Immunohistochemical expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in prostate adenocarcinoma

An immunohistochemical study on the cells proliferative activity by Ki-67 protein and localization of the matrix metalloproteinase-9 and the inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 was carried out at the benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and the adenocarcinoma (AC) of different Gleason’s grades. A significant decrease of the MMP-9 and TIMP-1 level in the AC of different gradations was observed. A moderate positive correlation between the Gleason score and cell proliferation Ki-67 index (rs = 0.674) and a moderate negative correlation with the level of such a score and expression of MMP-9 (rs = -0.660) was detected. A weak negative correlation exists also between the level of proliferative activity of secretory cells and the expression of MMP-9 by tumor cells (rs = -0.369). The invasive properties of AC cells that promote a degradation of the basal membrane and connective tissue in prostate may be explained by the imbalance between the MMP-9 and TIMP-1, which expression is significantly reduced in AC, in comparison with BPH.     

丁苯酞预处理对脑缺血再灌注损伤大鼠基质金属蛋白酶-9、基质金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子-1和血脑屏障的影响

目的:探讨丁苯酞预处理对脑缺血再灌注损伤大鼠基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)、基质金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子-1(TIMP-1)和血脑屏障的影响.方法:90只雄性SD大鼠随机分为假手术组,模型组,NBP预处理低剂量组、中剂量组、高剂量组.采用线栓法制作大脑中动脉栓塞(MCAO)模型,缺血2h再灌注24 h后以干湿重法测定脑组织含水量,伊文思蓝(EB)评估血脑屏障的破坏程度,实时PCR检测MMP-9及TIMP-1 mRNA的表达水平.结果:脑缺血再灌注后,脑组织含水量及EB含量明显增加,MMP-9和TIMP-1表达均增强,与假手术组比较差异有统计学意义.丁苯酞预处理各组脑组织含水量及EB含量较模型组明显下降,MMP-9表达显著减少,TIMP-1表达明显增加,丁苯酞预处理中、高剂量组差异无统计学意义.结论:丁苯酞预处理对脑缺血再灌注损伤大鼠可通过调节MMP-9/TIMP-1的表达,降低血脑屏障通透性,减轻脑水肿,发挥预防性保护作用.     

大鼠脑缺血再灌流后基质金属蛋白酶-2和9的表达

目的：探讨大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌流后基质金属蛋白酶(MMP)-2和-9(MMP-9)表达的变化规律与脑水肿的关系。方法：用线栓法制作大鼠左侧大脑中动脉阻塞再灌流模型(MCAO),用免疫组化技术分别观察脑缺血再灌流不同时间点MMP-2和MMP-9的表达。结果：(1)脑缺血再灌流后24h可见MMP-2阳性细胞开始出现,3～7d时阳性细胞数达高峰,显色最深,至14d时仍有表达,略高于假手术组。(2)脑缺血再灌流后6h缺血区内MMP-9阳性细胞开始出现,12h明显增高,至2d达高峰,3d后阳性细胞数开始减少,至14d时恢复到基础水平,各相邻时间点比较差异显著。结论：脑缺血再灌流后,病变区MMP-2和MMP-9表达增加,二者在脑缺血再灌流后脑水肿方面起重要作用。     

