Molecular cloning of a novel human gene (SIRP-B2) which encodes a new member of the SIRP/SHPS-1 protein family

A full-length cDNA encoding a novel protein was isolated and sequenced from a human placental cDNA library. This cDNA consists of 1735 base pairs and has a predicted open reading frame (ORF) encoding 354 amino acids. It possesses a putative signal sequence, a long extracellular domain, a transmembrane region, a short intracellular domain, and no catalytic domain, which is highly homologous to signal-regulatory protein (SIRP)-β, suggesting that it seems to be a new member of the SIRP family. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based mapping with both a monochromosomal hybrid panel and radiation hybrid cell panels placed the gene to human chromosome 20p13 near the marker D20S906. Received: August 11, 2000 / Accepted: September 21, 2000     

High incidence of horse serum protein allergy in various autoimmune disorders.

In 186 persons (68 patients suffering from different so-called autoimmune diseases, 30 kidney recipients, 38 control patients from a surgical ward, and 50 healthy volunteers) the immune response to horse IgG was examined. The lowest rate of sensitization was found in kidney transplant recipients (3%) and the highest in autoimmune patients (33%). After excluding 39 patient who had received horse serum treatment prior to the examination, it was found that without previous injection of horse serum, 27% of the patients with autoimmune disease were sensitized to horse IgG. Compared to the other groups (kidney transplant recipients, 4%: surgical controls, 0%; healthy volunteers, 3%), this difference was statistically significant (p is less than 0.01).     

Brain prostaglandin formation is increased by α-synuclein gene-ablation during global ischemia

We have previously demonstrated that α-synuclein (Snca) gene ablation reduces brain arachidonic acid (20:4n − 6) turnover rate in phospholipids through modulation of endoplasmic reticulum-localized acyl-CoA synthetase activity. Although 20:4n − 6 is a precursor for prostaglandin (PG), Snca effect on PG levels is unknown. In the present study, we examined the effect of Snca ablation on brain PG level at basal conditions and following 30 s of global ischemia. Brain PG were extracted with methanol, purified on C₁₈ cartridges, and analyzed by LC–MS/MS. We demonstrate, for the first time, that Snca gene ablation did not affect brain PG mass under normal physiological conditions. However, total PG mass and masses of individual PG were elevated ∼2-fold upon global ischemia in the absence of Snca. These data are consistent with our previously observed reduction in 20:4n − 6 recycling through endoplasmic reticulum-localized acyl-CoA synthetase in the absence of Snca, which may result in the increased 20:4n − 6 availability for PG production in the absence of Snca during global ischemia and suggest a role for Snca in brain inflammatory response.     

Increased lymphocyte trafficking to colonic microvessels is dependent on MAdCAM-1 and C-C chemokine mLARC/CCL20 in DSS-induced mice colitis

Although enhanced lymphocyte trafficking is associated with colitis formation, little information about its regulation is available. The aim of this study was to examine how the murine liver and activation-regulated chemokine (mLARC/CCL20) contributes to lymphocyte recruitment in concert with vascular adhesion molecules in murine chronic experimental colitis. T and B lymphocytes isolated from the spleen were fluorescence-labelled and administered to recipient mice. Lymphocyte adhesion to microvessels of the colonic mucosa and submucosa was observed with an intravital microscope. To induce colitis, the mice received two cycles of treatment with 2% dextran sodium sulphate (DSS). In some of the experiments antibodies against the adhesion molecules or anti-mLARC/CCL20 were administered, or CC chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6) of the lymphocytes was desensitized with excess amounts of mLARC/CCL20. Significant increases in T and B cell adhesion to the microvessels of the DSS-treated mucosa and submucosa were observed. In chronic colitis, the accumulation of lymphocytes was significantly inhibited by anti-mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule (MAdCAM)-1 mAb, but not by anti-vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. In DSS-treated colonic tissue, the expression of mLARC/CCL20 was significantly increased, the blocking of mLARC/CCL20 by monoclonal antibody or the desensitization of CCR6 with mLARC/CCL20 significantly attenuated the DSS-induced T and B cell accumulation. However, the combination of blocking CCR6 with MAdCAM-1 did not further inhibit these accumulations. These results suggest that in chronic DSS-induced colitis, both MAdCAM-1 and mLARC/CCL20 may play important roles in T and B lymphocyte adhesion in the inflamed colon under flow conditions.     

