大鼠视交叉上核与松果体中Clock基因转录的昼夜节律性及不同光反应性

本研究旨在观察和比较视交叉上核（suprachiasmatic nucleus,SCN）与松果体（pineal gland,pG）中Clock基因内源性昼夜转录变化规律以及光照对其的影响。Sprague-Dawley大鼠在持续黑暗（constant darkness,DD）和12h光照：12h黑暗交替（12hourlight：12hour-darkcycle,LD）光制下分别被饲养8周（n=36）和4周n=36）后,在一昼夜内每隔4h采集一组SCN和PG组织（n=6）,提取总RNA,用竞争性定量RT-PCR测定不同昼夜时点（circadian times．CT or zeitgeber times．ZT）各样品中Clock基因的mRNA相对表达量,通过余弦法和ClockLab软件获取节律参数,并经振幅检验是否存在昼夜节律性转录变化。结果如下：（1）SCN中Clock基因mRNA的转录在DD光制下呈现昼低夜高节律性振荡变化（P〈0．05）,PG中Clock基因的转录也显示相似的内源性节律外观,即峰值出现于主观夜晚（SCN为CTl5,PG为CT18）,谷值位于主观白天（SCN为CT3,PG为CT6）（P〉0．05）。（2）LD光制下SCN中Clock基因的转录也具有昼夜节律性振荡（P〈0．05）,但与其DD光制下节律外观相比,呈现反时相节律变化（P〈0．05）,且其表达的振幅及峰值的mRNA水平均增加（P〈0．05）,而PG中Clock基因在LD光制下转录的相应节律参数变化却恰恰相反（P〈0．05）。（3）在LD光制下,光照使PG中Clock基因转录的节律外观反时相于SCN（P〈0．05）,即在SCN和PG的峰值分别出现于光照期ZT10和黑暗期ZT17,谷值分别位于黑暗期ZT22和光照期ZT5。结果表明,Clock基因的昼夜转录在SCN和PG中存在同步的内源性节律本质,而光导引在这两个中枢核团调节Clock基因昼夜节律性转录方面有着不同的作用。     

大鼠松果体Clock基因和芳烷脘N-乙酰基转移酶基因的昼夜节律性表达及光照影响

探讨12h光照、12h黑暗交替(12h-light：12h-dark cycle,LD)及持续黑暗(constant darkness,DD)光制下松果体Clock基因和芳烷脘N-乙酰基转移酶基因(arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase gene,NAT)是否存在昼夜节律性表达及其光反应变化。Sprague-Dawley大鼠在LD和DD光制下分别被饲养4周(n=36)和8周(n=36)后,在一昼夜内每隔4h采集一组松果体组织(n=6),提取总RNA,用竞争性定量RT-PCR测定不同昼夜时点样品中Clock及NAT基因的mRNA相对表达量,通过余弦法和ClockLab软件获取节律参数,并经振幅检验是否存在昼夜节律。结果如下：(1)在DD或LD光制下,松果体Clock和NAT基因mRNA的表达均呈现夜高昼低的节律性振荡(P＜0．05)。(2)与DD光制下比较,LD光制下松果体Clock和NAT基因的表达振幅及峰值相的mRNA水平均降低(P＜0．05)。(3)在DD或LD光制下,Clock和NAT基因之间显示相似的节律性表达(P＞0．05)。结果表明,Clock和NAT基因在松果体中存在同步的内源性昼夜节律表达,光照作用可使其表达下调。     

松果体昼夜节律生物钟分子机制的研究进展

在各种非哺乳类脊椎动物中 ,松果体起着中枢昼夜节律振荡器的作用。近来 ,在鸟类松果体中相继发现了几种钟基因 ,如Per、Cry、Clock和Bmal等 ,其表达的时间变化规律与哺乳类视交叉上核 (SCN)的非常相似。钟的振荡由其自身调控反馈环路的转录和翻译组成 ,鸟类松果体和哺乳类SCN似乎具有共同的钟振荡基本分子构架 ;若干钟基因产物作为正向或负向调节子影响钟的振荡 ;昼夜性的控时机制同时也需要翻译后事件的参与。这些过程对钟振荡器的稳定性和 /或钟导引的光输入通路有着重要的调控作用     

