Proteomic changes in articular cartilage of human endemic osteoarthritis in China

Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) is a chronic endemic osteochondropathy with unclear pathogenesis. It is a degenerative disease similar to osteoarthritis, but with different manifestations of cartilage damage. The aim of this investigation was to show the protein changes in KBD cartilage and to identify the candidate proteins in order to understand the pathogenesis of the disease. Proteins were extracted from the media of primary cell cultures of KBD and normal chondrocytes, and separated by two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE). MALDI-TOF/TOF analysis revealed statistically significant differences in 27 proteins from KBD chondrocyte cultures, which consisted of 17 up-regulated and ten down-regulated proteins. The results were further validated by Western blot analysis. The proteins identified are mainly involved in cellular redox homeostasis and stress response (MnSOD, Hsp27, Peroxiredoxin-1, and Cofilin-1), glycolysis (PGK-1, PGM-1, α-enolase), and cell motility and cytoskeletal organization (Actin, Calponin-2, and Keratin). These KBD-associated proteins indicate that cytoskeletal remodeling, glycometabolism, and oxidative stress are abnormal in KBD articular cartilage.     

不同食物饲养幼鼠对肝组织化学影响的观察

实验采用刚断乳的幼鼠２０ 只, 分为两组喂养, 每组１０ 只, 对照组和普通饲料喂养（简称Ａ 组）,另一组用奶粉喂养（简称Ｂ组）。分别喂养２０天后, 对其肝组织化学进行了分组定性对比观察。结果显示：Ａ 组肝细胞糖原ＰＡＳ反应, ＳＤＨ、ＣｈＥ活性高于Ｂ组, 分别为强阳性（）, 而Ｂ组ＬＤＨ, ＡＫＰ活性比Ａ组强, 分别为强阳性及最强阳性 （, ）。     

IL-13促进肝星状细胞增殖和胶原蛋白表达

肝星状细胞(hepatic stellate cell,HSC)是肝纤维化发展过程中过量细胞外基质的主要来源。该研究首先利用MTT法检测IL-13实验剂量和时间条件下肝星状细胞增殖情况;然后运用RT-PCR技术检测IL-13对人肝星状细胞LX-2细胞系IL-13Rα1、IL-4Rα、TGF-β和Ⅰ型胶原蛋白转录水平的影响;最后通过羟脯氨酸法定量分析各组细胞培养上清液中的胶原蛋白含量。结果发现:IL-13能促进肝星状细胞的增殖;在不改变IL-13Rα1和IL-4Rα转录水平的同时,对TGF-β和Ⅰ型胶原蛋白mRNA的表达以及细胞总胶原蛋白含量的上调作用均呈现出较为明显的剂量和时间依赖性。     

Angiotensin II and Angiotensin-(1-7) in Paraventricular Nucleus Modulate Cardiac Sympathetic Afferent Reflex in Renovascular Hypertensive Rats

Background

The enhanced cardiac sympathetic afferent reflex (CSAR) is involved in the sympathetic activation that contributes to the pathogenesis and progression of hypertension. Activation of AT₁ receptors by angiotension (Ang) II in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) augments the enhanced CSAR and sympathetic outflow in hypertension. The present study is designed to determine whether Ang-(1-7) in PVN plays the similar roles as Ang II and the interaction between Ang-(1-7) and Ang II on CSAR in renovascular hypertension.

Methodology/Principal Findings

The two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C) method was used to induce renovascular hypertension. The CSAR was evaluated by the renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) responses to epicardial application of capsaicin in sinoaortic-denervated and cervical-vagotomized rats with urethane and α-chloralose anesthesia. Either Ang II or Ang-(1-7) in PVN caused greater increases in RSNA and MAP, and enhancement in CSAR in 2K1C rats than in sham-operated (Sham) rats. Mas receptor antagonist A-779 and AT₁ receptor antagonist losartan induced opposite effects to Ang-(1-7) or Ang II respectively in 2K1C rats, but losartan had no effects in Sham rats. Losartan but not the A-779 abolished the effects of Ang II, while A-779 but not the losartan blocked the effects of Ang-(1-7). PVN pretreatment with Ang-(1-7) dose-dependently augmented the RSNA, MAP, and CSAR responses to the Ang II in 2K1C rats. Ang II level, AT₁ receptor and Mas receptor protein expression in PVN increased in 2K1C rats compared with Sham rats but Ang-(1-7) level did not.

