过表达miR-21通过PI3K-AKT 通路抑制替莫唑胺对胶质瘤U87细胞的增殖抑制作用

目的 探讨miR-21 过表达在替莫唑胺(TMZ)诱导胶质瘤U87 细胞增殖中的作用及其机制,明确miR-21 过表达在替莫唑胺临床治疗胶质瘤耐药中的作用.方法 Pre-miR-21 过表达载体转染U87 细胞,通过形态学观察,噻唑蓝(MTT)试验检测细胞增殖情况.Western 印迹验证Akt 和p-Akt 表达及检测PI3K 活性.结果 替莫唑胺可显著抑制U87 细胞生长,下调Akt 和p-Akt 表达及抑制PI3K 活性.U87 细胞预转染pre-miR-21 过表达载体后,替莫唑胺的这种效应可部分被miR-21 过表达所抑制.结论 miR-21 过表达可通过活化PI3K-AKT 通路部分抑制替莫唑胺诱导的U87 细胞凋亡,提示胶质瘤中miR-21 过表达可能是替莫唑胺临床治疗胶质瘤药物抵抗的一大新的因素.     

共抑制miR-221/222表达上调PUMA促进胶质瘤U251细胞凋亡的体外研究

目的 探讨反义miR-221/222上调PUMA表达促进人脑胶质母细胞瘤U251细胞凋亡及其机制.方法 脂质体共转染反义miR-221/222下调U251人脑胶质瘤细胞株miR-221、miR-222的表达.流式细胞术检测转染后U251细胞凋亡变化;Caspase 3/7活性检测转染后U251细胞中Caspase 3的活性;JC-1检测转染后U251细胞线粒体膜电位变化;免疫荧光检测Bax蛋白定位;Western blot分析凋亡相关蛋白的表达变化.结果 流式细胞术显示反义miR-221/222可增加U251细胞凋亡;Caspase 3/7活性检测显示反义miR-221/222可增加U251细胞Caspase 3活性;JC-1检测显示反义miR-221/222可增加U251细胞线粒体膜电位衰减;免疫荧光检测反义miR-221/222可促进Bax蛋白从胞质中向线粒体膜上转移;Western blot显示反义miR-221/222共转染组的PUMA、Caspase 3、Bax蛋白表达明显上调,bc1-2蛋白表达明显下调.结论 反义miR-221/222通过上调PUMA蛋白表达来增加胶质瘤细胞U251的凋亡.     

反义miR-21通过调控hTERT表达抑制胶质瘤细胞生长

目的探讨敲低miR-21表达对人胶质瘤细胞系U87细胞功能的影响以及相关作用机制。方法脂质体介导转染miR-21反义寡聚核苷酸（miR-21 inhibitor）敲低U87细胞miR-21的表达。使用实时荧光定量PCR鉴定转染后U87细胞miR-21表达水平;MTT法检测转染后细胞增殖水平,流式法评价转染后细胞周期分布及凋亡变化,并结合Western印迹及RT-PCR验证在U87细胞中miR-21和hTERT间关系。结果体外转染反义miR-21寡聚核苷酸能明显抑制U87细胞生长,诱导其凋亡,并且能够明显下调hTERT表达。结论反义miR-21可能通过下调hTERT表达抑制胶质细胞生长,miR-21可作为胶质瘤基因治疗的靶点。     

慢病毒介导的RNAi下调miR-221抑制U87胶质瘤细胞生长的研究

目的 探讨下调miR-221对U87胶质瘤细胞生长的影响及可能的作用机制.方法 构建靶向miR-221的siRNA慢病毒表达载体并感染U87胶质瘤细胞,应用原位杂交、定量PCR和Western blot法检测干扰后细胞内miR-221及p27蛋白表达变化,MTT法检测细胞增殖,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡及周期变化,Transwell法检测细胞侵袭力改变.结果 成功构建了靶向miR221的siRNA慢病毒表达载体,该载体能有效抑制内源性miR-221的表达,同时上调p27蛋白的表达,同时抑制细胞生长,诱导凋亡,降低细胞的侵袭力.结论 成功构建靶向miR-221的RNAi慢病毒表达载体,该载体能够有效抑制miR-221的表达并抑制U87胶质瘤细胞的生长,为以miR-221为靶点的胶质瘤基因治疗的后续研究奠定基础.     

