Osteogenic Cells Derived From Embryonic Stem Cells Produced Bone Nodules in Three-Dimensional Scaffolds

An approach for 3D bone tissue generation fromembryonic stem (ES) cells was investigated. The ES cells wereinduced to differentiate into osteogenic precursors, capable ofproliferating and subsequently differentiating into bone-formingcells. The differentiated cells and the seeded scaffolds werecharacterized using von Kossa and Alizarin Red staining, electronmicroscopy, and RT-PCR analysis. The results demonstrated thatES-derived bone-forming cells attached to and colonized thebiocompatible and biodegradable scaffolds. Furthermore, thesecells produced bone nodules when grown for 3–4 weeks inmineralization medium containing ascorbic acid andbeta-glycerophosphate both in tissue culture plates and inscaffolds. The differentiated cells also expressed osteospecificmarkers when grown both in the culture plates and in 3Dscaffolds. Osteogenic cells expressed alkaline phosphatase,osteocalcin, and osteopontin, but not an ES cell-specific marker,oct-4. These findings suggest that ES cell can be usedfor in vitro tissue engineering and cultivation of graftable skeletal structures.     

Modification of collagen matrices for enhancing angiogenesis

The vascularization of engineered tissues in many cases does not keep up with the ingrowth of cells. Nutrient and oxygen supply are not sufficient, which ultimately leads to the death of the invading cells. The enhancement of the angiogenic capabilities of engineered tissues therefore represents a major challenge in the field of tissue engineering. The immobilization of angiogenic growth factors may be useful for enhancing angiogenesis. The most potent angiogenic growth factor specific to endothelial cells, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), occurs in several splice variants. The variant with 165 amino acids both has a high angiogenic activity and a high affinity for heparin. We therefore incorporated heparin molecules into collagen matrices by covalently cross-linking them to amino functions on the collagen. Physical binding of VEGF to the heparin may then prevent a rapid clearance from the implant, while the release rate may become coupled to the degradation of the collagen matrix. The modified matrices were characterized by determination of the extent of the heparin immobilization, the in vitro degradation rate by collagenase. For testing the angiogenic properties, non-modified and heparinized collagen specimens were--either loaded with VEGF or non-loaded--subcutaneously implanted on the back of rats. Specimens were explanted after varying periods of implantation, the dry weights and the hemoglobin contents, as well as immunostained histological sections were evaluated: heparinized collagen matrices loaded with VEGF are vascularized to a substantially higher extent as compared to non-modified matrices.     

Interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor receptor signaling is not required for bacteria-induced osteoclastogenesis and bone loss but is essential for protecting the host from a mixed anaerobic infection

Bacterial infection causes significant morbidity, mediated in part by the up-regulation of inflammatory cytokines. Cytokine induction is thought to stimulate osteolysis in conditions such as periodontal disease and otitis media. To establish the relative importance of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in mediating the response to a mixed anaerobic infection, we used an in vivo model in which the dental pulp was inoculated with six anaerobic pathogens, in mice with functional deletions of receptors to IL-1 (IL-1RI(-/-)), TNF (TNFRp55(-/-)-p75(-/-)), or both (TNFRp55(-/-)-IL-1RI(-/-)). Polymorphonuclear and mononuclear phagocyte recruitment occurred to the greatest extent in TNFRp55(-/-)-IL-1RI(-/-) mice, and to a lesser extent in IL-1RI(-/-) or TNFRp55(-/-)-p75(-/-) mice, and the least in wild-type mice, demonstrating that recruitment of these phagocytes is not dependent on IL-1 or TNF receptor signaling. A similar pattern was observed for bacterial penetration into host tissue. Because it had recently been reported that TNF played a critical role in mediating lipopolysaccharide-induced bone loss, we anticipated that mice with targeted deletions of TNFRp55(-/-) would have reduced osteoclastogenesis. Surprisingly, osteolytic lesion formation was greatest in animals lacking TNF and/or IL-1 receptors. These results indicate that IL-1 or TNF receptor signaling is not required for bacteria-induced osteoclastogenesis and bone loss, but does play a critical role in protecting the host against mixed anaerobic infections.     

