The catalytic domain of human neuropathy target esterase mediates an organophosphate-sensitive ionic conductance across liposome membranes

In humans and other vertebrates, reaction of organophosphates with a neuronal membrane protein, neuropathy target esterase (NTE), initiates events which culminate in axonal degeneration. The initiation process appears to involve modification of a property of the protein distinct from its esterase activity, subsequent to formation of a negatively charged adduct with the active site serine residue. Here, we show that membrane patches from liposomes containing NEST, a recombinant hydrophobic polypeptide comprising the esterase domain of human NTE, display a transmembrane ionic conductance with both stable and high-frequency flickering components. An asymmetric current-voltage relationship suggested that ion flow was favoured in one direction relative to the membrane and its associated NEST molecules. Flow of anions was slightly favoured compared with cations. The flickering current formed a much larger proportion of the overall conductance in patches containing wild-type NEST compared with the catalytically inactive S966A mutant form of the protein. The conductance across patches containing NEST, but not those with the S966A mutant, was significantly reduced after adding neuropathic organophosphates to the bathing medium. By contrast, non-neuropathic covalent inhibitors of the catalytic activity of NEST did not reduce NEST-mediated conductance. Future work may establish whether NTE itself mediates an organophosphate-sensitive ion flux across intracellular membranes within intact cells.     

活性型粒酶B基因的异位表达导致多核巨细胞产生

粒酶B（granzyme B, GrB）是一种重要的丝氨酸蛋白酶参与细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(CTL)和自然杀伤细胞(NK)介导的细胞杀伤过程.为研究粒酶B在肿瘤细胞中异位表达后能否诱导细胞死亡,将构建的活性型粒酶B（GrBa）基因及其酶活性中心突变型（mGrBa）基因的真核表达载体,以脂质体法瞬时转染HeLa细胞,通过绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)共表达、间接免疫荧光、细胞计数、MTT等方法,观察到GrBa蛋白的异位表达引起多核巨细胞形态异常,并且表达细胞的生长受到抑制.Percoll分离多核巨细胞后,观察到其生长状态较差,是导致生长抑制的直接原因.细胞骨架破坏和具有多极纺锤体的异常有丝分裂,推测是多核巨细胞不断产生的根源.上述结果为GrBa应用于肿瘤基因治疗提供了一定依据.     

Preface

The physiological function of the axon is to conduct short all-or-none action potentials from their site of initiation (usually the cell body) to the synapse. To ensure this function, both passive and active biophysical properties of the axons are tuned very precisely, especially the voltage-dependent ionic conductances to sodium and potassium. Under normal conditions, axons are not spontaneously active. Minor modifications of their ionic micro-environment or slight changes in the membrane properties are however sufficient to induce rhythmical activity and modify the time course of the action potentials. These modifications can be induced by a variety of pharmacological agents. Some typical examples taken from original studies on invertebrate preparations are illustrated. The experiments were carried out on two axonal preparations: the giant axon of the squid Loligo forbesi and the giant axon of the cockroach Periplaneta americana. The axons were ‘space-clamped’ and studied under both current-clamp and voltage-clamp conditions. Voltage-clamp experiments were used to dissect out the mechanisms underlying repetitive activity and to extract the relevant parameters. These parameters were then used to rebuild the observed effects using an extended version of the Hodgkin and Huxley (1952, J Physiol (Lond) 117, 500–544) formulation. One easy way to get repetitive firing in both preparations is to reduce potassium conductance. The effect of 4-aminopyridine on squid axon is illustrated here. The experimental results, including the occurrence of bursts of activity, can be described by adding a time- and voltage-dependent block of the potassium channels to the original Hodgkin and Huxley (1952, J Physiol (Lond) 117, 500–544) model. Repetitive spike activity and plateau action potentials are also produced when the depolarising effect of the voltage-dependent potassium current is counterbalanced by a maintained inward sodium current. This maintained sodium current can be due to several different mechanisms. This will be illustrated by five structurally unrelated molecules: two scorpion toxins, two insecticide molecules and one sea anemone toxin. One toxin purified from the venom of the scorpion Buthotus judaïcus (insect toxin 1) exerts its effects by shifting the sodium activation curve towards more hyperpolarized potentials. Another toxin purified from the venom of another scorption Androctonus australis (mammal toxin 1) modifies a significant proportion of normal (fast) sodium channels into slowly activating and inactivating sodium channels. The main effect of the insecticide DDT is to maintain sodium channels in the ‘open’ configuration. Another insecticide molecule known to induce repetitive activity, S-bioallethrin, activates voltage-dependent sodium channels with slow activation and inactivation kinetics. The sea anemone toxin anthopleurin A, purified from the venom of Anthopleura xanthogrammica, delays inactivation of the sodium current without changing its activation kinetics. These examples show that minor modifications of the properties of the nerve membrane are sufficient to alter nerve function. These deleterious effects will be amplified at the synapse through dramatic changes in transmitter release and will lead eventually to disastrous alterations of brain function.     

