Development of an AT<Subscript>2</Subscript>-deficient proximal tubule cell line for transport studies

Angiotensin II is a major regulatory peptide for proximal tubule Na(+) reabsorption acting through two distinct receptor subtypes: AT(1) and AT(2). Physiological or pathological roles of AT(2) have been difficult to unravel because angiotensin II can affect Na(+) transport either directly via AT(2) on luminal or peritubular plasma membranes of proximal tubule cells or indirectly via the renal vasculature. Furthermore, separate systemic and intratubular renin-angiotensin systems impart considerable complexity to angiotensin's regulation. A transport-competent, proximal tubule cell model that lacks AT(2) is a potentially useful tool to assess cellular angiotensin II regulation. To this end, AT(2)-receptor-deficient mice were bred with an Immortomouse, which harbors the thermolabile immortalization gene SV40 large-T antigen (Tag), and AT(2)-receptor-deficient [AT(2) (-/-)], Tag heterozygous [Tag (+/-)] F(2) offspring were selected for cell line generation. S1 proximal tubule segments were microdissected, and epithelial cell outgrowth was expanded in culture. Cells that formed confluent, electrically resistive monolayers were selected for cryopreservation, and one isolate was extensively characterized for conductance (2 mS/cm(2)), short-circuit current (Isc; 0.2 microA/cm(2)), and proximal tubule-specific Na3(+) - succinate (DeltaIsc = 0.8 microA/cm(2) at 2 mM succinate) and Na3(+) - phosphate cotransport (DeltaIsc = 3 microA/cm(2) at 1 mM phosphate). Light microscopy showed a uniform, cobblestone-shaped monolayer with prominent cilia and brush borders. AT(2) receptor functionality, as demonstrated by angiotensin II inhibition of ANF-stimulated cGMP synthesis, was absent in AT(2)-deficient cells but prominent in wild-type cells. This transport competent cell line in conjunction with corresponding wild type and AT(1)-deficient lines should help explain angiotensin II signaling relevant to Na(+) transport.     

Plasticity in metabolic allometry: the role of dietary stoichiometry

Metabolism involves multiple elements. While we know much about the allometry in metabolic response of organisms to energy (carbon, C) availability, little is known about how different-sized organisms respond to the relative availability of elements. I experimentally manipulated availability of phosphorus (P) relative to C, to test whether dietary C : P affects metabolism in four species of Daphnia , spanning an order of magnitude in body mass. Results indicated that the slope of the relationship between individual respiration and body mass was M ^0.83 under a balanced diet (C : P c. 150), and M ^0.67 under an imbalanced diet (C : P c. 800). Increased respiration under dietary imbalance was not due to increased ingestion. The change in the scaling exponent was due to the greater respiratory response of smaller species to altered diets. Diet-induced metabolic plasticity contributes to variation in metabolic allometry, at least at such small scales of body size.     

高原鼠兔血清无机元素含量的分析

测定分析了高原鼠兔血清电解质、无机元素、血清铁和总铁结合力, 并与人和其它实验动物的相应指标进行了比较。得出以下主要结论: 1.高原鼠兔血清电解质浓度不受生活环境和食物条件的影响, 其机体能自身调节血清离子浓度, 以维持电解质在血液中的相对衡定; 2.高原鼠兔血清铁含量与其栖息地海拔相关, 随海拔升高血清铁含量增加; 3.高原鼠兔通过增加运铁蛋白与铁的结合力作为适应高原低氧环境的方式之一。     

象山港大型底栖动物生物多样性现状

2006年7月至2008年8月对象山港13个站位进行了8个航次的大型底栖动物采样调查.研究了该海域大型底栖动物群落的优势种组成, 大型底栖动物的丰度、生物量、次级生产力和P/B值,并采用物种丰富度指数、物种均匀度指数和物种多样性指数分析大型底栖动物物种的多样性.调查共获得大型底栖动物123种,其中软体动物48种,甲壳类33种,鱼类和环节动物多毛类各12种,棘皮动物8种,还包括一些腔肠动物、线虫等.群落中优势种较为集中,且优势度指数较高.该海域大型底栖生物年次级生产力平均值为16.70 ·m^-2·a^-1,平均P/B值为0.60.对物种丰富度指数(d)、均匀度指数( J )、辛普森多样性指数(D)和香农多样性指数(H)进行双因素方差分析表明,不同站位之间4种指数的差异均高度显著(P<0.01),周年之间4种指数的差异除均匀度指数不显著外(P>0.05),均高度显著(P<0.01).     

