The effects of water immersion and restraint stress on the expressions of apelin,apelin receptor (APJR) and apoptosis rate in the rat heart

Apelin has been identified as an endogenous ligand of the orphan G-protein-coupled apelin receptor (APJR). These receptors are widely expressed in the central nervous system and periphery and play a role in the regulation of fluid and glucose homeostasis, feeding behavior, vessel formation, cell proliferation and immunity. We aimed to investigate whether water immersion and restraint stress have effects on apelin and APJR expression and apoptosis in heart tissue of male Wistar rats. The cardiac tissues were obtained from control, water immersion and restraint stress (WIRS) and apelin antagonist (F13A) + WIRS groups of rats and embedded in paraffin wax. Immunohistochemical staining methods were used to localize apelin, APJR and TUNEL immunopositive cells. H-SCORE was used for semi-quantitative determinations. Apelin protein levels were determined by Western blot in the cardiac tissues and plasma corticosteroid levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Apelin immunolocalization was found especially in endothelial cells and mast cells and faintly in cardiomyocytes, APJR immunostaining was shown in endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes, and TUNEL reaction was observed in endothelial cells and in some fibroblasts. Apelin expression was significantly increased in the WIRS and F13A + WIRS groups compared to the control group. The APJR reaction was similar in all groups. The number of TUNEL-positive cells was significantly higher in the F13A + WIRS group than that of the control group. Our study showed that WIRS for 6 h increased plasma corticosterone levels and cardiac apelin expression in rats. The increased levels of apelin inhibited stress-induced apoptosis in heart. These results may be important for the therapeutic approach to a variety of stress-related heart disease.     

Small interfering RNA delivery to the neurons near the amyloid plaques for improved treatment of Alzheimer׳s disease

Gene therapy represents a promising treatment for the Alzheimer׳s disease (AD). However, gene delivery specific to brain lesions through systemic administration remains big challenge. In our previous work, we have developed an siRNA nanocomplex able to be specifically delivered to the amyloid plaques through surface modification with both CGN peptide for the blood–brain barrier (BBB) penetration and QSH peptide for β-amyloid binding. But, whether the as-designed nanocomplex could indeed improve the gene accumulation in the impaired neuron cells and ameliorate AD-associated symptoms remains further study. Herein, we prepared the nanocomplexes with an siRNA against β-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), the rate-limiting enzyme of Aβ production, as the therapeutic siRNA of AD. The nanocomplexes exhibited high distribution in the Aβ deposits-enriched hippocampus, especially in the neurons near the amyloid plaques after intravenous administration. In APP/PS1 transgenic mice, the nanocomplexes down-regulated BACE1 in both mRNA and protein levels, as well as Aβ and amyloid plaques to the level of wild-type mice. Moreover, the nanocomplexes significantly increased the level of synaptophysin and rescued memory loss of the AD transgenic mice without hematological or histological toxicity. Taken together, this work presented direct evidences that the design of precise gene delivery to the AD lesions markedly improves the therapeutic outcome.     

小干扰RNA抑制MDM2对HepG2细胞的影响及机制

目的探讨小干扰RNA对HepG2细胞泛素蛋白链接酶(MDM2)基因表达的干扰效应和增殖影响的分子机制。方法建立装载靶向MDM2基因小干扰RNA(siRNA)的表达载体;用脂质体法将此表达载体转染HepG2细胞株,以转染阴性对照质粒组作对照;采用RT-PCR检测MDM2,p53,Bcl2和p21基因的表达;MTT法检测细胞增殖抑制情况,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡情况,划痕实验检测细胞迁移能力的改变。结果转染siRNA MDM2后的HepG2细胞MDM2和Bcl2基因表达明显减低,而p53和p21基因表达被明显增强,与空白组比差异具有显著性。siRNA MDM2明显抑制了HepG2的增殖并诱导其凋亡,同时使细胞迁移能力明显下降。但转染阴性对照质粒组未出现基因的表达变化和增殖抑制及凋亡。结论 siRNA MDM2可明显抑制HepG2增殖诱导其凋亡,并减弱肿瘤细胞迁移力。可能与抑制MDM2,增强p53表达,从而影响细胞周期和凋亡相关的基因表达变化有关。     

TLR2对曲霉感染支气管上皮细胞时Dectin-1表达的影响

目的 探讨烟曲霉感染人支气管上皮（HBE）细胞时Toll样受体2（TLR2）对树突状细胞植物血凝素-1 （Dectin-1）表达的影响.方法 建立烟曲霉感染HBE细胞模型,通过PCR、Western blot方法分别在mRNA、蛋白水平检测Dectin-1和TLR2的表达情况;沉默TLR2,复制感染模型,应用Western blot及流式细胞技术评价Dectin-1的表达变化.结果 ①烟曲霉感染后HBE细胞TLR2表达水平虽然有所升高,并在感染18h达到峰值,但与静息状态表达水平的差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.②沉默TLR2,在烟曲霉感染HBE细胞后18 h时Dectiin1的蛋白表达受到显著抑制（P＜0.05）.结论 HBE细胞静息状态下能够表达TLR2,在烟曲霉感染早期,随着时间的延长其表达有逐步增高的趋势;HBE细胞启动Dectin-1的表达可能是建立在TLR2对烟曲霉早期识别的基础上,通过下游信号通路的激活来实现的。     

