Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Disease Biology, Small Molecules in Development of Therapeutic Drugs’ Category

Nitric Oxide and it’s impact on Cardiothoracic Surgery

Author, curator: Tilda Barliya PhD

 

In the past few weeks we’ve had extensive in-depth series about nitric oxide (NO) and it’s role in renal function and donors in renal disorders, coagulation, endothelium and hemostasis. This inspired this new post regarding the impact of NO on cardiothoratic surgery.  You can read and follow up on these posts here: http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/category/nitric-oxide-in-health-and-disease/

Atherosclerosis in the form of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects approximately eight million Americans, which includes 12 to 20% of individuals over the age of 65.  Approximately 20% of patients with PAD have typical symptoms of lower extremity claudication, rest pain, ulceration, or gangrene, and one-third have atypical exertional symptoms. Persons with PAD have impaired function and quality of life even if they do not report symptoms and experience a decline in lower extremity function over time. Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death in patients with intermittent claudication; the annual rate of cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes) is 5 to 7%.  Thus, PAD represents a significant source of morbidity and mortality. (1) (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/569812).

Several options exist for treating atherosclerotic lesions, including:

  • percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with and without stenting,
  • endarterectomy
  • bypass grafting

Unfortunately, patency rates for each of these procedures continue to be suboptimal secondary to the development of neointimal hyperplasia. A universal feature of all vascular surgical procedures is the removal of or damage to the endothelial cell monolayer that occurs whether the procedure performed is endovascular or open. This endothelial damage leads to a decreased or absent production of nitric oxide (NO) at the site of injury.

noendoschematic

he relationship between NO and the cardiovascular system has proven to be a landmark discovery, and the scientists credited for its discovery were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1998. Since its discovery, NO has proven to be one of the most important molecules in vascular homeostasis. In fact, the term endothelial dysfunction has now become synonymous with the reduced biologic activity of NO.

NO produced by endothelial cells has been shown to have many beneficial effects on the vasculature.

As described above,

  • NO stimulates vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) relaxation, which leads to vessel vasodilatation.  
  • NO has opposite beneficial affects on endothelial cells compared with VSMCs.
  • Whereas NO stimulates endothelial cell proliferation and prevents endothelial cell apoptosis,  it inhibits VSMC growth and migration  and stimulates VSMC apoptosis.  
  • NO also has many thromboresistant properties, such as inhibition of platelet aggregation, adhesion, and activation;  inhibition of leukocyte adhesion and migration;  and inhibition of matrix formation

 As stated before, the endothelial cell monolayer is often removed or damaged during the time of vascular procedures, which leads to a local decrease in the production of NO. It is now understood that this loss of local NO synthesis by endothelial cells at the site of vascular injury is one of the inciting events that allows platelet aggregation, inflammatory cell infiltration, and VSMC proliferation and migration to occur in excess, which, taken together, leads to neointimal hyperplasia.

Reendothelialization of the injured artery can restore proper function to the artery and potentially halt the restenotic process. Many studies have attempted to improve the patency of bypass grafts and stents by coating them with endothelial cells in the hope that this would restore the thromboresistant nature of native blood vessels.

Unfortunately, although it has been possible to coat these devices with endothelial cells, these cells do not behave like normal endothelial cells and their NO production is often diminished or absent. Because the vasoprotective properties of endothelial cells are largely carried out by NO alone, investigators are engaged in research to improve the bioavailability of NO at the site of vascular injury in an attempt to reduce the risk of thrombosis and restenosis after successful revascularization. The overall goal of using a NO-based approach is to reproduce the same thromboresistive moiety observed with normal NO production.

Why of delivering NO to the injured site:

  • Systemic delivery
  • Local delivery

Systemic Delivery

One simple mechanism by which to deliver NO to the body is via inhalational therapy. Inhaled NO has been used clinically in the past to selectively reduce pulmonary vascular resistance in patients with pulmonary hypertension, as well as a potential therapy for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Because the gas is delivered only to the pulmonary system and has a very short half-life, it was thought that there would be no systemic effects of the drug. Subsequently, studies in the mid- to late 1990s suggested that inhaled NO had beneficial antiplatelet and antileukocyte properties without adverse systemic side effects (2,3)

To test if inhaled NO had any beneficial systemic properties specifically on the vasculature, Lee and colleagues evaluated the effect of inhaled NO on neointimal hyperplasia in rats undergoing carotid balloon injury, Unfortunately, the treatment was required for the full 2 weeks to see any difference between the treatment and the control group, thereby limiting its clinical utility.

Despite some of the early animal studies, investigations with healthy human volunteers failed to reproduce these findings.I t was speculated that despite the obvious effects of inhaled NO on the pulmonary vasculature, systemic bioavailability could not be reliably achieved because of the immediate binding and depletion of NO by hemoglobin as soon as it entered the systemic circulation.

Hamon and colleagues tested the ability of orally supplementing l-arginine (2.25%), the precursor to NO, in the drinking water of rabbits to reduce the formation of neointimal hyperplasia after injuring the iliac arteries with a balloon.  This amount of l-arginine is approximately sixfold higher than normal daily intake. When the arteries were studied 4 weeks after injury, the l-arginine-fed group exhibited less neointimal hyperplasia and greater acetylcholine-induced relaxation compared with the control animals. The authors speculated that the improved outcomes were due to increased bioavailability of NO secondary to the l-arginine-supplemented diets. To test the ability of this supplemented diet to reduce neointimal hyperplasia in a vein bypass graft model, Davies and colleagues fed rabbits l-arginine (2.25%) 7 days prior to and 28 days after common carotid vein bypass grafts. A 51% decrease in the formation of neointimal hyperplasia was demonstrated in the l-arginine-fed groups, and their vein grafts exhibited preserved NO-mediated relaxation.

Despite some of the positive findings in animals, similar studies in humans have failed to show any benefit with l-arginine supplementation. Shiraki and colleagues studied the effects of short-term high-dose l-arginine on restenosis after PTCA.  Thirty-four patients undergoing cardiac catheterization and PTCA for angina pectoris received 500 mg of l-arginine administered through the cardiac catheter immediately prior to PTCA and 30 g per day of l-arginine administered via the peripheral vein for 5 days after PTCA. No significant statistical differences in restenosis were observed between the two groups (34% vs 44%). The authors speculated that the lack of effect was secondary to the fact that although the levels of l-arginine in the plasma increased significantly, NO and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) did not. (4)

Table 1.  Comparison of Different Nitric Oxide Donor Drugs Currently Used for Clinical or Research Purposes
Drug Mechanism of NO Release Unique Properties
Diazeniumdiolates Spontaneous when in contact with physiologic fluidsNO release follows first-order kinetics Stable as solidsVarious reliable half-lives depending on the structure of the nucleophile it is attached to
Nitrosamines can form as by-products
S-Nitrosothiols Copper ion-mediated decomposition Stable as a solid
Direct reaction with ascorbate Must be protected from light
Homeolytic cleavage by light Present in circulating blood
Potential for unlimited NO release
Sydnonimines Requires enzymatic cleavage by liver esterases to form active metabolite Stable as a solidMust be protected from light
Requires molecular oxygen as an electron acceptor Requires alkaline pHReleases superoxide as a by-product, which may have negative effects
l-Arginine Substrate for NOS genes Stable as a solid
Ease of administration
Dependent on presence of NOS for NO production
Sodium nitroprusside Requires a one-electron reduction to release NO Stable as a solid
Must be protected from light
Light can induce NO release Must be given intravenously
Releases cyanide as a by-product
Organic nitrates Either by enzymatic cleavage or nonenzymatic bioactivation with sulfhydryl or thiol groups Stable as a solid
Must be protected from light
Ease of administration
Development of tolerance limits efficacy
NO-releasing aspirin Require enzymatic cleavage to break the covalent bond between the aspirin and the NO moiety Stable as a solid
Ease of administration
Inherent benefits of aspirin also
Does not affect systemic blood pressure

Despite the ease of administration, the reliability of drug delivery, and the relative safety of these NO-donating drugs, there are limitations associated with systemic administration. One such limitation is that NO is rapidly inactivated by hemoglobin in the circulating blood, resulting in limited bioavailability. Furthermore, in attempts to increase the amount of drug delivered to obtain the desired clinical effect, unwanted systemic circulatory effects (eg, vasodilation) and unwanted hemostatic effects (eg, bleeding) often preclude administration of biologically effective doses of NO.

Because NO produces systemic side effects, lower doses of NO have been used in many of the human studies. One of the reasons for the differences observed between the animal studies and the human studies was the 10- to 50-fold lower doses of drugs used in the human studies compared with the animal studies. Thus, local delivery of NO may achieve improved results.

Local Delivery

The local delivery of drugs allows for the administration of the maximally effective dose of a drug without the unwanted systemic side effects. Because the target vessels are easily accessible during most vascular procedures, a local pharmacologic approach to administer a drug during the intervention can be easily performed.

Suzuki and colleagues performed a prospective, randomized, single-center clinical trial. (7)

The study population consisted of patients with symptomatic ischemic heart disease who were undergoing coronary artery stent placement. After stent deployment, l-arginine (600 mg/6 mL) or saline (6 mL) was locally delivered via a catheter over 15 minutes. The patients were followed with serial angiography and intravascular ultrasonography to assess for neointimal thickness for up to 6 months. The authors found that in the l-arginine-treated groups, there was slightly less neointimal volume, but this was not statistically significant.

Because it was not known if the addition of l-arginine actually translated to increased NO production, several studies have focused on the addition of NO donors directly to the site of injury.However, Critics of some of the highlighted animal studies point out that the evaluation of neointimal hyperplasia was performed radiographically, which could be subjectively biased. Furthermore, infusing the drug through a catheter for an extended period of time during the procedure to achieve an effect is not clinically feasible. Because of this, other studies have aimed to develop a clinically applicable approach to deliver NO locally to the site of injury.

  • Hydrogels
  • Vascular grafts
  • Gene therapy

represents another method by which to locally increase the level of NO at the site of vascular injury, tested in different multiple creative animal models. Thought, most of this studies shown great preliminary results, only the gene therapy moved forward into randomized clinical trial in humans using gene therapy to reduce neointimal hyperplasia.

In December 2000, the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee at the National Institutes of Health voted unanimously to proceed with the first phase of clinical evaluation of iNOS lipoplex-mediated gene transfer, called REGENT-1: Restenosis Gene Therapy Trial. (8). The primary objective of this multicenter, prospective, single-blind, dose escalation study was to obtain safety and tolerability information of iNOS-lipoplex gene therapy for reducing restenosis following coronary angioplasty. As of 2002, 27 patients had been enrolled overseas and the process had been determined to be safe. To date, no results have been published as it appears that this trial lost its funding and closed. On April 5, 2002, a notification was issued that the trial had been closed without enrolling any individuals in the United States.

Unfortunately, despite the promising findings shown with NOS therapy, the field of gene therapy has been mottled by two widely known complications. One case occurred as the result of administering a large viral load that led to the death of a patient. In addition, in France, there were at least two cases of malignancy following retroviral gene therapy.  (9)

Summary

Atherosclerosis in the form of coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease continues to be a major source of morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, the procedures and materials that are currently used to alleviate these disease states are temporary at best because of the inevitable injury to the native endothelium and the subsequent impairment of NO release. Since the discovery of NO and its role in vascular biology, a main focus in vascular research has been to create novel mechanisms to use NO to combat neointimal hyperplasia. To date, numerous animal studies have restored NO production to the vasculature and have shown that this inhibits neointimal hyperplasia, improves patency rates, and is safe to the animal. Clinical studies using these novel NO-releasing compounds in humans are on the horizon.

Ref:

1. Daniel A. Popowich, Vinit Varu, Melina R. Kibbe. Nitric Oxide: What a Vascular Surgeon Needs to Know. Vascular. 2007;15(6):324-335. (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/569812).

2.  Gries A, Bode C, Peter K, et al. Inhaled nitric oxide inhibits human platelet aggregation, P-selectin expression, and fibrinogen binding in vitro and in vivo Circulation 1998;97:1481-7.

3.  Lee JS, Adrie C, Jacob HJ, et al. Chronic inhalation of nitric oxide inhibits neointimal formation after balloon-induced arterial injury Circ Res 1996;78:337-42.

4.  Shiraki T, Takamura T, Kajiyama A, et al. Effect of short-term administration of high dose l-arginine on restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty J Cardiol 2004;44:13-20.

5. David A. Fullerton, MD, Robert C. McIntyre, Jr, MD. Inhaled Nitric Oxide: Therapeutic Applications in Cardiothoracic Surgery. Ann Thorac Surg 1996;61:1856-1864. http://ats.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/61/6/1856

6. Owen I.Miller,Swee Fong Tang, Anthony Keech,Nicholas B.Pigott, Elaine Beller and David S. Celemajer.  Inhaled nitric oxide and prevention of pulmonary hypertension after congenital heart surgery: a randomised double-blind study. The Lancet,2000:356; 9240 Pages 1464 – 1469,  http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(00)02869-5/abstract

7. Suzuki T, Hayase M, Hibi K, et al. Effect of local delivery of l-arginine on in-stent restenosis in humans Am J Cardiol 2002;89:363-7.

8. von der Leyen HE, Chew N. Nitric oxide synthase gene transfer and treatment of restenosis: from bench to bedside Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2006;62:83-89

9.  Barbato JE, Tzeng E. iNOS gene transfer for graft disease Trends Cardiovasc Med 2004;14:267-72.

10. E. Matevossian, A. Novotny, C. Knebel, T. Brill, M. Werner, I. Sinicina, M. Kriner, M. Stangl, S. Thorban, and N. Hüser. The Effect of Selective Inhibition of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase on Cytochrome P450 After Liver Transplantation in a Rat Model. Transplantation Proceedings 2008, 40, 983–985. http://211.144.68.84:9998/91keshi/Public/File/29/40-4/pdf/1-s2.0-S0041134508004181-main.pdf

Read Full Post »

Breakthrough Digestive Disorders Research: Conditions affecting the Gastrointestinal Tract.

