Application of a serum-free medium in the growth and differentiation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes

To eliminate variability due to nonspecific stimulation or inhibition by different lots of fetal bovine serum, the activation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in a modification of Iscove's medium (medium C-IMDM) was compared with the routinely used Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI)-1640 medium containing 15% fetal bovine serum. Stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was enhanced and occurred at lower mitogen concentrations in C-IMDM compared with cells grown in RPMI-1640 supplemented with fetal bovine serum. Maximum incorporation of [3H]thymidine following stimulation by concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, and pokeweed mitogen was more than twice the peak values obtained in RPMI-1640 supplemented with fetal bovine serum. Concentrations of concanavalin A and phytohemagglutinin required for maximum stimulation were 0.5 and 15 micrograms/ml, and 0.3 and 1.0 micrograms/ml . 5 X 10(5) cells in C-IMDM and RPMI-1640, respectively. Cells grown in C-IMDM responded to lower concentrations of pokeweed mitogen and optimal growth in the serum-free medium required 0.4 micrograms/ml . 5 X 10(5) cells. The stimulation of immunoglobulin-producing cells in C-IMDM was enhanced and occurred at lower concentrations of pokeweed mitogen. Less variability of growth (i.e., incorporation of [3H]thymidine) and immunoglobulin synthesis occurred in peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultured in different preparations of C-IMDM than that reported for cells cultured in RPMI-1640 supplemented with different lots or batches of fetal bovine serum. These data suggest that C-IMDM may be an alternative to media supplemented with fetal bovine serum.     

Sialophorin, a surface sialoglycoprotein defective in the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, is involved in human T lymphocyte proliferation

The mAb L10 was used to determine the distribution and the function of sialophorin, the heavily glycosylated surface molecule that is deficient/defective in lymphocytes of patients with the X-linked immunodeficiency Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. Dual-parameter FACS analysis indicated that sialophorin is expressed on CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes, on a subpopulation of peripheral blood B lymphocytes, on all thymocytes, and on a subpopulation of bone marrow cells. Functional studies demonstrated that L10 mAb stimulates the proliferation of peripheral blood T lymphocytes as measured by stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation. The time course and magnitude of increased [3H]thymidine incorporation by T lymphocytes in response to L10 mAb paralleled that induced by anti-CD3 mAb. Effective stimulation was dependent on the presence of monocytes and the Fc portion of L10 mAb. Stimulation of lymphocytes by L10, like stimulation by anti-CD3 mAb, involves increased expression of 4F2, HLA-DR, and IL-2-R. These observations suggest that sialophorin functions in T cell activation.     

Thymidine transport and metabolism in choroid plexus: effect of diazepam and thiopental

Choroid plexus contains an active transport (influx) and a facilitated diffusion (efflux) system for nucleosides. The ability of diazepam and thiopental to inhibit active transport or facilitated diffusion of thymidine in choroid plexus was measured in vitro under various conditions. When isolated rabbit choroid plexuses were incubated in artificial cerebrospinal fluid containing 1 microM [3H] thymidine for 10 min at 37 degrees C under 95% O2-5% CO2, diazepam (10 microM) and thiopental (500 microM) doubled the tissue-to-medium ratios of [3H] thymidine from 8 to 15 to 16. These results were not due to metabolism or intracellular binding but rather to inhibition of [3H] thymidine efflux from choroid plexus. Diazepam, unlike thiopental, inhibited [3H] thymidine efflux in a concentration-dependent manner. When isolated choroid plexuses were incubated in artificial cerebrospinal fluid containing low concentrations of [3H] thymidine (6 nM) to allow intracellular conversion of [3H] thymidine into [3H] thymidine phosphates and [3H] DNA, both diazepam (10 microM) and thiopental (500 microM) altered [3H] thymidine accumulation and metabolism consistent with inhibition of facilitated diffusion but not active transport of thymidine. These studies provide evidence that, at toxic but not therapeutic concentrations, diazepam and thiopental alter facilitated nucleoside transport in the choroid plexus.     

