蛋白激酶C在晚期糖基化终产物促进人腹膜间皮细胞分泌纤维连接蛋白中的作用

目的:观察晚期糖基化终末产物(AGEs)对人腹膜间皮细胞合成和分泌纤维连接蛋白(FN)的影响及细胞内蛋白激酶C(PKC)在其中的作用。方法:在体外制备晚期糖基化人血清白蛋白(AGE-HSA),分别用不同浓度的(0,100,500,1 000μg/ml)AGE-HSA作用于人腹膜间皮细胞,用荧光实时定量PCR和ELISA方法测定人腹膜间皮细胞FN的表达;用ELISA方法观察AGEs对人腹膜间皮细胞PKC活性影响,应用PKC激活和抑制剂观察PKC在AGE-HSA促进人腹膜间皮细胞合成FN中的作用。结果:AGE-HSA呈时间剂量依赖性激活人腹膜间皮细胞中的PKC(P<0.05);AGE-HSA同时以时效和量效方式促进人腹膜间皮细胞中FN基因和蛋白的表达(P<0.05);PKC激活剂佛波酯(PMA)也能刺激人腹膜间皮细胞合成FN,先用PMA耗竭细胞内PKC或用PKC抑制剂calphostin C后,可抑制AGE-HSA诱导的FN分泌(P<0.05)。结论:AGEs可能部分通过活化PKC促进人腹膜间皮细胞合成和分泌FN,参与腹膜纤维化。     

榄香烯联合GP 化疗方案治疗晚期肺腺癌脑转移的临床观察

目的:观察中药制剂榄香烯联合GP化疗方案治疗晚期肺腺癌脑转移的疗效。方法:选取2009年6月28日至2011年5月30日就诊于我院的晚期肺腺癌脑转移患者34例,将34例晚期肺腺癌脑转移患者随机分为两组(A组和B组),A组:治疗组,17例,并给予患者榄香烯静脉滴注和GP化疗方案;B组:对照组,17例,给予患者GP化疗方案;观察两组疗效和安全性,并记录治疗前后相关的指标变化。结果:2个疗程的化疗结束后,A组:10例患者复查脑核磁发现脑转移瘤较前缩小,病灶部分缓解(P R);6例脑转移瘤病灶稳定(SD);1例疾病进展(PD);B组:5例患者复查脑核磁发现脑转移瘤较前缩小,病灶部分缓解(P R);9例脑转移瘤病灶稳定(SD);3例疾病进展(PD)。结论:采用榄香烯联合GP化疗方案治疗晚期肺腺癌脑转移,能有效地改善患者生活质量,疗效满意。     

The effects of diabetes and aminoguanidine treatment on endothelial function in a primate model of type 1 diabetes

Abnormalities of endothelial function have been demonstrated in diabetes and are thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. The aims of this study were to determine whether aminoguanidine, an inhibitor of glycation, can prevent endothelial and microcirculation abnormalities in a primate model of type 1 diabetes. Male baboons (Papio hamadryas) were assigned to one of the four groups: control, diabetes, control treated with aminoguanidine or diabetes treated with aminoguanidine. Diabetes was induced by streptozocin (60 mg/kg) and treated with once daily injection of insulin. Aminoguanidine was given subcutaneously (10 mg/kg), once a day. Diabetic animals had a mean duration of diabetes of 8.9 +/- 3.4 years and HbA1c of 8.9 +/- 1.1%. Microvascular function was measured by laser Doppler velocimetry, with examination of endothelium-dependent increase in skin blood flow (SkBF) following iontophoresis of acetylcholine (ACh) and endothelium-independent increase in SkBF in response to the nitric oxide (NO) donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Multiple regression analysis identified diabetes (P = 0.049) and aminioguanidine treatment (P = 0.026) as significant determinants of ACh response. The diabetic baboons treated with aminoguanidine had less Ach-mediated SkBF response compared with controls (1.39 +/- 0.32 vs. 2.26 +/- 0.61, F = 3.3, P = 0.04), but there was no difference between groups in SkBF response to SNP. We conclude that endothelial dysfunction can be demonstrated in this primate model of type 1 diabetes at a stage when overt diabetic complications are not present. This occurred in the absence of insulin resistance or significant hypercholesterolemia. Administration of aminoguanidine from the onset of diabetes was not able to prevent this abnormality and in fact aggravated the endothelial response. Effects of aminoguanidine on NO synthase may contribute to this phenomenon.     

