Cellular mechanisms of hereditary photoreceptor degeneration – Focus on cGMP

The cellular mechanisms underlying hereditary photoreceptor degeneration are still poorly understood, a problem that is exacerbated by the enormous genetic heterogeneity of this disease group. However, the last decade has yielded a wealth of new knowledge on degenerative pathways and their diversity. Notably, a central role of cGMP-signalling has surfaced for photoreceptor cell death triggered by a subset of disease-causing mutations.In this review, we examine key aspects relevant for photoreceptor degeneration of hereditary origin. The topics covered include energy metabolism, epigenetics, protein quality control, as well as cGMP- and Ca²⁺-signalling, and how the related molecular and metabolic processes may trigger photoreceptor demise. We compare and integrate evidence on different cell death mechanisms that have been associated with photoreceptor degeneration, including apoptosis, necrosis, necroptosis, and PARthanatos. A special focus is then put on the mechanisms of cGMP-dependent cell death and how exceedingly high photoreceptor cGMP levels may cause activation of Ca²⁺-dependent calpain-type proteases, histone deacetylases and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase. An evaluation of the available literature reveals that a large group of patients suffering from hereditary photoreceptor degeneration carry mutations that are likely to trigger cGMP-dependent cell death, making this pathway a prime target for future therapy development.Finally, an outlook is given into technological and methodological developments that will with time likely contribute to a comprehensive overview over the entire metabolic complexity of photoreceptor cell death. Building on such developments, new imaging technology and novel biomarkers may be used to develop clinical test strategies, that fully consider the genetic heterogeneity of hereditary retinal degenerations, in order to facilitate clinical testing of novel treatment approaches.     

PDE5基因siRNA对人阴茎海绵体平滑肌细胞cGMP的影响

目的:观察PDE5基因小干扰RNA(siRNA)对人阴茎海绵体平滑肌细胞环磷酸鸟苷(cGMP)的影响,为阴茎勃起功能障碍(ED)的基因治疗提供实验依据。方法:使用美国Amb ion公司提供的设计软件设计并合成人PDE5基因的siRNA序列,合成3对PDE5 siRNA和1对阴性对照siRNA,转染人阴茎海绵体平滑肌细胞,同时设定空白转染组为对照组。以酶联免疫法分别检测转染后不同时间(24、48、72、96 h)点海绵体平滑肌细胞内cGMP浓度变化,观察PDE5 siRNA对海绵体平滑肌细胞内cGMP的影响。结果:siRNA1、siRNA2和siRNA3转染后人阴茎海绵体平滑肌细胞cGMP水平显著高于阴性对照siRNA组和空白对照组(P<0.05),在转染后72 h最为显著,siRNA1、siRNA2、siRNA3、阴性对照siRNA和空白对照组cGMP测定值分别为:5.89±0.19、3.52±0.16、2.88±0.08、0.72±0.12、0.60±0.16 pmol/m l,siRNA1组明显高于siRNA2、siRNA3组(P<0.05)。结论:体外化学合成的PDE5 siRNA能有效地增加海绵体平滑肌细胞内cGMP的水平,不同序列siRNA增加cGMP水平的能力不同,为ED的基因治疗提供了新思路。     

Ex Vivo Application of Carbon Monoxide in University of Wisconsin Solution to Prevent Intestinal Cold Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Carbon monoxide (CO), a byproduct of heme catalysis, was shown to have potent cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. In vivo recipient CO inhalation at low concentrations prevented ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury associated with small intestinal transplantation (SITx). This study examined whether ex vivo delivery of CO in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution could ameliorate intestinal I/R injury. Orthotopic syngenic SITx was performed in Lewis rats after 6 h cold preservation in control UW or UW that was bubbled with CO gas (0.1-5%) (CO-UW). Recipient survival with intestinal grafts preserved in 5%, but not 0.1%, CO-UW improved to 86.7% (13/15) from 53% (9/17) with control UW. At 3 h after SITx, grafts stored in 5% CO-UW showed improved intestinal barrier function, less mucosal denudation and reduced inflammatory mediator upregulation compared to those in control UW. Preservation in CO-UW associated with reduced vascular resistance (end preservation), increased graft cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels (1 h), and improved graft blood flow (1 h). Protective effects of CO-UW were reversed by ODQ, an inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase. In vitro culture experiment also showed better preservation of vascular endothelial cells with CO-UW. The study suggests that ex vivo CO delivery into UW solution would be a simple and innovative therapeutic strategy to prevent transplant-induced I/R injury.     

