Proteomic analysis of human skin fibroblasts grown on titanium: novel approach to study molecular biocompatibility

Despite the growing use of titanium as an implant material, there is a lack of consensus on what constitutes the molecular basis of its biocompatibility. In the present study we compared the response of skin fibroblasts to two different growth supporting surfaces: commercially pure titanium (cpTi) and tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS). Proteins from extracts of whole cells and adsorbed serum were separated and identified by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. In all, 40 proteins (46 spots) were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and mass spectrometry, database searching, immunoblotting, running a standard, or a combination of these techniques. Many of the proteins collected from the two surfaces were found to derive from the serum used in the culture medium. The surface properties of titanium appeared to promote the formation of a more concentrated carpet of serum proteins. Several proteins from bovine or human serum, such as albumin, alpha2-HS-glycoprotein, alpha-fetoprotein, plasminogen, thrombospondin 1, and serotransferrin, along with a few unidentified serum components, were found to adsorb onto cpTi in comparatively high concentrations. The adsorption of serum proteins did not appear to be selective on either substrate. We found that among the major cellular proteins, fibronectin and a cytoskeletal protein (non-muscle myosin heavy chain type A) were expressed at lower levels by fibroblasts grown on cpTi compared to TCPS. By analyzing the changes in the entire proteome of cells in response to different growth substrates, we may gain a better understanding of the molecular basis of biocompatibility.     

多发性骨髓瘤患者血清IL-6活性与急性相蛋白浓度的相关性研究

运用敏感的B_9细胞增殖试验检测了81例多发性骨髓瘤(MM)患者血清IL-6活性,同时分析了标本的几种急性相蛋白含量,结果表明,68％MM患者血清中IL-6活性大于5μ/ml(正常对照为5μ/ml以下),几种急性相蛋白中C-反应性蛋白(CRP)在MM时升高(P<0.01),平均达正常对照组的17倍以上,MM患者补体C_4与正常对照组无差异(p>0.05),C_3、白蛋白及转铁蛋白在MM时分别比正常下降24.42％、38.83％和32.80％,且与疾病分期有关,在血清IL-6大于5μ/ml的55例中,IL-6活性与CRP、C_3、白蛋白的相关系数分别为0.46,-0.34和-0.29,IL-6与转铁蛋白浓度相关不明显。本文结果提示:CRP、C_3及白蛋白等含量的变化可作为反映MM病情的简易而敏感的指标。     

Favorably tipping the balance between cytopathic and regulatory T cells to create transplantation tolerance

Therapeutic application of broadly reactive anti-T cell antibodies can lead not only to potent immunosuppression but also to profound and long-lived T cell depletion. We reasoned that a strategy that almost exclusively targets activated cytopathic donor reactive T cells and spares immunoregulatory networks might prove to be an exceptionally potent and highly selective means of producing long-term engraftment and tolerance. Herein we show that the combined administration of rapamycin and agonist IL-2- and antagonist IL-15-related cytolytic fusion proteins provides for long-term engraftment/tolerance in exceptionally stringent allotransplant models by (1) limiting the early expansion of activated T cells, (2) preserving and even exaggerating their subsequent apoptotic clearance, and (3) further amplifying the depletion of these activated T cells by antibody-dependent mechanisms, while (4) preserving CD4+CD25+ T cell-dependent immunoregulatory networks.     

豚鼠脊髓运动神经元分支至股神经和腰背肌的研究——逆行荧光双标记法

应用碘化丙院-双苯甲亚胺配伍逆行荧光双标记技术对豚鼠脊髓运动神经元分支至股神经和腰背肌作了研究.结果发现股神经的运动纤维来源于同侧L1～5脊髓前角内侧核运动神经元和L4～5脊髓前角外侧核运动神经元;腰背肌的运动纤维来源于同侧相应节段脊髓前角内侧核运动神经元.在L3～5脊髓前角内侧核运动神经元中,有碘化丙啶-双苯甲亚胺荧光双标记运动神经元,占内侧核全部标记运动神经元的18.8‰.结果提示脊髓前角运动神经元具有分支分布至腰背肌和股神经的现象.     

