Lisheng Zhang

Modulation of urinary excretion of green tea polyphenols (GTPs) and oxidative DNA damage biomarker, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), were assessed in urine samples collected from a randomized, double-blinded and placebo-controlled phase IIa chemoprevention trial with GTP in 124 individuals. These individuals were sero-positive for both HBsAg and aflatoxin-albumin adducts, and took GTP capsules daily at doses of 500 mg, 1000 mg or a placebo for 3 months. Twenty-four hour urine samples were collected before the intervention and at the first and third month of the study. Urinary excretion of 8-OHdG and GTP components was measured by HPLC-CoulArray electrochemical detection. The baseline levels of 8-OHdG and GTP components among the three groups showed homogeneity (P > 0.70), and a non-significant fluctuation was observed in the placebo group over the 3 months (P > 0.30). In GTP-treated groups, epigallocatechin (EGC) and epicatechin (EC) levels displayed significant and dose-dependent increases in both the 500 mg group and 1000 mg group (P < 0.05). The 8-OHdG levels did not differ between the three groups at the 1 month collection, with medians of 1.83, 2.08 and 1.86 ng/mg-creatinine for placebo, 500 and 1000 mg group, respectively (P = 0.999). At the end of the 3 months' intervention, 8-OHdG levels decreased significantly in both GTP-treated groups, with medians of 2.02, 1.03 and 1.15 ng/mg-creatinine for placebo, 500 mg and 1000 mg group, respectively (P = 0.007). These results suggest that urinary excretions of EGC and EC can serve as practical biomarkers for green tea consumption in human populations. The results also suggest that chemoprevention with GTP is effective in diminishing oxidative DNA damage.

Atherosclerosis and arterial injury-induced neointimal hyperplasia involve medial smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and migration into the arterial intima. Because many 7-transmembrane and growth factor receptors promote atherosclerosis, we hypothesized that the multifunctional adaptor proteins beta-arrestin1 and -2 might regulate this pathological process. Deficiency of beta-arrestin2 in ldlr(-/-) mice reduced aortic atherosclerosis by 40% and decreased the prevalence of atheroma SMCs by 35%, suggesting that beta-arrestin2 promotes atherosclerosis through effects on SMCs. To test this potential atherogenic mechanism more specifically, we performed carotid endothelial denudation in congenic wild-type, beta-arrestin1(-/-), and beta-arrestin2(-/-) mice. Neointimal hyperplasia was enhanced in beta-arrestin1(-/-) mice, and diminished in beta-arrestin2(-/-) mice. Neointimal cells expressed SMC markers and did not derive from bone marrow progenitors, as demonstrated by bone marrow transplantation with green fluorescent protein-transgenic cells. Moreover, the reduction in neointimal hyperplasia seen in beta-arrestin2(-/-) mice was not altered by transplantation with either wild-type or beta-arrestin2(-/-) bone marrow cells. After carotid injury, medial SMC extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation and proliferation were increased in beta-arrestin1(-/-) and decreased in beta-arrestin2(-/-) mice. Concordantly, thymidine incorporation and extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation and migration evoked by 7-transmembrane receptors were greater than wild type in beta-arrestin1(-/-) SMCs and less in beta-arrestin2(-/-) SMCs. Proliferation was less than wild type in beta-arrestin2(-/-) SMCs but not in beta-arrestin2(-/-) endothelial cells. We conclude that beta-arrestin2 aggravates atherosclerosis through mechanisms involving SMC proliferation and migration and that these SMC activities are regulated reciprocally by beta-arrestin2 and beta-arrestin1. These findings identify inhibition of beta-arrestin2 as a novel therapeutic strategy for combating atherosclerosis and arterial restenosis after angioplasty.

