Effective-mononuclear cell (E-MNC) therapy alleviates salivary gland damage by suppressing lymphocyte infiltration in Sjögren-like disease

Introduction: Sjögren syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by salivary gland (SG) destruction leading to loss of secretory function. A hallmark of the disease is the presence of focal lymphocyte infiltration in SGs, which is predominantly composed of T cells. Currently, there are no effective therapies for SS. Recently, we demonstrated that a newly developed therapy using effective-mononuclear cells (E-MNCs) improved the function of radiation-injured SGs due to anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects. In this study, we investigated whether E-MNCs could ameliorate disease development in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice as a model for primary SS.Methods: E-MNCs were obtained from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) cultured for 7 days in serum-free medium supplemented with five specific recombinant proteins (5G culture). The anti-inflammatory characteristics of E-MNCs were then analyzed using a co-culture system with CD3/CD28-stimulated PBMNCs. To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of E-MNCs against SS onset, E-MNCs were transplanted into SGs of NOD mice. Subsequently, saliva secretion, histological, and gene expression analyses of harvested SG were performed to investigate if E-MNCs therapy delays disease development.Results: First, we characterized that both human and mouse E-MNCs exhibited induction of CD11b/CD206-positive cells (M2 macrophages) and that human E-MNCs could inhibit inflammatory gene expressions in CD3/CD28- stimulated PBMNCs. Further analyses revealed that Msr1-and galectin3-positive macrophages (immunomodulatory M2c phenotype) were specifically induced in E-MNCs of both NOD and MHC class I-matched mice. Transplanted E-MNCs induced M2 macrophages and reduced the expression of T cell-derived chemokine-related and inflammatory genes in SG tissue of NOD mice at SS-onset. Then, E-MNCs suppressed the infiltration of CD4-positive T cells and facilitated the maintenance of saliva secretion for up to 12 weeks after E-MNC administration.Discussion: Thus, the immunomodulatory actions of E-MNCs could be part of a therapeutic strategy targeting the early stage of primary SS

Serum Wisteria Floribunda Agglutinin-Positive Mac-2 Binding Protein Values Predict the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma among Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C after Sustained Virological Response

Measurement of Wisteria floribundaagglutinin-positive human Mac-2 binding protein (WFA+-M2BP) in serum was recently shown to be a noninvasive method to assess liver fibrosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of serum WFA+-M2BP values to predict the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients who achieved a sustained virological response (SVR) by interferon treatment. For this purpose, we retrospectively analyzed 238 patients with SVR who were treated with interferon in our department. Serum WFA+-M2BP values were measured at pre-treatment (pre-Tx), post-treatment (24 weeks after completion of interferon; post-Tx), the time of HCC diagnosis, and the last clinical visit. Of 238 patients with SVR, HCC developed in 16 (6.8%) patients. The average follow-up period was 9.1 years. The cumulative incidence of HCC was 3.4% at 5 years and 7.5% at 10 years. The median pre-Tx and post-Tx WFA+-M2BP values were 1.69 (range: 0.28 to 12.04 cutoff index (COI)) and 0.80 (range: 0.17 to 5.29 COI), respectively. The WFA+-M2BP values decreased significantly after SVR (P 60 years), sex (male), pre-Tx platelet count ( 2.0 COI) were associated with the development of HCC after SVR. Conclusion: Post-Tx WFA+-M2BP (> 2.0 COI) is associated with the risk for development of HCC among patients with SVR. The WFA+-M2BP values could be a new predictor for HCC after SVR

Intranasal oxytocin suppresses seizure-like behaviors in a mouse model of NGLY1 deficiency

Abstract NGLY1 deficiency is a genetic disease caused by biallelic mutations of the Ngly1 gene. Although epileptic seizure is one of the most severe symptoms in patients with NGLY1 deficiency, preclinical studies have not been conducted due to the lack of animal models for epileptic seizures in NGLY1 deficiency. Here, we observed the behaviors of male and female Ngly1 −/− mice by video monitoring and found that these mice exhibit spontaneous seizure-like behaviors. Gene expression analyses and enzyme immunoassay revealed significant decreases in oxytocin, a well-known neuropeptide, in the hypothalamus of Ngly1 −/− mice. Seizure-like behaviors in Ngly1 −/− mice were transiently suppressed by a single intranasal administration of oxytocin. These findings suggest the therapeutic potential of oxytocin for epileptic seizure in patients with NGLY1 deficiency and contribute to the clarification of the disease mechanism

