Natural Infection of a Homozygous Δ24 CCR5 Red-capped Mangabey with an R2b-Tropic Simian Immunodeficiency Virus

A homozygous 24-bp deletion (Δ24) was found in the CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) of 11 out of 15 red-capped mangabeys (RCMs), Cercocebus torquatus torquatus, both in Africa and in an American zoo. The CCR5 Δ24 defect encompassed eight amino acids in frame in the fourth transmembrane region. Unexpectedly, RCM-009, one of 11 homozygotes (Δ24CCR5/ Δ24CCR5), was found to be naturally infected with a divergent simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) strain, which was not R5-tropic, but used CCR2b (R2b) as its major coreceptor. SIVrcmGab1 was the only R2b-tropic SIV among other divergent SIVs tested. Cells transfected with the Δ24 CCR5 did not support entry of R5-tropic SIVmac, SIVcpz, SIVmne, HIV-2, or HIV-1, and were also inactive in signal transduction mediated by β-chemokines. At 86.6%, the Δ24 allelic frequency was significantly higher than that of the 32-bp deletion found in humans. The Δ24 frequency was 4.1% in 34 sooty mangabeys (SMs), a geographically isolated subspecies that was naturally infected with R5-tropic SIV. Finding identical deletions in two mangabey subspecies separated for 10,000 years or more dates the Δ24 CCR5 deletion as ancient. However, the source of the selective pressure for the high rate of CCR5 deletion in RCMs remains to be determined. The high allelic frequency of the Δ24 CCR5 in RCMs, in comparison to that of SMs, suggests that R2b-tropism may have been acquired by SIVrcm, as an adaptation to CCR5 genetic defects appeared in its host.     

Quantitative analysis of group-specific brain tissue probability map for schizophrenic patients

We developed group-specific tissue probability map (TPM) for gray matter (GM), white matter (WM) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) on the common spatial coordinates of an averaged brain atlas derived from normal controls (NC) and from schizophrenic patients (SZ). To identify differences in group-specific TPMs, we used quantitative evaluation methods based on differences in probabilistic distribution as a global criterion, and the mean probability and the similarity index (SI) by lobe as regional criteria. The SZ group showed more spatial variation with a lower mean probability than NC subjects. And, for the right temporal and left parietal lobes, the SI between each group was lower than the other lobes. It can be said that there were significant differences in spatial distribution between controls and schizophrenic patients at those areas. In case of female group, although group differences in the volumes of GM and WM were not significant, global difference in the probabilistic distribution of GM was more prominent and the SI was lower and its descent rate was greater in all lobes, compared with the male group. If these morphological differences caused by disease or group-specific features were not considered in TPM, the accuracy and certainty of specific group studies would be greatly reduced. Therefore, suitable TPM is required as a common framework for functional neuroimaging studies and an a priori knowledge of tissue classification.     

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling of the antiplatelet and cardiovascular effects of cilostazol in healthy humans

OBJECTIVE: Cilostazol is an antiplatelet agent with vasodilating properties. It has been used to treat patients with peripheral ischemia, such as intermittent claudication. We used a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model to analyze the relation between the plasma concentration of cilostazol, the inhibitory effect of the drug on platelet aggregation, and the cardiovascular effects of the drug on healthy humans. METHODS: A single oral dose of 100 mg cilostazol was administered to 20 healthy volunteers. Serial blood sampling and pharmacodynamic measurements were performed up to 48 hours thereafter. The effects of cilostazol on platelet aggregation, blood pressure, and heart rate were measured during the same period. The plasma concentration of cilostazol was measured with a validated HPLC method that entailed ultraviolet detection. The time courses of plasma cilostazol concentration, platelet aggregation, and cardiovascular effects were analyzed by means of pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling with the program ADAPT II. RESULTS: The plasma concentration-time course followed a 2-compartment model. Mean peak concentration was 775 ng/ml approximately 3.65 hours after administration of cilostazol. The maximal effect on platelet aggregation was a 31.14% reduction 6.05 hours after administration. No significant difference in systolic blood pressure was found. The maximal increase in heart rate was 13.49%, whereas the maximal decrease in diastolic blood pressure was 29.51%. Both peak effects were detected approximately 6 hours after administration of the drug. Platelet aggregation and cardiovascular effects (change in diastolic blood pressure and heart rate) were analyzed with the effect-link sigmoid maximal effect model. CONCLUSION: This pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model successfully described the relation between plasma concentration of cilostazol and the antiplatelet and cardiovascular effects of the drug.     

Relationship between antiapoptotic molecules and metastatic potency and the involvement of DNA-dependent protein kinase in the chemosensitization of metastatic human cancer cells by epidermal growth factor receptor blockade

The failure to treat metastatic cancer with multidrug resistance is a major problem for successful cancer therapy, and the molecular basis for the association of metastatic phenotype with resistance to therapy is still unclear. In this study, we revealed that various metastatic cancer cells showed consistently higher levels of antiapoptotic proteins, including Bcl-2, nuclear factor-kappaB, MDM2, DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and lower levels of proapoptotic proteins, including Bax and p53 than low metastatic parental cells. This was followed by chemo- and radioresistance in metastatic cancer cells compared with their parental cells. EGFR and DNA-PK activity, which are known to be associated with chemo- and radioresistance, were demonstrated to be mutually regulated by each other. Treatment with PKI166, an EGFR inhibitor, suppressed etoposide-induced activation of DNA-PK in A375SM metastatic melanoma cells. In addition, PKI166 enhanced markedly the chemosensitivities of metastatic cancer cell sublines to various anticancer drugs in comparison with those of low metastatic cancer cells. These results suggest that the activities of DNA-PK and EGFR, which is positively correlated with each other, may contribute to metastatic phenotype as well as therapy resistance, and the EGFR inhibitor enhances the effect of anticancer drugs against therapy-resistant metastatic cancer cells via suppression of stress responses, including activation of DNA-PK.