Defensive strategies in planktonic coelenterates

Some planktonic coelenterates respond to potentially harmful stimulation by protective involution, others by escape behaviour. Examples of protective involution are seen in the ‘crumpling’ behaviour of various hydrome‐dusae (Sarsia, Euphysa) and of siphonophores such as Hippopodius. Involution may be accompanied by striking visual displays e.g. light emission in Euphysa, light emission and blanching in Hippopodius. These displays probably serve to startle or blind interlopers. In Hippopodius, light emission in the dark would have the same effect as blanching in the light, an example of behavioural self‐mimicry.

Animals employing escape locomotion include the ctenophore Euplokamis, the siphonophore Nanomia and the rhopalonematid medusa Aglantha. All of these forms have evolved giant axons that facilitate escape by reducing response time. The central nervous circuitry underlying locomotion in Aglantha is reviewed.

In a few cases (e.g. Aglantha and possibly Nanomia), the responses described can be seen as defensive against predators, but in the majority of cases, the responses probably serve primarily to reduce the risk of damage due to accidental contact with other organisms.     

Directionality of heart looping: effects of Pitx2c misexpression on flectin asymmetry and midline structures

The insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are well known mitogens, both in vivo and in vitro, while functions in cellular differentiation have also been indicated. Here, we demonstrate a new role for the IGF pathway in regulating head formation in Xenopus embryos. Both IGF-1 and IGF-2, along with their receptor IGF-1R, are expressed early during embryogenesis, and the IGF-1R is present particularly in anterior and dorsal structures. Overexpression of IGF-1 leads to anterior expansion of head neural tissue as well as formation of ectopic eyes and cement gland, while IGF-1 receptor depletion using antisense morpholino oligonucleotides drastically reduces head structures. Furthermore, we demonstrate that IGF signaling exerts this effect by antagonizing the activity of the Wnt signal transduction pathway in the early embryo, at the level of beta-catenin. Thus, the IGF pathway is required for head formation during embryogenesis.     

Giant dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the right hemifacial area involving the oral cavity

Although liposarcoma is a reasonably common soft tissue sarcoma in adults, its occurrence within the head and neck region is very rare. The following report presents the case of a giant dedifferentiated liposarcoma initially located in the temporal region and then extending to the entire right maxillofacial region. Clinical as well as histopathological features and therapeutic approaches of dedifferentiated liposarcoma are discussed, and a literature review is presented.     

Learning-Induced Synchronization and Plasticity of a Developing Neural Network

Learning-induced synchronization of a neural network at various developing stages is studied by computer simulations using a pulse-coupled neural network model in which the neuronal activity is simulated by a one-dimensional map. Two types of Hebbian plasticity rules are investigated and their differences are compared. For both models, our simulations show a logarithmic increase in the synchronous firing frequency of the network with the culturing time of the neural network. This result is consistent with recent experimental observations. To investigate how to control the synchronization behavior of a neural network after learning, we compare the occurrence of synchronization for four networks with different designed patterns under the influence of an external signal. The effect of such a signal on the network activity highly depends on the number of connections between neurons. We discuss the synaptic plasticity and enhancement effects for a random network after learning at various developing stages.     

