人sCD40L-Ig重组腺病毒载体的构建、表达及功能检测

目的:构建含有分泌型人胞外区CD40L融合蛋白(sCD40L-Ig)基因的重组腺病毒载体,确定其表达和功能学意义。方法:通过PCR获得人源IgGFc和sCD40L基因并予以连接,将其插入到腺病毒穿梭质粒pAdTrack-CMV中,构建重组质粒pAdTrack-sCD40L-Ig。将其与pAdEasy-1-BJ5183菌行同源重组后,用293细胞包装,通过观察绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)和Western blot分析等方法鉴定重组腺病毒,并进行双向混合淋巴细胞反应(MLR)以确定其功能。结果:所构建的sCD40L-Ig基因的重组腺病毒,经酶切和PCR鉴定正确。原代腺病毒的滴度达到2.69×1011pfu/L,并有相对分子质量(Mr)为61×103的目的蛋白表达。MLR显示,重组腺病毒对淋巴细胞的增殖有抑制作用。结论:成功地构建了含有sCD40L-Ig基因的重组腺病毒,并对MLR有抑制作用。     

B7.2-Ig fusion proteins enhance IL-4-dependent differentiation of tumor-sensitized CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors

The B7/CD28 co-stimulatory pathway plays a critical role in T cell activation and differentiation. Our previous study demonstrated that administration of B7.2-Ig fusion proteins to tumor-bearing mice elicits IL-4-dependent, CD8+ T cell-mediated tumor regression. Here, we investigated whether B7.2-Ig stimulation of tumor-sensitized CD8+ CTL precursors during in vitro antigen re-sensitization actually results in their differentiation into mature CTLs and if so, whether such a process depends on IL-4 signals. Splenocytes from tumor-sensitized (tumor-bearing or tumor-immunized) mice exhibited low levels of anti-tumor CTL responses upon culturing alone, but induced strikingly enhanced CTL responses when stimulated in vitro with B7.2-Ig fusion proteins. Because CTLs were not generated from normal splenocytes even by B7.2-Ig stimulation, the expression of the B7.2-Ig effect required the in vivo tumor sensitization of CD8+ CTL precursors. Administration of anti-CD4 or anti-CD40 ligand (CD40L) to mice before tumor sensitization resulted in almost complete inhibition of CTL responses generated in the subsequent culture containing B7.2-Ig. In contrast, anti-IL-4 did not influence in vivo tumor sensitization required for CTL induction. However, B7.2-Ig stimulation of tumor-sensitized splenocytes enhanced IL-4 production and neutralization of this IL-4 with anti-IL-4 potently down-regulated CTL responses. These results indicate that B7.2-Ig enhances IL-4-dependent differentiation of anti-tumor CD8+ CTL precursors that can be sensitized in vivo depending on collaboration with CD4+ T cells involving CD40L function.     

Increased circulating interleukin-12 (IL-12) p40 in pulmonary sarcoidosis

In sarcoidosis, a T helper 1 (Th1) response is an essential event and the up-regulation of interleukin-12 (IL-12) has been detected in affected disease sites. In order to investigate the clinical usefulness of circulating IL-12, we measured the serum concentrations of IL-12 by ELISA and performed immunohistochemistry using specific MoAbs for IL-12 in the lungs and scalene lymph nodes of patients with sarcoidosis. The serum concentration of IL-12 p40 was detectable in all 45 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis and 18 normal controls, whereas that of IL-12 p70 was undetectable. The serum concentrations of IL-12 p40 in pulmonary sarcoidosis were significantly higher than those of the normal controls, especially in cases with abnormal intrathoracic findings detected by chest roentogenogram. The serum concentrations of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) also increased compared with those of normal controls and there was a significant positive correlation between the serum concentrations of IL-12 p40 and IFN-gamma. Furthermore, serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and lysozyme, which are known to be useful markers for disease activity in sarcoidosis, correlated well with the serum concentrations of IL-12 p40. The positive 67Ga scan group (for lung field) had significantly elevated serum IL-12 p40 levels compared with those of the negative group. No bioactivity of IL-12 p70 was detected in three sarcoid cases sera by using the IL-12 responsive cell line. Finally, the immunohistochemical approach revealed that IL-12 p40 was expressed in the epithelioid cells and macrophages of sarcoid lungs and lymph nodes. We concluded that the production of IL-12 p40 was far greater in the sera and we have demonstrated this to be a useful clinical marker for disease activity and the Th1 response in pulmonary sarcoidosis.     

