Proliferative kidney disease: cellular aspects of the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), response to parasitic infection

Proliferative kidney disease (PKD) is an immunopathological condition of salmonid fish, caused by the hyperplastic response of their principal lymphoid tissues to infection with the spores of Tetracapsula bryosalmonae , a myxozoan parasite formerly designated proliferative kidney organism – unknown (PKX). In order to investigate the nature of cells involved in this host response and possible alterations of their functions during parasitic infection the course of PKD was studied by flow cytometry (FCM) techniques, using blood, pronephros and spleen leucocyte populations from rainbow trout infected by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection with parasitic cells from infected donor fish. The parameters of the cellullar response studied were: cytogram of cell population, lymphoproliferation, phagocytosis, oxidative burst, and non-specific cytotoxicity. The modifications of cell population distribution and function in the PKD-infected fish mainly affected the pronephros cell populations and were coincident with the clinical phase of disease. During this phase, the lymphocytes constituted the major leucocyte cell population and underwent proliferation and were thus responsible for the renal tissue hyperplasia. Meanwhile, phagocytosis and oxidative burst were depressed. These data are in agreement with the patho-epidemiological background of PKD where the enhancement of the fish sensitivity to bacterial infections reflects the impairment of certain cellular defence mechanisms of innate immunity.     

两种活性羰基类物质对 ECV304细胞的毒性研究

为探讨乙二醛（GO）和甲基乙二醛（MGO）对上皮细胞的细胞毒性及其机制,分别以 MTT 法检测两种活性羰基化合物（RCS）对 ECV304细胞活力的影响,评价其细胞毒性;DCFH-DA 探针法检测氧化应激;用罗丹明123检测线粒体膜电位及线粒体形态变化。结果表明,GO 和 MGO 对 ECV304细胞的 IC50分别为3．6 mmol／L±0．1 mmol／L 和1．3 mmol／L±0．1 mmol／L;氧化应激水平小幅度增高,线粒体膜电位随发生改变;线粒体形态发生改变。GO 和 MGO 的细胞毒性与氧化应激水平增加相关性较低而与线粒体损伤相关。     

La_2O_3-黄酮纳米复合材料的制备及其抗氧化与抑菌性能研究

黄酮类化合物具有较好的抗菌性能,而稀土氧化物具有较强的清除羟基自由基能力。本研究利用硅烷偶联剂(KH560)的偶联接枝作用,将黄酮接枝在纳米La2O3表面,制备La2O3-黄酮复合纳米材料,并进行清除羟基自由基和体外抑菌(大肠杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌)试验。结果表明,该复合材料具有较强的清除羟基自由基能力和抑制细菌生长能力。细胞毒性试验结果表明,黄酮的存在使该材料具有较低的细胞毒性和较好的细胞相容性。La2O3-黄酮纳米复合材料有望应用于食品保鲜添加剂和医学等领域。     

几种植物源活性物质对昆虫细胞的毒力测定

本文测定几种植物源活性物质对甜菜夜蛾离体培养细胞系IOZCAS-Spex-II和草地贪夜蛾离体培养细胞系Sf 9细胞增殖活性的抑制作用.试验结果表明,喜树碱、羟基喜树碱和鱼藤酮对两种昆虫细胞具有较好的抑制作用.在测定的时间(2、6、12、24、48、72 h)和剂量(1.0×10-3、1.0×10-2、1.0×10-1、1.0×100,1.0×101、1.0×102μmol/L)范围内,喜树碱、羟基喜树碱和鱼藤酮对甜菜夜蛾IOZCAS-Spex-II和草地贪夜蛾Sf 9的细胞毒性具有较好的时间和剂量依赖性,而印楝素、乌头碱、次乌头碱、伪石榴皮碱、马钱子碱和吴茱萸碱对其细胞毒性具有一定的时间效应,无明显的剂量关系.     

Anti-Thy-1 Antibody-mediated Complement-dependent Cytotoxicity is Regulated by the Distribution of Antigen,Antibody and Membrane Complement Regulatory Proteins in Rats

Some therapeutic antibodies as anticancer agents exert their effects through the host immune system, but the factors that predict their cytotoxicity, including complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), are unclear. In the present study, we attempted to elucidate some of these factors in a preclinical model. CDC-related mesangiolysis caused by administration of the anti-Thy-1.1 antibody can be studied in the rat anti-Thy-1 glomerulonephritis model, so the model was used in this study. Three animals each were sacrificed at 0.5, 1, 8, 24 and 48 hours after i.v. administration of the anti-Thy-1.1 antibody at 1mg/kg. The distribution of the Thy-1.1 antigen and 2 membrane complement regulatory proteins (mCRPs), Crry and CD55, in three non-treated animals and the distribution of the injected antibody and C3 in the model was studied by immunohistochemistry. In the mesangial cells of the kidney, both expression of the antigen and distribution of the antibody with C3 deposition were observed with weak expression of mCRPs. There was also antigen and antibody distribution in the medullary cells of the adrenal gland and in the lymphocytes of the thymus but no C3 deposition, which was thought to be related to high expression of mCRPs. The antigen was observed in several other organs and tissues without distribution of the antibody. Cell death was only observed in the mesangial cells. These results clearly demonstrate that activation of CDC is regulated by several factors, such as distribution of the target molecule, antibody distribution and the balance among the molecules of the CDC cascade and mCRPs.     