VEGFR-3小干扰RNA对结肠癌裸鼠移植瘤生长的影响

目的:研究血管内皮生长因子受体3(vascularendothelial growth factor receptor 3,VEGFR-3)小干扰RNA对结肠癌细胞移植瘤模型生长的影响.方法:构建VEGFR-3小干扰RNA表达载体.将结肠癌LoVo细胞注射入裸鼠皮下建造裸鼠移植瘤模型.将15只裸鼠结肠癌模型随机分成3组:实验组(pG-siRNA/VEGFR-3重组质粒)、阴性对照组(pG-HK重组质粒)与空白对照组.分别瘤体内注射相应的siRNA混合物或转染剂混合液,每3 d注射1次,共注射3次,观察肿瘤体积的变化;6 wk后处死裸鼠,肿瘤称取质量,并进行qRT-PCR和Western blot测定VEGFR-3 mRNA和蛋白的变化,通过免疫组织化学进行微淋巴管计数.结果:实验组移植瘤体积和质量明显小于阴性对照组和空白对照组,有显著的统计学意义(P<0.001).实验组抑制率为52.75%,与对照组相比,差异有显著(P<0.001).qRT-PCR和Western blot测定VEGFR-3 mRNA和蛋白的变化比较,实验组有明显降低(P<0.001).实验组淋巴管计数较对照组差异显著(P<0.05).结论:VEGFR-3 siRNA可以抑制裸鼠结肠癌细胞移植瘤的生长,并减少裸鼠移植瘤淋巴管生成,能有效抑制结肠癌细胞的生长.     

靶向瘦素基因的siRNA对人肺腺癌A549细胞增殖和凋亡的影响

目的 通过构建慢病毒介导的靶向瘦素基因的小干扰RNA(siRNA),探讨瘦素对A549细胞增殖和凋亡的影响.方法 建立siRNA-a组、siRNA-b组及其各自阴性对照组和空白对照组(A549)5组细胞,分别于荧光显微镜下观察细胞5d和11d的生长情况.噻唑蓝(MTT)比色法测定空白对照组、siRNA-a组及其阴性对照组细胞1～6 d的生长情况,绘制生长曲线,比较各组细胞增殖差异.流式细胞仪分析各组细胞凋亡率,观察瘦素的siRNA对A549细胞凋亡的影响.RT-PCR和Western bloting方法检测各组细胞瘦素mRNA和蛋白表达水平.结果 siRNA-a细胞镜下形态基本正常,5d后荧光效率仍较高,感染稳定,但生长较阴性对照组及空白对照组细胞缓慢.siRNA-b细胞感染48 h后,镜下见细胞肿胀、变形,空泡出现,5d后见多量细胞碎片,凋亡小体形成,呈现凋亡状态,11d后可见细胞碎片,已近完全凋亡.MTT实验siRNA-a组细胞从第3天起生长比其他各组均缓慢(P＜0.01).流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率结果:siRNA-a组、siRNA-b组细胞凋亡率明显高于阴性对照组和空白对照组.RT-PCR和Western bloting结果 显示干扰组细胞瘦素mRNA和蛋白表达水平较阴性对照组和空白对照组明显下调.结论 慢病毒介导的siRNA能下调肺腺癌A549细胞瘦素基因的表达,从而抑制A549细胞增殖,促进其凋亡.由此可见,瘦素的siRNA有望成为肺腺癌基因治疗的新手段.     

腺病毒siRNA抑制RhoA基因并联合TNF-α诱导肝癌细胞凋亡的研究

目的建立RhoA基因的腺病毒siRNA系统,并联合TNF-α诱导肝癌细胞凋亡,分析RhoA在肿瘤细胞中的功能和作用。方法用已构建的RhoA干扰质粒构建RhoA的腺病毒siRNA系统,筛选重组病毒并感染HepG2细胞,应用Western blot和RT-PCR检测RhoA蛋白表达和基因表达水平。感染Ad-siRNA-RhoA腺病毒的肝癌细胞用TNF-α诱导后进行MTT以及细胞内DNA片段化检测。结果成功构建RhoA基因的siRNA腺病毒系统。用重组病毒感染肝癌细胞,RhoA蛋白表达抑制率为76.48%;RhoA基因的mRNA转录水平降低74.46%。MTT检测显示,感染腺病毒Ad-U6-control对照组以及感染腺病毒Ad-siRNA-RhoA实验组的细胞A值差异无统计学意义(F=5.41,P>0.01),即利用siRNA抑制肝癌细胞中RhoA表达,肿瘤细胞凋亡不明显。TUNEL检测显示,RhoA腺病毒siRNA联合TNF-α致肿瘤细胞凋亡作用显著。结论构建的腺病毒siRNA载体系统能抑制目的基因RhoA的表达,联合TNF-α能抑制肿瘤细胞生长和增殖并诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡,为肿瘤基因功能的基础研究和肿瘤基因治疗打下了实验基础。