bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Increased osteopontin plasma levels in multiple sclerosis patients correlate with bone-specific markers
Authors: Vogt Mario HJ , ten Kate Joop , Drent Roosmarie JM , Polman Chris H , Hupperts Raymond 
Published: January 2010

The pro-inflammatory cytokine osteopontin has been found to be highly expressed in multiple sclerosis lesions and plasma levels are increased during relapses in relapse-onset multiple sclerosis patients. The objective was to determine the relationship between osteopontin plasma and cerebrospinal fluid levels in relation to the immunoglobulin G index. In addition, osteopontin plasma levels were compared with osteopontin mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and bone-specific markers to analyse whether osteopontin may be peripherally produced. Osteopontin and bone-specific markers were determined in paired plasma—cerebrospinal fluid samples and serum samples of relapse-onset multiple sclerosis patients ( n = 36), respectively. Osteopontin mRNA levels were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. Compared to healthy controls ( n = 20), plasma osteopontin levels were significantly increased in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients and correlated ( r = 0.43, p = 0.013) with the immunoglobulin G index. In contrast, cerebrospinal fluid osteopontin levels correlated neither with plasma osteopontin in paired samples nor with the immunoglobulin G index. Since osteopontin mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients did not correlate with osteopontin plasma levels, peripheral blood mononuclear cells might not be the major source for the increased osteopontin plasma levels. Osteopontin plasma levels correlated ( r = 0.42, p = 0.035) with the bone-specific degradation product C-telopeptide of type-1 collagen. In addition, another immunomodulatory molecule involved in bone metabolism, 25-OH vitamin D, correlated negatively ( r = —0.359, p = 0.048) with the immunoglobulin G index. This study suggests that bone-related molecules like osteopontin and vitamin D with important immunomodulatory functions are related to the immunoglobulin G index in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients.
An upstream insulator regulates DLK1 imprinting in AML
Authors: Khoury Haytham , Suarez-Saiz Fernando , Wu Samantha , Minden Mark D. 
Published: January 2010

Abstract
DLK1 is an imprinted gene on chromosome 14. Using informative coding single nucleotide polymorphisms, we found DLK1 expression to be monoallelic in normal bone marrow, whereas it was biallelic in 76% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) overexpressing DLK1 (61% of all AML). Quantitative methylation analysis of 7 cytosine-phosphate-guanosine-rich areas (3 upstream of or within DLK1, the putative intergenic-differentially methylated region and 3 upstream of or within MEG3) revealed a strong association between biallelic DLK1 expression and hypermethylation of a cytosine-phosphate-guanosine-rich region 18 kb upstream of DLK1. Allele-specific methylation analysis of this region revealed the alleles to be differentially methylated in normal bone marrow and monoallelic DLK1 AML, whereas there was increased methylation of both alleles in AML with biallelic expression. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that CCTC-binding factor binds to this region in monoallelic but not biallelic expression samples. Taken together, our data indicate that an insulator located 18 kb upstream of DLK1 plays an important role in regulating DLK1 imprinting.
IGF-1 suppresses Bim expression in multiple myeloma via epigenetic and posttranslational mechanisms
Authors: De Bruyne Elke , Bos Tomas J. , Schuit Frans , Van Valckenborgh Els , Menu Eline , Thorrez Lieven , Atadja Peter , Jernberg-Wiklund Helena , Vanderkerken Karin 
Published: January 2010

AbstractInsulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is an important growth and survival factor in multiple myeloma (MM). Here, we demonstrate that IGF-1 induces significant down-regulation of the proapoptotic BH3-only protein Bim in MM cells. Reduced Bim levels by RNA interference (RNAi) protected cells from drug-induced cell death. The IGF-1–mediated down-regulation of Bim was the result of (1) reduced transcription by activation of the Akt pathway and inactivation of the transcription factor FoxO3a, (2) increased proteasome-mediated degradation of the Bim extra-long protein by activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, and (3) epigenetic regulation of both the Bim and the FoxO3a promoter. Treatment of cells with the histone deacetylase inhibitor LBH589 resulted in a clear up-regulation in the expression of Bim. Furthermore, the methylation inhibitor 5-aza-2′deoxycytidine (decitabine) significantly increased the effects of LBH589. On IGF-1 treatment, the Bim promoter region was found to be unmethylated, whereas chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis of the IGF-1–treated cells showed both a reduced histone H3 tail Lys9 (H3K9) acetylation and an increased H3K9 dimethylation, which contributed actively to its silencing. These data identify a new mechanism in the IGF-1–dependent survival of MM cells and emphasize the need for IGF-1–targeted drug therapy.
Regulation of primary alloantibody response through antecedent exposure to a microbial T-cell epitope
Authors: Hudson Krystalyn E. , Lin Eugene , Hendrickson Jeanne E. , Lukacher Aron E. , Zimring James C. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractHumoral alloimmunization to red blood cell (RBC) antigens is a clinically significant problem that can lead to transfusion reactions and difficulty in locating future compatible blood for transfusion. However, factors regulating responder/nonresponder status are only partially understood. Herein, we identify a series of microbes with 100% identity in 8– to 9–amino acid peptides containing the variant amino acids in Kell, Kidd, and Duffy antigens. To test the hypothesis that infection with such a microbe could predispose to RBC alloimmunization, a mouse model was developed using murine polyoma virus expressing a defined CD4+ T-cell epitope ovalbumin323-339 ((OVA)323-339) and subsequent transfusion with RBCs expressing a B-cell epitope (hen egg lysozyme [HEL]) fused to (OVA)323-339. Whereas infection alone induced no detectable anti-HEL, subsequent RBC transfusion induced 100- to 1000-fold more anti-HEL in mice that had been previously infected compared with control mice. This effect did not occur with wild-type polyoma virus or RBCs expressing HEL alone. Together, these data indicate that prior exposure to a pathogen with small peptide homology to RBC antigens can lead to an enhanced primary alloantibody response. As such priming is not detectable by current clinical tests, it is unknown to what extent this occurs in human alloimmunization.
Platelet-derived thrombospondin-1 is a critical negative regulator and potential biomarker of angiogenesis
Authors: Zaslavsky Alexander , Baek Kwan-Hyuck , Lynch Ryan C. , Short Sarah , Grillo Jenny , Folkman Judah , Italiano Joseph E. , Ryeom Sandra 
Published: January 2010

AbstractThe sequential events leading to tumor progression include a switch to the angiogenic phenotype, dependent on a shift in the balance between positive and negative angiogenic regulators produced by tumor and stromal cells. Although the biologic properties of many angiogenesis regulatory proteins have been studied in detail, the mechanisms of their transport and delivery in vivo during pathologic angiogenesis are not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that expression of one of the most potent angiogenesis inhibitors, thrombospondin-1, is up-regulated in the platelets of tumor-bearing mice. We establish that this up-regulation is a consequence of both increased levels of thrombospondin-1 mRNA in megakaryocytes, as well as increased numbers of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow of tumor-bearing mice. Through the use of mouse tumor models and bone marrow transplantations, we show that platelet-derived thrombospondin-1 is a critical negative regulator during the early stages of tumor angiogenesis. Collectively, our data suggest that the production and delivery of the endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor thrombospondin-1 by platelets may be a critical host response to suppress tumor growth through inhibiting tumor angiogenesis. Further, this work implicates the use of thrombospondin-1 levels in platelets as an indicator of tumor growth and regression.
Pirin delocalization in melanoma progression identified by high content immuno-detection based approaches
Authors: Licciulli Silvia , Luise Chiara , Zanardi Andrea , Giorgetti Luca , Viale Giuseppe , Lanfrancone Luisa , Carbone Roberta , Alcalay Myriam 
Published: January 2010

