Revisiting PFA-mediated tissue fixation chemistry: FixEL enables trapping of small molecules in the brain to visualize their distribution changes

ホルマリン漬けから着想した小分子可視化法 --医薬品開発効率化につながる新たな戦略--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-12-05.Various small molecules have been used as functional probes for tissue imaging in medical diagnosis and pharmaceutical drugs for disease treatment. The spatial distribution, target selectivity, and diffusion/excretion kinetics of small molecules in structurally complicated specimens are critical for function. However, robust methods for precisely evaluating these parameters in the brain have been limited. Herein, we report a new method termed “fixation-driven chemical cross-linking of exogenous ligands (FixEL), ” which traps and images exogenously administered molecules of interest (MOIs) in complex tissues. This method relies on protein-MOI interactions and chemical cross-linking of amine-tethered MOI with paraformaldehyde used for perfusion fixation. FixEL is used to obtain images of the distribution of the small molecules, which addresses selective/nonselective binding to proteins, time-dependent localization changes, and diffusion/retention kinetics of MOIs such as the scaffold of PET tracer derivatives or drug-like small molecules

Regulatory T Cell as a Biomarker of Treatment-Free Remission in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Simple Summary Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have dramatically improved the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Recently, TKIs were discontinued in patients with CML with deep molecular remission, and some patients have been reported to be able to maintain long-term treatment-free remission (TFR). However, there is no certainty regarding which patients can maintain TFR. We focused on immunity in the TFR phase and investigated the immunological mechanism of continuous TFR or recurrence. Our results suggest that the group that maintains the TFR is immunologically activated. In addition, regulatory T cells can be used as a biomarker. These results may have important implications for future strategies for maintaining TFR in CML treatment. Treatment-free remission (TFR) has become a therapeutic goal in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and approximately half of the patients with chronic phase-CML (CML-CP) with deep molecular remission (DMR) by tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have achieved TFR. However, the mechanism of continuous TFR is still unclear, as there are fluctuate patients who have BCR-ABL-positive leukemia cells but do not observe obvious relapse. We focused on the immune response and conducted an immune analysis using clinical samples from the imatinib discontinuation study, JALSG-STIM213. The results showed that, in the group that maintained TFR for 3 years, changes in regulatory T (Treg) cells were observed early after stopping imatinib treatment. The effector Treg (eTreg) cells increased transiently at 1 month after stopping imatinib and then returned to baseline at 3 months after stopping imatinib treatment. There was no difference in the Treg phenotype, and CD8(+) T cells in the TFR group were relatively activated. High concentrations of imatinib before stopping were negatively correlated with eTreg cells after stopping imatinib. These data suggest immunological involvement in the maintenance of the TFR, and that Treg cells after stopping imatinib might be a biomarker for TFR. Furthermore, high imatinib exposure may have a negative immunological impact on the continuous TFR

Azilsartan inhibits inflammation-triggered bone resorption and osteoclastogenesis in vivo via suppression of TNF-α expression in macrophages

IntroductionHypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is associated with increased bone loss due to excessive activity of the local renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Angiotensinogen/Angiotensin (ANG) II/Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) axis is considered as the core axis regulating RAS activity. Azilsartan is an FDA-approved selective AT1R antagonist that is used to treat hypertension. This study aimed to determine whether azilsartan affects formation of osteoclast, resorption of bone, and the expression of cytokines linked with osteoclastogenesis during lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-triggered inflammation in vivo.MethodsIn vivo, following a 5-day supracalvarial injection of LPS or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) with or without azilsartan, the proportion of bone resorption and the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinucleated cells, which are identified as osteoclasts on mice calvariae were counted. The mRNA expression levels of TRAP, cathepsin K, receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL), and TNF-α were also evaluated. In vitro, the effect of azilsartan (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 μM) on RANKL and TNF-α-triggered osteoclastogenesis were investigated. Also, whether azilsartan restrains LPS-triggered TNF-α mRNA and protein expression in macrophages and RANKL expression in osteoblasts were assessed. Furthermore, western blotting for analysis of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling was conducted.ResultsAzilsartan-treated calvariae exhibited significantly lower bone resorption and osteoclastogenesis than those treated with LPS alone. In vivo, LPS with azilsartan administration resulted in lower levels of receptor activator of RANKL and TNF-α mRNA expression than LPS administration alone. Nevertheless, azilsartan did not show inhibitory effect on RANKL- and TNF-α-triggered osteoclastogenesis in vitro. Compared to macrophages treated with LPS, TNF-α mRNA and protein levels were lower in macrophages treated by LPS with azilsartan. In contrast, RANKL mRNA and protein expression levels in osteoblasts were the same in cells co-treated with azilsartan and LPS and those exposed to LPS only. Furthermore, azilsartan suppressed LPS-triggered MAPKs signaling pathway in macrophages. After 5-day supracalvarial injection, there is no difference between TNF-α injection group and TNF-α with azilsartan injection group.ConclusionThese findings imply that azilsartan prevents LPS-triggered TNF-α production in macrophages, which in turn prevents LPS-Triggered osteoclast formation and bone resorption in vivo

