P2Y1 receptor-mediated glutamate release from cultured dorsal spinal cord astrocytes

P2 receptors have been implicated in the release of neurotransmitter and proinflammatory cytokines by the response to neuroexcitatory substances in astrocytes. In the present study, we examined the mechanisms of ADP and adenosine 5'-O-2-thiodiphosphate (ADPbetaS, ADP analogue) on glutamate release from cultured dorsal spinal cord astrocytes by using confocal laser scanning microscopy and HPLC. Immunofluorescence activity showed that P2Y₁ receptor protein is expressed in cultured astrocytes. ADP and ADPbetaS-induced [Ca²⁺]_i increase and glutamate release are mediated by P2Y₁ receptor. Ca²⁺ release from IP₃-sensitive calcium stores and protein kinase C (PKC) activation is important for glutamate release from astrocytes. Furthermore, P2Y₁ receptor-evoked glutamate release is regulated by volume-sensitive Cl⁻ channels and anion co-transporter, which open up the possibility that P2Y₁ receptor activation causes the increase of cell volume. Release of glutamate by ADPbetaS was abolished by 5-nitro-2 (3-phenyl propy lamino)–benzoate plus furosemide but was unaffected by botulinum toxin A. These observations indicate that P2Y₁ receptor-evoked glutamate may be mediated via volume-sensitive Cl⁻ channel but not via exocytosis of glutamate containing vesicles. We speculate that P2Y₁ receptors-evoked glutamate efflux, occurring under pathological condition, may modulate the activity of synapses in spinal cord.     

上球管遥控床的智能控制

介绍能隔室遥控操作的上球管遥控床的智能控制系统,包括用VB编制的上位机监控界面,基于AT90S8515的下位机的控制,以及上、下位机的串行通信。本系统具有友好的人机界面,性能良好,易于产品的升级、改进。     

D-丝氨酸在神经元-胶质细胞间通讯的新进展

D-丝氨酸(D-Ser)是一种重要的胶质细胞递质,也是N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸(NMDA)受体NR1亚基上"甘氨酸位点"的主要内源性配体,具有比甘氨酸更高的结合效能.D-Ser在体内主要由丝氨酸消旋酶将L-丝氨酸消旋而来,受多种因素调控,在中枢神经系统参与调节突触可塑性、感觉信息传递、神经发育及神经兴奋性毒性等生理及病理过程,并成为阿尔采末病(AD)等神经系统疾病新的治疗靶点.本文对D-Ser在中枢神经系统的产生、代谢、生理及病理作用的研究予以综述.     

酵母表面展示技术在蛋白质工程中的应用

酵母细胞表面展示技术目前已成为蛋白质工程研究的重要工具,利用此技术可以鉴定蛋白间的相互作用、提高蛋白的亲和力和特异性、增加蛋白的稳定性和表达水平、绘制功能性抗原位图、固定化表达具有生物活性的蛋白和酶等,此项技术的运用代表着蛋白质工程研究中的最新进展.     

Investigating Bacterial Sources of Toxicity as an Environmental Contributor to Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration

Parkinson disease (PD) involves progressive neurodegeneration, including loss of dopamine (DA) neurons from the substantia nigra. Select genes associated with rare familial forms of PD function in cellular pathways, such as the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), involved in protein degradation. The misfolding and accumulation of proteins, such as α-synuclein, into inclusions termed Lewy Bodies represents a clinical hallmark of PD. Given the predominance of sporadic PD among patient populations, environmental toxins may induce the disease, although their nature is largely unknown. Thus, an unmet challenge surrounds the discovery of causal or contributory neurotoxic factors that could account for the prevalence of sporadic PD. Bacteria within the order Actinomycetales are renowned for their robust production of secondary metabolites and might represent unidentified sources of environmental exposures. Among these, the aerobic genera, Streptomyces, produce natural proteasome inhibitors that block protein degradation and may potentially damage DA neurons. Here we demonstrate that a metabolite produced by a common soil bacterium, S. venezuelae, caused DA neurodegeneration in the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, which increased as animals aged. This metabolite, which disrupts UPS function, caused gradual degeneration of all neuronal classes examined, however DA neurons were particularly vulnerable to exposure. The presence of DA exacerbated toxicity because neurodegeneration was attenuated in mutant nematodes depleted for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme in DA production. Strikingly, this factor caused dose-dependent death of human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, a dopaminergic line. Efforts to purify the toxic activity revealed that it is a highly stable, lipophilic, and chemically unique small molecule. Evidence of a robust neurotoxic factor that selectively impacts neuronal survival in a progressive yet moderate manner is consistent with the etiology of age-associated neurodegenerative diseases. Collectively, these data suggest the potential for exposures to the metabolites of specific common soil bacteria to possibly represent a contributory environmental component to PD.     

