieved by using an amide column without salt buffer and that the signal increased compared to classic reversed phase chromatography. However, the intensity improvement is quite low compared to the one obtained for small molecules. This is due on one hand to a higher matrix effect in HILIC and on the other hand to a change of charge states of peptides in organic solvent (doubly charged to monocharged). The doubly charged ions can be more readily dissociated than singly charged ions, making them ideal for SRM peptide quantification. As a result "supercharging" reagents are added to the mobile phase to shift from predominant singly charged ions to the more favorable doubly charged species. Using such optimized conditions, peptide signal is improved by a factor of between two and ten for 88% of the peptides of the 81 peptides investigated. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2012.09.059 PMID: 23073287 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18206802
1. Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2008 Jan;18(1):1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.tcm.2007.10.002. Regulatory roles of junctin in sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium cycling and myocardial function. Fan GC(1), Yuan Q, Kranias EG. Author information: (1)Department of Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0575, USA. Junctin (JCN), a 26-kd sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) transmembrane protein, forms a quaternary protein complex with the ryanodine receptor, calsequestrin, and triadin in the SR lumen of cardiac muscle. Within this complex, calsequestrin, triadin, and JCN appear to be critical for normal regulation of ryanodine receptor-mediated calcium (Ca) release. Junctin and triadin exhibit 60% to 70% amino acid homology in their transmembrane domains, including repeated KEKE motifs important for macromolecular protein-protein interactions within their SR luminal tails. Recent studies have uncovered functional roles of both JCN and triadin in the mouse heart, using transgenic overexpression strategies, which exhibit varying phenotypes including mild SR structural alterations, prolongation of Ca transient decay, impaired relaxation, and cardiac hypertrophy and/or heart failure. More specifically, both in vitro adenoviral gene transfer and in vivo gene-targeting techniques to manipulate JCN expression levels have shown that JCN is an essential factor in maintaining normal cardiac Ca handling and cardiac function. This article reviews the new findings on the regulatory roles of JCN in cardiac SR Ca cycling and contractility, with special emphasis on the effects of JCN ablation on delayed after depolarization-induced arrhythmias and premature mortality in mouse models. DOI: 10.1016/j.tcm.2007.10.002 PMCID: PMC2593792 PMID: 18206802 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14638677
1. J Biol Chem. 2004 Feb 20;279(8):6994-7000. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M312446200. Epub 2003 Nov 24. Negatively charged amino acids within the intraluminal loop of ryanodine receptor are involved in the interaction with triadin. Lee JM(1), Rho SH, Shin DW, Cho C, Park WJ, Eom SH, Ma J, Kim DH. Author information: (1)Department of Life Science, Kwangju Institute of Science & Technology, Gwangju, 500-712, Korea. In mammalian striated muscles, ryanodine receptor (RyR), triadin, junctin, and calsequestrin form a quaternary complex in the lumen of sarcoplasmic reticulum. Such intermolecular interactions contribute not only to the passive buffering of sarcoplasmic reticulum luminal Ca2+, but also to the active Ca2+ release process during excitation-contraction coupling. Here we tested the hypothesis that specific charged amino acids within the luminal portion of RyR mediate its direct interaction with triadin. Using in vitro binding assay and site-directed mutagenesis, we found that the second intraluminal loop of the skeletal muscle RyR1 (amino acids 4860-4917), but not the first intraluminal loop of RyR1 (amino acids 4581-4640) could bind triadin. Specifically, three negatively charged residues Asp4878, Asp4907, and Glu4908 appear to be critical for the association with triadin. Using deletional approaches, we showed that a KEKE motif of triadin (amino acids 200-232) is essential for the binding to RyR1. Because the second intraluminal loop of RyR has been previously shown to contain the ion-conducting pore as well as the selectivity filter of the Ca2+ release channel, and Asp4878, Asp4907, and Glu4908 residues are predicted to locate at the periphery of the pore assembly of the channel, our data suggest that a physical interaction between RyR1 and triadin could play an active role in the overall Ca2+ release process of excitation-contraction coupling in muscle cells. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M312446200 PMID: 14638677 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21238772
1. Talanta. 2011 Feb 15;83(5):1707-10. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2010.11.073. Epub 2010 Dec 4. Determination of uric acid and creatinine in human urine using hydrophilic interaction chromatography. Zuo Y(1), Yang Y, Zhu Z, He W, Aydin Z. Author information: (1)Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, MA 02747, USA. yzuo@umassd.edu Uric acid is the end-product of purine metabolism and a major antioxidant in humans. The concentrations of uric acid in plasma and urine are associated with various diseases and routinely measured in clinical and biomedical laboratories using enzymatic conversion and colorimetric measurement. In this study a hydrophilic interaction chromatographic (HILIC) method was developed for simultaneous determination of uric acid and creatinine, a biomarker of urine dilution and renal function, in human urine. Urine samples were pretreated by dilution, protein precipitation, centrifugation and filtration. Uric acid and creatinine were separated from other components in urine samples and quantified using HILIC chromatography. A linear relationship between the ratio of the peak area of the standards to that of the internal standard and the concentration of the standards was obtained for both uric acid and creatinine with the square of correlation coefficients >0.999 for both analytes. The detection limits were 0.04 μg/mL for creatinine and 0.06 μg/mL for uric acid. The described HILIC method has proved to be simple, accurate, robust and reliable. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2010.11.073 PMID: 21238772 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15731387
1. Biophys J. 2005 May;88(5):3444-54. doi: 10.1529/biophysj.104.051441. Epub 2005 Feb 24. Regulation of ryanodine receptors by calsequestrin: effect of high luminal Ca2+ and phosphorylation. Beard NA(1), Casarotto MG, Wei L, Varsányi M, Laver DR, Dulhunty AF. Author information: (1)John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. nicole.beard@anu.edu.au Calsequestrin, the major calcium sequestering protein in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of muscle, forms a quaternary complex with the ryanodine receptor calcium release channel and the intrinsic membrane proteins triadin and junctin. We have investigated the possibility that calsequestrin is a luminal calcium concentration sensor for the ryanodine receptor. We measured the luminal calcium concentration at which calsequestrin dissociates from the ryanodine receptor and the effect of calsequestrin on the response of the ryanodine receptor to changes in luminal calcium. We provide electrophysiological and biochemical evidence that: 1), luminal calcium concentration of >/=4 mM dissociates calsequestrin from junctional face membrane, whereas in the range of 1-3 mM calsequestrin remains attached; 2), the association with calsequestrin inhibits ryanodine receptor activity, but amplifies its response to changes in luminal calcium concentration; and 3), under physiological calcium conditions (1 mM), phosphorylation of calsequestrin does not alter its ability to inhibit native ryanodine receptor activity when the anchoring proteins triadin and junctin are present. These data suggest that the quaternary complex is intact in vivo, and provides further evidence that calsequestrin is involved in the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium signaling pathway and has a role as a luminal calcium sensor for the ryanodine receptor. DOI: 10.1529/biophysj.104.051441 PMCID: PMC1305491 PMID: 15731387 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18620751
1. Cell Calcium. 2009 Jan;45(1):29-37. doi: 10.1016/j.ceca.2008.05.006. Epub 2008 Jul 11. Altered stored calcium release in skeletal myotubes deficient of triadin and junctin. Wang Y(1), Li X, Duan H, Fulton TR, Eu JP, Meissner G. Author information: (1)Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7260, United States. Triadin and junctin are integral sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane proteins that form a macromolecular complex with the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor (RyR1) but their roles in skeletal muscle calcium homeostasis remain incompletely understood. Here we report that delivery of siRNAs specific for triadin or junctin into C2C12 skeletal myoblasts reduced the expression of triadin and junctin in 8-day-old myotubes by 80 and 100%, respectively. Knocking down either triadin or junctin in these cells reduced Ca2+ release induced by depolarization (10mM KCl) by 20-25%. Unlike triadin knockdown myotubes, junctin knockdown and junctin/triadin double knockdown myotubes also had reduced Ca2+ release induced by 400 microM 4-chloro-m-cresol, 10mM caffeine, 400 microM UTP, or 1 microM thapsigargin. Thus, knocking down junctin compromised the Ca2+ stores in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of these cells. Our subsequent studies showed that in junctin knockdown myotubes at least two sarcoplasmic reticulum proteins (RyR1 and skeletal muscle calsequestrin) were down-regulated while these proteins' mRNA expression was not affected. The results suggest that triadin has a role in facilitating KCl depolarization-induced Ca2+ release in contrast to junctin which has a role in maintaining sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ store size in C2C12 myotubes. DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2008.05.006 PMCID: PMC2626147 PMID: 18620751 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Conflicts of interest None.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23143600
1. Nat Genet. 2012 Dec;44(12):1370-4. doi: 10.1038/ng.2454. Epub 2012 Nov 11. Digenic inheritance of an SMCHD1 mutation and an FSHD-permissive D4Z4 allele causes facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 2. Lemmers RJ(1), Tawil R, Petek LM, Balog J, Block GJ, Santen GW, Amell AM, van der Vliet PJ, Almomani R, Straasheijm KR, Krom YD, Klooster R, Sun Y, den Dunnen JT, Helmer Q, Donlin-Smith CM, Padberg GW, van Engelen BG, de Greef JC, Aartsma-Rus AM, Frants RR, de Visser M, Desnuelle C, Sacconi S, Filippova GN, Bakker B, Bamshad MJ, Tapscott SJ, Miller DG, van der Maarel SM. Author information: (1)Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is characterized by chromatin relaxation of the D4Z4 macrosatellite array on chromosome 4 and expression of the D4Z4-encoded DUX4 gene in skeletal muscle. The more common form, autosomal dominant FSHD1, is caused by contraction of the D4Z4 array, whereas the genetic determinants and inheritance of D4Z4 array contraction-independent FSHD2 are unclear. Here, we show that mutations in SMCHD1 (encoding structural maintenance of chromosomes flexible hinge domain containing 1) on chromosome 18 reduce SMCHD1 protein levels and segregate with genome-wide D4Z4 CpG hypomethylation in human kindreds. FSHD2 occurs in individuals who inherited both the SMCHD1 mutation and a normal-sized D4Z4 array on a chromosome 4 haplotype permissive for DUX4 expression. Reducing SMCHD1 levels in skeletal muscle results in D4Z4 contraction-independent DUX4 expression. Our study identifies SMCHD1 as an epigenetic modifier of the D4Z4 metastable epiallele and as a causal genetic determinant of FSHD2 and possibly other human diseases subject to epigenetic regulation. DOI: 10.1038/ng.2454 PMCID: PMC3671095 PMID: 23143600 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1611701
1. Circ Shock. 1992 Mar;36(3):169-73. Cardiovascular mechanisms of thyrotropin-releasing hormone against experimental hemorrhagic shock. Zheng D(1), Chen HS, Hu DY. Author information: (1)Center of Traumatic Surgery, 43rd Hospital, Kunming Yunnan, People's Republic of China. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) improved mean arterial pressure (MAP) and myocardial contractility (dp/dtmax, -dp/dtmax, Vpm, and Vmax) and increased plasma epinephrine levels significantly at 10 min after TRH treatment in rabbits following shock, but the effects of TRH on MAP and myocardial contractility disappeared in reserpinized rabbits (4 mg/kg, 24 hr pre-treatment, iv). TRH had no effect on myocardial contractility and MAP at 20 and 30 min post-treatment in rabbits pre-treated with the beta adrenergic blocker propranolol (1 mg/kg, 1 hr before TRH treatment, iv), but the alpha adrenergic blocker phenoxybenzamine did not affect these responses to TRH. Experiments in vitro show that although TRH (10(-3) to 10(-8) M) had no direct effects on the isolated heart, left atrium, and aortic strip, it did potentiate the inotropic effects of isoprenaline and dopamine on the left atrium. These results suggest that the antishock effects of TRH are related to adrenergic systems, perhaps acting on the sympathomedullary system to secrete epinephrine and sensitize the beta receptors, but not alpha receptors. Thus, TRH improves cardiac contractility, cardiac output, and hemodynamics during hemorrhagic shock. The sensitization of the beta adrenergic and dopamine receptors may play an important role in the direct peripheral cardiovascular mechanism of TRH effects. PMID: 1611701 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15905409
1. Genes Dev. 2005 May 15;19(10):1211-26. doi: 10.1101/gad.1291705. A human splicing factor, SKIP, associates with P-TEFb and enhances transcription elongation by HIV-1 Tat. Brès V(1), Gomes N, Pickle L, Jones KA. Author information: (1)Regulatory Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA. HIV-1 Tat binds human CyclinT1 and recruits the CDK9/P-TEFb complex to the viral TAR RNA in a step that links RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) C-terminal domain (CTD) Ser 2 phosphorylation with transcription elongation. Previous studies have suggested a connection between Tat and pre-mRNA splicing factors. Here we show that the splicing-associated c-Ski-interacting protein, SKIP, is required for Tat transactivation in vivo and stimulates HIV-1 transcription elongation, but not initiation, in vitro. SKIP associates with CycT1:CDK9/P-TEFb and Tat:P-TEFb complexes in nuclear extracts and interacts with recombinant Tat:P-TEFb:TAR RNA complexes in vitro, indicating that it may act through nascent RNA to overcome pausing by RNAPII. SKIP also associates with U5snRNP proteins and tri-snRNP110K in nuclear extracts, and facilitates recognition of an alternative Tat-specific splice site in vivo. The effects of SKIP on transcription elongation, binding to P-TEFb, and splicing are mediated through the SNW domain. HIV-1 Tat transactivation is accompanied by the recruitment of P-TEFb, SKIP, and tri-snRNP110K to the integrated HIV-1 promoter in vivo, whereas the U5snRNPs associate only with the transcribed coding region. These findings suggest that SKIP plays independent roles in transcription elongation and pre-mRNA splicing. DOI: 10.1101/gad.1291705 PMCID: PMC1132007 PMID: 15905409 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23217321
1. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2012 Dec 12;911:170-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2012.10.038. Epub 2012 Nov 3. Validation of an LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of choline-related compounds and phospholipids in foods and tissues. Xiong Y(1), Zhao YY, Goruk S, Oilund K, Field CJ, Jacobs RL, Curtis JM. Author information: (1)Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada T6G 2P5. A hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated to simultaneously quantify six aqueous choline-related compounds and eight major phospholipids classes in a single run. HILIC chromatography was coupled to positive ion electrospray mass spectrometry. A combination of multiple scan modes including precursor ion scan, neutral loss scan and multiple reaction monitoring was optimized for the determination of each compound or class in a single LC/MS run. This work developed a simplified extraction scheme in which both free choline and related compounds along with phospholipids were extracted into a homogenized phase using chloroform/methanol/water (1:2:0.8) and diluted into methanol for the analysis of target compounds in a variety of sample matrices. The analyte recoveries were evaluated by spiking tissues and food samples with two isotope-labeled internal standards, PC-d(3) and Cho-d(3). Recoveries of between 90% and 115% were obtained by spiking a range of sample matrices with authentic standards containing all 14 of the target analytes. The precision of the analysis ranged from 1.6% to 13%. Accuracy and precision was comparable to that obtained by quantification of selected phospholipid classes using (31)P NMR. A variety of sample matrices including egg yolks, human diets and animal tissues were analyzed using the validated method. The measurements of total choline in selected foods were found to be in good agreement with values obtained from the USDA choline database. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2012.10.038 PMID: 23217321 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28315371
1. J Biotechnol. 2017 Apr 20;248:43-47. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2017.03.010. Epub 2017 Mar 14. Complete genome sequence of Arthrobacter sp. ZXY-2 associated with effective atrazine degradation and salt adaptation. Zhao X(1), Ma F(2), Feng C(3), Bai S(2), Yang J(4), Wang L(5). Author information: (1)State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, 150090, Harbin, China; Section of Sanitary Engineering, Department of Water Management, Delft University of Technology, 2628CN, Delft, The Netherlands. (2)State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, 150090, Harbin, China. (3)Section of Sanitary Engineering, Department of Water Management, Delft University of Technology, 2628CN, Delft, The Netherlands. (4)State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, 150090, Harbin, China. Electronic address: yangxj@hit.edu.cn. (5)State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, 150090, Harbin, China. Electronic address: wli@hit.edu.cn. An atrazine-degrading strain Arthrobacter sp. ZXY-2 was originally isolated from Jilin Pesticide Plant (China). Strain ZXY-2 demonstrated excellent atrazine degradation performance and saline tolerance. Here we report the complete genome sequence of strain ZXY-2 contained a circular chromosome and five circular plasmids encoding for the mechanism of salt adaptation and pollutant degradation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2017.03.010 PMID: 28315371 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9225129
1. Endocrine. 1997 Apr;6(2):153-8. doi: 10.1007/BF02738958. Serotonin (5-HT) stimulates thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) gene transcription in rat embryonic cardiomyocytes. Shi ZX(1), Xu W, Selmanoff MK, Wilber JF. Author information: (1)Department of Medicine, University of Maryland, School of Medicine at Baltimore 21201, USA. zshi@umabnet.ab.umd.edu Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and its mRNA have been identified in the rat heart, and TRH can enhance cardiomyocyte contractility in vivo. At present, little is known about cardiac TRH gene transcriptional regulation in the heart. Hormones and neurotransmitters, including thyroid hormone (T3), glucocorticoids, testosterone, and 5-HT initiate effects not only in the cardiovascular system, but also in the regulation of hypothalamic TRH. To clarify the potential roles of these modulators upon the cardiac TRH gene transcription, rat TRH promoter activity was assessed in rat embryonic myocyte cells (H9C2) by transient transfection assays. TRH promoter activity was stimulated significantly by dexamethasone (10(-4) M) and testosterone (10(-5) M), and was inhibited by T3 (10(-7) M). Interestingly, the neurotransmitter 5-HT stimulated TRH promoter activity in H9C2 cells, but not in HTB-11 cells. To further clarify this selective role of 5-HT on TRH promoter transcriptional activity in cardiac cells, 5-HT receptor antagonists and agonists were tested. A selective 5-HT2 receptor antagonist blocked 5-HT stimulation, whereas 5-HT agonist analogs caused augmentative effects when combined with 5-HT. Neither 5-HT nor any antagonists or agonists influenced H9C2 cell growth or morphology. These data suggest that 5-HT is an important transcriptional regulator of the cardiac TRH gene. DOI: 10.1007/BF02738958 PMID: 9225129 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1979356