Proteomic analysis identifies proteins that continue to grow hepatic stem-like cells without differentiation

To understand the molecular mechanism underlying vigorous proliferative activity of hepatic stem-like (HSL) cells, we performed two-dimensional electrophoresis to identify the proteins statistically more abundant in rapidly growing undifferentiated HSL cells than in sodium butyrate-treated differentiated HSL cells. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry and Mascot search identified 6 proteins including prohibitin, vimentin, ezrin, annexin A3, acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein P0 and Grp75. Prohibitin and vimentin control the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway. Ezrin is phosphorylated by various protein-tyrosine kinases and modulates interactions between cytoskeletal and membrane proteins. Annexin A3 has a role in DNA synthesis. Acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein P0 and Grp75 play in protein synthesis. These results suggest that the proteins related to the MAP kinase cascade had some role in continuous proliferation of HSL cells without differentiation

Raman spectroscopic detection of the T-HgII-T base pair and the ionic characteristics of mercury

Developing applications for metal-mediated base pairs (metallo-base-pair) has recently become a high-priority area in nucleic acid research, and physicochemical analyses are important for designing and fine-tuning molecular devices using metallo-base-pairs. In this study, we characterized the HgII-mediated T-T (T-HgII-T) base pair by Raman spectroscopy, which revealed the unique physical and chemical properties of HgII. A characteristic Raman marker band at 1586 cm−1 was observed and assigned to the C4=O4 stretching mode. We confirmed the assignment by the isotopic shift (18O-labeling at O4) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The unusually low wavenumber of the C4=O4 stretching suggested that the bond order of the C4=O4 bond reduced from its canonical value. This reduction of the bond order can be explained if the enolate-like structure (N3=C4-O4−) is involved as a resonance contributor in the thymine ring of the T-HgII-T pair. This resonance includes the N-HgII-bonded state (HgII-N3-C4=O4) and the N-HgII-dissociated state (HgII+ N3=C4-O4−), and the latter contributor reduced the bond order of N-HgII. Consequently, the HgII nucleus in the T-HgII-T pair exhibited a cationic character. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis supports the interpretations of the Raman experiments

Tokyo Guidelines 2018 management bundles for acute cholangitis and cholecystitis

Management bundles that define items or procedures strongly recommended in clinical practice have been used in many guidelines in recent years. Application of these bundles facilitates the adaptation of guidelines and helps improve the prognosis of target diseases. In Tokyo Guidelines 2013 (TG13), we proposed management bundles for acute cholangitis and cholecystitis. Here, in Tokyo Guidelines 2018 (TG18), we redefine the management bundles for acute cholangitis and cholecystitis. Critical parts of the bundles in TG18 include the diagnostic process, severity assessment, transfer of patients if necessary, and therapeutic approach at each time point. Observance of these items and procedures should improve the prognosis of acute cholangitis and cholecystitis. Studies are now needed to evaluate the dissemination of these TG18 bundles and their effectiveness. Free full articles and mobile app of TG18 are available at: . Related clinical questions and references are also include

