生长因子颗粒蛋白前体和肿瘤坏死因子受体基因启动子区改变与阿尔茨 海默病的相关性研究

目的:探讨生长因子颗粒蛋白前体(PGRN)、肿瘤坏死因子受体(TNFR)基因启动子区改变以及全基因组DNA甲基化与阿尔茨海默病的相关性。方法:收集阿尔茨海默病患者血液样本80例以及健康对照血液样本80例,PCR扩增PGRN和TNFR基因启动子区并进行测序,观察两组间的单核苷酸多态性位点是否有差异。同时,用甲基化特异性PCR法检测启动子区DNA甲基化情况以及用ELISA法检测全基因组DNA甲基化水平。结果:在TNFR基因启动子区域发现阿尔茨海默病和对照组之间在多态性位点rs4149570和rs4149569有显著性差异(P0.001和P=0.033)。阿尔茨海默病患者全基因组甲基化水平为(0.79±0.29)%,显著低于对照组的(1.00±0.36)%(P0.001)。结论:TNFR基因多态性位点rs4149570和rs4149569的变异可能与阿尔茨海默病相关,全基因组甲基化水平降低可能与阿尔茨海默病相关。     

血清PGRN、SFRP1、CCL26与支气管哮喘急性发作期患者肺功能和气道炎症的相关性研究

摘要 目的：探讨支气管哮喘（BA）急性发作期患者血清颗粒蛋白前体（PGRN）、分泌型卷曲相关蛋白1（SFRP1）、C-C基序趋化因子配体26（CCL26）与肺功能和气道炎症的相关性。方法：选取2021年1月～2022年6月我院收治的118例BA急性发作期患者作为急性发作期组,根据病情分级将BA急性发作期患者分为轻度亚组55例、中度亚组43例、重度亚组20例,另选取同期77例BA临床控制期患者（临床控制期组）和60例体检健康志愿者（对照组）分别作为对照。采用Pearson相关性分析BA急性发作期患者血清PGRN、SFRP1、CCL26水平与肺功能和气道炎症指标的相关性。结果：对照组、临床控制期组、急性发作期组血清PGRN水平和第1秒用力呼气容积占预计值百分比（FEV₁%pred）、峰值呼气流速（PEF）依次降低,SFRP1、CCL26水平和呼出气一氧化氮（FeNO）、外周血嗜酸性粒细胞（EOS）计数依次升高（P＜0.05）。轻度亚组、中度亚组、重度亚组血清PGRN水平和FEV₁%pred、PEF依次降低,SFRP1、CCL26水平和FeNO、外周血EOS计数依次升高（P＜0.05）。Pearson相关性分析显示,BA急性发作期患者血清PGRN水平与FEV₁%pred、PEF呈正相关,与FeNO、外周血EOS计数呈负相关（P＜0.05）,SFRP1、CCL26与FEV₁%pred、PEF呈负相关,与FeNO、外周血EOS计数呈正相关（P＜0.05）。结论：BA急性发作期患者血清PGRN水平降低,SFRP1、CCL26水平升高,与病情严重程度、肺功能和气道炎症有关,可能成为BA急性发作期患者新的治疗靶点。     

Progranulin directly binds to the CRD2 and CRD3 of TNFR extracellular domains

We previously reported that PGRN directly bound to TNF receptors (TNFR) in vitro and in chondrocytes (Tang, et al., Science, 2011). Here we report that PGRN also associated with TNFR in splenocytes, and inhibited the binding of TNFα to immune cells. Proper folding of PGRN is essential for its binding to TNFR, as DTT treatment abolished its binding to TNFR. In contrast, the binding of PGRN to Sortilin was enhanced by DTT. Protein interaction assays with mutants of the TNFR extracellular domain demonstrated that CRD2 and CRD3 of TNFR are important for the interaction with PGRN, similar to the binding to TNFα. Taken together, these findings provide the molecular basis underlying PGRN/TNFR interaction and PGRN-mediated anti-inflammatory activity in various autoimmune diseases and conditions.     

