Apelin supports primary rat retinal Müller cells under chemical hypoxia and glucose deprivation

Müller cells support the integrity of the blood-retinal barrier, whereas their dysfunction under pathological conditions may contribute to retinal edema formation. The apelin peptide, as the endogenous ligand of G protein-coupled receptor APJ, participates in numbers of physiological and pathological processes. Recent studies highlight its emerging role against ischemic injury. Our study aimed to investigate the potential neuroprotection of apelin for primary rat retinal Müller cells under hypoxia or glucose-deprivation (GD) by cell viability, migration and apoptosis, as well as apelin/APJ immunofluorescence labeling and mRNA expression. The results showed that exogenous apelin significantly stimulated Müller cells viability and migration under normal, hypoxic and glucose-free condition, also prevented apoptosis. Apelin immunoreactivities represented weak and diffuse staining in the cytoplasm, along with restricted nuclear APJ expression. They both appeared stronger immunoreactivities after 12h hypoxia. Under hypoxic stress, apelin mRNA expression began to increase at 6h (9.97 folds, p<0.01), and APJ mRNA also up-regulated (2h 6.50 folds, p<0.05; 4h 2.25 folds, p<0.05; 6h 14 folds, p<0.01), whereas they both down-regulated during 4-12h GD. Our results suggested that apelin induced the tolerance of Müller cells to hypoxia and GD. Its administration might be a promising protection for blood-retinal barrier to ischemia.     

Exendin-4, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, inhibits cell apoptosis induced by lipotoxicity in pancreatic β-cell line

Lipotoxicity plays an important role in the underlying mechanism of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Prolonged exposure of pancreatic β-cells to elevated concentrations of fatty acid is associated with β-cell apoptosis. Recently, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have been reported to have direct beneficial effects on β-cells, such as anti-apoptotic effects, increased β-cell mass, and improvement of β-cell function. The mechanism of GLP-1 receptor agonists' protection of pancreatic β-cells against lipotoxicity is not completely understood. We investigated whether the GLP-1 receptor agonist exendin-4 promoted cell survival and attenuated palmitate-induced apoptosis in murine pancreatic β-cells (MIN6). Exposure of MIN6 cells to palmitate (0.4mM) for 24h caused a significant increase in cell apoptosis, which was inhibited by exendin-4. Exposure of MIN6 cells to exendin-4 caused rapid activation of protein kinase B (PKB) under lipotoxic conditions. Furthermore, LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, abolished the anti-lipotoxic effect of exendin-4 on MIN6 cells. Exendin-4 also inhibited the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis and down-regulated Bax in MIN6 cells. Exendin-4 enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in the presence of palmitate. Our findings suggest that exendin-4 may prevent lipotoxicity-induced apoptosis in MIN6 cells through activation of PKB and inhibition of the mitochondrial pathway.     

脲对棒状链霉菌棒酸合成的影响

【目的】棒酸(Clavulanic acid)是棒状链霉菌(Streptomyces clavuligerus)产生的β-内酰胺酶抑制剂,其合成过程中产生副产物脲,旨在探讨脲对棒酸合成的影响。【方法】通过发酵过程中脲和铵盐添加实验、阻断脲酶活性以及pH梯度实验研究脲对棒酸合成影响。【结果】脲添加实验结果表明:低浓度脲降低棒酸产量,当添加脲浓度达到20 mmol/L时,完全抑制棒酸合成。由于脲酶可以把脲水解为铵离子,导致铵离子浓度及pH提高,因此,通过阻断棒状链霉菌脲酶活性,可以更准确地反映脲对棒酸合成的影响。结果发现,脲酶敲除株发酵液中脲大量积累,浓度高达10 mmol/L,但棒酸产量没有明显降低,说明在该浓度下脲自身并不能抑制棒酸合成。添加脲降低野生菌棒酸产量,可能是脲被水解为铵离子或其引起的pH变化所致。而棒酸发酵液添加铵盐的结果显示铵离子对棒酸产量没有抑制作用;另外,pH梯度实验证实不同pH对棒酸产量影响较大。【结论】排除了脲和铵离子对棒酸合成的抑制作用,证实了脲酶水解脲导致pH提高是脲添加导致野生菌棒酸产量降低的真正原因,为进一步阐明棒酸合成调控机制提供了根据。     

