血管紧张素-（1-7）对糖尿病大鼠肾脏PDGF、TGF-β的影响

目的:通过观察血管紧张素-(1-7)(Ang-(1-7))作用后糖尿病大鼠肾脏PDGF(血小板源性生长因子)、TGF-β1(转化生长因子β1)的变化,研究其对糖尿病大鼠肾脏的作用。方法:将SD大鼠分为单肾切除对照组(C组)、糖尿病模型Ang-(1-7)干预组(T组)及糖尿病模型对照组(D组)三组进行研究。分别检测空腹血糖、血尿素氮、血肌酐,24h尿总蛋白;同时用1000倍显微镜观察肾脏组织改变情况及用RT-PCR法检测肾脏组织内PDGF、TGF-β1的基因表达水平。结果:T组肾重体重比(RW/BW)、尿蛋白定量、mRNA表达水平等指标明显下降,与D组相比具有非常显著性差异(P<0.01),肾脏组织光镜下差别显著,D、T组较C组大鼠肾小球体积增大,且以D组病变明显。结论:Ang-(1-7)具有延缓糖尿病大鼠肾脏病变病发生、发展的作用。     

磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶调控IL-18诱导的AP-1活化

Lipofectin介导反义磷脂酰肌醇3(IP3)-激酶寡核苷酸(ODN)转染HepG2细胞．用逆转录PCR法检测IP3-激酶mRNA表达水平,以Sandwich ELISA法检测AP-1的活化．结果表明a)反义IP3激酶ODN抑制IP3激酶mRNA表达;b)白介素-18(IL-18)诱导AP-1活化,AP-1的光密度值从基础水平的O．134±O．009上升至1. 704±0．019;c)反义IP3-激酶ODN呈时间 (5～24h)和剂量(1～8μg)依赖性地抑制IL-18诱导的AP-1活化,反义IP3-激酶ODN 2μg与细胞孵育8h的抑制作用最强,AP-1的光密度值从对照组的1．704±O．019下降到O.722±0．026,抑制丰达57．6％．上述结果表明,IP3-激酶调控白介素-18诱导的AP-1活化．     

高糖、糖基化终产物对人脐静脉内皮细胞巨噬细胞炎性蛋白-1α mRNA表达的影响

目的探讨高糖浓度和糖基化终产物(AGEs)对人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs)巨噬细胞炎性蛋白-1α mRNA表达的影响.方法将HUVECs用不同浓度AGEs(100mg/L、200mg/L、400mg/L)单独培养24h;并且用22mmol/L葡萄糖和400mg/LAGEs联合培养24h.采用原位杂交法检测巨噬细胞炎性蛋白-1α mRNA的表达水平.结果对照组内皮细胞内巨噬细胞炎性蛋白-1α mRNA呈弱表达;100mg/L、200mg/L及400mg/LAGEs孵育24h后,各组内皮细胞内巨噬细胞炎性蛋白-1α mRNA表达的平均积分光密度值分别为18.76±3.17、26.58±1.61及34.23±2.25(对照组为13.83±1.24,P<0.05);22mmol/L葡萄糖和400mg/LAGEs联合培养24h后,内皮细胞内巨噬细胞炎性蛋白-1α mRNA表达的平均积分光密度值为40.56±1.97(P<0.05).结论 AGEs能刺激HUVECs MIP-1α mRNA表达增加,且与高糖具有协同作用.     

天然牛磺酸对肝硬化大鼠MMP-9、Integrin-β1表达的调控北大核心CSCD

天然牛磺酸广泛存在于海洋生物中,研究发现具有一定抗纤维化作用,基质金属蛋白酶(MMP-9)、整合素β1(Integrin-β1)与肝纤维化密切相关,实验中通过给予肝硬化大鼠不同剂量天然牛磺酸(0.3、0.6、1.2 g/kg·d),采用放射免疫法检测血清肝纤四项含量;实时荧光定量PCR检测大鼠肝组织MMP-9、Integrin-β1 mRNA表达,免疫蛋白印迹法(Western-blot)检测相应蛋白的表达。结果表明,肝硬化大鼠MMP-9、Integrin-β1 mRNA及蛋白表达显著升高,天然牛磺酸能显著减少模型大鼠血清肝纤四项水平,降低MMP-9、Integrin-β1 mRNA及相关蛋白表达,以0.6 g/kg·d剂量组效果最佳。天然牛磺酸下调肝硬化大鼠MMP-9和Integrin-β1的表达,与其发挥肝保护作用密切相关。     

