槟榔碱对2型糖尿病大鼠肝脏胰岛素抵抗的作用

目的：探讨槟榔碱对2型糖尿病大鼠肝脏胰岛素抵抗的影响及其机制。方法：采用高果糖饲料饲养Wistar大鼠12周制备2型糖尿病大鼠模型,实验动物随机分为5组（n=8）：对照组、模型组、模型＋不同浓度的槟榔碱（0,0．5,1,5mg／kg）组。4周后通过检测血糖、血脂、胰岛素、RT-PCR检测肝脏组成型雄甾烷受体（CAR）、孕甾烷x受体（PXR）、糖代谢相关基因：葡萄糖-6-磷酸酶（G6Pase）、磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧激酶（PEPCK）和炎症相关因子：白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）mRNA表达,Western blot检测大鼠肝内p-AKT和葡萄糖转运体4（GLUT4）蛋白表达。结果：1,5mg／kg槟榔碱显著降低糖尿病大鼠体重、空腹血糖、空腹胰岛素、血脂和糖代谢相关基因及炎症相关因子mRNA水平,提高CAR、PXR mRNA水平及p-AKT、GLUT4蛋白水平。结论：槟榔碱可能通过提高CAR和PXR的表达,导致肝脏糖代谢关键酶PEPCK、G6Pase基因表达或者炎性因子肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、白介素-6（n-6）表达降低,改善2型糖尿病大鼠肝脏胰岛素抵抗。     

MitProNet: A Knowledgebase and Analysis Platform of Proteome,Interactome and Diseases for Mammalian Mitochondria

Mitochondrion plays a central role in diverse biological processes in most eukaryotes, and its dysfunctions are critically involved in a large number of diseases and the aging process. A systematic identification of mitochondrial proteomes and characterization of functional linkages among mitochondrial proteins are fundamental in understanding the mechanisms underlying biological functions and human diseases associated with mitochondria. Here we present a database MitProNet which provides a comprehensive knowledgebase for mitochondrial proteome, interactome and human diseases. First an inventory of mammalian mitochondrial proteins was compiled by widely collecting proteomic datasets, and the proteins were classified by machine learning to achieve a high-confidence list of mitochondrial proteins. The current version of MitProNet covers 1124 high-confidence proteins, and the remainders were further classified as middle- or low-confidence. An organelle-specific network of functional linkages among mitochondrial proteins was then generated by integrating genomic features encoded by a wide range of datasets including genomic context, gene expression profiles, protein-protein interactions, functional similarity and metabolic pathways. The functional-linkage network should be a valuable resource for the study of biological functions of mitochondrial proteins and human mitochondrial diseases. Furthermore, we utilized the network to predict candidate genes for mitochondrial diseases using prioritization algorithms. All proteins, functional linkages and disease candidate genes in MitProNet were annotated according to the information collected from their original sources including GO, GEO, OMIM, KEGG, MIPS, HPRD and so on. MitProNet features a user-friendly graphic visualization interface to present functional analysis of linkage networks. As an up-to-date database and analysis platform, MitProNet should be particularly helpful in comprehensive studies of complicated biological mechanisms underlying mitochondrial functions and human mitochondrial diseases. MitProNet is freely accessible at http://bio.scu.edu.cn:8085/MitProNet.     

Demineralized Bone Matrix Combined Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells,Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 and Transforming Growth Factor-β3 Gene Promoted Pig Cartilage Defect Repair

Objectives

To investigate whether a combination of demineralized bone matrix (DBM) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) infected with adenovirus-mediated- bone morphogenetic protein (Ad-BMP-2) and transforming growth factor-β3 (Ad-TGF-β3) promotes the repair of the full-thickness cartilage lesions in pig model.

Methods

BMSCs isolated from pig were cultured and infected with Ad-BMP-2(B group), Ad-TGF-β3 (T group), Ad-BMP-2 + Ad-TGF-β3(BT group), cells infected with empty Ad served as a negative group(N group), the expression of the BMP-2 and TGF-β3 were confirmed by immunofluorescence, PCR, and ELISA, the expression of SOX-9, type II collagen(COL-2A), aggrecan (ACAN) in each group were evaluated by real-time PCR at 1w, 2w, 3w, respectively. The chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs was evaluated by type II collagen at 21d with immunohistochemical staining. The third-passage BMSCs infected with Ad-BMP-2 and Ad-TGF-β3 were suspended and cultured with DBM for 6 days to construct a new type of tissue engineering scaffold to repair full-thickness cartilage lesions in the femur condyles of pig knee, the regenerated tissue was evaluated at 1,2 and 3 months after surgery by gross appearance, H&E, safranin O staining and O''driscoll score.

