Probucol improves erectile function by regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes

This study was to explore the effect and mechanism of Probucol on STZ-induced erectile dysfunction in diabetic rats. Thirty SD male rats aged 12 weeks were given intraperitoneal injection of STZ after fasting for 12 hr. Diabetic rats were haphazardly partitioned under two assemblies and administered 0 or 500 mg/kg probucol by oral gavage to 12 weeks. Control group was intraperitoneally injected with physiological saline, and saline was administered by oral gavage daily. Intracorporeal pressure was used to evaluate erectile function. Levels of proteins were detected using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. α-SMA and vWF were detected using immunofluorescence staining. After treatment, erectile function in probucol group was significantly improved. Endoplasmic reticulum stress-related proteins were expressed higher in DM group than in sham group, while expression of these proteins decreased significantly in probucol group. However, α-SMA and vWF were expressed at lower levels in DM group than in sham group, and probucol treatment reversed this phenomenon. Finally, Bax and Caspase3 were expressed at higher levels and Bcl-2 was expressed at lower levels in DM group, while the opposite result was obtained in probucol group. In conclusions, probucol improves erectile function by reducing endothelial dysfunction and inhibiting PERK/ATF4/CHOP pathway in STZ-induced diabetic rats.     

Homer 1b/c通过内质网功能调节由谷氨酸诱发的HT22细胞自噬

目的　研究Homer1b/c蛋白在谷氨酸诱发的细胞自噬中的作用及机制。方法　选用小鼠海马细胞系HT22细胞,通过500 ?mol/L谷氨酸处理建立细胞损伤模型。用siRNA慢病毒转染方式下调Homer1b/c表达和10 ?mol/LBAPTA-AM（1,2-双(2-氨基苯氧基)乙烷-N,N,N`,N`-四乙酸四乙酸甲酯,钙离子螯合剂）、10 mmol/L4-PBA（4-苯基丁酸,内质网应激抑制剂）分别抑制细胞内钙离子释放和内质网应激后,使用蛋白质印迹法检测Homer1b/c,自噬蛋白Beclin-1、微管相关蛋白轻链3（LC3）,以及内质网应激标志蛋白CHOP（人内质网应激相关蛋白）、GRP-78(葡萄糖调节蛋白78)的表达水平。每组实验均进行3次,采用独立样本t检验和单因素方差分析进行统计学分析。结果　谷氨酸处理HT22细胞12 h后,Beclin-1表达和LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ比值均升高（P<0.05）,下调Homer1b/c表达可降低Beclin-1表达和LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ比值的升高程度（P<0.05）。抑制细胞内钙离子释放和抑制内质网应激均能降低Beclin-1表达和LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ比值的升高程度（P<0.05）。然而在下调Homer1b/c表达后,抑制细胞内钙离子释放和抑制内质网应激未能进一步降低Beclin-1表达和LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ比值的升高程度（P<0.05）。结论　Homer1b/c能够调节谷氨酸诱导的自噬,其调节作用可能与内质网功能有关。     

大鼠肝细胞线粒体周围内质网的三维重建

目的：研究肝细胞线粒体与内质网的空间结构关系。 方法：通过连续超薄切片重建线粒体与其周围内质网的三维模型,结果：连续超薄切片和三维模型显示：除极少量的线粒体与脂滴直接接触外,几乎每个线粒体都被内质网所包裹,大多数线粒体周围既有RER又有小囊泡状SER,少数线粒体则仅有小的SER。这些内质网与线粒体紧贴如同线粒体外壳,二者的间隙小于30nm,其间无任何其它细胞器。结论：肝细胞线粒体通常在内质网包绕下执行生理功能,二者形成的结构和功能紧系的整体。     