Swainsonine promotes apoptosis in human oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">in vitro</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">in vivo</Emphasis> through activation of mitochondrial pathway

Swainsonine, a natural indolizidine alkaloid, has been reported to have antitumour effects, and can induce apoptosis in human gastric and lung cancer cells. In the present study, we evaluated the antitumour effects of swainsonine on several oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells and investigated relative molecular mechanisms. Swainsonine treatment inhibited the growth of Eca-109, TE-1 and TE-10 cells in a concentration-dependent manner as measured by MTT assay. Morphological observation, DNA laddering detection and flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that swainsonine treatment induced Eca-109 cell apoptosis in vitro. Further results showed that swainsonine treatment up-regulated Bax, down-regulated Bcl-2 expression, triggered Bax translocation to mitochondria, destructed mitochondria integrity and activated mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway, followed by the release of cytochrome c, which in turn activated caspase-9 and caspase-3, promoted the cleavage of PARP, resulting in Eca-109 cell apoptosis. Moreover, swainsonine treatment inhibited Bcl-2 expression, promoted Bax translocation, cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation in xenograft tumour cells, resulting in a significant decrease of tumour volume and tumour weight in the swainsonine-treated xenograft mice groups compared with that in the control group. Taken together, this study demonstrated that swainsonine inhibited Eca-109 cells growth through activation of mitochondria-mediated caspase-dependent pathway.     

热量限制通过HNF3γ下调NOX4表达来抑制内皮细胞的衰老

为了观察热量限制对主动脉内皮细胞中HNF3γ及NOX4基因表达的影响, 揭示HNF3γ-NOX4-活性氧通路介导热量限制抗内皮细胞衰老的分子机制, 文章将主动脉内皮细胞分为5组：对照组、高热量组、低热量组、siRNA+低热量组、siRNA+高热量组。应用逆转录实时定量PCR(Real-time quantitative PCR, RT-qPCR)、Western blotting分析各组HNF3γ、NOX4 mRNA及蛋白水平变化, 并检测各组细胞内活性氧产量及细胞衰老程度变化。采用染色质免疫共沉淀分析HNF3γ蛋白与NOX4基因启动子区域结合情况, 萤光素酶报告基因检测HNF3γ蛋白结合后对NOX4基因启动子活性的影响。结果显示：与对照组比较, 低热量组HNF3γ mRNA和总HNF3γ蛋白表达水平、磷酸化/总HNF3γ比值显著升高(P<0.05), NOX4 mRNA和蛋白表达水平、细胞内活性氧产量及细胞衰老程度显著降低(P<0.05); 高热量组HNF3γ mRNA和总HNF3γ蛋白表达水平、磷酸化/总HNF3γ比值显著降低(P<0.05), NOX4 mRNA和蛋白表达水平、细胞内活性氧产量及细胞衰老程度显著升高(P<0.05); siRNA+低热量组及siRNA+高热量组中NOX4 mRNA和蛋白表达水平、细胞内活性氧水平及细胞衰老程度显著升高(P< 0.05)。染色质免疫共沉淀证实HNF3γ蛋白可与NOX4基因启动区域4个结合位点(-6 bp、-76 bp、-249 bp、-954 bp)结合。萤光素酶报告基因检测显示HNF3γ蛋白与NOX4启动子区域1个位点(-6 bp)、2个位点(-6、-76 bp)、3个位点(-6、-76、-249 bp)、4个位点(-6、-76、-249、-954 bp)结合, 可使NOX4启动子活性分别降低至对照组的80.15±4.64%、40.02.±2.15%、16.46±2.24%、12.13±1.46%, P<0.05。上述结果提示热量限制可上调HNF3γ基因表达, 增强HNF3γ蛋白活性, 促进HNF3γ蛋白同NOX4基因启动子区域结合, 抑制NOX4基因表达, 进而减少细胞内活性氧产生而延缓动脉内皮细胞衰老。     