Reporter: Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN

 

Forthcoming Electronic Book on

Metabolism and MetabolOMICS, 2013

Larry H. Bernstein, MD, FCAP and Ritu Saxena, Ph.D., Editors

Book will cover innovations in

  • Digestive Disorders GENOMICS,
  • Pharmaco-Therapy for gut infalmmation,
  • Genetic Immunology,
  • Enzymatic-therapy,
  • Bacterial infection in the gut and pharmaco-therapies
  • Cancer Biology and Therapy

of the following most common digestive disorders today

In the meantime, we are sharing the encouraging news, that is, that the symptoms of digestive disorders can be alleviated, and often completely eliminated, with the right combination of medication, dietary changes, exercise, weight loss, stress reduction and surgery.

It’s all detailed in an important new research report from Johns Hopkins — rated #1 of America’s best hospitals for 21 consecutive years 1991-2011 by U.S. News & World Report.

The 2013 Johns Hopkins Digestive Disorders White Paper

Johns Hopkins Digestive Disorders White Paper

Your Digestive Expert, H. Franklin Herlong, M.D. Adjunct Professor of MedicineJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine

The expertise you need, in language you can understand and use

In The 2013 Johns Hopkins Digestive Disorders White Paper, you will discover exciting advances and the most useful, current information to help you prevent or treat conditions affecting the digestive tract.

You’ll find a thorough overview of what the medical field knows about upper and lower digestive tract disorders (including everything from gastroesophageal reflux disease [GERD] to peptic ulcers, and irritable bowel syndrome to colorectal polyps) and conditions that affect the liver, gallbladder and pancreas.

You will learn how to prevent these diseases and, when symptoms arise, the best ways for you and your doctor to diagnose and treat them. The Johns Hopkins White Papers redefine the term “informed consumer.” In The 2013 Johns Hopkins Digestive Disorders White Paper, specialists from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine report in depth on the latest digestive disorders prevention strategies and treatments. Thousands of Americans rely on Johns Hopkins expertise to help them manage their digestive disorders.

In The 2013 Johns Hopkins Digestive Disorders White Paper you’ll get a thorough overview of what the medical field knows about the most common digestive disorders today. You’ll find a wealth of news you can use about:

  • Celiac disease
  • Constipation
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Diarrhea
  • Diverticulosis and diverticulitis
  • Gallstones
  • Gastritis
  • GERD
  • Hiatal hernia
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Ulcers

and more…

Timely Information Backed by Johns Hopkins Resources and Expertise

The symptoms of digestive disorders can be alleviated, and often completely eliminated, with the right combination of medication, dietary changes, exercise, weight loss, stress reduction and, as a last resort, surgery.

Learning as much as possible about the causes, effects and treatments for your digestive disorder is the first step toward living a fuller life with minimal discomfort and physical limitations.

The 2013 Johns Hopkins Digestive Disorders White Paper is designed to help you ensure the best outcome. Use what you learn to help you:

  • Recognize and respond to symptoms and changes as they occur.
  • Communicate effectively with your doctor, ask informed questions and understand the answers.
  • Make the right decisions, based on an understanding of the newest drugs, the latest treatments and the most promising research.
  • Take control over your condition and act out of knowledge rather than fear.

Tips for optimal digestive health

  • Maybe It’s Not “Just Heartburn”: Occasional heartburn can be treated with over-the-counter antacids. But if you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor to rule out more serious problems.
  • Should You Try Probiotics? Evidence is mounting that these “friendly bacteria” can help treat many digestive problems, such as IBS and Crohn’s disease. See how they work and are used, and whether they might relieve your gastrointestinal issues.
  • New Ways to Look Inside: The benefits and drawbacks of patient-friendly imaging tools including the “video pill” and virtual colonoscopy. How do state-of-the-art tools compare with established diagnostic exams?
  • Making Friends with Fiber: Getting enough dietary fiber is an easy way to prevent or treat a wide variety of digestive complaints. See which foods deliver the most fiber.
  • How to Avoid a Foodborne Illness: Follow these guidelines to choose, store, prepare and serve food in ways that minimize the health risks that result in 76 million infections and 325,000 hospitalizations annually.

SOURCE:

http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/contact_us/

Read Full Post »

Identification of Biomarkers that are Related to the Actin Cytoskeleton

Curator and Writer: Larry H Bernstein, MD, FCAP

Article I Identification of Biomarkers that are Related to the Actin Cytoskeleton

This is Part I in a series of articles on Calcium and Cell motility.

The Series consists of the following articles:

Part I: Identification of Biomarkers that are Related to the Actin Cytoskeleton

Larry H Bernstein, MD, FCAP

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2012/12/10/identification-of-biomarkers-that-are-related-to-the-actin-cytoskeleton/

Part II: Role of Calcium, the Actin Skeleton, and Lipid Structures in Signaling and Cell Motility

Larry H. Bernstein, MD, FCAP, Stephen Williams, PhD and Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/08/26/role-of-calcium-the-actin-skeleton-and-lipid-structures-in-signaling-and-cell-motility/

Part III: Renal Distal Tubular Ca2+ Exchange Mechanism in Health and Disease

Larry H. Bernstein, MD, FCAP, Stephen J. Williams, PhD
 and Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/09/02/renal-distal-tubular-ca2-exchange-mechanism-in-health-and-disease/

Part IV: The Centrality of Ca(2+) Signaling and Cytoskeleton Involving Calmodulin Kinases and Ryanodine Receptors in Cardiac Failure, Arterial Smooth Muscle, Post-ischemic Arrhythmia, Similarities and Differences, and Pharmaceutical Targets

Larry H Bernstein, MD, FCAP, Justin Pearlman, MD, PhD, FACC and Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/09/08/the-centrality-of-ca2-signaling-and-cytoskeleton-involving-calmodulin-kinases-and-ryanodine-receptors-in-cardiac-failure-arterial-smooth-muscle-post-ischemic-arrhythmia-similarities-and-differen/

Part V: Ca2+-Stimulated Exocytosis:  The Role of Calmodulin and Protein Kinase C in Ca2+ Regulation of Hormone and Neurotransmitter

Larry H Bernstein, MD, FCAP
and
Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/12/23/calmodulin-and-protein-kinase-c-drive-the-ca2-regulation-of-hormone-and-neurotransmitter-release-that-triggers-ca2-stimulated-exocytosis/

Part VI: Calcium Cycling (ATPase Pump) in Cardiac Gene Therapy: Inhalable Gene Therapy for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Percutaneous Intra-coronary Artery Infusion for Heart Failure: Contributions by Roger J. Hajjar, MD

Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/08/01/calcium-molecule-in-cardiac-gene-therapy-inhalable-gene-therapy-for-pulmonary-arterial-hypertension-and-percutaneous-intra-coronary-artery-infusion-for-heart-failure-contributions-by-roger-j-hajjar/

Part VII: Cardiac Contractility & Myocardium Performance: Ventricular Arrhythmias and Non-ischemic Heart Failure – Therapeutic Implications for Cardiomyocyte Ryanopathy (Calcium Release-related Contractile Dysfunction) and Catecholamine Responses

Justin Pearlman, MD, PhD, FACC, Larry H Bernstein, MD, FCAP and Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/08/28/cardiac-contractility-myocardium-performance-ventricular-arrhythmias-and-non-ischemic-heart-failure-therapeutic-implications-for-cardiomyocyte-ryanopathy-calcium-release-related-contractile/

Part VIII: Disruption of Calcium Homeostasis: Cardiomyocytes and Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells: The Cardiac and Cardiovascular Calcium Signaling Mechanism

Justin Pearlman, MD, PhD, FACC, Larry H Bernstein, MD, FCAP and Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/09/12/disruption-of-calcium-homeostasis-cardiomyocytes-and-vascular-smooth-muscle-cells-the-cardiac-and-cardiovascular-calcium-signaling-mechanism/

Part IXCalcium-Channel Blockers, Calcium Release-related Contractile Dysfunction (Ryanopathy) and Calcium as Neurotransmitter Sensor

Justin Pearlman, MD, PhD, FACC, Larry H Bernstein, MD, FCAP and Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN

Part X: Synaptotagmin functions as a Calcium Sensor: How Calcium Ions Regulate the fusion of vesicles with cell membranes during Neurotransmission

Larry H Bernstein, MD, FCAP and Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/09/10/synaptotagmin-functions-as-a-calcium-sensor-how-calcium-ions-regulate-the-fusion-of-vesicles-with-cell-membranes-during-neurotransmission/

Part XI: Sensors and Signaling in Oxidative Stress

Larry H. Bernstein, MD, FCAP

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/11/01/sensors-and-signaling-in-oxidative-stress/

Part XII: Atherosclerosis Independence: Genetic Polymorphisms of Ion Channels Role in the Pathogenesis of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction and Myocardial Ischemia (Coronary Artery Disease (CAD))

Larry H Bernstein, MD, FCAP and Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/12/21/genetic-polymorphisms-of-ion-channels-have-a-role-in-the-pathogenesis-of-coronary-microvascular-dysfunction-and-ischemic-heart-disease/

In this article the Author will cover two types of biomarker on the function of actin in cytoskeleton mobility in situ.

  • First, is an application in developing the actin or other component, for a biotarget and then, to be able to follow it as

(a) a biomarker either for diagnosis, or

(b) for the potential treatment prediction of disease free survival.

  • Second, is mostly in the context of MI, for which there is an abundance of work to reference, and a substantial body of knowledge about

(a) treatment and long term effects of diet, exercise, and

(b) underlying effects of therapeutic drugs.

1.  Cell Membrane (cytoskeletal) Plasticity

Refer to … Squeezing Ovarian Cancer Cells to Predict Metastatic Potential: Cell Stiffness as Possible Biomarker

Reporter/curator: Prabodh Kandala, PhD

New Georgia Tech research shows that cell stiffness could be a valuable clue for doctors as they search for and treat cancerous cells before they’re able to spread. The findings, which are published in the journal PLoS One, found that highly metastatic ovarian cancer cells are several times softer than less metastatic ovarian cancer cells. This study used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to study the mechanical properties of various ovarian cell lines. A soft mechanical probe “tapped” healthy, malignant and metastatic ovarian cells to measure their stiffness. In order to spread, metastatic cells must push themselves into the bloodstream. As a result, they must be highly deformable and softer. This study results indicate that cell stiffness may be a useful biomarker to evaluate the relative metastatic potential of ovarian and perhaps other types of cancer cells.

Comparative gene expression analyses indicate that the reduced stiffness of highly metastatic HEY A8 cells is associated with actin cytoskeleton remodeling and microscopic examination of actin fiber structure in these cell lines is consistent with this prediction.   The results suggest either of two approaches. Atomic Force Microscopy is not normally used by pathologists in diagnostics. Electron microscopy requires space for making and cutting the embedded specimen, and a separate room for the instrument. The instrument is large and the technique was not suitable for anything other than research initially until EM gained importance in Renal Pathology. It has not otherwise been used.  This new method looks like it might be more justified over a spectrum of cases.

A.  Atomic Force Microscopy

So the first point related to microscopy is whether AFM has feasibility for routine clinical use in the pathologists’ hands. This requires:

  1. suitable size of equipment
  2.  suitable manipulation of the specimen
  3. The question of whether you are using overnight fixed specimen, or whether the material is used unfixed
  4. Nothing is said about staining of cells for identification.
  5. Then there is the question about whether this will increase the number of Pathologist Assistants used across the country, which I am not against.   This would be the end of “house” trained PAs, and gives more credence to the too few PA programs across the country. The PA programs have to be reviewed and accredited by NAACLS (I served 8 years on the Board). A PA is represented on the Board, and programs are inspected by qualified peers.   There is no academic recognition given to this for tenure and promotion in Pathology Departments, and a pathologist is selected for a medical advisory role by the ASCP, and must be a Medical Advisor to a MLS accredited Program.   The fact is that PAs do gross anatomic dictation of selected specimens, and they do autopsies under the guidance of a pathologist. This is the reality of the profession today. The pathologist has to be in attendance at a variety of quality review conferences, for surgical morbidity and mortality to obstetrics review, and the Cancer Review. Cytopathology and cytogenetics are in the pathology domain.   In the case of tumors of the throat, cervix, and accessible orifices, it seems plausible to receive a swab for preparation. However, sampling error is greater than for a biopsy. A directed needle biopsy or a MIS specimen is needed for the ovary.

B.  identification of biomarkers that are related to the actin cytoskeleton

The alternative to the first approach is the identification of biomarkers that are related to the actin cytoskeleton, perhaps in the nature of the lipid or apoprotein isoform that gives the cell membrane deformability. The method measuring by Atomic Force Microscopy is shown with the current method of cytological screening, and I call attention to cells clustered together that have a scant cytoplasm surrounding nuclei occupying 1/2 to 3/4 of the cell radius.  The cells are not anaplastic, but the clumps are suggestive of glnad forming epithelium.

English: Animation showing 3-D nature of clust...

English: Animation showing 3-D nature of cluster. Image:Serous carcinoma 2a – cytology.jpg (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The cell membrane, also called the plasma memb...