AbstractBackgroundPirin (PIR) is a highly conserved nuclear protein originally isolated as an interactor of NFI/CTF1 transcription/replication factor. It is a member of the functionally diverse cupin superfamily and its activity has been linked to different biological and molecular processes, such as regulation of transcription, apoptosis, stress response and enzymatic processes. Although its precise role in these functions has not yet been defined, PIR expression is known to be deregulated in several human malignancies.ResultsWe performed immunohistochemical analysis of PIR expression in primary samples from normal human tissues and tumors and identified a dislocation of PIR to the cytoplasm in a subset of melanomas, and a positive correlation between cytoplasmic PIR levels and melanoma progression. PIR localization was subsequently analyzedin vitroin melanoma cell lines through a high content immunofluorescence based approach (ImmunoCell-Array).ConclusionsThe high consistency betweenin vivoandin vitroresults obtained by immunohistochemistry and ImmunoCell-Array provides a validation of the potential of ImmunoCell-Array technology for the rapid screening of putative biological markers, and suggests that cytoplasmic localization of PIR may represent a characteristic of melanoma progression.
Phenotypic and genetic diversity in Sinorhizobium meliloti and S. medicae from drought and salt affected regions of Morocco
Authors: Elboutahiri Nadia , Thami-Alami Imane , Udupa Sripada M 
Published: January 2010

Abstract

Background

Sinorhizobium meliloti and S. medicae are symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria in root nodules of forage legume alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). In Morocco, alfalfa is usually grown in marginal soils of arid and semi-arid regions frequently affected by drought, extremes of temperature and soil pH, soil salinity and heavy metals, which affect biological nitrogen fixing ability of rhizobia and productivity of the host. This study examines phenotypic diversity for tolerance to the above stresses and genotypic diversity at Repetitive Extragenic Pallindromic DNA regions of Sinorhizobium nodulating alfalfa, sampled from marginal soils of arid and semi-arid regions of Morocco.

Results

Rsa I digestion of PCR amplified 16S rDNA of the 157 sampled isolates, assigned 136 isolates as S. meliloti and the rest as S. medicae. Further phenotyping of these alfalfa rhizobia for tolerance to the environmental stresses revealed a large degree of variation: 55.41%, 82.16%, 57.96% and 3.18% of the total isolates were tolerant to NaCl (>513 mM), water stress (-1.5 MPa), high temperature (40°C) and low pH (3.5), respectively. Sixty-seven isolates of S. meliloti and thirteen isolates of S. medicae that were tolerant to salinity were also tolerant to water stress. Most of the isolates of the two species showed tolerance to heavy metals (Cd, Mn and Zn) and antibiotics (chloramphenicol, spectinomycin, streptomycin and tetracycline). The phenotypic clusters observed by the cluster analysis clearly showed adaptations of the S. meliloti and S. medicae strains to the multiple stresses. Genotyping with rep-PCR revealed higher genetic diversity within these phenotypic clusters and classified all the 157 isolates into 148 genotypes. No relationship between genotypic profiles and the phenotypes was observed. The Analysis of Molecular Variance revealed that largest proportion of significant (P < 0.01) genetic variation was distributed within regions (89%) than among regions (11%).

Conclusion
High degree of phenotypic and genotypic diversity is present in S. meliloti and S. medicae populations from marginal soils affected by salt and drought, in arid and semi-arid regions of Morocco. Some of the tolerant strains have a potential for exploitation in salt and drought affected areas for biological nitrogen fixation in alfalfa.
Metabolites produced by probiotic Lactobacilli rapidly increase glucose uptake by Caco-2 cells
Authors: Rooj Arun K , Kimura Yasuhiro , Buddington Randal K 
Published: January 2010

Abstract

Background
Although probiotic bacteria and their metabolites alter enterocyte gene expression, rapid, non-genomic responses have not been examined. The present study measured accumulation of tracer (2 μM) glucose by Caco-2 cells after exposure for 10 min or less to a chemically defined medium (CDM) with different monosaccharides before and after anaerobic culture of probiotic Lactobacilli.