1. J Tongji Med Univ. 1990;10(3):187-92. doi: 10.1007/BF02986460. Action of thyrotropin-releasing hormone in experimental hemorrhagic shock--cardiovascular mechanism. Zheng D(1), Chen HS, Hu DY. Author information: (1)Trauma Research Center, 43rd Hospital, Kunming, Yunnan. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) could improve mean arterial pressure (MAP), myocardial contractile parameters (+/- dp/dtmax, Vpm and Vmax) and increase plasma epinephrine level significantly at 10 min after TRH administration in hemorrhagic shock rabbits, but the action of TRH on MAP and the myocardial contractility did not appear in rabbits pre-treated with reserpine (4 mg/kg, 24 h pre-treatment, i.v.). TRH had no effects on myocardial contractility and MAP at 20 and 30 min after administration to rabbits pre-treated with beta-adrenergic blocker propranolol (1 mg/kg, 1 h before TRH injection i.v.), but it did exert effects on these parameters in rabbits pre-treated with alpha-adrenergic blocker phenoxybenzamine. Experiments in vitro showed that, although TRH (10(-4) M/L) had no direct effect on heart, left atrium and aortic strip, it did potentiate the inotropic effects of isoprenaline and dopamine on the left atrium. These results suggested that antishock effect of TRH is related to adrenergic system. TRH stimulates sympathomedullary system to secrete epinephrine and sensitize the beta-receptors, but not alpha-receptors. Thus, TRH improves cardiac contractility, cardiac output and hemodynamics during hemorrhagic shock. The sensitization of the beta- and dopamine receptors played an important role in producing direct peripheral actions of TRH. DOI: 10.1007/BF02986460 PMID: 1979356 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28642378
1. Genome Announc. 2017 Jun 22;5(25):e00565-17. doi: 10.1128/genomeA.00565-17. New Genome Sequence of an Echinaceapurpurea Endophyte, Arthrobacter sp. Strain EpSL27, Able To Inhibit Human-Opportunistic Pathogens. Miceli E(1), Presta L(1), Maggini V(1)(2)(3), Fondi M(1), Bosi E(1), Chiellini C(1), Fagorzi C(1), Bogani P(1), Di Pilato V(4), Rossolini GM(5), Mengoni A(1), Firenzuoli F(3), Perrin E(1), Fani R(6). Author information: (1)Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. (2)Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. (3)Center for Integrative Medicine, Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. (4)Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. (5)Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy. (6)Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy renato.fani@unifi.it. We announce here the draft genome sequence of Arthrobacter sp. strain EpSL27, isolated from the stem and leaves of the medicinal plant Echinacea purpurea and able to inhibit human-pathogenic bacterial strains. The genome sequencing of this strain may lead to the identification of genes involved in the production of antimicrobial molecules. Copyright © 2017 Miceli et al. DOI: 10.1128/genomeA.00565-17 PMCID: PMC5481584 PMID: 28642378
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18621770
1. Eur Heart J. 2008 Sep;29(18):2265-75. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehn337. Epub 2008 Jul 10. Improvement of regional myocardial blood flow and function and reduction of infarct size with ivabradine: protection beyond heart rate reduction. Heusch G(1), Skyschally A, Gres P, van Caster P, Schilawa D, Schulz R. Author information: (1)Institut für Pathophysiologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen, Germany. gerd.heusch@uk-essen.de Erratum in Eur Heart J. 2008 Dec;29(23):2949. AIMS: Effects of the bradycardic agent ivabradine on regional blood flow, contractile function, and infarct size were studied in a pig model of myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion. Heart rate reduction by beta-blockade is associated with negative inotropism and unmasked alpha-adrenergic coronary vasoconstriction. Ivabradine is the only available bradycardic agent for clinical use. METHODS AND RESULTS: Anaesthetized pigs were subjected to 90 min controlled left anterior descending coronary artery hypoperfusion and 120 min reperfusion. Regional blood flow was measured with microspheres, regional function with sonomicrometry, and infarct size with triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining. Pigs received placebo or ivabradine (0.6 mg/kg i.v.) before or during ischaemia or before reperfusion, respectively. Pre-treatment with ivabradine reduced infarct size from 35 +/- 4 (SEM) to 19 +/- 4% of area at risk (AAR). Ivabradine 15-20 min after the onset of ischaemia increased regional myocardial blood flow from 2.12 +/- 0.31 to 3.55 +/- 0.56 microL/beat/g and systolic wall thickening from 6.7 +/- 1.0 to 16.3 +/- 3.0%; infarct size was reduced from 12 +/- 4 to 2 +/- 1% of AAR. Ivabradine 5 min before reperfusion still reduced infarct size from 36 +/- 4 to 21 +/- 5% of AAR. The benefit of ivabradine on flow and function was eliminated by atrial pacing, but part of the reduction of infarct size by ivabradine was not. CONCLUSION: Ivabradine's protection goes beyond heart rate reduction. DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehn337 PMID: 18621770 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23039946
1. BMC Genomics. 2012 Oct 6;13:534. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-534. Complete genome sequence and metabolic potential of the quinaldine-degrading bacterium Arthrobacter sp. Rue61a. Niewerth H(1), Schuldes J, Parschat K, Kiefer P, Vorholt JA, Daniel R, Fetzner S. Author information: (1)Institute of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Münster, Corrensstrasse 3, 48149, Münster, Germany. BACKGROUND: Bacteria of the genus Arthrobacter are ubiquitous in soil environments and can be considered as true survivalists. Arthrobacter sp. strain Rue61a is an isolate from sewage sludge able to utilize quinaldine (2-methylquinoline) as sole carbon and energy source. The genome provides insight into the molecular basis of the versatility and robustness of this environmental Arthrobacter strain. RESULTS: The genome of Arthrobacter sp. Rue61a consists of a single circular chromosome of 4,736,495 bp with an average G + C content of 62.32%, the circular 231,551-bp plasmid pARUE232, and the linear 112,992-bp plasmid pARUE113 that was already published. Plasmid pARUE232 is proposed to contribute to the resistance of Arthrobacter sp. Rue61a to arsenate and Pb2+, whereas the linear plasmid confers the ability to convert quinaldine to anthranilate. Remarkably, degradation of anthranilate exclusively proceeds via a CoA-thioester pathway. Apart from quinaldine utilization, strain Rue61a has a limited set of aromatic degradation pathways, enabling the utilization of 4-hydroxy-substituted aromatic carboxylic acids, which are characteristic products of lignin depolymerization, via ortho cleavage of protocatechuate. However, 4-hydroxyphenylacetate degradation likely proceeds via meta cleavage of homoprotocatechuate. The genome of strain Rue61a contains numerous genes associated with osmoprotection, and a high number of genes coding for transporters. It encodes a broad spectrum of enzymes for the uptake and utilization of various sugars and organic nitrogen compounds. A. aurescens TC-1 is the closest sequenced relative of strain Rue61a. CONCLUSIONS: The genome of Arthrobacter sp. Rue61a reflects the saprophytic lifestyle and nutritional versatility of the organism and a strong adaptive potential to environmental stress. The circular plasmid pARUE232 and the linear plasmid pARUE113 contribute to heavy metal resistance and to the ability to degrade quinaldine, respectively. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-534 PMCID: PMC3534580 PMID: 23039946 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21316059
1. J Chromatogr A. 2011 Sep 2;1218(35):5964-74. doi: 10.1016/j.chroma.2011.01.075. Epub 2011 Jan 31. Application of hydrophilic interaction chromatography for the analysis of polar contaminants in food and environmental samples. van Nuijs AL(1), Tarcomnicu I, Covaci A. Author information: (1)Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. For the analysis of highly hydrophilic and polar compounds, Hydrophilic Interaction Chromatography (HILIC) has been established as a valuable complementary approach to reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC). Moreover, the use of mobile phases with a high percentage of organic solvent in HILIC separation is beneficial for mass spectrometric (MS) detection, because of enhanced ionization which results in an increased sensitivity. In this review, various applications of HILIC are described for a number of environmental and food contaminants together with detailed methodological descriptions and the advantages or drawbacks of HILIC compared to other LC methods are critically discussed. In the first part of the review, an overview is given of the work that has been carried out with HILIC for the analysis of pharmaceuticals and pesticides in environmental samples. HILIC has shown its applicability for polar pharmaceuticals, such as antibiotics, estrogens and their metabolites, drugs of abuse, cytostatics, metformin and contrast agents. In the pesticide group, HILIC chromatography was helpful for polar phenylurea and organophosphorus pesticides. The second part of the review focuses on the analysis of antibiotic residues in food and feed with HILIC, while in the pesticide group, HILIC experiments have been reported for dithiocarbamates and quaternary ammonium compounds. The last chapter gives an overview of the analysis by HILIC of miscellaneous analytes in aquatic and food/feed samples. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2011.01.075 PMID: 21316059 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15096458
1. Circulation. 2004 May 11;109(18):2240-5. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000127951.13380.B4. Epub 2004 Apr 19. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone is induced in the left ventricle of rats with heart failure and can provide inotropic support to the failing heart. Jin H(1), Fedorowicz G, Yang R, Ogasawara A, Peale F, Pham T, Paoni NF. Author information: (1)Genentech, Inc, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, Calif 94080, USA. hkj@gene.com BACKGROUND: We reported previously that left ventricular gene expression for thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) precursor was increased in rats with heart failure 8 weeks after myocardial infarction (MI) and that early ACE inhibition tended to cause further myocardial induction of this gene. METHODS AND RESULTS: Here, we show that after MI, the expression of pro-TRH is induced in the heart coordinately with the protease PC1, an important enzyme in TRH biosynthesis. Pro-TRH gene expression was induced in cardiac interstitial cells after MI, and this effect was restricted to the heart, because no increase in TRH mRNA abundance was observed in the hypothalamus, kidney, or lung. Transcript abundance of pro-TRH can be increased in cultured cardiac fibroblasts by several adrenergic agonists, indicating that the adrenergic axis may play a regulatory role in cardiac TRH production. Acute intravenous administration of TRH to rats with ischemic cardiomyopathy caused a significant increase in heart rate, mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, stroke volume, and cardiac contractility. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results indicate that TRH is specifically induced in the heart after MI and that it can increase cardiac performance in rats with ischemic cardiomyopathy. Thus, in addition to catecholamine and angiotensin II, pro-TRH/TRH may be another important axis that affects hemodynamics and cardiac function in heart failure. DOI: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000127951.13380.B4 PMID: 15096458 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26150028
1. Arch Ital Urol Androl. 2015 Jul 7;87(2):121-9. doi: 10.4081/aiua.2015.2.121. Efficacy and safety of second-line agents for treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer progressing after docetaxel. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Perletti G(1), Monti E, Marras E, Cleves A, Magri V, Trinchieri A, Rennie PS. Author information: (1)Biomedical Research Division, Dept. of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Busto Arsizio, Italy; Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent. gianpaolo.perletti@uninsubria.it. Comment in Arch Ital Urol Androl. 2016 Mar 31;88(1):72-3. doi: 10.4081/aiua.2016.1.72. Arch Ital Urol Androl. 2016 Mar 31;88(1):74-5. doi: 10.4081/aiua.2016.1.74. OBJECTIVE: We performed a systematic review of the literature to assess the efficacy and the safety of second-line agents targeting metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) that has progressed after docetaxel. Pooled-analysis was also performed, to assess the effectiveness of agents targeting the androgen axis via identical mechanisms of action (abiraterone acetate, orteronel). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included phase III randomized controlled trials that enrolled patients with mCRPC progressing during or after first-line docetaxel treatment. Trials were identified by electronic database searching. The primary outcome of the review was overall survival. Secondary outcomes were radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) and severe adverse effects (grade 3 or higher). RESULTS: Ten articles met the inclusion criteria for the review. These articles reported the results of five clinical trials, enrolling in total 5047 patients. The experimental interventions tested in these studies were enzalutamide, ipilimumab, abiraterone acetate, orteronel and cabazitaxel. Compared to control cohorts (active drug-treated or placebo-treated), the significant overall survival advantages achieved were 4.8 months for enzalutamide (hazard ratio for death vs. placebo: 0.63; 95% CI 0.53 to 0.75, P < 0.0001), 4.6 months for abiraterone (hazard ratio for death vs. placebo: 0.66, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.75, P < 0.0001) and 2.4 months for cabazitaxel (hazard ratio for death vs. mitoxantrone-prednisone: 0.70, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.83, p < 0.0001). Pooled analysis of androgen synthesis inhibitors orteronel and abiraterone resulted in significantly increased overall and progression-free survival for anti-androgen agents, compared to placebo (hazard ratio for death: 0.76, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.87, P < 0.0001; hazard ratio for radiographic progression: 0.7, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.77, P < 0.00001). Androgen synthesis inhibitors induced significant increases in risk ratios for adverse effects linked to elevated mineralocorticoid secretion, compared to placebo (risk ratio for hypokalemia: 5.75, 95% CI 2.08 to 15.90; P = 0.0008; risk-ratio for hypertension: 2.29, 95% CI 1.02 to 5.17; P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In docetaxel-pretreated patients enzalutamide, abiraterone-prednisone and cabazitaxel-prednisone can improve overall survival of patients, compared to placebo or to best of care at the time of study (mitoxantrone-prednisone). Agents targeting the androgen axis (enzalutamide, abiraterone, orteronel) significantly prolonged rPFS, compared to placebo. Further investigation is warranted to evaluate the benefit of combination or sequential administration of these agents. Large-scale studies are also necessary to evaluate the impact of relevant toxic effects observed in a limited number of patients (e.g., enzalutamide-induced seizures, orteronel-induced pancreatitis, and others). DOI: 10.4081/aiua.2015.2.121 PMID: 26150028 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28450506
1. Genome Announc. 2017 Apr 27;5(17):e00217-17. doi: 10.1128/genomeA.00217-17. Draft Genome Sequence of the Nylon Oligomer-Degrading Bacterium Arthrobacter sp. Strain KI72. Takehara I(1), Kato DI(2), Takeo M(1), Negoro S(3). Author information: (1)Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Hyogo, Himeji, Hyogo, Japan. (2)Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University, Korimoto, Kagoshima, Japan. (3)Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Hyogo, Himeji, Hyogo, Japan negoro@eng.uhyogo.ac.jp. We report here the 4.6-Mb genome sequence of a nylon oligomer-degrading bacterium, Arthrobacter sp. strain KI72. The draft genome sequence of strain KI72 consists of 4,568,574 bp, with a G+C content of 63.47%, 4,372 coding sequences (CDSs), 54 tRNAs, and six rRNAs. Copyright © 2017 Takehara et al. DOI: 10.1128/genomeA.00217-17 PMCID: PMC5408104 PMID: 28450506
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11236029
1. Semin Oncol. 2000 Dec;27(6 Suppl 11):53-63; discussion 92-100. HER-2/neu as a therapeutic target in non-small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer, and ovarian cancer. Agus DB(1), Bunn PA Jr, Franklin W, Garcia M, Ozols RF. Author information: (1)Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA. HER-2/neu is overexpressed in most epithelial malignancies. Lung cancer, prostate cancer, and ovarian cancer are common epithelial tumors in which clinical trials are currently in progress to explore the potential therapeutic role for monoclonal antibodies to HER-2/neu (trastuzumab [Herceptin; Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, CA]). In preclinical studies with tumor cell lines, trastuzumab was found to have additive and synergistic effects with some chemotherapeutic agents. Clinical trials investigating combination chemotherapy with trastuzumab and a variety of chemotherapeutic agents are already in progress in lung cancer. PMID: 11236029 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10365964
1. Nature. 1999 Jun 3;399(6735):491-6. doi: 10.1038/20974. Structure and ligand of a histone acetyltransferase bromodomain. Dhalluin C(1), Carlson JE, Zeng L, He C, Aggarwal AK, Zhou MM. Author information: (1)Structural Biology Program, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029-6574, USA. Histone acetylation is important in chromatin remodelling and gene activation. Nearly all known histone-acetyltransferase (HAT)-associated transcriptional co-activators contain bromodomains, which are approximately 110-amino-acid modules found in many chromatin-associated proteins. Despite the wide occurrence of these bromodomains, their three-dimensional structure and binding partners remain unknown. Here we report the solution structure of the bromodomain of the HAT co-activator P/CAF (p300/CBP-associated factor). The structure reveals an unusual left-handed up-and-down four-helix bundle. In addition, we show by a combination of structural and site-directed mutagenesis studies that bromodomains can interact specifically with acetylated lysine, making them the first known protein modules to do so. The nature of the recognition of acetyl-lysine by the P/CAF bromodomain is similar to that of acetyl-CoA by histone acetyltransferase. Thus, the bromodomain is functionally linked to the HAT activity of co-activators in the regulation of gene transcription. DOI: 10.1038/20974 PMID: 10365964 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19074674
1. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2009 Feb;296(2):H435-41. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00591.2008. Epub 2008 Dec 12. Beneficial effects of delayed ivabradine treatment on cardiac anatomical and electrical remodeling in rat severe chronic heart failure. Milliez P(1), Messaoudi S, Nehme J, Rodriguez C, Samuel JL, Delcayre C. Author information: (1)INSERM U942, Cardiovascular Research Center INSERM Lariboisière, Paris, France. paulmilliez@hotmail.com We tested the hypothesis that heart rate (HR) reduction, induced by the selective hyperpolarization-activated current inhibitor ivabradine (Iva), might improve left ventricular (LV) function, structure, and electrical remodeling in severe post-myocardial infarction (MI) chronic heart failure (HF). MI was produced in adult male Wistar rats. After 2 mo, echocardiography was performed before the randomization into MI and MI + Iva (10 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1)) groups. After 3 mo of treatment, echocardiography and 24-h telemetry were recorded. Cardiac collagen, mRNA, and protein expressions of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and ANG II type 1 (AT(1)) receptor were quantified. As a result, at 2 mo post-MI, all rats displayed severe congestive HF signs (ejection fraction < 30%). At 5 mo post-MI, body and heart weights were similar in the MI and MI + Iva groups. LV ejection fraction and LV end-diastolic pressure were worsened in the MI group, whereas both were improved with Iva. Iva reduced HR by 10.4% (P < 0.03 vs. MI) and ventricular premature complexes by 89% (P < 0.03) and improved HR variability (standard deviation of the RR interval) by 22% (P < 0.05). There were no effects of Iva on PR, QRS, and QT durations. Interstitial fibrosis in the MI-remote LV was markedly reduced by Iva (4.0 +/- 0.1 vs. 1.8 +/- 0.1%, P < 0.005). Increases in ventricular gene and protein expressions of ACE and AT(1) receptor in MI were completely blunted by Iva. In conclusion, these data indicated that HR reduction by Iva prevents the worsening of LV dysfunction and remodeling that may be related to a downregulation of cardiac renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system transcripts. Such beneficial effects of Iva on cardiac remodeling open new clinical perspectives for the treatment of severe HF. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00591.2008 PMID: 19074674 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11007230
1. RETRACTED ARTICLE Am J Gastroenterol. 2000 Sep;95(9):2285-95. doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2000.03248.x. Enterocolitis in children with developmental disorders. Wakefield AJ(1), Anthony A, Murch SH, Thomson M, Montgomery SM, Davies S, O'Leary JJ, Berelowitz M, Walker-Smith JA. Author information: (1)University Department of Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, United Kingdom. Retraction in Am J Gastroenterol. 2010 May;105(5):1214. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2010.149. Comment in Am J Gastroenterol. 2000 Sep;95(9):2154-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2000.03247.x. Histopathology. 2007 May;50(6):794. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2007.02668.x. OBJECTIVE: Intestinal pathology, i.e., ileocolonic lymphoid nodular hyperplasia (LNH) and mucosal inflammation, has been described in children with developmental disorders. This study describes some of the endoscopic and pathological characteristics in a group of children with developmental disorders (affected children) that are associated with behavioral regression and bowel symptoms, and compares them with pediatric controls. METHODS: Ileocolonoscopy and biopsy were performed on 60 affected children (median age 6 yr, range 3-16; 53 male). Developmental diagnoses were autism (50 patients), Asperger's syndrome (five), disintegrative disorder (two), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (one), schizophrenia (one), and dyslexia (one). Severity of ileal LNH was graded (0-3) in both affected children and 37 developmentally normal controls (median age 11 yr, range 2-13 yr) who were investigated for possible inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Tissue sections were reviewed by three pathologists and scored on a standard proforma. Data were compared with ileocolonic biopsies from 22 histologically normal children (controls) and 20 children with ulcerative colitis (UC), scored in an identical manner. Gut pathogens were sought routinely. RESULTS: Ileal LNH was present in 54 of 58 (93%) affected children and in five of 35 (14.3%) controls (p < 0.001). Colonic LNH was present in 18 of 60 (30%) affected children and in two of 37 (5.4%) controls (p < 0.01). Histologically, reactive follicular hyperplasia was present in 46 of 52 (88.5%) ileal biopsies from affected children and in four of 14 (29%) with UC, but not in non-IBD controls (p < 0.01). Active ileitis was present in four of 51 (8%) affected children but not in controls. Chronic colitis was identified in 53 of 60 (88%) affected children compared with one of 22 (4.5%) controls and in 20 of 20 (100%) with UC. Scores of frequency and severity of inflammation were significantly greater in both affected children and those with UC, compared with controls (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A new variant of inflammatory bowel disease is present in this group of children with developmental disorders. DOI: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2000.03248.x PMID: 11007230 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9088928
1. Gen Physiol Biophys. 1996 Aug;15(4):309-16. Positive inotropic effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone on isolated rat hearts. Socci R(1), Kolbeck RC, Mészáros LG. Author information: (1)Medical College of Georgia, Department of Physiology and Endocrinology, Augusta 30912, USA. The effects of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) on the contractility of electrically stimulated and perfused isolated rat hearts were investigated. TRH in the range of 0.1-10 mumol/l was found to exert a positive inotropic effect on cardiac contractility, which however qualitatively differed at lower vs. higher concentrations of the hormone: at 1 mumol/l, TRH was found to significantly enhance the rate of contraction as well as that of relaxation (by 23.2 +/- 3.7 and 27.8 +/- 7.7%, respectively), which culminated in an increased peak contractile force. However, at 10 mumol/l, the positive inotropic effect of TRH (i.e. the increase in peak contractile force) was smaller than at 1 mumol/l, which apparently was due to both a reduced TRH-induced elevation in the rate of contraction (12.4 +/- 3.2%) and a TRH-induced decrease in relaxation rate (11.1 +/- 8.1%). Since TRH is expressed in the heart, the above findings suggest that, in addition to its CNS-mediated cardiovascular effects, TRH modulates cardiac contractility as an autocrine regulator in a concentration-dependent manner, which likely involves more than one TRH receptor and associated signaling pathway. PMID: 9088928 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9585670
1. J Assoc Acad Minor Phys. 1998;9(1):9-15. Improved social and language skills after secretin administration in patients with autistic spectrum disorders. Horvath K(1), Stefanatos G, Sokolski KN, Wachtel R, Nabors L, Tildon JT. Author information: (1)Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Maryland, USA. We report three children with autistic spectrum disorders who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and intravenous administration of secretin to stimulate pancreaticobiliary secretion. All three had an increased pancreaticobiliary secretory response when compared with nonautistic patients (7.5 to 10 mL/min versus 1 to 2 mL/min). Within 5 weeks of the secretin infusion, a significant amelioration of the children's gastrointestinal symptoms was observed, as was a dramatic improvement in their behavior, manifested by improved eye contact, alertness, and expansion of expressive language. These clinical observations suggest an association between gastrointestinal and brain function in patients with autistic behavior. PMID: 9585670 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2848686
1. Endocrinology. 1988 Dec;123(6):2805-11. doi: 10.1210/endo-123-6-2805. Inotropic effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone on the guinea pig myocardium. Hasegawa J(1), Hirai S, Kotake H, Hisatome I, Mashiba H. Author information: (1)Department of Internal Medicine, Tottori University School of Medicine, Yonago, Japan. The inotropic effect of the physiological level of TRH on isolated guinea pig cardiac muscle was studied using a force transducer and standard microelectrode techniques. TRH increased the contractile force of muscles dose-dependently without changing the time course of contraction in normal Tyrode and a high K+ (27 mM) solution. The positive inotropic effect of TRH was associated with an augmentation of slow action potentials in high K+ solution and was reduced in the presence of diltiazem, verapamil, and manganese. TRH potentiated the response of contractile force to increasing extracellular Ca2+ concentration. The inotropic effect of TRH was suppressed by metoclopramide, phentolamine, and cimetidine, but was not affected by propranolol. TRH increased the contractile force even in the myocardium of reserpinized guinea pig. It is suggested that TRH has a positive inotropic effect at least partly due to an increase in the slow inward Ca2+ current. DOI: 10.1210/endo-123-6-2805 PMID: 2848686 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17694091
1. Oncogene. 2007 Aug 13;26(37):5521-7. doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1210618. Structure and acetyl-lysine recognition of the bromodomain. Mujtaba S(1), Zeng L, Zhou MM. Author information: (1)Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. Histone lysine acetylation is central to epigenetic control of gene transcription. The bromodomain, found in chromatin-associated proteins and histone acetyltranferases, functions as the sole protein module known to bind acetyl-lysine motifs. Recent structural and functional analyses of bromodomains' recognition of lysine-acetylated peptides derived from major acetylation sites in histones and cellular proteins provide new insights into differences in ligand binding selectivity as well as unifying features of histone recognition by the bromodomains. These new findings highlight the functional importance of bromodomain/acetyl-lysine binding as a pivotal mechanism for regulating protein-protein interactions in histone-directed chromatin remodeling and gene transcription. These new studies also support the notion that functional diversity of a conserved bromodomain structural fold is achieved by evolutionary changes of structurally flexible amino-acid sequences in the ligand binding site such as the ZA and BC loops. DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1210618 PMID: 17694091 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22607127
1. Dis Esophagus. 2013 Apr;26(3):237-40. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-2050.2012.01358.x. Epub 2012 May 18. Autism and esophageal achalasia in childhood: a possible correlation? Report on three cases. Betalli P(1), Carretto E, Cananzi M, Zanatta L, Salvador R, Galeazzi F, Guariso G, Gamba P, Costantini M. Author information: (1)Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Surgery Department of Surgical and Gastroenterological Sciences, Clinica Chirurgica 1 Department of Surgical and Gastroenterological Sciences, Gastroenterology Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. Chronic gastrointestinal symptoms are commonly reported in autistic patients. Dysphagia is often present, and it is generally related to behavioral eating disorders. The association between autism and esophageal achalasia has not been described in literature yet. We report our experience with three cases of autistic children we recently treated for esophageal achalasia. In the first case (a 14-year-old male), achalasia was diagnosed with barium swallow and esophageal manometry and was successfully treated with three pneumatic endoscopic dilatations (follow-up: 3 years). In the second case (a 12-year-old female), achalasia was diagnosed with barium swallow and esophageal manometry and was treated with Heller myotomy after two unsuccessful pneumatic endoscopic attempts (follow-up: 3 months). In the last case, a 15-year-old male underwent barium swallow and endoscopy that confirmed achalasia. He was treated with Heller myotomy, and he is asymptomatic at a 6-month follow-up. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a possible association between autism and esophageal achalasia. Because of the rarity of both diseases, their association in the same patient is unlikely to be casual even if speculation on their common etiology is impossible at present. This finding needs further confirmation, but it is sufficient, in our opinion, to indicate proper evaluation with barium swallow and/or manometry in any autistic children with eating difficulty. © 2012 Copyright the Authors. Journal compilation © 2012, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus. DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-2050.2012.01358.x PMID: 22607127 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23541665
1. Can J Cardiol. 2013 May;29(5):636-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2013.02.019. Epub 2013 Mar 29. Renal sympathetic denervation for resistant hypertension. Froeschl M(1), Hadziomerovic A, Ruzicka M. Author information: (1)Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. mfroeschl@ottawaheart.ca Resistant hypertension is an increasingly prevalent health problem associated with important adverse cardiovascular outcomes. The pathophysiology that underlies this condition involves increased function of both the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin II-aldosterone system. A crucial link between these 2 systems is the web of sympathetic fibres that course within the adventitia of the renal arteries. These nerves can be targeted by applying radiofrequency energy from the lumen of the renal arteries to renal artery walls (percutaneous renal sympathetic denervation [RSD]), an approach that has attracted great interest. This paper critically reviews the evidence supporting the use of RSD. Small studies suggest that RSD can produce dramatic blood pressure reductions: In the randomized Symplicity HTN-2 trial of 106 patients, the mean fall in blood pressure at 6 months in patients who received the treatment was 32/12 mm Hg. However, there are limitations to the evidence for RSD in the treatment of resistant hypertension. These include the small number of patients studied; the lack of any placebo-controlled evidence; the fact that blood pressure outcomes were based on office assessments, as opposed to 24-hour ambulatory monitoring; the lack of longer-term efficacy data; and the lack of long-term safety data. Some of these concerns are being addressed in the ongoing Renal Denervation in Patients With Uncontrolled Hypertension (Symplicity HTN-3) trial. The first percutaneous RSD system was approved by Health Canada in the spring of 2012. But until more and better-quality data are available, this procedure should generally be reserved for those patients whose resistant hypertension is truly uncontrolled. Copyright © 2013 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2013.02.019 PMID: 23541665 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23514712
1. Circ J. 2013;77(4):857-63. doi: 10.1253/circj.cj-13-0297. Epub 2013 Mar 19. Renal sympathetic denervation for treating resistant hypertension. Polimeni A(1), Curcio A, Indolfi C. Author information: (1)Division of Cardiology, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Catanzaro, Italy. Systemic hypertension represents a significant global concern, because it contributes to vascular and renal morbidity, cardiovascular mortality, and economic burden, hence the impact of hypertension is a major issue in public health worldwide. Improving high blood pressure management is therefore fundamental to influencing clinical outcomes. Despite adherence to multiple available medical therapies, a significant proportion of patients has persistent blood pressure elevation, a condition termed "resistant hypertension". Renal sympathetic innervations contribute to lack of response of anti-hypertensive drugs through an imbalance of regulatory mechanisms. Renal afferent nerve fibers are responsible for sympathetic activation and contribute to blood pressure homeostasis while afferent signals from the kidneys are integrated at the central nervous system and enhance sympathetic nerve discharge. In this regard, a novel strategy that selectively removes these hypertensive contributors represents a new therapeutic opportunity. Recently, a catheter-based method to induce renal sympathetic denervation has been introduced into daily practice. Clinical evaluation of selective renal sympathetic denervation demonstrated a decrease of renal norepinephrine spillover and renin activity, an increase of renal plasma flow, and has confirmed clinically significant, sustained reductions in blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension. This review summarizes the available data on the role of sympathetic activation in the pathophysiology of hypertension and the current concepts in transcatheter renal artery ablation with radiofrequency delivery for systemic hypertension. Suggestions regarding targets for future systemic hypertension management are also described. DOI: 10.1253/circj.cj-13-0297 PMID: 23514712 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23819768
1. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2013 Oct;76(4):495-503. doi: 10.1111/bcp.12171. Renal sympathetic nerve ablation for treatment-resistant hypertension. Krum H(1), Schlaich M, Sobotka P. Author information: (1)Centre of Cardiovascular Research & Education (CCRE) in Therapeutics, Monash University/Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. Hypertension is a major risk factor for increased cardiovascular events with accelerated sympathetic nerve activity implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of disease. Blood pressure is not adequately controlled in many patients, despite the availability of effective pharmacotherapy. Novel procedure- as well as device-based strategies, such as percutaneous renal sympathetic nerve denervation, have been developed to improve blood pressure in these refractory patients. Renal sympathetic denervation not only reduces blood pressure but also renal as well as systemic sympathetic nerve activity in such patients. The reduction in blood pressure appears to be sustained over 3 years after the procedure, which suggests absence of re-innervation of renal sympathetic nerves. Safety appears to be adequate. This approach may also have potential in other disorders associated with enhanced sympathetic nerve activity such as congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease and metabolic syndrome. This review will focus on the current status of percutaneous renal sympathetic nerve denervation, clinical efficacy and safety outcomes and prospects beyond refractory hypertension. © 2013 The British Pharmacological Society. DOI: 10.1111/bcp.12171 PMCID: PMC3791973 PMID: 23819768 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10547242
1. J Pediatr. 1999 Nov;135(5):559-63. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(99)70052-1. Gastrointestinal abnormalities in children with autistic disorder. Horvath K(1), Papadimitriou JC, Rabsztyn A, Drachenberg C, Tildon JT. Author information: (1)Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA. Comment in J Pediatr. 1999 Nov;135(5):533-5. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(99)70045-4. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to evaluate the structure and function of the upper gastrointestinal tract in a group of patients with autism who had gastrointestinal symptoms. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-six children (age: 5.7 +/- 2 years, mean +/- SD) with autistic disorder underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsies, intestinal and pancreatic enzyme analyses, and bacterial and fungal cultures. The most frequent gastrointestinal complaints were chronic diarrhea, gaseousness, and abdominal discomfort and distension. RESULTS: Histologic examination in these 36 children revealed grade I or II reflux esophagitis in 25 (69.4%), chronic gastritis in 15, and chronic duodenitis in 24. The number of Paneth's cells in the duodenal crypts was significantly elevated in autistic children compared with non-autistic control subjects. Low intestinal carbohydrate digestive enzyme activity was reported in 21 children (58.3%), although there was no abnormality found in pancreatic function. Seventy-five percent of the autistic children (27/36) had an increased pancreatico-biliary fluid output after intravenous secretin administration. Nineteen of the 21 patients with diarrhea had significantly higher fluid output than those without diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS: Unrecognized gastrointestinal disorders, especially reflux esophagitis and disaccharide malabsorption, may contribute to the behavioral problems of the non-verbal autistic patients. The observed increase in pancreatico-biliary secretion after secretin infusion suggests an upregulation of secretin receptors in the pancreas and liver. Further studies are required to determine the possible association between the brain and gastrointestinal dysfunctions in children with autistic disorder. DOI: 10.1016/s0022-3476(99)70052-1 PMID: 10547242 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21247927
