Background The present study aimed to investigate the detailed mode and specific sites for their binding as well as the functional relevance of this binding in the phenotypic proliferation of vascular smooth muscle ce...Background The present study aimed to investigate the detailed mode and specific sites for their binding as well as the functional relevance of this binding in the phenotypic proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells(SMCs). Methods CREG knocked-down SMCs were employed to evaluate the biological activity of wtCREG and mCREG.Expressions of SMC differentiation markers SM myosin heavy chain(SM-MHC),SM-actin,heavy caldesmon and myocardin were determined by Western blotting using specific antibodies. Cellular growth of SMCs was assessed by bromide dewuridine (BrdU) incorporation and cell cycle analysis on fluorescence-activated cell sorting(FACS).A solid-phase binding assay was used to study the binding of CREG to extracellular domains of M6P/IGF2R.The cellular co-localization of the two recombinant CREGs with M6P/IGF2R was detected on SMC surface by immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence analysis.Results The molecular weight of wtCREG was around 30 kD while that of the mCREG was～25 kD.Treatment of wtCREG with PNGase F reduced its molecular weight from～30 kD to～25 kD,whereas PNGase F treatment had no effect on the molecular weight of mCREG.Both wtCREG and mCREG proteins enhanced SMC differentiation,inhibited BrdU incorporation,and arrested cell cycle progression when added to the culture medium.In CREG knocked-down SMCs,the amount of CREG detected by immunoblotting in M6P/IGF2R immunoprecipitates was significantly reduced when compared to normal cells.Both recombinant CREGs co-immunoprecipitated with M6P/IGF2R, although slightly reduced amount of the mutant CREG was detected in M6P/IGF2R immunoprecipitates.Immunostaining revealed that His-tagged CREGs co-localized with IGF2R on the cell surface in a glycosylation-independent manner.In vitro binding assay showed that CREGs bound to M6P/ IGF2R extracellular domains 7-10 and 11-13 in a glycosylation -dependent and -independent manner,respectively.Further blocking experiments using soluble M6P/IGF2R fragments and M6P/IGF2R neutralizing antibody indicated that the biological activities of recombinant CREGs in SMC growth and the up-regulation of SMC differentiation markers were all abolished by treatment with the M6P/IGF2R neutralizing antibody. However,although the growth inhibitory effect of wtCREG was nearly abolished by D7-10 or D11-13,the effect of mCREG was only reversed by Dll-13,indicating that the binding to domains 11-13 is required for CREG to modulate the proliferation of SMCs.Conclusions These data suggest that solubleCREG proteins can exert their biological function via binding to the extracellular domains 7-10 and 11-13 of cell surface M6P/IGF2R in both a glycosylation-dependent and -independent manner.展开更多
Objectives The cellular repressor of E1A-activated genes (CREG), a novel gene, was recently found to play a role in inhibiting cell growth and promoting cell differentiation. The purpose of this study was to obtain an...Objectives The cellular repressor of E1A-activated genes (CREG), a novel gene, was recently found to play a role in inhibiting cell growth and promoting cell differentiation. The purpose of this study was to obtain antibody against CREG protein and to study the expression of CREG protein in human internal thoracic artery cells (HITASY) which express different patterns of differentiation markers after serum withdrawal. Methods The open reading frame of CREG gene sequence was amplified by PCR and cloned into the pGEX-4T-1 vector. Glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-CREG fusion protein was expressed in E. Coli BL21 and purified from inclusion bodies by Sephacryl S-200 chromatography. Rabbits were immunized with the purified GST-CREG protein. Western blot examined with immunohistochemistry staining and the protein expression level was analyzed by Western blot in HITASY cells after serum removal. Results It was confirmed by using endonuclease digesting and DNA sequencing that the PCR product of CREG was correctly inserted into the vector. The GST-CREG protein was purified with gel filtration chromatography. Polyclonal antibody against GST-CREG was obtained from rabbits. CREG protein immunohistochemistry staining displayed a perinuclear distribution in the cytoplasm of HITASY cells. Results from Western blot suggested that comparing with the untreated cells upregulation of CREG polyclonal antibody against CREG was comfirmed. Using this antibody, the changes of CREG protein expression was observed in the process of phenotypic modulation of HITASY cells. These results provide basic understanding on the relationship of CREG gene with the cell phenotypic conversion.展开更多
