Patients with metastatic cancer experience a severe loss of skeletal muscle mass and function known as cachexia. Cachexia is associated with poor prognosis and accelerated death in patients with ...cancer, yet its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we identify the metal-ion transporter ZRT- and IRT-like protein 14 (ZIP14) as a critical mediator of cancer-induced cachexia. ZIP14 is upregulated in cachectic muscles of mice and in patients with metastatic cancer and can be induced by TNF-α and TGF-β cytokines. Strikingly, germline ablation or muscle-specific depletion of Zip14 markedly reduces muscle atrophy in metastatic cancer models. We find that ZIP14-mediated zinc uptake in muscle progenitor cells represses the expression of MyoD and Mef2c and blocks muscle-cell differentiation. Importantly, ZIP14-mediated zinc accumulation in differentiated muscle cells induces myosin heavy chain loss. These results highlight a previously unrecognized role for altered zinc homeostasis in metastatic cancer-induced muscle wasting and implicate ZIP14 as a therapeutic target for its treatment.
In this study, the slurry diffusion in a cavity filled with coal gangue was studied by combining experimental and numerical simulation methods. By calibrating slurry and particle materials, the ...grouting process in coal gangue filling area is simulated successfully, and the change of slurry diffusion flow field and particle movement and settling process in different dimensions are deeply analyzed. Both experimental and numerical simulation results show that the particle settlement presents a bell-shaped curve, which is of great significance for understanding the particle movement and settlement behavior in the filling cavity. In addition, it is found that the grouting speed has a significant effect on the particle settlement during the slurry diffusion process. When the grouting speed increases from 0.1m /s to 0.2m /s, the particle settlement and diffusion range increases about twice. In the plane flow field, it is observed that the outward diffusion trend and speed of grouting are more obvious. It is worth noting that in the whole process of grouting, it is observed that with the increase of grouting distance and depth, both the velocity of slurry and particles show a trend of rapid initial decline and gradually slow down, and the flow velocity of slurry near the grouting outlet at a flow rate of 0.2m/s is 2-4 times that of 0.1m/s. This provides important enlightenment for the porous seepage effect at different grouting speeds.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
We previously identified a chemotherapy-induced paracrine inflammatory loop that paradoxically mitigates the anti-tumor effect of chemotherapy and triggers metastatic propagation in breast and lung ...cancer models. Therefore, we sought to further validate and translate these findings into patient care by coupling the anti-TNF-α drug certolizumab pegol with standard cisplatin doublet chemotherapy. Here we first validate the anti-metastatic effect of certolizumab in a liver-metastatic Lewis Lung Carcinoma model. We then evaluate the safety, efficacy, and pharmacodynamic effects of certolizumab with cisplatin and pemetrexed in an open label Phase 1 clinical trial (NCT02120807) of eighteen adult patients with stage IV lung adenocarcinomas. The primary outcome is maximum tolerated dose. Secondary outcomes are response rate and progression-free survival (PFS); pharmacodynamic changes in blood and tumor are evaluated as a correlative outcome. There were nine partial responses among 16 patients evaluable (56%, 95% CI 30 to 80%). The median duration of response was 9.0 months (range 5.9 to 42.6 months) and median PFS was 7.1 months (95% CI 6.3 to NR). The standard 400 mg dose of certolizumab, added to cisplatin and pemetrexed, is well-tolerated and, as a correlative endpoint, demonstrates potent pharmacodynamic inhibition of peripheral cytokines associated with the paracrine inflammatory loop.
In the kidney, the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is principally expressed in the podocyte at low levels, but is upregulated in both human and mouse glomerular diseases. Because ...podocyte injury is central to proteinuric states, such as the nephrotic syndrome, the murine adriamycin nephrosis model was used to explore the role of RAGE in podocyte damage. In this model, administration of the anthracycline antibiotic adriamycin provokes severe podocyte stress and glomerulosclerosis. In contrast to wild-type animals, adriamycin-treated RAGE-null mice were significantly protected from effacement of the podocyte foot processes, albuminuria, and glomerulosclerosis. Administration of adriamycin induced rapid generation of RAGE ligands, and treatment with soluble RAGE protected against podocyte injury and glomerulosclerosis. In vitro, incubation of RAGE-expressing murine podocytes with adriamycin stimulated AGE formation, and treatment with RAGE ligands rapidly activated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-oxidase, via p44/p42 MAP kinase signaling, and upregulated pro-fibrotic growth factors. These data suggest that RAGE may contribute to the pathogenesis of podocyte injury in sclerosing glomerulopathies such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.
