The intracellular domain of amyloid precursor protein induces neuron-specific apoptosis

Sex differences are often reported in spatial abilities. However, some studies show conflicting results, which can be ascribed to the complexity of the variables involved in the visuo-spatial domain. Until a few years ago, it was widely accepted that men outperformed women on almost all spatial tasks. However, recently some studies [A. Postma, G. Jager, R.P.C. Kessels, H.P.F. Koppeschaar, J. van Honk, Sex differences for selective forms of spatial memory, Brain Cogn. 54 (2004) 24-34; D.H. McBurney, S.J.C. Gaulin, T. Devineni, C. Adams, Superior spatial memory of women: stronger evidence for the gathering hypothesis, Evol. Hum. Behav. 18 (1997) 165-174; Q. Rahman, G.D. Wilson, S. Abrahams, Sexual orientation related differences in spatial memory, J. Int. Neuropsychol. Soc. 9 (2003) 376-383] found sex differences for selective forms of spatial memory and described a female advantage in specific spatial abilities. In this paper, we studied sex differences by testing object locations and route memories with the Corsi Block-Tapping test (CBT), one of the non-verbal tasks most used in clinical settings, and its modified, large-scale version. Our results showed a performance advantage for males in both tests and a more homogeneous pattern of memory in females.     

Amyloid precursor protein and its phosphorylated form in non-small cell lung carcinoma

Amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a well-known to be involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease and harbors several phosphorylation sites in its cytoplasmic domain. APP has been also proposed as one of the molecules involved in cell proliferation and invasion in several human malignancies. However, the roles of APP including its phosphorylated form (p-APP) have remained largely unexplored in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Therefore, in this study, we first examined both APP and p-APP expressions and then explored the association between p-APP/APP status and clicopathological parameters in NSCLC. The number of APP-positive cases was 24/91 (26%) in adenocarcinomas (Ad) and 16/35 (46%) in squamous cell carcinomas (Sq), respectively. p-APP-positive cases in Ad and Sq were 28 (31%) and 17 (49%), respectively. In Ad cases, both APP and p-APP were significantly associated with clinical stages (APP and p-APP), pathologic T (p-APP), and pathologic N (APP and p-APP) of the cases examined. In Sq cases, there were no significant associations between APP status and any of the clinicopathological parameters examined with an exception of the significant correlation of p-APP with lymphatic invasion. APP status was not significantly associated with overall survival (OS) of Ad patients but a significant association was detected between p-APP-positive cases and OS of these patients (p < 0.0001). In Sq cases, both APP- (p = 0.01) and p-APP-positive (p = 0.04) groups were also significantly associated with adverse clinical outcome. These results did firstly demonstrate that APP, in particular, p-APP, is considered a potent prognostic factor for both Ad and Sq lung carcinoma patients. However, APP signaling including its phosphorylation signal are considered different between these two types of NSCC cells and further investigations are required for clarification.     

Amyloid β peptide levels and its effects on hippocampal acetylcholine release in aged, cognitively-impaired and -unimpaired rats

Excessive extracellular deposition of amyloid β (Aβ) peptide in neuritic plaques and degeneration of forebrain cholinergic neurones, which innervate the hippocampus and the neocortex, are the invariant characteristic features of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Studies of the pathological changes that characterize AD, together with several other lines of evidence, indicate that Aβ accumulation in vivo may initiate and/or contribute to the process of neurodegeneration observed in the AD brain. However, the underlying mechanisms by which Aβ peptide influences/causes degeneration of the basal forebrain cholinergic neurones in AD brains remain obscure. We reported earlier that nM concentrations of Aβ-related peptides, under acute conditions, can potently inhibit K⁺-evoked endogenous acetylcholine (ACh) release from the hippocampus and the cortex but not from striatum in young adult rats (J. Neurosci. 16 (1996) 1034). In the present study, to determine whether the effects of Aβ peptides alter with normal aging and/or cognitive state, we have measured Aβ_1–40 levels and the effects of exogenous Aβ_1–40 on hippocampal ACh release in young adult as well as aged cognitively-unimpaired (AU) and -impaired (AI) rats. Endogenous levels of Aβ_1–40 in the hippocampus are significantly increased in aged rats. Additionally, 10 nM Aβ_1–40 potently inhibited endogenous ACh release from the hippocampus of the three groups of rats, but the time-course of the effects clearly indicate that the cholinergic neurones of AI rats are more sensitive to Aβ peptides than either AU or young adult rats. These results, together with earlier reports, suggest that the processing of the precursor protein of Aβ peptide alters with normal aging and the response of the cholinergic neurones to the peptide possibly varies with the cognitive status of the animals.     

