Evidence for interference of vitamin D with PTH/PTHrP receptor expression in opossum kidney cells

 Vitamin D counters the phosphaturic action of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in rats in vivo. The present study was undertaken to examine this interaction using monolayers of Opossum kidney (OK) cells. ³²P uptake, cAMP generation, PTH/PTHrP receptor mRNA expression and intracellular Ca²⁺ [Ca²⁺]_i were measured in (1) control cells, (2) cells exposed to PTH, (3) cells pretreated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ [1,25(OH)₂D₃], and (4) 1,25(OH)₂D₃-pretreated cells exposed to PTH. ³²P uptakes were in (1) 5.00±0.20 (mean ±SE), in (2) 2.30±0.14 (P<0.001 versus group 1), in (3) 4.80±0.24 (P NS versus group 1) and in (4) 3.70±0.20 (P<0.001 versus group 2) nmol P_i/(mg·prot 10 mm). cAMP levels were in (1) 10±3, in (2) 210±8, in (3) 12±4, and in (4) 122±12 pmol cAMP/mg protein (P<0.001 versus group 2). PTH/PTHrP receptor mRNA expression was in relative units: (1) 100±0, (2) 99.5±6.2, (3) 68.7±2.6 (P<0.001 versus group 1), and (4) 34.8±3.3 (P<0.001 versus group 1). In groups 2 and 4 PTH induced equal transient increments in [Ca²⁺]_i. These experiments demonstrate that the effect of vitamin D on phosphate transport is associated with a commensurate diminution in PTH/PTHrP receptor gene expression and PTH-induced cAMP formation but not with Ca²⁺ transients. Vitamin D per se does not affect ³²P uptake or cAMP generation while it slightly decreased PTH/PTHrP receptor gene expression. These observations demonstrate that: (1) 1.25(OH)₂D₃ directly antagonizes the effects of PTH on ³²P uptake in OK cells, (2) this effect is mediated via inhibition of PTH-induced activation of AC/cAMP system, (3) the diminution in PTH-induced cAMP formation may stem at least in part from a decrease in the expression of PTH/PTHrP receptor mRNA. Received: 2 December 1997 / Received after revision: 19 January 1998 / Accepted: 28 January 1998     

Partial trisomy 3q syndrome inherited from familial t(3;9)(q26.1; p23)

A five-year-old girl was referred to prometaphase chromosome analysis because of mental retardation, facial dysmorphic features suggestive of Cornelia de Lange syndrome, cleft palate and additional minor congenital malformations of the cardiac system and fingers and toes. A familial balanced translocation (3;9)(q26.1; p23) was found. The karyotype of the proposita was 46,XX,der(9),t(3;9)(q26.1;p23). Thus the patient was trisomic for 3q26.1-qter and monosomic for 9p23-pter. The unbalanced chromosome constitution was not detected by standard Q-banding analysis shortly after birth. The karyotype was misdiagnosed as 46,XX,9(p+) in the proposita and her mother, and thought to be a normal variant of chromosome 9. The repeated cytogenetic study led to the diagnosis of the translocation and to the possibility of prenatal diagnosis in the translocation carriers. A survey of 22 published cases of dup(3q) showed that nearly 60% were secondary to familial balanced rearrangements with an excess of maternally derived abnormal chromosomes 3. Red blood cell galactose-1-phosphate-uridyltransferase (GALT) activity was normal in the patient, consistent with previous assignment of the gene locus for GALT to 9p13 (Shih et al. 1982).     

Eotaxin和CCR3在哮喘豚鼠肺和骨髓组织的表达及调控

目的:通过观察哮喘豚鼠肺和骨髓组织Eotaxin/CCR3表达的变化及糖皮质激素对其影响,探讨哮喘及激素干预的可能机制。方法:用卵白蛋白(OVA)致敏法制备豚鼠哮喘模型,分为正常对照组、哮喘组和激素干预(治疗组)组,瑞氏染色计数骨髓涂片和外周血涂片中白细胞比例,免疫组织化学技术检测骨髓中CCR3的表达;制备豚鼠肺组织病理标本,苏木精-伊红染色,原位分子杂交技术检测肺组织中Eotaxin mRNA,免疫组织化学技术检测Eotaxin在肺组织中的表达。结果:哮喘组骨髓涂片及外周血涂片中嗜酸粒细胞(EOS)比例显著高于对照组及治疗组(P<0.01);与对照组比较,哮喘组肺组织中Eotaxin阳性细胞数与Eotaxin mRNA表达明显增强(P<0.01),且两者呈正相关性(r=0.804,P<0.01)。哮喘组肺组织Eotaxin的表达与EOS的数量呈显著正相关(r=0.795,P<0.01)。哮喘组骨髓涂片中CCR3阳性细胞比例显著高于对照组及治疗组(P<0.01),哮喘组骨髓涂片中CCR3阳性细胞比例和外周血EOS比例呈显著正相关(r=0.736,P<0.05),治疗组与哮喘组比较骨髓中CCR3阳性细胞的比例有显著性下降(P<0.05),但仍高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:哮喘豚鼠肺组织中Eotaxin和骨髓CCR3表达增强,为EOS从骨髓快速募集到肺组织提供了可能,激素通过下调肺组织Eotaxin及骨髓CCR3的表达,发挥抗EOS性气道炎症的作用。     

