RT—PCR法同时测定APP与tau mRNA的含量

β－淀粉样蛋白前体（ＡＰＰ）与ｔａｕ蛋白是两种与Ａｌｚｈｅｉｍｅｒ病的病理改变相关的蛋白质,近年来也发现它们或其修饰产物在包含体肌炎及慢性氯喹中毒的肌细胞中沉积。为更好地研究这两种相关蛋白质在肌细胞中的表达,我们建立了用逆转录－多聚酶链反应同时定量这两种相关蛋白质在肌细胞中的表达,我们建立了用逆转录－多聚酶链反应同时定量这两种基因转录产物的方法。本法选用甘油醛－３－磷酸脱氢酶（Ｇ３ＰＤ）作为内标,     

氯喹导致大鼠肌组织载脂蛋白E大量表达

载脂蛋白E(ApoE)与迟发的家族性及孤发性阿尔茨海默(Alzheimer)病密切相关. 氯喹慢性中毒可诱发某些肌病理改变, 出现β淀粉样蛋白(βAP)与tau蛋白等的沉积, 与Alzheimer脑中见到的病理改变类似. 为分析这一改变的机制, 用逆转录结合多聚酶链反应技术(RT-PCR)对氯喹处理的大鼠肌肉中ApoE表达的改变进行了研究. 在PCR定量中采用了一种稳定表达的内源性甘油醛-3-磷酸脱氢酶mRNA作为内部参照. PCR扩增在很宽的循环数范围内成线性, 且靶mRNA与参照mRNA的扩增效率相当. 氯喹处理后大鼠肌肉中ApoE mRNA的表达从第6周开始增加, 第8周后超过对照组的20多倍. 结果提示, ApoE在氯喹慢性中毒所致的大鼠肌病理改变中发挥某些作用.     

β-分泌酶抑制剂对tau过磷酸化大鼠β-CTF代谢的影响及机制研究

目的:在tau过磷酸化大鼠中,通过检测淀粉样前体蛋白(amyloid precursor protein,APP)C末端片段的表达,研究抑制β-分泌酶(BACE1)对其代谢的影响及机制。方法:24只SD大鼠随机分为四组,包括正常对照组、假手术组、OA组、OA+BACE1抑制剂组。Western blot法检测β-CTF、APP及BACE1表达;RT-PCR法检测APP及BACE1;水迷宫检测大鼠行为学。结果:OA组β-CTF表达显著增加(p0.05),而OA+BACE1抑制剂组与OA组相比,β-CTF表达减少(p0.05);四组大鼠的APP在蛋白及mRNA水平表达无显著差别(p0.05);OA组BACE1在蛋白及mRNA水平的表达增加,而OA+BACE1抑制剂组BACE1的蛋白表达较OA组减少(p0.05),两组大鼠mRNA表达水平无明显差异(p0.05)。OA+BACE1抑制剂组大鼠在给予BACE1抑制剂后行为学有所改善(p0.05)。结论:(1)tau过磷酸化通过促进神经元内BACE1表达,导致APP代谢途径发生转变,从而引起β-CTF表达增加;(2)β-CTF表达增加可引起tau过磷酸化大鼠行为学改变;(3)抑制BACE1可改善大鼠的学习及记忆能力,支持BACE1作为AD的治疗靶点。     

GSK-3β在阿尔茨海默症病理特征形成中的作用

糖原合成酶激酶3β(glycogen synthase kinase-3β,GSK-3β)是糖原合成酶激酶3的一种亚型。GSK-3β不仅参与淀粉样蛋白质前体(amyloid precursor protein,APP)代谢,还在tau蛋白过度磷酸化过程中发挥作用,GSK-3β表达及活性的异常会导致神经元细胞的凋亡。APP异常代谢和tau蛋白异常磷酸化是阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer’s disease,AD)发展的重要因素,因此GSK-3β可能与AD的病理变化密切相关,明确其在AD中的作用及其机制对AD的治疗有重要的意义。     

β淀粉样蛋白膜内片段对APP表达的影响

MTT法和荧光分光光度计检测发现β淀粉样蛋白膜内片段(intramembranous fragments of amyloid-β,IF-Aβ)可以抑制β淀粉样蛋白42(amyloid-β,Aβ42)对体外培养神经元的毒性.通过体外检测IF-Aβ对淀粉样前体蛋白(amyloid precursor protein,APP)表达的影响,探索IF-Aβ对Aβ42的神经毒性抑制机制.分别从mRNA水平和蛋白质水平用RT-PCR方法和Western-blot方法检测IF-Aβ对体外培养神经元APP表达的影响.发现IF-Aβ加入原代培养的神经元后,APP从mRNA水平和蛋白质水平均表达下降,说明IF-Aβ通过抑制APP的表达,减少了Aβ生成,达到神经保护的作用.     

