Pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins as mediators of the signal transduction pathways activated by cytomegalovirus infection of smooth muscle cells.

We demonstrated recently that the arachidonic acid (AA) cascade is involved in cytomegalovirus (CMV)-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB in human smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Since AA release from neutrophils is mediated by pertussis toxin (PTx)-sensitive guanine nucleotide-binding (G) proteins, we hypothesized by analogy that CMV stimulates ROS generation in SMCs and ultimately activates NF-kappaB via a PTx-sensitive G protein-coupled pathway. Our first test of this hypothesis demonstrated that PTx blocked AA release induced by CMV infection of SMCs, as well as blocked the terminal products of this reaction, ROS generation and NF-kappaB activation. More proximal components of the pathway were then examined. CMV infection increased phosphorylation and activity of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), an enzyme causing AA release; these effects were inhibited by PTx. CMV infection activated mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, a key enzyme for cPLA2 phosphorylation, an effect also inhibited by PTx. Finally, inhibition of MAP kinase kinase (MAPKK), which phosphorylates and thereby activates MAP kinase, inhibited CMV-induced ROS generation. These data demonstrate that a PTx-sensitive G protein-dependent signaling pathway mediates cellular effects of CMV infection of SMCs. The downstream events include phosphorylation and activation of MAP kinase by MAPKK and subsequent phosphorylation and activation of cPLA2 (with its translocation to cell membranes), followed by stimulation of the AA cascade, which generates intracellular ROS and thereby activates NF-kappaB.     

Effects of monoclonal antibodies against the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex on thrombosis and hemostasis in the baboon.

To assess the hemostatic consequences and antithrombotic effectiveness of blocking the platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor for fibrinogen and other adhesive glycoproteins in vivo, well characterized murine monoclonal antibodies against the platelet GP IIb/IIIa complex, AP-2 and LJ-CP8, were infused intravenously into baboons. Four animals each received doses of 0.2, 0.4, and 1.0 mg/kg of purified AP-2 IgG, and three animals were given 1.0 mg/kg of the F(ab)2 fragment of AP-2. Five additional animals were given 10 mg/kg LJ-CP8 IgG. At the highest dose, radiolabeled AP-2 IgG bound to an average of 33,000 sites on the circulating platelets. Serial measurements included platelet count, bleeding time, platelet aggregation (induced by ADP, collagen, and gamma-thrombin), and 111In-platelet deposition onto Dacron vascular grafts. Bleeding times were markedly prolonged after injection of 1.0 mg/kg AP-2 IgG (19.2 +/- 3.4 min), 1.0 mg/kg AP-2 F(ab)2 (16.5 +/- 1.8 min), and 10 mg/kg LJ-CP8 (greater than 30 min) vs. control studies (4.6 +/- 0.2 min), and remained prolonged for 48 h. With each antibody platelet aggregation was initially reduced or absent, with partial recovery over 48 h in a manner that was inversely related to dose. AP-2, both whole IgG and F(ab)2 fragment, but not LJ-CP8, caused a dose-dependent reduction (20-46%) in the circulating platelet count over 24 h. Neither AP-2 nor LJ-CP8 caused a reduction in intraplatelet platelet factor 4, beta-thromboglobulin, or [14C]serotonin. Graft-associated platelet thrombus formation was reduced by 73% (1.0 mg/kg AP-2 IgG and 10 mg/kg LJ-CP8) and 53% (1.0 mg/kg AP-2 F(ab)2) relative to control values. In contrast, neither heparin (100 U/kg) nor aspirin (32.5 mg/kg twice a day) showed antithrombotic efficacy in this model. Thus, antibodies that functionally alter the platelet GP IIb/IIIa complex may produce immediate, potent, and transient, antihemostatic, and antithrombotic effects.     