颗粒蛋白前体通过抑制IL-6表达减轻哮喘气道炎症

目的: 探究颗粒蛋白前体(PGRN)在过敏性哮喘中的作用及机制。方法: 分别在野生鼠和IL-6 缺陷鼠中设置对照组和哮喘模型组,每组8只。模型组中,在第0日和第7日致敏小鼠(腹腔注射OVA 100 μg),从第14日起连续激发8 d(5％OVA雾化吸入,30 min/d,每日1次),末次激发24 h后取标本;对照组用PBS代替OVA做相同处理。采集支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)进行白细胞计数和分类计数;HE染色观察肺组织病理情况;Q-PCR及ELISA检测小鼠肺匀浆、血清和BALF中细胞因子水平。用IL-13刺激A549或BEAS-2B细胞建立体外哮喘炎症模型,每组3个复孔,共4组:PBS处理组、IL-13处理组、IL-13与重组人PGRN蛋白(rhPGRN)共同处理组及p38磷酸化抑制剂(SB203508)处理组。0 min~48 h后收集细胞及上清,用Q-PCR及ELISA检测PGRN和IL-6的表达;Western blot检测p38的磷酸化。结果: 与对照组相比,哮喘组小鼠肺匀浆和BALF中PGRN均显著降低(P＜ 0.01),血清PGRN有降低的趋势,然而哮喘小鼠BALF中IL-6显著升高(P＜0.05)。与野生鼠哮喘组相比,IL-6缺陷鼠哮喘组BALF中白细胞总数降低(P＜0.05),中性粒细胞数降低(P＜0.05),PGRN显著升高(P＜0.05),肺部病理损伤也减轻。体外实验中,IL-13处理组与PBS处理组相比,PGRN显著降低(P＜0.05),IL-6显著增高(P＜ 0.05),p38的磷酸化增加;p38抑制剂处理组比未处理组中IL-6水平降低(P＜0.05)。IL-13与rhPGRN共同处理组的IL-6显著低于IL-13处理组(P＜0.05),p38的磷酸化降低(P＜0.05)。结论: PGRN通过抑制p38磷酸化降低IL-6水平从而减轻哮喘小鼠气道炎症。     

Progranulin protects against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury by inhibiting necroptosis and oxidative stress

Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide. Nevertheless, its molecular mechanisms have not yet been adequately illustrated. Progranulin (PGRN) is a secreted glycoprotein with pleiotropic functions. In the present study, we found that PGRN expression was markedly reduced in mice after stroke onset through middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). We also showed that necroptosis was a mechanism underlying cerebral I/R injury. Importantly, PGRN knockdown in vivo significantly promoted the infarction volume and neurological deficits scores in mice after MCAO surgery. Necroptosis induced by MCAO was further accelerated by PGRN knockdown, as evidenced by the promoted expression of phosphorylated receptor-interacting protein (RIP) 1 kinase (RIPK1), RIPK3 and mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL), which was accompanied with increased expression of cleaved Caspase-8 and Caspase-3. However, PGRN over-expression was neuroprotective. Additionally, PGRN-regulated ischemic stroke was related to ROS accumulation that MCAO-mice with PGRN knockdown exhibited severe oxidative stress, as proved by the aggravated malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) contents, and the decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. However, PGRN over-expression in mice with cerebral ischemia showed anti-oxidative effects. Finally, PGRN was found to attenuate oxidative damage partly via its regulatory effects on necroptosis. Therefore, promoting PGRN expression could reduced cerebral I/R-induced brain injury by suppressing neroptosis and associated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. These data elucidated that PGRN might provide an effective therapeutic treatment for ischemic stroke.     

Modified Yeast-Two-Hybrid System to Identify Proteins Interacting with the Growth Factor Progranulin

Progranulin (PGRN), also known as granulin epithelin precursor (GEP), is a 593-amino-acid autocrine growth factor. PGRN is known to play a critical role in a variety of physiologic and disease processes, including early embryogenesis, wound healing ¹, inflammation ^{2, 3}, and host defense ⁴. PGRN also functions as a neurotrophic factor ⁵, and mutations in the PGRN gene resulting in partial loss of the PGRN protein cause frontotemporal dementia ^{6, 7}. Our recent studies have led to the isolation of PGRN as an important regulator of cartilage development and degradation ^8-11. Although PGRN, discovered nearly two decades ago, plays crucial roles in multiple physiological and pathological conditions, efforts to exploit the actions of PGRN and understand the mechanisms involved have been significantly hampered by our inability to identify its binding receptor(s). To address this issue, we developed a modified yeast two-hybrid (MY2H) approach based on the most commonly used GAL4 based 2-hybrid system. Compared with the conventional yeast two-hybrid screen, MY2H dramatically shortens the screen process and reduces the number of false positive clones. In addition, this approach is reproducible and reliable, and we have successfully employed this system in isolating the binding proteins of various baits, including ion channel ¹², extracellular matrix protein ^{10, 13}, and growth factor¹⁴. In this paper, we describe this MY2H experimental procedure in detail using PGRN as an example that led to the identification of TNFR2 as the first known PGRN-associated receptor ^{14, 15}.     

