Switching from a restricted to an effective CD4 T cell response by activating CD8+ murine dendritic cells with a Toll-like receptor 9 ligand

Freshly isolated quiescent splenic dendritic cell (DC) subtypes differ in their capacity to activate naive CD4 T cells in culture. The CD8+ DC showed a reduced capacity to stimulate T cell proliferation compared to either of the CD8- DC subsets, regardless of antigen and DC dose. In contrast to CD8- DC, the quiescent CD8+ DC did not induce IFN-gamma production from CD4 T cells. The difference between the DC subtypes appeared to be at the level of initial surface molecule interactions, but could not be attributed to differences in expression of MHC class II or B7 family molecules, or to the expression of Fas ligand on DC. However, when activated by inclusion of the Toll-like receptor 9 ligand CpG in culture, CD8+ DC became potent stimulators of both CD4 T cell proliferation and IFN-gamma production. In contrast, similar activation of CD8- DC produced a more modest increase in capacity to stimulate CD4 T cell proliferation and no increase in capacity to stimulate IFN-gamma production. The difference between a quiescent and an activated state is therefore more extreme for CD8+ than for CD8- DC. The especially tight regulation of the activity of CD8+ DC may be essential for the maintenance of self tolerance.     

Asynchronous replication timing of imprinted loci is independent of DNA methylation,but consistent with differential subnuclear localization

Genomic imprinting in mammals marks the two parental alleles resulting in differential gene expression. Imprinted loci are characterized by distinct epigenetic modifications such as differential DNA methylation and asynchronous replication timing. To determine the role of DNA methylation in replication timing of imprinted loci, we analyzed replication timing in Dnmt1- and Dnmt3L-deficient embryonic stem (ES) cells, which lack differential DNA methylation and imprinted gene expression. Asynchronous replication is maintained in these ES cells, indicating that asynchronous replication is parent-specific without the requirement for differential DNA methylation. Imprinting centers are required for regional control of imprinted gene expression. Analysis of replication fork movement and three-dimensional RNA and DNA fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of the Igf2-H19 locus in various cell types indicate that the Igf2-H19 imprinting center differentially regulates replication timing of nearby replicons and subnuclear localization. Based on these observations, we suggest a model in which cis elements containing nonmethylation imprints are responsible for the movement of parental imprinted loci to distinct nuclear compartments with different replication characteristics resulting in asynchronous replication timing.     

Generation of functional and mature dendritic cells from cord blood and bone marrow CD34+ cells by two-step culture combined with calcium ionophore treatment

The object of this study is to explore a culture method to generate a large number of functional and mature dendritic cells (DC) from human CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells. In the present study, we used a two-step method combined with calcium ionophore to induce DC from cord blood (CB) or normal human bone marrow (BM) CD34+ progenitor cells. The two-step method consists of 10 days of first step culture for the expansion and proliferation of CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells in the presence of SCF, IL-3, IL-6, G-CSF, and 7--11 days of second step culture for the induction of DC in the presence of GM-CSF, IL-4 and TNF-alpha. By the two-step culture, total nucleated cells were increased 208+/-66 (+/-SD, n=13), or 94+/-29 (n=5)-fold in the culture of CB or BM cells, respectively, compared with the number of CD34+ cells at the time of starting culture. Out of the total nucleated cells, 23 +/-10.4% of cells in CB cell culture and 25 +/-5% of cells in the BM cell culture acquired DC characteristic phenotypes, which were marked expressions of CD1a, HLA-DR, co-stimulatory molecules such as CD80, CD40, and adhesion molecule such as CD58. In allogeneic mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR), two-step cultured cells showed potent allo-stimulatory capacity. With this two-step culture, the absolute number of CD1a+ cells that co-expressed HLA-DR, CD80, CD40 and CD58 was enhanced approximately 3 times in CB cell culture and 1.9 times in BM cell culture, compared with the commonly used one-step culture method for the generation of DC from CD34+ cells using SCF, GM-CSF and TNF-alpha. However, on these DC generated in the two-step culture, the expressions of co-stimulatory molecule CD86 and mature DC marker CD83 were not sufficient. By the treatment of two-step cultured cells with calcium ionophore agent (A23187), the expression of co-stimulatory molecules such as CD86 and CD80 (especially CD86) was up-regulated. Besides, the expression of mature DC marker CD83 was remarkably induced by treatment with A23187 for a short duration (24 h). Consistent with the up-regulation of surface molecules CD86, CD80 and CD83, the two-step cultured cells treated with A23187 also showed a stronger allo-stimulatory capacity compared with the cells without A23187 treatment. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that the two-step culture method effectively improved the yield of CD1a+ DC generated from CD34+ cells, and the phenotypes and functions of these CD1a+ DC could be enhanced efficiently by treatment with a calcium ionophore agent.     

