细胞因子在脑缺血损伤中的作用研究进展

脑缺血一旦发生,往往引起不同程度的脑损伤。缺血脑组织会产生一系列复杂的病理生理学改变。一组称为细胞因子的多肽调节物质在脑缺血损伤过程中起着关键的作用。包括神经细胞在内的多种细胞能够产生和分泌细胞因子,它们的表达时相性和作用各不相同。脑缺血引起TNF-α、IL-1、IL-6、IL-8、IL-10和FKN等多种细胞因子的表达和释放,进而触发有关损伤和修复的应答。这些参与脑缺血损伤的细胞因子能通过复杂的细胞因子网络对中枢神经系统发挥着毒性或保护效应。探究它们在脑缺血损伤中的确切作用将有助于神经系统疾病的临床治疗。现对几种关键的细胞因子综述如下。     

中国耳叶苔科-新记录种——本州耳叶苔(Frullania usamiensis)

本文报导了辽宁省首次发现的中国耳叶苔科一新记录种即本州耳叶苔(Frullania usamiensis Steph.)。作者在研究东北耳叶苔科标本过程中,发现了本州耳叶苔,该种原仅在日本和朝鲜有报导,为我国新记录,现报导如下。     

MicroRNA expression characterizes oligometastasis(es)

Background

Cancer staging and treatment presumes a division into localized or metastatic disease. We proposed an intermediate state defined by ≤5 cumulative metastasis(es), termed oligometastases. In contrast to widespread polymetastases, oligometastatic patients may benefit from metastasis-directed local treatments. However, many patients who initially present with oligometastases progress to polymetastases. Predictors of progression could improve patient selection for metastasis-directed therapy.

Methods

Here, we identified patterns of microRNA expression of tumor samples from oligometastatic patients treated with high-dose radiotherapy.

Results

Patients who failed to develop polymetastases are characterized by unique prioritized features of a microRNA classifier that includes the microRNA-200 family. We created an oligometastatic-polymetastatic xenograft model in which the patient-derived microRNAs discriminated between the two metastatic outcomes. MicroRNA-200c enhancement in an oligometastatic cell line resulted in polymetastatic progression.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate a biological basis for oligometastases and a potential for using microRNA expression to identify patients most likely to remain oligometastatic after metastasis-directed treatment.     

糠醛和5-羟甲基糠醛对大肠杆菌产丁二酸的影响

利用可再生生物质特别是木质纤维素水解液来生产平台化合物丁二酸,是目前研究的热点。虽然许多研究者相继报道了木质纤维素水解液对菌株生长和丁二酸生产存在一定抑制作用,但并没有水解液中各种抑制物对菌株影响的相关动力学研究及机理研究。我们选择了两种代表性木质纤维素水解液抑制物,即糠醛和5-羟甲基糠醛,系统研究了它们对大肠杆菌的生长和丁二酸生产的影响。结果表明：糠醛和5-羟甲基糠醛的初始抑制浓度均为0.8 g/L。当糠醛浓度大于6.4 g/L,5-羟甲基糠醛浓度大于12.8 g/L时,菌株生长完全受到抑制。在最高耐受浓度下,糠醛的存在使菌株生物量比对照菌株下降77.8%,丁二酸产量下降36.1%。5-羟甲基糠醛的存在使菌株生物量比对照菌株降低13.6%,丁二酸产量降低18.3%。糠醛和5-羟甲基糠醛具有明显的协同作用。体外酶活测定表明丁二酸生产途径中关键酶磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧化酶、苹果酸脱氢酶、富马酸还原酶均受糠醛和5-羟甲基糠醛抑制。研究结果对丁二酸生产用纤维素水解液的预处理和脱毒工艺开发具有指导作用,有利于实现丁二酸发酵生产的工业化。     

C1188D mutation abolishes specific recognition between MLL1-CXXC domain and CpG site by inducing conformational switch of flexible N-terminal

Mixed lineage leukemia protein (MLL1 protein) recognizes the CpG site via its CXXC domain and is frequently associated with leukemia. The specific recognition is abolished by C1188D mutation, which also prevents MLL-related leukemia. In this paper, multiple molecular dynamic (MD) simulations were performed to investigate the mechanism of recognition and influences of C1188D mutation. Started from fully dissociated DNA and MLL1-CXXC domain, remarkably, the center of mass (COM) of MLL1-CXXC domain quickly concentrates on the vicinity of the CpG site in all 53 short MD simulations. Extended simulations of the wild type showed that the native complex formed in 500 ns among 4 of 53 simulations. In contrast, the C1188D mutant COM distributed broadly around the DNA and the native complex was not observed in any of the extended simulations. Simulations on the apo MLL1-CXXC domain further suggest that the wild type protein remained predominantly in an open form that closely resembles its structure in the native complex whereas C1188D mutant formed predominantly compact structures in which the N- terminal bends to D1188. This conformational switch hinders the formation of encounter complex, thus abolishes the recognition. Our study also provides clues to the study mechanism of recognition, by the CXXC domain from proteins like DNA methyltransferase and ten-eleven translocation enzymes.     

A 45‐bp Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism of Uncoupling Protein 2 in Relation to Obesity in Tongans

We compared the current prevalence of increased BMI and type 2 diabetes in a representative group of Tongan subjects with measurements made in 1973, and we determined the distribution and possible interrelations with the UCP2 insertion/deletion (ins/del) polymorphism of these variables. We documented the BMI, glucose tolerance, and standard lipid variables in 1012 Tongan subjects (429 men and 583 women, ages 15 to 85 years) during 1998 and 2000 and compared the BMI findings with those of the 1973 survey. We also genotyped for the UCP2 ins/del polymorphism, assessed its association with obesity and type 2 diabetes, and compared its prevalence with those reported for other ethnic populations. The mean BMI ± SD was greatly increased in both men (30.2 ± 5.4 kg/m²) and women (33.8 ± 6.2 kg/m²), representing increases since 1973 of 11.9% and 19.4%, respectively. The genotype frequencies were 97% for the del/del genotype and 3% for the ins/del genotype; we found no ins/ins homozygotes. This distribution is strikingly different from those reported for white, South Indian, Pima Native‐American, and Asian populations (49 to 77% for del/del genotype). We conclude that there is a marked prevalence of obesity in Tonga, a prevalence that has increased since 1973. We also conclude that there is a unique, near‐uniform distribution of the UCP2 45‐bp ins/del polymorphism in Tongans. This may be the result of a founder effect and may be relevant to the prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes in Tonga.     

高产几丁质酶巴伦葛兹类芽孢杆菌的筛选和发酵条件优化

【目的】鉴定一株来源于中国南海海水样能够分泌多种胞外几丁质酶的类芽孢杆菌CAU904,并优化其产几丁质酶的发酵条件。【方法】采用形态学观察、16S r DNA序列比对及生理生化实验鉴定;通过碳源、氮源、温度、初始p H、表面活性剂种类以及发酵时间的单因素优化实验获得最佳发酵条件。【结果】菌株CAU904被鉴定为巴伦葛兹类芽孢杆菌(Paenibacillus barengoltzii),其最优发酵产酶条件为:0.5%胶体几丁质,0.2%酵母浸提物,0.1%吐温-80,培养基初始p H 7.0,45°C培养72 h。在最优发酵条件下,该菌株最大产酶水平达到8.2 U/m L,比优化前提高了5.4倍。几丁质酶的酶谱分析表明该菌株能够产生多达11种具有几丁质水解活性的同工酶,其中主要酶谱带对应分子量分别为54、47和38 k D。【结论】实验结果为巴伦葛兹类芽孢杆菌几丁质酶的分离纯化和酶的应用提供了基础。