Effect of Chitosan on Systemic Viral Infection and Some Defense Responses in Potato Plants

The development and the possible mechanism of the chitosan-induced resistance to viral infection were investigated in potato plants. The plants were sprayed with a solution of chitosans (1 mg/ml) with the mol wt of 3, 36, and 120 kD. After 1, 2, 3, or 4 days, the treated leaves were cut off and mechanically infected with the potato virus X (PVX). The disks cut out from the inoculated leaves were used for determining virus accumulation, callose content, and ribonuclease and -1,3-glucanase activities. In another set of experiments, the plants were infected with PVX within 1, 4, or 8 days after chitosan treatment, and the number of systemically infected plants was determined. It was found that, a day after treatment, the plants acquired a resistance to viral infection. The disks from the chitosan-treated leaves, as compared to the control, accumulated less amount of virus. The chitosan treatment also significantly decreased the number of systemically infected plants as compared to the control. After 2–3 days, the resistance disappeared or even gave way to an increased susceptibility to the infection; subsequently, the resistance increased again. The extent of the resistance correlated with the callose content and the level of ribonuclease activity observed on the infection day. The resistance towards the infection with PVX is probably mediated by the callose and ribonuclease induction. The cultivation of test-tube potato plants from the cuttings previously infected with PVX on the chitosan-containing nutrient medium did not eradicate the viral infection from the plants.     

Anti-apoptotic action of macrophage stimulating protein (MSP)

MSP is a serum protein belonging to the plasminogen-related kringle domain protein family. In addition to macrophages, epithelial cells are also MSP targets. MSP is a multifunctional factor regulating cell adhesion and motility, growth and survival. MSP mediates its biological activities by activating a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase called RON in humans or SKT in mice. MSP can protect epithelial cells from apoptosis by activating two independent signals in the PI3-K/AKT or the MAPK pathway. The MAPK pathway mediates the MSP anti-apoptotic effect only if additional signaling pathways are activated through adhesion. This indicates that MSP receptors and integrins, the receptors mediating cell-matrix-dependent adhesion, can collaborate in promotion of cell survival. This adhesion-dependent pathway, which is essential for the MAPK-mediated anti-apoptotic effect, remains to be identified. A hypothesis that Stat3 might represent a key component of the adhesion-induced anti-apoptotic pathway is presented in this review.     

Quantitative analysis of phospholipid peroxidation and antioxidant protection in live human epidermal keratinocytes

To characterize oxidative stress in phospholipids of normal human epidermal keratinocytes we metabolically labeled their membrane phospholipids with a natural oxidation-sensitive fluorescent fatty acid, cis-parinaric acid, and exposed the cells to two different sources of oxidants—a lipid-soluble azo-initiator of peroxyl radicals, 2,2'-azobis(2,4-dimethyl-valeronitrile), AMVN, and a superoxide generator, xanthine oxidase/xanthine. We demonstrated that both oxidants induced pronounced oxidation of four major classes of cis-parinaric acid-labeled phospholipids—phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylinositol—in normal human epidermal keratinocytes that was not detectable as any significant change of their phospholipid composition. Vitamin E was effective in protecting the cells against phospholipid peroxidation. Since viability of normal human epidermal keratinocytes was not changed either by labeling or exposure to oxidants the labeling protocol and oxidative stress employed are compatible with the quantitative analysis of phospholipid peroxidation in viable cells.     

Reagents for Modification of Protein–Nucleic Acid Complexes: III.1Site-Specific Photomodification of Elongation Complex of DNA Polymerase β with Arylazide Derivatives of Primers Sensitized with Fluorescent ATP γ-Amides

ATP -amides containing in -N-position 1-methylpyrene, 9-methylanthracene, 10-chloro-9-methyl-anthracene, and 3-methylperylene residues were synthesized and characterized. These compounds were used as sensitizers of site-specific photomodification of the reconstituted elongating complex of the mammalian DNA polymerase . The photomodification was carried out with the use of photoaffinity reagents, which were synthesized in situby the 5"-³²P-labeled primers extension with photoreactive analogues of dCTP containing in the exo-N-position of cytosine various perfluoroarylazide groups. The effect of structures of the sensitizers and photoreactive reagents on the efficiency and selectivity of photocrosslinking of primers to the enzyme and template, as well as formation of a number of other photomodification products was studied. It was shown that the sensitizers containing 10-chloro-9-methylanthracene and 3-methylperylene residues allow one to obtain photocrosslinks under such irradiation conditions when photomodification in their absence is not essentially observed.     

