SMAD3抑制小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞表达MMP-2

SMAD3是TGF-β信号转导通路中重要的受体激活型SMADs之一。Smad3基因缺失可以引起小鼠创伤愈合速度加快。检测Smad3不同基因型小鼠皮肤创伤局部MMP-2时,发现Smad3缺失小鼠创面MMP-2出现的时间早于野生型和杂合性小鼠。Smad3突变小鼠血清中MMP-2的活性亦显著高于野生型和杂合性小鼠。分离不同Smad3基因型小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞并检测MMP-2的表达,结果显示：Smad3基因缺失小鼠成纤维细胞中MMP-2的表达与活性显著高于野生型细胞;TGF-β1可以提高野生型成纤维细胞MMP-2的活性;Smad3基因缺失细胞暂时恢复SMAD3表达后MMP-2活性下降,阻断野生型细胞表达SMAD3导致MMP-2活性上升。结果表明,SMAD3抑制MMP-2在小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞的表达。     

Inhibition of MMP-2 but not MMP-9 Influences Inner Ear Spiral Ganglion Neurons In Vitro

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in modeling of the extracellular matrix. There is increasing evidence that these proteases are important in neurite elongation and axonal guidance during development in the central nervous system and retina. Moreover, they are also expressed after acute injury and can be the key mediators of pathogenesis. However, the role of MMPs in the inner ear is largely unknown. Our group recently demonstrated that general inhibition of MMPs resulted in auditory hair cell loss in vitro. In the present study, we investigated the role of MMPs in inner ear spiral ganglion neuron (SGN) survival, neuritogenesis and neurite extension by blocking MMPs known to be involved in axonal guidance, neurite elongation, and apoptosis in other neuronal systems. Spiral ganglion (SG) explants from 5-day-old Wistar rats were treated with different concentrations of the general MMP inhibitor GM6001, a specific MMP-2 inhibitor, and a specific MMP-9 inhibitor, in vitro. The general inhibitor of MMPs and the specific inhibition of MMP-2 significantly reduced both the number of neurites that extended from SG explants, as well as the length of individual neurites. However, neither the general inhibitor of MMPs nor the specific inhibition of MMP-2 influenced SGN survival. Inhibition of MMP-9 had no influence on SGNs. The data suggest that MMPs, and more specifically MMP-2, influence the growth of developing afferent neurites in the mammalian inner ear in vivo.     

Inner Ear Morphology Is Perturbed in Two Novel Mouse Models of Recessive Deafness

Human MYO7A mutations can cause a variety of conditions involving the inner ear. These include dominant and recessive non-syndromic hearing loss and syndromic conditions such as Usher syndrome. Mouse models of deafness allow us to investigate functional pathways involved in normal and abnormal hearing processes. We present two novel mouse models with mutations in the Myo7a gene with distinct phenotypes. The mutation in Myo7a^I487N/I487N ewaso is located within the head motor domain of Myo7a. Mice exhibit a profound hearing loss and manifest behaviour associated with a vestibular defect. A mutation located in the linker region between the coiled-coil and the first MyTH4 domains of the protein is responsible in Myo7a^F947I/F947I dumbo. These mice show a less severe hearing loss than in Myo7a^I487N/I487N ewaso; their hearing loss threshold is elevated at 4 weeks old, and progressively worsens with age. These mice show no obvious signs of vestibular dysfunction, although scanning electron microscopy reveals a mild phenotype in vestibular stereocilia bundles. The Myo7a^F947I/F947I dumbo strain is therefore the first reported Myo7a mouse model without an overt vestibular phenotype; a possible model for human DFNB2 deafness. Understanding the molecular basis of these newly identified mutations will provide knowledge into the complex genetic pathways involved in the maintenance of hearing, and will provide insight into recessively inherited sensorineural hearing loss in humans.     

MMP-13 Regulates Growth of Wound Granulation Tissue and Modulates Gene Expression Signatures Involved in Inflammation, Proteolysis, and Cell Viability

