Serotonin 5-HT2C receptor-independent expression of hypothalamic NOR1, a novel modulator of food intake and energy balance, in mice

NOR1, Nur77 and Nurr1 are orphan nuclear receptors and members of the NR4A subfamily. Here, we report that the expression of hypothalamic NOR1 was remarkably decreased in mildly obese β-endorphin-deficient mice and obese db/db mice with the leptin receptor mutation, compared with age-matched wild-type mice, whereas there were no genotypic differences in the expression of hypothalamic Nur77 or Nurr1 in these animals. The injection of NOR1 siRNA oligonucleotide into the third cerebral ventricle significantly suppressed food intake and body weight in mice. On the other hand, the decreases in hypothalamic NOR1 expression were not found in non-obese 5-HT2C receptor-deficient mice. Moreover, systemic administration of m-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP), a 5-HT2C/1B receptor agonist, had no effect on hypothalamic NOR1 expression, while suppressing food intake in β-endorphin-deficient mice. These findings suggest that 5-HT2C receptor-independent proopiomelanocortin-derived peptides regulate the expression of hypothalamic NOR1, which is a novel modulator of feeding behavior and energy balance.     

Regulation of ghrelin gene expression in stomach and feeding response to a ghrelin analogue in two strains of rats

Ghrelin is a peptide produced by the stomach and released into the circulation. As a natural ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) receptor, it stimulates growth hormone secretion but it also stimulates feeding in humans and rodents. The orexigenic effect of ghrelin has been related to AgRP/NPY and orexin pathways. We proposed that ghrelin might be involved in the susceptibility to diet induced obesity and in the regulation of macronutrient selection. We have investigated these hypotheses in two strains of rat, the Osborne–Mendel (OM) rat that prefers diets high in fat and is sensitive to dietary obesity and the S5B/P1 (S5B) rat that prefers a low fat diet and is resistant to high fat diet induced obesity.

OM and S5B rats were adapted to a choice of high fat (HF) and low fat (LF) diet for 2 weeks. GHRP-2, an analogue of ghrelin, was injected intraperitoneally into satiated and 24 h fasted rats at doses of 10, 30 and 90 nmol. Food intake was measured over the next 4 h period. In satiated S5B rats, GHRP-2 stimulated intake of the LF diet in a dose dependent manner but did not affect the intake of the HF diet. In satiated OM rats, 90 nmol of GHRP-2 stimulated HF intake. In contrast, neither fasted OM nor S5B rats increased the intake of either HF or LF diet in response to GHRP-2. Fasting for 18 h induced a large rise in ghrelin mRNA in stomach of OM rats but not in S5B rats. There were no significant differences in plasma total ghrelin. An increase in ghrelin mRNA in stomach immediately before the onset of the dark cycle was observed in OM but not in S5B rats. Active ghrelin level was significantly affected by different feeding conditions in both OM and S5B rats adapted on HF diet with a trend to increase after 48 h of fasting and to decline to basal levels following 10 h of refeeding. These data suggest that ghrelin stimulates the intake of the preferred macronutrient. In addition, a differential regulation of ghrelin gene expression between OM and S5B rats may be important in their differential sensitivity to HF diet-induced obesity.     

Early exposure to paraquat sensitizes dopaminergic neurons to subsequent silencing of PINK1 gene expression in mice

Environmental exposure, genetic modification, and aging are considered risky for Parkinson's disease (PD). How these risk factors cooperate to induce progressive neurodegeneration in PD remains largely unknown. Paraquat is an herbicide commonly used for weed and grass control. Exposure to paraquat is associated with the increased incidence of PD. In contrast to familial PD, most sporadic PD cases do not have genetic mutation, but may suffer from partial dysfunction of neuron-protective genes as aging. Using conditional transgenic RNAi, we showed that temporal silencing of PINK1 expression in adult mice increased striatal dopamine, the phenotype that could not be induced by constitutive gene silencing. Moreover, early exposure to paraquat sensitized dopaminergic neurons to subsequent silencing of PINK1 gene expression, leading to a significant loss of dopaminergic neurons. Our findings suggest a novel pathogenesis of PD: exposure to environmental toxicants early in the life reduces the threshold of developing PD and partial dysfunction of neuron-protective genes later in the life initiates a process of progressive neurodegeneration to cross the reduced threshold of disease onset.     

