载脂蛋白E研究进展

载脂蛋白E在脂质代谢中发挥重要作用,三种亚型（apoE2,apoE3和apoE4)只有二个部位的氨基酸发生变化,呈现出不同的生理作用。apoE4与老年痴呆、心血管疾病的高发性相关,而且对各种脑外伤功能的恢复具有负面影响。apoE2则对老年痴呆具有防护作用,并与高脂蛋白血症有关。apoE3对机体正常生理功能的发挥起关键作用。体外及动物实验研究表明,血浆中的apoE多态性与人体的冠心病、高脂蛋白血症、动脉粥样硬化相关。而脑中的apoE是一种多功能分子,在淀粉样蛋白沉积与清除、稳定微管蛋白结构、细胞内信号传导等细胞过程中发挥重要作用,其多态性与老年痴呆相关。因此,从分子水平研究其结构与功能之间的构效关系,对探索相关疾病的发病机制、诊断及治疗具有重要意义。     

ANGPTL3与代谢紊乱相关疾病的研究进展

血管生成素样蛋白3(ANGPTL3)是一种分泌性糖蛋白,与家族性低β脂蛋白血症、动脉粥样硬化、糖尿病等代谢紊乱疾病的发生密切相关。ANGPTL3具有调控脂质代谢和促进血管生成的功能,研究ANGPTL3与代谢紊乱相关疾病的关系,对防治相关疾病具有重要意义。     

Polycomblike家族蛋白参与表观遗传调控的分子机制及其生物学意义

PRC2复合物是Polycomb家族蛋白的重要复合物之一,在细胞的增殖、分化和谱系特征的维持等生理过程中发挥着至关重要的作用. PRC2主要通过修饰染色质和调控染色质结构的方式对基因表达起抑制作用,其中PRC2的核心组分EZH2在组蛋白H3第27位赖氨酸上留下的三甲基化修饰(H3K27me3)是与基因抑制相关的重要标记之一. PRC2的核心组分需要与其他结合蛋白结合形成全酶才能发挥出最大催化活性. PRC2的结合蛋白,例如Polycomblike(PCL)蛋白,对PRC2的功能起着重要的调控作用.近些年的研究表明, PCL蛋白对PRC2的活性和其在染色质上的招募起着重要的调控作用.此外, PCL蛋白的表达异常与多种人类癌症相关.因此PCL蛋白结构与功能的研究对深入了解其调控PRC2的机制以及靶向PCL相关的药物研发均具重要意义.本文就近年来关于PCL蛋白的结构和功能研究进展进行总结,着重阐述人源PCL蛋白的分子机制和生物学功能.     

生物分子开关研究进展

分子开关是建立在分子水平上的一个可逆过程,外界条件的改变能使分子的结构或构型会有一些改变,从而表现出一些特殊的性质.其在生物体内的信号传导和信息调控等方面发挥着重要作用,成为近年来国内外的一大研究热点.本文介绍了胚胎干细胞分化的重要分子开关:Oct-3/4、神经突起相关分子开关Rho族GTP酶、控制肌卫星细胞激活的分子开关转录因子RBP-J、慢性疼痛的分子开关蛋白激酶G(PKG)、脂肪控制分子开关Wnt蛋白、调节核糖体翻译功能的分子开关L11蛋白、控制饥饿的分子开关巨噬细胞因子MIC-1、调节人体生理节奏的分子开关BMAL1基因、癌症相关的分子开关Wnt蛋白家族以及糖尿病相关的活性开关蛋白TORC2等生物学领域调控功能分子开关的作用机理以及相关研究进展情况.     

