Regulation of Cl− secretion by AMPK in vivo

Previous in vitro studies suggested that Cl(-) currents produced by the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR; ABCC7) are inhibited by the alpha1 isoform of the adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-stimulated kinase (AMPK). AMPK is a serine/threonine kinase that is activated during metabolic stress. It has been proposed as a potential mediator for transport-metabolism coupling in epithelial tissues. All previous studies have been performed in vitro and thus little is known about the regulation of Cl(-) secretion by AMPK in vivo. Using AMPKalpha1(-/-) mice and wild-type littermates, we demonstrate that phenformin, an activator of AMPK, strongly inhibits cAMP-activated Cl(-) secretion in mouse airways and colon, when examined in ex vivo in Ussing chamber recordings. However, phenformin was equally effective in AMPKalpha1(-/-) and wild-type animals, suggesting additional AMPK-independent action of phenformin. Phenformin inhibited CFTR Cl(-) conductance in basolaterally permeabilized colonic epithelium from AMPKalpha1(+/+) but not AMPKalpha1(-/-) mice. The inhibitor of AMPK compound C enhanced CFTR-mediated Cl(-) secretion in epithelial tissues of AMPKalpha1(-/-) mice, but not in wild-type littermates. There was no effect on Ca(2+)-mediated Cl(-) secretion, activated by adenosine triphosphate or carbachol. Moreover CFTR-dependent Cl(-) secretion was enhanced in the colon of AMPKalpha1(-/-) mice, as indicated in Ussing chamber ex vivo and rectal PD measurements in vivo. Taken together, these data suggest that epithelial Cl(-) secretion mediated by CFTR is controlled by AMPK in vivo.     

The RND protein is involved in the vulnibactin export system in Vibrio vulnificus M2799

Vibrio vulnificus, an opportunistic marine bacterium that causes a serious, often fatal, infection in humans, requires iron for its pathogenesis. This bacterium exports vulnibactin for iron acquisition from the environment. The mechanisms of vulnibactin biosynthesis and ferric-vulnibactin uptake systems have recently been reported, while the vulnibactin export system has not been reported. Mutant growth under low-iron concentration conditions and a bioassay of the culture supernatant indicate that the VV1_0612 protein plays a crucial role in the vulnibactin secretion as a component of the resistance-nodulation-division (RND)-type efflux system in V. vulnificus M2799. To identify which RND protein(s) together with VV1_0612 TolC constituted the RND efflux system for vulnibactin secretion, deletion mutants of 11 RND protein-encoding genes were constructed. The growth inhibition of a multiple mutant (Δ11) of the RND protein-encoding genes was observed 6 h after the beginning of the culture. Furthermore, ΔVV1_1681 exhibited a growth curve that was similar to that of Δ11, while the multiple mutant except ΔVV1_1681 showed the same growth as the wild-type strain. These results indicate that the VV1_1681 protein is involved in the vulnibactin export system of V. vulnificus M2799. This is the first genetic evidence that vulnibactin is secreted through the RND-type efflux systems in V. vulnificus.     

MR-1通过抑制PERK/Nrf2途径减轻缺氧/复氧诱导的心肌细胞凋亡

 目的:研究肌原纤维形成调节因子1 (MR-1)是否通过抑制蛋白激酶R样内质网激酶 (PERK)/核因子E2相关因子2（Nrf2）途径减轻缺氧/复氧 (H/R)诱导的心肌细胞凋亡。方法:在原代培养的乳大鼠心肌细胞H/R模型上,采用Annexin V/PI双标法检测心肌细胞的凋亡率;以Western blotting检测葡萄糖调节蛋白78 (GRP78)、磷酸化PERK、Nrf2、活化转录因子4 (ATF4)、C/EBP同源蛋白 (CHOP)、Bcl-2和Bax的蛋白水平,研究过表达或敲低对于H/R致心肌细胞凋亡的影响及其与PERK/Nrf2途径活化的关系。结果:H/R引起心肌细胞凋亡;过表达MR-1减轻H/R引起的细胞凋亡 (P<0.01),下调CHOP表达 (P<0.05),引起Bcl-2/Bax值升高 (P<0.01),并抑制H/R诱导的PERK磷酸化、Nrf2核转位和ATF4表达 (P<0.01)。敲低MR-1加重H/R引起的细胞凋亡 (P<0.01)、CHOP表达上调 (P<0.05)和Bcl-2/Bax值下降 (P<0.01),并加重H/R诱导的PERK磷酸化 (P<0.05)、Nrf2核转位和ATF4表达 (P<0.01)。结论:MR-1通过抑制PERK/Nrf2途径而减轻缺氧/复氧诱导的心肌细胞凋亡。     

Assessment of intracellular cytokines and regulatory cells in patients with autoimmune diseases and primary immunodeficiencies — Novel tool for diagnostics and patient follow-up

Serum and intracytoplasmic cytokines are mandatory in host defense against microbes, but also play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases by initiating and perpetuating various cellular and humoral autoimmune processes.     

Anti-adaptors provide multiple modes for regulation of the RssB adaptor protein

RpoS, an RNA polymerase σ factor, controls the response of Escherichia coli and related bacteria to multiple stress responses. During nonstress conditions, RpoS is rapidly degraded by ClpXP, mediated by the adaptor protein RssB, a member of the response regulator family. In response to stress, RpoS degradation ceases. Small anti-adaptor proteins—IraP, IraM, and IraD, each made under a different stress condition—block RpoS degradation. RssB mutants resistant to either IraP or IraM were isolated and analyzed in vivo and in vitro. Each of the anti-adaptors is unique in its interaction with RssB and sensitivity to RssB mutants. One class of mutants defined an RssB N-terminal region close to the phosphorylation site and critical for interaction with IraP but unnecessary for IraM and IraD function. A second class, in the RssB C-terminal PP2C-like domain, led to activation of RssB function. These mutants allowed the response regulator to act in the absence of phosphorylation but did not abolish interaction with anti-adaptors. This class of mutants is broadly resistant to the anti-adaptors and bears similarity to constitutively activated mutants found in a very different PP2C protein. The mutants provide insight into how the anti-adaptors perturb RssB response regulator function and activation.     

自身免疫调节因子在小鼠胚胎干细胞向胸腺上皮祖细胞分化中的表达

文题释义：自身免疫调节因子：基因分析显示由于单基因突变引起一种自身免疫病,此基因则被命名为自身免疫调节因子即AIRE基因。AIRE基因的突变或者缺失会造成胸腺内自身组织特异性抗原转录缺失,影响阴性选择,从而致使自身反应性T细胞逃逸外周,引起自身免疫反应。AIRE基因一直是免疫学相关研究中的热点。胸腺上皮细胞：胸腺上皮细胞分为髓质胸腺上皮细胞和皮质胸腺上皮细胞,二者均来源于胸腺上皮祖细胞,据研究报道髓质胸腺上皮细胞表达的AIRE基因调控着胸腺内的阴性选择,但是由于胸腺上皮祖细胞和胸腺上皮细胞不易分离且数量少,其应用和研究一直受限。该实验在体外将胚胎干细胞分化为胸腺上皮祖细胞,可以为相关研究提供细胞来源。  摘要背景：自身免疫性疾病主要是由于胸腺内自身组织特异性抗原持续表达缺失而引起强烈免疫应答的一类疾病,而胸腺功能减退和胸腺内组织特异性抗原的不稳定表达会限制治疗效果。胸腺组织主要由胸腺上皮细胞组成,但胸腺内成熟胸腺上皮细胞和胸腺上皮祖细胞有限的数量来源极大限制了相关研究。目的：研究小鼠胚胎干细胞向胸腺上皮祖细胞分化过程中自身免疫调节因子的表达变化。方法：采用两步分化方法定向诱导小鼠胚胎干细胞分化为内胚层再分化为胸腺上皮祖细胞,分别收集定向诱导分化第0,3,13天细胞,采用细胞免疫荧光、流式细胞术、Western blot、Real-Time PCR 检测相关基因及蛋白的表达变化。结果与结论：①诱导分化第0天,免疫荧光检测OCT4、SSEA1表达阳性;诱导分化第3天,免疫荧光检测SOX17、FoxA2呈双阳性表达;诱导分化第13天,流式细胞术检测EpCAM1、K5、K8表达阳性;②Real-time PCR检测小鼠胚胎干细胞定向分化过程中PAX1、PAX9、FOXN1、PLET1基因表达逐渐增高;③Real-time PCR检测分化第0,3,13天AIRE基因表达升高,INS2、GAD67基因表达也升高;④Western blot检测分化第0,3,13天AIRE蛋白表达降低,胰岛素蛋白、GAD67蛋白均无表达;⑤结果表明,小鼠胚胎干细胞成功分化为胸腺上皮祖细胞,且分化而来的胸腺上皮祖细胞中AIRE基因表达很高,促进了INS2、GAD67基因的表达,为细胞移植治疗自身免疫性疾病提供评价依据。ORCID: 0000-0001-5253-3085(胡蓉) 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程     

胃癌组织中SIRT-1、VEGF的表达及临床意义

目的探讨胃癌组织中沉默信息调节因子1(SIRT-1)和血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)的表达及临床意义。方法选取2016年6月至2018年6月本院胃癌患者120例,均接受胃癌手术切除术。采用免疫组化检测胃癌组织及其癌旁正常组织中SIRT-1、VEGF的表达。结果胃癌组织SIRT-1、VEGF表达阳性率明显高于癌旁正常组织,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);胃癌组织SIRT-1、VEGF的表达与TNM分期、浸润深度、浆膜受侵、淋巴结转移有关(P<0.05),与性别、年龄、肿瘤位置、分化程度、肿瘤直径无关(P>0.05);胃癌组织SIRT-1与VEGF表达呈正相关(P<0.05)。结论胃癌组织中SIRT-1、VEGF呈高表达状态,且与胃癌的发生发展有关,可能共同促进了胃癌的生长、侵袭、转移等生物学行为。