钙信号机制在神经肽Y诱导心肌细胞肥大中的作用

目的探讨钙依赖的信号转导途径在神经肽Y诱导心肌细胞肥大中的作用.方法用NPY刺激Wistar乳鼠心肌细胞,并用Ca2+/CaM依赖的钙调神经磷酸酶(CaN)的特异性抑制剂环胞素A(CsA)加以干预.应用3H-Leu掺入量法测定心肌细胞蛋白质合成速率, 用Fluo3-AM荧光标记细胞内游离钙离子, 观察不同作用时限内心肌细胞胞浆及核内钙离子浓度变化.结果①心肌细胞3H-Leu掺入量测定:与对照组相比,NPY10nM组3H-Leu掺入量有所增高,但与对照组比无显著差异,而NPY100nM 组心肌细胞3H-Leu掺入量较对照组明显增高(p<0.05).CsA组和对照组相比无显著差异.②加入100nmol/L NPY即刻至10min内,心肌细胞胞浆及核内钙含量均无显著差异.经100nmol/L NPY刺激24h后,心肌细胞胞浆及核内钙含量明显高于对照组(p<0.001,p<0.001).结论 NPY刺激心肌细胞蛋白质合成增加,提示NPY可诱导心肌细胞肥大;CaN抑制剂CsA可阻断NPY上述效应,说明Ca2+/CaM依赖的CaN信号途径在其中起重要作用.较长时间的NPY刺激可导致心肌细胞胞浆及核内钙Ca2+浓度增加,这可能是活化CaN信号途径的始动环节.     

神经肽Y活化大鼠心肌细胞内Ca2+及钙调素依赖的钙调神经磷酸酶途径

目的 观察神经肽 Y (NPY)对心肌细胞内Ca2+及钙调素(CaM)依赖的钙调神经磷酸酶(CaN)信号传导途径的影响.方法 以NPY刺激心肌细胞.用环胞素A(CsA)特异性抑制CaN活性.应用Western印迹测细胞内CaN-α蛋白表达.采用组织化学法测CaN酶活性.用Fluo3-AM荧光标记法观察心肌细胞胞质及核内钙离子浓度变化.结果 加入100 nmol/L NPY刺激后,心肌细胞CaN酶活力较对照组明显增高(P＜0.05),10 nmol/L NPY组和CsA 组(100 nmol/L NPY + 5 μg/ml CsA) CaN酶活性与对照组相比,差异无统计学意义.100 nmol/L NPY组心肌细胞内CaN-α蛋白表达较对照组显著增高(P＜0.05). 加入100 nmol/L NPY在10 min内,心肌细胞胞浆及核内钙含量与对照组相比,差异无统计学意义.经100 nmol/L NPY刺激24 h后,心肌细胞胞浆及核内钙含量明显高于对照组(P均＜0.01).结论 NPY可活化心肌细胞内Ca2+及CaM-CaN途径.NPY刺激下产生的细胞内钙增加,可能是其活化CaN途径的始动环节.     

神经肽Y活化大鼠心肌细胞内Ca^2＋及钙调素依赖的钙调神经磷酸酶途径

目的 观察神经肽 Y （NPY）对心肌细胞内Ca^2＋及钙调素（CaM）依赖的钙调神经磷酸酶（CaN）信号传导途径的影响.方法 以NPY刺激心肌细胞.用环胞素A（CsA）特异性抑制CaN活性.应用Western印迹测细胞内CaN-α蛋白表达.采用组织化学法测CaN酶活性.用Fluo3-AM荧光标记法观察心肌细胞胞质及核内钙离子浓度变化.结果 加入100 nmol/L NPY刺激后,心肌细胞CaN酶活力较对照组明显增高（P＜0.05）,10 nmol/L NPY组和CsA 组（100 nmol/L NPY ＋ 5 μg/ml CsA） CaN酶活性与对照组相比,差异无统计学意义.100 nmol/L NPY组心肌细胞内CaN-α蛋白表达较对照组显著增高（P＜0.05）. 加入100 nmol/L NPY在10 min内,心肌细胞胞浆及核内钙含量与对照组相比,差异无统计学意义.经100 nmol/L NPY刺激24 h后,心肌细胞胞浆及核内钙含量明显高于对照组（P均＜0.01）.结论 NPY可活化心肌细胞内Ca^2＋及CaM-CaN途径.NPY刺激下产生的细胞内钙增加,可能是其活化CaN途径的始动环节.     

