叶脉网络系统的构建和系统学意义研究进展

为了解国内外叶脉网络系统的研究状况,综述了基因、激素对叶脉网络系统发育的调控机理,并剖析了叶脉的功能和系统学意义,分析了光、温度、水和外力破坏等环境因子对叶脉密度、叶脉直径等结构性状的影响。同时,综合考量植物碳投入经济权衡,阐明了叶脉网络系统是在遗传控制基础上由环境与碳投入共同调控建成。最后,对植物叶脉网络系统研究中存在的问题与未来发展方向进行了展望。     

A null model test of Floristic Quality Assessment: Are plant species’ Coefficients of Conservatism valid?

Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) was developed as a tool for quantifying the conservation value of natural areas based on their plant species composition and richness. Floristic Quality Assessment is based on Coefficients of Conservatism (C values) assigned to each plant species in a region or state. Each species i, is assigned a value C_i, on a scale of 0–10 by expert botanists, based on its fidelity to undegraded natural areas. A criticism of Floristic Quality Assessment is the subjective nature of these C values. Our objective was to determine if C values of individual species are indicative of the C values of species with which they co-occur. If subjectively assigned species’ C values carry meaningful information about plant assemblages and the conservation value of particular habitats, then individual species should tend to co-occur with species of similar C. We tested this hypothesis using occurrences of 1014 species in 388 forests and wetlands across Illinois, USA. Using a null model approach, we found that species co-occurred with species of similar C far more often than would be expected by chance; affirming the predictive ability of subjectively assigned C values. Furthermore, we quantified the extent to which each species was under- or overvalued relative to its co-occurring species assemblages to assess if any species C values were mis-assigned. Woody plants and perennial herbs, as groups, were undervalued as ecological indicators, i.e. their C values were too low. Several non-native species, which, by convention, are assigned a C of zero, were over- or under-valued relative to native species with a C of zero. Based on species occurrences across hundreds of sites, our results indicated that, despite their subjective basis, C values carry considerable ecological information, such that a given species can be used to predict the C values of its co-occurring assemblage. However, some species C values appeared less accurate than others. Our methodological approach could be applied in other states or regions to validate and refine C value assignments.     

Vitamin B12 protects against superoxide-induced cell injury in human aortic endothelial cells

Superoxide (O₂^•−) is implicated in inflammatory states including arteriosclerosis and ischemia-reperfusion injury. Cobalamin (Cbl) supplementation is beneficial for treating many inflammatory diseases and also provides protection in oxidative-stress-associated pathologies. Reduced Cbl reacts with O₂^•− at rates approaching that of superoxide dismutase (SOD), suggesting a plausible mechanism for its anti-inflammatory properties. Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and endothelial dysfunction. Hcy increases O₂^•− levels in human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC). Here, we explore the protective effects of Cbl in HAEC exposed to various O₂^•− sources, including increased Hcy levels. Hcy increased O₂^•− levels (1.6-fold) in HAEC, concomitant with a 20% reduction in cell viability and a 1.5-fold increase in apoptotic death. Pretreatment of HAEC with physiologically relevant concentrations of cyanocobalamin (CNCbl) (10-50 nM) prevented Hcy-induced increases in O₂^•− and cell death. CNCbl inhibited both Hcy and rotenone-induced mitochondrial O₂^•− production. Similarly, HAEC challenged with paraquat showed a 1.5-fold increase in O₂^•− levels and a 30% decrease in cell viability, both of which were prevented with CNCbl pretreatment. CNCbl also attenuated elevated O₂^•− levels after exposure of cells to a Cu/Zn-SOD inhibitor. Our data suggest that Cbl acts as an efficient intracellular O₂^•− scavenger.     

Tubulin photoaffinity labeling study with a plinabulin chemical probe possessing a biotin tag at the oxazole

A new bioactive photoaffinity probe KPU-252-B1 (4) possessing a biotin tag on the oxazole ring of a potent plinabulin derivative KPU-244 (2) was synthesized via the Cu^I-catalyzed Huisgen’s cycloaddition reaction to understand the precise binding mode of the diketopiperazine-based anti-microtubule agent plinabulin on tubulin. Probe 4 showed significant binding affinity toward tubulin and cytotoxicity against an HT-29 cells. A photoaffinity labeling study suggested that probe 4 specifically recognizes tubulin at a binding site that binds plinabulin or colchicine, most likely near or at the colchicine binding site, which is located at the interfacial region formed by ??-and ??-tubulin association. The results also demonstrated that probe 4 may serve as a useful plinabulin chemical probe to investigate the molecular mechanism by which anti-microtubule diketopiperazine derivatives operate.     

