Cox‐2 gene expression in chemically induced skin papillomas cannot predict subsequent tumor fate

Elevated cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) expression is observed in a variety of premalignant neoplastic tissues, suggesting COX‐2 expression might serve as a potential indicator of subsequent tumor development. However, it has not been possible to compare the relationship between Cox‐2 gene expression in premalignant lesions and their subsequent fate, because conventional studies require tissue destruction for analysis of gene expression. To monitor COX‐2 expression non‐invasively during tumor development, we created a Cox‐2 luciferase knock‐in mouse, Cox‐2luc, in which the firefly luciferase coding region replaces the Cox‐2 coding region. Luciferase activity was non‐invasively, quantitatively and repeatedly monitored in Cox‐2luc/+ mice subjected to DMBA/TPA multistage skin tumor induction. Luciferase activity is significantly higher in all papillomas than in surrounding skin. However, the magnitude of Cox‐2 promoter‐driven luciferase activity in small papillomas cannot predict subsequent papilloma regression or growth. Elevated Cox‐2 promoter‐driven luciferase signal can be detected when papillomas first become visible, but not before this time.     

Foreign metallothionein-I expression by transient transfection in MT-I and MT-II null astrocytes confers increased protection against acute methylmercury cytotoxicity

The mechanisms associated with metallothionein (MT) gene regulation are complex and poorly understood. Only a modest increase in brain MT expression levels is attained by exposure to metals, MT gene transfection, and MT gene knock-in techniques. Accordingly, in the present study, MT null astrocytes isolated from transgenic mice deficient in MT-I and MT-II genes were introduced as a zero background model of MT expression. MT protein levels were determined by western blot analysis. MT proteins in MT-I and MT-II null astrocytes were undetectable. Transient MT-I gene transfection increased the levels of foreign MT expression in MT-I and MT-II null astrocytes by 2.3-fold above basal levels in wild-type astrocytes. Intracellular Na(2)51CrO(4) efflux and D-[2,3-3H]aspartate uptake were studied as indices of acute methylmercury (MeHg) (5 microM) cytotoxicity. In MT-I and MT-II knockout astrocytes MeHg led to significant (p<0.01) increase in Na(2)51CrO(4) efflux and a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the initial rate (1 min) of D-[2, 3-3H]aspartate uptake compared to MT-I and MT-II knockout controls. Transfection of the MT-I gene in MT-I and MT-II null mice significantly (p<0.01) decreased the effect of MeHg on Na(2)51CrO(4) efflux in MT null, as well as wild-type astrocytes. MT-I gene transfection in MT-I and MT-II null astrocytes reversed the inhibitory effect of MeHg on D-[2,3-3H]aspartate uptake, such that initial rates of uptake in MT-I transfected cells in the presence and absence of MeHg (5 microM) were indistinguishable. These results demonstrate that: (1) astrocytes lacking MTs are more sensitive to MeHg than those with basal MT protein levels, (2) the MT-I gene can be overexpressed in MT-I and MT-II null astrocytes by transient MT-I gene transfection, and (3) that foreign MT expression endows astrocytes with increased resistance to MeHg.     

Contribution of the alpha1-GABA(A) receptor subtype to the pharmacological actions of benzodiazepine site inverse agonists

A histidine-to-arginine point-mutation at position 101 in the alpha1-subunit of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)(A) receptors has been shown to switch the in vitro efficacy of Ro 15-4513 from inverse agonism to agonism. In order to assess the consequences of this pharmacological switch in vivo, the motor and proconvulsant effects of Ro 15-4513 were analyzed in knock-in mice containing point-mutated alpha1(H101R)-GABA(A) receptors. Furthermore the influence of the alpha1(H101R) substitution on the efficacy of the beta-carboline inverse agonist DMCM was examined both in vitro and in vivo. Ro 15-4513 (10 mg/kg) increased baseline locomotion and potentiated the convulsant effect of pentylenetetrazole in wild type mice. In alpha1(H101R) mice, Ro 15-4513 decreased locomotion and, at a higher dose (30 mg/kg) it displayed an anticonvulsant action. In vitro, DMCM acted as an inverse agonist at recombinant alpha1beta2gamma2 receptors whereas it potentiated GABA-evoked chloride currents at alpha1(H101R)beta2gamma2 receptors. DMCM was inactive as a convulsant in alpha1(H101R) mice. In keeping with the major contribution of these receptors to the sedative and anticonvulsant properties of benzodiazepine site agonists, the present findings identify the alpha1-GABA(A) receptors as the molecular targets for the allosteric modulation by benzodiazepine site ligands in either direction with regard to the behavioral outputs, sedation/motor stimulation and anticonvulsion/proconvulsion.     

