Ezetimibe blocks the internalization of NPC1L1 and cholesterol in mouse small intestine

The multiple transmembrane protein Niemann-Pick C1 like1 (NPC1L1) is essential for intestinal cholesterol absorption. Ezetimibe binds to NPC1L1 and is a clinically used cholesterol absorption inhibitor. Recent studies in cultured cells have shown that NPC1L1 mediates cholesterol uptake through vesicular endocytosis that can be blocked by ezetimibe. However, how NPC1L1 and ezetimibe work in the small intestine is unknown. In this study, we found that NPC1L1 distributed in enterocytes of villi and transit-amplifying cells of crypts. Acyl-CoA cholesterol acyltransferase 2 (ACAT2), another important protein for cholesterol absorption by providing cholesteryl esters to chylomicrons, was mainly presented in the apical cytoplasm of enterocytes. NPC1L1 and ACAT2 were highly expressed in jejunum and ileum. ACAT1 presented in the Paneth cells of crypts and mesenchymal cells of villi. In the absence of cholesterol, NPC1L1 was localized on the brush border of enterocytes. Dietary cholesterol induced the internalization of NPC1L1 to the subapical layer beneath the brush border and became partially colocalized with the endosome marker Rab11. Ezetimibe blocked the internalization of NPC1L1 and cholesterol and caused their retention in the plasma membrane. This study demonstrates that NPC1L1 mediates cholesterol entering enterocytes through vesicular endocytosis and that ezetimibe blocks this step in vivo.     

一株乙腈降解菌的鉴定及其生物学特性

【目的】明确乙腈降解菌BX2的分类地位及生物学特性,评价其处理含乙腈废水的可行性。【方法】通过形态特征、生理生化特性以及系统发育分析对菌株BX2进行鉴定。考察温度、初始pH及接种量等因素对菌株生长的影响,确定菌株的最佳生长条件及在该条件下的乙腈降解能力。测定菌株BX2对NaCl的耐受能力。【结果】乙腈降解菌BX2的形态特征及生理生化特性与紫红红球菌(Rhodococcus rhodochrous)最相近。其16S rRNA、gyrB、secA1基因序列与紫红红球菌的相似性分别为99.37%、99.29%、97.87%。最佳生长条件为35℃,初始pH 7.5,接种量1%。此条件下,菌株BX2在16 h内对浓度为800 mg/L乙腈的降解率为95.87%。菌株BX2在NaCl含量高于6%的培养基中无法生长。【结论】菌株BX2被鉴定为紫红红球菌。该菌株有较强的环境适应能力,可降解高浓度乙腈,在含氰废水的生物修复中有很好的应用前景。     

Association of N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide with Cognitive Function and Depression in Elderly People with Type 2 Diabetes

Background

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with risk of congestive heart failure (CHF), cognitive dysfunction and depression. CHF itself is linked both to poor cognition and depression. The ventricular N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a marker of CHF, suggesting potential as a marker for cognitive impairment and/or depression. This was tested in the Edinburgh Type 2 Diabetes Study (ET2DS).

Methodology and Principal Findings

Cross-sectional analysis of 1066 men and women aged 60–75 with type 2 diabetes. Results from seven neuropsychological tests were combined in a standardised general cognitive ability factor, ‘g’. A vocabulary-based test estimated pre-morbid cognitive ability. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) assessed possible depression. After adjustment for age and sex, raised plasma NT-proBNP was weakly associated with lower ‘g’ and higher depression scores (ß −0.09, 95% CI −0.13 to −0.03, p = 0.004 and ß 0.08, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.12, p<0.001, respectively). Comparing extreme quintiles of NT-proBNP, subjects in the highest quintile were more likely to have reduced cognitive ability (within the lowest tertile of ‘g’) and ‘possible’ depression (HADS depression ≥8) (OR 1.80; 95% CI: 1.20, 2.70; p = 0.005 and OR 2.18; 95% CI: 1.28, 3.71; p = 0.004, respectively). Associations persisted when pre-morbid ability was adjusted for, but as expected were no longer statistically significant following the adjustment for diabetes-related and vascular co-variates (β −0.02, 95% CI −0.07 to 0.03, p>0.05 for ‘g’; β 0.03, 95% CI −0.02 to 0.07, p>0.05 for depression scores).

Conclusion

Raised plasma NT-proBNP was weakly but statistically significantly associated with poorer cognitive function and depression. The prospective phases of the ET2DS will help determine whether or not NT-proBNP can be considered a risk marker for subsequent cognitive impairment and incident depression and whether it provides additional information over and above traditional risk factors for these conditions.     

