Simultaneous inhibition of caudal medullary raphe and retrotrapezoid nucleus decreases breathing and the CO2 response in conscious rats

The medullary raphe (MR) and the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) in the ventral medulla are two of many central chemoreceptor sites. We examine their combined function in conscious rats by focal inhibition using microdialysis. Inhibition of RTN neurons with the GABA_A receptor agonist muscimol, with simultaneous dialysis of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) in or near to the caudal MR, causes hypoventilation (decrease in the ratio of minute ventilation to oxygen consumption,     ) and reduces the ventilatory response to 7% CO₂ by 24%. Inhibition of caudal MR serotonergic neurons with the 5-HT_1A receptor agonist ( R )-(+)-8-hydroxy-2(di- n -propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), with simultaneous dialysis of ACSF in or near to the RTN, causes hypoventilation but has no significant effect on the CO₂ response. Inhibition of both the RTN and the caudal MR simultaneously produces enhanced hypoventilation and a 51% decrease in the CO₂ response. The effects of treatment on the CO₂ response are similar in wakefulness and in non-rapid eye movement sleep. Comparison of the effect of 8-OH-DPAT microdialysed into a more rostral portion of the MR, where the CO₂ response is reduced by 22%, demonstrates heterogeneity within the MR of the function of serotonergic neurons in breathing. We conclude that serotonergic neurons within the caudal MR provide a non-CO₂-dependent tonic drive to breathe and potentiate the effects of RTN neurons that contribute to a resting chemical 'drive to breathe' as well as the response to added CO₂. These effects of caudal MR serotonergic neurons could be at a chemoreceptor site, e.g. the RTN, or at 'downstream' sites involved in rhythm and pattern generation.     

Screening of human anti-TNF-alpha scFv from large phage library

AIM: To clone human anti-TNF-alpha scFv from large phage antibody library. METHODS: Panning of large phage library against TNF-alpha was conducted to select specific antibodies. The antigen binding activity and DNA sequence were determined and analyzed by ELISA, restriction enzyme map. RESULTS: After 4 rounds of panning, 62 positive clones were obtained and 27 clones had specific binding ability to TNF-alpha. DNA fingerprinting of the 27 clones showed 7 different stripes indicated 7 different positive clones. 5 of the 7 clones expressed soluble anti-TNF-alpha activity. DNA sequence analysis showed that the variable regions of these scFvs belonged to different subgroups. CONCLUSION: Human TNF-alpha scFv have been successfully obtained from large phage antibody library.     

Proximal tubular epithelial cell integrins respond to high glucose by altered cell-matrix interactions and differentially regulate matrixin expression

Thickening of the tubular basement membrane (TBM) occurs in diabetic nephropathy, but the effects of high glucose on the functional aspects of proximal tubular epithelial cells are not clearly understood. In the present study, we examined the effects of elevated glucose concentrations on (a) integrin expression by human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) and integrin-mediated interactions with type IV collagen (colIV) and laminin, major components of TBM; (b) the expression of matrixins/matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which is regulated by integrins; and (c) the expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). HK-2 cells cultured in 25 mM glucose underwent a reduction of the expression of alpha3, beta1, alpha(v)beta3, and alpha5 integrin subunits, with a concomitant increase of the alpha2 subunit, compared with cells grown in 5 mM glucose. Adhesion experiments demonstrated that high glucose led to increased cell adhesion on either colIV or laminin. Experiments of competition of adhesion using anti-integrin antibodies indicated that HK-2 cells in 5 mM glucose used mainly alpha(v)beta3 and alpha5beta1 integrins to adhere to colIV, whereas in 25 mM glucose they additionally used alpha2beta1. In the case of laminin, a beta1-mediated adhesion was observed when HK-2 cells were in 5 mM glucose, whereas in 25 mM glucose, alpha2beta1 and alpha(v)beta3 were also involved. Elevated glucose concentrations resulted in decreased expression of MMP-9 and MMP-2, whereas an increase in TIMP-1 and a decrease in TIMP-2 expression were observed. We also examined which integrins mediated the expression and secretion of matrixins MMP-2 and MMP-9. Ligation of alpha3beta1 with mAbs resulted in induction of MMP-2 expression and secretion, whereas antibody ligation of alpha(v)beta3 led to down-regulation of MMP-9. The above data implicate integrins of proximal tubular epithelial cells in the regulation of MMPs and in the development of TBM thickening in diabetic nephropathy.     

Acidic ATP activates lymphocyte outwardly rectifying chloride channels via a novel pathway

Using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques we found that ATP activated an outwardly rectifying current in Daudi human B lymphoma cells under acidic conditions. The substitution of Cl^– for gluconate^– shifted the reversal potential, while Cl^– channel blockers, 4,4-diisothiocyanostibene-2,2-disulfonic acid (DIDS) and 9-anthracene carboxylic acid (9-AC), blocked the current, indicating that ATP induces this current by activating the outwardly rectifying chloride channel (ORCC). The effect of ATP on ORCC was mimicked by ADP, but not by other P2 receptor agonists such as ATPS (a poorly hydrolyzable analog of ATP), 2,3-O-benzoyl-4-benzoyl-ATP (BzATP), and UTP. The ATP-induced ORCC current was completely blocked by 100 M suramin (a P2 receptor antagonist), and was partially blocked by 100 M pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2,4-disulfonic acid tetrasodium (PPADS), which is another P2 receptor antagonist. Neither inactivation of G proteins nor elimination of extracellular Ca²⁺ affected the ATP-induced current, indicating that G protein-coupled P2Y receptors and Ca²⁺-permeable P2X receptors are not involved. Based on the pharmacological profile and the fact that acidic conditions are required for ATP to activate the ORCC, we suggest that acidic ATP activates the lymphocyte ORCC via a novel pathway, which is not associated with any previously described purinergic receptors.     

