Dynamic Changes in Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule Nepmucin/CD300LG Expression under Physiological and Pathological Conditions

Vascular endothelial cells often change their phenotype to adapt to their local microenvironment. Here we report that the vascular endothelial adhesion molecule nepmucin/CD300LG, which is implicated in lymphocyte binding and transmigration, shows unique expression patterns in the microvascular endothelial cells of different tissues. Under physiological conditions, nepmucin/CD300LG was constitutively and selectively expressed at the luminal surface of the small arterioles, venules, and capillaries of most tissues, but it was only weakly expressed in the microvessels of the splenic red pulp and thymic medulla. Furthermore, it was barely detectable in immunologically privileged sites such as the brain, testis, and uterus. The nepmucin/CD300LG expression rapidly decreased in lymph nodes receiving acute inflammatory signals, and this loss was mediated at least in part by TNF-α. It was also down-regulated in tumors and tumor-draining lymph nodes, indicating that nepmucin/CD300LG expression is negatively regulated by locally produced signals under these circumstances. In contrast, nepmucin/CD300LG was induced in the high endothelial venule-like blood vessels of chronically inflamed pancreatic islets in an animal model of non-obese diabetes. Interestingly, the activated CD4⁺ T cells infiltrating the inflamed pancreas expressed high levels of the nepmucin/CD300LG ligand(s), supporting the idea that nepmucin/CD300LG and its ligand interactions are locally involved in pathological T cell trafficking. Taken together, these observations indicate that the nepmucin/CD300LG expression in microvascular endothelial cells is influenced by factor(s) that are locally produced in tissues, and that its expression is closely correlated with the level of leukocyte infiltration in certain tissues.     

Transport of Particles in Intestinal Mucus under Simulated Infant and Adult Physiological Conditions: Impact of Mucus Structure and Extracellular DNA

The final boundary between digested food and the cells that take up nutrients in the small intestine is a protective layer of mucus. In this work, the microstructural organization and permeability of the intestinal mucus have been determined under conditions simulating those of infant and adult human small intestines. As a model, we used the mucus from the proximal (jejunal) small intestines of piglets and adult pigs. Confocal microscopy of both unfixed and fixed mucosal tissue showed mucus lining the entire jejunal epithelium. The mucus contained DNA from shed epithelial cells at different stages of degradation, with higher amounts of DNA found in the adult pig. The pig mucus comprised a coherent network of mucin and DNA with higher viscosity than the more heterogeneous piglet mucus, which resulted in increased permeability of the latter to 500-nm and 1-µm latex beads. Multiple-particle tracking experiments revealed that diffusion of the probe particles was considerably enhanced after treating mucus with DNase. The fraction of diffusive 500-nm probe particles increased in the pig mucus from 0.6% to 64% and in the piglet mucus from ca. 30% to 77% after the treatment. This suggests that extracellular DNA can significantly contribute to the microrheology and barrier properties of the intestinal mucus layer. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the structure and permeability of the small intestinal mucus have been compared between different age groups and the contribution of extracellular DNA highlighted. The results help to define rules governing colloidal transport in the developing small intestine. These are required for engineering orally administered pharmaceutical preparations with improved delivery, as well as for fabricating novel foods with enhanced nutritional quality or for controlled calorie uptake.     

