Unaltered Striatal Dopamine Release Levels in Young Parkin Knockout,Pink1 Knockout,DJ-1 Knockout and LRRK2 R1441G Transgenic Mice

Parkinson''s disease (PD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative brain diseases; it is accompanied by extensive loss of dopamine (DA) neurons of the substantia nigra that project to the putamen, leading to impaired motor functions. Several genes have been associated with hereditary forms of the disease and transgenic mice have been developed by a number of groups to produce animal models of PD and to explore the basic functions of these genes. Surprisingly, most of the various mouse lines generated such as Parkin KO, Pink1 KO, DJ-1 KO and LRRK2 transgenic have been reported to lack degeneration of nigral DA neuron, one of the hallmarks of PD. However, modest impairments of motor behavior have been reported, suggesting the possibility that the models recapitulate at least some of the early stages of PD, including early dysfunction of DA axon terminals. To further evaluate this possibility, here we provide for the first time a systematic comparison of DA release in four different mouse lines, examined at a young age range, prior to potential age-dependent compensations. Using fast scan cyclic voltammetry in striatal sections prepared from young, 6–8 weeks old mice, we examined sub-second DA overflow evoked by single pulses and action potential trains. Unexpectedly, none of the models displayed any dysfunction of DA overflow or reuptake. These results, compatible with the lack of DA neuron loss in these models, suggest that molecular dysfunctions caused by the absence or mutation of these individual genes are not sufficient to perturb the function and survival of mouse DA neurons.     

p33 Enhances UVB-Induced Apoptosis in Melanoma Cells

The biological functions of the tumor suppressor ING1 have been studied extensively in the past few years since it was cloned. It shares many biological functions with p53 and has been reported to mediate growth arrest, senescence, apoptosis, anchorage-dependent growth, chemosensitivity, and DNA repair. Some of these functions, such as cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, have been shown to be dependent on the activity of both ING1 and p53 proteins. Two recent reports by Scott and colleagues demonstrate that p33^ING1 (one of the ING1 isoforms) translocates to the nucleus and binds to PCNA upon UV irradiation. Here we report that p33^ING1 mediates UV-induced cell death in melanoma cells. We found that overexpression of p33^ING1 increased while the introduction of an antisense p33^ING1 plasmid reduced the apoptosis rate in melanoma cells after UVB irradiation. We also demonstrated that enhancement of UV-induced apoptosis by p33^ING1 required the presence of p53. Moreover, we found that p33^ING1 enhanced the expression of endogenous Bax and altered the mitochondrial membrane potential. Taken together, these observations strongly suggest that p33^ING1 cooperates with p53 in UVB-induced apoptosis via the mitochondrial cell death pathway in melanoma cells.     

Interactions of Melanocytes and Melanoma Cells With the Microenvironment

Normal or malignant melanocytes interact with the microenvironment through the release of soluble factors from cells and through direct cell-cell contact. Melanoma cells produce a large number of different growth factors and cytokines that affect angiogenesis, stroma formation, motility, and the inflammatory and immune response. Most of the angiogenic growth factors produced by melanoma cells are also mitogenic for fibroblasts. The mechanisms and the receptors involved in direct cell-cell contacts of melanocytes and melanoma cells are largely unknown, but the regulatory role of keratinocytes for melanocytic cells appears at several levels. Keratinocytes induce a dendritic morphology in melanocytes, and control proliferation to maintain a constant keratinocyte/melanocyte ratio during exponential growth. Expression of cell surface adhesion receptors is controlled by keratinocytes on melanocytes and nevus cells but not on advanced melanoma cells. These studies underline the complex interactions between skin cells. The escape of melanocytes from the control by keratinocytes may be a hallmark of nevus cells, and the constitutive production of various growth factors and cytokines appears to represent a major characteristic of melanoma cells.     

