The dCMP transferase activity of yeast Rev1 is biologically relevant during the bypass of endogenously generated AP sites

The bypass of AP sites in yeast requires the Rev1 protein in addition to the Pol ζ translesion synthesis DNA polymerase. Although Rev1 was originally characterized biochemically as a dCMP transferase during AP-site bypass, the relevance of this activity in vivo is unclear. The current study uses highly sensitive frameshift- and nonsense-reversion assays to monitor the bypass of AP sites created when uracil is excised from chromosomal DNA. In the frameshift-reversion assay, an unselected base substitution frequently accompanies the selected mutation, allowing the relative incorporation of each of the four dNMPs opposite endogenously created AP sites to be inferred. Results with this assay suggest that dCMP is the most frequent dNMP inserted opposite uracil-derived AP sites and demonstrate that dCMP insertion absolutely requires the catalytic activity of Rev1. In the complementary nonsense-reversion assay, dCMP insertion likewise depended on the dCMP transferase activity of Rev1. Because dAMP insertion opposite uracil-derived AP sites does not revert the nonsense allele and hence could not be detected, it also was possible to detect low levels of dGMP or dTMP insertion upon loss of Rev1 catalytic activity. These results demonstrate that the catalytic activity of Rev1 is biologically relevant and is required specifically for dCMP insertion during the bypass of endogenous AP sites.     

COPD大鼠模型在不同时期细胞转录因子NF-κB变化及意义

目的：建立分别由吸烟以及气管内滴注脂多糖导致慢性阻塞性肺病小鼠模型,并研究核因子-κB在（COPD）的作用。方法：我们将50只wistar鼠随机分成2组,1组为正常对照组,2组为COPD进展组。COPD进展组又进一步分为暴露香烟烟雾及气管内滴注脂多糖1周、2周、3周、4周、5周。预备好的小鼠被解剖观察,肉眼观察小鼠外形及肺组织标本,显微镜下观察肺脏的病理改变。分析PH、氧分压、二氧化碳分压,NF-κB的活性被测量。结果：COPD小鼠模型肺组织的病理改变如同COPD患者,不同暴露组的实验小鼠细胞总数结果表明,实验小鼠COPD肺组织的病理改变和人类COPD的病理改变是一致的。动脉血气分析结果显示暴露与烟雾及气管内滴注脂多糖4周的小鼠与正常对照组比较血PH、氧分压是降低的,而二氧化碳分压是升高的。结论：NF-κB在促进肺部炎症反应中起着重要的作用,通过活化肿瘤坏死因子及肺泡巨噬细胞。     

An amorphane sesquiterpene and a benzofuran glucoside from Eupatorium coelestinum

A phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Eupatorium coelestinum led to the isolation of an amorphane sesquiterpene and a benzofuran glucoside. By means of spectroscopic methods, their structures were determined as 5α,8α-epoxy-4α,6β-dihydroxyamorphan-2-one (1) and 2R*,3S*-toxol-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (2). Compounds 1 significantly inhibited NF-κB activity in TNF-α-stimulated HeLa cells with the IC₅₀ of 12.4 μM.     

NF-κB与Slug在非小细胞肺癌及其上皮间质转化中的作用

目的:研究核因子NF-κB与slug在非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)中的表达情况、及二者与非小细胞肺癌上皮间质转化(EMT)的关系,为非小细胞肺癌的诊断治疗提供理论依据.方法:(1)采用免疫组化PV9000二步法测定50例NSCLC组织及20例相应正常肺组织中NF-κBP65、slug、E-cadherin及Vimentin蛋白表达情况.(2)采用RT-PCR测定其中25例NSCLC组织及10例相应正常肺组织中NF-κBP65、slug的mRNA表达情况.结果:NSCLC中NF-κBP65蛋白表达量高于癌旁正常肺组织(Z=-2.370,P＜0.05),NF-κBP65mRNA表达量明显高于癌旁正常肺组织(t=4.967,P＜0.01);Slug蛋白表达量明显高于癌旁正常肺组织(Z=-4.443,P＜0.01),SlugmRNA表达量明显高于癌旁正常肺组织(t=6.483,P＜0.01).在NF-kBP65阳性癌组织中,E-cadherin蛋白表达下降(x2=5.024,P＜0.05),Vimentin蛋白表达上升(x2=4.723,P＜0.05);Slug阳性癌组织中,E-cadherin蛋白表达下调(x2=5.984,P＜0.05),Vimentin表达上调(x2=5.028,P＜0.05).另外,NF-kBP65与Slug在蛋白水平呈极显著正相关(r=0.443,P＜0.01),在mRNA水平呈显著正相关(r=0.439,P＜0.05).NF-κB与分化程度(x2=5.024,P＜0.05)、有无淋巴结转移(x2=7.933,P＜0.01)及肿瘤的分期(x2=5.614,P＜0.05)有关,与性别、年龄、组织类型无明显相关性(P＞0.05);Slug与淋巴结转移(x2=6.174,P＜0.05)及肿瘤的分期(x2=7.317,P＜0.01)有关,与性别、年龄、组织类型、分化程度无明显相关性(P＞0.05).结论:NF-κB、slug在NSCLC中表达增强,可能与NSCLC的发生、发展、转移有关;并且NF-κB与Slug可能协同抑制E-cadherin表达,促进Vimentin表达,诱使NSCLC的EMT发生,从而为进一步研究NSCLC的EMT提供理论依据.     

