The Ki-67 protein interacts with members of the heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) family: a potential role in the regulation of higher-order chromatin structure.

The expression of the nuclear protein Ki-67 (pKi-67) is strictly correlated with cell proliferation. Because of this, anti-Ki-67 antibodies can be used as operational markers to estimate the growth fraction of human neoplasia in situ. For a variety of tumours, the assessment of pKi-67 expression has repeatedly been proven to be of prognostic value for survival and tumour recurrence, but no cellular function has yet been ascribed to the Ki-67 protein. This study shows that a C-terminal domain of pKi-67 (Kon21) is able to bind to all three members of the mammalian heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) family in vitro and in vivo. This interaction can be manipulated in living cells, as evidenced by ectopic expression of GFP-tagged HP1 proteins in HeLa cells, which results in a dramatic relocalization of endogenous pKi-67. Taken together, the data presented in this study suggest a role for pKi-67 in the control of higher-order chromatin structure.     

Fulminant meningococcal septic shock in a boy with combined inherited properdin and protein C deficiency.

A 7-year-old patient with fulminant septic shock due to Neisseria meningitidis of the uncommon serogroup Y developed extensive gangrene of the limbs. Multiple amputations were necessary and a pulmonary embolism occurred within 2 days post-operatively. Complement and haemostatic system studies, done after recovery, showed a complete absence of properdin antigen and a low protein C antigen and activity level in plasma. Defective haemolytic activity in gel by the alternative pathway of complement activation could be restored with purified properdin, indicating a properdin deficiency type 1. Protein C antigen level as well as activity were in agreement with a protein C deficiency type I. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product of exon five of the protein C gene showed a substitution of 72Gly by Arg. Both deficiencies were traced among relatives of the patient. Serum of the father of the patient's mother was also properdin-deficient. Microsatellite haplotyping of the X-chromosome of the patient and his relatives showed that a distinct haplotype cosegregated with the properdin deficiency (Lodscore 2.25; four informative meioses). The protein C type I deficiency was present in the patient's mother and her mother and cosegregated with the mutation found. So far as is known, this is the first patient described with combined inherited properdin deficiency and protein C deficiency.     

Human monocyte-derived hemangioma-like endothelial cells: evidence from an in vitro study

BACKGROUNDS: Hemangiomas are highly prevalent in newborns and infants and can lead to severe complications. However, the pathogenesis of hemangiomas is still unknown. This study was designed to examine the potential of human monocytes to differentiate into hemangioma endothelial cells. METHODS: Purified monocytes from adult human peripheral blood were cultured under a conditional culture environment supplemented with basic fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor. Cells cultured for 2 weeks were subjected to histological and immunochemical examinations in order to determine the expression of specific markers for hemangioma endothelial cells. RESULTS: Monocytes cultured for 2 weeks in angiogenic medium expressed human erythrocyte-type glucose transporter protein, FcgammaRII, and several other endothelial markers, all of which are deemed specific markers for hemangioma endothelial cells. However, neither CD133 nor alpha smooth muscle actin was detected in our monocyte culture. CONCLUSION: Our data suggested that monocytes are capable of differentiating into hemangioma endothelial cells under the angiogenic stimulation from microenvironment of proliferative hemangioma.     

Intracellular targeting and protein kinase C in vascular smooth muscle cells: specific effects of different membrane-bound receptors

