Descriptive Analysis of LAP1 Distribution and That of Associated Proteins throughout Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis comprises highly complex differentiation processes. Nuclear envelope (NE) proteins have been associated with these processes, including lamins, lamina-associated polypeptide (LAP) 2 and the lamin B-receptor. LAP1 is an important NE protein whose function has not been fully elucidated, but several binding partners allow predicting putative LAP1 functions. To date, LAP1 had not been associated with spermatogenesis. In this study, LAP1 expression and cellular/subcellular localization during spermatogenesis in human and mouse testes is established for the first time. The fact that LAP1 is expressed during nuclear elongation in spermiogenesis and is located at the spermatids' centriolar pole is singularly important. LAP1 binds to members of the protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) family. Similar localization of LAP1 and PP12, a testis-specific PP1 isoform, suggests a shared function for both proteins during spermiogenesis. Furthermore, this study suggests an involvement of LAP1 in manchette development and chromatin regulation possibly via interaction with acetylated-tubulin and lamins, respectively. Taken together, the present results indicate that, by moving to the posterior pole in spermatids, LAP1 can contribute to the achievement of non-random, sperm-specific chromatin distribution, as well as modulate cellular remodeling during spermiogenesis. In addition, LAP1 seems to be associated with dynamic microtubule changes related to manchette formation and flagella development.Institute for Biomedicine (Project UID/BIM/04501/2013), the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia of the Ministério da Educação e Ciência (Project PTDC/BEX-BCM/0493/2012), the COMPETE program (Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade), the QREN (Quadro de Referência Estratégica Nacional) and the European Union (Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional). Filipa Martins was the recipient of an FCT fellowship. The authors would also like to thank William Dauer (Columbia University, USA) for providing the anti-LAP1 antibodyinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Orofacial abnormalities in mucopolysaccharidosis and mucolipidosis type II and III:A systematic review

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) and mucolipidosis II and III (ML II and III) often manifest with orofacial (progressive) abnormalities, which may have a major impact on quality of life. However, because these patients have multiple somatic health issues, orofacial problems are easily overlooked in clinical practice and available literature on this topic solely consists of case reports, small case series, and small cohort studies. The aim of this systematic review was to gain more insight in the nature and extent of orofacial abnormalities in MPS, ML II, and III. A systematic review of all previously published articles addressing orofacial abnormalities in MPS, ML II, and III was performed. Both clinical studies and case reports were included. Outcome was the described orofacial abnormalities, subdivided into abnormalities of the face, maxilla, mandible, soft tissues, teeth, and occlusion. The search resulted in 57 articles, describing orofacial features in 340 patients. Orofacial abnormalities were present in all subtypes of MPS, ML II, and III, and consisted of thickened lips, a hypoplastic midface, a high‐arched palate, hypoplastic condyles, coronoid hyperplasia, macroglossia, gingival hyperplasia, thick dental follicles, dentigerous cysts, misshapen teeth, enamel defects, and open bite. Orofacial abnormalities are present in all subtypes of MPS, ML II, and III. As orofacial abnormalities may cause complaints, evaluation of orofacial health should be part of routine clinical care

Matrix Modulation of the Bioactivation of Estragole by Constituents of Different Alkenylbenzene-containing Herbs and Spices and Physiologically Based Biokinetic Modeling of Possible In Vivo Effects

The alkenylbenzene estragole is a constituent of several herbs and spices. It induces hepatomas in rodents at high doses following bioactivation by cytochrome P450s and sulfotransferases (SULTs) giving rise to the ultimate carcinogenic metabolite 1'-sulfooxyestragole which forms DNA adducts. Methanolic extracts from different alkenylbenzene-containing herbs and spices were able to inhibit SULT activity. Flavonoids including quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin, apigenin, and nevadensin were the major constituents responsible for this inhibition with Ki values in the nano to micromolar range. In human HepG2 cells exposed to the proximate carcinogen 1ʹ-hydroxyestragole, the various flavonoids were able to inhibit estragole DNA adduct formation and shift metabolism in favor of glucuronidation which is a detoxification pathway for 1ʹ-hydroxyestragole. In a next step, the kinetics for SULT inhibition were incorporated in physiologically based biokinetic (PBBK) models for estragole in rat and human to predict the effect of co-exposure to estragole and (mixtures of) the different flavonoids on the bioactivation in vivo. The PBBK-model-based predictions indicate that the reduction of estragole bioactivation in rat and human by co-administration of the flavonoids is dependent on whether the intracellular liver concentrations of the flavonoids can reach their Ki values. It is expected that this is most easily achieved for nevadensin which has a Ki value in the nanomolar range and is, due to its methyl ation, more metabolically stable than the other flavonoid

