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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10592229
1. Nucleic Acids Res. 2000 Jan 1;28(1):214-8. doi: 10.1093/nar/28.1.214. Kabat database and its applications: 30 years after the first variability plot. Johnson G(1), Wu TT. Author information: (1)Department of Biochemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA. The Kabat Database was initially started in 1970 to determine the combining site of antibodies based on the available amino acid sequences at that time. Bence Jones proteins, mostly from human, were aligned, using the now-known Kabat numbering system, and a quantitative measure, variability, was calculated for every position. Three peaks, at positions 24-34, 50-56 and 89-97, were identified and proposed to form the complementarity determining regions (CDR) of light chains. Subsequently, antibody heavy chain amino acid sequences were also aligned using a different numbering system, since the locations of their CDRs (31-35B, 50-65 and 95-102) are different from those of the light chains. CDRL1 starts right after the first invariant Cys 23 of light chains, while CDRH1 is eight amino acid residues away from the first invariant Cys 22 of heavy chains. During the past 30 years, the Kabat database has grown to include nucleotide sequences, sequences of T cell receptors for antigens (TCR), major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II molecules and other proteins of immunological interest. It has been used extensively by immunologists to derive useful structural and functional information from the primary sequences of these proteins. An overall view of the Kabat Database and its various applications are summarized here. The Kabat Database is freely available at http://immuno.bme.nwu.edu DOI: 10.1093/nar/28.1.214 PMCID: PMC102431 PMID: 10592229 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12182069
1. Yi Chuan Xue Bao. 2002;29(3):189-95. A method for constructing reshaping single-domain antibody. Cheng JL(1), Wang XB, Zhang Z, Liu J, Yao XS, Huang HL. Author information: (1)Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. The aim of this research was to demonstrate a novel and practical method for constructing reshaping Single-domain antibodies. Different from other methods, our method does not need to model the configuration of antibodies with specific sequences to determine the sequences of human acceptor FRs and then determine which amino acid residues in human acceptor FRs should be substituted. Most importantly, reshaping and enhancing the antigen binding affinity shared one procedure at the same time. Using this method, the reshaping anti-CD28 single-domain antibodies were constructed. According to the amino acid sequence of a mouse anti-human CD28 monoclonal antibody VH, two most homologous sequences of human antibodies were selected from GenBank and one of them was used as a main framework region for constructing the reshaping antibody. Before the original mouse antibody CDRs were inserted into the human acceptor FRs, some amino acid residues which were different from those of the original mouse antibody in the corresponding positions of the human acceptor FRs were determined or alternatively mutated by their conservative properties in Kabat classification. When the synthesized nucleotide fragments in different length were spliced by overlap PCR into the entire reshaping genes, Taq DNA polymerase and high Mg2+ concentration were used to introduce more mutation in FRs and CDRs randomly. A phage library was constructed using these PCR products and several reshaping Single-domain antibodies with high antigen binding affinity were selected after three rounds of panning. Two of them were expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The antigen-binding affinity of refolded proteins was still in a high level measured by ELISA. These results suggested that this method was feasible and efficient for constructing reshaping Single-domain antibodies. PMID: 12182069 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11459824
1. Genes Dev. 2001 Jul 15;15(14):1753-8. doi: 10.1101/gad.905701. Arabidopsis cmt3 chromomethylase mutations block non-CG methylation and silencing of an endogenous gene. Bartee L(1), Malagnac F, Bender J. Author information: (1)Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. Plants maintain cytosine methylation at CG and non-CG residues to control gene expression and genome stability. In a screen for Arabidopsis mutants that alter methylation and silencing of a densely methylated endogenous reporter gene, we recovered 11 loss-of-function alleles in the CMT3 chromomethylase gene. The cmt3 mutants displayed enhanced expression and reduced methylation of the reporter, particularly at non-CG cytosines. CNG methylation was also reduced at repetitive centromeric sequences. Thus, CMT3 is a key determinant for non-CG methylation. The lack of CMT homologs in animal genomes could account for the observation that in contrast to plants, animals maintain primarily CG methylation. DOI: 10.1101/gad.905701 PMCID: PMC312734 PMID: 11459824 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24550830
1. Front Pharmacol. 2014 Jan 27;5:5. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2014.00005. eCollection 2014. The role of CaMKII regulation of phospholamban activity in heart disease. Mattiazzi A(1), Kranias EG(2). Author information: (1)Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Conicet La Plata-Universidad Nacional de La Plata La Plata, Argentina. (2)Department of Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH, USA. Phospholamban (PLN) is a phosphoprotein in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) that is a reversible regulator of the Ca(2) (+)-ATPase (SERCA2a) activity and cardiac contractility. Dephosphorylated PLN inhibits SERCA2a and PLN phosphorylation, at either Ser(16) by PKA or Thr(17) by Ca(2) (+)-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII), reverses this inhibition. Through this mechanism, PLN is a key modulator of SR Ca(2) (+) uptake, Ca(2) (+) load, contractility, and relaxation. PLN phosphorylation is also the main determinant of β1-adrenergic responses in the heart. Although phosphorylation of Thr(17) by CaMKII contributes to this effect, its role is subordinate to the PKA-dependent increase in cytosolic Ca(2) (+), necessary to activate CaMKII. Furthermore, the effects of PLN and its phosphorylation on cardiac function are subject to additional regulation by its interacting partners, the anti-apoptotic HAX-1 protein and Gm or the anchoring unit of protein phosphatase 1. Regulation of PLN activity by this multimeric complex becomes even more important in pathological conditions, characterized by aberrant Ca(2) (+)-cycling. In this scenario, CaMKII-dependent PLN phosphorylation has been associated with protective effects in both acidosis and ischemia/reperfusion. However, the beneficial effects of increasing SR Ca(2) (+) uptake through PLN phosphorylation may be lost or even become deleterious, when these occur in association with alterations in SR Ca(2) (+) leak. Moreover, a major characteristic in human and experimental heart failure (HF) is depressed SR Ca(2) (+) uptake, associated with decreased SERCA2a levels and dephosphorylation of PLN, leading to decreased SR Ca(2) (+) load and impaired contractility. Thus, the strategy of altering SERCA2a and/or PLN levels or activity to restore perturbed SR Ca(2) (+) uptake is a potential therapeutic tool for HF treatment. We will review here the role of CaMKII-dependent phosphorylation of PLN at Thr(17) on cardiac function under physiological and pathological conditions. DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2014.00005 PMCID: PMC3913884 PMID: 24550830
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20110242
1. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2010 Jun;40(6):508-12. doi: 10.1093/jjco/hyp195. Epub 2010 Jan 27. Clinical utility of the 70-gene MammaPrint profile in a Japanese population. Ishitobi M(1), Goranova TE, Komoike Y, Motomura K, Koyama H, Glas AM, van Lienen E, Inaji H, Van't Veer LJ, Kato K. Author information: (1)Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Osaka, Japan. OBJECTIVE: van't Veer and colleagues developed a 70-gene prognosis profile known as MammaPrint to identify breast cancer patients who were at low risk of developing metastases. We evaluated the prognostic value of the 70-gene MammaPrint profile in Japanese women with node-negative breast cancer. METHODS: Frozen tumour samples from 102 eligible node-negative breast cancer patients aged 70 or younger were characterized with the MammaPrint array. The patients were treated with breast-conserving therapy or mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection between December 1998 and August 2001. About 73 percent received adjuvant hormonal therapy and 28 percent received adjuvant chemotherapy. The gene expression profiles obtained by MammaPrint classified the patients as high- or low-genomic risk. The median follow-up was 7.1 years. RESULTS: Among the 102 patients, 20 (20%) were classified as low-genomic risk and 82 (80%) were classified as high-genomic risk. The probability of distant metastasis-free survival at five years was 100% for the low-risk group and 94% for the high-risk group. CONCLUSIONS: The 70-gene MammaPrint prognosis profile accurately identified Japanese breast cancer patients at low risk of developing recurrences. In fact, 100% of the individuals in the low-risk category remained metastasis-free for the duration of the observation period. DOI: 10.1093/jjco/hyp195 PMID: 20110242 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23533627
1. PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e59496. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059496. Epub 2013 Mar 22. The Drosophila melanogaster CHD1 chromatin remodeling factor modulates global chromosome structure and counteracts HP1a and H3K9me2. Bugga L(1), McDaniel IE, Engie L, Armstrong JA. Author information: (1)W.M. Keck Science Department, Claremont McKenna College, Pitzer College, Scripps College, Claremont, California, United States of America. CHD1 is a conserved chromatin remodeling factor that localizes to active genes and functions in nucleosome assembly and positioning as well as histone turnover. Mouse CHD1 is required for the maintenance of stem cell pluripotency while human CHD1 may function as a tumor suppressor. To investigate the action of CHD1 on higher order chromatin structure in differentiated cells, we examined the consequences of loss of CHD1 and over-expression of CHD1 on polytene chromosomes from salivary glands of third instar Drosophila melanogaster larvae. We observed that chromosome structure is sensitive to the amount of this remodeler. Loss of CHD1 resulted in alterations of chromosome structure and an increase in the heterochromatin protein HP1a, while over-expression of CHD1 disrupted higher order chromatin structure and caused a decrease in levels of HP1a. Over-expression of an ATPase inactive form of CHD1 did not result in severe chromosomal defects, suggesting that the ATPase activity is required for this in vivo phenotype. Interestingly, changes in CHD1 protein levels did not correlate with changes in the levels of the euchromatin mark H3K4me3 or elongating RNA Polymerase II. Thus, while CHD1 is localized to transcriptionally active regions of the genome, it can function to alter the levels of HP1a, perhaps through changes in methylation of H3K9. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059496 PMCID: PMC3606111 PMID: 23533627 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17322368
1. Am J Pathol. 2007 Mar;170(3):818-29. doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2007.060547. Macrophage depletion impairs wound healing and increases left ventricular remodeling after myocardial injury in mice. van Amerongen MJ(1), Harmsen MC, van Rooijen N, Petersen AH, van Luyn MJ. Author information: (1)University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. m.van.amerongen@med.umcg.nl Macrophages have been suggested to be beneficial for myocardial wound healing. We investigated the role of macrophages in myocardial wound healing by inhibition of macrophage infiltration after myocardial injury. We used a murine cryoinjury model to induce left ventricular damage. Infiltrating macrophages were depleted during the 1st week after cryoinjury by serial intravenous injections of clodronate-containing liposomes. After injury, the presence of macrophages, which secreted high levels of transforming growth factor-beta and vascular endothelial growth factor-A, led to rapid removal of cell debris and replacement by granulation tissue containing inflammatory cells and blood vessels, followed by myofibroblast infiltration and collagen deposition. In macrophage-depleted hearts, nonresorbed cell debris was still observed 4 weeks after injury. Secretion of transforming growth factor-beta and vascular endothelial growth factor-A as well as neovascularization, myofibroblast infiltration, and collagen deposition decreased. Moreover, macrophage depletion resulted in a high mortality rate accompanied by increased left ventricular dilatation and wall thinning. In conclusion, infiltrating macrophage depletion markedly impairs wound healing and increases remodeling and mortality after myocardial injury, identifying the macrophage as a key player in myocardial wound healing. Based on these findings, we propose that increasing macrophage numbers early after myocardial infarction could be a clinically relevant option to promote myocardial wound healing and subsequently to reduce remodeling and heart failure. DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2007.060547 PMCID: PMC1864893 PMID: 17322368 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12151602
1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Dec 10;99 Suppl 4(Suppl 4):16491-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.162371599. Epub 2002 Jul 31. Locus-specific control of asymmetric and CpNpG methylation by the DRM and CMT3 methyltransferase genes. Cao X(1), Jacobsen SE. Author information: (1)Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles 90095-1606, USA. Many plant, animal, and fungal genomes contain cytosine DNA methylation in asymmetric sequence contexts (CpHpH, H = A, T, C). Although the enzymes responsible for this methylation are unknown, it has been assumed that asymmetric methylation is maintained by the persistent activity of de novo methyltransferases (enzymes capable of methylating previously unmodified DNA). We recently reported that the DOMAINS REARRANGED METHYLASE (DRM) genes are required for de novo DNA methylation in Arabidopsis thaliana because drm1 drm2 double mutants lack the de novo methylation normally associated with transgene silencing. In this study, we have used bisulfite sequencing and Southern blot analysis to examine the role of the DRM loci in the maintenance of asymmetric methylation. At some loci, drm1 drm2 double mutants eliminated all asymmetric methylation. However, at the SUPERMAN locus, asymmetric methylation was only completely abolished in drm1 drm2 chromomethylase 3 (cmt3) triple mutant plants. drm1 drm2 double mutants also showed a strong reduction of CpNpG (n = A, T, C, or G) methylation at some loci, but not at others. The drm1 drm2 cmt3 triple mutant plants did not affect CpG methylation at any locus tested, suggesting that the primary CpG methylases are encoded by the MET1 class of genes. Although neither the drm1 drm2 double mutants nor the cmt3 single mutants show morphological defects, drm1 drm2 cmt3 triple mutant plants show pleiotropic effects on plant development. Our results suggest that the DRM and CMT3 genes act in a partially redundant and locus-specific manner to control asymmetric and CpNpG methylation. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.162371599 PMCID: PMC139913 PMID: 12151602 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23157214
1. BMC Biochem. 2012 Nov 17;13:24. doi: 10.1186/1471-2091-13-24. A standard numbering scheme for thiamine diphosphate-dependent decarboxylases. Vogel C(1), Widmann M, Pohl M, Pleiss J. Author information: (1)Institute of Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, Stuttgart, 70569, Germany. BACKGROUND: Standard numbering schemes for families of homologous proteins allow for the unambiguous identification of functionally and structurally relevant residues, to communicate results on mutations, and to systematically analyse sequence-function relationships in protein families. Standard numbering schemes have been successfully implemented for several protein families, including lactamases and antibodies, whereas a numbering scheme for the structural family of thiamine-diphosphate (ThDP) -dependent decarboxylases, a large subfamily of the class of ThDP-dependent enzymes encompassing pyruvate-, benzoylformate-, 2-oxo acid-, indolpyruvate- and phenylpyruvate decarboxylases, benzaldehyde lyase, acetohydroxyacid synthases and 2-succinyl-5-enolpyruvyl-6-hydroxy-3-cyclohexadiene-1-carboxylate synthase (MenD) is still missing.Despite a high structural similarity between the members of the ThDP-dependent decarboxylases, their sequences are diverse and make a pairwise sequence comparison of protein family members difficult. RESULTS: We developed and validated a standard numbering scheme for the family of ThDP-dependent decarboxylases. A profile hidden Markov model (HMM) was created using a set of representative sequences from the family of ThDP-dependent decarboxylases. The pyruvate decarboxylase from S. cerevisiae (PDB: 2VK8) was chosen as a reference because it is a well characterized enzyme. The crystal structure with the PDB identifier 2VK8 encompasses the structure of the ScPDC mutant E477Q, the cofactors ThDP and Mg(2+) as well as the substrate analogue (2S)-2-hydroxypropanoic acid. The absolute numbering of this reference sequence was transferred to all members of the ThDP-dependent decarboxylase protein family. Subsequently, the numbering scheme was integrated into the already established Thiamine-diphosphate dependent Enzyme Engineering Database (TEED) and was used to systematically analyze functionally and structurally relevant positions in the superfamily of ThDP-dependent decarboxylases. CONCLUSIONS: The numbering scheme serves as a tool for the reliable sequence alignment of ThDP-dependent decarboxylases and the unambiguous identification and communication of corresponding positions. Thus, it is the basis for the systematic and automated analysis of sequence-encoded properties such as structural and functional relevance of amino acid positions, because the analysis of conserved positions, the identification of correlated mutations and the determination of subfamily specific amino acid distributions depend on reliable multisequence alignments and the unambiguous identification of the alignment columns. The method is reliable and robust and can easily be adapted to further protein families. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2091-13-24 PMCID: PMC3534367 PMID: 23157214 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21150311
1. Epigenetics. 2011 Mar;6(3):344-54. doi: 10.4161/epi.6.3.14242. Epub 2011 Mar 1. Identification of genes required for de novo DNA methylation in Arabidopsis. Greenberg MV(1), Ausin I, Chan SW, Cokus SJ, Cuperus JT, Feng S, Law JA, Chu C, Pellegrini M, Carrington JC, Jacobsen SE. Author information: (1)Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Davis, USA. De novo DNA methylation in Arabidopsis thaliana is catalyzed by the methyltransferase DRM2, a homolog of the mammalian de novo methyltransferase DNMT3. DRM2 is targeted to DNA by small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in a process known as RNA-directed DNA Methylation (RdDM). While several components of the RdDM pathway are known, a functional understanding of the underlying mechanism is far from complete. We employed both forward and reverse genetic approaches to identify factors involved in de novo methylation. We utilized the FWA transgene, which is methylated and silenced when transformed into wild-type plants, but unmethylated and expressed when transformed into de novo methylation mutants. Expression of FWA is marked by a late flowering phenotype, which is easily scored in mutant versus wild-type plants. By reverse genetics we discovered the requirement for known RdDM effectors AGO6 and NRPE5a for efficient de novo methylation. A forward genetic approach uncovered alleles of several components of the RdDM pathway, including alleles of clsy1, ktf1, and nrpd/e2, which have not been previously shown to be required for the initial establishment of DNA methylation. Mutations were mapped and genes cloned by both traditional and whole genome sequencing approaches. The methodologies and the mutant alleles discovered will be instrumental in further studies of de novo DNA methylation. DOI: 10.4161/epi.6.3.14242 PMCID: PMC3092683 PMID: 21150311 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16305737
1. Immunome Res. 2005 Sep 20;1:3. doi: 10.1186/1745-7580-1-3. IMGT, the international ImMunoGeneTics information system: a standardized approach for immunogenetics and immunoinformatics. Lefranc MP(1). Author information: (1)IMGT, the international ImMunoGeneTics information system, Université Montpellier II, Institut Universitaire de France, Laboratoire d'ImmunoGénétique Moléculaire LIGM, UPR CNRS 1142, Montpellier, France. lefranc@ligm.igh.cnrs.fr IMGT, the international ImMunoGeneTics information system http://imgt.cines.fr, was created in 1989 by the Laboratoire d'ImmunoGénétique Moléculaire (LIGM) (Université Montpellier II and CNRS) at Montpellier, France. IMGT is a high quality integrated knowledge resource specialized in immunoglobulins (IG), T cell receptors (TR), major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of human and other vertebrates, and related proteins of the immune system (RPI) of any species which belong to the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) and to the MHC superfamily (MhcSF). IMGT consists of five databases, ten on-line tools and more than 8,000 HTML pages of Web resources. IMGT provides a common access to standardized data from genome, genetics, proteome and three-dimensional structures. The accuracy and the consistency of IMGT data are based on IMGT-ONTOLOGY, a semantic specification of terms to be used in immunogenetics and immunoinformatics. IMGT-ONTOLOGY comprises six main concepts: IDENTIFICATION, CLASSIFICATION, DESCRIPTION, NUMEROTATION, ORIENTATION and OBTENTION. Based on these concepts, the controlled vocabulary and the annotation rules necessary for the immunogenetics data identification, classification, description and numbering and for the management of IMGT knowledge are defined in the IMGT Scientific chart. IMGT is the international reference in immunogenetics and immunoinformatics for medical research (repertoire analysis of the IG antibody sites and of the TR recognition sites in autoimmune and infectious diseases, AIDS, leukemias, lymphomas, myelomas), veterinary research (IG and TR repertoires in farm and wild life species), genome diversity and genome evolution studies of the adaptive immune responses, biotechnology related to antibody engineering (single chain Fragment variable (scFv), phage displays, combinatorial libraries, chimeric, humanized and human antibodies), diagnostics (detection and follow up of residual diseases) and therapeutical approaches (grafts, immunotherapy, vaccinology). IMGT is freely available at http://imgt.cines.fr. DOI: 10.1186/1745-7580-1-3 PMCID: PMC1312312 PMID: 16305737
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15034132
1. Mol Biol Evol. 2004 Jul;21(7):1278-82. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msh125. Epub 2004 Mar 19. Reconciling the numbers: ESTs versus protein-coding genes. Nekrutenko A(1). Author information: (1)Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Huck Institutes for Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA. nekrut@psu.edu The number of expressed sequences greatly surpasses the estimated number of protein-coding genes in mammalian genomes. An evolutionary approach reveals that only 9% to 14% of human-expressed and mouse-expressed sequences are able to code for proteins. Clustering of these sequences using cross-species relationships suggests that millions of expressed sequences may correspond to only approximately 20,000 distinct protein-coding transcripts. DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msh125 PMID: 15034132 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17660570
