Neuroendocrine,epigenetic, and intergenerational effects of general anesthetics

The progress of modern medicine would be impossible without the use of general anesthetics (GAs). Despite advancements in refining anesthesia approaches, the effects of GAs are not fully reversible upon GA withdrawal. Neurocognitive deficiencies attributed to GA exposure may persist in neonates or endure for weeks to years in the elderly. Human studies on the mechanisms of the long-term adverse effects of GAs are needed to improve the safety of general anesthesia but they are hampered not only by ethical limitations specific to human research, but also by a lack of specific biological markers that can be used in human studies to safely and objectively study such effects. The latter can primarily be attributed to an insufficient understanding of the full range of the biological effects induced by GAs and the molecular mechanisms mediating such effects even in rodents, which are far more extensively studied than any other species. Our most recent experimental findings in rodents suggest that GAs may adversely affect many more people than is currently anticipated. Specifically, we have shown that anesthesia with the commonly used GA sevoflurane induces in exposed animals not only neuroendocrine abnormalities (somatic effects), but also epigenetic reprogramming of germ cells (germ cell effects). The latter may pass the neurobehavioral effects of parental sevoflurane exposure to the offspring, who may be affected even at levels of anesthesia that are not harmful to the exposed parents. The large number of patients who require general anesthesia, the even larger number of their future unexposed offspring whose health may be affected, and a growing number of neurodevelopmental disorders of unknown etiology underscore the translational importance of investigating the intergenerational effects of GAs. In this mini review, we discuss emerging experimental findings on neuroendocrine, epigenetic, and intergenerational effects of GAs.     

Evodiamine-inspired dual inhibitors of histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and topoisomerase 2 (TOP2) with potent antitumor activity

A great challenge in multi-targeting drug discovery is to identify drug-like lead compounds with therapeutic advantages over single target inhibitors and drug combinations. Inspired by our previous efforts in designing antitumor evodiamine derivatives, herein selective histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and topoisomerase 2 (TOP2) dual inhibitors were successfully identified, which showed potent in vitro and in vivo antitumor potency. Particularly, compound 30a was orally active and possessed excellent in vivo antitumor activity in the HCT116 xenograft model (TGI = 75.2%, 150 mg/kg, p.o.) without significant toxicity, which was more potent than HDAC inhibitor vorinostat, TOP inhibitor evodiamine and their combination. Taken together, this study highlights the therapeutic advantages of evodiamine-based HDAC1/TOP2 dual inhibitors and provides valuable leads for the development of novel multi-targeting antitumor agents.     

The effects of sodium butyrate,an inhibitor of histone deacetylase,on the cocaine- and sucrose-maintained self-administration in rats

In order to substantiate the concept that cocaine behavioral effects may be influenced by histone modification, rats were trained to self-administer cocaine intravenously (0.75 mg/(kg injection)), and were systemically pretreated with sodium butyrate (NaBu), a potent histone deacetylase inhibitor, before the test session during the maintenance phase. The effect of NaBu on a control reinforcer (sucrose)-induced self-administration was also assessed. NaBu (100–200 mg/kg) was inactive in altering the cocaine (0.75 mg/(kg injection))-maintained responding and at the highest dose (400 mg/kg) it did increase cocaine-induced lever presses during the maintenance phase. On the other hand, sucrose-reinforcing potential was not altered when NaBu was given at the highest dose (400 mg/kg). These findings extend previous observations that changes in histone acetylation are relevant to cocaine-induced behavioral effects. Given that histone acetylase inhibitor enhances cocaine-induced behavioral plasticity, the therapeutic benefits of histone acetyltransferase inhibitors warrant further investigation in the experimental models of cocaine abuse.     

Mucosal bromodomain-containing protein 4 mediates aeroallergen-induced inflammation and remodeling

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Chromatin interactions in differentiating keratinocytes reveal novel atopic dermatitis– and psoriasis-associated genes

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The assessment of cell proliferation during 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene-induced hamster tongue carcinogenesis by means of histone H3 mRNA in situ hybridization

The aim of this study was to investigate cell kinetics and ultrastructural changes during carcinogenesis using a hamster 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene (DMBA)-induced tongue cancer model. Five squamous cell carcinomas, five dysplastic epithelia, seven hyperplastic epithelia, and four normal epithelia were obtained from 21 hamster tongues by applying 1.0% acetone solution of DMBA on the left lingual mucosa after scratching with a root canal broach. Ultrastructural examination revealed that the number of microvilli increased, whereas that of desmosomes decreased during carcinogenesis. Cell proliferation was analyzed by means of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization (ISH) for histone H3 mRNA. The BrdU and histone H3 mRNA labeling indices (LIs) were lowest for normal epithelium, higher for hyperplastic and dysplastic epithelia, and highest for squamous cell carcinoma. Cytoplasmic histone H3 mRNA and nuclear BrdU were localized in virtually identical areas of serial sections. The correlation coefficient for the relationship between these two LIs was 0.97 (P 0.001). These results suggest that the assessment of cell proliferation using H3 mRNA ISH will be a useful technique for investigating biological behavior during carcinogenesis.     

