Human rotavirus specific T cells: quantification by ELISPOT and expression of homing receptors on CD4+ T cells

Using an intracellular cytokine assay, we recently showed that the frequencies of rotavirus (RV)-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells secreting INFgamma, circulating in RV infected and healthy adults, are very low compared to the frequencies of circulating cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactive T cells in comparable individuals. In children with acute RV infection, these T cells were barely or not detectable. In the present study, an ELISPOT assay enabled detection of circulating RV-specific INFgamma-secreting cells in children with RV diarrhea but not in children with non-RV diarrhea without evidence of a previous RV infection. Using microbead-enriched CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell subsets, IFNgamma-secreting RV-specific CD8(+) but not CD4(+) T cells were detected in recently infected children. Using the same approach, both CD4(+) and CD8(+) RV-specific T cells were detected in healthy adults. Furthermore, stimulation of purified subsets of PBMC that express lymphocyte homing receptors demonstrated that RV-specific INFgamma-secreting CD4(+) T cells from adult volunteers preferentially express the intestinal homing receptor alpha4beta7, but not the peripheral lymph node homing receptor L-selectin. In contrast, CMV-specific INFgamma-secreting CD4(+) T cells preferentially express L-selectin but not alpha4beta7. These results suggest that the expression of homing receptors on virus-specific T cells depends on the organ where these cells were originally stimulated and that their capacity to secrete INFgamma is independent of the expression of these homing receptors.     

PD98059对人骨髓间质干细胞分化为成骨细胞的影响

目的:探讨胞外信号调节激酶(ERK)信号传导途径对骨髓间质干细胞(MSC)分化为成骨细胞的影响。方法:采用Ficoll-Paque淋巴细胞分离液分离成人MSC,体外扩增,应用地塞米松、β-甘油磷酸钠、vitaminC定向诱导MSC分化为成骨细胞。在成骨诱导液中加入不同剂量的PD98059,观察其对成骨细胞形成的影响。结果:MSC体外扩增15代可获得(3-4)×10¹²个细胞。在成骨诱导液作用下,MSC可在体外定向分化为成骨细胞。不同剂量的PD98059均可抑制MSC分化为成骨细胞,并有剂量依赖关系;同时促使部分细胞转化为脂肪细胞。结论:ERK信号传导途径可能在MSC分化为成骨细胞和脂肪细胞过程中起关键作用。     

Diagnostic role of fine-needle aspiration of bone lesions in patients with a previous history of malignancy

At the present time fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is considered a routine diagnostic procedure in evaluating neoplastic vs. nonneoplastic lesions in many organs, with high sensitivity and specificity. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of FNA in areas of diagnostic difficulty and its limitations in evaluating bone lesions in patients with a previous history of malignancy. From 1989 to 2000, 249 CT-guided FNAs of bone lesion were performed at our institutions; 187/249 (75.1%) patients had a previous history of malignancy. Aspirated material was air-dried for Diff-Quik stain or fixed in ethanol for Papanicolaou staining. Subsequent surgical tissue was available in 69/187 (36.9%) of the cases. There were 114 males and 73 females, ages 14-86 yr (mean, 64 yr). The primary tumor site was lung 49, genitourinary 46, breast 31, gastrointestinal 28, hematopoietic 26, soft tissue/skin 5, and thyroid 2. There were 125 FNAs of the vertebral spine, 19 from the pelvis, 11 from the ribs, 9 from the sternum, 5 from the femur, and 18 from miscellaneous bone sites. Out of 187, 166 (88.7%) were malignant aspirates confirming the patients' primary malignancies. The most common malignancy encountered was adenocarcinoma, 126/187 (67.4%). Surgical tissue was available for review in 69 patients and the results were in agreement with the FNAs diagnosis in all cases. Nine out of 187 (4.8%) cases were diagnosed as marrow elements on cytological material. These patients have been followed for 1-9 yr and have failed to reveal signs or symptoms of clinical recurrence. Three out of 187 (1.6%) cases showed osteomyelitis. Nine out of 187 (4.8%) were unsatisfactory specimens, with biopsy follow-up available in four cases, showing three metastatic tumors and one case of osteomyelitis. FNA of metastatic bone lesions is a major step in pretreatment diagnosis. On satisfactory specimens, the cytological diagnosis viewed in the clinical-radiological context proves to be similar to surgical diagnosis. FNA is an excellent technique with a high accuracy rate in assessing metastatic bone lesions.     