Identification of Regulators of Polyploidization Presents Therapeutic Targets for Treatment of AMKL

The mechanism by which cells decide to skip mitosis to become polyploid is largely undefined. Here we used a high-content image-based screen to identify small-molecule probes that induce polyploidization of megakaryocytic leukemia cells and serve as perturbagens to help understand this process. Our?study implicates five networks of kinases that?regulate the switch to polyploidy. Moreover, we find that dimethylfasudil (diMF, H-1152P) selectively increased polyploidization, mature cell-surface marker expression, and apoptosis of malignant megakaryocytes. An integrated target identification approach employing proteomic and shRNA screening revealed that a major target of diMF is Aurora kinase A (AURKA). We further find that MLN8237 (Alisertib), a selective inhibitor of AURKA, induced polyploidization and expression of mature megakaryocyte markers in acute megakaryocytic leukemia (AMKL) blasts and displayed potent anti-AMKL activity in?vivo. Our findings provide a rationale to support clinical trials of MLN8237 and other inducers of polyploidization and differentiation in AMKL.     

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of oridonin-loaded long circulating nanostructured lipid carriers

The purpose of this study was to develop poly(ethylene glycol)-coated nanostructured lipid carriers (PEG-NLC) for parenteral delivery of oridonin (ORI) to prolong drug circulation time in blood. Oridonin-loaded PEG-NLC (ORI-PEG-NLC) consisting of PEG(2000)-stearate, glycerol monostearate and medium chain triglycerides were prepared by emulsion-evaporation and low temperature-solidification technique. Oridonin-loaded NLC (ORI-NLC) were also prepared as control. ORI-PEG-NLC were observed by transmission election microscope and the morphology was in rotiform shape. The mean particle size of ORI-PEG-NLC was 329.2 nm and entrapment efficacy was 71.18%. The results of differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction revealed a low-crystalline structure of ORI and verified the incorporation of ORI into the nanoparticles. In vitro drug release of ORI-PEG-NLC exhibited biphasic drug release patterns with burst release initially and prolonged release afterwards. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed that the mean residence time of ORI-PEG-NLC was prolonged and AUC (area under tissue concentration-time curve) value was also improved compared with ORI-NLC and ORI solution. In conclusion, ORI-PEG-NLC could be a potential carrier to get prolonged retention time of oridonin in blood.     

Rheological and structural properties of starches from γ-irradiated and stored potatoes

Starch was extracted from irradiated and stored potato tubers and the properties were compared to CIPC (chlorpropham) treated tubers. The granule properties and dynamic viscoelasticity in temperature ramp and frequency sweep modes were studied while heating the samples. Starch structural characteristics were investigated by high performance anion exchange chromatography (HPAEC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Gamma-irradiation of potato tubers at a dosage of 0.1 kGy induced some degradation of starch molecules, resulting in earlier swelling of starch granules, and greater extents of amylose and total carbohydrate leaching. The early swelling phenomenon was also enhanced with tuber storage time. The retrogradation rate and extent for a concentrated starch gel also increased with tuber storage time whereas γ-irradiation delayed the gel retrogradation. Sprout inhibiting methods could be selected based on the specific processing and texture requirements of the end products.     

Clinical dextran purified by fractional ultrafiltration coupled with water washing

Dextran with extremely narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD) is demanded for clinical use. To elucidate the effect of fractional ultrafiltration on the purification of clinical dextran, a range of ultrafiltration membranes with 100, 30, 5 and 1 kDa molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) were applied. High Performance Gel Permeation Chromatography (HPGPC) analysis indicated that the MWD of ultrafiltrated dextran fractions are wide, with polydispersity index (D) between 2.2 and 5.4, suggesting that the MWD of dextran is hard to be strictly controlled by fractional ultrafitration. However, when coupled with water washing during ultrafiltration process, the homogeneity of dextran was greatly improved. An ultrafiltration fraction of 5-30 kDa (Mw ≈ 35 kDa) with narrow MWD (D = 1.2) was obtained after 5 times of water washing. The results show that fractional ultrafiltration coupled with water washing can be used as a simple and effective method to improve the quality of clinical dextran.