CCR2介导MCP-1诱导的人内皮细胞凋亡

本室前期工作发现,单核细胞趋化蛋白-1(MCP-1)可诱导人内皮细胞(hVECs)凋亡.为进一步揭示MCP-1诱导凋亡分子机理,首先观察MCP-1对hVECs CC类趋化因子受体2(C-C motifchemokine receptor-2,CCR2)蛋白表达的影响.Western印迹结果显示,MCP-1以剂量依赖方式诱导CCR2在hVECs的表达.以脂质体为载体的CCR2反义寡核苷酸序列转染hVECs后,激光共聚焦显微镜及膜联蛋白(annexin)V-FITC/PI双染流式细胞术显示,CCR2反义寡核苷酸转染hVECs48h后可明显降低CCR2蛋白质的表达(P0.05),抑制MCP-1诱导的hVECs凋亡(P0.01).反义CCR2抑制凋亡结果与加入CCR2阻断剂RS102895后细胞凋亡测定结果一致.上述结果表明,MCP-1的主要受体CCR2介导了MCP-1诱导的hVECs凋亡.     

瑞舒伐他汀对颈动脉粥样硬化患者单个核细胞CCR2表达的影响及机制

目的：探讨瑞舒伐他汀对颈动脉粥样硬化患者单个核细胞CC类趋化因子受体2（CCR2）表达的影响及上游机制。方法：选择颈动脉粥样硬化患者20例。予瑞舒伐他汀5~20 mg/d治疗。在基线、3月时采集血标本,测定单核细胞趋化蛋白-1（MCP-1）及血脂水平;分离单个核细胞,流式细胞学检测单个核细胞上的CCR2表达;荧光定量逆转录PCR法检测CCR2、过氧化物酶体增生物激活受体（PPAR）β mRNA的表达;Western印迹法检测PPAR β蛋白的表达。结果：瑞舒伐他汀治疗3个月后,患者低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）水平明显降低（P<0.01）,MCP-1及单个核细胞CCR2表达显著下降（P<0.05）,PPAR β mRNA及蛋白表达均较前增加（P<0.05）。结论：瑞舒伐他汀可能通过PPAR β途径降低MCP-1,抑制单个核细胞CCR2的表达。     

MCP-1及其在相关疾病中的治疗措施

单核细胞趋化蛋白1(MCP-1)属于趋化因子的CC亚家族,MCP-1与其受体CCR2相结合,参与了多种炎性疾病的发生。该从抑制MCP-1的表达、MCP-1的拮抗剂、CCR2的拮抗剂、DNA疫苗几方面综述了针对MCP-1的治疗措施。     

急性酒精中毒合并中度创伤性脑损伤大鼠海马AQP4的表达

目的:探讨大鼠急性酒精中毒合并颅脑外伤后AQP4在海马区表达的变化.方法:健康成年雄性SD大鼠96只,随机分为4组:假手术组(N组)、急性酒精中毒组(A组)、中度创伤性脑损伤组(T组)和急性酒精中毒合并中度创伤性脑损伤(AT组).腹腔注射酒精(2.5g/kg),2h后以重物自由落体击打大鼠头部建立急性酒精中毒合并中度创伤性脑损伤(traumatic brain injury,TBI)动物模型.各组动物分别存活1、3、5、14天.免疫组化方法检测海马CA1区AQP4的表达.结果:AQP4阳性产物分布于胶质纤维和毛细血管壁,各实验组表达均高于N组.术后1天T组比AT组表达显著增高(P＜0.01),术后3天AT组比T组表达增高(P＜0.05),术后14天AT组比T组表达显著增高(P＜0.01).结论:大鼠急性酒精中毒合并颅脑外伤后晚期,海马CA1区AQP4表达增高,可能加重晚期继发性脑水肿,是急性酒精中毒合并颅脑外伤预后不良的原因之一.     

急性酒精中毒合并中度创伤性脑损伤大鼠海马AQP4的表达

目的:探讨大鼠急性酒精中毒合并颅脑外伤后AQP4在海马区表达的变化.方法:健康成年雄性SD大鼠96只,随机分为4组:假手术组(N组)、急性酒精中毒组(A组)、中度创伤性脑损伤组(T组)和急性酒精中毒合并中度创伤性脑损伤(AT组).腹腔注射酒精(2.5g/kg),2h后以重物自由落体击打大鼠头部建立急性酒精中毒合并中度创伤性脑损伤(traumatic brain injury,TBI)动物模型.各组动物分别存活1、3、5、14天.免疫组化方法检测海马CAI区AQP4的表达.结果:AQP4阳性产物分布于胶质纤维和毛细血管壁,各实验组表达均高于N组.术后1天T组比AT组表达显著增高(P＜0.01),术后3天AT组比T组表达增高(P＜0.05),术后14天AT组比T组表达显著增高(P＜0.01).结论:大鼠急性酒精中毒合并颅脑外伤后晚期,海马CAI区AQP4表达增高,可能加重晚期继发性脑水肿,是急性酒精中毒合并颅脑外伤预后不良的原因之一.     

