血管紧张素转换酶基因rs4340和rs4343多态性与心房颤动的相关性

目的探讨血管紧张素转换酶(Angiotensin converting enzyme,ACE)基因rs4340和rs4343多态性与心房颤动(简称房颤)的相关性。方法选择重庆地区4家三甲医院就诊的102例房颤患者及同期住院的无房颤病史患者100例,抽取患者静脉血,分别提取基因组DNA,采用单核苷酸多态性-限制性片段长度多态性(Single nucleotide polymorphism,restriction fragmentlength polymorphism,SNP-RFLP)法及基因测序检测ACE基因rs4340和rs4343的基因型。结果房颤组ACE基因rs4340多态性的基因型及等位基因分布与对照组相比,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),房颤组rs4343的基因型和等位基因分布与对照组间差异有统计学意义(P<0.001或P=0.001)。与对照组相比,房颤组GG+AG基因型频率明显高于AA基因型频率(P<0.001)。II/AA基因型在房颤组中出现的频率明显少于对照组(P=0.001),而II/AG基因型在房颤组中出现的频率明显高于对照组(P=0.002)。房颤组中rs4340和rs4343各基因型左房前后径与右房横径差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);而将两位点联合分析发现,携带II/AA基因型房颤患者的左房前后径和右房横径均明显小于其他基因型(P<0.001),同时,携带II/AG基因型房颤患者的左房前后径和右房横径均明显大于其他基因型(P<0.001)。结论 ACE基因rs4343多态性与房颤显著相关,II/AA基因型是房颤发生发展的保护因子,而II/AG基因型是预测房颤发生发展的危险因子。     

血管紧张素Ⅱ2型受体基因多态性与山东济宁地区汉族女性原发性高血压的相关性

目的研究血管紧张素Ⅱ2型受体(AT2R)基因A1675G多态性与山东济宁地区汉族女性原发性高血压(EH)的相关性。方法随机选取山东省济宁地区汉族女性EH患者127例(EH组)和体检正常的女性119例(正常对照组),提取外周血基因组DNA,PCR扩增A1675G基因,高分辨率熔解(HRM)法测定A1675G基因的多态性。结果EH组AA、AG和GG基因型频率(分别为26.8%、53.5%和19.7%)与正常对照组(分别为27.7%、42.0%和30.3%)比较,差异均无统计学意义;等位基因频率(A:53.5%;G:46.5%)与正常对照组(A:48.7%;G:51.3%)比较,差异也无统计学意义。结论A1675G基因多态性可能与山东省济宁地区汉族女性原发性高血压无明显相关性。     

磁性琼脂糖微球固定化血管紧张素转化酶的制备及性质

采用反相悬浮包埋法制备磁性琼脂糖微球,然后以环氧氯丙烷为活化剂固定血管紧张素转化酶(ACE)。探讨了ACE固定化的影响因素,确定了固定化最适条件：酶溶液蛋白质量浓度为8g/L,pH为7.8,温度为50℃,固定化时间为2h,所得的固定化酶的活力达到0.128U/g;对磁性固定化ACE的性质进行了研究,固定化ACE最适温度为42℃ ,最适pH为8.3。同时,比较了磁性固定化与游离ACE对pH的耐受力和热稳定性,在 pH =5 的缓冲液中放置1h后,固定化ACE和游离ACE酶活力保留率分别为62.1%和40.7%,当pH= 9,两者酶活力保留率分别为95.7%和89.2%;60℃时,两者酶活力保留率分别为50.2%和20.7%;-20℃储存30d后, 两者酶活力保留率分别为90.3%和43.0%;连续操作10次后,固定化ACE活力仍保持53.0%。研究表明,磁性固定化ACE在外加磁场的作用下可快速重复回收利用,具有良好的应用前景。     