环胞霉素A抑制神经肽Y诱导大鼠心肌细胞肥大效应

目的:观察Ca²⁺/CaM依赖的钙调神经磷酸酶(CaN)抑制剂环胞素A(CsA)对神经肽Y诱导心肌细胞肥大效应的影响。方法:用神经肽Y(NPY)刺激Wistar乳鼠心肌细胞,并用环胞素A加以干预。应用氚-亮氨酸([³H]-Leu)掺入法测定心肌细胞蛋白质合成速率、RT-PCR法测心肌细胞c-junmRNA表达。结果:(1)心肌细胞氚-亮氨酸([³H]-Leu)掺入量测定:与对照组相比,NPY10nmol/L组氚-亮氨酸([³H]-Leu)掺入量有所增高,但与对照组比无显著差别,而NPY100nmol/L组心肌细胞氚[³H]-Leu掺入量较对照组明显增高(P＜0.05)。CsA组和对照组相比无显著差别。(2)心肌细胞内c-junmRNA表达:NPY组心肌细胞c-junmRNA的RT-PCR产物量明显高于对照组和CsA组(P＜0.01),对照组和CsA组间无显著差别。结论:NPY刺激心肌细胞蛋白质合成增加、心肌细胞原癌基因(肥大早期反应基因)c-junmRNA表达,提示NPY可诱导心肌细胞肥大;CaN抑制剂CsA可阻断NPY上述效应,说明Ca²⁺/CaM依赖的CaN信号途径在其中起重要作用。     

钙调神经磷酸酶在血管紧张素Ⅱ刺激的大鼠心肌细胞肥大中的作用及其活性调节

目的:观察钙调神经磷酸酶(CaN)在血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)刺激的大鼠心肌细胞肥大中的作用及其活性调节.方法:建立AngⅡ诱导的大鼠心肌细胞肥大模型,观察CaN抑制剂对AngⅡ刺激的心肌细胞[3H]-亮氨酸掺入的影响,以及各种因素对心肌细胞CaN酶活性的影响.结果:10、 100、 1000 nmol·L-1的AngⅡ作用12 h分别使心肌细胞的CaN活性增加了13%、 57%(P＜0.05)、 228%(P＜0.01).AngⅡ(10 nmol·L-1)刺激心肌细胞2 h内,CaN活性与对照组无明显差异(P＜0.05);AngⅡ刺激心肌细胞12 h以上,CaN活性才明显增高(P＜0.05).Losartan(50 μmol·L-1)、H7(50 μmol·L-1)及Fura-2/AM(4 μmol·L-1)可明显抑制AngⅡ刺激的心肌细胞CaN活性;而PD98059(50 μmol·L-1)对AngⅡ刺激的心肌细胞CaN活性无明显影响.AngⅡ(10-7mol/L)刺激的大鼠心肌细胞[3H]-亮氨酸掺入明显高于对照组(P＜0.01),而CaN特异性抑制剂-环孢素A(0.5～5 μg/mL)可以明显抑制AngⅡ刺激的心肌细胞[3H]-亮氨酸掺入.结论:依赖Ca2+/CaM活化的CaN可能在AngⅡ刺激的心肌细胞肥大中起重要作用;CaN的活化可能有赖于胞内Ca2+水平的持续升高,另外,CaN的活性还可能受到蛋白激酶C等信号分子的磷酸化调节.     

