Mice deficient for p53 are developmentally normal but susceptible to spontaneous tumours.

Mutations in the p53 tumour-suppressor gene are the most frequently observed genetic lesions in human cancers. To investigate the role of the p53 gene in mammalian development and tumorigenesis, a null mutation was introduced into the gene by homologous recombination in murine embryonic stem cells. Mice homozygous for the null allele appear normal but are prone to the spontaneous development of a variety of neoplasms by 6 months of age. These observations indicate that a normal p53 gene is dispensable for embryonic development, that its absence predisposes the animal to neoplastic disease, and that an oncogenic mutant form of p53 is not obligatory for the genesis of many types of tumours.     

P73蛋白在胃炎、不典型增生和胃癌中的表达及意义

目的探讨p73基因在胃癌发生、发展中的作用和意义。方法采用免疫组化技术检测胃炎、轻度不典型增生、中重度不典型增生和胃癌（均为外科手术患者）各30例组织中p73蛋白的表达。结果p73蛋白在胃癌组和不典型增生组中表达高于胃炎组,胃癌组中表达高于不典型增生组（P〈0．05）;p73蛋白的阳性表达率在胃癌的不同的分化度之间有差异,低分化腺癌组织中的阳性表达强度高于高、中分化腺癌（P〈0．05）,p73蛋白在中、重度不典型增生组的阳性表达率与轻度不典型增生组无显著差异（P〉0．05）;在胃癌的不同TNM分期之间也有差异（P〈0．05）,并且TNM分期越高,阳性表达率越高;均与淋巴结转移、肿瘤部位、胃癌侵及层次、肿瘤大小无关（P〉0．05）。结论p73的高表达可能参与了胃癌发生、发展,作为胃癌发生、发展及预后的肿瘤指标物。     

Hypoinsulinaemia, glucose intolerance and diminished beta-cell size in S6K1-deficient mice

Insulin controls glucose homeostasis by regulating glucose use in peripheral tissues, and its own production and secretion in pancreatic beta cells. These responses are largely mediated downstream of the insulin receptor substrates, IRS-1 and IRS-2 (refs 4-8), through distinct signalling pathways. Although a number of effectors of these pathways have been identified, their roles in mediating glucose homeostasis are poorly defined. Here we show that mice deficient for S6 kinase 1, an effector of the phosphatidylinositide-3-OH kinase signalling pathway, are hypoinsulinaemic and glucose intolerant. Whereas insulin resistance is not observed in isolated muscle, such mice exhibit a sharp reduction in glucose-induced insulin secretion and in pancreatic insulin content. This is not due to a lesion in glucose sensing or insulin production, but to a reduction in pancreatic endocrine mass, which is accounted for by a selective decrease in beta-cell size. The observed phenotype closely parallels those of preclinical type 2 diabetes mellitus, in which malnutrition-induced hypoinsulinaemia predisposes individuals to glucose intolerance.     

白术对小鼠自发活动、学习记忆和脂质过氧化代谢的作用

用白术水煎剂按小鼠体质量以白术给药剂量为15 g/(kg*d)计给小鼠灌胃 连续14 d 观察小鼠开场行为、学习记忆能力 检测小鼠脑内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、丙二醛(MDA)、脂褐素(LPF)的含量.结果显示 实验组小鼠在新环境中自发活动显著减少 学习记忆能力提高 SOD活性提高 LPF含量减少.表明白术水煎剂对改善小鼠脑的功能有一定的作用.     

Enhancive effect of N,N′-dinitrosopiperazine on inducing precancerous lesion on nasal and/or nasopharyngeal epithelia of TgN(p53mt-LMP1)/HT mice

Objective: To investigate the enhancive effect of N,N′-dinitrosopiperazine (DNP) on induced carcinogenesis in nasal and/or nasopharyngeal epithelia among TgN(p53mt-LMP1)/HT transgenic mice to examine the underlying mechanism for the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods: TgN(p53mt-LMP1)/HT transgenic mice and the same strain of C₅₇BL/6J wild-type mice both at the age of 5 months were randomly divided into 2 groups in parallel, respectively, i.e., TgN(p53mt-LMP1)/HT cancerous lesion-inducing group (TI), TgN(p53mt-LMP1)/HT control group (TC), C₅₇BL/6J cancerous lesion-inducing group (CI), and C₅₇BL/6J control group (CC). TI and CI mice were treated only with DNP for 16 weeks, twice each week, while TC and CC mice were given the same volume of saline as controls. At the end of treatment, animals were sacrificed to collect epithelial tissue samples from nasal cavity and nasopharynx for pathohistological evaluation by haematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and for determination on the expression of TRAF2, c-Jun, and p16 by immunohistochemistry. Results: Atypical hyperplasia was more significant in the samples of TI than in those of TC, CI, and CC, with the rates of lesions being 90%, 10%, 0, and 0 (P<0.01) respectively, though DNP was used alone in a much shortened inducing period at less dosage and without the use of carcinogenic promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate as usual. The expressions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) and c-Jun in these samples were significantly up-regulated in TI (P<0.01), while the expression of p16 was significantly lower in TI than in the other groups (P<0.01). Conclusion: TgN(p53mt-LMP1)/HT mice hold inherited constitutional defect in immune surveillance function, which can be aggravated by environmental carcinogens, such as DNP used even though in a much less strength. The enhanced carcinogenesis-inducing effect of DNP on TgN(p53mt-LMP1)/HT mice should be closely associated with abnormal signaling of activator protein-1 (AP-1) pathway, especially up-regulated expressions of TRAF2 and c-Jun, and down-regulated expression of p16.