过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ在神经系统退行性疾病中的作用研究进展

过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体(peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor,PPAR)是配体激活型的转录因子,核受体超家族成员之一。在过去数十年中,PPAR作为治疗神经退行性疾病的潜在靶点之一,一直被人们所关注,但作用机理仍不明确。PPAR能够抑制炎症反应,诱导不同通路的信号转导,参与糖脂代谢,激活特殊配体,因而推测其可能有益于治疗神经系统疾病。PPARγ作为PPARs的三种主要类型(PPAR-α、PPAR-β/δ、PPAR-γ)之一,在糖脂代谢调控中起着重要作用。最近的证据表明,PPARγ通路的激活能够促进神经元分化。使用噻唑烷二酮(thiazol idinedione,TZDs)激活PPARγ可以阻止神经退化,减少神经元死亡,减少神经炎性疼痛。神经生长(神经突和轴突)在大脑的细胞沟通中发挥重要作用,一般来说,在神经退行性疾病中可使其受到破坏。虽然通过多年的努力,但是神经系统退行性疾病的病因和发病机制尚不清楚,也尚未有有效的治疗方法。现本文将PPARγ的结构及其与常见神经系统退行性疾病的关系做一综述。     

通过荧光差异显示PCR法分离水稻中由ABA调节的基因

脱落酸(ABA)在植物种子发育以及植物细胞对外源环境因子(如逆境、胁迫等)反应过程中起着重要的作用,对其调节基因的分离将有助于了解其相关信号传导途径及作用机制.通过荧光差异显示PCR法我们由水稻中分离了部分ABA调节的cDNA片段,在所分离克隆的17个片段中,有14个片段被ABA诱导(2、4、8、12h),有3个片段被ABA抑制(8h).测序及序列分析表明这些片段可能分别编码与植物光合作用(7)、信号传导(1)、转录调控(2)、代谢(6)相关的蛋白或未知蛋白(1)而且其表达可能受到ABA的调节或ABA参与了其作用,对其中可能编码α/β水解酶折叠蛋白、酪氨酸磷酸酶、液泡H+-ATPase的mRNA进行的RT-PCR和Northern blot分析,确证了ABA对它们表达的调节作用.在此基础上对FDD-PCR技术及ABA作用的可能机制进行了讨论.     

免疫活性细胞中的非神经元型胆碱能系统

本文对淋巴细胞、巨噬细胞、粒细胞、肥大细胞及胶质细胞等免疫活性细胞中非神经元型胆碱能系统的特点、药理学和病理生理学意义进行了综述。免疫活性细胞,尤其是淋巴细胞中存在完整、独立的胆碱能系统。与神经元型胆碱能系统相比,该系统具有不同特点,如乙酰胆碱(ACh)的合成存在于整个细胞内;ACh可能储存于细胞中某种储存结构,也可能不需储存,而是按需合成并直接释放。免疫活性细胞中的非神经元型胆碱能系统对机体免疫功能及炎症过程可能发挥重要的调控作用。对该系统的深入研究将有助于进一步阐明免疫性疾病、炎症/感染性疾病和神经退行性疾病等的病理生理和发现药物治疗的新靶标。     

初级视皮层神经元非经典感受野研究的新进展

感觉皮层神经元的非经典感受野(简称"外周")对经典感受野(简称"中心")的调节作用广泛存在于哺乳动物中,被认为是感觉皮层神经元的基本特性.以初级视皮层神经元为例,刺激其外周能有效地调节刺激其中心引起的反应,这种作用主要是抑制性的.理解初级视皮层神经元的外周对中心的调节机制能够深入揭示哺乳动物的感觉皮层神经元信息处理的基...     

