Protein arginine methyltransferase-6 regulates heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein-F expression and is a potential target for the treatment of neuropathic pain

Protein arginine methyltransferase-6 participates in a range of biological functions,particularly RNA processing,transcription,chromatin remodeling,and endosomal trafficking.However,it remains unclear whether protein arginine methyl transferase-6 modifies neuropathic pain and,if so,what the mechanisms of this effect.In this study,protein arginine methyltransferase-6 expression levels and its effect on neuropathic pain were investigated in the spared nerve injury model,chronic constriction injury model and bone cancer pain model,using immunohistochemistry,western blotting,immunoprecipitation,and label-free proteomic analysis.The results showed that protein arginine methyltransferase-6 mostly co-localized withβ-tubulinⅢin the dorsal root ganglion,and that its expression decreased following spared nerve injury,chronic constriction injury and bone cancer pain.In addition,PRMT6 knockout(Prmt6~(-/-))mice exhibited pain hypersensitivity.Furthermore,the development of spared nerve injury-induced hypersensitivity to mechanical pain was attenuated by blocking the decrease in protein arginine methyltransferase-6 expression.Moreover,when protein arginine methyltransferase-6 expression was downregulated in the dorsal root ganglion in mice without spared nerve injury,increased levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases were observed in the ipsilateral dorsal horn,and the response to mechanical stimuli was enhanced.Mechanistically,protein arginine methyltransferase-6 appeared to contribute to spared nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain by regulating the expression of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein-F.Additionally,protein arginine methyltransfe rase-6-mediated modulation of hete rogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein-F expression required amino atids 319 to 388,but not classical H3R2 methylation.These findings indicated that protein arginine methyltransferase-6 is a potential therapeutic target fo r the treatment of peripheral neuro pathic pain.

Analysis of quality-related proteins in golden pompano(Trachinotus ovatus)fillets with modified atmosphere packaging under superchilling storage

Here,we aimed to study the changes in proteome of golden pompano fillets during post-mortem storage.Tandem mass tags(TMT)-labeled quantitative proteomic strategy was applied to investigate the relationships between protein changes and quality characteristics of modified atmosphere packaging(MAP)fillets during superchilling(-3°C)storage.Scanning electron microscopy was used to show that the muscle histology microstructure of fillets was damaged to varying degrees,and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance was used to find that the immobilized water and free water in the muscle of fillets changed significantly.Total sulfhydryl content,TCA-soluble peptides and Ca2+-ATPase activity also showed that the fillet protein had a deterioration by oxidation and denaturation.The Fresh(FS),MAP,and air packaging(AP)groups were set.Total of 150 proteins were identified as differential abundant proteins(DAPs)in MAP/FS,while 209 DAPs were in AP/FS group.The KEGG pathway analysis indicated that most DAPs were involved in binding proteins and protein turnover.Correlation analysis found that 52 DAPs were correlated with quality traits.Among them,8 highly correlated DAPs are expected to be used as potential quality markers for protein oxidation and water-holding capacity.These results provide a further understanding of the muscle deterioration mechanism of packaging golden pompano fillets during superchilling.

Müller cells are activated in response to retinal outer nuclear layer degeneration in rats subjected to simulated weightlessness conditions

A microgravity environment has been shown to cause ocular damage and affect visual acuity,but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.Therefore,we established an animal model of weightlessness via tail suspension to examine the pathological changes and molecular mechanisms of retinal damage under microgravity.After 4 weeks of tail suspension,there were no notable alterations in retinal function and morphology,while after 8 weeks of tail suspension,significant reductions in retinal function were observed,and the outer nuclear layer was thinner,with abundant apoptotic cells.To investigate the mechanism underlying the degenerative changes that occurred in the outer nuclear layer of the retina,proteomics was used to analyze differentially expressed proteins in rat retinas after 8 weeks of tail suspension.The results showed that the expression levels of fibroblast growth factor 2(also known as basic fibroblast growth factor)and glial fibrillary acidic protein,which are closely related to Müller cell activation,were significantly upregulated.In addition,Müller cell regeneration and Müller cell gliosis were observed after 4 and 8 weeks,respectively,of simulated weightlessness.These findings indicate that Müller cells play an important regulatory role in retinal outer nuclear layer degeneration during weightlessness.

