Adenovirus-mediated short hairpin RNA interference against p75 neurotrophin receptor in pheochromocytoma cells

Previous studies have confirmed that motor neuron apoptosis in the anterior horn of the lumbosacral spinal cord is positively correlated with p75 neurotrophin receptor （p75NTR） expression in rat models of cauda equina syndrome. This study used adenovirus to carry a short hairpin RNA （shRNA） for p75NTR gene silencing, to reduce p75NTR expression in the damaged phase and to decrease motor neuron apoptosis. Three p75 siRNA template oligonucleotide segments （shRNA） were designed, and cloned into the 1.0 CMV shuttle vector. HEK293 cells were cotransfected with shuttle vector （carrying shRNA） and an adenovirus vector framework expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein. Thus, this study successfully obtained adenovirus carrying p75shRNA. The obtained viruses were named Ad.shRNA1, Ad.shRNA2, and Ad.shRNA3. The recombinant adenoviruses were separately used to infect cultured pheochromocytoma cells （PC12）. Forty-eight hours later, p75NTR mRNA and total protein were analyzed from the PC12 cells. Compared with the negative controls, RNA interference rates were separately 98.49 ± 0.68%, 95.08 ± 1.79% and 96.60 ± 1.14% at the mRNA level, and 72.89 ± 2.17%, 58.83 ± 1.15% and 59.88 ± 0.44% at the protein level in the Ad.shRNA1, Ad.shRNA2, and Ad.shRNA3 groups, respectively. Thus, recombinant adenovirus shRNA-mediated gene silencing successfully suppressed p75NTR expression.

Cyclophilin A affects Bcl-2 and Bax expression following beta-amyloid fragment 25-35-induced injury to PC12 cells

BACKGROUND： Cyclophilin A can protect neurons against oxidative stress. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effect of cyclophilin A on Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression in pheochro-mocytoma （PC12） cells treated with beta-amyloid fragment 25-35 （Aβ25-35）, and to verify the protection pathway of cyclophilin A. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： The initial experiment was performed at the Laboratory of Department of Neurology, First Clinical College, China Medical University from November 2006 to July 2007. MATERIALS： PC12 cells were cultured at the Cell Center of Peking Union Medical College. Aβ25-35 （Sigma, USA）, antibodies of Bcl-2 and Bax （Wuhan Boster, China）, and recombinant human cyclophilin A （Biomol, USA） were used in this study. METHODS： PC12 cells were divided into three groups. Cells in the control group were incubated in culture medium. Cells in the Aβ25-35 injury group were incubated in medium containing a final concentration of 10 μmol/L of Aβ25-35. Cells in the cyclophilin A group were incubated in medium containing a final con-centration of 10 nmol/L of cyclophilin A for 30 minutes, and then treated with 10 μmol/L Aβ25-35. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： After 24 hours of culture, immunohistochemistry was used to detect Bcl-2 and Bax expression in PC12 cells. Annexin-V flow cytometry was employed to measure the apoptosis rate of PC12 cells. The MTT method was applied to examine the survival rate of PC12 cells. RESULTS： Bcl-2 expression decreased, whereas Bax expression increased in PC12 cells treated with Aβ25-35 （t = 2.277, 5.957, P 〈 0.05）. However, in PC12 cells treated with Aβ25-35 and cyclophilin A, Bcl-2 expression increased and Bax expression decreased （t = 4.497, 2.531, P 〈 0.05）. The survival rate of PC12 cells significantly decreased and the apoptosis rate increased （t=8.509, 22.886, P 〈 0.05） following Aβ25-35 treatment. Cyclophilin A enhanced the survival rate of PC12 cells to Aβ25-35-induced apoptosis （t = 4.895, 10.042, P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： Cyclophilin A can increase Bcl-2 expression and decrease Bax expression in PC12 cells treated with Aβ25-35, which indicates that cyclophilin A has a protective effect on Aβ25-35-induced injury to PC12 cells.

Polyurethane/poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel coating improves the cytocompatibility of neural electrodes

Neural electrodes,the core component of neural prostheses,are usually encapsulated in polydimethylsiloxane（PDMS）.However,PDMS can generate a tissue response after implantation.Based on the physicochemical properties and excellent biocompatibility of polyurethane（PU）and poly（vinyl alcohol）（PVA）when used as coating materials,we synthesized PU/PVA hydrogel coatings and coated the surface of PDMS using plasma treatment,and the cytocompatibility to rat pheochromocytoma（PC12）cells was assessed.Protein adsorption tests indicated that the amount of protein adsorption onto the PDMS substrate was reduced by 92%after coating with the hydrogel.Moreover,the PC12 cells on the PU/PVA-coated PDMS showed higher cell density and longer and more numerous neurites than those on the uncoated PDMS.These results indicate that the PU/PVA hydrogel is cytocompatible and a promising coating material for neural electrodes to improve their biocompatibility.

Protective effects of MCI-186 on oxidative damage in a cell model of Alzheimer's disease

Oxidative stress has an important role in the development of Alzheimer＇s disease （AD）. Beta amyloid protein 25-35 （Aβ25-35） can generate oxygen free radicals, and MCI-186 （3-methyl-l-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one, edaravone） can specifically eliminate hydroxyl radicals. The present study introduced Aβ25-35 into PC12 cells to establish a cell model of AD, and investigated the neuroprotective effects of MCI-186 on AD. Results showed that MCI-186 had a positive effect on the prevention and treatment of AD by inhibiting protein oxidative products, advanced glycation end products, lipid oxidative end products and DNA oxidative damage in PC12 cells induced by Aβ25-35.