肝癌细胞(AH_(66))甲胎蛋白基因结构的一些变化

对AFP基因重新表达的分子机制的研究,有助于了解癌变的本质。我们以AFPmRNA反转录合成的~3H-cDNA为探针,进行液相杂交;用RAF 65和RAF_(87)与体外染色质转录系统转录的~(32)P-RNA进行点杂交,测出移植性大鼠肝癌AH_(66)细胞核和离体染色质的AFP基因转录水平远远高于正常大鼠肝。以BamHI,EcoRI,HindⅢ和PstI酶解基因组DNA,然后与缺口翻译标记的~(32)P-RAF_(65)和~(32)P-RAF_(87)探针杂交,测知BamHI和EcoRI的酶谱相同,而HindⅢ和Pst I的带型明显不同,表明结构上存在某些变化。用HpaⅡ和MspI测定了AH_(66)和正常大鼠肝AFP基因的甲基化程度,结果表明,AH_(66)的AFP基因甲基化不足。AFP基因的染色质构型,由它对DNaseI的敏感性来测定,AH_(66)对DNaseI比正常大鼠肝更敏感,表明基因处于活性状态。所有这些结果表明,AH_(66)的AFP基因存在某些结构上的变化,这种变化对于AFP基因从掩盖到活性状态可能是重要的。     

Regulation of the binding of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]-anthracene to DNA of cultured murine epidermal cells at metabolic level: competition of the binding by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and by other precarcinogens.

The binding of labeled carcinogen [3H]DMBA to murine epidermal cells (MEC) DNA in culture has been studied. The influence of unlabeled noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), several PAH metablites, and various directly and indirectly acting non-PAH carcinogens on the binding of [3H]DMBA to MEC DNA has been examined. All the carcinogenic PAH and some of non-carcinogenic PAH effectively inhibit the binding of [3H]DMBA to MEC DNA. The non-PAH chemical carcinogens requiring metabolic activation also reduce the binding of labeled DMBA to MEC DNA; however, a higher concentration of these compounds is required for 50% inhibition of binding than the concentrations of PAH for the same degree of inhibition of binding of [3H]DMBA to MEC DNA. The directly acting carcinogens do not significantly inhibit the binding of [3H]DMBA to DNA. The relationship between structures of PAH and their ability to inhibit the binding of [3H]DMBA to MEC DNA is also discussed. Thus, it appears that the binding of DMBA to cellular DNA is primarily controlled at a level of metabolism and to some extent at the level of binding of reactive metabolites to DNA.     

ND3, ND1 and 39 kDa subunits are more exposed in the de-active form of bovine mitochondrial complex I

An intriguing feature of mitochondrial complex I from several species is the so-called A/D transition, whereby the idle enzyme spontaneously converts from the active (A) form to the de-active (D) form. The A/D transition plays an important role in tissue response to the lack of oxygen and hypoxic deactivation of the enzyme is one of the key regulatory events that occur in mitochondria during ischaemia. We demonstrate for the first time that the A/D conformational change of complex I does not affect the macromolecular organisation of supercomplexes in vitro as revealed by two types of native electrophoresis. Cysteine 39 of the mitochondrially-encoded ND3 subunit is known to become exposed upon de-activation. Here we show that even if complex I is a constituent of the I + III₂ + IV (S₁) supercomplex, cysteine 39 is accessible for chemical modification in only the D-form. Using lysine-specific fluorescent labelling and a DIGE-like approach we further identified two new subunits involved in structural rearrangements during the A/D transition: ND1 (MT-ND1) and 39 kDa (NDUFA9). These results clearly show that structural rearrangements during de-activation of complex I include several subunits located at the junction between hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains, in the region of the quinone binding site. De-activation of mitochondrial complex I results in concerted structural rearrangement of membrane subunits which leads to the disruption of the sealed quinone chamber required for catalytic turnover.     

Cyclic AMP signaling contributes to neural plasticity and hyperexcitability in AH sensory neurons following intestinal Trichinella spiralis-induced inflammation

