CEACAM1 dampens antitumor immunity by down-regulating NKG2D ligand expression on tumor cells

Although carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) has been viewed as a tumor suppressor, increasing clinical evidence shows that high levels of CEACAM1 expression on tumors correlates with poor prognosis and high risk of metastasis. Here, we examined the consequences of CEACAM1 expression on tumor cells. We show that tumor cell-associated CEACAM1 causes intracellular retention of various NKG2D ligands in mouse and human tumor cells. CEACAM1-silenced tumor cells expressed more cell surface NKG2D ligands and exhibited greater sensitivity to natural killer cell-mediated cytolysis in vitro and rejection in vivo. Our studies reveal a novel mechanism through which CEACAM1-bearing tumor cells may escape immune-surveillance.     

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may improve symptoms in autistic children

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that currently affects as many as 1 out of 166 children in the United States. Recent research has discovered that some autistic individuals have decreased cerebral perfusion, evidence of neuroinflammation, and increased markers of oxidative stress. Multiple independent single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) research studies have revealed hypoperfusion to several areas of the autistic brain, most notably the temporal regions and areas specifically related to language comprehension and auditory processing. Several studies show that diminished blood flow to these areas correlates with many of the clinical features associated with autism including repetitive, self-stimulatory and stereotypical behaviors, and impairments in communication, sensory perception, and social interaction. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been used with clinical success in several cerebral hypoperfusion syndromes including cerebral palsy, fetal alcohol syndrome, closed head injury, and stroke. HBOT can compensate for decreased blood flow by increasing the oxygen content of plasma and body tissues and can even normalize oxygen levels in ischemic tissue. In addition, animal studies have shown that HBOT has potent anti-inflammatory effects and reduces oxidative stress. Furthermore, recent evidence demonstrates that HBOT mobilizes stem cells from human bone marrow, which may aid recovery in neurodegenerative diseases. Based upon these findings, it is hypothesized that HBOT will improve symptoms in autistic individuals. A retrospective case series is presented that supports this hypothesis.     

The Effect of Chronic Dexamethasone-induced Hyperglycemia and Its Acute Treatment with Insulin on Brain Glucose and Glycogen Concentrations in Rats

Background: In the rat model of forebrain ischemia, long-term dexamethasone treatment is reported to cause hyperglycemia and worsen postischemic functional and histologic injury. This effect was assumed to result from glucose enhancement of intraischemic lactic acidosis within the brain. Short-term insulin therapy restored normoglycemia but did not return histologic injury completely to baseline values. Using a nonischemic rat model, the current study attempted to identify a metabolic basis for such outcome data.

Methods: Fifty-eight halothane-anesthetized (1.3% inspired) Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned randomly to be administered either no treatment (N = 18) or 2 mg/kg intraperitoneal dexamethasone (N = 40). The latter were administered dexamethasone 3 h before the study only (N = 8) or for 3 h before the study plus daily for 1 day (N = 8), 2 days (N = 8), or 4 days (N = 16). Of the rats treated with dexamethasone for 4 days, one half (N = 8) were administered an insulin-containing saline infusion subsequently to restore normoglycemia short-term. All other rats (N = 50) were administered an infusion of saline without insulin. Plasma glucose was quantified, and brains were excised after in situ freezing. Brain glucose and glycogen concentrations were measured using enzymatic fluorometric analyses.

Results: After 4 days of dexamethasone treatment, plasma glucose was 159% greater than in rats administered placebo (i.e., 22.01 +/- 4.66 vs. 8.51 +/- 1.65 [mu]mol/ml; mean +/- SD;P < 0.0001). Brain glucose concentrations increased parallel to plasma glucose. An insulin infusion for 27 +/- 5 min restored normoglycemia but resulted in a brain-to-plasma glucose ratio that was 32% greater than baseline values (P < 0.01). Neither dexamethasone nor the combination of dexamethasone plus insulin affected brain glycogen concentrations.     

Synaptic localization of p39, a neuronal activator of cdk5

The expression and kinase activity of cyclin dependent kinase 5 (cdk5) parallels the extent of neuronal differentiation. Cdk5 activity has been shown to be required for neurite outgrowth, cortical lamination and the overall development of the nervous system. p35 was identified as the first regulatory activator of cdk5 whose presence is required for cdk5 activation. p39 is a homolog of p35, and the only one identified in mammals thus far. We show here that p39 expression is mainly postnatal. In addition, we provide evidence for the presence of p39 at synaptic junctions through co-fractionation experiment, electron microscopy and immunostaining. The temporal and spatial expression of p39 indicate a possible role of the p39/cdk5 kinase at the synapse.     

DAP10 and DAP12 form distinct, but functionally cooperative, receptor complexes in natural killer cells

Many of the activating receptors on natural killer (NK) cells are multisubunit complexes composed of ligand-binding receptors that are noncovalently associated with membrane-bound signaling adaptor proteins, including CD3zeta, FcstraightepsilonRIgamma, DAP12, and DAP10. Because the DAP10 and DAP12 genes are closely linked, expressed in NK cells, and have remarkably similar transmembrane segments, it was of interest to determine the specificity of their interactions with ligand-binding receptors and to examine their signaling properties. Despite their similarities, DAP10, DAP12, FcstraightepsilonRIgamma, and CD3zeta form specific receptor complexes with their ligand-binding partners in NK cells and transfectants. The transmembrane regions of DAP10 and DAP12 are sufficient to confer specific association with their partners. Although cross-linking of either DAP10- or DAP12-associated receptors has been shown to be sufficient to trigger NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against Fc receptor-bearing cells, substantial synergy was observed in the induction of cytokine production when both receptors were engaged. Activation of the Syk/ZAP70 tyrosine kinases by the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif-containing DAP12 adaptor and of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway by the YxNM-containing DAP10 adaptor may play an important role in the stimulation of NK cells and T cells.