磁性琼脂糖微球固定化血管紧张素转化酶的制备及性质

采用反相悬浮包埋法制备磁性琼脂糖微球,然后以环氧氯丙烷为活化剂固定血管紧张素转化酶(ACE)。探讨了ACE固定化的影响因素,确定了固定化最适条件:酶溶液蛋白质量浓度为8 g/L,p H=7.8,温度为50℃,固定化时间为2 h,所得的固定化酶的活力达到0.128 U/g;对磁性固定化ACE的性质进行了研究,固定化ACE最适温度为42℃,最适p H=8.3。同时,比较了磁性固定化与游离ACE对p H的耐受力和热稳定性,在p H=5的缓冲液中放置1 h后,固定化ACE和游离ACE酶活力保留率分别为62.1%和40.7%,当p H=9,两者酶活力保留率分别为95.7%和89.2%;60℃时,两者酶活力保留率分别为50.2%和20.7%;-20℃储存30 d后,两者酶活力保留率分别为90.3%和43.0%;连续操作10次后,固定化ACE活力仍保持53.0%。研究表明,磁性固定化ACE在外加磁场的作用下可快速重复回收利用,具有良好的应用前景。     

血管紧张素Ⅱ基因重组杆状病毒的构建

目的构建携带血管紧张素I(IAngiotensin Ⅱ,AngⅡ)基因的重组杆状病毒,并利用Bac-to-Bac重组杆状病毒表达系统进行表达。方法将重组杆粒bacmid-P1-2A-4AngⅡs-3ABC(rB/HAngⅡ)转染昆虫细胞sf9,包装出重组杆状病毒rBac-P1-2A-4AngⅡs-3ABC(rBAV),通过光学显微镜和透射电镜观察细胞病变(CPE)及病毒形态,采用蚀斑试验检测病毒滴度,PCR及间接免疫荧光技术验证该病毒及感染细胞中AngⅡ和HAV蛋白的表达。结果重组杆粒rB/HAngⅡ转染sf9细胞96 h后,出现典型的CPE;透射电镜下观察可见典型的杆状病毒颗粒;PCR可特异性的扩增出约3 000和1 000 bp的P1-2A-4AngⅡs和3ABC基因片段;P3代重组杆状病毒滴度约为4×108pfu/ml;感染后的sf9细胞中可见特异性的绿色荧光(AngⅡ蛋白)和红色荧光(HAV结构蛋白)。结论已成功构建了携带AngⅡ基因的重组杆状病毒,并在sf9细胞中获得表达,为研制抗高血压疫苗提供了新的思路。     

磁性壳聚糖微球的合成及其在固定化血管紧张素转化酶的应用

以化学共沉淀法合成Fe3O4纳米粒子为磁核,采用乳化交联法制备磁性壳聚糖微球,并对其形貌、结构和磁饱和强度等性质进行了表征。以磁性壳聚糖微球作为载体,固定化猪肺粗提物中的血管紧张素转化酶,并对固定化条件进行研究。结果表明,固定化血管紧张素转化酶的最佳条件为：pH值为8.3,最佳温度为50 ℃,最佳时间为1.5 h,最佳酶溶液蛋白浓度为6 mg/mL,此时固定化酶活力最高为0.048 U/g微球。与游离酶相比,固定化酶的pH值稳定性和热稳定性均得到提高。固定化酶重复使用10次,仍然保持40%以上相对活力,说明磁性壳聚糖微球是固定化血管紧张素转化酶的良好载体。     

血管紧张素转化酶抑制剂阿拉普利的合成研究

研究了血管紧张素转化酶抑制剂阿拉普利(Alacepril)的合成新方法,以硫代乙酸、2-甲基丙烯酸为原料经过1,4-亲核加成、氯化、氨解、成盐、酯化、水解等反应合成了阿拉普利,总收率为18%。在该合成工艺中,未将L-脯氨酸的氨基进行保护,使反应步骤更简便,更适宜工业化。     

血管紧张素Ⅰ的固相合成

以Fmoc-Leu-wang树脂为载体,根据Fmoc方法化学合成血管紧张素Ⅰ（AⅠ）。粗肽经RP-HPLC分离后用电喷雾质要法测其相对分子质量。结果表明,反相主峰明显,杂质少,电喷雾质谱测得的m／z 1296．8与AⅠ的[M＋H]^＋离子理论值（1297）相符。试剂除杂处理很重要,操作技术的改进使方法更实用。     

