消化系恶性肿瘤病人LAK细胞和NK细胞功能与表型的变化

通过观察20例正常人和24例消化系恶性肿瘤病人外周血自然杀伤细胞(NK)和淋巴因子激活的杀伤细胞(LAK)的活性变化,以及加用重组白细胞介素2(rIL-2)刺激前后T淋巴细胞表型变化。结果发现肿瘤病人的NK细胞活性明显下降,但经rIL-2激活后LAK细胞活性得到明显提高,其溶解率接近正常水平。肿瘤病人的总T淋巴细胞(CD_(3+))和辅助/诱导T淋巴细胞(CD_(4+))水平低于正常,但抑制/杀伤淋巴细胞(CD_(8+))水平正常。辅助/诱导淋巴细胞与抑制/杀伤淋巴细胞之比为1.18,低于正常水平(1.55)。经加入rIL-2培养后,CD_(3+)和CD_(8+)淋巴细胞的比率明显升高并达正常水平。而在正常人此变化不明显,且加用rIL-2培养与不加者无显著差异。IL-2受体的表达正常人与肿瘤病人无异。结果显示胃肠道恶性肿瘤病人的免疫机制受到抑制,但能被IL-2提高至正常水平。     

Robust measurement of telomere length in single cells

Measurement of telomere length currently requires a large population of cells, which masks telomere length heterogeneity in single cells, or requires FISH in metaphase arrested cells, posing technical challenges. A practical method for measuring telomere length in single cells has been lacking. We established a simple and robust approach for single-cell telomere length measurement (SCT-pqPCR). We first optimized a multiplex preamplification specific for telomeres and reference genes from individual cells, such that the amplicon provides a consistent ratio (T/R) of telomeres (T) to the reference genes (R) by quantitative PCR (qPCR). The average T/R ratio of multiple single cells corresponded closely to that of a given cell population measured by regular qPCR, and correlated with those of telomere restriction fragments (TRF) and quantitative FISH measurements. Furthermore, SCT-pqPCR detected the telomere length for quiescent cells that are inaccessible by quantitative FISH. The reliability of SCT-pqPCR also was confirmed using sister cells from two cell embryos. Telomere length heterogeneity was identified by SCT-pqPCR among cells of various human and mouse cell types. We found that the T/R values of human fibroblasts at later passages and from old donors were lower and more heterogeneous than those of early passages and from young donors, that cancer cell lines show heterogeneous telomere lengths, that human oocytes and polar bodies have nearly identical telomere lengths, and that the telomere lengths progressively increase from the zygote, two-cell to four-cell embryo. This method will facilitate understanding of telomere heterogeneity and its role in tumorigenesis, aging, and associated diseases.Telomeres are the ribonucleoprotein structures that cap and protect linear chromosome ends from genomic instability and tumorigenesis (1, 2). Intriguingly, telomere shortening protects against tumorigenesis by limiting cell growth (3, 4), but also can impair tissue regenerative capability and cell viability (5, 6).Thus far, most assays of telomere length measure average telomere length from aggregates of many cells derived from dissected tissues, cultured cells, or blood (7). Telomere restriction fragment (TRF) determination (1, 8), a Southern blot-based technique, remains the “gold standard” for determining absolute telomere length, but requires a large amount of starting material (0.5–5 µg DNA) and several days for processing. Moreover, the requirements for gel electrophoresis and hybridization limit the scalability of this assay. Recently, a quantitative PCR (qPCR)-based method for telomere length measurement was developed, providing the convenience and scalability of PCR (9). Although the DNA requirement (35 ng) for qPCR is significantly less than TRF, it still relies on populations of cells to derive sufficient amount of DNA.Quantitative FISH (Q-FISH) allows sensitive visualization of relative telomere length from individual cells and individual telomeres, but this method requires many cells or metaphase arrested cells, which precludes its application to many sample types, including postmitotic cells, senescent cells, and other nondividing cells, and when only one actual cell is required to test. In addition, preparing chromosome spreads requires significant technical skill, and only proliferating cells within a population reach metaphase stage, so this analysis potentially biases the estimates of telomere length for a given cell population (10–12). High-throughput Q-FISH, flow FISH, and single telomere length analysis can be used for telomere measurement of dividing, nondividing, and senescent cells, but these methods also require large cell populations (13–15).The ability to measure telomere length in single cells rather than relying upon average telomere length in cell populations or the entire tissue enables the study of biological heterogeneity on a cell-by-cell basis, an issue of fundamental importance for studies of aging, development, carcinogenesis, and many other diseases. Here, we demonstrate an accurate determination of telomere length in individual cells, with the resolution and scalability of the qPCR telomere length assay.The basis of qPCR is that within a given cell, the ratio of the copy number of telomere repeats to the copy number of a multicopy reference gene is fixed (3), and this method, because of its simplicity, has been widely used to investigate a variety of telomere shortening-associated diseases (7), even sensitive enough to identify mild telomere dysfunction resulting from chronological life stress (16, 17). We adapted qPCR to measure telomere length in individual cells by using a preamplification step that specifically targets both the telomere and multicopy genes, followed by a qPCR assay to obtain telomere to reference gene (T/R) ratio. A single-cell telomere (SCT) length measurement method (SCT-pqPCR) runs robustly, and shows an identical T/R ratio for two sister blastomeres from two-cell–stage mouse embryos. The average result from SCT-qPCR with multiple single cells is linearly correlated to Q-FISH, TRF, and conventional qPCR assays designed for a large number of cells. The heterogeneity of telomere length among several populations of cells by SCT-pqPCR run on multiple single cells is consistent with—and sometimes superior to—results obtained by Q-FISH. Application of SCT-pqPCR to study telomere length during early embryo development, aging, and cancer demonstrate the value of this single-cell telomere length assay method.     