Results
Growth of L. acidophilus was supported by CDM with 110 mM glucose, fructose, and mannose, but not with arabinose, ribose, and xylose or the sugar-free CDM. Glucose accumulation was reduced when Caco-2 cells were exposed for 10 min to sterile CDM with glucose (by 92%), mannose (by 90%), fructose (by 55%), and ribose (by 16%), but not with arabinose and xylose. Exposure of Caco-2 cells for 10 min to bacteria-free supernatants prepared after exponential (48 h) and stationary (72 h) growth phases of L. acidophilus cultured in CDM with 110 mM fructose increased glucose accumulation by 83% and 45%, respectively; exposure to a suspension of the bacteria had no effect. The increase in glucose accumulation was diminished by heat-denaturing the supernatant, indicating the response of Caco-2 cells is triggered by as yet unknown heat labile bacterial metabolites, not by a reduction in CDM components that decrease glucose uptake. Supernatants prepared after anaerobic culture of L. gasseri, L. amylovorus, L. gallinarum, and L. johnsonii in the CDM with fructose increased glucose accumulation by 83%, 32%, 27%, and 14%, respectively.

Conclusion
The rapid, non-genomic upregulation of SGLT1 by bacterial metabolites is a heretofore unrecognized interaction between probiotics and the intestinal epithelium.
Radiographic assessment of the femorotibial joint of the CCLT rabbit experimental model of osteoarthritis
Authors: Boulocher Caroline B , Viguier Eric R , Cararo Rodrigo Da Rocha , Fau Didier J , Arnault Fabien , Collard Fabien , Maitre Pierre A , Roualdes Olivier , Duclos Marie-Eve , Vignon Eric P , Roger Thierry W 
Published: January 2010

AbstractBackgroundThe purposes of the study were to determine the relevance and validity of in vivo non-invasive radiographic assessment of the CCLT (Cranial Cruciate Ligament Transection) rabbit model of osteoarthritis (OA) and to estimate the pertinence, reliability and reproducibility of a radiographic OA (ROA) grading scale and associated radiographic atlas.MethodsIn vivo non-invasive extended non weight-bearing radiography of the rabbit femorotibial joint was standardized. Two hundred and fifty radiographs from control and CCLT rabbits up to five months after surgery were reviewed by three readers. They subsequently constructed an original semi-quantitative grading scale as well as an illustrative atlas of individual ROA feature for the medial compartment. To measure agreements, five readers independently scored the same radiographic sample using this atlas and three of them performed a second reading. To evaluate the pertinence of the ROA grading scale, ROA results were compared with gross examination in forty operated and ten control rabbits.ResultsRadiographic osteophytes of medial femoral condyles and medial tibial condyles were scored on a four point scale and dichotomously for osteophytes of medial fabella. Medial joint space width was scored as normal, reduced or absent. Each ROA features was well correlated with gross examination (p < 0.001). ICCs of each ROA features demonstrated excellent agreement between readers and within reading. Global ROA score gave the highest ICCs value for between (ICC 0.93; CI 0.90-0.96) and within (ICC ranged from 0.94 to 0.96) observer agreements. Among all individual ROA features, medial joint space width scoring gave the highest overall reliability and reproducibility and was correlated with both meniscal and cartilage macroscopic lesions (rs= 0.68 and rs= 0.58, p < 0.001 respectively). Radiographic osteophytes of the medial femoral condyle gave the lowest agreements while being well correlated with the macroscopic osteophytes (rs= 0.64, p < 0.001).ConclusionNon-invasive in vivo radiography of the rabbit femorotibial joint is feasible, relevant and allows a reproducible grading of experimentally induced OA lesion. The radiographic grading scale and atlas presented could be used as a template for in vivo non invasive grading of ROA in preclinical studies and could allow future comparisons between studies.
CXCR1 and SLC11A1polymorphisms affect susceptibility to cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil: a case-control and family-based study
Authors: Castellucci Léa , Jamieson Sarra E , Miller E Nancy , Menezes Eliane , Oliveira Joyce , Magalhães Andrea , Guimarães Luiz Henrique , Lessa Marcus , de Jesus Amélia Ribeiro , Carvalho Edgar M , Blackwell Jenefer M 
Published: January 2010

