精子DNA甲基化异常与男性不育

DNA甲基化／去甲基化是表观遗传学最重要的内容并可以控制基因的表达和印迹,越来越多的研究显示DNA甲基化异常与不育男性精子发生异常、特定肿瘤的发生、神经系统疾病、Rett综合征等有关。文章通过总结近来的相关研究资料来阐述精子发生过程中的DNA甲基化状态的改变,探讨精子DNA的甲基化异常与男性不育之间的联系,旨在为男性不育的治疗提供新的临床思路。     

A Rapid and Quantitative Flow Cytometry Method for the Analysis of Membrane Disruptive Antimicrobial Activity

We describe a microbial flow cytometry method that quantifies within 3 hours antimicrobial peptide (AMP) activity, termed Minimum Membrane Disruptive Concentration (MDC). Increasing peptide concentration positively correlates with the extent of bacterial membrane disruption and the calculated MDC is equivalent to its MBC. The activity of AMPs representing three different membranolytic modes of action could be determined for a range of Gram positive and negative bacteria, including the ESKAPE pathogens, E. coli and MRSA. By using the MDC50 concentration of the parent AMP, the method provides high-throughput, quantitative screening of AMP analogues. A unique feature of the MDC assay is that it directly measures peptide/bacteria interactions and lysed cell numbers rather than bacteria survival as with MIC and MBC assays. With the threat of multi-drug resistant bacteria, this high-throughput MDC assay has the potential to aid in the development of novel antimicrobials that target bacteria with improved efficacy.     

Essential Role of TID1 in Maintaining Mitochondrial Membrane Potential Homogeneity and Mitochondrial DNA Integrity

The tumorous imaginal disc 1 (TID1) protein localizes mainly to the mitochondrial compartment, wherein its function remains largely unknown. Here we report that TID1 regulates the steady-state homogeneity of the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ) and maintains the integrity of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Silencing of TID1 with RNA interference leads to changes in the distribution of Δψ along the mitochondrial network, characterized by an increase in Δψ in focal regions. This effect can be rescued by ectopic expression of a TID1 construct with an intact J domain. Chronic treatment with a low dose of oligomycin, an inhibitor of F₁F_o ATP synthase, decreases the cellular ATP content and phenocopies TID1 loss of function, indicating a connection between the disruption of mitochondrial bioenergetics and hyperpolarization. Prolonged silencing of TID1 or low-dose oligomycin treatment leads to the loss of mtDNA and the consequent inhibition of oxygen consumption. Biochemical and colocalization data indicate that complex I aggregation underlies the focal accumulation of Δψ in TID1-silenced cells. Given that TID1 is proposed to function as a cochaperone, these data show that TID1 prevents complex I aggregation and support the existence of a TID1-mediated stress response to ATP synthase inhibition.     

人癌细胞线粒体DNA控制区序列特征分析

为了探讨癌细胞mtDNA控制区序列的变化特征, 采用PCR产物限制性片段长度多态性(PCR-RFLP)分析与直接测序相结合的方法,对比分析6株人癌细胞系、 6例癌患者及4例健康成人白细胞mtDNA控制区序列。发现第16519位T→C、16 534位A→G、46位T→G和49位A→C突变, 在癌细胞系和癌患者白细胞mtDNA中分别占50%(3/6)和33.3%(2/6), 健康成人白细胞mtDNA中未见此类型突变;第16 278位C→T突变,在癌细胞系mtDNA中占50%(3/6),显著高于正常人群mtDNA中此位点的多态性变异。表明癌细胞和癌患者白细胞mtDNA重链复制起点及其 相邻D环区的特征性突变可能与细胞癌变/或癌的易感性有关。 Abstract：　To explore the sequence feature of mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA) control region in human carcinoma cells, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) and direct sequence techniques were used to analyze the sequence of mtDNA control region of 6 human carcinoma cell lines versus white blood cells which from 6 tumor patients and 4 normal adults. The T to C mutation at np 16 519, A to G mutation at np 16 534, T to G mutation at np 46, and A to C mutation at np 49 was found in 50% (3/6 cases) of carcinoma cell lines and in 33.3%(2/6 cases) of tumor patients, but it was not found in normal adults. The C to T mutation at np 16 278 was found in 50%(3/6 cases) of carcinoma cell lines, it was significantly higher than that of the polymorphism of normal population. These findings suggest that the typical mutation in the starting area of heavy-strand replication and the first half of D-loop region might probably be associated with carcinogenesis or susceptibility of carcinoma.     

