Asymmetry-defective oligodendrocyte progenitors are glioma precursors

Postnatal oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPC) self-renew, generate mature oligodendrocytes, and are?a cellular origin of oligodendrogliomas. We show that the proteoglycan NG2 segregates asymmetrically during mitosis to generate OPC cells of distinct fate. NG2 is required for asymmetric segregation of EGFR to the NG2(+) progeny, which consequently activates EGFR and undergoes EGF-dependent proliferation and self-renewal. In contrast, the NG2(-) progeny differentiates. In a mouse model, decreased NG2 asymmetry coincides with premalignant, abnormal self-renewal rather than differentiation and with tumor-initiating potential. Asymmetric division of human NG2(+) cells is prevalent in non-neoplastic tissue but is decreased in oligodendrogliomas. Regulators of asymmetric cell division are misexpressed in low-grade oligodendrogliomas. Our results identify loss of asymmetric division associated with the neoplastic transformation of OPC.     

Pharmacokinetic evaluation of frovatriptan

INTRODUCTION: Migraine is the most common painful neurological disorder, affecting 13% of the general population. Triptans represent a powerful pharmacological tool in acute migraine treatment, however, a significant portion of treated patients cannot have access to this class due to possible adverse affects. Today, a total of seven triptan molecules are available, representing a commonly prescribed migraine treatment. Although there is a need of extensive use of triptans, only 25% of migraine patients are using triptans. AREAS COVERED: This review includes triptans and evidence for the use of frovatriptan. A systematic approach is used to discuss the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic aspects of frovatriptan, considering the emerging data on the clinical efficacy of frovatriptan in the treatment of migraine and cluster headaches. The data were obtained by searching the following key words in MEDLINE: pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, triptans, frovatriptan, migraine, menstrual migraine, relatively to the period 1988 - 2011. EXPERT OPINION: Frovatriptan has been developed in order to improve safety and efficacy of triptans. It shows a favorable tolerability and efficacy profile, limited to 24/48-h headache recurrence, when compared with other triptans. Preclinical data suggest that the pharmacokinetic profile of frovatriptan may differ from other available triptans. In fact, among triptans, frovatriptan showed the highest potency at the 5-HT1B receptor (8.2) and the longer half-life (26 h). These parameters determine the clinical properties of frovatriptan; in particular the lowest rate of headache recurrence in comparison with other triptans.     

Antitumor effects of the benzophenanthridine alkaloid sanguinarine in a rat syngeneic model of colorectal cancer

To evaluate the in-vivo preclinical antitumor activity of sanguinarine in a rat syngeneic model of colorectal cancer. The effects of sanguinarine on DHD/K12/TRb colorectal adenocarcinoma cells were first evaluated in vitro by means of 3H-thymidine incorporation, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) (MTS) assay, and terminal transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) microscopy. For the in-vivo studies, DHD/K12/TRb cells (1.5 × 10? cells/0.3 ml of sterile saline/animal) were injected subcutaneously in syngeneic BDIX rats, which were chronically treated with sanguinarine (5 mg/kg/day per os) or control diluent. Tumor growth, body weight, hematologic, and clinical chemistry measurements were monitored in individual animals at defined time intervals. After killing, subcutaneous tumors were explanted from experimental animals for histopathological examination. In vitro, micromolar concentrations of sanguinarine inhibited dose-dependently DHD/K12/TRb cell proliferation and metabolism and induced cell death by apoptosis. In vivo, oral administration of sanguinarine induced a significant inhibition of tumor growth (P<0.01 vs. untreated controls), in the absence of any toxic or side effects. Marked apoptosis and reduced peritumoral vascularization were observed in tumors from sanguinarine-treated rats as compared with the controls. Additional basic studies are needed to fully characterize the mechanism/s underlying the inhibitory effects of sanguinarine on angiogenesis and tumor growth as well as the pharmacological and safety profile of this drug in experimental tumor models. Overall, findings from this study suggest that sanguinarine is a likely candidate for further evaluation in cancer therapy.     

