Dexamethasone enhances CTLA-4 expression during T cell activation

T cell activation is enhanced by the costimulatory interaction of B7 on antigen-presenting cells and CD28 on T cells, resulting in long-term T cell proliferation, differentiation and production of large amounts of cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-2. CTLA-4 is a co-stimulation receptor that shares 31% homology with CD28 and binds B7 family members with higher affinity. CTLA-4 is transiently expressed intracellularly and on the cell surface following activation of T cells. We have studied the kinetics of CTLA-4 expression and the effects of dexamethasone on CTLA-4 expression during T cell activation in cultures of mouse spleen cells stimulated by a mixture of immobilized anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies (anti-CD3/CD28 mAb) or concanavalin A (ConA). CTLA-4 expression peaked on day 2 and returned to background levels after 7 days. Dexamethasone was found to potentiate CTLA-4 expression in a dose-dependent manner with an EC₅₀ effective concentration 50%) of about 10⁻⁸ M. In contrast, other immunosuppressive agents, such as rapamycin or cyclosporin A had no or an inhibitory effect on CTLA-4 expression, respectively. Dexamethasone also stimulated CD28 expression, but inhibited IL-2R expression during anti-CD3/CD28 mAb-induced mouse splenic T cell activation. Western blot analyses of lysates of activated mouse T cells showed that dexamethasone increased CTLA-4 protein levels twofold during anti-CD3/CD28 mAb-induced activation. Dexamethasone also enhanced CTLA-4 messenger RNA twofold as quantified by ribonuclease protection assay. The effects of dexamethasone on CTLA-4 expression were glucocorticoid-specific and completely inhibited by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone (RU486), indicating that the effect of dexamethasone on CTLA-4 expression is mediated through the glucocorticoid receptor. In conclusion, the immunosuppressive agent dexamethasone actually stimulates CTLA-4 expression, which is involved in downregulation of T cell activation. Received 19 May 1999; received after revision 13 July 1999; accepted 13 July 1999     

Chemotherapy and immunotherapy of malignant glioma: molecular mechanisms and clinical perspectives

Despite the considerable progress in modern tumor therapy, the prognosis for patients with glioblastoma, the most frequent malignant brain tumor, has not been substantially improved. Although cytoreductive surgery and radiotherapy are the mainstays of treatment for malignant glioma at present, novel cytotoxic drugs and immunotherapeutic approaches hold great promise as effective weapons against these malignancies. Thus, great efforts are being made to enhance antitumoral efficacy by combining various cytotoxic agents, by novel routes of drug administration, or by combining anticancer drugs and immune modulators. Immunotherapeutic approaches include cytotoxic cytokines, targeted antibodies, and vaccination strategies. However, the success of most of these experimental therapies is prevented by the marked molecular resistance of glioma cells to diverse cytotoxic agents or by glioma-associated immunosuppression. One promising experimental strategy to target glioma is the employment of death ligands such as CD95 (Fas/Apo1) ligand or Apo2 ligand (TRAIL). Specific proapoptotic approaches may overcome many of the obvious obstacles to a satisfactory management of malignant brain tumors. Received 8 March 1999; received after revision 27 May 1999; accepted 14 June 1999     

以太网介质访问控制协议性能分析

以太网凭借其成本低、速度高以及良好的性能,占据了全世界约80%的办公自动化领域。那么,以太网能否成功的进入工业控制领域呢?本文详细介绍了以太网介质访问控制协议的工作原理,并对其进行建模仿真。通过分析仿真结果,指出了以太网重载时延迟大,吞吐量低以及捕获效应等不适于工业控制环境的缺点。     

HAb18G/CD147-mediated calcium mobilization and hepatoma metastasis require both C-terminal and N-terminal domains

HAb18G/CD147 is a heavily glycosylated protein containing two immunoglobulin superfamily domains. Our previous studies have indicated that overexpression of HAb18G/CD147 enhances metastatic potentials in human hepatoma cells by disrupting the regulation of store-operated Ca²⁺ entry by nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP. In the present study, we investigated the structure-function of HAb18G/CD147 by transfecting truncated HAb18G/CD147 fragments into human 7721 hepatoma cells. The inhibitory effect of HAb18G/CD147 on 8-bromo-cGMP-regulated thapsigargin-induced Ca²⁺ entry was reversed by the expression of either C or N terminus truncated HAb18G/CD147 in T7721C and T7721N cells, respectively. The potential effect of HAb18G/CD147 on metastatic potentials, both adhesion and invasion capacities, of hepatoma cells was abolished in T7721C cells, but not affected in T7721N cells. Release and activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-2 and MMP-9, were found to be enhanced by the expression of HAb18G/CD147, and this effect was abolished by both truncations. Thapsigargin significantly enhanced release and activation of MMPs (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in non-transfected 7721 cells, and this effect was negatively regulated by SNAP. However, no effects of thapsigargin or SNAP were observed in T7721 cells, and expression of HAb18G/CD147 enhanced secretion and activation of MMPs at a stable and high level. Taken together, these results suggest that both ectodomain and intracellular domains of HAb18G/CD147 are required to mediate the effect of HAb18G/CD147 on the secretion and activation of MMPs and metastasis-related processes in human hepatoma cells by disrupting the regulation of NO/cGMP-sensitive intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization although each domain may play different roles.Received 1 April 2004; received after revision 15 June 2004; accepted 22 June 2004     

Apoptotic cell death in the lactating mammary gland is enhanced by a folding variant of α-lactalbumin

