黄鳝IRF-4和IRF-10的表达研究

目的:干扰素调节因子是一类能够调控干扰素及其相关免疫基因表达的转录因子,研究黄鳝干扰素调节因子的结构及表达有助于阐明黄鳝抗病毒的机理。方法:利用PCR扩增技术获得了黄鳝干扰素调节因子10(IRF-10)和IRF-4的部分cDNA序列,再利用半定量PCR技术检测了黄鳝不同发育阶段、不同组织IRF-10和IRF-4的表达。结果:IRF-10和IRF-4在黄鳝三个不同的发育阶段表达量基本一致,但两者在黄鳝不同组织表达呈现明显的差异,IRF-10组成型表达于黄鳝各个组织中,而IRF-4仅在肠、中肾和脑中呈现很高的表达,其他组织表达很弱。结论:IRF-10组成型地表达于黄鳝各个组织,且表达量很高;而IRF-4中仅在主要免疫器官表达,且表达量较弱。     

Expression, purification and osteogenic bioactivity of recombinant human BMP-4, -9, -10, -11 and -14

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are cytokines from the TGF-β superfamily, with important roles during embryonic development and in the induction of bone and cartilage tissue differentiation in the adult body. In this contribution, we report the expression of recombinant human BMP-4, BMP-9, BMP-10, BMP-11 (or growth differentiation factor-11, GDF-11) and BMP-14 (GDF-5), using Escherichia coli pET-25b vector. BMPs were overexpressed, purified by affinity his-tag chromatography and shown to induce the expression of early markers of bone differentiation (e.g. smad-1, smad-5, runx2/cbfa1, dlx5, osterix, osteopontin, bone sialoprotein and alkaline phosphatase) in C2C12 cells and in human adipose stem cells. The described approach is a promising method for producing large amounts of different recombinant BMPs that show potential for novel biomedical applications.     

Neuromuscular response of the immature rat of ACTH/MSH 4--10

The adrenocorticotropin fragment ACTH/MSH 4--10 (0.1 ug/kg IP) effectively modulates the neuromuscular responses of 9 to 15 day old rats. Muscle (extensor digitorum longus) contraction amplitude is increased, fatigue is delayed and muscle half-relaxation time is shortened during 20 min of continuous in situ stimulation of a branch of the deep peroneal nerve (square wave shocks 10 Hz, duration 0.5 msec, strength supermaximal). No effect on contraction time is seen. There is no facilitation or change in any contraction parameter in rats older than two weeks (16 to 40 days) indicating that these older animals, like normal adult rats, are unaffected by the peptide. Immature rats, however, are even more sensitive than hypophysectomized adult rats [29] to the ameliorative action of ACTH/MSH 4-10. This early sensitivity to ACTH/MSH 4--10 corresponds to important developmental changes occurring in nerve and muscle during the most critical period in postnatal development, the first two weeks.     

Mapping of equine potassium chloride co-transporter (SLC12A4) and amino acid transporter (SLC7A10) and preliminary studies on associations between SNPs from SLC12A4, SLC7A10 and SLC7A9 and osmotic fragility of erythrocytes

Consensus DNA sequences from human, mouse and/or rat were used to design oligonucleotide primers for equine homologues of exons 16, 17 and 20-23 of potassium chloride co-transporter (SLC12A4) and exons 10, 11 and 3, 4, respectively, for two amino acid transporters (SLC7A10 and SLC7A9). DNA sequences of the PCR products showed high sequence identity to these regions. Equine BAC clones were obtained for SLC12A4 and SLC7A10 and mapped to equine chromosomes ECA3p13 and ECA10p15, respectively, by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were found. Substitutions of A/G were found within exon 17 of SLC12A4, within intron 11 of SLC7A10 and within intron 3 of SLC7A9. The SNP associated with SLC7A10 and SLC7A9 were sufficiently polymorphic to investigate associations with erythrocyte fragility among a group of 20 thoroughbred horses. A non-parametric rank-sum test showed a weak association between erythrocyte fragility and the SNP associated with SLC7A10 (P < 0.05).     

