Promotion of β-amyloid production by C-reactive protein and its implications in the early pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease

C-reactive protein (CRP) and β-amyloid protein (Aβ) are involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the relationship between CRP and Aβ production is unclear. In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to investigate the association of CRP with Aβ production. Using the rat adrenal pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12 cells) to mimic neurons, cytotoxicity was evaluated by cell viability and supernatant lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. The levels of amyloid precursor protein (APP), beta-site APP cleaving enzyme (BACE-1), and presenilins (PS-1 and PS-2) were investigated using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting analysis. Aβ1-42 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relevance of CRP and Aβ as well as potential mechanisms were studied using APP/PS1 transgenic (Tg) mice. Treatment with 0.5-4.0 μM CRP for 48 h decreased cell viability and increased LDH leakage in PC12 cells. Incubation with CRP at a sub-toxic concentration of 0.2 μM increased the mRNA levels of APP, BACE-1, PS-1, and PS-2, as well as Aβ1-42 production. CRP inhibitor reversed the CRP-induced upregulations of the mRNA levels of APP, BACE-1, PS-1, and PS-2, and the protein levels of APP, BACE-1, PS-1, and Aβ1-42, but did not reversed Aβ1-42 cytotoxicity. The cerebral levels of CRP and Aβ1-42 in APP/PS1 Tg mice were positively correlated, accompanied with the elevated mRNA expressions of serum amyloid P component (SAP), complement component 1q (C1q), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). These results suggest that CRP cytotoxicity is associated with Aβ formation and Aβ-related markers expressions; CRP and Aβ were relevant in early-stage AD; CRP may be an important trigger in AD pathogenesis.     

Effects of prenatal stress exposure on soluble Aβ and brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling in male and female APPswe/PS1dE9 mice

Chronic stress and stress-related disorders, such as major depression (MD), have been shown to increase the risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been postulated as a neurophysiological link between these illnesses. Our previous research has indicated that exposing the APPswe/PS1dE9 mouse model of AD to prenatal maternal stress (PS) induced a depressive-like phenotype, specifically in female mice. Considering the role of BDNF in depressive-like behavior and its interactions with amyloid-β (Aβ), our aim was to explore whether these mice would also exhibit alterations in soluble Aβ, mature BDNF (mBDNF), proBDNF, and the receptors TrkB and p75(NTR) in comparison to non-stressed animals. Our results demonstrate that female APPswe/PS1dE9 mice have higher levels of hippocampal proBDNF and soluble Aβ as compared to their male littermates. Additionally, a tendency was observed for PS to lower mBDNF protein levels in the hippocampus, but only in female mice, while receptor levels remained unaltered by sex or PS exposure. Given that female mice both have higher proBDNF and Aβ levels, these findings suggest an underlying role for BDNF signaling and Aβ production in the selective vulnerability of women for MD and AD development.     

Inhibition of Quorum Sensing Mediated Virulence Factors Production in Urinary Pathogen Serratia marcescens PS1 by Marine Sponges

The focal intent of this study was to find out an alternative strategy for the antibiotic usage against bacterial infections. The quorum sensing inhibitory (QSI) activity of marine sponges collected from Palk Bay, India was evaluated against acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) mediated violacein production in Chromobacterium violaceum (ATCC 12472), CV026 and virulence gene expressions in clinical isolate Serratia marcescens PS1. Out of 29 marine sponges tested, the methanol extracts of Aphrocallistes bocagei (TS 8), Haliclona (Gellius) megastoma (TS 25) and Clathria atrasanguinea (TS 27) inhibited the AHL mediated violacein production in C. violaceum (ATCC 12472) and CV026. Further, these sponge extracts inhibited the AHL dependent prodigiosin pigment, virulence enzymes such as protease, hemolysin production and biofilm formation in S. marcescens PS1. However, these sponge extracts were not inhibitory to bacterial growth, which reveals the fact that the QSI activity of these extracts was not related to static or killing effects on bacteria. Based on the obtained results, it is envisaged that the marine sponges could pave the way to prevent quorum sensing (QS) mediated bacterial infections.     

毛竹PSⅡ大量捕光天线蛋白基因克隆及其表达分析

采用RT-PCR和RACE技术,从一年生毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis)新鲜叶片中分离到3个捕光色素结合蛋白基因cab-PhE2、cab-PhE3和cab-PhE6,GenBank登记号分别为EF207230、EF405877和EF628209.序列分析表明,3个基因分别与其它植物如水稻、玉米、大麦等PSⅡ的Ihcb2、Ihcb1、Ihcb3基因有着较高的一致性,其编码的蛋白属于大量捕光天线.蛋白结构预测表明,3个基因编码的蛋白均由导肽和成熟蛋白组成,其中成熟蛋白的二级结构均包含4个α螺旋结构、3个类胡萝卜素结合位点,以及相应的叶绿素a、b结合位点.组织特异性表达检测表明,3个基因在叶片、叶鞘和幼茎中均有表达,且在叶片中最高,而在根中未检测到表达.在强光照射( 1500μmol·m-2·s-1)条件下,3个基因的表达量均呈下调趋势,不同基因间存在着一定的差异,其中cab-PhE3和cab-PhE2的表达丰度在光照4h内下降较快,至6 h cab-PhE2接近于零,而cab-PhE6经光照4h表达丰度仍为对照的70％以上,但之后2h后很快降至对照的5％以下.     

光系统Ⅱ的结构与功能以及光合膜对环境因素的响应机制

光合膜是地球上捕获、转换和利用太阳能的关键场所,光合膜的活动所提供的能源、粮食及氧气,是人类世界赖以生存的基础。经过35亿年的进化,光合膜已经进化成了一个高度精密的结构,色素分子高密度结合并合理排列,具有高精度的能级耦联网络和高效率的能量传递系统,这使得光合膜成为自然界中能够最高效地吸收和传递太阳能、并能在常温常压下高效地将太阳能转换成化学能和还原势的色素蛋白复合体体系。由于这一特性,光合膜被认为是最有潜力的固定太阳能的新材料,并为研究新型光电转换器件提供了新思路和新理论。因此,长期以来,光合膜的结构-功能关系研究及其功能模拟,特别是执行固定和转化太阳能第一步的光系统Ⅱ,在新能源的利用中吸引了大量的研究力量,取得了突飞猛进的进展。本文总结了近年来关于光系统Ⅱ的结构与功能,以及光合膜对环境的感应和功能调节机制等方面的研究进展。     

骨骼肌特异性敲除TβRⅡ小鼠模型的建立

目的:建立骨骼肌特异性敲除转化生长因子受体Ⅱ(TβRⅡ)小鼠模型,为进一步研究TβRⅡ在骨骼肌发育和分化中的作用奠定基础。方法:首先将TβRⅡflox/flox转基因小鼠与上游携带肌酸激酶(MCK)启动子的MCK-Cre转基因小鼠进行杂交,培育繁殖出TβRⅡflox/wt/MCK-Cre(+)双转基因小鼠。然后利用TβRⅡflox/wt/MCK-Cre(+)双转基因小鼠与TβRⅡflox/flox转基因小鼠进行杂交,繁殖培育出在骨骼肌内特异敲除TβRⅡ基因的TβRⅡflox/flox/MCK-Cre(+)小鼠。结果:利用Cre/loxP技术世界上首次成功繁殖培育出有活力的且发育正常的TβRⅡ基因敲除小鼠。     

血管紧张素Ⅱ对废用性骨骼肌萎缩肌纤维类型的影响

目的:观察血管紧张素Ⅱ在废用性肌萎缩过程中对骨骼肌肌纤维类型转化的影响。方法:以雌性SD大鼠为研究对象,按随机配对原则分成4组(n=8):即假手术组(C)、AngⅡ组(CA)、悬吊组(T)和悬吊+AngⅡ(TA)。ATPase染色法分析评价各组肌纤维类型的转化情况。结果:T组与C组相比,Ⅱ型肌纤维比例显著升高(P<0.05),而TA组与T组相比Ⅱ型肌纤维比例下降(P<0.05)。结论:在骨骼肌萎缩过程中,肌纤维类型出现Ⅰ型肌纤维向Ⅱ型肌纤维类型的转化;而血管紧张素Ⅱ在骨骼肌萎缩过程中抑制了肌纤维类型由慢向快的转化。     

血管紧张素Ⅱ对家兔心率变异的影响

目的:研究血管紧张Ⅱ(AngⅡ)对家兔心率变异(HRV)影响的机制。方法:分别给家兔静脉输注生理盐水,AngⅡ,溴化六烃季胺(HEXB),HEXB+AngⅡ检测安静状态下连续5 min的心电图并进行HRV的时域和频域分析。结果:血管紧张素Ⅱ组的时域指标SDNN和RMSSD较对照组明显降低,频域指标低频(LF)升高,而高频(HF)和总功率(TP)明显降低;HEXB+AngⅡ组与HEXB组相比无明显区别。结论:交感神经阻断剂HEXB不能影响AngⅡ的作用,AngⅡ主要通过抑制中枢自主神经的传出,降低迷走神经张力来降低HRV。     

丹参酮ⅡA结构修饰及其对HeLa细胞的抑制作用研究

本研究运用Mannich反应,得到了丹参酮ⅡA的16位被酯化氨基酸取代的5个衍生物,结构均经EI-MS、1H及13C NMR确证。经MTT法测定丹参酮ⅡA及其衍生物对HeLa细胞增殖的抑制作用,并计算出IC50。结果表明,5个衍生物的生物活性较丹参酮ⅡA均有所增强;即丹参酮ⅡA在16位进行结构修饰可以增强其对肿瘤细胞抑制活性。     

TGF-βII 型受体的RNA 干扰抑制肾纤维化

目的:研究针对TGF-βⅡ型受体的RNA干扰质粒对α-SMA表达的抑制作用,探讨RNA干扰TGF-βRII的方法对肾间质纤维化的抑制作用。方法:单侧结扎输尿管方法制备肾间质纤维化小鼠动物模型。分别经输尿管逆行注射a:RNA干扰质粒;b:错配对照质粒;c:空载体;d:生理盐水;e:正常对照。通过western-blot及免疫组织化学方法检测第3、5、10天后肾组织内TGF-βRⅡ、α-SMA,观察其对肾间质纤维化的抑制作用。结果:针对TGF-βRII的RNA干扰质粒,明显抑制肾组织内TGF-βRⅡ、α-SMA表达;几组对照未见相应作用。结论:针对TGF-βRⅡ的RNA干扰质粒,能够抑制肾间质纤维化的发生、发展,可能成为延缓肾功能减退的有效方法。