模型膜实验方法在β淀粉样蛋白与细胞膜间相互作用中的应用与改进

β淀粉样蛋白(amyloid β peptide,Aβ)与细胞膜间的相互作用很可能是阿尔茨海默症病(Alzheimer disease, AD)重要的风险因素。模型膜研究方法在该领域的应用和更新持续至今,但仍存在一些问题有待解决,例如,Aβ插膜后聚集状态与Aβ融合到脂质体膜聚集状态的差异,Aβ插膜后形成微通道的时间及与磷脂成分的关系等。本文试图解析这两个问题,同时,系统地总结出常用的和更新的模型膜研究方法,这些方法包括单层膜插膜及电镜样品的制备,脂质体制备方法的改进,脂质体膜上Aβ42经过高盐及酸清洗后的Western 印迹检测,ANTS-DPX研究脂质体泄漏等。研究结果显示：(1)胞外及膜内Aβ42单体与脂质体膜作用后的聚集状态存在差异,Aβ42单体插膜后更容易聚集成纤维,而膜内融合的Aβ42呈现寡聚体形式;(2) Sepharose CL-4B柱过滤比微型挤出器制备的脂质体更加均一分散;(3)Aβ42在膜上形成微通道很可能是一个缓慢的过程,且与脂质体的磷脂种类相关。这些方法为Aβ42与细胞膜的相互作用提供了实用的研究手段,同时也为其他膜蛋白质与细胞膜的相互作用提供了可以借鉴的办法。研究结果使β淀粉样蛋白代谢过程更加清晰。     

不同寡聚形式的Aβ42与细胞膜作用显示毒性差异

β-淀粉样蛋白（β-amyloid peptide, Aβ）与神经细胞膜的相互作用是阿尔茨海默症（Alzheimer’s disease, AD）发病的重要事件,但不同寡聚形式的Aβ与细胞膜相互作用的差异仍缺乏直接比较。本文通过膜天平、透射电子显微镜、Thioflavin T(ThT)和细胞毒性实验等方法,检测Aβ42单体、ADDL、原纤维等形式的β-淀粉样蛋白与磷脂膜的作用方式,分析不同形式淀粉样蛋白对细胞的毒性作用。结果显示,（1）单层膜的实验数据可以判断Aβ42单体和寡聚体插膜能力存在差异,Aβ42单体能插入磷脂单层膜内,而Aβ42 ADDL不具备插膜能力;（2）透射电镜和ThT荧光检测,定性定量地分析出不同聚集形式的Aβ42具有不同的纤维化能力,Aβ42单体纤维化能力最强,而Aβ42原纤维的纤维化能力次之,Aβ42ADDL很难形成纤维;（3）Aβ42单体细胞毒性较弱,而Aβ42 ADDL和原纤维的细胞毒性较强。由以上结果可以得出结论：在磷脂膜存在的条件下,Aβ42单体可以插入膜内并迅速形成无毒性的Aβ42纤维,因此,细胞毒性较弱。而ADDL及原纤维不能插入膜内,纤维化能力较弱,从而以寡聚体的形式发挥细胞毒性。将单体、ADDL及原纤维形式的Aβ42与细胞膜相互作用进行分析,将为Aβ42在AD中的毒性机制研究提供一定的参考。但各种寡聚体入胞的方式及毒性机制仍需要进一步研究。     