CNVs in Three Psychiatric Disorders

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine the similarities and differences in the roles of genic and regulatory copy number variations (CNVs) in bipolar disorder (BD), schizophrenia (SCZ), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: Based on high-resolution CNV data from 8708 Japanese samples, we performed to our knowledge the largest cross-disorder analysis of genic and regulatory CNVs in BD, SCZ, and ASD. RESULTS: In genic CNVs, we found an increased burden of smaller (500 kb) exonic CNVs in SCZ/ASD. Pathogenic CNVs linked to neurodevelopmental disorders were significantly associated with the risk for each disorder, but BD and SCZ/ASD differed in terms of the effect size (smaller in BD) and subtype distribution of CNVs linked to neurodevelopmental disorders. We identified 3 synaptic genes (DLG2, PCDH15, and ASTN2) as risk factors for BD. Whereas gene set analysis showed that BD-associated pathways were restricted to chromatin biology, SCZ and ASD involved more extensive and similar pathways. Nevertheless, a correlation analysis of gene set results indicated weak but significant pathway similarities between BD and SCZ or ASD (r = 0.25–0.31). In SCZ and ASD, but not BD, CNVs were significantly enriched in enhancers and promoters in brain tissue. CONCLUSIONS: BD and SCZ/ASD differ in terms of CNV burden, characteristics of CNVs linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, and regulatory CNVs. On the other hand, they have shared molecular mechanisms, including chromatin biology. The BD risk genes identified here could provide insight into the pathogenesis of BD

B-1. 研究プロジェクトタイトル"海洋生物の医薬資源開発-医薬を指向した海洋生物の有用物質の探索"

約100万種といわれる海洋生物は、地上における最も未知な世界である。本年度も、この海洋生物から、医薬資源となりうる有用な生理活性物質を発見し、構造を明らかにし、生理活性を検討することを目的として研究を行っている。本年採集した生物は、39件29種であり、今までに189件を採集した。採集生物のリストを最後に示した。バイオアッセイを目印に、そのうち、海草、クダウミヒドラ、スポンジ、エボヤ、ユーレイボヤ、アカフジツボ、クロフジツボ、群体ボヤ、オオワレカラなどにつき有用成分の探索を行った。特に付着生物コケムシ類Bugla nertinaおよびAmathia convolutaを検討し、有益な知見を得た(研究の成果の項参照)。7月21日(金)、22日(土)には、本学平塚キャンパスおいて、「第1回海洋生物科学の基礎と応用(最近の進歩)シンポジウム」を開催した。海洋生物の基礎と応用研究にたづさわる最前線の各研究者の発表と講演を通し、相互の理解と現状を把握し、協力して大きな夢へ向かっての議論が出来たことは一般への啓蒙に加えて大きな成果であった。このシンポジウムには、基礎部門の代表者として本学の日野晶也助教授の協力を得ている。演者とシンポジウムのタイトルを後述する。このような基礎と応用を一同に会したシンポジウムは最初の試みであり、今後も続ける予定である。ちなみに今回の参加者はのべ150名であった

B-1. 研究プロジェクトタイトル"海洋生物の医薬資源開発-医薬を指向した海洋生物の有用物質の探索"

海洋生物はその種100万といわれ、地上における最も未知な世界である。本年度も、この海洋生物から、医薬資源となりうる有用な生理活性物質を発見し、構造を明らかにし、生理活性を検討することを目的として研究を行った。本年採集した生物は、38件31種であり、今までに227件を採集した。採集生物のリストを最後に示した。バイオアッセイを目じるしに、今まで、海草、クダウミヒドラ、スポンジ、エボヤ、ユーレイボヤ、イソギンチャク、群体ボヤ、オオワレカラ、等につき有用成分の探索を行った。特に、付着生物コケムシ(Bryzoa)類の各種の成分に注目し、各地で採取したフサコケムシBugula neritina、ホソフサコケムシTricellaria occidentalisおよびアメリカのフロリダ産コケムシAmathia convolutaの活性成分を検討し、有益な知見を得た。さらに、本年度から淡水産のコケムシの一種であるオオマリコケムシをつくば市の沼で採取し、活性成分の探索を開始した。淡水産コケムシについての成分研究はまだ未知であり本研究室が最初である。(以上研究の成果の項を参照のこと)。12月14日(土)には、本学平塚キャンパスにおいて、昨年に引き続いて「第2回海洋生物科学の基礎と応用(最近の進歩)シンポジウム」を開催した。海洋生物の基礎と応用研究にたづさわる最前線の各研究者の発表と講演を通し、相互の理解と現状を把握し、協力して大きな夢へ向かっての議論が出来たことは一般への啓蒙に加えて大きな成果であった。シンポジウムには基礎部門の代表者として日野昌也および小笠原 強両教授の協力を得ている。演者とシンポジウムのタイトルを後述する。このような基礎と応用を一同に会したシンポジウムは意義があり今後もさらに続ける予定である。ちなみに今回の参加者は100名であり、特に若手の研究者の参加が目立ち、討論も活発であった