A mechanism for the stimulation by inorganic mercury of [3H] thymidine incorporation into DNA in cultured Molt-4F cells

Mercuric chloride at a narrow range of concentration (2 to 2.5 X 10(-5)M) facilitated [3H]thymidine incorporation into acid-insoluble material (DNA fraction) of cultured human T lymphoid cells, Molt-4F, after 72-hr culture with the metal. This effect by mercury was observed in spite of the decrease in growth rate and DNA contents of the cells. Thymidine kinase activity in Molt-4F cells treated with 2 X 10(-5)M mercury decreased to 50 to 60% of the control activity. The stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation into the cells by mercury, therefore, might be independent of the increase in thymidine kinase activity. 3H-Thymidine incorporation by the control cells decreased as culture time passed. In contrast to the control, [3H]thymidine incorporation by mercury-treated cells increased until 72-hr culture. [3H]Thymidine uptake by the control cells after 24, 48, or 72-hr culture increased until 20 min of incubation period, but thereafter no increase in the uptake was observed until 60 min. On the other hand, [3H]thymidine uptake by the cells treated with mercury for 24 to 72 hr increased linearly until 60 min of incubation period. These results seemed to indicate that the mercury stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation might be attributable not to the actual increase of DNA synthesis but to the suppression of the culture time-dependent decrease in the incorporation by the control cells.     

Methyl 17 beta-carboxyester derivatives of natural and synthetic glucocorticoids: correlation between receptor binding and inhibition of in vitro phytohaemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte blastogenesis

Several methyl 17 beta-carboxyester derivatives of natural and fluorinated glucocorticoids were synthesized in order to compare their potency to compete for [3H]dexamethasone binding sites in human spleen tumour cytosols (as a source of large quantities of white blood cells) with their potency to inhibit phytohaemagglutinin-induced blastogenesis of normal human peripheral lymphocytes. The 17 beta-carboxylic acids neither show binding activity nor inhibition of blastogenesis. Methylation partially restores the binding capacity and the intensity of this effect depends on the kind of ring substitutions. The sequence of binding potency is identical compared to that of parent steroids and was found to be in the following order: desoxymethasone greater than dexamethasone greater than corticosterone greater than cortisol greater than progesterone greater than 17-hydroxyprogesterone. The phytohaemagglutinin-induced stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation resembles the order of binding potency. The methyl 17 beta-carboxyester derivatives of progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and betamethasone are inactive. The N-benzyl 17 beta-carboxamide analogs of dexamethasone and betamethasone behave like their corresponding carboxyesters, suggesting an important influence of the side chain conformation of 17 beta-carboxyl derivatives on glucocorticoid receptor binding.     

4-Quinolone drugs affect cell cycle progression and function of human lymphocytes in vitro.

Most antibacterial agents do not affect human lymphocyte function, but a few are inhibitory. In contrast, a pronounced increase in the incorporation of [3H]thymidine in the presence of 4-quinolones was observed in these studies. The uptake of [3H]thymidine into DNA (trichloroacetic acid precipitable) was significantly increased in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human lymphocytes when they were exposed to eight new 4-quinolone derivatives, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, A-56619, A-56620, amifloxacin, enoxacin, and pefloxacin, at 1.6 to 6.25 micrograms/ml for 5 days. Four less antibacterially active 4-quinolones (nalidixic acid, cinoxacin, flumequine, and pipemidic acid) stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation only at higher concentrations or not at all. Kinetic studies showed that incorporation of [3H]thymidine was not affected or slightly inhibited by ciprofloxacin 2 days after phytohemagglutinin stimulation but was increased on days 3 to 6. The total incorporation of [3H]thymidine from day 1 to day 6 after phytohemagglutinin stimulation was increased by 42 to 45% at 5 to 20 micrograms of ciprofloxacin per ml. Increased [3H]thymidine incorporation was also seen when human lymphocytes were stimulated with mitogens other than phytohemagglutinin. Ciprofloxacin added at the start of the culture had a more pronounced effect on [3H]thymidine incorporation than when added later. In spite of the apparent increase in DNA synthesis, lymphocyte growth was inhibited by 20 micrograms of ciprofloxacin per ml, and cell cycle analysis showed that ciprofloxacin inhibited progression through the cell cycle. In addition, immunoglobulin secretion by human lymphocytes stimulated by pokeweed mitogen for Epstein-Barr virus was inhibited by approximately 50% at 5 micrograms of ciprofloxacin per ml. These results suggest that the 4-quinolone drugs may also affect eucaryotic cell function in vitro, but additional studies are needed to establish an in vivo relevance.     

