过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体与细胞凋亡调控

利用核受体与配体作用促进癌细胞分化和凋亡是治疗癌症的新方向。过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体(PPARs)是一类参与多种生物学效应的核受体,目前已知有3种亚型：α、β和γ。PPARs除和脂质代谢、氧化还原状态、炎症、心血管疾病、糖尿病、肥胖等一系列生理过程密切相关外,PPARs的激活还对细胞的生长、分化甚至凋亡有重要的影响,尤其是PPARγ的激活在多种恶性肿瘤细胞中可促进细胞凋亡、抑制肿瘤生长。然而由于PPARs的表达具有极大的物种、组织特异性,使预临床实验的推广应用变得十分复杂。现仅就PPARs与细胞凋亡方面的最新研究进展及其在癌症预临床中的研究状况进行综述。     

鸡PPARs基因组织表达特性的研究

以8周龄Arber Acres(AA)肉鸡为研究材料,采用RT-PCR和Northern blot方法对鸡PPAR基因组织表达特点进行了研究。RT-PCR半定量检测显示,在检测的10种组织中除胸部肌肉组织外,PPAR-α基因在其他9种组织中都表达,其中较高表达于脑、肺脏、肾脏、心脏和小肠,中等程度表达于胃、肝脏和脂肪,较低表达于脾脏。PPAR-γ基因除了在肝脏和肌肉中没有检测到外,在其他8种组织都有表达,其中高表达于脂肪,其次是脑和肾脏,低量表达于脾脏、心脏、肺脏、胃和小肠。Northern blot检测显示,PPAR-α基因在心脏、肝脏、肾脏和胃这4种组织表达,其中在肝脏杂交信号最强;PPAR-γ基因只在脂肪和肾脏表达,其中在脂肪组织有强的杂交信号。以上结果表明,鸡PPARS基因的组织表达特点同啮齿动物和人基本一致,但也有其自身的特殊性,即PPAR-α基因不在肌肉组织中表达,PPAR-γ基因在肾脏中有高表达。PPAR基因与鸡的多种组织的生长和发育有关。     

寡核苷酸芯片技术用于检测过氧化物酶体活化物激活受体基因多态性

 通过寡核苷酸芯片技术检测PPARα基因Leu162Val、Val227Ala多态性和PPARγ Pro12Ala的基因多态性,建立一种快速、简便、准确的方法,为研究非酒精性脂肪性肝病的发病机制、临床诊断和治疗提供依据.收集人体外周血标本,提取DNA进行PCR扩增,设计相应的探针和引物,制备检测芯片,PCR产物与芯片杂交后,扫描芯片并分析结果.PCR产物进行测序验证.寡核苷酸芯片技术检测PPARα基因Leu162Val、Val227Ala多态性和PPARγ Pro12Ala基因多态性结果与测序结果一致.寡核苷酸芯片技术检测非酒精性脂肪性肝病(NAFLD)密切相关的PPAR基因多态性快速、准确,值得临床推广和应用.     

过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体α对人绒毛滋养层细胞功能的影响

人绒毛膜滋养层细胞(HTR8/SVneo)是胎盘建立血液循环的重要组成部分,过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体α(PPARα)是调节脂代谢的关键转录因子亚型,本研究旨在研究PPARα对人绒毛滋养层细胞功能的影响。将构建的PPARα表达载体和PPARα小干扰RNA分别转染HTR8/SVneo细胞,检测细胞功能的变化。本实验采取EdU法和MTT法检测细胞增殖,流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡,transwell小室法检测细胞迁移和浸润能力。结果显示,PPARα过表达能抑制滋养层细胞增殖、迁移和浸润能力,促进细胞凋亡能力;敲低PPARα能促进细胞的增殖、迁移和浸润能力,抑制细胞凋亡能力。PPARα表达水平与其对细胞生长和迁移的影响负相关。     

Acetylcholine Content in Rat Brain Is Elevated by Status Epilepticus Induced by Lithium and Pilocarpine