Thrombin receptor levels in platelet concentrates during storage and their impact on platelet functionality

BACKGROUND: Quality control of platelet (PLT) concentrates is challenging, due to PLT lesions, which are difficult to detect with routine methods. The search for reliable PLT lesion biomarkers is focused on the role of PLTs in primary hemostasis. PLT transfusions also have a significant impact on secondary hemostasis. In this phase, responsiveness of PLTs to small amounts of thrombin is crucial. PAR1 and PAR4 are protease‐activated receptors and are responsible for thrombin reactivity of human PLTs. This study should elucidate if levels of those two receptors are changing in PLT concentrates during storage and if those changes have an impact on PLT aggregation and support of thrombin generation. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: PLT concentrates from buffy coat preparations were stored in SSP+ solution for 9 days at 22 ± 2°C on a horizontal flatbed agitator, and samples were taken daily for analysis. PAR1 and PAR4 levels were evaluated using Western blot analysis. PLT aggregation was measured using Born aggregometry and specific PAR1 or PAR4 agonists. Thrombin generation was measured using calibrated automated thrombography. RESULTS: Levels of both receptors (PAR1 and PAR4) started to decrease after 5 days of storage. PAR1‐mediated PLT aggregation remained constant, whereas PAR4‐mediated PLT aggregation decreased with storage time. Rate of thrombin generation was accelerated after 5 days of storage. CONCLUSION: Decreasing levels of PARs in PLT concentrates after 5 days of storage influenced PAR4‐mediated, but not PAR1‐mediated, aggregation. Thrombin generation with senescent PLTs was increased, which may be attributed to other mechanisms promoting increased phosphatidylserine exposure.     

Effects of A<Subscript>2A</Subscript> adenosine receptor blockade or stimulation on alcohol intake in alcohol-preferring rats

Rationale  

A_2A adenosine receptors (A_2AARs) have been proposed to be involved in drug addiction; however, preclinical studies about the effects of A_2AAR ligands on alcohol consumption have provided inconsistent results.     

Implantation of paclitaxel-eluting stent impairs the vascular compliance of arteries in porcine coronary stenting model

BackgroundThe impaired compliance of large and medium-sized muscular arteries has been shown to correlate with the risk of adverse cardiovascular events. We assessed coronary artery distensibility using simultaneous intracoronary ultrasound and pressure wire measurements in porcine coronary arteries after implantation of paclitaxel-eluting (PES) and bare metal stents (BMS) and compared this with the histopathology of the arterial wall injury.MethodsPES and BMS were implanted into porcine left coronary arteries under general anesthesia. At 1-month follow-up (FUP) the endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vascular compliances were measured after intracoronary infusion of 10^?6 M acetylcholine for 2.5 min, and intracoronary bolus of 100 μg nitroglycerine, respectively. The arterial stiffness index, distensibility and reflexion index were calculated in stented arteries (n = 25 PES and n = 25 BMS), and correlated with histopathologic and histomorphometric changes of the vessel wall.ResultsIn spite of smaller neointimal area, the fibrin deposition, medial thickening, vascular wall inflammation scores and arterial remodeling index were elevated and endothelialization was impaired in arteries with PES. Arteries with PES exhibited significantly worse endothelium-dependent vascular compliance: the stiffness (p < 0.001) and reflexion index (p < 0.001) were significantly higher and the distensibility index (p < 0.001) lower as compared with the arteries with BMS. The endothelium-independent vascular reaction was similarly impaired in arteries with PES, as the stiffness index (p < 0.001) and the distensibility index (p < 0.001) differed significantly between the PES and BMS groups. Incomplete endothelialization (r = 0.617, p < 0.001) was significantly associated with the endothelium-dependent increased vascular stiffness. The increased fibrin score (r = 0.646, p < 0.001), vessel wall inflammation (r = 0.657, p < 0.001) and medial thickening (r = 0.672, p < 0.001) correlated significantly with the endothelium-independent stiffness index.ConclusionsImplantation of PES impairs the coronary artery wall structure and the endothelium-dependent and independent vessel wall dynamics more than does the implantation of BMS.     