1. Eur Heart J. 2011 Mar;32(5):537-44. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehq457. Epub 2011 Jan 18. Novel procedure- and device-based strategies in the management of systemic hypertension. Krum H(1), Schlaich M, Sobotka P, Scheffers I, Kroon AA, de Leeuw PW. Author information: (1)Monash Centre of Cardiovascular Research & Education in Therapeutics, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University/Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia. henry.krum@med.monash.edu.au Despite the considerable advances in the treatment of hypertension that have been made over the past few decades, adequate management and control of this condition remains poor, and efforts are ongoing to develop new strategies to improve related outcomes. Novel therapeutic approaches to the management of systemic hypertension fall into two major categories: (i) those that seek to improve blood pressure-lowering efficacy using new therapeutic strategies in addition to standard non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches and (ii) novel ways to optimize and improve the efficacy and utility of existing therapies. Novel procedure- and device-based strategies to control hypertension include renal sympathetic denervation and baroreflex sensitization. These two techniques will be the focus of the present review. DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehq457 PMID: 21247927 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17498659
1. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2007 Jun 29;358(2):435-41. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.04.139. Epub 2007 May 2. Solution structure of BRD7 bromodomain and its interaction with acetylated peptides from histone H3 and H4. Sun H(1), Liu J, Zhang J, Shen W, Huang H, Xu C, Dai H, Wu J, Shi Y. Author information: (1)Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, PR China. BRD7 is an important protein tightly associated with Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Overexpression of BRD7 inhibits NPC cell growth and cell cycle by transcriptionally regulating the cell cycle related genes. BRD7 contains a bromodomain that is found in many chromatin-associated proteins and in nearly all known nuclear histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and plays an important role in chromatin remodeling and transcriptional activation. Here, we report the solution structure of BRD7 bromodomain determined by NMR spectroscopy, and its binding specificity revealed by NMR titration with several acetylated histone peptides. We find that BRD7 bromodomain contains the typical left-handed four-helix bundle topology, and can bind with weak affinity to lysine-acetylated peptides derived from histone H3 with K9 or K14 acetylated and from histone H4 with K8, K12 or K16 acetylated. Our results show that BRD7 bromodomain lacks inherent binding specificity when binding to histones in vitro. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.04.139 PMID: 17498659 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16003132
1. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2005 Aug;17(8):827-36. doi: 10.1097/00042737-200508000-00009. The significance of ileo-colonic lymphoid nodular hyperplasia in children with autistic spectrum disorder. Wakefield AJ(1), Ashwood P, Limb K, Anthony A. Author information: (1)Thoughtful House Center for Children, Austin, Texas 78746, USA. Wakersa@aol.com Expression of concern in Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2011 Nov;23(11):1082. doi: 10.1097/MEG.0b013e328349d184. Comment in Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2005 Aug;17(8):821-2. doi: 10.1097/00042737-200508000-00007. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2006 May;18(5):569-71; author reply 571-3. doi: 10.1097/00042737-200605000-00023. BACKGROUND: Intestinal mucosal pathology, characterized by ileo-colonic lymphoid nodular hyperplasia (LNH) and mild acute and chronic inflammation of the colorectum, small bowel and stomach, has been reported in children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). AIM: To assess ileo-colonic LNH in ASD and control children and to test the hypothesis that there is an association between ileo-colonic LNH and ASD in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty-eight consecutive children with ASD (median age 6 years; range 2-16; 127 male) with gastrointestinal symptoms were investigated by ileo-colonoscopy. Macroscopic and histological features were scored and compared with 30 developmentally normal (non-inflammatory bowel disease, non-coeliac disease) controls (median age 7 years; range 1-11; 25 male) showing mild non-specific colitis in 16 cases (13 male) and normal colonic histology in 14 cases (12 male). Seventy-four ASD children and 23 controls also underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The influence on ileal LNH of dietary restriction, age at colonoscopy, and co-existent LNH elsewhere in the intestine, was examined. RESULTS: The prevalence of LNH was significantly greater in ASD children compared with controls in the ileum (129/144 (90%) vs. 8/27 (30%), P < 0.0001) and colon (88/148 (59%) vs. 7/30 (23%), P = 0.0003), whether or not controls had co-existent colonic inflammation. The severity of ileal LNH was significantly greater in ASD children compared with controls, with moderate to severe ileal LNH present in 98 of 144 (68%) ASD children versus 4 of 27 (15%) controls (P < 0.0001). Severe ileal LNH was associated with co-existent colonic LNH in ASD children (P = 0.01). The presence and severity of ileal LNH was not influenced by either diet or age at colonoscopy (P = 0.2). Isolated ileal LNH without evidence of pathology elsewhere in the intestine was a rare event, occurring in less than 3% of children overall. On histopathological examination, hyperplastic lymphoid follicles are significantly more prevalent in the ileum of ASD children (84/138; 61%) compared with controls (2/23; 9%, P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Ileo-colonic LNH is a characteristic pathological finding in children with ASD and gastrointestinal symptoms, and is associated with mucosal inflammation. Differences in age at colonoscopy and diet do not account for these changes. The data support the hypothesis that LNH is a significant pathological finding in ASD children. DOI: 10.1097/00042737-200508000-00009 PMID: 16003132 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17148447
1. J Biol Chem. 2007 Feb 9;282(6):4193-201. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M605971200. Epub 2006 Dec 5. Crystal structure of the human BRD2 bromodomain: insights into dimerization and recognition of acetylated histone H4. Nakamura Y(1), Umehara T, Nakano K, Jang MK, Shirouzu M, Morita S, Uda-Tochio H, Hamana H, Terada T, Adachi N, Matsumoto T, Tanaka A, Horikoshi M, Ozato K, Padmanabhan B, Yokoyama S. Author information: (1)RIKEN Genomic Sciences Center, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan. The BET (bromodomains and extra terminal domain) family proteins recognize acetylated chromatin through their bromodomain and act as transcriptional activators. One of the BET proteins, BRD2, associates with the transcription factor E2F, the mediator components CDK8 and TRAP220, and RNA polymerase II, as well as with acetylated chromatin during mitosis. BRD2 contains two bromodomains (BD1 and BD2), which are considered to be responsible for binding to acetylated chromatin. The BRD2 protein specifically recognizes the histone H4 tail acetylated at Lys12. Here, we report the crystal structure of the N-terminal bromodomain (BD1, residues 74-194) of human BRD2. Strikingly, the BRD2 BD1 protein forms an intact dimer in the crystal. This is the first observation of a homodimer among the known bromodomain structures, through the buried hydrophobic core region at the interface. Biochemical studies also demonstrated BRD2 BD1 dimer formation in solution. The two acetyllysine-binding pockets and a negatively charged secondary binding pocket, produced at the dimer interface in BRD2 BD1, may be the unique features that allow BRD2 BD1 to selectively bind to the acetylated H4 tail. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M605971200 PMID: 17148447 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24300195
1. Chem Biol Interact. 2014 Feb 25;209:25-34. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2013.11.014. Epub 2013 Dec 1. A novel compound RY10-4 induces apoptosis and inhibits invasion via inhibiting STAT3 through ERK-, p38-dependent pathways in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. Xue P(1), Zhao Y(1), Liu Y(2), Yuan Q(3), Xiong C(1), Ruan J(4). Author information: (1)Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resources Evaluation of Hubei Province, School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13# Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, PR China. (2)School of Life Science, Wuchang University of Technology, Wuhan 430223, PR China. (3)Department of Pharmacology, Yale Medical School, New Haven, CT 06510, USA. (4)Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resources Evaluation of Hubei Province, School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13# Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, PR China. Electronic address: jinlan8152@163.com. Previous reports suggested that protoapigenone showed remarkable antitumor activities against a broad spectrum of human cancer cell lines, but had no effect on human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell. The lack of effective remedies had necessitated the application of new therapeutic scheme. A novel compound RY10-4 which has the similar structure close to protoapigenone showed better antitumor activity. Treatment with RY10-4 inhibited the expression of pro-caspase-3, pro-caspase-9, Bcl-2 as well as phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (p-STAT3). It also reduced the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and increases the expressions of reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with kazal motifs (RECK), as well as tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) via inhibiting STAT3 by activating the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases (the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), the p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)) in A549 cells treated with RY10-4. Moreover, the cytotoxic effect of RY10-4 was induction of apoptosis in A549 cells by enhancing production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Taken together, the observations suggested that RY10-4 had affected Bcl-2 family members, caspases, MMPs, TIMPs expressions and ROS production via inhibiting STAT3 activities through ERK and p38 pathways in A549 cells. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2013.11.014 PMID: 24300195 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24291243
1. Mol Immunol. 2014 Mar;58(1):32-7. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2013.11.003. Epub 2013 Nov 26. Jellyfish collagen stimulates production of TNF-α and IL-6 by J774.1 cells through activation of NF-κB and JNK via TLR4 signaling pathway. Putra AB(1), Nishi K(1), Shiraishi R(2), Doi M(2), Sugahara T(3). Author information: (1)Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8566, Japan. (2)Marutomo Co., Ltd., Iyo, Ehime 799-3192, Japan. (3)Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8566, Japan; South Ehime Fisheries Research Center, Ehime University, Ainan, Ehime 798-4205, Japan; Food and Health Sciences Research Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8566, Japan. Electronic address: mars95@agr.ehime-u.ac.jp. We previously reported that jellyfish collagen stimulates both the acquired and innate immune responses. In the acquired immune response, jellyfish collagen enhanced immunoglobulin production by lymphocytes in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, in the innate immune response jellyfish collagen promoted cytokine production and phagocytotic activity of macrophages. The facts that jellyfish collagen plays several potential roles in stimulating cytokine production by macrophages have further attracted us to uncover its mechanisms. We herein describe that the cytokine production-stimulating activity of jellyfish collagen was canceled by a Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) inhibitor. Moreover, jellyfish collagen stimulated phosphorylation of inhibitor of κBα (IκBα), promoted the translocation of nucleus factor-κB (NF-κB), and activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). A JNK inhibitor also abrogated the cytokine production-stimulating activity of jellyfish collagen. These results suggest that jellyfish collagen may facilitate cytokine production by macrophages through activation of NF-κB and JNK via the TLR4 signaling pathways. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2013.11.003 PMID: 24291243 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15228586
1. J Neurochem. 2004 Jul;90(2):297-308. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2004.02487.x. Regulation of RANTES/CCL5 expression in human astrocytes by interleukin-1 and interferon-beta. Kim MO(1), Suh HS, Brosnan CF, Lee SC. Author information: (1)Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA. In the CNS, astrocytes are significant sources of RANTES/CCL5 (regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted), a CC-chemokine with important biological function. Astrocyte RANTES/CCL5 has been shown to be induced by interleukin-1 (IL-1), with interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) as a primer, but whether type I interferons play any role in the expression of RANTES/CCL5 is not known. In this report, we studied the detailed mechanism of RANTES/CCL5 induction in primary human astrocytes activated with IL-1 and IFNbeta. Ribonuclease protection assay and ELISA showed that IFNbeta, although not effective alone, increased IL-1-induced RANTES/CCL5 expression, but did not antagonize IFNgamma. IL-1 or IL-1/IFNbeta-induced RANTES/CCL5 expression was inhibited by the super-repressor IkappaBalpha or inhibitors of p38 or c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) MAPKs (mitogen-activated protein kinases), but not by extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERK) inhibitors. IFNbeta enhanced IL-1-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, but was not effective alone. Transfection with mutated RANTES/CCL5 promoter-reporter constructs revealed that kappaB, interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE) and CAATT-enhancer binding protein-beta (C/EBPbeta) sites all contributed to IL-1/IFNbeta-induced RANTES/CCL5 transcription. IFNbeta synergized with IL-1 to induce nuclear accumulation of C/EBPbeta protein. They also synergized to form nuclear ISRE complexes with Stat1, Stat2 and interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) proteins. Together, our results demonstrate that IFNbeta plays a positive regulatory role in the expression of RANTES/CCL5 in human astrocytes through several distinct mechanisms. DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2004.02487.x PMID: 15228586 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10827952
1. Science. 2000 May 26;288(5470):1422-5. doi: 10.1126/science.288.5470.1422. Structure and function of a human TAFII250 double bromodomain module. Jacobson RH(1), Ladurner AG, King DS, Tjian R. Author information: (1)Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, 401 Barker Hall, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3204, USA. Comment in Science. 2000 May 26;288(5470):1372-3. doi: 10.1126/science.288.5470.1372. TFIID is a large multiprotein complex that initiates assembly of the transcription machinery. It is unclear how TFIID recognizes promoters in vivo when templates are nucleosome-bound. Here, it is shown that TAFII250, the largest subunit of TFIID, contains two tandem bromodomain modules that bind selectively to multiply acetylated histone H4 peptides. The 2.1 angstrom crystal structure of the double bromodomain reveals two side-by-side, four-helix bundles with a highly polarized surface charge distribution. Each bundle contains an Nepsilon-acetyllysine binding pocket at its center, which results in a structure ideally suited for recognition of diacetylated histone H4 tails. Thus, TFIID may be targeted to specific chromatin-bound promoters and may play a role in chromatin recognition. DOI: 10.1126/science.288.5470.1422 PMID: 10827952 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24321566
1. Cell Immunol. 2013 Nov-Dec;286(1-2):53-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2013.11.004. Epub 2013 Nov 21. Estrogen attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in macrophages partially via the nongenomic pathway. Liu L(1), Wang Z(2). Author information: (1)Departments of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, China. (2)Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, China. Electronic address: zufengwang@suda.edu.cn. Steroid hormones exert genotropic effects through members of the nuclear hormone receptor family. In the present study, we examined the effects of 17β-estradiol (E2) on nitric oxide (NO) production following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation and investigated the mechanisms in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs). E2 alone did not affect NO production. In contrast, E2 inhibited LPS-induced production of NO in BMMs. Using a cell-impermeable E2 conjugated to BSA (E2-BSA), which has been used to investigate the nongenomic effects of estrogen, we found that the increase in NO production induced by LPS was also attenuated. In addition, the intracellular estrogen receptor blocker, ICI 182780, only partially antagonized the total effects of E2 on LPS-stimulated NO production capacity. E2 also attenuated the LPS activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) but not that of extracellular-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). This attenuation was not abrogated by ICI 182780. Moreover, the p38 inhibitor, SB 203580, greatly reduced the LPS-induced NO production, and the remaining NO levels were no longer regulated by E2. Additionally, E2-BSA inhibited LPS-mediated changes in p38 MAPK activation to the same extent as E2. Moreover, E2 and E2-BSA inhibited LPS-induced activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and activator protein 1 (AP-1). This inhibitory effect of E2 was only partially antagonized by ICI 182780. Taken together, these results suggest that E2 has an inhibitory effect on LPS-induced NO production in BMMs through inhibition of p38 MAPK phosphorylation, and blockade of NF-κB and AP-1 activation. These effects are mediated at least in part via a nongenomic pathway. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2013.11.004 PMID: 24321566 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24113186