保护素DX对类风湿关节炎大鼠模型中PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路的影响

摘要 目的：研究保护素DX（PDX）对类风湿关节炎（RA）大鼠模型的治疗作用及机制,及其对PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路的影响。方法：通过皮下注射牛Ⅱ型胶原与弗氏完全佐剂诱导RA大鼠模型,建模后将SD大鼠随机分为4组：对照组（n=12）：正常SD大鼠;RA组（n=12）：RA模型大鼠;低剂量PDX处理组（n=12,L-PDX组）：接受10 μg/kg/d PDX治疗的RA模型大鼠;高剂量PDX处理组（n=12,H-PDX）：接受20 μg/kg/d PDX治疗的RA模型大鼠。各组大鼠治疗4周后,采用ELISA法检测血清中IgA、IgG、IgM、TNF-α、IFN-γ、IL-4和IL-10的水平。通过苏木精伊红（HE）染色评价大鼠踝关节病变。通过免疫组化染色或Western blot检测滑膜组织中PI3K、p-PI3K、AKT、p-AKT、mTOR、p-mTOR、Bcl-2、Bax、LC3-I、LC3-II和Becline-1的表达。结果：与RA组相比,L-PDX组和H-PDX组的关节炎指数（AI）评分均显著降低（P<0.05）,炎性细胞浸润、软骨破坏程度及滑膜上皮细胞增生减轻。与RA组相比,L-PDX组和H-PDX组的血清IgA、IgG和IgM含量均降低（P<0.05）。与RA组相比,L-PDX组和H-PDX组的血清TNF-α和IFN-γ水平均降低,IL-4和IL-10水平均升高（P<0.05）。与RA组相比,L-PDX组和H-PDX组大鼠踝关节滑膜组织中的p-PI3K/PI3K、p-AKT/AKT、p-mTOR/mTOR和Bcl-2的蛋白相对表达量均降低,而Bax、LC3-II/LC3-I和Becline-1的蛋白相对表达量均升高（P<0.05）。结论：本研究表明PDX可有效减轻RA大鼠症状,其机制与调节B淋巴细胞活化和体液免疫、纠正Th1/Th2失衡、抑制PI3K/Akt/mTOR信号通路有关。     

川西亚高山天然次生林不同演替阶段土壤-微生物生物量及其化学计量特征

开展不同恢复演替阶段天然次生林土壤-微生物生物量及其化学计量特征关系的研究,可为有效和持续管理川西亚高山次生林提供科学依据。以川西亚高山米亚罗林区20世纪60、70、80年代3种采伐迹地经自然恢复演替形成的次生林（SF60、SF70和SF80）和岷江冷杉（Abies faxoniana）原始林（PF）为研究对象,探讨了表层（0-20 cm）土壤有机碳（C_soil）、全氮（N_soil）、全磷（P_soil）含量及微生物生物量碳（C_mic）、氮（N_mic）、磷（P_mic）含量随自然恢复演替的变化特征,分析了它们的化学计量比与微生物熵（qMB）之间的相互关系。结果表明：（1）随着恢复演替年限的增加,C_soil和N_mic含量显著降低,N_soil和P_soil及C_mic和P_mic含量呈现先升后降的显著变化趋势,且3种次生林的表层土壤碳、氮、磷及其微生物生物量的含量均低于PF。（2）次生林恢复年限对土壤微生物熵C（qMBC）和P（qMBP）没有显著影响,但对土壤微生物熵N（qMBN）存在显著影响。（3）土壤-微生物化学计量不平衡性C_imb：N_imb随自然恢复演替进程呈先降后升的显著变化趋势,C_imb：P_imb呈不显著的降低趋势,N_imb：P_imb呈现显著降低趋势。冗余分析显示,N_imb：P_imb和C_mic：N_mic是影响qMB变化的主导因子,其中N_imb：P_imb解释了qMB变化的62.6%,说明土壤氮磷及其活性组分（N_mic和P_mic）含量变化可能会影响到qMB变化。综上可知,次生林近60 年的自然恢复演替引起了土壤碳氮磷含量的显著变化;天然次生林土壤-微生物生物量碳氮磷化学计量比主要受到氮磷的协同影响,且SF60土壤质量状况较差,为此,对SF60林分可适当增加氮素供给以促进其林木生长,进而提升土壤质量。     

Sugar-Induced Obesity and Insulin Resistance Are Uncoupled from Shortened Survival in Drosophila

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Analysis of non‐synonymous SNPs of the porcine SERPINA6 gene as potential causal variants for a QTL affecting plasma cortisol levels on SSC7

Recently, the SERPINA6 gene encoding corticosteroid‐binding globulin (CBG) has been proposed as a candidate gene for a quantitative trait locus (QTL) affecting cortisol level on pig chromosome 7. The QTL was repeatedly detected in different lines, including a Piétrain × (German Landrace × German Large White) cross (PiF1) and purebred German Landrace (LR). In this study, we investigated whether the known non‐synonymous polymorphisms c.44G>T, c.622C>T, c.770C>T, c.793G>A, c.832G>A and c.919G>A of SERPINA6 are sufficient to explain the QTL in these two populations. Our investigations revealed that SNPs c.44G>T, c.622C>T, c.793G>A and c.919G>A are associated with cortisol level in PiF1 (P < 0.01). Haplotype analysis showed that these associations are largely attributable to differences between a major haplotype carrying SNPs c.793G>A and c.919G>A and a haplotype carrying SNPs c.44G>T and c.622C>T. Furthermore, some SNPs, particularly c.44G>T and c.622C>T and the carrier haplotype, showed association with meat quality traits including pH and conductivity (P < 0.05). In LR, the non‐synonymous SNPs segregate at very low frequency (<5%) and/or show only weak association with cortisol level (SNPs c.832G>A and c.919G>A; P < 0.05). These findings suggest that the non‐synonymous SNPs are not sufficient to explain the QTL across different breeds. Therefore, we examined whether the expression of SERPINA6 is affected by cis‐regulatory polymorphisms in liver, the major organ for CBG production. We found allelic expression imbalance of SERPINA6, which suggests that its expression is indeed affected by genetic variation in cis‐acting elements. This represents candidate causal variation for future studies of the molecular background of the QTL.     

生理病理状态下线粒体合成ATP动态调控机制

线粒体是细胞的代谢中心之一，不仅产生大量的ATP为细胞提供能量，还参与多种生物分子（例如核酸、氨基酸、胆固醇和脂肪酸）合成及代谢废物的处理。ATP是细胞重要的“能源货币”，是能量载体和信号分子，参与调节细胞的各种生命活动。动物与人在激烈运动时，ATP消耗速率增加数十倍，但细胞内的ATP仍维持在“设定点”水平，不出现降低。因此，传统生理学观点认为，动物细胞内ATP水平保持恒定。但新的研究结果表明，生物细胞内ATP水平存在波动。生理条件下，增加能量物资（糖、脂和氨基酸等）和氧供，促进线粒体ATP合成，可使细胞内ATP水平出现一过性升高。新的研究证明，在肥胖情况下，由于能量物质的过多供应，细胞内ATP水平出现持续性升高,构成代谢紊乱的源头信号。线粒体ATP合成受多种因素影响，如氧化应激、钙超载、缺氧、线粒体膜通透性增加和线粒体DNA突变等。这些因素与疾病条件下细胞内ATP水平持续降低相关，常见的疾病包括阿尔茨海默症、帕金森疾病、精神分裂症、肿瘤、心衰、全身炎症反应综合征等。本综述简要概述线粒体调节细胞内ATP水平的研究进展，重点讨论造成ATP波动的因素、机制及病理生理学意义。