The effects of status epilepticus on the concentration, synthesis, release, and subcellular localization of acetylcholine, the concentration of choline, and the activity of acetylcholinesterase in rat brain regions were studied. Generalized convulsive status epilepticus was induced by the administration of pilocarpine to lithium-treated rats. The concentration of acetylcholine in the cortex, hippocampus, and striatum decreased prior to the onset of spike activity or status epilepticus. Once status epilepticus began, the concentration of acetylcholine increased over time in the cortex and hippocampus, reaching peak levels that were 461% and 304% of control levels, respectively, after 2 h of seizures. Such high in vivo levels of acetylcholine had not been reported previously following any treatment. During status epilepticus, the concentration of acetylcholine in the striatum returned to control levels after the initial depression, but did not accumulate to high levels as it did in the other two regions. The in vivo cortical efflux of acetylcholine was also increased during the seizures. Choline levels were increased by status epilepticus in all three brain regions. Inhibition of seizures by pretreatment with atropine blocked the increases of acetylcholine and choline. Synaptosomes prepared from the cortex and from the hippocampus of rats with status epilepticus had elevated concentrations of acetylcholine: in the hippocampus the acetylcholine was principally in the cytoplasmic fraction, whereas in the cortex the acetylcholine was elevated in both the cytoplasmic and the vesicular fractions. The extra acetylcholine was in a releasable compartment, since increased K+ in the media or ouabain increased the release of acetylcholine from cortical slices to a greater extent in tissue from seized rats than from controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Antiepileptic Drugs Prevent Changes Induced by Pilocarpine Model of Epilepsy in Brain Ecto-Nucleotidases

Ecto-nucleotidases, one of the main mechanisms involved in the control of adenosine levels in the synaptic cleft, have shown increased activities after the pilocarpine model of epilepsy. Here we have investigated the effect of the antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on ecto-nucleotidase activities from hippocampal and cerebral cortical synaptosomes of rats at seven days after the induction of the pilocarpine model. Expression of these enzymes were investigated as well. Our results have demonstrated that phenytoin (50 mg/kg) and carbamazepine (30 mg/kg) were able to prevent the increase in ecto-nucleotidase activities elicited by pilocarpine in brain synaptosomes. However, sodium valproate (at 100 mg/kg) was only able to avoid the increase on ATP and ADP hydrolysis in hippocampal synaptosomes. Increase on ATP hydrolysis in hippocampal synaptosomes was also prevented by sodium valproate at 286 mg/kg, which corresponds to ED50 for pilocarpine model. NTPDase1, NTPDase2, NTPDase3, and ecto-5′-nucleotidase expressions were not affected by pilocarpine in cerebral cortex. However, expressions of NTPDase2, NTPDase3, and ecto-5′-nucleotidase were increased by pilocarpine in hippocampus. Our results have indicated that previous treatment with AEDs was able to prevent the increase in hippocampal ecto-nucleotidases of pilocarpine-treated rats. These findings have shown that anticonvulsant drugs can modulate plastic events related to the increase of nucleotidase expression and activities in pilocarpine-treated rats.     

Time-Dependent Modulation of Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases and AKT in Rat Hippocampus and Cortex in the Pilocarpine Model of Epilepsy

