Immune regulation by novel costimulatory molecules

CD4 helper T (Th)-cells and the cytokines that they produce play essential regulatory roles in immune and autoimmune responses. Th activation and differentiation is regulated by costimulatory receptors. CD28 and CTLA-4 are important in maintaining the threshold of T-cell activation. ICOS and PD-1 are novel costimulatory receptors expressed on activated T-cells. B7-H3 recognizes a putative costimulatory receptor on activated T-cells. Here we summarize the latest developments in the novel costimulatory molecules and their roles in regulating Th activation, differentiation, and function.     

Fine mapping of thymus enlargement gene 1 (Ten1) in BUF/Mna rats

Two polymeric autosomal loci, Ten1 and Ten2, regulate thymus enlargement in BUF/Mna (B) rats. Previously, we mapped Ten1 on chromosome (Chr) 1 to a 20 cM region between Myl2 and D1Mgh11, and Ten2 on Chr 13. To further characterize the precise position of Ten1, 34 and 37 microsatellite markers, that have a polymorphism between the B and WYK (W) and between the B and MITE (M) strains, were used for linkage analysis of thymus enlargement in 105 (WBF1 x B) blackcross (BC) and 78 (B x BMF1) BC rats, respectively. Our data showed that the D1Rat168, D1Rat112, D1Rat323, D1Got186, D1Got187 and D1Got188 markers each gave a peak logarithm of odds (LOD) score of 10.68 for linkage to the thymus ratio in (WBF1 x B) BC rats, and that the D1Rat168, D1Rat197, D1Got184, D1Got186 and D1Got188 markers each gave a peak LOD score of 7.82 in (B x BMF1) BC rats. The two LOD score peaks are coincident in the position of the rat genetic map. All of the markers mentioned above are located in the region between Igf2 and D1Mgh11, in which synteny is conserved with human 11q15.5 and the distal end of mouse Chr 7 or with human 11q13 and the proximal end of mouse Chr 19. Genes existing in these regions are discussed as candidate genes for Ten1.     

Three novel PROC gene lesions causing protein C deficiency

Hallam PJ, Mannucci P, Tripodi A, Bevan D, Laursen B, Tengborn L, Wacey A, Cooper DN. Three novel PROC gene lesions causing protein C deficiency. Clin Genet 1998: 54: 231–233. 0 Munksgaard, 1998
Missense mutations. three of them novel (Am210→Val, Asn248→ Ile, Ah355→Val), were found in the protein c ( PROC ) genes of 7 patients with inherited protein C deficiency associated with venous thrombosis. Comparison with the phenotypic effects of mutations in the analogous residues of factor IX causing hdernophilia B and the use of molecular modelling has provided explanations as to how these lesions might alter either the structure, function or secretion of the protein C molecules encoded.     

Linking DJ-1 to neurodegeneration offers novel insights for understanding the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease

Rare monogenic forms of Parkinson's disease (PD) are promoting our understanding of the molecular pathways involved in the common, non-Mendelian forms of the disease. Here, we focus on PARK7, an autosomal recessive form of early-onset parkinsonism caused by mutations in the DJ-1 gene. We first review the genetics of this form and the rapidly expanding knowledge about the structure and biochemical properties of the DJ-1 protein. We also discuss how DJ-1 dysfunction might lead to neurodegeneration, and the implications of this novel piece of information for the pathogenesis of the common PD forms. Although much work remains to be done to clarify the biology of DJ-1, its proposed activity as a molecular chaperone and/or as oxidative sensor appear intriguing in the light of the current theories on the pathogenesis of PD.     

糖皮质激素对甲醛致炎大鼠c-fos表达的影响

目的为糖皮质激素(GCS)对神经细胞的作用提供形态学资料。方法30只SD大鼠随机分为:对照组、单纯甲醛组、地塞米松预处理组、RU486预处理组、RU486+地塞米松预处理组,甲醛刺激后采用动物行为学方法、免疫组织化学法、神经细胞染色和形态计量学方法进行观察。结果在大鼠后爪掌面皮下注射稀释甲醛20μl可造成注射处急性持续性炎症。1h后,同侧脊髓腰膨大背角浅层。双侧中缝大核、丘脑、大脑皮层Fos免疫阳性神经元(FLI)总数明显上升,对侧脊髓内少量散在分布。用地塞米松预处理2h后可使相应部位FLI神经元数明显降低,具有剂量依赖性。外周水肿。疼痛表现与同侧背角浅层FLI细胞数呈正相关。用糖皮质激素受体阻断剂RU486可部分反转GCS的效应。结论伤害性刺激可引起中枢神经系统c-fos广泛表达。GCS可降低脊髓后角神经元的兴奋性。     

Rearrangement of the human heavy chain variable region gene V3-23 in transgenic mice generates antibodies reactive with a range of antigens on the basis of VHCDR3 and residues intrinsic to the heavy chain variable region

