MHC class I surface expression in embryo-derived cell lines inducible with peptide or interferon.

It has long been recognized that the absence of expression of products of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) during early development might allow the fetus to escape recognition by maternal lymphocytes. In addition to the MHC class I heavy chain and beta 2-microglobulin, antigenic peptide is an essential structural component of the class I molecule. Indeed, there is evidence that MHC-linked genes encoding peptide transporter molecules and possibly components of a proteolytic complex are necessary for MHC class I assembly and stability at the cell surface. Here we demonstrate that embryonic cells in general show a defect in MHC class I assembly. Surface expression was rescued in the presence of an appropriate antigenic peptide, or by treatment with interferon. Consistent with this, HAM1 messenger RNA was not constitutively expressed, but was inducible by interferon, and during differentiation in vitro. Thus, tolerance of the fetal allograft may in part be controlled at the level of peptide-dependent MHC class I assembly.     

Characterization of Arabidopsis calreticulin mutants in response to calcium and salinity stresses

As an important calcium-binding protein,calreticulin plays an important role in regulating calcium homeostasis in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of plants.Here,we identified three loss-of-function mutants ofcalreticulin genes in Arabidopsis to demonstrate the function of calreticulin in response to calcium and salinity stresses.There are three genes encoding calreticulin in Arabidopsis,and they are named AtCRT1,2,and 3,respectively.We found that both single mutant of crt3 and double mutant of crtl crt2 were more sensitive to low calcium environment than wild-type Arabidopsis.Moreover,crt3 mutant showed more sensitivity to salt treatment at germination stage,but tolerance to salt stress at later stage compared with wild-type plant.However,there was no obvious growth difference in the mutant crt1 and crt2 compared with wild-type Arabidopsis under calcium and salt stresses.These results suggest that calreticulin functions in plant responses to calcium and salt stresses.     

Characterization of Arabidopsis calreticulin mutants in response to calcium and salinity stresses

As an important calcium-binding protein, calreticulin plays an important role in regulating calcium homeostasis in endoplasmic reticulum （ER） of plants. Here, we identified three loss-of-function mutants of calreticulin genes in Arabidopsis to demonstrate the function of calreticulin in response to calcium and salinity stresses. There are three genes encoding calreticulin in Arabidopsis, and they are named AtCRT1, 2, and 3, respectively. We found that both single mutant of crt3 and double mutant of crtl crt2 were more sensitive to low calcium environment than wild-type Arabidopsis. Moreover, crt3 mutant showed more sensitivity to salt treatment at germination stage, but tolerance to salt stress at later stage compared with wild-type plant. However, there was no obvious growth difference in the mutant crtl and crt2 compared with wild-type Arabidopsis under calcium and salt stresses. These results suggest that calreticulin functions in plant responses to calcium and salt stresses.     

Amplification of P-glycoprotein genes in multidrug-resistant mammalian cell lines

The multidrug-resistance phenotype expressed in mammalian cell lines is complex. Cells selected with a single agent can acquire cross-resistance to a remarkably wide range of compounds which have no obvious structural or functional similarities. The basis for cross-resistance seems to be a decreased net cellular accumulation of the drug involved, and has been attributed to alterations in the plasma membrane. An over-expressed plasma membrane glycoprotein of relative molecular mass (Mr) 170,000 (P-glycoprotein) is consistently found in different multidrug-resistant human and animal cell lines, and in transplantable tumours. Consequently, it has been postulated that P-glycoprotein directly or indirectly mediates multidrug resistance. Here we report the cloning of a complementary DNA encoding P-glycoprotein. Southern blot analysis of hamster, mouse and human DNA using this cDNA as a probe showed that P-glycoprotein is conserved and is probably encoded by a gene family, and that members of this putative family are amplified in multidrug-resistant cells.     

Antibody-mediated enhancement of Flavivirus replication in macrophage-like cell lines

Interactions between animal viruses and antiviral antisera may exceptionally result in an apparent increase in viral infectivity. Halstead and coworkers demonstrated enhanced replication of dengue virus (a Flavivirus, family Togaviridae) in human or simian peripheral blood leucocytes carrying Fc receptors at subneutralising concentrations of antidengue antibody. We have used three continuous cell lines which express macrophage markers to explore the mechanism of this phenomenon. Dengue virus failed to replicate in these cells, but West Nile virus, another Flavivirus, replicated in all three, and we were able to demonstrate reproducibly 50--100-fold enhancement of virus yields in the presence of Flavivirus antisera, the effect also being directly demonstrable in P388D1 cells by increased numbers of virus-induced plaques. The phenomenon of antibody-dependent enhancement of viral replication is not unique to dengue virus, and may have far wider relevance in other viral infections.     

