血清后人血管平滑肌细胞表型转化与microRNAs表达间关系的研究

目的:研究去血清诱导人血管平滑肌细胞发生表型转化与microRNAs表达间的关系。方法:采取人血管平滑肌细胞克隆株HITASY,培养人血管平滑肌细胞(VSMCs)。用去血清的方法处理人血管平滑肌细胞,使VSMCs由去分化表型向分化表型转化,通过蛋白印迹法观察平滑肌细胞中分化标记物蛋白的变化,同时用实时定量PCR法检测细胞中相关microRNA的表达。结果:①去血清处理组与无去血清处理组比较,平滑肌细胞分化标记物(SM-α-actin、calponin)表达显著性增加,而通过SM-α-actin、calponin的蛋白表达量显著增加,提示血管平滑肌细胞向分化表型转化(P0.05);②同时去血清处理组与无去血清处理组比较,Mir-649、Mir-944表达量显著增加,Mir-140、Mir-361表达量显著减少(P0.05)。结论:Mir-649、Mir-944、Mir-140、Mir-361在血管平滑肌细胞表型转化中有关键性作用。     

转录因子E2F1抑制CREG表达调控体外培养的人血管平滑肌细胞分化

为探讨转录因子E2F1在血管平滑肌细胞(vascular smooth muscle cells,VSMCs)表型转化中的作用及其对E1A激活基因阻遏子(cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes,CREG)表达调控的分子机制,应用生物信息学方法,定位人CREG(hCREG)基因启动子并确定转录因子E2F1在hCREG启动子区的结合位点,PCR方法克隆并构建hCREG基因启动子绿色荧光报告基因载体,以hCREG启动子区E2F1结合位点为模板,化学合成E2F1寡聚脱氧核苷酸(ODN)和错配E2F1ODN,利用转录因子"诱骗(Decoy)"策略,用E2F1ODN转染体外培养的VSMCs以阻断E2F1与hCREG基因启动子区的结合,蛋白质印迹(Western blot)分析检测阻断前后细胞内hCREG蛋白、报告基因绿色荧光蛋白(green fluorescent protein,GFP)和平滑肌细胞分化标志蛋白SMα-actin表达变化.结果显示:分化表型HITASY细胞中E2F1表达下调伴出核转位,而增殖表型的HITASY细胞中E2F1蛋白表达明显增加且定位于核内.进一步应用FuGene6瞬时转染E2F1ODN和错配E2F1ODN于体外培养HITASY细胞中,蛋白质印迹分析发现,转染E2F1ODN后,HITASY细胞中hCREG、SMα-actin和GFP表达均较未阻断组及错配组细胞明显增加.上述研究结果证实,E2F1是hCREG基因转录的重要调控因子,能够直接结合于hCREG启动子区阻遏hCREG表达,参与hCREG蛋白对VSMCs表型转化的调控作用.     

血清饥饿可诱导人血管平滑肌细胞再分化

体外培养的分化型血管平滑肌细胞 (vascularsmoothmusclecells ,VSMC)以特异性标志基因表达、长梭形外观及对兴奋剂刺激产生收缩反应为其表型特征 .以血清饥饿法培养处于超汇合 (overconfluence)状态的人VSMC ,观察其分化型标志基因表达活性及其与细胞形态特征和收缩反应性之间的关系 ,探讨细胞生存环境对VSMC基因表达及表型的影响 .研究显示 ,生长至超汇合的VSMC由含血清培养转为血清饥饿后 ,收缩蛋白如SMα肌动蛋白 (SMα actin)、SM2 2α、h1 calponin、肌球蛋白重链 (MHC)SM1和SM2亚型的表达活性明显上调 ,证实血清饥饿诱导的收缩蛋白基因表达和血清应答因子 (serumresponsefactor ,SRF)与CArG顺式元件结合活性的增强有关 .同时 ,血清饥饿还可激活参与VSMC分化调节的转录调控因子SmLIM、Gax和分化相关蛋白HRG 1基因的转录 .随着血清饥饿培养时间的延长 ,VSMC逐渐形成多层、束状、成极性排列的形式 ,对兴奋剂刺激产生的收缩反应明显增强 .结果表明 ,超汇合状态的去分化型VSMC脱离血清刺激后 ,可以再分化成熟并重新获得收缩能力     