葛根总黄酮对离体神经肽Y诱导的心肌细胞肥大的影响

目的:观察葛根总黄酮对离体神经肽Y(NPY)诱导的心肌细胞肥大效应的影响。方法:建立体外培养的大鼠心肌细胞培养体系,实验分(1)对照组、(2)NPY组:加入终浓度为100 nmol/L的NPY、(3)NPY+葛根总黄酮4个浓度组:分别加入100 nmol/L NPY和0.5 mg/L、1 mg/L、2 mg/L、3 mg/L的葛根总黄酮。应用氚-亮氨酸([³H-Leu])掺入法测定心肌细胞蛋白合成率;RT-PCR法测心肌细胞C-jun mRNA表达;组织化学法测心肌钙调磷酸酶(CaN)活性。结果: NPY组心肌细胞[³H-Leu]掺入量为896±34;C-jun mRNA表达为23 132.62±1 787.28;CaN活性为35.62±4.60,与对照组(分别为[³H-Leu]752±46、C-jun mRNA 17 819.49±1 452.06、Can22.94±6.20)相比有显著差异(P＜0.01、P＜0.05)。而葛根总黄酮1-3 mg/L可使在NPY作用下的心肌细胞[³H-Leu]掺入量下降(3个剂量组分别为797±78、772±58、786±43);C-jun mRNA表达减少(分别为18 035.32±1 592.23、18 043.90±1 726.19、18 072.29±1 692.34);CaN活性降低(分别为28.34±6.40、25.69±5.90、26.37±3.50)与对照组相比无显著差异(P＞0.05)。结论:NPY可诱导心肌细胞肥大;葛根总黄酮在1-3 mg/L浓度可阻断其效应,其作用可能与抑制CaN活性、阻断Ca²⁺/CaM依赖的CaN信号途径有关。     

钙调神经磷酸酶依赖的信号通路的生物学效应

钙调神经磷酸酶(CaN)是体内唯一的Ca2+/CaM依赖的Ser/Thr蛋白磷酸酶,它参与多种生物学效应.如介导T淋巴细胞活化、心肌肥大等,并与其它信号通路之间相互调节.CaN有可能成为某些疾病药物作用的靶点.     

钙蛋白酶调节致心肌细胞肥大的信号转导

目的： 探讨钙敏感的calpain对血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）介导的致心肌细胞肥大的钙调神经磷酸酶（CaN）信号通路的调节。方法: 原代培养的乳鼠心肌细胞为模型，AngⅡ刺激细胞Ca2+内流和（或）内贮细胞Ca2+释放， ［3H］-Leu掺入法反映心肌细胞蛋白合成速率，Fura-2/AM比率荧光成像分析细胞内钙信号变化，免疫印迹检测心肌细胞μ-calpain、m-calpain、CaN磷酸化及蛋白表达。结果: Ang Ⅱ呈浓度依赖性（10^-8-10^-5 mol·L^-1）促心肌细胞［Ca2+］i增加,各刺激组［Ca2+］i与对照组差异显著(P<0.01或P<0.05)。AngⅡ（10-7 mol·L^-1）剌激心肌细胞15 min后, μ-calpain的磷酸化明显增加，但其蛋白表达量无显著改变（P>0.05）, m-calpain蛋白表达及磷酸化量显著差异，CaN的蛋白表达量无显著改变，但其磷酸化增强, 环孢素A（CsA）抑制CaN的磷酸化。AngⅡ可使无血清培养新生大鼠心肌细胞［3H］-Leu掺入率随时间增加而增加，与对照组差异显著(P<0.01或P<0.05)，且在10^-8-10^-5 mol·L^-1范围内呈量效依赖关系。结论: AngⅡ剌激细胞外Ca2+跨膜内流和（或）内贮Ca2+的释放导致μ-calpain的激活，进一步激活钙敏感的CaN信号通路，在心肌肥厚的病理过程中起重要作用。     