The cell membrane, also called the plasma membrane or plasmalemma, is a semipermeable lipid bilayer common to all living cells. It contains a variety of biological molecules, primarily proteins and lipids, which are involved in a vast array of cellular processes. It also serves as the attachment point for both the intracellular cytoskeleton and, if present, the cell wall. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: AFM bema detection

AFM non contact mode

AFM non contact mode (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

C.  The diagnosis of ovarian cancer can be problematic because it can have a long period of growth undetected.

On the other hand, it is easily accessible once there is reason to suspect it. They are terrible to deal with because they metastasize along the abdominal peritoneum and form a solid cake. It is a problem of location and silence until it is late. Once they do announce a presence on the abdominal wall, there is probably a serous effusion. It was not possible to rely on a single marker, but when CA125 was introduced, Dr. Marguerite Pinto, Chief of Cytology at Bridgeport Hospital-Yale New Haven Health came to the immnunochemistry lab and we worked out a method for analyzing effusions, as we had already done with carcinoembryonic antigen.       The use of CEA and CA125 was published by Pinto and Bernstein as a first that had an impact.  This was followed by a study with the Chief of Oncology, Dr. Martin Rosman, that showed that the 30 month survival of patients post treatment is predicted by the half-life of disappearance of CA125 in serum.  At the time of this writing, I am not sure of the extent of its use 20 years later. History has taught us that adoption can be slow, depending very much on dissemination from major academic medical centers.  On the other hand, concepts can also be stuck at academic medical centers because of a rigid and unprepared mindset in the professional community.  The best example of this is the story of Ignaz Semmelweis, the best student of Rokitansky in Vienna for discovering the cause and prevention of childbirth fever at a time that nursemaids had far better results at obstetrical delivery than physicians.  Contrary to this, Edward Jenner, the best student of John Hunter (anatomist, surgeon, and physician to James Hume), discovered vaccination from the observation that milkmaids did not get smallpox (cowpox was a better alternative).
Only this year a Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to an Israeli scientist who, working in the US, was unable to convince his associates of his discovery of PSEUDOCRYSTALS. – Diagnostic efficiency of carcinoembryonic antigen and CA125 in the cytological evaluation of effusions. M M Pinto, L H Bernstein, R A Rudolph, D A Brogan, M Rosman Arch Pathol Lab Med 1992; 116(6):626-631 ICID: 825503 Article type: Review article – Immunoradiometric assay of CA 125 in effusions. Comparison with carcinoembryonic antigen. M M Pinto, L H Bernstein, D A Brogan, E Criscuolo Cancer 1987; 59(2):218-222 ICID: 825555 Article type: Review article – Carcinoembryonic antigen in effusions. A diagnostic adjunct to cytology. M M Pinto, L H Bernstein, D A Brogan, E M Criscuolo Acta Cytologica 1987; 31(2):113-118 ICID: 825557

Predictive Modeling

Ovarian Cancer a plot of the CA125 elimination half-life vs the Kullback-Liebler distance

Ca125 half-life vs Kullback Entropy                                                          HL vs Survival KM plot 

Troponin(s) T, I, C  and the contractile apparatus  (contributed by Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN)

 

For 2012 – 2013 Frontier Contribution in Cardiology on Gene Therapy Solutions for Improving Myocardial Contractility, see

Lev-Ari, A. 8/1/2013 Calcium Cycling (ATPase Pump) in Cardiac Gene Therapy: Inhalable Gene Therapy for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Percutaneous Intra-coronary Artery Infusion for Heart Failure: Contributions by Roger J. Hajjar, MD

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/08/01/calcium-molecule-in-cardiac-gene-therapy-inhalable-gene-therapy-for-pulmonary-arterial-hypertension-and-percutaneous-intra-coronary-artery-infusion-for-heart-failure-contributions-by-roger-j-hajjar/

For explanation of Conduction prior to Myocardial Contractility, see

Lev-Ari, A. 4/28/2013 Genetics of Conduction Disease: Atrioventricular (AV) Conduction Disease (block): Gene Mutations – Transcription, Excitability, and Energy Homeostasis

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/04/28/genetics-of-conduction-disease-atrioventricular-av-conduction-disease-block-gene-mutations-transcription-excitability-and-energy-homeostasis/

The contraction of skeletal muscle is triggered by nerve impulses, which stimulate the release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum—a specialized network of internal membranes, similar to the endoplasmic reticulum, that stores high concentrations of Ca2+ ions. The release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum increases the concentration of Ca2+ in the cytosol from approximately 10-7 to 10-5 M. The increased Ca2+ concentration signals muscle contraction via the action of two accessory proteins bound to the actin filaments: tropomyosin and troponin (Figure 11.25). Tropomyosin is a fibrous protein that binds lengthwise along the groove of actin filaments. In striated muscle, each tropomyosin molecule is bound to troponin, which is a complex of three polypeptides: troponin C (Ca2+-binding), troponin I (inhibitory), and troponin T (tropomyosin-binding).

  • When the concentration of Ca2+ is low, the complex of the troponins with tropomyosin blocks the interaction of actin and myosin, so the muscle does not contract.
  • At high concentrations, Ca2+ binding to troponin C shifts the position of the complex, relieving this inhibition and allowing contraction to proceed.

Figure 11.25

Association of tropomyosin and troponins with actin filaments. (A) Tropomyosin binds lengthwise along actin filaments and, in striated muscle, is associated with a complex of three troponins: troponin I (TnI), troponin C (TnC), and troponin T (TnT). In (more…)
Contractile Assemblies of Actin and Myosin in Nonmuscle Cells

Contractile assemblies of actin and myosin, resembling small-scale versions of muscle fibers, are present also in nonmuscle cells. As in muscle, the actin filaments in these contractile assemblies are interdigitated with bipolar filaments of myosin II, consisting of 15 to 20 myosin II molecules, which produce contraction by sliding the actin filaments relative to one another (Figure 11.26). The actin filaments in contractile bundles in nonmuscle cells are also associated with tropomyosin, which facilitates their interaction with myosin II, probably by competing with filamin for binding sites on actin.

Figure 11.26

Contractile assemblies in nonmuscle cells. Bipolar filaments of myosin II produce contraction by sliding actin filaments in opposite directions.

Two examples of contractile assemblies in nonmuscle cells, stress fibers and adhesion belts, were discussed earlier with respect to attachment of the actin cytoskeleton to regions of cell-substrate and cell-cell contacts (see Figures 11.13 and 11.14). The contraction of stress fibers produces tension across the cell, allowing the cell to pull on a substrate (e.g., the extracellular matrix) to which it is anchored. The contraction of adhesion belts alters the shape of epithelial cell sheets: a process that is particularly important during embryonic development, when sheets of epithelial cells fold into structures such as tubes.

The most dramatic example of actin-myosin contraction in nonmuscle cells, however, is provided by cytokinesis—the division of a cell into two following mitosis (Figure 11.27). Toward the end of mitosis in animal cells, a contractile ring consisting of actin filaments and myosin II assembles just underneath the plasma membrane. Its contraction pulls the plasma membrane progressively inward, constricting the center of the cell and pinching it in two. Interestingly, the thickness of the contractile ring remains constant as it contracts, implying that actin filaments disassemble as contraction proceeds. The ring then disperses completely following cell division.

Figure 11.27

Cytokinesis. Following completion of mitosis (nuclear division), a contractile ring consisting of actin filaments and myosin II divides the cell in two.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9961/

2.  Use of Troponin(s) in Diagnosis

Troponins T and I are released into the circulation at the time of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS).  Troponin T was first introduced by Roche (developed in Germany) for the Roche platform as a superior biomarker for identifying acute myocardial infarction (AMI), because of a monoclonal specificity to the cardiac troponin T.  It could not be measured on any other platform (limited license patent), so the Washington University Clinical Chemistry group developed a myocardiocyte specific troponin I that quickly became widely available to Beckman, and was adapted to other instruments.  This was intended to replace the CK isoenzyme MB, that is highly elevated in rhabdomyolysis associated with sepsis or with anesthesia in special cases.

The troponins I and T had a tenfold scale difference, and the Receiver Operator Curve Generated cutoff was accurate for AMI, but had significant elevation with end-stage renal disease.  The industry worked in concert to develop a high sensitivity assay for each because there were some missed AMIs just below the ROC cutoff, which could be interpreted as Plaque Rupture.  However, the concept of plaque rupture had to be reconsidered, and we are left with type1 and type 2 AMI (disregarding the case of post PCI or CABG related).   This led to the current establishment of 3 standard deviations above the lowest measureable level at 10% coefficient of variation.  This has been discussed sufficiently elsewhere.  It did introduce a problem in the use of the test as a “silver bullet” once the finer distinctions aqnd the interest in using the test for prognosis as well as diagnosis.   This is where the use of another protein associated with heart failure came into play – either the B type natriuretic peptide, or its propeptide, N-terminal pro BNP.  The prognostic value of using these markers, secreted by the HEART and acting on the kidneys (sodium reabsorption) has proved useful.  But there has not been a multivariate refinement of the use of a two biomarker approach.  In the following part D, I illustrate what can be done with an algorithmic approach to multiple markers.

Software Agent for Diagnosis of AMI

Isaac E. Mayzlin, Ph.D., David Mayzlin, Larry H. Bernstein, M.D. The so called gold standard of proof of a method is considered the Receiver-Operating Characteristic Curve, developed for detecting “enemy planes or missiles”, and adopted first by radiologists in medicine.  This matches the correct “hits” to the actual calssification and it is generally taught as a plot of sensitivity vs (1 – specifity).  But what if you had no “training” variable?  Work inspired by Eugene Rypka’s bacterial classification led to Rosser Rudolph’s application of the Entropy of Shannon and Weaver to identify meaningful information, referring to what was Kullback-Liebler distance as “effective information”.  This allowed Rudolph and Bernstein to classify using disease biomarkers obtaing the same results as the ROC curve using an apl program.  The same data set was used by Bernstein, Adan et al. previously, and was again used by Izaak Mayzlin from University of Moscow with a new wrinkle.  Dr. Mayzlin created a neural network (Maynet), and then did a traditional NN with training on the data, and also clustered the data using geometric distance clustering and trained on the clusters.  It was interesting to see that the optimum cluster separation was closely related to the number of classes and the accuracy of classification.  An earlier simpler model using the slope of the MB isoenzyme increase and percent of total CK activity was perhaps related to Burton Sobel’s work on CK-MB disappearance rate for infarct size. The main process consists of three successive steps: (1)       clustering performed on training data set, (2)       neural network’s training on clusters from previous step, and (3)       classifier’s accuracy evaluation on testing data. The classifier in this research will be the ANN, created on step 2, with output in the range [0,1], that provides binary result (1 – AMI, 0 – not AMI), using decision point 0.5. Table  1.  Effect  of  selection  of  maximum  distance  on  the  number  of  classes  formed  and  on  the accuracy of recognition by ANN

Clustering Distance Factor F(D = F * R) Number ofClasses Number of Nodes in The Hidden Layers Number of Misrecognized Patterns inThe TestingSet of 43 Percent ofMisrecognized
10.90.80.7 2414135 1,  02,  03,  01,  02,  03,  0 3,  2 3,  2 121121 1 1 2.34.62.32.34.62.3 2.3 2.3

Creatine kinase B-subunit activity in serum in cases of suspected myocardial infarction: a prediction model based on the slope of MB increase and percentage CK-MB activity. L H Bernstein, G Reynoso Clin Chem 1983; 29(3):590-592 ICID: 825549 Diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction from two measurements of creatine kinase isoenzyme MB with use of nonparametric probability estimation. L H Bernstein, I J Good, G I Holtzman, M L Deaton, J Babb.  Clin Chem 1989; 35(3):444-447 ICID: 825570 – Information induction for predicting acute myocardial infarction. R A Rudolph, L H Bernstein, J Babb. Clin Chem 1988; 34(10):2031-2038 ICID: 825568

Related articles

Related articles published on this Open Access Online Scientific Journal, include the following:

Calcium Cycling (ATPase Pump) in Cardiac Gene Therapy: Inhalable Gene Therapy for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Percutaneous Intra-coronary Artery Infusion for Heart Failure: Contributions by Roger J. Hajjar, MD

Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN 8/1/2013

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/08/01/calcium-molecule-in-cardiac-gene-therapy-inhalable-gene-therapy-for-pulmonary-arterial-hypertension-and-percutaneous-intra-coronary-artery-infusion-for-heart-failure-contributions-by-roger-j-hajjar/

High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin Assays- Preparing the United States for High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin Assays

Larry Bernstein, MD, FCAP 6/13/2013

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/06/13/high-sensitivity-cardiac-troponin-assays/

Dealing with the Use of the High Sensitivity Troponin (hs cTn) Assays

Larry Bernstein and Aviva Lev-Ari  5/18/2013

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/05/18/dealing-with-the-use-of-the-hs-ctn-assays/

Acute Chest Pain/ER Admission: Three Emerging Alternatives to Angiography and PCI – Corus CAD, hs cTn, CCTA

Aviva Lev-Ari  3/10/2013

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/03/10/acute-chest-painer-admission-three-emerging-alternatives-to-angiography-and-pci/

  • Redberg’s conclusions are correct for the initial screening. The issue has been whether to do further testing for low or intermediate risk patients.
  • The most intriguing finding that is not at all surprising is that the CCTA added very little in the suspect group with small or moderate risk.
  • The ultra sensitive troponin threw the ROC out the window
  • The improved assay does pick up minor elevations of troponin in the absence of MI.

Critical Care | Abstract | Cardiac ischemia in patients with septic …
Aviva Lev-Ari  6/26/2013
http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/06/26/critical-care-abstract-cardiac-ischemia-in-patients-with-septic/

  • refer to:  Cardiac ischemia in patients with septic shock randomized to vasopressin or norepinephrine

Mehta S, Granton J,  Gordon AC, Cook DJ, et al.
Critical Care 2013, 17:R117   http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/cc12789
Troponin and CK levels, and rates of ischemic ECG changes were similar in the VP and NE groups. In multivariable analysis

  • only APACHE II was associated with 28-day mortality (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01-1.14, p=0.033).

