Almost half of the RTX domain is dispensable for complement receptor 3 binding and cell-invasive activity of the Bordetella adenylate cyclase toxin

The whooping cough agent Bordetella pertussis secretes an adenylate cyclase toxin (CyaA) that through its large carboxy-proximal Repeat-in-ToXin (RTX) domain binds the complement receptor 3 (CR3). The RTX domain consists of five blocks (I–V) of characteristic glycine and aspartate-rich nonapeptides that fold into five Ca²⁺-loaded parallel β-rolls. Previous work indicated that the CR3-binding structure comprises the interface of β-rolls II and III. To test if further portions of the RTX domain contribute to CR3 binding, we generated a construct with the RTX block II/III interface (CyaA residues 1132–1294) linked directly to the C-terminal block V fragment bearing the folding scaffold (CyaA residues 1562–1681). Despite deletion of 267 internal residues of the RTX domain, the Ca²⁺-driven folding of the hybrid block III/V β-roll still supported formation of the CR3-binding structure at the interface of β-rolls II and III. Moreover, upon stabilization by N- and C-terminal flanking segments, the block III/V hybrid-comprising constructs competed with CyaA for CR3 binding and induced formation of CyaA toxin-neutralizing antibodies in mice. Finally, a truncated CyaAΔ_1295-1561 toxin bound and penetrated erythrocytes and CR3-expressing cells, showing that the deleted portions of RTX blocks III, IV, and V (residues 1295–1561) were dispensable for CR3 binding and for toxin translocation across the target cell membrane. This suggests that almost a half of the RTX domain of CyaA is not involved in target cell interaction and rather serves the purpose of toxin secretion.     

Site‐specific contribution of Toll‐like receptor 4 to intestinal homeostasis and inflammatory disease

Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) is a highly conserved protein of innate immunity, responsible for the regulation and maintenance of homeostasis, as well as immune recognition of external and internal ligands. TLR4 is expressed on a variety of cell types throughout the gastrointestinal tract, including on epithelial and immune cell populations. In a healthy state, epithelial cell expression of TLR4 greatly assists in homeostasis by shaping the host microbiome, promoting immunoglobulin A production, and regulating follicle‐associated epithelium permeability. In contrast, immune cell expression of TLR4 in healthy states is primarily centred on the maturation of dendritic cells in response to stimuli, as well as adequately priming the adaptive immune system to fight infection and promote immune memory. Hence, in a healthy state, there is a clear distinction in the site‐specific roles of TLR4 expression. Similarly, recent research has indicated the importance of site‐specific TLR4 expression in inflammation and disease, particularly the impact of epithelial‐specific TLR4 on disease progression. However, the majority of evidence still remains ambiguous for cell‐specific observations, with many studies failing to provide the distinction of epithelial versus immune cell expression of TLR4, preventing specific mechanistic insight and greatly impacting the translation of results. The following review provides a critical overview of the current understanding of site‐specific TLR4 activity and its contribution to intestinal/immune homeostasis and inflammatory diseases.     

钙敏感受体通过JNK途径参与内毒素心肌损伤*

目的: 观察内毒素所致的心肌损伤中,钙敏感受体(CaSR)对c-Jun氨基末端激酶 (JNK)途径的影响。方法: 腹腔注射内毒素(5 mg/kg)制作新生大鼠内毒素心肌损伤模型,Wistar新生大鼠随机分为6组:对照组、内毒素组、CaSR激动剂组、CaSR抑制剂组、JNK抑制剂组、CaSR抑制剂+JNK抑制剂组。HE染色观察心肌形态, 测定血清乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)含量,PCR检测IL-6的mRNA表达,Western blot检测CaSR及JNK的蛋白表达。结果: 与对照组相比,内毒素组心肌损伤加重,LDH含量、IL-6的mRNA表达、CaSR和JNK的蛋白表达均明显增加(P＜0.05)。与内毒素组比较,CaSR激动剂组心肌损伤加重,LDH含量、IL-6的mRNA表达、CaSR和JNK的蛋白表达增加(P＜0.05); CaSR抑制剂组心肌损伤减轻,LDH含量、CaSR和JNK的蛋白表达减少(P＜0.05);JNK抑制剂组心肌损伤进一步减轻,LDH含量、IL-6的mRNA表达、CaSR和JNK的蛋白表达均减少(P＜0.05);CaSR抑制剂+JNK抑制剂组心肌损伤明显减轻,LDH含量、IL-6的mRNA表达、CaSR和JNK的蛋白表达进一步减少(P＜0.05)。结论: CaSR可能通过JNK途径参与内毒素所致的心肌损伤。     