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。     

血管紧张素Ⅱ受体AT1拮抗剂降血压药物的临床进展及合成

介绍了肾素－－－血管紧张素系统（ＲＡＳ）及血管紧张素Ⅱ受体（ＡＴ１）拮抗剂的作用机理,描述了近年上市的５个本类降血压药物（洛沙坦钾、伐尔沙坦、坎得沙坦、依贝沙坦和依普沙坦）的临床进展及合成,同时也介绍了可望很快上市的３个新药（他素沙坦、替米沙坦和ＣＳ－８６６）的合成。     

Radiological Assessment in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) Patients According to MUC5B Polymorphism

The MUC5B rs35705950 mutant T allele is the strongest genetic risk factor for familial and sporadic IPF. We sought to determine whether MUC5B genotype influences radiological patterns of IPF at diagnosis, as well as their change over time, in patients on antifibrotic therapy. Among eighty-eight IPF patients, previously genotyped for MUC5B rs35705950, we considered seventy-eight patients who were evaluated for radiological quantification of the following features both at treatment initiation (HRCT1) and after 1 year (HRCT2): ground glass opacities (AS), reticulations (IS) and honeycombing (HC). Of the evaluated patients, 69% carried at least one copy of the T allele (TT/TG). Carriers of the T allele displayed similar FVC loss in the first year of treatment as GG carriers, but overall survival at the end of follow-up was longer in the TT/TG group, compared to the GG group. In the GG group, both the AS and HC increased significantly, whereas in the TT/TG group only HC increased over the first year of treatment. MUC5B rs35705950 GG carriers are associated with increased ground glass and honeycombing extent over time and worse survival than T allele carriers. Longitudinal HRCT may help define the prognostic role of the MUC5B rs35705950 genotype.     

Invadosome Formation by Lung Fibroblasts in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by abnormal fibroblast accumulation in the lung leading to extracellular matrix deposition and remodeling that compromise lung function. However, the mechanisms of interstitial invasion and remodeling by lung fibroblasts remain poorly understood. The invadosomes, initially described in cancer cells, consist of actin-based adhesive structures that coordinate with numerous other proteins to form a membrane protrusion capable of degrading the extracellular matrix to promote their invasive phenotype. In this regard, we hypothesized that invadosome formation may be increased in lung fibroblasts from patients with IPF. Public RNAseq datasets from control and IPF lung tissues were used to identify differentially expressed genes associated with invadosomes. Lung fibroblasts isolated from bleomycin-exposed mice and IPF patients were seeded with and without the two approved drugs for treating IPF, nintedanib or pirfenidone on fluorescent gelatin-coated coverslips for invadosome assays. Several matrix and invadosome-associated genes were increased in IPF tissues and in IPF fibroblastic foci. Invadosome formation was significantly increased in lung fibroblasts isolated from bleomycin-exposed mice and IPF patients. The degree of lung fibrosis found in IPF tissues correlated strongly with invadosome production by neighboring cells. Nintedanib suppressed IPF and PDGF-activated lung fibroblast invadosome formation, an event associated with inhibition of the PDGFR/PI3K/Akt pathway and TKS5 expression. Fibroblasts derived from IPF lung tissues express a pro-invadosomal phenotype, which correlates with the severity of fibrosis and is responsive to antifibrotic treatment.     

Lung Microbiome in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Other Interstitial Lung Diseases

Interstitial lung diseases represent a heterogeneous and wide group of diseases in which factors leading to disease initiation and progression are not fully understood. Recent evidence suggests that the lung microbiome might influence the pathogenesis and progression of interstitial lung diseases. In recent years, the utilization of culture-independent methodologies has allowed the identification of complex and dynamic communities of microbes, in patients with interstitial lung diseases. However, the potential mechanisms by which these changes may drive disease pathogenesis and progression are largely unknown. The aim of this review is to discuss the role of the altered lung microbiome in several interstitial lung diseases. Untangling the host–microbiome interaction in the lung and airway of interstitial lung disease patients is a research priority. Thus, lung dysbiosis is a potentially treatable trait across several interstitial lung diseases, and its proper characterization and treatment might be crucial to change the natural history of these diseases and improve outcomes.     

