Buffering action of endogenous nitric oxide on the adrenocortical secretagogue effect of endothelins in the rat

The secretagogue effect of endothelins (ETs) on the rat adrenal cortex is mediated by the ETB receptor. ETB receptors are coupled with nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS), and NO is known to inhibit steroid-hormone secretion from adrenal cortex. We investigated whether ETB-mediated NO production interferes with the stimulatory action of ETs on rat adrenal cortex. The selective agonist of ETB receptor BQ-3020 concentration-dependently increased aldosterone secretion from dispersed zona glomerulosa (ZG) cells and corticosterone secretion from dispersed zona fasciculata-reticularis (ZF/R) cells, and the NOS inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME) potentiated the effect of BQ-3020 in a concentration-dependent manner. The guanylate cyclase inhibitor Ly-83583, at a concentration suppressing guanylin- and L-arginine-induced cyclic-GMP release from dispersed adrenocortical cells, did not affect the secretory response of ZG and ZF/R cells to BQ-3020. ET-1, an agonist of both ETA and ETB receptors, stimulated the release of both aldosterone and corticosterone by in situ perfused rat adrenal gland. This effect was potentiated by L-NAME and unaffected by Ly-83583. Collectively, our findings allow us to suggest that endogenous NO exerts in vivo and in vitro a cyclic-GMP-independent buffering action on the ETB receptor-mediated adrenocortical secretagogue action of ETs.     

Modulative effect of endogenous granuloid inhibitors on cell proliferation

The particle-free crude extract of differentiated granulocytes (GCE) and the GI-1, GI-2, GI-3 proliferation inhibitory fractions (M.W. larger than or equal to 70,000 approximately 11,500 and less than or equal to 4000) were studied for the effects they exert on cultured cells. As shown by the curve, in bone marrow suspension cultures, in the dose range of 0.01-10.0 microng/ml, GCE maximally inhibits 3H-TdR incorporation into the DNA for 5.5 hours. In agar-gel cultures, 1.0-5.0 microng/ml of GCE reduces both the number (by 50.6-54.8%) and the size of the colonies formed. The manifestation of the inhibitory effect of GI-1, GI-2 and GI-3 fractions requires 2.5-3.5 hours. The inhibitors designated GI-2 and GI-2 are target-cell specific but they do not reduce 3H-TdR incorporation either in thymocyte suspension or HeLa monolayer cultures. On the other hand GI-1 inhibis the proliferation in HeLa cultures, as well. These endogenous inhibitors exert their optimum effect, even in a partially purified state at 2-4 orders or magnitude lower concentrations than does 1,2/5,6-dianhydrogalactitol (DAD), a cell-aspecific inhibitor used for comparison in the same system.     

Functional evidence for the recognition of endogenous peptides by autoreactive T cell clones

The fine specificity of two human T cell clones responding to autologous HLA-DR1 expressing antigen-presenting cells (APC) in the absence of nominal antigen has been investigated using Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells (BCL) of known DR beta 1 domain sequence. It was found that responsiveness was markedly affected by changes in a limited number of residues in this domain. Substitution of the DR1 beta sequence at one residue, position 74, even conservatively, was found to be particularly significant. Located on the beta 1 domain alpha-helix, this residue is predicted to point into the antigen-binding groove and is therefore unlikely to make contact with the T cell receptor. This finding suggests that these T cells are specific for a bound endogenous peptide within the autologous major histocompatibility (MHC) binding groove. The autospecific T cell clones also responded to murine L cell transfectants expressing DR alpha DR1 beta as well as to transfectants expressing the mouse/human hybrid MHC molecule I-E alpha DR1 beta but not to the reciprocal combination DR alpha I-E beta, thus confirming the importance of the beta 1 domain to T cell recognition. In contrast to the autocytotoxicity observed with BCL, cytolysis of the murine L cells expressing the HLA-DR1 molecule was slight and only found at high effector-target ratios. In addition, although fixation enhanced the recognition of BCL, capacity of the murine L cells bearing the HLA-DR1 molecule to stimulate T cell clone proliferation was markedly reduced by aldehyde fixation. When taken together, these results suggest that the endogenous peptides recognized by these autoreactive T cells are of human origin.     

