Effects of intracerebroventricular administration of 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin in a patient with Niemann–Pick Type C disease

Niemann–Pick Type C disease (NPC) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder characterized by progressive neurological deterioration. Previously, we reported that intravenous administration of 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPB-CD) in two patients with NPC had only partial and transient beneficial effects on neurological function. The most likely reason for HPB-CD not significantly improving the neurological deficits of NPC is its inability to cross the blood–brain barrier. Herein, we describe the effects of intrathecal HPB-CD in an eight-year-old patient with a perinatal onset of NPC, administered initially at a dose of 10 mg/kg every other week and increased up to 10 mg/kg twice a week. Clinically, the patient maintained residual neurological functions for two years, at which time nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed a decreased choline to creatine ratio and increased N-acetylaspartate to creatine ratio, and positron emission tomography revealed increased standardized uptake values. Total-tau in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was also decreased after two years. No adverse effects were observed over the course of treatment. The CSF concentrations of HPB-CD during the distribution phase after the injections were comparable with those at which HPB-CD could normalize cellular cholesterol abnormality in vitro. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the mechanisms of action of HPB-CD in NPC, and to determine the optimal dose and intervals of HPB-CD injection

Gene structure and cDNA sequence of 2-Cys peroxiredoxin in the harmful algal bloom species <i>Chattonella marina</i> and its gene transcription under different light intensities

<p>We investigated the gene structure and predicted amino acid sequence of the antioxidant enzyme 2-Cys peroxiredoxin (2-Cys Prx) in the raphidophyte <i>Chattonella marina</i>, which is a harmful algal bloom (HAB) species. The open reading frame of 2-Cys Prx was 585 bp long and encoded a protein consisting of 195 amino acids. The putative amino acid sequence contained two cysteine residues located at the 49th and 170th amino acid positions from the N-terminal methionine residue. The sequence also possessed 2-Cys Prx characteristic motifs, F (FFYPLDFTFVCPTEI) and EVCP. The position of the 2-Cys Prx gene relative to several others (<i>ycf</i>59 <i>– 2-CysPrx – rpl</i>35 <i>– rpl</i>20) was the same as that found in the chloroplast genome in the raphidophyte <i>Heterosigma akashiwo</i>. Upstream of the 2-Cys Prx gene, possible TATA and GGA motifs recognized by nuclear-encoded plastid RNA polymerase (NEP), and a possible -10 box and -35 box recognized by plastid-encoded plastid RNA polymerase (PEP) were observed. We measured the transcript levels of 2-Cys Prx in <i>C. marina</i> cells grown under three different light intensities (0, 100, 1000 µmol photons m^–2 s^–1, 14-h light/8-h dark photoperiod) by quantitative PCR. The 2-Cys Prx transcript level in cells grown under the highest light intensity on day 3 was threefold that on day 0 but two lower light intensities resulted in relatively stable transcription levels. The 2-Cys Prx transcript level was significantly positively related to the H₂O₂ concentration per cell and the H₂O₂ scavenging activity per cell. These results suggest that <i>C. marina</i> 2-Cys Prx functions in the chloroplast and its transcription could be regulated by both NEP and PEP. Moreover, the 2-Cys Prx transcript level might increase to remove excessive H₂O₂ produced under strong light conditions in order to maintain cell proliferation activity.</p