bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mediation of apoptosis by and antitumor activity of lumiliximab in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells and CD23+ lymphoma cell lines
Authors: Pathan Nuzhat I. , Chu Peter , Hariharan Kandasamy , Cheney Carolyn , Molina Arturo , Byrd John 
Published: November 2007

AbstractLumiliximab is a chimeric macaque-human monoclonal antibody to CD23, a protein expressed on virtually all chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. We examined the ability of lumiliximab to mediate apoptosis, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, and complement-dependent cytotoxicity against primary CLL cells and CD23-expressing B-cell lines. Our data suggest that lumiliximab kills CLL cells and CD23-expressing B cells predominantly by apoptosis, which occurs through the intrinsic pathway. Lumiliximab-induced apoptosis was accompanied by the down-regulation of antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, and XIAP, activation of Bax, and release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria. We also found that the addition of lumiliximab to rituximab or fludarabine results in synergistic cytotoxicity of primary CLL cells and CD23-expressing B-cell lines. We investigated the in vivo activity of lumiliximab in a human disseminated CD23+ B-cell lymphoma SCID mouse model and found greater antitumor activity with it than with control antibody. We also found that paralysis-free survival was greater with lumiliximab plus rituximab or fludarabine than with any of those agents alone. These results suggest that lumiliximab may be an effective treatment alone or in combination with rituximab or chemotherapy agents in CLL or other CD23-overexpressing B-cell malignancies.
Snoring in preschool children: prevalence, severity and risk factors
Authors: Kuehni C. E. , Strippoli M-P. F. , Chauliac E. S. , Silverman M. 
Published: November 2007

Epidemiological data on snoring from preschool children are scarce, although habitual snoring (snoring on almost all nights) has been associated with poor long-term outcomes.In a population survey of 6,811 children aged 1–4 yrs (from Leicestershire, UK) the present authors determined prevalence, severity and risk factors for snoring, especially habitual snoring.In 59.7% of the children, parents reported snoring in the previous 12 months, including 7.9% with habitual snoring and 0.9% with habitual snoring and sleep disturbance. Prevalence of habitual snoring increased with age from 6.6% in 1-yr-olds to 13.0% in 4-yr-olds. Habitual snoring was associated with: one and both parents smoking (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.46 and 2.09, respectively); road traffic (OR 1.23); single parent (OR 1.60); and in White but not South Asian children, socioeconomic deprivation (OR 1.25 and 2.03 for middle and upper thirds of Townsend score, respectively). Respiratory tract symptoms related to atopic disorders and to respiratory infections were strongly associated with snoring; however, body mass index was not.In conclusion, habitual snoring is common in preschool children with one-third of cases attributable to avoidable risk factors. The strong association with atopic disorders, viral infections and environmental exposures suggests a complex aetiology, based on a general vulnerability of the respiratory tract.
Genome-wide transcriptional analysis of grapevine berry ripening reveals a set of genes similarly modulated during three seasons and the occurrence of an oxidative burst at vèraison
Authors: Pilati Stefania , Perazzolli Michele , Malossini Andrea , Cestaro Alessandro , Demattè Lorenzo , Fontana Paolo , Dal Ri Antonio , Viola Roberto , Velasco Riccardo , Moser Claudio 
Published: November 2007

Abstract

Background
Grapevine (Vitis species) is among the most important fruit crops in terms of cultivated area and economic impact. Despite this relevance, little is known about the transcriptional changes and the regulatory circuits underlying the biochemical and physical changes occurring during berry development.

Results
Fruit ripening in the non-climacteric crop species Vitis vinifera L. has been investigated at the transcriptional level by the use of the Affymetrix Vitis GeneChip® which contains approximately 14,500 unigenes. Gene expression data obtained from berries sampled before and after véraison in three growing years, were analyzed to identify genes specifically involved in fruit ripening and to investigate seasonal influences on the process. From these analyses a core set of 1477 genes was found which was similarly modulated in all seasons. We were able to separate ripening specific isoforms within gene families and to identify ripening related genes which appeared strongly regulated also by the seasonal weather conditions. Transcripts annotation by Gene Ontology vocabulary revealed five overrepresented functional categories of which cell wall organization and biogenesis, carbohydrate and secondary metabolisms and stress response were specifically induced during the ripening phase, while photosynthesis was strongly repressed. About 19% of the core gene set was characterized by genes involved in regulatory processes, such as transcription factors and transcripts related to hormonal metabolism and signal transduction. Auxin, ethylene and light emerged as the main stimuli influencing berry development. In addition, an oxidative burst, previously not detected in grapevine, characterized by rapid accumulation of H2O2 starting from véraison and by the modulation of many ROS scavenging enzymes, was observed.

