Academic literature on the topic 'PK C γ'

We have developed enhanced immunohistochemical protocols for detecting autonomic nerve fibers and splenocyte-associated proteins in rat spleen. This includes norepinephrine-synthesizing enzymes (dopamine-βeta hydroxylase (DBH) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)), neuropeptide Y (NPY), tumor necrosis factor -α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), c-fos protein, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and the macrophage cell marker ED1. Animals were divided into sham-operated and splenic nerve-sectioned groups for detection of DBH, TH, and NPY. For immunodetection of TNF-α, iNOS, IFN-γ and c-fos, animals were injected IV with saline or 100 μg of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and were sacrificed at various time intervals post injection. Rats were perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde, spleens removed and cryoprotected, and 50-μm floating sections were cut on a freezing microtome. Immunodetection was performed with various detection systems and substrate/chromogen solutions, and in some cases using pretreatment with proteinase K (PK) for antigen unmasking. PK pretreatment increased immunostaining for DBH, TH, NPY, IFN-γ, iNOS, and ED1, and the improvement was concentration-dependent. Using NPY immunostaining to index the signal-to-noise ratio for various substrates and detection systems, we found that an alkaline phosphatase detection system with NBT/BCIP as a substrate was the best procedure for light microscopy, whereas the CY3-labeled secondary antibody technique proved optimal for fluorescent microscopy. Surgical transection of the splenic nerve eliminated all nerve fiber staining for DBH, TH, and NPY. TNF-α, IFN-γ, c-fos, and iNOS proteins were observed in the spleen in a time-dependent manner after LPS stimulation. Fluorescent double labeling, visualized with fluorescent confocal scanning laser microscopy, revealed many NPY fibers distributed among the ED1-labeled macrophages. These results demonstrate that immunohistochemistry can be used to index the activational effects of an immune challenge on splenocytes in situ and verifies that splenic immune cells are innervated by the sympathetic nervous system.

The values of permeability coefficients to water molecules and cryoprotectants are demanded to select the optimal duration of exposure of cells in cryoprotective media at the stage of their preparation for cryopreservation, as well as to find optimal cooling and warming rates during the freeze-thawing of cell suspensions. The necessary numerical values of such cell parameters as the osmotically inactive volume α and the surface-area-to-volume ratio γ were obtained for the analytical evaluation of the permeability coefficients of the PK-15 cells’ plasma membranes using physico-mathematical modelling. The permeability coefficients kp of the plasma membranes of PK-15 cells to 1,2-PD, EG, DMSO and glycerol cryoprotectants molecules, as well as the filtration coefficients Lp to water molecules at temperatures of 25, 15 and 5°C were determined by approximating the experimental data of the change in relative volume of cells on exposure time in the studied solutions by theoretical curves calculated on the basis of physical and mathematical model of passive transport of water and permeable substances under the condition of their maximum coincidence. The value of the activation energy of the transmembrane transfer of molecules of these substances is calculated

Phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX), a central player in the DNA damage response (DDR), serves as a biomarker of DNA double-strand break repair. Although DNA damage is generally visualized by the formation of γ-H2AX foci in injured nuclei, it is unclear whether the widespread uniform nuclear γ-H2AX (called pan-nuclear) pattern occurring upon intense replication stress (RS) is linked to DDR. Using a novel monoclonal antibody that binds exclusively to the phosphorylated C-terminus of H2AX, we demonstrate that H2AX phosphorylation is systematically pan-nuclear in cancer cells stressed with RS-inducing drugs just before they die. The pan-nuclear γ-H2AX pattern is abolished by inhibition of the DNA-PK kinase. Cell death induction of cancer cells treated with increasing combinations of replication and kinase (ATR and Chk1) inhibitory drugs was proportional to the appearance of pan-nuclear γ-H2AX pattern. Delivery of labeled anti-γ-H2AX Fabs in stressed cells demonstrated at a single cell level that pan-nuclear γ-H2AX formation precedes irreversible cell death. Moreover, we show that H2AX is not required for RS-induced cell death in HeLa cells. Thus, the nuclear-wide formation of γ-H2AX is an incident of RS-induced cell death and, thus, the pan nuclear H2AX pattern should be regarded as an indicator of lethal RS-inducing drug efficacy.

