Compartmentation of cardiac adenine nucleotides and formation of adenosine

Summary After prelabeling the adenine nucleotides (ATP, ADP, AMP) of isolated perfused guinea pig hearts with either¹⁴C-adenine or¹⁴C-adenosine for 35 min, labeled adenosine, inosine, hypoxanthine and cyclic 35-AMP (cAMP) were continuously released into the cardiac perfusate. Determination of the specific activities (SA) of the adenine nucleotides, cAMP, and their breakdown products (adenosine, inosine, hypoxanthine) in tissue and perfusate revealed: Under steady state conditions the SA of adenosine and cAMP in the perfusate were of the same order of magnitude and proved to be many times higher than the SA of the respective precursor adenine nucleotides. This difference was observed regardless whether adenine or adenosine was used as prelabeling substance. The SA of inosine and hypoxanthine in the perfusate were constantly lower than the SA of adenosine. Cardiac ischemia of 6 min, which resulted in a markedly increased formation of adenosine, led to a pronounced decrease in the SA of adenosine released from the heart.Our findings provide evidence that at least two different adenine nucleotide compartments of the heart serve as precursors for the formation of adenosine and cAMP, one characterized by a high, the other by a lower SA. Under normoxic conditions adenosine and cAMP released into the cardiac perfusate are derived mainly from a nucleotide fraction of high SA, which appears to be rather small. During ischemia a second compartment of much lower SA in addition contributes to the formation of adenosine.A preliminary report of part of this work appeared in Biochemistry and Pharmacology of Myocardial Hypertrophy, Hypoxia and Infarction Vol. 7 of Recent advances in studies on cardiac structure and metabolism. (P. Harris, R. J. Bing, A. Fleckenstein, eds.), pp. 171–175. München: Urban & Schwarzenberg 1976A preliminary report of part of this work appeared in Biochemistry and Pharmacology of Myocardial Hypertrophy, Hypoxia and Infarction Vol. 7 of Recent advances in studies on cardiac structure and metabolism. (P. Harris, R. J. Bing, A. Fleckenstein, eds.), pp. 171–175. München: Urban & Schwarzenberg 1976     

重组RGD肽水蛭素改善大鼠冠脉微循环及其机制的研究

目的观察双重组RGD肽水蛭素对大鼠冠脉微循环障碍的疗效 ,并探讨其作用机理。方法健康雄性SD大鼠共62只 ,随机分为正常对照组 (n=6)、安慰剂组 (n=18)以及RGD肽水蛭素治疗组(n=36) ,后者根据所用RGD肽水蛭素剂量进一步分为1mg/kg和5mg/kg体质量2个亚组 ,每组各18只。RGD肽水蛭素于建模当日采用腹腔注射的方法给药 ,以注射生理盐水做为安慰剂。分别采用病理切片、超声心动图和彩色微粒子测量技术 ,观察各组大鼠心肌内微血栓和微梗死形成 ,以及心功能和心肌局部血流量变化的情况 ;采用免疫组化和RT -PCR的方法观察心肌组织内IL -18蛋白及mRNA的表达。结果与安慰剂组相比 ,1mg/kg/d及5mg/kg/d的RGD肽水蛭素可显著减少大鼠心肌内微栓塞数量以及局部梗死面积 (P<0.01) ,同时大鼠心功能LVEF和心肌局部血流量也明显得到改善 ;RGD肽水蛭素也显著下调大鼠心肌组织内IL -18蛋白和mRNA的表达 (P<0.05)。结论RGD肽水蛭素能明显改善大鼠因微栓塞所致的冠脉微循环障碍 ,可作为治疗冠脉微循环障碍的重要药物。其中抑制IL -18的分泌表达 ,可能是RGD肽水蛭素抗炎改善冠脉微循环的重要机制之一。     

