Release of non-glycosylated polymeric immunoglobulin receptor protein

Using a recombinant vaccinia virus containing the T7 RNA polymerase, we have established a system for the transient expression of human polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) in baby hamster kidney cells, a baby hamster-derived fibroblastic cell line. This transfection system resulted in the successful expression of pIgR in these cells, and Western blot analysis showed that human pIgR was expressed as two different molecular weight forms of 92 and 107 kDa. Treatment with endoglycosidase H showed that the difference between these two forms was due to the glycosylation status of the protein. In order to examine the functional role of glycosylation, we treated the transfected cells with tunicamycin, which prevents a core glycosylation step in the endoplasmic reticulum. Non-glycosylated pIgR was released into the culture medium of the transfected cells, albeit with extremely low efficiency. Taking these results together, we conclude that the glycosylation of pIgR may play a positive role in the efficient transport or release of free pIgR.     

抗轮状病毒卵黄免疫球蛋白的蛋白酶水解及被动免…

用婴幼儿轮状病毒抗原免疫产卵母鸡，制备出抗婴幼儿轮状病毒鸡卵黄免疫球蛋白（抗－ＨＲＶＩｇＹ）同时研究抗－ＨＲＶＩｇＹ的抗人类胃酸屏障能力，抗消化道蛋白酶的酶解以及临床使用的安全性和效果，研究结果表明：抗－ＨＲＶＩｇＹ具有一定的抗胃酸屏障能力和抗消化道蛋白酶酶解作用，抗－ＨＲＶＩｇＹ安全无毒，对婴幼儿轮状病毒感染具有被动免疫保护作用。     

Optical imaging as an adjunct to sonograph in differentiating benign from malignant breast lesions

The role of near infrared (NIR) diffusive light imaging as an adjunct to ultrasound in differentiating benign from malignant lesions was evaluated in 27 mammography patients with infiltrating ductal carcinomas, apocrine metaplasia, fibroadenomas, radial scar and ductal hyperplasia, cysts, and normal tissues. Conventional ultrasound/mammography images were graded based on BI-RADS assessment categories. The spatial NIR measurements were made at wavelengths of 750 and 830 nm. Functional images, such as relative changes of deoxyhemoglobin (deoxyHb) and total blood concentration, were estimated from the dual wavelength measurements. Maximum relative deoxyHb and blood concentration changes were measured, and spatial correlation of masses in relative deoxyHb and blood concentration images for each breast were calculated. For the five biopsy proven benign lesions, ultrasound/mammography diagnoses were suspicious for malignancy (four cases) and highly suspicious for malignancy (one case). Four lesions showed less than 1.0 V maximum deoxyHb and less than 1.5 V maximum blood concentration levels on average and spatial image correlation showed no correlated masses in both deoxyHb and blood concentration images. For the four biopsy proven malignant lesions, ultrasound/mammography diagnoses were highly suspicious for malignancy. Maximum deoxyHb and blood concentration changes were greater than 2.9 V on average except one lesion which showed smaller deoxyHb signal (maximum 0.85 V) but the deoxyHb mass and blood concentration mass were highly correlated.     

Angiotensin II increases neuronal delayed rectifier K(+) current: role of 12-lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid

Angiotensin II (Ang II) elicits an Ang II type 2 (AT(2)) receptor-mediated increase in voltage-dependent delayed rectifier K(+) current (I(KV)) in neurons cultured from newborn rat hypothalamus and brain stem. In previous studies, we have determined that this effect of Ang II is mediated via a Gi protein, activation of phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)), and generation of arachidonic acid (AA). AA is rapidly metabolized within cells via lipoxygenases (LO), cyclooxygenase (COX) or p450 monooxygenase enzymes, and the metabolic products are known regulators of K(+) currents and channels. Thus in the present study, we have investigated whether the AT(2) receptor-mediated effects of Ang II on neuronal I(KV) require AA metabolism and if so, which metabolic pathways are involved. The data presented here indicate that the stimulatory actions of Ang II and AA on neuronal I(KV) are attenuated by selective blockade of 12-LO enzymes. However, the effects of Ang II are not altered by blockade of 5-LO or p450 monooxygenase enzymes. Furthermore, the actions of Ang II are mimicked by a 12-LO metabolite of AA, but 5-LO metabolites such as leukotriene B(4) and C(4) do not alter neuronal I(KV). These data indicate that the AT(2) receptor-mediated stimulation of neuronal I(KV) is partially mediated through 12-LO metabolites of AA.     