Proteinases play a pivotal role in wound healing by regulating cell-matrix interactions and availability of bioactive molecules. The role of matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) in granulation tissue growth was studied in subcutaneously implanted viscose cellulose sponge in MMP-13 knockout (Mmp13(-/-)) and wild type (WT) mice. The tissue samples were harvested at time points day 7, 14 and 21 and subjected to histological analysis and gene expression profiling. Granulation tissue growth was significantly reduced (42%) at day 21 in Mmp13(-/-) mice. Granulation tissue in Mmp13(-/-) mice showed delayed organization of myofibroblasts, increased microvascular density at day 14, and virtual absence of large vessels at day 21. Gene expression profiling identified differentially expressed genes in Mmp13(-/-) mouse granulation tissue involved in biological functions including inflammatory response, angiogenesis, cellular movement, cellular growth and proliferation and proteolysis. Among genes linked to angiogenesis, Adamts4 and Npy were significantly upregulated in early granulation tissue in Mmp13(-/-) mice, and a set of genes involved in leukocyte motility including Il6 were systematically downregulated at day 14. The expression of Pdgfd was downregulated in Mmp13(-/-) granulation tissue in all time points. The expression of matrix metalloproteinases Mmp2, Mmp3, Mmp9 was also significantly downregulated in granulation tissue of Mmp13(-/-) mice compared to WT mice. Mmp13(-/-) mouse skin fibroblasts displayed altered cell morphology and impaired ability to contract collagen gel and decreased production of MMP-2. These results provide evidence for an important role for MMP-13 in wound healing by coordinating cellular activities important in the growth and maturation of granulation tissue, including myofibroblast function, inflammation, angiogenesis, and proteolysis.     

花同源异型基因FBP2调节叶片中过氧化物酶的表达

对碧冬茄和烟草的野生型以及FBP2转化植株(transformant)叶片中过氧化物酶 (POD)的特性做了分析 ,结果表明FBP2在花中的表达可以调节叶片特异POD的表达 ,并影响其活性。此外 ,FBP2在花中的表达还影响叶片内源植物生长物质的水平以及多酚氧化酶 (PPO)和过氧化氢酶 (CAT)的活性。结果表明 :花同源异型基因不仅调控花器官的发育 ,而且参与营养器官代谢的调节 ,使之适应于生殖器官的生长发育     

Disorganized Innervation and Neuronal Loss in the Inner Ear of Slitrk6-Deficient Mice

Slitrks are type I transmembrane proteins that share conserved leucine-rich repeat domains similar to those in the secreted axonal guidance molecule Slit. They also show similarities to Ntrk neurotrophin receptors in their carboxy-termini, sharing a conserved tyrosine residue. Among 6 Slitrk family genes in mammals, Slitrk6 has a unique expression pattern, with strong expression in the sensory epithelia of the inner ear. We generated Slitrk6-knockout mice and investigated the development of their auditory and vestibular sensory organs. Slitrk6-deficient mice showed pronounced reduction in the cochlear innervation. In the vestibule, the innervation to the posterior crista was often lost, reduced, or sometimes misguided. These defects were accompanied by the loss of neurons in the spiral and vestibular ganglia. Cochlear sensory epithelia from Slitrk6-knockout mice have reduced ability in promoting neurite outgrowth of spiral ganglion neurons. Indeed the Slitrk6-deficient inner ear showed a mild but significant decrease in the expression of Bdnf and Ntf3, both of which are essential for the innervation and survival of sensory neurons. In addition, the expression of Ntrk receptors, including their phosphorylated forms was decreased in Slitrk6-knockout cochlea. These results suggest that Slitrk6 promotes innervation and survival of inner ear sensory neurons by regulating the expression of trophic and/or tropic factors including neurotrophins from sensory epithelia.     

葛根素对糖尿病大鼠肾组织MMP-2的表达及活性的影响

为探讨葛根素对糖尿病大鼠肾组织基质金属蛋白酶2(MMP-2)及活性表达的影响,采用单侧肾切除大鼠ip链脲佐菌素诱发糖尿病模型的方法,每日ip葛根素注射液,共16周。采用原位杂交法检测肾小球MMP-2、TIMP-2mRNA表达,流式细胞术和免疫组织化学检测肾皮质MMP-2、TIMP-2及Ⅳ型胶原表达;酶谱分析检测肾皮质MMP-2活性变化。结果发现糖尿病组较对照组肾小球MMP-2mRNA及蛋白表达降低而TIMP-2mRNA及蛋白表达升高,Ⅳ型胶原表达亦增加,MMP-2活性降低,肾功能恶化;葛根素用药组较糖尿病组MMP-2mRNA及蛋白表达升高而TIMP-1、Ⅳ型胶原表达减少,MMP-2活性部分恢复,肾功能改善。表明葛根素可能部分是通过调节肾小球MMP-2蛋白表达及活性的改变从而减轻肾小球细胞外基质沉积,保护糖尿病大鼠的肾功能和形态。     

The Candidate Splicing Factor Sfswap Regulates Growth and Patterning of Inner Ear Sensory Organs

