红景天苷通过Wnt/β-catenin信号通路影响小鼠骨髓间充质干细胞向神经元细胞定向分化

目的:以小鼠骨髓间充质干细胞系D1细胞为研究对象,探讨Wnt/β-catenin信号通路介导的红景天苷诱导D1细胞向神经细胞的定向分化。方法:实验分为对照组(D/F12完全培养基)和红景天苷诱导组(100μg/mL+D/F12完全培养基).将细胞分别诱导12、24、48和72 h后,采用细胞免疫荧光化学染色方法检测β-catenin和Gsk-3β的阳性细胞率。利用红景天苷分别诱导MSCs 1,2,8,12,24,48和72 h后,利用实时PCR技术检测Wnt/β-catenin信号通路的关键信号分子wnt3a、Axin2、Lrp6和Gsk-3βmRNA的表达;采用Westernblot方法分析D1细胞诱导12、24、48和72 h后,β-catenin和Gsk-3β蛋白的表达;运用Wnt/β-catenin信号通路特异性阻断剂DKK1阻断Wnt/β-catenin信号通路,Western blot方法分析红景天苷对β-catenin和NSE蛋白表达的影响。结果:红景天苷诱导24 h时β-catenin的阳性率可达55.76%,与其他组和对照组比较差异具有统计学意义(P<0.01),诱导24 h后Gsk-3β的阳性率与其他时间和对照组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。实时PCR检测结果显示,红景天苷诱导MSCs不同时间能促进Wnt/β-catenin信号通路中关键信号分子Wnt3a、Ax-in2、Lrp6和Gsk-3βmRNA的表达,诱导不同时间Wnt3a、Axin2、Lrp6和Gsk-3βmRNA的表达不尽相同。Westernblot结果表明,红景天苷诱导D1细胞12 h和24 h时β-catenin蛋白的表达明显上调,且与其他组比较差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);随着作用时间的延长,Gsk-3β蛋白的表达增加且差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05),阻断Wnt/β-catenin信号通路后,β-catenin和NSE蛋白的表达水平明显下调。结论:红景天苷能诱导D1细胞定向分化为神经元样细胞,红景天苷通过激活Wnt/β-catenin信号通路实现其诱导MSCs向神经细胞定向分化。     

跑台运动和饮食控制对去卵巢肥胖大鼠心肌Wnt/β-catenin信号通路的影响

目的:观察跑台运动和饮食控制对去卵巢肥胖大鼠心肌Wnt/β-catenin信号通路中β-catenin、磷酸化-GSK-3β和GSK-3β蛋白表达的影响。方法:将48只3月龄雌性未孕SD大鼠按体重分层后随机分为假手术组、去卵巢组、去卵巢运动组和去卵巢控食组。去卵巢运动组大鼠在去卵巢手术后的第3周开始进行为期8周的跑台运动训练,去卵巢控食组在去卵巢后的第三周开始进行为期8周的控食干预。干预结束后,腹主动脉取血处死各组大鼠,用电子天平秤量大鼠心肌重量,用Western blot方法检测心肌β-catenin、磷酸化-GSK-3β和GSK-3β蛋白表达。结果:与假手术组大鼠比较,去卵巢组大鼠体重、心肌重量显著增加,而心肌重量指数、β-catenin、磷酸化GSK-3β和p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β蛋白表达均显著降低(P0.05);与去卵巢组大鼠比较,去卵巢运动组大鼠在最后两周时体重显著降低(P0.05),心肌组织β-catenin、p-GSK-3β和p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β蛋白表达均显著升高,而去卵巢控食组大鼠体重、心肌重量、心肌重量指数和GSK-3β表达差异均无统计学意义(P0.05),但心肌组织β-catenin、p-GSK-3β和p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β蛋白表达均显著升高(P0.05)。结论:跑台运动和控食干均预均能激活去卵巢大鼠心肌Wnt/β-catenin信号通路。     

