Expression of liver-specific ZP domain-containing protein in mouse models of obesity / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Objective: To study the expression of liver-specific ZP domain-containing protein (LZP) in mouse models of obesity. Methods: The gene and protein expression of LZP in different tissues of C57BL/6J mice were detected by realtime-PCR and Western blotting respectively. C57BL/6J mice were treated with high fat diet (HFD) to establish the model of diet-induced obesity and ob/ob mice were also treated with HFD. The body mass and blood glucose were monitored during the experiment, then the liver weight and fat mass were measured at the end of the study. Hematoxylin-eosin staining of liver was performed to observe the morphology of liver. The expression of LZP in liver of model mice was also detected by realtime-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Results: The expression of LZP mRNA was mainly found in liver, while a lower gene expression level was also observed in several other tissues such as spleen and testis by realtime-PCR. The protein expression of LZP was detected in liver in C57BL/6J mice by Western blotting. Compared with normal diet group, the group treated with HFD had significantly increased body mass and total fat mass, higher blood glucose, increased liver mass and more serious hepatic steatosis (all P<0.05), while the expression of LZP in liver was reduced (P<0.05). Similarly, body mass and blood glucose were increased significantly in ob/ob mice (both P<0.05), though the expression of LZP was decreased compared with wild type littermates (P<0.05). Conclusion: Mouse models of obesity display decreased expression of LZP in liver, indicating that LZP may play a role in metabolic homeostasis in obese individuals.

CMTM2 antagonizes cyclophosphamide-induced reproductive toxicity and regulates StAR expression in a transgenic mouse model / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of CMTM2 on cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced reproductive toxicity and the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein in the transgenic mouse model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty CMTM2 transgenic mice were equally divided into a CMTM2 + CP and a CMTM2 + NS group, the former intraperitoneally injected with CP at 50 mg per kg per d, while the latter with the equivalent dose of normal saline, both for 7 days. Another 20 wild C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to a WT + CP and a WT + NS group, treated the same way above. After 30 days, all the mice were sacrificed and their epididymides and testes removed for measurement of the serum testosterone level by radioimmunoassay, determination of sperm concentration and motility by light microscopy and detection of the expression of StAR by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of serum testosterone, sperm concentration and sperm motility were significantly decreased in the CMTM2 + CP group as compared with the CMTM2 + NS group ([42.98 +/- 3.25] nmol/L vs [46.74 +/- 3.38] nmol/L, [16.89 +/- 1.17 ] x 10(6)/ml vs [24.68 +/- 0.95 ] x 10(6)/ml, [72.75 +/- 1.25]% vs [85.14 +/- 1.12]%, P < 0.05), but remarkably less than in the WT + CP group ([37.97 +/- 4.17] nmol/L, [12.75 +/- 1.02] x 10(6)/ml, [50.52 +/- 1.37] %) (P < 0.05). However, the expression of StAR was significantly higher in the CMTM2 + CP than in the WT + CP group (1.16 +/- 0.07 vs 0.69 +/- 0.08, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CMTM2 antagonizes cyclophosphamide-induced reproductive toxicity via regulating the expression of StAR, and hence plays a protective role in the reproductive system.</p>

Androgen replacement therapy improves psychological distress and health-related quality of life in late onset hypogonadism patients in Chinese population / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Late onset hypogonadism negatively impacts on men's psychological well-being. This study was conducted to examine the interrelationship among symptoms of testosterone deficiency, psychological well-being, and quality of life.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eligible subjects were randomized into active treatment and control groups, and were asked to complete the following questionnaires at baseline and month 6: aging male's symptoms (AMS) rating scale, hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), perceived stress scale (PSS) and the short form health survey-12 (SF-12). In this study, men were treated and monitored for 6 months with oral testosterone undecanoate (TU) capsules or vitamin E/C capsules in a single-blinded fashion. All in the active treatment group were administered a total of 120 - 160 mg TU orally on a daily basis. Total and free T levels between baseline and month 6 were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One hundred and sixty eligible subjects were recruited and followed up. In the active treatment group, total serum testosterone concentrations before and after intervention were (7.98 ± 0.73) nmol/L and (13.7 ± 1.18) nmol/L. The mean HADS anxiety subscale scores for the subjects at baseline and at month 6 were 3.47 ± 0.4 and 1.72 ± 0.2, respectively (t = 1.526, P < 0.05). Additionally, the mean HADS depression subscale scores were 4.91 ± 0.6 and 2.39 ± 0.3, respectively (t = 3.466, P < 0.05). The mean scores on PSS for the subjects at baseline and at month 6 were 12.88 ± 2.1 and 9.83 ± 1.7, respectively (t = 4.009, P < 0.05). Significantly improved SF-12 could be observed (t = 1.433 and 1.118, respectively; both P < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in the control group at month 6.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Androgen replacement not only improves androgen deficiency associated symptoms, but also enhances comprehensive improvement in psychological issues.</p>

Research advances in CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain containing member 5 / 中国医学科学院学报

CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain containing member(CMTM)is a novel generic family firstly reported by Peking University Center for Human Disease Genomics. CMTM5 belongs to this family and has exhibited tumor-inhibiting activities. It can encode proteins approaching to the transmembrane 4 superfamily(TM4SF). CMTM5 is broadly expressed in normal adult and fetal human tissues, but is undetectable or down-regulated in most carcinoma cell lines and tissues. Restoration of CMTM5 may inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of carcinoma cells. Although the exact mechanism of its anti-tumor activity remains unclear, CMTM5 may be involved in various signaling pathways governing the occurrence and development of tumors. CMTM5 may be a new target in the gene therapies for tumors, while further studies on CMTM5 and its anti-tumor mechanisms are warranted.