NLRP3炎症小体与肠道微生态

NLRP3炎症小体(NOD-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome, NLRP3 inflammasome)由胞浆内模式识别受体(pattern recognition receptors, PRRs)、细胞凋亡相关的斑点样蛋白(apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-recruitment domain, ASC)和胱天蛋白酶(caspase)组成。NLRP3炎症小体是经典的细胞内固有免疫的感受器,能够被机体内外危险信号激活,进而诱导下游白介素(interleukin, IL)-1β、IL-18等促炎症因子释放,对维持宿主防御功能以及调控肠道微生态至关重要。肠道微生态是由数量巨大且结构复杂的肠道菌群及其代谢物组成,参与机体多种重要生命活动,导致相关疾病发生发展。肠道菌群及其代谢物,包括胆汁酸、脂肪酸、脂质和糖酵解产物,可调控NLRP3炎症小体激活。NLRP3炎症小体及其整合的信号通路与肠道微生态密切相关,然而对于NLRP3炎症小体在调控肠道微生态、肠道炎症却有截然不同结论。有关NLRP3炎症小体与肠道微生态相互作用研究较多,靶向NLRP3炎症小体调控肠道微生态也日益成为肠道微生态失衡疾病的治疗新方向。因此,本文重点就NLRP3炎症小体结构与激活、NLPR3炎症小体与肠道菌群代谢和NLRP3炎症小体与肠道微生态调控进行综述,以期为基于NLRP3炎症小体与肠道微生态相互作用的靶向治疗提供思路与参考。     

肿瘤坏死因子受体作用因子3(TRAF3)结构及生物学功能

目前在哺乳动物中发现6个肿瘤坏死因子受体作用因子(TNF receptor associated factors,TRAFs)家族成员,它们主要参与TNF受体家族信号通路.这些TRAF成员在C末端有螺旋卷曲结构和保守的TRAF结构域.TRAF3是TRAF家族中功能最为多样化的成员之一.1996年对TRAF3基因敲除小鼠进行研究发现,小鼠在出生早期死亡,这阻碍了TRAF3的生物学功能进一步研究,另一方面也证实了TRAF3在出生后发育以及维持正常的免疫系统功能方面有着重要生物学功能.10年后研究发现,TRAF3的缺失能够导致非经典NF-κB信号通路激活,这使得TRAF3在该信号通路中的功能得到了进一步的阐述.最近研究表明,TRAF3不仅能够负向调节NF-κB和MAPK信号通路,还能够正向调节Ⅰ型干扰素的产生.通过研究还发现,TRAF3可能存在着负向调节钙调蛋白磷酸酶活性的新功能.因此,研究TRAF3在免疫信号通路中的作用以及与之相关的病毒疾病具有重要的意义.     

泛素化在TRAF2介导的NF-κB信号通路中的作用

NF-κB（核因子κ增强子结合蛋白）是核转录因子家族成员,具有调节免疫、炎症和细胞存活的功能.它可被TRAF2（tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 2,肿瘤坏死因子受体相关因子2）等相关因子活化.TRAF2包含了N-端的环指结构域和C-端的高度保守结构域.它通过与肿瘤坏死因子受体超家族成员相互作用,介导了下游信号通路.而TRAF2的泛素化在过程中是关键的,鞘磷脂作为TRAF2的泛素化连接酶辅助因子,在TRAF2介导的NF-κB信号通路中发挥重要作用.     