神经肽Y诱导大鼠心肌细胞内游离钙重分布研究

目的: 观察神经肽Y(NPY)对大鼠心肌细胞胞浆钙浓度和肌浆网(SR)内钙含量的影响。方法: 用100 nmol·L^-1 NPY刺激Sprague-Dawley乳鼠心肌细胞24 h, 用荧光染料Fluo-4 AM负载胞浆钙, 记录静息状态下心肌细胞胞浆钙浓度，并用咖啡因诱导的胞浆钙瞬变幅度来反映肌浆网内总钙负荷；用荧光染料Fluo-5N AM 直接标记心肌细胞肌浆网内游离钙离子。所有钙影像均由Leica SP2激光共聚焦显微镜记录。结果: 100 nmol·L^-1 NPY刺激24 h后，心肌细胞胞浆游离钙浓度明显高于对照组（P<0.05）；心肌细胞肌浆网内游离钙含量明显低于对照组 (P<0.01)；咖啡因诱导下钙瞬变幅度也低于对照组。结论: 24 h NPY刺激可导致心肌细胞内游离钙出现空间分布的变化，即胞浆钙浓度增高而肌浆网内钙负荷减少。     

钙调神经磷酸酶在血管紧张素Ⅱ刺激的大鼠心肌细胞肥大中的作用及其活性调节

目的:观察钙调神经磷酸酶(CaN)在血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)刺激的大鼠心肌细胞肥大中的作用及其活性调节。方法:建立AngⅡ诱导的大鼠心肌细胞肥大模型,观察CaN抑制剂对AngⅡ刺激的心肌细胞 [³H]-亮氨酸掺入的影响,以及各种因素对心肌细胞CaN酶活性的影响。结果:10、 100、 1000 nmol·L^-1的AngⅡ作用12 h分别使心肌细胞的CaN活性增加了13%、 57%(P＜0.05)、 228%(P＜0.01)。AngⅡ(10 nmol·L^-1)刺激心肌细胞2 h内,CaN活性与对照组无明显差异(P＜0.05);AngⅡ刺激心肌细胞12 h以上,CaN活性才明显增高(P＜0.05)。Losartan(50 μmol·L^-1)、H₇(50 μmol·L^-1)及Fura-2/AM(4 μmol·L^-1)可明显抑制AngⅡ刺激的心肌细胞CaN活性;而PD98059(50 μmol·L^-1)对AngⅡ刺激的心肌细胞CaN活性无明显影响。AngⅡ(10^-7mol/L)刺激的大鼠心肌细胞 [³H]-亮氨酸掺入明显高于对照组(P＜0.01),而CaN特异性抑制剂-环孢素A(0.5~5 μg/mL)可以明显抑制AngⅡ刺激的心肌细胞 [³H]-亮氨酸掺入。结论:依赖Ca²⁺/CaM活化的CaN可能在AngⅡ刺激的心肌细胞肥大中起重要作用;CaN的活化可能有赖于胞内Ca²⁺水平的持续升高,另外,CaN的活性还可能受到蛋白激酶C等信号分子的磷酸化调节。     

Development in in vitro toxicology

There are three principal pressures driving the development of in vitro toxicology: (1) the need for more efficient testing systems to cope with the large number of xenobiotics currently being developed; (2) public pressure to reduce animal experimentation; and (3) a need for a better understanding of the mechanisms of toxicity. Within this, in vitro toxicology is focused on local, systemic, and target-organ toxicity. It is becoming increasingly apparent that a step or decision-tree approach using input of a variety of experimental data (physicochemical properties, biokinetics, cytotoxicity) provides the most efficient system for predicting toxicity. Examples of the use of in vitro toxicity systems for prediction of systemic toxicity and target-organ (liver) toxicity are presented.Originally presented at ECCP 93.     

