Activation of the Ca(2+)-activated nonselective cation channel by diacylglycerol analogues in rat cardiomyocytes

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac hypertrophy is associated with changes in electrophysiologic properties due to ionic channel modifications and increases in protein kinase C (PKC) activity and diacylglycerol (DAG) content. These changes may contribute to an increased propensity for arrhythmia. Similar electrophysiologic modifications have been reported in adult rat cardiomyocytes undergoing dedifferentiation in primary culture. METHODS AND RESULTS: Single-channel measurements on such cells identified the appearance of a Ca(2+)-activated nonselective cation channel (NSC(Ca)) during the dedifferentiation process. The current study investigated the sensitivity of this channel to PKC and DAG analogues. In the cell-attached configuration, channel conductance was 20.2 pS under physiologic conditions. Perfusion with the DAG analogue 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG, 0.1 mM) or the PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 0.5 microM) increased the channel normalized open probability (nPo), whereas in the presence of the PKC inhibitor calphostin C (1 microM), only OAG retained this effect. In the inside-out configuration, perfusion of both DAG analogues OAG (0.1 mM) and 1-stearoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol (SAG, 10 microM) on the inside of the membrane increased nPo. These results indicate that DAG regulates the NSC(Ca) channel via both the PKC pathway and by a direct interaction. CONCLUSION: DAG content, PKC activity, and channel expression increased during hypertrophy. This indicates that the NSC(Ca) channel exhibits high activity in this condition and, therefore, is a candidate for the genesis of arrhythmias in ventricular cardiomyocytes. In addition, regulation of the channel by DAG and PKC contributes to current understanding of the physiologic role of this channel, which shares properties with the cloned TRPM4b channel.     

Activation of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase by a synthetic model lipid-associating peptide.

We have synthesized a model lipid-associating peptide of 20 residues (LAP-20) and studied its association with the phospholipid dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and its activation of the plasma enzyme lecithin:cholesterol acyl-transferase (EC 2.3.1.43). The lipid-associating behavior of LAP-20 is similar to that of well-characterized native plasma apolipoproteins after which it was modeled. Upon forming an isolated complex with DMPC, LAP-20 exhibits a large blue-shift in its intrinsic fluorescence, converts from a random coil to an alpha -helix, and changes turbid multilamellar structures of DMPC into small complexes that are optically clear. Addition of 2 mol % cholesterol does not detectably alter the structure or properties of the complex. The cholesterol-containing complexes of LAP-20 and DMPC are substrates for LCAT, having an activity 65% of that of complexes composed of DMPC, cholesterol, and the natural activator, apolipoprotein A-I. These findings suggest that the LCAT-activating regions of apoA-I may be confined to relatively short sequences that contain a lipid-binding determinant.     

Use of antiserum to neurotensin reveals a physiological role for the peptide in rat prolactin release.

Previous studies have indicated that the brain peptide neurotensin can stimulate prolactin release by direct action on the pituitary gland, whereas its action within the hypothalamus is inhibitory. The inhibitory action is mediated by the release of dopamine into the hypophyseal portal veins, which deliver the neurotransmitter to the anterior pituitary gland to inhibit prolactin release. Our experiments were done to evaluate the physiologic significance of these neurotensin actions by injecting the globulin fraction of highly specific neurotensin antiserum either intravenously or intraventricularly. Injection into the third ventricle of either 1 or 3 microliter of neurotensin antiserum significantly increased plasma prolactin concentrations in (i) ovariectomized and (ii) ovariectomized estrogen- and progesterone-primed rats within 1 hr of injection. The response was more pronounced in the ovariectomized than in the ovariectomized estrogen- and progesterone-treated animals and was dose related. Intraventricular injection of these doses of neurotensin antiserum also evoked elevations in plasma prolactin in intact males, which were significant but smaller in magnitude than those seen in female rats. To evaluate the effect of the antiserum on the pituitary directly, the antiserum was injected intravenously at a dose of 40 microliter, which was sufficient to block the blood pressure-lowering effect of neurotensin. After the intravenous injection of antiserum, a highly significant suppression of plasma prolactin occurred, detectable when first measured at 1 hr after injection in both ovariectomized and ovariectomized estrogen- and progesterone-treated animals; however, the intravenous injection of antiserum had no significant effect on the prolactin release in males. These data indicate the physiological significance of the hypothalamic inhibitory actions of neurotensin on prolactin release, which are probably mediated by its stimulation of dopamine release that in turn, inhibits prolactin secretion by the lactotropes. The direct stimulatory effect of the peptide on prolactin release after its presumed release into portal vessels also appears to be physiologically significant in female but not in male rats.     

