不同功能位点介导α干扰素的免疫调节和中枢镇痛作用

细胞因子α干扰素（ＩＦＮα）具有中枢镇痛作用。抗内源性阿片肽血清与ＩＦＮα能发生明显的交叉反应,提示ＩＦＮα与内源性阿片肽之间存在着共同的抗原决定基。采用基因定点突变技术,获得系列ＩＦＮα突变体,并分别测定其免疫学活性和镇痛能力。结果显示,ＩＦＮα突变体Ｙ１２９Ｓ－ＩＦＮα免疫学活性显著下降,但仍然保留了很强的镇痛能力,阿片受体拮抗纳洛酮能够阻断Ｙ１２９Ｓ－ＩＦＮα的镇痛作用。实验结果表明,ＩＦＮ     

天花粉蛋白Y14F/R22L定点突变及其活性研究

利用多聚酶链式反应（ＰＣＲ）技术,对天然天花粉蛋白（ｎＴＣＳ）基因在Ｔｙｒ１４和Ａｒｇ２２两个保守残基处同时进行定点突变,即Ｔｙｒ１４变成Ｐｈｅ,Ａｒｇ２２变成Ｌｅｕ,然后克隆到ｐＥＴ－８ｃ高效表达载体上,构建成重组质粒ｐＥＴＹ１４Ｆ／Ｒ２２Ｌ．经序列分析,定点突变的结果与预先设计的完全一致,突变后的天花粉蛋白命名为Ｙ１４Ｆ／Ｒ２２ＬＴＣＳ．将ｐＥＴＹ１４Ｆ／Ｒ２２Ｌ转化到Ｅ．ｃｏｌｉＢＬ２１（ＤＥ３,ｐＬｙｓＳ）中,进行表达．经ＣＭ－ＳｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅＣＬ－６Ｂ柱纯化,ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ鉴定,纯度可达９０％．ＲＩＰ活性测定显示,Ｙ１４Ｆ／Ｒ２２ＬＴＣＳ的活性比ｎＴＣＳ降低了７．５倍,活性变化不显著,因此,ＴＣＳ的Ｔｒｙ１４和Ａｒｇ２２对维持其活性部位构象并不是必需的．但由于Ｙ１４Ｆ／Ｒ２２ＬＴＣＳ在Ｅ．ｃｏｌｉ中的表达量与ｎＴＣＳ相比明显下降,因此,Ｔｙｒ１４和Ａｒｇ２２可能与ＴＣＳ翻译后的折叠有关．     

Global Regulator MorA Affects Virulence-Associated Protease Secretion in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

Bacterial invasion plays a critical role in the establishment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection and is aided by two major virulence factors – surface appendages and secreted proteases. The second messenger cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) is known to affect bacterial attachment to surfaces, biofilm formation and related virulence phenomena. Here we report that MorA, a global regulator with GGDEF and EAL domains that was previously reported to affect virulence factors, negatively regulates protease secretion via the type II secretion system (T2SS) in P. aeruginosa PAO1. Infection assays with mutant strains carrying gene deletion and domain mutants show that host cell invasion is dependent on the active domain function of MorA. Further investigations suggest that the MorA-mediated c-di-GMP signaling affects protease secretion largely at a post-translational level. We thus report c-di-GMP second messenger system as a novel regulator of T2SS function in P. aeruginosa. Given that T2SS is a central and constitutive pump, and the secreted proteases are involved in interactions with the microbial surroundings, our data broadens the significance of c-di-GMP signaling in P. aeruginosa pathogenesis and ecological fitness.     

Differential expression of a novel gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">BRE</Emphasis> (TNFRSF1A modulator/BRCC45) in response to stress and biological signals

Stress-responsive genes play critical roles in many biological functions that includes apoptosis, survival, differentiation and regeneration. We have identified a novel stress-responsive gene called BRE which interacts with TNF-receptor-1 and blocks the apoptotic effect of TNF-α. BRE enhances tumor growth in vivo and is up-regulated in hepatocellular and esophageal carcinomas. BRE also regulates the ubiquitination of the DNA repair complex BRCC, and the synthesis of steroid hormones. Here, we examined BRE-mRNA in cells after treatments with UV and ionizing radiation (IR). UV and IR treatment alone suppressed BRE-mRNA levels by more than 90% at 24 h, while hydroxyurea, fluorodeoxyuridine, aphidicolin, known inhibitors of S-phase DNA synthesis, had no significant effect. BRE protein expression was unaltered in cells treated with TNF-α, Interleukin-1 and Dexamethasone, while a threefold increase was observed following chorionic gonadotropin exposure. Although BRE plays a regulatory role in many different pathways, yet its expression is apparently under very stringent control.     

Synthesis,characterization and preliminary analysis of in vivo biological activity of chitosan/celecoxib microcapsules

The use of chitosan as the wall of microcapsule designed for delivery of encapsulated celecoxib is reported. Microcapsules were characterised with respect to size and encapsulation efficiency of celecoxib. In vivo animals demonstrated that both free celecoxib administration and chitosan/celecoxib microcapsules administration lead to a significant inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression in the hepatocytes when compared with vehicle control mice. Interestingly, microcapsule containing celecoxib showed a better inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression when compared with a simple oral administration of free celecoxib. Gas-chromatography–mass-spectrometry analysis showed that in mice treated with free celecoxib or chitosan/celecoxib microcapsules, their plasma concentration of celecoxib was similar. Microcapsules-based biomaterials as oral drug delivery vehicles may help to improve the absorption efficiency of therapeutic drugs.     

