治伤巴布剂对大鼠急性软组织损伤模型P38MAPK、AKT信号通路的影响＊

目的 观察治伤巴布剂对急性软组织损伤（acute soft tissue injury， ASTI）模型p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（mitogen-activated protein kinase，MAPK）、丝/苏氨酸蛋白激酶（AKT）信号通路的影响，探讨治伤巴布剂干预ASTI的可能作用机制。方法 将40只雄性SD大鼠按照随机数字表法分为正常对照组、模型对照组、治伤巴布剂组、p38MAPK信号通路抑制剂组、AKT信号通路抑制剂组，每组8只。除正常对照组外，其余四组均予以左侧后肢小腿ASTI造模。造模成功后，治伤巴布剂组于标记部位立即予治伤巴布剂（修剪成1.5x3cm大小）外敷，并用胶布固定；其余四组均予等剂量赋形剂（修剪成1.5×3 cm大小）外敷处理，胶布固定；持续外敷，共持续24 h。p38MAPK信号通路抑制剂组在造模前30 min予腹腔注射p38MAPK信号通路抑制剂SB203580（400 μg/kg/天）1次；AKT信号通路抑制剂组在造模前30 min予腹腔注射AKT信号通路抑制剂perifosine（20 mg/kg/天）1次。分别于0（造模前）、2h、4h、8h、12h、24h测量受伤小腿肌肉处的周长，并计算肌肉肿胀率（muscle swelling rate，MSR）。24 h药物干预结束后，采用颈椎脱臼法处死大鼠。后将左侧后肢小腿损伤中心部位进行取材，分成三份。一部分用于观察组织病理学形态变化；一部分用于逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）检测核因子-κB（nuclear factor kappa-B，NF-κB）p65 mRNA、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）mRNA、白细胞介素-1β（IL-1β）mRNA表达水平；剩下部分用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）法检测骨骼肌组织TNF-α、IL-1β含量水平及蛋白质免疫印迹（Western-blot）法测定p38MAPK、AKT、NF-κB p65、核因子抑制蛋白α（inhibitor kappa B alpha， IκBα）表达水平。结果 与正常对照组相比，模型对照组MSR显著增加（P<0.01）；病理形态学上，骨骼肌组织可见大面积肌细胞排列紊乱，肌细胞变性坏死，间质内可见红细胞聚集及大量炎症细胞浸润；骨骼肌组织TNF-α、IL-1β含量水平显著升高（P<0.01）；磷酸化p38MAPK（p-p38）/总p38MAPK（t-p38），磷酸化-AKT（p-AKT）/总-AKT（t-AKT）明显升高（P<0.01），NF-κB p65及NF-κB p65mRNA表达水平明显升高（P<0.01）。与模型对照组相比，治伤巴布剂组MSR在治疗第8 h、12 h、24 h显著下降（P<0.01），且在治疗第24 h，其MSR较p38MAPK、AKT信号通路抑制剂组下降更明显（P<0.05）；病理学评分显著下降（P<0.01），且较p38MAPK、AKT信号通路抑制剂组下降更显著（P<0.05）；骨骼肌组织TNF-α、IL-1β含量水平明显下降（P<0.01），且较p38MAPK、AKT信号通路抑制剂组更显著（P<0.05）；p-p38/t-p38及p-AKT/t-AKT明显下降（P<0.01），NF-κB p65及NF-κB p65 mRNA表达水平显著下降（P<0.01），且较p38MAPK、AKT信号通路抑制剂组在降低NF-κB p65及NF-κB p65 mRNA相对表达值方面更显著（P<0.01）。结论 治伤巴布剂可能同时对p38MAPK、AKT信号通路产生了一定的抑制作用，引起NF-κB活性下调，NF-κB p65蛋白的表达下调，进而引起骨骼肌组织TNF-α、IL-1β炎性细胞因子含量水平下调，减轻ASTI炎症反应，从而改善ASTI。     

CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B细胞比例预测肝移植术后急性细胞性排斥反应发生的临床研究

