Deletion of decay-accelerating factor (CD55) exacerbates autoimmune disease development in MRL/lpr mice

Decay-accelerating factor (DAF, CD55) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane protein that restricts complement activation on autologous cells. It is also a ligand for CD97, an activation-associated lymphocyte antigen with seven transmembrane domains. It is widely expressed on cells of both the hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic lineages. Although deficiency of DAF on human erythrocytes is associated with the hemolytic anemia syndrome paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, the in vivo biology of DAF is still poorly understood. We addressed the in vivo function of DAF in a knockout mouse model and describe here that deletion of DAF exacerbates autoimmune disease development in MRL/lpr mice, a model for human systemic lupus erythematosus. Compared to DAF-sufficient littermate controls, DAF-deficient female MRL/lpr mice developed exacerbated lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly, higher serum anti-chromatin autoantibody levels, and aggravated dermatitis. Consistent with the phenotype of aggravated dermatitis in DAF-deficient mice, Northern and Western blots and immunofluorescence studies showed DAF to be expressed abundantly in the mouse skin, suggesting that it may play a particularly important role in this tissue. Histology and immunostaining demonstrated inflammatory infiltrate and focal C3 deposition in early skin lesions, mostly along the dermal-epidermal junction. These results reveal a protective function of DAF in the development of a systemic autoimmune syndrome and suggest that dysfunction or down-regulation of DAF may contribute to autoimmune disease pathogenesis and manifestation.     

GSTP1 polymorphism,cigarette smoking and cervical cancer risk in Korean women

Previous studies have suggested that glutathione S-transferase (GST) genotypes may play a role in determining susceptibility to cervical cancer, though the data have often been conflicting. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of GSTP1 polymorphism on cervical carcinogenesis. The studied subjects, patients who were pathologically diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer yielding positive results for human papillomavirus (HPV) (n=342), were compared to healthy, normal, female controls (n=707). DNA from peripheral blood samples from studied subjects whose GSTP1 specific sequences had been determined by PCR with allele-specific primers were reviewed in comparison with the normal controls. The genetic susceptibility of GSTP1 (11q 13.1) in cervical carcinogenesis was determined by examining the effect of gene and environmental factors by the different histopathologic types of invasive cervical cancers. In assessing polymorphism GSTP1, the percentages of individuals homozygous for the A allele, homozygous for the G allele, and heterozygous for the two alleles were 66.8%, 3.9%, and 29.3%, respectively, in the control group, and 64.3%, 4.1%, and 31.6%, respectively, among in women with cervical cancer. Compared with GSTP1 G allele positive (GA or G/G), the odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval) for GSTP1 A/A was 1.0 (0.7 - 1.4) for invasive cervical cancer. However, the risk increased with GSTP1 A/A among ever smokers (3.9, 1.7 - 8.9, p-value=0.0012) compared with GSTP1 G allele positive among nonsmokers. In particular, this risk was higher among women with squamous cell carcinoma (4.7, 2.0 - 10.8, p=0.0003). Polymorphism of GSTP1 among smoking women was associated with a higher risk of developing cervical cancer.     

HLA-A2-restricted CD8+-cytotoxic-T-cell responses to novel epitopes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis superoxide dismutase, alanine dehydrogenase, and glutamine synthetase

Major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are implicated in protective Th1 immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. We report the identification of three novel HLA-A*0201-restricted CTL epitopes within mycobacterial superoxide dismutase (SodA), L-alanine dehydrogenase (AlaDH), and L-glutamine synthetase (GlnS) proteins.     

武汉市1150例学龄前儿童气质特点分析

目的：了解学龄前儿童气质变化特点，为制订武汉市儿童气质常模提供依据。方法：选取武汉市桥口和江岸两城区3所幼儿园中1150名符合条件学龄前儿童为调查对象；采用《3～7岁儿童气质测查问卷》和自制《学龄前儿童基本情况调查表》进行调查。结果：随年龄增长，儿童活动水平降低、节律性增强、注意分散度降低且更易于接近，气质朝积极方向发展；男童较女童活动水平高，节律性强、心境积极，反应阈高；合并麻烦型的构成比高于全国常模；男女童与常模的维度得分存在较多差异。结论：武汉市学龄前儿童气质呈现明显的性别与年龄规律，但与全国常模存在较多差异，应进一步寻找原因，必要时建立武汉市学龄前儿童气质常模。     

