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Biomedical subjects

P Li

Publications and source records attributed to P Li.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

[Isozyme electrophoresis of Fritillaria puqiensis during bulb organogenesis in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: Inquiring into the mechanism of bulb organogenesis of Fritillaria puqiensis. METHOD: Time course studies of the soluble protein, peroxidase and esterase were performed during the new bulb organogenesis by electrophoresis. RESULT: The atlas of electrophoresis changed greatly during the phase of differentiation and the formation of the new bulb. CONCLUSION: Different enzymes are associated with organogenesis and express activity at different times.

Culture Techniques↗

[Studies on variations of alkaloids in zhebeimu (Fritillaria thunbergii Miq.) by improved colormetric determination].

OBJECTIVE: To find out the seasonal variation of active alkaloids in Zhebeimu(F. thunbergii) collected from Zhejiang Ninbo and Jiangsu Nantong, and confirm the suitable harvesting time for the crude drug. METHOD: Determining the alkaloid contents in the samples of Zebeimu collected monthly from the above-said twoplaces by improved colormetric method. RESULT: The alkaloid accumulation patterns of the samples from two places are very similar, with the highest contents appearing in samples collected in January of February, and the absolute amounts in samples harvested in May. CONCLUSION: The optimum time for harvesting Zhebeimu is in May.

Alkaloids↗

[Phospholipase D and inflammation].

Phospholipase D (PLD) is widely distributed in mammalian cells, where it is regulated by a variety of extracellular signals. Its major substrate is phosphatidylcholine (PC), which is hydrolyzed to phosphatidic acid (PA) and choline. The PLD-catalysed PC hydrolysis is believed to be an important mechanism of signal transduction in cells. More and more lines of evidence indicate that PLD is tightly involved in inflammation. This review introduces the recent advances of PLD in respiratory burst, degranulation and arachidonic acid release.

Animals↗

[Experimental study on apoptosis and Apo-1 expression of buccal carcinoma cell(BCC) induced by cisplatin].

OBJECTIVE: To study apoptotic characteristics and expression of apoptosis molecule Apo-1 (Fas, CD95) on buccal carcinoma cell (BCC) induced by cytotoxic drug cisplatin and exploit the apoptotic mechanisms of oral cancer chemotherapy. METHODS: Human BCC line BcaCD885 was used as in vitro study object. Morphological features of apoptotic BCC induced by cisplatin were observed by use of lightmicroscopy and electronmicroscopy, meanwhile, apoptotic rates (AR) were analysed by the flow cytometry. RESULTS: 1. Condensation and crack of nucleus and apoptotic bodies appeared in apoptotic BCC; 2. There existed time and dosage dependent AR, and AR were respectively 5.4%, 7.4%, 9.4%, 20.3% and 22.6% after BCC had been acted by 15 micrograms/ml cisplatin for 2, 6, 12 and 24 hours, moreover, there was significantly difference (P < 0.01) among the 12-hour group, the 24-hour group and the control group; 3. Cell cycle of BCC was apparently arrested at G0/G1 by cisplatin (P < 0.05); 4. Apo-1 expression of BCC were enhanced 58% and 62% respectively after it was induced by 25 micrograms/ml cisplatin for 18 and 42 hours (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Apoptosis may be an important mechanism of BCC killed by cisplatin, and Apo-1 may play a role in the process of apoptosis induced by chemotherapy drugs.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

[Effect of L1ECD on mouse primarily cultured neurons and construction of transgenic mice specifically expressing L1ECD in brain].

