Short-term enzyme replacement in the murine model of Sanfilippo syndrome type B

The Sanfilippo syndrome type B (MPS III B) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by deficiency of alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase (EC 3. 2.1.50), one of the lysosomal enzymes required for the degradation of heparan sulfate. The disease is characterized by profound neurodegeneration but relatively mild somatic manifestations, and is usually fatal in the second decade. A mouse model had been generated by disruption of the Naglu gene in order to facilitate the study of pathogenesis and the development of therapy for this currently untreatable disease. Recombinant human alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase (rhNAGLU) was prepared from secretions of Lec1 mutant Chinese hamster ovary cells. The enzyme, which has only unphosphorylated high-mannose carbohydrate chains, was endocytosed by mouse peritoneal macrophages via mannose receptors, with half-maximal uptake at ca. 10(-7) M. When administered intravenously to 3 month-old mice, rhNAGLU was taken up avidly by liver and spleen but marginally if at all by thymus, lung, kidney, heart, and brain (in order of diminishing uptake). The half-life of the enzyme was 2.5 days in liver and spleen. Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy showed that only macrophages were involved in enzyme uptake and correction in these two organs, yet the storage of glycosaminoglycan was reduced to almost normal levels. The results show that the macrophage-targeted rhNAGLU can substantially reduce the body burden of glycosaminoglycan storage in the mouse model of Sanfilippo syndrome III B.     

A simple organ culture method for differentiation of melanocytes in mouse embryonic skin using “origami” membrane filter

Summary A simple organ culture method for culturing embryonic skin was developed. A piece of skin with a part of the neural tube from mouse embryo (11 to 12 d) was placed on a 25 mm d membrane filter. The filter was folded to wrap the explant and inserted into glass tubing. The explant and filter in the glass tubing were placed in a rotating tissue culture tube containing 5 ml culture medium (Ham's F12 supplemented with 15 to 20% fetal bovine serum) and filled with a mixture of 95% air:5% CO₂. In explants cultured for 6 d fully differentiated melanocytes were observed in the epidermis.     

L-选择蛋白在小鼠肝癌细胞高低转移株HCa-F、HCa-P的表达及与肿瘤转移潜能的相关性

目的　探讨经淋巴道转移的小鼠肝癌细胞高低转移株HCa F、HCa P淋巴道转移能力及与淋巴细胞归巢受体L 选择蛋白的相关性。方法　应用免疫印迹分析、RT PCR及流式细胞术检测小鼠肝癌HCa F、HCa P细胞表面L 选择蛋白的表达情况 ,再通过E 、P 、L 选择蛋白的抗体对细胞粘附实验的影响检测HCa F、HCa P细胞淋巴道转移潜能与L 选择蛋白的相关性。结果　L 选择蛋白在HCa F、HCa P细胞表面均有表达 ,且HCa F细胞的表达量明显高于HCa P细胞 (P <0 .0 1) ,HCa F细胞与淋巴结之间的粘附可被抗L 选择蛋白的抗体所阻断。结论　小鼠肝癌细胞高低转移株HCa F、HCa P细胞均表达L 选择蛋白 ,其程度与该细胞的淋巴道转移潜能正相关     

Chronic ethanol exposure differentially regulates NOS1 mRNA levels depending on rat brain area

In vitro experiments were performed on brainstem – spinal cord preparations from mouse neonates to compare the noradrenergic regulations of the respiratory network in the control C3H/HeJ strain and the transgenic Tg8 strain which has been created from the C3H/HeJ strain by deletion of the gene encoding monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), the main enzyme for serotonin degradation. In both control and MAOA-deficient strains, we show: (i) that the pontine A5 area exerts a potent inhibitory modulation on the respiratory rhythm generator; (ii) that noradrenaline application induces a tonic phrenic activity; and (iii) that noradrenaline increases the respiratory rhythm. The latter effect is however delayed and weak in the Tg8 strain. Therefore, MAOA-deficiency has only slightly altered the noradrenergic regulations of the respiratory network.     

磷酸化的细胞外信号调节蛋白激酶1/2在正常小鼠脑内的免疫细胞化学定位

细胞外信号调节蛋白激酶(ERK)1/2是重要的信号转导分子。现已知在正常动物的中枢神经系统内有其活化形式即磷酸化的ERK1/2(pERK1/2)分子的存在,但其在小鼠脑内的分布目前还没有全面的观察。本研究用免疫组织化学技术(ABC法)研究了pERK1/2样免疫反应阳性产物在脱臼处死的正常小鼠全脑内的分布。结果发现pERK1/2在正常小鼠脑内有广泛的表达,阳性产物主要存在于神经元,亦见于个别白质内的胶质细胞,脑膜及室管膜细胞也有表达。强阳性表达的核团主要有:岛皮质、视听皮质、边缘前皮质、扣带前皮质、海马垂直部、弓状核、蓝斑和小脑Purkinje细胞;中等阳性表达的核团主要有:感觉运动皮质、外侧隔区、内侧杏仁核、皮质杏仁核和外侧杏仁核、丘脑室旁核前部、视交叉上核、穹隆下器、终板血管器、前腹侧视前核和下丘脑背内侧核;弱阳性表达的核团主要有:视上核、下丘脑室旁核大细胞部、下丘脑后区、顶盖前区、室周灰质腹外侧柱、A5区、孤束核和延髓腹外侧网状结构等。本文结果观察到pERK1/2在正常小鼠脑内广泛存在,提示pERK1/2作为重要的信号转导分子,可能参与许多脑区在正常状态下的功能活动,揭示其分布特点为了解其在脑内的多样性功能提供了形态学依据。     

