单宁酸对布氏田鼠抗氧化水平和肝脏自噬相关基因表达的影响

单宁为植物中广泛存在的酚类植物次生代谢物,具有抗氧化功能,但是否影响动物细胞的自噬功能,仍不清楚.本研究对4周龄雌雄性布氏田鼠饲喂高、低浓度单宁酸溶液9周后,分别用酶联免疫吸附法和荧光定量PCR法测定血浆抗氧化水平和肝脏细胞自噬相关基因表达的变化.结果 显示,单宁酸对布氏田鼠的体重增长率和肝脏指数均无显著影响.高剂量组...     

Sexual dimorphism and growth hormone regulation of a hybrid gene in transgenic mice.

The sexually dimorphic expression of the urinary protein genes of mice (Mup genes) in the liver is mediated by the different male and female temporal patterns of circulating GH. Normal females were induced to male levels when GH was administered by injection to mimic the male GH pattern, showing that expression at the male level does not require a male sex steroid status in addition to intermittent GH. Two Mup-alpha 2u-globulin hybrid transgenes with different Mup gene promoters showed sexually dimorphic expression, and their expression in females increased to male levels upon testosterone treatment. GH-deficient (lit/lit) mice did not express these transgenes, and GH-deficient females did not respond to testosterone treatment, showing that GH was required for induction. Both normal and GH-deficient females were induced to male levels when GH was administered by injection. This is the first report of a transgene responsive to GH. A transgene consisting of a Mup promoter fused to a Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase reporter sequence also showed sexual dimorphism, although to a lesser degree. It was expressed at the same level in normal females and GH-deficient mice of both sexes and was induced when GH-deficient mice were treated with GH. We propose that this transgene has a basal constitutive expression, possibly due to the absence of any rodent DNA downstream of the promoter. Since expression of the transgene was significantly induced by GH, the GH response is due at least in part to sequences in the promoter region.     

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha regulates a male-specific cytochrome P450 in mouse liver

We set out to find if the strain-specific, male-specific hepatic expression of Cyp4a protein in mouse was due to expression of Cyp4a12 and to understand the genetic basis for reported differences in expression. 12-Lauric acid hydroxylase (LAH) activity was found to show higher levels in male ddY, but not C57Bl/6, mouse liver microsomes. The expression of Cyp4a12 mRNA was studied using RNAase protection assays in male and female liver and kidney of nine mouse strains. Cyp4a12 was found to be highly expressed in male liver and kidney, but at much lower levels in female liver and kidney, in all strains studied. Western blotting with an antibody specific for Cyp4a12 confirmed that Cyp4a12 was expressed in a male specific fashion in C57Bl/6 mouse liver. RNAase protection analysis for Cyp4a10 and 14 in ddY mice revealed that neither of these genes showed male-specific expression. To further investigate genetic factors that control male-specific Cyp4a12 expression, PPARalpha+/+ and -/- mice were studied, showing that total P450 and 12-LAH activity was male-specific in +/+, but not -/- mice. RNAase protection assays were used to confirm that Cyp4a12 was lower in -/- mice. However, the male-specific Slp and MUP-1 genes retained hepatic male-specific levels of expression in +/+ and -/- mice, showing that the decrease in Cyp4a12 was not a general effect on male-specific expression. Thus, PPARalpha has a specific effect on constitutive expression of Cyp4a12.     

Tissue-specific and hormonally regulated expression of a rat alpha 2u globulin gene in transgenic mice.

To investigate the tissue-specific and hormonal regulation of the rat alpha 2u globulin gene family, we introduced one cloned member of the gene family into the mouse germ line and studied its expression in the resulting transgenic mice. Alpha 2u globulingene 207 was microinjected on a 7-kilobase DNA fragment, and four transgenic lines were analyzed. The transgene was expressed at very high levels, specifically in the liver and the preputial gland of adult male mice. The expression in male liver was first detected at puberty, and no expression was detected in female transgenic mice. This pattern of expression is similar to the expression of endogenous alpha 2u globulin genes in the rat but differs from the expression of the homologous mouse major urinary protein (MUP) gene family in that MUPs are synthesized in female liver and not in the male preputial gland. We conclude that these differences between rat alpha 2u globulin and mouse MUP gene expression are due to evolutionary differences in cis-acting regulatory elements. The expression of the alpha 2u globulin transgene in the liver was abolished by castration and fully restored after testosterone replacement. The expression could also be induced in the livers of female mice by treatment with either testosterone or dexamethasone, following ovariectomy and adrenalectomy. Therefore, the cis-acting elements responsible for regulation by these two hormones, as well as those responsible for tissue-specific expression, are closely linked to the alpha 2u globulin gene.     