Conclusion
The time-course gene expression analysis of grapevine berry development has identified the occurrence of two well distinct phases along the process. The pre-véraison phase represents a reprogramming stage of the cellular metabolism, characterized by the expression of numerous genes involved in hormonal signalling and transcriptional regulation. The post-véraison phase is characterized by the onset of a ripening-specialized metabolism responsible for the phenotypic traits of the ripe berry. Between the two phases, at véraison, an oxidative burst and the concurrent modulation of the anti-oxidative enzymatic network was observed. The large number of regulatory genes we have identified represents a powerful new resource for dissecting the mechanisms of fruit ripening control in non-climacteric plants.
Squalestatin alters the intracellular trafficking of a neurotoxic prion peptide
Authors: Wilson Rona , Bate Clive , Boshuizen Ronald , Williams Alun , Brewer James 
Published: November 2007

Abstract

Background
Neurotoxic peptides derived from the protease-resistant core of the prion protein are used to model the pathogenesis of prion diseases. The current study characterised the ingestion, internalization and intracellular trafficking of a neurotoxic peptide containing amino acids 105–132 of the murine prion protein (MoPrP105-132) in neuroblastoma cells and primary cortical neurons.

Results
Fluorescence microscopy and cell fractionation techniques showed that MoPrP105-132 co-localised with lipid raft markers (cholera toxin and caveolin-1) and trafficked intracellularly within lipid rafts. This trafficking followed a non-classical endosomal pathway delivering peptide to the Golgi and ER, avoiding classical endosomal trafficking via early endosomes to lysosomes. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer analysis demonstrated close interactions of MoPrP105-132 with cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) and cyclo-oxygenase-1 (COX-1), enzymes implicated in the neurotoxicity of prions. Treatment with squalestatin reduced neuronal cholesterol levels and caused the redistribution of MoPrP105-132 out of lipid rafts. In squalestatin-treated cells, MoPrP105-132 was rerouted away from the Golgi/ER into degradative lysosomes. Squalestatin treatment also reduced the association between MoPrP105-132 and cPLA2/COX-1.

Conclusion
As the observed shift in peptide trafficking was accompanied by increased cell survival these studies suggest that the neurotoxicity of this PrP peptide is dependent on trafficking to specific organelles where it activates specific signal transduction pathways.
A focused antibody library for selecting scFvs expressed at high levels in the cytoplasm
Authors: Philibert Pascal , Stoessel Audrey , Wang Wei , Sibler Annie-Paule , Bec Nicole , Larroque Christian , Saven Jeffery G , Courtête Jérôme , Weiss Etienne , Martineau Pierre 
Published: November 2007

AbstractBackgroundIntrabodies are defined as antibody molecules which are ectopically expressed inside the cell. Such intrabodies can be used to visualize or inhibit the targeted antigen in living cells. However, most antibody fragments cannot be used as intrabodies because they do not fold under the reducing conditions of the cell cytosol and nucleus.ResultsWe describe the construction and validation of a large synthetic human single chain antibody fragment library based on a unique framework and optimized for cytoplasmic expression. Focusing the library by mimicking the natural diversity of CDR3 loops ensured that the scFvs were fully human and functional. We show that the library is highly diverse and functional since it has been possible to isolate by phage-display several strong binders against the five proteins tested in this study, the Syk and Aurora-A protein kinases, the αβ tubulin dimer, the papillomavirus E6 protein and the core histones. Some of the selected scFvs are expressed at an exceptional high level in the bacterial cytoplasm, allowing the purification of 1 mg of active scFv from only 20 ml of culture. Finally, we show that after three rounds of selection against core histones, more than half of the selected scFvs were active when expressedin vivoin human cells since they were essentially localized in the nucleus.ConclusionThis new library is a promising tool not only for an easy and large-scale selection of functional intrabodies but also for the isolation of highly expressed scFvs that could be used in numerous biotechnological and therapeutic applications.
Altering coenzyme specificity of Pichia stipitis xylose reductase by the semi-rational approach CASTing
Authors: Liang Ling , Zhang Jingqing , Lin Zhanglin 
Published: November 2007

