Remote audit practice for inspection of structural and equipment standards for cell processing facilities under the act on the safety of regenerative medicine in Japan.

Introduction: The Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine enforced in Japan in 2014, regulates the manufacture of cellular processed products. However, with regards to the manufacturing facilities at medical institutions, only the submission of necessary documents is required for a license, and the need for third-party inspection has been highlighted. Remote activities are becoming more prominent with the spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 infection; therefore, the current assessment of compliance with structural facility standards was conducted remotely. Methods: The entire process, including start-up meetings, preparation of the survey schedule, submission and review of preliminary materials, audits, and reporting of results, was conducted via e-mail and web conferencing systems. The survey was conducted remotely, to minimize the risk of contamination of the cell processing facility (CPF) and reduce the burden on surveyors, while contributing to the establishment of suitable structural facilities by identifying and highlighting the areas or items that were considered to be non-compliant with the regulations. The series of audits were completed in ten weeks, with a period of six weeks between the start-up meeting and the audit implementation. The audit was completed in approximately 3 h on the day of the inspection. Results: The audit results were delivered in the report, with four items requiring improvement and several other recommended items listed as non-conformities. Conclusions: We believe that this remote method allows the effective inspection of regenerative medicine manufacturing facilities and assessment of more cell culture processing facilities than the current in-person audit method, with limited human resources.

P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor, FR167653, inhibits parathyroid hormone related protein-induced osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption.

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) acts downstream in the signaling pathway that includes receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK), a powerful inducer of osteoclast formation and activation. We investigated the role of p38 MAPK in parathyroid hormone related protein (PTHrP)-induced osteoclastogenesis in vitro and PTHrP-induced bone resorption in vivo. The ability of FR167653 to inhibit osteoclast formation was evaluated by counting the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase positive multinucleated cells (TRAP-positive MNCs) in in vitro osteoclastgenesis assays. Its mechanisms were evaluated by detecting the expression level of c-Fos and nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NFATc1) in bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) stimulated with sRANKL and M-CSF, and by detecting the expression level of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and RANKL in bone marrow stromal cells stimulated with PTHrP in the presence of FR167653. The function of FR167653 on bone resorption was assessed by measuring the bone resorption area radiographically and by counting osteoclast number per unit bone tissue area in calvaria in a mouse model of bone resorption by injecting PTHrP subcutaneously onto calvaria. Whole blood ionized calcium levels were also recorded. FR167653 inhibited PTHrP-induced osteoclast formation and PTHrP-induced c-Fos and NFATc1 expression in bone marrow macrophages, but not the expression levels of RANKL and OPG in primary bone marrow stromal cells treated by PTHrP. Furthermore, bone resorption area and osteoclast number in vivo were significantly decreased by the treatment of FR167653. Systemic hypercalcemia was also partially inhibited. Inhibition of p38 MAPK by FR167653 blocks PTHrP-induced osteoclastogenesis in vitro and PTHrP-induced bone resorption in vivo, suggesting that the p38 MAPK signaling pathway plays a fundamental role in PTHrP-induced osteoclastic bone resorption.

Conditional deletion of Bmpr1a in differentiated osteoclasts increases osteoblastic bone formation, increasing volume of remodeling bone in mice.

