Epigenetic disorders and altered gene expression after use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies in domestic cattle

The use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) in modern cattle breeding is an important tool for improving the production of dairy and beef cattle. A frequently employed ART in the cattle industry is in vitro production of embryos. However, bovine in vitro produced embryos differ greatly from their in vivo produced counterparts in many facets, including developmental competence. The lower developmental capacity of these embryos could be due to the stress to which the gametes and/or embryos are exposed during in vitro embryo production, specifically ovarian hormonal stimulation, follicular aspiration, oocyte in vitro maturation in hormone supplemented medium, sperm handling, gamete cryopreservation, and culture of embryos. The negative effects of some ARTs on embryo development could, at least partially, be explained by disruption of the physiological epigenetic profile of the gametes and/or embryos. Here, we review the current literature with regard to the putative link between ARTs used in bovine reproduction and epigenetic disorders and changes in the expression profile of embryonic genes. Information on the relationship between reproductive biotechnologies and epigenetic disorders and aberrant gene expression in bovine embryos is limited and novel approaches are needed to explore ways in which ARTs can be improved to avoid epigenetic disorders.     

Brain-heart interactions and cardiac ventricular arrhythmias

A wide range of evidence implicates the brain as playing a significant role in ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. The mechanism is thought to involve the intermediary of the autonomic nervous system. Here we briefly consider possible mechanisms by which central neural processing may modulate the myocardial electrophysiology and hence the arrhythmia substrate.     

Studies on the regioselectivity and kinetics of the action of trypsin on proinsulin and its derivatives using mass spectrometry

Human M-proinsulin was cleaved by trypsin at the R³¹R³²–E³³ and K⁶⁴R⁶⁵–G⁶⁶ bonds (B/C and C/A junctions), showing the same cleavage specificity as exhibited by prohormone convertases 1 and 2 respectively. Buffalo/bovine M-proinsulin was also cleaved by trypsin at the K⁵⁹R⁶⁰–G⁶¹ bond but at the B/C junction cleavage occurred at the R³¹R³²–E³³ as well as the R³¹–R³²E³³ bond. Thus, the human isoform in the native state, with a 31 residue connecting C-peptide, seems to have a unique structure around the B/C and C/A junctions and cleavage at these sites is predominantly governed by the structure of the proinsulin itself. In the case of both the proinsulin species the cleavage at the B/C junction was preferred (65%) over that at the C/A junction (35%) supporting the earlier suggestion of the presence of some form of secondary structure at the C/A junction. Proinsulin and its derivatives, as natural substrates for trypsin, were used and mass spectrometric analysis showed that the k_cat./K_m values for the cleavage were most favourable for the scission of the bonds at the two junctions (1.02 ± 0.08 × 10⁵ s^− 1 M^− 1) and the cleavage of the K²⁹–T³⁰ bond of M-insulin-RR (1.3 ± 0.07 × 10⁵ s^− 1 M^− 1). However, the K²⁹–T³⁰ bond in M-insulin, insulin as well as M-proinsulin was shielded from attack by trypsin (k_cat./K_m values around 1000 s^− 1 M^− 1). Hence, as the biosynthetic path follows the sequence; proinsulin → insulin-RR → insulin, the K²⁹–T³⁰ bond becomes shielded, exposed then shielded again respectively.     

Apolar distal pocket mutants of yeast cytochrome c peroxidase: Hydrogen peroxide reactivity and cyanide binding of the TriAla,TriVal, and TriLeu variants

Three yeast cytochrome c peroxidase (CcP) variants with apolar distal heme pockets have been constructed. The CcP variants have Arg48, Trp51, and His52 mutated to either all alanines, CcP(triAla), all valines, CcP(triVal), or all leucines, CcP(triLeu). The triple mutants have detectable enzymatic activity at pH 6 but the activity is less than 0.02% that of wild-type CcP. The activity loss is primarily due to the decreased rate of reaction between the triple mutants and H₂O₂ compared to wild-type CcP. Spectroscopic properties and cyanide binding characteristics of the triple mutants have been investigated over the pH stability region of CcP, pH 4 to 8. The absorption spectra indicate that the CcP triple mutants have hemes that are predominantly five-coordinate, high-spin at pH 5 and six-coordinate, low-spin at pH 8. Cyanide binding to the triple mutants is biphasic indicating that the triple mutants have two slowly-exchanging conformational states with different cyanide affinities. The binding affinity for cyanide is reduced at least two orders of magnitude in the triple mutants compared to wild-type CcP and the rate of cyanide binding is reduced by four to five orders of magnitude. Correlation of the reaction rates of CcP and 12 distal pocket mutants with H₂O₂ and HCN suggests that both reactions require ionization of the reactants within the distal heme pocket allowing the anion to bind the heme iron. Distal pocket features that promote substrate ionization (basic residues involved in base-catalyzed substrate ionization or polar residues that can stabilize substrate anions) increase the overall rate of reaction with H₂O₂ and HCN while features that inhibit substrate ionization slow the reactions.     