A candidate protective factor in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis:heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G

Heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G is down-regulated in the spinal cord of the Tg(SOD1*G93A)1Gur(TG)amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mouse model.However,most studies have only examined heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G expression in the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis model and heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G effects in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathogenesis such as in apoptosis are unknown.In this study,we studied the potential mechanism of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G in neuronal death in the spinal cord of TG and wild-type mice and examined the mechanism by which heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G induces apoptosis.Heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G in spinal cord was analyzed using immunohistochemistry and western blotting,and cell proliferation and proteins(TAR DNA binding protein 43,superoxide dismutase 1,and Bax)were detected by the Cell Counting Kit-8 and western blot analysis in heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G siRNA-transfected PC12 cells.We analyzed heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G distribution in spinal cord in the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis model at various time points and the expressions of apoptosis and proliferation-related proteins.Heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G was mainly localized in neurons.Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mice were examined at three stages:preonset(60-70 days),onset(90-100 days)and progression(120-130 days).The number of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G-positive cells was significantly higher in the anterior horn of the lumbar spinal cord segment of TG mice at the preonset stage than that of control group but lower than that of the control group at the onset stage.The number of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G-positive cells in both central canal and surrounding gray matter of the whole spinal cord of TG mice at the onset stage was significantly lower than that in the control group,whereas that of the lumbar spinal cord segment of TG mice was significantly higher than that in the control group at preonset stage and significantly lower than that in the control group at the progression stage.The numbers of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G-positive cells in the posterior horn of cervical and thoracic segments of TG mice at preonset and progression stages were significantly lower than those in the control group.The expression of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G in the cervical spinal cord segment of TG mice was significantly higher than that in the control group at the preonset stage but significantly lower at the progression stage.The expression of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G in the thoracic spinal cord segment of TG mice was significantly increased at the preonset stage,significantly decreased at the onset stage,and significantly increased at the progression stage compared with the control group.heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G expression in the lumbar spinal cord segment of TG mice was significantly lower than that of the control group at the progression stage.After heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G gene silencing,PC12 cell survival was lower than that of control cells.Both TAR DNA binding protein 43 and Bax expressions were significantly increased in heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G-silenced cells compared with control cells.Our study suggests that abnormal distribution and expression of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G might play a protective effect in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis development via preventing neuronal death by reducing abnormal TAR DNA binding protein 43 generation in the spinal cord.

The 5'-flanking cis-acting elements of the human ε-globin gene associates with the nuclear matrix and binds to the nuclear matrix proteins

The nucleax mains attachment regions(MARs) and the binding nuclear matrix proteins in the 5’-flalildng cisacting elements of the humanε-globin gene have been examined. Using in vitro DNA-matrix binding assay,it has been shown that the positive stage-specific regulatory element (ε-PREII, -446bp-419bp) upstream of this gene could specifically associate with the nuclear matrix from K562 cells, indicating thatε-PREII mad be an erythroidspecilic facultstive MAR. In gel mobility shift assay and Southwestern blotting assal an eothroid-specific nuclear matrix protein (ε-NMPk) in K562 cells has been revealed to bind to this positive regulatory element (E-PREII). Furthermore, we demonstrated that the silencer (-392hp -177bp) uP8tream of the humanε-globin gene could associate with the nuclear matrices from K562, HEL and Raji cells. In addition, the nucleax matrix proteins prepared from these three cell lines could also bind to this silencer, suggesting that this silencer element linght be a constitutive nuclear mains attachment region (constitutive MAR). Our results demonstrated that the nucleax madrid and nuclear mains proteins lxilght play an important role in the regulation of the human 5-globin gene expression.

Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase induced by lipid-associated membrane proteins of Ureaplasma urealyticum is regulated by nuclear factor κB-mediated mechanism in murine macrophages

The aim was to investigate the molecular mechanisms responsible for the inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） gene expression stimulated by lipid associated membrane proteins （LAMPs） of Ureaplasma urealytictan （ U. urealyticum ）. Detection of NO, the expression of iNOS and the activation of nuclear factor κB （NF-κB） in direct response to U. urealyticum LAMPs in a murine macrophages, the effects of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate （PDTC）, an inhibitor of NF-κB and of cycloheximide （CHX）, a protein synthase inhibitor were available. The results indicated that U. urealyticum LAMPs stimulated mouse macrophages to express iNOS and thus produce NO in dose- and time-dependent manner by activating NF-κB. The expression of iNOS, NO production and the activation of NF-κB were inhibited by U. urealyticum LAMPs combination with PDTC or CHX. In conclusion, our findings suggest that U. urealyticum may be an etiological factor to certain diseases due to its ability to stimulate the expression of iNOS, which is probably mediated through the activation of NF-κB.

Comparisons of voided urine cytology, nuclear matrix protein-22 and bladder tumor associated antigen tests for bladder cancer of geriatric male patients in Taiwan, China

Aim： To compare the results of bladder tumor associated antigen （BTA TRAK）, nuclear matrix protein 22 （NMP 22） and voided urine cytology （VUC） in detecting bladder cancer. Methods： A total of 135 elderly male and 50 healthy volunteers enrolled in this study were classified into three groups： （i） 93 patients with bladder cancer; （ii） 42 patients with urinary benign conditions; and （iii） 50 healthy volunteers. BTA TRAK and NMP 22 kits were used to detect bladder cancer. Voided urine cytology was used to compare the sensitivity and specificity of the screening tests. Results： The sensitivity and specificity of cytology, BTA TRAK and NMP 22 were 24% and 97%, 51% and 73%, 78% and 73%, respectively. The level of NMP 22 increased with tumor grading. The BTA TRAK kit has the lowest sensitivity among the screening tests. The NMP 22 with the best sensitivity can be an adjunct to cytology for evaluating bladder cancer. Conclusion： The NMP 22 test has a better correlation with the grading of the bladder cancer than BTA TRAK. As cytology units are typically not available in hospitals or in outpatient clinics, NMP 22 might be a promising tool for screening bladder cancer.

基于gE蛋白的羊伪狂犬病病毒间接ELISA的建立与应用

为建立羊源伪狂犬病病毒(Pseudorabies virus,PRV)抗体的检测方法,从PRV中对gE基因进行克隆,并构建重组载体对gE蛋白进行原核表达,以重组gE蛋白为包被抗原,建立PRV抗体间接ELISA检测方法,并进行临床样本检测。结果显示,重组gE蛋白大小为42 ku,以包涵体形式表达;Western blot检测表明重组蛋白具有良好的反应原性;重组蛋白作为包被抗原的最佳工作浓度为1μg/mL,待检血清100倍稀释,以HRP标记的兔抗山羊IgG 10000倍稀释作为二抗;检测临床样本时判定阴阳性的临界值为0.284;灵敏性试验结果显示,羊PRV阳性血清稀释2048倍时检测结果仍为阳性;批内变异系数(2.45%~5.00%)与批间变异系数(2.55%~7.41%)均小于10%;采用建立的方法检测其他常见羊源病毒阳性血清结果均为阴性;对收集的376份临床羊血清进行检测,PRV阳性率为10.6%。建立的间接ELISA检测方法可用于羊源样本中伪狂犬病病毒抗体的检测,该方法的建立为羊场PRV抗体检测提供了技术支持。

Altered profiles of nuclear matrix proteins during the differentiation of human gastric mucous adenocarcinoma MGc80-3 cells

AIM： To find and identify specific nuclear matrix proteins associated with proliferation and differentiation of carcinoma cells, which will be potential markers for cancer diagnosis and targets in cancer therapy. METHODS： Nuclear matrix proteins were selectively extracted from MGcS0-3 cells treated with or without hexamethylamine bisacetamide （HMBA）, and subjected to 2-D gel electrophoresis. The resulted protein patterns were analyzed by Melanie software. Spots of nuclear matrix proteins differentially expressed were excised and subjected to in situ digestion with trypsin. Peptide masses were obtained by matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ ionization time of flight mass spectrometry （MALDI-TOFMS） analysis and submitted for database searching using Mascot tool. RESULTS： The MGc80-3 cells were induced into differentiation by HMBA. There were 22 protein spots which changed remarkably in the nuclear matrix, from differentiation of MGcS0-3 cells compared to control. Eleven of which were identified. Seven proteinsactin, prohibitin, porin 31HL, heterogeneous nuclear dbonucleoprotein A2/B1, vimentin, ATP synthase, and heat shock protein 60 were downregulated, whereas three proteins - heat shock protein gp96, heat shock protein 90-beta, and valosin-containing protein were upregulated, and the oxygen-regulated protein was only found in the differentiated MGc80-3 cells. CONCLUSION： The induced differentiation of carcinoma cells is accompanied by the changes of nuclear matrix proteins. Further characterization of those proteins will show the mechanism of cellular proliferation and differentiation, as well as cancer differentiation.

