异源反应性NK细胞对骨髓移植小鼠脾脏Th1/Th2细胞亚群的影响

目的:观察异源反应性自然杀伤细胞(NK细胞)对骨髓移植小鼠脾脏辅助性T细胞Th1/Th2亚群的影响。方法:以BALB/c和CB6F1小鼠为受体,在γ射线照射后通过尾静脉输入C57BL/6J小鼠的骨髓细胞和脾脏单个核细胞,建立移植物抗宿主病模型;然后输入供体的NK细胞,检测受体小鼠脾脏中Th1/Th2淋巴细胞亚群和外周血中γ干扰素(IFN-γ)、白细胞介素10(IL-10)的变化。结果:与单纯输入骨髓细胞和单个核细胞组小鼠相比,输入异源反应性NK细胞后,BALB/c和CB6F1小鼠脾脏中Th1细胞比例均下降,Th2细胞比例均上升,CB6F1小鼠脾脏中Th2虽有升高但没有统计学意义;外周血中IL-10水平显著升高,IFN-γ的水平显著下降。结论:异源反应性NK细胞可能通过降低脾脏中Th1细胞亚群比例和升高Th2细胞亚群比例减轻移植物抗宿主病。     

Mouse macrophage specific knockout of SIRT1 influences macrophage polarization and promotes angiotensin Ⅱ-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm formation

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a vascular degenerative disease. Macrophage polarization and the balance between classically activated macrophages (M1) and alternatively activated macrophages (M2) are crucial for AAA pathogenesis. The present study aims to investigate the roles of macrophage SIRT1 in AAA formation and macrophage polarization. We found that in mouse peritoneal macrophages, SIRT1 expression was decreased after M1 stimulation, but was enhanced after M2 stimulation. Results from SIRT1^flox/flox mice and macrophage specific SIRT1 knockout mice with treatment of angiotensin II (Ang II) for 4 weeks showed that macrophage specific deficiency of SIRT1 increased the incidence of AAA and exacerbated the severity, including more severe aneurysm types, enlarged diameter of the aneurysm and increased degradation of elastin. In mouse aortas, SIRT1 deficiency increased the pro-inflammatory M1 molecule inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and decreased M2 molecules such as arginase 1 (Arg1) and mannose receptor (MR). Furthermore, in peritoneal macrophages, SIRT1 deficiency increased the expression of M1 inflammatory molecules, but decreased the expression of M2 molecules. Overexpression of SIRT1 had the opposite effects. Thus, macrophage specific knockout of SIRT1 influences macrophage polarization and accelerates Ang II-induced AAA formation.     

A rapid, homogeneous, fluorescence polarization binding assay for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors alpha and gamma using a fluorescein-tagged dual PPARalpha/gamma activator

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and other members of the nuclear hormone receptor family are important drug targets for the treatment of metabolic diseases. PPARalpha and PPARgamma play crucial roles in lipid and glucose metabolism, respectively. Therefore, screening methods that help to rapidly identify activators of these receptors should be of considerable value. A homogeneous fluorescence polarization (FP) ligand binding assay capable of rapidly identifying ligands that bind to both PPARalpha and PPARgamma has been developed using purified PPARalpha or PPARgamma ligand binding domains and a fluorescein-labeled analog (FLA) of a potent dual PPARalpha/gamma activator. FLA activator showed good binding affinity toward both PPARalpha (K(i)=0.7microM) and PPARgamma (K(i)=0.4microM). The binding of FLA activator was rapid and reached a plateau within 10 min. The resulting FP signal was stable for at least 18h. The FP binding assay performed robustly in a 384-well format, and the average Z' value was 0.77. There was a good correlation between the binding potency (IC(50) values) and rank order of binding potency for a panel of standard PPAR ligands obtained in FP binding assay and scintillation proximity assay or gel filtration binding assays using (3)H-labeled PPARalpha (r(2)=0.99) and PPARgamma (r(2)=0.99) ligands. There was also a good correlation of IC(50) values obtained by FP binding assay and scintillation proximity assay for the clinically used PPAR activators. Thus, the FP binding assay with a single fluorescein-labeled PPARalpha/gamma dual activator offers a homogeneous nonradioactive, sensitive, robust, and less expensive high-throughput assay for detecting compounds that bind to both PPARgamma and PPARalpha. Using this FP binding assay, we have identified a large number of PPARalpha/gamma dual activators. A similar assay platform may be easily adapted to other members of the nuclear hormone receptor family.     

Hepatic stellate cell lipid droplets: A specialized lipid droplet for retinoid storage

The majority of retinoid (vitamin A and its metabolites) present in the body of a healthy vertebrate is contained within lipid droplets present in the cytoplasm of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Two types of lipid droplets have been identified through histological analysis of HSCs within the liver: smaller droplets bounded by a unit membrane and larger membrane-free droplets. Dietary retinoid intake but not triglyceride intake markedly influences the number and size of HSC lipid droplets. The lipids present in rat HSC lipid droplets include retinyl ester, triglyceride, cholesteryl ester, cholesterol, phospholipids and free fatty acids. Retinyl ester and triglyceride are present at similar concentrations, and together these two classes of lipid account for approximately three-quarters of the total lipid in HSC lipid droplets. Both adipocyte-differentiation related protein and TIP47 have been identified by immunohistochemical analysis to be present in HSC lipid droplets. Lecithin:retinol acyltransferase (LRAT), an enzyme responsible for all retinyl ester synthesis within the liver, is required for HSC lipid droplet formation, since Lrat-deficient mice completely lack HSC lipid droplets. When HSCs become activated in response to hepatic injury, the lipid droplets and their retinoid contents are rapidly lost. Although loss of HSC lipid droplets is a hallmark of developing liver disease, it is not known whether this contributes to disease development or occurs simply as a consequence of disease progression. Collectively, the available information suggests that HSC lipid droplets are specialized organelles for hepatic retinoid storage and that loss of HSC lipid droplets may contribute to the development of hepatic disease.     

