懒猴属的核糖体DNA变异及其种间分化关系

用１５种限制性内切酶和人２８Ｓ、１８ＳｒＤＮＡ探针构建了懒猴属各物种核糖体ＤＮＡ重复单位的限制性内切酶图谱。在进化速率较高的非转录间隔区,在大、中、小懒猴中分别定位了２３、２４、２４个酶切位点。大懒猴与中懒猴有１２个位点不同,与小懒猴有１４个位点不同,而中、小懒猴间则只有一个位点的差异。经过计算,大懒猴与中懒猴的遗传距离值为１２．６５％,与小懒猴的差异为１４．２４％,中、小懒猴间的差异则仅为０．７     

不同底物与固氮酶及其钼铁蛋白相互作用的荧光光谱分析

 本文研究了不同底物(N_2,H_2,N_2O,NaN_3,C_2H_2)对棕色固氮菌固氮酶及其钼铁蛋白荧光光谱的影响。结果表明,上述底物均能络合在钼铁蛋白及固氮酶上,但络合程度不同,从而为固氮酶系统有多个不同的底物络合中心,底物络合中心在钼铁蛋白分子上,铁蛋白对钼铁蛋白有变构作用,提供了光谱学证据。     

在应激低反应期新生大鼠的海马和视交叉上核核受体-MR、GR表达的变化

目的搞清新生大鼠HPA轴改变在应激低反应时期（stress hyporesponsive period、SHRP））的核受体-MR（盐皮质激素受体）和GR（糖皮质激素受体）在海马和视交叉上核（SCN）的表达变化。从而进一步了解新生大鼠发育时间对MR和GR的影响。方法本研究应用免疫荧光技术研究了生后4d（PD4）和生后12d（PD12）的新生大鼠海马和SCN的MR、GR的表达。同时采用RIA方法测定了血清中皮质类固醇的浓度水平。结果RIA结果显示在应激低反应期给予刺激,血清皮质类固醇水平没有明显改变。在海马,PD12较PD4,MR-和GR-i mmunoreactivity在CA1区表达增强;在齿状回没有明显变化;在海马门（hilus）减弱。而在海马的CA3区和SCN中,PD4 GR-ir强烈表达,在PD12却下降。同时也发现在hilus细胞出现GR和nestin（巢蛋白）阳性表达的共存,但是却没有发现MR和nestin的共存。结论新生大鼠阶段,发育时间对MR和GR的影响因区域不同影响不同。GR和nestin（巢蛋白）的共存为探讨在新生大鼠阶段GR对神经干细胞的分化有否影响提供了实验资料。本研究也为进一步研究新生大鼠应激低反应状态下海马及SCN与低活性的HPA轴的关系提供了形态学依据。     

Magnetostructural correlations in μ-pyrazolato-μ-acetato dinickel(II) complexes: Subtle effects of acetate tilting

A series of dinickel acetato complexes [LNi₂(OAc)(solvent)_x](ClO₄)₂ (1-3, 5) as well as related complexes [LNi₂(OAc)₂](OAc) (4) and [LNi₂(OAc)(NO₃)₂] (6), all derived from three pyrazolate-based binucleating ligands, have been prepared and characterized by X-ray crystallography. The solid state structures reveal different acetate binding modes (μ_1,3-bridging and bidentate chelating) plus severe twisting and tilting of the μ_1,3-acetate bridges with respect to their bimetallic scaffolds, reflecting the great flexibility of carboxylate coordination. Magnetic properties of all six complexes have been investigated, and the strength of antiferromagnetic coupling is discussed in the light of the structural differences, suggesting a magnetostructural correlation for acetato-bridged complexes.     

碳酸酐酶靶向性抑制剂甲苯磺烷唑胺对机体缺氧耐力的影响

目的:探讨甲苯磺烷唑胺对提高小鼠缺氧耐力的影响及其机制.方法:将健康昆明小鼠放入缺氧装置瓶中,测定密闭缺氧存活时间;将雄性昆明小鼠放入梯形笼中,置于小动物低压舱进行减压低氧,测定小鼠减压低氧存活时间;观察小鼠组织碳酸酐酶Ⅱ(CAⅡ)活性改变.采用预防给药方式,研究碳酸酐酶靶向性抑制剂甲苯磺烷唑胺对提高低氧耐力的作用.结...     

Impaired thymic export and apoptosis contribute to regulatory T-cell defects in patients with chronic heart failure

Objective

Animal studies suggest that regulatory T (T_reg) cells play a beneficial role in ventricular remodeling and our previous data have demonstrated defects of T_reg cells in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, the mechanisms behind T_reg-cell defects remained unknown. We here sought to elucidate the mechanism of T_reg-cell defects in CHF patients.