125I-白细胞介素-8在小鼠体内的分布研究

为了解白细胞介素 - 8的体内行为 ,用 Bolton- Hunter法对 IL- 8进行 1 2 5I标记 ,并测定它在小鼠体内的分布 ;得到了 1 2 5I- IL- 8在小鼠血、心、肝、肺、肾、骨、脾等脏器中的分布以及它在血液中的快相半排期 T1 /2α为 0 .3 2 h和慢相半排期 T1 /2β为 8.0 1h。1 2 5I- IL- 8主要通过肾排除     

Clonal analysis of palmar fibromatosis: a study whether palmar fibromatosis is a real tumor

Background  

Palmar fibromatosis that arises in the palmar soft tissue is characterized by infiltrative growth with a tendency toward local recurrence but does not metastasize. This study investigated the clonality of this process in twelve female patients, each with a single lesion, by examining the pattern of X-chromosome inactivation.     

Activation of invariant NK T cells protects against experimental rheumatoid arthritis by an IL-10-dependent pathway

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are a unique lymphocyte subtype implicated in the regulation of autoimmunity and a good source of protective Th2 cytokines. Agonist alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) of iNKT cells exert a therapeutical effect in type 1 diabetes. We investigated whether iNKT activation with alpha-GalCer was protective in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in DBA/1 mice, a standard model of rheumatoid arthritis. Here, we have shown that in vivo iNKT cell function was altered in DBA/1 mice since stimulation with alpha-GalCer led to decreased IL-4 and IFN-gamma levels in sera, as compared with C57BL/6 mice. alpha-GalCer induced a clear-cut diminution of clinical and histological arthritides. An anti-IL-10 receptor antibody abrogated the protective effect of alpha-GalCer, suggesting a key role for IL-10 in the protection against CIA by activated iNKT cells. Confirming these data, disease protection conferred by alpha-GalCer correlated with the ability of LN CD4+ cells to secrete larger amounts of IL-10. These findings suggest that in CIA susceptibility to autoimmunity is associated with dysfunctions of iNKT cells. Our demonstration that iNKT cell activation by alpha-GalCer remains efficient in CIA-prone DBA/1 mice to provide protective IL-10 suggests that this could be used therapeutically to treat autoimmune arthritis.     

Protection by a taurine supplemented diet from lead-induced deficits of long-term potentiation/depotentiation in dentate gyrus of rats in vivo

Previous studies have demonstrated that synaptic plasticity, which includes long-term potentiation (LTP) and depotentiation (DP) in hippocampus, is important for learning and memory. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of taurine via drinking water on the lead-induced impairments of LTP and DP in rat dentate gyrus (DG) in vivo. The experiments were carried out in four groups of rats (control, lead-exposed, control and lead-exposed with a taurine-supplement diet, respectively). The input-output (I/O) function, excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) and population spike (PS) amplitude were measured in the DG area of adult rats (60-90 days) in response to stimulation applied to the lateral perforant path. The results show that: 1. chronic lead exposure impaired LTP/DP measured on both EPSP slope and PS amplitude in DG area of the hippocampus; 2. in control rats, taurine had no effect on LTP/DP; 3. the amplitudes of LTP/DP of lead-exposed group were significantly increased by applying taurine. These results suggest that dietary taurine supplement could protect rats from the lead-induced impairments of synaptic plasticity and might be a preventive medicine to cure the cognitive deficits induced by lead.     

Haplotypes produced from rare variants in the promoter and coding regions of angiotensinogen contribute to variation in angiotensinogen levels

The most efficient study design to map genes underlying complex traits will be determined by assumptions about whether the genetic effects are likely to be due to relatively few common variants or multiple rare variants. To examine the possibility that rare variants may influence blood pressure, we sequenced a 6.8 kb region of the angiotensinogen (AGT) gene in 29 male Nigerians with high plasma AGT levels and 28 with low levels. The frequency of haplotypes produced from rare variants in the promoter and coding regions was significantly different between the two groups, and it is unlikely that this difference was due to the manner in which the rare variants were selected. Further analysis suggested that most of the haplotypes produced by these rare variants are found on a haplotype background created by three common SNPs. Our study confirms in an additional trait that rare variants can influence the distribution of complex traits; whether these variants can be captured by common SNPs or haplotypes requires further investigation.     

Diagnosis and taxonomy of periodical psychosis

The concept and taxonomy of periodic psychosis still remains in controversy for the past 100 years. In China, it was first reported by Ji, and thereafter various rinds of terminology and views were given by different authors. In the presentation, clinical investigation and follow up were carried out in 62 cases. In many of these cases, the so-called "periodic psychosis" or "phasophrenia" was early clinical features of schizophrenia or manic-depression. In those cases with apparent symptoms and signs of diencephalic function, differential diagnosis should be carried out from organic brain syndrome. In a small number of cases, their clinical manifestations, conforming to previous diagnostic criteria, might be an uncommon syndrome. It was concluded by the authors that until now periodic could be considered only as a clinical syndrome rather than a disease entity.