缺氧环境下白细胞介素8通过Akt-STAT3通路提高骨髓间充质干细胞自噬和增殖能力

探讨缺氧环境下,白细胞介素8(Interleukin-8,IL-8)对人骨髓间充质干细胞(Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,hBMSC)增殖和自噬能力的影响以及机制。在缺氧模型下,未进行刺激的hBMSC为缺氧对照组;以100μmol/L人IL-8蛋白刺激的MSC为IL-8组;若先添加50μmol/L MK2206(Akt蛋白抑制剂)培养30 min,然后再添加100μmol/L IL-8则为Akt抑制剂组,在正常条件下培养的MSC为正常对照组。利用Ed U细胞增殖实验、TUNEL细胞凋亡实验、Western blotting或ELISA等实验分别检测各组MSC细胞Ed U标记阳性细胞的数目、细胞凋亡、自噬蛋白(LC-3)和Akt/STAT3等蛋白的表达。相对于缺氧对照组和Akt抑制剂组,IL-8明显提高hBMSC增殖和细胞自噬,并降低hBMSC的凋亡率,IL-8组hBMSC的Akt、STAT3和VEGF等蛋白表达增高。结果表明,缺氧环境下,IL-8通过Akt-STAT3通路发挥对MSC的保护作用,对保护MSC抗缺血缺氧性损伤,促进MSC在再生医学中应用具有重要意义。     

Gating of inward rectifier K+ channels by proton-mediated interactions of N- and C-terminal domains

Ion channels play an important role in cellular functions, and specific cellular activity can be produced by gating them. One important gating mechanism is produced by intra- or extracellular ligands. Although the ligand-mediated channel gating is an important cellular process, the relationship between ligand binding and channel gating is not well understood. It is possible that ligands are involved in the interactions of different protein domains of the channel leading to opening or closing. To test this hypothesis, we studied the gating of Kir2.3 (HIR) by intracellular protons. Our results showed that hypercapnia or intracellular acidification strongly inhibited these channels. This effect relied on both the N and C termini. The CO(2)/pH sensitivities were abolished or compromised when one of the intracellular termini was replaced. Using purified N- and C-terminal peptides, we found that the N and C termini bound to each other in vitro. Although their binding was weak at pH 7.4, stronger binding was seen at pH 6.6. Two short sequences in the N and C termini were found to be critical for the N/C-terminal interaction. Interestingly, there was no titratable residue in these motifs. To identify the potential protonation sites, we systematically mutated most histidine residues in the intracellular N and C termini. We found that mutations of several histidine residues in the C but not the N terminus had a major effect on channel sensitivities to CO(2) and pH(i). These results suggest that at acidic pH, protons appear to interact with the C-terminal histidine residues and present the C terminus to the N terminus. Consequentially, these two intracellular termini bound to each other through two short motifs and closed the channel. Thus, a novel mechanism for K(+) channel gating is demonstrated, which involves the N- and C-terminal interaction with protons as the mediator.     

New mechanism of nerve injury in Alzheimer’s disease: β‐amyloid‐induced neuronal pyroptosis

The present study was designed to investigate the role of β‐amyloid (Aβ_1‐42) in inducing neuronal pyroptosis and its mechanism. Mice cortical neurons (MCNs) were used in this study, LPS + Nigericin was used to induce pyroptosis in MCNs (positive control group), and Aβ_1‐42 was used to interfere with MCNs. In addition, propidium iodide (PI) staining was used to examine cell permeability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay was employed to detect cytotoxicity, immunofluorescence (IF) staining was used to investigate the expression level of the key protein GSDMD, Western blot was performed to detect the expression levels of key proteins, and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was utilized to determine the expression levels of inflammatory factors in culture medium, including IL‐1β, IL‐18 and TNF‐α. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to silence the mRNA expression of caspase‐1 and GSDMD, and Aβ_1‐42 was used to induce pyroptosis, followed by investigation of the role of caspase‐1‐mediated GSDMD cleavage in pyroptosis. In addition, necrosulfonamide (NSA), an inhibitor of GSDMD oligomerization, was used for pre‐treatment, and Aβ_1‐42 was subsequently used to observe the pyroptosis in MCNs. Finally, AAV9‐siRNA‐caspase‐1 was injected into the tail vein of APP/PS1 double transgenic mice (Alzheimer's disease mice) for caspase‐1 mRNA inhibition, followed by observation of behavioural changes in mice and measurement of the expression of inflammatory factors and pyroptosis‐related protein. As results, Aβ_1‐42 could induce pyroptosis in MCNs, increase cell permeability and enhance LDH release, which were similar to the LPS + Nigericin‐induced pyroptosis. Meanwhile, the expression levels of cellular GSDMD and p30‐GSDMD were up‐regulated, the levels of NLRP3 inflammasome and GSDMD‐cleaved protein caspase‐1 were up‐regulated, and the levels of inflammatory factors in the medium were also up‐regulated. siRNA intervention in caspase‐1 or GSDMD inhibited Aβ_1‐42‐induced pyroptosis, and NSA pre‐treatment also caused the similar inhibitory effects. The behavioural ability of Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice was relieved after the injection of AAV9‐siRNA‐caspase‐1, and the expression of pyroptosis‐related protein in the cortex and hippocampus was down‐regulated. In conclusion, Aβ_1‐42 could induce pyroptosis by GSDMD protein, and NLRP3‐caspase‐1 signalling was an important signal to mediate GSDMD cleavage, which plays an important role in Aβ_1‐42‐induced pyroptosis in neurons. Therefore, GSDMD is expected to be a novel therapeutic target for AD.     

The infection of chicken tracheal epithelial cells with a H6N1 avian influenza virus

Sialic acids (SAs) linked to galactose (Gal) in α2,3- and α2,6-configurations are the receptors for avian and human influenza viruses, respectively. We demonstrate that chicken tracheal ciliated cells express α2,3-linked SA, while goblet cells mainly express α2,6-linked SA. In addition, the plant lectin MAL-II, but not MAA/MAL-I, is bound to the surface of goblet cells, suggesting that SA2,3-linked oligosaccharides with Galβ1-3GalNAc subterminal residues are specifically present on the goblet cells. Moreover, both α2,3- and α2,6-linked SAs are detected on single tracheal basal cells. At a low multiplicity of infection (MOI) avian influenza virus H6N1 is exclusively detected in the ciliated cells, suggesting that the ciliated cell is the major target cell of the H6N1 virus. At a MOI of 1, ciliated, goblet and basal cells are all permissive to the AIV infection. This result clearly elucidates the receptor distribution for the avian influenza virus among chicken tracheal epithelial cells and illustrates a primary cell model for evaluating the cell tropisms of respiratory viruses in poultry.     

用染料修饰吐温80液—固萃取体系从猪心肌匀浆液中分离纯化心肌黄酶

用三嗪类染料 Ｃｉｂａｃｒｏｎ Ｂｌｕｅ Ｆ３Ｇ－Ａ修饰的吐温８０,与吐温８０、硫酸被构成液－固萃取体系,从猪心肌匀浆液中分离纯化心肌黄酶。研究了吐温８０染料修饰物在吐温８０相中所占的比例、分相盐浓度、溶液的酸度、匀浆液的加入量等对匀浆液中酶及杂蛋白在两相中分配的影响。在室温条件下,酶选择性地进入吐温８０固相,杂蛋白主要留在盐水相。匀浆液中心肌黄酶的酶活力平均收得率为８１．４％,一步纯化倍数为６．６。降低盐浓度,提高盐水相酸度,能使酶从吐温８０固相反萃到盐水相。     

