Cholesterol Potentiates β-Amyloid Genesis in Cultured Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA) occurs commonly among the elderly and almost invariably in patients with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). The β-amyloid peptides (Aβ) are produced via the amy-loidogenic processing of β-Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) by β-secretase-1 (BACE1) and γ- secretase. Vascular endothelial cells are lately shown to possess the molecular machinery of Aβ production, which might participate in the development of CAA. Hypercholesterolemia is considered a risk factor for AD, whereas less is known if cholesterol may modulate endothelial Aβ production. In the present study we verified the amyloidogenic capability of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) in vitro and explored the effect of cholesterol exposure on their amy-loidogenic potential. Cholesterol treatments at 12.5 and 25 mg/dL significantly elevated APP, BACE1 and APP β-CTF protein levels and β-site APP cleavage activity in cell lysates, and Aβ40 levels in culture medium. However, coincubation with cholesterol at 50 and 100 mg/dL attenuated the viability of the cultured cells and diminished their amyloidogenic capability. These findings suggest that high cholesterol exposure is stressful to vascular endothelial cells, and at a certain dosage range can promote an amyloidogenic response in these cells.

Lithium chloride ameliorates learning and memory ability and inhibits glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta activity in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome

In the present study,Fmr1 knockout mice （KO mice） were used as the model for fragile X syndrome.The results of step-through and step-down tests demonstrated that Fmr1 KO mice had shorter latencies and more error counts,indicating a learning and memory disorder.After treatment with 30,60,90,120,or 200 mg/kg lithium chloride,the learning and memory abilities of the Fmr1 KO mice were significantly ameliorated,in particular,the 200 mg/kg lithium chloride treatment had the most significant effect.Western blot analysis showed that lithium chloride significantly enhanced the expression of phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta,an inactive form of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta,in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the Fmr1 KO mice.These results indicated that lithium chloride improved learning and memory in the Fmr1 KO mice,possibly by inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta activity.

Preparation of rabbit anti-rat LRRN3 polyclonal antibody and study of its expression

BACKGROUND： Studies have shown that the Repeat superfamily, could be related to neural LRRN3, a member of the Neuron Leucine-Rich development, differentiation, information transmission, and other functions, but most studies have focused on nucleic acid levels and few have reported on LRRN3 protein levels. OBJECTIVE： To prepare rabbit anti-rat LRRN3 polyclonal antibody and to observe protein tissue expression profiles. DESIGN, TIME AND SEI-rlNG： In vitro, molecular, biological experiments were performed from October 2007 to April 2009 in Laboratory of Neurobiology at Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University. MATERIALS： Immunization antigen, namely rat MaI-LRRN3C-His recombinant protein, was provided by the Laboratory of Neurobiology at Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University. METHODS： Rat Mal-LRRN3C-His recombinant protein was used to immunize male, New Zealand rabbits, and rabbit anti-rat LRRN3 polyclonal antibody was prepared. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Antibody purification was conducted using Protein A affinity chromatography, and the LRRN3 anti-serum titer was identified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunohistochemical techniques and Western blot preliminary tests were used to determine LRRN3 protein expression profiles in adult rats. RESULTS： A highly purified rabbit anti-rat LRRN3 polyclonal antibody was obtained. Western Blot results from rat brain total protein revealed a band at 79 kD, which was consistent with the size of LRRN3. Immunohistochemistry results showed that protein was mainly expressed in the central nervous system, and no significant positive signals were observed in other tissues. Positive cells included neurons of cerebral cortex and hippocampal dentate gyrus granule cell layer, and cerebellar Purkinje cells. There was no positive expression in glial cells. CONCLUSION： Rabbit anti-rat LRRN3 polyclonal antibody was successfully prepared at a high purity from the prokaryotic-expressed MaI-LRRN3C-His recombinant protein, which served as an antigen. Rat LRRN3 protein was primarily expressed in cerebral cortex neurons, hippocampal dentate gyrus granule cell layer neurons, and cerebellar Purkinje cells.

