结缔组织生长因子在单侧输尿管梗阻大鼠肾脏中的表达及其意义

目的： 观察结缔组织生长因子（CTGF）在单侧输尿管梗阻（UUO）大鼠模型中的动态表达，探讨CTGF在肾小管间质纤维化中的作用机制。方法： 将48 只Wistar大鼠随机分为UUO组和假手术（SO）组，采用左输尿管结扎术复制UUO模型，于术后1、3、7、14 d分别处死2组大鼠取左肾。采用Masson染色评定肾小管间质损伤程度；逆转录-聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR) 方法检测肾组织转化生长因子-β₁（TGF-β₁）、CTGF、Ⅰ型胶原（ColⅠ）和纤溶酶原激活物抑制物-1（PAI-1）mRNA表达；免疫组织化学方法测定TGF-β₁、CTGF、ColⅠ、PAI-1表达；Western blotting方法检测CTGF蛋白表达量的变化。结果: UUO术后1d，梗阻肾TGF-β₁ mRNA表达开始升高，第3-14d时升高更显著（P<0.01），CTGF、ColⅠ、PAI-1 mRNA水平随之逐渐升高。免疫组织化学染色发现，UUO大鼠肾小管和间质区域CTGF表达随病程进展逐渐增强；相关分析显示，UUO术后第7d，CTGF表达量与肾小管间质损伤指数、肾小管间质TGF-β₁、ColⅠ、PAI-1表达强度均呈正相关，相关系数（r）分别为0.62、0.85、0.78和0.76（均P<0.01）。Western blotting结果显示，CTGF蛋白水平在术后第3d开始上升，随病程进展更显著。结论: CTGF可通过促进细胞外基质产生和抑制细胞外基质降解双重途径诱导肾小管间质纤维化的发生和进展。     

银杏叶提取物对转化生长因子β1诱导的人肾小管上皮细胞转分化的影响及其机制

目的：研究银杏叶提取物(extract of ginkgo biloba, EGB)对转化生长因子β₁(transforming growth factor-β₁ TGF-β₁)诱导的人肾小管上皮细胞HK2(human tubular epithelial cells)转分化的影响及其机制。方法:复苏并传代培养HK2细胞，应用10 μg/L TGF-β₁诱导HK2细胞向间充质的转分化，给予EGB干预。应用Western印记法检测HK2细胞E-钙黏蛋白(E-cadherin)、α- 平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-smooth muscle actin, α-SMA)、NADPH氧化酶p67phox以及超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase, SOD）的表达，检测细胞培养液上清中丙二醛（malondialdehyde, MDA）的含量。结果:EGB显著抑制TGF-β₁诱导的E-cadherin下调(P＜0.05)和α-SMA上调(P＜0.05)； EGB显著抑制TGF-β₁诱导的p67phox表达增加(P＜0.05)，显著抑制TGF-β₁诱导的SOD表达降低(P＜0.05);同时，TGF-β₁显著促进了MDA的产生(P＜0.05),EGB可以部分抑制TGF-β₁刺激的MDA浓度的升高(P＜0.05)。结论:EGB显著抑制TGF-β₁诱导的HK2细胞转分化，其机制可能是EGB 抑制了TGF-β₁诱导的p67phox上调并上调SOD的表达。     

