Developmental programming by high fructose decreases phosphorylation efficiency in aging offspring brain mitochondria,correlating with enhanced UCP5 expression

Fructose has recently been observed to affect brain metabolism and cognitive function in adults. Yet, possible late-onset effects by gestational fructose exposure have not been examined. We evaluated mitochondrial function in the brain of aging (15 months) male offspring of Fischer F344 rat dams fed a high-fructose diet (50% energy from fructose) during gestation and lactation. Maternal fructose exposure caused a significantly lower body weight of the offspring throughout life after weaning, while birth weight, litter size, and body fat percentage were unaffected. Isolated brain mitochondria displayed a significantly increased state 3 respiration of 8%, with the substrate combinations malate/pyruvate, malate/pyruvate/succinate, and malate/pyruvate/succinate/rotenone, as well as a significant decrease in the P/O₂ ratio, compared with the control. Uncoupling protein 5 (UCP5) protein levels increased in the fructose group compared with the control (P=0.03) and both UCP5 mRNA and protein levels were inversely correlated with the P/O₂ ratio (P=0.008 and 0.03, respectively), suggesting that UCP5 may have a role in the observed decreased phosphorylation efficiency. In conclusion, maternal high-fructose diet during gestation and lactation has long-term effects (fetal programming) on brain mitochondrial function in aging rats, which appears to be linked to an increase in UCP5 protein levels.     

Characterization of a spontaneous mutation in beta-thalassemia associated with advanced paternal age

We characterized the molecular defect in a Swiss patient with a spontaneous beta-thalassemia mutation. Cloning and DNA sequencing of her beta-globin gene revealed a new frameshift mutation due to a single nucleotide deletion at codon 64 of the beta-globin gene. Restriction site polymorphism showed that the mutation arose on her paternal chromosome. Direct sequencing of a polymerase chain reaction amplified DNA segment showed absence of the lesion in both alleles of her father's beta-globin gene and confirmed the spontaneous nature of this mutation.     

Murine thymocytes proliferate in direct response to interleukin-7

The ability of interleukin-7 (IL-7) to stimulate murine thymocyte proliferation was investigated. IL-7, either alone or in concert with lectin, induced proliferation of adult thymocytes as well as day 13 fetal and adult CD4-/CD8-thymocytes. The IL-7-induced proliferative response of unfractionated thymocytes could not be inhibited by antibodies to IL-2, or IL-4, IL-6, or the IL-2 receptor. In addition, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-6 were not produced by thymocytes activated with IL- 7, as judged by the absence of biologically active cytokine in IL-7- stimulated culture supernatants. IL-7 could act in concert with IL-2 and IL-4 or with IL-4 to enhance the proliferative response of thymocyte cultures. Thus, IL-7 may cause proliferation of thymocytes directly, not indirectly, through production of IL-2, IL-4, or IL-6. IL- 7 may then play a significant role in differentiation of T lymphocytes.     

Germline deletions in the tumour suppressor gene FOCAD are associated with polyposis and colorectal cancer development

Heritable genetic variants can significantly affect the lifetime risk of developing cancer, including polyposis and colorectal cancer (CRC). Variants in genes currently known to be associated with a high risk for polyposis or CRC, however, explain only a limited number of hereditary cases. The identification of additional genetic causes is, therefore, crucial to improve CRC prevention, detection and treatment. We have performed genome‐wide and targeted DNA copy number profiling and resequencing in early‐onset and familial polyposis/CRC patients, and show that deletions affecting the open reading frame of the tumour suppressor gene FOCAD are recurrent and significantly enriched in CRC patients compared with unaffected controls. All patients carrying FOCAD deletions exhibited a personal or family history of polyposis. RNA in situ hybridization revealed FOCAD expression in epithelial cells in the colonic crypt, the site of tumour initiation, as well as in colonic tumours and organoids. Our data suggest that monoallelic germline deletions in the tumour suppressor gene FOCAD underlie moderate genetic predisposition to the development of polyposis and CRC. © 2015 Authors. Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.     

非转流小型猪原位肝移植模型的建立及评价

目的:建立标准化程度高、重复性和稳定性好的小型猪原位肝移植模型。方法:实验于2004-06/2006-02在南方医科大学南方医院动物研究所完成。选用健康中国版纳小型猪36只,按随机数字表法分为供、受体各18只,施行非转流小型猪原位肝移植手术18例。在非体外静脉转流的条件下行同种异体原位肝移植术,严格控制动物无肝期时间,应用套管法吻合胆总管,另外加强围手术期的处理,使无肝期的血压维持在满意水平。监测动物无肝期时间、手术时间、失血量、输血量及动物存活期;术中监测动物的血液动力学及动脉血气分析、生化指标变化;猪死后当天行尸体解剖明确死亡原因。结果:成功建立非转流小型猪原位肝移植模型18只,均纳入结果分析,无脱失。①实验动物无术中死亡,术后当天死亡1只,死亡原因为急性肺水肿;术后第2天死亡1只,死亡原因为胆总管吻合口胆瘘。术后7d存活率为88.9%。②手术时间、无肝期时间、术中失血量及输血量分别为(179.61±14.27)min,(27.28±3.43)min,(422.22±66.91)mL及(444.44±51.13)mL。③与无肝前期相比,实验动物无肝期平均动脉压、中心静脉压、pH值及碱剩余明显下降(P<0.05￣0.01),心率及血清钾水平显著升高(P<0.01);手术结束时平均动脉压及中心静脉压恢复,经药物调整后血清钾水平下降,pH值逐渐恢复。结论:非转流条件下的小型猪原位肝移植模型是肝移植实验的理想动物模型。