β-catenin和WISP-1在糖尿病大鼠心肌中的表达

目的观察Wnt信号通路中β-catenin及其下游靶基因WISP～1在糖尿病大鼠心肌组织中的表达,分析Wnt/β-catenin信号通路在糖尿病大鼠心肌损伤中的作用。方法雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组（Control Group）和糖尿病模型组（DMGroup）,腹腔注射STZ55mg／kg诱导糖尿病大鼠模型,喂养至8周。测定大鼠的空腹血糖、心体比和心肌羟脯氨酸含量;电镜观察心肌超微结构变化,免疫组化法观察心肌组织β-catenin和WISP-1的表达。结果与对照组相比,糖尿病组大鼠空腹血糖水平明显增加,心体比增加,心肌羟脯氨酸含量增高。心肌超微结构显示肌纤维断裂,线粒体呈空泡样改变。心肌β-catenin和WISP-1蛋白表达增加。结论糖尿病大鼠心肌组织β-catenin和其下游靶基因WISP-1表达增加,提示Wnt／β-catenin信号通路的激活参与糖尿病所致的心肌损伤。     

参麦注射液对内毒素诱导心肌细胞凋亡的抑制作用及细胞Wnt2/β-catenin表达的影响

为探讨参麦注射液诱导心肌细胞凋亡的作用机理,本研究分别选取对照组、内毒素(LPS)处理组、参麦注射液(SMI)+内毒素(LPS)处理组,共3组小鼠心肌细胞进行试验。通过MTT检测了各实验组的心肌细胞存活率,利用流式细胞仪检测心肌细胞凋亡数量,最后利用RT-PCR和Western blotting分别检测心肌细胞Wnt2/β-catenin m RNA的表达和细胞内Wnt2/β-catenin蛋白的表达。结果显示SMI进行剂量干预后,内毒素诱导心肌细胞存活率显著升高(p0.05)。当SMI的干预量为0.8 g/L时,细胞存活率高于LPS组(p0.05);SMI以1 g/L剂量进行干预时,细胞存活率显著高于LPS组(p0.01)。同时,SMI干预的心肌细胞中,UR、LR区的细胞比例较LPS组有显著下降(p0.05)。SMI干预内毒素诱导心肌细胞后,显著逆转内毒素诱导心肌细胞内Wnt2/β-catenin m RNA的表达(p0.05),并且Wnt2/β-catenin蛋白的表达也得到显著性逆转(p0.05)。该结果表明参麦注射液主要是通过影响心肌细胞Wnt2/β-catenin信号通路,从而抑制内毒素诱导的心肌细胞的凋亡。     

Wnt/β-catenin信号通路相关蛋白在胃癌组织中的表达和肿瘤转移的关系

目的:探讨了Wnt信号通路相关蛋白在胃癌组织中的表达及与肿瘤转移的关系。方法:选取2011年6月到2012年6月我院胃癌术后47例肿瘤标本作为研究对象,并选取同一患者的正常胃组织作为对照研究。采用实时荧光定量PCR和Western blot对胃癌组织和正常胃组织Wnt信号通路相关蛋白进行分析,并分析了肿瘤转移和非转移患者Wnt信号通路相关蛋白的变化。结果:与正常胃组织比较,胃癌组织中Wnt1、Wnt3、Wnt3a、β-catenin、CyclinD1和c-Myc等分子的mRNA水平明显上调,差异有显著统计学意义(P0.05)。胃癌组织中总β-catenin和核内β-catenin蛋白较正常胃组织明显增加,而磷酸化β-catenin较正常组明显下降、差异有显著统计学意义(P0.05)。与非转移组比较,转移组患者胃癌组织中Wnt1、Wnt3、Wnt3a等分子mRNA水平显著上调,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:Wnt信号通路异常激活在胃癌发生和癌细胞转移中发挥着重要的作用,为临床治疗提供了一定靶点。     

