Age-related changes in the mRNA levels of CYP1A1, CYP2B1/2 and CYP3A1 isoforms in rat small intestine

It has been established beyond doubt that, as well as the liver, the small intestine is an important site of first-pass metabolism of numerous drugs, food components and toxic xenobiotics. However, there is not much information available about age-dependent changes of intestinal biotransformation pathways. In the present paper, we evaluated the relationships between intestinal cytochrome P450 complex activity and the age of animals. The study was carried out on male Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 5) from 5 age series: 0.5-, 2-, 4-, 20-, and 28 months old. Animals at every age series were divided into 4 groups: control and three groups of rats treated with the CYP450 specific inducers: phenobarbital, β-naphtoflavone and dexamethasone, respectively. RNA was isolated from intestinal mucosa, and then standard RT-PCR was used for the analysis of CYP1A1, CYP2B1/2 and CYP3A1 mRNA expression. Additionally, the activities of NADPH-cytochrome P450 and NADH-cytochrome b₅ reductases in the microsomal fraction were biochemically estimated. The constitutive intestinal CYP1A1 mRNA expression changes during maturation and aging. Inducibility of CYP1A1 gene was evident in intestinal mucosa at 2-, 4- and 20-month-old rats. A similar pattern of changes was observed for CYP2B1/2 isoforms. CYP3A1 mRNA expression was not detected in small intestine of 2-week-old rats. In matured rats, constitutive intestinal CYP3A1 expression was low, although after induction, significant increases in CYP3A1 mRNA amount were noted in aged individuals. Intestinal activity of both analyzed reductases was lowest in immature rats and highest in 28-month-old animals. In conclusion, the activity of cytochrome P450 complex in rat small intestine was not decreased by the aging processes, so the high rate of oxidative metabolic reactions in intestinal mucosa can be maintained till the advanced life stage.     

淫羊藿总黄酮通过TGF-β1/Smad3信号通路改善自然衰老大鼠肾脏组织纤维化

为探讨淫羊藿总黄酮(TFE)对自然衰老大鼠肾脏纤维化的影响及其可能的作用机制,将18月龄SD大鼠随机分为自然衰老组、淫羊藿总黄酮低(10 mg/kg)、高(40 mg/kg)剂量组,另取2月龄SD大鼠作为青年对照组,给药4个月。通过HE染色和Masson染色观察肾脏组织形态及胶原纤维含量,生化酶法检测肾脏组织SOD活力和MDA含量,免疫组化法检测αSMA的蛋白表达水平,实时定量PCR和Western blot技术检测TGF-β1和Smad3的mRNA及蛋白表达水平。结果显示,TFE(低、高剂量)可改善衰老SD大鼠肾脏组织形态,减少胶原纤维,提升肾脏组织SOD活力(P<0.05),降低MDA含量(P<0.05),并降低肾脏组织中αSMA蛋白表达(P<0.05),同时显著下调TGF-β1及Smad3的mRNA和蛋白表达(P<0.05)。淫羊藿总黄酮可改善自然衰老大鼠肾脏纤维化,其机制可能与其抑制TGFβ1/Smad3信号通路传导有关。     

去卵巢大鼠海马CA1／CA2区ERK1／2的基础活性和诱导活性降低

目的：观察去卵巢大鼠空间学习记忆能力的变化与海马中胞外信号调节激酶1／2（ERK1／2）通路的关系。方法：雌性sD大鼠随机分为假手术组和去卵巢组,饲养4个月后采用Morris水迷宫测试空间学习记忆能力,于测试前将各组组内又分为训练组和非训练组,训练组用于测定经学习记忆训练诱发的ERK1／2的诱导活性,非训练组用于测定未经学习记忆训练时的ERK1／2的基础活性,Western blot方法检测海马CA1／CA2区p-ERK1／2蛋白及Raf激酶抑制蛋白（RKIP）的变化。结果：①与假手术组比较,去卵巢组大鼠的空间学习记忆能力明显下降（P〈0．05）。②各组中的训练大鼠p-ERK1／2蛋白水平明显高于非训练大鼠（P〈0．05）。③去卵巢组训练及非训练大鼠的p-ERK1／2蛋白水平均相应低于假手术组训练及非训练大鼠（P〈0．05）。④去卵巢组RKIP蛋白表达水平明显高于假手术组（P〈0．05）。结论：雌激素缺乏大鼠的空间学习记忆能力下降与海马CA1／CA2区ERK1／2通路的基础和诱导活性降低以及该通路的抑制蛋白RKIP的表达增加有关。     