Biochanin A attenuates spinal cord injury in rats during early stages by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammasome activation

Previous studies have shown that Biochanin A,a flavonoid compound with estrogenic effects,can serve as a neuroprotective agent in the context of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury;howeve r,its effect on spinal cord injury is still unclea r. In this study,a rat model of spinal cord injury was established using the heavy o bject impact method,and the rats were then treated with Biochanin A(40 mg/kg) via intrape ritoneal injection for 14 consecutive days.The res ults showed that Biochanin A effectively alleviated spinal cord neuronal injury and spinal co rd tissue injury,reduced inflammation and oxidative stress in spinal cord neuro ns,and reduced apoptosis and pyroptosis.In addition,Biochanin A inhibited the expression of inflammasome-related proteins(ASC,NLRP3,and GSDMD)and the Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB pathway,activated the Nrf2/heme oxygenase 1 signaling pathway,and increased the expression of the autophagy markers LC3 Ⅱ,Beclin-1,and P62.Moreove r,the therapeutic effects of Biochanin A on early post-s pinal cord injury were similar to those of methylprednisolone.These findings suggest that Biochanin A protected neurons in the injured spinal cord through the Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor κB and Nrf2/heme oxygenase 1 signaling pathways.These findings suggest that Biochanin A can alleviate post-spinal cord injury at an early stage.

Alreration of nuclear matrix-intermediate filament system and differential expression of nuclear matrix proteins during human hepatocarcinoma cell differentiation

AIM： To investigate the association between the configurational and compositional changes of nuclear matrix and the differentiation of carcinoma cells. METHODS： Cells cultured with or without 5 × 10^-3 mmol/L of hexamethylene bisacetamide （HMBA） on Nickel grids were treated by selective extraction and prepared for whole mount observation under electron microscopy. The samples were examined under transmission electron microscope. Nuclear matrix proteins were selectively extracted and subjected to subcellular proteomics study. The protein expression patterns were analyzed by PDQuest software. Spots of differentially expressed nuclear matrix proteins were excised and subjected to in situ digestion with trypsin. The peptides were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser- desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry （MALDI-TOF-MS）. Data were submitted for database searching using Mascot tool （www.matrixscience.com）. RESULTS： The nuclear matrix （NM） and intermediate filament （IF） in SMMC-7721 hepatocarcinoma cells were found relatively sparse and arranged irregularly. The nuclear lamina was non-uniform, and two kinds of filaments were not tightly connected. After induction for differentiation by HMBA, the NM-IF filaments were concentrated and distributed uniformly. The heterogeneous population of filaments, including highly branched utrathin filaments could also be seen in the regular meshwork. The connection between the two kinds of filaments and the relatively thin, condensed and sharply demarcated lamina composed of intermediate- sized filaments was relatively fastened. Meanwhile, 21 NM proteins changed remarkably during SMMC-7721 cell differentiation. Four proteins, i.e. mutant Pystl, hypothetical protein, nucleophosminl, and LBP were downregulated, whereas four other proteins, eIF6, p44 subunit, 13-tubulin, and SIN3B were upregulated with the last one, SR2/ASF found only in the differentiated SMMC-7721 cells. CONCLUSION： The induced differentiation of SMMC-7721 cells by HMBA is accompanied by the configurational changes of nuclear matrix-intermediate filament （NM-IF） system and the compositional changes of nuclear matrix protein expression. These changes may be important morphological or functional indications of the cancer cell reversion.