人巨细胞病毒感染通过Wnt/β-catenin通路抑制滋养细胞的增殖及侵袭

人巨细胞病毒(Human cytomegalovirus,HCMV)感染能够影响胎盘绒毛外滋养细胞的增殖、侵袭,进而参与病理妊娠的发生,但具体的机制尚未阐明.在真皮成纤维细胞中的研究表明,HCMV能够抑制Wnt/β-catenin通路.因此,为了观察HCMV感染通过Wnt/β-catenin通路抑制滋养细胞增殖及侵袭的作用,本研究培养了人绒毛外滋养细胞株HTR8/SVneo.研究分为对照组、HCMV组、HCMV+LiCl组细胞.对照组细胞用培养液处理,HCMV组细胞用含有3个感染复数(Multiplicity of infection,MOI)HCMV的培养液处理,HCMV+LiCl组细胞用含有3MOI HCMV及50mmol/L Wnt/β-catenin通路激活剂LiCl的培养液处理.48小时后,采用MTS法检测细胞增殖,采用Transwell检测细胞侵袭,采用western blot检测细胞周期蛋白D1(cyclin D1)、基质金属蛋白酶2(Matrix metalloproteinase 2,MMP2)、基质金属蛋白酶9(Matrix metalloproteinase 9,MMP9)、β-连环蛋白(β-catenin)和磷酸型糖原合酶激酶-3β(p-GSK-3β)的表达量.结果显示,与对照组细胞相比,HCMV组细胞的O.D490水平、侵袭数目及cyyclinD1、MMP2、MMP9、β-catenin、p-GSK-3β的表达量均降低(P＜0.05);与HCMV组细胞比较,HCMV+LiCl组细胞的O.D490水平、侵袭数目及cyclinD1、MMP2、MMP9、β-catenin、p-GSK-3β的表达量均增加(P＜0.05).以上结果表明,HCMV感染抑制人绒毛外滋养细胞的增殖和侵袭,且该作用与抑制Wnt/β-catenin通路有关.本研究阐明了HCMV感染通过抑制Wnt/β-catenin信号通路的激活而抑制滋养细胞增殖及侵袭的分子机制,为最终阐明HCMV先天感染的致病机理积累了有价值的研究资料.     

二十二碳六烯酸增强MDA-MB-231细胞对5-FU敏感性的研究

目的:探讨二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)对5-FU诱导乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231增殖与凋亡的作用及对Wnt/1β-Catenin信号传导通路的影响.方法:采用四甲基偶氮唑蓝(MTT),测定DHA对5-FU诱导乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231增殖活性的作用;应用流式细胞仪检测细胞周期和凋亡率;RT-PCR检测MDA-MB-231细胞β-catenin、GSK-3β基因的表达情况;Western blot检测MDA-MB-231细胞3-catenin、GSK-3β、磷酸化GSK-3β(Ser9)蛋白的表达情况;细胞免疫组化染色观察DHA及DHA联合Licl对3-Catenin蛋白细胞内表达及定位的影响.结果:20 μg/ml、40μg/ml的DHA分别与5-FU联合应用,可增强5-FU对MDA-MB-231细胞增殖抑制作用.DHA(20 μg/ml)能促进5-FU增强MDA-MB-231细胞G0/G1期阻滞作用、降低细胞增殖指数及诱导细胞的凋亡.DHA作用于MDA-MB-231细胞后,β-catenin基因及蛋白表达水平下降(P＜0.05)、GSK-3β的基因及蛋白表达水平无明显变化(P＞0.05),磷酸化GSK-3β(Ser9)蛋白表达水平下降(P＜o.05).结论:DHA能增强5-FU对MDA-MB-231细胞增殖抑制和诱导凋亡,起化疗增敏作用,可能与其通过抑制GSK-3β磷酸化来阻断Wnt/β-Catenin信号通路有关.     