TRAF6 与NF-κB 在特发性炎症性肌病小鼠肌肉中的表达及意义

目的:研究肿瘤坏死因子受体相关因子6(TRAF6)与核转录因子κB(NF-κB)在特发性炎症性肌病(IIMs)中的表达情况,探讨TRAF6在IIMs发病中的作用及机制。方法:30只雌性BALB/c小鼠随机分为5组(每组6只),A:正常对照组;B~E:IIMs模型自第一次免疫后分别在1周、2周、3周、4周末处理组;采用实时荧光定量PCR方法检测各组小鼠肌肉组织中TRAF6与NF-κB m RNA表达水平。结果:(1)IIMs各组小鼠肌肉中TRAF6与NF-κB m RNA与正常对照组相比表达均有不同程度升高(P0.01),第2周末时升高最为显著(P0.01),第3周、4周呈下降趋势(P0.01);(2)IIMs小鼠各组肌肉组织中TRAF6与NF-κB m RNA表达水平与肌肉炎症程度呈正相关(r=0.940,r=0.908,P0.01),前二者之间也呈显著正相关(r=0.944,P0.01)。结论:TRAF6、NF-κB m RNA表达在IIMs小鼠肌肉中上调,TRAF6可能通过NF-κB的激活在IIMs发生发展过程中发挥重要作用。     

自噬与NLRP3炎症小体激活间的相互作用

自噬作为真核生物细胞遭遇各种应激压力时发生的一种基本应答方式,参与细胞的多种生命活动,使细胞在各种应激条件下维持一种动态平衡状态。NOD样受体家族核苷酸结合寡聚化结构域样受体3（NOD-like receptor family,pyrin domain containing 3,NLRP3）炎症小体,是生物体内防御病原微生物的固有免疫防御系统的重要组成部分。NLRP3炎症小体通过激活胱天蛋白酶-1（caspase-1）,从而促进白细胞介素-1β（interleukin-1,IL-1β）和白细胞介素-18（interleukin-18,IL-18）等促炎细胞因子的成熟和分泌,继而介导炎症的发生。众多研究表明,自噬能够负向或正向调控NLRP3炎症小体的激活。同时,NLRP3炎症小体也会逆向影响自噬的作用。本文对自噬包括选择性自噬与NLRP3炎症小体激活的相互作用,以及通过激活自噬抑制NLRP3炎症小体,从而在炎症相关疾病治疗中的应用进行综述。     

病毒感染激活和抑制炎症小体的研究进展

促炎细胞因子白细胞介素1β(IL-1β)和白细胞介素18(IL-18)主要由巨噬细胞和树突细胞产生,是宿主针对各种侵入病原体产生先天免疫应答的重要介质。这些促炎细胞因子从病毒感染的细胞中分泌,被称为炎症小体的多蛋白复合物严格调控。根据炎症小体识别蛋白的种类,炎症小体主要分为两类,即核苷酸结合寡聚结构域样受体(NOD-like receptors,NLRs)和黑色素瘤缺乏因子2样受体(Absent in melanoma 2,AIM2)炎症小体。与其他宿主防御机制不同,炎症小体活化后,会诱导促炎细胞因子IL-1β、IL-18的成熟及分泌。适量的促炎细胞因子有利于控制病理性感染,但如果过量,则会对机体造成一定免疫损伤。本文主要对近几年有关病毒感染对炎症小体的激活和抑制机制进行了综述,总结分析了炎症小体在参与天然免疫反应及病毒感染致病过程中具有的重要作用。     

尼罗罗非鱼traf6基因表达谱及信号转导

肿瘤坏死因子受体相关因子6(TRAF6)是一种重要的接头蛋白,在Toll样受体/白细胞介素-1受体(TLR/IL-1R)超家族所触发的信号通路中起重要作用,与先天性免疫密切相关。文章研究了尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)traf6的表达模式和初步的功能。在健康鱼中,traf6转录本广泛表达于所有受检组织中,在血液中表达水平最高,在肝脏中最低。在不同的胚胎发育阶段也检测到traf6的表达。在无乳链球菌体内感染后,大多数受检组织中traf6 mRNA的表达量上调。此外,LPS、Poly I:C和S.agalactiae可显著诱导尼罗罗非鱼巨噬细胞traf6的表达。此外,在HEK293T细胞中过表达表明,TRAF6分布于细胞质中,可显著提高NF-κB的活性。免疫共沉淀(Co-IP)实验表明,TRAF6可与IRAK1(白细胞介素-1受体相关激酶1)相互作用,IRAK1在TLR/IL-1R信号通路中也起重要作用。在体内,TLR2、TLR21和TLR13b的过表达可上调traf6 mRNA的表达水平,表明TRAF6参与了TLR2、TLR21和TLR13b介导的信号转导,提示TRAF6在病原体入侵的免疫应答中起重要作用。     