SO_2对胸主动脉血管平滑肌细胞钾离子通道的影响

为了探讨二氧化硫(SO2)引起大鼠血管平滑肌的降压机制,采用急性酶分离法分离大鼠单个血管平滑肌细胞,运用全细胞膜片钳技术记录平滑肌细胞外向钾电流(IKv),观察SO2及其衍生物对平滑肌细胞膜钾电流的作用,从离子通道角度研究SO2对血压的影响。结果发现:SO2衍生物可使外向IKv显著增大,10μmol/L SO2衍生物可使电流-电压曲线(I-V曲线)显著上移,即增大IKv,且呈一定的电压依赖性,并且,SO2衍生物可使IKv增大呈现出剂量-效应关系。当使用5 mmol/L 4-氨基吡啶(4-AP)抑制IKv后,加入10μmol/L SO2衍生物,IKv有一定程度增加。TEA能抑制SO2衍生物对IKv的增大效应。10μmol/L SO2衍生物可使IKv的激活曲线显著向超极化方向移动,但并不影响其斜率因子。说明SO2衍生物作用于血管平滑肌细胞,可引起外向钾电流幅度增大,使钾电流提前激活,这是SO2及其衍生物降压的作用机制之一;TEA、4-AP对SO2衍生物引起的血管平滑肌细胞钾电流的增大具有拮抗作用。     

Physiological level of norepinephrine increases adenine nucleotides hydrolysis in rat blood serum

Extracellular adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) and its breakdown products, adenosine 5′-diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine, have significant effects on a variety of biological processes. NTPDase enzymes, responsible for adenine nucleotides hydrolysis, are considered the major regulators of purinergic signaling in the blood. Previous work by our group demonstrated that ATP and ADP hydrolysis in rat blood serum are higher during the dark (activity) phase compared to the light (rest) phase. In nocturnal animals (e.g., rats), important physiological changes occur during the dark phase, such as increased circulating levels of melatonin, corticosterone, and norepinephrine (NE). This study investigated the physiological effects, in vivo and in vitro, of melatonin, dexamethasone, and NE upon nucleotides hydrolysis in rat blood serum. For in vivo experiments, the animals received a single injection of saline (control), melatonin (0.05 mg/kg), dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg), or NE (0.03 mg/kg). For in vitro experiments, melatonin (1.0 nM), dexamethasone (1.0 μM), or NE (1.0 nM) was added directly to the reaction medium with blood serum before starting the enzyme assay. The results demonstrated that ATP and ADP hydrolysis in both in vitro and in vivo experiments were significantly higher with NE treatment compared to control (in vitro: ATP = 36.63%, ADP = 22.43%, P < 0.05; in vivo: ATP = 44.1%, ADP = 37.28%, P < 0.001). No significant differences in adenine nucleotides hydrolysis were observed with melatonin and dexamethasone treatments. This study suggests a modulatory role of NE in the nucleotidases pathway, decreasing extracellular ATP and ADP, and suggests that NE might modulate its own release by increasing the activities of soluble nucleotidases.     

Chocolate: (un)healthy source of polyphenols?

There is recent epidemiological evidence that chocolate consumption may improve vascular health. Furthermore, several small-scale human intervention studies indicate that habitual chocolate intake enhances the production of vasodilative nitric oxide and may lower blood pressure. It is hypothesized that potential beneficial effects of chocolate on vascular health are at least partly mediated by cocoa polyphenols including procyanidins. Based on cell culture studies, molecular targets of chocolate polyphenols are endothelial nitric oxide synthetase as well as arginase. However, human bioavailability studies suggest that the plasma concentrations of cocoa polyphenols are manifold lower than those concentrations used in cultured cells in vitro. The experimental evidence for beneficial vascular effects of chocolate in human interventions studies is yet not fully convincing. Some human intervention studies on chocolate and its polyphenols lack a stringent study design. They are sometimes underpowered and not always placebo controlled. Dietary chocolate intake in many of these human studies was up to 100 g per day. Since chocolate is a rich source of sugar and saturated fat, it is questionable whether chocolate could be recommended as part of a nutrition strategy to promote vascular health.     

