Calmodulin stimulates the degradation of brain spectrin by calpain

Brain spectrin has been shown to be a preferential substrate of calcium-dependent proteases (Baudry, Bundman, Smith, and Lynch: Science 212:937-938, 1981) and a major calmodulin-binding protein (Kakiuchi, Sobue, and Fujita: FEBS Lett. 132:144-148, 1981). Since calmodulin, spectrin, and a proteolytically derived spectrin fragment are all components of isolated postsynaptic density preparations (Grab, Berzins, Cohen, and Siekevitz: J. Biol. Chem. 254:8690-8696, 1979; Carlin, Bartelt, and Siekevitz: J. Cell Biol. 96:443-448, 1983), we investigated the functional role of calmodulin binding to brain spectrin with respect to its susceptibility to digestion by proteases. We report that calmodulin's interaction with brain spectrin results in a marked acceleration of the rate of spectrin degradation by calcium-dependent proteases (calpains I and II), but not by chymotrypsin. The cleavage of erythrocyte spectrin (which lacks a high-affinity calmodulin binding site) by calpain I is unaffected by the presence of calmodulin. The stimulatory effect of calmodulin is blocked by trifluoperazine, a calmodulin antagonist, which by itself does not modify brain spectrin proteolysis by calcium-dependent proteases. These results suggest a novel role for calmodulin in neuronal function--namely, a synergistic interaction with calcium-dependent proteases in the regulation of cytoskeletal integrity.     

骨髓间充质细胞与速固化磷酸钙支架共培养的实验研究

[目的]观察人骨髓间充质干细胞在速固化磷酸钙骨水泥支架中的增殖和生长情况。[方法]将速固化壳聚糖-磷酸钙骨水泥支架材料预先成形。采用全骨髓法分离人骨髓间充质细胞并在体外对细胞进行培养和扩增。72h首次换液,细胞融合80%传代,取第3代细胞用于实验。将细胞与磷酸钙骨水泥支架复合培养,分别利用四甲基偶氮唑蓝MTT法及扫描电镜等检测细胞在材料中的增殖和生长情况。[结果]用酶标仪检测OD值提示共培养后,支架内的细胞数量逐渐增加。扫描电镜结果显示支架材料内部为多孔结构,孔内见有细胞生长,细胞表面可见分泌颗粒。[结论]速固化壳聚糖-磷酸钙骨水泥对人骨髓间充质干细胞有较好的细胞相容性,细胞可在材料内黏附和增殖,是理想的骨组织工程支架材料。     

大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞与多孔双相磷酸钙陶瓷支架体外黏附的实验研究

目的研究大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞(marrowmesenchymalstemcells,MSCs)诱导培养后在多孔双相磷酸钙(biphasiccalciumphosphate,BCP)陶瓷支架材料上的黏附和生长。方法SD大鼠MSCs经矿化诱导培养、扩增,具有成骨细胞表型后,与多孔BCP陶瓷支架及普通多孔羟基磷灰石(hydroxyapatite,HA)陶瓷支架体外复合培养,扫描电镜观察比较MSCs在两种材料支架表面的黏附数量和形态;同时以0.5、1.0、2.0、3.0和4.0×106/ml浓度细胞悬液接种于多孔BCP支架材料,检测适宜的接种浓度及单位体积支架材料可黏附MSCs数量。结果大鼠MSCs经诱导培养14d后,行矿化沉积茜素红染色、型胶原免疫细胞化学染色及碱性磷酸酶细胞化学染色,结果均为阳性。大鼠MSCs黏附于多孔BCP陶瓷上的细胞数(88.00±6.58)明显高于HA陶瓷组(39.00±3.65),两组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。当接种浓度为2.0×106/ml时,单位体积的陶瓷支架材料最多可黏附MSCs数量为1.28×107个/cm3,为细胞适宜接种浓度。结论大鼠MSCs在体外经矿化诱导培养可表达成骨细胞表型,细胞浓度为2.0×106/ml时与多孔BCP陶瓷支架材料具有良好的黏附能力。     