亚硝基化谷胱甘肽还原酶: 一个调控炎症反应的新分子

炎症因子的表达调控是炎症反应的关键步骤,与自身免疫疾病以及癌症等密切相关．一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO)在炎症因子表达调控中具有重要作用,但已有的研究多关注于NO合成对炎症因子的调控作用,而对NO代谢的作用知之甚少．亚硝基化谷胱甘肽还原酶(S-nitrosoglutathione reductase,GSNOR)是体内NO信号通路代谢调控的关键蛋白．本研究发现脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)在RAW264.7细胞中上调诱导型一氧化氮合酶(inducible nitric oxide synthase,iNOS)的同时下调GSNOR的转录和蛋白质表达,该下调作用依赖MEK1/2、p38和PI3K信号通路．抑制GSNOR可促进LPS诱导的炎症因子IL-1β、IL-6和TNF-α表达,而过表达GSNOR作用相反．抗炎症药物曲古抑菌素A (trichostatin A,TSA)能够挽回LPS对GSNOR的下调作用,并且GSNOR抑制剂削弱了TSA对炎症因子IL-6和TNF-α转录的抑制效应．这些结果表明：GSNOR是一个新的重要炎症调控分子,它可能成为调控NO介导的炎症相关信号通路的新的潜在靶点,上调GSNOR可能是抑制炎症的新思路．本研究揭示了巨噬细胞通过上调iNOS和下调GSNOR共同增强免疫炎症反应的新机制,拓展了对NO代谢在炎症反应中作用机制的认识．     

NLRP6炎症小体与肠道微生态研究进展

NLRP6炎症小体作为炎症反应的核心识别环节,由PRRs、ASC、Caspase三部分组成,可激活下游IL-1β、IL-18等炎症分子。肠道微生态主要由肠道内结构复杂的微生物、种类繁多的代谢物和肠道黏膜屏障组成,参与机体多种重要生命功能,与多种疾病发生发展密切相关。NLRP6炎症小体广泛分布于肠道组织中,可识别肠道内多种危险信号,进而与众多下游信号通路关联,调控肠道内微生物组成和肠道黏膜屏障,从而调控疾病进展。此外,肠道微生物菌群或其代谢产物可直接激活NLRP6炎症小体,也可通过肠-肝循环刺激肝脏内NLRP6炎症小体,对维持肠道微生态平衡及宿主-微生物相互作用至关重要。基于NLRP6炎症小体与肠道微生态之间的相互调控机制,靶向NLRP6炎症小体调节肠道微生态失衡,成为与肠道微生态失衡相关疾病治疗的新思路。文章就NLRP6炎症小体的组成、分布与激活,NLRP6炎症小体与肠道微生物、代谢产物、肠道黏膜屏障相互调控机制进行综述,为临床治疗肠道微生态失衡相关疾病提供更多研究思路。     

肿瘤坏死因子受体相关因子-6在胰腺癌肿瘤发生中的作用

肿瘤坏死因子受体相关因子-6 (TRAF6)在胰腺癌中过度表达并参与调节肿瘤细胞的生长,然而其具体机制尚不清楚。本研究旨在考察TRAF6在胰腺癌肿瘤发生中的作用。研究显示,敲低TRAF6的表达显著抑制人胰腺癌细胞系PANC-1的YAP的活性。敲低TRAF6的表达显著抑制YAP的3个靶基因(Cyr61,Cyclin E和CTGF)的表达。并且,TRAF6的下调显著降低了YAP的蛋白水平。敲低YAP的表达消除了TRAF6对胰腺癌细胞迁移和集落形成的促进作用。免疫荧光观察到PANC-1细胞中TRAF6和MST1的共定位。在GST pull-down测定实验中发现在PANC-1细胞中GST-TRAF6与MST可形成复合物。PANC-1细胞中TRAF6的过表达以剂量依赖性方式降低MST蛋白水平,而敲低TRAF6则显著增加MST蛋白的表达水平。总之,本研究表明,TRAF6通过YAP信号通路调节胰腺癌的进展。TRAF6与MST之间存在交互作用,并且TRAF6的上调可促进MST的降解,从而促进胰腺癌进展。因此,TRAF6有望成为胰腺癌的新治疗靶标。     