Lipolysaccharide-Induced Neuroinflammation Is Associated with Alzheimer-Like Amyloidogenic Axonal Pathology and Dendritic Degeneration in Rats

Chronic neuroinflammation is thought to play an etiological role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) which is characterized pathologically by amyloid and tau formation, as well as neuritic dystrophy and synaptic degeneration. The causal relationship between these pathological events is a topic of ongoing research and discussion. Recent data from transgenic AD models point to a tight spatio-temporal link between neuritic and amyloid pathology, with the obligatory enzyme for β-amyloid (Aβ) production, namely β-secretase-1 (BACE1), being overexpressed in axon terminals undergoing dystrophic change. However, the axonal pathology inherent with BACE1 elevation seen in transgenic AD mice may be secondary to increased soluble Aβ in these genetically modified animals. Further, it is unclear whether the inflammation seen in AD is the result of , or the cause of neuritic dystrophy. Here we explored the occurrence of AD-like axonal and dendritic pathology in adult rat brains affected by LPS-induced chronic neuroinflammation. Unilateral intracerebral LPS injection induced prominent inflammatory response in glial cells in the ipsilateral cortex and hippocampal formation. BACE1 protein levels were elevated in the ipsilateral hippocampal lysates in the LPS-treated animals relative to controls. BACE1 immunoreactive dystrophic axons appeared in the LPS-treated ipsilateral cortex and hippocampal formation, colocalizing with increased β-amyloid precursor protein and Aβ antibody (4G8) immunolabeling. Quantitative Golgi studies revealed reduction of dendritic branching points and spine density on cortical layer III and hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons in the LPS-treated ipsilateral cerebrum. These findings suggest that Alzheimer-like amyloidogenic axonal pathology and dendritic degeneration occur in wildtype mammalian brain in partnership with neuroinflammation following LPS injection.

Expression of acetylated histone 3 in the spinal cord and the effect of morphine on inflammatory pain in rats

In this study, a rat model of inflammatory pain was produced by injecting complete Freund’s adjuvant into the hind paw, and the expression of acetylated histone 3 in the spinal cord dorsal horn was examined using immunohistochemical staining. One day following injection, there was a dramatic decrease in acetylated histone 3 expression in spinal cord dorsal horn neurons. However, on day 7, expression recovered in adjuvant-injected rats. While acetylated histone 3 labeling was present in dorsal horn neurons, it was more abundant in astrocytes and microglial cells. The recovery of acetylated histone 3 expression was associated with a shift in expression of the protein from neurons to glial cells. Morphine injection significantly upregulated the expression of acetylated histone 3 in spinal cord dorsal horn neurons and glial cells 1 day after injection, especially in astrocytes, preventing the transient downregulation. Our results indicate that inflammatory pain induces a transient downregulation of acetylated histone 3 in the spinal cord dorsal horn at an early stage following adjuvant injection, and that this effect can be reversed by morphine. Thus, the downregulation of acetylated histone 3 may be involved in the development of inflammatory pain.

Dark rearing maintains tyrosine hydroxylase expression in retinal amacrine cells following optic nerve transection

The present study examined changes in retinal tyrosine hydroxylase （TH） expression in rats having undergone optic nerve transection and housed under a normal day/night cycle or in the dark. The aim was to investigate the effects of amacrine cells on axonal regeneration in retinal ganglion cells and on the synapses that transmit visual signals. The results revealed that retinal TH expression gradually decreased following optic nerve transection in rats housed under a normal day/night cycle reaching a minimum at 5 days. In contrast, retinal TH expression decreased to a minimum at 1 day following optic nerve transection in dark reared rats, gradually increasing afterward and reaching a normal level at 5 7 days. The number of TH-positive synaptic particles correlated with the TH levels indicating that dark rearing can help maintain TH expression during the synaptic degeneration stage （5 7 days after optic nerve injury） in retinal amacrine cells.

Effect of type-2 astrocytes on the viability of dorsal root ganglion neurons and length of neuronal processes

The role of type-2 astrocytes in the repair of central nervous system injury remains poorly un- derstood. In this study, using a relatively simple culture condition in vitro, type-2 astrocytes, differentiated from oligodendrocyte precursor cells by induction with bone morphogenetic pro- tein-4, were co-cultured with dorsal root ganglion neurons. We examined the effects of type-2 astrocytes differentiated from oligodendrocyte precursor cells on the survival and growth of dorsal root ganglion neurons. Results demonstrated that the number of dorsal root ganglion neurons was higher following co-culture of oligodendrocyte precursor cells and type-2 astrocytes than when cultured alone, but lower than that of neurons co-cultured with type-1 astrocytes. The length of the longest process and the length of all processes of a single neuron were shortest in neurons cultured alone, followed by neurons co-cultured with type-2 astroc^es, then neurons co-cultured with oligodendrocyte precursor cells, and longest in neurons co-cultured with type-1 astrocytes. These results indicate that co-culture with type-2 astrocytes can increase neuronal survival rate and process length. However, compared with type-1 astrocytes and oligodendrocyte precursor cells, the promotion effects of type-2 astrocytes on the growth of dorsal root ganglion neurons were weaker.

