B cell early response gene expression coupled to B cell receptor,CD40 and interleukin-4 receptor co-stimulation: evidence for a role of the egr-2/krox20 transcription factor in B cell proliferation

B lymphocytes are activated following antigen stimulation of the B cell receptor but require co-stimulation with accessory molecules provided by interleukin (IL)-4/CD40 ligand for cell cycle progression and proliferation. By analyzing a panel of 11 early response genes induced by cross-linking of surface immunoglobulin, we show that CD40 signaling alone induces only 2 genes, c-myc together with an anonymous gene, 3L3, and that these are distinct from the set of genes induced in response to IL-4. Co-stimulation with the proliferative combination of anti-μ, IL-4 + CD40 signaling led to a fourfold enhancement of egr-2/krox20 expression over that seen with anti-μ alone. Egr-2 expression/activity was selectively inhibited by the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A, and antisense oligonucleotide blockade of Egr-2 activity elicited a dose-dependent inhibition of B cell proliferation. Taken together, these observations show that the early gene regulatory programs coupled to different surface receptors on B cells are largely distinct from each other, but that certain genes, exemplified by egr-2, may represent a point of convergence in the integration of different signaling pathways into the B cell proliferative response.     

Analysis of fMRI data by blind separation of data in a tiny spatial domain into independent temporal component

Independent Component Analysis (ICA) is a promising tool for the analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) time series. In these studies, mostly assumed is a spatially independent component map of fMRI data (spatial ICA). In this paper, we assume that the temporal courses of the signal and noises are independent within a Tiny spatial domain (temporal ICA). Then with fast-ICA algorithm, spatially neighboring fMRI data were blindly separated into several temporal courses and were preassumed to be formed by a signal time course and several noise time courses where the signal has the largest correlation coefficient with the reference signal. The final functional imaging was completed for the signals obtained from each voxel. Simulations showed that compared with the spatial ICA method, the new temporal ICA method is more effective than the spatial ICA in detecting weak signal in a fMRI dataset. As background noise, the simulations include simulated Gaussian noise and fMRI data without stimulation. Finally, vivo fMRI tests showed that the excited areas evoked by a visual stimuli are mainly in the region of the primary visual cortex and that evoked by auditory stimuli are mainly in the region of the primary temporal cortex.     

Computerized Cardiovascular Monitoring: Method and Data

This paper describes the development of a digitized, real-time, microcomputer-based signal processing system which records the following variables: systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, pulse transit time, blood volume pulse, and R-, S-, and T-wave amplitudes of EKG signals. Forty-eight healthy subjects participated in a three-task stress response study in order to gather initial data for evaluating the reliability and validity of this monitoring system. The three tasks represented replications of earlier studies: 1) reading aloud of a monotonous neutral text (Reading Only, RO); 2) mental arithmetic without vocalization (Arithmetic Quiet, AQ); and 3) mental arithmetic with vocalization (Arithmetic Aloud, AA). The findings provided support for the reliability and validity of the new monitoring system given that few data were lost, and resting values as well as differential task responses were found to be comparable with earlier data sets derived via similar experimental protocols.     

Perceptual Performance as a Function of Intra-Cycle Cardiac Activity

The purpose of the experiment was to test the hypothesis of a systematic change in perceptual performance within a single cardiac cycle due to the activity of the baroreceptors in carotid sinus. As an index of perceptual performance the d_s-parameter from signal detection theory (TSD) was used. A 1000 Hz sine tone had to be detected in a background of white noise. Each of 4 subjects received on the average 4605 noise or noise plus tone stimuli distributed over 10 experimental sessions. When comparing performance during time intervals before and after baroreceptor activity onset no significant difference was found. Also, when tracing perceptual performance over the whole cardiac cycle in steps of 66,100, and 200 msec, no systematic variation could be detected. For steps of 33 msec a rhythmic pulsation of perceptual performance of about 8 Hz appeared. An influence of electrical activity of the brain on perceptual performance was postulated. This activity would have to be time-locked to carotid sinus baroreceptor activity.     