Loss of RhoB Expression Enhances the Myelodysplastic Phenotype of Mammalian Diaphanous-Related Formin mDia1 Knockout Mice

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and hyperplastic bone marrow. Complete loss or interstitial deletions of the long arm of chromosome 5 occur frequently in MDS. One candidate tumor suppressor on 5q is the mammalian Diaphanous (mDia)-related formin mDia1, encoded by DIAPH1 (5q31.3). mDia-family formins act as effectors for Rho-family small GTP-binding proteins including RhoB, which has also been shown to possess tumor suppressor activity. Mice lacking the Drf1 gene that encodes mDia1 develop age-dependent myelodysplastic features. We crossed mDia1 and RhoB knockout mice to test whether the additional loss of RhoB expression would compound the myelodysplastic phenotype. Drf1 ^−/− RhoB ^−/− mice are fertile and develop normally. Relative to age-matched Drf1 ^−/− RhoB ^+/− mice, the age of myelodysplasia onset was earlier in Drf1 ^−/− RhoB ^−/− animals—including abnormally shaped erythrocytes, splenomegaly, and extramedullary hematopoiesis. In addition, we observed a statistically significant increase in the number of activated monocytes/macrophages in both the spleen and bone marrow of Drf1 ^−/− RhoB ^−/− mice relative to Drf1 ^−/− RhoB ^+/− mice. These data suggest a role for RhoB-regulated mDia1 in the regulation of hematopoietic progenitor cells.     

Microglia-Derived Cytokines/Chemokines Are Involved in the Enhancement of LPS-Induced Loss of Nigrostriatal Dopaminergic Neurons in DJ-1 Knockout Mice

Mutation of DJ-1 (PARK7) has been linked to the development of early-onset Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the underlying molecular mechanism is still unclear. This study is aimed to compare the sensitivity of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge between DJ-1 knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice, and explore the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms. Our results found that the basal levels of interferon (IFN)-γ (the hub cytokine) and interferon-inducible T-cell alpha chemoattractant (I-TAC) (a downstream mediator) were elevated in the substantia nigra of DJ-1 KO mice and in microglia cells with DJ-1 deficiency, and the release of cytokine/chemokine was greatly enhanced following LPS administration in the DJ-1 deficient conditions. In addition, direct intranigral LPS challenge caused a greater loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons and striatal dopamine content in DJ-1 KO mice than in WT mice. Furthermore, the sensitization of microglia cells to LPS challenge to release IFN-γ and I-TAC was via the enhancement of NF-κB signaling, which was antagonized by NF-κB inhibitors. LPS-induced increase in neuronal death in the neuron-glia co-culture was enhanced by DJ-1 deficiency in microglia, which was antagonized by the neutralizing antibodies against IFN-γ or I-TAC. These results indicate that DJ-1 deficiency sensitizes microglia cells to release IFN-γ and I-TAC and causes inflammatory damage to dopaminergic neurons. The interaction between the genetic defect (i.e. DJ-1) and inflammatory factors (e.g. LPS) may contribute to the development of PD.     

Sensory Gating in TAAR1 Knockout Mice

Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology - Trace amines (TA) are a family of endogenous compounds structurally similar to classical biogenic amines that may be involved in the...     

鸟氨酸脱羧酶抗酶抑制因子-1高表达抑制黑素瘤细胞在小鼠体内的生长

鸟氨酸脱羧酶抗酶抑制因子-1(ornithine decarboxylase antienzyme inhibitor-1,OAZI-1)是细胞内调节多胺代谢的重要蛋白质因子。已有研究发现,OAZI-1高表达的黑素瘤细胞在体外能更有效地被抗原提呈细胞识别和吞噬,提示OAZI-1在肿瘤免疫治疗中具有潜在的应用价值。为进一步分析OAZI-1高表达对黑素瘤细胞在小鼠体内生长的影响,高表达OAZI-1的黑素瘤细胞(B16/OAZI-1)被接种到实验小鼠体内,结果发现,接种瘤出现先成瘤随后逐渐消退的现象,至第24 d时,接种瘤的平均体积为36±25 mm3~,而对照细胞接种瘤的平均体积为326±309 mm~3。为探索上述现象的机制,随后分析了B16/OAZI-1在小鼠体内诱导的抗肿瘤免疫效应,结果发现:1)B16/OAZI-1接种显著增加了小鼠脾脏细胞对B16-F1瘤细胞的杀伤活性;2)源于B16-F1的细胞抗原能更有效地促进B16/OAZI-1接种小鼠脾脏细胞的增殖;3)B16/OAZI-1接种小鼠的脾脏细胞具有更强的分泌IFN-γ的能力;4)当在预接种B16/OAZI-1 30 d后的小鼠体内再次接种B16-F1活细胞时,新接种瘤细胞的生长受到显著抑制,小鼠的存活率增加。上述研究结果提示,高表达OAZI-1的黑素瘤细胞在实验动物体内的生长受到显著抑制,其机制可能与OAZI-1能促进肿瘤抗原提呈和诱导抗肿瘤免疫效应相关。     