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。     

Induction of RANTES and CCR5 through NF-κB Activation via MAPK Pathway in Aged Rat Gingival Tissues

Chemokine and chemokine receptor expression in gingival tissues plays a central role in periodontal disease during aging. In the present study, we explored the modulation of chemokines and chemokine receptors expression in aging rat gingival tissues. In the 24-month-old (Old) rat gingival tissues, RANTES and CCR5 mRNA and protein levels were 2–4 fold increased over those of the 6-month-old (Young) rats. The Old rats had considerable enhancement of all three of the studied MAPK activities: extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 MAPK. These results suggest that age-related increases in RANTES and CCR5 expression are associated with increased IκBα, nuclear NF-κB, and MAPK activity in gingival tissues.     

低分子量肝素对妊高征大鼠肾脏病变的保护作用及机制初步探讨

目的:研究低分子量肝素(LMWH)对妊高征大鼠肾脏损伤的作用及其细胞内信号转导机制.方法:采用注射L-NAME方法制备妊高征动物模型,将妊娠大鼠随机分为正常妊娠组、妊高征组、LMWH治疗组,测定各组平均动脉压、尿蛋白、血肌酐及血尿素氮,观察LMWH对肾脏各指标的影响及肾脏出现的病理学变化;同时采用免疫组化、RT-PCR及Western Blot方法检测ERK1/2在各组的表达变化.结果:LMWH治疗组肾脏组织ERK1/2的蛋白及mRNA表达水平明显低于妊高征组(P＜0.01),而妊高征组肾脏组织ERK的蛋白及mRNA表达水平明显高于正常妊娠组(P＜0.01),ERK1与ERK2在各组大鼠肾脏中的表达无差异;治疗组平均动脉压及尿蛋白明显低于非治疗组(P＜0.05),但仍未达正常妊娠水平;HE染色和PAS染色为治疗组肾小球系膜增生、基底膜增厚较非治疗组明显减轻.ERK蛋白主要分布于肾小球中.结论:LMWH对妊高征大鼠肾脏损伤具有一定的防护作用,其机制可能是通过下调ERK1/2的表达来实现.     

Age-related changes in rat hepatic acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of long-chain fatty acids. Since aging influences adiposity, we studied the activity of ACC and its mRNA content in livers of 4-, 12-, and 24-month-old male Fischer 344 rats. The mean (+/- SEM) activity of ACC (mU/mg protein) in liver homogenates from 4-month-old rats was 1.01 +/- 0.14. There was an 80% increase in activity (1.83 +/- 0.27) in 12-month-old rats (P < 0.01). However, there was significantly less activity (0.46 +/- 0.06) in livers of 24-month-old rats (P < 0.001). The total activity of ACC (per g liver) followed the same trend. The enzyme from all age groups was purified by avidin-affinity chromatography. The purified preparation migrated as a major protein band (M(r) 262,000) on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels. The specific activity of the purified preparation was 1.5, 1.8, and 1.8 U/mg for 4-, 12-, and 24-month-old rats, respectively. The alkali-labile phosphate content was 5.66 +/- 0.17, 5.64 +/- 0.21, and 6.21 +/- 0.35 mols P(i)/mole subunit for 4-, 12-, and 24-month-old rats, respectively. These age-related differences were not significant. The hepatic ACC mRNA measured by ribonuclease protection assay when corrected for G3PDH mRNA was significantly reduced in 24-month-old rats (0.24 +/- 0.03) compared with 12-month-old (0.58 +/- 0.04) or 4-month-old rats (0.43 +/- 0.007) P < 0.01. In summary: (i) Aging in rats is associated with significant changes in ACC activity; (ii) the purified ACC preparations from the three age groups had similar specific activity and similar phosphate content; and (iii) the changes in ACC mRNA content of the liver paralleled the changes in total enzyme activity when 12-month-old rats were compared with 24-month-old rats whereas the increase in ACC activity in 12-month-old rats compared with 4-month-old rats could not be ascribed to changes in hepatic mRNA levels. These results indicate that the age-related changes in hepatic ACC occur at a post-translational level during early years of aging and at a pretranslational level at late states of senescence. These changes may contribute to the age-related alterations in body adiposity.     

