Isolation of the ERG2 gene,encoding sterol Δ8Δ→7 isomerase,from the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea and its expression in the maize smut pathogen Ustilago maydis

The Magnaporthe grisea ERG2 gene, encoding ⁸⁷ sterol isomerase, was isolated from a genomic library by heterologous hybridization to a fragment of the Ustilago maydis ERG2 gene. The isolated gene contained a reading frame of 745 bp which encoded a protein of 221 amino acids. The coding region was interrupted by a single putative 79-bp-long intron. The deduced amino-acid sequence exhibited similarity to the ERG2 gene products of U. maydis and of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, particularly in the central region of the proteins. The NH₂-terminal of all three proteins contained a long stretch of amino acids that were strongly hydrophobic, suggesting that they may function by anchoring the protein to a membrane surface. The M. grisea ERG2 gene complemented a U. maydis deletion mutant in which the ERG2 gene had been removed using a one-step gene replacement procedure. The ⁸⁷ sterol isomerase produced by the M. grisea ERG2 gene exhibited a level of sensitivity to the sterol biosynthesis inhibitor, tridemorph, similar to that of the enzyme derived from the U. maydis ERG2 gene.     

Influence of selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors on human neutrophil functions and levels of cAMP and Cai

Summary Chromatographic analysis of 3,5-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoenzymes in the cytosol of human neutrophils shows the predominant presence of PDE IV (cAMP specific) and PDE V (cGMP specific). PDE IV is characterized by (1) cAMP selectivity, (2) a K_M for cAMP of 1.2 M and (3) a typical rank order of IC ₅₀-values for PDE inhibitors: 0.13, 0.17, 47 and 9.5 M for PDE IV selective rolipram, PDE III/IV selective zardaverine, PDE III selective motapizone and unselective 3-isobutyl-l-methylxanthine (IBMX), respectively. Functions of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) such as N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-stimulated superoxide release and fMLP/thimerosal elicited leukotriene (LT) biosynthesis are inhibited by these PDE inhibitors with the same rank order and even lower IC₅₀-values. Measurements of changes in cytosolic Ca_i in Fura-2 loaded PMN demonstrate a transient Ca_i increase after stimulation with 0.1 M fMLP and an additional sustained elevation of Ca_i levels in the presence of thimerosal. PDE inhibitors suppress this sustained phase of Ca_i release with the same rank order of IC₅₀-values as LT biosynthesis. The correlation between fMLP/thimerosal-induced LT biosynthesis and Ca_i levels reveal a Ca_i threshold of 150 nM for arachidonic acid metabolism. cAMP levels in PMN were elevated by PDE inhibitors alone by less than 2-fold. In the presence of fMLP however, cAMP was increased up to 10-fold and the efficacy of PDE inhibitors to increase cAMP paralleled their potency to inhibit PDE IV. It is concluded that (1) suppression of PMN functions is achieved by PDE IV inhibition, (2) necessary cAMP elevations are within 50% increase, (3) superoxide release was affected by cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) directly whereas (4) for inhibition of LT biosynthesis a cAMP related reduction of Ca-influx is involved. Send offprint requests to Ch. Schudt at the above address     

The Biosynthesis of Melanin-Concentrating Hormone in Trout Kept Under Different Conditions of Background Colour and Stress, as Determined by an in vitro Method

The aim of this study was to develop a method to monitor the synthetic activity of neurons which secrete the neurohypophysial melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), a hormone implicated in two separate physiological roles in fish-pigmentary regulation and the response to stress. Trout hypothalamic fragments, containing the MCH neuronal cell bodies, were incubated in vitro in a medium including [(35) S]methionine. Labelled MCH-related products were separated by immunoprecipitation. Gel electrophoresis showed that radioactive methionine was incorporated into MCH precursors and into mature MCH, much as in vivo. Thus, de novo hormone synthesis continues in vitro. Trout reared at a fish-farm and adapted to black or white tanks for 39 days displayed nearly a 2-fold difference in their rate of methionine incorporation. Transferring fish from a black to a white background also doubled the rate of incorporation within 7 days and this rate increased only very slightly during the following 3 weeks. The rate of methionine incorporation by tissue from trout reared in black tanks was very depressed, and 4-fold lower than that of fish reared in white tanks, suggesting that very long-term adaptation to one or other background has increasingly marked effects on the activity and perhaps the number of synthetically active neurons. Stress also influenced the rate of methionine incorporation: a mild daily stress was stimulatory but more frequent stress had an inhibitory effect in many cases. The effects of daily dexamethasone administration were inconclusive. It is suggested that these differences in methionine incorporation reflect the relative rates of MCH synthesis in vivo, and that the method is useful to investigate conditions which modulate the biosynthesis of MCH in the trout.     