Altered expression of nuclear matrix proteins in etoposide induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells

The events of cell death and the expression of nuclear matrix protein (NMP) have been investigated in a promyelocytic leukemic cell line HL-60 induced with etoposide. By means of TUNEL assay, the nuclei displayed a characteristic morphology change, and the amount of apoptotic cells increased early and reached maximun about 39% after treatment with etoposide for 2 h. Nucleosomal DNA fragmentation was observed after treatment for 4 h. The morphological change of HL-60 cells, thus, occurred earlier than the appearance of DNA ladder. Total nuclear matrix proteins were analyzed by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Differential expression of 59 nuclear matrix proteins was found in 4 h etoposide treated cells. Western blotting was then performed on three nuclear matrix acssociated proteins, PML, HSC70 and NuMA. The expression of the suppressor PML protein and heat shock protein HSC70 were significantly upregulated after etoposide treatment, while NuMA, a nuclear mitotic apparatus protein, was down regulated. These results demonstrate that significant biochemical alterations in nuclear matrix proteins take place during the apoptotic process.

EXPRESSION OF P53 PROTEIN AND PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEAR ANTIGEN IN HUMAN GESTATION TROPHOBLASTIC DISEASE

To study the relationship between p53 protein, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression and benign or malignant gestational trophoblastic disease (MGTD). Methods: The histotomic sections of 48 patients with gestational trophoblastic disease and 24 patients of normal chorionic villi were stained using immunohistochemistry. The monoclonal antibodies were used to determine p53 protein and PCNA. Results: The frequency of p53 and PCNA positive expression were significantly different among the chorionic villi of normal pregnancy, hydratidiform mole (HM) and MGTD. But neither p53 nor PCNA has any relation with the clinical staging or metastasis of MGTD. Conclusion: Both P53 and PCNA are valuable in diagnosis of human gestational trophoblastic disease.

The antibody against a nuclear autoantigenic sperm protein can result in reproductive failure

To study whether the antibody against the testis form of the nuclear autoantigenic sperm protein(tNASP)could result in reproductive failure,we successfully cloned and expressed a 339-bp cDNA fragment of mouse tNASP(mtNASP).Using mouse as a model,recombinant mtNASP(rmtNASP)and a synthetic peptide,human tNASP393-408(htNASP393-408),were investigated for their antifertility effect.Active immunization with rmtNASP or the synthesized peptide raised high antibody titers in the immunized mice.Sperm-egg binding and fusion assay were carried out in 8-10-week-old BALB/c mice.Sperm-egg binding and in vitro fertilization of mouse oocytes were inhibited by co-incubation of zona-free mouse oocytes with capacitated mouse spermatozoa in the presence of varying concentrations of the antisera against rmtNASP.There was a significant antifertility effect in animals immunized with rmtNASP or the synthesized peptide.The effect on fertility in the mice immunized with the synthesized peptide was reversible.Our data indicate that active immunization with rmtNASP antigen may induce a strong antibody response that causes an inhibition of fertility.

Liver Nuclear Activation of Carbon Tetrachloride or Bromotrichloromethane to Trichloromethyl and Trichloromethylperoxyl Free Radicals.Their Reactions With Lipids and Proteins

The formation of·CCl3 radicals in liver nuclei was suggested by spin trapping of them with N-t-butyl-α-phenylnitrone followed by GC/MS detection of the resulting adduct. Comparison of its formation in microsomal biotransformation of CCl4 was made. In aerobic nuclear activation mixtures containing NADPH and CCl4, significant decrease in the arachidonic acid content of nuclear lipids was observed (27. 8%, compared to control), the intensity of this decrease was lower than that occurring in the corresponding microsomal incubation mixtures (29.1%). Significant decreases in arachidonic acid content of nuclear and endoplasmic reticulum lipids were also observed in animals at 6 hours of poisoning with the haloalkane. During aerobic nuclear metabolism of CCl4 or CBrCl3, cholesterol oxidation products were detected: a ketocholesterol, an epoxide like structure and 7-ketocholesterol. Nuclear protein carbonyl formation was not promoted during nuclear CCl4 biotransformation. NADPH by itself may lead to protein carbonyl formation during prolonged periods of incubation. CBrCl3 in contrast, led to decreased protein carbonyl formation. No increase in nuclear protein carbonyl formation was observed in CCl4 intoxicated animals during periods of time between 1 to 6 hours after treatment. The results indicate that during nuclear biotransformation of CCl4 or CBrCl3 reactive free radicals, PUFA degradation, reactive aldehydes and cholesterol oxidation products are formed, nearby DNA and regulatory proteins.

