Intercellular communication via the endo-lysosomal system: Translocation of granzymes through membrane barriers

Cytotoxic lymphocytes (CLs) are responsible for the clearance of virally infected or neoplastic cells. CLs possess specialised lysosome-related organelles called granules which contain the granzyme family of serine proteases and perforin. Granzymes may induce apoptosis in the target cell when delivered by the pore forming protein, perforin. Here we follow the perforin-granzyme pathway from synthesis and storage in the granule, to exocytosis and finally delivery into the target cell. This review focuses on the controversial subject of perforin-mediated translocation of granzymes into the target cell cytoplasm. It remains unclear whether this occurs at the cell surface with granzymes moving through a perforin pore in the plasma membrane, or if it involves internalisation of perforin and granzymes and subsequent release from an endocytic compartment. The latter mechanism would represent an example of cross talk between the endo-lysosomal pathways of individual cells. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Proteolysis 50 years after the discovery of lysosome.     

高氧液预处理对兔心肌缺血再灌注损伤的影响

目的:研究高氧液预处理对兔心肌缺血再灌注损伤的影响。方法:雄性新西兰白兔32只,随机分为4组(n=8),结扎-开放冠状动脉左前降支(LAD)建立心肌缺血再灌注模型。假手术组(Sham组)只穿线环绕LAD不结扎;吸氧组(OX组)结扎前30 min经鼻吸纯氧2L/min;在结扎LAD前30 min分别静脉注射HO 10 ml/kg(HO1组)、20 ml/kg(HO2组)。于结扎LAD前即刻(T0,基础值)、开放LAD前即刻(T1)、再灌注60 min(T2)及再灌注120 min(T3)时记录HR和MAP,于T3时抽取动脉血样3 ml,测定血清肌酸激酶(CK)、肌钙蛋白I(cTNI)的活性和IL-6和TNF-α的浓度,并测定心肌梗死范围。结果:I/S组与T0时比较,T 1-3时各组HR、MAP进行性下降(P<0.05);三组间HR、MAP比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。与Sham组比较,I/S组血清CK、cTNI、IL-6和TNF-α含量明显升高(P 0.01);与OX组比较,HO2组上述酶及炎症因子浓度显著下降(P<0.01),心肌梗死范围减小(P<0.05)。结论:高氧液预处理可减轻兔心肌缺血再灌注损伤,机制可能与其抑制炎性反应有关。     

Haplotype analysis revealed a genetic influence of osteopontin on large artery atherosclerosis

Osteopontin (OPN) is a cytokine that involves in vascular remodeling processes in cerebrovascular diseases. The association of its gene with ischemic stroke was investigated in a Korean population. Representative sequence variants covering the entire OPN gene were genotyped in 455 controls and 271 patients with ischemic stroke including large artery atherosclerosis (LAA), small vessel occlusion, and cardioembolism. Analysis with the individual tagging variants and their haplotypes revealed an evidence of association only with LAA. Significances were shown with the haplotypes, especially with the TCA at the loci C2140T, C5891T, and A7385G conferring a risk of 2.09 for LAA (P < 0.05). The CG at the loci C1013T and A7385G was the most protective haplotype (OR = 0.66, P < 0.05). Our findings suggested that several haplotypes of OPN gene contributed to determining risk factors as well as protective factors of LAA.     

Human fetal aorta-derived vascular progenitor cells: identification and potential application in ischemic diseases

Vasculogenesis, the formation of blood vessels in embryonic or fetal tissue mediated by immature vascular cells (i.e., angioblasts), is poorly understood. Here we report a summary of our recent studies on the identification of a population of vascular progenitor cells (VPCs) in human fetal aorta. These undifferentiated mesenchymal cells co-express endothelial and myogenic markers (CD133+, CD34+, KDR+, desmin+) and are localized in outer layer of the aortic stroma of 11–12 weeks old human fetuses. Under stimulation with VEGF-A or PDGF-BB, VPCs give origin to a mixed population of mature endothelial and mural cells, respectively. When embedded in a three-dimensional collagen gel, VPCs organize into cohesive cellular cords that resembled mature vascular structures. The therapeutic efficacy of a small number of VPCs transplanted into ischemic limb muscle was demonstrated in immunodeficient mice. Investigation of the effect of VPCs on experimental heart ischemia and on diabetic ischemic ulcers in mice is in progress and seems to confirm their efficacy. On the whole, fetal aorta represents an important source for the investigation of phenotypic and functional features of human vascular progenitor cells.     