利尿钠肽在主动脉瓣狭窄中的作用

主动脉瓣狭窄是临床最常见的瓣膜疾病之一,可导致心力衰竭和死亡风险增加,其发病率在未来20年内可能会随着人口老龄化而翻倍。目前有症状的严重主动脉瓣狭窄患者的首选治疗方法是手术或经导管主动脉瓣置换术,然而无症状严重主动脉瓣狭窄患者的最佳手术时机仍存在争议,警惕的等待策略既安全又可行,但猝死的风险每年几乎达到5%。研究发现,血浆利尿钠肽水平与主动脉瓣狭窄的严重程度、症状的发展以及预后相关,有助于监测疾病进展,并确定哪些患者将从早期治疗干预中获益最大,从而降低长期不良事件的风险。文章概述了利尿钠肽在主动脉瓣狭窄的诊断、临床管理、风险分层和潜在治疗意义中的作用。     

Influence of amino acids upon insulin release evoked by 3-phenylpyruvate

Summary Insulin release induced by 3-phenylpyruvate in rat pancreatic islets was unaffected by L-norleucine, L-valine, L-alanine and L-asparagine, but potentiated by L-glutamine, glycine and L-serine. The latter two amino acids also enhanced insulin secretion evoked by the combination of 3-phenylpyruvate and L-glutamine. Since 3-phenylpyruvate is known to stimulate insulin release by acting as a transamination partner and facilitating the catabolism of endogenous amino acids, the present findings suggest that the secretory efficiency of such a biochemical sequence depends upon the subcellular location of the transamination reaction and upon the interference of 3-phenylpyruvate with the transport of 2-keto acids into mitochondria.     

The role of polysaccharide peptide of Ganoderma lucidum as a potent antioxidant against atherosclerosis in high risk and stable angina patients

ObjectivesAntioxidants can reduce oxidative radicals that affect the early phase of atherogenesis, that is endothelial dysfunction. Polysaccharide Peptide (PsP) derived from Ganoderma lucidum has an active substance in the form of β-glucan. Previous studies have proven the PsP of Ganoderma lucidum as an effective antioxidant in atherosclerotic rats and shows no toxicity in animal model. This study aims to prove the effect of PsP as potent antioxidant in high risk and stable angina patients.MethodThis is a clinical trial conducted to 37 high risk and 34 stable angina patients, which were determined based on ESC Stable CAD Guidelines and Framingham risk score, with pre and post test design without control group. The parameters are superoxide dimustase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, circulating endothelial cell (CEC) and endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) counts. The patients were given PsP 750 mg/day in 3 divided dose for 90 days. Paired t-test was performed for normally distributed data, and Wilcoxon test for not normally distributed data, and significant level of p ≤ 0,05.ResultsSOD level in high risk patients slightly increased but not statistically significant with p = 0,22. Level of SOD in stable angina group significantly increased with p = 0,001. MDA concentration significantly reduced in high risk and stable angina patients with p = 0.000. CEC significantly reduced both in high risk and stable angina patients, with p = 0.000 in both groups. EPC count significantly reduced in high risk and stable angina with p = 0.000.ConclusionPsP of Ganoderma lucidum is a potent antioxidant against pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in stable angina and high risk patients     

Kinetic analysis reveals the ordered coupling of translation termination and ribosome recycling in yeast

Although well defined in bacterial systems, the molecular mechanisms underlying ribosome recycling in eukaryotic cells have only begun to be explored. Recent studies have proposed a direct role for eukaryotic termination factors eRF1 and eRF3 (and the related factors Dom34 and Hbs1) in downstream recycling processes; however, our understanding of the connection between termination and recycling in eukaryotes is limited. Here, using an in vitro reconstituted yeast translation system, we identify a key role for the multifunctional ABC-family protein Rli1 in stimulating both eRF1-mediated termination and ribosome recycling in yeast. Through subsequent kinetic analysis, we uncover a network of regulatory features that provides mechanistic insight into how the events of termination and recycling are obligately ordered. These results establish a model in which eukaryotic termination and recycling are not clearly demarcated events, as they are in bacteria, but coupled stages of the same release-factor mediated process.     

