Ghrelin expression in hyperplastic and neoplastic proliferations of the enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells

Ghrelin, a recently discovered peptide isolated from the gastric corpus mucosa, is believed to be important in the regulation of growth hormone secretion and has been shown to increase appetite and food intake as well. It may also have other gastrointestinal and cardiac functions. Because a cell of origin for ghrelin has not been convincingly identified in the gastric mucosa thus far, we studied the immunohistochemical expression of ghrelin in proliferative lesions of the enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells—a cell that is not only exclusively confined to the gastric corpus mucosa but is its dominant endocrine cell type as well. Formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissues from three cases of gastric ECL cell hyperplasia and five ECL carcinoids (three with coexisting foci of diffuse, linear, and micronodular hyperplasia) were immunohistochemically stained for ghrelin, using a commercially available antibody. The Sevier-Munger stain for ECL cells and immunohistochemical stains for chromogranin, gastrin, serotonin, somatostatin, and vesicular monoamine transporter-2 (VMAT-2) were performed on parallel sections for correlation with the ghrelin staining results. All ECL cell carcinoids and hyperplastic lesions were positive for both the Sevier-Munger and the immunohistochemical stains for chromogranin and VMAT-2. Immunoreactivity for ghrelin was seen in 4/5 ECL carcinoids, all cases of ECL cell hyperplasia, as well as in all areas with linear and micronodular hyperplasia adjacent to the ECL cell carcinoids. In each instance, such staining was confined to the Sevier-Munger, and VMAT-2 positive cells only. Our findings indicate that the ECL cells are either the ghrelin-producing cells of the gastric mucosa or acquire the capability to synthesize ghrelin during proliferative states encompassing the entire hyperplasia to neoplasia spectrum. In view of the orexigenic and other known actions of ghrelin, the functional and/or biologic significance of ghrelin production in such ECL cell proliferations needs to be investigated further.     

人血管抑制因子的原核表达、纯化及活性研究

目的：利用大肠杆菌表达系统表达人血管抑制因子，并利用镍金属螯合层析法进行纯化，探讨其抑制血管内皮细胞增殖的活性。方法：采用RT-PCR技术从人肝脏组织中获取人血管抑制因子的cDNA，将其克隆至原核表达载体pQE30中进行IPTG诱导表达。表达产物经SDS-PAGE分析，并利用镍金属螯合层析法进行纯化。^3H-TdR法检测纯化的血管抑制因子对血管内皮细胞增殖的抑制作用。结果：利用pQE30表达载体表达的含6个组氨酸尾的vasostafin蛋白，在SDS-PAGE上表现出一条约2lkD的阳性条带，经镍金属螯合层析纯化后的蛋白经肽指纹图谱分析鉴定为目的蛋白，在体外可抑制人脐静脉血管内皮细胞的增殖。结论：人血管抑制因子可在大肠杆菌中以包涵体形式高水平表达，并具有抑制血管内皮细胞增殖的活性．     

Molecular and biological analysis of echovirus 9 strain isolated from a diabetic child

The full-length infectious cDNA clone was constructed and sequenced from the strain DM of echovirus 9, which was recently isolated from a 6-week-old child at the clinical onset of type 1 diabetes. Parallel with the isolate DM, the full-length infectious cDNA clone of the prototype strain echovirus 9 Barty (Barty-INF), was constructed and sequenced. Genetic relationships of the sequenced echo 9 viruses to the other members of the human enterovirus type B species were studied by phylogenetic analyses. Comparison of capsid protein sequences showed that the isolate DM was closely related to both prototype strains: Hill and Barty-INF. The only exception was the inner capsid protein VP4 where serotype specificity was not evident and the isolate DM clustered with the strain Hill and the strain Barty-INF with echovirus 30 Bastianni. Likewise, the nonstructural protein coding region, P2P3, of isolate DM was more similar to strain Hill than to strain Barty-INF. However, like echovirus 9 Barty, the isolate DM contained the RGD-motif in the carboxy terminus of capsid protein VP1. By blocking experiments using an RGD-containing peptide and a polyclonal rabbit antiserum to the alpha(v)beta(3)-integrin, it was shown that this molecule works as a cellular receptor for isolate DM. By using primary human islets, it was shown that the isolate DM is capable of infecting insulin-producing beta-cells like the corresponding prototype strains did. However, only isolate DM was clearly cytolytic for beta-cells. The infectious clones that were made allow further investigations of the molecular features responsible for the diabetogenicity of the isolate DM.     

