Translocation of telomerase reverse transcriptase coincided with ATP release in postnatal cochlear supporting cells

The spontaneous bursts of electrical activity in the developing auditory system are derived from the periodic release of adenosine triphosphate(ATP)by supporting cells in the Kölliker’s organ.However,the mechanisms responsible for initiating spontaneous ATP release have not been determined.Our previous study revealed that telomerase reverse transcriptase(TERT)is expressed in the basilar membrane during the first postnatal week.Its role in cochlear development remains unclear.In this study,we investigated the expression and role of TERT in postnatal cochlea supporting cells.Our results revealed that in postnatal cochlear Kölliker’s organ supporting cells,TERT shifts from the nucleus into the cytoplasm over time.We found that the TERT translocation tendency in postnatal cochlear supporting cells in vitro coincided with that observed in vivo.Further analysis showed that TERT in the cytoplasm was mainly located in mitochondria in the absence of oxidative stress or apoptosis,suggesting that TERT in mitochondria plays roles other than antioxidant or anti-apoptotic functions.We observed increased ATP synthesis,release and activation of purine signaling systems in supporting cells during the first 10 postnatal days.The phenomenon that TERT translocation coincided with changes in ATP synthesis,release and activation of the purine signaling system in postnatal cochlear supporting cells suggested that TERT may be involved in regulating ATP release and activation of the purine signaling system.Our study provides a new research direction for exploring the spontaneous electrical activity of the cochlea during the early postnatal period.

大鼠膀胱平滑肌细胞自发性钙瞬变及其机制研究

目的观察大鼠离体活膀胱肌条铺片中平滑肌细胞自发性钙瞬变,并探讨平滑肌细胞自发性钙瞬变产生的机制。方法制作大鼠离体膀胱肌条铺片,生理液灌流保持肌条铺片活性。采用Fluo-4负载肌条铺片,激光共聚焦显微镜法观察其中平滑肌细胞自发性钙瞬变,并观察尼莫地平(Nimodipine)、2-氨基乙基二苯硼酸盐(2-aminoethoxydiphenylbo-rate,2-APB)、雷诺丁(Ryanodine)、毒胡萝卜素(Thapsigargin)对平滑肌细胞自发性钙瞬变的影响,探讨平滑肌细胞自发性钙瞬变产生的机制。结果可见大鼠离体活膀胱肌条铺片中平滑肌细胞产生节律性自发性钙瞬变,自发性钙瞬变幅度(F/F0)和频率分别为(2.20±0.13)和(10.31±2.74)次/min。L型钙离子通道阻断剂Nimodipine能完全抑制平滑肌细胞的自发性钙瞬变,2-APB、Ryanodine可将钙瞬变幅度分别降低至(1.98±0.14)、(1.81±0.11),而相应的钙瞬变频率则被减少为(8.18±1.97)(P<0.05,n=18)、(7.59±2.16)次/min(P<0.01,n=17)。Thapsigargin可抑制平滑肌自发性钙瞬变幅度至(1.76±0.11)(P<0.01,n=20),但对钙瞬变频率却无显著影响。结论细胞外钙离子通过L型钙离子通道入胞在平滑肌细胞自发性钙瞬变产生中起主要作用,而细胞内钙库中的钙释放入细胞质可能起辅助作用。

胞外钙及胞内钙库钙在膀胱ICCs细胞自发性钙瞬变中的作用

目的观察离体活膀胱肌条铺片中卡哈尔间质细胞(interstitial cells of cajal,ICCs)自发性钙瞬变,并检测胞外钙及胞内钙库钙对ICCs细胞自发性钙瞬变的影响,探讨ICCs细胞自发性钙瞬变产生的机制。方法制作离体膀胱肌条铺片,生理液灌流保持肌条铺片活性。待肌条自发性收缩活动出现后,Fluo-4负载肌条铺片,激光共聚焦显微镜观察其中ICCs细胞自发性钙瞬变,随后观察尼莫地平(Nimodipine)、2-氨基乙基二苯硼酸盐(2-aminoethoxydip henylborate,2-APB)、雷诺丁(Ryanodine)、毒胡萝卜素(Thapsigargin)及无钙、高钙生理液对ICCs细胞自发性钙瞬变的影响,探讨ICCs细胞自发性钙瞬变产生的机制。结果可见离体活膀胱肌条铺片中平滑肌细胞和ICCs细胞均产生节律性自发性钙瞬变,平滑肌细胞钙瞬变频率较快,而ICCs细胞钙瞬变频率相对较慢。尼莫地平能完全抑制平滑肌细胞的自发性钙瞬变,但对ICCs细胞的自发性钙瞬变无显著影响。2-APB、雷诺丁、毒胡萝卜素及无钙生理液均可完全抑制ICCs细胞的自发性钙瞬变,高钙生理液可显著增加ICCs细胞自发性钙瞬变的频率。结论细胞外钙离子通过非L型钙离子通道入胞及细胞内钙库放钙均参与ICCs细胞自发性钙瞬变的产生。