柚皮苷通过P2X7受体减轻HIV-1包膜糖蛋白gp120导致大鼠神经功能损害的的作用及机制

人类免疫缺陷病毒-1(Human immunodeficiency virus-1,HIV-1)包膜糖蛋白gp120能够引起大鼠出现学习记忆障碍的行为学改变并增加海马中P2X7受体的表达;柚皮苷对gp120引起的行为学改变及P2X7表达增多具有改善作用。为了研究柚皮苷通过减少P2X7受体表达减轻gp120导致大鼠神经功能损害的作用及机制,本实验选择SD大鼠并分为假手术操作的对照组、脑室注射gp120的gp120组、脑室注射gp120及不同剂量柚皮苷灌胃的柚皮苷组、脑室注射BzATP的BzATP组、脑室注射gp120、BzATP及90mg/kg柚皮苷灌胃的90mg/kg/d柚皮苷+BzATP组。Morris水迷宫检测逃避潜伏期及错误次数,TUNEL法检测海马中细胞凋亡率,Elisa法检测海马中肿瘤坏死因子-α(Tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)、白介素-1β(Interleukin-1β,IL-1β)、白介素-6(Interleukin-6,IL-6)的含量,Western blot检测海马中P2X7受体的表达。结果显示:与对照组比较,gp120组大鼠的逃避潜伏期延长,错误次数及海马中细胞凋亡率、TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6的含量、P2X7受体的表达水平增加(P<0.05);与gp120组比较,不同剂量柚皮苷组大鼠的逃避潜伏期缩短,错误次数及海马中细胞凋亡率、TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6的含量、P2X7受体的表达水平减少(P<0.05);与90mg/kg/d柚皮苷组比较,90mg/kg/d柚皮苷+BzATP组大鼠的逃避潜伏期延长,错误次数及海马中细胞凋亡率、TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6的含量、P2X7受体的表达水平增加(P<0.05)。本研究的结果表明柚皮苷减轻HIV-1包膜糖蛋白gp120诱导的神经功能损害,这一作用与抑制海马组织中P2X7受体表达并减轻炎症反应及细胞凋亡有关。创新在于首次阐明了柚皮苷减轻HIV-1包膜糖蛋白gp120诱导神经功能损害的分子机制。在gp120引起大鼠行为学改变及海马组织中细胞凋亡、炎症反应激活的过程中,柚皮苷通过抑制P2X7受体的表达来改善行为学改变、抑制细胞凋亡及炎症反应的激活。     