体外循环期间血浆环核苷酸变化的临床研究

本文对14例体外循环下心内直视手术病人采用放免法,于不同时段测定体外循环转流期间血浆的环核苷酸cAMP 和cGMP 变化。结果表明,在体外循环期间,cAMP和cGMP 浓度进行性上升,转流结束时达到最高峰,随着自身循环的恢复,cAMP 和cGNP浓度逐渐下降,术后次日恢复到术前水平;而cAMP/cGMP 比值在体外循环期间无明显变化。文中讨论了cAMP 和cGMP 变化的机制和临床意义。     

电针对抑郁模型大鼠海马一氧化氮-环磷酸鸟苷信号转导通路的影响

目的:观察电针对抑郁模型大鼠海马一氧化氮-环磷酸鸟苷(NO-cGMP)信号转导通路的影响,探讨电针治疗抑郁症的部分作用机制。方法:SD大鼠随机分为正常组、模型组和电针组,每组10只。用慢性不可预见性轻度刺激结合孤养的方法制造抑郁模型。造模同时针刺治疗电针组动物,选取"百会""印堂"穴,电针20min,每日1次,连续针刺21d。治疗结束后取大鼠海马组织,用免疫组化法检测神经细胞性一氧化氮合酶(nNOS)表达量,用放射免疫法测定cGMP含量。结果:模型组大鼠海马区的nNOS免疫反应阳性颗粒数目减少,电针组nNOS免疫反应阳性颗粒数目较模型组增多。各组测得的nNOS灰度值,模型组明显高于正常组(P<0.01),电针组明显低于模型组(P<0.01)。模型组大鼠海马中cGMP含量与正常组比较有降低的趋势,但差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);电针组大鼠海马中cGMP含量与模型组比较显著升高(P<0.01)。结论:电针"百会""印堂"穴能够提高抑郁模型大鼠海马区nNOS的表达水平,同时提高海马中cGMP的含量,维持NO-cGMP信号转导通路的信息传递功能,从而起到抗抑郁作用。     

Linkage studies and mutation analysis of the PDEB gene in 23 families with Leber congenital amaurosis.

The phenotype in the rd mouse is similar to the clinical presentation of Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) in humans. Recently a nonsense mutation in the beta subunit of the cGMP phosphodiesterase (Pdeb) gene has been defined as the cause for the rd phenotype in the mouse and has raised the question as to whether mutations in the human PDEB gene might cause LCA. We have previously cloned and characterized the human homologue of the mouse Pdeb gene and have mapped it to chromosome 4p16.3. In this study, a total of 23 LCA families of various ethnic backgrounds have been investigated. Linkage analysis using highly polymorphic (CA)n microsatellites has excluded the PDEB gene as a cause for LCA in 6 families. In the remaining 17 families, we have searched for mutations in the 22 exons of the PDEB gene using single-strand gel electrophoresis (SSGE). Multiple exonic polymorphisms have been determined. However, no DNA changes in the PDEB gene have been identified in our study population which could be causative for the LCA phenotype.     

Pathophysiology of idiopathic dystonia: findings from genetic animal models

Dystonia is a common movement disorder which is thought to represent a disease of the basal ganglia. However, the pathogenesis of the idiopathic dystonias, i.e. the neuroanatomic and neurochemical basis, is still a mystery. Research in dystonia is complicated by the existence of various phenotypic and genotypic subtypes of idiopathic dystonia, probably related to heterogeneous dysfunctions.In neurological diseases in which no obvious neuronal degeneration can be found, such as in idiopathic dystonia, the identification of a primary defect is difficult, because of the large number of chemically distinct, but functionally interrelated, neurotransmitter systems in the brain.The variable response to pharmacological agents in patients with idiopathic dystonia supports the notion that the underlying biochemical dysfunctions vary in the subtypes of idiopathic dystonia. Hence, in basic research it is important to clearly define the involved type of dystonia.Animal models of dystonias were described as limited. However, over the last years, there has been considerable progress in the evaluation of animal models for different types of dystonia.Apart from animal models of symptomatic dystonia, genetic animal models with inherited dystonia which occurs in the absence of pathomorphological alterations in brain and spinal cord are described.This review will focus mainly on genetic animal models of different idiopathic dystonias and pathophysiological findings. In particular, in the case of the mutant dystonic (dt) rat, a model of generalized dystonia, and in the case of the genetically dystonic hamster (dt^sz), a model of paroxysmal dystonic choreoathetosis has been used, as these show great promise in contributing to the identification of underlying mechanisms in idiopathic dystonias, although even a proper animal model will probably never be equivalent to a human disease.Several pathophysiological findings from animal models are in line with clinical observations in dystonic patients, indicating abnormalities not only in the basal ganglia and thalamic nuclei, but also in the cerebellum and brainstem. Through clinical studies and neurochemical data several similarities were found in the genetic animal models, although the current data indicates different defects in dystonic animals which is consistent with the notion that dystonia is a heterogenous disorder.Different supraspinal dysfunctions appear to lead to manifestation of dystonic movements and postures. In addition to increasing our understanding of the pathophysiology of idiopathic dystonia, animal models may help to improve therapeutic strategies for this movement disorder.     

龙芽楤木总甙对前列腺素及环核苷酸的影响

用龙芽楤木总甙的生理盐水溶液给小鼠ip,连续7d。实验证明:龙芽楤木总甙能显著刺激前列腺素E_2和F_(2a)的合成,诱导cAMP含量明显增加,cGMP含量明显下降。对组织胺释放无影响,从而为在分子水平探讨该药作用机理提供了依据。