维生素A诱导Shope肿瘤细胞凋亡

目的：探讨维生素A抑制Shope肿瘤细胞生长的机理。方法：电镜观察Shope肿瘤细胞凋亡的形态学改变：琼脂糖凝胶电泳进行DNA片段化；流式细胞仪检测凋亡细胞的百分比。结果：电镜下可VA诱导的Shope肿瘤细胞变小，细胞浆固缩，染色质聚集并靠近核膜，在1．5％琼脂糖凝胶电泳中，Shope肿瘤细胞DNA呈现明显的阶梯状图谱。流式细胞仪检测经10－5MV作用24h、48h、72h后，凋亡细胞百分比分别为：17．1％、22．4％、32．4％。结论：以上结果表明，VA对Shope肿瘤细胞有明显的抑制作用。     

Host cell apoptosis induced by infection with duck swollen head hemorrhagic disease virus

This study aimed to examine the host cell apoptosis in the tissues of Peking ducks infected with duck swollen head hemorrhagic disease virus (DSHDV). The dynamic changes associated with apoptosis occurring in the internal tissues were evaluated at different time points postinoculation (PI) by performing hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, followed by light microscopy, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transfe- rase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that DSHDV infection could induce apoptosis in host cells, including those of the bursa of Fabricius (BF), thymus, spleen, liver, intestinal tract, kidney, and esophagus. The apoptotic index (AI) values increased with time from 2 h to 72 h PI, and the highest values were recorded at 72 h PI. Further, cell death due to classic necrosis was observed in the dying or deceased ducks after 72 h PI. In conclusion, host cell apoptosis can be induced by DSHDV and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of duck viral swollen head hemorrhagic disease (DVSHD).     

Menadione-induced apoptosis and the degradation of lamin-like proteins in tobacco protoplasts

Detection of stereotypic hallmarks of apoptosis during cell death induced by menadione, including DNA laddering and the formation of apoptotic bodies, is reported. Comet assay and the TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) procedure were also performed to detect DNA fragmentation. Inhibition of DNA fragmentation by Ac-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-aldehyde (Ac-DEVD-CHO) and phenylmethylsulfosyl (PMSF) implicated the involvement of caspase-like proteases in menadione-induced apoptosis in plants. We further studied the cleavage of lamin-like proteins during apoptosis in menadione-treated tobacco protoplasts. In animals, it has been reported that the solubilization of nuclear lamina and lamin degradation occurs during apoptotic cell death. However, little is known about the fate of lamins in apoptotic plant cells. Our study provided evidence that lamin-like proteins degraded into 35-kDa fragments in tobacco protoplasts induced by menadione, and this preceded DNA fragmentation. The results thus indicated that proteolytic cleavage of nuclear lamins was also conserved in programmed cell death in plants. Received 16 November 1998; received after revision 21 December 1998; accepted 23 December 1998     

Tauroursodeoxycholic acid prevents E22Q Alzheimer’s Aβ toxicity in human cerebral endothelial cells

The vasculotropic E22Q mutant of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide is associated with hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis Dutch type. The cellular mechanism(s) of toxicity and nature of the AβE22Q toxic assemblies are not completely understood. Comparative assessment of structural parameters and cell death mechanisms elicited in primary human cerebral endothelial cells by AβE22Q and wild-type Aβ revealed that only AβE22Q triggered the Bax mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. AβE22Q neither matched the fast oligomerization kinetics of Aβ42 nor reached its predominant β-sheet structure, achieving a modest degree of oligomerization with a secondary structure that remained a mixture of β and random conformations. The endogenous molecule tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) was a strong modulator of AβE22Q-triggered apoptosis but did not significantly change the secondary structures and fibrillogenic propensities of Aβ peptides. These data dissociate the pro-apoptotic properties of Aβ peptides from their distinct mechanisms of aggregation/fibrillization in vitro, providing new perspectives for modulation of amyloid toxicity. Received 20 November 2008; received after revision 12 December 2008; accepted 12 January 2009     

甘草抗肿瘤作用的研究及临床应用

从甘草的抗肿瘸作用、作用机制及临床应用方面进行综述,为寻找天然的抗肿瘸药物提供理论依据。     

细胞凋亡及其检测方法

本文论述了检测细胞凋亡的多种方法,以便人为地调控细胞凋亡,更好地预防及治疗人类疾病.     