Suppressing high mobility group box-1 release alleviates morphine tolerance via the adenosine5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase/heme oxygenase-1 pathway

Opioids,such as morphine,are the most potent drugs used to treat pain.Long-term use results in high tolerance to morphine.High mobility group box-1(HMGB1) has been shown to participate in neuropathic or inflammatory pain,but its role in morphine tolerance is unclear.In this study,we established rat and mouse models of morphine tolerance by intrathecal injection of morphine for 7 consecutive days.We found that morphine induced rat spinal cord neurons to release a large amount of HMGB1.HMGB1 regulated nuclear factor κB p65 phosphorylation and interleukin-1β production by increasing Toll-like receptor 4receptor expression in microglia,thereby inducing morphine tolerance.Glycyrrhizin,an HMGB1 inhibito r,markedly attenuated chronic morphine tole rance in the mouse model.Finally,compound C(adenosine 5’-monophosphate-activated protein kinase inhibitor) and zinc protoporphyrin(heme oxygenase-1 inhibitor)alleviated the morphine-induced release of HMGB1 and reduced nuclear factor κB p65 phosphorylation and interleukin-1β production in a mouse model of morphine tolerance and an SH-SY5Y cell model of morphine tole rance,and alleviated morphine tolerance in the mouse model.These findings suggest that morphine induces HMGB1 release via the adenosine 5’-monophosphate-activated protein kinase/heme oxygenase-1 signaling pathway,and that inhibiting this signaling pathway can effectively reduce morphine tole rance.

Presence of a long nuclear-localization signal sequence in homeodomain transcription factor Nkx 1.2

Homeodomains,a 60-amino acid sequence encoded by 180 nucleotides,are highly conserved DNA-binding motifs that are present in a variety of transcription factors in species ranging from yeast to humans.The NKX proteins belong to the homeodomain(HD)-containing transcription factor family.They play vital roles in the regulation of morphogenesis.NKX1-2 is one member of the NKX subfamily.At present,information about its nuclear localization signal(NLS)sequence is limited.We studied the NLS sequence of zebrafish Nkx1.2 by introducing sequence changes such as deletion,mutation,and truncation,and identified an NLS motif(QNRRTKWKKQ)that is localized at the C-terminus of the homeodomain.Moreover,the deletion of two amino acid residues(RR)in this NLS motif prevents Nkx1.2 from entering the nucleus,indicating that the two amino acids are essential for Nkx1.2 nuclear localization.However,the NLS motif alone is unable to target cytoplasmic protein glutathione S-transferase(GST)to the nucleus.An intact homeodomain is necessary for mediating the complete nuclear transport of cytoplasmic protein.Unlike most nuclear import proteins with short NLS sequences,a long NLS is present in zebrafish Nkx1.2.We also demonstrated that the sequences of homeodomain of NKX1.2 are well conserved among different species.This study is informative to verify the function of the NKX1.2 protein.

Dengue virus non-structural 1 protein interacts with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H in human monocytic cells

Objective: To study protein-protein interaction between heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H(hn RNP H) and Dengue virus(DENV) proteins. Methods: DENV proteins were screened against the host hn RNP H protein, in order to identify the host-viral protein-protein interactions in DENV infected THP-1 cells by co-immunoprecipitation. The co-localization of the interacting proteins was further confirmed by immunofluorescence microscopy. Results: The host protein hn RNP H was found to interact with DENV nonstructural 1 protein and help the virus to multiply in the cell. Conclusions: The non-structural 1 glycoprotein is a key modulator of host immune response and is also involved in viral replication. Therefore, disruption of this key interaction between hn RNP H and DENV nonstructural 1 could be an important therapeutic strategy for management of DENV infection.