补体第六成分（C6）在汉族5个群体中的多态分布

用聚丙烯酰胺等电聚焦技术和免疫酶标法,调查分析了汉族5个群体补体第六成分(C6)的遗传多态性,得出基因频率如下。郑州汉族:C6*A 0.4521、C6*B 0.5228、C6*B_2 0.0183、和C6*R 0.0068。兰州汉族:C6*A 0.4612、C6*B 0.5218和C6*B_2 0.0170。呼和浩特汉族:C6*A 0.4452、C6*B 0.5286、C6*B_2 0.0214和C6*R 0.0048。西安汉族:C6*A 0.4899、C6*B 0.4874、C6*B_2 0.0126和C6*R 0.0101。广东梅州客家人:C6*A 0.4569、C6*B 0.5152和C6*B_2 0.0279。C6*R为罕见等位基因之频率。     

cxcr2基因修饰小鼠骨髓间充质干细胞的构建与鉴定

目的构建小鼠CXC型趋化因子受体2(CXCR2)基因cxcr2过表达的骨髓间充质干细胞(Bone marrow mes-enchymal stem cell,BMSC)并进行鉴定。方法全骨髓贴壁法分离培养小鼠BMSC,采用流式细胞术检测干细胞抗原1(stem cell antigen-1,SCA-1)、CD44、CD43、CD45、IA/IE表达率,并诱导成骨分化。以含有小鼠cxcr2的质粒为模版进行PCR扩增,将获得的cxcr2克隆到慢病毒载体,命名为p Lenti-cxcr2-GZ;将其与慢病毒包装质粒共转染HEK-293T细胞,收获慢病毒后,通过离心法感染BMSC,经过1μg/mL zeocin压力选择建立了稳定表达CXCR2的小鼠BMSC(CXCR2-BMSC)。采用流式细胞术和RT-PCR分别检测其CXCR2蛋白和m RNA表达水平,Transwell趋化实验检测其迁移能力。结果 90%以上的第3代BMSC表达CD44、SCA-1,几乎不表达IA/IE、CD34、CD45,且成功诱导成骨分化。菌液PCR、质粒双酶切后,琼脂糖凝胶电泳鉴定结果得到特异、大小正确的条带及测序鉴定正确,表明成功构建了p Lenti-cxcr2-GZ表达质粒。流式细胞术和RT-PCR结果显示,CXCR2-BMSC的CXCR2蛋白和m RNA表达水平均明显高于对照组BMSC,差异有统计学意义(P<0.001)。Transwell结果显示,CXCR2-BMSC迁移能力高于对照组BMSC,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论利用慢病毒系统成功构建了稳定表达CXCR2的BM-SC,cxcr2基因修饰BMSC后可明显增加BMSC的迁移能力。     

Transcriptional activation of endothelial cells by TGFβ coincides with acute microvascular plasticity following focal spinal cord ischaemia/reperfusion injury

