PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Pei Wang

Publications and source records attributed to Pei Wang.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Myeloproliferative disease in mice with reduced presenilin gene dosage: effect of gamma-secretase blockage.

Mammalian presenilins (PS) consist of two highly homologous proteins, PS1 and PS2. Because of their indispensable activity in the gamma-secretase cleavage of amyloid precursor protein to generate Abeta peptides, inhibition of PS gamma-secretase activity is considered a potential therapy for Abeta blockage and Alzheimer's disease intervention. However, a variety of other substrates are also subject to PS-dependent processing, and it is thus imperative to understand the consequences of PS inactivation in vivo. Here we report a pivotal role of PS in hematopoiesis. Mice heterozygous for PS1 and homozygous for PS2 (PS1(+/)(-)PS2(-)(/)(-)) developed splenomegaly with severe granulocyte infiltration. This was preceded by an overrepresentation of granulocytic cells in the bone marrow and a greatly increased multipotent granulocyte-monocyte progenitor in the spleen. In contrast, hematopoietic stem cells and T- and B-lymphocytes were not affected. Importantly, treatment of wild-type splenocytes with a gamma-secretase inhibitor directly promoted the granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming unit (GM-CFU). These results establish a critical role of PS in myelopoiesis. Our finding that this activity can be directly modulated by its gamma-secretase activity has important safety implications concerning these inhibitors.

Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases↗
PubMed2004

Ghrelin stimulation of growth hormone release and appetite is mediated through the growth hormone secretagogue receptor.

Synthetic agonists of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) rejuvenate the pulsatile pattern of GH-release in the elderly, and increase lean but not fat mass in obese subjects. Screening of tissue extracts in a cell line engineered to overexpress the GHSR led to the identification of a natural agonist called ghrelin. Paradoxically, this hormone was linked to obesity. However, it had not been directly shown that the GHSR is a physiologically relevant ghrelin receptor. Furthermore, ghrelin's structure is significantly different from the synthetic agonist (MK-0677) used to expression-clone the GHSR. To address whether the GHSR mediates ghrelin's stimulatory effects on GH release and appetite, we generated Ghsr-null mice. In contrast to wild-type mice, acute treatment of Ghsr-null mice with ghrelin stimulated neither GH release nor food intake, showing that the GHSR is a biologically relevant ghrelin receptor. Nevertheless, Ghsr-null mice are not dwarfs; their appetite and body composition are comparable to that of wild-type littermates. Furthermore, in contrast to suggestions that ghrelin regulates leptin and insulin secretion, fasting-induced changes in serum levels of leptin and insulin are identical in wild-type and null mice. Serum insulin-like growth factor 1 levels and body weights of mature Ghsr-null mice are modestly reduced compared to wild-type littermates, which is consistent with ghrelin's property as an amplifier of GH pulsatility and its speculated role in establishing an insulin-like growth factor 1 set-point for maintaining anabolic metabolism. Our results suggest that chronic treatment with ghrelin antagonists will have little effect on growth or appetite.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Effects of enteral supplementation with glutamine granules on intestinal mucosal barrier function in severe burned patients.

Glutamine is an important energy source in intestinal mucosa, the small intestine is the major organ of glutamine uptake and metabolism and plays an important role in the maintenance of whole body glutamine homeostasis. The purpose of this clinical study is to observe the protection effects of enteral supplement with glutamine granules on intestinal mucosal barrier function in severe burned patients. Forty-eight severe burn patients (total burn surface area 30-75%, full thickness burn area 20-85%) were randomly divided into two groups: burn control group (B group, 23 patients) and glutamine treated group (Gln group, 25 patients). Glutamine granules 0.5 g/kg were supplied orally for 14 days in Gln group, and the same dosage of placebo were given for 14 days in B group. The plasma level of glutamine, endotoxin and the activity of diamine oxidase (DAO), as well as intestinal mucosal permeability were determined. The results showed that the levels of plasma endotoxin, activity and urinary lactulose and mannitol (L/M) ratio in all patients were significant higher than that of normal control. After taking glutamine granules for 14 days, plasma glutamine concentration was significantly higher in Gln group than that in B group (607.86+/-147.25 microM/l versus 447.63 +/- 132.28 microM/l, P < 0.01). On the other hand, the levels of plasma DAO activity and urinary L/M ratio in Gln group were lower than those in B group. In addition, the wound healing was better and hospital stay days were reduced in the Gln group (46.59 +/- 12.98 days versus 55.68 +/- 17.36 days, P < 0.05). These results indicated that glutamine granules taken orally could abate the degree of intestine injury, lessen intestinal mucosal permeability, ameliorate wound healing and reduce hospital stay.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2004