1. Cell Death Dis. 2013 Oct 10;4(10):e852. doi: 10.1038/cddis.2013.381. Multisite phosphorylation of c-Jun at threonine 91/93/95 triggers the onset of c-Jun pro-apoptotic activity in cerebellar granule neurons. Reddy CE(1), Albanito L, De Marco P, Aiello D, Maggiolini M, Napoli A, Musti AM. Author information: (1)Institute for Clinical Neurobiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. Cerebellar granule cell (CGC) apoptosis by trophic/potassium (TK) deprivation is a model of election to study the interplay of pro-apoptotic and pro-survival signaling pathways in neuronal cell death. In this model, the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) induces pro-apoptotic genes through the c-Jun/activator protein 1 (AP-1) transcription factor. On the other side, a survival pathway initiated by lithium leads to repression of pro-apoptotic c-Jun/AP-1 target genes without interfering with JNK activity. Yet, the mechanism by which lithium inhibits c-Jun activity remains to be elucidated. Here, we used this model system to study the regulation and function of site-specific c-Jun phosphorylation at the S63 and T91/T93 JNK sites in neuronal cell death. We found that TK-deprivation led to c-Jun multiphosphorylation at all three JNK sites. However, immunofluorescence analysis of c-Jun phosphorylation at single cell level revealed that the S63 site was phosphorylated in all c-Jun-expressing cells, whereas the response of T91/T93 phosphorylation was more sensitive, mirroring the switch-like apoptotic response of CGCs. Conversely, lithium prevented T91T93 phosphorylation and cell death without affecting the S63 site, suggesting that T91T93 phosphorylation triggers c-Jun pro-apoptotic activity. Accordingly, a c-Jun mutant lacking the T95 priming site for T91/93 phosphorylation protected CGCs from apoptosis, whereas it was able to induce neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. Vice versa, a c-Jun mutant bearing aspartate substitution of T95 overwhelmed lithium-mediate protection of CGCs from TK-deprivation, validating that inhibition of T91/T93/T95 phosphorylation underlies the effect of lithium on cell death. Mass spectrometry analysis confirmed multiphosphorylation of c-Jun at T91/T93/T95 in cells. Moreover, JNK phosphorylated recombinant c-Jun at T91/T93 in a T95-dependent manner. On the basis of our results, we propose that T91/T93/T95 multiphosphorylation of c-Jun functions as a sensitivity amplifier of the JNK cascade, setting the threshold for c-Jun pro-apoptotic activity in neuronal cells. DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2013.381 PMCID: PMC3824690 PMID: 24113186 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12907332
1. Am J Gastroenterol. 2003 Aug;98(8):1777-82. doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2003.07593.x. Intestinal cytokines in children with pervasive developmental disorders. DeFelice ML(1), Ruchelli ED, Markowitz JE, Strogatz M, Reddy KP, Kadivar K, Mulberg AE, Brown KA. Author information: (1)Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA OBJECTIVES: A relationship between autism and gastrointestinal (GI) immune dysregulation has been postulated based on incidence of GI complaints as well as macroscopically observed lymphonodular hyperplasia and microscopically determined enterocolitis in pediatric patients with autism. To evaluate GI immunity, we quantitatively assessed levels of proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-1beta, produced by intestinal biopsies of children with pervasive developmental disorders. METHODS: Fifteen patients, six with pervasive developmental disorders and nine age-matched controls, presenting for diagnostic colonoscopy were enrolled. Endoscopic biopsies were organ cultured, supernatants were harvested, and IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1beta levels were quantified by ELISA. Tissue histology was evaluated by blinded pathologists. RESULTS: Concentrations of IL-6 from intestinal organ culture supernatants of patients with pervasive developmental disorders (median 318.5 pg/ml, interquartile range 282.0-393.0 pg/ml) when compared with controls (median 436.9 pg/ml, interquartile range 312.6-602.5 pg/ml) were not significantly different (p = 0.0987). Concentrations of IL-8 (median 84,000 pg/ml, interquartile range 16,000-143,000 pg/ml) when compared with controls (median 177,000 pg/ml, interquartile range 114,000-244,000 pg/ml) were not significantly different (p = 0.0707). Concentrations of IL-1beta (median 0.0 pg/ml, interquartile range 0.0-94.7 pg/ml) when compared with controls (median 0.0 pg/ml, interquartile range 0.0-60.2 pg/ml) were not significantly different (p = 0.8826). Tissue histology was nonpathological for all patients. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated no significant difference in production of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1beta between patients with pervasive developmental disorders and age-matched controls. In general, intestinal levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were lower in patients with pervasive developmental disorders than in age-matched controls. These data fail to support an association between autism and GI inflammation. DOI: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2003.07593.x PMID: 12907332 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22573363
1. Clin Cardiol. 2012 Sep;35(9):528-35. doi: 10.1002/clc.22008. Epub 2012 May 9. Catheter-based renal denervation for resistant hypertension: rationale and design of the SYMPLICITY HTN-3 Trial. Kandzari DE(1), Bhatt DL, Sobotka PA, O'Neill WW, Esler M, Flack JM, Katzen BT, Leon MB, Massaro JM, Negoita M, Oparil S, Rocha-Singh K, Straley C, Townsend RR, Bakris G. Author information: (1)Piedmont Heart Institute, Atlanta, GA, USA. david.kandzari@piedmont.org Hypertension represents a significant global public health concern, contributing to vascular and renal morbidity, cardiovascular mortality, and economic burden. The opportunity to influence clinical outcomes through hypertension management is therefore paramount. Despite adherence to multiple available medical therapies, a significant proportion of patients have persistent blood pressure elevation, a condition termed resistant hypertension. Recent recognition of the importance of the renal sympathetic and somatic nerves in modulating blood pressure and the development of a novel procedure that selectively removes these contributors to resistant hypertension represents an opportunity to provide clinically meaningful benefit across wide and varied patient populations. Early clinical evaluation with catheter-based, selective renal sympathetic denervation in patients with resistant hypertension has mechanistically correlated sympathetic efferent denervation with decreased renal norepinephrine spillover and renin activity, increased renal plasma flow, and has demonstrated clinically significant, sustained reductions in blood pressure. The SYMPLICITY HTN-3 Trial is a pivotal study designed as a prospective, randomized, masked procedure, single-blind trial evaluating the safety and effectiveness of catheter-based bilateral renal denervation for the treatment of uncontrolled hypertension despite compliance with at least 3 antihypertensive medications of different classes (at least one of which is a diuretic) at maximal tolerable doses. The primary effectiveness endpoint is measured as the change in office-based systolic blood pressure from baseline to 6 months. This manuscript describes the design and methodology of a regulatory trial of selective renal denervation for the treatment of hypertension among patients who have failed pharmacologic therapy. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. DOI: 10.1002/clc.22008 PMCID: PMC6652693 PMID: 22573363 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23176687
1. Future Cardiol. 2012 Nov;8(6):837-46. doi: 10.2217/fca.12.66. Identifying patients with resistant hypertension and options for clinical management. Tsang Cheung T(1), Man Yung Cheung B. Author information: (1)Division of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China. In addition to the increasing prevalence of hypertension, the number of patients with treatment-resistant hypertension is also rising. It is important to identify these patients in order to improve the treatment outcomes and to screen for potential secondary causes. Clinical characteristics of patients with resistant hypertension include advanced age, male gender, obesity, high salt intake and alcohol consumption. Those with high baseline blood pressure, diabetes, chronic kidney disease or obstructive sleep apnea are also prone to developing resistant hypertension. Physicians should initiate close monitoring and aggressive treatment for those patients, as resistant hypertension is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular morbidities, regardless of the control of blood pressure. However, treatment of resistant hypertension is currently a great challenge in clinical practice as all of these patients are already taking multiple antihypertensive medications, including the first-line treatments advocated in guidelines. In patients who have been presented multiple drugs, the room for further titration is often limited. Spironolactone has been demonstrated to be effective as an add-on therapy for patients with resistant hypertension. In addition to drug treatment, baroreceptor stimulation therapy and renal sympathetic denervation are promising new approaches in this group of patients. Further studies on the pathogenesis and the treatment of resistant hypertension would help to improve the outcome of this patient subgroup. DOI: 10.2217/fca.12.66 PMID: 23176687 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24144051
1. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2013 Oct;91(10):804-11. doi: 10.1139/cjpp-2013-0005. Epub 2013 May 30. Involvement of cardiomyocyte apoptosis in myocardial injury of hereditary epileptic rats. Chen F(1), Cao YG, Qi HP, Li L, Huang W, Wang Y, Sun HL. Author information: (1)a Department of Pharmacology, Harbin Medical University - Daqing, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163319, China. Many clinical cases have been reported where epilepsy profoundly influenced the pathophysiological function of the heart; however, the underlying mechanisms were not elucidated. We use the tremor (TRM) rat as an animal model of epilepsy to investigate the potential mechanisms of myocardial injury. Cardiac functions were assessed by arrhythmia score, heart rate, heart:body mass ratio, and hemodynamic parameters including left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), and maximum rate of left ventricular pressure rise and fall (+dp/dtmax and -dp/dtmax). Catecholamine level was detected by HPLC. Apoptotic index was estimated by TUNEL assay. The expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinases (JNK), and p38 were evaluated by Western blot. The results indicated that there existed cardiac dysfunction and cardiomyocyte apoptosis, accompanied by increasing catecholamine levels in TRM rats. Further investigation revealed that apoptosis was mediated by reducing Bcl-2, upregulating Bax, and activating caspase-3. Additional experiments demonstrated that P-ERK1/2 was decreased, whereas P-JNK and P-p38 were up-regulated. Our results suggest that the sympathetic nervous system activation and cardiomyocyte apoptosis are involved in the myocardial injury of TRM rats. The mechanisms of apoptosis might be associated with the activation of the mitochondria-initiated and the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2013-0005 PMID: 24144051 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24272171
1. Inflammation. 2014 Apr;37(2):621-31. doi: 10.1007/s10753-013-9778-9. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces the apoptosis and inhibits osteoblast differentiation through JNK pathway in MC3T3-E1 cells. Guo C(1), Yuan L, Wang JG, Wang F, Yang XK, Zhang FH, Song JL, Ma XY, Cheng Q, Song GH. Author information: (1)Luohe Medical College, 148 Daxue Road, Luohe, 462002, Henan, People's Republic of China, guospring@126.com. Bone degradation is a serious complication of chronic inflammatory diseases such as septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, and infected orthopedic implant failure. Up to date, effective therapeutic treatments for bacteria-caused bone destruction are limited. In our previous study, we found that LPS promoted osteoclast differentiation and activity through activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathway such as c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) and extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK1/2). The current study was to evaluate the mechanism of LPS on the apoptosis and osteoblast differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells. MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts were non-treated, treated with LPS. After treatment, the cell viability, the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and caspase-3 were measured. The expressions of osteoblast-specific genes and Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3 were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Protein levels of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, and phosphorylation of MAPKs were measured using Western blotting assays. The MAPK signaling pathway was blocked by pretreatment with JNK inhibitor SP600125. LPS treatment induced a significant decrease in cell metabolism, viability, and ALP activity in MC3T3-E1 cells. LPS also significantly decreased mRNA expressions of osteoblast-related genes in MC3T3-E1 cells. On the other hand, LPS significantly upregulated mRNA expressions and protein levels of Bax and caspase-3 as well as activation of caspase-3, whereas decreased Bcl-2 expression in MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, LPS significantly promoted MAPK pathway including the phosphorylation of JNK and the phosphorylation of ERK1/2; moreover, pretreatment with JNK inhibitor not only attenuated both of phosphorylation-JNK and ERK1/2 enhanced by LPS in MC3T3-E1 cells, but also reversed the downregulated expressions of osteoblast-specific genes including ALP and BSP induced by LPS. In conclusion, LPS could induce osteoblast apoptosis and inhibit osteoblast differentiation via activation of JNK pathway. DOI: 10.1007/s10753-013-9778-9 PMID: 24272171 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8607977
1. Mol Reprod Dev. 1995 Dec;42(4):459-67. doi: 10.1002/mrd.1080420414. Transcriptional regulation by MAP kinases. Davis RJ(1). Author information: (1)Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, MA 01605, USA. Tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors activate MAP kinase by a complex mechanism involving the SH2/3 protein Grb2, the exchange protein Sos, and Ras. The GTP-bound Ras protein binds to the Raf kinase and initiates a protein kinase cascade that leads to MAP kinase activation. Three MAP kinase kinase kinases have been described--c-Raf, c-Mos, and Mekk--that phosphorylate and activate Mek, the MAP kinase kinase. Activated Mek phosphorylates and activates MAP kinase. Subsequently, the activated MAP kinase translocates into the nucleus where many of the physiological targets of the MAP kinase signal transduction pathway are located. These substrates include transcription factors that are regulated by MAP kinase phosphorylation (e.g., Elk-1, c-Myc, c-Jun, c-Fos, and C/EBP beta). Thus the MAP kinase pathway represents a significant mechanism of signal transduction by growth factor receptors from the cell surface to the nucleus that results in the regulation of gene expression. Three MAP kinase homologs have been identified in the rat: Erk1, Erk2, and Erk3. Human MAP kinases that are similar to the rat Erk kinases have also been identified by molecular cloning. The human Erk1 protein kinase has been shown to be widely expressed as a 44-kDa protein in many tissues. The human Erk2 protein kinase is a 41-kDa protein that is expressed ubiquitously. In contrast, a human Erk3-related protein kinase has been found to be expressed at a high level only in heart muscle and brain. The loci of these MAP kinase genes are widely distributed within the human genome: erk2 at 22q11.2; erk1 at 16p11.2; and ek3-related at 18q12-21. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, five MAP kinase gene homologs have been described: smkl, mpk1, hog1, fus3, and kss1. Together, these kinases are a more diverse group than the human erks that have been identified. Thus the erks are likely to represent only one subgroup of a larger human MAP kinase gene family. A candidate for this extended family of MAP kinases is the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (Jnk), which binds to and phosphorylates the transcription factor c-Jun at the activating sites Ser-63 and Ser-73. Evidence is presented here to demonstrate that Jnk is a distant relative of the MAP kinase group that is activated by dual phosphorylation at Tyr and Thr. DOI: 10.1002/mrd.1080420414 PMID: 8607977 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23147205
1. Protein Expr Purif. 2013 Feb;87(2):87-99. doi: 10.1016/j.pep.2012.10.010. Epub 2012 Nov 10. High yield purification of JNK1β1 and activation by in vitro reconstitution of the MEKK1→MKK4→JNK MAPK phosphorylation cascade. Owen GR(1), Achilonu I, Dirr HW. Author information: (1)Protein Structure-Function Research Unit, School of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa. The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway forms part of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways comprising a sequential three-tiered kinase cascade. Here, an upstream MAP3K (MEKK1) phosphorylates and activates a MAP2K (MKK4 and MKK7), which in turn phosphorylates and activates the MAPK, JNK. The C-terminal kinase domain of MEKK1 (MEKK-C) is constitutively active, while MKK4/7 and JNK are both activated by dual phosphorylation of S/Y, and T/Y residues within their activation loops, respectively. While improvements in the purification of large quantities of active JNKs have recently been made, inadequacies in their yield, purity, and the efficiency of their phosphorylation still exist. We describe a novel and robust method that further improves upon the purification of large yields of highly pure, phosphorylated JNK1β1, which is most suitable for biochemical and biophysical characterization. Codon harmonization of the JNK1β1 gene was used as a precautionary measure toward increasing the soluble overexpression of the kinase. While JNK1β1 and its substrate ATF2 were both purified to >99% purity as GST fusion proteins using GSH-agarose affinity chromatography and each cleaved from GST using thrombin, constitutively-active MEKK-C and inactive MKK4 were separately expressed in E. coli as thioredoxin-His(6)-tagged proteins and purified using urea refolding and Ni(2+)-IMAC, respectively. Activation of JNK1β1 was then achieved by successfully reconstituting the JNK MAPK activation cascade in vitro; MEKK-C was used to activate MKK4, which in turn was used to efficiently phosphorylate and activate large quantities of JNK1β1. Activated JNK1β1 was thereafter able to phosphorylate ATF2 with high catalytic efficiency. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2012.10.010 PMID: 23147205 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22577022
1. Proteomics. 2012 Apr;12(8):1207-16. doi: 10.1002/pmic.201100430. Qualitative improvement and quantitative assessment of N-terminomics. Guryča V(1), Lamerz J, Ducret A, Cutler P. Author information: (1)Translational Research Sciences, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Basel, Switzerland. Proteolysis represents one of the most tightly controlled physiological processes, as proteases create events that will typically commit pathways in an irreversible manner. Despite their implication in nearly all biological systems, our understanding of the role of proteases in disease pathology is often limited. Several approaches to studying proteolytic activity as it relates to biology, pathophysiology, and drug therapy have been published, including the recently described terminal amine isotopic labeling of substrates (TAILS) strategy by Kleifeld and colleagues. Here, we investigate TAILS as a methodology based on targeted enrichment and mass spectrometric detection of endogenous N-terminal peptides from clinically relevant biological samples and its potential to provide quantitative information on proteolysis and elucidation of the protease cleavage sites. While optimizing the most current protocol, by switching to a streamlined one-tube format and simplifying the reagents' removal steps, we demonstrate the advantages over previously published methods and provide solutions to some of the technical challenges presented in the Kleifeld publication. We also identify some of the current and unresolved limitations. We use human plasma as a model system to provide data, which illustrates some of the key analytical parameters of the modified TAILS procedure, including specificity, sensitivity, quantitative precision, and accuracy. © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim. DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201100430 PMID: 22577022 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23334667
