S-Carboxymethylcysteine Synthase from Escherichia coli

An enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of S-carboxymethyl- l-cysteine from 3-chloro- l-alanine (3-Cl-Ala) and thioglycolic acid was found in Escherichia coli W3110 and was designated as S- carboxymethyl-l-cysteine synthase. It was purified from the cell-free extract to electrophoretic homogeneity and was crystallized. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 84,000 and gave one band corresponding to a molecular weight of 37,000 on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme catalyzed the β-replacement reactions between 3-CI-AIa and various thiol compounds. The apparent Km values for 3-Cl-Ala and thioglycolic acid were 40 mM and 15.4 mM. The enzyme showed very low activity as to the α,β-elimination reaction with 3-Cl-Ala and l-serine. It was not inactivated on the incubation with 3-Cl-Ala. The absorption spectrum of the enzyme shows a maximum at 412 nm, indicating that it contains pyridoxal phosphate as a cofactor. The N-terminal amino acid sequence was determined and the corresponding sequence was detected in the protein sequence data bank, but no homogeneous sequence was found.     

The Hippo–YAP pathway regulates the proliferation of alveolar epithelial progenitors after acute lung injury

Regeneration of pulmonary epithelial cells plays an important role in the recovery of acute lung injury (ALI), which is defined by pulmonary epithelial cell death. However, the mechanism of the regenerative capacity of alveolar epithelial cells is unknown. Using a lung injury mouse model induced by hemorrhagic shock and lipopolysaccharide, a protein mass spectrometry‐based high‐throughput screening and linage tracing technology to mark alveolar epithelial type 2 cells (AEC2s), we analyzed the mechanism of alveolar epithelial cells proliferation. We demonstrated that the expression of Hippo‐yes‐associated protein 1 (YAP1) key proteins were highly consistent with the regularity of the proliferation of alveolar epithelial type 2 cells after ALI. Furthermore, the results showed that YAP1+ cells in lung tissue after ALI were mainly Sftpc lineage‐labeled AEC2s. An in vitro proliferation assay of AEC2s demonstrated that AEC2 proliferation was significantly inhibited by both YAP1 small interfering RNA and Hippo inhibitor. These findings revealed that YAP functioned as a key regulator to promote AEC2s proliferation, with the Hippo signaling pathway playing a pivotal role in this process.     

miR‐20a‐5p regulates pulmonary surfactant gene expression in alveolar type II cells

MicroRNA (miRNA) critically controls gene expression in many biological processes, including lung growth and pulmonary surfactant biosynthesis. The present study was conducted to investigate whether miR‐20a‐5p had such regulatory functions on alveolar type II (AT‐II) cells. To accomplish this, miR‐20a‐5p–overexpressed and miR‐20a‐5p–inhibited adenoviral vectors were constructed and transfected into cultured AT‐II cells that were isolated from rat foetal lungs of 19 days' gestation. Transfection efficiency was confirmed by observing the fluorescence of green fluorescent protein (GFP) carried by the viral vector, whereas miR‐20a‐5p levels were verified by real‐time PCR. The CCK‐8 assay was used to compare the proliferation ability of AT‐II cells that had over‐ or underexpressed miR‐20a‐5p. The expression of surfactant‐associated proteins (SPs) and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was measured by real‐time PCR and Western blotting. In AT‐II cells, transfection resulted in over‐ or under‐regulation of miR‐20a‐5p. While overexpression of miR‐20a‐5p promoted pulmonary surfactant gene expression, its underexpression inhibited it. Consistent with its role in negatively regulating the pulmonary surfactant gene, an opposite pattern was observed for miR‐20a‐5p regulation of PTEN. As a result, when miR‐20a‐5p was rendered overexpressed, PTEN was down‐regulated. By contrast, when miR‐20a‐5p was underexpressed, PTEN was up‐regulated. Neither overexpression nor underexpression of miR‐20a‐5p altered the cell proliferation. miR‐20a‐5p plays no role in proliferation of foetal AT‐II cells but is a critical regulator of surfactant gene expression. The latter appears to be achieved through a regulatory process that implicates expression of PTEN.     