Conclusions

Ang-(1-7) in PVN is as effective as Ang II in enhancing the CSAR and increasing sympathetic outflow and both endogenous Ang-(1-7) and Ang II in PVN contribute to the enhanced CSAR and sympathetic outflow in renovascular hypertension. Ang-(1-7) in PVN potentiates the effects of Ang II in renovascular hypertension.     

AiiA蛋白的可溶性表达及其抗菌活性研究

AHLs是革兰氏阴性细菌在增殖过程中产生的一类信号分子,与其致病性密切相关。AiiA蛋白作为一种胞内解酯酶．能水解致病菌产生的AHb分子,使内酯环开环后不能再激活某些胞外酶的表达．从而极大地减弱了细菌的致病性。本研究从苏云金芽孢杆菌LLB15中分离编码aiiA基因的质粒DNA。用PCR方法克隆面讲基因,并利用pET载体构建6-His融合表达质粒pET29a-aiiA,转化E.coli BL21（DE3）菌株,并筛选得到E.coli BL21（DE3）-pET29a-aiiA工程菌。在20℃的低温和0．8mmol／LIPTG条件下。经25h的诱导表达,获得了54．4ug／mL可溶性AiiA蛋白。通过镍柱亲和层析,在国内外首次纯化了带6-His标记的AiiA蛋白。水解活性和抗病性检测表明,该蛋白能水解AHLs分子．对胡萝卜欧文氏软腐病菌具有较强的抗病作用。     

Host Age Preference Behavior in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphidius ervi</Emphasis> Haliday (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae)

Many parasitoid species have preference for certain stages of hosts to parasitize but the underlying behavioral mechanisms of such preference are still poorly understood, making it difficult to evaluate host-parasitoid interactions and their effects on the success of biological control programs. Here, we report our work on a parasitoid Aphidius ervi Haliday on the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris). We show that with the increase of host age, female parasitoids are more likely to encounter and to attack their hosts but the hosts develop increasingly greater defensive capabilities. Encounter almost always triggers attack attempt; however, increasing attack attempts do not proportionally lead to ovipositor probings and increasing ovipositor probings do not proportionally translate into ovipositions. These asymmetric responses may be interpreted as that A. ervi females prefer to parasitize older aphids for higher fitness return but those aphids can better defend themselves, and as a consequence, A. ervi females may achieve the highest gain by attacking aphids of intermediate ages. We suggest that A. ervi females forage in a manner consistent with the optimal foraging theory, trading off host handling time with fitness returns.     

The Physicochemical Investigation of 17β-Estradiol Crystalline Prepared by <Emphasis Type="Italic">In Situ</Emphasis> pH-Dependent Solubility Technique with Polyvinylpyrrolidone

Micro-particles of 17β-estradiol (ED) were prepared with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) by in situ pH-dependent solubility technique. Products were characterized using multiple instruments, and molecular interactions between ED and PVP were explored. Powder X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis revealed crystalline ED in the micro-particles is hemihydrated. PVP was also present in the micro-particles. Laser particle size analysis and scanning electron microscopy revealed thin slice morphology, which might have resulted from the influence of PVP. Moreover, the results of contact angle, specific surface area, and dynamic vapor sorption showed that the surface properties of products were improved. These physicochemical properties of the micro-particles resulted in an obvious improvement in dissolution rate. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance revealed hydrogen bonding between ED and PVP. A method was established for the preparation of micro-particles through the addition of PVP during the reaction process.     

ATG16 mediates the autophagic degradation of the 19S proteasomal subunits PSMD1 and PSMD2

