Sample records for a2 lp-pla2 activity

  1. PLA2G7 genotype, Lp-PLA2 activity and coronary heart disease risk in 10,494 cases and 15,624 controls of European ancestry

    PubMed Central

    Casas, Juan P.; Ninio, Ewa; Panayiotou, Andrie; Palmen, Jutta; Cooper, Jackie A; Ricketts, Sally L; Sofat, Reecha; Nicolaides, Andrew N; Corsetti, James P; Fowkes, F Gerry R; Tzoulaki, Ioanna; Kumari, Meena; Brunner, Eric J; Kivimaki, Mika; Marmot, Michael G; Hoffmann, Michael M; Winkler, Karl; März, Winfred; Ye, Shu; Stirnadel, Heide A; MBBChir, Kay-Tee Khaw; Humphries, Steve E; Sandhu, Manjinder S; Hingorani, Aroon D; Talmud, Philippa J

    2012-01-01

    Background Higher Lp-PLA2 activity is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), making Lp-PLA2 a potential therapeutic target. PLA2G7 variants associated with Lp-PLA2 activity could evaluate whether this relationship is causal. Methods and Results A meta-analysis including a total of 12 studies (5 prospective, 4 case-control, 1 case-only and 2 cross-sectional, n=26,118) was undertaken to examine the association of: (i) LpPLA2 activity vs. cardiovascular biomarkers and risk factors and CHD events (two prospective studies; n=4884); ii) PLA2G7 SNPs and Lp-PLA2 activity (3 prospective, 2 case-control, 2 cross-sectional studies; up to n=6094); and iii) PLA2G7 SNPs and angiographic coronary artery disease (2 case-control, 1 case-only study; n=4971 cases) and CHD events (5 prospective, 2 case-control studies; n=5523). Lp-PLA2 activity correlated with several CHD risk markers. Hazard ratio for CHD events top vs. bottom quartile of Lp-PLA2 activity was 1.61 (95%CI: 1.31, 1.99) and 1.17 (95%CI: 0.91, 1.51) after adjustment for baseline traits. Of seven SNPs, rs1051931 (A379V) showed the strongest association with Lp-PLA2 activity, VV subjects having 7.2% higher activity than AAs. Genotype was not associated with risk markers, angiographic coronary disease (OR 1.03 (95%CI 0.80, 1.32), or CHD events (OR 0.98 (95%CI 0.82, 1.17). Conclusions Unlike Lp-PLA2 activity, PLA2G7 variants associated with modest effects on Lp-PLA2 activity were not associated with cardiovascular risk markers, coronary atheroma or CHD. Larger association studies, identification of SNPs with larger effects, or randomised trials of specific Lp-PLA2 inhibitors are needed to confirm/refute a contributory role for Lp-PLA2 in CHD. PMID:20479152

  2. Novel enzymatic method for assaying Lp-PLA2 in serum.

    PubMed

    Yamaura, Saki; Sakasegawa, Shin-Ichi; Koguma, Emisa; Ueda, Shigeru; Kayamori, Yuzo; Sugimori, Daisuke; Karasawa, Ken

    2018-06-01

    Measurement of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A 2 (Lp-PLA 2 ) can be used as an adjunct to traditional cardiovascular risk factors for identifying individuals at higher risk of cardiovascular events. This can be performed by quantification of the protein concentration using an ELISA platform or by measuring Lp-PLA 2 activity using platelet-activating factor (PAF) analog as substrate. Here, an enzymatic Lp-PLA 2 activity assay method using 1-O-Hexadecyl-2-acetyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine (rac C 16 PAF) was developed. The newly revealed substrate specificity of lysoplasmalogen-specific phospholipase D (lysophospholipase D (LysoPLD)) was exploited. Lp-PLA 2 hydrolyzes 1-O-Hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (C 16 PAF) to 1-O-Hexadecyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (LysoPAF). LysoPLD acted on LysoPAF, and the hydrolytically released choline was detected by choline oxidase. Regression analysis of Lp-PLA 2 activity measured by the enzymatic Lp-PLA 2 activity assay vs. two chemical Lp-PLA 2 activity assays, i.e. LpPLA 2 FS and PLAC® test, and ELISA, gave the following correlation coefficients: 0.990, 0.893 and 0.785, respectively (n = 30). Advantages of this enzymatic Lp-PLA 2 activity assay compared with chemical Lp-PLA 2 methods include the following; (i) only requires two reagents enabling a simple two-point linear calibration method with one calibrator (ii) no need for inhibitors of esterase-like activity in serum. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. Lp-PLA2 activity is associated with increased risk of diabetic retinopathy: a longitudinal disease progression study.

    PubMed

    Siddiqui, Moneeza K; Kennedy, Gwen; Carr, Fiona; Doney, Alexander S F; Pearson, Ewan R; Morris, Andrew D; Johnson, Toby; McLaughlin, Megan M; Williams, Rachel E; Palmer, Colin N A

    2018-06-01

    The aim of the study was to examine the association between lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A 2 (Lp-PLA 2 ) activity levels and incident diabetic retinopathy and change in retinopathy grade. This was a cohort study of diabetic participants with serum collected at baseline and routinely collected diabetic retinal screening data. Participants with type 2 diabetes from the GoDARTS (Genetics of Diabetes Audit and Research in Tayside Scotland) cohort were used. This cohort is composed of individuals of white Scottish ancestry from the Tayside region of Scotland. Survival analysis accounting for informative censoring by modelling death as a competing risk was performed for the development of incident diabetic retinopathy from a disease-free state in a 3 year follow-up period (n = 1364) by stratified Lp-PLA 2 activity levels (in quartiles). The same analysis was performed for transitions to more severe grades. The hazard of developing incident diabetic retinopathy was 2.08 times higher (95% CI 1.64, 2.63) for the highest quartile of Lp-PLA 2 activity compared with the lowest. Higher Lp-PLA 2 activity levels were associated with a significantly increased risk for transitions to all grades. The hazards of developing observable (or more severe) and referable (or more severe) retinopathy were 2.82 (95% CI 1.71, 4.65) and 1.87 (95% CI 1.26, 2.77) times higher for the highest quartile of Lp-PLA 2 activity compared with the lowest, respectively. Higher Lp-PLA 2 levels are associated with increased risk of death and the development of incident diabetic retinopathy, as well as transitions to more severe grades of diabetic retinopathy. These associations are independent of calculated LDL-cholesterol and other traditional risk factors. Further, this biomarker study shows that the association is temporally sensitive to the proximity of the event to measurement of Lp-PLA 2.

  4. Differential expression of Lp-PLA2 in obesity and type 2 diabetes and the influence of lipids.

    PubMed

    Jackisch, Laura; Kumsaiyai, Warunee; Moore, Jonathan D; Al-Daghri, Nasser; Kyrou, Ioannis; Barber, Thomas M; Randeva, Harpal; Kumar, Sudhesh; Tripathi, Gyanendra; McTernan, Philip G

    2018-05-01

    -cholesterol appeared important predictors, accounting for 59.7% of the variance (p < 0.001). Subsequent in vitro studies determined human adipocytes to be a source of Lp-PLA2, as confirmed by mRNA expression, protein levels and immunochemistry. Further in vitro experiments revealed that treatment with LDL-cholesterol or oxLDL resulted in significant upregulation of Lp-PLA2, while inhibition of Lp-PLA2 reduced oxLDL production by 19.8% (p < 0.05). Our study suggests adipose tissue and adipocytes are active sources of Lp-PLA2, with differential regulation by fat depot and metabolic state. Moreover, levels of circulating Lp-PLA2 appear to be influenced by unfavourable lipid profiles in type 2 diabetes, which may occur in part through regulation of LDL-cholesterol and oxLDL metabolism in adipocytes.

  5. Replacing with whole grains and legumes reduces Lp-PLA2 activities in plasma and PBMCs in patients with prediabetes or T2D1

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Minjoo; Jeung, Se Ri; Jeong, Tae-Sook; Lee, Sang-Hyun; Lee, Jong Ho

    2014-01-01

    To determine dietary effects on circulating lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) activity and enzyme activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), 99 patients with impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, or newly-diagnosed T2D were randomly assigned to either a control group (usual diet with refined rice) or the whole grain and legume group. Substitution of whole grains and legumes for refined rice was associated with the replacement of 7% of energy from carbohydrates with energy from protein (about 4%) and fat. After 12 weeks, the whole grain and legume group showed a significant decrease in fasting glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance, hemoglobin A1c, malondialdehyde, plasma Lp-PLA2 activity, and oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), and an increase in LDL particle size. The changes (Δs) in these variables in the whole grain and legume group were significantly different from those in controls after adjustment for the baseline levels. When all subjects were considered, Δ plasma Lp-PLA2 positively correlated with Δ glucose, Δ PBMC Lp-PLA2, Δ ox-LDL, and Δ urinary 8-epi-prostaglandin F2α after being adjusted for confounding factors. The Δ PBMC Lp-PLA2 correlated positively with Δ glucose and Δ ox-LDL, and negatively with Δ LDL particle size and baseline PBMC Lp-PLA2. The substitution of whole grains and legumes for refined rice resulted in a reduction in Lp-PLA2 activities in plasma and PBMCs partly through improved glycemic control, increased consumption of protein relative to carbohydrate, and reduced lipid peroxides. PMID:24904022

  6. Association of Lp-PLA2-A and early recurrence of vascular events after TIA and minor stroke.

    PubMed

    Lin, Jinxi; Zheng, Hongwei; Cucchiara, Brett L; Li, Jiejie; Zhao, Xingquan; Liang, Xianhong; Wang, Chunxue; Li, Hao; Mullen, Michael T; Johnston, S Claiborne; Wang, Yilong; Wang, Yongjun

    2015-11-03

    To determine the association of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) measured in the acute period and the short-term risk of recurrent vascular events in patients with TIA or minor stroke. We measured Lp-PLA2 activity (Lp-PLA2-A) in a subset of 3,201 participants enrolled in the CHANCE (Clopidogrel in High-Risk Patients with Acute Non-disabling Cerebrovascular Events) trial. Participants with TIA or minor stroke were enrolled within 24 hours of symptom onset and randomized to single or dual antiplatelet therapy. In the current analysis, the primary outcome was defined as the composite of ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, or death within 90 days. The composite endpoint occurred in 299 of 3,021 participants (9.9%). The population average Lp-PLA2-A level was 209 ± 59 nmol/min/mL (95% confidence interval [CI] 207-211). Older age, male sex, and current smoking were associated with higher Lp-PLA2-A levels. Lp-PLA2-A was significantly associated with the primary endpoint (adjusted hazard ratio 1.07, 95% CI 1.01-1.13 for every 30 nmol/min/mL increase). Similar results were seen for ischemic stroke alone. Adjustment for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol attenuated the association between Lp-PLA2-A and the primary endpoint (adjusted hazard ratio 1.04, 95% CI 0.97-1.11 for every 30 nmol/min/mL increase). Higher levels of Lp-PLA2-A in the acute period are associated with increased short-term risk of recurrent vascular events. © 2015 American Academy of Neurology.

  7. Serum Lp-PLA2: as a novel viewpoint in periodontal treatment of hyperlipidaemics.

    PubMed

    Fentoğlu, Özlem; Kirzioğlu, Fatma Yeşim; Tözüm Bulut, Memduha; Kurgan, Şivge; Koçak, Havva; Sütcü, Recep; Kale Köroğlu, Banu; Günhan, Meral

    2015-01-01

    To evaluate the effects of periodontal treatment on serum lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in hyperlipidaemic patients with periodontitis. The study included 52 hyperlipidaemics and 28 systemically healthy controls (C) with periodontitis. Of the 52 hyperlipidaemics, 29 received a suggested diet (HD), and 23 of them were prescribed statin (HS). Clinical periodontal parameters, serum lipids, Lp-PLA2, and CRP levels were assessed at the baseline and 2 months after the completion of the nonsurgical periodontal treatment (2MPT). Serum parameters were also evaluated 1 week following the periodontal treatment (1WPT). At the baseline, patients in the HS group had a higher percentage of bleeding on probing than those in the C and HD groups. Hyperlipidaemics had higher serum triglyceride levels than the control group at 2MPT compared to the baseline. At 2MPT, the levels of Lp-PLA2 in the HS group were significantly higher compared to the baseline and 1WPT. There were no statistically significant differences in CRP levels between study periods for all groups. The periodontal treatment may affect the inflammatory control of hyperlipidaemic patients with periodontitis via increased Lp-PLA2 levels and severity of the impaired lipid metabolism. These findings may be important regarding the therapeutic strategies for hyperlipidaemics with periodontitis.

  8. Short-term fenofibrate treatment reduces elevated plasma Lp-PLA2 mass and sVCAM-1 levels in a subcohort of hypertriglyceridemic GOLDN participants

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    High levels of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)) are associated with inflammation, atherosclerosis, and coronary heart disease events. In addition, Lp-PLA(2) has been linked to classical markers of endothelial activation, including soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM...

  9. The importance of age and statin therapy in the interpretation of Lp-PLA(2) in ACS patients, and relation to CRP.

    PubMed

    Franeková, J; Kettner, J; Kubíček, Z; Jabor, A

    2015-01-01

    C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of arterial inflammation while lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)) is related to plaque instability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the risk of unstable plaque presenting as acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and Lp-PLA(2), and to assess the influence of statins on interpretation of Lp-PLA(2). A total of 362 consecutive patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute chest pain suggestive of ACS were evaluated by cardiologists as STEMI, NSTEMI, or unstable angina, and non-ACS. Serum biomarkers measured on admission: troponin I, C-reactive protein (Abbott), and Lp-PLA(2) (DiaDexus). Four groups were defined according to the final diagnosis and history of statin medication: ACS/statin-; ACS/statin+; non-ACS/statin-; non-ACS/statin+. Lp-PLA(2) was highest in ACS/statin- group; statins decreased Lp-PLA(2) both in ACS and non-ACS of about 20 %. Lp-PLA(2) was higher in ACS patients in comparison with non-ACS patients group without respect to statin therapy (p<0.001). Lp-PLA(2) predicted worse outcome (in terms of acute coronary syndrome) effectively in patients up to 62 years; limited prediction was found in older patients. C-reactive protein (CRP) failed to discriminate four groups of patients. Statin therapy and age should be taken into consideration while interpreting Lp-PLA(2) concentrations and lower cut-off values should be used for statin-treated persons.

  10. Lp-PLA2 silencing protects against ox-LDL-induced oxidative stress and cell apoptosis via Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in human THP1 macrophages.

    PubMed

    Zheng, HuaDong; Cui, DaJiang; Quan, XiaoJuan; Yang, WeiLin; Li, YingNa; Zhang, Lin; Liu, EnQi

    2016-09-02

    Atherosclerosis is a disease of the large- and medium-size arteries that is characterized by the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, in which foam cells are the characteristic pathological cells. However, the key underlying pathomechanisms are still not fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the role of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) in ox-LDL-induced oxidative stress and cell apoptosis, and further, elucidated the potential machanisms in human THP1 macrophages. Flow cytometry and western blot analyses showed that both cell apoptosis and Lp-PLA2 expression were dose-dependently elevated after ox-LDL treatment for 24 h and also time-dependently increased after 50 mg/L ox-LDL incubation in THP1 macrophages. In addition, Lp-PLA2 silencing decreased ox-LDL-induced Lp-PLA2 and CD36 expression in THP1 macrophages. We also found that the levels of oil red O-staining, triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were significantly upregulated in ox-LDL-treated THP1 cells, but inhibited by Lp-PLA2 silencing. Furthermore, ox-LDL treatment resulted in significant increases of ROS and MDA but a marked decrease of SOD, effects that were reversed by Lp-PLA2 silencing in THP1 cells. Lp-PLA2 silencing reduced ox-LDL-induced cell apoptosis and caspase-3 expression in THP1 cells. Moreover, Lp-PLA2 siRNA transfection dramatically lowered the elevated levels of p-Akt and p-mTOR proteins in ox-LDL-treated THP1 cells. Both PI3K inhibitor LY294002 and mTOR inhibitor rapamycin decreased the augmented caspase-3 expression and TC content induced by ox-LDL, respectively. Taken together, these results revealed that Lp-PLA2 silencing protected against ox-LDL-induced oxidative stress and cell apoptosis via Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in human THP1 macrophages. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Elevated inflammatory Lp-PLA2 and IL-6 link e-waste Pb toxicity to cardiovascular risk factors in preschool children.

    PubMed

    Lu, Xueling; Xu, Xijin; Zhang, Yu; Zhang, Yuling; Wang, Chenyang; Huo, Xia

    2018-03-01

    Cardiovascular toxicity of lead (Pb) manifests primarily as an effect on blood pressure and eventual increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events. Therefore, we investigated vascular inflammatory biomarkers and cardiovascular effects of Pb-exposed children. A total of 590 children (3-7 years old) were recruited from Guiyu (n = 337), an electronic waste (e-waste)-exposed group, and Haojiang (n = 253), a reference group, from November to December 2016. We measured child blood Pb levels (BPbs), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Pulse pressure was calculated for the latter two. Serum biomarkers including lipid profiles and inflammatory cytokines, and plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) were detected. Unadjusted regression analysis illustrated that higher ln-transformed BPb associated with lower systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure. After adjustment for various confounders, the relational degree of lnBPb and blood pressure measures became slightly attenuated or not significant. Elevated BPb was associated with higher Lp-PLA2, interleukin (IL)-6, triglycerides (TG) and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Lp-PLA2 remained inversely associated with pulse pressure and HDL, but positively with ratios of total cholesterol to HDL (Tc/HDL) and low-density lipoprotein to HDL (LDL/HDL). IL-6 was associated negatively with systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure and HDL, and positively associated with TG, Tc/HDL and LDL/HDL. The mediation effect of biomarkers on the association of BPb with pulse pressure was insignificant except for Lp-PLA2. Available data supports the conclusion that e-waste-exposed children with higher BPbs and concomitant abnormal measures of cardiovascular physiology have an augmented prevalence of vascular inflammation, as well as lipid disorder. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 mass and activity in children with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and unaffected siblings: effect of pravastatin.

    PubMed

    Ryu, Sung Kee; Hutten, Barbara A; Vissers, Maud N; Wiegman, Albert; Kastelein, John J P; Tsimikas, Sotirios

    2011-01-01

    Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)) is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular disease and a target of treatment. Lp-PLA(2) levels in children have not been previously reported. The effect of statin therapy on Lp-PLA(2) mass and activity in children with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is also not known. Lp-PLA(2) mass and activity levels were measured at baseline and after 2 years in 178 children with FH randomized to pravastatin or placebo and in 78 unaffected and untreated siblings. At the end of the randomized period, all FH children were then placed on pravastatin for an additional 2 years, and Lp-PLA(2) mass and activity levels were correlated with changes in carotid intima-media thickness during 4 years of follow-up. Baseline levels of Lp-PLA(2) mass and activity were significantly greater in children with FH compared with unaffected siblings (mass: 240.3 ± 41.6 vs 222.1 ± 36.5 ng/mL, P = .002; activity: 205.7 ± 41.6 vs 124.3±23.0 nmol/min/mL, P < .0001). In the randomized FH cohort, after 2 years treatment, Lp-PLA(2) mass (217.8 ± 35.0 vs 231.5 ± 34.8 ng/mL, P = .001) and activity (178.8 ± 37.3 vs 206.2 ± 33.5 nmol/min/mL, P < .0001) were significantly reduced by pravastatin compared with placebo. Change in Lp-PLA(2) activity was related to change in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (pravastatin: r = 0.53, P < .0001, placebo: r = 0.23, P < .001) but change in Lp-PLA(2) mass was not related to change in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Baseline levels of Lp-PLA(2) mass and activity were not significantly associated with carotid intima-media thickness at baseline or at 4 years. Lp-PLA(2) mass and activity are significantly elevated in children with heterozygous FH compared with unaffected siblings and are significantly reduced by pravastatin therapy. Copyright © 2011 National Lipid Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  13. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2), platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase, is expressed by macrophages in human and rabbit atherosclerotic lesions.

    PubMed

    Häkkinen, T; Luoma, J S; Hiltunen, M O; Macphee, C H; Milliner, K J; Patel, L; Rice, S Q; Tew, D G; Karkola, K; Ylä-Herttuala, S

    1999-12-01

    We studied the expression of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)), an enzyme capable of hydrolyzing platelet-activating factor (PAF), PAF-like phospholipids, and polar-modified phosphatidylcholines, in human and rabbit atherosclerotic lesions. Oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein, which plays an important role in atherogenesis, generates biologically active PAF-like modified phospholipid derivatives with polar fatty acid chains. PAF is known to have a potent proinflammatory activity and is inactivated by its hydrolysis. On the other hand, lysophosphatidylcholine and oxidized fatty acids released from oxidized low-density lipoprotein as a result of Lp-PLA(2) activity are thought to be involved in the progression of atherosclerosis. Using combined in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry, we detected Lp-PLA(2) mRNA and protein in macrophages in both human and rabbit atherosclerotic lesions. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated an increased expression of Lp-PLA(2) mRNA in human atherosclerotic lesions. In addition, approximately 6-fold higher Lp-PLA(2) activity was detected in atherosclerotic aortas of Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits compared with normal aortas from control rabbits. It is concluded that (1) macrophages in both human and rabbit atherosclerotic lesions express Lp-PLA(2), which could cleave any oxidatively modified phosphatidylcholine present in the lesion area, and (2) modulation of Lp-PLA(2) activity could lead to antiatherogenic effects in the vessel wall.

  14. Oxidatively modified phosphatidylserines on the surface of apoptotic cells are essential phagocytic ‘eat-me' signals: cleavage and inhibition of phagocytosis by Lp-PLA2

    PubMed Central

    Tyurin, V A; Balasubramanian, K; Winnica, D; Tyurina, Y Y; Vikulina, A S; He, R R; Kapralov, A A; Macphee, C H; Kagan, V E

    2014-01-01

    Diversified anionic phospholipids, phosphatidylserines (PS), externalized to the surface of apoptotic cells are universal phagocytic signals. However, the role of major PS metabolites, such as peroxidized species of PS (PSox) and lyso-PS, in the clearance of apoptotic cells has not been rigorously evaluated. Here, we demonstrate that H2O2 was equally effective in inducing apoptosis and externalization of PS in naive HL60 cells and in cells enriched with oxidizable polyunsaturated species of PS (supplemented with linoleic acid (LA)). Despite this, the uptake of LA-supplemented cells by RAW264.7 and THP-1 macrophages was more than an order of magnitude more effective than that of naive cells. A similar stimulation of phagocytosis was observed with LA-enriched HL60 cells and Jurkat cells triggered to apoptosis with staurosporine. This was due to the presence of PSox on the surface of apoptotic LA-supplemented cells (but not of naive cells). This enhanced phagocytosis was dependent on activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, as no stimulation of phagocytosis occurred in LA-enriched cells challenged with Fas antibody. Incubation of apoptotic cells with lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), a secreted enzyme with high specificity towards PSox, hydrolyzed peroxidized PS species in LA-supplemented cells resulting in the suppression of phagocytosis to the levels observed for naive cells. This suppression of phagocytosis by Lp-PLA2 was blocked by a selective inhibitor of Lp-PLA2, SB-435495. Screening of possible receptor candidates revealed the ability of several PS receptors and bridging proteins to recognize both PS and PSox, albeit with diverse selectivity. We conclude that PSox is an effective phagocytic ‘eat-me' signal that participates in the engulfment of cells undergoing intrinsic apoptosis. PMID:24464221

  15. Investigation of the Brain Biodistribution of the Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) Inhibitor [18F]GSK2647544 in Healthy Male Subjects.

    PubMed

    Huiban, Mickael; Coello, Christopher; Wu, Kai; Xu, Yanmei; Lewis, Yvonne; Brown, Andrew P; Buraglio, Mauro; Guan, Chenbing; Shabbir, Shaila; Fong, Regan; Passchier, Jan; Rabiner, Eugenii A; Lockhart, Andrew

    2017-02-01

    GSK2647544 is a potent and specific inhibitor of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A 2 (Lp-PLA 2 ), which was in development as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD). In order to refine therapeutic dose predictions and confirm brain penetration, a radiolabelled form of the inhibitor, [ 18 F]GSK2647544, was manufactured for use in a positron emission tomography (PET) biodistribution study. [ 18 F]GSK2647544 was produced using a novel, copper iodide (Cu(I)) mediated, [ 18 F]trifluoromethylation methodology. Healthy male subjects (n = 4, age range 34-42) received an oral dose of unlabelled GSK2647544 (100 mg) and after 2 h an intravenous (iv) injection of [ 18 F]GSK2647544 (average injected activity and mass were 106 ± 47 MBq and 179 ± 55 μg, respectively) followed by dynamic PET scans for 120 min. Defined regions of interest (ROI) throughout the brain were used to obtain regional time-activity curves (TACs) and compartmental modelling analysis used to estimate the primary outcome measure, whole brain volume of distribution (V T ). Secondary PK and safety endpoints were also recorded. PET dynamic data were successfully obtained from all four subjects and there were no clinically significant variations of the safety endpoints. Inspection of the TACs indicated a relatively homogenous uptake of [ 18 F]GSK2647544 across all the ROIs examined. The mean whole brain V T was 0.56 (95 % CI, 0.41-0.72). Secondary PK parameters, C max (geometric mean) and T max (median), were 354 ng/ml and 1.4 h, respectively. Metabolism of GSK2647544 was relatively consistent across subjects, with 20-40 % of the parent compound [ 18 F]GSK2647544 present after 120 min. The study provides evidence that GSK2647544 is able to cross the blood brain barrier in healthy male subjects leading to a measurable brain exposure. The administered doses of GSK2647544 were well tolerated. Exploratory modelling suggested that a twice-daily dose of 102 mg, at steady state

  16. Stretch-induced ERK2 phosphorylation requires PLA2 activity in skeletal myotubes.

    PubMed

    Burkholder, Thomas J

    2009-08-14

    Mechanical stretch rapidly activates multiple signaling cascades, including phospholipases and kinases, to stimulate protein synthesis and growth. The purpose of this study was to determine whether PLA2 activation contributes to stretch-induced phosphorylation of ERK2 in skeletal muscle myotubes. Myotubes derived from neonatal C57 mice were cultured on silicone membranes and subjected to brief cyclic stretch. Inhibition of PLA2 prevented ERK2 phosphorylation, while inhibition of prostaglandin or leukotriene synthesis did not. ERK2 phosphorylation was also blocked by genistein and PD98059, implicating the canonical raf-MEK-ERK cassette. It appears that PLA2, but not further metabolism of arachidonic acid, is required for stretch-induced activation of ERK2. Exposure to exogenous arachidonic acid had no effect on ERK2 phosphorylation, but exposure to lysophosphatidylcholine, the other metabolite of PLA2, caused a dose-dependent increase in ERK2 phosphorylation. These results suggest that stretch-induced activation of ERK2 may result from an interaction between PLA2 derived lysophosphatidylcholine and membrane receptors.

  17. Stretch-induced ERK2 phosphorylation requires PLA2 activity in skeletal myotubes

    PubMed Central

    Burkholder, Thomas J.

    2009-01-01

    Mechanical stretch rapidly activates multiple signaling cascades, including phospholipases and kinases, to stimulate protein synthesis and growth. The purpose of this study was to determine whether PLA2 activation contributes to stretch-induced phosphorylation of ERK2 in skeletal muscle myotubes. Myotubes derived from neonatal C57 mice were cultured on silicone membranes and subjected to brief cyclic stretch. Inhibition of PLA2 prevented ERK2 phosphorylation, while inhibition of prostaglandin or leukotriene synthesis did not. ERK2 phosphorylation was also blocked by genistein and PD98059, implicating the canonical raf-MEK-ERK cassette. It appears that PLA2, but not further metabolism of arachidonic acid, is required for stretch-induced activation of ERK2. Exposure to exogenous arachidonic acid had no effect on ERK2 phosphorylation, but exposure to lysophosphatidylcholine, the other metabolite of PLA2, caused a dose-dependent increase in ERK2 phosphorylation. These results suggest that stretch-induced activation of ERK2 may result from an interaction between PLA2 derived lysophosphatidylcholine and membrane receptors. PMID:19524551

  18. Racial variation in lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 in older adults

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is a predictor of cardiovascular events that has been shown to vary with race. The objective of this study was to examine factors associated with this racial variation. Methods We measured Lp-PLA2 mass and activity in 714 healthy older adults with no clinical coronary heart disease and not taking dyslipidemia medication. We evaluated the association between race and Lp-PLA2 mass and activity levels after adjustment for various covariates using multivariable linear regression. These covariates included age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, body mass index, lipid measurements, C-reactive protein, smoking status, physical activity, diet, income, and education level. We further examined genetic covariates that included three single nucleotide polymorphisms shown to be associated with Lp-PLA2 activity levels. Results The mean age was 66 years. Whites had the highest Lp-PLA2 mass and activity levels, followed by Hispanics and Asians, and then African-Americans; in age and sex adjusted analyses, these differences were significant for each non-White race as compared to Whites (p < 0.0001). For example, African-Americans were predicted to have a 55.0 ng/ml lower Lp-PLA2 mass and 24.7 nmol/ml-min lower activity, compared with Whites, independent of age and sex (p < 0.0001). After adjustment for all covariates, race remained significantly correlated with Lp-PLA2 mass and activity levels (p < 0.001) with African-Americans having 44.8 ng/ml lower Lp-PLA2 mass and 17.3 nmol/ml-min lower activity compared with Whites (p < 0.0001). Conclusion Biological, lifestyle, demographic, and select genetic factors do not appear to explain variations in Lp-PLA2 mass and activity levels between Whites and non-Whites, suggesting that Lp-PLA2 mass and activity levels may need to be interpreted differently for various races. PMID:21714927

  19. Endothelial Dysfunction in Children With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Is Associated With Elevated Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 Plasma Activity Levels.

    PubMed

    Kheirandish-Gozal, Leila; Philby, Mona F; Qiao, Zhuanghong; Khalyfa, Abdelnaby; Gozal, David

    2017-02-09

    Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent condition, especially in obese children, and has been associated with increased risk for endothelial dysfunction and dislipidemia, which are precursors of atherosclerosis. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is recognized as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular risk and atheromatous plaque activity. We hypothesized that Lp-PLA2 levels would be elevated in children with OSA, particularly among obese children who also manifest evidence of endothelial dysfunction. One hundred sixty children (mean age 7.1±2.3 years), either nonobese with (n=40) and without OSA (n=40) or obese with (n=40) and without OSA (n=40) underwent overnight polysomnographic and postocclusive reperfusion evaluation and a fasting blood draw the morning after the sleep study. In addition to lipid profile, Lp-PLA2 plasma activity was assessed using a commercial kit. Obese children and OSA children had significantly elevated plasma Lp-PLA2 activity levels compared to controls. Furthermore, when both obesity and OSA were concurrently present or when endothelial function was present, Lp-PLA2 activity was higher. Treatment of OSA by adenotonsillectomy resulted in reductions of Lp-PLA2 activity (n=37; P <0.001). Lp-PLA2 plasma activity is increased in pediatric OSA and obesity, particularly when endothelial dysfunction is present, and exhibits decreases on OSA treatment. The short-term and long-term significance of these findings in relation to cardiovascular risk remain undefined. © 2017 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley Blackwell.

  20. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) and atherosclerosis.

    PubMed

    Wilensky, Robert L; Macphee, Colin H

    2009-10-01

    There is substantial data from over 50 000 patients that increased lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) mass or activity is associated with an increased risk of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndromes and ischemic stroke. However, only recently have data emerged demonstrating a role of Lp-PLA2 in development of advanced coronary artery disease. Indeed, Lp-PLA2 may be an important link between lipid homeostasis and the vascular inflammatory response. Lp-PLA2, also known as platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase, rapidly cleaves oxidized phosphatidylcholine molecules produced during the oxidation of LDL and atherogenic lipoprotein Lp(a), generating the soluble proinflammatory and proapoptotic lipid mediators, lyso-phosphatidylcholine and oxidized nonesterified fatty acids. These proinflammatory lipids play an important role in the development of atherosclerotic necrotic cores, the substrate for acute unstable coronary disease by recruiting and activating leukocytes/macrophages, inducing apoptosis and impairing the subsequent removal of dead cells. Selective inhibition of Lp-PLA2 reduces development of necrotic cores and may result in stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques. Recent data have shown that immune pathways play a major role in the development and progression of high-risk atherosclerosis, which leads to ischemic sudden death, myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndromes and ischemic strokes. Persistent and sustained macrophage apoptosis appears to play a major role in the resulting local inflammatory response in part by effects elicited by Lp-PLA2. Selective inhibition of Lp-PLA2 has been postulated to reduce necrotic core progression and the clinical sequelae of advanced, unstable atherosclerosis.

  1. Unexpected inverse relationship between impaired glucose metabolism and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 activity in patients with stable vascular disease.

    PubMed

    Mayer, Otto; Seidlerová, Jitka; Filipovský, Jan; Timoracká, Katarina; Bruthans, Jan; Vaněk, Jiří; Cerná, Lenka; Wohlfahrt, Peter; Renata, Cífková; Trefil, Ladislav

    2014-07-01

    Elevated lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 activity (aLp-PLA2) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. In patients with stable atherovascular disease, we aimed to investigate whether impaired glucose metabolism might be associated with higher risk of elevated aLp-PLA2. We conducted a cross-sectional study in 825 stable patients after acute coronary syndrome, coronary revascularization or after first ischemic stroke (Czech part of EUROASPIRE III surveys). We measured aLp-PLA2 using diaDexus commercial kit. In multiple step-wise regression analysis, the aLp-PLA2 was significantly positively associated with male gender, current smoking, LDL cholesterol and metabolic syndrome and negatively with statin treatment, body mass index and LDL/apoB ratio. After adjustment for these confounders, we observed an inverse relationship between aLp-PLA2 and fasting glycemia [β coefficient -2.18 (p<0.0001)] or glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) [β coefficient -5.89 (p<0.0001)]. Moreover, we found a positive association between aLp-PLA2 and pancreatic β cell function [β coefficient +0.10 (p<0.0001)], but not with an insulin sensitivity. In present study, we cannot confirm any additive risk of impaired glucose metabolism in terms of increased activity of Lp-PLA2. On the contrary, presence of inadequately controlled diabetes mellitus was independently associated with lower risk of elevated aLp-PLA2 . Copyright © 2014 European Federation of Internal Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. Biochemical differences in the mass and activity tests of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 explain the discordance in results between the two assay methods.

    PubMed

    Zhuo, Shaoqiu; Wolfert, Robert L; Yuan, Chong

    2017-12-01

    There are two platforms for the detection of Lp-PLA 2 in sera or plasmas: by its enzymatic activity (PLAC® activity test) and by its mass concentration (PLAC® mass test). It has been long recognized that these two platforms are not correlated well. The underlying cause for this is therefore investigated by the biochemical characterization of the two PLAC tests. Human sera with and without the treatment by detergent were fractionated by using a Superose-6 column in phosphate buffered saline and the phospholipid associated Lp-PLA 2 was assessed by both PLAC mass and activity tests. The Lp-PLA 2 values of the two PLAC tests were compared under such conditions. Fractionation of sera and plasmas indicates that the association of Lp-PLA 2 with phospholipids, especially LDL and other large size phospholipid vesicles, may block the detection of the enzyme by antibodies in the immunoassay format under the conditions of the PLAC mass test. Inclusion of high concentration (>CMC, critical micelle concentration) of detergents in the assay buffer of PLAC mass test dissociates Lp-PLA 2 from phospholipid vesicles and results in the full detection of all Lp-PLA 2 in sera or plasmas for concentration. Such assay modification significantly improves the correlation between the PLAC mass and PLAC activity tests. PLAC mass test only detects a small portion of the total Lp-PLA 2 , mainly the Lp-PLA 2 associated with HDL. This is the main cause of the discordance and poor correlation between the PLAC mass and activity tests. Our results demonstrate the PLAC activity test is more accurate in assessing the total level of circulating Lp-PLA 2 . Copyright © 2017 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. RhoA/Rho Kinase Mediates Neuronal Death Through Regulating cPLA2 Activation.

    PubMed

    Wu, Xiangbing; Walker, Chandler L; Lu, Qingbo; Wu, Wei; Eddelman, Daniel B; Parish, Jonathan M; Xu, Xiao-Ming

    2017-11-01

    Activation of RhoA/Rho kinase leads to growth cone collapse and neurite retraction. Although RhoA/Rho kinase inhibition has been shown to improve axon regeneration, remyelination and functional recovery, its role in neuronal cell death remains unclear. To determine whether RhoA/Rho kinase played a role in neuronal death after injury, we investigated the relationship between RhoA/Rho kinase and cytosolic phospholipase A 2 (cPLA 2 ), a lipase that mediates inflammation and cell death, using an in vitro neuronal death model and an in vivo contusive spinal cord injury model performed at the 10th thoracic (T10) vertebral level. We found that co-administration of TNF-α and glutamate induced spinal neuron death, and activation of RhoA, Rho kinase and cPLA 2 . Inhibition of RhoA, Rho kinase and cPLA 2 significantly reduced TNF-α/glutamate-induced cell death by 33, 52 and 43 %, respectively (p < 0.001). Inhibition of RhoA and Rho kinase also significantly downregulated cPLA 2 activation by 66 and 60 %, respectively (p < 0.01). Furthermore, inhibition of RhoA and Rho kinase reduced the release of arachidonic acid, a downstream substrate of cPLA 2 . The immunofluorescence staining showed that ROCK 1 or ROCK 2 , two isoforms of Rho kinase, was co-localized with cPLA 2 in neuronal cytoplasm. Interestingly, co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay showed that ROCK 1 or ROCK 2 bonded directly with cPLA 2 and phospho-cPLA 2 . When the Rho kinase inhibitor Y27632 was applied in mice with T10 contusion injury, it significantly decreased cPLA 2 activation and expression and reduced injury-induced apoptosis at and close to the lesion site. Taken together, our results reveal a novel mechanism of RhoA/Rho kinase-mediated neuronal death through regulating cPLA 2 activation.

  4. PKCalpha regulates phosphorylation and enzymatic activity of cPLA2 in vitro and in activated human monocytes.

    PubMed

    Li, Qing; Subbulakshmi, Venkita; Oldfield, Claudine M; Aamir, Rozina; Weyman, Crystal M; Wolfman, Alan; Cathcart, Martha K

    2007-02-01

    Phospholipases A(2) (PLA(2)) are potent regulators of the inflammatory response. We have observed that Group IV cPLA(2) activity is required for the production of superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) in human monocytes [Li Q., Cathcart M.K. J. Biol. Chem. 272 (4) (1997) 2404-2411.]. We have previously identified PKCalpha as a kinase pathway required for monocyte O(2)(-) production [Li Q., Cathcart M.K. J. Biol. Chem. 269 (26) (1994) 17508-17515.]. We therefore investigated the potential interaction between PKCalpha and cPLA(2) by evaluating the requirement for specific PKC isoenzymes in the process of activating cPLA(2) enzymatic activity and protein phosphorylation upon monocyte activation. We first showed that general PKC inhibitors and antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODN) to the cPKC group of PKC enzymes inhibited cPLA(2) activity. To distinguish between PKCalpha and PKCbeta isoenzymes in regulating cPLA(2) protein phosphorylation and enzymatic activity, we employed our previously characterized PKCalpha or PKCbeta isoenzyme-specific antisense ODN [Li Q., Subbulakshmi V., Fields A.P., Murray, N.R., Cathcart M.K., J. Biol. Chem. 274 (6) (1999) 3764-3771]. Suppression of PKCalpha expression, but not PKCbeta expression, inhibited cPLA(2) protein phosphorylation and enzymatic activity. Additional studies ruled out a contribution by Erk1/2 to cPLA(2) phosphorylation and activation. We also found that cPLA(2) co-immunoprecipitated with PKCalpha and vice versa. In vitro studies demonstrated that PKCalpha could directly phosphorylate cPLA(2).and enhance enzymatic activity. Finally, we showed that addition of arachidonic acid restored the production of O(2)(-) in monocytes defective in either PKCalpha or cPLA(2) expression. Taken together, our data suggest that PKCalpha, but not PKCbeta, is the predominant cPKC isoenzyme required for cPLA(2) protein phosphorylation and maximal induction of cPLA(2) enzymatic activity upon activation of human monocytes. Our data also support the

  5. Effect of intensive insulin treatment on plasma levels of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 and secretory phospholipase A2 in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

    PubMed

    Lin, Xiu-Hong; Xu, Ming-Tong; Tang, Jv-Ying; Mai, Li-Fang; Wang, Xiao-Yi; Ren, Meng; Yan, Li

    2016-11-23

    China has the highest absolute disease burden of diabetes worldwide. For diabetic patients, diabetes-related vascular complications are major causes of morbidity and mortality. The roles of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A 2 (Lp-PLA 2 ) and secretory phospholipase A 2 (sPLA 2 ) as inflammatory markers have been recently evaluated in the pathogenesis of both diabetes and atherosclerosis. We aimed to determine the mechanism through which patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes gain long-term vascular benefit from intensive insulin therapy by evaluating the change in Lp-PLA 2 and sPLA 2 levels after early intensive insulin treatment and its relevance with insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell function. In total, 90 patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled. All patients received continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) for approximately 2 weeks. Intravenous glucose-tolerance test (IVGTT) and oral glucose-tolerance test (OGTT) were performed, and plasma concentrations of Lp-PLA 2 and sPLA 2 were measured before and after CSII. Levels of Lp-PLA 2 and sPLA 2 were significantly higher in diabetic patients with macroangiopathy than in those without (P < 0.05). After CSII, the sPLA 2 level decreased significantly in all diabetic patients (P < 0.05), while the Lp-PLA2 level changed only in those with macroangiopathy (P < 0.05). The area under the curve of insulin in IVGTT and OGTT, the acute insulin response (AIR 3-5 ), early phase of insulin secretion (ΔIns30/ΔG30), modified β-cell function index, and homeostatic model assessment for β-cell function (HOMA-β) increased after treatment even when adjusted for the influence of insulin resistance (IR; P < 0.001). The HOMA-IR was lower after treatment, and the three other indicators adopted to estimate insulin sensitivity (ISI ced , IAI, and QUICKI) were higher after treatment (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the decrease in the Lp-PLA 2 and sPLA

  6. Antibacterial, antifungal and anticoagulant activities of chicken PLA2 group V expressed in Pichia pastoris.

    PubMed

    Karray, Aida; Bou Ali, Madiha; Kharrat, Nedia; Gargouri, Youssef; Bezzine, Sofiane

    2018-03-01

    Secretory class V phospholipase A2 (PLA2-V) has been shown to be involved in inflammatory processes in cellular studies, but the biochemical and physical properties of this important enzyme have been unclear. As a first step towards understanding the structure, function and regulation of this PLA2, we report the expression and characterization of PLA2-V from chicken (ChPLA2-V). The ChPLA2-V cDNA was synthesized from chicken heart polyA mRNA by RT-PCR, and an expression construct containing the PLA2 was established. After expression in Pichia pastoris cells, the active enzyme was purified. The purified ChPLA2-V protein was biochemically and physiologically characterized. The recombinant ChPLA2-V has an absolute requirement for Ca 2+ for enzymatic activity. The optimum pH for this enzyme is pH 8.5 in Tris-HCl buffer with phosphatidylcholine as substrate. ChPLA2-V was found to display potent Gram-positive and Gram-negative bactericidal activity and antifungal activity in vitro. The purified enzyme ChPLA2-V with much stronger anticoagulant activity compared with the intestinal and pancreatic chicken PLA2-V was approximately 10 times more active. Chicken group V PLA2, like mammal one, may be considered as a future therapeutic agents against fungal and bacterial infections and as an anticoagulant agent. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  7. Overexpression of porcine lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 in swine.

    PubMed

    Tang, Xiaochun; Wang, Gangqi; Liu, Xingxing; Han, Xiaolei; Li, Zhuang; Ran, Guangyao; Li, Zhanjun; Song, Qi; Ji, Yuan; Wang, Haijun; Wang, Yuhui; Ouyang, Hongsheng; Pang, Daxin

    2015-09-25

    Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A 2 (Lp-PLA2) is associated with the risk of vascular disease. It circulates in human blood predominantly in association with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and hydrolyses oxidized phospholipids into pro-inflammatory products. However, in the mouse circulation, it predominantly binds to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and exhibits anti-inflammatory properties. To further investigate the effects of Lp-PLA2 in the circulation, we generated over-expressed Lp-PLA2 transgenic swine. The eukaryotic expression plasmid of porcine Lp-PLA2 which driven by EF1α promoter was constructed and generate transgenic swine via SCNT. The expression and activity of Lp-PLA2 in transgenic swine were evaluated, and the total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C, LDL-C and triglyceride (TG) levels in the fasting and fed states were also assessed. Compared with wild-type swine controls, the transgenic swine exhibited elevated Lp-PLA2 mRNA levels and activities, and the activity did not depend on the feeding state. The TC, HDL-C and LDL-C levels were not significantly increased. There was no change in the TG levels in the fasting state between transgenic and control pigs. However, in the fed state, the TG levels of transgenic swine were slightly increased compared with the control pigs and were significantly elevated compared with the fasting state. In addition, inflammatory gene (interleukin [IL]-6, monocyte chemotactic protein [MCP]-1 and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α) mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were significantly increased. The results demonstrated that Lp-PLA2 is associated with triglycerides which may be helpful for understanding the relationship of this protein with cardiovascular disease. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. PLA2 mediated arachidonate free radicals: PLA2 inhibition and neutralization of free radicals by anti-oxidants--a new role as anti-inflammatory molecule.

    PubMed

    Nanda, B L; Nataraju, A; Rajesh, R; Rangappa, K S; Shekar, M A; Vishwanath, B S

    2007-01-01

    PLA2 enzyme catalyses the hydrolysis of cellular phospholipids at the sn-2 position to liberate arachidonic acid and lysophospholipid to generate a family of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids and platelet activating factor. The generation of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids involves a series of free radical intermediates with simultaneous release of reactive oxygen species (superoxide and hydroxyl radicals). Reactive oxygen species formed during arachidonic acid metabolism generates lipid peroxides and the cytotoxic products such as 4-hydroxy nonenal and acrolein, which induces cellular damage. Thus PLA2 catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the production of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids and free radicals. These peroxides and reactive oxygen species in turn activates PLA2 enzyme and further attenuates the inflammatory process. Therefore scavenging these free radicals and inhibition of PLA2 enzyme simultaneously by a single molecule such as antioxidants is of great therapeutic relevance for the development of anti-inflammatory molecules. PLA2 enzymes have been classified into calcium dependent cPLA2 and sPLA2 and calcium independent iPLA2 forms. In several inflammatory diseases sPLA2 group IIA is the most abundant isoform identified. This isoform is therefore targeted for the development of anti-inflammatory molecules. Many secondary metabolites from plants and marine sponges exhibit both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Some of them include flavonoids, terpenes and alkaloids. But in terms of PLA2 inhibition and antioxidant activity, the structural aspects of flavonoids are well studied rather than terpenes and alkaloids. In this line, molecules having both anti-oxidant and PLA2 inhibitions are reviewed. A single molecule with dual activities may prove to be a powerful anti-inflammatory drug.

  9. Novel genetic approach to investigate the role of plasma secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2)-V isoenzyme in coronary heart disease: modified Mendelian randomization analysis using PLA2G5 expression levels.

    PubMed

    Holmes, Michael V; Exeter, Holly J; Folkersen, Lasse; Nelson, Christopher P; Guardiola, Montse; Cooper, Jackie A; Sofat, Reecha; Boekholdt, S Matthijs; Khaw, Kay-Tee; Li, Ka-Wah; Smith, Andrew J P; Van't Hooft, Ferdinand; Eriksson, Per; Franco-Cereceda, Anders; Asselbergs, Folkert W; Boer, Jolanda M A; Onland-Moret, N Charlotte; Hofker, Marten; Erdmann, Jeanette; Kivimaki, Mika; Kumari, Meena; Reiner, Alex P; Keating, Brendan J; Humphries, Steve E; Hingorani, Aroon D; Mallat, Ziad; Samani, Nilesh J; Talmud, Philippa J

    2014-04-01

    Secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) enzymes are considered to play a role in atherosclerosis. sPLA2 activity encompasses several sPLA2 isoenzymes, including sPLA2-V. Although observational studies show a strong association between elevated sPLA2 activity and CHD, no assay to measure sPLA2-V levels exists, and the only evidence linking the sPLA2-V isoform to atherosclerosis progression comes from animal studies. In the absence of an assay that directly quantifies sPLA2-V levels, we used PLA2G5 mRNA levels in a novel, modified Mendelian randomization approach to investigate the hypothesized causal role of sPLA2-V in coronary heart disease (CHD) pathogenesis. Using data from the Advanced Study of Aortic Pathology, we identified the single-nucleotide polymorphism in PLA2G5 showing the strongest association with PLA2G5 mRNA expression levels as a proxy for sPLA2-V levels. We tested the association of this SNP with sPLA2 activity and CHD events in 4 prospective and 14 case-control studies with 27 230 events and 70 500 controls. rs525380C>A showed the strongest association with PLA2G5 mRNA expression (P=5.1×10(-6)). There was no association of rs525380C>A with plasma sPLA2 activity (difference in geometric mean of sPLA2 activity per rs525380 A-allele 0.4% (95% confidence intervals [-0.9%, 1.6%]; P=0.56). In meta-analyses, the odds ratio for CHD per A-allele was 1.02 (95% confidence intervals [0.99, 1.04]; P=0.20). This novel approach for single-nucleotide polymorphism selection for this modified Mendelian randomization analysis showed no association between rs525380 (the lead single-nucleotide polymorphism for PLA2G5 expression, a surrogate for sPLA2-V levels) and CHD events. The evidence does not support a causal role for sPLA2-V in CHD.

  10. sPLA2 IB induces human podocyte apoptosis via the M-type phospholipase A2 receptor

    PubMed Central

    Pan, Yangbin; Wan, Jianxin; Liu, Yipeng; Yang, Qian; Liang, Wei; Singhal, Pravin C.; Saleem, Moin A.; Ding, Guohua

    2014-01-01

    The M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) is expressed in podocytes in human glomeruli. Group IB secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2 IB), which is one of the ligands of the PLA2R, is more highly expressed in chronic renal failure patients than in controls. However, the roles of the PLA2R and sPLA2 IB in the pathogenesis of glomerular diseases are unknown. In the present study, we found that more podocyte apoptosis occurs in the kidneys of patients with higher PLA2R and serum sPLA2 IB levels. In vitro, we demonstrated that human podocyte cells expressed the PLA2R in the cell membrane. After binding with the PLA2R, sPLA2 IB induced podocyte apoptosis in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. sPLA2 IB-induced podocyte PLA2R upregulation was not only associated with increased ERK1/2 and cPLA2α phosphorylation but also displayed enhanced apoptosis. In contrast, PLA2R-silenced human podocytes displayed attenuated apoptosis. sPLA2 IB enhanced podocyte arachidonic acid (AA) content in a dose-dependent manner. These data indicate that sPLA2 IB has the potential to induce human podocyte apoptosis via binding to the PLA2R. The sPLA2 IB-PLA2R interaction stimulated podocyte apoptosis through activating ERK1/2 and cPLA2α and through increasing the podocyte AA content. PMID:25335547

  11. Modulation of the pharmacological effects of enzymatically-active PLA2 by BTL-2, an isolectin isolated from the Bryothamnion triquetrum red alga

    PubMed Central

    Oliveira, Simone CB; Fonseca, Fabiana V; Antunes, Edson; Camargo, Enilton A; Morganti, Rafael P; Aparício, Ricardo; Toyama, Daniela O; Beriam, Luís OS; Nunes, Eudismar V; Cavada, Benildo S; Nagano, Celso S; Sampaio, Alexandre H; Nascimento, Kyria S; Toyama, Marcos H

    2008-01-01

    Background An interaction between lectins from marine algae and PLA2 from rattlesnake was suggested some years ago. We, herein, studied the effects elicited by a small isolectin (BTL-2), isolated from Bryothamnion triquetrum, on the pharmacological and biological activities of a PLA2 isolated from rattlesnake venom (Crotalus durissus cascavella), to better understand the enzymatic and pharmacological mechanisms of the PLA2 and its complex. Results This PLA2 consisted of 122 amino acids (approximate molecular mass of 14 kDa), its pI was estimated to be 8.3, and its amino acid sequence shared a high degree of similarity with that of other neurotoxic and enzymatically-active PLA2s. BTL-2 had a molecular mass estimated in approximately 9 kDa and was characterized as a basic protein. In addition, BTL-2 did not exhibit any enzymatic activity. The PLA2 and BTL-2 formed a stable heterodimer with a molecular mass of approximately 24–26 kDa, estimated by molecular exclusion HPLC. In the presence of BTL-2, we observed a significant increase in PLA2 activity, 23% higher than that of PLA2 alone. BTL-2 demonstrated an inhibition of 98% in the growth of the Gram-positive bacterial strain, Clavibacter michiganensis michiganensis (Cmm), but only 9.8% inhibition of the Gram-negative bacterial strain, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv passiflorae (Xap). PLA2 decreased bacterial growth by 27.3% and 98.5% for Xap and Cmm, respectively, while incubating these two proteins with PLA2-BTL-2 inhibited their growths by 36.2% for Xap and 98.5% for Cmm. PLA2 significantly induced platelet aggregation in washed platelets, whereas BTL-2 did not induce significant platelet aggregation in any assay. However, BTL-2 significantly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by PLA2. In addition, PLA2 exhibited strong oedematogenic activity, which was decreased in the presence of BTL-2. BTL-2 alone did not induce oedema and did not decrease or abolish the oedema induced by the 48/80 compound. Conclusion The

  12. Analysis of Several PLA2 mRNA in Human Meningiomas

    PubMed Central

    Denizot, Yves; De Armas, Rafael; Durand, Karine; Robert, Sandrine; Moreau, Jean-Jacques; Caire, François; Weinbreck, Nicolas; Labrousse, François

    2009-01-01

    In view of the important oncogenic action of phospholipase A2(PLA2) we investigated PLA2 transcripts in human meningiomas. Real-time PCR was used to investigate PLA2 transcripts in 26 human meningioma tumors. Results indicated that three Ca2+-dependent high molecular weight PLA2 (PLA2-IVA, PLA2-IVB, PLA2-IVC), one Ca2+-independent high molecular weight PLA2 (PLA2-VI) and five low molecular weight secreted forms of PLA2 (PLA2-IB, PLA2-IIA, PLA2-III, PLA2-V, and PLA2-XII) are expressed with PLA2-IVA, PLA2-IVB, PLA2-VI, and PLA2-XIIA as the major expressed forms. PLA2-IIE, PLA2-IIF, PLA2-IVD, and PLA2-XIIB are not detected. Plasma (PLA2-VIIA) and intracellular (PLA2-VIIB) platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase transcripts are expressed in human meningiomas. However no difference was found for PLA2 transcript amounts in relation to the tumor grade, the subtype of meningiomas, the presence of inflammatory infiltrated cells, of an associated edema, mitosis, brain invasion, vascularisation or necrosis. In conclusion numerous genes encoding multiples forms of PLA2 are expressed in meningiomas where they might act on the phospholipid remodeling and on the local eicosanoid and/or cytokine networks. PMID:20339511

  13. The association among lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 levels, total antioxidant capacity and arousal in male patients with OSA.

    PubMed

    Bekci, Taha T; Kayrak, Mehmet; Kiyici, Aysel; Maden, Emin; Ari, Hatem; Kaya, Zeynettin; Teke, Turgut; Akilli, Hakan

    2011-01-01

    The mechanisms of the increased cardiac and vascular events in patients with OSA are not well understood. Arousal which is an important component of OSA was associated with increased sympathetic activation and electrocardiographic changes which prone to arrhythmias. We planned to examine the association among arousal, circulating Lp-PLA2 and total antioxidant capacity in male patients with OSA. Fifty male patients with newly diagnosed OSA were enrolled the study. A full-night polysomnography was performed and arousal index was obtained. Lp-PLA2 concentrations were measured in serum samples with the PLAC Test. Total antioxidant capacity in patients was determined with Antioxidant Assay Kit. Arousal was positively correlated with LP-PLA2 levels (r=0.43, p=0.002) and was negatively correlated with total antioxidant capacity (r= -0.29, p=0.04). Elevated LP-PLA2 levels and decreased total antioxidant activities were found in the highest arousal quartile compared with the lowest and 2nd quartiles (p=0.02, p=0.05, respectively). LP-PLA2 was an independently predictor of arousal index in regression model (β=0.357, p=0.002) This study demonstrated a moderate linear relationship between arousal and LP-PLA2 levels. Also, total antioxidant capacities were decreased in the higher arousal index. Based on the study result, the patients with higher arousal index may be prone to vascular events.

  14. Associations of MDR1, TBXA2R, PLA2G7, and PEAR1 genetic polymorphisms with the platelet activity in Chinese ischemic stroke patients receiving aspirin therapy.

    PubMed

    Peng, Ling-Ling; Zhao, Yuan-Qi; Zhou, Zi-Yi; Jin, Jing; Zhao, Min; Chen, Xin-Meng; Chen, Ling-Yan; Cai, Ye-Feng; Li, Jia-Li; Huang, Min

    2016-11-01

    Aspirin resistance has an incidence of 5%-65% in patients with ischemic stroke, who receive the standard dose of aspirin, but the platelet function is inadequately inhibited, thereby leading to thrombotic events. Numerous evidence shows that thromboxane A 2 receptor (TXA 2 receptor, encoded by TBXA2R), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A 2 (Lp-PLA 2 , encoded by PLA2G7) and platelet endothelial aggregation receptor-1 (PEAR1, encoded by PEAR1) are crucial in regulating platelet activation, and P-glycoprotein (P-gp, encoded by MDR1) influences the absorption of aspirin in the intestine. In this study we examined the correlation between MDR1, TBXA2R, PLA2G7, PEAR1 genetic polymorphisms and platelet activity in Chinese ischemic stroke patients receiving aspirin therapy. A total of 283 ischemic stroke patients receiving 100 mg aspirin for 7 d were genotyped for polymorphisms in MDR1 C3435T, TBXA2R (rs1131882), PLA2G7 (rs1051931, rs7756935), and PEAR1 (rs12566888, rs12041331). The platelet aggregation response was measured using an automatic platelet aggregation analyzer and a commercially available TXB 2 ELISA kit. Thirty-three patients (11.66%) were insensitive to aspirin treatment. MDR1 3435TT genotype carriers, whose arachidonic acid (AA) or adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation was lower than that of CC+CT genotype carriers, were less likely to suffer from aspirin resistance (odds ratio=0.421, 95% CI: 0.233-0.759). The TBXA2R rs1131882 CC genotype, which was found more frequently in the aspirin-insensitive group (81.8% vs 62.4%) than in the sensitive group, was identified as a risk factor for aspirin resistance (odds ratio=2.712, 95% CI: 1.080-6.810) with a higher level of AA-induced platelet aggregation. Due to the combined effects of PLA2G7 rs1051931 and rs7756935, carriers of the AA-CC haplotype had a higher level of ADP-induced platelet aggregation, and were at considerably higher risk of aspirin resistance than noncarriers (odds ratio=8

  15. The standard aqueous stem bark extract of Mangifera indica L. inhibits toxic PLA2 - NN-XIb-PLA2 of Indian cobra venom.

    PubMed

    Dhananjaya, Bhadrapura Lakkappa; Sudarshan, Shivalingaiah; Dongol, Yashad; More, Sunil S

    2016-05-01

    The aqueous extract of Mangifera indica is known to possess diverse medicinal properties, which also includes anti-snake venom activities. However, its inhibitory potency and mechanism of action on multi-toxic snake venom phospholipases A2s are still unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the modulatory effect of standard aqueous bark extract of M. indica on NN-XIb-PLA2 of Indian cobra venom. The in vitro sPLA2, in situ hemolytic and in vivo edema inhibition effect were carried out as described. Also the effect of substrate and calcium concentration was carried out. M. indica extract dose dependently inhibited the GIA sPLA2 (NN-XIb-PLA2) activity with an IC50 value of 7.6 μg/ml. M. indica extract effectively inhibited the indirect hemolytic activity up to 98% at ∼40 μg/ml concentration. Further, M. indica extract (0-50 μg/ml) inhibited the edema formed in a dose dependent manner. When examined as a function of increased substrate and calcium concentration, there was no relieve of inhibitory effect of M. indica extract on the NN-XIb-PLA2. Further, the inhibition was irreversible as evident from binding studies. The in vitro inhibition is well correlated with in situ and in vivo edema inhibiting activities of M. indica. As the inhibition is independent of substrate and calcium and was irreversible, it can be concluded that M. indica extract mode of inhibition could be due to direct interaction of components present in the extract with the PLA2 enzyme. The aqueous extract of M. indica effectively inhibits svPLA2 enzymatic and its associated toxic activities, which substantiate their anti-snake venom properties. Further in-depth studies on the role and mechanism of the principal constituents present in the extract, responsible for the anti-PLA2 activity will be interesting to develop them into potent antisnake component and also as an anti-inflammatory agent.

  16. Mitochondria-localized phospholipase A2, AoPlaA, in Aspergillus oryzae displays phosphatidylethanolamine-specific activity and is involved in the maintenance of mitochondrial phospholipid composition.

    PubMed

    Kotani, Shohei; Izawa, Sho; Komai, Noriyuki; Takayanagi, Ayumi; Arioka, Manabu

    2016-11-01

    In mammals, cytosolic phospholipases A 2 (cPLA 2 s) play important physiological roles by releasing arachidonic acid, a precursor for bioactive lipid mediators, from the biological membranes. In contrast, fungal cPLA 2 -like proteins are much less characterized and their roles have remained elusive. AoPlaA is a cPLA 2 -like protein in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae which, unlike mammalian cPLA 2 , localizes to mitochondria. In this study, we investigated the biochemical and physiological functions of AoPlaA. Recombinant AoPlaA produced in E. coli displayed Ca 2+ -independent lipolytic activity. Mass spectrometry analysis demonstrated that AoPlaA displayed PLA 2 activity to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), but not to other phospholipids, and generated 1-acylated lysoPE. Catalytic site mutants of AoPlaA displayed almost no or largely reduced activity to PE. Consistent with PE-specific activity of AoPlaA, AoplaA-overexpressing strain showed decreased PE content in the mitochondrial fraction. In contrast, AoplaA-disruption strain displayed increased content of cardiolipin. AoplaA-overexpressing strain, but not its counterparts overexpressing the catalytic site mutants, exhibited retarded growth at low temperature, possibly because of the impairment of the mitochondrial function caused by excess degradation of PE. These results suggest that AoPlaA is a novel PE-specific PLA 2 that plays a regulatory role in the maintenance of mitochondrial phospholipid composition. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Acanthamoeba-Cytopathic Protein Induces Apoptosis and Proinflammatory Cytokines in Human Corneal Epithelial Cells by cPLA2α Activation

    PubMed Central

    Tripathi, Trivendra; Smith, Ashley Dawn; Abdi, Mahshid; Alizadeh, Hassan

    2012-01-01

    Purpose. We have shown that Acanthamoeba interacts with a mannosylated protein on corneal epithelial cells and stimulates trophozoites to secrete a mannose-induced 133 kDa protease (MIP-133), which facilitates corneal invasion and induces apoptosis. The mechanism of MIP-133–induced apoptosis is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine if MIP-133 induces apoptosis and proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines in human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells via the cytosolic phospholipase A2α (cPLA2α) pathway. Methods. HCE cells were incubated with or without MIP-133 at doses of 7.5, 15, and 50 μg/mL for 6, 12, and 24 hours. The effects of cPLA2α inhibitors on cPLA2α, arachidonic acid (AA) release, and apoptosis were tested in vitro. Inhibition of cPLA2α involved preincubating HCE cells for 1 hour with cPLA2α inhibitors (10 μM methyl-arachidonyl fluorophosphonate [MAFP] or 20 μM arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone [AACOCF3]) with or without MIP-133 for 24 hours. Expression of cPLA2α mRNA and enzyme was examined by RT-PCR and cPLA2 activity assays, respectively. Apoptosis of corneal epithelial cells was determined by caspase-3 and DNA fragmentation assays. Expression of IL-8, IL-6, IL-1β, and IFN-γ was examined by RT-PCR and ELISA. Results. MIP-133 induced significant cPLA2α (approximately two to four times) and AA release (approximately six times) from corneal cells while cPLA2α inhibitors significantly reduced cPLA2α (approximately two to four times) and AA release (approximately three times) (P < 0.05). cPLA2α inhibitors significantly inhibited MIP-133–induced DNA fragmentation approximately 7 to 12 times in HCE cells (P < 0.05). MIP-133 specifically activates cPLA2α enzyme activity in HCE cells, which is blocked by preincubation with anti–MIP-133 antibody. In addition, MIP-133 induced significant IL-8, IL-6, IL-1β, and IFN-γ production, approximately two to three times (P < 0.05). Conclusions. MIP-133 interacts with phospholipids on plasma

  18. Pancreatic islets and insulinoma cells express a novel isoform of group VIA phospholipase A2 (iPLA2 beta) that participates in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and is not produced by alternate splicing of the iPLA2 beta transcript.

    PubMed

    Ramanadham, Sasanka; Song, Haowei; Hsu, Fong-Fu; Zhang, Sheng; Crankshaw, Mark; Grant, Gregory A; Newgard, Christopher B; Bao, Shunzhong; Ma, Zhongmin; Turk, John

    2003-12-02

    Many cells express a group VIA 84 kDa phospholipase A(2) (iPLA(2)beta) that is sensitive to inhibition by a bromoenol lactone (BEL) suicide substrate. Inhibition of iPLA(2)beta in pancreatic islets and insulinoma cells suppresses, and overexpression of iPLA(2)beta in INS-1 insulinoma cells amplifies, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, suggesting that iPLA(2)beta participates in secretion. Western blotting analyses reveal that glucose-responsive 832/13 INS-1 cells express essentially no 84 kDa iPLA(2)beta-immunoreactive protein but predominantly express a previously unrecognized immunoreactive iPLA(2)beta protein in the 70 kDa region that is not generated by a mechanism of alternate splicing of the iPLA(2)beta transcript. To determine if the 70 kDa-immunoreactive protein is a short isoform of iPLA(2)beta, protein from the 70 kDa region was digested with trypsin and analyzed by mass spectrometry. Such analyses reveal several peptides with masses and amino acid sequences that exactly match iPLA(2)beta tryptic peptides. Peptide sequences identified in the 70 kDa tryptic digest include iPLA(2)beta residues 7-53, suggesting that the N-terminus is preserved. We also report here that the 832/13 INS-1 cells express iPLA(2)beta catalytic activity and that BEL inhibits secretagogue-stimulated insulin secretion from these cells but not the incorporation of arachidonic acid into membrane PC pools of these cells. These observations suggest that the catalytic iPLA(2)beta activity expressed in 832/13 INS-1 cells is attributable to a short isoform of iPLA(2)beta and that this isoform participates in insulin secretory but not in membrane phospholipid remodeling pathways. Further, the finding that pancreatic islets also express predominantly a 70 kDa iPLA(2)beta-immunoreactive protein suggests that a signal transduction role of iPLA(2)beta in the native beta-cell might be attributable to a 70 kDa isoform of iPLA(2)beta.

  19. Participation of PLA2 and PLC in DhL-induced activation of Rhinella arenarum oocytes.

    PubMed

    Zapata-Martínez, J; Medina, M F; Gramajo-Bühler, M C; Sánchez-Toranzo, G

    2016-08-01

    Rhinella arenarum oocytes can be artificially activated, a process known as parthenogenesis, by a sesquiterpenic lactone of the guaianolide group, dehydroleucodine (DhL). Transient increases in the concentration of cytosolic Ca2+ are essential to trigger egg activation events. In this sense, the 1-4-5 inositol triphosphate receptors (IP3R) seem to be involved in the Ca2+ transient release induced by DhL in this species. We analyzed the involvement of phosphoinositide metabolism, especially the participation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and phospholipase C (PLC) in DhL-induced activation. Different doses of quinacrine, aristolochic acid (ATA) (PLA2 inhibitors) or neomycin, an antibiotic that binds to PIP2, thus preventing its hydrolysis, were used in mature Rhinella arenarum oocytes. In order to assay the participation of PI-PLC and PC- PLC we used U73122, a competitive inhibitor of PI-PLC dependent events and D609, an inhibitor of PC-PLC. We found that PLA2 inhibits quinacrine more effectively than ATA. This difference could be explained by the fact that quinacrine is not a specific inhibitor for PLA2 while ATA is specific for this enzyme. With respect to the participation of PLC, a higher decrease in oocyte activation was detected when cells were exposed to neomycin. Inhibition of PC-PLC with D609 and IP-PLC with U73122 indicated that the last PLC has a significant participation in the effect of DhL-induced activation. Results would indicate that DhL induces activation of in vitro matured oocytes of Rhinella arenarum by activation of IP-PLC, which in turn may induce IP3 formation which produces Ca2+ release.

  20. Pla a 2 and Pla a 3 reactivities identify plane tree-allergic patients with respiratory symptoms or food allergy.

    PubMed

    Scala, E; Cecchi, L; Abeni, D; Guerra, E C; Pirrotta, L; Locanto, M; Giani, M; Asero, R

    2017-04-01

    Nine hundred and thirty-nine rPla a 1, nPla a 2, and rPla a 3 ImmunoCAP ISAC reactors were studied. nPla a 2 pos MUXF3 pos but Pla a 1/2 neg subjects were excluded from the study because they were cross-reactive carbohydrate determinant reactors. Among the 764 remaining participants, 71.9% were Pla a 3 pos , 54.1% Pla a 2 pos , and 10.9% Pla a 1 pos . Among Pla a 3 reactors, 89.6% were Pru p 3 pos and 86.8% Jug 3 pos , but the strongest IgE recognition relationship was observed between Pla a 3 and Jug r 3. Distinctive clinical subsets could be documented among plane tree-allergic patients. Pla a 3 reactors had both local and systemic food-induced reactions, but lower past respiratory symptoms occurrence. Pla a 2 reactivity was associated with respiratory symptoms but inversely related to systemic reactions to food. Cosensitization to Pla a 2 and Pla a 3 was associated with a lower past incidence of severe food-induced reactions. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  1. Pancreatic Islets and Insulinoma Cells Express a Novel Isoform of Group VIA Phospholipase A2 (iPLA2β) that Participates in Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion and Is Not Produced by Alternate Splicing of the iPLA2β Transcript†

    PubMed Central

    Ramanadham, Sasanka; Song, Haowei; Hsu, Fong-Fu; Zhang, Sheng; Crankshaw, Mark; Grant, Gregory A.; Newgard, Christopher B.; Bao, Shunzhong; Ma, Zhongmin; Turk, John

    2013-01-01

    Many cells express a group VIA 84 kDa phospholipase A2 (iPLA2β) that is sensitive to inhibition by a bromoenol lactone (BEL) suicide substrate. Inhibition of iPLA2β in pancreatic islets and insulinoma cells suppresses, and overexpression of iPLA2β in INS-1 insulinoma cells amplifies, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, suggesting that iPLA2β participates in secretion. Western blotting analyses reveal that glucose-responsive 832/13 INS-1 cells express essentially no 84 kDa iPLA2β-immunoreactive protein but predominantly express a previously unrecognized immunoreactive iPLA2β protein in the 70 kDa region that is not generated by a mechanism of alternate splicing of the iPLA2β transcript. To determine if the 70 kDa-immunoreactive protein is a short isoform of iPLA2β, protein from the 70 kDa region was digested with trypsin and analyzed by mass spectrometry. Such analyses reveal several peptides with masses and amino acid sequences that exactly match iPLA2β tryptic peptides. Peptide sequences identified in the 70 kDa tryptic digest include iPLA2β residues 7–53, suggesting that the N-terminus is preserved. We also report here that the 832/13 INS-1 cells express iPLA2β catalytic activity and that BEL inhibits secretagogue-stimulated insulin secretion from these cells but not the incorporation of arachidonic acid into membrane PC pools of these cells. These observations suggest that the catalytic iPLA2β activity expressed in 832/13 INS-1 cells is attributable to a short isoform of iPLA2β and that this isoform participates in insulin secretory but not in membrane phospholipid remodeling pathways. Further, the finding that pancreatic islets also express predominantly a 70 kDa iPLA2β-immunoreactive protein suggests that a signal transduction role of iPLA2β in the native β-cell might be attributable to a 70 kDa isoform of iPLA2β. PMID:14636061

  2. cPLA2α Gene Activation by IL-1β is Dependent on an Upstream Kinase pathway, Enzymatic Activation and Downstream 15-lipoxygenase Activity: A Positive Feedback Loop

    PubMed Central

    Walters, Jewell N.; Bickford, Justin S.; Beachy, Dawn E.; Newsom, Kimberly J.; Herlihy, John-David H.; Peck, Molly V.; Qiu, Xiaolei; Nick, Harry S.

    2011-01-01

    Cytosolic phospholipase A2α (cPLA2α) is the most widely studied member of the Group IV PLA2 family. The enzyme is Ca2+-dependent with specificity for phospholipid substrates containing arachidonic acid. As the pinnacle of the arachidonic acid pathway, cPLA2α has a primary role in the biosynthesis of a diverse family of eicosanoid metabolites, with potent physiological, inflammatory and pathological consequences. cPLA2α activity is regulated by pro-inflammatory stimuli through pathways involving increased intracellular Ca2+ levels, phosphorylation coupled to increased enzymatic activity and de novo gene transcription. This study addresses the signal transduction pathways for protein phosphorylation and gene induction following IL-1β stimulation in human fetal lung fibroblasts. Our results utilizing both inhibitors and kinase-deficient cells demonstrate that cPLA2α is phosphorylated within 10 min of IL-1β treatment, an event requiring p38 MAPK as well as the upstream kinase, MKK3/MKK6. Inhibition of p38 MAPK also blocks the phosphorylation of a downstream, nuclear kinase, MSK-1. Our results further demonstrate that the activities of both cPLA2α and a downstream lipoxygenase (15-LOX2) are required for IL-1β-dependent induction of cPLA2α mRNA expression. Overall, these data support an MKK3/MKK6→p38 MAPK→MSK-1→cPLA2α→15-LOX2-dependent, positive feedback loop where a protein’s enzymatic activity is required to regulate its own gene induction by a pro-inflammatory stimulus. PMID:21771656

  3. Taiwanese female vegetarians have lower lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 compared with omnivores.

    PubMed

    Chen, Chih-Wei; Lin, Chih-Ta; Lin, Ying-Lung; Lin, Tin-Kwang; Lin, Chin-Lon

    2011-01-01

    Many studies supported that vegetarians have a lower risk of cardiac diseases and mortality, partly due to better blood pressure and serum cholesterol profiles. However, the inflammatory markers, especially lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), have not been well-studied. This study aimed to compare inflammatory markers and conventional risk factors between vegetarians and omnivores. One hundred and seventy-three vegetarians and 190 omnivores were studied. Fasting blood samples were obtained to compare levels of glucose, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, homocysteine, Lp-PLA2 activity, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Vegetarians had higher serum levels of the following markers: hs-CRP (1.8 ± 3.4 vs. 1.2 1.8 mg/L, respectively; p = 0.05), homocysteine (9.39 ± 3.22 vs. 7.62 ± 2.41 μmol/L, respectively; p < 0.01), and triacylglycerol (96.91 ± 59.56 vs. 84.66 ± 43.24 mg/dL, respectively; p < 0.05). Vegetarians also had lower levels of Lp-PLA2 (18.32 ± 7.19 10-3 μmol/min/mL vs. 20.22 8.13 10-3 μmol/min/mL; p < 0.05), total cholesterol (180.62 ± 36.55 mg/dL vs. 192.73 ± 36.57 mg/dL; p < 0.01), LDL cholesterol (118.15 ± 32.8 vs. 126.41 ± 34.28 mg/dL; p < 0.05), and HDL cholesterol (55.59 ± 13.30 vs. 62.09 ± 14.52 mg/dL, p < 0.01). Multivariate analyses demonstrated that a vegetarian diet increases the chances for high serum hs-CRP and low Lp-PLA2 activity. In addition to lower total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and HDL-cholesterol, Taiwanese female vegetarians have lower serum Lp-PLA2 activity but higher levels of hs-CRP, homocysteine, and triacylglyerol. It might be due to geographic differences of vegetarian diets, and further studies are needed.

  4. Simvastatin but not bezafibrate decreases plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A₂ mass in type 2 diabetes mellitus: relevance of high sensitive C-reactive protein, lipoprotein profile and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) electronegativity.

    PubMed

    Constantinides, Alexander; de Vries, Rindert; van Leeuwen, Jeroen J J; Gautier, Thomas; van Pelt, L Joost; Tselepis, Alexandros D; Lagrost, Laurent; Dullaart, Robin P F

    2012-10-01

    Plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)) levels predict incident cardiovascular disease, impacting Lp-PLA(2) as an emerging therapeutic target. We determined Lp-PLA(2) responses to statin and fibrate administration in type 2 diabetes mellitus, and assessed relationships of changes in Lp-PLA(2) with subclinical inflammation and lipoprotein characteristics. A placebo-controlled cross-over study (three 8-week treatment periods with simvastatin (40 mg daily), bezafibrate (400mg daily) and their combination) was carried out in 14 male type 2 diabetic patients. Plasma Lp-PLA(2) mass was measured by turbidimetric immunoassay. Plasma Lp-PLA(2) decreased (-21 ± 4%) in response to simvastatin (p<0.05 from baseline and placebo), but was unaffected by bezafibrate (1 ± 5%). The drop in Lp-PLA(2) during combined treatment (-17 ± 3%, p<0.05) was similar compared to that during simvastatin alone. The Lp-PLA(2) changes during the 3 active lipid lowering treatment periods were related positively to baseline levels of high sensitive C-reactive protein, non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio and less LDL electronegativity (p<0.02 to p<0.01), and inversely to baseline Lp-PLA(2) (p<0.01). LpPLA(2) responses correlated inversely with changes in non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio during treatment (p<0.05 to p<0.02). In type 2 diabetes mellitus, plasma Lp-PLA(2) is likely to be lowered by statin treatment only. Enhanced subclinical inflammation and more severe dyslipidemia may predict diminished LpPLA(2) responses during lipid lowering treatment, which in turn appear to be quantitatively dissociated from decreases in apolipoprotein B lipoproteins. Conventional lipid lowering treatment may be insufficient for optimal LpPLA(2) lowering in diabetes mellitus. Copyright © 2012 European Federation of Internal Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. Studies of insulin secretory responses and of arachidonic acid incorporation into phospholipids of stably transfected insulinoma cells that overexpress group VIA phospholipase A2 (iPLA2beta ) indicate a signaling rather than a housekeeping role for iPLA2beta.

    PubMed

    Ma, Z; Ramanadham, S; Wohltmann, M; Bohrer, A; Hsu, F F; Turk, J

    2001-04-20

    A cytosolic 84-kDa group VIA phospholipase A(2) (iPLA(2)beta) that does not require Ca(2+) for catalysis has been cloned from several sources, including rat and human pancreatic islet beta-cells and murine P388D1 cells. Many potential iPLA(2)beta functions have been proposed, including a signaling role in beta-cell insulin secretion and a role in generating lysophosphatidylcholine acceptors for arachidonic acid incorporation into P388D1 cell phosphatidylcholine (PC). Proposals for iPLA(2)beta function rest in part on effects of inhibiting iPLA(2)beta activity with a bromoenol lactone (BEL) suicide substrate, but BEL also inhibits phosphatidate phosphohydrolase-1 and a group VIB phospholipase A(2). Manipulation of iPLA(2)beta expression by molecular biologic means is an alternative approach to study iPLA(2)beta functions, and we have used a retroviral construct containing iPLA(2)beta cDNA to prepare two INS-1 insulinoma cell clonal lines that stably overexpress iPLA(2)beta. Compared with parental INS-1 cells or cells transfected with empty vector, both iPLA(2)beta-overexpressing lines exhibit amplified insulin secretory responses to glucose and cAMP-elevating agents, and BEL substantially attenuates stimulated secretion. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analyses of arachidonic acid incorporation into INS-1 cell PC indicate that neither overexpression nor inhibition of iPLA(2)beta affects the rate or extent of this process in INS-1 cells. Immunocytofluorescence studies with antibodies directed against iPLA(2)beta indicate that cAMP-elevating agents increase perinuclear fluorescence in INS-1 cells, suggesting that iPLA(2)beta associates with nuclei. These studies are more consistent with a signaling than with a housekeeping role for iPLA(2)beta in insulin-secreting beta-cells.

  6. Association between lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2 mass and subclinical coronary and carotid atherosclerosis in Retired National Football League players.

    PubMed

    Pokharel, Yashashwi; Nambi, Vijay; Martin, Seth S; Hoogeveen, Ron C; Nasir, Khurram; Khera, Amit; Wong, Nathan D; Jones, Peter H; Boone, Jeffrey; Roberts, Arthur J; Ballantyne, Christie M; Virani, Salim S

    2014-10-01

    Retired National Football League (NFL) players were reported to have high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. Lipoprotein Associated Phospholipase A2 (LpPLA2) has shown to be associated with cardiovascular disease in the general population, but it is unknown whether such an association exists in retired NFL players. Our objective was to assess whether LpPLA2 mass was associated with coronary artery calcium (CAC) and carotid artery plaque (CAP) in retired NFL players. LpPLA2 mass was assessed using a dual monoclonal antibody immunoassay. CAC presence was defined as CAC score>0. CAP was defined as focal thickening ≥50% than that of the surrounding vessel wall with a minimal thickness of 1.2 mm on carotid ultrasound. In 832 NFL players, the median (IQR) age and LpPLA2 levels were 54 (45-63) years and 142 (109-181) ng/mL respectively. LpPLA2 mass was positively correlated with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; negatively correlated with LDL particle concentration and body mass index; and not correlated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. CAC was present in 659 (79%) and CAP in 544 (65%) players. In a fully adjusted model, LpPLA2 was not associated with CAC (OR per 1-SD increase, 0.85; 95% CI 0.71-1.02) or CAP (0.90, 0.75-1.08). LpPLA2 was also not associated with CAC burden in those with CAC>0. Results were similar when highest and lowest LpPLA2 tertiles were compared, and also in various subgroups. LpPLA2 mass was not associated with coronary or carotid subclinical atherosclerosis in retired NFL players. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Identification of a novel antisense long non-coding RNA PLA2G16-AS that regulates the expression of PLA2G16 in pigs.

    PubMed

    Liu, Pengliang; Jin, Long; Zhao, Lirui; Long, Keren; Song, Yang; Tang, Qianzi; Ma, Jideng; Wang, Xun; Tang, Guoqing; Jiang, Yanzhi; Zhu, Li; Li, Xuewei; Li, Mingzhou

    2018-05-31

    Natural antisense transcripts (NATs) are widely present in mammalian genomes and act as pivotal regulator molecules to control gene expression. However, studies on the NATs of pigs are relatively rare. Here, we identified a novel antisense transcript, designated PLA2G16-AS, transcribed from the phospholipase A2 group XVI locus (PLA2G16) in the porcine genome, which is a well-known regulatory molecule of fat deposition. PLA2G16-AS and PLA2G16 were dominantly expressed in porcine adipose tissue, and were differentially expressed between Tibetan pigs and Rongchang pigs. In addition, PLA2G16-AS has a weak sequence conservation among different vertebrates. PLA2G16-AS was also shown to form an RNA-RNA duplex with PLA2G16, and to regulate PLA2G16 expression at the mRNA level. Moreover, the overexpression of PLA2G16-AS increased the stability of PLA2G16 mRNA in porcine cells. We envision that our findings of a NAT for a regulatory gene associated with lipolysis might further our understanding of the molecular regulation of fat deposition. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  8. H2O2-Activated Mitochondrial Phospholipase iPLA2γ Prevents Lipotoxic Oxidative Stress in Synergy with UCP2, Amplifies Signaling via G-Protein–Coupled Receptor GPR40, and Regulates Insulin Secretion in Pancreatic β-Cells

    PubMed Central

    Ježek, Jan; Dlasková, Andrea; Zelenka, Jaroslav; Jabůrek, Martin

    2015-01-01

    Abstract Aims: Pancreatic β-cell chronic lipotoxicity evolves from acute free fatty acid (FA)–mediated oxidative stress, unprotected by antioxidant mechanisms. Since mitochondrial uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) plays antioxidant and insulin-regulating roles in pancreatic β-cells, we tested our hypothesis, that UCP2-mediated uncoupling attenuating mitochondrial superoxide production is initiated by FA release due to a direct H2O2-induced activation of mitochondrial phospholipase iPLA2γ. Results: Pro-oxidant tert-butylhydroperoxide increased respiration, decreased membrane potential and mitochondrial matrix superoxide release rates of control but not UCP2- or iPLA2γ-silenced INS-1E cells. iPLA2γ/UCP2-mediated uncoupling was alternatively activated by an H2O2 burst, resulting from palmitic acid (PA) β-oxidation, and it was prevented by antioxidants or catalase overexpression. Exclusively, nascent FAs that cleaved off phospholipids by iPLA2γ were capable of activating UCP2, indicating that the previously reported direct redox UCP2 activation is actually indirect. Glucose-stimulated insulin release was not affected by UCP2 or iPLA2γ silencing, unless pro-oxidant activation had taken place. PA augmented insulin secretion via G-protein–coupled receptor 40 (GPR40), stimulated by iPLA2γ-cleaved FAs (absent after GPR40 silencing). Innovation and Conclusion: The iPLA2γ/UCP2 synergy provides a feedback antioxidant mechanism preventing oxidative stress by physiological FA intake in pancreatic β-cells, regulating glucose-, FA-, and redox-stimulated insulin secretion. iPLA2γ is regulated by exogenous FA via β-oxidation causing H2O2 signaling, while FAs are cleaved off phospholipids, subsequently acting as amplifying messengers for GPR40. Hence, iPLA2γ acts in eminent physiological redox signaling, the impairment of which results in the lack of antilipotoxic defense and contributes to chronic lipotoxicity. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 23, 958–972. PMID:25925080

  9. Cross-reactivity of anti-PLA2R1 autoantibodies to rabbit and mouse PLA2R1 antigens and development of two novel ELISAs with different diagnostic performances in idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

    PubMed

    Seitz-Polski, Barbara; Dolla, Guillaume; Payré, Christine; Tomas, Nicola M; Lochouarn, Marine; Jeammet, Louise; Mariat, Christophe; Krummel, Thierry; Burtey, Stéphane; Courivaud, Cécile; Schlumberger, Wolfgang; Zorzi, Kévin; Benzaken, Sylvia; Bernard, Ghislaine; Esnault, Vincent L M; Lambeau, Gérard

    2015-11-01

    About 70% of patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (iMN) have autoantibodies to the phospholipase A2 receptor PLA2R1. We screened sera from iMN patients for their cross-reactivity to human (h), rabbit (rb) and mouse (m) PLA2R1 by western blot (WB) and antigen-specific ELISAs. All iMN patients recognized hPLA2R1 and rbPLA2R1 by WB, and a rbPLA2R1 ELISA was as sensitive as the standardized hPLA2R1 ELISA to monitor anti-PLA2R1 in patients with active disease or in drug-induced remission. In contrast, only 51% of patients were reactive to mPLA2R1 by WB, and a maximum of 78% were weakly to highly positive in the mPLA2R1 ELISA, suggesting that iMN patients exhibit different subsets of anti-PLA2R1 autoantibodies against epitopes that are shared or not among PLA2R1 orthologs. In a cohort of 41 patients with a mean follow-up of 42 months from anti-PLA2R1 assay, the detection of anti-mPLA2R1 autoantibodies was an independent predictor of clinical outcome in multivariate analysis (p = 0.009), and a ROC curve analysis identified a threshold of 605 RU/mL above which 100% of patients (12 patients) had a poor renal outcome (p < 0.001). A similar threshold could not be defined in hPLA2R1 and rbPLA2R1 ELISAs. We conclude that rbPLA2R1 is an alternative antigen to hPLA2R1 to measure anti-PLA2R1 in active disease while mPLA2R1 is a unique antigen that can detect a subset of anti-PLA2R1 autoantibodies present at high levels (>605 RU/mL) only in iMN patients at risk of poor prognosis, and is thus useful to predict iMN outcome. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. and Société Française de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire (SFBBM). All rights reserved.

  10. PPAR Activation Induces M1 Macrophage Polarization via cPLA2-COX-2 Inhibition, Activating ROS Production against Leishmania mexicana

    PubMed Central

    Díaz-Gandarilla, J. A.; Osorio-Trujillo, C.; Hernández-Ramírez, V. I.; Talamás-Rohana, P.

    2013-01-01

    Defence against Leishmania depends upon Th1 inflammatory response and, a major problem in susceptible models, is the turnoff of the leishmanicidal activity of macrophages with IL-10, IL-4, and COX-2 upregulation, as well as immunosuppressive PGE2, all together inhibiting the respiratory burst. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) activation is responsible for macrophages polarization on Leishmania susceptible models where microbicide functions are deactivated. In this paper, we demonstrated that, at least for L. mexicana, PPAR activation, mainly PPARγ, induced macrophage activation through their polarization towards M1 profile with the increase of microbicide activity against intracellular pathogen L. mexicana. PPAR activation induced IL-10 downregulation, whereas the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 remained high. Moreover, PPAR agonists treatment induced the deactivation of cPLA2-COX-2-prostaglandins pathway together with an increase in TLR4 expression, all of whose criteria meet the M1 macrophage profile. Finally, parasite burden, in treated macrophages, was lower than that in infected nontreated macrophages, most probably associated with the increase of respiratory burst in these treated cells. Based on the above data, we conclude that PPAR agonists used in this work induces M1 macrophages polarization via inhibition of cPLA2 and the increase of aggressive microbicidal activity via reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. PMID:23555077

  11. Lowered iPLA2γ activity causes increased mitochondrial lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial dysfunction in a rotenone-induced model of Parkinson's disease.

    PubMed

    Chao, Honglu; Liu, Yinlong; Fu, Xian; Xu, Xiupeng; Bao, Zhongyuan; Lin, Chao; Li, Zheng; Liu, Yan; Wang, Xiaoming; You, Yongping; Liu, Ning; Ji, Jing

    2018-02-01

    iPLA 2 γ, calcium-independent phospholipase A 2 γ, discerningly hydrolyses glycerophospholipids to liberate free fatty acids. iPLA 2 γ-deficiency has been associated with abnormal mitochondrial function. More importantly, the iPLA 2 family is causative proteins in mitochondrial neurodegenerative disorders such as parkinsonian disorders. However, the mechanisms by which iPLA 2 γ affects Parkinson's disease (PD) remain unknown. Mitochondrion stress has a key part in rotenone-induced dopaminergic neuronal degeneration. The present evaluation revealed that lowered iPLA 2 γ function provokes the parkinsonian phenotype and leads to the reduction of dopamine and its metabolites, lowered survival, locomotor deficiencies, and organismal hypersensitivity to rotenone-induced oxidative stress. In addition, lowered iPLA 2 γ function escalated the amount of mitochondrial irregularities, including mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) regeneration, reduced ATP synthesis, reduced glutathione levels, and abnormal mitochondrial morphology. Further, lowered iPLA 2 γ function was tightly linked with strengthened lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial membrane flaws following rotenone treatment, which can cause cytochrome c release and eventually apoptosis. These results confirmed the important role of iPLA 2 γ, whereby decreasing iPLA 2 γ activity aggravates mitochondrial degeneration to induce neurodegenerative disorders in a rotenone rat model of Parkinson's disease. These findings may be useful in the design of rational approaches for the prevention and treatment of PD-associated symptoms. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  12. M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) glomerular staining in pediatric idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

    PubMed

    Kanda, Shoichiro; Horita, Shigeru; Yanagihara, Takeshi; Shimizu, Akira; Hattori, Motoshi

    2017-04-01

    Identifying M-type phospholipase A 2 receptor (PLA 2 R) is a landmark breakthrough for understanding adult idiopathic membranous nephropathy (iMN). However, potential roles for PLA 2 R in pediatric iMN have not been well investigated. A total of 34 pediatric iMN patients who underwent kidney biopsy between 1972 and 2015 were enrolled in this study. The study cohort consisted of 15 children aged from 3 to 9 years and 19 aged from 10 to 15 years. In all cases, secondary causes of MN, including infections, autoimmune diseases, and others, were ruled out. We examined PLA 2 R glomerular staining in stored, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded kidney biopsy samples. Kidney biopsy specimens obtained from an adult patient with iMN and an adult patient with lupus-associated MN were also examined to assess our PLA 2 R staining procedure. Granular staining of PLA 2 R along glomerular capillary loops was present in two patients: an 11-year-old girl and 12-year-old boy identified during a school urine screening test and who presented with mild proteinuria at the time of biopsy. Interestingly, the intensity of PLA 2 R glomerular staining in these patients was weaker than that of a PLA 2 R-positive adult iMN patient. There were no PLA 2 R-positive patients among our cohort of children younger than 10 years. This preliminary study suggests PLA 2 R may play a role in some adolescent and preteen iMN patients but may be less frequently associated with iMN during childhood.

  13. Associations of maternal PLA2G4C and PLA2G4D polymorphisms with the risk of spontaneous preterm birth in a Chinese population

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Guang-Jian; He, Jian-Rong; Kuang, Ya-Shu; Fan, Xue-Jiao; Li, Wei-Dong; Lu, Jin-Hua; Xia, Xiao-Yan; Liu, Xiao-Dan; Chen, Nian-Nian; Mai, Wei-Bi; Xia, Hui-Min; Qiu, Xiu

    2017-01-01

    Preterm birth is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in infants. Its etiology is multifactorial with genes and immune homeostasis. The authors investigated whether prostaglandin (PG) synthesis related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) PLA2G4C rs1366442 and PLA2G4D rs4924618 were associated with the risk of spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) in a Chinese population of 114 cases of SPTB and 250 controls of term delivery. The risk associations were determined by odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) calculated using multivariate logistic regression. Homology modeling was performed to elucidate potential mechanism of the SNP function. The maternal AT/TT genotype of PLA2G4D rs4924618 was associated with a reduced risk of SPTB (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.37–0.99), while no significant association between PLA2G4C rs1366442 and SPTB risk was identified. Structure and sequence analysis revealed that the amino acid substitution introduced by this SNP located at the conserved central core of the catalytic domain of cytosolic phospholipase A2 δ and was close to the active site. These findings suggested that the polymorphism of PLA2G4D rs4924618 may have a protective influence on the SPTB susceptibility in a Chinese population, supporting a role for genetics in the association between PG synthesis and preterm birth. PMID:28440406

  14. The role of cPLA2 in Methylglyoxal-induced cell apoptosis of HUVECs

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Yuan, Jie; Zhu, Chao; Hong, Yali

    2017-05-15

    Methylglyoxal (MGO), a highly reactive dicarbonyl compound, is mainly formed as a byproduct of glycolysis. Elevated MGO level is known to induce apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells, which is implicated with progression of atherosclerosis and diabetic complications. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been exhaustively investigated yet. Here, we further characterized the mechanisms how MGO induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Our data revealed that cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) played an important role in MGO-induced cell apoptosis. It was found that MGO could increase both the activity and expression of cPLA2. Inhibition of cPLA2 by Pyrrophenone (PYR)more » or siRNA significantly attenuated the MGO-induced apoptosis. Additionally, MGO time-dependently decreased the phosphorylation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). Pretreatment of the cells with NF-κB inhibitor, BAY11-7082, further increased MGO-induced apoptosis of HUVECs, indicating that NF-κB played a survival role in this MGO-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, in the presence of si-cPLA2 or PYR, MGO no longer decreased NF-κB phosphorylation. Beyond that, the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) could reverse the changes of both cPLA2 and NF-κB caused by MGO. p38, the upstream of cPLA2, was also significantly phosphorylated by MGO. However, p38 inhibitor failed to reverse the apoptosis induced by MGO. This study gives an important insight into the downstream signaling mechanisms of MGO, cPLA2-NF-κB, in endothelial apoptosis. - Highlights: • cPLA2 participated in MGO-induced HUVECs apoptosis. • Inhibition of NF-κB was involved in MGO-cPLA2-mediated cell apoptosis. • Antioxidant NAC attenuated MGO-induced cPLA2 activation and cell apoptosis.« less

  15. Structure-Guided Discovery of Novel, Potent, and Orally Bioavailable Inhibitors of Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2.

    PubMed

    Liu, Qiufeng; Huang, Fubao; Yuan, Xiaojing; Wang, Kai; Zou, Yi; Shen, Jianhua; Xu, Yechun

    2017-12-28

    Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is a promising therapeutic target for atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetic macular edema. Here we report the identification of novel sulfonamide scaffold Lp-PLA2 inhibitors derived from a relatively weak fragment. Similarity searching on this fragment followed by molecular docking leads to the discovery of a micromolar inhibitor with a 300-fold potency improvement. Subsequently, by the application of a structure-guided design strategy, a successful hit-to-lead optimization was achieved and a number of Lp-PLA2 inhibitors with single-digit nanomolar potency were obtained. After preliminary evaluation of the properties of drug-likeness in vitro and in vivo, compound 37 stands out from this congeneric series of inhibitors for good inhibitory activity and favorable oral bioavailability in male Sprague-Dawley rats, providing a quality candidate for further development. The present study thus clearly demonstrates the power and advantage of integrally employing fragment screening, crystal structures determination, virtual screening, and medicinal chemistry in an efficient lead discovery project, providing a good example for structure-based drug design.

  16. Hydrolysis of Phosphatidylcholine-Isoprostanes (PtdCho-IP) by Peripheral Human Group IIA, V and X Secretory Phospholipases A2 (sPLA2).

    PubMed

    Kuksis, Arnis; Pruzanski, Waldemar

    2017-06-01

    Biologically active F- and E/D-type-prostane ring isomers (F 2 -IP and E 2 /D 2 -IP, respectively) are produced in situ by non-enzymatic peroxidation of arachidonic acid esterified to GroPCho (PtdCho-IP) and are universally distributed in tissue lipoproteins and cell membranes. Previous work has shown that platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolases (PAF-AH) are the main endogenous PLA 2 involved in degradation of PtdCho-IP. The present study shows that the PtdCho-IP are also subject to hydrolysis by group IIA, V and X secretory PLA 2 , which also have a wide peripheral tissue distribution. For this demonstration, we compared the LC/MS profiles of PtdCho-IP of auto-oxidized plasma lipoproteins after incubation for 1-4 h (37 °C) in the absence or presence of recombinant human sPLA 2 (1-2.5 µg/ml). In the absence of exogenously added sPLA 2 the total PtdCho-IP level after 4 h incubation reached 15.9, 21.6 and 8.7 nmol/mg protein of LDL, HDL and HDL 3 , respectively. In the presence of group V or group X sPLA 2 (2.5 µg/ml), the PtdCho-IP was completely hydrolyzed in 1 h, while in the presence of group IIA sPLA 2 (2.5 µg/ml) the hydrolysis was less than 25% in 4 h, although it was complete after 8-24 h incubation. This report provides the first demonstration that PtdCho-IP are readily hydrolyzed by group IIA, V and X sPLA 2 . A co-location of sPLA 2 and the substrates in various tissues has been recorded. Thus, the initiation of interaction and production of isoprostanes in situ are highly probable.

