Effects of Prolonged Depolarization on the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors of PC12 Cells

To determine whether prolonged depolarization and/or changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentrations stimulate adaptive responses of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, PC12 pheochromocytoma cells were grown in medium containing various concentrations of K+. Nicotinic receptor function was determined as carbachol-stimulated uptake of 86Rb+. Cells were exposed to 50 mM K+ for up to 4 days and then allowed to repolarize for 60 min. Under these conditions, no changes in basal or carbachol-stimulated uptake of 86Rb+ were observed. Furthermore, neither the time course of carbachol-stimulated uptake or the carbachol concentration dependence of 86Rb+ uptake was altered. Finally, concurrent depolarization did not affect the functional down-regulation produced by chronic exposure of the cells to carbachol. Thus, neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on PC12 cells do not appear to be regulated by depolarization or prolonged elevation of the intracellular Ca2+ level.     

原花青素对小鼠后肢缺血肌肉的作用及miR-133b的表达变化

肢体缺血后的氧化应激反应将导致肌肉损伤,刺激肌卫星细胞（satellite cells,SCs）的成肌分化,从而完成损伤修复,而肌源性miRNAs参与其中。原花青素（proanthocyanidins,PC）来源于植物多酚提取物,具有抗氧化应激的作用。但原花青素对缺血肌肉的作用和机制尚不明确。本文研究原花青素对小鼠后肢缺血肌肉的作用,探讨miR 133b在其中的表达及作用。雄性C57/BL6小鼠经左后肢缺血后随机分为：对照组（H₂O）、低浓度PC（low dose PC,LDPC）组（1 mg/kg）和高浓度PC（high dose PC,HDPC）组（20 mg/kg）。对缺血肢体运动功能评分：7 d时,对照组为1.33±0.14,LDPC组为1.50±0.15,HDPC组为2.08±0.23;14 d时,对照组为2.17±0.31,LDPC组为2.00±0.37,HDPC组为3.83±0.17。说明高浓度PC可促进缺血肢体运动功能恢复（P<0.05）。测定各组的氧化应激产物丙二醛含量,在7 d时：血浆中,对照组为32.85±7.61 nmol/μL,LDPC组为35.90±7.45 nmol/μL,HDPC组为10.46±2.49 nmol/μL;缺血肌肉中,对照组为39.75±7.61 nmol/μg,LDPC组为28.75±7.05 nmol/μg,HDPC组为15.80±3.63 nmol/μg。表明高浓度PC可有效降低后肢缺血小鼠体内氧化应激水平（P<0.05）。HE染色结果显示,高浓度组再生肌纤维比例（7 d,53.88%±8.13%;21 d,39.30%±0.37%）均明显高于（P<0.05）对照组（7 d,10.61%±3.00%;21 d,22.61%±3.16%）和低浓度组（7 d,14.57%±2.94%;21 d,18.74%±4.73%）。RT-qPCR检测缺血肌肉中miR-133b-3p含量,与对照组相比,高浓度组的miR-133b-3p表达上调（3.26倍,P<0.05）。生物信息学分析发现,PPP2CA、PPP2CB和MKP-1可能是miR-133b-3p的靶基因。Western印迹检测发现,与对照组相比,高浓度组PCNA、MyoD和ERK2表达升高,而p-ERK2表达下降（P<0.05）。以上结果说明,高浓度原花青素可降低缺血后的氧化应激反应,促进缺血肌肉再生,而miR-133b-3p和ERK信号通路可能参与其中。     

Evidence that cyclic AMP may regulate Ca2+-mobilization and phospholipases in thrombin-stimulated human platelets

The regulation of human platelet responses by cyclic AMP (cAMP) has been investigated by measuring thrombin-stimulated serotonin release, Ca²⁺ uptake and phospholipase activity. Thrombin-induced 1,2-diacylglycerol (DG) formation as a result of phospholipase C activation was inhibited by pretreatment with dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) in a dose-dependent manner. Subsequent failure to produce phosphatidic acid (PA), which is converted from 1,2-DG by phosphorylation and would serve as intracellular Ca²⁺ ionophore, appeared to parallel the decrease in Ca²⁺ uptake activity. Phospholipase A₂ activity, monitored by the production of [³H]lysophosphatidylcholine and [³H]lysophosphatidylethanolamine, was also suppressed by dbcAMP. These data indicate that the intracellular cAMP level may be closely associated with Ca²⁺ uptake and phospholipases activation. In addition, it is suggested that alteration of intracellular cAMP regulates phospholipase activation and consequently platelet responses, perhaps by controlling available Ca²⁺ content.     

