正弦波电磁场激活一氧化氮信号通路促进大鼠成骨细胞成熟与矿化

研究正弦波电磁场(SEMF)促进成骨细胞成熟矿化是否与一氧化氮(NO)信号通路相关.首先检测成骨细胞经正弦电磁场作用0h、0.5h、1h、1.5h、2h、2.5h、3h、3.5h和4h后一氧化氮合酶(NOS)的活性,以探明电磁场是否影响NO的合成;其次,在细胞培养液中加入NOS的阻断剂L-NAME以阻断NO信号通路,观察电磁场促进骨形成作用是否受到影响.结果发现,经正弦波电磁场处理后,NOS活性升高,在0.5h达到峰值,与空白对照组差异极显著(P<0.01),Osterix基因的表达量、碱性磷酸酶活性和钙化结节数等均显著高于对照组.L-NAME组各项指标均低于空白对照组,SEMF+L-NAME组则略高于空白对照组而低于SEMF组.以上结果表明SEMF促进成骨细胞成熟矿化过程中NO信号通路被激活,如该通路被抑制,则SEMF的促成骨作用被抵消.     

不同强度50 Hz脉冲电磁场促进大鼠颅骨成骨细胞矿化成熟最佳参数的筛选

为研究不同强度脉冲电磁场(pulse electromagnetic fields,PEMFs)对大鼠颅骨成骨细胞（rat skull osteoblasts,OB）增殖及成熟矿化的影响,将大鼠颅骨成骨细胞随机分为 7 组. 检测大鼠颅骨成骨细胞的增殖,细胞内碱性磷酸酶（ALP）活性变化,细胞沉积钙盐的情况,组织化学染色以及成骨细胞内标志性分子表达量的改变.结果显示,0.6 mT组促细胞增殖作用最强（P <0.01）;0.6 mT、1.8 mT、3.0 mT和3.6 mT均能提高ALP活性,其中0.6 mT ALP活性最高（P＜0.01）;在磁场处理4 ～12 d时细胞沉积钙盐逐渐增加,6种强度的脉冲电磁场均能促进钙盐沉积,尤以0.6 mT水平最高; ALP 染色、茜素红染色0.6 mT 组均显著高于对照组（P<0.01）;0.6 mT组 Bmp-2和Collagen-1 mRNA 的表达明显（P<0.01）高于对照组,磁场处理组Rankl mRNA 的表达均比对照组低. 0.6 mT 50 Hz 脉冲电磁场是促进成骨细胞增殖和矿化成熟的最佳参数,这为采用脉冲电磁场治疗骨质疏松症提供了治疗参数的基础支持.     

正弦电磁场促进成骨细胞成熟分化依赖于BMP-Smad信号通路

正弦电磁场（SEMFs）能够显著促进大鼠成骨细胞（ROBs）成熟分化,但其作用机制未知。本研究旨在阐明BMP-Smad信号通路对SEMFs促进ROBs成熟分化的影响。取新生SD 大鼠颅骨,多次酶消化体外分离培养得到ROBs传代培养后,利用50 Hz 1.8 mTs SEMFs处理0,5,15,30和60 min,Western印迹检测BMP-2表达和Smad1/5/8磷酸化水平,免疫荧光染色检测P-Smad1/5/8核转位。加入BMP-Smad信号通路的阻断剂noggin后,50 Hz 1.8 mTs SEMFs分别处理3 d和6 d（2 h/d）后,检测胞内碱性磷酸酶（ALP）活性,磁场处理2 d后（2 h/d）,real-time PCR和Western印迹分别检测Ⅰ型胶原（collagen1）和成骨相关转录因子RUNX-2基因和蛋白质表达量。结果发现,50 Hz 1.8 mTs SEMFs处理ROBs后,BMP-2的表达量显著增加,胞内Smad1/5/8快速磷酸化,而对非磷酸化的Smad1/5/8表达无影响。同时,SEMFs处理30 min后引起P-Smad1/5/8发生核转位。50 Hz 1.8mTs SEMFs能够显著促进ALP活性增加,促进成骨相关因子collagen1和RUNX-2基因和蛋白质表达。加入BMP-Smad信号通路的阻断剂noggin后,SEMFs促进ALP活性增加,collagen1和RUNX-2基因和蛋白质表达水平被显著抑制。上述结果说明,50 Hz 1.8 mTs SEMFs促进成骨细胞成骨性分化依赖于BMP-Smad信号通路。     