The purpose of this study was to examine the relaxation effect of CY on the vascular smooth muscle （VSM） from rabbits. Experiments were carried out on isolated thoracic aorta of rabbits. CY （3 x 103 mM- 3 mM） coul...The purpose of this study was to examine the relaxation effect of CY on the vascular smooth muscle （VSM） from rabbits. Experiments were carried out on isolated thoracic aorta of rabbits. CY （3 x 103 mM- 3 mM） could relax the VSM preparations pre-contracted by adrenaline （AD）, noradrenaline （NE）, high-K^＋ solution or BaCl2 with respective EC50 values of （0.3 1±0.11） mM, 0.19±0.03 mM, 0.20±0.04 mM and 0.25±0.04 mM. Moreover, CY （10-2 mM, 0.1 mM and 1 mM） inhibited norepinephrine （NE）, CaCl2 and KCl-induced vasoconstriction in a concentration dependent manner. The phasic contraction produced by NE was concentration dependently attenuated with CY （10^-2 mM, 0.1 mM and 1 mM） in calcium-free medium, similar to that caused by verapamil. The present findings suggest that CY relaxed thoracic aortic rings by blocking voltage-dependent Ca^2＋ channels. The inhibition of intracellular Ca^2＋ release may be one of the main vasorelaxant mechanisms of CY.展开更多
To determine how the auto-antibodies (Abs) profiles overlap in chronic hepatitis C infection (CHC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and correlate to liver disease.METHODSLevels of antinuclear Ab, smooth muscle antibody ...To determine how the auto-antibodies (Abs) profiles overlap in chronic hepatitis C infection (CHC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and correlate to liver disease.METHODSLevels of antinuclear Ab, smooth muscle antibody (SMA) and liver/kidney microsomal-1 (LKM-1) Ab and markers of liver damage were determined in the sera of 50 patients with CHC infection, 20 AIH patients and 20 healthy controls using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and other immune assays.RESULTSWe found that AIH patients had more severe liver disease as determined by elevation of total IgG, alkaline phosphatase, total serum bilirubin and serum transaminases and significantly higher prevalence of the three non-organ-specific autoantibodies (auto-Abs) than CHC patients. Antinuclear Ab, SMA and LKM-1 Ab were also present in 36% of CHC patients and related to disease severity. CHC cases positive for auto-Abs were directly comparable to AIH in respect of most markers of liver damage and total IgG. These cases had longer disease duration compared with auto-Ab negative cases, but there was no difference in gender, age or viral load. KLM-1<sup>+</sup> Ab CHC cases showed best overlap with AIH.CONCLUSIONAuto-Ab levels in CHC may be important markers of disease severity and positive cases have a disease similar to AIH. Auto-Abs might have a pathogenic role as indicated by elevated markers of liver damage. Future studies will unravel any novel associations between these two diseases, whether genetic or other.展开更多
Angiotensin （Ang）-（1-7） is recognized as a new bioactive peptide in renin-angiotensin system （RAS）. Ang-（1-7） is a counter-regulatory mediator of Ang-II which appears to be protective against cardiovascular di...Angiotensin （Ang）-（1-7） is recognized as a new bioactive peptide in renin-angiotensin system （RAS）. Ang-（1-7） is a counter-regulatory mediator of Ang-II which appears to be protective against cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have found that Ang-（1-7） played an important role in reducing smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, improving endothelial function and regulating lipid metabolism, leading to inhibition of atherosclerotic lesions and increase of plaque stability. Although clinical application of Ang-（1-7） is restricted due to its pharmacokinetic properties, identification of stabilized compounds, including more stable analogues and specific delivery compounds, has enabled clinical application of Ang-（1-7）. In this review, we discussed recent findings concerning the biological role of Ang-（1-7） and related mechanism during atherosclerosis development. In addition, we highlighted the perspective to develop therapeutic strategies using Ang-（1-7） to treat atherosclerosis.展开更多