The bis(N,N′-morpholido)-[(N″-morpholido)-carboxamido] phosphate: O(CH2CH2 )NC(O )-N(H)P(O)[N(CH2CH2 )O]2 [HL], has been prepared and characterized by means of IR, 31P and 1H NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (triclinic, a = 9.282(2), b = 9.308(2), c = 21.341(4) Å, α = 80.79(3)°, β = 80.92(3)° γ = 66.92(3)°, V = 1665.1(6) Å3, space group P1̄̄, Z = 4 and R = 0.0423, wR2 = 0.1303 for 6774 unique reflections used). The unit cell consists of two independent molecules connected by hydrogen bonds N-H...O=P into non-symmetric dimers. The compound behaves as a HL molecule with a protonation constant corresponding to the -C(O)N(H)P(O)- group of pK = 8.65 as determined by potentiometric studies.

Abstract Fanconi anemia (FA) is an inherited genomic instability syndrome resulting from loss-of-function mutations in any one of at least 21 FANC genes critical for DNA repair. Accumulation of unresolved DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) results in chromosomal rearrangement, accounting in part for the high incidence of bone marrow failure (BMF) and leukemia in patients with FA. Safe, curative options are currently unavailable. Recent investigations have uncovered a specific function of thrombopoietin (TPO), a key regulator of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) self-renewal and survival, in promoting DNA damage response in these cells. TPO was shown to specifically increase the efficiency of non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), the predominant repair mechanism for DSBs in HSPCs; however, recombinant TPO is no longer approved for clinical applications. The alternative orally bioavailable small molecule TPO receptor agonist, eltrombopag (epag), was recently used in clinical trials to successfully treat life-threatening cytopenias in patients with acquired BMF. In this study, we investigate whether epag can promote NHEJ DSB repair in human HSPCs and thus provide a potential new therapeutic modality for patients with FA. To assess DNA repair activity of epag in FA CD34+ HSPCs, a population of cells that is markedly reduced in these patients, CD34+ HSPCs from 6 healthy individuals were subjected to CRISPR/Cas9-induced knockout mutations in FANCA, the most commonly mutated gene in FA. These FA HSPCs were cultured for 24 hr in the presence of early-acting cytokines, SCF and Flt3-L (designated "SF"), or SF supplemented with epag ("SFE") or TPO ("SFT") prior to induction of DSBs by exposure to 2Gy γ-irradiation (IR). Cells were then cultured for an additional 1, 5, or 24 hr to assess the kinetics of DNA repair, as measured by decreases in H2AX phosphorylation (γH2AX), an indicator of IR-induced DSBs. Maximal H2AX phosphorylation was observed 1 hr after IR of FA HSPCs and was similar for all culture conditions (>90% γH2AX+ cells), indicating that epag and TPO do not prevent DSB formation or phosphorylation of H2AX. Five hours after IR, most FA HSPCs cultured with epag (Fig. A) or TPO (Fig. B) had resolved the IR-induced DSBs, while much higher percentages of γH2AX+ cells persisted in the control SF group. The observed effect was specific to epag and TPO; removal of SCF had no significant impact on DNA repair. Regardless of culture condition, the majority of FA HSPCs either resolved DSBs or progressed through apoptosis by 24 hr post-IR. These findings indicate that epag and TPO increase the kinetics of DSB repair in FA HSPCs. To gain insight into the primary mechanism of DNA repair promoted by epag and TPO, we inhibited DNA-PK, an essential component of the classical NHEJ (C-NHEJ) pathway. Addition of a DNA-PK inhibitor (NU7441) had no impact on DSB formation measured at 1 hr or on DNA repair at 24 hr, but completely abrogated the enhanced kinetics of DSB repair observed at 5 hr with epag (Fig. A) and TPO (Fig. B). These data indicate that culturing FA HSPCs with epag or TPO promotes the fast-acting DNA-PK-dependent C-NHEJ DNA repair mechanism, a pathway known to promote genomic stability. In contrast, cells cultured without epag or TPO resolved DSBs using a slower, DNA-PK-independent alternative NHEJ (alt-NHEJ) mechanism, a pathway associated with genomic instability. Shunting of DSB repair in rapid C-NHEJ with epag (Fig. C) or TPO (Fig. D) was associated with substantial increase in survival of γ-irradiated FA HSPCs compared with control (SF) groups. In contrast, when C-NHEJ DNA repair was inhibited with NU7441, the cell survival benefit observed with epag (Fig. C) or TPO (Fig. D) was abolished. In colony forming unit (CFU) progenitor assays, γ-irradiated HSPCs cultured with epag or TPO yielded 4- to 6-fold more CFUs than control SF groups (Fig. E). When γ-irradiated HSPCs were transplanted into immunodeficient NSG mice, a 2-fold increase in human cell engraftment was observed in cultures containing epag or TPO compared to controls (p<0.01), suggesting activation of DNA repair activity by these cytokines in cells with long-term repopulating capacity (Fig. F). Overall, our data indicate that epag and TPO enhance DSB repair in human HSPCs by promoting the fast-operating and faithful C-NHEJ pathway. A phase II clinical trial is in development to assess safety and efficacy of epag in the treatment of hematological manifestations of FA. Figure Figure. Disclosures Guenther: Agilent Laboratories: Other: Stipend, Research Funding; Norvartis: Research Funding. Cheruku: Novartis: Other: Stipend, Research Funding. Smith: Novartis: Research Funding; Agilent Laboratories: Research Funding. Larochelle: StemCell Technologies: Patents & Royalties: StemDiff Hematopoietic Kit; Novartis: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding.