Effective induction of immune tolerance by portal venous infusion with IL-10 gene-modified immature dendritic cells leading to prolongation of allograft survival

Dendritic cells (DC) not only initiate T cell responses, but are also involved in the induction of tolerance. The functional properties of DC are strictly dependent on their state of maturation. It has been shown that immature DC can induce immune tolerance and prolong allograft survival. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an important immunosuppressive cytokine which inhibits maturation and function of DC. In order to improve the tolerogenicity of DC, we and others showed that adenovirus vectors can effectively mediate IL-10 genetic modification of DC, and IL-10 genetic modification can inhibit MHC II, B7.2, and CD40 expression, IL-12 secretion and the T cell stimulatory capacity of DC. The primary aim of this study is to examine the in vivo effects of this approach on allograft survival in a murine cardiac allograft transplantation model. To our surprise, we observed that infusion of immature DC genetically modified to express IL-10 (DC-IL-10) via the tail vein could not prolong allograft survival in the recipients, but shortened their survival. More interestingly, portal venous infusion of DC-IL-10 markedly prolonged allograft survival. The diverse effects of DC-IL-10 infusion through different routes may be due to the different immune responses to alloantigens in recipients that received DC-IL-10 via either the portal or the tail vein. Decreased cytotoxicity, polarization of Th2 response, poor T cell stimulating activity of liver DC and enhanced incidence of donor DC in the recipients may contribute to the more efficient prolongation of allograft survival observed after portal venous infusion of DC-IL-10. These results suggest that portal venous infusion may be an effective approach for immature DC to induce immune tolerance or hyporesponsiveness against donor antigens, and prolong allograft survival.Abbreviations APC Antigen-presenting cells - CTL Cytotoxic T lymphocytes - DC Dendritic cells - DC-IL-10 IL-10 gene-modified immature dendritic cells - iDC Immature dendritic cells - IL-10 Interleukin-10 - MLR Mixed leukocyte reaction - MOI Multiplicity of infection     

Overexpression of lipoprotein lipase in transgenic rabbits leads to increased small dense LDL in plasma and promotes atherosclerosis

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is a key enzyme in the hydrolysis of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. Previous studies using transgenic mice and rabbits have demonstrated that high level of LPL activity in adipose and skeletal muscle protects against diet-induced hypercholesterolemia and subsequently prevents aortic atherosclerosis. However, it is unknown, per se, whether increased LPL activity itself is antiatherogenic, or whether the antiatherogenic effect of LPL is dependent upon the LPL lipid-lowering effect. To address this issue, we fed LPL transgenic and littermate rabbits diets containing different amounts of cholesterol (0.3-0.6%) adjusted to maintain their plasma cholesterol concentrations at similarly high levels for 16 weeks. We analyzed their lipoprotein profiles and compared their susceptibility to atherosclerosis. The results showed that the overexpression of LPL in transgenic rabbits reduced remnant lipoproteins (beta-VLDL, d<1.006 g/ml) but concomitantly led to a significant increase of the large (d=1.02-1.04 g/ml) and small LDLs (d=1.04-1.06 g/ml) compared to the amounts in control rabbits. Furthermore, we found that with equally high hypercholesterolemia, transgenic rabbits developed 1.8-fold more extensive aortic atherosclerosis than control rabbits. To examine the hypothesis that altered lipoprotein profiles may be responsible for the enhanced atherosclerosis in transgenic rabbits, we studied the atherogenic properties of apoB-containing lipoproteins in vitro. These studies revealed that small-sized LDLs of transgenic rabbits were more susceptible to copper-induced oxidation and had higher affinity to biglycan than large remnant lipoproteins. We conclude, therefore, that LPL exerts a dual function in terms of its atherogenicity, namely antiatherogenicity, through enhancing receptor-mediated remnant lipoprotein catabolism and proatherogenicity via the generation of a large amount of small-sized LDLs. At an equal atherogenic-cholesterol level, small and dense LDLs are more atherogenic than large remnant lipoproteins.     

