Genetic Targets of Hydrogen Sulfide in Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury – A Microarray Study

Recently, we have shown that inhalation of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) protects against ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). In the present study, we aimed to determine the underlying molecular mechanisms of H₂S-dependent lung protection by analyzing gene expression profiles in mice. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to spontaneous breathing or mechanical ventilation in the absence or presence of H₂S (80 parts per million). Gene expression profiles were determined by microarray, sqRT-PCR and Western Blot analyses. The association of Atf3 in protection against VILI was confirmed with a Vivo-Morpholino knockout model. Mechanical ventilation caused a significant lung inflammation and damage that was prevented in the presence of H₂S. Mechanical ventilation favoured the expression of genes involved in inflammation, leukocyte activation and chemotaxis. In contrast, ventilation with H₂S activated genes involved in extracellular matrix remodelling, angiogenesis, inhibition of apoptosis, and inflammation. Amongst others, H₂S administration induced Atf3, an anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic regulator. Morpholino mediated reduction of Atf3 resulted in elevated lung injury despite the presence of H₂S. In conclusion, lung protection by H₂S during mechanical ventilation is associated with down-regulation of genes related to oxidative stress and inflammation and up-regulation of anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory genes. Here we show that Atf3 is clearly involved in H₂S mediated protection.     

Zur kenntnis des indischen goldlangurs

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Endosymbiosestudien an schilülausen VI. Die nicht in symbiose lebende gattung apiomorpha und ihre ungewöhnliche embryonalentwicklung

Ohne ZusammenfassungAus der von der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft eingerichteten, der Symbioseforschung dienenden Arbeitsstatte in Porto d'Ischia (Napoli).     

Expression of neuronal acetylcholine receptor polypeptidesin vitro

1. Translation of poly(A) RNA extracted from the nervous tissue of locusts in a reticulocyte lysate system led to polypeptides with a broad spectrum of molecular weights. 2. Using anti-locust acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antisera, polypeptides with a molecular weight of about 50,000 were immunoprecipitated. These peptides comprised about 0.3% of the total translation products. 3. Cotranslational incubation with pancreatic rough microsomes resulted in a glycosylated 60,000-dalton immunoprecipitate. 4. Density-gradient analysis of in vitro synthesized and glycosylated receptor polypeptides indicated that no assembly of subunits had taken the place under the in vitro conditions.