[Studies on modulation and control sigma 38 and RMF for the expression of some genes]

The E. coli mutants and wild type strains of rpoS and rmf were cultured in rich medium LB and limited component medium EP respectively. During the stationary phase, the viable cells of mutants were less than wild type strains's. The change of the product of serial proteins was quantified with Western blot. Sigma 38 has not effects on the product of rpoA, rpoB, rpoC, groE and tu gene, depress the transcription of crp and promote the expression of rmf. RMF can promote expression of rpoA, rpoD, groEl, rho, ompA and tufA gene in rich medium, but not in limited medium, and then depress and promote the expression of crp and rpoS respectively.

Immunolocalization of FGF-1 and receptors in human renal allograft vasculopathy associated with chronic rejection

Despite recognition of chronic vasculo-occlusive disease in solid organ transplantation, the exact pathophysiologic events resulting in neointima formation remain to be elucidated. Since acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1) is an established modulator of vascular cell function, we examined the expression of this growth factor and its high affinity receptors in both relevant renal transplant controls (n = 5) and tissue from patients (n = 19) who underwent nephrectomy following graft loss secondary to chronic rejection. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical studies demonstrated minimal vascular expression and distribution of FGF-1 and FGF high affinity receptors in the normal human kidney. In contrast, vascular lesions in kidney allografts experiencing chronic rejection demonstrated the exaggerated appearance of FGF-1 ligand and receptors. Immunoreactive FGF-1 readily was detected in medial smooth muscle cells and focal areas of intimal hyperplasia, particularly in association with the presence of inflammatory infiltrate. Enhanced staining for FGF-1 mRNA primarily was associated with the appearance of resident inflammatory cells. Medial smooth muscle cells of hyperplastic vascular structures demonstrated the greatest immunoappearance of FGF receptors-however, diffuse immunostaining also was observed in areas of intimal hyperplasia. The enhanced appearance of both FGF-1 and FGF receptors in the vascular wall suggests that this polypeptide mitogen may serve as an important mediator of growth responses associated with neointima development and angiogenesis during chronic rejection of human renal allografts.

Immunolocalization of FGF-1 and receptors in glomerular lesions associated with chronic human renal allograft rejection

Glomerular lesions are considered one of the more detrimental pathologic changes associated with chronic rejection of renal allografts. To elucidate potential pathophysiologic mechanisms associated with transplant glomerulopathy, we examined the expression of acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1) and its high-affinity receptors (FGFR) in both relevant renal transplant controls (n=5) and tissue from patients (n=19) who underwent nephrectomy following graft loss secondary to chronic rejection. In situ immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated minimal staining and distribution of FGFR and FGF-1, which was localized to the mesangial matrix in glomeruli from normal human kidneys. In situ hybridization failed to detect the presence of FGF-1 mRNA in control tissue. In contrast, each stage of the developing glomerular lesion associated with chronic rejection demonstrated the exaggerated appearance of FGF-1 protein in visceral and parietal epithelial cells. Intense staining for FGF-1 protein did not correlate with the increased appearance of FGF-1 mRNA, which was restricted to circulating inflammatory cells. Glomeruli in kidneys with findings of chronic rejection also exhibited increased immunodetection of both FGFR and PCNA in mesangial and epithelial cells. Immunogold labeling of chronically rejected visceral epithelial cells revealed both cytoplasmic and nuclear/localization of FGF-1, thereby establishing mitogenic potential of the growth factor. The enhanced appearance of both biologically active FGF-1 and FGFR suggests that this polypeptide may serve as an important mediator of growth responses associated with glomerular lesion development during chronic rejection.