APP/PS1转基因鼠脑内小泛素化修饰物-1上调可能参与阿尔茨海默病老年斑形成和神经突起变性的调节北大核心CSCD

小泛素化修饰物(small ubiquitin-related modifier,SUMO)是一类重要的类泛素蛋白,研究显示一些神经退行性疾病相关蛋白可以被SUMO化修饰。本文旨在观察APP/PS1转基因阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer’s disease,AD)鼠中SUMO-1表达及修饰的变化,并探讨SUMO-1与AD病理的关系。采用免疫印迹的方法检测12月龄的APP/PS1转基因AD鼠脑内SUMO-1表达及修饰的变化,同时用免疫共沉淀及免疫荧光的方法研究AD鼠脑内SUMO-1与tau、APP和Aβ的关系。结果显示:(1)与正常野生型小鼠相比,AD鼠脑内SUMO-1表达及其修饰的蛋白增加,同时伴有泛素化蛋白的增加;(2)AD鼠大脑皮层的RIPA可溶蛋白组份中,SUMO-1修饰的tau增加,而AT8抗体识别的磷酸化tau的SUMO-1修饰减少,但422位点磷酸化tau的SUMO-1修饰没有明显改变;(3)SUMO-1与磷酸化tau、APP及Aβ免疫荧光双标显示,在AD鼠脑内SUMO-1可在老年斑的中部和周围分布,并且SUMO-1与AT8识别的磷酸化tau在老年斑周围的变性神经突起中有相对较多的共存,但与APP、PS422识别的磷酸化tau和Aβ的共定位很少。以上结果提示,SUMO-1在APP/PS1转基因AD小鼠脑内表达增加,并可能参与变性神经突起及老年斑形成的调节。     

Tau融合蛋白及其缺失突变体与朊蛋白的体外作用分析

在部分朊病毒病（prion diseases）中,高度磷酸化的微管相关蛋白tau与朊蛋白(prion protein,PrP)发生共定位,tau蛋白可能在朊病毒病的病理机制中有重要作用. 本室已经证明二者可以发生分子间相互作用,本文进一步分析了tau蛋白与prion的体外相互作用及作用位点. 利用RT-PCR方法从人源细胞系SHSY5Y cDNA中扩增出微管相关蛋白tau全长cDNA序列,克隆至质粒pGEX-2T载体,在大肠杆菌中诱导表达融合蛋白GST-tau. 利用GST pull-down及免疫共沉淀方法检测全长tau蛋白与PrP23-231的分子间相互作用. 进一步表达tau 蛋白的各种缺失突变体,确定tau蛋白与PrP蛋白的相互作用位点. 结果表明,所表达的全长tau蛋白及各种缺失突变体均为可溶性蛋白,Western印迹结果显示,各种蛋白均能很好的被tau蛋白单抗识别. GST pull-down和免疫共沉淀实验均显示,原核表达的全长tau蛋白可与全长的PrP蛋白在体外发生相互作用,并确定相互作用位点位于tau蛋白的N端序列及中段的重复区. 上述结果为研究tau蛋白与PrP的相互作用在朊病毒病的发病机制中的意义提供了一定的理论基础.     

海马注射β-淀粉样蛋白前体蛋白抗体诱导神经元的退行性变及学习记忆障碍

探讨海马内注射淀粉样蛋白前体蛋白(APP)抗体诱导细胞表面APP的铰链是否影响大鼠的水迷宫行为学以及是否诱导神经元的退行性改变,并进一步探讨其可能的机制.成年雄性SD大鼠海马内分别注射生理盐水、对照IgG和APP抗体.水迷宫行为学检测测试动物的学习和记忆能力.Cresyl Violet(CV)和Fluoro-Jade B染色观察神经元的退行性变.免疫组织化学方法检测MAP-2和磷酸化paxillin及磷酸化tau蛋白在海马的异常表达和分布.海马内注射APP抗体可延长动物的寻台潜伏期,减少大鼠在平台所在象限的探索时间和穿梭次数.CV和Fluoro Jade-B染色结果显示,海马注射APP抗体可导致海马锥体细胞的死亡和退变.同时伴MAP2免疫染色的减少和磷酸化paxillin及磷酸化tau的免疫染色的增加.上述结果表明,海马内注射APP抗体可诱导学习和记忆功能障碍及神经元的退行性改变,其机制可能与MAP-2和磷酸化paxillin及磷酸化tau的异常表达分布有关.     

