Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Immunoregulatory Role at the Periapex: Associative and Mechanistic Evidences from Human and Experimental Periapical Lesions

IntroductionThe balance between the host proinflammatory immune response and the counteracting anti-inflammatory and reparative responses supposedly determine the outcome of periapical lesions. In this scenario, the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) may exert a protective role because of its prominent immunoregulatory capacity. In this study, we investigated (in a cause-and-effect manner) the potential involvement of VIP in the development of human and experimental periapical lesions.MethodsPeriapical granulomas (n = 124) and control samples (n = 48) were comparatively assessed for VIP and multiple immunologic/activity marker expression through real-time polymerase chain reaction. Experimental periapical lesions (C57Bl/6 wild-type mice) were evaluated regarding endogenous VIP expression correlation with lesion development and the effect of recombinant VIP therapy in lesion outcome. CCR4KO and IL4KO strains and anti-glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related protein inhibition were used to test the involvement of Treg and Th2 cells in VIP-mediated effects.ResultsVIP expression was more prevalent in periapical granulomas than in controls, presenting a positive association with immunoregulatory factors and an inverse association/correlation with proinflammatory mediators and the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand/osteoprotegerin ratio. Endogenous VIP expression up-regulation was temporally associated with lesion immunoregulation and a decline of bone loss. VIP therapy in mice prompted the arrest of lesion development, being associated with an anti-inflammatory and proreparative response that limits the proinflammatory, Th1, Th17, and osteoclastogenic response in the periapex. The VIP protective effect was dependent of Treg migration and activity and independent of interleukin 4.ConclusionsOur results show that VIP overexpression in human and experimental periapical lesions is associated with lesion inactivity and that VIP therapy results in the attenuation of experimental lesion progression associated with the immunosuppressive response involving Treg cells.     

Academic–Industrial Collaboration: Toward the Consilience of Two Solitudes

Current major advances in drug discovery can be traced back to pioneering contributions originating from academics over a century ago. Living in a symbiotic yet noninvasive coexistence, the academic community and the pharmaceutical industry have strived, each in their own way, to develop the modern medicines that benefit humankind today. The subject is presented from a historical and personal perspective.     

超顺磁性氧化铁标记大鼠骨髓基质细胞经门静脉移植MRI活体示踪的研究

目的观察1．5T场强MRI联合动物专用线圈是否可以活体示踪经门静脉移植的纳米级超顺磁性氧化铁颗粒标记的骨髓基质细胞（bone marrow stromal cells BMSCs），为介人性门静脉骨髓基质细胞移植治疗终末期肝脏疾病的研究提供进一步的依据。方法供体大鼠5只，梯度密度离心分离BMSCs，纳米级超顺磁性氧化铁颗粒和脂质体转染BMSCs，体外经普鲁士蓝染色和HE染色确定细胞标记率。受体大鼠15只，分为5组，分别为对照组和纳米级超顺磁性氧化铁颗粒标记的骨髓基质细胞经门静脉移植人正常大鼠肝脏后2h、3d、7d及2周组。1．5T场强MRI联合动物专用线圈行T1W、T2W和T2＊序列扫描，观察肝脏信号改变情况，与对照组比较，并且与组织切片对照。结果纳米级超顺磁性氧化铁颗粒和脂质体转染BMSCs，细胞标记率〉95％。经门静脉移植人正常大鼠肝脏后，T2＊序列扫描显示经标记的BMSCs在肝内显示弥漫性的结节性低信号影，移植后2h到2周均可见到细胞在受体肝脏内存在，组织学切片显示信号缺失部位与铁颗粒标记细胞相一致。结论纳米级超顺磁性铁氧体颗粒标记的大鼠BMSCs经门静脉移植后可以通过1、5T场强行MRI活体示踪，为临床干细胞移植的应用提供可行的示踪方法。     

The need for a revival of psychoanalytic investigations into premature ejaculation

