Targeted RNA sequencing with touch imprint cytology samples for non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Background: RNA-based sequencing is considered ideal for detecting pathogenic fusion-genes compared to DNA-based assays and provides valuable information about the relative expression of driver genes. However, RNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue has issues with both quantity and quality, making RNA-based sequencing difficult in clinical practice. Analyzing stamp-derived RNA with next-generation sequencing (NGS) can address the above-mentioned obstacles.

Negative reactions of BRAF mutation-specific immunohistochemistry to non-V600E mutations of BRAF.

BRAF mutations are rare driver mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), accounting for 1%-2% of the driver mutations, and the mutation spectrum has a wide range in contrast to other tumors. While V600E is a dominant mutation in melanoma, more than half of the mutations in NSCLCs are non-V600E. However, treatment with dabrafenib plus trametinib targets the BRAF V600E mutation exclusively.

Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Multiple Lung Metastases Treated with Multidisciplinary Therapy.

A 20-year old man was diagnosed with fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLHCC) with multiple lung metastases, and chemotherapy with FOLFOX was administered. Contrast enhanced CT after 3 cycles of FOLFOX showed no disease progression. We therefore performed surgical resection and radiofrequency ablation of the liver lesions and lung metastases, after obtaining the patient's informed consent.

A proliferation-inducing ligand sustains the proliferation of human naïve (CD27⁻) B cells and mediates their differentiation into long-lived plasma cells in vitro via transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor and B-cell mature antigen.

Long-lived plasma cells (PCs) contribute to humoral immunity through an undefined mechanism. Memory B cells, but not human naïve B cells, can be induced to differentiate into long-lived PCs in vitro. Because evidence links a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), a tumor necrosis factor family member, to the ability of bone marrow to mediate long-term PC survival, we reasoned that APRIL influences the proliferation and differentiation of naïve B cells.

Functional difference between membrane-bound and soluble human thrombomodulin.

Background: For successful xenotransplantation, in addition to α1,3-galactosyltransferase gene-knockout and human complement regulatory protein (CD46, CD55, CD59) gene insertion, cloned pigs expressing human thrombomodulin (hTM) have been produced to solve the problem of molecular incompatibility in their coagulation system. Recombinant soluble hTM (S-hTM) which has been recently approved for treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation might be potentially available. The purpose of this study is to examine the functional difference in endothelial cells between membrane-bound hTM (MB-hTM) and S-hTM and to elucidate effective strategy using both types of hTM.

Clinical relevance of post-transplant pharmacodynamic analysis of cyclosporine in renal transplantation.

Although therapeutic drug monitoring based on blood concentration has been widely implemented in transplant recipients treated with immunosuppressive agents, clinical adverse events such as rejection, infection or drug-induced toxicity caused by inappropriate dosage cannot be completely controlled. Development of an effective assay for optimized immunosuppression would be desirable, which can potentially lead to personalized medicine in renal transplantation. Cyclosporine (CSA) pharmacodynamic analysis using carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE)-based T cell proliferation assay was examined in 66 kidney transplant recipients before and after transplantation.

Comparative analysis of drug action on B-cell proliferation and differentiation for mycophenolic acid, everolimus, and prednisolone.

Background: Although more attention has been paid recently to B-cell immunity, assay for B-cell analysis has yet to be clinically applicable because, unlike T cell, a B-cell culture system has not been well established.

Methods: We attempted to develop an in vitro culture system for the proliferation and differentiation of peripheral B cells into plasma cells, and to analyze the action of everolimus (EVR), mycophenolic acid (MPA), and prednisolone (PRD).

Results: Using a three-step culture system, peripheral CD19 B cells could differentiate into plasma cells and produce IgG antibody.

AMP-activated protein kinase as a promoting factor, but complement and thrombin as limiting factors for acquisition of cytoprotection: implications for induction of accommodation.

Accommodation has been termed as a condition without graft rejection even in the presence of antidonor antibody. We previously reported an in vitro accommodation model, which demonstrated that preincubation of A/B antigen-expressing endothelial cells with anti-A/B antibody resulted in ERK inactivation followed by resistance to complement-mediated cytotoxicity through the induction of complement regulatory genes. However, under the in vivo condition, the effects of complement and coagulation system cannot be ignored.

Production of cloned pigs expressing human thrombomodulin in endothelial cells.

For long-term xenograft survival, coagulation control is one of the remaining critical issues. Our attention has been directed toward human thrombomodulin (hTM), because it is expected to exhibit the following beneficial effects on coagulation control and cytoprotection: (i) to solve the problem of molecular incompatibility in protein C activation; (ii) to exert a role as a physiological regulator, only when thrombin is formed; (iii) to suppress direct prothrombinase activity; and (iv) to have anti-inflammatory properties. hTM gene was transfected into pig (Landrace/Yorkshire) fibroblasts using pCAGGS expression vector and pPGK-puro vector.

Comparative study on signal transduction in endothelial cells after anti-a/b and human leukocyte antigen antibody reaction: implication of accommodation.

Background: Recent development of immunosuppressive therapy has provided a platform for clinical human leukocyte antigen (HLA)- and ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation. However, the prognosis seems to be different between the two. Accommodation, the condition of no injury even in the presence of antidonor antibody, is one of the key factors for successful transplantation with antidonor antibody.