The epileptogenesis may involve a variety of signaling events that culminate with synaptic reorganization. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and AKT may be activated by diverse stimulus including neurotransmitter, oxidative stress, growth factors and cytokines and are involved in synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. The pilocarpine model in rodents reproduces the main features of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy related to hippocampus sclerosis (MTLE-HS) in humans. We analyze the phosphorylation profile of MAPKs (ERK1/2, p38(MAPK), JNK1/2/3) and AKT by western blotting in the hippocampus (Hip) and cortex (Ctx) of male adult wistar rats in different periods, after pilocarpine induced status epilepticus (Pilo-SE) and compared with control animals. Biochemical analysis were done in the Hip and Ctx at 1, 3, 12?h (acute period), 5?days (latent period) and 50?days (chronic period) after Pilo-SE onset. Hence, the main findings include increased phosphorylation of ERK1 and p38(MAPK) in the Hip and Ctx 1 and 12?h after the Pilo-SE onset. The JNK2/3 isoform (54?kDa) phosphorylation was decreased at 3?h after the Pilo-SE onset and in the chronic period in the Hip and Ctx. The AKT phosphorylation increased only in the Hip during the latent period. Our study demonstrates, in a systematic manner, the profile of MAPKs and AKT modulation in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex in response to pilocarpine. Based in the role of each signaling enzyme is possible that these changes may be related, at least partially, to modifications in the intrinsic neuronal physiology and epileptogenic synaptic network that appears in the MTLE-HS.     

Using Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting to Examine Cell-Type-Specific Gene Expression in Rat Brain Tissue

The brain is comprised of four primary cell types including neurons, astrocytes, microglia and oligodendrocytes. Though they are not the most abundant cell type in the brain, neurons are the most widely studied of these cell types given their direct role in impacting behaviors. Other cell types in the brain also impact neuronal function and behavior via the signaling molecules they produce. Neuroscientists must understand the interactions between the cell types in the brain to better understand how these interactions impact neural function and disease. To date, the most common method of analyzing protein or gene expression utilizes the homogenization of whole tissue samples, usually with blood, and without regard for cell type. This approach is an informative approach for examining general changes in gene or protein expression that may influence neural function and behavior; however, this method of analysis does not lend itself to a greater understanding of cell-type-specific gene expression and the effect of cell-to-cell communication on neural function. Analysis of behavioral epigenetics has been an area of growing focus which examines how modifications of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) structure impact long-term gene expression and behavior; however, this information may only be relevant if analyzed in a cell-type-specific manner given the differential lineage and thus epigenetic markers that may be present on certain genes of individual neural cell types. The Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) technique described below provides a simple and effective way to isolate individual neural cells for the subsequent analysis of gene expression, protein expression, or epigenetic modifications of DNA. This technique can also be modified to isolate more specific neural cell types in the brain for subsequent cell-type-specific analysis.     

Effect of Antioxidant Diets on Mitochondrial Gene Expression in Rat Brain During Aging

Age-related increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is particularly detrimental in postmitotic tissues. Calorie restriction (CR) has been shown to exert beneficial effects, consistent with reduced ROS generation by mitochondria. Many antioxidant compounds also mimic such effects. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) provides thiol groups to glutathione and to mitochondrial respiratory chain proteins; thus, it may counteract both ROS generation and effects. In the present study we investigated, in different rat brain areas during aging (6, 12, and 28 months), the effect of 1-year treatment with CR and dietary supplementation with NAC on the expression of subunit 39 kDa and ND-1 (mitochondrial respiratory complex I), subunit IV (complex IV), subunit α of F₀F₁-ATP synthase (complex V) and of adenine nucleotide translocator, isoform 1 (ANT-1). The observed age-related changes of expression were prevented by the dietary treatments. The present study provides further evidence for the critical role of mitochondria in the aging process.     

Effect of Oral Resveratrol on the BDNF Gene Expression in the Hippocampus of the Rat Brain

Resveratrol is a plant polyphenolic compound. Evidence indicates that resveratrol has beneficial effects against aging and neurodegenerative diseases. The goal of our study was in vivo examination of the effects of resveratrol on the abundance of mRNA encoding Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus of rat brain. Rats were administrated orally by different doses (2.5–20 mg/kg bwt) of resveratrol for 3, 10 and 30 days. Saline was used as control and 10% ethanol in saline was used as vehicle for resveratrol. Measurement of BDNF mRNA by Real-time RT–PCR showed that levels of the mRNA for BDNF were significantly and dose dependently elevated in the hippocampal tissues of rats. The findings suggest that the neuroprotective effects of resveratrol may be at least partly due to its inducing effects on the expression levels of the BDNF mRNA.     