Processivity of peptidoglycan synthesis provides a built-in mechanism for the robustness of straight-rod cell morphology

The propagation of cell shape across generations is remarkably robust in most bacteria. Even when deformations are acquired, growing cells progressively recover their original shape once the deforming factors are eliminated. For instance, straight-rod-shaped bacteria grow curved when confined to circular microchambers, but straighten in a growth-dependent fashion when released. Bacterial cell shape is maintained by the peptidoglycan (PG) cell wall, a giant macromolecule of glycan strands that are synthesized by processive enzymes and cross-linked by peptide chains. Changes in cell geometry require modifying the PG and therefore depend directly on the molecular-scale properties of PG structure and synthesis. Using a mathematical model we quantify the straightening of curved Caulobacter crescentus cells after disruption of the cell-curving crescentin structure. We observe that cells straighten at a rate that is about half (57%) the cell growth rate. Next we show that in the absence of other effects there exists a mathematical relationship between the rate of cell straightening and the processivity of PG synthesis—the number of subunits incorporated before termination of synthesis. From the measured rate of cell straightening this relationship predicts processivity values that are in good agreement with our estimates from published data. Finally, we consider the possible role of three other mechanisms in cell straightening. We conclude that regardless of the involvement of other factors, intrinsic properties of PG processivity provide a robust mechanism for cell straightening that is hardwired to the cell wall synthesis machinery.     

特应性皮炎的免疫学发病机制

特应性皮炎是慢性复发性炎症性皮肤疾病，发病机制复杂，其中变态反应因素在发病机制中扮演着重要角色。目前认为Th1／Th2平衡失调是特应性皮炎重要的发病机制。本文围绕这一机制综述T细胞、树突状细胞、角质形成细胞及IgE在特应性皮炎发病机制中的作用。     

Regenerative medicine for the treatment of heart disease

Heart failure is a major cause of mortality worldwide with a steady increase in prevalence. There is currently no available cure beyond orthotopic heart transplantation, which for a number of reasons is an option only for a small fraction of all patients. Considerable hope has therefore been placed on the possibility of treating a failing heart by replacing lost cardiomyocytes, either through transplantation of various types of stem cells or by boosting endogenous regenerative mechanisms in the heart. Here, we review the current status of stem and progenitor cell‐based therapies for heart disease. We discuss the pros and cons of different stem and progenitor cell types that can be considered for transplantation and describe recent advances in the understanding of how cardiomyocytes normally differentiate and how these cells can be generated from more immature cells ex vivo. Finally, we consider the possibility of activation of endogenous stem and progenitor cells to treat heart failure.     

