A novel negative regulator for IL-1 receptor and Toll-like receptor 4

The Toll-IL-1 receptor (TIR) superfamily, defined by the presence of an intracellular TIR domain, initiates innate immunity via NF-kappaB activation, leading to production of proinflammatory cytokines. ST2 is a member of the TIR family that does not activate NF-kappaB and has been suggested as an important effector molecule of type 2 T helper cell responses. We have recently demonstrated that the membrane bound form of ST2 (ST2L) negatively regulated IL-1RI and TLR4 but not TLR3 signaling by sequestrating the adaptors MyD88 and Mal. In contrast to wild-type mice, ST2 deficient mice failed to develop endotoxin tolerance. Thus, ST2 suppresses IL-1R and TLR4 signaling via MyD88- and Mal-dependent pathways and modulates innate immunity. The results provide a molecular explanation for the role of ST2 in T(H)2 responses since inhibition of TLRs will promote a T(H)2 response and also identify ST2 as a key regulator of endotoxin tolerance.     

Mice lacking the norepinephrine transporter are supersensitive to psychostimulants

The action of norepinephrine (NE) is terminated, in part, by its uptake into presynaptic noradrenergic neurons by the plasma-membrane NE transporter (NET), which is a target for antidepressants and psychostimulants. Disruption of the NET gene in mice prolonged the clearance of NE and elevated extracellular levels of this catecholamine. In a classical test for antidepressant drugs, the NET-deficient (NET-/-) animals behaved like antidepressant-treated wild-type mice. Mutants were hyper-responsive to locomotor stimulation by cocaine or amphetamine. These responses were accompanied by dopamine D2/D3 receptor supersensitivity. Thus altering NET expression significantly modulates midbrain dopaminergic function, an effect that may be an important component of the actions of antidepressants and psychostimulants.     

Clinical and cytogenetics studies on acute myeloid leukemia with abnormality of chromosome 11

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of chromosome 11 abnormality in acute myeloid leukemia and its relationship with the clinical aspects and prognosis. METHODS:Conventional cytogenetic analysis of R-band was used to detect the abnormalities of chromosome 11 in 356 acute myeloid leukemia patients. RESULTS: Thirty-four out of 356 patients (9.55%) had abnormalities of chromosome 11, of which 20 (58.8%) involved in 11q23, 7 (19.9%) had translocations involving 11p15, 5 (14.7%) had-11, and the rest had other abnormalities such as +11, and t(11;14). The incidence of 11q23 involvement in M4 and M5 was higher than other subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Ten cases with 11q23 abnormality had additional cytogenetic aberrations. In 30 cases treated with chemotherapy, 13 cases acquired complete remission (CR). The CR rate was lower than that of whole cases of acute myeloid leukemia(34.3% versus 64.0%). The CR rate of AML with 11q23 abnormality was lower than that of AML with normal karyotype (25% versus 55.6%). In other 10 patients with additional chromosome aberrations, the CR rate was lower than that of AML with 11q23 alone. In 7 patients with translocations at 11p15, only 3 patients acquired CR, and 2 patients relapsed early. Only 2 patients acquired CR in 5 patients with-11. CONCLUSION: 11q23 was a frequent aberration in chromosome 11 anomaly, which was often detected in M4 and M5. It might be associated with the pathogenesis of acute monolytic leukemia. The patients with chromosome 11 anomaly had poorer prognosis.     

组织金属蛋白酶抑制剂TIMP—2基因转染对胃癌细胞体内外侵袭能 …

了解ＴＩＭＰ－２基因转地胃癌细胞侵袭行为的影响，进行阻断肿瘤细胞侵转移的筛选尝试。     

脑康复冲剂对大鼠软脑膜微循环作用的实验研究

目的：脑康复冲剂临床用于治疗脑血栓血瘀证患者，本实验观察其对在大鼠实验性软脑膜微循环障碍的影响。方法：大鼠预防性给药，用高分子右旋糖酐水溶液静脉注射形成大鼠软脑膜的微循环障碍，观察脑康复冲剂对大鼠微循环的影响。结果：用高分子右旋糖酐造模后，大鼠软脑膜的微循环发生障碍，表现为血液流速减慢、血细胞聚集等，脑康复冲剂组血流速度开始减慢的时间明显比生理盐水对照组延长，且分级数也明显优于生理盐水组，对高分子右旋糖酐造成的血液流态障碍，脑康复组明显好于生理盐水组（P＜0．05），毛细血管网交叉点数开始减少的时间也比生理盐水对照组延长，差异显著（P＜0．01）。结论：脑康复冲剂使大鼠血流速度和血液流态得到改善，具有预防和改善动物脑微循环障碍的作用。     

Kv11.1 channel subunit composition includes MinK and varies developmentally in mouse cardiac muscle

The Kv11.1 (also ERG1) K(+) channel underlies cardiac I(Kr), a current that contributes to repolarization in mammalian heart. In mice, I(Kr) current density decreases with development and studies suggest that changes in the structure and/or properties of the heteromultimeric I(Kr)/Kv11.1 channel are responsible. Here, using immunohistochemistry, we report that total Kv11.1 alpha subunit protein is more abundant in neonatal heart and is distributed throughout both adult and neonatal ventricles with greater abundance in epicardia. Immunoblots reveal that the alpha subunit alternative splice variant, Kv11.1a, is more abundant in adult heart while the Kv11.1b variant is more abundant in neonatal heart. Additionally, MinK channel subunit protein is shown to co-assemble with Kv11.1 protein and is more abundant in neonatal heart. In summary, Kv11.1/I(Kr) channel composition varies developmentally and the higher I(Kr) current density in neonatal heart is likely attributable to higher abundance of Kv11.1/I(Kr) channels, more specifically, the Kv11.1b splice variant.     

