中药通过cAMP-磷酸二酯酶介导的信号调节炎症（英文）

炎症是保护人体免受有害刺激的一种防御机制.然而,失控的炎症可导致局部或系统性组织损伤.研究表明,中药可以通过抑制cAMP-磷酸二酯酶(PDEs)活性发挥抗炎作用.本文综述了cAMP-PDEs选择性中药介导的cAMP对多种炎症信号通路中关键蛋白的调节作用,主要包括对NF-κB、MAPKs (p38、ERK或JNK)、TLR、My D88和STAT3的抑制作用以及对Nrf2、HO-1、AMPK和PPARγ的激活作用.其中,对NF-κB的抑制作用是cAMP-PDEs选择性中药最重要的信号转导通路.     

TLR/NF-κB信号通路与肺部疾病

Toll样受体(Toll like receptor,TLR)是一种重要的模式识别受体,核转录因子-κB(nuclear factor-κB,NF-κB)处于TLR下游信号通路中的关键位置,当TLR受到病原微生物刺激后,激活NF-κB,诱导炎症因子释放,启动固有免疫。但TLR/NF-κB信号通路过度激活,有可能导致炎症反应失控。本文将介绍TLR/NF-κB信号通路及其在肺部炎症疾病例如急性肺损伤、慢性阻塞性肺疾病、肺癌、哮喘等发生发展中的作用。     

藁本内酯神经炎症抑制作用与PPARγ依赖的TLR4/NF-κB信号通路的相关性

藁本内酯(LIG)具有抑制神经炎症反应和神经保护作用,TLR4/NF-κB作为脑内神经炎症应答最重要的通路之一,与过氧化物酶体增殖受体γ(PPARγ)的相互作用与大脑神经炎症应答及炎症损伤有关。本研究为阐明TLR4/NF-κB信号通路和PPARγ在LIG的神经炎症抑制作用中所发挥的作用,通过雄性大鼠侧脑室注射脂多糖(LPS)造成大鼠神经炎模型研究,并在注射LPS前预先给予溶媒、LIG(10 mg/kg,20 mg/kg)、GW9662(PPARγ选择性拮抗剂),探讨LIG对于LPS诱导的大鼠急性神经炎症模型的保护作用及机制。结果表明LIG对于LPS诱导的促炎症因子(TNF-α,MCP-1)的产生、TLR4/NF-k B/p38 MAPK信号通路的活化均有抑制作用,且具有剂量依赖性,同时能增强PPARγ转录因子活性,同样具有剂量依赖性。LIG对于LPS诱导的大鼠神经炎症的上述作用均可被GW9662拮抗。这些结果表明LIG通过调节PPARγ依赖的TLR4/NF-κB信号通路对LPS诱导的神经炎症起到抑制作用。     

Toll-NF-κB信号途径及其介导的功能

Toll样受体(Toll-like receptor,TLR)家族是宿主细胞识别各种微生物致病成份的主要受体,NF-κB位于TLR下游信号通路的枢纽位置,当细胞受到生物应激刺激后激活NF-κB,活化的NF-κB进入细胞核调节炎性细胞因子的表达,启动针对病原微生物的固有免疫和获得性免疫。因此,对Toll-NF-κB信号途径的研究将有助于对免疫反应、炎症病理的理解。     

脊髓损伤炎症中的NF-кB信号通路

脊髓损伤(spinal cord injury,SCI)是脊柱损伤最严重的并发症,致残率极高,不仅导致患者损伤节段以下肢体严重的功能障碍,同时也给整个社会造成巨大的经济负担。SCI后,中性粒细胞、巨噬细胞和T细胞等共同介导炎症反应,而核因子κB(NF-κB)通路是介导脊髓损伤后炎症反应的核心。NF-κB最早于1986年发现,其能与免疫球蛋白κ轻链基因增强子特异性结合。后续研究发现,其能与多种基因启动子部位的κB点发生特异性结合促进转录,是一类核因子DNA结合蛋白质的总称。NF-κB能够和许多基因启动子区域的固定核苷酸序列结合而启动基因转录。在机体的免疫应答、炎症反应及细胞的生长调控等方面发挥重要作用。大量研究证实,与SCI炎症密切相关的炎症细胞因子(IL-1、TNF-α、IL-6、IL-10等)、黏附分子(ICAM-1、VCAM-1、E选择素等)及趋化因子(CCL2、CCL3、CXCL8等)的基因启动部位均含有κB位点。SCI后,NF-κB信号通路被异常激活,大量炎症、趋化、黏附因子释放,加重SCI继发性炎症反应。因此,NF-κB在SCI病程中发挥的作用受到广泛重视。本文主要综述NF-кB的特性和其在脊髓损伤炎症中的研究进展和治疗前景,为后续SCI的炎症靶向治疗提供理论依据。     