多器官功能障碍综合征大鼠肺组织MMP-9、TIMP-1和Ⅳ型胶原的表达

目的:检测基质金属蛋白酶9(MMP-9)、金属蛋白酶组织抑制物1(TIMP-1)和Ⅳ型胶原(Ⅳ-C)在多器官功能障碍综合征(MODS)大鼠肺组织中表达的变化,探讨MODS肺损伤的发生机制。方法:将40只成年雄性SD大鼠随机分为假手术对照组和盲肠结扎穿孔(CLP)模型组,其中,CLP组又根据造模后不同时点分为MODS 6 h组、MODS 12 h组、MODS 24 h组和MODS 48 h组,每组各8只。采用改良的CLP法构建MODS大鼠模型,于造模后不同时点处死大鼠并收集标本。血液生化检查及血气分析检测各组大鼠肝、肾和肺功能的情况,HE染色观察肺组织形态学改变,ELISA法检测血清中肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)、MMP-9及TIMP-1含量的变化,RT-PCR和免疫组织化学法检测肺组织MMP-9及TIMP-1表达的变化,免疫荧光和Western blot法检测肺组织Ⅳ-C表达的变化。结果:与对照组比较,MODS各组均出现不同程度的肝、肾和肺功能损伤。光镜下对照组肺组织结构无明显改变,模型组肺组织损伤较重。与对照组比较,各模型组血清中TNF-α、IL-1β、MMP-9及TIMP-1的含量均明显升高(P0.05),于造模后12~24 h达高峰(P0.01)。各模型组肺组织MMP-9和TIMP-1表达明显高于对照组,MMP-9于造模后12 h达高峰(P0.01),TIMP-1于造模后24 h达高峰(P0.01)。与对照组比较,造模后6 h肺组织Ⅳ-C降低不明显,12~48 h显著下降,于24 h降至最低(P0.01)。结论:MMP-9和TIMP-1通过共同调节细胞外基质主要成分Ⅳ-C的合成和分解,在MODS肺损伤中发挥重要作用。     

The p75NTR metastasis suppressor inhibits urokinase plasminogen activator, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in PC-3 prostate cancer cells

The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75^NTR) has been characterized as a metastasis and tumor suppressor in prostate cancer. In order to investigate the mechanism(s) by which the p75^NTR functions as a metastasis suppressor in prostate cancer cells, we characterized the ectopic expression of p75^NTR on the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and the type IV collagen matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in PC-3 human prostate cancer cells. Rank-order expression of p75^NTR greatly reduced protein levels and enzymatic activities of uPA, MMP-2, and MMP-9 as shown by immunoblot and zymography analyses. Conversely, expression of the MMP-9 antagonist, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) exhibited an increase in protein levels with an increase in p75^NTR levels, whereas TIMP-2 was not detected. Transient transfection with an inducible dominant negative antagonist Δp75^NTR rescued uPA, MMP-2, and MMP-9 protein levels and protease activities, and conversely suppressed TIMP-1 levels. Since p75^NTR signal transduction occurs via the NFκB and JNK pathways, antagonism of signaling intermediates in these pathways, using dominant negative IKKβ or dominant negative MKK-4, respectively, was shown to further decrease expression of uPA, MMP-2, and MMP-9 protein and enzymatic activity levels, and conversely up-regulate levels of TIMP-1. These results indicate that expression of uPA, MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 are directly regulated by expression of p75^NTR and its downstream signal transduction cascade. These results suggest that the metastasis suppressor activity of p75^NTR is mediated, in part, by down-regulation of specific proteases (uPA, type IV collagenases) implicated in cell migration and metastasis.     

Protein expression by Aeromonas hydrophila during growth in vitro and in vivo

Expression of Aeromonas hydrophila cellular and extracellular products (ECPs) was examined following culture of the bacterium in vitro, in Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB), and in vivo, in dialysis tubing placed within the peritoneal cavity of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). Whole cell (WC), outer membrane proteins (OMPs) and ECP components of the bacteria were analysed by 1 dimensional sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (1D SDS-PAGE). Additionally, 2D SDS-PAGE was used to analyse WC preparations. The aim of the study was to identify unique and common proteins up-regulated in vivo. Unique bands were seen in the 1D gels at 58 and 55 kDa for WC and OMP preparations, respectively, for all the four virulent and two avirulent isolates cultured in vivo. Bands of increased intensity were also observed at 70, 55, 50 and 25 kDa with WC preparations for all virulent isolates cultured in vivo. Analysis of WC by 2D SDS-PAGE revealed that bacteria cultured in vivo expressed a number of unique spots, mostly between 30 and 80 kDa with pI values ranging from 5.0 to 6.0. The unique proteins identified in vivo may be involved in the virulence of the bacterium and their potential as vaccine candidates is currently being investigated.     

