CHD4 is essential for transcriptional repression and lineage progression in B lymphopoiesis.

Cell lineage specification is a tightly regulated process that is dependent on appropriate expression of lineage and developmental stage-specific transcriptional programs. Here, we show that Chromodomain Helicase DNA-binding protein 4 (CHD4), a major ATPase/helicase subunit of Nucleosome Remodeling and Deacetylase Complexes (NuRD) in lymphocytes, is essential for specification of the early B cell lineage transcriptional program. In the absence of CHD4 in B cell progenitors in vivo, development of these cells is arrested at an early pro-B-like stage that is unresponsive to IL-7 receptor signaling and unable to efficiently complete V(D)J rearrangements at loci.

Rational Design of Dual Agonist-Antibody Fusions as Long-acting Therapeutic Hormones.

Recent studies have suggested that modulation of two or more signaling pathways can achieve substantial weight loss and glycemic stability. We have developed an approach to the generation of bifunctional antibody agonists that activate leptin receptor and GLP-1 receptor. Leptin was fused into the complementarity determining region 3 loop of the light chain alone, or in combination with exendin-4 (EX4) fused at the N-terminus of the heavy chain of Herceptin.

YY1 plays an essential role at all stages of B-cell differentiation.

Ying Yang 1 (YY1) is a ubiquitously expressed transcription factor shown to be essential for pro-B-cell development. However, the role of YY1 in other B-cell populations has never been investigated. Recent bioinformatics analysis data have implicated YY1 in the germinal center (GC) B-cell transcriptional program.

The Effects of Pharmacological Inhibition of Histone Deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) in Huntington's Disease Mice.

An important epigenetic modification in Huntington's disease (HD) research is histone acetylation, which is regulated by histone acetyltransferase and histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes. HDAC inhibitors have proven effective in HD model systems, and recent work is now focused on functional dissection of the individual HDAC enzymes in these effects. Histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3), a member of the class I subfamily of HDACs, has previously been implicated in neuronal toxicity and huntingtin-induced cell death.

An Epitope-Specific Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine Based on an Antibody Scaffold.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections in children. We have generated an epitope-specific RSV vaccine by grafting a neutralizing epitope (F-epitope) in its native conformation into an immunoglobulin scaffold. The resulting antibody fusion exhibited strong binding affinity to Motavizumab, an RSV neutralizing antibody, and effectively induced potent neutralizing antibodies in mice.

Lipoamide Acts as an Indirect Antioxidant by Simultaneously Stimulating Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Phase II Antioxidant Enzyme Systems in ARPE-19 Cells.

In our previous study, we found that pretreatment with lipoamide (LM) more effectively than alpha-lipoic acid (LA) protected retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells from the acrolein-induced damage. However, the reasons and mechanisms for the greater effect of LM than LA are unclear. We hypothesize that LM, rather than the more direct antioxidant LA, may act more as an indirect antioxidant.

Functional human antibody CDR fusions as long-acting therapeutic endocrine agonists.

On the basis of the 3D structure of a bovine antibody with a well-folded, ultralong complementarity-determining region (CDR), we have developed a versatile approach for generating human or humanized antibody agonists with excellent pharmacological properties. Using human growth hormone (hGH) and human leptin (hLeptin) as model proteins, we have demonstrated that functional human antibody CDR fusions can be efficiently engineered by grafting the native hormones into different CDRs of the humanized antibody Herceptin. The resulting Herceptin CDR fusion proteins were expressed in good yields in mammalian cells and retain comparable in vitro biological activity to the native hormones.

HDAC inhibition imparts beneficial transgenerational effects in Huntington's disease mice via altered DNA and histone methylation.

Increasing evidence has demonstrated that epigenetic factors can profoundly influence gene expression and, in turn, influence resistance or susceptibility to disease. Epigenetic drugs, such as histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, are finding their way into clinical practice, although their exact mechanisms of action are unclear. To identify mechanisms associated with HDAC inhibition, we performed microarray analysis on brain and muscle samples treated with the HDAC1/3-targeting inhibitor, HDACi 4b.

Disease Modifying Potential of Glatiramer Acetate in Huntington's Disease.

