Stimulation of insulin and glucagon synthesis in rat Langerhans islets by malathion in vitro: Evidence for mitochondrial interaction and involvement of subcellular non-cholinergic mechanisms

We examined the effects of malathion, an organophosphorus (OP) insecticide, on glucagon, C-peptide, and insulin content or secretion from isolated rat Langerhans islets in vitro. Islets were isolated from the pancreas of rats by standard collagenase digestion, separation by centrifugation, and hand-picking technique. Then islets were cultured in medium and supplemented with various concentrations of malathion (25, 125, and 625 μg/ml) for 1, 3, and 5 h. In vitro exposure to malathion increased insulin and C-peptide contents at doses of 25, 125, and 625 μg/ml following 5 h incubation as compared to control. All doses of malathion increased glucagon content after 3 and 5 h as compared to control. Increase of the glucagon content at all doses in the fifth hour was higher than that of third hour. Malathion also decreased 2.8 and 16.7 mM glucose-stimulated insulin secretion at all doses after 30 min as compared to control.It is concluded that malathion reduce insulin exocytose in a short time (first hour) but after a long time (e.g., 5 h), the content of insulin is increased by compensating mechanisms such as resynthesize of insulin or aggregation of insulin. The present in vitro study for the first time proposes the involvement of subcellular non-cholinergic mechanisms in malathion-induced changes in Langerhans islets insulin and glucagon.     

Induction of insulin resistance by malathion: Evidence for disrupted islets cells metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction

Hyperglycemia is observed with exposure to organophosphorus (OP) pesticides. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of malathion on secretion of insulin from rat pancreatic islets in vitro and in vivo. Malathion was administered through food for 4 weeks at concentrations of 100, 200, and 400 ppm. For in vivo experiment, at the end of treatment, blood sample was obtained and plasma was separated. For in vitro experiment, the treated rats were anesthetized and underwent a laparatomy. The common bile duct was cannulated and the pancreas distended by injecting of cold collagenase V using peristaltic infusion pump. Islets were then hand picked under a stereomicroscope and cultured in the presence of various doses of glucose and KCl. Malathion at doses of 200 and 400 ppm increased plasma glucose and insulin concentrations and lowered activity of erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase. The isolated islets from pretreated animals with malathion 200 and 400 ppm showed lower glucose-stimulated insulin secretion while no change was observed in the presence of KCl. Light microscopic examination revealed that malathion causes patchy degenerative changes in pancreatic islets. Combination of in vivo and in vitro findings suggests that malathion induces a kind of insulin resistance that cannot overwhelm hyperglycemia. This action of malathion is mediated through disruption of islets mitochondrial function.     

牙鲆生长抑素分泌细胞的免疫细胞化学研究

采用链霉亲合素-生物素-过氧化物酶复合物(SABC)免疫细胞化学染色技术,利用兔抗哺乳动物生长抑素血清对牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)消化道(包括食道、胃、幽门垂、肠道全长及肛门)、肝胰脏、肾脏、脾脏以及生殖腺等器官的生长抑素(SS)分泌细胞进行定位和鉴别。结果表明,生长抑素分泌细胞仅存在于胃和胰岛中,其他检测部位均未见分布。在胃中,生长抑素分泌细胞主要散在分布于胃黏膜上皮、胃小凹底部上皮和胃腺的颈部周围。在胃的不同部位,生长抑素分泌细胞的分布密度存有差异,以胃体部数量最多,贲门部次之,幽门部最少。参照消化道内分泌细胞与胃肠腔或腺腔有无直接联系,以及基部有无胞质突起的分类方法,将SS分泌细胞分为4种不同的类型,这4种类型的SS分泌细胞在胃中均有出现,且不同部位出现的几率不同。其中,贲门部以第Ⅲ、Ⅰ型居多;胃体部以第Ⅳ、Ⅰ型细胞为主;幽门部仅有第Ⅰ、Ⅱ型细胞。提示,牙鲆的胃是一个复杂的内分泌器官。在胰脏中,生长抑素分泌细胞零散地分布于胰岛细胞之间,数量很少。     

基底细胞癌内郎格罕细胞的动态观察

用兔抗牛多克隆抗S-100蛋白抗体对42例基底细胞癌组织蜡块切片染色,以观察癌组织内郎格罕细胞(LCs)的数量和分布,结果发现此法能清晰显示LCs呈树突状的细胞形态。42例标本LCs分布极不均匀,差别很大,其中实体型和角化型LCs较多。LCs多集结于癌巢内,巢外很少,同一癌巢内又以中间层LCs数量多,周边及中心部相对较少。癌巢中LCs的多寡与其上方表皮相一致,即表皮LCs数量多,癌巢内也多,反之亦然。分化型LCs极少。研究结果提示LCs参与了肿瘤(Bcc)的免疫病理反应。     

