Thymocyte subpopulation enriched for progenitors with an unrearranged T-cell receptor beta-chain gene

The development of T cells within the thymus is not well understood. It is known that thymocytes are derived from a progenitor cell in the bone marrow, the prothymocyte, and that cells in the subcapsular area of the thymus can give rise to progeny in both the cortex and the medulla. However, it is not clear whether all medullary thymocytes are necessarily derived from cortical cells. In particular, it has been difficult to distinguish intrathymic progenitor cells. Recently, however, Lesley et al. have defined a thymocyte subpopulation which can be isolated by treatment of the thymus with cytotoxic anti-Thy-1 antibodies and that seems to be enriched for thymocyte progenitors as measured first by its ability to repopulate transiently the thymus of an irradiated host, and second, by its high content of cells bearing Pgp-1 (refs 10, 11), a cell-surface glycoprotein of relative molecular mass 95,000 that is present on most or all prothymocytes of the bone marrow and on fetal thymocytes, but on only a few per cent of cells in the adult thymus. We show here that the gene encoding the beta-chain of the T-cell receptor for antigen, which is rearranged during T-cell ontogeny, is predominantly in the germline configuration in these cells.     

Differential expression of calmodulin-binding proteins in B, T lymphocytes and thymocytes

Changes in intracellular free Ca2+ are involved in the transmembrane signalling of different cells, including lymphocytes. Since calmodulin (CaM) is a primary receptor for Ca2+ (ref. 4), it may mediate the activation of crucial enzymes after antigen-induced increases in cytosolic Ca2+. Using a biotinylated-CaM (Bio-CaM) detection procedure to identify such proteins, we found that a peptide of relative molecular mass 59,000 (59K) was the predominant soluble CaM-binding protein (CaM-BP) in T cells and B lymphocytes from murine spleen; immunoblotting experiments identified it as a subunit of the CaM-dependent phosphatase, 'calcineurin' (CN). Smaller amounts of larger CaM-BPs, thought to be cytoskeletal-binding proteins, were also detected. CaM-BPs were expressed differentially, with B lymphocytes having four times more of the CN-like protein than T lymphocytes, while in thymocytes, a 65K polypeptide was the major CaM-BP. However, limited proteolysis analysis suggested that this thymus-specific peptide may be a precursor of CN. These data suggest that Ca2+-stimulated protein dephosphorylation may be an important and highly regulated function in lymphoid cells.     

PF18-3, a 35-ku molecule, expresses specifically on apoptotic subset of mouse thymocytes

PF18-3 monoclonal antibody (mAb), one of the rat mAbs against mouse thymic stromal cells (MTSC), has been found to inhibit thymocyte apoptosis induced by a mouse thymic dendritic cell line, MTSC4, in previous co-culture study. The aim of this research is to investigate the character of PF18-3 mAb recognized molecule ( PF18-3 molecule) and its role in MTSC4-induced thymocyte apoptosis. The characterization of PF18-3 molecule expression has been conducted by FACS analysis. PF18-3 molecules have been found to express on MTSC4 as well as on Con A activated but not freshly isolated thymocytes. Up-regulated expression of PF18-3 molecules has been also observed on thymocytes after being co-cultured with MTSC4 for 48 h. The results from FACS analyses by PI staining for detecting apoptosis-related hypodiploid and by PF18-3 mAb staining reveal that PF18-3 molecules expresss specifically on the apoptotic subgroup of thymocytes with high hypodiploid content. The PF18-3 molecule expressed on apoptotic thymocytes with 35 ku of molecular weight, identified by immunoprecipitation and western blotting, is thus likely to be a molecule involved in thymocyte apoptosis.     