血管再狭窄发生过程中SMα肌动蛋白和SMemb基因表达的变化及其影响机制研究

为研究血管再狭窄发生过程中 VSMC表型转化的规律及机制 ,采用大鼠主动脉内皮剥脱后血管再狭窄动物模型和体外培养的 VSMC,通过 Northern印迹分析及 3H- Td R参入实验 ,动态观察血管再狭窄发生过程中 VSMC表型标志基因α肌动蛋白和 SMemb的表达变化及 b FGF、TNF-α和 IL - 1β对两种基因表达的影响及其与 VSMC增殖之间的关系 .结果表明 ,血管内皮剥脱后 3d,分化型标志基因α肌动蛋白表达活性开始降低 ,去分化型标志基因 SMemb表达明显上调 ,至第 7d,前者的下调与后者的上调均达到最大 ,此后 ,两者的表达活性趋于向正常恢复 .b FGF可明显下调 α肌动蛋白的表达和诱导 SMemb表达 ,对分化型和去分化型 VSMC均有促增殖作用 ,但对后者的作用大于前者 ,TNF- α和 IL- 1 β对 VSMC的促转化及促增殖作用较弱 .提示 b FGF等生长因子介导血管内皮损伤所诱发的 VSMC表型转化并促进其增殖 ,内皮损伤 7d后 ,在发生表型转化并进行增殖的 VSMC中 ,一部分细胞再分化 ,一部分细胞仍处于去分化状态并继续进行增殖并持续较长时间 .     

RhoA和血清反应因子(SRF)介导E1A激活基因阻遏子诱导人血管平滑肌细胞分化

为探讨E1A激活基因阻遏子(CREG)对人血管平滑肌细胞(VSMCs)分化的调控机制,应用重组逆转录病毒表达载体pLNCX2( )/CREG及pLXSN(-)/CREG制备稳定感染HITASY细胞模型,观察CREG蛋白过表达及表达抑制对人VSMCs分化的影响并探讨其调控机制.结果显示:pLNCX2( )/CREG稳定感染细胞呈分化表型,细胞细长变成组织样聚集生长趋势,细胞中CREG蛋白和平滑肌分化标志蛋白平滑肌α-肌动蛋白(SMα-actin)表达显著增加,同时SMα-actin相关调控因子——血清反应因子(SRF)入核转位,RhoA总蛋白表达上调,以Rho激酶特异性抑制剂Y-27632作用后,CREG诱导的SMα-actin表达下调的同时SRF出核转位;pLXSN(-)/CREG稳定感染的细胞体积变大,细胞极性消失,呈无序生长,细胞中CREG和SMα-actin蛋白表达显著降低,同时伴有SRF出核转位及RhoA总蛋白表达下调.免疫共沉淀分析发现,CREG蛋白能被分泌到VSMCs培养基中表达,并可与细胞膜受体6-磷酸甘露糖/胰岛素样生长因子Ⅱ型受体(M6P/IGF2R)发生直接相互作用.用蛋白磷酸酶PP2A特异性抑制剂okadaicacid减少M6P/IGF2R在细胞膜表面分布,可明显抑制CREG过表达引起的RhoA、SRF和SMα-actin表达.上述结果提示,在体外培养的人VSMCs中,CREG可能作为一种分泌型蛋白质通过与细胞膜受体M6P/IGF2R相互作用,依次激活SMα-actin蛋白相关调控因子RhoA和SRF引起SMα-actin表达增加,促进VSMCs向分化表型转换.     

