Guidance of optic nerve fibres by N-cadherin adhesion molecules

The dendritic branches (neurites) of developing neurons migrate along specific pathways to reach their targets. It has been suggested that this migration is guided by factors present on the surface of other neurons or glial cells. The molecular nature of such factors, however, remains to be elucidated. N-cadherin is a cell-surface glycoprotein which belongs to the cadherin family of cell-cell adhesion molecules. This adhesion molecule is expressed in various neuronal cells as well as in glial cells of the central and peripheral nervous systems in vertebrate embryos and recent immunological studies suggested that N-cadherin may play a role in guiding the migration of neurites on myotubes or astrocytes. To further examine this possibility, we used a molecular-genetic approach; that is, we examined the outgrowth of chicken embryonic optic axons on monolayer cultures of Neuro 2a or L cells transfected with the complementary DNA encoding chicken N-cadherin. The data indicate that N-cadherin is used as a guide molecule for the migration of optic axons on cell surfaces.     

Absorption events associated with solar flares

During the upward period of solar cycle 23, the Imaging Riometer at Zhongshan, Antarctica (geomag. lat. 74.5 S) was used to study the solar proton events and the Xray solar flares which are associated with the absorption events. In our study, the relationship between the absorption intensity and X-ray flux is found in a power form which is consistent with the theoretical result. The imaging riometer absorption data at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard reconfirm the above relationship. We also argue that only M-class flares can generate a significant daytime absorption.     

Neuronal cell-cell adhesion depends on interactions of N-CAM with heparin-like molecules

Cell-cell interactions are of critical importance during neural development, particularly since the migration of neural cells and the establishment of functional interactions between growing axons and their target cells has been suggested to depend upon cell recognition processes. Neurone-neurone adhesion has been well studied in vitro, and is mediated in part by the neural cell adhesion molecule N-CAM. N-CAM-mediated cell-cell adhesion has been postulated to occur by a homophilic binding mechanism, in which N-CAM on the surface of one cell binds to N-CAM on a neighbouring cell. Studies in our laboratory have identified a cell surface glycoprotein, now known to be N-CAM, which participates in cell-substratum interactions in the developing chicken nervous system. Although this adhesion involves a homophilic binding mechanism, the binding of the cell surface proteoglycan heparan sulphate to the glycoprotein is also required. This raises the question of whether the binding of heparan sulphate to N-CAM is also required for cell-cell adhesion. Here we show that the binding of retinal probe cells to retinal cell monolayers is inhibited by heparin, a functional analogue of heparan sulphate, but not by chondroitin sulphate. Monoclonal antibodies that recognize two different domains on N-CAM, the homophilic-binding and heparin-binding domains, inhibit cell-cell adhesion. The heparin-binding domain isolated from N-CAM by selective proteolysis also inhibits cell-cell adhesion when bound to the probe cells.     

Isolation of 3,4-didehydroretinoic acid, a novel morphogenetic signal in the chick wing bud

There is increasing evidence that retinoic acid is a morphogen involved in vertebrate development. This evidence comes in part from studies of the chick wing bud, in which local application of all-trans-retinoic acid results in a duplication of the digit pattern along the anteroposterior axis. Retinoic acid may be only one of several morphogenetic signalling compounds required for limb pattern formation. To identify novel morphogenetically active compounds, fractionated extracts of whole chick embryos were tested for their ability to induce digit pattern duplications. We describe here the isolation of a new activity present in the limb bud, which we have identified as all-trans-3,4-didehydroretinoic acid. The 3,4-didehydroretinoic acid is generated in situ from retinol through a 3,4-didehydroretinol intermediate. We show that 3,4-didehydroretinoic acid and retinoic acid are equipotent in evoking digit duplications. These findings suggest that there are at least two endogenous retinoids with morphogenetic properties in the chick limb.     

有氧健身操对高甘油三酯血症患者细胞黏附分子及血脂水平的影响

选择高甘油三酯血症(HTG)患者62例,随机分为运动组(实验组)和对照组,观察病人血浆可溶性细胞间黏附分子-1(sICAM-1)和可溶性血管细胞间黏附分子-1(sVCAM-1)及血脂浓度的变化,研究了有氧健身操对HTG患者细胞黏附分子及血脂水平的影响.结果表明,经6个月有氧健身操运动后,实验组slCAM-1、sVCAM-1、Ps、Fig、TG和 TC水平明显低于对照组,HDL-C水平明显高于对照组,其差异均有显著性(P<0.05或0.01).说明有氧健身操运动具有良好的调节血脂异常的作用,并可降低高甘油三酯血症患者细胞黏附分子水平.     