Aging and excitotoxic stress exacerbate neural circuit reorganization in amyloid precursor protein intracellular domain transgenic mice

The cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by presenilins simultaneously generates amyloid-β (Aβ) and APP intracellular Domain (AICD) peptides. Aβ plays a pivotal role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology and recently AICD was also shown to contribute to AD. Transgenic mice overexpressing AICD show age-dependent tau phosphorylation and aggregation, memory deficits, and neurodegeneration. Moreover, these mice show aberrant electrical activity and silent seizures beginning at 3–4 months of age. Here we show that AICD mice also displayed abnormal mossy fiber sprouting beginning about the same time and that this sprouting intensified as the animals aged. Expression of neuropeptide Y was increased in mossy fiber terminals in aged but not young AICD mice. Importantly, young AICD mice injected with kainic acid showed similar pathology to that observed in aged AICD mice. These data show that elevated levels of AICD render neurons hypersensitive to stress and induce hippocampal circuit reorganization, which can further exacerbate hyperexcitability. These results further demonstrate that AICD, in addition to Aβ, can play a significant role in AD pathogenesis.     

An antiserum against amyloid β-protein precursor detects a unique peptide in Alzheimer brain

An antiserum was raised against an amino acid sequence predicted from the DNA sequence of amyloid β-protein precursor (ABPP), and it was then affinity-purified. This affinity-purified antibody (anti-GID) intensely stained neurons and dystrophic neurites in plaques of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, but marginally stained neurons of age-matched normal individuals. Anti-GID antibody detected a series of protein bands with a molecular weight centered at 100,000 and a second band at 55,000 on a blot of the human brain particulate fraction. It also stained a set of bands with a molecular weight around 95,000 and a doublet of M_r 16,000 in the soluble fraction. A band at M_r 35,000 was detected in the soluble fraction prepared from brain tissue of AD patients but not from control brain tissue. A strong immunostaining of AD sections with anti-GID and the presence of a M_r 35,000 band unique to AD might reflect an altered processing of ABPP in AD brains     

Hepatocyte growth factor suppresses tumor cell apoptosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by upregulating Bcl-2 protein expression

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a multifunctional cytokine, but cell apoptosis related to HGF in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and the potential mechanisms involved have not yet been identified. In this study, we aimed at determining whether HGF is a potent inhibitor of cell apoptosis in NPC, and tried to find out which antiapoptotic or proapoptotic protein is involved in this process.     

Enforced expression of the apoptosis inhibitor Bcl-2 ablates tolerance induction in DNA-reactive B cells through a novel mechanism

How self tolerance is maintained during B cell development in the bone marrow has been a focal area of study in immunology. Receptor editing, anergy and clonal deletion all play important roles in the regulation of autoimmunity in the immature population. The mechanisms of tolerance induction in the periphery, however, are less well characterized. Overexpression of the apoptosis inhibitor Bcl-2 rescues autoreactive B cells from deletion and can contribute to the development of autoimmune disease in certain genetic backgrounds. Using a peptide-induced autoimmunity model, we recently identified a peripheral tolerance checkpoint in antigen-activated B cells that have undergone class switching and somatic hypermutation. At this checkpoint, receptor editing, induced by antigen engagement, dampened the autoantibody response. In this study, we show that receptor editing fails to be induced in antigen-activated DNA-reactive B cells that overexpress Bcl-2 (Bcl-2 Tg). The failure to induce RAG and receptor editing is likely due, at least partially, to the lack of self antigen. First, the levels of circulating DNA and of apoptotic bodies in the spleen of Bcl-2 Tg mice are significantly lower than in control mice. Second, in Bcl-2 Tg mice, RAG can be induced in a population of antigen-activated B cells by providing exogenous soluble antigen. These data suggest that, in addition to its anti-apoptotic activity, Bcl-2 may indirectly inhibit tolerance induction in B cells acquiring anti-nuclear antigen reactivity after peripheral activation by limiting the availability of self antigen.     

