In this study we introduce a novel in vitro 'oil-drop' assay system for the measurement of endothelial cell (EC) migration, based on the original concept of the Teflon fence assay (Pratt et al., 1984; Am. J. Pathol. 117: 349–354). An aliquot of 15–20,000 human umbilical vein EC (HUVEC) is pipetted through a layer of mineral oil. The cells readily attach, spread and migrate on the surface of a matrix-coated tissue culture dish as a confluent circular monolayer. Migration is measured as the net increase in the total area covered at 24 hours. We have used this system to quantify EC migration on matrices composed of a mixture of type I collagen and either von Willebrand factor (vWF) or fibronectin (FN) in the presence or absence of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Plating efficiency on both vWF/collagen and FN/collagen, measured by counting cells after attachment and spreading, is about 80%. With this method, migration on vWF/collagen was about 6.4 mm2 and 5.3 mm2 for TNF-treated and untreated HUVEC, respectively. HUVEC migration on FN/collagen was slightly greater – 6.4 mm2 and 6.5 mm2 with and without TNF treatment, respectively. During the 24 hour time period, HUVEC numbers increased 30–40% on vWF/collagen, and 60–80% on FN/collagen, with increased proliferation observed with TNF- treatment. EC proliferation could be completely inhibited by 2 mM hydroxyurea. This assay system has proven useful in our studies to quantify cell migration and proliferation. 相似文献
We report a rare case of early-stage endometrial adenocarcinoma in a 22
year old nullipara with polycystic ovaries undergoing conservative
treatment. Pretreatment evaluation including tumour grade, depth of
myometrial invasion, tumour size, hormone receptor status and flow
cytometric analysis indicated a favourable prognosis. The patient underwent
repeat endometrial curettage and a 6 month period of therapy with megestrol
acetate and tamoxifen. A combination contraceptive pill was then prescribed
to ensure withdrawal of the menstrual cycle thereafter. Now, 1 year after
the last curettage, there is no evidence of disease. During the treatment
period, hysteroscopy allowed for a more precise approach in panoramically
examining the tumour nest in the endometrial cavity, and the subsequent
endometrial response to hormone therapy. Laparoscopy using bulldog clamps
applied to the isthmic portion of the Fallopian tubes prevented i.p. spread
of endometrial tissue from retrograde regurgitation during hysteroscopy.
Laparoscopic ovarian electrocautery resulted in the reduction of abnormal
hypervascularization on the surface of polycystic ovaries postoperatively
but caused a peri-ovarian adhesion complication. It is interesting that
this case posed a unique opportunity to demonstrate the tumour regression
under the assistance of laparoscopy and hysteroscopy.
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This article describes the molecular cloning and expression of a hemolysin gene from a serotype 1 strain of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. The hemolysin was a thermolabile protein with an apparent molecular weight of 29,500 (29.5K hemolysin). Unlike expression of the recently described 105K hemolysin of A. pleuropneumoniae (J. Frey and J. Nicolet, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 55:41-46, 1988), expression of this hemolysin was not regulated by Ca2+. Antiserum prepared against the 105K hemolysin did not neutralize the activity of the 29.5K hemolysin; conversely, antiserum prepared against the 29.5K hemolysin did not neutralize the activity of the 105K hemolysin. The hemolytic activity was not neutralized with antisera against hemolytic Escherichia coli, Streptococcus agalactiae, or purified streptolysin O, but antisera prepared against recombinants containing the 29.5K gene and convalescent pig sera abrogated hemolytic activity. Although hemolytic activity could be detected in several strains of E. coli K-12 and in minicells expressing several different constructs encoding the 29.5K hemolysin, we could not rigorously exclude the possibility that the gene which we have isolated encodes a regulator of hemolytic activity rather than a hemolysin per se. 相似文献
