单纯性肥胖症红细胞膜Na^+、K^+-ATP酶活性异常及血脂测定

肥胖是心血管疾病危险因素之一,单纯性肥胖虽多年进行研究,迄今病因仍不明。最近国外报道肥胖可能与组织细胞 Na^+、K^+-ATP 酶活性减低有关,国内尚未见类似报道。1987年秋～1988年春,我们对30例单纯性肥胖者及30例正常人进行了红细胞膜 Na^+、K^+-ATP 酶活性对比测定,报告如下。

Involvement of fatty acid-CoA ligase 4 in hepatocellular carcinoma growth: Roles of cyclic AMP and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase

AIM: Fatty acid-CoA ligase 4 (FACL4) is an arachidonatepreferring enzyme which has been shown to be up-regulated in human colon cancer tissues and implicated in the colon tumorigenesis. The purpose of this study was to investigatethe role of FACL4 in the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumorigenesis and the specific signal pathways involved in this process.METHODS: We investigated the expression and regulation of FACL4 in HCC, adjacent non-tumorous liver tissues, and cell lines.RESULTS: In HCC patients, we demonstrated that FACL4 gene expression was markedly elevated in the cancerous tissues than in the adjacent non-cancerous liver tissues.In addition, several human hepatoma cell lines, including Hep3B and HepG2, expressed high levels of FACL4. Stable overex-pression of FACL4 knockdown plasmids (small interfering RNA, siRNA) to Hep3B cells significantly decreased FACL4 expression and subsequently limited the cell proliferation. Treatment of Hep3B cells with 8bromo-cAMP and SB203508 (p38 MAPK inhibitor) significantly suppressed the FACL4 expression. CONCLUSION: FACL4 is involved in the HCC tumorigenesis and both cAMP and p38 MAPK pathways are associated with the regulation of FACL4 in HCC.

Prognostic relevance of ALDH1 in breast cancer: a clinicopathological study of 96 cases

Objective： The aim of the study was to investigate the expression and clinical significance of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 （ALDH1） in breast cancer patients. Methods： The expression of ALDH1 protein was examined by immunohistochemical staining in 96 breast cancer tissues. The disease-free survival analysis of patients was evaluated based on the clinical follow-up data. Results： Expression of ALDH1 protein had significant correlations with ER, PR, and HER2 proteins （P 〈 0.05）, but had no significant correlations with age, tumor size, clinical stage, P-glycoprotein, and lymph node status （P 〉 0.05）. The 2-year disease-free survival rate of ALDHl-positive patients was lower than that of ALDHl-negative patients （P 〈 0.05）. ALDHl-positive patients undergoing chemotherapy and hormonal therapy had lower 2-year disease-free survival rate than ALDHl-negative patients （P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion： ALDH1 expression might play an important role in drug resistant, and ALDH1 may be used as a prognostic marker.

Co regulative effects of the cAMP/PKA and DAG/PKC signal pathways on human gastric cancer cells during differentiation induced by traditional Chinese medicines *

AIM To evaluate the role of cAMP/PKA and DAG/PKC pathways of the MGc80 3 cells treated with traditional Chinese medicine of compound Bailong preparation (Bailong).

Regulatory effects of the combination of berberine and ginsenoside Rb1 on high-fat diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via AMPK pathway and improved pharmacokinetics

Objective： We evaluated the protective effects of berberine （BBR） combined with ginsenoside Rb1 （G-Rb1） on high-fatdiet （HFD）-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） in rats and futher investigated the underlying mechanisms.Methods： Rats were fed an HFD for 6 weeks and then randomly divided into four groups and treated with BBR （50mg/kg）, G-Rb1 （100 mg/kg）, BBR （50 mg/kg） ＋ G-Rb1 （100 mg/kg）, or fenofibrate （40 mg/kg）. Histological examinationof liver tissue was performed. In human hepatocellular carcinoma cells HepG2, protein expression of AMP-activatedprotein kinase （AMPK） and acetyl-CoA carboxylase was detected by western blotting, and the mRNA expression ofcarnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 and 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase was detected by quantitativePCR. Pharmacokinetic assessments included analysis of bioavailability of BBR and G-Rb1 in vivo and G-Rb1 metabolismby intestinal bacteria in vitro. Results： Compared to the single-use group, BBR combined with G-Rb1 significantlyameliorated hepatic fat accumulation in HFD-induced obese rats, as demonstrated by reduced hepatic triglyceridecontent, and histological evaluation of liver sections. Activation of hepatic AMPK and phosphorylation of acetyl-CoAcarboxylase were significantly elevated in hepatocytes treated with both BBR and G-Rb1. Consistent with the activationof AMPK, the mRNA expression of carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 was stimulated, while the mRNA expression of3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase was suppressed. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that BBRincreased the bioavailability of G-Rb1 in Sprague-Dawley rats. Additionally, BBR prevented degradation of G-Rb1 infecal solution in vitro. Conclusion： BBR combined with G-Rb1 improved NAFLD through the AMPK signaling pathway,and BBR enhanced G-Rb1 bioavailability via promoting the intestinal absorption of G-Rb1. This combination may be auseful therapeutic agent for NAFLD.

Expression profiles of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and their regulation by Relish

Antimicrobial peptides （AMPs）, as key immune effectors, play important roles in the innate immune system of invertebrates. Different types of AMPs, including Penaeidin, Crustin, ALF （anti- lipopolysaccharide factor） have been identified in different penaeid shrimp; however, systematic analyses on the function of different AMPs in shrimp responsive to different types of bacteria are very limited. In this study, we analyzed the expression profiles of AMPs in the Chinese shrimps, Fenneropenaeus chinensis, simultaneously by real-time RT-PCR （reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction） when shrimp were challenged with Micrococcus lysodeikticus （Gram-positive, G＋） or Hbrio anguillarium （Gram-negative, G-）. Different AMPs showed different expression profiles when shrimp were injected with one type of bacterium, and one AMP also showed different expression profiles when shrimp were challenged with different bacteria. Furthermore, the expression of these AMPs showed temporal expression profiles, suggesting that different AMPs function coordinately in bacteria-infected shrimp. An RNA interference approach was used to study the function of the Relish transcription factor in regulating the transcription of different AMPs. The current study showed that Relish could regulate the transcription of different AMPs in shrimp. Differential expression profiles of AMPs in shrimp injected with different types of bacteria indicated that a complicated antimicrobial response network existed in shrimp. These data contribute to our understanding of immunity in shrimp and may provide a strategy for the control of disease in shrimp.