Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)1-3 enhances bone repair

Members of the astacin family of metalloproteinases such as human bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP-1) regulate morphogenesis by processing precursors to mature functional extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and several growth factors including TGFβ, BMP2, BMP4 and GFD8. We have recently discovered that BMP1-3 isoform of the Bmp-1 gene circulates in the human plasma and is significantly increased in patients with acute bone fracture. We hypothesized that circulating BMP1-3 might have an important role in bone repair and serve as a novel bone biomarker. When administered systemically to rats with a long bone fracture and locally to rabbits with a critical size defect of the ulna, recombinant human BMP1-3 enhanced bone healing. In contrast, neutralization of the endogenous BMP1-3 by a specific polyclonal antibody delayed the bone union. Invitro BMP1-3 increased the expression of collagen type I and osteocalcin in MC3T3-E₁ osteoblast like cells, and enhanced the formation of mineralized bone nodules from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. We suggest that BMP1-3 is a novel systemic regulator of bone repair.     

蛋白激酶C对血管内皮细胞锚蛋白、CD44表达及亚细胞分布的影响

通过外源性底物对[γ-32P]-ATP的摄入量来测定豆蔻酰佛波醇乙酯(phorbol-myristate-acetate,PMA)处理后的人脐静脉内皮细胞(humanumbilicalveinendothelialcells,HUVECs)膜蛋白激酶C(proteinkinaseC,PKC)的活性;利用间接免疫荧光标记和Western印迹方法分析蛋白激酶C活性对锚蛋白及CD44的亚细胞分布及蛋白质表达的影响。结果发现HUVECs的锚蛋白及CD44表达水平趋势与PKC活性变化相吻合;PKC活化导致CD44在细胞膜上呈聚集状,而锚蛋白则移位并聚集于CD44处;PKC抑制剂能抑制PKC活化所带来的上述作用。结果表明PKC活化通过磷酸化作用能上调锚蛋白及CD44表达,并同时导致二者发生一致性运动及共分布。     

Identification of novel peptide agonists from a random peptide library for a 5-oxo-ETE receptor, a receptor for bioactive lipids

A combinatorial peptide library contains an enormous combination of amino acid sequences and drug candidates, but an effective screening strategy to identify a variety of bioactive peptides has yet to be established. In this article, a random hexapeptide library was screened to identify novel peptide ligands for a 5-oxo-ETE receptor (OXER), which is a G-protein-coupled receptor for bioactive lipids, by using an OXER-Gi1alpha fusion protein. We successfully identified 2 hexapeptides-Ac-HMQLYF-NH2 and Ac-HMWLYF-NH(2)-that exhibited agonistic activity. Although the corresponding affinities were relatively low (EC50 values of 146 and 6.7 microM, respectively), the activities were confirmed by other independent cell-based assay methods, namely, intracellular calcium mobilization and cell chemotaxis. This study demonstrates that a combinatorial peptide library may be screened using a [35S]GTPgammaS binding assay with G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-Galpha fusion proteins, in general, and that of peptide ligands can be obtained even for nonpeptide receptors.     

影响类弹性蛋白多肽自组装成微球的因素及其作用机制

影响类弹性蛋白多肽(ELPs)自组装成微球的因素较多,目前尚缺乏系统研究。以类弹性蛋白多肽[KV8F]n为对象,利用动态光散射仪测定了不同条件下其自组装成微球的粒径。结果表明:随着分子量的增加ELPs形成的微球粒径也随之增大,粒径的均一度减小;当盐浓度低于0.4 mol/L时,盐浓度的增加,微球粒径相应增加,而盐浓度高于0.4 mol/L则呈减少的趋势,但粒径均大于1.1μm;而当ELPs末端融合木聚糖酶和1,3-丙二醇氧化还原酶后,其自组装形成的微球粒径急剧减小,约为游离ELPs的1/10,分别为151.0 nm和174.2 nm。导致这种现象的原因可能是酶分子和ELPs通过静电引力相互作用后,酶分子的空间位阻妨碍了ELPs分子的聚集。     

Phosphatase Activity Toward Abnormally Phosphorylated τ: Decrease in Alzheimer Disease Brain

Abstract: Microtubule-associated protein τ is abnormally hyperphosphorylated and aggregated in affected neurons of Alzheimer disease brain. This hyperphosphorylated τ can be dephosphorylated at some of the abnormal phosphorylated sites by purified protein phosphatase-1, 2A, and 2B in vitro. In the present study, we have developed an assay to measure protein phosphatase activity toward τ-1 sites (Ser¹⁹⁹/Ser²⁰²) using the hyperphosphorylated τ isolated from Alzheimer disease brain as substrate. Using this assay, we have identified that in normal brain, protein phosphatase-2A and 2B and, to a lesser extent, 1 are involved in the dephosphorylation of τ. The K _m values of dephosphorylation of the hyperphosphorylated τ by protein phosphatase-2A and 2B are similar. The τ phosphatase activity is decreased by ∼30% in brain of Alzheimer disease patients compared with those of age-matched controls. These findings suggest that a defect of protein phosphatase could be the cause of the abnormal hyperphosphorylation of τ in Alzheimer disease.     

