Effect of nerve regeneration factor on differentiation of PC12 cells and its signaling pathway

The effects of nerve regeneration factor (NRF) on neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells and its signaling pathway are investigated by morphological observation and immunofluorescent cytochemical method, and the activity of ERK1/2 in NRF-treated PC12 cells in absence of serum is also studied by immuno-coprecipitation and Western blot analysis. The MEK1/2-specific inhibitor U0126, the broad-spectrum protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor G?6983 and tyrosine protein kinase (TPK) inhibitor genistein were used to determine the roles of the activation of ERK1/2 by NRF and the involvement of certain kinds of PKC or TPK receptor in this activation process. The results show that U0126 and G?6983 inhibit the activation of ERK1/2 by NRF to different extents, while genistein has no effect on it, demonstrating that NRF remarkably induces neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells through activating ERK1/2 in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner.     

Down-regulation of αGal epitopes by co-transfection of α1,3-galactosidase gene and α1,2–fucosyltransferase gene

The polycarbohydrate structure of Galα1- 3Ga1β1-4GluNAc-R （known as αGal epitopes of xenoantigen）, produced by α1-3-galactosyltransferase （α1,3-GT） in the course of animal development, is the major xenoantigen on the cell surface of porcine which causes hyperacute rejection in pig-to-human xenotransplantation. Alpha-1,3-galactosidase （AGL）, a hydrolytic enzyme, can remove the terminal α1,3-galactosyi from the Galα1-3Galβ1-4GluNAc-R structure resulting in cleaning αGai epitopes from the porcine cells. Aipha-1,2-fucosyitransferase （HT） can modify the surface carbohydrate phenotype of porcine cells, bringing about reduction of αGai epitopes expression. In this study, human AGL and HT gene were co-transfected to porcine fetal fibroblast （PFFb） in equimolar concentration to reduce the xenoantigen. Gene and protein of hAGL and HT were both detected to express at high level by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. There was an 84% reduction in αGai xenoantigen and an 82% increase in H antigen as assayed by flow cytometry in the AGL and HT gene co-transfected PFFb. The number and morphology of transgenic PFFb chromosome were normal. Findings indicate that Galα1-3Gal epitopes of PFFb could be down regulated by AGL and HT co-transfection without deleterious effects on the chromosomal profile of the transgenic ceil.     

Corticosterone activates Erk1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase in primary hippocampal cells through rapid nongenomic mechanism

Nongenomic effects of glucocorticoids (GC) in various cell types have been well documented, but it still remains unknown whether the mechanism also works in hippocampus which is a crucial target of glucocorticoids in neural system during physiological and/or pathophysiological processes. We present here that corticosterone (B) could rapidly activate Erk1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in primarily cultured hippocampal cells within minutes, with a bell-shaped time dependent curve which peaked at 15min and then went down to normal level in 30 min. This activation was blocked by protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor (Go6976), G protein inhibitor (GDPβs), and MEK(MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase) inhibitor(PD98059), but not by protein kinase A (PKA) inbibitor (H89), tyrosine kinase inhibitor (genistein), and glucocorticoid receptor ( GR ) antagonist (RU38486). Thus, the rapid activation of Erk1/2 MAPK in primary hippocampal cells induced by B was likely mediated by a G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) pathway with involvement of PKC, which belonged to the nongenomic rather than genomic mechanism of GC' s effects.     

Protein P37 of mycoplasma hyorhinis induces secretion of TNF-α from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

High mycoplasmal infection ratio in gastric cancer tissues suggests a possible association between my-coplasma infection and tumorigenesis.Because TNF-α plays an important role in carcinogenesis caused by microbes in-fection and P37 is a major immunogen of mycoplasma hy-orhinis(M.hyor.),investigating whether P37 could induce expression and secretion of TNF-α will be very significant fo elucidate the possible molecular mechanism of gastric car-cinogenesis involved with M.hyor.At the present study,we cloned full gene of p37 by PCR and mutated the 7 codes of TGA into TGG firstly,then expressed the P37 protein suc-cessfully with pGEX-4T-1 vector in E.coli,which was veri-fied with Western bolt.By RT-PCR and sensitive L929 cell toxic assay,we found that P37 protein could induce expres-sion and secretion of TNF-α from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells,and the inducing activity of P37 could be dramatically blocked by McAb PD4.These results suggest that the induction of TNF-α secretion by P37 probably plays an importan role in diseases caused by M.hyor.infection and needs to be further investigated.     