人癌细胞线粒体DNA控制区序列特征分析

为了探讨癌细胞mtDNA控制区序列的变化特征, 采用PCR产物限制性片段长度多态性(PCR-RFLP)分析与直接测序相结合的方法,对比分析6株人癌细胞系、 6例癌患者及4例健康成人白细胞mtDNA控制区序列。发现第16519位T→C、16 534位A→G、46位T→G和49位A→C突变, 在癌细胞系和癌患者白细胞mtDNA中分别占50%(3/6)和33.3%(2/6), 健康成人白细胞mtDNA中未见此类型突变;第16 278位C→T突变,在癌细胞系mtDNA中占50%(3/6),显著高于正常人群mtDNA中此位点的多态性变异。表明癌细胞和癌患者白细胞mtDNA重链复制起点及其 相邻D环区的特征性突变可能与细胞癌变/或癌的易感性有关。 Abstract：　To explore the sequence feature of mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA) control region in human carcinoma cells, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) and direct sequence techniques were used to analyze the sequence of mtDNA control region of 6 human carcinoma cell lines versus white blood cells which from 6 tumor patients and 4 normal adults. The T to C mutation at np 16 519, A to G mutation at np 16 534, T to G mutation at np 46, and A to C mutation at np 49 was found in 50% (3/6 cases) of carcinoma cell lines and in 33.3%(2/6 cases) of tumor patients, but it was not found in normal adults. The C to T mutation at np 16 278 was found in 50%(3/6 cases) of carcinoma cell lines, it was significantly higher than that of the polymorphism of normal population. These findings suggest that the typical mutation in the starting area of heavy-strand replication and the first half of D-loop region might probably be associated with carcinogenesis or susceptibility of carcinoma.     

Air Bubble Contact with Endothelial Cells Causes a Calcium-Independent Loss in Mitochondrial Membrane Potential

Objective

Gas microembolism remains a serious risk associated with surgical procedures and decompression. Despite this, the signaling consequences of air bubbles in the vasculature are poorly understood and there is a lack of pharmacological therapies available. Here, we investigate the mitochondrial consequences of air bubble contact with endothelial cells.

Methods and Results

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were loaded with an intracellular calcium indicator (Fluo-4) and either a mitochondrial calcium indicator (X-Rhod-1) or mitochondrial membrane potential indicator (TMRM). Contact with 50–150 µm air bubbles induced concurrent rises in intracellular and mitochondrial calcium, followed by a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Pre-treating cells with 1 µmol/L ruthenium red, a TRPV family calcium channel blocker, did not protect cells from the mitochondrial depolarization, despite blocking the intracellular calcium response. Mitigating the interactions between the air-liquid interface and the endothelial surface layer with 5% BSA or 0.1% Pluronic F-127 prevented the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Finally, inhibiting protein kinase C-α (PKCα), with 5 µmol/L Gö6976, protected cells from mitochondrial depolarization, but did not affect the intracellular calcium response.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that air bubble contact with endothelial cells activates a novel, calcium-independent, PKCα-dependent signaling pathway, which results in mitochondrial depolarization. As a result, mitochondrial dysfunction is likely to be a key contributor to the pathophysiology of gas embolism injury. Further, this connection between the endothelial surface layer and endothelial mitochondria may also play an important role in vascular homeostasis and disease.     

荧光定量PCR精确检测人胚胎干细胞线粒体DNA拷贝数方法的建立

建立一种精确定量人胚胎干细胞线粒体DNA拷贝数的方法。构建包含线粒体DNANDl和核单拷贝基β-globin基因序列的重组质粒作为标准品;收集无饲养层培养体系下人胚胎干细胞DNA样本,结合2个单独的Taqman探针实时荧光定量PCR对待测样本中线粒体NDl和核β-globin基因分别进行定量,从而对人胚胎干细胞线粒体DNA的含量进行了精确定量。结果提示,人胚胎干细胞线粒体DNA的平均拷贝数／细胞为1321±228。研究表明,该技术可对人胚胎干细胞线粒体DNA拷贝数进行准确的测定,为研究培养条件对人胚胎干细胞线粒体DNA拷贝数的影响及优化体外培养条件奠定了基础。     

Pairwise Comparisons of Mitochondrial DNA Sequences in Subdivided Populations and Implications for Early Human Evolution

We consider the effect on the distribution of pairwise differences between mitochondrial DNA sequences of the incorporation into the underlying population genetics model of two particular effects that seem realistic for human populations. The first is that the population size was roughly constant before growing to its current level. The second is that the population is geographically subdivided rather than panmictic. In each case these features tend to encourage multimodal distributions of pairwise differences, in contrast to existing, unimodal datasets. We argue that population genetics models currently used to analyze such data may thus fail to reflect important features of human mitochondrial DNA evolution. These may include selection on the mitochondrial genome, more realistic mutation mechanisms, or special population or migration dynamics. Particularly in view of the variability inherent in the single available human mitochondrial genealogy, it is argued that until these effects are better understood, inferences from such data should be rather cautious.     

Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number in Cleavage Stage Human Embryos—Impact on Infertility Outcome

A retrospective case control study was undertaken at the molecular biology department of a private center for reproductive medicine in order to determine whether any correlation exists between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content of cleavage-stage preimplantation embryos and their developmental potential. A total of 69 couples underwent IVF treatment (averaged women age: 36.5, SD 4.9) and produced a total of 314 embryos. A single blastomere was biopsied from each embryo at the cleavage stage (day-3 post-fertilization) subjected to low-pass next generation sequencing (NGS), for the purpose of detecting aneuploidy. For each sample, the number of mtDNA reads obtained after analysis using NGS was divided by the number of reads attributable to the nuclear genome. The mtDNA copy number amount was found to be higher in aneuploid embryos than in those that were euploid (mean mtDNA ratio ± SD: 6.3 ± 7.5 versus 7.1 ± 5.8, p < 0.004; U Mann–Whitney test), whereas no statistically significant differences in mtDNA content were seen in relation to embryo morphology (6.6 ± 4.8 vs. 8.5 ± 13.6, p 0.09), sex (6.6 ± 4.1 vs. 6.2 ± 6.8, p 0.16), maternal age (6.9 ± 7.8 vs. 6.7 ± 4.5, p 0.14) or its ability to implant (7.4 ± 6.6 vs. 5.1 ± 4.6, p 0.18). The mtDNA content cannot serve as a useful biomarker at this point in development. However, further studies investigating both quantitative and qualitative aspects of mtDNA are still required to fully evaluate the relationship between mitochondrial DNA and human reproduction.     

Alterations in Membrane Potential in Mitochondria Isolated from Brain Subregions During Focal Cerebral Ischemia and Early Reperfusion: Evaluation Using Flow Cytometry

Mitochondria isolated from brain tissue following middle cerebral artery occlusion or during early reperfusion were tested for their ability to generate a membrane potential under standard conditions in vitro. Membrane potential was evaluated based on rhodamine 123 fluorescence in the mitochondria as detected using flow cytometry. Compared with equivalent samples from the contralateral hemisphere, the geometric mean fluorescence was significantly lower in mitochondria prepared from the striatum and perifocal tissue in the cortex at 3 h ischemia. During reperfusion, this property was decreased in mitochondria from tissue in the striatum and cortex that had been part of severely ischemic core tissue during the arterial occlusion. These findings provide additional evidence that mitochondria develop changes during ischemia and reperfusion that are likely to limit their ability to respond to changing energy requirements and contribute to cell dysfunction and cell death. It also demonstrates the ability to gain a sensitive measure of these mitochondrial changes using flow cytometry.     

Respiration and Mitochondrial Membrane Potential Are not Required for Apoptosis and Anti-apoptotic Action of Bcl-2 in HeLa Cells

The release of cytochrome c from intermembrane space of mitochondria into cytosol is one of the critical events in apoptotic cell death. The important anti-apoptotic oncoprotein Bcl-2 inhibits this process. In the present study it was shown that apoptosis and release of cytochrome c induced by staurosporine or by tumor necrosis factor- in HeLa cells were not affected by inhibitors of respiration (rotenone, myxothiazol, antimycin A) or by uncouplers (CCCP, DNP) that decrease the membrane potential at the inner mitochondrial membrane. The inhibitors of respiration and the uncouplers did not affect also the anti-apoptotic activity of Bcl-2.     

