New insights on P2X purinoceptors

Significant advances in understanding of P_2X purinoceptor pharmacology have been made in the last few years. The limitations of nucleotide agonists as drug tools have now been amply demonstrated. Fortunately, inhibitors of the degrading ecto-ATPase enzymes are becoming available and it has become apparent that the complete removal of all divalent cations can be used experimentally in some systems to prevent nucleotide breakdown. Despite these issues, convincing evidence for P_2X receptor heterogeneity, from data with agonists, has recently been reported.A number of new antagonists at P_2X purinoceptors have also recently been described which to some degree appear to be more specific and useful than earlier antagonists like suramin. It is now apparent that suramin is a poor antagonist of ATP in many tissues because it potently inhibits ATPase activity at similar concentrations to those at which it blocks the P_2X purinoceptor.Advances in the use of radiolabelled nucleotides as radioligands for binding studies has allowed the demonstration of P_2X purinoceptors in a variety of tissues throughout the body including the brain. These studies have also provided evidence for receptor heterogeneity. Excitingly, two P_2X purinoceptor genes have been cloned but operational studies suggest that more than two types exist. The cloning studies have also demonstrated a unique structure for the P_2X purinoceptor which differentiates it from all other ligand-gated ion channel receptors. Further studies on P_2X purinoceptor operation and structure are needed to help resolve controversies alluded to regarding the characterization and classification of nucleotide receptors. Hopefully such studies will also lead to a better understanding of the physiological and pathological importance of ATP and its activation of P_2X purinoceptors. This will require the identification of better drug tools, in particular antagonists which may also provide the basis for novel therapeutic agents.     

Intramuscular dexmedetomidine premedication—an alternative to midazolam-fentanyl-combination in elective hysterectomy?

Sedation, anxiolysis, intubation responses and fentanyl anaesthetic requirements were investigated in a double-blind, randomized study in twenty ASA I-II elective hysterectomy patients. Ten patients received dexmedetomidine 2.5 μg kg^-1 i.m. 60 min before induction and saline placebo i.v. 2 min prior to induction (= DP group). Ten patients received midazolam 0.08 mg kg^-1 i.m. 60 min and fentanyl 1.5 μg kg^-1 i.v. (= MF group) 2 min before induction of anaesthesia with thiopentone 4 mg kg^-1. Anaesthesia was maintained with 70% nitrous oxide in oxygen and with fentanyl 2 μg kg^-1 i.v. increments according to predetermined criteria. Both premedications induced sedation ( P < 0.01 in both groups) and anxiolysis ( P < 0.01 in DP vs <0.05 in MF group) without any differences between the groups. Haemodynamic changes following tracheal intubation did not significantly differ between the groups. Intraoperatively systolic and diastolic arterial pressure were 15% and 13% lower in DP group ( P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 for drug effect), the mean heart rate was approximately 9 beats min^-1 lower in DP group (n.s.). Fentanyl was required more often in MF group: median 3.5 (QD 1.5) vs. 2.5 (QD 0.5) times in DP group ( P < 0.05), the total amount being 57% smaller in DP group: 0.03 (QD 0.01) vs. 0.07 (QD 0.02) μg kg^-1 min^-1 ( P < 0.05). Postoperative course and analgesic requirements were similar in both groups. Dexmedetomidine premedication may offer an alternative to current anaesthesia practice in elective hysterectomy.     

Soluble CD14 but not interleukin-6 is a new marker for clinical activity in atopic dermatitis

Summary Levels of soluble IL-2 receptors, IL-6, soluble CD23, soluble CD14 and ECP (eosinophilic cationic protein) were measured as markers of T-cell, B-cell, monocyte and eosinophilic leucocyte activation in 26 patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) on admission to (A) and at discharge from (D) the Department of Dermatology in Zurich. The serum levels of sIL-2R, IL-6, sCD23, sCD14 and ECP were significantly elevated in AD patients in comparison with the normal values of healthy donors. A significant decrease in sIL-2R (p=0.0093) and in sCD14 (p=0.0134) levels was demonstrated between A and D, correlating with the improvement in the skin intensity score (SIS). In addition, a significant correlation of the sCD14 levels and the SIS at A was demonstrated (p=0.0415). These results also incriminate monocytes in the pathogenesis of AD, indicating that, besides sIL-2R and ECP, SCD14 could also be a possible marker for the disease activity.     

Neurophysiological investigation of effects of the D-1 agonist SKF 38393 on tonic activity of substantia nigra dopamine neurons

The effects of the D-1 agonist SKF 38393 on tonic activity of rat substantia nigra pars compacta dopamine neurons were studied using extracellular, single-unit recording techniques. Unlike nonselective D-1/D-2 dopamine agonists or the D-2 agonist quinpirole, SKF 38393 did not inhibit dopamine neuronal activity when applied iontophoretically or when administered intravenously in doses up to 20 mg/kg to chloral hydrate-anesthetized rats. Moreover, pretreatment with SKF 38393 did not alter the inhibitory response of these neurons to apomorphine or the D-2 agonist quinpirole. However, in locally anesthetized, gallamine-treated, artificially respired rats, dopamine cell activity was significantly altered by i.v. administration of SKF 38393; firing rate increases and decreases were observed. Administration of the inactive enantiomer of SKF 38393, S-SKF 38393, did not induce similar changes in parallel experiments. These results support the idea that unlike D-2 autoreceptor stimulation, D-1 receptor stimulation does not exert a direct local effect on dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and suggest that D-1 receptor stimulation at sites postsynaptic to the dopamine cells may indirectly affect the activity of some dopamine neurons through long-loop feedback mechanisms.     