AbstractBackgroundThe NAD(P)H-dependentPichia stipitisxylose reductase (PsXR) is one of the key enzymes for xylose fermentation, and has been cloned into the commonly used ethanol-producing yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae. In order to eliminate the redox imbalance resulting from the preference of this enzyme toward NADPH, efforts have been made to alter the coenzyme specificity of PsXR by site-directed mutagenesis, with limited success. Given the industrial importance of PsXR, it is of interest to investigate further ways to create mutants of PsXR that prefers NADH rather than NADPH, by the alternative directed evolution approach.ResultsBased on a homology model of PsXR, six residues were predicted to interact with the adenine ribose of NAD(P)H in PsXR and altered using a semi-rational mutagenesis approach (CASTing). Three rounds of saturation mutagenesis were carried to randomize these residues, and a microplate-based assay was applied in the screening. A best mutant 2-2C12, which carried four mutations K270S, N272P, S271G and R276F, was obtained. The mutant showed a preference toward NADH over NADPH by a factor of about 13-fold, or an improvement of about 42-fold, as measured by the ratio of the specificity constantkcat/Kmcoenzyme. Compared with the wild-type, thekcatNADHfor the best mutant was only slightly lower, while thekcatNADPHdecreased by a factor of about 10. Furthermore, the specific activity of 2-2C12 in the presence of NADH was 20.6 U·mg-1, which is highest among PsXR mutants reported.ConclusionA seemingly simplistic and yet very effective mutagenesis approach, CASTing, was applied successfully to alter the NAD(P)H preference forPichia stipitisxylose reductase, an important enzyme for xylose-fermenting yeast. The observed change in the NAD(P)H preference for this enzyme seems to have resulted from the altered active site that is more unfavorable for NADPH than NADH in terms of bothKmandkcat. There are potentials for application of our PsXR in constructing a more balanced XR-XDH pathway in recombinant xylose-fermentingS. cerevisiaestrains.
Recruitment of dendritic cells and macrophages during T cell-mediated synovial inflammation
Authors: Moghaddami Mahin , Cleland Leslie G , Radisic Gorjana , Mayrhofer Graham 
Published: November 2007

AbstractAdoptive transfer of adjuvant-induced arthritis was used in this study to examine local macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) during T cell-mediated synovial inflammation. We studied the influx of CD11b+CD11c+ putative myeloid DCs and other non-lymphoid CD45+ cells into synovium-rich tissues (SRTs) of the affected hind paws in response to a pulse of autoreactive thoracic duct cells. Cells were prepared from the SRTs using a collagenase perfusion-digestion technique, thus allowing enumeration and phenotypic analysis by flow cytometry. Numbers of CD45+ cells increased during the first 6 days, with increases in CD45+MHC (major histocompatibility complex) II+ monocyte-like cells from as early as day 3 after transfer. In contrast, typical MHC II- monocytes, mainly of the CD4- subset, did not increase until 12 to 14 days after cell transfer, coinciding with the main influx of polymorphonuclear cells. By day 14, CD45+MHC IIhi cells constituted approximately half of all CD45+ cells in SRT. Most of the MHC IIhi cells expressed CD11c and CD11b and represented putative myeloid DCs, whereas only approximately 20% were CD163+ macrophages. Less than 5% of the MHC IIhi cells in inflamed SRT were CD11b-, setting a maximum for any influx of plasmacytoid DCs. Of the putative myeloid DCs, a third expressed CD4 and both the CD4+ and the CD4- subsets expressed the co-stimulatory molecule CD172a. Early accumulation of MHC IIhiCD11c+ monocyte-like cells during the early phase of T cell-mediated inflammation, relative to typical MHC II- blood monocytes, suggests that recruited monocytes differentiate rapidly toward the DC lineage at this stage in the disease process. However, it is possible also that the MHC IIhiCD11c+ cells originate from a specific subset of DC-like circulating mononuclear cells.
Inflammation, endothelium, and coagulation in sepsis
Authors: Schouten Marcel , Wiersinga Willem Joost , Levi Marcel , van der Poll Tom 
Published: November 2007