Suppressive effect of immature erythroid cells on the B-cell proliferation

Immature erythroid cells suppress the proliferative response of preactivated B lymphocytes to lipopolysaccharide. The same effect is observed when recombinant human interleukin-2 or culture medium conditioned by preactivated T or B cells is added to cultured cells. Suppressive nucleate erythroid cells are resistant to leucine methyl ester. Translated fromByulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 123, No. 1, pp. 66–70, January, 1997     

亚低温可促进脑出血大鼠内源性神经干细胞的增殖

背景：亚低温对脑出血后脑组织保护作用的研究多集中在减轻脑水肿方面,对神经干细胞的增殖是否有促进作用研究很少。 目的：观察亚低温对脑出血大鼠血肿周围、侧脑室旁神经干细胞增殖的影响。 方法：采用自体血注入尾状核制作Wistar大鼠脑出血模型,亚低温组于制作模型后给予局部亚低温4 h,对照组给予常温处理。 结果与结论：脑出血后1,3,7,14 d,亚低温组Longa 5分制法评分低于对照组(P < 0.05)。免疫组织化学方法检测亚低温组各时间点血肿周边及侧脑室旁组织的BrdU阳性细胞数明显多于对照组(P < 0.05)。初步提示亚低温处理可以促进干细胞内源性增殖,对脑出血有保护作用。     

AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma: evidence for direct stimulatory effect of glucocorticoid on cell proliferation.

Glucocorticoid therapy has been linked to increased risk of development of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), which has become epidemic among HIV-infected individuals. However, no experimental evidence is available to explain the role of glucocorticoid in KS biopathology. We investigated the direct effect of dexamethasone (Dex) on the growth of cultured KS cells derived from acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients (AIDS-KS). Dex significantly stimulated the proliferation of AIDS-KS cells. Moreover, simultaneous exposure to Dex and oncostatin M, a KS major cytokine, produced a dramatic synergistic effect on proliferation of AIDS-KS cell. This suggests an interaction between glucocorticoid and growth factor intracellular pathways in KS cells. The expression of glucocorticoid receptor protein and mRNA in AIDS-KS cell cultures was examined by radioimmunoassay and in situ hybridization, respectively. Compared with other well studied cell lines, AIDS-KS cells contain an unusually high level of glucocorticoid receptor protein, which is further upregulated by glucocorticoid treatment. RU-486, a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, completely abolished the stimulatory effect of Dex and reduced the synergistic effect of Dex and oncostatin M on proliferation of AIDS-KS. These findings demonstrate that glucocorticoid stimulates directly the proliferation of AIDS-KS cells via the modulation of glucocorticoid receptor expression.     

肾上腺髓质素对大鼠低氧性肺动脉高压的急性降压作用及机理探讨

目的:观察肾上腺髓质素(ADM)对低氧性肺动脉高压的急性降压作用及其对体循环的影响及机理。方法:雄性Wistar大鼠分成常氧和低氧两大组,每大组分为3个剂量组。经常氧或低氧21d处理后分别经股静脉给予ADM_1-520.1nmol/kg、0.3nmol/kg、1nmol/kg,观察用药前后体循环和肺循环血流动力学的变化情况。雄性Wistar大鼠分成常氧和低氧两组,经股静脉给予ADM_1-520.3nmol/kg,观察用药前后肺循环压、体循环压变化,放免法测定血浆环磷酸腺苷(cAMP)的动态变化。结果:低氧与常氧大鼠经ADM注射后除常氧ADM_1-520.1nmol/kg注射组外肺动脉平均压(mPAP)均有不同程度的降低,低氧性肺动脉高压大鼠组更为明显(P＜0.05),持续时间更长;两组大鼠mPAP对不同剂量ADM呈不同降压效应,低氧组在0.1-0.3nmol/kg间mPAP下降与剂量成正比(P＜0.05),剂量递增至0.3nmol/kg后,mPAP下降趋势减弱,ADM_1-520.1nmol/kg注射下常氧组mPAP无明显降低,在0.3-1.0nmol/kgmPAP显著降低,并随ADM剂量增加进一步降低;两组大鼠体循环平均压(mSBP)均下降(P＜0.01),且与剂量成依赖关系,其中常氧组更显著。静脉注射ADM_1-520.3nmol/kg后血浆cAMP显著增高。结论:ADM对大鼠低氧性肺动脉高压有急性降压作用,其作用方式至少部分通过cAMP途径。     