The localization of proteins encoded by CRYM, KIAA1199, UBA52, COL9A3, and COL9A1, genes highly expressed in the cochlea

Genes that are highly expressed in the inner ear, as revealed by cDNA microarray analysis, may have a crucial functional role there. Those that are expressed specifically in auditory tissues are likely to be good candidates to screen for genetic alterations in patients with deafness, and several genes have been successfully identified as responsible for hereditary hearing loss. To understand the detailed mechanisms of the hearing loss caused by the mutations in these genes, the present study examined the immunocytochemical localization of the proteins encoded by Crym, KIAA1199 homolog, Uba52, Col9a3, and Col9a1 in the cochlea of rats and mice. Confocal microscopic immunocytochemistry was performed on cryostat sections. Ultrastructurally, postembedding immunogold cytochemistry was applied using Lowicryl sections. Crym protein was predominantly distributed in the fibrocytes in the spiral ligament, as well as the stria vascularis in rats. KIAA1199 protein homolog was localized in various supporting cells, including inner phalangeal, border, inner and outer pillar, and Deiters' cells. Uba52 protein was restrictedly localized within the surface of the marginal cells of the stria vascularis. Collagen type IX was found within the tectorial membrane as well as fibrocytes in the spiral ligament. The present results showed cell-specific localization of the encoded proteins of these highly expressed genes, indicating that the coordinated actions of various molecules distributed in different parts of the cochlea are essential for maintenance of auditory processing in the cochlea.     

Highly purified lipoteichoic acid from gram-positive bacteria induces in vitro blood-brain barrier disruption through glia activation: role of pro-inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide

The co-culture of bovine brain capillary endothelial cells and rat primary glial cells was established as an in vitro blood-brain barrier model to investigate the mechanisms by which the Gram-positive bacterial cell wall components lipoteichoic acid and muramyl dipeptide induced injury of blood-brain barrier structure and function. We found that highly purified lipoteichoic acid disrupted blood-brain barrier integrity in a concentration- and time-dependent manner indirectly, through glia activation. Low trans-endothelial electrical resistance and high permeability to fluorescein isothiocyanate-inulin observed in the presence of lipoteichoic acid-activated glial cells were potentiated by muramyl dipeptide and could be reversed only when glial cells were activated by lipoteichoic acid at 10 microg/ml but not with a higher lipoteichoic acid concentration (30 microg/ml). Immunocytochemistry analysis revealed no evident changes in the distribution of the cytoskeleton protein F-actin and tight junction proteins occludin and claudin after lipoteichoic acid treatment. However, the tight junction associated protein AHNAK clearly revealed the morphological alteration of the endothelial cells induced by lipoteichoic acid. Lipoteichoic acid-activated glial cells produced nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta) that contributed to lipoteichoic acid-induced blood-brain barrier disruption, since the direct treatment of the endothelial monolayer with tumor necrosis factor-alpha or interleukin-1beta increased blood-brain barrier permeability, whereas the pre-treatment of lipoteichoic acid-activated glial cells with antibodies against these two cytokines blocked lipoteichoic acid effects. Additionally, nitric oxide was also involved in blood-brain barrier damage, since the nitric oxide donor itself (diethylenetriamine-nitric oxide adduct) increased blood-brain barrier permeability and inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (1400W) partially reversed lipoteichoic acid-induced trans-endothelial electrical resistance decrease.     

Acamprosate reduces ethanol drinking behaviors and alters the metabolite profile in mice lacking ENT1

