Drug-delivering nerve conduit improves regeneration in a critical-sized gap

Autologous nerve grafts are the current “gold standard” for repairing large nerve gaps. However, they cause morbidity at the donor nerve site and only a limited amount of nerve can be harvested. Nerve conduits are a promising alternative to autografts and can act as guidance cues for the regenerating axons, without the need to harvest donor nerve. Separately, it has been shown that localized delivery of GDNF can enhance axon growth and motor recovery. FK506, an FDA approved small molecule, has also been shown to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration. This paper describes the design of a novel hole-based drug delivery apparatus integrated with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) nerve conduit for controlled local delivery of a protein such as GDNF or a small molecule such as FK506. The PTFE devices were tested in a diffusion chamber, and the bioactivity of the released media was evaluated by measuring neurite growth of dorsal root ganglions (DRGs) exposed to the released drugs. The drug delivering nerve guide was able to release bioactive concentrations of FK506 or GDNF. Following these tests, optimized drug releasing nerve conduits were implanted across 10 mm sciatic nerve gaps in a BL6 yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) mouse model, where they demonstrated significant improvement in muscle mass, compound muscle action potential, and axon myelination in vivo as compared with nerve conduits without the drug. The drug delivery nerve guide could release drug for extended periods of time and enhance axon growth in vitro and in vivo.     

Potentiation by calcium ions of the antithrombin III inhibition of thrombin

Calcium ions potentiated heparin-modulated antithrombin III inhibition of amidolysis catalysed by thrombin. Potentiation by calcium ions of heparin-independent antithrombin III inhibition of thrombin activity appeared to contribute to this effect. These results suggest a complex modulatory role for calcium ions in proteinase-catalysed reactions influenced by anti-proteinases and glycosaminoglycans.     

Motor neuron diseases and neurotoxic substances: A possible link?

The motor neuron diseases (MNDs) are a group of related neurodegenerative diseases that cause the relative selective progressive death of motor neurons. Exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying MND phenotypes has been hampered by their multifactorial nature and high incidence of sporadic cases, although genetic factors are considered to play a considerable role at present. However, environmental factors, especial exposure to neurotoxic substances, could induce neurotoxicity with the same phenotypes of specific MNDs. Organophosphate-induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by ataxia and progression to paralysis, with a concomitant distal axonal degeneration and secondary demyelination of central and peripheral axons. The inhibition and subsequent aging of neuropathy target esterase (NTE) by organophosphate has been proposed to be the initiating event in OPIDN. NTE is characterized to be a lysophospholipase/phospholipase B mostly in the nervous system to regulate phospholipid homeostasis. Brain-specific deletion of mouse NTE contributes to the behavioral defects characterized by neuronal loss. Recently, mutations in human NTE have also been shown to cause a hereditary spastic paraplegia called NTE-related motor neuron disorder with the same characteristics of OPIDN, which supported the role of NTE abnormalities in OPIDN, and raised the possibility that NTE pathway disturbances contribute to other MNDs. Together with the identified association of paraoxonase polymorphisms with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, there is a possibility that neurotoxic substances contribute to MND in genetically vulnerable people by gene-environment interactions.     

The Heterogeneity of Structural and Functional Photosynthetic Characteristics of Mesophyll Chloroplasts in Various Parts of Mature or Senescing Leaf Blade of Two Maize (Zea Mays L.) Genotypes

Differences in ultrastructural parameters of mesophyll cell (MC) chloroplasts, contents of photosynthetic pigments, and photochemical activities of isolated MC chloroplasts were studied in the basal, middle, and apical part of mature or senescing leaf blade of two maize genotypes. A distinct heterogeneity of leaf blade was observed both for structural and functional characteristics of chloroplasts. In both mature and senescing leaves the shape of MC chloroplasts changed from flat one in basal part of leaf to nearly spherical one in leaf apex. The volume density of granal thylakoids decreased from leaf base to apex in both types of leaves examined, while the amount of intergranal thylakoids increased in mature leaves but decreased in senescing leaves. The most striking heterogeneity was found for the quantity of plastoglobuli, which strongly increased with the increasing distance from leaf base. The differences in chloroplast ultrastructure were accompanied by differences in other photosynthetic characteristics. The Hill reaction activity and activity of photosystem 1 of isolated MC chloroplasts decreased from leaf base to apex in mature leaves. Apical part of senescing leaf blade was characterised by low contents of chlorophyll (Chl) a and Chl b, whereas in mature leaves, the content of Chls as well as the content of total carotenoids (Car) slightly increased from basal to apical leaf part. This was reflected also in the ratio Chl (a+b)/total Car; the ratio of Chl a/b did not significantly differ between individual parts of leaf blade. Both genotypes examined differed in the character of developmental gradient observed along whole length of leaf blade.     

Cathepsin E regulates the presentation of tetanus toxin C-fragment in PMA activated primary human B cells

Processing of antigens by proteases in the endocytic compartments of antigen presenting cells (APC) is essential to make them suitable for presentation as antigenic peptides to T lymphocytes. Several proteases of the cysteine, aspartyl and serine classes are involved in this process. It has been speculated, that the aspartyl protease cathepsin E (CatE) is involved in antigen processing in B cell line, monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC) and murine DC. Here we show the expression of CatE in primary human B cells and DC, which was only elevated in B cells after induction with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), resulted in enhanced presentation of tetanus toxin C-fragment (TTC) to the respective T cells. Inhibition of aspartyl proteases using pepstatin-A-penetratin (PepA-P), a highly efficient, cell-permeable aspartyl protease inhibitor, reduced significantly T cell activation in PMA activated B cells but not in PMA activated myeloid DC (mDC). Thus we suggest that CatE is important in the processing of TTC in primary human B cells.     

