10株水痘带状疱疹病毒的分离鉴定与生物学特性

用ＶｅｒｏＥ６细胞从１２例水痘及带状疱疹病人水疱液中分离到１０株病毒,分离阳性率为８３．３％。１０株病毒均具有使感染细胞圆缩、融合、脱落等典型的ＶＺＶ局灶性细胞病变（ＣＰＥ）特点,ＣＰＥ随着传代次数增加而加快。用带状疱疹恢复期病人血清作间接免疫荧光染色镜检,可见典型的感染细胞核内荧光块。１０株病毒感染细胞制成的抗原片,检测５例带状疱疹病人急性期及恢复期血清,荧光抗体滴度均有４倍以上增高。ＶＺＶ对Ｖｅｒｏ细胞敏感;对沙鼠肾,胎兔肾,胎豚鼠肾、肺、脾原代单层细胞不敏感;对乳小白鼠不敏感。毒种在－２０℃保存一周内死亡;但在３０％脱脂牛奶、２０％小牛血清及１０％山梨醇Ｅａｇｌｅ’ｓ液中,液体或真空冷冻干燥－１００℃可保存二年以上。     

Leptin对猪原代脂肪细胞脂解及其关键脂酶mRNA表达的影响

Leptin是由脂肪组织分泌的内源因子,在调节机体能量平衡过程中起重要作用.Leptin促进脂解的研究由来已久,但其作用机理尚不完善.本研究旨在通过系统检测关键脂酶mRNA的表达变化来探讨Leptin促进脂解的分子机理.运用形态学观察,油红O染色和RT-PCR鉴定培养的猪原代脂肪细胞;甘油测定试剂盒和游离脂肪酸(FFA)测定试剂盒分别检测甘油和FFA的释放;半定量RT-PCR检测关键脂酶mRNA的表达.结果显示:100 nmol/L的Leptin可显著上调ATGL、TGH-2、HSL、MGL和LPL mRNA的表达(P<0.01),但同时下调Perilipin mRNA的表达(P<0.01);Leptin呈浓度依赖性促进甘油的释放(P<0.01),但对FFA的释放影响不显著(P>0.05).以上结果提示,Leptin可能主要通过上调ATGL、MGL、LPL和下调Perilipin的表达促进猪原代脂肪细胞的脂解;同时推测,FFA释放的相对稳定可能是由Leptin通过上调UCPs的表达而增加FFA的消耗引起的.     

大鼠生后发育期间胰腺IAPP免疫组织化学定位研究

本文应用免疫组织化学ＰＡＰ法对正常雄性Ｗｉｓｔａｒ大鼠生后发育期间胰腺ＩＡＰＰ－ＩＲ阳性细胞进行了定位研究。结果表明;生后１天的大鼠胰岛内即已存在ＩＡＰＰ－ＩＲ阳性细胞,双染法证实ＩＡＰＰ与胰岛素共存于胰岛Ｂ细胞的胞质内。ＩＡＰＰ细胞免疫反应强度随生后发育而变化,２８天以后趋于稳定。胰腺外分泌部也有散在的ＩＡＰＰ－ＩＲ细胞。本文初步探讨了上述结果的生物学意义。     

NEDD4 promotes cell growth and motility in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related death worldwide. In China, the situation is even worse as cancer incidence and mortality continue to increase rapidly. Although tremendous progress has been made toward HCC treatments, the benefits for liver cancer patients are still limited. Therefore, it is necessary to identify and develop novel therapeutic methods. Neuronally expressed developmentally downregulated 4 (NEDD4), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, plays a critical role in the development and progression of various types of human cancers. In our study, NEDD4 acts as an oncoprotein in both QGY7703 and SMMC7721 liver cancer cell lines. We found that depletion of NEDD4 by siRNA transfection led to inhibition of cell growth, invasion and migration, and promotion of apoptosis. In contrast, overexpression of NEDD4 via plasmid transfection resulted in facilitated cell proliferation, invasion and migration, and decreased apoptosis. Importantly, we observed that tumor suppressor LATS1, also a core component of Hippo pathway, was negatively regulated by NEDD4 in liver cancer cells. Our findings suggested that NEDD4 may be involved in the HCC progression via regulating LATS1 associated signaling pathway. Therefore, targeting NEDD4-LATS1 signaling could be a potential therapeutic option for HCC treatment.     