Promoter selectivity of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase E sigma 70 and E sigma 38 holoenzymes. Effect of DNA supercoiling

The functional specificity was compared between two sigma factors, sigma 70 (the major sigma at exponentially growing phase) and sigma 38 (the essential sigma at stationary growth phase), of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase. The core enzyme binding affinity of sigma 38 was less than half the level of sigma 70 as measured by gel filtration column chromatography or by titrating the concentration of sigma required for the maximum transcription in the presence of a fixed amount of core enzyme. In addition, the holoenzyme concentration required for the maximum transcription of a fixed amount of templates was higher for E sigma 38 than E sigma 70. The transcription by E sigma 38 was, however, enhanced with the use of templates with low superhelical density, in good agreement with the decrease in DNA superhelicity in the stationary growth phase. We thus propose that the selective transcription of stationary-specific genes by E sigma 38 holoenzyme requires either a specific reaction condition(s) or a specific factor(s) such as template DNA with low superhelical density.

[Role of PCR and dot bolt hybridization in the detection of human papillomavirus of the penile cancer]

Human papillomavirus (HPV), a oncogenicpotential, may be carcinogenic effectors in variety of genital tract malignancies. We examined the association of human papillomavirus type 16 and 18 in 28 penile cancers by the highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction and dot bolt hybridization. Human papillomavirus type 16 was found in 14 of 28 penile cancers (50%), whereas type 18 was identified in 3 of 28 penile cancers (10.6%). Our results suggest humanpapillomavirus type 16 may play a role in the development of this tumor and associate with smoking and ages of patients.

Comparison of the allatostatin neuropeptide precursors in the distantly related cockroaches Periplaneta americana and Diploptera punctata

Allatostatins are a family of insect neuropeptides that inhibit juvenile hormone biosynthesis by the corpora allata. We have characterized cDNA and genomic DNA sequences that specify a preproallatostatin precursor in the oviparous cockroach Periplaneta americana. Comparison of this precursor with that previously described [Donly, B. C., Ding, Q., Tobe, S. S. & Bendena, W. G. (1993) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 90, 8807-8811] for the viviparous cockroach Diploptera punctata revealed several common features. First, the precursors are remarkably similar in size and the organization of the peptides within the precursor is conserved. The separation of the peptides into groups by acidic domains within the precursor has been maintained. The P. americana precursor contains 14 allatostatin-like peptides that contain the core C-terminal sequence (Tyr/Phe)-Xaa-Phe-Gly-(Leu/Ile)-NH2, as compared to the D. punctata precursor, which contains 13. Five of the peptides are perfectly conserved between the two species. The remainder, with one exception, contain amino acid substitutions in the N-terminal address portion of the peptide. Several features of expression are also similar between these two species. In both, a single copy gene specifies a large allatostatin transcript of 5.0 kb in P. americana and 9.2 kb in D. punctata. In P. americana, allatostatin transcripts appear to be produced by numerous cells in different regions of the brain.

[The study of p53 gene mutation in human bladder cancer]

Alteration of p53 gene and the molecular biological difference between superficial and invasive bladder cancer were investigated by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism analysis and direct sequencing technique. p53 gene mutations were examined in exon region 5 to 8 in 21 bladder cancers. Only one of 14 superficial bladder cancers was found to have p53 gene mutation. Four of 7 invasive bladder cancers with T2, T3 and T4 were found to have p53 gene mutation. p53 gene mutation was found none of the 4 cancers with grade 1, only one of cancers with grade 2, four of 12 cancers with grade 3. These results suggest that p53 gene play an important role in the development of human bladder cancer.

Promoter selectivity control of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase by ionic strength: differential recognition of osmoregulated promoters by E sigma D and E sigma S holoenzymes

Transcription in vitro of two osmoregulated promoters, for the Escherichia coli osmB and osmY genes, was analysed using two species of RNA polymerase holoenzyme reconstituted from purified core enzyme and either sigma D (sigma 70, the major sigma in exponentially growing cells) or sigma S (sigma 38, the principal sigma at stationary growth phase). Under conditions of low ionic strength, the osmB and osmY promoters were transcribed by both E sigma D and E sigma S. Addition of up to 400 mM potassium glutamate (K glutamate), mimicking the intracellular ionic conditions under hyperosmotic stress, specifically enhanced transcription at these promoters by E sigma S but inhibited that by E sigma D. At similar high concentrations of potassium chloride (KCl), however, initiation at both these promoters was virtually undetectable. These data suggest that the RNA polymerase, E sigma S, itself can sense osmotic stress by responding to changes in intracellular K glutamate concentrations and altering its promoter selectivity in order to recognize certain osmoregulated promoters.