[Effects of enteral supplementation with glutamine on mitochondria respiratory function of intestinal epithelium in burned rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of enteral supplementation with glutamine on mitochondria respiratory function of intestinal epithelium in burned rats. METHODS: Wistar rats inflicted with 30% total body surface area (TBSA) full thickness thermal injury were randomly divided into three groups, i.e. burn with enteral nutrition (EN), burn with glutamine treatment (GLN), and normal control (C) groups. Burned rats were infused 732.2 kJ.kg-1.d-1 solution for intravenous nutrition and oral administration, in which the supply energy ratio of glucose, fat and protein was 55:30:15 respectively, glucose was 15.3% and the proportion of calorie to nitrogen was 183:1. The following indices including respiratory control rate (RCR), oxygen extraction (Oext), P/O ratio and intestine mucosal blood flow (IMBF) were measured on postburn days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10. RESULTS: After burn injury, the RCR, Oext, P/O ratio, and IMBF were significant decreased in both EN and GLN groups, but all above indices were markedly increased in GLN group compared to those in EN group. CONCLUSION: After burn injury, the IMBF and Oext were declined, resulting in mitochondria respiratory oxidative dysfunction and phosphorylation discoupling in intestinal epithelium. GLN supplementation appears to be beneficial to improving IMBF, increasing Oext, abating the extent of mitochondria respiration dysfunction, and promoting oxidative phosphorylation.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[An experimental study on the relationship between the extracellular matrix and apoptosis of intestinal epithelium after burn injury].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the extracellular matrix and apoptosis of intestinal epithelium after burn injury. METHODS: Thirty Wistar rats were employed in the study and were randomly divided into normal control (C) and 6 PBH (postburn hour), 12 PBH, 1 PBD (postburn day), 3 PBD and 5 PBD group with 5 rats in each group. The rats in burn groups were sacrificed at 0, 6 and 12 PBHs and 1, 3 and 5 PBDs. The apoptotic cell count and the caspases-3 activity of intestinal mucosal epithelium, and the extracellular matrix component laminin and type IV collagen were determined and their correlation was analyzed. RESULTS: The apoptotic cell count and the caspases-3 activity of intestinal mucosal epithelium in burn groups were obviously higher than those in C group (P < 0.05 or 0.01), while the intestinal mucosal contents of laminin and type IV collagen in burned groups were much lower than those in C group (P < 0.05 or 0.01). By linear correlative analysis, it was shown that the changes in the intestinal mucosal contents of laminin and type IV collagen in burned groups were negatively correlated with the change in apoptotic cell count (r = -0.575, -0.613, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Intestinal epithelial apoptosis was enhanced after burn injury, and it was correlated with the change in the components of the extracellular matrix.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[Influence of intestinal dysbacteriosis on immune and hematopoietec function in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of intestinal microflora alteration on specific and nonspecific immune function and hematopoietic function of mice. METHODS: Sixty BALB/C mice were divided at random into two groups, experimental group and control group, with 30 mice in each. The mice in the experimental group were given kanamycin 50 mg while those in the control group were given distilled water intragastrically everyday for consecutive 10 days. After the 10 day treatment all the mice were sacrificed, and the cecal contents were collected for quantitative analysis of the intestinal bacterial flora. Certain indexes of immune function, including phagocytosis rate of macrophages, number of T lymphocytes positively stained by esterase and serum interleukin 2 (IL-2) content, and the weight of the spleen, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor etc. as indexes of hematopoietic function were determined. RESULTS: In the group, the quantity of Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus were significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.01). The number of PFC (plaque forming cells), the phagocytosis rate of macrophage, the number of T lymphocytes with positive NANE staining, the level of IL-2 significantly decreased when compared with that in the control group (P < 0.01). The weight of the spleen in the experimental group decreased when compared with that in the control group (P < 0.01). Levels of IL-3, GM-CSF, the total number of WBC and the proportion of neutrophil remarkably decreased as compared to that in the control group (P < 0.01). Analysis of the correlations between normal microflora, immunologic and hematopoietic indexes showed that marked positive correlations between the quantity of Bifidobacteria and each immune index including the levels of IL-3 and GM-CSF. There was a positive correlation between IL-2 and IL-3, IL-2 and GM-CSF as well. CONCLUSION: The application of antibiotics may cause changes in the structure and quantity of intestinal microflora. The dysbacteriosis may decrease the immune function of organism. The dysbacteriosis may decrease the hemopoietic function. The dysbacteriosis, the decrease in immune and hematopoietic function may affect one another. The balance in microecosystem should be emphasized and antibiotics should be applied rationally to reduce the side effects such as dysbacteriosis.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Influence of N,N'-diacetyl-L-cystine on D-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide induced immunological liver failure in mice.

