Extracellular vesicles in bone and tooth: A state-of-art paradigm in skeletal regeneration

Bone and tooth, fundamental parts of the craniofacial skeleton, are anatomically and developmentally interconnected structures. Notably, pathological processes in these tissues underwent together and progressed in multilevels. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-released small organelles and transfer proteins and genetic information into cells and tissues. Although EVs have been identified in bone and tooth, particularly EVs have been identified in the bone formation and resorption, the concrete roles of EVs in bone and tooth development and diseases remain elusive. As such, we review the recent progress of EVs in bone and tooth to highlight the novel findings of EVs in cellular communication, tissue homeostasis, and interventions. This will enhance our comprehension on the skeletal biology and shed new light on the modulation of skeletal disorders and the potential of genetic treatment.     

Age effects on intracortical microstructure and cortical thickness in adult saddle-back tamarins

Intracortical bone remodeling and cortical thickness data were collected from middiaphyseal thin sections of the humerus, ulna and tibia for 47 specimens ofSaguinus fuscicollis. Individuals were classified into age cohorts: Young Adult, Mid-adult I, Mid-adult II and Old Adult. Correlation analyses revealed significant relationships between age cohort and the number of osteons for the humerus and ulna, and between age cohort and non-Haversian canals for each of the three long bone elements. Significant relationships between age cohort and dimension of cortex size suggested an age-related pattern of cortical shifting in the ulna and older-age bone loss in the tibia.     

Comparison of the properties of active Ca2+ transport by the islet-cell endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane

The properties of active or ATP-dependent calcium transport by islet-cell endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane-enriched subcellular fractions were directly compared. These studies indicate that the active calcium transport systems of the two membranes are fundamentally distinct. In contrast to calcium uptake by the endoplasmic reticulum-enriched fraction, calcium uptake by islet-cell plasma membrane-enriched vesicles exhibited a different pH optimum, was not sustained by oxalate, and showed an approximate 30-fold greater affinity for ionized calcium. A similar difference in affinity for calcium was exhibited by the Ca²⁺-stimulated ATPase activities which are associated with these islet-cell subcellular fractions. Consistent with the effects of calmodulin on calcium transport, calmodulin stimulated Ca²⁺-ATPase in the plasma membranes, but did not increase calcium-stimulated ATPase activity in the endoplasmic reticulum membranes. The physiological significance of the differences observed in calcium transport by the endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane fractions relative to the regulation of insulin secretion by the islets of Langerhans is discussed.     

酿酒酵母INO80染色质重塑复合物调控基因表达的研究进展

表观遗传调控是真核生物基因表达精细调控的重要组成部分,主要包括DNA甲基化、组蛋白修饰和染色质重塑。其中,染色质重塑因子可影响组蛋白修饰酶和转录因子与特定位点的结合,在基因表达调控中占有重要地位。INO80复合物是进化上保守的染色质重塑复合物,能利用ATP水解获得的能量促进核小体的滑动和驱逐。INO80复合物除了在DNA复制、修复中发挥重要功能外,还通过改变DNA可及性调控酿酒酵母的基因表达。本文综述了染色质重塑复合物的分类及组成,重点介绍了酿酒酵母多亚基复合物INO80在基因表达调控中的重要功能,包括驱逐RNA聚合酶Ⅱ、响应信号转导途径和改变基因表达水平等,并着重总结了其在酿酒酵母环境胁迫响应机理中的研究进展。深入研究INO80染色质重塑复合物的功能,可为理解真核生物精细代谢调控的机制,并进一步开发基于染色质重塑等表观调控水平的微生物代谢工程和合成生物学改造策略,提高菌株的环境胁迫耐受性和发酵性能提供基础。     

Epigenetic and pharmacological control of pigmentation via Bromodomain Protein 9 (BRD9)