Autophagy and the ubiquitin proteasome system are the two major cellular processes for protein and organelle recycling and clearance in eukaryotic cells. Evidence is accumulating that these two pathways are interrelated through adaptor proteins. Here, we found that PSMD1 and PSMD2, both components of the 19S regulatory particle of the proteasome, directly interact with Dictyostelium discoideum autophagy 16 (ATG16), a core autophagosomal protein. ATG16 is composed of an N-terminal domain, which is responsible for homo-dimerization and binding to ATG5 and a C-terminal β-propeller structure. Deletion analysis of ATG16 showed that the N-terminal half of ATG16 interacted directly only with PSMD1, while the C-terminal half interacted with both, PSMD1 and PSMD2. RFP-tagged PSMD1 as well as PSMD2 were enriched in large puncta, reminiscent of autophagosomes, in wild-type cells. These puncta were absent in atg16￣ and atg9￣/16￣ cells and weaker and less frequent in atg9￣ cells, showing that ATG16 was crucial and the autophagic process important for their formation. Co-expression of ATG16-GFP or GFP-ATG8a(LC3) with RFP-PSMD1 or RFP-PSMD2, respectively, in atg16￣ or wild-type cells revealed many instances of co-localization, suggesting that RFP-PSMD1 or RFP-PSMD2 positive puncta constitute autophagosomes. LysoTracker^® labeling and a proteolytic cleavage assay confirmed that PSMD1 and PSMD2 were present in lysosomes in wild-type cells. In vivo, ATG16 is required for their enrichment in ATG8a positive puncta, which mature into autolysosomes. We propose that ATG16 links autophagy and the ubiquitin proteasome system.     

Macrophage differentiation and polarization via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt-ERK signaling pathway conferred by serum amyloid P component

Macrophage differentiation and polarization is influenced by, and act on, many processes associated with autoimmunity. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying macrophage polarization in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remain largely debated. We previously demonstrated that macrophage M2b polarization conferred by activated lymphocyte-derived (ALD)-DNA immunization could initiate and propagate murine lupus nephritis. Serum amyloid P component (SAP), a conserved acute-phase protein in mice, has been reported to bind to DNA and modulate immune responses. In this study, murine SAP was shown to promote macrophage-mediated ALD-DNA uptake through binding to ALD-DNA (SAP/ALD-DNA). Moreover, macrophage phenotypic switch from a proinflammatory M2b phenotype induced by ALD-DNA alone to an anti-inflammatory M2a phenotype stimulated with SAP/ALD-DNA were found because of PI3K/Akt-ERK signaling activation. Both in vivo SAP supplements and adoptive transfer of ex vivo programmed M2a macrophages induced by SAP/ALD-DNA into SLE mice could efficiently alleviate lupus nephritis. Importantly, increased IL-10 secretion, accompanied by anti-inflammatory effect exerted by M2a macrophages, was found to predominantly impede macrophage M2b polarization. Furthermore, neutralization of IL-10 notably reduced the suppressive effect of M2a macrophages. Our results demonstrate that binding of SAP to ALD-DNA could switch macrophage phenotypic polarization from proinflammatory M2b to anti-inflammatory M2a via PI3K/Akt-ERK signaling activation, thus exerting protective and therapeutic interventions on murine lupus nephritis. These data provide a possible molecular mechanism responsible for modulation of macrophage polarization in the context of lupus nephritis and open a new potential therapeutic avenue for SLE.     

Genome‐wide analysis of Nilaparvata lugens nymphal responses to high‐density and low‐quality rice hosts

The brown planthopper (BPH) Nilaparvata lugens is an economically important pest on rice plants. In this study, the higher population density and yellow‐ripe stage of rice plants were used to construct adverse survival conditions (ASC) against BPH nymphs. Simultaneously, the low population density and tillering stage of rice plants were used to establish a suitable survival condition (SSC) as a control. Solexa/Illumina sequencing was used to identify genes of BPH nymphs responding to ASC. Significantly longer duration development of BPH nymphs and significantly lower brachypterous ratio of BPH adults were observed by ASC compared with SSC. A total of 2 544 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained and analyzed by BLASTx, Gene Ontology and KEGG Orthology. Gene ontology analysis revealed that the DEGs were mainly involved in categories of cell, cell part, cellular process, binding, catalytic, organelle and metabolic processes. 1 138 DEGs having enzyme commission numbers were assigned to different metabolic pathways. The largest clusters were neurodegenerative diseases (137, 12.0%), followed by carbohydrate metabolism (113, 9.9%), amino acid metabolism (94, 8.3%), nucleotide metabolism (76, 6.7%), energy metabolism (64, 5.6%), translation (60, 5.3%), lipid metabolism (58, 5.1%), and folding, sorting and degradation (52, 4.6%). Expressing profile of 11 DEGs during eight nymphal developmental stages of BPH were analyzed by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. The 11 genes exhibited differential expression between ASC and SSC during at least one developmental stage. The DEGs identified in this study provide molecular proof of how BPH reconfigures its gene expression profile to adapt to overcrowding and low‐quality hosts.