Gαq/11介导的信号转导通路在自发性高血压大鼠主动脉中的变化

目的:观察自发性高血压大鼠 (SHR)主动脉Gαq/11及磷脂酶C(PLC)的动态变化,探讨其在SHR高血压发病机制中的意义。方法:4周龄和12周龄SHR,颈动脉插管记录动脉血压,放免法测定血浆血管紧张素Ⅱ的浓度,免疫印迹法检测主动脉组织Gαq/11和PLC的含量。结果:SHR12周龄时动脉血压明显增高。4周龄SHR主动脉Gαq/11的表达较对照高 69.2 % (P <0.05)。4周龄和12周龄SHR主动脉PLCβ₃分别较各自同龄对照组高66.9%和 85.1% (P <0.05)。结论:Gαq/11介导的信号转导通路上调参与SHR高血压的发生和发展.     

Decreased prefrontal 5-HT2A receptor binding in subjects at enhanced risk for schizophrenia

The brain serotonin-2A receptor (5-HT_2AR) has been implicated in both the pathology of schizophrenia and the therapeutic action of atypical antipsychotics. However, little is known about the 5-HT_2AR status before the onset of schizophrenia and before the exposure to antipsychotics. We used [¹⁸F] altanserin and positron emission tomography (PET) in a pilot study of 6 individuals suspected to be at elevated risk for schizophrenia and seven age-matched controls to test the hypothesis that regional 5-HT_2AR binding is altered in the prodromal stages of schizophrenia. Distribution volume ratios (DVRs) as a proxy for 5-HT_2AR availability were significantly reduced in prefrontal cortex regions of at-risk subjects, implicating early abnormalities of serotonergic neurotransmission that antecede the onset of schizophrenia.     

IL-18 Receptor Expression on Epithelial Cells is Upregulated by TNF Alpha

IL-18 is a multifunctional cytokine that augments both innate and acquired immunity and potentiates Th1 and Th2 reactions. We studied the expression of IL-18 receptor (IL-18R) on renal and respiratory epithelial cell lines. Both cell lines upregulated IL-18R mRNA and IL-18R membrane expression in response to TNF alpha and other proinflammatory cytokines. The function of IL-18R was confirmed by induction of IL-8 release from epithelial cells in response to recombinant IL-18. Epithelial cells may represent an important target for IL-18, mainly under inflammatory conditions associated with TNF alpha release.     

Genotypic and phenotypic variability of 22q11.2 microduplications: An institutional experience

Duplications in the 22q11.2 region can cause 22q11.2 duplication syndrome and encompass a variety of phenotypes including developmental delays, facial abnormalities, cardiovascular defects, central nervous system delays, and other congenital abnormalities. However, the contribution of these contiguous duplicated regions to the clinical phenotypes has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we identified nine patients carrying different 22q11.2 microduplications detected by chromosomal microarray. Of these patients, seven pediatric patients presented with various clinical features including two neonate cases died shortly after birth, and two healthy adults. We examined region specific genotype–phenotype associations and found unpredictability associated with 22q11.2 duplications in these nine patients.     

Solid phase C1q microassay for the rapid detection of circulating immune complexes

A C1q solid phase microassay was designed for the rapid detection of circulating immune complexes. Its level of sensitivity is comparable to that of the Raji cell and greater than the C1q binding assay; furthermore, it is faster and low in cost. These conditions make it more practical and applicable in the clinical setting.     

PET/CT在肿瘤疾病中的初步应用

目的回顾性探讨PET／CT对肿瘤的诊断价值。方法肿瘤病人200例，其中未治疗病人71例，已治疗病人129例。经静脉注射^18F-FDG 45min后，进行PET／CT扫描。结果未治疗病人71例中，PET／CT准确诊断有68例（95．7％），阴性3例，发现肿瘤转移54例，其中广泛转移30例。已治疗组129例中，提示肿瘤复发或／伴转移96例，其余33例在手术／放疗／化疗等治疗后未见肿瘤复发。结论PET／CT具有对病变部位进行精确定位和定性的优势，大大提高了诊断的准确率。对于肿瘤的早期诊断和分期、指导制定治疗方案、判断肿瘤有无复发与坏死及预后的估计均有重要的临床意义。