Catalase plays a major role in cellular antioxidant defense by decomposing hydrogen peroxide, thereby preventing the generation
of hydroxyl radical by the Fenton reaction. The degree of catalase ...deficiency in acatalasemic and hypocatalasemic mice varies
from tissue to tissue. They therefore may not be suitable for studying the function of this enzyme in certain models of oxidant-mediated
tissue injury. We sought to generate a new line of catalase null mice by the gene targeting technique. The mouse catalase
( Cat or Cas1 ) gene was disrupted by replacing parts of intron 4 and exon 5 with a neomycin resistance cassette. Homozygous Cat knockout mice, which are completely deficient in catalase expression, develop normally and show no gross abnormalities. Slices
of liver and lung and lenses from the knockout mice exhibited a retarded rate in decomposing extracellular hydrogen peroxide
compared with those of wild-type mice. However, mice deficient in catalase were not more vulnerable to hyperoxia-induced lung
injury; nor did their lenses show any increased susceptibility to oxidative stress generated by photochemical reaction, suggesting
that the antioxidant function of catalase in these two models of oxidant injury is negligible. Further studies showed that
cortical injury from physical impact caused a significant decrease in NAD-linked electron transfer activities and energy coupling
capacities in brain mitochondria of Cat knockout mice but not wild-type mice. The observed decrease in efficiency of mitochondrial respiration may be a direct result
of an increase in mitochondrion-associated calcium, which is secondary to the increased oxidative stress. These studies suggest
that the role of catalase in antioxidant defense is dependent on the type of tissue and the model of oxidant-mediated tissue
injury.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The groundwater of the Luohe Formation in Binchang mining area is the main source of water for industrial and agricultural use and for drinking water for residents in the area. In order to study the ...hydrochemical characteristics and water-quality status of Luohe Formation groundwater in the mining area, statistical analysis, Piper three-line diagram, ion ratio relationship, and other methods were used to study the hydrochemical characteristics and formation factors of the groundwater. The Nemerow index evaluation method and the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method based on principal component analysis were used to evaluate the groundwater quality in the mining area. The results show that the groundwater is weakly acidic as a whole, and the content of SO42− and Cl− have strong variability in terms of spatial distribution. The groundwater chemical type gradually evolves from SO4 • HCO3 • Cl–Na, SO4–Na and SO4 • Cl–Na-type water in the north of the mining area to SO4 • HCO3 • Cl–Na • Ca, HCO3 • SO4–Na • Mg, and SO4 • Cl–Na • Ca • Mg-type water in the south. The formation of the hydrochemical composition of groundwater in the study area may be related to multiple factors such as cation-alternating adsorption, carbonate and sulfate dissolution, and hydraulic exchange with the groundwater of the upper Huachi Formation. Comparing the evaluation results of the Nemerow index method and the principal component analysis method, the latter’s evaluation results can take into account the contribution of each indicator to the overall groundwater quality, and to a certain extent can weaken the control effect of a certain pollution indicator, exceeding the limit on the entire evaluation result. Therefore, the evaluation results based on the principal component analysis method are more credible.
The RAGE Axis in Early Diabetic Retinopathy Barile, Gaetano R; Pachydaki, Sophia I; Tari, Samir R ...
Investigative ophthalmology & visual science,
08/2005, Volume:
46, Issue:
8
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
The receptor for advanced glycation end products (AGEs) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. This study was conducted to characterize the role of the RAGE axis in a ...murine model of nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR).
The retinas of hyperglycemic, hyperlipidemic (HGHL, apolipoprotein E(-/-) db/db) mice were examined for the development of early retinal vascular lesions of NPDR and compared to littermates at 6 months of age. Neural function was assessed with electroretinography. Immunohistochemistry, real-time RT-PCR, autofluorescence, and ELISA studies were used to localize and quantify the AGE/RAGE axis. Soluble RAGE, a competitor of cellular RAGE for its ligands, was administered to assess the impact of RAGE blockade.
Early inner retinal neuronal dysfunction, manifested by prolonged latencies of the oscillatory potentials and b-wave, was detected in hyperglycemic mice. HGHL mice exhibited accelerated development of acellular capillaries and pericyte ghosts compared with littermate control animals. AGEs were localized primarily to the vitreous cavity and internal limiting membrane (ILM) of the retina, where they were intimately associated with the footplates of RAGE-expressing Müller cells. AGE accumulation measured by ELISA was increased within the retinal extracellular matrix of hyperglycemic mice. AGE fluorescence and upregulation of RAGE transcripts was highest in the retinas of HGHL mice, and attenuation of the RAGE axis with soluble RAGE ameliorated neuronal dysfunction and reduced the development of capillary lesions in these mice.
In early diabetic retinopathy, the RAGE axis, comprising the cellular receptor and its AGE ligands, is amplified within the retina and is accentuated along the vitreoretinal interface. Antagonism of the RAGE axis in NPDR reduces neurovascular perturbations, providing an important therapeutic target for intervention.
The importance of VEGF in stimulating neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is well-recognized, but the initiating factors that induce local upregulation of VEGF remain unclear. The ...current study was conducted to test the hypothesis that activation of RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end products AGEs) by its ligands, including AGEs, amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta), and S100B/calgranulins, some of which are known components of drusen and Bruch's membrane deposits, modulate secretion of VEGF by retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells.