Biochemical mechanisms in the Killmann experiment: critique of the deoxyuridine suppression test.

The degree of inhibition of [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA by exogenous deoxyuridine is assayed in a procedure known as the deoxyuridine suppression test. We report studies of the biochemical basis of this phenomenon in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes, which suggest that its mechanism has not been fully understood. Results show that inhibition by deoxyuridine is caused only in part by expansion of the intracellular pools of nonradioactive dTMP and dTTP, which dilutes the specific radioactivity of the [3H]dTMP and [3H]dTTP derived from [3H]thymidine. Increased dTTP levels also inhibit thymidine kinase. In addition, thymidine kinase is competitively inhibited by intracellular deoxyuridine. Inhibition of thymidine kinase activity by both mebolites further decreases the specific radioactivity of [3H]dTMP and [3H]dTTP. Deoxyuridine also inhibits the incorporation of [3H]deoxyadenosine and [3H]deoxyguanosine into DNA in these cells. Exogenous deoxyuridine still inhibits [3H]thymidine incorporation in cells whose de novo thymidylate synthesis has been strongly inhibited by 5-fluorodeoxyuridine or methotrexate. In such drug-treated cells, exposure to high concentrations of exogenous deoxyuridine can partially overcome the inhibition of thymidylate synthetase with resulting increase in the severely depleted dTTP pools. This increase is associated with enhanced DNA synthesis, as measured by incorporation into DNA of labeled deoxyribonucleosides other than [3H]thymidine. We conclude that exogenous deoxyuridine has multiple effects on [3H]thymidine incorporation, which must be considered in interpretations of deoxyurindine suppression test results.     

Arrest of cultured cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle by indomethacin.

Indomethacin reversibly inhibited growth of rat hepatoma cells (HTC) and human diploid fibroblasts in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Cytophotometric measurements showed that greater than 90% of cells incubated for 48 hr with indomethacin had a DNA content that corresponded to the G1 state. Synchronous growth of both the HTC and fibroblast cultures occurred after removal of drug as indicated by the sequence of changes in [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA, cellular DNA content, mitotic index and cell number. Autoradiographs of HTC cell cultures incubated with [3H]thymidine indicated that all (98%) of the cells engaged in DNA synthesis following the removal of indomethacin. Since viability of the cells was not impaired, even by prolonged exposure to indomethacin, this drug provides a means of synchronizing growth. Suppression of cell proliferation could contribute to the therapeutic and/or toxic effects of indomethacin in vivo.     

Evidence for the synthesis and release of strongly immunosuppressive, noncytotoxic substances by Streptococcus intermedius.

Products secreted by Streptococcus intermedius were studied for their effects on the immune response. Three different preparations of crude extracellular products from S. intermedius (CEP-Si) were found to have powerful suppressor activity in vitro as shown by inhibition of human lymphocyte proliferation (uptake of [3H]thymidine) and protein synthesis in response to a wide variety of stimulants, including mitogens and antigens, and suppression of plaque formation by human cells in response to sheep erythrocytes. CEP-Si was noncytotoxic, because cells incubated with high concentrations of CEP-Si and subsequently washed were viable and recovered their ability to respond to mitogens, and because leukocyte migration was not inhibited by CEP-Si, nor was the release of leukocyte migration inhibitory factor from sensitized lymphocytes. The possibility of antigen or mitogen competition was excluded. The effects of CEP-Si in vitro were time dependent and did not require the presence of monocytes. Cells pretreated with CEP-Si and then washed suppressed plaque formation by fresh autologous cells in highly stimulated cultures. CEP-Si injected into C57BL/6 mice also strongly suppressed their immune response to sheep erythrocytes, and the in vivo suppression was correlated with the effects of CEP-Si in vitro.     

Leukotriene C4 binds to human glomerular epithelial cells and promotes their proliferation in vitro.