The molecular mechanism of different sensitivity of breast cancer cell lines to TRAIL

Although Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) selectively induces apoptosis of various cancer cells, some caner cell lines are resistant to TRAIL-induced cell death. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying TRAIL-resistance, two human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 (resistant to TRAIL) and MDA-MB-231 (sensitive to TRAIL), were used as a model system to analyze the different sensitivities to TRAIL cytotoxicity. PKCδ inhibitor rottlerin, but not MEK and ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 nor PI3K inhibitor LY294002, was shown to enhance TRAIL-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells significantly, suggesting that PKCδ might play an important role in the resistance of MCF-7 cells to TRAIL. In contrast, rottlerin, U0126, and Ly294002 had no effect on MDA-MB-231 apoptosis induced by TRAIL under the same conditions. Further experiment showed that the combination of rottlerin and TRAIL cleaved PARP in the MCF-7 cells synergistically, but not in the MDA-MB-231 cells. The role of PKCδ in TRAIL-resistant MCF-7 cells was confirmed by knocking down the endogenous PKCδ expression using RNAi technology. Furthermore, caspase-3 reconstitution in MCF-7 cells was unable to alter PKCδ expression, suggesting that innate caspase-3 deficient in the cells does not cause PKCδ high expression. These data provide evidence for the first time that PKCδ plays a critical role in breast cancer cell lines to TRAIL cytotoxicity.     

Detection of P-glycoprotein in multidrug-resistant cell lines by monoclonal antibodies

One reason for the failure of chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced cancers may be the outgrowth of multidrug-resistant tumour cells. Multidrug resistance has been modelled in numerous mammalian cell lines in which the phenotype is characterized by a pleiotropic cross-resistance to unrelated drugs. In the study reported here, we have produced monoclonal antibodies whose binding to plasma membranes of different multidrug-resistant mammalian cells correlates with the degree of drug resistance. All these antibodies are specific for P-glycoprotein, a cell surface component of relative molecular mass (Mr) 170,000 (170K) that has been described previously, and are directed against three spatially distinct epitopes which define a conserved cytoplasmic domain in the C-terminal region of the P-glycoprotein polypeptide. The conserved nature of P-glycoprotein and its low-level expression is drug-sensitive cells suggest that it has an important function at the cell surface. The monoclonal antibodies against P-glycoprotein described here might serve as diagnostic reagents for clinically unresponsive tumours.     

牛膝水煎液的抗着床作用及其对子宫肥大细胞的影响

初步探讨了中药怀牛膝(Achyranthesbidentata)对小鼠的抗着床作用及其对子宫肥大细胞的影响.结果表明怀牛膝水煎液可明显降低小鼠胚泡着床率(P<0.05or<0.01),并使子宫内肥大细胞的数量显著增多(P<0.01).结果提示子宫壁内肥大细胞可能在怀牛膝抗着床过程中有重要作用.     

Comparative proteomic analysis of the response in resistant and susceptible maize inbred lines to infection by Curvularia lunata

Proteins differentially expressed from maize leaves in response to the infection by Curvularia lunata strain CX-3 were identified through a high-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) method. Two inbred lines, 78599-1 and E28, were used, respectively, as resistant and susceptible lines to CX-3 infection. Proteins were extracted from the fourth leaves of six- or seven-leaf stage plants sampled at 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 h after inoculation with CX-3. Twenty-seven differentially expressed protein spots resolved on the 2-DE gels were identified by MALDI-TOF MS/MS. The results showed that these proteins are associated with photosynthesis, respiration,oxidative and drought stress tolerance as well as signal transduction in maize. Among stress-related proteins, the 22 kDa drought-inducible protein, putative glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and translation initiation factor (eIF-5A) were up-regulated in the resistant inbred line and were implicated in host defense response to C. lunata infection. It suggests that drought-inducible and oxidation stress-related proteins might directly contribute to maize resistance to C. lunata.     

Cloning of aminopeptidase N promoter and its activity in hematopoietic cell and different tumor cell lines

Aminopeptidase N (APN) promoter region was cloned and sequenced from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The recombinant reporter construct containing the promoter and luciferase gene, designated pXP1-APNLuc, was introduced into myeloblastic cell line, T lymphocyte cell line and various tumor cell lines. Luciferase assay showed that APN upstream promoter is myeloid-specific for high expression in myeloblastic cell line and much lower expression in T lymphocyte cell line. The promoter activity was relatively high in lung adenoma cell line compared with other tumor cell lines including hepatoma cell line, tong cancer cell line and esophageal cancer cell line in which the promoter activity significantly diminished or was almost undetectable. The characteristics of APN promoter may provide a new strategy for specific myeloprotection while tumor patients are being treated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.