  17. A phenome-wide association study of a lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 loss-of-function variant in 90 000 Chinese adults

    PubMed Central

    Millwood, Iona Y; Bennett, Derrick A; Walters, Robin G; Clarke, Robert; Waterworth, Dawn; Johnson, Toby; Chen, Yiping; Yang, Ling; Guo, Yu; Bian, Zheng; Hacker, Alex; Yeo, Astrid; Parish, Sarah; Hill, Michael R; Chissoe, Stephanie; Peto, Richard; Cardon, Lon; Collins, Rory; Li, Liming; Chen, Zhengming

    2016-01-01

    Background: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) has been implicated in development of atherosclerosis; however, recent randomized trials of Lp-PLA2 inhibition reported no beneficial effects on vascular diseases. In East Asians, a loss-of-function variant in the PLA2G7 gene can be used to assess the effects of genetically determined lower Lp-PLA2. Methods: PLA2G7 V279F (rs76863441) was genotyped in 91 428 individuals randomly selected from the China Kadoorie Biobank of 0.5 M participants recruited in 2004–08 from 10 regions of China, with 7 years’ follow-up. Linear regression was used to assess effects of V279F on baseline traits. Logistic regression was conducted for a range of vascular and non-vascular diseases, including 41 ICD-10 coded disease categories. Results: PLA2G7 V279F frequency was 5% overall (range 3–7% by region), and 9691 (11%) participants had at least one loss-of-function variant. V279F was not associated with baseline blood pressure, adiposity, blood glucose or lung function. V279F was not associated with major vascular events [7141 events; odds ratio (OR) = 0.98 per F variant, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.90-1.06] or other vascular outcomes, including major coronary events (922 events; 0.96, 0.79-1.18) and stroke (5967 events; 1.00, 0.92-1.09). Individuals with V279F had lower risks of diabetes (7031 events; 0.91, 0.84-0.98) and asthma (182 events; 0.53, 0.28-0.98), but there was no association after adjustment for multiple testing. Conclusions: Lifelong lower Lp-PLA2 activity was not associated with major risks of vascular or non-vascular diseases in Chinese adults. Using functional genetic variants in large-scale prospective studies with linkage to a range of health outcomes is a valuable approach to inform drug development and repositioning. PMID:27301456

  18. Age-Related Changes in Bone Morphology Are Accelerated in Group VIA Phospholipase A2 (iPLA2β)-Null Mice

    PubMed Central

    Ramanadham, Sasanka; Yarasheski, Kevin E.; Silva, Matthew J.; Wohltmann, Mary; Novack, Deborah Veis; Christiansen, Blaine; Tu, Xiaolin; Zhang, Sheng; Lei, Xiaoyong; Turk, John

    2008-01-01

    Phospholipases A2 (PLA2) hydrolyze the sn−2 fatty acid substituent, such as arachidonic acid, from phospholipids, and arachidonate metabolites are recognized mediators of bone modeling. We have previously generated knockout (KO) mice lacking the group VIA PLA2 (iPLA2β), which participates in a variety of signaling events; iPLA2β mRNA is expressed in bones of wild-type (WT) but not KO mice. Cortical bone size, trabecular bone volume, bone mineralizing surfaces, and bone strength are similar in WT and KO mice at 3 months and decline with age in both groups, but the decreases are more pronounced in KO mice. The lower bone mass phenotype observed in KO mice is not associated with an increase in osteoclast abundance/activity or a decrease in osteoblast density, but is accompanied by an increase in bone marrow fat. Relative to WT mice, undifferentiated bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) from KO mice express higher levels of PPAR-γ and lower levels of Runx2 mRNA, and this correlates with increased adipogenesis and decreased osteogenesis in BMSCs from these mice. In summary, our studies indicate that age-related losses in bone mass and strength are accelerated in iPLA2β-null mice. Because adipocytes and osteoblasts share a common mesenchymal stem cell origin, our findings suggest that absence of iPLA2β causes abnormalities in osteoblast function and BMSC differentiation and identify a previously unrecognized role of iPLA2β in bone formation. PMID:18349124

  19. The PLA2R1-JAK2 pathway upregulates ERRα and its mitochondrial program to exert tumor-suppressive action.

    PubMed

    Griveau, A; Devailly, G; Eberst, L; Navaratnam, N; Le Calvé, B; Ferrand, M; Faull, P; Augert, A; Dante, R; Vanacker, J M; Vindrieux, D; Bernard, D

    2016-09-22

    Little is known about the biological role of the phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R1) transmembrane protein. In recent years, PLA2R1 has been shown to have an important role in regulating tumor-suppressive responses via JAK2 activation, but the underlying mechanisms are largely undeciphered. In this study, we observed that PLA2R1 increases the mitochondrial content, judged by increased levels of numerous mitochondrial proteins, of the mitochondrial structural component cardiolipin, of the mitochondrial DNA content, and of the mitochondrial DNA replication and transcription factor TFAM. This effect of PLA2R1 relies on a transcriptional program controlled by the estrogen-related receptor alpha1 (ERRα) mitochondrial master regulator. Expression of ERRα and of its nucleus-encoded mitochondrial targets is upregulated upon PLA2R1 ectopic expression, and this effect is mediated by JAK2. Conversely, downregulation of PLA2R1 decreases the level of ERRα and of its nucleus-encoded mitochondrial targets. Finally, blocking the ERRα-controlled mitochondrial program largely inhibits the PLA2R1-induced tumor-suppressive response. Together, our data document ERRα and its mitochondrial program as downstream effectors of the PLA2R1-JAK2 pathway leading to oncosuppression.

  20. Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of BmooPLA2-I, a platelet-aggregation inhibitor and hypotensive phospholipase A2 from Bothrops moojeni venom

    PubMed Central

    Salvador, Guilherme H. M.; Marchi-Salvador, Daniela P.; Silveira, Lucas B.; Soares, Andreimar M.; Fontes, Marcos R. M.

    2011-01-01

    Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) are enzymes that cause the liberation of fatty acids and lysophospholipids by the hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids. In addition to their catalytic action, a wide variety of pharmacological activities have been described for snake-venom PLA2s. BmooPLA2-I is an acidic, nontoxic and catalytic PLA2 isolated from Bothrops moojeni snake venom which exhibits an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation, an immediate decrease in blood pressure, inducing oedema at a low concentration, and an effective bactericidal effect. BmooPLA2-I has been crystallized and X-ray diffraction data have been collected to 1.6 Å resolution using a synchrotron-radiation source. The crystals belonged to space group C2221, with unit-cell parameters a = 39.7, b = 53.2, c = 89.2 Å. The molecular-replacement solution of BmooPLA2-I indicated a monomeric conformation, which is in agreement with nondenaturing electrophoresis and dynamic light-scattering experiments. A comparative study of this enzyme with the acidic PLA2 from B. jararacussu (BthA-I) and other toxic and nontoxic PLA2s may provide important insights into the functional aspects of this class of proteins. PMID:21821890

  1. Application of phage display for the development of a novel inhibitor of PLA2 activity in Western cottonmouth venom

    PubMed Central

    Titus, James K; Kay, Matthew K; Glaser, CDR Jacob J

    2017-01-01

    Snakebite envenomation is an important global health concern. The current standard treatment approach for snakebite envenomation relies on antibody-based antisera, which are expensive, not universally available, and can lead to adverse physiological effects. Phage display techniques offer a powerful tool for the selection of phage-expressed peptides, which can bind with high specificity and affinity towards venom components. In this research, the amino acid sequences of Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) from multiple cottonmouth species were analyzed, and a consensus peptide synthesized. Three phage display libraries were panned against this consensus peptide, crosslinked to capillary tubes, followed by a modified surface panning procedure. This high throughput selection method identified four phage clones with anti-PLA2 activity against Western cottonmouth venom, and the amino acid sequences of the displayed peptides were identified. This is the first report identifying short peptide sequences capable of inhibiting PLA2 activity of Western cottonmouth venom in vitro, using a phage display technique. Additionally, this report utilizes synthetic panning targets, designed using venom proteomic data, to mimic epitope regions. M13 phages displaying circular 7-mer or linear 12-mer peptides with antivenom activity may offer a novel alternative to traditional antibody-based therapy. PMID:29285351

  2. Application of phage display for the development of a novel inhibitor of PLA2 activity in Western cottonmouth venom.

    PubMed

    Titus, James K; Kay, Matthew K; Glaser, Cdr Jacob J

    2017-01-01

    Snakebite envenomation is an important global health concern. The current standard treatment approach for snakebite envenomation relies on antibody-based antisera, which are expensive, not universally available, and can lead to adverse physiological effects. Phage display techniques offer a powerful tool for the selection of phage-expressed peptides, which can bind with high specificity and affinity towards venom components. In this research, the amino acid sequences of Phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) from multiple cottonmouth species were analyzed, and a consensus peptide synthesized. Three phage display libraries were panned against this consensus peptide, crosslinked to capillary tubes, followed by a modified surface panning procedure. This high throughput selection method identified four phage clones with anti-PLA 2 activity against Western cottonmouth venom, and the amino acid sequences of the displayed peptides were identified. This is the first report identifying short peptide sequences capable of inhibiting PLA 2 activity of Western cottonmouth venom in vitro , using a phage display technique. Additionally, this report utilizes synthetic panning targets, designed using venom proteomic data, to mimic epitope regions. M13 phages displaying circular 7-mer or linear 12-mer peptides with antivenom activity may offer a novel alternative to traditional antibody-based therapy.

  3. Lipoprotein profile, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 and cardiovascular risk in hemodialysis patients.

    PubMed

    Rolla, Roberta; De Mauri, Andreana; Valsesia, Ambra; Vidali, Matteo; Chiarinotti, Doriana; Bellomo, Giorgio

    2015-12-01

    Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients; the increased risk of cardiovascular disease is due to accelerated atherosclerosis, inflammation and impaired lipoprotein metabolism. We aimed to evaluate lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and some pro-inflammatory aspects of the lipoprotein profile in dialyzed patients in order to evaluate the relationship with the accelerated atherosclerosis and vascular accidents. In 102 dialysis patients and 40 non-uremic controls, we investigated the lipoprotein plasma profile, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), ceruloplasmin and serum amyloid A protein (SAA), and followed patients for 1 year to analyze the risk of acute cardiovascular events. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein plasma levels were significantly lower in uremic patients than controls, whereas CRP, SAA, ceruloplasmin, Lp-PLA2 and their ratio with apolipoprotein A1 were significantly higher. Patients with Lp-PLA2 levels >194 nmol/min/ml had more acute cardiovascular events than patients with lower values. Our results show that in dialysis subjects: (1) low-density lipoproteins show a more atherogenic phenotype than in the general population; (2) high-density lipoproteins are less anti-inflammatory; (3) Lp-PLA2 could potentially be used to evaluate cardiovascular risk.

  4. Involvement of PLA2, COX and LOX in Rhinella arenarum oocyte maturation.

    PubMed

    Ortiz, Maria Eugenia; Bühler, Marta Inés; Zelarayán, Liliana Isabel

    2014-11-01

    In Rhinella arenarum, progesterone is the physiological nuclear maturation inducer that interacts with the oocyte surface and starts a cascade of events that leads to germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). Polyunsaturated fatty acids and their metabolites produced through cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) pathways play an important role in reproductive processes. In amphibians, to date, the role of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites in progesterone (P4)-induced oocyte maturation has not been clarified. In this work we studied the participation of three enzymes involved in AA metabolism - phospholipase A2 (PLA2), COX and LOX in Rhinella arenarum oocyte maturation. PLA2 activation induced maturation in Rhinella arenarum oocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Oocytes when treated with 0.08 μM melittin showed the highest response (78 ± 6% GVBD). In follicles, PLA2 activation did not significantly induce maturation at the assayed doses (12 ± 3% GVBD). PLA2 inhibition with quinacrine prevented melittin-induced GVBD in a dose-dependent manner, however PLA2 inactivation did not affect P4-induced maturation. This finding suggests that PLA2 is not the only phospholipase involved in P4-induced maturation in this species. P4-induced oocyte maturation was inhibited by the COX inhibitors indomethacin and rofecoxib (65 ± 3% and 63 ± 3% GVBD, respectively), although COX activity was never blocked by their addition. Follicles showed a similar response following the addition of these inhibitors. Participation of LOX metabolites in maturation seems to be correlated with seasonal variation in ovarian response to P4. During the February to June period (low P4 response), LOX inhibition by nordihydroguaiaretic acid or lysine clonixinate increased maturation by up to 70%. In contrast, during the July to January period (high P4 response), LOX inhibition had no effect on hormone-induced maturation.

  5. Molecular Cloning and Pharmacological Properties of an Acidic PLA2 from Bothrops pauloensis Snake Venom

    PubMed Central

    Ferreira, Francis Barbosa; Gomes, Mário Sérgio Rocha; Naves de Souza, Dayane Lorena; Gimenes, Sarah Natalie Cirilo; Castanheira, Letícia Eulalio; Borges, Márcia Helena; Rodrigues, Renata Santos; Yoneyama, Kelly Aparecida Geraldo; Homsi Brandeburgo, Maria Inês; Rodrigues, Veridiana M.

    2013-01-01

    In this work, we describe the molecular cloning and pharmacological properties of an acidic phospholipase A2 (PLA2) isolated from Bothrops pauloensis snake venom. This enzyme, denominated BpPLA2-TXI, was purified by four chromatographic steps and represents 2.4% of the total snake venom protein content. BpPLA2-TXI is a monomeric protein with a molecular mass of 13.6 kDa, as demonstrated by Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) analysis and its theoretical isoelectric point was 4.98. BpPLA2-TXI was catalytically active and showed some pharmacological effects such as inhibition of platelet aggregation induced by collagen or ADP and also induced edema and myotoxicity. BpPLA2-TXI displayed low cytotoxicity on TG-180 (CCRF S 180 II) and Ovarian Carcinoma (OVCAR-3), whereas no cytotoxicity was found in regard to MEF (Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast) and Sarcoma 180 (TIB-66). The N-terminal sequence of forty-eight amino acid residues was determined by Edman degradation. In addition, the complete primary structure of 122 amino acids was deduced by cDNA from the total RNA of the venom gland using specific primers, and it was significantly similar to other acidic D49 PLA2s. The phylogenetic analyses showed that BpPLA2-TXI forms a group with other acidic D49 PLA2s from the gender Bothrops, which are characterized by a catalytic activity associated with anti-platelet effects. PMID:24304676

  6. MVL-PLA2, a Snake Venom Phospholipase A2, Inhibits Angiogenesis through an Increase in Microtubule Dynamics and Disorganization of Focal Adhesions

    PubMed Central

    Bazaa, Amine; Pasquier, Eddy; Defilles, Céline; Limam, Ines; Kessentini-Zouari, Raoudha; Kallech-Ziri, Olfa; Battari, Assou El; Braguer, Diane; Ayeb, Mohamed El; Marrakchi, Naziha; Luis, José

    2010-01-01

    Integrins are essential protagonists of the complex multi-step process of angiogenesis that has now become a major target for the development of anticancer therapies. We recently reported and characterized that MVL-PLA2, a novel phospholipase A2 from Macrovipera lebetina venom, exhibited anti-integrin activity. In this study, we show that MVL-PLA2 also displays potent anti-angiogenic properties. This phospholipase A2 inhibited adhesion and migration of human microvascular-endothelial cells (HMEC-1) in a dose-dependent manner without being cytotoxic. Using Matrigel™ and chick chorioallantoic membrane assays, we demonstrated that MVL-PLA2, as well as its catalytically inactivated form, significantly inhibited angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. We have also found that the actin cytoskeleton and the distribution of αvβ3 integrin, a critical regulator of angiogenesis and a major component of focal adhesions, were disturbed after MVL-PLA2 treatment. In order to further investigate the mechanism of action of this protein on endothelial cells, we analyzed the dynamic instability behavior of microtubules in living endothelial cells. Interestingly, we showed that MVL-PLA2 significantly increased microtubule dynamicity in HMEC-1 cells by 40%. We propose that the enhancement of microtubule dynamics may explain the alterations in the formation of focal adhesions, leading to inhibition of cell adhesion and migration. PMID:20405031

  7. The anti-inflammatory activity of standard aqueous stem bark extract of Mangifera indica L. as evident in inhibition of Group IA sPLA2.

    PubMed

    Dhananjaya, Bhadrapura Lakkappa; Shivalingaiah, Sudharshan

    2016-03-01

    The standard aqueous stem bark extract is consumed as herbal drink and used in the pharmaceutical formulations to treat patients suffering from various disease conditions in Cuba. This study was carried out to evaluate the modulatory effect of standard aqueous bark extract of M. indica on Group IA sPLA2. M. indica extract, dose dependently inhibited the GIA sPLA2 (NN-XIa-PLA2) activity with an IC50 value 8.1 µg/ml. M. indica extract effectively inhibited the indirect hemolytic activity up to 98% at ~40 µg/ml concentration and at various concentrations (0-50 µg/ml), it dose dependently inhibited the edema formation. When examined as a function of increased substrate and calcium concentration, there was no relieve of inhibitory effect on the GIA sPLA2. Furthermore, the inhibition was irreversible as evidenced from binding studies. It is observed that the aqueous extract ofM. indica effectively inhibits sPLA2 and it is associated inflammatory activities, which substantiate their anti-inflammatory properties. The mode of inhibition could be due to direct interaction of components present in the extract, with sPLA2 enzyme. Further studies on understanding the principal constituents, responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity would be interesting to develop this into potent anti-inflammatory agent.

  8. Genotype × Adiposity Interaction Linkage Analyses Reveal a Locus on Chromosome 1 for Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2, a Marker of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

    PubMed Central

    Diego, Vincent P.; Rainwater, David L.; Wang, Xing-Li; Cole, Shelley A.; Curran, Joanne E.; Johnson, Matthew P.; Jowett, Jeremy B. M.; Dyer, Thomas D.; Williams, Jeff T.; Moses, Eric K.; Comuzzie, Anthony G.; MacCluer, Jean W.; Mahaney, Michael C.; Blangero, John

    2007-01-01

    Because obesity leads to a state of chronic, low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress, we hypothesized that the contribution of genes to variation in a biomarker of these two processes may be influenced by the degree of adiposity. We tested this hypothesis using samples from the San Antonio Family Heart Study that were assayed for activity of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), a marker of inflammation and oxidative stress. Using an approach to model discrete genotype×environment (G×E) interaction, we assigned individuals to one of two discrete diagnostic states (or “adiposity environments”): nonobese or obese, according to criteria suggested by the World Health Organization. We found a genomewide maximum LOD of 3.39 at 153 cM on chromosome 1 for Lp-PLA2. Significant G×E interaction for Lp-PLA2 at the genomewide maximum (P=1.16×10-4) was also found. Microarray gene-expression data were analyzed within the 1-LOD interval of the linkage signal on chromosome 1. We found two transcripts—namely, for Fc gamma receptor IIA and heat-shock protein (70 kDa)—that were significantly associated with Lp-PLA2 (P<.001 for both) and showed evidence of cis-regulation with nominal LOD scores of 2.75 and 13.82, respectively. It would seem that there is a significant genetic response to the adiposity environment in this marker of inflammation and oxidative stress. Additionally, we conclude that G×E interaction analyses can improve our ability to identify and localize quantitative-trait loci. PMID:17160904

  9. Orai, STIM1 and iPLA2β: a view from a different perspective

    PubMed Central

    Bolotina, Victoria M

    2008-01-01

    The mechanism of store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) remains one of the intriguing mysteries in the field of Ca2+ signalling. Recent discoveries have resulted in the molecular identification of STIM1 as a Ca2+ sensor in endoplasmic reticulum, Orai1 (CRACM1) as a plasma membrane channel that is activated by the store-operated pathway, and iPLA2β as an essential component of signal transduction from the stores to the plasma membrane channels. Numerous studies have confirmed that molecular knock-down of any one of these three molecules impair SOCE in a wide variety of cell types, but their mutual relations are far from being understood. This report will focus on the functional roles of Orai1, STIM1 and iPLA2β, and will address some specific questions about Orai1 and TRPC1, and their relation to SOC channels in excitable and non-excitable cells. Also, it will analyse the novel role of STIM1 as a trigger for CIF production, and the complex relationship between STIM1 and Orai1 expression, puncta formation and SOCE activation. It will highlight some of the most recent findings that may challenge simple conformational coupling models of SOCE, and will offer some new perspectives on the complex relationships between Orai1, STIM1 and iPLA2β in the SOCE pathway. PMID:18499724

  10. Cardiac Myocyte-specific Knock-out of Calcium-independent Phospholipase A2γ (iPLA2γ) Decreases Oxidized Fatty Acids during Ischemia/Reperfusion and Reduces Infarct Size *

    PubMed Central

    Moon, Sung Ho; Mancuso, David J.; Sims, Harold F.; Liu, Xinping; Nguyen, Annie L.; Yang, Kui; Guan, Shaoping; Dilthey, Beverly Gibson; Jenkins, Christopher M.; Weinheimer, Carla J.; Kovacs, Attila; Abendschein, Dana; Gross, Richard W.

    2016-01-01

    Calcium-independent phospholipase A2γ (iPLA2γ) is a mitochondrial enzyme that produces lipid second messengers that facilitate opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) and contribute to the production of oxidized fatty acids in myocardium. To specifically identify the roles of iPLA2γ in cardiac myocytes, we generated cardiac myocyte-specific iPLA2γ knock-out (CMiPLA2γKO) mice by removing the exon encoding the active site serine (Ser-477). Hearts of CMiPLA2γKO mice exhibited normal hemodynamic function, glycerophospholipid molecular species composition, and normal rates of mitochondrial respiration and ATP production. In contrast, CMiPLA2γKO mice demonstrated attenuated Ca2+-induced mPTP opening that could be rapidly restored by the addition of palmitate and substantially reduced production of oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Furthermore, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in CMiPLA2γKO mice (30 min of ischemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion in vivo) dramatically decreased oxidized fatty acid production in the ischemic border zones. Moreover, CMiPLA2γKO mice subjected to 30 min of ischemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion in vivo developed substantially less cardiac necrosis in the area-at-risk in comparison with their WT littermates. Furthermore, we found that membrane depolarization in murine heart mitochondria was sensitized to Ca2+ by the presence of oxidized PUFAs. Because mitochondrial membrane depolarization and calcium are known to activate iPLA2γ, these results are consistent with salvage of myocardium after I/R by iPLA2γ loss of function through decreasing mPTP opening, diminishing production of proinflammatory oxidized fatty acids, and attenuating the deleterious effects of abrupt increases in calcium ion on membrane potential during reperfusion. PMID:27453526

  11. Role of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitors in attenuating apoptosis of the corneal epithelial cells and mitigation of Acanthamoeba keratitis

    PubMed Central

    Tripathi, Trivendra; Abdi, Mahshid; Alizadeh, Hassan

    2013-01-01

    The aim of this study is to determine if the mannose-induced protein (MIP-133) from Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites induces apoptosis of corneal epithelial cells through a cytosolic phospholipase A2α (cPLA2α)-mediated pathway. The efficacy of cPLA2α inhibitors to provide protection against Acanthamoeba keratitis was examined in vivo. Chinese hamster corneal epithelial (HCORN) cells were incubated with or without MIP-133. MIP-133 induces significant increase in cPLA2α and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2/CXCL2) levels from corneal cells. Moreover, cPLA2α inhibitors, MAFP (Methyl-arachidonyl fluorophosphonate) and AACOCF3 (Arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone), significantly reduce cPLA2α and CXCL2 from these cells (P< 0.05). Additionally, cPLA2α inhibitors significantly inhibit MIP-133-induced apoptosis in HCORN cells (P< 0.05). Subconjunctival injection of purified MIP-133 in Chinese hamster eyes induced cytopathic effects resulting in corneal ulceration. Animals infected with A. castellanii-laden contact lenses and treated with AACOCF3 and CAY10650, showed significantly less severe keratitis as compared with control animals. Collectively, the results indicate that cPLA2α is involved in MIP-133 induced apoptosis of corneal epithelial cells, polymorphonuclear neutrophil infiltration, and production of CXCL2. Moreover, cPLA2α inhibitors can be used as a therapeutic target in Acanthamoeba keratitis. PMID:23792108

  12. CroFabtrade mark total anti-venom activity measured by SE-HPLC, and anti-PLA(2) activity assayed in vitro at physiological pH.

    PubMed

    Price, Joseph A; Sanny, Charles G

    2007-05-01

    One problem in the development and refinement of anti-venoms is ascertaining both overall anti-venom reactivity and which key toxins are neutralized. Here we show by SE-HPLC that the in vitro reaction of CroFab anti-venin with Crotalus atrox venom asymptotically nears completion (>95%) by 11 min at 4 degrees C by following the change in area under chromatographic peaks. The peaks for reactants decrease and the formation of high molecular weight complexes increases with time. To assay the large number of samples a new microplate format phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) assay at an initial pH of 7.5 was developed using phosphotidyl choline as the substrate. The change in absorbance is due to the pH change caused by release of fatty acids, and is linear with dilution of enzyme. This choice of substrate limits detection to PLA(2) and nonspecific esterase (if any) activities. The neutralization mixtures show a dose dependent (CroFab anti-venin) inactivation of C. atrox PLA(2) activity approaching a maximum of 85% neutralization. This approach of revealing antibody binding to venom components coupled with enzyme activity measurements is effective and may lead to greater in vitro assessment of antivenin activity in product development, and less routine use of mouse lethality assays.

  13. Leptin attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced apoptosis of thymocytes partially via down-regulation of cPLA2 and p38 MAPK activation.

    PubMed

    Liang, Chen; Liao, Jie; Deng, Zihui; Song, Cuihong; Zhang, Jinying; Zabeau, Lennart; Tavernier, Jan; Zhang, Kai; Xue, Hui; Yan, Guangtao

    2013-03-01

    Leptin, a 16-kDa protein that is mainly secreted by adipocytes, plays a protective role in many cell types. It has been shown that leptin acts in the central and peripheral immune system to protect thymocytes. Cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) is an enzyme that can specifically initiate the release of arachidonic acid (AA) to produce eicosanoids, which regulate inflammation and immune responses. Our previous work has shown that leptin is important to prevent apoptosis of thymocytes. However, the role of cPLA(2) is still unclear, and the precise mechanism also remains to be elucidated. In this work, we demonstrated that leptin inhibited the LPS-induced toxicity and apoptosis of thymocytes. Western blot and RT-PCR showed that leptin led to a reduction of cPLA(2) activity and mRNA level, as well as caspase-3 cleavage. Moreover, we found that leptin could decrease the activation of p38 MAPK. Accordingly, we pre-treated apoptotic thymocytes with the p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB203580 and observed an effect similar to the leptin alone treated group. SB203580 also suppressed expression of cPLA(2) and cleavage of caspase-3. Based on these results, we suggest that leptin could attenuate LPS-induced apoptotic injury in mouse thymocyte cells, mainly through the p38/cPLA(2) signalling pathway. The study of the regulatory role of leptin in LPS-induced thymocyte apoptosis can help to explain the role of leptin in the immune system and may provide a novel treatment option in cases of severe trauma, infection, shock, organ failure and autoimmune disease caused by thymic atrophy. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  14. Cytosolic phospholipaseA2 inhibition with PLA-695 radiosensitizes tumors in lung cancer animal models.

    PubMed

    Thotala, Dinesh; Craft, Jeffrey M; Ferraro, Daniel J; Kotipatruni, Rama P; Bhave, Sandeep R; Jaboin, Jerry J; Hallahan, Dennis E

    2013-01-01

    Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and the rest of the world. The advent of molecularly directed therapies holds promise for improvement in therapeutic efficacy. Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is associated with tumor progression and radioresistance in mouse tumor models. Utilizing the cPLA2 specific inhibitor PLA-695, we determined if cPLA2 inhibition radiosensitizes non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and tumors. Treatment with PLA-695 attenuated radiation induced increases of phospho-ERK and phospho-Akt in endothelial cells. NSCLC cells (LLC and A549) co-cultured with endothelial cells (bEND3 and HUVEC) and pre-treated with PLA-695 showed radiosensitization. PLA-695 in combination with irradiation (IR) significantly reduced migration and proliferation in endothelial cells (HUVEC & bEND3) and induced cell death and attenuated invasion by tumor cells (LLC &A549). In a heterotopic tumor model, the combination of PLA-695 and radiation delayed growth in both LLC and A549 tumors. LLC and A549 tumors treated with a combination of PLA-695 and radiation displayed reduced tumor vasculature. In a dorsal skin fold model of LLC tumors, inhibition of cPLA2 in combination with radiation led to enhanced destruction of tumor blood vessels. The anti-angiogenic effects of PLA-695 and its enhancement of the efficacy of radiotherapy in mouse models of NSCLC suggest that clinical trials for its capacity to improve radiotherapy outcomes are warranted.

  15. The Phospholipase A2 Activity of Peroxiredoxin 6.

    PubMed

    Fisher, Aron B

    2018-05-01

    Peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6) is a Ca2+-independent intracellular phospholipase A2 (called aiPLA2) that is localized to cytosol and acidic organelles (lysosomes and lysosomal-related organelles). Activity is minimal at cytosolic pH but is increased significantly at acidic pH, in the presence of oxidized phospholipid substrate, with protein oxidation, and with enzyme phosphorylation; maximal activity with phosphorylated aiPLA2 is ~2 μmol/min/mg protein. Prdx6 is a ″moonlighting″ protein that also expresses peroxidase and lysophosphatidylcholine acyl transferase activities.The active site for aiPLA2 activity is Ser32-H26-D140. Activity is inhibited by a serine ″protease″ inhibitor diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate (DENP) ,a transition state analogue 1-hexadecyl-3-(trifluoroethyl)-sn-glycero-2-phosphomethanol (MJ33),and two naturally occurring proteins, surfactant protein A (SP-A) and p67phox. aiPLA2 activity has important physiological roles in the turnover (degradation and synthesis) of lung surfactant phospholipids, in the repair of peroxidized cell membranes, and in the activation of NADPH oxidase (NOX2). The enzyme has been implicated in acute lung injury, carcinogenesis, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, male infertility, and sundry other conditions although its specific roles have not been well defined. Protein mutations and animal models are now available to further investigate the potentially important roles of Prdx6-aiPLA2 activity in normal and pathological physiology. Published under license by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

  16. A dangerous liaison: Leptin and sPLA2-IIA join forces to induce proliferation and migration of astrocytoma cells.

    PubMed

    Martín, Rubén; Cordova, Claudia; Gutiérrez, Beatriz; Hernández, Marita; Nieto, María L

    2017-01-01

    Glioblastoma, the most aggressive type of primary brain tumour, shows worse prognosis linked to diabetes or obesity persistence. These pathologies are chronic inflammatory conditions characterized by altered profiles of inflammatory mediators, including leptin and secreted phospholipase A2-IIA (sPLA2-IIA). Both proteins, in turn, display diverse pro-cancer properties in different cell types, including astrocytes. Herein, to understand the underlying relationship between obesity and brain tumors, we investigated the effect of leptin, alone or in combination with sPLA2-IIA on astrocytoma cell functions. sPLA2-IIA induced up-regulation of leptin receptors in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells. Leptin, as well as sPLA2-IIA, increased growth and migration in these cells, through activation/phosphorylation of key proteins of survival cascades. Leptin, at concentrations with minimal or no activating effects on astrocytoma cells, enhanced growth and migration promoted by low doses of sPLA2-IIA. sPLA2-IIA alone induced a transient phosphorylation pattern in the Src/ERK/Akt/mTOR/p70S6K/rS6 pathway through EGFR transactivation, and co-addition of leptin resulted in a sustained phosphorylation of these signaling regulators. Mechanistically, EGFR transactivation and tyrosine- and serine/threonine-protein phosphatases revealed a key role in this leptin-sPLA2-IIA cross-talk. This cooperative partnership between both proteins was also found in primary astrocytes. These findings thus indicate that the adipokine leptin, by increasing the susceptibility of cells to inflammatory mediators, could contribute to worsen the prognosis of tumoral and neurodegenerative processes, being a potential mediator of some obesity-related medical complications.

  17. Cytosolic PhospholipaseA2 Inhibition with PLA-695 Radiosensitizes Tumors in Lung Cancer Animal Models

    PubMed Central

    Ferraro, Daniel J.; Kotipatruni, Rama P.; Bhave, Sandeep R.; Jaboin, Jerry J.; Hallahan, Dennis E.

    2013-01-01

    Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and the rest of the world. The advent of molecularly directed therapies holds promise for improvement in therapeutic efficacy. Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is associated with tumor progression and radioresistance in mouse tumor models. Utilizing the cPLA2 specific inhibitor PLA-695, we determined if cPLA2 inhibition radiosensitizes non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and tumors. Treatment with PLA-695 attenuated radiation induced increases of phospho-ERK and phospho-Akt in endothelial cells. NSCLC cells (LLC and A549) co-cultured with endothelial cells (bEND3 and HUVEC) and pre-treated with PLA-695 showed radiosensitization. PLA-695 in combination with irradiation (IR) significantly reduced migration and proliferation in endothelial cells (HUVEC & bEND3) and induced cell death and attenuated invasion by tumor cells (LLC &A549). In a heterotopic tumor model, the combination of PLA-695 and radiation delayed growth in both LLC and A549 tumors. LLC and A549 tumors treated with a combination of PLA-695 and radiation displayed reduced tumor vasculature. In a dorsal skin fold model of LLC tumors, inhibition of cPLA2 in combination with radiation led to enhanced destruction of tumor blood vessels. The anti-angiogenic effects of PLA-695 and its enhancement of the efficacy of radiotherapy in mouse models of NSCLC suggest that clinical trials for its capacity to improve radiotherapy outcomes are warranted. PMID:23894523

  18. Epitope Spreading of Autoantibody Response to PLA2R Associates with Poor Prognosis in Membranous Nephropathy

    PubMed Central

    Seitz-Polski, Barbara; Dolla, Guillaume; Payré, Christine; Girard, Christophe A.; Polidori, Joel; Zorzi, Kevin; Birgy-Barelli, Eléonore; Jullien, Perrine; Courivaud, Cécile; Krummel, Thierry; Benzaken, Sylvia; Bernard, Ghislaine; Burtey, Stéphane; Mariat, Christophe; Esnault, Vincent L.M.

    2016-01-01

    The phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R1) is the major autoantigen in idiopathic membranous nephropathy. However, the value of anti-PLA2R1 antibody titers in predicting patient outcomes is unknown. Here, we screened serum samples from 50 patients positive for PLA2R1 for immunoreactivity against a series of PLA2R1 deletion mutants covering the extracellular domains. We identified reactive epitopes in the cysteine-rich (CysR), C-type lectin domain 1 (CTLD1), and C-type lectin domain 7 (CTLD7) domains and confirmed the reactivity with soluble forms of each domain. We then used ELISAs to stratify 69 patients positive for PLA2R1 by serum reactivity to one or more of these domains: CysR (n=23), CysRC1 (n=14), and CysRC1C7 (n=32). Median ELISA titers measured using the full-length PLA2R1 antigens were not statistically different between subgroups. Patients with anti-CysR–restricted activity were younger (P=0.008), had less nephrotic range proteinuria (P=0.02), and exhibited a higher rate of spontaneous remission (P=0.03) and lower rates of renal failure progression (P=0.002) and ESRD (P=0.01) during follow-up. Overall, 31 of 69 patients had poor renal prognosis (urinary protein/creatinine ratio >4 g/g or eGFR<45 ml/min per 1.73 m2 at end of follow-up). High anti-PLA2R1 activity and epitope spreading beyond the CysR epitope were independent risk factors of poor renal prognosis in multivariable Cox regression analysis. Epitope spreading during follow-up associated with disease worsening (n=3), whereas reverse spreading from a CysRC1C7 profile back to a CysR profile associated with favorable outcome (n=1). We conclude that analysis of the PLA2R1 epitope profile and spreading is a powerful tool for monitoring disease severity and stratifying patients by renal prognosis. PMID:26567246

  19. Epitope Spreading of Autoantibody Response to PLA2R Associates with Poor Prognosis in Membranous Nephropathy.

    PubMed

    Seitz-Polski, Barbara; Dolla, Guillaume; Payré, Christine; Girard, Christophe A; Polidori, Joel; Zorzi, Kevin; Birgy-Barelli, Eléonore; Jullien, Perrine; Courivaud, Cécile; Krummel, Thierry; Benzaken, Sylvia; Bernard, Ghislaine; Burtey, Stéphane; Mariat, Christophe; Esnault, Vincent L M; Lambeau, Gérard

    2016-05-01

    The phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R1) is the major autoantigen in idiopathic membranous nephropathy. However, the value of anti-PLA2R1 antibody titers in predicting patient outcomes is unknown. Here, we screened serum samples from 50 patients positive for PLA2R1 for immunoreactivity against a series of PLA2R1 deletion mutants covering the extracellular domains. We identified reactive epitopes in the cysteine-rich (CysR), C-type lectin domain 1 (CTLD1), and C-type lectin domain 7 (CTLD7) domains and confirmed the reactivity with soluble forms of each domain. We then used ELISAs to stratify 69 patients positive for PLA2R1 by serum reactivity to one or more of these domains: CysR (n=23), CysRC1 (n=14), and CysRC1C7 (n=32). Median ELISA titers measured using the full-length PLA2R1 antigens were not statistically different between subgroups. Patients with anti-CysR-restricted activity were younger (P=0.008), had less nephrotic range proteinuria (P=0.02), and exhibited a higher rate of spontaneous remission (P=0.03) and lower rates of renal failure progression (P=0.002) and ESRD (P=0.01) during follow-up. Overall, 31 of 69 patients had poor renal prognosis (urinary protein/creatinine ratio >4 g/g or eGFR<45 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) at end of follow-up). High anti-PLA2R1 activity and epitope spreading beyond the CysR epitope were independent risk factors of poor renal prognosis in multivariable Cox regression analysis. Epitope spreading during follow-up associated with disease worsening (n=3), whereas reverse spreading from a CysRC1C7 profile back to a CysR profile associated with favorable outcome (n=1). We conclude that analysis of the PLA2R1 epitope profile and spreading is a powerful tool for monitoring disease severity and stratifying patients by renal prognosis. Copyright © 2016 by the American Society of Nephrology.

  20. Inhibition mechanism of P-glycoprotein mediated efflux by mPEG-PLA and influence of PLA chain length on P-glycoprotein inhibition activity.

    PubMed

    Li, Wenjing; Li, Xinru; Gao, Yajie; Zhou, Yanxia; Ma, Shujin; Zhao, Yong; Li, Jinwen; Liu, Yan; Wang, Xinglin; Yin, Dongdong

    2014-01-06

    The present study aimed to investigate the effect of monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(D,L-lactic acid) (mPEG-PLA) on the activity of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in Caco-2 cells and further unravel the relationship between PLA chain length in mPEG-PLA and influence on P-gp efflux and the action mechanism. The transport results of rhodamine 123 (R123) across Caco-2 cell monolayers suggested that mPEG-PLA unimers were responsible for its P-gp inhibitory effect. Furthermore, transport studies of R123 revealed that the inhibitory potential of P-gp efflux by mPEG-PLA analogues was strongly correlated with their structural features and showed that the hydrophilic mPEG-PLA copolymers with an intermediate PLA chain length and 10.20 of hydrophilic-lipophilic balance were more effective at inhibiting P-gp efflux in Caco-2 cells. The fluorescence polarization measurement results ruled out the plasma membrane fluidization as a contributor for inhibition of P-gp by mPEG-PLA. Concurrently, mPEG-PLA inhibited neither basal P-gp ATPase (ATP is adenosine triphosphate) activity nor substrate stimulated P-gp ATPase activity, suggesting that mPEG-PLA seemed not to be a substrate of P-gp and a competitive inhibitor. No evident alteration in P-gp surface level was detected by flow cytometry upon exposure of the cells to mPEG-PLA. The depletion of intracellular ATP, which was likely to be a result of partial inhibition of cellular metabolism, was directly correlated with inhibitory potential for P-gp mediated efflux by mPEG-PLA analogues. Hence, intracellular ATP-depletion appeared to be possible explanation to the inhibition mechanism of P-gp by mPEG-PLA. Taken together, the establishment of a relationship between PLA chain length and impact on P-gp efflux activity and interpretation of action mechanism of mPEG-PLA on P-gp are of fundamental importance and will facilitate future development of mPEG-PLA in the drug delivery area.

  1. Conservation analysis and decomposition of residue correlation networks in the phospholipase A2 superfamily (PLA2s): Insights into the structure-function relationships of snake venom toxins.

    PubMed

    Oliveira, Alberto; Bleicher, Lucas; Schrago, Carlos G; Silva Junior, Floriano Paes

    2018-05-01

    Phospholipases A2 (PLA 2 s) comprise a superfamily of glycerophospholipids hydrolyzing enzymes present in many organisms in nature, whose catalytic activity was majorly unveiled by analysis of snake venoms. The latter have pharmaceutical and biotechnological interests and can be divided into different functional sub-classes. Our goal was to identify important residues and their relation to the functional and class-specific characteristics in the PLA 2 s family with special emphasis on snake venom PLA 2 s (svPLA 2 s). We identified such residues by conservation analysis and decomposition of residue coevolution networks (DRCN), annotated the results based on the available literature on PLA 2 s, structural analysis and molecular dynamics simulations, and related the results to the phylogenetic distribution of these proteins. A filtered alignment of PLA 2 s revealed 14 highly conserved positions and 3 sets of coevolved residues, which were annotated according to their structural or functional role. These residues are mostly involved in ligand binding and catalysis, calcium-binding, the formation of disulfide bridges and a hydrophobic cluster close to the binding site. An independent validation of the inference of structure-function relationships from our co-evolution analysis on the svPLA2s family was obtained by the analysis of the pattern of selection acting on the Viperidae and Elapidae lineages. Additionally, a molecular dynamics simulation on the Lys49 PLA 2 from Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus was carried out to further investigate the correlation of the Lys49-Glu69 pair. Our results suggest this configuration can result in a novel conformation where the binding cavity collapses due to the approximation of two loops caused by a strong salt bridge between Glu69 and Arg34. Finally, phylogenetic analysis indicated a correlation between the presence of residues in the coevolved sets found in this analysis and the clade localization. The results provide a guide for

  2. Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of a myotoxic Lys49-PLA{sub 2} from Bothrops jararacussu venom complexed with p-bromophenacyl bromide

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Marchi-Salvador, D. P.; Fernandes, C. A. H.; Amui, S. F.

    2006-06-01

    A non-catalytic and myotoxic Lys49-PLA{sub 2} from B. jararacussu venom was crystallized with BPB inhibitor and X-ray diffraction data were collected. Preliminary analysis indicates that the ligand is bound to the His48 residue. Structure determination may provide insights into the myotoxic and cytotoxic mechanisms of Lys49-PLA{sub 2}s. For the first time, a non-catalytic and myotoxic Lys49-PLA{sub 2} (BthTX-I from Bothrops jararacussu venom) has been crystallized with BPB inhibitor. X-ray diffraction data were collected and electron-density calculations showed that the ligand is bound to the His48 residue. BthTX-I with His48 chemically modified by BPB shows strongly reduced myotoxic and cytotoxic activities.more » This suggests a biological correlation between the modification of His48, which is associated with catalytic activity of PLA{sub 2}s, and other toxicological activities of Lys49-PLA{sub 2}s.« less

  3. Secreted phospholipase A2 of Clonorchis sinensis activates hepatic stellate cells through a pathway involving JNK signalling.

    PubMed

    Wu, Yinjuan; Li, Ye; Shang, Mei; Jian, Yu; Wang, Caiqin; Bardeesi, Adham Sameer A; Li, Zhaolei; Chen, Tingjin; Zhao, Lu; Zhou, Lina; He, Ai; Huang, Yan; Lv, Zhiyue; Yu, Xinbing; Li, Xuerong

    2017-03-16

    Secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) is a protein secreted by Clonorchis sinensis and is a component of excretory and secretory products (CsESPs). Phospholipase A2 is well known for its role in liver fibrosis and inhibition of tumour cells. The JNK signalling pathway is involved in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation. Blocking JNK activity with SP600125 inhibits HSCs activation. In a previous study, the protein CssPLA2 was expressed in insoluble inclusion bodies. Therefore, it's necessary to express CssPLA2 in water-soluble form and determine whether the enzymatic activity of CssPLA2 or cell signalling pathways is involved in liver fibrosis caused by clonorchiasis. Balb/C mice were given an abdominal injection of MBP-CssPLA2. Liver sections with HE and Masson staining were observed to detect accumulation of collagen. Western blot of mouse liver was done to detect the activation of JNK signalling pathway. In vitro, HSCs were incubated with MBP-CssPLA2 to detect the activation of HSCs as well as the activation of JNK signalling pathway. The mutant of MBP-CssPLA2 without enzymatic activity was constructed and was also incubated with HSCs to check whether activation of the HSCs was related to the enzymatic activity of MBP-CssPLA2. The recombinant protein MBP-CssPLA2 was expressed soluble and of good enzymatic activity. A mutant of CssPLA2, without enzymatic activity, was also constructed. In vivo liver sections of Balb/C mice that were given an abdominal injection of 50 μg/ml MBP-CssPLA2 showed an obvious accumulation of collagen and a clear band of P-JNK1 could be seen by western blot of the liver tissue. In vitro, MBP-CssPLA2, as well as the mutant, was incubated with HSCs and it was proved that activation of HSCs was related to activation of the JNK signalling pathway instead of the enzymatic activity of MBP-CssPLA2. Activation of HSCs by CssPLA2 is related to the activation of the JNK signalling pathway instead of the enzymatic activity of CssPLA2. This finding

  4. Phospholipase A2 activation regulates cytotoxicity of methylmercury in vascular endothelial cells.

    PubMed

    Mazerik, Jessica N; Hagele, Thomas; Sherwani, Shariq; Ciapala, Valorie; Butler, Susan; Kuppusamy, M Lakshmi; Hunter, Melissa; Kuppusamy, Periannan; Marsh, Clay B; Parinandi, Narasimham L

    2007-01-01

    Mercury has been identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease among humans. Through diet, mainly fish consumption, humans are exposed to methylmercury, the biomethylated organic form of environmental mercury. As the endothelium is an important player in homeostasis of the cardiovascular system, here, the authors tested their hypothesis that methylmercury activates the lipid signaling enzyme phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) in vascular endothelial cells (ECs), causing upstream regulation of cytotoxicity. To test this hypothesis, the authors used bovine pulmonary artery ECs (BPAECs) cultured in monolayers, following labeling of their membrane phospholipids with [(3)H]arachidonic acid (AA). The cells were exposed to methylmercury chloride (MMC) and then the release of free AA (index of PLA(2) activity) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; index of cytotoxicity) were determined by liquid scintillation counting and spectrophotometry, respectively. MMC significantly activated PLA(2) in a dose-dependent (5 to 15 microM) and time-dependent (0 to 60 min) fashion. Sulfhydryl (thiol-protective) agents, calcium chelators, antioxidants, and PLA(2)-specific inhibitors attenuated the MMC-induced PLA(2) activation, suggesting the role of thiols, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and calcium in the activation of PLA(2) in BPAECs. MMC also induced the loss of thiols and increase of lipid peroxidation in BPAECs. MMC induced cytotoxicity in BPAECs as observed by the altered cell morphology and LDH leak, which was significantly attenuated by PLA(2) inhibitors. This study established that PLA(2) activation through thiols, calcium, and oxidative stress was associated with the cytotoxicity of MMC in BPAECs, drawing attention to the involvement of PLA(2) signaling in the methylmercury-induced vascular endothelial dysfunctions.

  5. Purification and immunochemical characterization of Pla l 2, the profilin from Plantago lanceolata.

    PubMed

    Moya, Raquel; Rubio, Virginia; Beitia, Juan Mª; Carnés, Jerónimo; López-Matas, M Angeles

    2017-03-01

    Profilins are small actin-binding proteins found in eukaryotes and involved in cell development, cytokinesis, membrane trafficking, and cell motility. From an allergenic point of view, profilins are panallergens usually involved in allergic polysensitization, although they are generally recognized as minor allergens. The objectives of this study were to identify and characterize the profilin from Plantago lanceolata pollen and to investigate the cross-reactivity between profilins from different pollen allergenic sources. Profilins from P. lancelolata (Pla l 2) and palm tree pollen (Pho d 2) were purified by affinity chromatography, deeply characterized and identified by mass spectrometry. Pla l 2 allergenicity was confirmed by immunoblot with serum samples from a patient population sensitized to profilin. Immunoblot inhibition was performed to study IgG reactivity between different pollen profilins. IgE cross-reactivity was demonstrated by ImmunoCAP inhibition. Pla l 2 is the second P. lanceolata allergen included in the IUIS Allergen Nomenclature database. Four peptides from purified Pla l 2 were identified with percentages of homology with other pollen profilins between 73 and 86%. Eighty-six percent (21/24) of the patient population recognized Pla l 2. The allergenic relatedness between Pla l 2, Pho d 2 and six pollen profilins was confirmed, and IgE cross-reactivity of Pla l 2 with rBet v 2 and rPhl p 12 was demonstrated. Pla l 2 is the profilin from P. lanceolata. The demonstrated allergenicity of this protein and its cross-reactivity with other pollen profilins support its use in profilin diagnostic assays. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  6. Primary cilium suppression by SREBP1c involves distortion of vesicular trafficking by PLA2G3

    PubMed Central

    Gijs, Hannah Laura; Willemarck, Nicolas; Vanderhoydonc, Frank; Khan, Niamat Ali; Dehairs, Jonas; Derua, Rita; Waelkens, Etienne; Taketomi, Yoshitaka; Murakami, Makoto; Agostinis, Patrizia; Annaert, Wim; Swinnen, Johannes V.

    2015-01-01

    Distortion of primary cilium formation is increasingly recognized as a key event in many human pathologies. One of the underlying mechanisms involves aberrant activation of the lipogenic transcription factor sterol regulatory element–binding protein 1c (SREBP1c), as observed in cancer cells. To gain more insight into the molecular pathways by which SREBP1c suppresses primary ciliogenesis, we searched for overlap between known ciliogenesis regulators and targets of SREBP1. One of the candidate genes that was consistently up-regulated in cellular models of SREBP1c-induced cilium repression was phospholipase A2 group III (PLA2G3), a phospholipase that hydrolyzes the sn-2 position of glycerophospholipids. Use of RNA interference and a chemical inhibitor of PLA2G3 rescued SREBP1c-induced cilium repression. Cilium repression by SREBP1c and PLA2G3 involved alterations in endosomal recycling and vesicular transport toward the cilium, as revealed by aberrant transferrin and Rab11 localization, and was largely mediated by an increase in lysophosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylethanolamine levels. Together these findings indicate that aberrant activation of SREBP1c suppresses primary ciliogenesis by PLA2G3-mediated distortion of vesicular trafficking and suggest that PLA2G3 is a novel potential target to normalize ciliogenesis in SREBP1c-overexpressing cells, including cancer cells. PMID:25904332

  7. Expression, purification and epitope analysis of Pla a 2 allergen from Platanus acerifolia pollen.

    PubMed

    Wang, De-Wang; Ni, Wei-Wei; Zhou, Yan-Jun; Huang, Wen; Cao, Meng-Da; Meng, Ling; Wei, Ji-Fu

    2018-01-01

    Platanus acerifolia is one of the major sources of outdoor allergens to humans, and can induce allergic asthma, rhinitis, dermatitis and other allergic diseases. Pla a 2 is a polygalacturonase and represents the major allergen identified in P. acerifolia pollen. The aim of the present study was to express and purify Pla a 2, and to predict B and T cell epitopes of Pla a 2. The gene encoding Pla a 2 was cloned into the pET28a vector and subsequently transfected into ArcticExpress™ (DE3) Escherichia coli cells; purified Pla a 2 was analyzed by western blot analysis. The results of the present study revealed that the Pla a 2 allergen has the ability to bind immunoglobulin E within the sera of patients allergic to P. acerifolia pollen. In addition, the B cell epitopes of Pla a 2 were predicted using the DNAStar Protean system, Bioinformatics Predicted Antigenic Peptides and BepiPred 1.0 software; T cell epitopes were predicted using NetMHCIIpan ‑3.0 and ‑2.2. In total, eight B cell epitopes (15‑24, 60‑66, 78‑86, 109‑124, 232‑240, 260‑269, 298‑306 and 315‑322) and five T cell epitopes (62‑67, 86‑91, 125‑132, 217‑222 and 343‑350) were predicted in the present study. These findings may be used to improve allergen immunotherapies and reduce the frequency of pollen‑associated allergic reactions.

  8. Specificity of Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 Towards Oxidized Phosphatidylserines: LC-ESI-MS Characterization of Products and Computer Modeling of Interactions

    PubMed Central

    Tyurin, Vladimir A.; Yanamala, Naveena; Tyurina, Yulia Y.; Klein-Seetharaman, Judith; Macphee, Colin H.; Kagan, Valerian E.

    2013-01-01

    Ca2+ independent lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is a member of the phospholipase A2 superfamily with a distinguishing characteristic of high specificity for oxidatively modified sn-2 fatty acid residues in phospholipids which has been especially well characterized for peroxidized species of phosphatidylcholines (PC). The ability of Lp-PLA2 to hydrolyze peroxidized species of phosphatidylserine (PS) – acting as a recognition signal for clearance of apoptotic cells by professional phagocytes - as well as the products of the reaction have not been investigated. We performed LC-MS-ESI-based structural characterization of oxygenated/hydrolyzed molecular species of PS - containing linoleic acid in either sn-2 position (C18:0/C18:2) or in both sn-1 and sn-2 positions (C18:2/C18:2) - formed in cytochrome c/ H2O2 driven enzymatic oxidation reaction. Cytochrome c has been chosen as a catalyst of peroxidation reactions due to its likely involvement in PS oxidation in apoptotic cells. We found that Lp-PLA2 catalyzed the hydrolysis of both non-truncated and truncated (oxidatively fragmented) species of oxidized PS species albeit with different efficiencies and performed detailed characterization of the major reaction products – oxygenated derivatives of linoleic acid as well as non-oxygenated and oxygenated species of lyso-PS. Among linoleic acid products, derivatives oxygenated at the C9 position, including 9-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (9-HODE) – a potent ligand of G protein-coupled receptor G2A - were the most abundant. Computer modeling of interactions of Lp-PLA2 with different PS oxidized species indicated that they are able to bind in proximity (<5Å) to Ser273 and His351 of the catalytic triad. For 9-hydroxy- and 9-hydroperoxy- derivatives of oxidized PS, the sn-2 ester bond was positioned within the very close proximity (<3Å) from the Ser273 residue - a nucleophile directly attacking the sn-2 bond – thus favoring the hydrolysis reaction. We

  9. Configurational Molecular Glue: One Optically Active Polymer Attracts Two Oppositely Configured Optically Active Polymers.

    PubMed

    Tsuji, Hideto; Noda, Soma; Kimura, Takayuki; Sobue, Tadashi; Arakawa, Yuki

    2017-03-24

    D-configured poly(D-lactic acid) (D-PLA) and poly(D-2-hydroxy-3-methylbutanoic acid) (D-P2H3MB) crystallized separately into their homo-crystallites when crystallized by precipitation or solvent evaporation, whereas incorporation of L-configured poly(L-2-hydroxybutanoic acid) (L-P2HB) in D-configured D-PLA and D-P2H3MB induced co-crystallization or ternary stereocomplex formation between D-configured D-PLA and D-P2H3MB and L-configured L-P2HB. However, incorporation of D-configured poly(D-2-hydroxybutanoic acid) (D-P2HB) in D-configured D-PLA and D-P2H3MB did not cause co-crystallization between D-configured D-PLA and D-P2H3MB and D-configured D-P2HB but separate crystallization of each polymer occurred. These findings strongly suggest that an optically active polymer (L-configured or D-configured polymer) like unsubstituted or substituted optically active poly(lactic acid)s can act as "a configurational or helical molecular glue" for two oppositely configured optically active polymers (two D-configured polymers or two L-configured polymers) to allow their co-crystallization. The increased degree of freedom in polymer combination is expected to assist to pave the way for designing polymeric composites having a wide variety of physical properties, biodegradation rate and behavior in the case of biodegradable polymers.

  10. Configurational Molecular Glue: One Optically Active Polymer Attracts Two Oppositely Configured Optically Active Polymers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tsuji, Hideto; Noda, Soma; Kimura, Takayuki; Sobue, Tadashi; Arakawa, Yuki

    2017-03-01

    D-configured poly(D-lactic acid) (D-PLA) and poly(D-2-hydroxy-3-methylbutanoic acid) (D-P2H3MB) crystallized separately into their homo-crystallites when crystallized by precipitation or solvent evaporation, whereas incorporation of L-configured poly(L-2-hydroxybutanoic acid) (L-P2HB) in D-configured D-PLA and D-P2H3MB induced co-crystallization or ternary stereocomplex formation between D-configured D-PLA and D-P2H3MB and L-configured L-P2HB. However, incorporation of D-configured poly(D-2-hydroxybutanoic acid) (D-P2HB) in D-configured D-PLA and D-P2H3MB did not cause co-crystallization between D-configured D-PLA and D-P2H3MB and D-configured D-P2HB but separate crystallization of each polymer occurred. These findings strongly suggest that an optically active polymer (L-configured or D-configured polymer) like unsubstituted or substituted optically active poly(lactic acid)s can act as “a configurational or helical molecular glue” for two oppositely configured optically active polymers (two D-configured polymers or two L-configured polymers) to allow their co-crystallization. The increased degree of freedom in polymer combination is expected to assist to pave the way for designing polymeric composites having a wide variety of physical properties, biodegradation rate and behavior in the case of biodegradable polymers.

  11. Impact of the Pla protease substrate α2-antiplasmin on the progression of primary pneumonic plague.

    PubMed

    Eddy, Justin L; Schroeder, Jay A; Zimbler, Daniel L; Bellows, Lauren E; Lathem, Wyndham W

    2015-12-01

    Many pathogens usurp the host hemostatic system during infection to promote pathogenesis. Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, expresses the plasminogen activator protease Pla, which has been shown in vitro to target and cleave multiple proteins within the fibrinolytic pathway, including the plasmin inhibitor α2-antiplasmin (A2AP). It is not known, however, if Pla inactivates A2AP in vivo; the role of A2AP during respiratory Y. pestis infection is not known either. Here, we show that Y. pestis does not appreciably cleave A2AP in a Pla-dependent manner in the lungs during experimental pneumonic plague. Furthermore, following intranasal infection with Y. pestis, A2AP-deficient mice exhibit no difference in survival time, bacterial burden in the lungs, or dissemination from wild-type mice. Instead, we found that in the absence of Pla, A2AP contributes to the control of the pulmonary inflammatory response during infection by reducing neutrophil recruitment and cytokine production, resulting in altered immunopathology of the lungs compared to A2AP-deficient mice. Thus, our data demonstrate that A2AP is not significantly affected by the Pla protease during pneumonic plague, and although A2AP participates in immune modulation in the lungs, it has limited impact on the course or ultimate outcome of the infection. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

  12. Impact of the Pla Protease Substrate α2-Antiplasmin on the Progression of Primary Pneumonic Plague

    PubMed Central

    Eddy, Justin L.; Schroeder, Jay A.; Zimbler, Daniel L.; Bellows, Lauren E.

    2015-01-01

    Many pathogens usurp the host hemostatic system during infection to promote pathogenesis. Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, expresses the plasminogen activator protease Pla, which has been shown in vitro to target and cleave multiple proteins within the fibrinolytic pathway, including the plasmin inhibitor α2-antiplasmin (A2AP). It is not known, however, if Pla inactivates A2AP in vivo; the role of A2AP during respiratory Y. pestis infection is not known either. Here, we show that Y. pestis does not appreciably cleave A2AP in a Pla-dependent manner in the lungs during experimental pneumonic plague. Furthermore, following intranasal infection with Y. pestis, A2AP-deficient mice exhibit no difference in survival time, bacterial burden in the lungs, or dissemination from wild-type mice. Instead, we found that in the absence of Pla, A2AP contributes to the control of the pulmonary inflammatory response during infection by reducing neutrophil recruitment and cytokine production, resulting in altered immunopathology of the lungs compared to A2AP-deficient mice. Thus, our data demonstrate that A2AP is not significantly affected by the Pla protease during pneumonic plague, and although A2AP participates in immune modulation in the lungs, it has limited impact on the course or ultimate outcome of the infection. PMID:26438794

  13. Leptin suppresses non-apoptotic cell death in ischemic rat cardiomyocytes by reduction of iPLA{sub 2} activity

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Takatani-Nakase, Tomoka, E-mail: nakase@mukogawa-u.ac.jp; Takahashi, Koichi, E-mail: koichi@mukogawa-u.ac.jp

    Caspase-independent, non-apoptotic cell death is an important therapeutic target in myocardial ischemia. Leptin, an adipose-derived hormone, is known to exhibit cytoprotective effects on the ischemic heart, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. In this research, we found that pretreatment of leptin strongly suppressed ischemic-augmented nuclear shrinkage and non-apoptotic cell death on cardiomyocytes. Leptin was also shown to significantly inhibit the activity of iPLA{sub 2}, which is considered to play crucial roles in non-apoptotic cell death, resulting in effective prevention of ischemia-induced myocyte death. These findings provide the first evidence of a protective mechanism of leptin against ischemia-induced non-apoptotic cardiomyocyte death.more » - Highlights: • Myocardial ischemia-model induces in caspase-independent, non-apoptotic cell death. • Leptin strongly inhibits ischemic-augmented non-apoptotic cell death. • Leptin reduces iPLA{sub 2} activity, leading to avoidance of non-apoptotic cell death.« less

  14. Hyperforin induces Ca(2+)-independent arachidonic acid release in human platelets by facilitating cytosolic phospholipase A(2) activation through select phospholipid interactions.

    PubMed

    Hoffmann, Marika; Lopez, Jakob J; Pergola, Carlo; Feisst, Christian; Pawelczik, Sven; Jakobsson, Per-Johan; Sorg, Bernd L; Glaubitz, Clemens; Steinhilber, Dieter; Werz, Oliver

    2010-04-01

    Here, we investigated the modulation of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2))-mediated arachidonic acid (AA) release by the polyprenylated acylphloroglucinol hyperforin. Hyperforin increased AA release from human platelets up to 2.6 fold (maximal effect at 10microM) versus unstimulated cells, which was blocked by cPLA(2)alpha-inhibition, and induced translocation of cPLA(2) to a membrane compartment. Interestingly, these stimulatory effects of hyperforin were even more pronounced after depletion of intracellular Ca(2+) by EDTA plus BAPTA/AM. Hyperforin induced phosphorylation of cPLA(2) at Ser505 and activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and inhibition of p38 MAPK by SB203580 prevented cPLA(2) phosphorylation. However, neither AA release nor translocation of cPLA(2) was abrogated by SB203580. In cell-free assays using liposomes prepared from different lipids, hyperforin failed to stimulate phospholipid hydrolysis by isolated cPLA(2) in the presence of Ca(2+). However, when Ca(2+) was omitted, hyperforin caused a prominent increase in cPLA(2) activity using liposomes composed of 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine but not of 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PAPC) unless the PAPC liposomes were enriched in cholesterol (20 to 50%). Finally, two-dimensional (1)H-MAS-NMR analysis visualized the directed insertion of hyperforin into POPC liposomes. Together, hyperforin, through insertion into phospholipids, may facilitate cPLA(2) activation by enabling its access towards select lipid membranes independent of Ca(2+) ions. Such Ca(2+)- and phosphorylation-independent mechanism of cPLA(2) activation may apply also to other membrane-interfering molecules. 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Genetic Ablation of Calcium-independent Phospholipase A2γ (iPLA2γ) Attenuates Calcium-induced Opening of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore and Resultant Cytochrome c Release*

    PubMed Central

    Moon, Sung Ho; Jenkins, Christopher M.; Kiebish, Michael A.; Sims, Harold F.; Mancuso, David J.; Gross, Richard W.

    2012-01-01

    Herein, we demonstrate that calcium-independent phospholipase A2γ (iPLA2γ) is a critical mechanistic participant in the calcium-induced opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). Liver mitochondria from iPLA2γ−/− mice were markedly resistant to calcium-induced swelling in the presence or absence of phosphate in comparison with wild-type littermates. Furthermore, the iPLA2γ enantioselective inhibitor (R)-(E)-6-(bromomethylene)-3-(1-naphthalenyl)-2H-tetrahydropyran-2-one ((R)-BEL) was markedly more potent than (S)-BEL in inhibiting mPTP opening in mitochondria from wild-type liver in comparison with hepatic mitochondria from iPLA2γ−/− mice. Intriguingly, low micromolar concentrations of long chain fatty acyl-CoAs and the non-hydrolyzable thioether analog of palmitoyl-CoA markedly accelerated Ca2+-induced mPTP opening in liver mitochondria from wild-type mice. The addition of l-carnitine enabled the metabolic channeling of acyl-CoA through carnitine palmitoyltransferases (CPT-1/2) and attenuated the palmitoyl-CoA-mediated amplification of calcium-induced mPTP opening. In contrast, mitochondria from iPLA2γ−/− mice were insensitive to fatty acyl-CoA-mediated augmentation of calcium-induced mPTP opening. Moreover, mitochondria from iPLA2γ−/− mouse liver were resistant to Ca2+/t-butyl hydroperoxide-induced mPTP opening in comparison with wild-type littermates. In support of these findings, cytochrome c release from iPLA2γ−/− mitochondria was dramatically decreased in response to calcium in the presence or absence of either t-butyl hydroperoxide or phenylarsine oxide in comparison with wild-type littermates. Collectively, these results identify iPLA2γ as an important mechanistic component of the mPTP, define its downstream products as potent regulators of mPTP opening, and demonstrate the integrated roles of mitochondrial bioenergetics and lipidomic flux in modulating mPTP opening promoting the activation of necrotic and

  16. Secretory phospholipase A2 activity in blood serum: the challenge to sense.

    PubMed

    Alekseeva, A S; Korotaeva, A A; Samoilova, E V; Volynsky, P E; Vodovozova, E L; Boldyrev, I A

    2014-11-07

    Excess levels of secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) is known to contribute to several inflammatory diseases including vascular inflammation correlating with coronary events in coronary artery disease. Thus a method to monitor sPLA2 activity in blood serum is urgently needed. Such method is still a challenge since existing fluorescent probes do not allow to monitor sPLA2 activity directly in blood serum. Here we analyze and overcome barriers in sPLA2 sensing methodology and report a fluorescent probe and a kinetic model of its hydrolysis by sPLA2. New probe is designed with a fluorophore and a quencher not interfering binding to the enzyme. At the same time phospholipid matrix bearing the probe promotes efficient initial quenching of the fluorophore. Kinetic model of probe hydrolysis takes into account signal change due to the side processes. The probe and the kinetic model applied together prove the concept that the activity of sPLA can be measured directly in blood serum. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Activation of bradykinin B2 receptor induced the inflammatory responses of cytosolic phospholipase A2 after the early traumatic brain injury.

    PubMed

    Chao, Honglu; Liu, Yinlong; Lin, Chao; Xu, Xiupeng; Li, Zheng; Bao, Zhongyuan; Fan, Liang; Tao, Chao; Zhao, Lin; Liu, Yan; Wang, Xiaoming; You, Yongping; Liu, Ning; Ji, Jing

    2018-06-09

    Phospholipase A 2 is a known aggravator of inflammation and deteriorates neurological outcomes after traumatic brain injury (TBI), however the exact inflammatory mechanisms remain unknown. This study investigated the role of bradykinin and its receptor, which are known initial mediators within inflammation activation, as well as the mechanisms of the cytosolic phospholipase A 2 (cPLA 2 )-related inflammatory responses after TBI. We found that cPLA 2 and bradykinin B2 receptor were upregulated after a TBI. Rats treated with the bradykinin B2 receptor inhibitor LF 16-0687 exhibited significantly less cPLA 2 expression and related inflammatory responses in the brain cortex after sustaining a controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury. Both the cPLA 2 inhibitor and the LF16-0687 improved CCI rat outcomes by decreasing neuron death and reducing brain edema. The following TBI model utilized both primary astrocytes and primary neurons in order to gain further understanding of the inflammation mechanisms of the B2 bradykinin receptor and the cPLA 2 in the central nervous system. There was a stronger reaction from the astrocytes as well as a protective effect of LF16-0687 after the stretch injury and bradykinin treatment. The protein kinase C pathway was thought to be involved in the B2 bradykinin receptor as well as the cPLA 2 -related inflammatory responses. Rottlerin, a Protein Kinase C (PKC) δ inhibitor, decreased the activity of the cPLA 2 activity post-injury, and LF16-0687 suppressed both the PKC pathway and the cPLA 2 activity within the astrocytes. These results indicated that the bradykinin B2 receptor-mediated pathway is involved in the cPLA 2 -related inflammatory response from the PKC pathway. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  18. p67(phox) terminates the phospholipase A(2)-derived signal for activation of NADPH oxidase (NOX2).

    PubMed

    Krishnaiah, Saikumari Y; Dodia, Chandra; Feinstein, Sheldon I; Fisher, Aron B

    2013-05-01

    The phospholipase A2 (PLA2)activity of phosphorylated peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6) is required for activation of NADPH oxidase (NOX2). We investigated the interaction of Prdx6 with p67(phox) and its effect on NOX2 activity. With the use of specific antibodies, coimmunoprecipitation of p67(phox) and phosphorylated Prdx6 was demonstrated with lysates of mouse pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (MPMVECs) that were stimulated with angiotensin II; the interaction of p67(phox) with nonphosphorylated Prdx6 was relatively weak. Association of p67(phox) and phosphoPrdx6 in intact MPMVECs after angiotensin II stimulation was demonstrated by proximity ligation assay and was abolished by U0126, a MAP kinase inhibitor. By isothermal titration calorimetry, p67(phox) bound strongly to phosphoPrdx6 but bound poorly to Prdx6; phosphorylated p67(phox) did not bind to either Prdx6 or phosphoPrdx6. PLA2 activity of recombinant phosphoPrdx6 was decreased by >98% in the presence of p67(phox); the calculated dissociation constant (Kd) of the p67(phox): phosphoPrdx6 complex was 65 nM. PLA2 activity (MJ33 sensitive) in cell lysates following angiotensin II treatment of MPMVECs was increased by 85% following knockdown of p67(phox) with siRNA. These data indicate that p67(phox) binds to phosphoPrdx6 and inhibits its PLA2 activity, an interaction that could function to terminate the PLA2-mediated NOX2 activation signal.-Krishnaiah, S. Y., Dodia, C., Feinstein, S. I., and Fisher, A. B. p67(phox) terminates the phospholipase A2-derived signal for activation of NADPH oxidase (NOX2).

  19. p67phox terminates the phospholipase A2-derived signal for activation of NADPH oxidase (NOX2)

    PubMed Central

    Krishnaiah, Saikumari Y.; Dodia, Chandra; Feinstein, Sheldon I.; Fisher, Aron B.

    2013-01-01

    The phospholipase A2 (PLA2)activity of phosphorylated peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6) is required for activation of NADPH oxidase (NOX2). We investigated the interaction of Prdx6 with p67phox and its effect on NOX2 activity. With the use of specific antibodies, coimmunoprecipitation of p67phox and phosphorylated Prdx6 was demonstrated with lysates of mouse pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (MPMVECs) that were stimulated with angiotensin II; the interaction of p67phox with nonphosphorylated Prdx6 was relatively weak. Association of p67phox and phosphoPrdx6 in intact MPMVECs after angiotensin II stimulation was demonstrated by proximity ligation assay and was abolished by U0126, a MAP kinase inhibitor. By isothermal titration calorimetry, p67phox bound strongly to phosphoPrdx6 but bound poorly to Prdx6; phosphorylated p67phox did not bind to either Prdx6 or phosphoPrdx6. PLA2 activity of recombinant phosphoPrdx6 was decreased by >98% in the presence of p67phox; the calculated dissociation constant (Kd) of the p67phox: phosphoPrdx6 complex was 65 nM. PLA2 activity (MJ33 sensitive) in cell lysates following angiotensin II treatment of MPMVECs was increased by 85% following knockdown of p67phox with siRNA. These data indicate that p67phox binds to phosphoPrdx6 and inhibits its PLA2 activity, an interaction that could function to terminate the PLA2-mediated NOX2 activation signal.—Krishnaiah, S. Y., Dodia, C., Feinstein, S. I., and Fisher, A. B. p67phox terminates the phospholipase A2-derived signal for activation of NADPH oxidase (NOX2). PMID:23401562

  20. Learning to perceive and recognize a second language: the L2LP model revised.

    PubMed

    van Leussen, Jan-Willem; Escudero, Paola

    2015-01-01

    We present a test of a revised version of the Second Language Linguistic Perception (L2LP) model, a computational model of the acquisition of second language (L2) speech perception and recognition. The model draws on phonetic, phonological, and psycholinguistic constructs to explain a number of L2 learning scenarios. However, a recent computational implementation failed to validate a theoretical proposal for a learning scenario where the L2 has less phonemic categories than the native language (L1) along a given acoustic continuum. According to the L2LP, learners faced with this learning scenario must not only shift their old L1 phoneme boundaries but also reduce the number of categories employed in perception. Our proposed revision to L2LP successfully accounts for this updating in the number of perceptual categories as a process driven by the meaning of lexical items, rather than by the learners' awareness of the number and type of phonemes that are relevant in their new language, as the previous version of L2LP assumed. Results of our simulations show that meaning-driven learning correctly predicts the developmental path of L2 phoneme perception seen in empirical studies. Additionally, and to contribute to a long-standing debate in psycholinguistics, we test two versions of the model, with the stages of phonemic perception and lexical recognition being either sequential or interactive. Both versions succeed in learning to recognize minimal pairs in the new L2, but make diverging predictions on learners' resulting phonological representations. In sum, the proposed revision to the L2LP model contributes to our understanding of L2 acquisition, with implications for speech processing in general.

  1. The role of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in LP-BPM5 murine retroviral disease progression.

    PubMed

    O'Connor, Megan A; Green, William R

    2013-05-17

    Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is an immunomodulatory intracellular enzyme involved in tryptophan degradation. IDO is induced during cancer and microbial infections by cytokines, ligation of co-stimulatory molecules and/or activation of pattern recognition receptors, ultimately leading to modulation of the immune response. LP-BM5 murine retroviral infection induces murine AIDS (MAIDS), which is characterized by profound and broad immunosuppression of T- and B-cell responses. Our lab has previously described multiple mechanisms regulating the development of immunodeficiency of LP-BM5-induced disease, including Programmed Death 1 (PD-1), IL-10, and T-regulatory (Treg) cells. Immunosuppressive roles of IDO have been demonstrated in other retroviral models, suggesting a possible role for IDO during LP-BM5-induced retroviral disease progression and/or development of viral load. Mice deficient in IDO (B6.IDO-/-) and wildtype C57BL/6 (B6) mice were infected with LP-BM5 murine retrovirus. MAIDS and LP-BM5 viral load were assessed at termination. As expected, IDO was un-inducible in B6.IDO-/- during LP-BM5 infection. B6.IDO-/- mice infected with LP-BM5 retrovirus succumbed to MAIDS as indicated by splenomegaly, serum hyper IgG2a and IgM, decreased responsiveness to B- and T-cell mitogens, conversion of a proportion of CD4+ T cells from Thy1.2+ to Thy1.2-, and increased percentages of CD11b+Gr-1+ cells. LP-BM5 infected B6.IDO-/- mice also demonstrated the development of roughly equivalent disease kinetics as compared to infected B6 mice. Splenic viral loads of B6 and B6.IDO-/- mice were also equivalent after infection as measured by LP-BM5-specific Def Gag and Eco Gag viral mRNA, determined by qRT-PCR. Collectively, these results demonstrate IDO neither plays an essential role, nor is required, in LP-BM5-induced disease progression or LP-BM5 viral load.

  2. The role of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in LP-BPM5 murine retroviral disease progression

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is an immunomodulatory intracellular enzyme involved in tryptophan degradation. IDO is induced during cancer and microbial infections by cytokines, ligation of co-stimulatory molecules and/or activation of pattern recognition receptors, ultimately leading to modulation of the immune response. LP-BM5 murine retroviral infection induces murine AIDS (MAIDS), which is characterized by profound and broad immunosuppression of T- and B-cell responses. Our lab has previously described multiple mechanisms regulating the development of immunodeficiency of LP-BM5-induced disease, including Programmed Death 1 (PD-1), IL-10, and T-regulatory (Treg) cells. Immunosuppressive roles of IDO have been demonstrated in other retroviral models, suggesting a possible role for IDO during LP-BM5-induced retroviral disease progression and/or development of viral load. Methods Mice deficient in IDO (B6.IDO−/−) and wildtype C57BL/6 (B6) mice were infected with LP-BM5 murine retrovirus. MAIDS and LP-BM5 viral load were assessed at termination. Results As expected, IDO was un-inducible in B6.IDO−/− during LP-BM5 infection. B6.IDO−/− mice infected with LP-BM5 retrovirus succumbed to MAIDS as indicated by splenomegaly, serum hyper IgG2a and IgM, decreased responsiveness to B- and T-cell mitogens, conversion of a proportion of CD4+ T cells from Thy1.2+ to Thy1.2-, and increased percentages of CD11b+Gr-1+ cells. LP-BM5 infected B6.IDO−/− mice also demonstrated the development of roughly equivalent disease kinetics as compared to infected B6 mice. Splenic viral loads of B6 and B6.IDO−/− mice were also equivalent after infection as measured by LP-BM5-specific Def Gag and Eco Gag viral mRNA, determined by qRT-PCR. Conclusions Collectively, these results demonstrate IDO neither plays an essential role, nor is required, in LP-BM5-induced disease progression or LP-BM5 viral load. PMID:23680027

  3. Lithium activates brain phospholipase A2 and improves memory in rats: implications for Alzheimer's disease.

    PubMed

    Mury, Fábio B; da Silva, Weber C; Barbosa, Nádia R; Mendes, Camila T; Bonini, Juliana S; Sarkis, Jorge Eduardo Souza; Cammarota, Martin; Izquierdo, Ivan; Gattaz, Wagner F; Dias-Neto, Emmanuel

    2016-10-01

    Phospholipase A2 (Pla2) is required for memory retrieval, and its inhibition in the hippocampus has been reported to impair memory acquisition in rats. Moreover, cognitive decline and memory deficits showed to be reduced in animal models after lithium treatment, prompting us to evaluate possible links between Pla2, lithium and memory. Here, we evaluated the possible modulation of Pla2 activity by a long-term treatment of rats with low doses of lithium and its impact in memory. Wistar rats were trained for the inhibitory avoidance task, treated with lithium for 100 days and tested for perdurability of long-term memory. Hippocampal samples were used for quantifying the expression of 19 brain-expressed Pla2 genes and for evaluating the enzymatic activity of Pla2 using group-specific radio-enzymatic assays. Our data pointed to a significant perdurability of long-term memory, which correlated with increased transcriptional and enzymatic activities of certain members of the Pla2 family (iPla2 and sPla2) after the chronic lithium treatment. Our data suggest new possible targets of lithium, add more information on its pharmacological activity and reinforce the possible use of low doses of lithium for the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions such as the Alzheimer's disease.

  4. Evaluation of Phototoxic and Skin Sensitization Potentials of PLA2-Free Bee Venom

    PubMed Central

    Heo, Yunwi; Pyo, Min-Jung; Bae, Seong Kyeong; Lee, Hyunkyoung; Kwon, Young Chul; Kim, Je Hein; Kim, Bokyung; Kim, Choul Goo; Kang, Changkeun; Kim, Euikyung

    2015-01-01

    Bee venom (BV) from honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) has been used in oriental medicine and cosmetic ingredients because of its diverse pharmacological activities. In many studies, among BV components, phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is known as a major player in BV-induced allergic reaction. Therefore, we removed PLA2 from BV using ultrafiltration and then investigated in vitro phototoxicity and in vivo skin sensitization of PLA2-free BV (PBV) in comparison with regular BV. The 3T3 neutral red uptake phototoxicity assay can be appropriated to identify the phototoxic effect of a test substance upon the exposure of ultraviolet A. Chlorpromazine, a positive control, showed high levels of photoirritation factor and mean photo effect values, while BV and PBV had less of these values. Local lymph node assay is an alternative method to evaluate skin sensitization potential of chemicals. BALB/c mice were treated with p-phenylenediamine (PPD, positive control), BV, or PBV. In all of PPD concentrations, stimulation indexes (SI) as sensitizing potential of chemicals were ≥1.6, determined to be sensitizer, while SI levels of BV and PBV were below 1.6. Thus, based on these findings, we propose that both BV and PBV are nonphototoxic compounds and nonsensitizers. PMID:26347784

  5. Enhanced thermal and mechanical properties of PLA/MoS2 nanocomposites synthesized via the in-situ ring-opening polymerization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Pengpeng; Liang, Xiao; Xu, Ying; Zhou, Yifeng; Nie, Wangyan

    2018-05-01

    In this work, MoS2 nanosheets were employed to reinforce PLA. In order to promote the homogeneous dispersion of MoS2 in PLA and form a strong interface between MoS2 and PLA, the MoS2 nanosheets were firstly modified by mercapto-ethylamine, and then functionalized with PLA chains through ring-opening polymerization of poly(L-lactide). The XRD, XPS, TGA and 1H NMR characterizations confirmed the successful amino and PLA functionalization of MoS2 nanosheets. The obtained MoS2-g-PLA nanosheets were then introduced to reinforce PLA. SEM images displayed that the MoS2-g-PLA nanosheets were dispersed in PLA matrix uniformly. TGA results showed that initial decomposition temperature was improved from 275.6 °C to 334.8 °C with 0.5 wt% of MoS2-g-PLA nanosheets. The storage modulus of PLA/MoS2-g-PLA-0.5 wt% in the glass state and rubber state were both greatly enhanced compared with neat PLA.

  6. The expression of ERα, OTR, cPLA(2), COX-2, and PPARγ in the cervix of the ewe during the estrous cycle.

    PubMed

    Falchi, L; Scaramuzzi, R J

    2013-01-01

    The ovine cervix relaxes at estrus allowing easier entry of spermatozoa into the uterus. The mechanism responsible for this relaxation is not fully elucidated and we hypothesized that cervical relaxation at estrus is induced by ovarian and pituitary hormones stimulating the local production of prostaglandin E(2) via a biosynthetic pathway involving a number of mediators including oxytocin, phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). The aim of this study was to investigate the cervical expression of estradiol receptor alpha (ERα), oxytocin receptor (OTR), cPLA(2), COX-2, and PPARγ at three stages of the estrous cycle (the luteal phase and two times during the follicular phase, just before and just after the LH surge). An experiment was conducted during the breeding season, in 25 ewes to test this hypothesis. Samples of cervical tissue were collected from groups of ewes at three stages of the estrous cycle: the luteal (N = 8), "pre-LH surge" (N = 8), and "post-LH surge" (N = 9) stages. Cervical tissue from uterine, mid, and vaginal regions of the cervix were analyzed by Western immunoblot analysis for ERα, OTR, cPLA(2,) COX-2, and PPARγ. The results showed that the levels of all five proteins were lowest during the luteal phase of the estrous cycle in all regions of the cervix. The levels of all except cPLA(2), increased significantly during the "pre-LH surge" stage. The levels of cPLA(2) and ERα increased in the "post-LH surge" stage and those for OTR and PPARγ were unchanged and those for COX-2 were lower. These data show that the cervical levels of all five of the intermediates in the synthesis of prostaglandin E(2) that were examined in this study were higher in the "pre-" and "post-LH surge" stages compared with the luteal phase of the estrous cycle and these findings are consistent with our hypothesis. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. Pancreatic and snake venom presynaptically active phospholipases A2 inhibit nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

    PubMed

    Vulfius, Catherine A; Kasheverov, Igor E; Kryukova, Elena V; Spirova, Ekaterina N; Shelukhina, Irina V; Starkov, Vladislav G; Andreeva, Tatyana V; Faure, Grazyna; Zouridakis, Marios; Tsetlin, Victor I; Utkin, Yuri N

    2017-01-01

    Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) are enzymes found throughout the animal kingdom. They hydrolyze phospholipids in the sn-2 position producing lysophospholipids and unsaturated fatty acids, agents that can damage membranes. PLA2s from snake venoms have numerous toxic effects, not all of which can be explained by phospholipid hydrolysis, and each enzyme has a specific effect. We have earlier demonstrated the capability of several snake venom PLA2s with different enzymatic, cytotoxic, anticoagulant and antiproliferative properties, to decrease acetylcholine-induced currents in Lymnaea stagnalis neurons, and to compete with α-bungarotoxin for binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and acetylcholine binding protein. Since nAChRs are implicated in postsynaptic and presynaptic activities, in this work we probe those PLA2s known to have strong presynaptic effects, namely β-bungarotoxin from Bungarus multicinctus and crotoxin from Crotalus durissus terrificus. We also wished to explore whether mammalian PLA2s interact with nAChRs, and have examined non-toxic PLA2 from porcine pancreas. It was found that porcine pancreatic PLA2 and presynaptic β-bungarotoxin blocked currents mediated by nAChRs in Lymnaea neurons with IC50s of 2.5 and 4.8 μM, respectively. Crotoxin competed with radioactive α-bungarotoxin for binding to Torpedo and human α7 nAChRs and to the acetylcholine binding protein. Pancreatic PLA2 interacted similarly with these targets; moreover, it inhibited radioactive α-bungarotoxin binding to the water-soluble extracellular domain of human α9 nAChR, and blocked acetylcholine induced currents in human α9α10 nAChRs heterologously expressed in Xenopus oocytes. These and our earlier results show that all snake PLA2s, including presynaptically active crotoxin and β-bungarotoxin, as well as mammalian pancreatic PLA2, interact with nAChRs. The data obtained suggest that this interaction may be a general property of all PLA2s, which should be proved by

  8. PLA2G2A polymorphisms are associated with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Results from the genetics of atherosclerotic disease Mexican study.

    PubMed

    Monroy-Muñoz, Irma Eloisa; Angeles-Martinez, Javier; Posadas-Sánchez, Rosalinda; Villarreal-Molina, Teresa; Alvarez-León, Edith; Flores-Dominguez, Carmina; Cardoso-Saldaña, Guillermo; Medina-Urrutia, Aida; Juárez-Rojas, Juan Gabriel; Posadas-Romero, Carlos; Alarcon, Gilberto Vargas

    2017-10-01

    The secretory phospholipase A 2 II A (sPLA 2 -IIA) encoded by PLA2G2A gene hydrolyzes phospholipids liberating free fatty acids (FFAs) and lysophospholipids. If lipolysis exceeds lipogenesis, the free fatty acids undergo a continuous release into circulation. A sustained excessive increase in this release contributes to metabolic disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of PLA2G2A gene polymorphisms as susceptibility markers for metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Mexican population. Three PLA2G2A gene polymorphisms (rs876018, rs3753827 and rs11573156) were genotyped by 5' exonuclease TaqMan assays in a group of 338 patients with T2DM, 460 individuals with MetS and 366 healthy controls. Under codominant 1(codom1), dominant (dom) and additive (add) models adjusted by age, gender, body mass index (BMI), smoking habit, and hypertension, the rs876018T allele was associated with increased risk of MetS [Odds Ratio (OR)=1.66, P codom1 =0.005; OR=1.67, P dom =0.003; OR=1.49, P add =0.005] as compared to controls. On the other hand, under several models adjusted by the same variables, the rs3753827A (OR=1.52, P codom1 =0.039 and OR=1.49, P dom =0.039) and rs11573156C alleles (OR=6.46, P codom1 =0.013; OR=6.70, P codom2 =0.009; OR=6.65, P dom =0.009) were associated with increased risk of T2DM when compared with controls. In addition, the rs876018T allele was associated with hypercholesterolemia (P dom =0.017, P add =0.009) and risk of subclinical atherosclerosis (SA) (P dom =0.041) in MetS when compared with controls. Also, this allele was associated with SA in T2DM patients (P dom =0.007). The TAG haplotype was significantly associated with increased risk of MetS (OR=1.54, P=0.006). Results suggest that PLA2G2A polymorphisms are involved in the risk of developing MetS and T2D and are associated with SA in this group of patients. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  9. Molecular modeling of the inhibition of enzyme PLA2 from snake venom by dipyrone and 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Silva, S. L. Da; Comar, M., Jr.; Oliveira, K. M. T.; Chaar, J. S.; Bezerra, E. R. M.; Calgarotto, A. K.; Baldasso, P. A.; Veber, C. L.; Villar, J. A. F. P.; Oliveira, A. R. M.; Marangoni, S.

    Phospholipases A2 (PLA2) are enzymes that trigger the degradation cascade of the arachidonic acid, leading to the formation of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids. The selective inhibition of PLA2s is crucial in the search for a more efficient anti-inflammatory drug with fewer side effects than the drugs currently used. Hence, we studied the influences caused by two pyrazolonic inhibitors: dipyrone (DIP) and 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP) on the kinetic behavior of PLA2 from Crotalus adamanteus venom. Molecular modeling results, by DFT and MM approaches, showed that DIP is strongly associated to the active site of PLA2 through three hydrogen bonds, whereas PMP is associated to the enzyme just through hydrophobic interactions. In addition, only PMP presents an intramolecular hydrogen bond that make difficult the formation of more efficient interactions with PLA2. These results help in the understanding of the experimental observations. Experimentally, the results showed that PLA2 from C. adamanteus present a typical Michaelian behavior. In addition, the calculated kinetic parameters showed that, in the presence of DIP or PMP, the maximum enzymatic velocity (VMAX) value was kept constant, whereas the Michaelis constant (KM) values increased and the inhibition constant (KI) decreased, indicating competitive inhibition. These results show that the phenyl-pyrazolonic structures might help in the development and design of new drugs able to selectively inhibit PLA2.

  10. The effect of Danshen extract on lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 levels in patients with stable angina pectoris: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial - the DOLPHIN study.

    PubMed

    Chen, A-Di; Wang, Chun-Ling; Qin, Yang; Tian, Liang; Chen, Li-Bin; Yuan, Xiao-Ming; Ma, Lin-Xiu; Wang, Yu-Feng; Sun, Ji-Rong; Wang, Hao-Sen; Dai, Neng

    2017-12-20

    Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A 2 (Lp-PLA 2 ), a biomarker of oxidation and inflammation, has been associated with increased coronary artery disease risk. To date, very few studies have examined the Chinese herbal drug Danshen or its extract on Lp-PLA 2 in patients with stable angina pectoris. In this study, we aim to investigate the effect of Danshen extract on Lp-PLA 2 level in patients with stable angina. This is a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, adaptive clinical trial. A total of 156 patients meeting the eligibility criteria will be randomly assigned to either the Danshen extract (DanshenDuofensuanyan injection and Danshen drop spill) group or the placebo group in a 1:1 ratio. Participants will then undergo treatment with DanshenDuofensuanyan injection or placebo (glucose) during hospitalization, followed by open-label Danshen drop spill (30 pills/day) in Danshen extract group for 60 days after discharge. Because this is an adaptive trial, two interim analyses are prospectively planned. These will be performed after one-third and two-thirds of the patients, respectively, have completed the trial. On the basis of the results of these interim analyses, a data monitoring committee will determine how to modify aspects of the study without undermining the validity and integrity of the trial. The primary outcome measure is the serum level of Lp-PLA 2 in the Danshen extract group and the placebo group. The secondary outcomes include the proportion of patients who show a clinically significant change, which is defined as at least a 20-point improvement in angina frequency score on the Seattle Angina Questionnaire and the carotid intima-media thickness, which will be measured using ultrasound. Other secondary efficacy and safety outcomes will also be assessed. This study will provide evidence that Danshen extract is beneficial for stable angina and may establish a possible mechanism of Danshen treatment effects on cardiovascular disease. This

  11. Phase composition of lipoprotein SM/cholesterol/PtdCho affects FA specificity of sPLA2s.

    PubMed

    Kuksis, Arnis; Pruzanski, Waldemar

    2008-10-01

    We have previously reported preferential release of polyunsaturated FAs during hydrolysis of lipoprotein phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) by group X secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) and preferential release of oligounsaturated FAs during hydrolysis of lipoprotein PtdCho by group V sPLA2, but the mechanism of this selectivity has remained unknown. We now show that the rate and specificity of hydrolysis are affected by relative increases in endogenous SM and free cholesterol (FC) during the lipase digestion. The highest preference for arachidonate release from LDL and HDL by group X sPLA2 was observed for residual SM/PtdCho molar ratio of 1.2 and 0.4, compared with the respective starting ratios of 0.4 and 0.2, as measured by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. Group V sPLA2 showed preferential release of linoleate from LDL and HDL at SM/PtdCho ratio 1.5 and 0.6, respectively. We have attributed the change in FA specificity to segregation of molecular species of PtdCho and of sPLA2s between disordered and ordered SM/FC/PtdCho lipid phases. The increases in SM and FC during digestion with group IIA sPLA2 were more limited, and a preferential hydrolysis of any FAs was not observed. The significance of SM and FC SM and FC accumulation during sPLA2 hydrolysis of lipoprotein PtdCho has been previously overlooked.

  12. Biological and biochemical characterization of two new PLA2 isoforms Cdc-9 and Cdc-10 from Crotalus durissus cumanensis snake venom.

    PubMed

    Romero-Vargas, Frey Francisco; Ponce-Soto, Luis Alberto; Martins-de-Souza, Daniel; Marangoni, Sergio

    2010-01-01

    This work reports the purification, biological characterization and amino acid sequence of two new basic PLA(2) isoforms, Cdc-9 and Cdc-10, purified from the Crotalus durissus cumanensis venom by one step analytical chromatography reverse phase HPLC. The molecular masses of the PLA(2) were 14,175+/-2.7 Da for Cdc-9 and 14,228+/-3.5 Da for Cdc-10 both deduced by primary structure and confirmed by MALDI-TOF. The isoforms presented an amino acid sequence of 122 amino acid residues, being Cdc-9: SLVQFNKMIK FETRKSGLPF YAAYGCYCGW GGQRPKDATD RCCFVHDCCY GKVAKCNTKW DIYSYSLKSG YITCGKGTWC KEQICECDRV AAECLRRSLS TYKNEYMFYP DSRCREPPEY TC with pI value of 8.25 and Cdc-10: SLLQFNKMIK FETRKSGVPF YAAYGCYCGW GGRRPKDPTD RCCFVHDCCY GKLTKCNTKW DIYSYSLKSG YITCGKGTWC KEQICECDRV AAECLRRSLN TYKNEYMFYP DSRCRGPPEY TC with a pI value of 8.46, showing highly conserved Ca(2+)-binding and catalytic sites. The PLA(2) activity decreased when the isoforms Cdc-9 and Cdc-10 were incubated with 4-bromophenacyl bromide (p-BPB), anhydrous acetic acid and p-nitrobenzene sulfonyl fluoride (NBSF) when compared with the activity of both native isoforms. In mice, the PLA(2) isoforms Cdc-9 and Cdc-10 induced myonecrosis and edema. Myotoxic and edema activities were reduced after treatment of the isoforms with p-BPB; acetylation of the lysine residues and the treatment of PLA(2) with NBSF have also induced edema reduction. However, p-BPB strongly diminishes the local and systemic myotoxic effects.

  13. Structural determinants of the hyperalgesic activity of myotoxic Lys49-phospholipase A2.

    PubMed

    Zambelli, Vanessa Olzon; Chioato, Lucimara; Gutierrez, Vanessa Pacciari; Ward, Richard John; Cury, Yara

    2017-01-01

    Bothropstoxin-I (BthTx-I) is a Lys49-phospholipase A 2 (Lys49-PLA 2 ) from the venom of Bothrops jararacussu, which despite of the lack of catalytic activity induces myotoxicity, inflammation and pain. The C-terminal region of the Lys49-PLA 2 s is important for these effects; however, the amino acid residues that determine hyperalgesia and edema are unknown. The aim of this study was to characterize the structural determinants for the Lys49-PLA 2 -induced nociception and inflammation. Scanning alanine mutagenesis in the active-site and C-terminal regions of BthTx-I has been used to study the structural determinants of toxin activities. The R118A mutant was employed as this substitution decreases PLA 2 myotoxicity. In addition, K115A and K116A mutants - which contribute to decrease cytotoxicity - and the K122A mutant - which decreases both myotoxicity and cytotoxicity - were also used. The H48Q mutant - which does not interfere with membrane damage or myotoxic activity - was used to evaluate if the PLA 2 catalytic site is relevant for the non-catalytic PLA 2 -induced pain and inflammation. Wistar male rats received intraplantar injections with mutant PLA 2 . Subsequently, hyperalgesia and edema were evaluated by the paw pressure test and by a plethysmometer. Native and recombinant BthTx-I were used as controls. Native and recombinant BthTx-I induced hyperalgesia and edema, which peaked at 2 h. The R118A mutant did not induce nociception or edema. The mutations K115A and K116A abolished hyperalgesia without interfering with edema. Finally, the K122A mutant did not induce hyperalgesia and presented a decreased inflammatory response. The results obtained with the BthTx-I mutants suggest, for the first time, that there are distinct residues responsible for the hyperalgesia and edema induced by BthTx-I. In addition, we also showed that cytolytic activity is essential for the hyperalgesic effect but not for edematogenic activity, corroborating previous data showing that

  14. Primate-specific evolution of noncoding element insertion into PLA2G4C and human preterm birth

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    Background The onset of birth in humans, like other apes, differs from non-primate mammals in its endocrine physiology. We hypothesize that higher primate-specific gene evolution may lead to these differences and target genes involved in human preterm birth, an area of global health significance. Methods We performed a comparative genomics screen of highly conserved noncoding elements and identified PLA2G4C, a phospholipase A isoform involved in prostaglandin biosynthesis as human accelerated. To examine whether this gene demonstrating primate-specific evolution was associated with birth timing, we genotyped and analyzed 8 common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in PLA2G4C in US Hispanic (n = 73 preterm, 292 control), US White (n = 147 preterm, 157 control) and US Black (n = 79 preterm, 166 control) mothers. Results Detailed structural and phylogenic analysis of PLA2G4C suggested a short genomic element within the gene duplicated from a paralogous highly conserved element on chromosome 1 specifically in primates. SNPs rs8110925 and rs2307276 in US Hispanics and rs11564620 in US Whites were significant after correcting for multiple tests (p < 0.006). Additionally, rs11564620 (Thr360Pro) was associated with increased metabolite levels of the prostaglandin thromboxane in healthy individuals (p = 0.02), suggesting this variant may affect PLA2G4C activity. Conclusions Our findings suggest that variation in PLA2G4C may influence preterm birth risk by increasing levels of prostaglandins, which are known to regulate labor. PMID:21184677

  15. Phospholipase A2 activation as a therapeutic approach for cognitive enhancement in early-stage Alzheimer disease.

    PubMed

    Schaeffer, Evelin L; Forlenza, Orestes V; Gattaz, Wagner F

    2009-01-01

    Alzheimer disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly and has no known cure. Evidence suggests that reduced activity of specific subtypes of intracellular phospholipases A2 (cPLA2 and iPLA2) is an early event in AD and may contribute to memory impairment and neuropathology in the disease. The objective of this study was to review the literature focusing on the therapeutic role of PLA2 stimulation by cognitive training and positive modulators, or of supplementation with arachidonic acid (PLA2 product) in facilitating memory function and synaptic transmission and plasticity in either research animals or human subjects. MEDLINE database was searched (no date restrictions) for published articles using the keywords Alzheimer disease (mild, moderate, severe), mild cognitive impairment, healthy elderly, rats, mice, phospholipase A(2), phospholipid metabolism, phosphatidylcholine, arachidonic acid, cognitive training, learning, memory, long-term potentiation, protein kinases, dietary lipid compounds, cell proliferation, neurogenesis, and neuritogenesis. Reference lists of the identified articles were checked to select additional studies of interest. Overall, the data suggest that PLA2 activation is induced in the healthy brain during learning and memory. Furthermore, learning seems to regulate endogenous neurogenesis, which has been observed in AD brains. Finally, PLA2 appears to be implicated in homeostatic processes related to neurite outgrowth and differentiation in both neurodevelopmental processes and response to neuronal injury. The use of positive modulators of PLA2 (especially of cPLA2 and iPLA2) or supplementation with dietary lipid compounds (e.g., arachidonic acid) in combination with cognitive training could be a valuable therapeutic strategy for cognitive enhancement in early-stage AD.

