野百合碱诱导大鼠肺动脉高压及肺源性心脏病的病理生理特征

目的:探讨野百合碱诱发肺动脉高压及肺源性心脏病模型的建立机制。方法:雄性Wistar大鼠20只,随机分为两组(n=10):正常组,模型组。模型组大鼠腹腔一次性注射野百合碱50 mg/kg,对照组注射同剂量的溶媒,28 d后测定大鼠血流动力学参数,硝酸盐还原酶法测定血清和肺组织中一氧化氮的含量;放射免疫法测定血浆中内皮素、脑钠素和肺组织中肿瘤坏死因子、内皮素的含量。结果:与对照组比较,右心室压力上升、心率和平均动脉压下降,血液和肺组织中肿瘤坏死因子、一氧化氮、内皮素-1、脑钠素含量上升,具有统计学意义。结论:野百合碱通过诱发肺血管和组织炎性损伤,升高体内肿瘤坏死因子、一氧化氮、内皮素-1的含量,建立肺动脉高压及肺源性心脏病模型。     

Cryopreservation of embryonic stem cell‐derived multicellular neural aggregates labeled with micron‐sized particles of iron oxide for magnetic resonance imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides an effective approach to track labeled pluripotent stem cell (PSC)‐derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs) for neurological disorder treatments after cell labeling with a contrast agent, such as an iron oxide derivative. Cryopreservation of pre‐labeled neural cells, especially in three‐dimensional (3D) structure, can provide a uniform cell population and preserve the stem cell niche for the subsequent applications. In this study, the effects of cryopreservation on PSC‐derived multicellular NPC aggregates labeled with micron‐sized particles of iron oxide (MPIO) were investigated. These NPC aggregates were labeled prior to cryopreservation because labeling thawed cells can be limited by inefficient intracellular uptake, variations in labeling efficiency, and increased culture time before use, minimizing their translation to clinical settings. The results indicated that intracellular MPIO incorporation was retained after cryopreservation (70–80% labeling efficiency), and MPIO labeling had little adverse effects on cell recovery, proliferation, cytotoxicity and neural lineage commitment post‐cryopreservation. MRI analysis showed comparable detectability for the MPIO‐labeled cells before and after cryopreservation indicated by T₂ and T₂* relaxation rates. Cryopreserving MPIO‐labeled 3D multicellular NPC aggregates can be applied in in vivo cell tracking studies and lead to more rapid translation from preservation to clinical implementation. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:510–521, 2015     

Persistence of hyperbaric oxygen-induced oxidative effects after exposure in rat brain cortex tissue

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) causes oxidative stress in several organs and tissues. Due to its high rate of blood flow and oxygen consumption, the brain is one of the most sensitive organs to this effect. Many studies have reported oxidative effects of HBO, but there is no comprehensive data about how long this effect persists. The aim of this study was to elucidate the duration of HBO-induced oxidative/antioxidant action. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups. Except for the controls, the animals were subjected to 100% oxygen for 2 h at 3 atm and differed from each other by the time to dissection after exposure that began at 30, 60, 90, or 120 min. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was determined in brain cortex tissue. Additionally, nitrite-nitrate (NO(x)) concentrations were measured. All measured parameters were found to be significantly increased 30 min after exposure. SOD and GSH-Px levels persisted at significantly high levels for 60 min. In conclusion, the oxidative effect of HBO was shown to persist only for 1 h. Further studies should be performed to elucidate the possible molecular interactions during this period.     

