Variations in Mitochondrial DNA Copy Numbers in MS Brains

The aim of this study is to determine if there is a pathology-related variation in mitochondrial (mt)DNA copy numbers in brains of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Our recent study demonstrated an age-dependent but excluded a MS pathology-related increase in the proportion of cytochrome oxidase (COX)-negative cells and deleted mtDNA molecules in postmortem brain tissue specimens of patients and controls (Blokhin et al., Neuromolecular Medicine, in press, 2008). This corollary study further extends our efforts defining mitochondrial contributions to tissue degeneration associated with inflammatory demyelination. Copy number variations of mtDNA molecules were defined by quantifying the mtDNA ND1 gene copies relative to the invariable nuclear ribosomal 18S gene copies (ND1/r18S) using real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses in laser dissected, COX-positive and COX-negative single neurons and glial cells from frozen postmortem normal-appearing gray (NAGM) and white matter (NAWM) regions and chronic active plaques of MS patients, and gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) regions of age matched non-neurological disease (NND) controls. ND1/r18S values were correlated with tissue regions, pathology, and age. While the ND1/r18S values were similar in NAWM and plaque-containing specimens of MS patients as well as in NAWM of patients and WM of age-matched NND controls, we found significantly higher mtDNA copy number values in neurons of NAGM than in cells of other MS brain regions. The ND1/r18S values were even higher in NAGM than in GM of age-matched NND controls. An age-related decline in ND1/r18S values was also noted in neurons of both MS patients and NND controls. These observations exclude a change in mtDNA copy numbers in plaques, however, suggest a compensatory replication of mtDNA or mitochondria in the cortex with neuroaxonal loss in MS. The age-related decline in mtDNA copy numbers may explain some features of late-onset MS.     

Relative quantification of glycosaminoglycan-induced upregulation of TFPI-mRNA expression in vitro

OBJECTIVE: Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) is a multivalent Kunitz-type serine proteinase inhibitor that plays a central role in the extrinsic pathway of blood coagulation and is mainly expressed by endothelial cells. In this study we examined the in vitro effects of heparin and other glycosaminoglycans on TFPI mRNA-expression in cultivated human endothelial (Ea.hy 926) and in chondrosarcoma (SW 1353) cells. METHODS: We used a LightCycler-based method for relative quantification of the TFPI-mRNA expression before and after stimulation. The cells were stimulated with different concentrations of heparin (with and without addition of protamin), heparan sulfate (HS) and chondroitin-6-sulfate (CS). Cells were harvested after incubation times of 4, 8 and 24h, total RNA was isolated, and cDNA was synthesized and quantified relatively to a constantly expressed housekeeping gene. RESULTS: Stimulation of Ea.hy 926 cells with unfractionated heparin (UFH) or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) caused a time- and dose-dependent upregulation of TFPI-mRNA expression with LMWH showing the stronger effect. In contrast to this, HS led to a strongly and CS to a slightly decreased TFPI-mRNA expression. SW 1353 cells which were stimulated with LMWH/UFH and HS/CS did not show a significant up- or downregulative effect. CONCLUSION: Our results show that we have developed a versatile method for the relative quantification of TFPI-mRNA expression. As a conclusion, the determined heparin-induced upregulation of TFPI-mRNA expression can be considered a major component of the modulation of the anticoagulant properties of the endothelium.     

人mGluR1基因mRNA实时荧光定量PCR方法的建立

目的建立代谢型谷氨酸受体1(mGluR1)基因mRNA表达水平的Taq Manreal-time PCR检测方法。方法以β-actin为内参基因,根据GenBank中人mGluR1及β-actin基因序列,分别设计了两套特异性引物和TaqMan探针,接着对反应的退火温度、引物浓度、探针浓度、Mg2 浓度进行优化,然后以优化的条件建立相对定量标准曲线,并对该方法的稳定性进行分析。结果mGluR1及β-actin基因的real-time PCR扩增效率分别为99.7%和100.0%;相对定量标准曲线的CT值线性范围分别为8.1～30.9和11.9～32.1,相关系数分别为0.999及1.000;批内及批间变异系数<6.4%。结论本研究所建立的针对mGluR1 mRNA表达水平的Taqman real-time PCR检测方法具有扩增效率高、稳定性好等特点,为进一步探索mGluR1的功能及其mRNA表达水平的变化和各种疾病发生、发展的相关性提供了方法学基础。     