嗅鞘细胞移植入淀粉样前体蛋白转基因小鼠脑内降低β淀粉样蛋白沉积

目的 观察嗅鞘细胞移植入淀粉样前体蛋白(APP)转基因小鼠脑内后的存活和迁移状况及其对模型β淀粉样蛋白沉积的作用,以进一步探索嗅鞘细胞移植对阿尔茨海默病的治疗效果.方法 取自发绿色荧光蛋白的新生3d龄增强型绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)转基因小鼠,体外分离培养嗅球嗅鞘细胞,在小鼠脑立体定位仪的固定下,参照AP小鼠脑立体定位图谱,将收集的嗅鞘细胞移植入APP转基因小鼠脑内.移植1个月后,取脑组织冷冻切片,在双光子共焦显微镜下观察细胞存活和迁移状况并采集图像.移植1个月后,行荧光免疫组织化学和免疫印迹法检测淀粉样蛋白沉积,每组4只.结果 嗅鞘细胞移植入APP转基因小鼠脑内存活良好,并以移植点为中心向外迁移,部分绿色荧光细胞呈现成血管现象,移植之后APP转基因小鼠脑内的β淀粉样蛋白沉积减少,APP表达明显减少(P<0.05).结论 嗅鞘细胞对减少APP转基因小鼠脑内淀粉样蛋白沉积有一定帮助.     

The expression of Bcl-2 in adenomyosis and its effect on proliferation,migration, and apoptosis of endometrial stromal cells

Adenomyosis is a common gynecologic disease that severe impact on women. Previous studies have found that Bcl-2 abnormally expressed in adenomyosis. However, the exact mechanisms of Bcl-2 in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis are unclear. In this study, we are to explore the effect of Bcl-2 on proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of endometrial stromal cells. The expression of Bcl-2 were evaluated by Western blot and RT-qPCR. We used RNA interference to silence Bcl-2 gene of endometrial stromal cells, and then Cell Counting Kit(CCK-8), cell scratch repair test, and Annexin V-APC/propidium iodide (PI) staining were performed to detect the cell viability, migration ability and apoptotic rate. The results of the present study revealed that the expression of Bcl-2 was evidently higher than that in control group. After silencing the Bcl-2 gene, the cytoactive and migration ability of endometrial stromal cells of adenomyosis decreased, and the apoptotic rate increased. In conclusion, Bcl-2 is overexpressed in adenomyosis and participate in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis. Bcl-2 may be a potential novel target for adenomyosis treatment.     

急性心肌梗死晚期再灌注后心肌细胞凋亡与Bcl-2、Bax 蛋白表达的研究

目的:探讨犬急性心肌梗死后晚期再灌注对梗死周边缺血区心肌细胞凋亡及凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2、Bax表达的影响。方法:健康成年杂交犬28只,全麻下常规开胸暴露冠状动脉后随机分为3组:假手术组(n=8),急性心肌梗死组(n=10)、晚期再灌注组(n=10)。假手术组仅行左冠状动脉前降支下穿过丝线而不结扎冠状动脉,急性心肌梗死组行左冠状动脉前降支高位永久结扎,晚期再灌注组在高位结扎左冠状动脉前降支6 h后松解结扎线予以再灌注6 h。共有23只犬模型制作成功。各组犬均于术后12 h处死,采集心肌标本。使用TUNEL法检测心肌细胞凋亡,免疫组化染色和Western blotting蛋白印迹分析Bcl-2、Bax在心肌细胞中表达情况。结果:晚期再灌注组心肌细胞凋亡数较急性心肌梗死组明显减少(P<0.05),但两组心肌细胞凋亡数均高于假手术组(P<0.01)。与假手术组相比,急性心肌梗死组和晚期再灌注组Bcl-2蛋白的表达均升高(P<0.01),其中在晚期再灌注组的表达略多于急性心肌梗死组,但无显著差异(P>0.05)。Bax蛋白在晚期再灌注组的表达高于假手术组(P<0.01),但低于急性心肌梗死组(P<0.05)。结论:急性心肌梗死后晚期再灌注可以减少梗死周边缺血区心肌细胞凋亡,其机制可能与心肌细胞表达Bax蛋白减少有关。     

Significance of apoptosis related proteins on malignant transformation of ovarian tumors: A comparison between Bcl-2/Bax ratio and p53 immunoreactivity