1. Genetics. 2007 Oct;177(2):749-60. doi: 10.1534/genetics.107.072702. Epub 2007 Jul 29. Natural variation for alleles under epigenetic control by the maize chromomethylase zmet2. Makarevitch I(1), Stupar RM, Iniguez AL, Haun WJ, Barbazuk WB, Kaeppler SM, Springer NM. Author information: (1)Department of Plant Biology, Microbial and Plant Genomics Institute, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA. The contribution of epigenetic alterations to natural variation for gene transcription levels remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the functional targets of the maize chromomethylase ZMET2 in multiple inbred lines to determine whether epigenetic changes conditioned by this chromomethylase are conserved or variable within the species. Gene expression microarrays were hybridized with RNA samples from the inbred lines B73 and Mo17 and from near-isogenic derivatives containing the loss-of-function allele zmet2-m1. A set of 126 genes that displayed statistically significant differential expression in zmet2 mutants relative to wild-type plants in at least one of the two genetic backgrounds was identified. Analysis of the transcript levels in both wild-type and mutant individuals revealed that only 10% of these genes were affected in zmet2 mutants in both B73 and Mo17 genetic backgrounds. Over 80% of the genes with expression patterns affected by zmet2 mutations display variation for gene expression between wild-type B73 and Mo17 plants. Further analysis was performed for 7 genes that were transcriptionally silent in wild-type B73, but expressed in B73 zmet2-m1, wild-type Mo17, and Mo17 zmet2-m1 lines. Mapping experiments confirmed that the expression differences in wild-type B73 relative to Mo17 inbreds for these genes were caused by cis-acting regulatory variation. Methylation-sensitive PCR and bisulfite sequencing demonstrated that for 5 of these genes the CpNpG methylation in the wild-type B73 genetic background was substantially decreased in the B73 zmet2-m1 mutant and in wild-type Mo17. A survey of eight maize inbreds reveals that each of these 5 genes exhibit transcriptionally silent and methylated states in some inbred lines and unmethylated, expressed states in other inbreds, providing evidence for natural variation in epigenetic states for some maize genes. DOI: 10.1534/genetics.107.072702 PMCID: PMC2034640 PMID: 17660570 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18040051
1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Dec 4;104(49):19428-33. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0709013104. Epub 2007 Nov 26. Distinguishing protein-coding and noncoding genes in the human genome. Clamp M(1), Fry B, Kamal M, Xie X, Cuff J, Lin MF, Kellis M, Lindblad-Toh K, Lander ES. Author information: (1)Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, 7 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. mclamp@broad.mit.edu Although the Human Genome Project was completed 4 years ago, the catalog of human protein-coding genes remains a matter of controversy. Current catalogs list a total of approximately 24,500 putative protein-coding genes. It is broadly suspected that a large fraction of these entries are functionally meaningless ORFs present by chance in RNA transcripts, because they show no evidence of evolutionary conservation with mouse or dog. However, there is currently no scientific justification for excluding ORFs simply because they fail to show evolutionary conservation: the alternative hypothesis is that most of these ORFs are actually valid human genes that reflect gene innovation in the primate lineage or gene loss in the other lineages. Here, we reject this hypothesis by carefully analyzing the nonconserved ORFs-specifically, their properties in other primates. We show that the vast majority of these ORFs are random occurrences. The analysis yields, as a by-product, a major revision of the current human catalogs, cutting the number of protein-coding genes to approximately 20,500. Specifically, it suggests that nonconserved ORFs should be added to the human gene catalog only if there is clear evidence of an encoded protein. It also provides a principled methodology for evaluating future proposed additions to the human gene catalog. Finally, the results indicate that there has been relatively little true innovation in mammalian protein-coding genes. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0709013104 PMCID: PMC2148306 PMID: 18040051 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7375968
1. South Med J. 1980 May;73(5):555-63. doi: 10.1097/00007611-198005000-00005. Acute febrile juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in adults: cause of polyarthritis and fever. Goldman JA, Beard MR, Casey HL. Acute febrile juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) of adult onset is often diagnosed by ruling out other problems. The classification of JRA is primarily based on the distinct type of onset, of which there are usually three: (1) acute febrile or Still's type, (2) polyarticular, and (3) monoarticular pauciarticular arthritis. Fever of unknown cause is frequently the initial symptom. This type of arthritis may be characterized by any or all of the following: unexplained high fever, rash, weight loss, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, pericarditis, pleurisy, pneumonitis, abdominal pain, myalgias, arthralgias, arthritis, sore throat, leukocytosis, anemia, circulating immune complexes, liver test abnormalities, and carpal-metacarpal and tarsal-metatarsal fusion. Patients often respond dramatically to anti-inflammatory agents. Corticosteroids, gold salts, penicillamine, and cytotoxic drugs have been effective for certain patients. The prognosis of the disease has been generally favorable. Although symptoms may recur, remission can be prolonged. DOI: 10.1097/00007611-198005000-00005 PMID: 7375968 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22108462
1. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2011;155(46):A4124. [Antibiotics do more than cause resistance]. [Article in Dutch] Bonten MJ(1). Author information: (1)Universitair Medisch Centrum, afd. Medische microbiologie, Utrecht, the Netherlands. mbonten@umcutrecht.nl Limiting antibiotic use is one of the most important measures to prevent and control emergence of antibiotic resistance. Therefore, antibiotics should usually only be prescribed for infection. Yet recent well-designed studies have demonstrated that prophylactic antibiotic use is of significant benefit to patients prone to developing infections. Study patients suffered from recurrent urinary tract infections, COPD or were mechanically ventilated in intensive care units. In the first 2 populations, use of antibiotics was associated with an increase in carriage of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but in intensive care patients the opposite was documented. These studies demonstrate that antibiotics do more than cause resistance. The pros and cons of prophylactic antibiotic use must therefore be carefully considered. PMID: 22108462 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11498704
1. Rev Esp Quimioter. 2000 Dec;13(4):379-83. [Prospective, comparative study (1994-1998) of the influence of short-term prophylactic treatment with azithromycin on patients with advanced COPD]. [Article in Spanish] Gómez J(1), Baños V, Simarro E, Lorenzo Cruz M, Ruiz Gómez J, Latour J, Garcia Martin E, Canteras M, Valdes M. Author information: (1)Servicio de Medicina Interna-Infecciosas, Hospital Universitario Virgen Arrixaca, Murcia. Despite the advances in therapy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requires frequent hospital admissions due to acute exacerbations. We carried out a prospective randomized study of two groups of patients with COPD, one (n = 54) treated with azithromycin (500 mg/day) for three days every 21 days during the winter months, and a control group (n = 40) without treatment. A statistically significant reduction in the number of acute infectious episodes (187) and hospital admissions (22) was observed in the treated group versus the control group (249 and 45, respectively). A short prophylactic treatment course with azithromycin is a good alternative in the management of patients with severe, advanced COPD, and could lead to an improvement in social and healthcare costs PMID: 11498704 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10781108
1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2000 Apr 25;97(9):4979-84. doi: 10.1073/pnas.97.9.4979. Conserved plant genes with similarity to mammalian de novo DNA methyltransferases. Cao X(1), Springer NM, Muszynski MG, Phillips RL, Kaeppler S, Jacobsen SE. Author information: (1)Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, USA. DNA methylation plays a critical role in controlling states of gene activity in most eukaryotic organisms, and it is essential for proper growth and development. Patterns of methylation are established by de novo methyltransferases and maintained by maintenance methyltransferase activities. The Dnmt3 family of de novo DNA methyltransferases has recently been characterized in animals. Here we describe DNA methyltransferase genes from both Arabidopsis and maize that show a high level of sequence similarity to Dnmt3, suggesting that they encode plant de novo methyltransferases. Relative to all known eukaryotic methyltransferases, these plant proteins contain a novel arrangement of the motifs required for DNA methyltransferase catalytic activity. The N termini of these methyltransferases contain a series of ubiquitin-associated (UBA) domains. UBA domains are found in several ubiquitin pathway proteins and in DNA repair enzymes such as Rad23, and they may be involved in ubiquitin binding. The presence of UBA domains provides a possible link between DNA methylation and ubiquitin/proteasome pathways. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.97.9.4979 PMCID: PMC18343 PMID: 10781108 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21060858
1. PLoS Genet. 2010 Oct 28;6(10):e1001182. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1001182. The de novo cytosine methyltransferase DRM2 requires intact UBA domains and a catalytically mutated paralog DRM3 during RNA-directed DNA methylation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Henderson IR(1), Deleris A, Wong W, Zhong X, Chin HG, Horwitz GA, Kelly KA, Pradhan S, Jacobsen SE. Author information: (1)Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America. Eukaryotic DNA cytosine methylation can be used to transcriptionally silence repetitive sequences, including transposons and retroviruses. This silencing is stable between cell generations as cytosine methylation is maintained epigenetically through DNA replication. The Arabidopsis thaliana Dnmt3 cytosine methyltransferase ortholog DOMAINS rearranged methyltransferase2 (DRM2) is required for establishment of small interfering RNA (siRNA) directed DNA methylation. In mammals PIWI proteins and piRNA act in a convergently evolved RNA-directed DNA methylation system that is required to repress transposon expression in the germ line. De novo methylation may also be independent of RNA interference and small RNAs, as in Neurospora crassa. Here we identify a clade of catalytically mutated DRM2 paralogs in flowering plant genomes, which in A.thaliana we term domains rearranged methyltransferase3 (DRM3). Despite being catalytically mutated, DRM3 is required for normal maintenance of non-CG DNA methylation, establishment of RNA-directed DNA methylation triggered by repeat sequences and accumulation of repeat-associated small RNAs. Although the mammalian catalytically inactive Dnmt3L paralogs act in an analogous manner, phylogenetic analysis indicates that the DRM and Dnmt3 protein families diverged independently in plants and animals. We also show by site-directed mutagenesis that both the DRM2 N-terminal UBA domains and C-terminal methyltransferase domain are required for normal RNA-directed DNA methylation, supporting an essential targeting function for the UBA domains. These results suggest that plant and mammalian RNA-directed DNA methylation systems consist of a combination of ancestral and convergent features. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1001182 PMCID: PMC2965745 PMID: 21060858 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9520923
1. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1998 Mar;53(2):M155-62. doi: 10.1093/gerona/53a.2.m155. The structure of depression among elderly institution residents: affective and somatic correlates of physical frailty. Parmelee PA(1), Lawton MP, Katz IR. Author information: (1)Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA. paparmelee@aol.com BACKGROUND: Confounding of depression with somatic illness and anxiety, a problem in any age group, may be especially troublesome in frail older persons. This paper examined this problem in a factor analytic study of the structure of depressive symptomatology, identifying affective and somatic symptom clusters and relating those clusters to health and functional variables cross-sectionally and prospectively over a 1-year interval. METHODS: The factor structure of a DSM-IV symptom checklist was examined among 1,245 elderly long-term care residents. Regression analyses examined the association of resulting factors with cognition, functional disability, self- and physician-rated health, and pain at baseline and a year later. One-year mortality was also examined. RESULTS: Factor analysis revealed three unique symptom clusters: depressed mood, somatic symptoms, and psychic anxiety. Depressed mood and somatic symptoms were associated cross-sectionally with all functional health variables, but psychic anxiety was associated only with pain. Longitudinally, depressed mood was the only independent predictor of decline in cognition, functional ability, physician-rated health, and mortality; the last effect, however, did not withstand control for baseline health and functioning. Somatic symptoms at baseline predicted decrement in self-rated health a year later. Effects varied as a function of cognitive status. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that concerns about the confounding role of somatic symptoms in the association of depression with physical health are unfounded. Although somatic symptoms of depression and anxiety were associated with health and functional status cross-sectionally, depressed mood was by far the stronger predictor of health declines over time. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/53a.2.m155 PMID: 9520923 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1988577
1. J Clin Oncol. 1991 Feb;9(2):305-12. doi: 10.1200/JCO.1991.9.2.305. A prospective randomized trial comparing epirubicin monochemotherapy to two fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide, and epirubicin regimens differing in epirubicin dose in advanced breast cancer patients. The French Epirubicin Study Group. [No authors listed] Comment in J Clin Oncol. 1991 Jul;9(7):1321-2. doi: 10.1200/JCO.1991.9.7.1321. The French Epirubicin Study Group carried out a randomized trial comparing epirubicin alone 75 mg/m2 with fluorouracil (5FU) 500 mg/m2, cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2, and epirubicin 50 mg/m2 (FEC 50) and 5FU 500 mg/m2, cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2, and epirubicin 75 mg/m2 (FEC 75) as first treatment for advanced breast cancer patients. Patients were stratified according to whether or not there were bone metastases only. Four hundred twelve patients entered this trial; 378 were assessable for tolerability and 365 for efficacy. The overall response rates were comparable between FEC 50 (44.6%) and FEC 75 (44.7%), but both were better than the epirubicin alone (30.6%) (P = .04 and P = .0006, respectively). The complete response rate was better in FEC 75 (15.5%) than in FEC 50 (7%) (P = .025) or epirubicin (4%) (P = .002). Similar results were obtained in the group of patients without bone-only metastases. No difference in the three treatments was observed in the patients with bone metastases only. Mean durations of response were similar in the three groups, being 412 days, 440 days, and 350 days for FEC 50, FEC 75, and epirubicin, respectively. Patients without previous adjuvant chemotherapy fared better than those with previous treatment (without anthracyclines). Tolerability was fair in the three groups. Overall, the epirubicin-alone group showed better tolerance than the two other groups, which did not differ significantly. Time to progression and survival were not different among the three groups, but more early relapses occurred in the epirubicin and FEC 50 groups; survival seemed to be better during the first 8 months in the FEC 75 group, and the survival difference between the epirubicin group and the FEC 75 group was of borderline significance. No difference in survival was observed between epirubicin- and FEC 50-group patients, even though the response rate was significantly worse in the monochemotherapy group. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.1991.9.2.305 PMID: 1988577 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23021223
1. Cell. 2012 Sep 28;151(1):167-80. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2012.07.034. Dual binding of chromomethylase domains to H3K9me2-containing nucleosomes directs DNA methylation in plants. Du J(1), Zhong X, Bernatavichute YV, Stroud H, Feng S, Caro E, Vashisht AA, Terragni J, Chin HG, Tu A, Hetzel J, Wohlschlegel JA, Pradhan S, Patel DJ, Jacobsen SE. Author information: (1)Structural Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA. DNA methylation and histone modification exert epigenetic control over gene expression. CHG methylation by CHROMOMETHYLASE3 (CMT3) depends on histone H3K9 dimethylation (H3K9me2), but the mechanism underlying this relationship is poorly understood. Here, we report multiple lines of evidence that CMT3 interacts with H3K9me2-containing nucleosomes. CMT3 genome locations nearly perfectly correlated with H3K9me2, and CMT3 stably associated with H3K9me2-containing nucleosomes. Crystal structures of maize CMT3 homolog ZMET2, in complex with H3K9me2 peptides, showed that ZMET2 binds H3K9me2 via both bromo adjacent homology (BAH) and chromo domains. The structures reveal an aromatic cage within both BAH and chromo domains as interaction interfaces that capture H3K9me2. Mutations that abolish either interaction disrupt CMT3 binding to nucleosomes and show a complete loss of CMT3 activity in vivo. Our study establishes dual recognition of H3K9me2 marks by BAH and chromo domains and reveals a distinct mechanism of interplay between DNA methylation and histone modification. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2012.07.034 PMCID: PMC3471781 PMID: 23021223 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24314697
1. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2014 Jan;15(1):76.e7-76.e12. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2013.10.001. Epub 2013 Dec 4. Frailty predicts new and persistent depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults: findings from Singapore longitudinal aging study. Feng L(1), Nyunt MS(1), Feng L(1), Yap KB(2), Ng TP(3). Author information: (1)Gerontology Research Program, Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. (2)Geriatric Medicine Department, Alexandra Hospital, Ministry of Health, Singapore. (3)Gerontology Research Program, Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: pcmngtp@nus.edu.sg. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between physical frailty at baseline and depressive symptoms at baseline and at follow-up. DESIGN: Four-year prospective study. SETTING: Communities in the South East Region of Singapore. PARTICIPANTS: We analyzed data of 1827 older Chinese adults aged 55 and above in the Singapore Longitudinal Aging Study-I. MEASUREMENTS: The frailty phenotype (based on Fried criteria) was determined at baseline, depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale ≥ 5) at baseline and follow-ups at 2 and 4 years. RESULTS: The mean age of the population was 65.9 (standard deviation 7.26). At baseline, 11.4% (n = 209) had depressive symptoms, 32.4% (n = 591) were prefrail and 2.5% (n = 46) were frail. In cross-sectional analysis of baseline data, the adjusted odds ratios (OR)s and 95% confidence intervals controlling for demographic, comorbidities, and other confounders were 1.69 (1.23-2.33) for prefrailty and 2.36 (1.08-5.15) for frailty, (P for linear trend <.001). In longitudinal data analyses, prospective associations among all participants were: prefrail: OR = 1.86 (1.08-3.20); frail: OR = 3.09 (1.12-8.50); (P for linear trend = .009). Among participants free of depressive symptoms at baseline, similar prospective associations were found: prefrail OR = 2.26 (1.12-4.57); frail: OR = 3.75 (1.07-13.16); (P for linear trend = .009). CONCLUSION: These data support a significant role of frailty as a predictor of depression in a relatively younger old Chinese population. Further observational and interventional studies should explore short-term dynamic and bidirectional associations and the effects of frailty reversal on depression risk. Copyright © 2014 American Medical Directors Association, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2013.10.001 PMID: 24314697 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9584105
1. Genetics. 1998 May;149(1):307-18. doi: 10.1093/genetics/149.1.307. A DNA methyltransferase homolog with a chromodomain exists in multiple polymorphic forms in Arabidopsis. Henikoff S(1), Comai L. Author information: (1)Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109-1024, USA. steveh@muller.fhcrc.org Chromodomains are thought to mediate protein-protein interactions between chromatin components. We have detected a chromodomain embedded within the catalytic region of a predicted Arabidopsis DNA methyltransferase that is diverged from other eukaryotic enzymes. The 791 residue "chromomethylase" (CMT1) is encoded by a floral transcript that is spliced from 20 exons and is present at only approximately 1/10(-7) of total mRNA. Genomic sequencing reveals an ancient haplotype split at CMT1 between Col-0 + Metz and the other ecotypes examined. In the Col-0 + Metz haplotype, alternative mRNA processing at intron 13 truncates the coding region. In Ler, RLD, and No-0, similar truncation is caused by insertion of an intact retrotransposon, Evelknievel, which is present as a single copy in Ler and RLD and is currently methylated and inactive. Evelknievel is found at this site on a single branch that connects the Ler, RLD, and No-0 ecotypes but is absent from the genomes of all other ecotypes examined. A stop codon within exon 6 of the Metz ecotype confirms that CMT1 is nonessential. Nevertheless, comparison to CMT1 of Cardaminopsis arenosa, an outcrossing relative, indicates conservation for DNA methyltransferase function. We discuss how allelic diversity of CMT1 may reflect loosened selective constraints in a self-fertilizing species such as Arabidopsis thaliana. DOI: 10.1093/genetics/149.1.307 PMCID: PMC1460135 PMID: 9584105 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21795448
1. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Oct;96(10):2997-3006. doi: 10.1210/jc.2011-1193. Epub 2011 Jul 27. Clinical review: The effect of vitamin D on falls: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Murad MH(1), Elamin KB, Abu Elnour NO, Elamin MB, Alkatib AA, Fatourechi MM, Almandoz JP, Mullan RJ, Lane MA, Liu H, Erwin PJ, Hensrud DD, Montori VM. Author information: (1)Knowledge and Encounter Research Unit, and Division of Preventive, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. murad.mohammad@mayo.edu Erratum in J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Mar 8;106(3):e1495. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa928. CONTEXT: Vitamin D affects bone and muscle health and likely reduces the risk of falls in the elderly. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the existing evidence on vitamin D use and the risk of falls. DATA SOURCES: We searched electronic databases from inception through August 2010. STUDY SELECTION: Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials in which the intervention was vitamin D and the incidence of falls was reported. DATA EXTRACTION: Reviewers working in duplicate and independently extracted study characteristics, quality, and outcomes data. DATA SYNTHESIS: Odds ratio and associated 95% confidence interval were estimated from each study and pooled using the random effects model. RESULTS: We found 26 eligible trials of moderate quality that enrolled 45,782 participants, the majority of which were elderly and female. Vitamin D use was associated with statistically significant reduction in the risk of falls (odds ratio for suffering at least one fall, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.77-0.96). This effect was more prominent in patients who were vitamin D deficient at baseline and in studies in which calcium was coadministered with vitamin D. The quality of evidence was low to moderate because of heterogeneity and publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D combined with calcium reduces the risk of falls. The reduction in studies without calcium coadministration did not reach statistical significance. The majority of the evidence is derived from trials enrolling elderly women. DOI: 10.1210/jc.2011-1193 PMID: 21795448 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23922354
1. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Aug;98(8):E1283-304. doi: 10.1210/jc.2013-1195. Optimal vitamin D status: a critical analysis on the basis of evidence-based medicine. Bouillon R(1), Van Schoor NM, Gielen E, Boonen S, Mathieu C, Vanderschueren D, Lips P. Author information: (1)Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, KU Leuven, Department of Endocrinology, Herestraat 49 ON1, Box 902, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. roger.bouillon@med.kuleuven.be CONTEXT: Public health authorities around the world recommend widely variable supplementation strategies for adults, whereas several professional organizations, including The Endocrine Society, recommend higher supplementation. METHODS: We analyzed published randomized controlled clinical trials to define the optimal intake or vitamin D status for bone and extraskeletal health. CONCLUSIONS: The extraskeletal effects of vitamin D are plausible as based on preclinical data and observational studies. However, apart from the beneficial effects of 800 IU/d of vitamin D3 for reduction of falls in the elderly, causality remains yet unproven in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The greatest risk for cancer, infections, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases is associated with 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels below 20 ng/mL. There is ample evidence from RCTs that calcium and bone homeostasis, estimated from serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and PTH, calcium absorption, or bone mass, can be normalized by 25OHD levels above 20 ng/mL. Moreover, vitamin D supplementation (800 IU/d) in combination with calcium can reduce fracture incidence by about 20%. Such a dose will bring serum levels of 25OHD above 20 ng/mL in nearly all postmenopausal women. Based on calculations of the metabolic clearance of 25OHD, a daily intake of 500-700 IU of vitamin D3 is sufficient to maintain serum 25OHD levels of 20 ng/mL. Therefore, the recommendations for a daily intake of 1500-2000 IU/d or serum 25OHD levels of 30 ng or higher for all adults or elderly subjects, as suggested by The Endocrine Society Task Force, are premature. Fortunately, ongoing RCTs will help to guide us to solve this important public health question. DOI: 10.1210/jc.2013-1195 PMID: 23922354 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24201379
1. Sci Rep. 2013 Nov 8;3:3171. doi: 10.1038/srep03171. Identification of telomere-associated molecules by engineered DNA-binding molecule-mediated chromatin immunoprecipitation (enChIP). Fujita T(1), Asano Y, Ohtsuka J, Takada Y, Saito K, Ohki R, Fujii H. Author information: (1)Combined Program on Microbiology and Immunology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871 Osaka, Japan. Biochemical analysis of molecular interactions in specific genomic regions requires their isolation while retaining molecular interactions in vivo. Here, we report isolation of telomeres by engineered DNA-binding molecule-mediated chromatin immunoprecipitation (enChIP) using a transcription activator-like (TAL) protein recognizing telomere repeats. Telomeres recognized by the tagged TAL protein were immunoprecipitated with an antibody against the tag and subjected to identification of telomere-binding molecules. enChIP-mass spectrometry (enChIP-MS) targeting telomeres identified known and novel telomere-binding proteins. The data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD000461. In addition, we showed that RNA associated with telomeres could be isolated by enChIP. Identified telomere-binding molecules may play important roles in telomere biology. enChIP using TAL proteins would be a useful tool for biochemical analysis of specific genomic regions of interest. DOI: 10.1038/srep03171 PMCID: PMC3821016 PMID: 24201379 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: T.F. and H.F. filed a patent application on enChIP.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22879880
1. PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e40728. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040728. Epub 2012 Aug 7. Functional dissection of HOXD cluster genes in regulation of neuroblastoma cell proliferation and differentiation. Zha Y(1), Ding E, Yang L, Mao L, Wang X, McCarthy BA, Huang S, Ding HF. Author information: (1)Cancer Center and Department of Pathology, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Health Sciences University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America. Retinoic acid (RA) can induce growth arrest and neuronal differentiation of neuroblastoma cells and has been used in clinic for treatment of neuroblastoma. It has been reported that RA induces the expression of several HOXD genes in human neuroblastoma cell lines, but their roles in RA action are largely unknown. The HOXD cluster contains nine genes (HOXD1, HOXD3, HOXD4, and HOXD8-13) that are positioned sequentially from 3' to 5', with HOXD1 at the 3' end and HOXD13 the 5' end. Here we show that all HOXD genes are induced by RA in the human neuroblastoma BE(2)-C cells, with the genes located at the 3' end being activated generally earlier than those positioned more 5' within the cluster. Individual induction of HOXD8, HOXD9, HOXD10 or HOXD12 is sufficient to induce both growth arrest and neuronal differentiation, which is associated with downregulation of cell cycle-promoting genes and upregulation of neuronal differentiation genes. However, induction of other HOXD genes either has no effect (HOXD1) or has partial effects (HOXD3, HOXD4, HOXD11 and HOXD13) on BE(2)-C cell proliferation or differentiation. We further show that knockdown of HOXD8 expression, but not that of HOXD9 expression, significantly inhibits the differentiation-inducing activity of RA. HOXD8 directly activates the transcription of HOXC9, a key effector of RA action in neuroblastoma cells. These findings highlight the distinct functions of HOXD genes in RA induction of neuroblastoma cell differentiation. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040728 PMCID: PMC3413684 PMID: 22879880 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22955987
1. Genome Res. 2012 Sep;22(9):1760-74. doi: 10.1101/gr.135350.111. GENCODE: the reference human genome annotation for The ENCODE Project. Harrow J(1), Frankish A, Gonzalez JM, Tapanari E, Diekhans M, Kokocinski F, Aken BL, Barrell D, Zadissa A, Searle S, Barnes I, Bignell A, Boychenko V, Hunt T, Kay M, Mukherjee G, Rajan J, Despacio-Reyes G, Saunders G, Steward C, Harte R, Lin M, Howald C, Tanzer A, Derrien T, Chrast J, Walters N, Balasubramanian S, Pei B, Tress M, Rodriguez JM, Ezkurdia I, van Baren J, Brent M, Haussler D, Kellis M, Valencia A, Reymond A, Gerstein M, Guigó R, Hubbard TJ. Author information: (1)Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom. jla1@sanger.ac.uk The GENCODE Consortium aims to identify all gene features in the human genome using a combination of computational analysis, manual annotation, and experimental validation. Since the first public release of this annotation data set, few new protein-coding loci have been added, yet the number of alternative splicing transcripts annotated has steadily increased. The GENCODE 7 release contains 20,687 protein-coding and 9640 long noncoding RNA loci and has 33,977 coding transcripts not represented in UCSC genes and RefSeq. It also has the most comprehensive annotation of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) loci publicly available with the predominant transcript form consisting of two exons. We have examined the completeness of the transcript annotation and found that 35% of transcriptional start sites are supported by CAGE clusters and 62% of protein-coding genes have annotated polyA sites. Over one-third of GENCODE protein-coding genes are supported by peptide hits derived from mass spectrometry spectra submitted to Peptide Atlas. New models derived from the Illumina Body Map 2.0 RNA-seq data identify 3689 new loci not currently in GENCODE, of which 3127 consist of two exon models indicating that they are possibly unannotated long noncoding loci. GENCODE 7 is publicly available from gencodegenes.org and via the Ensembl and UCSC Genome Browsers. DOI: 10.1101/gr.135350.111 PMCID: PMC3431492 PMID: 22955987 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20230348
1. Med J Aust. 2010 Mar 15;192(6):319-22. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2010.tb03530.x. A cluster randomised controlled trial to prevent injury due to falls in a residential aged care population. Ward JA(1), Harden M, Gibson RE, Byles JE. Author information: (1)Hunter New England Health, Newcastle, New South Wales. John.Ward@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au Comment in Evid Based Nurs. 2010 Oct;13(4):124-5. doi: 10.1136/ebn1080. OBJECTIVE: To test the effectiveness of using a full-time project nurse to assist residential aged care facilities in using evidence-based approaches to falls injury prevention. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Cluster randomised controlled trial involving 5391 residents in 88 aged care facilities in the Hunter and Lower Mid North Coast areas of New South Wales. Residents were followed for 545 days or until death or discharge. Data were collected from July 2005 to June 2007. INTERVENTION: Employment of a project nurse to encourage best-practice falls injury prevention strategies during the 17-month intervention period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Monthly data about falls, falls injury and falls injury prevention programs; audit of hospitalisation for fractured neck of femur. RESULTS: Despite significant increases in the provision of hip protectors and use of vitamin D supplementation in both intervention and control facilities, there was no difference in the number of falls or falls injuries between the intervention and control groups, nor a reduction in falls overall. There was also no difference between the 7-month pre-intervention period and the intervention period in the number of falls or falls injuries. Factors related to residents having an increased risk of falls with fractured neck of femur included being ambulant, having dementia, increasing age, and having a high falls risk assessment score. CONCLUSION: It is difficult to change falls risk among high-risk populations, including people with dementia. The use of important strategies such as hip protectors and vitamin D and calcium supplementation increased during the study, probably with contamination of control facilities. Longer follow-up may be required to measure the impact on falls outcomes of the strategy of using a facilitating nurse. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12605000540617. DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2010.tb03530.x PMID: 20230348 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3209676
1. J Craniofac Genet Dev Biol. 1988;8(1):21-33. Alterations in craniofacial growth induced by isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid) in mouse whole embryo and primary mesenchymal cell culture. Watanabe T(1), Goulding EH, Pratt RM. Author information: (1)Experimental Teratogenesis Section, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Recent evidence has demonstrated that 13-cis-retinoic acid (13-cis-RA, or isotretinoin) is responsible for various craniofacial malformations in the rodent and human embryo. Our studies have been directed toward understanding this effect using mouse whole embryo and primary cell cultures. In whole embryo culture, 13-cis-RA caused significant overall embryonic growth retardation, especially in the primary and secondary palatal processes. In embryos explanted on day 10 of gestation and exposed for 24 or 48 hr, the mesenchyme beneath the epithelium of the nasal and maxillary processes contained pyknotic nuclei as well as a dramatically reduced number of nuclei incorporating 3H-thymidine. The secondary palatal processes and the roof of the oral-nasal cavity had fewer mesenchymal cells than control embryos. The incorporation of 3H-thymidine into TCA-insoluble macromolecules was 30% less in the retinoid-treated heads. In primary cell cultures from day-12 mouse secondary palatal mesenchyme, subsequent cell growth was decreased at concentrations of 13-cis-RA greater than 1 X 10(-5) M. After a 40-hr treatment period, labeling indices in retinoid-treated cells were significantly lower than control values (25% compared with 40%). Retinoic acid also caused a significant, concentration-dependent decrease in 3H-thymidine incorporation. The inhibitory effect of 13-cis-RA on proliferation of oral-nasal mesenchymal cells appears to be related to the production of craniofacial malformations. PMID: 3209676 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10364522
1. Am J Hum Genet. 1999 Jul;65(1):104-10. doi: 10.1086/302467. Monodactylous limbs and abnormal genitalia are associated with hemizygosity for the human 2q31 region that includes the HOXD cluster. Del Campo M(1), Jones MC, Veraksa AN, Curry CJ, Jones KL, Mascarello JT, Ali-Kahn-Catts Z, Drumheller T, McGinnis W. Author information: (1)Division of Dysmorphology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. Vertebrates have four clusters of Hox genes (HoxA, HoxB, HoxC, and HoxD). A variety of expression and mutation studies indicate that posterior members of the HoxA and HoxD clusters play an important role in vertebrate limb development. In humans, mutations in HOXD13 have been associated with type II syndactyly or synpolydactyly, and, in HOXA13, with hand-foot-genital syndrome. We have investigated two unrelated children with a previously unreported pattern of severe developmental defects on the anterior-posterior (a-p) limb axis and in the genitalia, consisting of a single bone in the zeugopod, either monodactyly or oligodactyly in the autopod of all four limbs, and penoscrotal hypoplasia. Both children are heterozygous for a deletion that eliminates at least eight (HOXD3-HOXD13) of the nine genes in the HOXD cluster. We propose that the patients' phenotypes are due in part to haploinsufficiency for HOXD-cluster genes. This hypothesis is supported by the expression patterns of these genes in early vertebrate embryos. However, the involvement of additional genes in the region could explain the discordance, in severity, between these human phenotypes and the milder, non-polarized phenotypes present in mice hemizygous for HoxD cluster genes. These cases represent the first reported examples of deficiencies for an entire Hox cluster in vertebrates and suggest that the diploid dose of human HOXD genes is crucial for normal growth and patterning of the limbs along the anterior-posterior axis. DOI: 10.1086/302467 PMCID: PMC1378080 PMID: 10364522 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18389144
1. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2008 Mar;7(3):283-9. doi: 10.1039/b712847a. Epub 2007 Dec 7. ALA and its clinical impact, from bench to bedside. Krammer B(1), Plaetzer K. Author information: (1)University of Salzburg, Department of Molecular Biology, Austria. barbara.krammer@sbg.ac.at ALA-induced protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is used for fluorescence diagnosis (ALA-FD) and for fluorescence-guided resection of both (pre)malignant and non-malignant diseases. ALA is also applied in photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) of superficial (pre)malignant lesions in dermatology, urology, neurosurgery, otorhinolaryngology, gynecology and gastroenterology. Today, ALA is approved as Levulan for actinic keratoses, the ALA-methyl ester Metvix for actinic keratoses and basal cell carcinoma, the ALA-hexyl ester Hexvix for the diagnosis of bladder cancer and Gliolan for malignant glioma. The use of ALA for PDT and FD was established around 25 years ago, with most of the fundamental knowledge gained at the "bench" and implemented at the "bedside" due to the diligence of a few researchers within the first 10 years of research. After 1993 ALA research was taken up by many groups. For patient treatment, several factors are relevant. Administered mainly in a topical or oral form, ALA penetrates tissue in a sub-optimal way, which is currently improved by special techniques and the use of ALA-esters. PpIX accumulation is elevated in many malignant tissues, several tissue abnormalities, and in mucosa. It is also found at elevated levels in macrophages, dendritic cells and activated lymphocytes. Following sufficient PpIX accumulation in the target cells, irradiation is carried out which may be accompanied by a burning sensation at the treatment site. Due to a saturation process of PpIX formation and rapid photobleaching during irradiation the risk of overtreatment is relatively low. Pharmacokinetical studies have demonstrated a low systemic photosensitivity and excretion of PpIX via natural routes. DOI: 10.1039/b712847a PMID: 18389144 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23870657
1. Neurologia. 2014 Apr;29(3):131-8. doi: 10.1016/j.nrl.2013.05.004. Epub 2013 Jul 17. Observational, retrospective study of the effectiveness of 5-aminolevulinic acid in malignant glioma surgery in Spain (The VISIONA study). [Article in English, Spanish] Díez Valle R(1), Slof J(2), Galván J(3), Arza C(3), Romariz C(3), Vidal C(4); VISIONA study researchers. Collaborators: Valle RD, i Rodriguez PT, Martínez GV, Cabezudo JM, García LM, Sánchez JJ, Rodríguez EF, Ángel M, Sánchez A, Granados GO, Delgado ÁT, Bertrán GC, Martín JJ, Ahicart GP, Díaz AP, Asunción CB, Acin RP, de Pedro Mdel Á, Urzaiz LL, Barcia JA, Brin JR, Campa-Santamarina JM, Sánchez ÁM, Peña JM. Author information: (1)Departamento de Neurocirugía, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, España. Electronic address: rdiezvalle@unav.es. (2)Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, España. (3)Laboratorios Gebro Pharma S.A., Barcelona, España. (4)Needs and Aims, Barcelona, España. OBJECTIVE: To assess effectiveness of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA, Gliolan(®)) in patients treated for malignant glioma under typical daily practice conditions in Spain, using complete resection rate (CR) and progression free survival at 6 months (PFS6). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective review of data from 18 neurosurgery departments that were categorised as either using or not using 5-ALA. The study included adult patients with suspected malignant gliomas for whom the intended treatment plan included complete resection followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy with temozolomide. Postoperative MRI and clinical data representing at least 6 months were required for inclusion. Rates of CR and PFS6 were compared between patients with 5-ALA treatment and those without. RESULTS: The study included 251 evaluable cases. CR and PFS6 rates were significantly higher in the group of patients treated surgically with 5-ALA: CR, 67% versus 45%, p=.000; PFS6 for patients with grade IV tumours, 69% versus 48%; p=.002. The differences retained their significance and magnitude after adjusting for all covariates including age, functional status, and whether gliomas were located in eloquent areas. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective series, use of 5-ALA during habitual surgical procedures in Spain was associated with a higher complete resection rate for malignant glioma and increased PFS6 for grade iv glioma. Copyright © 2013 Sociedad Española de Neurología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.nrl.2013.05.004 PMID: 23870657 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20175080
1. Proteomics. 2010 Mar;10(6):1141-9. doi: 10.1002/pmic.200900258. Prediction of the human membrane proteome. Fagerberg L(1), Jonasson K, von Heijne G, Uhlén M, Berglund L. Author information: (1)School of Biotechnology, AlbaNova University Center, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden. Membrane proteins are key molecules in the cell, and are important targets for pharmaceutical drugs. Few three-dimensional structures of membrane proteins have been obtained, which makes computational prediction of membrane proteins crucial for studies of these key molecules. Here, seven membrane protein topology prediction methods based on different underlying algorithms, such as hidden Markov models, neural networks and support vector machines, have been used for analysis of the protein sequences from the 21,416 annotated genes in the human genome. The number of genes coding for a protein with predicted alpha-helical transmembrane region(s) ranged from 5508 to 7651, depending on the method used. Based on a majority decision method, we estimate 5539 human genes to code for membrane proteins, corresponding to approximately 26% of the human protein-coding genes. The largest fraction of these proteins has only one predicted transmembrane region, but there are also many proteins with seven predicted transmembrane regions, including the G-protein coupled receptors. A visualization tool displaying the topologies suggested by the eight prediction methods, for all predicted membrane proteins, is available on the public Human Protein Atlas portal (www.proteinatlas.org). DOI: 10.1002/pmic.200900258 PMID: 20175080 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24856900
1. Immunity. 2014 Jun 19;40(6):865-79. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2014.03.014. Epub 2014 May 22. miR-155 activates cytokine gene expression in Th17 cells by regulating the DNA-binding protein Jarid2 to relieve polycomb-mediated repression. Escobar TM(1), Kanellopoulou C(1), Kugler DG(2), Kilaru G(1), Nguyen CK(1), Nagarajan V(3), Bhairavabhotla RK(1), Northrup D(4), Zahr R(1), Burr P(1), Liu X(1), Zhao K(4), Sher A(2), Jankovic D(2), Zhu J(1), Muljo SA(5). Author information: (1)Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. (2)Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. (3)Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. (4)Systems Biology Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. (5)Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. Electronic address: stefan.muljo@nih.gov. Comment in Immunity. 2014 Jun 19;40(6):855-6. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2014.06.004. Specification of the T helper 17 (Th17) cell lineage requires a well-defined set of transcription factors, but how these integrate with posttranscriptional and epigenetic programs to regulate gene expression is poorly understood. Here we found defective Th17 cell cytokine expression in miR-155-deficient CD4+ T cells in vitro and in vivo. Mir155 was bound by Th17 cell transcription factors and was highly expressed during Th17 cell differentiation. miR-155-deficient Th17 and T regulatory (Treg) cells expressed increased amounts of Jarid2, a DNA-binding protein that recruits the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) to chromatin. PRC2 binding to chromatin and H3K27 histone methylation was increased in miR-155-deficient cells, coinciding with failure to express Il22, Il10, Il9, and Atf3. Defects in Th17 cell cytokine expression and Treg cell homeostasis in the absence of Mir155 could be partially suppressed by Jarid2 deletion. Thus, miR-155 contributes to Th17 cell function by suppressing the inhibitory effects of Jarid2. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2014.03.014 PMCID: PMC4092165 PMID: 24856900 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9439011
1. Acta Chir Plast. 1997;39(3):91-6. Different embryotoxic effect of vitamin A and B-carotene detected in the chick embryo. Peterka M(1), Peterková R, Likovský Z. Author information: (1)Department of Teratology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague. Erratum in Acta Chir Plast 1997;39(4):112. Teratogenicity of vitamin A was firstly detected in experimental animals in 1953. Nearly 30 years later, teratogenicity of vitamin A analogue-isotretinoin was reported in humans. Isotretinoin induces serious birth defects of craniofacial and central nervous system, cardiovascular system and thymic malformations--in about 25% of babies exposed during the first trimester of their prenatal development. The biological interconversion of isotretinoin to vitamin A is known. That is why later epidemiological studies focused on high vitamin A intake in pregnant woman: Women who use daily vitamin A supplements during early pregnancy have approximately a two-fold increased risk of giving birth to a malformed baby. On the basis of these data, replacement of vitamin A has been recommended with its natural precursor B-carotene which is supposed to be more safe for pregnant woman due to its limited absorption from intestine. Aim of the present paper was to test a possible direct embryotoxic effect (i.e. lethality + teratogenicity) of B-carotene in chick embryos and to compare these results with known embryotoxicity of vitamin A in the same experimental model. Single subgerminal or intaamniotic injection of vitamin A or B-carotene within day 2-5 of incubation was used for estimation of the beginning of the embryotoxicity range determining the minimal embryotoxic doses. Vitamin A started to affect development between doses 0.3-0.3 microm [corrected] per embryo. Malformations of head, extremities and heart were detected similarly like in laboratory mammals and in man. B-carotene exhibited such an effect neither after injection of the highest tested doses-100 microm [corrected] per embryo. The results documented the strong difference in embryotoxicity between vitamin A and B-carotene. After theoretical extrapolation of the results achieved in the chick embryo, the minimal embryotoxic doses of vitamin A in mammals were estimated to be between 0.1-1 mg/kg of maternal weight and those of B-carotene to be more than 1000 mg/kg of maternal weight. Human epidemiological studies have proved teratogenicity of vitamin A after daily doses 25,000 i.u.-8.3 mg (0.13 mg/kg)- and reduction of its maximum intake has been recommended to 10,000 i.u. per day (0.05 mg/kg). The results about teratogenicity of vitamin A achieved in the chick embryo are in agreement with such a recommendation. Intake of vitamin A in the food is sufficient for pregnant woman in common Czech population. Therefore, an artificial supplementation of vitamin A brings risk of overdosage. If supplementation by vitamin A is unavoidable during pregnancy, B-carotene should be preferred. PMID: 9439011 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7962395
