Influence of paricalcitol on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy

AIM: To investigate the effect of paricalcitol (P) on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms in diabetic nephropathy (DN).METHODS: DN rat model was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin after fasting. The animals were randomly divided into 2 groups:the DN rats in paricalcitol-intervened group (group P) were injected intraperitoneally with paricalcitol dissolved in propylene glycol after the day when the model was induced successfully at a dose of 0.4 μg/kg (3 times a week); the DN rats in DN group (group D) were given isopyknic propylene glycol. Normal control group (group C) was also set up. The samples of blood, urine and renal tissue were collected after intervention of paricalcitol for 12 weeks. The biochemical indexes were measured. The renal tissues were used for pathologic observation and determining the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), Wnt-4, β-catenin and Klotho by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. In addition, the correlation among the above indexes was analyzed.RESULTS: (1) Scr, BUN and 24 h urine protein increased significantly in group D compared with group C, while decreased in group P compared with group D (P<0.05). (2) The area of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis increased in group D compared with group C, while decreased in group P compared with group D (P<0.05). (3) The expression of Klotho decreased, while the expression of TGF-β1, Wnt-4 and β-catenin increased in group D compared with group C (P<0.05). Compared with group D, the expression of Klotho increased, while the expression of TGF-β1, Wnt-4 and β-catenin decreased in group P (P<0.05). (4) The expression of Klotho was negatively correlated with the fibrosis area, TGF-β1, Wnt-4 and β-catenin (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Paricalcitol inhibits renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in DN by promoting the expression of renal Klotho, and inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activation and TGF-β1 synthesis.     

鹅羽绒发生发育的分子调控机理研究进展

简要概述了鹅羽绒毛囊形态发生和生长周期的循环过程,对Wnt/β-catenin信号传导途径、Shh传导途径、部分相关基因功能及其调控羽绒发生发育的分子机理进行了综述,并提出了目前研究中仍存在的问题。     

上皮间质转化促乳腺癌机制及药物干预治疗研究进展

乳腺癌是犬、猫等伴侣动物与人类常发疾病,作为人类及动物常患恶性肿瘤和主要致死肿瘤之一,其疾病负担仍呈逐步加重趋势,乳腺癌的预防及治疗形势愈加严峻。上皮间质转化(EMT)是乳腺癌发生发展中重要的生物学过程。EMT还可促进恶性肿瘤的侵袭、扩散及耐药,因此它在肿瘤的研究中日益受到关注,靶向于EMT是治疗乳腺癌的重要研究方向与热点。文章就EMT发生过程中细胞形态功能及标志物的变化、EMT分类及EMT与乳腺癌的关系分别展开论述,详细解析了EMT相关TGF-β/Smad、NF-κB及Wnt信号通路转导途径;随后对乳腺癌治疗药物研究进展,包括TGF-β/Smad通路抑制剂开发,相关药物、基因及细胞因子治疗前景、NF-κB通路与Wnt通路抑制剂的动物试验研究结果进行了详细论述;最后对乳腺癌的治疗发展与趋势进行了展望。深入认识信号通路调控乳腺癌EMT的生物学过程,明确其发生发展机制,寻找关键靶点及开发靶向药物,将为乳腺癌的精准治疗带来曙光。     

Wnt5a介导Wnt/Ca2+通路对BCG诱导牛原代肺泡上皮细胞自噬的调控作用

旨在探讨体外分离培养牛肺泡上皮细胞（bovine alveolar epithelial cells,BAECs）的方法及Wnt5a对牛结核分枝杆菌卡介苗（bacille Calmette-Guérin,BCG）感染BAECs细胞自噬的调控机制。试验选用酶联合消化法和机械刮刷法分离细胞,差速贴壁法纯化BAECs,免疫荧光染色检测上皮细胞标志物角蛋白14（cytokeratin 14,CK14）和角蛋白5（cytokeratin 5,CK5）的表达;BCG感染BAECs,并用Box-5抑制Wnt5a的表达,Western blot和免疫荧光染色检测自噬相关蛋白及非经典Wnt信号通路相关蛋白的表达。结果表明,采用酶联合消化法和机械刮刷法能够成功分离纯度较高的BAECs,细胞经CK14和CK5鉴定为阳性;BCG感染BAECs促进Wnt5a表达,增加细胞自噬,Box-5预处理下调BCG诱导的细胞自噬相关蛋白LC3II、P62、Atg7及Atg5的表达,且抑制非经典Wnt/Ca²⁺信号通路相关蛋白Wnt5a、CaMKII及NFAT的表达。综上,试验成功建立BAECs分离培养方法,BCG感染增加BAECs内Wnt5a表达和细胞自噬,抑制Wnt5a下调BCG诱导的BAECs细胞自噬,且Wnt5a是通过非经典Wnt/Ca²⁺信号通路调控BCG诱导的BAECs细胞自噬。     