  16. Polylactic acid (PLA)/Silver-NP/VitaminE bionanocomposite electrospun nanofibers with antibacterial and antioxidant activity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Munteanu, Bogdanel Silvestru; Aytac, Zeynep; Pricope, Gina M.; Uyar, Tamer; Vasile, Cornelia

    2014-10-01

    The antibacterial property of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) and the antioxidant activity of Vitamin E have been combined by incorporation of these two active components within polylactic acid (PLA) nanofibers via electrospinning (PLA/Ag-NP/VitaminE nanofibers). The morphological and structural characterizations of PLA/Ag-NP/VitaminE nanofibers were performed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The average fiber diameter was 140 ± 60 nm, and the size of the Ag-NP was 2.7 ± 1.5 nm. PLA/Ag-NP/VitaminE nanofibers inhibited growth of Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella typhymurium up to 100 %. The amount of released Ag ions from the nanofibers immersed in aqueous solution was determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, and it has been observed that the release of Ag ions was kept approximately constant after 10 days of immersion. The antioxidant activity of PLA/Ag-NP/VitaminE nanofibers was evaluated according to DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method and determined as 94 %. The results of the tests on fresh apple and apple juice indicated that the PLA/Ag/VitaminE nanofiber membrane actively reduced the polyphenol oxidase activity. The multifunctional electrospun PLA nanofibers incorporating Ag-NP and Vitamin E may be quite applicable in food packaging due to the extremely large surface area of nanofibers along with antibacterial and antioxidant activities. These materials could find application in food industry as a potential preservative packaging for fruits and juices.

  17. Pressure Modulation of the Enzymatic Activity of Phospholipase A2, A Putative Membrane-Associated Pressure Sensor.

    PubMed

    Suladze, Saba; Cinar, Suleyman; Sperlich, Benjamin; Winter, Roland

    2015-10-07

    Phospholipases A2 (PLA2) catalyze the hydrolysis reaction of sn-2 fatty acids of membrane phospholipids and are also involved in receptor signaling and transcriptional pathways. Here, we used pressure modulation of the PLA2 activity and of the membrane's physical-chemical properties to reveal new mechanistic information about the membrane association and subsequent enzymatic reaction of PLA2. Although the effect of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) on aqueous soluble and integral membrane proteins has been investigated to some extent, its effect on enzymatic reactions operating at the water/lipid interface has not been explored, yet. This study focuses on the effect of HHP on the structure, membrane binding and enzymatic activity of membrane-associated bee venom PLA2, covering a pressure range up to 2 kbar. To this end, high-pressure Fourier-transform infrared and high-pressure stopped-flow fluorescence spectroscopies were applied. The results show that PLA2 binding to model biomembranes is not significantly affected by pressure and occurs in at least two kinetically distinct steps. Followed by fast initial membrane association, structural reorganization of α-helical segments of PLA2 takes place at the lipid water interface. FRET-based activity measurements reveal that pressure has a marked inhibitory effect on the lipid hydrolysis rate, which decreases by 75% upon compression up to 2 kbar. Lipid hydrolysis under extreme environmental conditions, such as those encountered in the deep sea where pressures up to the kbar-level are encountered, is hence markedly affected by HHP, rendering PLA2, next to being a primary osmosensor, a good candidate for a sensitive pressure sensor in vivo.

  18. Effect of PlA1/A2 glycoprotein IIIa gene polymorphism on the long-term outcome after successful coronary stenting

    PubMed Central

    Le Hello, Claire; Morello, Rémy; Lequerrec, Agnès; Duarte, Christine; Riddell, John; Hamon, Martial

    2007-01-01

    Aim To prospectively determine the role of platelet glycoprotein IIIa (GP IIIa) gene PlA1/PlA2 polymorphism on the long-term clinical outcome in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing coronary stenting. Design and setting Prospective observational study in the University Hospital of Caen (France). Patients and methods 1 111 symptomatic consecutive Caucasian patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention including stent implantation underwent genotyping for GP IIIa PlA1/A2. Main outcome measures Long-term clinical outcome in terms of the rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACE, ie death from any cause, non-fatal Q wave or non Q wave myocardial infarction, and need for coronary revascularisation) was obtained and subsequently stratified according to the GP IIIa PlA1/A2 polymorphism. Results Three groups of patients were determined according to the GP IIIa PlA1/A2 polymorphism (71.6% had the A1/A1, 25.8% had the A1/A2 and 2.6% had the A2/A2 genotype). These three groups were comparable for all clinical characteristics including sex ratio, mean age, vascular risk factors, previous coronary events, baseline angiographic exam, indication for the percutaneous coronary intervention and drug therapy). The incidence of MACE was similar in these 3 groups of patients during a mean follow-up period of 654+/-152 days. Independent risk factors for MACE were a left ventricular ejection fraction < 40%, absence of treatment with a beta-blocker and absence of treatment with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor during follow-up. Conclusion The GP IIIa PlA1/A2 polymorphism does not influence the clinical long-term outcome in patients with symptomatic coronary disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation. PMID:18021403

  19. The molecular biology of the group VIA Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2.

    PubMed

    Ma, Z; Turk, J

    2001-01-01

    The group VIA PLA2 is a member of the PLA2 superfamily. This enzyme, which is cytosolic and Ca2+-independent, has been designated iPLA2beta to distinguish it from another recently cloned Ca2+-independent PLA2. Features of iPLA2beta molecular structure offer some insight into possible cellular functions of the enzyme. At least two catalytically active iPLA2beta isoforms and additionalsplicing variants are derived from a single gene that consists of at least 17 exons located on human chromosome 22q13.1. Potential tumor suppressor genes also reside at or near this locus. Structural analyses reveal that iPLA2beta contains unique structural features that include a serine lipase consensus motif (GXSXG), a putative ATP-binding domain, an ankyrin-repeat domain, a caspase-3 cleavage motif DVTD138Y/N, a bipartite nuclear localization signal sequence, and a proline-rich region in the human long isoform. iPLA2beta is widely expressed among mammalian tissues, with highest expression in testis and brain. iPLA2beta prefers to hydrolyze fatty acid at the sn-2 fatty acid substituent but also exhibits phospholipase A1, lysophospholipase, PAF acetylhydrolase, and transacylase activities. iPLA2beta may participate in signaling, apoptosis, membrane phospholipid remodeling, membrane homeostasis, arachidonate release, and exocytotic membrane fusion. Structural features and the existence of multiple splicing variants of iPLA2beta suggest that iPLA2beta may be subject to complex regulatory mechanisms that differ among cell types. Further study of its regulation and interaction with other proteins may yield insight into how its structural features are related to its function.

  20. Pharmacogenetic meta-analysis of baseline risk factors, pharmacodynamic, efficacy and tolerability endpoints from two large global cardiovascular outcomes trials for darapladib.

    PubMed

    Yeo, Astrid; Li, Li; Warren, Liling; Aponte, Jennifer; Fraser, Dana; King, Karen; Johansson, Kelley; Barnes, Allison; MacPhee, Colin; Davies, Richard; Chissoe, Stephanie; Tarka, Elizabeth; O'Donoghue, Michelle L; White, Harvey D; Wallentin, Lars; Waterworth, Dawn

    2017-01-01

    Darapladib, a lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) inhibitor, failed to demonstrate efficacy for the primary endpoints in two large phase III cardiovascular outcomes trials, one in stable coronary heart disease patients (STABILITY) and one in acute coronary syndrome (SOLID-TIMI 52). No major safety signals were observed but tolerability issues of diarrhea and odor were common (up to 13%). We hypothesized that genetic variants associated with Lp-PLA2 activity may influence efficacy and tolerability and therefore performed a comprehensive pharmacogenetic analysis of both trials. We genotyped patients within the STABILITY and SOLID-TIMI 52 trials who provided a DNA sample and consent (n = 13,577 and 10,404 respectively, representing 86% and 82% of the trial participants) using genome-wide arrays with exome content and performed imputation using a 1000 Genomes reference panel. We investigated baseline and change from baseline in Lp-PLA2 activity, two efficacy endpoints (major coronary events and myocardial infarction) as well as tolerability parameters at genome-wide and candidate gene level using a meta-analytic approach. We replicated associations of published loci on baseline Lp-PLA2 activity (APOE, CELSR2, LPA, PLA2G7, LDLR and SCARB1) and identified three novel loci (TOMM5, FRMD5 and LPL) using the GWAS-significance threshold P≤5E-08. Review of the PLA2G7 gene (encoding Lp-PLA2) within these datasets identified V279F null allele carriers as well as three other rare exonic null alleles within various ethnic groups, however none of these variants nor any other loci associated with Lp-PLA2 activity at baseline were associated with any of the drug response endpoints. The analysis of darapladib efficacy endpoints, despite low power, identified six low frequency loci with main genotype effect (though with borderline imputation scores) and one common locus (minor allele frequency 0.24) with genotype by treatment interaction effect passing the GWAS

  1. Synaptosomal binding of 125I-labelled daboiatoxin, a new PLA2 neurotoxin from the venom of Daboia russelli siamensis.

    PubMed

    Maung-Maung-Thwin; Gopalakrishnakone, P; Yuen, R; Tan, C H

    1996-02-01

    Daboiatoxin (DbTx), the PLA2 neurotoxin from Daboia russelli siamensis venom, was shown to bind specifically and saturably to rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes and synaptic membrane fragments. Two families of binding sites were detected by equilibrium binding analysis in the presence and absence of Ca2+. Scatchard analysis of biphasic plateaus revealed Kdl 5 nM and Bmax1, 6 pmoles/mg protein, and Kd2 80 nM and Bmax2 20 pmoles/mg protein, respectively, for the high- and low-affinity binding sites. The binding of 125I-DbTx to synaptosomes did not show marked dependence on Ca2+, Mg2+, Co2+ and Sr2+. Native DbTx was the only strong competitor to 125I-DbTx synaptosomal binding (IC50 12.5 nM, KI 5.5 nM). Two other crotalid PLA2 neurotoxins, crotoxin CB and mojave toxin basic subunit, and nontoxic C. Atrox PLA2 enzyme, were relatively weaker inhibitors, while two viperid PLA2 neurotoxins, ammodytoxin A and VRV PL V, were very weak inhibitors. Crotoxin CA was a poor inhibitor even at microM concentrations, whereas no inhibitory effect at all was observed with crotoxin CACB, ammodytoxin C, VRV PL VIIIa, taipoxin, beta-bungarotoxin, or with PLA2 enzymes from N. naja venom, E. schistosa venom, bee venom and porcine pancreas. All other pharmacologically active ligands examined (epinephrine, norepinephrine, histamine, choline, dopamine, serotonin, GABA, naloxone, WB-4101, atropine, hexamethonium and alpha-bun-garotoxin) also failed to interfere with 125I-DbTx binding. As those competitors that showed partial inhibition were effective only at microM concentration range compared to the Kd (5 nM) of 125I-DbTx synaptosomal binding, DbTx could well recognize a different neuronal binding site. Rabbit anti-DbTx polyclonal antisera completely blocked the specific binding. When a range of Ca2+ and K+ channels modulators were examined, Ca2+ channel blockers (omega-conotoxins GVIA and MVIIC, taicatoxin, calciseptine and nitrendiprene) did not affect the binding even at high concentrations

  2. Trichomonas vaginalis: identification of soluble and membrane-associated phospholipase A1 and A2 activities with direct and indirect hemolytic effects.

    PubMed

    Vargas-Villarreal, Javier; Mata-Cárdenas, Benito David; Palacios-Corona, Rebeca; González-Salazar, Francisco; Cortes-Gutierrez, Elva I; Martínez-Rodríguez, Herminia G; Said-Fernández, Salvador

    2005-02-01

    A direct hemolytic activity, dependent on phospholipase A (PLA) activity, was located in the particulate subcellular fraction (P30) of Trichomonas vaginalis. We identified soluble direct and indirect hemolytic activities in the spent medium and soluble fraction (S30) of T. vaginalis strain GT-13. Spent medium showed the highest specific indirect hemolytic activity (SIHA) at pH 6.0 (91 indirect hemolytic units [HU]/mg/hr). Spent medium and P30, but not S30, showed direct hemolytic activity. PLA activity was protein dose dependent and time dependent. The highest PLA activity was observed at pH 6.0. All trichomonad preparations showed phospholipase A1 (PLA A1) and phospholipase A2 (PLA A2) activities. Indirect and direct hemolytic activity and PLA A1 and PLA A2 diminished at pH 6.0 and 8.0 with increasing concentrations of Rosenthal's inhibitor. The greatest effect was observed with 80 microM at pH 6.0 on the SIHA of S30 (83% reduction) and the lowest at pH 8.0, also on the SIHA of S30 (26% reduction). In conclusion, T. vaginalis contains particulate and soluble acidic, and alkaline direct and indirect hemolytic activities, which are partially dependent on alkaline or acidic PLA A1 and PLA A2 enzymes. These could be responsible for the contact-dependent and -independent hemolytic and cytolytic activities of T. vaginalis.

  3. Quantitative trait locus mapping in mice identifies phospholipase Pla2g12a as novel atherosclerosis modifier.

    PubMed

    Nicolaou, Alexandros; Northoff, Bernd H; Sass, Kristina; Ernst, Jana; Kohlmaier, Alexander; Krohn, Knut; Wolfrum, Christian; Teupser, Daniel; Holdt, Lesca M

    2017-10-01

    In a previous work, a female-specific atherosclerosis risk locus on chromosome (Chr) 3 was identified in an intercross of atherosclerosis-resistant FVB and atherosclerosis-susceptible C57BL/6 (B6) mice on the LDL-receptor deficient (Ldlr -/- ) background. It was the aim of the current study to identify causative genes at this locus. We established a congenic mouse model, where FVB.Chr3 B6/B6 mice carried an 80 Mb interval of distal Chr3 on an otherwise FVB.Ldlr -/- background, to validate the Chr3 locus. Candidate genes were identified using genome-wide expression analyses. Differentially expressed genes were validated using quantitative PCRs in F0 and F2 mice and their functions were investigated in pathophysiologically relevant cells. Fine-mapping of the Chr3 locus revealed two overlapping, yet independent subloci for female atherosclerosis susceptibility: when transmitted by grandfathers to granddaughters, the B6 risk allele increased atherosclerosis and downregulated the expression of the secreted phospholipase Pla2g12a (2.6 and 2.2 fold, respectively); when inherited by grandmothers, the B6 risk allele induced vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (Vcam1). Down-regulation of Pla2g12a and up-regulation of Vcam1 were validated in female FVB.Chr3 B6/B6 congenic mice, which developed 2.5 greater atherosclerotic lesions compared to littermate controls (p=0.039). Pla2g12a was highly expressed in aortic endothelial cells in vivo, and knocking-down Pla2g12a expression by RNAi in cultured vascular endothelial cells or macrophages increased their adhesion to ECs in vitro. Our data establish Pla2g12a as an atheroprotective candidate gene in mice, where high expression levels in ECs and macrophages may limit the recruitment and accumulation of these cells in nascent atherosclerotic lesions. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. Inhibitory activities of the heterotrimers formed from two α-type phospholipase A2 inhibitory proteins with different enzyme affinities and importance of the intersubunit electrostatic interaction in trimer formation.

    PubMed

    Nishida, Masanori; Okamoto, Masataka; Ohno, Ai; Okumura, Kohji; Hayashi, Kyozo; Ikeda, Kiyoshi; Inoue, Seiji

    2010-11-01

    α-type phospholipase A2 inhibitory protein (PLIα) isolated from the serum of the venomous snake Glyoidius brevicaudus, GbPLIα, is a homotrimer of subunits having a C-type lectin-like domain. The serum protein from nonvenomous snake Elaphe quadrivirgata, EqPLIα-LP, is homologous to GbPLIα, but it does not show any inhibitory activity against PLA2s. When a mixture of denaturant-treated monomeric forms of GbPLIα and EqPLIα-LP was used to reconstitute their trimers, no significant amounts of heterotrimers composed of GbPLIα and EqPLIα-LP subunits could be formed. On the other hand, when a mixture of denaturant-treated monomeric forms of GbPLIα and the recombinant chimeric EqPLIα-LP, Eq13Gb37Eq, in which the residues 13-36 were replaced by those of GbPLIα, was used to reconstitute their trimers, significant amounts of their heterotrimers were observed. Furthermore, when a mixture of denaturant-treated monomeric forms of EqPLIα-LP and the recombinant chimeric GbPLIα, Gb13Eq37Gb, in which the residues 13-36 were replaced by those of EqPLIα-LP, was used, significant amounts of their heterotrimers were observed. By comparison of the respective inhibitory activities of the heterotrimeric subspecies, it was suggested that the inhibitory activity of the trimer was governed by one subunit with the highest activity, and not affected by the number of these subunits. The intermolecular electrostatic interactions between Glu23 and Lys28 of GbPLIα were also suggested to be important in stabilizing the trimeric structure. The importance of the electrostatic interaction was supported by the less stability of the homotrimeric structure of a mutant GbPLIα with a single amino acid substitution, GbPLIα(K28E). Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. Association of freezing tolerance to LpCBFIIIb and LpCBFIIIc gene polymorphism in perennial ryegrass accessions

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    CBF/DREB related genes are considered important genes for regulation of abiotic stress in plants. In this study, CBF/DREB genes in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), also known as LpCBF genes, were resequenced from several cultivated and landrace plants from a worldwide collection. The same pla...

  6. Endothelin-1 activates p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and cytosolic phospholipase A2 in cat iris sphincter smooth muscle cells.

    PubMed

    Husain, S; Abdel-Latif, A A

    1999-08-15

    We have shown previously that cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) is responsible for endothelin-1-induced release of arachidonic acid for prostaglandin synthesis in cat iris sphincter smooth muscle (CISM) cells [Husain and Abdel-Latif (1998) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1392, 127-144]. Here we show that p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, but not p42/p44 MAP kinases, plays an important role in the phosphorylation and activation of cPLA(2) in endothelin-1-stimulated CISM cells. This conclusion is supported by the following findings. Both p38 MAP kinase and p42/p44 MAP kinases were present in the CISM cells and both were activated by endothelin-1. SB203580, a potent specific inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase, but not the p42/p44 MAP kinases specific inhibitor, PD98059, markedly suppressed endothelin-1-enhanced cPLA(2) phosphorylation, cPLA(2) activity and arachidonic acid release. The addition of endothelin-1 resulted in the phosphorylation and activation of cPLA(2). Endothelin-1 stimulated p38 MAP kinase activity in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, and these effects were mediated through the endothelin-A receptor subtype. The protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, RO 31-8220, had no inhibitory effect on endothelin-1-induced p38 MAP kinase activation, suggesting that endothelin-1 activation of p38 MAP kinase is independent of PKC. Pertussis toxin inhibited both endothelin-1 and mastoparan stimulation of p38 MAP kinase activity and arachidonic acid release. The inhibitory effects of pertussis toxin are not mediated through cAMP formation. Mastoparan-stimulated [(3)H]arachidonic acid release and cPLA(2) activation was inhibited by SB203580, but not by RO 31-8220. These data suggest that endothelin-1 binds to the endothelin-A receptor to activate the Gi-protein which, through a series of kinases, leads to the activation of p38 MAP kinase and subsequently to phosphorylation and activation of cPLA(2). Activation of cPLA(2) leads to the liberation of arachidonic acid

  7. Endothelin-1 activates p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and cytosolic phospholipase A2 in cat iris sphincter smooth muscle cells.

    PubMed Central

    Husain, S; Abdel-Latif, A A

    1999-01-01

    We have shown previously that cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) is responsible for endothelin-1-induced release of arachidonic acid for prostaglandin synthesis in cat iris sphincter smooth muscle (CISM) cells [Husain and Abdel-Latif (1998) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1392, 127-144]. Here we show that p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, but not p42/p44 MAP kinases, plays an important role in the phosphorylation and activation of cPLA(2) in endothelin-1-stimulated CISM cells. This conclusion is supported by the following findings. Both p38 MAP kinase and p42/p44 MAP kinases were present in the CISM cells and both were activated by endothelin-1. SB203580, a potent specific inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase, but not the p42/p44 MAP kinases specific inhibitor, PD98059, markedly suppressed endothelin-1-enhanced cPLA(2) phosphorylation, cPLA(2) activity and arachidonic acid release. The addition of endothelin-1 resulted in the phosphorylation and activation of cPLA(2). Endothelin-1 stimulated p38 MAP kinase activity in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, and these effects were mediated through the endothelin-A receptor subtype. The protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, RO 31-8220, had no inhibitory effect on endothelin-1-induced p38 MAP kinase activation, suggesting that endothelin-1 activation of p38 MAP kinase is independent of PKC. Pertussis toxin inhibited both endothelin-1 and mastoparan stimulation of p38 MAP kinase activity and arachidonic acid release. The inhibitory effects of pertussis toxin are not mediated through cAMP formation. Mastoparan-stimulated [(3)H]arachidonic acid release and cPLA(2) activation was inhibited by SB203580, but not by RO 31-8220. These data suggest that endothelin-1 binds to the endothelin-A receptor to activate the Gi-protein which, through a series of kinases, leads to the activation of p38 MAP kinase and subsequently to phosphorylation and activation of cPLA(2). Activation of cPLA(2) leads to the liberation of arachidonic acid

  8. Activation of farnesoid X receptor promotes triglycerides lowering by suppressing phospholipase A2 G12B expression.

    PubMed

    Liu, Qingli; Yang, Meng; Fu, Xuekun; Liu, Renzhong; Sun, Caijun; Pan, Haobo; Wong, Chi-Wai; Guan, Min

    2016-11-15

    As a novel mediator of hepatic very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) secretion, phospholipase A2 G12B (PLA2G12B) is transcriptionally regulated by hepatocyte nuclear factor-4 alpha (HNF-4α). Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) plays a critical role in maintaining bile acids and triglycerides (TG) homeostasis. Here we report that FXR regulates serum TG level in part through PLA2G12B. Activation of FXR by chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) or GW4064 significantly decreased PLA2G12B expression in HepG2 cells. PLA2G12B expression was transcriptionally repressed due to an FXR-mediated up-regulation of small heterodimer partner (SHP) which functionally suppresses HNF-4α activity. We found that hepatic PLA2G12B expression was suppressed and serum TG level reduced in high fat diet mice treated with CDCA. Concurrently, CDCA treatment lowered hepatic VLDL-TG secretion. Our data demonstrate that activation of FXR promotes TG lowering, not only by decreasing de novo lipogenesis but also reducing hepatic secretion of TG-rich VLDL particles in part through suppressing PLA2G12B expression. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Sequential VEGF and BMP-2 releasing PLA-PEG-PLA scaffolds for bone tissue engineering: I. Design and in vitro tests.

    PubMed

    Eğri, Sinan; Eczacıoğlu, Numan

    2017-03-01

    Biodegradable PLA-PEG-PLA block copolymers were synthesized with desired backbone structures and molecular weights using PEG20000. Rectangular scaffolds were prepared by freeze drying with or without using NaCl particles. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 was loaded to the matrix after the scaffold formation for sustained release while vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was loaded within the pores with gelatin solution. VEGF release was quite fast and almost 60% of it was released in 2 d. However, sequential - sustained released was observed for BMP-2 in the following few months. Corporation of VEGF/BMP-2 couple into the scaffolds increased the cell adhesion and proliferation. Neither significant cytotoxicity nor apoptosis/necrosis were observed.

  10. Bee venom phospholipase A2 induces a primary type 2 response that is dependent on the receptor ST2 and confers protective immunity

    PubMed Central

    Palm, Noah W.; Rosenstein, Rachel K.; Yu, Shuang; Schenten, Dominik; Florsheim, Esther; Medzhitov, Ruslan

    2013-01-01

    SUMMARY Venoms consist of toxic components that are delivered to their victims via bites or stings. Venoms also represent a major class of allergens in humans. Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is a conserved component of venoms from multiple species and is the major allergen in bee venom. Here we examined how bee venom PLA2 is sensed by the innate immune system and induces a type 2 immune response in mice. We found that bee venom PLA2 induced a T helper type 2 (Th2) cell-type response and group 2 innate lymphoid cell activation via the enzymatic cleavage of membrane phospholipids and release of interleukin-33. Furthermore, we showed that the IgE response to PLA2 could protect mice from future challenge with a near-lethal dose of PLA2. These data suggest that the innate immune system can detect the activity of a conserved component of venoms and induce a protective immune response against a venom toxin. PMID:24210353

  11. HLA-DQA1 and PLA2R1 Polymorphisms and Risk of Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy

    PubMed Central

    Bullich, Gemma; Ballarín, José; Oliver, Artur; Ayasreh, Nadia; Silva, Irene; Santín, Sheila; Díaz-Encarnación, Montserrat M.; Torra, Roser

    2014-01-01

    Summary Background and objectives Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within HLA complex class II HLA-DQ α-chain 1 (HLA-DQA1) and M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R1) genes were identified as strong risk factors for idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) development in a recent genome-wide association study. Copy number variants (CNVs) within the Fc gamma receptor III (FCGR3) locus have been associated with several autoimmune diseases, but their role in IMN has not been studied. This study aimed to validate the association of HLA-DQA1 and PLA2R1 risk alleles with IMN in a Spanish cohort, test the putative association of FCGR3A and FCGR3B CNVs with IMN, and assess the use of these genetic factors to predict the clinical outcome of the disease. Design, settings, participants, & measurements A Spanish cohort of 89 IMN patients and 286 matched controls without nephropathy was recruited between October of 2009 and July of 2012. Case-control studies for SNPs within HLA-DQA1 (rs2187668) and PLA2R1 (rs4664308) genes and CNVs for FCGR3A and FCGR3B genes were performed. The contribution of these polymorphisms to predict clinical outcome and renal function decline was analyzed. Results This study validated the association of these HLA-DQA1 and PLA2R1 SNPs with IMN in a Spanish cohort and its increased risk when combining both risk genotypes. No significant association was found between FCGR3 CNVs and IMN. These results revealed that HLA-DQA1 and PLA2R1 genotype combination adjusted for baseline proteinuria strongly predicted response to immunosuppressive therapy. HLA-DQA1 genotype adjusted for proteinuria was also linked with renal function decline. Conclusion This study confirms that HLA-DQA1 and PLA2R1 genotypes are risk factors for IMN, whereas no association was identified for FCGR3 CNVs. This study provides, for the first time, evidence of the contribution of these HLA-DQA1 and PLA2R1 polymorphisms in predicting IMN response to immunosuppressors and disease

  12. HLA-DQA1 and PLA2R1 polymorphisms and risk of idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

    PubMed

    Bullich, Gemma; Ballarín, José; Oliver, Artur; Ayasreh, Nadia; Silva, Irene; Santín, Sheila; Díaz-Encarnación, Montserrat M; Torra, Roser; Ars, Elisabet

    2014-02-01

    Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within HLA complex class II HLA-DQ α-chain 1 (HLA-DQA1) and M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R1) genes were identified as strong risk factors for idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) development in a recent genome-wide association study. Copy number variants (CNVs) within the Fc gamma receptor III (FCGR3) locus have been associated with several autoimmune diseases, but their role in IMN has not been studied. This study aimed to validate the association of HLA-DQA1 and PLA2R1 risk alleles with IMN in a Spanish cohort, test the putative association of FCGR3A and FCGR3B CNVs with IMN, and assess the use of these genetic factors to predict the clinical outcome of the disease. A Spanish cohort of 89 IMN patients and 286 matched controls without nephropathy was recruited between October of 2009 and July of 2012. Case-control studies for SNPs within HLA-DQA1 (rs2187668) and PLA2R1 (rs4664308) genes and CNVs for FCGR3A and FCGR3B genes were performed. The contribution of these polymorphisms to predict clinical outcome and renal function decline was analyzed. This study validated the association of these HLA-DQA1 and PLA2R1 SNPs with IMN in a Spanish cohort and its increased risk when combining both risk genotypes. No significant association was found between FCGR3 CNVs and IMN. These results revealed that HLA-DQA1 and PLA2R1 genotype combination adjusted for baseline proteinuria strongly predicted response to immunosuppressive therapy. HLA-DQA1 genotype adjusted for proteinuria was also linked with renal function decline. This study confirms that HLA-DQA1 and PLA2R1 genotypes are risk factors for IMN, whereas no association was identified for FCGR3 CNVs. This study provides, for the first time, evidence of the contribution of these HLA-DQA1 and PLA2R1 polymorphisms in predicting IMN response to immunosuppressors and disease progression. Future studies are needed to validate and identify prognostic markers.

  13. Identification of continuous interaction sites in PLA(2)-based protein complexes by peptide arrays.

    PubMed

    Fortes-Dias, Consuelo Latorre; Santos, Roberta Márcia Marques dos; Magro, Angelo José; Fontes, Marcos Roberto de Mattos; Chávez-Olórtegui, Carlos; Granier, Claude

    2009-01-01

    Crotoxin (CA.CB) is a beta-neurotoxin from Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom that is responsible for main envenomation effects upon biting by this snake. It is a heterodimer of an acidic protein (CA) devoid of any biological activity per se and a basic, enzymatically active, PLA(2) counterpart (CB). Both lethal and enzymatic activities of crotoxin have been shown to be inhibited by CNF, a protein from the blood of C. d. terrificus snakes. CNF replaces CA in the CA.CB complex, forming a stable, non-toxic complex CNF.CB. The molecular sites involved in the tight interfacial protein-protein interactions in these PLA(2)-based complexes have not been clearly determined. To help address this question, we used the peptide arrays approach to map possible interfacial interaction sites in CA.CB and CNF.CB. Amino acid stretches putatively involved in these interactions were firstly identified in the primary structure of CB. Further analysis of the interfacial availability of these stretches in the presumed biologically active structure of CB, suggested two interaction main sites, located at the amino-terminus and beta-wing regions. Peptide segments at the carboxyl-terminus of CB were also suggested to play a secondary role in the binding of both CA and CNF.

  14. Pharmacogenetic meta-analysis of baseline risk factors, pharmacodynamic, efficacy and tolerability endpoints from two large global cardiovascular outcomes trials for darapladib

    PubMed Central

    Yeo, Astrid; Warren, Liling; Aponte, Jennifer; Johansson, Kelley; Barnes, Allison; MacPhee, Colin; Davies, Richard; Chissoe, Stephanie; O’Donoghue, Michelle L.; White, Harvey D.

    2017-01-01

    Darapladib, a lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) inhibitor, failed to demonstrate efficacy for the primary endpoints in two large phase III cardiovascular outcomes trials, one in stable coronary heart disease patients (STABILITY) and one in acute coronary syndrome (SOLID-TIMI 52). No major safety signals were observed but tolerability issues of diarrhea and odor were common (up to 13%). We hypothesized that genetic variants associated with Lp-PLA2 activity may influence efficacy and tolerability and therefore performed a comprehensive pharmacogenetic analysis of both trials. We genotyped patients within the STABILITY and SOLID-TIMI 52 trials who provided a DNA sample and consent (n = 13,577 and 10,404 respectively, representing 86% and 82% of the trial participants) using genome-wide arrays with exome content and performed imputation using a 1000 Genomes reference panel. We investigated baseline and change from baseline in Lp-PLA2 activity, two efficacy endpoints (major coronary events and myocardial infarction) as well as tolerability parameters at genome-wide and candidate gene level using a meta-analytic approach. We replicated associations of published loci on baseline Lp-PLA2 activity (APOE, CELSR2, LPA, PLA2G7, LDLR and SCARB1) and identified three novel loci (TOMM5, FRMD5 and LPL) using the GWAS-significance threshold P≤5E-08. Review of the PLA2G7 gene (encoding Lp-PLA2) within these datasets identified V279F null allele carriers as well as three other rare exonic null alleles within various ethnic groups, however none of these variants nor any other loci associated with Lp-PLA2 activity at baseline were associated with any of the drug response endpoints. The analysis of darapladib efficacy endpoints, despite low power, identified six low frequency loci with main genotype effect (though with borderline imputation scores) and one common locus (minor allele frequency 0.24) with genotype by treatment interaction effect passing the GWAS

  15. Leptin rapidly activates PPARs in C2C12 muscle cells

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bendinelli, Paola; Piccoletti, Roberta; Maroni, Paola

    2005-07-08

    Experimental evidence suggests that leptin operates on the tissues, including skeletal muscle, also by modulating gene expression. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we have shown that physiological doses of leptin promptly increase the binding of C2C12 cell nuclear extracts to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) response elements in oligonucleotide probes and that all three PPAR isoforms participate in DNA-binding complexes. We pre-treated C2C12 cells with AACOCF{sub 3}, a specific inhibitor of cytosolic phospholipase A{sub 2} (cPLA{sub 2}), an enzyme that supplies ligands to PPARs, and found that it abrogates leptin-induced PPAR DNA-binding activity. Leptin treatment significantly increased cPLA{sub 2} activity, evaluatedmore » as the release of [{sup 3}H]arachidonic acid from pre-labelled C2C12 cells, as well as phosphorylation. Further, using MEK1 inhibitor PD-98059 we showed that leptin activates cPLA{sub 2} through ERK induction. These results support a direct effect of leptin on skeletal muscle cells, and suggest that the hormone may modulate muscle transcription also by precocious activation of PPARs through ERK-cPLA{sub 2} pathway.« less

  16. Association of inflammatory, lipid and mineral markers with cardiac calcification in older adults.

    PubMed

    Bortnick, Anna E; Bartz, Traci M; Ix, Joachim H; Chonchol, Michel; Reiner, Alexander; Cushman, Mary; Owens, David; Barasch, Eddy; Siscovick, David S; Gottdiener, John S; Kizer, Jorge R

    2016-07-13

    Calcification of the aortic valve and adjacent structures involves inflammatory, lipid and mineral metabolism pathways. We hypothesised that circulating biomarkers reflecting these pathways are associated with cardiac calcification in older adults. We investigated the associations of various biomarkers with valvular and annular calcification in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Of the 5888 participants, up to 3585 were eligible after exclusions for missing biomarker, covariate or echocardiographic data. We evaluated analytes reflecting lipid (lipoprotein (Lp) (a), Lp-associated phospholipase A 2 (LpPLA 2 ) mass and activity), inflammatory (interleukin-6, soluble (s) CD14) and mineral metabolism (fetuin-A, fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23) pathways that were measured within 5 years of echocardiography. The relationships of plasma biomarkers with aortic valve calcification (AVC), aortic annular calcification (AAC) and mitral annular calcification (MAC) were assessed with relative risk (RR) regression. Calcification was prevalent: AVC 59%, AAC 45% and MAC 41%. After adjustment, Lp(a), LpPLA 2 mass and activity and sCD14 were positively associated with AVC. RRs for AVC per SD (95% CI) were as follows: Lp(a), 1.051 (1.022 to 1.081); LpPLA 2 mass, 1.036 (1.006 to 1.066) and LpPLA 2 activity, 1.037 (1.004 to 1.071); sCD14, 1.039 (1.005 to 1.073). FGF-23 was positively associated with MAC, 1.040 (1.004 to 1.078) and fetuin-A was negatively associated, 0.949 (0.911 to 0.989). No biomarkers were significantly associated with AAC. This study shows novel associations of circulating FGF-23 and fetuin-A with MAC, and LpPLA 2 and sCD14 with AVC, confirming that previously reported for Lp(a). Further investigation of Lp and inflammatory pathways may provide added insight into the aetiology of AVC, while study of phosphate regulation may illuminate the pathogenesis of MAC. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a

  17. Influence of Mussel-Derived Bioactive BMP-2-Decorated PLA on MSC Behavior in Vitro and Verification with Osteogenicity at Ectopic Sites in Vivo.

    PubMed

    Chen, Zhuoyue; Zhang, Zhen; Feng, Juantao; Guo, Yayuan; Yu, Yuan; Cui, Jihong; Li, Hongmin; Shang, Lijun

    2018-04-11

    Osteoinductive activity of the implant in bone healing and regeneration is still a challenging research topic. Therapeutic application of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) is a promising approach to enhance osteogenesis. However, high dose and uncontrolled burst release of BMP-2 may introduce edema, bone overgrowth, cystlike bone formation, and inflammation. In this study, low-dose BMP-2 of 1 μg was used to design PLA-PD-BMP for functionalization of polylactic acid (PLA) implants via mussel-inspired polydopamine (PD) assist. For the first time, the binding property and efficiency of the PD coating with BMP-2 were directly demonstrated and analyzed using an antigen-antibody reaction. The obtained PLA-PD-BMP surface immobilized with this low BMP-2 dose can endow the implants with abilities of introducing strong stem cell adhesion and enhanced osteogenicity. Furthermore, in vivo osteoinduction of the PLA-PD-BMP-2 scaffolds was confirmed by a rat ectopic bone model, which is marked as the "gold standard" for the evidence of osteoinductive activity. The microcomputed tomography, Young's modulus, and histology analyses were also employed to demonstrate that PLA-PD-BMP grafted with 1 μg of BMP-2 can induce bone formation. Therefore, the method in this study can be used as a model system to immobilize other growth factors onto various different types of polymer substrates. The highly biomimetic mussel-derived strategy can therefore improve the clinical outcome of polymer-based medical implants in a facile, safe, and effective way.

  18. Role of phospholipase A2 pathway in regulating activation of Bufo arenarum oocytes.

    PubMed

    Ajmat, M T; Bonilla, F; Hermosilla, P C; Zelarayán, L; Bühler, M I

    2013-08-01

    Transient increases in the concentration of cytosolic Ca(2+) are essential for triggering egg activation events. Increased Ca(2+) results from its rapid release from intracellular stores, mainly mediated by one or both intracellular calcium channels: the inositol trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) and the ryanodine receptor (RyR). Several regulatory pathways that tailor the response of these channels to the specific cell type have been proposed. Among its many modulatory actions, calcium can serve as an activator of a cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA2), which releases arachidonic acid from phospholipids of the endoplasmic reticulum as well as from the nuclear envelope. Previous studies have suggested that arachidonic acid and/or its metabolites were able to modulate the activity of several ion channels. Based on these findings, we have studied the participation of the phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) pathway in the process of Bufo arenarum oocyte activation and the interrelation between any of its metabolites and the ion channels involved in the calcium release from the intracellular reservoirs at fertilization. We found that addition of both melittin, a potent PLA(2) activator, and arachidonic acid, the main PLA(2) reaction metabolite, was able to induce activation events in a bell-shaped manner. Differential regulation of IP3Rs and RyRs by arachidonic acid and its products could explain melittin and arachidonic acid behaviour in Bufo arenarum egg activation. The concerted action of arachidonic acid and/or its metabolites could provide controlled mobilization of calcium from intracellular reservoirs and useful tools for understanding calcium homeostasis in eggs that express both types of receptors.

  19. AtsPLA2-alpha nuclear relocalization by the Arabidopsis transcription factor AtMYB30 leads to repression of the plant defense response.

    PubMed

    Froidure, Solène; Canonne, Joanne; Daniel, Xavier; Jauneau, Alain; Brière, Christian; Roby, Dominique; Rivas, Susana

    2010-08-24

    The hypersensitive response (HR), characterized by a rapid and localized cell death at the inoculation site, is one of the most efficient resistance reactions to pathogen attack in plants. The transcription factor AtMYB30 was identified as a positive regulator of the HR and resistance responses during interactions between Arabidopsis and bacteria. Here, we show that AtMYB30 and the secreted phospholipase AtsPLA(2)-alpha physically interact in vivo, following the AtMYB30-mediated specific relocalization of AtsPLA(2)-alpha from cytoplasmic vesicles to the plant cell nucleus. This protein interaction leads to repression of AtMYB30 transcriptional activity and negative regulation of plant HR. Moreover, Atspla(2)-alpha mutant plants are more resistant to bacterial inoculation, whereas AtsPLA(2)-alpha overexpression leads to decreased resistance, confirming that AtsPLA(2)-alpha is a negative regulator of AtMYB30-mediated defense. These data underline the importance of cellular dynamics and, particularly, protein translocation to the nucleus, for defense-associated gene regulation in plants.

  20. Serum anti-PLA2R antibody as a diagnostic biomarker of idiopathic membranous nephropathy: The optimal cut-off value for Chinese patients.

    PubMed

    Liu, Yipeng; Li, Xuan; Ma, Chaoqun; Wang, Ping; Liu, Ju; Su, Hong; Zhuo, Hao; Kong, Xianglei; Xu, Dayu; Xu, Dongmei

    2018-01-01

    The M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) is a specific target autoantigen identified in idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). The autoantibody against PLA2R (anti-PLA2R) may be used to diagnose IMN. However, the appropriate diagnosis cut-off value for Chinese patients with IMN has not been established. In total, 119 patients who underwent renal biopsy (57 patients with IMN and 62 patients with non-IMN glomerulonephritis) and 22 healthy individuals were recruited for our observation study from Qianfoshan Hospital between September 2011 and March 2016. The serum concentration of anti-PLA2R was measured using a quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of anti-PLA2R in diagnosing IMN were analysed based on the ELISA detection. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of anti-PLA2R in the diagnosis of IMN in the Chinese patients were 82.5, 75, 69.1, and 86.3% for the 2RU/ml cut-off value; 78.9, 91.7, 86.5, and 86.5% for the 2.6RU/ml cut-off value; 59.6, 95.2, 89.5, and 77.7% for the 14RU/ml cut-off value; 50.9, 96.4, 90.6, and 74.3% for the 20RU/ml cut-off value; and 47.4, 97.6, 93.1, and 73.2% for the 40RU/ml cut-off value, respectively. The area under the ROC curve was 0.879. The cut-off value of 2.6RU/ml is recommended for the use of anti-PLA2R for the diagnosis of IMN in Chinese patients based on the ELISA. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  1. [Clinical features and expression of PLA(2)R in renal tissue with idiopathic membranous nephropathy in children].

    PubMed

    Dong, Y F; Sun, L W; Zhang, B; Kuang, X Y; Niu, X L; Kang, Y L; Hao, S; Wang, P; Li, Z; Zhu, G H; Huang, W Y; Wu, Y

    2018-03-02

    Objective: To explore the clinical features and expression of PLA(2)R in renal tissue of children with idiopathic membranous nephropathy. Methods: Retrospective study was performed in patients with membranous nephropathy diagnosed through renal biopsy and the follow-up time was at least half a year in Shanghai Children ' s Hospital from January 2010 to February 2017. We compared their clinicopathological and pathological findings of IMN. Indirect immunofluorescence assay was used to detect glomerular PLA(2)R expression. We analyzed the differences of clinical features between the PLA(2)R negative and positive groups. T test, rank-sum test and Fisher exact test were used. Results: Eleven cases had hematuria and proteinuria, 9 cases presented with nephrotic syndrome, and 2 cases showed isolated proteinuria. Of the 22 cases of children with IMN, 16 patients had complete remission (complete remission rate was 72.8%), and 22 patients had partial remission. The renal function of all cases was normal and in all cases the estimated glomerular filtration rate was > 90 ml/(min·1.73m(2)). Of 22 cases with IMN, 7 cases were PLA(2)R-positive in renal tissue and 15 cases were PLA(2)R-negative. The age of positive group (10 years old) was older than the negative group (6 years old)( Z= -2.483, P< 0.05) and the time of positive group (6 months) for urine protein to return to negative was longer than the negative group (2.5 months) through treatment. These differences were significantly different ( Z= -2.072, P< 0.05). Conclusions: Hematuria and proteinuria can be found in most children with idiopathic primary membranous nephropathy. Prednisone combined with immunosuppressant was effective. The positive rate of PLA(2)R in renal tissue of children with IMN was about 32%. The age of PLA(2)R positive group was older than the negative group. And the time of urine protein turning to negative in positive group was longer than that in the negative group.

  2. Piperine Inhibits the Activities of Platelet Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 and Thromboxane A2 Synthase without Affecting Cyclooxygenase-1 Activity: Different Mechanisms of Action Are Involved in the Inhibition of Platelet Aggregation and Macrophage Inflammatory Response

    PubMed Central

    Son, Dong Ju; Akiba, Satoshi; Hong, Jin Tae; Yun, Yeo Pyo; Hwang, Seock Yeon; Park, Young Hyun; Lee, Sung Eun

    2014-01-01

    PURPOSE: Piperine, a major alkaloid of black pepper (Piper nigrum) and long pepper (Piper longum), was shown to have anti-inflammatory activity through the suppression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 gene expression and enzyme activity. It is also reported to exhibit anti-platelet activity, but the mechanism underlying this action remains unknown. In this study, we investigated a putative anti-platelet aggregation mechanism involving arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism and how this compares with the mechanism by which it inhibits macrophage inflammatory responses; METHODS: Rabbit platelets and murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells were treated with piperine, and the effect of piperine on the activity of AA-metabolizing enzymes, including cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), COX-1, COX-2, and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) synthase, as well as its effect on AA liberation from the plasma membrane components, were assessed using isotopic labeling methods and enzyme immunoassay kit; RESULTS: Piperine significantly suppressed AA liberation by attenuating cPLA2 activity in collagen-stimulated platelets. It also significantly inhibited the activity of TXA2 synthase, but not of COX-1, in platelets. These results suggest that piperine inhibits platelet aggregation by attenuating cPLA2 and TXA2 synthase activities, rather than through the inhibition of COX-1 activity. On the other hand, piperine significantly inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced generation of prostaglandin (PG)E2 and PGD2 in RAW264.7 cells by suppressing the activity of COX-2, without effect on cPLA2; CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that piperine inhibits platelet aggregation and macrophage inflammatory response by different mechanisms. PMID:25153972

  3. Effect of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 inhibitor on insulin resistance in streptozotocin-induced diabetic pregnant rats.

    PubMed

    Wang, Guo-Hua; Jin, Jun; Sun, Li-Zhou

    2018-06-21

    This paper aims to investigate the influence of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) inhibitor, darapladib, on insulin resistance (IR) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic pregnant rats. The rat models were divided into Control (normal pregnancy), STZ + saline (STZ-induced diabetic pregnant rats), STZ + Low-dose and STZ + High-dose darapladib (STZ-induced diabetic pregnant rats treated with low-/high-dose darapladib) groups. Pathological changes were observed by Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Immunohistochemistry staining. Lp-PLA2 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). An automatic biochemical analyzer was used to measure the serum levels of biochemical indicators, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) were calculated. Western blot was applied to determine levels of inflammatory cytokines. Compared with Control group, rats in the STZ + saline group were significantly decreased in body weight, the number of embryo implantation, the number of insulin positive cells and pancreatic islet size as well as the islet endocrine cells, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) level, but substantially increased in Lp-PLA2, low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), fatty acids (FFA), serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) levels. Moreover, the increased fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and HOMA-IR and inflammatory cytokines but decreased fasting insulin (FINS) and ISI were also found in diabetic pregnant rats. On the contrary, rats in the darapladib-treated groups were just opposite to the STZ + saline group, and STZ + High-dose group improved better than STZ + Low-dose group. Thus, darapladib can improve lipid metabolism, and enhance insulin sensitivity of diabetic pregnant rats by regulating inflammatory cytokines.

  4. Dimethyl ester of bilirubin exhibits anti-inflammatory activity through inhibition of secretory phospholipase A2, lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase.

    PubMed

    Joshi, Vikram; Umashankara, M; Ramakrishnan, Chandrasekaran; Nanjaraj Urs, Ankanahalli N; Suvilesh, Kanve Nagaraj; Velmurugan, Devadasan; Rangappa, Kanchugarakoppal S; Vishwanath, Bannikuppe Sannanaik

    2016-05-15

    Overproduction of arachidonic acid (AA) mediated by secretory phospholipase A2 group IIA (sPLA2IIA) is a hallmark of many inflammatory disorders. AA is subsequently converted into pro-inflammatory eicosanoids through 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and cyclooxygenase-1/2 (COX-1/2) activities. Hence, inhibition of sPLA2IIA, 5-LOX and COX-1/2 activities is critical in regulating inflammation. We have previously reported unconjugated bilirubin (UCB), an endogenous antioxidant, as sPLA2IIA inhibitor. However, lipophilic UCB gets conjugated in liver with glucuronic acid into hydrophilic conjugated bilirubin (CB). Since hydrophobicity is pre-requisite for sPLA2IIA inhibition, conjugation reduces the efficacy of UCB. In this regard, UCB was chemically modified and derivatives were evaluated for sPLA2IIA, 5-LOX and COX-1/2 inhibition. Among the derivatives, BD1 (dimethyl ester of bilirubin) exhibited ∼ 3 fold greater inhibitory potency towards sPLA2IIA compared to UCB. Both UCB and BD1 inhibited human 5-LOX and COX-2 activities; however only BD1 inhibited AA induced platelet aggregation. Molecular docking studies demonstrated BD1 as better inhibitor of aforesaid enzymes than UCB and other endogenous antioxidants. These data suggest that BD1 exhibits strong anti-inflammatory activity through inhibition of AA cascade enzymes which is of great therapeutic importance. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. Key Role of Group V Secreted Phospholipase A2 in Th2 Cytokine and Dendritic Cell-Driven Airway Hyperresponsiveness and Remodeling

    PubMed Central

    Henderson Jr, William R.; Ye, Xin; Lai, Ying; Ni, Zhanglin; Bollinger, James G.; Tien, Ying-Tzang; Chi, Emil Y.; Gelb, Michael H.

    2013-01-01

    Background Previous work has shown that disruption of the gene for group X secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2-X) markedly diminishes airway hyperresponsiveness and remodeling in a mouse asthma model. With the large number of additional sPLA2s in the mammalian genome, the involvement of other sPLA2s in the asthma model is possible – in particular, the group V sPLA2 (sPLA2-V) that like sPLA2-X is highly active at hydrolyzing membranes of mammalian cells. Methodology and Principal Findings The allergen-driven asthma phenotype was significantly reduced in sPLA2-V-deficient mice but to a lesser extent than observed previously in sPLA2-X-deficient mice. The most striking difference observed between the sPLA2-V and sPLA2-X knockouts was the significant impairment of the primary immune response to the allergen ovalbumin (OVA) in the sPLA2-V−/− mice. The impairment in eicosanoid generation and dendritic cell activation in sPLA2-V−/− mice diminishes Th2 cytokine responses in the airways. Conclusions This paper illustrates the diverse roles of sPLA2s in the immunopathogenesis of the asthma phenotype and directs attention to developing specific inhibitors of sPLA2-V as a potential new therapy to treat asthma and other allergic disorders. PMID:23451035

  6. Phospholipase PLA2G7, associated with aggressive prostate cancer, promotes prostate cancer cell migration and invasion and is inhibited by statins

    PubMed Central

    Vainio, Paula; Lehtinen, Laura; Mirtti, Tuomas; Hilvo, Mika; Seppänen-Laakso, Tuulikki; Virtanen, Johannes; Sankila, Anna; Nordling, Stig; Lundin, Johan; Rannikko, Antti; Orešič, Matej; Kallioniemi, Olli; Iljin, Kristiina

    2011-01-01

    Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality in men in developed countries. Due to the heterogeneous nature of the disease, design of novel personalized treatments is required to achieve efficient therapeutic responses. We have recently identified phospholipase 2 group VII (PLA2G7) as a potential drug target especially in ERG oncogene positive prostate cancers. Here, the expression profile of PLA2G7 was studied in 1137 prostate cancer and 409 adjacent non-malignant prostate tissues using immunohistochemistry to validate its biomarker potential and putative association with disease progression. In order to reveal the molecular alterations induced by PLA2G7 impairment, lipidomic and gene expression profiling was performed in response to PLA2G7 silencing in cultured prostate cancer cells. Moreover, the antineoplastic effect of statins combined with PLA2G7 impairment was studied in prostate cancer cells to evaluate the potential of repositioning of in vivo compatible drugs developed for other indications towards anti-cancer purposes. The results indicated that PLA2G7 is a cancer-selective biomarker in 50% of prostate cancers and associates with aggressive disease. The alterations induced by PLA2G7 silencing highlighted the potential of PLA2G7 inhibition as an anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic and anti-migratorial therapeutic approach in prostate cancer. Moreover, the anti-proliferative effect of PLA2G7 silencing was potentiated by lipid-lowering statins in prostate cancer cells. Taken together, our results support the potential of PLA2G7 as a biomarker and a drug target in prostate cancer and present a rationale for combining PLA2G7 inhibition with the use of statins in prostate cancer management. PMID:22202492

  7. Discovery of AZD2716: A Novel Secreted Phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) Inhibitor for the Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease

    PubMed Central

    2016-01-01

    Expedited structure-based optimization of the initial fragment hit 1 led to the design of (R)-7 (AZD2716) a novel, potent secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) inhibitor with excellent preclinical pharmacokinetic properties across species, clear in vivo efficacy, and minimized safety risk. Based on accumulated profiling data, (R)-7 was selected as a clinical candidate for the treatment of coronary artery disease. PMID:27774123

  8. Phospholipase A2 activity-dependent and -independent fusogenic activity of Naja nigricollis CMS-9 on zwitterionic and anionic phospholipid vesicles.

    PubMed

    Chiou, Yi-Ling; Chen, Ying-Jung; Lin, Shinne-Ren; Chang, Long-Sen

    2011-11-01

    CMS-9, a phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) from Naja nigricollis venom, induced the death of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells accompanied with the formation of cell clumps without clear boundaries between cells. Annexin V-FITC staining indicated that abundant phosphatidylserine appeared on the outer membrane of MCF-7 cell clumps, implying the possibility that CMS-9 may promote membrane fusion via anionic phospholipids. To validate this proposition, fusogenic activity of CMS-9 on vesicles composed of zwitterionic phospholipid alone or a combination of zwitterionic and anionic phospholipids was examined. Although CMS-9-induced fusion of zwitterionic phospholipid vesicles depended on PLA(2) activity, CMS-9-induced fusion of vesicles containing anionic phospholipids could occur without the involvement of PLA(2) activity. Membrane-damaging activity of CMS-9 was associated with its fusogenicity. Moreover, CMS-9 induced differently membrane leakage and membrane fusion of vesicles with different compositions. Membrane fluidity and binding capability with phospholipid vesicles were not related to the fusogenicity of CMS-9. However, membrane-bound conformation and mode of CMS-9 depended on phospholipid compositions. Collectively, our data suggest that PLA(2) activity-dependent and -independent fusogenicity of CMS-9 are closely related to its membrane-bound modes and targeted membrane compositions. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. iPLA2β deficiency attenuates obesity and hepatic steatosis in ob/ob mice through hepatic fatty-acyl phospholipid remodeling.

    PubMed

    Deng, Xiuling; Wang, Jiliang; Jiao, Li; Utaipan, Tanyarath; Tuma-Kellner, Sabine; Schmitz, Gerd; Liebisch, Gerhard; Stremmel, Wolfgang; Chamulitrat, Walee

    2016-05-01

    PLA2G6 or GVIA calcium-independent PLA2 (iPLA2β) is identified as one of the NAFLD modifier genes in humans, and thought to be a target for NAFLD therapy. iPLA2β is known to play a house-keeping role in phospholipid metabolism and remodeling. However, its role in NAFLD pathogenesis has not been supported by results obtained from high-fat feeding of iPLA2β-null (PKO) mice. Unlike livers of human NAFLD and genetically obese rodents, fatty liver induced by high-fat diet is not associated with depletion of hepatic phospholipids. We therefore tested whether iPLA2β could regulate obesity and hepatic steatosis in leptin-deficient mice by cross-breeding PKO with ob/ob mice to generate ob/ob-PKO mice. Here we observed an improvement in ob/ob-PKO mice with significant reduction in serum enzymes, lipids, glucose, insulin as well as improved glucose tolerance, and reduction in islet hyperplasia. The improvement in hepatic steatosis measured by liver triglycerides, fatty acids and cholesterol esters was associated with decreased expression of PPARγ and de novo lipogenesis genes, and the reversal of β-oxidation gene expression. Notably, ob/ob livers contained depleted levels of lysophospholipids and phospholipids, and iPLA2β deficiency in ob/ob-PKO livers lowers the former, but replenished the latter particularly phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) that contained arachidonic (AA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids. Compared with WT livers, PKO livers also contained increased PE and PC containing AA and DHA. Thus, iPLA2β deficiency protected against obesity and ob/ob fatty liver which was associated with hepatic fatty-acyl phospholipid remodeling. Our results support the deleterious role of iPLA2β in severe obesity associated NAFLD. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. The secretory phospholipase A2 group IIA: a missing link between inflammation, activated renin-angiotensin system, and atherogenesis?

    PubMed

    Divchev, Dimitar; Schieffer, Bernhard

    2008-01-01

    Inflammation, lipid peroxidation and chronic activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) are hallmarks of the development of atherosclerosis. Recent studies have suggested the involvement of the pro-inflammatory secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2))-IIA in atherogenesis. This enzyme is produced by different cell types through stimulation by pro-inflammatory cytokines. It is detectable in the intima and in media smooth muscle cells, not only in atherosclerotic lesions but also in the very early stages of atherogenesis. sPLA(2)-IIA can hydrolyse the phospholipid monolayers of low density lipoproteins (LDL). Such modified LDL show increased affinity to proteoglycans. The modified particles have a greater tendency to aggregate and an enhanced ability to insert cholesterol into cells. This modification may promote macrophage LDL uptake leading to the formation of foam cells. Furthermore, sPLA(2)-IIA is not only a mediator for localized inflammation but may be also used as an independent predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with stable coronary artery disease or acute coronary syndromes. An interaction between activated RAS and phospholipases has been indicated by observations showing that inhibitors of sPLA(2) decrease angiotensin (Ang) II-induced macrophage lipid peroxidation. Meanwhile, various interactions between Ang II and oxLDL have been demonstrated suggesting a central role of sPLA(2)-IIA in these processes and offering a possible target for treatment. The role of sPLA(2)-IIA in the perpetuation of atherosclerosis appears to be the missing link between inflammation, activated RAS and lipid peroxidation.

  11. Biallelic Mutations in PLA2G5, Encoding Group V Phospholipase A2, Cause Benign Fleck Retina

    PubMed Central

    Sergouniotis, Panagiotis I.; Davidson, Alice E.; Mackay, Donna S.; Lenassi, Eva; Li, Zheng; Robson, Anthony G.; Yang, Xu; Kam, Jaimie Hoh; Isaacs, Timothy W.; Holder, Graham E.; Jeffery, Glen; Beck, Jonathan A.; Moore, Anthony T.; Plagnol, Vincent; Webster, Andrew R.

    2011-01-01

    Flecked-retina syndromes, including fundus flavimaculatus, fundus albipunctatus, and benign fleck retina, comprise a group of disorders with widespread or limited distribution of yellow-white retinal lesions of various sizes and configurations. Three siblings who have benign fleck retina and were born to consanguineous parents are the basis of this report. A combination of homozygosity mapping and exome sequencing helped to identify a homozygous missense mutation, c.133G>T (p.Gly45Cys), in PLA2G5, a gene encoding a secreted phospholipase (group V phospholipase A2). A screen of a further four unrelated individuals with benign fleck retina detected biallelic variants in the same gene in three patients. In contrast, no loss of function or common (minor-allele frequency>0.05%) nonsynonymous PLA2G5 variants have been previously reported (EVS, dbSNP, 1000 Genomes Project) or were detected in an internal database of 224 exomes (from subjects with adult onset neurodegenerative disease and without a diagnosis of ophthalmic disease). All seven affected individuals had fundoscopic features compatible with those previously described in benign fleck retina and no visual or electrophysiological deficits. No medical history of major illness was reported. Levels of low-density lipoprotein were mildly elevated in two patients. Optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence findings suggest that group V phospholipase A2 plays a role in the phagocytosis of photoreceptor outer-segment discs by the retinal pigment epithelium. Surprisingly, immunohistochemical staining of human retinal tissue revealed localization of the protein predominantly in the inner and outer plexiform layers. PMID:22137173

  12. A two-photon view of an enzyme at work: Crotalus atrox venom PLA2 interaction with single-lipid and mixed-lipid giant unilamellar vesicles.

    PubMed Central

    Sanchez, Susana A; Bagatolli, Luis A; Gratton, Enrico; Hazlett, Theodore L

    2002-01-01

    We describe the interaction of Crotalus atrox-secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) with giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) composed of single and binary phospholipid mixtures visualized through two-photon excitation fluorescent microscopy. The GUV lipid compositions that we examined included 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) (above their gel-liquid crystal transition temperatures) and two well characterized lipid mixtures, 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DMPE):DMPC (7:3) and 1,2-dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DLPC)/1,2-diarachidoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DAPC) (1:1) equilibrated at their phase-coexistence temperature regime. The membrane fluorescence probes, 6-lauroyl-2-(dimethylamino) napthalene, 6-propionyl-2-(dimethylamino) naphthalene, and rhodamine-phosphatidylethanolamine, were used to assess the state of the membrane and specifically mark the phospholipid domains. Independent of their lipid composition, all GUVs were reduced in size as sPLA2-dependent lipid hydrolysis proceeded. The binding of sPLA2 was monitored using a fluorescein-sPLA2 conjugate. The sPLA2 was observed to associate with the entire surface of the liquid phase in the single phospholipid GUVs. In the mixed-lipid GUV's, at temperatures promoting domain coexistence, a preferential binding of the enzyme to the liquid regions was also found. The lipid phase of the GUV protein binding region was verified by the introduction of 6-propionyl-2-(dimethylamino) naphthalene, which partitions quickly into the lipid fluid phase. Preferential hydrolysis of the liquid domains supported the conclusions based on the binding studies. sPLA2 hydrolyzes the liquid domains in the binary lipid mixtures DLPC:DAPC and DMPC:DMPE, indicating that the solid-phase packing of DAPC and DMPE interferes with sPLA2 binding, irrespective of the phospholipid headgroup. These studies

  13. Preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of BthTX-II, a myotoxic Asp49-phospholipase A{sub 2} with low catalytic activity from Bothrops jararacussu venom

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Corrêa, L. C.; Marchi-Salvador, D. P.; Cintra, A. C. O.

    2006-08-01

    A myotoxic Asp49-PLA{sub 2} with low catalytic activity from B. jararacussu (BthTX-II) was crystallized in the monoclinic crystal system; a complete X-ray diffraction data set was collected and a molecular-replacement solution was obtained. The oligomeric structure of BthTX-II resembles those of the Asp49-PLA{sub 2} PrTX-III and all bothropic Lys49-PLA{sub 2}s. For the first time, a complete X-ray diffraction data set has been collected from a myotoxic Asp49-phospholipase A{sub 2} (Asp49-PLA{sub 2}) with low catalytic activity (BthTX-II from Bothrops jararacussu venom) and a molecular-replacement solution has been obtained with a dimer in the asymmetric unit. The quaternary structure of BthTX-II resemblesmore » the myotoxin Asp49-PLA{sub 2} PrTX-III (piratoxin III from B. pirajai venom) and all non-catalytic and myotoxic dimeric Lys49-PLA{sub 2}s. In contrast, the oligomeric structure of BthTX-II is different from the highly catalytic and non-myotoxic BthA-I (acidic PLA{sub 2} from B. jararacussu). Thus, comparison between these structures should add insight into the catalytic and myotoxic activities of bothropic PLA{sub 2}s.« less

  14. Class specific peptide inhibitors for secretory phospholipases A2.

    PubMed

    Mahalka, Ajay K; Kinnunen, Paavo K J

    2013-06-28

    Phospholipases A2 (PLA2) catalyze the hydrolytic cleavage of free fatty acids from the sn-2 OH-moiety of glycerophospholipids. These enzymes have a number of functions, from digestion to signaling and toxicity of several venoms. They have also been implicated in inflammation and are connected to diverse diseases, such as cancer, ischemia, atherosclerosis, and schizophrenia. Accordingly, there is a keen interest to develop selective inhibitors for therapeutic use. We recently proposed a novel mechanism for the control of PLA2 activity with highly active protofibrils of PLA2 existing transiently before conversion to inactive amyloid fibrils [19]. In keeping with the above mechanism several algorithms identified (85)KMYFNLI(91) and (17)AALSYGFYG(25) in bee venom (bv) and human lacrimal fluid (Lf) PLA2, respectively, as a regions potentially forming amyloid type aggregates. Interestingly, in keeping with the proposed role of these sequences in the control of the activity of these enzymes, preincubation of 2nM bvPLA2 with (85)KMYFNLI(91) caused complete inhibition of PLA2 activity while the scrambled control peptide YNFLIMK had no effect. Approximately 36% attenuation of the hydrolytic activity of LfPLA2 present in human lacrimal fluid was observed in the presence of 80nM (17)AALSYGFYG(25). Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  15. Functional and Structural Characterization of a Thermostable Phospholipase A2 from a Sparidae Fish (Diplodus annularis).

    PubMed

    Smichi, Nabil; Othman, Houcemeddine; Achouri, Neila; Noiriel, Alexandre; Arondel, Vincent; Srairi-Abid, Najet; Abousalham, Abdelkarim; Gargouri, Youssef; Miled, Nabil; Fendri, Ahmed

    2017-03-22

    Novel phospholipase (PLA 2 ) genes from the Sparidae family were cloned. The sequenced PLA 2 revealed an identity with pancreatic PLA 2 group IB. To better understand the structure/function relationships of these enzymes and their evolution, the Diplodus annularis PLA 2 (DaPLA 2 ) was overexpressed in E. coli. The refolded enzyme was purified by Ni-affinity chromatography and has a molecular mass of 15 kDa as determined by MALDI-TOF spectrometry. Interestingly, unlike the pancreatic type, the DaPLA 2 was active and stable at higher temperatures, which suggests its great potential in biotechnological applications. The 3D structure of DaPLA 2 was constructed to gain insights into the functional properties of sparidae PLA 2 . Molecular docking and dynamic simulations were performed to explain the higher thermal stability and the substrate specificity of DaPLA 2 . Using the monolayer technique, the purified DaPLA 2 was found to be active on various phospholipids ranging from 10 to 20 mN·m -1 , which explained the absence of the hemolytic activity for DaPLA 2 .

  16. Effect of Chlorogenic Acid (5-Caffeoylquinic Acid) Isolated from Baccharis oxyodonta on the Structure and Pharmacological Activities of Secretory Phospholipase A2 from Crotalus durissus terrificus

    PubMed Central

    Toyama, Daniela O.; Ferreira, Marcelo J. P.; Romoff, Paulete; Fávero, Oriana A.; Gaeta, Henrique H.; Toyama, Marcos H.

    2014-01-01

    The aim of this paper was to investigate the effect of chlorogenic acid (5-caffeoylquinic acid, 5CQA), isolated from Baccharis oxyodonta, on the structure and pharmacological effect of secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) from Crotalus durissus terrificus. All in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted using a purified sPLA2 compared under the same experimental conditions with sPLA2 : 5CQA. 5CQA induced several discrete modifications in the secondary structure and the hydrophobic characteristics of native sPLA2 that induced slight changes in the α-helical content, increase in the random coil structure, and decrease of fluorescence of native sPLA2. Moreover, 5CQA significantly decreased the enzymatic activity and the oedema and myonecrosis induced by native sPLA2. As the catalytic activity of sPLA2 plays an important role in several of its biological and pharmacological properties, antibacterial activity was used to confirm the decrease in its enzymatic activity by 5CQA, which induced massive bacterial cell destruction. We found that 5CQA specifically abolished the enzymatic activity of sPLA2 and induced discrete protein unfolding that mainly involved the pharmacological site of sPLA2. These results showed the potential application of 5CQA in the snake poisoning treatment and modulation of the pathological effect of inflammation induced by secretory PLA2. PMID:25258715

  17. Expression, purification and refolding of active durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) secretory phospholipase A2 from inclusion bodies of Escherichia coli.

    PubMed

    Verlotta, Angelo; Trono, Daniela

    2014-09-01

    Recently, a durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) secretory phospholipase A2 (TdsPLA2III) was identified in leaves as potentially involved in plant responses to conditions of limiting water supply. Therefore, to allow future functional studies on TdsPLA2III and shed further light on the involvement of sPLA2 isoforms in specific plant functions, here we report a protocol for the overexpression of TdsPLA2III in Escherichia coli in the form of inclusion bodies, and for its purification and refolding. The use of the Gateway system (Invitrogen) allows the expression of a large quantity of the mature form (without the signal peptide) of TdsPLA2III with an N-terminal 6×His-tag, for purification using Ni-affinity chromatography. The purified recombinant 6×His-TdsPLA2III fusion protein is then refolded using a step-wise dialysis approach. About 40mg purified and active protein was obtained from 1L of cell culture. This recombinant 6×His-TdsPLA2III protein shows PLA2 activity, as it can hydrolyze linoleate from the sn-2 position of 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. Moreover, it has some features that are typical of other known plant sPLA2s: Ca(2+)-dependence, inhibition by the disulfide bond reducing agent dithiothreitol, and resistance to high temperature. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  18. Phospholipase PlaB is a new virulence factor of Legionella pneumophila.

    PubMed

    Schunder, Eva; Adam, Patrick; Higa, Futoshi; Remer, Katharina A; Lorenz, Udo; Bender, Jennifer; Schulz, Tino; Flieger, Antje; Steinert, Michael; Heuner, Klaus

    2010-06-01

    We previously identified Legionella pneumophila PlaB as the major cell-associated phospholipase A/lysophospholipase A with contact-dependent hemolytic activity. In this study, we further characterized this protein and found it to be involved in the virulence of L. pneumophila. PlaB was mainly expressed and active during exponential growth. Active PlaB was outer membrane-associated and at least in parts surface-exposed. Transport to the outer membrane was not dependent on the type I (T1SS), II (T2SS), IVB (T4BSS) or Tat secretion pathways. Furthermore, PlaB activity was not dependent on the presence of the macrophage infectivity potentiator (Mip) or the major secreted zinc metalloproteinase A (MspA). Despite the fact that PlaB is not essential for replication in protozoa or macrophage cell lines, we found that plaB mutants were impaired for replication in the lungs and dissemination to the spleen in the guinea pig infection model. Histological sections monitored less inflammation and destruction of the lung tissue after infection with the plaB mutants compared to L. pneumophila wild type. Taken together, PlaB is the first phospholipase A/lysophospholipase A with a confirmed role in the establishment of Legionnaires' disease. Copyright 2010 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  19. Endogenous secreted phospholipase A2 group X regulates cysteinyl leukotrienes synthesis by human eosinophils.

    PubMed

    Hallstrand, Teal S; Lai, Ying; Hooper, Kathryn A; Oslund, Rob C; Altemeier, William A; Matute-Bello, Gustavo; Gelb, Michael H

    2016-01-01

    Phospholipase A2s mediate the rate-limiting step in the formation of eicosanoids such as cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs). Group IVA cytosolic PLA2α (cPLA2α) is thought to be the dominant PLA2 in eosinophils; however, eosinophils also have secreted PLA2 (sPLA2) activity that has not been fully defined. To examine the expression of sPLA2 group X (sPLA2-X) in eosinophils, the participation of sPLA2-X in the formation of CysLTs, and the mechanism by which sPLA2-X initiates the synthesis of CysLTs in eosinophils. Peripheral blood eosinophils were obtained from volunteers with asthma and/or allergy. A rabbit polyclonal anti-sPLA2-X antibody identified sPLA2-X by Western blot. We used confocal microscopy to colocalize the sPLA2-X to intracellular structures. An inhibitor of sPLA2-X (ROC-0929) that does not inhibit other mammalian sPLA2s, as well as inhibitors of the mitogen-activated kinase cascade (MAPK) and cPLA2α, was used to examine the mechanism of N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-mediated formation of CysLT. Eosinophils express the mammalian sPLA2-X gene (PLA2G10). The sPLA2-X protein is located in the endoplasmic reticulum, golgi, and granules of eosinophils and moves to the granules and lipid bodies during fMLP-mediated activation. Selective sPLA2-X inhibition attenuated the fMLP-mediated release of arachidonic acid and CysLT formation by eosinophils. Inhibitors of p38, extracellular-signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (p44/42 MAPK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and cPLA2α also attenuated the fMLP-mediated formation of CysLT. The sPLA2-X inhibitor reduced the phosphorylation of p38 and extracellular-signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (p44/42 MAPK) as well as cPLA2α during cellular activation, indicating that sPLA2-X is involved in activating the MAPK cascade leading to the formation of CysLT via cPLA2α. We further demonstrate that sPLA2-X is activated before secretion from the cell during activation. Short-term priming with IL-13 and TNF/IL-1β increased the

  20. ChLpMab-23: Cancer-Specific Human-Mouse Chimeric Anti-Podoplanin Antibody Exhibits Antitumor Activity via Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity.

    PubMed

    Kaneko, Mika K; Nakamura, Takuro; Kunita, Akiko; Fukayama, Masashi; Abe, Shinji; Nishioka, Yasuhiko; Yamada, Shinji; Yanaka, Miyuki; Saidoh, Noriko; Yoshida, Kanae; Fujii, Yuki; Ogasawara, Satoshi; Kato, Yukinari

    2017-06-01

    Podoplanin is expressed in many cancers, including oral cancers and brain tumors. The interaction between podoplanin and its receptor C-type lectin-like receptor 2 (CLEC-2) has been reported to be involved in cancer metastasis and tumor malignancy. We previously established many monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against human podoplanin using the cancer-specific mAb (CasMab) technology. LpMab-23 (IgG 1 , kappa), one of the mouse anti-podoplanin mAbs, was shown to be a CasMab. However, we have not shown the usefulness of LpMab-23 for antibody therapy against podoplanin-expressing cancers. In this study, we first determined the minimum epitope of LpMab-23 and revealed that Gly54-Leu64 peptide, especially Gly54, Thr55, Ser56, Glu57, Asp58, Arg59, Tyr60, and Leu64 of podoplanin, is a critical epitope of LpMab-23. We further produced human-mouse chimeric LpMab-23 (chLpMab-23) and investigated whether chLpMab-23 exerts antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antitumor activity. In flow cytometry, chLpMab-23 showed high sensitivity against a podoplanin-expressing glioblastoma cell line, LN319, and an oral cancer cell line, HSC-2. chLpMab-23 also showed ADCC activity against podoplanin-expressing CHO cells (CHO/podoplanin). In xenograft models with HSC-2 and CHO/podoplanin, chLpMab-23 exerts antitumor activity using human natural killer cells, indicating that chLpMab-23 could be useful for antibody therapy against podoplanin-expressing cancers.

  1. Purification of a phospholipase A2 from Daboia russelii siamensis venom with anticancer effects

    PubMed Central

    Khunsap, Suchitra; Pakmanee, Narumol; Khow, Orawan; Chanhome, Lawan; Sitprija, Visith; Suntravat, Montamas; Lucena, Sara E; Perez, John C; Sánchez, Elda E

    2011-01-01

    Venom phospholipases A2 (PLA2) are associated with neurotoxic, myotoxic, cardiotoxic, platelet aggregation, and edema activities. A PLA2 (Drs-PLA2) was purified from Daboia russelii siamensis venom by a two-step purification procedure consisting of size-exclusion, followed by anion exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The molecular weight of the Drs-PLA2 was 13,679Da, which was determined by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Its N-terminal amino acid sequence was homologous to basic PLA2s of viperid snake venoms. The Drs-PLA2 had indirect hemolytic and anticoagulant activities, cytotoxic activity with a CC50 of 65.8nM, and inhibited SK-MEL-28 cell migration with an IC50 of 25.6nM. In addition, the Drs-PLA2 inhibited the colonization of B16F10 cells in lungs of BALB/c mice by ∼65%. PMID:22091349

  2. Association of Inflammatory, Lipid, and Mineral Markers with Cardiac Calcification in Older Adults

    PubMed Central

    Bortnick, Anna E.; Bartz, Traci M.; Ix, Joachim H.; Chonchol, Michel; Reiner, Alexander; Cushman, Mary; Owens, David; Barasch, Eddy; Siscovick, David S.; Gottdiener, John S.; Kizer, Jorge R.

    2016-01-01

    Objective Calcification of the aortic valve and adjacent structures involves inflammatory, lipid, and mineral metabolism pathways. We hypothesized that circulating biomarkers reflecting these pathways are associated with cardiac calcification in older adults. Methods We investigated the associations of various biomarkers with valvular and annular calcification in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Of 5888 participants, up to 3585 were eligible after exclusions for missing biomarker, covariate, or echocardiographic data. We evaluated analytes reflecting lipid (lipoprotein [Lp] (a), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 [LpPLA2] mass and activity), inflammatory (interleukin-6, soluble [s] CD14), and mineral metabolism (fetuin-A, fibroblast growth factor [FGF]-23) that were measured within 5 years of echocardiography. The relationships of plasma biomarkers with aortic valve calcium (AVC), aortic annular calcium (AAC) and mitral annular calcium (MAC) were assessed with relative risk (RR) regression. Results Calcification was prevalent: AVC 59%, AAC 45% and MAC 41%. After adjustment, Lp(a), LpPLA2 mass and activity, and sCD14 were positively associated with AVC. RRs for AVC per SD (95% CI) were: Lp(a), 1.051 (1.022–1.081); LpPLA2 mass, 1.036 (1.006–1.066), and activity, 1.037 (1.004–1.071); sCD14, 1.039 (1.005–1.073). FGF-23 was positively associated with MAC, 1.040 (1.004–1.078), and fetuin-A was negatively associated, 0.949 (0.911–0.989). No biomarkers were significantly associated with AAC. Conclusions This study shows novel associations of circulating FGF-23 and fetuin-A with MAC, and LpPLA2 and sCD14 with AVC, confirming that previously reported for Lp(a). Further investigation of lipoprotein and inflammatory pathways may provide added insight into the etiology AVC, while study of phosphate regulation may illuminate the pathogenesis of MAC. PMID:27411840

  3. Novel mutations in PANK2 and PLA2G6 genes in patients with neurodegenerative disorders: two case reports.

    PubMed

    Dastsooz, Hassan; Nemati, Hamid; Fard, Mohammad Ali Farazi; Fardaei, Majid; Faghihi, Mohammad Ali

    2017-08-18

    Neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) is a genetically heterogeneous group of disorders associated with progressive impairment of movement, vision, and cognition. The disease is initially diagnosed on the basis of changes in brain magnetic resonance imaging which indicate an abnormal brain iron accumulation in the basal ganglia. However, the diagnosis of specific types should be based on both clinical findings and molecular genetic testing for genes associated with different types of NBIA, including PANK2, PLA2G6, C19orf12, FA2H, ATP13A2, WDR45, COASY, FTL, CP, and DCAF17. The purpose of this study was to investigate disease-causing mutations in two patients with distinct NBIA disorders. Whole Exome sequencing using Next Generation Illumina Sequencing was used to enrich all exons of protein-coding genes as well as some other important genomic regions in these two affected patients. A deleterious homozygous four-nucleotide deletion causing frameshift deletion in PANK2 gene (c.1426_1429delATGA, p.M476 fs) was identified in an 8 years old girl with dystonia, bone fracture, muscle rigidity, abnormal movement, lack of coordination and chorea. In addition, our study revealed a novel missense mutation in PLA2G6 gene (c.3G > T:p.M1I) in one and half-year-old boy with muscle weakness and neurodevelopmental regression (speech, motor and cognition). The novel mutations were also confirmed by Sanger sequencing in the proband and their parents. Current study uncovered two rare novel mutations in PANK2 and PLA2G6 genes in patients with NBIA disorder and such studies may help to conduct genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis more accurately for individuals at the high risk of these types of disorders.

  4. Specific inhibition of Xenorhabdus hominickii, an entomopathogenic bacterium, against different types of host insect phospholipase A2.

    PubMed

    Sadekuzzaman, Md; Kim, Yonggyun

    2017-10-01

    Phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) hydrolyzes ester bond of phospholipids at the sn-2 position to release free fatty acid and lysophospholipids. Some PLA 2 s preferentially release arachidonic acid which is subsequently oxygenated into eicosanoids to mediate immune responses in insects. Xenorhabdus hominickii is an entomopathogenic bacterium that can suppress insect immunity by inhibiting PLA 2 activity. However, little is known about target PLA 2 types inhibited by X. hominickii. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine PLA 2 types in the host insect, Spodoptera exigua using specific inhibitors. All developmental stages of S. exigua possessed significant PLA 2 activities, with late larval stages showing relatively higher PLA 2 activities. In different larval tissues, hemocytes had higher PLA 2 activities than fat body, gut, or epidermis. Various developmental and tissue extracts exhibited differential susceptibilities to three different PLA 2 inhibitors. Late larva-to-adult stages were highly susceptible to all three different types of PLA 2 inhibitors. In contrast, extracts from egg and young larval stages were not susceptible to secretory PLA 2 (sPLA 2 ) or calcium-independent cellular PLA 2 (iPLA 2 ) inhibitors, although they were susceptible to a calcium-dependent cellular PLA 2 (cPLA 2 ) inhibitor in a dose-dependent manner. Different tissues of fifth instars exhibited variation in susceptibility to inhibitors, with epidermal tissue being sensitive to cPLA 2 inhibitor only while other tissues were sensitive to all three types of inhibitors. Bacterial challenge with heat-killed X. hominickii significantly increased PLA 2 activity. However, live bacteria suppressed the induction of PLA 2 activity. An organic extract of X. hominickii-culture broth inhibited the susceptibility of S. exigua to sPLA 2 - and iPLA 2 - specific inhibitors, but not to cPLA 2 -specific inhibitor. Oxindole, a component of the organic extract, exhibited an inhibitory pattern

  5. In Vitro Antiplasmodial Activity of Phospholipases A2 and a Phospholipase Homologue Isolated from the Venom of the Snake Bothrops asper

    PubMed Central

    Castillo, Juan Carlos Quintana; Vargas, Leidy Johana; Segura, Cesar; Gutiérrez, José María; Pérez, Juan Carlos Alarcón

    2012-01-01

    The antimicrobial and antiparasite activity of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) from snakes and bees has been extensively explored. We studied the antiplasmodial effect of the whole venom of the snake Bothrops asper and of two fractions purified by ion-exchange chromatography: one containing catalytically-active phospholipases A2 (PLA2) (fraction V) and another containing a PLA2 homologue devoid of enzymatic activity (fraction VI). The antiplasmodial effect was assessed on in vitro cultures of Plasmodium falciparum. The whole venom of B. asper, as well as its fractions V and VI, were active against the parasite at 0.13 ± 0.01 µg/mL, 1.42 ± 0.56 µg/mL and 22.89 ± 1.22 µg/mL, respectively. Differences in the cytotoxic activity on peripheral blood mononuclear cells between the whole venom and fractions V and VI were observed, fraction V showing higher toxicity than total venom and fraction VI. Regarding toxicity in mice, the whole venom showed the highest lethal effect in comparison to fractions V and VI. These results suggest that B. asper PLA2 and its homologue have antiplasmodial potential. PMID:23242318

  6. Light controls phospholipase A2α and β gene expression in Citrus sinensis

    PubMed Central

    Liao, Hui-Ling; Burns, Jacqueline K.

    2010-01-01

    The low-molecular weight secretory phospholipase A2α (CssPLA2α) and β (CsPLA2β) cloned in this study exhibited diurnal rhythmicity in leaf tissue of Citrus sinensis. Only CssPLA2α displayed distinct diurnal patterns in fruit tissues. CssPLA2α and CsPLA2β diurnal expression exhibited periods of approximately 24 h; CssPLA2α amplitude averaged 990-fold in the leaf blades from field-grown trees, whereas CsPLA2β amplitude averaged 6.4-fold. Diurnal oscillation of CssPLA2α and CsPLA2β gene expression in the growth chamber experiments was markedly dampened 24 h after transfer to continuous light or dark conditions. CssPLA2α and CsPLA2β expressions were redundantly mediated by blue, green, red and red/far-red light, but blue light was a major factor affecting CssPLA2α and CsPLA2β expression. Total and low molecular weight CsPLA2 enzyme activity closely followed diurnal changes in CssPLA2α transcript expression in leaf blades of seedlings treated with low intensity blue light (24 μmol m−2 s−1). Compared with CssPLA2α basal expression, CsPLA2β expression was at least 10-fold higher. Diurnal fluctuation and light regulation of PLA2 gene expression and enzyme activity in citrus leaf and fruit tissues suggests that accompanying diurnal changes in lipophilic second messengers participate in the regulation of physiological processes associated with phospholipase A2 action. PMID:20388744

  7. The Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP DAAC)

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Golon, Danielle K.

    2016-10-03

    The Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP DAAC) operates as a partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey and is 1 of 12 DAACs within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS). The LP DAAC ingests, archives, processes, and distributes NASA Earth science remote sensing data. These data are provided to the public at no charge. Data distributed by the LP DAAC provide information about Earth’s surface from daily to yearly intervals and at 15 to 5,600 meter spatial resolution. Data provided by the LP DAAC can be used to study changes in agriculture, vegetation, ecosystems, elevation, and much more. The LP DAAC provides several ways to access, process, and interact with these data. In addition, the LP DAAC is actively archiving new datasets to provide users with a variety of data to study the Earth.

  8. The effects of two phospholipase A2 inhibitors on the neuromuscular blocking activities of homologous phospholipases A2 from the venom of Pseudechis australis, the Australian king brown snake.

    PubMed

    Fatehi, M; Rowan, E G; Harvey, A L

    1995-12-01

    Previous studies have shown that homologous phospholipases A2 (PLA2) (Pa-3, Pa-9C, Pa-10F and Pa-11) from the venom of the Australian king brown snake, Pseudechis australis, significantly reduce the resting membrane potentials and quantal contents of endplate potentials recorded from endplate regions of mouse triangularis sterni nerve-muscle preparations. It is not clear whether PLA2 activity is essential for their neuromuscular activities. Therefore, pharmacological studies were carried out to determine whether neuromuscular activity of the toxins changed after treatment with the phospholipase A2 inhibitors 7,7-dimethyl-eicosadienoic acid (DEDA) and manoalide. After incubation of the toxins with manoalide (120 nM), or DEDA (50 microM), no PLA2 activity against 1-stearoyl 2-[3H]arachidonoylglycerophosphocholine was detected. After incubation with manoalide and/or DEDA, the toxins did not depolarize muscle fibre membranes up to 60 min after administration. However, manoalide and DEDA had different influences on the inhibitory effect of these toxic enzymes on acetylcholine release from nerve terminals. Manoalide abolished the inhibitory effect of the toxins on evoked release of acetylcholine. In contrast, DEDA was not able to prevent the reduction of quantal content of endplate potentials induced by the toxins. This study provides evidence that the depolarizing action and the inhibitory effect on release of acetylcholine exerted by these toxic PLA2 from king brown snake are independent phenomena. The evidence for this conclusion was that inhibition of enzymatic activity with an arachidonic acid analogue (DEDA) abolished the depolarizing effect of the toxins but not the effects on the quantal release of acetylcholine from mouse motor nerve terminals. The data suggest that the depolarizing effect of these toxins is probably due to the enzymatic activity. Since manoalide interacts with lysine residues of PLA2 polypeptides, and, as shown here, manoalide prevented

  9. SH2-PLA: a sensitive in-solution approach for quantification of modular domain binding by proximity ligation and real-time PCR.

    PubMed

    Thompson, Christopher M; Bloom, Lee R; Ogiue-Ikeda, Mari; Machida, Kazuya

    2015-06-26

    There is a great interest in studying phosphotyrosine dependent protein-protein interactions in tyrosine kinase pathways that play a critical role in many aspects of cellular function. We previously established SH2 profiling, a phosphoproteomic approach based on membrane binding assays that utilizes purified Src Homology 2 (SH2) domains as a molecular tool to profile the global tyrosine phosphorylation state of cells. However, in order to use this method to investigate SH2 binding sites on a specific target in cell lysate, additional procedures such as pull-down or immunoprecipitation which consume large amounts of sample are required. We have developed PLA-SH2, an alternative in-solution modular domain binding assay that takes advantage of Proximity Ligation Assay and real-time PCR. The SH2-PLA assay utilizes oligonucleotide-conjugated anti-GST and anti-EGFR antibodies recognizing a GST-SH2 probe and cellular EGFR, respectively. If the GST-SH2 and EGFR are in close proximity as a result of SH2-phosphotyrosine interactions, the two oligonucleotides are brought within a suitable distance for ligation to occur, allowing for efficient complex amplification via real-time PCR. The assay detected signal across at least 3 orders of magnitude of lysate input with a linear range spanning 1-2 orders and a low femtomole limit of detection for EGFR phosphotyrosine. SH2 binding kinetics determined by PLA-SH2 showed good agreement with established far-Western analyses for A431 and Cos1 cells stimulated with EGF at various times and doses. Further, we showed that PLA-SH2 can survey lung cancer tissues using 1 μl lysate without requiring phospho-enrichment. We showed for the first time that interactions between SH2 domain probes and EGFR in cell lysate can be determined in a microliter-scale assay using SH2-PLA. The obvious benefit of this method is that the low sample requirement allows detection of SH2 binding in samples which are difficult to analyze using traditional protein

  10. Effects of the propeptide of group X secreted phospholipase A(2) on substrate specificity and interfacial activity on phospholipid monolayers.

    PubMed

    Point, Vanessa; Bénarouche, Anaïs; Jemel, Ikram; Parsiegla, Goetz; Lambeau, Gérard; Carrière, Frédéric; Cavalier, Jean-François

    2013-01-01

    Group X secreted phospholipase A(2) (GX sPLA(2)) plays important physiological roles in the gastrointestinal tract, in immune and sperm cells and is involved in several types of inflammatory diseases. It is secreted either as a mature enzyme or as a mixture of proenzyme (with a basic 11 amino acid propeptide) and mature enzyme. The role of the propeptide in the repression of sPLA(2) activity has been studied extensively using liposomes and micelles as model interfaces. These substrates are however not always suitable for detecting some fine tuning of lipolytic enzymes. In the present study, the monolayer technique is used to compare PLA(2) activity of recombinant mouse GX sPLA(2) (mGX) and its pro-form (PromGX) on monomolecular films of dilauroyl-phosphatidyl-ethanolamine (DLPE), -choline (DLPC) and -glycerol (DLPG). The PLA(2) activity and substrate specificity of mGX (PE ≈ PG > PC) were found to be surface pressure-dependent. mGX displayed a high activity on DLPE and DLPG but not on DLPC monolayers up to surface pressures corresponding to the lateral pressure of biological membranes (30-35 mN/m). Overall, the propeptide impaired the enzyme activity, particularly on DLPE whatever the surface pressure. However some conditions could be found where the propeptide had little effects on the repression of PLA(2) activity. In particular, both PromGX and mGX had similar activities on DLPG at a surface pressure of 30 mN/m. These findings show that PromGX can be potentially active depending on the presentation of the substrate (i.e., lipid packing) and one cannot exclude such an activity in a physiological context. A structural model of PromGX was built to investigate how the propeptide controls the activity of GX sPLA(2). This model shows that the propeptide is located within the interfacial binding site (i-face) and could disrupt both the interfacial binding of the enzyme and the access to the active site by steric hindrance. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS

  11. Characteristics and cytotoxicity of folate-modified curcumin-loaded PLA-PEG micellar nano systems with various PLA:PEG ratios.

    PubMed

    Phan, Quoc Thong; Le, Mai Huong; Le, Thi Thu Huong; Tran, Thi Hong Ha; Xuan, Phuc Nguyen; Ha, Phuong Thu

    2016-06-30

    Targeting delivery system use natural drugs for tumor cells is an appealing platform help to reduce the side effects and enhance the therapeutic effects of the drug. In this study, we synthesized curcumin (Cur) loaded (D, L Poly lactic - Poly ethylenglycol) micelle (Cur/PLA-PEG) with the ratio of PLA/PEG of 3:1 2:1 1:1 1:2 and 1:3 (w/w) and another micelle modified by folate (Cur/PLA-PEG-Fol) for targeting cancer therapy. The PLA-PEG copolymer was synthesized by ring opening polymerization method. After loading onto the micelle, solubility of Cur increased from 0.38 to 0.73mgml(-1). The average size of prepared Cur/PLA-PEG micelles was from 60 to 69nm (corresponding to the ratio difference of PLA/PEG) and the drug encapsulating efficiency was from 48.8 to 91.3%. Compared with the Cur/PLA-PEG micelles, the size of Cur/PLA-PEG-Fol micelles were from 80 to 86nm and showed better in vitro cellular uptake and cytotoxicity towards HepG2 cells. The cytotoxicity of the NPs however depends much on the PEG component. The results demonstrated that Folate-modified micelles could serve as a potential nano carrier to improve solubility, anti-cancer activity of Cur and targeting ability of the system. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. The association between the levels of CRP, IL-10, PLA2, Fbg and prognosis in traumatic fracture of lower limb.

    PubMed

    Jiao, Jing; Wang, Jun-Wen; Xiao, Fei; Huang, Yu-Cheng

    2016-11-01

    The aim of the present study was to examine changes of sera levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-10 (IL-10), phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and fibrinogen β polypeptide chain gene (Fbg) in patients with traumatic fracture of lower limb, and to evaluate their association with prognosis. The changes in sera levels of CRP, IL-10, PLA2 and Fbg were observed at the time of injury, 24 h, and 5 and 7 days after surgery in 90 patients with traumatic fracture of lower limb. In addition, 50 cases, who presented for health examination, were included as the normal controls. The expression of sera levels of CRP, IL-10, PLA2 and Fbg in patients with traumatic fracture of lower limb, was markedly higher than that in the normal controls prior to surgery (P<0.05). The concentration of CRP significantly increased within 24 h after emergency, but decreased gradually as the wound healed, compared to the controls. Pre- and postoperative IL-10 levels increased within 24 h and then decreased gradually. The level of PLA2 in patients before and after surgery was increased, and then decreased gradually. The level of Fbg in patients with trauma was increased after 24 h and then decreased, and increased gradually. The correlation of serum CRP and IL-10 levels (r=0.634, P<0.05), and that of PLA2 and IL-10 levels (r=0.617, P<0.05) were positive. In conclusion, the expression of CRP, IL-10, PLA2 and Fbg levels in traumatic fracture of lower limb markedly increased and was closely associated with prognosis. CRP, IL-10, PLA2 and Fbg levels may therefore serve as useful indexes in determining the progression and prognosis of patients with traumatic fracture of lower limb.

  13. Secretory phospholipase A2 in dromedary tears: a host defense against staphylococci and other gram-positive bacteria.

    PubMed

    Ben Bacha, Abir; Abid, Islem

    2013-03-01

    The best known physiologic function of secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) group IIA (sPLA2-IIA) is defense against bacterial infection through hydrolytic degradation of bacterial membrane phospholipids. In fact, sPLA2-IIA effectively kills Gram-positive bacteria and to a lesser extent Gram-negative bacteria and is considered a major component of the eye's innate immune defense system. The antibacterial properties of sPLA2 have been demonstrated in rabbit and human tears. In this report, we have analyzed the bactericidal activity of dromedary tears and the subsequently purified sPLA2 on several Gram-positive bacteria. Our results showed that the sPLA2 displays a potent bactericidal activity against all the tested bacteria particularly against the Staphylococcus strains when tested in the ionic environment of tears. There is a synergic action of the sPLA2 with lysozyme when added to the bacteria culture prior to sPLA2. Interestingly, lysozyme purified from dromedary tears showed a significant bactericidal activity against Listeria monocytogene and Staphylococcus epidermidis, whereas the one purified from human tears displayed no activity against these two strains. We have also demonstrated that Ca(2+) is crucial for the activity of dromedary tear sPLA2 and to a less extent Mg(2+) ions. Given the presence of sPLA2 in tears and intestinal secretions, this enzyme may play a substantial role in innate mucosal and systemic bactericidal defenses against Gram-positive bacteria.

  14. Conjugated linoleic acid-enriched butter improved memory and up-regulated phospholipase A2 encoding-genes in rat brain tissue.

    PubMed

    Gama, Marco A S; Raposo, Nádia R B; Mury, Fábio B; Lopes, Fernando C F; Dias-Neto, Emmanuel; Talib, Leda L; Gattaz, Wagner F

    2015-10-01

    Reduced phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity has been reported in blood cells and in postmortem brains of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD), and there is evidence that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) modulates the activity of PLA2 groups in non-brain tissues. As CLA isomers were shown to be actively incorporated and metabolized in the brains of rats, we hypothesized that feeding a diet naturally enriched in CLA would affect the activity and expression of Pla 2 -encoding genes in rat brain tissue, with possible implications for memory. To test this hypothesis, Wistar rats were trained for the inhibitory avoidance task and fed a commercial diet (control) or experimental diets containing either low CLA- or CLA-enriched butter for 4 weeks. After this period, the rats were tested for memory retrieval and killed for tissue collection. Hippocampal expression of 19 Pla 2 genes was evaluated by qPCR, and activities of PLA2 groups (cPLA2, iPLA2, and sPLA2) were determined by radioenzymatic assay. Rats fed the high CLA diet had increased hippocampal mRNA levels for specific PLA2 isoforms (iPla 2 g6γ; cPla 2 g4a, sPla 2 g3, sPla 2 g1b, and sPla 2 g12a) and higher enzymatic activity of all PLA2 groups as compared to those fed the control and the low CLA diet. The increment in PLA2 activities correlated significantly with memory enhancement, as assessed by increased latency in the step-down inhibitory avoidance task after 4 weeks of treatment (rs = 0.69 for iPLA2, P < 0.001; rs = 0.81 for cPLA2, P < 0.001; and rs = 0.69 for sPLA2, P < 0.001). In face of the previous reports showing reduced PLA2 activity in AD brains, the present findings suggest that dairy products enriched in cis-9, trans-11 CLA may be useful in the treatment of this disease.

  15. Neurotoxicity and other pharmacological activities of the snake venom phospholipase A2 OS2: The N-terminal region is more important than enzymatic activity

    PubMed Central

    Rouault, Morgane; Rash, Lachlan D.; Escoubas, Pierre; Boilard, Eric; Bollinger, James; Lomonte, Bruno; Maurin, Thomas; Guillaume, Carole; Canaan, Stéphane; Deregnaucourt, Christiane; Schrével, Joseph; Doglio, Alain; Gutiérrez, José María; Lazdunski, Michel; Gelb, Michael H.; Lambeau, Gérard

    2009-01-01

    Several snake venom secreted phospholipases A2 (sPLA2s) including OS2 exert a variety of pharmacological effects ranging from central neurotoxicity to anti-HIV activity by mechanisms that are not yet fully understood. To conclusively address the role of enzymatic activity and map the key structural elements of OS2 responsible for its pharmacological properties, we have prepared single point OS2 mutants at the catalytic site and large chimeras between OS2 and OS1, an homologous but non toxic sPLA2. Most importantly, we found that the enzymatic activity of the active site mutant H48Q is 500-fold lower than that of the wild-type protein, while central neurotoxicity is only 16-fold lower, providing convincing evidence that catalytic activity is at most a minor factor that determines central neurotoxicity. The chimera approach has identified the N-terminal region (residues 1–22) of OS2, but not the central one (residues 58–89), as crucial for both enzymatic activity and pharmacological effects. The C-terminal region of OS2 (residues 102–119) was found to be critical for enzymatic activity, but not for central neurotoxicity and anti-HIV activity, allowing us to further dissociate enzymatic activity and pharmacological effects. Finally, direct binding studies with the C-terminal chimera which poorly binds to phospholipids while it is still neurotoxic, led to the identification of a subset of brain N-type receptors which may be directly involved in central neurotoxicity. PMID:16669624

  16. Early-onset L-dopa-responsive parkinsonism with pyramidal signs due to ATP13A2, PLA2G6, FBXO7 and spatacsin mutations.

    PubMed

    Paisán-Ruiz, Coro; Guevara, Rocio; Federoff, Monica; Hanagasi, Hasmet; Sina, Fardaz; Elahi, Elahe; Schneider, Susanne A; Schwingenschuh, Petra; Bajaj, Nin; Emre, Murat; Singleton, Andrew B; Hardy, John; Bhatia, Kailash P; Brandner, Sebastian; Lees, Andrew J; Houlden, Henry

    2010-09-15

    Seven autosomal recessive genes associated with juvenile and young-onset Levodopa-responsive parkinsonism have been identified. Mutations in PRKN, DJ-1, and PINK1 are associated with a rather pure parkinsonian phenotype, and have a more benign course with sustained treatment response and absence of dementia. On the other hand, Kufor-Rakeb syndrome has additional signs, which distinguish it clearly from Parkinson's disease including supranuclear vertical gaze palsy, myoclonic jerks, pyramidal signs, and cognitive impairment. Neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation type I (Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome) due to mutations in PANK2 gene may share similar features with Kufor-Rakeb syndrome. Mutations in three other genes, PLA2G6 (PARK14), FBXO7 (PARK15), and Spatacsin (SPG11) also produce clinical similar phenotypes in that they presented with rapidly progressive parkinsonism, initially responsive to Levodopa treatment but later, developed additional features including cognitive decline and loss of Levodopa responsiveness. Here, using homozygosity mapping and sequence analysis in families with complex parkinsonisms, we identified genetic defects in the ATP13A2 (1 family), PLA2G6 (1 family) FBXO7 (2 families), and SPG11 (1 family). The genetic heterogeneity was surprising given their initially common clinical features. On careful review, we found the FBXO7 cases to have a phenotype more similar to PRKN gene associated parkinsonism. The ATP13A2 and PLA2G6 cases were more seriously disabled with additional swallowing problems, dystonic features, severe in some, and usually pyramidal involvement including pyramidal weakness. These data suggest that these four genes account for many cases of Levodopa responsive parkinsonism with pyramidal signs cases formerly categorized clinically as pallido-pyramidal syndrome. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society.