前列腺素E2抑制转化生长因子-β1诱导的人胚肺成纤维细胞转分化及胶原合成

目的：研究前列腺素E₂（PGE₂）对转化生长因子-β₁（TGF-β₁） 诱导人胚肺成纤维细胞（HLF）转分化及促胶原(COL)合成作用的干预。方法： HLF 细胞生长至融合后分为 ①对照组、②TGF-β₁组、③TGF-β₁+PGE₂组、④TGF-β₁+吲哚美辛组，给予干预24 h后用细胞免疫荧光及Western blotting法观察发生转分化为肌成纤维细胞的标志蛋白 α-平滑肌动蛋白（α-SMA）的表达，用RT-PCR法检测结缔组织生长因子（CTGF）mRNA和Ⅰ型胶原（COLⅠ）mRNA的水平，用免疫细胞化学法检测CTGF蛋白表达，比色法检测培养上清中羟脯氨酸含量。结果: TGF-β₁ 可将HLF转分化为 α-SMA 阳性表达的肌成纤维细胞，PGE₂则能抑制这种转分化作用；PGE₂ 可显著减低TGF-β₁ 致肌成纤维细胞、CTGFmRNA与蛋白水平（P<0.05）和COLⅠmRNA 水平升高（P<0.05）； 吲哚美辛升高TGF-β₁ 致HLF肌成纤维细胞CTGF与COLⅠ的表达； 放线菌酮预处理肌成纤维细胞3 h后再加入TGF-β₁＋PGE₂，其COLⅠmRNA 水平明显低于TGF-β₁ 处理组水平（P<0.05）。结论: PGE₂可抑制TGF-β₁ 对成纤维细胞的转分化及促胶原合成作用, 且可通过依赖CTGF和非依赖2种方式下调COLⅠ的转录。     

槲皮素对TGF-β1诱导的大鼠肾小管上皮细胞细胞外基质积聚的影响

目的：观察转化生长因子（TGF）-β₁对大鼠肾小管上皮细胞MCP-1、PAI-1和Col-Ⅰ表达的影响，并探讨槲皮素的作用。方法:以大鼠肾小管上皮细胞（NRK-52E）为研究对象，采用TGF-β₁(10 μg/L)刺激，部分实验中培养的细胞在刺激前用槲皮素(50 μmol/L)预处理90 min。MCP-1及COL-Ⅰ mRNA的表达采用RT-PCR检测。PAI-1mRNA和蛋白的表达分别采用RT-PCR和Western blotting 法检测。结果:NRK-52E 细胞在TGF-β₁刺激后MCP-1 mRNA显著上调，在2 h开始升高，8 h达高峰，呈时间依赖性；PAI-1 mRNA和蛋白的表达也显著增加；同时，TGF-β₁还显著上调Col-ⅠmRNA的表达，24 h为正常的2.4倍（P<0.05）。槲皮素预处理后，TGF-β₁诱导的MCP-1、PAI-1和Col-Ⅰ的上调表达均受到明显抑制（P<0.05）。结论:槲皮素能够通过抑制MCP-1、PAI-1和Col-Ⅰ的表达而部分逆转TGF-β₁诱导的肾小管上皮细胞细胞外基质的积聚，这可能有利于延缓肾间质纤维化的发生和发展。     

心肌细胞结缔组织生长因子的表达及TGF-β1对其表达的影响

目的： 研究纯化的心肌细胞中结缔组织生长因子（CTGF）基因及蛋白的表达，并探讨转化生长因子β1（TGF-β₁）对其表达的影响。方法: 分离培养乳鼠心肌细胞，48 h后用流式分选方法（FACS）分选纯化心肌细胞，纯化的心肌细胞继续培养48 h。分为对照组（空白纯化心肌细胞组）和TGF-β₁刺激组，用RT-PCR方法测定两组细胞中TGF-β₁、CTGF、纤维连接蛋白（FN） mRNA的含量， 用Western blotting法检测两组细胞胞浆蛋白中CTGF、FN含量。结果: 心肌细胞中有较低水平的CTGF表达，在予以 TGF-β₁刺激后细胞内CTGF mRNA与蛋白含量分别提高 2.49 倍(P<0.01) 和3.63 倍（P<0.01），FN mRNA与蛋白含量分别提高 1倍(P<0.01)和4.18倍（P<0.01），而TGF-β1mRNA水平减少34%（P<0.01）。结论: 纯化的心肌细胞有CTGF的基础表达，并且TGF-β1可以明显上调其表达，提示心肌细胞主动参与了心肌纤维化过程。     