肿瘤坏死因子-β抗肿瘤及作用机制的研究

目的 :探讨肿瘤坏死因子 -β(tu mornecrosisfactor β ,TNF β)对 3种人癌细胞的增殖抑制作用及其细胞分子机制。方法 :采用多种体外及体内实验方法 ,从多侧面证实TNF β的抗肿瘤作用。并采用细胞内游离钙浓度测定、12 5I cAMP放免检测法检测cAMP含量。结果 :不同浓度TNF β对肿瘤细胞系均有增殖抑制作用 ,且呈剂量依赖性。当TNF β与顺铂和多柔比星合用 ,JF3 0 5细胞死亡百分比分别达到 ( 68 6±9 0 ) %和 ( 76 5± 7 9) %。TNF β实验组细胞内cAMP浓度明显增加 ,JF3 0 5细胞由( 0 0 5 72± 0 0 176)上升到 ( 0 2 896±0 0 784) pmol/10 6个细胞。此外细胞内钙浓度上升并且凋亡。结论 :TNF β具有体内、外抗肿瘤作用 ,其部分机制是通过增加cAMP含量及诱导细胞凋亡     

MMP-2与TIMP-2在浸润性乳腺癌组织表达的临床意义及相关性研究

目的 :研究乳腺癌组织中基质金属蛋白酶 (MMP 2 )和金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子(TIMP 2 )的表达与临床病理学特征及预后的关系。方法 :应用SP免疫组化方法检测 78例浸润性乳腺癌组织和 10例乳腺良性病变中MMP 2、TIMP 2的半定量表达情况。结果 :1)在78例乳腺癌组织中 ,MMP 2、TIMP 2的阳性表达率分别为 74 3 % ( 5 8/78)和 3 9 7% ( 3 1/78) ,与对照组比较差异有统计学意义 ,P <0 0 1;两者表达呈负相关 ,rs=-0 43 7,P <0 0 1。 2 )MMP 2表达与乳腺癌原发肿瘤大小呈显著正相关 ,rs=0 3 74,P <0 0 1,与组织学分级相关 ,分级越高其阳性表达率就越高 ,rs=0 60 6,P <0 0 1;TIMP 2的表达与肿瘤大小呈负相关rs=-0 2 88,P <0 0 5 ;与组织学分级呈负相关 ,rs=-0 3 77,P <0 0 1。MMP 2阳性表达与腋窝淋巴结转移呈正相关 ,rs=0 45 4,P <0 0 1;TIMP 2的表达与腋窝淋巴结转移呈负相关 ,rs=-0 2 61,P<0 0 5。MMP 2阳性表达与 5年生存率呈负相关 ,P <0 0 1;TIMP 2与 5年生存率呈正相关 ,P<0 0 1。结论 :乳腺癌组织中MMP 2与TIMP 2的表达与肿瘤转移及患者预后密切相关。     

肺神经内分泌癌组织中c-myc和E2F1蛋白表达的临床病理意义

目的:探讨转录因子c-myc和E2F1蛋白在肺神经内分泌癌组织中的表达及其临床病理意义。方法:采用免疫组化SP法检测90例多种肺神经内分泌癌组织中c -myc及E2F1蛋白表达,并分析其与各临床病理指标的关系。结果:c- myc和E2F1蛋白表达定位于癌细胞核;c- myc蛋白表达与组织学类型、临床分期、淋巴结转移、肿瘤大体类型以及预后相关,P<0. 05(P值分别为0. 041、0 .003、0 .019、0. 033和0 .000),与患者性别、年龄无关,P>0 05(P值分别为0 069 和1 000);E2F1表达与组织学类型、临床分期、淋巴结转移、肿瘤大小、预后有关,P<0 .05(P值分别为0. 000、0. 001、0. 000、0 .011和0 .000),与患者性别、年龄无关,P>0. 05(P值分别为0. 105和0 .844)。结论:c- myc、E2F1 蛋白在肺神经内分泌癌的发生、演进过程中起着重要作用,并可作为分子指标检测患者预后。     

肺癌组织中P-选择素和nm23蛋白的表达及其与肿瘤转移的关系

目的探讨P-选择素和nm23蛋白的表达与肺癌转移的关系。方法用免疫组化法检测20例癌旁肺组织和76例肺癌组织中P-选择素和nm23蛋白的表达。结果P-选择素在肺癌各组织学类型、组织学分级中表达差异无统计学意义,χ2=0.308,P=0.857;在肺癌淋巴结转移组中表达率62.00%(31/50),显著高于无淋巴结转移组34.62%(9/26),χ2=5.145,P=0.023;肺癌Ⅲ期、Ⅳ期中阳性率分别为71.43%(15/21)、82.35%(14/17),显著高于Ⅰ期23.81%(5/21)、Ⅱ期35.29%(6/17),χ2=17.000,P=0.000。nm23蛋白在肺癌各组织学类型、组织学分级、TNM分期中表达差异无统计学意义,χ2=2.952,P=0.086;在癌旁组织和肺癌中表达差异无统计学意义,χ2=1.868,P=0.172;在肺癌淋巴结转移组中表达率60.00%(30/50),显著低于无淋巴结转移组88.46%(23/26),χ2=6.566,P=0.010。结论P-选择素高表达提示肺癌高浸润风险,nm23蛋白对肺癌淋巴结转移起抑制作用,P-选择素高表达和nm23蛋白低表达有明显相关性。     