Pharmacological attenuation of apoptosis in reoxygenated endothelial cells

BRX-235 (Iroxanadine), a novel drug developed by Biorex (Hungary), was previously characterized as a vasculoprotector against atherosclerosis, an activator of p38 kinase, and an enhancer of stress-responsive heat shock protein (Hsp) expression. The present data demonstrate that BRX-235 may improve survival of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) following ischemia/reperfusion stress. ECs cultured from human umbilical veins were exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation to mimic ischemia/reperfusion. Caspase activation and apoptosis were monitored in the reoxygenated cells. Addition of BRX-235 (0.1–1 M) to culture medium prior to hypoxia or at start of reoxygenation significantly reduced the caspase-dependent apoptosis. The cytoprotection conferred by the pre-hypoxic drug administration was sensitive to quercetin and seems to be based on enhanced Hsp accumulation in stressed ECs. In the case of post-hypoxic drug administration, the cytoprotection was strongly inhibited by SB202190 and SB203580 and appears to be associated with enhanced p38 kinase activation in reoxygenated ECs.Received 12 May 2004; received after revision 7 September 2004; accepted 24 September 2004     

β2-integrins mediate a novel form of chemoresistance in cycloheximide-induced U937 apoptosis

In this study with cycloheximide (CHX, an inhibitor of protein synthesis) and the human leukaemic cell line U937, a novel form of chemoresistance, which we termed sudden drug resistance (SDR), was identified using Hoechst33258 staining, Western blott and DNA Ladder. CHX^high (10–100 g/ml)-induced apoptosis can spontaneously subside after 4–6 h or can be inhibited by short-term preincubation with CHXlow (2.5 g/ml). Unlike typical multidrug resistance, SDR is not caused by reduced drug accumulation or altered protein expression, and may be associated with a non-P-glycoprotein mechanism. To uncover this underlying mechanism, we focused on U937 cell aggregation promoted by CHX, because cell adhesion has been suggested to influence cell survival and prevent apoptosis. EDTA, or anti-CD18 monoclonal antibody, but not EGTA, acetylsalicylic acid or RGDS tetrapeptide, abrogated this homotypic aggregation and greatly increased CHX-induced apoptosis in a time-dependent manner, while fibrinogen and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 exerted opposite effects. These results establish that ₂-integrin engagement is a key mediator of SDR, although it may be non-exclusive. This finding supplements the classical basis of chemoresistance and may provide another opportunity for improved leukemia therapy.Received 15 April 2004; received after revision 18 May 2004; accepted 21 June 2004     

β-phenylethyl isothiocyanate-mediated apoptosis in hepatoma HepG2 cells

-Phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) is a promising chemoprotective compound that is routinely consumed in the diet as its glucosinolate precursor. Previous studies have shown that PEITC can inhibit phase I enzymes and induce phase II detoxification enzymes along with apoptosis in vitro. The detailed mechanisms involved in the apoptotic cascade, however, have not been elucidated. In the present study, we demonstrate that PEITC can induce apoptosis in hepatoma HepG2 cells in a concentration- and time-dependant manner as determined by TUNEL positive and SubG1 population analysis. Caspase-3-like activity and poly(ADP-ribosyl)polymerase cleavage increased during treatment with 20 µM PEITC; high concentrations, however, induced necrosis. Pre-treatment with Z-VAD-FMK and the caspase-3-specific inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO prevented PEITC-induced apoptosis, as determined by caspase-3-like activity and DNA fragmentation. Additional investigations also showed that at concentrations of 5-C10 µM PEITC, DNA synthesis was inhibited and G2/M phase cell cycle arrest occurred, correlating with an alteration in cyclin B1 and p34^cdc2 protein levels. Furthermore, we also demonstrate a concentration- and time-dependant burst of superoxide (O₂^-) in PEITC-treated cells. However, pre- and co-treatment with the free radical scavengers Trolox, ascorbate, mannitol, uric acid and the superoxide mimetic manganese (III) tetrakis (N-methyl-2-pyridyl) porphyrin failed to prevent PEITC-mediated apoptosis. Taken together, these results suggest that PEITC potently induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in HepG2 cells and that the generation of reactive oxygen species appears to be a secondary effect.Received 23 December 2002; accepted 22 April 2003     

前列腺素E1,锌离子对大鼠感觉神经元的保护作用

目的探讨环化酶激活剂(AdenyIate cyclase activator)对周围神经损伤后感觉神经元存活和变性的影响.方法大鼠坐骨神经夹毁模型、分组,术后每d分别局部注射一定剂量的PGE1,hβNGF,共14 d.另一组从术前10 d开始喂以高锌饲料各组术后21 d取背根节(DRG)制片染色,用图像分析法观测PGE1和锌对DRG细胞数、核偏心率和核等圆径的影响,以人胎盘神经生长因子(hβNGF)作阳性对照.结果锌显著降低感觉神经元的死亡率,显著减轻核偏移、抑制核等圆径增大,与NGF组相比,P＞0 05.PGE1也明显减少神经元死亡,与夹毁组相比,P＜0 05结论神经损伤后锌促进感觉神经元存活和减轻细胞变性的保护作用与NGF无差别.PGE1对感觉神经元的保护作用不及NGF和锌.