Mitochondrial Membrane Potential Changes in Osteoblasts Treated with Parathyroid Hormone and Estradiol

This study assessed mitochondrial membrane potential changes in cultured osteoblasts treated with hormones known to regulate osteoblasts. A fluorescent carbocyanine dye, 5,5′, 6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′, 3,3′-tetraethylbenzimidazolocarbocyanine iodide, also called JC-1, was used as a probe. JC-1 emits photons at 585 nm (orange–red) when the membrane potential in mitochondria is highly negative, but when the potential becomes reduced emission occurs at 527 nm (green). Osteoblasts were rinsed in serum-free medium for 5 min, then loaded with 1 × 10⁻⁶MJC-1 for 10 min. The distribution and intensity of JC-1 fluorescence were evaluated with a laser-scanning confocal microscope system. Hormone treatments included parathyroid hormone (PTH; 10⁻⁸M), 17β-estradiol (10⁻⁸M), and thyroxine (T₄; 10⁻⁸M). The potassium ionophore valinomycin (10⁻⁶M) was used as a control since it is known to disrupt the electrochemical gradient of mitochondria without interfering with the pH gradient. Valinomycin caused a profound, rapid increase (22.5% above untreated values) in the green/red ratio, which indicated a lowering of the mitochondrial membrane potential in all samples evaluated. PTH caused a less pronounced, but significant (7–14%), reduction in membrane potential in all cells examined. PTH is known to affect osteoblasts in a number of ways and is inhibitory to mitochondrial respiration; the results confirm this effect. For estradiol, half of the cells responded at a significant level, with a membrane potential reduction of 6 to 13% being recorded; the other half did not respond. Thyroxine did not alter mitochondrial membrane potential. Responses were detectable within 20 s for valinomycin, but occurred at a slower rate, over 200 to 300 s, following PTH and estradiol treatment. Responses to PTH and estradiol could be due to mitochondrial uptake of cytosolic Ca²⁺.     

A Bead-Based Method for Multiplexed Identification and Quantitation of DNA Sequences Using Flow Cytometry

A new multiplexed, bead-based method which utilizes nucleic acid hybridizations on the surface of microscopic polystyrene spheres to identify specific sequences in heterogeneous mixtures of DNA sequences is described. The method consists of three elements: beads (5.6-μm diameter) with oligomer capture probes attached to the surface, three fluorophores for multiplexed detection, and flow cytometry instrumentation. Two fluorophores are impregnated within each bead in varying amounts to create different bead types, each associated with a unique probe. The third fluorophore is a reporter. Following capture of fluorescent cDNA sequences from environmental samples, the beads are analyzed by flow cytometric techniques which yield a signal intensity for each capture probe proportional to the amount of target sequences in the analyte. In this study, a direct hybrid capture assay was developed and evaluated with regard to sequence discrimination and quantitation of abundances. The target sequences (628 to 728 bp in length) were obtained from the 16S/23S intergenic spacer region of microorganisms collected from polluted groundwater at the nuclear waste site in Hanford, Wash. A fluorescence standard consisting of beads with a known number of fluorescent DNA molecules on the surface was developed, and the resolution, sensitivity, and lower detection limit for measuring abundances were determined. The results were compared with those of a DNA microarray using the same sequences. The bead method exhibited far superior sequence discrimination and possesses features which facilitate accurate quantitation.     

Mitochondrial DNA deletions and differential mitochondrial DNA content in Rhesus monkeys: Implications for aging

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions, mtDNA content and aging in rhesus monkeys. Using 2 sets of specific primers, we amplified an 8 kb mtDNA fragment covering a common 5.7 kb deletion and the entire 16.5 kb mitochondrial genome in the brain and buffy-coats of young and aged monkeys. We studied a total of 66 DNA samples: 39 were prepared from a buffy-coat and 27 were prepared from occipital cortex tissues. The mtDNA data were assessed using a permutation test to identify differences in mtDNA, in the different monkey groups. Using real-time RT-PCR strategy, we also assessed both mtDNA and nuclear DNA levels for young, aged and male and female monkeys. We found a 5.7 kb mtDNA deletion in 81.8% (54 of 66) of the total tested samples. In the young group of buffy-coat DNA, we found 5.7 kb deletions in 7 of 17 (41%), and in the aged group, we found 5.7 kb deletions in 12 of 22 (54%), suggesting that the prevalence of mtDNA deletions is related to age. We found decreased mRNA levels of mtDNA in aged monkeys relative to young monkeys. The increases in mtDNA deletions and mtDNA levels in aged rhesus monkeys suggest that damaged DNA accumulates as rhesus monkeys age and these altered mtDNA changes may have physiological relevance to compensate decreased mitochondrial function.     