低频脉冲电磁场通过PI3K/AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin信号途径促进成骨细胞矿化成熟

低频脉冲电磁场(pulsed electromagnetic fields, PEMFs)可以促进体外培养大鼠颅骨成骨细胞(rat calarial osteoblasts,ROB)的矿化成熟,但其具体机制尚不清楚。本实验主要研究PEMFs促进大鼠成骨细胞成熟矿化与PI3K/AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin信号通路的关系,以PEMFs促进成骨细胞成熟矿化的机制。首先,将成骨细胞经不同强度PEMFs处理后检测胞内碱性磷酸酶(ALP)活性的变化,以探明PEMFs促进成骨分化的最佳磁场强度;接着,采用蛋白质印迹法检测PEMFs处理不同时间后细胞内PI3K、p-PI3K、AKT、p-AKT、GSK3β、p-GSK3β、β-联蛋白的变化情况;最后,细胞经PI3K特异性阻断剂处理后,检测ALP活性变化、钙盐沉积情况、成骨性相关基因RUNX2、BMP2表达量,以及BMP2/Smad1/5/8信号途径的变化情况,同时也检测了该条信号途径下游蛋白质表达量及相关转录因子的核易位情况。结果发现,磁场强度为0.6 mT时,ALP活性最高;PEMFs处理成骨细胞不同时间后,PI3K、AKT和GSK3β总蛋白质无明显变化,但是p-PI3K、 p-AKT、p-GSK3β、β-联蛋白的表达量较对照组显著升高,同时β-联蛋白发生核易位;经过PEMFs处理的成骨细胞的ALP活性显著升高,成骨性相关基因表达量明显增加,钙盐沉积能力增强,BMP2/Smad1/5/8信号途径被激活;在加入PI3K特异性阻断剂后,PEMFs促进成骨细胞矿化成熟的能力消失,并且不再提高该条信号途径下游蛋白质的表达和相关转录因子的核转位。上述结果提示,0.6 mT PEMFs促进成骨分化的此过程中激活了PI3K/AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin信号通路,若该条信号通路被抑制,则电磁场促成骨作用被抵消,表明低频脉冲电磁场促进成骨细胞矿化成熟依赖于PI3K/AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin信号途径,这为采用脉冲电磁场治疗骨质疏松症提供了理论基础。     

多囊蛋白2对低频脉冲电磁场促进成骨细胞分化成熟的影响

已知低频脉冲电磁场(pulsed electromagnetic fields,PEMFs)可以促进体外培养大鼠颅骨成骨细胞(rat calvarial osteoblasts,ROBs)的分化成熟,但ROBs感知PEMFs物理信号并启动成骨性分化的机制至今不明。本研究探究了0.6 mT 50 Hz PEMFs促进ROBs成骨性分化与位于ROBs表面的初级纤毛上的多囊蛋白2(polycystin2,PC2)的关系。首先用免疫荧光染色法研究了PC2是否位于ROBs初级纤毛内,然后通过Western blotting检测了经PEMFs处理不同时间后,ROBs内PC2蛋白表达的变化情况。接着用PC2阻断剂盐酸阿米洛利(amiloride HCl,AMI)预处理ROBs,检测碱性磷酸酶(alkline phosphatase,ALP)活性和PC2蛋白表达受PEMFs处理的影响情况,以及与骨形成相关的Runx-2、Bmp-2、Col-1、Osx的蛋白及基因表达的变化情况。再用RNA干扰法抑制ROBs内PC2的表达后,检测与骨形成相关基因表达情况。结果发现,PC2被定位于ROBs初级纤毛上,PEMFs处理增加了PC2蛋白表达量。PC2被AMI阻断后,PEMFs不再能提高PC2蛋白表达水平及ALP活性,PEMFs对成骨相关蛋白和基因表达的促进作用也被抵消。使用RNA干扰法抑制PC2的表达后,PEMFs也不再能提高骨形成相关基因的表达。结果表明:存在于成骨细胞初级纤毛表面的PC2在感知并传递PEMFs发出的物理信号中扮演着不可或缺的角色,PEMFs促进ROBs成骨性分化依赖于PC2的存在。本研究为阐明低频脉冲电磁场促进骨形成及治疗骨质疏松的机制研究奠定了基础。     

