Divergent effects of prostaglandin receptor signaling on neuronal survival

Induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) with production of prostaglandins occurs in a wide spectrum of acute and chronic neurodegenerative diseases and is associated with neuronal death. Inhibition of the COX-2 pathway and downstream production of prostaglandins protect neurons in rodent models of cerebral ischemia and neurodegeneration. Recent studies investigating the functions of selected prostaglandin receptor pathways in mediating COX-2 neurotoxicity have demonstrated both toxic and paradoxically neuroprotective effects of several receptors in models of excitotoxicity. In this study, we investigate the functions of additional prostaglandin receptors not previously characterized in organotypic models of glutamate excitotoxicity. We find that PGD₂, PGI₂, and PGF_2α receptors protect motor neurons in an organotypic spinal cord model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In addition, PGI₂ and TXA₂ receptors rescue CA1 neurons in an organotypic hippocampal model of N-methyl-d-aspartate excitotoxicity. However, in a model of inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide, prostaglandin receptors previously found to be protective in excitotoxicity now cause CA1 neuronal death. Taken together, these studies identify novel eicosanoid receptor signaling pathways that mediate neuronal protection in excitotoxic paradigms; these data also support the emerging hypothesis that the toxic/protective effects of eicosanoid signaling on neuronal viability diverge significantly depending on whether excitotoxicity or inflammation predominates as the underlying toxic stimulus.     

不同年龄高血压大鼠血管平滑肌中ERK和MKP-1的表达

目的：研究不同年龄的自发性高血压大鼠（SHR）和Wistar Kyoto大鼠（WKY）主动脉平滑肌中丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（MAPK）及其磷酸酶（MKP-1）的表达及其与高血压的关系。 方法： 用tail-cuff测量大鼠尾动脉血压；分别用Western blotting法和RT-PCR法半定量测定血管平滑肌中磷酸化细胞外信号调节激酶（p-ERK）和MKP-1的蛋白表达以及MKP-1 mRNA的含量。 结果： （1）SHR的血压自8周龄起明显高于WKY（P<0.01），且随年龄增长而升高（P<0.05）至14周以后趋于稳定；（2）SHR主动脉平滑肌中的p-ERK表达明显高于同年龄的WKY（P<0.01），随年龄增长而递增（P<0.05），与血压呈正相关；（3）SHR主动脉平滑肌中MKP-1蛋白明显高于同龄WKY，而mRNA的表达在5周龄时明显高于WKY，之后均随年龄的增长而递减（P<0.05），与血压和ERK呈负相关，而WKY下降不明显。 结论： MKP-1在高血压的发生和发展过程中起重要作用，其表达逐渐下降可能是导致ERK激活增加，从而导致血管平滑肌细胞增殖、血压升高的重要原因。     

肺组织β-AR和GRK2与重症急性胰腺炎肺损伤的关系以及甲强龙的影响

目的：探讨重症急性胰腺炎（SAP）致急性肺损伤（ALI）大鼠肺组织β-AR和G蛋白偶联受体激酶2（GRK2）的变化规律以及甲强龙的影响。方法：SD大鼠36只，随机分为3组，每组12只。对照组，仅做十二指肠翻动；模型组，胰胆管逆行注射5%牛磺胆酸钠（1 mL/kg），建立SAP模型；干预组，建立SAP模型后1 h给予甲强龙（30 mg/kg）。于6 h和12 h分别处死大鼠6只取肺组织，放射配基结合实验测量肺组织β-AR最大结合容量B_max和平衡解离常数K_d，免疫荧光法检测肺组织GRK2表达。结果：模型组和干预组胰腺组织损伤评分显著高于对照组，模型制备成功；模型组和干预组肺组织损伤评分显著高于对照组，发生SAP肺损伤；模型组β-AR B_max显著低于对照组和干预组，K_d显著高于对照组和干预组；模型组GRK2的表达显著高于对照组和干预组。结论：SD大鼠肺组织有丰富的GRK2表达，SAP肺损伤大鼠肺组织GRK2表达显著增加，这可能是β-AR下调的重要机制。     

The inhibitory NK cell receptor CD94/NKG2A and the activating receptor CD94/NKG2C bind the top of HLA-E through mostly shared but partly distinct sets of HLA-E residues