Bone undergoes remodeling consisting of osteoclastic bone resorption followed by osteoblastic bone formation throughout life. Although the effects of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signals on osteoblasts have been studied extensively, the function of BMP signals in osteoclasts has not been fully elucidated. To delineate the function of BMP signals in osteoclasts during bone remodeling, we deleted BMP receptor type IA (Bmpr1a) in an osteoclast-specific manner using a knock-in Cre mouse line to the cathepsin K locus (Ctsk(Cre/+);Bmpr1a(flox/flox), designated as Bmpr1a(ΔOc/ΔOc)). Cre was specifically expressed in multinucleated osteoclasts in vivo. Cre-dependent deletion of the Bmpr1a gene occurred at 4 days after cultivation of bone marrow macrophages obtained from Bmpr1a(ΔOc/ΔOc) with RANKL. These results suggested that Bmpr1a was deleted after formation of osteoclasts in Bmpr1a(ΔOc/ΔOc) mice. Expression of bone-resorption markers increased, thus suggesting that BMPRIA signaling negatively regulates osteoclast differentiation. Trabeculae in tibia and femurs were thickened in 3.5-, 8-, and 12-week-old Bmpr1a(ΔOc/ΔOc) mice. Bone histomorphometry revealed increased bone volume associated with increased osteoblastic bone-formation rates (BFR) in the remodeling bone of the secondary spongiosa in Bmpr1a(ΔOc/ΔOc) tibias at 8 weeks of age. For comparison, we also induced an osteoblast-specific deletion of Bmpr1a using Col1a1-Cre. The resulting mice showed increased bone volume with marked decreases in BFR in tibias at 8 weeks of age. These results indicate that deletion of Bmpr1a in differentiated osteoclasts increases osteoblastic bone formation, thus suggesting that BMPR1A signaling in osteoclasts regulates coupling to osteoblasts by reducing bone-formation activity during bone remodeling.

Insulation of the ubiquitous Rxrb promoter from the cartilage-specific adjacent gene, Col11a2.

The retinoid X receptor beta gene (Rxrb) is located just upstream of the alpha2(XI) collagen chain gene (Col11a2) in a head-to-tail manner. However, the domain structures of these genes are unknown. Col11a2 is specifically expressed in cartilage. In the present study, we found Rxrb expression in various tissues with low expression in the cartilage. Col11a2 1st intron enhancer directed cartilage specific expression when linked to the heterologous promoter in transgenic mice. These results suggest the presence of enhancer-blocking elements that insulate Rxrb promoter from the Col11a2 enhancer. So far, most of insulators examined in vertebrates contain a binding site for CTCF. We found two possible CTCF-binding sites: one (11P) in the intergenic region between Rxrb and Col11a2 by electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and the other in the 4th intron of RXRB by data base search. To examine the function of these elements, we prepared bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgene constructs containing a 142-kb genomic DNA insert with RXRB and COL11A2 sequences in the middle. Mutation of 11P significantly decreased the RXRB promoter activity in muscular cells and significantly increased expression levels of RXRB in chondrosarcoma cells. In transgenic mouse assays, the wild-type BAC transgene partly recapitulated endogenous Rxrb expression patterns. A 507-bp deletion mutation including 11P enhanced the cartilage-specific activity of the RXRB promoter in BAC transgenic mice. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showed that CTCF was associated with RX4, but not with 11P. Our results showed that the intergenic sequence including 11P insulates Rxrb promoter from Col11a2 enhancer, possibly associating with unknown factors that recognize a motif similar to CTCF.

A novel type of EWS-CHOP fusion gene in myxoid liposarcoma.

The cytogenetic hallmark of myxoid type and round cell type liposarcoma consists of reciprocal translocation of t(12;16)(q13;p11) and t(12;22)(q13;q12), which results in fusion of TLS/FUS and CHOP, and EWS and CHOP, respectively. Nine structural variations of the TLS/FUS-CHOP chimeric transcript have been reported, however, only two types of EWS-CHOP have been described. We describe here a case of myxoid liposarcoma containing a novel EWS-CHOP chimeric transcript and identified the breakpoint occurring in intron 13 of EWS. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and direct sequence showed that exon 13 of EWS was in-frame fused to exon 2 of CHOP. Genomic analysis revealed that the breaks were located in intron 13 of EWS and intron 1 of CHOP.

Bone morphogenetic proteins in bone stimulate osteoclasts and osteoblasts during bone development.

