D-Dimer Improves the Prognostic Value of Combined Clinical and Laboratory Data in Equine Gastrointestinal Colic

The discriminating ability of 15 parameters alone or in combinations, including results from analysis of plasma endotoxin, the Nycomed plasma D-Dimer test and phospholipase A₂, were analyzed to predict morbidity and mortality in equine gastrointestinal colic. Endotoxaemia was a characteristic feature of the colic horses. The problem of adequately predicting non-survivors among colic horses required several parameters to be included in the logistic model: if the “classical parameters”, (heart rate, respiratory rate, PCV, anion gap) were included in the model, addition of plasma D-dimer, phospholipase A₂, and Cl^- significantly improved the predictive value of the logistic model. Increasing heart rate and D-dimer together with decreasing chloride was a risk factor for nonsurvival. The sensitivity of this three-parameter logistic model to predict nonsurvival was 78% and specificity 77%. The Nycomed D-Dimer test is recommended as a horse-site test to predict disseminated intravascular coagulation and nonsurvival in equine colic.     

Phospholipase A<Subscript>1</Subscript> activity of crude enzyme extracted from the ovaries of skipjack tuna

The phospholipid class composition, fatty acid composition and phospholipase A₁ (PLA₁) activity from the ovaries of skipjack tuna were compared with those of six other species of marine fish. In the skipjack ovaries, the lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) proportion for the phospholipid, the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) percentage for the total fatty acids of the phospholipids and the PLA₁ activity of the crude enzyme were the highest among those of the seven species. The optimum pH and temperature for the PLA₁ activity of the crude enzyme from the skipjack ovaries were in the range of pH 6–7 and 20–30°C, respectively, and calcium ions were not required. As a substrate, phosphatidylcholine was more easily hydrolyzed than phosphatidylethanolamine by this enzyme, and the plasmalogen-type phospholipid was much lower than the acyl-type phospholipid. After a 6-h hydrolysis reaction of the purified phospholipid extracted from the mixed ovaries of skipjack and yellowfin tuna by this enzyme, the LPC ratio of the phospholipid increased from 20 to 72.6% and the percentage of DHA for the total fatty acids of the phospholipid also increased. Thus, skipjack ovaries might possibly be used as a source of PLA₁.     

Mechanisms for protection of berberine against LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice

AIM:To investigate the mechanisms by which berberine attenuates LPS-induced acute lung injury, and provide a new strategy for the treatment of the lung injury due to LPS. METHODS:BALB/c mice were randomly assigned into three groups (control, LPS group, and berberine treatment group). Mice were administered intragastrically with distilled water (0.1 mL/10 g) or neutral sulfate berberine (50 mg/kg) once a day for 3 days, 1 h after intragastrical treatment on day 3, LPS (20 mg/kg) or normal saline was injected intraperitoneally (ip). All animals were sacrificed 12 h after LPS injection, the left lung tissue sections were prepared for histology analysis and the right lung were used to determine the ratio of wet to dry lung tissue weight (W/D). In another experiment, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected, and then the total protein content, and the amounts of white blood cells (WBC) and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) in BALF were determined. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of cytosolic phospholipase A₂ (cPLA₂) was detected with immunohistochemical analysis by using phospho-cPLA2(Ser505) antibody, and the contents of thromboxane B₂ (TXB₂) in BALF, malondialdehyde (MDA) in the lungs, and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in lung tissues were also determined.RESULTS:LPS induced acute lung injury, activated cPLA₂, and increased TXB₂ content in the BALF and MDA level in the lung tissue. The pretreatment with berberine significantly attenuated lung injury, lung edema and protein leakage induced by intraperitoneal injection of LPS. The expression of phospho-cPLA₂ in the lung tissues and TXB₂ content in the BALF in the berberine treatment group were lower than those in LPS group (P<0.05). In addition, the content of MDA in the lung tissue was lower in the berberine treatment group than LPS group (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in activity of lung SOD between the berberine treatment and LPS group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION:Pretreatment with berberine remarkably reduces the LPS-induced lung injury, which is, at least in part, through inhibiting phosphorylation of cPLA₂ and decreasing lipid peroxidation. These findings provide a new strategy for the prevention and treatment of LPS-induced acute lung injury.     