人mGluR1基因mRNA实时荧光定量PCR方法的建立

目的建立代谢型谷氨酸受体1（mGluR1）基因mRNA表达水平的TaqMan real-time PCR检测方法。方法以争actin为内参基因，根据GenBank中人mGluR1及β-actin基因序列，分别设计了两套特异性引物和TaqMan探针，接着对反应的退火温度、引物浓度、探针浓度、Mg^2＋浓度进行优化，然后以优化的条件建立相对定量标准曲线，并对该方法的稳定性进行分析。结果mGluR1及争actin基因的real-time PCR扩增效率分别为99．7％和100．0％；相对定量标准曲线的CT值线性范围分别为8．1～30．9和11．9～32．1，相关系数分别为0．999及1．000；批内及批闻变异系数〈6．4％。结论本研究所建立的针对mGluR1 mRNA表达水平的Taqman real—time PCR检测方法具有扩增效率高、稳定性好等特点，为进一步探索mGluR1的功能及其mRNA表达水平的变化和各种疾病发生、发展的相关性提供了方法学基础。     

Ontogenesis of brain aromatase P450 expression in the bovine hypothalamus

Aromatase P450 (P450(AROM)), converting testosterone (T) into estradiol (E), plays an important role in sexual differentiation of neural structures in the developing mammalian brain. The aim of the present study was to characterize the qualitative and quantitative profile of P450(AROM) mRNA expression in the bovine hypothalamus (the region of the central nervous system in which the enzyme is mainly localized) using RT-PCR and quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis, respectively. P450(AROM) expression was examined in the developing hypothalamus in a series of experimental groups investigated at 10 weeks interval one from the other. Our data indicate that in the bovine fetal hypothalamus P450(AROM) expression peaks at the second quarter of gestation. The presence of neural cells containing P450(AROM) in the bovine fetal hypothalamus was confirmed by immunohistochemistry, and localized in the medial preoptic area. We conclude that second quarter of the gestation is the developmental stage which represents a critical period for hypothalamic differentiation in bovine ontogenesis, an important difference with the rat and mouse, short gestation species in which P450(AROM) activity peaks around delivery.     

Expression Profile of Lgi1 Gene in Mouse Brain During Development

Mutations in LGI1 were described in patients with autosomal dominant partial epilepsy with auditory features (ADPEAF), and recent clinical findings have implicated LGI1 in human brain development. However, the precise role of LGI1 in epileptogenesis remains largely unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the expression pattern of Lgi1 in mice brain during development and in adult animals. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) quantification and Western blot experiments showed a relative low expression during intrauterine stages, increasing until adulthood. In addition, we did not find significant differences between left and right hemispheres. The hippocampus presented higher levels of Lgi1 expression when compared to the neocortex and the cerebellum of adult animals; however, these results did not reach statistical significance. This study was the first to determine a specific profile of Lgi1 gene expression during central nervous system development, which suggests a possible inhibitory function in latter stages of development. In addition, we did not find differences in hemispheric expression that could explain the predominance of left-sided abnormalities in patients with ADPEAF.     

TaqMan低密度表达芯片检测DNA损伤修复基因在原发胶质瘤中的表达研究

目的运用低密度表达谱芯片检测人脑原发胶质瘤组织中DNA损伤修复基因的表达情况,进一步分析其表达变化的意义。方法使用TaqMan低密度表达芯片技术检测27个DNA损伤修复基因在40例不同级别原发胶质瘤组织和10例正常脑组织中的表达情况,并通过统计学分析其在不同级别胶质瘤和正常脑组织中的表达差异。结果与正常脑组织相比较,有13个DNA损伤修复基因在Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ级胶质瘤中均表达下调,包括ERCC1、ERCC2、ERCC3、ERCCA、MGMT、MLH1、MLH3、NTHL1、OGG1、RAD50、SMUG1、XRCC4、XRCC5(P<0.05)。MSH2、MSH6、NUDT1和XRCC3只在Ⅱ级和Ⅲ级胶质瘤中表达下凋;MRE11A和MUS81只在Ⅲ级和Ⅳ级胶质瘤中表达下调。PMS2、RAD52和XRCC1只在Ⅲ级胶质瘤中表达下调,而UNG只在Ⅱ级中表达下调。结论TaqMan低密度表达芯片为多个基因的同时定量表达提供了一种准确、快速、有效的多变量检测技术,可用于发现新的肿瘤相关基因。大量的DNA损伤修复基因的表达下调,与胶质瘤的发生密切相关。     