Specific Interaction of a 25-kilodalton Cellular Protein,a 40S Ribosomal Subunit Protein,with the Internal Ribosome Entry Site of Hepatitis C Virus Genome

Translation initiation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA is controlled by an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) contained in 5 noncoding region (NCR) and in several nucleotides of the coding region. The ability of a 25-kilodalton cellular protein (p25) to bind the HCV 5 NCR is correlated with the efficiency of translation initiation of HCV RNA, indicating that this protein plays a critical role in HCV translation (S. Fukushi, C. Kurihara, N. Ishiyama, F. B. Hoshino, A. Oya, and K. Katayama, J Virol 71, 1662–1666, 1997). We have extended the study for identification of the IRES region required for p25 binding. For this purpose, we have performed UV cross-linking competition analyses using 5- or 3- deleted mutants of the HCV 5 NCR as competitor RNAs for binding of p25 to wild-type HCV 5 NCR. Competitor RNAs lacking nucleotides (nt) 47–74 or nt 279–331 did not inhibit p25 binding to the HCV IRES, indicating that these regions are necessary for interaction of the p25 and HCV IRES. Since p25 binding was not observed in the IRES elements of encephalomyocarditis virus and poliovirus in UV cross-linking competition analyses, the p25 binding may be specific for the HCV IRES. p25 bound to the HCV IRES was detected when a purified 40S ribosomal subunit was used for UV cross-linking experiment, indicating that p25 is one of 40S ribosomal subunit proteins. These results reveal an unique interaction between the 40S ribosomal subunit and HCV IRES to contribute to translation initiation of the HCV genome.     

CD154-CD40-induced reactivation of latent HIV-1 infection

Reservoirs of latent HIV-1 in T cells and macrophages pose one of the major obstacles that hamper final eradication of HIV-1 from infected patients. Targeting costimulatory molecules expressed on cell types harboring latent HIV-1 to achieve reactivation may provide a new approach to overcome this problem. One such molecule is CD40, a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-receptor family. Using THP89GFP cells as a model for latently infected macrophages, we demonstrate that trimeric forms of recombinant CD154 allow for the direct reactivation of latent HIV-1 infection. Reactivation is augmented by the release of TNF-alpha. The presence of TNF-alpha is also crucial for the expression of late structural genes such as p24 Gag. In addition, levels of secreted TNF-alpha are sufficiently high to reactivate latent HIV-1 in a latently HIV-1-infected T-cell line (J89GFP). Taken together, our results demonstrate that costimulatory molecules may be attractive targets to reactivate latent HIV-1 in infected patients.     

系统性红斑狼疮外周血单个核细胞CD40L的表达增高

目的:了解系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)患者外周血单个核细胞(PBMCs)的白细胞分化抗原40配体(CD40L)表达,探讨其在发病中的作用。方法:分离SLE患者和正常人PBMCs,采用流式细胞术,检测其在正常状况和应用植物凝集素(PHA)及地塞米松(Dex)后,CD40L的表达水平,并进行比较;分析SLE患者CD40L的表达水平和狼疮活动指数(SLEDAI)的相关性。结果:活动期SLE患者PBMCs的CD40L阳性细胞百分率(%)明显高于对照组,且高于静止期SLE患者;应用PHA处理24h后,3组PBMC表达CD40L均明显增加,但活动期SLE患者增加更明显;应用地塞米松后,SLE患者(活动期和静止期)PBMCs的CD40L表达明显减少,对照组无明显改变;SLE患者(活动期和静止期)CD40L的表达水平和SLEDAI均呈明显正相关。结论:CD40L在SLE患者PBMCs的表达增加,和疾病活动度有关;其受PHA和Dex调控,在SLE发病和病程中起重要作用。     

