卵泡分化排卵和黄体发生的分子基础

本文综述了近二十年来在雌性生殖研究领域中五个方面的研究进展。（1）原始卵泡的启动生长和分化：原始卵泡生长启动可能受卵巢内在因子,像生长因子的调控,而不是人所想象的FSH;启动生长的卵泡受生长因子,FSH,激活素,孤儿受体和其他卵巢旁分泌因子调控,并发展成“优势卵泡”;（2）优势卵泡和闭锁卵泡：FSH,激活素／抑制素,卵泡抑素和雌激素调节卵泡分化的趋向,它们的相互作用和平衡决定“优热卵泡”和“闭锁卵泡”的形成,其中雌激素在此起关键性作用;它一方面促进FSH对LH受体的诱导作用,增加GC上的LH受体数目;另一方面可促进GC芳香水酶的产生,使此卵泡进入良性循环,发展为优势卵泡;（3）两种细胞两种促性尕激素学说：在FSH和LH作用下,GC产生的孕酮可被膜细胞利用转化为雄激素;因此GC和TC相互作用是卵巢雌激素产生的前提;（4）排卵:GC主要产生tPA,而TC主要表达tPA的抑制因子PAI－1,在激素作用下,GC的tPA和TC的PAI－1相互作用,形成一个局部蛋白水解窗口,它对卵泡破裂起决定性作用;（5）黄体形成和萎缩：uPA和MMP／TIMP系统对黄体发生起重要作用;而tPA对黄体萎缩起关键作用。     

卵泡刺激素促进卵巢颗粒细胞增殖分化的信号通路的研究进展

卵泡刺激素（FSH）是一种垂体前叶合成和分泌的糖蛋白激素,是卵巢发育的重要激素,可与卵巢颗粒细胞膜上的特异性受体结合从而促进细胞的增殖分化,激活细胞内芳香化酶生成雌激素和孕激素。FSH在卵巢颗粒细胞中主要依靠cAMP—PKA信号通路促进细胞增殖,同时也发生多种信号通路,ERK1／2、ERK5、p38MAPK、P13K／Akt、VEGF均参与FSH促进卵巢颗粒细胞的增殖分化;它们之间相互作用促进卵巢颗粒细胞的增殖。     

促性腺激素(FSH)对甾类激素合成调节作用的研究

首先分离出23日龄SD品系大鼠的卵巢颗粒细胞,然后进行无血清细胞培养,采用放射免疫的方法分别鉴定了不同剂量、不同培养时间促性腺激素(FSH)对颗粒细胞中甾类激素合成的影响,结果表明,甾类激素合成受FSH的影响,并且具有浓度和时间依赖性.     

Follicular growth,differentiation and atresia

Only limited numbers of primordial follicles in mammalian ovary grow and differentiate to reach the stage of dominate follicles and ovulate. 99% of the follicles in the ovary undergo atresia at various stages of development.Regulation of follicular growth, development and atresia is a complex process and involves interactions between endocrine factors and intraovarian regulators. This review summarized: i ) FSH may not be a survival factor in regulating slow-growing preantral follicles. Some locally produced growth factors, activin and orphan receptors might play a more important role at this stage, ii ) Estrogen, activin/inhibin and follistatin coordinate with FSH to regulate and control follicle differentiation, iii) There are two types of follicular atresia induced by apoptosis which originates from GC or oocyte, respectively. Early translation of tPA mRNA into tPA protein in oocyte may be associated with oocytea apoptosis.     

Differentiation and adaptation epigenetic networks: Translational research in gastric carcinogenesis

There are several kinds of epigenetic networks in the human body including the cell differentiation epigenetic network(DiEN) and the host adaptation epigenetic network(AdEN).DiEN networks are static and cell/tissue-specific.AdEN networks are variable and dependent upon environmental factors.DiEN and AdEN alterations can respectively serve as biomarkers for different kinds of diseases.Cancer is a consequence of accumulated pathophysiological adaptations of tissue stem cells to exposure of environmental carcinogens.Cancer cells are de-differentiated cells that obtain the capacity of unrestricted proliferation,local invasion,and distant migration/metastasis.Both DiEN and AdEN changes can be observed in cancer tissues.Alterations of DNA methylation are the most stable epigenetic modifications and can be sensitively detected in a small cell population.These advantages make DNA methylation the optimal biomarkers for detection of initiated cells in precancerous lesions and metastasis stem cells in cancer tissues.It has been proven that p16 methylation can be used as a diagnostic biomarker to determine malignant potential of epithelium dysplasia in many organs including the stomach.In a large-scale validation study on the DNA methylome of gastric carcinomas(GC),the methylation status of more than 90 CpG islands has been analyzed by DHPLC.Furthermore,GFRA1 demethylation and methylation of SRF and ZNF382 are frequent events during gastric carcinogenesis and consistently correlate to GC metastasis and overall survival of GC patients from China,Japan,and Korea,respectively.In a population study,it has been demonstrated that gradual increasing of plasma miR-211 and other miRNA levels may be an early risk predictor for GC development.     

