Structural modification of receptor-binding technetium-99m complexes in order to improve brain uptake

Low brain uptake is a generally accepted problem in developing technetium-99m brain receptor imaging agents. For a class of potential 5-HT_2A receptorbinding agents we tried to improve the original low brain uptake of 0.4% injected dose (ID) in rats 5 min p.i. by modifying the lipophilic properties of the molecules. Because of the presence of a protonable nitrogen, which according to the pK _a value leads to ionization of the molecule at blood pH, the pK _a value was considered to be the parameter most suitable for adjustment of lipophilicity. Insertion of ether-oxygen in the molecule of five candidates lowers the apparent pK _a value from 10.0 to 8.3 and dramatically increases the brain uptake to 1.3% ID at 5 min. The direct relationship between brain uptake and apparent pK _a cannot be simply explained by the increase in the pK _a-governed proportion of the neutral species.     

Sertoli细胞诱导大鼠肝内胰岛移植物免疫豁免的实验研究

目的 探究睾丸Sertoli细胞能否对肝内共移植的胰岛移植物提供免疫豁免作用以及共移植的睾丸Sertoli细胞最佳数量。方法将同种大鼠胰岛及不同数量的睾丸Sertoli细胞同时移植于糖尿病受体的肝内,观察移植物存活情况、胰岛功能、并检测移植物内胰岛素和Fas配体(FasL)表达以及浸润淋巴细胞凋亡情况。结果单纯胰岛移植组平均存活期为(5.6±0.8)d,同时与胰岛细胞在肝内共移植的睾丸细胞数增加至1×107个时,平均存活期为(41.4±4.61)d,明显延长(P<0.05),胰岛移植物中有大量表达FasL的睾丸细胞和表达胰岛素的胰岛细胞.在移植物周围有大量浸润的淋巴细胞凋亡。结论睾丸Sertoli细胞与胰岛细胞同时在肝内共移植,通过诱导局部豁免而延长胰岛移植物的存活时间,且同时共移植1×107个Sertoli细胞时效果最好。     

自发免疫耐受大鼠移植肝内调节性T细胞的生物学特性

目的研究大鼠肝移植后自发免疫耐受的形成与移植肝内CD4~ CD25~ 调节性T细胞(Tr细胞)的关系。方法按供、受者不同将实验分为3组。急性排斥组:DA大鼠为供者,LEW大鼠为受者;自发耐受组:LEW大鼠为供者,DA大鼠为受者;同基因组:供、受者均为DA大鼠。各组均建立大鼠原位肝移植模型。分别在肝移植术后4、7、14、30和90 d时采用密度梯度离心法分离移植肝内淋巴细胞,免疫磁珠分离(MACS)法分选出CD4~ CD25~ Tr细胞;用流式细胞术(FCM)检测细胞纯度,同时分析CD4~ CD25~ Tr细胞比例的变化;体外细胞增殖试验研究CD4~ CD25~ Tr细胞对CD4~ CD25~-T细胞的免疫抑制作用。结果肝移植早期,急性排斥组和自发耐受组移植肝内CD4~ CD25~ Tr细胞比例均明显增加,其中急性排斥组增加更为明显;移植后4 d左右,两组CD4~ CD25~ Tr细胞比例开始下降,急性排斥组的下降幅度较大;移植后30 d,自发耐受组受者的移植肝内CD4~ CD25~ Tr细胞比例达到第2次高峰,约在移植后90 d时下降至正常生理水平。移植后7 d左右,急性排斥组受者均因发生排斥反应而死亡,而自发耐受组受者均存活。此外,CD4~ CD25~ Tr细胞能有效抑制CD4~ CD25~-T细胞的增殖。结论CD4~ CD25~ Tr细胞是一种具有特异免疫调节功能的T细胞亚群,其主动的免疫抑制功能可能是诱导大鼠肝移植自发免疫耐受的机制之一。     

EFFECT OF CIGARETTE SMOKING ON THE FREQUENCY OF VENTRICULAR PREMATURE COMPLEXES IN NORMAL SUBJECTS

1. Ambulatory ECG monitoring was undertaken in healthy cigarette smokers (33) and non-smokers (20) of similar age (21-66 years). 2. The frequency of ventricular premature complexes (VPC) was less in habitual smokers (P less than 0.05; Mann-Whitney rank test) and an average of more than 1 VPC per hour occurred in a higher proportion of non-smokers than smokers: eight of 20 (40%) vs two of 33 (6%) (P less than 0.01; Chi-square test).     