蔷薇科植物体细胞胚胎发生及影响因素研究进展

总结了近30年来蔷薇科植物体细胞胚胎发生及影响因素的研究进展。蔷薇科植物体胚发生多数是直接发生途径和间接发生途径同时存在,但以间接发生途径为主。合子胚作为外植体明显好于营养器官作为外植体。诱导体胚发生的植物生长素类调节剂以NAA、2,4-D为主,细胞分裂素类调节剂以6-BA为主,少数植物种类的体胚诱导需要添加KT。冷处理对蔷薇科植物的体胚分化有效。光照对蔷薇科植物的体胚发生没有显著的影响,有时光照会抑制体胚发生。今后应逐步开展对蔷薇科植物体细胞胚胎发生的生理、生化及分子机理的研究,这在蔷薇科植物的新品种培育、遗传改良、优良单株的离体扩殖等具有重要意义。     

镜检法在腹腔内接种包虫病动物模型中的应用

目的建立一种简单快速观察腹腔内接种包虫病动物模型的方法。方法按2000个原头节／mL剂量,用多房棘球蚴对灰仓鼠进行腹腔接种,采用肉眼观察法和显微镜镜检法在第10天,15天,18天,22天,39天和60天观察灰仓鼠腹腔内包囊、包囊液和原头节的生长情况;设空白对照组10只。结果通过肉眼观察和显微镜镜检,发现灰仓鼠在接种后的第18天有原头蚴生长;第15天,18天和22天包囊增大、增多;第39天有成熟原头节胚基生长;第60天有不同发育程度的原头蚴。随着接种时间的延长,包囊重量与传代时间成正比。结论本试验为制备包虫病动物模型提供了简单快速的观察方法。     

Disruption of YPS1 and PEP4 genes reduces proteolytic degradation of secreted HSA/PTH in Pichia pastoris GS115

Human serum albumin (HSA) and human parathyroid hormone (1-34) [PTH (1-34)] fusion protein [HSA/PTH (1-34)] is a promising long-acting form of PTH (1-34) for osteoporosis treatment. Secretory expression of intact HSA/PTH (1-34) in Pichia pastoris GS115 was accompanied by two degradation fragments, with molecular weights around 66 kDa, in addition to the well-known ~45 kDa HSA-truncated fragment, resulting in a low yield of intact protein. In this study, two internal cleavage sites were identified in the PTH (1-34) portion of the fusion protein by Western Blot analysis. To minimize proteolytic cleavages, several protease genes including PEP4 (encoding proteinase A), PRB1 (proteinase B) and seven YPSs genes (yapsin family members) were knocked out respectively by disruption of the individual genes and the selective combinations. Reduced degradation was observed by single disruption of either PEP4 gene or YPS1 gene, and the lowest level of degradation was observed in a pep4△yps1△ double disruptant. After 72 h of induction, more than 80 % of the HSA/PTH (1-34) secreted by the pep4△yps1△ double disruptant remained intact, in comparison to only 30 % with the wild-type strain.     

西南干旱河谷植物多样性资源的保护与利用

西南干旱河谷是分布于我国亚热带横断山区的隐域性河谷景观, 其环境受季风气候、岭-谷地形环境和人类开发活动的共同影响。适应于季节性干旱和垂直气候分异, 干旱河谷具有独特的植被和丰富的物种多样性资源。在过去几十年中, 干旱河谷的气候变化以增温为一致特征, 同时经历着广泛的人类活动干扰, 特别是道路建设、水利工程、矿山开发和城镇化驱动的土地利用变化, 造成了普遍的植被破坏、生境退化和生物入侵, 给乡土植物多样性资源和生态系统稳定性带来了严重威胁, 然而至今对干旱河谷生物多样性的保护仍基本属于空白。因此, 建议及时建立干旱河谷的生物多样性保护体系; 因地制宜采取退化植被修复、立体农业规划、特色植物资源利用和风景旅游开发等措施, 以维持干旱河谷生态系统的可持续性; 落实生态文明建设的相关政策, 以保障西南生态屏障的生态安全和生态服务能力。