Monoclonal antibody and ligand binding sites of the T cell erythrocyte receptor (CD2)

The human T cell erythrocyte receptor (CD2 antigen) allows thymocytes and mature T cells to adhere to thymic epithelium and target cells through a cell surface protein, LFA-3 (refs 1-6). Monoclonal antibodies recognizing CD2 can either block adhesion or, in certain combinations, induce an antigen-independent T cell activation. We have identified the binding sites for 16 monoclonal antibodies against CD2 by a rapid and generally applicable mutational analysis. The binding sites fall in three discrete regions: antibodies that participate in activation and block erythrocyte adhesion bind to the first region; antibodies that block adhesion bind to the second region; and antibodies that participate in activation but do not block adhesion bind to the third region. A large number of mutations selected for loss of antibody reactivity in the first two regions also weaken the CD2-LFA-3 interaction. Good agreement was observed between mutational lesions blocking LFA-3 binding and lesions blocking binding by activating antibodies, which supports the view that such antibodies induce T cell activation by mimicking the effect of LFA-3 binding. CD2 sequences that participate in LFA-3 binding correspond to immunoglobulin variable region hypervariable sequences when the homologous domains are aligned.     

Transplanted bone marrow regenerates liver by cell fusion

Results from several experimental systems suggest that cells from one tissue type can form other tissue types after transplantation. This could be due to the presence of multipotential or several types of adult stem cells in donor tissues, or alternatively, to fusion of donor and recipient cells. In a model of tyrosinaemia type I, mice with mutations in the fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase gene (Fah-/-) regain normal liver function after transplantation of Fah+/+ bone marrow cells, and form regenerating liver nodules with normal histology that express Fah. Here we show that these hepatic nodules contain more mutant than wild-type Fah alleles, and that their hepatocytes express both donor and host genes, consistent with polyploid genome formation by fusion of host and donor cells. Using bone marrow cells marked with integrated foamy virus vectors that express green fluorescent protein, we identify common proviral junctions in hepatic nodules and haematopoietic cells. We also show that the haematopoietic donor genome adopts a more hepatocyte-specific expression profile after cell fusion, as the wild-type Fah gene was activated and the pan-haematopoietic CD45 marker was no longer expressed.     

Vesicle fusion following receptor-mediated endocytosis requires a protein active in Golgi transport

In reconstitution studies N-ethylmaleimide, a sulphydryl alkylating reagent, inhibits both fusion of endocytic vesicles and vesicular transport in the Golgi apparatus. We show here that the same N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor that catalyses the vesicle-mediated transport within Golgi stacks is also required for endocytic vesicle fusion. Thus, it is likely that a common mechanism for vesicle fusion exists for both the secretory and endocytic pathways of eukaryotic cells.     

单克隆抗体亲和层析纯化基因工程人γ-干扰素研究

用抗基因工程人γ－干扰素单克隆抗体（２Ａ１２）细胞株亲和层析从表达人γ－干扰素的大肠杆菌抽提液中纯化经稀释复性后的γ－干扰素。一步纯化后的γ－干扰素含量达９５％以上，蛋白质的比活性达 １．２×１０ｕ／ｇ，收率为７８％。洗脱液用 ０．５ｍｏｌ／ＬＮａＣＩ的 ＰＢＳ溶液，洗脱率达９２．８％。     

Epstein--Barr virus-induced cell fusion

Serological and molecular biological studies have shown an association between Epstein--Barr virus (EBV) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Although it has been shown that the epithelioid tumour cells carry EBV genomes, they are apparently devoid of receptors for EBV (H.W., unpublished observations). Other have suggested that fusion of EBV carrying cells with epithelial cells may be the mode of entry of the virus into cells unable to absorb the virus and that this may be mediated by one of the known syncytium-forming viruses which inhabit the respiratory tract (for example, members of the paramyxovirus group). de Thé and colleagues suggested that intercellular bridges could be seen in NPC tumour material. We have developed a technique which permits the preparation of stable monolayers of viable human lymphoblastoid cell lines. Using this technique we have now demonstrated that EBV can induce fusion between EBV-superinfected lymphoblastoid cells and cells devoid of EBV receptors.     

Investigation on propagation process of electrically induced fatigue cracking using AFM

Propagation process of electrically induced fatigue cracking in BaTiO3 single crystal has been studied using atomic force microscope （AFM）. The results show that alternating electric field generates a random domain switching around indentation cracks instead of a cyclic domain switching and an arrest indentation crack can be re-initiated by applying either positive or negative alternating electric field.     

吴茱萸碱诱导人胃癌细胞SGC-7901细胞凋亡

探讨吴茱萸碱对人胃癌SGC-7901细胞的生长抑制、诱导细胞凋亡的影响.采用MTT法测存活率;光镜观察细胞形态学改变;流式细胞术测细胞凋亡;流式细胞仪检测线粒体膜电位.结果显示,吴茱萸碱能抑制胃癌细胞SGC-7901的生长.MTT法测得吴茱萸碱的IC50为3.15μg/mL.在光镜下观察药物作用24 h的细胞生长密度逐渐变疏,细胞变小,表面起皱,高质量浓度组大部分细胞破碎.流式细胞仪检测,用20、10、5、2.5、1.25μg/mL质量浓度的吴茱萸碱作用48 h均出现亚二倍体凋亡峰,凋亡率分别为27.273%、24.206%、20.575%、19.520%、18.361%.流式细胞仪测线粒体膜电位,用质量浓度2.5、1.25、0.625、0.313、0.152μg/mL的吴茱萸碱作用48 h后线粒体膜电位显著提高.提示吴茱萸碱通过诱导胃癌细胞SGC-7901的凋亡,而达到抗肿瘤作用.     

细胞融合技术及其进展

自1958年Okada首次表明紫外灭活的仙台病毒可以诱导体外培养细胞融合形成多核体以来。细胞融合技术得到了迅速发展和应用。以聚乙二醇(PEG)为代表的化学融合方法在生物、遗传、医药学等研究领域取得了可喜的成绩。自1978年报道电脉冲诱导细胞融合成功以来．Zimmermann及其同事将细胞电介质电泳引入诱导细胞间接触,创立了物理的实用的Zimmermann电融合法。现在,电融合法已由非特异性的细胞电融合发展为特异性电融合法。激光诱导细胞融合技术成为目前的研究热点．但此项技术尚处于发展初期,有待于进一步完善。本综述了PEG化学融合法．电融合领域的新进展和激光诱导细胞融合技术。     

Tracing the use of torture: electrically induced calcification of collagen in pig skin

Reports of the use of electrical torture are usually denied, so that there is an urgent need of diagnostic methods to distinguish the consequences of electrical torture from other superficial injuries. The 'electrical group' of Anti-Torture Research (ATR) has accordingly studied the possibility of distinguishing between the sequelae of electrical and heat injury. Among the reported differences of the two types of injuries is the occurrence in epidermis, vessel walls and sweat glands of vesicular nuclei exclusively in electrically injured skin. On the basis of experiments with anaesthetized pigs, we now report that the late sequelae of electrical injury appear to include the deposition of calcium salts beneath the area of an electrical cathode.     

Bone marrow cells adopt the phenotype of other cells by spontaneous cell fusion

Recent studies have demonstrated that transplanted bone marrow cells can turn into unexpected lineages including myocytes, hepatocytes, neurons and many others. A potential problem, however, is that reports discussing such 'transdifferentiation' in vivo tend to conclude donor origin of transdifferentiated cells on the basis of the existence of donor-specific genes such as Y-chromosome markers. Here we demonstrate that mouse bone marrow cells can fuse spontaneously with embryonic stem cells in culture in vitro that contains interleukin-3. Moreover, spontaneously fused bone marrow cells can subsequently adopt the phenotype of the recipient cells, which, without detailed genetic analysis, might be interpreted as 'dedifferentiation' or transdifferentiation.     

Apoptotic cell death induced by c-myc is inhibited by bcl-2.

Apoptosis is a form of physiological cell death, characterized by chromatin condensation, cytoplasmic blebbing and DNA fragmentation, which often depends on RNA and protein synthesis by the dying cell. The c-myc proto-oncogene, usually implicated in cell transformation, differentiation and cell-cycle progression also has a central role in some forms of apoptosis. These opposing roles of myc in cell growth and death require that other gene products dictate the outcome of c-Myc expression on a cell. A candidate for such a modifying gene is bcl-2, whose product prolongs cell survival and blocks apoptosis in some systems. Here we demonstrate that Bcl-2 prevents apoptotic death induced by c-Myc, provide a mechanism whereby cells can express c-Myc without undergoing apoptosis, and give a possible explanation for the ability of Bcl-2 to synergize with c-Myc in cell transformation.     

Recovery of spatial learning deficits after decay of electrically induced synaptic enhancement in the hippocampus

A widespread interest in a long-lasting form of synaptic enhancement in hippocampal circuits has arisen largely because it might reflect the activation of physiological mechanisms that underlie rapid associative learning. As its induction normally requires the 'Hebbian' association of activity on a number of input fibres, we refer to the process as long-term enhancement (LTE) rather than long-term potentiation (LTP), to emphasize its distinction from the ubiquitous, non-associative 'potentiation' phenomena that occur at most synapses, including those exhibiting LTE. Among other evidence that LTE might actually have a role in associative memory is the demonstration that repeated high-frequency stimulation, which saturated the inducible LTE, caused a severe deficit in spatial learning, although it had no effect on well established spatial memory. These results were consistent with a widespread view that information need only temporarily be stored in the hippocampal formation in order for long-term memories to be established in neocortical circuits. In this context, it is important to understand whether the possible underlying synaptic changes are of a permanent character, or are relatively transient. A second question is whether the actual cause of the observed learning deficit is the distruption of the synaptic weight distribution, and/or the limitation of further synaptic change, which presumably results from experimental saturation of the LTE mechanism. Alternatively, the deficit could be a consequence of some unobserved secondary effect of the high-frequency electrical stimulation. Here we demonstrate that learning capacity recovers in about the same time that it takes LTE to decay, which strongly favours the first possibility and supports the idea that LTE-like processes actually underlie associative memory.     

Postsynaptic NMDA receptor-mediated calcium accumulation in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cell dendrites

In the CA1 hippocampal region, intracellular calcium is a putative second messenger for the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP), a persistent increase of synaptic transmission produced by high frequency afferent fibre stimulation. Because LTP in this region is blocked by the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor antagonist AP5 (DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid) and the calcium permeability of NMDA receptors is controlled by a voltage-dependent magnesium block, a model has emerged that suggests that the calcium permeability of NMDA receptor-coupled ion channels is the biophysical basis for LTP induction. We have performed microfluorometric measurements in individual CA1 pyramidal cells during stimulus trains that induce LTP. In addition to a widespread component of postsynaptic calcium accumulation previously described, we now report that brief high frequency stimulus trains produce a transient component spatially localized to dendritic areas near activated afferents. This localized component is blocked by the NMDA receptor antagonist AP5. The results directly confirm the calcium rise predicted by NMDA receptor models of LTP induction.