Salivary extracellular heat shock protein 70 (eHSP70) levels increase after 59 min of intense exercise and correlate with resting salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) levels at rest

This study aimed to identify the response of a salivary stress protein, extracellular heat shock protein (eHSP70), to intense exercise and to investigate the relationship between salivary eHSP70 and salivary immunoglobulin A (SIgA) levels in response to exercise. Sixteen healthy sedentary young males (means ± SD 23.8 ± 1.5 years, 172.2 ± 6.4 cm, 68.3 ± 7.4 kg) performed 59 min of cycling exercise at 75 % VO2_max. Saliva and whole blood samples were collected before (Pre), immediately after (Post), and at 1, 2, 3, and 4 h after completion of the exercise (1, 2, 3, and 4 h). The salivary eHSP70 and SIgA levels were measured by enzyme-linked imunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the secretion rates were computed by multiplying the concentration by the saliva flow rate. White blood cells were analyzed using an automated cell counter with a direct-current detection system. The salivary eHSP70 secretion rates were 1.11 ± 0.86, 1.51 ± 1.47, 1.57 ± 1.32, 2.21 ± 2.04, 3.36 ± 2.72, and 6.89 ± 4.02 ng · min⁻¹ at Pre, Post, and 1, 2, 3, and 4 h, respectively. The salivary eHSP70 secretion rate was significantly higher at 4 h than that at Pre, Post, 1, and 3 h (p < 0.05). The SIgA secretion rates were 26.9 ± 12.6, 20.3 ± 10.4, 19.6 ± 11.0, 21.8 ± 12.8, 21.5 ± 11.9, and 21.9 ± 11.7 μg · min⁻¹ at Pre, Post, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h, respectively. The salivary SIgA secretion rate was significantly lower between 1 and 4 h than that at Pre (p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between salivary eHSP70 and SIgA in both concentration and secretion rates before exercise (p < 0.05). The absolute number of white blood cells significantly increased after exercise, with a maximum at 2 h (p < 0.05). The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio was significantly increased from 1 to 4 h when compared with that in the Pre samples (p < 0.05). The present study revealed that salivary eHSP70 significantly increased at 4 h after the 59 min of intense exercise in sedentary male subjects. Exercise stress can induce elevated salivary eHSP70 level and upregulate oral immune function partially.     

Fusion of lysosomes with secretory organelles leads to uncontrolled exocytosis in the lysosomal storage disease mucolipidosis type IV

Mutations in TRPML1 cause the lysosomal storage disease mucolipidosis type IV (MLIV). The role of TRPML1 in cell function and how the mutations cause the disease are not well understood. Most studies focus on the role of TRPML1 in constitutive membrane trafficking to and from the lysosomes. However, this cannot explain impaired neuromuscular and secretory cells’ functions that mediate regulated exocytosis. Here, we analyzed several forms of regulated exocytosis in a mouse model of MLIV and, opposite to expectations, we found enhanced exocytosis in secretory glands due to enlargement of secretory granules in part due to fusion with lysosomes. Preliminary exploration of synaptic vesicle size, spontaneous mEPSCs, and glutamate secretion in neurons provided further evidence for enhanced exocytosis that was rescued by re‐expression of TRPML1 in neurons. These features were not observed in Niemann–Pick type C1. These findings suggest that TRPML1 may guard against pathological fusion of lysosomes with secretory organelles and suggest a new approach toward developing treatment for MLIV.     

Anthropogenic Pressure on a Molluscan–Trematode Community over a Long-term Period in the Basingstoke Canal, UK, and Its Implications for Ecosystem Health

A long-term study of a molluscan–trematode community in the Basingstoke Canal, UK, was undertaken over the period 1970–2003 which coincided with a significant restoration program involving substantial anthropogenic changes to the canal’s ecosystem. The aim of this study was to correlate these changes with alterations in the molluscan–trematode community, focusing on fluctuations in the prevalence and species richness of the trematode population as a good indicator, in terms of biodiversity, of ecosystem health. Molluscs were sampled at four time periods (1970, 1982, 1983, 2003) and examined for trematode parasites. The molluscan population over the sampling period demonstrated a limited stability with few species being present during all time periods. During 1982 and 1983, when restoration of the sampling site was being undertaken, Lymnaea stagnalis dominated the molluscan fauna, possibly because it was best able to take advantage of the disturbed conditions, while other species such as Bithynia tentaculata were absent. In the trematode population, the prevalence and diversity of both cercarial and metacercarial infections was high in 1970 prior to the period of restoration work. However, during 1982 and 1983, the trematode community was significantly reduced with cercarial prevalence declining to less than 1%. By 2003, more than 12 years after restoration had been completed, the trematode population had shown only a modest recovery. Trematodes use a wide range of different host species for completing their life-cycles and may be used as bioindicators of ecosystem diversity and health. An interpretation of the structure of the molluscan–trematode community over the sampling period suggests that the restoration project had an initial negative effect on ecosystem health, in terms of biodiversity, but this has subsequently only shown modest signs of recovery suggesting continuing problems in ecological functioning and stability.     