金属硫蛋白及其生物学功能

金属硫蛋白(metallothionein, MT) 是一类富含半胱氨酸的低分子质量蛋白质,已鉴定4种亚型：MT-1、MT-2、MT-3和MT-4,基于各亚型功能的相对异质性而使MT呈现其生物学作用的多样性。金属硫蛋白通过与金属离子结合而参与基因表达调控和机体的重金属解毒过程;金属硫蛋白通过抑制多种氧化应激途径而保护细胞免受损伤;金属硫蛋白通过参与细胞的增殖、分化和凋亡的调节而影响肿瘤及其他重大疾病的发生发展。本文在金属硫蛋白的结构和分类的基础上综述其生物学作用及其相关机制。     

我国高β脂蛋白血症的分型及其与冠心病发病的关系的探讨

本文对正常、冠心病及心肌梗塞病人共247例的血清进行了琼脂糖电泳和胆固醇、甘油三酯及β脂蛋白的含量测定。主要根据βLP 电泳图象的类型,必要时参考血清脂质含量将247例被检人员分为Ⅱ-1、Ⅱ_2、Ⅱ_3、Ⅱ_4、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ七种不同的类型。按其在每种类型中分布多少排列次序如下:Ⅱ_4>Ⅱ_3>Ⅳ>Ⅱ-1>Ⅱ_2>Ⅲ>Ⅴ。以Ⅱ_4最多,88例,Ⅴ型最少,仅2例。247例中118例有高脂蛋白血症。他们在各型中的分布情况亦以Ⅱ_4型为最多,Ⅴ型最少。排列次序与上述情况类似;为Ⅱ_4>Ⅳ>Ⅱ_3>Ⅱ_2>Ⅱ-1>Ⅱ>Ⅴ型。118例高脂蛋白血症者中67例有冠心病,34例有高血压,20人有 MI。冠心病的分 布以Ⅱ_4,Ⅳ及Ⅱ_3型较多,Ⅱ_1型中最少,Ⅲ、Ⅴ型中无,但以本型计则发病率以Ⅱ_2、Ⅱ_1和Ⅱ_3较多,Ⅱ_4及Ⅳ型中较少,MI 多集中于Ⅳ、Ⅱ_4及Ⅱ_3型中。说明Ⅱ及Ⅳ型与冠心病的关系较为密切。此外,还观察了104例冠心病和42例高血压在各型中的分布,发现二者均较集中地分布于Ⅱ_4Ⅳ及Ⅱ_3型中。比较了它们在高 Tg、高 Ch 及高脂蛋白血症中的发生率。发现冠心病和高血压与高脂蛋白血症的关系比高 Ch 及高 Tg 血症更为密切。以上结果均说明Ⅱ、Ⅳ型与冠心病、高血压有密切关系,因此对该二型高脂蛋白血症的早期发现和治疗对冠心病的防治看重要意义     

α辅肌动蛋白的结构和功能

α辅肌动蛋白是近年来在细胞骨架与细胞运动研究中的热点蛋白 .目前发现有α辅肌动蛋白 1、2、3和 4四种类型 ,呈细胞或组织特异性分布 .这四种蛋白的共同结构特征是在细胞内均为反向平行的二聚体 ,并具有N末端肌动蛋白结合结构域 (ABD)、血影蛋白样中央重复结构域和C末端“EF手”结构域 .作为细胞骨架中一种重要的肌动蛋白交联蛋白 ,α辅肌动蛋白通过与其相关蛋白包括整合素 (integrins)、钙粘素 (cadherin)以及细胞信号传导通路中的信号分子等的协同作用 ,在稳定细胞粘附、调节细胞形状及细胞运动中发挥着重要作用 .因此 ,肿瘤的发生、发展和恶化与α辅肌动蛋白的结构、功能密切相关 .本文结合本实验室的研究工作 ,综述了α辅肌动蛋白家族成员的结构、功能及其与肿瘤发生的相关性 .     

G蛋白与整合素αⅡbβ3的双向信号转导

整合素是一类细胞表面受体家族分子,通过双向信号转导参与细胞与细胞外基质、细胞与细胞的粘附以及细胞的迁移.整合素αⅡbβ3(GPⅡb-Ⅲa)特异表达于巨核/血小板系,并且是其含量最多的膜糖蛋白,介导血小板的粘附、伸展、聚集等.G蛋白在整合素αⅡbβ3双向信号转导中发挥重要作用,其中较受关注的是:异源三聚体G蛋白和小G蛋白Rap1参与整合素αⅡbβ3的内向外信号转导;小G蛋白(Rho A、Rac等)和Gα13参与整合素αⅡbβ3的外向内信号转导.在蛋白质结构与功能关系的层面,本文总结了G蛋白的结构、分类、功能以及近年来G蛋白在整合素αⅡbβ3双向信号转导中作用的研究进展.     

