Immunization with recombinant Streptococcus pneumoniae neuraminidase NanA protects chinchillas against nasopharyngeal colonization

Immunization with recombinant S. pneumoniae neuraminidase NanA (rNanA) resulted in a significant reduction in pneumococcal colonization in the chinchilla model. The bacteria were eliminated from the nasopharynx 1 week earlier than that from the control cohort. Our data suggest that rNanA affords protection against pneumococcal nasopharyngeal colonization.     

An animal model of SARS produced by infection of Macaca mulatta with SARS coronavirus

A new SARS animal model was established by inoculating SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) into rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) through the nasal cavity. Pathological pulmonary changes were successively detected on days 5-60 after virus inoculation. All eight animals showed a transient fever 2-3 days after inoculation. Immunological, molecular biological, and pathological studies support the establishment of this SARS animal model. Firstly, SARS-CoV-specific IgGs were detected in the sera of macaques from 11 to 60 days after inoculation. Secondly, SARS-CoV RNA could be detected in pharyngeal swab samples using nested RT-PCR in all infected animals from 5 days after virus inoculation. Finally, histopathological changes of interstitial pneumonia were found in the lungs during the 60 days after viral inoculation: these changes were less marked at later time points, indicating that an active healing process together with resolution of an acute inflammatory response was taking place in these animals. This animal model should provide insight into the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-related pulmonary disease and greatly facilitate the development of vaccines and therapeutics against SARS.     

阿仑膦酸钠对兔破骨细胞功能的影响

用骨陷窝形成分析法观察阿仑膦酸钠对体外培养破骨细胞功能的影响，探讨可能的作用机制。在建立兔破骨细胞培养方法的基础上，用不同浓度的阿仑膦酸钠分别与骨片或成骨细胞提前作用，然后再将骨片或成骨细胞分别与破骨细胞共同培养。结果发现当阿仑膦酸钠（10^-11,10^-9,10^-7mol/L)与骨片预处理后，破骨细胞在骨片上形成的骨吸收陷窝数目减少，其抑制率分别为19．5％（P＜0．05）、49．0％（P＜0．01）和74．5％（P＜0．01）。用阿仑膦酸钠（10^-9,10^-7,10^-5mol/L)预处理成骨细胞后，仅在高浓度（10^-5mol/L）时可见破骨细胞骨吸收陷窝的数目明显减少，其抑制率为62．8％（P＜0．01）。结果表明阿仑膦酸钠能直接或通过成骨细胞间接抑制破骨细胞的骨吸收活性。     

Significance of cytogenetic and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis in evaluating antichronic myeloid leukemia efficacy of different immune effector cells

We report on the antileukemia effect of interleukin 2 (IL2) on different immune cells from 22 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Bone marrow cells from these patients were first cultured in modified long-term bone marrow culture medium for several days, then separately cultured with lymphokine activated killer cells (LAK), cytokine-induced killer cells (CIK), and dendritic cell cocultured CIK (DC-CIK) for another 1-2 days. They were then detected for presence of the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) by cytogenetic analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The percentage of Ph-chromosome-positive cells in the bone marrow mononuclear cells after culturing with CIK and DC-CIK was significantly lower than that after culturing with IL2 or LAK. Our results demonstrate that cytogenetics and FISH are useful techniques for the evaluation of the anti-CML effect of immune cells and that CIK or DC-CIK can be appropriate candidates for adoptive immune cell therapy in vivo or for leukemia cell purging ex vivo.     

Immunobiology of tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily

The proteins of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily are a group of cell-surface receptors critically involved in the maintenance of homeostasis of the immune system. By interacting with their corresponding ligands, these receptors either induce cell death or promote cell survival of immune cells. The number of recognized members of the TNF receptor and ligand superfamily has expanded substantially in the last several years. More important, the biologic function of this group of proteins has been closely associated with the regulation of the immune response and the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease. Thus, the direct targeting of these receptors by either inducing apoptosis or blocking survival of autoimmune T and B cells may be an important therapeutic strategy in the treatment of autoimmune disease. This review summarizes the recent progress in immunobiology of the TNF receptor superfamily and focuses on our studies of three critical family members-FasL/Fas, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)/TRAIL-Rs, and B lymphocyte stimulator(BLyS)/BLyS-Rs--to demonstrate the therapeutic potential of targeting these receptors for the treatment of autoimmune disease.     