生理病理状态下线粒体合成ATP动态调控机制

线粒体是细胞的代谢中心之一,不仅产生大量的ATP为细胞提供能量,还参与多种生物分子（例如核酸、氨基酸、胆固醇和脂肪酸）合成及代谢废物的处理。ATP是细胞重要的“能源货币”,是能量载体和信号分子,参与调节细胞的各种生命活动。动物与人在激烈运动时,ATP消耗速率增加数十倍,但细胞内的ATP仍维持在“设定点”水平,不出现降低。因此,传统生理学观点认为,动物细胞内ATP水平保持恒定。但新的研究结果表明,生物细胞内ATP水平存在波动。生理条件下,增加能量物资（糖、脂和氨基酸等）和氧供,促进线粒体ATP合成,可使细胞内ATP水平出现一过性升高。新的研究证明,在肥胖情况下,由于能量物质的过多供应,细胞内ATP水平出现持续性升高,构成代谢紊乱的源头信号。线粒体ATP合成受多种因素影响,如氧化应激、钙超载、缺氧、线粒体膜通透性增加和线粒体DNA突变等。这些因素与疾病条件下细胞内ATP水平持续降低相关,常见的疾病包括阿尔茨海默症、帕金森疾病、精神分裂症、肿瘤、心衰、全身炎症反应综合征等。本综述简要概述线粒体调节细胞内ATP水平的研究进展,重点讨论造成ATP波动的因素、机制及病理生理学意义。     

生理病理状态下线粒体合成ATP动态调控机制

线粒体是细胞的代谢中心之一,不仅产生大量的ATP为细胞提供能量,还参与多种生物分子（例如核酸、氨基酸、胆固醇和脂肪酸）合成及代谢废物的处理。ATP是细胞重要的“能源货币”,是能量载体和信号分子,参与调节细胞的各种生命活动。动物与人在激烈运动时,ATP消耗速率增加数十倍,但细胞内的ATP仍维持在“设定点”水平,不出现降低。因此,传统生理学观点认为,动物细胞内ATP水平保持恒定。但新的研究结果表明,生物细胞内ATP水平存在波动。生理条件下,增加能量物资（糖、脂和氨基酸等）和氧供,促进线粒体ATP合成,可使细胞内ATP水平出现一过性升高。新的研究证明,在肥胖情况下,由于能量物质的过多供应,细胞内ATP水平出现持续性升高,构成代谢紊乱的源头信号。线粒体ATP合成受多种因素影响,如氧化应激、钙超载、缺氧、线粒体膜通透性增加和线粒体DNA突变等。这些因素与疾病条件下细胞内ATP水平持续降低相关,常见的疾病包括阿尔茨海默症、帕金森疾病、精神分裂症、肿瘤、心衰、全身炎症反应综合征等。本综述简要概述线粒体调节细胞内ATP水平的研究进展,重点讨论造成ATP波动的因素、机制及病理生理学意义。     

桃果实絮败与果胶质变化和细胞壁结构的关系

“白凤”桃果实在０ ℃下贮藏２０ ｄ 以后出现肉质发绵和干化的絮败现象。冷藏第１０ 天在１８ ℃下加温３８ ｈ 能有效减缓絮败的发生。连续冷藏１０ ｄ 以后,原果胶含量开始增多, 水溶性果胶含量变化不大。中途加温的果实原果胶含量变化不多,但水溶性果胶却不断增加。絮败果的果胶质粘度明显高于正常果。果肉出汁率是测定果实絮败程度的理想指标。絮败果肉细胞壁的明显特征是： 伴随胞间层的分解和胞间隙的扩大,出现大量凝胶状物质的沉积,初生壁结构变化不明显, 也没有细胞壁次生加厚的迹象。     

人工饲养条件下死亡实验恒河猴肠道病理改变特点分析

目的观察人工饲养条件下实验恒河猴肠道病理改变,探讨实验猴肠道疾病分布规律和病理改变特点,丰富实验猴自发病变基本研究资料。方法对1998-2008年云南地区饲养的自然死亡的155只恒河猴（年龄2-20岁）的肠道进行病理检查,按年龄分为幼年组、成年组、老年组,并对观察结果进行统计学分析。结果155例恒河猴中58例检出肠道病变,有慢性肠炎、急性肠炎、黏膜充血水肿、出血、糜烂、溃疡、穿孔、寄生虫共8种主要病变,出现率最高的为急性肠炎（20．00％）。实验猴不同年龄组肠道病变类型分布基本相同,肠道病变率随年龄增长而增高,不同年龄组间统计学分析差异无显著性。结论人工饲养条件下死亡实验猴肠道病变检出率较高,急性肠炎是实验猴的主要致死原因之一,实验猴肠道病理改变随年龄增长而病变加重。对实验猴饲养和研究时,应重视肠道病变因素,尤其是急性肠炎。死亡实验猴肠道病变研究对实验猴的质量控制和相关动物实验有重要指导价值。     