Methods and Results

We performed flow cytometry analysis and demonstrated reduced numbers of peripheral blood CD4⁺CD25⁺FOXP3⁺CD45RO⁻CD45RA⁺ naïve T_reg (nT_reg) cells and CD4⁺CD25⁺FOXP3⁺CD45RO⁺CD45RA⁻ memory T_reg (mT_reg) cells in CHF patients as compared with non-CHF controls. Moreover, the nT_reg/mT_reg ratio (p<0.01), CD4⁺CD25⁺FOXP3⁺CD45RO⁻ CD45RA⁺CD31⁺ recent thymic emigrant T_reg cell (RTE-T_reg) frequency (p<0.01), and T-cell receptor excision circle levels in T_reg cells (p<0.01) were lower in CHF patients than in non-CHF controls. Combined annexin-V and 7-AAD staining showed that peripheral T_reg cells from CHF patients exhibited increased spontaneous apoptosis and were more prone to interleukin (IL)-2 deprivation- and CD95 ligand-mediated apoptosis than those from non-CHF individuals. Furthermore, analyses by both flow cytometry and real-time polymerase chain reaction showed that T_reg-cell frequency in the mediastinal lymph nodes or Foxp3 expression in hearts of CHF patients was no higher than that of the non-CHF controls.

Conclusion

Our data suggested that the T_reg-cell defects of CHF patients were likely caused by decreased thymic output of nascent T_reg cells and increased susceptibility to apoptosis in the periphery.     

Characterization of 9-nitrocamptothecin liposomes: anticancer properties and mechanisms on hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer related mortality worldwide. 9-Nitrocamptothecin (9NC) is a potent topoisomerase-I inhibitor with strong anticancer effect. To increase the solubility and stability, we synthesized a novel 9NC loaded liposomes (9NC-LP) via incorporating 9NC into liposomes. In the present study, we determined the effects of 9NC and 9NC-LP on in vitro and in vivo, and the underlying mechanisms.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We first analyzed the characteristics of 9NC-LP. Then we compared the effects of 9NC and 9NC-LP on the proliferation and apoptosis of HepG2, Bel-7402, Hep3B and L02 cells in vitro. We also investigated their anticancer properties in nude mice bearing HCC xenograft in vivo. 9NC-LP has a uniform size (around 190 nm) and zeta potential (∼−11 mV), and exhibited a steady sustained-release pattern profile in vitro. Both 9NC and 9NC-LP could cause cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in a dose-dependent and p53-dependent manner. However, this effect was not ubiquitous in all cell lines. Exposure to 9NC-LP led to increased expression of p53, p21, p27, Bax, caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9 and apoptosis-inducing factor, mitochondrion-associated 1 and decreased expression of Bcl-2, cyclin E, cyclin A, Cdk2 and cyclin D1. Furthermore, 9NC-LP exhibited a more potent antiproliferative effect and less side effects in vivo. Western blot analysis of the xenograft tumors in nude mice showed similar changes in protein expression in vivo.

Conclusions/Significance

In conclusion, 9NC and 9NC-LP can inhibit HCC growth via cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis. 9NC-LP has a more potent anti-tumor effect and fewer side effects in vivo, which means it is a promising reagent for cancer therapy via intravenous administration.     

Nicotine-Induced Neuroprotection Against Ischemic Injury Involves Activation of Endocannabinoid System in Rats

Nicotine has been reported to exert certain protective effect in the Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Whether it has a similar action in focal cerebral ischemia was unclear. In the present study, rats received either an injection of (?)-nicotine hydrogen tartrate salt (1.2 mg/kg, i.p.) or the vehicle 2 h before the 120 min middle cerebral artery occlusion. Neurological deficits and histological injury were assessed at 24 h after reperfusion. The content of endocannabinoids and the expression of cannabinoid receptor CB1 in brain tissues were determined at different time points after nicotine administration. Results showed that nicotine administration ameliorated neurological deficits and reduced infarct volume induced by cerebral ischemia in the rats. The neuroprotective effect was partially reversed by CB1 blockage. The content of the endocannabinoids N-arachidonylethanolamine and 2-arachidonoylglycerol, as well as the expression of cannabinoid receptor CB1 were up-regulated in brain tissues after nicotine delivery. These results suggest that endogenous cannabinoid system is involved in the nicotine-induced neuroprotection against transient focal cerebral ischemia.     

hPNAS-4 inhibits proliferation through S phase arrest and apoptosis: underlying action mechanism in ovarian cancer cells

PNAS-4, a novel pro-apoptotic gene, was activated during the early response to DNA damage. Previous studies have shown that hPNAS-4 can inhibit tumor growth when over-expressed in ovarian cancer cells. However, the underlying action mechanism remains elusive. In this work, we found that hPNAS-4 expression was significantly increased in SKOV3 cells when exposed to cisplatin, methyl methanesulfonate or mitomycin C, and that its overexpression could induce proliferation inhibition, S phase arrest and apoptosis in A2780s and SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells. The S phase arrest caused by hPNAS-4 was associated with up-regulation of p21. p21 is p53-dispensable and correlates with activation of ERK, and activation of the Cdc25A-Cdk2-Cyclin E/Cyclin A pathway, while the pro-apoptotic effects of hPNAS-4 were mediated by activation of caspase-9 and -3 other than caspase-8, and accompanied by release of AIF, Smac and cytochrome c into the cytosol. Taken together, these data suggest a new mechanism by which hPNAS-4 inhibits proliferation of ovarian cancer cells by inducing S phase arrest and apoptosis via activation of Cdc25A-Cdk2-Cyclin E/Cyclin A axis and mitochondrial dysfunction-mediated caspase-dependent and -independent apoptotic pathways. To our knowledge, we provide the first molecular evidence for the potential application of hPNAS-4 as a novel target in ovarian cancer gene therapy.