Unidirectional development of CD8+ central memory T cells into protective Listeria-specific effector memory T cells

Three distinct subsets of antigen-experienced CD8(+) T cells have been identified so far: short-living effector T cells (T(EC)) and two long-living subsets, described as central (T(CM)) and effector memory (T(EM)) T cells. The lineage relationships of these subpopulations as well as their involvement in protection have not yet been conclusively determined. We recently described a novel marker combination (CD127 and CD62L) to identify all three major CD8(+) T cell subsets in mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes (L.m.). Extensive lineage relationship analyses on highly purified subpopulations after in vitro and in vivo stimulation demonstrated that T(CM) can develop into T(EM) or T(EC), whereas T(EM) can only progress to T(EC) cells. Short-living T(EC) never regained a T(EM) or T(CM) phenotype. These data strongly suggest a hierarchical and unidirectional order of developmental stages. In vivo priming protocols that preferentially induced one of the different CD8(+) T cell subsets demonstrated that predominance of T(EM) (CD40 stimulation) correlated best with effective protection against L.m., whereas generation of neither T(CM) (by immunization with heat-killed L.m.) nor T(EC) (by systemic co-administration of CpG during primary infection) conferred substantial long-term protective immunity. These findings have important implications for the design of more effective T cell-based vaccines.     

Navigation-based needle puncture of a cadaver using a hybrid tracking navigational system

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the puncture accuracy of a navigational system, Medarpa, in a soft tissue environment using augmented overlay imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medarpa is an optical electromagnetic tracking system, which allows tracking of instruments, the radiologist's head position, and the transparent display. The display superimposes a computed tomography scan of a cadaver chest on a human cadaver in real time. In group A, needle puncture was performed using the Medarpa system. Three targets located inside the cadaver chest were selected. In group B, the same targets were used to perform standard computed tomography-guided puncture using a single-slice technique. A total of 42 punctures were performed in each group. Postpuncture computed tomography scans were made to verify needle tip positions. RESULTS: Mean deviation from targets was 8.42 mm +/- 1.78 mm for group A and 8.90 mm +/- 1.71 mm for group B. No significant difference was found between group A and B in any target (P > 0.05). No significant difference was found between the targets of the same group (P > 0.05). Procedural time for 42 punctures was 160 minutes in group A versus 289 minutes in group B (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Needle puncture in a soft tissue environment using the navigational system Medarpa can be reliably performed and matches the accuracy achieved by a computed tomography-guided puncture technique.     

Upregulated WAVE3 expression is essential for TGF-β-mediated EMT and metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer cells

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States. Metastasis accounts for the death of ~90 % of these patients, yet the mechanisms underlying this event remain poorly defined. WAVE3 belongs to the WASP/WAVE family of actin-binding proteins that play essential roles in regulating cell morphology, actin polymerization, cytoskeleton remodeling, cell motility, and invasion. Accordingly, we demonstrated previously that WAVE3 promotes the acquisition of invasive and metastatic phenotypes by human breast cancers. Herein, we show that transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) selectively and robustly induced the expression of WAVE3 in metastatic breast cancer cells, but not in their nonmetastatic counterparts. Moreover, the induction of WAVE3 expression in human and mouse triple-negative breast cancer cells (TNBCs) by TGF-β likely reflects its coupling to microRNA expression via a Smad2- and β3 integrin-dependent mechanism. We further demonstrate the requirement for WAVE3 expression in mediating the initiation of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) programs stimulated by TGF-β. Indeed, stable depletion of WAVE3 expression in human TNBC cells prevented TGF-β from inducing EMT programs and from stimulating the proliferation, migration, and the formation of lamellipodia in metastatic TNBC cells. Lastly, we observed WAVE3 deficiency to abrogate the outgrowth of TNBC cell organoids in 3-dimensional organotypic cultures as well as to decrease the growth and metastasis of 4T1 tumors produced in syngeneic Balb/C mice. Indeed, WAVE3 deficiency significantly reduced the presence of sarcomatoid morphologies indicative of EMT phenotypes in pulmonary TNBC tumors as compared to those detected in their parental counterparts. Collectively, these findings indicate the necessity for WAVE3 expression and activity during EMT programs stimulated by TGF-β; they also suggest that measures capable of inactivating WAVE3 may play a role in alleviating metastasis stimulated by TGF-β.     

Carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on admission to European rehabilitation centres--a prospective study

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage among patients newly admitted to rehabilitation centres. It is a prospective study examining MRSA carriage on admission to seven rehabilitation wards in four countries. Risk factors for MRSA carriage were analysed using univariate and multivariate analyses. A total of 1204 patients were studied. Among them, 105 (8.7%) had a positive admission MRSA screening result. The MRSA carriers were more likely to be male, to have had a recent stay in another long-term-care facility or >2 weeks acute-care hospital stay, history of colonization with MRSA, reduced level of consciousness, peripheral vascular disease and pressure sores. In multivariable logistic regression male gender (odds ratio (OR) 2.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-3.6, p 0.001), history of MRSA positivity (OR 6.8, 95% CI 3.8-12.3, p <0.001), peripheral vascular disease (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2-5, p 0.013), recent stay in another long-term-care facility (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3-3.5, p 0.004), or long (>2 weeks) acute-care hospital stay (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-3, p 0.004), remained significant risk factors for MRSA carriage. MRSA carriage is common on admission to rehabilitation centres but less so, than previously described in long-term-care facilities. Male gender, history of MRSA positivity, previous hospitalization and peripheral vascular disease may predict MRSA carriage, and may serve as indicators for using pre-emptive infection control measures.     

针刺足三里和悬钟治疗缺血性脑卒中

目的:观察针刺足三里、悬钟2穴对缺血性脑卒中脑血管功能的影响,分析其可能的作用机制,并对临床疗效做出评价。方法:选择2004-11/2006-05湖北中医药高等专科学校附属古城医院针灸科、荆州市第五人民医院中医康复科、荆州市第三人民医院中医科3单位缺血性脑卒中患者合适病例160例,采用查随机数字表的方法,将其随机分为对照组和针刺组,各80例。对照组采用现代医学常规干预方法进行治疗:卧床,保持呼吸道通畅,预防感染,控制颅内压、血压,维持水电解质平衡。针刺组在此基础上加针刺足三里、悬钟2穴,采用慢速捻转进针法针刺,留针20～30min,每隔5min行针1次。1次/d。两组患者治疗30d。并以经颅多普勒检测观察缺血性脑卒中患者治疗前后脑血管舒缩反应能力、脑血流自动调节功能、大脑半球侧枝循环代偿功能的变化,同时以治疗前后神经功能缺损程度为指标评价其临床疗效。结果:160例病例全部进入结果分析。①针刺组与治疗前相比,脑血管舒缩反应能力明显加强,差异有显著性意义(t=2.97,P<0.05),且优于对照组(t=2.45,P<0.05)。②针刺组与治疗前相比,脑血流自动调节能力明显改善,差异有非常显著性意义(t=8.01,P<0.01),且优于对照组(t=7.67,P<0.05)。③针刺组与治疗前相比,大脑半球侧枝循环代偿功能得到加强,差异有显著性意义(t=3.15,P<0.05),且优于对照组(t=5.16,P<0.05)。④针刺组与治疗前相比,神经功能缺损积分明显降低,差异有非常显著性意义(t=4.83,P<0.01),且优于对照组(t=5.43,P<0.05)。结论:针刺足三里、悬钟2穴对缺血性脑卒中患者脑血管舒缩反应能力、脑血流自动调节功能、大脑半球侧枝循环代偿功能有明显改善作用,并能促进神经功能的恢复。     

一氧化氮对人肝癌细胞SMMC-7721辐射敏感性的增强效应

目的:观察一氧化氮对肿瘤细胞SMMC-7721辐射敏感性的作用效果。方法:实验于2005-06/09在兰州大学生命科学学院和中科院近代物理研究辐射医学实验室进行。处于对数生长期的肝癌细胞SMMC-7721,在用X射线照射前4h,换入含有0.1mmol/L硝普钠(一氧化氮的前体)的培养液,与对照组(不加硝普钠)一起,在200cGy/min的剂量率下,分别照射0,1,2,4,6,8Gy,换为正常培养液培养。用集落形成法计算细胞的存活率,用吖啶橙/溴乙啶双染法检测细胞的死亡情况,用流式细胞仪检测细胞周期。结果:①存活曲线细胞存活率随照射剂量增加而减少,硝普钠组细胞的克隆形成率低于对照组(2Gy时,P<0.01)。②细胞死亡百分率(坏死细胞与凋亡细胞总数/总细胞数):与照射剂量呈正相关,硝普钠组高于对照组(P<0.05)。对照组从(9.95±3.53)%(0Gy)逐渐升至(58.74±3.46)%(6Gy),而硝普钠组则从(18.53±12.02)%(0Gy)迅速升至(61.57±9.53)%(2Gy)。③细胞周期检测结果:对照组细胞经过X射线照射后,出现了G2/M期阻滞[从0Gy时(12.50±5.76)%逐渐增加到8Gy(40.36±2.74)%],而硝普钠组细胞在低剂量时主要表现为G0/G1期阻滞[0Gy:(16.06±7.19)%;2Gy:(17.93±0.92)%],而G2/M期阻滞仅在高剂量时明显[8Gy时为(50.10±3.93)%,P<0.05]。结论:经硝普钠产生的一氧化氮,通过与X射线协同作用,减少了肝癌细胞SMMC-7721的细胞存活率,促进细胞死亡,阻止细胞被阻滞至G2/M期,是一种有效的辐射增敏剂。     

