A sensitive method to detect the hepatitis B virus mutations by using solid phase PCR on oligonucleotide array

A sensitive method based on solid phase PCR on oligonucleotide array was established to detect two point mutations 1896G-A and 1901G-A in hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, in which 6 probes including these two point mutations were immobilized on modified glass slides through 5' terminal linker, while the 3' terminal was made to be free. The mutated loci were designed to locate on the last nucleotides of 3' terminal respectively, and the positive control probes lacked the last nucleotide of 3' terminal in comparison with the probes used for detection. Probes fixed on oligonucleotide array were also the solid phase amplification primers. One pair of liquid primers was used to amplify the short template product from whole HBV DNA. Using target DNA as template, the solid primers were extended under the action of Taq DNA polymerase and incorporated with Cy-3dCTP as marker. During the thermal cycling reaction, probes served as solid phase amplification primers and amplification products bound to the oligonucleotide array, which could be visualized by incorporation with fluorescent dyes. After amplification, the oligonucleotide array was washed, performed with laser scanning, and then used for quantitative analysis to obtain the information for mutations. The hybridization results were compared with DNA sequencing. It was demonstrated that in case of sample A, the ratios of fluorescence intensities in wide type and in the mutated types of 1896G-A and 1901G-A mutations in HBV were 3.81:1 and 1:3.79 respectively, while, in case of sample B, those were 1:2.89 and 1:3.03 respectively, indicating the presence of point mutations in these two loci. These results correlated to those obtained from DNA sequencing analysis in which the fluorescence intensity ratios in wide type and in the mutated types of 1996G-A and 1901D-A mutations in HBV were 1.26:1 and 1.67:1 respectively. From the above observations, it is evident that the method using solid phase PCR based on oligonucleotide array appears to be a sensitive and promising way to detect mutations with low-density.     

微电极阵列细胞传感器芯片技术的研究进展

综述了目前国际上基于微电极阵列技术的细胞传感器芯片的研究状况。介绍了微电极阵列的工艺设计、界面模型以及在细胞电生理研究中的应用,同时分析了细胞胞外记录技术在实现组织-细胞以及细胞间信号传导过程的实时动态检测的特点和目前存在的问题。在此基础上,介绍了单细胞以及细胞传感器网络芯片技术的发展。最后,提出微电极阵列细胞传感器研究的发展方向。     

Correction of aberrant axon growth in the developing mouse olfactory bulb

During development of the primary olfactory system, sensory axons project from the nasal cavity to the glomerular layer of the olfactory bulb. In the process axons can branch inappropriately into several glomeruli and sometimes over-shoot the glomerular layer, entering the deeper external plexiform layer. However in the adult, axons are rarely observed within the external plexiform layer. While chemorepulsive cues are proposed to restrict axons to the glomerular layer in the embryonic animal, these cues are clearly insufficient for all axons in the postnatal animal. We hypothesised that the external plexiform layer is initially an environment in which axons are able to grow but becomes increasingly inhibitory to axon growth in later postnatal development. We have determined that rather than having short localised trajectories as previously assumed, many axons that enter the external plexiform layer had considerable trajectories and projected preferentially along the ventro-dorsal and rostro-caudal axes for up to 950 μm. With increasing age, fewer axons were detected within the external plexiform layer but axons continued to be present until P17. Thus the external plexiform layer is initially an environment in which axons can extensively grow. We next tested whether the external plexiform layer became increasingly inhibitory to axon growth by microdissecting various layers of the olfactory bulb and preparing protein extracts. When assayed using olfactory epithelium explants of the same embryonic age, primary olfactory axons became increasingly inhibited by extract prepared from the external plexiform layer of increasingly older animals. These results demonstrate that primary olfactory axons can initially grow extensively in the external plexiform layer, but that during postnatal development inhibitory cues are upregulated that reduce axon growth within the external plexiform layer.     

Plaque Rupture is a Determinant of Vascular Events in Carotid Artery Atherosclerotic Disease: Involvement of Matrix Metalloproteinases 2 and 9

Background and Purpose

Unstable carotid atherosclerotic plaques are characterized by cap rupture, leading to thromboembolism and stroke. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in the progression of atherosclerosis and plaque rupture. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and carotid plaque instability.

Methods

Eighty atherosclerotic plaques were collected from 74 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Clinical information was obtained from each patient, and plaque morphology was examined at the macroscopic and microscopic levels. The immunohistochemical expressions of MMPs were graded using semiquantitative scales.

Results

Macroscopic ulceration (84.6% versus 63.4%, p=0.042) and microscopic cap rupture (79.5% versus 51.2%, p=0.010) were more common in symptomatic than in asymptomatic patients. Immunoreactivities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were increased in 40 and 36 atheromatous plaques, respectively. Macroscopic ulceration was strongly correlated with the expressions of MMP-2 (p<0.001) and MMP-9 (p=0.001). There were significant correlations between increased MMP-2 expression and cap rupture (p=0.002), intraplaque hemorrhage (p=0.039), and a thin fibrous cap (p=0.002), and between increased MMP-9 expression and cap rupture (p=0.010) and a large lipid core (p=0.013).

Conclusions

Plaque rupture was significantly associated with the development of vascular events in carotid atherosclerotic disease. MMP-2 and MMP-9 are strongly correlated with plaque instability.     