蓝氏贾第虫无义mRNA的降解

无义介导的mRNA降解途径（nonsense-mediated mRNA decay,NMD）作为细胞内的一种重要的mRNA质量监控机制,可以降解含有提前终止密码子（premature termination codon,PTC）的异常转录本,从而避免截短蛋白质对细胞的毒害,但其详细的分子机制有待进一步阐释。蓝氏贾第虫（Giardia lamblia)作为一种寄生性单细胞原生动物,进化地位特殊,对其NMD途径的研究有利于阐明基因表达调控的分子和进化机制。本研究通过酵母双杂交及体外pull-down实验分析了贾第虫NMD途径因子上游移码蛋白1(Giardia lamblia up-frameshift 1,GlUPF1)、贾第虫RNA结合蛋白（Giardia lamblia HRP1, GlHRP1）、贾第虫核糖核酸外切酶（Giardia lamblia Ski7p,GlSki7p、Giardia lamblia XRN1,GlXRN1）之间的相互作用关系。结果表明,GlUPF1全长与GlHRP1、GlXRN1(1~500 aa)、GlSki7p间均可发生相互作用。而且GlUPF1的CH结构域和C端结构域分别与GlHRP1、GlXRN1（1~500 aa）、GlSki7p相互作用。说明GlUPF1在贾第虫NMD途径中作为招募平台,在无义mRNA识别和降解过程中发挥重要作用。为此,结合本实验室之前的研究结果,我们提出原生动物贾第虫的NMD途径：在提前终止密码子处SURF(SMG1-UPF1-eRF1-eRF3)复合物形成后,GlUPF1被磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶(suppressor with morphogenetic effect on genitalia 1,SMG1)磷酸化修饰, NMD途径激活,随后GlUPF1与HRP1相互作用,将转录本标记为NMD底物;GlUPF1进而招募下游贾第虫5′-3′核糖核酸降解酶GlXRN1、贾第虫3′-5′ 核糖核酸降解因子GlSki7p,最终降解靶标mRNA。     

Headache Treatment with Pulsing Electromagnetic Fields: A Literature Review

Pulsing electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy may be a viable form of complementary and alternative medicine. Clinical applications include the treatment of fractures, wounds, and heart disease. More recent applications involve treatment of recurrent headache disorders. This paper reviews available studies investigating PEMF for headache management. Possible mechanisms for effects (neurochemical, electrophysical, and cardiovascular) are discussed. The available data suggest that PEMF treatment for headache merits further study. Suggestions for future research are provided.     

Recognition of ribonuclease A by 3'-5'-pyrophosphate-linked dinucleotide inhibitors: a molecular dynamics/continuum electrostatics analysis

