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Archives of Toxicology (v.87, #5)
Cellular effects of manufactured nanoparticles: effect of adsorption ability of nanoparticles
by Masanori Horie; Haruhisa Kato; Hitoshi Iwahashi (pp. 771-781).
Nanoparticles are important industrial materials. However, many nanoparticles show biological effects, including toxic activity. Metal ion release is the most important factor affecting the biological effects of nanoparticles. In addition, nanoparticles have large adsorption ability. The adsorption ability, in particular protein adsorption to nanoparticles, has an effect on cellular uptake and cellular metabolisms. Moreover, the adsorption ability of nanoparticles causes artificial effects in in vitro systems. Consequently, accurate determination of released or secreted proteins such as lactate dehydrogenase and cytokines adsorbed to nanoparticles is affected. In addition, artificial effects cause overestimation or underestimation of the cytotoxicity of nanoparticles. Therefore, measurement of the protein adsorption of nanoparticles is important. Some methods for the determination of the adsorption to nanoparticles have been suggested. The flow field-flow fractionation method is one of the efficient techniques for determining proteins on the surface of nanoparticles. The cellular effects caused by nanoparticles should be carefully considered.
Keywords: Protein adsorption; Nanoparticle; Cellular uptake; Zeta potential; Flow field-flow fractionation
Non-melanoma skin cancer in mouse and man
by Michael Schwarz; Peter A. Münzel; Albert Braeuning (pp. 783-798).
As a frontier organ, skin is exposed to different environmental and/or occupational chemicals which cause cutaneous cancers in experimental animals. In mice, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthrancene (DMBA) and the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) are frequently used as skin model tumor initiator and promoter, respectively. The sequential administration of DMBA and TPA leads to the appearance of a large number of benign papillomas, of which some convert later into invasive squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). At the molecular level, initiation of carcinogenesis in mouse skin consists in the mutational activation of the Ha-ras oncoprotein. HA-RAS mutations are rare in human SCC, but HA-RAS-mutated tumors appear in melanoma patients treated with B-raf inhibitors, indicating that initiated, HA-RAS-mutated stem cells also reside in human skin. Similarly, UV-induced human SCC show footprint mutations in the tumor suppressor gene TP53 which are also observed in UV-induced mouse SCC. Strong species differences exist with respect to phorbol ester-mediated tumor promotion. While certain mouse strains are very susceptible, other rodent species are much less sensitive. Likewise, humans appear to be much more resistant to phorbol ester-mediated skin toxicity. Papilloma formation as a result of a chemical insult is uncommon in men, questioning the relevance of this preneoplastic lesion for humans. However, skin tumorigenesis in the experimental situation and in humans appears to follow common molecular mechanisms, even though there are species differences in the morphological correlates to the preneoplastic state. Therefore, we recommend not simply labeling them as irrelevant for human risk assessment.
Keywords: Papilloma; Chemical carcinogenesis; Ha-ras signaling; Wnt signaling; Phorbol ester; Squamous cell carcinoma
Metabolism of the plasticizer and phthalate substitute diisononyl-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH®) in humans after single oral doses
by Holger M. Koch; André Schütze; Claudia Pälmke; Jürgen Angerer; Thomas Brüning (pp. 799-806).