白藜芦醇对人肾癌细胞增殖和细胞周期的影响

目的探讨白藜芦醇（Res）对人肾癌细胞786-0（以下简称肾癌细胞）增殖和周期的影响。方法分别采用12.5、25、50、100μmol/L的白藜芦醇（Res）作用于肾癌细胞24 h;并设空白对照组。流式细胞仪检测细胞细胞周期。结果各浓度Res对肾癌细胞增殖均具有明显的抑制作用,表现为G1期及G2期细胞比例明显降低,S期比例明显升高,与对照组比较,P均〈0.05。Res 12.5μmol/L与25、50及100μmol/L比较,P均〈0.05;但25μmol/L与50、100μmol/L比较,P〉0.05。12.5μmol/L的Res抑制作用明显,当浓度达到25μmol/L时,抑制作用达最强;而继续升高浓度不能提高抑制作用。结论 Res对人肾癌细胞增殖有抑制作用,且具有剂量依赖性。     

Exposure of blood from patients with sickle cell disease to air changes the morphological, oxygen-binding, and sickling properties of sickled erythrocytes

We collected venous blood samples from 7 steady-state patients with homozygous sickle cell disease under venous oxygen pressure without exposure to air (UnExp-blood) and compared the morphological, oxygen-binding, and sickling properties with those of SS cells in aliquots of the same venous blood samples that were oxygenated in room air or at a PO2 near 180 mmHg (Exp-blood). Results showed that (1) upon deoxygenation under nitrogen, UnExp-blood generated a significantly higher percentage of elongated reversibly sickled cells (RSCs) than did Exp-blood; (2) upon gradual oxygenation of completely deoxygenated sickled cells, RSCs in UnExp-blood converted to discocytes at a higher oxygen pressure than did those in Exp-blood; (3) the degree of hysteresis between the sickling/desickling curves of UnExp-blood was greater than that of Exp-blood; and (4) deoxy-Hb S in hemolysate prepared from SS cells in UnExp-blood polymerized without a delay time, while those from Exp-blood polymerized with a distinct delay time. The in vivo properties of RSCs significantly changed upon oxygenation. We also found that the various properties of blood samples collected from patients with SCD by the ordinary method were similar to those of Exp-blood, probably because such blood samples are exposed to oxygen through air in the needle, syringe, and Vacutainer. Once SS cells were oxygenated, the in vivo properties of RSCs could not be recovered by partial deoxygenation to venous oxygen pressure.     

骨髓干细胞移植在心血管疾病中的应用

近年来的研究表明，骨髓干细胞向心肌细胞分化已成为可能，动物模型及临床应用均证实，将骨髓干细胞移植于受损心肌可改善心肌缺血及心脏功能。     

Basics and applications of stem cells in the pancreas

Enormous efforts have been made to establish pancreatic stem/progenitor cells as a source for regenerative medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In recent years, it has been recognized that the self-renewal of beta cells is the dominant process involved in postnatal beta-cell regeneration and expansion. Nevertheless, several in-vitro studies have suggested that ductal or as yet unidentified cells are candidates for pancreatic stem/progenitor cells that can differentiate into multilineage cells, including insulin⁺ cells. The question remains as to whether beta cells are generated postnatally from stem/progenitor cells other than pre-existing beta cells. Furthermore, mutated pancreatic stem cells are considered to be prospective candidates for cancer stem cells or tumor-initiating cells. This review highlights recent progress in pancreatic stem/progenitor cell research.     

Propagation of large numbers of T cells with natural killer cell markers

Summary. Previously, a subset of T cells co-expressing the NK cell antigen CD56 has been described. These CD3⁺CD56⁺ cells are rare in peripheral blood collections and have been poorly characterized. We have developed culture conditions which allow for the rapid expansion of CD3⁺CD56⁺ cells. The protocol for cellular expansion includes the addition of interferon-gamma on day O, interleukin-1, interleukin-2 and a monoclonal antibody against CD3 on day 1 to peripheral blood lymphocytes. Cells of the CD3⁺CD56⁺ phenotype increased up to 6000-fold using this protocol after 16 d in culture. These cells have been characterized by flow cytometry and have been found to express the alpha, beta T cell receptor, co-express the CD5 and CD8 antigens and do not express the CD16 antigen. Morphologically, these cells cannot be distinguished from NK cells. CD3⁺CD56⁺ killer cells lyse a variety of tumour cells with intermediate activity between CD3^?CD56⁺ NK cells and CD3⁺CD56^? T cells.     