下胫腓联合分离内固定术式的生物力学研究

目的　探讨下胫腓联合分离采用新型内固定术式———下胫腓钩板固定器 (Hook -platefixation ,HPF)的生物力学特性 ,与螺钉、钢板和带钩固定器三种内固定方式比较 ,为临床提供科学依据。方法　采用新鲜成人尸体足标本 6具 ,运用生物力学实验应力分析方法和压敏片技术 ,测量不同内固定术式的远端胫腓骨强度、应变、负重面积、接触应力和足弓承载能力及踝关节稳定性的变化。结果　新型下胫腓钩板固定器内固定术式无论在胫腓骨强度和刚度、负重面积、接触压力、足弓的变形、移位强度和刚度、承载能力以及踝关节的稳定性方面均优于其它三种内固定术式 ,具有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 1)。结论　实验结果表明 ,采用下胫腓钩板固定器 (HPF) ,既有利于提高生物力学性能 ,又有利于改善踝关节的稳定性 ,与传统手术方式相比可减少一次手术 ,避免了断钉等并发症 ,且能有效地提高足部承载能力 ,是下胫腓联合分离内固定的一种优良术式     

Towards cellular receptors for prions

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) are attributed to the conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrP(c)) into an abnormal isoform (PrP(sc)). This can be caused by the invasion of living organisms by infectious particles, or be inherited due to mutations on the PrP(c) gene. One of the most intriguing problems of prion biology is the inability to generate the infectious agent in vitro. This argues strongly that other cellular proteins besides those added in test tubes or found in cellular preparations are necessary for infection. Despite recent progress in the understanding of prion pathology, the subcellular compartments in which the interaction and conversion of PrP(c) into PrP(sc) take place are still controversial. PrP(c) interacts with various macromolecules at the cell membrane, in endocytic compartments and in the secretory pathway, all of which may play specific roles in the internalisation of PrP(sc) and conversion of PrP(c). A specific interacting protein required for the propagation of prions was originally proposed as a prion receptor, and later referred to as a ligand, a cofactor, protein X, or a partner. However, current studies indicate that PrP(c) associates with multi-molecular complexes, which mediate a variety of functions in distinct cellular compartments. It is proposed that a deeper understanding of the mechanics of such interactions, coupled to a better knowledge of the corresponding signalling pathways and ensuing cellular responses, will have a major impact on the prevention and treatment of TSE.     

噬菌体治疗实验性小鼠耐亚胺培南铜绿假单胞菌感染的研究

目的探讨噬菌体治疗耐药性铜绿假单胞菌感染的疗效.方法以BALB/c小鼠为实验动物,建立耐药性铜绿假单胞菌全身感染模型,应用体外试验所筛选的宽噬噬菌体进行治疗.结果噬菌体在感染复数（multiple of infection,MOI）≥0.01时能有效杀灭铜绿假单胞菌,显著提高小鼠生存率.延迟治疗3 h仍有40%的生存率.结论通过对小鼠生存率、噬菌体在体内分布及机体对噬菌体的免疫反应等指标的观察分析,噬菌体制剂简捷高效,对机体正常组织无毒副作用,从而为临床治疗全身或局部铜绿假单胞菌感染提供了新途径.     

LOX-1介导ox-LDL诱导的血管内皮细胞MCP-1的表达

目的：观察血凝素氧化低密度脂蛋白受体-1（LOX-1）对氧化LDL（ox-LDL）诱导的人脐静脉内皮细胞(human unbilical vein endothelial cells, HUVECs)表达单核细胞趋化蛋白（monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, MCP-1）基因及蛋白的影响。 方法： 用RT-PCR和Western blot的方法观察ox-LDL对培养的HUVECs表达LOX-1和MCP-1基因及蛋白的影响，然后用LOX-1的受体阻滞剂爱兰苔胶（carrageenan） 和聚肌苷酸［polyinosinic acid，poly(I)］与HUVECs预先作用后，再观察内皮细胞表达LOX-1和MCP-1基因和蛋白的变化。 结果： 用不同浓度的ox-LDL（0 mg/L、10 mg/L、20 mg/L 、50 mg/L、100 mg/L）与HUVECs培养24 h后，LOX-1和MCP-1的mRNA和蛋白的表达明显增加，呈浓度依赖性；用Carrageenan 和polyinosinic acid与HUVECs预先作用2 h后，再加入50 mg/L的ox-LDL培养24 h，与未加Carrageenan和polyinosinic acid相比，HUVECsLOX-1和MCP-1的mRNA和蛋白的表达明显减少。 结论： ox-LDL可以调节培养的HUVECsLOX-1和MCP-1基因和蛋白的表达，LOX-1作为ox-LDL的特异性受体，可能介导了ox-LDL诱导血管内皮细胞分泌MCP-1，从而在动脉粥样硬化的发生发展中起着重要的作用。