文摘Background The present study aimed to investigate the detailed mode and specific sites for their binding as well as the functional relevance of this binding in the phenotypic proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells(SMCs). Methods CREG knocked-down SMCs were employed to evaluate the biological activity of wtCREG and mCREG.Expressions of SMC differentiation markers SM myosin heavy chain(SM-MHC),SM-actin,heavy caldesmon and myocardin were determined by Western blotting using specific antibodies. Cellular growth of SMCs was assessed by bromide dewuridine (BrdU) incorporation and cell cycle analysis on fluorescence-activated cell sorting(FACS).A solid-phase binding assay was used to study the binding of CREG to extracellular domains of M6P/IGF2R.The cellular co-localization of the two recombinant CREGs with M6P/IGF2R was detected on SMC surface by immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence analysis.Results The molecular weight of wtCREG was around 30 kD while that of the mCREG was～25 kD.Treatment of wtCREG with PNGase F reduced its molecular weight from～30 kD to～25 kD,whereas PNGase F treatment had no effect on the molecular weight of mCREG.Both wtCREG and mCREG proteins enhanced SMC differentiation,inhibited BrdU incorporation,and arrested cell cycle progression when added to the culture medium.In CREG knocked-down SMCs,the amount of CREG detected by immunoblotting in M6P/IGF2R immunoprecipitates was significantly reduced when compared to normal cells.Both recombinant CREGs co-immunoprecipitated with M6P/IGF2R, although slightly reduced amount of the mutant CREG was detected in M6P/IGF2R immunoprecipitates.Immunostaining revealed that His-tagged CREGs co-localized with IGF2R on the cell surface in a glycosylation-independent manner.In vitro binding assay showed that CREGs bound to M6P/ IGF2R extracellular domains 7-10 and 11-13 in a glycosylation -dependent and -independent manner,respectively.Further blocking experiments using soluble M6P/IGF2R fragments and M6P/IGF2R neutralizing antibody indicated that the biological activities of recombinant CREGs in SMC growth and the up-regulation of SMC differentiation markers were all abolished by treatment with the M6P/IGF2R neutralizing antibody. However,although the growth inhibitory effect of wtCREG was nearly abolished by D7-10 or D11-13,the effect of mCREG was only reversed by Dll-13,indicating that the binding to domains 11-13 is required for CREG to modulate the proliferation of SMCs.Conclusions These data suggest that solubleCREG proteins can exert their biological function via binding to the extracellular domains 7-10 and 11-13 of cell surface M6P/IGF2R in both a glycosylation-dependent and -independent manner.
基金The work was supported by grant from The National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (No.30070280)
文摘Objectives The cellular repressor of E1A-activated genes (CREG), a novel gene, was recently found to play a role in inhibiting cell growth and promoting cell differentiation. The purpose of this study was to obtain antibody against CREG protein and to study the expression of CREG protein in human internal thoracic artery cells (HITASY) which express different patterns of differentiation markers after serum withdrawal. Methods The open reading frame of CREG gene sequence was amplified by PCR and cloned into the pGEX-4T-1 vector. Glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-CREG fusion protein was expressed in E. Coli BL21 and purified from inclusion bodies by Sephacryl S-200 chromatography. Rabbits were immunized with the purified GST-CREG protein. Western blot examined with immunohistochemistry staining and the protein expression level was analyzed by Western blot in HITASY cells after serum removal. Results It was confirmed by using endonuclease digesting and DNA sequencing that the PCR product of CREG was correctly inserted into the vector. The GST-CREG protein was purified with gel filtration chromatography. Polyclonal antibody against GST-CREG was obtained from rabbits. CREG protein immunohistochemistry staining displayed a perinuclear distribution in the cytoplasm of HITASY cells. Results from Western blot suggested that comparing with the untreated cells upregulation of CREG polyclonal antibody against CREG was comfirmed. Using this antibody, the changes of CREG protein expression was observed in the process of phenotypic modulation of HITASY cells. These results provide basic understanding on the relationship of CREG gene with the cell phenotypic conversion.