Assessing Cardiovascular Disease with Biomarkers

Larry H Bernstein, MD, FCAP 12/25/2012

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2012/12/25/assessing-cardiovascular-disease-with-biomarkers/

Vascular Medicine and Biology: CLASSIFICATION OF FAST ACTING THERAPY FOR PATIENTS AT HIGH RISK FOR MACROVASCULAR EVENTS Macrovascular Disease – Therapeutic Potential of cEPCs

Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN 8/24/2012

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2012/08/24/vascular-medicine-and-biology-classification-of-fast-acting-therapy-for-patients-at-high-risk-for-macrovascular-events-macrovascular-disease-therapeutic-potential-of-cepcs/

 PENDING Integration

  • ‘Ryanopathy’: causes and manifestations of RyR2 dysfunction in heart failureCardiovasc Res. 2013;98:240-247,
  • Up-regulation of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ uptake leads to cardiac hypertrophy, contractile dysfunction and early mortality in mice deficient in CASQ2Cardiovasc Res. 2013;98:297-306,
  • Myocardial Delivery of Stromal Cell-Derived Factor 1 in Patients With Ischemic Heart Disease: Safe and PromisingCirc. Res.. 2013;112:746-747,
  • Circulation Research Thematic Synopsis: Cardiovascular GeneticsCirc. Res.. 2013;112:e34-e50,
  • Gene and cytokine therapy for heart failure: molecular mechanisms in the improvement of cardiac functionAm. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.. 2012;303:H501-H512,
  • Ryanodine Receptor Phosphorylation and Heart Failure: Phasing Out S2808 and “Criminalizing” S2814Circ. Res.. 2012;110:1398-1402,

http://circres.ahajournals.org/content/110/5/777.figures-only

Read Full Post »

Telling NO to Cardiac Risk

DDAH Says NO to ADMA(1); The DDAH/ADMA/NOS Pathway(2)

Author-Writer-Reporter:  Stephen J. Williams, PhD

Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to be vasoprotective.  Nitric oxide enhances endothelial cell survival, inhibits excessive proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, regulates vascular smooth muscle tone, and prevents platelets from sticking to the endothelial wall.  Together with evidence from preclinical and human studies, it is clear that impairment of the NOS pathway increases risk of cardiovascular disease (3-5).

This post contains two articles on the physiological regulation of nitric oxide (NO) by an endogenous NO synthase inhibitor asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) and ADMA metabolism by the enzyme DDAH(1,2).  Previous posts on nitric oxide, referenced at the bottom of the page, provides excellent background and further insight for this posting. In summary plasma ADMA levels are elevated in patients with cardiovascular disease and several large studies have shown that plasma ADMA is an independent biomarker for cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality(6-8).

admacardiacrisk

admaeffects

Figure 1 A. Cardiac risks of ADMA B. Effects of ADMA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

ADMA Production and Metabolism

Nuclear proteins such as histones can be methylated on arginine residues by protein-arginine methyltransferases, enzymes which use S-adenosylmethionine as methyl groups.  This methylation event is thought to regulate protein function, much in the way of protein acetylation and phosphorylation (9).  And much like phosphorylation, these modifications are reversible through methylesterases.   The proteolysis of these arginine-methyl modifications lead to the liberation of free guanidine-methylated arginine residues such as L-NMMA, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetrical methylarginine (SDMA).

The first two, L-NMMA and ADMA, have been shown to inhibit the activity of the endothelial NOS.  This protein turnover is substantial: for instance the authors note that each day 40% of constitutive protein in adult liver is newly synthesized protein. And in several diseases, such as muscular dystrophy, ischemic heart disease, and diabetes, it has been known since the 1970’s that protein catabolism rates are very high, with corresponding increased urinary excretion of ADMA(10-13).  Methylarginines are excreted in the urine by cationic transport.  However, the majority of ADMA and L-NMMA are degraded within the cell by dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH), first cloned and purified in rat(14).

endogenous NO inhibitors from pubchem

Figure 2.  Endogenous inhibitors of NO synthase.  Chemical structures generated from PubChem.

DDAH

DDAH specifically hydrolyzes ADMA and L-NMMA to yield citruline and demethylamine and usually shows co-localization with NOS. Pharmacologic inhibition of DDAH activity causes accumulation of ADMA and can reverse the NO-mediated bradykinin-induced relaxation of human saphenous vein.

Two isoforms have been found in human:

  • DDAH1 (found in brain and kidney and associated with nNOS) and
  • DDAH2 (highly expressed in heart, placenta, and kidney and associated with eNOS).

DDAH2 can be upregulated by all-trans retinoic acid (atRA can increase NO production).  Increased reactive oxygen species and possibly homocysteine, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, can decrease DDAH activity(15,16).

  • The importance of DDAH activity can also be seen in transgenic mice which overexpress DDAH, exhibiting increased NO production, increased insulin sensitivity, and reduced vascular resistance  (17).  Likewise,
  • Transgenic mice, null for the DDAH1, showed increase in blood pressure, decreased NO production, and significant increase in tissue and plasma ADMA and L-NMMA.

amdanosfigure

Figure 3.  The DDAH/ADMA/NOS cycle. Figure adapted from Cooke and Ghebremarian (1).

As mentioned in the article by Cooke and Ghebremariam, the authors state: the weight of the evidence indicates that DDAH is a worthy therapeutic target. Agents that increase DDAH expression are known, and 1 of these, a farnesoid X receptor agonist, is in clinical trials

http://www.interceptpharma.com

An alternate approach is to

  • develop an allosteric activator of the enzyme.  Although
  • development of an allosteric activator is not a typical pharmaceutical approach, recent studies indicate that this may be achievable aim(18).

References:

1.            Cooke, J. P., and Ghebremariam, Y. T. : DDAH says NO to ADMA.(2011) Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology 31, 1462-1464

2.            Tran, C. T., Leiper, J. M., and Vallance, P. : The DDAH/ADMA/NOS pathway.(2003) Atherosclerosis. Supplements 4, 33-40

3.            Niebauer, J., Maxwell, A. J., Lin, P. S., Wang, D., Tsao, P. S., and Cooke, J. P.: NOS inhibition accelerates atherogenesis: reversal by exercise. (2003) American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology 285, H535-540

4.            Miyazaki, H., Matsuoka, H., Cooke, J. P., Usui, M., Ueda, S., Okuda, S., and Imaizumi, T. : Endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor: a novel marker of atherosclerosis.(1999) Circulation 99, 1141-1146

5.            Wilson, A. M., Shin, D. S., Weatherby, C., Harada, R. K., Ng, M. K., Nair, N., Kielstein, J., and Cooke, J. P. (2010): Asymmetric dimethylarginine correlates with measures of disease severity, major adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in patients with peripheral arterial disease. Vasc Med 15, 267-274

6.            Kielstein, J. T., Impraim, B., Simmel, S., Bode-Boger, S. M., Tsikas, D., Frolich, J. C., Hoeper, M. M., Haller, H., and Fliser, D. : Cardiovascular effects of systemic nitric oxide synthase inhibition with asymmetrical dimethylarginine in humans.(2004) Circulation 109, 172-177

7.            Kielstein, J. T., Donnerstag, F., Gasper, S., Menne, J., Kielstein, A., Martens-Lobenhoffer, J., Scalera, F., Cooke, J. P., Fliser, D., and Bode-Boger, S. M. : ADMA increases arterial stiffness and decreases cerebral blood flow in humans.(2006) Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation 37, 2024-2029

8.            Mittermayer, F., Krzyzanowska, K., Exner, M., Mlekusch, W., Amighi, J., Sabeti, S., Minar, E., Muller, M., Wolzt, M., and Schillinger, M. : Asymmetric dimethylarginine predicts major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with advanced peripheral artery disease.(2006) Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology 26, 2536-2540

9.            Kakimoto, Y., and Akazawa, S.: Isolation and identification of N-G,N-G- and N-G,N’-G-dimethyl-arginine, N-epsilon-mono-, di-, and trimethyllysine, and glucosylgalactosyl- and galactosyl-delta-hydroxylysine from human urine. (1970) The Journal of biological chemistry 245, 5751-5758

10.          Inoue, R., Miyake, M., Kanazawa, A., Sato, M., and Kakimoto, Y.: Decrease of 3-methylhistidine and increase of NG,NG-dimethylarginine in the urine of patients with muscular dystrophy. (1979) Metabolism: clinical and experimental 28, 801-804

11.          Millward, D. J.: Protein turnover in skeletal muscle. II. The effect of starvation and a protein-free diet on the synthesis and catabolism of skeletal muscle proteins in comparison to liver. (1970) Clinical science 39, 591-603

12.          Goldberg, A. L., and St John, A. C.: Intracellular protein degradation in mammalian and bacterial cells: Part 2. (1976) Annual review of biochemistry 45, 747-803

13.          Dice, J. F., and Walker, C. D.: Protein degradation in metabolic and nutritional disorders. (1979) Ciba Foundation symposium, 331-350

14.          Ogawa, T., Kimoto, M., and Sasaoka, K.: Purification and properties of a new enzyme, NG,NG-dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase, from rat kidney. (1989) The Journal of biological chemistry 264, 10205-10209

15.          Ito, A., Tsao, P. S., Adimoolam, S., Kimoto, M., Ogawa, T., and Cooke, J. P.: Novel mechanism for endothelial dysfunction: dysregulation of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase. (1999) Circulation 99, 3092-3095

16.          Stuhlinger, M. C., Tsao, P. S., Her, J. H., Kimoto, M., Balint, R. F., and Cooke, J. P. : Homocysteine impairs the nitric oxide synthase pathway: role of asymmetric dimethylarginine.(2001) Circulation 104, 2569-2575

17.          Sydow, K., Mondon, C. E., Schrader, J., Konishi, H., and Cooke, J. P.: Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase overexpression enhances insulin sensitivity. (2008) Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology 28, 692-697

18.          Zorn, J. A., and Wells, J. A.: Turning enzymes ON with small molecules. (2010) Nature chemical biology 6, 179-188

Other research papers on Nitric Oxide and Cardiac Risk  were published on this Scientific Web site as follows:

The Nitric Oxide and Renal is presented in FOUR parts:

Part I: The Amazing Structure and Adaptive Functioning of the Kidneys: Nitric Oxide

Part II: Nitric Oxide and iNOS have Key Roles in Kidney Diseases

Part III: The Molecular Biology of Renal Disorders: Nitric Oxide

Part IV: New Insights on Nitric Oxide donors

Cardiac Arrhythmias: A Risk for Extreme Performance Athletes

What is the role of plasma viscosity in hemostasis and vascular disease risk?

Cardiovascular Risk Inflammatory Marker: Risk Assessment for Coronary Heart Disease and Ischemic Stroke – Atherosclerosis.

Endothelial Dysfunction, Diminished Availability of cEPCs, Increasing CVD Risk for Macrovascular Disease – Therapeutic Potential of cEPCs

Biochemistry of the Coagulation Cascade and Platelet Aggregation – Part I

Nitric Oxide Function in Coagulation

Read Full Post »

Nanotech Therapy for Breast Cancer

Author/ Curator ; Tilda Barliya PhD

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide after lung cancer, the fifth most common cause of cancer death, and the leading cause of cancer death in women. The global burden of breast cancer exceeds all other cancers and the incidence rates of breast cancer are increasing (Jemel. A CA cancer J Clin 2010:60; 277-300). (Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology to coincide with the 2010 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposiumhttp://www.nature.com/nrclinonc/focus/breast-cancer/index.html).

The heterogeneity of breast cancers makes them both a fascinating and challenging solid tumor to diagnose and treat. Triple-negative breast cancers in particular are difficult to define—this tumor subgroup lacks expression of HER2, the estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor and do not respond to hormonal therapies or HER2-targeted therapies (owing to the lack of expression of these targets)—and these tumors are associated with a poor prognosis; thus, new systemic therapies are desperately needed. Luca Gianni and coauthors review the evidence for the biology of this subtype, which shares genetic and morphologic similarities with the basal-like breast cancer subtype but also represents a biologically distinct subtype that is heterogeneous. They also discuss potential treatment options, including poly(ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, which have shown promising efficacy and safety profiles in phase I and II clinical trials in patients with triple-negative breast cancer.

Breast cancers with a BRCA mutation leave the cell susceptible such that PARP inhibition combined with this genetic defect cannot repair DNA breaks resulting in cell death—an effect not observed in normal cells because the BRCA function compensates for PARP inhibition. Importantly, BRCA deficiency and sensitivity to PARP inhibition does not seem to be restricted to a particular histology but rather the BRCA genotype.

One of the greatest issues in oncology is tumor heterogeneity as well as the detection and validation of biomarkers that can aid in treatment decisions. As breast cancers represent a multitude of different diseases with intratumoral and intertumoral genetic and epigenetic alterations, the next challenge will be to understand how these defects arise during disease progression and learn more about the development of mechanisms of resistance to therapies. (Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology to coincide with the 2010 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposiumhttp://www.nature.com/nrclinonc/focus/breast-cancer/index.html).

Generally, breast tumors are categorized into four different stages based upon their size, location, and evidence of metastasis (www.cancer.org).  Treatment options are also determined by the stage, hormone  (ER/PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2/neu) and gene (BRCA1) Status of breast tumors.

Many different types of nano-delivery systems with different materials and physio-chemical properties have been developed for application in breast cancer. We previously discussed in depth the application of liposomal doxorubicin, albumin-bound paclitaxel (Abraxane) and I’d like to shift the discussion to a completely different player in breast cancer progression TNF alpha.

TNF-α

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is an important pro-inflammatory cytokine in the development and progress in human cancer and was shown to induce mammary tumors through through the activation of p42/p44 MAPK, JNK, PI3-K/Akt pathways (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18061162), (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21476000). Among its roles, TNF-α  is thought to be pro-angiogenic. Paradoxically, it is also a potent anti-vascular cytokine at higher doses (it was named for its anti-tumor activity) and can be used clinically to destroy tumor vasculature. More so TNF-alpha is able to initiate cellular apoptosis and it is possible that these apoptotic pathways are deactivated in tumor cells (http://jbiol.com/content/8/9/85)

Unfortunately, TNF-α has powerful and toxic systemic side effects and has only limited uses at present. Much work is under way to devise ways of targeting TNF-α specifically to tumors.