Neural cell adhesion molecule L1 is an important molecule mediating cell-cell interactions during the development of nervous system. L1 can promote axonal outgrowth and is related with nerve cell migration, and therefore L1 plays an important role both in the development and maintaince of the nervous system. In humans, mutations in the L1 gene can lead to mental retardation, spastic paraplegia, hydrocephalus, and other developmental abnormalities. The molecular mechanisms of mutations in L1 gene to induce inherited neurological diseases are not clear. In present investigation, a transgenic DNA of mouse L1 extracellular domain (L1ECD) was constructed by adding a stop codon to the end of L1ECD cDNA and then putting it under the control of CAMK II promoter, which is active specifically in the brain. To verify this construct, L1ECD cDNA was subcloned into an expression vector pCEP4 and then transfected the C6 cells. The expression of L1ECD cDNA in C6 cells was confirmed by Northern blotting and the effects of L1ECD on the growth rate and morphology of C6 cells in vitro as well as primarily cultured neurons were observed. The L1ECD constructs were microinjected into the fertilized zygotes of C57BL/6 mice. The transgenic mice thus produced were identified by Southern and Northern hybridization analysis. The results demonstrated that the L1ECD was integrated in the genome of transgenic mice and expressed specifically in the brain.

Animals↗

Over-expression of the RAB5 gene in human lung adenocarcinoma cells with high metastatic potential.

The objective of this study is to better understand the molecular mechanism of tumor invasion and metastasis, and isolating tumor metastasis-related genes. Two human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines AGZY-83a and Anip973 were studied. Anip973 was derived from AGZY-83a, but it manifested a very much higher metastatic potential than the parent line. Differential cDNA fragments were isolated by using the techniques of mRNA differential display, and analyzed by means of molecular cloning and sequencing. The expression of RAB5A gene in clinical samples of non-small cell lung cancer was determined by RT-PCR. There were significant differences between AGZY-83a and Anip973 in gene expression. Part of the differential cDNA fragments were cloned and sequenced. We found that there was over-expression of RAB5A gene in the Anip973 cell line. And there was over-expression of RAB5A gene in those samples of clinical lung cancer showing metastasis. In conclusion, the expression or over-expression of RAB5A gene was associated with the metastatic phenotype of Anip973. Probably, over-expression of RAB5A gene in non-small lung cancer may serve as a diagnostic marker for metastasis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The relationship between expressions of N-myc and c-myc oncogenes in neuroblastoma: an in situ hybridization and immunocytochemical study.

N-myc gene amplification is the most characteristic feature of neuroblastoma. c-myc oncogene, another member of myc gene family, plays an important role in cell proliferation and differentiation. Both of them may contribute to tumorigenesis of neuroblastoma. In this study we use the in situ hybridization and immunocytochemical methods to test the frequencies of N-myc and c-myc expressions in 20 cases of human neuroblastoma at mRNA and protein levels. The positive rates of the expression of N-myc are 90% and 100% detected by in situ hybridization and immunocytochemical methods respectively. The positive rates of c-myc are 80% and 85% respectively. Sixty percent of the 20 specimens tested by in situ hybridization and 55% by immunocytochemistry show an inverse relationship between the expressions of these two oncogenes and this may indicate that there are different gene expression controlling mechanisms in different cases.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Molecular basis of iduronate-2-sulphatase gene mutations in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type II (Hunter syndrome).

Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (Hunter syndrome) is an X linked lysosomal storage disorder resulting from heterogeneous mutations in the iduronate-2-sulphatase (IDS) gene. To detect IDS gene mutations, direct sequencing of IDS cDNA fragments coupled with assays on IDS genomic amplicons was applied to 18 unrelated patients with MPS II. Seventeen mutations were detected from the 18 patients including seven missense mutations (S71R, A82E, A85T, R88C, R468W, R468Q, and E521V), five deletions (alphaR95, 383delAT, 596delAACA, 1148delC, and 1216delCT), two insertions (208insC and 1063insA), two splicing mutations (1006+5g-->c in intron 7, 1122C-->T in exon 8), and an intragenic deletion of IDS exons 4, 5, 6, and 7. Nine of the small mutations were novel mutations. Mutation 596del-AACA was detected in two unrelated patients. The mutation in intron 7 was found to cause aberrant splicing and resulted in a 22 bp insertion into its mRNA transcript. The intragenic deleted IDS gene expressed two aberrant mRNA transcripts consisting of exons 1-2-8-9 and 3-8-9. Analysis of mutations A85T, R88C, R468Q, R468W, and 438C/T found no polymorphism for the four missense mutations but about 36% heterozygosity for the 438C/T silent mutation. These results provide further evidence of mutational heterogeneity for MPS II. Also, underlying sequence directed mutagenesis mechanisms for some recurrent mutations in the IDS gene were proposed.