Differential hypothalamic neuronal activation following peripheral injection of GLP-1 and oxyntomodulin in mice detected by manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

The anorexigenic gut hormones oxyntomodulin (OXM) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) are thought to physiologically regulate appetite and food intake. Using manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, we have shown distinct patterns of neuronal activation in the hypothalamus in response to intraperitoneal injections into fasted mice of 900 and 5400 nmol/kg OXM or 900 nmol/kg GLP-1. Administration of OXM at either dose resulted in a reduced rate of signal enhancement, reflecting a reduction in neuronal activity, in the arcuate, paraventricular, and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus. Conversely, GLP-1 caused a reduction in signal enhancement in the paraventricular nucleus only and an increase in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. Our data show that these two apparently similar peptides generate distinct patterns of activation within the hypothalamus, suggesting that GLP-1 and OXM may act via different hypothalamic pathways.     

The P2Y<Subscript>1</Subscript> receptor is involved in the maintenance of glucose homeostasis and in insulin secretion in mice

Pancreatic cells express several P2 receptors including P2Y₁ and the modulation of insulin secretion by extracellular nucleotides has suggested that these receptors may contribute to the regulation of glucose homeostasis. To determine whether the P2Y₁ receptor is involved in this process, we performed studies in P2Y₁–/– mice. In baseline conditions, P2Y₁–/– mice exhibited a 15% increase in glycemia and a 40% increase in insulinemia, associated with a 10% increase in body weight, pointing to a role of the P2Y₁ receptor in the control of glucose metabolism. Dynamic experiments further showed that P2Y₁–/– mice exhibited a tendency to glucose intolerance. These features were associated with a decrease in the plasma levels of free fatty acid and triglycerides. When fed a lipids and sucrose enriched diet for 15 weeks, the two genotypes no longer displayed any significant differences. To determine whether the P2Y₁ receptor was directly involved in the control of insulin secretion, experiments were carried out in isolated Langerhans islets. In the presence of high concentrations of glucose, insulin secretion was significantly greater in islets from P2Y₁–/– mice. Altogether, these results show that the P2Y₁ receptor plays a physiological role in the maintenance of glucose homeostasis at least in part by regulating insulin secretion.     

携带HSV-1TK基因的逆转录病毒载体构建及在HeLa细胞中的表达

目的:构建携带单纯疱疹病毒脱氧胸腺嘧啶激酶基因(herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase,HSV-TK)的逆转录病毒,用于宫颈癌的治疗研究。方法:用限制性内切酶从质粒pcDNA3.1/HA-myc-His(-)Z-TK切下HSV-1TK cDNA序列,亚克隆入逆转录病毒载体pLXSN得到重组质粒pLXSN-TK,鉴定正确的阳性重组质粒经PA317细胞包装,G418筛选,在NIH3T3细胞进行病毒滴度测定。然后用病毒感染人宫颈癌细胞HeLa。PCR、RT-PCR和Western blotting方法检测HSV-1TK基因在HeLa中的整合和表达情况。结果:重组质粒pLXSN-TK经PA317细胞包装后收获病毒上清,感染HeLa细胞,检测发现HSV-1TK基因整合到细胞基因组DNA中,并且能有效的转录和翻译。结论:成功构建了逆转录病毒pLXSN-TK,该病毒能有效感染HeLa细胞,并使携带的治疗基因HSV-1TK在细胞中表达,为今后HSV-1TK基因治疗宫颈癌的研究奠定基础。     

Decreased GLT-1 and increased SOD1 and HO-1 expression in astrocytes contribute to lumbar spinal cord vulnerability of SOD1-G93A transgenic mice