AIM: To study the therapeutic effects of N,N'-diacetyl-L-cystine (DiNAC) on immunological liver failure. METHODS: Serum ALT, AST and T cell subsets in peripheral blood of the experimental animals during the trial period were analyzed by an automatic serum analyzer and a flow cytometer, respectively. The sectioned liver specimens were examined under a light microscope. And 24 h after the injection of Gal/LPS, the survival rate of rats was calculated. RESULTS: DiNAC (50, 200, 800 mg x kg(-1), i.p.) suppressed the elevation of serum levels of ALT and AST, markedly enhanced proliferation and differentiation of T cell subsets (CD4+, CD8+ and Th1, Th2), and improved all the histopathological features. In mice of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), the survival time significantly prolonged and the survival rate increased 24 h after i.p. DiNAC. These effects were obviously dose-dependent. CONCLUSION: DiNAC on mice with FHF has an inhibitory action which is related to immune mechanism.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed2003

Presenilins are required for the formation of comma- and S-shaped bodies during nephrogenesis.

Mammalian presenilins consist of two highly homologous proteins, PSEN1 and PSEN2, which share redundant activities in Notch processing and signaling. To bypass the early lethality of the Psen1- and Psen2-double (PSEN) null embryos, we used a human PSEN1 transgene to rescue the somite patterning defects in PSEN-null animals and to allow a determination of the function of presenilins in late embryogenesis. We report here that expression of the human PSEN1 transgene supported the survival of PSEN-null embryos to the perinatal stage. However, presenilin deficiency in the kidney led to severe nephrogenesis defects and virtually no comma- or S-shaped bodies, or mature glomeruli were formed. We document that the mesenchyme was induced which could further progress to renal vesicles in the PSEN-null kidney, indicating that the presenilins are not essential for the inductive interactions and mesenchyme to epithelium transition. However, renal vesicles failed to pattern to form proximal tubules and glomerular epithelium. A presenilin-dependent, signaling-competent form of Notch1 was detected in mesenchymal derivatives but not in the ureteric buds of wild-type mice. Consistent with an obligatory role of presenilins in Notch processing and activation, the active form of Notch1 and its downstream target Hesr1 were absent in the PSEN-null kidney. Importantly, sustained Notch1 signaling was required for the maintenance of Notch ligand Jag1 expression. These results identify presenilins as one determinant of renal vesicle patterning in the developing mouse kidney, and we hypothesize that they act through the Notch signaling pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Zygote arrest 1 (Zar1) is an evolutionarily conserved gene expressed in vertebrate ovaries.

Zygote arrest 1 (ZAR1) is an ovary-specific maternal factor that plays essential roles during the oocyte-to-embryo transition. In mice, the Zar1 mRNA is detected as a 1.4-kilobase (kb) transcript that is synthesized exclusively in growing oocytes. To further understand the functions of ZAR1, we have cloned the orthologous Zar1 cDNA and/or genes for mouse, rat, human, frog, zebrafish, and pufferfish. The entire mouse Zar1 gene and a related pseudogene span approximately 4.0 kb, contain four exons, and map to adjacent loci on mouse chromosome 5. The human ZAR1 orthologous gene similarly consists of four exons and resides on human chromosome 4p12, which is syntenic with the mouse Zar1 chromosomal locus. Rat (Rattus norvegicus) and pufferfish (Fugu rubripes) Zar1 genes were recognized by database mining and deduced protein alignment analysis. The rat Zar1 gene also maps to a region that is syntenic with the mouse Zar1 gene locus on rat chromosome 14. Frog (Xenopus laevis) and zebrafish (Danio rerio) Zar1 orthologs were cloned by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and rapid amplification of cDNA ends analysis of ovarian mRNA. Unlike mouse and human, the frog Zar1 is detected in multiple tissues, including lung, muscle, and ovary. The Zar1 mRNA appears in the cytoplasm of oocytes and persists until the tailbud stage during frog embryogenesis. Mouse, rat, human, frog, zebrafish, and pufferfish Zar1 genes encode proteins of 361, 361, 424, 295, 329, and 320 amino acids, respectively, and share 50.8%-88.1% amino acid identity. Regions of the N-termini of these ZAR1 orthologs show high sequence identity among these various proteins. However, the C-terminal 103 amino acids of these proteins, encoded by exons 2-4, contain an atypical eight-cysteine Plant Homeo Domain motif and are highly conserved, sharing 80.6%-98.1% identity among these species. These findings suggest that the carboxyl-termini of these ZAR1 proteins contain an important functional domain that is conserved through vertebrate evolution and that may be necessary for normal female reproduction in the transition from oocyte to embryonic life.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Roles of NPM2 in chromatin and nucleolar organization in oocytes and embryos.