Active matrix metalloproteinases in the tear fluid of individuals with vernal keratoconjunctivitis

Corneal epithelial lesions distinguish vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) from other ocular allergic diseases. Such lesions result from degradation of the corneal epithelial basement membrane, which comprises mostly type IV collagen and laminin. Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 catalyze the degradation of these 2 extracellular matrix proteins. The possible role of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the pathogenesis of corneal lesions associated with VKC was investigated by assaying tear fluid for the presence of these enzymes. Tear fluid was collected from 6 eyes of 6 patients with active VKC, 14 eyes of 14 patients with active allergic conjunctivitis, and 6 eyes of 6 nonallergic healthy volunteers. Gelatin zymography revealed that the tear fluid of healthy volunteers contained inactive proforms of both MMP-2 and MMP-9 but not the active forms of these enzymes. Active forms of MMP-2 or MMP-9 were detected in a minority of patients with allergic conjunctivitis. However, with the exception of one individual for whom active MMP-9 was not detected, tear fluid from all patients with VKC contained both proforms and active forms of MMP-2 and MMP-9. These results implicate MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the pathogenesis of corneal epithelial disorders associated with VKC.     

Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma

Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a recently established subtype of RCC, which has rarely been reported in Japan. In this communication, the authors report two Japanese cases of chromophobe RCC together with the immunohistochemical findings. The tumors were composed of sheets and cribriform glands formed by tumor cells with cloudy and reticular cytoplasm. Ultrastructurally, the cytoplasm was filled with numerous microvesicles. The tumor cells were positive for cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, and Tamm-Horsfall protein. Occasionally, LeuM1-positive cells were also noted. Vimentin was negative, unlike the usual RCC. Reactivity for peanut agglutinin was more frequent than that to Lotus tetragonolobus agglutinin. The results of this study suggest that the tumor cellq possessed phenotypes similar to the distal nephron rather than to the proximal tubular cells.     

Diagnosis of Kala-Azar by Nested PCR Based on Amplification of the Leishmania Mini-Exon Gene

To diagnose visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar), we have developed a nested PCR method based on amplification of the mini-exon gene, which is unique and tandomly repeated in the Leishmania genome. Nested PCR was sufficiently sensitive for the detection of DNA in an amount equivalent to a single Leishmania parasite or less. We examined the usefulness of this PCR method using bone marrow aspirates and buffy coat cells collected from kala-azar patients who had or had not received chemotherapy in northwest China. We obtained PCR positivity for all of the parasitologically positive bone marrow samples from the patients. Some ambiguities with the primary PCR results were eliminated by the subsequent nested PCR. The buffy coat samples from 7 of 12 patients with splenomegaly were positive by the nested PCR, although only 2 of them were positive for parasites by culture. However, buffy coat samples from nine children, whose splenomegaly has been reduced and clinically cured by antimony treatment, were all negative. Thus, this nested PCR method represents a new tool for the diagnosis of kala-azar with patient blood samples instead of bone marrow or spleen aspirates obtained by more invasive procedures.     

IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL DISTRIBUTION OF CANNABINOID CB 1 RECEPTOR IN THE RAT CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL DISTRIBUTION OF CANNABINOID CB 1 RECEPTOR IN THE RAT CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM@邹冈     

Block copolymers of fluoral oligomer with urethanes: Preparation and thermal properties

Two series of block copolymers have been synthesized comprising of soft polytrifluoroacetaldehyde (polyacetal) segments and of hard 4,4′-methylenedi(phenyl isocyanate)/cis-cyclohexane-1,4-diol polyurethane segments. The series-A copolymers in which the soft segments were directly bound to the hard segments had significantly lower thermal stability than the series-B copolymers in which the soft segments were linked to the hard segments by sebacic ester units. In both series the thermal stability decreased with increasing soft segment content. The series-A copolymers exhibited two thermal transitions both characteristic of T_g's and separated by about 60 K. In contrast the series-B copolymers exhibited two characteristic T_g's separated by 200–250 K, depending on composition, together with an additional endothermic transition at about ambient temperature. All transitions for both series decreased with increasing soft segment content. The observations have been compared with those of other polyether and polyester based polyurethanes.