Regulation of BMP4 on the proliferation and differentiation in SVZa neural stem cells

The neural stem cells in the anterior subventricular zone (SVZa) mainly generate the progenitors that will differentiate into neurons, and along a highly circumscribed migratory access Rostral migratory stream (RMS), they migrate to the olfactory bulbs (OB). To understand the effects of BMPs on SVZa neural stem cells, in this study BMP4 at various concentrations was used to induce SVZa neural stem cells, and the living cell labeling using BMP4 promotor conjugated with red fluorescence protein showed the expression of BMP4 dynamically. The results demonstrated that low BMP4 doses (1-5 ng/mL) promoted while high doses (10-100 ng/mL) inhibited the proliferation of SVZa neural stem cells, and BMP4 promotedneuron differentiation in the early stage (1-3 d), howeverm, it inhibited the neuron commitment after 4 d. Noggin, the antagonist of BMP4, blocked the physiological effects of BMP4. In OB, BMP4 is mainly to accelerate the progenitors to withdraw from the cell cycle and trigger the differentiation, and in RMS, it promotes the proliferation of committed progenitors and not differentiation, further in SVZa, BMP4 enhances astrocyte commitment.     

Anthrax lethal toxin: a weapon of multisystem destruction

Lethal toxin (LT) is a major virulence factor secreted by anthrax bacteria. It is composed of two proteins, PA (protective antigen) and LF (lethal factor). PA transports the LF inside the cell, where LF, a zinc-dependent metalloprotease cleaves the mitogen activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK) enzymes of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, thereby impairing their function. This disruption of the MAPK pathway, which serves essential functions such as proliferation, survival and inflammation in all cell types, results in multisystem dysfunction in the host. The inactivation of the MAPK pathway in both macrophages and dendritic cells leads to inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine secretion, downregulation of costimulatory molecules such as CD80 and CD86, and ineffective T cell priming. The net result is an impaired innate and adaptive immune response. Endothelial cells of the vascular system undergo apoptosis upon LT exposure, also likely due to inactivation of the MAPK pathway. The activity of various hormone receptors such as glucocorticoids, progesterone and estrogen is also blocked, due to inhibition of p38 MAPK phosphorylation, thus affecting the bodys response to stress. The present review summarizes the various disarming effects of Bacillus anthracis through the use of a single weapon, the lethal toxin.Received 12 June 2004; received after revision 13 July 2004; accepted 28 July 2004     

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     

自体肝癌细胞裂解物致敏的树突状细胞诱导抗肝癌免疫的体外研究

从术后肝癌病人的外周血中诱导树突状细胞（DC），并经自体肝癌细胞裂解物致敏DC，用流式细胞仪、^3H-TdR掺入法及MTT法检测了DC表面分子的表达、DC刺激T细胞的增殖效应及DC诱导的T细胞对肝癌细胞的杀伤作用，进而比较经自体肝癌细胞裂解物致敏的DC与其它条件下的DC功能的差异．结果显示：肝癌细胞裂解物致敏DC的功能较未致敏DC显著提高，其可诱导自体混合淋巴细胞强的增殖效应，同时诱导的T细胞对自体肝癌细胞有较强的杀伤率．     

Elafin重组腺病毒载体在气道上皮细胞中表达的时相性变化研究

为研究elafin重组腺病毒表达载体Ad～elafin转染气道上皮细胞的特性，探讨其在上皮细胞中表达的时相性变化，运用①应用原代培养技术培养人气道上皮细胞；②Ad—elafin表达载体转染气道上皮细胞；③在转染后不同的时相中，采用荧光显微镜观察报告基因GFP的表达，ELISA法单克隆抗体检测细胞上清液elafin蛋白的表达，Northern膜杂交检测elafin基因mRNA的表达量等方法进行研究．发现：①原代培养人气道上皮细胞约5d即可作为靶细胞。②转染Ad—elafin24h时，荧光显微镜下可见上皮细胞内有少量的GFP表达，随着时间的延长，细胞内荧光逐渐增加，96h时GFP荧光阳性的细胞约为80％。③转染24～96h，实验组细胞上清液elafin的含量高于对照组（p〈0．01）；同时elafinmRNA的水平高于对照组（P〈0．05，0．01），且elafin表达及elafinmRNA水平在一定时间内呈时间依赖性关系。结论：Elafin重组腺病毒表达载体Ad—elafin成功转染人气道上皮细胞，目的基因不仅能在上皮细胞中表达，而且elafin蛋白具有细胞外分泌作用．     