Hexamoll® DINCH® (diisononyl-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate) is a new high-molecular-weight plasticizer and a phthalate substitute. In this study, the metabolism of DINCH® was investigated by oral dosage of three male volunteers with approximately 50 mg Hexamoll® DINCH® (resulting in individual doses between 0.552 and 0.606 mg/kg body weight). Their urine samples were consecutively collected over 48 h. In analogy to di-iso-nonylphthalate (DINP) metabolism, we quantified the simple monoester mono-isononyl-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (MINCH) and its secondary oxidized metabolites with HPLC–MS/MS via isotope dilution analysis. Additionally, we quantified the unspecific full breakdown product, cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid (CHDA), via standard addition. All postulated metabolites were present in all samples analyzed. The unspecific CHDA was identified as the major urinary metabolite representing 23.7 % of the dose as the mean of the three volunteers (range 20.0–26.5 %). 14.8 % (11.3–16.7 %) of the dose was excreted as monoesters with oxidative modifications, in particular OH-MINCH 10.7 % (7.7–12.9 %), oxo-MINCH 2.0 % (1.5–2.6 %) and carboxy-MINCH 2.0 % (1.8–2.3 %). Less than 1 % was excreted as the simple monoester MINCH. In sum, 39.2 % (35.9–42.4 %) of the DINCH® dose was excreted as these metabolites in urine within 48 h. Over 90 % of the metabolites investigated were excreted within 24 h after application. The secondary oxidized metabolites, with elimination half-times between 10 and 18 h, proved to be apt and specific biomarkers to determine DINCH® exposure. With this study, we provide reliable urinary excretion factors to calculate DINCH® intakes based on these metabolites in environmental and occupational studies.
Keywords: DINCH; Phthalate substitute; Human metabolism; Urinary metabolites; Excretion fractions; Human biomonitoring
Exploring the zebrafish embryo as an alternative model for the evaluation of liver toxicity by histopathology and expression profiling
by Marja Driessen; Anne S. Kienhuis; Jeroen L. A. Pennings; Tessa E. Pronk; Evert-Jan van de Brandhof; Marianne Roodbergen; Herman P. Spaink; Bob van de Water; Leo T. M. van der Ven (pp. 807-823).
The whole zebrafish embryo model (ZFE) has proven its applicability in developmental toxicity testing. Since functional hepatocytes are already present from 36 h post fertilization onwards, whole ZFE have been proposed as an attractive alternative to mammalian in vivo models in hepatotoxicity testing. The goal of the present study is to further underpin the applicability of whole ZFE for hepatotoxicity testing by combining histopathology and next-generation sequencing-based gene expression profiling. To this aim, whole ZFE and adult zebrafish were exposed to a set of hepatotoxic reference compounds. Histopathology revealed compound and life-stage-specific effects indicative of toxic injury in livers of whole ZFE and adult zebrafish. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to compare transcript profiles in pooled individual RNA samples of whole ZFE and livers of adult zebrafish. This revealed that hepatotoxicity-associated expression can be detected beyond the overall transcription noise in the whole embryo. In situ hybridization verified liver specificity of selected highly expressed markers in whole ZFE. Finally, cyclosporine A (CsA) was used as an illustrative case to support applicability of ZFE in hepatotoxicity testing by comparing CsA-induced gene expression between ZFE, in vivo mouse liver and HepaRG cells on the levels of single genes, pathways and transcription factors. While there was no clear overlap on single gene level between the whole ZFE and in vivo mouse liver, strong similarities were observed between whole ZFE and in vivo mouse liver in regulated pathways related to hepatotoxicity, as well as in relevant overrepresented transcription factors. In conclusion, both the use of NGS of pooled RNA extracts analysis combined with histopathology and traditional microarray in single case showed the potential to detect liver-related genes and processes within the transcriptome of a whole zebrafish embryo. This supports the applicability of the whole ZFE model for compound-induced hepatotoxicity screening.
Keywords: Whole zebrafish embryo model; Hepatotoxicity; Next-generation sequencing; Adult zebrafish liver; Gene expression profiles; Pathway analysis; Toxicogenomics; Transcription factor analysis
A genetic variant in miR-146a modifies colorectal cancer susceptibility in a Chinese population
by Lan Ma; Lingjun Zhu; Dongying Gu; Haiyan Chu; Na Tong; Jinfei Chen; Zhengdong Zhang; Meilin Wang (pp. 825-833).