重组型Caspase3对U251胶质瘤细胞促凋亡作用

目的探讨由野生型人Caspase3大小亚基颠倒构建的重组型Caspase3促U251胶质瘤细胞的调亡活性。方法运用分子克隆技术,使Caspase3基因大小亚基颠倒构建,并将重组基因克隆入绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)真核表达载体pcDNA3.1中,转染人U251胶质瘤细胞。利用透射电镜和流式细胞仪观察胶质瘤细胞凋亡的生物学特征。结果成功地获得了重组型反向Caspase3基因。经限制酶酶切分析鉴定释放330及550bp片段,PCR法鉴定反向重组成功;构建了重组型Caspase3基因的真核表达载体,转染U251胶质瘤细胞后,重组型Caspase3基因在细胞中表达,电镜显示细胞呈现凋亡的典型形态学特征。流式细胞仪可见细胞凋亡峰。结论重组型Caspase3可促进U251胶质瘤细胞的凋亡。     

重组腺病毒p27kip1诱导脑胶质瘤细胞凋亡的初步研究

目的研究重组腺病毒介导的p27kip1体外对U251人胶质瘤细胞凋亡的影响。方法构建p27kip1重组腺病毒载体转染U251人胶质瘤细胞为实验组,并设正常对照组、空载体组,采用Western blot法检测相关蛋白的表达;采用Real time PCR法检测相关基因的表达;采用流式细胞仪检测细胞增殖情况。结果 Western blot和Real time PCR结果均显示,实验组细胞经转染72h后,可见Bcl-2表达降低,同时Bax、Caspase3和Fas-L表达增强;流式细胞仪检测转染p27kip1腺病毒后能够抑制胶质瘤细胞的增殖。结论 p27kip1在体外能够抑制U251人胶质瘤细胞增殖,诱导细胞周期阻滞和细胞凋亡。     

反义miR -221/222抑制Akt通路活性提高胶质瘤细胞放射敏感性的研究

目的 探讨敲低miR -221/222表达抑制Akt通路活性提高胶质瘤细胞放射敏感性的作用.方法 脂质体共转染反义寡聚核苷酸(反义miR -221/222)下调胶质瘤U251,LN -229细胞miR -221与miR -222的表达.用Northern印迹方法测定转染后细胞miR -221、miR -222的表达水平;克隆形成实验验证各组胶质瘤细胞的放射敏感性;Western印迹分析各组胶质瘤细胞的pAkt蛋白表达变化;反义miR -221/222联合X线照射治疗裸鼠皮下移植瘤,观察肿瘤生长水平;Real - timePCR检测治疗后miR - 221、miR - 222的表达;免疫组化分析肿瘤组织中pAkt蛋白表达水平.结果 Northern印迹分析显示反义miR -221/222可以有效地敲低胶质瘤细胞的miR -221和miR -222的表达水平.克隆形成实验证实反义miR - 221/222联合X线照射可增加胶质瘤细胞放射敏感性.Western印迹分析显示反义miR -221/222可下调pAkt蛋白表达.经反义miR -221/222转染联合X线照射治疗后,裸鼠皮下移植瘤生长明显受抑,肿瘤组织中miR -221/miR -222表达水平下降,pAkt蛋白表达水平也明显降低.结论 反义miR - 221/222通过抑制Akt通路活性增加胶质瘤细胞的放射敏感性.     

