The hammerhead ribozyme is a small catalytic RNA molecule. Potential
hammerhead ribozymes that possess a catalytic domain and flanking sequence
complementary to a target mRNA can cleave in trans at a putative cleavage
site within the target molecule. We have investigated the potential of
hammerhead ribozymes to down-regulate the product of the fibrillin-1 gene
(FBN1). Fibrillin is a 347 kDa glycoprotein that is a major constituent of
the elastin-associated microfibrils. Mutations in the FBN1 gene are
responsible for Marfan syndrome (MFS), a common systemic disorder of the
connective tissue. Many FBN1 mutations responsible for MFS appear to act in
a dominant-negative fashion, raising the possibility that reduction of the
amount of product from the mutant FBN1 allele might be a valid therapeutic
approach for MFS. A trans-acting hammerhead ribozyme (FBN1-RZ1) targeted to
the 5' end of the human FBN1 mRNA has been designed and synthesized, and
shown to cleave its target efficiently in vitro. FBN1-RZ1 cleavage is
magnesium dependent and efficient at both 37 and 50 degrees C. Delivery of
the FBN1-RZ1 ribozyme into cultured dermal fibroblasts, by receptor-
mediated endocytosis of a ribozyme-transferrin-polylysine complex,
specifically reduces both cellular FBN1 mRNA and the deposition of
fibrillin in the extracellular matrix. These results suggest that the use
of hammerhead ribozymes is a valid approach to the study of fibrillin gene
expression and possibly to the development of a therapeutic approach to
MFS.
相似文献
Extracellular nucleotides (ATP, ADP, UTP and UDP) exert a wide range of biological effects in blood cells mediated by multiple
ionotropic P2X receptors and G protein-coupled P2Y receptors. Although pharmacological experiments have suggested the presence
of several P2 receptor subtypes on monocytes and lymphocytes, some results are contradictory. Few physiological functions
have been firmly established to a specific receptor subtype, partly because of a lack of truly selective agonists and antagonists.
This stimulated us to investigate the expression of P2X and P2Y receptors in human lymphocytes and monocytes with a newly
established quantitative mRNA assay for P2 receptors. In addition, we describe for the first time the expression of P2 receptors
in CD34+ stem and progenitor cells implicating a potential role of P2 receptors in hematopoietic lineage and progenitor/stem cell
function. 相似文献
Glutathione (GSH), GSH peroxidase (GPX), GSH reductase (GRD), superoxide
dismutase (SOD) and catalase-like enzyme activity were quantified in
seminal plasma from normozoospermic patients, men with known distal ductal
occlusion, proven fathers and male partners of couples receiving in-vitro
fertilization (IVF) treatment for both male and female causes. Glutathione
was non-detectable (< 2.5 microM) in seminal plasma. None of the enzyme
activities per unit volume were lower in semen from vasectomized men,
suggesting that they did not originate substantially from the testis or
epididymis. The strongest relationships between enzyme activities and
accessory gland markers were between zinc and GRD (r = 0.678), SOD (r =
0.602) and GPX (r = 0.548), suggesting a largely prostatic origin of these
enzymes. Only weak relationships between accessory gland markers and
catalase-like activity suggested a multi-glandular source of this enzyme.
There was no relationship between the activity of any of the enzymes in the
IVF patients with their fertilization rates in vitro or the establishment
of pregnancy after IVF. Nor was there any correlation of enzyme activity
with the morphology and percentage of motile spermatozoa in semen or with
the percentage motility of spermatozoa immediately after swim-up or after
overnight incubation. These findings suggest that the protective enzymes in
the seminal plasma are contributed largely by the prostate and little by
the epididymis, and that in most cases of IVF, they have no major influence
on the outcome.
相似文献
A fully automated immunoassay for total plasma homocysteine assay was evaluated at four centers. To measure total homocysteine, oxidized forms of homocysteine in serum and plasma were reduced by dithiothreitol and assayed by a competitive fluorescence polarization technique. The assay had within-run precision from 0.9 to 3.0% and total precision from 2.8 to 4.1% for control materials with homocysteine concentrations of approximately 7, 12.5, and 25 micromol/L, a sensitivity of 0.35 micromol/L, good parallelism upon dilution, and analytical recovery ranging from 97.4 to 103.8%. The immunoassay correlated with four different HPLC assays for homocysteine, yielding a slope of 0.98, an intercept of -0.19 micromol/L, and a correlation coefficient of 0.966 for 440 paired samples. The reference range, determined with plasma samples from 609 males and 600 females, yielded a mean of 9.17+/-2.86 micromol/L, with a central 95% range of 4.78-15.43 micromol/L. The immunoassay is a suitable alternative to HPLC and may be useful in screening persons with high risk of coronary artery disease. 相似文献
We have recently reported isolation of the gene responsible for X- linked
Opitz G/BBB syndrome, a defect of midline development. MID1 is located on
the distal short arm of the human X chromosome (Xp22. 3) and encodes a
novel member of the B box family of zinc finger proteins. We have now
cloned the murine homolog of MID1 and performed preliminary expression
studies during development. Mid1 expression in undifferentiated cells in
the central nervous, gastrointestinal and urogenital systems suggests that
abnormal cell proliferation may underlie the defect in midline development
characteristic of Opitz syndrome. We have also found that Mid1 is located
within the mouse pseudoautosomal region (PAR) in Mus musculus , while it
seems to be X- specific in Mus spretus. Therefore, Mid1 is likely to be a
recent acquisition of the M. musculus PAR. Genetic and FISH analyses also
demonstrated a high frequency of unequal crossovers in the murine PAR,
creating spontaneous deletion/duplication events involving Mid1. These data
provide evidence for the first time that genetic instability of the PAR may
affect functionally important genes. In addition, we show that MID1 is the
first example of a gene subject to X-inactivation in man while escaping it
in mouse. These data contribute to a better understanding of the molecular
content and evolution of the rodent PAR.