In vivo confocal microscopy of the normal equine cornea and limbus

Objective  To describe morphologic features, pachymetry and endothelial cell density of the normal equine cornea and limbus by in vivo confocal microscopy.
Animals studied  Ten horses without ocular disease.
Procedure  The central and peripheral corneas were examined with a modified Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II and Rostock Cornea Module using a combination of automated and manual image acquisition modes. Thickness measurements of various corneal layers were performed and endothelial cell density determined.
Results  Images of the constituent cellular and noncellular elements of the corneal epithelium, stroma, endothelium, and limbus were acquired in all horses. Corneal stromal nerves, the subepithelial nerve plexus, and the sub-basal nerve plexus were visualized. Cells with an appearance characteristic of Langerhans cells and corneal stromal dendritic cells were consistently detected in the corneal basal epithelium and anterior stroma, respectively. Median central total corneal thickness was 835 μm (range 725–920 μm) and median central corneal epithelial thickness was 131 μm (range 115–141 μm). Median central endothelial cell density was 3002 cells per mm² (range 2473–3581 cells per mm²).
Conclusions  In vivo corneal confocal microscopy provides a noninvasive method of assessing normal equine corneal structure at the cellular level and is a precise technique for corneal sublayer pachymetry and cell density measurements. A resident population of presumed Langerhans cells and corneal stromal dendritic cells was detected in the normal equine cornea. The described techniques can be applied to diagnostic evaluation of corneal alternations associated with disease and have broad clinical and research applications in the horse.     

黄颡鱼朗格汉斯细胞的鉴定及其功能基因的表达分析

为研究黄颡鱼朗格汉斯细胞的结构特点以及细菌感染对其功能相关基因表达的影响,采用免疫组化技术对黄颡鱼免疫器官中朗格汉斯细胞进行鉴定,通过透射电镜进一步观察到黄颡鱼朗格汉斯细胞的超微结构,并采用荧光定量PCR检测鲶爱德华氏菌感染后黄颡鱼免疫相关组织内朗格汉斯细胞功能相关基因IL-1β、TNF-α、IL-10和TLR-4的表达情况。结果显示,黄颡鱼头肾和脾脏中具有朗格汉斯细胞的特异性分子标记CD207蛋白,且黄颡鱼朗格汉斯细胞的结构与其他脊椎动物类似,即细胞质中大量的伯贝克颗粒围绕着中心粒呈放射状排列。在鲶爱德华氏菌感染后,朗格汉斯细胞功能相关基因IL-1β、TNF-α、IL-10和TLR-4在黄颡鱼免疫器官内的表达量显著上调。上述结果表明,黄颡鱼含有朗格汉斯细胞,并且其可能参与了机体抗鲶爱德华氏菌感染的免疫反应。     

Establishment of cell line and in vivo mouse model of canine Langerhans cell histiocytosis

A cell line named FB‐LCH01, derived from a dog diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), was established and characterized. FB‐LCH01 had C‐shaped nucleoli, characterized by modal chromosome aberrations. The original tumour cells as well as established FB‐LCH01 cells were immunopositive for human leukocyte antigen‐DR, Iba‐1 and E‐cadherin, and immunonegative for CD163 and CD204, suggesting Langerhans cell origin. Furthermore, the characteristics of FB‐LCH01 were compared with those of two canine histiocytic sarcoma cell lines (PWC‐HS01 and FCR‐HS02) established previously. Expression of E‐cadherin was detected only in FB‐LCH01, but not in PWC‐HS01 and FCR‐HS02. All (n = 9) the severe combined immunodeficiency mice inoculated with the FB‐LCH01 cells developed subcutaneous tumour masses after 3 weeks. Eight of nine mice also developed metastatic lesions in the lymph nodes (8/8; 100%), lung (5/8; 62.5%), stomach (5/8; 62.5%), heart (4/8; 50%), pancreas (4/8; 50%), kidney (3/8; 37.5%), skin (3/8; 37.5%) and bone marrow (1/8; 12.5%). Tumour cells were pleomorphic and round‐ to polygonal‐shaped with prominent anisocytosis and anisokaryosis. The xenotransplanted tumour cells maintained the immunohistochemical features of the original tumour with persistent E‐cadherin expression at injection site and some visceral organs. In conclusion, the established cell line as well as the mice xenotransplant model in this study reflect the nature of canine LCH and may serve as promising models for investigating the patho‐tumorigenesis and therapy of the disease.     

Recent advances in the study of G protein-coupled receptor 40/free fatty acid receptor 1

Free fatty acids (FFAs) provide an important energy source and also act as signaling molecules. Medium to long-chain free fatty acids can activate the intracellular signal pathways in the pancreatic β-cells and play a role in regulating insulin secretion as an extracellular signal molecular via binding to the FFA receptor G protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40). Furthermore, GPR40 is associated with several biological effects including cell proliferation and antiapoptosis of nerve cells. GPR40 act an important role in the connection of obesity and diabetes or cancers. GPR40 will probably become a novel kind of antidiabetic and anticancer drugs.