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of endogenous, small, noncoding RNA molecules that involved in a wide range of biological processes including differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. A polymorphism G>C (rs2910164) is located in the stem region opposite to the mature miR-146a sequence. In our study, we investigated whether rs2910164 is associated with the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in a Chinese population. We genotyped the rs2910164 polymorphism using TaqMan method and evaluated the association with CRC risk in a case–control study, including 1,147 CRC patients and 1,203 cancer-free controls. Logistic regression models were used to assess the genetic effects on the development of CRC. Overall, we found that rs2910164 was significantly associated with the reduced CRC risk [GC/CC versus GG: adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.78, 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) = 0.66–0.93]. In the stratification analysis, this decreased risk was also pronounced among non-smokers (0.75, 0.61–0.93), non-drinkers (0.77, 0.63–0.94), and no family history of cancer (0.79, 0.65–0.95). Furthermore, GC/CC genotypes were associated with reduced CRC susceptibility in intermediate differentiated CRC (0.75, 0.62–0.90), and similar effect was observed in patients with the advanced stage tumor (Dukes C and D) (0.76, 0.61–0.93). In conclusion, our results suggest that miR-146a rs2910164 may contribute to the susceptibility to CRC in a Chinese population. Further larger population-based prospective and functional studies are needed to validate our findings.
Keywords: miR-146a; Polymorphism; Colorectal cancer; Genetic susceptibility
A novel antitubulin agent, DPQZ, induces cell apoptosis in human oral cancer cells through Ras/Raf inhibition and MAP kinases activation
by Mann-Jen Hour; Kun-Tsung Lee; Yang-Chang Wu; Chi-Yu Wu; Bang-Jau You; Tai-Lin Chen; Hong-Zin Lee (pp. 835-846).
6-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-2-(naphthalene-1-yl)-4-quinazolinone (DPQZ)-induced apoptosis was accompanied by the characteristics of DNA fragmentation and phosphatidylserine externalization in human oral cancer HSC-3 cells. The IC50 (half maximal inhibitory concentration) value of DPQZ is about 0.25 μM at 24 h. The interference in the dynamics of tubulin and cell division of DPQZ, like vinblastine (0.01 μM), has been proven in this study. Treatment of HSC-3 cells with DPQZ resulted in many of mitotic cells with multipolar spindles. Up-regulation of MAP kinases, such as ERK, JNK, and p38, mediated by DPQZ appears to be involved in DPQZ-induced apoptosis in HSC-3 cells. It is worthy of note that the expression of Ras and c-Raf that lie upstream of ERK were inhibited by DPQZ. In addition, the DPQZ-induced cell death was attenuated by JNK inhibitor SP600125 (3 or 10 μM), not by the ERK or p38 inhibitors. JNK inhibitor abolished the DPQZ-induced increase in the phosphorylation of Bcl-2 and the protein levels of proform caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9, indicating that JNK is an upstream activator of Bcl-2 and caspase family members and plays a key role in DPQZ-induced HSC-3 cell apoptosis. We also attempted to develop an anticancer drug that is designed to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells while causing less damage to normal cells. The DPQZ-induced cytotoxicity against human gingival fibroblasts was less than that against HSC-3 cells. Our work provides a new strategy and mechanism for developing anticancer drug and may contribute to clinical anticancer drug discovery and application.
Keywords: 6-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-2-(naphthalene-1-yl)-4-quinazolinone; Human oral cancer HSC-3 cells; Antitubulin agent; Apoptosis; MAP kinases; Ras/Raf
Sunitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, induces cytochrome P450 1A1 gene in human breast cancer MCF7 cells through ligand-independent aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation
by Zaid H. Maayah; Mohamed A. M. El Gendy; Ayman O. El-Kadi; Hesham M. Korashy (pp. 847-856).