AbstractSepsis is a systemic response to infection, and symptoms are produced by host defense systems rather than by the invading pathogens. Amongst the most prominent features of sepsis, contributing significantly to its outcome, is activation of coagulation with concurrent down-regulation of anticoagulant systems and fibrinolysis. Inflammation-induced coagulation on its turn contributes to inflammation. Another important feature of sepsis, associated with key symptoms such as hypovolemia and hypotension, is endothelial dysfunction. Under normal conditions, the endothelium provides for an anticoagulant surface, a property that is lost in sepsis. In this review, data about the interplay between inflammation and coagulation in sepsis are summarized with a special focus on the influence of the endothelium on inflammation-induced coagulation and vice versa. Possible procoagulant properties of the endothelium are described, such as expression of tissue factor (TF) and von Willebrand factor and interaction with platelets. Possible procoagulant roles of microparticles, circulating endothelial cells and endothelial apoptosis, are also discussed. Moreover, the important roles of the endothelium in down-regulating the anticoagulants TF pathway inhibitor, antithrombin, and the protein C (PC) system and inhibition of fibrinolysis are discussed. The influence of coagulation on its turn on inflammation and the endothelium is described with a special focus on protease-activated receptors (PARs). We conclude that the relationship between endothelium and coagulation in sepsis is tight and that further research is needed, for example, to better understand the role of activated PC signaling via PAR-1, the role of the endothelial PC receptor herein, and the role of the glycocalyx.
Two distinct activation states of plasmacytoid dendritic cells induced by influenza virus and CpG 1826 oligonucleotide
Authors: Iparraguirre Amaya , Tobias John W , Hensley Scott E , Masek Katherine S , Cavanagh Lois L , Rendl Michael , Hunter Christopher A , Ertl Hildegund C , von Andrian Ulrich H , Weninger Wolfgang 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThere is growing evidence that plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) are involved in the innate recognition of various microbes. However, the precise consequences of pathogen recognition on pDC activation and function are incompletely understood. Using a novel transgenic mouse model that facilitates the isolation of highly pure pDC populations, we found that influenza virus PR/8, a TLR7 ligand, and CpG 1826 oligonucleotide, a TLR9 ligand, induced surprisingly divergent activation programs in these cells. pDC stimulated with PR/8 produced large amounts of type I IFNs, and CpG 1826-stimulated pDC expressed higher levels of costimulatory molecules and proinflammatory cytokines and induced stronger proliferation of T cells. Transcriptome analysis uncovered the differential regulation in pDC of 178 and 1577 genes by PR/8 and CpG 1826, respectively. These differences may relate to the activation of discrete signaling pathways, as evidenced by distinct ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK phosphorylation kinetics. Finally, pDC isolated ex vivo during PR/8 infection or after i.v. CpG 1826 injection resembled their in vitro counterparts, corroborating that these cells can adopt specialized phenotypes in vivo. Thus, pDC display remarkable functional flexibility, which emphasizes their versatile functions in antimicrobial immunity and inflammatory processes.
A systemic granulomatous response toSchistosoma mansonieggs alters responsiveness of bone marrow-derived macrophages to Toll-like receptor agonists
Authors: Joshi Amrita D , Raymond Tracy , Coelho Ana L , Kunkel Steven L , Hogaboam Cory M 
Published: November 2007

