New players in old amyloid precursor protein-processing pathways

The amyloid precursor protein (APP) gives rise to beta-amyloid peptides, which are the main constituents of senile plaques in brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. The generation of beta-amyloid peptides requires the enzymatic activity of the beta-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1). BACE1 is primarily expressed by neurons and increased BACE1 protein concentrations and enzymatic activities have been reported in the brains of AD patients. However, there is accumulating evidence that, in addition to neurons, reactive astrocytes are capable of expressing BACE1 and, therefore, may contribute to beta-amyloid plaque formation. This suggests that conditions accompanied by chronic astrocyte activation may contribute to developing AD. Non-amyloidogenic processing of the APP can be stimulated by phorbol esters (PEs) and by intracellular diacylglycerol (DAG) generation. This led to the hypothesis that classical and novel protein kinase Cs (PKCs), which are activated by DAG/PEs, regulate APP processing. However, in addition to PKCs, there are other DAG/PE receptors present in neurons which may participate in the modulation of APP processing. Munc13-1, a presynaptic protein with an essential role in synaptic vesicle priming, represents such an alternative target of the DAG second messenger pathway. Using Munc13-1 knock-out mice and human neuroblastoma cells transfected with wild-type and mutant Munc13-1 constructs it was demonstrated that Munc13-1 acts independently of and in parallel with PKC to modulate APP metabolism. Therefore, agonists specific for the Munc13-1 C1-domain or small molecules mimicking the function of the endogenous Munc13-1 activator RIM1 may prove useful to shift APP processing towards the non-amyloidogenic pathway.     

羊间接性颞下颌关节损伤后髁突软骨中基质金属蛋白酶-3表达及其意义

目的 探讨基质金属蛋白酶-3(matrix metalloproteinase-3，MMP-3)在羊颞下颌关节((temporomandibular joint，TMJ))间接创伤后骨关节病发生中的作用。方法 用自制撞击装置造成山羊双侧颞下颌关节间接性创伤，分别于伤后1周、1，3，6个月取TMJ髁突软骨，并以正常TMJ作为对照，用免疫荧光组织化学方法观察MMP-3的表达。结果 TMJ髁突软骨中MMP-3伤后1个月表达开始增强，后期进一步增强；荧光着色于软骨破坏区及增生的滑膜样组织、软骨肥大带及骨髓内较强，正常对照组基本呈阴性反应。结论 MMP-3参与了TMJ创伤所致TMJ骨关节病过程，并起了重要作用。     

半乳糖凝集素PPL13在人胎盘血管内皮细胞中表达的实验研究

目的：以原位杂交法检测PPL13在人胎盘组织的表达情况。方法：用DIG标记的PPL13有义RNA探针及反义RNA探针与胎盘组织切片进行原位杂交。结果：反义RNA探针杂交标本显色3h，显微镜下可见胎盘毛细血管内皮细胞中出现棕色沉淀物，滋养层细胞中未见棕色沉淀物；而有义RNA探针杂交标本显色24h仍无棕色沉淀物出现。结论：PPL13在人胎盘内皮细胞中特异性表达．提示PPL13可能与胎盘的屏障作用有关。     

MMP-2、TIMP-2在内毒素诱导性葡萄膜炎中的表达

目的　探讨基质金属蛋白酶 2 (MMP 2 )及其组织型抑制剂 (TIMP 2 )在内毒素诱导性葡萄膜炎 (EIU)模型中的表达及意义。方法　 2 0 0 μg伤寒杆菌内毒素注射于SD大鼠双后足垫 ,建立EIU模型。用免疫组织化学方法检测MMP 2、TIMP 2在内毒素注射后不同时间点 (0、 6、 12、 18、 2 4、 4 8、 72、 96h和 7d)的表达。结果　内毒素注射后 6h开始出现炎症 ,于 2 4h炎症达到高峰 ,以后逐渐减轻 ,7d时基本消退。虹膜、睫状体的上皮细胞和渗出的炎性细胞表达MMP 2和TIMP 2。MMP 2在 6h表达开始增高 ,18～ 2 4h达高峰 ,以后逐渐下降。TIMP 2于 12h出现表达 ,4 8h达高峰 ,以后逐渐下降。TIMP 2和MMP 2平均吸光度值的比值与炎症程度呈负相关。结论　MMP 2是与炎症反应相关的调节因子 ,其过量表达参与葡萄膜炎的发病。减低MMP 2的活性或降低MMP 2 /TIMP 2的比值可能为治疗葡萄膜炎的新思路。     

人脑胶质瘤白介素13受体基因表达与肿瘤增殖活性的关系研究

目的探讨人脑胶质瘤白介素13受体（IL-13R）基因表达与肿瘤增殖活性的关系。方法对6例正常脑组织，50例人脑胶质瘤和2个脑瘤体外细胞系采用RT—PCR法和免疫组织化学法检测IL-13R。结果人脑胶质瘤组织IL-13RαmRNA总阳性表达率70％，正常脑组织中仅1例有极弱的表达；2例恶性胶质瘤体外细胞系均高表达。IL-13RαmRNA表达率和表达丰度与胶质瘤分级（前者rs=0．87，P〈0．01；后者rs=0．69，P〈0．01）、肿瘤增殖活性Ki-67LI（r=0．64，P〈0．01）呈正相关，即胶质瘤恶性程度越高，IL-13RαmRNA表达率和表达水平越高。结论IL-13Rα基因在人脑胶质瘤中表达上升，与肿瘤的分级和肿瘤增殖活性呈正相关，可作为预测某些肿瘤治疗效果及监测复发的指标之一。     

