AIM: To explore the possibility that proteasome is involved in nicastrin(NCT) degradation and NCT is ubiquitinated before degradation.METHODS: Following the generation of NCT stable cell lines,the methods of Western blotting,pulse-chase metabolic labeling technique,double immunofluorescent staining,combined with proteasomal inhibition were used to investigate the NCT expression in NCT stable cell line.RESULTS: Treatment of the cells with proteasomal inhibitors significantly increased both endogenous NCT(produced by the cell itself) and exogenous NCT(produced by the gene transfection) in SH-SY5Y cells.The effect of specific proteasomal inhibitor lactacystin on NCT expression was in time-and dose-dependent manners.Pulse-chase metabolic labeling experiment showed that the turnover of newly-synthesized radio-labeled nicastrin protein was blocked by lactacystin.The results of double immunofluorescent staining showed that NCT and ubiquitin were co-located in the cells.CONCLUSION: The proteasome is involved in the degradation of NCT in neuronal cells,and NCT is ubiquitinated before degradation.

Objective To investigate whether valproic acid (VPA) affect spatial learning memory and senile plaques in the APP/PS1 double transgenic AD mouse model of different gender. MethodsTwenty 3-month old APP/PS1 double transgenic AD mice,male and female mouse evenly,were randomly divided into VPA-treated and saline-treated groups ( 10 for each group). 30 mg· kg-1 · d-1 of VPA and the same amount of saline were peritoneally injected into mice for 4 weeks. Morris water maze was conducted to check the effect of VPA on the capability of spatial learning and memory of AD mouse model. Immunohistochemical staining was used to examine the effect of VPA on the morphological changes in the brains of mice. ResultsVisible platform test showed that VPA-treated and saline-treated mice had similar escape latency (P＞0.05) and path length (P＞0.05) ,the swimming speed between male and female mice had no difference (P＞0.05). Hidden platform test showed that VPA treated mice had a significantly shorter latency (P＜0.01) and path length (P＜0.01) to reach the platform compared with saline-treated mice. Meanwhile, both in VPA-treated and control groups, the male mice had a shorter correlation escape latency and path-length than female mice had(P＜0.05 ). Immuohistochemical staining showed that the number (11.23±3.78) of senile plaques (SP) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of VPA-treated male mice were notably decreased than that(28.17 ±3.46) in the control group ( t= 14.67, P＜0.01 ),furthermore,the number of SP in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of VPA-treated male mice was significantly reduced,as compared with which (20.36 ±4.21)in the VPA-treated female mice(P＜0.05). ConclusionVPA can significantly lower formation of SP, and remarkably improve the capability of spatial learning and memory of APP/PS1 transgenic mice,which have gender difference.

ObjectiveTo investigate the distribution and expression of y-secretase subunit (APH-1)in the central nervous system (CNS) of APP/PS1 double transgenic Alzheimer's disease (AD) adult mouse model,and to detect the expression difference of APH-1 in developmental brain between AD model mouse and wild-type littermates in order to further clarify the relationship between APH-1 and AD. MethodsOffspring bred by APP/PS1 double transgenic AD mice were genotyped.Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect APH-1 distribution and expression in the CNS of adult APP/PS1 double transgenic AD mouse model,in the brain of AD model mouse and its wild-type littermates on postnatal day 1,7,21 and 120.Results APH-1 was widely expressed in almost all regions of the CNS,especially in the cerebral cortex,hippocampus,olfactory bulb,hypothalamus,ventral striatum,caudate putamen,raphe magnus nucleus,cerebellum,brainstem and spinal cord of the adult APP/PS1 double transgenic mice.APH-1 expression was higher in the cortex of both AD and wild type mouse on postnatal day 1 than on postnatal day 7 and 21 with increased level of APH-1 protein in adult mouse brain.APH-1 expression in the brain of AD mice was higher than in its wild type littermates at any stage(P＜0.05).Conclusions Distribution of APH-1 is ubiquitous and region-dependent in the CNS.The different distribution and expression between APP/PS1 double transgenic mouse model and its wild type littermate indicate that APH-1 may be related to AD.

ObjectiveTo assess the recent effect of the invasiveness and transsphenoidal microsurgical operation in the treatment of growth hormone-secreting adenom tumor.MethodsThe data of 22 patients with growth hormone(GH) adenomas were collected.All patients were tested preoperative GH level and that within the first 3 days,30 days following surgery.The invasiveness of pituitary adenomas was judged according to Hardy's classification scheme modified by Wilson.ResultsThere were 22 patients with GH-secreting pituitary adenomas,8 males and 14 females,11 patients with invasive adenomas and 11 patients with noninvasive adenomas.The remission rate between the patients with invasive adenomas and the patients with non-invasive adenomas had no statistically significant difference (P ＞ 0.05 ).The postoperative remission rate of patients with GH values ≤ 50μg/L was no significantly lower than that of ＞ 50μg/L( P ＞ 0.05).ConclusionThe recent effects of operation were not significantly different with the invasiveness of tumor.

