Mutation analysis of PEX7 in 60 probands with rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata and functional correlations of genotype with phenotype

PEX7 encodes the cytosolic receptor for the set of peroxisomal matrix enzymes targeted to the organelle by the peroxisome targeting signal 2 (PTS2). Mutations in PEX7 cause rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (RCDP), a distinct peroxisome biogenesis disorder. In previous work we described three novel PEX7 mutant alleles, including one, L292X, with a high frequency due to a founder effect. We have now extended our analysis to 60 RCDP probands and identified a total of 24 PEX7 alleles, accounting for 95% of the mutant PEX7 genes in our sample. Of these, 50% are L292X, 13% are IVS9+1G>C, and the remainder are mostly private. IVS9+1G>C occurs on at least three different haplotypes and thus appears to result from recurrent mutation. The phenotypic spectrum of RCDP is broader than commonly recognized and includes minimally affected individuals at the mild end of the spectrum. To relate PEX7 genotype and phenotype, we evaluated the consequence of the disease mutation on PEX7 RNA by Northern analysis and RT/PCR. We evaluated the function of the encoded Pex7 protein (Pex7p) by expressing selected alleles in fibroblasts from RCDP patients and assaying their ability to restore import of a PTS2 marker protein. We find that residual activity of mutant Pex7p and reduced amounts of normal Pex7p are associated with milder and variant phenotypes.     

Gastric mucosal lesions caused in rats of different strains by emotional stress,and the protective effect of interleukin 1β

Acute emotional stress results in damage to gastric mucous membranes in August, Wag, and particularly Wistar rats. The damage is less severe in rats preinjected with inter-leukin 1β into a lateral ventricle of the cerebrum. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 117, N ^o 3, pp. 238–239, March, 1994     

Amelioration of established murine collagen-induced arthritis with anti-IL-1 treatment.

Inflammatory cytokines have been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. To validate a key role for IL-1 in arthritic processes we have studied the protective effect of neutralizing antimurine IL-1 antibodies in the murine collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. Combination of anti-IL-1 alpha and anti-IL-1 beta given before onset of arthritis was shown to prevent disease completely. Remarkably, a single treatment was also highly effective in the established phase of arthritis, reducing both inflammation as well as cartilage destruction. Suppression was most pronounced with the combination, but anti-IL-1 beta alone also induced significant relief. Finally, we studied the protective effect of IL-1 neutralization on cartilage metabolism in a unilateral expression model of collagen arthritis. To this end zymosan was injected in one knee joint before onset of disease, resulting in accelerated expression in that particular joint and the draining paw. Anti-IL-1 treatment started after accelerated expression of arthritis was able to fully normalize chondrocyte synthetic function, which was highly suppressed in the control group. It is concluded that IL-1 is an important determinant in both inflammation and cartilage destruction in collagen arthritis, and this may have implications for therapy in human arthritis.     

Townes-Brocks syndrome

Townes-Brocks syndrome (TBS) is an autosomal dominant disorder with multiple malformations and variable expression. Major findings include external ear anomalies, hearing loss, preaxial polydactyly and triphalangeal thumbs, imperforate anus, and renal malformations. Most patients with Townes-Brocks syndrome have normal intelligence, although mental retardation has been noted in a few.     

Prostaglandin E1 suppresses macrophage infiltration and ameliorates injury in an experimental model of macrophage-dependent glomerulonephritis.

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) suppresses macrophage infiltration and ameliorates injury in an experimental model of macrophage dependent glomerulonephritis. Macrophages are mediators of glomerular injury in models of proliferative glomerulonephritis. We have recently shown that macrophages in glomerulonephritis have low prostaglandin E2 (PGE) generation, and other evidence implicates eicosanoids as regulators of macrophage activation. Here we have studied in rats the effect of 15(s)-15-methyl PGE1 (M-PGE1) on accelerated nephrotoxic nephritis, a model of acute macrophage-dependent glomerular injury. M-PGE1 ameliorated proteinuria (day 4; 61 +/- 13 mg/24 h, n = 9; vehicle treated, 164 +/- 17 mg/24 h, n = 11; P less than 0.002) and glomerular hypercellularity; quantification of infiltrating macrophages by isolating glomerular cells showed reduction in the numbers of macrophages (44 +/- 9/glomerulus; vehicle treated, 119 +/- 15/glomerulus; P less than 0.02) with inhibition of Ia antigen expression on infiltrating macrophages (8 +/- 5%; vehicle treated 25 +/- 4% P less than 0.05). Glomerular binding of nephrotoxic globulin and levels of autologous antibodies were not affected by M-PGE1. Thus the mechanism of suppression involves inhibition of macrophage accumulation and activation. M-PGE1 administered to normal rats did not affect numbers of resident leucocytes (12.6 +/- 1.5/glomerulus; vehicle treated, 13.2 +/- 1.3/glomerulus) or alter Ia antigen expression (4.1 +/- 0.2 Ia + cells/glomerulus; vehicle treated, 3.9 +/- 0.6/glomerulus). This study suggests a therapeutic role for PGE1 in this type of glomerulonephritis, and has implications for the pathophysiology of macrophage-mediated inflammation.     