The involvement of hydroxyl radical and cyclooxygenase metabolites in the activation of lung vagal sensory receptors by circulatory endotoxin in rats.

Circulatory endotoxin can stimulate vagal pulmonary C fibers and rapidly adapting receptors (RARs) in rats, but the underlying mechanisms are not clear. We investigated the involvement of hydroxyl radicals and cyclooxygenase metabolites in the stimulation of C fibers and RARs by circulatory endotoxin (50 mg/kg) in 112 anesthetized, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated rats. In rats pretreated with the vehicle, endotoxin stimulated C fibers and RARs and caused a slight increase in total lung resistance (Rl) and a decrease in dynamic lung compliance. In rats pretreated with dimethylthiourea (a hydroxyl radical scavenger) alone, indomethacin (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor) alone, or a combination of the two, C-fiber and RAR responses [C fiber: change (Delta) = -62, -79, and -85%; RAR: Delta = -80, -84, and -84%, respectively] were reduced, and the Rl response was prevented. The suppressive effects of a combination of dimethylthiourea and indomethacin on the C-fiber and RAR responses were not superior to indomethacin alone. In rats pretreated with isoproterenol (a bronchodilator), the C-fiber response was not significantly affected (Delta = -26%), the RAR response was reduced (Delta = -88%), and the Rl response was prevented. None of these pretreatments affected the dynamic lung compliance response. These results suggest that 1) both hydroxyl radicals and cyclooxygenase metabolites are involved in the endotoxin-induced stimulation of C fibers and RARs, and 2) the involvement of these two metabolites in the C-fiber stimulation may be due to their chemical effects, whereas that in the RAR stimulation may be due to their bronchoconstrictive effects.     

乙醇提取土茯苓黄酮甙的动力学研究

研究了用乙醇提取土茯苓中黄酮甙动力学 ,考察了提取过程的温度 ,搅拌强度 ,土茯苓块粉碎粒度 ,乙醇浓度对提取速率的影响。结果表明 ,随着提取反应温度的升高、土茯苓粉碎粒度的减小 ,提取速率而迅速增大 ;提取剂及提取产物通过土茯苓颗粒多孔介质是动力学控制步骤 ,提取过程符合“缩核模型” ,属内扩散控制 ,表观活化能为 10 . 0 6kJ/mol,宏观动力学方程为 :K =1. 36 2× 10 . 5·r 20 ·e 10 . 0 6RT +1 .933× 10 5     

环氧化酶-2在口腔鳞癌中的表达及其意义

目的探讨环氧化酶-2(COX-2)的表达与口腔鳞癌生物学行为的关系及其意义.方法采用免疫组织化学S-P法检测10例正常口腔黏膜、12例炎症组织和62例口腔鳞癌中COX-2的表达,并结合临床病理资料进行分析.结果口腔鳞癌中COX-2的表达明显高于正常口腔黏膜和炎症组织(P<0.001).COX-2的表达与口腔鳞癌的部位、大小、临床分期及淋巴结转移无明显相关,但与病理分级相关性显著,随分化程度的降低而增强(P=0.002).结论 COX-2很可能在口腔鳞癌的发生、发展中扮演重要角色,抑制COX-2的活性有望成为口腔鳞癌防治的新途径.     

B型烟粉虱与浙江非B型烟粉虱的竞争

为了了解近年来入侵中国的B型烟粉虱(Bemisiatabaci)取代本地非B型烟粉虱的潜能,在室内将一个B型与一个浙江非B型烟粉虱种群混合饲养在不同寄主植物上,跟踪观察混合种群中两个生物型个体数量相对比例的变化。结果表明,当两种生物型在棉花(Gossypiumhirsutum)上以相同初始数量共存竞争时,经过6代,非B型完全被B型替代;而在西葫芦(Cucurbitapepo)上以相同初始数量共存竞争时,只经过2代,非B型即完全被B型替代。在棉花上,即使以非B型占87%、B型占13%开始共存竞争,经过225d后,非B型也完全被B型替代。这说明B型烟粉虱具有在短期内竞争取代浙江非B型烟粉虱的能力。经分析,B型除了寄主范围比非B型的宽这一点对其竞争有利外,较强的内在竞争潜能也是其能成功入侵并替代本地非B型烟粉虱的一个重要原因。