核转录因子-κB在缺氧导致的炎症中的作用

核转录因子-κB(nuclear factor-κB,NF-κB)是一种能控制DNA的转录、细胞因子合成以及细胞存活时间的蛋白复合物,是机体应对免疫、应激、细胞凋亡和分化的关键调节因子。缺氧导致的炎症反应一直是医学研究领域的热点,其研究成果可以为临床心血管疾病、炎性肠病、类风湿关节炎、器官移植等多种疾病提供基因水平的诊断依据和新的治疗靶点。NF-κB信号通路是如何调控缺氧导致的炎症被广泛关注,仍有许多问题亟待解决。本文重点阐述了NF-κB转录因子家族及生物作用、缺氧炎症过程中NF-κB与缺氧诱导因子-1(hypoxia-inducible factor-1,HIF-1)的关系及NF-κB信号通路与缺氧的炎症基因表达。这些研究可以为临床诊断、治疗提供基因水平的辅助和新的治疗方向。     

SUMO对NF-κB信号通路的调控作用

核转录因子NF-κB是一种广泛存在于真核细胞内的,具有多向性、多功能的重要调节蛋白,与机体免疫应答、炎症反应,以及肿瘤的发生发展等多种生理病理过程相关.蛋白质翻译后修饰对NF-κB信号通路能起调控作用,而小泛素相关修饰物(small ubiquitin-related modifier,SUMO)是近年报道的参与调控NF-κB信号通路的一种非常重要的小分子蛋白,本文就SUMO对NF-κB信号通路的调节作用做一介绍.     

重组腺病毒介导脂联素基因对ApoE~(-/-)小鼠动脉粥样硬化的作用机制

目的研究腺病毒介导的脂联素(APN)过表达对Apo E-/-小鼠动脉粥样硬化(AS)的抑制作用和对NF-κB信号通路的影响。方法将12周龄雄性Apo E-/-小鼠120只分为空载腺病毒对照组和脂联素干预组,每组60只。在3个不同时间点(0天、4周、8周)处死小鼠收集组织。全自动生化仪检测血脂指标;ELISA法测定血清APN浓度;油红O染色法检测小鼠主动脉血管组织的病理学变化;Masson染色法检测进展性斑块区的胶原含量和纤维帽厚度变化;免疫荧光法测定小鼠主动脉血管APN和NF-κB p65蛋白的表达;免疫印迹法检测主动脉血管APN、NF-κB p65核蛋白和炎症因子的表达。结果 APN过表达抑制了Apo E-/-小鼠动脉粥样硬化斑块形成。与对照组相比,脂联素干预组的动脉粥样硬化病理损伤面积减少(P0.01),动脉粥样硬化损伤程度降低(P0.001),总体油红O染色测定血管表面损伤百分比,4周时为(27.78±8.64)vs(33.02±5.18)%;8周时为(31.58±5.87)vs(52.16±5.79)%。脂联素减缓了高脂饮食导致的小鼠血清中TC(P0.001)、TG(P0.001)、LDL-C(P0.001)的浓度增加,使血脂水平趋向正常化。随着血清脂联素浓度增加,可以阻遏NF-κB通路的激活,抑制NF-κB p65核蛋白和炎症因子的表达。结论脂联素通过抑制NF-κB通路激活来减轻AS的炎症反应。     

沙门菌毒力效应蛋白对宿主NF-κB信号通路的调控

沙门菌(Salmonella)通过向宿主细胞分泌毒力效应蛋白(effector protein)来调控细胞内一系列的信号传导通路,从而有利于沙门菌的侵染和繁殖。NF-κB信号通路在宿主对病原菌的炎症反应及免疫应答中发挥着重要的作用,也是很多毒力效应蛋白调控的靶点。沙门菌致病岛(Salmonella pathogenicity island,SPI)-1上的毒力效应蛋白Sip A、Sop E、Sop E2和Sop B都能激活宿主细胞的NF-κB信号通路,而毒力效应蛋白Spt P、Avr A、Ssp H1以及SPI-2上的Sse L能有效地抑制NF-κB信号通路。研究这些毒力效应蛋白对NF-κB信号通路的时相调控和协同作用,将进一步揭示沙门菌的致病机制。     

NF-κB信号通路与骨骼肌萎缩研究进展

核因子κB(NF-κB)是一种核转录因子,在调控多种与细胞凋亡、肿瘤发生、炎症和多种自身免疫疾病相关的基因表达中具有重要作用。研究表明,NF-κB信号通路在骨骼肌萎缩的发生和发展中具有关键作用。本文就NF-κB信号通路和骨骼肌萎缩的研究进展进行综述,为更好地研究骨骼肌萎缩的发病机理、探索更加有效安全的治疗方法提供参考。     