In human and experimental glomerulonephritis, glomerular hypercellularity results both from accumulation of macrophages and proliferation of resident glomerular cells. The recent identification of macrophage-derived factors that stimulate mesangial and epithelial cell proliferation suggests that these factors might contribute to the hypercellularity. To determine the identity of such macrophage-derived growth factors, we studied the effect of leukotrienes (LTs), products that are released from macrophages and leukocytes, on proliferation of human glomerular epithelial cells in culture. Dose-dependent (1-100 nM) stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation, an index of cell proliferation, was observed in cells incubated with the sulfidopeptide LTs, LTC4 and LTD4, but not with LTB4. The response was 248 and 172% of control values at 100 nM LTC4 and LTD4, respectively. This effect of LTC4 was abolished by FPL 55712. Subsequent binding studies demonstrated that glomerular epithelial cells possess specific receptors for LTC4. [3H]LTC4 bound rapidly at 8 degrees C to the cells. There was a plateau after 40 min incubation. Maximum specific binding was 70-90% of total binding. Specific binding was totally reversible with addition of an excess of unlabeled LTC4. Analysis of time-course association slopes at two concentrations of [3H]LTC4 and of the competition between a single concentration of [3H]LTC4 and increasing concentrations of unlabelled LTC4 allowed calculation of dissociation constants (Kd) of 220 and 217 nM, respectively. Both LTD4 and LTE4 exhibited ED50 values that were at least one order of magnitude higher than for LTC4. Thus, our findings suggest that LTC4 binds to specific receptors of glomerular epithelial cells, promotes proliferation of these cells, and could contribute to epithelial hypercellularity found in glomerulonephritis.     

Sensitivity of lymphocytes to prostaglandin E2 increases in subjects over age 70.

We examined the sensitivity of lymphocytes from different age groups to inhibition by prostaglandin E2. Phytohemagglutinin-stimulated cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 12 healthy subjects over the age of 70 were much more sensitive to inhibition by exogenously added prostaglandin E2 than were cells from 17 young controls (ID50 congruent to 10 nM for the subjects over 70 vs. greater than 3 micronM for the young controls). The more senstivie lymphocytes from a subject over 70 were to prostaglandin E2, the lower was his or her response to phytohemagglutinin (r = 0.75, P less than 0.01). The mean responses to phytohemagglutinin of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the subjects over 70 were significantly depressed compared to the young controls. Addition of indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, to the cultures resulted in an increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation of 140 +/- 16% in the cells of the subjects over 70 vs. a 36 +/- 3% increase in the young controls (mean +/- SEM, P less than 0.001). The mean phytohemagglutinin response of the subjects over 70 was 40% of the control response without indomethacin. With addition of indomethacin the response of subjects over 70 rose to 72% of control. Thus, increased sinsitivity to prostaglandin E2 appears to be responsible in part for the depressed mitogen response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy subjects over 70.     

A new type of vasodilator, HA1077, an isoquinoline derivative, inhibits proliferation of bovine vascular smooth muscle cells in culture

The effects of a newly developed vasodilator agent, HA1077 [1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-homopiperazine hydrochloride], were investigated on the proliferation of cultured bovine aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). HA1077 (10-100 microM) inhibited both fetal calf serum-induced proliferation and [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA of the growth-arrested VSMC in a dose-dependent manner. When quiescent cells were stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor followed by insulin, HA1077 (1-30 microM), administered together with either stimulation, showed dose-dependent inhibition of [3H]thymidine incorporation. Further reduction of [3H]thymidine incorporation was observed when HA1077 was present at both stimulations, suggesting that HA1077 suppresses DNA synthesis acting in both competence and progression stages. After stimulation with fetal calf serum, quiescent VSMC started and ceased DNA synthesis in 15 to 18 hr and 24 hr, respectively. HA1077 inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation when it was added either from 12 hr to 15 hr or from 21 hr to 24 hr after serum stimulation. In addition, when percent inhibition of [3H]thymidine incorporation by continuous exposure to HA1077 was examined as a function of the time it was added, reductions of the value were observed at 0 to 3 hr, 12 to 18 hr and 21 to 24 hr. Thus, we concluded that HA1077 suppresses DNA synthesis of bovine VSMC acting at the G0/G1 and the G1/S phase transitions and also in the S phase of the cell cycle. It is suggested that this agent may act as a potent inhibitor of VSMC proliferation as well as a vasodilator.     

