Extracellular signal regulated kinases 1/2 signal pathway and responses of astrocytes after diffuse brain injury

BACKGROUND: The treatment of diffuse brain injury during an acute period is focused on relieving degrees of secondary brain injury. Generation and development of pathological changes of secondary brain injury depend on signal conduction, so down-regulating over response of astrocyte through interfering a key link of signal conduction pathway may bring a new thinking for the treatment of diffuse brain injury. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of over activity of extracellular signal regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) signal pathway on the response of astrocyte during an acute period of diffuse brain injury. DESIGN: Completely randomized grouping and controlled animal study. SETTINGS: Department of Neurosurgery, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University; Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. MATERIALS: A total of 158 healthy male SD rats, of 11 weeks old, weighing 320–370 g, were provided by Experimental Animal Faulty, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Rabbit-anti-phosphorylated ERK1/2 (pERK1/2) polyclonal antibody was provided by R&D Company; rabbit-anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) polyclonal antibody, SP immunohistochemical kit and horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled goat-anti-rabbit IgG by Santa Cruz Company; specific inhibitor U0126 of ERK1/2 signal pathway by Alexis Company. METHODS: The experiment was carried out in the Laboratory of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from September 2004 to March 2006. ① Detection of pERK1/2 expression: A total of 110 rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (n =5), model group (n =35), high-dosage U0126 group (n =35) and low-dosage U0126 group (n =35). Rats in the sham operation group were only treated with incision of epicranium and fixation of backup plate, but not hit. Rats in the model group were used to establish diffuse brain injury models based on Marmarou free falling body without drug intervention. Rats in the high- and low-dosage U0126 groups were injected into caudal vein with 0.1 and 0.05 mg/kg U0126, respectively, and then, rats were hit to establish injured models. Every 5 rats were collected from model, high- and low-dosage U0126 groups at 5, 30 minutes, 3, 12, 24, 72 hours and 7 days after diffuse brain injury to detect pERK1/2 expression in cortex of parietal lobe based on Western blot technique. ② Distribution of pERK1/2 and positive GFAP cells in brain tissue: Another 48 rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (n =3), model group (n =15), high-dosage U0126 group (n =15) and low-dosage U0126 group (n =15). The intervention and administration were dealt as the same as those mentioned above. Every 3 rats were collected from model, high- and low-dosage U0126 groups at 30 minutes, 3, 12, 24 and 72 hours after model establishment to observe the distribution of pERK1/2 and postive GFAP cells in brain tissue which was cut from coronal section at Bregma –4.8 mm layer with immunohistochemical staining. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: pERK1/2 expression in cortex of parietal lobe and distribution of pERK1/2 and positive GFAP cells in brain tissues. RESULTS: ① pERK1/2 expression: After diffuse brain injury, pERK1/2 expression in cortex of parietal lobe was rapidly increased in the model group, reached at peak at 5 minutes and then decreased gradually. But the expression was still in a high level until the 72nd hour and fallen to the basic level on the 7th day. pERK1/2 level was lower in high- and low-dosage U0126 groups than that in model group at various time points (P < 0.01); meanwhile, pERK1/2 level was lower in high-dosage U0126 group than that in low-dosage U0126 group. The results showed that there was a certain dosage dependence on pERK1/2 expression. ② Distribution of pERK1/2 and positive GFAP cells in brain tissue: Positive expression of pERK1/2 lasted in brain tissue from 30 minutes to 72 hours after diffuse brain injury (P < 0.05). In addition, from 30 minutes to 3 hours, brown-yellow stained cells were mainly distributed in plasma, but rarely in nucleus. A lot of positive cells had tree-like apophysis, which was similar to neurons. With the time passing by, more and more nuclei manifested positive stains; moreover, nuclei mainly manifested positive staining until 24 hours after diffuse brain injury. Immune-positive pERK1/2 cells were widely distributed in brain tissue, especially mainly in binding site between deep cortex and cerebral white matter, and then in hippocampus. In addition, ependymal cell and vascular endothelial cells of choroids plexus also manifested strongly positive staining. As compared with model group, positive cells were decreased gradually in high- and low-dosage U0126 groups. However, number of positive cells was less in high-dosage U0126 group than that in low-dosage U0126 group. CONCLUSION: Diffuse brain injury strongly induces the activity of ERK1/2 signal pathway and response of astrocyte; in addition, U0126 can inhibit response of glial cells during an acute period, and the effect manifests dosage dependence.     