辛伐他汀对大鼠骨髓基质干细胞Wnt信号通路相关因子表达的影响

背景：辛伐他汀作为降脂类药物,具有一定的潜在促骨形成作用,并因此成为骨代谢领域的研究热点,但在体内试验中对其促进成骨的作用尚存争议。目的：观察辛伐他汀体内给药对大鼠骨量和骨髓基质干细胞增殖﹑分化的影响,及其在此过程中Wnt信号通路相关因子mRNA表达水平的变化。方法： 6周龄雌性SD大鼠36只随机分成2组：对照组每天蒸馏水灌胃;实验组辛伐他汀灌胃20 mg/(kg•d)。分别于给药后3,6,9周处死两组大鼠各6只,取左侧股骨行骨密度测定;取右侧股骨和胫骨骨髓细胞向成骨方向诱导培养,于细胞培养第16天检测碱性磷酸酶比活性、碱性磷酸酶染色;细胞培养第21天提取总RNA,采用Real-time RT-PCR检测LRP-5、Axin2、β-catenin的mRNA的表达。结果与结论：辛伐他汀体内给药干扰3,6,9周后大鼠骨密度均无显著变化,体外培养骨髓基质干细胞所有检测基因mRNA水平、成骨分化能力与对照组相比差异均无显著性意义。辛伐他汀体内给药3,6,9周对大鼠骨量及骨髓基质干细胞的分化及LRP-5、Axin2、β-catenin mRNA表达无显著作用。     

SYBR荧光实时定量PCR检测不同病理类型颅咽管瘤ICAM-1 mRNA表达

目的定量研究细胞间粘附分子基因(ICAM—1 mRNA)在不同病理类型颅咽管瘤的表达差异及意义。方法收集30例经手术治疗的颅咽管瘤标本,采用SYBR荧光实时定量PCR法检测 ICAM-1 mRNA在肿瘤组织的表达,并对表达结果行统计学分析。结果造釉细胞型颅咽管瘤 ICAM-1mRNA表达量为(62．18±6．43)×103 copies／μg,鳞状乳头型颅咽管瘤ICAM-1 mRNA表达量为 (1．13±0．17)×103 copies／μg,造釉细胞型颅咽管瘤ICAM-1 mRNA表达量显著性高于鳞状乳头型颅咽管瘤(P<0．01)。结论两种病理类型颅咽管瘤ICAM—1 mRNA表达存在显著性差异,此差异性可能与两种病理类型颅咽管瘤不同的肿瘤炎症有关。     

Atorvastatin reduces thrombin generation after percutaneous coronary intervention independent of soluble tissue factor

INTRODUCTION: Statins were previously shown to suppress cellular tissue factor (TF) in vitro. Here, we investigated the effect of atorvastatin on the TF-pathway and thrombin generation after coronary angioplasty and stenting in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort of 30 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) was randomised to treatment with either none (n=10), 10 mg (n=10) or 80 mg (n=10) atorvastatin per day for the postinterventional period of 6 months starting the day before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Fasting blood samples were collected on admission and after 6 weeks and 6 months of statin therapy to determine sTF, free tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) and prothrombin fragment F1.2 by immunoassay. RESULTS: Soluble TF (sTF) significantly correlated with thrombin generation as measured by prothrombin fragment F1.2 at baseline. This correlation was lost 6 weeks and 6 months after initiation of statin therapy. In vivo, F1.2 was significantly lowered after 6 months of statin therapy by both, low dose (0 vs. 10 mg: 1.3+/-0.3 vs. 0.7+/-0.2 ng/ml; P<0.05) and high dose (0 vs. 80 mg: 1.2+/-0.3 vs. 0.6+/-0.2 ng/ml; P=0.01) atorvastatin compared to control. However, sTF and free TFPI did not change significantly with atorvastatin therapy when compared to baseline or control. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate reduced in vivo generation of thrombin six months after percutaneous coronary intervention and statin therapy independent of sTF and free TFPI.     

