Protein kinase C (PKC) level is increased in PC12 cells overexpressing transfected liver-type phosphofructokinase

Summary— PC12 cells which overexpress transfected liver-type phosphofructokinase (PFKL) have previously been described as a model system for PFKL overexpression in Down's syndrome and have been shown to perform glycolysis at enhanced rates. Here we report that levels of protein kinase C (PKC) in PC 12-PFKL cells were almost doubled, as estimated from in vitro activity and phorbol ester binding experiments and from an increase found in PKC-alpha mRNA levels. Most of the added PKC was found to be associated with the cellular membrane while the cytoplasmic levels of PKC were barely increased. The steady-state levels of 1,2-sn-diacylglycerol in PC12-PFKL cells were found to be unaltered, suggesting that enhanced glycolysis in these cells did not influence PKC by altering the amounts of this compound. PFKL is one of several genes known to be overexpressed in Down's syndrome. Upregulation of PKC due to PFKL overexpression could result in widespread disturbances of gene expression and play a part in causing some of the many symptoms of the disease.     

Personalized microbiome-driven effects of non-nutritive sweeteners on human glucose tolerance

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Phenotypic profiling of mGlu7 knockout mice reveals new implications for neurodevelopmental disorders

Neurodevelopmental disorders are characterized by deficits in communication, cognition, attention, social behavior and/or motor control. Previous studies have pointed to the involvement of genes that regulate synaptic structure and function in the pathogenesis of these disorders. One such gene, GRM7, encodes the metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (mGlu₇), a G protein‐coupled receptor that regulates presynaptic neurotransmitter release. Mutations and polymorphisms in GRM7 have been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders in clinical populations; however, limited preclinical studies have evaluated mGlu₇ in the context of this specific disease class. Here, we show that the absence of mGlu₇ in mice is sufficient to alter phenotypes within the domains of social behavior, associative learning, motor function, epilepsy and sleep. Moreover, Grm7 knockout mice exhibit an attenuated response to amphetamine. These findings provide rationale for further investigation of mGlu₇ as a potential therapeutic target for neurodevelopmental disorders such as idiopathic autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Rett syndrome.     

Antiphospholipid antibody‐activated NETs exacerbate trophoblast and endothelial cell injury in obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome

Despite the widespread use of antiplatelets and anticoagulants, women with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) may face pregnancy complications associated with placental dysplasia. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are involved in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases, including vascular APS; however, their role in obstetric APS is unclear. Herein, we investigated the role of NETs by quantifying cell‐free DNA and NET marker levels. Live‐cell imaging was used to visualize NET formation, and MAPK signalling pathway proteins were analysed. Cell migration, invasion and tube formation assays were performed to observe the effects of NETs on trophoblasts and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The concentrations of cell‐free DNA and NETs in sera of pregnant patients with APS were elevated compared with that of healthy controls (HCs) matched to gestational week. APS neutrophils were predisposed to spontaneous NET release and IgG purified from the patients (APS‐IgG) induced neutrophils from HCs to release NETs. Additionally, APS‐IgG NET induction was abolished with inhibitors of reactive oxygen species, AKT, p38 MAPK and ERK1/2. Moreover, NETs were detrimental to trophoblasts and HUVECs. In summary, APS‐IgG‐induced NET formation deserves further investigation as a potential novel therapeutic target in obstetrical APS.     

High‐throughput analysis of vocalizations reveals sex‐specific changes in Fmr1 mutant pups

There have been several reports that individuals with Fragile X syndrome (FXS) and animal models of FXS have communication deficits. The present study utilized two different call classification taxonomies to examine the sex‐specificity of ultrasonic vocalization (USV) production on postnatal day (PD8) in the FVB strain of Fmr1 knockout (KO) mice. One classification protocol requires the investigator to score each call by hand, while the other protocol uses an automated algorithm. Results using the hand‐scoring protocol indicated that male Fmr1 KO mice exhibited longer calls (P = .03) than wild types on PD8. Male KOs also produced fewer complex, composite, downward, short and two‐syllable call‐types, as well as more frequency steps and chevron call‐types. Female heterozygotes exhibited no significant changes in acoustic or temporal aspects of calls, yet showed significant changes in call‐type production proportions across two different classification taxonomies (P < .001). They exhibited increased production of harmonic and frequency steps calls, as well as fewer chevron, downward and short calls. According to the second high‐throughput analysis, female heterozygotes produced significantly fewer single‐type and more multiple‐type syllables, unlike male KOs that showed no changes in these aspects of syllable production. Finally, we correlated both scoring methods and found a high level of correlation between the two methods. These results contribute further knowledge of sex differences in USV calling behavior for Fmr1 heterozygote and KO mice and provide a foundation for the use of high‐throughput analysis of neonatal USVs.     

