Present Concepts on the Inflammatory Modulators with Special Reference to Cytokines*

The pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines create a network of interactions between cells that lead to both stimulatory and inhibitory responses that maintain an effective homeostatic regulation. The anti-inflammatory cytokines are a family of peptides that modulate the pro-inflammatory cytokine response. Cytokines act in concert with non-cytokine mediators, such as prostaglandin E₂, glucocorticosteroids, lipocortins, and catecholamines. This review highlights new developments in our understanding of the pathophysiology of inflammation and gives an example of a more recent approach to the modulation of acute systemic inflammatory disorders: activation of ₂-adrenergic receptors on macrophages. In this respect the potent ₂-adrenergic agonist clenbuterol seems of therapeutic interest.     

Interaction of dinotefuran and its analogues with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of cockroach nerve cords

To investigate the action of dinotefuran (MTI-446, 1-methyl-2-nitro-3-(tetrahydro-3-furylmethyl)guanidine), a recently developed insecticide, on insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), we determined the potencies of the compound and 15 analogues in inhibiting the specific binding of [3H]epibatidine (EPI), a nAChR agonist, and [3H]alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BGT), a competitive nAChR antagonist, to the nerve cord membranes of American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana). Racemic dinotefuran inhibited [3H]EPI binding with an IC50 of 890 nM and [3H]alpha-BGT binding with an IC50 of 36.1 microM. Scatchard analysis indicated that the dinotefuran inhibition of [3H]EPI binding was a competitive one. Slight structural modification caused a drastic reduction in potency; only four analogues were found to be equipotent to or more potent than dinotefuran. Chloropyridinyl and chlorothiazolyl neonicotinoid insecticides displayed two or three orders of magnitude higher potency than dinotefuran. There was a good correlation between the IC50 values of tested compounds obtained with [3H]EPI and those obtained with [3H]alpha-BGT. A better correlation was observed between 3-h knockdown activities (KD50) against German cockroaches (Blattella germanica) and IC50 values obtained from [3H]EPI assays than between 24-h lethal activities (LD50) and IC50 values. While the results indicate that dinotefuran and its analogues interact with the ACh-binding site in cockroach nAChRs, it remains to be elucidated why they displayed lower potencies than those expected based on their insecticidal activities.     

Muscarinic Receptors in Equine Airways

The distribution of muscarinic receptors in equine airways was investigated using autoradiography. Frozen sections of tissue from six different levels in the bronchial tree, from the trachea to the distal bronchioles, were incubated in vitro with 1.5 nmol/L of the muscarinic receptor antagonist 1-[N-methyl-³H]scopolamine methyl chloride (³H-NMS). In addition, the subtype pattern of muscarinic receptors was investigated in equine tracheal smooth muscle using radioligand binding with methoctramine, tripinamide, 4-DAMP-methiodide and pirenzipine as competitors against the binding of 1.3 nmol/L ³H-NMS. The autoradiograms showed specific labelling indicating a high density of muscarinic receptors in smooth-muscle tissue in all levels of the airway tree investigated. Besides muscle tissue, subepithelial glands were the only structures specifically labelled. The dominating subtypes in tracheal smooth muscle investigated with radioligand binding studies were found to be M₂ and M₄, as both methoctramine (pK _d = 8.5) and tripinamide (pK _d = 8.6 and 6.7 for two different sites) showed high affinity. The density of the M₃-muscarinic receptor subtype was low, but this subtype could be detected with statistical significance when methoctramine was used as the competitor against ³H-NMS binding.     

Expression of receptor tyrosine kinases VEGFR-1 (FLT-1), VEGFR-2 (KDR), EGFR-1, PDGFRa and c-Met in canine primary brain tumours

Inhibition of tumour growth and angiogenesis by targeting key growth factor receptors is a promising therapeutic strategy for central nervous system tumours. Characterization of these growth factor receptors in canine primary brain tumours has not been done. Using quantitative real‐time TaqMan polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we evaluated the expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) for five tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor [VEGFR]‐1, VEGFR‐2, endothelial growth factor receptor [EGFR]‐1, platelet‐derived growth factor receptor a [PDGFRa], and c‐Met) relative to normal cerebral cortex in 66 spontaneous canine primary brain tumours. Increased expression of VEGFR‐1 and VEGFR‐2 mRNA was greatest in grade IV astrocytomas (glioblastoma multiforme) and grade III (anaplastic) oligodendrogliomas. EGFR‐1 mRNA expression was more consistently increased than the other receptors in all tumour types, while increased PDGFRa mRNA expression was mostly restricted to oligodendrogliomas. The similarities in increased expression of these tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors in these canine tumours, as compared to data from their human counterparts, suggest that common molecular mechanisms may be present.     