Protein kinase C is an important second messenger system, which is translocated from the cytosol to the cell membrane upon cell stimulation. We used confocal microscopy to study the spatial distribution of protein kinase C isoforms after stimulation of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells with different agonists. First, we analysed the effects of angiotensin II and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Confocal microscopy showed a rapid assembly of PKC α along cytosolic fibres followed by a translocation towards the nucleus with angiotensin II. PDGF engendered a similar, but much slower response; however, a cytoskeletal distribution was not observed. We then investigated the effects of thrombin and bFGF on nuclear translocation. bFGF induced a rapid translocation of the isoform towards the perinuclear region and into the nucleus. bFGF had a similar effect on PKC ?. In contrast, thrombin had a smaller effect on nuclear translocation of PKC α and did not influence PKC ?, but instead induced a rapid nuclear translocation of PKC ζ. Thus, tyrosine kinase receptor activation via bFGF induces a rapid association of PKC α and ? within nuclear structures. Our results show that agonists cause, not only a translocation of protein kinase C isoforms into the cell membrane but also into the cell nucleus. Lastly, we analyzed the nuclear immunoreactivity of the PKC isoforms α, δ,? and ζ in vascular smooth muscle cells during the cell cycle. Resting cells were stimulated with foetal calf serum (FCS, 10%), which translocated PKC α and ? to the perinuclear region and into the nucleus, while PKC δ and ζ showed no increase in nuclear immunoreactivity. After 4 h of FCS, the nuclear immunoreactivity for PKC α and ? was reduced to or below control values. At 8 h, increased nuclear expression of isoforms α,? and ζ was observed, while isoform δ was not affected. Our results demonstrate a complex spatial and temporal regulation of PKC isoforms in response to vasoactive hormones and growth factors. We suggest that protein kinase C may be important for nuclear signaling and demonstrate that nuclear translocation of PKC isoforms is differentially regulated during the cell cycle.     

VP-16诱导细胞凋亡及其细胞核基质中热休克蛋白表达的研究

目的　研究VP 16诱导HL 6 0细胞凋亡的变化特点以及凋亡细胞及核基质中热休克蛋白 (HSP)表达的变化。　方法　琼脂糖凝胶电泳观察凋亡细胞基因组DNA断裂 ;TUNEL法观察凋亡细胞的形态学变化 ;用免疫印迹方法显示凋亡细胞核基质蛋白、细胞总蛋白中HSP表达的差异。　结果　VP 16作用HL 6 0细胞 0 5h出现早期凋亡特征。作用 4h可见明显的DNA梯状条带。与未凋亡的细胞比较 ,凋亡细胞核基质蛋白中HSP70和HSC70表达明显上调 ;VP 16作用 2、3及 4h细胞总蛋白中HSP70的表达随时间延长略显增加 ;诱导 2 2h比诱导 4h时去除VP 16后孵至 2 2h凋亡细胞总蛋白HSP70表达量增强了 3 4倍。　结论　 1 HL 6 0细胞早期凋亡形态出现在DNA梯状条带形成之前。 2 凋亡细胞核基质中HSP70、HSC70的表达明显增加 ,经 2、3及 4h作用的细胞总蛋白中HSP70表达差异不显著。这提示细胞凋亡后HSP70的活性位点主要位于核基质上。 3 VP 16作用细胞时间增长至2 2h ,HSP的保护作用可能消失     

Recombinant Sendai viruses with L1618V mutation in their L polymerase protein establish persistent infection, but not temperature sensitivity

The Sendai virus pi strain (SeVpi) isolated from cells persistently infected with SeV shows mainly two phenotypes: (1) temperature sensitivity and (2) an ability of establishing persistent infection (steady state). Three amino acid substitutions are found in the Lpi protein and are located at aa 1088, 1618, and 1664. Recombinant SeV(Lpi) (rSeV(Lpi)) having all these substitutions is temperature sensitive and is capable of establishing persistent infection (steady state). rSeVs carrying the fragment containing L1618V show both phenotypes. rSeV(L1618V), in which leucine at aa 1618 is replaced with valine, has the ability of establishing persistent infection, but is not a temperature-sensitive mutant, indicating that the ability of a virus to establish persistent infection can be separated from temperature sensitivity. The amino acid change at 1618(L-->V) coexisting with aa 1169 threonine is required for acquirement of a temperature-sensitive phenotype. Three amino acid substitutions are also found in the Ppi protein, but rSeV(Ppi) does not show these phenotypes.     

