αCT1 peptide sensitizes glioma cells to temozolomide in a glioblastoma organoid platform

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common form of brain cancer. Even with aggressive treatment, tumor recurrence is almost universal and patient prognosis is poor because many GBM cell subpopulations, especially the mesenchymal and glioma stem cell populations, are resistant to temozolomide (TMZ), the most commonly used chemotherapeutic in GBM. For this reason, there is an urgent need for the development of new therapies that can more effectively treat GBM. Several recent studies have indicated that high expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) in GBM is associated with poor patient outcomes. It has been hypothesized that inhibition of the Cx43 hemichannels could prevent TMZ efflux and sensitize otherwise resistance cells to the treatment. In this study, we use a three-dimensional organoid model of GBM to demonstrate that combinatorial treatment with TMZ and αCT1, a Cx43 mimetic peptide, significantly improves treatment efficacy in certain populations of GBM. Confocal imaging was used to visualize changes in Cx43 expression in response to combinatorial treatment. These results indicate that Cx43 inhibition should be pursued further as an improved treatment for GBM.     

血清SAA、YKL-40及SP-A的联合检测对小儿难治性肺炎支原体肺炎的预测价值分析

摘要 目的：探究血清淀粉样蛋白A（SAA）、几丁质酶样蛋白YKL-40和肺表面活性物质相关蛋白-A（SP-A）表达水平对的联合检测对小儿难治性肺炎支原体肺炎（RMPP）的预测价值。方法：纳入2019年11月至2021年12月期间我院收治的60例MPP患儿作为研究对象,依据病情最终转归将其分为RMPP组和普通肺炎支原体肺炎（GMPP）组,另纳入同期于我院行体格检查的60例健康儿童作为对照组。收集所有受试儿童的临床资料、实验室指标及影像学结果,采用酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）检测血清SAA、YKL-40和SP-A的表达水平,应用受试者工作特征曲线（ROC）判定各指标单项检测和联合检测的预测效能。结果：MPP组患儿和对照组儿童一般资料相比无统计学差异（P＞0.05）。依据病情最终转归,60例MPP患儿中共有23例（38.33 %）进展为RMPP,RMPP组与GMPP组患儿在白介素-6（IL-6）、C-反应蛋白（CRP）、降钙素原（PCT）、D-二聚体（D-D）等实验室指标以及肺不张、胸腔积液等影像学特征方面相比有统计学差异（P＜0.05）。RMPP组和GMPP组血清SAA、YKL-40和SP-A的表达水平显著高于对照组（P＜0.05）,同时RMPP组血清SAA、YKL-40和SP-A的表达水平显著高于GMPP组（P＜0.05）。血清SAA的最佳截断值为39.75 mg/L,预测RMPP发生的ROC曲线下面积为0.894（95%CI：0.861-0.925）,敏感度为78.26 %,特异度为86.67 %;血清YKL-40的最佳截断值为31.85 ng/mL,预测RMPP发生的ROC曲线下面积为0.754（95%CI：0.634-0.873）,敏感度为73.91 %,特异度为67.21 %;血清SP-A的最佳截断值为35.59 ng/mL,预测RMPP发生的ROC曲线下面积为0.761（95%CI：0.640-0.891）,敏感度为73.91 %,特异度为75.00 %;SAA+YKL-40-1+SP-A三者联合检测预测RMPP的AUC为0.914（95%CI：0.871-0.957）,敏感度为91.30 %,特异度为91.66 %。结论：血清SAA、YKL-40和SP-A表达水平的检测可作为预测RMPP发生的重要生物学指标,且三者联合检测的预测效能较高,可为临床尽早诊断RMPP、尽早干预、改善患儿预后提供一定的帮助。     

真核生物DNA复制起始调控

复制起始调控是真核生物复制调控机制的重要环节,也是细胞生长调控的核心问题．对SV40病毒和酵母体系的研究为阐明真核生物的复制起始机制及其与细胞周期的关系提供了线索．目前,与DNA复制起始有关的多种蛋白质因子（如核蛋白P₁,DNA单链结合蛋白,DNA聚合酶α,增殖细胞核抗原等）的作用机理逐渐明朗,周期依赖的调控特点得到了证实文章着重介绍了DNA复制起始在细胞周期中的两个调控点及各种周期蛋白在该点的作用,文中还涉及复制起始异常与肿瘤发生的关系.     