以Cathelicidin序列为模板设计合成抗菌肽的抗菌特性研究

目的研究以Cathelicidin序列为模板设计合成的抗菌肽对金黄色葡萄球菌的抗菌特性。方法根据NCCLS的方法,测定合成的抗菌肽对游离金黄色葡萄球菌的最低抑菌浓度（MIC）和最低杀菌浓度（MBC）;配制5%的红细胞悬液,与抗菌肽混合孵育后测定540 nm的吸光度;金黄色葡萄球菌的过夜培养物加入80μg/ml的抗菌肽,37℃培养4 h,每隔1 h测定菌落数,比较在抗菌肽作用下活菌数随时间的变化。结果抗菌肽的MIC为16μg/ml,MBC为128μg/ml;100μg/ml抗菌肽的溶血性小于10%;抗菌肽作用4 h后,金黄色葡萄球菌活菌数（5.63±0.10）lg（cfu/ml）,与对照组相比有显著性差异（P〈0.05）。结论通过序列设计人工合成的抗菌肽对金黄色葡萄球菌有较强的活性,且溶血性较小。     

大肠杆菌表面CS3菌毛展示随机肽库的构建

目的:在肠毒素性大肠杆菌CS3菌毛表面构建 10肽随机肽库．方法:首先将原有的单酶切CS3菌毛呈现载体改造为双酶切载体,并证实改造后的载体能正确形成CS3菌毛．同时设计合成2条寡核苷酸序列,链1含有1个10肽随机编码序列(NNS)10, 链2可与链1的3′端互补．两条链经过退火、延伸、酶切和回收与经过同样酶切的呈现载体连接,连接产物纯化后分多次电击转化,获得随机肽库．随机挑选10个克隆进行测序并对测序结果进行分析．结果:获得1个库容量为1．8×106大小的随机肽库．测序结果显示,所构建肽库的基本框架与预期设计相符,4个寡核苷酸出现的频率也与理论值相接近．结论:在肠毒素性大肠杆菌CS3菌毛表面成功构建库容量为1．8×106大小的10肽随机肽库．为下一步利用肽库进行筛选奠定了基础．     

Activation peptide of carboxypeptidase B in serum and urine in acute pancreatitis

Background—The pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis involves activation of the pancreatic proenzymes. Levels of the trypsinogen activation peptide in urine in acute pancreatitis has been shown to correlate with the severity of disease. However, this peptide is unstable in urine and, because of its low molecular mass, difficult to measure. Procarboxypeptidase B has a larger activation peptide which could be more suitable for analysis in serum and urine. Aims—To study the presence of the activation peptide from procarboxypeptidase B (CAPAP) in serum and urine in acute pancreatitis. Patients—Urine and serum samples were obtained within 48 hours of admittance from 40 patients with acute pancreatitis. Severity was classified retrospectively according to levels of C-reactive protein and clinical course. Thirty four patients with abdominal pain from other causes were studied as controls. Methods—CAPAP was purified from human pancreatic juice. Specific antibodies were obtained and a radioimmunoassay was developed. Results—Levels of CAPAP in serum and urine in acute pancreatitis correlate with the severity of the attack. CAPAP is very stable, and urine contains only CAPAP whereas, in serum, cross reacting procarboxypeptidase B is found together with CAPAP. Conclusions—CAPAP could be a valuable tool in the diagnosis and early determination of severity in acute pancreatitis.     

Evidence for a role of endorphins in stress- and suckling-induced prolactin release in the rat

Injection of the opiate antagonist naloxone completely prevented the rise of serum prolactin induced by ether stress in intact male rats. Naloxone also led to a 50–95% inhibition of the marked elevation of plasma prolactin levels induced by suckling. These data suggest that endogenous opiates (endorphins) are involved in the stimulation of prolactin release induced by both stress and suckling in the rat.     

