Restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the CYP11B1 gene in the Japanese population

Summary Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of the CYP11B1 gene were studied in Japanese using cDNA clone P450c11 as a probe. Genomic DNAs from 60 unrelated Japanese individuals were digested with 8 different restriction enzymes and analyzed by Southern blot hybridization. Two RFLPs were detected inMspI digests of the DNA. One(A) was characterized by polymorphic bands at 3.4 and 2.5 kilobasepairs (kb) and the other (B) by polymorphic bands at 1.7 and 1.2 kb. The third RFLP was observed inPvuII-digested samples and was polymorphic at 5.8 and 4.0 kb bands. Two of the three RFLPs found, RFLP (A) and (C), have not been described in the only previous report which was based on Caucasian samples. We also examined the RFLPs of a 3 generation family of 11-hydroxylase deficiency caused by an abnormality of the CYP11B1 gene. All the family members were homozygous in all three RFLPs and was thus not informative.     

Activation of MAP kinases,pp90rsk and pp70-S6 kinases in mouse mast cells by signaling through the c-kit receptor tyrosine kinase or FcϵRI: rapamycin inhibits activation of pp70-S6 kinase and proliferation in mouse mast cells

The high-affinity receptor for IgE, Fc_?RI, represents the major cell surface structure through which mast cells express immunologically specific secretory function. By contrast, the stem cell factor receptor (SCFR), which is encoded by c-kit, is essential for normal mast cell development. The signaling pathways initiated by the stimulation of mast cells through the Fc_?RI, which lacks intrinsic kinase activity, and the SCFR, a member of the receptor tyrosine kinase family, generally have been regarded to be distinct. We report here that mouse mast cells stimulated either with SCF or with IgE and specific antigen exhibit a remarkably similar pattern of activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), 90 kDa-S6 kinases (pp90^rsk), and pp70-S6 kinases (pp70-S6K). These results indicate that all three families of protein kinases are associated with the cell surface receptor-dependent activation of secretion, as well as proliferation, in mast cells. We also show that the immunosuppressant rapamycin, but not FK506, can inhibit both SCF-dependent pp70-S6 kinase activation and SCF-dependent proliferation in mouse mast cells, without suppressing IgE- and antigen-dependent mediator release. These findings suggest that the activation of pp70-S6 kinase represents an important link in the stimulation of cell proliferation by SCF. Our results also indicate that the intracellular signaling pathways initiated by stimulation of mast cells through the Fc_?RI or the SCFR exhibit more overlap than has previously been appreciated.     

慢性肾衰大鼠单个核细胞内游离钙浓度和白介素－1活性的变化

本文探讨了５／６肾切除术后慢性肾衰大鼠残肾纤维化的发生机理，发现术后１２０天，在残肾单个核炎性细胞浸润、残肾显著纤维化和肾功能损害的同时，残肾脂质过氧化物含量显著升高，抗氧化机制功能显著下降，钠钾ＡＴＰ酶活力显著下降，周围血单个核细胞内游离钙浓度显著升高，单个核细胞培养上清白介素－１活性增高。而摄入大量维生素Ｅ的大鼠，上述各指标有不同程度的改善，残肾纤维化显著减轻。提示残肾纤维化可能与单个核白细胞内游离钙浓度升高，进而产生白介素－１增多有关。     

Reconstitution of a functional interleukin (IL)-7 receptor demonstrates that the IL-2 receptor γ chain is required for IL-7 signal transduction

The interleukin (IL)-2 receptor γ chain has recently been shown to be a component of the IL-7 and IL-4 receptors. Using a transient transfection assay and the trans-activation of reporter gene constructs which are under the control of cytokine-responsive promoter elements, we have studied signal transduction through the IL-7 receptor (IL-7R). The reporter gene expression was not stimulated by receptors that contained the cytoplasmic domain of the IL-7R, either as intact IL-7R or as part of a chimeric receptor. However, co-expression of the IL-7R with the IL-2 receptor γ chain was able to stimulate gene activation. For maximal stimulation the intact cytoplasmic domains of each chain was required.     

Inhibition of interleukin-6 synthesis in an animal model of septic shock by anti-C5a monoclonal antibodies

The complement activation fragment C5a was recently shown to induce interleukin (IL)-6 synthesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells. To understand better the role of C5a in cytokine regulation in vivo, we investigated the effects of complement depletion by cobra venom factor (CVF) or of anti-C5a monoclonal antibodies (mAb) on IL-6 generation in an animal model of septic shock. Complement-depleted pigs which were subsequently challenged with Escherichia coli generated significantly (p < 0.05) less IL-6 during the 6-h observation period than complement-sufficient controls. To address specifically the role of C5a in IL-6 regulation, we produced a C5a(57–74) peptide-specific mAb (T13/9) which neutralizes the bioactivity of porcine C5a. The mAb T13/9 does not crossreact with the precursor protein C5. The pretreatment of pigs with anti-C5a mAb T13/9 prior to the induction of sepsis resulted in a decrease of over 75 % in serum IL-6 bioactivity compared to control animals (p < 0.0001). These results indicate a role for C5a in the modulation of IL-6 synthesis in Gram-negative bacteremia.     