棉铃虫V-ATPase亚基B是Cry1Ac的功能受体

目前对转苏云金芽胞杆菌Bacillus thuringiensis（Bt）的研究发现,液泡型ATP酶（Vacuolar-type proton ATPase,V-ATPase）可能是Bt的一类新型受体。我们前期通过构建棉铃虫的中肠酵母文库筛选Cry1Ac的结合蛋白发现棉铃虫V-ATPase亚基B（V-ATPase B）可以与Cry1Ac结合。为明确V-ATPase B在Cry1Ac毒力和昆虫对Cry1Ac抗性机制中的作用,本研究首先采用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析了该基因在抗感Cry1Ac棉铃虫幼虫中及其受到Cry1Ac诱导时的基因表达情况;通过Ligand blot进一步地证实了其与Cry1Ac的结合特性;并通过在Sf9细胞中表达V-ATPase B的试验验证了其功能。结果表明V-ATPase B在抗性品系及受到Cry1Ac诱导时均下调表达,Ligand blot证实了V-ATPase B与Cry1Ac特异性结合;并且在昆虫细胞内过表达该基因,会增强Cry1Ac的细胞毒力。研究结果表明棉铃虫V-ATPase B是Cry1Ac的功能受体,并有可能通过降低基因表达来参与棉铃虫对Cry1Ac的抗性形成。     

Gageostatins A–C,Antimicrobial Linear Lipopeptides from a Marine Bacillus subtilis

Concerning the requirements of effective drug candidates to combat against high rising multidrug resistant pathogens, we isolated three new linear lipopeptides, gageostatins A–C (1–3), consisting of hepta-peptides and new 3-β-hydroxy fatty acids from the fermentation broth of a marine-derived bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Their structures were elucidated by analyzing a combination of extensive 1D, 2D NMR spectroscopic data and high resolution ESIMS data. Fatty acids, namely 3-β-hydroxy-11-methyltridecanoic and 3-β-hydroxy-9,11-dimethyltridecanoic acids were characterized in lipopeptides 1 and 2, respectively, whereas an unsaturated fatty acid (E)-7,9-dimethylundec-2-enoic acid was assigned in 3. The 3R configuration of the stereocenter of 3-β-hydroxy fatty acids in 1 and 2 was established by Mosher’s MTPA method. The absolute stereochemistry of amino acid residues in 1–3 was ascertained by acid hydrolysis followed by Marfey’s derivatization studies. Gageostatins 1–3 exhibited good antifungal activities with MICs values of 4–32 µg/mL when tested against pathogenic fungi (R. solani, B. cinerea and C. acutatum) and moderate antibacterial activity against bacteria (B. subtilis, S. aeureus, S. typhi and P. aeruginosa) with MICs values of 8–64 µg/mL. Futhermore, gageostatins 1–3 displayed cytotoxicity against six human cancer cell lines with GI₅₀ values of 4.6–19.6 µg/mL. It is also noteworthy that mixed compounds 1+2 displayed better antifungal and cytotoxic activities than individuals.     

Cytotoxic Effects of Fascaplysin against Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Lines

Fascaplysin, the natural product of a marine sponge, exhibits anticancer activity against a broad range of tumor cells, presumably through interaction with DNA, and/or as a highly selective cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) inhibitor. In this study, cytotoxic activity of fascaplysin against a panel of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines and putative synergism with chemotherapeutics was investigated. SCLC responds to first-line chemotherapy with platinum-based drugs/etoposide, but relapses early with topotecan remaining as the single approved therapeutic agent. Fascaplysin was found to show high cytotoxicity against SCLC cells and to induce cell cycle arrest in G1/0 at lower and S-phase at higher concentrations, respectively. The compound generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induced apoptotic cell death in the chemoresistant NCI-H417 SCLC cell line. Furthermore, fascaplysin revealed marked synergism with the topoisomerase I-directed camptothecin and 10-hydroxy-camptothecin. The Poly(ADP-ribose)-Polymerase 1 (PARP1) inhibitor BYK 204165 antagonized the cytotoxic activity of fascaplysin, pointing to the involvement of DNA repair in response to the anticancer activity of the drug. In conclusion, fascaplysin seems to be suitable for treatment of SCLC, based on high cytotoxic activity through multiple routes of action, affecting topoisomerase I, integrity of DNA and generation of ROS.     

A New Cytotoxicity Assay for Brevetoxins Using Fluorescence Microscopy

Brevetoxins are a family of ladder-framed polyether toxins produced during blooms of the marine dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis. Consumption of shellfish or finfish exposed to brevetoxins can lead to the development of neurotoxic shellfish poisoning. The toxic effects of brevetoxins are believed to be due to the activation of voltage-sensitive sodium channels in cell membranes. The traditional cytotoxicity assay for detection of brevetoxins uses the Neuro-2A cell line, which must first be treated with the neurotoxins, ouabain and veratridine, in order to become sensitive to brevetoxins. In this study, we demonstrate several drawbacks of the Neuro-2A assay, which include variability for the EC₅₀ values for brevetoxin and non-linear triphasic dose response curves. Ouabain/veratridine-treated Neuro-2A cells do not show a typical sigmoidal dose response curve in response to brevetoxin, but rather, have a polynomial shaped curve, which makes calculating EC₅₀ values highly variable. We describe a new fluorescence live cell imaging model, which allows for accurate calculation of cytotoxicity via nuclear staining and additional measurement of other viability parameters depending on which aspect of the cell is stained. In addition, the SJCRH30 cell line shows promise as an alternative to Neuro-2A cells for testing brevetoxins without the need for ouabain and veratridine.     

Cespitulones A and B,Cytotoxic Diterpenoids of a New Structure Class from the Soft Coral Cespitularia taeniata

Two novel diterpenoids, cespitulones A (1) and B (2), were isolated from extracts of the soft coral Cespitularia taeniata. Both compounds possess an unprecedented bicyclo [10.3.1] ring system with C-C bond connections between C-10 and C-20, and between C-20 and C-11. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses. Compound 1 exhibited significant cytotoxicity against human medulloblastoma and colon adenocarcinoma cancer cells.