Glutamate-evoked redox state alterations are involved in tissue transglutaminase upregulation in primary astrocyte cultures

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the involvement of oxidative stress in glutamate-evoked transglutaminase (TGase) upregulation in astrocyte cultures (14 DIV). A 24 h exposure to glutamate caused a dose-dependent depletion of glutathione intracellular content and increased the ROS production in cell cultures. These effects were receptor-mediated, as demonstrated by inhibition with GYKI 52466. The pre-incubation with glutathione ethyl ester or cysteamine recovered oxidative status and was effective in significantly reducing glutamate-increased tissue TGase. These data suggest that tissue TGase upregulation may be part of a biochemical response to oxidative stress induced by a prolonged exposure of astrocyte cultures to glutamate

Timing and severity of inhibitor development in recombinant versus plasma-derived factor VIII concentrates: a SIPPET analysis

Essentials Recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII) was contrasted with plasma-derived FVIII (pdFVIII). In previously untreated patients with hemophilia A, rFVIII led to more inhibitors than pdFVIII. Inhibitors with rFVIII developed earlier, and the peak rate was higher than with pdFVIII. Inhibitors with rFVIII were more severe (higher titre) than with pdFVIII. Summary: Background The development of neutralizing antibodies (inhibitors) against factor VIII (FVIII) is the most severe complication in the early phases of treatment of severe hemophilia A. Recently, a randomized trial, the Survey of Inhibitors in Plasma-Product Exposed Toddlers (SIPPET) demonstrated a 2-fold higher risk of inhibitor development in children treated with recombinant FVIII (rFVIII) products than with plasma-derived FVIII (pdFVIII) during the first 50 exposure days (EDs). Objective/Methods In this post-hoc SIPPET analysis we evaluated the rate of inhibitor incidence over time by every 5 EDs (from 0 to 50 EDs) in patients treated with different classes of FVIII product, made possible by a frequent testing regime. Results The highest rate of inhibitor development occurred in the first 10 EDs, with a large contrast between rFVIII and pdFVIII during the first 5 EDs: hazard ratio 3.14 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01\ue2\u80\u939.74) for all inhibitors and 4.19 (95% CI, 1.18\ue2\u80\u9314.8) for high-titer inhibitors. For patients treated with pdFVIII, the peak of inhibitor development occurred later (6\ue2\u80\u9310 EDs) and lasted for a shorter time. Conclusion These results emphasize the high immunologic vulnerability of patients during the earliest exposure to FVIII concentrates, with the strongest response to recombinant FVIII products

The pluripotency transcription factor OCT4 represses heme oxygenase-1 gene expression

In embryonic stem (ES) cells, oxidative stress control is crucial for genomic stability, self-renewal, and cell differentiation. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a key player of the antioxidant system and is also involved in stem cell differentiation and pluripotency acquisition. We found that the HO-1 gene is expressed in ES cells and induced after promoting differentiation. Moreover, downregulation of the pluripotency transcription factor (TF) OCT4 increased HO-1 mRNA levels in ES cells, and analysis of ChIP-seq public data revealed that this TF binds to the HO-1 gene locus in pluripotent cells. Finally, ectopic expression of OCT4 in heterologous systems repressed a reporter carrying the HO-1 gene promoter and the endogenous gene. Hence, this work highlights the connection between pluripotency and redox homeostasis.Fil: Petrone Parcero, María Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Toro, Ayelen Rayen. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Vazquez Echegaray, Camila. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Francia, Marcos Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Solari, Claudia María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Cosentino, María Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Vazquez, Elba Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Guberman, Alejandra Sonia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentin

Characterisation of lens epithelium derived growth factor isoforms in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: Studies and significance

Over expression of lens epithelium derived growth factor (LEDGF) is described in a number of different tumours. In addition, self-antibodies against this protein are detectable in patients with lymphomas and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Alternative splicing of LEDGF results in a number of different isoforms, and thus the initial aim of this thesis was to determine the variability in LEDGF isoform expression in a cohort of CLL cases. Utilising RT-PCR, it is shown that CLL cells variably express four different LEDGF isoforms. The study was then extended to quantitate the expression levels of these four isoforms in individual CLL cases, and to compare them to normal B cells. RT-qPCR analysis showed that the longest of these isoforms, p75, is significantly over expressed, whilst the shortest form, p52bΔE6 is significantly under expressed in CLL, compared to normal B cells. All four isoforms of LEDGF are generally over expressed in CD38 positive CLL cases compared to those that are deficient for surface expression of this molecule. Alternative splicing occurs as a result of the inclusion or exclusion of different exons within the mRNA. This process is governed by the splicing machinery, of which Splicing Factor 3B, subunit 1 (SF3B1) is a critical component. Recently, it has been shown that mutations within SF3B1 are recurrent in CLL. Such mutations impact on the splicing of a significant array of genes within the cell. One of the genes predicted to be affected is LEDGF. Therefore, the mutational status of SF3B1 was examined in the same cohort of CLL cases and correlated with the expression of the LEDGF isoforms. As well as the commonly reported mutations in SF3B1, a novel nonsense mutation was identified. Although not statistically significant, cases with unmutated SF3B1 have higher levels of all isoforms of LEDGF and a possible explanation for this is discussed. That two of the major isoforms of LEDGF (p75 and p52) have differing functions within the cell is well documented and can be explained by virtue of their participation in distinct protein complexes. In order to identify components of the complexes generated by the four LEDGF isoforms identified in this study, stable cell lines exogenously expressing these isoforms were generated. Each of the isoforms was ‘double-tagged’, and a purification protocol optimised that would allow successful characterisation of the complex associated with each isoform. The results provide useful insights and provoke thought for the role of alternative splicing in the altered phenotype of cancer cells and its contribution as an additional epigenetic mechanism in normal and malignant gene regulation

