磷酸化肌球蛋白轻链及其激酶在耐药颞叶癫(癎)患者脑组织中的表达

目的探讨耐药性癫癎颞叶和海马脑组织中磷酸化肌球蛋白轻链(phosphorylation of myosin light chain,P-MLC)及其激酶(myosin light chain kinase,MLCK)的表达在癫癎芽生形成中的作用。方法免疫组化检测32例耐药性颞叶癫癎中P-MLC及其激酶MLCK的蛋白质表达水平,并与对照组比较。结果P-MLC免疫组化结果显示,耐药性颞叶癫癎组颞叶光密度值(0.35±0.13)高于对照组(0.19±0.027,P<0.05);耐药组海马光密度值(0.41±0.02)高于对照组(0.10±0.06,P<0.05)。免疫组化结果显示耐药组的MLCK表达水平在颞叶组织和海马组织中较对照组无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论P-MLC及其激酶MLCK的功能与苔藓纤维芽生关系密切,P-MLC蛋白质产物在耐药性癫中明显升高,但其磷酸化激酶MLCK的表达并不升高,提示MLCK和去磷酸化酶间动态平衡被打破是P-MLC升高的原因,而P-MLC的升高可能在苔藓纤维芽生的形成中发挥重要作用。     

胰岛素对糖尿病模型大鼠肾脏肌球蛋白轻链激酶表达的影响

已知糖尿病早期肾小球滤过率(GFR)升高,并与糖尿病肾病的发展有关[1,2].肾小动脉血管平滑肌的收缩改变了肾血流动力学是引起GFR升高的原因之一.探索糖尿病肾血管平滑肌收缩的调控因素可为进一步阐明糖尿病发生发展机制打下良好的基础.肌球蛋白轻链激酶(MLCK)表达增加和活性升高是血管平滑肌收缩的启动因素之一[3].糖尿病个体是否存在MLCK表达的变化尚未见报道.本研究在复制大鼠糖尿病模型的基础上,观察胰岛素对糖尿病大鼠肾MLCK表达的影响.     

MK2 plays an important role for the increased vascular permeability that follows thermal injury

We previously reported Rho kinase is involved in vessel hyper-permeability caused by burns. Here we further explore the Rho kinase downstream signaling, it is found that its specific inhibitor Y27632 significantly diminishes the activation of JNK and p38 MAPKs but not ERK that induced by serum from burned rats (burn-serum). JNK activation was found involved in the expression of HUVEC adhesion molecules following thermal injury, although not in the process of stress fiber formation. Inhibition of various MAPKs by specific inhibitors showed that SB203580 (inhibitor of p38), but neither SP600125 (inhibitor of JNK) nor PD98059 (inhibitor of ERK), abolish activation of the p38 downstream kinase MK2. Demonstration of stress fibers by fluorescent-labeled phalloidin showed that inhibition of MK2, either by its specific inhibitor or by dominant negative adeno-viral-carried constructs, significantly reduced burn-serum-induced HUVEC stress-fiber formation, while inhibition of another downstream p38 MAPK kinase, PRAK, had no such effects. Transfection of dominant negative adeno-viral MK2 (Ad-MK2(A)) significantly inhibited thermal injury-induced blood vessel hyper-permeability in rats and, moreover, prolonged the survival of burned rats beyond 72 h following thermal injury. One of the mechanisms behind these phenomena is that Ad-MK2(A) causes a significant depression of burn-serum-induced HSP27-phosphorylation, while the adeno-viral transported dominant negative PRAK (Ad-PRAK(A)) does not block. Although the effect of blockade of MK2 through its adeno-viral approach requires further study and investigation of alternatives to know for sure, we may have found a new pathway behind thermal-injury-induced blood vessel hyper-permeability, namely: Rho kinase > p38 > MK2 > HSP27.     