UTP经PLC-IP_3信号通路调控猪冠状动脉平滑肌细胞自发性瞬时外向电流

本文采用全细胞穿孔膜片钳技术研究UTP对急性酶分离的猪冠状动脉平滑肌细胞(coronary artery smooth muscle cells,CASMCs)自发性瞬时外向电流(spontaneous transient outward currents, STOCs)的作用,探讨细胞内Ca2+释放在UTP产物三磷酸肌醇(inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, IP3)调控STOCs过程中的作用机制。结果显示:(1)UTP(40 μmol/L)可明显激活CASMCs的STOCs,使其幅度和频率分别增加(57.54±5.34)% 和(77.46±8.42)% (P<0.01, n=38)。(2)磷脂酶C(phospholipase C, PLC)阻断剂U73122(5 μmol/L)可明显抑制STOCs的活性,使其幅度和频率分别降低(31.04±7.46)%和(41.65±16.59)%(P<0.05, n=10);细胞外再加入UTP 不能再次激活STOCs (n=7)。(3)L型电压依赖性钙通道(L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, L-VDCCs)阻断剂verapamil (20 μmol/L)和CdCl2(200 μmol/L)几乎不影响UTP对STOCs活性的调节(n=8)。 (4)1 μmol/L 的bisindolylmaleimide I [BisI,蛋白激酶C(protein kinase C, PKC)的特异性阻断剂]可明显激活 STOCs,使其幅度和频率分别增加(65.44±24.66)%和(61.35±21.47)%(P<0.01,n=12),细胞外再加入UTP (40 μmol/L)可使STOCs的幅度及频率进一步明显增加(P<0.05,P<0.01,n=12),细胞外继续加入ryanodine (50 μmol/L)则可完全阻断STOCs。(5)UTP(40μmol/L)预处理细胞后,IP3受体(IP3 receptors, IP3Rs)阻断剂2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate(2-APB,40μmol/L)可使STOCs的幅度降低(24.08±3.97)%(P<0.05, n=8),对其频率的影响较小(n=8) ;而80 μmol/L的2-APB则可明显抑制STOCs的活性,使其幅度和频率分别降低(31.43±6.34)%和(40.59±19.01)%(P<0.05, P<0.01, n=6),细胞外继续加入高浓度的ryanodine(50 μmol/L)可完全抑制STOCs(n=6)。用2-APB (40 μmol/L)或ryanodine(50 μmol/L)预处理细胞后,UTP(40 μmol/L)不能再次激活 STOCs。以上结果提示:UTP主要通过PLC-IP3信号通路激活急性酶分离的猪CASMCs的STOCs,IP3Rs和ryanodine受体(ryanodine receptors,RyRs)介导的细胞内Ca2+释放在此过程中发挥重要作用。

雌激素对正常人肠系膜血管平滑肌细胞自发性瞬时外向电流的作用

目的研究雌激素(estrogen,E)对正常人肠系膜血管平滑肌细胞自发性瞬时外向电流(spontaneous transient outward currents,STOCs)的作用,探讨雌激素对该细胞上大电导钙激活钾通道(Large-conductance Ca2+-activated potassiumchannels,BKCa)的作用机制。方法用急性酶分离方法分离人肠系膜血管平滑肌细胞,采用全细胞穿孔膜片钳技术记录该细胞上的自发性瞬时外向电流。结果雌激素可浓度依赖性地激活正常人肠系膜血管平滑肌细胞上的STOCs,当雌激素浓度从0μM增加到10、70、200、300μM时,其幅度和频率都增加,其中幅度分别增加了(68.15±10.82)%(n=10,P<0.01)、(131.63±35.33)%(n=10,P<0.01)、(192.02±57.85)%(n=10,P<0.01)、(269.34±70.64)%(n=10,P<0.01);频率分别增加了(29.30±8.61)%(n=10,P<0.01)、(89.17±21.76)%(n=10,P<0.01)、(164.33±43.51)%(n=10,P<0.01)、(205.09±62.49)%(n=10,P<0.01)。结论雌激素可直接激活正常人肠系膜血管平滑肌细胞自发性瞬时外向电流,是通过增加其幅度和频率而激活的,为进一步探讨雌激素对大电导钙激活钾通道的作用机制提供了实验依据。

Spontaneous Neurotransmitter Release Depends on Intracellular Rather than ER Calcium Stores in Cultured Xenopus NMJ

Calcium ions are important in many vital neuron processes, including spontaneous neurotransmitter release. Extracellular calcium has long been known to be related to spontaneous neurotransmitter release, but the detailed mechanism for the effect of intracellular Ca^2＋ on synaptic release has not yet been understood. In this research, 1,2-bis-（o-aminophenoxy）-ethane-N, N, N′, N′-tetraacetic acid tetraacetoxymethyl ester （BAPTA-AM） was used to combine with cytosolic free Ca^2＋ in a calcium free medium of cultured Xenopus neuromuscular junctions （NMJ）, The spontaneous synaptic current （SSC） frequency was obviously reduced. Then, drugs were applied to interrupt and activate the Ca2＋ release channels in the endoplasmic reticulum （ER） membrane, but the SSC frequency was not affected. The results show that spontaneous neurotransmitter release depends on intracellular rather than ER calcium in cultured Xenopus NMJ without extracellular calcium.

