Galectins in cell growth and apoptosis

Fourteen members of the galectin family, proteins with conserved carbohydrate-recognition domains that bind β-galactoside, have been cloned and more are expected to be discovered in the near future. Many aspects of galectin biology have been thoroughly explored, and functional studies have implicated these proteins in cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis, in addition to cell adhesion, chemoattraction and cell migration. In some cases a galectin can either promote or suppress cell growth, depending on the cell types and doses used. Galectin-3 is the only member known so far to inhibit apoptosis, while galectin-1, -7 and -9 promote this cellular process. Galectins can act either extracellularly or intracellularly to exert effects on cell growth and apoptosis. RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author.     

The Ras family of GTPases in cancer cell invasion

The ability of tumoral cells to invade surrounding tissues is a prerequisite for metastasis. This is the most life-threatening event of tumor progression, and so research is intensely focused on elucidating the mechanisms responsible for invasion and metastasis. The Ras superfamily of GTPases comprises several subfamilies of small GTP-binding proteins whose functions include the control of proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, as well as cytoskeleton organization. The development of metastasis is a multistep process that requires coordinated activation of proliferation, motility, changes in normal cell-to-cell and cell-to-substrate contacts, degradation of extracellular matrix, inhibition of apoptosis, and adaptation to an inappropriate tissue environment. Several members of the Ras superfamily of proteins have been implicated in these processes. The present review summarizes the current knowledge in this field.     

低氢、运动及低氢训练对肝细胞凋亡影响的研究进展

低氧与健康的研究是近年来临床医学、环境医学、航空航天医学和运动医学的研究重点问题之一。从肝细胞凋亡的角度研究运动对肝细胞的影响及其与运动性疲劳之间的关系,对科学制定训练计划等具有重要的意义。低氧训练使机体处于更加缺血和缺氧状态,血液的重新分配,使肝脏出现暂时的缺血,运动强度降低后血液重新回流形成血液再灌注,导致肝损伤,诱导细胞凋亡。细胞凋亡的过低或过高都导致疾病的发生。肝细胞凋亡的异常在急、慢性肝损伤的发病机制中起着重要的作用。就有关低氧、运动及低氧训练对肝细胞凋亡的影响,引起凋亡发生的基因调控及机制进行相关综述。     

Simulating FAS-induced apoptosis by using P systems

In contrast to differential equations, P systems are an unconventional model of computation which takes into consideration the discrete character of the quantity of components and the inherent randomness that exists in biological phenomena. The key feature of P systems is their compartmentalised structure which represents the heterogeneity of the structural organisation of the cells, and where one can take into account the role played by membranes in the functioning of the system, for example signalling at the cell surface, selective uptake of substances from the media, diffusion across different compartments, etc. We show here that P systems can be a reliable tool for Systems Biology and could even outperform in some cases the current simulation techniques based on differential equations. We will also use a strategy based on the well known Gillespie algorithm but running on more than one compartment called Multi-compartmental Gillespie Algorithm.     

细胞凋亡检测方法研究进展

细胞凋亡是生命科学目前的一个研究热点.检测细胞凋亡的方法和技术取得了很大的进步.从早期细胞内某些基因转录表达的变化、代谢生理的变化,到晚期细胞形态的确诊、细胞内代谢物质的转变,从定性、定量到原位定性定量等,都发展了相对成熟的检测技术.根据检测时间的早晚,从形态学、生化特性和分子调控等层次综合分析了检测细胞凋亡的主要方法,并对相关研究进行了展望.     