Decorin 基因转染抑制高糖培养的大鼠肾系膜细胞细胞外基质mRNA表达

目的： 观察核心蛋白聚糖Ⅱ（DCN）基因转染对高糖培养的大鼠肾系膜细胞（RMCs）细胞外基质（ECM）mRNA表达的影响。方法： 用已构建的AD-DCN腺病毒感染高糖环境培养的大鼠肾系膜细胞，采用半定量RT-PCR测定decorin、转化生长因子β₁（TGF-β₁）、纤维粘连蛋白（fibronectin）和IV型胶原（collagen IV） mRNA水平。结果： 高糖培养的RMCs感染AD-DCN后，DCN mRNA水平显著增高，24 h至第7 d，该组DCN mRNA水平始终显著高于高糖组及AD－LacZ感染组(P<0.05)，decorin mRNA水平增高后表现出对TGF-β₁ mRNA 水平的抑制作用，在mRNA水平，AD-DCN感染的RMCs细胞外基质fibronectin和collagen IV随TGF-β₁ mRNA水平下降而下降。结论： DCN重组腺病毒感染大鼠肾系膜细胞后能高效表达目的基因decorin并拮抗 TGF-β₁ 的生物活性，其下调ECM成分 mRNA水平的作用与使用TGF-β抗体的效果相似。     

JAK/STAT信号途径参与高糖诱导的肾小管上皮细胞转分化

目的：观察Janus激酶/信号转导和转录活化因子(JAK/STAT) 信号的激活对高糖诱导肾小管上皮细胞转分化的影响。方法:体外培养人肾近曲小管上皮细胞株（HKCs）,分别给予高糖和JAK拮抗剂AG490干预,采用免疫沉淀和Western印迹检测JAK2的磷酸化;Western印迹检测平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-SMA)、E-钙黏素(E-cadherin)及信号蛋白STAT1、STAT3、磷酸化STAT1 (phospho-STAT1, p-STAT1) 和p-STAT3的水平; 酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)测定细胞上清液中转化生长因子β₁(TGF-β₁)和I型胶原的分泌,逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测TGF-β₁mRNA表达。结果:与低糖对照组比较,高糖培养的HKCs中α-SMA 的水平及p-JAK2 、p-STAT1 和p-STAT3 比例明显上调；E-cadherin表达明显下调；TGF-β₁ mRNA 表达增加；细胞培养上清液中TGF-β₁、Ⅰ型胶原分泌增加。AG490明显抑制JAK2磷酸化、下调p－STAT1 和p-STAT3的同时,明显抑制高糖刺激HKCs中α-SMA表达的升高，减轻E-cadherin表达下降程度；降低TGF-β₁ mRNA 表达及TGF-β₁、Ⅰ型胶原的分泌。结论:JAK/STAT信号途径参与高糖诱导的HKCs转分化，并刺激TGF-β₁和细胞外基质的分泌。     

血小板反应蛋白1在转化生长因子β1诱导的大鼠心肌成纤维细胞中的作用

目的：观察血小板反应蛋白1（TSP-1）在转化生长因子β₁(TGF-β₁)诱导大鼠心肌成纤维细胞中的作用。方法: 差速贴壁法分离新生Sprague-Dawley(SD)大鼠心肌成纤维细胞(CFs)。MTT法测CFs生长,羟脯氨酸法测CFs胶原含量,RT-PCR 法测TSP-1mRNA表达。结果: TGF-β₁诱导CFs TSP-1的表达呈浓度-时间依赖性增加(P<0.01)。TGF-β₁（20 μg/L）作用下24 h可诱导CFs增殖和胶原合成(P<0.01)。TSP-1反义寡核苷酸作用后的CFs的MTT A值、胶原含量减少(P<0.01)。结论: TGF-β₁可诱导新生大鼠CFs TSP-1表达,TSP-1反义寡核苷酸对TGF-β1诱导大鼠CFs增殖与胶原合成具有明显的抑制作用,TSP-1在TGF-β₁诱导大鼠心肌纤维化中可能具有重要的作用。     