β淀粉样蛋白突变体的寡聚及插膜能力鉴定

β-淀粉样蛋白（β-amyloid peptide, Aβ）的插膜与寡聚是导致阿尔茨海默症（Alzheimer disease, AD）发病的重要事件。已有研究证明,Aβ氨基酸序列29～36与1～28依靠“核心疏水簇”（central hydrophobic cluster,CHC）的作用形成一个稳定的β-发夹结构,Aβ1-40/Aβ1-42的插膜与寡聚需要作用于序列37～40/37～42从而解除序列29～36与N-端之间的结合,但各基元序列如何互作从而贡献出Aβ的寡聚及插膜行为仍不清楚。本文主要研究Aβ1-28、Aβ1-36、Aβ1-40、Aβ1-42、Aβ11-42、Aβ17-42等突变体的寡聚和插膜能力,并探讨各基元序列（motif）在突变体插膜与寡聚过程中的相互作用。Western印迹、硫黄素T荧光分析、透射电镜等实验检测寡聚能力,模型膜实验比较插膜能力。结果显示：与Aβ1-28及Aβ1-36相比,Aβ1-42、Aβ11-42及Aβ17-42均具有较强的寡聚及插膜能力,说明C-端序列37～42在Aβ寡聚及插膜过程中具有重要的起始作用;Aβ1-42及Aβ1-40可以形成原纤维及纤维,但Aβ11-42、Aβ17-42却不能,这显示序列1～17可以稳定纤维结构。Aβ1-28及Aβ1-36插膜及寡聚能力弱,暗示这两个突变体可能形成了不容易插膜且不容易寡聚的自身稳定结构。上述结果证明,Aβ蛋白C-端是诱导插膜与寡聚的主因,N-端可以稳定长纤维,但对插膜和寡聚的影响并不大,中间肽段很可能形成一个自身稳定的区域,这在一定程度上解释Aβ基元序列的相互作用,但具体氨基酸互作分子机制及抑制方法还需进一步研究。     

阿尔茨海默病中β淀粉样蛋白的生成及清除的调节

阿尔茨海默病（Alzheimer’s disease, AD）是一种慢性退行性神经系统疾病,临床主要表现为进行性认知能力下降、记忆力衰退、人格改变等。AD的标志性病理特征包括脑细胞外β淀粉样蛋白（β-amyloid protein,Aβ）沉积形成老年斑、细胞内神经纤维缠结(neurofibrillary tangles,NFT)、神经炎症增加以及神经元凋亡。β淀粉样蛋白主要在神经元产生,是淀粉样前体蛋白经过一系列酶解反应生成的由39～42个氨基酸组成的多肽,调节Aβ的生成和清除能够有效延缓甚至逆转阿尔茨海默病的进程,因而具有重大的研究价值。β-分泌酶（β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1,BACE1）为Aβ产生过程中的关键酶,其含量及活性的改变均能影响Aβ产生,在阿尔茨海默病的发生发展中发挥至关重要的作用;老年斑周围炎性细胞的聚集提示,AD与神经炎症高度相关,神经炎症相关细胞能够参与Aβ的清除,多种炎性因子也能调节Aβ的生成;非编码RNA虽很少直接参与Aβ的产生、沉积和清除,但其可以通过多种途径调节Aβ的产生。本文从β淀粉样蛋白生成及清除的机制着手,重点阐述了BACE1、神经炎症、非编码RNA对Aβ调控的重要作用,以期为AD发病机制的进一步研究提供思路,并对阿尔茨海默病早期干预及治疗提供理论参考。     

二维纳米材料抗β-淀粉样蛋白治疗阿尔茨海默病

阿尔茨海默病（Alzheimer’s disease, AD）是一种老年人群中高发的进行性神经退行性疾病。β-淀粉样蛋白（β-amyloid,Aβ）假说是目前科学界广泛支持的AD发病机制。清除Aβ、阻止Aβ聚集和解聚Aβ纤维的策略有望给AD的治疗提供有效途径。然而,目前已报道的抗Aβ治疗AD的药物存在的诸多缺点,限制了其临床应用。随着纳米技术的飞速发展,二维纳米材料在医学上的应用逐渐受到研究人员的关注。二维纳米材料不仅理化特性优异,而且生物相容性良好,还易于穿越细胞膜及血脑屏障。近年来研究发现,多种二维纳米材料能通过分子间相互作用力、近红外光热效应、光催化氧化、Cu2 +螯合以及药物负载等机制来抑制Aβ聚集,或使Aβ纤维解聚,在治疗AD方面有着很大的潜力。本文将围绕石墨烯和类石墨烯二维纳米材料,例如二硫化钼、石墨相氮化碳、黑磷等用于抗Aβ治疗AD方面的研究进行综述。     