Regulatory properties of LFA-1 alpha and beta chains in human T-lymphocyte activation

Lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) is a heterodimer composed of an alpha and beta chain that is expressed on the surface of most leukocytes and is an essential molecule for adhesion reactions between cells participating in the immune response. A putative ligand for LFA-1 is the intercellular adhesion molecule ICAM-1 (refs 3-5). Leukocyte adhesion abnormality is found in patients with LFA-1 deficiency. It is not clear whether binding of ligand to the LFA-1 molecule merely spatially orientates cells towards each other or can also induce signals that regulate cell activation and differentiation. We have recently developed a T-cell proliferation assay which uses immobilized anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies as stimulant and is independent of LFA-1-mediated cellular adhesion. As there is no interference by anti-LFA-1 monoclonal antibodies with the adhesion-dependent activation steps, this T-cell activation system allows us to investigate whether transmembrane signals are induced by binding of ligand to LFA-1 on T cells. Our data indicate that binding of ligand to LFA-1 results in the transduction of regulatory signal across the plasma membrane, rather like other molecules (CD2, CD4, CD8) (refs 8-11) with signal-modifying properties involved in the adhesion of T cells to target/stimulator cells. Indeed, adhesion molecules might generally be important in signal transduction, even in cells not belonging to the immune system.     

Research progress in protein post-translational modification

A. Ciechanover and A. Hershko, Israel scientists, and American scientist O. Rose have received the Nobel Prize of 2004 in chemistry because they have discovered themechanism of the ubiquitin-regulated proteolysis. Their work indicates the research directi…     

羟基磷灰石基生物材料培养破骨细胞研究现状

骨重建是新骨组织替换旧骨或受损骨的生理过程，在无瘢痕骨愈合和受损骨再生中起着必要的作用。骨重建主要是骨形成细胞如成骨细胞（osteoblast，OB），骨吸收细胞如破骨细胞（osteoclast，OC），和巨噬细胞（macrophage，MP）等细胞之间的相互协调活动。OC作为生物体内唯一多核细胞，负责生物体内骨质的脱钙与骨基质的吸收。自然骨具有一定硬度、韧性，良好的生物活性，保证骨重建中细胞的增殖、分化、骨形成或骨再吸收等活性。以羟基磷灰石（hydroxyapatite，HA）为主的磷酸钙（HA-CaPs）是自然骨中矿物质的主要成分，具有优异的生物性能而被广泛应用于骨组织修复领域。总结了HA-CaPs物相成分、表面形貌等对OC等骨吸收细胞增殖、分化和骨吸收活性的影响，并通过OC对于骨修复材料体内吸收机制及细胞活性调控机制等探讨HA-CaPs与细胞间相互关系，以期为磷酸钙人工骨替代材料更加广泛的生物应用作理论参考。     

Two forms of transforming growth factor-beta distinguished by multipotential haematopoietic progenitor cells

Type-beta transforming growth factors (TGF-beta s) are polypeptides that act hormonally to control proliferation and differentiation of many cell types. Two distinct homodimeric TGF-beta polypeptides, TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 have been identified which show approximately 70% amino-acid sequence similarity. Despite their structural differences, TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 are equally potent at inhibiting epithelial cell proliferation and adipogenic differentiation. The recent immunohistochemical localization of high levels of TGF-beta in the bone marrow and haematopoietic progenitors of the fetal liver has raised the possibility that TGF-beta s might be involved in the regulation of haematopoiesis. Here we show that TGF-beta 1, but not TGF-beta 2, is a potent inhibitor of haematopoietic progenitor cell proliferation. TGF-beta 1 inhibited colony formation by murine factor-dependent haematopoietic progenitor cells in response to interleukin-3 (IL-3) or granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), as well as colony formation by marrow progenitor cells responding to CSF-1 (M-CSF). The progenitor cell lines examined were approximately 100-fold more sensitive to TGF-beta 1 than TGF-beta 2, and displayed type-I TGF-beta receptors with affinity approximately 20-fold higher for TGF-beta 1 than TGF-beta 2. These results identify TGF-beta 1 as a novel regulator of haematopoiesis that acts through type-I TGF-beta receptors to modulate proliferation of progenitor cells in response to haematopoietic growth factors.     