人侵袭性结肠癌细胞内质网的超微结构

目的：观察在细胞中占在中心地位的内质网在人侵袭性结肠癌细胞中的超微结构特点。方法：收集外科手术切除的结肠癌标本,应用透射电镜技术观察高分化和低分化人侵袭性结肠癌细胞内质网结构。结果：高分化癌细胞呈柱状,排列较整齐。细胞质中的内质网呈多种形状,并常出现不规则扩张。细胞壁底侧的舌状伪足中可见内质网呈囊泡样;分化癌细胞排列拉散,有的几乎与其他细胞脱离,细胞中的内质网减少;有的内质网与质膜融合,但有向外分泌内含物的趋势。结论：观察到的不同分化程度的人侵袭性结肠癌细胞内质网结构特点将可能成为诊断结肠癌的形态学依据。     

Actions of 4-chloro-3-ethyl phenol on internal Ca2+ stores in vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells

1. Recently, 4-chloro-3-ethyl phenol (CEP) has been shown to cause the release of internally stored Ca²⁺, apparently through ryanodine-sensitive Ca²⁺ channels, in fractionated skeletal muscle terminal cisternae and in a variety of non-excitable cell types. Its action on smooth muscle is unknown. In this study, we characterized the actions of CEP on vascular contraction in endothelium-denuded dog mesenteric artery. We also determined its ability to release Ca²⁺, by use of Ca²⁺ imaging techniques, on dog isolated mesenteric artery smooth muscle cells and on bovine cultured pulmonary artery endothelial cells.
2. After phenylephrine-(PE, 10 μM) sensitive Ca²⁺ stores were depleted by maximal PE stimulation in Ca²⁺-free medium, the action of CEP on refilling of the emptied PE stores was tested, by first pre-incubating the endothelium-denuded artery in CEP for 15 min before Ca²⁺ was restored for a 30 min refilling period. At the end of this period, Ca²⁺ and CEP were removed, and the arterial ring was tested again with PE to assess the degree of refilling of the internal Ca²⁺ store.
3. In a concentration-dependent manner (30, 100 and 300 μM), CEP significantly reduced the size of the post-refilling PE contraction (49.4, 28.9 and 5.7% of control, respectively) in Ca²⁺-free media. This suggests that Ca²⁺ levels are reduced in the internal stores by CEP treatment. CEP alone did not cause any contraction either in Ca²⁺-containing or Ca²⁺-free Krebs solution.
4. Restoring Ca²⁺ in the presence of PE caused a large contraction, which reflects PE-induced influx of extracellular Ca²⁺. The contraction of tissues pretreated with 300 μM CEP was significantly less compared with controls. However, tissues pretreated with 30 and 100 μM CEP were unaffected. Washout of CEP over 30 min produced complete recovery of responses to PE in Ca²⁺-free and Ca²⁺-containing medium suggesting a rapid reversal of CEP effects.
5. Concentration-response curves were constructed for PE, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and K⁺ in the absence of and after 30 min pre-incubation with 30, 100 and 300 μM CEP. In all cases, CEP caused a concentration-dependent depression of the maximum response to PE (84.8, 43.4 and 11.6% of control), 5-HT (65.4, 25.7 and 6.9% of control) and K⁺ (77.6, 41.1 and 10.8% of control).
6. Some arterial rings were pre-incubated with ryanodine (30 μM) for 30 min before the construction of PE concentration-response curves. In Ca²⁺-free Krebs solution, ryanodine alone did not cause any contraction. However, 58% (11 out of 19) of the tissues tested with ryanodine developed contraction (6.9±1.2% of 100 mM K⁺ contraction, n=11) in the presence of external Ca²⁺. EC₅₀ values for PE in ryanodine-treated tissues (1.7±0.25 μM, n=16) were not significantly different from controls (2.5±0.41 μM, n=22). Maximum contractions to PE (118.5±4.4% of 100 mM K⁺ contraction, n=16) were also unaffected by ryanodine when compared to controls (129±4.2%, n=23).
7. When fura-2 loaded smooth muscle cells (n=13) and endothelial cells (n=27) were imaged for Ca²⁺ distribution, it was observed that 100 and 300 μM CEP in Ca²⁺-free medium caused Ca²⁺ release in both cell types. Smooth muscle cells showed a small decrease in cell length. Addition of EGTA (5 mM) reversed the effect of CEP on intracellular Ca²⁺ to control values.
8. These data show, for the first time in vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells, that CEP releases Ca²⁺ more rapidly than ryanodine. Unlike ryanodine, CEP caused no basal contraction but depressed contractions to PE, 5-HT and K⁺. The lack of basal contraction may result from altered responsiveness of the contractile system to intracellular Ca²⁺ elevation.