Long-term neuroretinal full-thickness transplants in a large animal model of severe retinitis pigmentosa

Background The purpose of this study was to explore neuroretinal transplantation in a large animal model of severe retinitis pigmentosa and to establish graft development, long-term survival, graft-host integration, and effects on the host retina. Methods Rhodopsin transgenic pigs, aged 6 months, received in one eye a fetal full-thickness neuroretinal sheet in the subretinal space by means of vitrectomy and retinotomy. Six months postoperatively, eyes were studied in the light microscope and with immunohistochemical markers. Full-field electroretinography (ERG) was performed at 4 and 6 months. Results Laminated grafts with well-organized photoreceptors, rod bipolar cells, and Müller cells were found in five of six eyes. Neuronal connections between graft and host retina were not seen. In the five eyes containing a graft, the number of surviving rods in the host retina was significantly higher compared with unoperated eyes. The ERG did not reveal any significant difference in b-wave amplitude between operated and control eyes, but the cone-derived response in operated eyes increased significantly from 4 to 6 months while the rod response in control eyes decreased significantly. Conclusions Fetal full-thickness neuroretina can be transplanted safely to an eye with severe retinal degeneration. In their major part, the transplants develop a normal laminated morphology and survive for at least 6 months. Graft and host retinal neurons do not form connections. Retinal function in the host is reduced initially by the surgical trauma, but the presence of a well-laminated graft counteracts this effect and rescues rods from degeneration. Supported by The Foundation Fighting Blindness (grant# C-NC02-798-0078), The Faculty of Medicine, University of Lund, The Swedish Research Council, The Princess Margaretas Foundation for Blind Children, The 2nd ONCE International Award for New Technologies for the Blind.     

Characterization of the immunological memory state generated in mice susceptible to Leishmania major following exposure to low doses of L. major and resulting in resistance to a normally pathogenic challenge

BALB/c mice are susceptible to a high-dose infection of the protozoan Leishmania major, which induces a parasite-specific antibody, Th2-like response, exclusive of a significant and protective cell-mediated Th1 component. We have shown, in contrast, that infection with a low number of parasites induces cell-mediated immunity exclusive of antibody production, and results in resistance to substantial subsequent high-dose infection. Low-dose exposure thus constitutes effective vaccination. In the present study, we analyze lymphokine production by parasite-specific T cells from these low-dose exposed, resistant mice and from normal, susceptible mice following high-dose infection. Two findings stand out. First, the parasite-specific T cells in mice rendered resistant appear not to be in an activated, effector state at the time of parasite challenge, as assessed by lack of lymphokine production on short-term stimulation with parasite antigens, but to be rather in a memory state. Second, the ratio of parasite antigen-dependent production of interferon-γ to that of interleukin-4 by spleen cells of low-dose exposed and normal mice upon high-dose challenge takes a dramatically different course. This ratio is similar in both groups of mice shortly after challenge, but increases dramatically in the resistant and declines dramatically in the control mice over a period of weeks, such that these ratios differ by about 60-fold 12 weeks after the high-dose challenge. In addition, we show that a similar state of resistance occurs following low-dose infection with a more virulent strain of L. major. In toto, our observations suggest that resistance may be generally achievable by low-dose exposure and may be associated with a memory state which, when activated by parasite challenge, results in the evolution of the response over weeks such that the protective, Th1 component becomes ever more dominant over the Th2 component.     

冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病患者心外膜脂肪组织的生物信息学研究

背景 心血管疾病（CVD）是常见病和多发病,患病率和死亡率呈快速上升趋势。动脉粥样硬化（AS是缺血性CVD的病理基础,研究表明心外膜脂肪组织（EAT）通过分泌外泌体（EXO）和生物活性物质促进AS进展,但其作用机制仍需进一步研究。目的 通过生物信息学方法挖掘冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病（CAD）患者EAT中的关键基因,探讨免疫细胞浸润情况,联合CAD患者EXO间差异表达基因（DEGs）推测EAT来源EXO间DEGs并进行验证,从细胞及分子水平上探讨EAT在CAD疾病过程中的作用机制。方法 从基因表达综合数据库（GEO）中下载关于EAT的数据集GSE64554、GSE120774,根据临床信息将EAT的测序数据分为CAD组和健康对照组,使用R语言及相关软件包进行生物信息学分析。首先使用R语言筛选CAD组与健康对照组EAT间DEGs,并进行GO富集分析和KEGG通路富集分析,构建蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用（PPI）网络,评估所选基因的生物学功能及可能参与其调控的转录因子。构建GSE64554数据集中EAT的加权基因共表达网络（WGCNA）,获取同CAD表型相关的基因模块,将所获EAT间DEGs与模...     

99mTc-labelling of leucocytes with 99mTc-DPO: a complex developed for myocardial imaging

The lipophilic ^99mTc-DPO complex, developed as a myocardial imaging radiopharmaceutical, was used to label leucocytes. After an incubation of 0.1 ml ^99mTc-DPO (8 g DMPE*2HCl) with mixed leucocytes in plasma, the labelling efficiency was over 70%. During incubation in 5 ml plasma, a loss of activity was found between 20% (1 h) and 35% (3 h) caused by elution. Disturbances of cell viability could not be found with the help of the chemiluminescence test. The in vivo recovery was determined in three dogs and was 45%–50% (0.5 h), 30%–36% (1 h), and 18%–24% (3 h). Autologous ^99mTc-DPO-leucocytes were used on seven patients with suspected osteomyelitis, there were four true negative and three true positive results. The target/nontarget ratio determined by ROI in the positive cases was 1.8 to 2.5 at 3 h after injection.     

A macrophage inflammatory protein homolog encoded by guinea pig cytomegalovirus signals via CC chemokine receptor 1

Cytomegaloviruses encode homologs of cellular immune effector proteins, including chemokines (CKs) and CK receptor-like G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Sequence of the guinea pig cytomegalovirus (GPCMV) genome identified an open reading frame (ORF) which predicted a 101 amino acid (aa) protein with homology to the macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP) subfamily of CC (β) CKs, designated GPCMV-MIP. To assess functionality of this CK, recombinant GPCMV-MIP was expressed in HEK293 cells and assayed for its ability to bind to and functionally interact with a variety of GPCRs. Specific signaling was observed with the hCCR1 receptor, which could be blocked with hMIP −1α in competition experiments. Migration assays revealed that GPCMV-MIP was able to induce chemotaxis in hCCR1-L1.2 cells. Antisera raised against a GST-MIP fusion protein immunoprecipitated species of ∼12 and 10 kDa from GPCMV-inoculated tissue culture lysates, and convalescent antiserum from GPCMV-infected animals was immunoreactive with GST-MIP by ELISA assay. These results represent the first substantive in vitro characterization of a functional CC CK encoded by a cytomegalovirus.     

Historical evolution,overview, and therapeutic manipulation of co-stimulatory molecules

Co-stimulatory molecules are key mediators in the regulation of immune responses and knowledge of its different families, structure, and functions has improved in recent decades. Understanding the role of co-stimulatory molecules in pathological processes has allowed the development of strategies to modulate cellular functions. Currently, modulation of co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory molecules has been applied in clinical applications as therapeutic targets in diseases and promising results have been achieved.