Dynamics of intracellular movement and nucleocytoplasmic recycling of the ligand-activated androgen receptor in living cells

An expression construct containing the cDNA encoding a modified aequorea green fluorescent protein (GFP) ligated to the 5'-end of the rat androgen receptor (AR) cDNA (GFP-AR) was used to study the intracellular dynamics of the receptor movement in living cells. In three different cell lines, ie. PC3, HeLa, and COS1, unliganded GFP-AR was seen mostly in the cytoplasm and rapidly (within 15-60 min) moved to the nuclear compartment after androgen treatment. Upon androgen withdrawal, the labeled AR migrated back to the cytoplasmic compartment and maintained its ability to reenter the nucleus on subsequent exposure to androgen. Under the condition of inhibited protein synthesis by cycloheximide (50 microg/ml), at least four rounds of receptor recycling after androgen treatment and withdrawal were recorded. Two nonandrogenic hormones, 17beta-estradiol and progesterone at higher concentrations (10(-7)/10(-6) M), were able to both transactivate the AR-responsive promoter and translocate the GFP-AR into the nucleus. Similarly, antiandrogenic ligands, cyproterone acetate and casodex, were also capable of translocating the cytoplasmic AR into the nucleus albeit at a slower rate than the androgen 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT). All AR ligands with transactivation potential, including the mixed agonist/antagonist cyproterone acetate, caused translocation of the GFP-AR into a subnuclear compartment indicated by its punctate intranuclear distribution. However, translocation caused by casodex, a pure antagonist, resulted in a homogeneous nuclear distribution. Subsequent exposure of the casodex-treated cell to DHT rapidly (15-30 min) altered the homogeneous to punctate distribution of the already translocated nuclear AR. When transported into the nucleus either by casodex or by DHT, GFP-AR was resistant to 2 M NaCl extraction, indicating that the homogeneously distributed AR is also associated with the nuclear matrix. Taken together, these results demonstrate that AR requires ligand activation for its nuclear translocation where occupancy by only agonists and partial agonists can direct it to a potentially functional subnuclear location and that one receptor molecule can undertake multiple rounds of hormonal signaling; this indicates that ligand dissociation/inactivation rather than receptor degradation may play a critical role in terminating hormone action.     

FoxO1在胰岛β细胞代谢灵活性受损及失代偿进程中的作用

葡萄糖及脂肪酸是胰岛β细胞的关键代谢底物,葡萄糖刺激胰岛β细胞分泌胰岛素是维持机体血糖稳态平衡的关键。胰岛素抵抗发生时,β细胞对能量代谢底物的选择失调,加速胰岛β细胞由代偿到胰岛β细胞失代偿的进程,是肥胖胰岛素抵抗最终发展为2型糖尿病的始动因素。核转录因子FoxO1属于Fox家族成员,在胰腺内广泛表达,在β细胞的代谢,发育,增殖过程中发挥着重要的调节作用。鉴于FoxO1在维持胰岛β细胞功能中的关键作用,现着重对FoxO1在胰岛β细胞代谢灵活性受损及失代偿过程发生中的作用调节进行阐述。为其作为调控胰岛β细胞功能的关键靶点提供参考。     

Novel aryl and heteroaryl substituted N-[3-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)propyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazole-5-carboxamides as selective GSK-3 inhibitors

Synthesis, biological evaluation, and SAR dependencies for a series of novel aryl and heteroaryl substituted N-[3-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)propyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazole-5-carboxamide inhibitors of GSK-3beta kinase are described. The inhibitory activity of the synthesized compounds is highly dependent on the character of substituents in the phenyl ring and the nature of terminal heterocyclic fragment of the core molecular scaffold. The most potent compounds from this series contain 3,4-di-methyl or 2-methoxy substituents within the phenyl ring and 3-pyridine fragment connected to the 1,2,4-oxadiazole heterocycle. These compounds selectively inhibit GSK-3beta kinase with IC(50) value of 0.35 and 0.41 microM, respectively.     

促性腺激素释放激素Buserelin 稳定性的研究

目的:研究Buserelin原料药的性质在温度、湿度、光线等条件的影响下随时间变化的规律,为该原料药的生产、包装、储存、运输及有效期的制定提供依据。方法:根据中国药典2005版二部附录XIX C药物稳定性试验指导原则及化学药物稳定性研究技术指导原则进行强光照射、高温(60℃、40℃)、高湿(RH92.5%±5%、RH75%±5%)影响因素试验,加速试验(40℃±2℃、RH75%±5%;25℃±2℃、RH60%±10%);按Buserelin原料药标准规定的质量指标及相关的检验方法对产品在试验条件下的主要质量指标进行检测。结果:强光照射、高温、高湿等影响因素对Buserelin的稳定性有明显影响,故应密封、于干燥、阴凉处保存。在加速试验中,Buserelin原料药的各项质量指标发生了小的变化,但均在质量标准规定的范围内。结论:强光照射、高温、高湿等影响因素对Buserelin的稳定性有明显影响,应在阴凉干燥处避光密封保存和运输。加速试验结果证明:在此条件下,它的各项质量指标变化均在质量标准范围内,符合Buserelin原料药质量标准规定的要求;故将其保质期暂定为两年。     

Treatment outcomes in locally advanced colorectal carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Locally advanced colorectal cancers form a distinct subgroup where contiguous organs could be involved without distant metastases and so may be amenable to curative surgical resection. It was our objective to report our experience in treating six such patients with operable locally advanced colorectal carcinomas. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the case notes of 47 patients who were diagnosed with colorectal cancers at M S Ramaiah Medical Teaching Hospital between the years 1996 - 2001. Six patients were identified with T4 lesions, adjacent organ involvement and with no nodal involvement. The treatments and outcomes for these patients were then reviewed. RESULTS: Two of three patients with rectal malignancies who underwent pelvic exenteration succumbed to disease recurrence within the first 18 months. One of the three patients with colonic cancers died of non malignant causes. The other two are disease free till date. CONCLUSIONS: Aggressive multivisceral resections for locally advanced colonic cancers might be appropriate. Rectal cancers when locally advanced may be considered for pelvic exenteration, but a more guarded prognosis may apply.     

A Rapid and Reliable PCR-based Assay for Gene Transmission and Sex Determination in Newborn Transgenic Mice

This article describes a reliable and rapid method for simultaneous detection of a transgene and sex determination in the newborn mouse pups by PCR using three sets of primers in a single reaction. One set of sense/antisense primers is used to amplify the experimental transgene (androgen receptor gene in this case), the second set for the mouse Y-chromosome-specific SRY gene, and the third set for the subunit of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), an internal control. This procedure allowed us to promptly analyze pups born from transgenic founders carrying the androgen receptor transgene and, at the same time, establish the sex of the animals. The method is simple, rapid and highly reproducible.     

Internalization of growth factor-receptor complexes under the influence of antibodies initiates cell apoptosis in vitro

Antibodies against growth factors like IGF1, IGF2, aFGF, bFGF and, to a certain extent, TGF alpha and EGF were shown to cause apoptosis of normal and tumorigenic cells while apoptotic cell death could be prevented neither by single growth factors nor by serum. Antibodies to growth factors caused apoptosis by interacting with growth factors bound to their receptors on the cell surface. The phenomenon is likely to be associated with active internalization of growth factor receptors loaded with ligands. Apparently these activated receptors are essential for cell survival and their disappearance from the cell surface initiates apoptosis.