To formulate a 'logic' for how a single immunoglobulin variable region gene generates antibodies with different antigen specificity and polyreactivity, we analysed chimeric antibodies produced in transgenic mice carrying the germ-line human V3-23 gene, multiple diversity (D) and joining (J) gene segments. Hybridomas producing antibodies encoded by the V3-23 gene in combination with different mouse Vkappa genes were obtained by fusion of splenocytes from transgenic mice. All antibodies had human mu-chains and mouse light chains, were multimeric in structure and expressed the human V3-23 gene. Nucleotide sequence analyses of genes encoding the heavy and light chains of 12 antibodies in relation to antigen specificity highlighted the importance of heavy chain variable region CDR3 in determining reactivity with different antigens. However, the results also suggest that non-CDR3 sequences intrinsic to the V3-23 gene itself may be involved in, or determine, the binding of the chimeric antibodies to some of the antigens tested in the current study.     

Contribution of the tdh 1 gene of Kanagawa phenomenon-positive Vibrio parahaemolyticus to production of extracellular thermostable direct hemolysin

Kanagawa phenomenon-positive strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus contain two copies of the tdh gene (tdh1 and tdh2) encoding thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH). Previous studies suggested that the tdh2 gene, but not the tdh1 gene, was responsible for production of extracellular TDH. In this study, a tdh2-deficient isogenic mutant of Kanagawa phenomenon-positive strain AQ3815 was constructed by a suicide vector-mediated in vivo recombination method. The intact tdh1 gene in the mutant contributed little to Kanagawa phenomenon on Wagatsuma agar but produced TDH in broth media, accounting for 0.5–9.4% of total extracellular TDH of AQ3815.     

9.1C3单克隆抗体轻,重链可变区基因克隆及序列分析

９．１Ｃ３分子是一种参与ＮＫ、巨噬细胞及ＬＡＫ细胞杀伤过程的重要细胞表面分子，主要表达于外周血单个核细胞表面。本文运用分子生物学技术，从分泌９．１Ｃ３ＭＣＡｂ的杂交瘤细胞中提取总ＲＮＡ，经反转录、ＰＣＲ分另１１分离了９．１Ｃ３ＭｃＡｂ轻链可变区（ＶＬ）基因及重链可变区（ＶＨ）基因，并用全自动荧光ＤＮＡ序列分析仪对９．１Ｃ３ＶＨ、ＶＬ基因序列进行了分析。结果表明：９．１Ｃ３ＶＨ基因为３５１ｂＰ，编码１１７ａａ残基，９．１３ＶＬ为３２４ｂＰ，编码１０８ａａ残基；从推导出的氨基酸序列分析证实９．１Ｃ３ＶＨ、ＶＬ序列均符合小鼠ｌｇ可变区的氨基酸序列特征；根据Ｋａｂｂａｔ分类体系，９．１Ｃ３ＶＨ隶属Ｉｇ重链第Ⅱ（Ｃ）亚组，９．１Ｃ３ＶＬ隶属小鼠ＩｇＫ链第Ⅴ亚组。９．１Ｃ３ＶＨ、ＶＬ基因的克隆成功为其单链抗体的构建、表达奠定了良好的物质基础。     

肝癌组织差异表达基因cDNA序列的筛选与鉴定

目的：筛选并鉴定肝癌组织特异表达基因。方法：通过菌落原位杂交技术筛选用抑制消减杂交法构建肝癌与癌旁肝组织差异表达基因消减cDNA文库，用PCR方法进一步筛选出有插入片段的阳性克隆，将阳性克隆进行DNA测序和同源性比较分析，用Northern印迹方法对新的cDNA序列进行初步鉴定。结果：从消减文库中随机挑取的100个白色克隆中筛选出13个阳性克隆，DNA测序获得11个不同的cDNA序列；同源性比较分析表明，6个cDNA片段与在基因高度同源，5个cDNA片段为新的序列。其长度大于300bp的3个新序列，Norther印迹证实它都来源于肝癌组织。结论：用抑制消减杂交方法构建的肝癌差异表达基因消减cDNA文库富含肝癌特异表达基因，经验证的3个新的cDNA序列可能为肝癌特异的基因序列。     

Preferential VH/V lambda pairings occur in the available B cell repertoire of adult BALB/c mice.

To gain insights into the composition of the B cell repertoire, we have investigated VH gene family expression associated with individual light chains. For this purpose, we have examined the use of 12 VH gene families in a large collection of hybridomas expressing one of the four lambda light chains [lambda 1 (V1J1), lambda 2 (V2J2 and V x J2) and lambda 3 (V1J3)]. Our results show that the distribution of the VH families is very different from one lambda subtype to another. This suggests that a few substitutions between VL regions are sufficient to generate very different associated repertoires by strong selection mechanisms. Moreover, we assume that the global VH expression pattern is not random but rather composed of many preferential VH/VL associations.