Differing roles of protein kinase C-zeta in disruption of tight junction barrier by enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and enterohemorrhagic E. coli harbor highly homologous pathogenicity islands yet show key differences in their mechanisms of action. Both disrupt host intestinal epithelial tight junctions, but the effects of enteropathogenic E. coli are more profound than those of enterohemorrhagic E. coli. The basis for this is not understood. The atypical protein kinase C isoform, protein kinase C-zeta, associates with and regulates the tight junction complex. The aim of this study was to compare the role of protein kinase C-zeta in the disruption of tight junctions after infection with enteropathogenic E. coli and enterohemorrhagic E. coli. METHODS: Model intestinal epithelial monolayers infected by enteropathogenic E. coli or enterohemorrhagic E. coli were used for these studies. RESULTS: Neither bisindolylmaleimide nor G?6976, which block several protein kinase C isoforms but not protein kinase C-zeta, protected against the decrease in transepithelial electrical resistance after enteropathogenic E. coli infection. Rottlerin at concentrations that block novel and atypical isoforms, including protein kinase C-zeta, significantly attenuated the decrease in transepithelial electrical resistance. The specific inhibitory peptide, myristoylated protein kinase C-zeta pseudosubstrate, also significantly decreased the enteropathogenic E. coli -associated decrease in transepithelial electrical resistance and redistribution of tight junction proteins. In contrast to enteropathogenic E. coli, the level of protein kinase C-zeta enzyme activity stimulated by enterohemorrhagic E. coli was transient and minor, and protein kinase C-zeta inhibition had no effect on the decrease in transepithelial electrical resistance or the redistribution of occludin. CONCLUSIONS: The differential regulation of protein kinase C-zeta by enteropathogenic E. coli and enterohemorrhagic E. coli may in part explain the less profound effect of the latter on the barrier function of tight junctions.     

重组平滑肌肌球蛋白轻链激酶及ATP结合位点突变体的构建及表达

目的 构建重组全长平滑肌肌球蛋白轻链激酶(myosin light chain kinase,MLCK)ATP结合位点突变体,以研究平滑肌MLCK的结构与功能.方法 利用试剂盒对MLCK ATP结合位点进行定点突变,构建全长平滑肌MLCK ATP结合位点突变体重组表达载体pCold/BsMLCK/△ATP,在大肠杆菌中表达:利用SDS-PAGE鉴定表达的重组全长平滑肌MLCK ATP结合位点突变体在细胞中的分布:运用亲和层析及凝胶过滤分离纯化重组全长MLCK并利用SDS-PAGE鉴定表达MLCK的纯度.结果 重组全长MLCK/△ATP(突变型)在大肠杆菌中以可溶的形式大量表达;在样品的上清和沉淀中均有重组全长MLCK/△ATP表达;经CaM-Sepharose 4B和Superose 6 HR纯化,SDS-PAGE鉴定得到单一的表达条带.结论 重组全长MLCK/△ATP(突变型)可以在大肠杆菌中以可溶形式大量表达;SDS-PAGE结果显示重组全长MLCK/△ATP可以通过亲和层析和凝胶过滤纯化得到单一的条带.     

不同刺激量针刺关元穴对寒凝类痛经模型大鼠的影响

目的：观察不同的针刺刺激量施于关元穴对寒凝类痛经模型大鼠子宫组织中收缩素受体（ OTR）及肌球蛋白轻链激酶（ MLCK）含量的影响。方法将处于动情间期3月龄的SD雌性大鼠32只,随机分为盐水组、寒凝类痛经模型组24只,造模成功后将寒凝类痛经模型组又分为模型组、刺激量A组和刺激量B组,每组8只。除盐水组外,模型组、刺激量A组和刺激量B组均采用全身冷冻法结合苯甲酸雌二醇注射法造模。盐水组和模型组不予针刺,刺激量A组予以粗针、深刺、行手法;刺激量B组予以细针、浅刺、不施手法。采用荧光定量PCR方法检测大鼠子宫组织中缩宫素受体（ OTR）的含量。采用ELISA（酶联免疫法）测量大鼠子宫组织中MLCK的含量。结果与盐水组比较,模型组的子宫收缩波个数、波峰峰值、活动度及MLCK水平均升高（ P﹤0.01）;与模型组比较,刺激量A组的子宫收缩波个数明显减少（ P﹤0.05）、MLCK含量明显降低（ P﹤0.01）,刺激量B组的OTR mRNA相对表达量降低（ P﹤0.05）;与刺激量A组比较,刺激量B组收缩波个数增多（ P﹤0.05）、OTR mRNA相对表达量降低（ P﹤0.01）。结论不同刺激量针刺关元穴对寒凝类痛经模型大鼠的效应有所不同,粗针、深刺、行手法的效应较强于细针、浅刺、不行手法的针刺效应,提示针刺的刺激量也是决定针刺疗效的因素之一。     