Objectives To investigate whether degradation of anterior pharynx decfective-1(Aph-1) goes through proteasomal pathway or lysosomal pathway.Methods Various methods such as cell culture,Western blotting,pulse-chase metabolic labeling technique,double immunofluoresecnt staining,combined with proteasomal and lysosomal inhibition were used to check Aph-1 expression level in stable Aph-1-transfected or non-transfected neuronal(SH-SY5Y)cell line.Results Using Western blotting,treating the neuronal cells with proteasome specific inhibitors significantly increased the expression of both endogenous and exogenous Aph-1.The effect of the proteasome inhibitors on Aph-1 expression was dose-and time-dependent Lysosomal pathway was not involved in Aph-1 degradation. Pulse-chase metabolic labeling experiment showed that the turnover of newly-synthesized radiolabeled Aph-1 protein was blocked by Lactacystin.Double immunofluorescent staining revealed colocalization of Aph-1 and ubiquitin in the same cells.Conclusion Degradation of Aph-1 protein is mediated by proteasomal pathway in neuronal cells,and is not related to lysosomal pathway.Aph-1 protein is ubiquitinated before degradation.

Objective:To investigate the role of p21 gene in the radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD) and to evaluate the effect on p21 gene knockout on RIHD phenotype in mouse models.Methods:p21 -/-mice were utilized in the experimental group, and p21 + /-mice were allocated in the control group. RIHD mouse models were established by exposure to 10 Gy whole heart irradiation by using a small animal radiation research platform. The heart samples were collected at 6 weeks after irradiation, the gross specimens were measured and subject to HE staining. The wall thickness and left ventricular ejection fraction of the mice were detected by the Vevo2100 ultrasound imaging system. The hypoxia in cardiac tissues was detected by the hypoxia probe method. The apoptosis of cardiac cells was determined by Tunel method. Results:Compared with the p21 + /-mice, the survival of p21 -/-mice was significantly shortened ( P=0.004), the interventricular septum was significantly thinned during the diastolic and systolic phases ( P=0.049, P=0.006), the left ventricular posterior wall was remarkably thickened ( P<0.001) and the left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly decreased ( P=0.004). The gross heart tissue was enlarged in the p21 -/-mice. HE staining showed the aggregation of inflammatory cells in cardiac tissues and disordered arrangement of myocardial cells. Significant hypoxia and apoptosis could be observed in the p21 -/-mouse heart tissues. Conclusions:p21 -/-mice are prone to more severe RIHD after irradiation, manifested with shortened cardiac survival, weakened cardiac function, abnormal cardiac structure, hypoxia and apoptosis of cardiac tissues. p21 plays an important role in the repair after cardiac irradiation.

Morulaes and blastocysts obtained from Guanzhong dairy goats 6-7 days after mating were treated with whole embryo cultivaton, enzymatic digestion and immunosurgery separately. The goat embryonic stem cells (ESC) were isolated and cultured on a feeder layer of mitomycin-inactivated mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEF). The characteristics of goat ESCs were analyzed by immunohistochemisty, RT-PCR and inducing differentiation in vitro. The results indicated that the embryos were easier to attach the culture dish and form primary colonies with whole embryo method. There were colonies that maintained undifferentiated for 18 passages. The ESCs expressed the protein of Nanog, Oct4 and SSEA-3, whereas the protein of SSEA-4 was absent and the protein of SSEA-1 was weakly expressed. In addition, the genes of Nanog, Oct4, TERT and CD117 were expressed in goat ESCs. The cells also could differentiate to myocardial cells when induced in vitro by DMSO. These results suggest that the goat ESCs have characteristics of ESCs.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Embryo Culture Techniques ; Embryo, Mammalian ; cytology ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Female ; Goats ; Male ; Mice ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the corresponding influence on pulmonary embolism incidence between immobilization and exercise in different stage of thrombus after acute deep vein thrombosis in rabbits.