Trichinella spiralis infection causes hyperexcitability in enteric after-hyperpolarising (AH) sensory neurons that is mimicked by neural, immune or inflammatory mediators known to stimulate adenylyl cyclase (AC)/cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling. The hypothesis was tested that ongoing modulation and sustained amplification in the AC/cAMP/phosphorylated cAMP related element binding protrein (pCREB) signaling pathway contributes to hyperexcitability and neuronal plasticity in gut sensory neurons after nematode infection. Electrophysiological, immunological, molecular biological or immunochemical studies were done in T. spiralis-infected guinea-pigs (8000 larvae or saline) after acute-inflammation (7 days) or 35 days p.i., after intestinal clearance. Acute-inflammation caused AH-cell hyperexcitability and elevated mucosal and neural tissue levels of myeloperoxidase, mast cell tryptase, prostaglandin E2, leukotrine B4, lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide and gelatinase; lower level inflammation persisted 35 days p.i. Acute exposure to blockers of AC, histamine, cyclooxygenase or leukotriene pathways suppressed AH-cell hyperexcitability in a reversible manner. Basal cAMP responses or those evoked by forskolin (FSK), Ro-20-1724, histamine or substance P in isolated myenteric ganglia were augmented after T. spiralis infection; up-regulation also occurred in AC expression and AC-immunoreactivity in calbindin (AH) neurons. The cAMP-dependent slow excitatory synaptic transmission-like responses to histamine (mast cell mediator) or substance P (neurotransmitter) acting via G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) in AH neurons were augmented by up to 2.5-fold after T. spiralis infection. FSK, histamine, substance P or T. spiralis acute infection caused a 5- to 30-fold increase in cAMP-dependent nuclear CREB phosphorylation in isolated ganglia or calbindin (AH) neurons. AC and CREB phosphorylation remained elevated 35 days p.i.. Ongoing immune activation, AC up-regulation, enhanced phosphodiesterase IV activity and facilitation of the GPCR-AC/cAMP/pCREB signaling pathway contributes to T. spiralis-induced neuronal plasticity and AH-cell hyperexcitability. This may be relevant in gut nematode infections and inflammatory bowel diseases, and is a potential therapeutic target.     

Role of programmed cell death in patterning the Drosophila antennal arista

Programmed cell death is a critical process for the patterning and sculpting of organs during development. The Drosophila arista, a feather-like structure at the tip of the antenna, is composed of a central core and several lateral branches. A homozygous viable mutation in the thread gene, which encodes an inhibitor of apoptosis protein, produces a branchless arista. We have found that mutations in the proapoptotic gene hid lead to numerous extra branches, suggesting that the level of cell death determines the number of branches in the arista. Consistent with this idea, we have found that thread mutants show excessive cell death restricted to the antennal imaginal disc during the middle third instar larval stage. These findings point to a narrow window of development in which regulation of programmed cell death is essential to the proper formation of the arista.     

Data on the push–out bond strength of three different root canal treatment sealers

It is of interest to document data on the push – out bond strength of three different root canal treatment sealers such as MTA Fillapex (MTA based), AH plus (Epoxy Resin based) and Apexit plus (Calcium hydroxide based). Forty-five freshly extracted human maxillary central incisors with closed apices were selected randomly. All the teeth were sectioned at cement-enamel junction using a diamond disc before starting the root canal preparation to obtain root length of 12 mm. All teeth were instrumented using ProTaper rotary instruments. 5.25% sodium hypochlorite was used for irrigation between instrumentation followed by 17% EDTA, and final rinse by saline. Obturation procedures were done using the gutta-percha single cone technique. 45 roots were randomly assigned to 3 groups of 15 for obturation with gutta-percha cones and 1 of the 3 sealers (n=15). Group 1 = MTA Fillapex sealer + gutta-percha: Group 2 = AH plus sealer + gutta-percha:Group 3 = Apexit plus sealer + gutta-percha. The roots were sectioned horizontally to its canal into 3 sections: Coronal, Mid-root and Apical-thirds using a precision cutting machine, with a thickness of 3 mm. The specimens were subjected to push-out test using a universal testing machine that carried a plunger. The loading speed was 1mm/min until the dislodgment of the material occurred. The independent t- test was used to compare the mean scores among the study groups. The level of significance was set at 5% for all tests. After the push-out bond strength test, each sample was evaluated under stereomicroscope (40x) to determine the mode of failure and recorded as one of the following categories: adhesive, cohesive or mixed. The observations thus obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using Student - t test. AH Plus showed significantly higher values than MTA Fillapex and Apexit plus (p < 0.05). Amongst the push-out bond strength AH Plus sealer showed significant difference from MTA Fillapex and Apexit plus groups. There was no significant difference between MTA Fillapex and Apexit plus however (p>0.05). Microscopic analysis displayed that the majority of the modes were cohesive failures for AH Plus, adhesive failures for MTA Fillapex and mixed failures for Apexit Plus. . Thus, AH Plus had the highest bond strength and MTA Fillapex had the lowest bond strength to root dentin. Mean push-out bond strength values were ranked as follows; AH Plus >Apexit Plus > MTA Fillapex. Microscopic analysis displayed that the majority of the modes were cohesive failures of AH Plus, adhesive failures for MTA Fillapex and mixed failures for Apexit Plus.     

