弓形虫三磷酸核苷水解酶基因克隆、表达与鉴定

目的 对刚地弓形虫三磷酸核苷水解酶基因（NTPase）进行克隆、表达和鉴定。 方法 采用PCR扩增刚地弓形虫RH株的NTPase基因，克隆入pGEM?-T Easy载体，经酶切与测序鉴定后亚克隆至表达质粒pBAD-HisB，并转入大肠埃希菌(E.coli)BL21（DE3）中进行诱导表达。用镍-次氮基三乙酸亲和层析柱纯化重组质粒pBAD-HisB-NTPase表达产生的含组氨酸的重组蛋白，用十二烷基磺酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳（SDS-PAGE）和蛋白质印迹（Western blotting）分析蛋白表达产物。 结果 PCR扩增得到特异的刚地弓形虫NTPase-Ⅱ基因序列，经测序鉴定无基因突变。SDS-PAGE结果表明NTPase-Ⅱ基因在E.coli BL21（DE3）中获得高效表达，其融合蛋白相对分子质量（Mr）约70 000，与理论值相近。Western blotting分析结果显示，纯化的重组蛋白可被弓形虫感染的鼠血清及鼠抗重组蛋白血清识别。 结论 所克隆表达的弓形虫NTPase-Ⅱ重组蛋白具有良好的抗原性。     

The future potential for cocaine vaccines

Introduction: Addiction to cocaine is a major problem around the world, but especially in developed countries where the combination of wealth and user demand has created terrible social problems. Although only some users become truly addicted, those who are often succumb to a downward spiral in their lives from which it is very difficult to escape. From the medical perspective, the lack of effective and safe, non-addictive therapeutics has instigated efforts to develop alternative approaches for treatment, including anticocaine vaccines designed to block cocaine’s pharmacodynamic effects.

Areas covered: This paper discusses the implications of cocaine pharmacokinetics for robust vaccine antibody responses, the results of human vaccine clinical trials, new developments in animal models for vaccine evaluation, alternative vaccine formulations and complementary therapy to enhance anticocaine effectiveness.

Expert opinion: Robust anti-cocaine antibody responses are required for benefit to cocaine abusers, but since any reasonably achievable antibody level can be overcome with higher drug doses, sufficient motivation to discontinue use is also essential so that the relative barrier to cocaine effects will be appropriate for each individual. Combining a vaccine with achievable levels of an enzyme to hydrolyze cocaine to inactive metabolites, however, may substantially increase the blockade and improve treatment outcomes.     

Vitamin K (Menaquinone-4) Metabolism in Liver Disease

We measured menaquinone-4 (MK-4) and MK-4 epoxide concentrations in plasma and liver tissue after intravenous injection of 200 μg/kg MK-4 in 42 patients who underwent hepatectomy. They were classified into normal (N; n = 10), chronic hepatitis (CH; n = 12), and liver cirrhosis (LC; n = 20) groups, on the basis of the diagnosis given by the pathologist after examining resected liver specimens. The plasma MK-4 epoxide concentration reached maximum level (C_max) 60 min after MK-4 injection. The C_max in groups LC and CH were 85.9 and 126.3 nmol/l, respectively, which is significantly reduced compared with that of group n (184.4 nmol/l) (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). The MK-4 concentrations in liver tissues of 24 patients 60 min after MK-4 injection were 2.77 in group N, 3.79 in group CH, and 3.83 nmol/ g in group LC, and the MK-4 epoxide concentrations were 4.01, 3.09, and 2.62 nmol/g in the respective groups. Consequently, the ratio of MK-4 epoxide to total MK-4 (MK-4 + MK-4 epoxide) in groups CH and LC was significantly lower than in group n (p < 0.01). It is concluded that the C_max of MK-4 epoxide after MK-4 injection may serve as an indicator of liver function and that the low ratio of MK-4 epoxide to total MK-4 in the liver shows impairment in vitamin K metabolism.     

