Matrix Gla protein, a new gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-containing protein which is associated with the organic matrix of bone

A new protein has been isolated from CaCl2/urea extracts of demineralized bovine bone matrix. This protein has five to six residues of the vitamin K-dependent amino acid, gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla), and we have accordingly designated it matrix Gla protein. Matrix Gla protein is a 15,000 dalton protein whose amino acid composition includes a single disulfide bond. The absence of 4-hydroxyproline in matrix Gla protein demonstrates that it is not a precursor to bone Gla protein, 5,800 dalton protein which has a residue of 4-hydroxyproline at position 9 in its sequence. Matrix Gla protein also does not cross-react with antibodies raised against bone Gla protein.     

低聚异麦芽糖对模拟失重大鼠肠道益生菌以及钙代谢和骨矿盐密度影响的初步研究

目的：研究低聚异麦芽糖对模拟失重大鼠肠道益生菌的影响以及与骨钙代谢变化的关系。方法：30只雄性SD大鼠随机分为3组（每组10只）FC组;普通对照组（饲喂普通饲料）;SC组,模拟失重对照组（饲喂普通饲料）;SS组,模拟失重低聚异麦芽糖组（饲喂普通饲料 低聚异麦芽糖）,实验期21d。结果：SC组大鼠肠道益生菌（主要是双歧杆菌和乳杆菌）数量、饲料钙的表观吸收率、股骨骨密度（BMD）,骨钙含量以及骨钙素（BGP）的水平显著低于FC组,而血钙水平明显高于FC组;SS组大鼠肠道益生菌数量,饲料钙的表观吸收率,骨密度,骨钙含量以及骨钙素水平较SC组高,血钙水平显著低于SC组。结论：低聚异麦芽糖可以促进模拟失重大鼠肠道益生菌的增殖,减少股骨骨质的丢失,提高股骨BMD,增加骨形成,对骨代谢产生一定的有益影响。     

Natural products as modulators of the nuclear receptors and metabolic sensors LXR,FXR and RXR

Nuclear receptors (NRs) represent attractive targets for the treatment of metabolic syndrome-related diseases. In addition, natural products are an interesting pool of potential ligands since they have been refined under evolutionary pressure to interact with proteins or other biological targets.This review aims to briefly summarize current basic knowledge regarding the liver X (LXR) and farnesoid X receptors (FXR) that form permissive heterodimers with retinoid X receptors (RXR). Natural product-based ligands for these receptors are summarized and the potential of LXR, FXR and RXR as targets in precision medicine is discussed.     

Therapeutic inducers of the HSP70/HSP110 protect mice against traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) induces severe harm and disability in many accident victims and combat‐related activities. The heat‐shock proteins Hsp70/Hsp110 protect cells against death and ischemic damage. In this study, we used mice deficient in Hsp110 or Hsp70 to examine their potential requirement following TBI. Data indicate that loss of Hsp110 or Hsp70 increases brain injury and death of neurons. One of the mechanisms underlying the increased cell death observed in the absence of Hsp110 and Hsp70 following TBI is the increased expression of reactive oxygen species‐induced p53 target genes Pig1, Pig8, and Pig12. To examine whether drugs that increase the levels of Hsp70/Hsp110 can protect cells against TBI, we subjected mice to TBI and administered Celastrol or BGP‐15. In contrast to Hsp110‐ or Hsp70i‐deficient mice that were not protected following TBI and Celastrol treatment, there was a significant improvement of wild‐type mice following administration of these drugs during the first week following TBI. In addition, assessment of neurological injury shows significant improvement in contextual and cued fear conditioning tests and beam balance in wild‐type mice that were treated with Celastrol or BGP‐15 following TBI compared to TBI‐treated mice. These studies indicate a significant role of Hsp70/Hsp110 in neuronal survival following TBI and the beneficial effects of Hsp70/Hsp110 inducers toward reducing the pathological consequences of TBI.

     

Identification of a naturally occurring retinoid X receptor agonist from Brazilian green propolis

Background

Brazilian green propolis (BGP), a resinous substance produced from Baccharis dracunculifolia by Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera), is used as a folk medicine. Our present study explores the retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonistic activity of BGP and the identification of an RXR agonist in its extract.

Methods

RXRα agonistic activity was evaluated using a luciferase reporter gene assay. Isolation of the RXRα agonist from the ethanolic extract of BGP was performed using successive silica gel and a reversed phase column chromatography. The interaction between the isolated RXRα agonist and RXRα protein was predicted by a receptor–ligand docking simulation. The nuclear receptor (NR) cofactor assay was used to estimate whether the isolated RXRα agonist bound to various NRs, including RXRs and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). We further examined its effect on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 fibroblasts.

