Systemic PCD occurs in TMV-tomato interaction

In hypersensitive response (HR), programmed cell death (PCD) is reported as a powerful defense mechanism in plant immune responses to pathogen. However, little is known about the PCD in sys-temic acquired resistance (SAR). Using tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) to infect the tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Jiafen 16) we found that localized TMV-infection could induce cell death in the uninoculated parts of the tomatoes, where the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed no spreading virus. The biological and molecular characterization of this cell death was shown as fol-lowing: chromatin condensed and formed peripheral conglomeration in nuclei; cell nucleus were TUNEL positive labeled; genomic DNA was fragmented and showed DNA laddering; mitochondria and chloroplast were disrupted; tonoplast and plasma membrane were shrunk and degradated. These re-sults suggested that with an absence of TMV spread, the local TMV-infection on certain tomato leaves could induce systemic PCD in the root-tips, stem-apices and uninoculated leaves. The systemic PCD has various initiation and synchronization in such tissues and is distinct in inducement and exhibition from HR-PCD and SAR.     

UCP2 protects hypothalamic cells from TNF-alpha-induced damage

Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is highly expressed in the hypothalamus; however, little is known about the functions it exerts in this part of the brain. Here, we hypothesized that UCP2 protects hypothalamic cells from oxidative and pro-apoptotic damage generated by inflammatory stimuli. Intracerebroventricular injection of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced an increase of UCP2 expression in the hypothalamus, which was accompanied by increased expression of markers of oxidative stress and pro-apoptotic proteins. The inhibition of UCP2 expression by an antisense oligonucleotide enhanced the damaging effects of TNF-alpha. Conversely, increasing the hypothalamic expression of UCP2 by cold exposure reversed most of the effects of the cytokine. Thus, UCP2 acts as a protective factor against cellular damage induced by an inflammatory stimulus in the hypothalamus.     

The Protective Effect of Dexanabinol (HU-211) on Nitric Oxide and Cysteine Protease-Mediated Neuronal Death in Focal Cerebral Ischemia

We hypothesized that dexanabinol can prevent neuronal death by protecting neuronal lysosomes from nitric oxide (NO)-mediated toxicity, and in turn, by suppressing the release of cathepsins during cerebral ischemia. Focal cerebral ischemia was induced in two sets of animals by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion. The first set was used to monitor NO concentration and cathepsin activity, while the second was used for histological examination with hematoxylin and eosin, and TUNEL staining. In post-ischemic brain tissue, NO content and cathepsin B and L activity increased (p < 0.05). Dexanabinol treatment reduced NO concentration and cathepsin activity to the control level (p > 0.05). The number of eosinophilic and apoptotic neurons increased in the post-ischemic cerebral cortex (p < 0.05). However, dexanabinol treatment lowered both of these (p < 0.05). We conclude that dexanabinol might be a useful agent for the treatment of stroke patients.     

HSV—2阴道感染并诱导小鼠阴道粘膜上皮细胞凋亡

最近的报道指出,某些病毒有诱导体外细胞凋亡的作用,借以限制病毒的扩散。为探讨ＨＳＶ－２在体内诱导细胞凋亡的效果及其形态学特点,用 ＨＳＶ－２ ３３３株感染小鼠阴道,于感染后不同天数处死动物,取其阴道,固定于１０％中性福尔马林,ＴＵＮＥＬ末端标记染色显示凋亡的细胞,光镜下进行原位观察。结果显示：感染后的第１天粘膜上皮内即出现大量的凋亡细胞,第２天至１１天凋亡细胞的数量及在上皮内的分布范围达最高水平。早期的凋亡细胞见于感染后所有标本,其核染色质形态及分布似正常细胞,但它被ＴＵＮＥＬ标记染成棕黄色;晚期的凋亡细胞亦见于所有标本,其胞核缩小,染色质浓缩并在核周边集聚,核中心空化。载有凋亡细胞的上皮在阴道粘膜上分布很广,最广的可占全阴道上皮的２／３。同时可见ＨＳＶ．２引起的上皮细胞坏死及疱疹形成,二者均由凋亡细胞包围。凋亡细胞不断地由上皮表面脱落至阴道,未见凋亡小体及吞噬现象。结果提示,ＨＳＶ－２ ３３３株阴道感染可同时诱导细胞坏死及凋亡,细胞凋亡可能在限制病毒产生子代及限制感染区域扩展起重要作用。     