氧化修饰使HDL促动脉平滑肌细胞胆固醇流出减少

为了研究氧化修饰对高密度脂蛋白（ＨＤＬ）转运细胞胆固醇地＾３Ｈ－胆固醇负荷的培养人动脉平滑肌细胞（ＳＭＣ）分别与天然ＨＤＬ及Ｃｕ＾２＋ａｋｇ ＨＯＣｌ氧化修饰的ＨＤＬ在３７℃温育不同时间后,分别测定细胞＾３Ｈ－胆固醇清除率。结果发现,温育２４ｈ后,经Ｃｕ＾２＋或ＨＯＬｌ氧修饰后的ＨＤＬ其细胞胆因醇清除率分别较天然ＨＤＬ下降了３０．０％和４３．１％（ｐ〈０．０１）。结果还发现,Ｃｕ＾２＋或ＨＯＣｌ氧     

In vivo assessment of local phosphodiesterase activity using tailored cyclic nucleotide-gated channels as cAMP sensors.

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) catalyze the hydrolysis of the second messengers cAMP and cGMP. However, little is known about how PDE activity regulates cyclic nucleotide signals in vivo because, outside of specialized cells, there are few methods with the appropriate spatial and temporal resolution to measure cyclic nucleotide concentrations. We have previously demonstrated that adenovirus-expressed, olfactory cyclic nucleotide-gated channels provide real-time sensors for cAMP produced in subcellular compartments of restricted diffusion near the plasma membrane (Rich, T.C., K.A. Fagan, H. Nakata, J. Schaack, D.M.F. Cooper, and J.W. Karpen. 2000. J. Gen. Physiol. 116:147-161). To increase the utility of this method, we have modified the channel, increasing both its cAMP sensitivity and specificity, as well as removing regulation by Ca(2)+-calmodulin. We verified the increased sensitivity of these constructs in excised membrane patches, and in vivo by monitoring cAMP-induced Ca(2)+ influx through the channels in cell populations. The improved cAMP sensors were used to monitor changes in local cAMP concentration induced by adenylyl cyclase activators in the presence and absence of PDE inhibitors. This approach allowed us to identify localized PDE types in both nonexcitable HEK-293 and excitable GH4C1 cells. We have also developed a quantitative framework for estimating the K(I) of PDE inhibitors in vivo. The results indicate that PDE type IV regulates local cAMP levels in HEK-293 cells. In GH4C1 cells, inhibitors specific to PDE types I and IV increased local cAMP levels. The results suggest that in these cells PDE type IV has a high K(m) for cAMP, whereas PDE type I has a low K(m) for cAMP. Furthermore, in GH4C1 cells, basal adenylyl cyclase activity was readily observable after application of PDE type I inhibitors, indicating that there is a constant synthesis and hydrolysis of cAMP in subcellular compartments near the plasma membrane. Modulation of constitutively active adenylyl cyclase and PDE would allow for rapid control of cAMP-regulated processes such as cellular excitability.     

Stimulatory effect of lactate on testosterone production by rat Leydig cells

Previously we found that the increased plasma testosterone levels in male rats during exercise partially resulted from a direct and luteinizing hormone (LH)-independent stimulatory effect of lactate on the secretion of testosterone. In the present study, the acute and direct effects of lactate on testosterone production by rat Leydig cells were investigated. Leydig cells from rats were purified by Percoll density gradient centrifugation subsequent to enzymatic isolation of testicular interstitial cells. Purified rat Leydig cells (1 x 10(5) cells/ml) were in vitro incubated with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, 0.05 IU/ml), forskolin (an adenylyl cyclase activator, 10(-5) M), or 8-bromo-adenosine-3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-Br-cAMP, 10(-4) M), SQ22536 (an adenylyl cyclase inhibitor, 10(-6)-10(-5) M), steroidogenic precursors (25-hydroxy-cholesterol, pregnenolone, progesterone, and androstenedione, 10(-5) M each), nifedipine (a L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker, 10(-5)-10(-4) M), or nimodipine (a potent L-type Ca(2+) channel antagonist, 10(-5)-10(-4) M) in the presence or absence of lactate at 34 degrees C for 1 h. The concentration of medium testosterone was measured by radioimmunoassay. Administration of lactate at 5-20 mM dose-dependently increased the basal testosterone production by 63-187% but did not alter forskolin- and 8-Br-cAMP-stimulated testosterone release in rat Leydig cells. Lactate at 10 mM enhanced the stimulation of testosterone production induced by 25-hydroxy-cholesterol in rat Leydig cells but not other steroidogenic precursors. Lactate (10 mM) affected neither 30- nor 60-min expressions of cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) and steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein. The lactate-stimulated testosterone production was decreased by administration of nifedipine or nimodipine. These results suggested that the physiological level of lactate stimulated testosterone production in rat Leydig cells through a mechanism involving the increased activities of adenylyl cyclase, cytochrome P450scc, and L-type Ca(2+) channel.     