1. Hum Reprod. 1994 Jun;9(6):1166-9. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a138652. Gestational-age-dependent effects of retinoids on HCG secretion by placental explants. Barnea ER(1), Diamant M, Maruo T, Shurtz-Swirski R. Author information: (1)University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden. Vitamin A (VITA) is considered to be an essential nutrient in both pregnant and non-pregnant states. It has been suggested that VITA, among others, is involved in the process of morphogenesis. In contrast, synthetic derivatives of VITA, specifically Tigasone (etretinate, TIG) and Roaccutane (isotretinoin, ROA), are regarded as major teratogens. Therefore, in the present study we have examined the effect of VITA and other retinoids on human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) secretion by placental explants in the first trimester. Results show that, at 7-9 gestational weeks, all three compounds had a significant inhibitory effect on HCG secretion. In the case of VITA, this inhibition was time-dependent. A biphasic maximal inhibition was present at 1 microM concentrations when the retinoids VITA, TIG and ROA were added for 16 h (52, 58 and 57%, respectively; P < 0.01 by one-way analysis of variance). In contrast, the addition of the three retinoids at 1 microM concentrations for 16 h had no significant effect on HCG secretion by placental explants of 11-13 weeks gestational age. In conclusion, both natural and synthetic retinoids demonstrate a significant inhibitory effect on HCG secretion by the early placenta (pre-HCG peak). VITA may be involved in causing a plateau and the later decline in HCG secretion. Inhibition of HCG secretion by retinoids may contribute either directly or indirectly to their teratogenicity. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a138652 PMID: 7962395 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18684366
1. Rev Esp Cardiol. 2008 Aug;61(8):835-42. Prognostic implication of frailty and depressive symptoms in an outpatient population with heart failure. [Article in English, Spanish] Lupón J(1), González B, Santaeugenia S, Altimir S, Urrutia A, Más D, Díez C, Pascual T, Cano L, Valle V. Author information: (1)Unitat d'Insuficiència Cardíaca, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain. jlupon.germanstrias@gencat.cat INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Heart failure patients have high levels of frailty and dependence. Our aim was to determine the impact of frailty and depressive symptoms on the 1-year mortality rate and the rate of hospitalization for heart failure during a follow-up period of 1 year. METHODS: All patients underwent geriatric evaluation, and frailty and depressive symptoms were identified. The study included 622 patients (72.5% male; median age, 68 years; 92% in New York Heart Association class II or III; and median ejection fraction, 30%). RESULTS: During follow-up, 60 patients (9.5%) died and 101 (16.2%) were hospitalized for heart failure. Overall, 39.9% of patients exhibited frailty, while 25.2% had depressive symptoms. There were significant associations between mortality at 1 year and the presence of frailty (16.9% vs. 4.8%; P< .001) and depressive symptoms (15.3% vs. 7.7%; P=.006). There was also a significant relationship between heart failure hospitalization and the presence of frailty (20.5% vs. 13.3%; P=.01). No relationship was found between heart failure hospitalization and depressive symptoms. Frailty was an independent predictor of mortality but not of hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Univariate analysis demonstrated significant relationships between frailty and depressive symptoms and mortality at 1 year. In addition, there was a significant relationship between frailty and the need for heart failure hospitalization. However, only frailty showed prognostic value to predict mortality, which was independent of other variables strongly associated to outcome. PMID: 18684366 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20436882
1. Dermatoendocrinol. 2009 May;1(3):141-56. doi: 10.4161/derm.1.3.8474. Role of FGFR2-signaling in the pathogenesis of acne. Melnik BC(1). Author information: (1)Department of Dermatology; Environmental Medicine and Health Theory; University of Osnabrück; Germany. It is the purpose of this review to extend our understanding of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor-2b-signaling network in the pathogenesis of acne. A new concept of the role of FGFR2b-signaling in dermal-epithelial interaction for skin appendage formation, pilosebaceous follicle homeostasis, comedogenesis, sebaceous gland proliferation and lipogenesis is presented. The FGFR2-gain-of-function mutations in Apert syndrome and unilateral acneiform nevus are most helpful model diseases pointing the way to androgen-dependent dermalepithelial FGFR2-signaling in acne. Androgen-mediated upregulation of FGFR2b-signaling in acne-prone skin appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris. In organotypic skin cultures, keratinocyte-derived interleukin-1alpha stimulated fibroblasts to secrete FGF7 which stimulated FGFR2b-mediated keratinocyte proliferation. Postnatal deletion of FGFR2b in mice resulted in severe sebaceous gland atrophy. The importance of FGFR2b in sebaceous gland physiology is further supported by the mode of action of anti-acne agents which have been proposed to attenuate FGFR2b-signaling. Downregulation of FGFR2b-signaling by isotretinoin explains its therapeutic effect in acne. Downregulation of FGFR2b-signaling during the first trimester of pregnancy disturbs branched morphogenesis and explains retinoid embryotoxicity. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), the mediator of growth hormone during puberty, intracts with androgen-dependent FGFR2b-signaling and links androgen- and FGF-mediated signal transduction important in sebaceous gland homeostasis. The search for a follicular defect in the dermalepithelial regulation of growth factor-signaling in acne-prone skin appears to be a most promising approach to clarify the pathogenesis of acne. DOI: 10.4161/derm.1.3.8474 PMCID: PMC2835907 PMID: 20436882
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15545101
1. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2004 Nov;6(3):156-62. doi: 10.1080/14764170410023785. 420 nm intense continuous light therapy for acne. Omi T(1), Bjerring P, Sato S, Kawana S, Hankins RW, Honda M. Author information: (1)Department of Dermatology, Queen's Square Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan. tom@olive.ocn.ne.jp BACKGROUND: Topical antibiotics, isotretinoin or systemic antibiotics are usually used for acne therapy. However, isotretinoin cannot be used during pregnancy because it can cause significant birth defects while systemic antibiotics can have adverse side effects such as gastrointestinal irritation, photosensitivity and tetracycline sensitivity. Describe here is a high-intensity, narrow-band, blue light (ClearLight) system, and its therapeutic clinical effect is investigated on acne using cutaneous measurements, bacterial observations and ultrastructural changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 28 adult healthy volunteers with facial acne (mean age 28.1 years, range 16-56 years) were recruited for this study. They were treated with a total of eight serial biweekly 15-minute treatment sessions. Clinical counts of acne, as well as moisture, sebum and pH measurements were taken between each session. Nine of the 28 patients were followed for 2-3 months after the last treatment. Detection of bacteria in acne pustules was analyzed by culture and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Ultrastructural changes were examined in eight patients after four sessions of the light therapy. RESULTS: All patients completed the study. Overall, there was a 64.7% improvement in acne lesions. There were no bacterial changes before or after the therapy, although damaged Propionibacterium acnes were observed at the ultrastructural level. CONCLUSIONS: ClearLight performed eight times over 4 weeks can be useful in the treatment of acne. Further investigation will be needed to elucidate the mechanism of action of ClearLight. DOI: 10.1080/14764170410023785 PMID: 15545101 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11445913
1. Braz Dent J. 2001;12(2):115-9. Effect of isotretinoin on tooth germ and palate development in mouse embryos. Balducci-Roslindo E(1), Silvério KG, Jorge MA, Gonzaga HF. Author information: (1)Discipline of Histology, Faculty of Dentistry of Araraquara, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil. eleny@black.foar.unesp.br Vitamin A and its derivatives, retinoic acid, tretinoin and isotretinoin, are currently used in dermatological treatments. The administration of high doses of this vitamin provokes congenital malformations in mice: cleft palate, maxillary and mandibular hypoplasia and total or partial fusion of the maxillary incisors. This study compares the tooth germs of the first maxillary and mandibular molars of fetal mice submitted to isotretinoin during organogenesis. Twelve 60-day-old female Mus musculus were divided into two groups on the 7th day of pregnancy: treated group--1 mg isotretinoin per kg body weight, dissolved in vegetable oil, was administered from the 7th to the 13th day of pregnancy; control group--vegetable oil in equivalent volume was administered orally for the same period. On the 16th day of pregnancy, the females were sacrificed, the fetuses were removed and their heads amputated. After standard laboratory procedures, 6-micron thick serial slices were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for optical microscopy examination. The results showed that both groups had closed palates with no reminiscence of epithelial cells; however, the first molar germs of the isotretinoin-treated animals showed delayed development compared to the control animals. PMID: 11445913 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9035347
1. Teratology. 1996 Nov;54(5):255-65. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1096-9926(199611)54:5<255::AID-TERA6>3.0.CO;2-Z. Retinoid metabolism and transplacental pharmacokinetics in the cynomolgus monkey following a nonteratogenic dosing regimen with all-trans-retinoic acid. Tzimas G(1), Nau H, Hendrickx AG, Peterson PE, Hummler H. Author information: (1)Institut für Toxikologie und Embryopharmakologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. Retinoids often exhibit a complex metabolic pattern and differential transplacental kinetics, which make it difficult to pinpoint the proximate compound responsible for the observed teratogenic effect. We have therefore studied the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of all-trans-retinoic acid (all-trans-RA) in cynomolgus monkeys following application of a nonteratogenic dosing regimen and compared the results with corresponding data from a previous study with a teratogenic dosing regimen with 13-cis-RA [Hummler et al. (1994) Teratology 50:184-193]. All-trans-RA was administered to pregnant cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) by nasogastric intubation at a dose of 5 mg/kg body wt once daily from gestational day (GD) 16 to 26 and twice daily at 8-h intervals from GD 27 to 31. Examination of the fetuses of four dams on GD 100 +/- 2 showed no embryotoxic or teratogenic effects of the applied dosing regimen (Experiment 1). Maternal plasma retinoid pharmacokinetics on GD 16, 26, and 31 as well as embryonic retinoid profiles after the last drug administration on GD 31 were determined in thirteen further dams (Experiment 2). All-trans-RA reached much lower plasma concentrations after the last two treatments on GD 31 than after the first one on GD 16 and the eleventh one on GD 26 (0-24-h area-under-the-concentration-time-curve (AUC) values: 104 +/- 59 ng x h/ml (after the last treatment on GD 31), 189 +/- 110 (GD 16) and 393 +/- 305 ng x h/ml (GD 26). The predominant plasma metabolites of all-trans-RA were its beta-glucuronide and the beta-glucuronide of all-trans-4-oxo-RA. Both of these retinoids accumulated in the plasma during the period of treatment and displayed AUC values 5- to 30-fold higher than those of all-trans-RA. Embryonic concentrations of all-trans-RA were not increased over endogenous levels after the last administration on GD 31 when plasma concentrations were low. To evaluate the placental transport of all-trans-RA in the presence of high plasma concentrations, a further experiment was performed, in which a single dose of all-trans-RA (10 mg/kg body wt) was given to four pregnant monkeys on GD 31, and plasma pharmacokinetics as well as embryonic concentrations of retinoids at 4 h post-treatment were determined (Experiment 3). This dosing schedule yielded high plasma concentrations of all-trans-RA, while embryonic concentrations were about 40% of plasma levels. Based on the plasma AUC values on GDs 16 and 26 obtained in Experiment 2 and the degree of placental transfer, as determined on GD 31 in the presence of high plasma levels in Experiment 3, we estimated embryonic AUC values for the 24-h period following the nonteratogenic doses on GDs 16 and 26 in Experiment 2. These AUC values were similarly high to the embryonic AUC value of all-trans-RA obtained after application of the teratogenic dosing regimen with 13-cis-RA [Hummler et al. (1994) Teratology 50:184-193]. In addition, plasma AUC values of all-trans-RA were 2- to 7-fold higher after all-trans-RA administration (present study) than after dosing with the teratogenic dose of 13-cis-RA. These results strengthen our recent suggestion that the teratogenic effects induced in cynomolgus monkeys by 13-cis-RA treatment cannot solely result from the action of all-trans-RA, but may involve 13-cis-RA and 13-cis-4-oxo-RA, which could act directly or function as transport vehicle. DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1096-9926(199611)54:5<255::AID-TERA6>3.0.CO;2-Z PMID: 9035347 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9091512
1. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1997 Mar;36(3 Pt 2):S86-90. doi: 10.1016/s0190-9622(97)70064-1. A risk assessment of topical tretinoin as a potential human developmental toxin based on animal and comparative human data. Johnson EM(1). Author information: (1)Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. BACKGROUND: Although topically applied all-trans-retinoic acid (tretinoin) undergoes minimal absorption and adds negligibly to normal endogenous levels, its safety in humans is occasionally questioned because oral ingestion of retinoids at therapeutic levels is known to entail teratogenic risks. OBJECTIVE: To assess the actual potential for developmental toxicity from treatment with topical tretinoin. METHODS: Risk assessments were conducted on four known human developmental toxicants (valproic acid, methotrexate, thalidomide, and isotretinoin) and a potential developmental toxicant (acetylsalicylic acid). The margin of safety for each chemical was calculated from the ratio of animal no-observed adverse effect levels to human lowest-observed adverse effect levels or estimated exposure doses. RESULTS: The derived safety margin of more than 100 for topical tretinoin (with 2% absorption) contrasted sharply with the near unity values for valproic acid, methotrexate, thalidomide, and isotretinoin and was larger than that for acetylsalicylic acid. CONCLUSION: These data support other epidemiologic and animal data that topical tretinoin is not a potential human developmental toxicant. DOI: 10.1016/s0190-9622(97)70064-1 PMID: 9091512 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3162101
1. N Engl J Med. 1985 Oct 3;313(14):837-41. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198510033131401. Retinoic acid embryopathy. Lammer EJ, Chen DT, Hoar RM, Agnish ND, Benke PJ, Braun JT, Curry CJ, Fernhoff PM, Grix AW Jr, Lott IT, et al. Retinoic acid, an analogue of vitamin A, is known to be teratogenic in laboratory animals and has recently been implicated in a few clinical case reports. To study the human teratogenicity of this agent, we investigated 154 human pregnancies with fetal exposure to isotretinoin, a retinoid prescribed for severe recalcitrant cystic acne. The outcomes were 95 elective abortions, 26 infants without major malformations, 12 spontaneous abortions, and 21 malformed infants. A subset of 36 of the 154 pregnancies was observed prospectively. The outcomes in this cohort were 8 spontaneous abortions, 23 normal infants, and 5 malformed infants. Exposure to isotretinoin was associated with an unusually high relative risk for a group of selected major malformations (relative risk = 25.6; 95 per cent confidence interval, 11.4 to 57.5). Among the 21 malformed infants we found a characteristic pattern of malformation involving craniofacial, cardiac, thymic, and central nervous system structures. The malformations included microtia/anotia (15 infants), micrognathia (6), cleft palate (3), conotruncal heart defects and aortic-arch abnormalities (8), thymic defects (7), retinal or optic-nerve abnormalities (4), and central nervous system malformations (18). The pattern of malformation closely resembled that produced in animal studies of retinoid teratogenesis. It is possible that a major mechanism of isotretinoin teratogenesis is a deleterious effect on cephalic neural-crest cell activity that results in the observed craniofacial, cardiac, and thymic malformations. DOI: 10.1056/NEJM198510033131401 PMID: 3162101 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3162748
1. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 1988 Mar-Apr;25(2):60-6. doi: 10.3928/0191-3913-19880301-04. Keratolenticular dysgenesis (Peters' anomaly) as a result of acute embryonic insult during gastrulation. Cook CS(1), Sulik KK. Author information: (1)Department of Anatomy and Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599. Keratolenticular dysgenesis (Peters' anomaly) was induced in mice by exposure to the human teratogens, ethanol or 13-cis retinoic acid (isotretinoin, Accutane). Acute teratogen exposure on the seventh day of gestation (corresponding to the third week of human gestation) resulted in an eye malformation incidence of 46% to 100% in day 14 fetuses. Of the abnormal eyes, 10% to 29% demonstrated failure of detachment of the lens from the surface ectoderm. Delayed lens detachment was seen as anterior lenticonus in 33% to 35% of the abnormal eyes. Abnormal lens detachment appeared to result in mechanical interference with neural crest migration to form the corneal stroma and endothelium, and iris stroma. This secondary effect on neural crest derivatives is exhibited in the adult animals as corneal opacities associated with defects in Descemet's membrane and endothelium, and anterior polar cataracts. DOI: 10.3928/0191-3913-19880301-04 PMID: 3162748 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12832479
1. Mol Cell Biol. 2003 Jul;23(14):4939-47. doi: 10.1128/MCB.23.14.4939-4947.2003. Critical contribution of the MDM2 acidic domain to p53 ubiquitination. Kawai H(1), Wiederschain D, Yuan ZM. Author information: (1)Department of Cancer Cell Biology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. MDM2 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that targets p53 for proteasomal degradation. Recent studies have shown, however, that the ring-finger domain (RFD) of MDM2, where the ubiquitin E3 ligase activity resides, is necessary but not sufficient for p53 ubiquitination, suggesting that an additional activity of MDM2 might be required. To test this possibility, we generated a series of MDM2/MDMX chimeric proteins to assess the contribution of each domain of MDM2 to the ubiquitination process. MDMX is a close structural homolog of MDM2 that nevertheless lacks the E3 ligase activity in vivo. We demonstrate here that MDMX gains self-ubiquitination activity and becomes extremely unstable upon introduction of the MDM2 RFD, indicating that the RFD is essential for self-ubiquitination. This MDMX chimeric protein, however, is unable to ubiquitinate p53 in vivo despite its E3 ligase activity and binding to p53, separating the self-ubiquitination activity of MDM2 from its ability to ubiquitinate p53. Significantly, fusion of the central acidic domain (AD) of MDM2 to the MDMX chimeric protein renders the protein fully capable of ubiquitinating p53, and p53 ubiquitination is associated with p53 degradation and nuclear export. Moreover, the AD mini protein expressed in trans can functionally rescue the AD-lacking MDM2 mutant, further supporting a critical role for the AD in MDM2-mediated p53 ubiquitination. DOI: 10.1128/MCB.23.14.4939-4947.2003 PMCID: PMC162226 PMID: 12832479 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15632057
1. Mol Cell Biol. 2005 Jan;25(2):545-53. doi: 10.1128/MCB.25.2.545-553.2005. Regulation of p53 and MDM2 activity by MTBP. Brady M(1), Vlatkovic N, Boyd MT. Author information: (1)MDM2/p53 Laboratory, Division of Surgery and Oncology, University of Liverpool, 5th Floor, UCD Building, Daulby St., Liverpool L69 3GA, UK. p53 is a critical coordinator of a wide range of stress responses. To facilitate a rapid response to stress, p53 is produced constitutively but is negatively regulated by MDM2. MDM2 can inhibit p53 in multiple independent ways: by binding to its transcription activation domain, inhibiting p53 acetylation, promoting nuclear export, and probably most importantly by promoting proteasomal degradation of p53. The latter is achieved via MDM2's E3 ubiquitin ligase activity harbored within the MDM2 RING finger domain. We have discovered that MTBP promotes MDM2-mediated ubiquitination and degradation of p53 and also MDM2 stabilization in an MDM2 RING finger-dependent manner. Moreover, using small interfering RNA to down-regulate endogenous MTBP in unstressed cells, we have found that MTBP significantly contributes to MDM2-mediated regulation of p53 levels and activity. However, following exposure of cells to UV, but not gamma-irradiation, MTBP is destabilized as part of the coordinated cellular response. Our findings suggest that MTBP differentially regulates the E3 ubiquitin ligase activity of MDM2 towards two of its most critical targets (itself and p53) and in doing so significantly contributes to MDM2-dependent p53 homeostasis in unstressed cells. DOI: 10.1128/MCB.25.2.545-553.2005 PMCID: PMC543405 PMID: 15632057 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18235222
1. Cell Cycle. 2008 Feb 1;7(3):287-92. doi: 10.4161/cc.7.3.5358. Epub 2007 Nov 25. Unlocking the Mdm2-p53 loop: ubiquitin is the key. Clegg HV(1), Itahana K, Zhang Y. Author information: (1)Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA. Mdm2 has been thought to regulate the tumor suppressor p53 in two ways: by masking p53's access to transcriptional machinery, and by ubiquitinating p53, targeting it for proteasomal degradation. This dogma was recently challenged by data generated from knockin mice in which Mdm2's RING E3 ubiquitin ligase activity was abrogated by a single point mutation. The RING mutant Mdm2 is fully capable of binding with p53, yet cannot suppress p53 activity, suggesting that Mdm2 cannot block p53 by binding alone, without ubiquitination. Data from the RING knockin mice also revealed that endogenous Mdm2 does not, as previously thought, regulate its own stability by self-ubiquitination. In this review, we will discuss these findings and their relevance to the field, including potential reasons for the discrepancies between previous data and that generated by our knockin mice, as well as the feasibility of targeting Mdm2's E3 ubiquitin ligase activity in cancer. We will also discuss additional research questions that may be addressed using our mouse model. DOI: 10.4161/cc.7.3.5358 PMID: 18235222 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23559397
1. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2013 Apr;14(2):71-6. doi: 10.1007/s40257-013-0014-z. Important controversies associated with isotretinoin therapy for acne. Wolverton SE(1), Harper JC. Author information: (1)Department of Dermatology, Indiana University, 545 Barnhill Dr, Emerson Hall 139, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. swolvert@iupui.edu Isotretinoin is a remarkably effective drug for severe, recalcitrant acne vulgaris. Soon after the drug's release in the early 1980s, a number of important adverse effects were reported subsequently leading to a variety of medical and medicolegal controversies. Three of these controversies will be highlighted concerning the putative role of isotretinoin in (1) depression and suicide, (2) inflammatory bowel disease, and (3) iPledge and pregnancy prevention programs. It appears that a very small subset of patients receiving isotretinoin for acne are at risk for depression, which is very manageable provided there is adequate patient awareness of the possibility, maximum communication between the patient and physician, and cessation of therapy if clinically important depression occurs (after which the depression rapidly resolves in a week or less). Multiple controlled studies actually suggest a very favorable effect of isotretinoin on depression and anxiety common in the population requiring isotretinoin. With regard to inflammatory bowel disease, in just one study, only ulcerative colitis association with isotretinoin reached statistical significance. The actual incidence of this association is strikingly low. Finally, it is clear that even the most recent pregnancy prevention program (iPledge) is no more successful than prior programs; there will likely always be a small number of female patients becoming pregnant while receiving isotretinoin for acne vulgaris. DOI: 10.1007/s40257-013-0014-z PMID: 23559397 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19961047
1. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2009 Sep-Oct;13(5):393-6. Possible long-term teratogenic effect of isotretinoin in pregnancy. Malvasi A(1), Tinelli A, Buia A, De Luca GF. Author information: (1)Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Santa Maria Hospital, Bari, Italy. The isotretinoin, a 13-cis-retinoic acid, has revolutionized the management of severe treatment-resistant acne and it has been widely used for a range of dermatological conditions, in 90% of the time in young women between 13 and 45 years of age. This agent has severe teratogenic effects, as serious craniofacial, cardiovascular, thymic and central nervous system malformations. The baseline population risk of malformations is 3-5%, but it increases to almost 30% in women exposed to isotretinoin during the first trimester of pregnancy. Generally, patients in treatment with isotretinoin avoid eventual pregnancy during assumption and, after its stopping, fertility and foetal development are normal once circulating isotretinoin levels return to normal. There are no known deleterious effects on male fertility and on long-term teratogenic effect of isotretinoin. In this report, we suppose the possibility to develop a foetal malformations after a long-term wash out from isotretinoin therapy. A 32 year-old healthy nullipara pregnant woman, with an uneventful past gynaecological history, was admitted in Hospital, with a severe depressive syndrome in a 18 weeks malformed pregnancy for thoraco-omphalopagus conjoined twins. She only assumed isotretinoin, at dose of 1 mg/kg a day, for a severe and scarring acne for 7 months. After 3 months of pharmacological wash out, patient become pregnant and manifested this severe malformation. Woman interrupted gestation, by labour induction. PMID: 19961047 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17214828
1. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2007 Feb;63(2):196-205. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2006.02837.x. Isotretinoin, pregnancies, abortions and birth defects: a population-based perspective. Bérard A(1), Azoulay L, Koren G, Blais L, Perreault S, Oraichi D. Author information: (1)Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada. anick.berard@umontreal.ca Comment in Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2009 Jan;67(1):137-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2008.03235.x. AIMS: To estimate the population-based incidence rates of pregnancy, spontaneous and elective abortions, and birth defects associated with isotretinoin use, and to determine predictors of pregnancy while on isotretinoin. METHODS: Using the RAMQ (medical and pharmaceutical data), MED-ECHO (hospitalizations) and ISQ (births and deaths) databases for the period 1984-2002, a cohort of 8609 women between 13 and 45 years of age and with a first prescription for isotretinoin (date of entry in the cohort) was identified. Women were eligible if they were insured by RAMQ for their medications at least 12 months before entry in the cohort and until 1 month after the end of their isotretinoin treatment. Pregnancies, spontaneous and elective abortions, and birth defects were identified using procedure codes and medical diagnoses. RESULTS: Of the 8609 women included, 90 became pregnant, an annual incident pregnancy rate during isotretinoin treatment of 32.7 per 1000 person-years of treatment (95% confidence interval 26.6, 40.1). Of the 90 women who became pregnant while on the drug, 76 terminated the pregnancy (84%), three had a spontaneous abortion (3%), two had trauma during delivery resulting in neonatal deaths (2%) and nine had a live birth (10%). Among the live births, only one had a congenital anomaly of the face and neck (11%). Adjusting for potential confounders, predictors of becoming pregnant while on isotretinoin were lower socio-economic level, one or more visits to the doctor or to the emergency department, or one or more hospitalization while on isotretinoin; concomitant isotretinoin and oral contraceptive use had a preventive effect. CONCLUSIONS: This first non-interventional population-based study generated incidence rates of pregnancy while on isotretinoin four times greater than what has been reported in the literature thus far; elective abortion rates were also much higher in our study. This shows the importance of using population-based data for public health purposes. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2006.02837.x PMCID: PMC1859978 PMID: 17214828 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3459732
1. J Craniofac Genet Dev Biol. 1986;6(2):99-112. Isotretinoin teratogenicity in mouse whole embryo culture. Goulding EH, Pratt RM. Recent clinical observations strongly suggest that isotretinoin [13-cis-retinoic acid (cis RA)] is a human teratogen causing primarily heart and craniofacial malformations including ear and palatal defects. The purpose of the present study was to determine if cis RA could induce similar craniofacial malformations in mouse embryo culture. Day 8 CD-1 mouse embryos were cultured for 48 hours in rat serum in the presence or absence of various concentrations of cis RA dissolved in DMSO. DMSO by itself had no effect on embryonic development; however, cis RA at 2 X 10(-5) M (6 micrograms/ml) was clearly toxic. At 2 X 10(-6) M cis RA, growth retardation was minimal, and approximately one-third of the embryos exhibited very specific defects including a dramatic reduction in the size of the first and second visceral arches, which eventually give rise to the maxilla, mandible, and ear. Similar observations were also made with 4-oxo-13-cis RA, which is a major metabolite of cis RA in the mouse and human. These malformations would be expected to result in defects similar to those observed in the human, and preliminary observations suggest these defects are due to cis RA-induced inhibition of cranial neural crest cell migration. Using day-10 mouse embryos cultured for 48 hours in Waymouth's medium containing 50% fetal calf serum, we observed that cis RA at 2 X 10(-5) M produced a high percentage of embryos with limb defects and median cleft lip. Our results demonstrate that labeled cis RA enters the tissues of the embryo both in vivo and in vitro. Cis RA inhibited proliferation of the frontonasal mesenchyme cells in primary culture with 31% inhibition occurring at 2 X 10(-5) M cis RA. PMID: 3459732 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21198520
1. Australas J Dermatol. 2010 Nov;51(4):248-53. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2010.00657.x. Adverse effects of isotretinoin: A retrospective review of 1743 patients started on isotretinoin. Rademaker M(1). Author information: (1)Tristram Clinic, Hamilton, New Zealand. rademaker@xtra.co.nz Comment in Australas J Dermatol. 2011 May;52(2):147-8; author reply 148. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2011.00764.x. BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Isotretinoin has revolutionized the management of acne vulgaris. However, concerns continue regarding the adverse effect profile of isotretinoin. This study aims to review the adverse effects experienced by patients started on isotretinoin by a single dermatologist. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of 1743 patients started on isotretinoin for various dermatological conditions over a 6-year period. Details of the dose of isotretinoin used, concomitant medications, adverse effects and outcome were recorded. RESULTS: One-fifth (18.5%) of patients reported no adverse effects during the study period. Cheilitis was the most commonly reported adverse effect, affecting 78% of users, followed by eczema and tiredness, seen in 12% each. However, these were clearly dose-dependent, as the group treated with doses of isotretinoin under 0.25 mg/kg/day only reported cheilitis in 47%, eczema in 7% and tiredness in 5%, compared with 96%, 16% and 18%, respectively, in those treated with more than 0.75 mg/gm/day. Twenty-four patients (1.4%) stopped isotretinoin because of adverse effects; a further three patients complained of severe adverse effects on at least one occasion, but continued taking the medication. The adverse effect(s) that led to patients stopping isotretinoin were cheilitis (22 patients), mood change (13), tiredness (12), eczema (6) and pregnancy (2). There were no reported instances of suicidal ideation or attempted suicide. CONCLUSIONS: Other than the two oral contraceptive failures, there were no serious adverse events recorded during this review period. Isotretinoin is a very effective medication with a low adverse-effect profile when used at lower doses. © 2010 The Author. Australasian Journal of Dermatology © 2010 The Australasian College of Dermatologists. DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2010.00657.x PMID: 21198520 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22666487
1. PLoS One. 2012;7(5):e38212. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038212. Epub 2012 May 29. Mdm2 RING mutation enhances p53 transcriptional activity and p53-p300 interaction. Clegg HV(1), Itahana Y, Itahana K, Ramalingam S, Zhang Y. Author information: (1)Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America. The p53 transcription factor and tumor suppressor is regulated primarily by the E3 ubiquitin ligase Mdm2, which ubiquitinates p53 to target it for proteasomal degradation. Aside from its ubiquitin ligase function, Mdm2 has been believed to be capable of suppressing p53's transcriptional activity by binding with and masking the transactivation domain of p53. The ability of Mdm2 to restrain p53 activity by binding alone, without ubiquitination, was challenged by a 2007 study using a knockin mouse harboring a single cysteine-to-alanine point mutation (C462A) in Mdm2's RING domain. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts with this mutation, which abrogates Mdm2's E3 ubiquitin ligase activity without affecting its ability to bind with p53, were unable to suppress p53 activity. In this study, we utilized the Mdm2(C462A) mouse model to characterize in further detail the role of Mdm2's RING domain in the control of p53. Here, we show in vivo that the Mdm2(C462A) protein not only fails to suppress p53, but compared to the complete absence of Mdm2, Mdm2(C462A) actually enhances p53 transcriptional activity toward p53 target genes p21/CDKN1A, MDM2, BAX, NOXA, and 14-3-3σ. In addition, we found that Mdm2(C462A) facilitates the interaction between p53 and the acetyltransferase CBP/p300, and it fails to heterodimerize with its homolog and sister regulator of p53, Mdmx, suggesting that a fully intact RING domain is required for Mdm2's inhibition of the p300-p53 interaction and for its interaction with Mdmx. These findings help us to better understand the complex regulation of the Mdm2-p53 pathway and have important implications for chemotherapeutic agents targeting Mdm2, as they suggest that inhibition of Mdm2's E3 ubiquitin ligase activity may be sufficient for increasing p53 activity in vivo, without the need to block Mdm2-p53 binding. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038212 PMCID: PMC3362553 PMID: 22666487 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2923442
1. Arch Dermatol. 1989 Mar;125(3):362-5. Safety of pregnancy after discontinuation of isotretinoin. Dai WS(1), Hsu MA, Itri LM. Author information: (1)Department of Drug Safety, Hoffmann-La Roche Inc, Nutley, NJ 07110. Isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid, Accutane) increases the risk of major congenital malformations in infants exposed to isotretinoin during pregnancy. However, there have been no epidemiologic reports to date on the effect of a subsequent pregnancy after discontinuation of isotretinoin. This article describes our analysis of pregnancy case reports from patients in whom conception occurred after isotretinoin treatment had been discontinued. Based on the 88 prospectively ascertained cases, the incidence rate of both spontaneous and missed abortions from all pregnancies was 9.1% (eight patients), and the incidence rate of congenital malformation among the live births was 5.0% (four patients). The incidence rates for both these outcomes were not significantly different from the rates reported for women of reproductive age in the general population. In addition, the malformations reported were not characteristic of retinoic acid-induced congenital anomalies. PMID: 2923442 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21075307
1. Cancer Cell. 2010 Nov 16;18(5):411-22. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2010.10.024. A stapled p53 helix overcomes HDMX-mediated suppression of p53. Bernal F(1), Wade M, Godes M, Davis TN, Whitehead DG, Kung AL, Wahl GM, Walensky LD. Author information: (1)Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Comment on Cancer Cell. 2010 Nov 16;18(5):399-400. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2010.10.026. Cancer cells neutralize p53 by deletion, mutation, proteasomal degradation, or sequestration to achieve a pathologic survival advantage. Targeting the E3 ubiquitin ligase HDM2 can lead to a therapeutic surge in p53 levels. However, the efficacy of HDM2 inhibition can be compromised by overexpression of HDMX, an HDM2 homolog that binds and sequesters p53. Here, we report that a stapled p53 helix preferentially targets HDMX, blocks the formation of inhibitory p53-HDMX complexes, induces p53-dependent transcriptional upregulation, and thereby overcomes HDMX-mediated cancer resistance in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, our analysis of p53 interaction dynamics provides a blueprint for reactivating the p53 pathway in cancer by matching HDM2, HDMX, or dual inhibitors to the appropriate cellular context. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2010.10.024 PMCID: PMC3050021 PMID: 21075307 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19934289
1. Clin Cancer Res. 2009 Dec 1;15(23):7153-60. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-09-1071. Epub 2009 Nov 24. Interactions of the Hdm2/p53 and proteasome pathways may enhance the antitumor activity of bortezomib. Ooi MG(1), Hayden PJ, Kotoula V, McMillin DW, Charalambous E, Daskalaki E, Raje NS, Munshi NC, Chauhan D, Hideshima T, Buon L, Clynes M, O'Gorman P, Richardson PG, Mitsiades CS, Anderson KC, Mitsiades N. Author information: (1)Medical Oncology, Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. PURPOSE: p53 is inactivated in many human malignancies through missense mutations or overexpression of the human homologue of Mdm2 (Hdm2), an E3 ubiquitin ligase that ubiquitinates p53, thereby promoting its proteasomal degradation. The cis-imidazoline nutlin-3 can disrupt the p53-Hdm2 interaction and activate p53, inducing apoptosis in vitro in many malignancies, including multiple myeloma (MM). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We hypothesized that suppression of Hdm2-mediated p53 ubiquitination may augment sequelae of p53 accumulation caused by proteasomal inhibition. We compared the response of MM cells versus several epithelial cancer models to the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib in combination with nutlin-3. RESULTS: The combination of sublethal concentrations of bortezomib plus nutlin-3 induced additive cytotoxicity against bortezomib-sensitive MM cell lines. Importantly, however, in breast, prostate, colon, and thyroid (papillary, follicular, anaplastic, and medullary) carcinoma cell lines, this combination triggered synergistic cytotoxicity, and increased expression of p53, p21, Hdm2, Bax, Noxa, PUMA, and cleavage of caspase-3 and poly ADP ribose polymerase. Coculture with bone marrow stromal cells attenuated MM cell sensitivity to nutlin-3 monotherapy and was associated with evidence of suppression of p53 activity in MM cells, whereas combined bortezomib-nutlin-3 treatment maintained cytotoxicity even in the presence of bone marrow stromal cells. CONCLUSIONS: This differential response of MM versus epithelial carcinomas to combination of nutlin-3 with bortezomib sheds new light on the role of p53 in bortezomib-induced apoptosis. Concurrent Hdm2 inhibition with bortezomib may extend the spectrum of bortezomib applications to malignancies with currently limited sensitivity to single-agent bortezomib or, in the future, to MM patients with decreased clinical responsiveness to bortezomib-based therapy. DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-09-1071 PMCID: PMC3672410 PMID: 19934289 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3501432
1. J Craniofac Genet Dev Biol. 1987;7(3):241-65. Human embryonic palatal epithelial differentiation is altered by retinoic acid and epidermal growth factor in organ culture. Abbott BD(1), Pratt RM. Author information: (1)Experimental Teratogenesis Section, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Reports of adverse human pregnancy outcomes including cleft palate have increased as the clinical use of isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid) and other retinoic acid (RA) derivatives have increased, but the mechanisms by which their effects are exerted are not understood. Research in craniofacial development is generally performed in rodents, and mouse palatal shelves exposed in organ cultures to retinoids and epidermal growth factor (EGF) display altered medial epithelial cell morphology blocking normal union of apposing shelves. In the present study, precontacting human palatal shelves were maintained in organ culture for 2, 3, or 6 days and exposed to labeled thymidine (3H-TdR) during the last 16 hr. Retinoids and EGF were included in the media so that each shelf was exposed to one of the following: control, EGF, trans-RA at 10(-5)M, cis-RA at 10(-7) or 10(-9) M, or RA + EGF. After exposure of cultured human embryonic palatal shelves to 13-cis-RA and trans-RA with or without EGF, medial epithelial cells do not degenerate, cell surface morphology shifts toward a nasal type, glycogen deposits decrease, smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) increases, and basal lamina appear altered. In shelves exposed to EGF and trans-RA early in their development, DNA synthesis appears to terminate prematurely as compared to shelves cultured in control media, and this effect is accompanied by excessive mesenchymal extracellular space expansion. Exposure of shelves to EGF alone is sufficient to block degeneration and induce hyperplasia of the medial epithelial cells but does not induce other ultrastructural changes seen with both EGF and RA. The observed alterations in medial cell morphology could interfere with adhesion of the palatal shelves and may play a role in retinoid-induced cleft palate in the human embryo. PMID: 3501432 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7525959
1. J Med Chem. 1994 Oct 28;37(22):3819-27. doi: 10.1021/jm00048a017. Inhibition of topoisomerase II catalytic activity by pyridoacridine alkaloids from a Cystodytes sp. ascidian: a mechanism for the apparent intercalator-induced inhibition of topoisomerase II. McDonald LA(1), Eldredge GS, Barrows LR, Ireland CM. Author information: (1)Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112. Several new pyridoacridine alkaloids, dehydrokuanoniamine B (1), shermilamine C (2), and cystodytin J (3), in addition to the known compounds cystodytin A (4), kuanoniamine D (5), shermilamine B (6), and eilatin (7), were isolated from a Fijian Cystodytes sp. ascidian. Their structures were determined by analyses of spectroscopic data. These compounds along with a previously reported pyridoacridine, diplamine (8), showed dose-dependent inhibition of proliferation in human colon tumor (HCT) cells in vitro. All compounds inhibited the topoisomerase (TOPO) II-mediated decatenation of kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) in a dose-dependent manner. The pyridoacridines' ability to inhibit TOPO II-mediated decatenation of kDNA correlated with their cytotoxic potencies and their ability to intercalate into calf thymus DNA. These results suggest that disruption of the function of TOPO II, subsequent to intercalation, is a probable mechanism by which pyridoacridines inhibit the proliferation of HCT cells. Incorporation studies show that pyridoacridines disrupt DNA and RNA synthesis with little effect on protein synthesis. It appears that DNA is the primary cellular target of the pyridoacridine alkaloids. These results are consistent with those for known DNA intercalators. DOI: 10.1021/jm00048a017 PMID: 7525959 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16082221
1. Cell Cycle. 2005 Sep;4(9):1166-70. doi: 10.4161/cc.4.9.1981. Epub 2005 Sep 29. ATM-mediated phosphorylations inhibit Mdmx/Mdm2 stabilization by HAUSP in favor of p53 activation. Meulmeester E(1), Pereg Y, Shiloh Y, Jochemsen AG. Author information: (1)Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. The p53 tumor suppressor protein has a major role in protecting genome integrity. Under normal circumstances Mdmx and Mdm2 control the activity of p53. Both proteins inhibit the transcriptional regulation by p53, while Mdm2 also functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase to target both p53 and Mdmx for proteasomal degradation. HAUSP counteracts the destabilizing effect of Mdm2 by direct deubiquitination of p53. Subsequently, HAUSP was shown to deubiquitinate Mdm2 and Mdmx, thereby stabilizing these proteins. The ATM protein kinase is a key regulator of the p53 pathway in response to double strand breaks (DSBs) in the DNA. ATM fine-tunes p53's response to DNA damage by directly phosphorylating it, by regulating additional post-translational modifications of this protein, and by affecting two p53 regulators: Mdm2 and Mdmx. ATM directly and indirectly induces Mdm2 and Mdmx phosphorylation, resulting in decreased activity and stability of these proteins. We recently provided a mechanism for the reduced stability of Mdm2 and Mdmx by showing that ATM-dependent phosphorylation lowers their affinity for the deubiquitinating enzyme HAUSP. Altogether, the emerging picture portrays an elaborate, but fine-tuned, ATM-mediated control of p53 activation and stabilization following DNA damage. Further insight into the mechanism by which ATM switches the interactions between HAUSP, Mdmx, Mdm2 and p53, to favor p53 activation may offer new tools for therapeutic intervention in the p53 pathway for cancer treatment. DOI: 10.4161/cc.4.9.1981 PMID: 16082221 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9299599
1. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 1997 Sep;146(1):79-87. doi: 10.1006/taap.1997.8220. Embryonic delivered dose of isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid) and its metabolites in hamsters. Eckhoff C(1), Willhite CC. Author information: (1)Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc., 340 Kingsland Street, Nutley, New Jersey 07110, USA. All-trans-retinoic acid (all-trans-RA) is required in normal embryogenesis and both deficiency and excess are teratogenic. Isotretinoin (13-cis-RA) is teratogenic in all species examined; based on administered dose, humans appear most sensitive, followed by (in order or decreasing sensitivity) monkey, rabbit, hamster, mouse, and rat. Identification of the teratogenic threshold in these species is difficult because RAs are normal physiologic constituents. The rabbit no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) and lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level (LOAEL) administered doses (3 and 15 mg/kg/day, respectively, on gestation Days 8-11) are less than the corresponding values in hamster (7.5 and 37.5 mg/kg/day, respectively, on gestation Days 7 and 8), but drawing conclusions from administered dose alone ignores differences in absorbed, metabolized, and embryonic delivered dose. Therefore, distribution and metabolism studies of 13-cis-RA at the NOAEL and LOAEL in pregnant hamsters were performed and plasma and tissue concentrations of parent compound and metabolites were compared to those found in rabbits. Metabolites of 13-cis-RA common to all species include three RAs (all-trans-RA, all-trans-4-oxoRA, 13-cis-4-oxoRA) and the glucuronide conjugate of 13-cis-RA (13-cis-RAG). As in rabbits, we found 13-cis-4-oxoRA also to be the major metabolite of 13-cis-RA in hamster plasma, peripheral tissues, and embryo. Of maternal tissues, peak 13-cis-RA concentrations were highest in liver. Total concentration of RA (13-cis-RA + 13-cis-4-oxoRA + all-trans-RA + all-trans-4-oxoRA) per gram of wet tissue was greatest in maternal liver, followed by that in lung, adipose tissue, muscle, kidney, and brain. At the NOAEL, total RA plasma Cmax in hamster was 6 times that in rabbit; at the LOAEL, hamster plasma total RA Cmax was 4 times that in rabbit. Hamster absorbed and metabolized dose (as AUC of plasma total RA) at the NOAEL and LOAEL was 2.6 and 2.4 times that in rabbit, respectively. In the embryo, hamster total RA Cmax was 2.7 times (at NOAEL) and 2.6 times (at LOAEL) that in rabbit. However, embryonic delivered dose (total RA AUC in hamster and rabbit embryo, respectively) at the NOAEL (2.08 and 2.14 microg . hr.g-1) and LOAEL (5.34 and 5.54 microg . hr . g-1) was virtually identical. Embryonic AUCs in hamster and rabbit for all-trans-RA and all-trans-4-oxoRA, metabolites which transactivate directly the nuclear RA receptors (RARs), were also very similar at the NOAEL (0.66 and 0.81 microg . hr g-1) and at the LOAEL (1.14 and 1.32 microg . hr g-1). Based on embryonic delivered dose, we suggest that 13-cis-RA is an equipotent teratogen in hamster and rabbit. Copyright 1997 Academic Press. DOI: 10.1006/taap.1997.8220 PMID: 9299599 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22819825