Home range and habitat use of male Reeves’s pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii) during winter in Dongzhai National Nature Reserve, Henan Province, China

Home range and habitat use of male Reeves’s pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii) were studied during winter of 2001∼2002 and 2002∼2003 in the Dongzhai National Nature Reserve, Henan Province. Results from five individuals of Reeves’s pheasant with over 30 relocations, indicated that the average size of home range was 10.03 ± 1.17 hm² by Minimum Convex Polygon method, 8.60 ± 0.35 hm² by 90% Harmonic Mean Transformation method, and 9.50 ± 1.90 hm² by 95% Fixed Kernel method. It was observed that the winter range is smaller than that in the breeding season. The mean core area of the home range was found to be 1.88 ± 0.37 hm². Although the habitat composition of the core area varied greatly for individuals, a large part of the habitats used were composed of confier and broadleaf mixed forests, masson pine forests, fir forests, and shrubs. Habitat use within the study area was non-random, while habitats within home ranges were randomly used. Habitat use was dictated by tree diameter at breast height, shrub height and coverage at 2.0 m. The proximity between forests and shrubs were also found to be important in providing refuge for the birds during winter. Recommendations for conservation management include protecting the existing habitats in Dongzhai National Nature Reserve, increasing suitable habitat for Reeves’s Pheasant through artificial plantations (e.g. firs), and restoring some parts of the large shrub area into forests. __________ Translated from Biodiversity Science, 2005, 13 (5) [译自: 生物多样性, 2005,13(5)]     

In vitro selected peptides bind with thymidylate synthase mRNA and inhibit its translation

Thymidylate synthase (TS), an essential enzyme for catalyzing the biosynthesis of thymidylate, is a critical therapeutic target in cancer therapy. Recent studies have shown that TS functions as an RNA-binding protein by interacting with two different sequences on its own mRNA, thus, repressing translational efficiency. In this study, peptides binding TS RNA with high affinity were isolated using mRNA display from a large peptide library (＞1013 different sequences). The randomized library was subjected up to twelve rounds of in vitro selection and amplification. Comparing the amino acid composition of the selected peptides (12th round, R12) with those from the initial random library (round zero, R0), the basic and aromatic residues in the selected peptides were enriched significantly, suggesting that these peptide regions might be important in the peptide-TS mRNA interaction. Categorizing the amino acids at each random position based on their physicochemical properties and comparing the distributions with those of the initial random pool, an obvious basic charge characteristic was found at positions 1, 12, 17 and 18, suggesting that basic side chains participate in RNA binding. Secondary structure prediction showed that the selected peptides of R12 pool represented a helical propensity compared with R0 pool, and the regions were rich in basic residues. The electrophoretic gel mobility shift and in vitro translation assays showed that the peptides selected using mRNA display could bind TS RNA specifically and inhibit the translation of TS mRNA. Our results suggested that the identified peptides could be used as new TS inhibitors and developed to a novel class of anticancer agents.     