Human lymphocyte thiopurine methyltransferase pharmacogenetics: effect of phenotype on 6-mercaptopurine-induced inhibition of mitogen stimulation

Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) catalyzes the S-methylation of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and other thiopurine drugs. The level of TPMT activity in human tissue is controlled by a common genetic polymorphism. Our experiments were performed to study the relationship between TPMT phenotype and the effect of 6-MP on [3H]thymidine ([3H]TdR) incorporation into mitogen-stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Lymphocytes were isolated from blood samples obtained from 12 subjects, four each with each of the three classes of TPMT phenotype. The effect of 6-MP concentration on [3H]TdR incorporation was determined in the presence of two mitogens, phytohemagglutinin at concentrations of 1 and 10 micrograms/ml and concanavalin A at concentrations of 1 and 5 micrograms/ml. ED50 values for 6-MP inhibition of [3H]TdR incorporation into lymphocytes from subjects who genetically lacked TPMT activity were uniformly higher than were ED50 values for lymphocytes from subjects with intermediate or high enzyme activities. However, in the presence of either mitogen, ED50 values decreased as the level of stimulation increased. Therefore, to make it possible to account for degree of mitogen stimulation, the effect of 6-MP on [3H]TdR incorporation was studied in the presence of a series of phytohemagglutinin concentrations from 1 to 10 micrograms/ml. Lymphocytes from subjects who genetically lacked TPMT activity had significantly higher Ki values (1.37 +/- 0.340 microM, mean +/- S.E.M., n = 3) for inhibition of [3H]TdR incorporation by 6-MP than did lymphocytes from subjects with intermediate or high enzyme activities (0.529 +/- 0.068 and 0.327 +/- 0.064 microM, respectively, P less than .05 for both comparisons, n = 3 in both cases).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Potent mitogenic effects of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on embryonic chick and rabbit chondrocytes. Differential effects of age on growth, proteoglycan, and cyclic AMP responses of chondrocytes to PTH.

The effect of PTH on chondrocyte proliferation as a function of cartilage age was examined. PTH[1-34] induced a 12- to 15-fold increase in the efficiency of colony formation in soft agar by chondrocytes from embryonic 13- to 19-d-old chickens and fetal 25-d-old rabbits with a 10-fold increase in their DNA content. It also caused a 2.5-fold increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA in fetal 25-d-old rabbit chondrocytes. No mitogenic responses to PTH were observed, however, in postnatal 7- to 21-d-old chick chondrocytes or postnatal 21-d-old rabbit chondrocytes. This age dependency was observed only with PTH: fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and insulin stimulated chondrocyte proliferation irrespective of cartilage age. The absence of a mitogenic effect in postnatal chondrocytes was not due to a decrease in number or a reduction in affinity of receptors for PTH. PTH also increased [35S]sulfate incorporation into proteoglycans and the cyclic AMP level in fetal and postnatal chondrocytes, but at 100-fold higher concentrations (10(-8)-10(-7) M) than those (10(-10)-10(-9) M) required for the stimulation of cell division. These results suggest that PTH is a potent mitogen for embryonic chondrocytes, and that its mitogenic effect disappears selectively after birth.     

The kinetics of T cell antigen receptor expression by subgroups of CD4+8+ thymocytes: delineation of CD4+8+3(2+) thymocytes as post- selection intermediates leading to mature T cells