Immunomodulatory Activity of the Most Commonly Used Antihypertensive Drugs—Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers

This review article is focused on antihypertensive drugs, namely angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB), and their immunomodulatory properties reported in hypertensive patients as well as in experimental settings involving studies on animal models and cell lines. The immune regulatory action of ACEI and ARB is mainly connected with the inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine secretion, diminished expression of adhesion molecules, and normalization of CRP concentration in the blood plasma. The topic has significant importance in future medical practice in the therapy of patients with comorbidities with underlying chronic inflammatory responses. Thus, this additional effect of immune regulatory action of ACEI and ARB may also benefit the treatment of patients with metabolic syndrome, allergies, or autoimmune disorders.     

B4GALT1 as a New Biomarker of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease characterized by progressive scarring of the lung that involves the pulmonary interstitium. The disease may rapidly progress, leading to respiratory failure, and the long-term survival is poor. There are no accurate biomarkers available so far. Our aim was to evaluate the expression of the B4GALT1 in patients with IPF. Analysis of B4GALT1 gene expression was performed in silico on two gene sets, retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Expression of B4GALT1 was then evaluated, both at the mRNA and protein levels, on lung specimens obtained from lung biopsies of 4 IPF patients, on one IPF-derived human primary cell and on 11 cases of IPF associated with cancer. In silico re-analysis demonstrated that the B4GALT1 gene was overexpressed in patients and human cell cultures with IPF (p = 0.03). Network analysis demonstrated that B4GALT1 upregulation was correlated with genes belonging to the EMT pathway (p = 0.01). The overexpression of B4GALT1 was observed, both at mRNA and protein levels, in lung biopsies of our four IPF patients and in the IPF-derived human primary cell, in other fibrotic non-lung tissues, and in IPF associated with cancer. In conclusion, our results indicate that B4GALT1 is overexpressed in IPF and could represent a novel marker of this disease.     

Proteomic Analysis Reveals Differential Expression Profiles in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Cell Lines

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, irreversible lung disorder of unknown cause. This disease is characterized by profibrotic activation of resident pulmonary fibroblasts resulting in aberrant deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. However, although much is known about the pathophysiology of IPF, the cellular and molecular processes that occur and allow aberrant fibroblast activation remain an unmet need. To explore the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) associated with aberrant activation of these fibroblasts, we used the IPF lung fibroblast cell lines LL97A (IPF-1) and LL29 (IPF-2), compared to the normal lung fibroblast cell line CCD19Lu (NL-1). Protein samples were quantified and identified using a label-free quantitative proteomic analysis approach by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). DEPs were identified after pairwise comparison, including all experimental groups. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Protein–Protein Interaction (PPI) network construction were used to interpret the proteomic data. Eighty proteins expressed exclusively in the IPF-1 and IPF-2 clusters were identified. In addition, 19 proteins were identified up-regulated in IPF-1 and 10 in IPF-2; 10 proteins were down-regulated in IPF-1 and 2 in IPF-2 when compared to the NL-1 proteome. Using the search tool for retrieval of interacting genes/proteins (STRING) software, a PPI network was constructed between the DEPs and the 80 proteins expressed exclusively in the IPF-2 and IPF-1 clusters, containing 115 nodes and 136 edges. The 10 hub proteins present in the IPP network were identified using the CytoHubba plugin of the Cytoscape software. GO and KEGG pathway analyses showed that the hub proteins were mainly related to cell adhesion, integrin binding, and hematopoietic cell lineage. Our results provide relevant information on DEPs present in IPF lung fibroblast cell lines when compared to the normal lung fibroblast cell line that could play a key role during IPF pathogenesis.     

Connective Tissue Growth Factor in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Breaking the Bridge

CTGF is upregulated in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), characterized by the deposition of a pathological extracellular matrix (ECM). Additionally, many omics studies confirmed that aberrant cellular senescence-associated mitochondria dysfunction and metabolic reprogramming had been identified in different IPF lung cells (alveolar epithelial cells, alveolar endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and macrophages). Here, we reviewed the role of the CTGF in IPF lung cells to mediate anomalous senescence-related metabolic mechanisms that support the fibrotic environment in IPF.