Prolactin induces MFG-E8 production in macrophages via transcription factor C/EBPβ-dependent pathway

The lactogenic hormone prolactin (PRL) regulates milk protein gene expression in mammary glands. To maintain homeostatic balance in the body, milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8) is vital for phagocytic clearance of apoptotic cells. We investigated the effects of PRL on MFG-E8 expression in macrophages by evaluating its promoter function. Macrophages were stimulated with PRL, and the expression of MFG-E8 was determined using real-time PCR and Western blotting. The role of MFG-E8 on phagocytosis of apoptotic cells in PRL-treated macrophages was assessed using microscopy, while the response of PRL to MFG-E8 expression was evaluated using luciferase assay. Following treatment with PRL, significant up-regulations of the PRL receptor and MFG-E8 were observed in macrophages, though PRL-treated macrophages more efficiently engulfed apoptotic cells. The results of MFG-E8 promoter analysis showed considerable up-regulation of promoter activity in macrophages following PRL treatment and results from mutation analysis of the MFG-E8 promoter suggested that the C/EBPβ binding site was responsible for PRL-induced activation of the MFG-E8 promoter. C/EBPβ activity was found to be up-regulated in PRL-treated cells as revealed by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). In conclusion, PRL is a potent inducer of MFG-E8 expression in macrophages, while its effect is mediated by the presence of a responsive element in the MFG-E8 promoter.     

NEDD8 acts as a 'molecular switch' defining the functional selectivity of VHL

The von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumour suppressor protein is important in the E3 ubiquitin ligase ECV (Elongin B/C-CUL2-VHL)-mediated destruction of hypoxia-inducible factor and the promotion of fibronectin (FN) extracellular matrix assembly. Although the precise molecular mechanism controlling the selectivity of VHL function remains unknown, a failure in either process is associated with oncogenic progression. Here, we show that VHL performs its FN-associated function independently of the ECV complex, highlighting the autonomy of these pathways. Furthermore, we show that NEDD8, a ubiquitin-like molecule, acts as a 'molecular switch' in which its covalent conjugation to VHL prohibits the engagement of the scaffold component CUL2 and, concomitantly, activates the association with FN. These findings provide the first mechanistic step in defining the functional selectivity of VHL and explain a previously unrecognized function of NEDD8.     

Cre recombinase activity specific to postnatal, premeiotic male germ cells in transgenic mice

We have generated a transgenic mouse line,Tg(Stra8-cre)1Reb (Stra8-cre), which expresses improved Cre recombinase under the control of a 1.4 Kb promoter region of the germ cell-specific stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (Stra8). cre is expressed only in males beginning at postnatal day (P)3 in early-stage spermatogonia and is detected through preleptotene-stage spermatocytes. To further define when cre becomes active, we crossed Stra8-cre males with Tg(ACTB-Bgeo/GFP)21Lbe (Z/EG) reporter females and compared the expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) with the protein encoded by the zinc finger and BTB domain containing 16 (Zbtb16) gene, PLZF-a marker for undifferentiated spermatogonia. Co-expression of EGFP is observed in the majority of PLZF+ cells. We also tested recombination efficiency by mating Stra8-cre;Z/EG males and females with wild-type mice and examining EGFP expression in the offspring. Recombination is detected in >95% of Z/EG+ pups born to Stra8-cre;Z/EG fathers but in none of the offspring born to transgenic mothers, a verification that cre is not functional in females. The postnatal, premeiotic, male germ cell-specific activity of Stra8-cre makes this mouse line a unique resource to study testicular germ cell development.     

逆转录病毒载体介导的RNA干扰稳定抑制肌肉生长抑制素GDF-8的表达

为将肌肉生长抑制素的干扰序列表达盒hU6-siGDF-8有效导入肌成纤维细胞C2C12中, 以pAV-hU6 + 27载体为基础构建逆转录病毒载体pXSN-hU6-siGDF-8, 并使之与pVSV-G质粒共转染GP-293细胞, 用包装出的病毒粒子感染宿主细胞C2C12, G418筛选稳定整合逆转录病毒的抗性细胞库。2周后, Western Blotting和Real-Time PCR分析结果显示, 细胞内源性的GDF-8基因的表达得到了有效的抑制; MTT法和细胞流式仪分析表明, G418抗性细胞得到了更有效的增殖, 并且G0/G1期细胞数量减少了13.7%, S期细胞数量增加了14.9%。因此, 逆转录病毒载体的RNA干扰系统可以稳定抑制 GDF-8基因表达, 它将成为治疗肌肉萎缩疾病的一个强有力的工具。     

脱硫工程菌的构建及其脱硫性能分析

以专一性脱硫菌德氏假单胞菌Pseudomonas delafieldii R-8为出发菌株, 利用pPR9TT穿梭质粒构建脱硫操纵子表达载体, 转化原始菌培养得到1株多拷贝脱硫基因的脱硫工程菌R-8-1, 并对其脱硫性能进行了研究。结果表明, 在同样的生物催化脱硫反应条件下, 工程菌的脱硫活性达到6.25 mmol DBT/g dry cell/h, 是原始菌的2倍; 柴油的脱硫试验表明, 在12 h内工程菌静息细胞能将柴油硫含量从310.8 mg/L降至100.1 mg/ L, 脱硫率达到68%, 而原始菌为53%。进一步比较了重组质粒pPR-dsz在工程菌株中传代的稳定性, 试验表明pPR-dsz在工程菌株R-8-1中具有良好的遗传稳定性。此研究为生物脱硫提供了1株优良的工程菌株, 并为该技术的应用提供了参考。     

晚期糖基化终产物通过其受体促进内皮细胞分泌IL-8的研究

探讨晚期糖基化终产物(AGE)修饰蛋白对内皮细胞生成白介素8(IL-8)的作用,及晚期糖基化终产物受体(RAGE)在此病理过程中的作用.内皮细胞来自培养的人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVEC).将内皮细胞与不同浓度的AGE修饰人血清白蛋白(AGE-HSA)在体外共同培养,或以可溶性晚期糖基化终产物受体(sRAGE)对AGE-HSA进行预处理后再与HUVEC共同培养.用蛋白质液相芯片法检测HUVEC培养上清中IL-8水平,并提取细胞RNA,进行RT-PCR反应,检测细胞中IL-8 mRNA的表达水平.结果表明,AGE-HSA以时间和剂量依赖的方式刺激HUVEC生成IL-8,未经修饰的HSA无此作用.AGE-HSA用sRAGE预处理后,刺激HUVEC生成IL-8的作用被抑制,并且此抑制作用呈剂量依赖的方式.AGE-HSA刺激HUVEC使IL-8 mRNA表达增高,未经修饰的HSA无此作用.sRAGE能够阻断AGE-HSA诱导HUVEC表达IL-8mRNA的作用.整个变化趋势与蛋白质水平一致.研究首次证实,AGE-HSA与细胞表面受体RAGE相互作用可刺激内皮细胞分泌IL-8,并上调IL-8 mRNA的表达.这为研究加速型血管病变的发病机制提供了新视角,也为治疗由AGE增多和潴留所引起的病理损害提供了新靶点.     

Inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase 8 and dipeptidyl peptidase 9. Part 2: isoindoline containing inhibitors

To obtain selective and potent inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidases 8 and 9, we synthesized a series of substituted isoindolines as modified analogs of allo-Ile-isoindoline, the reference DPP8/9 inhibitor. The influence of phenyl substituents and different P2 residues on the inhibitors’ affinity toward other DPPs and more specifically, their potential to discriminate between DPP8 and DPP9 will be discussed. Within this series compound 8j was shown to be a potent and selective inhibitor of DPP8/9 with low activity toward DPP II.