The human non-classical MHC class I molecule HLA-E is a ligand for both an inhibitory NK cell receptor (CD94/NKG2A) and an activating receptor (CD94/NKG2C). To identify HLA-E surface recognized by both receptors, especially to determine if both receptors recognize the same epitope, we made a series of individually Ala-substituted HLA-E proteins and analyzed their binding to CD94/NKG2A orCD94/NKG2C. Eight HLA-E mutations that significantly impaired HLA-E binding to CD94/NKG2A are all found in the top of alpha1/alpha2 domain of HLA-E. These results suggest that CD94/NKG2A binds a HLA-E surface equivalent to a NKG2D binding site on MICA. Of the eight mutations that impaired HLA-E binding to CD94/NKG2A, six significantly impaired HLA-E binding to CD94/NKG2C suggesting that CD94/NKG2C also binds a similar surface of HLA-E. Unexpectedly, the two HLA-E mutations (D69A and H155A) selectively abrogated HLA-E binding to CD94/NKG2A, not largely affected CD94/NKG2C. These results indicate that a mostly shared, but partly distinct set of HLA-E residues is discriminated by the two receptors.     

SGK1在糖尿病小鼠肾脏皮质中时间差异性表达及意义

目的：研究血清和糖皮质激素诱导的蛋白激酶1（serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1,SGK1）在糖尿病（DM）小鼠肾脏皮质中时间上差异性表达及意义。方法: 采用链脲佐菌素（STZ）单次腹腔注射诱导小鼠糖尿病模型。将2月龄C57BL/6小鼠随机分成10组：第1、2、3、4、6、8、12周糖尿病小鼠组（DM₁、DM₂、DM₃、DM₄、DM₆、DM₈、DM₁₂）和相应的第1、4、8周正常对照组（N₁、N₄、N₈）。分别在DM模型制作成功后第1、2、3、4、6、8、12周末收集小鼠24 h尿量，检测24 h尿蛋白量；观察肾脏病理改变；半定量RT-PCR检测小鼠肾脏皮质SGK1及结缔组织生长因子（CTGF）mRNA的表达，Western blotting检测N₄、DM₄、DM₈组皮质SGK1、CTGF蛋白的表达。结果: 随着糖尿病病程的进展，DM组小鼠肾小球体积逐渐增大、系膜区逐渐增宽；DM组小鼠24h尿蛋白从第2周起开始逐渐增多，肾脏皮质SGK1 mRNA表达从第2周开始明显上调，在第４周达到峰值。CTGF随着糖尿病病程的进展表达逐渐递增。结论: SGK1在糖尿病早期肾脏表达峰值的出现及CTGF 持续递增的表达，提示SGK1在糖尿病肾病肾脏纤维化的发生发展过程中起重要作用。     

细胞外信号调节激酶在TPPB促进PC12产生可溶性淀粉样前体蛋白中的作用

目的：观察在蛋白激酶C(PKC)激动剂TPPB促进可溶性淀粉样前体蛋白(sAPPα)释放过程中参与的信号转导通路。方法:以1 μmol/L的TPPB作用于PC12细胞3 h，同时加入信号转导通路的抑制剂，Western印迹法检测上清液内sAPPα的含量和细胞外信号调节激酶(p42/44MAPK)及磷酸化的p42/44MAPK的表达。结果:1 μmol/L的TPPB作用于PC12细胞3 h可以显著增加上清液内sAPPα的含量，细胞外信号调节激酶抑制剂U0126、c-Jun氨基末端激酶抑制剂SP600125和蛋白酪氨酸激酶抑制剂genistein可以部分消除此作用；而p38MAPK抑制剂SB203580对sAPPα的含量无显著影响。1 μmol/L的TPPB可以使磷酸化的p42/44MAPK表达增加，而对总的p42/44MAPK无显著影响。结论:细胞外信号调节激酶、c-Jun氨基末端激酶和蛋白酪氨酸激酶可能参与TPPB促进sAPPα生成的过程。     

Role of angiotensin Ⅱ and JAK2 signal pathway in transdifferentation of renal tubular cells in mice after acute ischemic followed by reperfusion