1. Nat Genet. 2013 Mar;45(3):285-9. doi: 10.1038/ng.2526. Epub 2013 Jan 20. Genomic sequencing of meningiomas identifies oncogenic SMO and AKT1 mutations. Brastianos PK(1), Horowitz PM, Santagata S, Jones RT, McKenna A, Getz G, Ligon KL, Palescandolo E, Van Hummelen P, Ducar MD, Raza A, Sunkavalli A, Macconaill LE, Stemmer-Rachamimov AO, Louis DN, Hahn WC, Dunn IF, Beroukhim R. Author information: (1)Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Comment in Nat Rev Neurol. 2013 Mar;9(3):121. doi: 10.1038/nrneurol.2013.16. Cancer Discov. 2013 Mar;3(3):OF13. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-RW2013-028. Meningiomas are the most common primary nervous system tumor. The tumor suppressor NF2 is disrupted in approximately half of all meningiomas, but the complete spectrum of genetic changes remains undefined. We performed whole-genome or whole-exome sequencing on 17 meningiomas and focused sequencing on an additional 48 tumors to identify and validate somatic genetic alterations. Most meningiomas had simple genomes, with fewer mutations, rearrangements and copy-number alterations than reported in other tumors in adults. However, several meningiomas harbored more complex patterns of copy-number changes and rearrangements, including one tumor with chromothripsis. We confirmed focal NF2 inactivation in 43% of tumors and found alterations in epigenetic modifiers in an additional 8% of tumors. A subset of meningiomas lacking NF2 alterations harbored recurrent oncogenic mutations in AKT1 (p.Glu17Lys) and SMO (p.Trp535Leu) and exhibited immunohistochemical evidence of activation of these pathways. These mutations were present in therapeutically challenging tumors of the skull base and higher grade. These results begin to define the spectrum of genetic alterations in meningiomas and identify potential therapeutic targets. DOI: 10.1038/ng.2526 PMCID: PMC3739288 PMID: 23334667 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24252081
1. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2013 Dec;38(8):890-6. doi: 10.1111/ced.12102. Role of c-Jun N-terminal kinase isoforms in the cellular activity of melanoma cell lines. Kogushi-Nishi H(1), Jinnin M, Kobayashi Y, Muchemwa FC, Hirano A, Makino T, Fukushima S, Masuguchi S, Ishihara T, Inoue Y, Ihn H. Author information: (1)Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan. BACKGROUND: The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is thought to be involved in inflammation, proliferation and apoptosis. AIM: To examine the role of JNK isoforms in metastasis, proliferation, migration and invasion of the malignant melanoma (MM) cell lines SK-MEL-28, SK-MEL-3 and WM164, using a kinase-specific inhibitor or isoform-specific small interfering (si)RNAs. RESULTS: SK-MEL-3, a cell line established from metastatic MM, showed slightly increased phosphorylation of both JNK1 and JNK2, whereas WM164, a cell line derived from primary MM, showed significant phosphorylation of JNK1. A JNK inhibitor, SP600125, inhibited cell proliferation of SK-MEL-3 but not SK-MEL-28 or WM164. Transfection of JNK1-specific siRNA reduced the migratory activity of WM164 cells, while silencing of either JNK1 or JNK2 strongly suppressed the invasive activity of SK-MEL-3. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that JNK isoforms have different roles in MM. Metastasis of MM may be regulated by JNK2, while invasion is regulated by both JNK1 and JNK2. JNK1 and JNK2 respectively mediate cell migration and cell proliferation. Further understanding of the specific roles of JNK isoforms in the pathogenesis of MM may lead to the development of therapies targeting specific isoforms. © 2013 British Association of Dermatologists. DOI: 10.1111/ced.12102 PMID: 24252081 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15637069
1. J Biol Chem. 2005 Mar 18;280(11):9913-20. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M412165200. Epub 2005 Jan 6. Identification of a specific domain responsible for JNK2alpha2 autophosphorylation. Cui J(1), Holgado-Madruga M, Su W, Tsuiki H, Wedegaertner P, Wong AJ. Author information: (1)Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kimmel Cancer Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, 233 S. 10th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA. c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) are a group of mitogen-activated protein kinase family members that are important in regulating cell growth, proliferation, and apoptosis. Activation of the JNK pathway has been implicated in the formation of several human tumors. We have previously demonstrated that a 55-kDa JNK isoform is constitutively activated in 86% of human brain tumors and more recently demonstrated that this isoform is either JNK2alpha2 or JNK2beta2. Importantly, we have also found that among the 10 known JNK isoforms, the JNK2 isoforms are unique in their ability to autophosphorylate in vitro and in vivo. This does not require the participation of any upstream kinases and also leads to substrate kinase activity in vitro and in vivo. To clarify the mechanism of JNK2alpha2 autoactivation, we have generated a series of chimeric cDNAs joining portions of JNK1alpha2, which does not have detectable autophosphorylation activity, with portions of JNK2alpha2, which has the strongest autophosphorylation activity. Through in vivo and in vitro kinase assays, we were able to define a domain ranging from amino acids 218 to 226 within JNK2alpha2 that is required for its autophosphorylation. Mutation of JNK2alpha2 to its counterpart of JNK1alpha2 in this region abrogated the autophosphorylation activity and c-Jun substrate kinase activity in vivo and in vitro. Notably, switching of JNK1alpha2 to JNK2alpha2 at this 9-amino acid site enabled JNK1alpha2 to gain the autophosphorylation activity in vivo and in vitro. We also found two other functional sites that participate in JNK2alpha2 activity. One site ranging from amino acids 363 to 382 of JNK2alpha2 is required for efficient c-Jun binding in vitro, and a site ranging from amino acids 383 to 424 enhances autophosphorylation intensity, although it is not required for triggering the autophosphorylation in vitro. These findings have uncovered the regions required for JNK2alpha2 autophosphorylation, and this information could be used as potential targets to block JNK2alpha2 activation. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M412165200 PMID: 15637069 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23028407
1. Open Rheumatol J. 2012;6:220-31. doi: 10.2174/1874312901206010220. Epub 2012 Sep 7. c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase in Inflammation and Rheumatic Diseases. Guma M(1), Firestein GS. Author information: (1)Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA. The c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) are members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family and are activated by environmental stress. JNK is also activated by proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF and IL-1, and Toll-like receptor ligands. This pathway, therefore, can act as a critical convergence point in immune system signaling for both adaptive and innate responses. Like other MAPKs, the JNKs are activated via the sequential activation of protein kinases that includes two dual-specificity MAP kinase kinases (MKK4 and MKK7) and multiple MAP kinase kinase kinases. MAPKs, including JNKs, can be deactivated by a specialized group of phosphatases, called MAP kinase phosphatases. JNK phosphorylates and regulates the activity of transcription factors other than c-Jun, including ATF2, Elk-1, p53 and c-Myc and non-transcription factors, such as members of the Bcl-2 family. The pathway plays a critical role in cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and migration. In this review, an overview of the functions that are related to rheumatic diseases is presented. In addition, some diseases in which JNK participates will be highlighted. DOI: 10.2174/1874312901206010220 PMCID: PMC3460413 PMID: 23028407
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24321066
1. Xi Bao Yu Fen Zi Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2013 Dec;29(12):1251-3. [Immune regulatory effect of citalopram on microglial cells]. [Article in Chinese] Wang S(1), Chen H, Xie H. Author information: (1)Department of Neurology, Nanlou Clinical Division, PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of antidepressant citalopram on the gene expressions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), and to discuss the impacts of citalopram on p38 and c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family in microglial cells. METHODS: BV2 cells were induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to produce TNF-α and IL-1β. After pretreatment with citalopram (20 μmol/L) for 4 h, the mRNA levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR); after pretreatment for 24 h, the protein levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were analyzed by ELISA; the effects of citalopram on the phosphorylation of p38MAPK and JNK were observed after pretreatment for 30 min. RESULTS: Citalopram significantly inhibited the mRNA and protein expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β, and the phosphorylation of p38MAPK and JNK. CONCLUSION: Citalopram may play the anti-inflammatory role by inhibiting MAPK pathway in microglial cells. PMID: 24321066 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24096618
1. Acta Neuropathol. 2013 Nov;126(5):757-62. doi: 10.1007/s00401-013-1187-5. Epub 2013 Oct 6. AKT1E17K mutations cluster with meningothelial and transitional meningiomas and can be detected by SFRP1 immunohistochemistry. Sahm F(1), Bissel J, Koelsche C, Schweizer L, Capper D, Reuss D, Böhmer K, Lass U, Göck T, Kalis K, Meyer J, Habel A, Brehmer S, Mittelbronn M, Jones DT, Schittenhelm J, Urbschat S, Ketter R, Heim S, Mawrin C, Hainfellner JA, Berghoff AS, Preusser M, Becker A, Herold-Mende C, Unterberg A, Hartmann C, Kickingereder P, Collins VP, Pfister SM, von Deimling A. Author information: (1)Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Pathology, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, INF 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. The activating E17K mutation in the AKT1 gene has been detected in several tumor entities. Currently several clinical studies with specific AKT1 inhibitors are under way. To determine whether AKT1 mutations are involved in human tumors of the nervous system, we examined a series of 1,437 tumors including 391 primary intracranial brain tumors and 1,046 tumors of the coverings of the central and peripheral nervous system. AKT1E17K mutations were exclusively seen in meningiomas and occurred in 65 of 958 of these tumors. A strong preponderance was seen in the variant of meningothelial meningioma WHO grade I of basal and spinal localization. In contrast, AKT1E17K mutations were rare in WHO grade II and absent in WHO grade III meningiomas. In order to more effectively detect this mutation, we tested for immunohistochemical markers associated with this alteration. We observed strong up-regulation of SFRP1 expression in all meningiomas with AKT1E17K mutation and in HEK293 cells after transfection with mutant AKT1E17K, but not in meningiomas and HEK293 cells lacking this mutation. DOI: 10.1007/s00401-013-1187-5 PMID: 24096618 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20305284
1. Mol Cell Proteomics. 2010 May;9(5):894-911. doi: 10.1074/mcp.M000050-MCP201. Epub 2010 Mar 20. Multiplex N-terminome analysis of MMP-2 and MMP-9 substrate degradomes by iTRAQ-TAILS quantitative proteomics. Prudova A(1), auf dem Keller U, Butler GS, Overall CM. Author information: (1)Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, 4.401 Life Sciences Institute, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada. Proteolysis is a major protein posttranslational modification that, by altering protein structure, affects protein function and, by truncating the protein sequence, alters peptide signatures of proteins analyzed by proteomics. To identify such modified and shortened protease-generated neo-N-termini on a proteome-wide basis, we developed a whole protein isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) labeling method that simultaneously labels and blocks all primary amines including protein N- termini and lysine side chains. Blocking lysines limits trypsin cleavage to arginine, which effectively elongates the proteolytically truncated peptides for improved MS/MS analysis and peptide identification. Incorporating iTRAQ whole protein labeling with terminal amine isotopic labeling of substrates (iTRAQ-TAILS) to enrich the N-terminome by negative selection of the blocked mature original N-termini and neo-N-termini has many advantages. It enables simultaneous characterization of the natural N-termini of proteins, their N-terminal modifications, and proteolysis product and cleavage site identification. Furthermore, iTRAQ-TAILS also enables multiplex N-terminomics analysis of up to eight samples and allows for quantification in MS2 mode, thus preventing an increase in spectral complexity and extending proteome coverage by signal amplification of low abundance proteins. We compared the substrate degradomes of two closely related matrix metalloproteinases, MMP-2 (gelatinase A) and MMP-9 (gelatinase B), in fibroblast secreted proteins. Among 3,152 unique N-terminal peptides identified corresponding to 1,054 proteins, we detected 201 cleavage products for MMP-2 and unexpectedly only 19 for the homologous MMP-9 under identical conditions. Novel substrates identified and biochemically validated include insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4, complement C1r component A, galectin-1, dickkopf-related protein-3, and thrombospondin-2. Hence, N-terminomics analyses using iTRAQ-TAILS links gelatinases with new mechanisms of action in angiogenesis and reveals unpredicted restrictions in substrate repertoires for these two very similar proteases. DOI: 10.1074/mcp.M000050-MCP201 PMCID: PMC2871422 PMID: 20305284 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21604129
1. Methods Mol Biol. 2011;753:273-87. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-148-2_18. Identification of proteolytic products and natural protein N-termini by Terminal Amine Isotopic Labeling of Substrates (TAILS). Doucet A(1), Kleifeld O, Kizhakkedathu JN, Overall CM. Author information: (1)Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medecine, Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. adouce2@uottawa.ca Determining the sequence of protein N-termini and their modifications functionally annotates proteins since translation isoforms, posttranslational modifications, and proteolytic truncations direct localization, activity, and the half-life of most proteins. Here we present in detail the steps required to perform our recently described approach we call Terminal Amine Isotopic Labeling of Substrates (TAILS), a combined N-terminomics and protease substrate discovery degradomics platform for the simultaneous quantitative and global analysis of the N-terminome and proteolysis in one MS/MS experiment. By a 3-day procedure with flexible α- and ɛ-amine labeling and blocking options, TAILS removes internal tryptic and C-terminal peptides by binding to a dendritic polyglycerol aldehyde polymer. Therefore, by negative selection, this enriches for both the N-terminal-labeled peptides and all forms of naturally blocked N-terminal peptides. In addition to providing valuable proteome annotation, the simultaneous analysis of the original mature N-terminal peptides enables these peptides to be used for higher confidence protein substrate identification by two or more different and unique peptides. Second, the analysis of the N-terminal peptides forms a statistical classifier to determine valid isotope ratio cutoffs in order to identify with high-confidence protease-generated neo-N-terminal peptides. Third, quantifying the loss of acetylated or cyclized N-terminal peptides that have been cleaved extends overall substrate coverage. Hence, TAILS allows for the global analysis of the N-terminome and determination of cleavage site motifs and substrates for protease including those with unknown or broad specificity. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-148-2_18 PMID: 21604129 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24139673
1. J Nutr Biochem. 2013 Dec;24(12):2127-37. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2013.08.004. Epub 2013 Oct 15. Docosahexaenoic acid reduces cellular inflammatory response following permanent focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Chang CY(1), Kuan YH, Li JR, Chen WY, Ou YC, Pan HC, Liao SL, Raung SL, Chang CJ, Chen CJ. Author information: (1)Department of Surgery, Fong Yuan Hospital, Taichung 420, Taiwan. Cellular inflammatory response plays an important role in ischemic brain injury and anti-inflammatory treatments in stroke are beneficial. Dietary supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) shows anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects against ischemic stroke. However, its effectiveness and its precise modes of neuroprotective action remain incompletely understood. This study provides evidence of an alternative target for DHA and sheds light on the mechanism of its physiological benefits. We report a global inhibitory effect of 3 consecutive days of DHA preadministration on circulating and intracerebral cellular inflammatory responses in a rat model of permanent cerebral ischemia. DHA exhibited a neuroprotective effect against ischemic deficits by reduction of behavioral disturbance, brain infarction, edema and blood-brain barrier disruption. The results of enzymatic assay, Western blot, real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and flow cytometric analysis revealed that DHA reduced central macrophages/microglia activation, leukocyte infiltration and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and peripheral leukocyte activation after cerebral ischemia. In parallel with these immunosuppressive phenomena, DHA attenuated post-stroke oxidative stress, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation, c-Jun phosphorylation and activating protein-1 (AP-1) activation but further elevated ischemia-induced NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. DHA treatment also had an immunosuppressive effect in lipopolysaccharide/interferon-γ-stimulated glial cultures by attenuating JNK phosphorylation, c-Jun phosphorylation and AP-1 activation and augmenting Nrf2 and HO-1 expression. In summary, we have shown that DHA exhibited neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects against ischemic brain injury and these effects were accompanied by decreased oxidative stress and JNK/AP-1 signaling as well as enhanced Nrf2/HO-1 expression. © 2013. DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2013.08.004 PMID: 24139673 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21604127
1. Methods Mol Biol. 2011;753:243-55. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-148-2_16. N-terminomics: a high-content screen for protease substrates and their cleavage sites. Timmer JC(1), Salvesen GS. Author information: (1)Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. Proteases play vital roles in many cellular processes and signaling cascades through specific limited cleavage of their targets. It is important to identify what proteins are substrates of proteases and where their cleavage sites are so as to reveal the molecular mechanisms and specificity of signaling. We have developed a method to achieve this goal using a strategy that chemically tags the substrate's alpha amine generated by proteolysis, enriches for tagged peptides, and identifies them using liquid chromatography-coupled tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Peptide MS/MS data are searched against a database to reveal what proteins are cleaved, whereby peptide N-termini demarcate sites of protease cleavage. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-148-2_16 PMID: 21604127 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24270002