AMPA受体的代谢

近年来研究表明AMPA受体和突触可塑性密切相关，了解AMPA受体的整个生命过程有助于进一步认识突触可塑性，进而认识学习记忆的分子机制。AMPA受体在粗面内质网合成，经高尔基体修饰后，更多地分布在树突柄等非突触部位，LTP和CaMKⅡ可以启动AMPA受体的突触插入，之后通过其胞质内C端，由ABP，GRIP和NSF等蛋白介导，锚定于突触后致密斑。PICK1和PKC可以介导突触膜上AMPA受体的胞吞过程，离开突触后，AMPA受体或被重新循环利用，或被溶酶体最终降解。     

重症肌无力患者IgG脑室内注射对大鼠EEG及BAEP的影响

目的 观察重症肌无力(myasthenia gravis，MG)患者IgG(AChRAb)经大鼠脑室内注入对其脑电图(electroencephalography，EEG)及脑干听觉诱发电位(brain stem auditory evoked potential，BAEP)的影响，并探讨AChRAb影响大鼠中枢神经系统(CNS)的机制。方法将从确诊的、AChRAb阳性的MG患者血清中提纯的IgG(AChRAb)，注射到实验组大鼠侧脑室，对照组大鼠则注射健康人IgG，观察大鼠行为学、BAEP、EEG改变。结果实验组大鼠术后出现类似于实验性自身免疫性MG的行为学改变，部分大鼠出现癫痫发作BAEP峰间潜伏期(IPLs)延长EEG异常，即δ、θ增多与痫性波发放增加。结论 MGAChRAb可致大鼠CNS损害，AChRAb与大鼠CNS神经元型乙酰胆碱受体结合，可能是其病理生理机制。     

Growth factor pre-treatment differentially regulates phosphoinositide turnover downstream of lysophospholipid receptor and metabotropic glutamate receptors in cultured rat cerebrocortical astrocytes

Reactive gliosis is an aspect of neural plasticity and growth factor (GF) stimulation of astrocytes in vitro is widely regarded as a model system to study astrocyte plasticity. Astrocytes express receptors for several ligands including lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), agonists for the G-protein-coupled lysophospholipid receptors (lpRs). Activation of lpRs by LPA or S1P leads to multiple pharmacological effects including the influx of calcium, phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis, phosphorylation of extracellular receptor regulated kinase (ERK), release of arachidonic acid, and induces mitogenesis. Treatment of astrocytes in vitro with a growth factor cocktail (containing epidermal growth factor [EGF], basic fibroblast growth factor [bFGF] and insulin) led to a marked attenuation of lpR-induced PI hydrolysis. In contrast, under identical conditions, GF treatment led to marked potentiation of PI hydrolysis downstream of activation of another abundantly expressed G-protein coupled receptor, mGluR5. Quantitative gene expression analysis of GF-treated or control astrocytes by TaqMan RT-PCR indicated that GF treatment did not change gene expression of lpa1 and s1p1, but increased gene expression of s1p5 which is expressed at very low levels in basal conditions. These results suggest that GF differentially affected PLC activation downstream of mGluR5 versus lpR activation and that the changes in mRNA levels of lpRs do not account for marked attenuation of agonist-induced phosphoinositide turnover.     

重症肌无力抗乙酰胆碱受体单链抗体基因的构建

[目的 ]构建重症肌无力抗乙酰胆碱受体主要免疫原区单链抗体A 7基因 .[方法 ]应用PCR技术及基因克隆技术分两步完成重链和轻链可变区基因的克隆 ,再对构建的单链抗体A 7基因进行序列测定检测其核苷酸序列 .[结果 ]构建的重组质粒经序列分析 ,重链可变区基因长度为 36 9bp ,轻链可变区基因长度为 32 1bp ,单链抗体基因长度为 735bp ;单链抗体A 7基因正确地插入在载体质粒pHEN 2开放读码框架内 .[结论 ]成功地构建重症肌无力抗乙酰胆碱受体主要免疫原区单链抗体A 7基因 ,为进一步制备基因工程抗体奠定了基础 .     

Concurrent signaling from Gαq- and Gαi-coupled pathways is essential for agonist-induced αvβ3 activation on human platelets

Summary.  The integrin αvβ3 mediates platelet adhesion to the matrix protein osteopontin and likely is the predominant integrin mediating platelet adhesion to the matrix protein vitronectin. To address the mechanism that regulates αvβ3 activity in platelets, we measured the effect of the P2Y₁ antagonist adenosine 3'-phosphate-5'-phosphate (A3P5P) and the P2Y₁₂ antagonist AR-C66096 on ADP-stimulated platelet adhesion to osteopontin and vitronectin. Each antagonist completely inhibited platelet adhesion, implying that concurrent stimulation of P2Y₁ and P2Y₁₂ was required to activate αvβ3. The reducing agent dithiothreitol and Mn²⁺ also induced platelet adhesion to osteopontin, but did so without stimulating platelet activation. Thus, these data suggest that ADP stimulation regulates αvβ3 activity by perturbing the conformation of its extracellular domain. The actin polymerization inhibitors cytochalasin D and latrunculin A also induced platelet adhesion to osteopontin and vitronectin. Thus, αvβ3 activity in resting platelets appears to be constrained by the platelet cytoskeleton. Moreover, the effect of these agents was inhibited by A3P5P and AR-C66096 at micromolar and subnanomolar concentrations, respectively, suggesting that subthreshold platelet stimulation by ADP was required. Our data suggest that signals from both Gα_q- and Gα_i-coupled receptors converge to release cytoskeletal constraints on αvβ3. We propose that the release of cytoskeletal constraints and a concurrent increase in affinity for ligands is responsible for αvβ3-mediated platelet adhesion.