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Background: African Americans suffer disproportionately from diabetes and cardiovascular disease and are significantly more likely to have suboptimal concentrations of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. The results of epidemiologic and observational studies suggest that there is a link between vitamin D deficiency and the risk of cardiometabolic disorders, which underscores the importance of maintaining healthy concentrations of 25(OH)D. Objective: The objective was to investigate whether daily supplementation with 4000 IU vitamin D3 for 1 y would eliminate any disparities in circulating concentrations of 25(OH)D between African American and white men. Design: Serum concentrations of 25(OH)D were measured every 2 mo in 47 subjects who received a daily oral dose of 4000 IU vitamin D3 for 1 y. Results: More than 90% of African Americans had serum concentrations of 25(OH)D <32 ng/mL, and approximately two-thirds had serum concentrations <20 ng/mL. Furthermore, there were significant disparities in serum concentrations of 25(OH)D between African American and white men. Supplementation with 4000 IU/d for 1 y eliminated any significant differences in circulating concentrations of 25(OH)D between African American and white men. Conclusion: The results of this clinical study show the feasibility and efficacy of this approach in the elimination of hypovitaminosis D, which is a widespread health disparity among African Americans. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01045109. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurological disorders represent major health concerns in terms of comorbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite a tremendous increase in our understanding of the pathophysiological processes involved in disease progression and prevention, the accumulated knowledge so far resulted in relatively moderate translational benefits in terms of therapeutic interventions and enhanced clinical outcomes. Aiming at specific neural molecular pathways, different strategies have been geared to target the development and progression of such disorders. The kallikrein-kinin system (KKS) is among the most delineated candidate systems due to its ubiquitous roles mediating several of the pathophysiological features of these neurological disorders as well as being implicated in regulating various brain functions. Several experimental KKS models revealed that the inhibition or stimulation of the two receptors of the KKS system (B1R and B2R) can exhibit neuroprotective and/or adverse pathological outcomes. This updated review provides background details of the KKS components and their functions in different neurological disorders including temporal lobe epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis and glioma. Finally, this work will highlight the putative roles of the KKS components as potential neurotherapeutic targets and provide future perspectives on the possibility of translating these findings into potential clinical biomarkers in neurological disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non-genomic membrane bound oestrogen receptor (mER) regulates intracellular signals through receptor-ligand interactions. The mER, along with G-protein coupled oestrogen receptor GPR 30 (GPER), induces diverse cell signalling pathways in murine lymphocytes. The mER isoform ER-alpha46 has recently been demonstrated in human B and T lymphocytes as an analogue receptor for chemokine CCL18, the signalling events of which are not clearly understood. Ligand-induced mER and GPER signalling events are shared with BCR, CD19 mediated intracellular signalling through phospholipase C, PIP2/IP3/PI3 mediated activation of Akt, MAP kinase, and mTOR. Oestrogen has the ability to induce CD40-mediated activation of B cells. The complete signalling pathways of mER, GPR30 and their interaction with other signals are targeted areas for novel drug development in B cells during infection, autoimmunity and cancer. Therefore, an in depth investigation is critical for determining shared signal outputs during B cell activation. Here, we focus on the mode of action of membrane bound ER in B cells as therapeutic checkpoints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental evidence supports the role of mitochondrial ceramide accumulation as a cause of mitochondrial dysfunction and brain injury after stroke. Herein, we report that SIRT3 regulates mitochondrial ceramide biosynthesis via deacetylation of ceramide synthase (CerS) 1, 2, and 6. Reciprocal immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that CerS1, CerS2, and CerS6, but not CerS4, are associated with SIRT3 in cerebral mitochondria. Furthermore, CerS1, -2, and -6 are hyperacetylated in the mitochondria of SIRT3-null mice, and SIRT3 directly deacetylates the ceramide synthases in a NAD+-dependent manner that increases enzyme activity. Investigation of the SIRT3 role in mitochondrial response to brain ischemia/reperfusion (IR) showed that SIRT3-mediated deacetylation of ceramide synthases increased enzyme activity and ceramide accumulation after IR. Functional studies demonstrated that absence of SIRT3 rescued the IR-induced blockade of the electron transport chain at the level of complex III, attenuated mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization, and decreased reactive oxygen species generation and protein carbonyls in mitochondria. Importantly, Sirt3 gene ablation reduced the brain injury after IR. These data support the hypothesis that IR triggers SIRT3-dependent deacetylation of ceramide synthases and the elevation of