Gene targeting and expression analysis of mouse Tem1/endosialin using a lacZ reporter

TEM1 (endosialin) expression is increased in the stroma and tumor vasculature of several common human cancers. The exact physiological role of TEM1 is still unknown since Tem1-deficient mice are viable and show only a lower rate of abdominal site-specific tumor invasion in tumor transplantation experiments. Previous studies have reported Tem1 expression in mouse embryos and adults, but did not determine the timing or location of the earliest expression, and did not examine all organ systems. Using the highly sensitive Bluo-Gal staining method for detecting temporal and spatial Tem1-lacZ activity in lacZ knock-in (+/lacZ) mice, we found that Tem1 gene expression was initially detectable in the dorsal aortic wall, the heart, the umbilical vessels, the first branchial arch, and the cephalic mesenchyme at E9.5. From E10.5 to E14.5, Tem1 gene expression was additionally seen mainly in the genital tubercle, the mesonephros, the whisker follicles, the mesenchymal tissues around the eye, and the lung. Remarkably, the kidney expressed abundant Tem1-lacZ starting from E16.5. Postnatally, Tem1 expression decreased in most organs but elevated expression persisted in the renal glomerulus and the uterus, where the expression pattern varied at different estrous cycle stages. Co-localization studies indicated that most vimentin-positive cells co-expressed Tem1-lacZ, while a large portion of CD31- or desmin-positive cells were also positive for Tem1-lacZ. Taken together, our observations suggest that Tem1 is expressed throughout embryonic and adult development in several types of mesenchymal cells closely related to blood vessels.     

Identification of two critical amino acid residues of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus spike protein for its variation in zoonotic tropism transition via a double substitution strategy

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is a recently identified human coronavirus. The extremely high homology of the viral genomic sequences between the viruses isolated from human (huSARS-CoV) and those of palm civet origin (pcSARS-CoV) suggested possible palm civet-to-human transmission. Genetic analysis revealed that the spike (S) protein of pcSARS-CoV and huSARS-CoV was subjected to the strongest positive selection pressure during transmission, and there were six amino acid residues within the receptor-binding domain of the S protein being potentially important for SARS progression and tropism. Using the single-round infection assay, we found that a two-amino acid substitution (N479K/T487S) of a huSARS-CoV for those of pcSARS-CoV almost abolished its infection of human cells expressing the SARS-CoV receptor ACE2 but no effect upon the infection of mouse ACE2 cells. Although single substitution of these two residues had no effects on the infectivity of huSARS-CoV, these recombinant S proteins bound to human ACE2 with different levels of reduced affinity, and the two-amino acid-substituted S protein showed extremely low affinity. On the contrary, substitution of these two amino acid residues of pcSARS-CoV for those of huSRAS-CoV made pcSARS-CoV capable of infecting human ACE2-expressing cells. These results suggest that amino acid residues at position 479 and 487 of the S protein are important determinants for SARS-CoV tropism and animal-to-human transmission.     

大鼠骨髓基质细胞向Schwann细胞分化后蛋白表达变化的研究

近年来很多研究报道大鼠骨髓基质细胞（bone marrow stromal cells,MSCs）可以向神经细胞或神经胶质细胞分化,其中多数研究观察了细胞形态以及几种神经相关蛋白的免疫反应,也有报道用基因组学方法分析MSCs诱导过程中基因谱的表达变化.尚未见报道用蛋白质组学方法分析MSCs在诱导过程中蛋白谱的表达变化.本研究利用蛋白质组学技术分析MSCs向Schwann细胞样细胞诱导分化过程中蛋白谱的表达变化.从成年SD大鼠的股骨和胫骨中分离培养MSCs,应用复合诱导因子体外连续诱导MSCs向Schwann细胞样细胞分化.采用2-DE技术分离未诱导和诱导分化后MSCs总蛋白,应用基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱得到相应的肽质量指纹图谱,搜索数据库分析差异蛋白质点.所得到的MSCs蛋白谱有792个蛋白点,通过PDQuest软件分析诱导前后MSCs的蛋白谱,初步分析发现有74个蛋白质的表达发生了明显的变化,其中43个蛋白表达上调,31个蛋白表达下调.本研究通过质谱分析并进行网上数据库搜索匹配,初步分析发现这些蛋白主要包括骨架和结构蛋白、生长因子类的蛋白、代谢相关蛋白及酶类、伴侣蛋白、受体类蛋白、细胞周期蛋白、钙结合蛋白以及其他蛋白等.研究表明,MSCs体外条件诱导分化过程中有较多蛋白表达发生变化;其中与神经细胞和神经胶质细胞相关蛋白：BDNF,CNTF,GFAP等在MSCs体外条件诱导分化后中表达明显上调;本研究从蛋白质水平为MSCs体外向Schwann细胞样细胞条件诱导提供了新的研究资料。     