Chemotactic responses of IL-4-, IL-10-, and IFN-gamma-producing CD4+ T cells depend on tissue origin and microbial stimulus

Th1- and Th2-polarized immune responses are crucial in the defense against pathogens but can also promote autoimmunity and allergy. The chemokine receptors CXCR3 and CCR4 have been implicated in differential trafficking of IFN-gamma- and IL-4-producing T cells, respectively, but also in tissue and inflammation-specific homing independent of cytokine responses. Here, we tested whether CD4+ T cells isolated from murine tissues under homeostatic or inflammatory conditions exhibit restricted patterns of chemotactic responses that correlate with their production of IFN-gamma, IL-4, or IL-10. In uninfected mice, IL-4-producing T cells preferentially migrated to the CCR4 ligand, CCL17, whereas IFN-gamma-expressing T cells as well as populations of IL-4+ or IL-10+ T cells migrated to the CXCR3 ligand, CXCL9. All cytokine-producing T cell subsets strongly migrated to the CXCR4 ligand, CXCL12. We assessed chemotaxis of T cells isolated from mice infected with influenza A virus or the nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, which induce a strong Th1 or Th2 response in the lung, respectively. Unexpectedly, the chemotactic responses of IL-4+ T cells and T cells expressing the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10 were influenced not only by the strongly Th1- or Th2-polarized environments but also by their anatomical localization, i.e., lung or spleen. In contrast, IFN-gamma+ T cells exhibited robust chemotaxis toward CXCL9 and had the most consistent migration pattern in both infection models. The results support a model in which the trafficking responses of many effector and regulatory T cells are regulated as a function of the infectious and tissue environments.     

Structural and conformational modifications of alpha-MSH/ACTH4-10 provide melanotropin analogues with highly potent behavioral activities

Previous studies have identified the (4-10) heptapeptide sequence as the central core of alpha-MSH/ACTH peptides required for mediation of important biological activities. In the present study, the structure-activity relationships of Nle4-substituted and Cys4,Cys10-bridged cyclic alpha-MSH analogues, which were previously shown to exhibit a wide range of melanotropic potencies from weak agonism to super potency, were examined for grooming behavioral activity in the rat following intracerebroventricular injections. The results showed that stepwise C-terminal elongation of the linear Nle4-substituted Ac-alpha-MSH4-10-NH2 increased grooming potencies of the peptides in a manner similar to their actions on melanocytes. The most interesting finding was the observation that cyclization of the inactive linear "central (4-10) core" of alpha-MSH (Ac-alpha-MSH4-10) to form Ac-[Cys4,Cys10]-alpha-MSH4-10-NH2 resulted in a super potent agonist in the grooming assay. However, while cyclization of the (4-10) heptapeptide produced potent agonists on grooming behavior, the structure-activity relationships were different than the frog skin bioassay. These findings support the hypothesis that appropriate structural and confirmational modifications of alpha-MSH-related peptides can produce profound effects on the bioactivities of the peptides, and suggest that different structural-conformational requirements exist for alpha-MSH interactions with its various receptors.     

Chemico-enzymatic synthesis of an oligonucleotide template for an analog of ACTH (4-10) fragment

Six oligodeoxyribonucleotides ranging from 9-mer to 13-mer were synthesized in solution by the phosphotriester approach and enzymatically joined by T4 DNA ligase. The obtained double-stranded DNA (32 b.p.) with protruding 5'-ends corresponding to the recognition sites for restrictases EcoRI and BamHI represents an oligonucleotide template coding for the modified amino acid sequence 4-10 of the adrenocorticotropic hormone, [Pro8,Gly9,Pro10]ACTH-(4-10).     

YD4-6和NV11-4菌株抑菌活性及诱导水稻防御性相关酶活性变化

从麦田和蔬菜地土样中筛选到2株具有较高抗菌活性的生防菌株YD4-6和NV11-4,测定了其抑菌活性和诱导水稻防御性相关酶活性的变化。抑菌活性测定结果表明YD4-6和NV11-4对水稻纹枯病菌、水稻稻瘟病菌、油菜菌核病菌和白菜黑斑病菌均具有较强的抑菌活性。两菌株均不产生几丁质酶活性,但NV11-4能产生纤维素酶活性。针对其对水稻病原菌的抑菌活性和纤维素酶活性的差异及其特性,研究了2个菌株诱导水稻防御性酶活性的变化。结果表明,YD4-6和NV11-4菌株均可有效诱导水稻PPO、POD、PAL、SOD活性增强,MDA含量升高。接种水稻纹枯病菌和使用YD4-6和NV11-4菌株,在使用48 h后,水稻防御酶的活性增加并达到最高,其中NV11-4菌株诱导活性比较持久;YD4-6使用后,诱导水稻的MDA含量增幅较大。结果显示,2个菌株均可有效的诱导水稻防御性酶活性增强和MDA含量增加。经16S rRNA鉴定后,菌株Y4-6确定为蜡质芽孢杆菌,NV11-4确定为枯草芽孢杆菌。     