The SOD1-G93A transgenic mouse is a widely used ALS model, but the death of lower motor neurons is the hallmark. Here, we show that the SOD1-G93A transgene and HO-1 are preferentially over-expressed in the lumbar spinal cord, particularly in the activated astrocytes of the transgenic mice. We also show down-regulation of GLT-1 in spite of the proliferating astrocytes. However, GLT-1, SOD1-G93A transgene and HO-1 expression were not obviously changed in the motor cortex. Our data link spinal cord vulnerability to relatively decreased expression of GLT-1, and high expression of the transgene and HO-1 in astrocytes in SOD1-G93A transgenic mice.     

Secreted frizzled related protein 1 is a paracrine modulator of epithelial branching morphogenesis, proliferation, and secretory gene expression in the prostate

Previous in vitro studies identified secreted frizzled related protein 1 (SFRP1) as a candidate pro-proliferative signal during prostatic development and cancer progression. This study determined the in vivo roles of SFRP1 in the prostate using expression studies in mice and by creating loss- and gain-of-function mouse genetic models. Expression studies using an Sfrp1^lacZ knock-in allele showed that Sfrp1 is expressed in the developing mesenchyme/stroma of the prostate. Nevertheless, Sfrp1 null prostates exhibited multiple prostatic developmental defects in the epithelium including reduced branching morphogenesis, delayed proliferation, and increased expression of genes encoding prostate-specific secretory proteins. Interestingly, over-expression of SFRP1 in the adult prostates of transgenic mice yielded opposite effects including prolonged epithelial proliferation and decreased expression of genes encoding secretory proteins. These data demonstrated a previously unrecognized role for Sfrp1 as a stromal-to-epithelial paracrine modulator of epithelial growth, branching morphogenesis, and epithelial gene expression. To clarify the mechanism of SFRP1 action in the prostate, the response of WNT signaling pathways to SFRP1 was examined. Forced expression of SFRP1 in prostatic epithelial cells did not alter canonical WNT/β-catenin signaling or the activation of CamKII. However, forced expression of SFRP1 led to sustained activation of JNK, and inhibition of JNK activity blocked the SFRP1-induced proliferation of prostatic epithelial cells, suggesting that SFRP1 acts through the non-canonical WNT/JNK pathway in the prostate.     

Changes in expression of the neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor gene in the medial amygdala of transgenic mice during pregnancy and after delivery

Long-term administration of progesterone or allopregnanolone was previously shown to increase Y1 receptor gene expression in the medial amygdala of Y1R/LacZ transgenic mice, which harbor a construct comprising the murine Y1 receptor gene promoter and a lacZ reporter. We have now investigated the effects of physiological fluctuations in the cerebrocortical concentrations of neuroactive steroids during pregnancy on Y1R/LacZ transgene expression by quantitative histochemical analysis of beta-galactosidase activity. Cerebrocortical concentrations of progesterone and its metabolites allopregnanolone and allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone were increased on day 18 of pregnancy and had returned to control values 2 days after delivery. Transgene expression in the medial amygdala was also increased on day 18 of pregnancy and had returned to control values 2 days after delivery. Similar results were obtained after analysis of Y1R mRNA levels in the medial amygdala of pregnant mice by in situ hybridization. Administration of the 5alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride to pregnant mice prevented both the increase in the cerebrocortical concentrations of neuroactive steroids as well as the increase in transgene expression. These data suggest that fluctuations in the brain concentrations of endogenous neuroactive steroids during pregnancy are associated with changes in Y1 receptor gene expression in the medial amygdala, further supporting a functional interaction between the GABAergic and NPY-Y1 receptor systems.     