Split tolerance between spleen and lymph node cells in severe combined immunodeficiency mice grafted with AKR fetal liver cells

Severe combined Immunodeficient (SCID) mice defective in stemcells for T and B cells appear to be an ideal host for constructionof chimeric mice. When bone marrow cells are used as a sourceof stem cells, however, host SCID mice do not always show sufficientreconstitutlon. In this study, fetal liver cells from AKR embryoswere transplanted into SCID mice without prior irradiation.This treatment induced full reconstltution of lymphopoiesisas evaluated by flow cytometry analysis and serum Ig production2 months after transplantation. Thus, fetal liver cells seemto be a better source for reconstitutlon of SCID mice than bonemarrow cells. Lymph node (LN) cells of these mice (FLT mice)had no proliferatlve or cytotoxlc activities against eitherhost-type (C.B-17) or donor-type (AKR) spleen cells. However,spleen cells from FLT mice exhibited marked proliferatlve andcytotoxlc activities against C.B-17 cells, with no activitiesagainst AKR cells. Spirt tolerance against C.B-17 cells In spleenand LN cells was not a transient phenomenon, since similar resultswere obtained from a cytotoxic T lymphocyte assay 4 months later.In spite of the strong host reactivity in vitro, aberrationof clonal deletion or development of a graft-versus-host diseasewas not seen in FLT mice. As IL-2 induced the host reactivityof LN cells in a mixed lymphocyte reaction, potentially host-reactiveT cells were present in LN but were rendered anerglc. Tolerancein FLT mice seems to be regulated by a peripheral mechanism.We supposed that the split tolerance in FLT mice was inducedby the different antigenicity between the spleen and LN.     

System for inducible expression of cre-recombinase from the Foxa2 locus in endoderm, notochord, and floor plate.

We targeted the reverse tetracycline controlled transactivator (rtTA) to the Foxa2 locus (Foxa2(ITA)) to generate a system for regulating Cre-recombinase activity within Foxa2 expression domains, including the endoderm, notochord, and floor plate of early mouse embryos. The use of an internal ribosomal entry site to obtain rtTA expression preserves Foxa2 function of the targeted allele. Cre activity with this system reflects the level of endogenous Foxa2 activity and is also tightly controlled by doxycycline. The location of Cre activity within the broader Foxa2 expression domain can be restricted by altering the timing of doxycycline administration. Isolated floor plate expression can be obtained in this manner. This system will provide a useful tool for manipulating gene expression in endoderm, notochord, and floor plate, all of which are tissues with important structural and patterning functions during embryogenesis.     

Temporal and spatial regulation of bone morphogenetic protein signaling in late lung development.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play important roles in early lung development. No study to date has addressed a role for BMP signaling in late lung development. We describe changes in the expression and localization of BMP receptors (Bmpr1a, Bmpr1b, and Bmpr2) and Smad (Smad1, Smad4, Smad5, and Smad8) intracellular signaling proteins during the saccular and alveolarization stages of late lung development. BMP signaling, assessed by Smad1/5 phosphorylation, nuclear translocation, and induction of id1, id2, and id3 gene expression, was evident throughout late lung development. Our data indicate that BMP signaling is active during late lung development, and points to roles for the BMP system in septal and vascular development, and in the homeostasis of the epithelial layer of large conducting airways in the mature lung.     

树突状细胞在黏膜免疫模型小鼠中的分布及E-cadherin和ICAM-1表达的研究

目的通过研究小鼠树突状细胞在黏膜免疫模型小鼠中分布特征及上皮型钙黏附分子（E-cadherin）和细胞间黏附分子-1（ICAM-1）的表达,以探讨E-cadherin和ICAM-1在树突状细胞迁移过程中的调控作用.方法采用光镜和免疫组织化学染色方法,观察黏膜免疫模型小鼠中树突状细胞的分布特征;分析E-cadherin和ICAM-1的表达情况.结果体内的树突状细胞在黏膜免疫模型小鼠中,主要分布于肠系膜淋巴结、回肠集合淋巴小结、胃和空回肠黏膜及黏膜下层,与对照组相比有显著差异,其ICAM-1表达明显增高,E-cadherin表达下调,分别与对照组数密度和面密度比较有显著差异.结论在树突状细胞迁移运动过程中,E-cadherin和ICAM-1黏附分子可能起着关键性的调控作用.