妊娠期母体甲状腺功能减退对胎鼠骨骼肌胰岛素抵抗和线粒体功能的影响

摘要 目的：研究妊娠期母体甲状腺功能减退对胎鼠骨骼肌胰岛素抵抗和线粒体功能的影响。方法：构建妊娠期母体甲状腺功能减退小鼠模型,制备胎鼠骨骼肌线粒体,同时选取健康正常胎鼠做本次实验的对照组。采用酶联免疫吸附法和放射免疫分析法测定两组小鼠甲状腺功能;通过全自动生化分析仪检测两组胎鼠胰岛素抵抗结果;利用Clark氧电极测定密闭反应体系评价两组胎鼠线粒体功能结果,并分析母体甲状腺功能减退与胎鼠骨骼肌胰岛素抵抗和线粒体功能的相关性。结果：两组小鼠甲状腺功能结果、两组胎鼠骨骼肌胰岛素抵抗和线粒体结果对比分析之间均有显著差异（P<0.05）。甲减组小鼠血清中促甲状腺激素（Thyroid Stimulating Hormone,TSH）、丙氨酸转氨酶（alanine aminotransferase,ALT）和门冬氨酸氨基转移酶（aspartate aminotransferase,AST）均较对照组低,胎鼠的空腹血糖（fasting blood-glucose,FBG）、动态3（state3,ST3）、动态4（state4,ST4）呼吸速率和呼吸控制比（respiratory control,RCR）也均较对照组低;而甲减组小鼠游离甲状腺素（free thyroxine,FT4）却较对照组高,胎鼠的胰岛素（insulin,INS）和胰岛素抵抗结果（homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance,HOMA-IR）也较对照组高（P<0.05）。且母体甲状腺功能减退指标中FT4和RCR、ALT和FBG以及RCR之间有负相关关系,母体甲状腺功能减退的其他指标则与胎鼠骨骼肌胰岛素抵抗和线粒体功能的其他相关指标之间呈正相关关系（P<0.05）。结论：妊娠期母体甲状腺功能减退会降低胎鼠骨骼肌胰岛素抵抗和线粒体功能,影响胎鼠的正常发育。     

磁共振成像检查联合血清HE4、TK1、CA199检测在卵巢癌诊断中的应用价值

摘要 目的：研究磁共振成像（MRI）检查联合血清人附睾蛋白4（HE4）、细胞质胸苷激酶（TK1）、糖类抗原199（CA199）检测在卵巢癌诊断中的应用价值。方法：将2017年4月～2019年12月我院收治的卵巢癌患者54例作为卵巢癌组,卵巢良性肿瘤患者49例作为卵巢良性肿瘤组,所有受试者均进行MRI检测,并采集受试者血清检测HE4、TK1、CA199水平,以受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析MRI检查联合血清HE4、TK1、CA199检测诊断卵巢癌的效能。结果：卵巢癌MRI特点包括以下几点：①囊实性肿块;②形态不规则;③呈长T2/T1等信号;④病灶边界模糊;⑤增强扫描结果呈病灶显著强化;⑥腹膜转移者存在显著腹腔积液以及散在分布的结节状种植病灶。卵巢良性肿瘤MRI特点包括以下几点：①囊壁光滑;②呈长T1以及长T2信;③病灶边界清晰;④增强扫描结果提示病灶无强化/稍有强化。卵巢癌组血清HE4、TK1、CA199水平分别为（87.13±15.32）pmol/L、（2.15±0.13）pmol/L、（95.39±15.25）U/mL,明显高于卵巢良性肿瘤组的（66.42±10.19）pmol/L、（0.85±0.20）pmol/L、（37.94±1.05）U/mL（均P＜0.05）。经ROC曲线分析可得：MRI检查联合血清HE4、TK1、CA199检测诊断卵巢癌的灵敏度、特异度以及曲线下面积均高于上述各项单独诊断。结论：卵巢癌患者血清HE4、TK1、CA199水平较高,MRI检查联合血清HE4、TK1、CA199检测诊断卵巢癌的价值较高,具有一定的临床应用价值。     

Aurora-A激酶对急性胰腺炎大鼠肺脏损伤的修复作用研究

摘要 目的：探讨与研究Aurora-A激酶对急性胰腺炎大鼠肺脏损伤的修复作用。方法：36只雄性SD大鼠均分为三组：对照组、模型组与Aurora-A组。对照组进行假手术操作,模型组建立急性胰腺炎模型后给予注射等量生理盐水治疗,Aurora-A组建立急性胰腺炎模型后给予阴茎背静脉注射鼠Aurora-A类因子-MLN8054 10 mg/kg治疗,记录大鼠肺脏损伤的修复情况。结果：造模过程中无大鼠死亡情况发生,模型组与Aurora-A组造模后2 w与4 w的肺组织病理评分、血清中性粒细胞弹性蛋白酶(neutrophil elastase,NE)与髓过氧化物酶(myeloperoxidase,MPO)含量、肺组织W/D、肺组织蛋白激酶B(AKT)、细胞外信号调节激酶1(ERK1)蛋白相对表达水平都高于对照组(P<0.05),Aurora-A组少于模型组(P<0.05)。结论：Aurora-A激酶在急性胰腺炎大鼠的应用能抑制Akt/ERK信号通路激活,减少血清NE与MPO的表达,从而促进肺脏损伤修复。     