The Notch signaling pathway is thought to regulate multiple stages of inner ear development. Mutations in the Notch signaling pathway cause disruptions in the number and arrangement of hair cells and supporting cells in sensory regions of the ear. In this study we identify an insertional mutation in the mouse Sfswap gene, a putative splicing factor, that results in mice with vestibular and cochlear defects that are consistent with disrupted Notch signaling. Homozygous Sfswap mutants display hyperactivity and circling behavior consistent with vestibular defects, and significantly impaired hearing. The cochlea of newborn Sfswap mutant mice shows a significant reduction in outer hair cells and supporting cells and ectopic inner hair cells. This phenotype most closely resembles that seen in hypomorphic alleles of the Notch ligand Jagged1 (Jag1). We show that Jag1; Sfswap compound mutants have inner ear defects that are more severe than expected from simple additive effects of the single mutants, indicating a genetic interaction between Sfswap and Jag1. In addition, expression of genes involved in Notch signaling in the inner ear are reduced in Sfswap mutants. There is increased interest in how splicing affects inner ear development and function. Our work is one of the first studies to suggest that a putative splicing factor has specific effects on Notch signaling pathway members and inner ear development.     

益气补肾方药对肾虚小鼠细胞因子IL-1、IL-2及IL-12基因表达的影响

目的　探讨益气补肾中药对醋酸可的松致肾虚小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞IL 1及脾脏细胞因子IL 2、IL 12活性及脾脏IL 1、IL 2、IL 12mRNA表达的影响。方法　用醋酸可的松制备肾虚动物模型 ,经益气补肾方药灌胃给药 6周后 ,生物学方法观察腹腔巨噬细胞IL 1、脾脏淋巴细胞IL 2、IL 12的活性水平 ,RT PCR方法观察脾脏IL 1、IL 2及IL 12mRNA的表达。结果　模型动物IL 1、IL 2及IL 12的活性水平较正常小鼠下降 ,其mRNA表达均受到抑制 ,与正常对照组比差异显著 (P <0 0 5 ) ;经益气补肾方药治疗后 ,三种细胞因子活性水平及其mRNA表达均有不同程度的提高。结论　益气补肾方药可能是改善外源糖皮质激素所致肾虚及由此而导致的免疫衰老较理想的方法     

MMP-2、MMP-9及VEGF在子宫内膜异位症中的表达及临床意义

目的:研究基质金属蛋白酶2(MMP-2)、基质金属蛋白酶9(MMP-9)、血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)表达在子宫内膜异位症发生发展中的作用.方法:应用免疫组化二步法检测EMs患者异位内膜36例、在位内膜36例及正常内膜中的MMP-2、MMP-9、VEGF的表达情况.结果:MMP-2、MMP-9、VEGF在异位内膜组中阳性表达率分别为94.4%、91.7%和91.7%,显著高于在位内膜组、正常内膜组(P＜0.05);而在位内膜组和正常内膜组差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论:检测MMP-2、MMP-9、VEGF的表达可用于判断子宫内膜异位症的侵袭转移和评估预后.     

CCR2 Regulates the Uptake of Bone Marrow-Derived Fibroblasts in Renal Fibrosis

Recent studies have shown that bone marrow-derived fibroblasts contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the recruitment of bone marrow-derived fibroblasts into the kidney are incompletely understood. Bone marrow-derived fibroblasts express the chemokine receptor - CCR2. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that CCR2 participates in the recruitment of fibroblasts into the kidney during the development of renal fibrosis. Bone marrow-derived collagen-expressing GFP⁺ fibroblasts were detected in the obstructed kidneys of chimeric mice transplanted with donor bone marrow from collagen α1(I)-GFP reporter mice. These bone marrow-derived fibroblasts expressed PDGFR-β and CCR2. CCR2 knockout mice accumulated significantly fewer bone marrow-derived fibroblast precursors expressing the hematopoietic marker-CD45 and the mesenchymal markers-PDGFR-β or procollagen I in the obstructed kidneys compared with wild-type mice. Furthermore, CCR2 knockout mice displayed fewer bone marrow-derived myofibroblasts and expressed less α-SMA or FSP-1 in the obstructed kidneys compared with wild-type mice. Consistent with these findings, genetic deletion of CCR2 inhibited total collagen deposition and suppressed expression of collagen I and fibronectin. Moreover, genetic deletion of CCR2 inhibits MCP-1 and CXCL16 gene expression associated with a reduction of inflammatory cytokine expression and macrophage infiltration, suggesting a linear interaction between two chemokines/ligand receptors in tubular epithelial cells. Taken together, our results demonstrate that CCR2 signaling plays an important role in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis through regulation of bone marrow-derived fibroblasts. These data suggest that inhibition of CCR2 signaling could constitute a novel therapeutic approach for fibrotic kidney disease.     

