外源性生长激素对改善腹腔感染时生长激素不敏感状态中的作用

探索了外源性生长激素对改善腹腔感染时生长激素不敏感中的作用。应用盲肠结扎穿孔法（CLP）制备腹腔感染大鼠模型,同时给予外源性生长激素;应用放射免疫法测定血清生长激素（GH）水平;应用逆转录多聚酶链反应（RT-PCR）法测定肝组织胰岛素样生长因子I(IGF-I)、生长激素受体（GHR）和细胞因子信号传导抑制体3(SOCS-3)mRNA的表达;应用ELISA测定血清肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)和白介素6(IL-6)水平。结果表明腹腔感染组大鼠血清生长激素水平与对照组无明显差异,但肝组织IGF-ImRNA表达明显下降;给予外源性生长激素后可明显降低血清TNF-α和IL-6水平,同时可更快地促使GHR和IGF-ImRNA表达的上调及下调SOCS-3mRNA的表达。腹腔感染时机体存在对生长激素的不敏感状态,给予外源性生长激素后可明显地改善感染状态下机体对生长激素的敏感性。     

受体缺乏改变小鼠脑内组胺含量及昼夜节律

在乙谜麻醉下,分别于明时(8:00 a.m.)及暗时(8:00 p.m.)断头处死野生型及组胺H1R基因敲除型小鼠,迅速取出脑组织并分离出皮层、纹状体、海马、下丘脑、丘脑、中脑及脑干等脑区.这些脑组织被制成匀浆并用HPLC荧光检测法测量其组胺含量.结果显示暗时处死时,H1R基因敲除型小鼠海马、丘脑、中脑及脑干中的组胺含量明显低于野生型小鼠.明时处死时,野生型小鼠各脑区组胺含量均较暗时处死显著降低,但这一变化在H1R基因敲除型小鼠中并未观察到.这些表明作为组胺的功能靶,H1R不仅介导组胺的功能,而且调节大脑中组胺含量与释放的昼夜节律.     

Anti-nociceptive role of neuropeptide Y in the nucleus accumbens in rats with inflammation, an effect modulated by mu- and kappa-opioid receptors

Recent study in our laboratory showed that neuropeptide Y (NPY) plays an antinociceptive role in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in intact rats. The present study was performed to further investigate the effect of NPY in nociceptive modulation in the NAc of rats with inflammation, and the possible interaction between NPY and the opioid systems. Experimental inflammation was induced by subcutaneous injection of carrageenan into the left hindpaw of rats. Intra-NAc administration of NPY induced a dose-dependent increase of hindpaw withdrawal latencies (HWLs) to thermal and mechanical stimulations in rats with inflammation. The anti-nociceptive effect of NPY was significantly blocked by subsequent intra-NAc injection of the Y1 receptor antagonist NPY28-36, suggesting an involvement of Y1 receptor in the NPY-induced anti-nociception. Furthermore, intra-NAc administration of the opioid antagonist naloxone significantly antagonized the increased HWLs induced by preceding intra-NAc injection of NPY, suggesting an involvement of the endogenous opioid system in the NPY-induced anti-nociception in the NAc during inflammation. Moreover, the NPY-induced anti-nociception was attenuated by following intra-NAc injection of the μ-opioid antagonist β-funaltrexamine (β-FNA), and κ-opioid antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI), but not by δ-opioid antagonist naltrindole, indicating that μ- and κ-opioid receptors, not δ-opioid receptor, are involved in the NPY-induced anti-nociception in the NAc in rats with inflammation.     

Calmodulin modulation of ion channels and receptors

Ion channels and receptors are the structural basis for neural signaling and transmission. Recently, the function of ion channels and receptors has been demonstrated to be modulated by many intracellular and extracellular chemicals and signaling molecules. Increasing evidence indicates that the complexity and plasticity of the function of central nervous system is determined by the modulation of ion channels and receptors. Among various mechanisms, Ca 2+ signaling pathways play important roles in neuronal activity and some pathological changes. Ca 2+ influx through ion channels and receptors can modulate its further influx in a feedback way or modulate other ion channels and receptors. The common feature of the modulation is that Ca 2+ /calmodulin (CaM) is the universal mediator. CaM maintains the coordination among ion channels/receptors and intracellular Ca 2+ homeostasis by feedback modulation of ion channels/receptors activity. This review focuses on the modulating processes of ion channels and receptors mediated by CaM, and further elucidates the mechanisms of Ca 2+ signaling.     

Effect of monensin and diabetes on asialoglycoprotein degradation in rat hepatocytes

We have studied the effects of two modulations — streptozotocin-induced diabetes in vivo, and the presence of the carboxylic proton ionophore monensin in vitro — on the degradation of³H-asialoorosomucoid ligand in isolated rat hepatocytes.The ligand was internalized by means of a synchronous wave procedure. Diabetes was associated with a marked decrease in the amount of total degraded radioactive ligand compared to that in normal cells (3.6% and 37.3% of internalized ligand respectively, at 60 min), together with increased secretion of degradation products into the incubation medium (87% and 46.3% of the total degraded ligand was secreted by diabetic and normal cells, respectively). Monensin induced similar effects in normal cells, but had no apparent effect in diabetic cells.     

