活化素和卵泡抑素对绍鸭卵泡颗粒细胞FSH受体mRNA表达作用的研究

分别用活化素（Activin）、卵泡抑素（FSP）及其组合（Activin FSP）来处理培养的鸭未成熟卵泡颗粒细胞,发现在FSH存在与不存在的情况下,Activin均能促进FSH受体mRNA的表达,且随着Activin浓度的增大,其刺激作用增强。FSP自身对FSH受体产生无显著作用,但能中和Activin对该受体产生的促进作用。这说明FSP和Activin对颗粒细胞具有自分泌作用,二者通过调节FSH受体mRNA的表达而在卵泡的生长发育过程中起着重要作用。     

构建骨骼肌特异表达人FS基因载体及其稳定转染绵羊胎儿成纤维细胞

旨在构建骨骼肌特异表达人卵泡抑制素( follistatin,Fs)基因载体并得到其稳定转染的蒙古绵羊胎儿成纤维细胞系,为后期通过体细胞核移植方法制作转FS基因克隆绵羊奠定基础.首先通过RT-PCR方法克隆得到人FS基因cDNA序列,然后与猪骨骼肌特异表达启动子α-actin以及红色荧光蛋白表达元件连接,构建成FS基因骨骼肌特异表达载体pCFCDS.脂质体介导外源表达载体转染绵羊胎儿成纤维细胞,经G418筛选后得到稳定转染的绵羊转基因细胞克隆.PCR鉴定外源基因在细胞基因组中的整合,分析转基因细胞系的核型和生长状况.结果显示,成功构建得到绵羊骨骼肌特异表达人FS基因的真核表达载体,并得到其稳定转染的转基因绵羊胎儿成纤维细胞系,为后期通过体细胞核移植方法制作转FS基因克隆绵羊奠定基础.     

Neural Agrin Changes the Electrical Properties of Developing Human Skeletal Muscle Cells

Recent investigations suggest that the effects of neural agrin might not be limited to neuromuscular junction formation and maintenance and that other aspects of muscle development might be promoted by agrin. Here we tested the hypothesis that agrin induces a change in the excitability properties in primary cultures of non-innervated human myotubes. Electrical membrane properties of human myotubes were recorded using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Cell incubation with recombinant chick neural agrin (1 nM) led to a more negative membrane resting potential. Addition of strophanthidin, a blocker of the Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase, depolarized agrin-treated myotubes stronger than control, indicating, in the presence of agrin, a higher contribution of the Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase in establishing the resting membrane potential. Indeed, larger amounts of both the α1 and the α2 isoforms of the Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase protein were expressed in agrin-treated cells. A slight but significant down-regulation of functional apamin-sensitive K⁺ channels was observed after agrin treatment. These results indicate that neural agrin might act as a trophic factor promoting the maturation of membrane electrical properties during differentiation, confirming the role of agrin as a general promoter of muscle development. Tomaz Mars and Marina Sciancalepore contributed equally to this article. A preliminary account of our data has been presented in abstract form. Jurdana M, Mars T, Grubic Z, Sciancalepore M (2006) Agrin promotes the maturation of non-innervated human myotubes. Acta Physiol 188(Suppl 652):P6.     

Adult and Embryonic Skeletal Muscle Microexplant Culture and Isolation of Skeletal Muscle Stem Cells

Cultured embryonic and adult skeletal muscle cells have a number of different uses. The micro-dissected explants technique described in this chapter is a robust and reliable method for isolating relatively large numbers of proliferative skeletal muscle cells from juvenile, adult or embryonic muscles as a source of skeletal muscle stem cells. The authors have used micro-dissected explant cultures to analyse the growth characteristics of skeletal muscle cells in wild-type and dystrophic muscles. Each of the components of tissue growth, namely cell survival, proliferation, senescence and differentiation can be analysed separately using the methods described here. The net effect of all components of growth can be established by means of measuring explant outgrowth rates. The micro-explant method can be used to establish primary cultures from a wide range of different muscle types and ages and, as described here, has been adapted by the authors to enable the isolation of embryonic skeletal muscle precursors.Uniquely, micro-explant cultures have been used to derive clonal (single cell origin) skeletal muscle stem cell (SMSc) lines which can be expanded and used for in vivo transplantation. In vivo transplanted SMSc behave as functional, tissue-specific, satellite cells which contribute to skeletal muscle fibre regeneration but which are also retained (in the satellite cell niche) as a small pool of undifferentiated stem cells which can be re-isolated into culture using the micro-explant method.Download video file.^{(90M, mov)}     