1. FEBS Lett. 2012 Sep 21;586(19):3057-63. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2012.07.022. Epub 2012 Jul 20. TRIAD1 inhibits MDM2-mediated p53 ubiquitination and degradation. Bae S(1), Jung JH, Kim K, An IS, Kim SY, Lee JH, Park IC, Jin YW, Lee SJ, An S. Author information: (1)Molecular-Targeted Drug Research Centre, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Murine double minute (MDM2) is an E3 ligase that promotes ubiquitination and degradation of tumor suppressor protein 53 (p53). MDM2-mediated regulation of p53 has been investigated as a classical tumorigenesis pathway. Here, we describe TRIAD1 as a novel modulator of the p53-MDM2 axis that induces p53 activation by inhibiting its regulation by MDM2. Ablation of TRIAD1 attenuates p53 levels activity upon DNA damage, whereas ectopic expression of TRIAD1 promotes p53 stability by inhibiting MDM2-mediated ubiquitination/degradation. Moreover, TRIAD1 binds to the C-terminus of p53 to promote its dissociation from MDM2. These results implicate TRIAD1 as a novel regulatory factor of p53-MDM2. Copyright © 2012 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2012.07.022 PMID: 22819825 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17442658
1. Ann Oncol. 2007 Jun;18(6):1098-103. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdm120. Epub 2007 Apr 17. The use of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic end points to determine the dose of AQ4N, a novel hypoxic cell cytotoxin, given with fractionated radiotherapy in a phase I study. Steward WP(1), Middleton M, Benghiat A, Loadman PM, Hayward C, Waller S, Ford S, Halbert G, Patterson LH, Talbot D. Author information: (1)Department of Oncology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, UK. wps1@le.ac.uk BACKGROUND: AQ4N (1,4-bis[[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl] amino]-5,8-dihydroxyanthracene-9, 10-dione bis-N-oxide dihydrochloride) is a prodrug which is selectively activated within hypoxic tissues to AQ4, a topoisomerase II inhibitor and DNA intercalator. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the phase I study, 22 patients with oesophageal carcinoma received an i.v. infusion of AQ4N (22.5-447 mg/m(2)) followed, 2 weeks later, by further infusion and radiotherapy. Pharmacokinetics and lymphocyte AQ4N and AQ4 levels were measured after the first dose. At 447 mg/m(2), biopsies of tumour and normal tissue were taken after AQ4N administration. RESULTS: Drug-related adverse events were blue discolouration of skin and urine, grade 2-3 lymphopenia, grade 1-3 fatigue, grade 1-2 anaemia, leucopenia and nausea. There were no drug-related serious adverse events (SAEs). Three patients had reductions in tumour volume >50%, nine had stable disease. Pharmacokinetics indicated predictable clearance. Plasma area under the curve (AUC) at 447 mg/m(2) exceeded AQ4N concentrations in mice at therapeutic doses and tumour biopsies contained concentrations of AQ4 greater than those in normal tissue. Tumour concentrations of AQ4 exceeded in vitro IC(50) values for most cell lines investigated. CONCLUSIONS: No dose-limiting toxic effects were observed and a maximum tolerated dose was not established. Tumour AQ4 concentrations and plasma AUC at 447 mg/m(2) exceeded active levels in preclinical models. This dose was chosen for future studies with radiotherapy. DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdm120 PMID: 17442658 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17433851
1. Eur J Med Chem. 2007 Jun;42(6):752-71. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2006.12.039. Epub 2007 Mar 2. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of new oligopyrrole carboxamides linked with tricyclic DNA-intercalators as potential DNA ligands or topoisomerase inhibitors. David-Cordonnier MH(1), Hildebrand MP, Baldeyrou B, Lansiaux A, Keuser C, Benzschawel K, Lemster T, Pindur U. Author information: (1)INSERM U837-JPARC, Equipe N degrees 4, Institut de Recherches sur le Cancer de Lille, Place de Verdun, 59045 Lille Cedex, France. In the context of the design and synthesis of minor groove binding and intercalating DNA ligands some new oligopyrrole carboxamides were synthesized. These hybrid molecules (combilexins) possess a variable and conformatively flexible spacer at the N-terminal end. As intercalating tricyclic systems acridone, acridine, anthraquinones and in a special case iminostilbene terminate the N-terminal end of the pyrrole chain. The cytotoxicity was examined by the NCI antitumor screening, furthermore, biophysical as well as biochemical studies were performed in order to get some information about the DNA binding properties and topoisomerase inhibition effect of this new series of molecules. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2006.12.039 PMID: 17433851 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2536704
1. J Biol Chem. 1989 Feb 5;264(4):2324-30. DNA intercalation and inhibition of topoisomerase II. Structure-activity relationships for a series of amiloride analogs. Besterman JM(1), Elwell LP, Cragoe EJ Jr, Andrews CW, Cory M. Author information: (1)Department of Molecular Biology, Wellcome Research Laboratories, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709. Among its many properties, amiloride is a DNA intercalator and topoisomerase II inhibitor. Previous work has indicated that the most stable conformation for amiloride is a planar, hydrogen-bonded, tricyclic structure. To determine whether the ability of amiloride to intercalate into DNA and to inhibit DNA topoisomerase II was dependent on the ability to assume a cyclized conformation, we studied the structure-activity relationship for 12 amiloride analogs. These analogs contained structural modifications which could be expected to allow or impede formation of a cyclized conformation. Empirical assays consisting of biophysical, biochemical, and cell biological approaches, as well as computational molecular modeling approaches, were used to determine conformational properties for these molecules, and to determine whether they intercalated into DNA and inhibited topoisomerase II. Specifically, we measured the ability of these compounds to 1) alter the thermal denaturation profile of DNA, 2) modify the hydrodynamic behavior of DNA, 3) inhibit the catalytic activity of purified DNA topoisomerase II in vitro, 4) promote the topoisomerase II-dependent cleavage of DNA, and 5) inhibit functions associated with DNA topoisomerase II in intact cells. Results indicated that only those analogs capable of cyclization could intercalate into DNA and inhibit topoisomerase II. Thus, the ability of amiloride and the 12 analogs studied to intercalate into DNA and to inhibit topoisomerase II appears dependent on the ability to exist in a planar, hydrogen-bonded, tricyclic conformation. PMID: 2536704 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3009009
1. Cancer Res. 1986 Jun;46(6):3075-81. Altered DNA topoisomerase II activity in Chinese hamster cells resistant to topoisomerase II inhibitors. Pommier Y, Kerrigan D, Schwartz RE, Swack JA, McCurdy A. Most DNA intercalators and epipodophyllotoxins inhibit mammalian topoisomerase II by trapping the enzyme within DNA cleavage complexes that can be detected in cells as protein-associated DNA strand breaks. We have characterized previously a line of Chinese hamster cells (DC3F/9-OHE cells) the resistance of which to the cytotoxic effect of intercalators and etoposide is associated with a reduced formation of protein-associated DNA strand breaks. In the present study, topoisomerases of these cells were compared to those of the parental sensitive cells (DC3F). NaCl extracts (0.35 M) of isolated DC3F/9-OHE nuclei did not form 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide-induced DNA-protein linking, whereas DC3F nuclear extracts did. In addition, DC3F/9-OHE nuclear extract had an unusually high level of DNA linking activity in the absence of 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide. Topoisomerases II from DC3F/9-OHE and DC3F nuclei appeared similar qualitatively. DC3F/9-OHE nuclear extract had approximately twice less topoisomerase II molecules than did DC3F nuclear extract but similar topoisomerase II activity. Topoisomerase I activities appeared also similar in sensitive and resistant cells. However, part of DC3F/9-OHE topoisomerase I copurified with a DNA linking activity which was not present in DC3F nuclei. This unusual DNA linking activity was not sensitive to the stimulatory effect of 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide. PMID: 3009009 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1727386
1. Cancer Res. 1992 Jan 1;52(1):5-10. Activation of the gadd153 promoter by genotoxic agents: a rapid and specific response to DNA damage. Luethy JD(1), Holbrook NJ. Author information: (1)Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Gerontology Research Center, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, Maryland 21224. Accumulation of gadd153 mRNA is strongly stimulated in mammalian cells by treatments which arrest growth or damage DNA (A. J. Fornace, Jr. et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 9: 4196-4203, 1989). In previous studies, we demonstrated that the increased expression of gadd153 following treatment with several DNA-damaging agents was mediated transcriptionally (J. D. Luethy et al., J. Biol. Chem., 265: 16521-16526, 1990). To better define the specificity of this response, we have established a sensitive reporter system in which we have stably integrated a chimeric gene containing the gadd153 promoter linked to the coding region of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene into the genome of HeLa cells. Transcriptional activation from the gadd153 promoter was monitored by determining levels of CAT activity in cellular lysates prepared from gadd153CAT/HeLa cells treated with a variety of agents. The gadd153 promoter was strongly activated by a broad spectrum of genotoxic agents including UV-mimetic agents, DNA-cross-linking and alkylating agents, DNA intercalators, and topoisomerase inhibitors. Of the DNA-damaging agents tested, only X-irradiation and bleomycin treatments failed to induce gadd153 promoter activity. Agents which inhibit replication and cell division and agents which otherwise result in cytotoxicity or growth arrest also had little influence on gadd153 promoter activity. Expression of the gadd153CAT chimeric gene in xeroderma pigmentosum Group A cells, which are deficient in nucleotide excision DNA repair of pyrimidine dimers, was maximally induced at UV doses at least 6-fold lower than those required for similar induction in repair-proficient HeLa cells. However, the methyl methanesulfonate-induced gadd153 promoter activities were similar in both cell lines. Novobiocin pretreatment inhibited both UV- and methyl methanesulfonate-induced gadd153CAT expression. Collectively, these data indicate that: (a) the gadd153 promoter is activated rapidly and specifically by DNA damage; (b) the altered DNA structure is the inducing signal for the activation of the signal transduction pathway responsible for enhanced gadd153 expression; and (c) regulation of gadd153 by growth arrest is distinct from that of DNA damage. Thus, the gadd153CAT/HeLa cells are a useful model for examining the molecular mechanisms associated with the response to DNA damage and provide a reporter system for the screening of potential genotoxic agents. PMID: 1727386 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19424733
1. J Mol Model. 2009 Dec;15(12):1417-26. doi: 10.1007/s00894-009-0501-6. Epub 2009 May 8. Quinoline alkaloids as intercalative topoisomerase inhibitors. Byler KG(1), Wang C, Setzer WN. Author information: (1)Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville, 35899, USA. Quinoline alkaloids are abundant in the Rutaceae, and many have exhibited cytotoxic activity. Because structurally related antitumor alkaloids such as camptothecin and fagaronine are known to function as intercalative topoisomerase poisons, it is hypothesized that cytotoxic Stauranthus alkaloids may also serve as intercalative topoisomerase inhibitors. To test this hypothesis theoretically, ten Stauranthus quinoline alkaloids were examined for potential intercalation into DNA using a molecular docking approach. Four of the alkaloids (stauranthine, skimmianine, 3',6'-dihydroxy-3',6'-dihydrostauranthine, and trans-3',4'-dihydroxy-3',4'-dihydrostauranthine) were able to intercalatively dock consistently into DNA. In order to probe the intermolecular interactions that may be responsible for intercalation of these quinoline alkaloids, density functional calculations have been carried out using both the B3LYP and M06 functionals. M06 calculations indicated favorable pi-pi interactions between either skimmianine or stauranthine and the guanine-cytosine base pair. Furthermore, the lowest-energy face-to-face orientation of stauranthine with guanine is consistent with favorable dipole-dipole orientations, favorable electrostatic interactions, and favorable frontier molecular orbital interactions. Likewise, the lowest-energy face-to-face orientation of stauranthine with the guanine-cytosine base pair reveals favorable electrostatic interactions as well as frontier molecular orbital interactions. Thus, not only can quinoline alkaloids dock intercalatively into DNA, but the docked orientations are also electronically favorable. DOI: 10.1007/s00894-009-0501-6 PMID: 19424733 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11230801
1. Biochem Pharmacol. 1999 May 15;57(10):1141-5. doi: 10.1016/s0006-2952(99)00018-0. Topoisomerase II inhibition by aporphine alkaloids. Woo SH(1), Sun NJ, Cassady JM, Snapka RM. Author information: (1)Department of Radiology, Division of Radiobiology; Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Human Genetics; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA. The aporphine alkaloids (+)-dicentrine and (+)-bulbocapnine are non-planar molecules lacking features normally associated with DNA binding by intercalation or minor groove binding. Surprisingly, dicentrine showed significant activity as a topoisomerase II (EC 5.99.1.3) inhibitor and also was active in a DNA unwinding assay. The DNA unwinding suggests DNA intercalation, which could explain the inhibition of topoisomerase II. Bulbocapnine, which differs from dicentrine only by the presence of a hydroxyl group at position 11 and the absence of a methoxyl group at position 9, was inactive in all assays. Molecular modeling showed that dicentrine can attain a relatively planar conformation, whereas bulbocapnine cannot, due to steric interaction between the 11-hydroxyl group and an oxygen of the methylenedioxy ring. These observations suggest that dicentrine is an "adaptive" DNA intercalator, which can bind DNA only by adopting a somewhat strained planar conformation. The requirement of a suboptimal conformation to achieve DNA binding appears to make dicentrine a weaker topoisomerase II inhibitor than the very planar oxoaporphine alkaloid liriodenine. These results suggest that it may be possible to modulate DNA binding and biologic activity of drugs by modifications affecting their ability to adopt planar conformations. DOI: 10.1016/s0006-2952(99)00018-0 PMID: 11230801 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10637356
1. Curr Med Chem. 2000 Jan;7(1):39-58. doi: 10.2174/0929867003375489. Topoisomerase I poisons and suppressors as anticancer drugs. Bailly C(1). Author information: (1)INSERM Unité 524 and Laboratoire de Pharmacologie Antitumorale du Centre Oscar Lambret, IRCL, Place de Verdun, 59045 Lille, France. bailly@lille.inserm.fr Inhibitors of topoisomerase I constitute a novel family of antitumor agents. The camptothecin derivatives topotecan and irinotecan represent new weapons in our arsenal for battling human cancer. These two drugs act specifically at the level of the topoisomerase I-DNA complex and stimulate DNA cleavage. This mechanism of action is not restricted to the camptothecins. Numerous topoisomerase I poisons including DNA minor groove binders such as Hoechst 33258 and DNA intercalators such as benzophenanthridine alkaloids and indolocarbazole derivatives have been discovered and developed. Another important group of topoisomerase I inhibitors contains drugs which prevent or reverse topoisomerase I-DNA complex formation. Many of these topoisomerase I suppressors are natural products (beta-lapachone, diospyrin, topostatin, topostin, flavonoids) which are believed to interact directly with the enzyme. This review is concerned with the different families of topoisomerase I poisons and suppressors. Their origin, chemical nature and mechanism of action are presented. The relationships between drug binding to DNA and topoisomerase I inhibition are discussed. DOI: 10.2174/0929867003375489 PMID: 10637356 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18043127
1. Anticancer Drugs. 2008 Jan;19(1):23-36. doi: 10.1097/CAD.0b013e3282f00e17. Synthesis and anticancer activities of 6-amino amonafide derivatives. Norton JT(1), Witschi MA, Luong L, Kawamura A, Ghosh S, Stack MS, Sim E, Avram MJ, Appella DH, Huang S. Author information: (1)Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, The Mary Beth Donnelley Clinical Pharmacology Core Facility, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. Amonafide is a DNA intercalator and topoisomerase II inhibitor in clinical development for the treatment of neoplastic diseases. Amonafide contains a free arylamine, which causes it to be metabolized in humans by N-acetyl transferase-2 (NAT2) into a toxic form. To eliminate the NAT2 acetylation of amonafide while retaining the anticancer properties, we have synthesized nine derivatives that are structurally similar to amonafide that should not be acetylated. Eight derivatives have arylamines at the 6-position (vs. 5-position of amonafide) and one derivative completely lacks the arylamine. The derivative with a free amine in the 6-position and one with a substituted amine in the 6-position are not acetylated, whereas amonafide is extensively acetylated as determined by an NAT2 assay. The biological activities of these compounds were evaluated to determine whether they behaved similarly to amonafide in purified systems and in vitro. We found that three compounds had similar cancer cell-selective growth inhibition to amonafide, while retaining similar subcellular localization, DNA intercalation and topoisomerase II inhibition activities. In addition, these compounds were able to eliminate a marker of metastatic potential, the perinucleolar compartment. These three compounds (named numonafides) might thus allow for better patient management than those treated with amonafide; hence, they should be developed further as potential clinical replacements for amonafide or as novel anticancer drugs. DOI: 10.1097/CAD.0b013e3282f00e17 PMID: 18043127 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2695099
1. Anticancer Drug Des. 1989 Dec;4(4):241-63. DNA-intercalating ligands as anti-cancer drugs: prospects for future design. Denny WA(1). Author information: (1)Cancer Research Laboratory, University of Auckland School of Medicine, New Zealand. Interest in DNA-intercalating ligands as anti-cancer drugs has developed greatly since the clinical success of doxorubicin. However, despite a great deal of 'rational design' of synthetic DNA-intercalators, only a few such compounds have proved clinically useful. This review briefly surveys the history of DNA-intercalators as clinically-used anti-cancer drugs, summarizes the known structure-experimental activity relationships and modes of action, and concludes that a factor in the slow progress is that much of the work on these compounds has been carried out by chemists, who were generally more interested in ligand/DNA interactions than drug development. Future development of the class rests on a careful consideration of the biochemical reasons behind the common limitations of the present drugs. The most important are: the inherent resistance of non-cycling cells, the rapid development (even by cycling cells) of resistance by the expression of both P-glycoprotein and altered topoisomerase II, limitations on drug distribution to and transport into tumours, low extravascular pH in tumours and the cardiotoxic side-effects of quinonoid chromophores. These considerations provide a set of constraints on physicochemical properties which must be considered in future design. However, within these constraints, there are useful future avenues for the development of DNA-intercalators as anti-cancer drugs. These include: (i) the production of improved topoisomerase inhibitors (by consideration of drug/protein as well as drug/DNA interactions); (ii) the development of reductively-activated chromophores as hypoxia-selective agents; and (iii) the use of DNA-intercalators of known DNA binding orientation as 'carriers' for the delivery of other reactive functionality specifically (sequence-, regio- and site-specifically) to DNA. PMID: 2695099 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8812219
1. Fundam Appl Toxicol. 1996 Jul;32(1):45-52. doi: 10.1006/faat.1996.0105. Subchronic intravenous toxicity of the antineoplastic drug, amsacrine, in male Wistar rats. Pegg DG(1), Watkins JR, Graziano MJ, McKenna MJ. Author information: (1)Department of Pathology and Experimental Toxicology, Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research Division, Warner-Lambert Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, USA. Amsacrine, a DNA intercalator and topoisomerase II inhibitor, is efficacious as an antileukemogenic agent. This study was conducted to assess the subchronic toxicity of amsacrine in rats following a cyclic clinical dosing regimen and as a range-finding experiment for a subsequent carcinogenicity bioassay. Groups of 30 male Wistar rats were administered drug intravenously at doses of 0, 0.25, 1.0, and 3.0 mg/kg daily for 5 days followed by 23 days without treatment. This cycle of dosing and recovery was repeated six times to simulate human clinical usage of the drug. Assessments of hematology, clinical chemistry, and gross and microscopic pathology were conducted 3 and 21 days following completion of dosing in the first, third, and sixth cycles. There were no deaths during the study. Hair loss, diarrhea, tail injuries, chromodacryorrhea, and rhinorrhea were observed primarily in animals administered 3 mg/kg. Hair loss and diarrhea occurred during periods of dosing and generally resolved during the recovery phase of each cycle. Both of these signs became progressively more severe during the latter half of the study. Body weight loss and reduced food consumption also occurred in the 3 mg/kg group during each week of dosing. At study termination, mean body weight and food consumption of the 3 mg/kg group were significantly less than those of controls by approximately 20 and 50%, respectively. Marked, reversible leukopenia associated with reductions in both neutrophil and lymphocyte counts occurred in cycles one and three in animals administered 1 and 3 mg/kg, respectively. Reversible neutropenia was also observed in the 3 mg/kg group in cycle 6. Similar effects on platelet counts were seen in the 3 mg/kg group in all three cycles analyzed. Absolute and relative testes weights of the 3 mg/kg group were significantly less than the vehicle controls at all time points in the third and sixth cycles. Relative testes weights were also decreased in the 1 mg/kg group in cycle 6. Reversible decreases in absolute relative spleen weights occurred in all drug-treated groups in cycle 1 and for the 3 mg/kg group in cycle 3. Lymphoid depletion (spleen, thymus, lymph node), marked hypocellularity of bone marrow, segmental degeneration of seminiferous tubules, and intestinal epithelial cell degeneration were observed at 3 mg/kg. With the exception of testicular changes which remained evident at the end of cycle 6, pathologic lesions were reversible during the 23-day recovery period of each cycle. The results show that the subchronic toxicity of amsacrine is consistent with a cytotoxic mechanism and that target organs are generally tissues with the highest rates of cell turnover. The doses administered in this study induced a range of effects which were minimal at 0.25 mg/kg and dose-limiting at 3 mg/kg and therefore were considered appropriate for use in the subsequent carcinogenicity bioassay. DOI: 10.1006/faat.1996.0105 PMID: 8812219 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8941714