藻酸钠复合自体软骨细胞修复猪关节软骨缺损的近期效果

目的:采用藻酸钠自体软骨细胞混合物修复猪的关节软骨缺损,观察近期成骨效应。方法:实验于2004-03/2005-04在中山大学附属第二医院实验中心完成。3个月龄的小型猪8只,取其关节软骨进行细胞原代培养,获取原代细胞后,分别进行免疫组织化学法检测细胞Ⅱ型胶原表达。然后对8只小型猪的32个关节进行动物关节缺损的模型建立,每个关节共造3个人工缺损,选择关节左右随机对照。将已经培养好的软骨细胞与已经配制好并消毒的藻酸钠混合,移植到猪的关节软骨缺损处。每只猪关节内注射3个实验点,1个用藻酸钠/细胞混合液为实验组,1个单纯支架材料为单纯材料对照组,1个缺损做空白对照组,模型中缺损区均为关节负重区,胶原纤维绿色(亮绿复染)。修复所用细胞为自体软骨体外培养后,进行移植修复,采用3代体外培养软骨细胞,均匀混和藻酸钠后,行自体移植。8周后取实验关节进行大体观察、苏木精-伊红染色、Masson染色、免疫组织化学法染色观察及O’driscoll组织学评分。结果:纳入小型猪8只,除其中1例因手术切断伸直肌腱而使猪关节活动障碍,其余均未见手术后关节活动障碍,所有手术无术后感染,无关节内感染,无动物死亡。移植的软骨细胞在藻酸钠载体中生长良好,形成透明软骨。根据O’driscoll组织学评分标准,实验组32个猪关节缺损修复的组织学评分为(20.25±1.64)分,高于单纯材料对照组的(7.46±1.29)分及空白对照组的(6.00±2.09)分。免疫组织化学染色可见修复软骨以表达Ⅱ型胶原为主,无Ⅰ型胶原。结论:藻酸钠复合自体软骨细胞作为软骨移植的替代物是可行的,远期效果还有待进一步研究。     

CGRP release and c-fos expression within trigeminal nucleus caudalis of the rat following glyceryltrinitrate infusion

Neuropeptide release and the expression of c-fos like immunoreactivity (c-fos LI) within trigeminal nucleus caudalis neurons (TNC) are activation markers of the trigeminal nerve system. Glyceryltrinitrate (GTN) is believed to stimulate the trigeminal nerve system, thereby causing headache. We examined the effects of a 30 min NO-donor infusion on CGRP release in jugular vein blood and c-fos LI within TNC of the rat. GTN (2 and 50 microg/kg/min) or NONOate infusion (25 nmol/kg/min) did not cause any CGRP release during and shortly after infusion, whereas administration of capsaicin resulted in strongly increased CGRP levels. GTN infusion (2 microg/kg/min for 30 min) did not lead to enhanced c-fos LI after 2 h and 4 h, whereas capsaicin infusion caused a time- and dose-dependent expression of c-fos LI within laminae I and II of the TNC. Surprisingly, GTN attenuated capsaicin-induced c-fos expression by 64%. The nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor L-NAME (5 and 50 mg/kg) reduced capsaicin-induced c-fos LI dose dependently (reduction by 13% and 59%). We conclude that GTN may lead to headaches by mechanisms independent of CGRP release from trigeminal nerve fibres. GTN doses comparable to those used in humans did not activate or sensitize the trigeminal nerve system. Both GTN and L-NAME reduced capsaicin-induced c-fos LI. This is most likely due to a feedback inhibition of nitric oxide synthases, which indicates that the c-fos response to capsaicin within TNC is mediated by NO dependent mechanisms.