The proteins of the pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase A) family catalyze the cleavage of the RNA polymer chain. The development of RNase inhibitors is of significant interest, as some of these compounds may have a therapeutic effect in pathological conditions associated with these proteins. The most potent low molecular weight inhibitor of RNase reported to date is the compound 5′-phospho-2′-deoxyuridine-3-pyrophosphate (P→5)-adenosine-3-phosphate (pdUppA-3′-p). The 3′,5′-pyrophosphate group of this compound increases its affinity and introduces structural features which seem to be unique in pyrophosphate-containing ligands bound to RNase A, such as the adoption of a syn conformation by the adenosine base at RNase subsite B₂ and the placement of the 5′-β-phosphate of the adenylate (instead of the α-phosphate) at subsite P₁ where the phosphodiester bond cleavage occurs. In this work, we study by multi-ns molecular dynamics simulations the structural properties of RNase A complexes with the ligand pdUppA-3′-p and the related weaker inhibitor dUppA, which lacks the 3′ and 5′ terminal phosphate groups of pdUppA-3′-p. The simulations show that the adenylate 5′-β-phosphate binding position and the adenosine syn orientation constitute robust structural features in both complexes, stabilized by persistent interactions with specific active-site residues of subsites P₁ and B₂. The simulation structures are used in conjunction with a continuum-electrostatics (Poisson-Boltzmann) model, to evaluate the relative binding affinity of the two complexes. The computed relative affinity of pdUppA-3′-p varies between −7.9 kcal/mol and −2.8 kcal/mol for a range of protein/ligand dielectric constants (ε_p) 2–20, in good agreement with the experimental value (−3.6 kcal/mol); the agreement becomes exact with ε_p = 8. The success of the continuum-electrostatics model suggests that the differences in affinity of the two ligands originate mainly from electrostatic interactions. A residue decomposition of the electrostatic free energies shows that the terminal phosphate groups of pdUppA-3′-p make increased interactions with residues Lys⁷ and Lys⁶⁶ of the more remote sites P₂ and P₀, and His¹¹⁹ of site P₁.     

Choice of osteoblast model critical for studying the effects of electromagnetic stimulation on osteogenesis in vitro

ABSTRACT

The clinical benefits of electromagnetic field (EMF) therapy in enhancing osteogenesis have been acknowledged for decades, but agreement regarding the underlying mechanisms continues to be sought. Studies have shown EMFs to promote osteoblast-like cell proliferation, or contrarily, to induce differentiation and enhance mineralization. Typically these disparities have been attributed to methodological differences. The present paper argues the possibility that the chosen osteoblast model impacts stimulation outcome. Phenotypically immature cells, particularly at low seeding densities, appear to be prone to EMF-amplified proliferation. Conversely, mature cells at higher densities seem to be predisposed to earlier onset differentiation and mineralization. This suggests that EMFs augment ongoing processes in cell populations. To test this hypothesis, mature SaOS-2 cells and immature MC3T3-E1 cells at various densities, with or without osteo-induction, were exposed to sinusoidal 50 Hz EMF. The exposure stimulated the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 and inhibited the proliferation of SaOS-2 cells. Baseline alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression of SaOS-2 cells was high and rapidly further increased with EMF exposure, whereas ALP effects in MC3T3-E1 cells were not seen until the second week. Thus both cell types responded differently to EMF stimulation, corroborating the hypothesis that the phenotypic maturity and culture stage of cells influence stimulation outcome.     

外切核酸酶Ⅲ介导的DNA分子克隆

DNA克隆技术,作为最基本的现代分子生物学实验技术之一, 已经成为生物医学研究领域的重要研究手段。传统的分子克隆方法需要经过限制性内切酶酶切和DNA连接酶连接的步骤,是否存在合适的酶切位点和DNA连接酶的效率成为影响克隆的重要限制因素。本文描述了一种由外切核酸酶Ⅲ介导的,以3′-5′外切核酸酶活性和细菌细胞内DNA修复机制为理论基础的DNA分子克隆方法,称为不依赖连接酶的分子克隆（ligation-independent cloning, LIC）|证明了该方法的高效性和可靠性,并进一步对酶的用量、反应温度、反应时间、片段载体比例和量等多个参数进行了优化,建立了一种快速、简便和高效的DNA克隆方法。     

Structure Guided Chemical Modifications of Propylthiouracil Reveal Novel Small Molecule Inhibitors of Cytochrome b5 Reductase 3 That Increase Nitric Oxide Bioavailability