急性酒精中毒合并中度创伤性脑损伤大鼠海马GFAP的表达

目的:观察急性酒精中毒合并中度创伤性脑损伤后大鼠海马星形胶质细胞标记物胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)表达的变化.方法:健康成年雄性SD大鼠72只,随即机分为4组:假手术组(N组)、急性酒精中毒组(E组)、中度创伤性脑损伤组(T组)和急性酒精中毒合并中度创伤性脑损伤组(E T组).腹腔注射酒精(2.5g/kg)致使大鼠急性酒精中毒,2h后,按改进的Feeney's自由落体硬膜外撞击方法使其合并中度创伤性脑损伤(600g.cm).各组动物术后6h、24h和48h处死.中性红染色观察海马CA1区神经元形态学改变;用免疫组织化学的方法检测海马CA1区GFAP表达变化.结果:与N组和E组相比,T组和E T组GFAP表达显著增多(P＜0.01).术后6h和24h,T组GFAP表达显著高于E T组(P＜0.05);T组和E T组的海马CA1区神经元细胞出现胞体肿胀,排列散乱,但T组上述形态学改变较E T组明显.结论:急性酒精中毒合并中度创伤性脑损伤的早期可通过减少GFAP的表达,抑制星形胶质细胞激活,减少炎症反应发挥保护作用.     

缬沙坦对糖尿病大鼠肾脏中内质网应激及炎症反应的抑制作用

目的探讨内质网应激(endoplasmic reticulum stress,ERS)及相关炎症反应在糖尿病大鼠肾脏损害中的作用及血管紧张素II受体拮抗剂缬沙坦对其的影响。方法采用腹腔注射链脲佐菌素方法建立糖尿病肾病大鼠模型。将大鼠随机分为对照组(Con组)、糖尿病组(DM组)、缬沙坦组(DM+V组)。缬沙坦组每日灌胃给予缬沙坦(10 mg/kg)共6周。应用免疫组化法及Western blot方法检测ERS相关蛋白P-IRE1α、P-JNK及中性粒细胞趋化因子MCP-1的表达及定位,实时荧光定量PCR(FQ-PCR)检测IRE1α、JNK及MCP-1mRNA的表达变化,同时观察各组大鼠尿蛋白、BUN、Scr等指标的变化。结果与Con组相比,DM组大鼠肾脏病理炎细胞浸润加重,PIRE1α、IRE1α、P-JNK、MCP-1蛋白表达上调,IRE1αmRNA、MCP-1mRNA表达水平上调;与DM组相比,DM+V组肾脏病理炎症细胞浸润减轻,P-IRE1α、IRE1α、P-JNK、MCP-1蛋白表达下调,IRE1αmRNA、MCP-1 mRNA表达水平下调。3组间JNK mRNA及蛋白表达无明显差异。结论糖尿病大鼠肾脏中存在内质网应激和炎症反应的激活,缬沙坦可能部分通过抑制内质网应激中的IRE1/JNK/MCP-1通路,减少炎症反应,从而发挥肾脏保护作用。     

美洲大蠊精粉对小鼠血糖和肌酐的影响

目的研究美洲大蠊Periplaneta americana精粉对高脂饮食小鼠体质量、血糖和肌酐的影响。方法高脂饮食小鼠分为对照组和实验组(给予美洲大蠊精粉:低剂量100 mg·kg~(-1)、中剂量200 mg·kg~(-1)、高剂量400 mg·kg~(-1))。灌胃第42天和第49天取血后,用试剂盒测定血清血糖和肌酐的含量,实时荧光定量PCR法检测肝脏中葡萄糖-6-磷酸酶(G-6-Pase)、葡萄糖转运蛋白2(GLUT2)和肾脏中单核细胞趋化蛋白-1(MCP-1) mRNA的表达水平。结果与对照组相比,中、高剂量组体质量增长率在第42天和第49天均显著低于对照组(P 0. 05,P 0. 01)。第42天实验组小鼠的血糖、肌酐和MCP-1 mRNA水平与对照组相比有降低趋势,但差异无统计学意义(P 0. 05),中、高剂量组的G-6-Pase mRNA水平极显著低于对照组(P 0. 01),GLUT2 mRNA水平的差异无统计学意义(P 0. 05)。第49天,低、高剂量组小鼠的血糖和肌酐水平显著低于对照组(P 0. 05),且低、中、高剂量组的G-6-Pase、GLUT2和MCP-1 mRNA水平显著低于对照组(P 0. 05,P 0. 01)。结论美洲大蠊精粉可降低高脂饮食小鼠的体质量增长率以及血糖、血清肌酐水平,减少肝脏中G-6-Pase mRNA表达和调节GLUT2 mRNA表达水平可能是美洲大蠊精粉降血糖机制之一,并且可能通过降低肾脏中MCP-1 mRNA的表达减轻肾脏损伤。     