AbstractMacrophages play a pivotal role in innate and acquired immune responses to Schistosoma mansoni. Classical (M1) or alternative (M2) activation states of these cells further delineate their roles in tissue damage through innate immunity or fibrotic remodeling, respectively. In the present study, we addressed the following question: Does systemic Th2-type cytokine polarization evoked by S. mansoni affect macrophage differentiation and activation? To this end, we analyzed bone marrow-derived macrophages from mice with S. mansoni egg-induced pulmonary granulomas and unchallenged (or naïve) mice to determine their activation state and their response to specific TLR agonists, including S. mansoni egg antigens. Unlike naïve macrophages, macrophages from Th2-polarized mice constitutively expressed significantly higher “found in inflammatory zone-1” (FIZZ1) and ST2 (M2 markers) and significantly lower NO synthase 2, CCL3, MIP-2, TNF-α, and IL-12 (M1 markers). Also, compared with naïve macrophages, Th2-polarized macrophages exhibited enhanced responses to the presence of specific TLR agonists, which consistently induced significantly higher levels of gene and protein levels for M2 and M1 markers in these cells. Together, these data show that signals received by bone marrow precursors during S. mansoni egg-induced granuloma responses dynamically alter the development of macrophages and enhance the TLR responsiveness of these cells, which may ultimately have a significant effect on the pulmonary granulomatous response.
Dose-Dependent Regulation of High-Density Lipoprotein Metabolism with Rosuvastatin in the Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Ooi Esther M. M. , Watts Gerald F. , Nestel Paul J. , Sviridov Dmitri , Hoang Anh , Barrett P. Hugh R. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractBackground: Low plasma concentration of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and a feature of the metabolic syndrome. Rosuvastatin has been shown to increase HDL cholesterol concentration, but the mechanisms remain unclear.Methods and Results: Twelve men with the metabolic syndrome were studied in a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial of 5-wk therapeutic periods with placebo, 10 mg/d rosuvastatin, or 40 mg/d rosuvastatin, with 2-wk placebo washout between each period. Compared with placebo, there was a significant dose-dependent increase in HDL cholesterol, HDL particle size, and concentration of HDL particles that contain apolipoprotein A-I (LpA-I). The increase in LpA-I concentration was associated with significant dose-dependent reductions in triglyceride concentration and LpA-I fractional catabolic rate, with no changes in LpA-I production rate. There was a significant dose-dependent reduction in the fractional catabolic rate of HDL particles containing both apolipoprotein A-I and A-II (LpA-I:A-II), with concomitant reduction in LpA-I:A-II production rate, and hence no change in LpA-I:A-II concentration.Conclusions: Rosuvastatin dose-dependently increased plasma HDL cholesterol and LpA-I concentrations in the metabolic syndrome. This could relate to reduction in plasma triglycerides with remodeling of HDL particles and reduction in LpA-I fractional catabolism. The findings contribute to understanding mechanisms for the HDL-raising effect of rosuvastatin in the metabolic syndrome with implications for reduction in cardiovascular disease.
The Risk of Second Primary Malignancies up to Three Decades after the Treatment of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Brown Aaron. P. , Chen Jergin , Hitchcock Ying J. , Szabo Aniko , Shrieve Dennis C. , Tward Jonathan. D. 
Published: November 2007

Abstract
Background: The 10-yr survival rate of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer exceeds 90%. These patients may be at elevated risk for secondary cancers.
Methods: The risk of nonthyroid second primary malignancies after differentiated thyroid cancer was determined in 30,278 patients diagnosed between 1973 and 2002 from centers participating in the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. Median follow-up was 103 months (range, 2–359 months). Risk was further assessed for the addition of radioisotope therapy, gender, latency to development of secondary cancer, and age at thyroid cancer diagnosis.
Results: There were 2158 patients who developed a total of 2338 nonthyroid second primary malignancies, significantly more than that expected in the general population [observed/expected (O/E) = 1.09; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05–1.14; P &lt; 0.05; absolute excess risk per 10,000 person-years (AER) = 6.39]. A significantly greater risk of second primary malignancies over that expected in the general population was for patients treated with radioisotopes (O/E = 1.20; 95% CI, 1.07–1.33; AER = 11.8) as well as for unirradiated patients (O/E = 1.05; 95% CI, 1.00–1.10; AER = 3.53). However, the increased risk was greater for the irradiated vs. the unirradiated cohort (relative risk = 1.16; 95% CI, 1.05–1.27; P &lt; 0.05). Gender did not affect risk. The greatest risk of second primary cancers occurred within 5 yr of diagnosis and was elevated for younger patients.
Conclusions: The overall risk of second primary malignancies is increased for thyroid cancer survivors and varies by radioisotope therapy, latency, and age at diagnosis.