无创正压通气联合纤维支气管镜肺泡灌洗对老年AECOPD合并Ⅱ型呼吸衰竭患者肺功能及血气指标的影响

目的:观察无创正压通气(NIPPV)联合纤维支气管镜(FB)肺泡灌洗对老年急性加重期慢性阻塞性肺疾病(AECOPD)合并Ⅱ型呼吸衰竭患者肺功能及血气指标的影响,为临床治疗方案的选择提供依据。方法:选取82例于2017年1月～2019年1月间在我院住院治疗的老年AECOPD合并II型呼吸衰竭患者。根据治疗方法将患者分为观察组(NIPPV联合FB肺泡灌洗治疗,n=42)与对照组(单独NIPPV治疗,n=40)。观察两组患者的住院时间及抗菌药静脉滴注时间,并比较治疗前及治疗后两组患者的血气指标[pH值(pH)、氧分压(PaO_2)、二氧化碳分压(PaCO_2)、血氧饱和度(SaO_2)]、肺功能指标[一秒钟用力呼气容积(FEV1)、肺活量(FVC)、呼气峰值流速(PEF)]的变化情况。记录两组患者治疗过程中的并发症发生情况。结果:观察组住院时间及抗菌药物静脉滴注时间均明显短于对照组(P0.05)。治疗后,两组pH、PaO_2、SaO_2明显上升,而PaCO_2明显下降(P0.05),且与对照组比较,观察组的pH、PaO_2、SaO_2明显较高,而PaCO_2明显较低(P0.05)。治疗后,对照组FEV1、FVC、PEF无明显变化(P0.05),观察组FEV1、FVC、PEF均明显升高且高于对照组(P0.05)。两组患者不良反应发生率比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:NIPPV联合FB肺泡灌洗治疗对老年AECOPD合并II型呼吸衰竭患者血气指标及肺功能均有较好的改善效果,能明显缩短患者的住院时间及抗菌药静脉滴注时间,且安全性良好。     

肝泡状棘球蚴病不同手术疗效及预后的分析研究

目的:比较肝泡状棘球蚴病(HAE)不同手术方式的疗效,并分析影响HAE手术患者预后的相关因素。方法:回顾性分析2003年9月-2015年2月期间在我院进行手术治疗的HAE病人的诊疗记录。根据手术方式的不同,将病人分为非移植性根治性切除组(A组)、术中病灶绝大部分切除(90%以上)组(B组)、术中不能90%以上切除或仅引流组(C组)、肝移植组(D组)。结合随访资料,评价四组的疗效,并分析影响患者预后的相关因素。结果:A组死亡率低于其他三组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.001)。生存曲线结果显示,A组预后生存状况优于其他三组,差异具有统计学意义(P=0.001)。多因素分析结果表明,非移植性根治性切除、术中出血量是影响患者生存的独立危险因素(均P0.05)。结论:在早期发现早期诊断的前提下,对HAE病人行非移植性根治性切除术治疗效果最好,且非移植性根治性切除是患者预后的独立危险因素。     

Bronchioalveolar morphogenesis of human bronchial epithelial cells depending upon hepatocyte growth factor

Lung alveolar regeneration occurs in adult human lungs as a result of proliferation, differentiation and alveolar morphogenesis of stem cells. It is increasingly being believed that bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) have a potential as stem cells, because they are potent to differentiate into multiple central and peripheral lung cell types in three‐dimensional (3D) cultures, and they develop multiple foci with well‐differentiated histogenesis after transformed into neoplastic cells. In this study, we investigated morphogenic abilities of HBE135 human BECs immortalized by E6/E7 oncogene in 3D cultures. When HBE135 cells were cultured alone or co‐cultured with endothelial cells, the cells formed spherical colonies without branching. However, in co‐culture with lung fibroblast MRC‐9 cells, HBE135 cells formed colonies with bronchioalveolar‐like complex branching, suggesting that MRC‐9‐derived soluble factor(s) are responsible for the branching formation. MRC‐9 cells, not endothelial cells, were found to highly express hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a soluble molecule involved in liver and kidney regeneration. An anti‐HGF neutralizing antibody severely suppressed the complex branching formation, but addition of HGF could not sufficiently compensate the morphogenic effects of MRC‐9 cells, suggesting that MCR‐9‐derived HGF was necessary but insufficient for the bronchioalveolar structure formation. Immunohistochemistry revealed that Met, a cognate receptor for HGF, was highly expressed and phosphorylated in neoplastic BECs from lung adenocarcinomas with well‐differentiated, not poorly differentiated, histogenesis. These results are consistent with the notion that BECs have an aspect of stem cells. This aspect appears to become manifest through HGF–Met signalling pathway activation.     

Cytopathological diagnosis of alveolar soft part sarcoma,a rare soft tissue neoplasm

S. Agarwal, R. Gupta, V. K. Iyer, S. R. Mathur and R. Ray Cytopathological diagnosis of alveolar soft part sarcoma, a rare soft tissue neoplasm Objective: Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is a rare soft tissue neoplasm, having various morphological mimics, especially on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Because no definite immunohistochemical markers are available to aid a correct diagnosis, knowledge of the cytomorphological features is essential for correct patient management. Cytological features of five cases of ASPS are discussed, along with the ultrastructural findings available in one of them. Methods: Cytology records from 1997 to 2009 were reviewed for cases with a diagnosis of ASPS on cytology. The histology slides of the cases were also assessed for confirmation of the diagnosis. All the slides were reviewed by three pathologists. Results: There were five cases of ASPS diagnosed on FNAC. Their cytological features were noted in detail. The diagnoses in all the cases were confirmed on histology, and ultrastructural findings available in one of them were also assessed. Conclusions: The knowledge of cytological features may aid in diagnosing this rare tumour correctly on FNA smears, thus enabling correct patient management.     

泡状棘球蚴病病原生物学研究进展

泡状棘球蚴病(alveolar echinoeoeeosis,AE)是一种重要的人兽共患寄生虫病。本文综述了其病原泡状棘球蚴的地理分布、宿主类别、传播情况及其发育生物学方面的研究情况,指出研究病原生物学的现实意义和今后仍需努力的方向。