大鼠局灶性脑缺血后一氧化氮合酶基因表达的变化

目的:观察大鼠局灶性脑缺血后3种类型一氧化氮合酶(NOS)mRNA表达的变化.方法:大鼠随机分为正常对照组、缺血后2、6、12、24 h组,以逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)法分别检测缺血脑组织NOS基因表达的变化.结果:脑缺血后eNOS、nNOSmRNA表达增强,分别于2、6 h达高峰;iNOS mRNA表达亦增高,但在缺血后12 h达高峰.结论:大鼠脑缺血早期eNOS和nNOS占主要地位,缺血后期iNOS占主要地位.     

益生菌对急性肝内胆汁淤积大鼠肝组织NF-κB和MCP-1的影响

目的通过研究益生菌制剂对异硫氰酸萘酯（ANIT））所致的急性肝内胆汁淤积大鼠肝组织NF-κB和MCP-1表达的影响,进一步探讨益生菌防治急性肝内胆汁淤积肝损伤的作用机制。方法72只幼年雄性Sprague-Dawley（SD）大鼠分为正常对照组（8只）、中毒组（32只）和干预组（32只）。中毒组及干预组幼鼠,按100mg／kg一次性灌服ANIT诱导急性肝内胆汁淤积病变,干预组于ANIT灌胃前3d开始灌服培菲康[4．2×10^8个活菌／（kg·d）]。观察各组在灌服ANIT后24h、48h、72h和96h血浆总胆红素（TB）、丙氨酸转氨酶（ALT）的浓度,同时用RT-PCR测定肝组织中MCP-1mRNA的表达,用免疫组化方法测定肝组织中NF-κB、MCP-1蛋白的表达,并在光学显微镜下观察肝脏的形态学改变。结果干预组大鼠血清ALT、TB在灌服ANIT后24h、48h、72h和96h各时间点升高的峰值较中毒组明显减低,且其肝组织MCP-1mRNA和蛋白表达水平以及NF-κB蛋白表达水平较中毒组低。结论益生菌能够改善急性肝内胆汁淤积肝脏功能,降低NF-κB、MCP-1的基因表达,对急性肝内胆汁淤积性肝损伤起到一定的防治作用。     

Dissecting the Heat Stress Response in Chlamydomonas by Pharmaceutical and RNAi Approaches Reveals Conserved and Novel Aspects

To study how conserved fundamental concepts of the heat stress response （HSR） are in photosynthetic eukaryotes, we applied pharmaceutical and antisense/amiRNA approaches to the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The Chlamydomonas HSR appears to be triggered by the accumulation of unfolded proteins, as it was induced at ambient temperatures by feeding cells with the arginine analog canavanine. The protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine strongly retarded the HSR, demonstrating the importance of phosphorylation during activation of the HSR also in Chlamydomonas. While the removal of extracellular calcium by the application of EGTA and BAPTA inhibited the HSR in moss and higher plants, only the addition of BAPTA, but not of EGTA, retarded the HSR and impaired thermotoler- ance in Chlamydomonas. The addition of cycloheximide, an inhibitor of cytosolic protein synthesis, abolished the attenu- ation of the HSR, indicating that protein synthesis is necessary to restore proteostasis. HSP90 inhibitors induced a stress response when added at ambient conditions and retarded attenuation of the HSR at elevated temperatures. In addition, we detected a direct physical interaction between cytosolic HSP90A/HSP70A and heat shock factor 1, but surprisingly this interaction persisted after the onset of stress. Finally, the expression of antisense constructs targeting chloroplast HSP70B resulted in a delay of the cell＇s entire HSR, thus suggesting the existence of a retrograde stress signaling cascade that is desensitized in HSP7OB-antisense strains.     