Cell Wall Alterations Associated with the Hyperproduction of Extracellular Enzymes in Neurospora crassa

A pleiotropic mutation in Neurospora (exo-1), which confers derepression of alpha-amylase, glucoamylase, beta-fructofuranosidase, and trehalase, appears to also affect the composition of the cell wall. Segregants resulting from the backcross of exo-1 to the wild-type strain from which it derived are altered in the ratio of galactosamine to glucosamine in hydrolysates of isolated cell walls. Conidial cell walls exhibit a marked decrease in the amount of galactosamine in both exo-1 and exo-1(+) strains. Increased levels (approximately sevenfold) of amylase are found in conidia of exo-1, as compared with those of exo-1(+).     

Physiological and Biochemical Changes Associated with Macroconidial Germination in Microsporum gypseum

A study was made of the metabolic processes associated with macroconidial germination in Microsporum gypseum. The optimum conditions for stimulation of endogenous respiration, changes in chemical composition as germination proceeds, and the uptake and synthetic fates of amino acids, glucose, and uracil were investigated. The assimilation and conversion of (14)C-glucose, (14)C-amino acids, and (14)C-uracil into the cell pool and into trichloroacetic acid-precipitable material were studied during the early stages of germination (i.e., prior to germ-tube emergence). The macroconidia were not metabolically inert for any significant period of time after exposure to germination conditions. Rather, the spores rapidly assimilated all metabolites and slowly converted them into macromolecules. Investigations of the effect of inhibitors of nucleic acid and protein synthesis prior to germ-tube emergence and during early germ-tube elongation suggested significant changes in metabolism and cell permeability may be correlated with the emergence of germ tubes. Radioactivity of incorporated glucose was found to be associated largely with the lipid fractions of the macroconidia early in germination.     

伯乐树种子不同条件贮藏下前后生理比较

对3个不同地区（浙江省遂昌县、福建省浦城县和浙江江山市）的伯乐树种子形态指标进行了测定。并分别设置3种贮藏方式（A为室内湿沙环境下贮藏;B为低温（4℃）湿沙下贮藏;C为低温（4℃）封口袋中贮藏）,对贮藏前后种子的发芽率、发芽势、含水量等生理指标进行了比较研究。结果表明,浦城县地区较另外二个地区的种子狭长而扁平,且质量较小。经130d的贮藏后,3个地区的种子内淀粉含量显著下降（P〈0．05）,含水量、蛋白酶活性、淀粉酶活性、蛋白含量和可溶性糖含量则均显著升高（P〈0．05）,从而使休眠得以解除。贮藏后的发芽率和发芽势显著提高（P〈0．05）,以湿沙低温下的发芽率和发芽势为最高。     

Impact of Tissue Factor Localization on Blood Clot Structure and Resistance under Venous Shear

The structure and growth of a blood clot depend on the localization of tissue factor (TF), which can trigger clotting during the hemostatic process or promote thrombosis when exposed to blood under pathological conditions. We sought to understand how the growth, structure, and mechanical properties of clots under flow are shaped by the simultaneously varying TF surface density and its exposure area. We used an eight-channel microfluidic device equipped with a 20- or 100-μm-long collagen surface patterned with lipidated TF of surface densities ～0.1 and ～2 molecules/μm². Human whole blood was perfused at venous shear, and clot growth was continually measured. Using our recently developed computational model of clot formation, we performed simulations to gain insights into the clot’s structure and its resistance to blood flow. An increase in TF exposure area resulted not only in accelerated bulk platelet, thrombin, and fibrin accumulation, but also in increased height of the platelet mass and increased clot resistance to flow. Moreover, increasing the TF surface density or exposure area enhanced platelet deposition by approximately twofold, and thrombin and fibrin generation by greater than threefold, thereby increasing both clot size and its viscous resistance. Finally, TF effects on blood flow occlusion were more pronounced for the longer thrombogenic surface than for the shorter one. Our results suggest that TF surface density and its exposure area can independently enhance both the clot’s occlusivity and its resistance to blood flow. These findings provide, to our knowledge, new insights into how TF affects thrombus growth in time and space under flow.     

