Preferential apoptosis of CD56dim natural killer cell subset in patients with cancer

Natural killer (NK) cells (CD56(+)/CD3(-)) in the circulation of cancer patients were reported to have low NK activity and undergo spontaneous apoptosis. A possible relationship between apoptosis and impaired NK activity was studied by Annexin V-binding and NK-cell assays performed with peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), breast cancer (BC) and normal controls (NC). Cells stained with Annexin V (Anx) and antibodies to CD56, CD3, CD95, CD25, CD122 or CD132 were examined by flow cytometry. NK activity was tested against K562 targets in 4-h (51)Cr-release assays. The ratio of CD56(dim)/CD56(bright) NK cells was significantly different in patients vs. controls (10 vs. 16; p<0.01). A significantly greater percentage of CD56(dim) NK cells bound Anx in HNC patients (27+/-17%, median +/- SD) or BC (46+/-18%) than in NC (15+/-18%, p<0.04 and p<0.0002, respectively). CD56(dim) NK cells were preferentially targeted for apoptosis. NK activity was significantly lower in patients with HNC and BC than in NC (p<0.009). An inverse correlation between NK activity and the percent of Anx(+)CD56(dim) NK cells was observed in cancer patients (p =0.002) but not in NC. In patients, circulating CD56(dim) NK cells were targeted for apoptosis, leading to low levels of NK activity.     

Significance of fibrils in the formation of the Kimmelstiel-Wilson nodule

Summary The pathogenesis of the nodular lesion in diabetic glomerulosclerosis is described in association with fibrils. Thirteen diabetic patients with glomerular nodular lesions and 9 diabetics without the nodules were examined by electron microscopy using periodic acid-thio-carbohydrazide-silver proteinate staining. In cases of nodular glomerulosclerosis, abundant fibrillar structures mixed with electron-dense material were detected within the nodule and the mesangial matrix. They were also occasionally observed along the subendothelial space of the glomerular capillary walls. On the cross-section, these fibrils, including the lucent periphery, were 34 nm wide. Immunohistologically, collagen V and collagen VI were detected in nodular lesions. In contrast, in cases of the diffuse type of glomerulosclerosis, the widened mesangium was composed of dense material, which resembled the original mesangial matrix. The above fibrils were not detected in the mesangium. These findings suggest that the accumulation of the peculiar fibrils in the glomerular mesangium is a major pathogenic factor in the formation of Kimmelstiel-Wilson nodules.     

抗人B因子单克隆抗体的制备及其特性的初步研究

本文以人B因子免疫BALB/c小鼠的脾细胞与SP2/O骨髓瘤细胞融合,获得六株(A_2、B_2、B_7、C_9、F_9、F_(10))分泌抗人B因子单克隆抗体(单抗)的杂交瘤细胞系。用ELISA检测细胞培养上清和小鼠腹水的特异性抗体效价,分别为10~(-2)—10~(-3)和10~(-4)—10~(-5)。抗原阻断试验结果,说明这些单抗是B因子特异的。经取代试验和ACH_(50)抑制试验,提示B因子具有耐热和不耐热二组抗原决定基。A_2和B_2针对不耐热抗原决定基,能抑制补体旁路途径活化;B_7和C_9针对耐热抗原决定基,不影响补体旁路途径活化;F_9和F_(10)则既能与耐热决定基发生反应,也具有抑制补体旁路活化的功能。用固相抗原竞争抑制试验,分析B因子的抗原表位,发现6株单抗可识别4个抗原决定基。这些单抗对B因子结构与功能的研究,B因子在补体旁路活化过程中与有关补体成分之间的相互关系的研究,都是很有意义的。     

重组神经生长因子受体基因在受体缺乏的神经母细胞瘤细胞系中的表达

神经母细胞瘤是儿童期的常见恶性肿瘤之一。临床上,半数以上神经母细胞瘤有明显的N-myc癌基因扩增。神经生长因子(NGF)可使某些神经母细胞瘤细胞分化成神经元样的细胞。但对有N-myc扩增的神经母细胞瘤则可能因NGF受体缺乏而无明显促分化反应。本研究运用重组DNA技术将人NGF受体基因重组到有N-myc扩增,且NGF受体表达很低的神经母细胞瘤系(IMR-32)中,经克隆化培养、筛选,建立了稳定的细胞系—IMR-32/NGFR和对照细胞系IMR-32/NEO。经用抗NGFR的单克隆抗体检测用Flow cytometry技术证实IMR-32/NGFR系中有明显的NGF受体表达,而其母系IMR-32和空病毒对照系IMR-32/NEO则无表达迹象,说明NGF受体表达在IMR-32/NGFR系中是特异的,并能同抗NGFR单克隆抗体特异结合。用Northern B10ting技术亦测得IMR-32/NGFR中NGFR的mRN A明显表达。而其母系IMR-32和对照系IMR-32/NEO则无明显表达。这说明IMR-32/NGFR系中NGFR在mRNA水平上亦是特异的。N-myc和K-ras癌基因在IMR-32、IMR-32/NEO、IMR-32/NGFR三系中无明显变化。在NGF处理后,形态上三系均无明显的分化迹象。但IMR-32/NGFR在神经原纤维轻链的表达上轻度增高。c-fos癌基因的表达见于所有三个细胞系,IMR-32/NGFR略强些。这些说明,在恢复了NGFR基因和表达之后,对N-myc和K-ra     