I型γ-分泌酶抑制剂对恶性胶质瘤细胞株增殖及凋亡的影响

目的 探讨I型γ-分泌酶抑制剂(GSI-I)对U87、U251胶质瘤细胞的增殖抑制及诱导凋亡作用.方法 应用GSI-I作用于U87、U251胶质瘤细胞,通过MTT法观察GSI-I对上述两种细胞的增殖抑制作用,通过流式细胞仪检测GSI-I对该两种细胞细胞周期的影响及诱导凋亡的作用.结果RT-PCR及实时定量荧光RT-PCR结果显示,GSI-T可明显抑制胶质瘤细胞中Notch通路的活性,主要体现为Notch通路的靶基因Hes-1表达明显下调.MTT检测结果显示2.5μmol/L及以上浓度的GSI-I对U87及U251胶质瘤细胞有明显的增殖抑制作用.与对照组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),且该抑制作用呈剂量依赖型增加.流式细胞检测结果显示GSI-I主要使U87胶质瘤细胞的细胞周期阻滞在G1期而抑制细胞增殖,对于U251胶质瘤细胞则主要通过诱导凋亡来抑制增殖.结论 GSI-I可明显抑制U87及U251胶质瘤细胞的增殖并诱导凋亡,为恶性胶质瘤的临床治疗提供了理论参考依据.     

抑制miR-301a对胶质瘤U87细胞增殖、凋亡和侵袭的影响

目的探讨抑制miR-301a对胶质瘤U87细胞增殖、凋亡和侵袭的影响。方法体外培养人脑胶质瘤U87细胞,将细胞分为空白对照组、阴性转染组(阴性序列转染U87细胞)、miR-301a抑制剂转染组(miR-301a抑制剂转染U87细胞)。采用MTT法检测各组细胞的增殖;平板细胞克隆形成实验检测菌落形成;划痕实验检测细胞迁移能力;Transwell法检测细胞迁移、侵袭能力;流式细胞仪检测细胞的凋亡率;RTPCR法检测细胞中miR-301a、PTEN mRNA表达;Western blot检测细胞PTEN、B淋巴细胞瘤-2(Bcl-2)、Bcl-2相关X蛋白(Bax)、半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶-3(Caspase-3)、Caspase-9蛋白表达。结果与空白对照组、阴性转染组比较,miR-301a抑制剂转染组转染后不同时间点的细胞抑制率均升高,呈时间依赖性(均P0.05)。miR-301a抑制剂转染组的菌落数量明显降低,迁移距离短,细胞迁移、侵袭数量明显降低,细胞凋亡率升高(均P0.05);miR-301a mRNA表达水平降低,PTEN mRNA表达水平升高;PTEN、Bax、Caspase-3、Caspase-9蛋白表达水平明显升高,Bcl-2蛋白表达水平降低(均P0.05)。结论抑制miR-301a的表达,可抑制胶质瘤U87细胞的增殖、迁移、侵袭能力,促进胶质瘤U87细胞凋亡。     

TIMP-2基因对人脑胶质瘤U87细胞周期与增殖的影响

目的探讨金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子(TIMP-2)对人脑胶质瘤细胞的抑制作用,主要是对细胞周期与细胞增殖的作用.方法用含TIMP-2基因的重组腺病毒载体,体外转染人胶质瘤细胞系U87,用Western blot检测目的蛋白的表达.通过细胞生长实验,流式细胞仪分析技术检测U87转染前后细胞增殖、周期与凋亡的变化.结果转染AdTIMP-2病毒后的U87细胞TIMP-2蛋白表达上调,转染后对U87细胞的生长有抑制作用,并出现明显的G0 -G1 期阻滞,但无明显的细胞凋亡峰出现.结论重组腺病毒载体介导的TIMP-2基因在体外对人脑胶质瘤细胞系U87 的生长有抑制作用,可作为胶质瘤治疗的有效工具.     

Neuroimaging in epilepsy in tropics

Epilepsy is a major public health problem in many tropical countries. Also, some of the tropical diseases are major contributors to the higher prevalence of epilepsy in these countries. The etiologic factors responsible for epilepsy in these countries are quite different from those in the developed world. This article discusses the etiologic factors and neuroimaging of epilepsy in light of the conditions in these tropical countries.     