Human endothelial senescence can be induced by TNF-α

TNF-α is one of the most important proinfiammatory cytokines in mediating multiple physio-pathological functions during immunological responses. Vascular endothelial cells, when stimulated by TNF-α2 can increase the expression of multiple cytokines and cellular adhesion molecules and, in turn, actively promote the inflammatory responses by recruiting and activating of leukocytes to the inflammatory site. In addition to endothelial death induced by TNF-α2 we found for the first time that TNF-α can also induce the human endothelial cells senescence. The induced senescent endothelial cells will display SA-β-Gal staining and they were arrested in G0-G1 phase. We found that Aψm would always be up-regulated in response to TNF-α stimulation at early time but when the cells become senescent, A ψmshows a tendency to decrease. It may reflect the sthenic function of mitochondria at early time in response to TNF-αstimulation and decay when the endothelial cells were induced senescent. ROS fluctuates at early time and also decreases when the endothelial cells become senescent. Our results show that the change of mitochondrial function may be related to the senescent process.``     

A novel element (NIRS) participates in the regulation ofinterleukin 2 receptorαgene expression

A novel element at -153/- 143 bp in the interleukin 2 receptor α(IL-2Rα) gene has been coined as NRE-inverse repeat sequence (NIRS) due to its inversely repeated to the known negative regulatory element (NRE) further upstream of the gene. In order to explore the role of NIRS in the expression of IL-2Rαgene,luciferase reporter plasmids driven by 4 individually deleted IL-2Rα genes promoter regions were constructed. Transfection of the reporter plasmids into Jurkat cells and HeLa cells respectively, we found that both NIRS and NRE were critical for repressing the constitutive expression of IL-2Rα gene and were also necessary for promoter activity induced by PHA. EMSA results showed that double-stranded NRE- and NIRS-binding proteins existed in both HeLa cells and Jurkat cells. However, single-stranded NIRS- and NRE-binding protein was only found in HeLa cells. Interestingly, the supershift band showed up in EMSA system with Jurkat cells (no matter whether activated or not) adding to the cell lysate of HeLa cells. UV-crosslinking showed a double stranded NRE- and NIRS-binding protein p83 in both Jurkat cells and HeLa cells. Our results suggest that trans-acting factors play a key role in regulating promoter activity of IL-2Rα gene by interacting with double or single stranded NRE and/or NIRS selectively in different cells.     

Conformational Changes in HL60 Cells during Differentiation and Apoptosis Induced by Genistein

IntroductionGenistein is a naturally occurring phytoestrogenpresent in a variety of plant foods,includingsoybean[1] .It is known to inhibit both tyrosineprotein kinases and DNA topoisomerase II.Akiyama et al.[2 ] described the ability of genisteinto specifically inhibit protein tyrosine kinase( PTKs) ,presumably at the level of the ATPbinding site.PTKs seem to play a key role intumorigenesis and are known to be associated withgrowth control receptors such as epidermal growthfactors[3] ,p…     

Effects of Genistein on Cell Cycle and Apoptosis of Two Murine Melanoma Cell Lines

The effects of genistein on several tumor cell lines were investigated to study the effects of gen- istein on cell growth, cell cycle, and apoptosis of two murine melanoma cell lines, B16 and K1735M2. These two closely related murine melanoma cell lines, however, have different responses to the genistein treat- ment. Genistein inhibits the growth of both the B16 and K1735M2 cell lines and arrests the growth at the G2/M phase. After treatment with 60 μmol/L genistein for 72 h, apoptosis and caspase activities were de- tected in B16 cells, while such effects were not found in K1735M2. Further tests showed that after genistein treatment the protein content and mRNA levels of p53 increased in B16, but remained the same in K1735M2. The protein content and mRNA levels of p21WAF1/CIP1 increased in both cell lines after treatment. The results show that genistein might induce apoptosis in B16 cells by damaging the DNA, inhibiting topoi- somerase II, increasing p53 expression, releasing cytochrome c from the mitochondria, and activating the caspases which will lead to apoptosis.     

