Perturbation of the mutated EGFR interactome identifies vulnerabilities and resistance mechanisms

We hypothesized that elucidating the interactome of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) forms that are mutated in lung cancer, via global analysis of protein–protein interactions, phosphorylation, and systematically perturbing the ensuing network nodes, should offer a new, more systems‐level perspective of the molecular etiology. Here, we describe an EGFR interactome of 263 proteins and offer a 14‐protein core network critical to the viability of multiple EGFR‐mutated lung cancer cells. Cells with acquired resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) had differential dependence of the core network proteins based on the underlying molecular mechanisms of resistance. Of the 14 proteins, 9 are shown to be specifically associated with survival of EGFR‐mutated lung cancer cell lines. This included EGFR, GRB2, MK12, SHC1, ARAF, CD11B, ARHG5, GLU2B, and CD11A. With the use of a drug network associated with the core network proteins, we identified two compounds, midostaurin and lestaurtinib, that could overcome drug resistance through direct EGFR inhibition when combined with erlotinib. Our results, enabled by interactome mapping, suggest new targets and combination therapies that could circumvent EGFR TKI resistance.     

Observer-based tracking control of abnormal oscillations in demyelination symptom

Fast axonal conduction of action potentials in mammals relies on myelin insulation. Demyelination can cause slowed, blocked, desynchronized, or paradoxically excessive spiking that underlies the symptoms observed in demyelination diseases. Feedback control via functional electrical stimulation (FES) seems to be a promising treatment modality in such diseases. However, there are challenges to implementing such method for neurons: high nonlinearity, biological tissue constrains and unobservable ion channel states. To address this problem, we propose an estimating and tracking control strategy for systems based on Kalman filter, in order to enhance the action potential propagation reliability of demyelinated neuron via FES. Unscented Kalman filter (UKF) is employed to estimate the unobservable states and parameters in the demyelination neuron model from membrane potential dynamics. Our method could promote the design of new closed-loop electrical stimulation systems for patients suffering from different nerve system dysfunctions.     

Behavioral and transcriptome alterations in male and female mice with postnatal deletion of TrkB in dorsal striatal medium spiny neurons

Background

The high affinity tyrosine kinase receptor, TrkB, is the primary receptor for brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and plays an important role in development, maintenance and plasticity of the striatal output medium size spiny neuron. The striatal BDNF/TrkB system is thereby implicated in many physiologic and pathophysiologic processes, the latter including mood disorders, addiction, and Huntington’s disease. We crossed a mouse harboring a transgene directing cre-recombinase expression primarily to postnatal, dorsal striatal medium spiny neurons, to a mouse containing a floxed TrkB allele (fB) mouse designed for deletion of TrkB to determine its role in the adult striatum.

Results

We found that there were sexually dimorphic alterations in behaviors in response to stressful situations and drugs of abuse. Significant sex and/or genotype differences were found in the forced swim test of depression-like behaviors, anxiety-like behaviors on the elevated plus maze, and cocaine conditioned reward. Microarray analysis of dorsal striatum revealed significant dysregulation in individual and groups of genes that may contribute to the observed behavioral responses and in some cases, represent previously unidentified downstream targets of TrkB.

Conclusions

The data point to a set of behaviors and changes in gene expression following postnatal deletion of TrkB in the dorsal striatum distinct from those in other brain regions.

     

Expression and signal regulation of the alternative oxidase genes under abiotic stresses

Plants in their natural environment frequently face various abiotic stresses, such as drought, high salinity, and chilling. Plant mitochondria contain an alternative oxidase （AOX）, which is encoded by a small family of nuclear genes. AOX genes have been shown to be highly responsive to abiotic stresses. Using transgenic plants with varying levels of AOX expression, it has been confirmed that AOX genes are im- portant for abiotic stress tolerance. Although the roles of AOX under abiotic stresses have been extensively studied and there are several excellent reviews on this topic, the differential expression patterns of the AOX gene family members and the signal regulation of AOX gene（s） under abiotic stresses have not been extensively summarized. Here, we review and discuss the current progress of these two important issues.     

Jagged-1/Notch3 signaling transduction pathway is involved in apelin-13-induced vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation

The apelin/apelin receptor （APJ, apelin-angiotensin receptor-like 1） system is a newly deorphanized G protein- coupled receptor system. Both apelin and APJ that are important regulatory factors are expressed in the cardio- vascular system. Our previous studies demonstrated that apelin-13 significantly stimulated vascular smooth muscle cell （VSMC） proliferation. In this paper, our data sug- gested that the Jagged-l/Notch3 signaling transduction pathway is involved in apelin-13-induced VSMC prolifer- ation by promoting the expression of Cyclin D1. Results indicated that apelin-13 stimulates the proliferation of VSMC and the expression of Jagged-1 and Notch3 in con- centration- and time-dependent manners. The increased expression of Jagged-1 and Notch3 induced by apelin-13 could be abolished by extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase （ERK） blockade. PD98059 （ERK inhibitor） can inhibit the activation of Jagged-I/Notch3 induced by apelin- 13. Down-regulation of Notch3 using small interfering RNA inhibits the expression of Cyclin DI and prevents apelin- 13-induced VSMC proliferation. In conclusion, Jagged-I/ Notch3 signaling transduction pathway is involved in VSMC proliferation induced by apelin-13.     