新型冠状病毒的动物源性和传染源控制

根据现有的数据,新型冠状病毒(2019 novel coronavirus,2019-nCoV)比严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒(severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus,SARS-CoV)的传染性强、传播速度快、疫情规模大、病死率低。其传染性、传播速度和疫情规模似乎具有甲型流感病毒(influenza A virus)的特点。尽管2019-nCoV来源于何种动物尚无定论,但它与SARS-CoV同属冠状病毒,具有共同之处。如果流行过后 2019-nCoV没能在人群中持续传播和存在(如同SARS-CoV一样),则控制野生动物传染源乃重中之重;如果2019-nCoV获得了能在人群中持续传播的能力,预防控制策略将与SARS-CoV明显不同,疫苗便成为至关重要的手段。     

严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2型 IgM / IgG、病毒核酸和白细胞介素6的联合检测在2019冠状病毒病诊断和治疗中的价值

探讨严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2型(severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,SARS-CoV-2)免疫球蛋白M(Immunoglobulin M,IgM)/免疫球蛋白G(Immunoglobulin G,IgG)、病毒核酸和白细胞介素6(interleukin 6, IL-6)的联合检测在2019冠状病毒病(coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19)诊断和治疗中的临床价值。本研究按照《新型冠状病毒肺炎诊疗方案(试行第七版)》的标准收集了93例确诊病例(51例危重型、18例重型,15例轻型和9例普通型)和20例疑似病例(核酸检测阴性但临床症状和CT检测结果均符合标准)。选取110例儿科、妇科、肿瘤、血液和消化等疾病患者并排除COVID-19作为对照组。采用全自动化学发光免疫分析技术和电化学发光技术检测所有研究对象血清中SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG和IL-6。用实时荧光定量反转录聚合酶链反应对病例组和对照组的咽拭子进行SARS-CoV-2核酸检测。结果发现,血清IgM、IgG和IL-6在疑似病例中的阳性率分别为85%、75%和0%,在确诊病例中的阳性率分别为98.9%、95.7%和75.2%(其中危重型分别为100%、100%和100%,重型分别为94.4%、100%和97.9%,轻型分别为100%、93.3%和5%、普通型分别为100%、66.7%和0%)。IL-6和 SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG表达水平的改变与患者疾病的严重程度存在一定的关联性,差异有统计学意义(χ²＝273.51,χ²＝149.37;P＜0.05)。血清IL-6和SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG的联合检测可作为诊断和治疗COVID-19的监测指标,也可作为SARS-CoV-2核酸检测假阴性的有效互补。     

268份人类免疫缺陷病毒抗体待确定样本的检测结果分析

为了提高实验室人类免疫缺陷病毒(human immunodeficiency virus,HIV)抗体检测能力及对免疫蛋白印迹(Western blot,WB)实验结果的判断能力,对送检至北京市东城区艾滋病确证实验室的268份HIV抗体待确定样本进行确证实验及结果分析。按照试剂说明书和实验室标准作业程序(Standard Operation Procedure,SOP)操作对送检的全部样本进行WB确证实验;了解HIV筛查实验结果与确证实验结果的相关性,并分析不同送检机构、送检人群样本的检测结果差异以及不同试剂、不同检测方法的结果差异。结果显示在筛查出抗体待确定的268份样本中,确证阳性170份,阳性率63.43%;确证阴性51份,阴性率19.03%;不确定结果47份,占筛查有反应的17.54%。确证阳性病例来自监管场所、自愿咨询检测门诊(Voluntary Counseling and Test,VCT)和医疗机构,不同送检单位及不同人群的阳性样本率有显著统计学意义(P<0.01)。WB确证阳性样本带型以全条带和次全条带为主,且所有确证阳性标本均来自双试剂阳性样本。不同检测方法阳性样本率的差异有显著统计学意义(P<0.01),其中化学发光法的样本阳性率占46.27%,酶联免疫吸附实验(ELISA)占88.29%,胶体硒法占43.48%。本研究结果提示,对潜在HIV感染者,应扩大检测面,加强医疗机构检测,并提供一种以上方法的多次检测,以减少漏检的风险。