An enzyme family reunion — similarities,differences and eccentricities in actions on <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>-glucans

α-Glucans in general, including starch, glycogen and their derived oligosaccharides are processed by a host of more or less closely related enzymes that represent wide diversity in structure, mechanism, specificity and biological role. Sophisticated three-dimensional structures continue to emerge hand-in-hand with the gaining of novel insight in modes of action. We are witnessing the “test of time” blending with remaining questions and new relationships for these enzymes. Information from both within and outside of ALAMY_3 Symposium will provide examples on what the family contains and outline some future directions. In 2007 a quantum leap crowned the structural biology by the glucansucrase crystal structure. This initiates the disclosure of the mystery on the organisation of the multidomain structure and the “robotics mechanism” of this group of enzymes. The central issue on architecture and domain interplay in multidomain enzymes is also relevant in connection with the recent focus on carbohydrate-binding domains as well as on surface binding sites and their long underrated potential. Other questions include, how different or similar are glycoside hydrolase families 13 and 31 and is the lid finally lifted off the disguise of the starch lyase, also belonging to family 31? Is family 57 holding back secret specificities? Will the different families be sporting new “eccentric” functions, are there new families out there, and why are crystal structures of “simple” enzymes still missing? Indeed new understanding and discovery of biological roles continuously emphasize value of the collections of enzyme models, sequences, and evolutionary trees which will also be enabling advancement in design for useful and novel applications.     

In vitro and in vivo studies of F0F1ATP synthase regulation by inhibitor protein IF1 in goat heart

A method has been developed to allow the level of F₀F₁ATP synthase capacity and the quantity of IF₁ bound to this enzyme be measured in single biopsy samples of goat heart. ATP synthase capacity was determined from the maximal mitochondrial ATP hydrolysis rate and IF₁ content was determined by detergent extraction followed by blue native gel electrophoresis, two-dimensional SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting with anti-IF₁ antibodies.Anaesthetized open-chest goats were subjected to ischemic preconditioning and/or sudden increases of coronary blood flow (CBF) (reactive hyperemia). When hyperemia was induced before ischemic preconditioning, a steep increase in synthase capacity, followed by a deep decrease, was observed. In contrast, hyperemia did not affect synthase capacity when applied after ischemic preconditioning. Similar effects could be produced in vitro by treatment of heart biopsy samples with anoxia (down-regulation of the ATP synthase) or high-salt or high-pH buffers (up-regulation). We show that both in vitro and in vivo the same close inverse correlation exists between enzyme activity and IF₁ content, demonstrating that under all conditions tested the only significant modulator of the enzyme activity was IF₁. In addition, both in vivo and in vitro, 1.3-1.4 mol of IF₁ was predicted to fully inactivate 1 mol of synthase, thus excluding the existence of significant numbers of non-inhibitory binding sites for IF₁ in the F₀ sector.     

Neural regeneration by regionally induced stem cells within poststroke brains: Novel therapy perspectives for stroke patients

Ischemic stroke is a critical disease which causes serious neurological functional loss such as paresis. Hope for novel therapies is based on the increasing evidence of the presence of stem cell populations in the central nervous system(CNS) and the development of stem-cell-based therapies for stroke patients. Although mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) represented initially a promising cell source,only a few transplanted MSCs were present near the injured areas of the CNS.Thus, regional stem cells that are present and/or induced in the CNS may be ideal when considering a treatment following ischemic stroke. In this context, we have recently showed that injury/ischemia-induced neural stem/progenitor cells(i NSPCs) and injury/ischemia-induced multipotent stem cells(i SCs) are present within post-stroke human brains and post-stroke mouse brains. This indicates that i NSPCs/i SCs could be developed for clinical applications treating patients with stroke. The present study introduces the traits of mouse and human i NSPCs,with a focus on the future perspective for CNS regenerative therapies using novel i NSPCs/i SCs.     

A tailed primers protocol to identify the association of eNOS gene variable number of tandem repeats polymorphism with ischemic stroke in Chinese Han population by capillary electrophoresis

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) plays an important role in mediating endothelium-dependent vasodilatation and antithrombotic action and is thus involved in the development of ischemic stroke (IS). Controversial results regarding the association of eNOS gene variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism with IS have been reported by conventional PCR-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis methods. We aimed to identify any common association of eNOS gene VNTR polymorphism with IS in Chinese Han population by capillary electrophoresis (CE). The VNTR polymorphism of 27 bp within the eNOS intron-4 was determined by CE with specially designed tailed primers in Chinese Han patients with IS (n = 457) and matched elderly controls without IS (n = 457). Significant differences in BMI, WHR, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, TG, HDL, LDL, LDL, and FBG were observed between cases and controls. The distributions of eNOS VNTR polymorphism were not significantly associated with IS after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 0.82–1.69). This finding was consistent with the further meta-analysis in Asians. The meta-analysis in Americans demonstrated that 4a/4b + 4a/4a genotype was significantly associated with IS risk with an OR of 1.54 (95% CI, 1.09–2.17) compared with the 4b/4b genotype. Our data suggests that BMI, WHR, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, TG, LDL, and FBG may increase the risk of IS. However, eNOS VNTR polymorphism may be not an independent major contributor for IS in Chinese Han population. The VNTR polymorphism might be associated with IS in Americans based on meta-analysis.