Objective To investigate the effect of angiotensin (Ang) Ⅱ and its Janns-activated kinase-2 (JAK2) signal pathway in transdifferentiation of renal tubular cells under the challenge of acute ischemic reperfusion injury.Methods Models of acute ischemic reperfusion injury were established and the level of local Ang Ⅱ ,a key element of renin-angiotensin system (RAS),in kidney was measured using radioimmunity technique.The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA),a phenotype of mesenchymal cells,was detected by RT-PCR and inununohistochemistry methods.Renal tubule cells ( NRK-52E) were cultured with various concentration of Ang Ⅱ ,followed by blocking of PD123319,Ang U receptor 2 antagonist,and AG490,an inhibitor of JAK2 signal pathway.Results Ang 0 of kidney tissue increased immediately after acute ischemic-reperfusion injury,in time dependent fashion.Expression of α-SMA in renal tubule cells was found at 48 hours after ischemic-reperfusion injury and in NRK-52E cells treated by high concentration of Ang Ⅱ and was dose and time dependent.The peak of α-SMA expression was seen after 30 minute treatment at the dose of 10-9'mol/L,which was interrupted by both of PD123319 and AG490.Conclusions Transdifferentiarion of renal tubular epithelial cells occurs under acute ischemic- reperfusion injury.Local renin-angiotensin system may play a role in the transdifferentiation of TEC through AT2 receptor and its JAK2 signal pathway.     

Altered EphA5 mRNA expression in rat brain with a single methamphetamine treatment

Methamphetamine is a potent and indirect dopaminergic agonist which can cause chronic brain dysfunctions including drug abuse, drug dependence and drug-induced psychosis. Methamphetamine is known to trigger molecular mechanisms involved in associative learning and memory, and thereby alter patterns of synaptic connectivity. The persistent risk of relapse in methamphetamine abuse, dependence and psychosis may be caused by such alterations in synaptic connectivity. EphA5 receptors constitute large families of tyrosine kinase receptor and are expressed almost exclusively in the nervous system, especially in the limbic structures. Recent studies suggest EphA5 to be important in the topographic projection, development, and plasticity of limbic structures, and to be involved in dopaminergic neurotransmission. We used in situ hybridization to examine whether methamphetamine alters EphA5 mRNA expression in the brains of adult male Wister rats. EphA5 mRNA was widely distributed in the medial frontal cortex, cingulate cortex, piriform cortex, hippocampus, habenular nucleus and amygdala. Compared to baseline expression at 0 h, EphA5 mRNA was significantly decreased (by 20%) in the medial frontal cortex at 24 h, significantly increased (by 30%) in the amygdala at 9 and 24 h, significantly but transiently decreased (by 30%) in the habenular nucleus at 1 h after a single injection of methamphetamine. Methamphetamine did not change EphA5 mRNA expression in the cingulate cortex, piriform cortex or hippocampus. Our results that methamphetamine altered EphA5 mRNA expression in rat brain suggest methamphetamine could affect patterns of synaptic connectivity, which might be responsible for methamphetamine-induced chronic brain dysfunctions.     

Characterization of a 105-kDa plasma membrane associated glycoprotein that is involved in West Nile virus binding and infection

This study attempts to isolate and characterize West Nile virus-binding molecules on the plasma membrane of Vero and murine neuroblastoma cells that is responsible for virus entry. Pretreatment of Vero cells with proteases, glycosidases (endoglycosidase H, alpha-mannosidase), and sodium periodate strongly inhibited West Nile virus infection, whereas treatments with phospholipases and heparinases had no effect. The virus overlay protein blot detected a 105-kDa molecule on the plasma membrane extract of Vero and murine neuroblastoma cells that bind to WN virus. Treatment of the 105-kDa molecules with beta-mercaptoethanol resulted in the virus binding to a series of lower molecular weight bands ranging from 30 to 40 kDa. The disruption of disulfide-linked subunits did not affect virus binding. N-linked sugars with mannose residues on the 105-kDa membrane proteins were found to be important in virus binding. Specific antibodies against the 105-kDa glycoprotein were highly effective in blocking virus entry. These results strongly supported the possibility that the 105-kDa protease-sensitive glycoprotein with complex N-linked sugars could be the putative receptor for WN virus.