Pathological Changes and Immunity Associated with Experimental Eimeria vermiformis Infections in Mus musculus1

ABSTRACT. Pathological changes and immunity induced by Eimeria vermiformis (Ernst, Chobotar & Hammond, 1971) were studied in outbred Swiss mice inoculated with 5000, 10,000, 20,000, or 40,000 oocysts. Cross immunity to E. ferrisi was also studied. In the case of E. vermiformis, mortality was dose dependent; most deaths were observed in the intermediate-dose groups. Most deaths also correlated with peak oocyst output. Histopathologic changes consisted of an early neutrophil and mononuclear cell infiltration in the small intestine. Later, villus atrophy and crypt hyperplasia caused a decrease in the villus-crypt ratio. During the acute phase (8-10 days after inoculation), villus tips were eroded and parasites with necrotic debris filled the cryptal and intestinal lumina. Vacuolar changes were observed in epithelial cells of the small intestine. Neither parasites nor significant pathological changes were observed in extra-intestinal organs. Mice were totally immune to reinfection with E. vermiformis 30 and 105 days after inoculation. Cross immunity was not observed between E. vermiformis and E. ferrisi.     

Impact of Nuclear Envelope Stress on Physiological and Pathological Processes in Central Nervous System

Neurochemical Research - The nuclear envelope (NE) separates genomic DNA from the cytoplasm and provides the molecular platforms for nucleocytoplasmic transport, higher-order chromatin...     

Impact of Doxorubicin Treatment on the Physiological Functions of White Adipose Tissue

White adipose tissue (WAT) plays a fundamental role in maintaining energy balance and important endocrine functions. The loss of WAT modifies adipokine secretion and disrupts homeostasis, potentially leading to severe metabolic effects and a reduced quality of life. Doxorubicin is a chemotherapeutic agent used clinically because of its good effectiveness against various types of cancer. However, doxorubicin has deleterious effects in many healthy tissues, including WAT, liver, and skeletal and cardiac muscles. Our objective was to investigate the effects of doxorubicin on white adipocytes through in vivo and in vitro experiments. Doxorubicin reduced the uptake of glucose by retroperitoneal adipocytes and 3T3-L1 cells via the inhibition of AMP-activated protein kinase Thr172 phosphorylation and glucose transporter 4 content. Doxorubicin also reduced the serum level of adiponectin and, to a greater extent, the expression of genes encoding lipogenic (Fas and Acc) and adipogenic factors (Pparg, C/ebpa, and Srebp1c) in retroperitoneal adipose tissue. In addition, doxorubicin inhibited both lipogenesis and lipolysis and reduced the hormone-sensitive lipase and adipose tissue triacylglycerol lipase protein levels. Therefore, our results demonstrate the impact of doxorubicin on WAT. These results are important to understand some side effects observed in patients receiving chemotherapy and should encourage new adjuvant treatments that aim to inhibit these side effects.     