Although psychoanalysis was the first-choice treatment for premature ejaculation (PE) between 1920 and 1960, hardly any reports on its efficacy have been published. Moreover, a scientific debate about its findings has never been fully developed. The recent progress that has been made in the classification of three different PE syndromes creates a new opportunity for psychoanalytic investigations of men with complaints of PE, distinguished by the actual duration of their intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT). The term premature-like ejaculatory dysfunction has been introduced to distinguish men with self-perceived PE at normal and long IELT durations from those men with lifelong, acquired and normal variable PE. Psychoanalytic research may contribute to a better understanding of the consequences of objective early ejaculations on the unconscious mental life of men with the four forms of PE. By integrating neurobiological, clinical and epidemiological data of ejaculatory performance, a revival of psychoanalytic research of PE in the four distinct, classified PE groups, will probably contribute to a deeper insight in to the unconscious mental life of men affected by PE.     

人间充质干细胞免疫原性研究

目的探讨人间充质干细胞(hMSCs)特性及免疫原性,为进一步研究hMSCs移植特性提供实验依据。方法免疫组化方法鉴定hMSCs表面HLA-ABC、HLA-DR、CD80、CD86分子;流式细胞术检测其含量;RT-PCR检测HLA-ABC、HLA-DRmRNA基因片断;外周血淋巴细胞杀伤试验及 CCK-8比色法规察淋巴细胞增殖反应;将表达绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)的DNA复合物导入hMSCs进行大鼠脑内移植,观察hMSCs在脑内的存活情况。结果 hMSCs表面少量表达HLA-ABC分子,不表达 HLA-DR、CD80、CD86分子;有少量HLA-ABC mRNA基因片断存在,未发现HLA-DR mRNA基因片断;外周血淋巴细胞杀伤试验没有发现淋巴细胞增殖反应;大鼠脑内移植hMSCs一个月后仍可见有细胞存活。结论 hMSCs具有较弱的免疫原性。     

Psoriasis confined strictly to vitiligo areas – a Koebner‐like phenomenon?

Vitiligo and psoriasis are both common skin disorders. However, psoriasis strictly confined to pre-existing vitiligo areas is rare and suggests a causal relationship. We report here on two patients with a strict anatomical colocalization of vitiligo and psoriasis. The histopathological examinations showed typical changes for both diseases together with a dense infiltrate of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. By immunohistochemistry, intracytoplasmatic granzyme B and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were detected within the T-cell population, suggesting the functional activity of these cells and the creation of a local T helper 1 (Th1)-cytokine milieu. Additionally, in one patient we could identify anti-melanocytic T cells by tetramer staining and enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) analysis. These skin-infiltrating lymphocytes might trigger, by the local production of Th-1 cytokines such as TNF-alpha and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), the eruption of psoriatic plaques in patients with a genetic predisposition for psoriasis.     

骨形成蛋白2基因修饰的老年大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞成骨分化能力的研究

目的观察年龄因素对骨髓间充质干细胞(marrow mesenchymal stem cells, MSCs)成骨分化能力的影响;了解基因治疗对老年大鼠MSCs成骨分化能力的影响. 方法 1月龄(幼年组)、9月龄(成年组)及24月龄(老年组)雄性Wistar大鼠各6只,取MSCs经体外分离、培养及携带骨形成蛋白2(bone morphogenetic protein 2,BMP-2)基因的腺病毒载体(Ad-BMP-2)转染后,定量检测BMP-2、碱性磷酸酶(alkaline phosphate,ALP)表达,以及成骨细胞标志性蛋白:Ⅰ型胶原、骨涎蛋白(bone sialoprotein,BSP)和骨桥素(osteopontin, OPN)的表达.将转染的各组MSCs分别与磷酸三钙(tricalcium phosphate, TCP)复合后植入裸鼠体内,3周后取材,比较各组诱导异位成骨能力. 结果 ELISA检测表明BMP-2基因修饰的MSCs可以有效表达BMP-2,且表达量在各年龄组间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);各组ALP于诱导后第9天达高峰,但组间差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05);诱导后第7天,RT-PCR半定量检测示各组均有成骨细胞特征性蛋白,即:Ⅰ型胶原、OPN及BSP的明显表达,表达量在各组间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);BMP-2基因转染的MSCs与TCP复合后可诱导裸鼠体内异位成骨,各组成骨量差异无统计学意义(P>0.05). 结论 BMP-2基因修饰的老年大鼠MSCs可以恢复成骨分化能力,基因治疗可能为老年性骨骼疾病提供一种新的治疗途径.     