  17. Early-Onset L-dopa-Responsive Parkinsonism with Pyramidal Signs Due to ATP13A2, PLA2G6, FBXO7 and Spatacsin Mutations

    PubMed Central

    Paisán-Ruiz, Coro; Guevara, Rocio; Federoff, Monica; Hanagasi, Hasmet; Sina, Fardaz; Elahi, Elahe; Schneider, Susanne A.; Schwingenschuh, Petra; Bajaj, Nin; Emre, Murat; Singleton, Andrew B.; Hardy, John; Bhatia, Kailash P.; Brandner, Sebastian; Lees, Andrew J.; Houlden, Henry

    2018-01-01

    Seven autosomal recessive genes associated with juvenile and young-onset Levodopa-responsive parkinsonism have been identified. Mutations in PRKN, DJ-1, and PINK1 are associated with a rather pure parkinsonian phenotype, and have a more benign course with sustained treatment response and absence of dementia. On the other hand, Kufor-Rakeb syndrome has additional signs, which distinguish it clearly from Parkinson’s disease including supranu-clear vertical gaze palsy, myoclonic jerks, pyramidal signs, and cognitive impairment. Neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation type I (Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome) due to mutations in PANK2 gene may share similar features with Kufor-Rakeb syndrome. Mutations in three other genes, PLA2G6 (PARK14), FBXO7 (PARK15), and Spatacsin (SPG11) also produce clinical similar phenotypes in that they presented with rapidly progressive parkinsonism, initially responsive to Levodopa treatment but later, developed additional features including cognitive decline and loss of Levodopa responsiveness. Here, using homozygosity mapping and sequence analysis in families with complex parkinsonisms, we identified genetic defects in the ATP13A2 (1 family), PLA2G6 (1 family) FBXO7 (2 families), and SPG11 (1 family). The genetic heterogeneity was surprising given their initially common clinical features. On careful review, we found the FBXO7 cases to have a phenotype more similar to PRKN gene associated parkinsonism. The ATP13A2 and PLA2G6 cases were more seriously disabled with additional swallowing problems, dystonic features, severe in some, and usually pyramidal involvement including pyramidal weakness. These data suggest that these four genes account for many cases of Levodopa responsive parkinsonism with pyramidal signs cases formerly categorized clinically as pallido-pyramidal syndrome. 3 2010 Movement Disorder Society PMID:20669327

  18. 2-Oxoamide inhibitors of cytosolic group IVA phospholipase A2 with reduced lipophilicity.

    PubMed

    Antonopoulou, Georgia; Magrioti, Victoria; Kokotou, Maroula G; Nikolaou, Aikaterini; Barbayianni, Efrosini; Mouchlis, Varnavas D; Dennis, Edward A; Kokotos, George

    2016-10-01

    Cytosolic GIVA phospholipase A2 (GIVA cPLA2) initiates the eicosanoid pathway of inflammation and thus inhibitors of this enzyme constitute novel potential agents for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Traditionally, GIVA cPLA2 inhibitors have suffered systemically from high lipophilicity. We have developed a variety of long chain 2-oxoamides as inhibitors of GIVA PLA2. Among them, AX048 was found to produce a potent analgesic effect. We have now reduced the lipophilicity of AX048 by replacing the long aliphatic chain with a chain containing an ether linked aromatic ring with in vitro inhibitory activities similar to AX048. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. Strong synergistic effects in PLA/PCL blends: Impact of PLA matrix viscosity.

    PubMed

    Ostafinska, Aleksandra; Fortelný, Ivan; Hodan, Jiří; Krejčíková, Sabina; Nevoralová, Martina; Kredatusová, Jana; Kruliš, Zdeněk; Kotek, Jiří; Šlouf, Miroslav

    2017-05-01

    Blends of two biodegradable polymers, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL), with strong synergistic improvement in mechanical performance were prepared by melt-mixing using the optimized composition (80/20) and the optimized preparation procedure (a melt-mixing followed by a compression molding) according to our previous study. Three different PLA polymers were employed, whose viscosity decreased in the following order: PLC ≈ PLA1 > PLA2 > PLA3. The blends with the highest viscosity matrix (PLA1/PCL) exhibited the smallest PCL particles (d∼0.6μm), an elastic-plastic stable fracture (as determined from instrumented impact testing) and the strongest synergistic improvement in toughness (>16× with respect to pure PLA, exceeding even the toughness of pure PCL). According to the available literature, this was the highest toughness improvement in non-compatiblized PLA/PCL blends ever achieved. The decrease in the matrix viscosity resulted in an increase in the average PCL particle size and a dramatic decrease in the overall toughness: the completely stable fracture (for PLA1/PCL) changed to the stable fracture followed by unstable crack propagation (for PLA2/PCL) and finally to the completely brittle fracture (for PLA3/PCL). The stiffness of all blends remained at well acceptable level, slightly above the theoretical predictions based on the equivalent box model. Despite several previous studies, the results confirmed that PLA and PCL could behave as compatible polymers, but the final PLA/PCL toughness is extremely sensitive to the PCL particle size distribution, which is influenced by both processing conditions and PLA viscosity. PLA/PCL blends with high stiffness (due to PLA) and toughness (due to PCL) are very promising materials for medical applications, namely for the bone tissue engineering. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Efficient heterologous expression, functional characterization and molecular modeling of annular seabream digestive phospholipase A2.

    PubMed

    Smichi, Nabil; Othman, Houcemeddine; Achouri, Neila; Noiriel, Alexandre; Triki, Soumaya; Arondel, Vincent; Srairi-Abid, Najet; Abousalham, Abdelkarim; Gargouri, Youssef; Miled, Nabil; Fendri, Ahmed

    2018-03-01

    Here we report the cDNA cloning of a phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) from five Sparidae species. The deduced amino acid sequences show high similarity with pancreatic PLA 2 . In addition, a phylogenetic tree derived from alignment of various available sequences revealed that Sparidae PLA 2 are closer to avian PLA 2 group IB than to mammals' ones. In order to understand the structure-function relationships of these enzymes, we report here the recombinant expression in E.coli, the refolding and characterization of His-tagged annular seabream PLA 2 (AsPLA 2 ). A single Ni-affinity chromatography step was used to obtain a highly purified recombinant AsPLA 2 with a molecular mass of 15kDa as attested by gel electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry data. The enzyme has a specific activity of 400U.mg -1 measured on phosphatidylcholine at pH 8.5 and 50°C. The enzyme high thermo-activity and thermo-stability make it a potential candidate in various biological applications. The 3D structure models of these enzymes were compared with structures of phylogenetically related pancreatic PLA 2 . By following these models and utilizing molecular dynamics simulations, the resistance of the AsPLA 2 at high temperatures was explained. Using the monomolecular film technique, AsPLA 2 was found to be active on various phospholipids spread at the air/water interface at a surface pressure between 12 and 25dyncm -1 . Interestingly, this enzyme was shown to be mostly active on dilauroyl-phosphatidylglycerol monolayers and this behavior was confirmed by molecular docking and dynamics simulations analysis. The discovery of a thermo-active new member of Sparidae PLA 2 , provides new insights on structure-activity relationships of fish PLA 2 . Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Amplitude and Recurrence Time of LP activity at Mt. Etna, Italy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cauchie, Léna; Saccorotti, Gilberto; Bean, Christopher

    2013-04-01

    The manifestation of Long-Period (LP) activity is attested on many volcanoes worldwide and is thought to be associated with the resonant oscillations of subsurface, fluid-filled, cracks and conduits. Nonetheless the actual source mechanism that originates the resonance is still unclear. Different models have been proposed so far, including (i) fluid flow instabilities as periodic degassing and (ii) brittle failure in viscous magmas. Since LP activity usually precedes and accompanies volcanic eruption, the understanding of these sources is crucial for the hazard assessment and eruption early warning. The work is aimed at improving the understanding of the LP source mechanism through a statistical analysis of detailed LP catalogues. The behaviour of LP activity is compared with the empirical laws governing earthquakes recurrence (e.g., Gutenberg-Richter [GR] and Gamma-law distributions), in order to understand what relationships, if any, exist between these two apparently different earthquake classes. In particular, about 13000 events were detected on Mount Etna in August 2005 through a STA/LTA method. For this given period, the volcano does not present particular sign of unrest. The manifestation of the LP events is sustained in time over all the period of analysis. From the analysis of the directional properties, it turns out that the events of this first catalog propagate from 2 distinct sources . Furthermore, the events exhibit a high degree of waveform similarity, and provide a criterion for classification/source separation. The events were then grouped into families of comparable waveforms, resulting also in a separation for their source locations. We then used template signals of each family for a Matched-Filtering of the continuous data streams, in order to discriminate small-amplitude events previously undetected by the STA/LTA triggering method. This procedure allowed for a significant enrichment of the catalogues. The retrieved amplitude distributions

  2. Validation of ozone profile retrievals derived from the OMPS LP version 2.5 algorithm against correlative satellite measurements

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kramarova, Natalya A.; Bhartia, Pawan K.; Jaross, Glen; Moy, Leslie; Xu, Philippe; Chen, Zhong; DeLand, Matthew; Froidevaux, Lucien; Livesey, Nathaniel; Degenstein, Douglas; Bourassa, Adam; Walker, Kaley A.; Sheese, Patrick

    2018-05-01

    The Limb Profiler (LP) is a part of the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite launched on board of the Suomi NPP satellite in October 2011. The LP measures solar radiation scattered from the atmospheric limb in ultraviolet and visible spectral ranges between the surface and 80 km. These measurements of scattered solar radiances allow for the retrieval of ozone profiles from cloud tops up to 55 km. The LP started operational observations in April 2012. In this study we evaluate more than 5.5 years of ozone profile measurements from the OMPS LP processed with the new NASA GSFC version 2.5 retrieval algorithm. We provide a brief description of the key changes that had been implemented in this new algorithm, including a pointing correction, new cloud height detection, explicit aerosol correction and a reduction of the number of wavelengths used in the retrievals. The OMPS LP ozone retrievals have been compared with independent satellite profile measurements obtained from the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS), Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS) and Odin Optical Spectrograph and InfraRed Imaging System (OSIRIS). We document observed biases and seasonal differences and evaluate the stability of the version 2.5 ozone record over 5.5 years. Our analysis indicates that the mean differences between LP and correlative measurements are well within required ±10 % between 18 and 42 km. In the upper stratosphere and lower mesosphere (> 43 km) LP tends to have a negative bias. We find larger biases in the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere, but LP ozone retrievals have significantly improved in version 2.5 compared to version 2 due to the implemented aerosol correction. In the northern high latitudes we observe larger biases between 20 and 32 km due to the remaining thermal sensitivity issue. Our analysis shows that LP ozone retrievals agree well with the correlative satellite observations in characterizing vertical, spatial and temporal

  3. In vitro degradation kinetics of pure PLA and Mg/PLA composite: Effects of immersion temperature and compression stress.

    PubMed

    Li, Xuan; Chu, Chenglin; Wei, Yalin; Qi, Chenxi; Bai, Jing; Guo, Chao; Xue, Feng; Lin, Pinghua; Chu, Paul K

    2017-01-15

    The effects of the immersion temperature and compression stress on the in vitro degradation behavior of pure poly-lactic acid (pure-PLA) and PLA-based composite unidirectionally reinforced with micro-arc oxidized magnesium alloy wires (Mg/PLA or MAO-MAWs/PLA) are investigated. The degradation kinetics of pure-PLA and the PLA matrix in MAO-MAWs/PLA exhibit an Arrhenius-type behavior. For the composite, the synergic degradation of MAO-MAWs maintains a steady pH and mitigates the degradation of PLA matrix during immersion. However, the external compression stress decreases the activation energy (E a ) and pre-exponential factor (k 0 ) consequently increasing the degradation rate of PLA. Under a compression stress of 1MPa, E a and k 0 of pure PLA are 57.54kJ/mol and 9.74×10 7 day -1 , respectively, but 65.5kJ/mol and 9.81×10 8 day -1 for the PLA matrix in the composite. Accelerated tests are conducted in rising immersion temperature in order to shorten the experimental time. Our analysis indicates there are well-defined relationships between the bending strength of the specimens and the PLA molecular weight during immersion, which are independent of the degradation temperature and external compression stress. Finally, a numerical model is established to elucidate the relationship of bending strength, the PLA molecular weight, activation energy, immersion time and temperature. We systematically evaluate the effects of compression stress and temperature on the degradation properties of two materials: (pure-PLA) and MAO-MAWs/PLA (or Mg/PLA). The initial in vitro degradation kinetics of the unstressed or stressed pure-PLA and MAO-MAWs/PLA composite is confirmed to be Arrhenius-like. MAO-MAWs and external compression stress would influence the degradation activation energy (E a ) and pre-exponential factor (k 0 ) of PLA, and we noticed there is a linear relationship between E a and ln k 0 . Thereafter, we noticed that Mg 2+ , not H + , plays a significant role on the

  4. [Plasma homocysteine, Lp(a), and oxidative stress markers in peripheral macroangiopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus].

    PubMed

    Real, Jose T; Folgado, José; Molina Mendez, Mercedes; Martinez-Hervás, Sergio; Peiro, Marta; Ascaso, Juan F

    2016-01-01

    To study new risk factors for peripheral macroangiopathy (PM) in patients with diabetes, as oxidative stress (OS) and its interaction with classical risk factors: age, Lp(a), plasma homocysteine values and HbA1c. We studied 204 type2 diabetic (T2DM) patients, consecutive selected form a reference hospital and a secondary hospital form our Community (2009-2010). Design was a case (ABI<0.89) control (ABI0.9-1.2) study. PM was defined using ankle brachial index (ABI). Thirty nine T2DM subjects presented ABI>1.2 and were excluded. Clinical and biological parameters were determined using standard methods. Comparing clinical and biological parameters obtained in both studied groups (T2DM+ABI<0.9 vs T2DM+ABI0.9-1.2), we found statistical significant differences in age, evolution time of diabetes, Lp(a) and plasma homocysteine values. No differences were found in OS parameters: reduced glutathione, oxidized glutathione and maloldialdehide between studied groups. Plasma homocysteine values were an independent risk factor for the presence of PM and were related to evolution time of diabetes and reduced glutathione. We have confirmed that Lp(a) and independently plasma homocysteine values were related to PM in T2DM subjects. No association with PM and OS markers (GSH, GSSG and MDA) were found in T2DM with more than 10years of evolution time of their disease and high prevalence of chronic complications. Copyright © 2016 Sociedad Española de Arteriosclerosis. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

  5. Structure/Function Relationships of Adipose Phospholipase A2 Containing a Cys-His-His Catalytic Triad*

    PubMed Central

    Pang, Xiao-Yan; Cao, Jian; Addington, Linsee; Lovell, Scott; Battaile, Kevin P.; Zhang, Na; Rao, J. L. Uma Maheswar; Dennis, Edward A.; Moise, Alexander R.

    2012-01-01

    Adipose phospholipase A2 (AdPLA or Group XVI PLA2) plays an important role in the onset of obesity by suppressing adipose tissue lipolysis. As a consequence, AdPLA-deficient mice are resistant to obesity induced by a high fat diet or leptin deficiency. It has been proposed that AdPLA mediates its antilipolytic effects by catalyzing the release of arachidonic acid. Based on sequence homology, AdPLA is part of a small family of acyltransferases and phospholipases related to lecithin:retinol acyltransferase (LRAT). To better understand the enzymatic mechanism of AdPLA and LRAT-related proteins, we solved the crystal structure of AdPLA. Our model indicates that AdPLA bears structural similarity to proteins from the NlpC/P60 family of cysteine proteases, having its secondary structure elements configured in a circular permutation of the classic papain fold. Using both structural and biochemical evidence, we demonstrate that the enzymatic activity of AdPLA is mediated by a distinctive Cys-His-His catalytic triad and that the C-terminal transmembrane domain of AdPLA is required for the interfacial catalysis. Analysis of the enzymatic activity of AdPLA toward synthetic and natural substrates indicates that AdPLA displays PLA1 in addition to PLA2 activity. Thus, our results provide insight into the enzymatic mechanism and biochemical properties of AdPLA and LRAT-related proteins and lead us to propose an alternate mechanism for AdPLA in promoting adipose tissue lipolysis that is not contingent on the release of arachidonic acid and that is compatible with its combined PLA1/A2 activity. PMID:22923616

  6. Cytosolic phospholipase A2α is critical for angiotensin II-induced hypertension and associated cardiovascular pathophysiology.

    PubMed

    Khan, Nayaab S; Song, Chi Young; Jennings, Brett L; Estes, Anne M; Fang, Xiao R; Bonventre, Joseph V; Malik, Kafait U

    2015-04-01

    Angiotensin II activates cytosolic phospholipase A(2)α (cPLA2α) and releases arachidonic acid from tissue phospholipids, which mediate or modulate ≥1 cardiovascular effects of angiotensin II and has been implicated in hypertension. Because arachidonic acid release is the rate limiting step in eicosanoid production, cPLA2α might play a central role in the development of angiotensin II-induced hypertension. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the effect of angiotensin II infusion for 13 days by micro-osmotic pumps on systolic blood pressure and associated pathogenesis in wild type (cPLA2α(+/+)) and cPLA2α(-/-) mice. Angiotensin II-induced increase in systolic blood pressure in cPLA2α(+/+) mice was abolished in cPLA2α(-/-) mice; increased systolic blood pressure was also abolished by the arachidonic acid metabolism inhibitor, 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid in cPLA2α(+/+) mice. Angiotensin II in cPLA2α(+/+) mice increased cardiac cPLA2 activity and urinary eicosanoid excretion, decreased cardiac output, caused cardiovascular remodeling with endothelial dysfunction, and increased vascular reactivity in cPLA2α(+/+) mice; these changes were diminished in cPLA2α(-/-) mice. Angiotensin II also increased cardiac infiltration of F4/80(+) macrophages and CD3(+) T lymphocytes, cardiovascular oxidative stress, expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress markers p58(IPK), and CHOP in cPLA2α(+/+) but not cPLA2α(-/-) mice. Angiotensin II increased cardiac activity of ERK1/2 and cSrc in cPLA2α(+/+) but not cPLA2α(-/-) mice. These data suggest that angiotensin II-induced hypertension and associated cardiovascular pathophysiological changes are mediated by cPLA2α activation, most likely through the release of arachidonic acid and generation of eicosanoids with predominant prohypertensive effects and activation of ≥1 signaling molecules, including ERK1/2 and cSrc. © 2015 American Heart Association, Inc.

  7. An Active Site Water Network in the Plasminogen Activator Pla from Yersinia pestis

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Eren, Elif; Murphy, Megan; Goguen, Jon

    2010-08-13

    The plasminogen activator Pla from Yersinia pestis is an outer membrane protease (omptin) that is important for the virulence of plague. Here, we present the high-resolution crystal structure of wild-type, enzymatically active Pla at 1.9 {angstrom}. The structure shows a water molecule located between active site residues D84 and H208, which likely corresponds to the nucleophilic water. A number of other water molecules are present in the active site, linking residues important for enzymatic activity. The R211 sidechain in loop L4 is close to the nucleophilic water and possibly involved in the stabilization of the oxyanion intermediate. Subtle conformational changesmore » of H208 result from the binding of lipopolysaccharide to the outside of the barrel, explaining the unusual dependence of omptins on lipopolysaccharide for activity. The Pla structure suggests a model for the interaction with plasminogen substrate and provides a more detailed understanding of the catalytic mechanism of omptin proteases.« less

  8. Generation of N-Acylphosphatidylethanolamine by Members of the Phospholipase A/Acyltransferase (PLA/AT) Family*

    PubMed Central

    Uyama, Toru; Ikematsu, Natsuki; Inoue, Manami; Shinohara, Naoki; Jin, Xing-Hua; Tsuboi, Kazuhito; Tonai, Takeharu; Tokumura, Akira; Ueda, Natsuo

    2012-01-01

    Bioactive N-acylethanolamines (NAEs), including N-palmitoylethanolamine, N-oleoylethanolamine, and N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide), are formed from membrane glycerophospholipids in animal tissues. The pathway is initiated by N-acylation of phosphatidylethanolamine to form N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine (NAPE). Despite the physiological importance of this reaction, the enzyme responsible, N-acyltransferase, remains molecularly uncharacterized. We recently demonstrated that all five members of the HRAS-like suppressor tumor family are phospholipid-metabolizing enzymes with N-acyltransferase activity and are renamed HRASLS1–5 as phospholipase A/acyltransferase (PLA/AT)-1–5. However, it was poorly understood whether these proteins were involved in the formation of NAPE in living cells. In the present studies, we first show that COS-7 cells transiently expressing recombinant PLA/AT-1, -2, -4, or -5, and HEK293 cells stably expressing PLA/AT-2 generated significant amounts of [14C]NAPE and [14C]NAE when cells were metabolically labeled with [14C]ethanolamine. Second, as analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, the stable expression of PLA/AT-2 in cells remarkably increased endogenous levels of NAPEs and NAEs with various N-acyl species. Third, when NAPE-hydrolyzing phospholipase D was additionally expressed in PLA/AT-2-expressing cells, accumulating NAPE was efficiently converted to NAE. We also found that PLA/AT-2 was partly responsible for NAPE formation in HeLa cells that endogenously express PLA/AT-2. These results suggest that PLA/AT family proteins may produce NAPEs serving as precursors of bioactive NAEs in vivo. PMID:22825852

  9. Phospholipase A2 as a point of care alternative to serum amylase and pancreatic lipase

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Nathan J.; Chapman, Robert; Lin, Yiyang; Bentham, Andrew; Tyreman, Matthew; Philips, Natalie; Khan, Shahid A.; Stevens, Molly M.

    2016-06-01

    Acute pancreatitis is a relatively common and potentially fatal condition, but the presenting symptoms are non-specific and diagnosis relies largely on the measurement of amylase activity by the hospital clinical laboratory. In this work we develop a point of care test for pancreatitis measuring concentration of secretory phospholipase A2 group IB (sPLA2-IB). Novel antibodies for sPLA2-IB were raised and used to design an ELISA and a lateral flow device (LFD) for the point of care measurement of sPLA2-IB concentration, which was compared to pancreatic amylase activity, lipase activity, and sPLA2-IB activity in 153 serum samples. 98 of these samples were obtained from the pathology unit of a major hospital and classified retrospectively according to presence or absence of pancreatitis, and the remaining 55 were obtained from commercial sources to serve as high lipase (n = 20), CA19-9 positive (n = 15), and healthy (n = 20) controls. sPLA2-IB concentration correlated well with the serum activity of both amylase and lipase, and performed at least as well as either markers in the differentiation of pancreatitis from controls.Acute pancreatitis is a relatively common and potentially fatal condition, but the presenting symptoms are non-specific and diagnosis relies largely on the measurement of amylase activity by the hospital clinical laboratory. In this work we develop a point of care test for pancreatitis measuring concentration of secretory phospholipase A2 group IB (sPLA2-IB). Novel antibodies for sPLA2-IB were raised and used to design an ELISA and a lateral flow device (LFD) for the point of care measurement of sPLA2-IB concentration, which was compared to pancreatic amylase activity, lipase activity, and sPLA2-IB activity in 153 serum samples. 98 of these samples were obtained from the pathology unit of a major hospital and classified retrospectively according to presence or absence of pancreatitis, and the remaining 55 were obtained from commercial sources to

  10. Structure of Human GIVD Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 Reveals Insights into Substrate Recognition

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wang, Hui; Klein, Michael G.; Snell, Gyorgy

    Cytosolic phospholipases A2 (cPLA2s) consist of a family of calcium-sensitive enzymes that function to generate lipid second messengers through hydrolysis of membrane-associated glycerophospholipids. The GIVD cPLA2 (cPLA2δ) is a potential drug target for developing a selective therapeutic agent for the treatment of psoriasis. Here, we present two X-ray structures of human cPLA2δ, capturing an apo state, and in complex with a substrate-like inhibitor. Comparison of the apo and inhibitor-bound structures reveals conformational changes in a flexible cap that allows the substrate to access the relatively buried active site, providing new insight into the mechanism for substrate recognition. The cPLA2δ structuremore » reveals an unexpected second C2 domain that was previously unrecognized from sequence alignments, placing cPLA2δ into the class of membrane-associated proteins that contain a tandem pair of C2 domains. Furthermore, our structures elucidate novel inter-domain interactions and define three potential calcium-binding sites that are likely important for regulation and activation of enzymatic activity. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms governing cPLA2's function in signal transduction.« less

  11. Role of protein kinase C alpha and mitogen-activated protein kinases in endothelin-1-stimulation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 in iris sphincter smooth muscle.

    PubMed

    Abdel-Latif, A A; Husain, S; Yousufzai, S Y

    2000-11-01

    We have investigated the roles of protein kinase C (PKC) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) in the phosphorylation and activation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) in endothelin-1- (ET-1) stimulated cat iris sphincter smooth muscle (CISM) cells. We found that in these cells both PKC and p38 MAP kinases play a critical role in ET-1-induced cPLA, phosphorylation and arachidonic acid (AA) release. Our findings indicate that stimulation of the endothelin-A- (ET(A)) receptor leads to: (1) activation of Gq protein which stimulates phospholipase C to hydrolyze the polyphosphoinositide PIP, into diacylglycerol (DAG) and inositol trisphosphate (IP3), the DAG may then activate PKC to phosphorylate and activate cPLA2; and (2) activation of Gi protein, which, through a series of kinases, leads to the stimulation of p38 MAPK and subsequently to phosphorylation and activation of cPLA2. The ability of the activated ET(A)-receptor, which is coupled to both Gq and Gi proteins, to recruit and activate this complex signal transduction mechanism remains to be clarified.

  12. Atherogenic properties of LDL particles after switching from Truvada or Kivexa plus lopinavir/r to lamivudine plus lopinavir/r: OLE-MET substudy.

    PubMed

    Saumoy, Maria; Tiraboschi, Juan M; Ordoñez-Llanos, Jordi; Ribera, Esteban; Domingo, Pere; Mallolas, Josep; Curto, Jordi; Gatell, Josep M; Podzamczer, Daniel

    2017-03-01

    The objective of this study was to determine the impact of tenofovir or abacavir discontinuation on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) phenotype and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) activity in HIV-infected patients treated with lopinavir/ritonavir plus 2 nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI). Multicenter, open-label study. Patients were randomized to continue with lopinavir/ritonavir plus 2 NRTI (triple therapy) or to switch to lopinavir/ritonavir plus lamivudine (dual therapy). LDL phenotype (by gradient gel electrophoresis) and Lp-PLA2 (by 2-thio-PAF) were determined at baseline and week 48. Forty-four patients included (triple therapy n = 19, dual therapy n = 25): men 63.6%, age 41.5 years (25-61), Framingham score 4.9% (0.2-22). Tenofovir was part of the regimen in 28 (63.6%) patients. Dual therapy patients were younger (p = 0.013) and had lower baseline apolipoprotein A1 (p = 0.029). At week 48, there were no changes in standard lipid measurements, except ApoA1/Apo B, which increased in dual therapy (p = 0.038) with no differences between arms. At week 48, no change in LDL phenotype was found in either arm. No changes in total Lp-PLA2 activity or the relative distribution of LDL and HDL particles were found at week 48 in either arm. Discontinuing the third nucleos(t)ide, mainly tenofovir and abacavir, in a lopinavir/ritonavir-containing regimen was not associated with a deleterious effect on LDL phenotype nor in Lp-PLA2 activity.

  13. Development of a potent 2-oxoamide inhibitor of secreted phospholipase A2 guided by molecular docking calculations and molecular dynamics simulations

    PubMed Central

    Vasilakaki, Sofia; Barbayianni, Efrosini; Leonis, Georgios; Papadopoulos, Manthos G.; Mavromoustakos, Thomas; Gelb, Michael H.; Kokotos, George

    2016-01-01

    Inhibition of group IIA secreted phospholipase A2 (GIIA sPLA2) has been an important objective for medicinal chemists. We have previously shown that inhibitors incorporating the 2-oxoamide functionality may inhibit human and mouse GIIA sPLA2s. Herein, the development of new potent inhibitors by molecular docking calculations using the structure of the known inhibitor 7 as scaffold, are described. Synthesis and biological evaluation of the new compounds revealed that the long chain 2-oxoamide based on (S)-valine GK241 led to improved activity (IC50 = 143 nM and 68 nM against human and mouse GIIA sPLA2, respectively). In addition, molecular dynamics simulations were employed to shed light on GK241 potent and selective inhibitory activity. PMID:26970660

  14. Supercritical CO2 impregnation of PLA/PCL films with natural substances for bacterial growth control in food packaging.

    PubMed

    Milovanovic, Stoja; Hollermann, Gesa; Errenst, Cornelia; Pajnik, Jelena; Frerich, Sulamith; Kroll, Stephen; Rezwan, Kurosch; Ivanovic, Jasna

    2018-05-01

    Biodegradable polymers with antibacterial properties are highly desirable materials for active food packaging applications. Thymol, a dietary monoterpene phenol with a strong antibacterial activity is abundant in plants belonging to the genus Thymus. This study presents two approaches for supercritical CO 2 impregnation of poly(lactic acid)(PLA)/poly(ε-caprolactone)(PCL) blended films to induce antibacterial properties of the material: (i) a batch impregnation process for loading pure thymol, and (ii) an integrated supercritical extraction-impregnation process for isolation of thyme extract and its incorporation into the films, operated in both batch or semi-continuous modes with supercritical solution circulation. The PCL content in films, impregnation time and CO 2 flow regime were varied to maximize loading of the films with thymol or thyme extract with preserving films' structure and thermal stability. Representative film samples impregnated with thymol and thyme extract were tested against Gram (-) (Escherichia coli) and Gram(+) (Bacillus subtilis) model strains, by measuring their metabolic activity and re-cultivation after exposure to the films. The film containing thymol (35.8 wt%) showed a strong antibacterial activity leading to a total reduction of bacterial cell viability. Proposed processes enable fast, controlled and organic solvent-free fabrication of the PLA/PCL films containing natural antibacterial substances at moderately low temperature, with a compact structure and a good thermal stability, for potential use as active food packaging materials. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Emergence of a metalloproteinase / phospholipase A2 axis of systemic inflammation

    PubMed Central

    Fernandez-Patron, Carlos; Leung, Dickson

    2015-01-01

    We review select aspects of the biology of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) with a focus on the modulation of inflammatory responses by MMP-2. MMP-2 is a zinc- and calcium-dependent endoprotease with substrates including extracellular matrix proteins, vasoactive peptides and chemokines. Humans and mice with MMP-2 deficiency exhibit a predominantly inflammatory phenotype. Recent research shows that MMP-2 deficient mice display elevated activity of a secreted phospholipase A2 in the heart. Additionally, MMP-2 deficient mice exhibit abnormally high prostaglandin E2 levels in various organs (i.e., the heart, brain and liver), signs of inflammation and exacerbated lipopolysaccharide-induced fever. We briefly review the biology of sPLA2 enzymes to propose the existence of a heart-centric MMP-2/sPLA2 axis of systemic inflammation. Moreover, we postulate that PLA2 activation is induced by chemokines, whose ability to signal inflammation is regulated in a tissue-specific fashion by MMPs. Thus, genetic and pharmacologically induced MMP-deficiencies can be expected to perturb PLA2-mediated inflammatory mechanisms. PMID:26491703

  16. Hair Follicular Expression and Function of Group X Secreted Phospholipase A2 in Mouse Skin*

    PubMed Central

    Yamamoto, Kei; Taketomi, Yoshitaka; Isogai, Yuki; Miki, Yoshimi; Sato, Hiroyasu; Masuda, Seiko; Nishito, Yasumasa; Morioka, Kiyokazu; Ishimoto, Yoshikazu; Suzuki, Noriko; Yokota, Yasunori; Hanasaki, Kohji; Ishikawa, Yukio; Ishii, Toshiharu; Kobayashi, Tetsuyuki; Fukami, Kiyoko; Ikeda, Kazutaka; Nakanishi, Hiroki; Taguchi, Ryo; Murakami, Makoto

    2011-01-01

    Although perturbed lipid metabolism can often lead to skin abnormality, the role of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in skin homeostasis is poorly understood. In the present study we found that group X-secreted PLA2 (sPLA2-X) was expressed in the outermost epithelium of hair follicles in synchrony with the anagen phase of hair cycling. Transgenic mice overexpressing sPLA2-X (PLA2G10-Tg) displayed alopecia, which was accompanied by hair follicle distortion with reduced expression of genes related to hair development, during a postnatal hair cycle. Additionally, the epidermis and sebaceous glands of PLA2G10-Tg skin were hyperplasic. Proteolytic activation of sPLA2-X in PLA2G10-Tg skin was accompanied by preferential hydrolysis of phosphatidylethanolamine species with polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as elevated production of some if not all eicosanoids. Importantly, the skin of Pla2g10-deficient mice had abnormal hair follicles with noticeable reduction in a subset of hair genes, a hypoplasic outer root sheath, a reduced number of melanin granules, and unexpected up-regulation of prostanoid synthesis. Collectively, our study highlights the spatiotemporal expression of sPLA2-X in hair follicles, the presence of skin-specific machinery leading to sPLA2-X activation, a functional link of sPLA2-X with hair follicle homeostasis, and compartmentalization of the prostanoid pathway in hair follicles and epidermis. PMID:21266583

  17. Secreted Phospholipases A2 from Animal Venoms in Pain and Analgesia

    PubMed Central

    Zambelli, Vanessa O.; Picolo, Gisele; Fernandes, Carlos A. H.

    2017-01-01

    Animal venoms comprise a complex mixture of components that affect several biological systems. Based on the high selectivity for their molecular targets, these components are also a rich source of potential therapeutic agents. Among the main components of animal venoms are the secreted phospholipases A2 (sPLA2s). These PLA2 belong to distinct PLA2s groups. For example, snake venom sPLA2s from Elapidae and Viperidae families, the most important families when considering envenomation, belong, respectively, to the IA and IIA/IIB groups, whereas bee venom PLA2 belongs to group III of sPLA2s. It is well known that PLA2, due to its hydrolytic activity on phospholipids, takes part in many pathophysiological processes, including inflammation and pain. Therefore, secreted PLA2s obtained from animal venoms have been widely used as tools to (a) modulate inflammation and pain, uncovering molecular targets that are implicated in the control of inflammatory (including painful) and neurodegenerative diseases; (b) shed light on the pathophysiology of inflammation and pain observed in human envenomation by poisonous animals; and, (c) characterize molecular mechanisms involved in inflammatory diseases. The present review summarizes the knowledge on the nociceptive and antinociceptive actions of sPLA2s from animal venoms, particularly snake venoms. PMID:29311537

  18. The role of natural organic matter in nitrite formation by LP-UV/H2O2 treatment of nitrate-rich water.

    PubMed

    Semitsoglou-Tsiapou, Sofia; Mous, Astrid; Templeton, Michael R; Graham, Nigel J D; Hernández Leal, Lucía; Kruithof, Joop C

    2016-12-01

    The role of natural organic matter (NOM) on nitrite formation from nitrate photolysis by low pressure ultraviolet lamp (LP-UV) photolysis and LP-UV/H 2 O 2 treatment was investigated. Nitrate levels up to the WHO guideline maximum of 50 mg NO 3 - /L were used in tests. The presence of 4 mg/L Suwannee River natural organic matter (NOM) led to increased nitrite yields compared to NOM-free controls. This was caused partly by NOM scavenging of OH radicals, preserving the produced NO 2 - as well as the ONOO - that leads to NO 2 - formation, but also via the production of radical species ( 1 O 2 , O 2 - and OH) by the photolysis of NOM. In addition, solvated electrons formed by NOM photolysis may reduce nitrate directly to nitrite. For comparison, Nordic Lake NOM, representative of aquatic NOM, as well as Pony Lake NOM, which had a greater nitrogen content (6.51% w/w) than the other two types of NOM, were investigated, yielding similar nitrite levels as Suwannee River NOM. The results suggest that neither the type nor the nitrogen content of the NOM have an effect on the nitrite yields obtained over the range of UV/H 2 O 2 doses applied (UV fluences of 500-2100 mJ/cm 2 and hydrogen peroxide doses of 10, 25, and 50 mg/L). The findings indicate that for UV fluences above 1500 mJ/cm 2 the resulting nitrite concentration can exceed the 0.1 mg/L EU regulatory limit for nitrite, suggesting that nitrite formation by LP-UV advanced oxidation of nitrate-rich waters is important to consider. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. Effect of TiO2-Crystal Forms on the Photo-Degradation of EVA/PLA Blend Under Accelerated Weather Testing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Van Cong, Do; Trang, Nguyen Thi Thu; Giang, Nguyen Vu; Lam, Tran Dai; Hoang, Thai

    2016-05-01

    Photo-degradation of poly (ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA)/poly (lactic acid) (PLA) blend and EVA/PLA/TiO2 nanocomposites was carried out under accelerated weather testing conditions by alternating cycles of ultraviolet (UV) light and moisture at controlled and elevated temperatures. The characters, properties, and morphology of these materials before and after accelerated weather testing were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, colour changes, viscosity, tensile test, thermogravimetric analysis, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The increases in the content of oxygen-containing groups, colour changes; the decreases in viscosity, tensile properties, and thermal stability of these materials after accelerated weather testing are the evidence for the photo-degradation of the blend and nanocomposites. After accelerated weather testing, the appearance of many micro-holes and micro-pores on the surface of the collected samples was observed. The photo-degradation degree of the nanocomposites depended on the TiO2-crystal form. Rutile TiO2 do not enhance the degradation, but anatase and mixed crystals TiO2 nanoparticles promoted the degradation of the nanocomposites. Particularly, the mixed crystals TiO2 nanoparticles showed the highest photo-catalytic activity of the nanocomposites.

  20. Common rs5918 (PlA1/A2) polymorphism in the ITGB3 gene and risk of coronary artery disease

    PubMed Central

    Heidari, Mohammad Mehdi; Soheilyfar, Sorour

    2016-01-01

    Introduction The T to C transition at nucleotide 1565 of the human glycoprotein IIIa (ITGB3) gene represents a genetic polymorphism (PlA1/A2) that can influence both platelet activation and aggregation and that has been associated with many types of disease. Here, we present a newly designed multiplex tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system – polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR) for genotyping a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (dbSNP ID: rs5918) in the human ITGB3 gene. Material and methods We set up T-ARMS-PCR for the rs5918 SNP in a single-step PCR and the results were validated by the PCR-RFLP method in 132 coronary artery disease (CAD) patients and 122 unrelated healthy individuals. Results Full accordance was found for genotype determination by the PCR-RFLP method. The multiple logistic regression analysis showed a significant association of the rs5918 polymorphism and CAD according to dominant and recessive models (dominant model OR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.33–4.35; p = 0.003, recessive model OR: 4.71, 95% CI: 1.32–16.80; p = 0.0067). Conclusions Our T-ARMS-PCR in comparison with RFLP and allele-specific PCR is more advantageous because this PCR method allows the evaluation of both the wild type and the mutant allele in the same tube. Our results suggest that the rs5918 (PlA1/A2) polymorphism in the ITGB3 gene may contribute to the susceptibility of sporadic Iranian coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. PMID:28905013

  1. Primary structures and partial toxicological characterization of two phospholipases A2 from Micrurus mipartitus and Micrurus dumerilii coral snake venoms.

    PubMed

    Rey-Suárez, Paola; Núñez, Vitelbina; Saldarriaga-Córdoba, Mónica; Lomonte, Bruno

    2017-06-01

    Snake venom phospholipases A 2 (PLA 2 ) share high sequence identities and a conserved structural scaffold, but show important functional differences. Only a few PLA 2 s have been purified and characterized from coral snake (Micrurus spp.) venoms, and their role in envenomation remains largely unknown. In this report, we describe the isolation, sequencing and partial functional characterization of two Micrurus PLA 2 s: MmipPLA 2 from Micrurus mipartitus and MdumPLA 2 from Micrurus dumerilii, two species of clinical importance in Colombia. MmipPLA 2 consisted of 119 amino acid residues with a predicted pI of 8.4, whereas MdumPLA 2 consisted of 117 residues with a pI of 5.6. Both PLA 2 s showed the conserved 'group I' cysteine pattern and were enzymatically active, although MdumPLA 2 had higher activity. The two enzymes differed notably in their toxicity, with MmipPLA 2 being highly lethal to mice and mildly myotoxic, whereas MdumPLA 2 was not lethal (up to 3 μg/g body weight) but strongly myotoxic. MdumPLA 2 displayed higher anticoagulant activity than MmipPLA 2 in vitro and caused more sustained edema in the mouse footpad assay. Neither of these enzymes was cytolytic to cultured skeletal muscle C2C12 myotubes. Based on their structural differences, the two enzymes were placed in separate lineages in a partial phylogeny of Micrurus venom PLA 2 s and this classification agreed with their divergent biological activities. Overall, these findings highlight the structural and functional diversity of Micrurus venom PLA 2 s. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. and Société Française de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire (SFBBM). All rights reserved.

  2. Effects of prostaglandin F(2alpha)and carbachol on MAP kinases, cytosolic phospholipase A(2)and arachidonic acid release in cat iris sphincter smooth muscle cells.

    PubMed

    Husain, S; Abdel-Latif, A A

    2001-05-01

    The signal transduction pathways initiated by Ca(2+)-mobilizing agonists, such as prostaglandin F(2alpha)(PGF(2alpha)) and carbachol (CCh), leading to activation of cytosolic phospholipase A(2)(cPLA(2)) and arachidonic acid (AA) release in a wide variety of tissues remain obscure. To further define the role of protein kinases in receptor mediated stimulation of cPLA(2)and consequently AA release we have investigated the role of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and protein kinase C (PKC) in PGF(2alpha)- and CCh-induced cPLA(2)phosphorylation and AA release in cat iris sphincter smooth muscle (CISM) cells. The cells were prelabeled with [(3)H]AA for 24 hr and incubated in the absence or presence of the agonist for 5-10 min as indicated. MAP kinases activities and cPLA(2)phosphorylation were determined in immunoprecipitates obtained by using anti-p38 MAP kinase and anti-cPLA(2)antibodies. We found that: (a) PGF(2alpha)and CCh increased p38 MAP kinase activity by 197 and 215%, respectively, and increased p42/p44 MAP kinase activity by 200 and 125%, respectively. (b) SB202190, a p38 MAP kinase specific inhibitor, inhibited PGF(2alpha)- and CCh-induced cPLA(2)phosphorylation by 92 and 85%, respectively, and AA release by 62 and 78%, respectively. (c) PD98059, a p42/p44 MAP kinase inhibitor, inhibited CCh-induced cPLA(2)phosphorylation by 70% and AA release by 71%, but had no effect on that of PGF(2alpha). (d) Inhibition of PKC activity by RO 31-8220 inhibited both PGF(2alpha)- and CCh-stimulation of p38 MAP kinase, p42/p44 MAP kinases and cPLA(2)phosphorylation. We conclude from these results that in CISM cells PGF(2alpha)-induced cPLA(2)phosphorylation and AA release is mediated through p38 MAP kinase, but not through p42/p44 MAP kinases, whereas that of CCh is mediated through both p38 MAP kinase and p42/p44 MAP kinases. These effects of PGF(2alpha)and CCh are regulated by the MAP kinases in a PKC-dependent manner. Studies aimed at elucidating the role of

  3. Identification of Novel Compound Mutations in PLA2G6-Associated Neurodegeneration Patient with Characteristic MRI Imaging.

    PubMed

    Guo, Sen; Yang, Liu; Liu, Huijie; Chen, Wei; Li, Jinchen; Yu, Ping; Sun, Zhong Sheng; Chen, Xiang; Du, Jie; Cai, Tao

    2017-08-01

    Neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation comprises a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized clinically by progressive motor dysfunction. Accurate identification of de novo and rare inherited mutations is important for determining causative genes of undiagnosed neurological diseases. In the present study, we report a unique case with cerebellar ataxia symptoms and social communication difficulties in an intermarriage family. MRI showed a marked cerebellar atrophy and the "eye-of-the-tiger"-like sign in the medial globus pallidus. Potential genetic defects were screened by whole-exome sequencing (WES) for the patient and four additional family members. A previously undescribed de novo missense mutation (c.1634A>G, p.K545R) in the exon 12 of the PLA2G6 gene was identified. A second rare variant c.1077G>A at the end of exon 7 was also identified, which was inherited from the mother, and resulted in a frame-shift mutation (c.1074_1077del.GTCG) due to an alternative splicing. In conclusion, the identification of the "eye-of-the-tiger"-like sign in the globus pallidus of the patient expands the phenotypic spectrum of PLA2G6-associated disorders and reveals its value in differential diagnosis of PLA2G6-associated disorders.

  4. NFATC3-PLA2G15 Fusion Transcript Identified by RNA Sequencing Promotes Tumor Invasion and Proliferation in Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines.

    PubMed

    Jang, Jee-Eun; Kim, Hwang-Phill; Han, Sae-Won; Jang, Hoon; Lee, Si-Hyun; Song, Sang-Hyun; Bang, Duhee; Kim, Tae-You

    2018-06-14

    This study was designed to identify novel fusion transcripts (FTs) and their functional significance in colorectal cancer lines. We performed paired-end RNA sequencing of 28 colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines. FT candidates were identified using TopHat-fusion, ChimeraScan, and FusionMap tools and further experimental validation was conducted through reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing. FT was depleted in human CRC line and the effects on cell proliferation, cell migration, and cell invasion were analyzed. 1,380 FT candidates were detected through bioinformatics filtering. We selected 6 candidate FTs, including 4 inter-chromosomal and 2 intra-chromosomal FTs and each FT was found in at least 1 of the 28 cell lines. Moreover, when we tested 19 pairs of CRC tumor and adjacent normal tissue samples, NFATC3-PLA2G15 FT was found in 2. Knockdown of NFATC3-PLA2G15 using siRNA reduced mRNA expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers such as vimentin, twist, and fibronectin and increased mesenchymal-epithelial transition markers of E-cadherin, claudin-1, and FOXC2 in colo-320 cell line harboring NFATC3-PLA2G15 FT. The NFATC3-PLA2G15 knockdown also inhibited invasion, colony formation capacity, and cell proliferation. These results suggest that that NFATC3-PLA2G15 FTs may contribute to tumor progression by enhancing invasion by EMT and proliferation.

  5. Case report of a novel homozygous splice site mutation in PLA2G6 gene causing infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy in a Sudanese family.

    PubMed

    Elsayed, Liena E O; Mohammed, Inaam N; Hamed, Ahlam A A; Elseed, Maha A; Salih, Mustafa A M; Yahia, Ashraf; Siddig, Rayan A; Amin, Mutaz; Koko, Mahmoud; Elbashir, Mustafa I; Ibrahim, Muntaser E; Brice, Alexis; Ahmed, Ammar E; Stevanin, Giovanni

    2018-05-08

    Infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy (INAD) is a rare hereditary neurological disorder caused by mutations in PLA2G6. The disease commonly affects children below 3 years of age and presents with delay in motor skills, optic atrophy and progressive spastic tetraparesis. Studies of INAD in Africa are extremely rare, and genetic studies from Sub Saharan Africa are almost non-existent. Two Sudanese siblings presented, at ages 18 and 24 months, with regression in both motor milestones and speech development and hyper-reflexia. Brain MRI showed bilateral and symmetrical T2/FLAIR hyperintense signal changes in periventricular areas and basal ganglia and mild cerebellar atrophy. Whole exome sequencing with confirmatory Sanger sequencing were performed for the two patients and healthy family members. A novel variant (NM_003560.2 c.1427 + 2 T > C) acting on a splice donor site and predicted to lead to skipping of exon 10 was found in PLA2G6. It was found in a homozygous state in the two patients and homozygous reference or heterozygous in five healthy family members. This variant has one very strong (loss of function mutation) and three supporting evidences for its pathogenicity (segregation with the disease, multiple computational evidence and specific patients' phenotype). Therefore this variant can be currently annotated as "pathogenic". This is the first study to report mutations in PLA2G6 gene in patients from Sudan.

  6. Short-Term Effects of a Ready-to-Drink Pre-Workout Beverage on Exercise Performance and Recovery.

    PubMed

    Collins, Patrick B; Earnest, Conrad P; Dalton, Ryan L; Sowinski, Ryan J; Grubic, Tyler J; Favot, Christopher J; Coletta, Adriana M; Rasmussen, Christopher; Greenwood, Mike; Kreider, Richard B

    2017-08-01

    In a double-blind, randomized and crossover manner, 25 resistance-trained participants ingested a placebo (PLA) beverage containing 12 g of dextrose and a beverage (RTD) containing caffeine (200 mg), β-alanine (2.1 g), arginine nitrate (1.3 g), niacin (65 mg), folic acid (325 mcg), and Vitamin B12 (45 mcg) for 7-days, separated by a 7-10-day. On day 1 and 6, participants donated a fasting blood sample and completed a side-effects questionnaire (SEQ), hemodynamic challenge test, 1-RM and muscular endurance tests (3 × 10 repetitions at 70% of 1-RM with the last set to failure on the bench press (BP) and leg press (LP)) followed by ingesting the assigned beverage. After 15 min, participants repeated the hemodynamic test, 1-RM tests, and performed a repetition to fatigue (RtF) test at 70% of 1-RM, followed by completing the SEQ. On day 2 and 7, participants donated a fasting blood sample, completed the SEQ, ingested the assigned beverage, rested 30 min, and performed a 4 km cycling time-trial (TT). Data were analyzed by univariate, multivariate, and repeated measures general linear models (GLM), adjusted for gender and relative caffeine intake. Data are presented as mean change (95% CI). An overall multivariate time × treatment interaction was observed on strength performance variables ( p = 0.01). Acute RTD ingestion better maintained LP 1-RM (PLA: -0.285 (-0.49, -0.08); RTD: 0.23 (-0.50, 0.18) kg/kg FFM , p = 0.30); increased LP RtF (PLA: -2.60 (-6.8, 1.6); RTD: 4.00 (-0.2, 8.2) repetitions, p = 0.031); increased BP lifting volume (PLA: 0.001 (-0.13, 0.16); RTD: 0.03 (0.02, 0.04) kg/kg FFM , p = 0.007); and, increased total lifting volume (PLA: -13.12 (-36.9, 10.5); RTD: 21.06 (-2.7, 44.8) kg/kg FFM , p = 0.046). Short-term RTD ingestion maintained baseline LP 1-RM (PLA: -0.412 (-0.08, -0.07); RTD: 0.16 (-0.50, 0.18) kg/kg FFM , p = 0.30); LP RtF (PLA: 0.12 (-3.0, 3.2); RTD: 3.6 (0.5, 6.7) repetitions, p = 0.116); and, LP lifting volume (PLA: 3.64 (-8.8, 16

  7. Molecular details of secretory phospholipase A2 from flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) provide insight into its structure and function.

    PubMed

    Gupta, Payal; Dash, Prasanta K

    2017-09-11

    Secretory phospholipase A 2 (sPLA 2 ) are low molecular weight proteins (12-18 kDa) involved in a suite of plant cellular processes imparting growth and development. With myriad roles in physiological and biochemical processes in plants, detailed analysis of sPLA 2 in flax/linseed is meagre. The present work, first in flax, embodies cloning, expression, purification and molecular characterisation of two distinct sPLA 2 s (I and II) from flax. PLA 2 activity of the cloned sPLA 2 s were biochemically assayed authenticating them as bona fide phospholipase A 2 . Physiochemical properties of both the sPLA 2 s revealed they are thermostable proteins requiring di-valent cations for optimum activity.While, structural analysis of both the proteins revealed deviations in the amino acid sequence at C- & N-terminal regions; hydropathic study revealed LusPLA 2 I as a hydrophobic protein and LusPLA 2 II as a hydrophilic protein. Structural analysis of flax sPLA 2 s revealed that secondary structure of both the proteins are dominated by α-helix followed by random coils. Modular superimposition of LusPLA 2 isoforms with rice sPLA 2 confirmed monomeric structural preservation among plant phospholipase A 2 and provided insight into structure of folded flax sPLA 2 s.

  8. Ageing sensitized by iPLA2β deficiency induces liver fibrosis and intestinal atrophy involving suppression of homeostatic genes and alteration of intestinal lipids and bile acids.

    PubMed

    Jiao, Li; Gan-Schreier, Hongying; Zhu, Xingya; Wei, Wang; Tuma-Kellner, Sabine; Liebisch, Gerhard; Stremmel, Wolfgang; Chamulitrat, Walee

    2017-12-01

    Ageing is a major risk factor for various forms of liver and gastrointestinal (GI) disease and genetic background may contribute to the pathogenesis of these diseases. Group VIA phospholipase A2 or iPLA 2 β is a homeostatic PLA 2 by playing a role in phospholipid metabolism and remodeling. Global iPLA 2 β -/- mice exhibit aged-dependent phenotypes with body weight loss and abnormalities in the bone and brain. We have previously reported the abnormalities in these mutant mice showing susceptibility for chemical-induced liver injury and colitis. We hypothesize that iPLA 2 β deficiency may sensitize with ageing for an induction of GI injury. Male wild-type and iPLA 2 β -/- mice at 4 and 20-22months of age were studied. Aged, but not young, iPLA 2 β -/- mice showed increased hepatic fibrosis and biliary ductular expansion as well as severe intestinal atrophy associated with increased apoptosis, pro-inflammation, disrupted tight junction, and reduced number of mucin-containing globlet cells. This damage was associated with decreased expression of intestinal endoplasmic stress XBP1 and its regulator HNF1α, FATP4, ACSL5, bile-acid transport genes as well as nuclear receptors LXRα and FXR. By LC/MS-MS profiling, iPLA 2 β deficiency in aged mice caused an increase of intestinal arachidonate-containing phospholipids concomitant with a decrease in ceramides. By the suppression of intestinal FXR/FGF-15 signaling, hepatic bile-acid synthesis gene expression was increased leading to an elevation of secondary and hydrophobic bile acids in liver, bile, and intestine. In conclusions, ageing sensitized by iPLA 2 β deficiency caused a decline of key intestinal homeostatic genes resulting in the development of GI disease in a gut-to-liver manner. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Expression of Clonorchis sinensis GIIIsPLA2 protein in baculovirus-infected insect cells and its overexpression facilitating epithelial-mesenchymal transition in Huh7 cells via AKT pathway.

    PubMed

    Shang, Mei; Xie, Zhizhi; Tang, Zeli; He, Lei; Wang, Xiaoyun; Wang, Caiqin; Wu, Yinjuan; Li, Ye; Zhao, Lu; Lv, Zhiyue; Wu, Zhongdao; Huang, Yan; Yu, Xinbing; Li, Xuerong

    2017-04-01

    Although prior studies confirmed that group III secretory phospholipase A 2 of Clonorchis sinensis (CsGIIIsPLA 2 ) had stimulating effect on liver fibrosis by binding to LX-2 cells, large-scale expression of recombinant protein and its function in the progression of hepatoma are worth exploring. Because of high productivity and low lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in the Sf9-baculovirus expression system, we firstly used this system to express the coding region of CsGIIIsPLA 2 . The molecular weight of recombinant CsGIIIsPLA 2 protein was about 34 kDa. Further investigation showed that most of the recombinant protein presented intracellular expression in Sf9 insect cell nucleus and could be detected only into cell debris, which made the protein purification and further functional study difficult. Therefore, to study the role of CsGIIIsPLA 2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression, CsGIIIsPLA 2 overexpression Huh7 cell model was applied. Cell proliferation, migration, and the expression level of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related molecules (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, α-catenin, Vimentin, p300, Snail, and Slug) along with possible mechanism were measured. The results indicated that CsGIIIsPLA 2 overexpression not only inhibited cell proliferation and promoted migration and EMT but also enhanced the phosphorylation of AKT in HCC cells. In conclusion, this study supported that CsGIIIsPLA 2 overexpression suppressed cell proliferation and induced EMT through the AKT pathway.

  10. Evaluation of Protective Immune Responses Induced by Recombinant TrxLp and ENO2 Proteins against Toxoplasma gondii Infection in BALB/c Mice

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Meng; Yang, Xiao-Yu; Zhang, De-Lin

    2016-01-01

    Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasitic protozoan that can infect almost all species of warm-blooded animals. As any chemical-based drugs could not act against the tissue cyst stage of T. gondii, vaccination may be one of the ideal control strategies. In the present study, two new vaccine candidates, named TgENO2 and TgTrxLp, were purified from Escherichia coli with pET-30a(+) expression system and then were injected into BALB/c mice to evaluate the protective efficacy against acute and chronic toxoplasmosis. The results showed that both the recombinant proteins, either alone or in combination, could elicit strong humoral and cellular immune responses with a higher level of IgG antibodies, IFN-γ, IL-2, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells as compared to those in mice from control groups. After acute challenge with tachyzoites of the GJS strain, mice immunized with rTgTrxLp (8 ± 2.77 d), rTgENO2 (7.4 ± 1.81 d), and rTgTrxLp + rTgENO2 (8.38 ± 4.57 d) proteins showed significantly longer survival time than those that received Freund's adjuvant (6.78 ± 2.08 d) and PBS (6.38 ± 4.65 d) (χ 2 = 9.687, df = 4, P = 0.046). The protective immunity of rTgTrxLp, rTgENO2, and rTgTrxLp + rTgENO2 proteins against chronic T. gondii infection showed 69.77%, 58.14%, and 20.93% brain cyst reduction as compared to mice that received PBS. The present study suggested that both TgENO2 and TgTrxLp were potential candidates for the development of multicomponent vaccines against toxoplasmosis. PMID:27803923

  11. Rosmarinic acid, a new snake venom phospholipase A2 inhibitor from Cordia verbenacea (Boraginaceae): antiserum action potentiation and molecular interaction.

    PubMed

    Ticli, Fábio K; Hage, Lorane I S; Cambraia, Rafael S; Pereira, Paulo S; Magro, Angelo J; Fontes, Marcos R M; Stábeli, Rodrigo G; Giglio, José R; França, Suzelei C; Soares, Andreimar M; Sampaio, Suely V

    2005-09-01

    Many plants are used in traditional medicine as active agents against various effects induced by snakebite. The methanolic extract from Cordia verbenacea (Cv) significantly inhibited paw edema induced by Bothrops jararacussu snake venom and by its main basic phospholipase A2 homologs, namely bothropstoxins I and II (BthTXs). The active component was isolated by chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 and by RP-HPLC on a C18 column and identified as rosmarinic acid (Cv-RA). Rosmarinic acid is an ester of caffeic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid [2-O-cafeoil-3-(3,4-di-hydroxy-phenyl)-R-lactic acid]. This is the first report of RA in the species C. verbenacea ('baleeira', 'whaler') and of its anti-inflammatory and antimyotoxic properties against snake venoms and isolated toxins. RA inhibited the edema and myotoxic activity induced by the basic PLA2s BthTX-I and BthTX-II. It was, however, less efficient to inhibit the PLA2 activity of BthTX-II and, still less, the PLA2 and edema-inducing activities of the acidic isoform BthA-I-PLA2 from the same venom, showing therefore a higher inhibitory activity upon basic PLA2s. RA also inhibited most of the myotoxic and partially the edema-inducing effects of both basic PLA2s, thus reinforcing the idea of dissociation between the catalytic and pharmacological domains. The pure compound potentiated the ability of the commercial equine polyvalent antivenom in neutralizing lethal and myotoxic effects of the crude venom and of isolated PLA2s in experimental models. CD data presented here suggest that, after binding, no significant conformation changes occur either in the Cv-RA or in the target PLA2. A possible model for the interaction of rosmarinic acid with Lys49-PLA2 BthTX-I is proposed.

  12. Group IIA secretory phospholipase A2 (GIIA) mediates apoptotic death during NMDA receptor activation in rat primary cortical neurons.

    PubMed

    Chiricozzi, Elena; Fernandez-Fernandez, Seila; Nardicchi, Vincenza; Almeida, Angeles; Bolaños, Juan Pedro; Goracci, Gianfrancesco

    2010-03-01

    Phospholipases A(2) (PLA(2)) participate in neuronal death signalling pathways because of their ability to release lipid mediators, although the contribution of each isoform and mechanism of neurotoxicity are still elusive. Using a novel fluorogenic method to assess changes in a PLA(2) activity by flow cytometry, here we show that the group IIA secretory phospholipase A(2) isoform (GIIA) was specifically activated in cortical neurons following stimulation of N-methyl-d-aspartate glutamate receptor subtype (NMDAR). For activation, GIIA required Ca(2+) and reactive oxygen/nitrogen species, and inhibition of its activity fully prevented NMDAR-mediated neuronal apoptotic death. Superoxide, nitric oxide or peroxynitrite donors stimulated GIIA activity, which mediated neuronal death. Intriguingly, we also found that GIIA activity induced mitochondrial superoxide production after NMDAR stimulation. These results reveal a novel role for GIIA in excitotoxicity both as target and producer of superoxide in a positive-loop of activation that may contribute to the propagation of neurodegeneration.

  13. Complete regression of xenograft tumors using biodegradable mPEG-PLA-SN38 block copolymer micelles.

    PubMed

    Lu, Lu; Zheng, Yan; Weng, Shuqiang; Zhu, Wenwei; Chen, Jinhong; Zhang, Xiaomin; Lee, Robert J; Yu, Bo; Jia, Huliang; Qin, Lunxiu

    2016-06-01

    7-Ethyl-10-hydroxy-comptothecin (SN38) is an active metabolite of irinotecan (CPT-11) and the clinical application of SN38 is limited by its hydrophobicity and instability. To address these issues, a series of novel amphiphilic mPEG-PLA-SN38-conjugates were synthesized by linking SN38 to mPEG-PLA-SA, and they could form micelles by self-assembly. The effects of mPEG-PLA composition were studied in vitro and in vivo. The mean diameters of mPEG2K-PLA-SN38 micelles and mPEG4K-PLA-SN38 micelles were 10-20nm and 120nm, respectively, and mPEG2K-PLA-SN38 micelles showed greater antitumor efficacy than mPEG4K-PLA-SN38 micelles both in vitro and in vivo. These data suggest that the lengths of mPEG and PLA chains had a major impact on the physicochemical characteristics and antitumor activity of SN38-conjugate micelles. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. Involvement of MAPKs, NF-{kappa}B and p300 co-activator in IL-1{beta}-induced cytosolic phospholipase A{sub 2} expression in canine tracheal smooth muscle cells

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Luo, S.-F.; Lin, C.-C.; Chen, H.-C.

    2008-11-01

    Cytosolic phospholipase A{sub 2} (cPLA{sub 2}) plays a pivotal role in mediating agonist-induced arachidonic acid release for prostaglandin (PG) synthesis during stimulation with interleukin-1{beta} (IL-1{beta}). However, the mechanisms underlying IL-1{beta}-induced cPLA{sub 2} expression and PGE{sub 2} synthesis by canine tracheal smooth muscle cells (CTSMCs) have not been defined. IL-1{beta} induced cPLA{sub 2} protein and mRNA expression, PGE{sub 2} production, and phosphorylation of p42/p44 MAPK, p38 MAPK (ATF{sub 2}), and JNK (c-Jun) in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, determined by Western blotting, RT-PCR, and ELISA, which was attenuated by the inhibitors of MEK1/2 (U0126), p38 MAPK (SB202190), and JNK (SP600125), ormore » transfection with dominant negative mutants of MEK1/2, p38, and JNK, respectively. Furthermore, IL-1{beta}-induced cPLA{sub 2} expression and PGE{sub 2} synthesis was inhibited by a selective NF-{kappa}B inhibitor (helenalin) or transfection with dominant negative mutants of NF-{kappa}B inducing kinase (NIK), I{kappa}B kinase (IKK)-{alpha}, and IKK-{beta}. Consistently, IL-1{beta} stimulated both I{kappa}B-{alpha} degradation and NF-{kappa}B translocation into nucleus in these cells. NF-{kappa}B translocation was blocked by helenalin, but not by U0126, SB202190, and SP600125. MAPKs together with NF-{kappa}B-activated p300 recruited to cPLA{sub 2} promoter thus facilitating the binding of NF-{kappa}B to cPLA{sub 2} promoter region and expression of cPLA{sub 2} mRNA. IL-1{beta}-induced cPLA{sub 2} expression and PGE{sub 2} production was inhibited by actinomycin D and cycloheximide, indicating the involvement of transcriptional and translational events in these responses. These results suggest that in CTSMCs, IL-1{beta}-induced cPLA{sub 2} expression and PGE{sub 2} synthesis was independently mediated through activation of MAPKs and NF-{kappa}B pathways and was connected to p300 recruitment and activation.« less

  15. Activation of phospholipase A2 by 1-palmitoyl-2-(9'-oxo-nonanoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine in vitro.

    PubMed

    Code, Christian; Mahalka, Ajay K; Bry, Kristian; Kinnunen, Paavo K J

    2010-08-01

    Oxidative stress leads to drastic modifications of both the biophysical properties of biomembranes and their associated chemistry imparted upon the formation of oxidatively modified lipids. To this end, oxidized phospholipid derivatives bearing an aldehyde function, such as 1-palmitoyl-2-(9'-oxo-nonanoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PoxnoPC) can covalently react with proteins that come into direct contact. Intriguingly, we observed PoxnoPC in a 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) matrix to shorten and abolish the lag time in the action of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) on this composite substrate, with concomitant augmented decrement in pH, indicating more extensive hydrolysis, which was in keeping with enhanced 90 degrees light scattering. The latter was abolished by the aldehyde scavenger methoxyamine, thus suggesting the involvement of Schiff base. Enhanced hydrolysis of a fluorescent phospholipid analogue was seen for PLA2 preincubated with PoxnoPC. Mixing PLA2 with submicellar (22 microM) PoxnoPC caused a pronounced increase in Thioflavin T fluorescence, in keeping with the formation of amyloid-type fibers, which were seen also by electron microscopy. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  16. Amplitude and recurrence time analysis of LP activity at Mount Etna, Italy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cauchie, Léna; Saccorotti, Gilberto; Bean, Christopher J.

    2015-09-01

    The aim of this work is to improve our understanding of the long-period (LP) source mechanism at Mount Etna (Italy) through a statistical analysis of detailed LP catalogues. The behavior of LP activity is compared with the empirical laws governing earthquake recurrence, in order to investigate whether any relationships exist between these two apparently different earthquake classes. We analyzed a family of 8894 events detected during a temporary experiment in August 2005. For that time interval, the LP activity is sustained in time and the volcano did not exhibit any evident sign of unrest. The completeness threshold of the catalogue is established through a detection test based on synthetic waveforms. The retrieved amplitude distribution differs significantly from the Gutenberg-Richter law, and the interevent times distribution does not follow the typical γ law, expected for tectonic activity. In order to compare these results with a catalogue for which the source mechanism is well established, we applied the same procedure to a data set from Stromboli Volcano, where recurrent LP activity is closely related to very-long-period pulses, in turn associated with the summit explosions. Our results indicate that the two catalogues exhibit similar behavior in terms of amplitude and interevent time distributions. This suggests that the Etna's LP signals are most likely driven by stress changes caused by an intermittent degassing process occurring at depth, similar to that which drives the summit explosions at Stromboli Volcano.

  17. Influence of dynamic compressive loading on the in vitro degradation behavior of pure PLA and Mg/PLA composite.

    PubMed

    Li, Xuan; Qi, Chenxi; Han, Linyuan; Chu, Chenglin; Bai, Jing; Guo, Chao; Xue, Feng; Shen, Baolong; Chu, Paul K

    2017-12-01

    The effects of dynamic compressive loading on the in vitro degradation behavior of pure poly-lactic acid (PLA) and PLA-based composite unidirectionally reinforced with micro-arc oxidized magnesium alloy wires (Mg/PLA) are investigated. Dynamic compressive loading is shown to accelerate degradation of pure PLA and Mg/PLA. As the applied stress is increased from 0.1MPa to 0.9MPa or frequency from 0.5Hz to 2.5Hz, the overall degradation rate goes up. After immersion for 21days at 0.9MPa and 2.5Hz, the bending strength retention of the composite and pure PLA is 60.1% and 50%, respectively. Dynamic loading enhances diffusion of small acidic molecules resulting in significant pH decrease in the immersion solution. The synergistic reaction between magnesium alloy wires and PLA in the composite is further clarified by electrochemical tests. The degradation behavior of the pure PLA and PLA matrix in the composite under dynamic conditions obey the first order degradation kinetics and a numerical model is postulated to elucidate the relationship of the bending strength, stress, frequency, and immersion time under dynamic conditions. We systematically study the influence of dynamic loading on the degradation behavior of pure PLA and Mg/PLA. Dynamic compressive loading is shown to accelerate degradation of pure PLA and Mg/PLA. The synergistic reaction between magnesium alloy wires and PLA in the composite is firstly clarified by electrochemical tests. The degradation behavior of the pure PLA and PLA matrix in the composite under dynamic conditions obey the first order degradation kinetics. Then, a numerical model is postulated to elucidate the relationship of the bending strength, stress, frequency, and immersion time under dynamic conditions. Copyright © 2017 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  18. In vitro anti-Plasmodium falciparum properties of the full set of human secreted phospholipases A2.

    PubMed

    Guillaume, Carole; Payré, Christine; Jemel, Ikram; Jeammet, Louise; Bezzine, Sofiane; Naika, Gajendra S; Bollinger, James; Grellier, Philippe; Gelb, Michael H; Schrével, Joseph; Lambeau, Gérard; Deregnaucourt, Christiane

    2015-06-01

    We have previously shown that secreted phospholipases A2 (sPLA2s) from animal venoms inhibit the in vitro development of Plasmodium falciparum, the agent of malaria. In addition, the inflammatory-type human group IIA (hGIIA) sPLA2 circulates at high levels in the serum of malaria patients. However, the role of the different human sPLA2s in host defense against P. falciparum has not been investigated. We show here that 4 out of 10 human sPLA2s, namely, hGX, hGIIF, hGIII, and hGV, exhibit potent in vitro anti-Plasmodium properties with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) of 2.9 ± 2.4, 10.7 ± 2.1, 16.5 ± 9.7, and 94.2 ± 41.9 nM, respectively. Other human sPLA2s, including hGIIA, are inactive. The inhibition is dependent on sPLA2 catalytic activity and primarily due to hydrolysis of plasma lipoproteins from the parasite culture. Accordingly, purified lipoproteins that have been prehydrolyzed by hGX, hGIIF, hGIII, and hGV are more toxic to P. falciparum than native lipoproteins. However, the total enzymatic activities of human sPLA2s on purified lipoproteins or plasma did not reflect their inhibitory activities on P. falciparum. For instance, hGIIF is 9-fold more toxic than hGV but releases a lower quantity of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs). Lipidomic analyses of released NEFAs from lipoproteins demonstrate that sPLA2s with anti-Plasmodium properties are those that release polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), with hGIIF being the most selective enzyme. NEFAs purified from lipoproteins hydrolyzed by hGIIF were more potent at inhibiting P. falciparum than those from hGV, and PUFA-enriched liposomes hydrolyzed by sPLA2s were highly toxic, demonstrating the critical role of PUFAs. The selectivity of sPLA2s toward low- and high-density (LDL and HDL, respectively) lipoproteins and their ability to directly attack parasitized erythrocytes further explain their anti-Plasmodium activity. Together, our findings indicate that 4 human sPLA2s are active against P

  19. In Vitro Anti-Plasmodium falciparum Properties of the Full Set of Human Secreted Phospholipases A2

    PubMed Central

    Guillaume, Carole; Payré, Christine; Jemel, Ikram; Jeammet, Louise; Bezzine, Sofiane; Naika, Gajendra S.; Bollinger, James; Grellier, Philippe; Gelb, Michael H.; Schrével, Joseph

    2015-01-01

    We have previously shown that secreted phospholipases A2 (sPLA2s) from animal venoms inhibit the in vitro development of Plasmodium falciparum, the agent of malaria. In addition, the inflammatory-type human group IIA (hGIIA) sPLA2 circulates at high levels in the serum of malaria patients. However, the role of the different human sPLA2s in host defense against P. falciparum has not been investigated. We show here that 4 out of 10 human sPLA2s, namely, hGX, hGIIF, hGIII, and hGV, exhibit potent in vitro anti-Plasmodium properties with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) of 2.9 ± 2.4, 10.7 ± 2.1, 16.5 ± 9.7, and 94.2 ± 41.9 nM, respectively. Other human sPLA2s, including hGIIA, are inactive. The inhibition is dependent on sPLA2 catalytic activity and primarily due to hydrolysis of plasma lipoproteins from the parasite culture. Accordingly, purified lipoproteins that have been prehydrolyzed by hGX, hGIIF, hGIII, and hGV are more toxic to P. falciparum than native lipoproteins. However, the total enzymatic activities of human sPLA2s on purified lipoproteins or plasma did not reflect their inhibitory activities on P. falciparum. For instance, hGIIF is 9-fold more toxic than hGV but releases a lower quantity of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs). Lipidomic analyses of released NEFAs from lipoproteins demonstrate that sPLA2s with anti-Plasmodium properties are those that release polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), with hGIIF being the most selective enzyme. NEFAs purified from lipoproteins hydrolyzed by hGIIF were more potent at inhibiting P. falciparum than those from hGV, and PUFA-enriched liposomes hydrolyzed by sPLA2s were highly toxic, demonstrating the critical role of PUFAs. The selectivity of sPLA2s toward low- and high-density (LDL and HDL, respectively) lipoproteins and their ability to directly attack parasitized erythrocytes further explain their anti-Plasmodium activity. Together, our findings indicate that 4 human sPLA2s are active against P

  20. The benzomorphan-based LP1 ligand is a suitable MOR/DOR agonist for chronic pain treatment.

    PubMed

    Pasquinucci, Lorella; Parenti, Carmela; Turnaturi, Rita; Aricò, Giuseppina; Marrazzo, Agostino; Prezzavento, Orazio; Ronsisvalle, Simone; Georgoussi, Zafiroula; Fourla, Danai-Dionysia; Scoto, Giovanna M; Ronsisvalle, Giuseppe

    2012-01-02

    Powerful analgesics relieve pain primarily through activating mu opioid receptor (MOR), but the long-term use of MOR agonists, such as morphine, is limited by the rapid development of tolerance. Recently, it has been observed that simultaneous stimulation of the delta opioid receptor (DOR) and MOR limits the incidence of tolerance induced by MOR agonists. 3-[(2R,6R,11R)-8-hydroxy-6,11-dimethyl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2,6-methano-3-benzazocin-3(2H)-yl]-N-phenylpropanamide (LP1) is a centrally acting agent with antinociceptive activity comparable to morphine and is able to bind and activate MOR and DOR. The aim of this work was to evaluate and compare the induction of tolerance to antinociceptive effects from treatment with LP1 and morphine. Here, we evaluated the pharmacological effects of LP1 administered at a dose of 4 mg/kg subcutaneously (s.c.) twice per day for 9 days to male Sprague-Dawley rats. In addition, the LP1 mechanism of action was assessed by measurement of LP1-induced [(35)S]GTPγS binding to the MOR and DOR. Data obtained from the radiant heat tail flick test showed that LP1 maintained its antinociceptive profile until the ninth day, while tolerance to morphine (10mg/kg s.c. twice per day) was observed on day 3. Moreover, LP1 significantly enhanced [(35)S]GTPγS binding in the membranes of HEK293 cells expressing either the MOR or the DOR. LP1 is a novel analgesic agent for chronic pain treatment, and its low tolerance-inducing capability may be correlated with its ability to bind both the MOR and DOR. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Creating a Positive PLA Experience: A Step-by-Step Look at University PLA

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Leiste, Sara M.; Jensen, Kathryn

    2011-01-01

    A prior learning assessment (PLA) can be an intimidating process for adult learners. Capella University's PLA team has developed best practices, resources, and tools to foster a positive experience and to remove barriers in PLA and uses three criteria to determine how to best administer the assessment. First, a PLA must be motivating, as described…

  2. Venomic Analysis of the Poorly Studied Desert Coral Snake, Micrurus tschudii tschudii, Supports the 3FTx/PLA2 Dichotomy across Micrurus Venoms

    PubMed Central

    Sanz, Libia; Pla, Davinia; Pérez, Alicia; Rodríguez, Yania; Zavaleta, Alfonso; Salas, Maria; Lomonte, Bruno; Calvete, Juan J.

    2016-01-01

    The venom proteome of the poorly studied desert coral snake Micrurus tschudii tschudii was unveiled using a venomic approach, which identified ≥38 proteins belonging to only four snake venom protein families. The three-finger toxins (3FTxs) constitute, both in number of isoforms (~30) and total abundance (93.6% of the venom proteome), the major protein family of the desert coral snake venom. Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s; seven isoforms, 4.1% of the venom proteome), 1–3 Kunitz-type proteins (1.6%), and 1–2 l-amino acid oxidases (LAO, 0.7%) complete the toxin arsenal of M. t. tschudii. Our results add to the growing evidence that the occurrence of two divergent venom phenotypes, i.e., 3FTx- and PLA2-predominant venom proteomes, may constitute a general trend across the cladogenesis of Micrurus. The occurrence of a similar pattern of venom phenotypic variability among true sea snake (Hydrophiinae) venoms suggests that the 3FTx/PLA2 dichotomy may be widely distributed among Elapidae venoms. PMID:27338473

  3. Purification of a post-synaptic neurotoxic phospholipase A2 from Naja naja venom and its inhibition by a glycoprotein from Withania somnifera.

    PubMed

    Machiah, Deepa K; Gowda, T Veerabasappa

    2006-06-01

    A post-synaptic neurotoxic phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) has been purified from Indian cobra Naja naja venom. It was associated with a peptide in the venom. The association was disrupted using 8 M urea. It is denoted to be a basic protein by its behavior on both ion exchange chromatography and electrophoresis. It is toxic to mice, LD(50) 1.9 mg/kg body weight (ip). It is proved to be post-synaptic PLA(2) by chymographic experiment using frog nerve-muscle preparation. A glycoprotein, (WSG) was isolated from a folk medicinal plant Withania somnifera. The WSG inhibited the phospholipase A(2) activity of NN-XIa-PLA(2,) isolated from the cobra venom, completely at a mole-to-mole ratio of 1:2 (NN-XIa-PLA(2): WSG) but failed to neutralize the toxicity of the molecule. However, it reduced the toxicity as well as prolonged the death time of the experimental mice approximately 10 times when compared to venom alone. The WSG also inhibited several other PLA(2) isoforms from the venom to varying extent. The interaction of the WSG with the PLA(2) is confirmed by fluorescence quenching and gel-permeation chromatography. Chemical modification of the active histidine residue of PLA(2) using p-brophenacyl bromide resulted in the loss of both catalytic activity as well as neurotoxicity of the molecule. These findings suggest that the venom PLA(2) has multiple sites on it; perhaps some of them are overlapping. Application of the plant extract on snakebite wound confirms the medicinal value associated with the plant.

  4. Evaluation of self-assembled HCPT-loaded PEG-b-PLA nanoparticles by comparing with HCPT-loaded PLA nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Yang, Xiangrui; Wu, Shichao; Wang, Yange; Li, Yang; Chang, Di; Luo, Yin; Ye, Shefang; Hou, Zhenqing

    2014-12-01

    We present a dialysis technique to prepare the 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT)-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) using methoxypolyethylene glycol-poly(D,L-lactide) (PEG-b-PLA) and PLA, respectively. Both HCPT-loaded PEG-b-PLA NPs and HCPT-loaded PLA NPs were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The results showed that the HCPT-loaded PEG-b-PLA NPs and HCPT-loaded PLA NPs presented a hydrodynamic particle size of 120.1 and 226.8 nm, with a polydispersity index of 0.057 and 0.207, a zeta potential of -31.2 and -45.7 mV, drug encapsulation efficiency of 44.52% and 44.94%, and drug-loaded content of 7.42% and 7.49%, respectively. The HCPT-loaded PEG-b-PLA NPs presented faster drug release rate compared to the HCPT-loaded PLA NPs. The HCPT-loaded PEG-b-PLA NPs presented higher cytotoxicity than the HCPT-loaded PLA NPs. These results suggested that the HCPT-loaded PEG-b-PLA NPs presented better characteristics for drug delivery compared to HCPT-loaded PLA NPs.

  5. Single phase dynamic CMOS PLA using charge sharing technique

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dhong, Y. B.; Tsang, C. P.

    1991-01-01

    A single phase dynamic CMOS NOR-NOR programmable logic array (PLA) using triggered decoders and charge sharing techniques for high speed and low power is presented. By using the triggered decoder technique, the ground switches are eliminated, thereby, making this new design much faster and lower power dissipation than conventional PLA's. By using the charge-sharing technique in a dynamic CMOS NOR structure, a cascading AND gate can be implemented. The proposed PLA's are presented with a delay-time of 15.95 and 18.05 nsec, respectively, which compare with a conventional single phase PLA with 35.5 nsec delay-time. For a typical example of PLA like the Signetics 82S100 with 16 inputs, 48 input minterms (m) and 8 output minterms (n), the 2-SOP PLA using the triggered 2-bit decoder is 2.23 times faster and has 2.1 times less power dissipation than the conventional PLA. These results are simulated using maximum drain current of 600 micro-A, gate length of 2.0 micron, V sub DD of 5 V, the capacitance of an input miniterm of 1600 fF, and the capacitance of an output minterm of 1500 fF.

  6. Antiphospholipase A2 Receptor Autoantibodies: A Step Forward in the Management of Primary Membranous Nephropathy

    PubMed Central

    Obrisca, Bogdan; Ismail, Gener; Jurubita, Roxana; Baston, Catalin; Andronesi, Andreea; Mircescu, Gabriel

    2015-01-01

    Since the identification of PLA2R (M-type phospholipase A2 receptor) as the first human antigenic target in primary membranous nephropathy (MN), perpetual progress has been made in understanding the pathogenesis of this disease. Accumulating clinical data support a pathogenic role for the anti-PLA2R antibodies (PLA2R ABs), but confirmation in an animal model is still lacking. However, PLA2R ABs were related to disease activity and outcome, as well as to response therapy. Accordingly, PLA2R ABs assay seems to be promising tool not only to diagnose MN but also to predict the course of the disease and could open the way to personalize therapy. Nevertheless, validation of a universal assay with high precision and definition of cut-off levels, followed by larger studies with a prolonged follow-up period, are needed to confirm these prospects. PMID:26576418

  7. Antiphospholipase A2 Receptor Autoantibodies: A Step Forward in the Management of Primary Membranous Nephropathy.

    PubMed

    Obrisca, Bogdan; Ismail, Gener; Jurubita, Roxana; Baston, Catalin; Andronesi, Andreea; Mircescu, Gabriel

    2015-01-01

    Since the identification of PLA2R (M-type phospholipase A2 receptor) as the first human antigenic target in primary membranous nephropathy (MN), perpetual progress has been made in understanding the pathogenesis of this disease. Accumulating clinical data support a pathogenic role for the anti-PLA2R antibodies (PLA2R ABs), but confirmation in an animal model is still lacking. However, PLA2R ABs were related to disease activity and outcome, as well as to response therapy. Accordingly, PLA2R ABs assay seems to be promising tool not only to diagnose MN but also to predict the course of the disease and could open the way to personalize therapy. Nevertheless, validation of a universal assay with high precision and definition of cut-off levels, followed by larger studies with a prolonged follow-up period, are needed to confirm these prospects.

  8. PGE2 is a UVR-inducible autocrine factor for human melanocytes that stimulates tyrosinase activation

    PubMed Central

    Starner, Renny J.; McClelland, Lindy; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa; Fricke, Alex; Scott, Glynis

    2013-01-01

    Melanocyte proliferation, dendrite formation, and pigmentation are controlled by paracrine factors, particularly following exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Little is known about autocrine factors for melanocytes. Prostaglandins activate signaling pathways involved in growth, differentiation and apoptosis. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is the most abundant prostaglandin released by keratinocytes following UVR, and stimulates the formation of dendrites in melanocytes. Synthesis of PGE2 is controlled by cPLA2, which releases arachidonic acid from membranes, and COX-2 and prostaglandin E2 synthases (PGES), which convert arachidonic acid to PGH2 and PGH2 to PGE2, respectively. In this report we show that multiple irradiations of human melanocytes with UVR stimulates tyrosinase activity, independent of expression of a functional melanocortin 1 receptor, suggesting the presence of a non-melanocortin autocrine factor. Irradiation of melanocytes activated cPLA2, the rate-limiting step in eicosanoid synthesis, and stimulated PGE2 secretion. PGE2 increased cAMP production, tyrosinase activity and proliferation in melanocytes. PGE2 binds to four distinct G-protein coupled receptors (EP1–4). We show that EP4 receptor signaling stimulates cAMP production in melanocytes. Conversely, stimulation of the EP3 receptor lowered basal cAMP levels. These data suggest that relative levels or activity of these receptors controls effects of PGE2 on cAMP in melanocytes. The data are the first to identify PGE2 as an UVR-inducible autocrine factor for melanocytes that stimulates tyrosinase activity and proliferation, and to show that EP3 and EP4 receptor signaling have opposing effects on cAMP production, a critical signaling pathway that regulates proliferation and melanogenesis in melanocytes. PMID:20500768

  9. Group X Phospholipase A2 Stimulates the Proliferation of Colon Cancer Cells by Producing Various Lipid Mediators

    PubMed Central

    Surrel, Fanny; Jemel, Ikram; Boilard, Eric; Bollinger, James G.; Payré, Christine; Mounier, Carine M.; Talvinen, Kati A.; Laine, Veli J. O.; Nevalainen, Timo J.; Gelb, Michael H.

    2009-01-01

    Among mammalian secreted phospholipases A2 (sPLA2s), the group X enzyme has the most potent hydrolyzing capacity toward phosphatidylcholine, the major phospholipid of cell membrane and lipoproteins. This enzyme has recently been implicated in chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis and asthma and may also play a role in colon tumorigenesis. We show here that group X sPLA2 [mouse (m)GX] is one of the most highly expressed PLA2 in the mouse colon and that recombinant mouse and human enzymes stimulate proliferation and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation of various colon cell lines, including Colon-26 cancer cells. Among various recombinant sPLA2s, mGX is the most potent enzyme to stimulate cell proliferation. Based on the use of sPLA2 inhibitors, catalytic site mutants, and small interfering RNA silencing of cytosolic PLA2α and M-type sPLA2 receptor, we demonstrate that mGX promotes cell proliferation independently of the receptor and via its intrinsic catalytic activity and production of free arachidonic acid and lysophospholipids, which are mitogenic by themselves. mGX can also elicit the production of large amounts of prostaglandin E2 and other eicosanoids from Colon-26 cells, but these lipid mediators do not play a role in mGX-induced cell proliferation because inhibitors of cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases do not prevent sPLA2 mitogenic effects. Together, our results indicate that group X sPLA2 may play an important role in colon tumorigenesis by promoting cancer cell proliferation and releasing various lipid mediators involved in other key events in cancer progression. PMID:19602573

  10. Group X phospholipase A2 stimulates the proliferation of colon cancer cells by producing various lipid mediators.

    PubMed

    Surrel, Fanny; Jemel, Ikram; Boilard, Eric; Bollinger, James G; Payré, Christine; Mounier, Carine M; Talvinen, Kati A; Laine, Veli J O; Nevalainen, Timo J; Gelb, Michael H; Lambeau, Gérard

    2009-10-01

    Among mammalian secreted phospholipases A2 (sPLA(2)s), the group X enzyme has the most potent hydrolyzing capacity toward phosphatidylcholine, the major phospholipid of cell membrane and lipoproteins. This enzyme has recently been implicated in chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis and asthma and may also play a role in colon tumorigenesis. We show here that group X sPLA(2) [mouse (m)GX] is one of the most highly expressed PLA(2) in the mouse colon and that recombinant mouse and human enzymes stimulate proliferation and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation of various colon cell lines, including Colon-26 cancer cells. Among various recombinant sPLA(2)s, mGX is the most potent enzyme to stimulate cell proliferation. Based on the use of sPLA(2) inhibitors, catalytic site mutants, and small interfering RNA silencing of cytosolic PLA(2)alpha and M-type sPLA(2) receptor, we demonstrate that mGX promotes cell proliferation independently of the receptor and via its intrinsic catalytic activity and production of free arachidonic acid and lysophospholipids, which are mitogenic by themselves. mGX can also elicit the production of large amounts of prostaglandin E2 and other eicosanoids from Colon-26 cells, but these lipid mediators do not play a role in mGX-induced cell proliferation because inhibitors of cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases do not prevent sPLA(2) mitogenic effects. Together, our results indicate that group X sPLA(2) may play an important role in colon tumorigenesis by promoting cancer cell proliferation and releasing various lipid mediators involved in other key events in cancer progression.

  11. Mechanism of inhibition of human secretory phospholipase A2 by flavonoids: rationale for lead design

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lättig, Jens; Böhl, Markus; Fischer, Petra; Tischer, Sandra; Tietböhl, Claudia; Menschikowski, Mario; Gutzeit, Herwig O.; Metz, Peter; Pisabarro, M. Teresa

    2007-08-01

    The human secretory phospholipase A2 group IIA (PLA2-IIA) is a lipolytic enzyme. Its inhibition leads to a decrease in eicosanoids levels and, thereby, to reduced inflammation. Therefore, PLA2-IIA is of high pharmacological interest in treatment of chronic diseases such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Quercetin and naringenin, amongst other flavonoids, are known for their anti-inflammatory activity by modulation of enzymes of the arachidonic acid cascade. However, the mechanism by which flavonoids inhibit Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) remained unclear so far. Flavonoids are widely produced in plant tissues and, thereby, suitable targets for pharmaceutical extractions and chemical syntheses. Our work focuses on understanding the binding modes of flavonoids to PLA2, their inhibition mechanism and the rationale to modify them to obtain potent and specific inhibitors. Our computational and experimental studies focused on a set of 24 compounds including natural flavonoids and naringenin-based derivatives. Experimental results on PLA2-inhibition showed good inhibitory activity for quercetin, kaempferol, and galangin, but relatively poor for naringenin. Several naringenin derivatives were synthesized and tested for affinity and inhibitory activity improvement. 6-(1,1-dimethylallyl)naringenin revealed comparable PLA2 inhibition to quercetin-like compounds. We characterized the binding mode of these compounds and the determinants for their affinity, selectivity, and inhibitory potency. Based on our results, we suggest C(6) as the most promising position of the flavonoid scaffold to introduce chemical modifications to improve affinity, selectivity, and inhibition of PLA2-IIA by flavonoids.

  12. Point of care testing of phospholipase A2 group IIA for serological diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Nathan J.; Chapman, Robert; Lin, Yiyang; Mmesi, Jonas; Bentham, Andrew; Tyreman, Matthew; Abraham, Sonya; Stevens, Molly M.

    2016-02-01

    Secretory phospholipase A2 group IIA (sPLA2-IIA) was examined as a point of care marker for determining disease activity in rheumatoid (RA) and psoriatic (PsA) arthritis. Serum concentration and activity of sPLA2-IIA were measured using in-house antibodies and a novel point of care lateral flow device assay in patients diagnosed with varying severities of RA (n = 30) and PsA (n = 25) and found to correlate strongly with C-reactive protein (CRP). Levels of all markers were elevated in patients with active RA over those with inactive RA as well as both active and inactive PsA, indicating that sPLA2-IIA can be used as an analogue to CRP for RA diagnosis at point of care.Secretory phospholipase A2 group IIA (sPLA2-IIA) was examined as a point of care marker for determining disease activity in rheumatoid (RA) and psoriatic (PsA) arthritis. Serum concentration and activity of sPLA2-IIA were measured using in-house antibodies and a novel point of care lateral flow device assay in patients diagnosed with varying severities of RA (n = 30) and PsA (n = 25) and found to correlate strongly with C-reactive protein (CRP). Levels of all markers were elevated in patients with active RA over those with inactive RA as well as both active and inactive PsA, indicating that sPLA2-IIA can be used as an analogue to CRP for RA diagnosis at point of care. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr08423g

  13. Enhanced anticancer activity of DM1-loaded star-shaped folate-core PLA-TPGS nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tang, Xiaolong; Liang, Yong; Zhu, Yongqiang; Cai, Shiyu; Sun, Leilei; Chen, Tianyi

    2014-10-01

    The efficient delivery of therapeutic drugs into interested cells is a critical challenge to broad application of nonviral vector systems. In this research, emtansine (DM1)-loaded star-shaped folate-core polylactide- d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (FA-PLA-TPGS-DM1) copolymer which demonstrated superior anticancer activity in vitro/ vivo in comparison with linear FA-PLA-TPGS nanoparticles was applied to be a vector of DM1 for FR+ breast cancer therapy. The DM1- or coumarin 6-loaded nanoparticles were fabricated, and then characterized in terms of size, morphology, drug encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro drug release. And the viability of MCF-7/HER2 cells treated with FA-DM1-nanoparticles (NPs) was assessed. Severe combined immunodeficient mice carrying MCF-7/HER2 tumor xenografts were treated in several groups including phosphate-buffered saline control, DM1, DM1-NPs, and FA-DM1-NPs. The antitumor activity was then assessed by survival time and solid tumor volume. All the specimens were prepared for formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue sections for hematoxylin-eosin staining. The data showed that the FA-DM1-NPs could efficiently deliver DM1 into MCF-7/HER2 cells. The cytotoxicity of DM1 to MCF-7/HER2 cells was significantly increased by FA-DM1-NPs when compared with the control groups. In conclusion, the FA-DM1-NPs offered a considerable potential formulation for FR+ tumor-targeting biotherapy.

  14. A novel protein from the serum of Python sebae, structurally homologous with type-γ phospholipase A(2) inhibitor, displays antitumour activity.

    PubMed

    Donnini, Sandra; Finetti, Federica; Francese, Simona; Boscaro, Francesca; Dani, Francesca R; Maset, Fabio; Frasson, Roberta; Palmieri, Michele; Pazzagli, Mario; De Filippis, Vincenzo; Garaci, Enrico; Ziche, Marina

    2011-12-01

    Cytotoxic and antitumour factors have been documented in the venom of snakes, although little information is available on the identification of cytotoxic products in snake serum. In the present study, we purified and characterized a new cytotoxic factor from serum of the non-venomous African rock python (Python sebae), endowed with antitumour activity. PSS (P. sebae serum) exerted a cytotoxic activity and reduced dose-dependently the viability of several different tumour cell lines. In a model of human squamous cell carcinoma xenograft (A431), subcutaneous injection of PSS in proximity of the tumour mass reduced the tumour volume by 20%. Fractionation of PSS by ion-exchange chromatography yielded an active protein fraction, F5, which significantly reduced tumour cell viability in vitro and, strikingly, tumour growth in vivo. F5 is composed of P1 (peak 1) and P2 subunits interacting in a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio to form a heterotetramer in equilibrium with a hexameric form, which retained biological activity only when assembled. The two peptides share sequence similarity with PIP {PLI-γ [type-γ PLA(2) (phospholipase A(2)) inhibitor] from Python reticulatus}, existing as a homohexamer. More importantly, although PIP inhibits the hydrolytic activity of PLA(2), the anti-PLA(2) function of F5 is negligible. Using high-resolution MS, we covered 87 and 97% of the sequences of P1 and P2 respectively. In conclusion, in the present study we have identified and thoroughly characterized a novel protein displaying high sequence similarity to PLI-γ and possessing remarkable cytotoxic and antitumour effects that can be exploited for potential pharmacological applications.

  15. A randomized, phase 1/2 trial of the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of bivalent rLP2086 meningococcal B vaccine in healthy infants.

    PubMed

    Martinon-Torres, Federico; Gimenez-Sanchez, Francisco; Bernaola-Iturbe, Enrique; Diez-Domingo, Javier; Jiang, Qin; Perez, John L

    2014-09-08

    Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MnB) is a major cause of invasive meningococcal disease in infants. A conserved, surface-exposed lipoprotein, LP2086 (a factor H-binding protein [fHBP]), is a promising MnB vaccine target. A bivalent, recombinant vaccine targeting the fHBP (rLP2086) of MnB was developed. This phase 1/2 clinical study was designed to assess the immunogenicity, safety, and tolerability of a 4-dose series of the rLP2086 vaccine at 20-, 60-, 120-, or 200-μg dose levels in vaccine-naive infants when given with routine childhood vaccines. The study was to consist of two phases: a single-blind sentinel phase and an open-label full enrollment phase. During the sentinel phase, randomization of subjects to the next higher dose was delayed pending a 14-day safety review of dose 1 of the preceding dose cohort. The full enrollment phase was to occur after completion of the sentinel phase. Local reactions were generally mild and adverse events infrequent; however, after only 46 infants were randomized into the study, fever rates were 64% and 90% in subjects receiving one 20- or 60-μg rLP2086 dose, respectively. Most fevers were <39.0°C. Only 2 subjects in the 20-μg group and 1 subject in the 60-μg group experienced fevers >39.0°C; no fevers were >40.0°C. Due to these high fever rates, the study was terminated early. No immunogenicity data were collected. This report discusses the safety and acceptability of rLP2086 in infants after one 20- or 60-μg dose. Due to the high fever rate experienced in the 20- and 60-μg groups, rLP2086 in the current formulation may not be acceptable for infants. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  16. 76 FR 9771 - SFPP, L.P.; SFPP, L.P.; SFPP, L.P.; SFPP, L.P.; Notice of Filing

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-02-22

    ..., L.P.; SFPP, L.P.; SFPP, L.P.; SFPP, L.P.; Notice of Filing Take notice that on February 10, 2011, the SFPP, L.P. filed with the Commission a proposal to provide refunds to shippers who were not... orders dated December 8, 2006 (SFPP, L.P., 117 FERC ] 61, 285 (2007)), December 26, 2007 (SFPP, L.P., 121...

  17. Silibinin down-regulates expression of secreted phospholipase A2 enzymes in cancer cells.

    PubMed

    Hagelgans, Albert; Nacke, Brit; Zamaraeva, Maria; Siegert, Gabriele; Menschikowski, Mario

    2014-04-01

    Silibinin, a naturally-occurring flavonoid produced by milk thistle, possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cancer-preventive activities. In the current study, we examined the effects of silibinin on the expression of secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) enzymes, especially those of group IIA (hGIIA), which play a crucial role in inflammation and carcinogenesis. The effects of silibinin on sPLA2 expressions in human HepG2 hepatoma and PC-3 prostate cancer cells were analyzed using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technique. Silibinin inhibited the expression of hGIIA in unstimulated and cytokine-primed HepG2 and PC-3 cells. The mRNA levels of sPLA2 of groups IB, III and V were also significantly decreased by silibinin. Analyses of transcription factor activation suggest that nuclear factor-κB, but not specificity protein 1 (SP1) is implicated in the silibinin-mediated down-regulation of hGIIA. Silibinin exhibits inhibitory effects on basal and cytokine-induced expression of sPLA2s in cancer cells and therefore, may have the potential to protect against up-regulation of hGIIA and other sPLA2 isoforms during inflammation and cancer.