小鼠肌母细胞的增殖与分化

通过对小鼠肌母细胞C2C12的培养,研究C2C12细胞的增殖与分化的关系以及胰岛素在细胞分化过程中的作用。在对照组中,C2C12细胞增殖占了明显的优势,细胞形态几乎没有发生变化;而在实验组中,C2C12细胞在换为分化培养基24小时后,就出现了部分细胞衰亡和死亡的现象,尤其是在48小时细胞的死亡率达到最高,存活细胞开始从增殖期进入分化期,72小时出现了少量肌管,在96小时细胞分化效果达到最好。而在添加了胰岛素的分化培养基中的细胞分化效果明显好于没有添加胰岛素的分化培养基中的细胞,结果表明,胰岛素促进C2C12细胞的分化。     

A Mathematical Model for the Actions of Activin,Inhibin, and Follistatin on Pituitary Gonadotrophs

The timed secretion of the luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) from pituitary gonadotrophs during the estrous cycle is crucial for normal reproductive functioning. The release of LH and FSH is stimulated by gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) secreted by hypothalamic GnRH neurons. It is controlled by the frequency of the GnRH signal that varies during the estrous cycle. Curiously, the secretion of LH and FSH is differentially regulated by the frequency of GnRH pulses. LH secretion increases as the frequency increases within a physiological range, and FSH secretion shows a biphasic response, with a peak at a lower frequency. There is considerable experimental evidence that one key factor in these differential responses is the autocrine/paracrine actions of the pituitary polypeptides activin and follistatin. Based on these data, we develop a mathematical model that incorporates the dynamics of these polypeptides. We show that a model that incorporates the actions of activin and follistatin is sufficient to generate the differential responses of LH and FSH secretion to changes in the frequency of GnRH pulses. In addition, it shows that the actions of these polypeptides, along with the ovarian polypeptide inhibin and the estrogen-mediated variations in the frequency of GnRH pulses, are sufficient to account for the time courses of LH and FSH plasma levels during the rat estrous cycle. That is, a single peak of LH on the afternoon of proestrus and a double peak of FSH on proestrus and early estrus. We also use the model to identify which regulation pathways are indispensable for the differential regulation of LH and FSH and their time courses during the estrous cycle. We conclude that the actions of activin, inhibin, and follistatin are consistent with LH/FSH secretion patterns, and likely complement other factors in the production of the characteristic secretion patterns in female rats.     

Permeability of Frog Skeletal Muscle Cells to Choline

Using choline-methyl-C¹⁴ as a tracer, it has been shown that choline⁺ penetrates into the cells of resting frog skeletal muscle at a rate similar to that of Na⁺, and that it escapes from these cells much more slowly than does Na⁺. Some implications of these findings are discussed.     

Serum Activin A and Follistatin Levels in Gestational Diabetes and the Association of the Activin A-Follistatin System with Anthropometric Parameters in Offspring

Context

The Activin A-Follistatin system has emerged as an important regulator of lipid and glucose metabolism with possible repercussions on fetal growth.

Objective

To analyze circulating activin A, follistatin and follistatin-like-3 (FSTL3) levels and their relationship with glucose metabolism in pregnant women and their influence on fetal growth and neonatal adiposity.

Design and methods

A prospective cohort was studied comprising 207 pregnant women, 129 with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and 78 with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and their offspring. Activin A, follistatin and FSTL3 levels were measured in maternal serum collected in the early third trimester of pregnancy. Serial fetal ultrasounds were performed during the third trimester to evaluate fetal growth. Neonatal anthropometry was measured to assess neonatal adiposity.

Results

Serum follistatin levels were significantly lower in GDM than in NGT pregnant women (8.21±2.32 ng/mL vs 9.22±3.41, P = 0.012) whereas serum FSTL3 and activin A levels were comparable between the two groups. Serum follistatin concentrations were negatively correlated with HOMA-IR and positively with ultrasound growth parameters such as fractional thigh volume estimation in the middle of the third trimester and percent fat mass at birth. Also, in the stepwise multiple linear regression analysis serum follistatin levels were negatively associated with HOMA-IR (β = −0.199, P = 0.008) and the diagnosis of gestational diabetes (β = −0.138, P = 0.049). Likewise, fractional thigh volume estimation in the middle of third trimester and percent fat mass at birth were positively determined by serum follistatin levels (β = 0.214, P = 0.005 and β = 0.231, P = 0.002, respectively).