Increased CD8+ T Cell Apoptosis in Scleroderma Is Associated with Low Levels of NF-κB

Our objectives were (1) to compare lymphocyte subpopulation apoptosis rates in SSc patients versus healthy controls and (2) to compare Bcl-2 and NF-kappa B expression in cultured CD8 lymphocytes of SSc patients versus controls. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 27 SSc patients meeting the American College of Rheumatology criteria for SSc and 28 healthy individuals. Mononuclear cells were isolated by Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient separation and cultured for 48 hr. For determination of apoptosis within specific cell populations, samples were labeled with PE-conjugated monoclonal antibody to CD8, CD4, and a FITC-conjugated monoclonal antibody to Annexin V. Flow cytometry was carried out with a FACS operating with Cellquest software. CD8+ lymphocytes were positively selected with magnetic microbeads conjugated to antihuman CD8. CD8 T cells were separated, then incubated with activation for 48 hr, and NF-kappa B and Bcl-2 analysis was carried out using Western immunoblotting. The CD4:CD8 ratio was increased in SSc compared to controls (2.6 +/- 1.13 vs.1.87 +/- 0.76; P = 0.018). The spontaneous apoptosis rate of SSc CD8 lymphocytes was increased compared to that of controls of (21.9 +/- 13.7 vs. 13.3 +/- 9.9; P = 0.019). No difference was found in the rate of CD4 apoptosis of SSc patients versus controls (9.8 +/- 5.2 vs. 7.18 +/- 4.89%; P = ns). The expression of NF-kappa B in SSc CD8 lymphocytes was decreased compared with that of CD8 lymphocytes from healthy controls (144 +/- 13 vs. 188 +/- 11; P = 0.018). Whereas expression of Bcl-2 was similar in activated CD8+ T cells of SSc patients and healthy controls, CD8+ T cell apoptosis rate was found to be in reverse correlation with expression of NF-kappa B in these cells ( r = - 0.53, P = 0.029). The increased CD4:CD8 ratio in SSC may result from increased CD8+ T cell apoptosis. Increased SSc CD8 T cell apoptosis is associated with low levels of NF-kappa B.     

Isolation and partial characterisation of neuronal growth cones from neonatal rat forebrain

We have devised a method for the isolation of viable neuronal growth cones from neonatal rat forebrain. The method involves differential and density gradient centrifugation and exploits the relatively low buoyant density (approximately 1.018 g/cm3) of growth cones. There are no known biochemical markers for growth cones and it was necessary therefore to monitor for their presence during the isolation using transmission electron microscopy. Several criteria were used to identify isolated growth cones including the presence of filopodia, an extensive system of branching, tubular smooth endoplasmic reticulum and a region rich in microfilaments subjacent to the plasma membrane. These morphological features are similar to those of growth cones identified unequivocally in intact developing brain and in tissue culture. Electron microscopical analysis showed that greater than 90% of membrane-bound, identifiable objects in one fraction were growth cones by these criteria. The major contaminant consisted of membrane sacs and vesicles of unidentified origin. There were only small amounts of isolated rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. Isolated growth cones were roughly spherical in shape with a diameter of 1.9 +/- 0.5 micron (mean +/- 1 SD). They usually contained mitochondria, large granular vesicles and small vesicles, and occasionally contained coated vesicles, lysosomes, lamellar bodies and multivesicular bodies, and only very rarely, intermediate filaments. Occasionally, growth cones had rudimentary synapses on them. The viability of isolated growth cones was investigated by observing their behaviour in short-term culture. After a few hours in culture on poly-D-lysine-coated coverslips, growth cones flattened down and extended filopodia-like processes. This behaviour was inhibited by cytochalasin B and reversibly by cold (4 degrees C). We conclude that physiologically active growth cones can be isolated rapidly and in large numbers by the method described here.     

CD3AK细胞过继免疫治疗的实验研究

目的: 分析抗CD3分子的单克隆抗体 (mAb)yCD3的免疫学特性和生物学活性, 观察其激活的免疫活性细胞CD3AK体外及动物体内的抑瘤作用。方法: 用流式细胞术(FCM)测定yCD3的特异性, 以及CD3AK细胞的免疫表型和产生细胞因子的情况。用 3H -TdR法测定yCD3对淋巴细胞转化的作用; 乳酸脱氢酶法 (LDH)测定CD3AK细胞的体外细胞毒活性。建立荷瘤小鼠模型, 观察静脉注射CD3AK细胞后肿瘤生长的情况、转移灶数量和小鼠存活天数。结果: yCD3与T细胞呈特异性反应, 5μgyCD3可竞争抑制 70%的标准抗CD3抗体与细胞表面CD3分子的结合。yCD3刺激外周血淋巴细胞增殖的有效浓度为 8μg/L, 并与IL- 2、抗CD28抗体有协同作用。活化的CD3AK细胞中CD3 、CD8 和CD25 细胞增多; 产生IL- 2和IFN γ的CD3 细胞均有不同程度的增加, 在抗CD28抗体协同刺激下分别增加 3. 29和 2. 47倍。当效靶细胞比为 80∶1时, CD3AK细胞对体外肿瘤细胞杀伤的百分率为 57. 54%。分组观察荷瘤动物, CD3AK细胞治疗组的抑瘤率为 33. 17%, 对小鼠肿瘤肺转移的抑制率为39. 70%, 与LAK细胞联合治疗的疗效更显著。结论: yCD3可活化T细胞, 诱导的CD3AK细胞在体外及动物体内显示抑制肿瘤的作用, 在临床抗肿瘤过继性免疫治疗中具有重要意义。