不同区域晶状体上皮细胞基因表达差异分析

【目的】比较不同区域猪晶状体上皮细胞的基因表达在转录组水平上的差异。【方法】解剖显微镜下分离晶状体前囊膜，将附着于其上的上皮细胞分为中央（直径为10．56mm）和周边两部分。分别提取两个样本的总RNAs并经PCR扩增，以Cy3和Cy5分别标记扩增的中央与周边部分的cDNA。与含7548个基因的表达谱芯片杂交，经图像分析，生物信息学处理获得基因表达在转录水平差异的相关信息。【结果】中央与周边区域的猪晶状体上皮细胞在转录组水平共鉴定出952个有效表达的基因点，其中差异表达基因261个．以中央区域为参照，周边上皮细胞mRNA上调137个，下调124个。差异表达基因主要涉及的功能有：细胞周期与凋亡、细胞骨架蛋白及细胞外基质、转录、细胞信号分子等。【结论】中央与周边区域猪晶状体上皮细胞基因表达在转录组水平上差异明显。这类差异呈明显的功能聚类。     

骨髓间充质干细胞分化为皮肤附属器细胞的初步实验研究

目的探讨骨髓间充质干细胞(marrowmesenchymalstemcells,MSCs)分化为创面皮肤附属器细胞的可能性,及其参与创面修复的可能机制。方法无菌条件下取Wistar大鼠股骨骨髓细胞,密度梯度离心分离、纯化MSCs,体外培养扩增后,用BrdU标记细胞。另于同种雄性Wistar大鼠背部正中,制备1cm×1cm全厚皮肤缺损创面模型,将BrdU标记的1×106/mlMSCs从阴茎静脉输注,术后第3天与第7天切取创面组织,行BrdU免疫组织化学单染色,以及BrdU和广谱角蛋白免疫组织化学双染色。结果BrdU阳性细胞出现在创面皮下组织、皮脂腺、毛囊和骨髓腔中。免疫组织化学双染色结果显示,皮脂腺和毛囊有BrdU阳性细胞,同时表达广谱角蛋白。结论创面愈合过程中,MSCs归巢并参与创面修复;在实验性全身皮肤缺损创面微环境下,MSCs可分化为皮肤附属器细胞。     

体外培养骨髓单个核细胞分泌促血管生长因子的实验研究

目的分析体外培养的骨髓单个核细胞持续分泌促血管生长因子的能力。方法从大鼠胫骨及股骨采集骨髓,密度梯度离心法分离出骨髓单个核细胞进行体外培养,并连续收集4周培养上清液。酶联免疫吸附实验(ELISA)法测定培养上清液中碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)、血管内皮细胞生长因子(VEGF)和白介素-1β(IL-1β)等因子水平。结果第1、2、3、4周骨髓单个核细胞体外培养上清液中VEGF分别为(24.40±7.99)pg/m、l(89.28±5.13)pg/m、l(115.24±10.08)pg/m、l(157.00±15.64)pg/m l;bFGF含量分别为(52.72±2.13)pg/m、l(48.10±6.41)pg/m、l(44.71±3.21)pg/m、l(25.61±2.42)pg/m l;IL-1β含量分别为:(31.28±5.44)pg/m、l(71.87±3.01)pg/m、l(55.77±11.94)pg/m、l(41.75±9.14)pg/m。l结论体外培养骨髓单个核细胞可持续分泌VEGF、bFGF、IL-1β等多种促血管生长因子。