An HP1 isoform-specific feedback mechanism regulates Suv39h1 activity under stress conditions

The presence of H3K9me3 and heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) are hallmarks of heterochromatin conserved in eukaryotes. The spreading and maintenance of H3K9me3 is effected by the functional interplay between the H3K9me3-specific histone methyltransferase Suv39h1 and HP1. This interplay is complex in mammals because the three HP1 isoforms, HP1α, β, and γ, are thought to play a redundant role in Suv39h1-dependent deposition of H3K9me3 in pericentric heterochromatin (PCH). Here, we demonstrate that despite this redundancy, HP1α and, to a lesser extent, HP1γ have a closer functional link to Suv39h1, compared to HP1β. HP1α and γ preferentially interact in vivo with Suv39h1, regulate its dynamics in heterochromatin, and increase Suv39h1 protein stability through an inhibition of MDM2-dependent Suv39h1-K87 polyubiquitination. The reverse is also observed, where Suv39h1 increases HP1α stability compared HP1β and γ. The interplay between Suv39h1 and HP1 isoforms appears to be relevant under genotoxic stress. Specifically, loss of HP1α and γ isoforms inhibits the upregulation of Suv39h1 and H3K9me3 that is observed under stress conditions. Reciprocally, Suv39h1 deficiency abrogates stress-dependent upregulation of HP1α and γ, and enhances HP1β levels. Our work defines a specific role for HP1 isoforms in regulating Suv39h1 function under stress via a feedback mechanism that likely regulates heterochromatin formation.     

牛γ-干扰素在大肠杆菌中的表达及抗原性鉴定

目的在大肠杆菌中高效表达牛γ-干扰素（bovine interferon-γ,BovIFN-γ）,并对其生物活性进行初步鉴定。方法依据GenBank上基因序列人工合成BovIFN-γ基因,PCR方法扩增该基因,将其插入PET-28a载体构建原核表达质粒,转化大肠杆菌BL21中,在IPTG诱导下表达BovIFN-γ,并进行Western blot鉴定。Ni-NTA亲和层析法和电洗脱方法纯化表达的重组蛋白,用Western blot和商品化的BovIFN-γ检测试剂盒进行重组蛋白的抗原性检测。结果成功构建了BovIFN-γ原核表达载体PET-28a-BIFN-γ,并在大肠杆菌中高效表达,表达蛋白约占菌体总蛋白的32%,表达产物主要以可溶性形式存在于菌体裂解液上清中;重组蛋白可与BovIFN-γ单克隆抗体反应,Ni-NTA亲和层析法纯化的重组蛋白抗原活性比电洗脱方法纯化的抗原活性高。结论在大肠杆菌中成功表达了可溶性的BovIFN-γ蛋白,可与BovIFN-γ单抗发生反应,纯化的重组蛋白具有良好的反应原性。     

人参皂甙Rd抑制大鼠局灶性脑缺血后趋化因子CXCL1和γ-干扰素的蛋白表达

目的：研究人参皂甙Rd（Ginsenoside-Rd,GS-Rd）在大鼠局灶性脑缺血后对炎症趋化因子CXCL1和γ-干扰素（Interferon-γ,IFN-γ）的影响。方法：将SD大鼠随机分为5组：正常组（n=5）,假手术组（n=5）,GS-Rd对照组（n=5）,大脑中动脉栓塞模型（MCAO）组（n=20）,MCAO＋GS-Rd组（n=20）。正常组不做任何处理;假手术组进行大脑中动脉栓塞手术,但不插入栓线;GS-Rd对照组给予腹腔注射10 mg/Kg GS-Rd,不进行手术;MCAO组（n=20）和MCAO＋GS-Rd组（n=20）进行大脑中动脉栓塞手术,术后2小时拔出栓线,MCAO＋GS-Rd组在术前15分钟腹腔注射10 mg/Kg GS-Rd。在12小时、1天、3天、7天四个时间点分别提取脑组织蛋白,通过液相芯片技术检测CXCL1,IFN-γ含量。结果：正常组,假手术组和GS-Rd对照组组间CXCL1,IFN-γ含量无统计学差异;与三个对照组相比,MCAO组和MCAO＋GS-Rd组中CXCL1,IFN-γ蛋白含量均有明显增加（P〈0.05）;而与MCAO组相比,MCAO＋GS-Rd组CXCL1,IFN-γ的生成明显减少（P〈0.05）。结论：10 mg/Kg GS-Rd预处理可有效抑制大鼠短暂性脑缺血后CXCL1,IFN-γ的生成;通过抑制炎症反应,GS-Rd可能在神经保护中发挥重要的作用。