Memory related molecular signatures: The pivots for memory consolidation and Alzheimer's related memory decline

Age-related cognitive decline is the major cause of concern due to its 70% more incidence than dementia cases worldwide. Moreover, aging is also the major risk factor of Alzheimer's disease (AD), associated with progressive memory loss. Approx. 13 million people will have Alzheimer-related memory decline by 2050. Learning and memory is the fundamental process of brain functions. However, the mechanism for the same is still under investigation. Thus, it is critical to understand the process of memory consolidation in the brain and extrapolate its understanding to the memory decline mechanism. Research on learning and memory has identified several molecular signatures such as Protein kinase M zeta (PKMζ), Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) and Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) crucial for the maintenance and stabilization of long-term memory in the brain. Interestingly, memory decline in AD has also been linked to the abnormality in expressing these memory-related molecular signatures. Hence, in the present consolidated review, we explored the role of these memory-related molecular signatures in long-term memory consolidation. Additionally, the effect of amyloid-beta toxicity on these molecular signatures is discussed in detail.     

Correlation between cow’s milk protein allergy and otitis media: a systematic review

ObjectivesTo review the evidence pertaining to the association between cow’s milk protein allergy and recurrent acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion.MethodsThe CENTRAL, Web of Science, EMBASE, MEDLINE, LILACS databases, and gray literature were searched.ResultsFour studies were included, identifying the prevalence rates: 0.2% of delayed speech due to chronic otitis media with effusion in 382 children with cow’s milk protein allergy, 10.7% of cow’s milk protein allergy in 242 children who underwent ENT procedures, 40% of cow’s milk protein allergy in 25 children with recurrent otitis media with effusion and higher tendency to otitis media in children with cow’s milk protein allergy of 186 children (1.5 + 0.6 vs. 0.4 + 0.1; p < 0.1).ConclusionConsidering the characteristics and methodological variations of the identified studies, it is not possible to state that there is reliable evidence of an association between cow’s milk protein allergy and otitis media.     

扶正化瘀方含药血清对肝星状细胞activinA/smad信号通路活化的影响

目的　探讨扶正化瘀方含药血清对肝星状细胞（HSC）激活素A（activinA）/smad信号通路活化的影响。方法　20只SD大鼠按照随机数字表法分为对照组及扶正化瘀（Fzhy）-低、中、高剂量含药血清组，每组5只，分别以蒸馏水，0.75、1.5、3.0 g/kg扶正化瘀溶液（扶正化瘀胶囊药物粉末与蒸馏水配制）灌胃1次/d，连续3 d，取血制备空白血清（对照组）和含药血清。以大鼠HSC-T6细胞为研究对象，分别用5%、10%、20%体积分数的各组含药血清培养细胞。CCK-8检测细胞存活率，选取细胞存活率在50%左右的体积分数重新分为对照组及Fzhy-低、中、高剂量组。流式细胞术检测细胞周期及凋亡率、线粒体膜电位变化和活性氧（ROS）水平；实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应检测细胞中activinA、smad3、samd7、核因子（NF）-κB的mRNA水平；蛋白质印迹法检测细胞中activinⅡA受体（ActRⅡA）、smad3、NF-κB p65、胱天蛋白酶（caspase）-3的蛋白水平。结果　各扶正化瘀含药血清组的细胞存活率均低于对照组（P＜0.05），选择体积分数为10%的含药血清进行后续实验。对照组和各扶正化瘀方含药血清组细胞周期和凋亡率差异均无统计学意义。对照组及Fzhy-低、中、高剂量组细胞内ROS水平及线粒体膜电位水平降低比例逐次升高（P＜0.05）。与对照组比较，Fzhy-中、高剂量组smad3 mRNA表达水平降低，smad7 mRNA升高，Fzhy-低、中、高剂量组NF-κB、activinA mRNA，smad3、NF-κB p65、ActRⅡA蛋白表达水平降低，Fzhy-低剂量组、中剂量组caspase-3蛋白表达水平升高（P＜0.05）；与Fzhy-低剂量组相比，Fzhy-中、高剂量组smad3 mRNA表达水平降低，Fzhy-中剂量组activinA及smad7 mRNA升高（P＜0.05）。结论　扶正化瘀方含药血清可通过影响HSC-T6细胞增殖、参与细胞的氧化应激以及调节细胞activinA/smad信号转导通路来实现抗纤维化作用。     

补中益气汤对于肝再生线粒体能量代谢的研究概况＊

肝再生的机制非常复杂，线粒体功能障碍所引起的能量供给不足是影响因素之一，但其机理亟待研究。严重肝损害时肝细胞ATP供应减少、线粒体能量代谢异常，导致肝再生受到抑制。补中益气汤为李东垣所创，其具补中益气、升阳举陷之功，有实验证实补中益气汤具有保护线粒体功能、增加线粒体能量代谢的作用，从而促进肝再生。本文综述补中益气汤总方与其中各类中药对线粒体能量代谢的保护作用，从而为促进肝再生提供新的治疗手段并对改善病人预后有重要意义。     

高迁移率族蛋白A2与肿瘤关系的研究进展

高迁移率族蛋白A2(HMGA2)是一种非组蛋白,本身不具有转录活性,但它可通过与染色质结合改变其结构,继而调节其他基因的转录,从而促进肿瘤的侵袭和转移。相关RNA基因能够调控HMGA2在肿瘤中的作用,同时肿瘤的侵袭性与上皮间质转化密切相关,可以通过靶向HMGA2基因治疗相关肿瘤。文章主要介绍HMGA2与肿瘤之间关系的研究进展。     