Tacrine restores cholinergic nicotinic receptors and glucose metabolism in alzheimer patients as visualized by positron emission tomography

Three patients with Alzheimer's disease, a 68-year-old woman with mild dementia and 2 men (aged 64 and 72 years) with moderate dementia were treated orally with the cholinesterase inhibitor tacrine (tetrahydroaminoacridine), 80 mg daily, for several months. The patients were investigated using positron emission tomography (PET) prior to, and after 3 weeks and 3 months of treatment. The PET studies involved a multi-tracer system consisting of [¹⁸F]-fluoro-deoxy-glucose (¹⁸F-FDG) (tracer for glucose metabolism); ¹¹C-butanol (cerebral blood flow) and (S)(−)- and (R)(+)-[N-¹¹C-methyl]-nicotine (nicotinic receptors; cholinergic neural activity). Tacrine treatment increased the uptake of ¹¹C-nicotine to the brain. Significant reduced difference in uptake between the two enantiomers (S)(−)- and (R)(+)¹¹C-nicotine was observed in the frontal and temporal cortices after tacrine treatment in all three patients. The kinetic analysis indicated increased binding of (S)(−)¹¹C-nicotine in brain compatible with a restoration of nicotinic cholinergic receptors. The most pronounced effect was observed after 3 weeks and 3 months treatment in the patient with mild dementia. An increase in cerebral glucose utilization was found in the 68-year-old patient with mild dementia but also slightly in the 64-year-old man with moderate dementia when treated with tacrine for 3 months. Tacrine administration did not affect cerebral blood flow. The PET data obtained after 3 weeks of tacrine treatment was paralleled by improvement in neuropsychological performance. This study shows in vivo by PET neurochemical effects induced in brain by treatment with tacrine to Alzheimer patients. Intervention with tacrine in the early course of the disease might be necessary for clinical improvement.     

八肽胆囊收缩素对TNF-α诱导的大鼠滑膜细胞株RSC-364 IL-6的作用及其可能的分子机制(英文)

目的: 观察硫酸化八肽胆囊收缩素（sCCK-8）对TNF-α诱导大鼠滑膜细胞株RSC-364 IL-6 mRNA 表达及核因子NF-κB的影响及其可能的受体机制。方法: 大鼠滑膜细胞株RSC-364经TNF-α(10　μg/L)、sCCK-8(10^-8-10^-6 mol/L)、CCK受体拮抗剂丙谷胺（2 mg/L）及溶剂单独或联合孵育3 h，用RT-PCR检测细胞IL-6、CCK-AR及CCK-BR mRNA的表达，孵育1 h，用电泳迁移率检测NF-κB活性，孵育30 min，用Western blotting检测胞浆IκB蛋白表达。结果: RSC-364细胞固有表达CCK-A/B受体，sCCK-8（10^-8-10^-6 mol/L）使IL-6、CCK-AR和CCK-BR mRNA表达进一步增高，明显增加TNF-α诱导的NF-κB活性，降低胞浆中IκB蛋白水平，并可被丙谷胺所拮抗。结论: sCCK-8通过NF-κB途径上调TNF-α诱导的大鼠滑膜细胞IL-6 mRNA表达，此作用可能通过滑膜细胞上的CCK受体实现，提示CCK-8在类风湿性关节炎（RA）发病过程中可能具有调控作用。     

Interleukin-10 inhibits IgE-mediated nitric oxide synthase induction and cytokine synthesis in normal human keratinocytes

Human keratinocytes (HK) generate nitric oxide (NO) and proinflammatory mediators following activation with either IgE/anti-IgE immune complexes or a combination of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Recently, interleukin-10 (IL-10) has been shown to down-regulate various inflammatory responses and to be secreted by lymphocytes and dendritic cells during skin inflammatory reactions. We show here that IL-10 down-regulates the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-6 by activated HK. Also, induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in HK by IgE/anti-IgE or LPS/IFN-γ is significantly reduced by the addition of IL-10. This effect is dose dependent and correlates with reduction of iNOS mRNA production and enzyme level. Therefore, IL-10 down-regulates NO-mediated HK inflammatory responses and may thus participate in the regulation of the skin immune network.     

IL-1β、TNF-α和IFN-γ引起的大鼠胰岛细胞凋亡及牛磺酸的影响

目的： 观察白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）和γ-干扰素（IFN-γ）引起胰岛细胞凋亡、胰岛素分泌、Bcl-xL和Bax蛋白表达变化及其牛磺酸的影响。方法： 应用体外单层培养Wistar大鼠胰岛细胞，分别检测IL-1β、TNF-α和 IFN-γ对胰岛细胞凋亡细胞百分率、DNA片段、培养液中NO^-₂/ NO^-₃含量及NOS活性、胰岛素分泌、Bcl-xL和Bax表达的影响，并进一步观察牛磺酸的作用。结果： IL-1β、TNF-α和 IFN-γ联合可诱导胰岛细胞凋亡率明显增加，DNA明显片段化，同时NO^-₂/ NO^-₃含量和NOS活性亦明显升高，胰岛素分泌明显降低, Bcl-xL表达下降和Bax表达增强（P<0.01）；牛磺酸能阻断上述细胞因子的作用（P<0.01），并有一定的剂量依赖性。结论：牛磺酸能够改善IL-1β、TNF-α和 IFN-γ诱导的胰岛细胞凋亡，其机制可能与抑制NOS活性从而减少NO的生成以及下调Bax/Bcl-xL比例有关。