E1A激活基因阻遏子过表达抑制体外人血管平滑肌细胞凋亡

为探讨E1A激活基因阻遏子（cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes,CREG）对人血管平滑肌细胞（vascular smooth muscl ecells,VSMCs）凋亡的影响及调控机制,应用正、反义重组逆转录病毒表达载体pLNCX,（＋）／CREG及pLXSN（-）／CREG制备稳定感染人胸廓内动脉平滑肌细胞克隆株（human internal thoracic artery-Shenyang,HITASY）细胞模型,观察CREG蛋白过表达及表达抑制对平滑肌细胞凋亡的影响。荧光显微镜下观察DAPI染色后凋亡细胞核形态,AnnexinV／PI流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡率,RT-PCR技术分析凋亡相关基因caspase-9mRNA的表达,蛋白质印迹法分析p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase,p38MAPK）、磷酸化p38MAPK（phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated proteinkinase,P-p38 MAPK）的表达变化。研究结果显示,CREG蛋白过表达明显抑制血清饥饿诱导的HITASY细胞凋亡的发生;同时细胞中p38MAPK、P-p38MAPK的表达增加。相反,抑制CREG蛋白表达则引起正常血清培养状态下VSMCs的自发凋亡明显增加,同时细胞内p38MAPK、P-p38MAPK表达显著下降。进一步研究发现,预先应用特异性抑制剂SB203580阻断p38MAPK信号转导通路后,CREG蛋白过表达引起的细胞凋亡抑制作用被明显减弱,血清饥饿后CREG蛋白过表达引起的HITASY细胞凋亡现象明显增加。上述结果提示,CREG蛋白过表达可以抑制体外培养的VSMCs凋亡,p38MAPK信号转导通路可能介导CREG蛋白对VSMCs凋亡的抑制作用。     

E1A激活基因阻遏子过表达诱导体外培养大鼠平滑肌细胞分化

为探讨E1A激活基因阻遏子蛋白(CREG)对血管平滑肌细胞表型转换的调控机制,应用pRC/CMV-hCREG真核表达载体转染体外培养的大鼠血管平滑肌细胞(VSMCs),观察了转染前后细胞的表型改变.结果发现,pRC/CMV-hCREG质粒转染后,大鼠平滑肌细胞增殖受抑,细胞分化标志蛋白SM α-actin表达显著增加.免疫共沉淀分析发现,CREG与血清反应因子(SRF)发生相互作用形成复合体,在CREG基因过表达时,与CREG结合的SRF蛋白增加.凝胶迁移阻滞分析(GSMA)和抗体凝胶迁移阻滞分析(supershift)显示,过表达的CREG蛋白与SRF蛋白共同结合到 SM α-actin基因启动子区CArG位点上,可能参与 SM α-actin表达的调控. 构建SM α-actin promoter- pCAT^® 3报告基因载体并与pRC/CMV-hCREG质粒共转染VSMCs也证实,CREG蛋白过表达可增强SM α-actin基因表达.上述研究提示,CREG蛋白可能是调控VSMCs表型转换的重要分子.     

E1A 激活基因阻遏子促进人血管平滑肌细胞分化和迁移

为探讨 E1A 激活基因阻遏子 (cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes , CREG) 蛋白在人血管平滑肌细胞株 HITASY 分化和迁移中的调控作用,构建了重组逆转录病毒载体 pLNCX₂( ＋ )/CREG 和 pLXSN( － )/CREG. 以带绿色荧光蛋白 (green fluorescent protein , GFP) 的空载体 pLNCX( ＋ )/GFP 和正常 HITASY 为对照,用磷酸钙共沉淀法将重组逆转录病毒载体转染 293 细胞,包装出完整的逆转录病毒后,感染 HITASY. 经 G418 筛选,获得稳定感染的细胞克隆 . 应用免疫荧光染色、蛋白质印迹等方法检测 CREG 和平滑肌分化标志蛋白α- 肌动蛋白 (SMα -actin) 表达,同时通过刮伤实验、慢速显微摄像技术检测细胞迁移能力以及用明胶酶谱方法分析细胞基质金属蛋白酶 (matrix metalloproteinase , MMPs) 的活性 . 结果表明： pLNCX₂( ＋ )/CREG 稳定感染的 HITASY 中 CREG 和 SMα-actin 蛋白表达上调, MMP-2 和 MMP-9 活性升高,细胞迁移速度加快; pLXSN( － )/CREG 稳定感染的 HITASY 中 CREG 和 SMα -actin 蛋白表达下调, MMP-2 和 MMP-9 活性降低,细胞迁移速度减慢 . 上述研究提示 CREG 在诱导血管平滑肌细胞分化的同时促进细胞迁移 .     