Differential expression of the tetracycline-controlled transactivator-driven human CYP1B1 gene in double-transgenic mice is due to androgens: application for detecting androgens and antiandrogens

Differential expression of the tetracycline-controlled transactivator (tTA)-driven human cytochrome p450 (CYP) 1B1 gene was found in the livers of male mice, at high levels in neonates, but at low levels in adults. The goals of this study were to determine whether the differential expression of the tTA-driven human CYP1B1 (hCYP1B1) gene in neonates and adults was testosterone dependent and whether flutamide, a representative potent antiandrogen, led to the induction of hCYP1B1. This was tested by treating castrated transgenic mice with testosterone propionate and musk extracts. It was concluded that: (i). the levels of expression of both tTA and hCYP1B1 gradually declined, with clear changes being apparent between 2 and 4 weeks of age, (ii). castration of adult males resulted in the increased expressions of both tTA and hCYP1B1 to levels similar to those found in adult females, (iii). treatment of castrated male and adult female mice with testosterone propionate and musk extracts led to the restoration of the levels of expression of hCYP1B1 in the adult males, and (iv). treatment of adult males with flutamide caused an increase in the levels of expression of hCYP1B1 in the adult females, as indicated by the antiandrogenic activity. Thus, the differential expression of the tTA-driven hCYP1B1 gene in the transgenic mice was caused by androgen, and it is possible that castrated male and adult female mice expressing the tTA-controlled hCYP1B1 could be used as the basis for a strategy for the detection of androgens and antiandrogens.     

Isolation of a LIM15/DMC1 homolog from the basidiomycete Coprinus cinereus and its expression in relation to meiotic chromosome pairing

The Escherichia coli gene recA is essential for homologous recombination and DNA repair, and homologs have been identified in eukaryotes. A basidiomycete, Coprinus cinereus, which has many advantages for the study of meiosis, was recently reported to have a homolog of one of these, RAD51. In the yeast Saccharomyces, mutations in the RAD5I gene cause defects in both somatic and meiotic cells. Based on this finding, we screened for a meiosis-specific homolog of recA, equivalent to Lilium LIM15 or Saccharomyces DMC1, in C. cinereus, and isolated a clone containing a 1.2-kb DNA fragment from a cDNA library constructed with Coprinus poly(A)⁺ RNA isolated from cells undergoing meiosis. The predicted amino acid sequence was 52% identical to the putative gene product of the lily cDNA clone LIM15 and 61% identical to Saccharomyces DMC1, and showed limited sequence similarity to the products of RAD52, 55, and 57. The synchrony of meiosis in Coprinus provides an ideal system for the investigation of differential gene expression in relation to meiosis and fruiting body development. Northern analysis indicated that Coprinus LIM15/DMC1 was expressed at meiotic prophase within 8 h after the onset of karyogamy, suggesting that the gene functions mostly at the stage at which the homologous chromosomes pair, but may not be essential at the point at which they recombine. The gene is not expressed in somatic cells. Received: 8 October 1998 / Accepted: 22 July 1999     

小胸鳖甲热激蛋白基因(Mphsp70)的克隆、序列分析及温度对其表达的影响

采用RACE-PCR技术,从荒漠甲虫小胸鳖甲Microdera punctipennis Kaszab克隆hsp70基因全长cDNA序列,命名为Mphsp70。测序结果表明,序列全长2207bp,该序列覆盖了完整编码区,编码647个氨基酸,分子量大小为70.69ku,理论等电点为5.57(GenBank登录号JF421286.1)。此序列包含142bp的5'端非翻译区和124bp的含有多聚腺苷酸信号序列AATAAA和poly A尾的3'端非翻译区以及1941bp的开放阅读框。该基因无内含子,符合诱导型Hsp70的特征。经BLAST检索分析,由Mphsp70的核苷酸序列推定的氨基酸序列与已知的光滑鳖甲Hsp70高度同源,同源性高达97.22%。通过荧光定量RT-PCR技术研究昆虫受到高温胁迫时该基因的表达,结果表明:经37℃和42℃处理昆虫1h后诱导昆虫体内hsp70的表达,其表达量分别为对照组(25℃)的21.57倍和389.3倍,随着处理时间的延长,表达量降低。该研究结果为深入研究小胸鳖甲的抗逆机理提供了新的思路。     

