Kursat Oguz Yaykasli

Amanitin and phallotoxin concentration in Amanita phalloides var. alba mushroom

Although rarely seen, Amanita phalloides var. alba, a variety of A. phalloides type mushrooms, causes mushroom poisoning resulting in death. Since it is frequently confused with some edible mushrooms due to its white colored cap and macroscopic appearance, it becomes important in toxicological terms. Knowledge of the toxin amount contained in this mushroom type is invaluable in the treatment of cases involving poisoning. In this study, we examined the toxin levels of various parts of the A. phalloides var. alba mushroom growing Duzce region of Turkey. Toxin analyses were carried out for A. phalloides var. alba, which were collected from the forests Duzce region of Turkey in 2011, as a whole and also separately in its spore, pileus, gills, stipe and volva parts. The alpha amanitin, beta amanitin, gamma amanitin, phalloidin and phallacidine analyses of the mushrooms were carried out using the RP-HPLC method. A genetic analysis of the mushroom showed that it had similar genetic characteristics as A. phalloides and was a variety of it. The lowest toxins quantity was detected in spores, volva and stipe among all parts of the mushroom. The maximum amount of amatoxins was measured in the gills. The pileus also contained a high amount of amatoxins. Generally, amatoxins and phallotoxin concentrations were lower as compared to A. phalloides, but interestingly all toxins other than gamma toxin were higher in the spores of A. phalloides var. alba. The amount of toxin in all of its parts had sufficient concentrations to cause death. With this study, the amatoxin and phallotoxin concentrations in A. phalloides var. alba mushroom and in its parts have been revealed in detail for the first time.

Amatoxin and phallotoxin concentration in Amanita phalloides spores and tissues.

Most of the fatal cases of mushroom poisoning are caused by Amanita phalloides. The amount of toxin in mushroom varies according to climate and environmental conditions. The aim of this study is to measure α-, β-, and γ-amanitin with phalloidin and phallacidin toxin concentrations. Six pieces of A. phalloides mushrooms were gathered from a wooded area of Düzce, Turkey, on November 23, 2011. The mushrooms were broken into pieces as spores, mycelium, pileus, gills, stipe, and volva. α-, β-, and γ-Amanitin with phalloidin and phallacidin were analyzed using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. As a mobile phase, 50 mM ammonium acetate + acetonitrile (90 + 10, v/v) was used with a flow rate of 1 mL/min. C18 reverse phase column (150 × 4.6 mm; 5 µm particle) was used. The least amount of γ-amanitin toxins was found at the mycelium. The other toxins found to be in the least amount turned out to be the ones at the spores. The maximum amounts of amatoxins and phallotoxin were found at gills and pileus, respectively. In this study, the amount of toxin in the spores of A. phalloides was published for the first time, and this study is pioneering to deal with the amount of toxin in mushrooms grown in Turkey.

Omentin serum levels and omentin gene Val109Asp polymorphism in patients with psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease of uncertain pathogenesis. Omentin is a new adipokine with anti‐inflammatory properties; however, the relationship between psoriasis and omentin has not been fully established yet.

Dermal absorption and toxicity of alpha amanitin in mice

Abstract The fungus Amanita phalloides is known to contain two main groups of toxins: amanitins and phallotoxins. The amanitins group effectively blocks the RNA polymerase II enzyme found in eukaryotic cells. As alpha amanitin has a lethal effect on the majority of eukaryotic cells, it can be valuable as an antiparasitic or antifungal drug. It can be used externally against ectoparasites. It is critical that percutaneous applications of the alpha amanitin toxin are not harmful to the recipient. In this study, the absorption and the toxicity of percutaneous and intraperitoneal (ip) applications of 1 mg/kg alpha amanitin to mice were compared. Potential skin, liver and kidney toxicities were investigated through pathological examination. HPLC analysis was used to determine the amount of the toxin. No toxicity or toxin were found in the skin, liver, or kidneys of the mice in the control group. Interestingly, the percutaneous application group also showed no toxicity, and the toxin was not present in this group. After 24 h, Councilman-like bodies and pyknotic cells were observed in the mice in which alpha amanitin was applied intraperitoneally, demonstrating the presence of toxicity. Peak levels of alpha amanitin (µg/mL) in the liver, kidney, and blood in the ip application group were measured at 3.3 (6 h), 0.2 (6 h) and 1.2 (1 h), respectively. The results demonstrated that the toxin was not absorbed through the skin of the mice and that the percutaneous application of alpha amanitin did not have any toxic effects. Thus, alpha amanitin may be administered percutaneously for therapeutic purposes.