Synthesis, solution conformation, and antibody recognition of oligotuftsin-based conjugates containing a beta-amyloid(4-10) plaque-specific epitope

One possible therapeutic approach to treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease (AD) is immunotherapy. On the basis of the identification of Abeta(4-10) (FRHDSGY) as the predominant B-cell epitope recognized by therapeutically active antisera from transgenic AD mice, conjugates with defined structures containing the epitope peptide attached to a tetratuftsin derivative as an oligopeptide carrier were synthesized and their structure characterized. To produce immunogenic constructs, the Abeta(4-10) epitope alone or flanked by alpha- or beta-alanine residues was attached through an amide bond to the tetratuftsin derivative (Ac-[TKPKG]4-NH2) or to a carrier peptide elongated by a promiscuous T-helper cell epitope (Ac-FFLLTRILTIPQSLD-[TKPKG]4-NH2). The conformational preferences of the carrier and conjugates were examined by CD spectroscopy in water and in 1:1 and 9:1 TFE:water mixtures (v/v). We found that the presence of flanking dimers in the conjugates had no effects on the generally unordered solution conformation of the conjugates. However, conjugates with an elongated peptide backbone exhibited CD spectra indicative for a partially ordered secondary structure in the presence of TFE. Comparative ELISA binding studies, using monoclonal antibody raised against the beta-amyloid (1-17) peptide, showed that conjugates with T-helper cell epitope in the carrier backbone exhibited decreased monoclonal antibody recognition. However, we found that this effect was compensated in conjugates comprising the Abeta(4-10) B-cell epitope with the beta-alanine dimer flanking regions at both N- and C-termini. Results suggest that modification of the B-cell epitope peptide from Abeta with rational combination of structural elements (e.g. conjugation to carrier, introduction of flanking dimers) can result in synthetic antigen with preserved antibody recognition.     

Glut4 Is Sorted from a Rab10 GTPase-independent Constitutive Recycling Pathway into a Highly Insulin-responsive Rab10 GTPase-dependent Sequestration Pathway after Adipocyte Differentiation

The RabGAP AS160/TBC1D4 controls exocytosis of the insulin-sensitive glucose transporter Glut4 in adipocytes. Glut4 is internalized and recycled through a highly regulated secretory pathway in these cells. Glut4 also cycles through a slow constitutive endosomal pathway distinct from the fast transferrin (Tf) receptor recycling pathway. This slow constitutive pathway is the only Glut4 cycling pathway in undifferentiated fibroblasts. The α₂-macroglobulin receptor LRP1 cycles with Glut4 and the Tf receptor through all three exocytic pathways. To further characterize these pathways, the effects of knockdown of AS160 substrates on the trafficking kinetics of Glut4, LRP1, and the Tf receptor were measured in adipocytes and fibroblasts. Rab10 knockdown decreased cell surface Glut4 in insulin-stimulated adipocytes by 65%, but not in basal adipocytes or in fibroblasts. This decrease was due primarily to a 62% decrease in the rate constant of Glut4 exocytosis (k_ex), although Rab10 knockdown also caused a 1.4-fold increase in the rate constant of Glut4 endocytosis (k_en). Rab10 knockdown in adipocytes also decreased cell surface LRP1 by 30% by decreasing k_ex 30–40%. There was no effect on LRP1 trafficking in fibroblasts or on Tf receptor trafficking in either cell type. These data confirm that Rab10 is an AS160 substrate that limits exocytosis through the highly insulin-responsive specialized secretory pathway in adipocytes. They further show that the slow constitutive endosomal (fibroblast) recycling pathway is Rab10-independent. Thus, Rab10 is a marker for the specialized pathway in adipocytes. Interestingly, mathematical modeling shows that Glut4 traffics predominantly through the specialized Rab10-dependent pathway both before and after insulin stimulation.     

Effects of selective dopamine D4 receptor blockers, NRA0160 and L-745,870, on A9 and A10 dopamine neurons in rats

