梅花鹿鹿茸活性多肽的提取及免疫功效的初步研究

目的提取并分离纯化不同加工方法处理的梅花鹿鹿茸活性多肽(PAP),并对其免疫功效进行初步研究。方法以不同工艺处理的鹿茸为原料,应用分子排阻层析和离子交换层析提取鹿茸活性多肽,通过淋巴细胞增殖、细胞因子产生等试验,检测PAP对淋巴细胞的免疫功效。结果所提取的梅花鹿鹿茸活性多肽蛋白含量分别为:冻干茸9.20 mg/ml;冷冻鲜茸1.30 mg/ml;热炸茸1.10 mg/ml。鹿茸多肽可以促进小鼠T、B淋巴细胞的增殖,活化巨噬细胞分泌IL-12,对机体有免疫增强作用。结论梅花鹿鹿茸活性多肽对机体的细胞免疫有显著增强作用。     

血管紧张素(-1-7)对血管紧张素Ⅱ在大鼠心脏成纤维细胞中信号转导的影响及其机制

目的探讨血管紧张素(-1-7)[Angiotensin(-1-7),Ang(-1-7)]对血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngiotensinⅡ,AngⅡ)在大鼠心脏成纤维细胞(Cardiac fibroblasts,CFs)中信号转导的影响及其机制。方法原代分离培养并鉴定新生SD大鼠的CFs,将细胞分为8组:空白对照组、AngⅡ组、Ang(-1-7)组、AngⅡ+Ang(-1-7)组、AngⅡ+Ang(-1-7)+A-779组、AngⅡ+Ang(-1-7)+PAO组、Ang(-1-7)+PAO组和AngⅡ+PAO组,Western blot法检测细胞外信号调节激酶1/2(Extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2,ERK1/2)和磷酸化的ERK1/2(p-ERK1/2)的表达;免疫沉淀捕捉分析法检测蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶-1(Src-homology domain 2 containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-1,SHP-1)的酶活性;实时荧光定量PCR检测转化生长因子-β1(Transforming growth factor-β1,TGF-β1)、I型胶原蛋白(CollagenⅠ,ColⅠ)和Ⅲ型胶原蛋白(CollagenⅢ,ColⅢ)基因mRNA的转录水平。结果 AngⅡ可增加细胞内p-ERK1/2的表达水平和p-ERK/ERK值(磷酸化的p-ERK1/2与总的ERK1/2的比值),Ang(-1-7)通过与Mas受体结合可拮抗AngⅡ引起的上述效应;Ang(-1-7)通过与Mas受体结合而激活胞内SHP-1的活性,并可拮抗AngⅡ所致的SHP-1活性降低;抑制SHP-1的活性后,Ang(-1-7)拮抗AngⅡ诱导的p-ERK1/2表达水平和p-ERK/ERK值增高的效应被抑制。Ang(-1-7)对TGF-β1、ColⅠ和ColⅢ基因mRNA的转录水平无显著影响,但可抑制AngⅡ所诱导的上述基因mRNA转录水平的增加。结论 Ang(-1-7)通过与Mas受体结合而激活SHP-1,该效应与Ang(-1-7)拮抗AngⅡ诱导的p-ERK1/2的表达水平和p-ERK/ERK值增高密切相关;Ang(-1-7)可抑制AngⅡ所诱导的TGF-β1、ColⅠ和ColⅢ基因表达上调,这些现象可能体现了一种Ang(-1-7)拮抗AngⅡ所致的不良效应的保护性机制。     

Mangiferin Reduces the Inhibition of Chondrogenic Differentiation by IL-1β in Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Subchondral Bone and Targets Multiple Aspects of the Smad and SOX9 Pathways

Mangiferin is a natural immunomodulator found in plants including mango trees. The effects of mangiferin on chondrogenesis and cartilage repair have not yet been reported. This study was designed to determine the effect of mangiferin on chondrogenic differentiation in IL-1β-stimulated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from subchondral bone and to explore the mechanisms underlying these effects. MSCs were isolated from the subchondral bone of rabbit and treated with mangiferin alone and/or interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Mangiferin induced chondrogenic differentiation in MSCs by upregulating transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2, and BMP-4 and several key markers of chondrogenesis, including sex-determining region Y–box (SRY-box) containing gene 9 (SOX9), type 2α1 collagen (Col2α1), cartilage link protein, and aggrecan. In IL-1β-stimulated MSCs, mangiferin significantly reversed the production of TGF-β, BMP-2, BMP-4, SOX9, Col2α1, cartilage link protein, and aggrecan, as well as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-13, and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS5). Mangiferin upregulated the phosphorylation of Smad 2, Smad 3, Smad 1/5/8, and SOX9 in IL-1β-stimulated MSCs. In the presence of mangiferin, SOX9 siRNA suppressed the activation of Smad 2, Smad 3, Smad 1/5/8, aggrecan, and Col2α1 expression. In conclusion, mangiferin exhibits both chondrogenic and chondroprotective effects on damaged MSCs and mediates these effects by targeting multiple aspects of the Smad and SOX9 signaling pathways.     