The discovery and confirmation of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the human p53R2 gene by EST database analysis

The human expressed sequence tag (EST) database provides a wealth of resources, which can be used to rapidly screen for potential polymorphisms in proteins of physiological interest. The human p53R2 gene, a recently identified ribonucleotide reductase, plays an important role in DNA repair and is involved in the pathway of p53 activity in response to the presence of DNA damage. On the basis of the alignment of human EST sequences, we identified three candidate polymorphisms at nt 2752, 2759 and 4696 in the 3'-untranslated region of the p53R2 gene. The presence of these polymorphisms was confirmed in a Caucasian population (n = 82) by allele-specific PCR and PCR/restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses. The rare allele frequency at position 4696 (15.5%) is higher than either rare allele frequency at position 2752 or 2759 (6 and 6%). Our results suggest that the human EST data may serve as a valuable source for the rapid identification of genetic variation.     

Molecular cloning and expression of a novel alternative splice variant of BRDT gene

In this study, a human adult testis cDNA microarray was constructed and hybridized with (33)P-labeled human adult testis, embryo testis and sperm cDNA probes, respectively. A novel alternative splice variant of BRDT gene, named BRDT-NY, presumably involved in testicular function was cloned. It was expressed 3.96-fold more in human adult than embryo testis and also expressed in human spermatozoa. Similarly, RT-PCR revealed a differential expression pattern of this gene in human adult testes and fetal testes. The full length of BRDT-NY was 3438 bp and contained a 2883 bp open reading frame, encoding a 960-amino-acid protein. Sequence analysis showed that it has two bromodomains in N-terminal of the protein. Multiple tissue RT-PCR results showed that BRDT-NY was exclusively expressed in testis. mRNA expression of BRDT-NY gene was deleted in some azoospermic patients' testes. These experiments suggested that BRDT-NY gene may have an important role in the process of spermatogenesis and may be correlated with male infertility.     

Arachidonic acid, but not its metabolites, is essential for FcgammaR-stimulated intracellular killing of Staphylococcus aureus by human monocytes

Since arachidonic acid (AA) production by phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is essential for the Fcgamma receptor (FcgammaR)-mediated respiratory burst and phagocytosis of opsonized erythrocytes by monocytes and macrophages, we focused in this study on the role of AA and its metabolites in the FcgammaR-stimulated intracellular killing of Staphylococcus aureus by human monocytes. The results revealed that the PLA2 inhibitors, but not inhibitors of cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase, markedly suppressed the FcgammaR-mediated killing process. The production of O-2 by monocytes upon FcgammaR cross-linking was inhibited by 4-bromophenacyl bromide in a dose-dependent fashion, indicating that inhibition of PLA2 activity impairs the oxygen-dependent bactericidal mechanisms of monocytes, which could be partially restored by addition of exogenous AA and docosahexaenoic acid, but not myristic acid. These polyunsaturated fatty acids, but not myristic acid, stimulated the intracellular killing of S. aureus by monocytes, although not as effectively as FcgammaR cross-linking. Furthermore, FcgammaR cross-linking stimulated the release of AA from monocytes. Studies with selective inhibitors revealed that the FcgammaR-mediated activation of PLA2 is dependent on Ca2+ and tyrosine kinase activity. Together these results indicate a key role for PLA2/AA, but not its major metabolites, in mediating the FcgammaR-stimulated intracellular killing of S. aureus by monocytes.     

C1q受体研究进展

补体分子C1q具有调节各种细胞反应的能力.近年,随着C1q功能研究的深入,发现许多细胞内或者细胞表面存在结合C1q的蛋白或者受体,如C1qRp、gC1qbp、C1qRo2-、钙网素/CRT/cC1qR胶凝素受体、CR1.其中某些蛋白除结合C1q外还结合其它配体.     

Simplified purification of human basophils

Studies of human basophils have been limited by the low number present in peripheral blood and the difficulties of purification to homogeneity with reasonable yield and functional status. Reproducible purification of human basophils to 96.5+/-0.5% with a yield of 40.8+/-5.3% was obtained by negative selection using immunomagnetic beads following initial separation by density gradient centrifugation. Isolated cells demonstrated complete viability by vital dye exclusion and spontaneous histamine release following incubation of <5%. Stimulation with anti-IgE or calcium ionophore A23187 caused histamine release and leukotriene C(4) production. Basophils demonstrated dose-dependent chemotaxis to monocyte chemotactic protein-3. This simplified methodology results in fully functional basophils in very high purity and good yield.