Reversibility of motor dysfunction in the rat model of NGLY1 deficiency

Abstract N-glycanase 1 (NGLY1) deficiency is a rare inherited disorder characterized by developmental delay, hypolacrima or alacrima, seizure, intellectual disability, motor deficits, and other neurological symptoms. The underlying mechanisms of the NGLY1 phenotype are poorly understood, and no effective therapy is currently available. Similar to human patients, the rat model of NGLY1 deficiency, Ngly1−/−, shows developmental delay, movement disorder, somatosensory impairment, scoliosis, and learning disability. Here we show that single intracerebroventricular administration of AAV9 expressing human NGLY1 cDNA (AAV9-hNGLY1) to Ngly1−/− rats during the weaning period restored NGLY1 expression in the brain and spinal cord, concomitant with increased enzymatic activity of NGLY1 in the brain. hNGLY1 protein expressed by AAV9 was found predominantly in mature neurons, but not in glial cells, of Ngly1−/− rats. Strikingly, intracerebroventricular administration of AAV9-hNGLY1 normalized the motor phenotypes of Ngly1−/− rats assessed by the rota-rod test and gait analysis. The reversibility of motor deficits in Ngly1−/− rats by central nervous system (CNS)-restricted gene delivery suggests that the CNS is the primary therapeutic target organs for NGLY1 deficiency, and that the Ngly1−/− rat model may be useful for evaluating therapeutic treatments in pre-clinical studies

Establishment of X-linked Alport syndrome model mice with a Col4a5 R471X mutation

Alport syndrome (AS) is an inherited disorder characterized by glomerular basement membrane (GBM) abnormality and development of chronic kidney disease at an early age. The cause of AS is a genetic mutation in type IV collagen, and more than 80% of patients have X-linked AS (XLAS) with mutation in COL4A5. Although the causal gene has been identified, mechanisms of progression have not been elucidated, and no effective treatment has been developed. In this study, we generated a Col4a5 mutant mouse harboring a nonsense mutation (R471X) obtained from a patient with XLAS using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated system. Col4a5 mRNA and protein expressions were not observed in the kidneys of hemizygous R471X male mice. R471X mice showed proteinuria and hematuria. Pathology revealed progression of glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis by age. Electron microscopy identified irregular thickening in GBM accompanied by irregular lamination. These observations were consistent with the clinical and pathological features of patients with AS and other established models. In addition, our mice models develop end-stage renal disease at the median age of 28 weeks, much later compared to previous models much more consistent with clinical course of human XLAS. Our models have advantages for future experiments in regard with treatment for human XLAS. Keywords: Col4a5, Alport syndrome, XLAS, CKD, ESRD, Model mic

Practical Total Syntheses of Acromelic Acids A and B

Practical total syntheses of acromelic acids A (<b>1</b>) and B (<b>2</b>), which have potent neuro-excitatory activity, were accomplished in 13 (36% total yield) and 17 steps (6.9% total yield), respectively, from 2,6-dichloropyridine (<b>8</b>). Regioselective transformation of symmetric <b>8</b> provided nitroalkenes <b>15</b> and <b>16</b>. The pyrrolidine ring was efficiently constructed by Ni-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition followed by intramolecular reductive amination

Phase II Study of Gefitinib Readministration in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Previous Response to Gefitinib

Objective: Salvage treatment for acquired resistance to gefitinib has yet to be developed. We conducted the first prospective phase II study of gefitinib readministration in previous gefitinib responders. Methods: Gefitinib (250 mg/day) was readministered to patients with advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had achieved objective response to initial gefitinib and subsequently received cytotoxic chemotherapy after disease progression with initial gefitinib. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate with gefitinib readministration. Secondary endpoints were disease control rate, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), quality of life ((QOL), and toxicity. Changes in lung cancer-related symptoms were evaluated using the seven-item lung cancer subscale of the questionnaire. Results: Sixteen patients were enrolled between February 2005 and January 2008. Most had received ≥ 3 regimens of chemotherapy. Response and disease-control rates for all patients were 0% and 44%. Median PFS and OS were 2.5 months and 14.7 months, respectively. Four of 7 patients with stable disease experienced a long duration (≥ 6 months) of disease control without severe toxicity. Symptom improvement was observed in 2 of 12 patients (17%) for whom QOL was evaluable. Conclusion: Gefitinib represents a useful therapeutic option for selected previous gefitinib responders