大鼠脑组织中胆囊收缩素基因表达与发育的关系

研究CCK基因在不同日龄大鼠脑中转录水平上的表达。取出生后不同日龄Wistar大鼠脑组织,提取总RNA,甲醛凝胶电泳,Northern印迹与α-32P标记CCKcDNA的探针杂交,放射自显影后,经激光扫描测定自显影图中斑点光密度,以估量CCKmRNA表达的相对水平。结果表明,刚出生的大鼠脑中CCK的mRNA含量甚低,随着鼠龄增长,浓度增高,20日龄时CCKmRNA浓度急剧升高,40日龄CCKmRNA的水平稍降低。CCK基因在转录水平的表达与个体发育有关。 Abstract：In this paper the clone was used as probe to study its expression for revealing the relationship between the level of CCK mRNA and the brain development.Total RNA from Wistar rats of various stages of development was isolated by acid guanidinium-thiocyanate phenol-chloroform extraction,followed by formaldehyde gel-electrophoresis.Northern blot,hybridization with a32P-labeled CCK cDNA probe,autoradiography and quantitation were performed by the laser density scanning.It was concluded from the results that the quantites of CCK mRNA in rat brain increased during development.From those mentioned above,it can be said that brain CCK mRNA may serve as a marker for the brain development.     

Decreased Number of Benzodiazepine Receptors in Frontal Cortex of Rat Brain Following Long-Term Lithium Treatment

Chronic administration of lithium led to a decreased number of benzodiazepine receptors (ca. 20%) in frontal cortex of rat brain, whereas no change was observed in the binding characteristics in the remaining part of the cortex and in the hippocampus and the cerebellum. Long-term lithium treatment did not change the binding of [3H]lysergic acid diethylamide and [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate to membranes of various brain regions in the rat. We concluded that the effect of lithium on the benzodiazepine receptor is brain region specific and cannot be explained as a consequence of a reduced gamma-aminobutyric acid-ergic stimulation of benzodiazepine receptor, as the change in receptor binding was due to a change in the number of receptors rather than in the affinity constant.     

Adrenalectomy Potentiates Immediate Early Gene Expression in Rat Brain

Administration of kainate or pentylenetetrazole increased c-fos, c-jun, junB, and junD mRNA levels in rat brain in a dose-dependent manner. Kainate increased these mRNA levels predominantly in the hippocampus, and pentylenetetrazole was more effective in the cortex. Adrenalectomy (3 days) was used to eliminate endogenous glucocorticoid hormones. Adrenalectomy significantly potentiated kainate-induced increases, compared with increases caused by kainate (4 mg/kg) alone, in the hippocampal mRNA levels of c-fos and junB by 6.5-fold and of junD by twofold and tended to augment c-jun mRNA. Corticosterone administration blocked the potentiated stimulation of these mRNA levels caused by adrenalectomy. Adrenalectomy also significantly increased pentylenetetrazole-induced levels of c-fos mRNA in the cortex. These results demonstrate that glucocorticoids modulate immediate early gene expression in the brain, raising the possibility that this interaction contributes to interneuronal and interindividual differences in responses to stimuli and to the effects of stress- or disease-induced changes in glucocorticoid concentrations.     