AbstractA basic nilsequence is a sequence of the form ψ(n)=f(Tnx), where x is a point of a compact nilmanifold X, T is a translation on X, and f∈C(X); a nilsequence is a uniform limit of basic nilsequences. Let X=G/Γ be a compact nilmanifold, Y be a subnilmanifold of X, g(n) be a polynomial sequence in G, and f∈C(X); we show that the sequence ∫ g(n)Yf, n∈ℤ, is the sum of a basic nilsequence and a sequence that converges to zero in uniform density. This implies that, given an ergodic invertible measure-preserving system (W,ℬ,μ,T), with μ(W)<∞, polynomials p1,…,pk∈ℤ[n], and sets A1,…,Ak∈ℬ, the sequence μ(Tp1(n)A1∩⋯∩Tpk(n)Ak) is the sum of a nilsequence and a sequence that converges to zero in uniform density. We also obtain a version of this result for the case where pi are polynomials in several variables.

This study aimed to assess the efficacy and explore the mechanisms of action of a potent phosphodiesterase (PDE)7A and a moderate PDE4B inhibitor GRMS-55 in a mouse model of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). The concentrations of GRMS-55 and relevant biomarkers were measured in the serum of BALB/c mice with concanavalin A (ConA)-induced hepatitis administered with GRMS-55 at two dose levels. A semi-mechanistic PK/PD/disease progression model describing the time courses of measured biomarkers was developed. The emetogenicity as a potential side effect of the studied compound was evaluated in the α2-adrenoceptor agonist-induced anesthesia model. The results indicate that liver damage observed in mice challenged with ConA was mainly mediated by TNF-α and IFN-γ. GRMS-55 decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and the transaminase activities in the serum of mice with AIH. The anti-inflammatory properties of GRMS-55, resulting mainly from PDE7A inhibition, led to a high hepatoprotective activity in mice with AIH, which was mediated by an inhibition of pro-inflammatory signaling. GRMS-55 did not induce the emetic-like behavior. The developed PK/PD/disease progression model may be used in future studies to assess the potency and explore the mechanisms of action of new investigational compounds for the treatment of AIH.