Immunomodulatory drugs : new options for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes

Background: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are common adult hematologic disorders characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis with progressive cytopenia and a risk of evolving into currently incurable acute myeloid leukemia. Until recently, the only treatment was bone marrow transplantation, but, over the past few years, a new therapeutic approach based on immunomodulatory drugs (IMiD) has been developed. IMiDs belong to a therapeutic class whose progenitor is thalidomide, a synthetic derivative of glutamate that was initially used because of its sedative and antiemetic properties but was then withdrawn because of its teratogenic effects. IMiDs represent a major advance in the treatment of multiple myeloma at different disease stages, 5q minus syndrome, acute myeloid leukemia with the 5q deletion, mantle cell lymphoma, relapsing or unresponsive high-grade lymphoma, and relapsing indolent lymphoma. Methods: Medical databases and conference proceedings were searched to identify articles and clinical trials that have investigated or are investigating the use of IMiDs on MDS. Results and Discussion: An important part of their in vivo efficacy is attributed to their immunomodulatory properties because they potentiate the immune response by restoring dendritic cell function and inhibiting T-cell regulatory activity, which leads to the activation of T lymphocytes and natural killer T cells by increasing the production of interleukin-2 and interferon gamma. IMiDs are characterized by antitumoral and antiangiogenic activities, and they also induce the apoptosis of neoplastic cells. Thalidomide and its derivative lenalidomide have been proposed for the treatment of MDS because of their action on the immune mechanisms that appear to play an important role in the pathophysiology of this syndrome. Conclusions: This article examines the pharmacology and molecular action of IMiDs and the evidence of their efficacy in treating patients with MDS in different risk classes. \ua9 2013 Elsevier Inc

Immunomodulatory drugs in multiple myeloma : from molecular mechanisms of action to clinical practice

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal disorder of plasma cells that is considered incurable using the currently available treatments. Cytogenetic, molecular and proteonomic techniques have contributed toward a better understanding of the pathophysiology and prognostic factors of this heterogeneous malignancy, whose management has rapidly evolved over the years. The introduction of thalidomide, and the development of safer and more effective thalidomide analogues, represents the major therapeutic advances. Thalidomide, initially used in the treatment of MM because of its angiogenic properties, has considerable therapeutic activity (alone or in combination with other drugs) at all stages of the disease. However, a number of new analogues, such as lenalidomide and pomalidomide, have been developed and are known as "immunomodulatory drugs" (IMIDs). Although they are analogues of thalidomide, they have direct anti-tumor properties, a better tolerability profile and specific activity in both relapsing refractory MM and newly diagnosed disease. The mechanisms of action of IMIDs are still being investigated, but recent studies suggest that, in addition to their anti-angiogenic activity, they have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, and directly and indirectly target tumor activity by interfering with various components of the bone marrow (BM) micro-environment. In this paper, we review the pharmacology, mechanisms of action, pre-clinical and clinical efficacy, and the current status of IMIDs in the treatment of M

Low power microwave interaction with phospholipase C and D signal transduction pathways in myogenic cells

Ionic channel proteins are possible sites of microwave interaction at the cell membrane level. Patch-clamp data, using single channel and total current recording, indicated that low level microwave fields may modify some functional parameters of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in primary chick myotubes, suggesting a possible effect of microwaves on myogenic cells. Here, we investigated the biological relevance of such results, in relation to the possible involvement of intracellular signaling processes. We exposed L6-C5 myogenic cells to low power electromagnetic fields and observed the consequences on hormonal activation of phospholipases C and D. We found that increased inositol phospholipid turnover, induced by acetylcholine and arginine vasopressin activation of phospholipase C, was not modified in microwave irradiated myoblasts or myotubes. Moreover, vasopressin-dependent phospholipase D activation, assessed by measuring the [H-3]-free choline release, was not modified by microwave irradiation. Our conclusions suggest that low level microwave fields do not modify signal transduction pathways activated by acetylcholine and vasopressin in L6-C5 myogenic cells. (C) 2004 International Federation for Cell Biology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved