Glucose metabolism by brown trout peripheral blood lymphocytes

Glucose metabolism in peripheral blood lymphocytes from the brown trout Salmo trutta has been studied. Glucose is taken up by means of a sodium-independent saturable process (K _m=10.8 mmol·l^-1), as well as by simple diffusion. Once within the cell, most of glucose is directed to lactate production through either the Embden-Meyerhof pathway or the hexose-monophosphate shunt. Rates of lactate formation are higher than rates of CO₂ formation. Glutamine does not exert an effect on either glucose uptake or glucose metabolism. The present study provides information regarding the nature of energy sources for different cell types in salmonids.Abbreviations 3-OMG 3-O-methyl glucose - EM Embden-Meyerhoff pathway - G6D glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase - HK hexokinase - HMS hexose monophosphate shunt - ICDH isocitrate dehydrogenase - K _m apparent Michaelis constant - LDH lactate dehydrogenase - MCB modified Cortland buffer - PBL peripheral blood lymphocytes - PFK fructose-6-phosphate kinase - PK pyruvate kinase - RBC red blood cells - V _max maximal rate of uptake     

激光诱导家蚕孤雌生殖的研究——Ⅴ.突变体蛹血酯酶同工酶的分析

试验用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳,对激光诱导家蚕孤雌生殖新育成的突变体Lamp_1和Lamp_2蛹血EST同工酶进行了分析。结果说明这两个突变体是新突变体,客观存在的酶谱特征不同于未用激光照射的CK蚕种。     

Feeding through artificial membranes reduces fecundity for females of the blood‐feeding insect,Rhodnius prolixus

The blood‐feeding insect, Rhodnius prolixus, has been raised in the laboratory for close to 100 years. Various feeding techniques have been employed ranging from the use of warm‐blooded hosts, to the use of previously collected blood offered through artificial membranes. This study compared the fecundity in mated and unmated females fed rabbit blood directly from the shaved belly of a rabbit to that of females fed defibrinated rabbit blood through an artificial membrane. These results confirm previous reports that this insect's feeding efficacy is reduced using an artificial membrane. It also demonstrates for the first time that the fecundity index, which measures the efficiency of turning the blood meal into eggs, is significantly reduced. We suggest that the natural feeding on a warm‐blooded host may provide cues that have the short‐term effect of enhancing the act of feeding and the long‐term effect of increasing egg production efficiency. Until an artificial feeding method that does not interfere with feeding and fecundity is devised, experiments on reproduction in R. prolixus warrant the use of a warm‐blooded host to emulate feeding in its natural setting. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Systemic sclerosis sera affect fibrillin-1 deposition by dermal blood microvascular endothelial cells: therapeutic implications of cyclophosphamide

Introduction

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disorder characterized by endothelial cell injury, autoimmunity and fibrosis. The following three fibrillin-1 alterations have been reported in SSc. (1) Fibrillin-1 microfibrils are disorganized in SSc dermis. (2) Fibrillin-1 microfibrils produced by SSc fibroblasts are unstable. (3) Mutations in the FBN1 gene and anti-fibrillin-1 autoantibodies have been reported in SSc. Fibrillin-1 microfibrils, which are abundantly produced by blood and lymphatic microvascular endothelial cells (B-MVECs and Ly-MVECs, respectively), sequester in the extracellular matrix the latent form of the potent profibrotic cytokine transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). In the present study, we evaluated the effects of SSc sera on the deposition of fibrillin-1 and microfibril-associated glycoprotein 1 (MAGP-1) and the expression of focal adhesion molecules by dermal B-MVECs and Ly-MVECs.

Methods

Dermal B-MVECs and Ly-MVECs were challenged with sera from SSc patients who were treatment-naïve or under cyclophosphamide (CYC) treatment and with sera from healthy controls. Fibrillin-1/MAGP-1 synthesis and deposition and the expression of α_vβ₃ integrin/phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase and vinculin/actin were evaluated by immunofluorescence and quantified by morphometric analysis.

Results

Fibrillin-1 and MAGP-1 colocalized in all experimental conditions, forming a honeycomb pattern in B-MVECs and a dense mesh of short segments in Ly-MVECs. In B-MVECs, fibrillin-1/MAGP-1 production and α_vβ₃ integrin expression significantly decreased upon challenge with sera from naïve SSc patients compared with healthy controls. Upon challenge of B-MVECs with sera from CYC-treated SSc patients, fibrillin-1/MAGP-1 and α_vβ₃ integrin levels were comparable to those of cells treated with healthy sera. Ly-MVECs challenged with SSc sera did not differ from those treated with healthy control sera in the expression of any of the molecules assayed.

Conclusions

Because of the critical role of fibrillin-1 in sequestering the latent form of TGF-β in the extracellular matrix, its decreased deposition by B-MVECs challenged with SSc sera might contribute to dermal fibrosis. In SSc, CYC treatment might limit fibrosis through the maintenance of physiologic fibrillin-1 synthesis and deposition by B-MVECs.     

Doxorubicin-induced alterations in kidney functioning,oxidative stress,DNA damage,and renal tissue morphology; Improvement by Acacia hydaspica tannin-rich ethyl acetate fraction

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline drug used for cancer treatment. However, its treatment is contiguous with toxic effects. We examined the nephroprotective potential of A. hydaspica polyphenol-rich ethyl acetate extract (AHE) against DOX persuaded nephrotoxicity. 36 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assorted into 6 groups. Control group received saline; DOX group: 3 mg/kg b.w. dosage of DOX intraperitoneally for 6 weeks (single dose/week). In co-treatment groups, 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w AHE was given orally for 6 weeks in concomitant with DOX (3 mg/kg b.w, i.p. injection per week) respectively. Standard group received silymarin 400 mg/kg b.w daily + DOX (single dose/week). Biochemical kidney function tests, oxidative stress markers, genotoxicity, antioxidant enzyme status, and histopathological changes were examined. DOX caused significant body weight loss and decrease kidney weight. DOX-induced marked deterioration in renal function indicators in both urine and serum, i.e., PH, specific gravity, total protein, albumin, urea, creatinine, uric acid, globulin, blood urea nitrogen, etc. Also, DOX treatment increases renal tissue oxidative stress markers, while lower antioxidant enzymes in tissue along with degenerative alterations in the renal tissue compared to control rats. AHE co-treatment ameliorates DOX-prompted changes in serum and urine chemistry. Likewise, AHE treatment decreases sensitive markers of oxidative stress and prevented DNA damages by enhancing antioxidant enzyme levels. DOX induction in rats also caused DNA fragmentation which was restored by AHE co-treatment. Moreover, the histological observations evidenced that AHE effectively rescued the kidney tissue from DOX interceded oxidative damage. Our results suggest that co-treatment of AHE markedly improve DOX-induced deleterious effects in a dose-dependent manner. The potency of AHE co-treatment at 400 mg/kg dose is similar to silymarin. These outcomes revealed that A. hydaspica AHE extract might serve as a potential adjuvant that avoids DOX-induced nephrotoxicity.     

Hydroxy methoxy benzaldehyde from Sesbania grandilfora inhibits the advanced glycation end products (AGEs)-mediated fibrillation in hemoglobin

The present study was aimed to identify the active anti-glycation constituent from the leaves of Sesbania grandiflora. Characterization of the active constituent resulted in the identification of hydroxy methoxy benzaldehyde (HMB). The potential of HMB as anti-glycation lead was analyzed by fluorescence spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and molecular interaction studies. Our results suggested that HMB inhibited formation of early (HbA₁c) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The amyloid-like fibrillation in hemoglobin was also inhibited by HMB. SEM images indicated the protective effect against the formation of acanthocytes. Molecular docking studies showed that HMB was interacting with hemoglobin through hydrogen bonds with Arg141, Tyr140, and Thr137. Our findings suggest that HMB could be a better anti-glycation lead molecule towards novel AGEs inhibitors.     

Inside Back Cover: The conformation of bovine serum albumin adsorbed to the surface of single all‐dielectric nanoparticles following light‐induced heating (J. Biophotonics 7/2018)

Germanium vs Silicon: All‐dielectric nanoparticles provides the heat resistance for proteins under light‐induced heating. Further details can be found in the article by Andrei A. Krasilin et al. ( e201700322 )

     

Cord blood–derived cytokine-induced killer cells combined with blinatumomab as a therapeutic strategy for CD19+ tumors

Background

Cytokine-induced killer cells (CIKs) are an advanced therapeutic medicinal product (ATMP) that has shown therapeutic activity in clinical trials but needs optimization. We developed a novel strategy using CIKs from banked cryopreserved cord blood units (CBUs) combined with bispecific antibody (BsAb) blinatumomab to treat CD19⁺ malignancies.

Expansion of the canine A blood group system

A detailed study of the canine A blood group system was undertaken, resulting in the expansion of this system into a three-factor, four-allelic one with the recognition of an additional subtype, a3. The serological and extensive family data supported the proposed genetic theory of four alleles with dominance with the order being Aa1, Aa2, Aa3 and A-. Gene frequencies of the alleles were determined in various breeds of dogs with frequencies in the general Brisbane population being 0.244 (Aa1), 0.042 (Aa2), 0.045 (Aa3) and 0.669 (A-).     

Cyclic biphalin analogues with a novel linker lead to potent agonist activities at mu,delta, and kappa opioid receptors

In an effort to improve biphalin’s potency and efficacy at the µ-(MOR) and δ-opioid receptors (DOR), a series of cyclic biphalin analogues 1–5 with a cystamine or piperazine linker at the C-terminus were designed and synthesized by solution phase synthesis using Boc-chemistry. Interestingly, all of the analogues showed balanced opioid agonist activities at all opioid receptor subtypes due to enhanced κ-opioid receptor (KOR) activity. Our results indicate that C-terminal flexible linkers play an important role in KOR activity compared to that of the other cyclic biphalin analogues with a hydrazine linker. Among them, analogue 5 is a potent (Ki?=?0.27, 0.46, and 0.87?nM; EC₅₀?=?3.47, 1.45, and 13.5?nM at MOR, DOR, and KOR, respectively) opioid agonist with high efficacy. Based on the high potency and efficacy at the three opioid receptor subtypes, the ligand is expected to have a potential synergistic effect on relieving pain and further studies including in vivo tests are worthwhile.