Cyclic AMP induces rapid increases in gap junction permeability and changes in the cellular distribution of connexin43

The rapid effects of cAMP on gap junction-mediated intercellular communication were examined in several cell types which express different levels of the gap junction protein, connexin43 (Cx43), including immortalized rat hepatocyte and granulosa cells, bovine coronary venular endothelial cells, primary rat myometrial and equine uterine epithelial cells. Functional analysis of changes in junctional communication induced by 8-bromo-cAMP was monitored by a fluorescence recovery after photobleaching assay in subconfluent cultures in the presence or absence of 1.0 mm 1-octanol (an agent which uncouples cells by closing gap junction channels). Communicating cells treated with 1.0 mm 8-bromo-cAMP alone exhibited significant increases in the percent of fluorescence recovery which were detected within 1–3 min depending on cell type, and junctional communication remained significantly elevated for up to 24 hr. Addition of 1.0 mm 8-bromo-cAMP to cultured cells, which were uncoupled with 1.0 mm octanol for 1 min, exhibited partial restoration of gap junctional permeability beginning within 3–5 min. Identical treatments were performed on cultures that were subsequently processed for indirect immunofluorescence to monitor Cx43 distribution. The changes in junctional permeability of cells correlated with changes in the distribution of immunoreactive Cx43. Cells treated for 2 hr with 10 m monensin exhibited a reduced communication rate which was accompanied by increased vesicular cytoplasmic Cx43 staining and reduced punctate surface staining of junctional plaques. Addition of 1.0 mm 8-bromo-cAMP to these cultures had no effect on the rate of communication or the distribution of Cx43 compared to cultures treated with monensin alone. These data suggest that an effect of cyclic AMP on Cx43 gap junctions is to promote increases in gap junctional permeability by increasing trafficking and/or assembly of Cx43 to plasma membrane gap junctional plaques.We acknowledge the technical assistance of Richard Lewis and Meghan Abella. We thank Dr. Hugh Dookwah for contributions to the myometrial cell isolation protocol and Drs. Stephen H. Safe, Timothy D. Phillips, and Evelyn Tiffany-Castiglioni for helpful discussions. This work was funded by NIH (HD-26182, P42-ES04917, ES05871-01A1), the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Basic Research grant #1-0796, and USDA 92-37203-7952.     

利用参数模型提取诱发脑电（EP）及其在40Hz EEG和EP间关联研究中的应用

提出一种基于参数模型的信息处理方法,用于诱发脑电的提取,这种方法可以得到单次ＥＰ波形的无偏,最小方差估计,用刺激强度实验验证了该方法在实际情况下的有效,进一步将其应用于刺激前ＥＥＧ与ＥＰ的关联研究,得到了刺激前４０Ｈｚ的ＥＥＧ成分与晚潜伏期听觉诱发脑电幅度有极显著负相关的结果,表明刺激前及状态确定对ＥＰ有影响。     

A genetic component in human lysosomal enzyme excretion

Acid hydrolases are present in normal human urine in appreciable amounts. Their source appears to be lysosomes released by kidney proximal tubule epithelial cells. For a given lysosomal enzyme the total amount excreted is the product of two parameters, a general one describing the rate of lysosome secretion and a specific one describing the relative concentration of that enzyme in lysosomes. There is considerable population variation in both parameters. Studies of -glucuronidase, -galactosidase, -hexosaminidase, and -galactosidase in monozygotic and dizygotic twins show that an appreciable part of this variation is genetic in origin. This appears to be true for both total enzyme excretion and lysosome composition. Although it was not possible to test directly whether this is also true for the rate of lysosome secretion, the fact that the two former parameters are both heritable strongly suggests that the rate of lysosome excretion is also a heritable trait. Taken together with previous data, the results suggest polygenic control of these biochemical traits. It is particularly significant that -glucuronidase excretion in normal individuals is a heritable trait since the excretion of this enzyme has frequently been used as a measure of normal and pathological physiological changes.This study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (GM-19521) and the Council for Tobacco Research—U.S.A., Inc. (1080). The work was done while the authors were in the Department of Molecular Biology, Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, New York 14263.     

Conservation of interphase chromatin nonhistone antigens as components of metaphase chromosomes

The degree of conservation of HeLa interphase chromatin nonhistone antigens among the nonhistones of isolated metaphase chromosomes was determined with immunological procedures. Proteins were separated on SDS-polyacrylamide gels and electrophoretically transferred to diazophenylthioether (DPT)-paper, which was then overlaid with antiserum to chromatin from interphase nuclei. The bound antibodies were detected with 125I-labeled protein A. Alternatively, polyacrylamide gels were directly overlaid with antiserum and with 125I-protein A. Densitometry of autoradiograms and stained gels revealed the degree of conservation of nonhistone antigenic determinants from interphase to metaphase to be over 90% for chromatin.     

Sodium butyrate inhibits the synthesis of the transformation related protein p 53 in 3T6 mouse fibroblasts

Sodium butyrate, which blocks the cell cycle of many cell types in the G1 phase, strongly inhibits the synthesis of the transformation related, 53 kDa protein in 3T6 fibroblasts but much less so in SV 40 transformed mouse cells. By several criteria, this effect of the fatty acid appears to be indirect; p 53 synthesis takes place several hours after the butyrate-sensitive step in G1. The results are discussed in the light of a putative role of p 53 in growth control.     

Distribution of NG, NG-dimethylarginine in nuclear protein fractions

Nuclear proteins have been fractionated into five distinct classes according to their extractability from rat liver nuclei at different pH and salt concentrations. The fractions have been analyzed for their amino acid composition which shows the presence of N^G, N^G-dimethylarginine, in sizable amount, in non-histone nuclear proteins (NHNP). This modification is most prominent in proteins which are found associated with rapidly-labeled heterogeneous RNA (HnRNP proteins).     

Neutral amino acid transport in surface membrane vesicles isolated from mouse fibroblasts: Intrinsic and extrinsic models of regulation

Membrane transport carrier function, its regulation and coupling to metabolism, can be selectively investigated dissociated from metabolism and in the presence of a defined electrochemical ion gradient driving force, using the single internal compartment system provided by vesiculated surface membranes. Vesicles isolated from nontransformed and Simian virus 40-transformed mouse fibroblast cultures catalyzed carrier-mediated transport of several neutral amino acids into an osmotically-sensitive intravesicular space without detectable metabolic conversion of substrate. When a Na⁺ gradient, external Na⁺ > internal Na⁺, was artifically imposed across vesicle membranes, accumulation of several neutral amino acids achieved apparent intravesicular concentrations 6- to 9-fold above their external concentrations. Na⁺-stimulated alanine transport activity accompanied plasma membrane material during subcellular fractionation procedures. Competitive interactions among several neutral amino acids for Na⁺-stimulated transport into vesicles and inactivation studies indicated that at least 3 separate transport systems with specificity properties previously defined for neutral amino acid transport in Ehrlich ascites cells were functional in vesicles from mouse fibroblasts: the A system, the L system and a glycine transport system. The pH profiles and apparent K_m values for alanine and 2-aminoisobutyric acid transport into vesicles were those expected of components of the corresponding cellular uptake system. Several observations indicated that both a Na⁺ chemical concentration gradient and an electrical membrane potential contribute to the total driving force for active amino acid transport via the A system and the glycine system. Both the initial rate and quasi-steady-state of accumulation were stimulated as a function of increasing concentrations of Na⁺ applied as a gradient (external > internal) across the membrane. This stimulation was independent of endogenous Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity in vesicles and was diminished by monensin or by preincubation of vesicles with Na⁺. The apparent K_m for transport of alanine and 2-aminoisobutyric acid was decreased as a function of Na⁺ concentration. Similarly, in the presence of a standard initial Na⁺ gradient, quasi-steady-state alanine accumulation in vesicles increased as a function of increasing magnitudes of interior-negative membrane potential imposed across the membrane by means of K⁺ diffusion potentials (internal > external) in the presence of valinomycin; the magnitude of this electrical component was estimated by the apparent distributions of the freely permeant lipophilic cation triphenylme thylphosphonium ion. Alanine transport stimulation by charge asymmetry required Na⁺ and was blocked by the further addition of either nigericin or external K⁺. As a corollary, Na⁺-stimulated alanine transport was associated with an apparent depolarization, detectable as an increased labeled thiocyanate accumulation. Permeant anions stimulated Na⁺-coupled active transport of these amino acids but did not affect Na⁺-independent transport. Translocation of K⁺, H⁺, or anions did not appear to be directly involved in this transport mechanism. These characteristics support an electrogenic mechanism in which amino acid translocation is coupled t o an electrochemical Na⁺ gradient by formation of a positively charged complex, stoichiometry unspecified, of Na⁺, amino acid, and membrane component. Functional changes expressed in isolated membranes were observed t o accompany a change in cellular proliferative state or viral transformation. Vesicles from Simian virus 40-transformed cells exhibited an increased Vmax of Na⁺-stimulated 2-aminoisobutyric acid transport, as well as an increased capacity for steady-state accumulation of amino acids in response t o a standard Na⁺ gradient, relative t o vesicles from nontransformed cells. Density-inhibition of nontransformed cells was associated with a marked decrease in these parameters assayed in vesicles. Several possibilities for regulatory interactions involving gradient-coupled transport systems are discussed.