Monitoring the Differentiation and Migration Patterns of Neural Cells Derived from Human Embryonic Stem Cells Using a Microfluidic Culture System

Microfluidics can provide unique experimental tools to visualize the development of neural structures within a microscale device, which is followed by guidance of neurite growth in the axonal isolation compartment. We utilized microfluidics technology to monitor the differentiation and migration of neural cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). We co-cultured hESCs with PA6 stromal cells, and isolated neural rosette-like structures, which subsequently formed neurospheres in suspension culture. Tuj1-positive neural cells, but not nestin-positive neural precursor cells (NPCs), were able to enter the microfluidics grooves (microchannels), suggesting that neural cell-migratory capacity was dependent upon neuronal differentiation stage. We also showed that bundles of axons formed and extended into the microchannels. Taken together, these results demonstrated that microfluidics technology can provide useful tools to study neurite outgrowth and axon guidance of neural cells, which are derived from human embryonic stem cells.     

Neural modulation in inferior colliculus and central auditory plasticity

The neural modulation in central auditory system plays an important role in perception and processing of sound signal and auditory cognition. The inferior colliculus (IC) is both a relay station in central auditory pathway and a sub-cortical auditory center doing the sound signal processing. IC is also modulated by the descending projections from the cortex and auditory thalamus, medial geniculate body, and these neural modulations not only can affect ongoing sound signal processing but can also induce plastic changes in IC.     

Somatic plasticity of neural stem cells: Fact or fancy?

Several studies have described the potential for embryonic and adult neural stem cells to differentiate into non-neural cells such as muscle and blood, tissues that are derived from non-neuroectodermal germ layers. This raised the exciting possibility that these cells possessed a broader range of differentiation potential than originally thought and raised interesting prospects for possible transplantation utilization. However, a number of recent reports have raised questions about whether the phenomena observed actually represented true somatic plasticity. In this review, we critically analyze these studies with the aim of providing some criteria by which future studies that address this important problem may be evaluated.     

Some recent advances in basic neuroscience research in China

Neuroscience as a distinct discipline or research programme has been a rather recent event in most Chinese universities and in the Chinese Academy of Sciences. However, the last few years have witnessed increased funding and an improved research environment for neuroscience, both of which facilitated an influx of Chinese neuroscientists trained abroad. In this review, we have highlighted some recent research advances made by neuroscientists in China. Based on our own expertise, this review is focused mainly on findings that have contributed to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying brain development, neural plasticity and cognitive processes, and neural degeneration.     

Rapid changes in gustatory function induced by contralateral nerve injury and sodium depletion

The combination of dietary sodium depletion and unilateral chorda tympani (CT) nerve section decreases sodium taste function in the intact CT nerve. However, functional changes have not been examined prior to day 4 postsectioning, even though degenerative and inflammatory responses are robust during that period. Rats received unilateral CT section and/or dietary sodium depletion, accomplished by 2 injections of furosemide and a sodium-restricted diet, on day 0. Surgical controls received sham nerve sectioning. At days 1, 2, 3, or 4, taste responses were recorded from the intact nerve. Functional changes were rapid and unexpected. At day 1 postsectioning, neural responses from the uninjured CT of both control-fed and sodium-depleted animals were reduced. By day 2, however, normal function was restored in control-fed rats, whereas functional deficits persisted in depleted animals. Sodium depletion alone also induced a transient decrease in sodium responses at days 2-3 after furosemide injection. These results demonstrate that distant neural injury can elicit gustatory plasticity regardless of the dietary environment, but normal responses can be restored. We suggest that neutrophils mediate the initial postinjury deficits in taste function, whereas macrophages promote the recovery of normal function.