The FABP12/PPARγ pathway promotes metastatic transformation by inducing epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition and lipid‐derived energy production in prostate cancer cells

Early stage localized prostate cancer (PCa) has an excellent prognosis; however, patient survival drops dramatically when PCa metastasizes. The molecular mechanisms underlying PCa metastasis are complex and remain unclear. Here, we examine the role of a new member of the fatty acid‐binding protein (FABP) family, FABP12, in PCa progression. FABP12 is preferentially amplified and/or overexpressed in metastatic compared to primary tumors from both PCa patients and xenograft animal models. We show that FABP12 concurrently triggers metastatic phenotypes (induced epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) leading to increased cell motility and invasion) and lipid bioenergetics (increased fatty acid uptake and accumulation, increased ATP production from fatty acid β‐oxidation) in PCa cells, supporting increased reliance on fatty acids for energy production. Mechanistically, we show that FABP12 is a driver of PPARγ activation which, in turn, regulates FABP12''s role in lipid metabolism and PCa progression. Our results point to a novel role for a FABP‐PPAR pathway in promoting PCa metastasis through induction of EMT and lipid bioenergetics.

Abbreviations

AR

androgen receptor

ATP

adenosine triphosphate

CN

copy number

CPT1

carnitine palmitoyltransferase I

CS

citrate synthase

EMT

epithelial–mesenchymal transition

ET

electron transfer‐state

FABP

fatty acid‐binding protein

LD

lipid droplet

OA

oleic acid

PCa

prostate cancer

PPAR

peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor

PPRE

peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor response element

TZD

thiazolidinediones

     

Targeting an RNA-Binding Protein Network in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

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以脾胃为中心的葛根相关配伍对糖尿病心肌病大鼠受损心肌线粒体的改善作用

目的:观察葛根及其配伍对糖尿病心肌病(DCM)大鼠心肌线粒体质量变化的影响,探寻治疗糖尿病心肌病的最优配伍及机制。方法:采用链脲佐菌素腹腔注射进行模型大鼠制备,并将60只成模大鼠随机分为模型组6.5 g/(kg·d)、达美康组16.7 mg/(kg·d)、葛根组1.04 g/(kg·d)、葛芪组2.6 g/(kg·d)、葛参组2.6 g/(kg·d)、葛蒌组4.48g/(kg·d)及葛芪参蒌组7.6 g/(kg·d)各8只,同时选取空白大鼠8只,为对照组6.5 g/(kg·d)。各组依据上述剂量,以相应药物持续灌胃9周后,对比各组心肌线粒体超微结构变化、心肌线粒体膜电位变化及心肌ATP变化情况。结果:电镜显示各药物干预组心肌线粒体超微结构较模型组均有不同程度的改善,其中葛芪参蒌组改善效果最为明显,与空白组无明显差异; 流式细胞仪检测显示:各干预组波峰均在模型组、空白组之间; 其中葛芪参蒌组、葛参组、葛根组波峰位于达美康组右侧; 葛芪组、葛蒌组则位于达美康组左侧; 以葛芪参蒌组波峰与空白组最为接近。心肌ATP浓度检测显示:各中药干预组心肌ATP浓度均较模型组有所提升(P<0.05),其中葛芪参蒌组ATP值较其余各干预组提升最为明显(P<0.05),但仍低于空白组(P>0.05)。结论:葛根相关配伍均能够对心肌线粒体结构、心肌线粒体膜电位进行正向调控,进而使因糖尿病心肌病导致的心肌线粒体受损得以恢复,其中以益气、化瘀、祛痰三法合用的组方原则进行配伍的葛芪参蒌方改善效果最优。可见其治疗机制可能是通过益气、化瘀、祛痰的协同作用,正向调控心肌线粒体质量而达到治疗目的。     

重组戊型肝炎病毒P179-海藻酸钠/壳聚糖微球混悬制剂的制备及其免疫效果

目的 制备吸附重组戊型肝炎病毒(hepatitis E virus,HEV)P179抗原的海藻酸钠/壳聚糖微球混悬制剂,并观察其免疫效果。方法 乳化法制备海藻酸钠/壳聚糖微球,采用不同海藻酸钠浓度、混合乳化剂添加量、混合乳化剂亲水亲油平衡值设计正交试验,确定最佳制备工艺参数。将重组HEV P179抗原吸附在最佳工艺制备的微球表面,制备吸附重组HEV P179的海藻酸钠/壳聚糖微球混悬制剂,皮下多点免疫BALB/c小鼠,测定其诱导小鼠产生特异性IgG抗体的能力,与同剂量含弗氏佐剂的重组HEV P179免疫制剂对比。结果 经正交试验确定乳化最佳工艺参数为:海藻酸钠质量分数1%、混合乳化剂体积分数2%,混合乳化剂亲水亲油平衡值4。制备的微球平均粒径为6.73 μm(分布范围3.90~9.10 μm,方差1.78 μm),形态较为均一,透射电镜观察结果与双层球体及内部疏松多孔的微球结构特点相符。用此条件制备抗原质量浓度为500 μg/ml的混悬制剂,微球对抗原的吸附率为90.64%。免疫效果观察试验结果表明,皮下多点免疫试验中微球制剂诱导特异性IgG抗体的能力优于含弗氏佐剂抗原。结论 成功制备了吸附重组HEV P179的海藻酸钠/壳聚糖微球混悬制剂,且诱导产生特异性IgG抗体的能力优于含弗氏佐剂抗原,为其在新型实验动物超敏制剂中的应用奠定了基础。