Major molecular differences between mammalian sexes are involved in drug metabolism and renal function

Many anatomical differences exist between males and females; these are manifested on a molecular level by different hormonal environments. Although several molecular differences in adult tissues have been identified, a comprehensive investigation of the gene expression differences between males and females has not been performed. We surveyed the expression patterns of 13,977 mouse genes in male and female hypothalamus, kidney, liver, and reproductive tissues. Extensive differential gene expression was observed not only in the reproductive tissues, but also in the kidney and liver. The differentially expressed genes are involved in drug and steroid metabolism, osmotic regulation, or as yet unresolved cellular roles. In contrast, very few molecular differences were observed between the male and female hypothalamus in both mice and humans. We conclude that there are persistent differences in gene expression between adult males and females. These molecular differences have important implications for the physiological differences between males and females.     

尼罗罗非鱼生长激素及其受体的cDNA克隆与mRNA表达的雌雄差异

尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)雌雄鱼生长差异明显,为了探讨其原因,本文采用RT-PCR方法克隆了尼罗罗非鱼生长激素(Growthhormone,GH)及其受体(Growth hormone receptor,GHR)的cDNA序列,并应用半定量RT-PCR方法比较了雌、雄尼罗罗非鱼垂体GHmRNA、肝脏GHRmRNA、肌肉GHRmRNA的表达差异。序列分析表明:GH开放阅读框为615bp,共编码204个氨基酸;GHR开放阅读框为1908bp,共编码635个氨基酸。以RT-PCR方法研究了GH、GHR在各组织的分布情况,结果表明:GH仅在垂体中检测到有表达,而GHR在所检测的18种组织中均有表达,其中以肝脏、肌肉、性腺、下丘脑、胸腺表达量较高。以半定量RT-PCR方法进一步比较了雌、雄尼罗罗非鱼垂体GHmRNA、肝脏GHRmRNA、肌肉GHRmRNA的表达量,结果表明:雄鱼垂体GHmRNA和肝脏GHRmRNA的表达量均显著高于雌鱼,肌肉GHRmRNA的表达量则无显著差异,推测垂体GHmRNA和肝脏GHRmRNA表达的雌雄差异是尼罗罗非鱼雌雄生长差异的主要原因之一。     

A promoter that drives gene expression preferentially in male transgenic rats

Gender-preferential gene expression is a widespread phenomenon in humans. It is important to study how gender differences influence the pathogenesis of various diseases and response to specific drugs. The aim of this study is to determine if the mouse albumin enhancer/promoter may serve as the promoter to introduce gender-preferential gene expression in transgenic animals. We created four independent transgenic rat lines in which the human C-reactive protein transgene was under the control of mouse albumin enhancer/promoter. Quantitative real time RT-PCR analysis showed that transgene expression in the liver of male rats was significantly higher than transgene expression in the female rats (P < 0.05).There was a 5.3-fold (male/female) difference in line-519, and a 12.2-fold (male/female) difference in line-488. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that the serum of male transgenic rats had a 13- to 679-fold difference at the protein level on transgene production compared with female transgenic rats. The male-to-female difference in gene expression was 10- to 17-fold in the liver of transgenic rats. Orchiectomy dramatically reduced protein production from the transgene in the liver. Testosterone administration into female rats did not increase the transgene expression, but estrogen administration into the male rats reduced transgene expression. This study provides a valuable tool for investigating the pathological roles of genes that are expressed in a gender-preferential manner in human disease.     