Acamprosate is clinically used to treat alcoholism. However, the precise molecular functionality of acamprosate in the central nervous system remains unclear, although it is known to antagonize glutamate action in the brain. Since elevated glutamate signaling, especially in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), is implicated in several aspects of alcoholism, we utilized mice lacking type 1 equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT1), which exhibit increased glutamate levels in the NAc as well as increased ethanol drinking behaviors. We found that acamprosate significantly reduced ethanol drinking of mice lacking ENT1 (ENT1(-/-)) while having no such effect in wild-type littermates. We then analyzed the basal and acamprosate-treated accumbal metabolite profiles of ENT1(-/-) and wild-type mice using in vivo 16.4T proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Our data show that basal glutamate+glutamine (Glx), glutamate, glutamine and N-acetylaspartatic acid (NAA) levels are increased in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of ENT1(-/-) compared to wild-type mice. We then found that acamprosate treatment significantly reduced Glx and glutamine levels while increasing taurine levels in the NAc of only ENT1(-/-) compared to their saline-treated group while normalizing other metabolite compared to wild-type mice. This study will be useful in the understanding of the molecular basis of acamprosate in the brain.     

Shrimp Pm-fortilin inhibits the expression of early and late genes of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in an insect cell model

Fortilin plays an important role in anti-apoptotic mechanisms and cell proliferation in many eukaryotic organisms. This work confirmed previous reports that Sf9 can support the replication of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) genomic material by using immunohistochemistry with a specific antibody to detect the immediate early gene 1 (ie1) and by amplification of WSSV DNA and mRNA products. Using this insect-cell model system, we show that overexpression of Pm-fortilin in Sf9 cells inhibited the expression of WSSV early genes and late genes (WSSV-DNA polymerase, VP15 and VP28) but not an immediate early gene ie1. This is the first time that an insect cell line has been used to demonstrate interaction between a shrimp gene and genes of a shrimp virus.     

Down-regulated GAS1 expression correlates with recurrence in stage II and III colorectal cancer

Growth arrest-specific gene 1 had been associated with cell-cycle arrest, proliferation, and apoptosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlations between clinicopathologic factors and survival time and growth arrest-specific gene 1 expression in patients with stage II and III colorectal cancer (CRC). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed in 64 fresh CRC tissues to examine growth arrest-specific gene 1 mRNA expression. Six metastasis-derived and primary-derived cell lines were subjected to quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting for further examination of both mRNA and protein concentrations. Growth arrest-specific gene 1 protein was immunostained in 118 paraffin-embedded specimens. Growth arrest-specific gene 1 expression was down-regulated both in tissues with recurrence and in metastasis-derived cell lines. Expression was unrelated to sex, age, tumor grade, or lymphovascular or perineural invasion. However, it was positively related to disease-free survival time (P < .05). Furthermore, lower growth arrest-specific gene 1 expression indicated a poorer survival rate (P < .05; log-rank test). Multivariate analysis also showed weak growth arrest-specific gene 1 protein expression to be an independent adverse prognosticator (P < .05). Taken together, our results support the idea that growth arrest-specific gene 1 contributes to predicting metastasis or recurrence in stage II and III CRC.     

Hippocampal ischemia causes deficits in local field potential and synaptic plasticity

The long-term enhancement in glutamate receptor mediated excitatory responses has been observed in stroke model. This pathological form of plasticity, termed post-ischemic long-term potentiation (i-LTP), points to functional reorganization after stroke. Little is known, however, about whether and how this i-LTP would affect subsequent induction of synaptic plasticity. Here, we first directly confirmed that i-LTP was induced in the endothelin-1-induced ischemia model as in other in vitro models. We also demonstrated increased expression of NR2B, CaMKII and p-CaMKII, which are reminiscent of i-LTP. We further induced LTP of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) on CA1 hippocampal neurons in peri-infarct regions of the endothelin-1-induced mini-stroke model. We found that LTP of fEPSPs, induced by high-frequency stimulation, displayed a progressive impairment at 12 and 24 hours after ischemia. Moreover, using in vivo multi-channel recording, we found that the local field potential, which represents electrical property of cell ensembles in more restricted regions, was also dampened at these two time points. These results suggest that i-LTP elevates the induction threshold of subsequent synaptic plasticity. Our data helps to deepen the knowledge of meta-synaptic regulation of plasticity after focal ischemia.     