Theoretical Insights into Catalytic Mechanism of Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 1

Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1), the major arginine asymmetric dimethylation enzyme in mammals, is emerging as a potential drug target for cancer and cardiovascular disease. Understanding the catalytic mechanism of PRMT1 will facilitate inhibitor design. However, detailed mechanisms of the methyl transfer process and substrate deprotonation of PRMT1 remain unclear. In this study, we present a theoretical study on PRMT1 catalyzed arginine dimethylation by employing molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculation. Ternary complex models, composed of PRMT1, peptide substrate, and S-adenosyl-methionine (AdoMet) as cofactor, were constructed and verified by 30-ns MD simulation. The snapshots selected from the MD trajectory were applied for the QM/MM calculation. The typical S_N2-favored transition states of the first and second methyl transfers were identified from the potential energy profile. Deprotonation of substrate arginine occurs immediately after methyl transfer, and the carboxylate group of E144 acts as proton acceptor. Furthermore, natural bond orbital analysis and electrostatic potential calculation showed that E144 facilitates the charge redistribution during the reaction and reduces the energy barrier. In this study, we propose the detailed mechanism of PRMT1-catalyzed asymmetric dimethylation, which increases insight on the small-molecule effectors design, and enables further investigations into the physiological function of this family.     

中华大蟾蜍多种组织内5-羟色胺免疫染色细胞的分布

用过氧化物酶-抗过氧化物酶(PAP)法,对中华大蟾蜍消化道(冬眠期与非冬眠期),脑及其他组织的5-HT分布进行了研究。5-HT免疫染色细胞位于脑干中缝核区和间脑的第Ⅲ脑室腹侧的室管膜细胞区。阳性神经元呈圆形或卵圆形,细胞常有突起与其他阳性细胞突起相连,上述部位中还有一些阳性神经纤维。消化道的免疫染色细胞密度在胃幽门、胃体和胃贲门处最高,食道和十二指肠次之,大肠和小肠最低。非冬眠期蟾蜍消化道内免疫染色细胞密度明显高于冬眠期的(P<0.05)。阳性细胞位于粘膜上皮或腺上皮细胞间,细胞有一个或一个以上呈阳性反应的突起,有的突起伸入肠腔面或腺腔面,有的穿过基膜到达固有层,表明这些细胞兼有内、外分泌的功能。在甲状旁腺的主细胞间,肺呼吸性细支气管上皮和肺泡管上皮细胞间都有5-HT免疫染色细胞,细胞呈立方形、圆形、卵圆形或不规则形,常有几个细胞成簇分布。     

蛇床的生物学特性及资源分布

本文通过实地调查和异地栽培试验研究了蛇床的生物学特性及资源分布,为蛇床子药材的生产、收购提供了科学依据。     

Meningitic Escherichia coli K1 penetration and neutrophil transmigration across the blood-brain barrier are modulated by alpha7 nicotinic receptor

Alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), an essential regulator of inflammation, is abundantly expressed in hippocampal neurons, which are vulnerable to bacterial meningitis. However, it is unknown whether α7 nAChR contributes to the regulation of these events. In this report, an aggravating role of α7 nAChR in host defense against meningitic E. coli infection was demonstrated by using α7-deficient (α7(-/-)) mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC) and animal model systems. As shown in our in vitro and in vivo studies, E. coli K1 invasion and polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) transmigration across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) were significantly reduced in α7(-/-) BMEC and α7(-/-) mice. Stimulation by nicotine was abolished in the α7(-/-) cells and animals. The same blocking effect was achieved by methyllycaconitine (α7 antagonist). The tight junction molecules occludin and ZO-1 were significantly reduced in the brain cortex of wildtype mice infected with E. coli and treated with nicotine, compared to α7(-/-) cells and animals. Decreased neuronal injury in the hippocampal dentate gyrus was observed in α7(-/-) mice with meningitis. Proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα, MCP-1, MIP-1alpha, and RANTES) and adhesion molecules (CD44 and ICAM-1) were significantly reduced in the cerebrospinal fluids of the α7(-/-) mice with E. coli meningitis. Furthermore, α7 nAChR is the major calcium channel for nicotine- and E. coli K1-increased intracellular calcium concentrations of mouse BMEC. Taken together, our data suggest that α7 nAChR plays a detrimental role in the host defense against meningitic infection by modulation of pathogen invasion, PMN recruitment, calcium signaling and neuronal inflammation.