In this study, we compared the immunoreactivities of Bcl-2, Bax and p53 proteins in ovarian tumors and related the immunohistochemical findings to the histological type of the tumors. Formalin-fixed, paraffin wax-embedded tissue sections from 40 patients who had serous-mucinous borderline tumors and serous-mucinous adenocarcinoma of the ovary (n = 10 each) were stained with hematoxylin–eosin (H&E). After histopathological examination, serial sections were stained immunohistochemically with primary antibodies to Bcl-2, Bax and p53 using an avidin–biotin-peroxidase method. A semi-quantitative grading system was used to compare the immunohistochemical staining intensities. The nuclear DNA fragmentation of apoptosis was determined using TUNEL method. As a result of immunohistochemical staining, increased immunoreactivity of Bcl-2 was observed in adenocarcinomas when compared to borderline tumors (P < 0.001). Strong immunoreactivity of Bcl-2 and mild immunoreactivities of Bax and p53 were detected in ovarian adenocarcinomas. There were no significant statistical differences in the immunoreactivity of Bax among the histological type of ovarian tumors. Whereas a balance was observed between the immunoreactivities of Bcl-2 and Bax in the borderline cases, and this balance was strongly changed toward the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein in patients with adenocarcinoma. TUNEL staining of sections indicated apoptotic cells in the serous borderline tumors were about 8-fold higher than in the serous adenocarcinoma. The results of this study on apoptosis-related factors might help to develop novel protective and therapeutic approaches, such as isoflavonoids and isothiocyanates, which were associated with decreased Bcl-2/Bax ratio, against the malignant epithelial ovarian tumors.     

Interleukin-3 and Bcl-2 cooperatively inhibit etoposide-induced apoptosis in a murine pre-B cell line

Murine bone marrow-derived hemopoietic cells, dependent on interleukin (IL)-3 for their growth in culture, undergo programmed cell death, or apoptosis, upon cytokine withdrawal. The topoisomerase II inhibitor etoposide causes a more rapid onset of apoptosis in the IL-3-dependent cell line BAF3, deprived of IL-3. This acceleration of apoptosis by etoposide is prevented by inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis and by the nucleases inhibitor aurintricarboxylic acid. The presence of IL-3 or overexpression of the oncogene bcl-2 caused a marked delay in the induction of apoptosis by etoposide, acting in a cooperative manner. The time at which the apoptotic program is irreversible is close to the induction of endonuclease activity as indicated by the effect of the delayed addition of either IL-3 or aurintricarboxylic acid on the onset of apoptosis, suggesting the importance of endonuclease activation in the development of apoptosis in hemopoietic cells.     

Intravenous administration of bone marrow stromal cells increases survivin and Bcl-2 protein expression and improves sensorimotor function following ischemia in rats

Intravenous administration of bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) in animal models with focal cerebral ischemia has been found to be effective in attenuating neuronal damage. We examined whether intravenously transplanted MSCs alters expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Fisher-344 rats were subjected to 90-min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The experimental groups were: (I) vehicle group, with intravenous injection of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) 3h after MCAO; and (II) transplant group, with intravenous injection of MSCs (3x10(6)cells) 3h after MCAO. Neurological function of rats was evaluated using modified neurological severity score (mNSS) and Rotor-rod Motor Test (RMT). Rats were sacrificed on 1st, 3rd and 7th days of MCAO, and coronal brain sections were stained immunohistochemically to identify the apoptosis-related proteins, namely survivin and Bcl-2. We also examined Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase-Mediated dUTP-biotin Nick End Labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells on 3rd day of MCAO. Functional recovery according to mNSS and RMT was significantly better in the transplant group as compared with the vehicle group (P<0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed significant expression of survivin on 3rd day and Bcl-2 on 1st and 3rd days in the transplant group. The vehicle group displayed significantly more TUNEL-positive cells than the transplant group on 3rd day (P<0.05). These results suggest that intravenous transplantation of MSCs prevents down-regulation of survivin and Bcl-2 preventing apoptosis and cell death in the ischemic brain leading to motor and sensory function recovery.     