应用改良体细胞基因敲入技术内源标记跨膜丝氨酸蛋白酶RHBDD1的研究

目的应用改良的体细胞基因敲入技术将标签序列靶向敲入目的基因。方法设计引物并构建RHBDD1的打靶载体,经过腺相关病毒包装、感染、新霉素筛选和鉴定等步骤获得含有新霉素抗性的阳性单克隆细胞株,最后通过cre病毒感染和筛选获得RHBDD1内源敲入FLAG和SBP双标签的HCT116结直肠癌细胞株。结果经过包装病毒感染与筛选验证后得到6个打靶阳性克隆;进一步经cre病毒感染与筛选后得到2株去除新霉素抗性标记的阳性细胞克隆;通过Western blotting实验证明RHBDD1-FLAG-SBP融合蛋白的表达。结论通过改良的体细胞基因敲入技术成功构建跨膜丝氨酸蛋白酶RHBDD1内源敲入FLAG和SBP双标签的HCT116结直肠癌细胞株。     

Identification of an ethnic-specific variant (V207M) of the KCNQ1 cardiac potassium channel gene in sudden unexplained death and implications from a knock-in mouse model

We performed mutation analysis for genes implicated in long QT syndrome (KCNQ1, KCNH2, and SCN5A) in 17 sudden unexplained death autopsy cases. Single-strand conformation polymorphism and subsequent DNA sequencing analyses revealed that in one case, there was a variant, V207M of KCNQ1, a gene encoding a cardiac potassium channel. This case, a 40-year-old African male, was shown to have a heterozygous missense mutation (V207M), which has been previously reported to be ethnic-specific. The heterozygous V207M mutation was found in one case (0.23%) of 444 alleles from African individuals. We developed a knock-in mouse model carrier of the Kcnq1-V206M mutation, the mouse equivalent to the KCNQ1-V207M mutation identified in the victim. Significant prolongation of QT intervals was observed in the Kcnq1^V206M/V206M mice. These findings suggest that the KCNQ1-V207M mutation might be pathogenic and might have been associated with the cause of death in the present case.     

Demonstration of functional α4-containing nicotinic receptors in the medial habenula

The medial habenula (MHb) exhibits exceptionally high levels of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), but it remains unclear whether all expressed nAChR subunit mRNAs are translated to form functional receptors. In particular α4 subunits have not been reported to have any functional role, despite strong α4 mRNA expression in the ventrolateral MHb. We studied a strain of knock-in mice expressing fluorescent α4^∗ nAChRs (α4YFP), as well as a knock-in strain expressing hypersensitive α4^∗ nAChRs (α4L9′A). In α4YFP mice, there was strong fluorescence in the ventrolateral MHb. In hypersensitive α4L9′A mice, injections of a low dose of nicotine (0.1 mg/kg) led to strong c-fos expression in only the ventrolateral region of the MHb, but not in the MHb of wild-type (WT) mice. In MHb slice recordings, ventrolateral neurons from α4L9′A mice, but not from WT mice, responded robustly to nicotine (1 μM). Neurons in the medial aspect of the MHb had >10-fold smaller responses. Thus α4^∗ nAChRs contribute to the selective activation of a subset of MHb neurons. Subunit composition analysis based on gain-of-function knock-in mice provides a useful experimental paradigm.     

Dendritic Cells and Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is a biological response to simple chemicals in the skin. Although it is well known that allergic contact dermatitis is mediated by the immune system, it is still uncertain whether it is a kind of protective response or it is simply an unnecessary response. We have demonstrated the following: (1) haptens activate Langerhans cells in the initiation phase of murine allergic contact dermatitis in vivo, (2) haptens activate human monocyte-derived dendritic cells in vitro, (3) the activation of dendritic cells by haptens is primarily mediated by the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and (4) the activation of p38 MAPK is mediated by stimulation related to an imbalance of intracellular redox. Based on these observations, we will discuss the biological significance of contact dermatitis. In addition, we will review some up-to-date findings on Langerhans cell biology. Grants: This study was supported in part by the 21st COE program of Tohoku University and by new Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization.     

Middle-aged human apoE4 targeted-replacement mice show retention deficits on a wide range of spatial memory tasks

Apolipoprotein (apo) E4, one of three human apoE (h-apoE) isoforms, has been identified as a major genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and for cognitive deficits associated with aging. However, the biological mechanisms involving apoE in learning and memory processes are unclear. A potential isoform-dependent role of apoE in cognitive processes was studied in human apoE targeted-replacement (TR) mice. These mice express either the human apoE3 or apoE4 gene under the control of endogenous murine apoE regulatory sequences, resulting in physiological expression of h-apoE in both a temporal and spatial pattern similar to humans. Male and female apoE3-TR, apoE4-TR, apoE-knockout and C57BL/6J mice (15-18 months) were tested with spatial memory and avoidance conditioning tasks. Compared to apoE3-TR mice, spatial memory in female apoE4-TR mice was impaired based on their poor performances in; (i) the probe test of the water-maze reference memory task, (ii) the water-maze working memory task and (iii) an active avoidance Y-maze task. Retention performance on a passive avoidance task was also impaired in apoE4-TR mice, but not in other genotypes. These deficits in both spatial and avoidance memory tasks may be related to the anatomical and functional abnormalities previously reported in the hippocampus and the amygdala of apoE4-TR mice. We conclude that the apoE4-TR mice provide an excellent model for understanding the mechanisms underlying apoE4-dependent susceptibility to cognitive decline.