Seasonal variations in acute toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in Slovenia

Between December 1999 and December 2004, 40 081 pregnant women were examined for toxoplasmosis with Toxo-IgG, Toxo-IgM enzyme immunoassay. Women with positive results were then retested with the Toxo-IgG avidity assay for recent toxoplasmosis. Recent acute toxoplasmosis in pregnant women was found to be significantly more frequent (p < 0.01) during winter than summer. The incidence of acute toxoplasmosis during winter-spring was also significantly more frequent (p < 0.025) than summer-autumn. This phenomenon should be taken into account when formulating preventive measures for toxoplasmosis, especially for pregnant women.     

Age-related changes in polyamines in memory-associated brain structures in rats

Polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine are positively charged aliphatic amines and have important roles in maintaining normal cellular function, regulating neurotransmitter receptors and modulating learning and memory. Recent evidence suggests a role of putrescine in hippocampal neurogenesis, that is significantly impaired during aging. The present study measured the polyamine levels in memory-related brain structures in 24- (aged), 12- (middle-aged) and 4- (young) month-old rats using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatography. In the hippocampus, the putrescine levels were significantly decreased in the CA1 and dentate gyrus, and increased in the CA2/3 with age. Significant age-related increases in the spermidine levels were found in the CA1 and CA2/3. There was no difference between groups in spermine in any sub-regions examined. In the parahippocampal region, increased putrescine level with age was observed in the entorhinal cortex, and age did not alter the spermidine levels. The spermine level was significantly decreased in the perirhinal cortex and increased in the postrhinal cortex with age. In the prefrontal cortex, there was age-related decrease in putrescine, and the spermidine and spermine levels were significantly increased with age. This study, for the first time, demonstrates age-related region-specific changes in polyamines in memory-associated structures, suggesting that polyamine system dysfunction may potentially contribute to aged-related impairments in hippocampal neurogenesis and learning and memory.     

休克过程中肾上腺髓质素变化的研究进展

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a new peptidergic regulator of vascular function. AM serves as a hormone, which has many biological properties, plays an important role in the many pathophysiological processes, especially shock. This review will highlight the structure, biological properties of AM and the relationship between AM and shock.     

Secular change in menarche in women in Madrid

The age at menarche was estimated by recollection in 1617 women between the ages of 18 and 60 in Madrid and a nearby suburb, Pinto. The population of Pinto is working-class and the Madrid group, taken from residential neighbourhoods , belongs to the upper middle class. In both groups we found a diminution in average age at menarche, from 14.04 to 13.02 years in Madrid and from 14.55 to 13.16 years from about 1935 to about 1965 in Pinto. These changes have been more intense in the group which is less well-off economically, where living conditions have varied much more drastically.     

Pitfalls in TRAP assay in routine detection of malignancy in effusions

Telomerase has been found to be reactivated in a majority of cancers but is inactive in most somatic cells. Our principal goal was to determine the potential use of the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay as marker for malignancy in cytological effusions. The simple selection criterion was the cytological diagnosis, and routine samples were classified into malignant (58 samples) and nonmalignant (233 samples). Of the malignant samples, 44/58 (76%) were positive by TRAP assay. Of the 14 telomerase-negative cytology-positive samples, RNA integrity was poor in 9, indicating suboptimal sample conservation for molecular analysis. In 3 of the remaining 5 samples with a negative TRAP assay, a high number of malignant cells was observed, and these cells might have been telomerase-negative. Thus, the sensitivity of TRAP assay for the presence of malignant cells was about 76%. In the cytologically nonmalignant effusions, the presence of telomerase activity was observed in 24% (55/233). Of these, 6% were highly suspicious for malignancy, 9% were doubtful, and 9% were cytologically nonmalignant effusions confirmed by a follow-up of 12 mo or more. According to these data, the specificity of the TRAP assay to detect tumor cells in effusions ranged only between 82-91%. Our results indicate that, although the TRAP assay is positive in 6-15% of putative malignant effusions, the relatively high number of TRAP false-negative and false-positive cases renders this test unsuitable for routine diagnostic purposes.