Wnt/β-catenin信号通路上游基因在山羊绒周期性再生及着色过程中的表达分析

为初步探究Wnt/β-catenin信号通路是否参与山羊绒周期性再生及着色过程,本试验采用实时荧光定量技术对Wnt/β-catenin信号通路上游基因β-catenin、Lef1/Tcf3及该通路拮抗基因Dkk1mRNA在白色绒山羊绒毛生长不同时期及黑、白色绒山羊绒毛生长旺盛期时体侧部皮肤组织中的相对表达量进行研究。结果显示,上述通路中β-catenin、Lef1/Tcf3基因mRNA在白色绒山羊不同时期体侧部皮肤组织中的相对表达量具有明显变化规律即生长前期缓慢上调,旺盛期时表达量最高,生长后期及退行期逐渐下调,休止期表达量最低;Dkk1基因mRNA在白色绒山羊不同时期体侧部皮肤组织中的相对表达量则无明显规律性。上述各基因mRNA在黑、白色绒山羊生长旺盛期时体侧部皮肤组织中的相对表达量并无显著差异(P0.05)。结果提示,Wnt/β-catenin信号通路参与山羊绒周期性再生过程,但该通路并不涉及生长旺盛期时绒毛的着色过程。     

Wnt signaling pathway is involved in catalpol-induced proliferation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

AIM：To investigate the changes of Wnt signaling pathway in catalpol-induced proliferation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). METHODS：The BMSCs were isolated from SD rats, purified by differential time adherent method and divided into control group and catalpol (1.0 mg/L) group. Flow cytometry was used to detect the proliferation index of BMSCs. The mRNA levels of Wnt3a, Wnt5a, Wnt11 and β-catenin was evaluated by real-time PCR. In addition, the protein expression level of β-catenin was determined by Western blotting. RESULTS：Prolife-ration index was increased from 8.90%±0.46% to 17.93%±1.68% after treatment with catalpol (P<0.01). Compared with control group, the mRNA expression of Wnt5a, Wnt11 and β-catenin was all increased with catalpol treatment. No difference of Wnt3a mRNA expression between control group and catalpol group was observed. Meanwhile, the protein expression of β-catenin was increased in catalpol group compared with control group. CONCLUSION：Catalpol promotes BMSCs going into the cell cycle. Classical and non-classical Wnt signaling pathways are activated in this process.     

Wnt10b参与外源褪黑激素促进绒山羊绒毛生长的研究

本实验旨在研究Wnt10b在内蒙古成年绒山羊皮肤中的表达变化规律和褪黑激素(MT)对其表达量的影响。每隔1个月按照2 mg/kg BW的剂量在受试内蒙古成年绒山羊耳后皮下埋植MT。连续采集12个月(从2009年8月到2010年7月)的肩胛部皮肤样品,应用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测Wnt10b的表达量。结果表明:Wnt10b在内蒙古成年绒山羊皮肤组织中毛囊生长中期和休止前期高表达;埋植MT提高了Wnt10b在内蒙古成年绒山羊皮肤组织中毛囊休止期和退行期的表达量。结果提示,Wnt10b参与内蒙古绒山羊毛囊生长的信号传递过程,并在退行期和休止期转变过程中发挥作用;Wnt10b参与了外源MT促绒毛生长的毛囊周期性变化过程。     

Effect of EZH2 regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway on apoptosis of brain glioma cells

AIM: To investigate the effect of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway on the apoptosis of brain glioma cell lines. METHODS: The expression level of EZH2 in glioma cell lines U87, H4 and U251 and normal human astrocytes (NHA) was detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot. The EZH2 siRNA and siRNA control were transfected into the H4 cells. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. Caspase-3 activity was detected by spectrophotometry. The expression levels of the key protein β-catenin of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and the downstream target molecule c-Myc were determined by Western blot. After the H4 cells transfected with EZH2 siRNA were treated with an activator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, the apoptosis rate was measured by flow cytometry, and the expression of β-catenin and c-Myc was determined by Western blot. RESULTS: The mRNA and protein expression levels of EZH2 in the glioma cell lines U87, H4 and U251 were significantly higher than those in NHA (P<0.05). The expression of EZH2 at mRNA and protein levels in the H4 cells was higher than that in U87 cells and U251 cells (P<0.05). EZH2 siRNA obviously inhibited the expression of EZH2 at mRNA and protein levels in the H4 cells. Knockdown of EZH2 expression decreased the viability of H4 cells, the apoptotic rate was significantly increased, and the activity of caspase-3 was significantly increased in the cells (P<0.05). Knockdown of EZH2 expression also inhibited the expression of β-catenin and c-Myc. The activator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway reduced the apoptosis rate of H4 cells induced by down-regulation of EZH2, and reduced the activity of caspase-3 in the cells. CONCLUSION: EZH2 is over-expressed in glioma cells. Down-regulation of EZH2 expression induces apoptosis of glioma cells by inhibiting the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.