相似文献
The localisation of the principal blood group antigens has been studied in human liver. These blood group antigens included the erythrocyte antigens and the antigen of the major histocompatibility complex. This study was performed by the indirect immunofluorescence technique using polyclonal antibodies of human or animal origin and monoclonal antibodies from hybridomas. This study has shown that the normal hepatocyte is lacking in blood group antigens. On the contrary, the biliary cell was rich in antigenic markers: the main antigens expressed were Lewis, Pr, HLA-A and B antigens. In Kupffer cells, only i and HLA-DR antigens were clearly expressed. The endothelial cells of blood vessels mainly show A, B, H, HLA-A and B antigens; HLA-DR and Pr are slightly expressed. HLA-DR antigens were more strongly expressed on veins than on arteries. Dendritic cells have been identified in the portal space of human liver. They bore i and HLA-DR antigens. 相似文献
OBJECTIVE: To determine if 35 days of creatine supplementation (Cr) followed by 28 days of no supplementation altered lower leg anterior compartment pressure (ACP) at rest and after exercise. DESIGN AND SETTING: Subjects were divided into 2 treatment groups: (1) high dose (0.3 g Cr.kg body mass(-1).d(-1) for 7 days followed by 0.03 g Cr.kg body mass(-1).d(-1) for 28 days), or (2) low dose (0.03 g Cr.kg body mass(-1).d(-1) for 35 days). After 35 days, supplementation was terminated, and no Cr was ingested for 28 days. SUBJECTS: Sixteen physically active, healthy, college-aged males (O(2)max = 47.6 +/- 5.1 mL.kg(-1).min(-1)). MEASUREMENTS: At baseline, 7 days and 35 days of supplementation, and 28 days postsupplementation, ACP was measured preexercise and immediately, 1, 5, 10, and 15 minutes postexercise after a treadmill run at 80% O(2)max. RESULTS: For ACP, there was no significant group-by-time interaction, but there was a significant time effect for group when the data were combined. ACP was significantly increased at preexercise, immediately postexercise, and 1, 5, and 10 minutes from baseline to 7 days. ACP remained significantly elevated from baseline at 35 days immediately postexercise and 1 minute postexercise. After 28 days of no supplementation, ACP began to return to presupplementation levels, with only the 1-minute postexercise measurement significantly elevated from baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Creatine supplementation increased ACP at rest and after exercise, and ACP began to return to normal after 28 days of no supplementation. 相似文献
In a four-generation family with long QT syndrome, syncopes and torsades de pointes ventricular tachycardia (TdP) were elicited by abrupt awakening in the early morning hours. The syndrome was associated with a novel KCNH2 missense mutation, G572R, causing the substitution of a glycine residue at position 572, at the end of the S5 transmembrane segment of the HERG K(+)-channel, with an arginine residue. This segment is involved in the channel pore and the mutation may cause a reduction in the rapidly activating delayed rectifier K+ current (Ikr), or changed gating properties of the ion channel, leading to prolonged cardiac repolarization. The electrocardiograms of affected persons showed prolonged QT interval and notched T waves. Despite treatment with atenolol, 200 mg twice daily, the proband still experienced TdP episodes. Three untreated relatives of the proband died suddenly, and unexpectedly, at 18, 32, and 57 years of age. The G572R mutation is thus associated with a high mortality rate, and the clinical presentation illustrates that some mutations may not be controllable by just beta-blockade. 相似文献
Hyperoxia (>95% oxygen) in rats caused an increase in lung weight and an accumulation of fluid in the thorax. The mean lung wet weight of air-breathing controls at 60 h was 1.2±0.01 g, and that of vehicle-treated, oxygen-exposed animals was 2.45±0.05 g. Treatment with the 21-aminosteroid U-74389F, 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg twice daily throughout oxygen exposure, produced 8, 42, and 18% inhibition of the oxygen-induced increase in lung weight, respectively. However, U-74389F did not inhibit the hyperoxia-induced accumulation of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.
No pleural fluid could be aspirated from the thorax of air-breathing controls. The volume of pleural fluid in oxygen-exposed, vehicle-treated animals and animals treated with 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg U-74389F b.i.d. was 6.5±0.9, 2.6±0.6, 0.8±0.3, and 1.3±0.5 ml, respectively.
U-74389F or its biologs are of potential value for the treatment of lung diseases in which oxidant damage has been implicated.