Normal human IgG prevents endothelial cell activation induced by TNFalpha and oxidized low-density lipoprotein atherogenic stimuli

Normal human immunoglobulin G (IgG) has anti-inflammatory and immuno-regulatory properties, which are exploited in the therapy of selected diseases. A putative mechanisms of action is the direct regulation of endothelial cell function by natural antiendothelial cell antibodies. Endothelium activation is a critical event in atherosclerosis. We have verified the ability of normal human IgG to modulate endothelial responses to the atherogenic stimuli tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) and oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL) in vitro. Confocal microscopy was used to visualize vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD106) expression on endothelial cells, cytoplasmic free calcium ([Ca++]i) modifications and fluorescein-coupled oxLDL internalization. Cytokine secretion was measured by ELISA on cell supernatants. IgG prevented TNFalpha induced CD106 membrane expression and an increase in [Ca++]i, and inhibited the secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). IgG also inhibited CD106 expression induced by oxLDL and one pathway of their internalization, but were ineffective on oxLDL induced [Ca++]i rise and apoptosis. F(ab)'2 fragments from IgG, but not monoclonal IgG, reproduce IgG effects. These findings point to a regulatory role for specific antibodies included in circulating normal IgG towards proinflammatory responses of endothelial cells in atherogenesis and suggest possible development of new therapeutic strategies.     

Engulfment of mast cell secretory granules on skin inflammation boosts dendritic cell migration and priming efficiency

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Ras homolog gene family H (RhoH) deficiency induces psoriasis-like chronic dermatitis by promoting TH17 cell polarization

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外伤性视神经损伤后视神经及视网膜形态的动态观察

目的:了解外伤性视神经损伤后的病理变化、溃变特点与时相间的关系。方法:参照Allen脊髓损伤法,造成视神经眶尖段间接600gcm力冲击、挤压伤。伤后对视神经和视网膜行形态学动态观察。结果:①伤后48h,视神经轻度肿胀和空泡反应;1周时损伤处视神经出现溃变,神经胶质细胞增生,视网膜神经节细胞(retinalganglioncells,RGCs)形态改变不明显;2周时神经纤维轴束间空泡样改变,局灶性坏死,RGCs核固缩和细胞数量减少。术后3月,视神经损伤部位直径缩小,形成胶质疤痕,RGCs数量明显减少,核固缩细胞增多。②RGCs数量于术后48h、1周、2周、1月和3月分别比正常对照组低3.35%、13.23%、19.74%、23.20%、29.28%。③视网膜细胞在48h内出现凋亡。结论:本实验模型可造成明确的视神经和视网膜损伤,神经元的损伤程度从节细胞、中间神经元、感光细胞的次序依次递减。视网膜和视神经损伤的严重程度与时间呈相关性。RGCs数量在48h至1周时下降速率最快。     

胃癌细胞三磷酸腺苷酶、5′—核苷酸酶和胞嘧啶单核苷酸酶活性定位的电镜细胞化学研究

应用电镜酶细胞化学方法对12例胃癌细胞三磷酸腺苷酶(Mg~(2+)—ATPase,Ca~(2+)—ATPase),5~1—核苷酸酶(5NPase)及胞嘧啶单核苷酸酶(CMPase)进行了超微结构水平的定位观察。结果表明:胃管状腺癌细胞腔缘微绒毛丰富,Mg~(2+)—ATPase、Ca~(2+)—ATPase及5NPase定位于微绒毛表面,反应明显,提示其功能代谢具有极性分布特点。粘液腺癌细胞出、入胞现象活跃,Mg~(2+)—ATPase、Ca~(2+)—ATPase及CMPase反应明显,认为与其粘液的大量分泌,营养物质的摄取与加工以及逃避免疫细胞的杀伤机制有关。低分化腺癌上述酶大都无反应或反应微弱。作者认为胃癌细胞的酶活性及其分布与其分化程度及功能状况有关。     