Phenotypic variation and stress resistance in core and peripheral populations of Hordeum spontaneum

The phenotypic variation and response of plants to water stress were studied in a field trial in populations of wild barley, Hordeum spontaneum Koch. from Israel and Turkmenistan. Populations from the species distributional core and periphery were compared and contrasted for phenotypic variation in 16 phenological and morphological traits. The peripheral populations (six) were found to be phenotypically more variable and more resistant to water stress than core populations (12). The association of water-stress resistance with high phenotypic variability gives support to the hypothesis that populations that are genetically more variable are better adapted or pre-adapted to environmental changes and are thus valuable for conservation.     

Impairment of Protein Synthesis in the Retinal Tissue in Diabetic Rabbits: Secondary Reduction of Fast Axonal Transport

Protein biosynthesis in the retina and fast axonal transport along the optic pathway were studied in rabbits in which diabetes had been experimentally induced. Retinal protein biosynthesis and axonal transport were significantly reduced in the diabetic rabbits, and the reduction was correlated to the severity of the diabetes. The "somal delay time' was only slightly elongated and the O/R ratio was fairly constant in the various levels of blood glucose; thus intrasomal protein movement seems to be less affected in diabetic rabbits. Velocity and the distribution pattern of axonally transported protein remained unaffected in the diabetic rabbits. These findings suggest that a disturbance in the metabolism in the cell body is the most important factor related to quantitative reduction of fast axonal transport in diabetic rabbits.     

bFGF Promotes the Proliferation of Rat Peripheral Blood Mesenchymal Stem Cells Through β-Catenin Signaling

bFGF (basic fibroblast growth factor, bFGF) could promote the proliferation of bone marrow and cord blood mesenchymal stem cells. However, the effect of bFGF on the proliferation of peripheral blood mesenchymal stem cells (PBMSCs) needs further research. This study aimed to investigate the role of bFGF on the culture and expansion of PBMSCs in vitro. Firstly, arterial blood was collected from rats abdominal aorta. After mononuclear cells (MNCs) were separated with Ficoll separation fluid, MNCs were cultured in the DMEM medium without bFGF (served as control group) or with bFGF (10, 20 ng/mL, served as 10 or 20 ng/mL bFGF group). PBMSCs were obtained by adherent culture method. The third passage of PBMSCs was detected for the MSC surface markers and the effect of bFGF on the cell cycle of PBMSCs using flow cytometry. The effects of bFGF on colony formation, cell growth, and the expressions of cyclin D1, cyclin E, p21 and β-catenin were evaluated. PBMSCs showed no difference in morphology among the three groups. PBMSC clonies appeared 14 days after cultivation. Compared with the control group, the cell growth confluence of PBMSCs was obviously increased by 40% and 80% in groups treated with 10 ng/mL bFGF or 20 ng/mL bFGF respectively after culture of 21 days (all P<0.05). Compared with the group treated with 10 ng/mL bFGF, the confluence of PBMSCs in 20 ng/mL group was further increased by 28% (P<0.05). Cells of the third passage were positively stained for CD29 and CD90, while were negative for CD45. These results were consistent with the phenotypic characteristics of MSCs. Compared with the control group, the colony number of PBMSCs in the 10 ng/mL and 20 ng/mL bFGF groups was increased by 51% (P<0.05) and 92% (P<0.05), respectively. Compared with the 10 ng/mL group, the colony number of PBMSCs was further increased in 20 ng/mL group by 14% (P<0.05). The growth curve of PBMSCs showed that after 7 days of culture, the number of PBMSCs in 10 ng/mL bFGF group and 20 ng/mL bFGF group was increased by 41% (P<0.05) and 61% (P<0.05), respectively. Moreover, the cell number had a statistically significant difference between these two groups (P<0.05). Results from flow cytometry cell cycle showed that the numbers of PBMSCs in the G1 phase of experimental groups were significantly decreased as the concentration of bFGF increased when compared with the control group (P<0.05), whereas the number of PBMSCs in the S phase was significantly increased (P<0.05). Immunofluorescence experiments showed that, compared with the control group, bFGF significantly promoted the nuclear translocation and expression of β-catenin in PBMSCs. Compared with the 10 ng/mL group, the PBMSCs in 20 ng/mL bFGF group showed stronger nuclear translocation and expression of β-catenin. Western blot experiments showed that the levels of β-catenin and its target proteins cyclinD1 and cyclinE were significantly increased (all P<0.05), whereas expression of p21 was significantly decreased in PBMSCs in the bFGF groups in a concentration dependent pattern when compared with control group (P<0.05). The study firstly confirms that bFGF promotes the proliferation of PBMSCs by regulating the β-catenin signaling pathway, which may facilitate the aquisition of larger number of PBMSCs for stem cell engineering in vitro.     

温度感受器TRPV1调节疼痛

2021年诺贝尔生理学或医学奖由戴维·朱利叶斯(David Julius)和阿德姆?帕塔普蒂安(Ardem Patapoutian)共同获得,以表彰二人分别在温度感受器辣椒素受体(TRPV1)和触觉感受器PIEZO1/2方面做出的杰出贡献.此项工作有助于阐明神经系统如何感知冷、热和机械刺激的机制,以及开发治疗疼痛的药物...