Recombinant disintegrin targets α(v) β(3) integrin and leads to mediator production

Integrin αvβ3 is most likely the foremost modulator of angiogenesis among all known integrins. Recombinant disintegrin DisBa-01, originally obtained from snake venom glands, binds to αvβ3, thereby significantly inhibiting adhesion and generating in vivo anti-metastatic ability. However, its function in mediator production is not clear. Here, we observed that the mediators VEGF-A, IL-8, and TGF-β are not produced by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC cell line) or monocyte/macrophage cells (SC cell line) when cells adhered to vitronectin. However, when exposed to DisBa-01, HUVECs produced higher levels of TGF-β, and SC cells produced higher levels of VEGF-A. Nonetheless, HUVECs also showed an enhancement of apoptosis after losing adherence when exposed to disintegrin, which is a characteristic of anoikis. We propose that disintegrin DisBa-01 could be used to modulate integrin αvβ3 functions.     

Physical properties of fatty acyl-CoA. Critical micelle concentrations and micellar size and shape

Critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) of palmitoyl-CoA were determined by surface tension, conductivity, and fluorimetric measurements in a variety of buffers at several pH values and ionic strengths. They ranged from 7 to 250 microM and were frequently an order of magnitude higher than most reported values. The CMCs of stearoyl-CoA and oleoyl-CoA, determined fluorimetrically, were also high and consistent with the expected effects of chain length and unsaturation. The effects of ionic strength and temperature were analyzed to obtain the extent of counterion binding and the thermodynamic parameters of micellization. The values of delta H0, delta G0, and delta S0 obtained in 0.011 M Tris, pH 8.3, are -6 K X J X mol-1, -64 K X J X mol-1, and +193 J X mol-1 X K-1, and the average number of univalent ions bound per molecule in the micelles is 1.4. These values are within the range of those obtained for other univalent and polyvalent detergents. Analyzed by sedimentation and diffusion, the micelles are approximately spherical with an anhydrous mass of 50,000 daltons but with dimensions inconsistent with fully extended molecules. Correlation of the information obtained from the present physical studies with kinetic studies using long-chain fatty acyl-CoAs as enzyme substrates may be helpful for understanding the enzymology of these compounds, and some previously published kinetic studies of membrane-bound and soluble enzymes may bear reinterpretation.     

Use of high-performance liquid chromatography to detect hydroxyl and superoxide radicals generated from mitomycin C

Distinguishing between short-lived reactive oxygen species like hydroxyl and superoxide radicals is difficult; the most successful approaches employ electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping techniques. Using the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-l-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) to selectively trap various radicals in the presence and absence of ethanol, an HPLC system which is capable of separating the hydroxyl- and superoxide-generated DMPO adduct species has been developed. The radical-generated DMPO adducts were measured with an electrochemical detector attached to the HPLC system and confirmed by spin-trapping techniques. The HPLC separation was carried out on an ODS reverse-phase column with a pH 5.1 buffered 8.5% acetonitrile mobile phase. The advantage of the HPLC system described is that it permits the separation and detection of hydroxyl and superoxide radicals without requiring ESR instrumentation. The antineoplastic bioreductive alkylating agent mitomycin C, when activated by NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, was shown to generate both hydroxyl and superoxide radicals.     

非酒精性脂肪肝病大鼠肝脏SOCS-3的表达与吡格列酮干预研究

目的：探讨SOCS-3在非酒精性脂肪肝病（NAFLD）发病中的作用以及吡格列酮的干预作用。方法：29只雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组（8只）,高脂饮食组（21只）。饲养8周后,从高质饮食组随机抽取5只大鼠证实造模成功后,将该组余下的16只大鼠继续以高脂饲料喂养,并随机分为NAFLD对照组（8只）;吡格酮干预组（8只）,予以吡格列酮3mg·kg^-1·d^-1灌胃。16周末,处死所有大鼠,检测血糖、血胰岛素、血脂、肝脏SOCS-3mRNA和SREBP-lcmRNA表达及肝脏病理学。结果：与正常对照组相比,NAFLD组血糖、血胰岛素、血脂、肝脏脂肪变水平及肝组织SOCS-3mRNA、SREBPlCmRNA表达显著上调。吡格列酮干预组sOCS．3mRNA、SREBP-1cmRNA表达较NAFLD组下调,且血糖、血胰岛素、血脂、肝脏脂肪变水平下降。SOCS-3mRNA表达水平与胰岛素抵抗指数、SREBP．1cmRNA表达水平、肝脂肪变成显著正相关。结论：SOCS-3可能通过胰岛素抵抗及上调肝组织SREBP-lcmRNA表达参与NAFLD发病,吡格列酮能抑制肝脏SOCS-3的表达,对NAFLD有一定治疗作用。