Changes in Cell Size and Shape Associated with Changes in the Replication Time of the Chromosome of Escherichia coli

Average cell mass is shown to be inversely related to the concentration of thymine in the growth medium of a thy⁻ strain of Escherichia coli. The kinetics of the transition from one steady-state average cell mass to another was followed in an attempt to determine the relationship between the chromosome replication time and the time between completion of a round of chromosome replication and the subsequent cell division. Differences in average cell mass are shown to be associated with similar differences in average cell volume. Changes in volume associated with changes in thymine concentration are shown to be due primarily to differences in the width of cells. It is proposed that extension in length of the cell envelope occurs at a linear rate which is proportional to the growth rate and which doubles at the time of termination of rounds of replication. Changes in volume not associated with a change in growth rate are therefore accommodated by a change in cell width. Conditions are described under which average cell mass can continue to increase in successive generations and no steady-state average cell mass is achieved.     

Effects of Atorvastatin on Pathological Changes in Brain Tissue and Plasma MMP-9 in Rats with Intracerebral Hemorrhage

To explore the effects of atorvastatin on hydrocephalus, neurocyte apoptosis, and the level of plasma matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in rats. A rat model of ICH was established by intracerebral injection of collagenase. The brain water content was determined by the wet/dry weight ratio, ultrastructural changes in brain tissue were observed by electron microscopy, and the level of plasma MMP-9 was quantified by ELISA. Atorvastatin showed significant effects in reducing the brain water content, blocking neuron apoptosis, and decreasing plasma MMP-9 in rats with ICH. There was a positive linear correlation between plasma MMP-9 and the brain water content. Atorvastatin can significantly relieve brain edema, decrease the brain injury caused by MMP-9 and protect neurons in rats with ICH.     

Changes in Cell Walls Associated with Cell Separation in Suspension Cultures of Paul's Scarlet Rose

Studies of the formation and separation of cellular aggregatesin Paul's Scarlet rose suspension cultures have been conductedin an attempt to resolve the basis for intercellular adherence.During the typical growth cycle, cellular aggregates begin tofragment spontaneously at about day 12 in culture. This fragmentationis accompanied by a sharp decrease in the galactose contentof wall polysaccharides. At approximately this same time, thereis an increase in ß-glucosidase and ß-galactosidaseactivity associated with the cell surface. The presence of aß-glucosidase inhibitor, nojirimycin, inhibits thesurface ß-glycosidase activity, reduces the extentto which cell wall galactose is decreased, and prevents theseparation of cells. No other cell wall component examined changesin a manner consistent with cell separation. The results suggestthat a galactose-containing wall polysaccharide may be involvedin the maintenance of intercellular coherency and that partialremoval of this component may be causally related to the spontaneousseparation of cells in culture.     

Changes in Endocrine Orcadian Rhythms as Markers of Physiological and Pathological Brain Aging

We studied the circadian rhythm of plasma melatonin, growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and Cortisol in 52 mentally healthy old subjects, 35 old demented patients, and 22 clinically healthy young controls. When compared to young controls, the circadian profile of plasma melatonin of old subjects, both demented or not, was clearly flattened, particularly during the night. The selective impairment of nocturnal melatonin secretion was significantly related to both the age and the severity of mental impairment (Mini Mental State Examination [MMSE] score). The PRL and GH circadian profiles were similar in the three groups during the day, but a significant lowering of the values recorded during the night occurred with aging. The impairment of the nocturnal secretion was related to the subjects' age and, for the GH secretory pattern only, also to the MMSE score. The ACTH circadian profile was similar in the three groups studied, even when old subjects exhibited higher ACTH levels throughout the 24h cycle, compared to young controls. Significantly higher Cortisol values at evening- and nighttime occurred in elderly subjects and particularly in the demented group. Both the mean levels and the nadir values of plasma Cortisol were positively related to age and negatively to MMSE score. In order to verify the sensitivity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to the steroid feedback, the circadian profile of plasma Cortisol was evaluated also after dexamethasone (DXM) administration (1 mg at 23:00h); the sensitivity of the HPA axis was significantly impaired in old subjects and particularly in the demented ones. These findings suggest that the neuroendocrine alterations already present in physiological aging, due to both anatomical damages and unbalanced central neurotransmitters, are enhanced in senile dementia. (Chronobiology International, 14(4), 385–396, 1997)