钙调神经磷酸酶参与心衰患者心肌重构的信号转导

目的：探讨血管紧张素Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ)介导的钙调神经磷酸酶（CaN）信号通路参与心力衰竭（CHF）患者心肌重塑的机制。方法:选择因瓣膜性心脏病接受二尖瓣置换术的CHF病人39例，正常对照38例(其中8例来自意外伤亡的器官捐献者)。彩色多普勒超声心动图仪检测心脏扩大和心功能参数。放免法检测血浆及心肌组织Ang Ⅱ浓度，免疫沉淀法测心肌组织CaN、活化T细胞核因子(NFAT₃）、锌指转录因子(GATA₄)磷酸化及蛋白表达，RT-PCR检测肌球蛋白重链（β-MHC）mRNA表达。结果:AngⅡ分别与心脏扩大参数呈显著正相关，而与心功能参数呈显著负相关。CHF患者心肌组织CaN蛋白表达、CaN磷酸化、GATA^₄蛋白表达及β-MHC mRNA表达明显高于对照组，随心功能恶化其表达逐渐增加；NFAT₃磷酸化随心功能恶化而减弱。结论：肾素血管紧张素系统（RAS）激活的CaN信号通路在CHF患者心肌重构机制中可能起重要作用。     

p38应急信号通路参与一氧化氮诱导PC12细胞死亡

目的:探讨一氧化氮诱导PC12细胞死亡的信号转导途径。方法:将亚硝基铁氰化钠(sodiumnitroprusside,SNP)、caspase-3拮抗剂(caspase-3inhibitorⅡ)加SNP或p38拮抗剂(SB203580)加SNP与传代培养的PC12细胞一起孵育,观测细胞的存活率和caspase-3的活性;用MTT法测细胞存活率,caspase-3检测试剂盒测caspase-3活性。结果:SNP以浓度和时间依赖性方式诱导PC12细胞死亡,并增加caspase-3的活性;caspase-3拮抗剂Ⅱ和p38拮抗剂均明显减少细胞死亡且p38拮抗剂明显降低caspase-3的活性。结论:一氧化氮可能通过激活p38、caspase-3信号分子诱导PC12细胞死亡。     

A dual participation of ZAP-70 and scr protein tyrosine kinases is required for TCR-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Sam68 in Jurkat T cells

Sam68 has been initially described as a substrate of src kinases during mitosis in fibroblasts. Recent evidence suggests that in T lymphocytes Sam68 may act as an adaptor protein and participate in the early biochemical cascade triggered after CD3 stimulation. A direct interaction between Sam68 and the two src kinases involved in T cell activation, p59^fyn and p56^lck, as well as a partnership of Sam68 with various key downstream signaling molecules, like phospholipase Cγ-1 and Grb2, has been shown. In this study we analyze the contribution of p56^lck, as well as the role of ZAP-70, the second class of protein tyrosine kinase involved in T cell activation, in Sam68 tyrosine phosphorylation in the human Jurkat T cell line. Using the src inhibitor PP1 [4-amino-5-(4-methylphenyl)7-(t-butyl) pyrazolo [3,4-d] pyrymidine] and cell variants with defective expression of p56^lck or expressing a dominant negative form of ZAP-70, we demonstrate that, while both p56^lck and ZAP-70 are dispensable for the low constitutive phosphorylation of Sam68 observed in Jurkat cells, a cooperation between the two kinases is required to increase its rapid phosphorylation observed in vivo after CD3 stimulation. We also show that recombinant forms of both p56^lck and ZAP-70 phosphorylate Sam68 in vitro. However, using CD2 stimulated cells, we observe that p56^lck activation by itself does not induce Sam68 tyrosine phosphorylation. We conclude that p59^lck and p56^lck differently participate in regulating the phosphorylation state of Sam68 in T cells and that ZAP-70 may contribute to Sam68 tyrosine phosphorylation and to the specific recruitment of this molecule after CD3 stimulation.     

肝脏局灶性小占位的磁共振信号强度比与病灶性质的相关性

目的 计算肝细胞癌、肝转移瘤、肝脏海绵状血管瘤和肝囊肿的病灶／肝脏磁共振信号强度比（SIR）,并评价其与病灶性质的关系。方法 随机选择经确诊的肝细胞癌、肝转移瘤、肝海绵状血管瘤和肝囊肿病例共92例（148个病灶）行前瞻性磁共振成像（0．5T）研究。计算4种病灶的SIR,并进行统计学分析。结果 在T1W图像上,肝海绵状血管瘤与恶性肿瘤的SIR值间差异无显著性（t=1.799,P=0.075);质子加权像上,良恶性肿瘤的SIR之间无统计学意义（t=0.691,P=0.491);T2WI上,良性病变的SIR显著高于恶性肿瘤（P＜0．01）,且4种病变的SIR值与回波时间（TE）之间均存在线性正向相关关系。结论 在T2WI个测得的SIR可用于区分肝脏占位性病灶的性质。