Comparing genome-scale DNA methylation and CNV marks between adult human cultured ITGA6+ testicular cells and seminomas to assess in vitro genomic stability

Autologous transplantation of spermatogonial stem cells is a promising new avenue to restore fertility in infertile recipients. Expansion of the initial spermatogonial stem cell pool through cell culturing is a necessary step to obtain enough cells for effective repopulation of the testis after transplantation. Since in vitro propagation can lead to (epi-)genetic mutations and possibly malignant transformation of the starting cell population, we set out to investigate genome-wide DNA methylation status in uncultured and cultured primary testicular ITGA6+ sorted cells and compare them with germ cell tumor samples of the seminoma subtype. Seminomas displayed a severely global hypomethylated profile, including loss of genomic imprinting, which we did not detect in cultured primary testicular ITGA6+ cells. Differential methylation analysis revealed altered regulation of gamete formation and meiotic processes in cultured primary testicular ITGA6+ cells but not in seminomas. The pivotal POU5F1 marker was hypomethylated in seminomas but not in uncultured or cultured primary testicular ITGA6+ cells, which is reflected in the POU5F1 mRNA expression levels. Lastly, seminomas displayed a number of characteristic copy number variations that were not detectable in primary testicular ITGA6+ cells, either before or after culture. Together, the data show a distinct DNA methylation patterns in cultured primary testicular ITGA6+ cells that does not resemble the pattern found in seminomas, but also highlight the need for more sensitive methods to fully exclude the presence of malignant cells after culture and to further study the epigenetic events that take place during in vitro culture

Cardiac outcome in classic infantile Pompe disease after 13\xe2\x80\xafyears of treatment with recombinant human acid alpha-glucosidase

Background: Cardiac failure is the main cause of death in untreated classic infantile Pompe disease, an inheritable metabolic myopathy characterized by progressive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Since the introduction of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), survival has increased significantly due to reduced cardiac hypertrophy and improved cardiac function. However, little is known about ERT\'s long-term effects on the heart. Methods: Fourteen patients were included in this prospective study. Cardiac dimensions, function, conduction and rhythm disturbances were evaluated at baseline and at regular intervals thereafter. Results: Treatment duration ranged from 1.1 to 13.9 years (median 4.8 years). At baseline, all patients had increased left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (median LVMI 226 g/m2, range 98 to 599 g/m2, Z-score median 7, range 2.4\xe2\x80\x9312.4). During the first four weeks, LVMI continued to increase in six patients. Normalization of LVMI was observed in 13 patients (median 30 weeks; range 3 to 660 weeks). After clinical deterioration, LVMI increased again slightly in one patient. At baseline, PR interval was shortened in all patients; it normalized in only three. A delta-wave pattern on ECG was seen in six patients and resulted in documented periods of supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs) in three patients, two of whom required medication and/or ablation. One patient had severe bradycardia (35 beats/min). Conclusion: This study shows that ERT significantly reduced LVMI, and sustained this effect over a period of 13.9 years. The risk for rhythm disturbances remains. Regular cardiac evaluations should be continued, also after initially good response to ERT

WMAP 5-year constraints on lepton asymmetry and radiation energy density: Implications for Planck