Upon fertilization, remodeling of condensed maternal and paternal gamete DNA occurs to form the diploid genome. In Xenopus laevis, nucleoplasmin 2 (NPM2) decondenses sperm DNA in vitro. To study chromatin remodeling in vivo, we isolated mammalian NPM2 orthologs. Mouse NPM2 accumulates in oocyte nuclei and persists in preimplantation embryos. Npm2 knockout females have fertility defects owing to failed preimplantation embryo development. Although sperm DNA decondensation proceeds without NPM2, abnormalities are evident in oocyte and early embryonic nuclei. These defects include an absence of coalesced nucleolar structures and loss of heterochromatin and deacetylated histone H3 that normally circumscribe nucleoli in oocytes and early embryos, respectively. Thus, Npm2 is a maternal effect gene critical for nuclear and nucleolar organization and embryonic development.

Acetylation↗
PubMed2003

Separation and determination of phospholipids in biological samples by high-performance liquid chromatography.

An isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic method is developed for the determination of phospholipids in biological samples using a muPorasil silica column and a mobile phase of acetonitrile-methanol-85% phosphoric acid (90:3:1, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 0.80 mL/min. The effluent is monitored by a UV detector at 203 nm. With the method reported in this paper, phosphatidylinostol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethnolamine, and phosphatidylcholine in biological samples are separated and detected successfully. The method is simple, rapid, and has excellent precision.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid↗
PubMed2003

[Arsenic trioxide inhibits P-glycoprotein expression in multidrug-resistant human leukemia K562/ADM cell line that overexpresses mdr-1 gene and enhances their chemotherapeutic sensitivity].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) on the apoptosis and P-glyco-protein (P-gp) expression of multidrug-resistant human leukemia K562/ADM cells, and the combined effects of As(2)O(3) with conventional chemotherapeutic agents. METHODS: Multidrug-resistant human leukemia cell line K562/ADM that overexpresses mdr-1 gene was used as the target cells. The cell proliferating activity was assessed with a MTT assay. Cell morphology was examined by light microscopy, confocal microscopy and electron-microscopy. P-gp expression, cell-cycle status were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: K562/ADM cells were highly resistant to adriamycin, and cross-resistant to daunorubicin and etoposide. As(2)O(3) at concentrations of 0.5 to 20 micromol/L inhibited the proliferation of K562/ADM cells, and K562/ADM cells were more sensitive to As(2)O(3) than their parent K562 cells did. As(2)O(3) induced marked apoptosis of K562/ADM cells showed by typical apoptotic morphological changes and the appearance of high sub-G(1) cell population. As(2)O(3) significantly inhibited the P-gp expression in K562/ADM cells, and exerted a synergistic effect on the enhancement of the cell sensitivity to adriamycin, daunorubicin and etoposide. CONCLUSION: As(2)O(3) induces growth-inhibition and apoptosis of multidrug-resistant K562/ADM cells, and augments synergistically the sensitivity of the cells to conventional chemotherapeutic agents via down-regulation of P-gp expression.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed2003

[Influence of glucagon-like peptide-2 on the proliferation of the intestinal mucosal cells in scalded rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) on the proliferation of the intestinal mucosal cells in scalded rats. METHODS: Fifty-five Wistar rats were employed in the study and were randomly divided into normal control (C), simple scald (S) and scald with GLP-2 treatment (G) groups. The rats in G group received GLP-2 introperitoneally in a dose of 200 micro g/kg two times a day. The rats in S and G groups were sacrificed at 6 postburn hours (PBHs), 12 PBHs, 1 postburn day (PBD1), PBD3 and PBD5 and the rats in C group were also sacrificed. Plasma diamine oxidase (DAO) activity, cell cycle protein cyclin D expression and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in all groups were determined. And the histological change in the intestinal mucosal tissue was observed simultaneously. with all the above determinations. RESULTS: Compared with those in C group, the PCNA expression at 6 and 12 PBHs in S group was enhanced slightly and weakened at PBD1, reaching the lowest level at PBD3 and it was still lower than that in C group at PBD5. Changes in PCNA in G group were similar to that in S group, except that the expression at PBD3 and PBD5 was stronger than that in S group. The intestinal mucosal cyclin D protein expression was increased at 6 and 12 PBHs in S group, but decreased by 40% before injury at PBD1. Nevertheless, the cyclin D protein expression in G group was much higher than that in S group at PBD1, PBD3 and PBD5. The plasma DAO activity increased significantly in rats after burn injury. But the activity decreased obviously after GLP-2 treatment for 5 days (P < 0.01). It was observed histologically in G group that the lining of Exogenous intestinal villi was regular and well arranged without evident epithelial exfoliation. CONCLUSION: Exogenous GLP-2 might ameliorate intestinal mucosal injury in scalded rats, and promotion of the expression of PCNA and cyclin D, resulting in proliferation of injured intestinal mucosal cells, might be the underlying mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