ZEB1 Enhances Transendothelial Migration and Represses the Epithelial Phenotype of Prostate Cancer Cells

Metastatic colonization involves cancer cell lodgment or adherence in the microvasculature and subsequent migration of those cells across the endothelium into a secondary organ site. To study this process further, we analyzed transendothelial migration of human PC-3 prostate cancer cells in vitro. We isolated a subpopulation of cells, TEM4-18, that crossed an endothelial barrier more efficiently, but surprisingly, were less invasive than parental PC-3 cells in other contexts in vitro. Importantly, TEM4-18 cells were more aggressive than PC-3 cells in a murine metastatic colonization model. Microarray and FACS analysis of these cells showed that the expression of many genes previously associated with leukocyte trafficking and cancer cell extravasation were either unchanged or down-regulated. Instead, TEM4-18 cells exhibited characteristic molecular markers of an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), including frank loss of E-cadherin expression and up-regulation of the E-cadherin repressor ZEB1. Silencing ZEB1 in TEM4-18 cells resulted in increased E-cadherin and reduced transendothelial migration. TEM4-18 cells also express N-cadherin, which was found to be necessary, but not sufficient for increased transendothelial migration. Our results extend the role of EMT in metastasis to transendothelial migration and implicate ZEB1 and N-cadherin in this process in prostate cancer cells.     

Quantification of B16 Melanoma Cells in Lungs Using Triplex Q-PCR - A New Approach to Evaluate Melanoma Cell Metastasis and Tumor Control

Skin cancer is the most common type of all cancers. However, it comprises several different types of cancers, one of which is malignant melanoma. Even though melanomas only make up about 5% of skin cancers, they are responsible for the majority of skin cancer deaths due to the poor chance of survival once the tumor has metastasized. In the present study, we have developed a new assay for quantitative analysis of B16 melanoma metastasis in the lungs. We have used a triplex Q-PCR to determine the expression of the melanoma genes GP100/Pmel and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2), and found that B16.F10gp cells were detectable in the lungs as early as 2 hours after intravenous challenge with ≥10⁴ tumor cells. When investigating the gene expression as a function of time, we observed a gradual decrease from 2–24 hours post tumor challenge followed by an increase of approximately 2 log₁₀ on day 11. The early decrease was accelerated in the presence of activated NK cells. To further evaluate our assay, we also investigated the level of metastasis in the context of vaccination with replication defective adenoviral vectors, Ad-Ii-GP and Ad-GP, previously found to significantly delay the outgrowth of subcutaneous melanomas. Results obtained using Q-PCR were compared to conventional counting of metastatic foci under a dissection microscope. A marked reduction in gene expression was observed in the lungs after vaccination with both vectors; however, Ad-Ii-GP showed the highest protection, and matching results were obtained by enumeration of visible tumor nodules on the lung surfaces. Finally, we could show that inhibition of tumor metastasis required antigen-specific CD8 T cells and IFNγ, but not perforin. In conclusion, the presented results validate triplex Q-PCR as a fast, objective, and quantitative method for analysis of melanoma metastasis in the lungs.     

Local Loperamide Inhibits Thermal Hyperalgesia But Not Mechanical Allodynia Induced by Intratibial Inoculation of Melanoma Cells in Mice

The stimulation of peripheral opioid receptors counteracts thermal hyperalgesia produced by the intratibial inoculation of NCTC 2472 cells in mice, through the activation of the nitric oxide/cGMP/ATP-sensitive K⁺-channels (NO/cGMP/K⁺ _ATP) cascade (Menéndez et al. 2007, Neuropharmacology 53:71–80). We aimed to elucidate whether this peripheral opioid antihyperalgesic effect is exclusive to this model or might also occur in other types of bone neoplastic processes. In C57BL/6 mice intratibially inoculated with B16-F10 melanoma cells, the progressive tumoral damage was accompanied by the establishment of thermal hyperalgesia (unilateral hot plate test) and mechanical allodynia (von Frey test). Intraplantar administration of loperamide (15 μg, 30 min before) inhibited thermal hyperalgesia, but did not modify the intense mechanical allodynia. The fact that the coadministration of naloxone-methiodide (5 μg) completely suppressed the thermal antihyperalgesic effect induced by loperamide indicates its production through the stimulation of peripheral opioid receptors. Furthermore, its prevention by the coadministration of the non-selective inhibitor of the NO synthase, N^G-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, 10 μg), the selective inhibitor of neural NOS, N-ω-propyl-L-arginine (1–10 μg), or the K⁺ _ATP channel blocker, glibenclamide (10 μg) demonstrated the involvement of the NO/cGMP/K⁺ _ATP pathway in the antihyperalgesic effect induced by loperamide. Overall, the present results show that the intratibial inoculation of B16-F10 cells to C57BL/6 mice evokes thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia and that, as occurred in the osteosarcoma model, the stimulation of peripheral opioid receptors is not effective in modifying neoplastic allodynia but completely inhibits thermal hyperalgesia through the activation of the NO/cGMP/K⁺ _ATP cascade.     