缺血性脑血管病与神经细胞凋亡的研究进展

叙述了细胞凋亡概念及神经细胞凋亡的基本特征。细胞凋亡是迟发性神经元死亡的基本形式，细胞凋亡在短暂性局灶性脑缺血、短暂性全脑缺血及永久性脑缺血中随缺血时间再灌注时间的不同，细胞凋亡发生部位及时间、范围亦不相同。     

非卧床式持续性腹膜透析并发症防治的研究进展

非卧床式持续性腹膜透析 ( CAPD) ,目前仍然是治疗终末期肾脏病的有效措施之一 ,但往往因为并发症的发生而影响继续治疗甚至停止透析 .为了有效地防治并发症的发生 ,作者就近 1 0年来关于“CAPD”并发症的防治上从手术因素、腹腔内透析管、透析液及各系统继发性损害及糖、脂肪、蛋白质、水、电解质紊乱等方面进行了综述 .目的为了减少“CAPD”并发症的发生 ,提高透析患者的生存质量 ,降低死亡率     

Cardiolipin, the heart of mitochondrial metabolism

Cardiolipin is a unique phospholipid, which is almost exclusively localized in the mitochondrial inner membrane where it is synthesized from phosphatidylglycerol and cytidinediphosphate-diacylglycerol. After primary synthesis, the mature acyl chain composition of cardiolipin is achieved by at least two remodeling mechanisms. In the mitochondrial membrane cardiolipin plays an important role in energy metabolism, mainly by providing stability for the individual enzymes and enzyme complexes involved in energy production. Moreover, cardiolipin is involved in different stages of the mitochondrial apoptotic process and in mitochondrial membrane dynamics. Cardiolipin alterations have been described in various pathological conditions. Patients suffering from Barth syndrome have an altered cardiolipin homeostasis caused by a primary deficiency in cardiolipin remodeling. Alterations in cardiolipin content or composition have also been reported in more frequent diseases such as diabetes and heart failure. In this review we provide an overview of cardiolipin metabolism, function and its role in different pathological states. Received 16 January 2008; received after revision 26 February 2008; accepted 26 March 2008     

壳寡糖对Hela细胞的增殖抑制与诱导凋亡

为了明确壳寡糖(COS)对Hela细胞的增殖抑制作用及对凋亡的影响,采用3-(4,5-二甲基噻唑-2)-2,5-二苯基四氮唑溴盐(MTT)法检测增殖抑制作用,Wrights-Giemsa及吖啶橙-溴乙锭(AO-EB)染色观察凋亡细胞的形态,Annexin V-FITC/PI法检测凋亡率,免疫组化法分析Bax,Bcl-2和Survivin表达量变化.结果显示:不同浓度COS处理Hela细胞均能抑制增殖,5.0mg/mL并作用24h对其增殖抑制率为52.15%(P0.01).Wrights-Giemsa染色显示细胞形态趋近圆形,贴壁能力减弱,出现凋亡小体.AO-EB染色时细胞出现早期和晚期凋亡现象.AnnexinV-FITC/PI检测细胞凋亡率为31.75%(P0.05).免疫组化分析细胞内Bax表达量增加,Bcl-2和Survivin表达量降低.表明COS能够抑制Hela细胞增殖并诱导凋亡,其原因与Bax的上调和Bcl-2与Survivin的下调相关.     

靶向survivin基因的shRNA慢病毒载体的构建及其对膀胱癌EJ细胞凋亡的影响

目的:构建survivin基因特异性shRNA慢病毒干扰载体,转染膀胱癌EJ细胞,研究survivin基因在膀胱癌细胞株中的表达抑制情况,观察survivin shRNA慢病毒载体对EJ细胞凋亡的影响.方法:以survivin基因为靶标设计shRNA干扰序列,克隆至p SIH1-H1-cop GFP慢病毒载体.干扰载体鉴定正确后转染膀胱癌细胞株EJ细胞,荧光显微镜下观察GFP表达情况,实时荧光定量PCR检测survivin基因mRNA含量变化,Western blotting法检测survivin蛋白表达,Annexin V-FITC/PI双染法检测EJ细胞凋亡情况.结果:PCR扩增鉴定、DNA测序证实survivin慢病毒干扰载体构建成功;EJ细胞经干扰载体处理后,EJ细胞survivin基因mRNA水平下调了73.33%,蛋白表达受到显著抑制,EJ细胞凋亡率达到24.39%.结论:成功构建了靶向survivin基因的shRNA重组慢病毒干扰载体,可以显著降低转染细胞survivin基因的表达水平,并有效提高膀胱癌细胞凋亡率.