Background: Deficiencies in brain-derived-neurotrophic-factor have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease (HD).

Objective: Glatiramer acetate, an FDA- approved drug used for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, has been shown to increase brain-derived-neurotrophic-factor levels in immune cells; hence, we investigated whether it could have similar effects in striatal cells.

Methods: Wild-type and HD striatal cells were treated with glatiramer acetate for 48 hrs.

Epigenetic changes at gene promoters in response to immune activation in utero.

Increasing evidence suggests that maternal infection increases the risk of psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism in offspring. However, the molecular mechanisms associated with these effects are unclear. Here, we have studied epigenetic gene regulation in mice exposed to non-specific immune activation elicited by polyI:C injection to pregnant dams.

Selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition imparts beneficial effects in Huntington's disease mice: implications for the ubiquitin-proteasomal and autophagy systems.

We previously demonstrated that the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, 4b, which preferentially targets HDAC1 and HDAC3, ameliorates Huntington's disease (HD)-related phenotypes in different HD model systems. In the current study, we investigated extensive behavioral and biological effects of 4b in N171-82Q transgenic mice and further explored potential molecular mechanisms of 4b action. We found that 4b significantly prevented body weight loss, improved several parameters of motor function and ameliorated Huntingtin (Htt)-elicited cognitive decline in N171-82Q transgenic mice.

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors targeting HDAC3 and HDAC1 ameliorate polyglutamine-elicited phenotypes in model systems of Huntington's disease.

We have previously demonstrated amelioration of Huntington's disease (HD)-related phenotypes in R6/2 transgenic mice in response to treatment with the novel histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor 4b. Here we have measured the selectivity profiles of 4b and related compounds against class I and class II HDACs and have tested their ability to restore altered expression of genes related to HD pathology in mice and to rescue disease effects in cell culture and Drosophila models of HD. R6/2 transgenic and wild-type (wt) mice received daily injections of HDAC inhibitors for 3 days followed by real-time PCR analysis to detect expression differences for 13 HD-related genes.

Maternal docosahexaenoic acid feeding protects against impairment of learning and memory and oxidative stress in prenatally stressed rats: possible role of neuronal mitochondria metabolism.

Aims: Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3; DHA) is known to play a critical role in postnatal brain development. However, no study has been performed to investigate its preventive effect on prenatal stress-induced behavioral and molecular alterations in offspring. In the present study, rats were exposed to restraint stress on days 14-20 of pregnancy, three times a day, 2 hours each time; DHA was given at the doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg/day for two weeks.

Combined R-alpha-lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine exerts efficient preventative effects in a cellular model of Parkinson's disease.

Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage are highly involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Some mitochondrial antioxidants/nutrients that can improve mitochondrial function and/or attenuate oxidative damage have been implicated in PD therapy. However, few studies have evaluated the preventative effects of a combination of mitochondrial antioxidants/nutrients against PD, and even fewer have sought to optimize the doses of the combined agents.

α-Tocopherol is an effective Phase II enzyme inducer: protective effects on acrolein-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Vitamin E has long been identified as a major lipid-soluble chain-breaking antioxidant in mammals. α-Tocopherol is a vitamin E component and the major form in the human body. We propose that, besides its direct chain-breaking antioxidant activity, α-tocopherol may exert an indirect antioxidant activity by enhancing the cell's antioxidant system as a Phase II enzyme inducer.

A milk-based wolfberry preparation prevents prenatal stress-induced cognitive impairment of offspring rats, and inhibits oxidative damage and mitochondrial dysfunction in vitro.

Lycium barbarum (Fructus Lycii, Wolfberry, or Gouqi) belongs to the Solanaceae. The red-colored fruits of L. barbarum have been used for a long time as an ingredient in Chinese cuisine and brewing, and also in traditional Chinese herbal medicine for improving health.