Age-Dependent Defects of Regulatory B Cells in Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Gene Knockout Mice

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a rare X-linked primary immunodeficiency characterized by recurrent infections, thrombocytopenia, eczema, and high incidence of malignancy and autoimmunity. The cellular mechanisms underlying autoimmune complications in WAS have been extensively studied; however, they remain incompletely defined. We investigated the characteristics of IL-10-producing CD19⁺CD1d^highCD5⁺ B cells (CD1d^highCD5⁺ Breg) obtained from Was gene knockout (WKO) mice and found that their numbers were significantly lower in these mice compared to wild type (WT) controls. Moreover, we found a significant age-dependent reduction of the percentage of IL-10-expressing cells in WKO CD1d^highCD5⁺ Breg cells as compared to age-matched WT control mice. CD1d^highCD5⁺ Breg cells from older WKO mice did not suppress the in vitro production of inflammatory cytokines from activated CD4⁺ T cells. Interestingly, CD1d^highCD5⁺ Breg cells from older WKO mice displayed a basal activated phenotype which may prevent normal cellular responses, among which is the expression of IL-10. These defects may contribute to the susceptibility to autoimmunity with age in patients with WAS.     

Melanins in IGR 1 Melanoma Cells

Information on the composition of melanins is obtained by analysis both of 4-amino-3-hydroxyphenylalanine (AHP) after hydriodic acid degradation and of pyrrole-2,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (PTCA) after potassium permanganate oxidation. Analysis of thiazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid (TDCA) and pyrrole-2,3-dicarboxylic acid (PDCA) after permanganate oxidation, provides additional information on the composition, TDCA on pheomelanin residues, and PDCA on indolic residues without carboxy groups. Using model melanins formed from dopa and cysteinyldopa in different proportions, we found the TDCA/(PTCA+PDCA) ratio to yield a reliable estimate of the relative proportions of pheomelanin and eumelanin. The PDCA/PTCA ratio reflects the relationship between indole residues with and without carboxy groups. We have analyzed degradation products from cultures of IGR 1, an extensively studied melanoma cell line. Cell cultures were harvested after 2, 4, and 7 days. Culture media were changed after 2 days in all series, and also after 4 days in one series harvested at 7 days. Cells without medium change had seven times the amount of melanin found in cultures with medium change. The PDCA/PTCA ratio decreased with increasing amounts of melanin. With increased melanization, eumelanin is increased relatively more than pheomelanin. The cell content of 5-S-cysteinyldopa (5-S-CD) was similar in all cultures, while 6-hydroxy-5-methoxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (6H5MICA), a eumelanin precursor metabolite, was found in increased amounts of media of heavily pigmented cultures.     

Grx-1基因敲除鼠的繁殖及子代基因型鉴定

目的探讨glutaredoxin-1(Grx-1)基因敲除小鼠的优化繁殖及子代鼠的鉴定方法,为进一步研究Grx-1在支气管肺发育不良(BPD)中的作用奠定基础。方法将从美国哈佛医学院引进的纯合子Grx-1基因敲除小鼠与野生型小鼠进行交配后得到的子一代小鼠同代间相互交配,繁殖出的子二代中将出现纯合子、杂合子以及野生型3种基因型。从出生起观察其生长发育情况,2周龄时剪尾提取基因组DNA,用PCR方法扩增目的基因片段,琼脂糖凝胶电泳结果判定基因型。结果 Grx-1纯合子小鼠的饲养繁殖取得成功,获得了一批Grx-1基因敲除纯合子小鼠。结论正确的饲养繁殖以及鉴定方法是获得Grx-1基因敲除纯合子小鼠的有效途径,为相关研究提供动物实验模型奠定了基础。     