益气活血利水汤抑制慢性肝纤维化大鼠肝脏Wnt/β-catenin信号通路

探讨益气活血利水汤对慢性肝纤维化大鼠肝脏Wnt/β-catenin信号通路的影响。将SPF级SD大鼠随机抽取12只作为对照组,其他大鼠造模成功后随机分为模型组、Col组和益气组。Col组采用秋水仙碱0.1 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)灌胃,益气组采用益气活血利水汤成药3.69 m L·kg-1·d-1灌胃,对照组和模型组采用等量生理盐水灌胃。10周后观察大鼠一般情况、组织学形态,采用RT-PCR法检测肝组织中Wnt 1、Wnt 3 a、Wnt 10 b、β-catenin、Cyclin D 1 mRNA表达。研究显示,Col和益气组大鼠的生活状态以及其肝脏的组织形态均有较为明显的改善,另外RT-PCR表明模型组Wnt 1、Wnt 3a、Wnt 10、β-catenin和Cyclin D1的mRNA显著高于对照组(p0.05),肝组织纤维化模型造模成功。Col组和益气组Wnt 1、Wnt 3a、Wnt 10、β-catenin和Cyclin D1的mRNA显著低于模型组(p0.05),说明给药后,大鼠的病情状况有一定的好转。并且益气组的Wnt 1、Wnt3a、Wnt 10、β-catenin和Cyclin D1的mRNA表达要显著低于Col组(p0.05),说明wnt/β-catenin信号通路异常激活可导致肝纤维发生发展,而益气活血利水汤对此通路的抑制效果要明显优于秋水仙碱,此结果也为临床上早期治疗肝组织纤维化提供一个新的方向。     

RNA干扰c-maf基因表达对多发性骨髓瘤细胞凋亡的影响及机制研究

目的:探讨RNA干扰c-maf基因表达对多发性骨髓瘤细胞凋亡的影响及机制。方法:将人骨髓瘤细胞株NCI-H929分为正常对照组、转染si RNA Control的阴性对照组和转染si RNA c-maf基因的沉默组,转染48 h后,提取细胞中的蛋白,Western blot检测各组细胞中c-maf的蛋白表达,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡情况,Western blot检测凋亡相关蛋白Cleaved caspase3及Wnt/β-catenin信号通路相关蛋白β-catenin和Cyclin D1蛋白表达。结果:阴性对照组c-maf的蛋白表达与正常对照组比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05),沉默组c-maf的蛋白表达显著低于正常对照组(P0.01),而阴性对照组c-maf的蛋白表达与正常对照组比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。与阴性对照组比较,沉默组的细胞凋亡率显著升高,Cleaved caspase3蛋白显著上调表达,β-catenin和Cyclin D1蛋白显著下调表达(P0.01)。结论:RNA干扰c-maf基因表达可诱导多发性骨髓瘤细胞凋亡,其机制可能与抑制Wnt/β-catenin信号通路有关。     

Noggin基因沉默对BMP和Wnt信号通路表达的影响

目的检测分析Noggin基因沉默对毛囊发育中BMP和Wnt信号通路的影响。方法采用实时荧光定量PCR和western blot技术对Noggin基因沉默的MC3T3-E1稳转细胞系中BMP-2、BMP-4、BMPR-IA、BMP-6、BMP-7、LEF-1、β-catenin的表达情况进行检测分析。结果实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,BMP信号通路中的五个基因的表达都受到Noggin基因沉默的显著的影响,其中BMP-2(P0.001)、BMP-4(P0.01)、BMP-6(P0.001)、BMP-7(P0.001)表达量均升高;BMPR-IA(P0.01)表达量降低。同时Wnt信号通路中的两个基因LEF-1(P0.001)、β-catenin(P0.001)的表达也都显著降低。Western blot结果显示,两条信号通路中这几种蛋白的表达也都受到影响,其中显著升高的有BMP-2(P0.05)、BMP-4(P0.05)、BMP-6(P0.05)和BMP-7(P0.05);显著降低的是β-catenin(P0.05)、BMPR-IA(P0.01)和LEF-1(P0.001)。结论在体外Noggin基因对BMP信号通路可能存在反馈性抑制机制,而对Wnt信号通路存在反馈性激活机制,为下一步探究在体内Noggin基因对BMP和Wnt信号通路表达的作用提供一定的依据。     

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.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.