Microvascular dysfunction, loss of vascular support, ischaemia and sub-acute vascular instability in surviving blood vessels contribute to secondary injury following SCI (spinal cord injury). Neither the precise temporal profile of the cellular dynamics of spinal microvasculature nor the potential molecular effectors regulating this plasticity are well understood. TGFβ (transforming growth factor β) isoforms have been shown to be rapidly increased in response to SCI and CNS (central nervous system) ischaemia, but no data exist regarding their contribution to microvascular dysfunction following SCI. To examine these issues, in the present study we used a model of focal spinal cord ischaemia/reperfusion SCI to examine the cellular response(s) of affected microvessels from 30 min to 14 days post-ischaemia. Spinal endothelial cells were isolated from affected tissue and subjected to focused microarray analysis of TGFβ-responsive/related mRNAs 6 and 24 h post-SCI. Immunohistochemical analyses of histopathology show neuronal disruption/loss and astroglial regression from spinal microvessels by 3 h post-ischaemia, with complete dissolution of functional endfeet (loss of aquaporin-4) by 12 h post-ischaemia. Coincident with this microvascular plasticity, results from microarray analyses show 9 out of 22 TGFβ-responsive mRNAs significantly up-regulated by 6 h post-ischaemia. Of these, serpine 1/PAI-1 (plasminogen-activator inhibitor 1) demonstrated the greatest increase (>40-fold). Furthermore, uPA (urokinase-type plasminogen activator), another member of the PAS (plasminogen activator system), was also significantly increased (>7.5-fold). These results, along with other select up-regulated mRNAs, were confirmed biochemically or immunohistochemically. Taken together, these results implicate TGFβ as a potential molecular effector of the anatomical and functional plasticity of microvessels following SCI.     

Expression of mRNAs for Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor (CNTF), Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and Their Receptors (CNTFRα, LIFRβ, IL-6Rα, and gp130) in Human Peripheral Neuropathies

The mRNA levels of neuropoietic cytokines, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and their receptor components (CNTFR, LIFR, IL-6R, and gp130) were examined in seventy-six patients with various peripheral neuropathies to determine the extent of expression of these cytokines and receptors, and their relationship to nerve fiber pathology and cell infiltration in the diseased nerves. The CNTF mRNA levels were significantly decreased in the diseased nerves and were correlated to residual myelinated fiber population. In contrast, the mRNA levels of LIF, IL-6 and the ligand-binding receptor components (CNTFR, LIFR and IL-6R) were elevated to variable extent in the diseased nerves. The CNTFR, LIFR, and IL-6R mRNA levels showed a weak positive correlation with the extent of demyelinating pathology and their levels were related to each other. Moreover, the CNTF and LIF mRNA levels were inversely proportional to the extent of macrophage invasion, whereas the CNTFR and IL-6R mRNA expressions were correlated to the increase in macrophage infiltration. The neuropoietic cytokine family and its receptor expressions in the diseased human nerves are regulated by an underlying pathology-related process rather than type of diseases, and could play a role in peripheral nerve regeneration and repair.     

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt auto-regulates PDGF-BB-stimulated interleukin-6 synthesis in osteoblasts

It has been reported that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB stimulates the synthesis of interleukin (IL)-6 in osteoblasts. In the present study, we investigated whether the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt is involved in the PDGF-BB-induced IL-6 synthesis in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. PDGF-BB markedly induced the phosphorylation of Akt and GSK-3beta. Akt inhibitor, 1L-6-hydroxymethyl-chiro-inositol 2-(R)-2-O-methyl-3-O-octadecylcarbonate, significantly amplified the synthesis of IL-6 by PDGF-BB. The PDGF-BB-induced GSK-3beta phosphorylation was suppressed by the Akt inhibitor. The IL-6 synthesis stimulated by PDGF-BB was markedly enhanced by LY294002 and wortmannin, inhibitors of PI3K. Wortmannin and LY294002 suppressed the PDGF-BB-induced phosphorylation of Akt and GSK-3beta. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that PI3K/Akt negatively regulates the PDGF-BB-stimulated IL-6 synthesis in osteoblasts.     