Localization of orphan receptor TR3 mRNA in early developmental follicles in rat

Byin situ hybridization, the localization of orphan receptor TR3 mRNA has been observed in early developmental follicles. TR3 mRNA is first expressed in the ovarian interstitial cells on day 2 after birth, and then in granulosa cells (GC) in primary follicles on day 4. The expression level of TR3 mRNA in GC increases following the follicular development. Its higher expression can be observed in the outer layer of GC and inner layer of theca cells (TC) on day 6, where the cells present active proliferation and differentiation. The expression of TR3 is in an increasing manner until the large antral follicles on day 30. The mRNA is only expressed in the healthy, but not atretic follicles in adult rat ovaries. Injection of epidermal growth factor (EGF) has dramatically enhanced its expression in the early stage of developmental follicles. It is therefore suggested that TR3 may play a role in regulating growth and differentiation of ovarian somatic cells in the early stage, and its expression is regulated by EGF.     

Selective immortalization of murine macrophages from fresh bone marrow by a raf/myc recombinant murine retrovirus

Myeloid precursors can be grown in vitro in the presence of specific growth factors; however, their expansion is limited by a competing process of terminal differentiation. Proto-oncogenes seem to be involved in cellular proliferation and/or differentiation and may also play a role in the myelopoietic process. Murine myeloid precursors which are grown in vitro with growth factors respond with augmented self-renewal upon infection with recombinant retroviruses carrying the v-myc or v-src oncogenes, suggesting a synergism or complementation between some viral oncogenes (v-onc) and certain growth factors. We now show that the combination of two v-onc genes (raf and myc) induces the selective proliferation of monocytic cells from fresh murine bone marrow (BM) in the absence of a specific growth factor supplement. Depending on the culture conditions these cells can either differentiate and cease to proliferate or grow continuously, thus mimicking the alternative pathways that can be followed by committed BM stem cells in vivo.     

The behaviour of Drosophila adult hindgut stem cells is controlled by Wnt and Hh signalling

The intestinal tract maintains proper function by replacing aged cells with freshly produced cells that arise from a population of self-renewing intestinal stem cells (ISCs). In the mammalian intestine, ISC self renewal, amplification and differentiation take place along the crypt-villus axis, and are controlled by the Wnt and hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathways. However, little is known about the mechanisms that specify ISCs within the developing intestinal epithelium, or about the signalling centres that help maintain them in their self-renewing stem cell state. Here we show that in adult Drosophila melanogaster, ISCs of the posterior intestine (hindgut) are confined to an anterior narrow segment, which we name the hindgut proliferation zone (HPZ). Within the HPZ, self renewal of ISCs, as well as subsequent proliferation and differentiation of ISC descendants, are controlled by locally emanating Wingless (Wg, a Drosophila Wnt homologue) and Hh signals. The anteriorly restricted expression of Wg in the HPZ acts as a niche signal that maintains cells in a slow-cycling, self-renewing mode. As cells divide and move posteriorly away from the Wg source, they enter a phase of rapid proliferation. During this phase, Hh signal is required for exiting the cell cycle and the onset of differentiation. The HPZ, with its characteristic proliferation dynamics and signalling properties, is set up during the embryonic phase and becomes active in the larva, where it generates all adult hindgut cells including ISCs. The mechanism and genetic control of cell renewal in the Drosophila HPZ exhibits a large degree of similarity with what is seen in the mammalian intestine. Our analysis of the Drosophila HPZ provides an insight into the specification and control of stem cells, highlighting the way in which the spatial pattern of signals that promote self renewal, growth and differentiation is set up within a genetically tractable model system.     

Induction of endothelial cell expression of granulocyte and macrophage colony-stimulating factors by modified low-density lipoproteins.

Oxidized lipoproteins have been identified in atherosclerotic plaques and in early lesions in humans as well as in animals. There is accumulating evidence that such oxidized lipoproteins have an important role in atherosclerosis. Treatment of endothelial cells with altered lipoproteins stimulates monocyte binding as well as the production of chemotactic factors for monocytes. Both these findings could be relevant to the accumulation of monocytes-macrophages in the arterial wall during the early stages of lesion development. We now report that treatment of endothelial cells (EC) with modified low-density lipoproteins obtained by mild iron oxidation or by prolonged storage, results in a rapid and large induction of the expression of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), macrophage CSF (M-CSF) and granulocyte CSF (G-CSF). These growth factors affect the differentiation, survival, proliferation, migration and metabolism of macrophages/granulocytes, and G-CSF and GM-CSF also affect the migration and proliferation of EC. Because EC and macrophages are important in the development of atherosclerosis, the expression of the CSFs by these cells could contribute to the disease.     