H2O2诱发人成纤维细胞衰老样变化的基因表达谱

以 5 0 μmol/LH2 O2 作用体外培养的人胚肺二倍体成纤维细胞 4次 ,使之出现不可逆的衰老表型 .提取年轻细胞及H2 O2 处理早老细胞的mRNA ,以荧光物Cy3标记年轻细胞cDNA ,Cy5标记H2 O2 处理的细胞cDNA ,并与点有 40 96条人类基因的芯片杂交 ,利用计算机数据处理判断基因是否存在表达差异 .结果显示 :有 12 3种基因的表达变化较显著 ,这些基因参与细胞周期进程、细胞代谢及蛋白质修饰、细胞外基质及细胞骨架蛋白的形成和调节、炎症反应、调节受体酪氨酸蛋白激酶和G蛋白耦联受体信号转导 .     

cDNA微阵列分析人apoE4转基因鼠肾脏基因表达谱的变化

目的研究人apoE4转基因鼠肾脏的基因表达谱变化.方法分别提取人apoE4转基因鼠和正常C57BL/6J小鼠的肾脏总RNA,经逆转录合成cDNA探针后分别与鼠cDNA表达点阵杂交,再用ESTblot软件进行分析,并用Northern印迹证明基因表达的改变.结果人apoE4转基因鼠肾脏中有38个基因的mRNA表达升高,22个基因的mRNA表达降低.其中血浆谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶前体、视黄酸γ受体和白介素5受体等基因的表达明显增加.B-raf原癌基因、促红细胞生成素受体、整联蛋白α4的基因表达显著降低.Northern杂交证明转基因鼠肾脏的c-Jun基因表达升高.结论人apoE4转基因鼠肾脏的c-Jun、血浆谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶前体、白介素5受体等基因的表达增加;促红细胞生成素受体、整联蛋白α4等基因的表达减少.     

Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) Gene Deletion Enhances MMP-9 Activity,Impairs PARP-1 Degradation,and Exacerbates Hepatic Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury in Mice

Hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI) is an inflammatory condition and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality after surgery. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been widely implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. Among the different MMPs, gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) are within the most prominent MMPs detected during liver IRI. While the role of MMP-9 in liver damage has been fairly documented, direct evidence of the role for MMP-2 activity in hepatic IRI remains to be established. Due to the lack of suitable inhibitors to target individual MMPs in vivo, gene manipulation is as an essential tool to assess MMP direct contribution to liver injury. Hence, we used MMP-2^-/- deficient mice and MMP-2^+/+ wild-type littermates to examine the function of MMP-2 activity in hepatic IRI. MMP-2 expression was detected along the sinusoids of wild-type livers before and after surgery and in a small population of leukocytes post-IRI. Compared to MMP-2^+/+ mice, MMP-2 null (MMP-2^-/-) mice showed exacerbated liver damage at 6, 24, and 48 hours post-reperfusion, which was fatal in some cases. MMP-2 deficiency resulted in upregulation of MMP-9 activity, spontaneous leukocyte infiltration in naïve livers, and amplified MMP-9-dependent transmigration of leukocytes in vitro and after hepatic IRI. Moreover, complete loss of MMP-2 activity impaired the degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1) in extensively damaged livers post-reperfusion. However, the administration of a PARP-1 inhibitor to MMP-2 null mice restored liver preservation to almost comparable levels of MMP-2^+/+ mice post-IRI. Deficient PARP-1 degradation in MMP-2-null sinusoidal endothelial cells correlated with their increased cytotoxicity, evaluated by the measurement of LDH efflux in the medium. In conclusion, our results show for the first time that MMP-2 gene deletion exacerbates liver IRI. Moreover, they offer new insights into the MMP-2 modulation of inflammatory responses, which could be relevant for the design of new pharmacological MMP-targeted agents to treat hepatic IRI.     

A Plasmid Selection System in Lactococcus lactis and Its Use for Gene Expression in L. lactis and Human Kidney Fibroblasts

We report the development of a nonantibiotic and nonpathogenic host-plasmid selection system based on lactococcal genes and threonine complementation. We constructed an auxotrophic Lactococcus lactis MG1363Δthr strain which carries deletions in two genes encoding threonine biosynthetic enzymes. To achieve plasmid-borne complementation, we then constructed the minimal cloning vector, pJAG5, based on the genes encoding homoserine dehydrogenase-homoserine kinase (the hom-thrB operon) as a selective marker. Using strain MG1363Δthr, selection and maintenance of cells carrying pJAG5 were obtained in threonine-free defined media. Compared to the commonly used selection system based on erythromycin resistance, the designed complementation system offers a competitive and stable plasmid selection system for the production of heterologous proteins in L. lactis. The potential of pJAG5 to deliver genes for expression in eukaryotes was evaluated by insertion of a mammalian expression unit encoding a modified green fluorescent protein. The successful delivery and expression of genes in human kidney fibroblasts indicated the potential of the designed nonantibiotic host-plasmid system for use in genetic immunization.