Conclusions

Circulating follistatin levels are reduced in GDM compared with NGT pregnant women and they are positively associated with fetal growth and neonatal adiposity. These data suggest a role of the Activin-Follistatin system in maternal and fetal metabolism during pregnancy.     

骨骼肌卫星细胞的特性及其增殖与分化的调控

成体骨骼肌细胞的数量基本保持恒定,骨骼肌的再生主要依赖肌卫星细胞的增殖与分化。骨骼肌卫星细胞是能够被激活、进而分化为肌细胞的一类成肌细胞。现对肌卫星细胞的发生、体外培养以及增殖与分化的调控进行综述,并对能否通过激活肌卫星细胞的增殖来实现肌肉组织生长的调控进行探讨。     

肌肉生长抑制因子对肌细胞发育的调控研究

肌肉生长抑制因子（MSTN）是动物肌肉生长发育的一个重要的负调控主效基因。它的表达受其他肌肉发育的调控因子如MyoD,FoxO等的调控。MSTN原蛋白经蛋白酶修饰变成的活性蛋白存在于血液循环系统中,它可以结合到细胞膜表面受体,激活细胞内信号通路,与其他因子的协同作用对肌肉发育和脂肪生成产生不同生理效应。本文将对MSTN基因及其蛋白的结构特点,表达调控因子,细胞内信号传导,及其对组织发育的影响进行探讨。     

An Antibody Blocking Activin Type II Receptors Induces Strong Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy and Protects from Atrophy

The myostatin/activin type II receptor (ActRII) pathway has been identified to be critical in regulating skeletal muscle size. Several other ligands, including GDF11 and the activins, signal through this pathway, suggesting that the ActRII receptors are major regulatory nodes in the regulation of muscle mass. We have developed a novel, human anti-ActRII antibody (bimagrumab, or BYM338) to prevent binding of ligands to the receptors and thus inhibit downstream signaling. BYM338 enhances differentiation of primary human skeletal myoblasts and counteracts the inhibition of differentiation induced by myostatin or activin A. BYM338 prevents myostatin- or activin A-induced atrophy through inhibition of Smad2/3 phosphorylation, thus sparing the myosin heavy chain from degradation. BYM338 dramatically increases skeletal muscle mass in mice, beyond sole inhibition of myostatin, detected by comparing the antibody with a myostatin inhibitor. A mouse version of the antibody induces enhanced muscle hypertrophy in myostatin mutant mice, further confirming a beneficial effect on muscle growth beyond myostatin inhibition alone through blockade of ActRII ligands. BYM338 protects muscles from glucocorticoid-induced atrophy and weakness via prevention of muscle and tetanic force losses. These data highlight the compelling therapeutic potential of BYM338 for the treatment of skeletal muscle atrophy and weakness in multiple settings.     

Expression of VEGF Receptors on Endothelial Cells in Mouse Skeletal Muscle

VEGFR surface localization plays a critical role in converting extracellular VEGF signaling towards angiogenic outcomes, and the quantitative characterization of these parameters is critical for advancing computational models; however the levels of these receptors on blood vessels is currently unknown. Therefore our aim is to quantitatively determine the VEGFR localization on endothelial cells from mouse hindlimb skeletal muscles. We contextualize this VEGFR quantification through comparison to VEGFR-levels on cells in vitro. Using quantitative fluorescence we measure and compare the levels of VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 on endothelial cells isolated from C57BL/6 and BALB/c gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior hindlimb muscles. Fluorescence measurements are calibrated using beads with known numbers of phycoerythrin molecules. The data show a 2-fold higher VEGFR1 surface localization relative to VEGFR2 with 2,000–3,700 VEGFR1/endothelial cell and 1,300–2,000 VEGFR2/endothelial cell. We determine that endothelial cells from the highly glycolytic muscle, tibialis anterior, contain 30% higher number of VEGFR1 surface receptors than gastrocnemius; BALB/c mice display ∼17% higher number of VEGFR1 than C57BL/6. When we compare these results to mouse fibroblasts in vitro, we observe high levels of VEGFR1 (35,800/cell) and very low levels of VEGFR2 (700/cell), while in human endothelial cells in vitro, we observe that the balance of VEGFRs is inverted, with higher levels VEGFR2 (5,800/cell) and lower levels of VEGFR1 (1,800/cell). Our studies also reveal significant cell-to-cell heterogeneity in receptor expression, and the quantification of these dissimilarities ex vivo for the first time provides insight into the balance of anti-angiogenic or modulatory (VEGFR1) and pro-angiogenic (VEGFR2) signaling.     