Base Sequence↗

[Relationship between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism and coronary heart disease].

OBJECTIVE: This study inquired into the relationship between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphism and coronary heart disease. METHODS: By polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), MTHFR 677C-->T mutation was detected in 79 healthy controls and 69 patients with coronary heart disease. RESULTS: The frequency of MTHFR variant V677 of patients was significantly higher than that of healthy controls (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that MTHFR gene V677 mutation was probably one of the genetic risk factors of coronary heart disease and this provided a new basis for exploring the relevant pathogenesis.

Coronary Disease↗

A new long form of Sox5 (L-Sox5), Sox6 and Sox9 are coexpressed in chondrogenesis and cooperatively activate the type II collagen gene.

Transcripts for a new form of Sox5, called L-Sox5, and Sox6 are coexpressed with Sox9 in all chondrogenic sites of mouse embryos. A coiled-coil domain located in the N-terminal part of L-Sox5, and absent in Sox5, showed >90% identity with a similar domain in Sox6 and mediated homodimerization and heterodimerization with Sox6. Dimerization of L-Sox5/Sox6 greatly increased efficiency of binding of the two Sox proteins to DNA containing adjacent HMG sites. L-Sox5, Sox6 and Sox9 cooperatively activated expression of the chondrocyte differentiation marker Col2a1 in 10T1/2 and MC615 cells. A 48 bp chondrocyte-specific enhancer in this gene, which contains several HMG-like sites that are necessary for enhancer activity, bound the three Sox proteins and was cooperatively activated by the three Sox proteins in non-chondrogenic cells. Our data suggest that L-Sox5/Sox6 and Sox9, which belong to two different classes of Sox transcription factors, cooperate with each other in expression of Col2a1 and possibly other genes of the chondrocytic program.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of the nuclear factor HMG2 as an activator for DFF nuclease activity.

DNA fragmentation during apoptosis is mediated by a heterodimeric protein complex, DFF45/ICAD and DFF40/CAD/CPAN. Purified DFF40 alone possesses intrinsic nuclease activity that is inhibited by its association with DFF45. The proteolytic cleavage of DFF45 by caspase-3 frees the DFF40 subunit to function as a nuclease. In the course of identifying factors that stimulate DFF activity, we have isolated a nuclear factor and identified it as the high mobility group protein 2 (HMG2). We found that bacterially expressed HMG2 is able to enhance the nuclease activity of DFF. As HMG2 has DNA bending activity (6), our data suggest that HMG proteins may augment DNA fragmentation during apoptosis through changes in chromosome structure.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genetic relationship of populations in China.

Despite the fact that the continuity of morphology of fossil specimens of modern humans found in China has repeatedly challenged the Out-of-Africa hypothesis, Chinese populations are underrepresented in genetic studies. Genetic profiles of 28 populations sampled in China supported the distinction between southern and northern populations, while the latter are biphyletic. Linguistic boundaries are often transgressed across language families studied, reflecting substantial gene flow between populations. Nevertheless, genetic evidence does not support an independent origin of Homo sapiens in China. The phylogeny also suggested that it is more likely that ancestors of the populations currently residing in East Asia entered from Southeast Asia.

Animals↗

Quasi-biological apatite film induced by titanium in a simulated body fluid.