Efficient generation of transgene-free human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by temperature-sensitive Sendai virus vectors

After the first report of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), considerable efforts have been made to develop more efficient methods for generating iPSCs without foreign gene insertions. Here we show that Sendai virus vector, an RNA virus vector that carries no risk of integrating into the host genome, is a practical solution for the efficient generation of safer iPSCs. We improved the Sendai virus vectors by introducing temperature-sensitive mutations so that the vectors could be easily removed at nonpermissive temperatures. Using these vectors enabled the efficient production of viral/factor-free iPSCs from both human fibroblasts and CD34(+) cord blood cells. Temperature-shift treatment was more effective in eliminating remaining viral vector-related genes. The resulting iPSCs expressed human embryonic stem cell markers and exhibited pluripotency. We suggest that generation of transgene-free iPSCs from cord blood cells should be an important step in providing allogeneic iPSC-derived therapy in the future.     

Long-lasting protection in brain trauma by endotoxin preconditioning

We investigated the occurrence of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) preconditioning in traumatic brain injury (TBI), evaluating the time window of LPS-induced protection, its persistence, and the associated molecular mechanisms. Mice received 0.1 mg/kg LPS or saline intraperitoneally and subsequently TBI (by controlled cortical impact brain injury) at various time intervals. Mice receiving LPS 3, 5, or 7 days before TBI showed attenuated motor deficits at 1 week after injury compared with mice receiving saline. Those receiving LPS 5 days before injury had also a reduced contusion volume (7.9±1.3 versus 12±2.3 mm³) and decreased cell death. One month after injury, the protective effect of LPS on contusion volume (14.5±1.2 versus 18.2±1.2 mm³) and neurologic function was still present. Traumatic brain injury increased glial fibrillary acidic protein, CD11b, CD68, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-10, and IL-6 mRNA expression 24 hours after injury. Lipopolysaccharide administered 5 (but not 9) days before injury increased the expression of CD11b (233%) and of interferon β (500%) in uninjured mice, while it reduced the expression of CD68 (by 46%) and increased that of IL-6 (by 52%) in injured mice. Lipopolysaccharide preconditioning conferred a long-lasting neuroprotection after TBI, which was associated with a modulation of microglia/macrophages activity and cytokine production.     

Characterization of p59fyn-mediated signal transduction on T cell activation

Protein tyrosine kinase p59^fyn is associated with the TCR -CD3 complex and is suggested to play a role in T cell activation.To determine the molecular mechanism of p59^fyn-medlated signaltransduction in T cell activation, we established murine T cellhybridoma lines that expressed an elevated amount of wild-typeor mutant fyn. Clones that expressed high levels of normal p59^fynand active p59^fyn, encoded by wild-type and f-14 mutant fynrespectively, showed enhanced IL-2 production upon stimulationby anti-CD3 antibodies or natural antigen. On the other hand,clones that expressed kinase negative p59^fyn and p59^fyn withan SH2 (Src-homology 2) deletion encoded by t-1 mutant fyn showedlittle induction of IL-2 production upon stimulation. Thesedata suggest that p59^fyn is important in T cell signaling andthat the SH2 sequence plays a critical role in the reaction.Induction of tyrosine phosphorylatlon of multiple proteins uponantigenic stimulation was augmented similarly in the cells thatrespectively expressed wild-type and f-14 mutant fyn at elevatedlevels. The proteins that became highly tyrosine-phosphorylatedincluded phospholipase C (PLC-1), P95^vav, ZAP-70, the MAP kinase,CD3 and unidentified proteins of 120, 100 and 80 kDa. Tyrosinephosphorylation of the 120, 95 and 68 kDa proteins associatedwith PLC-1 was also observed in these cells upon stimulation.In contrast, only the 100 kDa protein and the MAP kinase wereincreasingly tyrosine phosphorylated in the antigen-stimulatedcells expressing t-1 fyn. These data suggest that PLC-1, PLC-1associated molecules, p95^vav, the 80 kDa protein, ZAP-70 andthe CD3 chain may be substrates of p59^fyn or of other tyrosinekJnases regulated by p59^fyn and be important in T cell signaling.