CD40 expression by gingival fibroblasts: correlation of phenotype with function

CD40, a member of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor family, is constitutively expressed by cells of hematopoietic and non- hematopoietic origin, including fibroblasts. Signaling through this receptor molecule regulates inflammatory cytokine secretion by many cell types. Based on the recently described cytokine secretory heterogeneity of fibroblast cell subsets, we hypothesized that secretion of inflammatory cytokines by gingival fibroblast cultures may be dictated by the existence of differential proportions of cytokine- secreting subpopulations which express high levels of CD40. After examining a large number of gingival fibroblast (GF) cultures we find that the frequency of IL-6- and IL-8-secreting cells mirrors the frequency of cells expressing high levels of CD40 in these cultures. In addition, we demonstrate a direct functional relationship between CD40 expression and IL-6 or IL-8 secretion by showing that ligation of this molecule on GF, and CD40+ fibroblast subsets in particular, up- regulates secretion of these cytokines in vitro.      

A novel dystrophin isoform is required for normal retinal electrophysiology

Dystrophin is present in the outer plexiform layer of the retinaand is required for normal retinal function as measured by electroretinography.We describe the identification of a novel isoform of dystrophln(Dp260) present in the mouse retina. The unIque 5' terminusof the mRNA originates from a newly identified exon and is splicedin frame to exon 30 of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)gene. The retinal isoform of dystrophln has 13 novel amino acidsas its N-terminus followed by most of the dystrophin rod domainand the cysteine-rich C-terminal domains. Analysis of mousetissues indicated this isoform of dystrophin Is expressed inretina, brain and cardiac tissue. Comparison of retinal electrophysiologyin mdx and mdx^cv3 mouse suggests that Dp260 is required fornormal retinal function.     

FLK1265-2493与C3d3融合基因真核表达质粒的构建及表达

目的 构建FLK1265-2493与C3d3融合基因真核表达质粒，并在体外进行表达和鉴定。方法采用PCR技术扩增FLK1265—2493片段，将该片段插入到pMDT-18载体中后，亚克隆至真核表达载体pSG．SS．C3d3．YL，构建FLD1265-2493与C3d3融合基因表达质粒。经限制性酶切鉴定和DNA序列测定结果证实后，将重组质粒pSG．SS．FLK1265—2493．C3d3．YL转染Hela细胞，检测其体外表达。结果免疫印迹和免疫细胞化学分析结果分别表明转染细胞上清液和胞浆内均有目的分子的存在。结论构建的DNA疫苗可在真核细胞内正确表达，这为进一步的动物实验打下了基础。     

磁转联合脂质体实现高效细胞转染

目的优化体外培养细胞的外源基因转染方案。方法采用磁性微粒联合脂质体，将重组人绿色荧光蛋白表达载体（pAAV-IRES-GFP）外源DNA定向转染COS-7细胞，荧光显微镜下观察外源基因的表达，比较不同转染条件及DNA载量的细胞转染效果。结果DNA与Combimag按1：1的比例混合转染可以得到很高的转染效率，过高的DNA载量使转染效率减低。结论利用磁转结合脂质体可使低剂量的DNA达到快速、简便和高水平的转染。     

新型抗蝰蛇毒血清对不同喹蛇毒作用的实验研究

目的　探讨新型抗蝰蛇毒血清对国产圆斑蝰蛇毒及缅甸蝰蛇毒的作用 .方法　采用免疫电泳、SDS -聚丙烯酰胺电泳及动物实验等方法 .结果　国产圆斑蝰蛇毒的LD50 (腹腔注射 )为 0 .3 0 6± 0 .0 0 3mg/kg ,缅甸蝰蛇毒的LD50 (腹腔注射 )为 0 .2 90± 0 .0 0 3mg/kg .免疫电泳结果表明国产圆斑蝰蛇毒和缅甸蝰蛇毒均和新型抗蝰蛇毒血清产生明显的免疫沉淀线 .体外中和实验表明抗蝰蛇毒血清对国产圆斑蝰蛇毒的中和抗体效价为 2 75 0 μg/ml(约45 0LD50 ) ,对缅甸蝰蛇毒的中和抗体效价为 2 490 μg/ml(约 43 0LD50 ) .体内保护实验表明给予 0 .0 5ml抗蝰蛇毒血清可抵御 2 5 4μg(约41 5LD50 )国产圆斑蝰蛇毒或 116μg(约 2 0LD50 )缅甸蝰蛇毒的攻击 ,使小鼠全部存活 .结论　新型抗蝰蛇毒血清对国产圆斑蝰蛇毒及缅甸蝰蛇毒的中和抗体效价均较高 ,有较大的应用价值 .     