黄芪注射液对脑缺血再灌注大鼠海马神经元凋亡及JNK3表达的影响

目的:观察黄芪注射液对脑缺血再灌注大鼠海马神经元凋亡及c-Jun N末端激酶3(JNK3)表达的影响。方法:四血管阻断法制备脑缺血再灌注大鼠模型。设假手术组、脑缺血再灌注模型组(模型组)、脑缺血再灌注模型+黄芪注射液组(黄芪注射液组)和脑缺血再灌注模型+黄芪注射液溶剂对照组(溶剂对照组)。除假手术组外其余3组根据再灌注时间不同又分为0 h、0.5 h、2 h、6 h、24 h、72 h和120 h 7个亚组。采用TUNEL法检测海马神经元凋亡,Western blotting法检测海马组织JNK3蛋白变化,real-time PCR法检测海马组织JNK3 mRNA 的表达变化。结果:与假手术组比,模型组大鼠各个时点凋亡细胞数均增多(P<0.05);与模型组比,黄芪注射液组各个时点的细胞凋亡数明显减少(P<0.05),而黄芪注射液溶剂对照组各个时点的细胞凋亡数无明显变化(P>0.05)。除120 h外,模型组各时点海马组织JNK3蛋白及mRNA表达均较假手术组增加(P<0.05);与模型组相比,黄芪注射液可减弱除120 h之外的各时点JNK3 蛋白及mRNA的表达(P<0.05),而黄芪注射液溶剂对照组则无明显变化(P>0.05)。结论:黄芪注射液可抑制脑缺血再灌注大鼠海马神经元凋亡,其抗凋亡机制可能与下调JNK3 mRNA及蛋白表达有关。     

Histological expression of angiogenic factors: VEGF, PDGFRalpha, and HIF-1alpha in Hodgkin lymphoma

Angiogenesis is a prerequisite for solid tumor growth, but there is relatively limited data regarding Hodgkin lymphoma. The purpose of this study was to examine the immunohistochemical expression of angiogenic and proliferation markers in Hodgkin biopsies in relation to clinical parameters. Immunostaining was performed on 65 Hodgkin biopsies with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1alpha), platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRalpha), Ki-67, and p53. Microvessel density (MVD) was determined by CD31 staining. In all cases, neoplastic cells and reactive background cells were evaluated. The neoplastic population expressed VEGF in 48% of the cases, HIF-1alpha in 54% of the cases, and PDGFRalpha in 95% of the cases. Both Ki-67 and p53 were positive in neoplastic cells in over 60% of the cases. The MVD had a median of 2.6/0.0625mm(2) which was not different from normal lymph nodes. VEGF in the non-neoplastic compartment showed increased staining in Ann Arbor stage I-II versus III-IV. In conclusion, VEGF, HIF-1alpha, and predominantly PDGFRalpha are expressed in neoplastic cells in the majority of Hodgkin lymphomas. As microvessel formation is not increased in Hodgkin, additional functions of these angiogenic molecules should be investigated.     

Polymorphisms of CR1, CLU and PICALM confer susceptibility of Alzheimer's disease in a southern Chinese population

In this case-controlled study, we tested susceptible genetic variants for Alzheimer's disease (AD) in CR1, CLU and PICALM from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in a southern Chinese population. Eight hundred twelve participants consisting of 462 late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) patients and 350 nondemented control subjects were recruited. We found by multivariate logistic regression analysis, that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CR1 (rs6656401 adjusted allelic p = 0.035; adjusted genotypic p = 0.043) and CLU (rs2279590 adjusted allelic p = 0.035; adjusted genotypic p = 0.006; rs11136000 adjusted allelic p = 0.038; adjusted genotypic p = 0.009) were significantly different between LOAD patients and nondemented controls. For PICALM, LOAD association was found only in the APOE ε4 (−) subgroup (rs3851179 adjusted allelic p = 0.028; adjusted genotypic p = 0.013). Our findings showed evidence of CR1, CLU, and PICALM and LOAD susceptibility in an independent southern Chinese population, which provides additional evidence for LOAD association apart from prior genome-wide association studies in Caucasian populations.