Display of a PorA peptide from Neisseria meningitidis on the bacteriophage T4 capsid surface.

The exterior of bacteriophage T4 capsid is coated with two outer capsid proteins, Hoc (highly antigenic outer capsid protein; molecular mass, 40 kDa) and Soc (small outer capsid protein; molecular mass, 9 kDa), at symmetrical positions on the icosahedron (160 copies of Hoc and 960 copies of Soc per capsid particle). Both these proteins are nonessential for phage infectivity and viability and assemble onto the capsid surface after completion of capsid assembly. We developed a phage display system which allowed in-frame fusions of foreign DNA at a unique cloning site in the 5' end of hoc or soc. A DNA fragment corresponding to the 36-amino-acid PorA peptide from Neisseria meningitidis was cloned into the display vectors to generate fusions at the N terminus of Hoc or Soc. The PorA-Hoc and PorA-Soc fusion proteins retained the ability to bind to the capsid surface, and the bound peptide was displayed in an accessible form as shown by its reactivity with specific monoclonal antibodies in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. By employing T4 genetic strategies, we show that more than one subtype-specific PorA peptide can be displayed on the capsid surface and that the peptide can also be displayed on a DNA-free empty capsid. Both the PorA-Hoc and PorA-Soc recombinant phages are highly immunogenic in mice and elicit strong antipeptide antibody titers even with a weak adjuvant such as Alhydrogel or no adjuvant at all. The data suggest that the phage T4 hoc-soc system is an attractive system for display of peptides on an icosahedral capsid surface and may emerge as a powerful system for construction of the next generation multicomponent vaccines.     

Analysis of the genetic diversity of genes 5 and 6 among group C rotaviruses using cDNA probes

Summary Two partial cDNA clones of genes 5 (encoding the major inner capsid protein VP 6) and 6 (encoding a nonstructural protein) of the porcine group (Gp) C rotavirus (Cowden strain) were radiolabeled with³²P and used individually as probes in Northern and dot blot hybridization assays. The specificity of each probe was tested against genomic dsRNA from: (1) porcine Gp A, B, and C rotaviruses; (2) Gp C rotaviruses from different species; and (3) porcine Gp C rotavirus field strains with varying electropherotype patterns. Neither probe hybridized with ds RNA from the porcine Gp A and B strains under the stringency conditions employed in the study. However, the gene 5 probe hybridized with the corresponding gene from the homologous porcine and the heterologous human and bovine Gp C rotaviruses tested. The gene 6 probe hybridized with the corresponding gene from the homologous Cowden strain, but hybridized weakly with gene 6 from the human and bovine Gp C rotaviruses. Both probes recognized all six different porcine Gp C field strains, although with varying intensities. Our results demonstrate that the gene 5 and 6 probes used in this study are specific for Gp C rotaviruses. However, evidence for greater genetic variation in the gene 6 among porcine, bovine and human Gp C strains suggested that the gene 5 probe may prove more broadly reactive among Gp C strains from different species. cDNA probes used in our study should prove useful for the detection of Gp C rotaviruses in feces and facilitate epidemiologic studies.     

^60Coγ射线全身照射后大鼠空肠亮脑啡肽的变化

应用免疫细胞化学(ICC)和放射免疫分析(RIA)方法观察了大鼠4、25Gy~(60)Coγ射线照射后24,48和,72h空肠亮脑啡肽(L-ENK)样免疫反应性神经的分布和L-ENK含量的变化。结果:4Gy照射后24h以及25Gy照射后24,48和72h光镜下见空肠L-ENK样免疫反应性神经的分布密度稍有增加,4Gy照射后24h以及25Gy照射后24,48和72h空肠L-ENK含量分别为29.81±0.84pg/mg,34.96±4.38pg/mg,40.71±3.62pg/mg和38.93±2.31pg/mg,与正常对照组(18.26±1.95pg/mg)相比明显升高(P<9.01)。     