METHODSForty-eight New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three groups depending on the different organized stage of thrombus: the early, medium and later stage group.Each group was subdivided into two sub groups: the immobile and mobile subgroup. Rabbit modeling of deep vein thrombosis was made by ligating the right femoral vein. Among the early-stage group, rabbits of the immobile subgroup were fixed for 3 days, while that of the mobile subgroup were free to move for 3 days, then each was euthanized to extract the lungs for pathological examination. Among the medium-stage group, each of the immobile subgroup were fixed for 7 days, while the mobile subgroup ones were fixed for 3 days, then released free-moving for 4 days following the pathological extraction. Among the later-stage group, animals in the immobile subgroup were fixed for 14 days comparing the mobile subgroup fixed for 7 days and next free-moving for 7 days, then each was euthanized.

RESULTSAmong the early-stage group, pulmonary embolism incidence (PEI) of the immobile and mobile subgroup was 4/8 vs.3/8, the pulmonary lobe embolism incidence (PLEI) was 17.5% (7/40) vs. 15.0% (6/40). Among the medium-stage group, PEI of the immobile and mobile subgroup was 3/8 vs. 2/8, PLEI was 37.5% (7/40) vs. 25.0% (10/40). Among the later-stage group, PEI of the immobile and mobile subgroup was 3/8 vs. 3/8, PLEI was 12.5% (5/40) vs. 15.0% (6/40). There was no statistical difference between immobilization subgroup and mobilization subgroup among different stage group.

CONCLUSIONOn the premise of given anticoagulation treatment, early ambulation do not significantly increase pulmonary embolism incidence after acute deep vein thrombosis of lower extremity in rabbits.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Immobilization ; Lung ; pathology ; Motor Activity ; Pulmonary Embolism ; etiology ; Rabbits ; Time Factors ; Venous Thrombosis ; complications

Objective:To evaluate the effect of resveratrol on radiation-induced myocardial injury in mice.Methods:A total of 80 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the control group, resveratrol (Res) group, radiation (RT) group and radiation+resveratrol (RT+Res) group. In the RT group, mice were given with heart radiation and mice in the Res group were given with resveratrol by gavage for 3 months. Cardiac ultrasound was used to evaluate cardiac function at 3 months after cardiac radiation. The hearts of mice were collected for HE staining, immunofluorescence, TUNEL staining, Masson staining and Western blot to evaluate the expression of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1), the level of oxidative stress, inflammatory response, apoptosis and the degree of fibrosis in myocardial tissues. Experimental data were expressed as Mean ± SD. Continous data were statistically analyzed by t-test. Results:After 3 months of irradiation, compared with the control group, the ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) of cardiac function were decreased, and myocardial degeneration and disorder, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory levels (interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α), myocardial apoptosis (TUNEL positive cell rate) and fibrosis were increased in the RT group. In the RT+Res group, the cardiac function was improved, the expression of SIRT1 was increased, and the levels of oxidative stress, inflammation, myocardial apoptosis and fibrosis were decreased.Conclusions:Resveratrol can reduce oxidative stress, inflammatory infiltration, apoptosis and fibrosis of myocardium in mice with radiation-induced myocardial injury, thereby improving cardiac structural abnormalities and cardiac dysfunction. This protective effect can be mediated by upregulation of SIRT1 expression.

Reversible phosphorylation plays a crucial role in regulating protein activities and functions. Sexual reproduction directly affects yield of most agricultural crops. As the male reproductive organ, anther generates microspores (pollen), delivering gametes (sperms) to complete double fertilization in higher plants. Here, we took the advantage of Nano UHPLC-MS/MS to analyze maize (Zea mays, B73) early anthers at proteomic and phosphoproteomic levels, to explore the protein and phosphorylation modification regulatory networks controlling maize anther development. Our proteomic analysis identified 3 016 unique peptides, belonging to 1 032 maize proteins. MapMan analysis revealed variously potential proteins associated with maize anther development, such as receptor-like kinases (GRMZM2G082823_P01 and GRMZM5G805485_P01). Using phospho-peptides enriched by TiO2 affinity chromatography, our phosphoproteomic analysis detected 257 phospho-peptides from 210 phosphoproteins, discovering 223 phosphosites. Compared to the 86 maize phosphoproteins collected in the Plant Protein Phosphorylation Data Base (P3DB), we found that 203 phosphoproteins and 218 phosphosites were not revealed before. Further bioinformatics analysis revealed that phosphorylation of 14-3-3 proteins, kinases, phosphatases, transcription factors, cell cycle and chromatin structure related proteins might play important roles in regulating normal anther development in maize. Our findings not only enlarged the maize phosphoproteome data, but also provided information for analyzing the molecular mechanism controlling maize anther development at genetic and biochemical levels.
Crops, Agricultural ; chemistry ; Phosphoproteins ; chemistry ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Proteins ; chemistry ; Pollen ; chemistry ; Proteome ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Zea mays ; chemistry