Calcineurin/NFAT signalling regulates pancreatic beta-cell growth and function

The growth and function of organs such as pancreatic islets adapt to meet physiological challenges and maintain metabolic balance, but the mechanisms controlling these facultative responses are unclear. Diabetes in patients treated with calcineurin inhibitors such as cyclosporin A indicates that calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) signalling might control adaptive islet responses, but the roles of this pathway in beta-cells in vivo are not understood. Here we show that mice with a beta-cell-specific deletion of the calcineurin phosphatase regulatory subunit, calcineurin b1 (Cnb1), develop age-dependent diabetes characterized by decreased beta-cell proliferation and mass, reduced pancreatic insulin content and hypoinsulinaemia. Moreover, beta-cells lacking Cnb1 have a reduced expression of established regulators of beta-cell proliferation. Conditional expression of active NFATc1 in Cnb1-deficient beta-cells rescues these defects and prevents diabetes. In normal adult beta-cells, conditional NFAT activation promotes the expression of cell-cycle regulators and increases beta-cell proliferation and mass, resulting in hyperinsulinaemia. Conditional NFAT activation also induces the expression of genes critical for beta-cell endocrine function, including all six genes mutated in hereditary forms of monogenic type 2 diabetes. Thus, calcineurin/NFAT signalling regulates multiple factors that control growth and hallmark beta-cell functions, revealing unique models for the pathogenesis and therapy of diabetes.     

IGF-1对绵羊皮肤中GHR、IGF-1、IGF-1R、kAP3.2和KAP6-1基因表达的影响

选取36只健康、体况一致的新疆细毛羊随机分成6组。在每只羊的左侧肩胛部皮下局部注射0．5mL（10ng／mL）的IGF-1,右侧肩胛部皮肤为未注射IGF-1的对照组,然后分别于第0、3、6、9、12、50d采集各皮肤样品,用反转录多聚酶链式反应（RT-PCR）方法,定量分析绵羊皮肤中生长激素受体（GHR）、胰岛素样生长因子1（IGF-1）和胰岛素样生长因子1型受体（IGF-1R）、角蛋白关联蛋白KAP3．2和KAP6-1mRNA的相对丰度。试验结果表明,IGF-1对GHR基因的表达有下调的作用,对IGF-1、IGF-1R基因的表达没有显著的影响,而对KAP3．2、KAP6—1基因的表达具有显著的促进作用。说明IGF-1促进绵羊角蛋白关联蛋白基因的表达可能是通过生长轴以外的其他途径实现的。     

转录因子GATA-1在造血系统中的作用(综述)

转录因子GATA-1为正常红细胞发育和分化成熟所必需。GATA-1的表达严格限制于造血细胞系,主要调控红系的增殖和分化,对巨核系、肥大细胞系及嗜酸性粒细胞系也起一定的作用。GATA-1参与自身启动子的正调节,而且GATA-1和PU.1可以通过交互作用抑制各自的功能;GATA-1与红系Kr櫣ppel样因子(EKLF)、FKLF-2、SCL、生长因子骨形态生成蛋白(BMP-4)及其他GATA转录因子之间存在相互调控作用。GATA-1可在急性非淋巴细胞性白血病等多种类型白血病中表达,它的表达还可影响急性髓性白血病的预后。GATA-1还与遗传性球形红细胞增多症、伴有严重贫血的多发性骨髓瘤的发病机制有关。     

Alternative splicing and expression of the insulin-like growth factor （IGF-1） gene in osteoblasts under mechanical stretch

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) promotes osteoblasts differentiation and bone formation, and its expression is induced by mechanical stretch, thus IGF-1 has been considered an effector molecule that links mechanical stimulation and local tissue responses. In this study, a mechanical stretching device was designed to apply physiological level static or cyclic stretching stimulation to osteoblasts. Different isoforms of IGF-1 mRNA were amplified by RT-PCR from the cells using respective primers and these amplified products were sequenced. An iso-form of IGF-1 splicing product was found to be selectively produced by osteoblasts under stretching stimulation. This IGF-1 isoform had identical sequence with the mechano growth factor (MGF) which was originally identified in muscle cells. Regulations of the expression of the liver-type IGF (L.IGF-1) and MGF in osteoblasts under stretch stimulation were further studied using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Stretch stimulation was found to promot the expression of IGF-1 (L.IGF-1 and MGF), and for both isoforms expression was more effectively stimulated by cyclic stretch than static stretch. MGF was detected only in osteoblasts subjected to mechanical stretch, suggesting MGF was a stretch sensitive growth factor. Expression of MGF peaked earlier than that of L.IGF-1, which was similar to their regulation in muscle and suggested similar roles of MGF and L.IGF-1 in bone as in muscle cells. The functions of MGF and LIGF-1 in osteoblasts shall be established by further experimental studies.