Fuzzy-immune PID Control for AMB Systems

In order to improve the dynamic performance of active magnetic hearing systems with highly nonlinear and naturally unstable dynamics, a new nonlinear fuzzy-immune proportional integral-derivative （PID） controller is proposed by combining the immune feedback law with linear PID con trol. This controller consists of a PID controller and a basic immune proportional controller in cascaded connection, the nonlinear function of the immune proportional controller is realized by using fuzzy reasoning. Simulation results demon strate that the active magnetic bearing system with the proposed controller has better dynamic performance and disturbance rejection ability than using the linear PID controller.     

Regulation of mouse blastocyst adhesion,outgrowth and matrix metalloproteinase—2 by focal adhesion kinase

The interaction of extracellular matrix-integrin markedly influences the adhesion,outgrowth,differentiation and expression of serine proteinases by the blastocyst,so it is regarded as a vital factor in blastocyst implantation.Although the mechanism of extracellular interactions between extracellular matrix and integrins has been well elucidated,the roles of the signaling molecules in the extracellular matrix-integrin signal transduction pathway in blastocyst implantation are unknown.This limits the understanding of blastocyst implantation and ECM-integrin signal transduction pathway.In the present study,in vitro blastocyst culture and indirect immunocytochemistry,matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs) zymography and antisense oligodeoxynucleotide(ODN) were used to investigate the expression of a fundamental molecule of integrin-dependent signal transduction pathways,focal adhesion kinase(FAK),in mouse blastocysts and its influence on mouse blastocyst adhesion,outgrowth and MMP-2.The results showed that mouse blastocysts expressed FAK.FAK protein was clustered in the peripheral migrating trophoblast cells and dispersed in the central area of blastocyst outgrowth.Fibronectin triggered pro-MMP-2 and 64kD MMP-2 activities.The antisense ODN to FAK attnuated pro-MMP-2 and 64kD MMP-2 activites which decreased abruptly and tended to disappear with increasting concentrations of the antisense ODN.Both mouse blastocyst adhesion and outgrowth on fibronectin were also influenced by the antisense ODN.Up to 20μg/mL of the antisense ODN concentration,the adhesion and out-growth rates were decreased in a dose-dependent manner.The results indicated that FAK influenced mouse blastocyst adhesion,outgrowth and MMP-2 activity by intracellular signal transduction.In other words,FAK regulates mouse implantation in terms of blastocyst adhesive and invasive abilities.     

HLA－G inhibits xenogenetic cytotoxicity mediated by human NK cells and T lymphocytes against PECs

In order to investigate whether the non-classical HLA-G class I molecule protects the prcine endothelial cells(PECs)from the lysis mediated by human immune cells in pig to human discordant xenotransplantation,we have cloned HLA-G cDNA from a human placents by RT-PCR.Mammalian expression vector,pEFG-neo,was constructed by insertion of HLA-G cDNA in pEF-neo.We obtained efficiently expressed PECs by stable transfection.Cytotoxicity assay showed that overexpression of HLA-G on PECs was sufficient to inhibit human NK-92 cell lysis.The level of lysis was equal to or less than that of the lysis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells mediated by human NK-92 cells.It also indicated that HLA-G inhibited the lysis of PECs mediated by xeno-antigen specific T lymphocytes.The reduction of lysis ranged between 59.1% and 88.9A%.These findings suggest that the transgenic approach to overexpress HLA-G is believed to be a new immunotherapy in overconing the immune rejections in xenotransplantion,including delayed xenograft rejection and cell-mediated rejection.     

Science Letters: Transient expression of chicken alpha interferon gene in lettuce

We investigated the possibility of producing chicken alpha interferon （ChlFN-α） in transgenic plants. The cDNA encoding ChlFN-α was introduced into lettuce （Lactuca sativa L.） plants by using an agro-infiltration transient expression system. The ChlFN-a gene was correctly transcribed and translated in the lettuce plants according to RT-PCR and ELISA assays. Recombinant protein exhibited antiviral activity in vitro by inhibition of vesicular stomatitis virus （VSV） replication on chicken embryonic fibroblast （CEF）. The results demonstrate that biologically active avian cytokine with potential pharmaceutical applications could be expressed in transgenic lettuce plants and that it is possible to generate interferon protein in forage plants for preventing infectious diseases of poultry.     