Presence and ontogeny of intestinal and pancreatic phospholipase A2-like proteins in the Red Sea bream,Pagrus major. An immunocytochemical study

We have studied the location and the ontogeny of the digestive enzyme, phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) immunohistochemically in the adult and larvae/juvenile of the red sea breamPagrus major by using an antiserum against theNaja naja venom PLA₂. The antiserum reacts with at least one enzyme among the PLA₂s purified from the fish hepatopancreas or intestine. Although the reactivities were comparatively low, it labelled zymogen granules of the pancreatic acinar cells and secretory materials of certain epithelial cells in the depths of epithelial crypts in the pyloric caeca of the adult. The immunoreactivities of PLA₂s were investigated in the viscera of larvae and juveniles of the 0 to 85^th day after hatch. In the larvae of the 13^th day, accumulation of PLA₂-positive zymogen granules in the pancreatic acinar cells were first recognized by the immunostaining. The intensity of the labelling subsequently became stronger and dramatically increased between the 20^th and 30^th day. This increase appeared to be one of the physiological changes associated with the transition to a new benthic life as juveniles. Lack of PLA₂ in the pancreas before the 13^th day may suggest the possibility that larvae utilized exogenous PLA₂, inherent in their prey, to digest the phospholipids. On the other hand, no reactivity was found in the intestine until the 85^th day.     

Role of molecular species catabolism in the temperature-induced restructuring of phosphatidylcholines in liver microsomes of thermally-acclimated rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Most previous studies of the temperature-induced restructuring of phospholipid molecular species composition have examined steps in the biosynthesis of phospholipids to explain the accumulation of unsaturated fatty acids in membranes of cold-acclimated poikilotherms. In contrast, the present study explores the role of phospholipases in this restructuring process by determining the rates of degradation of specific molecular species of phosphatidylcholine, using enzymes (microsomes) freshly isolated from the liver of rainbow trout. (Oncorhynchus mykiss) acclimated to either 5° or 20°C. The substrate preparation employed to assay phospholipase activity possessed a range of molecular species, all radiolabeled with 1-¹⁴C-palmitic acid at thesn-1 position, similar to that present in native trout liver microsomes. After defined periods of incubation (120 and 240 min at 5°C; 60 and 120 min at 20°C), phospholipids were extracted from the reaction mixture and the distribution of radioactivity among the molecular species of phosphatidylcholine was determined by HPLC/liquid scintillation counting. In general, molecular species catabolism was not significantly influenced by either assay or acclimation temperature. Only in 20°C-acclimated fish did a reduction in assay temperature (from to 20 to 5°C) result in significantly increased proportions of radioactivity being recovered in one polyunsaturated fatty acid-containing species (16:0/22:6-PC). It is concluded: 1) that phospholipase specificity, assayed under conditions approximating thosein situ, is not significantly influenced by temperature; and 2), that the increased proportions of unsaturated fatty acid-containing molecular species of phosphatidylcholine observed at low temperatures must reflect the specificity of biosynthetic rather than degradative processes.     

日本结缕草（Zoysia japonica）磷脂酶D基因部分 保守序列的克隆及其对机械损伤的响应

以日本结缕草Zenith为材料,通过同源克隆的方法克隆出其磷脂酶D(PLD)基因部分保守序列,序列长399 bp,并通过实时荧光定量PCR检测PLD基因在机械损伤胁迫下随时间变化的表达模式.结果表明,磷脂酶D在胁迫2h内大量表达,随后逐渐降低,在9h已接近于对照水平,说明PLD基因在损伤初期大量参与了应对机械损伤胁迫的防御与修复过程,在损伤后期其作用减弱或被代替;电导率的测定结果表明,细胞膜结构在胁迫初期遭到极大程度的破坏,胁迫9h后膜损伤程度开始减轻.结合PLD基因和电导率的表达模式,推测PLD基因在6h内会激活一系列感受信号及下游信号分子,9h后其相应防御机制发挥作用来减轻胁迫造成的损害.     

