NURR1基因修饰C17.2神经干细胞移植治疗脑梗死

目的:比较C17.2神经干细胞和NURR1基因修饰的C17.2神经干细胞移植治疗对脑梗死模型鼠神经功能缺损的改善效果,观察细胞移植后与宿主脑组织的整合、存活、移行及分化情况。方法:实验于2005-06/12在中山大学附属第二医院林百欣实验中心完成。①实验材料:选取清洁级健康SD雄性大鼠78只,随机数字表法分为模型对照组、神经干细胞组、转基因神经干细胞组,26只/组。条件永生化神经干细胞系C17.2由哈佛大学儿童医院Even Synder教授惠赠。pAdeasy-NURR1重组复制缺陷性腺病毒由本实验室成功构建。Dil18荧光染料(Chemicon公司产品)。②实验方法:收集C17.2神经干细胞和pAdeasy-NURR1 C17.2神经干细胞,各分为两管,一管加入Dil18荧光示踪剂。各组大鼠均采用线栓法建立局灶性脑缺血/再灌注损伤模型,3d后进行细胞移植,以江湾Ⅱ型脑立体定向仪进行立体定位,选择缺血半暗区3个位点为移植区:前囟头侧1mm,旁开2mm,深度1.2mm;前囟尾侧3mm,旁开1.5mm,深度1.2mm;前囟尾侧6mm,旁开2mm,深度1.2mm。模型对照组每位点注射单纯培养液2μL;神经干细胞组取6只每位点移植Dil18标记的C17.2神经干细胞悬液2μL,剩余20只每位点移植C17.2神经干细胞悬液2μL;转基因神经干细胞组取6只每位点移植Dil18标记的pAdeasy-NURR1 C17.2神经干细胞悬液2μL,余20只每位点移植pAdeasy-NURR1 C17.2神经干细胞悬液2μL。③实验评估:各组大鼠分别在移植前1d及移植后1周、2周、1个月进行神经功能缺损评分。移植后1周、2周、1个月进行荧光示踪检查及神经元特异烯醇化酶免疫组化检测。移植后6个月行组织学检查。结果:移植后1周,模型对照组死亡1只,神经干细胞组死亡2组,转基因神经干细胞组死亡2只,均淘汰并予以补充。①神经功能缺损评分:移植前1d各组大鼠神经功能缺损评分基本相似(P>0.05)。移植后1周、2周、1个月神经干细胞组、转基因神经干细胞组神经功能缺损评分均明显低于模型对照组(P<0.05);转基因神经干细胞组下降趋势较神经干细胞组更为显著(P<0.05)。②Dil18荧光细胞示踪结果:移植后1周荧光示踪细胞主要在针道内,少数细胞开始移行至周围神经组织。移植后2周,细胞移行至更远距离,并明显向梗死灶方向移行,细胞有突触样结构与周围细胞形成联系。移植后1个月细胞向周围扩散,甚至在远隔部位也可见荧光细胞。③神经元特异烯醇化酶免疫组化检测结果:移植后2周、1个月,转基因神经干细胞组神经元特异烯醇化酶阳性细胞数均明显高于神经干细胞组(P均<0.05)。④细胞组织学检查:移植后6个月,各组大鼠注射针道周围脑组织仍呈正常的层次和结构,未见有明显异型细胞增生。结论:①NURR1基因修饰的C17.2神经干细胞移植治疗局灶性脑梗死能显著改善神经功能缺损,效果优于C17.2神经干细胞。②移植后供体细胞存活并向注射针道周围神经组织移行,促进神经干细胞向神经元方向的分化。     

Adherence of L1210 murine leukemia cells to sephacryl- aminopropylcobalamin beads treated with transcobalamin-II

Sephacryl beads containing an immobilized aminopropylcobalamin- transcobalamin-II complex serve as foci for the adherence of L1210 murine leukemia cells. Bead-cell interaction does not occur when (A) nonderivatized beads are used; (B) transcobalamin-II is omitted or presaturated with cyanocobalamin in the preparation of the bead complex; (C) intrinsic factor replaces transcobalamin-II; and (D) the complex is removed from beads by photolysis. These observations suggest that adherence results from the ability of transcobalamin-II to form a bridge between immobilized cobalamin on the bead and receptors in the plasma membrane of the cell.     