Survivin基因与肿瘤治疗策略

Survivin基因是近年来发现的重要的凋亡抑制基因,具有抑制凋亡和参与细胞周期调控的双重功能。大量的研究报道了在基础和临床实验中survivin基因与放、化疗的敏感性的密切关系。由于survivin基因的重要功能,加之其具有基因治疗最理想的条件,即它在肿瘤组织中表达率高,与正常组织中的表达相比,它同时具有高特异性的特点,因而目前研究关注于以survivin基因为靶点的基因治疗,抑制survivin基因的表达,增加肿瘤的自发性凋亡和放、化疗诱导的凋亡,抑制肿瘤生长,提高肿瘤对放、化疗的敏感性。基因治疗途径包括:1)改变survivin基因功能区的关键位点,使其不能生成正常功能的蛋白。2)通过黄素蛋白(flavopividol)抑制周期素依赖蛋白激酶(Cdc2)活性,使其不能对survivin Thr(34)位点磷酸化,从而抑制了survivin蛋白的正常功能。3)从RNA水平抑制survivin表达的基因沉默技术。上述研究已得到了可喜的结果,过渡到临床实验是进一步努力的目标。肿瘤防治杂志,2005,12(19):1513-1516     

宫颈病变组织中E-cad和β-cat的表达及其意义

目的:研究上皮性钙黏附蛋白 (epithelial cad,E cad)和β 连接素(β catenin,β cat)在宫颈上皮内瘤样病变 (cervicalintraepithelialneoplasia,CIN)和 宫颈鳞癌中的表达及其意义。方法:应用 SP法检测E cad和β cat在正常宫颈上 皮、CINⅠ级、CINⅡ～Ⅲ级及宫颈鳞癌组 织的表达。结果:正常宫颈中E cad和β cat为膜表达。E cad表达在正常宫颈 CINⅠ级、CINⅡ～Ⅲ级和宫颈鳞癌中分别 为86%(12/14)、82%(9/11)、54%(7 13)和21%(8/38);β cat膜表达率分别为 79%(11/14)、64%(7/11)、23%(3/13)和 11%(4/38);E cad表达在正常宫颈与鳞 癌之间、CINⅠ级与鳞癌之间的差异有统 计学意义,P<0.05;在鳞癌的不同病理学 分级和肌层浸润深度之间的差异有统计 学意义,P<0.05。β cat表达在正常宫颈 与CINⅡ～Ⅲ级、宫颈鳞癌以及CINⅠ级 与鳞癌之间差异有统计学意义,P<0.05 在宫颈鳞癌的不同病理分级之间差异有 统计学意义,P<0.05。宫颈鳞癌中,E cad与β cat的表达形式具相关性,P< 0.001。结论:E cad和β cat异常表达是 宫颈上皮性肿瘤进展的早期事件;在宫颈 浸润性鳞癌中,它们的异常表达可能与肿 瘤的侵袭潜能有关。     

一氧化氮合酶与浸润性乳腺癌血管形成的关系及临床意义

目的:探讨一氧化氮合酶(nitrioxide synthase,NOS)与浸润性乳腺癌新生血管形成的关系及其临床意义。方法:采用分光光度法检测30例浸润性乳腺癌及其相应癌旁乳腺组织和30例良性乳腺病变组织的 NOS活性,应用免疫组织化学SP法,以抗第8因子相关抗原(ⅧRAg)抗体标记血管内皮细胞,根据ⅧRAg阳性的血管内皮细胞计数来测定微血管密度(microvessel density, MVD)。结果:1)浸润性乳腺癌 NOS活性(2. 22±1 .39)显著高于相应癌旁乳腺组织(1. 29±0 .48)及良性乳腺病变组织(0 .50±0. 14),P=0 .004,P=0. 000;相应癌旁乳腺组织NOS活性高于良性乳腺病变组织,P=0 .000。2)乳腺癌 MVD计数(40. 53±8. 29)明显高于相应癌旁乳腺组织(18. 07±4. 90),P=0 000。3)有腋淋巴结转移者 NOS活性(2 .60±1 .66)高于无淋巴结转移者(1 .72±0 .41),P=0 .048,且明显形成更多的微血管,P=0 000。4)乳腺肿瘤组织NOS活性和MVD与肿瘤大小、分化程度和ER、PR表达状况无关。5)浸润性乳腺癌NOS活性与肿瘤 MVD呈正相关,r=0 .494,P=0 .014。结论:1)浸润性乳腺癌NOS活性、MVD与其淋巴结转移密切相关,一氧化氮(nitric oxide, NO)生成可促肿瘤新生血管形成,并促其生长、发展和侵袭转移。2)肿瘤微环境中 NO合成增加可能促肿瘤生长。3)NOS活性增加可作