Micro-CT observation of rat dental pulp healing after pulpotomy in in vivo study

We report the newly developed Micro-CT, which allows us to observe the individual animal over a long experimental period and to compare changes in pulp tissue in relation to growth and aging without considering individual differences. Further, we used pathological examination to prove similar the result observing from Micro-CT. We have examined wound healing of teeth after pulpotomy in rats, and could clearly observe histopathological changes in the affected teeth and the absorption of temporary filling material and pulp capping agents. In cases with breakage of the dental crown, the CT images agreed with the pathological observations, and it was possible to estimate the time of breakage. In vivo Micro-CT is possible to apply in continuous recording of small experimental animals, such as rats, under anesthesia and the result is sufficiently high. High-quality image was obtained in of the entire head region of the rat. It was suggested that this method can be used for long-term continuous observation of changes in the teeth conditions after pulpotomy in experimental animals. We report the newly developed Micro-CT, which allows us to observe the individual animal over a long experimental period and to compare changes in pulp tissue in relation to growth and aging without considering individual differences.     

INFLUENCE OF IODOFORM ON ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL OF CALCIUM HYDROXIDE

The purpose of this research was to verify the influence of Iodoform on antimicrobial potential of calcium hydroxide. S. aureus, E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis, C. albicans were the biological indicators. The substances tested were: calcium hydroxide + saline; calcium hydroxide + Iodoform + saline; Iodoform + saline. For the agar diffusion test, 18 Petri plates with 20 ml of BHI agar were inoculated with the microbial suspensions. Fifty-four cavities were made and filled with the substances tested. The diameters of microbial inhibition were then measured. In direct exposure test, 162 #50 sterile absorbent paper points were immersed in the experimental suspensions for 5 min, and covered with the pastes. At intervals of 24, 48 and 72 hours, the paper points were immersed in 10 ml of Letheen Broth, followed by incubation at 37°°C for 48h. Microbial growth was evaluated by turbidity of the culture medium. A 0.1 ml inoculum obtained from the Letheen Broth was transferred to 7 ml of BHI, and incubated at 37°°C for 48h. Bacterial growth was again evaluated by turbidity of the culture medium. The calcium hydroxide associated with the saline or the iodoform plus saline showed antimicrobial effectiveness in both experimental methods. The iodoform paste presented antimicrobial ineffectiveness for the agar diffusion test on all biological microorganisms and for the direct exposure test on B. subtilis and on the mixture.     

Cav1.1基因26内含子67位点A/G多态性与甲状腺功能亢进性周期性瘫痪的相关性研究

目的探讨钙通道α1亚基（Cav1．1）基因26内含子-67A／G多态性与男性甲状腺功能亢进（简称甲亢）性周期性瘫痪（TPP）的相关性。方法采用多聚酶链反应-单链构象多态性（PCR-SSCP）方法检测46例男性TPP患者（TPP组）、68例男性甲亢患者（GD组）和72名男性健康对照者（CON组）Cav1．1基因26内含子-67A／G多态性。分析比较此多态位点基因型和等位基因在不同人群中分布的差异。结果（1）TPP组、GD组及CON组AG＋GG基因型频率分别为47．83％、14．71％、29．17％，G等位基因频率分别为44．57％、13．24％、27．78％。（2）TPP组AG＋GG基因型频率明显高于GD组和CON组（OR=5．32，P〈0．01；OR=2．23，P=0．04），TPP组G等位基因频率明显高于GD组和CON组（OR=5．27，P〈0．01；OR=2．09，P=0．008）。结论Cav1．1基因26内含子-67位点A／G多态性与男性TPP有相关性。     