Compartment-Specific Biosensors Reveal a Complementary Subcellular Distribution of Bioactive Furin and PC7

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Common variants of xeroderma pigmentosum genes and prostate cancer risk

The genetic basis of prostate cancer (PC) is complex and appears to involve multiple susceptibility genes. A number of studies have evaluated a possible correlation between several NER gene polymorphisms and PC risk, but most of them evaluated only single SNPs among XP genes and the results remain inconsistent. Out of 94 SNPs located in seven XP genes (XPA–XPG) a total of 15 SNPs were assayed in 720 unselected patients with PC and compared to 1121 healthy adults. An increased risk of disease was associated with the XPD SNP, rs1799793 (Asp312Asn) AG genotype (OR = 2.60; p < 0.001) and with the AA genotype (OR = 531; p < 0.0001) compared to the control population. Haplotype analysis of XPD revealed one protective haplotype and four associated with an increased disease risk, which showed that the A allele (XPD rs1799793) appeared to drive the main effect on promoting prostate cancer risk. Polymorphism in XPD gene appears to be associated with the risk of prostate cancer.     

Scale-down model qualification of ambr® 250 high-throughput mini-bioreactor system for two commercial-scale mAb processes

Recent advances in high-throughput (HTP) automated mini-bioreactor systems have significantly improved development timelines for early-stage biologic programs. Automated platforms such as the ambr® 250 have demonstrated the ability, using appropriate scale-down approaches, to provide reliable estimates of process performance and product quality from bench to pilot scale, but data sets comparing to large-scale commercial processes (>10,000 L) are limited. As development moves toward late stages, specifically process characterization (PC), a qualified scale-down model (SDM) of the commercial process is a regulatory requirement as part of Biologics License Application (BLA)-enabling activities. This work demonstrates the qualification of the ambr® 250 as a representative SDM for two monoclonal antibody (mAb) commercial processes at scales >10,000 L. Representative process performance and product quality associated with each mAb were achieved using appropriate scale-down approaches, and special attention was paid to pCO₂ to ensure consistent performance and product quality. Principal component analysis (PCA) and univariate equivalence testing were utilized in the qualification of the SDM, along with a statistical evaluation of process performance and product-quality attributes for comparability. The ambr® 250 can predict these two commercial-scale processes (at center-point condition) for cell-culture performance and product quality. The time savings and resource advantages to performing PC studies in a small-scale HTP system improves the potential for the biopharmaceutical industry to get products to patients more quickly.     

Preparation of affinity-purified,biotinylated tetanus toxin,and characterization and localization of cell surface binding sites on nerve growth factor-treated PC12 cells

Biotinylated derivatives of tetanus toxin were prepared and isolated by chromatofocusing and ganglioside-affinity chromatography. Biotinylation was monitored by the appearance of a 210,00 dalton complex upon SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of avidin, and by selective binding to an avidin-Sepharose gel. At molar biotin:toxin ratios from 11 to 201 only biotinylated derivatives with low toxicity were obtained; these derivatives, however, retained 60–80% of their specific binding affinity for brain synaptosomes. A biotinylated tetanus toxin derivative purified by ganglioside-affinity chromatography was used to identify and localize tetanus toxin binding sites on PC12 cells. Electron microscopic analysis with streptavidin-gold revealed very low levels of tetanus toxin binding sites on the surface of untreated cells, and the appearance of such binding sites during the second week of nerve growth factor-induced differentiation. Examination of micrographs of the differentiated cells indicated that the tetanus toxin binding sites sites are concentrated on the neurites, with relatively few appearing on the cell bodies. Cognate studies using¹²⁵I-labeled, affinity-purified tetanus toxin revealed an increase in PC12 binding capacity from about 0.07 nmol/mg protein in untreated cells to 0.8 nmoles/mg protein in cells treated for 14 days with nerve growth factor. Cells treated in suspension for 2–3 weeks with nerve growth factor do not express tetanus toxin binding sites; upon plating, these cells required one week for the appearance of binding sites, although neurites grew much more rapidly from these primed cells. The high binding capacity of these tetanus toxin sites, as well as their sensitivity to neuraminidase, is indicative of a polysialoganglioside structure. The advantages of biotinylated tetanus toxin derivatives are discussed and the significance of nerve growth factor-differentiated PC12 cells grown as monolayers as a model for the study of the development, localization, and function of neuraminidase-sensitive tetanus toxin binding sites is presented.Abbreviations PBS phosphate-buffered saline - STS sucrose-Tris-serum solution - NGF nerve growth factor - C collagen - PL polylysine - BBG bovine brain ganglioside mixture - GM₁ gafactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-[N-acetylneuraminyl]-galactosylglucosyl ceramide - GD_1a [N-acetylneuraminyl]-galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-[N-acetylneuraminyl]-galactosylglucosyl ceramide - GT_1a [N-aceylneuraminyl]-galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-[N-acetylneuraminyl]-galactosylglucosyl ceramide - GD_1b galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-[N-acetylneuraminyl-N-acetylneuraminyl]-galactosylglucosyl ceramide - GT_1b [N-acetylneuraminyl]-galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-[N-acetylneuraminyl-N-acetylneuraminyl] galactosylglucosyl ceramide - NANA N-acetylneuraminic acid     

Differential Utilization of the Ethanolamine Moiety of Phosphatidylethanolamine Derived from Serine and Ethanolamine during NGF-Induced Neuritogenesis of PC12 Cells

Neurite elongation involves the expansion of the plasma membrane and phospholipid synthesis. We investigated membrane phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) biosynthesis in PC12 cells during neurite outgrowth induced by nerve growth factor (NGF). When PE was prelabeled with [³H]ethanolamine and the radioactivity was chased by incubation with 1 mM unlabeled ethanolamine, the radioactivity of [³H]PE steadily declined and [³H]ethanolamine was released into the medium in NGF-treated cells during neurite outgrowth; in the absence of unlabeled ethanolamine, the radioactivity of [³H]PE remained relatively constant for at least 24 hr. In undifferentiated cells but not in NGF-treated cells, [³H]phosphoethanolamine accumulated in significant amounts during pulse labeling, and was converted partly to PE but largely released into the medium irrespective of incubation with unlabeled ethanolamine. The decline in the radioactivity of [³H]PE and release of [³H]ethanolamine following incubation with unlabeled ethanolamine were also observed in undifferentiated cells. Thus, the ethanolamine moiety of PE derived from ethanolamine is actively recycled in both differentiated and undifferentiated cells. When PE was derived from [³H]serine through phosphatidylserine (PS) decarboxylation, the decrease in radioactivity of [³H]PE and release of [³H]ethanolamine into the medium following incubation with unlabeled ethanolamine were observed only in NGF-treated cells, but not in undifferentiated cells, indicating that the ethanolamine moiety of PE derived from PS is actively recycled only in the cells undergoing NGF-induced neuritogenesis. Thus, in PC12 cells, the ethanolamine moiety of PE derived from PS is regulated differently from that of PE derived from ethanolamine.     

Cynandione A mitigates ischemic injuries in rats with cerebral ischemia

Cynandione A, an acetophenone from the roots of Cynanchum auriculatum and other species in the genus attenuates neurotoxicity of a variety of neurotoxic agents such as l-glutamate in vitro. In this study, we sought to further characterize the neuroprotective effects of cynandione A and other acetophenones from the roots of C. auriculatum in pheochromocytoma tumor cell line PC12 and investigate whether cynandione A protected against ischemic injuries in rats with experimentally induced cerebral ischemia. Viability assays using the 2-(2-methoxy-4-nitrophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophen-yl)-2H-tetrazolium monosodium salt method and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays showed that cynandione A dose-dependently attenuated glutamate-induced cytotoxicity. Comparative proteomic analysis by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight MS/MS of PC12 cells treated with cynandione A showed 10 μM cynandione A caused broad changes in protein expression in PC12 cells including down-regulation of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and dihydropyrimidinase-like 2 (DPYSL2). Immunoblotting studies showed that 10 μM cynandione A aborted glutamate-induced increase in DPYSL2 and HMGB1 levels in PC12 cells and 30 mg/kg cynandione A also attenuated the rise in HMGB1 levels and mitigated DPYSL2 cleavage in brain tissues of rats with cerebral ischemia. Furthermore, rats with cerebral ischemia treated with 30 mg/kg cynandione A exhibited markedly improved neurological deficit scores at 24 and 72 h compared with control and a 7.2% reduction in cerebral infarction size at 72 h (p < 0.05 vs. control). Our findings demonstrated that cynandione A mitigated ischemic injuries and should be further explored as a neuroprotective agent for ischemic stroke.     

The OSBP-related proteins: a novel protein family involved in vesicle transport,cellular lipid metabolism,and cell signalling

Proteins/genes showing high sequence homology to the mammalian oxysterol binding protein (OSBP) have been identified in a variety of eukaryotic organisms from yeast to man. The unifying feature of the gene products denoted as OSBP-related proteins (ORPs) is the presence of an OSBP-type ligand binding (LB) domain. The LB domains of OSBP and its closest homologue bind oxysterols, while data on certain other family members suggest interaction with phospholipids. Many ORPs also have a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain in the amino-terminal region. The PH domains of the family members studied in detail are known to interact with membrane phosphoinositides and play an important role in the intracellular targeting of the proteins. It is plausible that the ORPs constitute a regulatory apparatus that senses the status of specific lipid ligands in membranes, using the PH and/or LB domains, and mediates information to yet poorly known downstream machineries. Functional studies carried out on the ORP proteins in different organisms indicate roles of the gene family in diverse cellular processes including control of lipid metabolism, regulation of vesicle transport, and cell signalling events.