PHLCX Nflag3/小窝蛋白-1重组质粒的构建及融合基因在293T细胞中的表达

构建重组真核表达质粒PHLCX Nflag3／小窝蛋白-1,并在293T细胞中表达．用PCR的方法扩增cDNA文库中的人小窝蛋白-1基因,连接在真核表达栽体PHLCX Nflag3的短肽标签flag的下游,用限制性酶切和泖l序的方法鉴定;将重组质粒以脂质体法转染293T细胞,Western blotting法检测蛋白质的表达．结果显示,双酶切出现两个片段,分别与空栽体和人小窝蛋白-1的cDNA分子质量大小相符,测序结果符合人小窝蛋白-1的cDNA序列;Western blotting显示构建的新栽体能够在293T细胞中表达小窝蛋白-1／flag融合蛋白,表明已成功构建了能在293T细胞中高效表达小窝蛋白-1／flag融合蛋白的真核表达栽体PLHCX Nflag3／小窝蛋白-1．     

帕金森病患者血浆alpha-synuclein、Abeta及tau蛋白变化特点

目的：探索帕金森病（Parkinson''s disease,PD）患者血浆中alpha- 突触核蛋白、Abeta及tau 蛋白变化情况。方法：募集2014 年4 月至 2015 年4 月来我院就诊的PD 患者62 例,正常对照人群59 例,采集两组人群的基本临床信息,测定血浆中琢- 突触核蛋白、 Abeta40、Abeta42、pT181-tau 蛋白、pT231-tau 蛋白和总tau 蛋白浓度,比较两组之间的差异,同时进行相关性分析。结果：PD患者血浆 alpha- 突触核蛋白和pT181-tau 蛋白浓度显著高于对照组(P 值分别为0.001,0.019),而两组间Abeta40、Abeta42、pT231-tau 蛋白和总tau 蛋白浓度无明显差异（P>0.05）。相关性分析提示PD 患者血浆alpha-突触核蛋白和pT181-tau 蛋白浓度与患者年龄、性别、教育程度、 病程、高血压、糖尿病、Hoehn/ Yahr 分级及Schwab &England 评分无相关性（P>0.05）。结论：虽然PD患者血浆琢- 突触核蛋白和 pT181-tau 蛋白高于正常对照组,但尚不适宜作为PD 的生物标志物。     

细胞外信号调节激酶活化在慢性支气管哮喘大鼠气道平滑肌细胞增殖中的作用

本文旨在探讨细胞外信号调节激酶（extracellular signal-regulated kinase,ERK）在慢性支气管哮喘大鼠气道平滑肌细胞（airway smooth muscle cells,ASMCs）增殖中的作用。建立慢性哮喘大鼠模型,用ERK激动剂表皮生长因子（epidermal growth factor,EGF）和抑制剂PD98059干预慢性哮喘大鼠ASMCs的培养。采用流式细胞仪、四甲基偶氮唑盐（MTT）法、^3H-thymidine（TdR）掺入法和增殖细胞核抗原（proliferating cell nuclear antigen,PCNA）免疫组织化学法检测ASMCs增殖情况,观察ERK信号通路对ASMCs增殖的影响。RT-PCR和Western blot检测ERK mRNA和ERK1／2、磷酸化ERK1／2（p-ERK1／2）蛋白的表达。与正常对照组ASMCs比较,慢性哮喘组ASMCs的G0/G1期细胞所占比例明显减少,S＋G2／M期细胞所占比例增高;吸光度（A490）值、细胞DNA合成量和PCNA阳性表达量均明显增加,ERK mRNA、ERK1／2蛋白、P-ERK1／2蛋白的表达量以及ERK活化率显著增高。经PD98059干预之后,慢性哮喘组ASMCs的S＋G2／M期细胞所占比例、A490值、细胞DNA合成量和PCNA阳性表达量明显降低,ERK mRNA、ERK1／2蛋白、p-ERK1／2蛋白的表达量以及ERK活化率显著降低。经EGF干预后,慢性哮喘组ASMCs的S＋G2／M期细胞所占比例、A490值、细胞DNA合成量和PCNA阳性表达量进一步增高,而这一作用可以被PD98059抑制。以上结果提示,慢性哮喘大鼠ASMCs内源性增殖活性增加,ERK1／2参与其增殖活性的调控,ERK信号通路在哮喘气道重建的ASMCs增殖调控中具有重要作用。     

Standardization of mRNA titration using a polymerase chain reaction method involving co-amplification with a multispecific internal control.

