Combined expression of tau and the Harlequin mouse mutation leads to increased mitochondrial dysfunction, tau pathology and neurodegeneration

Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress play an important role in ageing and have been implicated in several age-related neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies characterized by the presence of intracellular accumulations of the hyperphosphorylated microtubule-associated protein tau. To study the interaction between mitochondrial dysfunction and tau pathology in vivo, we generated a novel mouse model by crossbreeding two existing lines: the Harlequin (Hq) mutant mice which suffer from mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress due to a lack of the mitochondrial apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), and the P301L tau transgenic mice, a mouse model of human tau pathology.Combined expression of the Hq mouse mutation and the tau transgene in the Tau/Hq double mutant mice led to an increase in tau pathology and apoptotic neurodegeneration when compared to single expression of the two mutations. Neurodegeneration was most prominent in the dentate gyrus and was significantly increased in the cerebellum leading to aggravated motor deficits. Functional activity measurements of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) in the Tau/Hq mice revealed early decreased activities of multiple MRC complexes and depleted ATP levels which preceded neurodegeneration and elevated oxidative stress markers. These results suggest an age-dependent mutual reinforcement of the tau pathology and mitochondrial dysfunction in vivo, which may contribute to neurodegeneration in patients suffering from AD and other age-related tauopathies.     

CYP1A induction potential and the concentration of priority pollutants in marine sediment samples -In vitro evaluation using the PLHC-1 fish hepatoma cell line

The use of in vitro biotests in combination with chemical determination of priority pollutants is considered a promising approach in environmental risk assessment. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the CYP1A induction potential and the concentration of priority pollutants (PAHs, PCBs and heavy metals) in contaminated marine sediments. Six sediment samples characterized by different types of pollution were collected from the Bay of Kvarner, Croatia. CYP1A induction potency was determined in vitro by the measurement of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity in PLHC-1 fish hepatoma cells. The results were compared to the potency of the model CYP1A inducer 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and expressed in 2,3,7,8-TCDD equivalents. All of the tested sediment samples were able to induce CYP1A activity in a dose-dependent manner. On a general scale, there was a good correlation between CYP1A induction and the concentration of priority pollutants in the tested samples. However, some samples, which had relatively low levels of priority pollutants, exhibited a strong CYP1A induction response. Therefore, apart from the confirmed usability and sensitivity of the EROD determination in the PLHC-1 cells as a suitable in vitro model in ecotoxicology, the results of this study indicate that the list of priority pollutants usually determined in the attempt to evaluate the risk of adverse effects to marine wildlife should be reconsidered.     

Kinetics of cisplatin-induced apoptosis in murine mammary and ovarian adenocarcinomas

There is mounting evidence to indicate that the mode of cell death known as apoptosis plays an important role in cancer therapy. Most supporting observations have come from experiments conducted in vitro, and it is important to extend such studies to in vivo systems. We have therefore evaluated the magnitude and kinetics of apoptosis induction in tumors from mice treated with cisplatin (CP). Two transplantable murine tumors were studied: a mammary adenocarcinoma, MCa-4, and an ovarian adenocarcinoma, OCa-l. Tumor-bearing mice were injected with various doses of CP, and specimens were obtained over several days. Apoptosis was scored by morphometric analysis of histological sections of the tumors using the features characteristic of cells undergoing this mode of cell death. The results showed a significant apoptotic response in both tumors within a few hours after injection of the drug. The kinetics were very broad, with apoptotic cells present over essentially the entire time course studied. Dose-response relationships for CP-induced apoptosis were compared to the tumor response measured in terms of tumor growth delay.     

Detection of antigens associated with Epstein-Barr virus replication in extracts from biopsy specimens of nasopharyngeal carcinomas

By using monoclonal antibodies to different Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) polypeptides in combination with immunoblotting, we detected antigens associated with EBV replication in extracts from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) biopsy specimens. Major polypeptides associated with both the diffuse and the restricted components of the early antigen (EA) complex were found in extracts from nine of nine NPC biopsy specimens. Cells from an additional NPC biopsy specimen, passaged repeatedly in nude mice, were found to be positive for the major EA (restricted) polypeptide. This approach revealed that extracts from three of 14 biopsy specimens form other benign and malignant diseases also expressed these viral polypeptides. Therefore, for the first time, these results conclusively demonstrate the presence of EA polypeptides in extracts from NPC biopsy specimens. This finding provides at least a partial explanation for the reported prognostic value of antibodies to this antigen in patients with this disease.     

Relationship between Epstein-Barr virus genome number, amount of nuclear antigen, and early antigen inducibility in diploid and tetraploid lymphoma cells of related origin.

In a collection of near-diploid and near-tetraploid Raji sublines and somatic Raji/Raji hybrids a linear relationship was found between the number of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome copies and the relative amount of EBV-determined nuclear antigen per cell. Inducibility of the viral cycle by iododeoxyuridine and by P3HR-1 virus superinfection coulb be related to the number of resident EBV genome copies per haploid target cell. The implications of these findings are discussed.     

Histamine release, an undesired effect of thrombin inhibitors with basic character, is mediated through direct activation of G(i) proteins

The common structural feature of LK direct thrombin inhibitors is a strong basic group attached to the azaphenylalanine scaffold, which is important for the appropriate interaction at the thrombin active site. Our previous results have shown that this basic group could be responsible for a reduction of tracheal air flow and a fall of mean arterial pressure in anaesthetized rats, an undesired effect of direct thrombin inhibitors which correlated with their ability to release histamine from mast cells. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of LK direct thrombin inhibitors-induced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells. We demonstrated that thrombin inhibitors with basic character (LK-732, LK-639 and LK-6063) provoked release of histamine from mast cells, while less basic analogs (LK-658, LK-633 and LK-6062) had no effect. Histamine released by LK-732 and LK-639 was suppressed by removal of sialic acid residues by neuraminidase and by pertussis toxin, an inhibitor of G(i) protein activity. Additional demonstration that G proteins are the targets of LK-732 and LK-639 was provided by the increase of GTPgammaS binding rate to G proteins in rat brain cortical membranes. Our results indicate that basic direct thrombin inhibitors LK-732 and LK-639 provoke release of histamine from mast cells by direct activation of G(i) proteins through the similar biochemical pathway as basic secretagogues.     

Interferon production in multiple sclerosis

The interferon-synthesizing activity of the peripheral blood leukocytes and serum interferon in the blood of patients with multiple sclerosis were studied. A reverse relationship was found between antibody production (high titers of measles antibody) and the interferon-synthesizing activity of peripheral blood leukocytes in these patients. A 3-fold decline in serum interferon titers was observed in patients with multiple sclerosis as compared with the control group.