Cortical thymocytes from adult mice, separated on the basis of coexpression of CD4 and CD8 or of binding of high levels of peanut agglutinin (PNA), were subdivided according to the level of expression of the T cell receptor (TCR)-CD3 complex. The incidence of dividing cells in the resultant subpopulations was determined by DNA staining. Precursor-product relationships and the timing of TCR-CD3 acquisition were studied using continuous in vivo [3H]TdR labeling and radioautography. The extent of intrathymic selection for TCR specificity in the subpopulations was determined from the incidence of cells bearing V beta 6 or V beta 17a in different mouse strains. The majority of dividing CD4+8+ blast cells expressed extremely low levels of TCR-CD3, indicating that TCR expression and specificity selection generally occurred after division ceased. The [3H]TdR-labeling studies indicated that postdivision TCR expression was rapid, and that those nondividing cortical thymocytes which had not expressed significant levels of TCR by day 1, remained extremely low or negative for their entire 3.6-d lifespan. Small cortical thymocytes which expressed moderate levels of TCR-CD3, were predominantly an unselected population with a lifespan of 3.8 d. A small subgroup of CD4+8+ PNA+ cortical thymocytes expressing high levels of TCR-CD3 was identified as a nondividing intermediate between the small cortical thymocytes expressing moderate levels of TCR and mature medullary thymocytes. These intermediates showed a 1-d lag in [3H]TdR labeling, then a 3.4-d transit time. The cell flux through this intermediate subpopulation was approximately 10(6) cells/d, similar to the rate of turnover of mature thymocytes; thus, although only 3-4% of thymocytes progressed to this intermediate state, once reaching it most then progressed to full maturity. In accordance with this, the incidence of the V beta selection markers within the intermediate subpopulation indicated that both positive and negative selection had already occurred. Selection for TCR specificity in the systems studied appeared to take place among CD4+8+ thymocytes expressing intermediate levels of TCR.     

Increased renal DNA synthesis in vivo after administration of low doses of gentamicin to rats

Kidney cortex DNA synthesis was studied in female rats treated with a low dose of gentamicin (10 mg/kg) up to 14 days. Synthesis was measured by incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA 1 h after intraperitoneal injection of the labeled precursor (200 muCi per animal). Gentamicin given in one injection per day resulted in a greater incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA after both 7 and 14 days of treatment as compared with control animals. When the daily dose was divided into three equal injections given at 8-h intervals, a statistically significant increase in thymidine incorporation was observed as early as 4 days after starting gentamicin administration. Excellent agreement was found between DNA specific radioactivity and kidney cortex nuclear labeling, as measured by histoautoradiography. The greatest amount of [3H]thymidine incorporation occurred within proximal tubular cells and interstitial cells. We conclude that a finite duration of gentamicin treatment at low dosage induces an increased DNA synthesis in vivo in rat kidney cortex. We suggest that this reaction results from cellular proliferation and could reflect a regenerative process after focal necrosis induced by gentamicin at low doses. The demonstrated early increase in DNA synthesis could be a useful tool to measure kidney cortex alterations caused by various aminoglycosides at low, therapeutic doses.     

Inhibition of lymphoproliferation by hyperlipoproteinemic plasma.

Plasma for patients with primary type IV or V hyperlipoproteinemia inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation by cultured mononuclear leukocytes. This previously unreported abnormality affected mononuclear leukocytes from patients with type IV or V hyperlipoproteinemia and from normal subjects. Patient cells incorporated [3H]thymidine normally when washed and incubated in medium containing normal plasma. Both spontaneous incorporation and stimulated incorporation in response to various mitogens and antigens were inhibited. The inhibitory effect was identified with the chylomicron and very low density lipoprotein fractions isolated from plasma and was concentration-dependent. Lectin used to stimulate cultured cells and [3H]thymidine used to measure responses were not bound to the lipoproteins in appreciable amounts. [3H]-Thymidine incorporation correlated well with morphologic evidence of lymphoproliferation. The mechanism of the inhibitory effect of type IV or V hyperlipoproteinemic plasma upon the response tested was not identified by may be related to interaction between lipoproteins and the cell membranes. We suggest that these lipoproteins may also interfere with the function of other cells.     