团头鲂生长相关基因在不同发育时期生长轴组织的表达分析

为了探讨生长相关基因对团头鲂生长发育的调控, 研究采用Real-time PCR的方法定量分析了团头鲂6个生长相关基因在其不同生长发育阶段(3、6、12月龄)相关组织(脑、肝脏、肌肉)的表达情况, 并比较了这些基因在生长快和慢两个群体的表达差异. 结果显示: GHRs基因在肝脏与肌肉中的表达量高于脑, 在6月龄表达量高于3月龄与12月龄, 生长快群体中的表达量高于生长慢群体(P0.05); IGFs基因在三个组织中均有表达, 肝脏表达量最高, 生长快群体中的表达量高于生长慢群体(P0.05). MSTN a与MSTN b基因在组织中表达模式存在差异, MSTN a在肌肉中高表达, MSTN b主要在脑与肝脏中表达. HCL聚类结果表明: 除了MSTN a基因外, 其他5个基因在生长差异的两个群体中表达量均分别聚为一支. 不同时期组织表达聚类结果表明, 除了3月龄肝脏与12月龄肌肉组织, 6个生长相关基因在不同时期的同一组织中的表达模式存在相似性. Pearson相关分析显示: GHRs与IGFs呈正相关, MSTN a基因与GHR 2、IGFs基因呈负相关, 相同基因在两个群体中呈极显著相关(P0.01).       

Protective role of estrogen-induced miRNA-29 expression in carbon tetrachloride-induced mouse liver injury

Previous studies have indicated that female animals are more resistant to carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver fibrosis than male animals, and that estradiol (E(2)) treatment can inhibit CCl(4)-induced animal hepatic fibrosis. The underlying mechanism governing these phenomena, however, has not been fully elucidated. Here we reported the role of estrogen-induced miRNA-29 (miR-29) expression in CCl(4)-induced mouse liver injury. Hepatic miR-29 levels were differentially regulated in female and male mice during CCl(4) treatment. Specifically, the levels of miR-29a and miR-29b expression were significantly decreased in the livers of male, but not female, mice following 4 weeks of CCl(4) treatment. The down-regulation of miR-29a and miR-29b in male mouse livers correlated with the early development of liver fibrosis, as indicated by increased expressions of fibrotic markers in male mice relative to female mice. In addition, E(2) was maintained at a higher level in female mice than in male mice. In contrast to TGF-β1 that decreased miR-29a/b expression in murine hepatoma IAR20 cells and normal hepatocytes, E(2) enhanced the expression of miR-29a/b through suppression of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signal pathway, which negatively regulates miR-29 expression. Furthermore, both E(2) treatment and intravenous injection of the recombinant adenovirus expressing miR-29a/b markedly increased the miR-29a/b level and attenuated the expression of fibrotic markers in mouse livers during CCl(4) treatment, supporting the protective role of E(2)-induced miR-29 in CCl(4)-induced hepatic injury. In conclusion, our results collectively demonstrate that estrogen can inhibit CCl(4)-induced hepatic injury through the induction of hepatic miR-29.     

A comparison of cDNA, oligonucleotide, and Affymetrix GeneChip gene expression microarray platforms.

We have conducted a study to compare the variability in measured gene expression levels associated with three types of microarray platforms. Total RNA samples were obtained from liver tissue of four male mice, two each from inbred strains A/J and C57BL/6J. The same four samples were assayed on Affymetrix Mouse Genome Expression Set 430 GeneChips (MOE430A and MOE430B), spotted cDNA microarrays, and spotted oligonucleotide microarrays using eight arrays of each type. Variances associated with measurement error were observed to be comparable across all microarray platforms. The MOE430A GeneChips and cDNA arrays had higher precision across technical replicates than the MOE430B GeneChips and oligonucleotide arrays. The Affymetrix platform showed the greatest range in the magnitude of expression levels followed by the oligonucleotide arrays. We observed good concordance in both estimated expression level and statistical significance of common genes between the Affymetrix MOE430A GeneChip and the oligonucleotide arrays. Despite their apparently high precision, cDNA arrays showed poor concordance with other platforms.     