UNLABELLED: Elucidating the mechanism of liver regeneration could lead to life-saving therapy for a large number of patients, especially elderly patients, after segmental liver transplantation or resection of liver tumors. The forkhead box m1b (Foxm1b) transcription factor is required for normal liver regeneration. Here we report that Foxm1b is the first direct farnesoid X receptor (FXR) target gene known to be involved in cell cycle regulation and that aging regenerating livers have delayed activation of FXR, which results in defective induction of Foxm1b and thereby contributes to defective liver regeneration. An inverted repeat 0 (IR-0) FXR response element, acting as an enhancer in intron 3 of the Foxm1b gene, was identified by a combination of transcriptional reporter, electrophoretic mobility shift, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Diminished FXR binding to the IR-0 element was found in aging regenerating livers. FXR activation by a novel ligand in aging livers induced Foxm1b expression and elevated hepatocyte DNA replication to about 70% of the levels found in young regenerating livers, which were specifically suppressed by hepatic expression of anti-Foxm1b short hairpin RNA. CONCLUSION: Our results have revealed Foxm1b as the first known direct FXR target gene involved in cell cycle regulation and have demonstrated that defective activation of FXR could be an intrinsic defect in aging regenerating livers. Activation of FXR alone is largely able to alleviate age-related liver regeneration defects. These findings highlight FXR as a potential target of drug design for promoting liver regeneration in older subjects.

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) (nuclear receptor subfamily 1, group H, member 4) is a member of nuclear hormone receptor superfamily, which plays essential roles in metabolism of bile acids, lipid, and glucose. We previously showed spontaneously hepatocarcinogenesis in aged FXR(-/-) mice, but its relevance to human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. Here, we report a systematical analysis of hepatocarcinogenesis in FXR(-/-) mice and FXR expression in human liver cancer. In this study, liver tissues obtained from FXR(-/-) and wild-type mice at different ages were compared by microarray gene profiling, histological staining, chemical analysis, and quantitative real-time PCR. Primary hepatic stellate cells and primary hepatocytes isolated from FXR(-/-) and wild-type mice were also analyzed and compared. The results showed that the altered genes in FXR(-/-) livers were mainly related to metabolism, inflammation, and fibrosis, which suggest that hepatocarcinogenesis in FXR(-/-) mice recapitulated the progression of human liver cancer. Indeed, FXR expression in human HCC was down-regulated compared with normal liver tissues. Furthermore, the proinflammatory cytokines, which were up-regulated in human HCC microenvironment, decreased FXR expression by inhibiting the transactivity of hepatic nuclear factor 1α on FXR gene promoter. Our study thereby demonstrates that the down-regulation of FXR has an important role in human hepatocarcinogenesis and FXR(-/-) mice provide a unique animal model for HCC study.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a strong candidate gene for coronary artery disease (CAD). We have previously identified genetic linkage to familial CAD in the genomic region of NPY. We performed follow-up genetic, biostatistical, and functional analysis of NPY in early-onset CAD. In familial CAD (GENECARD, N = 420 families), we found increased microsatellite linkage to chromosome 7p14 (OSA LOD = 4.2, p = 0.004) in 97 earliest age-of-onset families. Tagged NPY SNPs demonstrated linkage to CAD of a 6-SNP block (LOD = 1.58-2.72), family-based association of this block with CAD (p = 0.02), and stronger linkage to CAD in the earliest age-of-onset families. Association of this 6-SNP block with CAD was validated in: (a) 556 non-familial early-onset CAD cases and 256 controls (OR 1.46-1.65, p = 0.01-0.05), showing stronger association in youngest cases (OR 1.84-2.20, p = 0.0004-0.09); and (b) GENECARD probands versus non-familial controls (OR 1.79-2.06, p = 0.003-0.02). A promoter SNP (rs16147) within this 6-SNP block was associated with higher plasma NPY levels (p = 0.04). To assess a causal role of NPY in atherosclerosis, we applied the NPY1-receptor-antagonist BIBP-3226 adventitially to endothelium-denuded carotid arteries of apolipoprotein E-deficient mice; treatment reduced atherosclerotic neointimal area by 50% (p = 0.03). Thus, NPY variants associate with atherosclerosis in two independent datasets (with strong age-of-onset effects) and show allele-specific expression with NPY levels, while NPY receptor antagonism reduces atherosclerosis in mice. We conclude that NPY contributes to atherosclerosis pathogenesis.