Increased stability of phosphatase and tensin homolog by intermedin leading to scavenger receptor A inhibition of macrophages reduces atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

Intermedin, a novel member of calcitonin gene-related peptide family, is an endogenous cardiovascular-protective peptide. Because intermedin exists in human atherosclerotic plaque, we studied the role of intermedin in macrophage scavenger receptor A (SR-A)-mediated foam-cell formation and atherogenesis. In an in vitro foam-cell formation model (induced by acetylated low-density lipoprotein [AcLDL]) with mouse (C57BL/6J) macrophages, intermedin reduced AcLDL uptake and binding, decreased intracellular cholesterol content, and suppressed both mRNA and protein levels of SR-A. Simultaneously, intermedin increased phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) protein levels by increasing PTEN phosphorylation and inhibiting ubiquitin-mediated PTEN degradation. These effects were blocked by the intermedin receptor antagonist or cAMP-protein kinase A inhibitors. PTEN overexpression mimicked the inhibitory effects of intermedin on SR-A expression and AcLDL uptake. However, knockdown of PTEN by short-hairpin RNA completely blocked all inhibitory effects of intermedin. Furthermore, in apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE(-/-)) mice, 6-week intermedin infusion reduced AcLDL uptake and SR-A mRNA and protein levels and increased PTEN protein level in peritoneal macrophages. PTEN level was increased and SR-A expression decreased in parallel in macrophages in atherosclerotic lesions. Thus, intermedin inhibited atherosclerosis in apoE(-/-) mice. Increased stability of PTEN by intermedin leads to SR-A inhibition in macrophages, which ameliorates foam-cell formation and atherosclerosis in apoE(-/-) mice.     

A common X-linked inborn error of carnitine biosynthesis may be a risk factor for nondysmorphic autism

We recently reported a deletion of exon 2 of the trimethyllysine hydroxylase epsilon (TMLHE) gene in a proband with autism. TMLHE maps to the X chromosome and encodes the first enzyme in carnitine biosynthesis, 6-N-trimethyllysine dioxygenase. Deletion of exon 2 of TMLHE causes enzyme deficiency, resulting in increased substrate concentration (6-N-trimethyllysine) and decreased product levels (3-hydroxy-6-N-trimethyllysine and γ-butyrobetaine) in plasma and urine. TMLHE deficiency is common in control males (24 in 8,787 or 1 in 366) and was not significantly increased in frequency in probands from simplex autism families (9 in 2,904 or 1 in 323). However, it was 2.82-fold more frequent in probands from male-male multiplex autism families compared with controls (7 in 909 or 1 in 130; P = 0.023). Additionally, six of seven autistic male siblings of probands in male-male multiplex families had the deletion, suggesting that TMLHE deficiency is a risk factor for autism (metaanalysis Z-score = 2.90 and P = 0.0037), although with low penetrance (2-4%). These data suggest that dysregulation of carnitine metabolism may be important in nondysmorphic autism; that abnormalities of carnitine intake, loss, transport, or synthesis may be important in a larger fraction of nondysmorphic autism cases; and that the carnitine pathway may provide a novel target for therapy or prevention of autism.     

From the Cover: Oral advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) promote insulin resistance and diabetes by depleting the antioxidant defenses AGE receptor-1 and sirtuin 1