Calcium channels and their role in regenerative medicine

Stem cells hold indefinite self-renewable capability that can be differentiated into all desired cell types.Based on their plasticity potential,they are divided into totipotent(morula stage cells),pluripotent(embryonic stem cells),multipotent(hematopoietic stem cells,multipotent adult progenitor stem cells,and mesenchymal stem cells[MSCs]),and unipotent(progenitor cells that differentiate into a single lineage)cells.Though bone marrow is the primary source of multipotent stem cells in adults,other tissues such as adipose tissues,placenta,amniotic fluid,umbilical cord blood,periodontal ligament,and dental pulp also harbor stem cells that can be used for regenerative therapy.In addition,induced pluripotent stem cells also exhibit fundamental properties of self-renewal and differentiation into specialized cells,and thus could be another source for regenerative medicine.Several diseases including neurodegenerative diseases,cardiovascular diseases,autoimmune diseases,virus infection(also coronavirus disease 2019)have limited success with conventional medicine,and stem cell transplantation is assumed to be the best therapy to treat these disorders.Importantly,MSCs,are by far the best for regenerative medicine due to their limited immune modulation and adequate tissue repair.Moreover,MSCs have the potential to migrate towards the damaged area,which is regulated by various factors and signaling processes.Recent studies have shown that extracellular calcium(Ca^(2+))promotes the proliferation of MSCs,and thus can assist in transplantation therapy.Ca^(2+)signaling is a highly adaptable intracellular signal that contains several components such as cell-surface receptors,Ca^(2+)channels/pumps/exchangers,Ca^(2+)buffers,and Ca^(2+)sensors,which together are essential for the appropriate functioning of stem cells and thus modulate their proliferative and regenerative capacity,which will be discussed in this review.

Effect of Calcium on Spontaneous Quantal Transmitter Secretion from ACh-Loaded Myocytes

Spontaneous secretions occur in both neurons and non-neuronal cells, and calcium is important for these secretion processes. However, the detailed roles of calcium on the secretions have not yet been identified. In the present study, cultured Xenopus myocytes loaded with exogenous acetylcholine （ACh） into the cytoplasm in the absence of extracellular Ca^2＋ undergo spontaneous quantal ACh secretion as detected by the appearance of pulsatile miniature endplate currents. Analysis of the frequencies, amplitudes, and time courses of these currents suggests that similar cellular mechanisms are involved in the secretions of ACh in normal medium and Ca^2＋-free solution. Various doses of ryanodine were used to regulate the intra- cellular Ca^2＋ to different levels. The spontaneous ACh secretion from myocytes in Ca^2＋-free medium was decreased by reducing intracellular Ca^2＋ levels and enhanced by increasing cytosolic Ca^2＋ levels. These observations demonstrate that the spontaneous secretion from isolated myocytes and the effect of ryanodine on ACh-loaded cells are both independent of extracellular Ca^2＋ while Ca^2＋ in the sarcoplasmic reticulum plays a crucial role in the secretions.

膀胱平滑肌细胞自发性钙活动传递的在体观察和分析

目的:观察离体活膀胱肌条铺片中平滑肌细胞自发性钙活动,并分析平滑肌细胞自发性钙活动的特征。方法:制作离体膀胱肌条铺片,Physiological saline生理液灌流保持肌条铺片活性。待肌条自发性收缩活动出现后,Fluo-4负载肌条铺片激光扫描共聚焦显微镜观察并高速扫描记录平滑肌细胞自发性钙活动,随后利用Fluoview软件分析平滑肌细胞自发性钙活动肌束内纵向、横向及肌束间的传递情况。结果:成功记录到离体活膀胱肌条铺片中平滑肌细胞的节律性自发性钙活动。钙活动在肌束内纵向传递几乎无时间延迟,但在肌束内横向传递有一定的时间延迟;在相邻的膀胱平滑肌束间也记录到钙活动的传递。结论:平滑肌细胞的自发性钙活动起源于肌束的一侧,随后传导到肌束的另一侧;平滑肌细胞钙活动纵向传递和横向传递的途径和机制可能不同;膀胱平滑肌束之间的钙活动传递可能是通过ICCs细胞完成。