p-ERK1／2及ERK2mRNA在哮喘大鼠气道中的表达变化

目的探讨细胞外信号调节激酶在哮喘大鼠气道中表达变化及其对气道平滑肌细胞增殖的影响。观察细胞外信号调节激酶是否参与了哮喘气道重构这一病理过程。方法18只6周龄雄性wistar大鼠随机分为对照组、哮喘组、地塞米松干预组各6只。以腹腔注射10％卵蛋白和1％卵蛋白雾化吸入复制慢性哮喘模型。干预组在每次激发前给予地塞米松干预。用免疫组化与原位杂交法检测p-ERK1／2及ERK2mRNA在不同大鼠肺组织的表达程度,采用图像分析系统进行图象分析。结果（1）哮喘模型组气道壁面积和平滑肌厚度较对照组和干预组显著增加（P〈0．05）。（2）哮喘组p-ERK1／2及ERK2mRNA在大鼠肺组织的表达程度较对照组和干预组显著增加（P〈0．05）。（3）直线相关性分析显示,哮喘组气道壁面积和平滑肌厚度与大鼠肺组织中p-ERK1／2表达水平呈正相关（分别为r=0．858,r=0．848,P均〈0．05）,哮喘组气道壁面积和平滑肌厚度与大鼠肺组织中ERK2mRNA表达水平呈正相关,（分别为r=0．918,r=0．860,P均〈0．05）。结论哮喘大鼠肺组织p-ERK1／2及ERK2mRNA表达上调,并与气道重构密切相关,该结果提示细胞外信号调节激酶可能参与了气道重构中平滑肌的增殖过程。     

TNF—α对哮喘模型大鼠气道平滑肌细胞增殖及ERK1／2活性的影响

目的探讨TNF—α对哮喘大鼠气道平滑肌细胞（ASMCs）增殖及对ASMCs上ERK1／2mRNA、p-ERK1／2表达水平的影响。方法通过对哮喘模型大鼠ASMCs培养,分别以0．2μg／L、1．0μg/L、20μg/L TNF-α干预ASMCs生长。采用流式细胞仪、MTT法检测ASMCs增殖情况,观察不同浓度TNF—α对ASMCs增殖的影响。RT-PCR检测ASMCs上ERK1／2mRNA表达,免疫细胞化学染色法检测磷酸化ERK1／2蛋白的表达及定位。结果哮喘组ASMCsS期比例、A值、ERK1／2mRNA、p-ERK1／2蛋白的表达量分别为（34．45±2．08）％、（0．550±0．010）、（0．995±0．118）、（130．77±4．16）,与对照组（11．17±0．96）％、（0．292±0．008）、（0．576±0．098）、（163．82±1．38）比较均显著增高（均P〈0．01）。各TNF—α干预组ASMCs的S期比例、A值、ERK1／2mRNA和p-ERK1／2蛋白表达量与哮喘组比较均显著降低（均P〈0．01）,0．2μg/L和1．0μg／LTN-α组p-ERK1／2蛋白表达量高于对照组（P〈0．01）,20μg／L TNF-α组p-ERK1／2蛋白表达量与对照组比较无差异（P〉0．05）。结论与正常鼠相比,慢性哮喘大鼠气道平滑肌细胞增殖明显,处于S期的细胞比例明显增高。经TNF—α干预后,慢性哮喘大鼠气道平滑肌细胞处于S期的细胞比例减少,增殖减弱,TNF-α可能抑制慢性哮喘大鼠气道平滑肌细胞增殖。TNF—α可下调慢性哮喘大鼠气道平滑肌细胞上ERK1／2mRNA及p-ERK1／2表达,TNF-α可能通过抑制ERK信号转导通道的活性对气道平滑肌细胞的增殖进行调控。     

The treatment of Goji berry (Lycium barbarum) improves the neuroplasticity of the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in aged rats

The main characteristic of brain aging is an exacerbated inflammatory and oxidative response that affects dendritic morphology and the function of the neurons of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the hippocampus. This consequently causes memory loss. Recently, the use of the Goji berry (Lycium barbarum) as an antioxidant extract has provided neuroprotection and neuroplasticity, however, its therapeutic potential has not been demonstrated in aging conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Goji administration on memory recognition, as well as the changes in the dendritic morphology of the PFC and Hippocampus pyramidal neurons in old rats. Goji (3 g/kg) was administrated for 60 days in 18-month-old rats. After the treatment, recognition memory was evaluated using the new object recognition task (NORt). The changes in the neuron morphology of the PFC and hippocampus pyramidal neurons in old rats were evaluated by Golgi-cox stain and immunoreactivity for synaptophysin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), caspase-3, 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). The rats treated with Goji showed a significant increase in dendritic morphology in the PFC and hippocampus neurons, a greater immunoreactivity to synaptophysin and a decrease in reactive astrogliosis and also in caspase-3, in 3-NT and in Nrf2 in these brain regions was also observed. Goji administration promotes the plasticity processes in the PFC and in the hippocampus of old rats, critical structures in the brain aging process.     