ARPE-19 cells were used for all experiments. The cells were transfected with constructs encoding a signal transduction mutant of human RAGE to assess the RAGE-dependence of intracellular signaling. VEGF secretion and gene expression were assessed by ELISA and quantitative real-time PCR. SDS-PAGE and size exclusion chromatography were performed to analyze the structural changes of S100B after oxidation of its thiol groups under denaturing and nondenaturing conditions, respectively. NF-kappaB activation was assessed via electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The impact of the NF-kappaB inhibition was assessed by using parthenolide.
ARPE-19 cells basally secreted VEGF under normal cell culture conditions. Immobilized ligands of RAGE increased VEGF secretion in a RAGE-dependent manner. In contrast, soluble AGE-BSA, fresh Abeta, and S100B were less effective in increasing VEGF secretion. Studies with Abeta demonstrated that oligomeric and surface-immobilized forms of Abeta, but not soluble monomeric forms of Abeta, were effective upregulators of VEGF secretion via RAGE. Oxidation of S100B's thiol groups resulted in the formation of oligomers that displayed distinct RAGE biological activity compared with the simple dimeric form. RAGE-mediated upregulation of VEGF secretion by ARPE-19 cells was largely dependent on NF-kappaB, as indicated by studies with parthenolide.
Immobilized or oligomerized ligands for RAGE induce RPE cells to increase VEGF secretion. NF-kappaB plays a central role in RAGE-dependent RPE secretion of VEGF. In AMD, activation of the RAGE axis in RPE cells may contribute to upregulation of VEGF, potentially inciting or propagating neovascular macular disease.
Nearly 80% of advanced cancer patients are afflicted with cachexia, a debilitating syndrome characterized by extensive loss of muscle mass and function. Cachectic cancer patients have a reduced ...tolerance to antineoplastic therapies and often succumb to premature death from the wasting of respiratory and cardiac muscles. Since there are no available treatments for cachexia, it is imperative to understand the mechanisms that drive cachexia in order to devise effective strategies to treat it. Although 25% of metastatic breast cancer patients develop symptoms of muscle wasting, mechanistic studies of breast cancer cachexia have been hampered by a lack of experimental models. Using tumor cells deficient for BARD1, a subunit of the BRCA1/BARD1 tumor suppressor complex, we have developed a new orthotopic model of triple‐negative breast cancer that spontaneously metastasizes to the lung and leads to systemic muscle deterioration. We show that expression of the metal‐ion transporter, Zip14, is markedly upregulated in cachectic muscles from these mice and is associated with elevated intramuscular zinc and iron levels. Aberrant Zip14 expression and altered metal‐ion homeostasis could therefore represent an underlying mechanism of cachexia development in human patients with triple‐negative breast cancer. Our study provides a unique model for studying breast cancer cachexia and identifies a potential therapeutic target for its treatment.
In this study, we have developed a new orthotopic model of triple‐negative breast cancer that spontaneously metastasizes to the lung and leads to systemic muscle deterioration. We show that aberrant Zip14 expression and altered metal‐ion homeostasis represent an underlying mechanism of cachexia development in this triple‐negative breast cancer model.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
We sought to study the presence of the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) and its ligands, advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs), S100/calgranulins and amphoterin (high mobility group ...box 1 protein; HMGB1), in the vitreous cavity and epiretinal membranes (ERMs) of eyes of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Undiluted vitreous specimens were collected from 30 eyes of 30 patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy for repair of retinal detachment (RD) secondary to PDR (
n=15) or PVR (
n=15). The vitreous samples obtained from 10 eyes undergoing macular hole repair were used as controls. Epiretinal membranes were obtained from eight eyes with PDR and from 10 eyes with PVR. The levels of AGEs in the vitreous were measured using ELISA. The vitreous levels of soluble RAGE (sRAGE), S100/calgranulins and amphoterin were measured using Western blot analyses. The localization of RAGE and its ligands in ERMs was determined with immunohistochemistry. The vitreous levels of sRAGE were significantly increased in both PDR and PVR (
p≤0.05) compared to control vitreous. In both PDR and PVR, the vitreous levels of AGEs (
p≤0.01), S100/calgranulins (
p≤0.05), and amphoterin (
p≤0.01) were also elevated compared to control eyes. Expression of RAGE was detected in six of eight ERMs from eyes with PDR and eight of 10 ERMs from eyes with PVR. Many cells expressing RAGE also expressed vimentin, suggesting a glial cell origin. Ligands for RAGE were also detected in ERMs, with AGEs detected in five eyes with PDR and eight eyes with PVR. Similarly, S100 and amphoterin ERM expression was observed in six eyes with PDR; these ligands were also expressed in ERMs from eyes with PVR (8 and 7 cases, respectively). We conclude that RAGE and its ligands are increased in the vitreous cavity of eyes with PDR and PVR and are present in ERMs of eyes with these proliferative retinal disorders. These findings suggest a role for the proinflammatory RAGE axis in the pathogenesis of proliferative retinal diseases.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK