Relationship Between β-Amyloid and Mitochondrial Dynamics

Mitochondria as dynamic organelles undergo morphological changes through the processes of fission and fusion which are major factors regulating their functions. A disruption in the balance of mitochondrial dynamics induces functional disorders in mitochondria such as failed energy production and the generation of reactive oxygen species, which are closely related to pathophysiological changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recent studies have demonstrated a relationship between abnormalities in mitochondrial dynamics and impaired mitochondrial function, clarifying the effects of morphofunctional aberrations which promote neuronal cell death in AD. Several possible signaling pathways have been suggested for a better understanding of the mechanism behind the key molecules regulating mitochondrial morphologies. However, the exact machinery involved in mitochondrial dynamics still has yet to be elucidated. This paper reviews the current knowledge on signaling mechanisms involved in mitochondrial dynamics and the significance of mitochondrial dynamics in controlling associated functions in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in AD.     

ITE and TCDD Differentially Regulate the Vascular Remodeling of Rat Placenta via the Activation of AhR

Vascular remodeling in the placenta is essential for normal fetal development. The previous studies have demonstrated that in utero exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, an environmental toxicant) induces the intrauterine fetal death in many species via the activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). In the current study, we compared the effects of 2-(1′H-indole-3′-carbonyl)-thiazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester (ITE) and TCDD on the vascular remodeling of rat placentas. Pregnant rats on gestational day (GD) 15 were randomly assigned into 5 groups, and were exposed to a single dose of 1.6 and 8.0 mg/kg body weight (bw) ITE, 1.6 and 8.0 µg/kg bw TCDD, or an equivalent volume of the vehicle, respectively. The dams were sacrificed on GD20 and the placental tissues were gathered. The intrauterine fetal death was observed only in 8.0 µg/kg bw TCDD-exposed group and no significant difference was seen in either the placental weight or the fetal weight among all these groups. The immunohistochemical and histological analyses revealed that as compared with the vehicle-control, TCDD, but not ITE, suppressed the placental vascular remodeling, including reduced the ratio of the placental labyrinth zone to the basal zone thickness (at least 0.71 fold of control), inhibited the maternal sinusoids dilation and thickened the trophoblastic septa. However, no marked difference was observed in the density of fetal capillaries in the labyrinth zone among these groups, although significant differences were detected in the expression of angiogenic growth factors between ITE and TCDD-exposed groups, especially Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), Endoglin, Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and placenta growth factor (PIGF). These results suggest ITE and TCDD differentially regulate the vascular remodeling of rat placentas, as well as the expression of angiogenic factors and their receptors, which in turn may alter the blood flow in the late gestation and partially resulted in intrauterine fetal death.     

我国首次发现的HIV-1和HIV-2双重感染样品中病毒部分基因的序列特征分析

上海市卫生检疫局送检了一例HIV - 1和HIV - 2抗体检测均呈阳性的双重感染样品 ,对其感染的HIV前病毒的 gag和env基因区进行了序列分析 ,首次阐明我国发现的HIV双重感染样品的HIV部分基因特征。从HIV感染者淋巴细胞 (peripheralbloodmononuclearcells,PBMC)中提取前病毒DNA ,分别使用HIV 1和HIV 2特异性引物用套式PCR扩增HIV 1和HIV 2的部分基因区。PCR产物不经克隆直接测序 ,经GenBank检索并使用GCG软件包进行序列分析。结果表明 ,其中感染的HIV 2毒株中gag基因区与德国株HI2PEI2KR相似 ,基因离散率仅为8 1% ,env基因C2 -V3区与来自几内亚比绍的HIV 2U0 5 35 8株最近 ,离散率为 13 0 4% ,在其 gp36区发现与HIV 2U0 5 35 8基因离散率为 10 6 3% ,两个毒株均属HIV 2中的A亚型。而其HIV 1型毒株在 gag和env区都与从尼日利亚分离的H92NG0 83株相似 ,属HIV 1的G亚型。本文首次对我国发现的HIV 2型毒株进行了主要基因区的序列分析 ,表明在非洲较常见的HIV 2A亚型和HIV 1G亚型毒株 ,已随援外劳工传入我国。     

