TGF-β超家族在阿尔兹海默病中的研究进展

阿尔茨海默病是一种常见的神经退行性疾病。神经组织中淀粉样斑块的积累和Tau病理的传播在AD的发生发展中起关键作用。转化生长因子-β(TGF-β)超家族由几组高度保守的多功能信号蛋白组成,广泛参与细胞周期调控、分化和免疫等生理过程。TGF-β超家族具有神经保护功能,并在AD病理改变的多个方面起关键作用,包括Aβ沉积、Tau磷酸化、海马神经发生和突触可塑性障碍等。多种TGF-β超家族成员在AD模型中被证明可明显延缓其病程,改善认知功能障碍。本文对TGF-β超家族在AD病理学方面的相关研究进行了系统综述,表明TGF-β超家族的研究在AD治疗中具有巨大潜能。     

综述与专论：表观遗传修饰调控阿尔茨海默病的研究进展

阿尔茨海默病（Alzheimer’s disease,AD）是一种临床上常见的以进行性认知功能障碍和记忆减退为主要特征的神经退行性疾病。近些年研究发现，表观遗传修饰如DNA修饰、组蛋白修饰、RNA修饰及非编码RNA在Aβ沉积、Tau蛋白过度磷酸化、神经再生、突触可塑性和认知功能中发挥不同程度的调控作用，进而改善或加剧AD病理进程。临床数据表明表观遗传修饰的改变与AD风险呈显著相关性，运用药物、物理刺激、si RNA等干预手段在AD动物模型中改变表观遗传修饰水平可改善AD病理和认知能力。本文综述了不同的表观遗传修饰在AD中的调控作用，为进一步理解AD的表观遗传学机制及通过干预表观遗传修饰改善或治疗AD的可行性提供理论依据。     

PPARα与阿尔茨海默病的研究进展

阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer's disease,AD)是一种进行性、破坏认知与记忆功能的持续性神经退行性疾病.它的主要病理特征是以β淀粉样蛋白(β-amyloid protein,Aβ)沉积和Tau蛋白过度磷酸化形成神经原纤维缠结(neurofibrillary tangle,NFT)为主,是一种日益严重的全球健康性问题.过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体(peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor,PPAR)是在中枢神经系统(CNS)中表达,调节能量代谢、神经传递、氧化还原稳态、线粒体功能等生理过程的一种核受体. PPARα作为其中一个亚型,在AD控制突触可塑性和调节神经元认知功能中有重要作用,说明PPARα是治疗AD的一个很有前途的靶点.这篇综述探讨了Aβ、氧化应激、神经炎症、脂质代谢在AD中的意义,以及PPARα的潜在价值及其在AD中的作用,揭示了未来PPARα作为AD治疗靶点的可能性.     

G蛋白偶联受体对脑内Aβ代谢与功能的调节

阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer's disease,AD)是一种神经退行性疾病,β-淀粉样蛋白(amyloidβ,Aβ)沉积和tau蛋白过度磷酸化是其主要病理特征。对AD发病机制的深入研究有助于寻找治疗AD的特异性药物。作为最大的膜蛋白家族,G蛋白偶联受体(G protein-coupled receptors,GPCRs)参与了AD的多个进程阶段。文章从GPCRs对Aβ合成的调节、Aβ毒性调节、Aβ降解、tau蛋白磷酸化,以及形成二聚体等方面阐述GPCRs参与AD发展的调控机制,有助于深入了解AD的发病机制,更好地研发以GPCRs为靶标的治疗AD的靶向性药物。     

黄酮类化合物减轻阿尔茨海默病Aβ沉积及Tau过度磷酸化的作用

阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer’s disease,AD)是全世界患病人数最多的神经退行性疾病,从神经病理角度来看它具有以β淀粉样蛋白(amyloid β-protein,Aβ)聚集物为主形成的老年斑和Tau蛋白过度磷酸化形成的神经纤维缠结(neurofibrillary tangles,NFTs)两大特征。黄酮类化合物是广泛存在于水果、蔬菜中的一类多酚类化合物,主要有六大类。多种黄酮类化合物经研究证实具有减轻Aβ沉积以及抑制Tau蛋白过度磷酸化方面的活性。本综述主要描述了AD的两个主要病理特征和黄酮类化合物对其作用的机制。     