Results

Ad-BMP-2 and Ad-TGF-β3 (BT group) infected cells acquired strong type II collagen staining compared with Ad-BMP-2 (B group) and Ad-TGF-β3 (T group) along. The Ad-BMP-2 and Ad-TGF-β3 infected BMSCs adhered and propagated well in DBM and the new type of tissue engineering scaffold produced hyaline cartilage morphology containing a stronger type II collagen and safranin O staining, the O''driscoll score was higher than other groups.

Conclusions

The DBM compound with Ad-BMP-2 and Ad-TGF-β3 infected BMSCs scaffold has a good biocompatibility and could well induce cartilage regeneration to repair the defects of joint cartilage. This technology may be efficiently employed for cartilage lesions repair in vivo.     

Longitudinal Strain Is a Marker of Microvascular Obstruction and Infarct Size in Patients with Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Objectives

We assessed the value of speckle tracking imaging performed early after a first ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in order to predict infarct size and functional recovery at 3-month follow-up.

Methods

44 patients with STEMI who underwent revascularization within 12 h of symptom onset were prospectively enrolled. Echocardiography was performed 3.9±1.2 days after myocardial reperfusion, assessing circumferential (CGS), radial (RGS), and longitudinal global (GLS) strains. Late gadolinium-enhanced cardiac magnetic imaging (CMR), for assessing cardiac function, infarct size, and microvascular obstruction (MVO), was conducted 5.6±2.5 days and 99.4±4.6 days after myocardial reperfusion.

Results

GLS was evaluable in 97% of the patients, while CGS and RGS could be assessed in 85%. Infarct size significantly correlated with GLS (R = 0.601, p<0.001), RGS (R = −0.405, p = 0.010), CGS (R = 0.526, p = 0.001), ejection fraction (R = −0.699, p<0.001), wall motion score index (WMSI) (R = 0.539, p = 0.001), and left atrial volume (R = 0.510, p<0.001). Baseline ejection fraction and GLS were independent predictors of 3-month infarct size. MVO mass significantly correlated with GLS (R = 0.376, p = 0.010), WMSI (R = 0.387, p = 0.011), and ejection fraction (R = −0.389, p = 0.011). In multivariate analysis, GLS was the only independent predictor of MVO mass (p = 0.015). Longitudinal strain >−6.0% within the infarcted area exhibited 96% specificity and 61% sensitivity for predicting the persistence of akinesia (≥3 segments) at 3-month follow-up.

Conclusions

Speckle-tracking strain imaging performed early after a STEMI is easy-to-use as a marker for persistent akinetic territories at 3 months. In addition, GLS correlated significantly with MVO and final infarct size, both parameters being relevant post-MI prognostic factors, usually obtained via CMR.     

Pharmacologic Inhibition of Sphingomyelin Synthase (SMS) Activity Reduces Apolipoprotein-B Secretion from Hepatocytes and Attenuates Endotoxin-Mediated Macrophage Inflammation

Sphingomyelin synthase (SMS) plays an important role in plasma atherogenic lipoprotein metabolism, inflammation, and the development of atherosclerosis. To understand whether the impaired apoB secretion and inflammation response is a direct result from lack of SMS activity, in this study, we prepared a series of compounds that inhibit SMS activity. Further, we characterized Dy105, the most potent inhibitor. We found that Dy105 treatment significantly reduces SM levels in SM-rich microdomain on cell membranes. Moreover, we found that SMS inhibition reduces apoB secretion in a human hepatoma cell line and reduces the activation of NFκB and p38, a MAP kinase, in bone marrow derived macrophages. These studies provided further evidence that SMS activity regulates atherogenic lipoprotein metabolism and inflammatory responses. Pharmacologic inhibition of SMS may be a new therapy for atherosclerosis by reducing apoB secretion, and reducing inflammation.     

Variants Identified by Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection Susceptibility GWAS Associated with Survival in HBV-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified several common susceptibility loci associated with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB). However, the relationship between these genetic variants and survival of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC is still unknown. In this study, 22 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped among 330 HBV-related HCC patients using the MassARRAY system from Sequenom. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to examine the effects of genotype on survival time under an additive model with age, sex, smoking status and clinical stage as covariates. We identified four SNPs on 6p21 (rs1419881 T>C, rs7453920 G>A,rs3997872 G>A and rs7768538 T>C), and two SNPs on 8p12 (rs2275959 C>T and rs7821974 C>T) significantly associated with survival time of HBV-related HCC patients. Our results suggest that HCC or CHB susceptibility loci might also affect the prognosis of patients with HBV-related HCC.     