Vitamin B12 supplement exerts a beneficial effect on the seminiferous epithelium of cimetidine-treated rats

Treatment of gastric ulcer with cimetidine reduces acid secretion and interferes in the vitamin B(12) absorption. Regarding the harmful effect of cimetidine on the seminiferous tubules, the aim of the present study was to verify if prolonged treatment with cimetidine causes vitamin B(12) deficiency and whether the testicular damages are attenuated by vitamin B(12) supplementation. Adult male rats received, for 50 days, cimetidine (CMTG), cimetidine and vitamin B(12) (CMT/B(12)G), vitamin B(12) (B(12)G) and saline solution (CG). Vitamin B(12) and homocysteine plasma levels were evaluated and the testes were embedded in glycol methacrylate for the morphometric analyses of total, epithelial and luminal areas of the seminiferous tubules, number of Sertoli cells and frequencies of tubules according to stages and containing Sertoli and germ cells in the lumen. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemistry were carried out. CMTG showed TUNEL-positive Sertoli cells and significant reductions in the epithelial and total tubular areas, number of Sertoli cells and frequency of tubules VII-VIII. In the CMT/B(12)G, the number of Sertoli cells and the epithelial and total tubular areas were similar to CG. The number of Sertoli cells (in B(12)G) and the frequency of tubules at stages VII-VIII (in B(12)G and CMT/B(12)G) increased significantly; PCNA-positive Sertoli cells were found in these groups. Although cimetidine was not able to induce vitamin B(12) deficiency, this drug causes tubular atrophy due to Sertoli cell damage and loss of germ cells. However, vitamin B(12) supplement is able to stimulate spermatogenesis and restore the number of Sertoli cells, softening the harmful effect of cimetidine on spermatogenesis.     

Effects of serum collected from rats of different ages on in vitro cell proliferation

It has been reported by Carrel and his co-workers that serum from old hens inhibits cell growth in culture. However, as we had previously demonstrated contradictory results using serum from old rabbits, we examined whether serum from old rats would also show strong induction of cell proliferation. Sera from young and adult rats of either sex strongly stimulated the growth of rat fetal skin fibroblasts and human fetal lung fibroblasts (TIG-1). Sera of old female and male rats (24-29 months old) produced much greater fluctuations in growth-stimulatory activity than sera from young animals. Most samples of serum from old rats stimulated the growth of TIG-1 cells, as did fetal bovine serum and samples from younger rats, even when a higher concentration of serum (up to 50%) was used. On the other hand, a small proportion of samples repressed the growth of the cells. A study on the effects of serial mixtures of both different types of serum samples from old rats on cell growth suggested that this minor proportion of serum samples contain a large amount of inhibitory factor(s). The cell growth-stimulatory activity of serum did not correlate with the total protein and albumin concentrations, albumin/globulin ratio, and the levels of lipid peroxide in the sample. These results therefore seemed to imply that serum induced a striking increase in the heterogeneity of cell growth stimulatory activity with age, although most samples of serum from old rats of either sex stimulated cell proliferation as effectively as samples from younger rats. The biological significance of the small proportion of serum samples from old rats which do inhibit cell proliferation was discussed.     

Age-dependence of the effect of treadmill exercise on cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of rats

The impact of age on the effect of treadmill exercise on cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of rats was investigated via 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine immunohistochemistry. Animals of different ages were used: 4-week-old, 8-week-old, and 62-week-old. Based upon the present study, the most prominent cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus was observed in the 4-week-old rats, and decreased in direct relation to the age of the animals. In addition, although treadmill exercise increased cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of animals in all age groups, the most potent enhancing effect appeared in the 8-week-old rats. The present results demonstrate that age is an important factor in the regulation of cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus and that the enhancing effect of the treadmill exercise on cell proliferation also depends on age status.     