14-3-3 proteins in neurodegeneration

Among the first reported functions of 14-3-3 proteins was the regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity suggesting a possible involvement of 14-3-3 proteins in Parkinson's disease. Since then the relevance of 14-3-3 proteins in the pathogenesis of chronic as well as acute neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, polyglutamine diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and stroke has been recognized. The reported function of 14-3-3 proteins in this context are as diverse as the mechanism involved in neurodegeneration, reaching from basal cellular processes like apoptosis, over involvement in features common to many neurodegenerative diseases, like protein stabilization and aggregation, to very specific processes responsible for the selective vulnerability of cellular populations in single neurodegenerative diseases.Here, we review what is currently known of the function of 14-3-3 proteins in nervous tissue focussing on the properties of 14-3-3 proteins important in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis.     

VIP and endothelin receptor antagonist: An effective combination against experimental pulmonary arterial hypertension

Background

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) remains a therapeutic challenge, and the search continues for more effective drugs and drug combinations. We recently reported that deletion of the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) gene caused the spontaneous expression of a PH phenotype that was fully corrected by VIP. The objectives of this investigation were to answer the questions: 1) Can VIP protect against PH in other experimental models? and 2) Does combining VIP with an endothelin (ET) receptor antagonist bosentan enhance its efficacy?

Methods

Within 3 weeks of a single injection of monocrotaline (MCT, s.c.) in Sprague Dawley rats, PAH developed, manifested by pulmonary vascular remodeling, lung inflammation, RV hypertrophy, and death within the next 2 weeks. MCT-injected animals were either untreated, treated with bosentan (p.o.) alone, with VIP (i.p.) alone, or with both together. We selected this particular combination upon finding that VIP down-regulates endothelin receptor expression which is further suppressed by bosentan. Therapeutic outcomes were compared as to hemodynamics, pulmonary vascular pathology, and survival.

Results

Treatment with VIP, every other day for 3 weeks, begun on the same day as MCT, almost totally prevented PAH pathology, and eliminated mortality for 45 days. Begun 3 weeks after MCT, however, VIP only partially reversed PAH pathology, though more effectively than bosentan. Combined therapy with both drugs fully reversed the pathology, while preventing mortality for at least 45 days.

Conclusions

1) VIP completely prevented and significantly reversed MCT-induced PAH; 2) VIP was more effective than bosentan, probably because it targets a wider range of pro-remodeling pathways; and 3) combination therapy with VIP plus bosentan was more effective than either drug alone, probably because both drugs synergistically suppressed ET-ET receptor pathway.     

CD105shRNA对激光诱导的脉络膜新生血管的干预作用及其机制

目的：观察CD105shRNA对激光诱导的大鼠脉络膜新生血管的抑制作用,并初步探讨其作用机制。方法：40只BN大鼠单眼采用半导体激光建立CNV模型。随机取20只大鼠于建模后1天使用Pgenesil-eng2转染大鼠视网膜和脉络膜作为实验组。在建模后第14天行FFA检查,观察实验组与对照组视网膜激光斑的渗漏情况。各取5只实验组和5只对照组大鼠,行脉络膜铺片,检测并比较脉络膜新生血管渗漏面积。另32只BN大鼠任取一眼建立CNV模型,其中任取20只大鼠于建模后次日进行Pgen-esil—eag2转染,作为实验组。12只建模眼作为对照组,未建模眼作为空白对照组。于基因转染后1w,2w,3w和4w各取5只实验组大鼠和3只对照组大鼠眼球,获取每个时间点实验组、对照组和空白对照组的脉络膜组织。检测各组每个时间点CDl05和VEGF在mRNA水平的表达。结果：FFA显示光凝后第14天时,对照组的渗漏率为63．2％,实验组为24．6％。实验组的BN大鼠眼底渗漏点数较对照组少,渗漏强度较弱。两组间比较有显著性差异。脉络膜铺片结果显示：2周时对照组大鼠的CNV面积为（31．22±1．46）×10^3μm2,实验组大鼠的CNV渗漏面积为（14．46±0．82）×10^3μm2,两组间比较有显著性差异。RT—PCR结果显示：实验组VEGFmRNA及CDl05mRNA的表达变化规律与对照组相似,但各个时间点的表达量较对照组均明显下降,其中实验组VEGFmRNA于2w时的表达约为对照组的36．7％;实验组CD105mRNA在第2w时约为对照组的21．68％。结论：通过沉默CD105基因的表达可以抑制大鼠CNV的生成,下调VEGF的表达可能是其作用机制之一。CD105基因有望成为CNV的基础研究热点和临床治疗的新靶点。