1. FEBS Lett. 1996 Nov 11;397(1):61-4. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(96)01141-6. Intracellular molecular interactions of antitumor drug amsacrine (m-AMSA) as revealed by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Chourpa I(1), Morjani H, Riou JF, Manfait M. Author information: (1)Laboratoire de Spectroscopie Biomoléculaire, UFR de Pharmacie, Université de Reims, France. Cytotoxicity of several classes of antitumor DNA intercalators is thought to result from disturbance of DNA metabolism following trapping of the nuclear enzyme DNA topoisomerase II as a covalent complex on DNA. Here, molecular interactions of the potent antitumor drug amsacrine (m-AMSA), an inhibitor of topoisomerase II, within living K562 cancer cells have been studied using surface-enhanced Raman (SER) spectroscopy. The work is based on data of the previously performed model SER experiments dealing with amsacrine/DNA, drug/topoisomerase II and drug/DNA/topoisomerase II complexes in aqueous buffer solutions. The SER data indicated two kinds of amsacrine interactions in the model complexes with topoisomerase II alone or within ternary complex: non-specific (via the acridine moiety) and specific to the enzyme conformation (via the side chain of the drug). These two types of interactions have been both revealed by the micro-SER spectra of amsacrine within living K562 cancer cells. Our data suppose the specific interactions of amsacrine with topoisomerase II via the side chain of the drug (particular feature of the drug/topoisomerase II and ternary complexes) to be crucial for its inhibitory activity. DOI: 10.1016/s0014-5793(96)01141-6 PMID: 8941714 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16339144
1. J Biol Chem. 2006 Feb 10;281(6):3679-89. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M509630200. Epub 2005 Dec 8. Differential regulation of cardiomyocyte survival and hypertrophy by MDM2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Toth A(1), Nickson P, Qin LL, Erhardt P. Author information: (1)Boston Biomedical Research Institute, Watertown, Massachusetts 02472, USA. MDM2 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that regulates the proteasomal degradation and activity of proteins involved in cell growth and apoptosis, including the tumor suppressors p53 and retinoblastoma and the transcription factor E2F1. Although the effect of several MDM2 targets on cardiomyocyte survival and hypertrophy has already been investigated, the role of MDM2 in these processes has not yet been established. We have, therefore, analyzed the effect of overexpression as well as inhibition of MDM2 on cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury and hypertrophy. Here we show that isolated cardiac myocytes overexpressing MDM2 acquired resistance to hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced cell death. Conversely, inactivation of MDM2 by a peptide inhibitor resulted in elevated p53 levels and promoted hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis. Consistent with this, decreased expression of MDM2 in a genetic mouse model was accompanied by reduced functional recovery of the left ventricles determined with the Langendorff ex vivo model of ischemia/reperfusion. In contrast to cell survival, cell hypertrophy induced by the alpha-agonists phenylephrine or endothelin-1 was inhibited by MDM2 overexpression. Collectively, our studies indicate that MDM2 promotes survival and attenuates hypertrophy of cardiac myocytes. This differential regulation of cell growth and cell survival is unique, because most other survival factors are prohypertrophic. MDM2, therefore, might be a potential therapeutic target to down-regulate both cell death and pathologic hypertrophy during remodeling upon cardiac infarction. In addition, our data also suggest that cancer treatments with MDM2 inhibitors to reactivate p53 may have adverse cardiac side effects by promoting cardiomyocyte death. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M509630200 PMID: 16339144 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10434060
1. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1999 Aug 5;1428(2-3):406-14. doi: 10.1016/s0304-4165(99)00064-1. Characterization of the genotoxicity of anthraquinones in mammalian cells. Mueller SO(1), Stopper H. Author information: (1)Department of Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany. mueller1@niehs.nih.gov Naturally occurring 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinones are under consideration as possible carcinogens. Here we wanted to elucidate a possible mechanism of their genotoxicity. All three tested anthraquinones, emodin, aloe-emodin, and danthron, showed capabilities to inhibit the non-covalent binding of bisbenzimide Hoechst 33342 to isolated DNA and in mouse lymphoma L5178Y cells comparable to the topoisomerase II inhibitor and intercalator m-amsacrine. In a cell-free decatenation assay, emodin exerted a stronger, danthron a similar and aloe-emodin a weaker inhibition of topoisomerase II activity than m-amsacrine. Analysis of the chromosomal extent of DNA damage induced by these anthraquinones was performed in mouse lymphoma L5178Y cells. Anthraquinone-induced mutant cell clones showed similar chromosomal lesions when compared to the topoisomerase II inhibitors etoposide and m-amsacrine, but were different from mutants induced by the DNA alkylator ethyl methanesulfonate. These data support the idea that inhibition of the catalytic activity of topoisomerase II contributes to anthraquinone-induced genotoxicity and mutagenicity. DOI: 10.1016/s0304-4165(99)00064-1 PMID: 10434060 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11077044
1. Biochem Pharmacol. 2000 Dec 1;60(11):1621-8. doi: 10.1016/s0006-2952(00)00472-x. Catalytic inhibition of DNA topoisomerase II by N-benzyladriamycin (AD 288). Lothstein L(1), Suttle DP, Roaten JB, Koseki Y, Israel M, Sweatman TW. Author information: (1)Department of Pharmacology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 38163, USA, Memphis, TN, USA. llothstein@utmem.edu N-Benzyladriamycin (AD 288) is a highly lipophilic, semi-synthetic congener of doxorubicin (DOX). Unlike DOX, which stimulates double-stranded DNA scission by stabilizing topoisomerase II/DNA cleavable complexes, AD 288 is a catalytic inhibitor of topoisomerase II, capable of preventing topoisomerase II activity on DNA. The concentration of AD 288 required to inhibit the topoisomerase II-catalyzed decatenation of linked networks of kinetoplast DNA was comparable to that for DOX. However, AD 288 did not stabilize cleavable complex formation or stimulate topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavage. In addition, AD 288 inhibited the formation of cleavable complexes by etoposide in a concentration-dependent manner. Human CCRF-CEM cells and murine J774. 2 cells exhibiting resistance against DOX, teniposide, or 3'-hydroxy-3'-deaminodoxorubicin through reduced topoisomerase II activity remained sensitive to AD 288. These studies suggest that AD 288 inhibits topoisomerase II activity by preventing the initial non-covalent binding of topoisomerase II to DNA. Since AD 288 is a potent DNA intercalator, catalytic inhibition is achieved by prohibiting access of the enzyme to DNA binding sites. These results also demonstrate that specific substitutions on the aminosugar of DOX can alter the mechanism of topoisomerase II inhibition. DOI: 10.1016/s0006-2952(00)00472-x PMID: 11077044 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22304499
1. Biochemistry. 2012 Feb 28;51(8):1730-9. doi: 10.1021/bi201159b. Epub 2012 Feb 10. Amsacrine as a topoisomerase II poison: importance of drug-DNA interactions. Ketron AC(1), Denny WA, Graves DE, Osheroff N. Author information: (1)Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-0146, United States. Amsacrine (m-AMSA) is an anticancer agent that displays activity against refractory acute leukemias as well as Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The drug is comprised of an intercalative acridine moiety coupled to a 4'-amino-methanesulfon-m-anisidide headgroup. m-AMSA is historically significant in that it was the first drug demonstrated to function as a topoisomerase II poison. Although m-AMSA was designed as a DNA binding agent, the ability to intercalate does not appear to be the sole determinant of drug activity. Therefore, to more fully analyze structure-function relationships and the role of DNA binding in the action of m-AMSA, we analyzed a series of derivatives for the ability to enhance DNA cleavage mediated by human topoisomerase IIα and topoisomerase IIβ and to intercalate DNA. Results indicate that the 3'-methoxy (m-AMSA) positively affects drug function, potentially by restricting the rotation of the headgroup in a favorable orientation. Shifting the methoxy to the 2'-position (o-AMSA), which abrogates drug function, appears to increase the degree of rotational freedom of the headgroup and may impair interactions of the 1'-substituent or other portions of the headgroup within the ternary complex. Finally, the nonintercalative m-AMSA headgroup enhanced enzyme-mediated DNA cleavage when it was detached from the acridine moiety, albeit with 100-fold lower affinity. Taken together, our results suggest that much of the activity and specificity of m-AMSA as a topoisomerase II poison is embodied in the headgroup, while DNA intercalation is used primarily to increase the affinity of m-AMSA for the topoisomerase II-DNA cleavage complex. DOI: 10.1021/bi201159b PMCID: PMC3289736 PMID: 22304499 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22659469
1. Am J Pathol. 2012 Aug;181(2):525-34. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2012.04.014. Epub 2012 May 31. Role of miR-132 in angiogenesis after ocular infection with herpes simplex virus. Mulik S(1), Xu J, Reddy PB, Rajasagi NK, Gimenez F, Sharma S, Lu PY, Rouse BT. Author information: (1)Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory molecules that control diverse biological processes that include angiogenesis. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes a chronic immuno-inflammatory response in the eye that may result in corneal neovascularization during blinding immunopathological lesion stromal keratitis (SK). miR-132 is a highly conserved miRNA that is induced in endothelial cells in response to growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In this study, we show that miR-132 expression was up-regulated (10- to 20-fold) after ocular infection with HSV, an event that involved the production of both VEGF-A and IL-17. Consequently, blockade of VEGF-A activity using soluble VEGF receptor 1 resulted in significantly lower levels of corneal miR-132 after HSV infection. In addition, low levels of corneal miR-132 were detected in IL-17 receptor knockout mice after HSV infection. In vivo silencing of miR-132 by the provision of anti-miR-132 (antagomir-132) nanoparticles to HSV-infected mice led to reduced corneal neovascularization and diminished SK lesions. The anti-angiogenic effect of antagomir-132 was reflected by a reduction in angiogenic Ras activity in corneal CD31-enriched cells (presumably blood vessel endothelial cells) during SK. To our knowledge, this is one of the first reports of miRNA involvement in an infectious ocular disease. Manipulating miRNA expression holds promise as a therapeutic approach to control an ocular lesion that is an important cause of human blindness. Copyright © 2012 American Society for Investigative Pathology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2012.04.014 PMCID: PMC3409434 PMID: 22659469 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2157558
1. Carcinogenesis. 1990 Apr;11(4):659-65. doi: 10.1093/carcin/11.4.659. Involvement of DNA topoisomerase II in the selective resistance of a mammalian cell mutant to DNA minor groove ligands: ligand-induced DNA-protein crosslinking and responses to topoisomerase poisons. Smith PJ(1), Bell SM, Dee A, Sykes H. Author information: (1)MRC Clinical Oncology and Radiotherapeutics Unit, MRC Centre, Cambridge, UK. A mutant murine cell line has previously been reported to be resistant to the AT-specific DNA minor groove ligand 2',5'-bi-1H-benzimidazole, 2',(4-ethoxyphenyl)-5-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl), trichloride (Ho33342), due to an enhanced capacity to remove ligand molecules from cellular DNA via a pathway which can be blocked by DNA topoisomerase poisons. We have studied the relationship between ligand resistance and DNA topoisomerase II activity. The cross-sensitivity patterns of the mutant were examined for covalently (anthramycin) and non-covalently (distamycin A) binding minor groove ligands, and DNA intercalating [adriamycin, mitoxantrone and 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulphon-m-anisidide (mAMSA)] and non-intercalating (VP16-213) topoisomerase II poisons. The mutant was cross-resistant to distamycin A alone. The mutant showed no abnormality in: (i) the in vitro decatenation activity of topoisomerase II, (ii) VP16-213 or mAMSA induced protein-DNA cross-linking activities in nuclear extracts, (iii) 'cleavable complex' generation (or DNA strand scisson) in intact cells exposed to topoisomerase poisons. Ho33342 and the topoisomerase II inhibitor novobiocin were found to disrupt both the in vitro binding of nuclear extracted proteins, from mutant and parental cells, to plasmid DNA and the formation of drug-induced cleavable complexes in vitro. Unexpectedly, Ho33342 induced significant levels of DNA-protein crosslinking in both parental and mutant cells. We conclude that: (i) resistance of the mutant is limited to non-covalently binding minor groove ligands, (ii) Ho33342 can block the trapping of DNA topoisomerase II by enzyme poisons in vitro, (iii) Ho33342 can induce a novel form of DNA-protein cross-link in intact cells, and (iv) the resistance of the mutant is not dependent upon some abnormality in topoisomerase II function. DOI: 10.1093/carcin/11.4.659 PMID: 2157558 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8449832
1. Jpn J Cancer Res. 1993 Jan;84(1):93-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1993.tb02789.x. Analysis of DNA fragmentation in human uterine cervix carcinoma HeLa S3 cells treated with duocarmycins or other antitumor agents by pulse field gel electrophoresis. Okamoto A(1), Okabe M, Gomi K. Author information: (1)Pharmaceutical Research Laboratory, Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd., Shizuoka-ken. Pulse field gel electrophoresis using a contour-clamped homogeneous electric field was applied for the analysis of DNA-fragmenting activity of antitumor agents towards human uterine cervix carcinoma HeLa S3 cells. Duocarmycins (DUMs), novel antitumor antibiotics with ultrapotent cell growth-inhibitory activities, caused DNA fragmentation at 10 times their IC50 values at 2 h exposure. At 100 times their IC50 values, the size of the smallest fragments was about 245 kilobase pairs (kbp). DUMA, DUMB1 and DUMB2 exhibited similar DNA fragmentation patterns, suggesting similar action mechanisms. DNA fragmentation was also detected in cells treated with radical producers, intercalators and topoisomerase inhibitors. Two bands of about 1800 and 1500 kbp were commonly detected in the cells treated with DUMs and these agents. In addition, fragments of about 900 kbp were detected in the cells treated with a topoisomerase inhibitor, 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methane-sulfon-m-anisidine, and fragments in the broad size range between 700 and 245 kbp in the cells treated with radical producers, bleomycin and neocarzinostatin. DUMs showed a characteristic DNA fragmentation pattern, since both types of fragments induced by the topoisomerase inhibitor and the radical producers were simultaneously detected, suggesting a novel mode of interaction with DNA. DNA-crosslinking agents and mitotic inhibitors did not induce DNA fragmentation under these conditions. The pulse field gel electrophoresis is potentially useful for characterizing DNA-cleaving activity of various antitumor agents at the cellular level. DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1993.tb02789.x PMCID: PMC5919028 PMID: 8449832 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22315408
1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Feb 21;109(8):3125-30. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1113793109. Epub 2012 Feb 6. MicroRNA-132 dysregulation in schizophrenia has implications for both neurodevelopment and adult brain function. Miller BH(1), Zeier Z, Xi L, Lanz TA, Deng S, Strathmann J, Willoughby D, Kenny PJ, Elsworth JD, Lawrence MS, Roth RH, Edbauer D, Kleiman RJ, Wahlestedt C. Author information: (1)Department of Molecular Therapeutics, The Scripps Research Institute-Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA. Schizophrenia is characterized by affective, cognitive, neuromorphological, and molecular abnormalities that may have a neurodevelopmental origin. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA sequences critical to neurodevelopment and adult neuronal processes by coordinating the activity of multiple genes within biological networks. We examined the expression of 854 miRNAs in prefrontal cortical tissue from 100 control, schizophrenic, and bipolar subjects. The cyclic AMP-responsive element binding- and NMDA-regulated microRNA miR-132 was significantly down-regulated in both the schizophrenic discovery cohort and a second, independent set of schizophrenic subjects. Analysis of miR-132 target gene expression in schizophrenia gene-expression microarrays identified 26 genes up-regulated in schizophrenia subjects. Consistent with NMDA-mediated hypofunction observed in schizophrenic subjects, administration of an NMDA antagonist to adult mice results in miR-132 down-regulation in the prefrontal cortex. Furthermore, miR-132 expression in the murine prefrontal cortex exhibits significant developmental regulation and overlaps with critical neurodevelopmental processes during adolescence. Adult prefrontal expression of miR-132 can be down-regulated by pharmacologic inhibition of NMDA receptor signaling during a brief postnatal period. Several key genes, including DNMT3A, GATA2, and DPYSL3, are regulated by miR-132 and exhibited altered expression either during normal neurodevelopment or in tissue from adult schizophrenic subjects. Our data suggest miR-132 dysregulation and subsequent abnormal expression of miR-132 target genes contribute to the neurodevelopmental and neuromorphological pathologies present in schizophrenia. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1113793109 PMCID: PMC3286960 PMID: 22315408 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Conflict of interest statement: R.J.K., T.A.L., S.D., and L.X. are employees of Pfizer Inc.; D.W. is the founder and owner of Ocean Ridge Biotechnology Inc.; M.S.L. is President and CSO of RxGen Inc.; and C.W. is a consultant for OPKO-CURNA.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16798938
1. Mol Pharmacol. 2006 Sep;70(3):1109-20. doi: 10.1124/mol.106.024372. Epub 2006 Jun 23. Bisindenoisoquinoline bis-1,3-{(5,6-dihydro-5,11-diketo-11H-indeno[1,2-c]isoquinoline)-6-propylamino}propane bis(trifluoroacetate) (NSC 727357), a DNA intercalator and topoisomerase inhibitor with antitumor activity. Antony S(1), Agama KK, Miao ZH, Hollingshead M, Holbeck SL, Wright MH, Varticovski L, Nagarajan M, Morrell A, Cushman M, Pommier Y. Author information: (1)Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, National Cancer Institute, 37 Convent Dr., Bldg. 37, Room 5068, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-4255, USA. Indenoisoquinolines are topoisomerase (Top) I inhibitors developed to overcome some of the limitations of camptothecins and expand their anticancer spectrum. Bis-1,3-{(5,6-dihydro-5,11-diketo-11H-indeno[1,2-c]isoquinoline)-6-propylamino}-propane bis(trifluoroacetate) (NSC 727357) is a novel dimeric indenoisoquinoline derivative with potent antiproliferative activity in the NCI-60 cell line panel, promising hollow fiber activity (score of 32) and activity against xenografts. Submicromolar concentrations of the bisindenoisoquinoline NSC 727357 induce Top1 cleavage complexes at specific sites in biochemical assays. At higher concentrations, inhibition of Top1 catalytic activity and DNA intercalation is observed. NSC 727357 also induces a limited number of Top2-DNA cleavage complexes. In contrast to the effect of other Top1 inhibitors, cells treated with the bisindenoisoquinoline NSC 727357 show an arrest of cell cycle progression in G(1) with no significant inhibition of DNA synthesis after a short exposure to the drug. Moreover, unlike camptothecin and the indenoisoquinoline MJ-III-65 (NSC 706744, 6-[3-(2-hydroxyethyl)aminopropyl]-5,6-dihydro-5,11-diketo-2,3-dimethoxy-(methylenedioxy)-11H-indeno[1,2-c]isoquinoline hydrochloride), the cytotoxicity of bisindenoisoquinoline NSC 727357 is only partially dependent on Top1 and p53, indicating that this drug has additional targets besides Top1 and Top2. DOI: 10.1124/mol.106.024372 PMID: 16798938 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2537142
1. Cancer Res. 1989 Mar 1;49(5):1118-24. Cellular consequences of overproduction of DNA topoisomerase II in an ataxia-telangiectasia cell line. Smith PJ(1), Makinson TA. Author information: (1)Medical Research Council Clinical Oncology and Radiotherapeutics Unit, M.R.C. Centre, Cambridge, UK. Abnormal expression of the nuclear-associated enzyme DNA topoisomerase II (topoisomerase II) has been implicated in the in vitro phenotype of radiation hypersensitive ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) cells and in modifying sensitivity of eukaryotic cells to topoisomerase II-inhibitor drugs [e.g., the DNA intercalator amsacrine (mAMSA)]. To study such relationships, various SV40- and Epstein-Barr Virus-transformed human cell lines derived from normal, A-T, or UV-sensitive xeroderma pigmentosum donors have been assayed for their sensitivity to mAMSA together with direct and indirect measurements of topoisomerase II expression. We report on the identification of an SV40-transformed A-T fibroblast cell line with abnormally high levels of topoisomerase II in nuclear protein extracts as determined by immunoblotting, measurement of kinetoplast DNA decatenation activity, and mAMSA-dependent DNA-protein cross-linking activity in a filter binding assay. Using a flow cytometric assay for the analysis of reactivity of nuclei with a polyclonal antitopoisomerase II antibody, overproduction was found to occur in all phases of the cell cycle. High levels of topoisomerase II were associated with hypersensitivity (5-10-fold) to mAMSA-induced cell cycle delay, cell kill, and DNA strand breakage (assayed under protein-denaturing conditions). Xeroderma pigmentosum (group A) cells demonstrated normal responses to mAMSA. The results provide evidence that cellular potential for the generation of topoisomerase II-dependent DNA damage is a major factor in governing the sensitivity to mAMSA. Furthermore, underexpression of topoisomerase II does not appear to be a primary factor in describing the in vitro A-T phenotype. The findings also relate to how changes in chromatin structure and function may either reflect or dictate the expression of topoisomerase II in human cells. PMID: 2537142 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2845248
1. Mol Pharmacol. 1988 Oct;34(4):467-73. DNA binding by epipodophyllotoxins and N-acyl anthracyclines: implications for mechanism of topoisomerase II inhibition. Chow KC(1), Macdonald TL, Ross WE. Author information: (1)Department of Pharmacology, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610. Previous evidence suggests that epipodophyllotoxins, such as etoposide and teniposide, and the N-acyl anthracycline AD41 inhibit topoisomerase II resealing even though they apparently do not bind to DNA. Using experimental conditions designed to detect limited numbers of DNA binding sites, we now report that both epipodophyllotoxins and the N-acyl anthracyclines AD41 and AD32 bind to DNA. Binding was greater to kinetoplast DNA than to pUC18 plasmid DNA. There was also greater etoposide binding to single-stranded DNA than to double-stranded linear or supercoiled DNA. Based on binding competition experiments, etoposide and teniposide appear to have equal affinity for DNA, in spite of the fact that the latter is more potent as a topoisomerase inhibitor. This suggests that the difference in the drugs relates to protein interaction. There are 3- to 7-fold more binding sites for AD41 than for AD32, depending on the DNA substrate employed, and both drugs, unlike adriamycin, exhibit saturation of binding sites over a concentration range of 0-50 microM when kinetoplast DNA is the substrate. Evidence for DNA intercalation by AD41 is provided by the observation that the drug introduces positive supercoils into covalently closed plasmid DNA. Based on these data, a hypothesis is proposed that would provide a general mechanism whereby intercalating agents and epipodophyllotoxins alter topoisomerase function and presumably exert their antitumor effects. PMID: 2845248 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/367540
1. Can J Biochem. 1978 Nov;56(11):1006-15. doi: 10.1139/o78-159. Bis-intercalative binding to DNA of novel bis(10-methyl)acridinium chlorides and its dependence on chain length of linker. Lown JW, Gunn BC, Chang RY, Majumdar KC, Lee JS. The synthesis of a series of novel bis(10-methyl)acridinium compounds (both unsubstituted and the 6-chloro-2-methoxy substituted) linked by methylene bridges of lengths from (CH2)4 to (CH2)12 and in one case by spermine is described. Their ability to bind to duplex DNA was compared by their relative inhibition of E. coli DNA polymerase catalyzed DNA synthesis. It was determined that they function as DNA template inhibitors and do not affect the DNA polymerase directly. Their ability to function as bis-intercalators was assessed by a novel and convenient topoisomerase fluorescent assay. It was concluded that whereas the (CH2)4-linked compounds act only as monofunctional intercalators because of steric constraints the (CH2)6-, (CH2)8-, and (CH2)10-linked substituted bisacridinium compounds, as well as the (CH2)10- and (CH2)12- unsubstituted analogues, function as bis-intercalators with DNA. DOI: 10.1139/o78-159 PMID: 367540 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23560086