耐力运动对大鼠骨骼肌ERK1/2活性的影响

目的:探讨耐力运动对大鼠骨骼肌蛋白总量(t-ERK1/2)及磷酸化ERK1/2(p-ERK1/2)及ERK2mRMA表达的影响。方法:SD大鼠随机分为对照组和运动组。运动组分为1h/d和1.5h/d组,共7周,运动结束后24h和48h取材,测定葡萄糖和胰岛素浓度;Westernblot法检测骨骼肌t-ERK1/2、p-ERK1/2蛋白表达;RT-PCR法分析ERK2mRNA表达。结果:与对照组比较,运动组胰岛素浓度降低;各运动组p-ERK1/2升高;1.5h/d-24h和-48h组t-ERK1/2增高;1h/d-24h组与1.5h/d-24h和-48hERK2mRNA表达增高。结论:耐力运动可能通过增加ERK1/2活性,提高大鼠骨骼肌对胰岛素的敏感性。     

耐力运动对增龄大鼠脑皮层突触可塑性的影响及相关调控机制*

目的:探讨规律性耐力运动对脑皮层增龄性老化适应性的作用与机制。方法:将三个不同年龄段的健康SPF级雄性Sprague-Dawley大鼠分为3月龄 (青年,n=20)、13月龄 (中年,n=24)和23月龄 (老年,n=24)组,每组又随机分为静息组和运动组;静息组三组静息,运动组三组实施10周递增负荷规律的中等强度耐力运动:运动方式为跑台运动(坡度0),运动强度从最大摄氧量(V·O2max) 60%～65%逐渐递增到70%～75%,运动时间为10周;取大鼠脑皮层,HE染色测试大鼠脑皮层增龄性形态学变化,检测BDNF和SOD的蛋白表达及突触素-1(SYN1)和CaMK IIα/AMPKα1/ mTOR通路等相关基因。结果:静息各组大鼠的脑皮层结构呈现年龄增龄性衰老变化,脑皮层SOD表达呈增龄性下降趋势,BDNF表达变化呈增龄性上升趋势,SYN1和CaMK IIα表达水平随增龄性趋势变化不大,AMPKα1和SirT2以及 IP3R、AKT1、mTOR mRNA表达水平随年龄变化呈现中年略上升而老年下降趋势;与静息各组大鼠相比,运动各组大鼠脑皮层神经细胞核排列紧密有序,显微镜下观察细胞核的数量明显增加,运动促进大鼠脑皮层SOD、BDNF和突触素SYN1表达水平增加,其中老年大鼠SOD、BDNF表达水平显著上调(P＜0.01),青年和老年大鼠SYN1表达水平显著上调(P＜0.05),运动上调中年和老年大鼠脑皮层CaMK IIα表达水平上调(P＜0.01),而对青年大鼠CaMK IIα表达水平却是下调(P＜0.01),运动可上调青年大鼠脑皮层的AMPKα1表达水平(P＜0.05),而对中年和老年大鼠AMPKα1的影响不显著,运动均可上调各年龄大鼠脑皮层的SirT2表达水平(P＜0.05),运动上调各年龄大鼠脑皮层的IP3R/AKT1/ mTOR表达水平,其中青年IP3R显著上调(P＜0.01),青年和中年mTOR显著上调(P＜0.01),老年mTOR也显著上调(P＜0.05)。结论:耐力运动通过上调BDNF的表达水平,调控CaMK IIα信号、激活AMPK信号通路和IP3R/AKT1/mTOR信号通路,改善脑皮层的突触可塑性。     

Insulin induces expression of adenosine kinase gene in rat lymphocytes by signaling through the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway

The activity of adenosine kinase (AK) was significantly impaired in splenocytes isolated from diabetic rats. Administration of insulin to diabetic animals restored AK activity, protein, and mRNA levels in diabetic splenocytes. Experiments performed on cultured rat lymphocytes demonstrated that insulin did not change the stability of AK mRNA. Insulin induced AK gene expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Maximal increases in AK mRNA (3.9-fold) and activity level (3.7-fold) were observed at the fourth and fifth hours of cell incubation with 10 nM insulin, respectively. The insulin effect on AK expression was not influenced by dibutyryl cAMP (dcAMP). On the other hand dcAMP weakly increased (1.7-fold) basal expression of AK. Exposure of rat lymphocytes to wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), or rapamycin, an inhibitor of mTOR, did not affect the ability of insulin to stimulate expression of AK. Prior treatment of the cells with 10 microM PD98059, an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase (MEK) completely blocked insulin-stimulated expression of AK gene. Insulin produced a significant transient increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of ERK1/2, and PD98059 inhibited this phosphorylation. Furthermore exposure of cells to insulin has resulted in transient phosphorylation of Elk-1 on Ser-383 and sustained elevation of c-Jun and c-Fos protein. The maximal phosphorylation of Elk-1 was observed at 15 min, and was blocked by PD98059. We concluded that insulin stimulates AK gene expression through a series of events occurring sequentially. This includes activation of the MAPK cascade and subsequent phosphorylation of Elk-1 followed by increased expression of c-fos and c-jun genes.     

Superoxide dismutase/catalase mimetics but not MAP kinase inhibitors are neuroprotective against oxygen/glucose deprivation-induced neuronal death in hippocampus

Although oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD) has been widely used as a model of ischemic brain damage, the mechanisms underlying acute neuronal death in this model are not yet well understood. We used OGD in acute hippocampal slices to investigate the roles of reactive oxygen species and of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in neuronal death. In particular, we tested the neuroprotective effects of two synthetic superoxide dismutase/catalase mimetics, EUK-189 and EUK-207. Acute hippocampal slices prepared from 2-month-old or postnatal day 10 rats were exposed to oxygen and glucose deprivation for 2 h followed by 2.5 h reoxygenation. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in the medium and propidium iodide (PI) uptake were used to evaluate cell viability. EUK-189 or EUK-207 applied during the OGD and reoxygenation periods decreased LDH release and PI uptake in slices from 2-month-old rats. EUK-189 or EUK-207 also partly blocked OGD-induced ATP depletion and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) dephosphorylation, and completely eliminated reactive oxygen species generation. The MEK inhibitor U0126 applied together with EUK-189 or EUK-207 completely blocked ERK1/2 activation, but had no effect on their protective effects against OGD-induced LDH release. U0126 alone had no effect on OGD-induced LDH release. EUK-207 had no effect on OGD-induced p38 or c-Jun N-terminal kinase dephosphorylation, and when the p38 inhibitor SB203580 was applied together with EUK-207, it had no effect on the protective effects of EUK-207. SB203580 alone had no effect on OGD-induced LDH release either. In slices from p10 rats, OGD also induced high-LDH release that was partly reversed by EUK-207; however, neither OGD nor EUK-207 produced significant changes in ERK1/2 and p38 phosphorylation. OGD-induced spectrin degradation was not modified by EUK-189 or EUK-207 in slices from p10 or 2-month-old rats, suggesting that their protective effects was not mediated through inhibition of calpain activation. Thus, both EUK-189 and EUK-207 provide neuroprotection in acute ischemic conditions, and this effect is related to elimination of free radical formation and partial reversal of ATP depletion, but not mediated by the activation or inhibition of the MEK/ERK or p38 pathways, or inhibition of calpain activation.     

ERK活化对哮喘大鼠气道重塑及CyclinD1表达的影响

目的探讨细胞外信号调节蛋白激酶（ERK）对哮喘大鼠气道重塑及CyclinD1表达的作用。方法原代培养大鼠的平滑肌细胞（ASMCs）,给予ERK激动剂表皮生长因子EGF和抑制剂PD98059干预ASMCs生长,依处理方式不同分为5组：（1）正常对照组（2）哮喘对照组;（3）E组：EGF20 ng/mL;（4）P＋E组,PD98059 10μmol/L1 h后添加EGF 20 ng/mL;（5）PD组,PD98059 10μmol/L。采用四甲基偶氮唑盐（MTT）法检测气道平滑肌细胞（ASMCs）增殖能力,流式细胞术（FCM）测定细胞周期和cyclinD1的蛋白含量,RT-PCR方法检测cyclinD1mRNA表达水平。结果（1）与哮喘对照组比较,E组ASMCs S＋G2/M期比例、吸光度A值、cyclinD1蛋白阳性表达率和cyclinD1 mRNA的A值均显著升高,PD组均显著降低（P〈0.05）。P＋E组与哮喘对照在此4项指标上比较无明显差异。（2）哮喘（对照组、E组、PD组和P＋E组）组与正常对照组,其S＋G2/M期比例、吸光度A值、cyclinD1蛋白和cyclinD1 mRNA的表达均显著增高（P〈0.05）。结论ERK活性促进哮喘大鼠ASMCs的增殖,增加cyclinD1在哮喘平滑肌细胞中的表达,导致气道重塑的形成,提示ERK可能对CyclinD1的表达具有调节作用。     