Salt Stress in Arabidopsis： Lipid Transfer Protein AZI1 and Its Control by Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase MPK3

A plant＇s capability to cope with environmental challenges largely relies on signal transmission through mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） cascades. In Arabidopsis thaliana, MPK3 is particularly strongly associated with numerous abiotic and biotic stress responses. Identification of MPK3 substrates is a milestone towards improving stress resistance in plants. Here, we characterize AZI1, a lipid transfer protein （LTP）-related hybrid proline-rich protein （HyPRP）, as a novel target of MPK3. AZI1 is phosphorylated by MPK3 in vitro. As documented by co-immunoprecipitation and bimolecular fluorescence complementation experiments, AZI1 interacts with MPK3 to form protein complexes in planta. Furthermore, null mutants of azil are hypersensitive to salt stress, while AZIl-overexpressing lines are markedly more tolerant. AZI1 overexpression in the mpk3 genetic background partially alleviates the salt-hypersensitive phenotype of this mutant, but functional MPK3 appears to be required for the full extent of AZIl-conferred robustness. Notably, this robustness does not come at the expense of normal development. Immunoblot and RT-PCR data point to a role of MPK3 as positive regulator of AZI1 abundance.     

Retromer Subunits VPS35A and VPS29 Mediate Prevacuolar Compartment （PVC） Function in Arabidopsis

Intracellular protein routing is mediated by vesicular transport which is tightly regulated in eukaryotes. The protein and lipid homeostasis depends on coordinated delivery of de novo synthesized or recycled cargoes to the plasma membrane by exocytosis and their subsequent removal by rerouting them for recycling or degradation. Here, we report the characterization of protein affected trafficking 3 （pat3） mutant that we identified by an epifluorescence-based for- ward genetic screen for mutants defective in subcellular distribution of Arabidopsis auxin transporter PIN1-GFR While pat3 displays largely normal plant morphology and development in nutrient-rich conditions, it shows strong ectopic intracellular accumulations of different plasma membrane cargoes in structures that resemble prevacuolar compart- ments （PVC） with an aberrant morphology. Genetic mapping revealed that pat3 is defective in vacuolar protein sorting 35A （VPS35A）, a putative subunit of the retromer complex that mediates retrograde trafficking between the PVC and trans-Golgi network. Similarly, a mutant defective in another retromer subunit, vps29, shows comparable subcellular defects in PVC morphology and protein accumulation. Thus, our data provide evidence that the retromer components VPS35A and VPS29 are essential for normal PVC morphology and normal trafficking of plasma membrane proteins in plants. In addition, we show that, out of the three VPS35 retromer subunits present in Arabidopsis thaliana genome, the VPS35 homolog A plays a prevailing role in trafficking to the lyric vacuole, presenting another level of complexity in the retromer-dependent vacuolar sorting.     

Regulation of Cytokinesis by Exocyst Subunit SEC6 and KEULE in Arabidopsis thaliana

Proper vesicle tethering and membrane fusion at the cell plate are essential for cytokinesis. Both the vesicle tethering complex exocyst and membrane fusion regulator KEULE were shown to function in cell plate formation, but the exact mechanisms still remain to be explored. In this study, using yeast two-hybrid （Y-2-H） assay, we found that SEC6 interacted with KEULE, and that a small portion of C-terminal region of KEULE was required for the interaction. The direct SEC6-KEULE interaction was supported by further studies using in vitro pull-down assay, immunoprecipitation, and in vivo bimolecular florescence complementation （BIFC） microscopy, sec6 mutants were male gametophytic lethal as reported; however, pollen-rescued sec6 mutants （PRsec6） displayed cytokinesis defects in the embryonic cells and later in the leaf pavement cells and the guard cells. SEC6 and KEULE proteins were co-localized to the cell plate during cytokine- sis in transgenic Arabidopsis. Furthermore, only SEC6 but not other exocyst subunits located in the cell plate interacted with KEULE in vitro. These results demonstrated that, like KEULE, SEC6 plays a physiological role in cytokinesis, and the SEC6-KEULE interaction may serve as a novel molecular linkage between arriving vesicles and membrane fusion machin- ery or directly regulate membrane fusion during cell plate formation in plants.     