肺干细胞研究进展

干细胞研究是现代医学领域研究热点之一.肺部疾病所导致的不同程度呼吸系统病理改变和功能受损,都伴随着肺组织的修复和重塑过程.对于肺部疾病的干细胞研究和应用尚有许多问题有待进一步的明确和探索.肺干细胞包括了肺组织自身的干细胞修复和肺外组织来源的干细胞修复.肺组织内的干细胞包括肺内上皮性干细胞、肺问充质干细胞、肺侧群细胞;其中肺内上皮性干细胞又包括了基底细胞、Clara细胞、Ⅱ型肺泡上皮细胞、"芽孢"样细胞.肺外组织来源的干细胞修复包括骨髓间充质干细胞和造血干细胞.干细胞治疗方法在临床上有巨大的应用前景.     

T淋巴细胞亚群在矽肺患者外周血的表达变化分析

目的探讨矽肺患者外周血中T淋巴细胞亚群的表达及其意义。方法采用流式细胞仪技术,检测16例矽肺患者外周血中T细胞、辅助性T细胞、抑制性T细胞、调节性T细胞的比值,并与16例健康人进行比较。结果矽肺患者外周血中辅助性T细胞明显低于对照组（P〈0.01）,而调节性T细胞明显高于对照组（P〈0.05）,T细胞和抑制性T细胞比例与对照组比较差异均无显著性（P〉0.05）。结论检测矽肺患者外周血中调节性T细胞和辅助性T细胞比例,对了解患者病情的发生和发展、临床诊断和预后判断具有重要的临床意义。     

Measurement of adherent cell mass and growth

The characterization of physical properties of cells such as their mass and stiffness has been of great interest and can have profound implications in cell biology, tissue engineering, cancer, and disease research. For example, the direct dependence of cell growth rate on cell mass for individual adherent human cells can elucidate the mechanisms underlying cell cycle progression. Here we develop an array of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) resonant mass sensors that can be used to directly measure the biophysical properties, mass, and growth rate of single adherent cells. Unlike conventional cantilever mass sensors, our sensors retain a uniform mass sensitivity over the cell attachment surface. By measuring the frequency shift of the mass sensors with growing (soft) cells and fixed (stiff) cells, and through analytical modeling, we derive the Young's modulus of the unfixed cell and unravel the dependence of the cell mass measurement on cell stiffness. Finally, we grew individual cells on the mass sensors and measured their mass for 50+ hours. Our results demonstrate that adherent human colon epithelial cells have increased growth rates with a larger cell mass, and the average growth rate increases linearly with the cell mass, at 3.25%/hr. Our sensitive mass sensors with a position-independent mass sensitivity can be coupled with microscopy for simultaneous monitoring of cell growth and status, and provide an ideal method to study cell growth, cell cycle progression, differentiation, and apoptosis.     

骨髓间(充)质干细胞体外定向诱导心肌样细胞超微结构特征研究

目的：研究兔骨髓间（充）质干细胞（mesenchymal stem cell，MSC）经5～氮杂胞苷（5-azacytidine，5-aza）诱导在体外定向分化的心肌样细胞超微结构特征。方法：取兔髂骨骨髓，分离并培养骨髓MSC，用5～aza定向诱导向心肌样细胞分化。以相差显微镜、透射电镜观察心肌样钏胞形态学变化及超微结构特征。结果：5-aza诱导后，部分细胞体积增大，呈“捧状”或“珠状”结构，有肌管样结构形成，透射电镜下见有肌丝、心房颗粒及线粒体等心肌样细胞超微等结构。结论：经5-氮杂胞苷诱导分化的骨髓间（充）质干细胞具有心肌样细胞超微结构特征．     