  18. Phospholipase A2 superfamily members play divergent roles after spinal cord injury

    PubMed Central

    López-Vales, Rubèn; Ghasemlou, Nader; Redensek, Adriana; Kerr, Bradley J.; Barbayianni, Efrosini; Antonopoulou, Georgia; Baskakis, Constantinos; Rathore, Khizr I.; Constantinou-Kokotou, Violetta; Stephens, Daren; Shimizu, Takao; Dennis, Edward A.; Kokotos, George; David, Samuel

    2011-01-01

    Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in permanent loss of motor functions. A significant aspect of the tissue damage and functional loss may be preventable as it occurs, secondary to the trauma. We show that the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) superfamily plays important roles in SCI. PLA2 enzymes hydrolyze membrane glycerophospholipids to yield a free fatty acid and lysophospholipid. Some free fatty acids (arachidonic acid) give rise to eicosanoids that promote inflammation, while some lysophospholipids (lysophosphatidylcholine) cause demyelination. We show in a mouse model of SCI that two cytosolic forms [calcium-dependent PLA2 group IVA (cPLA2 GIVA) and calcium-independent PLA2 group VIA (iPLA2 GVIA)], and a secreted form [secreted PLA2 group IIA (sPLA2 GIIA)] are up-regulated. Using selective inhibitors and null mice, we show that these PLA2s play differing roles. cPLA2 GIVA mediates protection, whereas sPLA2 GIIA and, to a lesser extent, iPLA2 GVIA are detrimental. Furthermore, completely blocking all three PLA2s worsens outcome, while the most beneficial effects are seen by partial inhibition of all three. The partial inhibitor enhances expression of cPLA2 and mediates its beneficial effects via the prostaglandin EP1 receptor. These findings indicate that drugs that inhibit detrimental forms of PLA2 (sPLA2 and iPLA2) and up-regulate the protective form (cPLA2) may be useful for the treatment of SCI.—López-Vales, R., Ghasemlou, N., Redensek, A., Kerr, B. J., Barbayianni, E., Antonopoulou, G., Baskakis, C., Rathore, K. I., Constantinou-Kokotou, V., Stephens, D., Shimizu, T., Dennis, E. A., Kokotos, G., David, S. Phospholipase A2 superfamily members play divergent roles after spinal cord injury. PMID:21868473

  19. Characterization of prostaglandin E2 generation through the cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 pathway in human neutrophils

    PubMed Central

    St-Onge, Mireille; Flamand, Nicolas; Biarc, Jordane; Picard, Serge; Bouchard, Line; Dussault, Andrée-Anne; Laflamme, Cynthia; James, Michael J.; Caughey, Gillian E.; Cleland, Leslie G.; Borgeat, Pierre; Pouliot, Marc

    2010-01-01

    In the present study, we characterized the generation of prostaglandin (PG)E2 in human neutrophils. We found that the Ca2+-dependent type IV cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) was pivotally involved in the COX-2-mediated generation of PGE2 in response to a calcium ionophore, as determined by the use of selected PLA2 inhibitors. PGE2 biosynthesis elicited by bacterial-derived peptides or by phagocytic stimuli acting on cell surface receptors also showed to be dependent on cPLA2 activity. We then assessed metabolism of unesterified arachidonic acid (AA), and observed that PGE2 production becomes favored over that of LTB4 with higher AA concentrations. Withdrawal of calcium prevented the generation of PGE2 in response to a calcium ionophore but did not affect the up-regulation of COX-2 or its capacity to convert AA, thus limiting its implication at the level of cPLA2 activation. Of the main eicosanoids produced by neutrophils, only LTB4 was able to up-regulate COX-2 expression. Finally, the only PGE synthase isoform found in neutrophils is microsomal PGE synthase-1; it co-localized with COX-2 and its expression appeared mainly constitutive. These results highlight key differences in regulatory processes of the 5-LO and COX pathways, and enhance our knowledge at several levels in the PGE2 biosynthesis in neutrophils. PMID:17643350

  20. A One Pot Synthesis of Novel Bioactive Tri-Substitute-Condensed-Imidazopyridines that Targets Snake Venom Phospholipase A2

    PubMed Central

    Anilkumar, Nirvanappa C.; Sundaram, Mahalingam S.; Mohan, Chakrabhavi Dhananjaya; Rangappa, Shobith; Bulusu, Krishna C.; Fuchs, Julian E.; Girish, Kesturu S.; Bender, Andreas; Basappa; Rangappa, Kanchugarakoppal S.

    2015-01-01

    Drugs such as necopidem, saripidem, alpidem, zolpidem, and olprinone contain nitrogen-containing bicyclic, condensed-imidazo[1,2-α]pyridines as bioactive scaffolds. In this work, we report a high-yield one pot synthesis of 1-(2-methyl-8-aryl-substitued-imidazo[1,2-α]pyridin-3-yl)ethan-1-onefor the first-time. Subsequently, we performed in silico mode-of-action analysis and predicted that the synthesized imidazopyridines targets Phospholipase A2 (PLA2). In vitro analysis confirmed the predicted target PLA2 for the novel imidazopyridine derivative1-(2-Methyl-8-naphthalen-1-yl-imidazo [1,2-α]pyridine-3-yl)-ethanone (compound 3f) showing significant inhibitory activity towards snake venom PLA2 with an IC50 value of 14.3 μM. Evidently, the molecular docking analysis suggested that imidazopyridine compound was able to bind to the active site of the PLA2 with strong affinity, whose affinity values are comparable to nimesulide. Furthermore, we estimated the potential for oral bioavailability by Lipinski's Rule of Five. Hence, it is concluded that the compound 3f could be a lead molecule against snake venom PLA2. PMID:26196520

  1. Prevention and Mitigation of Acute Radiation Syndrome in Mice by Synthetic Lipopeptide Agonists of Toll-Like Receptor 2 (TLR2)

    PubMed Central

    Shakhov, Alexander N.; Singh, Vijay K.; Bone, Frederick; Cheney, Alec; Kononov, Yevgeniy; Krasnov, Peter; Bratanova-Toshkova, Troitza K.; Shakhova, Vera V.; Young, Jason; Weil, Michael M.; Panoskaltsis-Mortari, Angela; Orschell, Christie M.; Baker, Patricia S.; Gudkov, Andrei; Feinstein, Elena

    2012-01-01

    Bacterial lipoproteins (BLP) induce innate immune responses in mammals by activating heterodimeric receptor complexes containing Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). TLR2 signaling results in nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB)-dependent upregulation of anti-apoptotic factors, anti-oxidants and cytokines, all of which have been implicated in radiation protection. Here we demonstrate that synthetic lipopeptides (sLP) that mimic the structure of naturally occurring mycoplasmal BLP significantly increase mouse survival following lethal total body irradiation (TBI) when administered between 48 hours before and 24 hours after irradiation. The TBI dose ranges against which sLP are effective indicate that sLP primarily impact the hematopoietic (HP) component of acute radiation syndrome. Indeed, sLP treatment accelerated recovery of bone marrow (BM) and spleen cellularity and ameliorated thrombocytopenia of irradiated mice. sLP did not improve survival of irradiated TLR2-knockout mice, confirming that sLP-mediated radioprotection requires TLR2. However, sLP was radioprotective in chimeric mice containing TLR2-null BM on a wild type background, indicating that radioprotection of the HP system by sLP is, at least in part, indirect and initiated in non-BM cells. sLP injection resulted in strong transient induction of multiple cytokines with known roles in hematopoiesis, including granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). sLP-induced cytokines, particularly G-CSF, are likely mediators of the radioprotective/mitigative activity of sLP. This study illustrates the strong potential of LP-based TLR2 agonists for anti-radiation prophylaxis and therapy in defense and medical scenarios. PMID:22479357

  2. Prevention and mitigation of acute radiation syndrome in mice by synthetic lipopeptide agonists of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2).

    PubMed

    Shakhov, Alexander N; Singh, Vijay K; Bone, Frederick; Cheney, Alec; Kononov, Yevgeniy; Krasnov, Peter; Bratanova-Toshkova, Troitza K; Shakhova, Vera V; Young, Jason; Weil, Michael M; Panoskaltsis-Mortari, Angela; Orschell, Christie M; Baker, Patricia S; Gudkov, Andrei; Feinstein, Elena

    2012-01-01

    Bacterial lipoproteins (BLP) induce innate immune responses in mammals by activating heterodimeric receptor complexes containing Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). TLR2 signaling results in nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB)-dependent upregulation of anti-apoptotic factors, anti-oxidants and cytokines, all of which have been implicated in radiation protection. Here we demonstrate that synthetic lipopeptides (sLP) that mimic the structure of naturally occurring mycoplasmal BLP significantly increase mouse survival following lethal total body irradiation (TBI) when administered between 48 hours before and 24 hours after irradiation. The TBI dose ranges against which sLP are effective indicate that sLP primarily impact the hematopoietic (HP) component of acute radiation syndrome. Indeed, sLP treatment accelerated recovery of bone marrow (BM) and spleen cellularity and ameliorated thrombocytopenia of irradiated mice. sLP did not improve survival of irradiated TLR2-knockout mice, confirming that sLP-mediated radioprotection requires TLR2. However, sLP was radioprotective in chimeric mice containing TLR2-null BM on a wild type background, indicating that radioprotection of the HP system by sLP is, at least in part, indirect and initiated in non-BM cells. sLP injection resulted in strong transient induction of multiple cytokines with known roles in hematopoiesis, including granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). sLP-induced cytokines, particularly G-CSF, are likely mediators of the radioprotective/mitigative activity of sLP. This study illustrates the strong potential of LP-based TLR2 agonists for anti-radiation prophylaxis and therapy in defense and medical scenarios.

  3. Renaturation and one step purification of the chicken GIIA secreted phospholipase A2 from inclusion bodies.

    PubMed

    Karray, Aida; Amara, Sawsan; Carrière, Frédéric; Gargouri, Youssef; Bezzine, Sofiane

    2014-06-01

    The cDNA coding for a mature protein of 123 amino acids, containing all of the structural features of catalytically active group IIA sPLA2, has been amplified from chicken intestine. The gene has been cloned into the bacterial expression vector pET-21a(+), which allows protein over-expression as inclusion bodies and enables about 3mg/l of pure refolded fully active enzyme to be obtained. Recombinant expression of chicken intestinal sPLA2-IIA (ChPLA2-IIA) in Escherichia coli shows that the enzyme is Ca(2+) dependent, maximally active at pH 8-9, and hydrolyses phosphatidylglycerol versus phosphatidylcholine with a 10-fold preference. Indeed, we report in this work, a comparative kinetic study between the wild type and the recombinant ChPLA2-IIA, on zwitterionic head group phospholipids (DDPC) and negatively charged phospholipids (POPG) using the monomolecular film technique. The ability to express reasonably large amounts of the sPLA2 Group IIA, compared to that obtained with the classical purification will provide a basis for future site directed mutagenesis studies of this important enzyme. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. Biological characterization of the Amazon coral Micrurus spixii snake venom: Isolation of a new neurotoxic phospholipase A2.

    PubMed

    Terra, Angelo L C; Moreira-Dill, Leandro S; Simões-Silva, Rodrigo; Monteiro, José Roniele N; Cavalcante, Walter L G; Gallacci, Márcia; Barros, Neuza B; Nicolete, Roberto; Teles, Carolina B G; Medeiros, Patrícia S M; Zanchi, Fernando B; Zuliani, Juliana P; Calderon, Leonardo A; Stábeli, Rodrigo G; Soares, Andreimar M

    2015-09-01

    The Micrurus genus is the American representative of Elapidae family. Micrurus spixii is endemic of South America and northern states of Brazil. Elapidic venoms contain neurotoxins that promote curare-mimetic neuromuscular blockage. In this study, biochemical and functional characterizations of M. spixii crude venom were performed and a new neurotoxic phospholipase A2 called MsPLA2-I was isolated. M. spixii crude venom caused severe swelling in the legs of tested mice and significant release of creatine kinase (CK) showing its myotoxic activity. Leishmanicidal activity against Leishmania amazonensis (IC50 1.24 μg/mL) was also observed, along with antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum, which are unprecedented for Micrurus venoms. MsPLA2-I with a Mr 12,809.4 Da was isolated from the crude venom of M. spixii. The N-terminal sequencing of a fragment of 60 amino acids showed 80% similarity with another PLA2 from Micrurus altirostris. This toxin and the crude venom showed phospholipase activity. In a mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation, M. spixii venom and MsPLA2-I induced the blockage of both direct and indirect twitches. While the venom presented a pronounced myotoxic activity, MsPLA2-I expressed a summation of neurotoxic activity. The results of this study make M. spixii crude venom promising compounds in the exploration of molecules with microbicidal potential. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. LP01 to LP0m mode converters using all-fiber two-stage tapers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mellah, Hakim; Zhang, Xiupu; Shen, Dongya

    2015-11-01

    A mode converter between LP01 and LP0m modes is proposed using two stages of tapers. The first stage is formed by an adiabatically tapering a circular fiber to excite the desirable LP0m mode. The second stage is formed by inserting an inner core (tapered from both sides) with a refractive index smaller than the original core. This second stage is used to obtain low insertion loss and high extinction ratio of the desired LP0m mode. Three converters between LP01 and LP0m, m=2, 3, and 4, are designed for C-band, and simulation results show that less than 0.24, 0.54 and 0.7 dB insertion loss and higher than 15, 16, and 17.5 dB extinction ratio over the entire band were obtained for the three converters, respectively.

  6. Phospholipase A2 in experimental allergic bronchitis: a lesson from mouse and rat models.

    PubMed

    Mruwat, Rufayda; Yedgar, Saul; Lavon, Iris; Ariel, Amiram; Krimsky, Miron; Shoseyov, David

    2013-01-01

    Phospholipases A2 (PLA2) hydrolyzes phospholipids, initiating the production of inflammatory lipid mediators. We have previously shown that in rats, sPLA2 and cPLA2 play opposing roles in the pathophysiology of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced experimental allergic bronchitis (OVA-EAB), an asthma model: Upon disease induction sPLA2 expression and production of the broncho-constricting CysLTs are elevated, whereas cPLA2 expression and the broncho-dilating PGE2 production are suppressed. These were reversed upon disease amelioration by treatment with an sPLA2 inhibitor. However, studies in mice reported the involvement of both sPLA2 and cPLA2 in EAB induction. To examine the relevance of mouse and rat models to understanding asthma pathophysiology. OVA-EAB was induced in mice using the same methodology applied in rats. Disease and biochemical markers in mice were compared with those in rats. As in rats, EAB in mice was associated with increased mRNA of sPLA2, specifically sPLA2gX, in the lungs, and production of the broncho-constricting eicosanoids CysLTs, PGD2 and TBX2 in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). In contrast, EAB in mice was associated also with elevated cPLA2 mRNA and PGE2 production. Yet, treatment with an sPLA2 inhibitor ameliorated the EAB concomitantly with reverting the expression of both cPLA2 and sPLA2, and eicosanoid production. In both mice and rats sPLA2 is pivotal in OVA-induced EAB. Yet, amelioration of asthma markers in mouse models, and human tissues, was observed also upon cPLA2 inhibition. It is plausible that airway conditions, involving multiple cell types and organs, require the combined action of more than one, essential, PLA2s.

  7. Identification of Epithelial Phospholipase A2 Receptor 1 as a Potential Target in Asthma

    PubMed Central

    Nolin, James D.; Ogden, H. Luke; Lai, Ying; Altemeier, William A.; Frevert, Charles W.; Bollinger, James G.; Naika, Gajendra S.; Kicic, Anthony; Stick, Stephen M.; Lambeau, Gerard; Henderson, William R.; Gelb, Michael H.

    2016-01-01

    Secreted phospholipase A2s (sPLA2s) regulate eicosanoid formation and have been implicated in asthma. Although sPLA2s function as enzymes, some of the sPLA2s bind with high affinity to a C-type lectin receptor, called PLA2R1, which has functions in both cellular signaling and clearance of sPLA2s. We sought to examine the expression of PLA2R1 in the airway epithelium of human subjects with asthma and the function of the murine Pla2r1 gene in a model of asthma. Expression of PLA2R1 in epithelial brushings was assessed in two distinct cohorts of children with asthma by microarray and quantitative PCR, and immunostaining for PLA2R1 was conducted on endobronchial tissue and epithelial brushings from adults with asthma. C57BL/129 mice deficient in Pla2r1 (Pla2r1−/−) were characterized in an ovalbumin (OVA) model of allergic asthma. PLA2R1 was differentially overexpressed in epithelial brushings of children with atopic asthma in both cohorts. Immunostaining for PLA2R1 in endobronchial tissue localized to submucosal glandular epithelium and columnar epithelial cells. After OVA sensitization and challenge, Pla2r1−/− mice had increased airway hyperresponsiveness, as well as an increase in cellular trafficking of eosinophils to the peribronchial space and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and an increase in airway permeability. In addition, Pla2r1−/− mice had more dendritic cells in the lung, higher levels of OVA-specific IgG, and increased production of both type-1 and type-2 cytokines by lung leukocytes. PLA2R1 is increased in the airway epithelium in asthma, and serves as a regulator of airway hyperresponsiveness, airway permeability, antigen sensitization, and airway inflammation. PMID:27448109

  8. Identification of Epithelial Phospholipase A2 Receptor 1 as a Potential Target in Asthma.

    PubMed

    Nolin, James D; Ogden, H Luke; Lai, Ying; Altemeier, William A; Frevert, Charles W; Bollinger, James G; Naika, Gajendra S; Kicic, Anthony; Stick, Stephen M; Lambeau, Gerard; Henderson, William R; Gelb, Michael H; Hallstrand, Teal S

    2016-12-01

    Secreted phospholipase A 2 s (sPLA 2 s) regulate eicosanoid formation and have been implicated in asthma. Although sPLA 2 s function as enzymes, some of the sPLA 2 s bind with high affinity to a C-type lectin receptor, called PLA2R1, which has functions in both cellular signaling and clearance of sPLA 2 s. We sought to examine the expression of PLA2R1 in the airway epithelium of human subjects with asthma and the function of the murine Pla2r1 gene in a model of asthma. Expression of PLA2R1 in epithelial brushings was assessed in two distinct cohorts of children with asthma by microarray and quantitative PCR, and immunostaining for PLA2R1 was conducted on endobronchial tissue and epithelial brushings from adults with asthma. C57BL/129 mice deficient in Pla2r1 (Pla2r1 -/- ) were characterized in an ovalbumin (OVA) model of allergic asthma. PLA2R1 was differentially overexpressed in epithelial brushings of children with atopic asthma in both cohorts. Immunostaining for PLA2R1 in endobronchial tissue localized to submucosal glandular epithelium and columnar epithelial cells. After OVA sensitization and challenge, Pla2r1 -/- mice had increased airway hyperresponsiveness, as well as an increase in cellular trafficking of eosinophils to the peribronchial space and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and an increase in airway permeability. In addition, Pla2r1 -/- mice had more dendritic cells in the lung, higher levels of OVA-specific IgG, and increased production of both type-1 and type-2 cytokines by lung leukocytes. PLA2R1 is increased in the airway epithelium in asthma, and serves as a regulator of airway hyperresponsiveness, airway permeability, antigen sensitization, and airway inflammation.

  9. Using every trick in the book: the Pla surface protease of Yersinia pestis.

    PubMed

    Suomalainen, Marjo; Haiko, Johanna; Ramu, Päivi; Lobo, Leandro; Kukkonen, Maini; Westerlund-Wikström, Benita; Virkola, Ritva; Lähteenmäki, Kaarina; Korhonen, Timo K

    2007-01-01

    The Pla surface protease of Yersinia pestis, encoded by the Y. pestis-specific plasmid pPCP1, is a versatile virulence factor. In vivo studies have shown that Pla is essential in the establishment of bubonic plague, and in vitro studies have demonstrated various putative virulence functions for the Pla molecule. Pla is a surface protease of the omptin family, and its proteolytic targets include the abundant, circulating human zymogen plasminogen, which is activated by Pla to the serine protease plasmin. Plasmin is important in cell migration, and Pla also proteolytically inactivates the main circulating inhibitor of plasmin, alpha2-antiplasmin. Pla also is an adhesin with affinity for laminin, a major glycoprotein of mammalian basement membranes, which is degraded by plasmin but not by Pla. Together, these functions create uncontrolled plasmin proteolysis targeted at tissue barriers. Other proteolytic targets for Pla include complement proteins. Pla also mediates bacterial invasion into human endothelial cell lines; the adhesive and invasive charateristics of Pla can be genetically dissected from its proteolytic activity. Pla is a 10-stranded antiparallel beta-barrel with five surface-exposed short loops, where the catalytic residues are oriented inwards at the top of the beta-barrel. The sequence of Pla contains a three-dimensional motif for protein binding to lipid A of the lipopolysaccharide. Indeed, the proteolytic activity of Pla requires rough lipopolysaccharide but is sterically inhibited by the O antigen in smooth LPS, which may be the selective advantage of the loss of O antigen in Y. pestis. Members of the omptin family are highly similar in structure but differ in functions and virulence association. The catalytic residues of omptins are conserved, but the variable substrate specificities in proteolysis by Pla and other omptins are dictated by the amino acid sequences near or at the surface loops, and hence reflect differences in substrate binding. The

  10. Potential of a newly developed high-speed near-infrared (NIR) camera (Compovision) in polymer industrial analyses: monitoring crystallinity and crystal evolution of polylactic acid (PLA) and concentration of PLA in PLA/Poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) blends.

    PubMed

    Ishikawa, Daitaro; Nishii, Takashi; Mizuno, Fumiaki; Sato, Harumi; Kazarian, Sergei G; Ozaki, Yukihiro

    2013-12-01

    This study was carried out to evaluate a new high-speed hyperspectral near-infrared (NIR) camera named Compovision. Quantitative analyses of the crystallinity and crystal evolution of biodegradable polymer, polylactic acid (PLA), and its concentration in PLA/poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) blends were investigated using near-infrared (NIR) imaging. This NIR camera can measure two-dimensional NIR spectral data in the 1000-2350 nm region obtaining images with wide field of view of 150 × 250 mm(2) (approximately 100  000 pixels) at high speeds (in less than 5 s). PLA with differing crystallinities between 0 and 50% blended samples with PHB in ratios of 80/20, 60/40, 40/60, 20/80, and pure films of 100% PLA and PHB were prepared. Compovision was used to collect respective NIR spectra in the 1000-2350 nm region and investigate the crystallinity of PLA and its concentration in the blends. The partial least squares (PLS) regression models for the crystallinity of PLA were developed using absorbance, second derivative, and standard normal variate (SNV) spectra from the most informative region of the spectra, between 1600 and 2000 nm. The predicted results of PLS models achieved using the absorbance and second derivative spectra were fairly good with a root mean square error (RMSE) of less than 6.1% and a determination of coefficient (R(2)) of more than 0.88 for PLS factor 1. The results obtained using the SNV spectra yielded the best prediction with the smallest RMSE of 2.93% and the highest R(2) of 0.976. Moreover, PLS models developed for estimating the concentration of PLA in the blend polymers using SNV spectra gave good predicted results where the RMSE was 4.94% and R(2) was 0.98. The SNV-based models provided the best-predicted results, since it can reduce the effects of the spectral changes induced by the inhomogeneity and the thickness of the samples. Wide area crystal evolution of PLA on a plate where a temperature slope of 70-105 °C had occurred was also

  11. The Lp_3561 and Lp_3562 Enzymes Support a Functional Divergence Process in the Lipase/Esterase Toolkit from Lactobacillus plantarum

    PubMed Central

    Esteban-Torres, María; Reverón, Inés; Santamaría, Laura; Mancheño, José M.; de las Rivas, Blanca; Muñoz, Rosario

    2016-01-01

    Lactobacillus plantarum species is a good source of esterases since both lipolytic and esterase activities have been described for strains of this species. No fundamental biochemical difference exists among esterases and lipases since both share a common catalytic mechanism. L. plantarum WCFS1 possesses a protein, Lp_3561, which is 44% identical to a previously described lipase, Lp_3562. In contrast to Lp_3562, Lp_3561 was unable to degrade esters possessing a chain length higher than C4 and the triglyceride tributyrin. As in other L. plantarum esterases, the electrostatic potential surface around the active site in Lp_3561 is predicted to be basic, whereas it is essentially neutral in the Lp_3562 lipase. The fact that the genes encoding both proteins were located contiguously in the L. plantarum WCFS1 genome, suggests that they originated by tandem duplication, and therefore are paralogs as new functions have arisen during evolution. The presence of the contiguous lp_3561 and lp_3562 genes was studied among L. plantarum strains. They are located in a 8,903 bp DNA fragment that encodes proteins involved in the catabolism of sialic acid and are predicted to increase bacterial adaptability under certain growth conditions. PMID:27486450

  12. Calcium-independent phospholipase A2 participates in KCl-induced calcium sensitization of vascular smooth muscle.

    PubMed

    Ratz, Paul H; Miner, Amy S; Barbour, Suzanne E

    2009-07-01

    In vascular smooth muscle, KCl not only elevates intracellular free Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)), myosin light chain kinase activity and tension (T), but also can inhibit myosin light chain phosphatase activity by activation of rhoA kinase (ROCK), resulting in Ca(2+) sensitization (increased T/[Ca(2+)](i) ratio). Precisely how KCl causes ROCK-dependent Ca(2+) sensitization remains to be determined. Using Fura-2-loaded isometric rings of rabbit artery, we found that the Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A(2) (iPLA(2)) inhibitor, bromoenol lactone (BEL), reduced the KCl-induced tonic but not early phasic phase of T and potentiated [Ca(2+)](i), reducing Ca(2+) sensitization. The PKC inhibitor, GF-109203X (> or =3 microM) and the pseudo-substrate inhibitor of PKCzeta produced a response similar to BEL. BEL reduced basal and KCl-stimulated myosin phosphatase phosphorylation. Whereas BEL and H-1152 produced strong inhibition of KCl-induced tonic T (approximately 50%), H-1152 did not induce additional inhibition of tissues already inhibited by BEL, suggesting that iPLA(2) links KCl stimulation with ROCK activation. The cPLA(2) inhibitor, pyrrolidine-1, inhibited KCl-induced tonic increases in [Ca(2+)](i) but not T, whereas the inhibitor of 20-HETE production, HET0016, acted like the ROCK inhibitor H-1152 by causing Ca(2+) desensitization. These data support a model in which iPLA(2) activity regulates Ca(2+) sensitivity.

  13. Auxins action on Glycine max secretory phospholipase A2 is mediated by the interfacial properties imposed by the phytohormones.

    PubMed

    Mariani, María Elisa; Madoery, Ricardo Román; Fidelio, Gerardo Daniel

    2015-07-01

    Secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) are soluble enzymes that catalyze the conversion of phospholipids to lysophospholipids and free fatty acids at membrane interfaces. The effect of IAA and IPA auxins over the activity of recombinant sPLA2 isoforms from Glycine max was studied using membrane model systems including mixed micelles and Langmuir lipid monolayers. Both phytohormones stimulate the activity of both plant sPLA2 using DLPC/Triton mixed micelles as substrate. To elucidate the mechanism of action of the phytohormones, we showed that both auxins are able to self-penetrate lipid monolayers and cause an increment in surface pressure and an expansion of lipid/phytohormone mixed interfaces. The stimulating effect of auxins over phospholipase A2 activity was still present when using Langmuir mixed monolayers as organized substrate regardless of sPLA2 source (plant or animal). All the data suggest that the stimulating effect of auxins over sPLA2 is due to a more favorable interfacial environment rather to a direct effect over the enzyme. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. Two Isoforms of Yersinia pestis Plasminogen Activator Pla: Intraspecies Distribution, Intrinsic Disorder Propensity, and Contribution to Virulence.

    PubMed

    Dentovskaya, Svetlana V; Platonov, Mikhail E; Svetoch, Tat'yana E; Kopylov, Pavel Kh; Kombarova, Tat'yana I; Ivanov, Sergey A; Shaikhutdinova, Rima Z; Kolombet, Lyubov' V; Chauhan, Sadhana; Ablamunits, Vitaly G; Motin, Vladimir L; Uversky, Vladimir N; Anisimov, Andrey P

    2016-01-01

    It has been shown previously that several endemic Y. pestis isolates with limited virulence contained the I259 isoform of the outer membrane protease Pla, while the epidemic highly virulent strains possessed only the T259 Pla isoform. Our sequence analysis of the pla gene from 118 Y. pestis subsp. microtus strains revealed that the I259 isoform was present exclusively in the endemic strains providing a convictive evidence of more ancestral origin of this isoform. Analysis of the effects of the I259T polymorphism on the intrinsic disorder propensity of Pla revealed that the I259T mutation slightly increases the intrinsic disorder propensity of the C-terminal tail of Pla and makes this protein slightly more prone for disorder-based protein-protein interactions, suggesting that the T259 Pla could be functionally more active than the I259 Pla. This assumption was proven experimentally by assessing the coagulase and fibrinolytic activities of the two Pla isoforms in human plasma, as well as in a direct fluorometric assay with the Pla peptide substrate. The virulence testing of Pla-negative or expressing the I259 and T259 Pla isoforms Y. pestis subsp. microtus and subsp. pestis strains did not reveal any significant difference in LD50 values and dose-dependent survival assays between them by using a subcutaneous route of challenge of mice and guinea pigs or intradermal challenge of mice. However, a significant decrease in time-to-death was observed in animals infected with the epidemic T259 Pla-producing strains as compared to the parent Pla-negative variants. Survival curves of the endemic I259 Pla+ strains fit between them, but significant difference in mean time to death post infection between the Pla-strains and their I259 Pla+ variants could be seen only in the isogenic set of subsp. pestis strains. These findings suggest an essential role for the outer membrane protease Pla evolution in Y. pestis bubonic infection exacerbation that is necessary for intensification

  15. Contributions of residues of pancreatic phospholipase A2 to interfacial binding, catalysis, and activation.

    PubMed

    Yu, B Z; Rogers, J; Tsai, M D; Pidgeon, C; Jain, M K

    1999-04-13

    Primary rate and equilibrium parameters for 60 site-directed mutants of bovine pancreatic phospholipase A2 (PLA2) are analyzed so incremental contributions of the substitution of specific residues can be evaluated. The magnitude of the change is evaluated so a functional role in the context of the N- and C-domains of PLA2 can be assigned, and their relationship to the catalytic residues and to the i-face that makes contact with the interface. The effect of substitutions and interfacial charge is characterized by the equilibrium dissociation constant for dissociation of the bound enzyme from the interface (Kd), the dissociation constant for dissociation of a substrate mimic from the active site of the bound enzyme (KL), and the interfacial Michaelis constants, KM and kcat. Activity is lost (>99.9%) on the substitution of H48 and D49, the catalytic residues. A more than 95% decrease in kcat is seen with the substitution of F5, I9, D99, A102, or F106, which form the substrate binding pocket. Certain residues, which are not part of the catalytic site or the substrate binding pocket, also modulate kcat. Interfacial anionic charge lowers Kd, and induces kcat activation through K56, K53, K119, or K120. Significant changes in KL are seen by the substitution of N6, I9, F22, Y52, K53, N71, Y73, A102, or A103. Changes in KM [=(k2+k-1)/k1] are attributed to kcat (=k2) and KL (=k-1/k1). Some substitutions change more than one parameter, implying an allosteric effect of the binding to the interface on KS, and the effect of the interfacial anionic charge on kcat. Interpreted in the context of the overall structure, results provide insights into the role of segments and domains in the microscopic events of catalytic turnover and processivity, and their allosteric regulation. We suggest that the interfacial recognition region (i-face) of PLA2, due to the plasticity of certain segments and domains, exercises an allosteric control on the substrate binding and chemical step.

  16. The effect of ω-fatty acids on the expression of phospholipase A2 group 2A in human gastric cancer patients.

    PubMed

    Shariati, Mahboube; Aghaei, Mahmoud; Movahedian, Ahmad; Somi, Mohammad Hosein; Dolatkhah, Homayun; Aghazade, Ahmad Mirza

    2016-01-01

    Studies show that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may have an inhibitory role in carcinogenesis. It was previously shown that PLA2 group 2A (PLA2G2A) messenger RNA (mRNA) expression is associated with less frequent metastasis and longer survival in gastric adenocarcinoma. This study intends to investigate the effect of PUFAs on the expression of PLA2G2A in patients with gastric cancer. Thirty-four patients with gastric cancer (GC) were randomly divided into two groups. The first group received cisplatin medication. The second group received cisplatin medication and supplements of ω-fatty acids for three courses. The total RNA was extracted from the tissues and cDNA was synthesized. The gene expression of PLA2G2A was evaluated by the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. To confirm the changes in gene expression, frozen section was utilized. The frozen tissue samples were sectioned and stained using the immunohistochemistry technique. After chemotherapy and chemotherapy plus supplement, the relative mean of PLA2G2A gene expression increased 1.5 ± 0.5-fold and 7.4 ± 2.6-fold, respectively ( P = 0.006). The relative mean of gene expression in patients who received cisplatin and ω-fatty acids supplement increased more significantly (7.5 ± 3.3-fold) than in patients who received only cisplatin ( P = 0.016). It was found that PUFAs increased the gene and protein expression of PLA2G2A in gastric cancer. Concerning the fact that studies reveal protective function of PLA2G2A in gastric cancer, it is suggested that increased expression of PLA2G2A is helpful. Furthermore, PUFAs can be considered as a useful therapeutic supplement for patients with gastric cancer.

  17. Citicoline decreases phospholipase A2 stimulation and hydroxyl radical generation in transient cerebral ischemia.

    PubMed

    Adibhatla, Rao Muralikrishna; Hatcher, James F

    2003-08-01

    Neuroprotection by citicoline (CDP-choline) in transient cerebral ischemia has been demonstrated previously. Citicoline has undergone several Phase III clinical trials for stroke, and is being evaluated for treatment of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Phospholipid degradation and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are major factors causing neuronal injury in CNS trauma and neurodegenerative diseases. Oxidative metabolism of arachidonic acid (released by the action of phospholipases) contributes to ROS generation. We examined the effect of citicoline on phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) activity in relation to the attenuation of hydroxyl radical (OH.) generation after transient forebrain ischemia of gerbil. PLA(2) activity (requires mM Ca(2+)) increased significantly (P < 0.05) in both membrane (50.2 +/- 2.2 pmol/min/mg protein compared to sham 35.9 +/- 3.2) and mitochondrial fractions (77.0 +/- 1.2 pmol/min/mg protein compared to sham 33.9 +/- 1.2) after cerebral ischemia and 2 hr reperfusion in gerbil, which was significantly attenuated (P < 0.01) by citicoline (membrane, 39.9. +/- 2.2 and mitochondria, 41.9 +/- 3.2 pmol/min/mg protein). In vitro, citicoline and its components cytidine and choline had no effect on PLA(2) activity, and thus citicoline as such is not a PLA(2) inhibitor. Ischemia/reperfusion resulted in significant OH. generation (P < 0.01) and citicoline significantly (P < 0.01) attenuated their formation (expressed as 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid/salicylate ratio; ischemia/24 hr reperfusion, 6.30 +/- 0.23; sham, 2.56 +/- 0.27; ischemia/24 hr reperfusion + citicoline, 4.85 +/- 0.35). These results suggest that citicoline affects PLA(2) stimulation and decreases OH. generation after transient cerebral ischemia. Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  18. Identification and characterization of B-cell epitopes of 3FTx and PLA(2) toxins from Micrurus corallinus snake venom.

    PubMed

    Castro, K L; Duarte, C G; Ramos, H R; Machado de Avila, R A; Schneider, F S; Oliveira, D; Freitas, C F; Kalapothakis, E; Ho, P L; Chávez-Olortegui, C

    2015-01-01

    The main goal of this work was to develop a strategy to identify B-cell epitopes on four different three finger toxins (3FTX) and one phospholipase A2 (PLA2) from Micrurus corallinus snake venom. 3FTx and PLA2 are highly abundant components in Elapidic venoms and are the major responsibles for the toxicity observed in envenomation by coral snakes. Overlapping peptides from the sequence of each toxin were prepared by SPOT method and three different anti-elapidic sera were used to map the epitopes. After immunogenicity analysis of the spot-reactive peptides by EPITOPIA, a computational method, nine sequences from the five toxins were chemically synthesized and antigenically and immunogenically characterized. All the peptides were used together as immunogens in rabbits, delivered with Freund's adjuvant for a first cycle of immunization and Montanide in the second. A good antibody response against individual synthetic peptides and M. corallinus venom was achieved. Anti-peptide IgGs were also cross-reactive against Micrurus frontalis and Micrurus lemniscatus crude venoms. In addition, anti-peptide IgGs inhibits the lethal and phospholipasic activities of M. corallinus crude venom. Our results provide a rational basis to the identification of neutralizing epitopes on coral snake toxins and show that their corresponding synthetic peptides could improve the generation of immuno-therapeutics. The use of synthetic peptide for immunization is a reasonable approach, since it enables poly-specificity, low risk of toxic effects and large scale production. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. The Finding of a Group IIE Phospholipase A2 Gene in a Specified Segment of Protobothrops flavoviridis Genome and Its Possible Evolutionary Relationship to Group IIA Phospholipase A2 Genes

    PubMed Central

    Yamaguchi, Kazuaki; Chijiwa, Takahito; Ikeda, Naoki; Shibata, Hiroki; Fukumaki, Yasuyuki; Oda-Ueda, Naoko; Hattori, Shosaku; Ohno, Motonori

    2014-01-01

    The genes encoding group IIE phospholipase A2, abbreviated as IIE PLA2, and its 5' and 3' flanking regions of Crotalinae snakes such as Protobothrops flavoviridis, P. tokarensis, P. elegans, and Ovophis okinavensis, were found and sequenced. The genes consisted of four exons and three introns and coded for 22 or 24 amino acid residues of the signal peptides and 134 amino acid residues of the mature proteins. These IIE PLA2s show high similarity to those from mammals and Colubridae snakes. The high expression level of IIE PLA2s in Crotalinae venom glands suggests that they should work as venomous proteins. The blast analysis indicated that the gene encoding OTUD3, which is ovarian tumor domain-containing protein 3, is located in the 3' downstream of IIE PLA2 gene. Moreover, a group IIA PLA2 gene was found in the 5' upstream of IIE PLA2 gene linked to the OTUD3 gene (OTUD3) in the P. flavoviridis genome. It became evident that the specified arrangement of IIA PLA2 gene, IIE PLA2 gene, and OTUD3 in this order is common in the genomes of humans to snakes. The present finding that the genes encoding various secretory PLA2s form a cluster in the genomes of humans to birds is closely related to the previous finding that six venom PLA2 isozyme genes are densely clustered in the so-called NIS-1 fragment of the P. flavoviridis genome. It is also suggested that venom IIA PLA2 genes may be evolutionarily derived from the IIE PLA2 gene. PMID:25529307

  20. Two Isoforms of Yersinia pestis Plasminogen Activator Pla: Intraspecies Distribution, Intrinsic Disorder Propensity, and Contribution to Virulence

    PubMed Central

    Dentovskaya, Svetlana V.; Platonov, Mikhail E.; Svetoch, Tat’yana E.; Kopylov, Pavel Kh.; Kombarova, Tat’yana I.; Ivanov, Sergey A.; Shaikhutdinova, Rima Z.; Kolombet, Lyubov’ V.; Chauhan, Sadhana; Ablamunits, Vitaly G.; Motin, Vladimir L.; Uversky, Vladimir N.

    2016-01-01

    It has been shown previously that several endemic Y. pestis isolates with limited virulence contained the I259 isoform of the outer membrane protease Pla, while the epidemic highly virulent strains possessed only the T259 Pla isoform. Our sequence analysis of the pla gene from 118 Y. pestis subsp. microtus strains revealed that the I259 isoform was present exclusively in the endemic strains providing a convictive evidence of more ancestral origin of this isoform. Analysis of the effects of the I259T polymorphism on the intrinsic disorder propensity of Pla revealed that the I259T mutation slightly increases the intrinsic disorder propensity of the C-terminal tail of Pla and makes this protein slightly more prone for disorder-based protein-protein interactions, suggesting that the T259 Pla could be functionally more active than the I259 Pla. This assumption was proven experimentally by assessing the coagulase and fibrinolytic activities of the two Pla isoforms in human plasma, as well as in a direct fluorometric assay with the Pla peptide substrate. The virulence testing of Pla-negative or expressing the I259 and T259 Pla isoforms Y. pestis subsp. microtus and subsp. pestis strains did not reveal any significant difference in LD50 values and dose-dependent survival assays between them by using a subcutaneous route of challenge of mice and guinea pigs or intradermal challenge of mice. However, a significant decrease in time-to-death was observed in animals infected with the epidemic T259 Pla-producing strains as compared to the parent Pla-negative variants. Survival curves of the endemic I259 Pla+ strains fit between them, but significant difference in mean time to death post infection between the Pla−strains and their I259 Pla+ variants could be seen only in the isogenic set of subsp. pestis strains. These findings suggest an essential role for the outer membrane protease Pla evolution in Y. pestis bubonic infection exacerbation that is necessary for

  1. Polymer blends of polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate-adipate

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ma, Wenguang

    A series of blends consisting of polylactic acid (PLA) and aliphatic succinate polyester (BionolleRTM #3000) had been prepared and investigated. The results of mechanical property investigations showed that using 20 wt% Bionolle#3000 can significantly increase the toughness of PLA. BionolleRTM #3000 also reduces the physical aging rate of PLA so blends remain tough longer. Conversely, the stiffness of BionolleRTM #3000 can be significantly increased by blending in PLA. DMA and DSC results show that PLA/BionolleRTM 3000 blends are not thermodynamically miscible, but are compatible blends. Studies have also been performed to determine the amount and rate of aerobic biodegradation of PLA/aliphatic succinate polyester blends in biologically active composting, enzymatic, and soil environments. The changes in molecular weight, molecular structure and thermal properties in the composting environment were also studied by GPC, NMR and DSC analyses. The research results showed BionolleRTM #3000 had a high degradation rate, while PLA had a low degradation rate. PLA/BionolleRTM #3000 blends had moderate degradation rates that increased with BionolleRTM #3000 content. The melt flow behavior of PLA/BionolleRTM #3000 blends has been studied by capillary rheometry. The relationship of the blends' viscosity with their composition, shear stress, shear rate, and temperature has been investigated. Power law index and activation energy of PLA, BionolleRTM #3000 and their blends have been calculated. The experimental and theoretical data can let us understand the processability of PLA/BionolleRTM #3000 blends. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to investigate the morphological structure of the PLA/BionolleRTM #3000 blends. Micrographs of the samples made from different methods (blown film, extrudate and compression molding sheet) were taken; their differences in morphology were compared. For comparison, the micrographs of blend PLA/BionolleRTM #6000 was also studied. The

  2. Intravascular hemolysis induced by phospholipases A2 from the venom of the Eastern coral snake, Micrurus fulvius: Functional profiles of hemolytic and non-hemolytic isoforms.

    PubMed

    Fernández, María Laura; Quartino, Pablo Yunes; Arce-Bejarano, Ruth; Fernández, Julián; Camacho, Luis F; Gutiérrez, José María; Kuemmel, Daniel; Fidelio, Gerardo; Lomonte, Bruno

    2018-04-01

    A unique feature of the venom of Micrurus fulvius (Eastern coral snake) is its ability to induce severe intravascular hemolysis in particular species, such as dogs or mice. This effect was previously shown to be induced by distinct phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) isoforms which cause direct hemolysis in vitro, an uncommon finding for such enzymes. The functional profiles of PLA 2 -17, a direct hemolytic enzyme, and PLA 2 -12, a co-existing venom isoform lacking such effect, were compared. The enzymes differed not only in their ability to cause intravascular hemolysis: PLA 2 -17 additionally displayed lethal, myotoxic, and anticoagulant actions, whereas PLA 2 -12 lacked these effects. PLA 2 -12 was much more active in hydrolyzing a monodisperse synthetic substrate than PLA 2 -17, but the catalytic activity of latter was notably higher on a micellar substrate, or towards pure phospholipid artificial monolayers under controlled lateral pressures. Interestingly, PLA 2 -17 could hydrolyze substrate at a pressure of 20 mN m -1 , in contrast to PLA 2 -12 or the non-toxic pancreatic PLA 2 . This suggests important differences in the monolayer penetrating power, which could be related to differences in toxicity. Comparative examination of primary structures and predicted three-dimensional folding of PLA 2 -12 and PLA 2 -17, revealed that differences concentrate in their N-terminal and central regions, leading to variations of the surface properties at the membrane interacting interface. PLA 2 -17 presents a less basic interfacial surface than PLA 2 -12, but more bulky aromatic residues, which could be associated to its higher membrane-penetrating strength. Altogether, these structural and functional comparative observations suggest that the ability of PLA 2 s to penetrate substrate interfaces could be a major determinant of toxicity, perhaps more important than protein surface charge. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. Probing phospholipase a(2) with fluorescent phospholipid substrates.

    PubMed

    Wichmann, Oliver; Gelb, Michael H; Schultz, Carsten

    2007-09-03

    The Foerster resonance energy transfer-based sensor, PENN, measures intracellular phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) activity in living cells and small organisms. In an attempt to modify the probe for the detection of particular isoforms, we altered the sn-2 fatty acid in such a way that either one or three of the Z double bonds in arachidonic acid were present in the sensor molecule. Arachidonic-acid-mimicking fatty acids were prepared by copper-mediated coupling reactions. Probes with a single double bond in the 5-position exhibited favorable substrate properties for secretory PLA(2)s. In vitro experiments with the novel unsaturated doubly labeled phosphatidylethanolamine derivatives showed preferred cleavage of the sensor PENN2 (one double bond) by the physiologically important group V sPLA(2), while the O-methyl-derivative PMNN2 was accepted best by the isoform from hog pancreas. For experiments in living cells, we demonstrated that bioactivation via S-acetylthioethyl (SATE) groups is essential for probe performance. Surprisingly, membrane-permeant versions of the new sensors that contained double bonds, PENN2 and PENN3, were only cleaved to a minor extent in HeLa cells while the saturated form, PENN, was well accepted.

  4. Discovery of Ecopladib, an indole inhibitor of cytosolic phospholipase A2alpha.

    PubMed

    Lee, Katherine L; Foley, Megan A; Chen, Lihren; Behnke, Mark L; Lovering, Frank E; Kirincich, Steven J; Wang, Weiheng; Shim, Jaechul; Tam, Steve; Shen, Marina W H; Khor, Soopeang; Xu, Xin; Goodwin, Debra G; Ramarao, Manjunath K; Nickerson-Nutter, Cheryl; Donahue, Frances; Ku, M Sherry; Clark, James D; McKew, John C

    2007-03-22

    The synthesis and structure-activity relationship of a series of indole inhibitors of cytosolic phospholipase A2alpha (cPLA2alpha, type IVA phospholipase) are described. Inhibitors of cPLA2alpha are predicted to be efficacious in treating asthma as well as the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and pain. The introduction of a benzyl sulfonamide substituent at C2 was found to impart improved potency of these inhibitors, and the SAR of these sulfonamide analogues is disclosed. Compound 123 (Ecopladib) is a sub-micromolar inhibitor of cPLA2alpha in the GLU micelle and rat whole blood assays. Compound 123 displayed oral efficacy in the rat carrageenan air pouch and rat carrageenan-induced paw edema models.

  5. Mitigation of N2O Emission from Aquaponics by Optimizing the Nitrogen Transformation Process: Aeration Management and Exogenous Carbon (PLA) Addition.

    PubMed

    Zou, Yina; Hu, Zhen; Zhang, Jian; Fang, Yingke; Li, Minying; Zhang, Jianda

    2017-10-11

    N 2 O production in aquaponics is an inevitable concern when aquaponics is developed as a future production system. In the present study, two attempts were applied to mitigate N 2 O emission from aquaponics, i.e., aeration in hydroponic bed (HA) and addition of polylactic acid (PLA) into fillers (PA). Results showed that N 2 O emission from HA and PA was decreased by 47.1-58.1% and 43.2-74.9% respectively compared with that in control. Denitrification was proved to be the main emission pathway in all treatments, representing 62.4%, 86.4%, and 75.8% of the total N 2 O emission in HA, PA, and control, respectively. However, production of plants in HA was severely impaired, which was only 3.04 ± 0.39 kg/m 2 , while in PA and control, plants yields were 4.87 ± 0.56 kg/m 2 and 4.33 ± 0.58 kg/m 2 . Combining the environmental and economic benefits, adding PLA in aquaponics may have a better future when developing and applying aquaponics systems.

  6. Molecular and functional characterization of polymorphisms in the secreted phospholipase A2 group X gene: relevance to coronary artery disease.

    PubMed

    Gora, Sarah; Perret, Claire; Jemel, Ikram; Nicaud, Viviane; Lambeau, Gérard; Cambien, François; Ninio, Ewa; Blankenberg, Stefan; Tiret, Laurence; Karabina, Sonia-Athina

    2009-07-01

    Among secreted phospholipases A2 (sPLA2s), human group X sPLA2 (hGX sPLA2) is emerging as a novel attractive therapeutic target due to its implication in inflammatory diseases. To elucidate whether hGX sPLA2 plays a causative role in coronary artery disease (CAD), we screened the human PLA2G10 gene to identify polymorphisms and possible associations with CAD end-points in a prospective study, AtheroGene. We identified eight polymorphisms, among which, one non-synonymous polymorphism R38C in the propeptide region of the sPLA2. The T-512C polymorphism located in the 5' untranslated region was associated with a decreased risk of recurrent cardiovascular events during follow-up. The functional analysis of the R38C polymorphism showed that it leads to a profound change in expression and activity of hGX sPLA2, although there was no detectable impact on CAD risk. Due to the potential role of hGX sPLA2 in inflammatory processes, these polymorphisms should be investigated in other inflammatory diseases.

  7. AMPK Signaling Involvement for the Repression of the IL-1β-Induced Group IIA Secretory Phospholipase A2 Expression in VSMCs

    PubMed Central

    El Hadri, Khadija; Denoyelle, Chantal; Ravaux, Lucas; Viollet, Benoit; Foretz, Marc; Friguet, Bertrand; Rouis, Mustapha; Raymondjean, Michel

    2015-01-01

    Secretory Phospholipase A2 of type IIA (sPLA2 IIA) plays a crucial role in the production of lipid mediators by amplifying the neointimal inflammatory context of the vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), especially during atherogenesis. Phenformin, a biguanide family member, by its anti-inflammatory properties presents potential for promoting beneficial effects upon vascular cells, however its impact upon the IL-1β-induced sPLA2 gene expression has not been deeply investigated so far. The present study was designed to determine the relationship between phenformin coupling AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) function and the molecular mechanism by which the sPLA2 IIA expression was modulated in VSMCs. Here we find that 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribonucleotide (AICAR) treatment strongly repressed IL-1β-induced sPLA2 expression at least at the transcriptional level. Our study reveals that phenformin elicited a dose-dependent inhibition of the sPLA2 IIA expression and transient overexpression experiments of constitutively active AMPK demonstrate clearly that AMPK signaling is involved in the transcriptional inhibition of sPLA2-IIA gene expression. Furthermore, although the expression of the transcriptional repressor B-cell lymphoma-6 protein (BCL-6) was markedly enhanced by phenformin and AICAR, the repression of sPLA2 gene occurs through a mechanism independent of BCL-6 DNA binding site. In addition we show that activation of AMPK limits IL-1β-induced NF-κB pathway activation. Our results indicate that BCL-6, once activated by AMPK, functions as a competitor of the IL-1β induced NF-κB transcription complex. Our findings provide insights on a new anti-inflammatory pathway linking phenformin, AMPK and molecular control of sPLA2 IIA gene expression in VSMCs. PMID:26162096

  8. AMPK Signaling Involvement for the Repression of the IL-1β-Induced Group IIA Secretory Phospholipase A2 Expression in VSMCs.

    PubMed

    El Hadri, Khadija; Denoyelle, Chantal; Ravaux, Lucas; Viollet, Benoit; Foretz, Marc; Friguet, Bertrand; Rouis, Mustapha; Raymondjean, Michel

    2015-01-01

    Secretory Phospholipase A2 of type IIA (sPLA2 IIA) plays a crucial role in the production of lipid mediators by amplifying the neointimal inflammatory context of the vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), especially during atherogenesis. Phenformin, a biguanide family member, by its anti-inflammatory properties presents potential for promoting beneficial effects upon vascular cells, however its impact upon the IL-1β-induced sPLA2 gene expression has not been deeply investigated so far. The present study was designed to determine the relationship between phenformin coupling AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) function and the molecular mechanism by which the sPLA2 IIA expression was modulated in VSMCs. Here we find that 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribonucleotide (AICAR) treatment strongly repressed IL-1β-induced sPLA2 expression at least at the transcriptional level. Our study reveals that phenformin elicited a dose-dependent inhibition of the sPLA2 IIA expression and transient overexpression experiments of constitutively active AMPK demonstrate clearly that AMPK signaling is involved in the transcriptional inhibition of sPLA2-IIA gene expression. Furthermore, although the expression of the transcriptional repressor B-cell lymphoma-6 protein (BCL-6) was markedly enhanced by phenformin and AICAR, the repression of sPLA2 gene occurs through a mechanism independent of BCL-6 DNA binding site. In addition we show that activation of AMPK limits IL-1β-induced NF-κB pathway activation. Our results indicate that BCL-6, once activated by AMPK, functions as a competitor of the IL-1β induced NF-κB transcription complex. Our findings provide insights on a new anti-inflammatory pathway linking phenformin, AMPK and molecular control of sPLA2 IIA gene expression in VSMCs.

  9. Phospholipid alterations in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum induced by xanthine oxidase: contamination of commercial preparations of xanthine oxidase by phospholipase A/sub 2/

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gamache, D.A.; Kornberg, L.J.; Bartolf, M.

    1986-05-01

    Incubation of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum with xanthine oxidase alone at pH 7.0 resulted in a loss of lipid phosphorus that was potentiated by the addition of xanthine. Using autoclaved E.coli with 1-/sup 14/C-oleate in the 2-acyl position of membrane phospholipids, the authors demonstrate that many, but not all, commercial preparations of xanthine oxidase contain significant phospholipase A/sub 2/ (PLA/sub 2/) activity (64.3-545.6 nmols/min/mg). The PLA/sub 2/ was maximally active in the neutral-alkaline pH range, was Ca/sup 2 +/-dependent, and was unaffected by the addition of xanthine. PLA/sub 2/ activity was totally inhibited by 1mM EDTA whereas radical production by optimalmore » concentrations of xanthine/xanthine oxidase (X/XO) was unaffected by EDTA. Chromatographically purified xanthine oxidase (Sigma Grade III) contained high levels of PLA/sub 2/ activity (64.3 nmols/min/mg) compared to endogenous levels of neutral-active, Ca/sup 2 +/-dependent PLA/sub 2/ measured in various tissue homogenates (less than or equal to 0.5 nmols/ min/mg). Because X/XO mixtures are used extensively to study oxygen free radical-induced cell injury and membrane phospholipid alterations, the presence of a potent extracellular PLA/sub 2/ may have influenced previously published reports, and such studies should be interpreted cautiously.« less

  10. Structural analysis of secretory phospholipase A2 from Clonorchis sinensis: therapeutic implications for hepatic fibrosis.

    PubMed

    Hariprasad, Gururao; Kaur, Punit; Srinivasan, Alagiri; Singh, Tej Pal; Kumar, Manoj

    2012-07-01

    Hepatic fibrosis is a common complication of the infection by the parasite, Clonorchis sinensis. There is a high incidence of this disease in the Asian countries with an increased risk of conversion to cancer. A secretory phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) enzyme from the parasite is implicated in the pathology. This is an attractive drug target in the light of extensive structural characterization of this class of enzyme. In this study, the structure of the enzyme was modeled based on its sequence homology to the group III bee venom PLA(2). On analysis, the overall structure essentially is comprised of three helices, two sets of β-wings and an elongated C-terminal extension. The structure is stabilized by four disulfide bonds. The structure is comprised of a calcium binding loop, active site and a substrate binding hydrophobic channel. The active site of the enzyme shows the classical features of PLA(2) with the participation of the three residues: histidine-aspartic acid-tyrosine in hydrogen bond formation. This is an interesting variation from the house keeping group III PLA(2) enzyme of human which has a histidine-aspartic acid and phenylalanine arrangement at the active site. This difference is therefore an important structural parameter that can be exploited to design specific inhibitor molecules against the pathogen PLA(2). Likewise, there are certain unique structural features in the hydrophobic channel and the putative membrane binding surface of the PLA(2) from Clonorchis sinensis that not only help understand the mechanism of action but also provide knowledge for a targeted therapy of liver fibrosis caused by the parasite.

  11. Secretory phospholipase A{sub 2}-mediated progression of hepatotoxicity initiated by acetaminophen is exacerbated in the absence of hepatic COX-2

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bhave, Vishakha S.; Donthamsetty, Shashikiran; Latendresse, John R.

    2011-03-15

    We have previously reported that among the other death proteins, hepatic secretory phospholipase A{sub 2} (sPLA{sub 2}) is a leading mediator of progression of liver injury initiated by CCl{sub 4} in rats. The aim of our present study was to test the hypothesis that increased hepatic sPLA{sub 2} released after acetaminophen (APAP) challenge mediates progression of liver injury in wild type (WT) and COX-2 knockout (KO) mice. COX-2 WT and KO mice were administered a normally non lethal dose (400 mg/kg) of acetaminophen. The COX-2 KO mice suffered 60% mortality compared to 100% survival of the WT mice, suggesting highermore » susceptibility of COX-2 KO mice to sPLA{sub 2}-mediated progression of acetaminophen hepatotoxicity. Liver injury was significantly higher at later time points in the KO mice compared to the WT mice indicating that the abatement of progression of injury requires the presence of COX-2. This difference in hepatotoxicity was not due to increased bioactivation of acetaminophen as indicated by unchanged cyp2E1 protein and covalently bound {sup 14}C-APAP in the livers of KO mice. Hepatic sPLA{sub 2} activity and plasma TNF-{alpha} were significantly higher after APAP administration in the KO mice. This was accompanied by a corresponding fall in hepatic PGE{sub 2} and lower compensatory liver regeneration and repair ({sup 3}H-thymidine incorporation) in the KO mice. These results suggest that hindered compensatory tissue repair and poor resolution of inflammation for want of beneficial prostaglandins render the liver very vulnerable to sPLA{sub 2}-mediated progression of liver injury. These findings are consistent with the destructive role of sPLA{sub 2} in the progression and expansion of tissue injury as a result of continued hydrolytic breakdown of plasma membrane phospholipids of perinecrotic hepatocytes unless mitigated by sufficient co-induction of COX-2.« less

  12. Inhibition of Group IIA Secretory Phospholipase A2 and its Inflammatory Reactions in Mice by Ethanolic Extract of Andrographis paniculata, a Well-known Medicinal Food

    PubMed Central

    Kishore, V.; Yarla, N. S.; Zameer, F.; Nagendra Prasad, M. N.; Santosh, M. S.; More, S. S.; Rao, D. G.; Dhananjaya, Bhadrapura Lakkappa

    2016-01-01

    Andrographis paniculata Nees is an important medicinal plant found in the tropical regions of the world, which has been traditionally used in Indian and Chinese medicinal systems. It is also used as medicinal food. A. paniculata is found to exhibit anti-inflammatory activities; however, its inhibitory potential on inflammatory Group IIA phospholipases A2 (PLA2) and its associated inflammatory reactions are not clearly understood. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the inhibitory/neutralizing potential of ethanolic extract of A. paniculata on the isolated inflammatory PLA2 (VRV-PL-VIIIa) from Daboii rusellii pulchella (belonging to Group IIA inflammatory secretory PLA2 [sPLA2]) and its associated edema-induced activities in Swiss albino mice. A. paniculata extract dose dependently inhibited the Group IIA sPLA2 enzymatic activity with an IC50 value of 10.3 ± 0.5 μg/ml. Further, the extract dose dependently inhibited the edema formation, when co-injected with enzyme indicating that a strong correlation exists between lipolytic and pro-inflammatory activities of the enzyme. In conclusion, results of this study shows that the ethanolic extract of A. paniculata effectively inhibits Group IIA sPLA2 and its associated inflammatory activities, which substantiate its anti-inflammatory properties. The results of the present study warranted further studies to develop bioactive compound (s) in ethanolic extract of A. paniculata as potent therapeutic agent (s) for inflammatory diseases. SUMMARY This study emphasis the anti-inflammatory effect of A. paniculata by inhibiting the inflammatory Group IIA sPLA2 and its associated inflammatory activities such as edema. It was found that there is a strong correlation between lipolytic activity and pro-inflammatory activity inhibition. Therefore, the study suggests that the extract processes potent anti-inflammatory agents, which could be developed as a potential therapeutic agent against inflammatory and related diseases

  13. A myotoxic Lys49 phospholipase A2-homologue is the major component of the venom of Bothrops cotiara from Misiones, Argentina.

    PubMed

    de Roodt, Adolfo; Fernández, Julián; Solano, Daniela; Lomonte, Bruno

    2018-06-15

    Bothrops cotiara is a pitviper found in Southeastern Brazil and, scarcely, in the Misiones province of Argentina. In contrast to considerable information available on the venom of the Brazilian snake population, that of Misiones has received little attention. While exploring the chromatographic venom profile of Argentinean B. cotiara, a major protein peak was found which, according to a previous study, is not present in the venom of Brazilian origin. The corresponding protein was isolated by RP-HPLC, and characterized by electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) assay, and myotoxic activities. Representing nearly 15% of B. cotiara venom from Misiones, this protein was identified as a Lys49 PLA 2 homologue. In accordance with the characteristics of this toxin family, the protein induced myotoxicity in mice and was devoid of PLA 2 activity. Since previous work reported that no PLA 2 or PLA 2 -homologues occur in B. cotiara venom of Brazilian origin, the presence of an abundant Lys49 PLA 2 homologue in the venom from Misiones highlights a striking phenotypic variation in toxin expression within two populations of a single snake species inhabiting different geographic areas. The considerable proportion of B. cotiara Lys49 PLA 2 homologue myotoxin in the venom alerts that skeletal muscle necrosis might be a potentially relevant consequence of eventual envenomings by this species in Misiones. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. Signal transfer in the plant plasma membrane: phospholipase A(2) is regulated via an inhibitory Gα protein and a cyclophilin.

    PubMed

    Heinze, Michael; Herre, Madeleine; Massalski, Carolin; Hermann, Isabella; Conrad, Udo; Roos, Werner

    2013-03-15

    The plasma membrane of the California poppy is known to harbour a PLA2 (phospholipase A2) that is associated with the Gα protein which facilitates its activation by a yeast glycoprotein, thereby eliciting the biosynthesis of phytoalexins. To understand the functional architecture of the protein complex, we titrated purified plasma membranes with the Gα protein (native or recombinant) and found that critical amounts of this subunit keep PLA2 in a low-activity state from which it is released either by elicitor plus GTP or by raising the Gα concentration, which probably causes oligomerization of Gα, as supported by FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer)-orientated fluorescence imaging and a semiquantitative split-ubiquitin assay. All effects of Gα were blocked by specific antibodies. A low-Gα mutant showed elevated PLA2 activity and lacked the GTP-dependent stimulation by elicitor, but regained this capability after pre-incubation with Gα. The inhibition by Gα and the GTP-dependent stimulation of PLA2 were diminished by inhibitors of peptidylprolyl cis-trans isomerases. A cyclophilin was identified by sequence in the plasma membrane and in immunoprecipitates with anti-Gα antibodies. We conclude that soluble and target-associated Gα interact at the plasma membrane to build complexes of varying architecture and signal amplification. Protein-folding activity is probably required to convey conformational transitions from Gα to its target PLA2.

  15. Deinhibition of cardiac Na/sup +/-K/sup +/-ATPase after exposure to exogenous phospholipase A/sub 2/

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Colvin, R.A.

    1987-01-01

    After 2 h of exogenous phospholipase A/sub 2/ (PLA/sub 2/) exposure, membrane phospholipid decreased from 3.22 +/- 0.31 to 1.06 +/- 0.13 ..mu..mol/mg (33% of control). All classes of phospholipid, except sphingomyelin, were hydrolyzed, whereas total cholesterol content was unaffected. Increases in nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) were reflected primarily in oleic (18:1), linoleic (18:2), and arachidonic (20:4). Na/sup +/-K/sup +/-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activity was inhibited to 29% of control by 2 h of PLA/sub 2/ treatment, and this inhibition was reversed (albeit, not completely after 5 min of PLA/sub 2/ treatment) by removal of the hydrolysis products with 0.1% bovine serummore » albumin (BSA). In contrast, the apparent binding capacity for (/sup 3/H)ouabain was not affected by PLA/sub 2/ treatment. Unmasking of latent (/sup 3/H)ouabain binding by alamethicin was utilized to estimate changes in the proportion of sealed vesicles present before and after PLA/sub 2/ treatment. PLA/sub 2/ treatment resulted in a time-dependent loss of sealed vesicles that paralleled the time course of phospholipid hydrolysis and was not reversed by washing with BSA. These studies demonstrate that cardiac Na/sup +/-K/sup +/-ATPase activity is inhibited by accumulation of endogenously produced lysophospholipids and NEFA. In contrast, loss of vesicle integrity may result from both accumulation of endogenously produced hydrolysis products and membrane phospholipid depletion.« less

  16. Exploring the in vitro and in vivo compatibility of PLA, PLA/GNP and PLA/CNT-COOH biodegradable nanocomposites: Prospects for tendon and ligament applications.

    PubMed

    Correia Pinto, Viviana; Costa-Almeida, Raquel; Rodrigues, Ilda; Guardão, Luísa; Soares, Raquel; Miranda Guedes, Rui

    2017-08-01

    Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructive surgeries are the most frequent orthopedic procedures in the knee. Currently, existing strategies fail in completely restoring tissue functionality and have a high failure rate associated, presenting a compelling argument towards the development of novel materials envisioning ACL reinforcement. Tendons and ligaments, in general, have a strong demand in terms of biomechanical features of developed constructs. We have previously developed polylactic acid (PLA)-based biodegradable films reinforced either with graphene nanoplatelets (PLA/GNP) or with carboxyl-functionalized carbon nanotubes (PLA/CNT-COOH). In the present study, we comparatively assessed the biological performance of PLA, PLA/GNP, and PLA/CNT-COOH by seeding human dermal fibroblasts (HFF-1) and studying cell viability and proliferation. In vivo tests were also performed by subcutaneous implantation in 6-week-old C57Bl/6 mice. Results showed that all formulations studied herein did not elicit cytotoxic responses in seeded HFF-1, supporting cell proliferation up to 3 days in culture. Moreover, animal studies indicated no physiological signs of severe inflammatory response after 1 and 2 weeks after implantation. Taken together, our results present a preliminary assessment on the compatibility of PLA reinforced with GNP and CNT-COOH nanofillers, highlighting the potential use of these carbon-based nanofillers for the fabrication of reinforced synthetic polymer-based structures for ACL reinforcement. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 2182-2190, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  17. Effect of azithromycin on the LPS-induced production and secretion of phospholipase A2 in lung cells.

    PubMed

    Kitsiouli, Eirini; Antoniou, Georgia; Gotzou, Helen; Karagiannopoulos, Michalis; Basagiannis, Dimitris; Christoforidis, Savvas; Nakos, George; Lekka, Marilena E

    2015-07-01

    Azithromycin is a member of macrolides, utilized in the treatment of infections. Independently, these antibiotics also possess anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Phospholipase A2 isotypes, which are implicated in the pathophysiology of inflammatory lung disorders, are produced by alveolar macrophages and other lung cells during inflammatory response and can promote lung injury by destructing lung surfactant. The aim of the study was to investigate whether in lung cells azithromycin can inhibit secretory and cytosolic phospholipases A2, (sPLA2) and (cPLA2), respectively, which are induced by an inflammatory trigger. In this respect, we studied the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated production or secretion of sPLA2 and cPLA2 from A549 cells, a cancer bronchial epithelial cell line, and alveolar macrophages, isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of ARDS and control patients without cardiopulmonary disease or sepsis. Pre-treatment of cells with azithromycin caused a dose-dependent decrease in the LPS-induced sPLA2-IIA levels in A549 cells. This inhibition was rather due to reduced PLA2G2A mRNA expression and secretion of sPLA2-IIA protein levels, as observed by western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence by confocal microscopy, respectively, than to the inhibition of the enzymic activity per se. On the contrary, azithromycin had no effect on the LPS-induced production or secretion of sPLA2-IIA from alveolar macrophages. The levels of LPS-induced c-PLA2 were not significantly affected by azithromycin in either cell type. We conclude that azithromycin exerts anti-inflammatory properties on lung epithelial cells through the inhibition of both the expression and secretion of LPS-induced sPLA2-IIA, while it does not affect alveolar macrophages. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. [Molecular cloning and characterization in silico of phospholipase A(2) transcript isolated from Lachesis muta peruvian snake venom].

    PubMed

    Jimenez, Karim L; Zavaleta, Amparo I; Izaguirre, Victor; Yarleque, Armando; Inga, Rosio R

    2010-01-01

    Isolate and characterize in silico gene phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) isolated from Lachesis muta venom of the Peruvian Amazon. Technique RT-PCR from total RNA was using specific primers, the amplified DNA product was inserted into the pGEM vector for subsequent sequencing. By bioinformatic analysis identified an open reading frame of 414 nucleotides that encoded 138 amino acids including a signal peptide of 16 aminoacids, molecular weight and pI were 13,976 kDa and 5.66 respectively. The aminoacid sequence was called Lm-PLA(2)-Peru, contains an aspartate at position 49, this aminoacid in conjunction with other conserved residues such as Tyr-28, Gly-30, Gly-32, His-48, Tyr52, Asp99 are important for enzymatic activity. The comparison with the amino acid sequence data banks showed of similarity between PLA(2) from Lachesis stenophrys (93%) and other PLA(2) snake venoms and over 80% of other sPLA(2) family Viperidae venoms. A phylogenetic analysis showed that Lm-PLA(2)-Peru grouped with other acidic [Asp(49)] sPLA(2) previously isolated from Bothriechis schlegelii venom showing 89 % nucleotide sequence identity. Finally, the computer modeling indicated that enzyme had the characteristic structure of sPLA(2) group II that consisted of three α-helices, a β-wing, a short helix and a calcium-binding loop. The nucleotide sequence corresponding to the first transcript of gene from PLA(2) cloned of Lachesis muta venom, snake from the Peruvian rainforest.

  19. Kinetic characterization, optimum conditions for catalysis and substrate preference of secretory phospholipase A2 from Glycine max in model membrane systems.

    PubMed

    Mariani, María Elisa; Madoery, Ricardo Román; Fidelio, Gerardo Daniel

    2015-01-01

    Two secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2s) from Glycine max, GmsPLA2-IXA-1 and GmsPLA2-XIB-2, have been purified as recombinant proteins and the activity was evaluated in order to obtain the optimum conditions for catalysis using mixed micelles and lipid monolayers as substrate. Both sPLA2s showed a maximum enzyme activity at pH 7 and a requirement of Ca(2+) in the micromolar range. These parameters were similar to those found for animal sPLA2s but a surprising optimum temperature for catalysis at 60 °C was observed. The effect of negative interfacial charges on the hydrolysis of organized substrates was evaluated through initial rate measurements using short chain phospholipids with different head groups. The enzymes showed subtle differences in the specificity for phospholipids with different head groups (DLPC, DLPG, DLPE, DLPA) in presence or absence of NaCl. Both recombinant enzymes showed lower activity toward anionic phospholipids and a preference for the zwitterionic ones. The values of the apparent kinetic parameters (Vmax and KM) demonstrated that these enzymes have more affinity for phosphatidylcholine compared with phosphatidylglycerol, in contrast with the results observed for pancreatic sPLA2. A hopping mode of catalysis was proposed for the action of these sPLA2 on mixed phospholipid/triton micelles. On the other hand, Langmuir-monolayers assays indicated an optimum lateral surface pressure for activity in between 13 and 16 mN/m for both recombinant enzymes. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. and Société française de biochimie et biologie Moléculaire (SFBBM). All rights reserved.

  20. Preparation of Chitin-PLA laminated composite for implantable application.

    PubMed

    Nasrin, Romana; Biswas, Shanta; Rashid, Taslim Ur; Afrin, Sanjida; Jahan, Rumana Akhter; Haque, Papia; Rahman, Mohammed Mizanur

    2017-12-01

    The present study explores the possibilities of using locally available inexpensive waste prawn shell derived chitin reinforced and bioabsorbable polylactic acid (PLA) laminated composites to develop new materials with excellent mechanical and thermal properties for implantable application such as in bone or dental implant. Chitin at different concentration (1-20% of PLA) reinforced PLA films (CTP) were fabricated by solvent casting process and laminated chitin-PLA composites (LCTP) were prepared by laminating PLA film (obtained by hot press method) with CTP also by hot press method at 160 °C. The effect of variation of chitin concentration on the resulting laminated composite's behavior was investigated. The detailed physico-mechanical, surface morphology and thermal were assessed with different characterization technique such as FT-IR, XRD, SEM and TGA. The FTIR spectra showed the characteristic peaks for chitin and PLA in the composites. SEM images showed an excellent dispersion of chitin in the films and composites. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the complete degradation of chitin, PLA film, 5% chitin reinforced PLA film (CTP2) and LCTP are 98%, 95%, 87% and 98% respectively at temperature of 500 °C. The tensile strength of the LCTP was found 25.09 MPa which is significantly higher than pure PLA film (18.55 MPa) and CTP2 film (8.83 MPa). After lamination of pure PLA and CTP2 film, the composite (LCTP) yielded 0.265-1.061% water absorption from 30 min to 24 h immerse in water that is much lower than PLA and CTP. The increased mechanical properties of the laminated films with the increase of chitin content indicated good dispersion of chitin into PLA and strong interfacial actions between the polymer and chitin. The improvement of mechanical properties and the results of antimicrobial and cytotoxicity of the composites also evaluated and revealed the composite would be a suitable candidate for implant application in biomedical sector.

  1. Structure of a Premicellar Complex of Alkyl Sulfates with the Interfacial Binding Surfaces of 4 Subunits of Phospholipase A2

    PubMed Central

    Pan, Ying H.; Bahnson, Brian J.

    2010-01-01

    The properties of three discrete premicellar complexes (E1#, E2#, E3#) of pig pancreatic group-IB secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) with monodisperse alkyl sulfates has been characterized [Berg, O. G., et al., Biochemistry 43, 7999–8013, 2004]. Here we have solved the 2.7 Å crystal structure of group-IB sPLA2 complexed with 12 molecules of octyl sulfate (C8S) in a form consistent with a tetrameric oligomeric that exists during the E1# phase of premicellar complexes. The alkyl tails of the C8S molecules are centered in the middle of the tetrameric cluster of sPLA2 subunits. Three of the four sPLA2 subunits also contain a C8S molecule in the active site pocket. The sulfate oxygen of a C8S ligand is complexed to the active site calcium in 3 of the 4 protein active sites. The interactions of the alkyl sulfate head group with Arg-6 and Lys-10, as well as the backbone amide of Met-20, are analogous to those observed in the previously solved sPLA2 crystal structures with bound phosphate and sulfate anions. The cluster of three anions found in the present structure is postulated to be the site for nucleating the binding of anionic amphiphiles to the interfacial surface of the protein, and therefore this binding interaction has implications for interfacial activation of the enzyme. PMID:20302975

  2. The group VIA calcium-independent phospholipase A2 and NFATc4 pathway mediates IL-1β-induced expression of chemokines CCL2 and CXCL10 in rat fibroblasts.

    PubMed

    Kuwata, Hiroshi; Yuzurihara, Chihiro; Kinoshita, Natsumi; Taki, Yuki; Ikegami, Yuki; Washio, Sana; Hirakawa, Yushi; Yoda, Emiko; Aiuchi, Toshihiro; Itabe, Hiroyuki; Nakatani, Yoshihito; Hara, Shuntaro

    2018-06-01

    Chemokines are secreted proteins that regulate cell migration and are involved in inflammatory and immune responses. Here, we sought to define the functional crosstalk between the lipid signaling and chemokine signaling. We obtained evidence that the induction of some chemokines is regulated by group VIA calcium-independent phospholipase A 2 β (iPLA 2 β) in IL-1β-stimulated rat fibroblastic 3Y1 cells. Treatment of 3Y1 cells with IL-1β elicited an increased release of chemotactic factor(s) for monocytic THP-1 cells into culture medium in a time-dependent manner. Inhibitor studies revealed that an intracellular PLA 2 inhibitor, arachidonoyl trifluoromethyl ketone (AACOCF 3 ), but not the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, attenuated the release of chemotactic factor(s). The chemotactic activity was inactivated by treatment with either heat or proteinase K, suggesting this chemotactic factor(s) is a proteinaceous factor(s). We purified the chemotactic factor(s) from the conditioned medium of IL-1β-stimulated 3Y1 cells using a heparin column and identified several chemokines, including CCL2 and CXCL10. The inducible expressions of CCL2 and CXCL10 were significantly attenuated by pretreatment with AACOCF 3 . Gene silencing using siRNA revealed that the inductions of CCL2 and CXCL10 were attenuated by iPLA 2 β knockdown. Additionally, the transcriptional activation of nuclear factor of activated T-cell proteins (NFATs), but not nuclear factor-κB, by IL-1β stimulation was markedly attenuated by the iPLA 2 inhibitor bromoenol lactone, and NFATc4 knockdown markedly attenuated the IL-1β-induced expression of both CCL2 and CXCL10. Collectively, these results indicated that iPLA 2 β plays roles in IL-1β-induced chemokine expression, in part via NFATc4 signaling. © 2018 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

  3. The effect of polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride (PHMG) derivatives introduced into polylactide (PLA) on the activity of bacterial enzymes.

    PubMed

    Walczak, Maciej; Richert, Agnieszka; Burkowska-But, Aleksandra

    2014-11-01

    The present study was aimed at investigating bactericidal properties of polylactide (PLA) films containing three different polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride (PHMG) derivatives and effect of the derivatives on extracellular hydrolytic enzymes and intracellular dehydrogenases. All PHMG derivatives had a slightly stronger bactericidal effect on Staphylococcus aureus than on E. coli but only PHMG granular polyethylene wax (at the concentration of at least 0.6 %) has a bactericidal effect. PHMG derivatives introduced into PLA affected the activity of microbial hydrolases to a small extent. This means that the introduction of PHMG derivatives into PLA will not reduce its enzymatic biodegradation significantly. On the other hand, PHMG derivatives introduced into PLA strongly affected dehydrogenases activity in S. aureus than in E. coli.

  4. Varespladib (LY315920) Appears to Be a Potent, Broad-Spectrum, Inhibitor of Snake Venom Phospholipase A2 and a Possible Pre-Referral Treatment for Envenomation

    PubMed Central

    Lewin, Matthew; Samuel, Stephen; Merkel, Janie; Bickler, Philip

    2016-01-01

    Snakebite remains a neglected medical problem of the developing world with up to 125,000 deaths each year despite more than a century of calls to improve snakebite prevention and care. An estimated 75% of fatalities from snakebite occur outside the hospital setting. Because phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity is an important component of venom toxicity, we sought candidate PLA2 inhibitors by directly testing drugs. Surprisingly, varespladib and its orally bioavailable prodrug, methyl-varespladib showed high-level secretory PLA2 (sPLA2) inhibition at nanomolar and picomolar concentrations against 28 medically important snake venoms from six continents. In vivo proof-of-concept studies with varespladib had striking survival benefit against lethal doses of Micrurus fulvius and Vipera berus venom, and suppressed venom-induced sPLA2 activity in rats challenged with 100% lethal doses of M. fulvius venom. Rapid development and deployment of a broad-spectrum PLA2 inhibitor alone or in combination with other small molecule inhibitors of snake toxins (e.g., metalloproteases) could fill the critical therapeutic gap spanning pre-referral and hospital setting. Lower barriers for clinical testing of safety tested, repurposed small molecule therapeutics are a potentially economical and effective path forward to fill the pre-referral gap in the setting of snakebite. PMID:27571102

  5. Structure of a premicellar complex of alkyl sulfates with the interfacial binding surfaces of four subunits of phospholipase A2.

    PubMed

    Pan, Ying H; Bahnson, Brian J

    2010-07-01

    The properties of three discrete premicellar complexes (E1#, E2#, E3#) of pig pancreatic group-IB secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) with monodisperse alkyl sulfates have been characterized [Berg, O. G. et al., Biochemistry 43, 7999-8013, 2004]. Here we have solved the 2.7 A crystal structure of group-IB sPLA2 complexed with 12 molecules of octyl sulfate (C8S) in a form consistent with a tetrameric oligomeric that exists during the E1# phase of premicellar complexes. The alkyl tails of the C8S molecules are centered in the middle of the tetrameric cluster of sPLA2 subunits. Three of the four sPLA2 subunits also contain a C8S molecule in the active site pocket. The sulfate oxygen of a C8S ligand is complexed to the active site calcium in three of the four protein active sites. The interactions of the alkyl sulfate head group with Arg-6 and Lys-10, as well as the backbone amide of Met-20, are analogous to those observed in the previously solved sPLA2 crystal structures with bound phosphate and sulfate anions. The cluster of three anions found in the present structure is postulated to be the site for nucleating the binding of anionic amphiphiles to the interfacial surface of the protein, and therefore this binding interaction has implications for interfacial activation of the enzyme. Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. Platelet indirect radioactive Coombs test. Its utilization for PLA1 grouping.

    PubMed

    Soulier, J P; Patereau, C; Drouet, J

    1975-01-01

    A platelet indirect radioactive Coombs test (PIRC) has been described. The technique for purification and labelling the antiglobulin has been precised. This test allowed the typing of platelets in the PLA system by using an absorbed serum from a mother of a thrombocytopenic child. Six other families of neonatal thrombocytopenias were tested. In three of them, the mothers were found PLA1 negative (PLA2, PLA2). Among a panel of 93 platelets, two (0.022) were found PLA1, negative. This PIRC test has many advantages compared to other tests such as platelet complement fixation, assay for blocking antibodies or antiglobulin consumption: it gives objective and quantitative results and is highly reproducible; anticomplementary serum may be tested.

  7. Bee Venom Phospholipase A2: Yesterday's Enemy Becomes Today's Friend.

    PubMed

    Lee, Gihyun; Bae, Hyunsu

    2016-02-22

    Bee venom therapy has been used to treat immune-related diseases such as arthritis for a long time. Recently, it has revealed that group III secretory phospholipase A2 from bee venom (bee venom group III sPLA2) has in vitro and in vivo immunomodulatory effects. A growing number of reports have demonstrated the therapeutic effects of bee venom group III sPLA2. Notably, new experimental data have shown protective immune responses of bee venom group III sPLA2 against a wide range of diseases including asthma, Parkinson's disease, and drug-induced organ inflammation. It is critical to evaluate the beneficial and adverse effects of bee venom group III sPLA2 because this enzyme is known to be the major allergen of bee venom that can cause anaphylactic shock. For many decades, efforts have been made to avoid its adverse effects. At high concentrations, exposure to bee venom group III sPLA2 can result in damage to cellular membranes and necrotic cell death. In this review, we summarized the current knowledge about the therapeutic effects of bee venom group III sPLA2 on several immunological diseases and described the detailed mechanisms of bee venom group III sPLA2 in regulating various immune responses and physiopathological changes.

  8. Correlations between endotoxin, interferon-gamma, biopterin and serum phospholipase A2-activities during lethal gram negative sepsis in rats.

    PubMed

    Hunsicker, A; Kullich, W; Weissenhofer, W; Lorenz, D; Petermann, J; Rokos, H; Schwesinger, G

    1997-05-01

    To establish a standardised reproducible animal model of intraperitoneal sepsis, and to investigate early immunoserological responses to find a mediator-based system for evaluation and grading of diffuse peritonitis in patients Prospective experimental study 4 Teaching hospitals, Germany and Austria 42 LEW. 1W rats, 12 of which acted as controls Gram negative sepsis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 6 ml of a mixture of Escherichia coli (K1:H+) 10(10) organisms/ml, autogenous haemoglobin 2.9 ml (haemoglobin concentration 3%), 0.9% sodium chloride 3 ml, and suspension 0.1 ml. Control rats were given physiological saline 6 ml alone. Concentrations of endotoxin, interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), and biopterin, and serum phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity. There were significant differences between the septic and control rats in concentrations of endotoxin (EU/ml) (median (interquartile range) 21.85 (2.02-159.5) compared with 0, p < 0.0001; IFN-gamma (pg/ml) 1263.0 (271.0-7575.0) compared with 101.0 (89.0-141.0), p < 0.0001; biopterin (nmol/L) 111.0 (66.4-156.3) compared with 53.7 (38.3-67.6), p < 0.001; and PLA2 (U/L) 163.0 (125.8-209.0) compared with 112.5 (88.5-126.5) p < 0.01. Measurements of concentrations of endotoxin, IFN-gamma, pteridines, and PLA2 activity may well be adequate markers for early recognition of sepsis, and perhaps for grading it during the first 6 hours after induction. The allow a clear distinction to be made between septic and non-septic disorders in 87% of cases.

  9. Inactivation of Peroxiredoxin 6 by the Pla Protease of Yersinia pestis

    PubMed Central

    Zimbler, Daniel L.; Eddy, Justin L.; Schroeder, Jay A.

    2015-01-01

    Pneumonic plague represents the most severe form of disease caused by Yersinia pestis due to its ease of transmission, rapid progression, and high mortality rate. The Y. pestis outer membrane Pla protease is essential for the development of pneumonic plague; however, the complete repertoire of substrates cleaved by Pla in the lungs is not known. In this study, we describe a proteomic screen to identify host proteins contained within the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of mice that are cleaved and/or processed by Y. pestis in a Pla-dependent manner. We identified peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6), a host factor that contributes to pulmonary surfactant metabolism and lung defense against oxidative stress, as a previously unknown substrate of Pla. Pla cleaves Prdx6 at three distinct sites, and these cleavages disrupt both the peroxidase and phospholipase A2 activities of Prdx6. In addition, we found that infection with wild-type Y. pestis reduces the abundance of extracellular Prdx6 in the lungs compared to that after infection with Δpla Y. pestis, suggesting that Pla cleaves Prdx6 in the pulmonary compartment. However, following infection with either wild-type or Δpla Y. pestis, Prdx6-deficient mice exhibit no differences in bacterial burden, host immune response, or lung damage from wild-type mice. Thus, while Pla is able to disrupt Prdx6 function in vitro and reduce Prdx6 levels in vivo, the cleavage of Prdx6 has little detectable impact on the progression or outcome of pneumonic plague. PMID:26553463

  10. Inactivation of Peroxiredoxin 6 by the Pla Protease of Yersinia pestis.

    PubMed

    Zimbler, Daniel L; Eddy, Justin L; Schroeder, Jay A; Lathem, Wyndham W

    2016-01-01

    Pneumonic plague represents the most severe form of disease caused by Yersinia pestis due to its ease of transmission, rapid progression, and high mortality rate. The Y. pestis outer membrane Pla protease is essential for the development of pneumonic plague; however, the complete repertoire of substrates cleaved by Pla in the lungs is not known. In this study, we describe a proteomic screen to identify host proteins contained within the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of mice that are cleaved and/or processed by Y. pestis in a Pla-dependent manner. We identified peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6), a host factor that contributes to pulmonary surfactant metabolism and lung defense against oxidative stress, as a previously unknown substrate of Pla. Pla cleaves Prdx6 at three distinct sites, and these cleavages disrupt both the peroxidase and phospholipase A2 activities of Prdx6. In addition, we found that infection with wild-type Y. pestis reduces the abundance of extracellular Prdx6 in the lungs compared to that after infection with Δpla Y. pestis, suggesting that Pla cleaves Prdx6 in the pulmonary compartment. However, following infection with either wild-type or Δpla Y. pestis, Prdx6-deficient mice exhibit no differences in bacterial burden, host immune response, or lung damage from wild-type mice. Thus, while Pla is able to disrupt Prdx6 function in vitro and reduce Prdx6 levels in vivo, the cleavage of Prdx6 has little detectable impact on the progression or outcome of pneumonic plague. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

  11. Development of polylactide (PLA) and PLA nanocomposite foams in injection molding for automotive applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Najafi Chaloupli, Naqi

    foaming behavior of PLA. To this end, LCB-PLAs were prepared in the presence of a multifunctional chain extender (CE) using two different processing strategies. In the first strategy, the dried PLA was directly mixed in the molten state with various quantities of CE (the formation of LCB structure). To further examine the impact of CE and molecular topology, a LCB-PLA was also prepared using a second approach, strategy S2. In this approach, a highly branched PLA was first prepared and then mixed with the neat PLA at a weight ratio of 50:50 (the introduction of LCB structure). The steady and transient rheological properties of the linear and LCB-PLAs revealed that the LCB-PLAs exhibited an increased viscosity, shear sensitivity and longer relaxation time in comparison with the linear PLA. The presence of the LCB structure, moreover, led to a strong strain-hardening behavior in uniaxial elongational flow whereas no strain hardening was observed for the linear PLA. The batch foaming of the samples was conducted using CO2 at different foaming temperatures ranging from 130 to 155 °C. The impact of molecular structure and foaming temperature on the void fraction, cell density, and cell size were examined. It was found that the increased melt strength and elasticity, resulting from branching, strongly affected the cell uniformity, cell density and void fraction. Among the investigated compositions, LCB-PLA prepared by strategy S2 provided smaller cell size and higher cell density than the other compositions. In most polymer processing operations such as extrusion and injection molding the polymeric chains are subjected to complex flow fields (elongation, shear, and mixed flows). Shearing the molten polymer during processing plays an essential role on crystallization and, thus, on the final properties of the product. The impact of the LCB structure and shear on the isothermal shear-induced crystallization kinetics, and the crystal morphology of PLA were studied in the second

  12. Synthetic and natural inhibitors of phospholipases A2: their importance for understanding and treatment of neurological disorders.

    PubMed

    Ong, Wei-Yi; Farooqui, Tahira; Kokotos, George; Farooqui, Akhlaq A

    2015-06-17

    Phospholipases A2 (PLA2) are a diverse group of enzymes that hydrolyze membrane phospholipids into arachidonic acid and lysophospholipids. Arachidonic acid is metabolized to eicosanoids (prostaglandins, leukotrienes, thromboxanes), and lysophospholipids are converted to platelet-activating factors. These lipid mediators play critical roles in the initiation, maintenance, and modulation of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Neurological disorders including excitotoxicity; traumatic nerve and brain injury; cerebral ischemia; Alzheimer's disease; Parkinson's disease; multiple sclerosis; experimental allergic encephalitis; pain; depression; bipolar disorder; schizophrenia; and autism are characterized by oxidative stress, inflammatory reactions, alterations in phospholipid metabolism, accumulation of lipid peroxides, and increased activities of brain phospholipase A2 isoforms. Several old and new synthetic inhibitors of PLA2, including fatty acid trifluoromethyl ketones; methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate; bromoenol lactone; indole-based inhibitors; pyrrolidine-based inhibitors; amide inhibitors, 2-oxoamides; 1,3-disubstituted propan-2-ones and polyfluoroalkyl ketones as well as phytochemical based PLA2 inhibitors including curcumin, Ginkgo biloba and Centella asiatica extracts have been discovered and used for the treatment of neurological disorders in cell culture and animal model systems. The purpose of this review is to summarize information on selective and potent synthetic inhibitors of PLA2 as well as several PLA2 inhibitors from plants, for treatment of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation associated with the pathogenesis of neurological disorders.

  13. Group X secreted phospholipase A2 proenzyme is matured by a furin-like proprotein convertase and releases arachidonic acid inside of human HEK293 cells.

    PubMed

    Jemel, Ikram; Ii, Hiromi; Oslund, Rob C; Payré, Christine; Dabert-Gay, Anne-Sophie; Douguet, Dominique; Chargui, Khaoula; Scarzello, Sabine; Gelb, Michael H; Lambeau, Gérard

    2011-10-21

    Among mammalian secreted phospholipases A(2) (sPLA(2)s), group X sPLA(2) has the most potent hydrolyzing activity toward phosphatidylcholine and is involved in arachidonic acid (AA) release. Group X sPLA(2) is produced as a proenzyme and contains a short propeptide of 11 amino acids ending with a dibasic motif, suggesting cleavage by proprotein convertases. Although the removal of this propeptide is clearly required for enzymatic activity, the cellular location and the protease(s) involved in proenzyme conversion are unknown. Here we have analyzed the maturation of group X sPLA(2) in HEK293 cells, which have been extensively used to analyze sPLA(2)-induced AA release. Using recombinant mouse (PromGX) and human (ProhGX) proenzymes; HEK293 cells transfected with cDNAs coding for full-length ProhGX, PromGX, and propeptide mutants; and various permeable and non-permeable sPLA(2) inhibitors and protease inhibitors, we demonstrate that group X sPLA(2) is mainly converted intracellularly and releases AA before externalization from the cell. Most strikingly, the exogenous proenzyme does not elicit AA release, whereas the transfected proenzyme does elicit AA release in a way insensitive to non-permeable sPLA(2) inhibitors. In transfected cells, a permeable proprotein convertase inhibitor, but not a non-permeable one, prevents group X sPLA(2) maturation and partially blocks AA release. Mutations at the dibasic motif of the propeptide indicate that the last basic residue is required and sufficient for efficient maturation and AA release. All together, these results argue for the intracellular maturation of group X proenzyme in HEK293 cells by a furin-like proprotein convertase, leading to intracellular release of AA during secretion.

  14. Group X Secreted Phospholipase A2 Proenzyme Is Matured by a Furin-like Proprotein Convertase and Releases Arachidonic Acid inside of Human HEK293 Cells*

    PubMed Central

    Jemel, Ikram; Ii, Hiromi; Oslund, Rob C.; Payré, Christine; Dabert-Gay, Anne-Sophie; Douguet, Dominique; Chargui, Khaoula; Scarzello, Sabine; Gelb, Michael H.; Lambeau, Gérard

    2011-01-01

    Among mammalian secreted phospholipases A2 (sPLA2s), group X sPLA2 has the most potent hydrolyzing activity toward phosphatidylcholine and is involved in arachidonic acid (AA) release. Group X sPLA2 is produced as a proenzyme and contains a short propeptide of 11 amino acids ending with a dibasic motif, suggesting cleavage by proprotein convertases. Although the removal of this propeptide is clearly required for enzymatic activity, the cellular location and the protease(s) involved in proenzyme conversion are unknown. Here we have analyzed the maturation of group X sPLA2 in HEK293 cells, which have been extensively used to analyze sPLA2-induced AA release. Using recombinant mouse (PromGX) and human (ProhGX) proenzymes; HEK293 cells transfected with cDNAs coding for full-length ProhGX, PromGX, and propeptide mutants; and various permeable and non-permeable sPLA2 inhibitors and protease inhibitors, we demonstrate that group X sPLA2 is mainly converted intracellularly and releases AA before externalization from the cell. Most strikingly, the exogenous proenzyme does not elicit AA release, whereas the transfected proenzyme does elicit AA release in a way insensitive to non-permeable sPLA2 inhibitors. In transfected cells, a permeable proprotein convertase inhibitor, but not a non-permeable one, prevents group X sPLA2 maturation and partially blocks AA release. Mutations at the dibasic motif of the propeptide indicate that the last basic residue is required and sufficient for efficient maturation and AA release. All together, these results argue for the intracellular maturation of group X proenzyme in HEK293 cells by a furin-like proprotein convertase, leading to intracellular release of AA during secretion. PMID:21878635

  15. Composite porous scaffold of PEG/PLA support improved bone matrix deposition in vitro compared to PLA-only scaffolds.

    PubMed

    Bhaskar, Birru; Owen, Robert; Bahmaee, Hossein; Wally, Zena; Sreenivasa Rao, Parcha; Reilly, Gwendolen C

    2018-05-01

    Controllable pore size and architecture are essential properties for tissue-engineering scaffolds to support cell ingrowth colonization. To investigate the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) addition on porosity and bone-cell behavior, porous polylactic acid (PLA)-PEG scaffolds were developed with varied weight ratios of PLA-PEG (100/0, 90/10, 75/25) using solvent casting and porogen leaching. Sugar 200-300 µm in size was used as a porogen. To assess scaffold suitability for bone tissue engineering, MLO-A5 murine osteoblast cells were cultured and cell metabolic activity, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and bone-matrix production determined using (alizarin red S staining for calcium and direct red 80 staining for collagen). It was found that metabolic activity was significantly higher over time on scaffolds containing PEG, ALP activity and mineralized matrix production were also significantly higher on scaffolds containing 25% PEG. Porous architecture and cell distribution and penetration into the scaffold were analyzed using SEM and confocal microscopy, revealing that inclusion of PEG increased pore interconnectivity and therefore cell ingrowth in comparison to pure PLA scaffolds. The results of this study confirmed that PLA-PEG porous scaffolds support mineralizing osteoblasts better than pure PLA scaffolds, indicating they have a high potential for use in bone tissue engineering applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 1334-1340, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  16. Synergistic effects of colchicine combined with atorvastatin in rats with hyperlipidemia.

    PubMed

    Huang, Congwu; Cen, Chuan; Wang, ChengXu; Zhan, Haiyong; Ding, Xin

    2014-04-17

    Inflammation and endothelial dysfunction is implicated in the atherosclerosis initiation and progression in the setting of hyperlipidemia. Colchicine is a potent anti-inflammatory agent and whether colchicine combined with atorvastatin has synergistic effects on inflammation amelioration and endothelial function improvement is unknown. Hyperlipidemic rat model was produced by high-fat and high-cholesterol diet for 6 weeks. Rats with normal diet were served as shame group. In hyperlipidemic group, normal saline, atorvastatin (10 mg/kg body weight/day), colchicines (0.5 mg/kg body weight/day), or atorvastatin combined with colchicines (same dosages) were prescribed for 2 weeks. Serum levels of lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), liver enzyme, lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and nitric oxide (NO) production were serially assessed. Before the beginning of the study, all laboratory variables were comparable among each group. After 6 weeks of hyperlipidemic model production, serum levels of cholesterols, CRP and Lp-PLA2 were significantly increased when compared to sham group, whereas NO production was reduced. With 2 weeks of colchicine therapy, serum levels of CRP and Lp-PLA2 were decreased and NO production was enhanced in the colchicine group in a lipid-lowering independent manner. Added colchicine into atorvastatin therapy further improved NO production and decreased CRP and Lp-PLA2 levels, indicating a potential synergism of colchicine and atorvastatin. Colchicine combined with atorvastatin may have stronger protective effects on improving endothelial function and ameliorating inflammation in rats with hyperlipidemia.

  17. Group III secreted phospholipase A2 regulates epididymal sperm maturation and fertility in mice

    PubMed Central

    Sato, Hiroyasu; Taketomi, Yoshitaka; Isogai, Yuki; Miki, Yoshimi; Yamamoto, Kei; Masuda, Seiko; Hosono, Tomohiko; Arata, Satoru; Ishikawa, Yukio; Ishii, Toshiharu; Kobayashi, Tetsuyuki; Nakanishi, Hiroki; Ikeda, Kazutaka; Taguchi, Ryo; Hara, Shuntaro; Kudo, Ichiro; Murakami, Makoto

    2010-01-01

    Although lipid metabolism is thought to be important for the proper maturation and function of spermatozoa, the molecular mechanisms that underlie this dynamic process in the gonads remains incompletely understood. Here, we show that group III phospholipase A2 (sPLA2-III), a member of the secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) family, is expressed in the mouse proximal epididymal epithelium and that targeted disruption of the gene encoding this protein (Pla2g3) leads to defects in sperm maturation and fertility. Although testicular spermatogenesis in Pla2g3–/– mice was grossly normal, spermatozoa isolated from the cauda epididymidis displayed hypomotility, and their ability to fertilize intact eggs was markedly impaired. Transmission EM further revealed that epididymal spermatozoa in Pla2g3–/– mice had both flagella with abnormal axonemes and aberrant acrosomal structures. During epididymal transit, phosphatidylcholine in the membrane of Pla2g3+/+ sperm underwent a dramatic shift in its acyl groups from oleic, linoleic, and arachidonic acids to docosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, whereas this membrane lipid remodeling event was compromised in sperm from Pla2g3–/– mice. Moreover, the gonads of Pla2g3–/– mice contained less 12/15-lipoxygenase metabolites than did those of Pla2g3+/+ mice. Together, our results reveal a role for the atypical sPLA2 family member sPLA2-III in epididymal lipid homeostasis and indicate that its perturbation may lead to sperm dysfunction. PMID:20424323

  18. Influence of the Formulation Parameters on the Particle Size and Encapsulation Efficiency of Resveratrol in PLA and PLA-PEG Blend Nanoparticles: A Factorial Design.