1. Mol Cell Neurosci. 2014 Jan;58:29-39. doi: 10.1016/j.mcn.2013.11.001. Epub 2013 Nov 21. Proteasome inhibition induces stress kinase dependent transport deficits--implications for Alzheimer's disease. Agholme L(1), Nath S(1), Domert J(1), Marcusson J(2), Kågedal K(1), Hallbeck M(3). Author information: (1)Experimental Pathology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. (2)Geriatric, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. (3)Experimental Pathology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Clinical Pathology, County Council of Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden. Electronic address: martin.hallbeck@liu.se. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by accumulation of two misfolded and aggregated proteins, β-amyloid and hyperphosphorylated tau. Both cellular systems responsible for clearance of misfolded and aggregated proteins, the lysosomal and the proteasomal, have been shown to be malfunctioning in the aged brain and more so in patients with neurodegenerative diseases, including AD. This malfunction could be contributing to β-amyloid and tau accumulation, eventually aggregating in plaques and tangles. We have investigated the impact of decreased proteasome activity on tau phosphorylation as well as on microtubule stability and transport. To do this, we used our recently developed neuronal model where human SH-SY5Y cells obtain neuronal morphology and function through differentiation. We found that exposure to low doses of the proteasome inhibitor MG-115 caused tau phosphorylation, microtubule destabilization and disturbed neuritic transport. Furthermore, reduced proteasome activity activated several proteins implicated in tau phosphorylation and AD pathology, including c-Jun N-terminal kinase, c-Jun and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) 1/2. Restoration of the microtubule transport was achieved by inhibiting ERK 1/2 activation, and simultaneous inhibition of both ERK 1/2 and c-Jun reversed the proteasome inhibition-induced tau phosphorylation. Taken together, this study suggests that a decrease in proteasome activity can, through activation of c-Jun and ERK 1/2, result in several events related to neurodegenerative diseases. Restoration of proteasome activity or modulation of ERK 1/2 and c-Jun function can open new treatment possibilities against neurodegenerative diseases such as AD. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2013.11.001 PMID: 24270002 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16206264
1. Int J Cancer. 2006 Mar 15;118(6):1381-9. doi: 10.1002/ijc.21578. The orphan nuclear receptor DAX1 is up-regulated by the EWS/FLI1 oncoprotein and is highly expressed in Ewing tumors. Mendiola M(1), Carrillo J, García E, Lalli E, Hernández T, de Alava E, Tirode F, Delattre O, García-Miguel P, López-Barea F, Pestaña A, Alonso J. Author information: (1)Departamento de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas A. Sols CSIC-UAM, 28029 Madrid, Spain. The Ewing family of tumors harbors chromosomal translocations that join the N-terminal region of the EWS gene with the C-terminal region of several transcription factors of the ETS family, mainly FLI1, resulting in chimeric transcription factors that play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of Ewing tumors. To identify downstream targets of the EWS/FLI1 fusion protein, we established 293 cells expressing constitutively either the chimeric EWS/FLI1 or wild type FLI1 proteins and used cDNA arrays to identify genes differentially regulated by EWS/FLI1. DAX1 (NR0B1), an unusual orphan nuclear receptor involved in gonadal development, sex determination and steroidogenesis, showed a consistent up-regulation by EWS/FLI1 oncoprotein, but not by wild type FLI1. Specific induction of DAX1 by EWS/FLI1 was confirmed in two independent cell systems with inducible expression of EWS/FLI1. We also analyzed the expression of DAX1 in Ewing tumors and derived cell lines, as well as in other nonrelated small round cell tumors. DAX1 was expressed in all Ewing tumor specimens analyzed, and in seven out of eight Ewing tumor cell lines, but not in any neuroblastoma or embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Furthermore, silencing of EWS/FLI1 by RNA interference in a Ewing tumor cell line markedly reduced the levels of DAX1 mRNA and protein, confirming that DAX1 up-regulation is dependent upon EWS/FLI1 expression. The high levels of DAX1 found in Ewing tumors and its potent transcriptional repressor activity suggest that the oncogenic effect of EWS/FLI1 may be mediated, at least in part, by the up-regulation of DAX1 expression. DOI: 10.1002/ijc.21578 PMID: 16206264 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17461888
1. CNS Drug Rev. 2007 Spring;13(1):21-42. doi: 10.1111/j.1527-3458.2007.00001.x. Lacosamide: a review of preclinical properties. Beyreuther BK(1), Freitag J, Heers C, Krebsfänger N, Scharfenecker U, Stöhr T. Author information: (1)SCHWARZ BIOSCIENCES, Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, GmbH, Monheim, Germany. bettina.beyreuther@schwarzpharma.com Lacosamide (LCM), (SPM 927, (R)-2-acetamido-N-benzyl-3-methoxypropionamide, previously referred to as harkoseride or ADD 234037) is a member of a series of functionalized amino acids that were specifically synthesized as anticonvulsive drug candidates. LCM has demonstrated antiepileptic effectiveness in different rodent seizure models and antinociceptive potential in experimental animal models that reflect distinct types and symptoms of neuropathic as well as chronic inflammatory pain. Recent results suggest that LCM has a dual mode of action underlying its anticonvulsant and analgesic activity. It was found that LCM selectively enhances slow inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels without affecting fast inactivation. Furthermore, employing proteomic affinity-labeling techniques, collapsin-response mediator protein 2 (CRMP-2 alias DRP-2) was identified as a binding partner. Follow-up experiments confirmed a functional interaction of LCM with CRMP-2 in vitro. LCM did not inhibit or induce a wide variety of cytochrome P450 enzymes at therapeutic concentrations. In safety pharmacology and toxicology studies conducted in mice, rats, rabbits, and dogs, LCM was well tolerated. Either none or only minor side effects were observed in safety studies involving the central nervous, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and renal systems and there is no indication of abuse liability. Repeated dose toxicity studies demonstrated that after either intravenous or oral administration of LCM the adverse events were reversible and consisted mostly of exaggerated pharmacodynamic effects on the CNS. No genotoxic or carcinogenic effects were observed in vivo, and LCM showed a favorable profile in reproductive and developmental animal studies. Currently, LCM is in a late stage of clinical development as an adjunctive treatment for patients with uncontrolled partial-onset seizures, and it is being assessed as monotherapy in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy. Further trials to identify LCM's potential in pain and for other indications have been initiated. DOI: 10.1111/j.1527-3458.2007.00001.x PMCID: PMC6494128 PMID: 17461888 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23288091
1. Ther Drug Monit. 2013 Feb;35(1):4-29. doi: 10.1097/FTD.0b013e31827c11e7. Therapeutic drug monitoring of antiepileptic drugs by use of saliva. Patsalos PN(1), Berry DJ. Author information: (1)Pharmacology and Therapeutics Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL-Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom. p.patsalos@ucl.ac.uk Blood (serum/plasma) antiepileptic drug (AED) therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) has proven to be an invaluable surrogate marker for individualizing and optimizing the drug management of patients with epilepsy. Since 1989, there has been an exponential increase in AEDs with 23 currently licensed for clinical use, and recently, there has been renewed and extensive interest in the use of saliva as an alternative matrix for AED TDM. The advantages of saliva include the fact that for many AEDs it reflects the free (pharmacologically active) concentration in serum; it is readily sampled, can be sampled repetitively, and sampling is noninvasive; does not require the expertise of a phlebotomist; and is preferred by many patients, particularly children and the elderly. For each AED, this review summarizes the key pharmacokinetic characteristics relevant to the practice of TDM, discusses the use of other biological matrices with particular emphasis on saliva and the evidence that saliva concentration reflects those in serum. Also discussed are the indications for salivary AED TDM, the key factors to consider when saliva sampling is to be undertaken, and finally, a practical protocol is described so as to enable AED TDM to be applied optimally and effectively in the clinical setting. Overall, there is compelling evidence that salivary TDM can be usefully applied so as to optimize the treatment of epilepsy with carbamazepine, clobazam, ethosuximide, gabapentin, lacosamide, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, topiramate, and zonisamide. Salivary TDM of valproic acid is probably not helpful, whereas for clonazepam, eslicarbazepine acetate, felbamate, pregabalin, retigabine, rufinamide, stiripentol, tiagabine, and vigabatrin, the data are sparse or nonexistent. DOI: 10.1097/FTD.0b013e31827c11e7 PMID: 23288091 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20677583
1. Neurosciences (Riyadh). 2010 Jan;15(1):3-6. Lacosamide, a newer antiepileptic. Patyar S(1), Medhi B. Author information: (1)Department of Pharmacology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India. Lacosamide (LCM) is a newer antiepileptic drug with a dual mode of action. It selectively enhances slow inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels without affecting fast inactivation, and modulates collapsing response mediator protein 2 (CRMP-2). It has a high oral bioavailability of approximately 100%. It has shown potent and broad neuroprotective effects in vitro and in vivo animal models making it a potential candidate for long term treatment of epilepsy. In addition to this, it has demonstrated analgesic activity in various animal models. Apart from this, LCM has demonstrated potent effects in animal models for a variety of CNS disorders like schizophrenia and stress induced anxiety. Various safety pharmacology and toxicology studies have shown that LCM is well tolerated. Clinical trials have also suggested that LCM is a safe, effective, and well tolerated adjunctive treatment for reduction of seizure frequency in patients with highly refractory, partial seizures. Other potential indications of LCM are being investigated. PMID: 20677583 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18256529
1. Cell Cycle. 2008 Jan 15;7(2):250-6. doi: 10.4161/cc.7.2.5229. Epub 2007 Oct 30. A transcriptional profiling meta-analysis reveals a core EWS-FLI gene expression signature. Hancock JD(1), Lessnick SL. Author information: (1)The Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and The Center for Children, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Ewing's sarcomas are characterized by recurrent chromosomal translocations expressing EWS-ETS fusion proteins, the most common of which is EWS-FLI.(1-5) EWS-FLI is an oncogenic transcription factor that regulates genes involved in tumorigenesis.(6,7) Because the Ewing's sarcoma cell of origin remains unknown, a variety of model systems have been developed to study EWS-FLI fusions,(8-14) and multiple microarray experiments describing potential EWS-FLI target genes have been reported.(8,10,11,13,15-21) Each model has potential benefits and drawbacks, but a large-scale comparison of these has not been reported. Herein we report a meta-analysis of the genes that are dysregulated by EWS-FLI in Ewing's sarcoma model systems. In general, EWS-FLI gain- and loss-of-function models in human cell types were well correlated to patient-derived tumor samples, while murine models were not. Using frequency analysis of dysregulated genes across multiple model systems, we identified a conserved "core" EWS-FLI transcriptional signature. This signature contained many of the genes known to be involved in the tumorigenic phenotype of Ewing's sarcoma, and also contained genes that have not been previously reported. Comparisons between the core EWS-FLI signature and published mesenchymal stem cell data support the recent assertion that mesenchymal stem cells are likely the Ewing's sarcoma precursor cell.(15) These results demonstrate the utility of using comparative analysis to validate model systems and emphasize the unique potential of this approach to identify both oncogenic and background cell signatures. DOI: 10.4161/cc.7.2.5229 PMID: 18256529 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21861814
1. Curr Med Chem. 2011;18(28):4344-58. doi: 10.2174/092986711797200408. Evaluation of anticonvulsants for possible use in neuropathic pain. Waszkielewicz AM(1), Gunia A, Słoczyńska K, Marona H. Author information: (1)Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-688 Krakow, Poland. awaszkie@cm-uj.krakow.pl Neuropathic pain is a kind of pain related with functional abnormality of neurons. Despite large progress in pharmacotherapy, neuropathic pain is still considered an unmet need. Nowadays, there are few drugs registered for this condition, such as pregabalin, gabapentin, duloxetine, carbamazepine, and lidocaine. Among them, pregabalin, gabapentin and carbamazepine are well known antiepileptic drugs. Among the group of new antiepileptic drugs, which are addressed to 1% of human world population suffering from seizures, it turned out that 30% of the seizures resistant to pharmacotherapy has not enough market to justify the costs of drug development. Therefore, it is already a phenomenon that researchers turn their projects toward a larger market, related with possible similar mechanism. Anticonvulsant mechanism of action is in the first place among primary indications for drugs revealing potential analgesic activity. Therefore, many drug candidates for epilepsy, still in preclinical stage, are being evaluated for activity in neuropathic pain. This review is focusing on antiepileptic drugs, which are evaluated for their analgesic activity in major tests related with neuropathic pain. Relation between structure, mechanism of action and result in tests such as the Chung model (spinal nerve ligation SNL), the Bennett model (chronic constriction injury of sciatic nerve CCI) and other tests are considered. The first examples are carbamazepine, gabapentin, and lacosamide as drugs well established in epilepsy market as well as drug candidates such as valnoctamide, and other valproic acid derivatives, novel biphenyl pyrazole derivatives, etc. Moreover, clinical efficacy related with listed animal models has been discussed. DOI: 10.2174/092986711797200408 PMID: 21861814 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22367194
1. J Biol Chem. 2012 Apr 13;287(16):13382-95. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.314179. Epub 2012 Feb 24. Biochemical characterization and N-terminomics analysis of leukolysin, the membrane-type 6 matrix metalloprotease (MMP25): chemokine and vimentin cleavages enhance cell migration and macrophage phagocytic activities. Starr AE(1), Bellac CL, Dufour A, Goebeler V, Overall CM. Author information: (1)Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada. The neutrophil-specific protease membrane-type 6 matrix metalloproteinase (MT6-MMP)/MMP-25/leukolysin is implicated in multiple sclerosis and cancer yet remains poorly characterized. To characterize the biological roles of MT6-MMP, it is critical to identify its substrates for which only seven are currently known. Here, we biochemically characterized MT6-MMP, profiled its tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase inhibitory spectrum, performed degradomics analyses, and screened 26 chemokines for cleavage using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. MT6-MMP processes seven each of the CXC and CC chemokine subfamilies. Notably, cleavage of the neutrophil chemoattractant CXCL5 activates the chemokine, thereby increasing its agonist activity, indicating a feed-forward mechanism for neutrophil recruitment. Likewise, cleavage also activated CCL15 and CCL23 to increase monocyte recruitment. Utilizing the proteomics approach proteomic identification of cleavage site specificity (PICS), we identified 286 peptidic cleavage sites spanning from P6 to P6' from which an unusual glutamate preference in P1 was identified. The degradomics screen terminal amine isotopic labeling of substrates (TAILS), which enriches for neo-N-terminal peptides of cleaved substrates, was used to identify 58 new native substrates in fibroblast secretomes after incubation with MT6-MMP. Vimentin, cystatin C, galectin-1, IGFBP-7, and secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) were among those substrates we biochemically confirmed. An extracellular "moonlighting" form of vimentin is a chemoattractant for THP-1 cells, but MT6-MMP cleavage abolished monocyte recruitment. Unexpectedly, the MT6-MMP-cleaved vimentin potently stimulated phagocytosis, which was not a property of the full-length protein. Hence, MT6-MMP regulates neutrophil and monocyte chemotaxis and by generating "eat-me" signals upon vimentin cleavage potentially increases phagocytic removal of neutrophils to resolve inflammation. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M111.314179 PMCID: PMC3339980 PMID: 22367194 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23667905
1. Biol Chem. 2012 Dec;393(12):1477-83. doi: 10.1515/hsz-2012-0269. CLIPPER: an add-on to the Trans-Proteomic Pipeline for the automated analysis of TAILS N-terminomics data. auf dem Keller U(1), Overall CM. Author information: (1)Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland. ulrich.aufdemkeller@biol.ethz.ch Data analysis in proteomics is complex and with the extra challenges involved in the interpretation of data from N-terminomics experiments, this can be daunting.Therefore, we have devised a rational pipeline of steps to approach N-terminomics data analysis in a statistically based and valid manner. We have automated these steps in CLIPPER, an add-on to the Trans-Proteomic Pipeline(TPP). Applying CLIPPER to the analysis of N- terminomics data generated by terminal amine isotopic labeling of substrates (TAILS) enables high confidence peptide to protein assignment, protein N-terminal characterization and annotation, and for protease analysis readily allows protease substrate discovery with high confidence. DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2012-0269 PMID: 23667905 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23648276
1. Epilepsy Behav. 2013 Jul;28(1):22-5. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2013.03.030. Epub 2013 May 4. Network analysis reveals patterns of antiepileptic drug use in children with medically intractable epilepsy. Ibrahim GM(1), Rutka JT, Snead OC 3rd. Author information: (1)Division of Neurosurgery, Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. george.m.ibrahim@gmail.com Network analysis is an emerging tool for the study of complex systems. Antiepileptic drug (AED) polytherapy in children with medically intractable epilepsy may be considered a complex system, given the heterogeneity of drug combinations that are frequently modified according to clinical indications. The current article presents a concise review of network theory and its application to the characterization of AED use in children with refractory epilepsy. Current and previous AEDs prescribed to 27 children with refractory, localization-related epilepsy were recorded, and network theory was applied to identify patterns of drug administration. Of the fifteen unique AEDs prescribed, levetiracetam possessed the highest betweenness centrality within the network. Furthermore, first generation AEDs were often discontinued, while lacosamide and topiramate were most likely to be initiated. We also identified three subnetworks of AEDs that were commonly coadministered. We conclude that network analysis is an effective method to characterize the complexity of AED administration patterns in children with epilepsy with many promising future applications. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2013.03.030 PMID: 23648276 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25483190