内源性气体信号分子和调节肽在特发性肺纤维化发病中的作用

特发性肺纤维化是一种病因不明的慢性进行性肺疾病,以纤维增殖、肺实质的破坏及细胞外基质的沉积为特征,其发病机制尚不明确。近几年的研究发现内源性气体信号分子(一氧化氮、一氧化碳和硫化氢)及调节肽(血管紧张素II、松弛素和尾加压素等)在调节肺纤维化,参与特发性肺纤维化的发病中发挥重要的作用。     

In‐vitro effect of pembrolizumab on different T regulatory cell subsets

Programmed death‐1 (PD‐1) and interactions with PD‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) play critical roles in the tumour evasion of immune responses through different mechanisms, including inhibition of effector T cell proliferation, reducing cytotoxic activity, induction of apoptosis in tumour‐infiltrating T cells and regulatory T cell (T_reg) expansion. Effective blockade of immune checkpoints can therefore potentially eliminate these detrimental effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of anti‐PD‐1 antibody, pembrolizumab, on various T_reg subpopulations. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy donors (HD) and primary breast cancer patients (PBC) were treated in vitro with pembrolizumab, which effectively reduced PD‐1 expression in both cohorts. We found that PD‐1 was expressed mainly on CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells and pembrolizumab had a greater effect on PD‐1 expression in CD4⁺CD25^? T cells, compared to CD4⁺CD25⁺ cells. In addition, pembrolizumab did not affect the expression levels of T_reg‐related markers, including cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen‐4 (CTLA‐4), CD15s, latency‐associated peptide (LAP) and Ki‐67. Moreover, we report that CD15s is expressed mainly on forkhead box P3 (FoxP3)^?Helios⁺ T_reg in HD, but it is expressed on FoxP3⁺Helios^? T_reg subset in addition to FoxP3^?Helios⁺ T_reg in PBC. Pembrolizumab did not affect the levels of FoxP3^+/?Helios^+/? T_reg subsets in both cohorts. Taken together, our study suggests that pembrolizumab does not affect T_reg or change their phenotype or function but rather blocks signalling via the PD‐1/PD‐L1 axis in activated T cells.     

Programmed Cell Death 5 from Toxoplasma gondii: a secreted molecule that exerts a pro-apoptotic effect on host cells

Although parasite-infected host cells become resistant to apoptosis, uninfected bystander cells undergo apoptosis during Toxoplasma gondii infection. The Programmed Cell Death 5 (TgPDCD5) gene, a homologue of the human apoptosis-related molecule, was cloned from a T. gondii full-length cDNA database and subsequently characterized. The native TgPDCD5 was located in the cytosol and also detected in the secreted fraction. Immuno-electron microscopic analysis showed TgPDCD5 was primarily located close to the rhoptries or vesicle-like structures near the surface membrane of the parasite. Studies using recombinant TgPDCD5 (rTgPDCD5) demonstrated that host cells internalize the molecule in a heparan sulfate proteoglycan-binding motif-dependent manner. Furthermore, the addition of rTgPDCD5 to culture medium resulted in the enhancement of host-cell apoptosis triggered by etoposide in macrophage cell line J774A.1 and leukemic cell line HL-60 cells. Additionally, rTgPDCD5 induced apoptosis in J774A.1 cells in the presence of IFN-γ. This report is the first to identify a parasitic molecule of T. gondii that has a pro-apoptotic effect on host cells.     

大鼠肝再生中环状RNA的表达变化及其对细胞增殖的调节作用

目的 探讨环状RNA(circRNA)在大鼠肝再生中的表达变化及其对细胞增殖的调节作用.方法 用生物高通量检测方法分析114只2/3肝切除大鼠诱导的大鼠肝再生中circRNA的表达变化,用miRanda和TargetScan网站分析大鼠肝再生的靶微小RNA(miRNA)及其mRNA,用基因本体论(GO)和IPA软件分析...     

