Effect of thrombin on the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons in vitro

Hippocampal neurons were treated by thrombin and thrombin receptor activating peptides (TRAP). Cell survival rate was decreased in a dose-dependent manner by MTT assay. The numbers of apoptotic cell and apoptotic rate of hippocampal neurons treated by different concentrations of thrombin were increased in a dose-dependent manner by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) method and Flow Cytometry. When the concentration of thrombin is 40 U/mL, TUNEL positive cells and apoptotic rate of hippocampal neurons reached peak value, were 27.3±4.0 and (29.333±4.633)%, respectively. Immunocytochemistry assay show that Bcl-2 protein expression was down-regulated and Bax protein expression was up-regulated with the concentration of thrombin increased. TRAP can mimic the effect of thrombin to induce apoptosis on hippocampal neurons. These data demonstrated that thrombin induced hippocampal neuron apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner through activating protease-activated protein-1 (PAR-1). The change in expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was related with the effect of high concentration thrombin induced apoptosis on hippocampal neurons. Foundation item: Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hainan Province (N30215) Biography: YANG Wen-qiong (1968-), female, Ph.D. candidate, research direction: cerebrovascular disease.     

Deficiency of fibrinolytic enzyme activities in the serum of patients with Alzheimer-type dementia

Previously we reported that there is a kallikrein deficiency in the cerebral tissue of patients with Alzheimer-type dementia. The present study was performed to investigate protease changes in the serum of these patients. The results showed that the kallikrein activity was normal, but that the activities of plasmin and urokinase were significantly low. The present findings indicate a derangement in the clotting and fibrinolytic systems in Alzheimer patients.     

Snake venom thrombin-like enzymes: from reptilase to now

The snake venom thrombin-like enzymes (SVTLEs) comprise a number of serine proteases functionally and structurally related to thrombin. Until recently, only nine complete sequences of this subgroup of the serine protease family were known. Over the past 5 years, the primary structure of several SVTLEs has been characterized, and now this family includes several members. Of particular interest is their possible use in pathologies such as thrombosis. The aim of the present review is to summarize the state of the art concerning the evolutionary, structural and biological features of the SVTLEs.Received 16 August 2003; received after revision 26 September 2003; accepted 1 October 2003     

几种水蛭抗凝血物质提取及活性分析

 研究3种提取方法对菲牛蛭不同处理品的抗凝作用,采用筛选的最佳提取方法分析了5种水蛭各处理品的抗凝血酶活性,并比较了3个不同地理分布野生菲牛蛭和2个不同饵料饲喂菲牛蛭各处理品的抗凝血酶活性。结果表明：丙酮浸提法在菲牛蛭各处理品中均具有最高的提取得率,所测抗凝血酶活性显著高于其他方法（P<0.05）;5种水蛭抗凝血酶活性测定结果显示非吸血蛭类的湿体匀浆液和干体无或微弱的抗凝活性,而吸血蛭类（日本医蛭和菲牛蛭）具有较高抗凝活性,且菲牛蛭的抗凝活性显著高于日本医蛭(P<0.01);不同地理分布野生菲牛蛭和不同饵料饲养菲牛蛭的湿体匀浆液、干体粉末和唾液腺分泌物抗凝活性均无显著差异（P>0.05）。研究表明菲牛蛭具有较强的体外抗凝血酶活性,且人工养殖对菲牛蛭的抗凝活性未产生不利影响。     

连接臂对适体与凝血酶相互作用影响的电化学阻抗研究

以5＇-C6-T0-A1,5＇-C6-T5-A1和5＇-C6-T10-A1三条不同长度连接臂修饰的凝血酶适体作为生物传感器的识别分子,结合巯基自组装技术,利用电化学阻抗技术,测定了凝血酶的线性范围和检出限,比较了三者灵敏度的差异。利用浓度平衡法计算了适体与凝血酶作用的结合常数,三条链的结合常数Ka分别为0.32 nM-1,0.84 nM-1和0.67 nM-1,表明,5＇-C6-T5-A1组装的传感器与凝血酶的结合常数最大,灵敏度最好。     

纤维蛋白原三种测定方法的比较及临床应用评价

目的：对纤维蛋白原三种测定方法在出血、血栓疾病中的临床应用进行评价。方法：病人血浆用双缩脲法、凝血酶原时间法、凝血酶时间法测定纤维蛋白原含量,测定结果进行ｔ检验。结果：ＰＴ法Ｆｇ结果高于双缩脲法近一倍,ＴＴ法结果较双缩脲法略低。结论：不主张ＰＴ法测定血浆Ｆｇ含量,ＴＴ法简便、快速,反应血浆Ｆｇ活性水平,是出血、血栓性疾病的诊断、病情观察和疗效判定时Ｆｇ的一种较好的测定方法。     

Novel protein detection method based on proximity-dependent polymerase reaction and aptamers

In recent years, specific detection of proteins is one of the hot issues about aptamers in proteomics. Here we reported a simple, sensitive and specific proximity-dependent protein assay with dual DNA aptamers. Thrombin was used as the model protein, and two aptamer probes with complementary sequence at 3′-end were designed for the two distinct epitopes of the protein. Association of the two aptamers with thrombin resulted in stable hybrids due to the proximity of 3′-end, then polymerase reaction was induced. The amount of obtained dsDNA was indicated using the fluorescence dye Sybr Green I. The results showed that the initial velocity of polymerase reaction had a positive correlation with concentration of thrombin. The advantages of this dual-aptamer-based approach included simple and flexible design of aptamer probes, high selectivity and high sensitivity. The detection limit was 6.9 pmol/L.     

Serine peptidases: Classification, structure and function

Serine peptidases play key roles in human health and disease and their biochemical properties shaped the molecular evolution of these processes. Of known proteolytic enzymes, the serine peptidase family is the major cornerstone of the vertebrate degradome. We describe the known diversity of serine peptidases with respect to structure and function. Particular emphasis is placed on the S1 peptidase family, the trypsins, which underwent the most predominant genetic expansion yielding the enzymes responsible for vital processes in man such as digestion, blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, development, fertilization, apoptosis and immunity. Received 13 December 2007; received after revision 8 January 2008; accepted 22 January 2008     

盐源山蛭抗凝血蛋白的分离及抗凝血特性分析

以肝素琼脂糖亲和层析和超速离心分离了盐源山蛭的抗凝血蛋白,抗凝血活性试验证明,该蛋白不抑制凝血因子Ｘａ的活性,而显著抑制凝血酶的活性,亲和层析的蛋白洗脱峰与抗凝血酶的活力峰相吻合,因此,盐源山蛭抗凝血蛋白属于凝血酶特异性的抗凝血蛋白。     

两种新型抗血栓药物--水蛭素与水蛭肽

水蛭素是迄今发现的最强的天然凝血酶抑制剂 ,水蛭肽是模仿水蛭素与凝血酶的相互作用机制而合成的肽类化合物。本文介绍了他们的作用机理及其临床研究 ,叙述了他们与肝素相比的优越之外 ,认为水蛭素与水蛭肽是两类非常有前途的抗栓新药。