细胞内游离Ca2+在发育中大鼠皮层神经元无镁诱导惊厥性损伤中的作用

目的: 观察细胞内游离Ca2+([Ca2+]i)在培养的不同发育阶段皮层神经元无镁诱导惊厥性损伤中的作用,探讨惊厥性脑损伤年龄依赖性的可能机制.方法:体外培养6 d、17 d的胚胎大鼠皮层神经元用无镁细胞外液处理3 h,或于无镁处理前用NMDA(N-甲基-D-门冬氨酸)受体拮抗剂或Ca2+通道阻滞剂预处理,用MTT代谢率测定的方法检测神经元损伤,以Fluo-3作标记用激光共聚焦显微镜扫描的方法检测[Ca2+]i.结果:体外培养6 d、17 d的神经元单纯无镁组MTT代谢率较同期对照组降低.应用MK-801 10 μmol*L-1、AP-5 50 μmol*L-1、尼莫地平10 μmol*L-1预处理后再给无镁处理,培养6 d、17 d的神经元MTT代谢率均不同程度高于同期单纯无镁组.培养6 d、17 d的神经元相对荧光强度之间差异有显著性,两者与基线荧光强度比较差异亦有显著性.应用上述各种拮抗剂后,[Ca2+]i改变的峰值均明显低于同期单纯无镁组.结论: 在体外不同发育阶段的神经元,短暂无镁处理诱导惊厥样放电所引起的神经元线粒体功能损伤以及[Ca2+]i改变程度不同.这种[Ca2+]i改变的年龄依赖性可能是惊厥导致神经元损伤的年龄依赖性的机制之一.NMDA受体-Ca2+通道激活是导致这种[Ca2+]i改变及神经元损伤的关键环节.     

PLACENTAL CALCIUM PUMP: CLINICAL-BASED EVIDENCE

Placenta can be considered as a pump of calcium necessary for the normal development of the fetus. We believe that the location of this pump is in the placental basement membrane. The calcification of this membrane has been described only in cases of in utero fetal death. In this study we describe for the first time a case of placental calcification in a living fetus. The fetus of a normal 21-year-old pregnant woman showed heart abnormalities but the genetic analysis showed a normal male karyotype. The histology of the placenta demonstrated multiple intravillous linear and granular calcific incrustations The hemtoxylin/eosin stain of the sections revealed basement membrane calcific incrustations and intravillous calcium deposits. We postulate that the fetal circulation in the villi was impaired and the calcium that reached the villi from the mother was deposited at this level.     

Fumonisins as a possible contributory risk factor for primary liver cancer: A 3-year study of corn harvested in Haimen, China, by HPLC and ELISA

Employing HPLC fluorometry, gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) and a novel enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on a monoclonal antibody, 40 corn samples, each collected in 1993 from agricultural stocks for human consumption in Haimen (Jiangsu County) and Penlai (Shandong Province), high- and low-risk areas for primary liver cancer (PLC) in China, respectively, were analysed for fumonisins (FBs), aflatoxins (AFs) and trichothecenes. Levels and positive rates of FBs and deoxynivalenol (DON) were significantly higher in Haimen than in Penlai. ELISA of the 40 corn samples harvested in the two areas in 1994 revealed that FB contamination levels and rates in these areas were comparable to those observed in 1993 in Haimen. ELISA analysis of 1993 and 1994 products revealed a wide occurrence of AFB₁ but the positive rates as well as levels were not significantly different between these areas. ELISA of the same sample number of corn harvested in 1995 revealed that FB contamination in Haimen was significantly higher than in Penlai. These 3-yearly surveys of corn samples (240 in total) demonstrated that corn harvested in Haimen was highly contaminated with FBs and that the contamination level, as well as positive rate in 1993 and 1995, were 10–50-fold higher than those in Penlai, suggesting FBs as a risk factor for promotion of PLC in endemic areas, along with the trichothecene DON. Co-contamination with AFs, potent hepatocarcinogens, was assumed to play an important role in the initiation of hepatocarcinogenesis.