Thymic stroma is required for the development of human T cell lineages in vitro

Development of the T cell lineage is characterized by the homingof hematopoietic precursors to thymus, followed by their acquisitionof receptors for antigen. T cell receptors are ß or heterodimers associated with CD3 (TCR-CD3). Very early T cellprecursors in humans have been characterized as CD7+45+ cellswhich lack the T cell differentiation antigens CD1, CD2, CD3,CD4, and CD8. A phenotypically equivalent early thymocyte populationalso occurs in postnatal life, and we have previously shownthat interleukin 2 (IL2) promotes the development in vitro ofboth the ß and the T cells from these early thymocytes.Here we have analyzed the requirements of the induction of theIL2 pathway in early thymocytes, and their developmental potential.We show that: (I) thymic stromal cells, which are present inthymocyte suspensions, are necessary to induce the IL2 pathwayand the development of ß or T cell lineages fromearly thymocytes in vitro; and (II) when removed from the invivo environment, early thymocytes can develop in vitro intoTCR-CD3^– cells of the natural killer (NK) lineage. Weconclude that CD7+45+, CD1–2–3–4–8–early thymocytes are multipotential progenitors that, at least,have the capacity to develop into ß or T cell andNK lineages. The analysis of the mechanisms of generation andselection of human T and NK cell diversity, not feasible inbone marrow cultures, is now possible.     

FK228抑制EPO介导的人红系前体细胞的增殖与分化

目的:探讨组蛋白脱乙酰化酶抑制剂FK228在红细胞生成素(EPO)介导的人红系前体细胞增殖与分化中的调节作用。方法:从经粒细胞集落刺激因子动员的肿瘤患者外周血单核细胞中分离CD34 细胞,用含干细胞生长因子(SCF)、EPO或SCF IL-3及不同浓度FK228的无血清培养基培养7d,分别用抗GPA及抗CD36单克隆抗体(mAb)染色并行流式细胞术检测;将CD34 细胞用含SCF IL-3的无血清培养基培养7d,分离CD36 GPA-细胞,将细胞用含有EPO FK228的无血清培养基培养7d,并行细胞计数;将CD36 GPAlow/-细胞用含EPO加或不加FK228的无血清培养基培养,并进行annexin V和PI染色。结果:FK228以一种剂量依赖方式抑制CD36 GPAhigh、CD36 GPAlow和CD36 GPA-细胞的产生;FK228可诱导CD36 GPAhigh和CD36 GPAlow/-细胞在含EPO的培养基中发生细胞凋亡。结论:FK228可抑制EPO介导的人红系前体细胞的增殖与分化。     

人巨细胞病毒对红系祖细胞的影响

【目的】探讨人巨细胞病毒 (HCMV)对红系祖细胞 (CFU E)的分化和增殖的影响 ,并初步探讨其作用机制。【方法】取 15例脐血标本 ,用红系祖细胞单向半固体培养技术 ,观察 3种不同浓度的HCMVAD16 9株对CFU E集落形成的影响 ,用PCR和RT PCR检测集落中的HCMVDNA与latemRNA。【结果】 3个感染组的CFU E均减少 ,与正常对照组比较 ,分别为 11 46 %、2 1 88%、34 45 % (P <0 0 5 ) ,显示CFU E集落数与HCMV感染浓度有关 ,病毒感染浓度越高 ,抑制程度越大。CFU E集落细胞中的HCMVDNA均为阳性 ,而latemRNA为阴性。【结论】HCMVAD16 9株可直接感染红系祖细胞 ,并抑制其分化与增殖 ,该抑制作用可出现于仅有病毒潜伏的细胞。     

AMPA receptors shape Ca2+ responses in cortical oligodendrocyte progenitors and CG-4 cells

Intracellular calcium signals triggered by glutamate receptor activation were studied in primary cortical oligodendrocyte lineage cells and in the oligodendrocyte cell line CG-4. Glutamate, kainate, and AMPA (30-300 μM) increased [Ca ²⁺]_i in both types of cells at the stage of oligodendrocyte progenitors (O-2A; GD3⁺) or pro-oligodendroblasts (04⁺). The peak amplitude of Ca²⁺ responses to glutamate receptor agonists was significantly larger in cortical cells. In CG-4 and in cortical cells, the majority (more than 90%) of bipolar GD3⁺ or multipolar 04⁺ cells responded to kamate. In all the cells analyzed, kainate was more efficacious than AMPA and glutamate. The percentage of bipolar or multipolar cells responding to glutamate was significantly lower in the CG-4 cell line than in primary cultures. Cellular responses typical of metabotropic glutamate receptor activation were observed in 20% of the cortical O-2A progenitors, but in none of the CG-4 cells. The AMPA-selective antagonist GYKI 52466 blocked kainate-induced Ca²⁺ responses in cortical O-2A cells. The selective AMPA receptor modulator cyclothiazide (30 μM) greatly potentiated the effects of AMPA (30-100 μM) on [Ca ²⁺]_i in cortical and CG-4 cells. Our findings indicate that Ca²⁺ responses in cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage are primarily shaped by functional AMPA receptors. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