Activation of in vitro proliferation of human T cells by a synthetic peptide of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1

A 21-mer synthetic peptide (KGEKVDLNTKRTKKSQHTSEG), designated TSST-1(58-78), was constructed from the primary structure of the toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1). The peptide reacted with a panel of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to whole TSST-1 in solid-phase immunoassays. TSST-1(58-78) promoted the in vitro proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in a dose-dependent manner. Minimum dose required for stimulation (P less than or equal to .05 microM) was 0.75 microM peptide. This mitogenic effect was abrogated by incubation of the peptide with MAbs to whole TSST-1 before addition to PBMC. The ability of TSST-1(58-78) to stimulate the proliferation of highly purified resting human T cells was analyzed. Significant proliferation (P less than or equal to .01) was observed only in the presence of increasing populations of monocytes added to the cultures. Adherent human monocytes exposed to TSST-1(58-78) released tumor necrosis factor. Thus, some of the immunoregulatory properties attributed to TSST-1 are demonstrated by the region of the toxin represented by the peptide TSST-1(58-78).     

Prolactin-releasing activity of dermorphin, a new synthetic potent opiate-like peptide, in normal human subjects

Dermorphins (D) are heptapeptides (H-Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Gly-Tyr-X-Ser-NH2; X, Pro or Hyp) with powerful central and peripheral opiate-like activity, originally isolated from the skin of South American frogs. To study the effect of a synthetic D on PRL secretion in man, either D (5.5 micrograms/kg . min for 30 min) or D-placebo (0.9% saline) infusion over 30 min was administered iv in random sequence to 11 volunteers (6 women and 5 men). In all the subjects, D induced a significant increase in the levels of PRL, more consistently in women than in men. To investigate whether the increase in PRL was due to the opiate agonist properties of D, the study was repeated in the same subjects during naloxone infusion. The PRL response to D was completely suppressed, suggesting that the peptide exerts its effect on PRL release via an opiate receptor stimulation of the mu-type. These data allow us to conclude that D may affect PRL release in humans; however, further investigation is necessary before any physiological significance might be attributed to D in man.     

A synthetic peptide of the rab3a effector domain stimulates amylase release from permeabilized pancreatic acini.

In this study we have employed a synthetic peptide of the rab3a effector domain, rab3AL, to examine whether a rab-like low molecular weight GTP-binding protein is involved in protein release from the rat pancreatic acinar cell. The peptide was found to be a potent stimulator of amylase release from streptolysin-O-permeabilized pancreatic acini, with an EC50 of approximately 60 microM. Stimulation of amylase discharge by rab3AL did not occur using either intact acini or permeabilized acini depleted of ATP. In contrast, a different effector domain peptide of the rab2 protein, rab2AL, a peptide with distinct sequence homology to rab3AL, was unable to stimulate amylase release, suggesting the specificity of the rab3AL response to rab3-like proteins. rab3AL stimulated release at [Ca2+] that were nonstimulatory in the absence of the peptide (10 nM). rab3AL potentiated the effect of guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate on amylase secretion and decreased the amount of guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate required for maximal secretion, suggesting that these two agents interact to modulate a distal step(s) of secretion. The above results provide functional evidence for the role of a rab-like low molecular weight GTP-binding protein and its effector protein(s) in the control of protein release from pancreatic acini. Because the discharge response to rab3AL is near the maximal obtainable from permeabilized acini, our results would suggest that rab3-like proteins control an important step in regulated secretion of amylase.     

No role for a voltage sensitive release mechanism in cardiac muscle

We have investigated the possibility that some component of calcium release from the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) may occur directly in response to the surface membrane action potential rather than by calcium induced calcium release (CICR). Experiments were performed on rat ventricular myocytes and intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) measured with fluo-3. In order to mimic physiological conditions, experiments were performed at 37 degrees C, using the perforated patch technique (to avoid intracellular dialysis) with pulses from -80 to 0 mV. The addition of 500 microM Cd(2+) to inhibit the L-type Ca current reduced the rate of increase of the Ca transient to 2.8 +/- 1% of control. When experiments were performed with Na-free solutions in the pipette, Cd(2+) abolished the transient completely suggesting that the residual Ca entry was on Na-Ca exchange. The addition of Ni(2+) produced a concentration dependent inhibition of the Ca transient with 5 mM being sufficient to completely inhibit the transient. The inhibitory effects of Ni(2+) were unaffected by prior exposure to isoprenaline. These results provide no evidence for a voltage activated calcium release mechanism in cardiac muscle and are consistent with SR Ca(2+) release being triggered by a process of Ca(2+) induced Ca(2+) release.     