Role of CD40 antigen and interleukin-2 in T cell-dependent human B lymphocyte growth

In the present study, we examined the participation of CD40 ligand (L)-CD40 interaction in T cell-dependent B cell responses. To this end, purified B lymphocytes were cultured over irradiated CD4⁺ cloned T cells activated with immobilized anti-CD3 antibody. The anti-CD40 mAb 89 strongly blocked, in a specific fashion, both proliferation and Ig secretion of tonsil B cells. Interestingly, proliferation of surface (s)IgD⁺ B cell was significantly less inhibited by anti-CD40 than that of sIgD^? cells. Preactivated T cells induced B cells to grow and secrete immunoglobulins preferentially in response to IL-2. This contrasts with the CD40 system where B cells are essentially responsive to IL-4 and IL-10 but not to IL-2 alone. Collectively, these data indicate that CD40L-CD40 interaction plays an important role in IL-2-mediated T cell-dependent B cell responses. However, the activation of a subset of sIgD⁺ cells may be independent of this interaction.     

Cx40和Cx43调节大鼠肠系膜上动脉收缩反应性与钙敏感性的机制

目的：研究连接蛋白Cx40/Cx43对大鼠肠系膜上动脉内膜依赖的血管收缩反应性与钙敏感性的调节作用机制。方法:以SD大鼠肠系膜上动脉（SMA）为研究对象，用Cx40或Cx43反义寡脱氧核苷酸（Cx40/Cx43AODN）阻断SMA Cx40或Cx43表达，观察缺氧处理后SMA的收缩反应性、钙敏感性、肌球蛋白轻链磷酸酶/激酶（MLCP/MLCK)的活性、20 kD的肌球蛋白轻链（MLC₂₀）磷酸化程度的变化。结果:Cx40AODN可以降低正常组、1 h和3 h缺氧组SMA MLCP活性，增加MLC₂₀磷酸化水平，改善血管的钙敏感性和内膜依赖的收缩反应性；Cx43AODN可以增加各组血管的MLCP活性，减少MLC₂₀磷酸化水平，降低血管的钙敏感性和内膜依赖的收缩反应性。Cx40和Cx43AODN对SMA MLCK活性无明显作用。结论:Cx40和Cx43主要通过调节血管平滑肌细胞的MLCP活性和MLC₂₀磷酸化水平调节血管的钙敏感性，从而调节休克后内膜依赖的血管收缩反应性。     

Expression of a 32-kDa ligand for the CD40 antigen on activated human T lymphocytes

To identify the ligand(s) of the human CD40 antigen, a cDNA encoding the extracellular domain of the CD40 antigen was fused to a cDNA encoding the constant region (Fc) of human IgGl. The CD40-Fc fusion protein was able to specifically bind to CD4⁺ and various CD8⁺ T cell clones activated with immobilized anti-CD3. The ¹²⁵I-labeled CD40-Fc fusion protein bound anti-CD3 activated CD4⁺ T cell clone (MT9) with an equilibrium dissociation constant (Ka) of 10-20 nM. The human CD40-binding protein expressed on the cell surface of activated T lymphocytes is a monomeric protein of ≈ 32 kDa. Minor components of 29 kDa and 17 kDa were also detected. A small proportion of CD4+ and CD8⁺ blood mononuclear T cells activated by anti-CD3 expressed the CD40 ligand but its detection was best observed following depletion of B cells. Addition of B cells to purified T cells abolished the binding of CD40-Fc obtained after anti-CD3 activation.