Reduced expression of CD69 and adhesion molecules of T lymphocytes in asthmatic children receiving immunotherapy

T lymphocytes play a fundamental role in the initiation and regulation of chronic inflammatory responses in patients with asthma. CD69 is an early marker of T‐cell activation. The levels of intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1, CD54) and L ‐selectin have been reported to increase in patients with allergic diseases and asthma. The present study was therefore undertaken to investigate the expression of CD69, CD54, and L ‐selectin by T lymphocytes of children with asthma, before and after immunotherapy. Eighteen children newly diagnosed with asthma, 11 good and nine poor responders to immunotherapy, and 16 normal subjects, were enrolled in this study. The percentages of CD69⁺, CD54⁺, and CD62L⁺ cells in T lymphocytes were measured by using flow cytometry. The levels of CD69, CD54, and CD62L in serum and culture supernatants were determined by using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of CD69 and CD54 on CD3⁺ T lymphocytes was significantly higher in children with asthma than in control patients. All the patient groups expressed (spontaneously and following stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate and ionomycin together with mite‐extract proteins) greater amounts of CD69 and CD54 than did control subjects. With long‐term immunotherapy, the percentages of CD69⁺ and CD54⁺ T lymphocytes were significantly lower in patients with a good response to immunotherapy. Our results also showed significantly lower serum L ‐selectin levels following immunotherapy. In conclusion, successful immunotherapy resulted in decreased expression and production of CD69 and CD54. These results may explain, in part, the clinical efficacy of immunotherapy.     

The characteristics of Hep-2 cell with multiple drug resistance induced by Taxol.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of Hep-2 cell with multidrug resistance (MDR) induced by Taxol. STUDY DESIGN: Hep-2 cells were exposed in stepwise escalating concentration of Taxol to develop the resistant cell line-Hep-2T. Cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, and rhodamine accumulation were studied through flow cytometry. The MDR1 and MRP1 genes were detected through real-time quantitative RT-PCR, and the corresponding proteins were detected through Western blotting. RESULTS: The drug resistance of Hep-2T cells to Taxol, doxorubicin, gemcitabine, 5-FU, and cisplatin all increased. The percentage of G0/G1 phase and the antiapoptosis ability increased significantly compared with Hep-2 cells. Both MDR1 and MRP1 also increased at gene and protein level, though MDR1 was more prominent. CONCLUSION: More emphasis should be laid on MDR1/Pgp, the non-Pgp substrate chemotherapeutic agents, and the changes of cell cycle distribution to prevent MDR induced by Taxol. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings may provide theoretical support for the reverse of MDR.     

葛根素对抗H2O2引起血管平滑肌细胞凋亡及坏死

目的：研究葛根素对过氧化氢引起无血清培养的小牛主动脉血管平滑肌细胞凋亡和坏死的影响。方法：通过体外细胞培养，以噻唑兰（MTT）法测定细胞存活率，用流式细胞术检测细胞DNA含量及凋亡细胞百分率；DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳法观察细胞凋亡过程中DNA断裂程度。结果：H2O2诱导无血清培养的平滑肌细胞凋亡，葛根素可显著降低平滑肌细胞中凋亡细胞百分率，并减少凋亡细胞DNA断裂，同时也减少其引起的平滑肌细胞坏死。结论：葛根素可对抗H2O2引起的无血清培养的血管平滑肌细胞凋凋亡及坏死。     