Expression, distribution and function of the focal adhesion kinase (pp125FAK) during murine ectoplacental cone outgrowthin vitro

Mouse embryo implantation is a complex process that includes trophoblast cells derived from ectoplacental cone (EPC) adhesion to and migration through the extracellular matrix (ECM) of uterine endometrium and invasion into the decidua. At the time of implantation, fibronectin (FN) is abundant in the decidua and is distributed pericellularly around each individual stromal cell, and its receptor (integrin α-5β-1) expression on trophoblast populations is up-regulated. The focal adhesion kinase, a 125 ku protein tyrosine kinase (pp125 FAK), is tyrosine phosphorylated upon integrin engagement with its ECM ligand, and its tyrosine phosphorylation sites then serve as the binding sites which couple it with cellular proteins that contain Src SH2 or SH3 domains. Through these linkages, pp125 FAK may integrate multiple signals triggered by integrins. The model of EPC culture %in vitro% was used to study the expression, distribution and function of pp125 FAK during EPC outgrowth on FN. Results indicated that, pp125 FAK primarily expressed and distributed in cellular focal adhesions of the front edge of trophoblast outgrowth from EPC, and was localized in the peripheral region of the individual migrating trophblast cell; antibody or antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to pp125 FAK inhibited EPC attachment and outgrowth, as well as trophoblast cells spreading and migration. This experiment demonstrated that pp125 FAK as an integrin-mediated signaling molecule was involved in EPC outgrowth %in vitro%, and played an important role during trophoblast cells interaction with FN.     

Overexpression of PITPNM3 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell metastasis

A previous study indicated that C–C chemokine(C–C motif)ligand 18(CCL18)is capable of inducing tumor cell invasion and metastasis by interacting with receptor membrane-associated phosphatidylinositol transfer protein 3(PITPNM3)in breast cancer cells.The present study aims to investigate the correlation between the PITPNM3 expression and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were performed to detect the expression pattern of PITPNM3 in patient samples and HCC cell lines.Wound-healing and transwell chamber assays were performed to assess the migration and invasiveness of HCC cells,and the activation of the signaling protein downstream of PITPNM3 was also detected by Western blot and immunofluorescence.The results revealed that PITPNM3 was upregulated in HCC tissue compared to matched normal liver tissue.Silencing the expression of PITPNM3 by specific siRNAs markedly attenuated the invasive and metastatic abilities of HCC cells,whereas the upregulation of PITPNM3 significantly increased HCC cell mobility.Furthermore,inhibiting the expression of PITPNM3 suppressed the activation of Pyk2,FAK,and Src,while overexpression of PITPNM3enhanced the phosphorylation of FAK and Src in HCC cells.Besides,suppression of Pyk2 can also impair the clustering of integrin.These results imply that PITPNM3 is a vital determinant of HCC migration and invasion.     

Immunoinhibitory effect of soluble HLA-G1 on the cytotoxicity of NK92 cells

HLA-G (human leukocyte antigen-G) is a non-classical HLA class I molecule, playing an important immuno-modulatory role in maintaining maternal immune tolerance of the semiallogenic fetus and organ transplantation. In this study, the cDNA sequence of extracellular domain of HLA-G1 was subcloned into the pET28a vector and a soluble 35 kD fusion protein (His-sHLA-G1) with six histine residues was obtained. In the 4 h 51Cr-release assay the fusion protein obviously inhibited the cytotoxicity of NK92 cells in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicated that sHLA-G1, as an activated immunoinhibitor, may provide an effective approach to overcoming the immune rejection of transplantation.     

Protein tyrosine phosphatase is possibly involved in cellular signal transduction and the regulation of ABA accumulation in response to water deficit in Maize L.coleoptile