Overcoming resistance to rapalogs in gliomas by combinatory therapies

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive brain tumor type, with a mean patient survival of approximately 1 year. Many previous analyses of the glioma kinome have identified key deregulated pathways that converge and activate mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Following the identification and characterization of mTOR-promoting activity in gliomagenesis, data from preclinical studies suggested the targeting of mTOR by rapamycin or its analogs (rapalogs) as a promising therapeutic approach. However, clinical trials with rapalogs have shown very limited efficacy on glioma due to the development of resistance mechanisms. Analysis of rapalog-insensitive glioma cells has revealed increased activity of growth and survival pathways compensating for mTOR inhibition by rapalogs that are suitable for therapeutic intervention. In addition, recently developed mTOR inhibitors show high anti-glioma activity. In this review, we recapitulate the regulation of mTOR signaling and its involvement in gliomagenesis, discuss mechanisms resulting in resistance to rapalogs, and speculate on strategies to overcome resistance. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Inhibitors of Protein Kinases (2012).     

Identity of tendon stem cells – how much do we know?

Tendon stem cells are multi‐potent adult stem cells with broad differentiation plasticity that render them of great importance in cell‐based therapies for the repair of tendons. We called them tendon‐derived stem cells (TDSCs) to indicate the tissue origin from which the stem cells were isolated in vitro. Based on the work of other sources of MSCs and specific work on TDSCs, some properties of TDSCs have been characterized / implicated in vitro. Despite these findings, tendon stem cells remained controversial cells. This was because MSCs residing in different organs, although very similar, were not identical cells. There is evidence of differences in stem cell‐related properties and functions related to tissue origins. Similar to other stem cells, tendon stem cells were identified and characterized in vitro. Their in vivo identities, niche (both anatomical locations and regulators) and roles in tendons were less understood. This review aims to summarize the current evidence of the possible anatomical locations and niche signals regulating the functions of tendon stem cells in vivo. The possible roles of tendon stem cells in tendon healing and non‐healing are presented. Finally, the potential strategies for understanding the in vivo identity of tendon stem cells are discussed.     

布地奈德混悬液雾化吸入治疗小儿急性喉炎的临床观察

目的：观察布地奈德混悬液雾化吸入治疗小儿急性喉炎的临床疗效。方法：选择2010年6月~2012年12月我院收治的急性喉炎患儿67例为研究对象,并将其随机分为对照组和观察组,两组均给予相同的综合性治疗。在此基础上,对照组仅通过静脉给予地塞米松,观察组在地塞米松静脉给药的同时,加用布地奈德混悬液雾化吸入治疗。治疗后,观察和比较两组患儿的症状、体征缓解时间及住院时间。结果：观察组声音嘶哑、犬吠样咳嗽、喉喘呜、吸气性呼吸困难的缓解时间及住院时间均明显短于对照组,观察组雾化吸入布地奈德4h、24h时的临床疗效明显优于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,两组均无不良反应的发生。结论：布地奈德混悬液雾化吸入治疗小儿急性喉炎起效快,病程短,方法简单,不良反应少。     

肺炎合并心力衰竭患者血浆BNP,cTn1的变化及其临床意义

目的:探讨血浆脑钠肽(BNP)和心肌肌钙蛋白(cTn1)在肺炎合并心力衰竭患者血浆脑钠肽(BNP)和心肌肌钙蛋白(cTn1)的变化情况及、肺炎未合并心衰患者及健康对照组中的不同表达,探讨血浆脑钠肽(BNP)和心肌肌钙蛋白(cTn1)与疾病变化的关系及在肺炎合并心力衰竭中的临床诊断的意义.方法:回顾性分析我院自2010年1月至2012年1月收治的42例肺炎合并心衰患者,同期收治的肺炎末合并心衰患者34例为阳性对照组,以及同期在门诊进行体检的30例健康患者为阴性对照组.在入院后24h之内评估心脏功能并检测血浆BNP及cTn1水平变化,以及心衰合并肺炎患者入院24h急性期及心衰恢复期BNP和cTn1水平的变化,比较BNP和cTn1在的不同表达.结果:心衰组、阳性对照组、阴性对照组患者BNP(378.14,142.53,0.74±0.15)和cTn1 (0.84,0.32,0.18)比较,在统计学上具有显著性意义(H=140.67,H=30.14,P＜0.001).心衰急性期与心衰恢复期BNP(378.14,140.32)和cTn1(0.84,0.04)水平比较,在统计学上具有显著性差异(t=2.044,t=2.051,P＜ 0.05).结论:BNP与cTn1在肺炎合并心衰患者为高表达,显著高于肺炎未合并心衰患者,合并心衰与未合并心衰组的BNP与cTn1水平也显著高于健康对照组,表明BNP与cTn1的表达与病情呈正相关.且在肺炎合并心衰急性期的表达高于恢复期,表明BNP、cTnⅠ水平变化可为诊断患者病情严重程度及肺炎合并心衰为急性期或慢性提高依据,可以为早期心功能衰竭提高临床参考.