In vivo administration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 suppresses the expression of RANKL mRNA in bone of thyroparathyroidectomized rats constantly infused with PTH

It is known that pharmacological or toxic doses of vitamin D induce bone resorption both in vivo and in vitro, whereas physiological doses of the vitamin have a protective effect on bone in vivo. To investigate the discrepancies of the dose-dependent effect of vitamin D on bone resorption, we examined the in vivo effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)] on the expression of the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) mRNAs in bone of thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX) rats infused with or without parathyroid hormone (PTH). Continuous infusion of 50 ng/h of PTH greatly increased the expression of RANKL mRNA in bone of TPTX rats. Expression of OPG mRNA was not altered by PTH infusion. When graded doses of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) was daily administered orally for 14 days to normocalcemic TPTX rats constantly infused with PTH, 0.01 and 0.1 microg/kg of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) inhibited the PTH-induced RANKL mRNA expression, but 0.5 microg/kg of the vitamin did not inhibit it. Regulator of G protein signaling-2 (RGS-2) gene expression was suppressed by 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) dose-dependently, but PTH/PTHrP receptor mRNA expression was not altered. Bone morphometric analyses revealed that 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) suppressed PTH-induced osteoclast number in vivo. These results suggest that pharmacological or toxic doses of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) stimulate bone resorption by inducing RANKL, but a certain range of physiological doses of the vitamin inhibit PTH-induced bone resorption, the latter mechanism appeared to be mediated, at least in part, by the suppression of the PTH/PTHrP receptor-mediated signaling.     

水稻与拟南芥PHD-finger蛋白的系统分析

PHD-finger(plant homeodomain finger)是具Cys4-His-Cys3特征结构的锌指蛋白结构域,它广泛存在于植物或动物转录调节蛋白中。此类蛋白在植物或动物蛋白质组中具有多个功能各异的家族成员,并在发育中扮演重要的角色。鉴定了水稻44个推定的非冗余PHD-finger蛋白,并与拟南芥蛋白质组中45个该家族成员进行了比较;所构建的2棵进化树涵盖了这89个蛋白质,暗示水稻、拟南芥与人的PHD-finger蛋白中存在共同祖先。     

HCV编码病毒结构蛋白的DNA免疫研究

应用HCVC (pC)和HCVCE1E2 (pCE1E2 )重组体转染真核细胞并且通过肌注免疫BALB/C小鼠 ,对其体液免疫和细胞免疫进行检测。所用的 pC和 pCE1E2 均可在真核细胞内表达出特异性HCVC蛋白 ;肌注DNA免疫后均可诱导出BALB/C小鼠的体液和细胞免疫反应 ,抗体反应的A值 :pC组为 0 .358± 0 .0 96 ,pCE1E2 组为 0 .4 15± 0 .12 7;CTL活力 pC组为 18.6 5%± 5.72 % ,pCE1E2 组为 2 0 .0 7%± 11.11% ;通过免疫鼠荷瘤检测体内CTL反应 ,可观察到免疫组鼠发瘤时间滞后 ,发瘤部位减少和存活时间延长。在开发和研制HCV疫苗的过程中 ,DNA免疫是在快速构建、评价和筛选免疫原方面的有效办法。     

固醇调节元件结合蛋白2信号通路与非酒精性脂肪性肝病

非酒精性脂肪性肝病（non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,NAFLD）是以肝细胞内甘油三酯和胆固醇等脂毒性脂肪过度沉积为主要特征的一种临床获得性代谢综合征。最新研究表明,NAFLD向非酒精性脂肪肝炎(NASH)进展时,肝内胆固醇积累可能较甘油三酯更具有细胞毒性风险。固醇调节元件结合蛋白2（sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2,SREBP2）是脂质代谢重要的核转录因子之一,主要调控胆固醇的生物合成和体内平衡。SREBP2及其靶基因调控的胆固醇异常是引起非酒精性脂肪肝病发生发展的重要因素之一。因此,认识SREBP2信号通路中,上下游各因素的表达调控作用与NAFLD发病机制之间关系,就显得非常重要。本文总结了受SREBP2调控表达的靶基因的特点,着重介绍SREBP2调控胆固醇体内合成与平衡的信号通路与NAFLD发病机制之间关系,为研究和指导治疗NAFLD及其代谢性疾病提供新的思路。