哺乳动物中的DNA主动去甲基化

DNA甲基化是一种相对稳定且可遗传的表观遗传标记,在植物和动物细胞中均发现有DNA主动去甲基化现象,其机制在植物中已基本得到阐释,但在哺乳动物中尚未鉴定出一种有效的DNA去甲基化酶,并且DNA主动去甲基化途径也存在争议。文章综合分析了近期的文献资料,阐述了哺乳动物中发生DNA主动去甲基化的时空特异性,并从细胞和组织特异性角度介绍DNA主动去甲基化的可能通路和机制,即5-甲基胞嘧啶的氧化作用、5-甲基胞嘧啶脱氨基以及DNA修复等,旨在为破译表观遗传重编程过程提供理论依据。     

The Mental Retardation Associated Protein,srGAP3 Negatively Regulates VPA-Induced Neuronal Differentiation of Neuro2A Cells

The Slit-Robo GTPase-activating proteins (srGAPs) are important multifunctional adaptor proteins involved in various aspects of neuronal development, including axon guidance, neuronal migration, neurite outgrowth, dendritic morphology and synaptic plasticity. Among them, srGAP3, also named MEGAP (Mental disorder-associated GTPase-activating protein), plays a putative role in severe mental retardation. SrGAP3 expression in ventricular zones of neurogenesis indicates its involvement in early stage of neuronal development and differentiation. Here, we show that overexpression of srGAP3 inhibits VPA (valproic acid)-induced neurite initiation and neuronal differentiation in Neuro2A neuroblastoma cells, whereas knockdown of srGAP3 facilitates the neuronal differentiation in this cell line. In contrast to the wild type, overexpression of srGAP3 harboring an artificially mutation R542A within the functionally important RhoGAP domain does not exert a visible inhibitory effect on neuronal differentiation. The endogenous srGAP3 selectively binds to activated form of Rac1 in a RhoGAP pull-down assay. We also show that constitutively active (CA) Rac1 can rescue the effect of srGAP3 on attenuating neuronal differentiation. Furthermore, change in expression and localization of endogenous srGAP3 is observed in neuronal differentiated Neuro2A cells. Together, our data suggest that srGAP3 could regulate neuronal differentiation in a Rac1-dependent manner.     

Dengue virus-induced autoantibodies bind to plasminogen and enhance its activation

Dengue virus infection can lead to life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) or dengue shock syndrome (DSS) in patients. Abnormal activation of the coagulation and fibrinolysis system is one of the hallmarks associated with DHF/DSS patients. However, the mechanisms that cause pathology in DHF/DSS patients are still unclear. Because conversion of plasminogen (Plg) to plasmin (Plm) is the first step in the activation of fibrinolysis, Abs against Plg found in DHF/DSS patients may be important. Therefore, to investigate the specificity, function, and possible origin of these Abs, we generated several Plg cross-reactive mAbs from DENV-immunized mice. An IgG mAb, 6H11, which recognizes an epitope associated with a dengue envelope protein, demonstrated a high level of cross-reactivity with Plg. The 6H11 Ab was further characterized with regard to its effect on Plg activation. Using Plm-specific chromogenic substrate S-2251, we found that mAb 6H11 demonstrated serine protease activity and could convert Plg directly to Plm. The serine protease activity of mAb 6H11 was further confirmed using serine protease chromogenic substrate S-2288. In addition, we found several Plg cross-reactive mAbs that could enhance urokinase-induced Plg activation. Lastly, mAb 6H11 could induce Plm activity and increase the level of D-dimer (a fibrin degradation product) in both human and mouse platelet-poor plasma. Taken together, these data suggest DENV-induced Plg cross-reactive Abs may enhance Plg conversion to Plm, which would be expected to contribute to hyperfibrinolysis in DHF/DSS patients.     

用弥散张量成像检测猕猴大脑运动区占位病变对健侧皮质脊髓束的作用

因皮质脊髓束(corticospinal tract,CST)损伤而造成的运动功能丧失可得到一定恢复,但关于大脑运动区占位性病变对健侧CST结构功能影响的研究却相对较少。该研究采用两只健康猕猴行球囊置入术建立大脑运动区占位性病变模型,行4次磁共振弥散张量成像(diffusion tensor imaging,DTI)扫描,检测手术区对侧CST的FA值("各向异性"值),发现球囊置入术后当天,对侧CST的FA值无明显变化,但随时间的延长升高,球囊取出术后一周更为明显。实验表明该模型可行、可靠,从DTI观察到病变健侧CST出现代偿,即使占位解除短期内这一作用仍明显,提示健侧CST共同参与瘫痪肢体功能的恢复。