非小细胞肺癌中NF-κ B、VEGF 的表达及其与肿瘤血管形成的研究

目的:探讨核因子-κB(NF-κB)和血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)在非小细胞肺癌中的表达及其与肿瘤血管形成的关系。方法:应用免疫组织化学方法检测56例非小细胞肺癌及20例癌旁肺组织中的NF-κB P65、VEGF的表达,并用抗CD34测定肿瘤血管的密度(MVD)。结果:(1)在非小细胞肺癌中NF-κB P65、VEGF的表达阳性率分别为83.9%(47/56)、69.6%(39/56),明显高于癌旁组织(P<0.05);(2)NF-κB P65的表达在不同的TNM分期、淋巴结及胸腔积液、吸烟的分组之间差异有统计学意义,VEGF的表达在淋巴结及胸膜转移之间差异有统计学意义;(3)NF-κB P65、VEGF、MVD三者间存在明显相关性。结论:NF-κB、VEGF异常表达与NSCLC的发生、发展及肿瘤血管的形成密切的关系。     

Deep sequencing analysis of small non-coding RNAs reveals the diversity of microRNAs and piRNAs in the human epididymis

The epididymis plays a crucial role in regulating the development of sperm motility and fertilizing capacity. Small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs), especially microRNAs (miRNAs), can participate in the regulation of various physiological pathways. However, their abundance and whether they are involved in the regulation of gene expression in the human epididymis are unknown. By adopting the Solexa deep sequencing approach, we systematically investigated the sncRNAs in the adult human epididymis. A total of 4903 unique sequences representing 527 known miRNA were discovered. Eighteen novel miRNA genes encoding 23 mature miRNAs were also identified and the expression of some of them was confirmed by qRT-PCR. The presence of Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) in the library also adds to the diversity of the sncRNA population in the human epididymis. This research will contribute to a preliminary database for their functional study in male reproductive system.     

High mobility box 1 mediates neutrophil recruitment in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury through toll like receptor 4-related pathway

This study aimed to explore the role of high mobility box 1 (HMGB1) and its receptor toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) on neutrophils in myocardial ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury. We constructed TLR4-mutant (C3H/HeJ) and control (C3H/HeN) mouse models of myocardial I/R injury and subjected the mice to 30min of ischemia and 6h of reperfusion. Light microscope was used to observe structural changes in the myocardium. HMGB1 levels were measured using quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Neutrophil accumulation, TNF-a expression and IL-8 levels were analyzed via myeloperoxidase (MPO) biochemical studies, quantitative real-time PCR and ELISA, respectively. The results demonstrated that fewer neutrophils infiltrated in the myocardium of TLR4-mutant mice after myocardial I/R and that TLR4 deficiency markedly decreased the ischemic injury caused by ischemia/reperfusion, and inhibited the expression of HMGB1, TNF-a, and IL-8, all of which were up-regulated by ischemia/reperfusion. These findings suggest that HMGB1 plays a central role in recruiting neutrophils during myocardial I/R leading to worsened myocardial I/R injury. This recruitment mechanism is possibly due to its inflammatory and chemokine functions based on the TLR4-dependent pathway.     

Emerging role of NF-κB signaling in the induction of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP)

The major hallmark of cellular senescence is an irreversible cell cycle arrest and thus it is a potent tumor suppressor mechanism. Genotoxic insults, e.g. oxidative stress, are important inducers of the senescent phenotype which is characterized by an accumulation of senescence-associated heterochromatic foci (SAHF) and DNA segments with chromatin alterations reinforcing senescence (DNA-SCARS). Interestingly, senescent cells secrete pro-inflammatory factors and thus the condition has been called the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Emerging data has revealed that NF-κB signaling is the major signaling pathway which stimulates the appearance of SASP. It is known that DNA damage provokes NF-κB signaling via a variety of signaling complexes containing NEMO protein, an NF-κB essential modifier, as well as via the activation of signaling pathways of p38MAPK and RIG-1, retinoic acid inducible gene-1. Genomic instability evoked by cellular stress triggers epigenetic changes, e.g. release of HMGB1 proteins which are also potent enhancers of inflammatory responses. Moreover, environmental stress and chronic inflammation can stimulate p38MAPK and ceramide signaling and induce cellular senescence with pro-inflammatory responses. On the other hand, two cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p16INK4a and p14ARF, are effective inhibitors of NF-κB signaling. We will review in detail the signaling pathways which activate NF-κB signaling and trigger SASP in senescent cells.