Influence of nano‐zinc oxide on tropane alkaloid production,h6h gene transcription and antioxidant enzyme activity in Hyoscyamus reticulatus L. hairy roots

The use of nanotechnology and biotechnology to improve the production of plant bioactive compounds is growing. Hyoscyamus reticulatus L. is a major source of tropane alkaloids with a wide therapeutic use, including treatment of Parkinson's disease and to calm schizoid patients. In the present study, hairy roots were obtained from two‐week‐old cotyledon explants of H. reticulatus L. using the A7 strain of Agrobacterium rhizogenes. The effects of different concentrations of the signaling molecule nano‐zinc oxide (ZnO) (0, 50, 100 and 200 mg/L), with three exposure times (24, 48 and 72 h), on the growth rate, antioxidant enzyme activity, total phenol contents (TPC), tropane alkaloid contents and hyoscyamine‐6‐beta‐hydroxylase (h6h) gene expression levels were investigated. Growth curve analysis revealed a decrease in fresh and dry weight of ZnO‐treated hairy roots compared to the control. ANOVA results showed that the antioxidant activity of the enzymes catalase, guaiacol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase was significantly higher in the ZnO‐treated hairy roots than in the control, as was the TPC. The highest levels of hyoscyamine (37%) and scopolamine (37.63%) were obtained in hairy roots treated with 100 mg/L of ZnO after 48 and 72 h, respectively. Semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR analysis revealed the highest h6h gene expression was in hairy roots treated with 100 mg/L of ZnO after 24 h. It can be concluded that ZnO is as an effective elicitor of tropane alkaloids such as hyoscyamine and scopolamine due to its enhancing effect on expression levels of the biosynthetic h6h gene.     

Nitric oxide does not promote iron release from ferritin

It has been previously reported that iron release from ferritin could be promoted by nitric oxide (NO) generated from sodium nitroprusside. It was thus proposed that some of the toxic effects of NO could be related to its ability to increase intracellular free iron concentrations and generate an oxidative stress. On the contrary, the iron exchange experiments reported here show that NO from S-nitrosothiols is unable to promote iron release from ferritin. The discrepancy may be explained by the disregarded ability of ferrozine, the ferrous trap used in the previous report, to mobilize iron both from ferritin and from sodium nitroprusside spontaneously.     

补肾益气活血方对胎儿宫内生长迟缓胎盘组织一氧化氮合酶活性的影响

为了探讨补肾益气活血方对胎儿宫内生长迟缓（ＩＵＧＲ）胎盘组织一氧化氮（ＮＯ）生成的影响,本文对正常孕妇、ＩＵＧＲ患者及补肾益气活血中药治疗后患者各１２例,采用ＮＡＤＰＨ黄递酶法研究了一氧化氮合酶（ＮＯＳ）在胎盘组织的分布,应用化学发光法测定胎盘组织ＮＯＳ活性。结果表明：正常孕妇胎盘绒毛合体滋养层细胞ＮＯＳ呈强阳性反应,绒毛干血管壁呈阳性反应,终末绒毛毛细血管壁呈阴性反应;ＩＵＧＲ患者绒毛合体滋养层细胞和绒毛干血管壁ＮＯＳ染色明显变浅,而终末绒毛毛细血管壁呈阳性反应;中药治疗后合体滋养层细胞和绒毛干血管壁ＮＯＳ染色明显加深。ＮＯＳ活性测定中药组较ＩＵＧＲ未治疗组显著增高,与正常孕妇相比其差异无显著性。结果提示：ＮＯ参与ＩＵＧＲ的病理生理过程,补肾益气活血方通过增强ＮＯＳ活性促进胎盘组织ＮＯ的产生     

Diacylglycerol kinase alpha regulates globular adiponectin-induced reactive oxygen species

Abstract:

It has previously been reported that the globular form of adiponectin (gAd), mature adipocyte-derived cytokine, induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) in the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264. This study investigated whether diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs), enzymes functioning in sub-cellular signalling pathways, had a role on gAd-induced ROS generation in RAW 264 cells. Administration of R59022, a specific inhibitor for DGK, reduced gAd-induced ROS generation and NO release. RAW 264 cell expressed DGKα mRNA. Depression of DGKα mRNA by RNA interference significantly reduced the ROS generation in response to gAd treatment. Interestingly, transfection with the DGKα-specific small interfering RNA attenuated the expression level of Nox1 mRNA in gAd-treated RAW 264 cells. In addition, the DGKα knockdown with siRNA suppressed gAd-induced NO release.