1. Cell Cycle. 2014;13(15):2391-9. doi: 10.4161/cc.29337. Ewing sarcoma EWS protein regulates midzone formation by recruiting Aurora B kinase to the midzone. Park H(1), Turkalo TK, Nelson K, Folmsbee SS, Robb C, Roper B, Azuma M. Author information: (1)a Department of Molecular Biosciences; University of Kansas; Lawrence, KS USA. Ewing sarcoma is a malignant bone cancer that primarily occurs in children and adolescents. Eighty-five percent of Ewing sarcoma is characterized by the presence of the aberrant chimeric EWS/FLI1 fusion gene. Previously, we demonstrated that an interaction between EWS/FLI1 and wild-type EWS led to the inhibition of EWS activity and mitotic dysfunction. Although defective mitosis is considered to be a critical step in cancer initiation, it is unknown how interference with EWS contributes to Ewing sarcoma formation. Here, we demonstrate that EWS/FLI1- and EWS-knockdown cells display a high incidence of defects in the midzone, a midline structure located between segregating chromatids during anaphase. Defects in the midzone can lead to the failure of cytokinesis and can result in the induction of aneuploidy. The similarity among the phenotypes of EWS/FLI1- and EWS siRNA-transfected HeLa cells points to the inhibition of EWS as the key mechanism for the induction of midzone defects. Supporting this observation, the ectopic expression of EWS rescues the high incidence of midzone defects observed in Ewing sarcoma A673 cells. We discovered that EWS interacts with Aurora B kinase, and that EWS is also required for recruiting Aurora B to the midzone. A domain analysis revealed that the R565 in the RGG3 domain of EWS is essential for both Aurora B interaction and the recruitment of Aurora B to the midzone. Here, we propose that the impairment of EWS-dependent midzone formation via the recruitment of Aurora B is a potential mechanism of Ewing sarcoma development. DOI: 10.4161/cc.29337 PMCID: PMC4128884 PMID: 25483190 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18485618
1. Pathol Biol (Paris). 2008 Jul;56(5):257-9. doi: 10.1016/j.patbio.2008.03.005. Epub 2008 May 15. [Ewing's tumours, genetic and cellular aspects]. [Article in French] Delattre O. Ewing's tumour is the second most frequent primary tumour of bone. It is associated in 85% of cases with a specific and recurrent chromosome translocation, a t(11; 22)(q24; q12) which generates a fusion gene between the 5' part of EWS and the 3' part of FLI-1, a member of the ETS family. Less frequently, this gene fusion involves EWS and another member of the ETS family which can be: ERG, ETV1, E1AF or FEV depending on the cases. The EWS-ETS fusion is causative in the development of Ewing's tumour. Its mechanism of action mainly relies on the abnormal transcription regulation of key target genes which are involved in the regulation of cell cycle, signal transduction, migration. The cellular context within which EWS-FLI-1 exerts its oncogenic action is a long standing matter of debate. Recent data converge to suggest that the Ewing cell origin is a mesenchymal stem cell. DOI: 10.1016/j.patbio.2008.03.005 PMID: 18485618 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18976161
1. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2009 Jan;11(1):59-98. doi: 10.1089/ars.2008.2104. Cellular senescence: molecular mechanisms, in vivo significance, and redox considerations. Muller M(1). Author information: (1)Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Concord RG Hospital, Concord, Sydney, Australia. mmuller@med.usyd.edu.au Cellular senescence is recognized as a critical cellular response to prolonged rounds of replication and environmental stresses. Its defining characteristics are arrested cell-cycle progression and the development of aberrant gene expression with proinflammatory behavior. Whereas the mechanistic events associated with senescence are generally well understood at the molecular level, the impact of senescence in vivo remains to be fully determined. In addition to the role of senescence as an antitumor mechanism, this review examines cellular senescence as a factor in organismal aging and age-related diseases, with particular emphasis on aberrant gene expression and abnormal paracrine signaling. Senescence as an emerging factor in tissue remodeling, wound repair, and infection is considered. In addition, the role of oxidative stress as a major mediator of senescence and the role of NAD(P)H oxidases and changes to intracellular GSH/GSSG status are reviewed. Recent findings indicate that senescence and the behavior of senescent cells are amenable to therapeutic intervention. As the in vivo significance of senescence becomes clearer, the challenge will be to modulate the adverse effects of senescence without increasing the risks of other diseases, such as cancer. The uncoupled relation between cell-cycle arrest and the senescent phenotype suggests that this is an achievable outcome. DOI: 10.1089/ars.2008.2104 PMID: 18976161 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25432018
1. J Med Chem. 2014 Dec 26;57(24):10290-303. doi: 10.1021/jm501372p. Epub 2014 Dec 12. Synthesis and structure-activity relationship studies of small molecule disruptors of EWS-FLI1 interactions in Ewing's sarcoma. Tosso PN(1), Kong Y, Scher L, Cummins R, Schneider J, Rahim S, Holman KT, Toretsky J, Wang K, Üren A, Brown ML. Author information: (1)Center for Drug Discovery, Georgetown University Medical Center , New Research Building EP07, 3970 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, D.C. 20057, United States. EWS-FLI1 is an oncogenic fusion protein implicated in the development of Ewing's sarcoma family tumors (ESFT). Using our previously reported lead compound 2 (YK-4-279), we designed and synthesized a focused library of analogues. The functional inhibition of the analogues was measured by an EWS-FLI1/NR0B1 reporter luciferase assay and a paired cell screening approach measuring effects on growth inhibition for human cells containing EWS-FLI1 (TC32 and TC71) and control PANC1 cell lines devoid of the oncoprotein. Our data revealed that substitution of electron donating groups at the para-position on the phenyl ring was the most favorable for inhibition of EWS-FLI1 by analogs of 2. Compound 9u (with a dimethylamino substitution) was the most active inhibitor with GI50 = 0.26 ± 0.1 μM. Further, a correlation of growth inhibition (EWS-FLI1 expressing TC32 cells) and the luciferase reporter activity was established (R(2) = 0.84). Finally, we designed and synthesized a biotinylated analogue and determined the binding affinity for recombinant EWS-FLI1 (Kd = 4.8 ± 2.6 μM). DOI: 10.1021/jm501372p PMCID: PMC4281097 PMID: 25432018 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21271304
1. Mol Neurobiol. 2011 Jun;43(3):180-91. doi: 10.1007/s12035-011-8166-4. Epub 2011 Jan 28. Collapsin response mediator protein-2: an emerging pathologic feature and therapeutic target for neurodisease indications. Hensley K(1), Venkova K, Christov A, Gunning W, Park J. Author information: (1)Department of Pathology, University of Toledo Health Science Center, Toledo, OH 43614, USA. Kenneth.hensley@utoledo.edu Collapsin response mediator protein-2 (DPYSL2 or CRMP2) is a multifunctional adaptor protein within the central nervous system. In the developing brain or cell cultures, CRMP2 performs structural and regulatory functions related to cytoskeletal dynamics, vesicle trafficking and synaptic physiology whereas CRMP2 functions in adult brain are still being elucidated. CRMP2 has been associated with several neuropathologic or psychiatric conditions including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and schizophrenia, either at the level of genetic polymorphisms; protein expression; post-translational modifications; or protein/protein interactions. In AD, CRMP2 is phosphorylated by glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) and cyclin dependent protein kinase-5 (CDK5), the same kinases that act on tau protein in generating neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Phosphorylated CRMP2 collects in NFTs in association with the synaptic structure-regulating SRA1/WAVE1 (specifically Rac1-associated protein-1/WASP family verprolin-homologous protein-1) complex. This phenomenon could plausibly contribute to deficits in neural and synaptic structure that have been well documented in AD. This review discusses the essential biology of CRMP2 in the context of nascent data implicating CRMP2 perturbations as either a correlate of, or plausible contributor to, diverse neuropathologies. A discussion is made of recent findings that the atypical antidepressant tianeptine increases CRMP2 expression, whereas other, neuroactive small molecules including the epilepsy drug lacosamide and the natural brain metabolite lanthionine ketimine appear to bind CRMP2 directly with concomitant affects on neural structure. These findings constitute proofs-of-concept that pharmacological manipulation of CRMP2 is possible and hence, may offer new opportunities for therapy development against certain neurological diseases. DOI: 10.1007/s12035-011-8166-4 PMID: 21271304 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22723308
1. Mol Cancer Res. 2012 Aug;10(8):1098-108. doi: 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-12-0086. Epub 2012 Jun 20. EWS/FLI1 regulates EYA3 in Ewing sarcoma via modulation of miRNA-708, resulting in increased cell survival and chemoresistance. Robin TP(1), Smith A, McKinsey E, Reaves L, Jedlicka P, Ford HL. Author information: (1)Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. Ewing sarcoma is an aggressive pediatric cancer of the bone and soft tissue, in which patients whose tumors have a poor histologic response to initial chemotherapy have a poor overall prognosis. Therefore, it is important to identify molecules involved in resistance to chemotherapy. Herein, we show that the DNA repair protein and transcriptional cofactor, EYA3, is highly expressed in Ewing sarcoma tumor samples and cell lines compared with mesenchymal stem cells, the presumed cell-of-origin of Ewing sarcoma, and that it is regulated by the EWS/FLI1 fusion protein transcription factor. We further show that EWS/FLI1 mediates upregulation of EYA3 via repression of miR-708, a miRNA that targets the EYA3 3'-untranslated region, rather than by binding the EYA3 promoter directly. Importantly, we show that high levels of EYA3 significantly correlate with low levels of miR-708 in Ewing sarcoma samples, suggesting that this miR-mediated mechanism of EYA3 regulation holds true in human cancers. Because EYA proteins are important for cell survival during development, we examine, and show, that loss of EYA3 decreases survival of Ewing sarcoma cells. Most importantly, knockdown of EYA3 in Ewing sarcoma cells leads to sensitization to DNA-damaging chemotherapeutics used in the treatment of Ewing sarcoma, and as expected, after chemotherapeutic treatment, EYA3 knockdown cells repair DNA damage less effectively than their control counterparts. These studies identify EYA3 as a novel mediator of chemoresistance in Ewing sarcoma and define the molecular mechanisms of both EYA3 overexpression and of EYA3-mediated chemoresistance. DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-12-0086 PMCID: PMC3432289 PMID: 22723308 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19718047
1. Oncogene. 2009 Nov 19;28(46):4126-32. doi: 10.1038/onc.2009.262. Epub 2009 Aug 31. GSTM4 is a microsatellite-containing EWS/FLI target involved in Ewing's sarcoma oncogenesis and therapeutic resistance. Luo W(1), Gangwal K, Sankar S, Boucher KM, Thomas D, Lessnick SL. Author information: (1)Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. Ewing's sarcoma is a malignant bone-associated tumor of children and young adults. Most cases of Ewing's sarcoma express the EWS/FLI fusion protein. EWS/FLI functions as an aberrant ETS-type transcription factor and serves as the master regulator of Ewing's sarcoma-transformed phenotype. We recently showed that EWS/FLI regulates one of its key targets, NR0B1, through a GGAA-microsatellite in its promoter. Whether other critical EWS/FLI targets are also regulated by GGAA-microsatellites was unknown. In this study, we combined transcriptional analysis, whole genome localization data, and RNA interference knockdown to identify glutathione S-transferase M4 (GSTM4) as a critical EWS/FLI target gene in Ewing's sarcoma. We found that EWS/FLI directly binds the GSTM4 promoter, and regulates GSTM4 expression through a GGAA-microsatellite in its promoter. Reduction of GSTM4 levels caused a loss of oncogenic transformation. Furthermore, reduction of GSTM4 resulted in an increased sensitivity of Ewing's sarcoma cells to chemotherapeutic agents, suggesting a role for this protein in drug resistance. Consistent with this hypothesis, patients with Ewing's sarcoma whose tumors had higher levels of GSTM4 expression had worse outcomes than those with lower expression levels. These data show that GSTM4 contributes to the cancerous behavior of Ewing's sarcoma and define a wider role for GGAA-microsatellites in EWS/FLI function than previously appreciated. These data also suggest a novel therapeutic resistance mechanism, in which the central oncogenic abnormality directly regulates a resistance gene. DOI: 10.1038/onc.2009.262 PMID: 19718047 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25162919
1. Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2014 Nov;18(11):1315-28. doi: 10.1517/14728222.2014.947963. Epub 2014 Aug 27. Blocking the road, stopping the engine or killing the driver? Advances in targeting EWS/FLI-1 fusion in Ewing sarcoma as novel therapy. Kovar H(1). Author information: (1)Children´s Cancer Research Institute, St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung, and Medical University Vienna, Department of Pediatrics , Zimmermannplatz 10, A1090 Vienna , Austria +43 1 40470 4092 ; +43 1 40470 64092 ; heinrich.kovar@ccri.at. INTRODUCTION: Ewing sarcoma (ES) represents the paradigm of an aberrant E-twenty-six (ETS) oncogene-driven cancer. It is characterized by specific rearrangements of one of five alternative ETS family member genes with EWSR1. There is experimental evidence that the resulting fusion proteins act as aberrant transcription factors driving ES pathogenesis. The transcriptional gene regulatory network driven by EWS-ETS proteins provides the oncogenic engine to the tumor. Therefore, EWS-ETS and their downstream machinery are considered ideal tumor-specific therapeutic targets. AREAS COVERED: This review critically discusses the literature on the development of EWS-ETS-directed ES targeting strategies considering current knowledge of EWS-ETS biology and cellular context. It focuses on determinants of EWS-FLI1 function with an emphasis on interactions with chromatin structure. We speculate about the relevance of poorly investigated aspects in ES research such as chromatin remodeling and DNA damage repair for the development of targeted therapies. EXPERT OPINION: This review questions the specificity of signature-based screening approaches to the identification of EWS-FLI1-targeted compounds. It challenges the view that targeting the downstream gene regulatory network carries potential for therapeutic breakthroughs because of resistance-inducing network rewiring. Instead, we propose to combine targeting of the fusion protein with epigenetic therapy as a future treatment strategy in ES. DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2014.947963 PMID: 25162919 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17250957
1. Cancer Lett. 2007 Aug 28;254(1):1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2006.12.009. Epub 2007 Jan 23. The Biology of Ewing sarcoma. Riggi N(1), Stamenkovic I. Author information: (1)Division of Experimental Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Lausanne, Switzerland. Sarcomas account for less than 10% of all human malignancies that are believed to originate from as yet poorly defined mesenchymal progenitor cells. They constitute some of the most aggressive adult and childhood cancers in that they have a high metastatic proclivity and are typically refractory to conventional chemo- and radiation therapy. Ewing's sarcoma is a member of Ewing's family tumors (ESFT) and the second most common solid bone and soft tissue malignancy of children and young adults. It is associated in 85% of cases with the t(11;22)(q24:q12) chromosomal translocation that generates fusion of the 5' segment of the EWS gene with the 3' segment of the ETS family gene FLI-1. The resulting EWS-FLI-1 fusion protein is believed to behave as an aberrant transcriptional activator that contributes to ESFT development by altering the expression of its target genes in a permissive cellular environment. Although ESFTs are among the best studied sarcomas, the mechanisms involved in EWS-FLI-1-induced transformation require further elucidation and the primary cells from which ESFTs originate need to be identified. This review will highlight some of the most recent discoveries in the field of Ewing sarcoma biology and origins. DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2006.12.009 PMID: 17250957 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25857641
1. Cancer Genet. 2015 Apr;208(4):107-14. doi: 10.1016/j.cancergen.2015.02.003. Epub 2015 Feb 19. Germline and somatic mutations in meningiomas. Smith MJ(1). Author information: (1)Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. Electronic address: miriam.smith@manchester.ac.uk. Meningiomas arise from the arachnoid layer of the meninges that surround the brain and spine. They account for over one third of all primary central nervous system tumors in adults and confer a significant risk of location-dependent morbidity due to compression or displacement. A significant increase in risk of meningiomas is associated with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) disease through mutation of the NF2 gene. In addition, approximately 5% of individuals with schwannomatosis disease develop meningiomas, through mutation of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex subunit, SMARCB1. Recently, a second SWI/SNF complex subunit, SMARCE1, was identified as a cause of clear cell meningiomas, indicating a wider role for this complex in meningioma disease. The sonic hedgehog (SHH)-GLI1 signaling pathway gene, SUFU, has also been identified as the cause of hereditary multiple meningiomas in a large Finnish family. The recent identification of somatic mutations in components of the SHH-GLI1 and AKT1-MTOR signaling pathways indicates the potential for cross talk of these pathways in the development of meningiomas. This review describes the known meningioma predisposition genes and their links to the recently identified somatic mutations. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.cancergen.2015.02.003 PMID: 25857641 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23894528
1. PLoS One. 2013 Jul 22;8(7):e69714. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069714. Print 2013. Differential disruption of EWS-FLI1 binding by DNA-binding agents. Chen C(1), Wonsey DR, Lemieux ME, Kung AL. Author information: (1)Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Fusion of the EWS gene to FLI1 produces a fusion oncoprotein that drives an aberrant gene expression program responsible for the development of Ewing sarcoma. We used a homogenous proximity assay to screen for compounds that disrupt the binding of EWS-FLI1 to its cognate DNA targets. A number of DNA-binding chemotherapeutic agents were found to non-specifically disrupt protein binding to DNA. In contrast, actinomycin D was found to preferentially disrupt EWS-FLI1 binding by comparison to p53 binding to their respective cognate DNA targets in vitro. In cell-based assays, low concentrations of actinomycin D preferentially blocked EWS-FLI1 binding to chromatin, and disrupted EWS-FLI1-mediated gene expression. Higher concentrations of actinomycin D globally repressed transcription. These results demonstrate that actinomycin D preferentially disrupts EWS-FLI1 binding to DNA at selected concentrations. Although the window between this preferential effect and global suppression is too narrow to exploit in a therapeutic manner, these results suggest that base-preferences may be exploited to find DNA-binding compounds that preferentially disrupt subclasses of transcription factors. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069714 PMCID: PMC3718762 PMID: 23894528 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.