The protease-activated receptor-3 (PAR-3) can signal autonomously to induce interleukin-8 release

Protease-activated receptors (PARs) play a clear role in the burst of inflammatory reactions and immune responses. However, for PAR-3, the most elusive member of the PAR family, the functional role is still largely unclear. It has been claimed that PAR-3 does not signal autonomously, although the wide expression of human PAR-3 indicates its important physiological roles. We demonstrate that in HEK-293 cells, stably transfected with human PAR-3, thrombin induced calcium signaling, IL-8 gene expression and IL-8 release. We confirmed this finding using human lung epithelial and human astrocytoma cells that express endogenous PAR-3. Moreover, thrombin exposure of HEK-293 cells resulted in ERK1/2 activation coinciding with IL-8 release. The effects of thrombin were not dependent on PAR-1 activation, as confirmed by PAR-1 gene silencing. Thus, we propose that PAR-3 is able to signal autonomously to induce IL-8 release mediated by ERK1/2 phosphorylation, which contributes actively to inflammatory responses. Received 9 December 2007; received after revision 16 January 2008; accepted 18 January 2008     

Molecular mechanisms of phagocytic uptake in mammalian cells

Phagocytosis is a highly conserved, complex process that has evolved to counter the constant threat posed by pathogens, effete cells and debris. Classically defined as a mechanism for internalising and destroying particles greater than 0.5 mum in size, it is a receptor-mediated, actin-driven process. The best-studied phagocytic receptors are the opsono-receptors, FcgammaR and CR3. Phagocytic uptake involves actin dynamics including polymerisation, bundling, contraction, severing and depolymerisation of actin filaments. Recent evidence points to the importance of membrane remodelling during phagocytosis, both in terms of changes in lipid composition and delivery of new membrane to the sites of particle binding. Here we review the molecular mechanisms of phagocytic uptake and some of the strategies developed by microbial pathogens to manipulate this process.     

Baclofen prevents rapid amygdala kindling in adult rats

This study investigates the effect of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA_B) agonist, baclofen, on amygdala kindling in adult rats. Baclofen has been reported to be anticonvulsant in a variety of seizure models and prevents kindling in immature rats. These experiments describe the effects of baclofen (2, 5 and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) on the afterdischarge threshold and kindling rate. Baclofen, 10 mg/kg, significantly increased the afterdischarge threshold in the amygdala. Baclofen at 5 and 10 mg/kg, retarded the rate of kindling as measured by the number of stimuli required to advance to subsequent seizure stages. These results suggest that baclofen may decrease the local excitability of the amygdala and retard the rate of seizure spread (or generalization) throughout the brain. Baclofen, acting at GABA_B receptors exerts an anticonvulsant effect on amygdala kindling in these experiments.     

Dual role of cAMP duringDictyostelium development

cAMP plays an essential role duringDictyostelium development both outside and inside the cell. Membrane-bound receptors and adenylyl cyclase are responsible for sensing and producing extracellular cAMP, whereas a phosphodiesterase is responsible for maintaining a low basal level. The molecular events underlying this type of hormone like signalling, which are now beginning to be deciphered, will be presented, in the light of cAMP analogue studies. The importance of intracellular cAMP for cell differentiation has been demonstrated by the central role of the cAMP dependent protein kinase. Mutants as well as strains obtained by reverse genetics will be reviewed which lead to our current understanding of the role of intracellular cAMP in the differentiation of both stalk and spore cells.     

抗KDR-Fc杂交瘤细胞系的建立

用杂交瘤技术建立抗KDRFc的杂交瘤细胞系,以KDRFc抗原免疫雌性BALB/c小鼠,取其脾细胞与SP2/0骨髓瘤细胞融合,经ELISA间接法检测和有限稀释法克隆培养,再经稳定性检测、效价检测,筛选出分泌抗KDRFc单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞.得到了10株能持续分泌抗KDRFc的单克隆抗体的细胞株,其中3株分泌的单抗具有较高的生物活性、特异性和稳定性.     

VEGF、ER、PR在异位和在位子宫内膜中的表达

研究血管内皮因子（VEGF）、雌激素受体（ER）和孕激素受体（PR）在子宫内膜异位症（EM）患者的异位和在位内膜中的表达．采用免疫组化SP法分别检测45例EM（研究组）的异位和在位内膜及32例子宫肌瘤（对照组）的在位内膜中VEGF、ER、PR的表达．利用图像分析仪测定的相应密度代表其表达强度．研究组异位和在位内膜中VEGF的表达均显著高于对照组内膜（p〈0．01）。ER／PR则显著低于对照组内膜；ER、PR仅于异位内膜中的表达低于对照组内膜，异位内膜中VEGF与ER呈正相关．异位内膜和在位内膜中高VEGF和低ER／PR以及异位内膜中VEGF与ER正相关的特点可能与EM的发生发展有关．     