胆红素对大鼠急性肺损伤形成过程中氧自由基以及caspase-3表达的影响

目的： 探讨胆红素对抗急性肺损伤（ALI）形成的可能机制。方法: 健康雌性Wistar大鼠(190-210 g) 30只，随机分为生理盐水对照组、脂多糖（LPS）致ALI模型组、胆红素干预组。检测肺组织匀浆中羟自由基（OH^-）、过氧化氢(H₂O₂)和超氧阴离子自由基（O₂^·）含量以及肺组织中caspase-3表达的变化。结果: ①ALI模型组肺组织匀浆OH^-、H₂O₂、O₂^·含量及肺组织中caspase-3表达显著高于生理盐水对照组（均P<0.05）。②胆红素干预组肺组织匀浆OH^-、H₂O₂、O₂^·及肺组织中caspase-3表达明显高于ALI正常大鼠（均P<0.05），但少于ALI模型组（均P<0.05）。结论: ①胆红素能在一定程度上减少肺内凋亡细胞数量。②胆红素能减少ALI大鼠肺组织OH^-、H₂O₂、O₂^·水平。③ Caspase-3表达的变化有促脂多糖性肺损伤细胞凋亡作用。     

Early-life epileptiform discharges exert both rapid and long-lasting effects on AMPAR subunit composition and distribution in developing neurons

The perinatal period of brain is characterized by dynamic changes in structure and high propensity for epilepsy. Animal models have shown that alterations of AMPA receptor (AMPAR) assembly or function may be related to seizure-induced cell damage, long-lasting impairments in brain development and seizure threshold. However, effects of earlier epileptiform discharges on AMPAR composition and sub-cellular distribution remain understudied. In this study, we analyzed age-dependent variation of relative GluR1 and GluR2 protein levels in primary cultured rat cortical neurons at 7 DIV, 12 DIV, 17 DIV and 21 DIV. By inducing a single event of epileptiform activity at 6 DIV, we tested the effects of early-life seizure-like insults on AMPAR subunit distribution. We found a significant increase in synaptosomal membrane GluR1 expression in magnesium-free (MGF) medium-treated neurons at each time point detected (p < 0.05), while GluR2 expression increased at 7 DIV, and declined at 17 DIV and 21 DIV respectively (p < 0.05). That is, a trend of high GluR1 with much lower GluR2 expression on the surface membrane of epileptiform discharges experienced neurons over time in culture was presented. These findings in an in vitro model of early-life seizure may inform rodent models of epilepsy, as well as the cellular mechanism involved in epilepsy-associated brain dysfunction.     

IGF-I与宫内发育迟缓及其结合蛋白的关系

目的：检测宫内发育迟缓（IUGR）儿脐血胰岛素样生长因子-I（IGF-I）、胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白-3（IGFBP-3）水平,分析这些指标的变化程度与胎儿期生长的关系。方法：将86例脐血标本分为IUGR（即小于胎龄儿）组和适于胎龄儿（AGA）组。采用放射免疫分析（RIA）测定IGF-I水平,免疫放射分析（IR-MA）测定IGFBP-3水平。两组间比较用t检验,两变量之间的关系采用相关回归分析。结果：与AGA组相比,IUGR组脐血IGF-I和IGFBP-3水平显著降低（P均〈0.01）;IGF-I、IGFBP-3均随胎龄及出生体重增加而增加（P均〈0.01）;IGFBP-3与IGF-I呈正相关（P〈0.01）。结论：脐血IGF-I和IGFBP-3的含量可作为判断新生儿生长发育程度的一项客观指标。     

