Functional epitope of common gamma chain for interleukin-4 binding.

Interleukin 4 (IL-4) can act on target cells through an IL-4 receptor complex consisting of the IL-4 receptor alpha chain and the common gamma chain (gamma(c)). An IL-4 epitope for gamma(c) binding has previously been identified. In this study, the gamma(c) residues involved in IL-4 binding were defined by alanine-scanning mutational analysis. The epitope comprises gamma(c) residues I100, L102, and Y103 on loop EF1 together with L208 on loop FG2 as the major binding determinants. These predominantly hydrophobic determinants interact with the hydrophobic IL-4 epitope composed of residues I11, N15, and Y124. Double-mutant cycle analysis revealed co-operative interaction between gamma(c) and IL-4 side chains. Several gamma(c) residues involved in IL-4 binding have been previously shown to be mutated in X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency. The importance of these binding residues for gamma(c) function is discussed. These results provide a basis for elucidating the molecular recognition mechanism in the IL-4 receptor system and a paradigm for other gamma(c)-dependent cytokine receptor systems.     

Application of matrix solid-phase dispersion methodology to the extraction of endogenous peptides from porcine hypothalamus samples for MS and LC-MS analysis

In this study, we investigated a novel application of matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) methodology for the extraction of endogenous peptides from porcine hypothalamus tissue samples. Several experimental factors of the MSPD procedure were examined. Finally, silica-based octadecyl was chosen as dispersing material and blended with 0.25 g porcine hypothalamus at a ratio of 5, and 10 mL of 60% acetonitrile with 0.2% formic acid in water was chosen as the extraction and elution solvent. This MSPD extraction method was compared to the classic acid extraction method. More peaks were observed in the MSPD extracts (74±5) by MALDI-TOF MS than in acid extracts (34±5). Moreover, 14 potential endogenous peptides were identified in the MSPD extracts after nanoLC-MS/MS analysis, while only 2 endogenous peptides in the acid extracts. These results indicated that MSPD could be employed as a simple and efficient method for the extraction of endogenous peptides from tissues.     

Effects and mechanisms of ghrelin on cardiac microvascular endothelial cells in rats

Ghrelin is thought to directly exert a protective effect on the cardiovascular system, specifically by promoting vascular endothelial cell function. Our study demonstrates the ability of ghrelin to promote rat CMEC (cardiac microvascular endothelial cell) proliferation, migration and NO (nitric oxide) secretion. CMECs were isolated from left ventricle of adult male Sprague—Dawley rat by enzyme digestion and maintained in endothelial cell medium. Dil‐ac‐LDL (1,1′‐dioctadecyl‐3,3,3′,3′‐ tetramethylindocarbocyanine‐labelled acetylated low‐density lipoprotein) intake assays were used to identify CMECs. Cells were split into five groups and treated with varying concentrations of ghrelin as follows: one control non‐treated group; three ghrelin dosage groups (1×10^?9, 1×10^?8, 1×10^?7 mol/l) and one ghrelin+PI3K inhibitor group (1×10^?7 mol/l ghrelin+20 μmol/l LY294002). After 24 h treatment, cell proliferation capability was measured by MTT [3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide] assay and Western blot for PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) protein expression. Migration of CMECs was detected by transwell assays, and NO secretion of CMECs was measured via nitrate reduction. Protein expression of AKT and phosphorylated AKT in CMECs was measured by Western blot after exposure to various concentrations of ghrelin and the PI3K inhibitor LY294002. Our results indicate that ghrelin significantly enhanced cell growth at concentrations of 10^?8 mol/l (0.271±0.041 compared with 0.199±0.021, P=0.03) and 10^?7 mol/l (0.296±0.039 compared with 0.199±0.021, P<0.01). However, addition of the PI3K/AKT inhibitor LY294002 inhibited the ghrelin‐mediated enhancement in cell proliferation (0.227±0.042 compared with 0.199±0.021, P=0.15). At a concentration between 10^?8 and 10^?7 mol/l, ghrelin caused a significant increase in the number of migrated cells compared with the control group (126±9 compared with 98±7, P=0.02; 142±6 compared with 98±7, P<0.01), whereas no such change could be observed in the presence of 20 μmol/l of the PI3K/Akt inhibitor LY294002 (103±7 compared with 98±7, P=0.32). Ghrelin treatment significantly enhanced NO production in a dose‐dependent fashion compared with the untreated control group [(39.93±2.12) μmol/l compared with (30.27±2.71) μmol/l, P=0.02; (56.80±1.98) μmol/l compared with (30.27±2.71) μmol/l, P<0.01]. However, pretreatment with 20 μmol/l LY294002 inhibited the ghrelin‐stimulated increase in NO secretion [(28.97±1.64) μmol/l compared with (30.27±2.71) μmol/l, P=0.37]. In summary, we have found that ghrelin treatment promotes the proliferation, migration and NO secretion of CMECs through activation of PI3K/AKT signalling pathway.     

非磷酸化肌球蛋白在血小板衍生生长因子诱导的血管平滑肌细胞迁移中的作用

为了阐明非磷酸化肌球蛋白在平滑肌细胞迁移中的作用,研究探讨了非磷酸化肌球蛋白是否介导了血小板衍生生长因子(PDGF)诱导豚鼠脑基底动脉平滑肌细胞(GbaSM-4)的迁移。研究结果显示,20ng/ml以下剂量的PDGF可诱导GbaSM-4细胞发生迁移,此时肌球蛋白轻链(MLC20)磷酸化水平无变化。该迁移作用可被肌球蛋白特异性抑制剂blebbistatin所拮抗。应用RNA干扰技术抑制肌球蛋白轻链激酶表达,经免疫印迹检测经果显示,MLC20的磷酸化水平发生了显著下降;但对PDGF诱导的迁移作用无影响;在RNA干扰后blebbistatin也可抑制其迁移作用。体外ATP酶活性测定结果显示,blebbistatin对从平滑肌中提取的非磷酸化肌球蛋白的ATP酶活性有明显的抑制作用,其主要作用位点位于肌球蛋白头的头部S1。上述结果提示,非磷酸化的肌球蛋白参与了PDGF诱导的平滑肌细胞迁移。     

Secretory delivery of heterologous proteins in attenuated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vibrio anguillarum</Emphasis> for potential use in vaccine design

To synthesize and secrete heterologous proteins in an attenuated Vibrio anguillarum strain for potential multivalent live vaccine development, different antigen-delivery systems based on bacterial-originated secretion signal peptides (SPs) were designed and identified in this work. Four SPs were derived from hemolysin of Escherichia coli, RTX protein of V. cholerae, hemolysin of V. anguillarum, zinc-metalloprotease of V. anguillarum, respectively, and their abilities to support secretion of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in an attenuated V. anguillarum strain MVAV6203 were assayed. Immunodetection of GFP showed that the capability of the tested signal leaders to direct secretion of GFP varied greatly. Although all the four signal peptide-fused GFPs could be expressed correctly and trapped intracellularly in recombinant strains, only the EmpA signal peptide could confer efficient secretion to GFP. For the investigation of its potential application in live bacteria carrier vaccines, a heterologous protein EseB of Edwardsiella tarda was fused to the SP(empA) antigen-delivery system and introduced into the strain MVAV6203. Further analysis of EseB demonstrated that the constructed SP(empA) antigen-delivery system could be used to secrete foreign protein in attenuated V. anguillarum and be available for carrier vaccines development.     

Characterization of the estrogenic response to genistein in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes)

This study was designed to determine the estrogenic effect of the phytoestrogen genistein on several measures of endocrine function in adult Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) relative to 17-beta-estradiol. Adult animals of both sexes were exposed to 75, 750 and 30,000 ng/fish (average fish weight equals 0.26 g) of genistein by i.p. injection, with a positive control group treated with 300 ng/fish of 17-beta-estradiol, while a negative control group received a vehicle-only (corn oil) injection. Content of vitellogenin, the yolk glycoprotein made in the liver in response to estradiol stimulation, was measured using Western blots. Circulating estradiol and testosterone levels were measured using a steroid-enzyme immunosorbant assay. The ability of ovaries and testes to synthesize and release estradiol and testosterone was determined by ex vivo incubation of gonads with 25-hydroxycholesterol. Vitellogenin, while induced by 17-beta-estradiol, was not increased in the liver of individuals treated with genistein. In females, genistein treatment at 750 and 30,000 ng increased the estradiol production of ovaries more than the 17-beta-estradiol treatment. In males, genistein treatment resulted in decreased testosterone production from ex vivo testis and a comparable reduction in circulating testosterone level. The changes in vitellogenin, circulating steroids and ex vivo steroidogenesis in medaka in response to genistein are similar to that of 17-beta-estradiol. However, some endpoints are more sensitive to estradiol treatment (vitellogenin), while others are more sensitive to genistein (male testosterone and ovarian estrogenesis).