同源异型盒基因对血管平滑肌细胞的调控作用

同源异型盒基因是一类对生物体的生长、发育和分化从时间和空间上进行协调的调控基因。构成血管中膜的血管平滑肌细胞表型具有极大的可塑性。在一些病理性血管重构时,血管平滑肌细胞可发生表型调变,从分化型调变为去分化型,具备增殖和迁移能力。在此过程中,多种同源异型盒基因的表达发挥了重要的调控作用。现就同源异型盒基因与血管平滑肌细胞的表型调变、增殖和迁移的关系等方面的研究进展作一综述。     

绞股蓝总苷对高脂血症大鼠血管平滑肌细胞表型的影响

研究绞股蓝总苷对高脂诱导的大鼠血管平滑肌细胞表型的影响及可能的分子机制。采用高脂饲料喂饲建立高脂大鼠模型,观察绞股蓝总苷对血脂各成分的影响,血管平滑肌细胞超微结构及血管表型标志物表达的影响。结果显示,绞股蓝总苷能降低大鼠血脂水平并抑制血管平滑肌细胞超微结构发生去分化表型改变;增加高脂大鼠动脉分化标志蛋白SM-actin的表达,降低细胞增殖蛋白PCNA的表达。说明绞股蓝总苷能有效抑制高脂诱导的大鼠平滑肌细胞去分化,机制可能与抑制MCPIP1的表达有关。     

Recent advances in the study of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus replication and pathogenesis

It has now been over twenty years since a novel herpesviral genome was identified in Kaposi's sarcoma biopsies. Since then, the cumulative research effort by molecular biologists, virologists, clinicians, and epidemiologists alike has led to the extensive characterization of this tumor virus, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus(KSHV; also known as human herpesvirus 8(HHV-8)), and its associated diseases. Here we review the current knowledge of KSHV biology and pathogenesis, with a particular emphasis on new and exciting advances in the field of epigenetics. We also discuss the development and practicality of various cell culture and animal model systems to study KSHV replication and pathogenesis.     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

The structure, reproduction and taxonomy of Vidalia and Osmundaria (Rhodophyta, Rhodomelaceae)

Comprises species occurring mostly in subtidal habitats in tropical, subtropical and warm-temperate areas of the world. An analysis of the type species, V. spiralis (Sonder) Lamouroux ex J. Agardh, a species from Australia, establishes basic characters for distinguishing species in the genus. These characters are (1) branching patterns of thalli, (2) flat blades that may be spiralled on their axis, (3) width of the blade, (4) primary or secondary derivation of sterile and fertile branchlets and (5) position of sterile and fertile branchlets on the thalli. Application of the latter two characters provides an important basic method for separation of species into three major groups. Osmundaria , a genus known only in southern Australia, was studied in relation to Vidalia , and its separation from the Vidalia assemblage is not accepted. Species of Vidalia therefore are transferred to the older genus name, Osmundaria. Two new species, Osmundaria papenfussii and Osmundaria oliveae are described from Natal. Confusion in the usage of the epithet, Vidalia fimbriala Brown ex Turner has been clarified, and Vidalia gregaria Falkenberg, described as an epiphyte on Osmundaria pro/ifera Lamouroux, is revealed to be young branches of the host, Osmundaria prolifera.     

New or rare chromosome counts in Artemisia L. (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) and related genera from Kazakhstan

Fifteen chromosome counts of six Artemisia taxa and one species of each of the genera Brachanthemum, Hippolytia, Kaschgaria, Lepidolopsis and Turaniphytum are reported from Kazakhstan. Three of them are new reports, two are not consistent with previous counts and the remainder are confirmations of very scarce (one to four) earlier records. All the populations studied have the same basic chromosome number, x = 9, with ploidy levels ranging from 2x to 6x. Some correlations between ploidy level, morphological characters and distribution are noted.