NADH cytochrome b₅ reductase 3 (CYB5R3) is critical for reductive reactions such as fatty acid elongation, cholesterol biosynthesis, drug metabolism, and methemoglobin reduction. Although the physiological and metabolic importance of CYB5R3 has been established in hepatocytes and erythrocytes, emerging investigations suggest that CYB5R3 is critical for nitric oxide signaling and vascular function. However, advancement toward fully understanding CYB5R3 function has been limited due to a lack of potent small molecule inhibitors. Because of this restriction, we modeled the binding mode of propylthiouracil, a weak inhibitor of CYB5R3 (IC₅₀ = ∼275 μm), and used it as a guide to predict thiouracil-biased inhibitors from the set of commercially available compounds in the ZINC database. Using this approach, we validated two new potent derivatives of propylthiouracil, ZINC05626394 (IC₅₀ = 10.81 μm) and ZINC39395747 (IC₅₀ = 9.14 μm), both of which inhibit CYB5R3 activity in cultured cells. Moreover, we found that ZINC39395747 significantly increased NO bioavailability in renal vascular cells, augmented renal blood flow, and decreased systemic blood pressure in response to vasoconstrictors in spontaneously hypertensive rats. These compounds will serve as a new tool to examine the biological functions of CYB5R3 in physiology and disease and also as a platform for new drug development.     

过表达Dbtnbt基因提高中国红豆杉细胞的紫杉醇含量

本文通过克隆3′-N-去苯甲酰紫杉醇N-苯甲酰转移酶（3′-N-debenzoyltaxol-N-benzoyltransferase,DBTNBT）基因Dbtnbt,构建其表达载体p1303-SDbtnbtN,转化中国红豆杉细胞,经潮霉素抗性筛选获得转基因细胞系. 转基因细胞分析结果表明,T-DNA及其包含的基因与宿主细胞染色体成功整合;转基因细胞中报告基因GusA-mgfp5正常表达;转基因细胞的Dbtnbt mRNA表达量是未转化细胞的1.33 倍;转基因细胞的紫杉醇产量约为27.3 μg/g,是未转化细胞的1.37倍. 本研究结果表明,过表达Dbtnbt基因将中国红豆杉细胞的紫杉醇产量提高约37%.     

雌激素受体2（ESR2）mRNA 5′非翻译区内部核糖体进入位点活性的鉴定与分析

真核生物除了传统的帽依赖型翻译机制外,还存在内部核糖体进入位点（internal ribosome entry site, IRES）介导的翻译机制。雌激素受体2（estrogen receptor 2, ESR2）是雌激素受体家族成员之一,其编码的蛋白质在许多肿瘤中发挥重要的作用。ESR2蛋白的异常表达会导致众多肿瘤的发生,但其蛋白质翻译水平的调控机制至今仍不清楚。研究发现,在药物刺激的条件下,乳腺癌细胞MCF7/WT中ESR2蛋白的表达提高,但是其转录水平基本未见发生改变。猜测ESR2 mRNA 5′非翻译区（5′ untranslated region, 5′ UTR）具有IRES活性。为了验证ESR2 mRNA 5′ UTR是否具有IRES元件,将ESR2 mRNA 5′ UTR插入到双顺反子报告基因载体（pRF）中,构建pRL-ESR2-FL重组质粒载体,将其瞬时转染到HEK293细胞。结果发现,ESR2 mRNA 5′ UTR有假定的IRES活性。并且通过3个排除实验验证了ESR2 IRES活性与其5′ UTR中的内部潜在启动子（P<0.0001）、内部剪切位点以及核糖体通读无关。进一步对其序列进行截短研究发现,ESR2 IRES活性发挥的关键区域是3′端的439～468 nt,且ESR2 IRES最大活性的发挥依赖于5′ UTR序列的完整性。并且发现,ESR2 IRES活性的发挥不但需要特定的一级核酸序列,还要有稳定的二级茎环结构。此研究有望为ESR2蛋白调控的相关疾病提供新的药物治疗靶点。