Comparison of rat epidermal keratinocyte organotypic culture (ROC) with intact human skin: Lipid composition and thermal phase behavior of the stratum corneum

The present report is a part of our continuing efforts to explore the utility of the rat epidermal keratinocyte organotypic culture (ROC) as an alternative model to human skin in transdermal drug delivery and skin irritation studies of new chemical entities and formulations. The aim of the present study was to compare the stratum corneum lipid content of ROC with the corresponding material from human skin. The lipid composition was determined by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and mass-spectrometry, and the thermal phase transitions of stratum corneum were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). All major lipid classes of the stratum corneum were present in ROC in a similar ratio as found in human stratum corneum. Compared to human skin, the level of non-hydroxyacid-sphingosine ceramide (NS) was increased in ROC, while α-hydroxyacid-phytosphingosine ceramide (AP) and non-hydroxyacid-phytosphingosine ceramides (NP) were absent. Also some alterations in fatty acid profiles of ROC ceramides were noted, e.g., esterified ω-hydroxyacid-sphingosine contained increased levels of oleic acid instead of linoleic acid. The fraction of lipids covalently bound to corneocyte proteins was distinctly lower in ROC compared to human skin, in agreement with the results from DSC. ROC underwent a lipid lamellar order to disorder transition (T₂) at a slightly lower temperature (68 °C) than human skin (74 °C). These differences in stratum corneum lipid composition and the thermal phase transitions may explain the minor differences previously observed in drug permeation between ROC and human skin.     

生石膏对致热原作用下猫PO／AH温敏神经元放电的影响

目的:研究中药生石膏解热作用的中枢机制.方法:复制发热模型后,静脉注射生石膏,应用微电极细胞外记录技术记录视前区-下丘脑前部(PO/AH) 温敏神经元单位放电的变化情况.结果:给予致热原后,PO/AH 区热敏神经元放电频率显著减少(P<0.01 ),冷敏神经元放电频率明显增加(P<0.05); 静脉注射生石膏后,可反转致热原对PO/AH区温敏神经元的上述作用,与给药前相比,热敏神经元放电频率明显回升(P<0.01 ),冷敏神经元放电频率明显回降(P<0.05).结论:提示生石膏是通过影响致热原作用下PO/AH区温敏神经元的放电活动,在中枢神经元水平上发挥解热作用的.     

可吸收性止血颗粒在鼻内镜下经口腺样体吸切术中的应用

目的:探讨可吸收性止血颗粒(Arista AH)在鼻内镜下经口腺样体吸切术创面止血上的应用效果。方法:54例腺样体肥大患者行鼻内镜下经口腺样体吸切术,随机分为四组,A组20例(压迫止血后喷洒Arista AH),B组15例(压迫止血后双极电凝止血),C组7例(压迫止血后Merocel高膨胀海绵填塞),D组12例(仅压迫止血)。比较四组患者的止血时间、术后出血、咽痛持续时间、恢复正常通气时间等指标,同时采用视觉模拟评分法记录止血难度的主观评估。结果:A组手术时间、止血难度均低于B组、D组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),与C组无统计学差异(P0.05)。而A组术后出血发生率低于D组(P0.05),与B组、C组无统计学差异。A组咽痛持续时间低于B组、C组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),与D组无统计学差异(P0.05)。而A组恢复正常通气时间与B组、D组无统计学差异(P0.05)。结论:可吸收性止血颗粒可用于鼻内镜下经口腺样体吸切术创面止血,具有快速简便、安全有效的特点。     

Partial purification and characterization of lipase from Geobacillus stearothermophilus AH22

The lipase was partially purified by ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration column chromatography, and was characterized from Geobacillus stearothermophilus AH22 strain. The lipase was purified 18.3-folds with 19.7% recovery. The lipase activity was determined by using p-nitrophenyl esters (C₂–C₁₂) as substrates. The K_m values of the enzyme for these substrates were found as 0.16, 0.02, 0.19 and 0.55?mM, respectively, while V_max values were 0.52, 1.03, 0.72 and 0.15?U?mg^?1. The enzyme showed maximum activity at 50?°C and between pH 8.0 and 9.0. The enzyme was found to be quite stable at pH range of 4.0–10.0, and thermal stability between 50 and 60?°C. It was found that the best inhibitory effect of the enzyme activity was of Hg²⁺. The inhibitory effect as orlistat, catechin, propyl paraben, p-coumaric acid, 3,4-dihydroxy hydro-cinnamic acid was examined. These results suggest that G. stearothermophilus AH22 lipase presents very suitable properties for industrial applications.