    PubMed

    Lindner, Gabriela da Rocha; Dalmolin, Luciana Facco; Khalil, Najeh Maissar; Mainardes, Rubiana Mara

    2015-12-01

    Polymeric nanoparticles are colloidal systems that promote protection and modification of physicochemical characteristics of a drug and that also ensure controlled and extended drug release. This paper reports a 2(3) factorial design study to optimize poly(lactide) (PLA) and poly(lactide)-polyethylene glycol (PLA-PEG) blend nanoparticles containing resveratrol (RVT) for prolonged release. The independent variables analyzed were solvent composition, surfactant concentration and ratio of aqueous to organic phase (two levels each factor). Mean particle size and RVT encapsulation efficiency were set as the dependent variables. The selected optimized parameters were set as organic phase comprised of a mixture of dichloromethane and ethyl acetate, 1% of surfactant polyvinyl alcohol and a 3:1 ratio of aqueous to organic phase, for both PLA and PLA-PEG blend nanoparticles. This formulation originated nanoparticles with size of 228 ± 10 nm and 185 ± 70 nm and RVT encapsulation efficiency of 82 ± 10% and 76 ± 7% for PLA and PLA-PEG blend nanoparticles, respectively. The in vitro release study showed a biphasic pattern with prolonged RVT release and PEG did not influence the RVT release. The in vitro release data were in favor of Higuchi-diffusion kinetics for both nanoformulations and the Kossmeyer-Peppas coefficient indicated that anomalous transport was the main release mechanism of RVT. PLA and PLA-PEG blend nanoparticles produced with single emulsion-solvent evaporation technology were found to be a promising approach for the incorporation of RVT and promoted its controlled release. The factorial design is a tool of great value in choosing formulations with optimized parameters.

  19. Cannabinoids Receptor-2 (CB2) agonist ameliorates colitis in IL-10−/− mice by attenuating the activation of T cells and promoting their apoptosis

    PubMed Central

    Singh, Udai P.; Singh, Narendra P.; Singh, Balwan; Price, Robert L.; Nagarkatti, Mitzi; Nagarkatti, Prakash S.

    2014-01-01

    Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic intestinal inflammation caused by hyperactivated effector immune cells that produce pro-inflammatory cytokines. Recent studies have shown that the cannabinoid system may play a critical role in mediating protection against intestinal inflammation. However, the effect of cannabinoid receptors induction after chronic colitis progression has not been investigated. Here, we investigate the effect of cannabinoid receptor-2 (CB2) agonist, JWH-133, after chronic colitis in IL-10−/− mice. JWH-133 effectively attenuated the overall clinical score, reversed colitis-associated pathogenesis and decrease in body weight in IL-10−/− mice. After JWH-133 treatment, the percentage of CD4+ T cells, neutrophils, mast cells, natural killer (NK1.1) cells, and activated T cells in the LP of colitis mice declined after JWH-133 treatment in the intestinal lamina propria (LP) and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN). JWH-133 was also effective in ameliorating dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced colitis. In this model, JWH-133 reduced the number and percentage of macrophages and IFN-γ expressing cells that were induced during colitis progression. Treatment with aminoalkylindole 6-iodopravadoline (AM630), a CB2 receptor antagonist, reversed the colitis protection provided by JWH-133 treatment. Also, activated T cells were found to undergo apoptosis following JWH-133 treatment both in-vivo and in-vitro. These findings suggest that JWH-133 mediates its effect through CB2 receptors, and ameliorates chronic colitis by inducing apoptosis in activated T cells, reducing the numbers of activated T cells, suppressing induction of mast cells, NK cells, and neutrophils at sites of inflammation in the LP. These results support the idea that the CB2 receptor agonists may serve as a therapeutic modality against IBD. PMID:22119709

  20. Molecular modeling and snake venom phospholipase A2 inhibition by phenolic compounds: Structure-activity relationship.

    PubMed

    Alam, Md Iqbal; Alam, Mohammed A; Alam, Ozair; Nargotra, Amit; Taneja, Subhash Chandra; Koul, Surrinder

    2016-05-23

    In our earlier study, we have reported that a phenolic compound 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde from Janakia arayalpatra root extract was active against Viper and Cobra envenomations. Based on the structure of this natural product, libraries of synthetic structurally variant phenolic compounds were studied through molecular docking on the venom protein. To validate the activity of eight selected compounds, we have tested them in in vivo and in vitro models. The compound 21 (2-hydroxy-3-methoxy benzaldehyde), 22 (2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde) and 35 (2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylalcohol) were found to be active against venom-induced pathophysiological changes. The compounds 20, 15 and 35 displayed maximum anti-hemorrhagic, anti-lethal and PLA2 inhibitory activity respectively. In terms of SAR, the presence of a formyl group in conjunction with a phenolic group was seen as a significant contributor towards increasing the antivenom activity. The above observations confirmed the anti-venom activity of the phenolic compounds which needs to be further investigated for the development of new anti-snake venom leads. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  1. The SAGE II/OSIRIS/OMPS-LP USask 2D Deseasonalized Anomaly Ozone Data Record for Use in Trend Analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Degenstein, D. A.; Bourassa, A. E.; Zawada, D.; Roth, C.; McLinden, C. A.

    2017-12-01

    The SAGE II/OSIRIS/OMPS-LP USask 2D ozone deseasonalized anomaly data record spans over three decades, from 1984 to the present, and has been used extensively for the determination of stratospheric ozone trends in the post Montreal Protocol era. Radiance measurements made by the three instruments have all been used to produce ozone data profiles whose native units are number density as a function of altitude. Therefore, during the merging process required to produce the extended data record it is not necessary to use meteorological data for unit conversion and all trends contained within the data record come directly from the data products themselves. Although the SAGE II occultation data record ended in 2005, both the OMPS-LP and OSIRIS limb scattered sunlight data records continue. OSIRIS has been in operation since 2001 and is well beyond its lifetime but OMPS-LP is scheduled for launch on future spacecraft so the data record should continue for many years, or even decades. It is also anticipated that SAGE III ISS data will be added to the existing record to further enhance its utility for trend analysis. This paper will outline the process used to produce the deseasonalized ozone anomaly data record detailing the issues associated with merging data records that have different biases and sampling characteristics. Issues associated with SAGE II and OSIRIS measurements that are made at different local times will also be discussed. Finally, this paper will present trend results produced using variations of the official LOTUS analysis code. These results cover an altitude range from the tropopause to 55 km and from 60 South to 60 North in ten-degree bins. It will be shown that the new OMPS-LP USask 2D data record is of excellent quality and can be used to extend the ozone data records for the purpose of trend analysis.

  2. Excess Metabolic and Cardiovascular Risk is not Manifested in all Phenotypes of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Implications for Diagnosis and Treatment.

    PubMed

    Daskalopoulos, Georgios; Karkanaki, Artemis; Piouka, Athanasia; Prapas, Nikolaos; Panidis, Dimitrios; Gkeleris, Paraschos; Athyros, Vasilios G

    2015-01-01

    To assess the potential differences in the metabolic and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk between the distinct phenotypes of the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) according to the Rotterdam definition regardless of body mass index (BMI). The study included 300 women; 240 women with PCOS, according to the Rotterdam criteria and 60 controls without PCOS. All women were further subdivided, according to their BMI, into normal-weight and overweight/obese and PCOS women were furthermore subdivided to the 4 phenotypes of the syndrome. A complete hormonal and metabolic profile as well as the levels of high sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) were measured. Levels of surrogate markers of subclinical atherosclerosis (hsCRP and Lp-PLA2), levels of evaluated CVD risk score using risk engines, and several correlations of CVD risk factors. hsCRP levels were higher but not significantly so in PCOS women compared with controls. In lean PCOS patients, Lp-PLA2 levels were significantly higher, compared with lean controls, mainly in the 2 classic phenotypes. Overweight/obese patients in all 4 phenotypes had significantly higher Lp-PLA2 levels compared with overweight/obese controls. Evaluated CVD risk according to 4 risk engines was not different among phenotypes and between PCOS patients and controls. There were several correlations of risk factors with metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease requiring appropriate treatment. Only 2 of 4 Rotterdam phenotypes, identical with those of the classic PCOS definition, have excess cardiometabolic risk. These need to be treated to prevent CVD events.

  3. Genetic ablation of calcium-independent phospholipase A2gamma leads to alterations in mitochondrial lipid metabolism and function resulting in a deficient mitochondrial bioenergetic phenotype.

    PubMed

    Mancuso, David J; Sims, Harold F; Han, Xianlin; Jenkins, Christopher M; Guan, Shao Ping; Yang, Kui; Moon, Sung Ho; Pietka, Terri; Abumrad, Nada A; Schlesinger, Paul H; Gross, Richard W

    2007-11-30

    Previously, we identified a novel calcium-independent phospholipase, designated calcium-independent phospholipase A(2) gamma (iPLA(2)gamma), which possesses dual mitochondrial and peroxisomal subcellular localization signals. To identify the roles of iPLA(2)gamma in cellular bioenergetics, we generated mice null for the iPLA(2)gamma gene by eliminating the active site of the enzyme through homologous recombination. Mice null for iPLA(2)gamma display multiple bioenergetic dysfunctional phenotypes, including 1) growth retardation, 2) cold intolerance, 3) reduced exercise endurance, 4) greatly increased mortality from cardiac stress after transverse aortic constriction, 5) abnormal mitochondrial function with a 65% decrease in ascorbate-induced Complex IV-mediated oxygen consumption, and 6) a reduction in myocardial cardiolipin content accompanied by an altered cardiolipin molecular species composition. We conclude that iPLA(2)gamma is essential for maintaining efficient bioenergetic mitochondrial function through tailoring mitochondrial membrane lipid metabolism and composition.

  4. Measurement of Lp(a) with a two-step monoclonal competitive sandwich ELISA method.

    PubMed

    Morikawa, W; Iki, R; Terano, T; Funatsu, A; Sugiuchi, H; Uji, Y; Okabe, H

    1995-06-01

    To evaluate the results of Lipoprotein (a)[Lp(a)] measurements by a competitive two-step monoclonal enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay method comparing them with those by a conventional ELISA. Serum having various isoforms of Lp(a) and purified Lp(a) were assayed using the method described here and commercially available kits. The reference range was determined with the use of 324 normal subjects by means of calculation from Lp(a) results of logarithmic transformation. Our method takes advantage of a competitive reaction between fixed antibody and free antibody to Lp(a), having the detection range up to 1000 mg/L with the lowest detection limit of 2 mg/L. The anti-Lp(a) monoclonal antibody employed in the assay system reacts uniformly with all phenotypes of Lp(a) but showing very low cross-reactivity for plasminogen and LDL. Within-run and between-run precisions were excellent, giving CVs of 2.9 and 4.0% with mean values of 145 and 635 mg/L, respectively. In comparison of the results by our method with those by a polyclonal method (Biopool) or a monoclonal antibody method (Terumo), they correlated well; Y (our method) = 0.99 x (polyclonal method, Biopool) - 1.9, r = 0.994 (n = 60), and Y = 0.94 X(monoclonal method, Terumo) -9.8, r = 0.97 (n = 60), respectively. The reference range was 105.9 +/- 25.4 mg/L, the difference between the sexes was not significant. Our method has proven highly accurate and specific. It is applicable with auto analyzer because it does not require such a pre-dilution step as is necessary for Lp(a) determination by conventional ELISA assay. Accordingly, we can conclude that our test method is workable for both clinical laboratories and mass screening.

  5. Inhibition of calcium-independent phospholipase A2 prevents arachidonic acid incorporation and phospholipid remodeling in P388D1 macrophages.

    PubMed Central

    Balsinde, J; Bianco, I D; Ackermann, E J; Conde-Frieboes, K; Dennis, E A

    1995-01-01

    Cellular levels of free arachidonic acid (AA) are controlled by a deacylation/reacylation cycle whereby the fatty acid is liberated by phospholipases and reincorporated by acyltransferases. We have found that the esterification of AA into membrane phospholipids is a Ca(2+)-independent process and that it is blocked up to 60-70% by a bromoenollactone (BEL) that is a selective inhibitor of a newly discovered Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in macrophages. The observed inhibition correlates with a decreased steady-state level of lysophospholipids as well as with the inhibition of the Ca(2+)-independent PLA2 activity in these cells. This inhibition is specific for the Ca(2+)-independent PLA2 in that neither group IV PLA2, group II PLA2, arachidonoyl-CoA synthetase, lysophospholipid:arachidonoyl-CoA acyltransferase, nor CoA-independent transacylase is affected by treatment with BEL. Moreover, two BEL analogs that are not inhibitors of the Ca(2+)-independent PLA2--namely a bromomethyl ketone and methyl-BEL--do not inhibit AA incorporation into phospholipids. Esterification of palmitic acid is only slightly affected by BEL, indicating that de novo synthetic pathways are not inhibited by BEL. Collectively, the data suggest that the Ca(2+)-independent PLA2 in P388D1 macrophages plays a major role in regulating the incorporation of AA into membrane phospholipids by providing the lysophospholipid acceptor employed in the acylation reaction. PMID:7667324

  6. Staphylococcus aureus lipoproteins trigger human corneal epithelial innate response through toll-like receptor-2

    PubMed Central

    Li, Qiong; Kumar, Ashok; Gui, Jian-Fang; Yu, Fu-Shin X.

    2008-01-01

    Bacterial lipoproteins (LP) are a family of cell wall components found in a wide variety of bacteria. In this study, we characterized the response of HUCL, a telomerase-immortalized human corneal epithelial cell (HCEC) line, to LP isolated from Staphylococcus (S) aureus. S. aureus LP (saLP) prepared by Triton X-114 extraction stimulated the activation of NF-κB, JNK, and P38 signaling pathways in HUCL cells. The extracts failed to stimulate NF-κB activation in HUCL cells after lipoprotein lipase treatment and in cell lines expressing TLR4 or TLR9, but TLR2, indicating lipoprotein nature of the extracts. saLP induced the up-regulation of a variety of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines (IL-6, IL-8, ICAM-1) and antimicrobial molecules (hBD-2, LL-37, and iNOS), and homeostasis genes (Mn-SOD) at both the mRNA level and protein level. Similar inflammatory response to saLP was also observed in primarily cultured HCECs using the production of IL-6 as readout. Moreover, TLR2 neutralizing antibody blocked the saLP-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-8 and hBD2 in HUCL cells. Our findings suggest that saLP activates TLR2 and contributes to innate immune response in the cornea to S. aureus infection via production of proinflammatory cytokines and defense molecules. PMID:18191935

  7. Staphylococcus aureus lipoproteins trigger human corneal epithelial innate response through toll-like receptor-2.

    PubMed

    Li, Qiong; Kumar, Ashok; Gui, Jian-Fang; Yu, Fu-Shin X

    2008-05-01

    Bacterial lipoproteins (LP) are a family of cell wall components found in a wide variety of bacteria. In this study, we characterized the response of HUCL, a telomerase-immortalized human corneal epithelial cell (HCEC) line, to LP isolated from Staphylococcus (S) aureus. S. aureus LP (saLP) prepared by Triton X-114 extraction stimulated the activation of NF-kappaB, JNK, and P38 signaling pathways in HUCL cells. The extracts failed to stimulate NF-kappaB activation in HUCL cells after lipoprotein lipase treatment and in cell lines expressing TLR4 or TLR9, but not TLR2, indicating lipoprotein nature of the extracts. saLP induced the up-regulation of a variety of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines (IL-6, IL-8, ICAM-1), antimicrobial molecules (hBD-2, LL-37, and iNOS), and homeostasis genes (Mn-SOD) at both the mRNA level and protein level. Similar inflammatory response to saLP was also observed in primarily cultured HCECs using the production of IL-6 as readout. Moreover, TLR2 neutralizing antibody blocked the saLP-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-8 and hBD2 in HUCL cells. Our findings suggest that saLP activates TLR2 and triggers innate immune response in the cornea to S. aureus infection via production of proinflammatory cytokines and defense molecules.

  8. Relationship between compatibilizer and yield strength of PLA/PP Blend

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jariyakulsith, Pattanun; Puajindanetr, Somchai

    2018-01-01

    The aim of this research is to study the relationship between compatibilizer and yield strength of polylactic acid (PLA) and polypropylene (PP) blend. The PLA is blended with PP (PLA/PP) at the ratios of 70/30, 50/50 and 30/70. In addition, (1) polypropylene grafted maleic anhydride (PP-g-MAH) as a compatibilizer at 0.3 and 0.7 part per hundred of PLA/PP resin (phr) and (2) dicumyl peroxide (DCP) being an initiator at 0.03 and 0.07 phr are added in each composition. Yield strength is characterized to study the interaction between compatibilizer, initiator and yield strength by using experimental design of multilevel full factorial. The results show that (1) the yield strength of PLA/PP blend are increased after addition of compatibilizer. Because the adding of PP-g-MAH and DCP resulted in improving compatibility between PLA and PP. (2) there are interaction between PP-g-MAH and DCP that have affected the final properties of PLA/PP blend. The highest yield strength of 27.68 MPa is provided at the ratio of 70/30 blend by using the 0.3 phr of PP-g-MAH and 0.03 phr of DCP. Linear regression model is fitted and follow the assumptions of normal distribution.

  9. Efficacy of a therapeutic treatment using gas-filled microbubble-associated phospholipase A2 in a mouse model of honeybee venom allergy.

    PubMed

    Corthésy, B; Lassus, A; Terrettaz, J; Tranquart, F; Bioley, G

    2016-07-01

    Venom immunotherapy is efficient to desensitize people suffering from insect sting allergies. However, the numerous injections required over several years and important risks of severe side reactions complicate the widespread use of immunotherapy. In the search for novel approaches to blunt the overwhelming pro-allergic Th2 response, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of a treatment based on a denatured form of the major allergen, phospholipase A2, associated with microbubbles (PLA2denat -MB) in a mouse model of honeybee venom allergy. Antibodies measured by ELISA, T-cell responses assessed by CFSE-based proliferation assays and ELISA, and basophil degranulation were examined after PLA2denat -MB-based therapeutic treatment of sensitized mice. Mice were challenged with a lethal dose of PLA2 to evaluate protection against anaphylaxis. Therapeutic subcutaneous administration of two different PLA2denat -MB formulations, in contrast to PLA2denat alone, reduced allergic symptoms and protected all mice from anaphylaxis-mediated death after allergen challenge. At the functional level, the use of PLA2denat decreased IgE-mediated basophil degranulation as compared to the native form of the allergen. In comparison with PLA2denat alone, both PLA2denat -MB formulations decreased allergen-specific Th2 CD4 T-cell reactivity. At the mechanistic level, PLA2denat -MB containing 20% palmitic acid and PEG induced PLA2-specific IgA and increased Foxp3(+) Treg frequencies and TGF-β production, whereas the formulation bearing 80% palmitic acid triggered the production of IFN-γ, IgG2a, and IgG3. In contrast to conventional PLA2 subcutaneous immunotherapy, the therapeutic administration of PLA2-MB treatment to mice that already had established allergy to PLA2 protects all subsequently challenged animals. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  10. Aberrant methylation of the M-type phospholipase A2 receptor gene in leukemic cells

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Background The M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R1) plays a crucial role in several signaling pathways and may act as tumor-suppressor. This study examined the expression and methylation of the PLA2R1 gene in Jurkat and U937 leukemic cell lines and its methylation in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute leukemia. Methods Sites of methylation of the PLA2R1 locus were identified by sequencing bisulfite-modified DNA fragments. Methylation specific-high resolution melting (MS-HRM) analysis was then carried out to quantify PLA2R1 methylation at 5`-CpG sites identified with differences in methylation between healthy control subjects and leukemic patients using sequencing of bisulfite-modified genomic DNA. Results Expression of PLA2R1 was found to be completely down-regulated in Jurkat and U937 cells, accompanied by complete methylation of PLA2R1 promoter and down-stream regions; PLA2R1 was re-expressed after exposure of cells to 5-aza-2´-deoxycytidine. MS-HRM analysis of the PLA2R1 locus in patients with different types of leukemia indicated an average methylation of 28.9% ± 17.8%, compared to less than 9% in control subjects. In MDS patients the extent of PLA2R1 methylation significantly increased with disease risk. Furthermore, measurements of PLA2R1 methylation appeared useful for predicting responsiveness to the methyltransferase inhibitor, azacitidine, as a pre-emptive treatment to avoid hematological relapse in patients with high-risk MDS or acute myeloid leukemia. Conclusions The study shows for the first time that PLA2R1 gene sequences are a target of hypermethylation in leukemia, which may have pathophysiological relevance for disease evolution in MDS and leukemogenesis. PMID:23217014

  11. Genetic Ablation of Calcium-independent Phospholipase A2γ Induces Glomerular Injury in Mice*

    PubMed Central

    Elimam, Hanan; Papillon, Joan; Kaufman, Daniel R.; Guillemette, Julie; Aoudjit, Lamine; Gross, Richard W.; Takano, Tomoko; Cybulsky, Andrey V.

    2016-01-01

    Glomerular visceral epithelial cells (podocytes) play a critical role in the maintenance of glomerular permselectivity. Podocyte injury, manifesting as proteinuria, is the cause of many glomerular diseases. We reported previously that calcium-independent phospholipase A2γ (iPLA2γ) is cytoprotective against complement-mediated glomerular epithelial cell injury. Studies in iPLA2γ KO mice have demonstrated an important role for iPLA2γ in mitochondrial lipid turnover, membrane structure, and metabolism. The aim of the present study was to employ iPLA2γ KO mice to better understand the role of iPLA2γ in normal glomerular and podocyte function as well as in glomerular injury. We show that deletion of iPLA2γ did not cause detectable albuminuria; however, it resulted in mitochondrial structural abnormalities and enhanced autophagy in podocytes as well as loss of podocytes in aging KO mice. Moreover, after induction of anti-glomerular basement membrane nephritis in young mice, iPLA2γ KO mice exhibited significantly increased levels of albuminuria, podocyte injury, and loss of podocytes compared with wild type. Thus, iPLA2γ has a protective functional role in the normal glomerulus and in glomerulonephritis. Understanding the role of iPLA2γ in glomerular pathophysiology provides opportunities for the development of novel therapeutic approaches to glomerular injury and proteinuria. PMID:27226532

  12. Differential susceptibility of C2C12 myoblasts and myotubes to group II phospholipase A2 myotoxins from crotalid snake venoms.

    PubMed

    Angulo, Yamileth; Lomonte, Bruno

    2005-01-01

    Group II phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) myotoxins isolated from Viperidae/Crotalidae snake venoms induce a rapid cytolytic effect upon diverse cell types in vitro. Previous studies suggested that this effect could be more pronounced on skeletal muscle myotubes than on other cell types, including undifferentiated myoblasts. This study utilized the murine skeletal muscle C2C12 cell line to investigate whether differentiated myotubes are more susceptible than myoblasts, and if this characteristic is specific for the group II myotoxic PLA(2)s. The release of lactic dehydrogenase was quantified as a measure of cytolysis, 3 h after cell exposure to different group II PLA(2)s purified from Bothrops asper, Atropoides nummifer, Cerrophidion godmani, and Bothriechis schlegelii venoms. In addition, susceptibility to lysis induced by synthetic melittin and group III PLA(2) from bee (Apis mellifera) venom, as well as by anionic, cationic, and neutral detergents, was comparatively evaluated on the two cultures. Myotubes were significantly more susceptible to group II PLA(2) myotoxins, but not to the other agents tested, under the same conditions. Moreover, the increased susceptibility of myotubes over myoblasts was also demonstrated with two cytolytic synthetic peptides, derived from the C-terminal region of Lys49 PLA(2) myotoxins, that reproduce the action of their parent proteins. These results indicate that fusion and differentiation of myoblasts into myotubes induce changes that render these cells more susceptible to the toxic mechanism of group II PLA(2) myotoxins, but not to general perturbations of membrane homeostasis. Such changes are likely to involve myotoxin acceptor site(s), which remain(s) to be identified.

  13. Inhibition of untransformed prostaglandin H(2) production and stretch-induced contraction of rabbit pulmonary arteries by indoxam, a selective secretory phospholipase A(2) inhibitor.

    PubMed

    Tanabe, Yoshiyuki; Saito, Maki; Morikawa, Yuki; Kamataki, Akihisa; Sawai, Takashi; Hirose, Masamichi; Nakayama, Koichi

    2011-01-01

    Involvement of secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)) in the stretch-induced production of untransformed prostaglandin H(2) (PGH(2)) in the endothelium of rabbit pulmonary arteries was investigated. The stretch-induced contraction was significantly inhibited by indoxam, a selective inhibitor for sPLA(2), and NS-398, a selective inhibitor for cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Indoxam inhibited the RGD-sensitive-integrin-independent production of untransformed PGH(2), but did not affect the RGD-sensitive-integrin-dependent production of thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2)). These results suggest that the stretch-induced contraction and untransformed PGH(2) production was mediated by sPLA(2)-COX-2 pathway, making it a new possible target for pharmacological intervention of pulmonary artery contractility.

  14. Inherited human group IVA cytosolic phospholipase A2 deficiency abolishes platelet, endothelial, and leucocyte eicosanoid generation

    PubMed Central

    Kirkby, Nicholas S.; Reed, Daniel M.; Edin, Matthew L.; Rauzi, Francesca; Mataragka, Stefania; Vojnovic, Ivana; Bishop-Bailey, David; Milne, Ginger L.; Longhurst, Hilary; Zeldin, Darryl C.; Mitchell, Jane A.; Warner, Timothy D.

    2016-01-01

    Eicosanoids are important vascular regulators, but the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) isoforms supporting their production within the cardiovascular system are not fully understood. To address this, we have studied platelets, endothelial cells, and leukocytes from 2 siblings with a homozygous loss-of-function mutation in group IVA cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2α). Chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to determine levels of a broad range of eicosanoids produced by isolated vascular cells, and in plasma and urine. Eicosanoid release data were paired with studies of cellular function. Absence of cPLA2α almost abolished eicosanoid synthesis in platelets (e.g., thromboxane A2, control 20.5 ± 1.4 ng/ml vs. patient 0.1 ng/ml) and leukocytes [e.g., prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), control 21.9 ± 7.4 ng/ml vs. patient 1.9 ng/ml], and this was associated with impaired platelet activation and enhanced inflammatory responses. cPLA2α-deficient endothelial cells showed reduced, but not absent, formation of prostaglandin I2 (prostacyclin; control 956 ± 422 pg/ml vs. patient 196 pg/ml) and were primed for inflammation. In the urine, prostaglandin metabolites were selectively influenced by cPLA2α deficiency. For example, prostacyclin metabolites were strongly reduced (18.4% of control) in patients lacking cPLA2α, whereas PGE2 metabolites (77.8% of control) were similar to healthy volunteer levels. These studies constitute a definitive account, demonstrating the fundamental role of cPLA2α to eicosanoid formation and cellular responses within the human circulation.—Kirkby, N. S., Reed, D. M., Edin, M. L., Rauzi, F., Mataragka, S., Vojnovic, I., Bishop-Bailey, D., Milne, G. L., Longhurst, H., Zeldin, D. C., Mitchell, J. A., Warner, T. D. Inherited human group IVA cytosolic phospholipase A2 deficiency abolishes platelet, endothelial, and leucocyte eicosanoid generation. PMID:26183771

  15. Molecular adaptation of a plant-bacterium outer membrane protease towards plague virulence factor Pla

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background Omptins are a family of outer membrane proteases that have spread by horizontal gene transfer in Gram-negative bacteria that infect vertebrates or plants. Despite structural similarity, the molecular functions of omptins differ in a manner that reflects the life style of their host bacteria. To simulate the molecular adaptation of omptins, we applied site-specific mutagenesis to make Epo of the plant pathogenic Erwinia pyrifoliae exhibit virulence-associated functions of its close homolog, the plasminogen activator Pla of Yersinia pestis. We addressed three virulence-associated functions exhibited by Pla, i.e., proteolytic activation of plasminogen, proteolytic degradation of serine protease inhibitors, and invasion into human cells. Results Pla and Epo expressed in Escherichia coli are both functional endopeptidases and cleave human serine protease inhibitors, but Epo failed to activate plasminogen and to mediate invasion into a human endothelial-like cell line. Swapping of ten amino acid residues at two surface loops of Pla and Epo introduced plasminogen activation capacity in Epo and inactivated the function in Pla. We also compared the structure of Pla and the modeled structure of Epo to analyze the structural variations that could rationalize the different proteolytic activities. Epo-expressing bacteria managed to invade human cells only after all extramembranous residues that differ between Pla and Epo and the first transmembrane β-strand had been changed. Conclusions We describe molecular adaptation of a protease from an environmental setting towards a virulence factor detrimental for humans. Our results stress the evolvability of bacterial β-barrel surface structures and the environment as a source of progenitor virulence molecules of human pathogens. PMID:21310089

  16. 76 FR 53440 - Freeport LNG Development, LP; Freeport LNG Expansion, LP; FLNG Liquefaction LLC; Notice of Intent...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-08-26

    ... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. PF11-2-000] Freeport LNG Development, LP; Freeport LNG Expansion, LP; FLNG Liquefaction LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Liquefaction Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meeting The...

  17. Distinct enzymatic and cellular characteristics of two secretory phospholipases A2 in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae.

    PubMed

    Nakahama, Tomoyuki; Nakanishi, Yoshito; Viscomi, Arturo R; Takaya, Kohei; Kitamoto, Katsuhiko; Ottonello, Simone; Arioka, Manabu

    2010-04-01

    Microbial secretory phospholipases A(2) (sPLA(2)s) are among the last discovered and least known members of this functionally diverse family of enzymes. We analyzed here two sPLA(2)s, named sPlaA and sPlaB, of the filamentous ascomycete Aspergillus oryzae. sPlaA and sPlaB consist of 222 and 160 amino acids, respectively, and share the conserved Cys and catalytic His-Asp residues typical of microbial sPLA(2)s. Two sPLA(2)s differ in pH optimum, Ca(2+) requirement and expression profile. The splaA mRNA was strongly upregulated in response to carbon starvation, oxidative stress and during conidiation, while splaB was constitutively expressed at low levels and was weakly upregulated by heat shock. Experiments with sPLA(2) overexpressing strains demonstrated that two enzymes produce subtly different phospholipid composition variations and also differ in their subcellular localization: sPlaA is most abundant in hyphal tips and secreted to the medium, whereas sPlaB predominantly localizes to the ER-like intracellular compartment. Both sPLA(2) overexpressing strains were defective in conidiation, which was more pronounced for sPlaB overexpressors. Although no major morphological abnormality was detected in either DeltasplaA or DeltasplaB mutants, hyphal growth of DeltasplaB, but not that of DeltasplaA, displayed increased sensitivity to H(2)O(2) treatment. These data indicate that two A. oryzae sPLA(2) enzymes display distinct, presumably non-redundant, physiological functions.

  18. Electro-spun PLA-PEG-yarns for tissue engineering applications.

    PubMed

    Kruse, Magnus; Greuel, Marc; Kreimendahl, Franziska; Schneiders, Thomas; Bauer, Benedict; Gries, Thomas; Jockenhoevel, Stefan

    2018-06-27

    Electro-spinning is widely used in tissue-engineered applications mostly in form of non-woven structures. The development of e-spun yarn opens the door for textile fabrics which combine the micro to nanoscale dimension of electro-spun filaments with three-dimensional (3D) drapable textile fabrics. Therefore, the aim of the study was the implementation of a process for electro-spun yarns. Polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) were spun from chloroform solutions with varying PLA/PEG ratios (100:0, 90:10, 75:25 and 50:50). The yarn samples produced were analyzed regarding their morphology, tensile strength, water uptake and cytocompatibility. It was found that the yarn diameter decreased when the funnel collector rotation was increasd, however, the fiber diameter was not influenced. The tensile strength was also found to be dependent on the PEG content. While samples composed of 100% PLA showed a tensile strength of 2.5±0.7 cN/tex, the tensile strength increased with a decreasing PLA content (PLA 75%/PEG 25%) to 6.2±0.5 cN/tex. The variation of the PEG content also influenced the viscosity of the spinning solutions. The investigation of the cytocompatibility with endothelial cells was conducted for PLA/PEG 90:10 and 75:25 and indicated that the samples are cytocompatible.

  19. Lemnitoxin, the major component of Micrurus lemniscatus coral snake venom, is a myotoxic and pro-inflammatory phospholipase A2.

    PubMed

    Casais-E-Silva, Luciana L; Teixeira, Catarina F P; Lebrun, Ivo; Lomonte, Bruno; Alape-Girón, Alberto; Gutiérrez, José María

    2016-08-22

    The venom of Micrurus lemniscatus, a coral snake of wide geographical distribution in South America, was fractionated by reverse-phase HPLC and the fractions screened for phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity. The major component of the venom, a PLA2, here referred to as 'Lemnitoxin', was isolated and characterized biochemically and toxicologically. It induces myotoxicity upon intramuscular or intravenous injection into mice. The amino acid residues Arg15, Ala100, Asn108, and a hydrophobic residue at position 109, which are characteristic of myotoxic class I phospholipases A2, are present in Lemnitoxin. This PLA2 is antigenically related to M. nigrocinctus nigroxin, Notechis scutatus notexin, Pseudechis australis mulgotoxin, and Pseudonaja textilis textilotoxin, as demonstrated with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Lemnitoxin is highly selective in its targeting of cells, being cytotoxic for differentiated myotubes in vitro and muscle fibers in vivo, but not for undifferentiated myoblasts or endothelial cells. Lemnitoxin is not lethal after intravenous injection at doses up to 2μg/g in mice, evidencing its lack of significant neurotoxicity. Lemnitoxin displays anticoagulant effect on human plasma and proinflammatory activity also, as it induces paw edema and mast cell degranulation. Thus, the results of this work demonstrate that Lemnitoxin is a potent myotoxic and proinflammatory class I PLA2. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Targeting of cytosolic phospholipase A2α impedes cell cycle re-entry of quiescent prostate cancer cells.

    PubMed

    Yao, Mu; Xie, Chanlu; Kiang, Mei-Yee; Teng, Ying; Harman, David; Tiffen, Jessamy; Wang, Qian; Sved, Paul; Bao, Shisan; Witting, Paul; Holst, Jeff; Dong, Qihan

    2015-10-27

    Cell cycle re-entry of quiescent cancer cells has been proposed to be involved in cancer progression and recurrence. Cytosolic phospholipase A2α (cPLA2α) is an enzyme that hydrolyzes membrane glycerophospholipids to release arachidonic acid and lysophospholipids that are implicated in cancer cell proliferation. The aim of this study was to determine the role of cPLA2α in cell cycle re-entry of quiescent prostate cancer cells. When PC-3 and LNCaP cells were rendered to a quiescent state, the active form of cPLA2α with a phosphorylation at Ser505 was lower compared to their proliferating state. Conversely, the phospho-cPLA2α levels were resurgent during the induction of cell cycle re-entry. Pharmacological inhibition of cPLA2α with Efipladib upon induction of cell cycle re-entry inhibited the re-entry process, as manifested by refrained DNA synthesis, persistent high proportion of cells in G0/G1 and low percentage of cells in S and G2/M phases, together with a stagnant recovery of Ki-67 expression. Simultaneously, Efipladib prohibited the emergence of Skp2 while maintained p27 at a high level in the nuclear compartment during cell cycle re-entry. Inhibition of cPLA2α also prevented an accumulation of cyclin D1/CDK4, cyclin E/CDK2, phospho-pRb, pre-replicative complex proteins CDC6, MCM7, ORC6 and DNA synthesis-related protein PCNA during induction of cell cycle re-entry. Moreover, a pre-treatment of the prostate cancer cells with Efipladib during induction of cell cycle re-entry subsequently compromised their tumorigenic capacity in vivo. Hence, cPLA2α plays an important role in cell cycle re-entry by quiescent prostate cancer cells.

  1. Postprandial lysophospholipid suppresses hepatic fatty acid oxidation: the molecular link between group 1B phospholipase A2 and diet-induced obesity

    PubMed Central

    Labonté, Eric D.; Pfluger, Paul T.; Cash, James G.; Kuhel, David G.; Roja, Juan C.; Magness, Daniel P.; Jandacek, Ronald J.; Tschöp, Matthias H.; Hui, David Y.

    2010-01-01

    Decrease in fat catabolic rate on consuming a high-fat diet contributes to diet-induced obesity. This study used group 1B phospholipase A2 (Pla2g1b)-deficient mice, which are resistant to hyperglycemia, to test the hypothesis that Pla2g1b and its lipolytic product lysophospholipid suppress hepatic fat utilization and energy metabolism in promoting diet-induced obesity. The metabolic consequences of hypercaloric diet, including body weight gain, energy expenditure, and fatty acid oxidation, were compared between Pla2g1b+/+ and Pla2g1b−/− mice. The Pla2g1b−/− mice displayed normal energy balance when fed chow, but were resistant to obesity when challenged with a hypercaloric diet. Obesity resistance in Pla2g1b−/− mice is due to their ability to maintain elevated energy expenditure and core body temperature when subjected to hypercaloric diet, which was not observed in Pla2g1b+/+ mice. The Pla2g1b−/− mice also displayed increased postprandial hepatic fat utilization due to increased expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α, PPAR-δ, PPAR-γ, cd36/Fat, and Ucp2, which coincided with reduced postprandial plasma lysophospholipid levels. Lysophospholipids produced by Pla2g1b hydrolysis suppress hepatic fat utilization and down-regulate energy expenditure, thereby preventing metabolically beneficial adaptation to a high-fat diet exposure in promoting diet-induced obesity and type 2 diabetes.—Labonté, E. D., Pfluger, P. T., Cash, J. G., Kuhel, D. G., Rojas, J. C., Magness, D. P., Jandacek, R. J., Tschöp, M. H., Hui, D. Y. Postprandial lysophospholipid suppresses hepatic fatty acid oxidation: the molecular link between group 1B phospholipase A2 and diet-induced obesity. PMID:20215528

  2. Bee Venom Phospholipase A2: Yesterday’s Enemy Becomes Today’s Friend

    PubMed Central

    Lee, Gihyun; Bae, Hyunsu

    2016-01-01

    Bee venom therapy has been used to treat immune-related diseases such as arthritis for a long time. Recently, it has revealed that group III secretory phospholipase A2 from bee venom (bee venom group III sPLA2) has in vitro and in vivo immunomodulatory effects. A growing number of reports have demonstrated the therapeutic effects of bee venom group III sPLA2. Notably, new experimental data have shown protective immune responses of bee venom group III sPLA2 against a wide range of diseases including asthma, Parkinson’s disease, and drug-induced organ inflammation. It is critical to evaluate the beneficial and adverse effects of bee venom group III sPLA2 because this enzyme is known to be the major allergen of bee venom that can cause anaphylactic shock. For many decades, efforts have been made to avoid its adverse effects. At high concentrations, exposure to bee venom group III sPLA2 can result in damage to cellular membranes and necrotic cell death. In this review, we summarized the current knowledge about the therapeutic effects of bee venom group III sPLA2 on several immunological diseases and described the detailed mechanisms of bee venom group III sPLA2 in regulating various immune responses and physiopathological changes. PMID:26907347

  3. Human soluble phospholipase A2 receptor is an inhibitor of the integrin-mediated cell migratory response to collagen-I.

    PubMed

    Watanabe, Kazunori; Watanabe, Kazuhiro; Watanabe, Yosuke; Fujioka, Daisuke; Nakamura, Takamitsu; Nakamura, Kazuto; Obata, Jun-Ei; Kugiyama, Kiyotaka

    2018-05-23

    Murine membrane-bound phospholipase A 2 receptor 1 (PLA 2 R) is shed and released into plasma in a soluble form that retains all of the extracellular domains. Relatively little is known about human PLA 2 R. This study examined whether human soluble PLA 2 R may have biological functions and whether soluble PLA 2 R may exist in human plasma. Here, we showed that human recombinant soluble PLA 2 R (rsPLA 2 R) bound to collagen-I and inhibited interaction of collagen-I with the extracellular domain of integrin β1 on the cell surface of HEK293 cells. As a result, rsPLA 2 R suppressed integrin β1-mediated migratory responses of HEK293 cells to collagen-I in Boyden chamber experiments. Inhibition of phosphorylation of FAK Tyr397 was also observed. Similar results were obtained with experiments using soluble PLA 2 R released from HEK293 cells transfected with a construct encoding human soluble PLA 2 R. rsPLA 2 R lacking the fibronectin-like type II (FNII) domain had no inhibitory effects on cell responses to collagen-I, suggesting an important role of the FNII domain in the interaction of rsPLA 2 R with collagen-I. In addition, rsPLA 2 R suppressed the migratory response to collagen-IV and binding of collagen-IV to the cell surface of human podocytes that endogenously express membrane-bound full-length PLA 2 R. Immunoprecipitation and Western blotting showed the existence of immuno-reactive PLA 2 R in human plasma. In conclusion, human recombinant soluble PLA 2 R inhibits integrin β1-mediated cell responses to collagens. Further studies are warranted to elucidate whether immuno-reactive PLA 2 R in human plasma has the same properties as rsPLA 2 R.

  4. Inducing PLA/starch compatibility through butyl-etherification of waxy and high amylose starch.

    PubMed

    Wokadala, Obiro Cuthbert; Emmambux, Naushad Mohammad; Ray, Suprakas Sinha

    2014-11-04

    In this study, waxy and high amylose starches were modified through butyl-etherification to facilitate compatibility with polylactide (PLA). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and wettability tests showed that hydrophobic butyl-etherified waxy and high amylose starches were obtained with degree of substitution values of 2.0 and 2.1, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry, tensile testing, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated improved PLA/starch compatibility for both waxy and high amylose starch after butyl-etherification. The PLA/butyl-etherified waxy and high amylose starch composite films had higher tensile strength and elongation at break compared to PLA/non-butyl-etherified composite films. The morphological study using SEM showed that PLA/butyl-etherified waxy starch composites had a more homogenous microstructure compared to PLA/butyl-etherified high amylose starch composites. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that PLA/starch composite thermal stability decreased with starch butyl-etherification for both waxy and high amylose starches. This study mainly demonstrates that PLA/starch compatibility can be improved through starch butyl-etherification. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Preparation and mechanical properties of modified nanocellulose/PLA composites from cassava residue

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huang, Lijie; Zhang, Xiaoxiao; Xu, Mingzi; Chen, Jie; Shi, Yinghan; Huang, Chongxing; Wang, Shuangfei; An, Shuxiang; Li, Chunying

    2018-02-01

    Nanocellulose was prepared by a mechanochemical method using cassava residue as a raw material and phosphoric acid as the auxiliary agent. The prepared nanocellulose was hydrophobically modified with stearic acid to improve its dispersibility. This modified nanocellulose was added to polylactic acid (PLA) film-forming liquids at concentrations of 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0%, and the effect of modified nanocellulose on the mechanical properties of polylactic acid (PLA) films were investigated. When at least 0.5% modified nanocellulose is added, more active groups of modified nanocellulose are adsorbed onto the PLA molecular chain. Although the tensile strength of the film is only improved by 13.59%, the flexibility of the film decreases, and the elastic modulus decreases by 28.91%. When 1% modified nanocellulose is added, the modified nanocellulose and PLA are tangled together through molecular chains and they co-crystallize to form a stable network structure. The tensile strength of the nanocomposite films is enhanced by 40.03%, the elastic modulus is enhanced by 55.65%, and the flexibility of the film decreases.

  6. Biochemical Characterization, Action on Macrophages, and Superoxide Anion Production of Four Basic Phospholipases A2 from Panamanian Bothrops asper Snake Venom

    PubMed Central

    Rueda, Aristides Quintero; Rodríguez, Isela González; Arantes, Eliane C.; Setúbal, Sulamita S.; Calderon, Leonardo de A.; Zuliani, Juliana P.; Stábeli, Rodrigo G.; Soares, Andreimar M.

    2013-01-01

    Bothrops asper (Squamata: Viperidae) is the most important venomous snake in Central America, being responsible for the majority of snakebite accidents. Four basic PLA2s (pMTX-I to -IV) were purified from crude venom by a single-step chromatography using a CM-Sepharose ion-exchange column (1.5 × 15 cm). Analysis of the N-terminal sequence demonstrated that pMTX-I and III belong to the catalytically active Asp49 phospholipase A2 subclass, whereas pMTX-II and IV belong to the enzymatically inactive Lys49 PLA2s-like subclass. The PLA2s isolated from Panama Bothrops asper venom (pMTX-I, II, III, and IV) are able to induce myotoxic activity, inflammatory reaction mainly leukocyte migration to the muscle, and induce J774A.1 macrophages activation to start phagocytic activity and superoxide production. PMID:23509779

  7. A novel optical waveguide LP01/LP02 mode converter

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shen, Dongya; Wang, Changhui; Ma, Chuan; Mellah, Hakim; Zhang, Xiupu; Yuan, Hong; Ren, Wenping

    2018-07-01

    A novel optical waveguide LP01 /LP02 mode converter is proposed using combination of bicone structure based on the coupled-mode theory. It is composed of a cladding, a tapered core and combined bicone structure. It is found that this mode converter can have operating bandwidth of 1350-1700 nm, i.e. 350 nm, with a conversion efficiency of ∼90% (∼0.5 dB) and low crosstalk from other modes

  8. Secreted phospholipase A(2) as a new enzymatic trigger mechanism for localised liposomal drug release and absorption in diseased tissue.

    PubMed

    Davidsen, Jesper; Jørgensen, Kent; Andresen, Thomas L; Mouritsen, Ole G

    2003-01-10

    Polymer-coated liposomes can act as versatile drug-delivery systems due to long vascular circulation time and passive targeting by leaky blood vessels in diseased tissue. We present an experimental model system illustrating a new principle for improved and programmable drug-delivery, which takes advantage of an elevated activity of secretory phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) at the diseased target tissue. The secretory PLA(2) hydrolyses a lipid-based proenhancer in the carrier liposome, producing lyso-phospholipids and free fatty acids, which are shown in a synergistic way to lead to enhanced liposome destabilization and drug release at the same time as the permeability of the target membrane is enhanced. Moreover, the proposed system can be made thermosensitive and offers a rational way for developing smart liposome-based drug delivery systems. This can be achieved by incorporating specific lipid-based proenhancers or prodestabilisers into the liposome carrier, which automatically becomes activated by PLA(2) only at the diseased target sites, such as inflamed or cancerous tissue.

  9. Mechanical behaviour׳s evolution of a PLA-b-PEG-b-PLA triblock copolymer during hydrolytic degradation.

    PubMed

    Breche, Q; Chagnon, G; Machado, G; Girard, E; Nottelet, B; Garric, X; Favier, D

    2016-07-01

    PLA-b-PEG-b-PLA is a biodegradable triblock copolymer that presents both the mechanical properties of PLA and the hydrophilicity of PEG. In this paper, physical and mechanical properties of PLA-b-PEG-b-PLA are studied during in vitro degradation. The degradation process leads to a mass loss, a decrease of number average molecular weight and an increase of dispersity index. Mechanical experiments are made in a specific experimental set-up designed to create an environment close to in vivo conditions. The viscoelastic behaviour of the material is studied during the degradation. Finally, the mechanical behaviour is modelled with a linear viscoelastic model. A degradation variable is defined and included in the model to describe the hydrolytic degradation. This variable is linked to physical parameters of the macromolecular polymer network. The model allows us to describe weak deformations but become less accurate for larger deformations. The abilities and limits of the model are discussed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Lp-estimates on diffusion processes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yan, Litan; Zhu, Bei

    2005-03-01

    Let be a diffusion process on given by where B=(Bt)t[greater-or-equal, slanted]0 is a standard Brownian motion starting at zero and [mu],[sigma] are two continuous functions on , and [sigma](x)>0 if x[not equal to]0. For a nonnegative continuous function [phi] we define the functional by , t[greater-or-equal, slanted]0. Then under suitable conditions we establish the relationship between Lp-norm of sup0[less-than-or-equals, slant]t[less-than-or-equals, slant][tau]Xt and Lp-norm of J[tau] for all stopping times [tau]. In particular, for a Bessel process Z of dimension [delta]>0 starting at zero, we show that the inequalities hold for all 02 and all stopping times [tau]. More specially, we show that for every continuous local martingale the inequalities hold for all 00, where Cp and cp are some positive constants depending only on p, and H[mu],h[mu] are the inverses of x|->(e2[mu]x-2[mu]x-1)/2[mu]2 and x|->(e-2[mu]x+2[mu]x-1)/2[mu]2 on (0,[infinity]), respectively.

  11. Association between polymorphisms in phospholipase A2 genes and the plasma triglyceride response to an n-3 PUFA supplementation: a clinical trial.

    PubMed

    Tremblay, Bénédicte L; Cormier, Hubert; Rudkowska, Iwona; Lemieux, Simone; Couture, Patrick; Vohl, Marie-Claude

    2015-02-21

    Fish oil-derived long-chain omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), reduce plasma triglyceride (TG) levels. Genetic factors such as single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) found in genes involved in metabolic pathways of n-3 PUFA could be responsible for well-recognized heterogeneity in plasma TG response to n-3 PUFA supplementation. Previous studies have shown that genes in the glycerophospholipid metabolism such as phospholipase A2 (PLA2) group II, IV, and VI, demonstrate changes in their expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) after n-3 PUFA supplementation. A total of 208 subjects consumed 3 g/day of n-3 PUFA for 6 weeks. Plasma lipids were measured before and after the supplementation period. Five SNPs in PLA2G2A, six in PLA2G2C, eight in PLA2G2D, six in PLA2G2F, 22 in PLA2G4A, five in PLA2G6, and nine in PLA2G7 were genotyped. The MIXED Procedure for repeated measures adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and energy intake was used in order to test whether the genotype, supplementation or interaction (genotype by supplementation) were associated with plasma TG levels. The n-3 PUFA supplementation had an independent effect on plasma TG levels. Genotype effects on plasma TG levels were observed for rs2301475 in PLA2G2C, rs818571 in PLA2G2F, and rs1569480 in PLA2G4A. Genotype x supplementation interaction effects on plasma TG levels were observed for rs1805018 in PLA2G7 as well as for rs10752979, rs10737277, rs7540602, and rs3820185 in PLA2G4A. These results suggest that, SNPs in PLA2 genes may influence plasma TG levels during a supplementation with n-3 PUFA. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01343342.

  12. Drug-conjugated PLA-PEG-PLA copolymers: a novel approach for controlled delivery of hydrophilic drugs by micelle formation.

    PubMed

    Danafar, H; Rostamizadeh, K; Davaran, S; Hamidi, M

    2017-12-01

    A conjugate of the antihypertensive drug, lisinopril, with triblock poly(lactic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic acid) (PLA-PEG-PLA) copolymer was synthesized by the reaction of PLA-PEG-PLA copolymer with lisinopril in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and dimethylaminopyridine. The conjugated copolymer was characterized in vitro by hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance (HNMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) techniques. Then, the lisinopril conjugated PLA-PEG-PLA were self-assembled into micelles in aqueous solution. The resulting micelles were characterized further by various techniques such as dynamic light scattering (DLS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results revealed that the micelles formed by the lisinopril-conjugated PLA-PEG-PLA have spherical structure with the average size of 162 nm. The release behavior of conjugated copolymer, micelles and micelles physically loaded by lisinopril were compared in different media. In vitro release study showed that in contrast to physically loaded micelles, the release rate of micelles consisted of the conjugated copolymer was dependent on pH of media where it was higher at lower pH compared to the neutral medium. Another feature of the conjugated micelles was their more sustained release profile compared to the lisinopril-conjugated copolymer and physically loaded micelles.

  13. Anti-soluble liver antigen/liver-pancreas (SLA/LP) antibodies in pediatric patients with autoimmune hepatitis.

    PubMed

    Vitozzi, Susana; Djilali-Saiah, Idriss; Lapierre, Pascal; Alvarez, Fernando

    2002-12-01

    Antibodies against soluble liver antigen/liver-pancreas (SLA/LP) have been associated with severe autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and poor outcome, but most of these reports have focused on adult patients. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and clinical significance of anti-SLA/LP antibodies in a pediatric population with AIH. We developed a quantitative enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA), a Western blot (WB) and an immunoprecipitation assay (IPA) based on recombinant cDNA from activated Jurkat cells. The specificity of these tests was validated by testing 200 serum samples from healthy subjects, and from patients with liver and non-liver diseases. Anti-SLA/LP antibodies were found in patients with type 1 and type 2 AIH. The prevalence of these antibodies in patients with type 1 AIH was: 42% when tested by ELISA, 15% by WB and 50% by IPA. In patients with type 2 AIH, the prevalence rates were 42% by ELISA, 18% by WB and 44% by IPA. The mean titer values for anti-SLA/LP antibodies was significantly higher in type 2 AIH (1:1,300 +/- 339) than in type 1 AIH (1:600 +/- 71; p < 0.0001) and closely associated with higher titers of anti-liver kidney microsome type 1 (LKM1) and anti-liver cytosol type 1 (LC1) antibodies in sera. The presence of anti-SLA/LP showed a significant female preponderance in type 1 and 2 AIH patients (p = 0.0003 and p = 0.003, respectively), and was significantly correlated with a lower age at diagnosis (p = 0.05) in type 1 AIH patients. In conclusion, anti-SLA/LP antibodies in pediatric patients are associated with both type 1 and 2 AIH.

  14. Elevated serum β₂-GPI-Lp(a) complexes levels in children with nephrotic syndrome.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Chunni; Luo, Yang; Huang, Zhongwei; Xia, Zhengkun; Cai, Xiaoyi; Yang, Yuhua; Niu, Dongmei; Wang, Junjun

    2012-10-09

    The complexes of β₂-glycoprotein I (β₂-GPI) with lipoprotein(a) [β₂-GPI-Lp(a)] exist in human circulation and are increased in serum from patients with some autoimmune diseases. This study aims to investigate the concentration of β₂-GPI-Lp(a) in serum of children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (NS) and its relationship with serum lipids, oxidized lipoprotein and renal function parameters to explore the potential of the complexes as an additional marker for evaluating pediatric NS. Serum concentrations of β₂-GPI-Lp(a) complexes and oxidized Lp(a) [ox-Lp(a)] were measured by "Sandwich" ELISAs in 80 NS children and 82 age/sex-matched healthy controls. The levels of serum lipids and kidney parameters were also determined. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify correlate of β₂-GPI-Lp(a) and NS. The serum concentrations of β₂-GPI-Lp(a) complexes in children with NS were significantly higher than those in controls (median 0.95 U/ml vs 0.28 U/ml, P<0.0001). Ox-Lp(a) levels were also markedly elevated (median 14.55 mg/l vs 2.60 mg/l, P<0.0001] in NS children. The concentrations of β₂-GPI-Lp(a) were positively correlated with ox-Lp(a) (r=0.246, P=0.028), but not with Lp(a) level, and the concentrations of ox-Lp(a) were positively related with Lp(a) (r=0.301, P=0.007) in NS children. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified a positive association between NS and β₂-GPI-Lp(a) (OR=13.694, 95% CI 6.400-29.299, P<0.0001), after adjusting for kidney function parameters, serum lipids and ox-Lp(a). Elevated β₂-GPI-Lp(a) level was an independent and significant risk factor for pediatric NS and, enhanced Lp(a) oxidation partly contributes to the formation of β₂-GPI-Lp(a) complexes. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Alkylation of histidine residues of Bothrops jararacussu venom proteins and isolated phospholipases A2: a biotechnological tool to improve the production of antibodies.

    PubMed

    Guimarães, C L S; Andrião-Escarso, S H; Moreira-Dill, L S; Carvalho, B M A; Marchi-Salvador, D P; Santos-Filho, N A; Fernandes, C A H; Fontes, M R M; Giglio, J R; Barraviera, B; Zuliani, J P; Fernandes, C F C; Calderón, L A; Stábeli, R G; Albericio, F; da Silva, S L; Soares, A M

    2014-01-01

    Crude venom of Bothrops jararacussu and isolated phospholipases A2 (PLA2) of this toxin (BthTX-I and BthTX-II) were chemically modified (alkylation) by p-bromophenacyl bromide (BPB) in order to study antibody production capacity in function of the structure-function relationship of these substances (crude venom and PLA2 native and alkylated). BthTX-II showed enzymatic activity, while BthTX-I did not. Alkylation reduced BthTX-II activity by 50% while this process abolished the catalytic and myotoxic activities of BthTX-I, while reducing its edema-inducing activity by about 50%. Antibody production against the native and alkylated forms of BthTX-I and -II and the cross-reactivity of antibodies to native and alkylated toxins did not show any apparent differences and these observations were reinforced by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) data. Histopathological analysis of mouse gastrocnemius muscle sections after injection of PBS, BthTX-I, BthTX-II, or both myotoxins previously incubated with neutralizing antibody showed inhibition of the toxin-induced myotoxicity. These results reveal that the chemical modification of the phospholipases A2 (PLA2) diminished their toxicity but did not alter their antigenicity. This observation indicates that the modified PLA2 may provide a biotechnological tool to attenuate the toxicity of the crude venom, by improving the production of antibodies and decreasing the local toxic effects of this poisonous substance in animals used to produce antivenom.

  16. ASYMMETRIC DIMETHYLARGININE LEVELS AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS MARKERS IN CUSHING SYNDROME.

    PubMed

    Ozsurekci, Cemile Gulbas; Akturk, Mujde; Ozkan, Cigdem; Gulbahar, Ozlem; Altinova, Alev Eroglu; Yalcin, Muhittin; Arslan, Emre; Toruner, Fusun

    2016-09-01

    As a consequence of hypercortisolism, Cushing syndrome (CS) is frequently observed with other diseases that are associated with atherosclerosis, including diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the primary cause of mortality and morbidity in CS. We investigate CVD risk markers such as asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), highsensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), homocysteine, lipid levels, ankle-brachial index (ABI), and carotid intimamedia thickness (CIMT) in CS. Our study included 27 patients with CS and 27 age-, sex-, body mass index (BMI)-, and comorbid disease-matched control subjects. Plasma ADMA levels were significantly lower in the CS group than the control group (P = .013). Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein A1 and apolipoprotein B levels were higher in patients with CS than the control group (P<.05). We did not find any statistically significant differences in levels of hsCRP, Lp-PLA2, or homocysteine or CIMT and ABI measurements between the CS group and comorbidity-matched control group (P>.05). We found that ADMA levels were lower in CS, the finding that should be further investigated. Levels of hsCRP, Lp-PLA2, and homocysteine levels and CIMT and ABI measurements were similar between the CS group and comorbidity-matched control group. None of these markers was prominent to show an increased risk of CVD in CS, independent of the comorbidities of CS. ABI = ankle-brachial index Apo = apolipoprotein ADMA = asymmetric dimethylarginine BMI = body mass index CVD = cardiovascular disease CIMT = carotid intima-media thickness CS = Cushing syndrome DM = diabetes mellitus DDAH = dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase ELISA = enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay HDL = high-density lipoprotein hsCRP = high-sensitive C-reactive protein HOMA-IR = homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance HT

  17. Most significant reduction of cardiovascular events in patients undergoing lipoproteinapheresis due to raised Lp(a) levels - A multicenter observational study.

    PubMed

    Schatz, U; Tselmin, S; Müller, G; Julius, U; Hohenstein, B; Fischer, S; Bornstein, S R

    2017-11-01

    Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is an independent cardiovascular (CV) risk factor, predisposing to premature and progressive CV events. Lipoproteinapheresis (LA) is the only efficacious therapy for reducing Lp(a). Data comparing the clinical efficacy of LA with respect to reduction of CV events in subjects with elevated Lp(a) versus LDL-C versus both disorders is scarce. We aimed to perform this comparison in a multicenter observational study. 113 LA patients from 8 apheresis centers were included (mean age 56.3 years). They were divided into 3 groups: Group I: Lp(a) < 600 mg/l, LDL-C > 2.6 mmol/l, Group II: Lp(a) > 600 mg/l, LDL-C < 2.6 mmol/l, and Group III: Lp(a) > 600 mg/l, LDL-C > 2.6 mmol/l. CV events were documented 2 years before versus 2 years after LA start. Before start of LA Group II showed the highest CV event rate (p 0.001). Group III had a higher CV event rate than Group I (p 0.03). During LA there was a significant reduction of CV events/patient in all vessel beds (1.22 ± 1.16 versus 0.33 ± 0.75, p < 0.001). The highest CV event rate during LA was seen in coronaries followed by peripheral arteries, cerebrovascular events were least common. Greater CV event reduction rates were achieved in patients with isolated Lp(a) elevation (-77%, p < 0.001) and in patients with Lp(a) and LDL-C elevation (-74%, p < 0.001) than in subjects with isolated hypercholesterolemia (-53%, p 0.06). This study demonstrates that patients with Lp(a) elevation benefit most from LA treatment. Prospective trials to confirm these data are warranted. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  18. 75 FR 4475 - Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS332L1, AS332L2, and EC225LP Helicopters

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-01-28

    ... Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS332L1, AS332L2, and EC225LP Helicopters AGENCY: Federal.... SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Eurocopter France (ECF... France and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral [[Page 4476...

  19. Synthesis of protein-coated biocompatible methotrexate-loaded PLA-PEG-PLA nanoparticles for breast cancer treatment

    PubMed Central

    Massadeh, Salam; Alaamery, Manal; Al-Qatanani, Shatha; Alarifi, Saqer; Bawazeer, Shahad; Alyafee, Yusra

    2016-01-01

    Background PLA-PEG-PLA triblock polymer nanoparticles are promising tools for targeted dug delivery. The main aim in designing polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery is achieving a controlled and targeted release of a specific drug at the therapeutically optimal rate and choosing a suitable preparation method to encapsulate the drug efficiently, which depends mainly on the nature of the drug (hydrophilic or hydrophobic). In this study, methotrexate (MTX)-loaded nanoparticles were prepared by the double emulsion method. Method Biodegradable polymer polyethylene glycol-polylactide acid tri-block was used with poly(vinyl alcohol) as emulsifier. The resulting methotrexate polymer nanoparticles were coated with bovine serum albumin in order to improve their biocompatibility. This study focused on particle size distribution, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity, and in vitro drug release at various concentrations of PVA (0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3%). Results Reduced particle size of methotrexate-loaded nanoparticles was obtained using lower PVA concentrations. Enhanced encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity was obtained using 1% PVA. FT-IR characterization was conducted for the void polymer nanoparticles and for drug-loaded nanoparticles with methotrexate, and the protein-coated nanoparticles in solid state showed the structure of the plain PEG-PLA and the drug-loaded nanoparticles with methotrexate. The methotrexate-loaded PLA-PEG-PLA nanoparticles have been studied in vitro; the drug release, drug loading, and yield are reported. Conclusion The drug release profile was monitored over a period of 168 hours, and was free of burst effect before the protein coating. The results obtained from this work are promising; this work can be taken further to develop MTX based therapies.

  20. Origin and evolution of group XI secretory phospholipase A2 from flax (Linum usitatissimum) based on phylogenetic analysis of conserved domains.

    PubMed

    Gupta, Payal; Saini, Raman; Dash, Prasanta K

    2017-07-01

    Phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) belongs to class of lipolytic enzymes (EC 3.1.1.4). Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and free fatty acids (FFAs) are the products of PLA 2 catalyzed hydrolysis of phosphoglycerides at sn-2 position. LPA and FFA that act as second mediators involved in the development and maturation of plants and animals. Mining of flax genome identified two phospholipase A 2 encoding genes, viz., LusPLA 2 I and LusPLA 2 II (Linum usitatissimum secretory phospholipase A 2 ). Molecular simulation of LusPLA 2 s with already characterized plant sPLA 2 s revealed the presence of conserved motifs and signature domains necessary to classify them as secretory phospholipase A 2 . Phylogenetic analysis of flax sPLA 2 with representative sPLA 2 s from other organisms revealed that they evolved rapidly via gene duplication/deletion events and shares a common ancestor. Our study is the first report of detailed phylogenetic analysis for secretory phospholipase A 2 in flax. Comparative genomic analysis of two LusPLA 2 s with earlier reported plant sPLA 2 s, based on their gene architectures, sequence similarities, and domain structures are presented elucidating the uniqueness of flax sPLA 2 .

  1. Reference values for Lactate Pro 2™ in fetal blood sampling during labor: a cross-sectional study.

    PubMed

    Birgisdottir, Brynhildur Tinna; Holzmann, Malin; Varli, Ingela Hulthén; Graner, Sofie; Saltvedt, Sissel; Nordström, Lennart

    2017-04-01

    Lactate Pro™ (LP1) is the only lactate meter evaluated for fetal scalp blood sampling (FBS) in intrapartum use. The reference values for this meter are: normal value <4.2 mmol/L, preacidemia 4.2-4.8 mmol/L, and acidemia >4.8 mmol/L. The production of this meter has been discontinued. An updated version, Lactate Pro 2TM (LP2), has been launched and is shown to be differently calibrated. The aims of the study were to retrieve a conversion equation to convert lactate values in FBS measured with LP2 to an estimated value if using LP1 and to define reference values for clinical management when using LP2. A cross-sectional study was conducted at a university hospital in Sweden. A total of 113 laboring women with fetal heart rate abnormalities on cardiotocography (CTG) had FBS carried out. Lactate concentration was measured bedside with both LP1 and LP2 from the same blood sample capillary. A linear regression model was constructed to retrieve a conversion equation to convert LP2 values to LP1 values. LP2 measured higher values than LP1 in all analyses. We found that 4.2 mmol/L with LP1 corresponded to 6.4 mmol/L with LP2. Likewise, 4.8 mmol/L with LP1 corresponded to 7.3 mmol/L with LP2. The correlation between the analyses was excellent (Spearman's rank correlation, r=0.97). We recommend the following guidelines when interpreting lactate concentration in FBS with LP2: <6.4 mmol/L to be interpreted as normal, 6.4-7.3 mmol/L as preacidemia indicating a follow-up FBS within 20-30 min, and >7.3 mmol/L as acidemia indicating intervention.

  2. Plasma modified PLA electrospun membranes for actinorhodin production intensification in Streptomyces coelicolor immobilized-cell cultivations.

    PubMed

    Scaffaro, Roberto; Lopresti, Francesco; Sutera, Alberto; Botta, Luigi; Fontana, Rosa Maria; Gallo, Giuseppe

    2017-09-01

    Most of industrially relevant bioproducts are produced by submerged cultivations of actinomycetes. The immobilization of these Gram-positive filamentous bacteria on suitable porous supports may prevent mycelial cell-cell aggregation and pellet formation which usually negatively affect actinomycete submerged cultivations, thus, resulting in an improved biosynthetic capability. In this work, electrospun polylactic acid (PLA) membranes, subjected or not to O 2 -plasma treatment (PLA-plasma), were used as support for immobilized-cell submerged cultivations of Streptomyces coelicolor M145. This strain produces different bioactive compounds, including the blue-pigmented actinorhodin (ACT) and red-pigmented undecylprodigiosin (RED), and constitutes a model for the study of antibiotic-producing actinomycetes. Wet contact angles and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis confirmed the increased wettability of PLA-plasma due to the formation of polar functional groups such as carboxyl and hydroxyl moieties. Scanning electron microscope observations, carried out at different incubation times, revealed that S. coelicolor immobilized-cells created a dense "biofilm-like" mycelial network on both kinds of PLA membranes. Cultures of S. coelicolor immobilized-cells on PLA or PLA-plasma membranes produced higher biomass (between 1.5 and 2 fold) as well as higher levels of RED and ACT than planktonic cultures. In particular, cultures of immobilized-cells on PLA and PLA-plasma produced comparable levels of RED that were approximatively 4 and 5 fold higher than those produced by planktonic cultures, respectively. In contrast, levels of ACT produced by immobilized-cell cultures on PLA and PLA-plasma were different, being 5 and 10 fold higher than those of planktonic cultures, respectively. Therefore, this is study demonstrated the positive influence of PLA membrane on growth and secondary metabolite production in S. coelicolor and also revealed that O 2 -plasma treated PLA membranes

  3. Preparation and characterization of collagen/PLA, chitosan/PLA, and collagen/chitosan/PLA hybrid scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering.

    PubMed

    Haaparanta, Anne-Marie; Järvinen, Elina; Cengiz, Ibrahim Fatih; Ellä, Ville; Kokkonen, Harri T; Kiviranta, Ilkka; Kellomäki, Minna

    2014-04-01

    In this study, three-dimensional (3D) porous scaffolds were developed for the repair of articular cartilage defects. Novel collagen/polylactide (PLA), chitosan/PLA, and collagen/chitosan/PLA hybrid scaffolds were fabricated by combining freeze-dried natural components and synthetic PLA mesh, where the 3D PLA mesh gives mechanical strength, and the natural polymers, collagen and/or chitosan, mimic the natural cartilage tissue environment of chondrocytes. In total, eight scaffold types were studied: four hybrid structures containing collagen and/or chitosan with PLA, and four parallel plain scaffolds with only collagen and/or chitosan. The potential of these types of scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering applications were determined by the analysis of the microstructure, water uptake, mechanical strength, and the viability and attachment of adult bovine chondrocytes to the scaffolds. The manufacturing method used was found to be applicable for the manufacturing of hybrid scaffolds with highly porous 3D structures. All the hybrid scaffolds showed a highly porous structure with open pores throughout the scaffold. Collagen was found to bind water inside the structure in all collagen-containing scaffolds better than the chitosan-containing scaffolds, and the plain collagen scaffolds had the highest water absorption. The stiffness of the scaffold was improved by the hybrid structure compared to plain scaffolds. The cell viability and attachment was good in all scaffolds, however, the collagen hybrid scaffolds showed the best penetration of cells into the scaffold. Our results show that from the studied scaffolds the collagen/PLA hybrids are the most promising scaffolds from this group for cartilage tissue engineering.

  4. PHEA-PLA biocompatible nanoparticles by technique of solvent evaporation from multiple emulsions.

    PubMed

    Cavallaro, Gennara; Craparo, Emanuela Fabiola; Sardo, Carla; Lamberti, Gaetano; Barba, Anna Angela; Dalmoro, Annalisa

    2015-11-30

    Nanocarriers of amphiphilic polymeric materials represent versatile delivery systems for poorly water soluble drugs. In this work the technique of solvent evaporation from multiple emulsions was applied to produce nanovectors based on new amphiphilic copolymer, the α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-DL-aspartamide-polylactic acid (PHEA-PLA), purposely synthesized to be used in the controlled release of active molecules poorly soluble in water. To this aim an amphiphilic derivative of PHEA, a hydrophilic polymer, was synthesized by derivatization of the polymeric backbone with hydrophobic grafts of polylactic acid (PLA). The achieved copolymer was thus used to produce nanoparticles loaded with α tocopherol (vitamin E) adopted as lipophilic model molecule. Applying a protocol based on solvent evaporation from multiple emulsions assisted by ultrasonic energy and optimizing the emulsification process (solvent selection/separation stages), PHEA-PLA nanostructured particles with total α tocopherol entrapment efficiency (100%), were obtained. The drug release is expected to take place in lower times with respect to PLA due to the presence of the hydrophilic PHEA, therefore the produced nanoparticles can be used for semi-long term release drug delivery systems. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. PLA/CS/Nifedipine Nanocomposite Films: Properties and the In Vitro Release of Nifedipine

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Trang, Nguyen Thi Thu; Chinh, Nguyen Thuy; Giang, Nguyen Vu; Thanh, Dinh Thi Mai; Lam, Tran Dai; Hoang, Thai

    2016-07-01

    The polylactic acid (PLA)/chitosan (CS) films containing a drug, nifedipine (NIF), in the presence of polyethylene oxide (PEO) as a compatibilizer were prepared by the solution method. This method has not been used to form films containing four components (PLA, CS, NIF, PEO) up to now. The CS, PEO, and NIF contents are 25 wt.%, 6-8 wt.%, and 10-50 wt.% in comparison with PLA weight, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) were used to characterize the interactions, properties, and morphology of the PLA/CS/PEO/NIF films. The FTIR, TGA, and DSC results show that NIF carried by PLA/CS/PEO films and PLA, CS, NIF had better interaction and were more compatible when using PEO. The surface morphology of PLA/CS/PEO/NIF films was similar to that of PLA/CS/PEO films. Moreover, this was the first time drug loading and NIF release content from PLA/CS/PEO films were determined by the ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy method. The drug loading of PLA/CS/PEO/NIF films was from 80.99% to 93.61%. The in vitro NIF release studies were carried out in pH 2, 6.8, and 7.4 solutions corresponding to the pH of stomach, colon, and duodenum regions in the human body, respectively. The NIF release content in different pH solutions is in the order: pH 2 > pH 6.8 > pH 7.4 and increases when there is increasing NIF loading. The PLA/CS/PEO films are potential materials to apply for long-circulating systems for NIF delivery.

  6. Polymer Film-Based Screening and Isolation of Polylactic Acid (PLA)-Degrading Microorganisms.

    PubMed

    Kim, Mi Yeon; Kim, Changman; Moon, Jungheun; Heo, Jinhee; Jung, Sokhee P; Kim, Jung Rae

    2017-02-28

    Polylactic acid (PLA) has been highlighted as an alternative renewable polymer for the replacement of petroleum-based plastic materials, and is considered to be biodegradable. On the other hand, the biodegradation of PLA by terminal degraders, such as microorganisms, requires a lengthy period in the natural environment, and its mechanism is not completely understood. PLA biodegradation studies have been conducted using mainly undefined mixed cultures, but only a few bacterial strains have been isolated and examined. For further characterization of PLA biodegradation, in this study, the PLA-degrading bacteria from digester sludge were isolated and identified using a polymer film-based screening method. The enrichment of sludge on PLA granules was conducted with the serial transference of a subculture into fresh media for 40 days, and the attached biofilm was inoculated on a PLA film on an agar plate. 3D optical microscopy showed that the isolates physically degraded the PLA film due to bacterial degradation. 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified the microbial colonies to be Pseudomonas sp. MYK1 and Bacillus sp. MYK2. The two isolates exhibited significantly higher specific gas production rates from PLA biodegradation compared with that of the initial sludge inoculum.

  7. On the Use of PLA-PHB Blends for Sustainable Food Packaging Applications

    PubMed Central

    Arrieta, Marina Patricia; Samper, María Dolores; Aldas, Miguel; López, Juan

    2017-01-01

    Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is the most used biopolymer for food packaging applications. Several strategies have been made to improve PLA properties for extending its applications in the packaging field. Melt blending approaches are gaining considerable interest since they are easy, cost-effective and readily available processing technologies at the industrial level. With a similar melting temperature and high crystallinity, poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) represents a good candidate to blend with PLA. The ability of PHB to act as a nucleating agent for PLA improves its mechanical resistance and barrier performance. With the dual objective to improve PLAPHB processing performance and to obtain stretchable materials, plasticizers are frequently added. Current trends to enhance PLA-PHB miscibility are focused on the development of composite and nanocomposites. PLA-PHB blends are also interesting for the controlled release of active compounds in the development of active packaging systems. This review explains the most relevant processing aspects of PLA-PHB based blends such as the influence of polymers molecular weight, the PLA-PHB composition as well as the thermal stability. It also summarizes the recent developments in PLA-PHB formulations with an emphasis on their performance with interest in the sustainable food packaging field. PLA-PHB blends shows highly promising perspectives for the replacement of traditional petrochemical based polymers currently used for food packaging. PMID:28850102

  8. On the Use of PLA-PHB Blends for Sustainable Food Packaging Applications.

    PubMed

    Arrieta, Marina Patricia; Samper, María Dolores; Aldas, Miguel; López, Juan

    2017-08-29

    Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is the most used biopolymer for food packaging applications. Several strategies have been made to improve PLA properties for extending its applications in the packaging field. Melt blending approaches are gaining considerable interest since they are easy, cost-effective and readily available processing technologies at the industrial level. With a similar melting temperature and high crystallinity, poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) represents a good candidate to blend with PLA. The ability of PHB to act as a nucleating agent for PLA improves its mechanical resistance and barrier performance. With the dual objective to improve PLAPHB processing performance and to obtain stretchable materials, plasticizers are frequently added. Current trends to enhance PLA-PHB miscibility are focused on the development of composite and nanocomposites. PLA-PHB blends are also interesting for the controlled release of active compounds in the development of active packaging systems. This review explains the most relevant processing aspects of PLA-PHB based blends such as the influence of polymers molecular weight, the PLA-PHB composition as well as the thermal stability. It also summarizes the recent developments in PLA-PHB formulations with an emphasis on their performance with interest in the sustainable food packaging field. PLA-PHB blends shows highly promising perspectives for the replacement of traditional petrochemical based polymers currently used for food packaging.

  9. Combined Effect of Ultrasound Stimulations and Autoclaving on the Enhancement of Antibacterial Activity of ZnO and SiO2/ZnO Nanoparticles

    PubMed Central

    Rokbani, Hajer; Ajji, Abdellah

    2018-01-01

    This study investigates the antibacterial activity (ABA) of suspensions of pure ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and mesoporous silica doped with ZnO (ZnO-UVM7), as well as electrospun nanofibers containing those nanoparticles. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of these two materials were also determined under the same conditions. The results showed a concentration-dependent effect of antibacterial nanoparticles on the viability of Escherichia coli (E. coli). Moreover, the combination of the stimulations and sterilization considerably enhanced the antimicrobial activity (AMA) of the ZnO suspensions. Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) solutions in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) were mixed with different contents of nanoparticles and spun into nonwoven mats by the electrospinning process. The morphology of the mats was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The amount of nanoparticles contained in the mats was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The obtained PLA-based mats showed a fibrous morphology, with an average diameter ranging from 350 to 450 nm, a porosity above 85%, but with the nanoparticles agglomeration on their surface. TGA analysis showed that the loss of ZnO-NPs increased with the increase of ZnO-NPs content in the PLA solutions and reached 79% for 1 wt % of ZnO-NPs, which was mainly due to the aggregation of nanoparticles in solution. The ABA of the obtained PLA mats was evaluated by the dynamic method according to the ASTM standard E2149. The results showed that, above an optimal concentration, the nanoparticle agglomeration reduced the antimicrobial efficiency of PLA mats. These mats have potential features for use as antimicrobial food packaging material. PMID:29495334

  10. Interplay between ABA and phospholipases A(2) and D in the response of citrus fruit to postharvest dehydration.

    PubMed

    Romero, Paco; Gandía, Mónica; Alférez, Fernando

    2013-09-01

    The interplay between abscisic acid (ABA) and phospholipases A2 and D (PLA2 and PLD) in the response of citrus fruit to water stress was investigated during postharvest by using an ABA-deficient mutant from 'Navelate' orange named 'Pinalate'. Fruit from both varieties harvested at two different maturation stages (mature-green and full-mature) were subjected to prolonged water loss inducing stem-end rind breakdown (SERB) in full-mature fruit. Treatment with PLA2 inhibitor aristolochic acid (AT) and PLD inhibitor lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) reduced the disorder in both varieties, suggesting that phospholipid metabolism is involved in citrus peel quality. Expression of CsPLDα and CsPLDβ, and CssPLA2α and CssPLA2β was studied by real-time RT-PCR during water stress and in response to ABA. CsPLDα expression increased in mature-green fruit from 'Navelate' but not in 'Pinalate' and ABA did not counteract this effect. ABA enhanced repression of CsPLDα in full-mature fruit. CsPLDβ gene expression decreased in mature-green 'Pinalate', remained unchanged in 'Navelate' and was induced in full-mature fruit from both varieties. CssPLA2α expression increased in mature-green fruit from both varieties whereas in full-mature fruit only increased in 'Navelate'. CssPLA2β expression increased in mature-green flavedo from both varieties, but in full-mature fruit remained steady in 'Navelate' and barely increased in 'Pinalate' fruit. ABA reduced expression in both after prolonged storage. Responsiveness to ABA increased with maturation. Our results show interplay between PLA2 and PLD and suggest that ABA action is upstream phospholipase activation. Response to ABA during water stress in citrus is regulated during fruit maturation and involves membrane phospholipid degradation. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  11. Design and evaluation of mPEG-PLA micelles functionalized with drug-interactive domains as improved drug carriers for docetaxel delivery.

    PubMed

    Qi, Dingqing; Gong, Feirong; Teng, Xin; Ma, Mingming; Wen, Huijing; Yuan, Weihao; Cheng, Yi; Lu, Chong

    2017-10-01

    Polymeric micelles are very attractive drug delivery systems for hydrophobic agents, owing to their readily tailorable chemical structure and ease for scale-up preparation. However, the intrinsic poor stability of drug-loaded micelles presents one of the major challenges for most micellar systems in the translation to clinical applications. In this study, a simple, well-defined, and easy-to-scale up 9-Fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) and tert-butoxycarbonyl (Boc) containing lysine dendronized mPEG-PLA (mPEG-PLA-Lys(FB) 2 ) micellar formulation was designed and prepared for docetaxel (DTX) delivery, in an effort to improve the stability of the micelles, and its physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetics, and anti-tumor efficacy against SKOV-3 ovarian cancer were evaluated. MPEG-PLA-Lys(FB) 2 was synthesized via a three-step synthetic route, and it actively interacted with DTX in aqueous media to form stable micelles with small particle sizes (~17-19 nm) and narrow size distribution (PI < 0.1), which can be lyophilized and easily reconstituted in saline without significant change in particle size distribution. In vitro drug-release study demonstrated that mPEG-PLA-Lys(FB) 2 micelles achieved delayed and sustained release manner of DTX in comparison with mPEG-PLA micelles. Further in vivo xenograft tumor model in nude mice DTX/mPEG-PLA-Lys(FB) 2 micelles demonstrated significantly higher inhibitory effect on tumor growth than the marketed formulation Taxotere. Thus, our system may hold promise as a simple and effective delivery system for DTX with a potential for translation into clinical study.

  12. Restoration of On-Time Embryo Implantation Corrects the Timing of Parturition in Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 Group IVA Deficient Mice1

    PubMed Central

    Brown, Naoko; Morrow, Jason D.; Slaughter, James C.; Paria, Bibhash C.; Reese, Jeff

    2009-01-01

    Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2, PLA2G4A) catalyzes the release of arachidonic acid for prostaglandin synthesis by cyclooxygenase 1 (PTGS1) and cyclooxygenase 2 (PTGS2). Mice with Pla2g4a deficiency have parturition delay and other reproductive deficits, including deferred onset of implantation, crowding of implantation sites, and small litters. In this study, we examined the contribution of PLA2G4A to parturition in mice. Pla2g4a mRNA and protein expression were discretely localized in the term and preterm uterine luminal epithelium and colocalized with Ptgs1, but not Ptgs2, expression. The levels of PGE2, PGF2alpha, 6-keto-PGF1alpha, and TxB2 were significantly decreased in Pla2g4a-null uterine tissues, similar to Ptgs1-null uteri, consistent with predominance of PLA2G4A-PTGS1-mediated prostaglandin synthesis in preparation for murine parturition. Litter size was strongly associated with the timing of parturition in Pla2g4a-null mice but could not fully account for the parturition delay. Pla2g4a-null females that received PGE2 + carbaprostacyclin at the time of implantation delivered earlier (20.5 ± 0.2 days vs. 21.6 ± 0.2 days, P < 0.01), although litter size was not improved (4.6 vs. 4.4 pups per litter, P = 0.6). After correction for small litter size, multivariate analysis indicated that Pla2g4a-null mice given prostaglandin treatment to improve implantation timing had gestational length that was similar to wild-type and Pla2g4a heterozygous mice. These results indicate that, despite specific Pla2g4a expression and function in term gestation uteri, the delayed parturition phenotype in Pla2g4a-null mice is primarily due to deferral of implantation. The role of PLA2G4A in timely parturition appears to be critically related to its actions in early pregnancy. PMID:19684335

  13. Additive Manufacturing of PLA and CF/PLA Binding Layer Specimens via Fused Deposition Modeling

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Yuhang; Gao, Shiyou; Dong, Rongmei; Ding, Xuebing; Duan, Xiaoxi

    2018-02-01

    As one of the most popular additive manufacturing techniques, fused deposition modeling (FDM) is successfully applied in aerospace, automotive, architecture, and other fields to fabricate thermoplastic parts. Unfortunately, as a result of the limited nature of the mechanical properties and mass in raw materials, there is a pressing need to improve mechanical properties and reduce weight for FDM parts. Therefore, this paper presents an experiment of a special polylactic acid (PLA) and carbon fiber (CF)/PLA-laminated experimental specimen fabricated using the FDM process. The mechanical properties and mass analysis of the new composites for the PLA and CF/PLA binding layer specimen are investigated experimentally. Through the experimental analysis, one can conclude that the mass of laminated specimen is lighter than the CF/PLA specimen, and the tensile and flexural mechanical properties are higher than the pure PLA specimen.

  14. Metabolic and anthropometric determinants of serum Lp(a) concentrations and Apo(a) polymorphism in a healthy Arab population.

    PubMed

    Akanji, A O; al-Shayji, I A; Kumar, P

    1999-08-01

    Blood lipoprotein(a) Lp(a) concentrations are an important risk factor for atherosclerosis. The basis for this atherogenic property of Lp(a) and the factors that influence its cross-population levels, however, remain poorly understood. To investigate the relationship between serum Lp(a) and metabolic and anthropometric parameters in a healthy Kuwaiti population. Cross-sectional study. 177 (72 male, 105 female) randomly recruited healthy Kuwait Arabs aged 17-60 y Metabolic parameters in serum: Lp(a), apo(a) phenotypes, lipids and lipoproteins, glucose and urate. Anthropometric parameters: body mass index (BMI) and waist:hip-ratio (WHR). The distribution of Lp(a) concentrations was positively skewed (median 153 mg/l, range 0-1086). Women had higher concentrations-(194, 0-1086) than men (117, 0-779), P = 0.069. Lp(a) and insulin concentrations were significantly higher when the men and women were obese. In all subjects, there were significant correlations between Lp(a) and BMI (r = 0.23), total cholesterol (TC) (r = 0.17) and LDL (r = 0.20). Lp(a) correlated only with glucose in men (r = 0.28). In women it correlated with age (r = 0.20), BMI (r = 0.30), BP (r = 0.20), TC (r = 0.20) and LDL (r = 0.26). Multivariate analyses confirmed BMI and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) as the significant determinants of serum Lp(a). On apo (a) phenotyping, 114 (67%), 51 (30%) and 6 (4%) had single, double and null phenotypes respectively. The isoforms and their corresponding kringle IV repeat numbers were: F (14 repeats in 3%, mean Lp(a) 497 mg/l); S1 (19 repeats in 14%, mean 245 mg/l); S2 (23 repeats in 16%, mean 264 mg/l); S3 (27 repeats in 35%, mean 236 mg/l); and S4 (35 repeats in 28%, mean 235 mg/l). The results from the Kuwaiti population studied suggest that: (1) serum Lp(a) concentrations and distribution are similar to the pattern in Caucasians and Asians but not African-Americans or Africans; (2) serum Lp(a) is variably influenced by BMI and LDL--the impact of either factor

  15. Transverse stress induced LP 02-LP 21 modal interference of stimulated Raman scattered light in a few-mode optical fiber

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sharma, A.; Posey, R.

    1996-02-01

    Four-photon mixing followed by stimulated Raman scattering is observed in LP 02 mode in a 7.9 μm core diameter optical fiber. A localized transverse stress efficiency couples LP 02 to the LP 21 mode with a macroscopic beat length of 1.8 mm. LP 02-LP 21 modal interference is investigated by detecting the 550-590 nm SRS through a pinhole in the far field exit plane. Quantitative explanation of wavelength dependent intensity modulation results in a precise experimental determination of {∂[β 02(λ) - β 21(λ)] }/{∂λ}, for mode-propagation constants β02( λ) and β21( λ) of LP 02 and LP 21 modes respectively, as well as Δ, the relative core-cladding refractive index difference. The LP 02-LP 21 modal interference is used for sensing of temperature between 50-300°C.

  16. Hubble Space Telescope Observations of Active Asteroid 324P/La Sagra

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jewitt, David; Agarwal, Jessica; Weaver, Harold; Mutchler, Max; Li, Jing; Larson, Stephen

    2016-09-01

    Hubble Space Telescope observations of active asteroid 324P/La Sagra near perihelion show continued mass loss consistent with the sublimation of near-surface ice. Isophotes of the coma measured from a vantage point below the orbital plane are best matched by steady emission of particles having a nominal size of a ˜ 100 μm. The inferred rate of mass loss, dM d /dt ˜ 0.2 kg s-1, can be supplied by sublimation of water ice in thermal equilibrium with sunlight from an area as small as 930 m2, corresponding to about 0.2% of the nucleus surface. Observations taken from a vantage point only 0.°6 from the orbital plane of 324P set a limit to the velocity of ejection of dust in the direction perpendicular to the plane, V ⊥ < 1 m s-1. Short-term photometric variations of the near-nucleus region, if related to rotation of the underlying nucleus, rule-out periods ≤3.8 hr and suggest that rotation probably does not play a central role in driving the observed mass loss. We estimate that, in the previous orbit, 324P lost about 4 × 107 kg in dust particles, corresponding to 6 × 10-5 of the mass of a 550 m spherical nucleus of assumed density ρ = 1000 kg m-3. If continued, mass loss at this rate would limit the lifetime of 324P to ˜1.6 × 104 orbits (about 105 years). To survive for the 100-400 Myr timescales corresponding to dynamical and collisional stability requires a duty cycle of 2 × 10-4 ≤ f d ≤ 8 × 10-4. Unless its time in orbit is overestimated by many orders of magnitude, 324P is revealed as a briefly active member of a vast population of otherwise dormant ice-containing asteroids.

  17. Docetaxel (DTX)-loaded polydopamine-modified TPGS-PLA nanoparticles as a targeted drug delivery system for the treatment of liver cancer.

    PubMed

    Zhu, Dunwan; Tao, Wei; Zhang, Hongling; Liu, Gan; Wang, Teng; Zhang, Linhua; Zeng, Xiaowei; Mei, Lin

    2016-01-01

    Polydopamine-based surface modification is a simple way to functionalize polymeric nanoparticle (NP) surfaces with ligands and/or additional polymeric layers. In this work, we developed DTX-loaded formulations using polydopamine-modified NPs synthesized using D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate-poly(lactide) (pD-TPGS-PLA/NPs). To target liver cancer cells, galactosamine was conjugated on the prepared NPs (Gal-pD-TPGS-PLA/NPs) to enhance the delivery of DTX via ligand-mediated endocytosis. The size and morphology of pD-TPGS-PLA/NPs and Gal-pD-TPGS-PLA/NPs changed obviously compared with TPGS-PLA/NPs. In vitro studies showed that TPGS-PLA/NPs, pD-TPGS-PLA/NPs and Gal-pD-TPGS-PLA/NPs had similar release profiles of DTX. Both confocal laser scanning microscopy and flow cytometric results showed that coumarin 6-loaded Gal-pD-TPGS-PLA/NPs had the highest cellular uptake efficiency in liver cancer cell line HepG2. Moreover, DTX-loaded Gal-pD-TPGS-PLA/NPs inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells more potently than TPGS-PLA/NPs, pD-TPGS-PLA/NPs, and a clinically available DTX formulation (Taxotere®). The in vivo biodistribution experiments show that the Gal-pD-TPGS-PLA/NPs are specifically targeted to the tumor. Furthermore, the in vivo anti-tumor effects study showed that injecting DTX-loaded Gal-pD-TPGS-PLA/NPs reduced the tumor size most significantly on hepatoma-bearing nude mice. These results suggest that Gal-pD-TPGS-PLA/NPs prepared in the study specifically interacted with the hepatocellular carcinoma cells through ligand-receptor recognition and they may be used as a potentially eligible drug delivery system targeting liver cancers. Polydopamine-based surface modification is a simple way to functionalize polymeric nanoparticle surfaces with ligands and/or additional polymeric layers. In this work, we developed docetaxel (DTX)-loaded formulations using polydopamine-modified NPs synthesized from D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate

  18. Isolation and biochemical characterization of a γ-type phospholipase A2 inhibitor from Crotalus durissus collilineatus snake serum.

    PubMed

    Gimenes, Sarah Natalie Cirilo; Ferreira, Francis Barbosa; Silveira, Ana Carolina Portella; Rodrigues, Renata Santos; Yoneyama, Kelly Aparecida Geraldo; Izabel Dos Santos, Juliana; Fontes, Marcos Roberto de Mattos; de Campos Brites, Vera Lúcia; Santos, André Luiz Quagliatto; Borges, Márcia Helena; Lopes, Daiana Silva; Rodrigues, Veridiana M

    2014-04-01

    In the present work, we describe the isolation and partial structural and biochemical characterization of the first phospholipase A2 inhibitor (γPLI) from Crotalus durissus collilineatus (Cdc) snake serum. Initially, the Cdc serum was subjected to a Q-Sepharose ion exchange column, producing six peaks at 280 nm absorbance (Q1-Q6). Subsequently, Q4 fraction was submitted to affinity chromatography with immobilized PLA2 BnSP-7, a step that resulted in two fractions (NHS-1 and NHS-2). The latter contained the inhibitor, denominated γCdcPLI. The molecular mass of γCdcPLI, determined by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF), was 22,340 Da. Partial sequences obtained by Edman degradation and by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF), showed similarity, as expected, to other related inhibitors. Circular dichroism (CD) analysis showed the presence of approximately 22% alpha helices and 29% beta sheets in the protein secondary structure. Additionally, CD studies also indicated no significant changes in the secondary structure of γCdcPLI when it is complexed to BpPLA2-TXI. On the other hand, dynamic light scattering (DLS) assays showed a temperature-dependent oligomerization behavior for this inhibitor. Biochemical analyses showed γCdcPLI was able to inhibit the enzymatic, cytotoxic and myotoxic activities of PLA2s. Structural and functional studies performed on this inhibitor may elucidate the action mechanisms of PLA2 inhibitors. In addition, we hope this study may contribute to investigating the potential use of these inhibitors for the treatment of snakebite or inflammatory diseases in which PLA2s may be involved. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. 78 FR 16846 - Notice of Application; Equitrans, L.P.

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-19

    ... Application; Equitrans, L.P. Take notice that on March 1, 2013, Equitrans, L.P. (Equitrans), 625 Liberty... (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502-8659. Comment date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 2, 2013. Dated... 6717-01-P ...

  20. Plasticized poly(lactic acid)-poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PLA-PHB) blends incorporated with catechin intended for active food-packaging applications.

    PubMed

    Arrieta, Marina Patricia; Castro-López, María del Mar; Rayón, Emilio; Barral-Losada, Luis Fernando; López-Vilariño, José Manuel; López, Juan; González-Rodríguez, María Victoria

    2014-10-15

    Active biobased packaging materials based on poly(lactic acid)-poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PLA-PHB) blends were prepared by melt blending and fully characterized. Catechin incorporation, as antioxidant compound, enhanced the thermal stability, whereas its release was improved by the addition of acetyl(tributyl citrate) (ATBC) as plasticizer. Whereas the incorporation of ATBC resulted in a reduction of elastic modulus and hardness, catechin addition produced more rigid materials due to hydrogen-bonding interactions between catechin hydroxyl groups and carbonyl groups of PLA and PHB. The quantification of catechin released into a fatty food simulant and the antioxidant effectiveness after the release process were demonstrated. The effect of the materials' exposure to a food simulant was also investigated. PHB-added materials maintained their structural and mechanical properties after 10 days in a test medium that represents the worst foreseeable conditions of the intended use. Thus, plasticized PLA-PHB blends with catechin show their potential as biobased active packaging for fatty food.

  1. Polylactic acid (PLA) controlled delivery carriers for biomedical applications.

    PubMed

    Tyler, Betty; Gullotti, David; Mangraviti, Antonella; Utsuki, Tadanobu; Brem, Henry

    2016-12-15

    Polylactic acid (PLA) and its copolymers have a long history of safety in humans and an extensive range of applications. PLA is biocompatible, biodegradable by hydrolysis and enzymatic activity, has a large range of mechanical and physical properties that can be engineered appropriately to suit multiple applications, and has low immunogenicity. Formulations containing PLA have also been Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for multiple applications making PLA suitable for expedited clinical translatability. These biomaterials can be fashioned into sutures, scaffolds, cell carriers, drug delivery systems, and a myriad of fabrications. PLA has been the focus of a multitude of preclinical and clinical testing. Three-dimensional printing has expanded the possibilities of biomedical engineering and has enabled the fabrication of a myriad of platforms for an extensive variety of applications. PLA has been widely used as temporary extracellular matrices in tissue engineering. At the other end of the spectrum, PLA's application as drug-loaded nanoparticle drug carriers, such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, and micelles, can encapsulate otherwise toxic hydrophobic anti-tumor drugs and evade systemic toxicities. The clinical translation of these technologies from preclinical experimental settings is an ever-evolving field with incremental advancements. In this review, some of the biomedical applications of PLA and its copolymers are highlighted and briefly summarized. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. Effect of Commercial SiO2 and SiO2 from rice husk ash loading on biodegradation of Poly (lactic acid) and crosslinked Poly (lactic acid)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Prapruddivongs, C.; Apichartsitporn, M.; Wongpreedee, T.

    2017-09-01

    In this work, biodegradation behavior of poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and crosslinked PLA filled with two types of SiO2, precipitated SiO2 (commercial SiO2) and SiO2 from rice husk ash, were studied. Rice husks were first treated with 2 molar hydrochloric acid (HCl) to produce high purity SiO2, before burnt in a furnace at 800°C for 6 hours. All components were melted bending by an internal mixer then hot pressed using compression molder to form tested specimens. FTIR spectra of SiO2 and PLA samples were investigated. The results showed the lack of silanol group (Si-OH) of rice husk ash after steric acid surface modification, while the addition of particles can affect the crosslinking of the PLA. For biodegradation test by evaluating total amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) evolved during 60 days incubation at a controlled temperature of 58±2°C, the results showed that the biodegradation of crosslinked PLA occurred slower than the neat PLA. However, SiO2 incorporation enhanced the degree of biodegradation In particular, introducing commercial SiO2 in PLA and crosslinked PLA tended to clearly increase the degree of biodegradation as a consequence of the more accelerated hydrolysis degradation.

  3. All Work and No PLA Makes Jack a Dull Boy

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Popova-Gonci, Viktoria

    2009-01-01

    In this article, the author presents an assortment of approaches--building blocks--commonly used in Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) practices (this list is certainly not comprehensive): (1) course matching (comparing course requirements to a student's prior learning experiences); (2) student's ability to articulate learning gained from…

  4. Multivalent Nanoparticle Networks Enable Point of Care Detection of Human Phospholipase-A2 in Serum

    PubMed Central

    Burnapp, Mark; Bentham, Andrew; Hillier, David; Zabron, Abigail; Khan, Shahid; Tyreman, Matthew; Stevens, Molly M.

    2017-01-01

    A rapid and highly sensitive point of care (PoC) lateral flow assay for phospholipase-A2 (PLA2) is demonstrated in serum through the enzyme-triggered release of a new class of biotinylated multi-armed polymers from a liposome substrate. Signal from the enzyme activity is generated by the adhesion of polystreptavidin coated gold nanoparticle networks to the lateral flow device, which leads to the appearance of a red test line due to the localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of the gold. The use of a liposome as the enzyme substrate and multivalent linkers to link the nanoparticles leads to amplification of the signal as the cleavage of a small amount of lipids is able to release a large amount of polymer linker and adhesion of an even larger amount of gold nanoparticles. By optimising the molecular weight and multivalency of these biotinylated polymer linkers the sensitivity of the device can be tuned to enable naked-eye detection of 1 nM human-PLA2 in serum within 10 minutes. This high sensitivity enabled the correct diagnosis of pancreatitis in diseased clinical samples against a set of healthy controls using PLA2 activity in a point of care device for the first time. PMID:25756526

  5. Adenosine receptor activation potentiates phosphoinositide hydrolysis and arachidonic acid release in DDT1-MF2 cells: putative interrelations.

