Proteolytic Processing Mechanisms in the Biosynthesis of Neuroendocrine Peptides: The Subtilisin-like Proprotein Convertases

The recent discovery of a novel family of precursor processing endoproteases has greatly accelerated progress in understanding the complex mechanisms underlying the maturation of prohormones, neuropeptides, and many other precursor-derived proteins. At least six members of this family have been found thus far in mammalian species, several having alternatively spliced isoforms, and related enzymes have been identified in many invertebrates, including molluscs, insects, nematodes, and coelenterates. The proprotein convertases are all dependent on calcium for activity and all possess highly conserved subtilisin-like domains with the characteristic catalytic triad of this serine protease (ordered Asp, His, and Ser along the polypeptide chain). Two members of this family, PC2(SPC2) and PC1/PC3(SPC3), appear to play a preeminent role in neuroendocrine precursor processing. Both convertases are expressed only in the brain and in the extended neuroendocrine system, while another important family member—furin/PACE (SPC1)—is expressed more ubiquitously, in almost all tissues, and at high levels in liver. SPC2 and SPC3 exhibit acidic pH optima and other properties which enhance their activity in the acidic, calcium-enriched environment of the dense-core secretory granules of the regulated pathway in neuroendocrine cells, while furin has a neutral pH optimum and is localized predominantly to the trans Golgi network where it is retained by a C-terminal transmembrane domain. Furin processes a wide variety of precursors in the constitutive pathway, such as those of growth factors, receptors, coagulation factors, and viral glycoproteins. Recent findings on the processing of proopiomelanocortin, proinsulin, proglucagon, and several other neuroendocrine precursors by SPC2 and SPC3 are discussed, along with information on the structure, properties, evolution, developmental expression, and regulation or the convertases. An inherited defect in the fat/fat mouse which affects the processing of proinsulin, and probably also many other prohormones, due to a point mutation in carboxypeptidase E has recently been identified and has begun to provide new insights into the functional integration of the individual processing steps.     

Changes in ultrastructure and Ca2+ distribution in the isolated working rabbit heart after ischemia. A time-related study.

Ultrastructural changes in cardiac muscle of isolated working rabbit hearts after various periods of ischemia are described and compared with distributional changes in calcium. The effects of reperfusion on these structural parameters were also investigated. The purposes of this study were to relate the role of calcium in the degeneration of cardiac muscle; to determine whether Ca2+ localizations could serve as additional criteria to determine more closely the point of no return; and to investigate the contributory role of reoxygenation to the development of myocardial damage. This study shows the existence of topographic differences in the tolerance to ischemia in the mid area, subendocardium, and subepicardium; that the sequestration of Ca2+ by mitochondria is an energy-requiring (active) process that occurs only during reperfusion; the loss of the sarcolemma's ability to bind Ca2+ during ischemia to coincide with increased Ca2+ entry during postischemic reperfusion (this Ca2+ is scavenged by mitochondria as long as sufficient energy remains available; these changes are interpreted as being at the edge of irreversibility); and the lack of additional damage and and lack of Ca2+ accumulation in mitochondria during reperfusion in cells that are damaged to such an extent that mitochondria possess flocculent densities already at the end of the ischemic insult.     

Somatic mitochondrial mutation in gastric cancer.

Likely hot spots for mutations are mitochondrial sequences as there is less repair and more damage by carcinogens compared with nuclear sequences. A somatic 50-bp mitochondrial D-loop deletion was detected in four gastric adenocarcinomas. The deletion included the CSB2 region and was flanked by 9-bp direct repeats. The deletion was more frequent in adenocarcinomas arising from the gastroesophageal junction (4/32, 12.5%) compared with more distal tumors (0/45). Topographical analysis revealed the absence of the deletion from normal tissues except in focal portions of smooth muscle in one case. In two cases, apparent mutant homoplasmy was present throughout two tumors, including their metastases. In the two other cases, the mutation was present in only minor focal portions ( < 5%) of their primary tumors. These findings document the presence of somatic mitochondrial alterations in gastric cancer, which may reflect the environmental and genetic influences operative during tumor progression.     

肝脏血管瘤的手术指征和手术方法选择（附46例报告）

目的 探讨肝脏血管瘤的手术指征和手术方法。方法 回顾性分析采用手术治疗46例肝脏血管瘤病人资料，判断其手术指征，评价不同手术方法的治疗效果厦其手术并发症发生情况。结果 46例病人中，19例采用肝叶或肝段切除术，17例出现并发症，以胸腔积液和膈下积液多见，采用血管瘤摘除术的27例病人无并发症。结论 对肝脏血管瘤直径大于5cm并有明显临床症状，或不能除外恶性肿瘤的病人可以采用手术治疗。血管瘤摘除术是安全有效、并发症少的手术方法。     

