体外培养中IFN-γ、L-Arg 及L-NNA对NO合成的影响及NO抗旋毛虫的作用

目的　探讨体外培养中IFN γ、L Arg及L NNA对NO合成的影响及NO抗旋毛虫的作用。 方法　分离、纯化长爪沙鼠腹腔巨噬细胞 ,置RPMI16 4 0培养液中培养。设IFN γ组、L Arg组、L NNA组和对照组 ,每个实验组又分 5个不同的浓度组。分别向含有巨噬细胞的培养瓶中加入不同浓度的IFN γ、L Arg及L NNA进行体外培养。培养 2 4h后 ,用硝酸还原酶法分别测定培养液中的NO含量。将旋毛虫幼虫分别加入上述培养体系中进行体外培养 ,观察旋毛虫幼虫的活动及损伤。结果　①体外培养中 ,激活的巨噬细胞能产生NO ,IFN γ和L Arg能促进NO的合成 ,L NNA则能抑制NO的合成 ,这种促进或抑制NO合成的作用均具有剂量依赖性 ,剂量越高作用越明显。②加入旋毛虫幼虫后 ,在IFN γ和L Arg培养体系中 ,随着NO浓度的升高及作用时间的延长 ,对虫体的抑制及杀伤作用越来越明显 ,导致其活动度减弱 ,虫体破裂 ,最终死亡 ;在L NNA培养体系中 ,L NNA浓度越高 ,对虫体的影响越小。结论　①体外培养中 ,通过激活的巨噬细胞 ,IFN γ和L Arg能促进NO的合成 ,给予L NNA则能抑制NO的合成。②NO对旋毛虫幼虫有抑制及杀伤作用     

Intracellular Ca2+ suppressed a transient potassium current in hippocampal neurons

The effects of intracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+i) on K+ currents in hippocampal cells were examined using acutely isolated cells obtained from adult guinea pigs. Whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings were carried out in a configuration that allowed a continuous perfusion of the intracellular medium. Recording media were made to block inward currents and allowed selective activation of K(+)-dependent outward currents. Voltage-dependent outward currents consisted of an initial rapidly decaying component followed by a sustained component. The time constant of decay of the transient current was about 25 msec, and previous studies (Numann et al., 1987) showed that the kinetic and pharmacological properties of this current closely resembled the A current recorded in invertebrate neurons (Connor and Stevens, 1971; Thompson, 1982). Intracellular perfusion of hippocampal cells with a solution containing elevated Ca2+ (about 4.5 x 10(-4) M) elicited outward currents at the holding potential (-45 to -55 mV) and produced changes in voltage-dependent K+ currents. The transient outward current (IA) activated by depolarization was suppressed with increases in Ca2+i. Delayed, sustained K+ currents were greatly potentiated. Data also showed that, among the 3 effects elicited by Ca2+i, suppression of IA was most sensitive to Ca2+i elevation. Previous results (Numann et al., 1987) showed that IA had a lower threshold (about -45 mV) than sustained currents (about -40 mV). By using low levels of depolarization (-40 mV), IA can be selectively activated, and the suppressive effect of Ca2+i on IA was confirmed on the kinetically isolated IA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Gene expression patterns and profile changes pre- and post-erlotinib treatment in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To delineate gene expression patterns and profile changes in metastatic tumor biopsies at baseline and 1 month after treatment with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib in patients with metastatic breast cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Patients were treated with 150 mg of oral erlotinib daily. Gene expression profiles were measured with Affymetrix U133A GeneChip and immunohistochemistry was used to validate microarray findings. RESULTS: Estrogen receptor (ER) status by immunohistochemistry is nearly coincided with the two major expression clusters determined by expression of genes using unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis. One of 10 patients had an EGFR-positive tumor detected by both microarray and immunohistochemistry. In this tumor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 and collagen type 1 alpha 2, which are the EGF-down-regulated growth repressors, were significantly increased by erlotinib. Gene changes in EGFR-negative tumors are those of G-protein-linked and cell surface receptor-linked signaling. Gene ontology comparison analysis pretreatment and posttreatment in EGFR-negative tumors revealed biological process categories that have more genes differentially expressed than expected by chance. Among 495 gene ontology categories, the significant differed gene ontology groups include G-protein-coupled receptor protein signaling (34 genes, P = 0.002) and cell surface receptor-linked signal transduction (74 genes, P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: ER status reflects the major difference in gene expression pattern in metastatic breast cancer. Erlotinib had effects on genes of EGFR signaling pathway in the EGFR-positive tumor and on gene ontology biological process categories or genes that have function in signal transduction in EGFR-negative tumors.     