Differential Expression and Release of Activin A and Follistatin in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with and without Nasal Polyps

Background

Chronic rhinosinusitis with (CRSwNP) and without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) should be regarded as distinct clinical entities based on differential inflammatory mediator and remodeling profiles. Activin A, a member of the TGF-β superfamily, plays an important role in inflammation and remodeling in the lower airways, although its expression and release in the upper airways remain undescribed.

Objective

To investigate the expression of activin A and its inhibitor follistatin in nasal tissue samples from CRSsNP and CRSwNP patients, and to monitor the spontaneous release of these molecules in a human mucosal model.

Methods

Protein levels were determined using ELISA for activin A, follistatin, TGF-β1 and indicator proteins (IL-5, ECP, IFNγ) in 13 CRSsNP, 23 CRSwNP, and 10 control samples. The spontaneous release rate and the release ratios of activin A, follistatin and TGF-β1 were determined in 9 CRSsNP and 7 CRSwNP tissue fragments cultured ex-vivo. The induction of activin A and TGF-β1 by one another was studied in 7 CRSsNP tissue fragments cultured ex-vivo.

Results

Significantly higher concentrations of activin A, follistatin, TGF-β1, and IFNγ were observed in CRSsNP compared with CRSwNP samples, whereas the concentrations of IL-5 and ECP were significantly lower. Follistatin was positively and linearly correlated with activin A in CRSsNP and CRSwNP. Activin A, follistatin and TGF-β1 were all spontaneously released by the samples, although the relative ratios released by tissue fragments from CRSsNP and CRSwNP samples were significantly different, with a higher follistatin/activin A-ratio and a follistatin/TGFß1-ratio (with less overall TGF-β1) in CRSwNP than in CRSsNP. Furthermore, TGF-β1 enhanced activin A secretion in CRSsNP tissue fragments cultured ex-vivo.

Conclusion

The differences in tissue concentrations and spontaneous release rates for activin A and follistatin in different CRS samples support the hypothesis that CRSsNP and CRSwNP are two distinct disease entities with respect to remodeling patterns.     

TLR4 对人骨骼肌细胞炎症因子表达及胰岛素抵抗的影响

目的:研究TLR4对脂多糖(LPS)及Polymymin B(PMB)作用下的人骨骼肌细胞的炎症因子表达的影响及其在细胞胰岛素抵抗中的作用。方法:通过脂多糖(LPS)及Polymymin B(PMB)干预骨骼肌细胞24h,再用胰岛素刺激1h后,Real-time PCR检测检测骨骼肌细胞TLR4、MyD88、TNF-αmRNA的表达;Western blot检测TLR4,Myd88和CRP的表达;葡萄糖氧化酶法(GOD-POD法)检测细胞培养液中葡萄糖浓度。结果:TLR4高表达可以使炎症因子的表达增高,细胞培养液中的葡萄糖浓度增高;TLR4低表达可使炎症因子的表达降低,细胞培养液中的葡萄糖浓度没有明显变化。结论:TLR4调控了炎症因子的表达,继而可以引起胰岛素敏感性的改变,影响了胰岛素抵抗的发生。     

明日叶查尔酮对2型糖尿病大鼠骨骼肌细胞胰岛素抵抗的干预作用

目的:研究明日叶查尔酮对2型糖尿病大鼠骨骼肌胰岛素抵抗的干预作用.方法:将2型糖尿病大鼠随机分成四组,高、中、低剂量组分别每日经口灌胃给予明日叶查尔酮30、10和5mg/(kg·bw),糖尿病对照组给予等量生理盐水.各组均以高脂饲料喂养.四周后采用葡萄糖氧化酶法检测空腹血糖;放射免疫法检测血清胰岛素含量;免疫组化法检测葡萄糖转运体1和葡萄糖转运体4蛋白表达水平.结果:经图像分析,高剂量组骨骼肌细胞中葡萄糖转运体1和葡萄糖转运体4蛋白表达平均光密度值分别为0.054± 0.0064和0.063±0.0139,均较糖尿病对照组显著性升高(P＜0.05).高剂量组空腹血糖和胰岛素水平分别为(12.3± 1.64)mmol/L和(25.65±3.34) (μIU/mL),均较糖尿病对照病显著性降低(P＜0.05).结论:明日叶查尔酮可增加2型糖尿病大鼠骨骼肌葡萄糖转运体l和葡萄糖转运体4蛋白表达水平,降低空腹血糖和胰岛素水平,改善胰岛素抵抗状况.     