癫痫与抑郁关系的研究进展

抑郁是癫痫患者中常见的精神障碍,严重地影响了患者的生活质量。传统的观点认为癫痫患者因为存在着诸多社会学问题易出现抑郁倾向,癫痫和抑郁是单向的联系,但大量的研究已经证明癫痫和抑郁之间存在双向的联系,一种异常状态的存在可能易转化为另一种异常状态的发展。癫痫和抑郁存在着共同的发病机制。本文主要就癫痫和抑郁的双向联系以及抗抑郁药物在癫痫患者中的应用进行阐述。     

Sudanophilic lipid accumulation in astrocytes in periventricular leukomalacia in monkeys

Summary Sudanophilic lipid accumulation is a characteristic feature of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) of infants. At least two types of lipid-containing cells have been identified, one being the macrophage, the other the pre-myelin glial cell. A third type of lipid-containing cell has been seen in two monkeys with spontaneous PVL. Electron microscopically this cell appears to be an astrocyte. This probably represents a reaction of the astrocyte to hypoxia and may be the equivalent of the hypertrophic astrocytes found in human infants.Supported in part by NIH grant HDO 8633 and the Regional Primate Research Center Grant RR-00166     

Increase in cathepsin D activity in rat brain in aging

Cathepsin D-like activity in homogenates of five brain areas of 3-month-old and 24-month-old Fischer 344 rats was measured. With hemoglobin as substrate at pH 3.2, more than 90% of the activity was inhibited by pepstatin. In each area studied, activity was more than twice as high in the old rat brain: 140-160% higher in the cortex, cerebellum, pons-medulla, and striatum and 90-100% higher in the hippocampus and spinal cord. The greatly increased metabolic capacity in the absence of an increase in protein turnover may have a role in age-related pathological degeneration in the brain.     

Characteristics of nociceptors in the periodontium--an in vitro study in rats

Recent studies have indicated that nociceptors can be classified into various types according to their physiological properties. These studies have clarified that the frequency distribution of various nociceptor types is different among body sites and animal species. In the present study, we investigated the physiological properties of rat's periodontal nociceptors in an in vitro jaw-nerve preparation. Responses were recorded from functional single filaments in the inferior alveolar nerve. To determine the nociceptor type, calibrated von Frey filaments, heat, and bradykinin (BK) stimuli were used. We found five subtypes of nociceptors in the periodontal ligaments of the lower incisor: Adelta-high threshold mechanonociceptors (Adelta-HTM, n=28), Adelta-mechanoheat nociceptors (Adelta-MH, n=6), Adelta-polymodal nociceptors (Adelta-POLY, n=26), C-high threshold mechanonociceptors (C-HTM, n=3) and C-polymodal nociceptors (C-POLY, n=4). Most nociceptors were Adelta-innervated, while only a small number of C-innervated nociceptors were found. The present results suggest that periodontal nociceptors transmit mainly fast pain, and may thus play a role in rapid detection of injure-related stimuli during mastication.     

Gender in Voice Perception in Autism

Deficits in the perception of social stimuli may contribute to the characteristic impairments in social interaction in high functioning autism (HFA). Although the cortical processing of voice is abnormal in HFA, it is unclear whether this gives rise to impairments in the perception of voice gender. About 20 children with HFA and 20 matched controls were presented with voice fragments that were parametrically morphed in gender. No differences were found in the perception of gender between the two groups of participants, but response times differed significantly. The results suggest that the perception of voice gender is not impaired in HFA, which is consistent with behavioral findings of an unimpaired voice-based identification of age and identity by individuals with autism. The differences in response times suggest that individuals with HFA use different perceptual approaches from those used by typically developing individuals.     

Defects in Bioenergetic Coupling in Schizophrenia

Synaptic neurotransmission relies on maintenance of the synapse and meeting the energy demands of neurons. Defects in excitatory and inhibitory synapses have been implicated in schizophrenia, likely contributing to positive and negative symptoms as well as impaired cognition. Recently, accumulating evidence has suggested that bioenergetic systems, important in both synaptic function and cognition, are abnormal in psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia. Animal models of synaptic dysfunction demonstrated endophenotypes of schizophrenia as well as bioenergetic abnormalities. We report findings on the bioenergetic interplay of astrocytes and neurons and discuss how dysregulation of these pathways may contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, highlighting metabolic systems as important therapeutic targets.     

