Zerumbone attenuates MPP+-induced cytotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by inhibition of oxidative stress

AIM: To investigate the role of zerumbone (ZER) in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺)-induced cytotoxicity of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. METHODS: Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were cultured in vitro and the protective effect of ZER against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxicity was measured by CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry was used to determine the apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The expression of Parkinson disease protein 7 (PARK7) was knocked-down by using PARK7-specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA). The protein levels of PARK7, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: MMP⁺ remarkably reduced the cell viability in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. The SH-SY5Y cell injury model was established by treatment with MPP⁺ at 600 μmol/L for 24 h. ZER up-regulated the protein levels of PARK7 and Nrf2 (P<0.05), alleviated apoptosis (P<0.05), and reduced ROS production (P<0.05) in the SH-SY5Y cell injury model. Meanwhile, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) had the similar functions. Moreover, significant reductions in the protein levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 (P<0.05), and obvious increases in apoptosis (P<0.05) and ROS level (P<0.05) were demonstrated in PARK7-knockdown cells. CONCLUSION: ZER protects SH-SY5Y cells against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxi-city, which may be related to activation of PARK7/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, and subsequent attenuation of oxidative stress and apoptosis.     

Genome-wide association mapping of phenolic acids in tetraploid wheats

Phenolic acids are major components of cell walls in wheat and have important implications on human health as antioxidants with anti-tumor activity. Our objectives were to identify phenolic acid genes in wheat by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) detected within the coding sequences of candidate genes, and to identify chromosomal regions associated with single phenolic acids and total soluble phenolic compounds. A set of candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were identified by comparative genomics. SNPs found in the coding sequences of six genes (PAL1, PAL2, C4H, C3H, COMT1 and COMT2) were used to determine their chromosomal location and accurate map position on two reference consensus linkage maps. The genome-wide association study (GWAS), based on genotyping a tetraploid wheat collection with 81,587 gene-associated SNPs, detected 22 quantitative trait loci (QTL) distributed on almost all durum wheat chromosomes. Two QTL for p-coumaric acid were coincident with the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL2) and p-coumarate 3-hydroxylase (C3H) genes on chromosome arms 2AL and 1AL, respectively. The availability of candidate gene-based markers can allow elucidating the mechanism of phenolic acids accumulation in wheat kernels and exploiting the genetic variability of phenolic acids content for the nutritional improvement of wheat end-products.     

脂肪细胞膜免疫降脂的研究

本文综述了利用脂肪细胞膜免疫技术进行畜禽脂肪代谢研究的成果，其技术路线主要包括试验途径和方法、免疫机理、降脂效果及特异性脂肪膜蛋白的研究启示，从而为脂肪细胞膜免疫降脂试验提供成功的范例和科学的依据，并开辟降低脂肪、提高瘦肉率研究的新领域。     

Structure,function and signal transduction of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2

Angiogenesis, or the formation of new blood vessels out of pre-existing capillaries, is very important in many physiologic and pathologic processes, such as embryonic development, cancer, retinopathies, etc. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) plays a key role in angiogenesis. In this review, we discussed the structure, function and signal transduction of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2. Understanding these should provide important insights into how new strategies can be devised to interfere in the physiologic and pathologic processes involved in angiogensis.     

and laminin on adhesion and proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell

AIM:To explore the effects of PMA(phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, a tumor promoter, mimicking the action of diacylglycerol on PKC)and laminin on the adhesion and the proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and provide a new clue to liver cancer treatment.METHODS:Human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line(BEL-7402)was used to identify the endogenous laminin and protein kinase C-α(PKC-α) expression, and the effects of laminin and PMA on the adhesion and the proliferation were also investigatedin vitro.RESULTS:By the effect of exogenous laminin, human hepatocellular carcinoma cell (BEL-7402) possessed endogenous laminin expression and increased the adhesion and the proliferation, which was showed the synergistic action by the effect of PMA in combination. By the action of PMA alone, the proliferation and the PKC-α expression increased by exogenous laminin were decreased, and the adhesion and the endogenous laminin expression were increased.CONCLUSIONS:The finding suggested that the adhesion and the proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell were closely related to the effects of endogenous or exogenous laminin, which were associated with cPKC-α activity. Therefore, the application of anti-laminin antibody in combination with PKC antagonist might be a new clue to find out the therapy for liver cancer.     