Impaired hepatocyte survival and liver regeneration in Atm-deficient mice

Atm is a stress-induced DNA damage checkpoint protein kinase with multiple roles in cell-cycle progression. Recent evidence indicates that Atm also plays a role in stem cell maintenance and self-renewal. It is not known whether Atm has a role during tissue regeneration. Using liver regeneration as a model system, we examined the role of Atm in this process. Here, we show that the expression levels of Atm protein were gradually increased during liver regeneration and this was correlated with the onset of DNA replication. The induction of Stat3 and JNK signaling, which are essential processes in normal regeneration response, was attenuated during the early phases of liver regeneration in Atm-deficient mice. P53 was transiently phosphorylated at serine 23 during liver regeneration in an Atm-dependent manner. In addition, we found that cyclin A induction was delayed and p21 was over-expressed, both of these processes were correlated with reduced and delayed DNA replication in Atm(-/-) mice during liver regeneration. Finally, we show that increased apoptosis was observed in Atm(-/-) mice in response to partial hepatectomy, indicating that Atm is required for the survival of hepatocytes. Collectively, these data indicate that liver regeneration is impaired in Atm-deficient mice. Given that liver is the first line of defense against environmental toxins, the elucidation of the function of Atm and Atm-mediated signaling pathways in liver metabolism and in response to environmental toxins is of fundamental interest.     

重度烫伤小鼠血清及去补体后血清诱导巨噬细胞凋亡作用的体外实验研究

目的　探讨重度烫伤小鼠血清及去补体血清在体外诱导腹腔巨噬细胞 (pMФs)凋亡及其机制。方法　采用小鼠 30 %TBSAⅢ度烫伤模型 ,分为正常对照组、烫伤组、去补体烫伤组 ,检测各组伤后 6h血清对体外培养的pMФs分泌超氧阴离子 (O2- )和一氧化氮 (NO)产量的影响 ,碘化丙锭 (PI)染色流式细胞术及凋亡电泳试验测定pMФs的凋亡情况。结果　与正常对照测值比较 ,烫伤血清诱导pMФs分泌较多的O2- 和NO ,去补体后烫伤血清诱导O2- 和NO的分泌量显著降低。烫伤血清诱导pMФs凋亡明显增加 ,去补体后烫伤血清和活性氧阻断剂PDTC及NO阻断剂AG能阻断绝大部分pMФs的凋亡。结论　重度烫伤小鼠血清补体能在体外诱导pMФs凋亡 ,O2- 和NO等炎性介质在其中发挥了重要作用     

多种金属离子与单宁酸反应媒染微血管的对比研究

目的　镜下观察单宁酸与金属盐溶液中Ca2 + 、Au+ 、Ag+ 、Pb2 + 、Cu2 + 、Al3 + 、U6+ 、K+ 联用显示大脑微血管的效果。方法　用单宁酸媒染固定液灌流大鼠 ,取脑切片 ,入氯化钙、氯化金、硝酸银、硝酸铅、硫酸铜、硫酸铝钾、醋酸双氧铀、高锰酸钾和重铬酸钾等溶液中呈色。结果　单宁酸与Ca2 + 、Cu2 + 、Ag+ 、Al3 + 结合显示血管清晰 ,与Au+ 、U6+ 、Pb2 + 、K+ 联用媒染血管效果欠佳。结论　含Ca2 + 、Cu2 + 、Ag+ 、Al3 + 的金属盐类可替代氯化铁媒染微血管 ,氯化金、醋酸双氧铀、硝酸铅、重铬酸钾和高锰酸钾不宜与单宁酸联用来显示血管     

Induktion von endogenem Pyrogen und Interferon durch Newcastle Disease-Virus in vivo

Zusammenfassung Die Ausbildung von endogenem Pyrogen und Interferon wurde nach der Injektion von NDV im Kaninchen untersucht. Das Auftreten und das Verschwinden beider Substanzen stimmte nicht nur zeitlich, sondern auch quantitativ überein. Zudem verliefen die Bildungskurven von endogenem Pyrogen und Interferon sowohl im Blut als auch in den Organen weitgehend gleichsinnig. Eine Abweichung von diesem Verhalten wurde lediglich in der Milz beobachtet, indem hier das endogene Pyrogen bereits nach 1 Stunde, das Interferon jedoch erst nach 3 Stunden den höchsten Gipfel erreichte. Dieser Befund deutet daraufhin, daß das endogene Pyrogen und das Interferon zwei verschiedene Substanzen sind.Die Exstirpation der Milz hatte ein gleichzeitiges Absinken des endogenen Pyrogens und des Interferons im Blut, jedoch nicht in der Leber, der Lunge und der Niere zur Folge. Hinsichtlich der Entstehung der partiellen bzw. kompletten Toleranz gegenüber dem NDV bzw. Influenza Virus A (PR8) dürften die beiden Substanzen demselben Mechanismus unterliegen.

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Induction of endogenous pyrogen and interferon by newcastle disease virus in vivo

Summary Endogenous pyrogen and interferon induced by injection of rabbits with NDV were investigated. The appearance and disappearance of both substances were in parallel in time as well as in quantity. The curves of endogenous pyrogen and interferon in the blood and in various organs tested usually were also parallel. Only in spleen highest titers of endogenous pyrogen were found already 1 hour after inoculation, whereas interferon activity reached its peak only after 3 hours. This finding indicated that endogenous pyrogen and interferon may be different substances.In splenectomized animals the blood levels of endogenous pyrogen and interferon were lower than those found in intact animals, while the titers in liver, lung and kidneys were identical. In respect to the formation of partial or complete tolerance to NDV and influenza virus A (PR8), respectively, both substances appear to be subjected to the same mechanism.