Hydroxytyrosol promotes mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial function in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Hydroxytyrosol (HT) in extra-virgin olive oil is considered one of the most important polyphenolic compounds responsible for the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet for lowering incidence of cardiovascular disease, the most common and most serious complication of diabetes. We propose that HT may prevent these diseases by a stimulation of mitochondrial biogenesis that leads to enhancement of mitochondrial function and cellular defense systems. In the present study, we investigated effects of HT that stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis and promote mitochondrial function in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Polyhydroxylated fullerene derivative C(60)(OH)(24) prevents mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage in an MPP(+) -induced cellular model of Parkinson's disease.

To find effective agents for Parkinson's disease (PD) prevention and therapy, we examined the protective effects of the polyhydroxylated fullerene derivative C(60)(OH)(24) in a 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)) -induced acute cellular PD model in human neuroblastoma cells and the free radical scavenging effects in this model with an electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometer. Pretreatment with C(60)(OH)(24) at concentrations greater than 20 microM showed significant protective effects on MPP(+) -induced loss in cell viability, decreases in mitochondrial function (including mitochondrial membrane potential and activities of complex I and II), and increases in the levels of reactive oxygen species and oxidative damage to DNA and proteins. In addition, C(60)(OH)(24) acts as a phase 2 enzyme inducer to protect cells from MPP(+) -induced decreases in expression of nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2, expression and activity of gamma-glutamyl cysteine ligase and level of glutathione.

Synergistic anti-Parkinsonism activity of high doses of B vitamins in a chronic cellular model.

We propose that elevation of mitochondrial enzyme cofactors may prevent or ameliorate neurodegenerative diseases by improving mitochondrial function. In the present study, we investigated the effects of high doses of B vitamins, the precursors of mitochondrial enzyme cofactors, on mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and Parkinsonism in a 4-week long rotenone treatment-induced cellular model of Parkinson's disease (PD). Pretreatment with B vitamins (also 4 weeks) prevented rotenone-induced: (1) mitochondrial dysfunction, including reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and activities of complex I; (2) oxidative stress, including increase in reactive oxygen species, oxidative DNA damage and protein oxidation, and (3) Parkinsonism parameters, including accumulation of alpha-synuclein and poly-ubiquitin.

High doses of nicotinamide prevent oxidative mitochondrial dysfunction in a cellular model and improve motor deficit in a Drosophila model of Parkinson's disease.

Nicotinamide, the principal form of niacin (vitamin B3), has been proposed to be neuroprotective in Parkinson's disease. However, the effects and mechanisms of nicotinamide on motor function in animals and on mitochondrial function in cellular systems have not been well studied. We hypothesized that niacin-derived NAD(P)H as antioxidants and enzyme cofactors could inhibit oxidative damage and improve mitochondrial function and thus protect neurodegeneration and improve motor function.

Lipoamide protects retinal pigment epithelial cells from oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.

alpha-Lipoic acid (LA) has been widely studied as an agent for preventing and treating various diseases associated with oxidative disruption of mitochondrial functions. To investigate a related mitochondrial antioxidant, we compared the effects of lipoamide (LM), the neutral amide of LA, with LA for measures of oxidative damage and mitochondrial dysfunction in a human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell line. Acrolein, a major component of cigarette smoke and a product of lipid peroxidation, was used to induce oxidative mitochondrial damage in RPE cells.

Hydroxytyrosol protects retinal pigment epithelial cells from acrolein-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Hydroxytyrosol (HTS) is a natural polyphenol abundant in olive oil. Increasing evidence indicates HTS has beneficial effect on human health for preventing various diseases. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of HTS on acrolein-induced toxicity in human retinal pigment epithelial cell line, ARPE-19, a cellular model of smoking- and age-related macular degeneration.

Identification of a critical site in Wld(s): essential for Nmnat enzyme activity and axon-protective function.

The chimeric Wld(s) protein consisting of the N-terminal 70 amino acids of Ufd2 and the complete sequence of nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase1 (Nmnat1), delays Wallerian degeneration in Wld(s) mice. Although Nmnat1 enzyme activity was showed to be critical for the function of Wld(s) protein, the expected phenotype was not observed in Nmnat1 transgenic mice. To further check whether Nmnat1 enzyme activity is involved, we aligned sequences of eukaryotic Nmnats, and found that Phe in helix A is highly conserved not only in various species, but also in different homologues.