目的分析肝移植术后受者外周血CD19⁺CD24^hiCD38^hi B细胞占单个核细胞比例变化情况及其与急性细胞性排斥反应(ACR)之间的关系。 方法回顾性分析2013年12月至2015年12月在浙江大学医学院附属第一医院接受心脏死亡器官捐献肝移植的80例成人受者临床资料，根据术后是否发生ACR，将受者分为ACR组(25例)和非ACR组(55例)。术前、术后各个时间点抽取参加研究者静脉血并分离外周血单个核细胞，加入异硫氰酸荧光素-单克隆鼠抗人CD19抗体、藻红蛋白-单克隆鼠抗人CD24抗体和别藻蓝蛋白-单克隆鼠抗人CD38抗体，流式细胞仪检测各组CD19⁺CD24^hiCD38^hi B细胞百分比。采用t检验和单因素方差分析比较正态分布计量资料，采用χ²检验比较计数资料，采用Kaplan-Meier法绘制受试者工作特征曲线(ROC曲线)。P<0.05为差异有统计学意义。 结果ACR组、非ACR组受者术前外周血平均CD19⁺CD24^hiCD38^hi B细胞比例分别为(3.13±0.91)%、(3.49±0.83)%，差异无统计学意义(t＝1.636，P>0.05)。ACR组术后发生ACR前外周血平均CD19⁺CD24^hiCD38^hi B细胞比例为(1.87±0.70)%。非ACR组受者术后3个月、6个月和1年外周血平均CD19⁺CD24^hiCD38^hi B细胞比例分别为(1.64±0.52)%、(1.63±0.56)%和(2.04±1.24)%，术后3、6个月平均值均低于术前和术后1年，差异均有统计学意义(P均<0.05)。ACR组受者发生ACR时外周血平均CD19⁺CD24^hiCD38^hi B细胞比例为(0.8±0.5)%，低于发生ACR前的平均水平(t＝5.752，P<0.05)，且低于非ACR组术后3个月、6个月和1年的平均水平(P<0.05)。ACR组受者接受抗排斥反应治疗后，CD19⁺CD24^hiCD38^hi B细胞比例也逐渐增加，ACR发生后7 d为(0.84±0.08)%，与ACR发生时相比差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)；而发生30 d后达(1.65±0.18)%，与ACR发生时相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。当截断值为1.015%时，CD19⁺CD24^hiCD38^hi B细胞比例预测ACR发生的敏感度和特异度分别为0.786和0.702，ROC曲线下面积为0.775(95%CI: 0.671~0.879，P<0.05)。 结论CD19⁺CD24^hiCD38^hi B细胞比例下降与肝移植术后ACR反应发生有关，并可作为预测ACR发生的细胞标志物。     

Effect of Replacement of Wharton Acellular Jelly With FBS on the Expression of Megakaryocyte Linear Markers in Hematopoietic Stem Cells CD34+

Objective: Animal environments for the growth of stem cells cause the transmission of some diseases and immune problems for the recipient. Accordingly, replacing these environments with healthy environments, at least with human resources, is essential.  One of the media that can be used as an alternative to animal serums is Wharton acellular jelly (AWJ).  Therefore, in this study, we intend to replace FBS with Wharton jelly and investigate its effect on the expression of megakaryocyte-related genes and markers in stem cells. Materials and Methods: In this study, cord blood-derived CD34 positive HSCs were cultured and expanded in the presence of cytokines including SCF, TPO, and FLT3-L. Then, the culture of expanded CD34 positive HSCs was performed in two groups: 1) IMDM culture medium containing 10% FBS and 100 ng / ml thrombopoietin cytokine 2) IMDM culture medium containing 10% AWJ, 100 ng / ml thrombopoietin cytokine.  Finally, CD41 expressing cells were analyzed with the flow cytometry method. The genes related to megakaryocyte lineage including FLI1 and GATA2 were also evaluated using the RT-PCR technique.  Results: The expression of CD41, a specific marker of megakaryocyte lineage in culture medium containing Wharton acellular jelly was increased compared to the FBS group. Additionally, the expression of GATA2 and FLI1 genes was significantly increased related to the control group. Conclusion: This study provided evidence of differentiation of CD34 positive hematopoietic stem cells from umbilical cord blood to megakaryocytes in a culture medium containing AWJ.     