糖基化终末产物（AGEs）诱导下SOCS基因在肾小管上皮细胞中的表达及意义

目的观察SOCS-1、SOCS-3在肾小管上皮细胞（HKC）中的基础表达及在糖基化终末产物（AGEs）诱导下的表达及意义。方法体外培养HKC细胞,随机分为正常对照组、AGEs组,倒置显微镜观察细胞形态学改变,采用流式细胞术,免疫细胞化学和检测SOCS-1、SOCS-3蛋白表达,RT-PCR法检测HKCSOCS-1、SOCS-3 mRNA表达。结果与正常组比较,AGES诱导的肾小管上皮细胞发生形态学改变;免疫细胞化学、流式细胞学发现SOCS-1、SOCS-3表达以胞浆为主,散在胞核表达;12、24、48hSOCS-1、SOCS-3蛋白表达AGEs组均高于正常对照组,差异有统计学意义,其中SOCS-1以12h表达量最大,SOCS-3以24h表达最高,RT-PCR检测SOCS-3 mRNA表达量,AGEs组高于正常组,差异有统计学意义。结论SOCS-1、SOCS-3在正常肾小管上皮细胞中有基础表达,AGEs可诱导肾小管上皮细胞SOCS-1、SOCS-3表达上调,为我们进一步研究SOCS基因与糖尿病肾病的关系提供了理论依据。     

Advanced glycation end products serve as ligands for lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1(LOX-1): biochemical and binding characterizations assay

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are a class of complex heterogeneous compounds which accumulate with age and is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases from diabetes to atherosclerosis. AGEs serve as ligands for multiple receptors including scavenger receptor (SR-A), CD36, and SR-BIota. Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) plays an important role in both atherosclerosis and is found to be an endothelial cell receptor for AGEs. To explore the binding characterization of AGEs to LOX-1, AGEs were prepared by three different reducing sugars (d-glucose, d-fructose, and d-ribose) and the biochemical characterization including, free amino groups, free amine content, fructosamine residues, carbonyl content, fluorescence, and absorbance were determined. The binding activity was determined by FITC labeled AGEs using Chinese hamster ovary-K1 cells stably transfected with human LOX-1 gene. The obtained AGEs showed significant differences in the extent of side chain modifications, carbonyl content, fluorescence, and absorption models. All of the AGEs showed specific and saturable binding to hLOX-1-CHO-K1 cells. Furthermore, dose-dependent binding processes were observed. However, the maximal cellular binding of AGEs differs between the sugars (glucose > ribose > fructose). In addition, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) could significantly inhibit the binding of AGEs to LOX-1 with different inhibitory efficiency. LOX-1 serves as receptor for AGEs which may give some insight into the role of LOX-1 in the pathogenesis of diabetes and related disorders.     

RAGE signaling contributes to neuroinflammation in infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis

Palmitoyl-protein thioesterase-1 (PPT1) deficiency causes infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL), a devastating childhood neurodegenerative storage disorder. We previously reported that neuronal apoptosis in INCL is mediated by endoplasmic reticulum-stress. ER-stress disrupts Ca²⁺-homeostasis and stimulates the expression of Ca²⁺-binding proteins. We report here that in the PPT1-deficient human and mouse brain the levels of S100B, a Ca²⁺-binding protein, and its receptor, RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end-products) are elevated. We further demonstrate that activation of RAGE signaling in astroglial cells mediates pro-inflammatory cytokine production, which is inhibited by SiRNA-mediated suppression of RAGE expression. We propose that RAGE signaling contributes to neuroinflammation in INCL.     

The antioxidant properties of serum albumin

Free radicals are a normal component of cellular oxygen metabolism in mammals. However, free radical-associated damage is an important factor in many pathological processes. Glycation and oxidative damage cause protein modifications, frequently observed in numerous diseases. Albumin represents a very abundant and important circulating antioxidant. This review brings together recent insights on albumin antioxidant properties. First, it focuses on the different activities of albumin concerning protein antioxidation. In particular, we describe the role of albumin in ligand binding and free radical-trapping activities. In addition, physiological and pathological situations that modify the antioxidant properties of albumin are reported.     

