Effects of glucocorticoids on vitamin D3-metabolizing 24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1) in Saos-2 cells and primary human osteoblasts.

Vitamin D is essential for bone function and deficiency in active vitamin D hormone can lead to bone disorders. Long-term treatment with glucocorticoids results in osteoporosis and increased risk of fractures. Much remains unclear regarding the effects of these compounds in bone cells. In the current study, human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cells and primary human osteoblasts were found to express mRNA for the vitamin D receptor as well as activating and deactivating enzymes in vitamin D3 metabolism. These bone cells exhibited CYP24A1-mediated 24-hydroxylation which is essential for deactivation of the active vitamin form. However, bioactivating vitamin D3 hydroxylase activities could not be detected in either of these cells. Several glucocorticoids, including prednisolone, down regulated CYP24A1 mRNA and CYP24A1-mediated 24-hydroxylase activity in both Saos-2 and primary human osteoblasts. Also, prednisolone significantly suppressed a human CYP24A1 promoter-luciferase reporter gene in Saos-2 cells co-transfected with the glucocorticoid receptor. Thus, the results of the present study show suppression by glucocorticoids on CYP24A1 mRNA, CYP24A1-mediated metabolism and CYP24A1 promoter activity in human osteoblast-like cells. As part of this study we examined if glucocorticoids are formed locally in Saos-2 cells. The experiments indicate formation of 11-deoxycortisol, a steroid with glucocorticoid activity, which can bind the glucocorticoid receptor. Our data showing suppression by glucocorticoids on CYP24A1 expression in human osteoblasts suggest a previously unknown mechanism for effects of glucocorticoids in human bone, where these compounds may interfere with regulation of active vitamin D levels.

Polyphenol-rich Boswellia serrata gum prevents cognitive impairment and insulin resistance of diabetic rats through inhibition of GSK3ß activity, oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with accelerated cognitive decline. To date, there is no T2D-specific treatment to prevent or ameliorate cognitive dysfunction. Boswellia serrate (BS) gum has been shown to possess multiple pharmacological actions including anti-inflammatory, anticancer and ant- apoptotic actions. The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of BS on cognitive impairment associated with T2D induced in rats by high fat/high fructose (HF/HFr) diet with a single injection of streptozotocin (STZ) and to explore the mechanism of action. The effect of 3 doses of BS extract and the reference drug on the behavioral, biochemical, histopathological and glutamate gene expression abnormalities in T2D rates was evaluated. HF/HFr diet/ STZ induces learning and memory deficits, which were reversed by BS extract. It showed a significant decrease in Aß deposits and p-tau positive cells. BS extract also reduced significantly the hippocampal elevated levels of caspase-3, cholinesterase (ChE), GSK-3ß, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and MDA. Moreover, BS extract enhanced significantly the suppressed hippocampal level of GSH, SOD and glutamate receptor expression (GluR, NR1, NR2 A, and NR2B). In addition, BS extract alleviated insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia of T2D rats. Our findings suggest that BS extract reversed learning and memory impairment in HF/ HFr diet / STZ induced diabetic rats. This effect may be attributed to the inhibition of insulin resistance, pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress and hyperlipidemia.

Expression and regulation of CYP17A1 and 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in cells of the nervous system: Potential effects of vitamin D on brain steroidogenesis.

Steroids are reported to have diverse functions in the nervous system. Enzymatic production of steroid hormones has been reported in different cell types, including astrocytes and neurons. However, the information on some of the steroidogenic enzymes involved is insufficient in many respects. Contradictory results have been reported concerning the relative importance of different cell types in the nervous system for expression of CYP17A1 and 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ß-HSD). 3ß-HSD is important in all basic steroidogenic pathways and CYP17A1 is required to form sex hormones. In the current investigation we studied the expression of these enzymes in cultured primary rat astrocytes, in neuron-enriched cells from rat cerebral cortex and in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, a cell line often used as an in vitro model of neuronal function and differentiation. As part of this study we also examined potential effects on CYP17A1 and 3ß-HSD by vitamin D, a compound previously shown to have regulatory effects in steroid hormone-producing cells outside the brain. The results of our study indicate that astrocytes are a major site for expression of 3ß-HSD whereas expression of CYP17A1 is found in both astrocytes and neurons. The current data suggest that neurons, contrary to some previous reports, are not involved in 3ß-HSD reactions. Previous studies have shown that vitamin D can influence gene expression and hormone production by steroidogenic enzymes in some cells. We found that vitamin D suppressed CYP17A1-mediated activity by 20% in SH-SY5Ycells and astrocytes. Suppression of CYP17A1 mRNA levels was considerably stronger, about 50% in SH-SY5Y cells and 75% in astrocytes. In astrocytes 3ß-HSD was also suppressed by vitamin D, about 20% at the enzyme activity level and 60% at the mRNA level. These data suggest that vitamin D-mediated regulation of CYP17A1 and 3ß-HSD, particularly on the transcriptional level, may play a role in the nervous system.