Persistent reversal of diabetes by transplantation of fetal pig proislets into nude mice

Facing the limited availability of human adult and fetal pancreases, fetal pig proislets (pancreatic islet precursors) were investigated in view of several inherent advantages. Six litters of fetuses of mean +/- SE gestational age 75 +/- 3 days were obtained from commercially available farm pigs. Pancreatic tissue was gently digested with collagenase, then a 10-day culture was performed. During culture, fetal proislets showed no insulin response to glucose alone but a significant response to glucose plus theophylline. The insulin content per microgram of DNA in the cultured proislets continuously increased. Histological examination by immunoperoxidase staining showed that, apart from single insulin- and glucagon-positive cells, there were no discrete islets in the pancreatic tissue and the cultured proislets. Diabetes was induced with streptozocin (STZ) in eight nude mice 3-4 wk after proislet transplantation and in another eight nude mice without transplantation. During the initial week, blood glucose levels of mice in both groups increased rapidly. The mean +/- SE peak value of blood glucose levels in the transplanted group was 20.4 +/- 2.0 mM and was 20.1 +/- 1.3 mM in the group without transplantation. Simultaneously, body weight decreased from 29.5 +/- 0.7 to 21.5 +/- 0.9 g and from 27.9 +/- 0.7 to 19 +/- 1 g in the groups, respectively. Afterward, blood glucose levels of mice in the transplanted group gradually decreased, and normoglycemia was achieved in all mice within 50 +/- 13 days after injection of STZ, i.e., 74 +/- 13 days after transplantation. The group without transplantation persistently maintained blood glucose levels greater than 16.7 mM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Differential changes of retina dopamine binding sites and adenylyl cyclase responses following 6-hydroxydopamine treatment.

Both dopamine D1 and D2 receptors are present in rat retina. D1 receptors are positively coupled to adenylyl cyclase, while D2 receptors are negatively coupled. After intraocular administration of the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) there is depletion of retinal dopamine by about 90%, as well as a decrease of the number of D1 and D2 receptor binding sites. Following the 6-OHDA lesion, there is an enhancement of the D1 receptor-stimulated accumulation of cyclic-AMP and a loss of D2 receptor-inhibited accumulation of cyclic-AMP. Our results suggest that some of the retinal D2 receptors are coupled to adenylyl cyclase and some are not.     

c-myc is required for osteoclast differentiation.

The role of the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) ligand (RANKL)-a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related cytokine-in osteoclast formation has been established clearly. However, the downstream signaling pathways activated by this cytokine remain largely unknown. To identify genes that play a role in osteoclastogenesis, we used RAW 264.7 mouse monocytes as a model system for the differentiation of multinucleated osteoclasts from mononucleated precursors. RAW 264.7 cells were induced with RANKL to form multinucleated giant osteoclast-like cells (OCLs) that expressed a number of osteoclast-specific markers and were able to form resorption pits on both calcium phosphate films and bone slices. This system was used to identify genes that are regulated by RANKL and may play a role in osteoclast differentiation. The proto-oncogene c-myc was strongly up-regulated in RANKL-induced OCLs but was absent in undifferentiated cells. Expression of Myc partners Max and Mad, on the other hand, was constant during OCL differentiation. We expressed a dominant negative Myc in RAW 264.7 cells and were able to block RANKL-induced OCL formation. Northern Blot analysis revealed a delay and a significant reduction in the level of messenger RNA (mRNA) for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and cathepsin K. We conclude that c-myc is a downstream target of RANKL and its expression is required for RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis.     

沙利度胺治疗肝癌的实验研究

目的研究沙利度胺对肝癌的治疗作用。方法采用小鼠肝癌移植性模型。观察沙利度胺对实体型和腹水型肿瘤的治疗作用。结果沙利度胺按每日200mg／kg连续给药10d，能明显抑制肝癌实体型肿瘤的生长，不降低小鼠血细胞数及淋巴细胞增殖；对腹水型肿瘤小鼠虽无明显生命延长作用，但沙利度胺与阿霉素联合用药对肝癌实体型及腹水型均有协调抗肿瘤作用，且可阻止阿霉素造成的小鼠血细胞减少、免疫功能降低。沙利度胺日剂量200mg／kg能明显增加肿瘤组织坏死，促进肿瘤组织边缘淋巴细胞侵润。结论沙利度胺对小鼠肝癌有确切治疗作用，与阿霉素联合用药效果更好。