Modeling,simulations, and optimization of smooth muscle cell tissue engineering for the production of vascular grafts

The paper presents a transient, continuum, two-phase model of the tissue engineering in fibrous scaffolds, including transport equations for the flowing culture medium, nutrient and cell concentration with transverse and in-plane diffusion and cell migration, a novel feature of local in-plane transport across a phenomenological pore and innovative layer-by-layer cell filling approach. The model is successfully validated for the smooth muscle cell tissue engineering of a vascular graft using crosslinked, electrospun gelatin fiber scaffolds for both static and dynamic cell culture, the latter in a dynamic bioreactor with a rotating shaft on which the tubular scaffold is attached. Parametric studies evaluate the impact of the scaffold microstructure, cell dynamics, oxygen transport, and static or dynamic conditions on the rate and extent of cell proliferation and depth of oxygen accessibility. An optimized scaffold of 75% dry porosity is proposed that can be tissue engineered into a viable and still fully oxygenated graft of the tunica media of the coronary artery within 2 days in the dynamic bioreactor. Such scaffold also matches the mechanical properties of the tunica media of the human coronary artery and the suture retention strength of a saphenous vein, often used as a coronary artery graft.     

HaCaT细胞中FUT4表达与其启动子区甲基化的相关性分析

岩藻糖基转移酶Ⅳ(Fucosyltransferase Ⅳ,FUT4)在正常细胞中表达量很低,但其低表达的调控机制以及是否受其启动子甲基化调控并不十分清楚。文章采用Western blot、免疫荧光和Real-time PCR的方法检测正常人永生化表皮细胞系HaCaT细胞FUT4的表达,观察DNA甲基转移酶抑制剂5-aza-dC处理对FUT4表达的影响。应用甲基化特异性PCR方法分析HaCaT细胞中FUT4启动子甲基化状态。结果表明,HaCaT细胞中FUT4的表达水平明显低于人表皮鳞癌细胞A431和SCC12。5 μmol/L的5-aza-dC处理72 h的HaCaT细胞,其FUT4 mRNA水平明显升高,并且与未经5-aza-dC处理的对照组相比,U引物扩增检测到的产物量增加,M 引物扩增检测到的产物量明显减少。这些结果表明,HaCaT细胞中FUT4的低表达可能与其启动子区CpG岛甲基化有关。     

急性冷应激对牦牛乳腺上皮细胞 HSP70 mRNA 表达的影响

本文主要研究了急性冷应激对牦牛乳腺上皮细胞热休克蛋白７０ （Heat stress protein,ＨＳＰ７０） 表达量的影响。采用实时荧光定量ＰＣＲ 技术,以急性冷刺激１０℃ 为典型研究环境,分析了ＨＳＰ７０ ｍＲＮＡ 表达的变化规律。结果显示,乳腺上皮细胞在１０℃分别冷处理２ ｈ、４ ｈ、６ ｈ 和８ ｈ,其ＨＳＰ７０ ｍＲＮＡ 的表达量变化均不显著（Ｐ ＞０. ０５）;分别在１０℃冷处理２ ｈ、４ ｈ、６ ｈ 和８ ｈ,再复温培养４ ｈ,ＨＳＰ７０ ｍＲＮＡ 的表达量均极显著增加（Ｐ ＜０. ０１）,于６ ｈ 达到峰值;在１０℃先冷处理４ ｈ,然后分别复温２ ｈ、４ ｈ、６ ｈ 和８ ｈ,ＨＳＰ７０ ｍＲＮＡ 的表达量亦均显著增加（Ｐ ＜０. ０１）,并于４ ｈ 达到峰值。结论：急性冷应激诱导牦牛乳腺上皮细胞ＨＳＰ７０ 表达量的增加不是发生在冷处理过程中,而是发生在复温过程中,并且在一定范围内随冷处理时间的增长表达量增高。