Humoral and Delayed-type Hypersensitive Responses againstListeria monocytogenes Phosphatidylinositol-specific Phospholipase C in Experimentally Infected Buffaloes

The kinetics of antibody production against phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) and the isolation pattern of Listeria monocytogenes from bacteriological samples were studied following oral infection of buffalo calves with 3 x 10(9) cells each of pathogenic L. monocytogenes. Antibodies to PI-PLC appeared by 4-8 days post infection (PI), with a peak between days 7 and 16 PI, when tested by indirect plate-ELISA. Subsequently, antibody titres in all the animals declined and became undetectable on days 26-35 PI onwards until the study concluded on day 211 PI. Dot-ELISA could detect the antibodies to PI-PLC 1-2 days earlier and at higher titres as compared to plate-ELISA. L. monocytogenes could be recovered from faeces, nasal swabs and haemocultures from days 2 to 33, days 2 to 21 and days 11 to 17 PI, respectively. Antibodies to PI-PLC were detected during the course of active infection but their titres declined sharply once animals became culturally negative. Sonicated antigen elicited the highest delayed-type hypersensitivity response, followed by PI-PLC and listeriolysin O.     

The action of pyrethroids on the voltage-sensitive calcium channel of Paramecium tetraurelia

Calcium regulation is an important event in synaptic transmission and neuronal function, which is governed by a very intricate signal transduction system which is not completely understood. Using a variety of pharmacological assays, we have characterized the action of deltamethrin on the ciliary voltage-sensitive calcium channel and on phospholipase C activity of Paramecium tetraurelia Sonneborn, an organism that does not possess a voltage-sensitive sodium channel. In fura-2 fluorometric assays, which examined whole cells and ciliary membrane vesicles enriched with calcium channels, deltamethrin stimulated Ca²⁺ uptake. We also determined that the phospholipase C activity of the ciliary membrane vesicles is regulated by the βγ-subunit from heterotrimeric G-proteins. Subsequent treatment with deltamethrin resulted in a substantial and highly significant increase in phospholipase C activity. These results provide evidence that the molecular mode of action of pyrethroids on the voltage-sensitive calcium channel is distinct from the action of this insecticide on the voltage-sensitive sodium channel and may be dependent, in part, upon an interaction with the βγ-subunit of heterotrimeric G-protein.     

模拟探究凡纳滨对虾磷脂在贮藏过程中的水解机理

为探究凡纳滨对虾磷脂(PL)在贮藏过程中的水解机理,本研究建立了磷脂相关酶与磷脂酰胆碱(PC)的体外模型,模拟凡纳滨对虾磷脂水解反应。实验分别从凡纳滨对虾体内分离纯化得到磷脂相关酶与PC,进行体外反应,并采用"鸟枪"脂质组学法及气相色谱—质谱法分析水解反应前后PC、溶血磷脂(LPL)及游离脂肪酸(FFA)的组成和含量变化,进而推断磷脂的水解机理。结果显示,凡纳滨对虾体内磷脂水解酶包括脂肪酶、磷脂酶A_1(PLA_1)、磷脂酶A_2(PLA_2)、磷脂酶C(PLC)及磷脂酶D(PLD),其中PLA2活力最高,可达177.87 U。体外模拟反应中,凡纳滨对虾PC含量由516.45显著降至146.14 mg/g,总FFA含量由36.42上升至568.57 mg/g,其中多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)显著增加了280.5 mg/g。通过相关性分析水解前后磷脂水解酶活力变化与PC含量变化,发现PC的变化与PLA2显著相关(R=0.91)。研究表明水产品中PC变化是磷脂相关酶催化的水解反应,其水解产物主要为FFA与LPC,且PLA_2对水产品贮藏过程中磷脂的水解影响最大。本实验建立了新型的体外水解模型,并初步探究了磷脂的水解机理,为水产品贮藏及磷脂酶的研究及应用奠定了理论基础。