道路交通事故损伤20825例法医临床学分析

目的拟找出道路交通事故损伤的一般规律和特征。方法通过对本省交警总队统计的 2 0 82 5例交通事故损伤 (文中不含铁路 ,简称交通事故 )进行分析。结果男性为多 ,青年人最多。损伤主要属于钝器伤 ,致残方式以撞击、碾压、摔跌和刮擦多见 ,发案时间以冬季多见。结论本组资料分析 ,交通事故总体呈上升趋势 ,颅脑损伤检查在法医临床学中居重要地位 ,颅脑损伤的某些特征能反映交通事故的特点 ,常为推断交通事故致伤情况提供一些重要证据。     

Recapitulation of fast skeletal muscle development in zebrafish by transgenic expression of GFP under the mylz2 promoter.

A 1,934-bp muscle-specific promoter from the zebrafish mylz2 gene was isolated and characterized by transgenic analysis. By using a series of 5' promoter deletions linked to the green fluorescent protein (gfp) reporter gene, transient transgenic analysis indicated that the strength of promoter activity appeared to correlate to the number of muscle cis-elements in the promoter and that a minimal -77-bp region was sufficient for a relatively strong promoter activity in muscle cells. Stable transgenic lines were obtained from several mylz2-gfp constructs. GFP expression in the 1,934-bp promoter transgenic lines mimicked well the expression pattern of endogenous mylz2 mRNA in both somitic muscle and nonsomitic muscles, including fin, eye, jaw, and gill muscles. An identical pattern of GFP expression, although at a much lower level, was observed from a transgenic line with a shorter 871-bp promoter. Our observation indicates that there is no distinct cis-element for activation of mylz2 in different skeletal muscles. Furthermore, RNA encoding a dominant negative form of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A was injected into mylz2-gfp transgenic embryos and GFP expression was significantly reduced due to an expanded slow muscle development at the expense of GFP-expressing fast muscle. The mylz2-gfp transgene was also transferred into two zebrafish mutants, spadetail and chordino, and several novel phenotypes in muscle development in these mutants were discovered.     

肠梗阻的临床进展

将近5年来有关肠梗阻的新诊治方法作一综述，结论如下：①B超、CT和76％泛影葡胺口服造影等对肠梗阻诊断有重要临床价值。②腹腔镜小肠梗阻手术是最能体现微创技术优越性的手术之一。③EPII应以非手术疗法为主。     

Localized cerebral proton MR spectroscopy in HIV infection and AIDS.

PURPOSETo document differences in the cerebral proton MR spectra of patients with early and late stages of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.METHODWe studied the relative N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) levels by localized proton spectroscopy of the parietooccipital region of the brain in 43 HIV-seropositive patients, including 26 with an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining diagnosis, and in eight control subjects.RESULTSReduced relative NAA levels were shown in those HIV-1-seropositive patients: 1) with AIDS against HIV-1-seropositive patients without AIDS (P < .04); 2) with HIV-1-associated cognitive/motor complex against neurologically healthy patients (P < .007); 3) with encephalopathic changes on MR against those with normal imaging (P < .001); and 4) on follow-up against their results on initial study (P < .03).CONCLUSIONSBy clinical (Centers for Disease Control classification) and radiologic (MR evidence of white-matter disease) criteria indicating late-stage HIV infection, reduced relative levels of NAA have been demonstrated. Spectroscopic abnormalities can be quantitatively tracked with time. This paper demonstrates the clinical use of detecting NAA as a putative in vivo measure of the neuronal loss that has been demonstrated in postmortem studies of patients with AIDS. This neuronal loss, which is believed to underlie the HIV-1-associated cognitive/motor complex, is thought to be attributable directly or indirectly to the presence of HIV in the brain. Proton spectroscopy may serve as a quantitative noninvasive indicator of this aspect of cerebral involvement in HIV disease.     