对肿瘤内miR-21表达进行契伦科夫光学成像的新方法:基于HSV1-tk报告基因

目的构建一种基于I型单纯疱疹病毒胸苷激酶（HSV1-tk）的新型报告基因体系,用于对肿瘤内微小核糖核酸（miR-21）的表达进行契伦科夫光学成像。方法将细胞巨病毒（CMV）启动子基因、HSV1-tk基因以及可被miR-21互补结合的三联miR-21靶基因序列,串联构建成报告基因（CMV-HSV1-tk-3×miR-21t）,即将CMV-HSV1-tk-3×miR-21t序列连接到pcDNA3.1质粒载体中并转染A549细胞。向稳定表达上述报告基因的A549细胞（A549T细胞）加入9-[4-[18F]氟-3(羟甲基)丁基]鸟嘌呤（[18F] FHBG）孵育;或采用可互补结合miR-21的梯度剂量反义寡聚miR-21（Anti-miR-21）处理A549T细胞后,加入[18F]FHBG孵育。分别对上述细胞进行契伦科夫光学成像和放射性γ计数。另构建A549T裸鼠皮下移植瘤模型,分为2组分别瘤内注射Anti-miR- 21与对照混合RNA,然后分别经尾静脉注射[18F]FHBG后进行活体契伦科夫光学成像。结果A549T细胞摄取[18F]FHBG后,其光学信号强度、γ计数分别与细胞数量之间呈线性正相关（R2=0.9962、0.9807）;加入Anti-miR-21的剂量与光学信号强度、γ计数之间分别呈剂量依赖性正相关（P < 0.05）;A549T细胞皮下瘤模型成像结果显示,瘤内注射Anti-miR-21与对照RNA的移植瘤对比,肿瘤组织信号更高且视觉对比显著。结论基于microRNA调控的示踪剂摄取相关报告基因体系,本研究成功构建了一种用于对肿瘤内miR-21表达进行契伦科夫光学成像的新方法。      

The lipoprotein of the outer membrane of Escherichia coli: a B- lymphocyte mitogen

The lipoprotein of the outer membrane of Escherichia coli is a B-cell mitogen in mice. Polyclonal activation of B lymphocytes was measured by an increase in thymidine uptake, by the development of plaque- forming cells against densely coupled trinitrophenylated sheep red cells, and by selectively increased rates of synthesis and secretion of leucine-labeled IgM. Murein-free and muropeptides-containing lipoprotein are effective in B-cell activation, while free murein is inactive. Removal of ester-linked fatty acids from the amino-terminal end of the lipoprotein by alkaline hydrolysis abolishes the mitogenicity of the lipoprotein. B lymphocytes from high responder (C3H/Tif and BALB/c nu/nu) or from low responder (C3H/HeJ) mice to the mitogen lipopolysaccharide (LPS) both respond well to the lipoprotein. Anti-immunoglobulin antibodies inhibit the mitogenic stimulation of B cells by lipoprotein. A complex of structures including the Ig- receptor molecules, the LPS receptor, and the lipoprotein receptor appear involved in the regulation of mitogenic stimulation of B cells to proliferation and differentiation to IgM-secreting cells.     

Distribution of radioactivity in the spinal cord after intracerebroventricular and intravenous injection of radiolabeled opioid peptides in mice

The rejection of [beta-125I]endorphin and D-[3H]Ala2-Met-enkephalinamide into the lateral ventricles of mice revealed that radioactivity could be transported rapidly via the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) down to the lowest part of the spinal cord. The maximal levels of both compounds in thoracic, lumbar and sacral sections of the spinal cord occurred 10 min after administration, which coincided with the peak antinociceptive action of morphine after i.c.v. administration. When [3H]Leu-enkephalin was administered i.c.v., the level of radioactivity in the spinal cord did not increase with time and these levels in spinal cord were considerably lower than those of either [beta125I]endorphin or D-[3H]Ala2-Met-enkephalinamide. This difference in distribution of these compounds, coupled with the observation that [beta-125I] endorphin and D-[3H]Ala2-Met-enkephalinamide were more stable than [3H]Leu-enkephalin in CSF, suggested that radioactivity in the spinal cord of mice treated with [beta-125I]endorphin or D-[3H]Ala2-Met-enkephalinamide was due to unchanged material. Very low levels of radioactivity were found in brain or spinal cord after i.v. administration of either [beta-125I]endorphin or D-[3H]Ala2-Met-enkephalinamide. This latter observation supports the view that endorphins administered i.c.v. enter the spinal cord directly through CSF rather than reentry from the general circulation. The results presented herein support the hypothesis that the antinociceptive action of morphine in mice as measured by the tail-flick procedure can be mediated via the release of endogenous compound(s) from brain into CSF which are transported to lower sections of the spinal cord where they inhibit the tail-flick response.