[Experimental study on the effects of intestinal trefoil factor on intestinal epithelial proliferation and its signal transduction mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of intestinal trefoil factor (ITF) on intestinal epithelial proliferation and its possible signal transduction mechanism. METHODS: 1). The intestinal epithelial cytoplasmic membrane was isolated and harvested from Wistar rats, and it was treated with various doses of ITF in the concentration of 0.01, 0.10, 1.00 and 10.00 micro g/ml. The tyrosine protein kinase (TPK) activity from cytoplasmic membrane ITF receptor was determined by membrane-bound method. 2). The intestinal epithelial cells 6 (IEC-6) cultured in vitro were employed in the study. Some of the cells were used as normal control, while a group of cells were stimulated by 1 micro g/ml ITF, and others were treated by PD098059, SB202190 and SB202474, respectively. The last three agents were inhibitors of three members of mitogen-activated protein kinase family (MAPKs), i.e. extracellular signal regulated protein kinases (ERKs), protein kinase p38 (p38), and stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK). They were used before the addition of 1 micro g/ml of ITF. The changes in DNA synthetic rate and the MAPK activity of IEC-6 after being treated by above agents were assessed by (3)H-TdR incorporation method. RESULTS: ITF receptor possessed TPK activity. TPK activity of ITF receptor, MAPKs activity and DNA synthetic rate of IEC-6 were increased obviously under the stimulation of ITF (P < 0.01). The above ITF effects could be evidently blocked by PD098059 and partially attenuated by SB202474. But SB202190 showed no effect in this respect. CONCLUSION: ITF could promote intestinal epithelial proliferation and transmit extracellular signals mainly by means of ERKs signalling pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Presenilin-1 regulates intracellular trafficking and cell surface delivery of beta-amyloid precursor protein.

Presenilins (PS1/PS2) play a critical role in proteolysis of beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta APP) to generate beta-amyloid, a peptide important in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Nevertheless, several regulatory functions of PS1 have also been reported. Here we demonstrate, in neuroblastoma cells, that PS1 regulates the biogenesis of beta APP-containing vesicles from the trans-Golgi network and the endoplasmic reticulum. PS1 deficiency or the expression of loss-of-function variants leads to robust vesicle formation, concomitant with increased maturation and/or cell surface accumulation of beta APP. In contrast, release of vesicles containing beta APP is impaired in familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD)-linked PS1 mutant cells, resulting in reduced beta APP delivery to the cell surface. Moreover, diminution of surface beta APP is profound at axonal terminals in neurons expressing a PS1 FAD variant. These results suggest that PS1 regulation of beta APP trafficking may represent an alternative mechanism by which FAD-linked PS1 variants modulate beta APP processing.

Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor↗
PubMed2002

The aspartate-257 of presenilin 1 is indispensable for mouse development and production of beta-amyloid peptides through beta-catenin-independent mechanisms.

To differentiate multiple activities of presenilin 1 (PS1), we generated transgenic mice expressing two human PS1 alleles: one with the aspartate to alanine mutation at residue 257 (hPS1D257A) that impairs the proteolytic activity of PS1, and the other deleting amino acids 340-371 of the hydrophilic loop sequence (hPS1Deltacat) essential for beta-catenin interaction. We show here that although hPS1Deltacat is fully competent in rescuing the PS1-null lethal phenotype, hPS1D257A does not exhibit developmental activity. hPS1D257A also leads to the concurrent loss of the proteolytic processing of Notch and beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) and the generation of beta-amyloid peptides (Abeta). Further, by measuring the levels of endogenous Abeta(X-40) and Abeta(X-42) in primary neuronal cultures, we confirmed the concept that PS1 is indispensable for the production of secreted Abeta.

Amyloid beta-Peptides↗