脐带血血清中六种微量元素含量的研究

本对100例健康胎儿脐带血血清中六种微量元素（锌，铁，铜，钙，镁，锰）含量进行了测定，结果提示，所测的六种元素含量在男，田性胎儿之间似无明显差异（P＞0．05），与成人比较，胎儿的锌，铁，锰含量高于成人，铜，钙含量低于成人，镁含量与成人相近。     

STAg联合ESA鼻内免疫小鼠对弓形虫垂直传播的阻断作用

观察弓形虫可溶性速殖子抗原（Soluble tachyzoite antigen,STAg）与排泄-分泌抗原（Excreted/secreted antigens,ESA）单独或联合鼻内免疫小鼠对弓形虫垂直传播的阻断作用。分别用PBS 20μL和STAg 20μg、ESA 20μg及联合抗原（STAg 10μg＋ESA 10μg）鼻内免疫BALB/c处女鼠2次,间隔2周。末次免疫后第13天处女鼠与雄鼠以2∶1同居。妊娠第8天用弓形虫速殖子（8000个/只）灌胃攻击所有孕鼠。妊娠第18天处死,计算活胎率,并测定孕鼠肝、胎盘和胎鼠脑组织弓形虫抗原和孕鼠脾组织内虫荷,同时测定孕鼠小肠冲洗液SIgA、血清IgG水平。结果表明,ESA组和联合抗原组活胎率显著高于PBS组,STAg组、ESA组和联合抗原组胎盘及胚胎感染率均低于PBS组,联合抗原组最低。孕鼠在弓形虫速殖子攻击后,PBS组明显出现竖毛、倦怠、腹部塌陷等异常表现,感染率为100%,死亡率为22.22%,而STAg组、ESA组和联合抗原组有轻微症状,感染率分别为85.71%、57.14%、57.14%,死亡率分别为16.67%、0%、0%。STAg组、ESA组和联合抗原组脾组织内虫荷均显著低于PBS组,减虫率分别为72.19%、72.29%、78.45%,ESA组和联合抗原组小肠冲洗液特异性SIgA均显著高于PBS组,联合抗原组最高,血清特异性IgG抗体水平差异不显著。由此可见,ESA单独或与STAg联合免疫可诱导孕鼠小肠液高水平SIgA,显著降低脾组织虫荷,显著提高胚胎存活率,表现出明显的垂直传播阻断的作用。     

母亲早产对婴儿的影响及预后

目的 分析研究早产有关的危险因素及早产儿发病及死亡的相关因素。方法 选取我院1995年—2000年12月间早产105例，将早产分为病理性早产(76例)，医源性早产(29例)，与同期足月产对照组110例比较。结果 孕期母亲未作产前检查、胎膜早破、妊高征、胎盘因素、多胎、胎位不正、内外科合并症等同早产有关。早产组产前检查明显低于足月妊娠组(P＜0．05)；早产儿发病率及死亡率明显高于足月儿，早产儿死亡的主要原因是呼吸系统疾患(RDS)、颅内出血、感染。结论 孕期多种因素同早产有关，早产是围产儿发病和死亡的主要原因，提高对早产的认识，倡导围生保健新模式，重视早产的临床相关因素，降低围生儿并发症及死亡率。     

大鼠脊髓损伤后NGF及其受体TrkA在运动神经元及神经胶质细胞表达的变化

为探讨脊髓损伤后运动神经元及神经胶质细胞内神经生长因子(NGF)及其高亲和力受体(TrkA)表达的变化,用改良Allen重击法损伤SCI组动物T12脊髓,按伤后存活时间再将动物分为脊髓损1 d组、2 d组和5 d组。各组动物的脊髓切片经ABC法免疫组织化学染色,用光镜观察TrkA及NGF在脊髓前角运动神经元表达的变化和胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)及NGF免疫反应阳性胶质细胞的反应性增生程度,并进行图像分析。结果显示:脊髓损伤后前角运动神经元TrkA及NGF的表达随脊髓损伤后动物存活时间的延长逐渐上调;脊髓白质和灰质内尤其是皮质脊髓束内GFAP及NGF阳性胶质细胞明显增生;与此同时,室管膜细胞内亦可见明显的NGF免疫反应产物。上述结果表明,脊髓损伤可刺激脊髓前角运动神经元表达TrkA及NGF,通过自分泌维持受损神经元的存活;损伤部位反应性增生的胶质细胞亦可产生NGF,通过旁分泌作用于脊髓前角运动神经元或皮质脊髓束的轴突末梢,以维持运动神经元的存活及促进皮质脊髓束的再生;适时补充外源性神经营养素或改变损伤局部的微环境将有利于受损脊髓的修复和再生。