白介素-17A在小鼠慢性胰腺炎中的作用研究

目的:研究白细胞介素-17A在小鼠慢性胰腺炎模型中的表达及其对小鼠星状细胞的影响。方法:建立雨蛙肽诱导的小鼠实验性慢性胰腺炎动物模型,利用实时荧光定量PCR、ELISA、免疫组化和Western-blot等手段检测白介素-17A在雨蛙肽诱导的小鼠慢性胰腺炎模型中的表达变化及免疫活性。用重组白介素-17A作用于小鼠胰腺星状细胞,检测其对星状细胞活化的作用,并进一步探究其对促胰腺纤维化炎症因子白介素-6、白介素-1β、TGF-β在mRNA水平的表达变化。结果:慢性胰腺炎胰腺组织中白介素-17A受体IL-17RA及IL-17RC mRNA水平的表达较正常胰腺明显升高,慢性胰腺炎小鼠胰腺组织中IL-17A蛋白水平较正常小鼠明显升高,CP小鼠血清中IL-17A蛋白水平(56.40±10.50 pg/L)较NC组(27.88±5.74pg/L)亦明显升高,IL-17A在正常胰腺组织中鲜有表达(8.9±2.72%),而在CP组织中呈强阳性表达(55.84±5.71%),其免疫活性主要定位于间质炎性细胞及导管样复合体中;重组白介素-17A可促进小鼠星状细胞活化,并直接诱导星状细胞表达白介素-6、白介素-1β以及TGF-β等促纤维化细胞因子。结论:白介素-17A在雨蛙肽诱导的小鼠慢性胰腺炎模型中表达上调,并可能通过诱导小鼠星状细胞表达促炎细胞因子白介素-6、白介素-1β和TGF-β,促进胰腺星状细胞活化以及胰腺纤维化。     

天然牛磺酸对肝硬化大鼠MMP-9、Integrin-β1表达的调控

天然牛磺酸广泛存在于海洋生物中,研究发现具有一定抗纤维化作用,基质金属蛋白酶(MMP-9)、整合素β1(Integrin-β1)与肝纤维化密切相关,实验中通过给予肝硬化大鼠不同剂量天然牛磺酸(0.3、0.6、1.2 g/kg·d),采用放射免疫法检测血清肝纤四项含量;实时荧光定量PCR检测大鼠肝组织MMP-9、Integrin-β1 mRNA表达,免疫蛋白印迹法(Western-blot)检测相应蛋白的表达。结果表明,肝硬化大鼠MMP-9、Integrin-β1 mRNA及蛋白表达显著升高,天然牛磺酸能显著减少模型大鼠血清肝纤四项水平,降低MMP-9、Integrin-β1 mRNA及相关蛋白表达,以0.6 g/kg·d剂量组效果最佳。天然牛磺酸下调肝硬化大鼠MMP-9和Integrin-β1的表达,与其发挥肝保护作用密切相关。     

毕赤酵母高效表达血小板源生长因子研究

血小板源生长因子（PDGF）是由多种细胞产生的肽类生长因子,在细胞培养、皮肤溃疡的治疗以及化妆品添加剂中有很重要的作用．将编码PDGF基因克隆到表达载体X1-1-B1ue上,通过电转化整合到毕赤酵母的基因组中,在毕赤酵母三磷酸甘油醛脱氢酶（GAP）启动子的作用下,表达PDGF蛋白,其分子质量为30kD左右,估计其表达量为80～100mg／L．采用MTT法也证实其生物学活性与天然PDGF蛋白非常相似．     

胃癌细胞中AP-1活性与RARα介导的相关性

为确定全反式视黄酸 ( ATRA)抑制胃癌细胞 AP- 1活性过程中 RARα介导的作用机理 ,利用 Northern印迹和 Western印迹测定 RARα基因和 c Jun、c Fos蛋白表达水平 ;氯霉素乙酰转移酶活性 ( CAT)分析 AP- 1活性 ;以及 MTT法检测细胞生长速率 .结果表明 ,ATRA能够诱导 RARα表达 ,抑制 c Jun和 c Fos蛋白表达和 AP- 1活性 ,由此导致胃癌细胞生长抑制 .结果证实 ,ATRA抑制胃癌细胞 AP- 1活性是抑制细胞生长的重要途径之一 ,并与 RARα介导密切相关 .     