Abnormal expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and P27 protein in brain glioma

Both proliferating cell nuclear antigen and P27 protein are important factors to regulate cell cycle. While, the combination of them can provide exactly objective markers to evaluate prognosis of patients with brain glioma needs to be further studied based on pathological level. OBJECTIVE： To observe the expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and P27 protein in both injured and normal brain glioma tissues and analyze the effect of them on onset and development of brain glioma. DESIGN： Case contrast observation. SETTING： Department of Neurosurgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi＇an Jiaotong University. PARTICIPANTS： A total of 63 patients with brain glioma were selected from Department of Neurosurgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi＇an Jiaotong University from July 1996 to June 2000. There were 38 males and 25 females and their ages ranged from 23 to 71 years. Based on pathological classification and grading standards of brain glioma, patients were divided into grade I - II （n=30） and grade III- IV （n = 33）. All cases received one operation but no radiotherapy and chemiotherapy before operation. Sample tissues were collected from tumor parenchyma. Non-neoplastic brain tissues were collected from another 12 non-tumor subjects who received craniocerebral trauma infra-decompression and regarded as the control group. There were l0 males and 2 females and their ages ranged from 16 to 54 years. The experiment had got confirmed consent from local ethic committee and the collection was provided confirmed consent from patients and their relatives. All samples were restained with HE staining so as to diagnose as the brain glioma. While, all patients with brain glioma received radiotherapy after operation and their survival periods were followed up. METHODS： Primary lesion wax of brain glioma was cut into serial sections and stained with S-P immunohistochemical staining. Brown substance which was observed in tumor nucleus was regarded as the positive expressions of both proliferating cell nuclear antigen and P27 protein. Automatic imaging analytic system was used to quantitatively analyze staining results of tumor. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： To compare the expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and P27 protein in brain glioma tissues and non-tumor brain tissues and investigate the effect of various sexes, ages, survival periods and severities on the expressions of them in brain tissues. RESULTS： There was no significant difference of sexes and ages in the expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and P27 protein （P 〉 0.05）; however, the expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and P27 protein were milder in non-tumor brain tissues than those in the brain glioma tissues （P 〈 0.05）. Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in brain tissue of grade III- IV severity was stronger than that of grade I - II severity, and the expression in ≥ 5-year survival periods were also stronger than that in 〈 5-year survival periods （P 〈 0.05）. In addition, expression of P27 protein in brain tissue of grade III- IV severity was stronger than that of grade I - II severity, and the expression in ≥ 5-year survival periods were also stronger than that in 〈 5-year survival periods （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： Abnormal expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and P27 protein in human brain glioma are closely related to onset, development and prognosis of tumor.

CHANGES OF NUCLEAR MATRIX PROTEIN AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH c-erbB-2 IN HUMAN COLON ADENOCARCINOMA

Objective： Nuclear matrix protein is tissue, cell-type specific, and tumor-relative. It plays an important role in the regulation of intranuclear processes. Some researches also showed that a c-erbB-2 promoter-specific DNA-binding nuclear matrix protein is present only in malignant human breast tissues and induces mitogenesis and cell surface expression of the c-erbB-2 protein in resting NIH/3T3 cells. But it is not clear that how it in colon adenocarcinomas. Methods： Two-dimensional gel electrophoretic method was used for NMP identification and immunohistochemistry was used for c-erbB-2 detection in 12 cases of colon adenocarcinomas and matched adjacent normal colon tissues. Results： 5 different nuclear matrix proteins （named C1-C5） were identified in 12 colon adenocarcinoma specimens, but not in the matched adjacent normal colon tissues; 3 nuclear matrix proteins （named N1-N3） were identified in all 12 matched adjacent normal colon tissues, but not in colon adenocarcinoma specimens. A nuclear matrix protein （named N4） was detected in all of 9 moderated-well differentiated adenocarcinomas and all 12 matched adjacent normal colon tissues, but not in 3 poor-differentiated adenocarcinomas. All of the 10 colon adenocarcinomas which had the nuclear matrix protein C4 were c-erbB-2 expression positive. Conclusion： The data suggest that there are specific nuclear matrix proteins in colon adenocarcinomas and its subtypes, which maybe valuable to serve as markers of colon adenocarcinomas in future. Nuclear matrix protein C4 probably is a c-erbB-2 promotor-specific nuclear matrix protein in colon adenocarcinomas, and may induce the expression of c-erbB-2.