ABSTRACT
@#To investigate the effects of VHL (von Hippel-Lindau) inhibitor on Caenorhabditis elegans (C.elegans) model of Parkinson''s disease (PD),C.elegans were exposed to rotenone and treated with VHL inhibitor VH298.The death,dopaminergic neurodegeneration and mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mito-UPR) of transgenic strains with the markers zcIs9 and otIs181 exposed to different concentrations of rotenone were investigated. The death,dopaminergic neurodegeneration,and changes of behaviors including head thrashes,body bends and foraging behavior of C.elegans model of PD treated with different concentrations of VH298 were explored.The results showed that different concentrations of rotenone can lead to the death,dopaminergic neurodegeneration and abnormal mito-UPR of transgenic nematodes with zcIs9; otIs181,while the VHL inhibitor can decrease the death rate and alleviate dopaminergic neurodegeneration of rotenone-induced C.elegans model of PD.The VHL inhibitor can also attenuate the behavioral abnormalities of head thrashes,body bends and foraging behavior of C.elegans model.These results suggest that rotenone may cause mitochondrial damage in the transgenic nematodes with zcIs9; otIs181, and then destroy mitochondrial homeostasis,thereby resulting in dopaminergic neurodegeneration and death of the nematodes. The VHL inhibitor VH298 may promote the survival of rotenone-induced C.elegans model of PD,and alleviate dopaminergic neurodegeneration,thereby improving the behavioral abnormalities of C.elegans model of PD.
ABSTRACT
@#To investigate the effects of NDUFS7 gene mutation on neurons, the mutant plasmid of pcDNA3.1(+)-NDUFS7 Q208STOP was constructed and transfected into differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. The effect of transfecting mutant plasmid on the viability of dopaminergic neural cells was detected by MTT assay. The effect of transfection of mutant plasmid on apoptosis was detected by Annexin Ⅴ-FITC/PI staining followed by flow cytometry assay. The changes in the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2 in cells after transfection of mutant plasmid were detected by Western blot. The effects of transfection of mutant plasmid on the mitochondrial membrane potential in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells and the intervention effect of antioxidant Trolox were examined using JC-1 fluorescent probe. The intervention effect of Trolox on the apoptosis of differentiated SH-SY5Y cells transfected with mutant plasmid was detected by PI/Hoechst staining. The results showed that the subunit mutation of mitochondrial complex I in dopaminergic neurons could lead to decreased neuronal viability and increased apoptosis, while antioxidants could alleviate the abnormal mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis caused by transfection of mutant plasmids, suggesting that transfection of mutant plasmid of NDUFS7 gene could lead to apoptosis by causing abnormal mitochondrial function in dopaminergic neurons.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the protective effect of selenium, an antioxidant, on fluoride-induced renal injury in rats and find out the optimal level of selenium against fluoride toxicity and its valid molecular target.Methods All 80 male weanling SD rats were randomly divided into 8 groups by body weight as follows: normal control group(drinking tap water), fluoride exposed group (drinking water containing 50 mg/L of NaF), low, middle,high selenium exposed groups(drinking water containing 0.375, 0.750, 1.500 mg/L of Na2SeO3) and low, middle,high Se-fluoride groups (drinking water containing both 50 mg/L NaF and three doses of Na2SeO3 as abovementioned, respectively). After 6 months, the rats were killed then the oxidation level and nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)expression level in kidney were measured. Results The weight of the fluoride exposed group[(695.95 ± 55.89 )g]was significantly deceased than the controls[(782.69 ± 56.12)g, P ＜ 0.01]. Glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)activity of fluoride exposed group[(55.86 ± 5.09)U/mgprot] was not significantly different but decreased. Tatal antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) activity in fluoride exposed group [(7.54 ± 1.35)U/mgprot] significantly decreased than the controls[(9.03 ± 0.37 )U/mgprot, P ＜ 0.05]. In addition, a significant increase of malondialdehyde ( MDA )in fluoride exposed group[(3.86 ± 0.31 )mnol/mgprot, P ＜ 0.05] was observed than the controls[(3.14 ± 0.32)nmol/mgprot, P ＜ 0.05]. GSH-Px activity of high Se-fluoride group[(74.99 ± 8.41 )U/mgprot] was significantly higher than the fluoride exposed group[(55.86 ± 5.09)U/mgprot, P ＜ 0.05] and its MDA level[(3.17 ± 0.20)nmol/mgprot] was lower than the fluoride exposed group[(3.86 ± 0.31 ) nmol/mgprot, P ＜ 0.05]. NF-κB expression levels of fluoride group, high selenium group and low Se-fluoride group(0.360 ± 0.015,0.367 ± 0.007,0.376 ± 0.006,respecyively) were obviously increased compared with the controls(0.312 ± 0.022, P ＜ 0.05); it was significantly lower in high Se-fluoride group(0.312 ± 0.005) than in fluoride exposed group(0.360 ± 0.015, P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions Na2SeO3 of 1.5 mg/L is the optimal dose against chronic fluorosis on kidney injury under this experimental condition.NF-κB is likely to be a target molecule of the selenium as an antagonist on fluorosis.