ceramide, which could inhibit complex III, leading to increased reactive oxygen species generation and brain injury. The results of these studies highlight a novel mechanism of SIRT3 involvement in modulating mitochondrial ceramide biosynthesis and suggest an important role of SIRT3 in mitochondrial dysfunction and brain injury after experimental stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to immediate brain damage, traumatic brain injury (TBI) initiates a cascade of pathophysiological events producing secondary injury. The biochemical and cellular mechanisms that comprise secondary injury are not entirely understood. Herein, we report a substantial deregulation of cerebral sphingolipid metabolism in a mouse model of TBI. Sphingolipid profile analysis demonstrated increases in sphingomyelin species and sphingosine concurrently with up-regulation of intermediates of de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis in the brain. Investigation of intracellular sites of sphingosine accumulation revealed an elevation of sphingosine in mitochondria due to the activation of neutral ceramidase (NCDase) and the reduced activity of sphingosine kinase 2 (SphK2). The lack of change in gene expression suggested that post-translational mechanisms are responsible for the shift in the activities of both enzymes. Immunoprecipitation studies revealed that SphK2 is complexed with NCDase and cytochrome oxidase (COX) subunit 1 in mitochondria and that brain injury hindered SphK2 association with the complex. Functional studies showed that sphingosine accumulation resulted in a decreased activity of COX, a rate-limiting enzyme of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Knocking down NCDase reduced sphingosine accumulation in mitochondria and preserved COX activity after the brain injury. Also, NCDase knockdown improved brain function recovery and lessened brain contusion volume after trauma. These studies highlight a novel mechanism of secondary TBI involving a disturbance of sphingolipid-metabolizing enzymes in mitochondria and suggest a critical role for mitochondrial sphingosine in promoting brain injury after trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Vitamin D promotes the differentiation of prostate cancer cells, raising the possibility that vitamin D deficiency over time may contribute to the progression from subclinical prostate cancer to clinical disease. Since low-risk prostate cancers are monitored over time in an effort to determine which progress into clinically important, more aggressive cancers, they provide an excellent model in which to study, over an extended period of time, the effects of enhancing vitamin D status and related changes in tumor progression. This is particularly relevant to African-American men, who exhibit a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency as well as higher incidence of prostate cancer and higher mortality rates from prostate cancer than Caucasians. Our research team has recently completed an open-label clinical trial aimed at assessing the safety and potential efficacy of vitamin D3 supplementation at 4000 international units (IU) per day for one year in subjects diagnosed with early stage, low-risk prostate cancer. The results of this clinical study suggest that supplementation with vitamin D3 at 4000IU per day may benefit patients with early stage, low-risk prostate cancer on active surveillance, because of the improved outcome (a decreased number of positive cores at repeat biopsy) in more than half of the subjects enrolled in the trial. We also observed that, after one year of supplementation, there was no difference in circulating levels of vitamin D between African-American and Caucasian subjects who completed the study. These clinical results also suggest that robust and sustained vitamin D3 supplementation can reduce prostate cancer-related health disparities in African-American men and that these health disparities are at least in part the result of widespread hypovitaminosis D within the African-American population. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled ‘Vitamin D Workshop’. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The resin of Boswellia species is a major anti-inflammatory agent that has been used for centuries to treat various conditions including injuries and inflammatory conditions. Incensole acetate (IA), a major constituent of this resin, has been shown to inhibit NF-κB activation and concomitant inflammation, as well as the neurological deficit following head trauma. Here, we show that IA protects against ischemic neuronal damage and reperfusion injury in mice, attenuating the inflammatory nature of ischemic damage. IA given post-ischemia, reduced infarct volumes and improved neurological activities in the mouse model of ischemic injury in a dose dependent fashion. The protection from damage was accompanied by inhibition of TNF-α, IL-1β and TGF-β expression, as well as NF-κB activation following injury. In addition, IA is shown to have a therapeutic window of treatment up to 6h after ischemic injury. Finally, the protective effects of IA were partially mediated by TRPV3 channels as determined by the TRPV3 deficient mice and channel blocker studies. This study suggests that the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities of IA may serve as a novel therapeutic treatment for ischemic and reperfusion injury, and as a tool in the ongoing research of mechanisms for neurological damage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ceramides, which are membrane sphingolipids and key mediators of cell-stress responses, are generated by a family of (dihydro) ceramide synthases (Lass1-6/CerS1-6). Here, we report that brain development features significant increases in sphingomyelin, sphingosine, and most ceramide species. In contrast, C16:0-ceramide was gradually reduced and CerS6 was down-regulated in mitochondria, thereby implicating CerS6 as a primary ceramide synthase generating C16:0-ceramide. Investigations into the role of CerS6 in mitochondria revealed that ceramide synthase down-regulation is associated with dramatically decreased mitochondrial Ca2+-loading capacity, which could be rescued by addition of ceramide. Selective CerS6 complexing with the inner membrane component of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore was detected by immunoprecipitation. This suggests that CerS6-generated ceramide could prevent mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening, leading to increased Ca2+ accumulation in the mitochondrial matrix. We examined the effect of high CerS6 expression on cell survival in primary oligodendrocyte (OL) precursor cells, which undergo apoptotic cell death during early postnatal brain development. Exposure of OLs to glutamate resulted in apoptosis that was prevented by inhibitors of de novo ceramide biosynthesis, myriocin and fumonisin B1. Knockdown of CerS6 with siRNA reduced glutamate-triggered OL apoptosis, whereas knockdown of CerS5 had no effect: the pro-apoptotic role of CerS6 was not stimulus-specific. Knockdown of CerS6 with siRNA improved cell survival in response to nerve growth factor-induced OL apoptosis. Also, blocking mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake or decreasing Ca2+-dependent protease calpain activity with specific inhibitors prevented OL apoptosis. Finally, knocking down CerS6 decreased calpain activation. Thus, our data suggest a novel role for CerS6 in the regulation of both mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis and calpain, which appears to be important in OL apoptosis during brain development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a major mediator of physiological glutamate signaling involved in higher brain functions. Here, we show CaMKII involvement in pathological glutamate signaling relevant in stroke. The novel inhibitor tatCN21 was neuroprotective even when added hours after glutamate insults. By contrast, the "traditional" inhibitor KN93 attenuated excitotoxicity only when present during the insult. Both inhibitors efficiently blocked Ca2+/CaM-stimulated CaMKII activity, CaMKII interaction with NR2B and aggregation of CaMKII holoenzymes. However, only tatCN21 but not KN93 blocked the Ca2+-independent "autonomous" activity generated by Thr-286 autophosphorylation, the hallmark feature of CaMKII regulation. Mutational analysis further validated autonomous CaMKII activity as the drug target crucial for post-insult neuroprotection. Overexpression of CaMKII wild type but not the autonomy-deficient T286A mutant significantly increased glutamate-induced neuronal death. Maybe most importantly, tatCN21 also significantly reduced infarct size in a mouse stroke model (middle cerebral arterial occlusion) when injected (1 mg/kg intravenously) 1 h after onset of arterial occlusion. Together, these data demonstrate that inhibition of autonomous CaMKII activity provides a promising therapeutic avenue for post-insult neuro-protection after stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Atlantic bottlenose dolphin has attracted attention due to the evident impact that environmental stressors have taken on its health. In order to better understand the mechanisms linking environmental health with dolphin health, we have established cell cultures from dolphin skin as in vitro tools for molecular evaluations. The vitamin D3 pathway is one mechanism of interest because of its well established chemopreventative and immunomodulatory properties in terrestrial mammals. On the other hand, little is known of the physiological role of this molecule in aquatic animals. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D3), the bioactive and hormonal form of vitamin D3, exerts its biological function by binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR), a ligand-activated regulator of gene transcription. Therefore, we investigated the transcriptomic changes induced by 1,25D3 administration in dolphin skin cells. Identification of specific genes activated by 1,25D3 has provided clues to the physiological function of the vitamin D3 pathway in the dolphin. We found that exposure of the cells to 1,25D3 upregulated transactivation of a vitamin D-sensitive promoter. cDNA microarray analysis, using a novel dolphin array, identified specific gene targets within this pathway, and real-time PCR (qPCR) confirmed the enhanced expression of select genes of interest. These transcriptional changes correlated with an increase in VDR levels. This is the first report of the presence and activation of the vitamin D3 pathway in a marine mammal, and our experimental results demonstrate a number of similarities to terrestrial animals. Conservation of this pathway in the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin is consistent with the importance of nonclassic functions of vitamin D3, such as its role in innate immunity, similar to what has been demonstrated in other mammals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Although the majority of human illnesses occur during adulthood, most of the available in vitro disease models are based upon cells obtained from embryonic/fetal tissues because of the difficulties involved with culturing adult cells. Development of adult mouse neuronal cultures has a special significance