    PubMed

    Schachter, J B; Yasuda, R P; Wolfe, B B

    1995-09-01

    Studies were undertaken in an effort to discern possible mechanisms by which the A1 adenosine receptor agonist cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) enhances the norepinephrine-stimulated (NE-stimulated) hydrolysis of phosphoinositides in DDT1-MF2 cells. Measurements of arachidonic acid release revealed similar behaviours to those observed in measurements of phosphoinositide hydrolysis. In the presence of NE, both second messenger responses were potentiated by the addition of CPA, whereas in the absence of NE, CPA had little or no effect on either second messenger. The stimulation and potentiation of both second messenger responses were enhanced in the presence of extracellular calcium, and in each case these effects were persistent over time. For either second messenger system the stimulation by NE and the potentiation by CPA appeared to utilize separate mechanisms as evidenced by the fact that the potentiations by CPA were selectively antagonized by a cAMP analogue or by pertussis toxin, whereas the stimulations by NE were essentially unaffected by these agents. Inhibition of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) also blocked the potentiation of PLC by CPA, without affecting NE-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis. Furthermore, in the presence of CPA, the exogenous administration of PLA2 was found to stimulate phosphoinositide hydrolysis in these cells. These data are consistent with a hypothesis whereby the apparent potentiation of NE-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis by CPA is actually due to the stimulation by CPA of a second pathway of phospholipase C activity which is additive to that of NE. The activation of PLC and PLA2 by NE produces phospholipid products which may play a permissive role in the pathway coupling adenosine A1 receptors to these phospholipases. The formation of lysophosphatidic acid is suggested as one possible mediator of this permissive effect.

  6. In-vitro evaluation of Polylactic acid (PLA) manufactured by fused deposition modeling.

    PubMed

    Wurm, Matthias C; Möst, Tobias; Bergauer, Bastian; Rietzel, Dominik; Neukam, Friedrich Wilhelm; Cifuentes, Sandra C; Wilmowsky, Cornelius von

    2017-01-01

    With additive manufacturing (AM) individual and biocompatible implants can be generated by using suitable materials. The aim of this study was to investigate the biological effects of polylactic acid (PLA) manufactured by Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) on osteoblasts in vitro according to European Norm / International Organization for Standardization 10,993-5. Human osteoblasts (hFOB 1.19) were seeded onto PLA samples produced by FDM and investigated for cell viability by fluorescence staining after 24 h. Cell proliferation was measured after 1, 3, 7 and 10 days by cell-counting and cell morphology was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. For control, we used titanium samples and polystyrene (PS). Cell viability showed higher viability on PLA (95,3% ± 2.1%) than in control (91,7% ±2,7%). Cell proliferation was highest in the control group (polystyrene) and higher on PLA samples compared to the titanium samples. Scanning electron microscopy revealed homogenous covering of sample surface with regularly spread cells on PLA as well as on titanium. The manufacturing of PLA discs from polylactic acid using FDM was successful. The in vitro investigation with human fetal osteoblasts showed no cytotoxic effects. Furthermore, FDM does not seem to alter biocompatibility of PLA. Nonetheless osteoblasts showed reduced growth on PLA compared to the polystyrene control within the cell experiments. This could be attributed to surface roughness and possible release of residual monomers. Those influences could be investigated in further studies and thus lead to improvement in the additive manufacturing process. In addition, further research focused on the effect of PLA on bone growth should follow. In summary, PLA processed in Fused Deposition Modelling seems to be an attractive material and method for reconstructive surgery because of their biocompatibility and the possibility to produce individually shaped scaffolds.

  7. LP 543-25: A Rare Low-mass Runaway Disk Star

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    de la Fuente Marcos, Raúl; de la Fuente Marcos, Carlos

    2018-05-01

    LP 543-25 or PSS 544-7 is a high proper-motion star located 458 pc from the Sun in the constellation of Canis Minor; it has been argued that it could be a candidate cannonball star ejected by a star cluster. Here, we revisit the issue of the kinematics of this interesting star using Gaia DR2. The heliocentric Galactic velocity components are (U, V, W) = (206, -289, 30) km/s; the corresponding Galactocentric Galactic velocity components show that LP 543-25 is moving in the Galactic plane and away from the Galactic Center at a rate of nearly 200 km/s, which is compatible with an origin in one of the multiple star clusters that inhabit the inner regions of the Milky Way. LP 543-25 appears to be a member of an elusive class of stars, the low-mass runaway stars. It is perhaps one of the closest and less massive runaway stars identified so far.

  8. Improved thermal stability of polylactic acid (PLA) composite film via PLA-β-cyclodextrin-inclusion complex systems.

    PubMed

    Byun, Youngjae; Rodriguez, Katia; Han, Jung H; Kim, Young Teck

    2015-11-01

    The effects of the incorporation of PLA-β-cyclodextrin-inclusion complex (IC) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) on biopolyester PLA films were investigated. Thermal stability, surface morphology, barrier, and mechanical properties of the films were measured at varying IC (1, 3, 5, and 7%) and β-CD (1 and 5%) concentrations. The PLA-IC-composite films (IC-PLA-CFs) showed uniform morphological structure, while samples containing β-CD (β-CD-PLA-CFs) showed high agglomeration of β-CD due to poor interfacial interaction between β-CD and PLA moieties. According to the thermal property analysis, the 5% IC-PLA-CFs showed 6.6 times lower dimensional changes (6.5%) at the temperature range of 20-80°C than that of pure PLA film (43.0%). The increase of IC or β-CD content in the PLA-composite films shifted the glass transition and crystallization temperature to higher temperature regions. The crystallinity of both composite films improved by increasing IC or β-CD content. Both composite films had higher oxygen and water vapor permeability as IC or β-CD content increased in comparison to pure PLA film. All the composite films had less flexibility and lower tensile strength than the pure PLA film. In conclusion, this study shows that the IC technique is valuable to improve the thermal expansion stability of PLA-based films. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  9. Altered Monocyte and Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule Expression Is Linked to Vascular Inflammation in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.

    PubMed

    Kulkarni, Manjusha; Bowman, Emily; Gabriel, Janelle; Amburgy, Taylor; Mayne, Elizabeth; Zidar, David A; Maierhofer, Courtney; Turner, Abigail Norris; Bazan, Jose A; Koletar, Susan L; Lederman, Michael M; Sieg, Scott F; Funderburg, Nicholas T

    2016-10-01

    Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals have increased risk for vascular thrombosis, potentially driven by interactions between activated leukocytes and the endothelium. Monocyte subsets (CD14 + CD16 - , CD14 + CD16 + , CD14 Dim CD16 + ) from HIV negative (HIV - ) and antiretroviral therapy-treated HIV positive (HIV + ) participants (N = 19 and 49) were analyzed by flow cytometry for adhesion molecule expression (lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 [LFA-1], macrophage-1 antigen [Mac-1], CD11c/CD18, very late antigen [VLA]-4) and the fractalkine receptor (CX3CR1); these receptors recognize ligands (intercellular adhesion molecules [ICAMs], vascular cell adhesion molecule [VCAM]-1, fractalkine) on activated endothelial cells (ECs) and promote vascular migration. Plasma markers of monocyte (soluble [s]CD14, sCD163) and EC (VCAM-1, ICAM-1,2, fractalkine) activation and systemic (tumor necrosis factor receptor [TNFR-I], TNFR-II) and vascular (lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A 2 [Lp-PLA 2 ]) inflammation were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Proportions of CD16 + monocyte subsets were increased in HIV + participants. Among all monocyte subsets, levels of LFA-1 were increased and CX3CR1 levels were decreased in HIV + participants ( P < .01). Levels of sCD163, sCD14, fractalkine, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, TNFR-II, and Lp-PLA 2 were also increased in HIV + participants ( P < .05), and levels of sCD14, TNFR-I, and TNFR-II were directly related to ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 levels in HIV + participants. Expression of CX3CR1 on monocyte subsets was inversely related to plasma Lp-PLA 2 ( P < .05 for all). Increased proportions of CD16 + monocytes, cells with altered adhesion molecule expression, combined with elevated levels of their ligands, may promote vascular inflammation in HIV infection. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

  10. Novel Monoclonal Antibody LpMab-17 Developed by CasMab Technology Distinguishes Human Podoplanin from Monkey Podoplanin.

    PubMed

    Kato, Yukinari; Ogasawara, Satoshi; Oki, Hiroharu; Honma, Ryusuke; Takagi, Michiaki; Fujii, Yuki; Nakamura, Takuro; Saidoh, Noriko; Kanno, Hazuki; Umetsu, Mitsuo; Kamata, Satoshi; Kubo, Hiroshi; Yamada, Mitsuhiro; Sawa, Yoshihiko; Morita, Kei-Ichi; Harada, Hiroyuki; Suzuki, Hiroyoshi; Kaneko, Mika Kato

    2016-04-01

    Podoplanin (PDPN) is a type-I transmembrane sialoglycoprotein, which possesses a platelet aggregation-stimulating (PLAG) domain in its N-terminus. Among the three PLAG domains, O-glycan on Thr52 of PLAG3 is critical for the binding with C-type lectin-like receptor-2 (CLEC-2) and is essential for platelet-aggregating activity of PDPN. Although many anti-PDPN monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been established, almost all mAbs bind to PLAG domains. We recently established CasMab technology to produce mAbs against membranous proteins. Using CasMab technology, we produced a novel anti-PDPN mAb, LpMab-17, which binds to non-PLAG domains. LpMab-17 clearly detected endogenous PDPN of cancer cells and normal cells in Western-blot, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry. LpMab-17 recognized glycan-deficient PDPN in flow cytometry, indicating that the interaction between LpMab-17 and PDPN is independent of its glycosylation. The minimum epitope of LpMab-17 was identified as Gly77-Asp82 of PDPN using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Of interest, LpMab-17 did not bind to monkey PDPN, whereas the homology is 94% between human PDPN and monkey PDPN, indicating that the epitope of LpMab-17 is unique compared with the other anti-PDPN mAbs. The combination of different epitope-possessing mAbs could be advantageous for the PDPN-targeting diagnosis or therapy.

  11. Role of protein kinase C alpha in endothelin-1 stimulation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 and arachidonic acid release in cultured cat iris sphincter smooth muscle cells.

    PubMed

    Husain, S; Abdel-Latif, A A

    1998-05-20

    We have investigated the role and mechanism of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms in endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced arachidonic acid (AA) release in cat iris sphincter smooth muscle (CISM) cells. ET-1 increased AA release in a concentration (EC50=8 nM) and time-dependent (t1/2=1.2 min) manner. Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), but not phospholipase C (PLC), is involved in the liberation of AA in the stimulated cells. This conclusion is supported by the findings that ET-1-induced AA release is inhibited by AACOCF3, quinacrine and manoalide, PLA2 inhibitors, but not by U-73122, a PLC inhibitor, or by RHC-80267, a diacylglycerol lipase inhibitor. A role for PKC in ET-1-induced AA release is supported by the findings that the phorbol ester, PDBu, increased AA release by 96%, that prolonged treatment of the cells with PDBu resulted in the selective down regulation of PKCalpha and the complete inhibition of ET-1-induced AA release, and that pretreatment of the cells with staurosporine or RO 31-8220, PKC inhibitors, blocked the ET-1-induced AA release. Gö-6976, a compound that inhibits PKCalpha and beta specifically, blocked ET-1-induced AA release in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 8 nM. Thymeatoxin (0.1 microM), a specific activator of PKCalpha, beta, and gamma induced a 150% increase in AA release. Treatment of the cells with ET-1 caused significant translocation of PKCalpha, but not PKCbeta, from cytosol to the particulate fraction. These results suggest that PKCalpha plays a critical role in ET-1-induced AA release in these cells. Immunochemical analysis revealed the presence of cPLA2, p42mapk and p44mapk in the CISM cells. The data presented are consistent with a role for PKCalpha, but not for p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), in cPLA2 activation and AA release in ET-1-stimulated CISM cells since: (i) the PKC inhibitor, RO 31-8220, inhibited ET-1-induced AA release, cPLA2 phosphorylation and cPLA2 activity, but had no inhibitory

  12. COS LP4 FUV Target Acquisition Enabling and Verification

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Penton, Steven V.

    2016-10-01

    This LP4 program is designed to verify the ability of the LV0058/LV0059 COS FSW to place an isolated point source at the center of the PSA, using FUV dispersed light target acquisition (TA) for COS (LP4-TA-COS). Tests will be performed for all 3 FUV TA modes (ACQ/SEARCH, ACQ/PEAKD, and ACQ/PEAKXD). It is sufficient to test ACQ/SEARCH and ACQ/PEAKD with only one grating, but all three FUV gratings need to be tested for the new (as of LV0054) ACQ/PEAKXD with NUM_POS>1 (also known internally, and in the spt files, as OPMODE=ACQ/PEAKD(XD) at the Fourth Lifetime Position (LP4). This program is modeled after the LP2 and LP3 versions of this program; 12797 and 13636.This program has specific visits to test each portion of the FUV spectroscopic TA process. Visits 01-05 will use the target AV18, while Visit 06 will observe (WD1657+343). Both targets are visible year round. For the LP4 enabling, several improvements to APT, the ground system, and the flight software (FSW) have greatly simplified the enabling process. There are now no non-standard exposures, or special commanding, in this program.Specifically; 1) We now use the LIFETIME-POS = LP4 functionality in APT & FSW to specify the LP. The old procedure of using LIFETIME-POS ="ALTERNATE" has been removed. FUV LPs are now called out by number (e.g., LP4). 2) We will be using the new NUM_POS > 1 PEAKXD algorithm at LP4 due to large geometric distortions (GD) at the "Y" detector positions of LP4. FUVA is particularly affected by GD rendering the old PEAKXD algorithm unable to center a target to the required XD accuracy at LP4. 3) Numerous FSW Patchable constants that were essential for PEAKXD operations at previous LPs are no longer required. These are the WCA-to-PSA offsets and XD plate-scales. Like PEAKD, the NUM_POS > 1 PEAKXD requires no patchable constant updates. At previous LPs, numerous updates to the patchable constants were required, this is not necessary for LP4 TA enabling.Prior to the submission of this

  13. Phospholipase A2 Inhibitor from Crotalus durissus terrificus rattlesnake: Effects on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and human neutrophils cells.

    PubMed

    Xavier, Caroline V; da S Setúbal, Sulamita; Lacouth-Silva, Fabianne; Pontes, Adriana S; Nery, Neriane M; de Castro, Onassis Boeri; Fernandes, Carla F C; Soares, Andreimar M; Fortes-Dias, Consuelo L; Zuliani, Juliana P

    2017-12-01

    Crotalus Neutralizing Factor (CNF) is an inhibitor of phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ), present in the blood plasma of Crotalus durissus terrificus snake. This inhibitor neutralizes the lethal and enzymatic activity of crotoxin, the main neurotoxin from this venom. In this study, we investigated the effects of CNF on the functionality of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and human neutrophils. The following parameters were evaluated: viability and proliferation, chemotaxis, cytokines and LTB 4 production, cytosolic PLA 2 s activity, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and superoxide anion (O 2 - ) production. CNF showed no toxicity on PBMCs or neutrophils, and acts by stimulating the release of TNF-α and LTB 4 , but neither stimulates IL-10 and IL-2 nor affects PBMCs proliferation and O 2 - release. In neutrophils, CNF induces chemotaxis but does not induce the release of both MPO and O 2 - . However, it induces LTB 4 and IL-8 production. These data show the influence of CNF on PBMCs' function by inducing TNF-α and LTB 4 production, and on neutrophils, by stimulating chemotaxis and LTB 4 production, via cytosolic PLA 2 activity, and IL-8 release. The inflammatory profile produced by CNF is shown for the first time. Our present results suggest that CNF has a role in activation of leukocytes and exert proinflammatory effects on these cell. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. Inhibition of Cytosolic Phospholipase A2α Impairs an Early Step of Coronavirus Replication in Cell Culture.

    PubMed

    Müller, Christin; Hardt, Martin; Schwudke, Dominik; Neuman, Benjamin W; Pleschka, Stephan; Ziebuhr, John

    2018-02-15

    Coronavirus replication is associated with intracellular membrane rearrangements in infected cells, resulting in the formation of double-membrane vesicles (DMVs) and other membranous structures that are referred to as replicative organelles (ROs). The latter provide a structural scaffold for viral replication/transcription complexes (RTCs) and help to sequester RTC components from recognition by cellular factors involved in antiviral host responses. There is increasing evidence that plus-strand RNA (+RNA) virus replication, including RO formation and virion morphogenesis, affects cellular lipid metabolism and critically depends on enzymes involved in lipid synthesis and processing. Here, we investigated the role of cytosolic phospholipase A 2 α (cPLA 2 α) in coronavirus replication using a low-molecular-weight nonpeptidic inhibitor, pyrrolidine-2 (Py-2). The inhibition of cPLA 2 α activity, which produces lysophospholipids (LPLs) by cleaving at the sn -2 position of phospholipids, had profound effects on viral RNA and protein accumulation in human coronavirus 229E-infected Huh-7 cells. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that DMV formation in infected cells was significantly reduced in the presence of the inhibitor. Furthermore, we found that (i) viral RTCs colocalized with LPL-containing membranes, (ii) cellular LPL concentrations were increased in coronavirus-infected cells, and (iii) this increase was diminished in the presence of the cPLA 2 α inhibitor Py-2. Py-2 also displayed antiviral activities against other viruses representing the Coronaviridae and Togaviridae families, while members of the Picornaviridae were not affected. Taken together, the study provides evidence that cPLA 2 α activity is critically involved in the replication of various +RNA virus families and may thus represent a candidate target for broad-spectrum antiviral drug development. IMPORTANCE Examples of highly conserved RNA virus proteins that qualify as drug targets for broad

  15. Synthesis and study of sericin-g-PLA

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Saetae, S.; Magaraphan, R.

    2015-05-01

    In this paper we present an experiment for bulk synthesis of the sericin-g-PLA by using Sn(Oct)2 as catalyst and study the effect of Thai silk cocoon species (Dok Bua, Luang Pirote, Nang Noi and Nang Lai) on properties of the sericin-g-PLA. We investigated the chemical structure of the grafted copolymers by using FTIR and GPC. Moreover, the grafting percentage was determined by soxhlet extaction. The IR spectra of extracted sample showed peaks at 1188 and 1215 cm-1 that assigned to the symmetric C-O-C stretching modes of the ester group. The methyl rocking stretching and C-CH3 vibration of polylactide appeared at 1130 and 1045 cm-1, respectively. The peak positioned 3440 cm-1 belonged to the hydroxyl group and the amino group of sericin which became less after polymerized with lactide. These evidences suggested that the lactide was reacted with sericin. Also, the molecular weight of the grafted copolymers were in range from 5.2 to 6.1 kg/mole. And Nang Lai-g-PLA showed the highest grafting percentage of the grafted copolymers.

  16. L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel is involved in the snake venom group IA secretory phospholipase A2-induced neuronal apoptosis.

    PubMed

    Yagami, Tatsurou; Yamamoto, Yasuhiro; Kohma, Hiromi; Nakamura, Tsutomu; Takasu, Nobuo; Okamura, Noboru

    2013-03-01

    Snake venom group IA secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2-IA) is known as a neurotoxin. Snake venom sPLA2s are neurotoxic in vivo and in vitro, causing synergistic neurotoxicity to cortical cultures when applied with toxic concentrations of glutamate. However, it has not yet been cleared sufficiently how sPLA2-IA exerts neurotoxicity. Here, we found sPLA2-IA induced neuronal cell death in a concentration-dependent manner. This death was a delayed response requiring a latent time for 6h. sPLA2-IA-induced neuronal cell death was accompanied with apoptotic blebbing, condensed chromatin, and fragmented DNA, exhibiting apoptotic features. NMDA receptor blockers suppressed the neurotoxicity of sPLA2-IA, but an AMPA receptor blocker did not. Interestingly, L-type voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channel (L-VDCC) blocker significantly protected neurons from the sPLA2-IA-induced apoptosis. On the other hand, neither N-VDCC blockers nor P/Q-VDCC blocker did. In conclusion, we demonstrated that sPLA2-IA induced neuronal cell death via apoptosis. Furthermore, the present study suggests that not only NMDA receptor but also L-VDCC contributed to the neurotoxicity of snake venom sPLA2-IA. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. IS30-related transposon mediated insertional inactivation of bile salt hydrolase (bsh1) gene of Lactobacillus plantarum strain Lp20.

    PubMed

    Kumar, Rajesh; Grover, Sunita; Kaushik, Jai K; Batish, Virender Kumar

    2014-01-01

    Lactobacillus plantarum is a flexible and versatile microorganism that inhabits a variety of niches, and its genome may express up to four bsh genes to maximize its survival in the mammalian gut. However, the ecological significance of multiple bsh genes in L. plantarum is still not clearly understood. Hence, this study demonstrated the disruption of bile salt hydrolase (bsh1) gene due to the insertion of a transposable element in L. plantarum Lp20 - a wild strain of human fecal origin. Surprisingly, L. plantarum strain Lp20 produced a2.0 kb bsh1 amplicon against the normal size (∼1.0 kb) bsh1 amplicon of Bsh(+)L. plantarum Lp21. Strain Lp20 exhibited minimal Bsh activity in spite of having intact bsh2, bsh3 and bsh4 genes in its genome and hence had a Bsh(-) phenotype. Cloning and sequence characterization of Lp20 bsh1 gene predicted four individual open reading frames (ORFs) within this region. BLAST analysis of ORF1 and ORF2 revealed significant sequence similarity to the L. plantarum bsh1 gene while ORF3 and ORF4 showed high sequence homology to IS30-family transposases. Since, IS30-related transposon element was inserted within Lp20 bsh1 gene in reverse orientation (3'-5'), it introduced several stop codons and disrupted the protein reading frames of both Bsh1 and transposase. Inverted terminal repeats (GGCAGATTG) of transposon, mediated its insertion at 255-263 nt and 1301-1309 nt positions of Lp20 bsh1 gene. In conclusion, insertion of IS30 related-transposon within the bsh1 gene sequence of L. plantarum strain Lp20 demolished the integrity and functionality of Bsh1 enzyme. Additionally, this transposon DNA sequence remains active among various Lactobacillus spp. and hence harbors the potential to be explored in the development of efficient insertion mutagenesis system. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  18. Enhanced Phospholipase A2 Group 3 Expression by Oxidative Stress Decreases the Insulin-Degrading Enzyme

    PubMed Central

    Yui, Daishi; Nishida, Yoichiro; Nishina, Tomoko; Mogushi, Kaoru; Tajiri, Mio; Ishibashi, Satoru; Ajioka, Itsuki; Ishikawa, Kinya; Mizusawa, Hidehiro; Murayama, Shigeo; Yokota, Takanori

    2015-01-01

    Oxidative stress has a ubiquitous role in neurodegenerative diseases and oxidative damage in specific regions of the brain is associated with selective neurodegeneration. We previously reported that Alzheimer disease (AD) model mice showed decreased insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) levels in the cerebrum and accelerated phenotypic features of AD when crossbred with alpha-tocopherol transfer protein knockout (Ttpa -/-) mice. To further investigate the role of chronic oxidative stress in AD pathophysiology, we performed DNA microarray analysis using young and aged wild-type mice and aged Ttpa -/- mice. Among the genes whose expression changed dramatically was Phospholipase A2 group 3 (Pla2g3); Pla2g3 was identified because of its expression profile of cerebral specific up-regulation by chronic oxidative stress in silico and in aged Ttpa -/- mice. Immunohistochemical studies also demonstrated that human astrocytic Pla2g3 expression was significantly increased in human AD brains compared with control brains. Moreover, transfection of HEK293 cells with human Pla2g3 decreased endogenous IDE expression in a dose-dependent manner. Our findings show a key role of Pla2g3 on the reduction of IDE, and suggest that cerebrum specific increase of Pla2g3 is involved in the initiation and/or progression of AD. PMID:26637123

  19. Effects of coffee and caffeine anhydrous on strength and sprint performance

    PubMed Central

    TREXLER, ERIC T.; SMITH-RYAN, ABBIE E.; ROELOFS, ERICA J.; HIRSCH, KATIE R.; MOCK, MEREDITH G.

    2015-01-01

    Caffeine and coffee are widely used among active individuals to enhance performance. The purpose of the current study was to compare the effects of acute coffee (COF) and caffeine anhydrous (CAF) intake on strength and sprint performance. Fifty-four resistance-trained males completed strength testing, consisting of one-rep max (1RM) and repetitions to fatigue (RTF) at 80% of 1RM for leg press (LP) and bench press (BP). Participants then completed five, ten-second cycle ergometer sprints separated by one minute of rest. Peak power (PP) and total work (TW) were recorded for each sprint. At least 48 hours later, participants returned and ingested a beverage containing CAF (300 mg flat dose; yielding 3–5 mg/kg bodyweight), COF (8.9 g; 303 mg caffeine), or placebo (PLA; 3.8 g noncaloric flavoring) 30 minutes before testing. LP 1RM was improved more by COF than CAF (p=0.04), but not PLA (p=0.99). Significant interactions were not observed for BP 1RM, BP RTF, or LP RTF (p>0.05). There were no sprint × treatment interactions for PP or TW (p>0.05). 95% confidence intervals revealed a significant improvement in sprint 1 TW for CAF, but not COF or PLA. For PLA, significant reductions were observed in sprint 4 PP, sprint 2 TW, sprint 4 TW, and average TW; significant reductions were not observed with CAF or COF. Neither COF nor CAF improved strength outcomes more than PLA, while both groups attenuated sprint power reductions to a similar degree. Coffee and caffeine anhydrous may be considered suitable pre-exercise caffeine sources for high-intensity exercise. PMID:26394649

  20. Effects of coffee and caffeine anhydrous on strength and sprint performance.

    PubMed

    Trexler, Eric T; Smith-Ryan, Abbie E; Roelofs, Erica J; Hirsch, Katie R; Mock, Meredith G

    2016-09-01

    Caffeine and coffee are widely used among active individuals to enhance performance. The purpose of the current study was to compare the effects of acute coffee (COF) and caffeine anhydrous (CAF) intake on strength and sprint performance. Fifty-four resistance-trained males completed strength testing, consisting of one-rep max (1RM) and repetitions to fatigue (RTF) at 80% of 1RM for leg press (LP) and bench press (BP). Participants then completed five, 10-second cycle ergometer sprints separated by one minute of rest. Peak power (PP) and total work (TW) were recorded for each sprint. At least 48 hours later, participants returned and ingested a beverage containing CAF (300 mg flat dose; yielding 3-5 mg/kg bodyweight), COF (8.9 g; 303 mg caffeine), or placebo (PLA; 3.8 g non-caloric flavouring) 30 minutes before testing. LP 1RM was improved more by COF than CAF (p = .04), but not PLA (p = .99). Significant interactions were not observed for BP 1RM, BP RTF, or LP RTF (p > .05). There were no sprint × treatment interactions for PP or TW (p > .05). 95% confidence intervals revealed a significant improvement in sprint 1 TW for CAF, but not COF or PLA. For PLA, significant reductions were observed in sprint 4 PP, sprint 2 TW, sprint 4 TW, and average TW; significant reductions were not observed with CAF or COF. Neither COF nor CAF improved strength outcomes more than PLA, while both groups attenuated sprint power reductions to a similar degree. Coffee and caffeine anhydrous may be considered suitable pre-exercise caffeine sources for high-intensity exercise.

  1. Morphology control of PLA microfibers and spheres via melt electrospinning

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yu, Shu-Xin; Zheng, Jie; Yan, Xu; Wang, Xiao-Xiong; Nie, Guang-Di; Tan, Ye-Qiang; Zhang, Jun; Sui, Kun-Yan; Long, Yun-Ze

    2018-04-01

    In conventional solution electrospinning, the morphologies (e.g., spheres, beaded fibers, and fibers) of electrospun products can be controlled by solution concentration. Here, we report that the morphologies and structures of polylactic acid (PLA) via melt electrospinning also can be adjusted from microfibers to microspheres by simply increasing the spinning temperature. It was found that with temperature increasing from 200 °C to 240 °C, the average diameter of melt-electrospun PLA fibers decreased from 58.46 to 2.96 μm. Then, beaded fibers and microspheres about 14.5 μm in diameter were collected when the spinning temperature was increased to 250 °C and 260 °C. In addition, we also found that the average PLA fiber diameter decreased with increasing the applied spinning voltage, and increased with the increase of spinning distance. To explain the formation mechanism of different PLA microstructures, rheological property and infrared spectra of PLA under different spinning temperatures were also tested.

  2. Plant Extract Synthesized PLA Nanoparticles for Controlled and Sustained Release of Quercetin: A Green Approach

    PubMed Central

    Yadav, Sudesh Kumar

    2012-01-01

    Background Green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) has been extensively carried out by using plant extracts (PEs) which have property of stabilizers/ emulsifiers. To our knowledge, there is no comprehensive study on applying a green approach using PEs for fabrication of biodegradable PLA NPs. Conventional methods rely on molecules like polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, D-alpha-tocopheryl poly(ethylene glycol 1000) succinate as stabilizers/emulsifiers for the synthesis of such biodegradable NPs which are known to be toxic. So, there is urgent need to look for stabilizers which are biogenic and non-toxic. The present study investigated use of PEs as stabilizers/emulsifiers for the fabrication of stable PLA NPs. Synthesized PLA NPs through this green process were explored for controlled release of the well known antioxidant molecule quercetin. Methodology/Principal Findings Stable PLA NPs were synthesized using leaf extracts of medicinally important plants like Syzygium cumini (1), Bauhinia variegata (2), Cedrus deodara (3), Lonicera japonica (4) and Eleaocarpus sphaericus (5). Small and uniformly distributed NPs in the size range 70±30 nm to 143±36 nm were formed with these PEs. To explore such NPs for drugs/ small molecules delivery, we have successfully encapsulated quercetin a lipophilic molecule on a most uniformly distributed PLA-4 NPs synthesized using Lonicera japonica leaf extract. Quercetin loaded PLA-4 NPs were observed for slow and sustained release of quercetin molecule. Conclusions This green approach based on PEs mediated synthesis of stable PLA NPs pave the way for encapsulating drug/small molecules, nutraceuticals and other bioactive ingredients for safer cellular uptake, biodistribution and targeted delivery. Hence, such PEs synthesized PLA NPs would be useful to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of encapsulated small molecules/drugs. Furthermore, different types of plants can be explored for the synthesis of PLA as well as other

  3. ELISA-PLA: A novel hybrid platform for the rapid, highly sensitive and specific quantification of proteins and post-translational modifications.

    PubMed

    Tong, Qing-He; Tao, Tao; Xie, Li-Qi; Lu, Hao-Jie

    2016-06-15

    Detection of low-abundance proteins and their post-translational modifications (PTMs) remains a great challenge. A conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is not sensitive enough to detect low-abundance PTMs and suffers from nonspecific detection. Herein, a rapid, highly sensitive and specific platform integrating ELISA with a proximity ligation assay (PLA), termed ELISA-PLA, was developed. Using ELISA-PLA, the specificity was improved by the simultaneous and proximate recognition of targets through multiple probes, and the sensitivity was significantly improved by rolling circle amplification (RCA). For GFP, the limit of detection (LOD) was decreased by two orders of magnitude compared to that of ELISA. Using site-specific phospho-antibody and pan-specific phospho-antibody, ELISA-PLA was successfully applied to quantify the phosphorylation dynamics of ERK1/2 and the overall tyrosine phosphorylation level of ERK1/2, respectively. ELISA-PLA was also used to quantify the O-GlcNAcylation of AKT, c-Fos, CREB and STAT3, which is faster and more sensitive than the conventional immunoprecipitation and western blotting (IP-WB) method. As a result, the sample consumption of ELISA-PLA was reduced 40-fold compared to IP-WB. Therefore, ELISA-PLA could be a promising platform for the rapid, sensitive and specific detection of proteins and PTMs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. [Effect of glyceryl triacetate on properties of PLA/PBAT blends].

    PubMed

    Yang, Nan; Wang, Xiyuan; Weng, Yunxuan; Jin, Yujuan; Zhang, Min

    2016-06-25

    Poly lactic acid (PLA)/Poly (butyleneadipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT) and glyceryl triacetate (GTA) blend were prepared by torque rheometer, and the effect of GTA on thermodynamical performance, mechanical properties and microstructure of PLA/PBAT composites were studied using differential scanning calorimeter(DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis(DMA), universal testing machine, impact testing machine and scanning electron microscope(SEM). After adding GTA, Tg values of the two phases gradually became closer, blends cold crystallization temperature and melting temperature decreased. When with 3 phr GTA, the dispersed phase particle size of PLA/PBAT blend decreased. Mechanics performance test showed that the elongation at break and impact strength of the PLA/PBAT blend was greatly increased with 3 phr GTA, and the elongation at break increased 2.6 times, improved from 17.7% to 64.1%.

  5. Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationships of (-)-cis-N-Normetazocine-Based LP1 Derivatives.

    PubMed

    Pasquinucci, Lorella; Parenti, Carmela; Amata, Emanuele; Georgoussi, Zafiroula; Pallaki, Paschalina; Camarda, Valeria; Calò, Girolamo; Arena, Emanuela; Montenegro, Lucia; Turnaturi, Rita

    2018-05-05

    (−)- cis - N -Normetazocine represents a rigid scaffold able to mimic the tyramine moiety of endogenous opioid peptides, and the introduction of different N -substituents influences affinity and efficacy of respective ligands at MOR (mu opioid receptor), DOR (delta opioid receptor), and KOR (kappa opioid receptor). We have previously identified LP1, a MOR/DOR multitarget opioid ligand, with an N -phenylpropanamido substituent linked to (−)- cis - N -Normetazocine scaffold. Herein, we report the synthesis, competition binding and calcium mobilization assays of new compounds 10 ⁻ 16 that differ from LP1 by the nature of the N -substituent. In radioligand binding experiments, the compounds 10 ⁻ 13 , featured by an electron-withdrawing or electron-donating group in the para position of phenyl ring, displayed improved affinity for KOR (K i = 0.85⁻4.80 μM) in comparison to LP1 (7.5 μM). On the contrary, their MOR and DOR affinities were worse (K i = 0.18⁻0.28 μM and K i = 0.38⁻1.10 μM, respectively) with respect to LP1 values (K i = 0.049 and 0.033 μM). Analogous trends was recorded for the compounds 14 ⁻ 16 , featured by indoline, tetrahydroquinoline, and diphenylamine functionalities in the N -substituent. In calcium mobilization assays, the compound 10 with a p -fluorophenyl in the N -substituent shared the functional profile of LP1 (pEC 50 MOR = 7.01), although it was less active. Moreover, the p -methyl- ( 11 ) and p -cyano- ( 12 ) substituted compounds resulted in MOR partial agonists and DOR/KOR antagonists. By contrast, the derivatives 13 ⁻ 15 resulted as MOR antagonists, and the derivative 16 as a MOR/KOR antagonist (pK B MOR = 6.12 and pK B KOR = 6.11). Collectively, these data corroborated the critical role of the N -substituent in (−)- cis - N -Normetazocine scaffold. Thus, the new synthesized compounds could represent a template to achieve a specific agonist, antagonist, or mixed agonist/antagonist functional

  6. Automated Test Assembly Using lp_Solve Version 5.5 in R

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Diao, Qi; van der Linden, Wim J.

    2011-01-01

    This article reviews the use of the software program lp_solve version 5.5 for solving mixed-integer automated test assembly (ATA) problems. The program is freely available under Lesser General Public License 2 (LGPL2). It can be called from the statistical language R using the lpSolveAPI interface. Three empirical problems are presented to…

  7. Plasma secretory phospholipase A2-IIa as a potential biomarker for lung cancer in patients with solitary pulmonary nodules

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background Five-year survival for lung cancer has remained at 16% over last several decades largely due to the fact that over 50% of patients are diagnosed with locally-advanced or metastatic disease. Diagnosis at an earlier and potentially curable stage is crucial. Solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) are common, but the difficulty lies in the determination of which SPN is malignant. Currently, there is no convenient and reliable biomarker effective for early diagnosis. Secretory phospholipase A2-IIa (sPLA2-IIa) is secreted into the circulation by cancer cells and may allow for an early detection of lung cancer. Methods Plasma samples from healthy donors, patients with only benign SPN, and patients with lung cancer were analyzed. Expression of sPLA2-IIa protein in lung cancer tissues was also determined. Results We found that the levels of plasma sPLA2-IIa were significantly elevated in lung cancer patients. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, comparing lung cancer patients to patients with benign nodules, revealed an optimum cutoff value for plasma sPLA2-IIa of 2.4 ng/ml to predict an early stage cancer with 48% sensitivity and 86% specificity and up to 67% sensitivity for T2 stage lung cancer. Combined sPLA2-IIa, CEA, and Cyfra21.1 tests increased the sensitivity for lung cancer prediction. High level of plasma sPLA2-IIa was associated with a decreased overall cancer survival. sPLA2-IIa was overexpressed in almost all non-small cell lung cancer and in the majority of small cell lung cancer by immunohistochemistry analysis. Conclusion Our finding strongly suggests that plasma sPLA2-IIa is a potential lung biomarker to distinguish benign nodules from lung cancer and to aid lung cancer diagnosis in patients with SPNs. PMID:22151235

  8. Lipoprotein(a) is strongly associated with coronary artery calcification in type-2 diabetic women

    PubMed Central

    Qasim, Atif N.; Martin, Seth S.; Mehta, Nehal N.; Wolfe, Megan L.; Park, James; Schwartz, Stanley; Schutta, Mark; Iqbal, Nayyar; Reilly, Muredach P.

    2011-01-01

    Background Lp(a), implicated in both atherogenesis and thrombosis pathways, varies significantly by demographic and metabolic factors, providing challenges for its use in Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) risk. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether type-2 diabetic subjects, relative to non-diabetics, might benefit more from Lp(a) measurement in the prediction of CHD risk, as measured by coronary artery calcium (CAC). Methods We performed cross sectional analyses in two community-based studies: the Penn Diabetes Heart Study [N=1299 with type-2 diabetes] and the Study of Inherited Risk of Coronary Atherosclerosis [N=860 without diabetes]. Results Blacks had 2–3 fold higher Lp(a) levels than whites in diabetic and non-diabetic samples. There was significant difference by gender (interaction p<0.001), but not race, in the association of Lp(a) with CAC in type-2 diabetic subjects. In age and race adjusted analysis of diabetic women, Lp(a) was associated with CAC [Tobit regression ratio 2.76 (95% CI 1.73–4.40), p<0.001]. Adjustment for exercise, medications, Framingham risk score, metabolic syndrome, BMI, CRP and hemoglobin A1c attenuated this effect, but the association of Lp(a) with CAC remained significant [2.25, (1.34–3.79), p=0.002]. This relationship was further maintained in women stratified by race, or by the use of HRT or lipid lowering drugs. In contrast, Lp(a) was not associated with CAC in diabetic men, nor in non-diabetic men and women. Conclusions Lp(a) is a strong independent predictor of CAC in type-2 diabetic women, regardless of race, but not in men. Lp(a) does not relate to CAC in men or women without type-2 diabetes. PMID:20303190

  9. Genetic interactions between a phospholipase A2 and the Rim101 pathway components in S. cerevisiae reveal a role for this pathway in response to changes in membrane composition and shape

    PubMed Central

    Mattiazzi, M.; Jambhekar, A.; Kaferle, P.; DeRisi, J. L.; Križaj, I.

    2010-01-01

    Modulating composition and shape of biological membranes is an emerging mode of regulation of cellular processes. We investigated the global effects that such perturbations have on a model eukaryotic cell. Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s), enzymes that cleave one fatty acid molecule from membrane phospholipids, exert their biological activities through affecting both membrane composition and shape. We have conducted a genome-wide analysis of cellular effects of a PLA2 in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model system. We demonstrate functional genetic and biochemical interactions between PLA2 activity and the Rim101 signaling pathway in S. cerevisiae. Our results suggest that the composition and/or the shape of the endosomal membrane affect the Rim101 pathway. We describe a genetically and functionally related network, consisting of components of the Rim101 pathway and the prefoldin, retromer and SWR1 complexes, and predict its functional relation to PLA2 activity in a model eukaryotic cell. This study provides a list of the players involved in the global response to changes in membrane composition and shape in a model eukaryotic cell, and further studies are needed to understand the precise molecular mechanisms connecting them. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00438-010-0533-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. PMID:20379744

  10. PLA composites: From production to properties.

    PubMed

    Murariu, Marius; Dubois, Philippe

    2016-12-15

    Poly(lactic acid) or polylactide (PLA), a biodegradable polyester produced from renewable resources, is used for various applications (biomedical, packaging, textile fibers and technical items). Due to its inherent properties, PLA has a key-position in the market of biopolymers, being one of the most promising candidates for further developments. Unfortunately, PLA suffers from some shortcomings, whereas for the different applications specific end-use properties are required. Therefore, the addition of reinforcing fibers, micro- and/or nanofillers, and selected additives within PLA matrix is considered as a powerful method for obtaining specific end-use characteristics and major improvements of properties. This review highlights recent developments, current results and trends in the field of composites based on PLA. It presents the main advances in PLA properties and reports selected results in relation to the preparation and characterization of the most representative PLA composites. To illustrate the possibility to design the properties of composites, a section is devoted to the production and characterization of innovative PLA-based products filled with thermally-treated calcium sulfate, a by-product from the lactic acid production process. Moreover, are emphasized the last tendencies strongly evidenced in the case of PLA, i.e., the high interest to diversify its uses by moving from biomedical and packaging (biodegradation properties, "disposables") to technical applications ("durables"). Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. A study on properties of PLA/PBAT from blown film process

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hongdilokkul, P.; Keeratipinit, K.; Chawthai, S.; Hararak, B.; Seadan, M.; Suttiruengwong, S.

    2015-07-01

    The aim of this work was to study the properties of films based on PLA/PBAT blend prepared by the reactive compounding. PLA/PBAT blends were prepared at the weight ratio of 80:20 together with peroxide as a reactive agent in a twin screw extruder with temperature profile of 160/170/180/210/220/190/175/150°C from feed to die zone. All blended samples, neat PLA, and neat PBAT were characterized for morphology, mechanical and rheological properties. SEM micrographs showed finely dispersed phases of PBAT in PLA in all cases. The particle sizes of PBAT were around 1 μm. The results indicated that the drawability and toughness properties of PLA were greatly improved when blended with 20%wt PBAT. The interface adhesion, and mechanical properties of PLA/PBAT blends were also improved when adding a very small quantity of peroxide. PLA/PBAT blends were then used to produce films. The film characteristics and mechanical properties were examined. Tensile strength of films was significantly improved in the machine direction in PLA/PBAT/peroxide blends whereas the good optical transparent property were remained the same compared with neat PLA.

  12. PEG-PLA diblock copolymer micelle-like nanoparticles as all-trans-retinoic acid carrier: in vitro and in vivo characterizations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Yuan; Qi, Xian Rong; Maitani, Yoshie; Nagai, Tsuneji

    2009-02-01

    The purpose of this study was to characterize the properties in vitro, i.e. release, degradation, hemolytic potential and anticancer activity, and in vivo disposition of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) in rats after administration of ATRA-loaded micelle-like nanoparticles. The amphiphilic block copolymers consisted of a micellar shell-forming mPEG block and a core-forming PLA block. The mPEG-PLA nanoparticles prepared by an acetone volatilization dialysis procedure were identified as having core-shell structure by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Critical association concentration, drug contents, loading efficiency, particle size and ξ potential were evaluated. The release of ATRA from the nanoparticles and the degradation of PLA were found to be mostly associated with the compositions of the nanoparticles. ATRA release was faster at smaller molecular weight of copolymer and lower drug contents. In vitro, the incorporation of ATRA in mPEG-PLA nanoparticles reduced the hemolytic potential of ATRA. Furthermore, anticancer activity of ATRA against HepG2 cell was increased by encapsulation, which showed an enhancement of tumor treatment of ATRA. In vivo, after intravenous injection to rats, the levels of ATRA in the blood stream and the bioavailability were higher for ATRA-loaded mPEG-PLA nanoparticles than those for ATRA solution. In conclusion, the structure of the mPEG-PLA diblock copolymer could be modulated to fit the demand of in vitro and in vivo characterizations of nanoparticles. The mPEG-PLA nanoparticles' loading ATRA have a promising future for injection administration.

  13. 75 FR 39680 - Houston Pipe Line Company LP, Worsham-Steed Gas Storage, L.P., Energy Transfer Fuel, LP, Mid...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-07-12

    ... Company LP, Worsham-Steed Gas Storage, L.P., Energy Transfer Fuel, LP, Mid Continent Market Center, L.L.C... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. PR10-44-000; Docket No. PR10... the protest or intervention to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE...

  14. Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen EBNA-LP is essential for transforming naïve B cells, and facilitates recruitment of transcription factors to the viral genome.

    PubMed

    Szymula, Agnieszka; Palermo, Richard D; Bayoumy, Amr; Groves, Ian J; Ba Abdullah, Mohammed; Holder, Beth; White, Robert E

    2018-02-01

    The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen leader protein (EBNA-LP) is the first viral latency-associated protein produced after EBV infection of resting B cells. Its role in B cell transformation is poorly defined, but it has been reported to enhance gene activation by the EBV protein EBNA2 in vitro. We generated EBNA-LP knockout (LPKO) EBVs containing a STOP codon within each repeat unit of internal repeat 1 (IR1). EBNA-LP-mutant EBVs established lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) from adult B cells at reduced efficiency, but not from umbilical cord B cells, which died approximately two weeks after infection. Adult B cells only established EBNA-LP-null LCLs with a memory (CD27+) phenotype. Quantitative PCR analysis of virus gene expression after infection identified both an altered ratio of the EBNA genes, and a dramatic reduction in transcript levels of both EBNA2-regulated virus genes (LMP1 and LMP2) and the EBNA2-independent EBER genes in the first 2 weeks. By 30 days post infection, LPKO transcription was the same as wild-type EBV. In contrast, EBNA2-regulated cellular genes were induced efficiently by LPKO viruses. Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed that EBNA2 and the host transcription factors EBF1 and RBPJ were delayed in their recruitment to all viral latency promoters tested, whereas these same factors were recruited efficiently to several host genes, which exhibited increased EBNA2 recruitment. We conclude that EBNA-LP does not simply co-operate with EBNA2 in activating gene transcription, but rather facilitates the recruitment of several transcription factors to the viral genome, to enable transcription of virus latency genes. Additionally, our findings suggest that EBNA-LP is essential for the survival of EBV-infected naïve B cells.

  15. Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen EBNA-LP is essential for transforming naïve B cells, and facilitates recruitment of transcription factors to the viral genome

    PubMed Central

    Szymula, Agnieszka; Palermo, Richard D.; Bayoumy, Amr; Groves, Ian J.

    2018-01-01

    The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen leader protein (EBNA-LP) is the first viral latency-associated protein produced after EBV infection of resting B cells. Its role in B cell transformation is poorly defined, but it has been reported to enhance gene activation by the EBV protein EBNA2 in vitro. We generated EBNA-LP knockout (LPKO) EBVs containing a STOP codon within each repeat unit of internal repeat 1 (IR1). EBNA-LP-mutant EBVs established lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) from adult B cells at reduced efficiency, but not from umbilical cord B cells, which died approximately two weeks after infection. Adult B cells only established EBNA-LP-null LCLs with a memory (CD27+) phenotype. Quantitative PCR analysis of virus gene expression after infection identified both an altered ratio of the EBNA genes, and a dramatic reduction in transcript levels of both EBNA2-regulated virus genes (LMP1 and LMP2) and the EBNA2-independent EBER genes in the first 2 weeks. By 30 days post infection, LPKO transcription was the same as wild-type EBV. In contrast, EBNA2-regulated cellular genes were induced efficiently by LPKO viruses. Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed that EBNA2 and the host transcription factors EBF1 and RBPJ were delayed in their recruitment to all viral latency promoters tested, whereas these same factors were recruited efficiently to several host genes, which exhibited increased EBNA2 recruitment. We conclude that EBNA-LP does not simply co-operate with EBNA2 in activating gene transcription, but rather facilitates the recruitment of several transcription factors to the viral genome, to enable transcription of virus latency genes. Additionally, our findings suggest that EBNA-LP is essential for the survival of EBV-infected naïve B cells. PMID:29462212

  16. 77 FR 68118 - TexStar Transmission, LP; Notice of Petition for Rate Approval

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-11-15

    ... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [ Docket No. PR13-4-000] TexStar Transmission, LP; Notice of Petition for Rate Approval Take notice that on November 2, 2012, TexStar Transmission, LP (TexStar) filed a Petition for Rate Approval pursuant to 284.123(b)(2) of the Commissions...

  17. Inhibition of toxic actions of phospholipase A2 isolated & characterized from the Indian Banded Krait (Bungarus fasciatus) venom by synthetic herbal compounds

    PubMed Central

    Gomes, Antony; Bhattacharya, Shamik; Mukherjee, Sanghamitra; Inn-ho-Tsai; Gomes, Aparna

    2012-01-01

    Background & objectives: Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is one of the major constituents of krait venom associated with several pathophysiological actions like myotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity, etc. As there was no specific antiserum available against Bungarus fasciatus venom, this study was done with synthetic herbal compounds, anti PLA2 rabbit antiserum and commercial polyvalent snake venom antiserum to neutralize the PLA2 induced toxicities in experimental models. Methods: B. fasciatus venom phospholipase A2 fraction 38 (BF-38) was isolated by ion exchange chromatography, molecular weight was determined by mass spectrometry and its N terminal amino acid sequence was identified. Monospecific rabbit antiserum was raised against the PLA2 in presence of Freund complete adjuvant. The neutralization of PLA2 induced toxicities was done in in vitro and in in vivo models using synthetic herbal compounds, anti PLA2 rabbit antiserum and commercial polyvalent snake venom antiserum. Results: A toxic PLA2 (BF-38) was purified from the B. fasciatus venom by CM-cellulose and HPLC, of 13.17 kDa and a minor band of 7.3 kDa using ESI-MS. The 13.17 kDa PLA2 sequence was NLYQFKNMIQC. The 7.3 kDa toxin sequence was RKCLTKYSQDNES and was found to be <10 per cent w/w. Anti PLA2 rabbit antiserum produced faint precipitant band in immunogel diffusion and showed low titre value. The commercial polyvalent snake venom antiserum, anti PLA2 rabbit antiserum and the synthetic herbal compounds neutralized the PLA 2 induced toxicities at different intensities. Interpretation & conclusions: Our results suggested that synthetic herbal compound (BA) along with antiserum might provide effective protection against PLA2 induced toxicities of B. fasciatus venom. PMID:22885262

  18. Native and recombinant phospholipases A2 of Scorpio maurus venom glands impair angiogenesis by targeting integrins α5β1 and αvβ3.

    PubMed

    Krayem, Najeh; Abdelkefi-Koubaa, Zaineb; Marrakchi, Naziha; Gargouri, Youssef; Luis, José

    2018-04-30

    We recently purified an heterodimeric phospholipase A 2 named Sm-PLGV from the venom glands of scorpion Scorpio maurus containing a Long chain, a penta-peptide insertion, which is cut out during the maturation, followed by a short chain. Three recombinant forms of Sm-PLGV were produced in Escherichia coli: rPLA 2 (+5) containing the full-length sequence including the penta-peptide insert, rPLA 2 (-5) a fused continuous chain of the Long and the short chains without the penta-peptide and the Long chain alone without the short one. In this study, we showed that Sm-PLGV, rPLA 2 (+5) and rPLA 2 (-5) displayed more potent anti-angiogenic properties than the recombinant Long chain and the short chain obtained by chemical synthesis. These phospholipases A 2 inhibited in a dose-dependent manner adhesion, migration and invasion of human microvascular endothelial cells through the alteration of α5β1 and αvβ3 integrins function. Using Matrigel™ and chick chorioallantoic membrane assays, we demonstrated that Sm-PLGV, rPLA 2 (+5) and rPLA 2 (-5) significantly inhibited both in vitro and in vivo angiogenesis. We also showed a clear dissociation of the anti-angiogenic effect of Sm-PLGV and its catalytic activity. This is the first study describing an anti-angiogenic effect for recombinant scorpion venom enzymes. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. Electrospun PBLG/PLA nanofiber membrane for constructing in vitro 3D model of melanoma.

    PubMed

    Wang, Yaping; Qian, Junmin; Liu, Ting; Xu, Weijun; Zhao, Na; Suo, Aili

    2017-07-01

    Though much progress in utilizing tissue engineering technology to investigate tumor development in vitro has been made, the effective management of human melanoma is still a challenge in clinic due to lack of suitable 3D culture systems. In this study, we prepared a poly(γ-benzyl-l-glutamate)/poly(lactic acid) (PBLG/PLA) nanofiber membrane by electrospinning and demonstrated its suitability as a matrix for 3D culture of melanoma cells in vitro. The electrospun PBLG/PLA nanofiber membrane displayed a smooth and uniform fibrous morphology and had a desirable water contact angle of 79.3±0.6°. The average diameter of PBLG/PLA nanofibers was 320.3±95.1nm that was less than that (516.2±163.3nm) of pure PLA nanofibers. The addition of PBLG into PLA decreased the cold crystallization peak of PLA fibers from 93 to 75°C. The in vitro biocompatibility of PBLG/PLA nanofiber membrane was evaluated with B16F10 cells using PLA nanofiber membrane as control. It was found that, compared to PLA nanofiber membrane, PBLG/PLA nanofiber membrane could better support cell viability and proliferation, as indicated by MTT assay and live-dead staining. SEM results revealed that PBLG/PLA rather than PLA nanofiber membrane promoted the generation of tumoroid-like structures. These findings clearly demonstrated that the electrospun PBLG/PLA nanofiber membrane could mimick the extracellular matrix of melanoma microenvironment and be a promising platform for 3D cell culture. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Diagnostic value of CRP and Lp(a) in coronary heart disease.

    PubMed

    Erbağci, Ayşe Binnur; Tarakçioğlu, Mehmet; Aksoy, Mehmet; Kocabaş, Ramazan; Nacak, Muradiye; Aynacioğlu, A Sükrü; Sivrikoz, Cumhur

    2002-06-01

    Increased lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] concentration was reported to be an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). Recent epidemiological studies affirmed the value of C-reactive protein (CRP) as the strongest, univariate predictor of the cardiovascular events. We decided to establish cut-off levels providing maximum diagnostic efficiency for CHD. In this study we measured CRP and Lp(a) concentrations in patients with angiographically demonstrated CHD (group A, n: 120), patients without any angiographically demonstrable lesion (group B, n: 62) and a group of healthy subjects (group C, n: 41). Data were evaluated correcting for lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking, age, and body mass index in men and women. ROC curve based cut-off values (comparing group A versus groups B and C) and associated diagnostic performances of the assays were evaluated. Significant increases were noted in serum CRP concentrations in men and women, in groups A vs. B,A vs. C, B vs. C. Lp(a) concentrations were not different among groups in men but were higher in group A vs. B and C in women. Optimal cut-off levels for CRP in women and men were found as 2.1 and 3.0 mg/l with the diagnostic values of 0.792 and 0.770, respectively. For Lp(a) optimal cut-off levels were found as 22.6 and 9.8 mg/dl with the diagnostic values of 0.612 and 0.596 in women and men, respectively. The CRP level is quite efficient for separation of patients from controls. Therefore keeping in mind the lack of specificity, the CRP level may be a useful tool in the diagnosis of coronary heart disease. However, the Lp(a) level is not efficient enough to support the use of Lp(a) measurement for management of coronary heart disease.

  1. Peroxiredoxin 6 homodimerization and heterodimerization with glutathione S-transferase pi are required for its peroxidase but not phospholipase A2 activity.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Suiping; Sorokina, Elena M; Harper, Sandra; Li, Haitao; Ralat, Luis; Dodia, Chandra; Speicher, David W; Feinstein, Sheldon I; Fisher, Aron B

    2016-05-01

    Peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6) is a unique 1-Cys member of the peroxiredoxin family with both GSH peroxidase and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activities. It is highly expressed in the lung where it plays an important role in antioxidant defense and lung surfactant metabolism. Glutathionylation of Prdx6 mediated by its heterodimerization with GSH S-transferase π (πGST) is required for its peroxidatic catalytic cycle. Recombinant human Prdx6 crystallizes as a homodimer and sedimentation equilibrium analysis confirmed that this protein exists as a high affinity dimer in solution. Based on measurement of molecular mass, dimeric Prdx6 that was oxidized to the sulfenic acid formed a sulfenylamide during storage. After examination of the dimer interface in the crystal structure, we postulated that the hydrophobic amino acids L145 and L148 play an important role in homodimerization of Prdx6 as well as in its heterodimerization with πGST. Oxidation of Prdx6 also was required for its heterodimerization. Sedimentation equilibrium analysis and the Duolink proximity ligation assay following mutation of the L145 and L148 residues of Prdx6 to Glu indicated greatly decreased dimerization propensity reflecting the loss of hydrophobic interactions between the protein monomers. Peroxidase activity was markedly reduced by mutation at either of the Leu sites and was essentially abolished by the double mutation, while PLA2 activity was unaffected. Decreased peroxidase activity following mutation of the interfacial leucines presumably is mediated via impaired heterodimerization of Prdx6 with πGST that is required for reduction and re-activation of the oxidized enzyme. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. 78 FR 43874 - Texas Eastern Transmission, LP; Notice of Application

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-07-22

    ... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP13-514-000] Texas Eastern Transmission, LP; Notice of Application On July 2, 2013, Texas Eastern Transmission, LP (Texas Eastern) filed... natural gas facilities no longer in service. As described more fully in the Application, Texas Eastern...

  3. Blends of low molecular weight of poly lactic acid (PLA) with gondorukem (gum rosin)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kaavessina, Mujtahid; Distantina, Sperisa; Chafidz, Achmad; Utama, Aditya; Anggraeni, Venisa Mega Puteri

    2018-02-01

    The utilization of plastic was increasing as well as the increasing its demand in wide range application. Consequently, the number of plastic litter will increase and make more serious environmental problems. This research concerns to minimize waste problems by designing biodegradable plastic. In this research, biodegradable plastic was made of poly lactic acid (PLA) and gondorukem (Gum rosin, Resina colophonium) as the plasticizer. The effect of gondorukem towards PLA properties such as rheology and degradability was investigated. The research divided into two steps: (i) the polycondensation of lactic acid (LA) and (ii) modification of obtained poly lactic acid. In the first step, polycondensation was done in N2 atmosphere (138°C) for 30 hours and added 0.1 %w of SnCl2 as catalyst. Bulk modification was conducted by blending of gondurukem in varied weight (0.5, 1, and 2 g in 10 g of PLA). Furthermore, the modified PLA was analyzed its molecular structure, biodegradability and rheological property. The presence of gondorukem enhanced the biodegradability of poly lactic acid. Gondorukem could act as the plasticizer. It is confirmed that the complex viscosity of PLA melt decreased upon the addition of gondorukem

  4. Regulatory T Cells Contribute to the Inhibition of Radiation-Induced Acute Lung Inflammation via Bee Venom Phospholipase A2 in Mice

    PubMed Central

    Shin, Dasom; Lee, Gihyun; Sohn, Sung-Hwa; Park, Soojin; Jung, Kyung-Hwa; Lee, Ji Min; Yang, Jieun; Cho, Jaeho; Bae, Hyunsu

    2016-01-01

    Bee venom has long been used to treat various inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Previously, we reported that bee venom phospholipase A2 (bvPLA2) has an anti-inflammatory effect through the induction of regulatory T cells. Radiotherapy is a common anti-cancer method, but often causes adverse effects, such as inflammation. This study was conducted to evaluate the protective effects of bvPLA2 in radiation-induced acute lung inflammation. Mice were focally irradiated with 75 Gy of X-rays in the lung and administered bvPLA2 six times after radiation. To evaluate the level of inflammation, the number of immune cells, mRNA level of inflammatory cytokine, and histological changes in the lung were measured. BvPLA2 treatment reduced the accumulation of immune cells, such as macrophages, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils. In addition, bvPLA2 treatment decreased inflammasome-, chemokine-, cytokine- and fibrosis-related genes’ mRNA expression. The histological results also demonstrated the attenuating effect of bvPLA2 on radiation-induced lung inflammation. Furthermore, regulatory T cell depletion abolished the therapeutic effects of bvPLA2 in radiation-induced pneumonitis, implicating the anti-inflammatory effects of bvPLA2 are dependent upon regulatory T cells. These results support the therapeutic potential of bvPLA2 in radiation pneumonitis and fibrosis treatments. PMID:27144583

  5. Expression and purification of a major allergen, Pla a 1, from Platanus acerifolia pollen and the preparation of its monoclonal antibody.

    PubMed

    Ni, Wei-Wei; Huang, Wen; Wu, De-Qin; Zhou, Yan-Jun; Ji, Chun-Mei; Cao, Meng-Da; Guo, Miao; Sun, Jin-Lu; Wei, Ji-Fu

    2017-09-01

    Platanus acerifolia pollen is considered an important source of airborne allergens in numerous cities. Pla a 1 is a major allergen from P. acerifolia pollen. The present study aimed to express and purify Pla a 1, and to prepare its monoclonal antibody. In the present study, the Pla a 1 gene was subcloned into a pET‑28a vector and transformed into the ArcticExpress™ (DE3) RP Escherichia coli host strain. The purified Pla a 1 was then used to immunize BALB/c mice. When serum detection was positive, spleen cells were isolated from the mice and fused with SP2/0 myeloma cells at a ratio of 10:1. Hybridoma cells were screened by indirect ELISA and limiting dilution. Positive cells were used to induce the formation of antibody‑containing ascites fluid, and the antibodies were purified using protein A‑agarose. The results of the present study demonstrated that recombinant Pla a 1 was successfully expressed and purified, and exhibited positive immunoglobulin E‑binding to serum from patients allergic to P. acerifolia. A total of 11 hybridomas that steadily secreted anti‑Pla a 1 antibody were obtained and an immunoblotting analysis indicated that all of these monoclonal antibodies specifically recognized the Pla a 1 protein. These results suggested that specific anti‑Pla a 1 antibodies may be obtained, which can be used for the rapid detection of Pla a 1 allergens and in the preparation of vaccines against P. acerifolia pollen.

  6. The Impact of an Internet-Based Self-Management Intervention (HeLP-Diabetes) on the Psychological Well-Being of Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Mixed-Method Cohort Study.

    PubMed

    Hofmann, Megan; Dack, Charlotte; Barker, Chris; Murray, Elizabeth

    2016-01-01

    This mixed-method study assessed the impact of an internet-based, self-management intervention ("HeLP-Diabetes") on the psychological well-being of adults with type 2 diabetes. Nineteen participants were recruited from 3 general practices. Data were collected at baseline and at 6 weeks follow-up. Access to HeLP-Diabetes was associated with a significant decrease in participants' diabetes-related distress (Z = 2.04, p = 0.04, and d = 0.28). No significant differences were found in emotional distress or self-efficacy. The qualitative data found that participants reported improvements including increased self-efficacy and support, better management of low mood, greater diabetes awareness, and taking the condition more seriously. Participants also reported making improvements to their eating habits, exercise routine, and medical management. Some negative experiences associated with using the intervention were mentioned including feelings of guilt for not using the intervention as suggested or not making any behavioral changes, as well as technical and navigational frustrations with the intervention. Internet-based self-management interventions may have the potential to decrease diabetes-related distress in people with type 2 diabetes. The qualitative data also suggests internet interventions can positively impact both psychological and behavioural outcomes of adults with type 2 diabetes.

  7. The Impact of an Internet-Based Self-Management Intervention (HeLP-Diabetes) on the Psychological Well-Being of Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Mixed-Method Cohort Study

    PubMed Central

    Hofmann, Megan; Dack, Charlotte; Barker, Chris; Murray, Elizabeth

    2016-01-01

    This mixed-method study assessed the impact of an internet-based, self-management intervention (“HeLP-Diabetes”) on the psychological well-being of adults with type 2 diabetes. Nineteen participants were recruited from 3 general practices. Data were collected at baseline and at 6 weeks follow-up. Access to HeLP-Diabetes was associated with a significant decrease in participants' diabetes-related distress (Z = 2.04, p = 0.04, and d = 0.28). No significant differences were found in emotional distress or self-efficacy. The qualitative data found that participants reported improvements including increased self-efficacy and support, better management of low mood, greater diabetes awareness, and taking the condition more seriously. Participants also reported making improvements to their eating habits, exercise routine, and medical management. Some negative experiences associated with using the intervention were mentioned including feelings of guilt for not using the intervention as suggested or not making any behavioral changes, as well as technical and navigational frustrations with the intervention. Internet-based self-management interventions may have the potential to decrease diabetes-related distress in people with type 2 diabetes. The qualitative data also suggests internet interventions can positively impact both psychological and behavioural outcomes of adults with type 2 diabetes. PMID:26682226

  8. Predominant Role of Cytosolic Phospholipase A2α in Dioxin-induced Neonatal Hydronephrosis in Mice

    PubMed Central

    Yoshioka, Wataru; Kawaguchi, Tatsuya; Fujisawa, Nozomi; Aida-Yasuoka, Keiko; Shimizu, Takao; Matsumura, Fumio; Tohyama, Chiharu

    2014-01-01

    Hydronephrosis is a common disease characterized by dilation of the renal pelvis and calices, resulting in loss of kidney function in the most severe cases. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induces nonobstructive hydronephrosis in mouse neonates through upregulation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis pathway consisting of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) by a yet unknown mechanism. We here studied possible involvement of cytosolic phospholipase A2α (cPLA2α) in this mechanism. To this end, we used a cPLA2α-null mouse model and found that cPLA2α has a significant role in the upregulation of the PGE2 synthesis pathway through a noncanonical pathway of aryl hydrocarbon receptor. This study is the first to demonstrate the predominant role of cPLA2α in hydronephrosis. Elucidation of the pathway leading to the onset of hydronephrosis using the TCDD-exposed mouse model will deepen our understanding of the molecular basis of nonobstructive hydronephrosis in humans. PMID:24509627

  9. Antibacterial poly(lactic acid) (PLA) films grafting electrospun PLA/Ally isothioscyanate (AITC) fibers for food packaging

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) fibers of submicron sizes encapsulating allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) (PfA) were made and electrospun onto the surfaces of PLA films (PfA-g-film). SEM examination confirmed that the fibers were grafted to the PLA film after the (PfA-g-film) underwent air blowing and water washi...

  10. Serum Lipoprotein (a) Levels in Black South African Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients.

    PubMed

    Joseph, Jim; Ganjifrockwala, Farzana; George, Grace

    2016-01-01

    Lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) which is a low-density lipoprotein-like particle containing apo(a) is considered as an emergent cardiovascular risk factor. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with a two- to threefold increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of Lp(a) in Black South African T2DM patients and its association with other metabolic factors. 67 T2DM patients and 48 healthy control participants were recruited for the cross-sectional study. The Lp(a) level was determined by ELISA and the result was analyzed using SPSS. The Lp(a) level in diabetics was found to be significantly increased ( P = 0.001) when compared to the normal healthy group. In the diabetic group, the Lp(a) levels correlated significantly with the duration of diabetes ( P = 0.008) and oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) levels ( P = 0.03) and decreased total antioxidant capacity ( P = 0.001). The third tertile of Lp(a) was significantly correlated with increased ox-LDL, C-reactive protein, and triglycerides and decreased total antioxidant capacity.

  11. Effects of synthetic sphingosine-1-phosphate analogs on cytosolic phospholipase A2alpha-independent release of arachidonic acid and cell toxicity in L929 fibrosarcoma cells: the structure-activity relationship.

    PubMed

    Shimizu, Masaya; Muramatsu, Yuki; Tada, Eiko; Kurosawa, Takeshi; Yamaura, Erika; Nakamura, Hiroyuki; Fujino, Hiromichi; Houjyo, Yuuya; Miyasaka, Yuri; Koide, Yuuki; Nishida, Atsushi; Murayama, Toshihiko

    2009-03-01

    Sphingolipid metabolites including ceramide, sphingosine, and their phosphorylated products [sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and ceramide-1-phosphate] regulate cell functions including arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism and cell death. The development of analogs of S1P may be useful for regulating these mediator-induced cellular responses. We synthesized new analogs of S1P and examined their effects on the release of AA and cell death in L929 mouse fibrosarcoma cells. Among the analogs tested, several compounds including DMB-mC11S [dimethyl (2S,3R)-2-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-3-hydroxy-3-(3'-undecyl)phenylpropyl phosphate] and DMB-mC9S [dimethyl (2S,3R)-2-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-3-hydroxy-3-(3'-nonyl)phenylpropyl phosphate] released AA within 1 h and caused cell death 6 h after treatment. The release of AA was observed in C12 cells [a L929 variant lacking a type alpha cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)alpha)] and L929-cPLAalpha-siRNA cells (L929 cells treated with small interference RNA for cPLA(2)alpha). Treatment with pharmacological inhibitors of secretory and Ca(2+)-independent PLA(2)s decreased the DMB-mC11S-induced release of AA. The effect of the S1P analogs tested on the release of AA was comparable to that on cell death in L929 cells, and a high correlation coefficient was observed. Two analogs lacking a butoxycarbonyl moiety [DMAc-mC11S (dimethyl (2S,3R)-2-acetamino-3-hydroxy-3-(3'-undecyl)phenylpropyl phosphate] and DMAm-mC11S [dimethyl (2S,3R)-2-amino-3-hydroxy-3-(3'-undecyl)phenylpropyl phosphate)] had inhibitory effects on the release of AA and cell toxicity induced by DMB-mC11S. Synthetic phosphorylated lipid analogs may be useful for studying PLA(2) activity and its toxicity in cells. [Supplementary Fig. 1: available only at http://dx.doi.org/10.1254/jphs.08284FP].

  12. Antiparasitic effects induced by polyclonal IgY antibodies anti-phospholipase A2 from Bothrops pauloensis venom.

    PubMed

    Borges, Isabela Pacheco; Silva, Mariana Ferreira; Santiago, Fernanda Maria; de Faria, Lucas Silva; Júnior, Álvaro Ferreira; da Silva, Rafaela José; Costa, Mônica Soares; de Freitas, Vitor; Yoneyama, Kelly Aparecida Geraldo; Ferro, Eloísa Amália Vieira; Lopes, Daiana Silva; Rodrigues, Renata Santos; de Melo Rodrigues, Veridiana

    2018-06-01

    Activities of phospholipases (PLAs) have been linked to pathogenesis in various microorganisms, and implicated in cell invasion and so the interest in these enzymes as potential targets that could contribute to the control of parasite survival and proliferation. Chicken eggs immunized with BnSP-7, a Lys49 phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) homologue from Bothrops pauloensis snake venom, represent an excellent source of polyclonal antibodies with potential inhibitory activity on parasite PLA s. Herein, we report the production, characterization and anti-parasitic effect of IgY antibodies from egg yolks of hens immunized with BnSP-7. Produced antibodies presented increasing avidity and affinity for antigenic toxin epitopes throughout immunization, attaining a plateau after 4weeks. Pooled egg yolks-purified anti-BnSP-7 IgY antibodies were able to specifically recognize different PLA 2 s from Bothrops pauloensis and Bothrops jararacussu venom. Antibodies also neutralized BnSP-7 cytotoxic activity in C2C12 cells. Also, the antibodies recognized targets in Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis and Toxoplasma gondii extracts by ELISA and immunofluorescence assays. Anti-BnSP-7 IgY antibodies were cytotoxic to T. gondii tachyzoite and L. (L.) amazonensis promastigotes, and were able to decrease proliferation of both parasites treated before infection. These data suggest that the anti-BnSP-7 IgY is an important tool for discovering new parasite targets and blocking parasitic effects. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  13. Theoretical characterization of gas-phase thermolysis products of ethane-1,2-diol, 2-chloroethanol and 2-fluoroethanol

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Osman, Osman I.; Elroby, Shabaan A. K.; Hilal, Rifaat H.; Aziz, Saadullah G.

    2013-03-01

    The transition structures and the activation energies for the possible thermal elimination of H2O, HF and HCl from ethane-1,2-diol, 2-fluoroethanol and 2-chloroethanol respectively, were investigated. The relative stabilities and associated barrier heights of syn and anti vinyl alcohol isomers and their acetaldehyde tautomer were estimated. HF, DFT/B3LYP and MP2 methods at 3-21G, 6-31+G(d), 6-311++G(d,p) and aug-cc-pvdz basis sets were applied to identify the stationary points of the studied systems. The optimized geometries and electronic energies of reactants, transition states and products were analyzed. The dependence of these properties upon the theoretical level was discussed. A concerted proton release and a hydroxide or halide ion expulsion mechanism was proposed to account for the thermal rearrangement of reactants to products. A thorough understanding of syn vinyl alcohol preference is provided by performing natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. The oxygen atom lone pair (LP) and periplanar hyperconjugative effects are responsible for this preference. It was suggested that the LP hyperconjugative interactions with the C=C σ and π antibonds were the most important origin of the structural differences between the two vinyl alcohol isomers.

  14. Hydrophobic-modified nano-cellulose fiber/PLA biodegradable composites for lowering water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of paper.

    PubMed

    Song, Zhaoping; Xiao, Huining; Zhao, Yi

    2014-10-13

    New biodegradable nanocomposites have been successfully prepared by incorporating modified nano-cellulose fibers (NCF) in a biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) matrix in this work. The hydrophobic-modified NCF was obtained by grafting hydrophobic monomers on NCF to improve the compatibility between NCF and PLA during blending. The resulting NCF/PLA composites were then applied on paper surface via a cast-coating process in an attempt to reduce the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of paper. The WVTR tests, conducted under various testing conditions and with different coating weights, demonstrated that the modified NCF/PLA composites coating played a critical role in lowering WVTR of paper. The lowest WVTR value was 34 g/m(2)/d, which was obtained with an addition of 1% of modified NCF to PLA and the composites coating weight at 40 g/m(2) and substantially lower than the control value at 1315 g/m(2)/d. The paper coated with the modified biodegradable composite is promising as green-based packaging materials. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Impact of Apolipoprotein(a) Isoform Size on Lipoprotein(a) Lowering in the HPS2-THRIVE Study

    PubMed Central

    Hopewell, Jemma C.; Hill, Michael R.; Marcovina, Santica; Valdes-Marquez, Elsa; Haynes, Richard; Offer, Alison; Pedersen, Terje R.; Baigent, Colin; Collins, Rory; Landray, Martin; Armitage, Jane

    2018-01-01

    Background: Genetic studies have shown lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) to be an important causal risk factor for coronary disease. Apolipoprotein(a) isoform size is the chief determinant of Lp(a) levels, but its impact on the benefits of therapies that lower Lp(a) remains unclear. Methods: HPS2-THRIVE (Heart Protection Study 2–Treatment of HDL to Reduce the Incidence of Vascular Events) is a randomized trial of niacin–laropiprant versus placebo on a background of simvastatin therapy. Plasma Lp(a) levels at baseline and 1 year post-randomization were measured in 3978 participants from the United Kingdom and China. Apolipoprotein(a) isoform size, estimated by the number of kringle IV domains, was measured by agarose gel electrophoresis and the predominantly expressed isoform identified. Results: Allocation to niacin–laropiprant reduced mean Lp(a) by 12 (SE, 1) nmol/L overall and 34 (6) nmol/L in the top quintile by baseline Lp(a) level (Lp[a] ≥128 nmol/L). The mean proportional reduction in Lp(a) with niacin–laropiprant was 31% but varied strongly with predominant apolipoprotein(a) isoform size (PTrend=4×10−29) and was only 18% in the quintile with the highest baseline Lp(a) level and low isoform size. Estimates from genetic studies suggest that these Lp(a) reductions during the short term of the trial might yield proportional reductions in coronary risk of ≈2% overall and 6% in the top quintile by Lp(a) levels. Conclusions: Proportional reductions in Lp(a) were dependent on apolipoprotein(a) isoform size. Taking this into account, the likely benefits of niacin–laropiprant on coronary risk through Lp(a) lowering are small. Novel therapies that reduce high Lp(a) levels by at least 80 nmol/L (≈40%) may be needed to produce worthwhile benefits in people at the highest risk because of Lp(a). Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00461630. PMID:29449329

  16. Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of a novel Arg49 phospholipase A{sub 2} homologue from Zhaoermia mangshanensis venom

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Murakami, Mário T.; Center for Applied Toxinology, CAT-CEPID, São Paulo, SP; Advanced Center for Genomics and Proteomics, UNESP-State University of São Paulo, São José do Rio Preto 15054-000

    2007-07-01

    A single crystal of zhaoermiatoxin with maximum dimensions of 0.2 × 0.2 × 0.5 mm was used for X-ray diffraction data collection to a resolution of 2.05 Å using synchrotron radiation and the diffraction pattern was indexed in the hexagonal space group P6{sub 4}, with unit-cell parameters a = 72.9, b = 72.9, c = 93.9 Å. Zhaoermiatoxin, an Arg49 phospholipase A{sub 2} homologue from Zhaoermia mangshanensis (formerly Trimeresurus mangshanensis, Ermia mangshanensis) venom is a novel member of the PLA{sub 2}-homologue family that possesses an arginine residue at position 49, probably arising from a secondary Lys49→Arg substitution that does notmore » alter the catalytic inactivity towards phospholipids. Like other Lys49 PLA{sub 2} homologues, zhaoermiatoxin induces oedema and strong myonecrosis without detectable PLA{sub 2} catalytic activity. A single crystal with maximum dimensions of 0.2 × 0.2 × 0.5 mm was used for X-ray diffraction data collection to a resolution of 2.05 Å using synchrotron radiation and the diffraction pattern was indexed in the hexagonal space group P6{sub 4}, with unit-cell parameters a = 72.9, b = 72.9, c = 93.9 Å.« less

  17. Production, characterisation, and in vitro nebulisation performance of budesonide-loaded PLA nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Amini, Mohammad Ali; Faramarzi, Mohammad Ali; Gilani, Kambiz; Moazeni, Esmaeil; Esmaeilzadeh-Gharehdaghi, Elina; Amani, Amir

    2014-01-01

    The aim of this study is to prepare a nanosuspension of budesonide for respiratory delivery using nebuliser by optimising its particle size and characterising its in vitro deposition behaviour. PLA (poly lactic acid)-budesonide nanosuspension (BNS) was prepared using high-pressure emulsification/solvent evaporation method. To optimise particle size, different parameters such as PLA concentration, sonication time, and amplitude were investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses were performed to characterise the prepared PLA-budesonide nanoparticles. The in vitro aerodynamic characteristics of the PLA-BNS using a jet nebuliser were estimated and compared with that of commercially available suspension formulation of budesonide. Budesonide-loaded PLA nanoparticles with fine particle size (an average size of 224-360 nm), narrow size distribution, and spherical and smooth surface were prepared. The optimum condition for preparation of fine particle size for aerosolisation was found to be at PLA concentration of 1.2 mg/ml and amplitude of 70 for 75 s sonication time. The in vitro aerosolisation performance of PLA-BNS compared to that of commercial budesonide indicated that it has significantly (p < 0.05) smaller mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) value with an enhancement in fine particle fraction (FPF) value. Improving the in vitro deposition of budesonide, PLA-BNS could be considered as a promising alternative suspension formulation for deep lung delivery of the drug using nebuliser.

  18. Association between lipoprotein(a) level and type 2 diabetes: no evidence for a causal role of lipoprotein(a) and insulin.

    PubMed

    Buchmann, Nikolaus; Scholz, Markus; Lill, Christina M; Burkhardt, Ralph; Eckardt, Rahel; Norman, Kristina; Loeffler, Markus; Bertram, Lars; Thiery, Joachim; Steinhagen-Thiessen, Elisabeth; Demuth, Ilja

    2017-11-01

    Inverse relationships have been described between the largely genetically determined levels of serum/plasma lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], type 2 diabetes (T2D) and fasting insulin. Here, we aimed to evaluate the nature of these relationships with respect to causality. We tested whether we could replicate the recent negative findings on causality between Lp(a) and T2D by employing the Mendelian randomization (MR) approach using cross-sectional data from three independent cohorts, Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II; n = 2012), LIFE-Adult (n = 3281) and LIFE-Heart (n = 2816). Next, we explored another frequently discussed hypothesis in this context: Increasing insulin levels during the course of T2D disease development inhibits hepatic Lp(a) synthesis and thereby might explain the inverse Lp(a)-T2D association. We used two fasting insulin-associated variants, rs780094 and rs10195252, as instrumental variables in MR analysis of n = 4937 individuals from BASE-II and LIFE-Adult. We further investigated causality of the association between fasting insulin and Lp(a) by combined MR analysis of 12 additional SNPs in LIFE-Adult. While an Lp(a)-T2D association was observed in the combined analysis (meta-effect of OR [95% CI] = 0.91 [0.87-0.96] per quintile, p = 1.3x10 -4 ), we found no evidence of causality in the Lp(a)-T2D association (p = 0.29, fixed effect model) when using the variant rs10455872 as the instrumental variable in the MR analyses. Likewise, no evidence of a causal effect of insulin on Lp(a) levels was found. While these results await confirmation in larger cohorts, the nature of the inverse Lp(a)-T2D association remains to be elucidated.

  19. Elevated lipoprotein(a) levels predict cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a 10-year prospective cohort study.

    PubMed

    Lim, Tae-Seok; Yun, Jae-Seung; Cha, Seon-Ah; Song, Ki-Ho; Yoo, Ki-Dong; Ahn, Yu-Bae; Park, Yong-Moon; Ko, Seung-Hyun

    2016-11-01

    Elevated lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) level is known to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the data that has been reported on the association between the Lp(a) level and CVD in type 2 diabetes has been limited and incoherent. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the Lp(a) concentration and new onset CVD in type 2 diabetes. From March 2003 to December 2004, patients with type 2 diabetes without a prior history of CVD were consecutively enrolled. CVD was defined as the occurrence of coronary artery disease or ischemic stroke. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify the associations between the Lp(a) and CVD after adjusting for confounding variables. Of the 1,183 patients who were enrolled, 833 participants were evaluated with a median follow-up time of 11.1 years. A total of 202 participants were diagnosed with CVD (24.2%). The median Lp(a) level for 1st and 4th quartile group was 5.4 (3.5 to 7.1) and 55.7 mg/dL (43.1 to 75.3). Compared with patients without CVD, those with CVD were older, had a longer duration of diabetes and hypertension, and used more insulin and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers at baseline. A Cox hazard regression analysis revealed that the development of CVD was significantly associated with serum Lp(a) level (hazard ratio, 1.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26 to 2.92; p < 0.001, comparing the 4th vs. 1st quartile of Lp[a]). Elevated Lp(a) level was an independent predictable risk factor for CVD in type 2 diabetes. Other cardiovascular risk factors should be treated more intensively in type 2 diabetic patients with high Lp(a) levels.

  20. Effect of orientation on the morphology and mechanical properties of PLA/starch composite filaments

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    PLA/starch fibers were produced by twin screw extrusion of PLA with granular or gelatinized starch/glycerol followed by drawing through a set of winders with an intermediate oven. At 30% starch, fibers drawn 2-5x were highly flexible (elongation 20-100%) while undrawn filaments were brittle (elonga...

  1. Computational investigations of physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, toxicological properties and molecular docking of betulinic acid, a constituent of Corypha taliera (Roxb.) with Phospholipase A2 (PLA2).

    PubMed

    Khan, Mohammad Firoz; Nahar, Nusrat; Rashid, Ridwan Bin; Chowdhury, Akhtaruzzaman; Rashid, Mohammad A

    2018-02-02

    Betulinic acid (BA) is a natural triterpenoid compound and exhibits a wide range of biological and medicinal properties including anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, this theoretical investigation is performed to evaluate (a) physicochemical properties such as acid dissociation constant (pKa), distribution coefficient (logD), partition coefficient (logP), aqueous solubility (logS), solvation free energy, dipole moment, polarizability, hyperpolarizability and different reactivity descriptors, (b) pharmacokinetic properties like human intestinal absorption (HIA), cellular permeability, skin permeability (P Skin ), plasma protein binding (PPB), penetration of the blood brain barrier (BBB), (c) toxicological properties including mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, risk of inhibition of hERG gene and (d) molecular mechanism of anti-inflammatory action which will aid the development of analytical method and the synthesis of BA derivatives. The physicochemical properties were calculated using MarvinSketch 15.6.29 and Gaussian 09 software package. The pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties were calculated on online server PreADMET. Further, the molecular docking study was conducted on AutoDock vina in PyRx 0.8. The aqueous solubility increased with increasing pH due to the ionization of BA leading to decrease in distribution coefficient. The solvation energies in water, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), acetonitrile, n-octanol, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride were - 41.74 kJ/mol, - 53.80 kJ/mol, - 66.27 kJ/mol, - 69.64 kJ/mol, - 65.96 kJ/mol and - 60.13 kJ/mol, respectively. From the results of polarizability and softness, it was clear that BA is less stable and hence, kinetically more reactive in water. BA demonstrated good human intestinal absorption (HIA) and moderate cellular permeability. Further, BA also exhibited positive CNS activity due to high permeability through BBB. The toxicological study revealed that BA was a mutagenic compound but

  2. Predicting drug loading in PLA-PEG nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Meunier, M; Goupil, A; Lienard, P

    2017-06-30

    Polymer nanoparticles present advantageous physical and biopharmaceutical properties as drug delivery systems compared to conventional liquid formulations. Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are often hydrophobic, thus not soluble in conventional liquid delivery. Encapsulating the drugs in polymer nanoparticles can improve their pharmacological and bio-distribution properties, preventing rapid clearance from the bloodstream. Such nanoparticles are commonly made of non-toxic amphiphilic self-assembling block copolymers where the core (poly-[d,l-lactic acid] or PLA) serves as a reservoir for the API and the external part (Poly-(Ethylene-Glycol) or PEG) serves as a stealth corona to avoid capture by macrophage. The present study aims to predict the drug affinity for PLA-PEG nanoparticles and their effective drug loading using in silico tools in order to virtually screen potential drugs for non-covalent encapsulation applications. To that end, different simulation methods such as molecular dynamics and Monte-Carlo have been used to estimate the binding of actives on model polymer surfaces. Initially, the methods and models are validated against a series of pigments molecules for which experimental data exist. The drug affinity for the core of the nanoparticles is estimated using a Monte-Carlo "docking" method. Drug miscibility in the polymer matrix, using the Hildebrand solubility parameter (δ), and the solvation free energy of the drug in the PLA polymer model is then estimated. Finally, existing published ALogP quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPR) are compared to this method. Our results demonstrate that adsorption energies modelled by docking atomistic simulations on PLA surfaces correlate well with experimental drug loadings, whereas simpler approaches based on Hildebrand solubility parameters and Flory-Huggins interaction parameters do not. More complex molecular dynamics techniques which use estimation of the solvation free energies both in

  3. Using Participatory Learning & Action (PLA) research techniques for inter-stakeholder dialogue in primary healthcare: an analysis of stakeholders' experiences.

    PubMed

    de Brún, T; O'Reilly-de Brún, M; Van Weel-Baumgarten, E; Burns, N; Dowrick, C; Lionis, C; O'Donnell, C; Mair, F S; Papadakaki, M; Saridaki, A; Spiegel, W; Van Weel, C; Van den Muijsenbergh, M; MacFarlane, A

    2017-01-01

    It is important for health care workers to know the needs and expectations of their patients. Therefore, service users have to be involved in research. To achieve a meaningful dialogue between service users, healthcare workers and researchers, participatory methods are needed. This paper describes how the application of a specific participatory methodology, Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) can lead to such a meaningful dialogue. In PLA all stakeholders are regarded as equal partners and collaborators in research.During 2011-2015, a European project called RESTORE used PLA in Austria, Greece, Ireland, The Netherlands and the UK to investigate how communication between primary health care workers and their migrant patients could be improved.Seventy eight migrants, interpreters, doctors, nurses and other key stakeholders (see Table 2) participated in 62 PLA sessions. These dialogues (involving discussions, activities, PLA techniques and evaluations) were generally 2-3 h long and were recorded and analysed by the researchers.Participants reported many positive experiences about their dialogues with other stakeholders. There was a positive, trusting atmosphere in which all stakeholders could express their views despite differences in social power. This made for better understanding within and across stakeholder groups. For instance a doctor changed her view on the use of interpreters after a migrant explained why this was important. Negative experiences were rare: some doctors and healthcare workers thought the PLA sessions took a lot of time; and despite the good dialogue, there was disappointment that very few migrants used the new interpreting service. Background In order to be effective, primary healthcare must understand the health needs, values and expectations of the population it serves. Recent research has shown that the involvement of service users and other stakeholders and gathering information on their perspectives can contribute positively to many

  4. A novel mechanism of autophagic cell death in dystrophic muscle regulated by P2RX7 receptor large-pore formation and HSP90.

    PubMed

    Young, Christopher N J; Sinadinos, Anthony; Lefebvre, Alexis; Chan, Philippe; Arkle, Stephen; Vaudry, David; Gorecki, Dariusz C

    2015-01-01

    P2RX7 is an ATP-gated ion channel, which can also exhibit an open state with a considerably wider permeation. However, the functional significance of the movement of molecules through the large pore (LP) and the intracellular signaling events involved are not known. Here, analyzing the consequences of P2RX7 activation in primary myoblasts and myotubes from the Dmd(mdx) mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, we found ATP-induced P2RX7-dependent autophagic flux, leading to CASP3-CASP7-independent cell death. P2RX7-evoked autophagy was triggered by LP formation but not Ca(2+) influx or MAPK1-MAPK3 phosphorylation, 2 canonical P2RX7-evoked signals. Phosphoproteomics, protein expression inference and signaling pathway prediction analysis of P2RX7 signaling mediators pointed to HSPA2 and HSP90 proteins. Indeed, specific HSP90 inhibitors prevented LP formation, LC3-II accumulation, and cell death in myoblasts and myotubes but not in macrophages. Pharmacological blockade or genetic ablation of p2rx7 also proved protective against ATP-induced death of muscle cells, as did inhibition of autophagy with 3-MA. The functional significance of the P2RX7 LP is one of the great unknowns of purinergic signaling. Our data demonstrate a novel outcome--autophagy--and show that molecules entering through the LP can be targeted to phagophores. Moreover, we show that in muscles but not in macrophages, autophagy is needed for the formation of this LP. Given that P2RX7-dependent LP and HSP90 are critically interacting in the ATP-evoked autophagic death of dystrophic muscles, treatments targeting this axis could be of therapeutic benefit in this debilitating and incurable form of muscular dystrophy.

  5. The influence of low protein diet on the testicular toxicity of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate.

    PubMed

    Tandon, R; Paramar, D; Singh, G B; Seth, P K; Srivastava, S P

    1992-12-01

    Oral administration of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) at 1000 mg/kg body weight to adult male albino rats maintained on low protein (LP) diet for 15 d resulted in a greater decrease in absolute and relative weights of the testis and in epididymal sperm count than in those rats maintained on a normal protein (NP) diet. A marked increase in the activity of testicular beta-glucuronidase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) in the LP-fed animals suggested that LP diet enhanced the vulnerability of Sertoli cells towards DEHP. A greater decrease in the activity of testicular acid phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme-X (LDH-X) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) in the LP-fed animals occurred in comparison to NP-fed animals. Degeneration of mature germinal cells in the LP-fed animals on exposure to DEHP suggested that LP diets enhance the susceptibility of the testis towards DEHP.

  6. Attenuation of cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcer with Cochinchina momordica seed extract through inhibiting cytoplasmic phospholipase A2/5-lipoxygenase and activating γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase.

    PubMed

    Choi, Ki-Seok; Kim, Eun-Hee; Hong, Hua; Ock, Chan Young; Lee, Jeong Sang; Kim, Joo-Hyun; Hahm, Ki-Baik

    2012-04-01

    Cysteamine is a reducing aminothiol used for inducing duodenal ulcer through mechanisms of oxidative stress related to thiol-derived H(2)O(2) reaction. Cochinchina momordica saponins have been suggested to be protective against various gastric diseases based on their cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. This study was aimed to document the preventive effects of Cochinchina momordica seed extract against cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcer as well as the elucidation of its pharmacological mechanisms. Cochinchina momordica seed extract (50, 100, 200 mg/kg) was administrated intragastrically before cysteamine administration, after which the incidence of the duodenal ulcer, ulcer size, serum gastrin level, and the ratio of reduced glutathione (GSH)/oxidized glutathione disulfide (GSSG) as well as biochemical and molecular measurements of cytoplasmic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), 5-lipoxygenase and the expression of proinflammatory genes including IL-1β, IL-6, COX-2 were measured in rat model. Additional experiments of electron spin resonance measurement and the changes of glutathione were performed. Cochinchina momordica seed extract effectively prevented cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcer in a dose-dependent manner as reflected with significant decreases in either duodenal ulcerogenesis or perforation accompanied with significantly decreased in serum gastrin in addition to inflammatory mediators including cPLA(2), COX-2, and 5-lipoxygenase. Cochinchina momordica seed extract induced the expression of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS)-related glutathione synthesis as well as significantly reduced the expression of cPLA(2). Cochinchina momordica seed extract preserved reduced glutathione through increased expressions of γ-GCS. Cochinchina momordica seed extracts exerted significantly protective effect against cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcer by either cPLA2 inhibition or glutathione preservation. © 2012 Journal of

  7. The Pla Protease of Yersinia pestis Degrades Fas Ligand to Manipulate Host Cell Death and Inflammation

    PubMed Central

    Caulfield, Adam J.; Walker, Margaret E.; Gielda, Lindsay M.; Lathem, Wyndham W.

    2014-01-01

    SUMMARY Pneumonic plague is a deadly respiratory disease caused by Yersinia pestis. The bacterial protease Pla contributes to disease progression and manipulation of host immunity, but the mechanisms by which this occurs are largely unknown. Here we show that Pla degrades the apoptotic signaling molecule Fas ligand (FasL) to prevent host cell apoptosis and inflammation. Wild-type Y. pestis, but not a Pla mutant (Δpla), degrades FasL, which results in decreased downstream caspase-3/7 activation and reduced apoptosis. Similarly, lungs of mice challenged with wild-type Y. pestis show reduced levels of FasL and activated caspase-3/7 compared to Δpla infection. Consistent with a role for FasL in regulating immune responses, Δpla infection results in aberrant pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. The loss of FasL or inhibition of caspase activity alters host inflammatory responses and enables enhanced Y. pestis outgrowth in the lungs. Thus, by degrading FasL, Y. pestis manipulates host cell death pathways to facilitate infection. PMID:24721571

  8. Lp-dual affine surface area

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wei, Wang; Binwu, He

    2008-12-01

    According to the notion of Lp-affine surface area by Lutwak, in this paper, we introduce the concept of Lp-dual affine surface area. Further, we establish the affine isoperimetric inequality and the Blaschke-Santaló inequality for Lp-dual affine surface area. Besides, the dual Brunn-Minkowski inequality for Lp-dual affine surface area is presented.

  9. Secreted phospholipase A2 inhibitor modulates fatty acid composition and reduces obesity-induced inflammation in Beagle dogs.

    PubMed

    Xu, J; Bourgeois, H; Vandermeulen, E; Vlaeminck, B; Meyer, E; Demeyere, K; Hesta, M

    2015-05-01

    Secreted phospholipase A2 inhibitor (sPLA2i) has been reported to have an anti-inflammatory function by blocking the production of inflammatory mediators. Obesity is characterized by low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of sPLA2i on inflammation, oxidative stress and serum fatty acid profile in dogs. Seven obese and seven lean Beagle dogs were used in a 28-day double blind cross-over design. Dogs were fed a control diet without supplemental sPLA2i or an sPLA2i supplemented diet. The sPLA2i diet decreased plasma fibrinogen levels and increased the protein:fibrinogen ratio in obese dogs to levels similar to those of lean dogs fed the same diet. Obese dogs had a higher plasma concentration of the lipophilic vitamin A with potential antioxidative capacity and a lower ratio of retinol binding protein 4:vitamin A compared to lean dogs, independent of the diets. A higher proportion of myristic acid (C14:0) and a lower proportion of linoleic acid (C18:2n-6) were observed in the dogs fed with the sPLA2i diet compared to dogs fed with the control diet. Furthermore, a higher ratio of n-6 to n-3, a lower proportion of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and lower omega-3 index were observed in obese compared to lean dogs. The results indicate that obese dogs are characterized by a more 'proinflammatory' serum fatty acid profile and that diet inclusion of sPLA2i may reduce inflammation and alter fatty acid profile. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Phospholipase D1 increases Bcl-2 expression during neuronal differentiation of rat neural stem cells.

    PubMed

    Park, Shin-Young; Ma, Weina; Yoon, Sung Nyo; Kang, Min Jeong; Han, Joong-Soo

    2015-01-01

    We studied the possible role of phospholipase D1 (PLD1) in the neuronal differentiation, including neurite formation of neural stem cells. PLD1 protein and PLD activity increased during neuronal differentiation. Bcl-2 also increased. Downregulation of PLD1 by transfection with PLD1 siRNA or a dominant-negative form of PLD1 (DN-PLD1) inhibited both neurite outgrowth and Bcl-2 expression. PLD activity was dramatically reduced by a PLCγ (phospholipase Cγ) inhibitor (U73122), a Ca(2+)chelator (BAPTA-AM), and a PKCα (protein kinase Cα) inhibitor (RO320432). Furthermore, treatment with arachidonic acid (AA) which is generated by the action of PLA2 (phospholipase A2) on phosphatidic acid (a PLD1 product), increased the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and CREB, as well as Bcl-2 expression, indicating that PLA2 is involved in the differentiation process resulting from PLD1 activation. PGE2 (prostaglandin E2), a cyclooxygenase product of AA, also increased during neuronal differentiation. Moreover, treatment with PGE2 increased the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and CREB, as well as Bcl-2 expression, and this effect was inhibited by a PKA inhibitor (Rp-cAMP). As expected, inhibition of p38 MAPK resulted in loss of CREB activity, and when CREB activity was blocked with CREB siRNA, Bcl-2 production also decreased. We also showed that the EP4 receptor was required for the PKA/p38MAPK/CREB/Bcl-2 pathway. Taken together, these observations indicate that PLD1 is activated by PLCγ/PKCα signaling and stimulate Bcl-2 expression through PLA2/Cox2/EP4/PKA/p38MAPK/CREB during neuronal differentiation of rat neural stem cells.

  11. Thrombin Time

    MedlinePlus

    ... Testing Leptin Levetiracetam Lipase Lipid Panel Lipoprotein (a) Lithium Liver Panel Lp-PLA2 Lupus Anticoagulant Testing Luteinizing ... thrombin time is just one component of the battery of tests typically required to evaluate a bleeding ...

  12. HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS OF ACTIVE ASTEROID 324P/La SAGRA

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Jewitt, David; Li, Jing; Agarwal, Jessica

    Hubble Space Telescope observations of active asteroid 324P/La Sagra near perihelion show continued mass loss consistent with the sublimation of near-surface ice. Isophotes of the coma measured from a vantage point below the orbital plane are best matched by steady emission of particles having a nominal size  of  a  ∼ 100 μ m. The inferred rate of mass loss, dM{sub d} / dt  ∼ 0.2 kg s{sup −1}, can be supplied by sublimation of water ice in thermal equilibrium with sunlight from an area as small as 930 m{sup 2}, corresponding to about 0.2% of the nucleus surface. Observations taken from amore » vantage point only 0.°6 from the orbital plane of 324P set a limit to the velocity of ejection of dust in the direction perpendicular to the plane, V {sub ⊥} < 1 m s{sup −1}. Short-term photometric variations of the near-nucleus region, if related to rotation of the underlying nucleus, rule-out periods ≤3.8 hr and suggest that rotation probably does not play a central role in driving the observed mass loss. We estimate that, in the previous orbit, 324P lost about 4 × 10{sup 7} kg in dust particles, corresponding to 6 × 10{sup −5} of the mass of a 550 m spherical nucleus of assumed density ρ  = 1000 kg m{sup −3}. If continued, mass loss at this rate would limit the lifetime of 324P to ∼1.6 × 10{sup 4} orbits (about 10{sup 5} years). To survive for the 100–400 Myr timescales corresponding to dynamical and collisional stability requires a duty cycle of 2 × 10{sup −4} ≤  f{sub d}  ≤ 8 × 10{sup −4}. Unless its time in orbit is overestimated by many orders of magnitude, 324P is revealed as a briefly active member of a vast population of otherwise dormant ice-containing asteroids.« less

  13. Computational and in vitro insights on snake venom phospholipase A2 inhibitor of phytocompound ikshusterol3-O-glucoside of Clematis gouriana Roxb. ex DC.