病原微生物对抗菌肽抗性机制的研究进展

抗菌肽(antimicrobial peptides, AMPs)是生物先天免疫系统的重要组成部分,可帮助宿主有效应对病原细菌、真菌和病毒等微生物的胁迫,被认为是医疗、食品加工和农业领域最具前途和潜力的抗生素替代物。病原微生物在与抗菌肽的互作中进化出了多种有针对性的抗性机制,本文从病原微生物对AMPs的感应与基因调控、细胞壁/膜成份的修饰、分泌蛋白酶降解及利用外排泵排出等四个方面综述了国内外的研究进展,并对AMPs类制品的研究前景进行了讨论与展望。     

人β-actin蛋白原核表达及其单克隆抗体制备

为获得分泌抗人β-actin蛋白单克隆抗体（McAb）的杂交瘤细胞,通过在大肠杆菌中原核表达人β-actin蛋白,以纯化的人β-actin蛋白作为抗原免疫BALB/c小鼠。经过细胞的融合及筛选获得1株能稳定分泌抗人β-actin蛋白McAb的杂交瘤细胞,命名为2B4。采用间接ELISA和Western blot方法对McAb的特异性、稳定性和适用范围进行鉴定。结果显示：蛋白的相对分子质量为43 kDa,可溶于8 mol/L尿素;杂交瘤细胞上清的抗体效价为1×10^5,腹水的抗体效价为1×10^7;间接ELISA结果表明,杂交瘤细胞在体外传20代或液氮冻存3个月后,分泌的抗体效价不变;37℃保存24 h后,抗体的效价开始下降。Western blot结果显示,单克隆抗体识别人、鼠、兔和鱼的β-actin蛋白,与其发生特异性反应。2B4分泌的单克隆抗体可以广泛的应用于细胞生物学和免疫学试验,具有良好的应用价值。     

终南山隧道：仁道深处是让行

千百年来,秦岭一直是阻碍秦楚往来、隔离川陕交通的一道天然屏障。至于修筑一条＂终南捷径＂的梦想在民间具体流传了多少代,至今已经无法考证。所谓的捷径,莫过于凿穿巍峨的秦岭而形成的平直通途。近几十年来,随着中国社会、经济和科技的迅猛发展,建设这条捷径的愿望日益迫切,而且方案也更加切实可行。     

心肌造影负荷超声心动图评价存活心肌的临床研究

目的:研究心肌造影负荷超声心动图(MCSE)定量心肌血流判断存活心肌的可行性与可靠性。方法:对20例冠心病患者行持续静脉滴注法MCSE,按1:4的比例于收缩末期触发的方式提取图像,采集图像后脱机分析及彩色编码。计算灌注正常区域和灌注缺损区域的A.β值,根据A.β值确定心肌存活与否,将判定结果正电子断层显像(PET)进行对照。结果:17例病人(85%)获得满意图像,灌注正常区和灌注缺损区的A.β值分别为59.32±11.54和5.69±1.78;灌注正常区在Dob 5μg、10μg时的A.β均值分别为69.57±8.13和76.65±13.61,且均高于静息时A.β值,与PET判定坏死的心肌节段一致。结论:MCSE能从血流定量水平判断存活心肌。     

83 例肝包虫外囊完整剥除术的临床分析

目的:评价外囊完整剥除术治疗肝包虫病的临床疗效。方法:将226例接受手术治疗的肝脏囊性包虫病患者分为两组:143例行内囊摘除术,83例行外囊完整剥除术,比较两组临床疗效及预后。结果:全囊摘除组的术后住院时间、带管时间、术后并发症及复发率均明显少于内囊摘除组(P均<0.05)。结论:外囊完整剥除术是一种安全、方便、损伤小的根治性术式,有利于降低包虫复发和胆瘘等并发症,关键在选择适应征及正确认知和处理包虫外囊周围管道。     

糖尿病急性并发症合并横纹肌溶解患者临床特征及预后

目的:分析糖尿病急性并发症患者合并横纹肌溶解的临床特征及预后,为临床及时诊断和治疗提供依据。方法:对我院2003年1月～2009年5月住院患者查阅病例资料,糖尿病酮症酸中毒及高血糖高渗状态患者根据肌酸激酶升高与否,分为血清肌酸激酶升高组(A组)和血清肌酸激酶正常组(B组),比较两组临床特征及预后。结果:A、B两组比较,A组较B组血清尿素氮、肌酐、肌红蛋白明显升高,住院时间明显延长,但出院时A组较B组每天每公斤胰岛素剂量减少,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。A组中3例患者血清肌酸激酶大于1000U/L,符合横纹肌溶解综合征诊断标准。结论:糖尿病酮酸中毒及高血糖高渗状态患者应重视肌酶检查,早期诊断横纹肌溶解综合征,保护肾脏和胰岛β细胞功能,缩短住院时间。     

脑出血与脑缺血模型大鼠脾淋巴细胞的蛋白质组学研究

目的:通过比较正常与脑出血及脑缺血模型大鼠脾淋巴细胞蛋白质表达的差异,初步探讨细胞免疫功能与脑血管病之间的关系.方法:将SD大鼠随机分为正常组、脑出血模型组(采用VII型胶原酶诱导脑出血)和局灶性脑缺血模型组(采用线栓法造成大脑中动脉阻塞),分离大鼠脾淋巴细胞,提取总蛋白质后进行双向凝胶电泳,考马斯亮蓝染色,PDQUEST软件分析,对差异蛋白质点采用基质辅助激光解析电离质谱(MALDI-TOF-MS)技术进行鉴定并分析.结果:胶质细胞成熟因子γ等9个蛋白在脑出血和脑缺血模型组表达上调,膜联蛋白III在脑出血和脑缺血模型组表达下调.结论:建立了分辨率高重复性较好的脑出血及局灶性脑缺血脾淋巴细胞总蛋白的双向凝胶电泳图谱,并鉴定一些与脑血管病脑损伤相关的差异表达蛋白质,为深入研究脑血管病细胞免疫功能改变与脑血管病之间的关系奠定了基础.