To clarify mechanisms underlying cell-to-cell interactions between hemopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and stromal cells, we established a stromal cell line (FMS/PA6-P) from day-16 fetal bone marrow (BM) adherent cells using an anti-PA6 monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific for BM stromal cells. Importantly, this FMS/PA6-P cell line, showing homogenous fibroblastic morphology, is absent from hematolymphoid and endothelial lineage markers and maintains a high level of expression of PA6 molecule, recognized by the anti-PA6 mAb, for approximately 20 passages. Further, the cell line expressing a high level of PA6 molecule has a better hemopoiesis-supporting capacity in vitro than other stromal cell lines such as PA6 and MS-5. In fact, the PA6 molecule is closely related to the hemopoiesis-supporting capacity of the stromal cells because the proliferation of HSCs was suppressed to a great extent by the anti-PA6 mAb. Affinity chromatography and mass peptide fingerprinting revealed that the protein reacting with the anti-PA6 mAb is neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM). The frequencies of long-term cobblestone area-forming cells and long-term culture-initiating cells were significantly suppressed by repression of NCAM in the FMS/PA6-P cells using NCAM small interfering RNA. Our findings clearly indicate that NCAM functions on the maintenance of HSCs. 相似文献
The objective of this study was to determine whether or not abnormalities
in the autosomal structure of the male partner have any influence on
fertilization and early embryo development after intracytoplasmic sperm
injection (ICSI). Thirty-seven couples in whom the male partners were
examined by the same andrologist were included in this study. Six couples
(group I) in whom the male partner possessed autosomal structural
abnormality underwent seven ICSI cycles. As a control group, 31 couples
(group II) in which the male partner was karyotypically normal underwent 41
ICSI cycles. Although the normal fertilization rates seen in group I were
significantly higher than those in group II (P < 0.05), there was no
significant difference in the cleavage rates between the two groups. We did
not perform the analysis of the female partner's chromosomes, but we
surmise that structural autosomal abnormalities in the male partner do not
adversely influence fertilization at ICSI and early development of embryos.
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Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is caused by a novel and highly infectious virus named SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Among the serological tests currently available for the detection of SARS-CoV, a whole-virus-based immunofluorescence assay (IFA) was considered one of the most sensitive assays and served as a "gold standard" during the SARS epidemic in Singapore in 2003. However, the need to manipulate live SARS-CoV in the traditional IFA limits its wide application due to the requirement for a biosafety level 3 laboratory and the risk of laboratory infection. Previously, we have identified two immunodominant epitopes, named N195 and Sc, in the two major structural proteins, the N and S proteins, of SARS-CoV (Q. He, K. H. Chong, H. H. Chng, B. Leung, A. E. Ling, T. Wei, S. W. Chan, E. E. Ooi, and J. Kwang, Clin. Diagn. Lab. Immunol., 11:417-422, 2004; L. Lu, I. Manopo, B. P. Leung, H. H. Chng, A. E. Ling, L. L. Chee, E. E. Ooi, S. W. Chan, and J. Kwang, J. Clin. Microbiol. 42:1570-1576, 2004). In the present study, the N195-Sc fusion protein was highly expressed in insect (Sf9) cells infected with a recombinant baculovirus bearing the hybrid gene under the control of a polyhedrin promoter. An IFA based on Sf9 cells producing the fusion protein was standardized with 23 serum samples from patients with SARS, 20 serum samples from patients with autoimmune diseases, and 43 serum samples from healthy blood donors. The detection rates were comparable to those obtained with a commercial SARS-CoV IFA kit (EUROIMMUN, Gross Groenau, Germany) and a conventional IFA performed at the Singapore General Hospital. Our data showed that the newly developed IFA could detect SARS-CoV in 22 of the 23 SARS-CoV-positive serum samples and gave no false-positive results when the sera from patients with autoimmune diseases and healthy individuals were tested. The detection rate was identical to those of the two whole-virus-based IFAs. Thus, the novel N-S fusion antigen-based IFA could be an attractive alternative to present whole-virus-based IFAs for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV infection. 相似文献
HLA-A2 subtypes (A*0201 - *0212) were determined by oligotyping in HLA-A2 positive samples from four populations (Han Chinese, Dai Chinese, Caucasoids from Germany and Turkish individuals from Kayseri)(see table).
Two different findings can be concluded from this study: 1) Significant HLA-A*02 allelic variations found in four populations. A*0207 is the predominant A*02 allele in the Dai population and absent in the German Caucasian and the Turkish population. In contrast, A*0201 is the most prevalent allele in the Caucasian, Turkish and Han Chinese group. We also found a high proportion of A*0206 and A*0207 in Han Chinese. 2) A strong association has been found between A*0207 and HLA-B46 and DR9 in the Dai minority population. This haplotype is also found in Han Chinese. Three DNA samples from Turkish and one from the Dai population are presently being sequenced because the reaction pattern was out of the expected (Supported by SFB 217) 相似文献