贝尼地平对高血压病患者血浆降钙素基因相关肽水平的影响

目的　探讨钙离子拮抗剂贝尼地平对高血压病患者血浆降钙素基因相关肽 (CGRP)水平的影响。方法　 5 8例门诊高血压病患者接受贝尼地平 4～ 8mg/d治疗 8周 ,以 38例相匹配的健康者为对照 ,测定高血压病患者治疗前后和对照者的血浆CGRP水平。结果　高血压病患者的血浆CGRP水平较对照者明显降低 (最小值 :1 2 8比 39 95ng/L ;最大值 :4 3 72比 15 5 5 9ng/L ;P <0 0 0 1) ;高血压病患者经贝尼地平治疗 2周收缩压和舒张压明显降低 (P <0 0 5 ) ;之后维持治疗 8周血压稳定 ,血浆CGRP水平则较治疗前显著升高 (最小值 :2 84比 1 2 8ng/L ;最大值 :12 3 99比 4 3 72ng/L ;P<0 0 0 1)。结论　钙拮抗剂贝尼地平在降低血压的同时可明显升高高血压病患者血浆CGRP水平。     

MAGE-3抗原肽致敏树突状细胞的体内抗膀胱癌作用及机制

目的 探讨黑色素瘤-3基因(MAGE-3)抗原肽致敏的树突状细胞(DC)体内对膀胱癌肿瘤的抑制作用及机制.方法 采用Ficoll法从HLA-A2型个体外周血中分离单个核细胞,用GM-CSF和IL-4诱导扩增DC,再经MAGE-3抗原肽致敏,致敏DC细胞和同型T淋巴细胞共培养诱导细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(CTL),经过尾静脉注入膀胱癌荷瘤小鼠,观察其对肿瘤体积及重量的影响.结果 MAGE-3抗原肽致敏的DC诱导产生的CTL可明显缩小瘤体、降低瘤重.结论 MAGE-3九肽致敏DC诱导CTL体内具有抑制膀胱癌细胞增长的作用;其机制可能为激活T淋巴细胞.     

The role of calcium in glucagon release,interactions between glucose and calcium

Summary The interrelationships between glucose and calcium in glucagon release were investigated using the dynamic system of the in vitro perfused rat pancreas. When calcium deprivation was induced in the presence of fixed concentrations of glucose prevailing throughout the experiments (3.3, 5.5, 8.3 and 16.6 mM), an enhancement of glucagon release invariably occurred, the shape and amplitude of such response differing in relation to the environmental glucose concentration. Such enhancement of glucagon release was readily reversible upon restoration of normal calcium levels. By contrast, during the period of calcium deprivation itself, glucagon release was little influenced by either raised (from 3.3 to 16.6 mM) or decreased (from 16.6 to 3.3 mM) glucose concentrations. These results clearly indicate that calcium plays, at least, a dual role — both inhibitory and permissivein glucagon secretion, but the intimate mechanisms by which calcium exerts such a dual action are at present unknown.     

Photolysis of a caged peptide reveals rapid action of N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor before neurotransmitter release

The time at which the N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) acts during synaptic vesicle (SV) trafficking was identified by time-controlled perturbation of NSF function with a photoactivatable inhibitory peptide. Photolysis of this caged peptide in the squid giant presynaptic terminal caused an abrupt (0.2 s) slowing of the kinetics of the postsynaptic current (PSC) and a more gradual (2-3 s) reduction in PSC amplitude. Based on the rapid rate of these inhibitory effects relative to the speed of SV recycling, we conclude that NSF functions in reactions that immediately precede neurotransmitter release. Our results indicate the locus of SNARE protein recycling in presynaptic terminals and reveal NSF as a potential target for rapid regulation of transmitter release.