Abstract

Background

L. braziliensis causes cutaneous (CL) and mucosal (ML) leishmaniasis. Wound healing neutrophil (PMN) and macrophage responses made following the bite of the vector sand fly contribute to disease progression in mice. To look at the interplay between PMN and macrophages in disease progression in humans we asked whether polymorphisms at genes that regulate their infiltration or function are associated with different clinical phenotypes. Specifically, CXCR1 (IL8RA) and CXCR2 (IL8RB) are receptors for chemokines that attract PMN to inflammatory sites. They lie 30-260 kb upstream of SLC11A1, a gene known primarily for its role in regulating macrophage activation, resistance to leishmaniasis, and wound healing responses in mice, but also known to be expressed in PMN, macrophages and dendritic cells.

Methods
Polymorphic variants at CXCR1, CXCR2 and SLC11A1 were analysed using Taqman or ABI fragment separation technologies in cases (60 CL; 60 ML), unrelated controls (n = 120), and multicase families (104 nuclear families; 88 ML, 250 CL cases) from Brazil. Logistic regression analysis, family-based association testing (FBAT) and haplotype analysis (TRANSMIT) were performed.

Results
Case-control analysis showed association between the common C allele (OR 2.38; 95% CI 1.23-4.57; P = 0.009) of CXCR1_rs2854386 and CL, supported by family-based (FBAT; Z score 2.002; P = 0.045) analysis (104 nuclear families; 88 ML, 250 CL cases). ML associated with the rarer G allele (Z score 1.999; P = 0.046). CL associated with a 3' insertion/deletion polymorphism at SLC11A1 (Z score 2.549; P = 0.011).

Conclusions
The study supports roles for CXCR1 and SLC11A1 in the outcome of L. braziliensis infection in humans. Slc11a1 does not influence cutaneous lesion development following needle injection of Leishmania in mice, suggesting that its role here might relate to the action of PMN, macrophage and/or dendritic cells in the wound healing response to the sand fly bite. Together with the CXCR1 association, the data are consistent with hypotheses relating to the possible role of PMN in initiation of a lesion following the delivery of parasites via the sand fly bite. Association of ML with the rare derived G allele suggests that PMN also have an important positive role to play in preventing this form of the disease.
Running away experience and psychoactive substance use among adolescents in Taiwan: multi-city street outreach survey
Authors: Wang Shi-Heng , Chen Wen-Chun , Lew-Ting Chih-Yin , Chen Chuan-Yu , Chen Wei J 
Published: January 2010

Abstract

Background
This study aimed to examine: 1) the relationship between being a runaway and the time since the first absconding event and adolescent substance use; 2) whether different kinds of psychoactive substances have a different temporal relationship to the first absconding event; and 3) whether the various reasons for the first absconding event are associated with different risks of substance use.

Methods
Participants were drawn from the 2004-2006 nationwide outreach programs across 26 cities/towns in Taiwan. A total of 17,133 participants, age 12-18 years, who completed an anonymous questionnaire on their experience of running away and substances use and who were now living with their families, were included in the analysis.

Results
The lifetime risk of tobacco, alcohol, betel nut, and illegal drug/inhalant use increased steadily from adolescents who had experienced a trial runaway episode (one time lasting ≤ 1 day), to those with extended runaway experience (≥ 2 times or lasting > 1 day), when compared to those who had never ran away. Adolescents who had their first running away experience > 6 months previously had a greater risk of betel nut or illegal drug/inhalant use over the past 6-months than those with a similar experience within the last 6 months. Both alcohol and tobacco use were most frequently initiated before the first running away, whereas both betel nut and illegal drug/inhalant use were most frequently initiated after this event. When adolescents who were fleeing an unsatisfactory home life were compared to those who ran away for excitement, the risk of alcohol use was similar but the former tended to have a higher risk of tobacco, betel nut, and illegal drug/inhalant use.

Conclusions
More significant running away and a longer time since the first absconding experience were associated with more advanced substance involvement among adolescents now living in a family setting. Once adolescents had left home, they developed additional psychoactive substance problems, regardless of their reasons for running away. These findings have implications for caregivers, teachers, and healthcare workers when trying to prevent and/or intervening in adolescent substance use.