Extracellular single-unit activities of dopamine neurons were recorded using chloral hydrate anaesthetized rats. We examined the reversal effects of the selective dopamine D4 receptor blockers, NRA0160 (2-Carbamoyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-[2-[4-(3-fluorobenzylidene) piperidin-1-yl] ethyl] thiazole) and L-745,870 (3-[[4-(4-chlorophenyl) piperazin-1-yl] methyl]-1H-pyrrolo [2,3-b] pyridine), on dopamine agonists induced inhibition of dopamine neural activity. The firing rates of the substantia nigra pars compacta (A9) and the ventral tegmental area (A10) dopamine neurons were inhibited by methamphetamine (MAP: 1 mg/kg, i.v.) and apomorphine (APO: 40 microg/kg, i.v). NRA0160 dose-dependently reversed the inhibitory effects of MAP and APO on both A9 and A10 dopamine neurons. NRA0160 was more potent in reversing the inhibitory effects of both MAP and APO on A10 than A9 dopamine neurons. L-745,870 failed to reverse the inhibition produced by MAP on A9 and A10 dopamine neurons, whereas L-745,870, at the highest dose used, significantly reversed APO-induced inhibition of A10 but not A9 dopamine neurons. These results suggest that NRA0160 has different electrophysiological profiles on dopaminergic neural activity compared to L-745,870 and may have atypical antipsychotic effects.     

Facile transition between 3(10)- and alpha-helix: structures of 8-, 9-, and 10-residue peptides containing the -(Leu-Aib-Ala)2-Phe-Aib- fragment.

A structural transition from a 3(10)-helix to an alpha-helix has been characterized at high resolution for an octapeptide segment located in 3 different sequences. Three synthetic peptides, decapeptide (A) Boc-Aib-Trp-(Leu-Aib-Ala)2-Phe-Aib-OMe, nonapeptide (B) Boc-Trp-(Leu-Aib-Ala)2-Phe-Aib-OMe, and octapeptide (C) Boc-(Leu-Aib-Ala)2-Phe-Aib-OMe, are completely helical in their respective crystals. At 0.9 A resolution, R factors for A, B, and C are 8.3%, 5.4%, and 7.3%, respectively. The octapeptide and nonapeptide form ideal 3(10)-helices with average torsional angles phi(N-C alpha) and psi(C alpha-C') of -57 degrees, -26 degrees C and -60 degrees, -27 degrees for B. The 10-residue peptide (A) begins as a 3(10)-helix and abruptly changes to an alpha-helix at carbonyl O(3), which is the acceptor for both a 4-->1 hydrogen bond with N(6)H and a 5-->1 hydrogen with N(7)H, even though the last 8 residues have the same sequence in all 3 peptides. The average phi, psi angles in the decapeptide are -58 degrees, -28 degrees for residues 1-3 and -63 degrees, -41 degrees for residues 4-10. The packing of helices in the crystals does not provide any obvious reason for the transition in helix type. Fourier transform infrared studies in the solid state also provide evidence for a 3(10)- to alpha-helix transition with the amide I band appearing at 1,656-1,657 cm-1 in the 9- and 10-residue peptides, whereas in shorter sequences the band is observed at 1,667 cm-1.     

Effects of 4-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione and 10-propargylestr-4-ene-3,17-dione on the metabolism of androstenedione in human breast carcinoma and breast adipose tissues

The effects of 4-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione (4-OH-A) and 10-propargylestr-4-ene-3,17-dione (PED) on the aromatization of androstenedione (A) and the conversion of A to testosterone (T) were studied in incubations with breast carcinoma and breast adipose tissues. Parallel studies were carried out to determine the effects of 4-OH-A and PED on A metabolism in tissue from 5 patients with breast carcinoma. At 11 μM, both compounds fully inhibited aromatization, whereas the conversion of A to T was decreased in only 2 incubations.Studies with varying concentrations of 4-OH-A and PED demonstrated that both compounds inhibited estrone (E₁) formation by 80% at a concentration of 0.085 μM, with maximum effect at 0.34 μM. 90% inhibition of estradiol (E₂) formation was observed at inhibitor concentrations of 0.17 μM or greater. T formation was slightly affected at 0.67 μM, but was progressively inhibited with increasing 4-OH-A or PED concentrations, reaching 70% at 11 μM.Similar experiments with 4-OH-A in breast adipose tissue homogenates showed that a concentration of 0.1 μM was sufficient to inhibit aromatization while T inhibition required 11 μM.4-OH-A and PED are selective inhibitors of aromatization in human breast tissues and may provide a mechanism for controlling estrogen responsive processes.     

重组ACTH(4-10)与GDNF融合蛋白及其生物活性研究

通过PCR方法构建了促肾上腺皮质激素4-10 (ACTH(4-10))与胶质细胞源性神经营养因子（GDNF）的融合基因,并将它重组克隆到表达载体pET-28a(+)中,构建表达质粒pET-ACTH(4-10)-GDNF,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),经IPTG诱导可高效表达ACTH(4-10)-GDNF融合蛋白.用Ni²⁺-NTA树脂一步法纯化目的蛋白,纯度达85％以上.纯化和复性的ACTH(4-10)-GDNF融合蛋白能显著促进脊髓神经元存活,作用强于ACTH(4-10)及GDNF蛋白.     