人胆固醇酯水解酶对泡沫细胞的影响及相关机制的研究

目的 探讨人胆固醇酯水解酶(hCEH)表达对泡沫细胞的影响及相关机制.方法 利用含hCEH的慢病毒转染RAW264.7小鼠单核巨噬细胞,转染成功后巨噬细胞泡沫化.油红O染色和高效液相色谱分析hCEH对细胞内脂滴堆积情况及游离胆固醇含量变化的影响;Western blot检测ATP结合盒转运蛋白A1(ABCA1)、ATP结合盒转运蛋白G1(ABCG1)的表达情况.结果 转染72 h后,荧光细胞数量最多,接近50％,hCEH在细胞内大量表达;随着时间的延长,油红O染色阳性细胞数逐渐减少,细胞内总胆固醇、游离胆固醇和胆固醇酯含量逐渐下降;Western blot显示在0～8 h,ABCA1和ABCG1表达逐渐增加,8h达高峰,以后逐渐减少.结论 hCEH表达可以促进巨噬细胞表面ABCA1、ABCG1的表达,并且ABCA1、ABCG1之间存在一定的协同性,从而有效增加了游离胆固醇外流、减少胆固醇酯在细胞内聚积,抑制泡沫细胞形成.     

Inhibiting fatty acid amide hydrolase normalizes endotoxin-induced enhanced gastrointestinal motility in mice

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Gastrointestinal (GI) motility is regulated in part by fatty acid ethanolamides (FAEs), including the endocannabinoid (EC) anandamide (AEA). The actions of FAEs are terminated by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). We investigated the actions of the novel FAAH inhibitor AM3506 on normal and enhanced GI motility.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

We examined the effect of AM3506 on electrically-evoked contractility in vitro and GI transit and colonic faecal output in vivo, in normal and FAAH-deficient mice treated with saline or LPS (100 µg·kg⁻¹, i.p.), in the presence and absence of cannabinoid (CB) receptor antagonists. mRNA expression was measured by quantitative real time-PCR, EC levels by liquid chromatography-MS and FAAH activity by the conversion of [³H]-AEA to [³H]-ethanolamine in intestinal extracts. FAAH expression was examined by immunohistochemistry.

KEY RESULTS

FAAH was dominantly expressed in the enteric nervous system; its mRNA levels were higher in the ileum than the colon. LPS enhanced ileal contractility in the absence of overt inflammation. AM3506 reversed the enhanced electrically-evoked contractions of the ileum through CB₁ and CB₂ receptors. LPS increased the rate of upper GI transit and faecal output. AM3506 normalized the enhanced GI transit through CB₁ and CB₂ receptors and faecal output through CB₁ receptors. LPS did not increase GI transit in FAAH-deficient mice.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Inhibiting FAAH normalizes various parameters of GI dysmotility in intestinal pathophysiology. Inhibition of FAAH represents a new approach to the treatment of disordered intestinal motility.     

Carbamazepine-Valnoctamide Interaction in Epileptic Patients: In Vitro/In Vivo Correlation

Six patients stabilized with carbamazepine (CBZ) therapy received an 8-day “add-on” supplement of valnoctamide (VCD), a tranquilizer available over the counter (OTC) in several European countries that exhibits promising anticonvulsant activity in animal models. During VCD intake, serum levels of the active CBZ metabolite, carbamazepine-10,ll-epoxide (CBZ-E), increased fivefold from 1.5 ± 0.7 μg/ml at baseline to 7.4 ± 4.4 μg/ml after 4 days of VCD therapy and 7.7 ± 3.1 ^g/ml after 7 days of VCD therapy (means ± SD, p < 0.01). In 4 patients, the increase in serum CBZ-E levels was associated with clinical signs of CBZ intoxication. CBZ-E levels returned to baseline after VCD therapy was discontinued. Serum CBZ levels remained stable throughout the study. The interaction observed in this study is similar to that described in patients treated with CBZ and valpromide (VPD, an isomer of VCD). In a mechanistic study, therapeutic concentrations of VCD inhibited hydrolysis of styrene oxide in human liver mi-crosome preparations. Thus, VCD is a potent inhibitor of microsomal epoxide hydrolase (IC₅₀ 15 μM). There was a striking similarity between in vitro and in vivo inhibition potencies. In this study, VCD clearance was higher in epileptic patients (treated with CBZ) than in healthy subjects.     

蜗牛酶在聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺)中的固定化及应用

将蜗牛酶固定到聚(N—异丙基丙烯酰胺)上得到一种热可逆的固定化酶。研究了固定化酶的性能和对几种不同底物的作用情况。结果表明蜗中酶对羧甲基纤维素钠、甲壳胺和可溶性棉花都有较好的降解活性。     

Human melanoma cells generate leukotrienes B4 and C4 from leukotriene A4

Received: 9 May 1996