芹菜素对人肺癌A549细胞凋亡及相关蛋白Bax、Bcl-2表达的影响

目的研究芹菜素对人肺癌 A549细胞增殖抑制和凋亡诱导作用与 Bax、Bcl-2蛋白表达的影响。方法10~80μmol/L 不同浓度芹菜素作用 A549细胞,采用 MTT 法检测芹菜素对 A549细胞增殖抑制作用;Hoechst 33258细胞核染色法观察芹菜素诱导细胞凋亡形态学的变化;流式细胞仪 AnnexinV- FITC/PI 双染色法检测细胞凋亡率;Western blot 法检测凋亡相关蛋白 Bax 和 Bcl-2表达的变化。结果 MTT 法显示,芹菜素对 A549细胞有显著的增殖抑制作用（P <0.01）,且具浓度和时间依赖性;荧光显微镜下观察到芹菜素处理组细胞出现典型的凋亡形态学改变：细胞核固缩、染色质凝集和核碎片化等;流式细胞仪分析结果显示,芹菜素呈浓度依赖性诱导 A549细胞凋亡;Western blot结果显示,促凋亡蛋白 Bax 随着芹菜素浓度升高表达增加,抗凋亡蛋白 Bcl-2随着芹菜素浓度升高表达减少。结论芹菜素具有抑制人肺癌 A549细胞增殖,诱导其凋亡的作用,其机制可能与上调 Bax 蛋白表达和下调 Bcl-2蛋白表达有关。     

In vivo patterns of Bcl-2 family protein expression in breast carcinomas in relation to apoptosis

The expression of the pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax, Bak) and anti-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2, Bcl-X, Mcl-1) was studied by immunohistochemistry in 110 invasive ductal breast carcinomas. The results were correlated with tumour grade, expression of oestrogen receptor (ER) and p53 protein, and the apoptotic index by combined morphology, immunohistochemistry, and a terminal UTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) procedure. Overall, Bcl-2, Bcl-X, Mcl-1, Bax, Bak, ER, and p53 were detected in 62, 75, 68, 75, 60, 68 and 26 per cent of the cases respectively, but at different levels in each case. A high apoptotic index was correlated with high tumour grade (p < 0·001), overexpression of p53 (p < 0·001), Bak expression (p < 0·001), and low expression of Bcl-2 (p < 0·001) and ER (p < 0·001). No correlation was found between the apoptotic index and Bax, Bcl-X, and Mcl-1 immunostaining results. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-X was correlated to that of ER. Overall, the results of this study strongly suggest that Bcl-2 and Bak expression is critical in regulating apoptosis in breast carcinomas. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Amyloid-beta precursor protein mediates neuronal toxicity of amyloid beta through Go protein activation

Amyloid beta (Aβ) is a metabolic product of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP). Deposition of Aβ in the brain and neuronal degeneration are characteristic hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ induces neuronal degeneration, but the mechanism of neurotoxicity remains elusive. Here we show that overexpression of APP renders hippocampal neurons vulnerable to Aβ toxicity. Deletion of the extracellular Aβ sequence of APP prevents binding of APP to Aβ, and abolishes toxicity. Aβ toxicity is also abrogated by deletion of the cytoplasmic domain of APP, or by deletions comprising the Go protein-binding sequence of APP. Treatment with Pertussis toxin (PTX) abrogates APP-dependent toxicity of Aβ. Overexpression of PTX-insensitive Gα-o subunit, but not Gα-i subunit, of G protein restores Aβ toxicity in the presence of PTX, and this requires the integrity of APP-binding site for Go protein. Altogether, these experiments indicate that interaction of APP with toxic Aβ-species promotes toxicity in hippocampal neurons by a mechanism that involves APP-mediated Go protein activation, revealing an Aβ-receptor-like function of APP directly implicated in neuronal degeneration in AD.     

氧化砷诱导食管癌细胞凋亡线粒体形态改变

通过研究食管癌细胞株ＳＨＥＥＣＩ细胞凋亡早期线粒体的形态改变和ｂｃｌ－２ｂａｘ的表达,以了解三氧化二砷（Ａｓ２Ｏ３）作用于食管癌细胞的机制。方法食管癌细胞株ＳＨＥＥＣ１用１、２、３μｍｏｌ／Ｌ Ａｓ２Ｏ３作用２、４、６、１２、２４ｈ。用Ａｎｎｅｘｉｎ－Ｖ荧光探针,流式细胞仪和ＤＮＡ组方图检早期凋亡细胞;光镜和电镜检测凋亡细胞的形态学改变;用罗达明（Ｒｈｏｄａｍｉｎ１２３）荧光探针检查活细胞线粒体的