Lineage-specific differentiation programs are activated by epigenetic changes in chromatin structure. Melanin-producing melanocytes maintain a gene expression program ensuring appropriate enzymatic conversion of metabolites into the pigment, melanin, and transfer to surrounding cells. During neuroectodermal development, SMARCA4 (BRG1), the catalytic subunit of SWItch/Sucrose Non-Fermentable (SWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling complexes, is essential for lineage specification. SMARCA4 is also required for development of multipotent neural crest precursors into melanoblasts, which differentiate into pigment-producing melanocytes. In addition to the catalytic domain, SMARCA4 and several SWI/SNF subunits contain bromodomains which are amenable to pharmacological inhibition. We investigated the effects of pharmacological inhibitors of SWI/SNF bromodomains on melanocyte differentiation. Strikingly, treatment of murine melanoblasts and human neonatal epidermal melanocytes with selected bromodomain inhibitors abrogated melanin synthesis and visible pigmentation. Using functional genomics, iBRD9, a small molecule selective for the bromodomain of BRD9 was found to repress pigmentation-specific gene expression. Depletion of BRD9 confirmed a requirement for expression of pigmentation genes in the differentiation program from melanoblasts into pigmented melanocytes and in melanoma cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that iBRD9 disrupts the occupancy of BRD9 and the catalytic subunit SMARCA4 at melanocyte-specific loci. These data indicate that BRD9 promotes melanocyte pigmentation whereas pharmacological inhibition of BRD9 is repressive.     

丹参素注射液对急性心肌梗死大鼠的心室重构、心室功能及肢体导联与胸导联心电图参数的影响

摘要 目的：探讨丹参素注射液对急性心肌梗死大鼠的心室重构、心室功能及肢体导联与胸导联心电图参数的影响。方法：选择SD大鼠40只,将其鼠随机模型组、假手术组、硝酸甘油组、丹参注射液组。假手术组大鼠给予只在冠状动脉处穿针,不进行结扎,其余步骤同其余3组,其余3组均进行动物模型构建。假手术组、模型组大鼠均腹腔注射氯化钠注射液,硝酸甘油组腹腔注射硝酸甘油,丹参注射液组腹腔注射丹参注射液。对比4组大鼠的肢体导联与胸导联心电图参数,对比4组大鼠的血液流变学指标、左心室功能及左心室重构。结果：模型组的Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、aVL、aVF、V1、V2、V5、血浆粘度、纤维蛋白原、红细胞聚集指数、舒张末期室间隔厚度、左室舒张末期内径、左室收缩末期内径、左室舒张末期容积、左室收缩末期容积明显较假手术组、硝酸甘油组、丹参注射液组高,硝酸甘油、丹参注射液组以上指标明显较假手术组高,模型组的的左室舒张末期厚度、左室射血分数、左室短轴缩短率明显较假手术组、硝酸甘油组、丹参注射液组低,硝酸甘油、丹参注射液组的左室舒张末期厚度、左室射血分数、左室短轴缩短率明显较假手术组低。模型组的左心室重量指数、左心室截面直径明显较假手术组、硝酸甘油组、丹参注射液组高,硝酸甘油、丹参注射液组的左心室重量指数、左心室截面直径、梗死面积明显较假手术组高（P<0.05）,硝酸甘油组与丹参注射液组以上指标对比无差异（P>0.05）。结论：丹参素注射液可改善急性心肌梗死大鼠的心室重构、左心室功能及肢体导联与胸导联心电图参数,可能与其可降低大鼠的血液流变学指标水平有关。     

Catecholamine-containing pancreatic islet cells of the domestic fowl

Summary In an attempt to identify pancreatic islet cells emitting formaldehyde-induced fluorescence (FIF), the pancreatic islets of the domestic fowl were studied by combined fluorescence, ultrastructural, silver-impregnation and immunohistochemical methods in the same section or in consecutive semi-thin and ultra-thin sections. The results indicate that islet cells emitting intense FIF exhibit a strongly argyrophil reaction with the Grimelius' silver method and also immunohistochemical reaction with anti-glucagon serum, but not with anti-5-HT serum. Therefore, the fowl islet A cell, a peptide hormone-producing cell, stores simultaneously catecholamine as biogenic amine. The islet B and D cells did not display any FIF, any argyrophil reaction with the Grimelius' silver method, or any immunoreactivity with anti-glucagon or anti-5-HT sera. The fluorescent but non-argyrophil cells dispersed in the exocrine acinus may well be PP cells.