Apoptosis is essential to eliminate secretory epithelial cells during the involution of the mammary gland. The environmental regulation of this process is however, poorly understood. This study tested the effect of HAMLET (human -lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells) on mammary cells. Plastic pellets containing HAMLET were implanted into the fourth inguinal mammary gland of lactating mice for 3 days. Exposure of mammary tissue to HAMLET resulted in morphological changes typical for apoptosis and in a stimulation of caspase-3 activity in alveolar epithelial cells near the HAMLET pellets but not more distant to the pellet or in contralateral glands. The effect was specific for HAMLET and no effects were observed when mammary glands were exposed to native a-lactalbumin or fatty acid alone. HAMLET also induced cell death in vitro in a mouse mammary epithelial cell line. The results suggest that HAMLET can mediate apoptotic cell death in mammary gland tissue.Received 30 January 2004; received after revision 5 March 2004; accepted 16 March 2004     

《桂东明珠——梧州》多媒体光盘的设计与制作

介绍《桂东明珠－梧州》多媒体光盘的设计与制作的技术方案及实施措施。     

CD1d and natural T cells: how their properties jump-start the immune system

Cellular and humoral immune mechanisms recruited to defend the host from infectious agents depend upon the early immune events triggered by antigen. The cytokine milieu within which the immune response matures is the most important of many factors that govern the nature of the immune response. Natural T cells, whose function is controlled by CD1d molecules, are an early source of cytokines that can bestow type 1 or type 2 differentiative potential upon helper T lymphocytes. This review attempts to illuminate the glycolipid antigen presentation properties of CD1d, how CD1d controls the function of natural T cells and how CD1d and natural T cells interact to jump start the immune system. CD1d is postulated to function as a sensor, sensing alterations in cellular lipid content by virtue of its affinity for such ligands. The presentation of a neo-self glycolipid, presumably by infectious assault of antigen-presenting cells, activates natural T cells, which promptly release pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and jumpstart the immune system. Received 10 July 2000; received after revision 16 October 2000, accepted 16 November 2000     

Molecular self-assembly behavior of mono[6-O-6-(4-carboxyl-phenyl)]-β-CD in solution and solid state

A novel modified cyclodextrin, mono[6-O-6-(4-carboxyl-phenyl)]-]-β-CD (1), has been synthesized by the reaction of mono[6-(p-toluenesulfonyl)]-β-CD with 4-hydroxybenzoate, and its molecular self-assembly behavior in both solution and solid state was studied by means of crystallography, NMR spectroscopy and microcalorimetry. The results indicate that the bezoic acid groups are successively penetrated intermolecularly into the adjacent β-CD cavities to form helical columnar supramolecules in the solid state. As compared with crystal, the similar self-assembly behavior of 1 in aqueous solution has also been confirmed by the ^1H ROESY spectroscopy. Thermodynamically, the formation of polymeric supramolecules by modified CD in aqueous solution is mainly driven by entropy changes.     

Interfamily pregnancy and expression of CD57, CD68 in deciduas between golden hamster and mouse

Pregnancy between different species is one of the key steps to interspecific somatic cell cloning. Although interspecific clone embryos have been constructed, they could not develop to birth after being transferred to recipi-ents. In order to clarify the mechanism of this phenomenon, interfamily pregnancy between golden hamste (Mesocricetus auratus) and mouse (Mus musculus) was studied. Co-culture results indicated that the adhesion ratios of golden hamster blastocysts on mouse uterine epithelia monolayer 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after co-culture were all significantly lower than those of mouse blastocysts. The outgrowth ratios of golden hamster blastocysts on mouse uterine epithelia monolayer 48, 72 h after co-culture were both significantly lower than those of mouse blastocysts (P < 0.01). Golden hamster抯 blastula could be implanted and develop to D 11 of pregnancy after being transferred to mouse uterus (the 7th day after embryo transfer). Compared to the transfer of mouse embryo to mouse uterus, the successful ratio of interfamily embryo transfer was lower and the bulk of fetus was smaller than that of intraspecific fetus. Compared to intraspecific preg-nancy of mouse, the remote decidual tissue of interfamily pregnancy on D8 is looser. At the same time, expressions of CD57 and CD 68 in remote deciduas were both higher than those in the secondary deciduas in both intraspecific and interfamily pregnancy. However, expressions of the two molecules in interfamily pregnancy were lower than those in intraspecific pregnancy. These results showed that interfam-ily pregnancy could be established between golden hamster and mouse. But the development of fetus in interfamily pregnancy was slower than that in intraspecific pregnancy. The expression difference of CD57 and CD68 indicates the difference of immunoreaction between interfamily and in-traspecific pregnancy, which may be one of the reasons lead-ing to interfamily pregnancy termination.     

NMR study on self-assembled cage complex of hexamethylenetetramine and cucurbit[n]urils

Self-assembled complexes between cage com-pounds cucurbit[n = 5—8]urils and hexamethylenetetramine were studied by using NMR techniques. Experimental results reveal that hexamethylenetetramine can lid cucurbit[5]uril to forming self-assembled capsules in which nothing is encap-sulated yet; the cavity of the cucurbit[7]uril can accommo-date a hexamethylenetetramine molecule to form a self- assembled host-guest inclusion. Moreover, both the cavity interaction of the cucurbit[7]uril with hexamethylenetetra-mine稨Cl and the portal interaction of the dipole carbonyl of the cucurbit[7]uril with hexamethylenetetramine稨Cl lead to form self-assembled capsules in which the hexamethylene-tetramine稨Cl are encapsulated in the hexamethylenetetra-mine稨Cl lidded cucurbit[7]uril. Although the structures of the portal and cavity to cucurbit[5]uril are similar, there is no obvious interaction between decamethylcucurbit[5]uril and hexamethylenetetramine, and also between cucurbit [6]uril or cucurbit[8]uril and hexamethylenetetramine.