UNLABELLED: In this study, overexpression of noggin, a BMP antagonist, in developing bone caused significantly decreased osteoclast number as well as bone formation rate, resulting in increased bone mass with immature bone quality. BMP signaling plays important roles in normal bone development and regulation of bone resorption. INTRODUCTION: Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) act on various types of cells. Although involvement of BMP signals in osteoblast differentiation has been studied extensively, the effects of BMPs on osteoclasts have not been widely researched. Consequently, the net effects of BMPs on bone remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to delineate more fully the role of BMPs in skeletal biology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We generated transgenic mice that express BMP4 or noggin in bone under the control of the 2.3-kb alpha1(I) collagen chain gene (Col1a1) promoter, and analyzed their bone phenotype. We also analyzed bone of transgenic mice expressing BMP4 specifically in cartilage. RESULTS: Mice overexpressing BMP4 in bone developed severe osteopenia with increased osteoclast number. Mice overexpressing noggin, a BMP antagonist, in bone showed increased bone volume associated with decreased bone formation rate and decreased osteoclast number. The noggin-transgenic tibias exhibited reduced periosteal bone formation and reduced resorption of immature bone in marrow spaces, associated with frequent fractures at the diaphysis. Co-culture of primary osteoblasts prepared from noggin-transgenic calvariae and wildtype spleen cells resulted in poor osteoclast formation, which was rescued by addition of recombinant BMP2, suggesting that noggin inhibits osteoclast formation by attenuating BMP activities in noggin-transgenic mice. The expression levels of Rankl were not decreased in primary osteoblasts from noggin transgenic mice. Immunoblot analysis showed increased phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8 in osteoclast precursor cells after 20-minute treatment with BMPs, suggesting that these cells are stimulated by BMPs. Mice overexpressing BMP4 in cartilage had enlarged bones containing thick trabeculae, possibly because of expansion of cartilage anlagen. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of noggin in bone revealed that BMP signals regulate bone development through stimulation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

Smad6/Smurf1 overexpression in cartilage delays chondrocyte hypertrophy and causes dwarfism with osteopenia.

Biochemical experiments have shown that Smad6 and Smad ubiquitin regulatory factor 1 (Smurf1) block the signal transduction of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). However, their in vivo functions are largely unknown. Here, we generated transgenic mice overexpressing Smad6 in chondrocytes. Smad6 transgenic mice showed postnatal dwarfism with osteopenia and inhibition of Smad1/5/8 phosphorylation in chondrocytes. Endochondral ossification during development in these mice was associated with almost normal chondrocyte proliferation, significantly delayed chondrocyte hypertrophy, and thin trabecular bone. The reduced population of hypertrophic chondrocytes after birth seemed to be related to impaired bone growth and formation. Organ culture of cartilage rudiments showed that chondrocyte hypertrophy induced by BMP2 was inhibited in cartilage prepared from Smad6 transgenic mice. We then generated transgenic mice overexpressing Smurf1 in chondrocytes. Abnormalities were undetectable in Smurf1 transgenic mice. Mating Smad6 and Smurf1 transgenic mice produced double-transgenic pups with more delayed endochondral ossification than Smad6 transgenic mice. These results provided evidence that Smurf1 supports Smad6 function in vivo.

Immature tumor angiogenesis in high-grade and high-stage renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the correlation between pathologic findings and maturation of the tumor neovasculature of renal cell carcinoma by immunohistochemical studies. METHODS: Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens from 25 randomly selected patients with renal cell carcinoma were stained with mouse monoclonal antibodies, anti-human CD31, anti-alpha smooth muscle actin (alphaSMA), and anti-human calponin by the indirect immunoperoxidase method. The microvessels were counted in six areas with the higher number of microvessels in each patient at 200x magnification (0.255 mm2 per area). RESULTS: The number of CD31-positive microvessels in grade 3 tumors was significantly lower than those in grade 1 or 2 tumors (P = 0.003222 and P = 0.043217, respectively). The CD31-positive microvessel counts of those of higher stage, tumor size greater than 4.5 cm, or non-clear cell type were significantly lower than tumors of lower stage, size less than 4.6 cm, or clear cell type. In the grade 3 tumors, the expression ratio of the number of alphaSMA-positive microvessels to the number of CD31-positive microvessels was significantly decreased compared with grade 1 or 2 tumors (P = 0.000011 and P = 0.000000, respectively). The expression of calponin in the tumor neovasculature was not observed. The expression ratios of the number of alphaSMA-positive microvessels to the number of CD31-positive microvessels in higher stages, larger tumor sizes, or non-clear cell types were significantly decreased. CONCLUSIONS: The tumor neovasculature of high-grade and high-stage tumors was immature. These results imply that high-grade tumors of renal cell carcinomas may be susceptible to antiangiogenesis therapy inducing apoptosis of immature tumor vessels.