Endosomal processing limits gene transfer to polarized airway epithelia by adeno-associated virus

The restriction of viral receptors and coreceptors to the basolateral surface of airway epithelial cells has been blamed for the inefficient transfer of viral vectors to the apical surface of this tissue. We now report, however, that differentiated human airway epithelia internalize rAAV type-2 virus efficiently from their apical surfaces, despite the absence of known adeno-associated virus-2 (AAV-2) receptors or coreceptors at these sites. The dramatically lower transduction efficiency of rAAV infection from the apical surface of airway cells appears to result instead from differences in endosomal processing and nuclear trafficking of apically or basolaterally internalized virions. AAV capsid proteins are ubiquitinated after endocytosis, and gene transfer can be significantly enhanced by proteasome or ubiquitin ligase inhibitors. Tripeptide proteasome inhibitors increased persistent rAAV gene delivery from the apical surface >200-fold, to a level nearly equivalent to that achieved with basolateral infection. In vivo application of proteasome inhibitor in mouse lung augmented rAAV gene transfer from undetectable levels to a mean of 10.4 +/- 1.6% of the epithelial cells in large bronchioles. Proteasome inhibitors also increased rAAV-2-mediated gene transfer to the liver tenfold, but they did not affect transduction of skeletal or cardiac muscle. These findings suggest that tissue-specific ubiquitination of viral capsid proteins interferes with rAAV-2 transduction and provides new approaches to circumvent this barrier for gene therapy of diseases such as cystic fibrosis.     

腺苷三磷酸结合盒转运蛋白A1在动脉粥样硬化中的作用及其受控特点

目的:分析腺苷三磷酸结合盒转运蛋白A1(ATP binding cassette transport proteion A1,ABCA1)在动脉粥样硬化中的作用及其受控机制。资料来源:以“腺苷三磷酸结合盒转运蛋白A1”为检索词,应用计算机在Pubmed、中文全文数据库CNKI中检索2000-01/2006-11腺苷三磷酸结合盒转运蛋白A1与人有关的期刊文献,前者限定语言种类为英文,后者限定语言种类为中文。资料选择:对英文文献390篇、中文文献58篇初审。纳入标准:①与ABCA1结构及功能有关的文献。②与核受体有关的文献。③与载脂蛋白AⅠ有关的文献。④与ABCA1基因的突变、单核苷酸多态性有关的文献。⑤ABCA1蛋白、核受体、ABCA1基因的突变、单核苷酸多态性与动脉粥样硬化有关的文献。排出标准:①与哮喘、癌症、代谢性疾病有关的文献。②相关文献中内容相似的文献。③综述文献。资料提炼:选取3篇涉及ABCA1结构、功能的基础内容;18篇涉及与核受体的内容;2篇涉及载脂蛋白AⅠ的内容;7篇涉及ABCA1基因的突变、单核苷酸多态性的内容;9篇涉及ABCA1蛋白、核受体、ABCA1基因的突变、单核苷酸与动脉粥样硬化的内容。其中30篇列为参考文献。资料综合:分析了腺苷三磷酸结合盒转运体A1的结构和功能的基本情况;文献显示腺苷三磷酸结合盒转运体A1在动脉粥样硬化发病过程中起重要作用;核受体对腺苷三磷酸结合盒转运体A1的表达有调节,且腺苷三磷酸结合盒转运体A1受基因调控。结论:腺苷三磷酸结合盒转运体A1可能是与动脉粥样硬化密切相关的重要候选基因;深入探讨其机制,有利于开发新药防治动脉粥样硬化。     