Modulation of Histamine Release in the Rat Brain by K-Opioid Receptors

The opioid modulation of histamine release was studied in rat brain slices labeled with L-[3H]histidine. The K(+)-induced [3H]histamine release from cortical slices was progressively inhibited by the preferential kappa-agonists ketocyclazocine, dynorphin A (1-13), Cambridge 20, spiradoline, U50,488H, and U69,593 in increasing concentrations. In contrast, the mu-agonists morphine, morphiceptin, and Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-(NMe)Phe-Gly-ol (DAGO) were ineffective as were the preferential delta-agonists [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin (DA-DLE) and [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE). Nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) and MR 2266, two preferential kappa-antagonists, reversed the inhibitory effect of the various kappa-agonists more potently than did naloxone, with mean Ki values of 4 nM and 25 nM, respectively. The effects of ketocyclazocine and naloxone also were seen in slices of rat striatum, another brain region known to contain histaminergic nerve endings. We conclude that kappa-opioid receptors, presumably located on histaminergic axons, control histamine release in the brain. However, nor-BNI and naloxone failed, when added alone, to enhance significantly [3H]histamine release from cerebral cortex or striatum, and bestatin, an aminopeptidase inhibitor, failed to decrease K(+)-evoked [3H]histamine release. These two findings suggest that under basal conditions these kappa-opioid receptors are not tonically activated by endogenous dynorphin peptides. The inhibition of cerebral histamine release by kappa-agonists may mediate the sedative actions of these agents in vivo.     

Thyroid Hormone Receptors in the Developing Rat Brain

It is widely believed that the adult mammalian brain is insensitiveto thyroid hormones unlike the neonatal brain which is criticallydependent on these hormones for the development of normal structureand function. Recent studies have demonstrated the presenceof limited capacity, high affinity, triiodothyronine (T3) bindingnuclear sites in tissues that are considered responsive to thyroidhormones. Furthermore, there is evidence from studies on peripheraltissues that these T3 binding sites act as true receptors ininitiating thyroid hormone action. This report examines whetherthe higher sensitivity of neonatal brain to thyroid hormonesand the purported decline in sensitivity in adulthood are relatedto changes in the concentration and affinity characteristicsof thyroid hormone receptors in rat cerebral nuclei. Analysisof Scatchard plots of in vitro T3 binding data indicate thatcerebral nuclei from adult rats contain T3 specific nuclearbinding sites at a concentration comparable to that presentduring the period when the brain is critically dependent onthe presence of thyroid hormones and exceed that in the liver,a tissue generally considered thyroid sensitive. Neonatal thyroidectomysignificantly increased the number of binding sites. The resultsshow that the apparent unresponsiveness of the cerebral cortexof adult rats to thyroid hormones is not due to the absenceor a low density of T3 nuclear binding sites. The significanceof these results is discussed.     

Sex Steroid Receptors in the Perinatal Rat Brain

Many sex differences in the regulation of reproductive functionin rats are the result of a differentiation of the brain whichoccurs neonatally. Although injections of either androgens orestrogens are capable during the neonatal period of alteringhypothalamic systems involved in reproductive behavior and gonadotropinregulation, the physiological role of each type of hormone hasnot been clearly established. In both sexes, circulating estrogensare normally kept from interacting with estrogen receptors inthe limbic brain by the high levels of alpha-fetoprotein inthe blood. The local aromatization of androgens in the braincould circumvent alpha-fetoprotein, since androgens do not bindto this serum protein. The "paromatization hypothesis" statesthat testosterone, which is abundant in neonatal male circulationbut absent in females, is locally converted to estradiol inthe limbic brain. There it binds to estrogen receptor proteinsto produce tissue differentiation. The ontogeny of estradiolbinding proteins in limbic areas is consistent with the aromatizationhypothesis, with a rapid increase in receptor levels occurringshortly after birth. Also, the presence of endogenous estradiol-receptorcomplexes has been demonstrated in the cell nuclei of male neonatesbut not female neonales. Furthermore, the presence of estradiolbinding proteins in other regions of the neonatal male and femalebrain suggests an additional role of estradiol. unknown as ofyet. Several studies with agents which block the aromatizationof androgens to estrogens or the binding of estrogens to theirreceptors are consistent with the aromatization hypothesis,since these agents prevent the differentiation of intact neonatalmales. However, specific androgen binding proteins are alsopresent in neonatal brains, and androgen-receptor complexescan be found in cell nuclei of neonates after an injection oftritiated androgen. The possible involvement of these receptorsin sexual differentiation of the brain is suggested by the findingthat an antiandrogen inhibits both the binding of androgens(but not estrogens) and the differentiation of males.