Is one-time carbon monoxide intoxication harmless? Evaluation by argyrophilic nucleolar-organizing regions staining method

In carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, CO affects the oxygen-carrying capacity of the hemoglobin molecule. Nucleolar-organizing regions (NORs) are genetic loci on chromosomes that are composed of ribosomal DNA and proteins. NORs can be stained with silver. A total of 18 rats were exposed to CO in three different concentrations (1000, 3000, and 5000 ppm) with 6 rats as controls. The animals were euthanized 7 days after CO intoxication. Lung tissues were taken, embedded in paraffin blocks, and sectioned at 5 μm thickness. Argyrophilic nucleolar-organizing region (AgNOR) staining was carried out. One hundred nuclei per individual were evaluated, and total AgNOR number per total nuclear number and total AgNOR area per nuclear area (TAA/NA) for each nucleus were analyzed. The CO exposure groups had significantly higher TAA/NA values and AgNOR numbers than the control group (p < 0.05). Although the differences between 1000 ppm and the other two CO-exposed groups were meaningful (p < 0.05) in the TAA/NA values, there were no differences among the CO exposure groups for the AgNOR number (p > 0.05). The increase in TAA/NA value depends on the increase in the CO exposure. Significant correlations between both the AgNOR values and histopathological scoring methods were found. Therefore, AgNOR staining method may be used as an indirect indicator for evaluating the degree of cell damage rate.

Does MBL2 codon 54 polymorphism play a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis

Background  Psoriasis is a T cell‐mediated immune disease in which various cytokines, primarily tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), are complexly involved. Mannose‐binding lectin (MBL) gene polymorphisms decrease MBL serum levels, thereby increasing the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF‐α.

Epigenomics of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the second most common malignant cancer and accounts for 1.38 million of the total new cancer cases and 458,400 of the total cancer deaths reported in 2008. Breast cancer with several subtypes is an extremely heterogeneous disease caused by interaction of both genetic and environmental risk factors. In order to understand the etiology of this heterogeneity, new perspectives like epigenetics are needed.

Effect of adiponectin on a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-9 gene expression in human chondrocytes (CCR5P.257)

A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) is a family of peptidases. They comprise 19 members, and have several vital functions in organism. ADAMTS-9 with aggrecanolytic activity is responsible for the degradation of the articular cartilage components like aggrecan. Adiponectin is the most abundantly secreted adipokines (adipocytokines), and the characteristic of adiponectin is controversial. It was assumed that adiponectin has anti-inflammatory effect. However, recent studies showed the inflammatory features of adiponectin. It was aimed to evaluate the effect of adiponectin on ADAMTS-9 gene expression in human chondrocytes. Human articular chondrocytes were cultured and exposed by adiponectin at 1, 4, 8 and 12 µg/ml doses. At the end of the incubation, total RNA was reverse-transcribed by random primer. The expression levels of the ADAMTS-9 and β-actin genes were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The ADAMTS-9 gene expression was found to increase after adiponectin incubation at 12 µg/ml dose. The interleukin-1β induced ADAMTS-9 gene up-regulation and the increased serum level of ADAMTS-9 in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) were reported before. Similarly, the putative involvement of adiponectin in OA and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was demonstrated. Together with these findings, our results suggesting that adiponectin may involve in the degradation of aggrecan by increasing ADAMTS-9 gene expression.