Long-term culture of murine erythropoietic progenitor cells in the absence of an adherent layer

Replication of multipotential stem cells in long-term murine bone marrow cell culture is known to depend on the development of an adherent stromal cell layer. In these conditions, restricted haematopoietic progenitor cells have also been generated for up to several months1-3. However, maturation is observed only in the granulocyte/macrophage and megakaryocyte lineages; erythropoiesis appears to be blocked at the earliest burst-forming unit (BFU-E) stage. Addition of exogenous erythropoietin (Epo) or anaemic mouse serum results in full erythropoietic maturation, but it is transient. We describe here a culture system in which production of erythropoietic progenitor cells can be maintained for over 6 months in the absence of an adherent stromal layer and in the absence of added Epo, but in the presence of pokeweed mitogen-stimulated spleen cell conditioned medium (PWSCM). The data indicate that restricted erythroid progenitor cells exist which are capable of extensive self-renewal.     

Compartmentalization of a haematopoietic growth factor (GM-CSF) by glycosaminoglycans in the bone marrow microenvironment

Haematopoietic progenitor cells proliferate and mature in semisolid media when stimulated by exogenous haematopoietic cell growth factors (HCGFs) such as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). They also proliferate in association with marrow-derived stromal cells although biologically active amounts of HCGFs cannot be detected in stromal culture supernatants. It is possible that HCGFs are synthesized in small amounts by stromal cells but remain bound to the stromal cells and/or their extracellular matrix (ECM). This interpretation accords with haematopoietic progenitor cell proliferation in close association with stromal layers in long-term cultures. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are found in the ECM produced by stromal cells. They are prime candidates for selectively retaining HCGFs in the stromal layer; they influence embryonic morphogenesis and cyto-differentiation and they may regulate haematopoiesis. We now report that granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating activity can be eluted from cultured stromal layers and that exogenous GM-CSF binds to GAGs from bone marrow stromal ECM. Selective compartmentalization of HCGFs in this manner may be an important function of the marrow microenvironment and may be involved in haematopoietic cell regulation.     

Growth control of activated, synchronized murine B cells by the C3d fragment of human complement

Three restriction points control the cell cycle of activated B lymphocytes. The first occurs directly after mitosis and is controlled by the occupancy of surface-bound immunoglobulin. The second is observed approximately 4 h after mitosis in the G1 phase of the cycle, that is, before DNA replication, and is controlled by growth factors that are produced by macrophages which we have previously classified as alpha-type factors. The third restriction point occurs in the G2 phase, 2-4 h before mitosis, and is controlled by beta-type growth factors probably produced by helper T lymphocytes. The third component of complement, C3, has long been implicated in the control of B-cell responses. C3 is secreted by monocytes and macrophages. We have found recently that crosslinked, but not soluble, human C3 stimulates activated, but not resting, murine B cells to thymidine uptake. Here we investigate the role of C3b and C3d in the progression of the cell cycle of activated, synchronized murine B cells. We find that crosslinked C3d replaces the action of alpha-factors within the cell cycle of these cells and allows entry into S phase. In contrast, soluble C3d inhibits the action of alpha-factors. This implies that a C3d-specific receptor, probably the murine analogue to the human complement receptor CR2, is a growth factor receptor on activated B cells that will give the cell a growth-positive signal when it is crosslinked, while occupancy by the soluble form of C3d will result in inhibition of the action of alpha-factors or of crosslinked C3b or C3d. A stretch of weak homology between the cDNA sequence of murine C3d and those of murine growth factors indicates that an insulin-like growth factor could be the active principle of C3d that controls the cell cycle of activated B cells.     

3-卤-2(5H)-呋喃酮的无Pd催化脱卤反应

在研究Pd催化的脱卤反应时,意外发现了3-卤-2(5H)-呋喃酮在无Pd催化的情况下也可以发生脱卤反应.在碱为12当量的Et3N、反应溶剂为CH3CN、反应温度150℃、反应时间21 h的优化条件下,产率可达到52%.当底物中存在芳环卤结构时,无钯催化的脱卤反应只脱去呋喃酮3-位上的卤素.这种反应的唯一性与钯催化脱卤反应的组合,可以为多官能团（特别是多卤情况下）非芳基卤底物的选择性脱卤提供更多的控制方法.通过重水实验等研究其反应机理,发现反应体系中的有机碱三乙胺可能是脱卤反应的氢源,但不能完全排除水作为氢源的可能性.     