     

Ortho-substituted PCBs kill thymocytes.

The effects of exposure of acutely dissociated rat thymocytes to various polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were examined using flow cytometry. Non-planar, ortho-substituted congeners caused a rapid cell death at low micromolar concentrations, while coplanar, dioxin-like congeners at the same concentration were without significant effect. The most potent of the congeners studied was PCB 52 (2,2',5,5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl), which had an IC50 of 3.96 microM at 20 min. Prior to loss of viability there was a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential Delta Psi m, an accumulation of intracellular calcium, and a progressive leakiness of the plasma membrane. Application of PCB 52 in calcium-free medium reduced the calcium accumulation, but did not reduce cell death. Agents that depolarized mitochondria also did not induce the same degree of cell death caused by PCB 52. Cyclosporin A, which prevents opening of the mitochondria permeability transition channel, protected against cell death but did not protect against mitochondrial depolarization or calcium accumulation. Rapamycin and FK 506 at high concentration provided partial protection against cell death. These observations indicate that the ortho-substituted PCB 52 disrupts plasma, mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum membranes. We hypothesize that PCB 52 incorporates into lipid bilayers and with its bulky, three-dimensional ortho-substituted congener structure disrupts membrane function to a greater degree than coplanar congeners.     

全反式维甲酸通过内质网应激诱导N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖基转移酶V受阻的人肝癌SMMC-7721细胞凋亡

目的初步探讨全反式维甲酸（all-trans-retinoic acid，ATRA）诱导N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖基转移酶V（N—acetylglucosaminyltransferase V，GnT—V）表达受阻的人肝癌SMMC-7721细胞（AsGnT—V／SMMC-7721）发生凋亡与细胞中内质网应激的关系。方法利用RT-PCR检测ATRA处理前后AsGnT-V／SMMC-7721细胞中内质网应激关键分子GRP78（glucose regulated protein 78）、XBP1（X box binding protein 1）等的变化。并用Western blot检测ATRA处理前后AsGnT—V／SMMC-7721细胞中内质网应激相关凋亡途径中的重要分子CHOP（C／EBP homologus protein）、caspase-9、caspase-12以及caspase-3的变化。结果GRP78和XBP1的变化表明经ATRA处理后AsGnT-V／SMMC-7721细胞的内质网应激加剧了，而与内质网应激相关的凋亡分子CHOP、caspase-9、caspase-12以及caspase-3都发生了激活。结论ATRA诱导AsGnT—V／SMMC-7721细胞发生的凋亡与内质网应激有关。     

Effects of endoplasmic reticulum stress and related apoptosis on selective death of dopaminergic neurons

Objective： To explore the mechanism of endoplasmic reticulum stress（ERS） response and related apoptosis in dopaminergic neurons death. Methods： Nerve growth factor （NGF）-treatedPC12 cells were treated with 6-OHDA, MPP^＋ and rotenone. MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to measure the cell viability and the rate of celluar apoptosis induced by those neurotoxins. The expression of ERS-related gene XBP1, Grp78, CHOP, caspase-12 in drug-treated group and reserpine preincubafion group was determined with RT-polymerase chain reaction（RT-PCR） and immunohistochemistry. Results： After the exposure to different toxins, the viability of PC12 cells were decreased by 52%, 44%, 40% at 100μM6-OHDA, 75 μM MPP^＋, 20 nM rotenone for 24 h respectively. FCM assay confirmed time-dependent cell apoptosis （P 〈 0.01 ）. The gene and protein expression of XBP1, Grp78 in drug-treated group were significantly increased and reached their peaks 8 h after the treatment（P 〈 0.05）. The expression levels of CHOP and caspase-12 gene were increased 16-24 h after the treatment（P 〈 0.01 ）, but the expression level of caspase-12 was inhibited by reserpine preincubayion（P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion： The excessive ERS and relative activated cell apoptosis pathway may be associated with selective death of dopaminergic neurons.     

Apoptotic pathways of macrophages within osteolytic interface membrane in periprosthestic osteolysis after total hip replacement

Macrophage apoptosis in interface membrane, which occurs through either death receptor, mitochondrion, or endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathways, has been suggested to play an important role in promoting osteolysis. However, how and why macrophage apoptosis originates and the correlation among these apoptotic pathways is not yet clear. The objective of this study was to identify the apoptotic mechanism of macrophages, and to explore the relationship between the apoptotic pathways and progression of osteolysis. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was utilized to analyze the tissue ultrastructure of wear particles, and in situ apoptotic macrophage identification was performed by TUNEL staining. We analyzed the expression of the key biomarkers of apoptotic pathways via immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Our results demonstrated that the majority of wear particles within osteolytic interface membrane was in the 30–60 nm range, and that macrophage apoptotic ratio increased along with osteolysis progression. Normal hip dysplasia and mechanical loosening of tissues showed low expression levels of biomarkers for ER stress (Ca²⁺, JNK, cleaved Caspase‐4, IRE1‐α, Grp78/Bip, and CHOP), mitochondrion (Bcl‐2, Bax, and Cytochrome c), and death receptor (Fas and cleaved Caspase‐8) pathways, while osteolytic interface membrane tissues expressed high levels of these biomarkers. In addition, we found that the ER stress intensity was in complete conformity with mitochondrial dysfunction and was consistent with the results of death receptor activation. Thus, our findings suggested that wear particles generated at implant interface can accelerate macrophage apoptosis through changes in apoptotic pathways and ultimately aggravate the symptom of osteolysis. These data represent a preferential apoptotic signaling pathway of macrophages as specific target points for the prevention and therapeutic modulation of periprosthetic osteolysis.     

4-苯基丁酸类似物的设计合成及对PC12细胞内质网应激与过度自噬的抑制作用

目的：设计合成4-苯基丁酸（PBA）类似物并探究其对PC12细胞内质网应激（ERS）和过度自噬的双重抑制作用。方法：以PBA为母核，设计合成了11个PBA类似物（A1-A11），通过1H NMR、13C NMR、MS确证化学结构，采用MTT法分析化合物A1-A11对毒胡萝卜素（TG）诱导的PC12细胞ERS损伤模型和H2O2诱导的PC12细胞过度自噬损伤模型中细胞的保护作用；Western blot法检测ERS的标志蛋白葡萄糖调节蛋白78（GRP78）和自噬标志蛋白LC3 II/I和Beclin-1表达水平。结果：共合成了11 个PBA类似物，其中A3、A7、A9-A11为新化合物。MTT法结果表明，PBA类似物A1对TG诱导的ERS损伤细胞具有保护作用（P ＜0.05）。A1、A2、A4 和A6-A10对H2O2诱导的过度自噬损伤细胞均有良好的保护活性（P ＜0.05）。Western blot检测结果表明，A1能显著抑制ERS标志性蛋白GRP78、自噬标志性蛋白LC3 II/I和Beclin-1 的表达水平（P ＜0.05）。结论：与PBA相比，设计合成的化合物A1对ERS和过度自噬的损伤细胞具有最强的双重保护作用。