容积调控氯通道的研究进展

细胞在低渗环境中出现渗透性膨胀 ,随后细胞内的溶质及水分外流 ,使已膨胀的细胞容积向正常容积转化 ,此过程称为调节性细胞容积减小 (RVD) ,它是哺乳动物细胞普遍存在的现象。容积调控氯通道 (VRAC)在这个过程中起重要作用 ,不仅如此 ,最近研究发现VRAC参与了细胞增殖、分化和凋亡过程。本文主要综述了VRAC的生物学特点和生理功能等方面的研究进展     

人胃粘膜G、D细胞与肠化生关系的研究

用免疫细胞化学和原位杂交技术探讨G、D细胞及胃泌素mRNA与肠化生的关系。标本来自胃镜活检的胃粘膜。结果显示,在与大肠化生区相邻的胃粘膜,G细胞突变消失,假幽门腺化生也缺乏G细胞,而淖肠化生仍保留少数G细胞;D细胞不仅见于小肠化生,而且也出现在假幽门腺化生以及某些大肠化生区。胃泌素mRNA仅限于G细胞分布区,未出现在大肠化生区和假幽门腺化生区,G细胞及胃泌素mRNA在大肠化生区的消失,可能由于局部杯状细胞分泌的硫酸粘蛋白改变了局部的微环境,从而影响了G细胞的分化与发育,至于假幽门腺化生区G细胞及胃泌素mRNA消失的原因还不清楚,应继续研究。     

聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳的快速脱色方法

以牛血清白蛋白为材料进行聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(PAGE)和十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE),凝胶固定后,用考马斯亮蓝R-250染色后比较传统脱色液(冰乙酸-甲醇溶液)和不同盐溶液(NACL、KCL、CUCL2)的脱色效果的结果表明:PAGE和SDS-PAGE胶,0.25和0.5MOL·L-1NACL,在70℃(PAGE)、50℃(SDS-PAGE)下脱色,约2￣4H,效果好,灵敏度高,背景低。     

Antigenicity and immunogenicity of SARS-CoV S protein receptor-binding domain stably expressed in CHO cells

The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) spike (S) protein contains multiple conformation-dependent epitopes that induce neutralizing antibody responses. Here we used CHO-K1 cells to establish a cell line for stable expression of a 193-mer (residues 318-510) RBD (RBD193-CHO) and determined its antigenicity and immunogenicity. We found that RBD193-CHO reacted strongly with a panel of six monoclonal antibodies recognizing various conformational and linear epitopes in RBD, suggesting that this recombinant protein maintains intact conformation and good antigenicity. Immunization of mice with RBD193-CHO resulted in induction of high titers of RBD-specific neutralizing antibodies and potent IL-4-expressing T cell responses. RBD193-CHO induced immunity that protected a majority of the vaccinated mice from SARS-CoV challenge. These results suggest that the recombinant RBD produced in an established stable cell line maintains strong immunogenicity with high potential for use as an effective and economic subunit SARS vaccine.     

碳源对固定化细胞生产柠檬酸的影响

柠檬酸是利用微生物代谢生产的一种极为重要的有机酸．广泛应用于食品、饮料、化工、冶金、印染等各个领域。在国外,近10年来,利用固定化细胞生产柠檬酸已获得较广泛的研究^〔1－6〕,国内也有学者指出,柠檬酸发酵的趋向是利用固定化细胞进行连续化生产⑺。而国内这方面的研究报道很少〔8,9〕。我们利用海藻酸钙凝胶包埋固定化黑曲霉细胞生产柠檬酸．探讨了碳源种类及其浓度对固定化细胞生产柠檬酸的影响。现将结果报道如下。