树突状细胞诱导Th17细胞分化及其在气道炎症性反应中的作用

树突状细胞(DCs)是最具潜能的抗原提呈细胞,它能激活初始型T细胞并分泌相关细胞因子促进Th0的不同分化方向,在启动免疫应答中扮演着重要角色。Th17细胞是最新发现的与Th1、Th2不同的Th细胞亚群,能介导气道前炎症反应,并且与自身免疫病有关。本文综述了DCs诱导Th0向Th17细胞的分化研究及其在气道炎症性反应中的作用。     

基于生物信息学的ECSM2胞外区B细胞表位预测

目的预测内皮细胞特异分子-2(endothelial cell-specific molecule-2,ECSM2)胞外区B细胞表位。方法以ECSM2胞外区氨基酸序列为基础,应用公共的生物信息学工具,分析ECSM2的序列特异性、二级结构,以及极性、亲水性、柔韧性、表面可及性等参数,然后借助专业的B细胞表位预测工具预测潜在的B细胞表位,最后对获得的数据综合分析,评判ECSM2胞外区最有可能的B细胞表位。结果综合分析多种生物信息学工具获得的数据表明,ECSM2胞外区69-93位氨基酸区段包含了4个相互重叠的潜在表位,具有极大的B细胞表位可能性。结论应用生物信息学预测出的ECSM2胞外区B细胞表位,为直接利用该表位从抗体库或杂交瘤细胞库中筛选出血管内皮细胞靶向的特异抗体提供了理论依据。     

造血系统中miRNAs的表达和功能

微RNA(miRNAs)是具有在转录水平调节基因表达的约19～24个核苷酸的非编码RNA。目前,已在病毒、植物、线虫、昆虫、鱼类、小鼠、人类等几乎各种生物体中发现了miRNAs,它广泛分布于多种组织细胞中。微点阵技术(即芯片技术)促进了不同造血细胞特异miRNAs的发现。通过对组织培养细胞、miRNAs转基因小鼠或miRNAs基因敲除小鼠模型的研究,发现miRNAs不仅参与机体的免疫应答,而且对免疫系统的发育及其功能的发挥均有调节作用。研究还发现,不仅肿瘤中miRNAs表达存在异常,而且不同肿瘤中miRNAs异常表达谱也不尽相同。miRNAs作为一种潜在的基因诊断和治疗工具如何有效地用于免疫紊乱和癌症的检测、治疗已成为研究热点。本文主要综述了miRNAs在造血系统中的表达和功能研究方面的最新进展。     

MKL1在巨核细胞分化中的表达及其作用的实验研究

目的了解MKL1在巨核细胞分化、成熟中的作用。方法以人外周血来源CD34~+细胞巨核细胞分化为模型,采用荧光实时定量PCR法研究MKL1基因在不同分化阶段巨核细胞中的表达情况,通过构建慢病毒载体在CD34~+细胞中过表达MKL1基因,利用血细胞涂片和流式细胞仪考察MKL1过表达细胞经细胞因子刺激分化后的形态、CD41~+百分比及DNA含量。结果经qPCR研究发现,MKL1基因在成熟的巨核细胞中的表达6.8倍高于未分化的CD34~+细胞,以及2倍高于单个核巨核细胞。MKL1过表达组经诱导分化后CD41~+巨核细胞百分比与多倍体细胞百分比分别为61.5%和52.9%,均显著高于对照组36.3%和33.4%的比例。结论MKL1基因在巨核细胞分化中表达逐渐上调,其外源表达促进人外周血来源CD34~+细胞巨核细胞分化和多倍体化。     

ERK在ALR抑制免疫过程中的变化及意义

目的观察肝再生增强因子(ALR)对外周血单核细胞增殖时ERK的影响,以探明ALR免疫抑制相关机理。方法梯度离心法分离健康人外周单核细胞,用ConA 5μg/ml刺激细胞增殖,选定最佳研究时间;观察不同剂量ALR抑制功能,选用最佳抑制剂量;利用Western blot检测ALR抑制细胞增殖时ERK的磷酸化改变。结果 ConA刺激细胞增殖最佳时间是60 h,ALR能抑制细胞增殖,并呈剂量依赖关系,30μg/ml ALR抑制效果最显著;ALR对单核细胞无直接增殖作用。ConA能引起ERK含量和磷酸化明显增加,ALR则抑制ConA对ERK的刺激,以抑制ERK2最明显。结论 ALR可能通ERK的含量和抑制ERK2的磷酸化抑制细胞增殖。     

TLR7/8配体(R848)对人NK细胞杀伤功能的作用及其机制的探讨

目的研究R848对人自然杀伤细胞(NK)杀伤功能的作用及其机制。方法分离健康志愿者外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)、纯化NK细胞,加或不加R848进行培养。分别在0、2、6、24、48h收集培养细胞,流式细胞术检测R848对NK细胞表面活化分子CD25和CD69表达的影响;检测R848活化的NK细胞杀伤靶细胞K562的作用、通过检测颗粒酶A、B、穿孔素、TRAIL和NK细胞与靶细胞共孵育后CD107a/b的表达,探讨R848促进NK细胞的杀伤功能机制。结果 R848活化的NK细胞在培养24h时CD69和CD25分子的表达百分率和平均荧光密度达到峰值,随后活化分子的表达有所下降;R848活化的NK细胞对靶细胞的杀伤功能明显增强,TRAIL在不同NK细胞亚群的表达显著增加(P0.05)。当NK细胞与K562共孵育后,R848活化的NK细胞表面CD107a/b的表达较未刺激条件明显增加。结论 R848可直接作用于NK细胞促进其杀伤功能,其作用机制与NK细胞活化后释放颗粒酶和穿孔素增加,并且TRAIL的表达增加有关。