Neurotropin Suppresses Inflammatory Cytokine Expression and Cell Death through Suppression of NF-κB and JNK in Hepatocytes

Inflammatory response and cell death in hepatocytes are hallmarks of chronic liver disease, and, therefore, can be effective therapeutic targets. Neurotropin® (NTP) is a drug widely used in Japan and China to treat chronic pain. Although NTP has been demonstrated to suppress chronic pain through the descending pain inhibitory system, the action mechanism of NTP remains elusive. We hypothesize that NTP functions to suppress inflammatory pathways, thereby attenuating disease progression. In the present study, we investigated whether NTP suppresses inflammatory signaling and cell death pathways induced by interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) in hepatocytes. NTP suppressed nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation induced by IL-1β and TNFα assessed by using hepatocytes isolated from NF-κB-green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter mice and an NF-κB-luciferase reporter system. The expression of NF-κB target genes, Il6, Nos2, Cxcl1, ccl5 and Cxcl2 induced by IL-1β and TNFα was suppressed after NTP treatment. We also found that NTP suppressed the JNK phosphorylation induced by IL-1β and TNFα. Because JNK activation contributes to hepatocyte death, we determined that NTP treatment suppressed hepatocyte death induced by IL-1β and TNFα in combination with actinomycin D. Taken together, our data demonstrate that NTP attenuates IL-1β and TNFα-mediated inflammatory cytokine expression and cell death in hepatocytes through the suppression of NF-κB and JNK. The results from the present study suggest that NTP may become a preventive or therapeutic strategy for alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in which NF-κB and JNK are thought to take part.     

Evaluation of the Diagnostic Accuracy of Prototype Rapid Tests for Human African Trypanosomiasis

BackgroundDiagnosis of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) remains a challenge both for active screening, which is critical in control of the disease, and in the point-of-care scenario where early and accurate diagnosis is essential. Recently, the first field deployment of a lateral flow rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for HAT, “SD BIOLINE HAT” has taken place. In this study, we evaluated the performance of “SD BIOLINE HAT” and two new prototype RDTs.Conclusions/SignificanceBoth “SD BIOLINE HAT” and the prototype devices performed comparably well to one another and also to the published performance range of the card agglutination test for trypanosomiasis in sensitivity and specificity. The performance of individual antigens enabled us to predict that an all-recombinant antigen RDT can be developed with an accuracy equivalent to “ SD BIOLINE HAT.” Such an RDT would have advantages in simplified manufacture, lower unit cost and assured reproducibility.     

Identification of phosphoproteins and their phosphorylation sites in the WEHI-231 B lymphoma cell line

A major goal of the Alliance for Cellular Signaling is to elaborate the components of signal transduction networks in model cell systems, including murine B lymphocytes. Due to the importance of protein phosphorylation in many aspects of cell signaling, the initial efforts have focused on the identification of phosphorylated proteins. In order to identify serine- and threonine-phosphorylated proteins on a proteome-wide basis, WEHI-231 cells were treated with calyculin A, a serine/threonine phosphatase inhibitor, to induce high levels of protein phosphorylation. Proteins were extracted from whole-cell lysates and digested with trypsin. Phosphorylated peptides were then enriched using immobilized metal affinity chromatography and identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 107 proteins and 193 phosphorylation sites were identified using these methods. Forty-two of these proteins have been reported to be phosphorylated, but only some of them have been detected in B cells. Fifty-four of the identified proteins were not previously known to be phosphorylated. The remaining 11 phosphoproteins have previously only been characterized as novel cDNA or genomic sequences. Many of the identified proteins were phosphorylated at multiple sites. The proteins identified in this study significantly expand the repertoire of proteins known to be phosphorylated in B cells. The number of newly identified phosphoproteins indicates that B cell signaling pathways utilizing protein phosphorylation are likely to be more complex than previously appreciated.     

Identification of novel miR-21 target proteins in multiple myeloma cells by quantitative proteomics

Substantial evidence indicates that microRNA-21 (miR-21) is a key oncomiR in carcinogenesis and is significantly elevated in multiple myeloma (MM). In this study, we explored the role of miR-21 in human MM cells and searched for miR-21 targets. By knocking down the expression of endogenous miR-21 in U266 myeloma cells, we observed reduced growth, an arrested cell cycle, and increased apoptosis. To further understand its molecular mechanism in the pathogenesis of MM, we employed a SILAC (stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture)-based quantitative proteomic strategy to systematically identify potential targets of miR-21. In total, we found that the expression of 178 proteins was up-regulated significantly by miR-21 inhibition, implying that they could be potential targets of miR-21. Among these, the protein inhibitor of activated STAT3 (PIAS3) was confirmed as a direct miR-21 target by Western blotting and reporter gene assays. We further demonstrated that miR-21 enhances the STAT3-dependent signal pathway by inhibiting the function of PIAS3 and that down-regulation of PIAS3 contributes to the oncogenic function of miR-21. This elucidation of the role of PIAS3 in the miR-21-STAT3 positive regulatory loop not only may shed light on the molecular basis of the biological effects of miR-21 observed in MM cells but also has direct implications for the development of novel anti-MM therapeutic strategies.