A nanoparticle delivery system, consisting of PEG coated gold nanoparticle loaded with TNF-α, was constructed to maximize the tumor damage and minimize the systemic toxicity of TNF-α (Visaria et al 2006; Visaria RK, Griffi n RJ, Williams BW, et al. 2006. Enhancement of tumor thermal therapy using gold nanoparticle-assisted tumor necrosis factoralpha delivery. Mol Cancer Ther, 5:1014–20). Combination of local heating and nanoparticle-based delivery of TNF-α resulted in enhanced therapeutic effi cacy than either treatment alone.

Thermally-induced tumor growth delay was enhanced by pretreatment with the nanoparticle, when given intravenously at the proper dosage and timing. Tumor blood fl ow suppression, as well as tumor perfusion defects, suggested vascular damage-mediated tumor cell killing. Surprisingly, following intravenous administration, little to no accumulation in the RES (eg, liver and spleen) or other healthy organs of the animals was observed (Paciotti et al 2004).

Phase I clinical trials of this conjugate, subsequently termed “CYT-6091” also known as Aurmine (CytImmune Scientific Inc)(http://www.cytimmune.com/go.cfm?do=page.view&pid=26) are currently ongoing to evaluate its safety, pharmacokinetics, and clinical efficacy.(Visaria et al 2007; Visaria R, Bischof JC, Loren M, et al. 2007. Nanotherapeutics for enhancing thermal therapy of cancer. Int J Hyperthermia, 23:501–11.), (www.cytimmune.com/download/posters/ASCO_Poster.pdf)

Both TNF-a and thiolated polyethylene glycol (PEG-Thiol) are independently bound to the surface of 27 nm colloidal gold particles.

Clinical Trial Protocol:

Aim: CYT-6091 was tested in a phase I open label trial in solid tumor, advanced stage patients.

Patients (n = 3/dose), admitted to the NIH Clinical Center ICU, received two IV injections of CYT-6091 on day 0 and 14. Dosing started at 50 µg/m2 of TNF, up to 600 µg/m2. Vital signs were monitored and blood samples were drawn over 48 h.

  • The primary endpoint of the study was to determine the MTD for CYT-6091.
  • Secondary endpoints included PK, disease response (staged 45 days post treatment by RECIST), and the detection of gold nanoparticles in tumors and in adjacent healthy tissue.

Results:

  • Twenty-nine patients were treated. Even at the lowest dose (50 µg/m2), patients exhibited a febrile response, which was mitigated by acetaminophen and indomethacin pretreatment. None of the 29 patients treated with doses of 50-600 µg/m2 showed a DLT hypotensive response, and in fact, no DLT was seen.
  • T1/2 estimates for TNF, administered as CYT-6091, are 120, 131, 127, 146, 112, 113, 266, 371, and 160 minutes for 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 600 µg/m2, respectively (published T1/2 for native TNF is ~27 minutes).
  • In the 28 patients eligible for response assessment, there was 1 PR (100 µg/m2 dose, 7 months duration) and 3 SD (2, 2, and 3 months duration). Electron micrographs show gold nanoparticles in tumor biopsies

Conclusions:

CYT-6091 is well tolerated at doses up to 600 µg/m2 of TNF, levels 3-times greater than the published MTD for native TNF. CYT-6091 targets tumors in humans. Efficacy studies in combination with chemotherapy are planned.

In summary, the phase I clinical trial used solid tumor patients to evaluate the safety of its use, breast cancer oncologists however, set their eyes on the target.

Ref:

1. Jemel. A CA cancer J Clin 2010:60; 277-300

2. Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology to coincide with the 2010 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposiumhttp://www.nature.com/nrclinonc/focus/breast-cancer/index.html

3. Visaria RK, Griffi n RJ, Williams BW, et al. 2006. Enhancement of tumor thermal therapy using gold nanoparticle-assisted tumor necrosis factoralpha delivery. Mol Cancer Ther, 5:1014–20

4. Visaria R, Bischof JC, Loren M, et al. 2007. Nanotherapeutics for enhancing thermal therapy of cancer. Int J Hyperthermia, 23:501–11.

5. http://nano.gov/sites/default/files/nanomedicine_-_tamarkin.pdf

Read Full Post »

Screen Shot 2021-07-19 at 7.15.40 PM

Word Cloud By Danielle Smolyar

Reporter/curator: Prabodh Kandala, PhD

New Georgia Tech research shows that cell stiffness could be a valuable clue for doctors as they search for and treat cancerous cells before they’re able to spread. The findings, which are published in the journal PLoS One, found that highly metastatic ovarian cancer cells are several times softer than less metastatic ovarian cancer cells.

This study used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to study the mechanical properties of various ovarian cell lines. A soft mechanical probe “tapped” healthy, malignant and metastatic ovarian cells to measure their stiffness. In order to spread, metastatic cells must push themselves into the bloodstream. As a result, they must be highly deformable and softer. This study results indicate that cell stiffness may be a useful biomarker to evaluate the relative metastatic potential of ovarian and perhaps other types of cancer cells.

ust as previous studies on other types of epithelial cancers have indicated, Sulchek also found that cancerous ovarian cells are generally softer and display lower intrinsic variability in cell stiffnesss than non-malignant cells.

Sulchek’s lab partnered with the molecular cancer lab of Biology Professor John McDonald, who is also director of Georgia Tech’s newly established Integrated Cancer Research Center.

“This is a good example of the kinds of discoveries that only come about by integrating skills and knowledge from traditionally diverse fields such as molecular biology and bioengineering,” said McDonald. “Although there are a number of developing methodologies to identify circulating cancer cells in the blood and other body fluids, this technology offers the added potential to rapidly determine if these cells are highly metastatic or relatively benign.”

Sulchek and McDonald believe that, when further developed, this technology could offer a huge advantage to clinicians in the design of optimal chemotherapies, not only for ovarian cancer patients but also for patients of other types of cancer.

Abstract of the study:

The metastatic potential of cells is an important parameter in the design of optimal strategies for the personalized treatment of cancer. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM), we show, consistent with previous studies conducted in other types of epithelial cancer, that ovarian cancer cells are generally softer and display lower intrinsic variability in cell stiffness than non-malignant ovarian epithelial cells. A detailed examination of highly invasive ovarian cancer cells (HEY A8) relative to their less invasive parental cells (HEY), demonstrates that deformability is also an accurate biomarker of metastatic potential. Comparative gene expression analyses indicate that the reduced stiffness of highly metastatic HEY A8 cells is associated with actin cytoskeleton remodeling and microscopic examination of actin fiber structure in these cell lines is consistent with this prediction. Our results indicate that cell stiffness may be a useful biomarker to evaluate the relative metastatic potential of ovarian and perhaps other types of cancer cells.

Ref:

1. Georgia Institute of Technology (2012, October 10). Squeezing ovarian cancer cells to predict metastatic potential: Cell stiffness as possible biomarker. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 8, 2012, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­/releases/2012/10/121010131556.htm

2. http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0046609

Read Full Post »

English: ATP producing pathways of glucose met...

English: ATP producing pathways of glucose metabolism in aerobic respiration (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Author: Larry H. Bernstein, MD, FCAP,  

Writer, Author, Responder Clinical Pathologist, Biochemist, and Transfusion Physician _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heterogeneity The heterogeneity is a problem that will take at least another decade to unravel because of the number of signaling pathways and the crosstalk that is specifically at issue. I must refer back to the work of Frank Dixon, Herschel Sidransky, and others, who did much to develop a concept of neoplasia occurring in several stages – minimal deviation and fast growing. These have differences in growth rates, anaplasia, and biochemical. This resembles the multiple “hit” theory that is described in “systemic inflammatory” disease leading to a final stage, as in sepsis and septic shock.

Tumor heterogeneity is problematic because of differences among the metabolic variety among types of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, confounding treatment response and prognosis. A group of investigators from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada who evaluated the feasibility and safety of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging–controlled transurethral ultrasound therapy for prostate cancer in humans. Their study’s objective was to prove that using real-time MRI guidance of HIFU treatment is possible and it guarantees that the location of ablated tissue indeed corresponds to the locations planned for treatment.  The real-time MRI guidance is an improvement in imaging technology.

The ability to allow resection with removal of the tumor, and adjacent tissue at risk is unproved, and is related to the length of remission.

See comment written for :

Knowing the tumor’s size and location, could we target treatment to THE ROI by applying…..

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2012/10/16/knowing-the-tumors-size-and-location-could-we-target-treatment-to-the-roi-by-applying-imaging-guided-intervention/

 

The Response vs. Recurrence Free Interval Conundrum

There is a difference between expected response to esophageal or gastric neoplasms both biologically and in expected response, even given variability within a class. The expected time to recurrence is usually longer in the latter case, but the confounders are –

  1. age at time of discovery,
  2. biological time of detection,
  3. presence of lymph node and/or
  4. distant metastasis, microscopic vascular invasion.

There is a long latent period in abdominal cancers before discovery, unless a lesion is found incidentally in surgery for another reason. The undeniable reality is that it is not difficult to identify the main lesion, but it is difficult to identify adjacent epithelium that is at risk (transitional or pretransitional). Pathologists have a very good idea about precancerous cervical neoplasia.

The heterogeneity rests within each tumor and between the primary and metastatic sites, which is expected to be improved by targeted therapy directed by tumor-specific testing. Despite rapid advances in our understanding of targeted therapy for GI cancers, the impact on cancer survival has been marginal. Brücher BLDM, Bilchik A, Nissan A, Avital I & Stojadinovic A. Can tumor response to therapy be predicted, thereby improving the selection of patients for cancer treatment?  Future Oncology 2012; 8(8): 903-906 , DOI 10.2217/fon.12.78 (doi:10.2217/fon.12.78)   The heterogeneity is a problem that will take at least another decade to unravel because of the number of signaling pathways and the crosstalk that is specifically at issue.

Anaerobic Glycolysis and Respiratory Impairment  In 1920, Otto Warburg received the Nobel Prize for his work on respiration. He postulated that cancer cells become anaerobic compared with their normal counterpart that uses aerobic respiration to meet most energy needs. He attributed this to “mitochondrial dysfunction. In fact, we now think that in response to oxidative stress, the mitochondrion relies on the Lynen Cycle to make more cells and the major source of energy becomes glycolytic, which is at the expense of the lean body mass (muscle), which produces gluconeogenic precursors from muscle proteolysis (cancer cachexia).

There is a loss of about 26 ATP ~Ps in the transition. The mitochondrial gene expression system includes the mitochondrial genome, mitochondrial ribosomes, and the transcription and translation machinery needed to regulate and conduct gene expression as well as mtDNA replication and repair. Machinery involved in energetics includes the enzymes of the Kreb’s citric acid or TCA (tricarboxylic acid) cycle, some of the enzymes involved in fatty acid catabolism (β-oxidation), and the proteins needed to help regulate these systems. The inner membrane is central to mitochondrial physiology and, as such, contains multiple protein systems of interest. These include the protein complexes involved in the electron transport component of oxidative phosphorylation and proteins involved in substrate and ion transport. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Mitochondrial Roles in Cellular Homeostasis Mitochondrial roles in, and effects on, cellular homeostasis extend far beyond the production of ATP, but the transformation of energy is central to most mitochondrial functions. Reducing equivalents are also used for anabolic reactions. The energy produced by mitochondria is most commonly thought of to come from the pyruvate that results from glycolysis, but it is important to keep in mind that the chemical energy contained in both fats and amino acids can also be converted into NADH and FADH2 through mitochondrial pathways.

The major mechanism for harvesting energy from fats is β-oxidation; the major mechanism for harvesting energy from amino acids and pyruvate is the TCA cycle. Once the chemical energy has been transformed into NADH and FADH2 (also discovered by Warburg and the basis for a second Nobel nomination in 1934), these compounds are fed into the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The hydroxyl free radical is extremely reactive. It will react with most, if not all, compounds found in the living cell (including DNA, proteins, lipids and a host of small molecules).

The hydroxyl free radical is so aggressive that it will react within 5 (or so) molecular diameters from its site of production. The damage caused by it, therefore, is very site specific. The reactions of the hydroxyl free radical can be classified as hydrogen abstraction, electron transfer, and addition. The formation of the hydroxyl free radical can be disastrous for living organisms. Unlike superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, which are mainly controlled enzymatically, the hydroxyl free radical is far too reactive to be restricted in such a way – it will even attack antioxidant enzymes. Instead, biological defenses have evolved that reduce the chance that the hydroxyl free radical will be produced and, as nothing is perfect, to repair damage. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Impairment Currently, some endogenous markers are being proposed as useful measures of total “oxidative stress” e.g., 8-hydroxy-2’deoxyguanosine in urine. The ideal scavenger must be non-toxic, have limited or no biological activity, readily reach the site of hydroxyl free radical production (i.e., pass through barriers such as the blood-brain barrier), react rapidly with the free radical, be specific for this radical, and neither the scavenger nor its product(s) should undergo further metabolism. Nitric oxide has a single unpaired electron in its π*2p antibonding orbital and is therefore paramagnetic. This unpaired electron also weakens the overall bonding seen in diatomic nitrogen molecules so that the nitrogen and oxygen atoms are joined by only 2.5 bonds. The structure of nitric oxide is a resonance hybrid of two forms. In living organisms nitric oxide is produced enzymatically. Microbes can generate nitric oxide by the reduction of nitrite or oxidation of ammonia.

In mammals nitric oxide is produced by stepwise oxidation of L-arginine catalyzed by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Nitric oxide is formed from the guanidino nitrogen of the L-arginine in a reaction that consumes five electrons and requires flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), flavin mononucleotide (FMN) tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), and iron protoporphyrin IX as cofactors. The primary product of NOS activity may be the nitroxyl anion that is then converted to nitric oxide by electron acceptors. The thiol-disulfide redox couple is very important to oxidative metabolism. GSH is a reducing cofactor for glutathione peroxidase, an antioxidant enzyme responsible for the destruction of hydrogen peroxide.