Effect of beta2-glycoprotein I null mutation on reproductive outcome and antiphospholipid antibody-mediated pregnancy pathology in mice

beta(2)-Glycoprotein I (beta(2)GPI) is a principal target antigen for antiphospholipid antibodies associated with recurrent pregnancy loss and fetal growth restriction in women. The significance of disrupted beta(2)GPI activity in contributing to pregnancy pathology in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is not clear. In this study the physiological requirement for functional beta(2)GPI in pregnancy was investigated by evaluating reproductive outcomes in beta(2)GPI null mutant (beta(2)GPI-/-) mice. beta(2)GPI-/- mice were fertile and carried viable fetuses to term. However, there was an 18% reduction in the number of viable implantation sites in beta(2)GPI-/- mice and reduced fetal weight and fetal:placental weight ratio in late gestation, suggesting compromised placental function. Placental architecture was altered in beta(2)GPI-/- implantation sites with a 24% increase in the junctional zone: labyrinthine ratio, but placentae showed no evidence of increased thrombosis in the absence of beta(2)GPI. The effect of beta(2)GPI genotype on pregnancy success after passive transfer of human and mouse antibodies reactive with beta(2)GPI was also explored. Two of five anti-beta(2)GPI antibodies induced pregnancy loss in beta(2)GPI+/+ mice but beta(2)GPI-/- mice were refractory to antibody-induced pregnancy failure. We conclude that functional beta(2)GPI is not essential for successful pregnancy in mice, but optimal placental development and fetal growth require this molecule. Together these data are consistent with pathogenic mechanisms in antiphospholipid syndrome involving both neutralization of beta(2)GPI function and beta(2)GPI-immunoglobulin complex formation.     

Protein synthesis inhibition blocks the late-phase LTP of C-fiber evoked field potentials in rat spinal dorsal horn

Previous studies have demonstrated that in the hippocampus the maintenance of long-term potentiation (LTP) requires de novo protein synthesis. To investigate the role of protein synthesis in the maintenance of LTP of C-fiber evoked field potentials in spinal dorsal horn, which may be relevant to hyperalgesia, protein synthesis inhibitor (either cycloheximide or anisomycin) was applied locally to the recording segments of spinal cord in anesthetized rats, 30 min prior to tetanic stimulation to the sciatic nerve. We found that both cycloheximide and anisomycin selectively inhibited late-phase maintenance of the spinal LTP but affected neither LTP induction nor baseline responses of C-fiber evoked field potentials. In the presence of cycloheximide, LTP of C-fiber evoked field potentials was 281.5 +/- 16.5% (n = 6) of baseline 1 h after tetanic stimulation and the potentiation significantly decreased to 235.5 +/- 18.5% at 145 min after tetanic stimulation (P < 0.05). Afterward, LTP of C-fiber evoked field potentials decreased continuously and at 270 min after tetanic stimulation reached 130.8 +/- 18.0%, which was no longer different from baseline (P > 0.05). Spinal application of anisomycin at 30 min before tetanic stimulation yielded similar results (n = 6). These results suggest that protein synthesis may be crucial for the late-phase maintenance of LTP of C-fiber evoked field potentials in spinal dorsal horn.     

Graves''''病患者131I治疗前后血清甲状腺激素水平变化

目的:通过检测Graves'病患者131I治疗前后血清甲状腺激素水平的动态变化,探讨甲状腺轴激素在治疗中的临床意义及治疗后机体免疫反应的变化.方法: 92例131I治疗的Graves'病患者,用放射免疫分析测定治疗前及治疗后3个月,6个月,12个月不同时期甲状腺激素水平(FT3,FT4,TSH,TGA,TMA)变化,统计分析测量结果.结果: FT3水平与正常对照组(80组)比较,治疗前及治疗后3个月均升高,6个月和12个月与对照组比较无明显差异(P＞0.05);FT4水平与治疗前比较,治疗后3个月较治疗前下降(P＜0.05);治疗后6个月及12个月明显下降(P＜0.01);TSH与对照组比较,治疗后3个月低于正常对照组(P＜0.05),治疗后6个月升高最明显,12个月又略低于正常对照组.131I治疗前患者血清TGA、TMA阳性率分别38.0%和32.6%,与治疗后阳性率比较,3个月后下降,6个月后升高最明显,12个月后再度下降.结论:动态观察131I治疗前后 Graves'病患者血清FT3,FT4,TSH,TGA,TMA水平变化,对判断疾病疗效,监测机体免疫反应及预后有重要的临床价值.     

慢性癫痫大鼠海马内GABA_A受体γ_2亚单位的改变──原位杂交组织化学研究

将马桑内酯作腹腔注射诱发大鼠慢性癫痫动物模型。然后，对模型动物和对照动物海马组织进行ＧＡＢＡ_Ａ受体γ_２亚单位的原位杂交组织化学研究。结果表明，慢性癫痫动物海马回和齿状回内的ＧＡＢＡＡ受体γ_２亚单位ｍＲＮＡ较对照组明显减少。提示ＧＡＢＡＡ受体γ_２亚单位可能在癫痫发病机理中起一定作用。     

大、中学生对文化维度的知觉

目的:考察大、中学生对文化维度的知觉的情况和发展趋势。方法:用Trandis编制的个人主义-集体主义量表(Individualism-Collectivism Scale)对1760名大、中学生进行测量。结果:大、中学生对文化维度的知觉存在年龄效应;随着年龄增加,对集体主义维度的知觉从42.05%下降到27.40%,而对个人主义维度的知觉从5.01%上升到18.58%;水平维度的知觉从47.06%下降到40.71%;垂直维度的知觉从4.14%上升到6.19%。结论:大、中学生对文化维度的知觉的差异主要表现在个人主义和集体主义的维度,水平维度和垂直维度有轻微的波动。