H3K9Ac在卵巢上皮性肿瘤中的表达及其临床意义

目的 研究组蛋白H3赖氨酸残基9位乙酰化（H3KgAc）在卵巢上皮性肿瘤中的表达及其与卵巢癌组织学分级、临床分期之间的关系。方法 采用免疫组织化学ABC法检测20例良性、16例交界性、40例恶性卵巢上皮性肿瘤中H3K9Ac的表达情况，并分析其与临床病理指标间的关系。结果 ①H3K9Ac在良性、交界性、恶性卵巢上皮性肿瘤中的表达逐渐降低，差异有显著统计学意义（P〈0．01）；②与粘液性囊腺癌相比，H3KgAc在浆液性囊腺癌中表达较低，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）；③H3KgAc的表达与卵巢上皮性癌的组织分化程度及临床分期有关，在Ⅲ、Ⅳ期卵巢癌中H3KgAc的表达明显低于Ⅰ、Ⅱ期卵巢癌（P〈0．01）；随着组织分化程度降低，H3KgAc表达也逐渐降低，两两比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论 H3KgAc在良性、交界性、恶性卵巢上皮性肿瘤中的表达差异显著，且随着卵巢上皮性癌恶性程度的增高，表达逐渐降低，H3K9Ac可能为卵巢上皮性肿瘤的良恶性及其预后判断提供一个新的生物学指标。     

Protein phosphatase PP1 is required for normal DNA methylation in Neurospora

Covalent modifications of histones integrate intracellular and extracellular cues to regulate the genome. H3 Lys 9 methylation (H3K9me) can direct heterochromatin formation and DNA methylation, while phosphorylation of H3 Ser 10 (H3S10p) drives gene activation and chromosome condensation. To examine the relationship between H3S10p, H3K9me, and DNA methylation in Neurospora crassa, we built and tested mutants of the putative H3S10 phosphatase, PP1. A PP1-impaired mutant showed increased H3S10p and selective reduction of methylation of H3K9 and DNA. Similarly, amino acid substitutions of H3S10 abolished methylation of H3K9 and DNA. Thus, H3S10 dephosphorylation by PP1 is required for DNA methylation of some loci.     

AMPK调节骨骼肌细胞GLUT4基因表达的机制研究

腺苷酸活化蛋白激酶(AMPK)能调节运动/肌肉收缩所引起的骨骼肌细胞葡萄糖转运蛋白4(GLUT4)基因的表达,但至今它的调节机制不清.研究显示在非运动刺激引起的细胞信号事件中由组蛋白去乙酰化酶(HDACs)以及组蛋白乙酰化酶(HATs)控制的组蛋白乙酰化状态是调节基因表达的重要机制,所以我们假设AMPK信号途径是通过征用HDACs中的HDAC5(在骨骼肌细胞内高表达)来实现对运动/肌肉收缩引起的GLUT4基因表达控制.细胞分为正常浓度葡萄糖对照组(NGLU组)、正常浓度AICAR组(NGLU AICAR组)、高浓度对照组(HGLU组)、高浓度AICAR组(HGLU AICAR组).用5 mmol/L和20 mmol/L葡萄糖浓度培养骨骼肌细胞后,NGLU AICAR组和HGLU AICAR组与肌肉收缩模拟信号刺激5-氨基-4-甲酰胺咪唑核糖核苷酸(AICAR)孵育.AICAR能激活NGLU组骨骼肌细胞AMPKα2、减少骨骼肌细胞核HDAC5蛋白、促使HDAC5与骨骼肌细胞加强因子(MEF2)蛋白分离和上调GLUT4基因的表达;相反,高浓度葡萄糖延迟由AICAR引起的AMPKα2磷酸化、AMPKα2向细胞核转入、HDAC5向细胞核转出和GLUT4基因的表达.实验结果说明在不同葡萄糖浓度下的骨骼肌细胞GLUT4基因表达变化都对应着上游AMPK蛋白和下游HDAC5蛋白的变化,AMPK可能是征用转录抑制子HDAC5来调节MEF2的活性而达到控制肌肉收缩所引起的GLUT4基因表达.