We describe a simplified and reliable polymerase chain reaction-based method for assaying RNAs of low abundancy. The technique involves the co-amplification of cellular RNA-derived cDNA with a multispecific cDNA of synthetic origin added as an internal standard, using primer pairs common to both templates. We show that the co-amplified templates accumulate in a parallel manner throughout both the exponential and nonexponential phases of amplification, even when the starting amounts of the templates differ by up to 2 orders of magnitude. This finding means that preliminary experiments designed to determine either the late exponential region or the amplification efficiency for each pair of primers are unnecessary. This has enabled us to develop a greatly simplified quantitation protocol. We illustrate our approach by quantifying the effect of the immunosuppressor cyclosporin A on the accumulation of interleukin-4, interferon-gamma, and interleukin-2 receptor mRNAs in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.     

Amplification ratio control system for copy number variation genotyping

We describe a generic design for ratiometric analysis suitable for determination of copy number variation (CNV) class of a gene. Following two initial sequence-specific PCR priming cycles, both ends of both amplicons (one test and one reference) in a duplex reaction, are all primed by the same universal primer (UP). Following each amplification denaturation step, the UP target and its reverse complement (UP') in each strand form a hairpin. The bases immediately beyond the 3'-end of the UP and 5' of UP' are chosen such as not to base pair in the hairpin (otherwise priming is ablated). This hairpin creates a single constant environment for priming events and chaperones free 3'-ends of amplicon strands. The resultant 'amplification ratio control system' (ARCS) permits ratiometric representation of amplicons relative to the original template into PCR plateau phase. These advantages circumvent the need for real-time PCR for quantitation. Choice of different %(G+C) content for the target and reference amplicons allows liquid phase thermal melt discrimination and quantitation of amplicons. The design is generic, simple to set up and economical. Comparisons with real-time PCR and other techniques are made and CNV assays demonstrated for haptoglobin duplicon and 'chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 3-like 1' gene.     

Theoretical and experimental dissection of competitive PCR for accurate quantification of DNA

We frequently use competitive PCR in the plateau phase in quantifying DNA species with a small number of cells. However, the basic issues of this method are poorly understood. Here, first we analyze this method theoretically under a generalized condition that competitor and target DNA products accumulate with different amplification efficiencies. We show a theoretical reason that competitive PCR might quantify DNA more accurately during the plateau phase than during the exponential phase. Second, we demonstrate that the theoretical predictions are supported by the experimental results of beta-globin gene amplification using the lysates of human diploid fibroblast WS1 cells. We also demonstrate that we can correctly quantify target DNA by keeping the starting concentration of target DNA close to a constant preset value while using a constant number of PCR cycles and by using WS1 cells as control. Finally, we show the experimental errors in routine measurements of c-myc copy number/cell in human leukemia HL-60 cells with various levels of c-myc multiplication. The number of c-myc copies/cell was determined with an error rate of less than 10%, where agarose gel bands were stained with ethidium bromide for the product quantitation.     

Neural Regulation of Muscle Glucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase: Effect of Batrachotoxin and Tetrodotoxin

Abstract: We tested the hypothesis that glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity in the rat skeletal muscle is regulated by putative axonally derived neurotrophic factors. This was accomplished by comparing the effects of nerve section and subperineural injection of batrachotoxin (BTX) or tetrodotoxin (TTX) on G6PD in rat extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle. BTX, an agent known to block nerve impulse conduction and axonal transport, increased G6PD activity to 155% and 163% of control by days 2 and 4 after injection. Denervation of the EDL muscle by section of the peroneal nerve 10–20 mm from its entrance to the muscle caused G6PD activity to increase to 170% of control by day 1 and to 200% and 180% of control by days 2 and 4, respectively. The increase in enzyme activity after denervation and after subperineural injection of BTX was due in part to muscle inactivity resulting from blockade of nerve impulses. This conclusion is based upon the observation that subperineural injection of TTX at an identical site in the peroneal nerve caused a small but significant (30%) increase in G6PD activity after 4 days. Choline acetyltransferase (CAT) activity was assessed as a measure of the efficacy of blockade of slow axonal transport. Decreases in CAT activity following denervation or injection of BTX or TTX were parallel to increases in G6PD activity observed under these conditions. These results argue for a role of axonal transport in neural regulation of muscle G6PD, with a small contribution by neuromuscular activity.