涎腺癌肉瘤临床及病理分析

目的：探讨涎腺癌肉瘤的临床病理学特点及其鉴别诊断。方法：对3例涎腺癌肉瘤患者的临床资料进行回顾性研究并复习相关文献，对全部病例的组织学标本重新进行镜下观察。结果：涎腺癌肉瘤临床表现常为迅速增大的颜面部肿物并伴疼豢。光匀下组织学观察常可见肉瘤和癌两种成分并存，癌多为鳞状细胞癌和腺癌，肉瘤以骨或软骨肉瘤为主。结论：涎腺癌肉瘤的临床特点与涎腺其他恶性肿瘤较难区别，但涎腺癌肉瘤的恶性程度极高。     

耳穴静态电测量中的瞬变响应

耳穴电参数时变关系实验表明，在测量起始ｔ＜２τ时，因瞬变作用，电位Ｅ（ｔ）和压降Ｕ（ｔ）为瞬态响应，响应函数呈指数关系，特征参数为弛豫时间τ，τ≈ＲＣ；ｔ＞２τ时，为时变间期。电路分析给出数学描述，并与耳穴和模拟实验结果较相符。提示，时变特征应以ｔ＞２τ后提取，静态电测量时，采样应避开瞬变期，可提高准确性。该工作对正确鉴别时变性和特征提取，全面认识耳穴电特性具有重要意义。     

Optimization of 3-D hepatocyte culture by controlling the physical and chemical properties of the extra-cellular matrices

Hepatocytes are anchorage-dependent cells sensitive to microenvironment; the control of the physicochemical properties of the extra-cellular matrices may be useful to the maintenance of hepatocyte functions in vitro for various applications. In a microcapsule-based 3-D hepatocyte culture microenvironment, we could control the physical properties of the collagen nano-fibres by fine-tuning the complex-coacervation reaction between methylated collagen and terpolymer of hydroxylethyl methacrylate-methyl methacrylate-methylacrylic acid. The physical properties of the nano-fibres were quantitatively characterized using back-scattering confocal microscopy to help optimize the physical support for hepatocyte functions. We further enhanced the chemical properties of the collagen nano-fibres by incorporating galactose onto collagen, which can specifically interact with the asialoglycoprotein receptor on hepatocytes. By correlating a range of collagen nano-fibres of different physicochemical properties with hepatocyte functions, we have identified a specific combination of methylated and galactosylated collagen nano-fibres optimal for maintaining hepatocyte functions in vitro. A model of how the physical and chemical supports interplay to maintain hepatocyte functions is discussed.     

卵巢交界性粘液性和浆液性瘤

通过78例粘液性和浆液性交界瘤的随访,进一步阐明交界瘤是介于良恶性之间的一类肿瘤。其病理特点为:有一定程度组织结构和细胞形态的异型性,但无明显的间质浸润。其临床分期绝大多数为Ⅰ期。5年存活率分别为84%与78%。加强对交界性瘤这一概念的认识,将有助于临床制定正确的治疗方案。     

Selection of cytotoxic T lymphocytes against autologous human melanoma from lymph nodes with metastatic melanoma using repeatedin vitro sensitization

Our goal was to determine the cytotoxic activity of effector cells in lymph nodes with metastatic melanoma. Lymphocytes contained within tumor cells from metastatic lymph nodes of two patients were allowed to proliferate in recombinant IL-2 (rIL-2, 100-1,000 units/ml) after 14–21 days of culture. Each set of lymphocytes showed cytotoxicity against autologous melanoma (AM, mean 72%) at effector to target ratio of 201 and K562 cells (mean 60%) using 4-h chromium-51 release assay. Using unlabeled AM and K562, each AM could partially block the activity against K562, but K562 could not block the activity against AM. These activated lymphocytes underwentin vitro sensitization (IVS) with irradiated AM cells and rIL-2 at 2-week intervals. After repeated IVS over about 50 days, each patient's lymphocytes showed cytotoxicity against AM (mean 54%) but not K562 (mean 5%,P < 0.001). These results indicate that different cytotoxic effector cells were present in the early and late phase of lymphocyte tumor culture. Repeated IVS resulted in the selection of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Cold target inhibition assay demonstrated that melanoma cells contained common and individual AM-associated antigen in addition to K562-associated antigens.This work was supported by Biomedical Research Support Grant of the University of Arizona (no. 2S07 RR05675-20), the Elsa U. Pardee Foundation Grant, partly by the Arizona Chronic Disease Research Commission and partly by CA23074 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, 20892, U.S.A.Recipient of the American Cancer Society Clinical Oncology Career Award, 1987–90.