Sunitinib (SUN) is a new multi-targeted oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has both anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor activities. However, information reported in the literature on the effects of SUN on the constitutive expression of cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) gene in cells from mammalian species remains unclear. Therefore, the main objectives of the current work were to investigate the potentiality of SUN to induce CYP1A1 gene expression in human breast cancer MCF7 cells and to explore the molecular mechanisms involved. Our results showed that SUN induced the CYP1A1 mRNA, protein, and activity levels in a concentration-dependent manner in MCF7 cells. The increase in CYP1A1 mRNA by SUN was completely blocked by the transcriptional inhibitor, actinomycin D; implying that SUN increased de novo RNA synthesis. Furthermore, the ability of SUN to increase luciferase reporter gene expression suggests an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-dependent transcriptional control and excludes the possibility of any posttranscriptional mechanisms. In addition, blocking of AhR activation by resveratrol, a well-known AhR antagonist, prevented the SUN-induced CYP1A1 gene expression, further confirms the involvement of AhR. Interestingly, this was associated with the inability of SUN to directly bind to and induce transformation of cytosolic AhR to its DNA-binding form in vitro, suggesting that the effect of SUN does not involve direct binding to AhR. The current manuscript provides the first evidence for the ability of SUN to induce CYP1A1 gene expression in MCF7 cells through AhR ligand-independent mechanisms.
Keywords: Sunitinib; AhR; CYP1A1; MCF7; XRE
Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression by docosahexaenoic acid mediated by heme oxygenase 1 in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced MCF-7 human breast cancer cells
by Haw-Wen Chen; Che-Yi Chao; Li-Lin Lin; Chia-Yang Lu; Kai-Li Liu; Chong-Kuei Lii; Chien-Chun Li (pp. 857-869).
Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) plays a crucial role in tumor metastasis. Previous studies showed that polyunsaturated fatty acids exhibit an anti-cancer effect in various human carcinoma cells, but the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and linoleic acid (LA) on metastasis of breast cancer cells is not fully clarified. We studied the anti-metastasis potential of DHA and LA in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced MCF-7 cells. We found that TPA (100 ng/ml) induced MMP-9 enzyme activity both dose- and time-dependently, and 200 μM DHA and LA significantly inhibited MMP-9 mRNA and protein expression, enzyme activity, cell migration, and invasion. Treatment with PD98059 (10 μM), wortmannin (10 μM), and GF109203X (0.5 μM) decreased TPA-induced MMP-9 protein expression and enzyme activity. TPA-induced activation of ERK1, Akt, and PKCδ was attenuated by DHA, whereas LA attenuated only ERK1 activation. GF109203X also suppressed ERK1 activation. EMSA showed that DHA, LA, PD98059, and wortmannin decreased TPA-induced NF-κB and AP-1 DNA-binding activity. Furthermore, DHA rather than LA dose-dependently increased HO-1 expression. HO-1 siRNA alleviated the inhibition by DHA of TPA-induced MMP-9 protein expression and enzyme activity in MCF-7 cells, and HO-1 knockdown reversed the DHA inhibition of cell migration. These results suggest that DHA and LA have both similar and divergent signaling pathways in the suppression of TPA-induced MCF-7 metastasis.
Keywords: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1); Linoleic acid (LA); Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9); MCF-7 cells
5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine inhibited PDGF-induced rat airway smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching
by Yunye Ning; Haidong Huang; Yuchao Dong; Qinying Sun; Wei Zhang; Wujian Xu; Qiang Li (pp. 871-881).
Airway smooth muscle (ASM) cell phenotypic switching played an important role in airway remodeling in asthma. In vitro platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) induced ASM cell phenotypic switching from a mature to pro-remodeling phenotype, but the mechanism remained incompletely understood. This study was to explore the effect of DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine (Aza-CdR) on PDGF-induced rat ASM cell phenotypic switching and biological behaviors. Rat airway smooth muscle (RASM) cells were obtained by primary explant techniques. Western blot, 3-dimensional gel contraction, transwell and wound healing assay, and MTT were applied to detect cell phenotypic switching, contractility, migration and proliferation, respectively. Cytoskeleton rearrangement was observed by immunofluorescence. Results showed Aza-CdR inhibited PDGF-induced down-regulation of contractile markers in RASM cells and increased cell contractility. Aza-CdR inhibited PDGF-induced RASM cell migration by abrogating cell morphology change and cytoskeletal reorganization and attenuated the effect of PDGF on proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression and cell cycle progression, ultimately cell proliferation. PDGF-induced DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) expression was mediated by activation of PI3K/Akt and ERK signaling in RASM cells. Selective depletion of DNMT1 protein by Aza-CdR inhibited PDGF-induced RASM cell phenotypic switching, revealing DNMT1-mediated DNA methylation was implicated in asthmatic ASM remodeling. We proposed for the first time that DNMT1 played a key role in PDGF-induced RASM cell phenotypic switching and Aza-CdR is promising in intervening ASM remodeling in asthma. Although study of abnormal DNA methylation in PDGF-stimulated ASM cells is in its infancy, this work contributes to providing new insights into the mechanism of ASM remodeling and may be helpful for developing effective treatments for airway remodeling in asthma.