Water deficit-induced ABA accumulation is an ideal model or “stimulus-response”system to investigate cellular stress signaling in plant cels,using such a model the cellular stress signaling triggered by water deficit was investigated in Maize L.coleoptile.Water deficit-induced ABA accumulation was sensitively blocked by NaVO3,a potent inhibitor both to plasma membrane H^ -ATPase(PM-H^ -ATPase)and protein tyrosine phosphatase(PTPase).However,while PM-H^ -ATPase activity was unaffected under water deficit and PM-H^ -ATPase activator did not induce an ABA accumulation instead of water deficit,water deficit induced an increase in the protein phosphatase activity,and furthermore,ABA accumulation was inhibited by PAO,a specific inhibitor of PTPase.These results indicate that protein phosphtases may be involved in the cellular signaling in response to water deficit.Further studies identifiled at least four species of protein phosphtase as assayed by using pNPP as substrate,among which one component was especially sensitive to NaVO3.The NaVO3-sensitive enzyme was purified and finally showed a protein band about 66kD on SDS/PAGE.The purified enzyme showed a great activity to some specific PTPase substrates at pH 6.0.In addition to NaVO3,the enzyme was also sensitive to some other PTPase inhibitors such as Zn^2 and MO3^3 ,but not to Ca^2 and Mg^2 ,indicating that it might be a protein tyrosine phosphatase.Interestingly,the purified enzyme could be deactivated by some reducing agent DTT.which was previously proved to be an inhibitor of water deficit-induced ABA accumulation.This result further proved that PTPase might be involved in the cellular signaling of ABA accumulation in response to water deficit.     

Seasonal influence on the development of parthenotes and cloned embryos in pigs

Seasonal influence on the developmental ability of porcine embryos was studied by comparisons of the number of cumulus-oocytes-complexes (COCs) per ovary pair and meiotic maturation ability of oocytes in different seasons; and by the observations on developmental competence of the parthenogenetic oocytes and cloned embryos collected from different seasons. We found that the number of COCs per ovary pairs was significantly higher in spring compared to the other seasons (P<0.05). However, no significant difference was found in the rate of oocytes progressing to MⅡ in four seasons (P<0.05). In addition, the rate of blastocyst formation of parthenogenetic embryos in summer was obviously declined compared to the other seasons (P<0.05), and an increased blastocyst rate of cloned porcine embryos was found in spring compared to autumn and winter (P<0.05). The results suggest that there should be a seasonal influence on the developmental competence of porcine embryos.     

Platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β in myocyte was upregulated by angiotensin Ⅱ

To observe the regulation of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor-βin myocyte stimulated by angiotensin II (AngII) at both integrated and cellular levels and reveal the signal transduction mechanism in cell, two kidneys, one clip (2K1C) renal hypertension were performed by placing a sliver clip around the left renal artery. Blood pressure and the ratio of left ventricular weight to body weight were measured at 4 and 8 weeks after operation. The content of AngII in heart was detected by radioimmunology assay; the protein level of PDGF receptor-βin heart was measured by Western blot analysis. The alteration of PDGF receptor-βstimulated by AngII and several inhibitors was observed on cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocyte (NRVM). The content of AngII in heart of 2K1C renal hypertensive rat at 4 and 8 weeks after operation was increased. Compared with sham group, 4 and 8 weeks after operation, PDGF receptor-βin heart of 2K1C group was upregulated by 100.3% and 127.1% (P < 0.05), respectively. This upregulation could be inhibited by captopril. For cultured myocyte, PDGF receptor-βwas increased by 47.1% after being stimulated by AngII and this upregulation could be inhibited by losartan which was an inhibitor of AT1 receptor. PLC inhibitor (U73122) and MEK inhibitor (PD98059) could partly inhibit PDGF receptor-βupregulation induced by AngII. These results suggested that AngII could upregulate PDGF receptor-βin myocyte by its AT1 receptor and this effect was at least partly dependent on PLC and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK).     

Regulation of mouse blastocyst adhesion,outgrowth and secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-2 by cGMP and nitric oxide <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>

Nitric oxide (NO) is a multifunctional messenger molecule produced through oxidation of L-arginine to L-citrulline by enzyme NO synthase (NOS). In the current study, mouse blastocysts were cultured in the different media, and the implantation capacity of blastocyst was evaluated by evaluating the percentage of embryos adhesion and outgrowth after culture for 12, 24 or 48 h. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) mRNA was detected by RT-PCR, and MMP-2 protein was detected by gelatin zymography. Inhibition of blastocyst adhesion and outgrowth was observed in embryo cultured with 500 μmol/L NOS inhibitor N^G-mono-methyI-L-arginine (L-NMMA) alone; however, 100 μmol/L S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), a NO donor, and 20μmol/L cGMP analogue, 8-Br-cGMP could block this inhibition. The expression and production of MMP-2 in the blastocysts were suppressed by L-NMMA, and SNAP or 8-br-cGMP could reverse this suppression. These results suggest that NO induces embryo implantation by cGMP signaling pathway.