Carotenoid‐based plumage coloration in golden‐crowned kinglets Regulus satrapa: pigment characterization and relationships with migratory timing and condition

Carotenoid‐based ornamental coloration has long been proposed to honestly signal quality due to its dependence on individual condition. Because migration can be one of the most stressful periods of an animal's annual cycle, developing colourful plumage may be particularly challenging for species in which migration and moult periods overlap or occur sequentially. The purpose of this study was to investigate pigmentary and condition‐dependent bases of carotenoid colour variation in a small migratory passerine, the golden‐crowned kinglet Regulus satrapa (Family Regulidae). We captured 186 male and female kinglets of various ages during fall migration in southwestern Ontario, Canada and recorded arrival date, body condition index, fat and pectoral muscle scores, wing mite infestation, and feather growth rate as measures of condition. We quantified crown coloration using reflectance spectrometry and analyzed feather carotenoids using high‐performance liquid chromatography. Yellow crown feathers of female kinglets contained only yellow hydroxycarotenoids, whereas orange feathers of males harboured a suite of eight carotenoid pigments. Males with longer wavelength orange crown hues deposited greater concentrations of ketocarotenoids, especially canthaxanthin. Female kinglets with longer wavelength crown hues and males with longer wavelength crown hues and more saturated crown coloration left for migration earlier in the year. Females with longer wavelength crown hues had fewer feather mites and tended to be in better condition. However, male kinglets with more saturated coloration possessed smaller pectoral muscles. This is the first study to identify plumage carotenoids in this North American bird family and to determine the pigmentary basis for both inter‐ and intrasexual colour variation. Our results provide further support for the condition‐dependence of carotenoid coloration and suggest that ornamental elaboration in both sexes may encode information about fall condition and migratory performance.     

Galectin-3C Inhibits Tumor Growth and Increases the Anticancer Activity of Bortezomib in a Murine Model of Human Multiple Myeloma

Galectin-3 is a human lectin involved in many cellular processes including differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, neoplastic transformation, and metastasis. We evaluated galectin-3C, an N-terminally truncated form of galectin-3 that is thought to act as a dominant negative inhibitor, as a potential treatment for multiple myeloma (MM). Galectin-3 was expressed at varying levels by all 9 human MM cell lines tested. In vitro galectin-3C exhibited modest anti-proliferative effects on MM cells and inhibited chemotaxis and invasion of U266 MM cells induced by stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1α. Galectin-3C facilitated the anticancer activity of bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor approved by the FDA for MM treatment. Galectin-3C and bortezomib also synergistically inhibited MM-induced angiogenesis activity in vitro. Delivery of galectin-3C intravenously via an osmotic pump in a subcutaneous U266 cell NOD/SCID mouse model of MM significantly inhibited tumor growth. The average tumor volume of bortezomib-treated animals was 19.6% and of galectin-3C treated animals was 13.5% of the average volume of the untreated controls at day 35. The maximal effect was obtained with the combination of galectin-3C with bortezomib that afforded a reduction of 94% in the mean tumor volume compared to the untreated controls at day 35. In conclusion, this is the first study to show that inhibition of galectin-3 is efficacious in a murine model of human MM. Our results demonstrated that galectin-3C alone was efficacious in a xenograft mouse model of human MM, and that it enhanced the anti-tumor activity of bortezomib in vitro and in vivo. These data provide the rationale for continued testing of galectin-3C towards initiation of clinical trials for treatment of MM.     

Oral treatment with γ-aminobutyric acid improves glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity by inhibiting inflammation in high fat diet-fed mice

Adipocyte and β-cell dysfunction and macrophage-related chronic inflammation are critical for the development of obesity-related insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which can be negatively regulated by Tregs. Our previous studies and those of others have shown that activation of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors inhibits inflammation in mice. However, whether GABA could modulate high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity, glucose intolerance and insulin resistance has not been explored. Here, we show that although oral treatment with GABA does not affect water and food consumption it inhibits the HFD-induced gain in body weights in C57BL/6 mice. Furthermore, oral treatment with GABA significantly reduced the concentrations of fasting blood glucose, and improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in the HFD-fed mice. More importantly, after the onset of obesity and T2DM, oral treatment with GABA inhibited the continual HFD-induced gain in body weights, reduced the concentrations of fasting blood glucose and improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in mice. In addition, oral treatment with GABA reduced the epididymal fat mass, adipocyte size, and the frequency of macrophage infiltrates in the adipose tissues of HFD-fed mice. Notably, oral treatment with GABA significantly increased the frequency of CD4(+)Foxp3(+) Tregs in mice. Collectively, our data indicated that activation of peripheral GABA receptors inhibited the HFD-induced glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and obesity by inhibiting obesity-related inflammation and up-regulating Treg responses in vivo. Given that GABA is safe for human consumption, activators of GABA receptors may be valuable for the prevention of obesity and intervention of T2DM in the clinic.