The epidemics of insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) affect the first world as well as less-developed countries, and now affect children as well. Persistently elevated oxidative stress and inflammation (OS/Infl) precede these polygenic conditions. A hallmark of contemporary lifestyle is a preference for thermally processed nutrients, replete with pro-OS/Infl advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs), which enhance appetite and cause overnutrition. We propose that chronic ingestion of oral AGEs promotes IR and T2D. The mechanism(s) involved in these findings were assessed in four generations of C57BL6 mice fed isocaloric diets with or without AGEs [synthetic methyl-glyoxal-derivatives (MG⁺)]. F3/MG⁺ mice manifested increased adiposity and premature IR, marked by severe deficiency of anti-AGE advanced glycation receptor 1 (AGER1) and of survival factor sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in white adipose tissue (WAT), skeletal muscle, and liver. Impaired 2-deoxy-glucose uptake was associated with marked changes in insulin receptor (InsR), IRS-1, IRS-2, Akt activation, and a macrophage and adipocyte shift to a pro-OS/inflammatory (M1) phenotype. These features were absent in F3/MG⁻ mice. MG stimulation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes led to suppressed AGER1 and SIRT1, and altered InsR, IRS-1, IRS-2 phosphorylation, and nuclear factor kappa-light chain enhancer of activated B cells (Nf-κB) p65 acetylation. Gene modulation revealed these effects to be coregulated by AGER1 and SIRT1. Thus, prolonged oral exposure to MG-AGEs can deplete host-defenses AGER1 and SIRT1, raise basal OS/Infl, and increase susceptibility to dysmetabolic IR. Because exposure to AGEs can be decreased, these insights provide an important framework for alleviating a major lifestyle-linked disease epidemic.     

Recurrent keratocystic odontogenic tumor in the masseter muscle overlying the boney perforations: a case report

Keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT) is a benign intraosseous neoplasm of odontogenic origin with high recurrence rates and tendency to invade adjacent tissue. Most recurrences occur in the first 5 years after surgery and are usually located at the site of the primary tumor in the jaws. We report a rare case of KCOT which recurred in the masseter muscle 14 years after segmental mandibulectomy and autogenous frozen lesional mandible reimplantation. The patient had undergone enucleation of KCOT in the right mandible 20 years before segmental mandibulectomy. This case could further demonstrate the aggressive behavior of KCOT.     

Dual actions of Meis1 inhibit erythroid progenitor development and sustain general hematopoietic cell proliferation

Myeloid ecotropic viral integration site 1 (Meis1) forms a heterodimer with Pbx1 that augments Hox-dependent gene expression and is associated with leukemogenesis and HSC self-renewal. Here we identified 2 independent actions of Meis1 in hematopoietic development: one regulating cellular proliferation and the other involved in megakaryocyte lineage development. First, we found that endogenous Mesp1 indirectly induces Meis1 and Meis2 in endothelial cells derived from embryonic stem cells. Overexpression of Meis1 and Meis2 greatly enhanced the formation of hematopoietic colonies from embryonic stem cells, with the exception of erythroid colonies, by maintaining hematopoietic progenitor cells in a state of proliferation. Second, overexpression of Meis1 repressed the development of early erythroid progenitors, acting in vivo at the megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor stage to skew development away from erythroid generation and toward megakaryocyte development. This previously unrecognized action of Meis1 may explain the embryonic lethality observed in Meis1(-/-) mice that arises from failure of lymphatic-venous separation and can result as a consequence of defective platelet generation. These results show that Meis1 exerts 2 independent functions, with its role in proliferation of hematopoietic progenitors acting earlier in development from its influence on the fate choice at the megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor between megakaryocytic and erythroid development.     

Estrogenic transmembrane receptor of GPR30 mediates invasion and carcinogenesis by endometrial cancer cell line RL95-2

Purpose  

The mechanisms underlying the effects of estrogen on endometrial cancer remain undefined. Although the classical mechanism of the action of estrogen involves binding to the estrogen receptors α and β, and transduction of the signal into the cell, G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 30 has been shown to mediate nongenomic estrogen signaling. The goal of this study was to determine the role of GPR30 signal in the basic process such as invasion and carcinogenesis of endometrial cancer.     

The functional MDM2 T309G genetic variant but not P53 Arg72Pro polymorphism is associated with risk of sarcomas: a meta-analysis

Purpose  

The P53–MDM2 pathway plays a central role in sarcoma pathogenesis. Functional P53 Arg72Pro and MDM2 T309G single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) are considered to have significant effects on risk of sarcomas.