Megalencephaly syndromes associated with mutations of core components of the PI3K‐AKT–MTOR pathway: PIK3CA,PIK3R2, AKT3, and MTOR

Megalencephaly (MEG) is a developmental abnormality of brain growth characterized by early onset, often progressive, brain overgrowth. Focal forms of megalencephaly associated with cortical dysplasia, such as hemimegalencephaly and focal cortical dysplasia, are common causes of focal intractable epilepsy in children. The increasing use of high throughput sequencing methods, including high depth sequencing to more accurately detect and quantify mosaic mutations, has allowed us to identify the molecular etiologies of many MEG syndromes, including most notably the PI3K‐AKT‐MTOR related MEG disorders. Thorough molecular and clinical characterization of affected individuals further allow us to derive preliminary genotype–phenotype correlations depending on the gene, mutation, level of mosaicism, and tissue distribution. Our review of published data on these disorders so far shows that mildly activating variants (that are typically constitutional or germline) are associated with diffuse megalencephaly with intellectual disability and/or autism spectrum disorder; moderately activating variants (that are typically high‐level mosaic) are associated with megalencephaly with pigmentary abnormalities of the skin; and strongly activating variants (that are usually very low‐level mosaic) are associated with focal brain malformations including hemimegalencephaly and focal cortical dysplasia. Accurate molecular diagnosis of these disorders is undoubtedly crucial to more optimally treat children with these disorders using PI3K‐AKT–MTOR pathway inhibitors.     

精神分裂症与KCNN3基因1137～1140缺失移码突变传递不平衡研究

目的 探讨KCNN3基因1137～1140的4个碱基缺失所致移码突变与精神分裂症的关系。方法 95个核心家系共289名家庭成员，包含107例精神分裂症患者纳入本研究。精神分裂症采用CCMD-Ⅱ-R诊断标准。KCNN3基因1137～1140的4个碱基缺失基因型检测使用PCR技术和限制性内切酶DdeI消化方法。精神分裂症与KCNN3基因1137～1140缺失4个碱基的关联分析采用基于单倍型的单倍型相对风险率和传递／不平衡检验。结果 患者组与正常父母组比较，KCNN3基因1137～1140的4个碱基缺失的基因型频数和等位基因频率分布差异无统计学意义（χ^2=0．253，P〉0．05和χ^2＝0．010，P〉0．05）。基于单倍型的单倍型相对风险分析发现父母传递与不传递给患者的KCNN3基因等位基因之间差异无统计学意义（χ^2=0．042，P〉0．05）。传递不平衡检验结果发现KCNN3基因等位基因传递不存在连锁不平衡（χ^2=3．000，P＝0．0833）。结论 本组研究对象中，KCNN3基因第1外显子1137～1140的4个碱基缺失的发生率少；分析结果提示KCNN3基因第1外显子1137～1140的4个碱基缺失的等位基因与精神分裂症无关联。     

An influenza A(H3) reassortant was epidemic in Australia and New Zealand in 2003

During 2003, Australia and New Zealand experienced substantial outbreaks of influenza. The strain responsible was an A(H3N2) influenza virus described as A/Fujian/411/2002-like, which had circulated as a minor variant in the previous Northern Hemisphere (NH) winter, mainly in Korea and Japan. Early in the year the isolates were very similar to those that had been previously isolated in the NH, however, a reassortant strain emerged early in the New Zealand winter, followed by the appearance of similar viruses in Australia and other regional areas. While the hemagglutinin HA1 sequence of these viruses demonstrated only minor differences from the A/Fujian/411/2002 reference strain, the neuraminidase gene was clearly different from that of other recently circulating H3 viruses and most closely matched an earlier reference strain A/Chile/6416/2001. Three internal genes (NS, NP, M) in the reassortant viruses were also more closely related to the A/Chile/6416/2001 lineage. This reassortant A(H3) virus predominated in Australia and New Zealand in 2003 was also seen in Brazil and Malaysia during 2003 and was widespread in the United States and Europe during their 2003-04 winter. Interestingly most of the strains of A(H3) that were isolated at the beginning of the 2004 winter in Australia, did not have this earlier A/Chile/6416/2001-like neuraminidase but had a neuraminidase that was similar to that of the reference strain A/Fujian/411/2002. This was suggestive of the re-introduction of influenza A(H3) from other countries, however, there was still low level circulation of the reassortant virus in 2004 with isolates detected in Australia and Singapore.     

Antigen and checkpoint receptor engagement recalibrates T cell receptor signal strength

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