Establishment and cryopreservation of liver, heart and muscle cell lines derived from the Chinese alligator （Alligator sinensis）

The Chinese alligator, Alligator sinensis, is a critically endangered species. A conservation project of gene resources for an endangered species first involves the preservation of organs, tissues, gametes, genomic DNA libraries and cell lines. The present study is the first to establish and cryopreserve cell lines of liver, heart and muscle tissues from the Chinese alligator. The study revealed that there was a large discrepancy in cell migration time in primary cultures among liver (11-12 d), heart (13-14 d) and muscle (17-18 d) tissue pieces. The differences in time in primary cell culture suggested that it was relatively easy to build visceral-derived cell lines for reptiles. Biological analysis showed that the population doubling time for thawed cells was approxi- mately 36 h. Karyotyping revealed that the frequency of Chinese alligator cells showing chromosome number as 2n=32 was 88.6%-93.4%. Chinese alligator cell lines established here provide a vital resource for research and are likely to be useful for protection of this rare and critically endangered species. Furthermore, the establishment of these methods may supply technical and theoretical support for preserving genetic resources at the cellular level for other reptile species.     

胎肝Sca-1+细胞治疗STZ诱导小鼠糖尿病的实验研究

目的探讨小鼠胎肝组织中的干细胞抗原1阳性的细胞(Sca-1+细胞)治疗链脲佐菌素(STZ)诱导糖尿病鼠的潜能.方法取14.5 d的C57BL/6J小鼠胎肝,制作细胞悬液,用单克隆免疫磁珠细胞分离技术分离Sca-1+细胞,将2×105个雄性小鼠Sca-1+细胞输注到STZ诱导的C57BL/6J雌性小鼠体内,以后每7 d定时测定小鼠血糖,第38 d处死受体小鼠取胰腺组织固定、切片,免疫组化观察胰腺组织中胰岛素阳性的β细胞变化.结果小鼠胎肝Sca 1+细胞能够有效抑制STZ诱导小鼠血糖的持续升高,明显降低糖尿病鼠的死亡率.受体小鼠胰岛细胞结构清楚,其中可见表达胰岛素的β细胞,荧光原位杂交显示小鼠胰岛内有Y染色体阳性杂交点.结论小鼠胎肝Sca-1+细胞具有一定的治疗小鼠糖尿病的作用.     

Red cell sodium fluxes catalysed by the sodium pump in the absence of K+ and ADP

In the absence of extracellular Na+ or K+, the sodium pump catalyses an ouabain-sensitive "uncoupled" Na+ efflux1-4. With red cell ghosts Glynn and Karlish5 showed that this Na+ efflux is accompanied by ATP hydrolysis and that extracellular sodium ions, at low concentrations, inhibit this efflux as well as the associated ATP hydrolysis. At higher concentrations, extracellular sodium ions restore the hydrolysis of ATP3,6 but it is not known whether there is an associated increase in Na+ efflux and, perhaps, an influx. To answer this question we have used inside-out red cell membrane vesicles which are specially suitable for controlling the composition of the medium at the two membrane surfaces while measuring 22Na+ fluxes in both directions. We report here that the sodium pump can operate in a mode in which influx and efflux of sodium are associated with ATP hydrolysis. This mode is different from the Na-Na exchange described by Garrahan and Glynn7, and Glynn and Hoffman8, which requires ADP as well as ATP9 and is probably associated with ADP-ATP exchage rather than ATP hydrolysis10,11.     

Essential roles of PI(3)K-p110beta in cell growth, metabolism and tumorigenesis

On activation by receptors, the ubiquitously expressed class IA isoforms (p110alpha and p110beta) of phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase (PI(3)K) generate lipid second messengers, which initiate multiple signal transduction cascades. Recent studies have demonstrated specific functions for p110alpha in growth factor and insulin signalling. To probe for distinct functions of p110beta, we constructed conditional knockout mice. Here we show that ablation of p110beta in the livers of the resulting mice leads to impaired insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis, while having little effect on phosphorylation of Akt, suggesting the involvement of a kinase-independent role of p110beta in insulin metabolic action. Using established mouse embryonic fibroblasts, we found that removal of p110beta also had little effect on Akt phosphorylation in response to stimulation by insulin and epidermal growth factor, but resulted in retarded cell proliferation. Reconstitution of p110beta-null cells with a wild-type or kinase-dead allele of p110beta demonstrated that p110beta possesses kinase-independent functions in regulating cell proliferation and trafficking. However, the kinase activity of p110beta was required for G-protein-coupled receptor signalling triggered by lysophosphatidic acid and had a function in oncogenic transformation. Most strikingly, in an animal model of prostate tumour formation induced by Pten loss, ablation of p110beta (also known as Pik3cb), but not that of p110alpha (also known as Pik3ca), impeded tumorigenesis with a concomitant diminution of Akt phosphorylation. Taken together, our findings demonstrate both kinase-dependent and kinase-independent functions for p110beta, and strongly indicate the kinase-dependent functions of p110beta as a promising target in cancer therapy.     