Thiols and disulfides can readily undergo exchange reactions, forming mixed disulfides. Thiol-disulfide exchange is biologically very important. For example, GSH can react with protein cystine groups and influence the correct folding of proteins, and it GSH may play a direct role in cellular signaling through thiol-disulfide exchange reactions with membrane bound receptor proteins (e.g., the insulin receptor complex), transcription factors (e.g., nuclear factor κB), and regulatory proteins in cells. Conditions that alter the redox status of the cell can have important consequences on cellular function.  So the complexity of life is not yet unravelled.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Warburgh Effect

Cells seem to be well-adjusted to glycolysis. While Otto Warburg first proposed that cancer cells show increased levels of glucose consumption and lactate fermentation even in the presence of ample oxygen (known as “Warburg Effect”), which requires oxidative phosphorylation to switch to glycolysis promoting the proliferation of cancer cells., many studies have demonstrated glycolysis as the main metabolic pathway in cancer cells. It is now accepted that glycolysis provides cancer cells with the most abundant extracellular nutrient, glucose, to make ample ATP metabolic intermediates, such as ribose sugars, glycerol and citrate, nonessential amino acids, and the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway, which serve as building blocks for cancer cells.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dampened Mitochondrial Respiration
Since, cancer cells have increased rates of aerobic glycolysis, investigators argue over the function of mitochondria in cancer cells. Mitochondrion, a one of the smaller organelles, produces most of the energy in the form of ATP to supply the body. In Warburg’s theory, the function of cellular mitochondrial respiration is dampened and mitochondria are not fully functional. There are many studies backing this theory. A recent review on hypoxia nicely summarizes some current studies and speculates that the “Warburg Effect” provides a benefit to the tumor not by increasing glycolysis but by decreasing mitochondrial activity.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Glycolysis
Glycolysis is enhanced and beneficial to cancer cells. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has been well discussed in its role to promote glycolysis; recent literature has revealed some new mechanisms of how glycolysis is promoted during skin cancer development.

On the other hand, Akt is not only involved in the regulation of mitochondrial metabolism in skin cancer but also of glycolysis. Activation of Akt has been found to phosphorylate FoxO3a, a downstream transcription factor of Akt, which promotes glycolysis by inhibiting apoptosis in melanoma. In addition, activated Akt is also associated with stabilized c-Myc and activation of mTOR, which both increase glycolysis for cancer cells.
Nevertheless, ras mutational activation prevails in skin cancer. Oncogenic ras induces glycolysis. In human squamous cell carcinoma, the c-Jun NH(2)-terminal Kinase (JNK) is activated as a mediator of ras signaling, and is essential for ras-induced glycolysis, since pharmacological inhibitors if JNK suppress glycolysis. CD147/basigin, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, is high expressed in melanoma and other cancers.
Glyoxalase I (GLO1) is a ubiquitous cellular defense enzyme involved in the detoxification of methylglyoxal, a cytotoxic byproduct of glycolysis. In human melanoma tissue, GLO1 is upregulated at both the mRNA and protein levels.
Knockdown of GLO1 sensitizes A375 and G361 human metastatic melanoma cells to apoptosis.
The transcription factor HIF-1 upregulates a number of genes in low oxygen conditions including glycolytic enzymes, which promotes ATP synthesis in an oxygen independent manner. Studies have demonstrated that hypoxia induces HIF-1 overexpression and its transcriptional activity increases in parallel with the progression of many tumor types. A recent study demonstrated that in malignant melanoma cells, HIF-1 is upregulated, leading to elevated expression of Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase 1 (PDK1), and downregulated mitochondrial oxygen consumption.
The M2 isoform of Pyruvate Kinase (PKM2), which is required for catalyzing the final step of aerobic glycolysis, is highly expressed in cancer cells; whereas the M1 isoform (PKM1) is expressed in normal cells. Studies using the skin cell promotion model (JB6 cells) demonstrated that PKM2 is activated whereas PKM1 is inactivated upon tumor promoter treatment. Acute increases in ROS inhibited PKM2 through oxidation of Cys358 in human lung cancer cells. The levels of ROS and stage of tumor development may be pivotal for the role of PKM2.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dampening Mitochondrial Both Cause and Effect 

Warburg effect is both, a cause and effect of cancer…Review article mentioned in link below explains how different factors can contribute to metabolic reprogramming and Warburg effect….The Supply-based model and Traditional model clearly explains how the cancer cells will progress during different availability of growth factors and nutrients…And recent studies including my project (under process of getting published) will also suggest that growth factors can drive cancer cells to undergo Warburg effect regardless of the presence of oxygen…

Otto Warburg proposed that “EVEN IN THE PRESENCE OF OXYGEN, cancer cells can reprogram their glucose metabolism, and thus their energy production, by limiting their energy metabolism largely to glycolysis” . http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

Metabolic reprogramming: a cancer hallmark even warburg did not anticipate (Ward & Thompson) Posted by Nirav Patel

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The autophagic tumor stroma model of cancer metabolism.
Cancer cells induce oxidative stress in adjacent cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). This activates reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and autophagy. ROS production in CAFs, via the bystander eff ect, serves to induce random mutagenesis in epithelial cancer cells, leading to double-strand DNA breaks and aneuploidy. Cancer cells mount an anti-oxidant defense and upregulate molecules that protect them against ROS and autophagy, preventing them from undergoing apoptosis. So, stromal fibroblasts conveniently feed and mutagenize cancer cells, while protecting them against death. See the text for more details. A+, autophagy positive; A-, autophagy negative; AR, autophagy resistant.

1. Recycled Nutrients
2. Random Mutagenesis
3. Protection Against Apoptosis

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The reverse Warburg effect.
Via oxidative stress, cancer cells activate two major transcription factors in adjacent stromal fibroblasts (hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)1α and NFκB).
This leads to the onset of both autophagy and mitophagy, as well as aerobic glycolysis, which then produces recycled nutrients (such as lactate, ketones, and glutamine).
These high-energy chemical building blocks can then be transferred and used as fuel in the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) in adjacent cancer cells.
The outcome is high ATP production in cancer cells, and protection against cell death. ROS, reactive oxygen species.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The choline dependent methylation of PP2A is the brake, the “antidote”, which limits “the poison” resulting from an excess of insulin signaling. Moreover, it seems that choline deficiency is involved in the L to M2 transition of PK isoenzymes. The negative regulation of Ras/MAP kinase signals mediated by PP2A phosphatase seems to be complex.

The serine-threonine phosphatase does more than simply counteracting kinases; it binds to the intermediate Shc protein on the signaling cascade, which is inhibited. The targeting of PP2A towards proteins of the signaling pathway depends of the assembly of the different holoenzymes.

The relative decrease of methylated PP2A in the cytosol, not only cancels the brake over the signaling kinases, but also favors the inactivation of PK and PDH, which remain phosphorylated, contributing to the metabolic anomaly of tumor cells. In order to prevent tumors, one should then favor the methylation route rather than the phosphorylation route for choline metabolism.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Martin Canazales observes….

(http://www.cellsignal.com/reference/pathway/warburg_effect.html), is responsible of overactivation of the PI3K…

the produced peroxide via free radicals over activate the cyclooxigenase and consequently the PI3K pathway, thereby activating  the most important protein-kinase.  This brakes the Warburg effect, and stops the PI3K activation.

(http://www.cellsignal.com/reference/pathway/Akt_PKB.html)

Then all the cancer protein related with the generation of tumor (pAKT,pP70S6K, Cyclin D1, HIF1, VEGF, EGFrc, GSK, Myc, etc, etc, etc)  get down regulated. That is what happens when one knocks down the new protein-kinase in pancreatic cancer cell lines.  These pancreatic cancer cell lines divide very-very-very slowly.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I now transition from what is understood about the metabolic signatures of cancer that tend to behave more alike than the cell of origin, but not initially.  This is perhaps a key to therapeutics.  >>>

Time of intervention>>> and right intervention.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Can tumor response to therapy be predicted, thereby improving the selection of patients for cancer treatment? The goal is not just complete response. Histopathological response seems to be related post-treatment histopathological assessment but it is not free from the challenge of accurately determining treatment response, as this method cannot delineate whether or not there are residual cancer cells. Functional imaging to assess metabolic response by 18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET also has its limits, as the results are impacted significantly by several variables:

  1. tumor type
  2. sizing
  3. doubling time
  4. anaplasia?
  5. extent of tumor necrosis
  6. presence of tumor at the margin of biopsy
  7. lymph node and/or distant metastasis
  8. vascular involvement
  9. type of antitumor therapy and the time when response was determined.

The new modality should be based on individualized histopathology as well as tumor molecular, genetic and functional characteristics, and individual patients’ characteristics, a greater challenge in an era of ‘minimally invasive treatment’. This has been pointed out by Brücher et al. if the International Consortium on Cancer with respect to the shortcoming of MIS as follows: Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) vs. conventional surgery dissection applied to cancer tissue with the known pathophysiology of recurrence and remission cycles has its short term advantages.

  1. in many cases MIS is not the right surgical decision
  2. predicting the uncertain future behavior of the tumor with respect to its response to therapeutics bears uncertain outcomes.

An increase in the desirable outcomes of MIS as a modality of treatment, will be assisted in the future, when anticipated progress is made in the field of

  • Cancer Research,
  • Translational Medicine and
  • Personalized Medicine,

when each of the cancer types, above,  will already have a Genetic Marker allowing the Clinical Team to use the marker(s) for:

  • prediction of Patient’s reaction to Drug induction
  • design of Clinical Trials to validate drug efficacy on small subset of patients predicted to react favorable to drug regimen, increasing validity and reliability
  • Genetical identification of patients at no need to have a drug administered if non sensitivity to the drug has been predicted by the genetic marker.

See listing of cancers provided by Dr. Aviva Lev-Ari.

Lev-Ari A. Personalized Medicine: Cancer Cell Biology and Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS). ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ See comment: 

Judging the ‘Tumor response’-there is more food for thought 

 

That is an optimistic order to effectively carry out in the face of the statistical/mathematical challenge imposed for any real success.

Brücher BLDM, Bilchik A, Nissan A, Avital I & Stojadinovic A. Can tumor response to therapy be predicted, thereby improving the selection of patients for cancer treatment?  Future Oncology 2012; 8(8): 903-906 , DOI 10.2217/fon.12.78 (doi:10.2217/fon.12.78) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ A Model Based on Kullback Entropy and Identifying and Classifying Anomalies This listing suggests that for every cancer the following data has to be collected (except doubling time). If there are 8 variables, the classification based on these alone would calculate to be very sizable based on Eugene Rypka’s feature extraction and classification. But looking forward,

Treatment for cure is not the endpoint, but the best that can be done is to extend the time of survival to a realistic long term goal and retain a quality of life. Brücher BLDM, Piso P, Verwaal V et al. Peritoneal carcinomatosis: overview and basics. Cancer Invest.30(3),209–224 (2012). Brücher BLDM, Swisher S, Königsrainer A et al. Response to preoperative therapy in upper gastrointestinal cancers. Ann. Surg. Oncol.16(4),878–886 (2009). Miller AB, Hoogstraten B, Staquet M, Winkler A. Reporting results of cancer treatment. Cancer47(1),207–214 (1981). Therasse P, Arbuck SG, Eisenhauer EA et al. New guidelines to evaluate the response to treatment in solid tumors. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, National Cancer Institute of the United States, National Cancer Institute of Canada. J. Natl Cancer Inst.92(3),205–216 (2000). Brücher BLDM, Becker K, Lordick F et al. The clinical impact of histopathological response assessment by residual tumor cell quantification in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas. Cancer106(10),2119–2127 (2006). _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The critical question encountered by the pathologist is that key histological stains have been used for some time, such as Her2, and a number of others to establish tumor cell type, and differences with cell types.  The number will grow as the genomic identifiers are explored and put to use.  It doesn’t appear that the pathologist will be displaced any time soon.  This is separate from older observations of nuclear polymorphism, anaplastic changes related to cell adhesion, etc.  These do not displace the information gained from staging criteria.  Clearly, there is much information that is used for individual decisions about therapeutic approach, which will undergo further refinement even before the end of this decade.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Melanoma Example A marker for increased glycolysis in melanoma is the elevated levels of Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) in the blood of patients with melanoma, which has proven to be an accurate predictor of prognosis and response to treatments. LDH converts pyruvate, the final product of glycolysis, to lactate when oxygen is absent. High concentrations of lactate, in turn, negatively regulate LDH. Therefore, targeting acid excretion may provide a feasible and effective therapeutic approach for melanoma. For instance, JugloSne, a main active component in walnut, has been used in traditional medicines.

Studies have shown that Juglone causes cell membrane damage and increased LDH levels in a concentration-dependent manner in cultured melanoma cells. As one of the rate-limiting enzyme of glycolysis, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase isozyme 3 (PFKFB3) is activated in neoplastic cells. Studies have confirmed that an inhibitor of PFKFB3, 3-(3-pyridinyl)-1-(4-pyridinyl)-2-propen-1-one (3PO), suppresses glycolysis in neoplastic cells. In melanoma cell lines, the concentrations of Fru-2, 6-BP, lactate, ATP, NAD+, and NADH are diminished by 3PO. Therefore, targeting PFKFB3 using 3PO and other PFKFB3 specific inhibitors could be effective in melanoma chemotherapy.

This is only one example of the encouraging results from targeted therapy. An unexplored idea was provided to me that is interesting and be highly conditional, by loading with high concentrations of ketones to offset the glycolytic pathway redirected bypass of mitochondrial pathways.  There is an inherent problem with muscle proteolysis raising the glucose level from gluconeogenesis. The effect is uncertain with respect to TCA cycle intermediates. It seems plausible that cure is not necessarily attainable due to inability to identify portions of proximate local tumor, modification and drug resistance. The reliable extension of disease free survival and maintaining a patient acceptable quality of life is improvable. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ward PS, Thompson CB. Metabolic Reprogramming: A Cancer Hallmark Even Warburg Did Not Anticipate. Cancer Cell. 2012; 21(3):297-308.