早产儿急性呼吸窘迫综合征血清1,25-(OH)2D3、PGRN、SIRT1、CTRP3水平与炎症反应和预后的关系研究

摘要 目的：探讨不同病情严重程度早产儿急性呼吸窘迫综合征（ARDS）血清1,25-二羟维生素D₃（1,25-(OH) ₂D₃）、颗粒体蛋白前体（PGRN）、沉默信息调节因子2相关酶1（SIRT1）、C1q/肿瘤坏死因子相关蛋白3（CTRP3）的变化，分析其与炎症反应和预后的关系。方法：选择2018年10月至2019年12月安徽省妇幼保健院收治的ARDS早产儿100例作为ARDS组，另选取同期在我院出生的健康新生儿60例作为对照组。根据《"新生儿急性呼吸窘迫综合征"蒙特勒标准（2017年版）》的病情判定标准将ARDS早产儿分为轻度组（n=40）、中度组（n=32）、重度组（n=28），比较不同病情严重程度ARDS早产儿血清1,25-(OH) ₂D₃、PGRN、SIRT1、CTRP3、炎症反应指标肿瘤坏死子因子-α（TNF-α）、白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、白细胞介素-1β（IL-1β）水平变化，采用Pearson法分析ARDS早产儿血清1,25-(OH) ₂D₃、PGRN、SIRT1、CTRP3与炎症反应指标的相关性。另根据ARDS组患儿预后情况分为预后良好组（n=65）和预后不良组（n=35），采用单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析影响ARDS早产儿预后不良的危险因素。结果：ARDS组血清1,25-(OH) ₂D₃、SIRT1、CTRP3、PGRN水平明显低于对照组（P<0.05），ARDS组血清TNF-α、IL-6、IL-1β水平明显高于对照组（P<0.05）。不同病情严重程度ARDS早产儿血清1,25-(OH) ₂D₃、PGRN、SIRT1、CTRP3、炎症反应指标比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。ARDS早产儿血清1,25-(OH) ₂D₃、PGRN、SIRT1、CTRP3水平与TNF-α、IL-6、IL-1β水平呈负相关（P<0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示，低出生体重、肺表面活性物质（PS）使用次数≥3次、出现低白蛋白血症是影响ARDS早产儿预后不良的危险因素（P<0.05），血清1,25-(OH)2D3（较高）、PGRN（较高）、SIRT1（较高）、CTRP3（较高）是ARDS早产儿预后不良的保护因素（P<0.05）。结论：血清1,25-(OH) ₂D₃、PGRN、SIRT1、CTRP3可能参与ARDS早产儿的炎症反应过程，与ARDS早产儿的病情进展及预后密切相关，检测血清1,25-(OH) ₂D₃、PGRN、SIRT1、CTRP3有助于评估ARDS早产儿的预后。     

急性淋巴细胞白血病患儿血清PGRN、XCL1与危险度分层和预后的关系

摘要 目的：探讨急性淋巴细胞白血病（ALL）患儿血清颗粒蛋白前体（PGRN）、X-C基序趋化因子配体1（XCL1）与危险度分层和预后的关系。方法：选取2018年1月～2020年1月我院收治的102例ALL患儿为ALL组，根据危险度分层分为低危组27例、中危组42例、高危组33例，根据生存结局分为死亡组和存活组，另选取同期50名于我院体检健康儿童为对照组。采用酶联免疫吸附法检测血清PGRN、XCL1水平。采用多因素Logistic回归分析ALL患儿死亡的影响因素，受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析血清PGRN、XCL1水平对ALL患儿死亡的评估价值。结果：与对照组比较，ALL组血清PGRN、XCL1水平升高（P＜0.05）。低危组、中危组、高危组血清PGRN、XCL1水平依次升高（P＜0.05）。随访2年，102例ALL患儿死亡率为34.31%（35/102）。单因素分析显示，白细胞计数（WBC）、混合谱系白血病（MLL）重排、危险度分层、PGRN、XCL1为ALL患儿死亡的影响因素（P＜0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析显示，WBC≥50×10⁹/L、MLL重排阳性、危险度分层高危和PGRN、XCL1升高为ALL患儿死亡的独立危险因素（P＜0.05）。ROC曲线分析显示，血清PGRN联合XCL1评估ALL患儿死亡的曲线下面积（AUC）大于PGRN、XCL1单独评估。结论：ALL患儿血清PGRN、XCL1水平升高，与危险度分层和预后有关，血清PGRN联合XCL1评估ALL患儿预后的价值较高，可能成为ALL患儿预后辅助评估指标。     

颗粒蛋白前体抑制钙盐诱导主动脉瓣膜间质细胞成骨分化

该文主要研究颗粒蛋白前体(progranulin,PGRN)对猪主动脉瓣膜间质细胞(valve interstitial cells,VICs)成骨分化的影响及机制,为钙化性主动脉瓣膜病(calcific aortic valve disease,CAVD)的早期干预及治疗提供理论依据。采用免疫组化检测正常组和CAVD组中Runx2、OPN的表达,Western blot检测PGRN、纤维化指标α-SMA、钙化指标(Runx2、OPN)的表达以及AKT磷酸化水平。采用胶原酶连续消化法分离VICs,并用免疫荧光染色行表型鉴定。体外实验加入人PGRN重组蛋白,采用ALP染色、茜素红S染色、qPCR和Western blot检测细胞早期及晚期成骨分化能力以及AKT的磷酸化水平;并加入AKT的激活剂SC-79进行反向验证。结果表明,与正常组织相比,CAVD瓣膜组织中PGRN明显降低,α-SMA、Runx2、OPN和p-AKT在CAVD组中表达均明显高于正常组。成功分离出原代VICs,α-SMA和vimentin阳性,vWF阴性。PGRN可使VICs的ALP活性降低、钙盐沉积明显减少;PGRN可下调纤维化/钙化指标,且AKT的磷酸化水平降低;SC-79可减弱PGRN对纤维化/钙化指标的下调作用。提示PGRN能够抑制静止的VIC向肌纤维母细胞样的活化VIC乃至成骨样VIC进行转化,AKT信号通路可能在该过程中发挥重要作用。