Adipose-derived stromal cells cultured in a low-serum medium, but not bone marrow-derived stromal cells, impede xenoantibody production.

Background: Although the immunomodulatory effects of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) on T cells have been elucidated, little is known about their effects on B cells. Recently, we have established a novel culture method for adipose-derived MSC (ASC) using low (2%) serum medium containing fibroblast growth factor-2. We showed that low serum-cultured ASC (LASC) was superior to high (20%) serum-cultured ASC (HASC) when used in regenerative therapy.

Clinical significance of regulatory T-cell-related gene expression in peripheral blood after renal transplantation.

Background: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been suggested to be deeply associated with immune tolerance and long-term graft survival in transplantation. Some recipients with stable graft function (ST) could possibly minimize immunosuppression during the maintenance period. However, effective assays for assessing the suitability of patients have yet to be established.

Significance of HLA class I antibody-induced antioxidant gene expression for endothelial cell protection against complement attack.

It has been observed that a graft organ continues to survive and function normally even in the presence of anti-graft antibodies. However, the mechanisms behind acquirement of this condition remain unknown. Here we report that the anti-HLA ligation on endothelial cells induces PI3K/AKT activation followed by antioxidant gene induction through Nrf2-mediated antioxidant-responsive element (ARE) activation.

Intra-bone marrow bone marrow transplantation rejuvenates the B-cell lineage in aged mice.

Age-related reductions in the frequency and absolute number of early B lineage precursors in the bone marrow of aged mice have been reported. Reversal of B-cell lineage senescence has not been achieved. Age-related impairment of the B-cell lineage is caused by the decreasing functionality of hematopoietic and B lineage precursors, and reduced efficacy of bone marrow stromal cells that constitute the bone marrow microenvironment.

Suppression of viral replication by stress-inducible GADD34 protein via the mammalian serine/threonine protein kinase mTOR pathway.

GADD34 is a protein that is induced by a variety of stressors, including DNA damage, heat shock, nutrient deprivation, energy depletion, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Here, we demonstrated that GADD34 induced by vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection suppressed viral replication in wild-type (WT) mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs), whereas replication was enhanced in GADD34-deficient (GADD34-KO) MEFs. Enhanced viral replication in GADD34-KO MEFs was reduced by retroviral gene rescue of GADD34.

GADD34 induces p21 expression and cellular senescence.

We previously identified GADD34 (growth arrest and DNA damage protein 34) by screening for genes involved in oncogenic-transformation and/or cellular senescence in Ras-transformed rat F2408 fibroblasts (7EJ-Ras), which exhibit anchorage-independent growth and do not senesce. In the current study, we found that transduction of 7EJ-Ras cells with a retroviral vector expressing GADD34 suppressed their proliferation. Furthermore, we observed that fibroblasts derived from GADD34-knockout mice (GADD34-KO MEFs) did not undergo senescence.

GADD34 inhibits mammalian target of rapamycin signaling via tuberous sclerosis complex and controls cell survival under bioenergetic stress.

Cells regulate the rate of protein synthesis during conditions of cell stress to adapt to environmental changes. However, the molecular interactions between signaling pathways controlling translation and the cellular response to stress remain to be elucidated. Here, we show that the expression of growth arrest and DNA damage protein 34 (GADD34) is induced by energy depletion and that the expression of this protein protects cells from apoptotic cell death.

Induction of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP3, MMP12 and MMP13) expression in the microglia by amyloid-beta stimulation via the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the presence of senile plaques in the brain composed primarily of amyloid-beta peptide. Microglia have been reported to surround these Abeta plaques, which have opposite roles, provoking a microglia-mediated inflammatory response that contributes to neuronal cell loss or the removal of Abeta and damaged neurons. We herein analyzed the process of expression of Matrix metalloproteinases induced by Abeta stimulation.

Amyloid-beta peptides induce several chemokine mRNA expressions in the primary microglia and Ra2 cell line via the PI3K/Akt and/or ERK pathway.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the presence of senile plaques composed primarily of amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta) in the brain. Microglia have been reported to surround these Abeta plaques, which have opposite roles, provoking a microglia-mediated inflammatory response that contributes to neuronal cell loss or the removal of Abeta and damaged neurons. To perform these tasks microglia migrate to the sites of Abeta secretion.

Cellular and systemic defense system against age-promoting stimuli.

Although much progress has been achieved in aging research using lower animals, especially yeast and C. elegans, aging in humans remains puzzling. Here I offer my hypothesis of host defense against age-promoting stimuli, which holds that the cell itself has a defense system and multi-organism, an even more sophisticated one against age-promoting stimuli.

Amyloid-beta peptides induce cell proliferation and macrophage colony-stimulating factor expression via the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway in cultured Ra2 microglial cells.

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by numerous amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta) plaques surrounded by microglia. Here we report that Abeta induces the proliferation of the mouse microglial cell line Ra2 by increasing the expression of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). We examined signal cascades for Abeta-induced M-CSF mRNA expression.

Regulation of mouse GADD34 gene transcription after DNA damaging agent methylmethane sulfonate.

The GADD34 gene is transcriptionally induced by growth arrest and DNA damage. However, the mechanisms underlying the transcriptional regulation are still unclear. We analyzed the promoter of mouse GADD34 gene and the methylmethane sulfonate (MMS)-induced transcriptional regulation of this gene.