Segmental patterns of neuronal development in the chick hindbrain

Identification of specific neuronal populations and their projections in the developing hindbrain reveals a segmental organization in which pairs of metameric epithelial units cooperate to generate the repeating sequence of cranial branchiomotor nerves. Neurogenesis also follows a two-segment repeat, suggesting parallels with insect pattern formation.     

抗氧化剂调节人内皮细胞粘附分子表达

探讨抗氧化剂能否调节内皮表面的粘附分子表达,以及这种调节是否通过一种ＮＦ－ｋＢ的活性敏感的机制。方法：内皮细胞表面的粘附分子表达用细胞ＥＬＩＳＡ方法测定。内皮细胞ＮＦ－ｋＢ的活性用电泳迁移率分析测定。结果：ＰＤＴＣ和ｃｈｒｙｓｉｎ能明显抑制所有３种粘附分子的表达。ＤＣＩ可抑制Ｅ－ｓｅｃｌｅｃｔｉｎ和ＩＣＡＭ－１的表达,对ＶＣＡＭ－１没有影响。Ｐｒｏｂｕｃｏｌ仅在低浓度时对ＩＣＡＭ－１有轻微抑制作用     

A gene deleted in Kallmann's syndrome shares homology with neural cell adhesion and axonal path-finding molecules

Kallmann's syndrome (clinically characterized by hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and inability to smell) is caused by a defect in the migration of olfactory neurons, and neurons producing hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone. A gene has now been isolated from the critical region on Xp22.3 to which the syndrome locus has been assigned: this gene escapes X inactivation, has a homologue on the Y chromosome, and shows an unusual pattern of conservation across species. The predicted protein has significant similarities with proteins involved in neural cell adhesion and axonal pathfinding, as well as with protein kinases and phosphatases, which suggests that this gene could have a specific role in neuronal migration.     

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activation involves a cascade of signalling and adhesion events.

In addition to the antigen-specific T-cell receptor (TCR), T cells bear an array of 'accessory' molecules that can contribute to stable adhesion to the antigen-bearing cell and provide costimulatory signals. For several of these, T-cell adhesion to the ligand can be activated by TCR-dependent signalling (a signal from the TCR primes the coreceptor to bind to its ligand). It is unclear whether the individual coreceptors share common mechanisms of priming and cosignalling, and perhaps act in a redundant manner, or whether they act in a distinct way and contribute uniquely to the activation process. We report here the use of isolated alloantigen, class I proteins and fibronectin ligands to show that coreceptors on cytotoxic T lymphocytes are activated sequentially and deliver distinct biochemical signals on binding to their ligands. TCR engagement activates CD8 by a protein tyrosine kinase-dependent pathway, and CD8 then acts as a signal for initiation of polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis on binding to class I. In contrast, activated adhesion to fibronectin does not initiate polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis, but amplifies hydrolysis once it has been initiated. Thus, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activation involves a TCR-initiated cascade of adhesion and signalling events leading to response.     

补肾醒脑方对血管性痴呆大鼠脑组织中粘附分子的影响

目的：观察补肾醒脑方对血管性痴呆大鼠脑组织中粘附分子的影响,探讨该方对血管性痴呆大鼠脑的保护作用。方法：成年Wistar大鼠经筛选、造模后随即等分为假手术组(A组)、模型组(B组)、喜得镇组(C组)、补肾醒脑方组(D组),每组10只均灌胃给药。A组和B组采用蒸馏水,C组给予喜得镇,D组给予补肾醒脑方。术后第2d、4d、6d测试大鼠学习记忆能力,术后1W采用ELISA法检测大鼠脑组织中粘附分子ICAM-1、VCAM-1 、P-selectin、E-selectin的含量。结果：D组AAR习得率较B组各个时间点均明显提高;与B组相比较,ICAM-1、P-selectin含量差异极其显著(P＜0.01)。结论：补肾醒脑方可有效改善血管性痴呆大鼠的学习记忆能力,控制下调粘附分子的含量,降低血管的炎性反应,从而保护大脑组织。     

Electrical activity in early neuronal development

The construction of the brain during embryonic development was thought to be largely independent of its electrical activity. In this view, proliferation, migration and differentiation of neurons are driven entirely by genetic programs and activity is important only at later stages in refinement of connections. However, recent findings demonstrate that activity plays essential roles in early development of the nervous system. Activity has similar roles in the incorporation of newly born neurons in the adult nervous system, suggesting that there are general rules underlying activity-dependent development. The extensive involvement of activity makes it likely that it is required at all developmental stages as a necessary partner with genetic programs.