Valsartan ameliorates ageing‐induced aorta degeneration via angiotensin II type 1 receptor‐mediated ERK activity

Angiotensin II (Ang II) plays important roles in ageing‐related disorders through its type 1 receptor (AT₁R). However, the role and underlying mechanisms of AT1R in ageing‐related vascular degeneration are not well understood. In this study, 40 ageing rats were randomly divided into two groups: ageing group which received no treatment (ageing control), and valsartan group which took valsartan (selective AT1R blocker) daily for 6 months. 20 young rats were used as adult control. The aorta structure were analysed by histological staining and electron microscopy. Bcl‐2/Bax expression in aorta was analysed by immunohistochemical staining, RT‐PCR and Western blotting. The expressions of AT₁R, AT₂R and mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) were detected. Significant structural degeneration of aorta in the ageing rats was observed, and the degeneration was remarkably ameliorated by long‐term administration of valsartan. With ageing, the expression of AT1R was elevated, the ratio of Bcl‐2/Bax was decreased and meanwhile, an important subgroup of MAPKs, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) activity was elevated. However, these changes in ageing rats could be reversed to some extent by valsartan. In vitro experiments observed consistent results as in vivo study. Furthermore, ERK inhibitor could also acquire partial effects as valsartan without affecting AT1R expression. The results indicated that AT1R involved in the ageing‐related degeneration of aorta and AT1R‐mediated ERK activity was an important mechanism underlying the process.     

Differential expression of transforming growth factor-beta in the interstitial tissue of testis during aging

Transforming growth factor-betas (TGF-betas) have significant effects on testis development. The pattern of TGF-beta expression in aging testis has not been established to date. We examined age-related changes in the expression of TGF-beta and its receptors in the testis using Western blot analysis. TGF-beta1 expression increased continuously in aging rat testis, whereas no age-associated changes were observed for TGF-beta3. Strong expression of TGF-beta2, as well as type I and II receptors was observed in 12-month-old testis, but following this time, expression decreased dramatically. Interestingly, TGF-beta2 and -beta3 displayed strong and similar expression patterns in liver, regardless of age, suggesting that the down-regulation of TGF-beta2 is testis-specific. We observed significant induction of p53 and p21WAF1 in 18-month-old testis that appeared to correspond with aging. Moreover, caloric restriction (CR) prevented age-related decrease in TGF-beta2 expression. Using immunohistochemistry, we showed that all TGF-beta1, -beta2, and -beta3 proteins are expressed primarily in interstitial cells, which are located in the space between adjoining seminiferous tubules. Our data collectively indicate that aging in the testis is regulated by differential expression of TGF-beta proteins, and decreased levels of TGF-beta2 contribute to the aging process.     

Muscle precursor cells isolated from aged rats exhibit an increased tumor necrosis factor-α response

Improving muscle precursor cell (MPC, muscle-specific stem cells) function during aging has been implicated as a key therapeutic target for improving age-related skeletal muscle loss. MPC dysfunction during aging can be attributed to both the aging MPC population and the changing environment in skeletal muscle. Previous reports have identified elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in aging, both circulating and locally in skeletal muscle. The purpose of the present study was to determine if age-related differences exist between TNF-α-induced nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation and expression of apoptotic gene targets. MPCs isolated from 32-month-old animals exhibited an increased NF-κB activation in response to 1, 5, and 20 ng mL⁻¹ TNF-α, compared to MPCs isolated from 3-month-old animals. No age differences were observed in the rapid canonical signaling events leading to NF-κB activation or in the increase in mRNA levels for TNF receptor 1, TNF receptor 2, TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2), or Fas (CD95) observed after 2 h of TNF-α stimulation. Interestingly, mRNA levels for TRAF2 and the cell death-inducing receptor, Fas (CD95), were persistently upregulated in response to 24 h TNF-α treatment in MPCs isolated from 32-month-old animals, compared to 3-month-old animals. Our data indicate that age-related differences may exist in the regulatory mechanisms responsible for NF-κB inactivation, which may have an effect on TNF-α-induced apoptotic signaling. These findings improve our understanding of the interaction between aged MPCs and the changing environment associated with age, which is critical for the development of potential clinical interventions aimed at improving MPC function with age.