Unusual intron in the immunoglobulin domain of the newly isolated murine CD4 (L3T4) gene

The T-cell surface glycoprotein, CD4, is expressed predominantly on helper T cells and is thought to play a major role in cell-cell interactions. Monoclonal antibodies against CD4 have been shown to block numerous T-cell functions; moreover, recent results suggest that the CD4 molecule may be involved in transmembrane signal transduction. The human CD4 glycoprotein has also been shown to form at least part of the receptor for the AIDS virus, HIV-1. Elucidation of the functions of CD4 will be facilitated by the ability to manipulate the protein by genetic means. Because the mouse system is well suited for a variety of functional studies, we have isolated, sequenced and expressed cDNA clones encoding the murine CD4 (L3T4) glycoprotein. Comparison of the mouse and human CD4 sequences reveals striking evolutionary conservation of the cytoplasmic domain, suggesting that this region is essential for CD4 function. In addition, both the human and mouse CD4 gene contain a large intron in the coding region of the V-like domain. As no other members of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily have been shown to contain similarly placed introns, this finding may have important implications regarding the evolution of this gene family in particular and of introns in general.     

盘基网柄菌野生型KAx-3和突变型AK127细胞mRNA差异显示分析

为研究gp150蛋白调控盘基网柄菌发育相关基因的功能,用mRNA差异显示技术比较分析盘基网柄菌发育14 h的KAx-3细胞和AK127细胞.结果显示两种类型细胞基因表达有明显差异,突变细胞不能表达275 bp片段.对其测序分析后发现差异片断与编码组氨酸激酶、STATc蛋白及同源框蛋白等的基因中的一段序列有很高的相似性.推测gp150蛋白的缺失引起某些调控因子表达异常,从而使突变细胞的基因表达不正常,最终导致细胞不能完成多细胞发育.     

四株肺癌细胞系的维甲酸受体表达的研究

目的：观察来源于不同组织学类型的人肺癌细胞系（肺巨细胞癌细胞系PLA-801,肺鳞状上皮细胞癌细胞系C-57,个旧肺腺癌细胞系GLC-82和肺腺癌细胞系PC-84045）的维甲酸受体的含量和分布特征。方法：作ELISA和免疫组化显色计算机图象分析方法,对4株具有不同侵袭潜能,不同组织学类型的肺癌细胞系的维甲酸受体（RARs、RAR和RXRs）进行检测。结果：4株细胞系的RARβ的表达极少,甚至缺如;RARs主要分布在癌细胞胞浆中,但RXRs主要位于细胞核内,表达水平较高;RARs和RXRs在PLA-801细胞中表达最低。结论：肺癌中普遍存在着RAR的表达分布异常,这些改变可能与肺癌的异常分化有关,亦可能是肺癌细胞对维甲酸诱导分化不敏感的重要原因。RXRs较高水平的表达且主要位于核内,提示用9-顺式维甲酸来诱导肺癌的分化效果可能会较好。     

Preparation of Ln_(3-x)Eu_xS_4 (Ln=Ce,Pr,and Nd) ceramics by pressureless sintering

The preparation of ternary rare earth sulfides of Ln3-xEuxS4 (Ln = Ce, Pr, and Nd) ceramics was investigated, and the effect of Eu substitution on Ln3-xEuxS4 ceramics was also studied. Ln3-xEuxS4 powders were synthesized by the sulfurization of their oxide powders using carbon disulfide gas. Ln3-xEuxS4 ceramics were sintered by pressure-less sintering method. All pressureless sintered Ln3-xEuxS4 ceramics crystallized in γ-phase. It was found that Eu substitution could improve the density of Ln3-xEuxS4 ceram...     

Permeation of vanadium（Ⅲ, Ⅳ, Ⅴ）-dipicolinate complexes across MDCK cell monolayer and comparison with Caco-2 cells

The permeation and eytotoxicity of three insulin-mimetic vanadium（Ⅲ, Ⅳ, Ⅴ）-dipicolinate complexes were studied using the MDCK cell monolayer in comparison with the Caeo-2 cells. On MDCK cell monolayer, the apparent permeation coefficients （Papp） were estimated to be （7.5±1.0）×10^-6, （1.0±0.2）×10^-6, （1.7±0.4）× 10^-6cm/s for V（Ⅴ）, V（Ⅵ）, and V（Ⅲ）-dipie complexes, respectively. The permeability of V（Ⅴ）-dipie complexes is much better than the others, which is in agreement with its better hypoglycemie effect in animal tests. On Caeo-2 cell monolayer, Papp were found to be in the range of 1-3×10^-6 ends and not to be affected by excessive amounts of dipieolinate ligand. By contrast, the permeability in the AP→BL direction across the MDCK monolayer increased greatly in the presence of free ligands, suggesting existence of active transport mechanism of vanadium complex anions on the MDCK cells. The eytotoxieity of the three complexes was found similar and the IC50 were measured in the range of 0.6-0.9 mmol/L for MDCK cells and 1.6--2 mmol/L for Caco-2 cells. The cytotoxicity of three vanadium complexes was conceivably in consistence with their permeability, suggesting that the toxicity, permeation and cellular metabolism of vanadium complexes are closely related.