Ethnic disparities in problem behaviour in adolescence contribute to ethnic disparities in social class in adulthood

BACKGROUND: It is important for prevention of social class disparities to know how ethnic disparities in social class arise among migrant children. We contribute to this understanding by examining the role of problem behaviour in adolescence. METHODS: Prospective observational study with 753 Dutch native and 217 Turkish migrant adolescents (11-18 year) followed for 10 years. Internalising and externalising problems were assessed in adolescence and employment status and occupational level were assessed in adulthood. The difference in odds ratios (OR) before and after adjustment for internalising and externalising problems was an indication of the predictive value of disparities in internalising and externalising problems for the development of social class disparities. RESULTS: A total of 135 (62%) of the Turkish and 602 (80%) of the Dutch adults were employed. Internalising and externalising problems were not associated with employment status. Of the employed, 65 (48%) Turkish and 179 (30%) Dutch adults worked in low-level occupations (p < 0.0001). Internalising and externalising problems were associated with both ethnicity and occupation. The OR for low-level occupation for Turkish adults was 1.78 (1.19-2.65), indicating ethnic disparities. Adjustment for internalising problems lowered the OR with 36% to 1.50 (0.97-2.31), and adjustment for externalising problems lowered it with 8% to 1.72 (1.15-2.57). Findings were similar for men and women and did not vary by age. CONCLUSIONS: Ethnic disparities in occupational level in adulthood could partly be attributed to disparities in mental health between Turkish migrants and Dutch natives in adolescence. Prevention of ethnic disparities in mental health at young age may therefore also contribute to the prevention of occupational differences in adulthood.     

Progress in neuroprotection in Parkinson's disease

Slowing or aborting the progress of neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD) remains the most important unmet need of this disorder. There are several recent developments in trial design and also in drugs under investigation for possible neuroprotective effect. Emphasis has been placed on clinical as opposed to imaging end-points and these include change in a clinical rating scale, e.g. United Parkinson's disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), or time to additional therapy. The introduction of the delayed-start, or wash-in, trial design adds an additional dimension to drug evaluation for neuroprotection. Compounds that have been recently tested in clinical trial include the monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor rasagiline, the anti-apoptotic agents TCH346 and CEP1347, and the promitochondrial agent creatine. The dopamine agonists have been evaluated for a neuroprotective effect using imaging end-points. Perhaps the most important and simplest concept for neuroprotection has been the theory that early dopaminergic support for the degenerating dopaminergic system per se provides significant long-term clinical benefit for PD patients.     

Changes in parasympathetic system in medulla oblongata in male pigs in the course of tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy

Background

Autonomic imbalance constituting a fundamental feature of heart failure (HF) has been assessed mainly at the periphery. Changes in the functioning of autonomic centers in the brain remain unclear. We investigated the molecular elements of parasympathetic system, i.e. α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) and enzymes metabolizing acetylcholine (acetylcholinesterase, AChE, choline acetyltransferase, ChAT) in medulla oblongata (MO) of male pigs with chronic tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy.

Methods

The mRNA levels of AChE, ChAT, α7nAChR and X-box binding protein 1 (spliced form, XBP1s) in MO were analyzed using qPCR, AChE and ChAT activities using spectrophotometry, proteasome activity using fluorometry, and the protein level of α7nAChR using Western blotting.

Results

The development of systolic HF was accompanied by an increase in circulating catecholamines, a decrease in the AChE and α7nAChR mRNA in MO, an increase in AChE activity (all p < 0.05), and no change in either the mRNA or activity of ChAT. Both circulating catecholamine levels and AChE activity were inversely related to systolic function of left myocardial ventricle (p < 0.05). The level of α7nAChR protein in MO and its cytoplasmatic fraction were higher in pigs with moderate and severe HF as compared to the other animals (p < 0.01). There was no difference in proteasome activity in MO between diseased and healthy animals, whereas the XBP1s mRNA decreased during HF progression (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Molecular elements of parasympathetic system are changed within the medulla oblongata during the progression of systolic non-ischemic heart failure in male pigs, indicating a functional link between MO and heart in HF.