BMP/TGF-β signaling as a modulator of neurodegeneration in ALS

This commentary focuses on the emerging intersection between BMP/TGF-β signaling roles in nervous system function and the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease state. Future research is critical to elucidate the molecular underpinnings of this intersection of the cellular processes disrupted in ALS and those influenced by BMP/TGF-β signaling, including synapse structure, neurotransmission, plasticity, and neuroinflammation. Such knowledge promises to inform us of ideal entry points for the targeted modulation of dysfunctional cellular processes in an effort to abrogate ALS pathologies. It is likely that different interventions are required, either at discrete points in disease progression, or across multiple dysfunctional processes which together lead to motor neuron degeneration and death. We discuss the challenging, but intriguing idea that modulation of the pleiotropic nature of BMP/TGF-β signaling could be advantageous, as a way to simultaneously treat defects in more than one cell process across different forms of ALS.     

A novel CDKN1A-JAZF1 gene fusion in low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma arising from endometriosis in abdominal wall cesarean section scar: A case report and literature review

ObjectiveWe report a low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) with a novel CDKN1A-JAZF1 fusion gene arising from abdominal wall endometrioma.Case reportA 40-year-old woman presented with a 5.5-cm abdominal wall mass juxtaposed to the postoperative scar of two cesarean sections. Histologically, the tumor exhibited obvious tongue-like protrusions into the surrounding tissue, showed spindle cells with multinodular growth pattern that occasionally rotate around small arteries. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for CD10, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), negatively stained for smooth muscle actin (SMA), CD117, CyclinD1. In addition, a previously undescribed gene fusion between CDNK1A 5′ end of exon 1(NM_000389.5) and JAZF1 3′ end of exon 5 (NM_175,061,3) was reported in this case.ConclusionThis report of ESS suggesting that rapidly growing abdominal wall masses without menstruation-related should be promptly evaluated and treated aggressively. In addition, we have expanded the molecular landscape of low-grade ESS.     

Factors influencing post-cryopreserved CD34+ cells viability in the harvested products of autologous haematopoietic stem cells

The cryopreservation process of stem cells potentially cause the loss of CD34+ cells. The aim of this study is to evaluate association of patient, graft and technical characteristics with post cryopreserved CD34+ cells viability among lymphoproliferative disease namely multiple myeloma (MM) and lymphoma patients at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). This retrospective study was conducted in the Transplant Unit. A search of the hospital data (2008–2018) to identify 132 patients for both MM and lymphoma who underwent autologous peripheral blood haematopoietic stem cells (APBSC) mobilisation, and were successfully harvested and cryopreserved. Selected patients’ profile as well as selected parameters of stem cell mobilization and cryopreservation were obtained from laboratory information system (LIS), record unit and the Transplant Unit. Multiple logistic regression (MLR) was used to find significant associated factors and P < 0.05 was considered significant. The mean age of the patients was 39 years old with almost equal gender distribution and majority were lymphoma patients, 96 (72.7%) while 36 (27.3%) were multiple myeloma (MM) patients. The significant influencing factors of post-cryopreserved CD34+ cells viability were pre-cryopreserved CD34+ cell viability, total nucleated cells (TNC), and anti-platelet and antibiotics usage. Patients who are not on anti-platelet and have higher pre-cryopreserved CD34+ cells viability have higher chance for good post-cryopreserved CD34+ cells viability. While, those patients with higher TNC and on antibiotics have lower chance for good post cryopreserved CD34+ cells viability. This study showed patients who are not on anti-platelet and antibiotics will have higher probability of achieving good post cryopreserved CD34+ cells viability. The APBSC products with higher pre-cryopreserved CD34+ cells viability and lower TNC will achieve better post-cryopreserved CD34+ cells viability. The addition of extra plasma to the APBSC products is recommended to reduce the TNC.     

TGF-β superfamily co-receptors in cancer

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily signaling via their cognate receptors is frequently modified by TGF-β superfamily co-receptors. Signaling through SMAD-mediated pathways may be enhanced or depressed depending on the specific co-receptor and cell context. This dynamic effect on signaling is further modified by the release of many of the co-receptors from the membrane to generate soluble forms that are often antagonistic to the membrane-bound receptors. The co-receptors discussed here include TβRIII (betaglycan), endoglin, BAMBI, CD109, SCUBE proteins, neuropilins, Cripto-1, MuSK, and RGMs. Dysregulation of these co-receptors can lead to altered TGF-β superfamily signaling that contributes to the pathophysiology of many cancers through regulation of growth, metastatic potential, and the tumor microenvironment. Here we describe the role of several TGF-β superfamily co-receptors on TGF-β superfamily signaling and the impact on cellular and physiological functions with a particular focus on cancer, including a discussion on recent pharmacological advances and potential clinical applications targeting these co-receptors.