Keywords: 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine; Airway smooth muscle cells; Phenotypic switching; DNA methylation; DNA methyltransferase 1
Proteomic and metabolomic responses to connexin43 silencing in primary hepatocyte cultures
by Mathieu Vinken; Michaël Maes; Rachel Cavill; Dirk Valkenborg; James K. Ellis; Elke Decrock; Luc Leybaert; An Staes; Kris Gevaert; André G. Oliveira; Gustavo B. Menezes; Bruno Cogliati; Maria Lúcia Zaidan Dagli; Timothy M. D. Ebbels; Erwin Witters; Hector C. Keun; Tamara Vanhaecke; Vera Rogiers (pp. 883-894).
Freshly established cultures of primary hepatocytes progressively adopt a foetal-like phenotype and display increased production of connexin43. The latter is a multifaceted cellular entity with variable subcellular locations, including the mitochondrial compartment. Cx43 forms hemichannels and gap junctions that are involved in a plethora of physiological and pathological processes, such as apoptosis. The present study was conducted with the goal of shedding more light onto the role of connexin43 in primary hepatocyte cultures. Connexin43 expression was suppressed by means of RNA interference technology, and the overall outcome of this treatment on the hepatocellular proteome and metabolome was investigated using tandem mass tag-based differential protein profiling and 1H NMR spectroscopy, respectively. Global protein profiling revealed a number of targets of the connexin43 knock-down procedure, including mitochondrial proteins (heat shock protein 60, glucose-regulated protein 75, thiosulphate sulphurtransferase and adenosine triphosphate synthase) and detoxifying enzymes (glutathione S-transferase μ 2 and cytochrome P450 2C70). At the metabolomic level, connexin43 silencing caused no overt changes, though there was some evidence for a subtle increase in intracellular glycine quantities. Collectively, these data could further substantiate the established existence of a mitochondrial connexin pool and could be reconciled with the previously reported involvement of connexin43 signalling in spontaneously occurring apoptosis in primary hepatocyte cultures.
Keywords: Primary hepatocyte; Connexin43; Proteomics; Metabolomics
The colon carcinogen 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) is actively secreted in the distal colon of the rat: an integrated view on the role of PhIP transport and metabolism in PhIP-induced colon carcinogenesis
by Petra Nicken; Bernd Schröder; Anne von Keutz; Gerhard Breves; Pablo Steinberg (pp. 895-904).
Epidemiological studies show that a positive correlation exists between the consumption of strongly heated meat and fish and the development of colorectal tumours. In this context, it has been postulated that the uptake of toxic substances formed during meat and fish processing such as heterocyclic aromatic amines (HCAs) may be causally related to colon carcinogenesis. In a previous study, we have shown that 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), the most abundantly formed HCA in the above-mentioned food items, is mainly absorbed in the small intestine (i.e. proximal jejunum) of the rat. In the present study, we analysed whether PhIP can actively be secreted by enterocytes in the rat proximal jejunum and distal colon. Unidirectional PhIP flux rates from the mucosal-to-the serosal compartment (J ms ) and in the opposite direction (J sm ) were examined in Ussing chambers with 14C-PhIP as radiotracer and in the absence of electrochemical gradients. Under these experimental conditions, significant negative net flux rates (J net = J ms − J sm ) can only be explained by an active secretion of PhIP into the luminal compartment, and such an effect was observed in the rat distal colon, but not in the proximal jejunum. Moreover, the data obtained suggest that the breast cancer resistance protein, the multidrug resistance protein 4 and P-glycoprotein are not involved in the active secretion of PhIP in the rat distal colon. The potential role of PhIP transport in colon carcinogenesis is discussed.