because of the abundance of transgenic disease models that use this species. In this study a novel cell culture method has been developed that supports the long-term survival and physiological regeneration of adult mouse hippocampal cells in a serum-free defined environment. In this well-defined, controlled system, adult mouse hippocampal cells survived for up to 21 days in culture. The cultured cells exhibited typical hippocampal neuronal morphology and electrophysiological properties after recovery from the trauma of dissociation, and stained positive for the expected neuronal markers. This system has great potential as an investigative tool for in vitro studies of adult diseases, the aging brain or transgenic models of age-associated disorders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Motoneuronotrophic factor (MNTF) is an endogenous neurotrophin that is highly specific for the human nervous system, and some of the observed effects of MNTF include motoneuron differentiation, maintenance, survival, and reinnervation of target muscles and organs. MNTF is a neuro-signaling molecule that binds to specific receptors. Using In Silico Analysis, one of the active sites of MNTF was identified as an analog of six amino acids (GM6). The effect of chemically synthesized GM6 on ischemic stroke was studied in the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) mouse model. Mice were subjected to 1 hur of ischemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion. Mice were injected intravenously with a bolus of GM6, at various doses (1 and 5 mg/kg) immediately after the start of reperfusion and examined for changes in physiological parameters, neurological deficits and infarct volume. GM6 was able to penetrate the blood brain barrier, and at both 1 and 5 mg/kg showed a significant protection from infarct damage, which translated to improvement of neurological deficits. Administration of GM6 demonstrated no changes in HR, BP, pO2, pCO2, or pH. A significant increase over the control group in CBF after reperfusion was observed with GM6 administration, which helped to mitigate the ischemic effect caused by the blockage of blood flow. The time window of treatment was assessed at various times following cerebral ischemia with GM6 demonstrating a significant protective effect up to 6–12 h post ischemia. In addition, GM6 increased neurogenesis, and decreased apoptosis and inflammation in the mouse brain following cerebral ischemic injury. These data suggest that GM6 is neuroprotective to the brain following IV injection in the mouse model of MCAo. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Integrins govern cellular adhesion and transmit signals leading to activation of intracellular signaling pathways aimed to prevent apoptosis. Herein we report that attachment of oligodendrocytes (OLs) to fibronectin via αvβ3 integrin receptors rendered the cells more resistant to apoptosis than the cells attached to laminin via α6β1 integrins. Investigation of molecular mechanisms involved in αvβ3integrin-mediated cell survival revealed that ligation of the integrin with fibronectin results in higher expression of activated Lyn kinase. Both in OLs and in the mouse brain, Lyn selectively associates with αvβ3 integrin, not with αvβ5 integrin, leading to suppression of acid sphingomyelinase activity and preventing ceramide-mediated apoptosis. In OLs, knockdown of Lyn with small interfering RNA resulted in OL apoptosis with concomitant accumulation of C16-ceramide due to activation of acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) and sphingomyelin hydrolysis. Knocking down ASMase partially protected OLs from apoptosis. In the brain, ischemia/reperfusion (IR) triggered rearrangements in the αvβ3 integrin-Lyn kinase complex leading to disruption of Lyn kinase-mediated suppression of ASMase activity. Thus, co-immunoprecipitation studies revealed an increased association of αvβ3 integrin-Lyn kinase complex with ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits, GluR2 and GluR4, after cerebral IR. Sphingolipid analysis of the brain demonstrated significant accumulation of ceramide and sphingomyelin hydrolysis. The data suggest a novel mechanism for regulation of ASMase activity during cell adhesion in which Lyn acts as a key upstream kinase that may play a critical role in cerebral IR injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recent studies have demonstrated that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is one of the most important mediators in spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the role of TNF-α in this process is still under debate due to conflicting evidence. Here, we utilized TNF-α transgenic (tg) rats and wild-type (wt) littermates to further investigate the role of TNF-α in SCI. We observed that, in the acute phase post-SCI (≤3 days), TNF-α tg rats showed higher expression of TNF-α protein and more apoptotic cells in the spinal cord than wt rats, while in the chronic period (≥7 days), TNF-α tg rats exhibited persistent baseline level of TNF-α protein, better tissue healing, and more activated astrocytes in the border of the lesion than wt rats. These data further demonstrate that TNF-α plays a dual role in SCI and its role probably depends on when it is released after SCI and on which cellular population it acts on. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A cardinal feature of brain tissue injury in stroke is mitochondrial dysfunction leading to cell death, yet remarkably little is known about the mechanisms underlying mitochondrial injury in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (IR). Ceramide, a naturally occurring membrane sphingolipid, functions as an important second messenger in apoptosis signaling and is generated by de novo synthesis, sphingomyelin hydrolysis, or recycling of sphingolipids. In this study, cerebral IR-induced ceramide elevation resulted from ceramide biosynthesis rather than from hydrolysis of sphingomyelin. Investigation of intracellular sites of ceramide accumulation revealed the elevation of ceramide in mitochondria because of activation of mitochondrial ceramide synthase via post-translational mechanisms. Furthermore, ceramide accumulation appears to cause mitochondrial respiratory chain damage that could be mimicked by exogenously added natural ceramide to mitochondria. The effect of ceramide on mitochondria was somewhat specific; dihydroceramide, a structure closely related to ceramide, did not inflict damage. Stimulation of ceramide biosynthesis seems to be under control of JNK3 signaling: IR-induced ceramide generation and respiratory chain damage was abolished in mitochondria of JNK3-deficient mice, which exhibited reduced infarct volume after IR. These studies suggest that the hallmark of mitochondrial injury in cerebral IR, respiratory chain dysfunction, is caused by the accumulation of ceramide via stimulation of ceramide synthase activity in mitochondria, and that JNK3 has a pivotal role in regulation of ceramide biosynthesis in cerebral IR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In recent years, studies have suggested that accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide in the brain plays a key role in the development of Alzheimer''s disease (AD). The steady-state level of Aβ peptide in the brain is determined by the rate of production from amyloid precursor protein (APP) via β- and γ-secretases and degradation by the activity of several enzymes. Neprilysin (NEP) appears to be the most potent Aβ peptide-degrading enzyme in the brain. Decreasing the activity of NEP (due to genetic mutations, age or diseases that alter the expression or activity of NEP) may lead to accumulation of the neurotoxic Aβ peptide in the brain; in turn this leads to neuronal loss. We investigated the efficacy of lentivirus-mediated over-expression of NEP to protect neuronal cells from Aβ peptide in vitro. Incubation of hippocampal neuronal cells (HT22) over-expressing NEP with the monomeric from of Aβ peptide decreases the toxicity of Aβ peptide on the neuronal cells, as measured through cell viability. We conclude that over-expression of NEP by a gene therapy approach in areas vulnerable to Aβ peptide aggregation in AD brain may protect the neurons from the toxicity effects of Aβ peptide and this promises a great potential target for altering the development of AD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A microarray focused on stress response and immune function genes of the bottlenosed dolphin has been developed. Random expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were isolated and sequenced from two dolphin peripheral blood leukocyte (PBL) cDNA libraries biased towards T- and B-cell gene expression by stimulation with IL-2 and LPS, respectively. A total of 2784 clones were sequenced and contig analysis yielded 1343 unigenes (archived and annotated at www.marinegenomics.org). In addition, 52 dolphin genes known to be important in innate and adaptive immune function and stress responses of terrestrial mammals were specifically targeted, cloned and added to the unigene collection. The set of dolphin sequences printed on a cDNA microarray comprised the 1343 unigenes, the 52 targeted genes and 2305 randomly selected (but unsequenced) EST clones. This set was printed in duplicate spots, side by side, and in two replicates per slide, such that the total number of features per microarray slide was 19,200, including controls. The dolphin arrays were validated and transcriptomic profiles were generated using PBL from a wild dolphin, a captive dolphin and dolphin skin cells. The results demonstrate that the array is a reproducible and informative tool for assessing differential gene expression in dolphin PBL and in other tissues. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Individuals with Down''s syndrome (DS) develop the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer''s (AD) disease at an early age, subsequently followed by memory decline and dementia. We have utilized an animal model for DS, mice with segmental trisomy of chromosome 16 (Ts65Dn), to study biological events linked to memory loss. Previous studies demonstrated a cognitive decline and loss of cholinergic markers after 6–8 months of age. In the current study, we found increased levels of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in the striatum by 6–8 months of age, and in the hippocampus and parietal cortex by 13–16 months of age in Ts65Dn but not in normosomic mice. Additionally, Ts65Dn mice exhibited alterations in nerve growth factor (NGF) levels in the basal forebrain and hippocampus. Ts65Dn mice demonstrated a significant decline in NGF levels in the basal forebrain with age, as well as a reduction in hippocampal NGF by 13–16 months of age. These findings demonstrate that elevated APP and decreased NGF levels in limbic areas correlate with the progressive memory decline and cholinergic degeneration seen in middle-aged trisomic mice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An abstract of the article "Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease by Neprilysin Gene Transfer," by Robert A. Marr, Edward Rockenstien, Atish Mukherjee, Mark S. Kindy, Louis B. Hersh, Fred H. Gage, Eliezer Masliah and Inder M. Verma is presented.