Shadoo/PrP (Sprn0/0/Prnp0/0) double knockout mice: More than zeroes

Shadoo (Sho) is a brain glycoprotein with similarities to the unstructured region of PrP^C. Frameshift alleles of the Sho gene, Sprn, are reported in variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) patients while Sprn mRNA knockdown in PrP-null (Prnp^0/0) embryos produces lethality, advancing Sho as the hypothetical PrP-like “pi” protein. Also, Sho levels are reduced as misfolded PrP accumulates during prion infections. To penetrate these issues we created Sprn null alleles (Daude et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 2012; 109(23): 9035–40). Results from the challenge of Sprn null and TgSprn transgenic mice with rodent-adapted prions coalesce to define downregulation of Sho as a “tracer” for the formation of misfolded PrP. However, classical BSE and rodent-adapted BSE isolates may behave differently, as they do for other facets of the pathogenic process, and this intriguing variation warrants closer scrutiny. With regards to physiological function, double knockout mice (Sprn^0/0/Prnp^0/0) mice survived to over 600 d of age. This suggests that Sho is not pi, or, given the accumulating data for many activities for PrP^C, that the pi hypothesis invoking a discrete signaling pathway to maintain neuronal viability is no longer tenable.     

Preparation and Properties of Antibodies to GD3 and GM1 Gangliosides

Abstract: Gangliosides G_D3 and G_M1 were coupled to proteins by their car-boxyl groups and antisera were raised against the complexes. Anti-ganglioside antibodies were isolated by affinity chromatography on ganglioside-amino-propyl silica gel columns and the specificity of the antibodies was determined by a quantitative microcomplement fixation assay. Antibodies to G_D3 were highly specific and did not crossreact with G_M3, lactosyl ceramide, or other glycolipids. Purified antibodies to G_M1, in contrast, crossreacted with asialo-G_M1, G_D1b and to a lesser extent, G_M2 and asialo-G_M2. A derivative of G_M1, containing a C-7 sialic acid residue produced by periodate oxidation, reacted with the anti-G_M1 antibodies almost as readily as with G_M1. The specificities of anti-G_M1 antibodies elicited by the covalent ganglioside-protein complexes were similar to those produced by immunization with noncovalent complexes of G_M1 and methylated bovine serum albumin. The ganglioside-protein complexes described here should be useful for preparing antibodies to polysialo-gangliosides that contain neuraminidase-sensitive linkages.     

Identification of the major constituents of Hypericum perforatum by LC/SPE/NMR and/or LC/MS

The newly established hyphenated instrumentation of LC/DAD/SPE/NMR and LC/UV/(ESI)MS techniques have been applied for separation and structure verification of the major known constituents present in Greek Hypericum perforatum extracts. The chromatographic separation was performed on a C18 column. Acetonitrile-water was used as a mobile phase. For the on-line NMR detection, the analytes eluted from column were trapped one by one onto separate SPE cartridges, and hereafter transported into the NMR flow-cell. LC/DAD/SPE/NMR and LC/UV/MS allowed the characterization of constituents of Greek H. perforatum, mainly naphtodianthrones (hypericin, pseudohypericin, protohypericin, protopseudohypericin), phloroglucinols (hyperforin, adhyperforin), flavonoids (quercetin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, hyperoside, astilbin, miquelianin, I3,II8-biapigenin) and phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid, 3-O-coumaroylquinic acid). Two phloroglucinols (hyperfirin and adhyperfirin) were detected for the first time, which have been previously reported to be precursors in the biosynthesis of hyperforin and adhyperforin.     

The Tomato/GFP-FLP/FRT Method for Live Imaging of Mosaic Adult Drosophila Photoreceptor Cells

The Drosophila eye is widely used as a model for studies of development and neuronal degeneration. With the powerful mitotic recombination technique, elegant genetic screens based on clonal analysis have led to the identification of signaling pathways involved in eye development and photoreceptor (PR) differentiation at larval stages. We describe here the Tomato/GFP-FLP/FRT method, which can be used for rapid clonal analysis in the eye of living adult Drosophila. Fluorescent photoreceptor cells are imaged with the cornea neutralization technique, on retinas with mosaic clones generated by flipase-mediated recombination. This method has several major advantages over classical histological sectioning of the retina: it can be used for high-throughput screening and has proved an effective method for identifying the factors regulating PR survival and function. It can be used for kinetic analyses of PR degeneration in the same living animal over several weeks, to demonstrate the requirement for specific genes for PR survival or function in the adult fly. This method is also useful for addressing cell autonomy issues in developmental mutants, such as those in which the establishment of planar cell polarity is affected.     