RNA干扰抑制肝星状细胞CTGF表达对细胞外基质分泌的影响

目的：利用pEGFP质粒载体构建介导结缔组织生长因子(CTGF)短发夹RNA表达的质粒，筛选有效的抑制序列后，研究其对HSC-T6中TGF-β₁、CTGF及细胞外基质表达的影响。方法:1.分别设计3对针对CTGF的有小发夹结构的两条DNA序列及1对非特异对照序列，构建重组体成功后转染HSC-T6，24 h后通过RT-PCR及Western blotting分析HSC-T6 CTGFmRNA及蛋白表达水平，筛选出有效抑制CTGF表达的序列。2.将已构建并筛选出有最高抑制效率的pEGFP-CTGFshRNA转染HSC-T6 ，培养24、48 h后用RT-PCR和/或Western blotting检测各组细胞中TGF-β₁、Ⅰ型胶原、Ⅲ型胶原基因的表达;放免法分析细胞上清液中Ⅲ型前胶原、IV型胶原、透明质酸和层黏连蛋白的含量。结果:将构建成功的3组pEGFP-CTGFshRNA转染肝星状细胞后，筛选出两组能高效抑制CTGF表达的序列; pEGFP-CTGFshRNA能明显抑制HSC-T6 CTGF、Ⅰ型、Ⅲ型胶原mRNA及蛋白的表达，降低上清液中Ⅲ型前胶原、IV型胶原、透明质酸和层黏连蛋白的含量(P<0.01或P<0.05)，而对TGF-β₁的基因表达则无影响。结论:pEGFP-CTGFshRNA能高效抑制肝星状细胞中CTGF及细胞外基质的表达;CTGFshRNA介导的RNA干扰有望对慢性肝病所致肝纤维化具有治疗潜力。     

AGEs对肾小管上皮细胞转分化、1型胶原合成及smad信号通路的影响

目的:观察终末期糖基化终产物(AGEs)对正常大鼠近端肾小管上皮细胞（NRK52E ）转分化、collagenⅠ合成及Smads信号通路的影响。 方法:应用自制的AGEs（AGE-BSA）刺激NRK52E细胞，采用免疫细胞化学方法检测pmad2/3核表达情况；ELISA方法检测细胞培养上清TGF-β₁的浓度；RT-PCR检测TGF-β₁、Smad2、Smad3和Smad7 mRNA的表达；Western印迹检测α-平滑肌肌动蛋白（SMA）、E-钙粘着糖蛋白（cadherin）和1型胶原（collagenⅠ）蛋白的表达。 结果: AGE-BSA刺激15 min后pSmad2/3核表达明显增加，于30 min（68%）和24 h（76%）出现两个高峰，与刺激前及时间匹配的BSA对照组比较均有显著差异（P<0.05）；AGE-BSA以时间依赖方式上调TGF-β₁、Smad2、Smad3和Smad7 mRNA的表达；NRK52E细胞α-SMA和collagenⅠ蛋白表达高于对照组（P<0.01），E-cadherin蛋白表达低于对照组（P<0.01），细胞上清液TGF-β₁的浓度高于对照组（P<0.01）。 结论:AGEs可诱导肾小管上皮细胞Smads信号通路活化，促进肾小管上皮细胞转分化和细胞外基质collagenⅠ的合成。     

Development in in vitro toxicology

There are three principal pressures driving the development of in vitro toxicology: (1) the need for more efficient testing systems to cope with the large number of xenobiotics currently being developed; (2) public pressure to reduce animal experimentation; and (3) a need for a better understanding of the mechanisms of toxicity. Within this, in vitro toxicology is focused on local, systemic, and target-organ toxicity. It is becoming increasingly apparent that a step or decision-tree approach using input of a variety of experimental data (physicochemical properties, biokinetics, cytotoxicity) provides the most efficient system for predicting toxicity. Examples of the use of in vitro toxicity systems for prediction of systemic toxicity and target-organ (liver) toxicity are presented.Originally presented at ECCP 93.     