中华大蟾蜍蝌蚪发生类坏死的皮肤在恢复过程中Con A受体的变化研究

本研究以中华大蟾蜍后肢芽期的蝌蚪为材料,以0.001/molL 氨水处理皮肤使之发生类坏死.运用荧光标记的凝集素刀豆球蛋白 A(Con A)结合半薄切片技术观察了皮肤发生类坏死后恢复过程中 Con A 受体的变化.结果发现:正常皮肤表面细胞质膜下,细胞质和基膜中有一些Con A 受体分布.经类坏死处理后,表面细胞内出现了一层团块状分布的 Con A 受体,基底细胞膨大,一类膨大的细胞中仅细胞核和质膜上有 Con A 受体分布,另一类细胞中核和质均有 Con A受体分布.类坏死处理后1h,表面细胞内团块状分布的 Con A 受体变成小颗粒排列在质膜下,表皮细胞质中 Con A 受体较多,基膜中也出现较多的 Con A 受体;类坏死处理3h 表面细胞,基底细胞和基膜中 GonA 受体的分布和1h 的相似:类坏无处理后5h,Con A 受体逐渐减少并恢复正常.结果表明,生发类坏死的皮肤在恢复过程中 Con A 受体对保持结构的完整性及正常的生理功能具有重要的意义.     

Caffeine as a psychomotor stimulant: mechanism of action

The popularity of caffeine as a psychoactive drug is due to its stimulant properties, which depend on its ability to reduce adenosine transmission in the brain. Adenosine A₁ and A_2A receptors are expressed in the basal ganglia, a group of structures involved in various aspects of motor control. Caffeine acts as an antagonist to both types of receptors. Increasing evidence indicates that the psychomotor stimulant effect of caffeine is generated by affecting a particular group of projection neurons located in the striatum, the main receiving area of the basal ganglia. These cells express high levels of adenosine A_2A receptors, which are involved in various intracellular processes, including the expression of immediate early genes and regulation of the dopamine- and cyclic AMP-regulated 32-kDa phosphoprotein DARPP-32. The present review focuses on the effects of caffeine on striatal signal transduction and on their involvement in caffeine-mediated motor stimulation.Received 8 July 2003; received after revision 7 September 2003; accepted 6 October 2003     

Excitatory effect of histamine on neuronal activity of rat cerebellar fastigial nucleus Jn vitro

The cerebellar fastigial nucleus （FN） holds an important role in motor control and body balance. Previous studies have revealed that the nucleus is innervated by direct hypothalamocerebellar hletaminergic fibers. However, the functional role of histaminergic projection in cerebellar FN has never been established. In this study, we investigated the effect of histamine on neuronal firing of cerebellar FN by using slice preparations. Sixty-five FN cells were recorded from 47 cerebellar slices, and a vast majority of the cells responded to histamine stimulation with an excitatory response （58/65, 89.2%）. Perfusing slices with low-Ca^2＋/high-Mg^2＋ medium did not block the histamine-induced excitation （n=10）, supporting a direct postsynaptic action of histamine on the cells. Furthermore, the excitatory effect of histamine on FN neurons was not blocked by selective histamine H1 receptor antagonist triprolidine （n=15） or chlorpheniramine （n=10）, but was effectively suppressed by ranitidine （n=15）, a highly selective histamine H2 receptor antagonist. On the other hand, highly selective histamine H2 receptor agonist dimaprit （n=20） instead of histamine HI receptor agonist 2-pyridylethylamine （n=16） mimicked the excitatory effect of histamine on FN neurons. The dimaprit-induced FN neuronal excitation was effectively antagonized by selective histamine H2 receptor antagonist ranitidine （n=13） but not influenced by selective histamine H1 receptor antagonist triprolidine （n=15）. These results demonstrate that histamine excites cerebellar FN cells via the histamine H2 receptor mechanism and suggest that the hypothalamocerebellar histaminergic fibers may modulate cerebellar FN-mediated sensorimotor integration through their excitatory innervations on FN neurons.     

VEGF 和 PCNA在乳腺癌组织中表达的意义

为了探讨血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）和增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）在乳腺癌组织中的表达及其与病理学分级关系，采用免疫组织化学SP法检测102例乳腺癌及其中48例癌旁正常乳腺组织中VEGF和PCNA的表达，实验结果显示VEGF在乳腺癌组织中的阳性表达率为84．31％，癌乳腺组织中则为12．50％，两者间具有高度显著性差异（P＜0．01），PCNA在乳腺癌组织中的阳性表达率为78．43％，癌旁正常乳腺组织中则为8．33％，它们之间的差异有高度显著性（P＜0．01），VEGF和PCNA的阳性表达率与乳腺癌病理学分级呈正相关，说明VEGF和PCNA阳性表达作为乳腺 辅助诊断指标。