Motor neuron-like NSC-34 cells as a new model for the study of vitamin D metabolism in the brain.

Vitamin D3 is a pro-hormone, which is sequentially activated by 25- and 1α-hydroxylation to form 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] and 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1α,25(OH)2D3], respectively. Subsequent inactivation is performed by 24-hydroxylation. These reactions are carried out by a series of CYP450 enzymes. The 25-hydroxylation involves mainly CYP2R1 and CYP27A1, whereas 1α-hydroxylation and 24-hydroxylation are catalyzed by CYP27B1 and CYP24A1, respectively, and are tightly regulated to maintain adequate levels of the active vitamin D hormone, 1α,25(OH)2D3. Altered circulating vitamin D levels, in particular 25(OH)D3, have been linked to several disorders of the nervous system, e.g., schizophrenia and Parkinson disease. However, little is known about the mechanisms of vitamin D actions in the neurons. In this study, we examined vitamin D metabolism and its regulation in a murine motor neuron-like hybrid cell line, NSC-34. We found that these cells express mRNAs for the four major CYP450 enzymes involved in vitamin D activation and inactivation, and vitamin D receptor (VDR) that mediates vitamin D actions. We also found high levels of CYP24A1-dependent 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [24,25(OH)2D3] production, that was inhibited by the well-known CYP enzyme inhibitor ketoconazole and by several inhibitors that are more specific for CYP24A1. Furthermore, CYP24A1 mRNA levels in NSC-34 cells were up-regulated by 1α,25(OH)2D3 and its synthetic analogs, EB1089 and tacalcitol. Our results suggest that NSC-34 cells could be a novel model for the studies of neuronal vitamin D metabolism and its mechanism of actions.

Initial clinical experience of the use of digital tomosynthesis in the assessment of suspected fracture neck of femur in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the use of digital tomosynthesis (tomogram) for diagnosis of suspected fracture neck of femur (NOF). We hypothesised that the use of cross-sectional imaging (MRI/CT) could be reduced by using tomogram to separate the patients with suspected NOF fractures that require MRI/CT scan from those who do not. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Forty-one patients with a clinically suspected NOF fracture, following trauma, with negative AP and lateral hip X-rays, underwent a hip tomogram examination. Patients with a negative tomogram and clinically moderate to high probability of a hip fracture underwent MRI/CT within 48 h. RESULT: Tomogram identified fracture NOF in six patients, who underwent appropriate surgical treatment without needing further imaging. Fifteen patients, with negative tomogram examinations for fracture NOF and a low clinical probability of a fracture did not undergo additional MRI/CT scanning. At 6 months of follow-up, none of the patients returned to the hospital with complications. Twenty patients with moderate to high clinical probability of fracture NOF with negative or inconclusive tomogram underwent additional MRI/CT scanning (19 MRI, 1 CT). Two patients showed fracture NOF, and one patient with greater trochanter fracture on tomogram showed fracture NOF on MRI scan. Seventeen patients showed soft tissue injury, bone oedema or pubic rami/acetabular fractures on MRI scan. CONCLUSION: Tomogram is a reliable imaging modality that can be used to select the patients who will need additional MRI/CT scan following negative or equivocal plain X-ray in patients with suspected hip fractures following fall. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Osteoid osteoma of the cuboid managed by percutaneous radiofrequency ablation.

We present details of a case of osteoid osteoma of the tarsal cuboid bone. Osteoid osteoma arising in the foot is not very common, and localization in the cuboid is rare. To our knowledge, this is the first case of osteoid osteoma of the cuboid bone treated successfully by percutaneous radiofrequency ablation.

SCOPE1: a randomised phase II/III multicentre clinical trial of definitive chemoradiation, with or without cetuximab, in carcinoma of the oesophagus.