烟碱乙酰胆碱受体及其与新烟碱类相互作用的研究进展

对烟碱乙酰胆碱受体(nAChRs)的结构与功能、配体结合部位、门控机理以及与新烟碱类的相互作用进行了综述,并对nAChRs亚基基因突变和敲除对新烟碱类和多杀菌素敏感性的影响进行了讨论。nAChRs在脊椎动物和昆虫的胆碱能突触的快速神经传递中起着重要作用,其在昆虫中仅存在于中枢神经系统(CNS)中,而在脊椎动物中同时存在于CNS和神经肌肉连接处。nAChRs是新烟碱类杀虫剂、多杀菌素和杀螟丹的作用靶标。肌肉和CNS中的nAChRs是一个由两个α和三个非α(β,γ和δ)亚基组成的异数五聚体,该受体主要有三部分:一个在细胞外发现的区域(胞外区)、一个位于膜内的区域(跨膜区),另一个是位于细胞内的区域(胞质区)。每个亚基(从N-C端)都具有一个包含乙酰胆碱(ACh)结合部位的细胞外结构域;4个跨膜结构域(M1~4),其中M2的大部分氨基酸位于离子通道的内壁;一个胞质噜扑(loop)和一个胞外C端。通道门位于孔道内的疏水区。ACh结合部位位于天然和功能受体的两个亚基的界面,是由一个亚基的3个噜扑(A-C)和另一个亚基的3个噜扑(D-F)构成。每当受体与ACh(或其他激动剂)分子结合时,M2 α螺旋体的构象发生改变,使通道开启,处于阳离子传导状态,直至一个或两个激动剂分子从结合口袋解离,通道才关闭。如果激动剂一直存在,并反复结合,则通道处于脱敏状态。nAChRs与新烟碱类的各种选择性作用取决于新烟碱类的结构以及nAChRs的亚基组成。     

中华鳖脾脏雄激素受体mRNA 的原位杂交检测

采用原位杂交技术（In situ hybridization，ISH）研究雄激素受体（Androgen receptor，AR）mRNA在中华鳖（Pelodiseus Sinensis）脾脏的存在及细胞定位。取5只健康成年中华鳖的脾脏，进行石蜡切片。用地高辛标记的寡核苷酸探针对组织切片进行原位杂交（In situ hybridization，ISH），检测雄激素受体mRNA在脾脏免疫细胞内的表达定位。结果显示，大部分雄激素受体mRNA阳性细胞呈圆形或椭圆形，数量少胞体大且呈不规则形。阳性细胞在脾脏动脉周围淋巴鞘（Pefiatefial lymphatic sheath，PALS）和红髓（Red pulp，RP）内分布密集。椭球周围淋巴鞘（Periellipsoidal lymphatic sheath，PELS）内AR mRNA阳性细胞分布极少。杂交阳性信号物质在细胞质和细胞核均有分布。在标记为阳性的中华鳖脾脏中，推测圆形的阳性细胞可能为B淋巴细胞，而另一部分胞体大且形状不规则的阳性细胞则可能为巨噬细胞。脾脏内AR mRNA的存在进一步证实雄激素可能是调节脾脏等免疫器官功能的因素之一。[中国水产科学，2008，15（2）：337—341]     

Toll-like receptor-mediated anti-inflammatory action of glaucine and oxoglaucine

Two isochinoline alkaloids, glaucine and oxoglaucine were investigated for their suggested anti-inflammatory influence concerning nitric oxide and cytokine production. Mouse peritoneal macrophages were stimulated with different Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands such as LPS for TLR4, zymosan for TLR2 and CpG for TLR9. The alkaloids inhibited TNF-α and IL-6 production induced by these ligands. In regard to IL-12 suppressive effect was registered in the case of CpG stimulation. Glaucine succeeded to enhance LPS and zymosan-induced IL-10 production. The reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increase of anti-inflammatory IL-10 are indicative for their use in different acute and chronic inflammatory diseases.     

褪黑素受体MT1和MT2在绵羊胃中的分布及表达

【目的】应用分子生物学技术探究绵羊不同胃室组织褪黑素(MT)特异性膜受体MT1和MT2的分布规律及表达模式,以初步探明绵羊不同胃室组织褪黑素调节胃消化的生物效应机制。【方法】采集绵羊瘤胃背囊、瘤胃腹囊、网胃、瓣胃和皱胃5个组织部位,用ELISA、实时荧光定量PCR、免疫组化和Western blotting方法检测褪黑素特异性膜受体MT1和MT2在绵羊胃组织不同部位的分布规律及表达模式。【结果】ELISA结果显示,绵羊各胃组织中均含有褪黑素,且皱胃中褪黑素含量最高,瓣胃次之,瘤胃背囊、瘤胃腹囊和网胃中均较低。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,MT1和MT2基因mRNA在皱胃中含量均最高,其次是瘤胃腹囊,在瘤胃背囊和网胃中含量较低。免疫组化结果显示,MT1和MT2蛋白在绵羊各胃组织中均有分布,主要表达于各胃组织的黏膜层,且在皱胃腺体中的分布呈从底部到颈部逐渐增多的趋势。Western blotting结果显示,MT1和MT2蛋白在网胃中表达均最高,瓣胃次之,在瘤胃背囊、瘤胃腹囊和皱胃中表达均较低。【结论】褪黑素在绵羊各胃组织中差异化表达从而发挥多样性生理功能,可能通过与胃组织上特异性受体MT1和MT2结合,通过信号传导系统而调控前胃受食糜刺激后发生反刍生理过程。     

植物多糖的免疫调节作用及其机制研究进展

多糖是生物体内广泛存在且具有多种生物活性的一类天然大分子物质,其对机体免疫系统具有重要调节作用。研究表明,植物多糖可通过与免疫细胞表面的多种受体结合、激活不同的信号通路来调控动物机体的免疫系统,包括:刺激巨噬细胞、T/B淋巴细胞、自然杀伤细胞的分泌或增殖;调节细胞因子的释放;促进抗体的分泌;激活补体系统等。本文主要对植物多糖对动物机体的免疫调节作用及其分子作用机制相关研究进行综述。