雌二醇通过TGFβ1促进前列腺间质细胞MMP-2的表达

基质金属蛋白酶-2 (matrix metalloproteinase-2, MMP-2)在前列腺间质细胞中表达,转化生长因子β1(transforming growth factor β1, TGFβ1)可以通过上调基质金属蛋白酶的表达促进肿瘤细胞迁移. 我们近期发现,雌二醇可以诱导原代前列腺间质细胞TGFβ1表达. 由此我们提出,雌二醇通过上调TGFβ1促进前列腺间质细胞MMP-2表达的假说. 用实时定量RT-PCR和酶谱电泳技术分别检测添加雌二醇、TGFβ1、雌二醇和TGFβ1中和抗体、TG Fβ1和放线菌素D或TGFβ1和放线菌酮,对前列腺间质细胞系WPMY-1中MMP-2表达的调节作用及其分子机制;荧光素酶活性实验检测TGFβ1对MMP-2启动子活性的影响. 结果显示,雌二醇和TGFβ1均以剂量依赖方式促进WPMY-1中MMP-2蛋白水平表达,而对其mRNA表达没有调节作用. 雌二醇可以在转录和翻译水平上促进TGFβ1表达;TGFβ1不能促进MMP-2启动子的活性;雌二醇对MMP-2蛋白表达的促进作用可以被TGFβ1中和抗体阻断. 放线菌酮而非放线菌素D可以抑制TGFβ1对MMP-2表达的上调作用. 表明雌二醇可以在TGFβ1的介导下促进WPMY-1中MMP-2的表达;TGFβ1对MMP-2表达的促进作用是一种转录后的调节机制.结果提示,雌二醇上调间质细胞MMP-2的表达可能是雌激素参与前列腺癌转移和进展的机制之一.     

复方清下汤对脓毒症大鼠肺组织细胞因子白介素-1及白介素-6基因表达的影响

目的 探讨复方清下汤对脓毒症大鼠肺组织白介素-1(IL-1)及白介素-6(IL-6)基因表达的影响,进一步探讨其减轻肺损伤机制.方法 将健康SD大鼠随机分为4组,每组10只:假手术组(SHAM组),脓毒症肺损伤组(模型组),盲肠结扎穿孔+复方清下汤组,以及盲肠结扎穿孔+头孢哌酮舒巴坦(舒普深)组,造模24 h后收集标本.应用免疫组织化学和Westernblotting法检测肺组织中IL-1、IL-6的表达,RT-PCR检测肺组织上述蛋白mRNA表达.结果 与SHAM组比较,模型组IL-1、IL-6的mRNA转录水平和蛋白水平表达均显著升高(P＜0.01);抗生素及中药处理组与模型组比较,IL-1、IL-6的表达明显降低(P＜0.01),抗生素及中药处理组两组检测数据相近.结论 脓毒症大鼠肺损伤时细胞因子IL-1、IL-6过度表达可能是造成脓毒症肺损伤的重要原因;复方清下汤处理的动物模型肺损伤减轻的同时IL-1、IL-6表达变化,提示它可能通过调控IL-1、IL-6表达起作用.     

LINE-1编码蛋白L1-ORF1的原核表达纯化和多克隆抗体制备

目的: 制备具有肿瘤组织特异性表达的L1-ORF1蛋白多克隆抗体并进行初步应用研究。方法:采取基因工程表达方法制备L1-ORF1蛋白,免疫家兔制备多克隆抗体,间接ELISA检测抗体效价,Western blot和细胞免疫荧光方法检测抗体特异性,免疫检测验证其识别肿瘤细胞内L1-ORF1蛋白的特异性。结果:制备的抗L1-ORF1蛋白多克隆抗体具有很高的敏感性与特异性,免疫学检测表明该抗体不仅能检测出正常细胞中瞬时表达的L1-ORF1蛋白,而且可检测出肿瘤细胞中天然表达的L1-ORF1蛋白。结论:制备的多克隆抗体具有较高的敏感性与特异性,为以后该抗体的进一步应用奠定了基础。     

Role of the ASK1-SEK1-JNK1-HIPK1 signal in Daxx trafficking and ASK1 oligomerization