Deletion mapping of chromosome 17 in benign and malignant adrenocortical tumors associated with the Arg337His mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor protein

The human p53 tumor suppressor gene is located at the short arm of chromosome 17. A germinative mutation (Arg337His) in the tetramerization domain of p53 has been frequently identified in Brazilian children with sporadic adrenocortical tumors. Loss of heterozygosity at this region was demonstrated in the majority of the cases. In the present study, we performed deletion mapping of chromosome 17 in 30 adrenocortical tumors from 29 Brazilian patients (15 children and 14 adults). One boy had bilateral adrenocortical tumor. Sixteen patients had the germinative Arg337His mutation. Loss of heterozygosity analysis using six polymorphic microsatellite markers disclosed loss of the entire chromosome 17 in 18 tumors (10 adenomas and eight carcinomas) from 17 patients. The Arg337His mutation was present in 13 of them. Chromosomal instability involving chromosomes 2, 9, and 11 was also found in 47, 47, and 70% of the 17 patients who exhibited chromosome 17 losses, respectively. The concomitant loss of chromosomes 2, 9, 11, and 17 was evidenced exclusively in malignant tumors. Therefore, chromosomal instability involving three or more chromosomes may contribute to define the malignant adrenocortical lesions. In conclusion, we demonstrated a high frequency of biallelic inactivation of p53 derived from two distinct events, the germinative Arg337His mutation and the acquired loss of the entire chromosome 17. In addition, the isolated loss of the entire chromosome 17 did not correlate with aggressive tumor behavior in these patients with adrenocortical tumors.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">NLRP3</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">CASP1</Emphasis> gene polymorphisms are associated with developing of acute coronary syndrome: a case-control study

The protein products of NLRP3 and CASP1 genes are involved in the cleavage of pro-IL-1B and pro-IL-18 leading to the active cytokines, which play an important role in the development of the acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether NLRP3 and CASP1 gene polymorphisms are biomarkers of ACS susceptibility in Mexican population. Two polymorphisms of the CASP1 gene [G+7/in6A (rs501192) and A10370-G Exon-6 (rs580253)] and one of the NLRP3 gene [UTR′3 G37562-C (rs10754558)] were genotyped by 5′ exonuclease TaqMan assays in a group of 617 patients with ACS and 609 control individuals. Under recessive model, the CASP1 G+7/in6A polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of developing ACS when compared to healthy controls (OR = 1.76, 95% CI 1.08–2.86, P _Res  = 0.022). In the same way, under recessive model, the CASP1 A10370-G was associated with increased risk of ACS (OR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.07–2.85, P _Res  = 0.025). Moreover, under co-dominant, dominant, over-dominant, and additive models, the NLRP3 UTR′3 G37562-C was associated with a decreased risk of ACS (OR = 0.45, 95%CI 0.22–0.92, P _Co-dom  = 0.006; OR = 0.61, 95%CI 0.44–0.84, P _Dom  = 0.002; OR = 0.67, 95%CI 0.48–0.94, P _Over-dom  = 0.02; and OR = 0.65, 95%CI 0.50–0.94, P _Add  = 0.02, respectively). In summary, this study demonstrates that the G+7/in6A and A10370-G polymorphisms of the CASP1 gene are associated with increased risk of developing ACS, whereas the UTR′3 G37562-C polymorphism of the NLRP3 gene is associated with a decreased risk of developing ACS in Mexican population.     