Perturbation of Auxin Homeostasis Caused by Mitochondrial FtSH4 Gene-Mediated Peroxidase Accumulation Regulates Arabiclopsis Architecture

Reactive oxygen species and auxin play important roles in the networks that regulate plant development and morphogenetic changes, However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between them are poorly understood. This study isolated a mas （More Axillary Shoots） mutant, which was identified as an allele of the mitochondrial AAA-protease AtFtSH4, and characterized the function of the FtSH4 gene in regulating plant development by medi- ating the peroxidase-dependent interplay between hydrogen peroxide （H2Oz） and auxin homeostasis. The phenotypes of dwarfism and increased axillary branches observed in the mas （renamed as ftsh4-4） mutant result from a decrease in the IAA concentration. The expression levels of several auxin signaling genes, including IAA1, IAA2, and IAA3, as well as several auxin binding and transport genes, decreased significantly in ftsh4-4 plants. However, the H202 and peroxidases levels, which also have IAA oxidase activity, were significantly elevated in ftsh4-4 plants. The ftsh4-4 phenotypes could be reversed by expressing the iaaM gene or by knocking down the peroxidase genes PRX34 and PRX33. Both approaches can increase auxin levels in the ftsh4-4 mutant. Taken together, these results provided direct molecular and genetic evidence for the interaction between mitochondrial ATP-dependent protease, H2O2, and auxin homeostasis to regulate plant growth and development.     

Arabidopsis tic62 trol Mutant Lacking Thylakoid- Bound Ferredoxin-NADP＋ Oxidoreductase Shows Distinct Metabolic Phenotype

Ferredoxin-NADP＋ oxidoreductase （FNR）, functioning in the last step of the photosynthetic electron transfer chain, exists both as a soluble protein in the chloroplast stroma and tightly attached to chloroplast membranes. Surface plasmon resonance assays showed that the two FNR isoforms, LFNR1 and LFNR2, are bound to the thylakoid membrane via the C-terminal domains of Tic62 and TROL proteins in a pH-dependent manner. The tic62 trol double mutants contained a reduced level of FNR, exclusively found in the soluble stroma. Although the mutant plants showed no visual phenotype or defects in the function of photosystems under any conditions studied, a low ratio of NADPH/NADP~ was detected. Since the CO2 fixation capacity did not differ between the tic62 trol plants and wild-type, it seems that the plants are able to funnel reducing power to most crucial reactions to ensure survival and fitness of the plants. However, the activity of malate dehydrogenase was down-regulated in the mutant plants. Apparently, the plastid metabolism is able to cope with substantial changes in directing the electrons from the light reactions to stromal metabolism and thus only few differences are visible in steady-state metabolite pool sizes of the tic62 trol plants.     

Control of Rice Embryo Development,Shoot Apical Meristem Maintenance,and Grain Yield by a Novel Cytochrome P450

Angiosperm seeds usually consist of two major parts： the embryo and the endosperm. However, the molec- ular mechanism（s） underlying embryo and endosperm development remains largely unknown, particularly in rice, the model cereal. Here, we report the identification and functional characterization of the rice GIANT EMBRYO （GE） gene. Mutation of GE resulted in a large embryo in the seed, which was caused by excessive expansion of scuteUum cells. Post-embryonic growth of ge seedling was severely inhibited due to defective shoot apical meristem （SAM） mainte- nance. Map-based cloning revealed that GE encodes a CYP78A subfamily P450 monooxygenase that is localized to the endoplasmic reticulum. GE is expressed predominantly in the scutellar epithelium, the interface region between embryo and endosperm. Overexpression of GE promoted cell proliferation and enhanced rice plant growth and grain yield, but reduced embryo size, suggesting that GE is critical for coordinating rice embryo and endosperm development. Moreover, transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing AtCYP78AlO, a GE homolog, also produced bigger seeds, implying a con- served role for the CYP78A subfamily of P450s in regulating seed development. Taken together, our results indicate that GE plays critical roles in regulating embryo development and SAM maintenance.     

Redox Regulation of Arabidopsis Mitochondrial Citrate Synthase

Citrate synthase has a key role in the tricarboxylic （TCA） cycle of mitochondria of all organisms, as it cata- lyzes the first committed step which is the fusion of a carbon-carbon bond between oxaloacetate and acetyl CoA. The regulation of TCA cycle function is especially important in plants, since mitochondrial activities have to be coordinated with photosynthesis. The posttranslational regulation of TCA cycle activity in plants is thus far almost entirely unexplored. Although several TCA cycle enzymes have been identified as thioredoxin targets in vitro, the existence of any thioredoxin-dependent regulation as known for the Calvin cycle, yet remains to be demonstrated. Here we have investigated the redox regulation of the Arabidopsis citrate synthase enzyme by site-directed mutagenesis of its six cysteine residues. Our results indicate that oxidation inhibits the enzyme activity by the formation of mixed disulfides, as the partially oxidized citrate synthase enzyme forms large redox-dependent aggregates. Furthermore, we were able to demonstrate that thioredoxin can cleave diverse intraas well as intermolecular disulfide bridges, which strongly enhances the activity of the enzyme. Activity measurements with the cysteine variants of the enzyme revealed important cysteine residues affecting total enzyme activity as well as the redox sensitivity of the enzyme.