Overexpression of JNK binding domain inhibited glucose deprivation-induced JNK1 activation, relocalization of Daxx from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) oligomerization in human prostate adenocarcinoma DU-145 cells. However, SB203580, a p38 inhibitor, did not prevent relocalization of Daxx and oligomerization of ASK1 during glucose deprivation. Studies from in vivo labeling and immune complex kinase assay demonstrated that phosphorylation of Daxx occurred during glucose deprivation, and its phosphorylation was mediated through the ASK1-SEK1-JNK1-HIPK1 signal transduction pathway. Data from immunofluorescence staining and protein interaction assay suggest that phosphorylated Daxx may be translocated to the cytoplasm, bind to ASK1, and subsequently lead to ASK1 oligomerization. Mutation of Daxx Ser667 to Ala results in suppression of Daxx relocalization during glucose deprivation, suggesting that Ser667 residue plays an important role in the relocalization of Daxx. Unlike wild-type Daxx, a Daxx deletion mutant (amino acids 501-625) mainly localized to the cytoplasm, where it associated with ASK1, activated JNK1, and induced ASK1 oligomerization without glucose deprivation. Taken together, these results show that glucose deprivation activates the ASK1-SEK1-JNK1-HIPK1 pathway, and the activated HIPK1 is probably involved in the relocalization of Daxx from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. The relocalized Daxx may play an important role in glucose deprivation-induced ASK1 oligomerization.     

Antagonism between Cry1Ac1 and Cyt1A1 toxins of bacillus thuringiensis

Most strains of the insecticidal bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis have a combination of different protoxins in their parasporal crystals. Some of the combinations clearly interact synergistically, like the toxins present in B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis. In this paper we describe a novel joint activity of toxins from different strains of B. thuringiensis. In vitro bioassays in which we used pure, trypsin-activated Cry1Ac1 proteins from B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, Cyt1A1 from B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, and Trichoplusia ni BTI-Tn5B1-4 cells revealed contrasting susceptibility characteristics. The 50% lethal concentrations (LC50s) were estimated to be 4,967 of Cry1Ac1 per ml of medium and 11.69 ng of Cyt1A1 per ml of medium. When mixtures of these toxins in different proportions were assayed, eight different LC50s were obtained. All of these LC50s were significantly higher than the expected LC50s of the mixtures. In addition, a series of bioassays were performed with late first-instar larvae of the cabbage looper and pure Cry1Ac1 and Cyt1A1 crystals, as well as two different combinations of the two toxins. The estimated mean LC50 of Cry1Ac1 was 2.46 ng/cm2 of diet, while Cyt1A1 crystals exhibited no toxicity, even at very high concentrations. The estimated mean LC50s of Cry1Ac1 crystals were 15.69 and 19.05 ng per cm2 of diet when these crystals were mixed with 100 and 1,000 ng of Cyt1A1 crystals per cm2 of diet, respectively. These results indicate that there is clear antagonism between the two toxins both in vitro and in vivo. Other joint-action analyses corroborated these results. Although this is the second report of antagonism between B. thuringiensis toxins, our evidence is the first evidence of antagonism between toxins from different subspecies of B. thuringiensis (B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki and B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis) detected both in vivo and in vitro. Some possible explanations for this relationship are discussed.     

Regulation of PCTAIRE1 protein stability by AKT1, LKB1 and BRCA1

PCTAIRE1, also known as CDK16, is a cyclin-dependent kinase that is regulated by cyclin Y. It is a member of the serine-threonine family of kinases and its functions have primarily been implicated in cellular processes like vesicular transport, neuronal growth and development, myogenesis, spermatogenesis and cell proliferation. However, as extensive studies on PCTAIRE1 have not yet been conducted, the signaling pathways for this kinase involved in governing many cellular processes are yet to be elucidated in detail. Here, we report the association of PCTAIRE1 with important cellular proteins involved in major cell signaling pathways, especially cell proliferation. In particular, here we show that PCTAIRE1 interacts with AKT1, a key player of the PI3K signaling pathway that is responsible for promoting cell survival and proliferation. Our studies show that PCTAIRE1 is a substrate of AKT1 that gets stabilized by it. Further, we show that PCTAIRE1 also interacts with and is degraded by LKB1, a kinase that is known to suppress cellular proliferation and also regulate cellular energy metabolism. Moreover, our results show that PCTAIRE1 is also degraded by BRCA1, a well-known tumor suppressor. Together, our studies highlight the regulation of PCTAIRE1 by key players of the major cell signaling pathways involved in regulating cell proliferation, and therefore, provide crucial links that could be explored further to elucidate the mechanistic role of PCTAIRE1 in cell proliferation and tumorigenesis.     