Nrf2抗氧化的分子调控机制

Nrf2是调控细胞氧化应激反应的重要转录因子,同时也是维持细胞内氧化还原稳态的中枢调节者。Nrf2通过诱导调控一系列抗氧化蛋白的组成型和诱导型表达,可以减轻活性氧和亲电体引起的细胞损伤,使细胞处于稳定状态,维持机体氧化还原动态平衡。本研究为了从分子层面深入探讨剖析Nrf2发挥抗氧化功能的作用机制,通过查找阅读大量相关文献并进行整理归纳,最终从Nrf2的结构与激活、Nrf2抗氧化功能以及Nrf2抗氧化的分子调控机制三个方面进行了概述分析。其中在对Nrf2抗氧化的分子调控机制的探讨部分,既探析了对Nrf2起激活作用的相关调节因子的作用机制,又分析了Nrf2被激活后对其下游多种抗氧化因子及谷胱甘肽氧化还原系统的诱导调控机制,以期较深入了解Nrf2抵抗机体氧化应激损伤作用及其抗氧化分子调控机制。     

嗅觉受体基因的研究进展

嗅觉在动物的生命活动中起着重要的作用, 与嗅觉相关的基因主要是嗅觉受体(Olfactory receptor, OR)基因。文章介绍了嗅觉受体基因的结构、表达调控、分布、分子进化及其多态性研究进展, 并讨论了该基因与嗅觉功能和嗅觉障碍的关系。     

Polymorphism in sexual versus non-sexual disease transmission

Pathogens causing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) often consist of related strains that cause non-sexually transmitted, or ''ordinary infectious'', diseases (OIDs). We use differential equation models of single populations to derive conditions under which a genetic variant with one (e.g. sexual) transmission mode can invade and successfully displace a genetic variant with a different (e.g. non-sexual) transmission mode. Invasion by an STD is easier if the equilibrium population size in the presence of an OID is smaller; conversely an OID can invade more easily if the equilibrium size of the population with the STD is larger. Invasion of an STD does not depend on the degree of sterility caused by the infection, but does depend on the added mortality caused by a resident OID. In contrast, the ability of an OID to invade a population at equilibrium with an STD decreases as the degree of sterility caused by the STD increases. When equilibrium population sizes for a population infected with an STD are above the point at which non-sexual contacts exceed sexual contacts (the sexual–social crossover point) and when equilibrium population sizes for an OID are below this point, there can be a stable genetic polymorphism for transmission mode. This is most likely when the STD is mildly sterilizing, and the OID causes low or intermediate levels of added mortality. Because we assume the strains are competitively equivalent and there are no heterogeneities associated with the transmission process, the polymorphism is maintained by density-dependent selection brought about by pathogen effects on population size.     

Neurodegenerative disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cell research

Neurodegenerative disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) research contributes to the following 3 areas; “Disease modeling”, “Disease material” and “Disease therapy”.“Disease modeling”, by recapitulating the disease phenotype in vitro, will reveal the pathomechanisms. Neurodegenerative disease-specific iPSC-derived non-neuronal cells harboring disease-causative protein(s), which play critical roles in neurodegeneration including motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, could be “Disease material”, the target cell(s) for drug screening. These differentiated cells also could be used for “Disease therapy”, an autologous cellular replacement/neuroprotection strategy, for patients with neurodegenerative disease.Further progress in these areas of research can be made for currently incurable neurodegenerative diseases.     

Indices of Disease Severity in Diseases that Cause Abscesses in Target Organs

Some animal diseases cause variable numbers of abscesses of varying severity in target organs. In assessing the efficacy of vaccines developed to combat these diseases it is necessary to devise indices of disease severity that incorporate the number of abscesses in an animal and the severity scores of the abscesses. Three indices are defined and their relative merits are discussed. Some of the distributional properties of the indices are examined and their relevance to statistical analyses are discussed.     

