Quinacrine inhibits the epidermal dendritic cell migration initiating T cell-mediated skin inflammation

Quinacrine (QC) is an anti-inflammatory drug that has been used for the treatment of malaria and rheumatoid diseases. The mechanism(s) underlying the anti-inflammatory activity of QC remains poorly understood. We recently reported the QC-mediated inhibition of the NF-kappaB pathway using an in vitro model. To test this potential mechanism in vivo, we used the contact hypersensitivity response (CHS) to chemical allergen sensitization and challenge in mice as a model of skin inflammation. The results indicated that QC treatment inhibited NF-kappaB activation in the skin during allergen sensitization. This inhibition was reflected by decreased mRNA expression and protein production of the NF-kappaB-dependent cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1beta and the chemokine CCL21 in the skin. The decreases in these cytokines resulted in reduced migration of allergen-presenting dendritic cells from the skin into skin-draining lymph nodes and markedly decreased activation of effector CD8+ T cells for the CHS response to allergen challenge (inhibitory concentration 50% or IC50 was 55 mg/kg). These findings reveal a previously unrecognized mechanism of QC-mediated inhibition of inflammation.     

Characterization of early onset neurofibromatosis type 2

Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is an autosomal dominant multiple neoplasia syndrome of the central nervous system. The aim of the present study was to characterize the clinical course of early onset NF2. The specific Japanese disease registry for NF2 in 2010 was analyzed retrospectively. The male:female ratio for the 312 patients identified in the database was 1:1.29. The median age at onset was 25 years (range 2–76 years), with 31.3% of patients exhibiting symptoms at <20 years of age. Patients with an age at onset of <20 years were found to have more frequent spinal cord and extravestibular cranial nerve involvement, cutaneous signs, and convulsions than patients with a later age at onset. Of patients younger than 18 years of age, half did not exhibit hearing problems; in contrast, they frequently had other cranial nerve schwannomas, cranial meningioma, spinal cord tumors, and subcutaneous schwannoma. There were weak but significant positive correlations between symptomatic periods and disability scores in patients with an age of onset of ?20 years (R = 0.225; P < 0.01) and those with an earlier age of onset (R = 0.306; P < 0.01). Although there were no significant differences in disability scores between genders or patients with an age at onset of <20 versus ?20 years, patients with an earlier age at onset had significantly higher disability scores for spinal symptoms than patients with an age at onset of ?20 years. Atypical extravestibular presentation is common in early onset NF2, with more prominent spinal symptoms.