化学和物理干预治疗阿尔茨海默病的机制

阿尔茨海默病（Alzheimers’ disease, AD）是一种常见的以进行性认知障碍和记忆减退为主要特征的中枢神经退行性疾病，发病人数多，波及范围广，已成为老年医学中最严峻的问题之一。临床上AD的药物治疗效果有限，且存在一定的局限性与副作用。目前，物理干预AD的治疗方法正逐渐受到人们的关注和重视，研究表明，物理干预如嗅觉干预、光疗法、脑电刺激、声光刺激、温度干预等能通过提高神经发生、神经保护、调控神经元兴奋性和可塑性、提高脑血流量、改善代谢、减少Aβ沉积和Tau蛋白过度磷酸化等，从而改善AD症状与认知功能。本文综述了不同物理干预对AD的作用机制以及疗效，为物理干预用于实施预防和延缓AD提供理论基础。     

阿尔茨海默症突触功能障碍研究进展

阿尔茨海默症(Alzheimer’s disease,AD)是一种神经退行性疾病,以胞外β-淀粉样蛋白(amyloid-β,Aβ)沉积和胞内神经纤维缠结为病理特征。AD典型症状的出现与中枢神经系统突触数量的减少和突触功能的改变密切相关,两者主要与Aβ的神经毒性和微管结合蛋白Tau的异常修饰有关,且Aβ和Tau蛋白存在协同作用。综述了近年有关Aβ和Tau蛋白在阿尔茨海默症突触功能障碍中作用的研究进展,并总结两者的协同作用,以期为阿尔茨海默症中突触的缺失和功能障碍开发新的治疗药物。     

运动提高沉默信息调节因子2相关酶1改善阿尔兹海默症

阿尔兹海默症(Alzheimer's disease, AD)是一种神经退行性疾病,β-淀粉样蛋白(β-amyloid, Aβ)沉积和Tau蛋白过度磷酸化是其主要病理特征。沉默信息调节因子2相关酶1 (silent mating-type information regulation 2 homolog 1, SIRT1)具有去乙酰化作用,能够使多种类型组蛋白及非组蛋白脱乙酰化,在AD发病过程中占据重要地位。近年研究发现,运动能够激活SIRT1减缓AD进程,其机制可能是:抑制β-分泌酶活性、提高α-分泌酶活性,减少Aβ生成;减少过度磷酸化Tau蛋白集聚;与过氧化体增殖物激活型受体γ辅激活因子-1α(peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α,PGC-1α)相互作用以促进线粒体生物发生;上调同源性磷酸酶张力蛋白诱导激酶1(phosphatase and tensin homolog induced putative kinase1,PINK1)/Parkin信号通路改善线粒体自噬;去乙酰化核转录因子-κB(nuclear factor kappa B, NF-κB)以抑制神经炎症;提高海马中脑源性神经营养因子(brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF)、神经胶质源性营养因子(glial cellline-derived neurotrophic factor,GDNF)等营养因子的蛋白质水平,以及抑制ApoE4基因进而增强神经元突触可塑性。本文总结了运动通过调控SIRT1改善AD的作用和机制,为预防及治疗AD提供新的思路。     

β-分泌酶抑制剂研究进展

阿尔兹海默病(Alzheimer's disease,AD)是一种退行性的神经性疾病,其主要病理特征为β-淀粉样蛋白(β-amyloid protein,Aβ)的异常聚集及tau蛋白的过度磷酸化。研究发现,β-分泌酶上调在Aβ沉积发生发展过程中具有重要作用。抑制β-分泌酶活性有可能减少淀粉样病变,从而延缓AD病理发生。现结合AD的发病机制对β-分泌酶的特点及β-分泌酶抑制剂的研究进展进行综述。     

SUMO在阿尔茨海默症及其运动干预调节中的作用

阿尔茨海默症(Alzheimer's diseases, AD)是一种常见的神经退行性疾病,俗称老年性痴呆。脑内Aβ过度聚集、Tau蛋白过度磷酸化和神经元凋亡是AD的主要病理特征。小泛素样修饰蛋白(small ubiquitin-like modifier, SUMO)通过与底物蛋白结合参与蛋白质翻译后修饰,已被发现可通过以下方式参与AD的病理过程,主要有:(1) SUMO修饰BACE1,促进Aβ产生;(2) SUMO修饰Tau蛋白,促进其磷酸化并抑制其被泛素蛋白酶系统降解;(3) AD脑内SUMO化异常导致神经元过度凋亡。运动已被证实可改善AD病理特征,调节体内SUMO化水平,这提示运动缓解AD可能存在SUMO化机制。现通过综述SUMO与AD,以及运动对SUMO的影响,阐述SUMO介导的运动抗AD的可能机制。     

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.