Human and porcine neurocysticercosis: differences in the distribution and developmental stages of cysticerci

Objective To describe and compare the clinical impacts of neurocysticercosis (NC) caused by Taenia solium in humans and pigs. Methods Comparative study of the brains of 16 asymptomatic pigs and 35 human NC cases (15 asymptomatic and 20 symptomatic). Results In humans, cysticerci were more frequently located in the ventricles and subarachnoid space at the base of the brain (11.8%vs. 1.6%; P = 0.001 and 25.9%vs. 0%; P < 0.0001, respectively) while in pigs, cysticerci were more frequently found in the parenchyma (44.4%vs. 7.6%; P < 0.0001). In human brains, 75.9% of the cysticerci were calcified, while in pigs all cysticerci were in the vesicular stage. Conclusion The duration of infection and the host–parasite relationship (such as immune reactivity and brain haemodynamics) differ between humans and pigs. This may account for the different distribution and stage of the cysticerci among humans and pigs.     

A general method for estimating deformation and forces imposed in vivo on bioprosthetic heart valves with flexible annuli: in vitro and animal validation studies

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The use of flexible structures within cardiovascular prostheses such as valves, stents and vascular grafts has been proposed as a means of more closely modeling native mechanics, and thereby reducing the biomechanical problems associated with rigid materials. However, the design of such materials has been hampered by the paucity of quantitative information on the in-vivo behavior of such structures. The aim of this study was to explore the use of 3D ultrasound imaging coupled with finite element analysis (FEA) as a tool to estimate deformation and forces imposed in vivo on a novel bioprosthetic valve design. METHODS: The method was first tested using in-vitro static loading conditions, where good agreement between displacements seen on video and those obtained from application of the identical force within the finite element program was seen. The method was then tested in a porcine model with valves implanted in the mitral position. Images of the deforming annular ring were obtained over the cardiac cycle using 3D intravascular ultrasound; these images were fed into the FEA program for calculation of reaction forces. RESULTS: Results in vitro showed that a force of 2.7-8.0 Newtons (N) was required to produce a deformation of between 1.0 and 3.0 mm in the radial direction. A time history of deformation and force around the ring of the valve stent could be obtained for the in-vivo conditions. These results revealed a maximum deformation of 0.5-1.7 mm along the short axis (anteroposterior) of the mitral valve. Coupled to this, a peak reaction force of 4.4-13.9 N was found at the points corresponding to maximal deflection. Both deformation and reaction force reached maximum during atrial contraction. CONCLUSION: This method provides an accurate means of estimating deformation and corresponding forces imposed in vivo on intracardiac prostheses. The results provide information on the dynamic behavior of the mitral valve annulus. Such information should be useful in the design of flexible cardiovascular prostheses.     

Association of the Transmembrane Serine Protease-2 (TMPRSS2) Polymorphisms with COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 uses the ACE2 receptor and the cellular protease TMPRSS2 for entry into target cells. The present study aimed to establish if the TMPRSS2 polymorphisms are associated with COVID-19 disease. The study included 609 patients with COVID-19 confirmed by RT-PCR test and 291 individuals negative for the SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by RT-PCR test and without antibodies anti-SARS-CoV-2. Four TMPRSS2 polymorphisms (rs12329760, rs2298659, rs456298, and rs462574) were determined using the 5′exonuclease TaqMan assays. Under different inheritance models, the rs2298659 (p_codominant2 = 0.018, p_recessive = 0.006, p_additive = 0.019), rs456298 (p_codominant1 = 0.014, p_codominant2 = 0.004; p_dominant = 0.009, p_recessive = 0.004, p_additive = 0.0009), and rs462574 (p_codominant1 = 0.017, p_codominant2 = 0.004, p_dominant = 0.041, p_recessive = 0.002, p_additive = 0.003) polymorphisms were associated with high risk of developing COVID-19. Two risks (ATGC and GAAC) and two protectives (GAGC and GAGT) haplotypes were detected. High levels of lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) were observed in patients with the rs462574AA and rs456298TT genotypes (p = 0.005 and p = 0.020, respectively), whereas, high heart rate was present in patients with the rs462574AA genotype (p = 0.028). Our data suggest that the rs2298659, rs456298, and rs462574 polymorphisms independently and as haplotypes are associated with the risk of COVID-19. The rs456298 and rs462574 genotypes are related to high levels of LDH and heart rate.