Priming B cell-mediated anti-HIV envelope responses by vaccination allows for the long-term control of infection in macaques exposed to a R5-tropic SHIV

The potential of vaccine-elicited anti-HIV envelope antibodies to control HIV-infection was evaluated by immunizing macaques with the HIV envelope protein and transiently depleting them of their CD8+ cells before intravenous challenge with the pathogenic CCR5-tropic SIV/HIV chimeric virus, SHIV(SF162P4). Although sterilizing immunity was not achieved, all vaccinated animals effectively controlled infection and remained free of disease for the duration of observation (over 3 years). In contrast, during the same period, the control animals progressed to disease. Both the vaccinees and the controls developed robust cell-mediated antiviral and neutralizing antibody responses following infection. A comparative analysis of these responses suggests that the more effective long-term control of infection by the vaccinated animals is due to the more rapid development of anti-HIV envelope antibodies. These studies suggest that priming by vaccination of B cell anti-HIV envelope responses maybe crucial for the long-term control of HIV infection.     

V180I mutation of the prion protein gene associated with atypical PrP glycosylation

A valine to isoleucine mutation at residue 180 was identified in a French patient with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). The mutation is located in the close vicinity of one of the two N-glycosylation sites of the cellular prion protein (PrP^C). Western blot analysis revealed accumulation in the brain of the pathogenic proteinase K-resistant PrP (PrP^Sc) isoform with the notable absence of the diglycosylated band. The mutant protein expressed in CHO cells was correctly glycosylated, suggesting that the atypical glycosylation pattern of PrP^Sc was not due to the mutation at position 180. These results suggest that the diglycosylated form of the mutant PrP^180I prevents its conversion into the pathogenic mutant form PrP^Sc180I, supporting a central role of N-linked glycan chains in the PrP conversion process.     

Malignant epithelioid haemangioendothelioma of the liver: a clinicopathological and histochemical study of 12 cases

We describe the clinicopathological findings in 12 cases of hepatic epithelioid haemangioendothelioma in order to identify diagnostic and prognostic features of this unusual vascular neoplasm. Three main tumour patterns were observed histologically: (1) a peripheral pattern with neoplastic cells scattered between fairly normal liver cell plates; (2) a cellular pattern showing a confusing admixture of pleomorphic tumour cells and atrophied hepatocytes set in a small amount of fibrous stroma; and (3) a scarred pattern with sparse tumour cells in a dense fibrous matrix. There were two types of vascular invasion: tuft-like intravascular proliferations of epithelioid cells and fibro-thrombotic venous occlusions. Awareness of these different aspects is important, as they are variably sampled by biopsy needles. The clinical course in this series was less favourable than that previously reported. Eight patients have died, in six instances of liver failure within 4-41 months of diagnosis. Extensive involvement of both lobes of the liver heralds imminent hepatic failure. The slow growth of metastases may justify liver transplantation in order to prolong life.     

C and V proteins of Sendai virus target signaling pathways leading to IRF-3 activation for the negative regulation of interferon-beta production

We here report a molecular basis for downregulation of interferon (IFN)-beta production by V and C proteins of Sendai virus (SeV). The infection of HeLa cells with SeV poorly induced IFN-beta even if the expression of C/C' was disrupted. In contrast, when the expression of C/C'/Y1/Y2 or V/W was disrupted, SeV infection strongly induced IFN-beta production and significantly activated the interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-3 pathway. The independent expression of C or V inhibited the double-stranded (ds) RNA- or Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-induced activation of IRF-3 and NF-kappa B, as well as the IFN-beta promoter. This inhibitory effect was also observed when Y1, Y2, or a C-terminal half fragment (aa 85-204) of C was independently expressed. Phosphorylation and homodimer formation of IRF-3 were suppressed not only in cells infected with SeV capable of expressing both C/C'/Y1/Y2 (or Y1/Y2) and V/W, but also in HeLa cells constitutively expressing Y1. These results suggest that C, Y1, Y2, and V block signaling pathways leading to IRF-3 activation to downregulate IFN-beta production.