The aging brain, a key target for the future: The protein kinase C involvement

The brain represents the primary centre for the regulation and control of all our body activities, receiving and interpreting sensory impulses and transmitting information to the periphery. Most importantly, it is also the seat of consciousness, thought, emotion and especially memory, being in fact able to encode, store and recall any information. Memory is really what makes possible so many of our complex cognitive functions, including communication and learning, and surely without memory, life would lose all of its glamour and purpose. Age-associated mental impairment can range in severity from forgetfulness at the border with pathology to dementia, such as in Alzheimer's disease. In recent years, one of the most relevant observations of research on brain aging relates to data indicating that age-related cognitive decline is not only due to neuronal loss, as previously thought; instead, scientists now believe that age-associated functional changes have more to do with the dysfunctions occurring over time. Within this context a prominent role is certainly played by signal transduction cascades which guarantee neuronal cell to elaborate coordinated responses to the multiple signals coming from the outside and to adapt itself to the environmental changes and requests. This review will focus the attention on protein kinase C pathway, with a particular interest on its activation process, and on the role of protein-lipid and protein-protein interactions to selectively localize the cellular responses. Furthermore, information is emerging and will be discussed on the possibility of mRNA stabilization through PKC activation. This review will also approach the issue on how alterations of these molecular cascades may have implications in physiological and pathological brain aging, such as Alzheimer's disease.     

柴胡疏肝散、四君子汤对肝郁、脾虚大鼠Th细胞蛋白激酶C表达的影响

目的研究柴胡疏肝散、四君子汤对肝郁、脾虚大鼠Th细胞蛋白激酶C(PKC)表达的影响及其意义。方法应用RT—PCR法研究柴胡疏肝散、四君子汤对Th细胞PKCmRNA表达的影响。结果脾虚时PKCmRNA表达水平明显低于正常对照组 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,四君子汤治疗后恢复正常 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,柴胡疏肝散治疗后仍明显低于正常对照组 ;肝郁时PKCmRNA表达水平明显高于正常对照组 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,柴胡疏肝散治疗后恢复正常 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,但四君子汤治疗效应不明显。结论肝脾两脏在T细胞尤其是Th0的活化中具有相关性 ;PKC参与了肝脾这种相关的发生。     

5种拟钉螺酯酶同工酶酶谱的比较研究

采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶垂直平板电泳技术，对湖北和四川两省５种拟钉螺的酯酶同工酶酶谱进行比较研究，并以湖北钉螺作对照，５种拟钉螺酯酶同工酶共分离出８条酶带，酶谱可分成３区，即ＥＳＴ－１、ＥＳＴ－２、ＥＳＴ－３，其基本特征与钉螺显著不同，很容易通过酶谱将拟钉螺与钉螺区分开，同时，５种拟钉螺的酯酶同工酶酶谱之间均存在一定的差异，说明拟钉螺种间酯酶同工酶存在多态，而种间差异程度似与地域隔离的远近有关。结果提示拟钉螺酯酶同工酶的酶谱特征既有助于拟钉螺属的鉴定，又有助于拟钉螺近缘种的区分，从而对拟钉螺的分类有较大的参考价值。     

卵巢癌中蛋白激酶C的表达及其临床意义

目的　探讨上皮性卵巢癌组织蛋白激酶C (proteinkinaseC ,PKC)的表达和化疗耐药的关系 ,以及与P -糖蛋白 (P -gp)的相关性。方法　用免疫组化S -P法检测 35例卵巢上皮性肿瘤组织、 2 0例卵巢良性肿瘤组织和 2 0例正常卵巢组织中PKC和P -gp的表达 ,并进行相关临床因素分析。结果　①PKC、P -gp在卵巢恶性肿瘤中的表达明显高于在良性及正常组织中的表达 ;并且PKC和P -gp的表达有相关性 (P <0 0 5 ) ;②卵巢癌PKC的表达与临床病理因素无直接关系 ;③恶性肿瘤中 ,初治和复发的PKC表达阳性率分别为 34 8%和 75 % ;④化疗对PKC表达阳性和阴性卵巢癌患者的有效率分别为 2 3 5 %、 6 6 7% (P <0 0 5 ) ;⑤PKC表达阴性患者的预后优于阳性者 (P =0 0 39)。结论　PKC表达与卵巢癌组织化疗耐药明显相关 ,可能在P -gp介导的卵巢癌多药耐药中起重要作用。     

云南不同地株微小按蚊酯酶同工酶比较研究

笔者应用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳（ＰＡＧＥ）技术，比较分析了云南５个（元阳、潞西、镇康、思茅、昭通）地株微小按蚊酯酶（Ｅｓｔ）同工酶，并对各酶谱进行扫描分析。结果：Ｅｓｔ同工酶均出现Ⅰ、Ⅱ两组区带，各自具有相对稳定的酶谱，同时也存在遗传上的多态现象，各地株间的酶谱中存在着一定的差异。     

雌激素替代治疗大鼠海马结构PKC阳性细胞的变化

目的 :观察雌性大鼠行去势后以及雌激素替代治疗海马结构蛋白激酶C ( proteinkinaseC ,PKC)阳性细胞的变化 ,通过该模型研究绝经期后女性情绪烦躁、记忆下降等神经精神症状的分子机制。方法 :将大鼠分为对照组、去势 3个月组和去势后雌激素替代治疗 3个月组 ,用免疫组织化学方法检测海马结构PKC阳性细胞的变化。结果 :PKC阳性细胞主要分布于下托和齿状回的颗粒层 ,其中齿状回内的阳性细胞较下托的多。去势 3个月组与对照组相比 ,齿状回内的PKC阳性细胞没有显著性减少 (P >0 .0 5 ) ,下托PKC阳性细胞显著减少 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;雌激素治疗组与对照组相比 ,下托细胞数量有所减少 ,但无显著性差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论 :海马结构下托PKC阳性细胞的减少可能在绝经后女性情绪烦躁、记忆下降等症状中起重要的作用。     

Insulin inhibits phagocytosis in normal human neutrophils via PKCα/β-dependent priming of F-actin assembly

Objective: This study investigated the effects of insulin on the phagocytosis of C3bi – and IgG-opsonized yeast particles in normal human neutrophils. Methods: Neutrophils were incubated in different insulin concentrations for 30 minutes and stimulated by C3bi – or IgG-opsonized yeast particles. Phagocytosis was quantified by both light microscopy and FACscan flow cytometry. Laser confocal microscopy was used for quantification of F-actin levels. Results: Elevated insulin concentrations decreased neutrophil phagocytosis of both types of targets. This defect was shown to be in part due to a delayed phagocytosis in the presence of insulin. Following a 30 minute incubation, insulin was found to increase the accumulation of cortical F-actin, without affecting the total cellular F-actin content. The specific PKCα/β inhibitor, Go6976, abolished the insulin-mediated increase in cortical F-actin content and both Go6976 and the PKCα/β/δ/ε-specific inhibitor GF109203X reversed the inhibitory effects of insulin on phagocytosis. Conclusion: Hyperinsulinemia in vitro can inhibit phagocytosis of opsonized targets in normal human neutrophils. This effect of insulin is dependent on activation of PKCα and/or PKCβ, and these insulin signals may interfere with the dynamic assembly/disassembly and/or distribution of F-actin, which is required for the phagocytosis process. Received 8 July 2005; accepted 13 October 2005 without revision I. Ahnfelt-R?nne