Fivefold increase in derivation rates of mouse embryonic stem cells after supplementation of the media with multiple factors

The objective of this study was to determine the ability of multiple-factor supplementation to augment derivation of mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells. Three factors, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), Parke-Davis 98059 (PD98059), and 6-bromoindirubin-3′-oxime (BIO), were added as supplements (individually or in a combination of all three) at two consecutive stages of culture; that is, from the start of blastocyst culture to the outgrowth stage, and from putting disaggregated outgrowth into culture medium to generation of primary mES colonies, respectively. The main outcome measure was the percentage of derivable mES cell lines, based on the number of blastocysts initially cultured. Three experiments demonstrated the following: (1) For the addition of individual single factor, only LIF yielded mES cell lines (6.2%), whereas a combination of all three factors resulted in the greatest number of mES cell lines (31.3%). (2) The advantages of a combination of multiple factors (LIF + PD98059 + BIO) were manifested only when they were used during the first stage of the culture and not during the second stage (31.6% vs. 6.2%, respectively). (3) The quality of the inner cell mass (ICM) outgrowth obtained from first-stage culture was studied. After alkaline phosphatase and Oct-4 staining, which documented pluripotency of the embryonic stem cells, outgrowths cultured in multiple factors (LIF + PD98059 + BIO) stained much stronger and in higher proportions than did those obtained after supplementation only with LIF (80% vs. 30%, respectively).     

Kruppel样因子4对内毒素所致IL-6基因表达的调控及机制研究

探讨Kruppel样因子4(KLF4)对内毒素所致白介素(IL-6)的基因表达以及释放的影响,并对其调控机制做了初步研究．使用RT-PCR和Western blot检测KLF4 mRNA和蛋白质的表达．采用KLF4过表达的RAW264.7巨噬细胞株或反义寡核苷酸技术抑制内源性KLF4的表达,用RT-PCR和ELISA检测内毒素(LPS)刺激后IL-6 mRNA和蛋白质的表达．采用荧光素酶报告基因检测RAW264.7细胞中KLF4过表达对IL-6基因启动子报告基因转录活性的影响．使用EMSA法检测细胞中KLF4与IL-6基因启动子区KLF4元件的结合．结果表明：LPS可以诱导RAW264.7巨噬细胞KLF4的表达以及IL-6蛋白表达．KLF4过表达明显抑制IL-6的mRNA和蛋白质的表达,而KLF4缺失使这种作用消失．荧光素酶报告基因的结果显示,KLF4可以抑制LPS所致的IL-6基因启动子的转录活性．EMSA显示KLF4不能与IL-6启动子区的KLF4结合元件直接结合．结果表明,LPS可以促进RAW264.7小鼠巨噬细胞KLF4的表达和IL-6的释放．KLF4能抑制LPS诱导的IL-6表达和释放,其机制是抑制IL-6启动子的转录活性,但KLF4的抑制作用不是通过直接与IL-6基因的启动子区相结合而实现的．     

Divergent cytokine response following maximum progressive swimming in hot water

Exercise promotes transitory alterations in cytokine secretion, and these changes are affected by exercise duration and intensity. Considering that exercise responses also are affected by environmental factors, the goal of the present study was to investigate the effect of water temperature on the cytokine response to maximum swimming. Swiss mice performed a maximum progressive swimming exercise at 31 or 38 °C, and plasma cytokine levels were evaluated immediately or 1, 6 or 24 h after exercise. The cytokine profile after swimming at 31 °C was characterized by increased interleukin (IL)‐6 and monocyte chemotactic protein‐1 (MCP‐1) levels, which peaked 1 h after exercise, suggesting an adequate inflammatory milieu to induce muscle regeneration. Transitory reductions in IL‐10 and IL‐12 levels also were observed after swimming at 31 °C. The cytokine response to swimming was modified when the water temperature was increased to 38 °C. Although exercise at 38 °C also led to IL‐6 secretion, the peak in IL‐6 production occurred 6 h after exercise, and IL‐6 levels were significantly lower than those observed after maximum swimming at 31 °C (p = 0·030). Furthermore, MCP‐1 levels were lower and tumour necrosis factor‐α levels were higher immediately after swimming at 38 °C, suggesting a dysregulated pro‐inflammatory milieu. These alterations in the cytokine profile can be attributed in part to reduced exercise total work because exhaustion occurred sooner in mice swimming at 38 °C than in those swimming at 31 °C. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.