Hedgehog Signaling Pathway Orchestrates Human Lung Branching Morphogenesis

The Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway plays an essential role in mouse lung development. We hypothesize that the HH pathway is necessary for branching during human lung development and is impaired in pulmonary hypoplasia. Single-cell, bulk RNA-sequencing data, and human fetal lung tissues were analyzed to determine the spatiotemporal localization of HH pathway actors. Distal human lung segments were cultured in an air-liquid interface and treated with an SHH inhibitor (5E1) to determine the effect of HH inhibition on human lung branching, epithelial-mesenchymal markers, and associated signaling pathways in vitro. Our results showed an early and regulated expression of HH pathway components during human lung development. Inhibiting HH signaling caused a reduction in branching during development and dysregulated epithelial (SOX2, SOX9) and mesenchymal (ACTA2) progenitor markers. FGF and Wnt pathways were also disrupted upon HH inhibition. Finally, we demonstrated that HH signaling elements were downregulated in lung tissues of patients with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). In this study, we show for the first time that HH signaling inhibition alters important genes and proteins required for proper branching of the human developing lung. Understanding the role of the HH pathway on human lung development could lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets for childhood pulmonary diseases.     

NS5ATP9 Contributes to Inhibition of Cell Proliferation by Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Nonstructural Protein 5A (NS5A) via MEK/Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase (ERK) Pathway

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) is a remarkable protein as it clearly plays multiple roles in mediating viral replication, host-cell interactions and viral pathogenesis. However, on the impact of cell growth, there have been different study results. NS5ATP9, also known as KIAA0101, p15PAF, L5, and OEACT-1, was first identified as a proliferating cell nuclear antigen-binding protein. Earlier studies have shown that NS5ATP9 might play an important role in HCV infection. The aim of this study is to investigate the function of NS5ATP9 on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines proliferation under HCV NS5A expression. The results showed that overexpression of NS5ATP9 inhibited the proliferation of Bel7402 cells, whereas knockdown of NS5ATP9 by interfering RNA promoted the growth of HepG2 cells. Under HCV NS5A expression, RNA interference (RNAi) targeting of NS5ATP9 could reverse the inhibition of HepG2 cell proliferation, suggesting that NS5ATP9 might be an anti-proliferation gene that plays an important role in the suppression of cell growth mediated by HCV NS5A via MEK/ERK signaling pathway. These findings might provide new insights into HCV NS5A and NS5ATP9.     

The Wnt11 Signaling Pathway in Potential Cellular EMT and Osteochondral Differentiation Progression in Nephrolithiasis Formation

The molecular events leading to nephrolithiasis are extremely complex. Previous studies demonstrated that calcium and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) may participate in the pathogenesis of stone formation, but the explicit mechanism has not been defined. Using a self-created genetic hypercalciuric stone-forming (GHS) rat model, we observed that the increased level of serous/uric TGF-β1 and elevated intracellular calcium in primary renal tubular epithelial cells (PRECs) was associated with nephrolithiasis progression in vivo. In the setting of high calcium plus high TGF-β1 in vitro, PRECs showed great potential epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) progression and osteochondral differentiation properties, representing the multifarious increased mesenchymal and osteochondral phenotypes (Zeb1, Snail1, Col2A1, OPN, Sox9, Runx2) and decreased epithelial phenotypes (E-cadherin, CK19) bythe detection of mRNAs and corresponding proteins. Moreover, TGF-β-dependent Wnt11 knockdown and L-type Ca²⁺ channel blocker could greatly reverse EMT progression and osteochondral differentiation in PRECs. TGF-β1 alone could effectively promote EMT, but it had no effect on osteochondral differentiation in NRK cells (Rat kidney epithelial cell line). Stimulation with Ca²⁺ alone did not accelerate differentiation of NRK. Co-incubation of extracellular Ca²⁺ and TGF-β1 synergistically promotes EMT and osteochondral differentiation in NRK control cells. Our data supplied a novel view that the pathogenesis of calcium stone development may be associated with synergic effects of TGF-β1 and Ca²⁺, which promote EMT and osteochondral differentiation via Wnt11 and the L-type calcium channel.