PF18-3, a 35-ku molecule, expresses specifically on apoptotic subset of mouse thymocytes

PF18-3 monoclonal antibody (mAb), one of the rat mAbs against mouse thymic stromal cells (MTSC), has been found to inhibit thymocyte apoptosis induced by a mouse thymic dendritic cell line, MTSC4, in previous co-culture study. The aim of this research is to investigate the character of PF18-3 rnAb recognized molecule (PF18-3 molecule) and its role in MTSC4-induced thymocyte apoptosis. The characterization of PF18-3 molecule expression has been conducted by FACS analysis. PF18-3 molecules have been found to express on MTSC4 as well as on Con A activated but not freshly isolated thyrnocytes. Up-regulated expression of PF18-3 molecules has been also observed on thymocytes after being co-cultured with MTSC4 for 48 h. The results from FACS analyses by PI staining for detecting apoptosis-related hypodiploid and by PF18-3 rnAb staining reveal that PF18-3 molecules expresss specifically on the apoptotic subgroup of thymocytes with high hypodiploid content. The PF18-3 molecule expressed on apoptotic thymocytes with 35 ku of molecular weight, identified by immunoprecipitation and western blotting, is thus likely to be a molecule involved in thymocyte apoptosis.     

CD8<Superscript>+</Superscript> T cell response mediates the therapeutic effects of oncolytic adenovirus in an immunocompetent mouse model

The role of anti-tumor immune responses in oncolytic adenoviral therapy has not been well studied due to lack of efficacious tu- mor model in immunocompetent mice.Here,we evaluated the contributions of immune components to the therapeutic effects of oncolytic adenoviruse in an immunocompetent murine tumor model permissive for infection and replication of adenovirus.We found that CD8+T cells were critical mediator for antitumor efficacy by oncolytic adenovirus.Intratumoral viral therapy induced intensive infiltration of CD8+T cells in tumor,increased tumor-specific IFN-?(interferon-?)production and CTL(cytotoxic T lymphocyte)activity of lymphocytes,and generated a long-term tumor-specific immune memory.Boosting CD8+T cell responses by agonistic anti-4-1BB(cluster differentiation 137,CD137)antibody showed synergistic anticancer effects with oncolytic viro- therapy.Our results provide insight into antitumor mechanisms of oncolytic adenovirus in addition to their direct oncolytic effect.     

Presentation of antigen, foreign major histocompatibility complex proteins and self by thymus cortical epithelium

In mouse and man most peripheral T cells bear clonally variable receptors made up of alpha- and beta-chains which bind ligands on target cells consisting of peptide fragments of foreign antigens, complexed with cell surface proteins encoded by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of the individual. In the thymus, developing T cells are selected to mature only if their receptors will be able to participate in self-MHC plus antigen recognition in the periphery. This positive selection occurs in the presence of self-MHC, but in the apparent absence of antigen, leading to the paradoxical conclusion that developing thymocytes must be positively selected by engagement of their receptors and self-MHC alone, although thymocytes that react too well with self-MHC are eliminated. To account for this, it has been suggested that MHC molecules in the thymus are not identical to those found elsewhere. To test this and other hypotheses, we have examined the ability of the presumed selecting cells, those of the thymus cortical epithelium, to present various MHC complexes to T cells. Our results indicate that MHC molecules on thymus epithelium are not always the same as those found elsewhere.     

Humor,an Embodiment of Culture

Thispaper triesto illustrate the relationship between humor and culture.The emphasisof the paper isto make clear the significant role that culture plays in the understanding of internal meaning of humors.In the end,this paper also makes a brief explanation of the differences between Chinese and western humors to stress again the cultural glamour embodied in humor.     

陕西镇安早更新世的肉食类动物化石

记述了地处秦岭中段腹地的陕西镇安黄家湾河流相沉积中发现的6种食肉类动物：变异狼（Canis variabilis)、鬣狗(Hyaendaeget．et sp．indet．)、似剑齿虎(Homotherium sp．)、巨剑齿虎(Megantereon sp．)、山西猞猁(相似种)(Lynx cf．shansius)和豹(Panthera pardus)，其时代为早更新世晚期。这批化石的发现，对于恢复秦岭地区的古环境和了解我国动物的地理分布具有一定意义。     