The role of charged residues in the transmembrane helices of monocarboxylate transporter 1 and its ancillary protein basigin in determining plasma membrane expression and catalytic activity

Monocarboxylate transporters MCT1-MCT4 require basigin (CD147) or embigin (gp70), ancillary proteins with a glutamate residue in their single transmembrane (TM) domain, for plasma membrane (PM) expression and activity. Here we use site-directed mutagenesis and expression in COS cells or Xenopus oocytes to investigate whether this glutamate (Glu₂₁₈ in basigin) may charge-pair with a positively charged TM-residue of MCT1. Such residues were predicted using a new molecular model of MCT1 based upon the published structure of the E. coli glycerol-3-phosphate transporter. No evidence was obtained for Arg₃₀₆ (TM 8) of MCT1 and Glu₂₁₈ of basigin forming a charge-pair; indeed E218Q-basigin could replace WT-basigin, although E218R-basigin was inactive. No PM expression of R306E-MCT1 or D302R-MCT1 was observed but D302R/R306D-MCT1 reached the PM, as did R306K-MCT1. However, both were catalytically inactive suggesting that Arg₃₀₆ and Asp₃₀₂ form a charge-pair in either orientation, but their precise geometry is essential for catalytic activity. Mutation of Arg₈₆ to Glu or Gln within TM3 of MCT1 had no effect on plasma membrane expression or activity of MCT1. However, unlike WT-MCT1, these mutants enabled expression of E218R-basigin at the plasma membrane of COS cells. We propose that TM3 of MCT1 lies alongside the TM of basigin with Arg₈₆ adjacent to Glu₂₁₈ of basigin. Only when both these residues are positively charged (E218R-basigin with WT-MCT1) is this interaction prevented; all other residue pairings at these positions may be accommodated by charge-pairing or stabilization of unionized residues through hydrogen bonding or local distortion of the helical structure.     

Analysis of proliferating cell fraction determined by monoclonal antibody to M1-subunit ribonucleotide reductase and Ki-67 in relation to p53 protein expression in fine-needle aspirates from non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

The purpose of this study was to analyse the proliferative fraction with the monoclonal antibody M1-R-R to M1-subunit ribonucleotide reductase and with MIB-1 to Ki-67 antigen in relation to p53 protein expression in fine needle aspirates from B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. One hundred and thirty-seven cases, previously diagnosed and sub-typed according to the Kiel classification and characterized by immunophenotyping, were included in the study. The M-1 subunit ribonucleotide reductase (M1-R-R), Ki-67 and p53 antigens were detected using monoclonal antibodies on stored cytospin preparations. There was a good correlation (r = 0.72) between Ki-67 and M1-R-R positive cell fraction in both high and low grade lymphomas. High-grade lymphomas had a median percentage of M1-R-R/MIB-1 positive cells of 53.0/73.0 for lymphoblastic, 61.0/52.0 for immunoblastic and 33.5/41.0 for centroblastic lymphomas, respectively. In low grade lymphomas figures of median percentage of M1-R-R/MIB-1 were 9.0/15.0 for centroblastic/centrocytic, 11.0/9.5 for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, 16.0/27.0 for centrocytic and 12.0/9.0 for immunocytomas, respectively. The median percentages of M1-R-R/MIB-1 for high and low grade lymphomas were 37.0/50.5 and 11.0/12.0, respectively. In the p53 positive cases the proliferation rate as measured by staining for M1-R-R and MIB-1 was higher than in p53 negative cases, but the difference was not statistically significant. The results show that cytospin material obtained by fine needle aspiration and stored at -70 degrees C for years can be used reliably for both peroxidase-avidin-biotin and three-step alkaline phosphatase immunocytochemical staining. In addition, proliferation fraction determined by M1-R-R monoclonal antibody staining correlates well with that measured by an established marker for cell proliferation, the Ki-67 antibody. However, the proliferation fraction as measured by the two antibodies differs in the various subtypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma which indicates that they may contribute different prognostic information.