Site of action of endogenous nitric oxide on pulmonary vasculature in rats

The effect of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) on the pulmonary hypoxic vasoconstriction was studied in isolated and blood perfused rat lungs. By applying the occlusion technique we partitioned the total pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) into four segments: (1) large arteries (R _a), (2) small arteries (R _a′), (3) small veins (R _v′), and (4) large veins (R _v). The resistances were evaluated under baseline (BL) conditions and during; hypoxic vasoconstriction and acetylcholine (Ach) which was injected during hypoxic vasoconstriction. After recovery from hypoxia and Ach, N ^ω-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA) was added to the reservoir and the responses to hypoxia and Ach were reevaluated. Before L-NA, hypoxia caused significant increase in the resistances of all segments (P < 0.05), with the largest being in R _a and R _a′. Ach-induced relaxation during hypoxia occurred in R _a, R _a′ and R _v′ (P < 0.05). L-NA did not change the basal tone of the pulmonary vasculature significantly. However, after L-NA, hypoxic vasoconstriction was markedly enhanced in R _a, R _a′, and R _v′ (P < 0.01) compared with the hypoxic response before L-NA. Ach-induced relaxation was abolished after L-NA. We conclude that, in rat lungs, inhibition of NO production during hypoxia enhances the response in the small arteries and veins as well as in the large arteries. The results suggest that hypoxic vasoconstriction in the large pulmonary arteries and small vessels is attenuated by NO release. Received: 22 May 1995/received after revision: 2 October 1995/Accepted: 5 March 1996     

Transforming growth factor-beta1 released from the spleen exerts a growth inhibitory effect on liver regeneration in rats

Several previous reports indicated that partial hepatectomy (PH) when combined with splenectomy enhances the regenerative capacity of the liver, most probably due to the removal of unknown inhibitory factors released from the spleen. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 is a major antiproliferative factor for the hepatocytes, and the role of splenic TGF-beta1 in liver regeneration is yet to be clarified. The splenic expression of TGF-beta1 and its secretion into the portal circulation from the spleen were evaluated in a standardized two-thirds hepatectomy model in rats. Rats in the control group underwent only the hepatectomy, while splenectomy was added in the splenectomy group. The hepatocyte proliferation rate was assessed by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunostaining, and the results were compared with the TGF-beta1 kinetics in the portal blood. Significant increase in PCNA index and decrease in portal TGF-beta1 level were noticed in the splenectomy group at 48 hours after PH compared with the control group. Both TGF-beta1 protein and mRNA expression level in the spleen were strongest at 48 hours after PH and coincided with the peak of the plasma TGF-beta1 level. TGF-beta type II receptor (TbetaR-II) expression in the liver after PH was assessed immunohistochemically. The expression of TbetaR-II decreased at 12 hours and returned to preoperative level at 24 hours after PH in both groups. The changes of TbetaR-II expression were similar in both groups, and the significant difference was not observed at 48 hours after PH. Namely, splenectomy did not alter the expression of TbetaR-II in remnant liver at the peak of hepatocytes proliferation. In conclusion we found that TGF-beta1 was produced and secreted by the spleen during the early phase of liver regeneration and removal of the spleen enhanced proliferation of hepatocytes. Splenectomy thus may exert a salutary effect in selected patients with jeopardized regenerative capacity of the liver.     

Cytotaxin receptors of neutrophils: evidence that F-methionyl peptides and pepstatin share a common receptor.

Pepstatin, a chemotactic microbial pentapeptide, competes with f-Met-Leu-[3H]Phe for binding to human neutrophils. Furthermore, porcine neutrophils, which neither specifically bind nor respond chemotactically to the synthetic f-methionyl peptides, also fail to respond chemotactically to pepstatin. These results suggest that pepstatin shares a receptor on the neutrophil with f-methionyl peptides, despite their completely different amino acid compositions. The specificity of this cytotaxin receptor may therefore be broader than expected and depend on ligand characteristics distinct from primary structure.