鳜肝脏和心脏生物钟基因表达节律分析

在12h光照、12h黑暗交替(Light-Dark; LD)光制下,研究分析了褪黑素和皮质醇水平在鳜血清中的昼夜变化规律,以及13个生物钟基因(Arntl1、Clock、Cry1a、Cry3、Cry-dash、Npas2、Npas4、Nr1d1、Nr1d2、Per1、Per3、Rora和Tim)在鳜(Siniperca chuatsi)肝脏和心脏中的昼夜表达规律。试验在一昼夜内的ZT0(06:00)、ZT3(09:00),ZT6(12:00),ZT9(15:00),ZT12(18:00),ZT15(21:00),ZT18(24:00),ZT21(03:00,2nd d),ZT24(06:00,2nd d) (Zone time,ZT) 9个时间点随机抽取3尾鳜采集其血清、肝脏和心脏。经SPSS 单因素方差分析和Matlab余弦分析,结果显示: 鳜血清中褪黑素和皮质醇含量均呈现出昼夜节律性振荡,褪黑素含量白天显著降低(P0.05),夜间显著上升,皮质醇含量白天缓慢降低,夜间ZT15(21:00)-ZT18(24:00)显著升高,随后开始缓慢降低; 两种激素最低相位都为ZT15(21:00)。在13个生物钟基因中,Cry-dash、Npas4、Nr1d1、Per1和Tim 5个基因在鳜肝脏内具有明显的昼夜节律性,其中Npas4、Nr1d1、Per1、Tim的表达规律相似,皆呈现出光照阶段表达降低,黑暗阶段表达升高的趋势; 但Cry-dash则表现出光照阶段先升高后降低,黑暗阶段先降低后升高的规律。在鳜心脏中,Arntl1、Clock、Cry1a、Npas2、Nr1d1、Nr1d2、Per3、Rora和Tim 9个基因都表现出明显的昼夜节律,表达趋势分为两种: Arntl1、Clock、Nr1d2的表达量在光照阶段降低,黑暗阶段升高; 而Cry1a、Npas2、Nr1d1、Per3、Rora和Tim的表达量在ZT0(06:00)-ZT15(21:00)持续低水平,ZT15(21:00)-ZT18(24:00)表达量显著上升,ZT18(24:00)-ZT21(03:00)表达量降低。研究结果表明: 生物钟基因在鳜肝脏和心脏中所表达的昼夜节律不同。     

CAT1基因在尼罗罗非鱼肌肉和肝的节律性表达研究

为了探究碱性氨基酸转运载体(CAT1)基因在尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)饥饿0、7 d肌肉和肝的昼夜表达规律,实验分别在尼罗罗非鱼饥饿0,7 d 06:00、09:00、12:00、15:00、18:00、21:00和24:00、第2天03:00、06:00,分别对应区时(Zone time, ZT) ZT0、ZT3、ZT6、ZT9、ZT12、ZT15、ZT18、ZT21、ZT24采样,采样在一昼夜内完成。每组随机取3尾鱼进行解剖,取其肌肉和肝样品分析。结果表明:CAT1基因在正常投喂的尼罗罗非鱼肌肉表达具有显著性时间差异(p0.05),呈现昼低夜高的节律性振荡(p0.3),达到峰值的时间为ZT 0.72。饥饿7 d后,虽然在各时间点上CAT1基因表达有显著性差异(p0.05),但无昼夜节律性(p0.3);CAT1基因表达为在光周期先升后降,在暗周期先降后升,峰值相位在光照阶段,为ZT 7.44。在尼罗罗非鱼肝中,CAT1基因在正常投喂时表达具有显著性时间差异(p.05),呈现节律性振荡(p0.3),CAT1基因表达为在光周期先降后升,在暗周期则先升后降,峰值相位在黑暗阶段,达到峰值的时间为ZT 16.56。饥饿7 d后,在各时间点上CAT1基因表达无显著性时间差异(p0.05),且表达无昼夜节律性(p0.3);CAT1基因表达为在光周期先降后升,在暗周期则先升后降,峰值相位在黑暗阶段,为ZT 21.60。以上结果说明CAT1基因在尼罗罗非鱼肌肉和肝表达的昼夜节律不同。     

PSGL-1基因敲除小鼠血中MIP-1γ和TNF-α的表达

目的 研究PSGL-1 缺失对遗传基因工程小鼠外周血血常规的影响,并检测外周血中炎症因子IGFBP-6、TNF-α和MIP-1γmRNA 表达水平.方法 用血常规检测方法检测正常C57/BL/6 小鼠和PSGL-1 基因缺失的基因工程小鼠（PSGL-1 -/-小鼠）的外周血中血常规的差异;其次,提取两种鼠的血液的mRNA,逆转录为cDNA,采用real-time PCR 方法,检测C57 小鼠与PSGL-1 -/-小鼠外周血中炎症因子TNF-α和MIP-1γmRNA 的差异.结果 与对照组C57 小鼠相比,PSGL-1 -/-基因工程小鼠在12 周龄时外周血中中性粒细胞（倡P ＜0.05）、淋巴细胞（倡倡P ＜0.01）和白细胞细胞（倡倡倡P ＜0.001）总数显著增加炎症因子TNF-α以及MIP-1γ表达增加（P ＜0.05）.结论 PSGL-1 的缺失改变了小鼠细胞因子并影响了外周血的血细胞组成,MIP-1γ和TNF-α炎症因子上调,有可能影响了小鼠的免疫功能.     

系统性红斑狼疮患者外周血B淋巴细胞PD-L1的表达

目的 探讨系统性红斑狼疮（systemic lupus erythematosus,SLE）患者外周血B淋巴细胞PD-L1的表达及其在SLE发病中的意义.方法 应用免疫荧光标记和流式细胞仪技术检测SLE患者外周血B淋巴细胞上PD-L1的表达水平.结果 活动期SLE患者外周血B淋巴细胞CD19＋、CD19＋/PD-L1＋的表达水平明显高于SLE非活动期患者（P＜0.05）和正常对照组（P＜0.05）.结论 活动期SLE患者B淋巴细胞的PD-L1表达异常增加,其可能在SLE发病机制中起重要作用.     

生物钟基因与肾脏功能和疾病

哺乳动物昼夜节律的产生与生物钟基因的周期性表达密切相关.Bmall、Clock、Per和Cry是研究最为广泛的核心生物钟基因.肾脏在维持机体体液平衡和血压稳态方面发挥重要作用,其多数生理功能均呈现出一定的昼夜节律性,如动脉血压的调节、肾血流量的维持、肾小球滤过率的调控,以及水的重吸收和钠的排泄等都会随昼夜变化而产生节律...     

乳腺癌中丝/ 苏氨酸蛋白激酶Plk1 mRNA 的表达及其预后价值

目的:检测乳腺癌细胞和组织中丝/苏氨酸蛋白激酶Plk1基因mRNA的表达情况并分析其预后价值。方法:应用半定量RT-PCR方法分析3株人乳腺癌细胞和1株正常乳腺上皮细胞中Plk1基因mRNA的表达水平。同时分析84例乳腺癌及对应的癌旁正常乳腺上皮组织中Plk1 mRNA的表达水平。统计学分析Plk1 mRNA表达水平与乳腺癌患者年龄、肿瘤大小、组织分化程度、淋巴结转移状况、TNM分期和雌激素受体(ER)等临床病理参数之间的关系,以及与预后之间的关系。结果:Plk1基因mRNA在乳腺癌细胞中的相对表达水平显著高于其在正常乳腺上皮细胞中的相对表达水平(P值均小于<0.05)。另外,Plk1 mRNA在乳腺癌组织中平均表达水平(0.88±0.18)显著高于其在癌旁正常乳腺上皮组织中平均表达水平(0.22±0.10;P<0.01)。统计学分析结果表明:Plk1 mRNA表达水平和乳腺癌患者的淋巴结转移状况及TNM分期密切相关(P=0.009或0.007)。Kaplan-Meier生存曲线分析结果表明:高Plk1 mRNA表达水平的乳腺癌患者的5年无疾病进展率及总体生存率均显著低于低Plk1 mRNA表达水平的乳腺癌患者(P=0.0026及0.0136)。COX模型的多因素预后分析结果表明:Plk1基因mRNA表达水平是乳腺癌患者的一个独立的预后因素(HR=4.764,95%CI:1.341~6.123,P=0.0025)。结论:Plk1在乳腺癌组织呈现高表达水平,其mRNA表达水平有望成为临床乳腺癌患者一个重要的预后判断分子指标。     

肝细胞癌患者外周血HSF1 基因表达的检测及应用价值

目的:建立检测HSF1 mRNA的real-time PCR的方法,了解肝细胞癌患者外周血中HSF1的表达水平及其与各临床病理特征之间的关系。方法:利用real-time PCR的方法检测20例肝细胞癌患者及20例正常人群外周血中HSF1 mRNA的表达量。结果:肝细胞癌患者外周血中的HSF1 mRNA表达量显著高于正常人群(P<0.05);肝细胞癌患者外周血中HSF1 mRNA的表达水平在不同性别、肿瘤大小、门静脉侵犯情况、HbsAg水平及AFP水平的患者中的差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);在不同病理分化程度、TNM分期的患者中的差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:real-time PCR技术可以成功检测外周血中HSF1 mRNA的表达量,HSF1可能与肝细胞癌的发生发展密切相关。     

Clock genes regulate neurogenic transcription factors,including NeuroD1, and the neuronal differentiation of adult neural stem/progenitor cells

The circadian clock system plays multiple roles in our bodies, and clock genes are expressed in various brain regions, including the lateral subventricular zone (SVZ) where neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) persist and postnatal neurogenesis continues. However, the functions of clock genes in adult NSPCs are not well understood. Here, we first investigated the expression patterns of Clock and Bmal1 in the SVZ by immunohistochemistry and then verified how the expression levels of 17 clock and clock-related genes changed during differentiation of cultured adult NSPCs using quantitative RT-PCR. Finally, we used RNAi to observe the effects of Clock and Bmal1 on neuronal differentiation. Our results revealed that Clock and Bmal1 were expressed in the SVZ and double-stained with the neural progenitor marker Nestin and neural stem marker GFAP. In cultured adult NSPCs, the clock genes changed their expression patterns during differentiation, and interestingly, Bmal1 started endogenous oscillation. Moreover, gene silencing of Clock or Bmal1 by RNAi decreased the percentages of neuronal marker Map2-positive cells and expression levels of NeuroD1 mRNA. These findings suggest that clock genes are involved in the neuronal differentiation of adult NSPCs and may extend our understanding of various neurological/psychological disorders linked to adult neurogenesis and circadian rhythm.     

BMAL1 and CLOCK, two essential components of the circadian clock, are involved in glucose homeostasis

Circadian timing is generated through a unique series of autoregulatory interactions termed the molecular clock. Behavioral rhythms subject to the molecular clock are well characterized. We demonstrate a role for Bmal1 and Clock in the regulation of glucose homeostasis. Inactivation of the known clock components Bmal1 (Mop3) and Clock suppress the diurnal variation in glucose and triglycerides. Gluconeogenesis is abolished by deletion of Bmal1 and is depressed in Clock mutants, but the counterregulatory response of corticosterone and glucagon to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia is retained. Furthermore, a high-fat diet modulates carbohydrate metabolism by amplifying circadian variation in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, and mutation of Clock restores the chow-fed phenotype. Bmal1 and Clock, genes that function in the core molecular clock, exert profound control over recovery from insulin-induced hypoglycaemia. Furthermore, asynchronous dietary cues may modify glucose homeostasis via their interactions with peripheral molecular clocks.     

Daily expression of clock genes in whole blood cells in healthy subjects and a patient with circadian rhythm sleep disorder

In recent years, circadian rhythm sleep disorders in humans have been increasing. Clinical features characteristic of this disorder are well known, but the specific causes remain unknown. However, various derangements of circadian expression of the clock gene are a probable cause of this disease. We have attempted to elucidate the relationship between the expression of the clock genes in whole blood cells and the clinical features characteristic of this disorder. In this study, we indicate the daily expression of clock genes period (Per) 1, 2, 3, Bmal1, and Clock in whole blood cells in 12 healthy male subjects. The peak phase of Per1, Per2, and Per3 appeared in the early morning, whereas that of Bmal1 and Clock appeared in the midnight hours. Furthermore, in one patient case with circadian rhythm sleep disorder, we observed variations of the peak phase in clock genes by treatments such as light therapy, exercise therapy, and medicinal therapy. This study suggested that the monitoring of human clock genes in whole blood cells, which may be functionally important for the molecular control of the circadian pacemaker as well as in suprachiasmatic nucleus, might be useful to evaluate internal synchronization.     

Age-associated disruption of molecular clock expression in skeletal muscle of the spontaneously hypertensive rat

It is well known that spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) develop muscle pathologies with hypertension and heart failure, though the mechanism remains poorly understood. Woon et al. (2007) linked the circadian clock gene Bmal1 to hypertension and metabolic dysfunction in the SHR. Building on these findings, we compared the expression pattern of several core-clock genes in the gastrocnemius muscle of aged SHR (80 weeks; overt heart failure) compared to aged-matched control WKY strain. Heart failure was associated with marked effects on the expression of Bmal1, Clock and Rora in addition to several non-circadian genes important in regulating skeletal muscle phenotype including Mck, Ttn and Mef2c. We next performed circadian time-course collections at a young age (8 weeks; pre-hypertensive) and adult age (22 weeks; hypertensive) to determine if clock gene expression was disrupted in gastrocnemius, heart and liver tissues prior to or after the rats became hypertensive. We found that hypertensive/hypertrophic SHR showed a dampening of peak Bmal1 and Rev-erb expression in the liver, and the clock-controlled gene Pgc1α in the gastrocnemius. In addition, the core-clock gene Clock and the muscle-specific, clock-controlled gene Myod1, no longer maintained a circadian pattern of expression in gastrocnemius from the hypertensive SHR. These findings provide a framework to suggest a mechanism whereby chronic heart failure leads to skeletal muscle pathologies; prolonged dysregulation of the molecular clock in skeletal muscle results in altered Clock, Pgc1α and Myod1 expression which in turn leads to the mis-regulation of target genes important for mechanical and metabolic function of skeletal muscle.     

Postnatal ontogenesis of the circadian clock within the rat liver

In mammals, the circadian oscillator within the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) entrains circadian clocks in numerous peripheral tissues. Central and peripheral clocks share a molecular core clock mechanism governing daily time measurement. In the rat SCN, the molecular clockwork develops gradually during postnatal ontogenesis. The aim of the present work was to elucidate when during ontogenesis the expression of clock genes in the rat liver starts to be rhythmic. Daily profiles of mRNA expression of clock genes Per1, Per2, Cry1, Clock, Rev-Erbalpha, and Bmal1 were analyzed in the liver of fetuses at embryonic day 20 (E20) or pups at postnatal age 2 (P2), P10, P20, P30, and in adults by real-time RT-PCR. At E20, only a high-amplitude rhythm in Rev-Erbalpha and a low-amplitude variation in Cry1 but no clear circadian rhythms in expression of other clock genes were detectable. At P2, a high-amplitude rhythm in Rev-Erbalpha and a low-amplitude variation in Bmal1 but no rhythms in expression of other genes were detected. At P10, significant rhythms only in Per1 and Rev-Erbalpha expression were present. At P20, clear circadian rhythms in the expression of Per1, Per2, Rev-Erbalpha, and Bmal1, but not yet of Cry1 and Clock, were detected. At P30, all clock genes were expressed rhythmically. The phase of the rhythms shifted between all studied developmental periods until the adult stage was achieved. The data indicate that the development of the molecular clockwork in the rat liver proceeds gradually and is roughly completed by 30 days after birth.     

Timed high-fat diet in the evening affects the hepatic circadian clock and PPARα-mediated lipogenic gene expressions in mice

A long-term high-fat diet may result in a fatty liver. However, whether or not high-fat diets affect the hepatic circadian clock is controversial. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of timed high-fat diet on the hepatic circadian clock and clock-controlled peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α-mediated lipogenic gene expressions. Mice were orally administered high-fat milk in the evening for 4 weeks. The results showed that some hepatic clock genes, such as Clock, brain-muscle-Arnt-like 1 (Bmal1), Period 2 (Per2), and Cryptochrome 2 (Cry2) exhibited obvious changes in rhythms and/or amplitudes. Alterations in the expression of clock genes, in turn, further altered the circadian rhythm of PPARα expression. Among the PPARα target genes, cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, low-density lipoprotein receptor, lipoprotein lipase, and diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) showed marked changes in rhythms and/or amplitudes. In particular, significant changes in the expressions of DGAT and CYP7A1 were observed. The effects of a high-fat diet on the expression of lipogenic genes in the liver were accompanied by increased hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride levels. These results suggest that timed high-fat diets at night could change the hepatic circadian expressions of clock genes Clock, Bmal1, Per2, and Cry2 and subsequently alter the circadian expression of PPARα-mediated lipogenic genes, resulting in hepatic lipid accumulation.