环孢素A对DSS结肠炎小鼠肠黏膜通透性影响及其机制的研究

目的探讨环孢素A(CsA)对葡聚糖硫酸钠(DSS)结肠炎小鼠肠黏膜通透性的影响及作用机制。方法 C57BL/6J小鼠(6～8周龄、体质量20 g±2 g、♂),实验分为正常对照组(饮用无菌蒸馏水+腹腔注射0.9%NS)、DSS模型组(DSS溶液+腹腔注射0.9%NS)、环孢素A组(DSS溶液+腹腔注射CsA)。小鼠自由饮用5%DSS溶液1周制备结肠炎模型,环孢素A(0.025 mg.g-1)腹腔注射给药,每天1次,共7 d。每日行DAI评分,实验结束后取结肠进行HE染色评分,结肠匀浆检测MPO活性、TNF-α、IFN-γ、IL-13和IL-17水平,另取小鼠小肠黏膜进行透射电镜检查和肌球蛋白轻链激酶(MLCK)活性测定,采用Evans blue和异硫氰酸荧光素-葡聚糖(FITC-D)方法检测小肠黏膜通透性。结果与正常对照组比较,模型对照组小鼠1周后出现明显体重减轻、便血和腹泻,DAI评分和HI评分增高,同时结肠黏膜MPO活性明显增高。电镜检查小鼠回肠黏膜上皮绒毛萎缩、排列不规则,细胞间连接复合体缩短、变宽,细胞间隙扩大,小肠黏膜通透性增高。小鼠结肠匀浆中TNF-α、IFN-γ、IL-13和IL-17水平均有不同程度增高,小肠黏膜中MLCK活性明显增高。与DSS模型组比较,环孢素A组小鼠DAI评分和HI评分明显降低,结肠黏膜MPO活性减低,回肠黏膜上皮细胞绒毛排列整齐,小肠黏膜通透性降低,小肠黏膜MLCK活性和结肠匀浆中TNF-α、IFN-γ、IL-13和IL-17水平均有不同程度降低。结论环孢素A具有明显的抗DSS小鼠结肠炎作用,机制可能与通过调控MLCK表达,改善肠黏膜通透性有关。     

A role for the MAPK/ERK pathway in oligodendroglial differentiation in vitro: stage specific effects on cell branching

The mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) pathway is important for both long-term survival and timing of the progression of oligodendrocyte differentiation. Oligodendroglial cells treated with MEK inhibitor were distinguished by using stage specific markers: NG2 proteoglycan, A2B5, 2′3′nucleotide-cyclic 3′phosphodiesterase (CNPase) and myelin basic protein (MBP), and classified according to their morphology into different developmental stages. Treatment significantly increased the number of cells with more immature morphologies and decreased the number of mature cells. Furthermore, it increased the number of rounded cells that could not be classified into any of the oligodendroglial developmental stages. The strongest effects were usually observed shortly after treatment. Rounded cells were CNPase/MBP positive and they were not stained by anti-NG2 or A2B5, indicating that they were mature cells unable either to extend and/or to maintain their processes. These data showed an effect of the MAPK/ERK pathway on oligodendroglial branching, with possible consequences for the formation of the myelin sheath.     

A variant of the myosin light chain kinase gene is associated with severe asthma in African Americans

Asthma is a complex phenotype influenced by environmental and genetic factors for which severe irreversible structural airway alterations are more frequently observed in African Americans. In addition to a multitude of factors contributing to its pathobiology, increased amounts of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), the central regulator of cellular contraction, have been found in airway smooth muscle from asthmatics. The gene encoding MLCK (MYLK) is located in 3q21.1, a region noted by a number of genome-wide studies to show linkage with asthma and asthma-related phenotypes. We studied 17 MYLK genetic variants in European and African Americans with asthma and severe asthma and identified a single non-synonymous polymorphism (Pro147Ser) that was almost entirely restricted to African populations and which was associated with severe asthma in African Americans. These results remained highly significant after adjusting for proportions of ancestry estimated using 30 unlinked microsatellites (adjusted odds ratio: 1.76 [95% confidence interval, CI: 1.17-2.65], p = 0.005). Since all common HapMap polymorphisms in approximately 500 kb contiguous regions have low-to-moderate linkage disequilibrium with Pro147Ser, we speculate that this polymorphism is causally related to the severe asthma phenotype in African Americans. The association of this polymorphism, located in the N-terminal region of the non-muscle MLCK isoform, emphasizes the potential importance of the vascular endothelium, a tissue in which MLCK is centrally involved in multiple aspects of the inflammatory response, in the pathogenesis of severe asthma. This finding also offers a possible genetic explanation for some of the more severe asthma phenotype observed in African American asthmatics.