非霍奇金淋巴瘤与p53蛋白表达的关系

目的 :探讨非霍奇金淋巴瘤 (NHL)与 p5 3蛋白表达的关系。 方法 :用免疫组化S P法检测 10 2例 (低度恶性 2 3例 ,中度恶性 36例 ,高度恶性 4 3例 )NHLp5 3蛋白表达 ,根据 p5 3蛋白阳性细胞百分率将其表达水平分为 4级 :0级 (阴性 ) ,1级 (1%～ 2 5 % ) ,2级 (2 6 %～ 5 0 % ) ,3级 (>5 0 % )。结果 :低度恶性组 2 0 / 2 3(87% )p5 3表达为 0级 ,中度恶性组 31/ 36 (86 1% )表达为 1级 ,高度恶性组 33/ 4 3(76 7% )表达为 2～ 3级。 2 5例随访 7～ 6 8个月 ,p5 30～ 1级NHL完全缓解率 (CRR ,11/ 14 )高于p5 32～ 3级NHLCRR (1/ 11,P <0 0 1) ,前者生存率 (13/ 14 )高于后者 (3/ 11,P <0 0 1)。NHLp5 3蛋白表达水平与其恶性度密切相关 (P <0 0 1)。结论 :p5 3蛋白表达阳性细胞百分率是判断NHL恶性度、疗效及预后较可靠的参数。肿瘤性p5 3蛋白表达检测对中高度恶性NHL的诊断有参考价值     

BMP9诱导可逆永生化小鼠瓣膜间质细胞成骨能力研究

目的：建立具有快速增殖能力的可逆永生化主动脉瓣膜间质细胞系。方法：体视显微镜下利用弹簧剪夹取瓣膜组织,胶原酶消化后加入逆转录永生化病毒,利用免疫荧光鉴定细胞是否属于间质细胞,显微镜观察细胞形态,结晶紫、CCK-8和流式细胞周期技术检测细胞增殖能力,碱性磷酸酶染色和茜素红钙盐沉积实验检测细胞成骨能力,q-PCR及Western blot检测细胞成骨标志物。结果：经光镜观察和免疫荧光鉴定,成功取到瓣膜间质细胞。加入永生化病毒后,经光镜观察和免疫荧光确认瓣膜间质细胞未发生表型改变,且在永生化的细胞中能够检测到大量SV40T(P<0.001)。结晶紫染色、CCK-8(P<0.001)和流式细胞周期结果提示永生化后的瓣膜间质细胞增殖速度变快。加入成骨诱导因子骨形态发生蛋白-9(bone morphogenetic protein9,BMP9)后永生化瓣膜间质细胞表现出较好的成骨能力,多数成骨标志物在分子层面的RNA和蛋白水平明显升高。去永生化后瓣膜间质细胞形态无明显改变,q-PCR结果显示SV40T明显降低（P<0.001）,细胞增殖能力明显下降,且细胞周期被阻滞在G0/G1期...     

Metrnl表达降低促进结直肠癌发生和发展

目的 探讨Metrnl与结直肠癌的关系及其在结直肠癌发生发展中的作用。方法 利用人体组织芯片分析结直肠癌和癌旁组织中Metrnl的表达与分布(n=30)。收集临床结直肠癌组织样本15例,利用实时定量多聚酶链式反应(real time PCR)检测Metrnl在结直肠癌组织及正常结肠组织中的转录水平。在细胞实验中,通过慢病毒介导短发夹RNA(shRNA)干扰技术敲减人结肠癌上皮细胞系Caco-2细胞中Metrnl表达,通过CCK8(Cell Counting Kit-8)细胞活力检测试剂盒、凋亡执行蛋白Caspase-3活力检测试剂盒、流式细胞检测Annexin V外翻等探究细胞在5-氟尿嘧啶(5-FU)作用下的存活和凋亡情况。结果 免疫组化检测显示Metrnl蛋白在人结直肠癌组织中增多,但real time PCR结果显示Metrnl mRNA水平降低(P<0.05)。敲减 Metrnl可抑制5-氟尿嘧啶诱导的细胞活力降低和细胞凋亡(P<0.05)。结论 由于肿瘤组织异构,分泌蛋白Metrnl在结直肠癌组织中蓄积,但Metrnl转录在结直肠癌中降低,Metrnl转录降低可能促进了结直肠癌的发生发展,提示该基因有望成为结直肠癌诊断和治疗的新靶点。