The LDL-receptor-related protein, LRP, is an apolipoprotein E-binding protein

The low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) receptor is a cell-surface protein that plays an important part in the metabolism of cholesterol by mediating the uptake of LDL from plasma into cells. Although LDL particles bind to the LDL receptor through their apolipoprotein B (apo B) and apolipoprotein E (apo E) moieties, other apo E-containing particles, like chylomicron remnants, are not dependent on the LDL receptor for uptake into cells. Chylomicrons formed in the intestinal mucosa during the absorption of the products of digestion, are processed by the peripheral circulation by lipoprotein lipase, which catalyses the breakdown of triglycerides in chylomicrons to free fatty acids and glycerol. The resulting chylomicron remnants, which are cholesterol-rich lipoproteins, are subsequently taken up in the liver. A second distinct protein that binds to apo E-containing lipoproteins, but not to LDL, has been proposed to be the receptor mediating the clearance of chylomicron remnants from the plasma. This protein has a relative molecular mass (Mr) of 56,000 (56K). More recent studies have failed, however, to establish whether this protein is a cell-surface receptor. Here we describe crosslinking experiments in which apo E liposomes were found to bind specifically to the cell surface of hepG2 cells and to human liver membranes. The size and immunological cross-reactivity of the protein to which the liposomes bound was indistinguishable from that of the recently cloned and sequenced LDL-receptor-related protein, LRP. We therefore conclude that the LRP might function as an apo E receptor.     

时代、民族、个性与绘画的反思

论述了时代、民族、个性之间相辅相成的关系,举出了不同国度、不同历史时代、不同学术流派的具体事例,阐述了在绘画创作中民族传统是土壤、时代是空气、艺术家的个性是推动力的观点,及如何处理三者间的关系,提出艺术家个性化的误区及对策.     

SunWALK,一种整体的道德教育模式

SunWALK整体教育模式是英国道德教育学者Roger博士提出的道德教育模式。该模式遵循整体的教育理念,倡导核心价值的教育,注重在学校教育实践的运行,使得该模式成为英国独树一帜的道德教育模式。本文对该模式的主要内容、基本特点作了初步分析,并对SunWALK整体教育模式进行了评价,简述了该模式值得我国学校德育借鉴的方面。     

Earthquake Disaster Simulation for an Urban Area, with GIS, CAD,FEA, and VR Integration

For a disaster whose scale includes an urban area, it is difficult to be studied with physical experiments. Numerical simulation is found a very efficient tool for such problem. This paper aims at developing an integrated urban earthquake simulation system (UESS) that uses GIS as the model source, CAD as the model generating tools, FEA as damage prediction, and virtual reality (VR) as the post-process platform. An automatic procedure was developed to buildup the 3D structural model of buildings in an urban area, as well as to simulate their earthquake performances, from the digital map of GIS. And the simulation results were presented in an integrated interface with a GIS view-port for position finding, a CAD view-port for 3D structural damage identification, and a VR view-port for 3D dynamic structural vibration display. An urban example with more than 7000 buildings was select to demonstrate the feasibility of proposed system.     

Aorta-to-right atrium fistula, an unusual complication of endocarditis

Infective endocarditis (IE) remains a serious disease. Aorta-to-right atrium fistula is a rare but very serious complication of IE and predicts a higher mortality. This report describes a 50-year-old man with endocarditis, vegetation, perforation of noncoronary sinus, and formation of two aorta-to-right atrium fistulas with native valves detected by transthoracic echocardiography. This disease is lethal despite developments in cardiac imaging and antibacterial therapy. Early diagnosis, aggressive antibacterial therapy, and surgical treatment may improve the prognosis.     

修复河流自然生态系统,建设六安生态城市

生态城市是人类追求的理想居住地，生态城市建设正日益受到人们的关注。本文通过对六安市河流生态系统现状 的调查以及城市建设与发展中存在的生态环境问题，分析了河流生态系统对六安生态城市建设的功能和意义，提出了修复六安 市河流自然生态系统的一些具体措施。