Effects of diethyldithiocarbamate on myelin basic protein expression in the rat lateral olfactory tract

BACKGROUND： Dithiocarbamates can cause demyelination of axons in the peripheral nervous system. Its derivate, diethyldithiocarbamate, is cytotoxic, and causes olfactory mucosal damage and atrophy of the olfactory bulb. However, it is still unclear whether the myelin sheath of the lateral olfactory tract is affected by diethyldithiocarbamate. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effects of diethyldithiocarbamate on the myelin sheath of the rat lateral olfactory tract. This was done by examining changes in myelin basic protein expression after diethyldithiocarbamate treatment. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled, animal study was performed at the Laboratory of the Department of Human Anatomy and Neurobiology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, China from July to November 2007. MATERIALS： A total of 72 Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into a diethyldithiocarbamate group （n = 32）, a solvent control group （n = 32）, and a blank control group （n = 8）. The diethyldithiocarbamate and solvent control groups were separately divided into 3-d, 7-d, 14-d and 28-d survival subgroups, with eight rats in each. Diethyldithiocarbamate （Sigma, USA） and goat anti-myelin basic protein polyclonal antibody （Santa Cruz, USA） were used in this study. METHODS： Rats in the diethyldithiocarbamate and solvent control groups were subcutaneously injected with diethyldithiocarbamate （600 mg/kg） and 0.01 mol/L phosphate buffered saline （600 mg/kg） at the posterior neck, respectively. Rats in the blank control group received no treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot assay were used to measure myelin basic protein expression in the rat lateral olfactory tract. RESULTS： Following immunohistochemical staining, myelin basic protein was uniformly distributed in the rat lateral olfactory tract in the blank control and solvent control groups. Western blot assay showed 21.5, 18, 17 and 14 ku positive bands. No significant difference was found in myelin basic protein distribution and blot pattern, in the rat lateral olfactory tract, in the diethyldithiocarbamate group, following immunohistochemical staining and Western blot assay. Myelin basic protein expression gradually decreased at day 3, reached the lowest level at day 7, and gradually increased again at days 14 and 28. CONCLUSION： Demyelination is induced by diethyldithiocarbamate in the rat lateral olfactory tract in an early stage, followed by remyelination at later stages.

Prokaryotic expression and purification of fibronectin leucine rich transmembrane protein 3 C-terminal domain proteins in rats

BACKGROUND： Studies have suggested that fibronectin leucine-rich transmembrane protein 3 （FLRT3） is related to injury and regeneration of the nervous system. However, the expression and biological characteristics of these proteins remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVE： To obtain FLRT3 C-terminal gene fragments, to effectively express and purify the target proteins. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： An observational study of cellular and molecular biology was performed at the laboratory of Histology and Embryology in Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University between October 2007 and June 2008. MATERIALS： Three Sprague Dawley adult rats were used to extract total RNA from rat brains. The pGEX4T3 and Escherichia coil （E. coil） JM109 were purchased from Promega. E. coil BL21 was provided by Novagen. METHODS： FLRT3 protein coding C-terminal DNA fragments, at a length of 786 bp, were amplified using RT-PCR technique from rat total RNA. The amplified products were cloned into the expression vector pGEX4T3. A recombinant expression vector was then constructed and introduced into E. coil BL21. IsopropyI-D-thiogalactopyranoside was applied to induce expression of recombinant GST fusion proteins, followed by isolation, purification, and renaturation of inclusion bodies that comprised recombinant proteins. Finally, the purified recombinant protein was obtained. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Determination of FLRT3 C-terminal DNA sequence; expression of target proteins was assayed by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis; purified recombinant protein was identified with Western blot methods. RESULTS： FLRT3 protein coding C-terminal DNA fragments, at a length of 786 bp, were successfully harvested through RT-PCR amplification, and were then clones into the prokaryotic expression vector pGEX4T3. The results of the sequence were consistent with the known gene sequence. SDS-PAGE analysis demonstrated that there was a specific protein band in the recombinant GST fusion proteins at a relative molecular mass of 56,600. The recombinant protein was observed in the inclusion body, and highly purified recombinant proteins were obtained through a series of methods, such as rinsing, purifying, dissolving, and renaturing. CONCLUSION： From adult Sprague Dawley rats, FLRT3 C-terminal gene fragments were successfully cloned and shown to be effectively expressed in E. coil BL21. Moreover, highly purified GST fusion proteins were obtained.

