The CMT4B disease‐causing proteins MTMR2 and MTMR13/SBF2 regulate AKT signalling

Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth disease type 4B is caused by mutations in the genes encoding either the lipid phosphatase myotubularin‐related protein‐2 (MTMR2) or its regulatory binding partner MTMR13/SBF2. Mtmr2 dephosphorylates PI‐3‐P and PI‐3,5‐P2 to form phosphatidylinositol and PI‐5‐P, respectively, while Mtmr13/Sbf2 is an enzymatically inactive member of the myotubularin protein family. We have found altered levels of the critical signalling protein AKT in mouse mutants for Mtmr2 and Mtmr13/Sbf2. Thus, we analysed the influence of Mtmr2 and Mtmr13/Sbf2 on signalling processes. We found that overexpression of Mtmr2 prevents the degradation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and leads to sustained Akt activation whereas Erk activation is not affected. Mtmr13/Sbf2 counteracts the blockage of EGFR degradation without affecting prolonged Akt activation. Our data indicate that Mtmr2 and Mtmr13/Sbf2 play critical roles in the sorting and modulation of cellular signalling which are likely to be disturbed in CMT4B.     

氧化应激研究进展及其在缺血性心肌病发病中的作用

缺血性心肌病（ischemic cardiomyopathy,ICM）是指由于长期心肌缺血导致心肌局限性或弥漫性纤维化,从而产生心脏收缩和（或）舒张功能受损,引起心脏扩大或僵硬、充血性心力衰竭、心律失常等一系列临床表现的临床综合症。大量研究表明,ICM的发病机制与氧化应激密切相关。研究和开发新的抗氧化药物,将为缺血性心肌病的防治提供新的方向和途径。     

自体骨髓单个核细胞移植治疗缺血性下肢血管病变患者254例

目的探讨自体骨髓单个核细胞移植在下肢缺血性疾病治疗中的应用并评价其疗效。方法回顾性总结分析解放军第四六三医院细胞治疗中心2003年11月至2008年8月住院的具有完整随访资料的下肢缺血性疾病患者254例,经动员后采集及分离自体骨髓,行下肢自体骨髓单个核细胞移植术。随访时间为1年。术后随访指标：3、6、12个月后复查皮温、深感觉、经皮氧分压和踝肱比,随访疼痛、冷感和跛行距离,观察溃疡和坏疽情况。采用F检验分析差异的统计学意义。结果完成随访254例患者。（1）患者的疼痛缓解率为61．8％（157例／254例）,冷感缓解率缓解率74．0％（188例／254例）,跛行好转率40．2％（102例／254例）,溃疡好转率59．0％（36例／61例）,坏疽截肢6例,脱落愈合5例,无变化8例,扩大7例;（2）患者下肢皮温由32．89℃±2．19℃上升至35．52℃±2．26℃（t=13．32,P=0．000）,深感觉缓解由（26．20±15．78）mV下降至（20．34±10．86）mV（t=4．901,P=0．000）,经皮氧分压由（26．46±18．49）mmHg上升至（34．14±14．99）mmHg（t=5．157,P=0．000）,踝肱比由0．62±0．36上升至0．84±0．24（t=8．104,P=0．000）。结论骨髓单个核细胞移植治疗下肢缺血性血管病有效,是一种简单的、有效的治疗下肢动脉缺血性疾病的方法。     

干细胞植入缺血大脑后功能研究进展

目前,干细胞移植在多个中枢神经系统疾病的研究和临床应用中取得突破性进展。其中,干细胞移植治疗脑缺血疾病是细胞移植治疗研究中最活跃的领域。但是,移植细胞是否具有神经元的功能及细胞移植治疗的机制目前存在很多争议。本文就干细胞移植治疗缺血性脑疾病后移植细胞的功能和治疗缺血性脑疾病机制的可能途径的研究情况作一综述。     

Photoreceptor projection and termination pattern in the lamina of gonodactyloid stomatopods (mantis shrimp)

The apposition compound eyes of gonodactyloid stomatopods are divided into a ventral and a dorsal hemisphere by six equatorial rows of enlarged ommatidia, the mid-band (MB). Whereas the hemispheres are specialized for spatial vision, the MB consists of four dorsal rows of ommatidia specialized for colour vision and two ventral rows specialized for polarization vision. The eight retinula cell axons (RCAs) from each ommatidium project retinotopically onto one corresponding lamina cartridge, so that the three retinal data streams (spatial, colour and polarization) remain anatomically separated. This study investigates whether the retinal specializations are reflected in differences in the RCA arrangement within the corresponding lamina cartridges. We have found that, in all three eye regions, the seven short visual fibres (svfs) formed by retinula cells 1–7 (R1–R7) terminate at two distinct lamina levels, geometrically separating the terminals of photoreceptors sensitive to either orthogonal e-vector directions or different wavelengths of light. This arrangement is required for the establishment of spectral and polarization opponency mechanisms. The long visual fibres (lvfs) of the eighth retinula cells (R8) pass through the lamina and project retinotopically to the distal medulla externa. Differences between the three eye regions exist in the packing of svf terminals and in the branching patterns of the lvfs within the lamina. We hypothesize that the R8 cells of MB rows 1–4 are incorporated into the colour vision system formed by R1–R7, whereas the R8 cells of MB rows 5 and 6 form a separate neural channel from R1 to R7 for polarization processing.This research was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (PBSKB-104268/1), the Australian Research Council (LP0214956) and the American Air Force (AOARD/AFOSR) (F62562-03-P-0227).     

