Evidence for a pro-calcitonin

The biosynthesis of calcitonin was studied using radioimmunochemical methods and suspensions of calcitonin-producing cells derived from trout ultimobranchial glands. [¹⁴C]leucine was incorporated into cell proteins in a linear fashion for up to 36 hrs. Acid-extracted cellular radioactivity could be precipitated by trichloroacetic acid and calcitonin antiserum. Chromatography of the cell extracts revealed two distinct peaks of radio-immunoassayable and immunoprecipitable calcitonin activity. One peak coeluted with radioiodinated calcitonin, the other as a higher molecular weight species. The relative incorporation of [¹⁴C]leucine into the higher and lower molecular weight peaks during “pulse-chase” experiments was consistent with a precursor-product relationship between them.     

Effects of calcitonin on osteoclasts in vivo

Summary Osteoclasts from the tibial metaphyses of young rats treated with porcine calcitonin were studied by electron microscopy. The animals were sacrificed 1 1/2, 4, 8 or 12 hours after injection of the hormone. In survey sections examined by light microscopy the osteoclasts appeared smaller than in control animals. At the ultrastructural level the osteoclasts showed the following alterations: 1) The typical ruffled border was absent. 2) Acid phosphatase was not present in the extracellular space between cell and bone. 3) The number of large vacuoles was decreased and there was no local accumulation of vacuoles in the cytoplasm. 4) The vacuoles did not contain bone crystals. 5) Vacuoles with cell organelles were increased in number. The majority of these vacuoles were identified as autolysosomes because they contained acid phosphatase and the enclosed cell organelles were partially digested. The above changes were present at all time intervals studied.The findings suggest that calcitonin decreases or inhibits bone resorption by osteoclasts. A decreased function of the osteoclasts may contribute to the hypocalcemic effect of the hormone. The increased number of autolysosomes is evidence of an enhanced autophagocytosis. Possible origins of the autolysosomes in osteoclasts are discussed.This research was supported by grants no. 512–819, 512–1545 and 512–1912 from the Danish Medical Research Council. The present observations were first reported at the annual meeting of the Scandinavian Society for Electron Microscopy in Umeå 1973 (Lucht, in press). I wish to thank Professor Arvid B. Maunsbach for valuable discussions and suggestions.     

血清CRP, PCT, 脂肪酶与胰腺炎分型及预后的相关性研究

目的:探讨血清CRP、PCT和脂肪酶和胰腺炎分型及预后的相关性。方法:87例急性胰腺炎患者,其中轻型急性胰腺炎65例,重症急性胰腺炎22例。在入院后1 d、3 d、7 d、14 d测定血清CRP、PCT、脂肪酶水平并进行APACHEⅡ评分。对比分析两组患者间不同时间点CRP、PCT、脂肪酶及APACHEⅡ评分差异,采用多元线性回归分析影响胰腺炎预后的影响因素。结果:胰腺炎发病严重程度和糖尿病、饮酒史、胆源性结石病有一定的相关性(P0.05)。轻型组CRP、PCT水平1 d、3 d水平和重型组无统计学差异(p0.05);7 d及14 d差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。轻型组脂肪酶水平和重型组3 d、7 d及14 d差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。轻型组APACHEⅡ评分和重型组相比,在发病后1 d、3 d、7 d及14 d差异有统计学意义(p0.05)。回归方程:Logit P=0.0017×PCT+0.0297×胆源性结石病史+0.093×APACHEⅡ评分-0.193。结论:糖尿病和胆源性结石和重症胰腺炎相关,PCT、APACHEⅡ持续不下降提示胰腺炎预后不佳。     

菟丝子及其一种伪品的鉴别

通过原植物鉴定、药材性状和粉末显微观察,理化反应及紫外光谱扫描比较,对菟丝子(Cuscuta chinensis)及其一种伪品进行鉴别。结果表明,菟丝子及其伪品在原植物的叶、花和果实、药材质地和气味,种皮栅状组织细胞的构成及其特点、热水浸煮时发生的现象、黄酮反应结果以及紫外光谱扫描显示的最大吸收波长位置,均存在明显差异。菟丝子的伪品系十字花科植物芥菜(原变种)(Brassica juncea var.juncea)的干燥成熟种子,上述实验结果为鉴别菟丝子及其伪品提供了依据。     

Clonidine induces calcitonin gene-related peptide expression via nitric oxide pathway in endothelial cells

The present study was to determine whether clonidine could induce calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) production and the underlying mechanisms. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were treated with clonidine and the dose–effect or time–effect relationship of clonidine on CGRP production was examined. Youhimbine (a α₂-adrenoceptor blocker) and l-NAME (an antagonist of nitric oxide synthase, NOS) were chosen to explore the role of α₂-adrenoceptor and nitric oxide pathway in the effect of clonidine on endothelial cell-derived CGRP production. The level of CGRP mRNA or protein was detected by Real Time-PCR or radioimmunoassay. Nitric oxide content was measured by nitroreduction assay. The study showed that clonidine was able to induce CGRP mRNA (α- and β-isoforms) expression in a dose-dependent manner in endothelial cells. The effect of clonidine on endothelial cell-derived CGRP synthesis and secretion was attenuated in the presence of youhimbine. l-NAME treatment could also inhibit clonidine-induced CGRP synthesis and secretion concomitantly with the decreased NO content in culture medium. These results suggest that clonidine could stimulate CGRP synthesis and secretion in endothelial cells through the activation of α₂-adrenoceptor, which is related to the NO pathway.     