TGF-β1对Aβ1-42诱导海马神经元-小胶质细胞共培养体系中细胞因子表达和分泌的影响

目的：探讨在海马神经元和小胶质细胞共培养体系中转化生长因子-β1（TGF-β1）对β淀粉样肽1-42（Aβ_1-42）诱导的小胶质细胞激活表达和分泌细胞因子的影响。方法：将大鼠海马神经元和小胶质细胞进行共同培养,于共同培养后第5日,加入TGF-β1（5 or 20 ng/ml）,1 h后加入Aβ_1-42（5 μmol/L）,继续培养72 h后用于后续实验,Western blot法检测诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）的蛋白表达;Real-time PCR和ELISA法检测肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、白介素-1β（IL-1β）和胰岛素样生长因子（IGF-1）的mRNA表达和分泌。结果：在共同培养的海马神经元与小胶质细胞体系中,Aβ_1-42诱导炎症因子iNOS、TNF-α和IL-1β的表达和/或分泌上调,神经营养因子IGF-1表达下调,TGF-β1预处理削弱上述Aβ_1-42的作用。结论：TGF-β1明显抑制Aβ_1-42诱导的小胶质细胞激活引起的炎性细胞因子的增加和神经营养因子的减少。     

牛胰多肽与脂作用时插膜状态的研究

利用单层膜和荧光技术,研究牛胰多肽（ＢＰＰ）和磷脂单分子层及脂质体的相互作用。ＢＰＰ与磷脂单分子层作用的动力学曲线以及临界插膜压表明它和磷脂,尤其是酸性磷脂有较强的相互作用;荧光研究表明,与脂作用后多肽内源性荧光光谱峰位蓝移,说明发荧光的酪氨酸残基存在由亲水环境向疏水环境的转变。荧光猝灭实验表明多肽与脂作用后,其内源性酪氨酸残基荧光更不容易被碘盐所猝灭,提示酪氨酸残基受到了脂双层的屏蔽作用;自旋标记磷脂的猝灭实验计算结果表明ＢＰＰ插膜深度在磷脂头部与脂酰链交界处稍内侧     

脂质体与磷脂单分子层相互作用的研究

本文尝试通过脂质体与磷脂单分子层(LB膜)相互作用去研究与膜间作用有关的问题。实验结果表明,脂质体的尺度、相状态,脂质体与LB膜的表面电荷性质,均对脂质体向LB膜的转变率有显著影响。本文尝试的方法有可能为人工膜研究膜间作用问题提供一条新的途径。     

不同佐剂条件下Aβ多肽B细胞表位疫苗诱导产生抗体的免疫反应特性分析

目的:研究阿尔茨海默病β淀粉样肽(Aβ)B细胞表位疫苗2Aβ1-15-PADRE(Aβ-T)诱导产生抗体的免疫反应特性,并探讨不同佐剂对该疫苗免疫反应效果的影响。方法:合成了含2个Aβ42的 B细胞表位—Aβ1-15及1个辅助T细胞表位—PADRE的多肽2Aβ1-15-PADRE。采用Al(OH)₃佐剂,弗氏佐剂,Abisco佐剂,MF59佐剂分别与多肽疫苗联合免疫小鼠,并另设3个对照组:无佐剂多肽免疫组(Mock),PBS免疫组(PBS),未免疫组(Native)。结果:5组多肽免疫组小鼠均产生了针对Aβ的特异性抗体,无佐剂多肽免疫组的IgG抗体滴度最低,Al(OH)₃佐剂组,MF59佐剂组,Abisco佐剂组小鼠IgG抗体滴度较高,弗氏佐剂组IgG抗体滴度最高。斑点杂交实验结果显示5组小鼠免疫后血清与Aβ42单体反应较弱,与寡聚体反应最明显,与纤维状Aβ42几乎不反应。结论:4种佐剂均能提高多肽疫苗的免疫反应,产生高水平抗Aβ的特异性抗体。5组免疫小鼠产生的抗体均与Aβ寡聚体反应较强,与纤维状Aβ42反应较弱,表明该多肽疫苗具有良好的应用前景。     