JAK2-STAT3信号通路在天麻素改善小鼠抑郁样行为中的作用研究

摘要 目的：观察天麻素对小鼠抑郁症模型异常行为的改善以及Janus激酶2-信号转导和转录激活因子3（JAK2 -STAT3）信号通路的表达变化。方法：40只雄性昆明小鼠,随机分为正常组和模型组。模型组小鼠经过4周CUMS刺激建模,第6周检测小鼠行为学变化以验证建模效果。随后将模型组分为CUMS+生理盐水、CUMS+氟西汀以及CUMS+天麻素3个亚组,第7-8周继续进行CUMS刺激,同时对3个亚组小鼠腹腔注射给药。第9周再次进行行为学检测。取小鼠脑组织进行HE染色（hematoxylin-eosin staining）和蛋白免疫印迹（western blot）检测。结果：第6周检测结果显示：与对照组比较,模型组小鼠体重增幅显著降低（P＜0.001）,悬尾和强迫游泳不动时间显著增加（P＜0.001、P＜0.001）,糖水消耗率显著降低（P＜0.001）。第9周检测结果显示：与CUMS+生理盐水组相比,CUMS+氟西汀组和CUMS+天麻素组小鼠体重增幅显著增加（P＜0.001,P＜0.001）,强迫游泳不动时间显著降低（P＜0.001,P＜0.001）,悬尾不动时间显著降低（P＜0.01,P＜0.01）,糖水消耗率显著增加（P＜0.001、P＜0.001）。与CUMS+生理盐水组比较,CUMS+天麻素组小鼠JAK2、STAT3、IL-1β蛋白表达显著降低（P＜0.01、P＜0.01、P＜0.05）;HE染色结果提示,CUMS+生理盐水组小鼠神经元形态发生改变,细胞结构不清晰,细胞核固缩、深染;与CUMS+生理盐水组相比,CUMS+天麻素组小鼠神经元形态得到改善。结论：天麻素可以有效改善CUMS诱导的小鼠抑郁样行为,其作用可能与JAK2-STAT3信号通路关键蛋白的表达有关。     

Synthetic glycolipid-based TLR4 antagonists negatively regulate TRIF-dependent TLR4 signalling in human macrophages

TLRs, including TLR4, play a crucial role in inflammatory-based diseases, and TLR4 has been identified as a therapeutic target for pharmacological intervention. In previous studies, we investigated the potential of FP7, a novel synthetic glycolipid active as a TLR4 antagonist, to inhibit haematopoietic and non-haematopoietic MyD88-dependent TLR4 pro-inflammatory signalling. The main aim of this study was to investigate the action of FP7 and its derivative FP12 on MyD88-independent TLR4 signalling in THP-1 derived macrophages. Western blotting, Ab array and ELISA approaches were used to explore the effect of FP7 and FP12 on TRIF-dependent TLR4 functional activity in response to LPS and other endogenous TLR4 ligands in THP-1 macrophages. A different kinetic in the inhibition of endotoxin-driven TBK1, IRF3 and STAT1 phosphorylation was observed using different LPS chemotypes. Following activation of TLR4 by LPS, data revealed that FP7 and FP12 inhibited TBK1, IRF3 and STAT1 phosphorylation which was associated with down-regulation IFN-β and IP-10. Specific blockage of the IFN type one receptor showed that these novel molecules inhibited TRIF-dependent TLR4 signalling via IFN-β pathways. These results add novel information on the mechanism of action of monosaccharide FP derivatives. The inhibition of the TRIF-dependent pathway in human macrophages suggests potential therapeutic uses for these novel TLR4 antagonists in pharmacological interventions on inflammatory diseases.