麻疯树种子发育过程中JcOle14.3和JcOle16.6基因的表达模式研究

油质蛋白基因对种子中油体的形成至关重要,该研究通过实时荧光定量PCR,对麻疯树的两个油质蛋白基因JcOle14.3和JcOle16.6在种子不同发育时期的表达模式进行了分析。结果表明:两个基因在种子发育初期(10~30 d)表达量逐渐升高,但表达水平均较低;40 d时表达量急剧增加并达到最高,而种子发育后期(50~55 d)两个基因表达水平均逐渐降低。由此可初步推测,JcOle14.3和JcOle16.6基因的表达量可能与种子油脂积累量存在正相关。该研究结果为麻疯树油体形成机理和油质蛋白的深入研究提供了理论基础。     

综述: 果蝇复杂脑功能研究进展

全面揭示脑的奥秘是现代科学所面临的最大挑战.通过脑研究,我们可以获得防治脑疾病、认知及心理障碍的线索和工具,找到提高人类智力和心理健康水平的途径,并发展出具备高等智能的机器人.果蝇作为研究基因-神经回路-行为关系的首选模式动物,日益得到重视.本文围绕果蝇复杂脑功能包括视觉学习记忆、欲望与动机、情感相关行为和社会行为的研究意义及前景、已知调控基因及神经回路以及未来研究方向展开综述,便于读者把握相关领域的全貌.     

Expression profiling of the triterpene saponin biosynthesis genes FPS, SS, SE, and DS in the medicinal plant Panax notoginseng

Panax notoginseng (Burk) F. H. Chen, an economically significant medicinal plant with hemostatic and health tonic activities, has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for more than 3000 years. Triterpene saponins are responsible for most of the pharmacological activities of P. notoginseng. Here, we cloned five cDNA sequences encoding the key enzymes involved in triterpene saponin biosynthesis, namely, PnFPS, PnSS, PnSE1, PnSE2, and PnDS, and analyzed the conserved domains and phylogenetics of their corresponding proteins. Their organ-specific expression patterns in four-year-old P. notoginseng were detected by real-time PCR, showing that they were all most highly expressed in flowers. In addition, four of the genes, excluding PnSE2, were upregulated in leaves following stimulation with methyl jasmonate. This study is the first comprehensive analysis of the expression patterns of pivotal genes for triterpene saponin biosynthesis in P. notoginseng and provides a basis to further elucidate the molecular mechanism for the biosynthesis of these medically important compounds.     

Promoter polymorphisms of pri-miR-34b/c are associated with hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Numerous studies have focused on the association between miR-34 family members, which are direct p53 targets, and carcinogenesis of many cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to assess whether polymorphisms in the single-nucleotide polymorphism miR-34b/c T>C (rs4938723) and TP53 Arg72Pro (rs1042522) increase the risk of HCC and influence outcome in patients with HCC.

Patients and methods

We enrolled 157 HCC patients and 201 cancer-free control subjects from the Korean population. MicroRNA polymorphisms were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method.

Results

We found that the miR-34b/c TC + CC frequency was significantly higher in HCC patients than in controls (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.580; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.029–2.426). The miR-34b/c CC-TP53 Arg/Arg combination significantly increased the risk of HCC (AOR: 13.644; 95% CI: 1.451–128.301). The SNPs miR-34b/c T>C and TP53 Arg72Pro(G>C) had no influence on survival of HCC patients.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that loss of the T allele in miR-34b/c T>C, and the miR-34b/c CC-TP53 Arg/Arg combination increases the risk of HCC in the Korean population.     

Eukaryotic-like Ser/Thr Protein Kinases SpkC/F/K Are Involved in Phosphorylation of GroES in the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis

Serine/threonine protein kinases (STPKs) are the major participants in intracellular signal transduction in eukaryotes, such as yeasts, fungi, plants, and animals. Genome sequences indicate that these kinases are also present in prokaryotes, such as cyanobacteria. However, their roles in signal transduction in prokaryotes remain poorly understood. We have attempted to identify the roles of STPKs in response to heat stress in the prokaryotic cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, which has 12 genes for STPKs. Each gene was individually inactivated to generate a gene-knockout library of STPKs. We applied in vitro Ser/Thr protein phosphorylation and phosphoproteomics and identified the methionyl-tRNA synthetase, large subunit of RuBisCO, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, translation elongation factor Tu, heat-shock protein GrpE, and small chaperonin GroES as the putative targets for Ser/Thr phosphorylation. The expressed and purified GroES was used as an external substrate to screen the protein extracts of the individual mutants for their Ser/Thr kinase activities. The mutants that lack one of the three protein kinases, SpkC, SpkF, and SpkK, were unable to phosphorylate GroES in vitro, suggesting possible interactions between them towards their substrate. Complementation of the mutated SpkC, SpkF, and SpkK leads to the restoration of the ability of cells to phosphorylate the GroES. This suggests that these three STPKs are organized in a sequential order or a cascade and they work one after another to finally phosphorylate the GroES.