文摘The purpose of this study was to examine the relaxation effect of CY on the vascular smooth muscle （VSM） from rabbits. Experiments were carried out on isolated thoracic aorta of rabbits. CY （3 x 103 mM- 3 mM） could relax the VSM preparations pre-contracted by adrenaline （AD）, noradrenaline （NE）, high-K^＋ solution or BaCl2 with respective EC50 values of （0.3 1±0.11） mM, 0.19±0.03 mM, 0.20±0.04 mM and 0.25±0.04 mM. Moreover, CY （10-2 mM, 0.1 mM and 1 mM） inhibited norepinephrine （NE）, CaCl2 and KCl-induced vasoconstriction in a concentration dependent manner. The phasic contraction produced by NE was concentration dependently attenuated with CY （10^-2 mM, 0.1 mM and 1 mM） in calcium-free medium, similar to that caused by verapamil. The present findings suggest that CY relaxed thoracic aortic rings by blocking voltage-dependent Ca^2＋ channels. The inhibition of intracellular Ca^2＋ release may be one of the main vasorelaxant mechanisms of CY.
文摘To determine how the auto-antibodies (Abs) profiles overlap in chronic hepatitis C infection (CHC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and correlate to liver disease.METHODSLevels of antinuclear Ab, smooth muscle antibody (SMA) and liver/kidney microsomal-1 (LKM-1) Ab and markers of liver damage were determined in the sera of 50 patients with CHC infection, 20 AIH patients and 20 healthy controls using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and other immune assays.RESULTSWe found that AIH patients had more severe liver disease as determined by elevation of total IgG, alkaline phosphatase, total serum bilirubin and serum transaminases and significantly higher prevalence of the three non-organ-specific autoantibodies (auto-Abs) than CHC patients. Antinuclear Ab, SMA and LKM-1 Ab were also present in 36% of CHC patients and related to disease severity. CHC cases positive for auto-Abs were directly comparable to AIH in respect of most markers of liver damage and total IgG. These cases had longer disease duration compared with auto-Ab negative cases, but there was no difference in gender, age or viral load. KLM-1<sup>+</sup> Ab CHC cases showed best overlap with AIH.CONCLUSIONAuto-Ab levels in CHC may be important markers of disease severity and positive cases have a disease similar to AIH. Auto-Abs might have a pathogenic role as indicated by elevated markers of liver damage. Future studies will unravel any novel associations between these two diseases, whether genetic or other.
基金This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China （NSFC） （No. 81400265 and No. 81270274）, and Peking University People＇s Hospital Research and Development funds （RDB2014-16）.
文摘Angiotensin （Ang）-（1-7） is recognized as a new bioactive peptide in renin-angiotensin system （RAS）. Ang-（1-7） is a counter-regulatory mediator of Ang-II which appears to be protective against cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have found that Ang-（1-7） played an important role in reducing smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, improving endothelial function and regulating lipid metabolism, leading to inhibition of atherosclerotic lesions and increase of plaque stability. Although clinical application of Ang-（1-7） is restricted due to its pharmacokinetic properties, identification of stabilized compounds, including more stable analogues and specific delivery compounds, has enabled clinical application of Ang-（1-7）. In this review, we discussed recent findings concerning the biological role of Ang-（1-7） and related mechanism during atherosclerosis development. In addition, we highlighted the perspective to develop therapeutic strategies using Ang-（1-7） to treat atherosclerosis.