女子橄榄球运动员损伤情况调查

目的:对女子橄榄球运动员损伤的发生部位、种类及损伤对训练的影响进行调查分析。方法:选择2005-08参加2005年"骏马杯"全国橄榄球冠军赛的中国农业大学、北京师范大学、沈阳体育学院、辽宁师范大学4支女子球队的50名队员,年龄(20±1)岁,训练时间(14.5±1.5)个月。纳入对象均对调查项目知情同意。结合运动医学临床检查,详细询问运动员现有和既往损伤史,包括部位、种类、损伤对训练的影响。结果:女子橄榄球运动员50人均进入结果分析。①损伤部位:以手指损伤最为常见,其次为膝关节损伤,再次为踝关节,分别占各部位损伤的25.8%,14.2%,10.1%。②损伤种类:以挫伤最为常见,其次为擦伤,再次为各种形式的撞击伤,分别占总损伤人次的35.6%,19.5%和14.2%。发生损伤的主要原因是缺乏有效的保护和技术动作不正确。③损伤对训练的影响:运动员在损伤后选择停训的23人(46%)。结论:由于橄榄球运动的项目特点,运动员损伤部位以手指和膝关节损伤为主,损伤种类以挫伤和擦伤为主,但损伤未对训练造成明显影响。     

Frequencies of CYP3A5 genotypes and haplotypes in a Korean population

Background and objective: CYP3A, the drug‐metabolizing enzyme is an important factor in the pharmacokinetics of many drugs. Polymorphism of the CYP3A5 gene is known to influence the functionality of the CYP3A5 enzymes. The full extent of CYP3A5 genetic polymorphism was analysed in a Korean population. Methods: Specific polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism tests for CYP 3AP1 through CYP3A5*7 or direct sequencing were used to identify reported CYP3A5 variant alleles, using 194 unrelated samples. Results and discussion: The most frequent single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was 6986A>G (CYP3A5*3). The next most frequent SNP was 31611C>T. Haplotype analysis using detected SNPs revealed that the most frequent haplotype was *3A (frequency: 0·724), followed by *1E (frequency: 0·211), *3C (frequency: 0·034) and *1A (frequency: 0·023). We did not find CYP3AP1*3, CYP3A5*6, or *7 in this Korean sample. Conclusion: A large proportion of Koreans may have relatively low levels of metabolically active CYP3A5 protein and therefore may be at risk of high levels of drugs metabolized by this enzyme, after administration of conventional doses.     

骨性关节炎患者HLA-DRB、HLA-A等位基因表达频率及其与临床特征的关系

目的探讨东北地区汉族人群骨性关节炎患者HLA-DRB、HLA-A等位基因表达频率及其与临床特征的关系;方法采用基因芯片技术分析72例OA患者及30例健康对照者HLA-DRB、HLA-A各等位基因,探讨HLA-DRB、HLA-A基因多态性表达规律与临床特征的关系;结果骨性关节炎患者HLA-DRB1*12(DR5)、HLA-DRB1*08(DR8)、HLA-A0203(A2)基因表达频率增加,而HLA-DRB1*53(DR4)基因表达频率明显降低;其表现型与骨性关节炎患者的受累部位无关,但与关节损伤严重程度有一定关联。结论HLA基因多态性与骨性关节炎的遗传易感倾向密切相关。     

Identification and characterization of a pore-forming protein of human peripheral blood natural killer cells

We show here that human peripheral blood NK cells contain a pore-forming protein (PFP) with an Mr of 70,000-72,000 that assembles structural lesions (with an average internal diameter of 150-170 A) and forms functional channels. The PFP was isolated by affinity chromatography from human NK cells, using a specific anti-C9 antiserum as the immunoadsorbent. The NK cells were isolated from PBL by positive or negative selection by indirect rosetting using a panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against different NK and T cell surface antigens. PFP was identified in NK cells freshly isolated and isolated from cultured PBL, both stimulated with interleukin 2, but not in NK cell-depleted lymphocytes. In planar bilayers, the channels formed by the NK cell-derived PFP are highly voltage resistant, with most channels persisting in the open state once they have inserted into the bilayer. The unit conductances of these channels range 0.3-1 nS in 0.1 M NaCl. The channels show poor selectivity for monovalent and divalent ions. The PFP is also released from human NK cells stimulated with the calcium ionophore A23187, suggesting that this protein, like the one produced by murine CTL lines, may be similarly secreted during cell-mediated killing. Its identification in primary human NK cell cultures indicates that this protein may play an active role in NK cell-mediated killing.