平行平板流动腔的合理设计和使用

高度远小于横向和纵向几何尺寸的平行平板流动腔，是当前用以体外研究细胞力学行为，特别是细胞粘附特性的主要工具之一。本文从目前常用的平行平板流动腔内流体定常流动时的切应力表达式出发，指出该切应力表达式仅适用于小雷诺数条件，由此确定平行平板流动腔几何尺寸的合理选择；通过对小孔入流和出流的平行平板流动腔流场的分析，指出该切应力表达式只在远离孔口边界一定距离，即达到均匀流动后成立。     

Simultaneous assay of morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine-6-glucuronide in human plasma using normal-phase liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with a silica column and an aqueous organic mobile phase

Morphine (MOR) is an opioid analgesic used for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. MOR is extensively metabolized to morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G). A rapid and sensitive method that was able to reliably detect at least 0.5 ng/ml of MOR and 1.0 ng/ml of M6G was required to define their pharmacokinetic profiles. An LC-MS-MS method was developed in our laboratory to quantify all three analytes with the required sensitivity and a rapid turnaround time. A solid-phase extraction (SPE) was used to isolate MOR, M3G, M6G, and their corresponding deuterated internal standards from heparinized plasma. The extract was injected on a LC tandem mass spectrometer with a turbo ion-spray interface. Baseline chromatographic separation among MOR, M3G, and M6G peaks was achieved on a silica column with an aqueous organic mobile phase consisting of formic acid, water, and acetonitrile. The total chromatographic run time was 3 min per injection, with retention times of 1.5, 1.9 and 2.4 min for MOR, M6G, and M3G, respectively. Chromatographic separation of M3G and M6G from MOR was paramount in establishing the LC-MS-MS method selectivity because of fragmentation of M3G and M6G to MOR at the LC-MS interface. The standard curve range in plasma was 0.5-50 ng/ml for MOR, 1.0-100 ng/ml for M6G, and 10-1000 ng/ml for M3G. The inter-day precision and accuracy of the quality control (QC) samples were <7% relative standard deviation (RSD) and <6% relative error (R.E.) for MOR, <9% RSD and <5% R.E. for M6G, and <3% RSD and <6% R.E. for M3G. Analyte stability during sample processing and storage were established. Method ruggedness was demonstrated by the reproducible performance from multiple analysts using several LC-MS-MS systems to analyze over one thousand samples from clinical trials.     

Molecular identification of pathogenetic IdLNF+1 autoantibody idiotypes derived from the NZBxSWR F1 model for systemic lupus erythematosus

The acceleration of nephritis in SNF(1) mice by CD4(+) T-cell clones reactive with a nephritogenic idiotype, Id(LN)F(1) [1], as well as the ability of anti-Id(LN)F(1) antisera to down-regulate the production of Id(LN)F(+)(1) immunoglobulin (Ig) in vivo and delay nephritis [2], suggests that dysregulation of this idiotype may contribute to the development of SNF(1) nephritis. Herein, we show that a monoclonal Id(LN)F(1)-expressing antibody, 540, significantly (P< or = 0.01) stimulated Id(LN)F(1)-reactive T-cell clones B6 and D2 to proliferate, while other Id(LN)F+1 antibodies did not. Further, injection of 540-producing hybridoma cells into nonautoimmune (SWRxBalb/c)F(1) mice resulted in the deposition of Id(LN)F(+)(1) Ig in the kidneys, in a pattern indicative of early nephritis. To identify the pathogenetic Id(LN)F(1) epitope(s) at the molecular level, we compared the deduced amino acid sequences of the heavy and light chain variable regions of pathogenetic and non-pathogenetic Id(LN)F(1)-expressing Igs 540, 317, and 533. Two overlapping peptides derived from the V(H) sequence of 540 (aa 54-66 and 62-73), which both contain the triple basic amino acid motif K(X)K(X)K, stimulated SNF(1) T cells and T-cell clones B6 and D2. These results further support the involvement of a subset of Id(LN)F(1)-expressing Ig in SNF(1) nephritis.