  1. Quiescent versus Proliferating Cells: Both Use Mitochondria, but to Different Ends
  2. Altered Metabolism Is a Direct Response to Growth-Factor Signaling
  3. PI3K/Akt/mTORC1 Activation: Driving Anabolic Metabolism and Tumorigenesis by Reprogramming Mitochondria

Full-size image (51 K) Bhowmick NA. Metastatic Ability: Adapting to a Tissue Site Unseen.  Cancer Cell  2012; 22(5): 563-564. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Therapeutic strategies that target glycolysis and biosynthetic pathways in cancer cells are currently the main focus of research in the field of cancer metabolism. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Hitosugi and colleagues show that targeting PGAM1 could be a way of “killing two birds with one stone”. Chaneton B, Gottlieb E. PGAMgnam Style: A Glycolytic Switch Controls Biosynthesis. Cancer Cell 2012; 22(5): 565-566. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Polycomb epigenetic silencing protein EZH2 is affected by gain-of-function somatic mutations in B cell lymphomas. Two recent reports describe the development of highly selective EZH2 inhibitors and reveal mutant EZH2 as playing an essential role in maintaining lymphoma proliferation. EZH2 inhibitors are thus a promising new targeted therapy for lymphoma. Melnick A. Epigenetic Therapy Leaps Ahead with Specific Targeting of EZH2. Cancer Cell 22(5): 569-570. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The microenvironment of the primary as well as the metastatic tumor sites can determine the ability for a disseminated tumor to progress. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Calon and colleagues find that systemic TGF-β can facilitate colon cancer metastatic engraftment and expansion. Calon A, Espinet E, Palomo-Ponce S, Tauriello DVF, et al.  Dependency of Colorectal Cancer on a TGF-β-Driven Program in Stromal Cells for Metastasis Initiation.  Cancer Cell 2012;22(5): 571-584. image

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ An analysis of what is possible, but who knows how far into the accelerating future? Tumor response criteria: are they appropriate? The International Consortium is centered at the Billroth Institute, in Munich. Interesting it is that Billroth was the father of abdominal surgery and performed the first esophagectomy and the firat gastrectomy. He also pioneered in keeping a record of treatments and outcomes in the 19th century, which Halsted studied. I need not repeat what has been stated in the post. The pathologist’s role is still important, as the editorial in Future Oncology gets at.  This also requires necessary and sufficient features to extract differentiating classifiers.  I don’t think we shall see pathologists the likes of many who were masters until the 1990′s. The surgical pathologist today cannot have complete command of the large knowledge base, but the tumor registry and the cancer committee has evolved to a better stage than in the 1960′s. Surgical grand rounds have been used for teaching and evaluating the practice since at least the 1960′s. What is asked is that we go beyond that.

See comment written for:

Knowing the tumor’s size and location, could we target treatment to THE ROI by applying…..

http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2012/10/16/knowing-the-tumors-size-and-location-could-we-target-treatment-to-the-roi-by-applying-imaging-guided-intervention/

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Evidence-based medicine Evidence-based medicine is substantially flawed because of reliance on meta-analysis to arrive at conclusions from underpowered and inconsistent studies, discarding more than half of the studies examined that don’t meet the inclusion criteria.

  1. – There can be no movement forward without the systematic collection of data into a functionally well designed repository.
  2. – The current construct of the EMR probably has to be “remodeled” if not “remade”.
  3. – The studies will have to use real data, not aggregates of studies with “missing information”.
  4. – Bioinformatics is an emerging field that is only supported in the top two tiers of academic medical centers, which would include the well known cancer centers in Boston, Houston, and New York.

I don’t place much hope in “Watson” coming to the rescue, because you have to collect both a lot of information and “sufficient” information.

  1. -”Sufficient” information has been precluded by years of cost-elimination without paying attention to the real impact of “technologies” on costs, and an inherent competition between labor and “capital” investment.
  2. – Despite the progress in genomics, the heterogeneity of these solid tumors is a natural adaptation that occurs in carcinogenesis.
  3. The heterogeneity traced over a time-span should have information about stage in carcinogenesis.
  4. The pathologist can see and interpret histologic grades in the evolution that may have a better relationship to the evolutionary studies of genomics and signaling pathways than to stage of disease, but by combining the best available evidence, you move to a better classification. Without good classification, I don’t see how you can arrive at “science based” personalized medicine.

there is still a Rubicon to cross in going from genomics to translational medicine, which extends to diet and lifestyle.

Search Results for ‘cancer’ on this web site

Cancer Genomics – Leading the Way by Cancer Genomics Program at UC Santa Cruz Closing the gap towards real-time, imaging-guided treatment of cancer patients. Lipid Profile, Saturated Fats, Raman Spectrosopy, Cancer Cytology

mRNA interference with cancer expression

Pancreatic cancer genomes: Axon guidance pathway genes – aberrations revealed Biomarker tool development for Early Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer: Van Andel Institute and Emory University

Is the Warburg Effect the cause or the effect of cancer: A 21st Century View?

Crucial role of Nitric Oxide in Cancer Targeting Glucose Deprived Network Along with Targeted Cancer Therapy Can be a Possible Method of Treatment

Structure of the human mitochondrial genome.

Structure of the human mitochondrial genome. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: ATP production in aerobic respiration

English: ATP production in aerobic respiration (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Read Full Post »

MONOAMINE, NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR, & PHARMACOKINTIC HYPOTHESES OF DEPRESSION, OLD AND NEWER TREATMENTS

Curator: Zohi Sternberg, PhD

Department of Neurology, University of Buffalo, Baird MS Center, Buffalo, NY.

Depression is the second leading cause of disability worldwide, which struck 20% of women and 15% of men at least one episode in their lifetime. Depression is characterized by two or more weeks of depressed mood or diminished interest, associated with symptoms such as disturbed sleep, decrease in appetite and libido, psychomotor changes, reduced concentration, excessive guilt and suicidal thoughts or attempts.

A variety of genetic, environmental and neurobiological factors are implicated in depression. The genetic contribution to the manifestation of depression has been estimated as 40-50%. However, combinations of multiple genetic factors may be involved in the development of disease, because a defect in a single gene usually fails to induce the expression of multifaceted symptoms of depression. In addition, non-genetic factors such cellular abnormalities and stress, interact with genetic factors, contributing to the prevalence of depression.

Monoamine hypothesis of depression

Monoamine reuptake inhibitors

Among cellular abnormalities contributing to depression is the dysfunction in the monoamine system. The deficiency or imbalances in the monoamine neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine has been known to be the cause of depression. Typical antidepressants, such as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), exert clinical effects by blocking monoamine reuptake by the 5-HT transporter (Fig 1). However, these antidepressants are effective in less than 50% of patients and show a wide spectrum of undesired side effects. In addition, the chronic use of antidepressants is required to observe clinical benefits.

Neurotrophic hypothesis of depression

Although neurotrophic factors are critical signaling molecules for nervous system development, they continue to play an important role in the survival, function and adaptive plasticity of neurons in the adult brain. Of the different families of neurotrophic and/or growth factors expressed in the brain, the most extensively studied in depression is the nerve growth factor (NGF) family, which includes NGF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neurotrophin 3 and 4 (NT3 and NT4). Most notable of these has been BDNF and its receptor, tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB), a transmembrane receptor with an intracellular tyrosine kinase domain. BDNF–TrkB downstream signaling includes activation of phosphatidyl inositol-3 kinase (PI3K)-Akt (serine threonine kinase or protein kinase B), Ras–mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and the phospholipaseCg (PLCg)–Ca2+ pathways (Fig 2)

Early studies demonstrated that stress decreases the level of BDNF in the hippocampus.  These results, coupled with brain-imaging studies, which reported a decreased volume of limbic brain regions in depressive patients, have led to a neurotrophic hypothesis of depression. Studies show that BDNF has the potential to produce an antidepressant response in behavioral models of depression, and that genetic deletion or blockade of BDNF blocks the effects of antidepressant treatments. However, it is it noteworthy that BDNF has various function depending on the site it is expressed. For example, BDNF in the mesolimbic dopamine system produces prodepressive effects and increases susceptibility to social defeat, effects that could oppose the antidepressant actions of BDNF in the Prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Interestingly, BDNF administration by routes that would affect multiple brain regions (intracerebroventricular or systemic) produce antidepressant responses.

Furthermore, the deletion or mutation of BDNF results in a state of increased susceptibility to other factors, such as stress. This type of gene-environment interaction is supported by studies demonstrating that BDNF heterozygous deletion mutant mice display depressive behavior only when exposed to mild stress that has no effect in wild-type mice.  A chronic treatment with antidepressant is required to induce an increase in BDNF mRNA expression levels. However, it is a matter of debate to whether BDNF underlies the deleterious effects of stress and depression and, conversely, whether induction of BDNF mediates the beneficial effects of antidepressants. Nevertheless, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of BDNF, Val66Met, provides supporting evidence from human, as well as rodent studies, for a role of BDNF in depressive behavior.

Figure 1. Signaling pathways regulated by chronic antidepressant treatments. Typical antidepressants, such as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), block monoamine reuptake by the 5-HT transporter (SERT). This leads to regulation of postsynaptic G protein-coupled receptors, which couple to a variety of second messenger systems, including the cAMP–protein kinase A (PKA)–cAMP response element-binding (CREB) pathway [4,6] These effects require chronic SSRI treatment, owing to the requirement for desensitization of 5-HT autoreceptors, and because 5-HT is a neuromodulator that produces slow neuronal responses. By contrast, glutamate produces fast excitation of neurons via stimulation of ionotropic receptors, including AMPA and NMDA receptors, resulting in depolarization and rapid intracellular signaling, such as induction of Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CAMK). Glutamate and 5-HT signaling lead to regulation of multiple physiological responses, including regulation of synaptic plasticity, as well as gene expression. One target of antidepressant treatment and CREB signaling is brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF transcripts may remain in the soma or are targeted for transport to dendrites, where they are subject to activity-dependent translation and release. A common BDNF polymorphism, Val66Met, which is encoded by G196A, blocks the trafficking of BDNF to dendrites. The induction of BDNF and other neurotrophic factors contributes to the actions of antidepressant treatments, including neuroprotection, neuroplasticity and neurogenesis. Abbreviation: SNP, single nucleotide polymorphism

Newer treatments of depression

NMDA receptor antagonists

Typical antidepressants do not increase BDNF release, which could further contribute to the delayed response, as well as limited efficacy of these agents. Furthermore, in patients with severe depression, who are resistant to typical antidepressants, a novel class of antidepressants, the NMDA receptor antagonists, such as ketamine, are being evaluated. This class of antidepressants produces a rapid antidepressant action, an effect not seen with the typical antidepressants. The mechanism of action of NMDA receptor antagonists involves increased glutamate transmission and induction of synaptogenesis, involving the upregulation of BDNF and other neurotrophic factors. The comparison of typical antidepressants with novel, rapid-acting NMDA antagonists also highlights the difference between agents that act on neuromodulatory systems (i.e.monoamines) compared with those that act on the major excitatory neurotransmitter system (i.e.glutamate).

GABA receptor antagonists

Furthermore, gamma amino butyric acid (GABA)-ergic system is known to play a role in mood disorders.  GABA system is the prominent inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, and a link between GABA(A) receptors and anxiety has been established. However, the role of these receptors in depression has not been validated. GABA(B) receptors, have been also postulated to be involved in the etiology of depression. Studies of GABA(B) receptor antagonists and GABA(B) receptor knockout mice suggest that the blockade, or loss of function of GABA(B) receptors causes an antidepressant-like phenotype.  The antidepressant effect of GABA(B) blockade has speculated to be via interacting with the serotonergic system and BDNF. GABA(B) receptor antagonists may represent a new class of antidepressant compounds

Figure 2. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)–tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) signaling pathways. BDNF binding to the extracellular domain of TrkB induces dimerization and activation of the intracellular tyrosine kinase domain. This results in autophosphorylation of tyrosine residues that then serve as sites for interaction with adaptor proteins and activation of intracellular signaling cascades, including the Ras–microtubule-associated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphatidyl inositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/serine threonine kinase (Akt) and phospholipase C (PLC)-g pathways. Phosphorylation of tyrosine 515 of TrkB leads to recruitment of the Src homology 2 domaincontaining (Shc) adaptor protein, followed by recruitment of growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2) and son of sevenless (SOS) and activation of the Ras–MAPK pathway (right). Shc–Grb2 can also lead to recruitment of Grb2-associated binder-1 (GAB1) and activation of the PI3K–Akt pathway (left). Phosphorylation of the TrkB tyrosine residue 816 results in recruitment of PLCg, which leads to the formation of inositol triphosphate (IP3) and regulation of intracellular Ca2+ and diacylglycerol (DAG), which activates CAMK and protein kinase C (PKC). These pathways control many different aspects of cellular function, including synaptic plasticity, survival and growth and/or differentiation. Basic and clinical studies demonstrate that BDNF and components of the Ras–MAPK and PI3K–Akt pathways are decreased by stress and depression, and increased by antidepressant treatments. Abbreviations: ERK, extracellular signal regulated kinase; MEK, MAP/ERK kinase; MKP1, MAP kinase phosphatase 1; PDK1, 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1; PTEN, phosphatase and tensin homolog.

Sphingomyelinase /ceramide inhibitors

The lysosomal lipid metabolizing enzyme, acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), cleaves sphingomyelin into ceramide and phosphorylcholine. In a pilot study, the activity of this enzyme was increased in peripheral blood cells of patients with major depressive disorder, making the ASM an interesting molecular target of antidepressant drugs.