体外培养小鼠下颌下腺细胞生长特性的实验研究

目的：研究小鼠下颌下腺细胞的培养方法,探讨下颌下腺细胞培养条件及细胞生长特性,为研究干细胞转分化涎腺腺泡细胞以及涎腺再生研究奠定理论基础和技术支持。方法：取2周龄的小鼠,组织块法和消化法分别进行培养,用活细胞观察法和HE染色法记录细胞形态学特征;免疫荧光染色法鉴定;通过生长曲线和细胞倍增时间来比较两种方法对细胞增殖能力的影响。结果：组织块法和消化法均可以成功的培养下颌下腺细胞,（1）组织块法培养的细胞呈卵圆形或多边形,10天左右成铺路石样;消化法培养细胞亦为上皮样细胞,呈多边形,胞质丰富;（2）HE染色下颌下腺细胞呈多边形,胞核明显;（3）Cytokeratin13和AQP5表达阳性,Wimentin表达阴性;（4）组织块法培养细胞增殖相对较平缓,消化法培养细胞增长较迅速;（5）消化法培养倍增时间（1．3471±0．6071）天比组织块法倍增时间（2．1887±1．1503）明显缩短（P〈0．05）;结论：体外可以成功的培养下颌下腺细胞,但是同时证明下颌下腺细胞长期传代较困难,这为研究干细胞转分化涎腺细胞和涎腺再生体内实验提供了理论和实验基础。     

抗环瓜氨酸肽抗体联合类风湿因子在检测类风湿关节炎中的临床价值

目的：探讨抗环瓜氨酸肽抗体（抗CCP抗体）以及类风湿因子（RV）检测对类风湿关节炎（RA）诊断的意义。方法：采用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）检测355份人血清的抗CCP抗体,同时采用使用贝克曼库尔特Image800双光镜免疫浊度分析仪定量监测类风湿因子（RF）,其中包括门诊及住院RA患者135例,非RA组170例,正常对照组来自本院的健康体检人员50例。结果：抗-CCP检测在RA组与非RA组（和正常对照组）之间的检测结果有统计学差异（P〈0．05）。RF检测在RA组与非RA组（和正常对照组）之间的检测结果有统计学差异（P〈0．05）。在135例RA病人中,抗CCP抗体的阻性率为70．4％,在非RA病人中的阳性率为3．5％,抗CCP抗体对RA的敏感性和特异性分别为70．4％、96．5％。RF的阳性率为63．7％,在非RA病人中的阳性率为14．1％,RF对RA的敏感性和特异性分别为63．7％、81．1％。联合应用抗CCP抗体与RF进行诊断,串联时敏感性为59．3％,特异性为97．1％。并联时敏感性为74．8％,特异性为85.3％。结论：抗CCP抗体和RF对RA具有较好的敏感性和很高的特异性,二者联合检测可提高对RA早期诊断的准确性。     

血液科感染患者致病菌的临床资料分析

目的：探讨血液病患者的感染特点,为临床治疗提供病原学依据。方法：回顾性分析北京友谊医院2008年7月至2011年7月血液科住院患者临床分离出病原菌的情况。结果：原发病以血液系统恶性肿瘤为主。共培养出致病菌357株,包括革兰阴性杆菌（40.8%）;革兰阳性球菌（24.1%）;真菌（35.1%）。引起感染最常见的革兰阴性杆菌为铜绿假单胞菌,最常见的革兰阳性球菌为粪肠球菌,最常见的真菌为白色假丝酵母菌。革兰阴性杆菌来源为血29.4%,痰46.6%,尿10.3%;革兰阳性球菌来源为血14%,痰47.7%,尿10.4%;真菌来源为血8%,痰60.8%,尿4%。66.4%真菌感染患者中性粒细胞〈1.5×109/L。结论：血液病感染的致病菌以革兰阴性杆菌为主,呼吸道是主要感染部位。对于中性粒细胞减少的血液病感染患者,真菌感染的几率明显增加,经验性抗真菌治疗具有一定的意义。     

Fibulin-5在三阴型乳腺癌细胞侵袭中的功能研究

的：研究Fibulin-5蛋白在三阴性乳腺癌（TNBC）m胞转移中的作用。方法：以三阴性乳腺癌细胞系（MDA-MB-231）分化而来的三株高中低不同转移能力的子细胞系为模型,高表达和抑制Fibulin．5在其中的表达,研究其对细胞侵袭能力的影响。结果：三阴性乳腺癌细胞内本底的Fibulin．5与其转移能力正相关,另外上调和抑制Fibulin-5可以改变其原有的侵袭能力。结论：Fibulin-5在三阴性乳腺癌细胞转移中发挥重要作用,抑制Fibulin-5可以降低三阴性乳腺癌细胞的侵袭能力。