    PubMed

    Muthusamy, Karthikeyan; Chinnasamy, Sathishkumar; Nagarajan, Subbiah; Sivaraman, Thirunavukkarasu

    2017-12-14

    Ikshusterol3-O-glucoside was isolated from Clematis gouriana Roxb. ex DC. root. A structure of the isolated compound was determined on the basis of various spectroscopic interpretations (UV, NMR, FTIR, and GC-MS-EI). This structure was submitted in the PubChem compound database (SID 249494133). SID 249494133 was carried out by density functional theory calculation to observe the chemical stability and electrostatic potential of this compound. The absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion property of this compound was predicted to evaluate the drug likeness and toxicity. In addition, molecular docking, quantum polarized ligand docking, prime MMGBSA calculation, and induced fit docking were performed to predict the binding status of SID 249494133 with the active site of phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) (PDB ID: 1A3D). The stability of the compound in the active site of PLA 2 was carried out using molecular dynamics simulation. Further, the anti-venom activity of the compound was assessed using the PLA 2 assay against Naja naja (Indian cobra) crude venom. The results strongly show that Ikshusterol3-O-glucoside has a potent snake-venom neutralizing capacity and it might be a potential molecule for the therapeutic treatment for snakebites.

  14. Sparse Adaptive Iteratively-Weighted Thresholding Algorithm (SAITA) for Lp-Regularization Using the Multiple Sub-Dictionary Representation

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Jie; Fan, Shangang; Xiong, Jian; Cheng, Xiefeng; Sari, Hikmet; Adachi, Fumiyuki

    2017-01-01

    Both L1/2 and L2/3 are two typical non-convex regularizations of Lp (0a sparser solution than the L1 regularization. Recently, the multiple-state sparse transformation strategy has been developed to exploit the sparsity in L1 regularization for sparse signal recovery, which combines the iterative reweighted algorithms. To further exploit the sparse structure of signal and image, this paper adopts multiple dictionary sparse transform strategies for the two typical cases p∈{1/22/3} based on an iterative Lp thresholding algorithm and then proposes a sparse adaptive iterative-weighted Lp thresholding algorithm (SAITA). Moreover, a simple yet effective regularization parameter is proposed to weight each sub-dictionary-based Lp regularizer. Simulation results have shown that the proposed SAITA not only performs better than the corresponding L1 algorithms but can also obtain a better recovery performance and achieve faster convergence than the conventional single-dictionary sparse transform-based Lp case. Moreover, we conduct some applications about sparse image recovery and obtain good results by comparison with relative work. PMID:29244777

  15. Structure of N-terminal sequence Asp-Ala-Glu-Phe-Arg-His-Asp-Ser of Aβ-peptide with phospholipase A2 from venom of Andaman Cobra sub-species Naja naja sagittifera at 2.0 Å resolution.

    PubMed

    Mirza, Zeenat; Pillai, Vikram Gopalakrishna; Zhong, Wei-Zhu

    2014-03-10

    Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most significant social and health burdens of the present century. Plaques formed by extracellular deposits of amyloid β (Aβ) are the prime player of AD's neuropathology. Studies have implicated the varied role of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in brain where it contributes to neuronal growth and inflammatory response. Overall contour and chemical nature of the substrate-binding channel in the low molecular weight PLA2s are similar. This study involves the reductionist fragment-based approach to understand the structure adopted by N-terminal fragment of Alzheimer's Aβ peptide in its complex with PLA2. In the current communication, we report the structure determined by X-ray crystallography of N-terminal sequence Asp-Ala-Glu-Phe-Arg-His-Asp-Ser (DAEFRHDS) of Aβ-peptide with a Group I PLA2 purified from venom of Andaman Cobra sub-species Naja naja sagittifera at 2.0 Å resolution (Protein Data Bank (PDB) Code: 3JQ5). This is probably the first attempt to structurally establish interaction between amyloid-β peptide fragment and hydrophobic substrate binding site of PLA2 involving H bond and van der Waals interactions. We speculate that higher affinity between Aβ and PLA2 has the therapeutic potential of decreasing the Aβ-Aβ interaction, thereby reducing the amyloid aggregation and plaque formation in AD.

  16. Coalescence in PLA-PBAT blends under shear flow: Effects of blend preparation and PLA molecular weight

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Nofar, M.; Heuzey, M. C.; Carreau, P. J., E-mail: pierre.carreau@polymtl.ca

    Blends containing 75 wt. % of an amorphous polylactide (PLA) with two different molecular weights and 25 wt. % of a poly[(butylene adipate)-co-terephthalate] (PBAT) were prepared using either a Brabender batch mixer or a twin-screw extruder. These compounds were selected because blending PLA with PBAT can overcome various drawbacks of PLA such as its brittleness and processability limitations. In this study, we investigated the effects of varying the molecular weight of the PLA matrix and of two different mixing processes on the blend morphology and, further, on droplet coalescence during shearing. The rheological properties of these blends were investigated and the interfacialmore » properties were analyzed using the Palierne emulsion model. Droplet coalescence was investigated by applying shear flows of 0.05 and 0.20 s{sup −1} at a fixed strain of 60. Subsequently, small amplitude oscillatory shear tests were conducted to investigate changes in the viscoelastic properties. The morphology of the blends was also examined using scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs. It was observed that the PBAT droplets were much smaller when twin-screw extrusion was used for the blend preparation. Shearing at 0.05 s{sup −1} induced significant droplet coalescence in all blends, but coalescence and changes in the viscoelastic properties were much more pronounced for the PLA-PBAT blend based on a lower molecular weight PLA. The viscoelastic responses were also somehow affected by the thermal degradation of the PLA matrix during the experiments.« less

  17. Deposition of lipid, protein, and secretory phospholipase A2 on hydrophilic contact lenses.

    PubMed

    Mochizuki, Hiroshi; Yamada, Masakazu; Hatou, Shin; Kawashima, Motoko; Hata, Seiichiro

    2008-01-01

    Recent studies have shown that low tear phospholipid levels are associated with tear film instability in hydrophilic contact lens wearers. The concentration of secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2), the enzyme that hydrolyzes phospholipids, in tears is known to exceed the levels found in serum by four orders of magnitude. This study was performed to determine the levels of sPLA2 from the deposition on two different frequent-replacement contact lens materials. Polymacon and etafilcon A contact lenses worn for 2 weeks by 16 experienced contact lens wearers were used for the analysis. Total lipids were determined by the sulfo-phospho-vanillin reaction. Phospholipids in lipid extracts were estimated by phosphorus determination with ammonium molybdate through enzymatic digestion. Total protein was measured by bicinchoninic acid analysis. Double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine sPLA2 concentrations. Total lipid deposition was found to be greater in the polymacon group (66.3+/-16.3 microg/lens) than in the etafilcon A group, although phospholipids were not detected in either group. The etafilcon A group had greater deposition of protein (3.7+/-0.7 mg/lens) than the polymacon group had. The etafilcon A group deposited statistically significantly more group IIa sPLA2 (1.1+/-0.3 microg/lens) than the polymacon group (0.07+/-0.04 microg/lens) did (P<0.001). There was a significant difference in the lipid and protein deposition profiles in the two lenses tested. A significant amount of sPLA2 in the deposition on contact lenses may play a role in tear film instability in hydrophilic contact lens wearers.

  18. Heterodimerization of TLR2 with TLR1 or TLR6 expands the ligand spectrum but does not lead to differential signaling.

    PubMed

    Farhat, Katja; Riekenberg, Sabine; Heine, Holger; Debarry, Jennifer; Lang, Roland; Mages, Jörg; Buwitt-Beckmann, Ute; Röschmann, Kristina; Jung, Günther; Wiesmüller, Karl-Heinz; Ulmer, Artur J

    2008-03-01

    TLR are primary triggers of the innate immune system by recognizing various microorganisms through conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns. TLR2 is the receptor for a functional recognition of bacterial lipopeptides (LP) and is up-regulated during various disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sepsis. This receptor is unique in its ability to form heteromers with TLR1 or TLR6 to mediate intracellular signaling. According to the fatty acid pattern as well as the assembling of the polypeptide tail, LP can signal through TLR2 in a TLR1- or TLR6-dependent manner. There are also di- and triacylated LP, which stimulate TLR1-deficient cells and TLR6-deficient cells. In this study, we investigated whether heterodimerization evolutionarily developed to broaden the ligand spectrum or to induce different immune responses. We analyzed the signal transduction pathways activated through the different TLR2 dimers using the three LP, palmitic acid (Pam)octanoic acid (Oct)(2)C-(VPGVG)(4)VPGKG, fibroblast-stimulating LP-1, and Pam(2)C-SK(4). Dominant-negative forms of signaling molecules, immunoblotting of MAPK, as well as microarray analysis indicate that all dimers use the same signaling cascade, leading to an identical pattern of gene activation. We conclude that heterodimerization of TLR2 with TLR1 or TLR6 evolutionarily developed to expand the ligand spectrum to enable the innate immune system to recognize the numerous, different structures of LP present in various pathogens. Thus, although mycoplasma and Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria may activate different TLR2 dimers, the development of different signal pathways in response to different LP does not seem to be of vital significance for the innate defense system.

  19. Cannabinoid receptor-2 (CB2) agonist ameliorates colitis in IL-10{sup −/−} mice by attenuating the activation of T cells and promoting their apoptosis

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Singh, Udai P.; Singh, Narendra P.; Singh, Balwan

    2012-01-15

    Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic intestinal inflammation caused by hyperactivated effector immune cells that produce pro-inflammatory cytokines. Recent studies have shown that the cannabinoid system may play a critical role in mediating protection against intestinal inflammation. However, the effect of cannabinoid receptor induction after chronic colitis progression has not been investigated. Here, we investigate the effect of cannabinoid receptor-2 (CB2) agonist, JWH-133, after chronic colitis in IL-10{sup −/−} mice. JWH-133 effectively attenuated the overall clinical score, and reversed colitis-associated pathogenesis and decrease in body weight in IL-10{sup −/−} mice. After JWH-133 treatment, the percentage of CD4{sup +} Tmore » cells, neutrophils, mast cells, natural killer (NK1.1) cells, and activated T cells declined in the intestinal lamina propria (LP) and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) of mice with chronic colitis. JWH-133 was also effective in ameliorating dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. In this model, JWH-133 reduced the number and percentage of macrophages and IFN-γ expressing cells that were induced during colitis progression. Treatment with aminoalkylindole 6-iodo-pravadoline (AM630), a CB2 receptor antagonist, reversed the colitis protection provided by JWH-133 treatment. Also, activated T cells were found to undergo apoptosis following JWH-133 treatment both in-vivo and in-vitro. These findings suggest that JWH-133 mediates its effect through CB2 receptors, and ameliorates chronic colitis by inducing apoptosis in activated T cells, reducing the numbers of activated T cells, and suppressing induction of mast cells, NK cells, and neutrophils at sites of inflammation in the LP. These results support the idea that the CB2 receptor agonists may serve as a therapeutic modality against IBD. -- Highlights: ► JWH-133, a cannnabinoid receptor-2 agonist ameliorates experimental colitis. ► JWH-133 suppressed inflammation

  20. 77 FR 50492 - Notice of Petition for Declaratory Order; Shell Pipeline Company LP

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-08-21

    ... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. OR12-23-000] Notice of Petition for Declaratory Order; Shell Pipeline Company LP Take notice that on August 10, 2012, pursuant to Rule 207(a)(2), Shell Pipeline Company LP submitted a petition requesting that the Federal Energy...

  1. 77 FR 21764 - Shell Pipeline Company LP; Notice of Petition for Declaratory Order

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-04-11

    ... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. OR12-11-000] Shell Pipeline Company LP; Notice of Petition for Declaratory Order Take notice that on March 30, 2012, pursuant to Rule 207(a)(2), Shell Pipeline Company LP (SPLC) submitted a petition requesting that the Federal Energy...

  2. Degradation of 40 selected pharmaceuticals by UV/H2O2.

    PubMed

    Wols, B A; Hofman-Caris, C H M; Harmsen, D J H; Beerendonk, E F

    2013-10-01

    The occurrence of pharmaceuticals in source waters is increasing. Although UV advanced oxidation is known to be an effective barrier against micropollutants, degradation rates are only available for limited amounts of pharmaceuticals. Therefore, the degradation of a large group of pharmaceuticals has been studied in this research for the UV/H2O2 process under different conditions, including pharmaceuticals of which the degradation by UV/H2O2 was never reported before (e.g., metformin, paroxetine, pindolol, sotalol, venlafaxine, etc.). Monochromatic low pressure (LP) and polychromatic medium pressure (MP) lamps were used for three different water matrices. In order to have well defined hydraulic conditions, all experiments were conducted in a collimated beam apparatus. Degradation rates for the pharmaceuticals were determined. For those compounds used in this research that are also reported in literature, measured degradation results are in good agreement with literature data. Pharmaceutical degradation for only photolysis with LP lamps is small, which is increased by using a MP lamp. Most of the pharmaceuticals are well removed when applying both UV (either LP or MP) and H2O2. However, differences in degradation rates between pharmaceuticals can be large. For example, ketoprofen, prednisolone, pindolol are very well removed by UV/H2O2, whereas metformin, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide are very little removed by UV/H2O2. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. An alternative physiological role for the EmhABC efflux pump in Pseudomonas fluorescens cLP6a

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background Efflux pumps belonging to the resistance-nodulation-division (RND) superfamily in bacteria are involved in antibiotic resistance and solvent tolerance but have an unknown physiological role. EmhABC, a RND-type efflux pump in Pseudomonas fluorescens strain cLP6a, extrudes hydrophobic antibiotics, dyes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons including phenanthrene. The effects of physico-chemical factors such as temperature or antibiotics on the activity and expression of EmhABC were determined in order to deduce its physiological role(s) in strain cLP6a in comparison to the emhB disruptant strain, cLP6a-1. Results Efflux assays conducted with 14C-phenanthrene showed that EmhABC activity is affected by incubation temperature. Increased phenanthrene efflux was measured in cLP6a cells grown at 10°C and decreased efflux was observed at 35°C compared with cells grown at the optimum temperature of 28°C. Membrane fatty acids in cLP6a cells were substantially altered by changes in growth temperature and in the presence of tetracycline. Changed membrane fatty acids and increased membrane permeability were associated with ~30-fold increased expression of emhABC in cLP6a cells grown at 35°C, and with increased extracellular free fatty acids. Growth of P. fluorescens cLP6a at supra-optimal temperature was enhanced by the presence of EmhABC compared to strain cLP6a-1. Conclusions Combined, these observations suggest that the EmhABC efflux pump may be involved in the management of membrane stress effects such as those due to unfavourable incubation temperatures. Efflux of fatty acids replaced as a result of membrane damage or phospholipid turnover may be the primary physiological role of the EmhABC efflux pump in P. fluorescens cLP6a. PMID:22085438

  4. Serum lipoprotein(a) concentration as a cardiovascular risk factor in Kuwaiti type 2 diabetic patients.

    PubMed

    Abdella, N A; Mojiminiyi, O A; Akanji, A O; Al Mohammadi, H; Moussa, M A

    2001-01-01

    Serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], a risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) in some nondiabetic populations, is largely under genetic control and varies among ethnic and racial groups. We evaluated serum Lp(a) concentration and its relationship with traditional CHD risk factors (age, sex, smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia) as well as stage of diabetic nephropathy in 345 type 2 diabetic patients. Lp(a) concentration was skewed with median (2.5th, 97.5th percentiles) of 25.0 (8.1, 75.7) mg/dl. Twenty-three of 55 (41.8%) patients with CHD had increased (>30 mg/dl) Lp(a) compared with 102 of 290 (35.1%) patients without CHD (P=.35). Twelve of 27 (44.4%) female patients with CHD had increased Lp(a) compared to 11 of 28 (39.3%) males (P=.70). Lp(a) was significantly (P<.05) higher in females than males, but the logistic regression analysis showed significant association of Lp(a), LDL-C, and duration of diabetes mellitus (DM) with CHD in male patients only. Although female patients with CHD and macroalbuminuria had significantly (P<.05) higher Lp(a) than normoalbuminuric female patients without CHD, no such association was found in males and no significant association was found between Lp(a) and the degree of albuminuria. Partial correlation analysis controlling for age, sex, and BMI showed significant correlation of Lp(a) with total cholesterol only (P=.03) and no correlation was found with other lipid parameters. Multiple regression analysis did not show significant associations of Lp(a) with standard CHD risk factors, HbA(1c), and plasma creatinine. This study is in agreement with studies in other populations, which showed that Lp(a) may not be an independent risk factor for CHD in patients with DM. However, as Lp(a) could promote atherogenesis via several mechanisms, follow-up studies in our patients will confirm if increased Lp(a) concentration can partly account for the poorer prognosis when diabetic patients develop CHD.

  5. Preparation of poly(lactic acid)/sintered hydroxyapatite composite biomaterial by supercritical CO2.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Yumin; Wang, Jianru; Ma, Yanmiao; Han, Bo; Niu, Xiaojun; Liu, Jianchun; Gao, Lan; Wang, Jue; Zhai, Xiaoyan; Chu, Kaibo; Yang, Liwang

    2018-01-01

    Based on a kind of sintered hydroxyapatite (HA) with a good cytocompatibility, a series of polylactic acid (PLA) and PLA/HA with the various PLA:HA weight ratio (5:5, 4:6, 3:7, 2:8, 1:9) were fabricated by supercritical CO2. The physical and chemical properties were evaluated by pH, degradation, water absorption, porosity, density, mechanical property, and cytotoxicity respectively. With the increase of HA content, the pH value and porosity increased gradually, while weight loss rate and the density showed a gradual downward trend. Existence of HA can drastically improve the hydroscopicity of PLA scaffolds. The compression strength values slightly increased (p>0.05) from 39.96 MPa of PLA to 45.00 MPa of PLA/HA with the ratio of 7:3, subsequently, the values decreased (p<0.05) from 43.29 MPa (8:2) to 19.00 MPa (9:1). While the modulus of elasticity decreased (p<0.05) from 5.89 to 1.84 GPa with increasing HA content. The PLA/HA (8:2) promoted cell proliferation more significantly than any of other groups (p<0.05). Based on the results, the overall properties of porous scaffolds are the optimal when the weight ratio of PLA/HA is 8:2. Its pH, porosity, density, compression strength, and elasticity modulus are 7.39, 83.0%, 0.60g/cm-3, 34.1 MPa and 2.63 GPa, respectively. SEM observation presented a homogeneous distribution of HA in PLA matrix and a foam-like structure comprising interconnected pores.

  6. Effects of endothelin on phospholipases and generation of second messengers in cat iris sphincter and SV-CISM-2 cells.

    PubMed

    Abdel-Latif, A A; Ding, K H; Akhtar, R A; Yousufzai, S Y

    1996-09-01

    In both immortalized cat iris sphincter smooth muscle cells (SV-CISM-2 cells) and cat iris sphincter, endothelin-1 (ET-1) markedly increased the activities of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), as measured by the release of arachidonic acid (AA), phospholipase C (PLC), as measured by the production of inositol trisphosphate (IP3), and phospholipase D (PLD), as measured by the formation of phosphatidylethanol (PEt). In SV-CISM-2 cells, ET-1 induced AA release, IP3 production and PEt formation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The dose-response studies showed that the peptide is more potent in activating PLD (EC50 = 1.2 nM) than in activating PLC (EC50 = 1.5 nM) or PLA2 (EC50 = 1.7 nM). The time course studies revealed that ET-1 activated the phospholipases in a temporal sequence in which PLA2 was stimulated first (t1/2 = 12 s), followed by PLC (t1/2 = 48 s) and lastly PLD (t1/2 = 106 s). In SV-CISM-2 cells, in contrast to the intact iris sphincter, sarafotoxin-c, an ETB receptor agonist, had no effect on the phospholipases, and indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, had no effect on the stimulatory effect of ET-1 on the phospholipases. These results suggest that in this smooth muscle cell line, ET-1 interacts with the ETA receptor subtype to activate, via G proteins, phospholipases A2, C and D in a temporal sequence.

  7. Characterization of a cold-active esterase from Lactobacillus plantarum suitable for food fermentations.

    PubMed

    Esteban-Torres, María; Mancheño, José Miguel; de las Rivas, Blanca; Muñoz, Rosario

    2014-06-04

    Lactobacillus plantarum is a lactic acid bacteria that can be found in numerous fermented foods. Esterases from L. plantarum exert a fundamental role in food aroma. In the present study, the gene lp_2631 encoding a putative esterase was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and the overproduced Lp_2631 protein has been biochemically characterized. Lp_2631 exhibited optimal esterase activity at 20 °C and more than 90% of maximal activity at 5 °C, being the first cold-active esterase described in a lactic acid bacteria. Lp_2631 exhibited 40% of its maximal activity after 2 h of incubation at 65 °C. Lp_2631 also showed marked activity in the presence of compounds commonly found in food fermentations, such as NaCl, ethanol, or lactic acid. The results suggest that Lp_2631 might be a useful esterase to be used in food fermentations.

  8. Effects of bezafibrate and of 2 HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors on lipoprotein (a) level in hypercholesterolemic patients.

    PubMed

    Branchi, A; Rovellini, A; Fiorenza, A M; Sommariva, D

    1995-06-01

    Lp(a) level is relatively stable in each individual and is mainly under genetic control. Attempts made to lower Lp(a) with pharmacological means gave conflicting results. In order to further evaluate the effect of hypocholesterolemic drugs on Lp(a) level, 66 patients with primary hypercholesterolemia were selected. The vast majority of the patients had Lp(a) concentration at the low end of the range of distribution, 7 had undetectable Lp(a) levels and only 2 had Lp(a) higher than 30 mg/dl. No relationship was found between Lp(a) level and serum and lipoprotein lipids. In 12 patients serum cholesterol was well controlled by diet alone and the patients continued the diet for up to 8 months. The other patients were randomly subdivided into 3 groups of therapy. The first group received slow release bezafibrate 400 mg once a day, the second one pravastatin 20 mg once a day and the third one simvastatin 10-40 mg once a day. Drug therapy lasted for 8 months. At the end of the period, 22 of 29 patients treated with the 2 HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors had Lp(a) higher than baseline. The difference was statistically significant in both groups of patients. No significant change in Lp(a) was observed in diet and in bezafibrate group. Serum and LDL cholesterol significantly decreased in all the 3 drug groups. The increase in Lp(a) after the 2 HMG-CoA reductase was small enough to have negligible effects on cardiovascular risk, but raises the problem of the role of LDL receptor in the catabolism of Lp(a).

  9. Evidence for a Pro-Proliferative Feedback Loop in Prostate Cancer: The Role of Epac1 and COX-2-Dependent Pathways

    PubMed Central

    Misra, Uma Kant; Pizzo, Salvatore Vincent

    2013-01-01

    Objective In human prostate cancer cells, a selective Epac agonist, 8-CPT-2Me-cAMP, upregulates cell proliferation and survival via activation of Ras-MAPK and PI- 3-kinase-Akt-mTOR signaling cascades. Here we examine the role of inflammatory mediators in Epac1-induced cellular proliferation by determining the expression of the pro-inflammatory markers p-cPLA2, COX-2, and PGE2 in prostate cancer cells treated with 8-CPT-2Me-cAMP. Methods We employed inhibitors of COX-2, mTORC1, and mTORC2 to probe cyclic AMP-dependent pathways in human prostate cancer cells. RNAi targeting Epac1, Raptor, and Rictor was also employed in these studies. Results 8-CPT-2Me-cAMP treatment caused a 22.5-fold increase of p-cPLA2S505, COX-2, and PGE2 levels in human prostate cancer cell lines. Pretreatment of cells with the COX-2 inhibitor SC-58125 or the EP4 antagonist AH-23848, or with an inhibitor of mTORC1 and mTORC2, Torin1, significantly reduced the Epac1-dependent increase of p-cPLA2 and COX-2, p-S6-kinaseT389, and p-AKTS473. In addition, Epac1-induced protein and DNA synthesis were greatly reduced upon pretreatment of cells with either COX-2, EP4, or mTOR inhibitors. Transfection of prostate cancer cells with Epac1 dsRNA, Raptor dsRNA, or Rictor dsRNA profoundly reduced Epac1-dependent increases in p-cPLA2 and COX-2. Conclusion We show that Epac1, a downstream effector of cAMP, functions as a pro-inflammatory modulator in prostate cancer cells and promotes cell proliferation and survival by upregulating Ras-MAPK, and PI 3-kinase-Akt-mTOR signaling. PMID:23646189

  10. The host protease TMPRSS2 plays a major role in in vivo replication of emerging H7N9 and seasonal influenza viruses.

    PubMed

    Sakai, Kouji; Ami, Yasushi; Tahara, Maino; Kubota, Toru; Anraku, Masaki; Abe, Masako; Nakajima, Noriko; Sekizuka, Tsuyoshi; Shirato, Kazuya; Suzaki, Yuriko; Ainai, Akira; Nakatsu, Yuichiro; Kanou, Kazuhiko; Nakamura, Kazuya; Suzuki, Tadaki; Komase, Katsuhiro; Nobusawa, Eri; Maenaka, Katsumi; Kuroda, Makoto; Hasegawa, Hideki; Kawaoka, Yoshihiro; Tashiro, Masato; Takeda, Makoto

    2014-05-01

    Proteolytic cleavage of the hemagglutinin (HA) protein is essential for influenza A virus (IAV) to acquire infectivity. This process is mediated by a host cell protease(s) in vivo. The type II transmembrane serine protease TMPRSS2 is expressed in the respiratory tract and is capable of activating a variety of respiratory viruses, including low-pathogenic (LP) IAVs possessing a single arginine residue at the cleavage site. Here we show that TMPRSS2 plays an essential role in the proteolytic activation of LP IAVs, including a recently emerged H7N9 subtype, in vivo. We generated TMPRSS2 knockout (KO) mice. The TMPRSS2 KO mice showed normal reproduction, development, and growth phenotypes. In TMPRSS2 KO mice infected with LP IAVs, cleavage of HA was severely impaired, and consequently, the majority of LP IAV progeny particles failed to gain infectivity, while the viruses were fully activated proteolytically in TMPRSS2+/+ wild-type (WT) mice. Accordingly, in contrast to WT mice, TMPRSS2 KO mice were highly tolerant of challenge infection by LP IAVs (H1N1, H3N2, and H7N9) with ≥1,000 50% lethal doses (LD50) for WT mice. On the other hand, a high-pathogenic H5N1 subtype IAV possessing a multibasic cleavage site was successfully activated in the lungs of TMPRSS2 KO mice and killed these mice, as observed for WT mice. Our results demonstrate that recently emerged H7N9 as well as seasonal IAVs mainly use the specific protease TMPRSS2 for HA cleavage in vivo and, thus, that TMPRSS2 expression is essential for IAV replication in vivo. Influenza A virus (IAV) is a leading pathogen that infects and kills many humans every year. We clarified that the infectivity and pathogenicity of IAVs, including a recently emerged H7N9 subtype, are determined primarily by a host protease, TMPRSS2. Our data showed that TMPRSS2 is the key host protease that activates IAVs in vivo through proteolytic cleavage of their HA proteins. Hence, TMPRSS2 is a good target for the development of anti

  11. Screening of phospholipase A activity and its production by new actinomycete strains cultivated by solid-state fermentation.

    PubMed

    Sutto-Ortiz, Priscila; Camacho-Ruiz, María de Los Angeles; Kirchmayr, Manuel R; Camacho-Ruiz, Rosa María; Mateos-Díaz, Juan Carlos; Noiriel, Alexandre; Carrière, Frédéric; Abousalham, Abdelkarim; Rodríguez, Jorge A

    2017-01-01

    Novel microbial phospholipases A (PLAs) can be found in actinomycetes which have been poorly explored as producers of this activity. To investigate microbial PLA production, efficient methods are necessary such as high-throughput screening (HTS) assays for direct search of PLAs in microbial cultures and cultivation conditions to promote this activity. About 200 strains isolated with selected media for actinomycetes and mostly belonging to Streptomyces (73%) and Micromonospora (10%) genus were first screened on agar-plates containing the fluorophore rhodamine 6G and egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (PC) to detect strains producing phospholipase activity. Then, a colorimetric HTS assay for general PLA activity detection (cHTS-PLA) using enriched PC (≈60%) as substrate and cresol red as indicator was developed and applied; this cHTS-PLA assay was validated with known PLAs. For the first time, actinomycete strains were cultivated by solid-state fermentation (SSF) using PC as inductor and sugar-cane bagasse as support to produce high PLA activity (from 207 to 2,591 mU/g of support). Phospholipase activity of the enzymatic extracts from SSF was determined using the implemented cHTS-PLA assay and the PC hydrolysis products obtained, were analyzed by TLC showing the presence of lyso-PC. Three actinomycete strains of the Streptomyces genus that stood out for high accumulation of lyso-PC, were selected and analyzed with the specific substrate 1,2-α-eleostearoyl- sn -glycero-3-phosphocholine (EEPC) in order to confirm the presence of PLA activity in their enzymatic extracts. Overall, the results obtained pave the way toward the HTS of PLA activity in crude microbial enzymatic extracts at a larger scale. The cHTS-PLA assay developed here can be also proposed as a routine assay for PLA activity determination during enzyme purification,directed evolution or mutagenesis approaches. In addition, the production of PLA activity by actinomycetes using SSF allow find and produce novel

  12. Screening of phospholipase A activity and its production by new actinomycete strains cultivated by solid-state fermentation

    PubMed Central

    Sutto-Ortiz, Priscila; Camacho-Ruiz, María de los Angeles; Kirchmayr, Manuel R.; Camacho-Ruiz, Rosa María; Mateos-Díaz, Juan Carlos; Noiriel, Alexandre; Carrière, Frédéric; Abousalham, Abdelkarim

    2017-01-01

    Novel microbial phospholipases A (PLAs) can be found in actinomycetes which have been poorly explored as producers of this activity. To investigate microbial PLA production, efficient methods are necessary such as high-throughput screening (HTS) assays for direct search of PLAs in microbial cultures and cultivation conditions to promote this activity. About 200 strains isolated with selected media for actinomycetes and mostly belonging to Streptomyces (73%) and Micromonospora (10%) genus were first screened on agar-plates containing the fluorophore rhodamine 6G and egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (PC) to detect strains producing phospholipase activity. Then, a colorimetric HTS assay for general PLA activity detection (cHTS-PLA) using enriched PC (≈60%) as substrate and cresol red as indicator was developed and applied; this cHTS-PLA assay was validated with known PLAs. For the first time, actinomycete strains were cultivated by solid-state fermentation (SSF) using PC as inductor and sugar-cane bagasse as support to produce high PLA activity (from 207 to 2,591 mU/g of support). Phospholipase activity of the enzymatic extracts from SSF was determined using the implemented cHTS-PLA assay and the PC hydrolysis products obtained, were analyzed by TLC showing the presence of lyso-PC. Three actinomycete strains of the Streptomyces genus that stood out for high accumulation of lyso-PC, were selected and analyzed with the specific substrate 1,2-α-eleostearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (EEPC) in order to confirm the presence of PLA activity in their enzymatic extracts. Overall, the results obtained pave the way toward the HTS of PLA activity in crude microbial enzymatic extracts at a larger scale. The cHTS-PLA assay developed here can be also proposed as a routine assay for PLA activity determination during enzyme purification,directed evolution or mutagenesis approaches. In addition, the production of PLA activity by actinomycetes using SSF allow find and produce novel

  13. Improved design and characterization of PLGA/PLA-coated Chitosan based micro-implants for controlled release of hydrophilic drugs.

    PubMed

    Manna, Soumyarwit; Donnell, Anna M; Kaval, Necati; Al-Rjoub, Marwan F; Augsburger, James J; Banerjee, Rupak K

    2018-05-29

    Repetitive intravitreal injections of Methotrexate (MTX), a hydrophilic chemotherapeutic drug, are currently used to treat selected vitreoretinal (VR) diseases, such as intraocular lymphoma. To avoid complications associated with the rapid release of MTX from the injections, a Polylactic acid (PLA) and Chitosan (CS)-based MTX micro-implant prototype was fabricated in an earlier study, which showed a sustained therapeutic release rate of 0.2-2.0 µg/day of MTX for a period ∼1 month in vitro and in vivo. In the current study, different combinations of Poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA)/PLA coatings were used for lipophilic surface modification of the CS-MTX micro-implant, such as PLGA 5050, PLGA 6535 and PLGA 7525 (PLA: PGA - 50:50, 65:35, 75:25, respectively; M.W: 54,400 - 103,000) and different PLA, such as PLA 100 and PLA 250 (MW: 102,000 and 257,000, respectively). This improved the duration of total MTX release from the coated CS-MTX micro-implants to ∼3-5 months. With an increase in PLA content in PLGA and molecular weight of PLA, a) the initial burst of MTX and the mean release rate of MTX can be reduced; and b) the swelling and biodegradation of the micro-implants can be delayed. The controlled drug release mechanism is caused by a combination of diffusion process and hydrolysis of the polymer coating, which can be modulated by a) PLA content in PLGA and b) molecular weight of PLA, as inferred from Korsmeyer Peppas model, Zero order, First order and Higuchi model fits. This improved micro-implant formulation has the potential to serve as a platform for controlled release of hydrophilic drugs to treat selected VR diseases. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  14. Development and characterization of novel antimicrobial bilayer films based on Polylactic acid (PLA)/Pickering emulsions.

    PubMed

    Zhu, Jun-You; Tang, Chuan-He; Yin, Shou-Wei; Yang, Xiao-Quan

    2018-02-01

    Biodegradable food packaging is sustainable and has a great application prospect. PLA is a promising alternative for petroleum-derived polymers. However, PLA packaging suffers from poor barrier properties compared with petroleum-derived ones. To address this issue, we designed bilayer films based on PLA and Pickering emulsions. The formed bilayer films were compact and uniform and double layers were combined firmly. This strategy enhanced mechanical resistance, ductility and moisture barrier of Pickering emulsion films, and concomitantly enhanced the oxygen barrier for PLA films. Thymol loadings in Pickering emulsion layer endowed them with antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. The release profile of thymol was well fitted with Fick's second law. The antimicrobial activity of the films depended on film types, and Pickering emulsion layer presented larger inhibition zone than PLA layer, hinting that the films possessed directional releasing role. This study opens a promising route to fabricate bilayer architecture creating synergism of each layer. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Lp-Norm Regularization in Volumetric Imaging of Cardiac Current Sources

    PubMed Central

    Rahimi, Azar; Xu, Jingjia; Wang, Linwei

    2013-01-01

    Advances in computer vision have substantially improved our ability to analyze the structure and mechanics of the heart. In comparison, our ability to observe and analyze cardiac electrical activities is much limited. The progress to computationally reconstruct cardiac current sources from noninvasive voltage data sensed on the body surface has been hindered by the ill-posedness and the lack of a unique solution of the reconstruction problem. Common L2- and L1-norm regularizations tend to produce a solution that is either too diffused or too scattered to reflect the complex spatial structure of current source distribution in the heart. In this work, we propose a general regularization with Lp-norm (1 < p < 2) constraint to bridge the gap and balance between an overly smeared and overly focal solution in cardiac source reconstruction. In a set of phantom experiments, we demonstrate the superiority of the proposed Lp-norm method over its L1 and L2 counterparts in imaging cardiac current sources with increasing extents. Through computer-simulated and real-data experiments, we further demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method in imaging the complex structure of excitation wavefront, as well as current sources distributed along the postinfarction scar border. This ability to preserve the spatial structure of source distribution is important for revealing the potential disruption to the normal heart excitation. PMID:24348735

  16. Proteomic Characterization of Plasmid pLA1 for Biodegradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Marine Bacterium, Novosphingobium pentaromativorans US6-1

    PubMed Central

    Yun, Sung Ho; Choi, Chi-Won; Lee, Sang-Yeop; Lee, Yeol Gyun; Kwon, Joseph; Leem, Sun Hee; Chung, Young Ho; Kahng, Hyung-Yeel; Kim, Sang Jin; Kwon, Kae Kyoung; Kim, Seung Il

    2014-01-01

    Novosphingobium pentaromativorans US6-1 is a halophilic marine bacterium able to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Genome sequence analysis revealed that the large plasmid pLA1 present in N. pentaromativorans US6-1 consists of 199 ORFs and possess putative biodegradation genes that may be involved in PAH degradation. 1-DE/LC-MS/MS analysis of N. pentaromativorans US6-1 cultured in the presence of different PAHs and monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs) identified approximately 1,000 and 1,400 proteins, respectively. Up-regulated biodegradation enzymes, including those belonging to pLA1, were quantitatively compared. Among the PAHs, phenanthrene induced the strongest up-regulation of extradiol cleavage pathway enzymes such as ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase, putative biphenyl-2,3-diol 1,2-dioxygenase, and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase in pLA1. These enzymes lead the initial step of the lower catabolic pathway of aromatic hydrocarbons through the extradiol cleavage pathway and participate in the attack of PAH ring cleavage, respectively. However, N. pentaromativorans US6-1 cultured with p-hydroxybenzoate induced activation of another extradiol cleavage pathway, the protocatechuate 4,5-dioxygenase pathway, that originated from chromosomal genes. These results suggest that N. pentaromativorans US6-1 utilizes two different extradiol pathways and plasmid pLA1 might play a key role in the biodegradation of PAH in N. pentaromativorans US6-1. PMID:24608660

  17. Protective effects of TES trioleate, an inhibitor of phospholipase A2, on reactive oxygen species and UVA-induced cell damage.

    PubMed

    Park, Soo Nam; Kim, Moon Jin; Ha, Ji Hoon; Lee, Nan Hee; Park, Jino; Lee, Jiwon; Kim, Dukha; Yoon, Chulsoo

    2016-11-01

    2-[Tris(oleoyloxymethyl)methylamino]-1-ethane sulfonic acid (TES trioleate) is an inhibitor of phospholipase A 2 (PLA2), which hydrolyzes cell membrane phospholipids to produce arachidonic acid (AA) and lysophospholipids (LysoPLs). Here, we investigated the protective effects of TES trioleate on cell damage caused by ultraviolet A (UVA) light and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Pre-incubation with 250-1000μM TES trioleate resulted in concentration-dependent protection from UVA-induced damage in HaCaT cells. Additionally, 25-1000μM TES trioleate provided protection against H 2 O 2 in a concentration-dependent manner. In human erythrocytes treated with 1 O 2 , 10-100μM TES trioleate showed concentration-dependent protective effects, similar to but stronger than the controls, 4-BPB and lipophilic antioxidant (+)-α-tocopherol at 100μM. TES trioleate did not have detectable radical scavenging activity. Moreover, compared with (+)-α-tocopherol and rutin, TES trioleate showed low ROS scavenging activity. Thus, although TES trioleate showed cell protective effects against UVA, H 2 O 2 , and 1 O 2 -induced damages, these effects were not caused by the scavenging ability of the radical or ROS. Finally, pretreatment of HaCaT cells and human erythrocytes with l-α-lysophosphatidylcholine produced by PLA2 promoted increased cell damage at low concentrations. Thus, the protective effects of TES trioleate on cellular damage by UVA and ROS may be associated with inhibition of PLA2-dependent cell damage rather than ROS scavenging. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  18. US EPA Testing of LP & MP UV Disinfection Technologies

    EPA Science Inventory

    Presentation will discuss the ongoing USEPA research on UV disinfection addressing the following objectives: Conservatively predict log inactivation and RED of adenovirus with surrogates; Conduct many (LP=61) UV reactor conditions challenged with Ad2, B. pumilus, and MS2 & conduc...

  19. 76 FR 28026 - TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, LP; Notice of Request for Waiver

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-05-13

    ... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. OR11-7-000] TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, LP; Notice of Request for Waiver Take notice that on May 2, 2011, TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, LP (TransCanada Keystone) filed a request for waiver of the requirement in 18 CFR 342.4(c) that...

  20. Thromboxane A2 moderates permeability after limb ischemia.

    PubMed Central

    Lelcuk, S; Alexander, F; Valeri, C R; Shepro, D; Hechtman, H B

    1985-01-01

    Reperfusion after limb ischemia results in muscle edema as well as excess secretion of thromboxane A2 (TxA2), an agent associated with permeability increase in other settings. This study tests whether TxA2 moderates the permeability following limb ischemia. A tourniquet inflated to 300 mmHg was applied for 2 hours around the hind limb of four groups of dogs. In untreated animals (N = 25), 2 hours following tourniquet release, plasma TxB2 values rose from 320 pg/ml to 2416 pg/ml (p less than 0.001), and popliteal lymph values rose from 378 pg/ml to 1046 pg/ml (p less than 0.001). Platelet TxB2 was unaltered and plasma 6-keto-PGF1 alpha levels did not vary. Following ischemia, lymph flow (QL) increased from 0.07 to 0.37 ml/h (p less than 0.05), while the lymph/plasma (L/P) protein ratio was unchanged at 0.41. These measurements indicate increased permeability since increase in hydrostatic pressure in a second group by tourniquet inflation to 50 mmHg (N = 7) led to a rise in QL from 0.07 to 0.22 ml/h, but a fall in the L/P ratio to 0.32, a value lower than the ischemic group (p less than 0.05). Pretreatment with the imidazole derivative ketoconazole (N = 11) reduced platelet Tx synthesis from 42 ng to 2 ng/10(9) platelets, but lymph TxB2 levels rose to 1703 pg/ml after ischemia, indicating an extravascular or vessel wall site of synthesis not inhibited by ketoconazole. Pretreatment with a lower molecular weight imidazole derivative OKY 046 (N = 9) inhibited all Tx synthesis after ischemia. Prior to tourniquet inflation, both OKY 046 and ketoconazole lowered plasma TxB2 levels as well as the L/P ratio (p less than 0.05). After ischemia, OKY 046, but not ketoconazole, maintained the L/P ratio at 0.33, a value below that of untreated animals (p less than 0.05). These results indicate that nonplatelet-derived TxA2 modulates both baseline and ischemia-induced increases in microvascular permeability in the dog hind limb. PMID:3840349

  1. Kinetics and mechanism of the biodegradation of PLA/clay nanocomposites during thermophilic phase of composting process.

    PubMed

    Stloukal, Petr; Pekařová, Silvie; Kalendova, Alena; Mattausch, Hannelore; Laske, Stephan; Holzer, Clemens; Chitu, Livia; Bodner, Sabine; Maier, Guenther; Slouf, Miroslav; Koutny, Marek

    2015-08-01

    The degradation mechanism and kinetics of polylactic acid (PLA) nanocomposite films, containing various commercially available native or organo-modified montmorillonites (MMT) prepared by melt blending, were studied under composting conditions in thermophilic phase of process and during abiotic hydrolysis and compared to the pure polymer. Described first order kinetic models were applied on the data from individual experiments by using non-linear regression procedures to calculate parameters characterizing aerobic composting and abiotic hydrolysis, such as carbon mineralization, hydrolysis rate constants and the length of lag phase. The study showed that the addition of nanoclay enhanced the biodegradation of PLA nanocomposites under composting conditions, when compared with pure PLA, particularly by shortening the lag phase at the beginning of the process. Whereas the lag phase of pure PLA was observed within 27days, the onset of CO2 evolution for PLA with native MMT was detected after just 20days, and from 13 to 16days for PLA with organo-modified MMT. Similarly, the hydrolysis rate constants determined tended to be higher for PLA with organo-modified MMT, particularly for the sample PLA-10A with fastest degradation, in comparison with pure PLA. The acceleration of chain scission in PLA with nanoclays was confirmed by determining the resultant rate constants for the hydrolytical chain scission. The critical molecular weight for the hydrolysis of PLA was observed to be higher than the critical molecular weight for onset of PLA mineralization, suggesting that PLA chains must be further shortened so as to be assimilated by microorganisms. In conclusion, MMT fillers do not represent an obstacle to acceptance of the investigated materials in composting facilities. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in LPA Explain Most of the Ancestry-Specific Variation in Lp(a) Levels in African Americans

    PubMed Central

    Lawson, Kim; Kao, W. H. Linda; Reich, David; Tandon, Arti; Akylbekova, Ermeg; Patterson, Nick; Mosley, Thomas H.; Boerwinkle, Eric; Taylor, Herman A.

    2011-01-01

    Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is an important causal cardiovascular risk factor, with serum Lp(a) levels predicting atherosclerotic heart disease and genetic determinants of Lp(a) levels showing association with myocardial infarction. Lp(a) levels vary widely between populations, with African-derived populations having nearly 2-fold higher Lp(a) levels than European Americans. We investigated the genetic basis of this difference in 4464 African Americans from the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) using a panel of up to 1447 ancestry informative markers, allowing us to accurately estimate the African ancestry proportion of each individual at each position in the genome. In an unbiased genome-wide admixture scan for frequency-differentiated genetic determinants of Lp(a) level, we found a convincing peak (LOD = 13.6) at 6q25.3, which spans the LPA locus. Dense fine-mapping of the LPA locus identified a number of strongly associated, common biallelic SNPs, a subset of which can account for up to 7% of the variation in Lp(a) level, as well as >70% of the African-European population differences in Lp(a) level. We replicated the association of the most strongly associated SNP, rs9457951 (p = 6×10−22, 27% change in Lp(a) per allele, ∼5% of Lp(a) variance explained in JHS), in 1,726 African Americans from the Dallas Heart Study and found an even stronger association after adjustment for the kringle(IV) repeat copy number. Despite the strong association with Lp(a) levels, we find no association of any LPA SNP with incident coronary heart disease in 3,225 African Americans from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. PMID:21283670

  3. Involvement of Lipid Metabolism in the Action of Phospholipase A2 Neurotoxins

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1992-04-15

    activity by 50% toward an egg yolk substrate, but had no effect on hydrolysis of a lecithin substrate (Rosenberg et al., 1989). Lethality was not...etc.) hydrolyzed , not molecular species as evidenced in a recent review (Harris, 1985). The existence of reacylating enzymes in tissues that "restore...34 the hydrolyzed PL by attaching another FFA on to it would mean PLs will appear not to have been hydrolyzed at levels of PLA 2 activity less than the

  4. Using MERRA-2 analysis fields to simulate limb scattered radiance profiles for inhomogeneous atmospheric lines of sight: Preparation for data assimilation of OMPS LP radiances through 2D single-scattering GSLS radiative transfer model development

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Loughman, R. P.; Bhartia, P. K.; Moy, L.; Kramarova, N. A.; Wargan, K.

    2016-12-01

    Many remote sensing techniques used to monitor the Earth's upper atmosphere fall into the broad category of "limb viewing" (LV) measurements, which includes any method for which the line of sight (LOS) fails to intersect the surface. Occultation, limb emission and limb scattering (LS) measurements are all LV methods that offer strong sensitivity to changes in the atmosphere near the tangent point of the LOS, due to the enhanced geometric path through the tangent layer (where the concentration also typically peaks, for most atmospheric species). But many of the retrieval algorithms used to interpret LV measurements assume that the atmosphere consists of "spherical shells", in which the atmospheric properties vary only with altitude (creating a 1D atmosphere). This assumption simplifies the analysis, but at the possible price of misinterpreting measurements made in the real atmosphere. In this presentation, we focus on the problem of LOS inhomogeneity for LS measurements made by the OMPS Limb Profiler (LP) instrument during the 2015 ozone hole period. The GSLS radiative transfer model (RTM) used in the default OMPS LP algorithms assumes a spherical-shell atmosphere defined at levels spaced 1 km apart, with extinction coefficients assumed to vary linearly with height between levels. Several recent improvements enable an updated single-scattering version of the GSLS RTM to ingest 3D MERRA-2 analysis fields (including temperature, pressure, and ozone concentration) when creating the model atmosphere, by introducing flexible altitude grids, flexible atmospheric specification along the LOS, and improved treatment of the radiative transfer within each atmospheric layer. As a result, the effect of LOS inhomogeneity on the current (1D) OMPS LP retrieval algorithm can now be studied theoretically, using realistic 3D atmospheric profiles. This work also represents a step towards enabling OMPS LP data to be ingested as part of future data assimilation efforts.

  5. The Effect of UV Aging on Antimicrobial and Mechanical Properties of PLA Films with Incorporated Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

    PubMed Central

    Mizielińska, Małgorzata; Kowalska, Urszula; Jarosz, Michał; Sumińska, Patrycja; Landercy, Nicolas; Duquesne, Emmanuel

    2018-01-01

    The aim of this study was to examine the influence of accelerated UV-aging on the activity against chosen microorganisms and the mechanical properties of poly-lactic acid (PLA) films enhanced with ZnO nanoparticles. The pure PLA films and tri-layered PLAZnO1%/PLA/PLAZnO1% films of 150 µm thickness were extruded. The samples were treated with UV-A and Q-SUN irradiation. After irradiation the antimicrobial activity and mechanical properties of the films were analyzed. The results of the study demonstrated that PLA films did not inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus atrophaeus, and Candida albicans cells. PLA films with incorporated zinc oxide nanoparticles decreased the number of analyzed microorganisms. Accelerated UV aging had no negative effect on the activity of the film containing nano-ZnO against Gram-positive bacteria, but it influenced the activity against Gram-negative cells and C. albicans. Q-SUN irradiation decreased the antimicrobial effect of films with incorporated nanoparticles against B. cereus. UV-A and Q-UV irradiation did not influence the mechanical properties of PLA films containing incorporated ZnO nanoparticles. PMID:29670066

  6. The Effect of UV Aging on Antimicrobial and Mechanical Properties of PLA Films with Incorporated Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Mizielińska, Małgorzata; Kowalska, Urszula; Jarosz, Michał; Sumińska, Patrycja; Landercy, Nicolas; Duquesne, Emmanuel

    2018-04-18

    The aim of this study was to examine the influence of accelerated UV-aging on the activity against chosen microorganisms and the mechanical properties of poly-lactic acid (PLA) films enhanced with ZnO nanoparticles. The pure PLA films and tri-layered PLAZnO1%/PLA/PLAZnO1% films of 150 µm thickness were extruded. The samples were treated with UV-A and Q-SUN irradiation. After irradiation the antimicrobial activity and mechanical properties of the films were analyzed. The results of the study demonstrated that PLA films did not inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus , Bacillus cereus , Escherichia coli , Bacillus atrophaeus , and Candida albicans cells. PLA films with incorporated zinc oxide nanoparticles decreased the number of analyzed microorganisms. Accelerated UV aging had no negative effect on the activity of the film containing nano-ZnO against Gram-positive bacteria, but it influenced the activity against Gram-negative cells and C. albicans . Q-SUN irradiation decreased the antimicrobial effect of films with incorporated nanoparticles against B. cereus . UV-A and Q-UV irradiation did not influence the mechanical properties of PLA films containing incorporated ZnO nanoparticles.

  7. Comparative Analysis of the Complete Genome of Lactobacillus plantarum GB-LP2 and Potential Candidate Genes for Host Immune System Enhancement.

    PubMed

    Kwak, Woori; Kim, Kwondo; Lee, Chul; Lee, Chanho; Kang, Jungsun; Cho, Kyungjin; Yoon, Sook Hee; Kang, Dae-Kyung; Kim, Heebal; Heo, Jaeyoung; Cho, Seoae

    2016-04-28

    Acute respiratory virus infectious diseases are a growing health problem, particularly among children and the elderly. Much effort has been made to develop probiotics that prevent influenza virus infections by enhancing innate immunity in the respiratory tract until vaccines are available. Lactobacillus plantarum GB-LP2, isolated from a traditional Korean fermented vegetable, has exhibited preventive effects on influenza virus infection in mice. To identify the molecular basis of this strain, we conducted a whole-genome assembly study. The single circular DNA chromosome of 3,284,304 bp was completely assembled and 3,250 proteinencoding genes were predicted. Evolutionarily accelerated genes related to the phenotypic trait of anti-infective activities for influenza virus were identified. These genes encode three integral membrane proteins, a teichoic acid export ATP-binding protein and a glucosamine - fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase involved in host innate immunity, the nonspecific DNA-binding protein Dps, which protects bacteria from oxidative damage, and the response regulator of the three-component quorum-sensing regulatory system, which is related to the capacity of adhesion to the surface of the respiratory tract and competition with pathogens. This is the first study to identify the genetic backgrounds of the antiviral activity in L. plantarum strains. These findings provide insight into the anti-infective activities of L. plantarum and the development of preventive probiotics.

  8. Bioactivity of CaSiO3/poly-lactic acid (PLA) composites prepared by various surface loading methods of CaSiO3 powder.

    PubMed

    Okada, Kiyoshi; Hasegawa, Fumikazu; Kameshima, Yoshikazu; Nakajima, Akira

    2007-05-01

    Mixing bioactive ceramic powders with polymers is an effective method for generating bioactivity to the polymer-matrix composites but it is necessary to incorporate up to 40 vol% of bioactive ceramic powder. However, such a high mixing ratio offsets the advantages of the flexibility and formability of polymer matrix and it would be highly advantageous to lower the mixing ratio. Since surface loading of ceramic powders in the polymer is thought to be an effective way of reducing the mixing ratio of the ceramic powder while maintaining bioactive activity, CaSiO(3)/poly-lactic acid (PLA) composites were prepared by three methods; (1) casting, (2) spin coating and (3) hot pressing. In methods (1) and (2), a suspension was prepared by dissolving PLA in chloroform and dispersing CaSiO(3) powder in it. The suspension was cast and dried to form a film in the case of method (1) while it was spin-coated on a PLA substrate in method (2). In method (3), CaSiO(3) powder was surface loaded on to a PLA substrate by hot pressing. The bioactivity of these samples was investigated in vitro using simulated body fluid (SBF). Apatite formation was not observed in the samples prepared by method (1) but some apatite formation was achieved by mixing polyethylene glycol (PEG) with the PLA, producing a porous polymer matrix. In method (2), apatite was clearly observed after soaking for 7 days. Enhanced apatite formation was observed in method (3), the thickness of the resulting apatite layers becoming about 20 microm after soaking for 14 days. Since the amount of CaSiO(3) powder used in these samples was only

  9. Bioactivity of CaSiO3/poly-lactic acid (PLA) composites prepared by various surface loading methods of CaSiO3 powder.

    PubMed

    Okada, Kiyoshi; Hasegawa, Fumikazu; Kameshima, Yoshikazu; Nakajima, Akira

    2007-08-01

    Mixing bioactive ceramic powders with polymers is an effective method for generating bioactivity to the polymer-matrix composites but it is necessary to incorporate up to 40 vol% of bioactive ceramic powder. However, such a high mixing ratio offsets the advantages of the flexibility and formability of polymer matrix and it would be highly advantageous to lower the mixing ratio. Since surface loading of ceramic powders in the polymer is thought to be an effective way of reducing the mixing ratio of the ceramic powder while maintaining bioactive activity, CaSiO(3)/poly-lactic acid (PLA) composites were prepared by three methods; (1) casting, (2) spin coating and (3) hot pressing. In methods (1) and (2), a suspension was prepared by dissolving PLA in chloroform and dispersing CaSiO(3) powder in it. The suspension was cast and dried to form a film in the case of method (1) while it was spin-coated on a PLA substrate in method (2). In method (3), CaSiO(3) powder was surface loaded on to a PLA substrate by hot-pressing. The bioactivity of these samples was investigated in vitro using simulated body fluid (SBF). Apatite formation was not observed in the samples prepared by method (1) but some apatite formation was achieved by mixing polyethylene glycol (PEG) with the PLA, producing a porous polymer matrix. In method (2), apatite was clearly observed after soaking for 7 days. Enhanced apatite formation was observed in method (3), the thickness of the resulting apatite layers becoming about 20 microm after soaking for 14 days. Since the amount of CaSiO(3) powder used in these samples was only < or =0.4 vol%, it is concluded that this preparation method is very effective in generating bioactivity in polymer-matrix composites by loading with only very small amounts of ceramic powder.

  10. Inhibition of Human Cytochrome P450 2c8-catalyzed Amodiaquine N-desethylation: Effect of Five Traditionally and Commonly Used Herbs

    PubMed Central

    Muthiah, Yasotha Devi; Ong, Chin Eng; Sulaiman, Siti Amrah; Ismail, Rusli

    2016-01-01

    Background: In Southeast Asia and many parts of the world, herbal products are increasingly used in parallel with modern medicine. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of herbs commonly used in Southeast Asia on activity of cytochrome P450 2C8 (CYP2C8), an important human hepatic enzyme in drug metabolism. Materials and Methods: The selected herbs, such as Eurycoma longifolia Jack (ELJ), Labisia pumila (LP), Echinacea purpurea (EP), Andrographis paniculata (AP), and Ginkgo biloba (GB), were subjected to inhibition studies using an in vitro CYP2C8 activity marker, amodiaquine N-desethylase assay. Inhibition parameters, inhibitory concentration 50% (IC50), and Ki values were determined to study the potency and mode of inhibition. Results: All herbs inhibited CYP2C8 with the following order of potency: LP > ELJ > GB > AP > EP. LP and ELJ inhibited potently at Ki's of 2 and 4 times the Ki of quercetin, the positive control. The inhibition by LP was uncompetitive in nature as compared to competitive or mixed type inhibition observed with other herbs. GB exhibited moderate inhibitory effect at a Ki6 times larger than quercetin Ki. AP and EP, on the other hand, showed only weak inhibition. Conclusion: The herbs we chose represented the more commonly used herbs in Southeast Asia where collision of tradition and modernization in healthcare, if not properly managed, may lead to therapeutic misadventures. We conclude that concurrent consumption of some herbs, in particular, LP and ELJ, may have relevance in drug-herb interactions via CYP2C8 inhibition in vivo. SUMMARY Herbs are increasingly used in parallel with modern medicines nowadays. In this study five commonly used herbs in Southeast Asia region, ELJ, LP, EP, AP and GB, were investigated for their in vitro inhibitory potency on CYP2C8, an important drug-metaboliz-ing human hepatic enzyme. All herbs inhibited CYP2C8 activity marker, amodiaquine N-desethylation, with potency order of LP > ELJ > GB >AP

  11. Intravascular hemolysis induced by the venom of the Eastern coral snake, Micrurus fulvius, in a mouse model: identification of directly hemolytic phospholipases A2.

    PubMed

    Arce-Bejarano, Ruth; Lomonte, Bruno; Gutiérrez, José María

    2014-11-01

    Intravascular hemolysis has been described in envenomings by the Eastern coral snake, Micrurus fulvius, in dogs. An experimental model of intravascular hemolysis was developed in mice after intravenous (i.v.) injection of M. fulvius venom. Within one hr, there was prominent hemolysis, associated with a drastic drop in hematocrit, morphological alterations of erythrocytes, hemoglobinemia, and hemoglobinuria. Hemoglobin was identified in urine by mass spectrometry. Histological sections of kidney revealed abundant hyaline casts, probably corresponding to hemoglobin. This effect was abrogated by p-bromophenacyl bromide, indicating that it is caused by phospholipases A2 (PLA2). A monospecific anti-Micrurus nigrocinctus antivenom neutralized hemolytic activity in vivo. When tested in vitro with erythrocytes of various species, a clear difference in susceptibility was observed. Mouse and dog erythrocytes showed the highest susceptibility, whereas human and rabbit erythrocytes were not affected at the experimental conditions tested. The higher susceptibility of dog and mouse erythrocytes correlates with a high ratio of phosphatidylcholine/sphingomyelin in erythrocyte plasma membrane. When mouse erythrocytes were subjected to mechanical stress, after incubation with venom, hemolysis increased significantly, suggesting that both phospholipid hydrolysis by PLA2s and mechanical stress associated with rheological factors are likely to contribute to cell lysis in vivo. Several PLA2s isolated from this venom reproduced the hemolytic effect, and the complete amino acid sequence of one of them (fraction 17), which also induces myotoxicity, is reported. Since very few PLA2s inducing intravascular hemolysis have been described from snake venoms, this enzyme is a valuable tool to identify the structural determinants of hemolytic activity. The mouse model described in this study may be useful to explore the pathophysiology of intravascular hemolysis. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd

  12. 76 FR 49468 - Tesoro Refining and Marketing Company, SFPP, L.P.; Notice of Complaint

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-08-10

    ... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. OR11-20-000] Tesoro Refining and Marketing Company, SFPP, L.P.; Notice of Complaint Take notice that on August 2, 2011, pursuant to... Marketing Company (Complainant) filed a complaint against SFPP, L.P. (SFPP or Respondent), challenging the...

  13. Student Perceptions of and Experiences with a PLA Course and Portfolio Review

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rust, Dianna Z.; Brinthaupt, Thomas M.

    2017-01-01

    Prior learning assessment (PLA) is the process whereby a student's outside-of-the-classroom learning is evaluated for college-level credit. PLA has been gaining momentum across the United States as part of the efforts to improve institutional completion rates for adult learners. In the present article, we provide an overview of the PLA portfolio…

  14. Novel PLA modification of organic microcontainers based on ring opening polymerization: synthesis, characterization, biocompatibility and drug loading/release properties.

    PubMed

    Efthimiadou, E K; Tziveleka, L-A; Bilalis, P; Kordas, G

    2012-05-30

    In the current study, poly lactic acid (PLA) modified hollow crosslinked poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) microspheres have been prepared, in order to obtain a stimulus-responsive, biocompatible carrier with sustained drug release properties. The synthetical process consisted of the preparation of poly(methacrylic acid)@poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-N,N'-methylene bis(acrylamide)) microspheres by a two stage distillation-precipitation polymerization technique using 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. Following core removal, a PLA coating of the microspheres was formed, after ring opening polymerization of DL-lactide, attributing the initiator's role to the active hydroxyl groups of PHEMA. The anticancer drug daunorubicin (DNR) was selected for the study of loading and release behavior of the coated microspheres. The loading capacity of the PLA modified microspheres was found to be four times higher than that of the parent ones (16% compared to 4%). This coated microspherical carrier exhibited a moderate pH responsive drug release behavior due to the pH dependent water uptake of PHEMA, and PLA hydrolysis. The in vitro cytotoxicity of both the parent and the DNR-loaded or empty modified hollow microspheres has been also examined on MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The results showed that although the empty microspheres were moderately cytotoxic, the DNR-loaded microspheres had more potent anti-tumor effect than the free drug. Therefore, the prepared coated microspheres are interesting drug delivery systems. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Effect of diet-induced weight loss on lipoprotein(a) levels in obese individuals with and without type 2 diabetes.

    PubMed

    Berk, Kirsten A; Yahya, Reyhana; Verhoeven, Adrie J M; Touw, Jeanette; Leijten, Frank P; van Rossum, Elisabeth F; Wester, Vincent L; Lips, Mirjam A; Pijl, Hanno; Timman, Reinier; Erhart, Gertraud; Kronenberg, Florian; Roeters van Lennep, Jeanine E; Sijbrands, Eric J G; Mulder, Monique T

    2017-06-01

    Elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] are an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), particularly in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Although weight loss improves conventional risk factors for CVD in type 2 diabetes, the effects on Lp(a) are unknown and may influence the long-term outcome of CVD after diet-induced weight loss. The aim of this clinical study was to determine the effect of diet-induced weight loss on Lp(a) levels in obese individuals with type 2 diabetes. Plasma Lp(a) levels were determined by immunoturbidimetry in plasma obtained before and after 3-4 months of an energy-restricted diet in four independent study cohorts. The primary cohort consisted of 131 predominantly obese patients with type 2 diabetes (cohort 1), all participants of the Prevention Of Weight Regain in diabetes type 2 (POWER) trial. The secondary cohorts consisted of 30 obese patients with type 2 diabetes (cohort 2), 37 obese individuals without type 2 diabetes (cohort 3) and 26 obese individuals without type 2 diabetes who underwent bariatric surgery (cohort 4). In the primary cohort, the energy-restricted diet resulted in a weight loss of 9.9% (95% CI 8.9, 10.8) and improved conventional CVD risk factors such as LDL-cholesterol levels. Lp(a) levels increased by 14.8 nmol/l (95% CI 10.2, 20.6). In univariate analysis, the change in Lp(a) correlated with baseline Lp(a) levels (r = 0.38, p < 0.001) and change in LDL-cholesterol (r = 0.19, p = 0.033). In cohorts 2 and 3, the weight loss of 8.5% (95% CI 6.5, 10.6) and 6.5% (95% CI 5.7, 7.2) was accompanied by a median increase in Lp(a) of 13.5 nmol/l (95% CI 2.3, 30.0) and 11.9 nmol/l (95% CI 5.7, 19.0), respectively (all p < 0.05). When cohorts 1-3 were combined, the diet-induced increase in Lp(a) correlated with weight loss (r = 0.178, p = 0.012). In cohort 4, no significant change in Lp(a) was found (-7.0 nmol/l; 95% CI -18.8, 5.3) despite considerable weight loss (14.0%; 95% CI 12.2, 15

  16. Lipoprotein(a) predicts the development of diabetic retinopathy in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

    PubMed

    Yun, Jae-Seung; Lim, Tae-Seok; Cha, Seon-Ah; Ahn, Yu-Bae; Song, Ki-Ho; Choi, Jin A; Kwon, Jinwoo; Jee, Donghyun; Cho, Yang Kyung; Park, Yong-Moon; Ko, Seung-Hyun

    2016-01-01

    Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] has mainly been considered to be a predictor of the incidence of cardiovascular disease. In addition, previous studies have shown potential linkage between Lp(a) and diabetic microvascular complications. We investigated the incidence and risk factors for the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes. A total of 787 patients with type 2 diabetes without DR were consecutively enrolled and followed up prospectively. Retinopathy evaluation was annually performed by ophthalmologists. The main outcome was new onset of DR. The median follow-up time was 11.1 years. Patients in the DR group had a longer duration of diabetes (P < .001), higher baseline HbA1c (P < .001), higher albuminuria level (P = .033), and higher level of Lp(a) (P = .005). After adjusting for sex, age, diabetes duration, presence of hypertension, renal function, LDL cholesterol, mean HbA1c, and medications, the development of DR was significantly associated with the serum Lp(a) level (HR 1.57, 95% confidence interval [1.11-2.24]; P = .012, comparing the 4th vs 1st quartile of Lp(a)). The patient group with the highest quartile range of Lp(a) and mean HbA1c levels ≥7.0% had an HR of 5.09 (95% confidence interval [2.63-9.84]; P < .001) for developing DR compared with patients with lower levels of both factors. In this prospective cohort study, we demonstrated that the DR was independently associated with the serum Lp(a) level in patients with type 2 diabetes. Copyright © 2016 National Lipid Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Antibody production of wild-type and enzyme V279F variants of PAF-AH as a risk factor for Cardiovascular disease

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ramadhani, Anggia N.; Puspitarini, Sapti; Sari, Anissa N.; Widodo

    2017-11-01

    Coronary artery disease (CAD) has emerged as a leading cause of death in Indonesia nowadays. WHO data in 2012 revealed that 37% of the Indonesian population died from this disease. CAD occurs because of endothelial dysfunction in the arteries. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), also known as platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH), is a phospholipase A2 enzyme, encoded by the PLA2G7 gene. This protein is predicted to be involved in inflammatory phospholipid metabolism so it can be used as a biomarker of CAD in the early phase. Thus, the purpose of this research is to discover the difference in antibody production between wild-type and mutant V279F. The PAF-AH enzyme was isolated from mice lymphocyte cells in order to develop this enzyme as a biomarker of cardiovascular disease. PAF-AH migrates at 55kDa according to SDS-PAGE analysis. Flow cytometry analysis showed that mutant PAF-AH (V279F) is more antigenic than wild-type PAF-AH. The missense mutation of V279F PAF-AH means this enzyme cannot catabolize the acetyl group at the sn-2 position of PAF.

  18. [Pharmacokinetics of α-asarone after intranasal and intravenous administration with PLA-α-asarone nanoparticles].

    PubMed

    Lu, Jin; Guo, Li-Wei; Fu, Ting-Ming; Zhu, Guo-Long; Dai, Zhen-Nan; Zhan, Guan-Jun; Chen, Li-Li

    2017-06-01

    PLA-α-asarone nanoparticles were prepared by using organic solvent evaporation method, and their in vivo distribution and brain targeting after intranasal administration were studied as compared with intravenous administration. The results showed that brain targeting coefficient of PLA-α-asarone nanoparticles after intranasal and intravenous administration was 1.65 and 1.16 respectively. The absolute bioavailability, brain-targeting efficiency and the percentage of nasal-brain delivery of PLA-α-asarone nanoparticles were 74.2%, 142.24 and 29.83%, respectively after intranasal administration. The results of fluorescence labeling showed that the fluorescent intensity of coumarin-6 in the brain tissue was the highest after intranasal administration of PLA-α-asarone fluorescent nanoparticles, achieving the purpose of brain-targeted drug delivery. The fluorescent intensity of coumarin-6 in liver tissue after intravenous administration of PLA-α-asarone nanoparticles was much higher than that after intranasal administration, indicating that intranasal administration of PLA-α-asarone nanoparticles could decrease drug-induced hepatotoxicity. In addition, the fluorescent intensity of coumarin-6 in lung tissue was weaker after intranasal administration, which solved the shortcomings of intranasal administration of α-asarone dry powder prepared by airflow pulverization method. In vivo studies indicated that PLA-α-asarone nanoparticles after intranasal administration had a stronger brain targeting as compared with intravenous administration. Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

  19. Phospholipases A2 isolated from Micrurus lemniscatus coral snake venom: behavioral, electroencephalographic, and neuropathological aspects.

    PubMed

    Oliveira, D A; Harasawa, C; Seibert, C S; Casais e Silva, L L; Pimenta, D C; Lebrun, I; Sandoval, M R L

    2008-03-28

    The present study evaluated four phospholipase A2 (PLA2) (Mlx-8, Mlx-9, Mlx-11 and Mlx-12) isolated from Micrurus lemniscatus snake venom (Elapidae). The effects of intrahippocampal administration of these toxins have been determined on behavior, electroencephalography, and neuronal degeneration in rats. These four PLA2 toxins induced motor and EEG alterations in a dose-dependent manner. Behavioral convulsions were characterized by clonic movements and were often accompanied by EEG alterations. Mlx toxins were convulsive but weakly epileptogenic, since low rates of seizure discharges were observed in EEG records. Neuronal injury seemed to depend on the dose of the toxin used. The highest doses of toxins caused severe intoxication and death of some animals. The injury of hippocampal cells was characterized by massive neuronal loss and hippocampal gliosis. A high occurrence of compulsive scratching was observed. Moreover, the onset of seizures induced by Mlx toxins was markedly delayed. The similarities between the effects of Mlx PLA2s and those isolated from other Elapidae snakes venoms suggest that their toxicity are probably due to their specific binding to neuronal membranes and to the catalysis of phospholipid hydrolysis, producing lysophospholipids and fatty acids. These compounds likely disturb the membrane conformation, causing a marked increase in the release of neurotransmitters and concurrent inhibition of vesicle fission and recycling. These toxins can be a useful tool to investigate properties of endogenous secretory PLA2s and therefore may be important both to study mechanisms involved in neurotransmitter release at nerve terminals and to explain the convulsive properties of PLA2s toxins.

  20. Long Period (LP) volcanic earthquake source location at Merapi volcano by using dense array technics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Metaxian, Jean Philippe; Budi Santoso, Agus; Laurin, Antoine; Subandriyo, Subandriyo; Widyoyudo, Wiku; Arshab, Ghofar

    2015-04-01

    Since 2010, Merapi shows unusual activity compared to last decades. Powerful phreatic explosions are observed; some of them are preceded by LP signals. In the literature, LP seismicity is thought to be originated within the fluid, and therefore to be representative of the pressurization state of the volcano plumbing system. Another model suggests that LP events are caused by slow, quasi-brittle, low stress-drop failure driven by transient upper-edifice deformations. Knowledge of the spatial distribution of LP events is fundamental for better understanding the physical processes occurring in the conduit, as well as for the monitoring and the improvement of eruption forecasting. LP events recorded at Merapi have a spectral content dominated by frequencies between 0.8 and 3 Hz. To locate the source of these events, we installed a seismic antenna composed of 4 broadband CMG-6TD Güralp stations. This network has an aperture of 300 m. It is located on the site of Pasarbubar, between 500 and 800 m from the crater rim. Two multi-parameter stations (seismic, tiltmeter, S-P) located in the same area, equipped with broadband CMG-40T Güralp sensors may also be used to complete the data of the antenna. The source of LP events is located by using different approaches. In the first one, we used a method based on the measurement of the time delays between the early beginnings of LP events for each array receiver. The observed differences of time delays obtained for each pair of receivers are compared to theoretical values calculated from the travel times computed between grid nodes, which are positioned in the structure, and each receiver. In a second approach, we estimate the slowness vector by using MUSIC algorithm applied to 3-components data. From the slowness vector, we deduce the back-azimuth and the incident angle, which give an estimation of LP source depth in the conduit. This work is part of the Domerapi project funded by French Agence Nationale de la Recherche (https

  1. Gadolinium-conjugated PLA-PEG nanoparticles as liver targeted molecular MRI contrast agent.

    PubMed

    Chen, Zhijin; Yu, Dexin; Liu, Chunxi; Yang, Xiaoyan; Zhang, Na; Ma, Chunhong; Song, Jibin; Lu, Zaijun

    2011-09-01

    A nanoparticle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent targeted to liver was developed by conjugation of gadolinium (Gd) chelate groups onto the biocompatible poly(l-lactide)-block-poly (ethylene glycol) (PLA-PEG) nanoparticles. PLA-PEG conjugated with diethylenetriaminopentaacetic acid (DTPA) was used to formulate PLA-PEG-DTPA nanoparticles by solvent diffusion method, and then Gd was loaded onto the nanoparticles by chelated with the unfolding DTPA on the surface of the PLA-PEG-DTPA nanoparticles. The mean size of the nanoparticles was 265.9 ± 6.7 nm. The relaxivity of the Gd-labeled nanoparticles was measured, and the distribution in vivo was evaluated in rats. Compared with conventional contrast agent (Magnevist), the Gd-labeled PLA-PEG nanoparticles showed significant enhancement both on liver targeting ability and imaging signal intensity. The T(1) and T(2) relaxivities per [Gd] of the Gd-labeled nanoparticles was 18.865 mM(-1) s(-1) and 24.863 mM(-1) s(-1) at 3 T, respectively. In addition, the signal intensity in vivo was stronger comparing with the Gd-DTPA and the T(1) weight time was lasting for 4.5 h. The liver targeting efficiency of the Gd-labeled PLA-PEG nanoparticles in rats was 14.57 comparing with Magnevist injection. Therefore, the Gd-labeled nanoparticles showed the potential as targeting molecular MRI contrast agent for further clinical utilization.

  2. mPEG-PLA Micelle for Delivery of Effective Parts of Andrographis Paniculata.

    PubMed

    Yao, Hailu; Song, Shiyong; Miao, Xiaolu; Liu, Xiao; Zhao, Junli; Wang, Zhen; Shao, Xiaoting; Zhang, Yu; Han, Guang

    2018-01-01

    Many studies have shown that Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees has a good anti-tumor effect, but poor solubility in water and poor bioavailability hinder the modernization of it. To formulate the effective parts (mainly diterpene lactones) of Andrographis paniculata (AEP) into targeting drug delivery system, a series of poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(D.L-lactic acid)(mPEG-PLA) with different ratio of hydrophilic and hydrophobic segment was synthetized to encapsulate AEP. AEP micelles were prepared by a simple solvent-evaporation method. According to the loading capacity, the best polymer was chosen. mPEG-PLA micelles were characterized in terms of drug entrapping efficiency, loading capacity, size, the crystalline state of AEP, stability and release profile. Meanwhile, the cytotoxicity of micelles on mouse breast cancer 4T-1 was investigated. These micelle (mPEG-PLA-AEP) particles had a size of (92.84±5.63) nm and a high entrapping efficiency and loading capacity of (91.00±11.53)% and (32.14±3.02)%(w/w), respectively. The powder DSC showed that drugs were well encapsulated in the core of micelles. mPEG-PLA-AEP had a good stability against salt dissociation, protein adsorption and anion substitution and the solubility of andrographolide (AG) and 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide(DDAG) in AEP increased 4.51 times and 2.12 times in water, and the solubility of DAG showed no difference. mPEG-PLA-AEP had the same release profile in different dissolution medium. Cytotoxicity testing in vitro demonstrated that mPEG-PLA-AEP exhibited higher cell viability inhibition in mouse breast cancer 4T-1 than free AEP. mPEG-PLA micelles offer a promising alternative for TCM therapy with higher solubility and improved antitumor effect. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

  3. In Vitro Characterization and Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity Effects of Nisin and Nisin-Loaded PLA-PEG-PLA Nanoparticles on Gastrointestinal (AGS and KYSE-30), Hepatic (HepG2) and Blood (K562) Cancer Cell Lines.

    PubMed

    Goudarzi, Fariba; Asadi, Asadollah; Afsharpour, Maryam; Jamadi, Robab Hassanvand

    2018-05-01

    The aim of this study was an in vitro evaluation and comparison of the cytotoxic effects of free nisin and nisin-loaded PLA-PEG-PLA nanoparticles on gastrointestinal (AGS and KYSE-30), hepatic (HepG2), and blood (K562) cancer cell lines. To create this novel anti-cancer drug delivery system, the nanoparticles were synthesized and then loaded with nisin. Subsequently, their biocompatibility, ability to enter cells, and physicochemical properties, including formation, size, and shape, were studied using hemolysis, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. Then, its loading efficiency and release kinetics were examined to assess the potential impact of this formulation for the nanoparticle carrier candidacy. The cytotoxicities of nisin and nisin-loaded nanoparticles were evaluated by using the MTT and Neutral Red (NR) uptake assays. Detections of the apoptotic cells were done via Ethidium Bromide (EB)/Acridine Orange (AO) staining. The FTIR spectra, SEM images, and DLS graph confirmed the formations of the nanoparticles and nisin-loaded nanoparticles with spherical, distinct, and smooth surfaces and average sizes of 100 and 200 nm, respectively. The loading efficiency of the latter nanoparticles was about 85-90%. The hemolysis test represented their non-cytotoxicities and the FITC images indicated their entrance inside the cells. An increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells was observed through EB/AO staining. These results demonstrated that nisin had a cytotoxic effect on AGS, KYSE-30, HepG2, and K562 cancer cell lines, while the cytotoxicity of nisin-loaded nanoparticles was more than that of the free nisin.

  4. Genetic association between the phospholipase A2 gene and unipolar affective disorder: a multicentre case-control study.

    PubMed

    Papadimitriou, George N; Dikeos, Dimitris G; Souery, Daniel; Del-Favero, Jurgen; Massat, Isabelle; Avramopoulos, Dimitrios; Blairy, Sylvie; Cichon, Sven; Ivezic, Sladjana; Kaneva, Radka; Karadima, Georgia; Lilli, Roberta; Milanova, Vihra; Nöthen, Markus; Oruc, Lilijana; Rietschel, Marcella; Serretti, Alessandro; Van Broeckhoven, Christine; Stefanis, Costas N; Mendlewicz, Julien

    2003-12-01

    The co-segregation in one pedigree of bipolar affective disorder with Darier's disease whose gene is on chromosome 12q23-q24.1, and findings from linkage and association studies with the neighbouring gene of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) indicate that PLA2 may be considered as a candidate gene for affective disorders. All relevant genetic association studies, however, were conducted on bipolar patients. In the present study, the possible association between the PLA2 gene and unipolar affective disorder was examined on 321 unipolar patients and 604 controls (all personally interviewed), recruited from six countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Greece, and Italy) participating in the European Collaborative Project on Affective Disorders. After controlling for population group and gender, one of the eight alleles of the investigated marker (allele 7) was found to be more frequent among unipolar patients with more than three major depressive episodes than among controls (P<0.01); genotypic association was also observed, under the dominant model of genetic transmission (P<0.02). In addition, presence of allele 7 was correlated with a higher frequency of depressive episodes (P<0.02). These findings suggest that structural variations at the PLA2 gene or the chromosomal region around it may confer susceptibility for unipolar affective disorder.

  5. Structure and blood compatibility of highly oriented PLA/MWNTs composites produced by solid hot drawing.

    PubMed

    Li, Zhengqiu; Zhao, Xiaowen; Ye, Lin; Coates, Phil; Caton-Rose, Fin; Martyn, Michasel

    2014-03-01

    Highly oriented poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) composites were fabricated through solid hot drawing technology in an effort to improve the mechanical properties and blood biocompatibility of PLA as blood-contacting medical devices. It was found that proper MWNTs content and drawing orientation can improve the tensile strength and modulus of PLA dramatically. With the increase in draw ratio, the cold crystallization peak became smaller, and the glass transition and the melting peak of PLA moved to high temperature, while the crystallinity increased, and the grain size decreased, indicating the stress-induced crystallization of PLA during drawing. MWNTs showed a nucleation effect on PLA, leading to the rise in the melting temperature, increase in crystallinity and reduction of spherulite size for the composites. Moreover, the intensity of (002) diffraction of MWNTs increased with draw ratio, indicating that MWNTs were preferentially aligned and oriented during drawing. Microstructure observation demonstrated that PLA matrix had an ordered fibrillar bundle structure, and MWNTs in the composite tended to align parallel to the drawing direction. In addition, the dispersion of MWNTs in PLA was also improved by orientation. Introduction of MWNTs and drawing orientation could significantly enhance the blood compatibility of PLA by prolonging kinetic clotting time, reducing hemolysis ratio and platelet activation.

  6. New Method to Prepare Mitomycin C Loaded PLA-Nanoparticles with High Drug Entrapment Efficiency

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hou, Zhenqing; Wei, Heng; Wang, Qian; Sun, Qian; Zhou, Chunxiao; Zhan, Chuanming; Tang, Xiaolong; Zhang, Qiqing

    2009-07-01

    The classical utilized double emulsion solvent diffusion technique for encapsulating water soluble Mitomycin C (MMC) in PLA nanoparticles suffers from low encapsulation efficiency because of the drug rapid partitioning to the external aqueous phase. In this paper, MMC loaded PLA nanoparticles were prepared by a new single emulsion solvent evaporation method, in which soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC) was employed to improve the liposolubility of MMC by formation of MMC-SPC complex. Four main influential factors based on the results of a single-factor test, namely, PLA molecular weight, ratio of PLA to SPC (wt/wt) and MMC to SPC (wt/wt), volume ratio of oil phase to water phase, were evaluated using an orthogonal design with respect to drug entrapment efficiency. The drug release study was performed in pH 7.2 PBS at 37 °C with drug analysis using UV/vis spectrometer at 365 nm. MMC-PLA particles prepared by classical method were used as comparison. The formulated MMC-SPC-PLA nanoparticles under optimized condition are found to be relatively uniform in size (594 nm) with up to 94.8% of drug entrapment efficiency compared to 6.44 μm of PLA-MMC microparticles with 34.5% of drug entrapment efficiency. The release of MMC shows biphasic with an initial burst effect, followed by a cumulated drug release over 30 days is 50.17% for PLA-MMC-SPC nanoparticles, and 74.1% for PLA-MMC particles. The IR analysis of MMC-SPC complex shows that their high liposolubility may be attributed to some weak physical interaction between MMC and SPC during the formation of the complex. It is concluded that the new method is advantageous in terms of smaller size, lower size distribution, higher encapsulation yield, and longer sustained drug release in comparison to classical method.

  7. The anti-inflammatory effects of Yunnan Baiyao are involved in regulation of the phospholipase A2/arachidonic acid metabolites pathways in acute inflammation rat model.

    PubMed

    Ren, Xiaobin; Zhang, Mingzhu; Chen, Lingxiang; Zhang, Wanli; Huang, Yu; Luo, Huazhen; Li, Ling; He, Hongbing

    2017-10-01

    The traditional Chinese medicine Yunnan Baiyao (YNB) has been reported to possess anti‑inflammatory properties, however its mechanism of action remains unclear. It was previously reported that YNB ameliorated depression of arachidonic acid (AA) levels in a rat model of collagen-induced arthritis. In the current study, the capacity of YNB to ameliorate inflammation was compared in carrageenan‑induced and AA‑induced acute inflammation of the rat paw with celecoxib and mizolastine, respectively (n=24 per group). The capacity of YNB to affect the phospholipase A2 (PLA2)/AA pathway (using reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction) and release of inflammatory lipid mediators (by ELISA) were investigated. Celecoxib ameliorated carrageenan‑induced paw edema, and mizolastine ameliorated AA‑induced rat paw edema. YNB alleviated paw edema and inhibited inflammatory cell infiltration in the two models. YNB inhibited production of 5‑LOX AA metabolite leukotriene B4 (LTB4), and suppressed expression of 5‑LOX, cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2), 5‑LOX‑activating protein, and LTB4 receptor mRNA in the AA‑induced inflammation model (P<0.05). YNB Inhibited the production of the COX‑2 AA metabolite prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and suppressed expression of COX‑2, cPLA2, PGE2 mRNA in the carrageenan‑induced inflammation mode (P<0.05). Taken together, the data suggest that modulation of COX and LOX pathways in AA metabolism represent a novel anti-inflammatory mechanism of YNB.

  8. Characterization and properties of acetylated nanocrystalline cellulose (aNC) reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) polymer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kasa, Siti Norbaya; Omar, Mohd Firdaus; Ismail, Ismarul Nizam

    2017-12-01

    Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) was synthesized from banana stem through strong acid hydrolysis with measured length of approximately 287.0 ± 56.4 nm and diameter of 26.6 ± 4.8 nm. Modification of NCC was carried by acetylation reaction in order to increase the compatibility during reinforcement with polylactic acid (PLA) polymer. The reinforcing effect towards morphology, crystallinity, mechanical and thermal properties of bio-nanocomposites was investigated. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) micrograph reveals the uniform dispersion achieved at 1 %, 3 % and 5% aNC loading while agglomeration was found at 7 % aNC loading. Disappearance of crystallinity peak at 2θ = 22.7⁰ for low aNC loading during elemental analysis using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) indicates the proper dispersion of aNC in PLA polymer. From the tensile test, 1 % aNC loading gives the highest mechanical properties of bio-nanocomposite film with 82.71 %, 118.7 % and 24.18 % increment in tensile strength, tensile modulus and elongation at break. However, 7 % aNC loading gives the highest increment in TGA of aNC-PLA nanocomposites which is from 310 °C to 320 °C.

  9. PS-b-PMMA/PLA blends for nanoporous templates with hierarchical and tunable pore size

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nguyen, Thi-Hoa; Vayer, Marylène; Sinturel, Christophe

    2018-01-01

    Blends of poly(styrene)-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) and poly(lactide) (PLA) were deposited in the form of thin films on the surface of modified silicon wafers and exposed to tetrahydrofuran (THF) vapor annealing. It was shown that in specific experimental conditions, a core-shell morphology consisting in cylinders with a PMMA shell and a PLA core, within a continuous matrix of PS, was formed. In this case, PLA naturally segregated in the core of the PMMA cylinders, minimizing the PS/PLA interaction, which constitutes the most incompatible pair (the interaction strength between the various components was confirmed in thin films of the corresponding polymer blends). Compared to other block copolymer/homopolymer blends described in the literature, this system exhibits unexpected high increase of the characteristic lengths of the system (center-to-center distance and diameter). This was attributed to a partial solubilization of the PLA in the PMMA corona (the two polymers are highly compatible), inducing an enhanced level of PS and PLA stretching caused by the strong repulsion between these two polymers. The selective extraction of the PLA yielded to porous domains with small dimensions (6 ± 2.5 nm), reaching the performances that are currently attained in highly incompatible block polymers with low molecular weight. Further PMMA removal revealed a second porosity level, with higher pores diameter and center-to-center distance compared to the neat PS-b-PMMA system. This work highlights how PS-b-PMMA, that currently represents one of the industrial standards nanoporous template precursors, can be modified in an easy and costless approach using PLA homopolymer addition.

  10. CD1a presentation of endogenous antigens by group 2 innate lymphoid cells.

    PubMed

    Hardman, Clare S; Chen, Yi-Ling; Salimi, Maryam; Jarrett, Rachael; Johnson, David; Järvinen, Valtteri J; Owens, Raymond J; Repapi, Emmanouela; Cousins, David J; Barlow, Jillian L; McKenzie, Andrew N J; Ogg, Graham

    2017-12-22

    Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) are effectors of barrier immunity, with roles in infection, wound healing, and allergy. A proportion of ILC2 express MHCII (major histocompatibility complex II) and are capable of presenting peptide antigens to T cells and amplifying the subsequent adaptive immune response. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of CD1a-reactive T cells in allergy and infection, activated by the presentation of endogenous neolipid antigens and bacterial components. Using a human skin challenge model, we unexpectedly show that human skin-derived ILC2 can express CD1a and are capable of presenting endogenous antigens to T cells. CD1a expression is up-regulated by TSLP (thymic stromal lymphopoietin) at levels observed in the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis, and the response is dependent on PLA2G4A. Furthermore, this pathway is used to sense Staphylococcus aureus by promoting Toll-like receptor-dependent CD1a-reactive T cell responses to endogenous ligands. These findings define a previously unrecognized role for ILC2 in lipid surveillance and identify shared pathways of CD1a- and PLA2G4A-dependent ILC2 inflammation amenable to therapeutic intervention. Copyright © 2017 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.

  11. PEG-PLA-PEG block copolymeric nanoparticles for oral immunization against hepatitis B.

    PubMed

    Jain, Arvind K; Goyal, Amit K; Mishra, Neeraj; Vaidya, Bhuvaneshwar; Mangal, Sharad; Vyas, Suresh P

    2010-03-15

    PLA/PLGA nanoparticles are well known as efficient vaccine delivery systems, but they have got limitation in oral vaccine delivery because of their sensitivity to harsh gastric environment. The aim of present study was to improve the stability of PLA nanoparticles in such environment by copolymerizing PLA with PEG. Nanoparticles were formulated using different block copolymers AB, ABA and BAB (where 'A' is PLA and 'B' is PEG) encapsulating hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) to evaluate their efficacy as oral vaccine delivery system. The results of in vitro studies engrave the efficiency of copolymeric nanoparticles to retain encapsulated antigen and average particle size even after 2 h incubation in simulated gastric fluid and simulated intestinal fluid. Fluorescence microscopic studies indicated efficient uptake of copolymeric nanoparticles by gut mucosa of immunized mice model as compared to control. Finally copolymeric and PLA nanoparticles, encapsulating HBsAg, were evaluated for their adjuvancity in generating immune response after oral administration. PLA nanoparticles could not generate an effective immune response due to stability issues. On the other hand, oral administration of copolymeric nanoparticles exhibited effective levels of humoral immunity along with the mucosal (sIgA) and cellular immune response (T(H)1). The results of in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that BAB nanoparticles depict enhanced mucosal uptake leading to effective immune response as compared to other copolymeric nanoparticles. Present study indicates the efficacy of BAB nanoparticles as a promising carrier for oral immunization. 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. Autoregressive model in the Lp norm space for EEG analysis.

    PubMed

    Li, Peiyang; Wang, Xurui; Li, Fali; Zhang, Rui; Ma, Teng; Peng, Yueheng; Lei, Xu; Tian, Yin; Guo, Daqing; Liu, Tiejun; Yao, Dezhong; Xu, Peng

    2015-01-30

    The autoregressive (AR) model is widely used in electroencephalogram (EEG) analyses such as waveform fitting, spectrum estimation, and system identification. In real applications, EEGs are inevitably contaminated with unexpected outlier artifacts, and this must be overcome. However, most of the current AR models are based on the L2 norm structure, which exaggerates the outlier effect due to the square property of the L2 norm. In this paper, a novel AR object function is constructed in the Lp (p≤1) norm space with the aim to compress the outlier effects on EEG analysis, and a fast iteration procedure is developed to solve this new AR model. The quantitative evaluation using simulated EEGs with outliers proves that the proposed Lp (p≤1) AR can estimate the AR parameters more robustly than the Yule-Walker, Burg and LS methods, under various simulated outlier conditions. The actual application to the resting EEG recording with ocular artifacts also demonstrates that Lp (p≤1) AR can effectively address the outliers and recover a resting EEG power spectrum that is more consistent with its physiological basis. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  13. Research Maps New Routes for Reading Success in PLA Early Childhood Initiative.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Meyers, Elaine

    2002-01-01

    The Public Library Association (PLA) partnered with the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) to develop research-based tools for parents to prepare children for reading. Inherent in the materials is the major role of the public library in formation of readers. Outlines goals and activities (2001-2002) of the PLA/ALSC…

  14. Compostability and biodegradation study of PLA-wheat straw and PLA-soy straw based green composites in simulated composting bioreactor.

    PubMed

    Pradhan, Ranjan; Misra, Manjusri; Erickson, Larry; Mohanty, Amar

    2010-11-01

    A laboratory scale simulated composting facility (as per ASTM D 5338) was designed and utilized to determine and evaluate the extent of degradation of polylactic acid (PLA), untreated wheat and soy straw and injection moulded composites of PLA-wheat straw (70:30) and PLA-soy straw (70:30). The outcomes of the study revealed the suitability of the test protocol, validity of the test system and defined the compostability of the composites of PLA with unmodified natural substrate. The study would help to design composites using modified soy straw and wheat straw as reinforcement/filler to satisfy ASTM D 6400 specifications. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Lp-mixed affine surface area

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Weidong; Leng, Gangsong

    2007-11-01

    According to the three notions of mixed affine surface area, Lp-affine surface area and Lp-mixed affine surface area proposed by Lutwak, in this article, we give the concept of ith Lp-mixed affine surface area such that the first and second notions of Lutwak are its special cases. Further, some Lutwak's results are extended associated with this concept. Besides, applying this concept, we establish an inequality for the volumes and dual quermassintegrals of a class of star bodies.

  16. PlaMoM: a comprehensive database compiles plant mobile macromolecules

    PubMed Central

    Guan, Daogang; Yan, Bin; Thieme, Christoph; Hua, Jingmin; Zhu, Hailong; Boheler, Kenneth R.; Zhao, Zhongying; Kragler, Friedrich; Xia, Yiji; Zhang, Shoudong

    2017-01-01

    In plants, various phloem-mobile macromolecules including noncoding RNAs, mRNAs and proteins are suggested to act as important long-distance signals in regulating crucial physiological and morphological transition processes such as flowering, plant growth and stress responses. Given recent advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies, numerous mobile macromolecules have been identified in diverse plant species from different plant families. However, most of the identified mobile macromolecules are not annotated in current versions of species-specific databases and are only available as non-searchable datasheets. To facilitate study of the mobile signaling macromolecules, we compiled the PlaMoM (Plant Mobile Macromolecules) database, a resource that provides convenient and interactive search tools allowing users to retrieve, to analyze and also to predict mobile RNAs/proteins. Each entry in the PlaMoM contains detailed information such as nucleotide/amino acid sequences, ortholog partners, related experiments, gene functions and literature. For the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, protein–protein interactions of mobile transcripts are presented as interactive molecular networks. Furthermore, PlaMoM provides a built-in tool to identify potential RNA mobility signals such as tRNA-like structures. The current version of PlaMoM compiles a total of 17 991 mobile macromolecules from 14 plant species/ecotypes from published data and literature. PlaMoM is available at http://www.systembioinfo.org/plamom/. PMID:27924044

  17. Benign thyroid nodules treatment using percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

    PubMed

    Mauri, Giovanni; Cova, Luca; Monaco, Cristian Giuseppe; Sconfienza, Luca Maria; Corbetta, Sabrina; Benedini, Stefano; Ambrogi, Federico; Milani, Valentina; Baroli, Alberto; Ierace, Tiziana; Solbiati, Luigi

    2016-11-15

    To evaluate the reduction over time of benign thyroid nodules treated using percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) by the same equipe. Ninety patients (age 55.6 ± 14.1 years) underwent ablation for benign thyroid nodule causing compression/aesthetic dissatisfaction from 2011. Fifty-nine (age 55.8 ± 14.1 years) underwent RFA and 31 (age 55.2 ± 14.2 years) PLA, ultrasound guided. Technical success, complications, duration of ablation and treatment, energy deployed, volumetric percentage reduction at 1, 6 and 12 months were derived. A regression model for longitudinal measurements was used with random intercept and random slope. Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation or N (%). Technical success was always obtained. No major complications occurred. Mean ablation time was 30.1 ± 13.8 vs. 13.9 ± 5.9 min (p < .0001) and mean energy deployment was 5422.3 ± 2484.5 J vs. 34 662.7 ± 15 812.3 J in PLA vs. RFA group. Mean volume reduced from 20.3 ± 16.4 ml to 13.17 ± 10.74 ml (42% ± 17% reduction) at 1st month, 8.7 ± 7.4 ml (60% ± 15% reduction) at 6th month and 7.1 ± 7.7 ml (70%% ± 16% reduction) at 12th month, in PLA group, and from 32.7 ± 19.5 ml to 17.2 ± 12.9 ml (51%±15% reduction) at 1st month, 12.8 ± 9.6 ml (64 ± 14% reduction) at 6th month and 9.9 ± 9.2 ml (74% ± 14% reduction) at 12th month in RFA group. No difference in time course of the relative volume reduction between the two techniques was found. RFA and PLA are similarly feasible, safe and effective in treating benign thyroid nodules when performed by the same equipe. RFA is faster than PLA but require significantly higher energy.

  18. 77 FR 63290 - Foreign-Trade Zone 74-Baltimore, MD, Authorization of Production Activity, J.D. Neuhaus LP...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-10-16

    ... DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Foreign-Trade Zones Board [B-47-2012] Foreign-Trade Zone 74--Baltimore, MD, Authorization of Production Activity, J.D. Neuhaus LP, (Overhead Lifting Equipment Production), Sparks, MD On June 13, 2012, the Baltimore Development Corporation, grantee of FTZ 74, submitted a notification of...

  19. Selective excitation of LP01 and LP02 in dual-concentric cores fiber using an adiabatically tapered microstructured mode converter

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sammouda, Marwa; Taher, Aymen Belhadj; Bahloul, Faouzi; Bin, Philippe Di

    2016-09-01

    We propose to connect a single-mode fiber (SMF) to a dual-concentric cores fiber (DCCF) using an adiabatically tapered microstructured mode converter, and to evaluate the SMF LP01 mode and the DCCF LP01 and LP02 modes selective excitations performances. We theoretically and numerically study this selective excitation method by calculating the effective indices of the propagated modes, the adiabaticity criteria, the coupling loss, and the modes amplitudes along the tapered structure. This study shows that this method is able to achieve excellent selective excitations of the first two linearly polarized modes (LP01 and LP02) among the five guided modes in the DCCF with a negligible loss. The part of the LP01 and LP02 modes from the total power are 99% and 84% corresponding to 0.1 and 0.8 dB losses, respectively.

  20. ACTIVITY OF 50 LONG-PERIOD COMETS BEYOND 5.2 au

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sárneczky, K.; Szabó, Gy. M.; Csák, B.

    2016-12-01

    Remote investigations of ancient matter in the solar system have traditionally been carried out through observations of long-period (LP) comets, which are less affected by solar irradiation than their short-period counterparts orbiting much closer to the Sun. Here we summarize the results of our decade-long survey of the distant activity of LP comets. We found that the most important separation in the data set is based on the dynamical nature of the objects. Dynamically new comets are characterized by a higher level of activity on average: the most active new comets in our sample can be characterized by Afρ valuesmore » >3–4, higher than those for our most active returning comets. New comets develop more symmetric comae, suggesting a generally isotropic outflow. In contrast to this, the comae of recurrent comets can be less symmetrical, ocassionally exhibiting negative slope parameters, which suggest sudden variations in matter production. The morphological appearance of the observed comets is rather diverse. A surprisingly large fraction of the comets have long, tenuous tails, but the presence of impressive tails does not show a clear correlation with the brightness of the comets.« less