Les syndromes douloureux chroniques, inflammatoires ou neuropathiques, se caractérisent par une hypersensiblitité douloureuse, sous forme de douleurs spontanées et d’allodynie et d’hyperalgésie. L’isoforme γ de la protein kinase C (PKCγ), concentrée dans un type spécifique d’interneurones de la couche II interne (IIi) de la corne dorsale de la moelle ou du sous-noyau caudal du trijumeau (Sp5C) est impliqué dans mécanismes centraux de l’allodynie mécanique, une condition dans laquelle le toucher provoque une douleur. Nous avons utilisé des techniques comportementales et immunohistochimiques dans le système trigéminal.Le rôle de la PKCγ dans le développement de l’allodynie mécanique est bien établi après lésion nerveuse périphérique. Par contre, il l’est beaucoup moins dans l’allodynie d’origine inflammatoire. Nous avons testé l’hypothèse que l’allodynie mécanique persistante à la suite d’une inflammation périphérique provoquée par l’adjuvent complet de Freund (‘complete Freund’s adjuvant’ ou CFA) est bien due à une activation de la PKCγ. L’injection sous-cutanée de CFA au niveau de la zone d’insertion des vibrisses induit une allodynie persistante spécifiquement statique. L’immunomarquage phopho-ERK1/2 montre que l’expression de cette allodynie s’accompagne d’une activation d’interneurones des couches I-IIe et IIi-IIIe, dont des interneurones PKCγ de la couche IIi. Cette allodynie statique est supprimée par l’application intracisternale de l’antagoniste PKCγ, KIG31-1, avant l’injection de CFA, mais pas 3 jours après l’injection de CFA. Ainsi, comme pour l’allodynie mécanique neuropathique, l’activation de la PKCγ est nécessaire au développement de l’allodynie mécanique inflammatoire.Nous avons aussi examiné si l’activation de la PKCγ est suffisante pour le développement de l’allodynie mécanique. L’injection intracisternale de phorbol ester, 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), un activateur de la PKCγ, induit simultanément une allodynie mécanique statique et dynamique de la face. L’immunoréactivité phospho-ERK1/2 révèle que l’expression de ces deux allodynies mécaniques s’accompagne de la même activation d’interneurones des couches I-IIe et IIi-IIIe, dont des interneurones PKCγ de la couche IIi . Les effets de l’application de PDBu sont bloqués par l’application simultanée de KIG31-1.L’activation de la PKCγ seule est suffisante pour que se développe une allodynie mécanique, à la fois statique et dynamique. On sait que les interneurones PKCγ de la couche IIi sont directement activés par des afférences myélinisées mécaniques non nociceptives. Le niveau d’activation de la PKCγ contrôlerait la transmission de cette information vers les neurones de projection de la couche I, et donc la transformation du toucher en douleur<br>Inflammatory and neuropathic chronic pain syndromes are characterized by pain hypersensitivy, manifest as spontaneous pain, allodynia and hyperalgesia. The γ isoform of protein kinase C (PKCγ), which is concentrated in a specific class of interneurons within inner lamina II (IIi) of the spinal (SDH) and medullary (MDH) dorsal horns, has been implicated in the central mechanisms underlying mechanical allodynia, a condition wherein touch produces pain. We used behavioral and immunohistochemical techniques in the trigeminal system.Whereas there is clear evidence for the involvement of PKCγ in neuropathic mechanical allodynia, that for the involvement of PKCγ in inflammatory mechanical allodynia is still controversial. We investigated the involvement of PKCγ into the persistent mechanical allodynia induced by complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) inflammation. Subcutaneous injection of CFA into the vibrissa pad of rats induced a persistent selectively static mechanical allodynia. Monitoring neuronal activity within medullary dorsal horn (MDH) with phospho-ERK1/2 immunoreactivity showed that activation of both laminae I-IIo and IIi-IIIo neurons, including lamina IIi PKCγ-expressing interneurons, was associated with the expression of static mechanical allodynia. Intracisternal injection of the selective PKCγ antagonist, KIG31-1, prevented CFA-induced static mechanical allodynia only when it was injected before, but not 3 days after, CFA injection. These results show that, as for neuropathic mechanical allodynias, PKCγ activation is necessary for inflammatory mechanical allodynia.We also examined whether PKCγ activation in naïve animals is sufficient for the establishment of mechanical allodynia. Intracisternal injection of the phorbol ester, 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), concomitantly induced static and dynamic facial mechanical allodynias Monitoring neuronal activity within MDH with phospho-ERK1/2 immunoreactivity revealed that the same activation of both laminae I-IIo and IIi-IIIo neurons, including lamina IIi PKCγ-expressing interneurons, was associated with the manifestation of both mechanical allodynias. PDBu-induced mechanical allodynias and associated neuronal activations were all prevented by intracisternal KIG31-1.Our findings reveal that PKCγ activation is sufficient for the development of static and dynamic mechanical allodynias. Lamina IIi PKCγ interneurons have been shown to be directly activated by low-threshold mechanical inputs carried by myelinated afferents. The level of PKCγ activation might thus gate the transmission of innocuous mechanical inputs to lamina I, nociceptive output neurons, thus turning touch into pain