Progress in signal transduction of erythropoietin

Erythropoietin is a critical growth factor in development of erythrocyte. After binding to its receptor, eryhropoietin produces biological action through consequent activation of intracellular signal transduction systems, including JAK2-STAT5, sos-Ras-MAPK, IRS-2-PI₃-K⁺ and Ca²⁺ channel.     

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acid: the signal transduction

Cytochrome P450 monoxygenase converts arachionic acid to four epoxyeicosatrienoic acid regiosomes: 5, 6-EET (epoxyeicosatrienoic acid); 8, 9-EET; 11, 12-EET and 14, 15-EET. Recent studies show that EETs are involved in signal transduction. EETs open Ca²⁺-sensit ive K⁺ channel and inhibit Na⁺ channel, Ca²⁺-sensitive Cl^- channel and so on. What is more, EETs have been demonstrated to activate PP60^c-src and initiate a tyrosine kinase cascade that mediates mitogenic effects.     

IL-12 induces T lymphocytes apoptosis and influences the expression and signal transduction of Fas/FasL

AIM: IL-12 acts upon Tlymphocytes and activates its receptor complexes of β1/β2,and so IL-12 can regulate TH1/TH2 balance. Our study is aimed at IL-12-inducing apoptosis of Tcells and expression and signal transduction of Fas/FasLduring Tcell apoptosis. METHODS: The apoptosis of Tcells was detected by Annexin Vstaining cytometry and the expression of Fas/FasLunder different inhibitors were detected by semi-quantitative PCR. RESULTS: IL-12 induced the human leukemic Tcell line(TIB-152) and the human lymphoma Tcell line(HTB-176) and the normal human Tcells to undergo apoptosis. The FasLexpression at 6 hours after treatment with IL-12 increased apparently, and reached the max at 24 hours, and FasLexpression induced by IL-12 was inhibited by PKCinhibitor. But IL-12 did not influence Fas expression. CONCLUSIONS: IL-12 can induce Tcells to undergo apoptosis which is characterized by early membrane changes, the inducing effect is correlated with the concentration of IL-12 and the maturation of Tcells. FasLparticipates in the progression of Tcell apoptosis as a apoptosis mediator, and the effect of IL-12 on FasLexpression may be related with PKCpathway.     

Regulation of MMP-2 and TIMP-3 expression by uPA signal transduction system in human bone giant cell tumor

AIM: To study effects of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) signal transduction on expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) in giant cell tumor of bone (GCT). METHODS: Expression of uPAR, MMP-2 and TIMP-3 in GCT tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry. Phosphorylation level of mitogen-activated protein kinase (p44) in uPA/uPAR signal pathway in cultured GCT cells was detected by immunoprecipitation. The expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-3 in cultured cells after treatment with uPA-ATF or anti-uPAR antibody was also detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: 1) Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) was positive on the cell membrane and in cytoplasm of some mononuclear stromal cells (MSCs) and multinucleated giant cells (MGCs); 2) MMP-2 was positive in the cytoplasm and on the cell membrane of almost all of MSCs and some of MGCs. The polar distribution of MMP-2 in the cytoplasm of MGCs was especially obvious; 3) The expression of TIMP-3 of some MSCs and MGCs in GCT was much lower than MMP-2. The positive signal also showed a prominent polarity; 4) After treatment with uPA-ATF, the phosphorylation level of p44 in GCT cultured cells was much higher than the control. Addition of anti-uPAR antibody in the cells remarkably down-regulated the phosphorylation level of p44 as compared with the control group, suggesting that uPA-ATF participates cell signal transduction and this reaction can be inhibited by anti-uPAR antibody; 5) uPA-ATF cell signal pathway up-regulated expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-3, while anti-uPAR antibody down-regulated the expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-3. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate for the first time that uPA-ATF directly regulates the expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-3 by signal transduction pathway, and the over-expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-3 may play an important role in local osteolysis of GCT.