Cloning of complementary DNA encoding T-cell replacing factor and identity with B-cell growth factor II

Proliferation and maturation of antigen-stimulated B cells are regulated by several soluble factors derived from macrophages and T cells. These soluble factors are functionally divided into two groups: B-cell growth factor (BCGF), thought to be involved in B-cell proliferation; and B-cell differentiation factor (BCDF), responsible for maturation of activated B cells into immunoglobulin-secreting cells. This classification needs to be re-examined in the light of the recent cloning of complementary DNA encoding IgG1 induction factor (interleukin-4, IL-4) from the 2.19 mouse T-cell line. Recombinant IL-4 has BCGF and BCDF activities and affects B cells, T cells and mast cells (refs 7, 8; our unpublished data). Another well-characterized B-cell factor is T-cell replacing factor (TRF), which, when secreted by the murine T-cell hybridoma B151K12, is defined by two activities: induction of IgM secretion by BCL1 leukaemic B-cell line; and induction of secondary anti-dinitrophenol (DNP) immunoglobulin G (IgG) synthesis in vitro by DNP-prime B cells. Although TRF from B151K12 was classified as BCDF, purified TRF has BCGF-II activity. To elucidate the molecular properties of TRF we isolated cDNA encoding TRF from the 2.19 T-cell line and report here the structure and multiple activities of this lymphokine.     

Increased pH and tumorigenicity of fibroblasts expressing a yeast proton pump

A common early response of eukaryotic cells to stimuli which activate their proliferation is an increase in intracellular pH (ref. 1). In animal cells this is caused by the activation of an Na+/H+ exchange system; in fungi and plants an H+-pumping ATPase is involved. The critical question is whether this intracellular alkalinization is merely coincident with the activation of cell proliferation or whether it is a regulatory signal. To increase intracellular pH bypassing the usual physiological stimuli (growth factors, hormones etc.) alkaline media or ammonia have been used in the past. Both approaches suffer from long-term toxicity effects and cannot be used in tumorigenic assays with whole organisms. We introduce here a more specific approach which involves expressing the gene for the yeast plasma membrane H+-ATPase in fibroblasts. The resulting cells have an elevated intracellular pH and acquire tumorigenic properties, suggesting that the yeast ATPase gene behaves as an oncogene in mammalian cells. These experiments support a crucial role of intracellular pH in the growth control of animal cells.     

Regulation between nitric oxide and MAPK signal transduction in mammals

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important biological messenger in the regulation of tissue homeostasis. It exhibits a wide range of effects during physiological and pathophysiological processes. Typical beneficial properties of NO include the regulation of vascular tone,the protection of cells against apoptosis, the modulation of immune responses, and the killing of microbial pathogens. On the other hand,NO may cause severe vasodilation and myocardial depression during bacterial sepsis or act as a cytotoxic and tissue-damaging molecule in autoimmune diseases. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is a family of serine/threonine protein kinases that are widely distributed in mammalian cells. MAPK cascade plays pivotal roles in gene expression, cell proliferation, differentiation, neuronal survival and programmed cell death under a variety of experimental conditions. MAPKs transduce the signal for the cellular response to extracellular stresses or stimuli. The relation between them, however, has never been reviewed. Based on our researches and other reports in the field, we review their reciprocal regulatory functions.     

Asymmetric cell divisions promote Notch-dependent epidermal differentiation

Stem and progenitor cells use asymmetric cell divisions to balance proliferation and differentiation. Evidence from invertebrates shows that this process is regulated by proteins asymmetrically distributed at the cell cortex during mitosis: Par3-Par6-aPKC, which confer polarity, and Gα(i)-LGN/AGS3-NuMA-dynein/dynactin, which govern spindle positioning. Here we focus on developing mouse skin, where progenitor cells execute a switch from symmetric to predominantly asymmetric divisions concomitant with stratification. Using in vivo skin-specific lentiviral RNA interference, we investigate spindle orientation regulation and provide direct evidence that LGN (also called Gpsm2), NuMA and dynactin (Dctn1) are involved. In compromising asymmetric cell divisions, we uncover profound defects in stratification, differentiation and barrier formation, and implicate Notch signalling as an important effector. Our study demonstrates the efficacy of applying RNA interference in vivo to mammalian systems, and the ease of uncovering complex genetic interactions, here to gain insights into how changes in spindle orientation are coupled to establishing proper tissue architecture during skin development.