中药补肾方干预骨性关节炎软骨中基质金属蛋白酶13的表达

背景：单独的基质金属蛋白酶13基因表达可引起关节的退行性改变,而导致骨关节炎。中药治疗骨关节炎可能与抑制基质金属蛋白酶13基因表达有关。目的：观察基质金属蛋白酶13在骨性关节炎发病过程中的表达及中药对其的影响。方法：SD雌性大鼠18只,随机分为3组：空白组、模型组、中药组。切断右膝前交叉韧带、内侧副韧带,建立大鼠膝骨关节炎模型。造模4周后,中药组每日1次灌服中药补肾方0.72 g/kg,连续灌服3个月。造模后第8,12,16周,分别采用实时荧光定量PCR检测大鼠软骨细胞的基质金属蛋白酶13 mRNA表达。结果与结论：正常大鼠未见明显基质金属蛋白酶13 mRNA的表达。膝骨关节炎大鼠关节中基质金属蛋白酶13 mRNA表达随时间的延长而逐渐增强(P < 0.05)。经补肾方治疗的大鼠,关节中基质金属蛋白酶13 mRNA的表达逐渐降低(P < 0.05)。因此,认为基质金属蛋白酶13在骨关节炎发生中表达明显,中药或可通过对基质金属蛋白酶13上游信号的激活,抑制基质金属蛋白酶13表达。     

Effect of Peripheral Axotomy on Gene Expression of NIDD in Rat Neural Tissues

Peripheral nerve lesion-induced production of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) was implicated to influence a range of postaxotomy processes necessary for neuronal survival and nerve regeneration (Zochodne et al., Neuroscience, 91:1515–1527, 1999; Keilhoff et al., Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy, 24:181–187, 2002, Nitric Oxide, 10:101–111, 2004). Protein–protein interactions represent an important mechanism in the control of NOS spatial distribution or activity (Alderton et al., Biochemical Journal, 357:593–615, 2001; Dedio et al., FASEB Journal, 15:79–89, 2001; Zimmermann et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 99:17167–17172, 2002). As one of the nNOS-binding proteins, nNOS-interacting DHHC domain-containing protein with dendritic mRNA (NIDD) has recently been identified to increase nNOS enzyme activity by targeting nNOS to the synaptic plasma membrane in a postsynaptic density protein 95/discs-large/zona occlusens-1 domain dependent manner (Saitoh et al., Journal of Biological Chemistry, 279:29461–29468, 2004). In this paper, we established a rat model with peripheral axotomy to investigate the gene expression patterns of NIDD in neural tissues using TaqMan quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization combined with immunofluorescence. It revealed that NIDD mRNA was upregulated after sciatic nerve transection with the similar expressing styles as that of the nNOS in the injured nerves, corresponding dorsal root ganglia, and lumbar spinal cord. These findings imply that NIDD may be involved in the different pathological conditions including nerve regeneration, neuron loss or survival, and even pain process, possibly via regulating the enzyme nNOS activity. Chun Cheng and Mengling Chen both contributed equally to this work.     

Tau isoform expression in frontotemporal dementia without tau deposition

In many cases of sporadic frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and in FTD caused by tau mutations (FTDP-17) there is disruption of the normal splicing of tau leading to the aberrant expression of tau isoforms and neurodegeneration. This suggests a central role for tau in the pathogenesis of FTD. However, more than half the cases of sporadic FTD show no tau deposition. We question whether altered expression is also involved in the pathogenesis of tau-negative FTD. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to investigate tau isoform expression in tau-negative FTD and age-matched controls. There were no differences in total tau mRNA or 4R versus 3R isoform expression. Our study suggests that perturbed tau mRNA expression is unlikely to be involved in the pathogenesis of tau-negative FTD.     