Converting the highly amyloidogenic human calcitonin into a powerful fibril inhibitor by three-dimensional structure homology with a non-amyloidogenic analogue

Irreversible aggregation limits bioavailability and therapeutic activity of protein-based drugs. Here we show that an aggregation-resistant mutant can be engineered by structural homology with a non-amyloidogenic analogue and that the aggregation-resistant variant may act as an inhibitor. This strategy has successfully been applied to the amyloidogenic human calcitonin (hCT). Including only five residues from the non-amyloidogenic salmon calcitonin (sCT), we obtained a variant, polar human calcitonin (phCT), whose solution structure was shown by CD, NMR, and calculations to be practically identical to that of sCT. phCT was also observed to be a potent amyloidogenesis inhibitor of hCT when mixed with it in a 1:1 ratio. Fibrillation studies of phCT and the phCT-hCT mixture mimicked the sCT behavior in the kinetics and shapes of the fibrils with a dramatic reduction with respect to hCT. Finally, the effect of phCT alone and of the mixture on the intracellular cAMP level in T47D cells confirmed for the mutant and the mixture their calcitonin-like activity, exhibiting stimulation effects identical to those of sCT, the current therapeutic form. The strategy followed appears to be suitable to develop new forms of hCT with a striking reduction of aggregation and improved activity. Finally, the inhibitory properties of the aggregation-resistant analogue, if confirmed for other amyloidogenic peptides, may favor a new strategy for controlling fibril formation in a variety of human diseases.     

慢性激活MrgC受体上调CGRP表达的nNOS机制

目的：检查持续应用BAMS-22对体外组织培养感觉神经节合成钙调素基因相关肽（cGRP）的影响。方法：将体外培养的大鼠三叉神经节和背根神经节经BAM8—22和L-NAME处理后,用酶联免疫法测定CGRP的表达含量变化。结果：与对照组相比,连续4天给予SNSR的选择性激动剂BAM8-22,CGRP的合成会增加。联合给予BAM8—22和NOS的非选择性抑制剂L-NAME,CGRP的表达随不同剂量的L-NAME引起不同程度的上调。结论：持续激活SNSR能使感觉神经节合成CGRP增多,是在体动物慢性激活SNSR后吗啡镇痛作用降低的细胞学机制。     

降钙素基因相关肽家族受体及其受体活性修饰蛋白

降钙素基因相关肽家族是一类多功能的激素家族 ,参与人体的多种生物学功能 ,与多种疾病有关。降钙素基因相关肽受体包括降钙素受体 (CTR)和降钙素受体样受体 (CRLR) ,CTR可以独自与降钙素结合 ,而CRLR必须与一组称作受体活性修饰蛋白 (RAMPs)的蛋白质共同作用才能发挥生物学功能。综述CTR的研究概况及CRLR与RAMPs相互作用的机制和表达调控 ,以期为人们设计新型药物提供参考。     

Immunfluorescence study of neuropeptides in identified neurons of the rat auditory superior olivary complex

 The present study was conducted to investigate the distribution and immunohistochemical characteristics of ascending and descending projection neurons of the rat superior olivary complex (SOC), a group of interrelated brainstem nuclei. Ascending neurons were identified by injection of cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) into the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (IC), descending neurons were labeled by application of Fluoro-Gold (FG) into the scala tympani of the cochlea, ipsilaterally to the IC injection. In accordance with the literature, we observed neurons innervating the IC located in the lateral superior olivary nucleus (LSO) and dorsal periolivary groups (DPO) on both sides, in the superior paraolivary nucleus (SPO) predominantly ipsilateral, as well as in the ipsilateral medial superior olivary nucleus (MSO) and the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB). Cochlear projection neurons were found predominantly in the ipsilateral LSO as well as in the bilateral SPO, DPO, MSO and MNTB. In addition, a considerable population of neurons in the ipsilateral LSO and SPO were identified as being both ascending and descending. To further characterize these double-projecting neurons, brainstem sections were incubated in antisera directed against different neuroactive substances. The majority of ascending/descending cells in the LSO contained calcitonin gene-related peptide, but not substance P (SP), met-enkephalin (ENK) or tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Some of these neurons apparently were contacted by ENK- or SP-immunoreactive fibers and terminals. In addition, we found TH-immunoreactive neurons in the lateral MNTB region. These neurons, which were labeled upon tracer injection into the cochlea (but not upon IC injection), probably belong to the C1 catecholaminergic cell group and may represent a division of the uncrossed olivocochlear bundle. The present results reveal the existence of a previously unknown subpopulation of SOC neurons that project to both the cochlea and the inferior colliculus. Their CGRP immunoreactivity and their uncrossed projection pattern provide evidence that they may belong to the cholinergic, putatively excitatory cell group. Received: 4 January 1999 / Accepted: 17 February 1999