Keywords: Breast cancer resistance protein; Colon cancer; Multidrug resistance protein 4; P-glycoprotein; PhIP transport; Ussing chamber
Hepatotumorigenicity of ethyl tertiary-butyl ether with 2-year inhalation exposure in F344 rats
by Arata Saito; Toshiaki Sasaki; Tatuya Kasai; Taku Katagiri; Tomoshi Nishizawa; Tadashi Noguchi; Shigetoshi Aiso; Kasuke Nagano; Shoji Fukushima (pp. 905-914).
Carcinogenicity of ethyl tertiary-butyl ether (ETBE) was examined with inhalation exposure using F344/DuCrlCrlj rats. Groups of 50 male and 50 female rats, 6 week old at commencement, were exposed to ETBE at 0, 500, 1,500 or 5,000 ppm (v/v) in whole-body inhalation chambers for 6 h/day, 5 days/week for 104 weeks. A significant increase in the incidence of hepatocellular adenomas was indicated in males exposed at 5,000 ppm, but not in females at any concentration. In addition, significantly increased incidences of eosinophilic and basophilic cell foci were observed in male rats at 5,000 ppm. Regarding non-neoplastic lesions, rat-specific changes were observed in kidney, with an increase in the severity of chronic progressive nephropathy in both sexes at 5,000 ppm. Increased incidences of urothelial hyperplasia of the pelvis were observed at 1,500 ppm and above, and mineral deposition was apparent in the renal papilla at 5,000 ppm in males. There were no treatment-related histopathological changes observed in any other organs or tissues in either sex. The present 2-year inhalation study demonstrated hepatotumorigenicity of ETBE in male, but not in female rats.
Keywords: Ethyl tertiary-butyl ether; ETBE; Inhalation; Hepatotumorigenicity; Rat; Kidney
Oxidative stress in the lung of mice exposed to cigarette smoke either early in life or in adulthood
by Rosanna T. Micale; Sebastiano La Maestra; Angela Di Pietro; Giuseppa Visalli; Barbara Baluce; Roumen Balansky; Vernon E. Steele; Silvio De Flora (pp. 915-918).
Birth and early life stages are critical periods characterized by severe alterations of the redox balance and by “physiological” genomic changes in lung cells, which may be responsible for cancer and other diseases in adulthood. Oxidative stress is a major mechanism accounting for the carcinogenicity of cigarette smoke (CS), which becomes more potently carcinogenic in mice when exposure starts at birth and continues early in life. We compared herewith a variety of end-points related to oxidative stress, mitochondrial alterations, and cell turnover in the lung of Swiss H mice, either sham-exposed or CS-exposed for 4 weeks, starting either at birth or at 4 months of age. The results showed that the physiological levels of certain end-points are affected by age. In fact, the baseline proportion of hypodiploid cells and the mitochondrial potential and mass were higher in adults, whereas 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dGuo) levels, the proportion of necrotic cells, and the extent of autophagy were higher early in life. Adult mice were more responsive to CS by increasing the proportion of necrotic cells and of cells in S/G2 phase, whereas young mice maintained a high extent of autophagy, exhibited a greater increase of lipid peroxidation products and 8-oxo-dGuo levels, and had a higher frequency of micronucleated cells. In addition, exposure to CS affected the mitochondrial potential/mass, especially in young mice. In conclusion, these data provide evidence that oxidative stress and the resulting DNA damage provide a major contribution to the high susceptibility of mice to CS early in life.
Keywords: Cigarette smoke; Mouse lung; Age; Oxidative stress; Mitochondrial alterations
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