伴糖尿病的脑梗死患者血清组织因子与组织因子途径抑制物水平的研究

目的 探讨伴糖尿病的脑梗死患者血清组织因子(Tissue factor,TF)、组织因子途径抑制物(Tissuefactor pathway inhibitor,TFPI)水平的变化及其临床意义.方法 采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)测定30例门诊体检者(正常对照组)和60例急性脑梗死患者(分为伴糖尿病脑梗死和不伴糖尿病脑梗死两组)血清TF及TFPI水平,并于发病后72h进行头部CT检查,计算梗死灶大小,同时进行神经功能缺损评分.结果 (1)脑梗死组较正常对照组血清TF及TFPI水平明显升高(P＜0.05).(2)伴糖尿病脑梗死与不伴糖尿病脑梗死相比,前者血清TF及TFPI的水平升高更明显(P＜0.05).(3)脑梗死体积、临床神经功能缺损评分均与血清TF、TFPI水平无明显相关性.结论 血清TF及TFPI水平与脑梗死的严重程度无明显相关性,但伴糖尿病脑梗死确实存在更为严重的凝血功能障碍.     

参照多重PCR片段分析法进行实时荧光PCR法对ABCB1三等位基因测定结果读取方法的确定

目的 为解决实时荧光PCR法对三等位基因测定结果无法正常读取的问题,通过参照多重PCR片段分析法,确定实时荧光PCR法读取方法,实现临床对ABCB1三等位基因准确、简便且价格低廉的检测。方法 收集西安市精神卫生中心2020年3月-2021年3月DNA样本2 794例,抽取5%作为实验样本,分别进行实时荧光PCR法和多重PCR片段分析法测定。根据PCR曲线Ct值的比较以及多重PCR片段分析法碱基峰位强度的比较,对比分析两种方法的判读结果,对其中报告结果不相同的样本进行数据核查并确定PCR读取方法。结果 共抽取139例样本,其中存在120例等位基因及19例三等位基因,实时荧光PCR法和多重PCR片段分析法对等位基因的检测结果完全一致。根据多重PCR片段分析结果,对19例三等位基因制定了实时荧光PCR法的读取方法：扩增曲线图中,当∣∣Ct._G-Ct._T∣-∣Ct._G-Ct._A∣∣<3,分别读取两组碱基Ct值小的碱基,将其组合形成判读结果;当∣∣Ct._G-Ct._T     

Elevation of guinea pig brain preprodynorphin mRNA expression and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity by “binge” pattern cocaine administration

The endogenous opioid system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis have been implicated in many of the neurobiological effects of cocaine. Previous studies in our laboratory showed that “binge” pattern cocaine administration increases preprodynorphin (ppDyn) mRNA levels in the caudate putamen and circulating levels of corticosterone in the rat. The present study extended these findings to guinea pigs, a species known to have a κ opioid receptor profile similar to that of humans. Male guinea pigs were treated with: (a) “binge” pattern cocaine for 7 days (subchronic) (3 × 15 mg/kg/day, hourly, intraperitoneal); (b) “binge” pattern saline for 5 days followed by “binge” pattern cocaine for 2 days (subacute); or (c) “binge” pattern saline for 7 days. Thirty minutes after the final injection, levels of ppDyn mRNA were quantitated in the nucleus accumbens, caudate putamen, frontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus using a solution hybridization RNase protection assay. Regional distribution of ppDyn mRNA levels in the guinea pig brain was similar to that found in rat, with highest levels in the nucleus accumbens and caudate putamen. In the caudate putamen, ppDyn mRNA was significantly increased following either 2 days (38% increase) or 7 days (32% increase) of “binge” pattern cocaine administration as compared to saline-treated controls. No significant changes in ppDyn mRNA levels were found in any other brain region. Both subacute and subchronic “binge” cocaine administration significantly elevated plasma levels of adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) and cortisol. However, the ACTH and cortisol increases were significantly blunted following 7 days of “binge” cocaine administration as compared to 2 days of drug treatment, reflecting the development of HPA tolerance or adaptation to repeated cocaine administration. Thus, the ppDyn mRNA and HPA responses to cocaine in guinea pigs are similar to those observed in rats.