老年性痴呆抗体药物研究进展

老年性痴呆(Alzhimer's disease,AD)是一种渐进性神经退化性疾病,其主要表现为记忆功能衰减及识别能力障碍,同时伴有各种神经症状和行为障碍,具有非常高的发病率,目前还没有特异性治疗药物。随着世界人口老龄化,AD发病率逐年增高,成为本世纪威胁人类健康最严重的疾病之一。近年来AD的发病机理和药物研究方面都有突破性进展,尤其是制备针对β淀粉样蛋白（amyloid beta protein,Aβ）特异性抗体药物成为AD治疗极具价值的途径。本文主要对以Aβ为主的AD发病机理和针对Aβ的抗体药物的治疗机制、研究现状及进展进行综述,为进一步研发AD治疗药物提供参考。     

Aggregation of liposomes induced by the toxic peptides Alzheimer's Abetas, human amylin and prion (106-126): facilitation by membrane-bound GM1 ganglioside

To compare both the peptide molecular self-aggregation and the interaction with membrane lipids of the Alzheimer's amyloid beta (Abeta)40, Abeta42 peptides, and the cytotoxic peptides human amylin and prion (106-126) peptides, we applied a liposome aggregation technology. The kinetics of the changes in the optical density (DeltaOD) of liposome suspensions generated by the aggregation of liposomes induced by these peptides, allowed us to comparatively analyze their phospholipid affinity and self-aggregation. The kinetic curves showed an initial nonlinear region where d(DeltaOD)/dt followed first order kinetics corresponding to the binding of the peptides to the membrane of the liposome, a linear region where d(DeltaOD)/dt was constant, corresponding to the interaction between two membrane-bound peptide molecules, and a final slower increasing nonlinear region that corresponds to nucleation or seeding of aggregation. The analysis of the aggregation curves demonstrated that amylin and prion peptides also showed affinity for the acidic phospholipid phosphatidylserine (PS), as it has previously been shown for the Alzheimer's Abeta40, Abeta42 peptides. Abeta42 showed the highest, and amylin the lowest, affinity for the liposome membrane. When bound to the membrane of the liposomes, all the peptides preserved the self-aggregation characteristics observed in solution. Aging the Abeta40 and Abeta42 peptide solutions that permit molecular self-aggregation reduced their capacity to induce liposome aggregation. The self-aggregation of membrane-bound prion molecules was several orders of magnitude higher than that observed for the other toxic peptides. Incorporation of the ganglioside GM1 into the membrane of liposomes enhanced the peptide-induced liposome aggregation. Kinetic analysis revealed that this enhancement was due to facilitation of the formation of bridges between membrane-bound peptide molecules, demonstrating that the peptide-membrane interaction and the peptide amyloidogenesis are independent functions performed at separate molecular regions.     

Membrane fusion by proline-rich Rz1 lipoprotein, the bacteriophage lambda Rz1 gene product.

The fusogenic properties of Rz1, the proline-rich lipoprotein that is the bacteriophage lambda Rz1 gene product, were studied. Light scattering was used to monitor Rz1-induced aggregation of artificial neutral (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/cholesterol) and negatively charged (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/cholesterol/dioleoylphosphatidylserin e) liposomes. Fluorescence assays [the resonance energy transfer between N-(7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)phosphatidylethanolamine and N-(lissamine rhodamine B sulfonyl)dihexadecanol-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine lipid fluorescent probes, as well as fluorescent complex formation between terbium ions and dipicolinic acid encapsulated in two liposome populations and calcein fluorescence] were used to monitor Rz1-induced lipid mixing, contents mixing and leakage of neutral and negatively charged liposomes. The results demonstrated that Rz1 caused adhesion of neutral and negatively charged liposomes with concomitant lipid mixing; membrane distortion, leading to the fusion of liposomes and hence their internal content mixing; and local destruction of the membrane accompanied by leakage of the liposome contents. The use of artificial membranes showed that Rz1 induced the fusion of membranes devoid of any proteins. This might mean that the proline stretch of Rz1 allowed interaction with membrane lipids. It is suggested that Rz1-induced liposome fusion was mediated primarily by the generation of local perturbation in the bilayer lipid membrane and to a lesser extent by electrostatic forces.     