In this paper we set bounds on the radiation content of the Universe and neutrino properties by using the WMAP-5 year CMB measurements complemented with most of the existing CMB and LSS data (WMAP5+All),imposing also self-consistent BBN constraints on the primordial helium abundance. We consider lepton asymmetric cosmological models parametrized by the neutrino degeneracy parameter and the variation of the relativistic degrees of freedom, due to possible other physical processes occurred between BBN and structure formation epochs. We find that WMAP5+All data provides strong bounds on helium mass fraction and neutrino degeneracy parameter that rivals the similar bounds obtained from the conservative analysis of the present data on helium abundance. We also find a strong correlation between the matter energy density and the redshift of matter-radiation equality, z_re, showing that we observe non-zero equivalent number of relativistic neutrinos mainly via the change of the of z_re, rather than via neutrino anisotropic stress claimed by the WMAP team. We forecast that the CMB temperature and polarization measurements observed with high angular resolutions and sensitivities by the future Planck satellite will reduce the errors on these parameters down to values fully consistent with the BBN bounds

Individualized early death and long-term survival prediction after stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases of non-small cell lung cancer:Two externally validated nomograms

Introduction Commonly used clinical models for survival prediction after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for brain metastases (BMs) are limited by the lack of individual risk scores and disproportionate prognostic groups. In this study, two nomograms were developed to overcome these limitations. Methods 495 patients with BMs of NSCLC treated with SRS for a limited number of BMs in four Dutch radiation oncology centers were identified and divided in a training cohort (n = 214, patients treated in one hospital) and an external validation cohort n = 281, patients treated in three other hospitals). Using the training cohort, nomograms were developed for prediction of early death (<3 months) and long-term survival (>12 months) with prognostic factors for survival. Accuracy of prediction was defined as the area under the curve (AUC) by receiver operating characteristics analysis for prediction of early death and long term survival. The accuracy of the nomograms was also tested in the external validation cohort. Results Prognostic factors for survival were: WHO performance status, presence of extracranial metastases, age, GTV largest BM, and gender. Number of brain metastases and primary tumor control were not prognostic factors for survival. In the external validation cohort, the nomogram predicted early death statistically significantly better (p < 0.05) than the unfavorable groups of the RPA, DS-GPA, GGS, SIR, and Rades 2015 (AUC = 0.70 versus range AUCs = 0.51–0.60 respectively). With an AUC of 0.67, the other nomogram predicted 1 year survival statistically significantly better (p < 0.05) than the favorable groups of four models (range AUCs = 0.57–0.61), except for the SIR (AUC = 0.64, p = 0.34). The models are available on www.predictcancer.org. Conclusion The nomograms predicted early death and long-term survival more accurately than commonly used prognostic scores after SRS for a limited number of BMs of NSCLC. Moreover these nomograms enable individualized probability assessment and are easy into use in routine clinical practice

Evaluation of polygenic risk scores for breast and ovarian cancer risk prediction in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 94 common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with breast cancer (BC) risk and 18 associated with ovarian cancer (OC) risk. Several of these are also associated with risk of BC or OC for women who carry a pathogenic mutation in the high-risk BC and OC genes BRCA1 or BRCA2. The combined effects of these variants on BC or OC risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers have not yet been assessed while their clinical management could benefit from improved personalized risk estimates. Methods: We constructed polygenic risk scores (PRS) using BC and OC susceptibility SNPs identified through population-based GWAS: for BC (overall, estrogen receptor [ER]-positive, and ER-negative) and for OC. Using data from 15 252 female BRCA1 and 8211 BRCA2 carriers, the association of each PRS with BC or OC risk was evaluated using a weighted cohort approach, with time to diagnosis as the outcome and estimation of the hazard ratios (HRs) per standard deviation increase in the PRS. Results: The PRS for ER-negative BC displayed the strongest association with BC risk in BRCA1 carriers (HR = 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.23 to 1.31, P = 8.2 x 10(53)). In BRCA2 carriers, the strongest association with BC risk was seen for the overall BC PRS (HR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.17 to 1.28, P = 7.2 x 10(-20)). The OC PRS was strongly associated with OC risk for both BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers. These translate to differences in absolute risks (more than 10% in each case) between the top and bottom deciles of the PRS distribution; for example, the OC risk was 6% by age 80 years for BRCA2 carriers at the 10th percentile of the OC PRS compared with 19% risk for those at the 90th percentile of PRS. Conclusions: BC and OC PRS are predictive of cancer risk in BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers. Incorporation of the PRS into risk prediction models has promise to better inform decisions on cancer risk management