血管内皮生长因子的脑保护及其机制研究进展

血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)是一种重要的血管发育调节因子,最早发现于肿瘤细胞。上世纪90年代,人们发现VEGF在神经细胞上也有广泛表达,并具有神经细胞保护作用。此外,VEGF显著促进成年哺乳动物结构性神经元再生区(constitutive neurogenic regions)和非神经元再生区(non-neurogenic regions)的神经元再生/更新(neurogenesis/regenera-tion),显示了VEGF在神经损伤性及退行性疾病治疗中的潜在意义。本文着重讨论VEGF在脑缺血损伤中的神经保护(neuroprotection)和神经修复(neural repair)及其细胞和分子机制研究进展。     

甘蓝型油菜BnaCIPK15基因的表达分析与功能鉴定

CBL-CIPK是高等植物中广泛存在的一类解析Ca~(2+)信号的蛋白。该研究在前期工作基础上,对甘蓝型油菜(Brassica napus L.)的BnaCIPK15基因进行了亚细胞定位、双分子荧光互补(BiFC)、酵母双杂交和qRT-PCR检测等一系列分析,以探究BnaCIPK15蛋白在ABA激素响应中的作用。结果显示:(1)亚细胞定位发现,BnaCIPK15蛋白定位于细胞质和细胞核中; BiFC分析发现,BnaCIPK15蛋白与BnaCBL1/3/4/9蛋白之间的互作较强,与BnaCBL10仅有微弱互作。(2)qRT-PCR检测发现,BnaCIPK15基因受ABA和冷胁迫的诱导极显著上调表达,而对百草枯(Paraquat)、活性氧(H_2O_2)和热胁迫的诱导较弱,表明BnaCIPK15基因很可能参与ABA和冷胁迫的调控过程。(3)酵母滴定实验结果显示,BnaCIPK15蛋白与脱落酸(ABA)信号通路中的BnaHAB1蛋白(属于蛋白磷酸酶PP2C家族)存在明显的互作,而与BnaABFs/AREB3/ABI5转录因子无明显互作;BiFC验证显示,BnaCIPK15与BnaHAB1蛋白之间存在互作信号,而BnaCIPK15与BnaHAB2组合没有观察到信号,证明BnaCIPK15与BnaHAB1磷酸酶具有特异互作特征,推测BnaCIPK15可能参与调控ABA信号转导。研究认为,甘蓝型油菜中可能存在基于BnaCIPK15-BnaHAB1的互作模块,并参与ABA的信号转导和网络调控。     

罗格列酮对海马神经元树突发育的影响

罗格列酮(rosiglitazone,Rosig.)是噻唑烷二酮类(thiazolidinediones,TZDs)过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ(peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma,PPARγ)的激动剂,近年来,临床研究发现其具有神经保护作用,但对其作用机制目前仍没有完全研究清楚．利用活细胞成像的方法,观察罗格列酮对大鼠海马神经元树突丝和树突树发育的影响及其机制．结果显示,罗格列酮浓度依赖的增高神经元树突丝密度,对树突丝长度、运动速度并没有影响．此外,罗格列酮也不影响树突树的总分支、总长度以及各级分支的数目和长度．PPARγ 特异性拮抗剂GW9662完全阻断了罗格列酮介导的树突丝密度增高．结果表明罗格列酮可能通过PPARγ途径影响神经元的早期发育,这可能是罗格列酮发挥神经保护作用的潜在机制．     

SIRT1与神经变性疾病

SIRT1(silent mating type information regulation2homolog1)是Sirtuins脱乙酰基酶家族中的一员,是酵母沉默信息调节因子SIR2(silence information regulator)的同源物,因其能在许多生物体模型中作为寿命延长调节子调控细胞生命周期而受到特别关注。SIRT1蛋白存在于哺乳动物细胞质和细胞核中,是老化相关蛋白。SIRT1作用于基因转录因子能加强基因组的稳定性。神经系统发生变性疾病时SIRT1表达量上调,起到一定的神经保护作用。但有实验验证神经元损伤SIRT1过表达导致记忆缺失,并没有起到神经保护作用。SIRT1诱导剂,可以是Sirtuin的激动剂也可以是能量限制状态。目前在生命科学领域里SIRT1已经凸显其科学价值地位,该文就SIRT1及其与神经变性疾病之间的关系做一综述。     

OXR1基因的抗氧化作用及分子机制研究进展

抗氧化基因1 (oxidation resistance gene 1, OXR1)是一种仅存在于真核生物中,具有清除活性氧、防止细胞氧化损伤的抗氧化调节基因,近年来相关研究甚多。在哺乳动物中,OXR1高表达于中枢神经系统,对神经细胞的抗氧化保护起到至关重要的作用,并发现其功能在人类神经退行性疾病的靶向基因治疗中具有潜在应用价值。该文就OXR1的结构、亚细胞定位、抗氧化功能及表达调控等进行综述,以助于深入理解OXR1对细胞抗氧化保护的分子调控机制。     