DJ-1 Knockout Augments Disease Severity and Shortens Survival in a Mouse Model of ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, lethal, neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons. Oxidative stress plays a central role in the disease progression, in concert with an enhanced glutamate excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation. DJ-1 mutations, leading to the loss of functional protein, cause familial Parkinson’s disease and motor neuron disease in several patients. DJ-1 responds to oxidative stress and plays an important role in the cellular defense mechanisms. We aimed to investigate whether loss of functional DJ-1 alters the disease course and severity in an ALS mouse model. To this end we used mice that express the human SOD1^G93A mutation, the commonly used model of ALS and knockout of DJ-1 mice to generate SOD1 DJ-1 KO mice. We found that knocking out DJ-1in the ALS model led to an accelerated disease course and shortened survival time. DJ-1 deficiency was found to increase neuronal loss in the spinal cord associated with increased gliosis in the spinal cord and reduced antioxidant response that was regulated by the Nrf2 mechanism.The importance of DJ-1 in ALS was also illustrated in a motor neuron cell line that was exposed to glutamate toxicity and oxidative stress. Addition of the DJ-1 derived peptide, ND-13, enhanced the resistance to glutamate and SIN-1 induced toxicity. Thus, our results maintain that DJ-1 plays a role in the disease process and promotes the necessity of further investigation of DJ-1 as a therapeutic target for ALS.     

Low-Dose Homocystine Enhances Proliferation and Migration of Bv2 Microglia Cells

Homocysteine (Hcy) is a non-essential amino acid that is derived from the breakdown of dietary methionine. Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is an independent risk factor for a variety of chronic diseases, especially neurodegenerative conditions. To better understand the role of HHcy in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, we investigated the effect of Hcy on the proliferation and activation of microglia Bv2 cells. Cells were treated with six different Hcy concentrations: 0, 50, 100, 300, 500, and 1000 µM for different time periods (8, 12, 16, 24, and 48 h). The morphology of Bv2 cells was observed, and cell activity and proliferation were detected. Cell migration and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines were detected by the scratch wound assay, the transwell assay, and ELISA, respectively. The effect of Hcy on Bv2 proliferation occurred earlier (<24 h, especially 16 h) after treatment with concentrations between 100 and 300 μM, and there was no cytotoxicity to Bv2 cells. Meanwhile, functional assays suggested that Hcy not only promoted Bv2 secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6, but also enhanced Bv2 migration and invasion, with 100 μM being the most effective concentration. In summary, Bv2 proliferation and activation can be promoted by short-term treatment with low-dose Hcy.     

DJ-1基因siRNA对三阴性乳腺癌细胞侵袭和迁移影响的研究

目的:探讨DJ-1基因siRNA对三阴性乳腺癌细胞体外侵袭和迁移能力的影响。方法:设计DJ-1基因的小分子干扰RNA(siRNA)片段,脂质体介导转染入三阴性乳腺癌细胞株MAD-MB-23l,转染分3个组:A组(空白对照control组)、B组(转染非特异性对照Scramble组)、C组(转染si DJ-1组)。应用Western blotting免疫印迹法检测转染前后DJ-1表达水平;运用细胞迁移和侵袭实验检测细胞迁移和侵袭能力的变化。结果:C组DJ-1蛋白的表达强度弱于A组和B组(t=9.831,P0.05),而A组与B组比较,DJ-1蛋白表达水平则无明显差异(t=1.629,P0.05)。细胞迁移实验中,A组细胞为(218.37±12.75);B组的细胞为(214.46±11.38);C组的细胞为(129.65±8.59),C组细胞明显少于A组和B组(t=10.927,9.984,P0.05),而A组与B组之间,差异无统计学意义(t=0.512,P0.05)。细胞侵袭实验中,A组细胞为(127.28±12.65);B组的细胞为(123.06±13.08);C组的细胞为(52.85±9.58),C组穿过人工基底膜的细胞明显少于A组和B组(t=7.927,8.643,P0.05),而A组与B组之间,差异无统计学意义(t=0.627,P0.05)。结论:DJ-1基因siRNA可抑制三阴性乳腺癌细胞侵袭和迁移。