用酵母双杂合系统筛选与人血小板生成素受体c-Mpl相互作用的蛋白质的初报

血小板生成素（ｔｈｒｏｍ ｂｏｐｏｉｅｔｉｎ, ＴＰＯ）是调节血小板生成最主要的细胞因子,其生物学效应由其受体ｃ－Ｍｐｌ介导．利用酵母双杂合系统（ｔｗ ｏ－ｈｙｂｒｉｄ ｓｙｓｔｅｍ ）筛选与ｃ－Ｍｐｌ相互作用的蛋白质因子,以Ｇａｌ４ ＢＤ融合ｃ－Ｍｐｌ膜内部分ｃＤＮＡ 的ｐＡＳＭＭ 为靶蛋白质粒,筛选了人胎盘ｃＤＮＡ 文库,分离到人波形纤维蛋白（ｖｉｍ ｅｎｔｉｎ）的部分编码序列,首次检测到波形纤维蛋白与ＴＰＯ 受体之间的相互作用,这提示细胞骨架蛋白可能在ＴＰＯ 的信号转导过程中起着重要的作用     

Molecular pathogenesis of apolipoprotein E-mediated amyloidosis in late-onset Alzheimer’s disease

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) ɛ4 allele is a genetic risk factor for late-onset familial and sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In the central nervous system, apoE is secreted mainly by astrocytes as a constituent of high-density lipoproteins. A recent study using apoE knockout mice provided strong evidence that apoE promotes cerebral deposition of amyloid β protein (Aβ). However, no clear explanation of the pathogenesis of apoE-induced AD has been provided. Here we discuss two possible mechanisms by which apoE might enhance Aβ deposition. One is the intracellular pathway in which apoE is internalized by neurons and induces lysosomal accumulation of Aβ and amyloidogenic APP (amyloid precursor protein) fragments, leading to neuronal death. The other is the extracellular pathway in which apoE-containing lipoproteins are trapped by Aβ1–42 deposits mobilizing soluble Aβ peptides and consequently enlarge amyloid plaques. These two mechanisms may operate at different stages of AD pathogenesis and suggest a chaperone-like function for the apoE molecule. Received 4 February 1999; received after revision 9 April 1999; accepted 23 April 1999     

The complexity of parathyroid hormone-related proteinsignalling

Our understanding of the mode of action of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) has changed profoundly during the last decade. Most PTHrP activities are mediated by membrane receptors through autocrine/paracrine pathways. However, both endogenous and exogenous PTHrP also appear to have intracrine effects through translocation into the nucleus. The present review proposes unconventional PTHrP signalling, based on novel clues. First, PTHrP binding to its membrane receptor triggers internalization of the whole complex, mediated by beta-arrestin. There is growing evidence that the receptor and arrestin are the effectors of biological responses, rather than the ligand (or in addition to the ligand). Second, the existence of putative PTHrP targets within the cytoplasm is beginning to be supported. Recent findings of interactions between a COOH-terminus of PTHrP and beta-arrestin and between the PTHrP receptor and 14-3-3 proteins represent the starting point for identification of intracellular partners of both the hormone and its receptor.Received 19 June 2003; received after revision 10 July 2003; accepted 21 July 2003     

Expression of nerve growth factor-like polypeptides and immunoreactivity related to the two types of neurotrophin receptors in earthworm tissues

Nerve growth factor (NGF) belongs by sequence homology to the neurotrophins, a family of proteins binding the same p75 receptor and closely related members of the Trk family of receptor tyrosine kinases. Fundamental in the vertebrate nervous system, neurotrophin signals have also been suggested as essential for relatively complex nervous systems occurring in invertebrate species that live longer than Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. Mammalian neurotrophins have been found to influence invertebrate neuronal growth. However, there are only a few data on the presence of molecules related to neurotrophin signalling components in invertebrates. Our studies provide evidence that analogues of neurotrophins and neurotrophin receptors are expressed in Eisenia foetida earthworms. In particular, NGF-like and Trk-like immunoreactive proteins are both expressed in the nervous system, whereas p75-like positivity identifies tubular structures associated with dorsal pores that are involved in the earthworm response to mechanical irritation or stress. Received 12 November 2001; received after revision 8 January 2002; accepted 8 January 2002     

Enzymes and receptors in the leukotriene cascade

Leukotrienes are a family of paracrine hormones derived from the oxidative metabolism of arachidonic acid. These lipid mediators are recognized as important signal molecules in a variety of inflammatory and allergic conditions affecting the skin, joints, gastrointestinal and respiratory systems, in particular asthma. Such conditions are typified by local pain, tissue edema, hyperemia and functional losses. In the tissues, immunocompetent cells accumulate at the site of injury which contribute to tissue damage and perpetuation of the disease process. Leukotrienes can elicit most, if not all, of these signs and symptoms. Thus, leukotriene B₄ is one of the most powerful chemotactic agents known to date and participates in the recruitment of leukocytes. The cysteinyl leukotrienes, on the other hand, contract smooth muscles, particularly in the peripheral airways and microcirculation. Recently, drugs which block the formation and action of leukotrienes have been introduced as novel antiasthmatic medications. This chapter reviews the biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology of the key enzymes and cognate receptors in the leukotriene cascade.