Tetramethyl Rhodamine Methyl Ester (TMRM) is Suitable for Cytofluorometric Measurements of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential in Cells Treated with Digitonin

A new method for cytofluorometric analysis of mitochondrial membrane potential has been developed by using TMRM as a cationic, mitochondrial selective probe. The method is based on limited treatment of cultured cells with digitonin which permeabilises the plasma membrane and leaves mitochondria intact. The resulting signal of TMRM-stained cells thus represents only the probe accumulated in mitochondria. Fibroblasts and cybrids were used as a model cell systems and optimal conditions for digitonin treatment and staining by TMRM were described. The TMRM signal collapsed by valinomycin, KCN and antimycin A and FCCP titration was used to gradually lower and characterise the stability of . The method is suitable for sensitive measurement of in different types of cultured cells.     

华蟾素对MDA - MB -231细胞线粒体膜电位及活性氧的影响

目的:研究华蟾素诱导乳腺癌MDA - MB - 231细胞凋亡过程中,细胞内活性氧(ROS)及线粒体膜电位(△Ψm)的变化,探讨华蟾素对乳腺癌细胞的作用机制.方法:用不同浓度的华蟾素作用于MDA - MB - 231细胞24h后,分别用荧光探针罗丹明123和荧光探针DCFH-DA进行荧光染色,用流式细胞仪检测细胞内线粒体膜电位和活性氧的变化.结果:不同浓度的华蟾素作用于MDA - MB - 231细胞后,随着药物浓度的增加(0、12.5、25、37.5、50μg/ml),细胞内的ROS水平显著升高,荧光强度从3 609±24上升为6 263±35;同时,线粒体膜电位(△Ψm)显著下降,荧光强度从242±6降低到173±4.结论:华蟾素作用细胞后,使得细胞内活性氧水平显著升高,同时,线粒体膜电位显著下降,推测华蟾素对MDA - MB - 231细胞通过线粒体途径诱发细胞凋亡.     

Localization and Relative Quantification of Carbon Nanotubes in Cells with Multispectral Imaging Flow Cytometry

Carbon-based nanomaterials, like carbon nanotubes (CNTs), belong to this type of nanoparticles which are very difficult to discriminate from carbon-rich cell structures and de facto there is still no quantitative method to assess their distribution at cell and tissue levels. What we propose here is an innovative method allowing the detection and quantification of CNTs in cells using a multispectral imaging flow cytometer (ImageStream, Amnis). This newly developed device integrates both a high-throughput of cells and high resolution imaging, providing thus images for each cell directly in flow and therefore statistically relevant image analysis. Each cell image is acquired on bright-field (BF), dark-field (DF), and fluorescent channels, giving access respectively to the level and the distribution of light absorption, light scattered and fluorescence for each cell. The analysis consists then in a pixel-by-pixel comparison of each image, of the 7,000-10,000 cells acquired for each condition of the experiment. Localization and quantification of CNTs is made possible thanks to some particular intrinsic properties of CNTs: strong light absorbance and scattering; indeed CNTs appear as strongly absorbed dark spots on BF and bright spots on DF with a precise colocalization.This methodology could have a considerable impact on studies about interactions between nanomaterials and cells given that this protocol is applicable for a large range of nanomaterials, insofar as they are capable of absorbing (and/or scattering) strongly enough the light.     

Cocaine Induces Alterations in Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and Dual Cell Cycle Arrest in Rat C6 Astroglioma Cells

Investigations with astroglial cells carry more prominence in drug abuse studies. However, due to earlier perception that astroglial cells were only passive bystanders in neural signal transmission, not many investigations were conducted on the toxicity of various abused drugs, like cocaine. The present study was aimed to discern the effect of cocaine on rat astroglioma cells and analyzed qualitatively for morphological features as well as vacuolation by phase contrast microscope, quantitatively for cytotoxicity, mitochondrial membrane potential by rhodamine- 123 fluorometric assay, and cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry. Based on population cell doubling time studies, glial cells were grown in 10% FBS in RPMI 1640 medium and treated with cocaine for 24 or 48 h. Microscopic assessments clearly demonstrated massive vacuolation and significant disruption at general architecture of glial cell morphology with cocaine. Chronic cocaine treatment (24 or 48 h) caused significant loss of cell viability. The sublethal dose of cocaine was found to be 4.307 and 3.794 mM at 24 and 48 h, respectively. Cocaine reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential in a dose dependent manner with ED₅₀ of 4 mM after 24 h. Cell cycle analysis suggested dual inhibition at G0/G1 and G2/M phases after 24 and 48 h, respectively. In summary, our findings suggest that cocaine toxicity was due to loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, vacuolation, and dual inhibition of cell cycle phases. These results may shed light in understanding the onset of some early key events in cocaine-induced toxicity in glial cells.