Identification of proteins in excretory/secretory extracts of Echinostoma friedi (Trematoda) from chronic and acute infections

In the present study, we describe the investigation of Echinostoma friedi excretory/secretory products using a proteomic approach combined with the use of heterologous antibodies. We have identified 18 protein spots corresponding to ten proteins, including cytoskeletal proteins like actin, tropomyosin, and paramyosin; glycolytic enzymes like enolase, glyceraldehyde 3P dehydrogenase, and aldolase; detoxifying enzymes like GSTs; and stress proteins like heat shock protein (Hsp) 70. Among these proteins, both actin and, to a lesser extent, Hsp70, exhibited differential expression patterns between chronic and acute infections in the Echinostoma-rodent model, suggesting that these proteins may play a role in the survival within the host.     

Secretory Cavity Development and Its Relationship with the Accumulation of Essential Oil in Fruits of Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis （Noot.） Swingle

The developmental types of secretory cavities in Citrus remain controversial. The relationship between secretory cavity development and the accumulation of essential oil in fruits of Citrus species is also unknown. In order to develop better insights into these problems, histological, histochemical, and cytochemical methods were used to investigate secretory cavity development and the accumulation of essential oll at different developmental stages of fruits of Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis （Noot.） Swingle. The results indicate that the secretory cavity of the variety seemed to originate from an epidermal cell and a subepldermal cell. These two cells underwent successive divisions, resulting In the formation of two parts： （Ⅰ） a conical cap; and （Ⅱ） a globular gland. The formation of the lumen was schlzolysigenous. Regular changes in the size of vacuoles and the accumulation of essential oil were revealed during the process of secretory cavity development. In addition, when fruits were a light yellow or golden color, the structure of secretory cavities was well developed and the content of essential oil in a single fruit reached a maximum. It would be most appropriate to collect the fruit as a medicinal material at this time.     

An engineered C‐terminal disulfide bond can partially replace the phaseolin vacuolar sorting signal

Seed storage proteins accumulate either in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or in vacuoles, and it would appear that polymerization events play a fundamental role in regulating the choice between the two destinies of these proteins. We previously showed that a fusion between the Phaseolus vulgaris vacuolar storage protein phaseolin and the N‐terminal half of the Zea mays prolamin γ‐zein forms interchain disulfide bonds that facilitate the formation of ER‐located protein bodies. Wild‐type phaseolin does not contain cysteine residues, and assembles into soluble trimers that transiently polymerize before sorting to the vacuole. These transient interactions are abolished when the C‐terminal vacuolar sorting signal AFVY is deleted, indicating that they play a role in vacuolar sorting. We reasoned that if the phaseolin interactions directly involve the C terminus of the polypeptide, a cysteine residue introduced into this region could stabilize these transient interactions. Biochemical studies of two mutated phaseolin proteins in which a single cysteine residue was inserted at the C terminus, in the presence (PHSL*) or absence (Δ418*) of the vacuolar signal AFVY, revealed that these mutated proteins form disulphide bonds. PHSL* had reduced protein solubility and a vacuolar trafficking delay with respect to wild‐type protein. Moreover, Δ418* was in part redirected to the vacuole. Our experiments strongly support the idea that vacuolar delivery of phaseolin is promoted very early in the sorting process, when polypeptides are still contained within the ER, by homotypic interactions.     

梨形环棱螺五种酶分子与大运河底泥重金属含量相关分析

运用样点笼内放养法,研究了京杭大运河不同污染程度环境对梨形环棱螺内脏团中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-PX)、谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(GST)和胆碱酯酶(CHE)的影响,进行了酶活性与样点底泥重金属含量的相关分析.结果表明,梨形环棱螺组织抗氧化保护酶系统的SOD、CAT、GSH-PX和GST活性是指示污染的敏感指标,其监测结果与水化学评价结果基本一致.在10 d暴露中,SOD酶活性被激活,CAT、GSH-PX和GST酶活性在污染环境中被抑制,CHE活性变化比较复杂.酶活性变化与底泥重金属的含量相关性很大.     

黄脸油葫芦消化道和马氏管的组织学观察

应用石蜡切片技术对黄脸油葫芦Teleogryllus emma(Ohmachi and Matsumura)成虫消化道和马氏管的显微结构进行观察。消化道由前肠、中肠和后肠3部分组成:前肠由内向外可分为6层:内膜、肠壁细胞层、底膜、纵肌、环肌和围膜;中肠组织结构也分为6层,即由内向外依次为围食膜、肠壁细胞层、底膜、环肌、纵肌和围膜;后肠的组织结构与前肠基本相似,但内膜比前肠的薄,且肌肉的排列较前肠不规则,与中肠的肌肉排列相似,即环肌在内,纵肌在外。消化道各部位的结构差异与功能有密切关系。马氏管管壁由8个左右形状多变并具有显著细胞核的大形的单层上皮细胞组成。