Angiotensin-(1-7)对血管平滑肌细胞钙化的影响及信号转导通路

目的:在钙化大鼠主动脉血管平滑肌细胞上观察血管紧张素-(1-7)[Angiotensin-(1-7)]对钙化的影响及其信号通道。方法:用β-磷酸甘油制备钙化的大鼠血管平滑肌细胞,再以血管紧张素-(1-7)、血管紧张素Ⅱ、血管紧张素Ⅱ 血管紧张素-(1-7)、选择性蛋白激酶A(PKA)或蛋白激酶C(PKC)抑制剂等干预,通过Von Kossa染色及检测钙含量、碱性磷酸酶活性、骨钙素浓度和Cbfa1 mRNA表达来探讨血管紧张素Ⅱ对钙化的影响及其信号通道。结果:血管紧张素-(1-7)抑制钙化大鼠血管平滑肌细胞的钙含量、碱性磷酸酶活性(P>0.05)、骨钙素浓度和Cbfa1 mRNA表达(P<0.05),也抑制血管紧张素Ⅱ对血管平滑肌细胞的钙含量、碱性磷酸酶活性、骨钙素浓度和Cbfa1 mRNA表达的促进作用(P<0.05);血管紧张素-(1-7)提高血管平滑肌细胞内cAMP浓度(P<0.05),PKA抑制剂可阻断血管紧张素-(1-7)对钙化血管平滑肌细胞的钙含量、碱性磷酸酶活性、骨钙素浓度和Cbfa1 mRNA表达的抑制作用(P<0.05)。结论:血管紧张素-(1-7)可抑制β-磷酸甘油诱导的血管平滑肌细胞钙化,并拮抗血管紧张素Ⅱ促进的血管平滑肌细胞钙化;这些效应与cAMP-PKA-Cbfa1信号途径有关。     

人参皂苷Rg1与Rh1对树突状细胞表达HLA-DR、CD25、CD44、CD54、CD11c及E-selectin的影响

目的：观察人参皂苷Rg1和Rh1对树突状细胞（Dendritic cell，DC）表面分子CD25、HLA-DR、CD44、ICAM-1、CD11c及E-sclectin表达的影响。方法：用不同浓度的Rg1和Rh1分别加入成熟DC中，刺激一定时间后，用免疫组化法观察，并用图像分析法分析结果。结果：除E-selectin外，Rg1和Rh1均可不同程度地促进HLA—DR、CD25、CD11c、CD44和ICAM-1的表达。结论：Rg1、Rh1可增强DC表面促进T细胞活化的第一、二类信号系统分子的表达，提高其抗原递呈能力，并促进DC—T细胞簇的形成而活化初始T细胞。     

Development of murine hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells characterized by the expression of hyaluronan receptors.

Endothelial cells (ECs) display distinct structural and functional characteristics depending on the tissue and developmental stage; however, the development of tissue-specific ECs remains poorly understood. Here, we describe the development of hepatic sinusoids in mice based on the expression of hyaluronan receptors Stab2 and Lyve-1. Flk-1(+) cells in and around the liver bud begin to express Stab2 at embryonic day (E) 9.5, before the formation of vascular lumen. Hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (HSECs) begin to express Lyve-1 at E10.5, and both markers continue to be expressed in HSECs thereafter. Although HSECs and lymphatic ECs (LECs) are known to share functional and phenotypic characteristics, we clearly show that HSECs can be distinguished from LECs by the expression of molecular markers and higher endocytotic activity. Our results provide new insight into the development of tissue-specific ECs and phenotypic criteria to distinguish HSECs from other types of ECs, including LECs.     

NMDA受体在β-淀粉样蛋白引起海马神经元突触蛋白改变中的作用

为了研究NMDA受体活性对Aβ引发的海马神经元突触蛋白表达变化的影响,本文运用免疫细胞化学方法检测不同浓度NMDA受体激动剂以及拮抗剂对Aβ诱导的海马神经元突触蛋白变化的影响。结果显示:NMDA可浓度依赖性地缓解Aβ25-35引起的突触蛋白synaptophysin与PSD-95的减少。抑制突触内NMDA受体,NMDA缓解Aβ减少突触蛋白的作用减弱;抑制突触外NMDA受体,对抗Aβ的作用无显著变化。本研究结果提示NMDA受体活性改变影响Aβ诱导的突触蛋白减少,突触内NMDA受体激活可对抗Aβ的毒性作用。突触内NMDA受体活性减弱可能在谷氨酸兴奋毒性中发挥作用。     

超声影像学与分子生物学在复发性自然流产的联合应用

目的探讨纤溶酶原激活剂抑制物-1(plasminogen activator inhibitor-1,PAI-1)基因4G/5G多态性和早期妊娠子宫动脉舒张期切迹与复发性自然流产的关系,为早期诊断和治疗复发性自然流产提供依据。方法应用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段多态性(PCR-RFLP)分析,对61例反复自然流产患者(病例组)和52例正常妊娠对照组(对照组)做了PAI-1基因4G/5G多态性分析,并应用彩色多普勒超声检测子宫动脉舒张期切迹(uterine artery diastolic notches depth,ND)结果1.复发性自然流产组有ND切迹者占54.1%(33/61),正常妊娠对照组为34.62%(18/52),二者差异有显著性意义(χ2=4.30,P<0.05,OR值为2.23,95%CI 1.04-4.77。2.携带4G/4G基因型患者其子宫动脉血流循环阻力有增加趋势,(χ2=16.08,P<0.01,OR值为6.0,95%CI 2.38-15.12。结论1.子宫动脉血流循环阻力增加与复发性自然流产的发病有关联。2.PAI-1基因4G/4G型个体,同时有ND者自然流产的风险为对照组的4.25倍...