微生物学实验课程思政教学改革与探索

深化课程思政建设,落实立德树人根本任务是新时代教育改革和人才培养的重要要求。微生物学实验课是生物工程、制药工程和食品科学与工程等多个专业的专业基础课和核心实践课。为充分发挥微生物学实验课育人功能,文中参考《高等学校课程思政建设指导纲要》,积极挖掘课程蕴含的思政元素,通过教学内容改革、教学方法创新、教师课程思政建设能力提升等3个方面进行微生物学实验课程思政改革探索,力求将价值塑造、知识传授、能力培养融为一体,培养具有坚定理想信念的高素质专业人才。

Non-Oxidative Methane Conversion Using Lead- and Iron-Modified Albite Catalysts in Fixed-Bed Reactor

Raw and modified albite catalysts, including Pb/Atbite and Fe/Albite catalysts, have been investigated for methane conversion to C2 hydrocarbons under non-oxidative conditions. Introduction of Pb to albite improved the activity and selectivity to non-coke products. Based on characterization, it was found that Pb entered into the alkali and alkaline-earth metal sites of albite, while partial Fedoped in the tetrahedron sites and the other loaded on the surface of albite. At the reaction temperature of 1073 K, methane gas hourly space velocity （GHSV） of 2 L.gcat-1·h-1, catalyst dosage of 0.25 g （300 mesh）, the methane conversion catalyzed by raw albite in the fixed-bed micro reactor exhibited a methane conversion of 3.32%. Notably, introducing a Pb content of 3.4 wt% into albite greatly enhanced the conversion of methane up to 8.19%, and the selectivity of C2 hydrocarbons reached 99% without any coke under the same reaction conditions. While Fe-doping could weakly heighten the methane conversion to 3.97%, and coke was formed. Thus, a comparison of Pb/Albite and Fe/Albite catalysts demonstrates that the catalytic activity of albite is mainly decided by alkali and alkaline-earth metal sites, and lead-modification can effectively improve the catalytic activity of albite.

Response mechanism of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to nanoscale bismuth oxyiodide(nano-BiOI):Integrating analysis of mineral nutrient metabolism and metabolomics

Nanoscale bismuth oxyiodide(nano-BiOI) is widely studied and applied in environmental applications and biomedical fields, with the consequence that it may be deposited into aquatic environments. However, the impact of nano-Bi OI on aquatic ecosystems, especially freshwater microalga, remains limited. Herein, the nano-Bi OI was synthesized and its response mechanism towards microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was evaluated. Results showed that a low concentration of nano-Bi OI(5 mg/L) could stimulate algal growth at the early stage of stress. With the increase in concentration, the growth rate of algal cells was inhibited and showed a dose effect. Intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS) were significantly induced and accompanied by enhanced lipid peroxidation, decreased nonspecific esterase activity, and significantly upregulated glutathione S-transferase activity(GST) activity. Mineral nutrient metabolism analysis showed that nano-Bi OI significantly interfered with the mineral nutrients of the algae. Non-targeted metabolomics identified 35 different metabolites(DEMs, 22 upregulated, and 13 downregulated) under 100 mg/L Bi OI stress.Metabolic pathway analysis demonstrated that a high concentration of nano-Bi OI significantly induced metabolic pathways related to amino acid biosynthesis, lipid biosynthesis,and glutathione biosynthesis, and significantly inhibited the sterol biosynthesis pathway.This finding will contribute to understanding the toxicological mechanisms of nano-Bi OI on C. reinhardtii.