Tissue-specific regulation of cytochrome P-450 dependent testosterone 15 alpha-hydroxylase

Testosterone 15 alpha-hydroxylase activity in kidney microsomes is higher in male mice than in female mice, while in the liver the activity is higher in females than in males. Cytochrome P-450 15 alpha, a specific form of cytochrome P-450 having testosterone 15 alpha-hydroxylase activity, accounts for virtually all of the testosterone 15 alpha-hydroxylase activity in female kidney microsomes, while other isozymes of testosterone 15 alpha-hydroxylase are present in male kidney microsomes. In female kidney, P-450 15 alpha expression is regulated by a single sex-dependent locus, called Rsh for "regulation of steroid hydroxylase." The higher level of P-450 15 alpha expression in male kidneys is dependent on androgens. Of all mice strains, 129/J seems to be the least dependent on androgens to maintain a high expression of P-450 15 alpha in male kidneys. Castration of male mice lowers kidney levels of P-450 15 alpha but in the liver, P-450 15 alpha levels rise after castration. This reciprocal regulation of P-450 15 alpha genes in liver and kidney was investigated by isolating cDNA clones encoding P-450 15 alpha from liver and kidney cDNA libraries. Two highly homologous cDNA clones encoding P-450 15 alpha designated type I and type II were identified, and levels of type I and type II mRNA in liver and kidney were determined by differential restriction mapping of double-stranded cDNA prepared from mRNA from these tissues.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

星豹蛛四个羧酸酯酶基因克隆及溴氰菊酯胁迫下的表达模式

【目的】探究星豹蛛Pardosa astrigera羧酸酯酶基因PaCarE1-4是否与其代谢溴氰菊酯有关。【方法】采用RT-PCR技术克隆星豹蛛4个羧酸酯酶基因PaCarE1-4 cDNA序列,通过生物信息学软件分析其序列特性。采用RT-qPCR技术测定这4个羧酸酯酶基因在星豹蛛雌雄成蛛不同组织(头胸部、腹部和足)以及在不同浓度(LC₁₀=5.151 mg/L; LC₃₀=8.619 mg/L; LC₅₀=12.311 mg/L)溴氰菊酯胁迫12 h和LC₃₀浓度溴氰菊酯胁迫2, 4, 8, 12, 24和48 h雄成蛛中的相对表达水平。【结果】克隆获得星豹蛛羧酸酯酶基因PaCarE1-4(GenBank登录号分别为MZ643212, MZ643214, MZ643215和 MZ643216)的全长cDNA序列,开放阅读框(ORF)分别长1 653, 1 803, 1 827和1 818 bp,分别编码550, 600, 608和605个氨基酸。组织表达谱结果表明,PaCarE1和PaCarE2在星豹蛛雌雄成蛛腹部中的表达量最高,且在雄成蛛腹部中的表达量高于雌成蛛中的;PaCarE3和PaCarE4在雌雄成蛛头胸部中的表达量最高,且PaCarE3在雌成蛛头胸部中的表达量高于雄成蛛中的,PaCarE4在雄成蛛头胸部中的表达量高于雌成蛛中的。LC₃₀浓度溴氰菊酯胁迫12 h诱导了星豹蛛雄成蛛中PaCarE1的表达,LC₁₀和LC₃₀浓度溴氰菊酯胁迫12 h诱导了PaCarE2的表达。LC₃₀浓度溴氰菊酯胁迫不同时间后,与对照组(丙酮处理组)相比,星豹蛛雄成蛛中PaCarE4的表达量与对照组均无显著差异,而PaCarE1的表达量在处理后2, 8和12 h, PaCarE2的表达量在处理后12 h,以及PaCarE3的表达量在处理后24 h显著上调。【结论】羧酸酯酶基因PaCarE1, PaCarE2和PaCarE3可以被溴氰菊酯诱导表达,表明其可能参与星豹蛛对溴氰菊酯的代谢过程。本研究结果有助于了解星豹蛛对外源物质的代谢机理,为这一捕食性天敌的保护提供了新思路。