Matrix vesicles are enriched in metalloproteinases that degrade proteoglycans

Summary This study examined the presence of extracellular matrix processing enzymes in matrix vesicles produced by rat costochondral resting zone and growth zone chondrocytes in culture. Optimum procedures for the extraction of each enzyme activity were determined. Enzyme activity associated with chondrocyte plasma membrane microsomes was used for comparison. There was a differential distribution of the enzyme activities related to the cartilage zone from which the cells were isolated. Acid and neutral metalloproteinase (TIMP), plasminogen activator, and betaglucuronidase were highest in the growth zone chondrocyte (GC) membrane fractions when compared with matrix vesicles and plasma membranes isolated from resting zone chondrocyte (RC) cultures. There was a threefold enrichment of total and active acid metalloproteinase in GC matrix vesicles, whereas no enrichment in enzyme activity was observed in RC matrix vesicles. Total and active neutral metalloproteinase were similarly enriched twofold in GC matrix vesicles. TIMP, plasminogen activator, and betaglucuronidase activities were highest in the plasma membranes of both cell types. No collagenase, lysozyme, or hyaluronidase activity was found in any of the membrane fractions. The data indicate that matrix vesicles are selectively enriched in enzymes which degrade proteoglycans. The highest concentrations of these enzymes are found in matrix vesicles produced by growth zone chondrocytes, suggesting that this may be a mechanism by which the more differentiated cell modulates the matrix for calcification.     

Nutritional Aspects of Breath Testing Based on Stable Isotopes

Stable isotope methodologies offer a number of possibilities for the nutritional assessment of many different processes and metabolic pathways. The application of stable isotopes has been boosted by the development of new mass spectrometers, lower costs of probes, and the risks associated with radioactive tracers. The use of ¹³C as a tracer offers all the advantages of stable isotopes and has been widely applied for measuring various types of metabolic processes. This review is focused on clinical and nutritional assessments using ¹³C breath tests.     

脱细胞尿道及其海绵体基质制备的实验研究

目的 探索脱细胞尿道及其海绵体基质的制备方法。方法取健康壮年兔完整尿道及其海绵体组织，以Triton-X100与NH3H2O联合提取法进行脱细胞处理。标本做HE染色，组织学观察分析脱细胞效果。结果脱细胞处理11天后，成功获得脱细胞及其海绵体基质，所得基质外观良好。HE染色观察无细胞存在。弹力纤维排列规整，间隙较大，结构无破坏。结论利用Triton-X100与NH3H2O联合提取法可成功制备完整无细胞尿道及其海绵体基质，为尿道再造修复提供崭新思路。     

Natural history of trisomy 18 and trisomy 13: II. Psychomotor development

Developmental data were abstracted from medical records on 50 trisomy 18 individuals ranging in age from 1 to 232 months and 12 trisomy 13 individuals ranging in age from 1 to 130 months. Data on the age when trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 children achieved developmental skills were collected from a larger group of 62 trisomy 18 individuals and 14 trisomy 13 individuals whose families filled out parent questionnaires. Developmental quotient (DQ), defined as developmental age divided by chronological age, averaged 0.18 for trisomy 18 and 0.25 for trisomy 13. There was a dramatic drop in DQ from infancy to later childhood. The highest DQs and the greatest variation in DQs were in the first 2–3 years of life. Developmental ages in 7 skill areas were significantly different, with daily living and receptive language having the highest values and motor and communication skills having the lowest. When chronological age was taken into account, there was no significant difference in DQs in the same 7 skill areas, although there was a trend that was similar to the pattern of differences with developmental age. Older children could use a walker, understand words and phrases, use a few words and/or signs, crawl, follow simple commands, recognize and interact with others, and play independently. Walking and some toileting skills were also reported for trisomy 13. Although individuals with trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 were clearly functioning in the severe to profound developmentally handicapped range, they did achieve some psychomotor maturation and always continued to learn. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

In vivo 13C saturation transfer effect of the lactate dehydrogenase reaction.

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, EC 1.1.1.27) catalyzes an exchange reaction between pyruvate and lactate. It is demonstrated here that this reaction is sufficiently fast to cause a significant magnetization (saturation) transfer effect when the 13C resonance of pyruvate is saturated by a continuous-wave (CW) RF pulse. Infusion of [2-(13)C]glucose was used to allow labeling of pyruvate C2 at 207.9 ppm to determine the pseudo first-order rate constant of the unidirectional lactate-->pyruvate flux in vivo. During systemic administration of GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline, this pseudo first-order rate constant was determined to be 0.08+/-0.01 s-1 (mean+/-SD, N=4) in halothane-anesthetized adult rat brains. In 9L and C6 rat glioma models, the 13C saturation transfer effect of the LDH reaction was also detected in vivo. Our results demonstrate that the 13C magnetization transfer effect of the LDH reaction may be useful as a novel marker for utilizing noninvasive in vivo MRS to study many physiological and pathological conditions, such as cancer.