Compensatory up-regulation of behavioral disease avoidance in immuno-compromised people with rheumatoid arthritis

Disgust and disease-related cues can activate the immune system. Here, we test whether immuno-suppression is associated with an up-regulation of cognitions and behaviors that assist in disease avoidance. People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), who have a heightened risk of infection-related morbidity and mortality, were compared to age, gender and demographically matched healthy controls on a range of disease avoidance tasks. People with RA scored higher on reports of behavior likely to control infection, were more accurate in spotting individuals who were sick, and showed disease-specific ethnocentrism, ascribing a greater risk of contracting disease to non-Caucasians, although having no overall propensity for greater racism on the Modern Racism Scale. Contrary to predictions, disgust sensitivity (DS) did not differ between groups, however among people with RA, DS was found to be lower in those taking drugs that can increase infection risk. While more explicit disease avoidance behaviors are clearly up-regulated in people with RA, changes in DS may have a different and perhaps more biological casual basis.     

Applications of patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells; focused on disease modeling, drug screening and therapeutic potentials for liver disease

The recent advances in the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) research have significantly changed our perspectives on regenerative medicine by providing researchers with a unique tool to derive disease-specific stem cells for study. In this review, we describe the human iPSC generation from developmentally diverse origins (i.e. endoderm-, mesoderm-, and ectoderm- tissue derived human iPSCs) and multistage hepatic differentiation protocols, and discuss both basic and clinical applications of these cells including disease modeling, drug toxicity screening/drug discovery, gene therapy and cell replacement therapy.     

Periodontal defects of pulpal origin: evidence in early man

False assumptions have led to the widespread opinion that periodontitis of gingival origin is a ubiquitous disease and a common cause of tooth loss among ancient populations. Evaluation of dry skulls reveals that horizontal loss of crestal alveolar bone was unusual and of minor severity. Localized vertical bone defects of pulpal etiology were common and severe, often resulting in tooth mortality. The present paper identifies a number of factors that have contributed to the development of some important misconceptions about the nature of periodontal disease, its incidence, and its etiology.     

Amyloid-β Peptide-specific DARPins as a Novel Class of Potential Therapeutics for Alzheimer Disease

Passive immunization with anti-amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) antibodies is effective in animal models of Alzheimer disease. With the advent of efficient in vitro selection technologies, the novel class of designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) presents an attractive alternative to the immunoglobulin scaffold. DARPins are small and highly stable proteins with a compact modular architecture ideal for high affinity protein-protein interactions. In this report, we describe the selection, binding profile, and epitope analysis of Aβ-specific DARPins. We further showed their ability to delay Aβ aggregation and prevent Aβ-mediated neurotoxicity in vitro. To demonstrate their therapeutic potential in vivo, mono- and trivalent Aβ-specific DARPins (D23 and 3×D23) were infused intracerebroventricularly into the brains of 11-month-old Tg2576 mice over 4 weeks. Both D23 and 3×D23 treatments were shown to result in improved cognitive performance and reduced soluble Aβ levels. These findings demonstrate the therapeutic potential of Aβ-specific DARPins for the treatment of Alzheimer disease.     

Corruption and Spread of Pathogenic Proteins in Neurodegenerative Diseases

With advancing age, the brain becomes increasingly susceptible to neurodegenerative diseases, most of which are characterized by the misfolding and errant aggregation of certain proteins. The induction of aggregation involves a crystallization-like seeding mechanism by which a specific protein is structurally corrupted by its misfolded conformer. The latest research indicates that, once formed, proteopathic seeds can spread from one locale to another via cellular uptake, transport, and release. Impeding this process could represent a unified therapeutic strategy for slowing the progression of a wide range of currently intractable disorders.     

Application of Statistical Classification Technique to the Forecasting of Outcomes of Diseases

A probabilistic statistical model based on statistical classification is proposed for disease outcome forecasting. In particular, cardiac infarction outcome is forecasted and a table of the forecasting results is given. A conclusion of theoretical character is made about the preferable use of a non-uniform band width in the construction of a general histogram for unknown distribution density estimation.