胚胎及生后不同发育时期大鼠睾丸生殖细胞的凋亡

目的 探索雄性生殖细胞在发育过程中凋亡的特征和规律。方法 利用改进的石蜡切片原位末端标记法（TUNEL法）观察SD大鼠睾丸生殖细胞,对胚胎及生后不同阶段生殖细胞凋亡进行研究。结果 胚胎第13.5天原始生殖细胞即有较高的凋亡率,胚胎第19.5天到出生后第1天,未检测到凋亡生殖细胞,出生后第7天精原细胞分裂增生,伴有较高的凋亡率,与其他各年龄组有显著性差异。出生后第14天精母细胞凋亡率最高,与其他日龄组有显著性差异。结论 SD大鼠雄性生殖细胞发生,发育,成熟过程中都存在凋亡,主要发生在处于细胞增殖过程中的原始生殖细胞,精原细胞和初级精母细胞。     

光化学法脑缺血后细胞凋亡及其相关基因bcl-2表达的变化

采用ＴＵＮＥＬ染色及免疫组织化学技术对光化学法脑缺血后细胞凋亡及其相关基因ｂｃｌ－２表达的变化进行了研究。结果发现，缺血后１２ｈ，损伤侧皮层缺血区内凋亡细胞数及ｂｃｌ－２免疫反应阳性细胞数明显增加，一直持续至缺血后７２ｈ；并呈现下列时程变化：在缺血后３ｈ每张切片上几乎无凋亡细胞出现，以后逐渐增加，缺血后１２ｈ达到峰值，缺血后２４ｈ和缺血后７２ｈ逐渐减少，但仍高于假手术组水平。凋亡相关基因ｂｃｌ－２的表达在缺血后３ｈ以前不明显，缺血后１２ｈ逐渐增加，缺血后２４ｈ最多，以后逐渐下降。上述结果提示，缺血后凋亡细胞的时程变化可能与缺血后梗塞灶的发生和发展有关，而ｂｃｌ－２表达的变化可能与抑制细胞凋亡、发挥内源性细胞保护作用有关。     

Detection and Analysis of DNA Damage in Mouse Skeletal Muscle In Situ Using the TUNEL Method

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick end labeling (TUNEL) is the method of using the TdT enzyme to covalently attach a tagged form of dUTP to 3’ ends of double- and single-stranded DNA breaks in cells. It is a reliable and useful method to detect DNA damage and cell death in situ. This video describes dissection, tissue processing, sectioning, and fluorescence-based TUNEL labeling of mouse skeletal muscle. It also describes a method of semi-automated TUNEL signal quantitation. Inherent normal tissue features and tissue processing conditions affect the ability of the TdT enzyme to efficiently label DNA. Tissue processing may also add undesirable autofluorescence that will interfere with TUNEL signal detection. Therefore, it is important to empirically determine tissue processing and TUNEL labeling methods that will yield the optimal signal-to-noise ratio for subsequent quantitation. The fluorescence-based assay described here provides a way to exclude autofluorescent signal by digital channel subtraction. The TUNEL assay, used with appropriate tissue processing techniques and controls, is a relatively fast, reproducible, quantitative method for detecting apoptosis in tissue. It can be used to confirm DNA damage and apoptosis as pathological mechanisms, to identify affected cell types, and to assess the efficacy of therapeutic treatments in vivo.     

Molecular mechanism of Arabidopsis thaliana profilins as antifungal proteins

Background

It remains an open question whether plant phloem sap proteins are functionally involved in plant defense mechanisms.

Apoptosis in experimental myocardial infarction in situ and in the perfused heart in vitro

We report the appearance of apoptotic cells in experimental myocardial infarction (rabbit heart) in in situ and in vitro preparations. Apoptosis was recognized by intravital staining with Hoechst 33342 (Ho342), by nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and by DNA laddering. A steady rise in the relative number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes (apoptotic index) was noted in in situ preparations. Apoptosis was first noted 6 h after the onset of ischemia with its highest value occurring after 72 h. Apoptotic nuclei were absent in remote areas of the left and right ventricles. Apoptotic nuclei within the infarcted area showed diminished intensity of Ho342 fluorescence. Three days after ischemia, a border zone adjacent to the infarcted area consisting of apoptotic macrophages was recognized. A novel finding was the appearance of apoptotic cardiomyocytes in the isolated perfused ischemic heart. Occurring as early as 50 min after the onset of ischemia, a high apoptotic index was present adjacent to the ligature placed around the coronary artery. This observation provides the opportunity to selectively examine factors leading to apoptosis in the ischemic heart under controlled experimental conditions.     

The fate of surface cell layers of Daucus carota (L.) embryos raised in suspension culture

The ultrastructure and fate of surface cells covering mature somatic embryos of Daucus carota grown in suspension culture were analyzed and new information obtained concerning somatic embryogenesis in these conditions. Our studies showed that during some developmental stages, these embryos were covered irregularly and discontinuously by cells with a typical protodermal phenotype characterized by a cuticle on the outer cell wall. We observed that cells with cuticles were peeled off from the surface of mature embryos. Before peeling off, these cells underwent programmed cell death, which was confirmed by the TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling method. Transmission electron microscopy revealed advanced processes of autophagy in these cells.