BACKGROUND: Chemoradiotherapy is the standard of care for patients with oesophageal cancer unsuitable for surgery due to the presence of co-morbidity or extent of disease, and is a standard treatment option for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus. Modern regimens of chemoradiotherapy can lead to significant long-term survival. However the majority of patients will die of their disease, most commonly with local progression/recurrence of their tumours. Cetuximab may overcome one of the principal mechanisms of tumour radio-resistance, namely tumour repopulation, in patients treated with chemoradiotherapy.The purpose of this research is first to determine whether the addition of cetuximab to definitive chemoradiotherapy for treatment of patients with non-metastatic carcinoma of the oesophagus is active (in terms of failure-free rate), safe, and feasible within the context of a multi-centre randomised controlled trial in the UK. If the first stage is successful then the trial will continue to accrue sufficient patients to establish whether the addition of cetuximab to the standard treatment improves overall survival. METHODS/DESIGN: SCOPE1 is a two arm, open, randomised multicentre Phase II/III trial. Eligible patients will have histologically confirmed carcinoma of the oesophagus and have been chosen to receive definitive chemoradiotherapy by an accredited multidisciplinary team including a specialist Upper GI surgeon. 420 patients will be randomised to receive definitive chemoradiotherapy with or without cetuximab using a 1:1 allocation ratio.During Phase II of the study, the trial will assess safety (toxicity), activity (failure-free rate) and feasibility (recruitment rate and protocol dose modifications/delays) in 90 patients in the experimental arm. If the experimental arm is found to be active, safe, and feasible by the Independent Data Monitoring Committee then recruitment will continue into Phase III. This second stage will recruit a further 120 patients into each arm and compare the overall survival of both groups.All patients randomised into Phase II will contribute to the Phase III comparison of overall survival. In addition to overall survival, Phase III of the study will also assess toxicity, health related quality of life and cost effectiveness. A detailed radiotherapy protocol and quality assurance procedure has been incorporated into this trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN: ISRCTN47718479.

Structure and kinetic characterization of human sperm-specific glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, GAPDS.

hGAPDS (human sperm-specific glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) is a glycolytic enzyme essential for the survival of spermatozoa, and constitutes a potential target for non-hormonal contraception. However, enzyme characterization of GAPDS has been hampered by the difficulty in producing soluble recombinant protein. In the present study, we have overexpressed in Escherichia coli a highly soluble form of hGAPDS truncated at the N-terminus (hGAPDSΔN), and crystallized the homotetrameric enzyme in two ligand complexes. The hGAPDSΔN-NAD+-phosphate structure maps the two anion-recognition sites within the catalytic pocket that correspond to the conserved Ps site and the newly recognized Pi site identified in other organisms. The hGAPDSΔN-NAD+-glycerol structure shows serendipitous binding of glycerol at the Ps and new Pi sites, demonstrating the propensity of these anion-recognition sites to bind non-physiologically relevant ligands. A comparison of kinetic profiles between hGAPDSΔN and its somatic equivalent reveals a 3-fold increase in catalytic efficiency for hGAPDSΔN. This may be attributable to subtle amino acid substitutions peripheral to the active centre that influence the charge properties and protonation states of catalytic residues. Our data therefore elucidate structural and kinetic features of hGAPDS that might provide insightful information towards inhibitor development.

Are cyclopentadienylberyllium, magnesium and calcium hydrides carbon or metal acids in the gas phase?

The structure and bonding of cyclopentadienylberyllium (CpBeH), magnesium (CpMgH), and calcium (CpCaH) hydrides as well as those of their deprotonated species have been investigated by means of B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p)//QCISD/6-311+G(d,p) density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The three compounds exhibit C(5v) equilibrium conformations in their ground states. For CpBeH the agreement between the calculated geometry and that determined by MW spectroscopy is excellent. CpMgH and CpCaH can be viewed almost as the result of the interaction between a C5H5⁻ anion and a XH(+) (X = Mg, Ca) cation. Conversely, for CpBeH the interaction between the C5H5 and the BeH subunits is significantly covalent. These compounds exhibit a significant aromaticity, usually named three-dimension aromaticity, in contrast with the unsubstituted cyclopentadiene compound. The CpBeH derivative behaves as a C acid in the gas phase and is less acidic than cyclopentadiene. More importantly, CpMgH and CpCaH, in spite of the X(+δ)H(-δ) polarity exhibited by the X-H bond in the neutral systems, are predicted to be metal acids in the gas phase. Also surprisingly, both the Mg and the Ca derivatives are stronger acids than the Be analogue, and only slightly weaker acids than cyclopentadiene. This somewhat unexpected result is the consequence of two concomitant facts: the lower dissociation energy of the X-H (X = Mg, Ca) bonds with respect to the C-H bonds, and the significantly high electron affinity of the C5H5X* (X = Mg, Ca) radicals.