Intimate coupling of photocatalysis and biodegradation in a photocatalytic circulating-bed biofilm reactor

Coupling advanced oxidative pretreatment with subsequent biodegradation demonstrates potential for treating wastewaters containing biorecalcitrant and inhibitory organic constituents. However, advanced oxidation is indiscriminate, producing a range of products that can be too oxidized, unavailable for biodegradation, or toxic themselves. This problem could be overcome if advanced oxidation and biodegradation occurred together, an orientation called intimate coupling; then, biodegradable organics are removed as they are formed, focusing the chemical oxidant on the non-biodegradable fraction. Intimate coupling has seemed impossible because the conditions of advanced oxidation, for example, hydroxyl radicals and sometimes UV-light, are severely toxic to microorganisms. Here, we demonstrate that a novel photocatalytic circulating-bed biofilm reactor (PCBBR), which utilizes macro-porous carriers to protect biofilm from toxic reactants and UV light, achieves intimate coupling. We demonstrate the viability of the PCBBR system first with UV only and acetate, where the carriers grew biofilm and sustained acetate biodegradation despite continuous UV irradiation. Images obtained by scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy show bacteria living behind the exposed surface of the cubes. Second, we used slurry-form Degussa P25 TiO2 to initiate photocatalysis of inhibitory 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (TCP) and acetate. With no bacterial carriers, photocatalysis and physical processes removed TCP and COD to 32% and 26% of their influent levels, but addition of biofilm carriers decreased residuals to 2% and 4%, respectively. Biodegradation alone could not remove TCP. Photomicrographs clearly show that biomass originally on the exterior of the carriers was oxidized (charred), but biofilm a short distance within the carriers was protected. Finally, we coated TiO2 directly onto the carrier surface, producing a hybrid photocatalytic-biological carrier. These carriers likewise demonstrated the concept of photocatalytic degradation of TCP coupled with biodegradation of acetate, but continued TCP degradation required augmentation with slurry-form TiO2.     

Peptide and amino acid glycation: new insights into the Maillard reaction.

Nonenzymatic glycation of proteins, peptides and other macromolecules (the Maillard reaction) has been implicated in a number of pathologies, most clearly in diabetes mellitus. but also in the normal processes of aging and neurodegenerative amyloid diseases such as Alzheimer's. In the early stage, glycation results in the formation of Amadori-modified proteins. In the later stages, advanced glycation end products (AGE) are irreversibly formed from Amadori products leading to the formation of reactive intermediates, crosslinking of proteins, and the formation of brown and fluorescent polymeric materials. Although, the glycation of structural proteins has been attributed a key role in the complications of diabetes, recent attention has been devoted to the physiological significance of glycated peptide hormones. This review focuses on the physico-chemical properties of the Amadori compounds of bioactive peptides of endogenous and exogenous origin, such as Leu-enkephalin and morphiceptin, investigated under different conditions as well as on novel pathways in the Maillard reaction observed from investigating intramolecular events in ester-linked glycopeptides.     

Endoplasmic reticulum stress in insulin resistance and diabetes

The endoplasmic reticulum is the main intracellular Ca²⁺ store for Ca²⁺ release during cell signaling. There are different strategies to avoid ER Ca²⁺ depletion. Release channels utilize first Ca²⁺-bound to proteins and this minimizes the reduction of the free luminal [Ca²⁺]. However, if release channels stay open after exhaustion of Ca²⁺-bound to proteins, then the reduction of the free luminal ER [Ca²⁺] (via STIM proteins) activates Ca²⁺ entry at the plasma membrane to restore the ER Ca²⁺ load, which will work provided that SERCA pump is active. Nevertheless, there are several noxious conditions that result in decreased activity of the SERCA pump such as oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines, and saturated fatty acids, among others. These conditions result in a deficient restoration of the ER [Ca²⁺] and lead to the ER stress response that should facilitate recovery of the ER. However, if the stressful condition persists then ER stress ends up triggering cell death and the ensuing degenerative process leads to diverse pathologies; particularly insulin resistance, diabetes and several of the complications associated with diabetes. This scenario suggests that limiting ER stress should decrease the incidence of diabetes and the mobility and mortality associated with this illness.