1. PLoS One. 2013;8(4):e60275. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060275. Epub 2013 Apr 1. CLL cells respond to B-Cell receptor stimulation with a microRNA/mRNA signature associated with MYC activation and cell cycle progression. Pede V(1), Rombout A, Vermeire J, Naessens E, Mestdagh P, Robberecht N, Vanderstraeten H, Van Roy N, Vandesompele J, Speleman F, Philippé J, Verhasselt B. Author information: (1)Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Erratum in PLoS One. 2014;9(1). doi:10.1371/annotation/7ab67087-8bdd-458b-bb77-e03c166a87ca. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a disease with variable clinical outcome. Several prognostic factors such as the immunoglobulin heavy chain variable genes (IGHV) mutation status are linked to the B-cell receptor (BCR) complex, supporting a role for triggering the BCR in vivo in the pathogenesis. The miRNA profile upon stimulation and correlation with IGHV mutation status is however unknown. To evaluate the transcriptional response of peripheral blood CLL cells upon BCR stimulation in vitro, miRNA and mRNA expression was measured using hybridization arrays and qPCR. We found both IGHV mutated and unmutated CLL cells to respond with increased expression of MYC and other genes associated with BCR activation, and a phenotype of cell cycle progression. Genome-wide expression studies showed hsa-miR-132-3p/hsa-miR-212 miRNA cluster induction associated with a set of downregulated genes, enriched for genes modulated by BCR activation and amplified by Myc. We conclude that BCR triggering of CLL cells induces a transcriptional response of genes associated with BCR activation, enhanced cell cycle entry and progression and suggest that part of the transcriptional profiles linked to IGHV mutation status observed in isolated peripheral blood are not cell intrinsic but rather secondary to in vivo BCR stimulation. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060275 PMCID: PMC3613353 PMID: 23560086 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Competing Interests: Bruno Verhasselt serves as an academic editor of PLOS ONE. No other conflicts of interest are reported by the authors. This does not alter the authors' adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2164630
1. Mol Pharmacol. 1990 Jul;38(1):38-45. Effects of morpholinyl doxorubicins, doxorubicin, and actinomycin D on mammalian DNA topoisomerases I and II. Wassermann K(1), Markovits J, Jaxel C, Capranico G, Kohn KW, Pommier Y. Author information: (1)Division of Cancer Treatment, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892. The effect of cyanomorpholinyldoxorubicin, morpholinyldoxorubicin, doxorubicin, and Actinomycin D were studied on purified mouse leukemia (L1210) DNA topoisomerases I and II. DNA unwinding and cross-linking were also studied. It was found that 1) morpholinyldoxorubicin, cyanomorpholinyldoxorubicin, and Actinomycin D (but not doxorubicin) stimulated DNA topoisomerase I-induced cleavage at specific DNA sites; 2) only doxorubicin and Actinomycin D stimulated DNA cleavage by DNA topoisomerase II; 3) at higher drug concentrations, DNA intercalators suppressed enzyme-mediated DNA cleavage induced by DNA topoisomerase I, as well as topoisomerase II; 4) only cyanomorpholinyldoxorubicin produced DNA-DNA cross-links; no DNA unwinding could be observed; and 5) DNA intercalation (unwinding) potency of morpholinyldoxorubicin was about 2-fold less than that of doxorubicin. The data indicate that some DNA intercalators are not only inhibitors of DNA topoisomerase II but act also on DNA topoisomerase I. The stabilization of cleavage intermediates by intercalators may have a common mechanism for DNA topoisomerase I and DNA topoisomerase II. PMID: 2164630 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19609889
1. Clin Cardiol. 2009 Jul;32(7):380-5. doi: 10.1002/clc.20574. Thyroid hormone and coronary artery disease: from clinical correlations to prognostic implications. Coceani M(1), Iervasi G, Pingitore A, Carpeggiani C, L'Abbate A. Author information: (1)Fondazione CNR-Regione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, Pisa, Italy. michecoc@ifc.cnr.it BACKGROUND: Overt thyroid dysfunction, hypothyroidism in particular, may lead to coronary artery disease (CAD). Whether more subtle anomalies of thyroid hormone metabolism influence the progression of CAD remains a matter of speculation. HYPOTHESIS: The occurrence of CAD and long-term prognosis in patients without a history of either primary thyroid disease, myocardial infarction, or chronic heart failure is related to serum levels of biologically active free triiodothyronine (fT3). METHODS: The cohort consisted of 1047 clinically and biochemically euthyroid patients (median age 65.6 y and 69% male) who underwent coronary angiography in our institute for suspected CAD. RESULTS: Lower fT3 levels were predictive of both single-vessel (p = 0.012) and multivessel (p = 0.009) CAD. Through a multivariate logistic regression analysis, fT3 was still linked to the presence of CAD (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.48, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.34-0.68, p < 0.001). After a mean follow-up of 31 months, the survival rate was 95% and total mortality (log-rank 6.75, p = 0.009), as well as cardiac mortality (log-rank 8.26, p = 0.004), was greater among patients with low T3 (fT3 < 2.10 pg/mL) syndrome. At subsequent multivariate Cox regression analysis, the association between low T3 syndrome and survival was maintained (total mortality HR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.05-3.10, p = 0.034; cardiac mortality HR: 2.58, 95% CI: 1.13-5.93, p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: In this selected population, fT3 levels were inversely correlated to the presence of CAD and low T3 syndrome conferred an adverse prognosis, even after adjusting for traditional coronary risk factors. DOI: 10.1002/clc.20574 PMCID: PMC6653244 PMID: 19609889 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22975492
1. Biol Pharm Bull. 2012;35(9):1432-9. doi: 10.1248/bpb.b110671. Membrane perturbations induced by new analogs of neocryptolepine. Jaromin A(1), Korycińska M, Piętka-Ottlik M, Musiał W, Peczyńska-Czoch W, Kaczmarek Ł, Kozubek A. Author information: (1)Department of Lipids and Liposomes, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland. ajaromin@ibmb.uni.wroc.pl Indoloquinoline alkaloids represent an important class of antimalarial, antibacterial and antiviral compounds. Indolo[2,3-b]quinolines are a family of DNA intercalators and inhibitors of topoisomerase II, synthetic analogs of neocryptolepine, an alkaloid traditionally used in African folk medicine. These cytotoxic substances are promising anticancer agents. Active representatives of indolo[2,3-b]quinolines affect model and natural membranes. The distinct structure and hydrophobicity of the compounds leads to marked differences in the disturbing effects on membrane organization and function. Our results also indicated a strong relationship between the presence of the chain and the Poct of the molecule as well as the capacity for incorporation into carboxyfluorescein-trapped liposomes in the 0.02-0.06 mM range. Moreover, a correlation between binding to neutral dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) or negative charged dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine:dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (DMPC:DMPG, 9:1 w/w) liposomes, as well as to erythrocyte ghosts and pKa, was also found. All the compounds cause hemolysis in isotonic conditions with concentration causing 50% hemolysis (HC50) in the 0.12-0.88 mM range. The concentration-dependent inhibitory effect of the tested agents on erythrocyte ghosts' acetylcholinesterase activity was also studied. DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b110671 PMID: 22975492 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20133050
1. Cancer Lett. 2010 Jul 1;293(1):124-31. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2010.01.004. Epub 2010 Feb 4. Expression profiling identifies epoxy anthraquinone derivative as a DNA topoisomerase inhibitor. Gheeya J(1), Johansson P, Chen QR, Dexheimer T, Metaferia B, Song YK, Wei JS, He J, Pommier Y, Khan J. Author information: (1)Oncogenomics Section, Pediatric Oncology Branch, Advanced Technology Center, National Cancer Institute, Gaithersburg, MD, USA. To discover novel drugs for neuroblastoma treatment, we have previously screened a panel of drugs and identified 30 active agents against neuroblastoma cells. Here we performed microarray gene expression analysis to monitor the impact of these agents on a neuroblastoma cell line and used the connectivity map (cMAP) to explore putative mechanism of action of unknown drugs. We first compared the expression profiles of 10 compounds shared in both our dataset and cMAP database and observed the high connectivity scores for 7 of 10 matched drugs regardless of the differences of cell lines utilized. The screen of cMAP for uncharacterized drugs indicated the signature of Epoxy anthraquinone derivative (EAD) matched the profiles of multiple known DNA targeted agents (topoisomerase I/II inhibitors, DNA intercalators, and DNA alkylation agents) as predicted by its structure. Similar result was obtained by querying against our internal NB-cMAP (http://pob.abcc.ncifcrf.gov/cgi-bin/cMAP), a database containing the profiles of 30 active drugs. These results suggest that Epoxy anthraquinone derivative may inhibit neuroblastoma cells by targeting DNA replication inhibition. Experimental data also demonstrate that Epoxy anthraquinone derivative indeed induces DNA double-strand breaks through DNA alkylation and inhibition of topoisomerase activity. Our study indicates that Epoxy anthraquinone derivative may be a novel DNA topoisomerase inhibitor that can be potentially used for treatment of neuroblastoma or other cancer patients. DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2010.01.004 PMCID: PMC4698332 PMID: 20133050 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: 5. Conflict of interest The authors declare no conflict of interest for this article.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19074430
1. J Biol Chem. 2009 Feb 13;284(7):4510-5. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M808495200. Epub 2008 Dec 12. The role of cation binding in determining substrate selectivity of glutamate transporters. Huang S(1), Ryan RM, Vandenberg RJ. Author information: (1)Transporter Biology Group, Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia. Glutamate transport is coupled to the co-transport of 3Na(+) and 1H(+) and the countertransport of 1 K(+). However, the mechanism of how this process occurs is not well understood. The crystal structure of an archaeal homolog of the human glutamate transporters, Glt(Ph), has provided the framework to begin to understand the mechanism of transport. The glutamate transporter EAAT2 is different from other subtypes in two respects. First, Li(+) cannot support transport by EAAT2, whereas it can support transport by the other excitatory amino acid transporters, and second, EAAT2 is sensitive to a wider range of blockers than other subtypes. We have investigated the relationship between the cation driving transport and whether the glutamate analogues, l-anti-endo-3,4-methanopyrrolidine-dicarboxylic acid (MPDC) and (2S,4R)-4-methylglutamate (4MG), are substrates or blockers of transport. We have also investigated the molecular basis for these differences. EAAT2 has a Ser residue at position 441 with hairpin loop 2, whereas the corresponding residue in EAAT1 is a Gly residue. We demonstrate that if the transporter has a Ser residue at this position, then 4MG and MPDC are poor substrates in Na(+), and Li(+) cannot support transport of any substrate. Conversely, if the transporter has a Gly residue at this position, then in Na(+) 4MG and MPDC are substrates with efficacy comparable with glutamate, but in Li(+) 4MG and MPDC are poor substrates relative to glutamate. This Ser/Gly residue is located between the bound substrate and one of the cation binding sites, which provides an explanation for the coupling of substrate and cation binding. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M808495200 PMID: 19074430 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21303929
1. J Cell Sci. 2011 Mar 1;124(Pt 5):776-88. doi: 10.1242/jcs.072447. Epub 2011 Feb 8. Translocation dynamics of sorting nexin 27 in activated T cells. Rincón E(1), Sáez de Guinoa J, Gharbi SI, Sorzano CO, Carrasco YR, Mérida I. Author information: (1)Lipid signalling Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, E-28049 Madrid, Spain. Sorting nexin 27 (SNX27) belongs to the sorting nexin family of proteins, which participate in vesicular and protein trafficking. Similarly to all sorting nexin proteins, SNX27 has a functional PX domain that is important for endosome binding, but it is the only sorting nexin with a PDZ domain. We identified SNX27 as a partner of diacylglycerol kinase ζ (DGKζ), a negative regulator of T cell function that metabolises diacylglycerol to yield phosphatidic acid. SNX27 interacts with the DGKζ PDZ-binding motif in early/recycling endosomes in resting T cells; however, the dynamics and mechanisms underlying SNX27 subcellular localisation during T cell activation are unknown. We demonstrate that in T cells that encounter pulsed antigen-presenting cells, SNX27 in transit on early/recycling endosomes polarise to the immunological synapse. A fraction of SNX27 accumulates at the mature immunological synapse in a process that is dependent on vesicular trafficking, binding of the PX domain to phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate and the presence of the PDZ region. Downmodulation of expression of either SNX27 or DGKζ results in enhanced basal and antigen-triggered ERK phosphorylation. These results identify SNX27 as a PDZ-containing component of the T cell immunological synapse, and demonstrate a role for this protein in the regulation of the Ras-ERK pathway, suggesting a functional relationship between SNX27 and DGKζ. DOI: 10.1242/jcs.072447 PMID: 21303929 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20949564
1. Int J Cancer. 2011 Aug 1;129(3):680-90. doi: 10.1002/ijc.25715. Epub 2010 Nov 23. Micro-RNA profiles in osteosarcoma as a predictive tool for ifosfamide response. Gougelet A(1), Pissaloux D, Besse A, Perez J, Duc A, Dutour A, Blay JY, Alberti L. Author information: (1)Unité INSERM U590 équipe Cytokines et Cancer, Centre Léon Bérard, 69373 Lyon cedex 08, France. angeliquegougelet@gmail.com Micro-RNAs (miRNA) are currently used as cancer biomarkers for hematological cancers and solid tumors. Osteosarcoma is the first primary malignant bone tumor, characterized by a complex genetic and resistance to conventional treatments. For this latter property, the median survival has not been improved since 1990 despite preoperative administration of chemotherapeutic agents. The prediction of tumor response before chemotherapy treatment would constitute a major progress for this pathology. We assessed in this study if miRNA profiling could surpass the current limitations for osteosarcoma diagnosis. We measured the miRNA expression in different osteosarcoma samples: (i) 27 osteosarcoma paraffin-embedded tumors from patients, (ii) human osteosarcoma cell lines, and (iii) tumors from a syngeneic rat osteosarcoma model, recapitulating human osteosarcoma. miRNA profiles were determined using microfluidic cards performing high-throughput TaqMan(®) -based PCR assays, called TaqMan(®) Low Density Arrays. Osteosarcoma of rat and human origins showed a miRNA signature, which could discriminate good from bad responders. In particular, we identified five discriminating miRNAs (miR-92a, miR-99b, miR-132, miR-193a-5p and miR-422a) in patient tumors, which could be easily transferable to diagnosis. These discriminating miRNAs, as well as those identified in rat, targeted the TGFβ, the Wnt and the MAP kinase pathways. These results indicate that our platform constitutes a potent diagnostic tool to predict tumor sensitivity to a drug in attempt to better adapt treatment to tumor biological specificities and also to identify new potential therapeutic strategies. Copyright © 2010 UICC. DOI: 10.1002/ijc.25715 PMID: 20949564 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11031254
1. J Biol Chem. 2001 Jan 5;276(1):576-82. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M003779200. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-linked glutamate transporter mutant has impaired glutamate clearance capacity. Trotti D(1), Aoki M, Pasinelli P, Berger UV, Danbolt NC, Brown RH Jr, Hediger MA. Author information: (1)Membrane Biology Program, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. dtrotti@rics.bwh.harvard.edu We have investigated the functional impact of a naturally occurring mutation of the human glutamate transporter GLT1 (EAAT2), which had been detected in a patient with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The mutation involves a substitution of the putative N-linked glycosylation site asparagine 206 by a serine residue (N206S) and results in reduced glycosylation of the transporter and decreased uptake activity. Electrophysiological analysis of N206S revealed a pronounced reduction in transport rate compared with wild-type, but there was no alteration in the apparent affinities for glutamate and sodium. In addition, no change in the sensitivity for the specific transport inhibitor dihydrokainate was observed. However, the decreased rate of transport was associated with a reduction of the N206S transporter in the plasma membrane. Under ionic conditions, which favor the reverse operation mode of the transporter, N206S exhibited an increased reverse transport capacity. Furthermore, if coexpressed in the same cell, N206S manifested a dominant negative effect on the wild-type GLT1 activity, whereas it did not affect wild-type EAAC1. These findings provide evidence for a role of the N-linked glycosylation in both cellular trafficking and transport function. The resulting alteration in glutamate clearance capacity likely contributes to excitotoxicity that participates in motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M003779200 PMID: 11031254 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15466885
1. J Cell Sci. 2004 Oct 15;117(Pt 22):5367-79. doi: 10.1242/jcs.01379. Epub 2004 Oct 5. New sorting nexin (SNX27) and NHERF specifically interact with the 5-HT4a receptor splice variant: roles in receptor targeting. Joubert L(1), Hanson B, Barthet G, Sebben M, Claeysen S, Hong W, Marin P, Dumuis A, Bockaert J. Author information: (1)Laboratoire de Génomique Fonctionnelle, CNRS UPR2580, CCIPE, 141 rue de la Cardonille, 34094 Montpellier CEDEX 05, France. The 5-hydroxytryptamine type 4 receptor (5-HT4R) is involved in learning, feeding, respiratory control and gastrointestinal transit. This receptor is one of the G-protein-coupled receptors for which alternative mRNA splicing generates the most variants that differ in their C-terminal extremities. Some 5-HT4R variants (a, e and f) express canonical PDZ ligands at their C-termini. Here, we have examined whether some mouse 5-HT4R variants associate with specific sets of proteins, using a proteomic approach based on peptide-affinity chromatography, two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. We have identified ten proteins that interact specifically with the 5-HT4(a)R and three that only associate with the 5-HT4(e)R. Most of them are PDZ proteins. Among the proteins that associated specifically with the 5-HT4(a)R variant, NHERF greatly modified its subcellular localization. Moreover, NHERF recruited the 5-HT4(a)R to microvilli, where it localized with activated ezrin, consistent with the role of 5-HT4(a)R in cytoskeleton remodelling. The 5-HT4(a)R also interacted with both the constitutive and inducible (upon methamphetamine treatment) forms of the recently cloned sorting nexin 27 (SNX27a and b, respectively). We found that SNX27a redirected part of 5-HT4(a)R to early endosomes. The interaction of the 5-HT4R splice variants with distinct sets of PDZ proteins might specify their cellular localization as well as their signal transduction properties. DOI: 10.1242/jcs.01379 PMID: 15466885 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22411990
1. J Biol Chem. 2012 Apr 27;287(18):15054-65. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.337931. Epub 2012 Mar 12. Sorting nexin 27 interacts with multidrug resistance-associated protein 4 (MRP4) and mediates internalization of MRP4. Hayashi H(1), Naoi S, Nakagawa T, Nishikawa T, Fukuda H, Imajoh-Ohmi S, Kondo A, Kubo K, Yabuki T, Hattori A, Hirouchi M, Sugiyama Y. Author information: (1)Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacokinetics, Department of Medical Pharmaceutics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. hayapi@mol.f.u-tokyo.ac.jp Multidrug resistance-associated protein 4 (MRP4/ABCC4) makes a vital contribution to the bodily distribution of drugs and endogenous compounds because of its cellular efflux abilities. However, little is known about the mechanism regulating its cell surface expression. MRP4 has a PDZ-binding motif, which is a potential sequence that modulates the membrane expression of MRP4 via interaction with PDZ adaptor proteins. To investigate this possible relationship, we performed GST pull-down assays and subsequent analysis with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. This method identified sorting nexin 27 (SNX27) as the interacting PDZ adaptor protein with a PDZ-binding motif of MRP4. Its interaction was confirmed by a coimmunoprecipitation study using HEK293 cells. Knockdown of SNX27 by siRNA in HEK293 cells raised MRP4 expression on the plasma membrane, increased the extrusion of 6-[(14)C]mercaptopurine, an MRP4 substrate, and conferred resistance against 6-[(14)C]mercaptopurine. Cell surface biotinylation studies indicated that the inhibition of MRP4 internalization was responsible for these results. Immunocytochemistry and cell surface biotinylation studies using COS-1 cells showed that SNX27 localized to both the early endosome and the plasma membrane. These data suggest that SNX27 interacts with MRP4 near the plasma membrane and promotes endocytosis of MRP4 and thereby negatively regulates its cell surface expression and transport function. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M111.337931 PMCID: PMC3340259 PMID: 22411990 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18690037
1. Channels (Austin). 2007 Sep-Oct;1(5):331-3. doi: 10.4161/chan.5191. Epub 2007 Oct 20. Subunit-specific regulation of Kir3 channels by sorting nexin 27. Nassirpour R(1), Slesinger PA. Author information: (1)The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA. G protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir3) channels are involved in regulating membrane excitability in the brain. Kir3 channels have been shown to play a role in learning, analgesia and drug addiction. Little is known about the cell surface regulation of Kir3 channels. Using a proteomics approach, we recently discovered that sorting nexin 27 (SNX27) associates with a subset of Kir3 channels. Sorting nexins have been implicated in trafficking of proteins through endosomal compartments. The single PDZ domain of SNX27 binds directly to the PDZ binding motif of Kir3 channels leading to their downregulation. Here, we examined the functional effect of SNX27b expression on different subunit combinations of the Kir3 family. Our results show that regulation of Kir3 channels by SNX27 depends critically on the combination of Kir3 subunits. This type of subunit-specific regulation could be important for determining the extent of Kir3 inhibition in normal as well as diseased states, such as drug addiction. DOI: 10.4161/chan.5191 PMID: 18690037 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17577583
1. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2007 Aug 10;359(4):848-53. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.05.162. Epub 2007 May 30. Sorting nexin 27 interacts with the Cytohesin associated scaffolding protein (CASP) in lymphocytes. MacNeil AJ(1), Mansour M, Pohajdak B. Author information: (1)Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada B3H 4J1. CASP is a small cytokine-inducible protein, primarily expressed in hematopoetic cells, which associates with members of the Cytohesin/ARNO family of guanine nucleotide-exchange factors. Cytohesins activate ARFs, a group of GTPases involved in vesicular initiation. Functionally, CASP is an adaptor protein containing a PDZ domain, a coiled-coil, and a potential carboxy terminal PDZ-binding motif that we sought to characterize here. Using GST pulldowns and mass spectrometry we identified the novel interaction of CASP and sorting nexin 27 (SNX27). In lymphocytes, CASP's PDZ-binding motif interacts with the PDZ domain of SNX27. This protein is a unique member of the sorting nexin family of proteins, a group generally involved in the endocytic and intracellular sorting machinery. Endogenous SNX27 and CASP co-localize at the early endosomal compartment in lymphocytes and also in transfection studies. These results suggest that endosomal SNX27 may recruit CASP to orchestrate intracellular trafficking and/or signaling complexes. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.05.162 PMID: 17577583 [Indexed for MEDLINE]