1 This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.

     

The pancreatic ductal epithelium serves as a potential pool of progenitor cells

Abstract:  With the increasing success of islet transplantation, β-cell replacement therapy has had renewed interest. To make such a therapy available to more than a few of the thousands of patients with diabetes, new sources of insulin-producing cells must become readily available. The most promising sources are stem cells, whether embryonic or adult stem cells. Clearly identifiable adult pancreatic stem cells have yet to be characterized. Although considerable evidence suggests their possibility, recent lineage-tracing experiments challenge their existence. Even in light of these lineage-tracing experiments, we suggest that evidence for neogenesis or new islet formation after birth remains strong. Our work has suggested that the pancreatic duct epithelium itself serves as a pool for progenitors for both islet and acinar tissues after birth and into adulthood and, thus, that the duct epithelium can be considered 'facultative stem cells'. We will develop our case for this hypothesis in this perspective.     

制首乌总多糖对贫血小鼠造血祖细胞增殖的影响

目的观察制首乌总多糖(PPS)对放化疗所致骨髓抑制贫血小鼠造血祖细胞增殖的影响。方法建立骨髓抑制贫血小鼠模型,采用造血祖细胞培养技术,观察PPS体内ip给药和细胞培养直接用药对造血祖细胞增殖和骨髓有核细胞(BMC)数目的影响。结果体内用药能显著增加BMC数目,提高BFU-E、CFU-E和CFU-Meg集落数产率(P<0.01),能增加CFU-GM集落数产率(P<0.05);在一定浓度下,体外直接用药,能增加CFU-Meg集落数产率(P<0.01)。结论PPS能通过间接作用促进红系和粒系祖细胞的增殖,能通过间接和直接作用刺激巨核系祖细胞的增殖。     

HCMV Infection of Human Trophoblast Progenitor Cells of the Placenta Is Neutralized by a Human Monoclonal Antibody to Glycoprotein B and Not by Antibodies to the Pentamer Complex

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the major viral cause of congenital infection and birth defects. Primary maternal infection often results in virus transmission, and symptomatic babies can have permanent neurological deficiencies and deafness. Congenital infection can also lead to intrauterine growth restriction, a defect in placental transport. HCMV replicates in primary cytotrophoblasts (CTBs), the specialized cells of the placenta, and inhibits differentiation/invasion. Human trophoblast progenitor cells (TBPCs) give rise to the mature cell types of the chorionic villi, CTBs and multi-nucleated syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs). Here we report that TBPCs are fully permissive for pathogenic and attenuated HCMV strains. Studies with a mutant virus lacking a functional pentamer complex (gH/gL/pUL128-131A) showed that virion entry into TBPCs is independent of the pentamer. In addition, infection is blocked by a potent human neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb), TRL345, reactive with glycoprotein B (gB), but not mAbs to the pentamer proteins pUL130/pUL131A. Functional studies revealed that neutralization of infection preserved the capacity of TBPCs to differentiate and assemble into trophospheres composed of CTBs and STBs in vitro. Our results indicate that mAbs to gB protect trophoblast progenitors of the placenta and could be included in antibody treatments developed to suppress congenital infection and prevent disease.     

The alternate iron transport pathway: mobilferrin and integrin in reticulocytes

Iron transport in reticulocytes is known to occur via the well-described transferrin-receptor–endosome pathway. An alternative pathway for iron transport independent of transferrin has been postulated in reticulocytes and other cells. Transport of iron into reticulocytes from ferric citrate solutions was shown to be saturable and independent of transferrin. During transport of iron from ferric citrate, both cell surface integrins, and a soluble protein, mobilferrin, were labelled. This demonstrated that the reticulocyte transferrin independent pathway for iron transport involved integrins and mobilferrin similar to intestinal absorptive cells. This pathway would be expected to transport iron into cells under conditions of iron overload and was capable of providing iron for haemoglobin synthesis. Mobilferrin was also radiolabelled when radioiron labelled transferrin was incubated with reticulocytes and this occurred with a different time course than was observed following reticulocyte exposure to radiolabelled ferric citrate. This suggested that mobilferrin may serve as an intermediary in both pathways.