肺透明细胞癌1例并文献复习

目的 分析肺透明细胞癌的临床特征、影像学表现及病理诊断要点.方法 报告1例经肺活检病理确诊的肺透明细胞癌病例,并结合文献资料对该病的临床特征、影像学表现及病理诊断要点进行分析.结果 本例患者为女性,45岁,以反复咳嗽2个月为首发症状,胸部CT示两肺多发结节灶合并肺门及纵隔淋巴结肿大,胸腔镜下肺活检病理确诊为原发性肺透明细胞癌.近20年国内外文献报道肺透明细胞癌病例仅27例,其中男性18例,女性9例,平均年龄(55±11)岁.临床表现主要为咳嗽(16/27)、胸痛(12/27)、咯血(10/27).影像学表现以周围型单发结节或团块影多见(22/27),病灶直径0.5～11 cm.该病罕见,属大细胞癌的变异型;确诊多依赖开胸肺组织病理活检,免疫组织化学染色有助于鉴别.结论 肺透明细胞癌的临床表现无特异性;影像学表现以肺部单发结节或团块影多见,亦可为两肺多发和弥漫型;确诊依赖肺组织病理活检,免疫组织化学染色有助于鉴别.     

The role of stem cells in liver injury and repair

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Liver disease is an increasing cause of worldwide mortality, and currently the only curative treatment for end-stage liver disease is whole organ allograft transplantation. Whilst this is an effective treatment, there is a shortage of suitable grafts and consequently some patients die whilst on the waiting list. Cell therapy provides an alternative treatment to increase liver function and potentially ameliorate fibrosis.

Areas covered: In this review, we discuss the different cellular sources for therapy investigated to date in humans including mature hepatocytes, hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stromal cells and hepatic progenitor cells. Cells investigated in animals include embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells and directly reprogrammed cells. We then appraise the experience and evidence base underlying each cell type.

Expert opinion: We discuss how this field may evolve in the years to come focusing on opportunities to enhance the intrinsic regenerative response with therapeutic targets and cell therapies. Growing expertise in tissue engineering will likely lead to increasingly complex bio-reactors and bio-artificial livers, which open a further avenue to restore liver function and delay or prevent the need for transplantation.     

Identification of cells in culture.

Most laboratories using cells cultured in vitro maintain multiple cell lines. Such lines should be monitored for species and intraspecies characteristics to prevent invalidation of research work due to incidents of cell line cross-contamination. This report describes the results obtained when 246 cell cultures were examined for evidence of cross-contamination or mislabeling. Using species-specific antigens, isoenzyme electrophoresis, and chromosomes as markers of identity, 14% of the cultures submitted were found to be contaminated by cells of another species. Of human cell lines submitted 25% were of HeLa cell origin, as determined by 2 intraspecies markers, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and chromosome analyses. The fact that, overall, nearly 30% of the cell lines examined were incorrectly designated makes the importance of cell line monitoring self-evident.     

Identification of an inhibitory factor from a Sertoli clonal cell line (TM4) that modulates adult rat Leydig cell steroidogenesis

Sertoli cell produces several biological factors that modulate Leydig cell steroidogenic function by either stimulating or inhibiting its testosterone production. We have evaluated the effect of an inhibitory factor in the spent media of a Sertoli clonal cell line (TM4) which inhibits Leydig cell steroidogenesis. The presence of such an inhibitory factor in TM4 media was bioassayed using Percoll purified Leydig cells isolated from adult rats with purity of greater than 95%. TM4 media inhibited both human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-stimulated testosterone and cAMP production by purified Leydig cells dose-dependently but had no apparent effect on 8-bromo-cAMP- and forskolin-stimulated testosterone production. Also it did not interfere with the binding of [¹²⁵I]hCG to Leydig cells. TM4 media inhibited cholera toxin-stimulated testosterone production as well as forskolin- and cholera toxin-stimulated cAMP production. The mechanism of action of this factor in TM4 media appears to be different from transforming growth factor (TGF-β) which inhibited both 8-bromo-cAMP- and forskolin-stimulated testosterone production and inhibited the binding of [¹²⁵I]hCG binding to Leydig cells. The inhibitory factor contained in TM4 media has been partially purified by sequential preparative anion exchange and C-18 reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. In summary, the Sertoli TM4 cell line produces at least one potent inhibitory factor which decreases the responsiveness of purified Leydig cells to hCG stimulation with a dramatically different mechanism from other currently known Leydig cell inhibitory factors; this protein may serve as a valuable tool to study testicular paracrine regulation.