Age-related changes in polyamines in memory-associated brain structures in rats

Polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine are positively charged aliphatic amines and have important roles in maintaining normal cellular function, regulating neurotransmitter receptors and modulating learning and memory. Recent evidence suggests a role of putrescine in hippocampal neurogenesis, that is significantly impaired during aging. The present study measured the polyamine levels in memory-related brain structures in 24- (aged), 12- (middle-aged) and 4- (young) month-old rats using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatography. In the hippocampus, the putrescine levels were significantly decreased in the CA1 and dentate gyrus, and increased in the CA2/3 with age. Significant age-related increases in the spermidine levels were found in the CA1 and CA2/3. There was no difference between groups in spermine in any sub-regions examined. In the parahippocampal region, increased putrescine level with age was observed in the entorhinal cortex, and age did not alter the spermidine levels. The spermine level was significantly decreased in the perirhinal cortex and increased in the postrhinal cortex with age. In the prefrontal cortex, there was age-related decrease in putrescine, and the spermidine and spermine levels were significantly increased with age. This study, for the first time, demonstrates age-related region-specific changes in polyamines in memory-associated structures, suggesting that polyamine system dysfunction may potentially contribute to aged-related impairments in hippocampal neurogenesis and learning and memory.     

Seasonal variations in acute toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in Slovenia

Between December 1999 and December 2004, 40 081 pregnant women were examined for toxoplasmosis with Toxo-IgG, Toxo-IgM enzyme immunoassay. Women with positive results were then retested with the Toxo-IgG avidity assay for recent toxoplasmosis. Recent acute toxoplasmosis in pregnant women was found to be significantly more frequent (p < 0.01) during winter than summer. The incidence of acute toxoplasmosis during winter-spring was also significantly more frequent (p < 0.025) than summer-autumn. This phenomenon should be taken into account when formulating preventive measures for toxoplasmosis, especially for pregnant women.     

休克过程中肾上腺髓质素变化的研究进展

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a new peptidergic regulator of vascular function. AM serves as a hormone, which has many biological properties, plays an important role in the many pathophysiological processes, especially shock. This review will highlight the structure, biological properties of AM and the relationship between AM and shock.     

Secular change in menarche in women in Madrid

The age at menarche was estimated by recollection in 1617 women between the ages of 18 and 60 in Madrid and a nearby suburb, Pinto. The population of Pinto is working-class and the Madrid group, taken from residential neighbourhoods , belongs to the upper middle class. In both groups we found a diminution in average age at menarche, from 14.04 to 13.02 years in Madrid and from 14.55 to 13.16 years from about 1935 to about 1965 in Pinto. These changes have been more intense in the group which is less well-off economically, where living conditions have varied much more drastically.     

Uteroglobin in the developing rabbit conceptus in vivo and in vitro

Summary Uteroglobin (UGL) was measured in day- 4 to day-10 rabbit conceptuses by a competitive ELISA. Levels in blastocyst fluid, tissues, coverings and in the early fetus were determined separately. The total amount of UGL increased from 18.4 ng to 6.8 g per conceptus. The UGL content of individual day-6 blastocysts was studied in vitro. Culturing was carried out up to 60 h in Ham's F10 medium with polyvinylpyrrolidone as macromolecular component, with and without progesterone, and with progesterone plus estradiol. UGL was determined in the blastocyst fluids, tissues with coverings and in the culture media. After labelling with [³⁵S]-methionine, protein patterns of total blastocysts and of culture media were analysed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and fluorography. The morphology of cultured blastocysts was examined by electron microscopy. During 60 h of culture, the blastocysts expanded in diameter by 84%, and released 19% of their initial UGL content into the medium, independent of the hormonal substitution. Neither de novo synthesis, nor degradation of UGL was found: the protein remained unlabelled in fluorography, and its total quantity was not significantly different from that of non-cultured controls. Trophoblast, endoderm and embryoblast cells showed well preserved cell organelles and intercellular junctions, while the morphological differentiation of the germ layer was inhibited.