INVOLVEMENT OF NON-NMDA AND NMDA RECEPTORS IN GLUTAMATE-INDUCED PRESSOR OR DEPRESSOR RESPONSES OF THE PONS AND MEDULLA

1. Fifty-five intact and six baroreceptor denervated and vagotomized cats of either sex were anaesthetized intraperito-neally with urethane (400 mg/kg) and a-chloralose (40 mg/kg). Responses of the systemic arterial pressure (SAP), mean SAP (MSAP) and sympathetic vertebral nerve (VNA) and renal nerve activities (RNA) were recorded. 2. In intact animals, monosodium L-glutamate (Glu, 0.1 mol/L, 50 nL) was microinjected into pressor areas of the locus coeruleus (LC), gigantocellular tegmental field (GTF), rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) and dorsomedial medulla (DM), and the depressor areas of caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVLM). The induced actions were compared before and after microinjection of either glutamate antagonists, glutamate diethylester (GDEE, 0.5 mol/L, 50–100nL), a competitive AMPA receptor blocker, or 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (D-AP5, 0.025 mol/L, 50–100 nL), a competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blocker. GDEE completely blocked the increases of SAP and VNA elicited from all pressor areas. D-AP5 only partially blocked the pressor but slightly blocked VNA and RNA responses from LC, GTF and DM, particularly those from RVLM. Neither GDEE nor D-AP5 blocked the depressor responses of SAP and two nerve activities elicited from CVLM. 3. In baroreceptor denervated animals, NMDA (2 mmol/L, 50–100 nL) and AMPA (0.2 mmol/L, 50–100 nL) were micro-injected into the same pressor areas of GTF, RVLM and DM and the depressor area of CVLM responsive to Glu activation (0.1 mol/L, 30 nL). In RVLM, DM and CVLM, the results of either NMDA or AMPA were similar to those induced by Glu. However, in GTF, microinjection of either NMDA or AMPA did not induce similar responses to Glu. This suggests that the nature of GTF may differ from RVLM and DM. 4. The above results suggest that the Glu-induced pressor responses from LC, GTF, DM and especially RVLM, are primarily mediated through AMPA receptors. The Glu-induced depressor responses from CVLM may not be predominantly mediated by either AMPA or NMDA receptors. 5. In both baroreceptor-intact and -denervated cats stimulation of the pressor areas often produced an increase of VNA and a decrease of RNA, while in the depressor CVLM decreased both VNA and RNA. The VNA, but not RNA were positively correlated with the pressor responses, while both VNA and RNA were positively correlated with the depressor responses. This may suggest that neurons of the sympathetic vertebral and renal nerves are topographically organized in the brain.     

Antiproliferative effects of A02011-1, an adenylyl cyclase activator, in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells of rat.

1. The effects of A02011-1, a pyrazole derivative, on the proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were examined. 2. A02011-1 (1-100 microM) concentration-dependently inhibited [3H]-thymidine incorporation into DNA in rat VSMCs that were synchronized by 48 h serum depletion and then re-stimulated by addition of foetal calf serum (FCS, 10%), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF, 10 ng ml-1), 5-hydroxytryptamine (10 microM) or ADP (10 microM). The inhibitory effect of A02011-1 was fully reversible. However, FCS-induced [3H]-thymidine incorporation into rat endothelial cells was unaffected by A02011-1. 3. The concentration of A02011-1 necessary for inhibition of the FCS-induced proliferation was similar to that necessary for adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) formation. Adenylyl cyclase activity was increased in A02011-1-treated VSMCs, whereas cyclic AMP-specific phosphodiesterase activity was unchanged. 4. A02011-1 was equipotent with forskolin but was more potent than 8-bromo-cyclic AMP against FCS (10%)-induced proliferation. 5. The antiproliferative action of A02011-1 was mimicked by 8-bromo-cyclic AMP, a membrane-permeable cyclic AMP analogue and was antagonized by 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine, an adenylyl cyclase inhibitor and by Rp-cyclic AMPS, a competitive inhibitor of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) type I and II. 3-Isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) caused significant potentiation of the antiproliferative activity of A02011-1. However, Rp-8-bromo-cyclic GMPS and staurosporine did not affect the antiproliferative activity of A02011-1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)