Antagonism between Cry1Ac1 and Cyt1A1 Toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis

Most strains of the insecticidal bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis have a combination of different protoxins in their parasporal crystals. Some of the combinations clearly interact synergistically, like the toxins present in B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis. In this paper we describe a novel joint activity of toxins from different strains of B. thuringiensis. In vitro bioassays in which we used pure, trypsin-activated Cry1Ac1 proteins from B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, Cyt1A1 from B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, and Trichoplusia ni BTI-Tn5B1-4 cells revealed contrasting susceptibility characteristics. The 50% lethal concentrations (LC₅₀s) were estimated to be 4,967 of Cry1Ac1 per ml of medium and 11.69 ng of Cyt1A1 per ml of medium. When mixtures of these toxins in different proportions were assayed, eight different LC₅₀s were obtained. All of these LC₅₀s were significantly higher than the expected LC₅₀s of the mixtures. In addition, a series of bioassays were performed with late first-instar larvae of the cabbage looper and pure Cry1Ac1 and Cyt1A1 crystals, as well as two different combinations of the two toxins. The estimated mean LC₅₀ of Cry1Ac1 was 2.46 ng/cm² of diet, while Cyt1A1 crystals exhibited no toxicity, even at very high concentrations. The estimated mean LC₅₀s of Cry1Ac1 crystals were 15.69 and 19.05 ng per cm² of diet when these crystals were mixed with 100 and 1,000 ng of Cyt1A1 crystals per cm² of diet, respectively. These results indicate that there is clear antagonism between the two toxins both in vitro and in vivo. Other joint-action analyses corroborated these results. Although this is the second report of antagonism between B. thuringiensis toxins, our evidence is the first evidence of antagonism between toxins from different subspecies of B. thuringiensis (B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki and B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis) detected both in vivo and in vitro. Some possible explanations for this relationship are discussed.     

Isolation and Characterization of Ubiquitin-activating Enzyme E1-domain Containing 1, UBE1DC1

Ubiquitin and other ubiquitin-like proteins play important roles in post-translational modification. They are phylogenetically well-conserved in eukaryotes. Activated by other proteins, ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins can covalently modify target proteins. The enzymes responsible for the activation of this modification have been known to include UBA1, SAE2, UBA3, SAE1 and ULA1. Here we report a new ubiquitin activating enzyme like cDNA, named ubiquitin activating enzyme E1-domain containing 1 (UBE1DC1), whose cDNA is 2654 base pairs in length and contains an open reading frame encoding 404 amino acids. The UBE1DC1 gene consists of 12 exons and is located at human chromosome 3q22. The result of RT-PCR showed that UBE1DC1 is expressed in most of human tissues. These two authors contributed equally to this paper. The nucleotide sequence reported in this paper has been submitted to GenBank under accession number AY253672.     

Characterization of Chrysanthemum ClSOC1-1 and ClSOC1-2, homologous genes of SOC1

The MADS-box gene SOC1/TM3 (SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1/ Tomato MADS-box gene 3) is a main integrator in the Arabidopsis flowering pathway; its structure and function are highly conserved in many plant species. SOC1-like genes have been isolated in chrysanthemum, one of the most well-known ornamental plants, but it has not been well characterized thus far. We isolated and characterized ClSOC1-1 and ClSOC1-2, two putative orthologs of Arabidopsis SOC1, from the wild diploid chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium, to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of flowering time control in chrysanthemum. Expression analysis indicated that ClSOC1-1 and ClSOC1-2 were expressed in all examined organs/tissues (leaves, shoot apices, petioles, stems and roots) with different expression levels, and with high expression in the shoot apices and leaves during the early stage of floral transition. The expression levels of ClSOC1-1 and ClSOC1-2 in the shoot apices increased at different developmental stages with the highest expression levels after 7 days of short-day treatment. Overexpression of ClSOC1-1 and ClSOC1-2 in wild-type Arabidopsis resulted in early flowering, which was coupled with the upregulation of one of the flowering promoter genes LEAFY. Our results suggested that the ClSOC1-1 and ClSOC1-2 genes play an evolutionarily conserved role in promoting flowering in Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium and could serve as a vital target for the genetic manipulation of flowering time in the chrysanthemum.