Results

We identified drupanin as an RXRα agonist with an EC₅₀ value of 4.8 ± 1.0 μM. Drupanin activated three RXR subtypes by a similar amount and activated PPARγ moderately. Additionally, drupanin induced adipogenesis and elevated aP2 mRNA levels in 3T3-L1 fibroblasts.

Conclusions

Drupanin, a component of BGP, is a novel RXR agonist with slight PPARγ agonistic activity.

General significance

This study revealed for the first time that BGP activates RXR and drupanin is an RXR agonist in its extract.     

骨碎补总黄酮对去卵巢大鼠骨组织骨形态蛋白-2和血清骨钙素表达的影响

目的:研究骨碎补总黄酮对切除卵巢的雌性大鼠血清骨钙素和骨形态蛋白-2(bone morphogenetic protein-2,BMP-2)在骨组织中表达的影响。方法:取3月龄雌性大鼠30只,随机分成假手术组、给药组和空白对照组。假手术组仅去除卵巢周围脂肪,给药组在去除卵巢后连续15周灌胃给服强骨胶囊,其余给等量自来水。15周后处死所有大鼠,取股骨中段组织,行BMP-2免疫组化染色,镜下观察染色标本摄像并用Image图形分析软件分析各标本阳性表达率。另取大鼠血清以放免法测定其血清骨钙素含量。结果:免疫组化染色后,图片分析显示给药组和假手术组bmp-2阳性率明显高于对照组(p<0.05);给药组和假手术组血清骨钙素的表达明显高于对照组(p<0.05)。结论:骨碎补总黄酮对卵巢切除大鼠的BMP-2和血清骨钙素表达有促进作用。     

Cloning of the bone Gla protein gene from the teleost fish Sparus aurata. Evidence for overall conservation in gene organization and bone-specific expression from fish to man

Bone Gla protein (BGP, Osteocalcin) is a bone-specific vitamin K-dependent protein which has been intensively studied in mammals. Although BGP is the most abundant non-collagenous protein of bone, its mode of action at the molecular level remains unclear. From an evolutionary point of view, the appearance of BGP seems to parallel the appearance of hydroxyapatite-containing bone structures since it has never been found in elasmobranchs, whose skeleton is composed of calcified cartilage. Accordingly, recent work indicates that, in mammalian bone, BGP is required for adequate maturation of the hydroxyapatite crystal. Taken together, these data suggest that teleost fishes, presumably the first vertebrates to develop a BGP-containing skeleton, may be a useful model to further investigate BGP function. In addition, fish offer several advantages over mammalian models, due to a large progeny, external embryonic development and transparency of larvae. In the present work, the BGP cDNA and gene were cloned from a teleost fish, Sparus aurata, and its tissue distribution, pattern of developmental expression and evolutionary pathways analyzed. The molecular organization of the Sparus BGP (spBGP) gene is similar to mammalian BGP genes, and its expression throughout development follows the onset of calcification. The spBGP gene encodes a pre-propeptide of 97 amino acid residues, expressed only in bone and showing extensive homology to its mammalian homologs. Phylogenetic analysis of the available BGP sequences supports the hypothesis that all BGPs have a single origin and share a common ancestor with a related vitamin K-dependent protein (Matrix Gla protein).     

Osteocalcin and matrix GLA protein in developing teleost teeth: identification of sites of mRNA and protein accumulation at single cell resolution

In this study, the tissue distribution and accumulation of osteocalcin or bone Gla protein (BGP) and matrix Gla protein (MGP) were determined during tooth development in a teleost fish, Argyrosomus regius. In this species, the presence of BGP and MGP mRNA in teeth was revealed by in situ hybridization. mRNA for BGP was detected in the odontoblasts as well as in its cytoplasmic processes emerging through dentinal tubules, while mRNA for MGP was expressed in the enamel portion within the apical portion of the elongated cell bodies of enameloblasts, adjacent to the root of the teeth as well as in cells within the pulpal space. Immunolocalization of BGP and MGP demonstrated that these proteins accumulate mainly in the mineralized dentin or in enameloblastic processes, confirming in situ hybridization results. In this study, we examined for the first time the localization of both BGP and MGP gene expression and protein accumulation within the different regions of the vertebrate tooth. We clearly demonstrated that although the overall pattern of BGP and MGP gene expression and protein accumulation in A. regius teeth was in general agreement to what is known for other vertebrates such as rats or rodents, our study provided novel information and highlighted some species-differences between fish and higher vertebrates.