Interactions Between Laminin Receptor and the Cytoskeleton During Translation and Cell Motility

Human laminin receptor acts as both a component of the 40S ribosomal subunit to mediate cellular translation and as a cell surface receptor that interacts with components of the extracellular matrix. Due to its role as the cell surface receptor for several viruses and its overexpression in several types of cancer, laminin receptor is a pathologically significant protein. Previous studies have determined that ribosomes are associated with components of the cytoskeleton, however the specific ribosomal component(s) responsible has not been determined. Our studies show that laminin receptor binds directly to tubulin. Through the use of siRNA and cytoskeletal inhibitors we demonstrate that laminin receptor acts as a tethering protein, holding the ribosome to tubulin, which is integral to cellular translation. Our studies also show that laminin receptor is capable of binding directly to actin. Through the use of siRNA and cytoskeletal inhibitors we have shown that this laminin receptor-actin interaction is critical for cell migration. These data indicate that interactions between laminin receptor and the cytoskeleton are vital in mediating two processes that are intimately linked to cancer, cellular translation and migration

Genetically predicted circulating B vitamins in relation to digestive system cancers

Funder: United Kingdom Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowship (MR/T043202/1)Funder: EC‐Innovative Medicines Initiative (BigData@Heart)Funder: Sir Henry Dale Fellowship jointly funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Society (204623/Z/16/Z)Abstract: Background: Folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 have been associated with digestive system cancers. We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomisation study to assess the causality of these associations. Methods: Two, one and 14 independent single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with serum folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 at the genome-wide significance threshold were selected as genetic instruments. Summary-level data for the associations of the vitamin-associated genetic variants with cancer were obtained from the UK Biobank study including 367,561 individuals and FinnGen consortium comprising up to 176,899 participants. Results: Genetically predicted folate and vitamin B6 concentrations were not associated with overall cancer, overall digestive system cancer or oesophageal, gastric, colorectal or pancreatic cancer. Genetically predicted vitamin B12 concentrations were positively associated with overall digestive system cancer (ORSD, 1.12; 95% CI 1.04, 1.21, p = 0.003) and colorectal cancer (ORSD 1.16; 95% CI 1.06, 1.26, p = 0.001) in UK Biobank. Results for colorectal cancer were consistent in FinnGen and the combined ORSD was 1.16 (95% CI 1.08, 1.25, p < 0.001). There was no association of genetically predicted vitamin B12 with any other site-specific digestive system cancers or overall cancer. Conclusions: These results provide evidence to suggest that elevated serum vitamin B12 concentrations are associated with colorectal cancer

EFFECTS OF BRADYKININ ON INDUCIBLE SUSTAINED VENTRICULAR-TACHYCARDIA 2 WEEKS AFTER MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION IN PIGS

We studied the in vivo effect of bradykinin infusion on inducible sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) 2 weeks after myocardial infarction in pigs, based on the assumption that the antiarrhythmic effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may, apart from their angiotensin-II lowering effect, also be due to elevation of endogenous bradykinin levels. Of the six pigs with inducible VT in the control state, four were noninducible during subsequent bradykinin infusion (p <0.05). The ventricular effective refractory period (VERP) did not change during bradykinin infusion (from 237 +/- 37 to 239 +/- 42 ms), nor did intraventricular conduction change (filtered QRS duration was 45 +/- 17 ms before and 43 +/- 19 ms during infusion). Bradykinin caused both a significant systolic blood pressure (SBP) decrease (from 79 +/- 14 to 49 +/- 4 mm Hg, p <0.001) and diastolic BP (DBP) decrease (from 41 +/- 10 to 27 +/- 4 mm Hg, p <0.01). In conclusion, exogenous bradykinin reduced the inducibility of sustained VT 2 weeks after myocardial infarction. Because refractory periods or conduction velocity were not affected, the mechanism of action might be associated with the BP decrease, which can decrease wall stress. The previously reported antiarrhythmic effect of ACE inhibitors may be due in part to elevation of endogenous bradykinin levels

NEUROHUMORAL CHANGES AND THE INDUCIBILITY OF VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIAS - EFFECT OF EARLY REPERFUSION ON THE ISCHEMIC PORCINE MYOCARDIUM

The effects of early reperfusion were studied in closed-chest pigs subjected to either 45 min or 3 hr of regional ischemia. Myocardial enzyme release during early reperfusion and electrophysiological stability after two weeks were assessed. Coronary artery occlusion durations of 3 hr and early reperfusion after 45 min were compared. The creatine phosphokinase levels in the coronary effluent were lower after early reperfusion (p <0.001). Moreover, in the early reperfusion group, the coronary sinus catecholamine and purine levels rose to higher values than in the 3 hr group. The plasma levels of catecholamines and the plasma renin activity increased rapidly but transiently at reperfusion in the 45 min group. Both the rate-pressure product and the heart rate were elevated at the end of the reperfusion period (p <0.001) in the 45 min group. Survival for two weeks was 3 out of 6 animals in the 3 hr group and 5 out of 8 in the 45 min group. In all but one surviving animal, sustained ventricular tachycardias were inducible by programmed stimulation. Abnormally low QRS amplitudes and delayed potentials were found in the signal-averaged electrocardiogram in the early reperfusion group only. In conclusion, early reperfusion causes a reduction of myocardial tissue damage, but simultaneously, neurohumoral parameters showed a greater activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin system apparently causing a deleterious increase in oxygen consumption. Therefore, this injurious component of early reperfusion might prevent the potentially beneficial effect of a reduced tissue damage on survival or late arrhythmias