Amyloid-β aggregates induced by β-cholesteryl glucose-embedded liposomes

Senile plaques that is characterized as an amyloid deposition found in Alzheimer's disease are composed primarily of fibrils of an aggregated peptide, amyloid β (Aβ). The ability to monitor senile plaque formation on a neuronal membrane under physiological conditions provides an attractive model. In this study, the growth behavior of amyloid Aβ fibrils in the presence of liposomes incorporating β-cholesteryl-D-glucose (β-CG) was examined using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, transmittance electron microscopy, and other spectroscopic methods. We found that β-CG on the liposome membrane induced the spontaneous formation of spherulitic Aβ fibrillar aggregates. The β-CG cluster formed on liposome membranes appeared to induce the accumulation of Aβ, followed by the growth of the spherulitic Aβ aggregates. In contrast, DMPC and DMPC incorporated cholesterol-induced fibrils that are laterally associated with each other. A comparison study using three types of liposomes implied that the induction of glucose contributed to the agglomeration of Aβ fibrils and liposomes. This agglomeration required the spontaneous formation of spherulitic Aβ fibrillary aggregates. This action can be regarded as a counterbalance to the growth of fibrils and their toxicity, which has great potential in the study of amyloidopathies.     

Effect of phospholipid liposomes on prion fragment (106–128) amyloid formation

Misfolding and aggregation of cellular prion protein (PrP^c) is a major molecular process involved in the pathogenesis of prion diseases. Here, we studied the aggregation properties of a prion fragment peptide PrP(106–128). The results show that the peptide aggregates in a concentration-dependent manner in an aqueous solution and that the aggregation is sensitive to pH and the preformed amyloid seeds. Furthermore, we show that the zwitterionic POPC liposomes moderately inhibit the aggregation of PrP(106–128), whereas POPC/cholesterol (8:2) vesicles facilitate peptide aggregation likely due to the increase of the lipid packing order and membrane rigidity in the presence of cholesterol. In addition, anionic lipid vesicles of POPG and POPG/cholesterol above a certain concentration accelerate the aggregation of the peptide remarkably. The strong electrostatic interactions between the N-terminal region of the peptide and POPG may constrain the conformational plasticity of the peptide, preventing insertion of the peptide into the inner side of the membrane and thus promoting fibrillation on the membrane surface. The results suggest that the charge properties of the membrane, the composition of the liposomes, and the rigidity of lipid packing are critical in determining peptide adsorption on the membrane surface and the efficiency of the membrane in catalyzing peptide oligomeric nucleation and amyloid formation. The peptide could be used as an improved model molecule to investigate the mechanistic role of the crucial regions of PrP in aggregation in a membrane-rich environment and to screen effective inhibitors to block key interactions between these regions and membranes for preventing PrP aggregation.     

Central Asian cobra venom cytotoxins-induced aggregation, permeability and fusion of liposomes

The processes of membrane aggregation, permeability and fusion induced by cytotoxins from Central Asian cobra venom were investigated by studying optical density of liposome samples, permeability of liposome membranes for ferricyanide anions and exchange of lipid material between the membranes of adjacent liposomes. Cytotoxins Vc5 and Vc1 were found to induce aggregation of PC + CL and PC + PS liposomes. Cytotoxin Vc5 increased also the permeability of the liposomes for K3[Fe(CN)6] and enhanced their fusion. Cytotoxin Vc1 increased membrane permeability and enhanced fusion of PC + CL samples only. The changes in membrane permeability and fusion were found to occur within a single value of cytotoxin concentrations. The fusogenic properties of the cytotoxins studied are supposed to be due to the ability to dehydrate membrane surface and to destabilize the lipid bilayer structure. Fusion probability is largely defined by the phospholipid composition of the membranes. A model of interaction of cytotoxins with cardiolipin-containing membranes is offered.