Molecular cloning of the gene for the allatostatin family of neuropeptides from the cockroach Diploptera punctata

Allatostatins (ASTs) are insect neuropeptides that inhibit juvenile hormone biosynthesis by the corpora allata. We have isolated a cDNA from the cockroach Diploptera punctata that encodes a 41.5-kDa precursor polypeptide containing the AST family of peptides. Translation of the cDNA revealed a 370-amino acid pre-pro-peptide consisting of 13 AST-type peptides and appropriate processing sites for endoproteolytic cleavage and amidation. The 13 potential AST sequences are characterized by the C-terminal AST corestructure Phe-Gly-Leu-NH2, with only one exception. Separating the clustered ASTs in the precursor, three acidic spacer regions are found. Contained within the largest of these are two potentially related peptides that may also be processed. Southern blot analysis revealed the presence of a single copy of the AST gene per haploid genome, as well as the probability that the gene may be present in at least two allelic forms. In situ hybridization indicated the AST-encoding gene is expressed in neurosecretory cells of D. punctata brain.

CSF cholinesterase in early-onset and late-onset Alzheimer's disease and multi-infarct dementia of Chinese patients

Using Ellman spectrophotometric method we measured the total cholinesterase (ChE) activity in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 13 persons without neurological disorder, 10 non-demented patients with cerebral infarcts, 17 patients with dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT) (11 presenile, 6 senile cases), 10 patients with multi-infarct dementia (MID), 1 patient with Parkinson's disease associated with dementia. The ChE activity in CSF was significantly lower in the DAT group compared with age-matched control subjects (p < 0.001). This paper also analyses the possibility of using CSF ChE activity as a marker of DAT, and the relationships between its level of activity and the age of the patient at onset, stage of illness and severity of dementia as well as discrepancies in the data published so far. Previous work has shown that ChE activity in the brain tissue and CSF of MID is normal: therefore, if low ChE activity is found in the CSF of MID patients, as was obtained in 8 out of 10 cases in our series, the diagnosis of mixed dementia should be considered.

[Clinical study of qianxining in the treatment of 60 cases of yang hyperactivity due to yin deficiency type of hypertension]

60 cases with Yang Hyperactivity due to Yin Deficiency type of hypertension were randomly divided into two groups. One was treated with TCM and the other with WM as control. The results showed that: (1) there were no significant differences in the total effective rate and the amplitude of lowering of blood pressure between two groups; (2) the improvement of symptoms and disturbance of autonomic nerve was significant in TCM group in comparison with control; (3) there were some changes in HR, SV, plasma PRA, TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha level in both groups, but the decrease of TXB2/6-keto-PGF1 alpha ratio was significant in TCM group only (P < 0.05); (4) TC and TG in patients with hyperlipemia showed a remarkable drop in TCM group (P < 0.02; P < 0.005). All these revealed that Qianxining was a satisfactory hypotensive remedy and a further exploration of its mechanism is suggested.

[Effects of hand electroacupuncture on the mean value of cAMP content and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in the tissue of various areas of the rat brain]

The results showed that the mean value of cAMP content in rats endbrain treated by electroacupuncture was obviously reduced than control group. The content of cAMP in the diencephalon and brain stem, the activity of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase in the whole brain were raised and they show the positive relation with the excite intensity respectively. These experimental results might be taken as a basis for using the hand electroacupuncture for treatment of schizophrenia, manic state and depressive state. This experiment showed the treatment mechanisms of the hand electroacupuncture in accordance with ECT therapy.