Commercially pure titanium (c.p.Ti) is capable of inducing the formation of a carbonated apatite onto its surface in a simulated body fluid (SBF) comprised of calcium ions, phosphate ions, and other inorganic species present in the body fluid. In addition to the incorporation of carbonate ions, such formed apatite has other important characteristics of the bone mineral phase, such as a small crystal size and ionic substitution by Mg2+ and Cl-. Thus, we call this apatite a quasi-biological apatite. The formation of the quasi-biological apatite is proposed to be related to TiOH groups that develop on the titanium surface through interaction with the SBF. The results suggest that titanium implants may be activated such that they can form a strong bond with bone tissue through the in vivo formation of apatite. Since the solution can reach any open space, the process discussed in this study is very suitable for coating porous titanium implants with a quasi-biological apatite film.

Apatites↗

Strong synergism between GABA(A) and glycine receptors on isolated carp third-order neurons.

A strong synergistic interaction between the bicuculline-sensitive GABA receptor (GABA(A) receptor) and the strychnine-sensitive glycine receptor was observed in third-order neurons acutely isolated from crucian carp retina, with the use of the whole-cell patch-clamp recording technique. In 58 of 153 cells, 10 microM GABA or glycine separately applied to amacrine/ganglion cells failed to induce any responses or only induced small currents (<20 pA), while co-application of these two chemicals resulted in much larger responses (403.05+/-319.98 pA). The current induced by the co-application was mediated by chloride channels, and both GABA(A) and glycine receptors were involved in the potentiation. The underlying mechanisms of this interaction and its possible physiological role are discussed.

Animals↗

The 40-kDa subunit of DNA fragmentation factor induces DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation during apoptosis.

We report here the reconstitution of a pathway that leads to the apoptotic changes in nuclei by using recombinant DNA fragmentation factor (DFF), a heterodimeric protein of 40 and 45 kDa. Coexpression of DFF40 and DFF45 is required to generate recombinant DFF, which becomes activated when DFF45 is cleaved by caspase-3. The cleaved fragments of DFF45 dissociate from the DFF40, the active component of DFF. Purified DFF40 exhibited an intrinsic DNase activity that was markedly stimulated by chromatin-associated proteins histone H1 and high mobility group proteins. DFF40 also triggered chromatin condensation when incubated with nuclei. These data suggest that DFF40 is sufficient to trigger both DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation during apoptosis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

GABA(A) receptors in the rostral ventrolateral medulla mediate the depressor response induced by stimulation of the greater splanchnic nerve afferent fibres in rats.

Experiments have been carried out to investigate the chemical substrate in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) underlying the depressor responses induced by activation of the greater splanchnic nerve (GSPL) afferent fibres of the rat. In anaesthetised rats with urethane and alpha-chloralose, microinjection of bicuculline, a GABA(A) receptor antagonist, into the RVLM, attenuated largely the depressor responses elicited by electrical stimulation of the GSPL afferent fibres, while strychnine or saline had no effect. In 18 RVLM neurons (including seven identified cardiovascular neurons), iontophoresis of bicuculline also significantly blocked the inhibition evoked by stimulation of the GSPL afferent inputs. We suggest that the depressor responses induced by stimulation of the GSPL afferent fibres involve a GABA(A)-receptor-mediated mechanism in the RVLM in rats.

Animals↗

Silent glutamatergic synapses and nociception in mammalian spinal cord.

Neurons in the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord are important for conveying sensory information from the periphery to the central nervous system. Some synapses between primary afferent fibres and spinal dorsal horn neurons may be inefficient or silent. Ineffective sensory transmission could result from a small postsynaptic current that fails to depolarize the cell to threshold for an action potential or from a cell with a normal postsynaptic current but an increased threshold for action potentials. Here we show that some cells in the superficial dorsal horn of the lumbar spinal cord have silent synapses: they do not respond unless the holding potential is moved from -70 mV to +40 mV. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), an important neurotransmitter of the raphe-spinal projecting pathway, transforms silent glutamatergic synapses into functional ones. Therefore, transformation of silent glutamatergic synapses may serve as a cellular mechanism for central plasticity in the spinal cord.

Animals↗