RNA-binding proteins in neurological diseases

Emerging studies support that RNA-binding proteins(RBPs)play critical roles in human biology and pathogenesis.RBPs are essential players in RNA processing and metabolism,including pre-mRNA splicing,polyadenylation,transport,surveillance,mRNA localization,mRNA stability control,translational control and editing of various types of RNAs.Aberrant expression of and mutations in RBP genes affect various steps of RNA processing,altering target gene function.RBPs have been associated with various diseases,including neurological diseases.Here,we mainly focus on selected RNA-binding proteins including Nova-1/Nova-2,HuR/HuB/HuC/HuD,TDP-43,Fus,Rbfox1/Rbfox2,QKI and FMRP,discussing their function and roles in human diseases.     

葡萄糖和肿瘤坏死因子-α对内皮细胞中早期生长反应基因-1表达的影响

目的探讨葡萄糖和肿瘤坏死因子-α对内皮细胞中早期生长反应基因-1表达的影响。方法利用人脐静脉内皮细胞体外培养,予以25mmol/L葡萄糖和/或10ng/ml肿瘤坏死因子-α与内皮细胞共同孵育,运用蛋白免疫印迹方法检测细胞中早期生长反应基因-1蛋白的表达,运用酶联免疫吸附法检测纤溶酶原激活抑制物-1的表达。结果葡萄糖和肿瘤坏死因子-α均可增加早期生长反应基因-1的表达,两种因素共同作用产生协同作用。而且,葡萄糖和肿瘤坏死因子-α也可促进纤溶酶原激活抑制物-1的表达。细胞外调节蛋白激酶1/2的抑制剂(PD98059)可下调肿瘤坏死因子-α所诱导的早期生长反应基因-1、纤溶酶原激活抑制物-1的表达,而对葡萄糖所诱导的早期生长反应基因-1的表达无明显影响。结论肿瘤坏死因子-α可能通过细胞外调节蛋白激酶1/2路径促进早期生长反应基因-1和纤溶酶原激活抑制物-1表达。肿瘤坏死因子-α和葡萄糖可能通过不同的信号通路调节早期生长反应基因-1、纤溶酶原激活抑制物-1表达,在肥胖、糖尿病等代谢紊乱所致的血管并发症的发生中起到重要的作用。     

Circulating exosomal miRNAs in cardiovascular disease pathogenesis: New emerging hopes

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Standard therapies have failed to significantly increase patients’ survival. Moreover, the majority of conventional screening procedures are ineffective for the diagnosis of CVDs at early stages. Accumulating evidence suggests that numerous cell types release a class of nano-sized vesicles named exosomes into the extracellular space. Exosomes are widely distributed in various body fluids and contain a number of diverse biomolecules such as proteins, lipids, and both mRNA and noncoding RNAs which reflect host-cell molecular architecture. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which can be found in exosomes, could be taken up by both neighboring and distal cells. Not only has recent evidence indicated the regulatory role of exosomal miRNAs in the pathogenesis of CVD, but it has also been shown that differential expression of exosomal miRNAs in CVDs has made them promising biomarkers for early detection of CVDs. Owing to these remarkable features, exosomal miRNAs have emerged as hot spots in research. This review summarizes the role of exosomal miRNAs in the pathogenesis of CVDs and discusses their potential application in the clinical setting as both therapeutic and diagnostic tools.     

基于组合药物网络的疾病关联性分析

组合药物在复杂疾病的治疗中形成了多靶点,多环节上的密切联系,对疾病的治疗效果也可达到单种药物治疗意想不到的效果。组合药物中各单药功能各异但联用后治疗效果更佳,说明所对应疾病之间可能存在某种关系。通过研究疾病间关联关系,可能会发现治疗某种疾病的新靶标,从而在新药的研发中取得新的进展。本文以DCDB(组合药物数据库)中的药物组合为数据源构建组合药物网络,并通过网络聚类算法得到了33个独立且内部联系紧密的药物模块。其中7组药物模块所包含的组合药物用于治疗两种或两种以上疾病,说明这些疾病之间存在一定的关联关系。对这些关系进行论证,结果表明,组合药物网络是发现疾病关联关系的一种有效手段。     

National differences in screening programmes for cardiovascular risks could obstruct understanding of cardiovascular prevention studies in Europe

Introduction

In North-West Europe, cardiovascular disease is still a major cause of death and despite several efforts (e.g. European guidelines and conferences) cardiovascular risk factors are still inconsistently diagnosed and treated.

Methods

We evaluated the first consultations of patients in two cardiovascular referral clinics in France and the Netherlands, while evaluating the differences in national guidelines and between the profiles of patients at their first consultation.

Results

Notable differences exist between the two locally used guidelines in their programmes of cardiovascular risk assessment and their definition of LDL-cholesterol target levels. With regard to the LDL-cholesterol levels, more patients are ‘on target’ when using the French guideline than when using the Dutch guideline. Evaluation of the patient’s profile at first presentation showed that the LDL-cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the Dutch patients (n = 77) compared with the French patients (n = 119). Dutch patients used significantly more statins than French patients.

Conclusion

Despite the small study population included in this study, we found that comparison of daily care (as part of a primary prevention programme) is rather difficult due to several national differences in the approach to patients. All these factors combined should be taken into account, when discussing and extrapolating results obtained from analysis of cardiovascular prevention programmes.     

Immune responses to protozoan parasites and its relevance to diagnosis in immunocompromised patients

The parasitology includes different parasites, of which some are very severe, which have a development in the blood, inside the cells and visible after coloration (Plasmodium, Babesia, Leishmania, Toxoplasma) or mobiles, outside the cells (Trypanosoma, microfilariae). The diagnosis of these parasites is the first aim of the biological technics. Direct diagnosis, under the microscope, allows to identifie the parasite, its stage of development, and the parasitaemia, which is essential to the prognosis and the therapeutic outcome.The technics include the direct examination to identify the extra cellular parasites, which are mobile among the blood red cells, or thin and thick smear, after coloration. It is often useful to use other technics, such as filtration, culture or animal inoculation. Recently, the molecular biology increased the sensitivity and the specificity of classical methods. Such progress, available by some laboratories, must be adapted to the methods of emergency and low cost diagnosis. In some cases of pauciparasitism or retrospective diagnosis, serological methods are useful to detect the trail of parasites by circulating antigens or antibodies.

Synthesis and biological analysis of benzazol-2-yl piperazine sulfonamides as 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 inhibitors

In the last decade the inhibition of the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1) emerged as a promising new strategy to treat diabetes and several metabolic syndrome phenotypes. Using a molecular modeling approach and classical bioisosteric studies, we discovered a new class of 11β-HSD1 inhibitors bearing an arylsulfonylpiperazine scaffold. Optimization of the initial lead resulted in compound 11 that selectively inhibits 11β-HSD1 (IC₅₀ = 0.7 μM).     

A BK (Slo1) channel journey from molecule to physiology

Calcium and voltage-activated potassium (BK) channels are key actors in cell physiology, both in neuronal and non-neuronal cells and tissues. Through negative feedback between intracellular Ca²⁺ and membrane voltage, BK channels provide a damping mechanism for excitatory signals. Molecular modulation of these channels by alternative splicing, auxiliary subunits and post-translational modifications showed that these channels are subjected to many mechanisms that add diversity to the BK channel α subunit gene. This complexity of interactions modulates BK channel gating, modifying the energetic barrier of voltage sensor domain activation and channel opening. Regions for voltage as well as Ca²⁺ sensitivity have been identified, and the crystal structure generated by the 2 RCK domains contained in the C-terminal of the channel has been described. The linkage of these channels to many intracellular metabolites and pathways, as well as their modulation by extracellular natural agents, has been found to be relevant in many physiological processes. This review includes the hallmarks of BK channel biophysics and its physiological impact on specific cells and tissues, highlighting its relationship with auxiliary subunit expression.     

Cellular models for disease exploring and drug screening

The biopharmaceutical industry has been greatly promoted by the application of drug and disease models, including both animal and cellular models. In particular, the emergence of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) makes it possible to create a large number of disease-specific cells in vitro. This review introduces the most widely applied models and their specialties.