Circadian variation in stroke onset: identical temporal pattern in ischemic and hemorrhagic events

Stroke is the culmination of a heterogeneous group of cerebrovascular diseases that is manifested as ischemia or hemorrhage of one or more blood vessels of the brain. The occurrence of many acute cardiovascular events—such as myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death, pulmonary embolism, critical limb ischemia, and aortic aneurysm rupture—exhibits prominent 24 h patterning, with a major morning peak and secondary early evening peak. The incidence of stroke exhibits the same 24 h pattern. Although ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes are different entities and are characterized by different pathophysiological mechanisms, they share an identical double-peak 24 h pattern. A constellation of endogenous circadian rhythms and exogenous cyclic factors are involved. The staging of the circadian rhythms in vascular tone, coagulative balance, and blood pressure plus temporal patterns in posture, physical activity, emotional stress, and medication effects play central and/or triggering roles. Features of the circadian rhythm of blood pressure, in terms of their chronic and acute effects on cerebral vessels, and of coagulation are especially important. Clinical medicine has been most concerned with the prevention of stroke in the morning, when population-based studies show it is of greatest risk during the 24 h; however, improved protection of at-risk patients against stroke in the early evening, the second most vulnerable time of cerebrovascular accidents, has received relatively little attention thus far.     

Improved Electrochemical Analysis of Neuropathy Target Esterase Activity by a Tyrosinase Carbon Paste Electrode Modified by 1-Methoxyphenazine Methosulfate

A graphite-paste tyrosinase biosensor was improved by adding 1-methoxyphenazine methosulfate as a mediator. Mediator modification enhanced sensitivity to phenol 4-fold and long-term stability 3-fold. Phenol could be detected at 25 nM (S/N=2) using an Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The biosensor was used to measure the activity of a toxicologically significant enzyme, neuropathy target esterase (NTE), which yields phenol by hydrolysis of the substrate, phenyl valerate. Using the new biosensor, blood and brain NTE inhibition by organophosphorus (OP) compounds with different neuropathic potencies were well correlated (r=0.990, n=7), supporting the use of blood NTE as a biochemical marker of exposure to neuropathic OP compounds.     

A novel mtDNA ND6 gene mutation associated with LHON in a Caucasian family

Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a frequent cause of inherited blindness. A routine screening for common mtDNA mutations constitutes an important first in its diagnosis. However, a substantial number of LHON patients do not harbor known variants, both pointing to the genetic heterogeneity of LHON and bringing into question its genetic diagnosis. We report a familial case that exhibited typical features of LHON but lacked any of the common mutations. Genetic analysis revealed a novel pathogenic defect in the ND6 gene at 14279A that was not detected in any haplogroup-matched controls screened for it, nor has it been previously reported. This mutation causes a substantial conformational change in the secondary structure of the polypeptide matrix coil and may explain the LHON expression. Thus, it expands the spectrum of deleterious changes affecting ND6-encoding subunit and further highlights the functional significance of this gene, providing additional clues to the disease pathogenesis.     

Methylglyoxal induces apoptosis through activation of p38 MAPK in rat Schwann cells

The formation of glucose-derived methylglyoxal (MG), a highly reactive dicarbonyl compound, is accelerated under diabetic conditions. We examined whether MG was capable of inducing apoptosis in Schwann cells (SCs), since recent studies have suggested a potential involvement of apoptotic cell death in the development of diabetic neuropathy. MG induced apoptosis in SCs in a dose-dependent manner, accompanied by a reduction of intracellular glutathione content and activation of the p38 MAPK. Inhibiting the p38 MAPK activation by SB203580 successfully suppressed the MG-induced apoptosis in SCs. Aminoguanidine and N-acetyl-l-cysteine also inhibited the MG-induced p38 MAPK activation and apoptosis along with restoration of the intracellular glutathione content. These results suggest a potential role for MG in SC injury through oxidative stress-mediated p38 MAPK activation under diabetic conditions, and it may serve as a novel insight into therapeutic strategies for diabetic neuropathy.