Transfusion of human volunteers with older, stored red blood cells produces extravascular hemolysis and circulating non-transferrin-bound iron

Transfusions of RBCs stored for longer durations are associated with adverse effects in hospitalized patients. We prospectively studied 14 healthy human volunteers who donated standard leuko-reduced, double RBC units. One unit was autologously transfused "fresh" (3-7 days of storage), and the other "older" unit was transfused after 40 to 42 days of storage. Of the routine laboratory parameters measured at defined times surrounding transfusion, significant differences between fresh and older transfusions were only observed in iron parameters and markers of extravascular hemolysis. Compared with fresh RBCs, mean serum total bilirubin increased by 0.55 mg/dL at 4 hours after transfusion of older RBCs (P = .0003), without significant changes in haptoglobin or lactate dehydrogenase. In addition, only after the older transfusion, transferrin saturation increased progressively over 4 hours to a mean of 64%, and non-transferrin-bound iron appeared, reaching a mean of 3.2μM. The increased concentrations of non-transferrin-bound iron correlated with enhanced proliferation in vitro of a pathogenic strain of Escherichia coli (r = 0.94, P = .002). Therefore, circulating non-transferrin-bound iron derived from rapid clearance of transfused, older stored RBCs may enhance transfusion-related complications, such as infection.     

Intracellular signaling mechanisms regulating the activation of human?eosinophils by the novel Th2 cytokine IL-33: implications for allergic?inflammation

The novel interleukin (IL)-1 family cytokine IL-33 has been shown to activate T helper 2 (Th2) lymphocytes, mast cells and basophils to produce an array of proinflammatory cytokines, as well as to mediate blood eosinophilia, IgE secretion and hypertrophy of airway epithelium in mice. In the present study, we characterized the activation of human eosinophils by IL-33, and investigated the underlying intracellular signaling mechanisms. IL-33 markedly enhanced eosinophil survival and upregulated cell surface expression of the adhesion molecule intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 on eosinophils, but it suppressed that of ICAM-3 and L-selectin. In addition, IL-33 mediates significant release of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 and the chemokines CXCL8 and CCL2. We found that IL-33-mediated enhancement of survival, induction of adhesion molecules, and release of cytokines and chemokines were differentially regulated by activation of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways. Furthermore, we compared the above IL-33 activities with two structurally and functionally related cytokines, IL-1β and IL-18. IL-1β, but not IL-18, markedly upregulated cell surface expression of ICAM-1. IL-1β and IL-18 also significantly enhanced eosinophil survival, and induced the release of IL-6 and chemokines CXCL8 and CCL2 via the activation of the NF-κB, p38 MAPK and ERK pathways. Synergistic effects on the release of IL-6 were also observed in combined treatment with IL-1β, IL-18 and IL-33. Taken together, our findings provide insight into IL-33-mediated activation of eosinophils via differential intracellular signaling cascades in the immunopathogenesis of allergic inflammation.     

胶质瘤干细胞对替莫唑胺敏感性的研究

目的 探讨胶质瘤干细胞(GSC)对替莫唑胺(TMZ)的敏感性及耐药机制.方法 新鲜多形性胶质母细胞瘤(GBM)标本培养后获得GSC.免疫荧光技术榆测未分化GSC的CD133及分化生长GSC的GFAP的表达,MTS法检测对替莫唑胺的敏感性,流式细胞技术对CD133阳性细胞的比例进行定量,荧光标记的甲基化特异性PCR分析MGMT启动子区域的甲基化状态,Western blot检测抑癌基因PTEN的表达.结果 (1)5例GBM标本中成功获得GSC,符合肿瘤下细胞定义.(2)5个GSC细胞株多数对TMZ不敏感.其中,T509的半数抑制浓度(IC50)为22.3 μmol/L(敏感),T411的IC50为286.3 μmol/L(中度敏感),其余3个细胞株T402,T405及T509的IC50皆大于1000μmol/L(不敏感).(3)CD133阳性细胞比例大于10%的GSC细胞株对TMZ不敏感.(4)MGMT启动子区域呈去甲基化状态的GSC对TMZ不敏感或仅为中度敏感.(5)5个GSC细胞株中,PTEN表达水平差异大,与GSC对TMZ的敏感性无明显关联.结论 GSC对TMZ普遍耐药,与MGMT启动子区域甲基化状态及CD133阳性细胞有关,而与PTEN蛋白表达水平无明显关联.