ERK激活对SDF-1引起的大鼠海马神经元GABA分泌抑制的影响

目的:观察细胞外调节激酶(ERK)信号通路激活对基质细胞衍生因子(SDF-1)引起离体培养的大鼠海马神经元γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)分泌的影响。方法:新生SD大鼠海马神经元离体培养,Western blot法观察ERK1/2信号通路的磷酸化水平;ELISA法和RT-PCR技术检测ERK1/2特异性阻断剂PD98059作用于离体培养的海马神经元后GABA分泌的改变;谷氨酸脱羧酶(GAD65/67)和γ-氨基丁酸转运体(GAT)的蛋白表达量及GAD65和GAT-1 mRNA表达水平。结果:SDF-1作用于海马神经元可引起ERK1/2磷酸化水平明显升高,同时加用CXCR4受体阻断剂AMD3100,可阻断SDF1引起的ERK1/2激活;SDF-1可明显抑制离体培养的海马神经元GABA的分泌,同时加用ERK1/2特异性抑制剂PD98059,可部分逆转SDF-1对GABA分泌的抑制作用;SDF-1作用于离体培养的海马神经元,可抑制谷氨酸脱羧酶GAD65和GABA转运体GAT-1 mRNA的生成;ERK抑制剂PD98059可有效翻转SDF-1的作用。Western blot结果发现SDF-1可抑制海马神经元GAT-1和GAD65/67蛋白的表达,加用ERK1/2抑制剂可部分恢复GAT-1和GAD65/67蛋白合成。结论:SDF1作用于离体培养的海马神经元CXCR4,通过激活ERK1/2信号通路进而抑制GAD蛋白表达,可能是其介导GABA分泌抑制的通路之一。     

Recent advances in the study of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus replication and pathogenesis

It has now been over twenty years since a novel herpesviral genome was identified in Kaposi's sarcoma biopsies. Since then, the cumulative research effort by molecular biologists, virologists, clinicians, and epidemiologists alike has led to the extensive characterization of this tumor virus, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus(KSHV; also known as human herpesvirus 8(HHV-8)), and its associated diseases. Here we review the current knowledge of KSHV biology and pathogenesis, with a particular emphasis on new and exciting advances in the field of epigenetics. We also discuss the development and practicality of various cell culture and animal model systems to study KSHV replication and pathogenesis.     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

The structure, reproduction and taxonomy of Vidalia and Osmundaria (Rhodophyta, Rhodomelaceae)

Comprises species occurring mostly in subtidal habitats in tropical, subtropical and warm-temperate areas of the world. An analysis of the type species, V. spiralis (Sonder) Lamouroux ex J. Agardh, a species from Australia, establishes basic characters for distinguishing species in the genus. These characters are (1) branching patterns of thalli, (2) flat blades that may be spiralled on their axis, (3) width of the blade, (4) primary or secondary derivation of sterile and fertile branchlets and (5) position of sterile and fertile branchlets on the thalli. Application of the latter two characters provides an important basic method for separation of species into three major groups. Osmundaria , a genus known only in southern Australia, was studied in relation to Vidalia , and its separation from the Vidalia assemblage is not accepted. Species of Vidalia therefore are transferred to the older genus name, Osmundaria. Two new species, Osmundaria papenfussii and Osmundaria oliveae are described from Natal. Confusion in the usage of the epithet, Vidalia fimbriala Brown ex Turner has been clarified, and Vidalia gregaria Falkenberg, described as an epiphyte on Osmundaria pro/ifera Lamouroux, is revealed to be young branches of the host, Osmundaria prolifera.     

New or rare chromosome counts in Artemisia L. (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) and related genera from Kazakhstan

Fifteen chromosome counts of six Artemisia taxa and one species of each of the genera Brachanthemum, Hippolytia, Kaschgaria, Lepidolopsis and Turaniphytum are reported from Kazakhstan. Three of them are new reports, two are not consistent with previous counts and the remainder are confirmations of very scarce (one to four) earlier records. All the populations studied have the same basic chromosome number, x = 9, with ploidy levels ranging from 2x to 6x. Some correlations between ploidy level, morphological characters and distribution are noted.