It is postulated that the accumulation of the enzyme in the lyzozome may play a role in depressive disorders (pharmacokinetic hypothesis), and its inhibition by cationic amphiphilic substances, which traverse the BBB, and which cause the detachment of the enzyme from the inner lysosomal membranes, and its consecutive inactivation, could improve depressive disorders. In addition, ASM inhibitors could exert antidepressant effects by modulating monoamine receptor and transporter, since ASM inhibitors are known to inhibit interferon-alpha-induced 5-HT uptake.

In addition, ceramide and its metabolite sphingosine-1-phosphate have been shown to also antagonistically regulate apoptosis, cellular differentiation, proliferation and cell migration. Therefore, inhibitors of ASM or ceramide hold promise for a number of new clinical therapies for Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.

Deep brain stimulation

Another new promising method of treating depression, as well as other clinical pathologies such as obsessive-compulsive disorders, Tourette’s syndrome, substance abuse, dementia and anxiety is deep brain stimulation (DBS).  These pathologies are classified as the dysfunctions of networks which process motivational and affective stimuli. DBS permits the selective and basically reversible modulation of such networks, with marginal or non adverse effects. In the field of treatment-resistant depressive disorders, uncontrolled studies have been published with initial satisfactory and concordant indications of the therapeutic effect of DBS in a variety of target areas of the brain.

Key words: Depression, Monoamines, NMDA receptor, GABA, Deep brain stimulation, Ceramide, Sphingomyelinase, Cancer, Alzheimer;s diseases

 References

1.      Albert PR. The neurobiology of depression, revisiting the serotonin hypothesis. I. Cellular and molecular mechanisms. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B. 2012

2.      Lee S. Jeong J. Kwak Y. Park SK. Depression research: where are we now?.[Review]  Molecular Brain. 3:8, 2010.

3.      Ronald S. Duman and Bhavya Voleti. Signaling pathways underlying the pathophysiology and treatment of depression: novel mechanisms for rapid-acting agents. Trends in Neurosciences January 2012, Vol. 35, No. 1

4.      Cryan JF. Slattery DA. GABAB receptors and depression. Current status. [Review] Advances in Pharmacology. 58:427-51, 2010.

5. Schlapfer TE. Kayser S. The development of deep brain stimulation as a putative treatment for resistant psychiatric disorders]. [Review] Nervenarzt. 81(6):696-701, 2010 Jun.

6. Su HC. Ma CT. Lin CF. Wu HT. Chuang YH. Chen LJ. Tsao CW. The acid sphingomyelinase inhibitors block interferon-alpha-induced serotonin uptake via a COX-2/Akt/ERK/STAT-dependent pathway in T cells. International Immunopharmacology. 11(11):1823-31, 2011 Nov.

7. Kornhuber J. Tripal P. Reichel M. Muhle C. Rhein C. Muehlbacher M. Groemer TW. Gulbins E Functional Inhibitors of Acid Sphingomyelinase (FIASMAs): a novel pharmacological group of drugs with broad clinical applications. [Review] Cellular Physiology & Biochemistry. 26(1):9-20, 2010.

8. Kornhuber J. Muehlbacher M. Trapp S. Pechmann S. Friedl A. Reichel M. Muhle C. Terfloth L. Groemer TW. Spitzer GM. Liedl KR. Gulbins E. Tripal P. Identification of novel functional inhibitors of acid sphingomyelinase. PLoS ONE [Electronic Resource]. 6(8):e23852, 2011.

Read Full Post »

Reporter: Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN

With $15.5M Grant, EU Consortium to Sequence 1,100 Exomes to Develop Diagnostics for Neurologic Diseases

November 28, 2012

A consortium of 18 European and Australian institutions and industry partners will spend five years sequencing the exomes of 1,100 patients with neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases to create diagnostic panels and uncover novel therapeutic targets.

The group, known as the Neuromics Consortium, is funded with €12 million ($15.5 million) under the European Union’s seventh framework program.

Headed by the University of Tübingen, the project will involve collaboration between 12 academic centers. Iceland’s Decode Genetics will do the sequencing and will support analysis and return of results to participants. The group also plans to work with Agilent Technologies to develop and validate targeted sequencing-based diagnostic panels for specific neurologic diseases, including ataxia/paraplegias, spinal muscular atrophies and lower motor neuron diseases, and neuromuscular diseases, according to Tübingen’s Holm Graessner, the manager of the consortium.

Graessner told Clinical Sequencing News in an email that the Neuromics Consortium hopes its work will yield better diagnostic panels that can increase the diagnosis rate for ten main neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disease types — including ataxia, spastic paraplegia, Huntington’s disease, muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy — as well as provide information on genes and pathways that could inform new treatments.

According to the consortium, 30 percent to 80 percent of patients with these diseases are still undiagnosed by current single-gene tests or gene panels, and cohorts for each individual disorder are small. By combining patient groups and data from many centers and looking for commonality between some of these diseases, the consortium hopes to create diagnostics that cover a greater range of causative mutations.

While each specific disorder the group will study is relatively rare, many have overlapping manifestations, which suggest similarities in disease pathways pointing to common therapeutic strategies, according to the group.

Graessner said that the project’s whole-exome sequencing component will take place mostly in the first two years. According to the consortium’s plan, Decode Genetics — which expanded last year from array-based SNP genotyping research to a next-gen sequencing approach (CSN 11/9/2011) — will use its Illumina HiSeqs to sequence at least 1,100 subjects. The group expects this to increase the percentage of disease genes known for some of the more heterogeneous diseases in the set from about 50 percent to 80 percent.

According to Graessner, RNA sequencing is also part of the plan, as well as proteomic and other ‘omic analyses, especially as the researchers move from sequencing toward diagnostic panel development and therapeutic target research.

“We plan to [do whole-exome sequencing for] 1,100 subjects for gene identification … equally distributed over 10 disease areas,” Graessner wrote. “[This] will be done mainly in the first two years. However, for some of the diseases, such as ataxia/paraplegias, we have diagnostic panels already and in that case we [will] do the panels first and send the still unclear families for WES or WGS,” he wrote.

Graessner said that the group is just now shipping its first sample package to Decode. When this is finished the group will hold a workshop to discuss and train all the participating academic centers in the use of the Decode database for analysis of the results.

He said the team plans to work with the Halo Genomics division of Agilent, to validate diagnostic panels for ataxia, spinal muscular atrophies, lower motor neuron disease, and neuromuscular diseases. Halo was acquired by Agilent last year, and had developed an enrichment technology dubbed HaloPlex that it said was especially suited for targeted gene panels less than one megabase in size (IS 12/6/2011).

The group’s bioinformatics partner, Ariadne Genomics, will also analyze data to support the diagnostics research, as well as research on potential novel therapeutic targets, according to Graessner.

In a document describing the project, the consortium wrote that at the end of the funding period, it expects “to have elucidated the genetic basis for [more than] 80 [percent] of investigated patient groups.”

According to the group, the new genes will be added to existing databases and used to develop the first overlapping gene panel that can be used to diagnose several of these individual diseases, “overcoming time consuming and costly single gene analysis.”

Molika Ashford is a GenomeWeb contributing editor and covers personalized medicine and molecular diagnostics. E-mail her here.

Read Full Post »

Diagnosing Lung Cancer in Exhaled Breath using Gold Nanoparticles

Reporter-curator: Tilda Barliya PhD

Authors: Gang Peng, Ulrike Tisch, Orna Adams1, Meggie Hakim, Nisrean Shehada, Yoav Y. Broza, Salem Billan, Roxolyana Abdah-Bortnyak, Abraham Kuten & Hossam Haick. (NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY | VOL 4 | OCTOBER 2009 |)

Abstract:

Conventional diagnostic methods for lung cancer1,2 are unsuitable for widespread screening, because they are expensive and occasionally miss tumours. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry studies have shown that several volatile organic compounds, which normally appear at levels of 1–20 ppb in healthy human breath, are elevated to levels between 10 and 100 ppb in lung cancer patients. Here we show that an array of sensors based on gold nanoparticles can rapidly distinguish the breath of lung cancer patients from the breath of healthy individuals in an atmosphere of high humidity. In combination with solidphase microextraction, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to identify 42 volatile organic compounds that represent lung cancer biomarkers. Four of these were used to train and optimize the sensors, demonstrating good agreement between patient and simulated breath samples. Our results show that sensors based on gold nanoparticles could form the basis of an inexpensive and non-invasive diagnostic tool for lung cancer. (http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/v4/n10/abs/nnano.2009.235.html) (lnbd.technion.ac.il/NanoChemistry/SendFile.asp?DBID=1…1…) Nanosensors Detect Cancer Breath

Introduction:

Lung cancer accounts for 28% of cancer-related deaths. Approximately 1.3 million people die worldwide every year. Breath testing is a fast, non-invasive diagnostic method that links specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath to medical conditions. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS), ion flow tube mass spectrometry10, laser absorption spectrometry,infrared spectroscopy, polymer-coated surface acoustic wave sensors and coated quartz crystal microbalance sensors have been used for this purpose. However, these techniques are expensive, slow, require complex instruments and, furthermore, require pre-concentration of the biomarkers (that is, treating the biomarkers by a process to increase the relative concentration of the biomarkers to a level that can be detected by the specific technique) to improve detection.

Here, we report a simple, inexpensive, portable sensing technology to distinguish the breath of lung cancer patients from healthy subjects without the need to pre-treat the exhaled breath in any way (see also refs 14–16 for the diagnosis of lung cancer by sensing technology that is based on arrays of polymer/carbon black sensors). Our study consisted of four phases and included volunteers aged 28–60 years. Samples were collected from 56 healthy controls and 40 lung cancer patients after clinical diagnosis using conventional methods and before chemotherapy or other treatment.

In the first phase, we collected exhaled alveolar breath of lung cancer patients and healthy subjects using an ‘offline’ method. This method was designed to avoid potential errors arising from the failure to distinguish endogenous compounds from exogenous ones in the breath and to exclude nasal entrainment of the gas. Exogenous VOCs can be either directly absorbed through the lung via the inhaled breath or indirectly through the blood or skin. Endogenous VOCs are generated by cellular biochemical processes in the body and may provide insight into the body’s function

In the second phase, we identified the VOCs that can serve as biomarkers for lung cancer in the breath samples and determined their relative compositions, using GC-MS in combination with solidphase microextraction (SPME). GC-MS analysis identified over 300–400 different VOCs per breath sample, with .87% reproducibility for a specific volunteer examined multiple times over a period of six months. Forward stepwise discriminant analysis identified 33 common VOCs that appear in at least 83% of the patients but in fewer than 83% of the healthy subjects

The compounds that were observed in both healthy breath and lung cancer breath were presented not only at different concentrations but also in distinctively different mixture compositions.

Further forward stepwise discriminant analysis revealed nine uncommon VOCs that appear in at least 83% of the patients but not in the majority (83%) of healthy subjects. This additional class of VOCs has not been recognized in earlier GC-MS studies.

In spite of these advances in the GC-MS analysis, these data certainly do not account for all the VOCs present in the exhaled breath samples, because the pre-concentration technique can be thought of as a solid phase that extracts only part of the analytes present in the examined phase and, subsequently, releases only part of the extracted analytes.

So, it is likely that the actual mixture of VOCs to which, for example, an array of gold nanoparticle sensors would be responding  is different from that obtained by GC-MS.

In the third phase of this study we designed an array of nine crossreactive chemiresistors, in which each sensor was widely responsive to a variety of odorants for the detection of lung cancer by means of breath testing. We used chemiresistors based on assemblies of 5-nm gold nanoparticles  with different organic functionalities (dodecanethiol, decanethiol, 1-butanethiol, 2-ethylhexanethiol, hexanethiol, tert-dodecanethiol, 4-methoxy-toluenethiol, 2-mercaptobenzoxazole and 11-mercapto-1-undecanol).Diagnosing lung cancer in exhaled breath

Chemiresistors based on functionalized gold nanoparticles combine the advantages of organic specificity with the robustness and processability of inorganic materials.

The response of the nine-sensor array to both healthy and lung cancer breath samples was analysed using principal component analysis . It can be seen that there is no overlap of the lung cancer and healthy patterns.

The PCA of the healthy control group revealed that the set of gold nanoparticles sensors was not influenced by characteristics such as gender, age or smoking habits, thus strengthening the ability of the sensors to discriminate between healthy and cancerous breath. Experiments with a wider population of volunteers to thoroughly probe the influence of diet, alcohol consumption,metabolic state and genetics are under way and will be published elsewhere.

Summary:

To summarize, we have demonstrated that an array of chemiresistors based on functionalized gold nanoparticles in combination with pattern recognition methods can distinguish between the breath of lung cancer patients and healthy controls, without the need for dehumidification or pre-concentration of the lung cancer biomarkers. Our results show great promise for fast, easy and cost-effective diagnosis and screening of lung cancer. The developed devices are expected to be relatively inexpensive, portable and amenable to use in widespread screening, making them potentially valuable in saving millions of lives every year. Given the impact of the rising incidence of cancer on health budgets worldwide, the proposed technology will be a significant saving for both private and public health expenditures. The potential exists for using the proposed technology to diagnose other conditions and diseases, which could mean additional cost reductions and enhanced opportunities to save lives.

Ref:

1. Gang Peng, Ulrike Tisch, Orna Adams, Meggie Hakim, Nisrean Shehada, Yoav Y. Broza, Salem Billan, Roxolyana Abdah-Bortnyak, Abraham Kuten& Hossam Haick. Diagnosing lung cancer in exhaled breath using gold nanoparticles. Nature Nanotechnology 4, 669 – 673 (2009) http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/v4/n10/abs/nnano.2009.235.html

2. http://lungcancer.about.com/od/diagnosisoflungcancer/a/diagnosislungca.htm

3. http://metabolomx.com/2011/12/15/metabolomx-test-detects-lung-cancer-from-breath/

4. http://www.chestnet.org/accp/pccsu/medical-applications-exhaled-breath-analysis-and-testing?page=0,3

 

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »