The Biology of Prostaglandins and Related Eicosanoids in Invertebrates: Cellular, Organismal and Ecological Actions

SYNOPSIS. Prostaglandins and related eicosanoids are oxygenatedmetabolites of C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids. These compoundshave been detected in species representing all major animalphyla. The significance of eicosanoids lies in two broad areasof animal biology. In one, eicosanoids are involved in regulationof many cellular events. In the other, eicosanoids facilitatecertain ecological interactions. Eicosanoids are known bestin the narrow context of their clinical signif-icance in humanmedicine. In this essay we suggest a new, broader paradigm forunderstanding the meaning of eicosanoids. Under this paradigm,called the biological paradigm, we note eicosanoids were recruitedinto roles as biological signal moieties long before the originsof the Metazoa. During the ensuing evolutionary diversificationof animals, eicosanoids have been used in a vast diversity ofbiolog ical roles, some of which occur only in invertebrates.We think this diversity endows eicosanoids with unusual explanatorypower in apprehending biological phenomena. In this review,we recount the literature on eicosanoids in protozoans and procaryotes,then provide a detailed review of the roles of eicosanoids ininverte-brate immunity. We draw upon recent work in parasitoiogyto outline an ecological role of eicosanoids in host-parasiterelationships. It appears to us that eicosanoids exert profoundeffects at the cellular, organismal and ecological levels ofbiologicalorganization. We suggest that continued inquiry into the biologicalsignificance of eicosanoids will yield important new informationon invertebrates.     

Transport of Prostaglandins and Other Eicosanoids by the Choroid Plexus: Its Characterization and Physiological Significance

Choroid plexi from the lateral ventricles of rabbits, cats, and dogfish (Mustelus canis) were used to characterize the prostaglandin (PG) uptake process and to establish its kinetic parameters and substrate specificity. The apparent Kt for PGF2 alpha transport by the rabbit choroid plexus was 20 microM; the Jmax was 27 nmol g-1 min-1. The Ki of inhibition of PGF2 alpha transport by PGE2 was 20 microM; the Jmax of PGF2 alpha transport was unaltered by PGE2. A concentration of p-aminohippuric acid of up to 1 mM did not appreciably affect the Kt or the Jmax of PGF2 alpha transport. The rate of PGF2 alpha accumulation by rabbit choroid plexus was reduced by incubation at 4 degrees C, under anaerobic conditions, in the absence of sodium or in the presence of ouabain, probenecid, or bromcresol green. The choroid plexi of all three species also accumulated thromboxane B2, PGI2, and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, suggesting that most, if not all, eicosanoids are substrates for this transport system. It is concluded that the choroid plexus transport system satisfies all the criteria of an active, energy-dependent transport system and that this system functions effectively at concentrations of eicosanoids present in the ventricular system under normal or pathological conditions. Hence, this transport system must make an important contribution to the pharmacokinetics of eicosanoids within the brain.     

浅谈海洋无脊椎动物的生物钟

一般动物(含人类)的生理活动和行为都有不同程度的周期性(periodicity)或节奏性(rhythemicity),而这些现象的表现并不一致:有的较明显,很易发觉(如昼夜垂直移动、体色变化等),而有的较隐蔽,不易发现(如视网膜色素移动等)。生物钟(biological clock)是受时间机制(timing mechanism)调节或控制的一种节奏性或周期性的生理活动(较为隐蔽)     

Eicosanoids: Prostaglandins, Thromboxanes, Leukotrienes, and Other Derivatives of Carbon-20 Unsaturated Fatty Acids

In recent years, knowledge of the biochemistry of oxygenated metabolites of arachidonic acid has greatly increased. Their biological functions in acceleration and prevention of platelet aggregation and in inflammatory and immune reactions are becoming much clearer. The therapeutic value, particularly of PGI2 as well as selective inhibitors of synthesis, is also rapidly advancing. Despite much effort, the functional importance of prostaglandins and thromboxanes in the cNS in normal ongoing physiological processes is still quite uncertain. However, when parenchymal or vascular elements are damaged or invaded by extraneural cells, the synthesis of one or the other member of the eicosanoids is greatly increased and contributes significantly to pathophysiological reactions. Thus, prevention of synthesis is likely to have increasing importance in clinical neurology, particularly in cerebrovascular diseases.     

The Biological Activity of Extracts of Marine Invertebrates from Troitsa Bay (Sea of Japan)

Russian Journal of Marine Biology - The biological activity of extracts from nine species of marine invertebrates (the phyla Cnidaria, Annelida, Sipunculida, and Nemertea) that inhabit Troitsa Bay...     

SARS病毒及相关冠状病毒的生物学特征

重症急性呼吸综合征 (severeacuterespiratorysyndrome ,SARS) ,临床表现为非典型肺炎。2 0 0 2年底我国广东发现此种当时不明病因的疾病 ,此后在越南、中国香港、加拿大、美国等三十多个国家和地区也相继发现类似病例。由于SARS具有很高的传染性 ,死亡率也高 ,各国和世界卫生组织 (WHO)对此病高度重视。WHO迅速建立起由全球 10个国家的 13个实验室组成的协作研究和监测网络。一种新型的冠状病毒 (coronavirus)被认为极可能是SARS的病原体 ,因为它满足了 6个科赫要点 (Koch’spostulates)。2 0 0 3年 4月 12日 ,加拿大科学家首次公布了SARS病毒Tor2的基因组序列。4月 16日 ,WHO正式确认SARS病毒是SARS的病原体。目前我国SARS的病情仍然十分严峻 ,现就SARS病毒及相关冠状病毒的生物学特征和可能的药物防治靶点作一综述。     

The Normal Limits,Subclinical Significance,Related Metabolic Derangements and Distinct Biological Effects of Body Site-Specific Adiposity in Relatively Healthy Population

Background

The accumulation of visceral adipose tissue that occurs with normal aging is associated with increased cardiovascular risks. However, the clinical significance, biological effects, and related cardiometabolic derangements of body-site specific adiposity in a relatively healthy population have not been well characterized.

Materials and Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we consecutively enrolled 608 asymptomatic subjects (mean age: 47.3 years, 27% female) from 2050 subjects undergoing an annual health survey in Taiwan. We measured pericardial (PCF) and thoracic peri-aortic (TAT) adipose tissue volumes by 16-slice multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) (Aquarius 3D Workstation, TeraRecon, San Mateo, CA, USA) and related these to clinical characteristics, body fat composition (Tanita 305 Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), coronary calcium score (CCS), serum insulin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) level and circulating leukocytes count. Metabolic risk was scored by Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines.

Results

TAT, PCF, and total body fat composition all increased with aging and higher metabolic scores (all p<0.05). Only TAT, however, was associated with higher circulating leukocyte counts (ß-coef.:0.24, p<0.05), serum insulin (ß-coef.:0.17, p<0.05) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (ß-coef.:0.24, p<0.05). These relationships persisted after adjustment in multivariable models (all p<0.05). A TAT volume of 8.29 ml yielded the largest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC: 0.79, 95%CI: 0.74–0.83) to identify metabolic syndrome. TAT but not PCF correlated with higher coronary calcium score after adjustment for clinical variables (all p<0.05).

Conclusion

In our study, we observe that age-related body-site specific accumulation of adipose tissue may have distinct biological effects. Compared to other adiposity measures, peri-aortic adiposity is more tightly associated with cardiometabolic risk profiles and subclinical atherosclerosis in a relatively healthy population.     

蛋白质内含肽及其生物学意义

蛋白质内含肽是存在于前体蛋白质中的一段多肽链,靠自我剪切的方式从前体蛋白中释放出来。蛋白质内含肽的发现,不仅在理论上丰富了遗传信息翻译后加工的内容,而且在实践上有重大的生物学意义,特别是在蛋白质纯化方面有着广泛的应用前景。本文就蛋白质内含肽的发现、特征、鉴定、剪接机制及其生物学意义作一概述。     

Eicosanoids in prevention and management of diseases

Eicosanoids, which originate from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), have a major impact on homeostasis maintenance as secondary signal transducers. Signal cascade, which includes reception, processing and signal transduction coming from the environment into the cell, determines the type of response evoked. Signal distortion may take place on every level of this cascade and this in consequence could lead to the development of many diseases. Any intervention into PUFAs metabolism leads to quantitative and qualitative changes of synthesized eicosanoids. Some of them promote, whereas others inhibit carcinogenesis, some are pro- or anti-inflammatory and the overall result depends on the outcome of these contradictory effects. The type and amount of produced eicosanoids depends on substrates' availability and activity of enzymes catalyzing different stages of their transformation. A particularly negative role was assigned to the over expression of phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenase-2, 5- and 12-lipoxygenases, while the contribution of other oxygenases and their metabolites is considerably less clear. The information about their interplay is extremely sparse and inadequate to understand intricacies of the mechanisms involved. There are indications that utilization of selected eicosanoids (their analogs, agonists or antagonists) could be a better way of disease prevention and treatment, more effective than excessive dietary supplementation of fatty acids. This review presents a more global picture of oxygenases and their PUFA metabolites giving a brief summary of our current understanding of perspectives and pitfalls of their regulation and mediatory action in human diseases.     

Setting of Estuarine Invertebrates in Delaware Bay,New Jersey,Related to Intertidal-Subtidal Gradients

Attachment of eight groups of estuarine benthic species was recorded on a 4000 ft. intertidal-subtidal transect on Delaware Bay, Cape May, New Jersey. Asbestos-board panels were spaced at 3-foot vertical intervals and harvested at weekly intervals for two seasons. Intraspecies attachment patterns were very regular both spatially, and temporally indicating specific setting behavior interacting with a relatively stable environmental influence. Intertidal, on-bottom patterns were associated with Crepidula sp. and Balanus sp. whereas Sabellaria vulgaris preferred subtidal, on-bottom panels. Subtidal, off-bottom panels were colonized by Tubularia crocea, Conopeum tenuissimum, Caprellidae and Gammaridae. Crassostrea virginica showed a variable pattern, predominantly on-bottom and subtidal, but occasionally on-bottom intertidal, inshore. Factors producing concentration of larvae and release of the setting response are important in the inshore recruitment of oysters. All information indicates that the mechanism of selective settlement is a dominant factor in producing benthic assemblages.     

Eicosanoids in cirrhosis and portal hypertension

In the last decade, the knowledge of the pathogenesis of portal hypertension and cirrhosis has increased dramatically. In portal hypertension, almost all the known vasoactive systems/substances are activated or increased and the most recent studies have stressed the importance of the endothelial factors, in particular, prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are formed following the oxygenation of arachidonic acid by the cyclooxygenase (Cox) pathway. An important consideration in portal hypertension and cirrhosis in the periphery is the altered hemodynamic profile and its contributory role in controlling endothelial release of these vasoactive substances. Prostaglandins are released from the endothelium in response to both humoral and mechanical stimuli and can profoundly affect both intrahepatic and peripheral vascular resistance. Within the liver, intrahepatic resistance is altered due to a diminution in sinusoidal responsiveness to vasodilators and an increase in prostanoid vasoconstrictor responsiveness. This review will examine the contributory role of both hormonal and/or hemodynamic force-induced changes in prostaglandin production and signaling in cirrhosis and portal hypertension and the consequence of these changes on the structural and functional response of both the vasculature and the liver.