Breadth of the CD4+ T cell response to Anaplasma marginale VirB9-1, VirB9-2 and VirB10 and MHC class II DR and DQ restriction elements

MHC class II molecules influence antigen-specific CD4+ T lymphocyte responses primed by immunization and infection. CD4+ T cell responses are important for controlling infection by many bacterial pathogens including Anaplasma marginale and are observed in cattle immunized with the protective A. marginale outer membrane (OM) vaccine. Immunogenic proteins that comprise the protective OM vaccine include type IV secretion system (T4SS) proteins VirB9-1, VirB9-2 and VirB10, candidates for inclusion in a multiepitope vaccine. Our goal was to determine the breadth of the VirB9-1, VirB9-2 and VirB10 T cell response and MHC class II restriction elements in six cattle with different MHC class II haplotypes defined by DRB3, DQA and DQB allele combinations for each animal. Overlapping peptides spanning each T4SS protein were tested in T cell proliferation assays with autologous antigen-presenting cells (APC) and artificial APC expressing combinations of bovine DR and DQ molecules. Twenty immunostimulatory peptides were identified; three representing two or more epitopes in VirB9-1, ten representing eight or more epitopes in VirB9-2 and seven representing seven or more epitopes in VirB10. Of the eight DRA/DRB3 molecules, four presented 15 peptides, which was biased as DRA/DRB3*1201 presented ten and DRA/DRB3*1101 presented four peptides. Four DQA/DQB molecules composed of two intrahaplotype and two interhaplotype pairs presented seven peptides, of which five were uniquely presented by DQ molecules. In addition, three functional mixed isotype (DQA/DRB3) restriction elements were identified. The immunogenicity and broad MHC class II presentation of multiple VirB9-1, VirB9-2 and VirB10 peptide epitopes justify their testing as a multiepitope vaccine against A. marginale.     

4-1BB (CD137), an inducible costimulatory receptor,as a specific target for cancer therapy

Although considerable progress has been made in understanding how tumors evade immune surveillance, measures to counter the same have not kept pace with the advances made in designing effective strategies. 4-1BB (CD137; TNFRS9), an activation-induced costimulatory molecule, is an important regulator of immune responses. Targeting 4-1BB or its natural ligand 4-1BB ligand (4-1BBL) has important implications in many clinical conditions, including cancer. In-depth analysis revealed that 4-1BB-mediated anti-cancer effects are based on its ability to induce activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), and among others, high amounts of IFN-γ. In this review, we will discuss the various aspects of 4-1BB-mediated anti-tumor responses, the basis of such responses, and future directions. [BMB Reports 2014; 47(3): 122-129]     

The heparan sulfate-specific epitope 10E4 is NO-sensitive and partly inaccessible in glypican-1

The monoclonal antibody 10E4, which recognizes an epitope supposed to contain N-unsubstituted glucosamine, is commonly used to trace heparan sulfate proteoglycans. It has not been fully clarified if the N-unsubstituted glucosamine is required for antibody recognition and if all heparan sulfates carry this epitope. Here we show that the epitope can contain N-unsubstituted glucosamine and that nitric oxide-generated deaminative cleavage at this residue in vivo can destroy the epitope. Studies using flow cytometry and confocal immunofluorescence microscopy of both normal and transformed cells indicated that the 10E4 epitope was partially inaccessible in the heparan sulfate chains attached to glypican-1. The 10E4 antibody recognized mainly heparan sulfate degradation products that colocalized with acidic endosomes. These sites were greatly depleted of 10E4-positive heparan sulfate on suramin inhibition of heparanase. Instead, there was increased colocalization between 10E4-positive heparan sulfate and glypican-1. When both S-nitrosylation of Gpc-1 and heparanase were inhibited, detectable 10E4 epitope colocalized entirely with glypican-1. In nitric oxide-depleted cells, there was both an increased signal from 10E4 and increased colocalization with glypican-1. In suramin-treated cells, the 10E4 epitope was destroyed by ascorbate-released nitric oxide with concomitant formation of anhydromannose-containing heparan sulfate oligosaccharides. Immunoisolation of radiolabeled 10E4-positive material from unperturbed cells yielded very little glypican-1 when compared with specifically immunoisolated glypican-1 and total proteoglycan and degradation products. The 10E4 immunoisolates were either other heparan sulfate proteoglycans or heparan sulfate degradation products.