Phenotypically different cells with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 overexpression show similar genetic alterations

Immunocytochemical studies have revealed that overexpression of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A2/ B1 in exfoliated epithelial cells is a potentially useful marker of early lung cancer. This study analyzed the correlation of hnRNP A2/B1 expression with molecular alterations in phenotypically different epithelial cells of paraffin-embedded pulmonary tissues. Sections from 20 human subjects were analyzed immunohistochemically for expression of hnRNP A2/B1. Normal-appearing, hyperplastic, and malignant epithelial cells with and without hnRNP A2/B1 expression (n = 78) were microdissected and assessed for microsatellite alterations (MA) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) (n = 14 markers) as well as for clonality. Results showed that (1) hnRNP A2/B1 immunoreactive cells contained a significantly higher frequency of MA and LOH than did comparable cells that lacked detectable hnRNP A2/B1; (2) over 80% of MA and LOH seen in hnRNP A2/B1 immunoreactive normal-appearing and hyperplastic cells persisted in malignant cells; (3) preliminary analysis of methylation status of the androgen receptor gene in non-neoplastic cells was suggestive of hnRNP A2/B1-expressing cells being of clonal origin; and (4) cells with cytoplasmic hnRNP A2/B1 immunoreactivity had a 3-fold higher frequency of MA and LOH than did cells with nuclear hnRNP A2/B1 immunoreactivity. These findings suggest that phenotypically different respiratory epithelial cells with hnRNP A2/B1 overexpression might be clonally derived, and that the subcellular localization of hnRNP A2/B1 might be an important factor associated with tumor progression.     

Mutations in Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy and their effects on emerin protein expression

Seventeen families with Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) have been studied both by DNA sequencing and by emerin protein expression. Fourteen had mutations in the X-linked emerin gene, while three showed evidence of autosomal inheritance. Twelve of the 14 emerin mutations caused early termination of translation. An in-frame deletion of six amino acids from the C-terminal transmembrane helix caused almost complete absence of emerin from muscle with no localization to the nuclear membrane, although mRNA levels were normal. This shows that mutant emerin proteins are unstable if they are unable to integrate into a membrane. A 22 bp deletion in the promoter region was expected to result in reduced emerin production, but normal amounts of emerin of normal size were found in leucocytes and lymphoblastoid cell lines. This shows that DNA analysis is necessary to exclude emerin mutations in suspected X-linked EDMD. Emerin levels in female carriers often deviated from the expected 50% and this was due, in at least two families, to skewed emerin mRNA expression from the normal and mutated alleles. In one family with a novel deletion of the last three exons of the emerin gene, a carrier had a cardiomyopathy and very low emerin levels (<5% of normal) due to skewed X-inactivation. In the three autosomal cases of EDMD, emerin was normal on western blots of blood cells, which suggests that autosomal EDMD is not caused by indirect reduction of emerin levels.      

Evaluation and Validation of an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and an Immunochromatographic Test for Serological Diagnosis of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

A newly developed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was further validated to confirm cutoff values and evaluate its diagnostic performance with clinical samples. In parallel, an immunochromatographic test was also evaluated. A total of 227 clinical serum specimens collected from SARS patients were used in the study, together with 385 samples from healthy donors. By use of an immunofluorescent (IF) test as the “gold standard, ” both the ELISA and the immunochromatographic test were able to detect immunoglobulin G antibodies to SARS not only from late-convalescent-stage samples (>21 days from the onset of clinical symptoms), as previously established, but also from early-acute-phase samples (1 to 10 days from onset). The ELISA, using an optical density (OD) of 0.25 as its cutoff value, produced the best sensitivity while maintaining high specificity. It detected SARS-specific antibodies in 58, 70, 75, and 95%, respectively, of the four groups of samples collected from patients 1 to 10 days, 11 to 20 days, 21 to 30 days, and more than 30 days after the onset of clinical symptoms. Similarly, the immunochromatographic test detected SARS-specific antibodies in 55, 68, 81, and 79% of the four groups, respectively. The overall specificities for the ELISA and the rapid test were 99.5 and 97.7%, respectively. Although the positive correlation observed between the ELISA OD values and the IF titers was moderate (r = 0.6915; P < 0.001), the detection rates of both the ELISA and the rapid test were found well in agreement with the IF titers.