绵羊角蛋白关联蛋白KAP6-1基因5′端调控区的分子克隆及测序结果比较

根据绵羊毛囊角蛋白关联蛋白(KAP 6-1)基因已知DNA序列设计合成了两个特异性引物,以绵羊基因组DNA为模板,PCR扩增出1 042 bp的特异性片段,连接到pM D 19T载体中获得该片段克隆.经过快速提质粒法筛选、限制性内切酶分析表明该克隆包含所需的目的片段.DNA测序结果也证明该克隆片段与原基因5′端调控区序列相比具有很高的一致性.研究结果为今后制备转基因克隆动物,在毛囊细胞中特异性表达绒毛生长调控基因奠定了基础.     

基于AR模型的松质骨BUA参数测量的研究

定量超声(quantitative ultrasonic,QUS)技术是一种间接测量骨矿密度(bone mineraldensity,BMD)的方法,它利用骨骼的宽带超声衰减(broadband ultrasound attenuation,BUA)等参数反映BMD.为了减少噪声的影响,提出将AR模型用于骨骼的BUA测量,通过仿真和样品实测结果发现,该方法与传统方法相比不仅可以得到较平稳的衰减曲线,还可以有效地提高测量精度.另外在实验中采用宽带超声传感器测量BUA,发现BUA在0.5~2.4 MHz区域内与频率仍具有较好的线性,从而将BUA的测量带宽扩展到1.9 MHz.     

白血病相关抑制物对正常人T淋巴细胞集落形成的影响

通过收集16例急性非淋巴细胞白血病(ANLL)病人的血清和外周血白血病细胞条件培养液(LCM),对血清和LCM中的白血病相关抑制物(LAI)对正常人T淋巴细胞集落(CFU-TL)形成的影响进行研究。发现16例病人的LAI对正常人CFU-TL均有抑制作用,而缓解期病人的LAI抑制作用甚弱。追踪观察11例病人:其中抑制率高于30％的6例患者治疗效果差;抑制率低于25％的5例患者治疗效果较好,达到完全缓解或部分缓解。结果提示ANLL病人的细胞免疫功能缺陷与LAI的存在有关。     

不同融合条件及激活方法对体细胞克隆绵羊胚胎发育的影响

对成年绵羊耳部皮肤细胞进行培养传代，将培养出的成纤维细胞经血清饥饿法处理后，作为核供体移植到MII期去核卵母细胞中进行核移植胚胎的生产，用细胞驰素B法与离子霉素＋6－DMAP法对核移植胚胎（重构胚）在电融合后进行化学激活，然后在38.6度，5％CO2，最大相对湿度条件下，进行体外培养（IVC），重构胚卵裂率分别为37．8％与43．8％（51／135与81／185），囊／桑葚胚率分别为9．8％和12．3％（5／51和10／81），在融合电压1．5kV/cm，持续时间30us，脉冲次数为2次的条件下，孤雌激活胚胎的卵裂率和囊／桑葚胚率分别为81．0％和12．9％。     

Ultrastructural localisation of substance P and choline acetyltransferase in endothelial cells of rat coronary artery and release of substance P and acetylcholine during hypoxia

Substance P and choline acetyltransferase have been localised in a small proportion of endothelial cells of rat coronary arteries using electron microscopic immunocytochemistry. During a hypoxic period of 1 min, coronary vasodilatation was produced in the Langendorff heart preparation and increased levels of substance P and acetylcholine were released into the perfusate. The possibility that these substances are released from endothelial cells during hypoxia and contribute to the hyperaemic response is discussed.