骨骼肌细胞中UBXD8的敲除及其对脂质代谢的影响

UBXD8是能与p97/VCP相互作用共同参与内质网相关的泛素化后蛋白质降解过程的膜蛋白.新近的脂滴蛋白质组学研究表明UBXD8能够定位到脂滴上,同时有研究表明UBXD8调控甘油三酯的代谢.但是UBXD8调控甘油三酯代谢的分子机制并不清楚.因此我们采用改良的CRISPR/Cas9技术敲除小鼠成骨骼肌细胞C2C12中的UBXD8.从筛选出来的26个可能的UBXD8敲除单克隆细胞系中鉴定获得了2个确切的UBXD8敲除单克隆细胞系.研究表明,敲除UBXD8没有显著改变脂滴上蛋白质的分布,但敲除UBXD8增加了细胞内中性脂的累积.同时敲除UBXD8可缓解棕榈酸引起的胰岛素抵抗和抵抗棕榈酸引起的细胞凋亡.当在敲除UBXD8的细胞中重新过表达UBXD8后,细胞再次出现了棕榈酸引起的胰岛素抵抗及细胞凋亡.这些数据表明UBXD8在细胞脂质代谢及其异常所引起的胰岛素信号和细胞凋亡中起着十分重要的作用.     

Skeletal Muscle Proteins Stimulate Cholinergic Differentiation of Human Neuroblastoma Cells

Extracts of rat skeletal muscle contain substances that enhance the development of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in the cholinergic human neuroblastoma cell line LA-N-2. The ChAT enhancing activity in muscle extract was purified to homogeneity by preparative gel electrophoresis and reverse-phase HPLC. The active factor is biochemically and immunologically identical to ChAT development factor, (CDF), the skeletal muscle factor that enhances ChAT activity in enriched cultures of embryonic rat motoneurons and rescues motoneurons from naturally occurring cell death in vivo. CDF increases the specific ChAT activity of LA-N-2 cells fivefold after 6 days in culture, but does not affect their growth or metabolic activity. Basic fibroblast growth factor also increases ChAT activity in LA-N-2 cells and its effect is additive with that of CDF. In contrast, neither insulin-like growth factor-1, epidermal growth factor, nor nerve growth factor affected the ChAT activity of LA-N-2 cells. Our study demonstrates for the first time that CDF can directly affect the development of neuronal properties in a homogeneous population of cells, and that the effects of CDF are separate from those of other types of trophic factors.     

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation as a Method to Maximize the Beneficial Effects of Muscle Stem Cells Transplanted into Dystrophic Skeletal Muscle

Cellular therapy is a potential approach to improve the regenerative capacity of damaged or diseased skeletal muscle. However, its clinical use has often been limited by impaired donor cell survival, proliferation and differentiation following transplantation. Additionally, functional improvements after transplantation are all-too-often negligible. Because the host microenvironment plays an important role in the fate of transplanted cells, methods to modulate the microenvironment and guide donor cell behavior are warranted. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for 1 or 4 weeks following muscle-derived stem cell (MDSC) transplantation into dystrophic skeletal muscle can modulate the fate of donor cells and enhance their contribution to muscle regeneration and functional improvements. Animals submitted to 4 weeks of NMES after transplantation demonstrated a 2-fold increase in the number of dystrophin+ myofibers as compared to control transplanted muscles. These findings were concomitant with an increased vascularity in the MDSC+NMES group when compared to non-stimulated counterparts. Additionally, animals subjected to NMES (with or without MDSC transplantation) presented an increased maximal specific tetanic force when compared to controls. Although cell transplantation and/or the use of NMES resulted in no changes in fatigue resistance, the combination of both MDSC transplantation and NMES resulted in a faster recovery from fatigue, when compared to non-injected and non-stimulated counterparts. We conclude that NMES is a viable method to improve MDSC engraftment, enhance dystrophic muscle strength, and, in combination with MDSC transplantation, improve recovery from fatigue. These findings suggest that NMES may be a clinically-relevant adjunct approach for cell transplantation into skeletal muscle.