Immune effector cells induced by complete Freund's adjuvant exert an inhibitory effect on antigen-specific type 2 T helper responses

Background II has hecn well documented that environmental factors such as antigenpresenting cells and related cytokines could affect the development of T helper cells. Objective The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of different adjuvants on T cell development. Methods Ovalbumin (OVA) combined with aluminum hydroxide (Alum) plus pertussis toxin (PT) or complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) were used to sensitize mice; the production of IgG and IgE anli-OVA antibodies was then followed. In addition, OVA-specific proliferative responses and cytokine production by spleen cells were also investigated. Results The data showed that the adjuvants themselves could modify the pattern of immune response: (1) IgG_2a > anti-OVA antibody was higher in mice sensitized with OVA + CFA compared to that of mice sensitized with OVA + Alum + PT; (2) the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 produced by OVA-stimutated spleen cells was higher in mice sensitized with OVA + CFA than that of mice sensitized with OVA + Alum + PT; (3) increased percentage of γδ T cells was noted in the peritoneal exudate cells of OVA + CFA immunized mice; and (4) the immune response of mice sensitized wilh OVA + Alum+ PT was inhibited by the adoptively transferred ascitic cells from OVA + CFA immunized mice. Conclusion In general, the data suggested higher IgG2a and the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 was noted In mice sensitized with OVA + CFA. Further elucidation of the regulatory mechanism of allergen-specific T helper cells development and exploration of possible agents for inmiunotherapy might shed light on the management of atopic diseases.     

Regulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced calcium mobilization by cAMP-elevating agents in cultured canine tracheal smooth muscle cells

The effects of increases in cellular adenosine 3′5′-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) on 5-hydroxytryptamine-(5-HT-) induced generation of inositol phosphates (IPs) and increases in intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i) were investigated using canine cultured tracheal smooth muscle cells (TSMCs). Cholera toxin and forskolin induced concentration- and time-dependent cAMP formation with half-maximal effects (−logEC₅₀) produced at concentrations of 7.0 ± 0.5 and 4.9 ± 0.4  respectively. Pretreatment of TSMCs with either forskolin or dibutyryl cAMP inhibited 5-HT-stimulated responses. Even after treatment for 24h, these agents still inhibited the 5-HT-induced Ca²⁺ mobilization. The inhibitory effects of these agents produced both depression of the maximal response and a shift to the right of the concentration response curves of 5-HT. The water-soluble forskolin analogue L-858051 [7-deacetyl-7β-(γ-N-methylpiperazino)-butyryl forskolin] significantly inhibited the 5-HT-stimulated accumulation of IPs. In contrast, the addition of 1,9-dideoxy forskolin, an inactive forskolin analogue, had little effect on this response. Moreover, SQ-22536 [9-(tetrahydro-2-furanyl)-9-H-purin-6-amine], an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, and both H-89 [N-(2-aminoethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulphonamide] and HA-1004[N-(2-guanidinoethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulphonamide], inhibitors of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), attenuated the ability of forskolin to inhibit the 5-HT-stimulated accumulation of IPs. These results suggest that activation of cAMP/PKA was involved in these inhibitory effects of forskolin. The AlF₄ ⁻-induced accumulation of IPs was inhibited by forskolin, suggesting that G protein(s) are directly activated by AlF₄ ⁻- and uncoupled from phospholipase C by forskolin treatment. These results suggest that activation of cAMP/PKA might inhibit the 5-HT-stimulated phosphoinositide breakdown and consequently reduce the [Ca²⁺]_i increase or inhibit both responses independently. Received: 14 March 1996/Accepted: 10 April 1996