兔髓核细胞诱导大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞分化为髓核细胞的研究

目的 研究体外新西兰大白兔髓核细胞(nucleus pulposus cells)与SD大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞(mes-enchymal stem cells,MSCs)共培养时,兔髓核细胞与大鼠MSCs直接和间接接触对MSCs分化为髓核细胞的影响.方法 DAPI (4‘,6-二咪基-2‘-苯吲哚盐酸)标记原代髓核细胞后,分别与第三代MSCs按接触组和非接触组(Transwell培养系统)共培养.每隔24小时应用免疫荧光观察MSCs的形态学变化,并用RT-PCR方法检测Ⅱ型胶原和可凝集蛋白多糖(Aggrecan)的表达.结果 直接接触培养组中可见分化的MSCs形态和功能接近髓核细胞;非直接接触组的MSCs未见变化.结论 髓核细胞与MSCs的直接接触,是诱导MSCs分化为髓核细胞的重要因素.     

GDNF family ligand immunoreactivity in the gut of teleostean fish

Glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), neurturin (NRTN), persephin (PSPN), and artemin (ARTN) are a group of proteins belonging to the GDNF family ligands (GFLs). GDNF, NRTN, and ARTN support the survival of central, peripheral, and autonomic neuron populations, while PSPN supports the survival of only several central neuron populations. A common receptor, RET, modulates the action of this family and a co-receptor, GFRα, determines RET ligand specificity. GDNF and NRTN appear to be essential for enteric nervous system (ENS) development in mammals, zebrafish, and other teleostean species. GFLs are also essential for the maintenance and plasticity of adult mammalian ENS. In this study, the distribution pattern of GFLs in the intestine of five adult fish (bass, gilt-head, scorpionfish, trout, and zebrafish) was evaluated by immunochemical and immunocytochemical analysis. The results demonstrated the presence of GDNF, NRTN, and ARTN in the gut of all species studied. They appeared to be spread in the ENS and/or endocrine cells of the intestine. These findings suggest that the presence of GFLs in fish gut is not only limited to developmental period, but could be also involved in the enteric physiology of adult species.     

IL-18 Receptor Expression on Epithelial Cells is Upregulated by TNF Alpha

IL-18 is a multifunctional cytokine that augments both innate and acquired immunity and potentiates Th1 and Th2 reactions. We studied the expression of IL-18 receptor (IL-18R) on renal and respiratory epithelial cell lines. Both cell lines upregulated IL-18R mRNA and IL-18R membrane expression in response to TNF alpha and other proinflammatory cytokines. The function of IL-18R was confirmed by induction of IL-8 release from epithelial cells in response to recombinant IL-18. Epithelial cells may represent an important target for IL-18, mainly under inflammatory conditions associated with TNF alpha release.     

Lactic dehydrogenase virus (LDV) impairs the antigen-presenting capacity of macrophages yet fails to affect their phagocytic activity

The effect of acute infection of mice with lactic dehydrogenase virus (LDV) on two major functions of peritoneal macrophages was tested. Using a macrophage-dependent T cell proliferative assay to test the antigen-presenting capacity of LDV-infected macrophages we found that LDV impairs the capacity of antigen-presenting cells to trigger memory T lymphocytes. Endocytosis of antigen by LDV-infected macrophages was similar to that of uninfected cells. In addition, the proportion of intracellular antigen versus membrane-bound antigen in LDV-infected cells were similar to that observed in uninfected mice. It appears therefore, that the impaired immunogenic effect of LDV-infected macrophages results from reduced immunogenicity of the membrane-bound antigen.Testing the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages we found that the uptake of radiolabeled antibody-coated sheep erythrocytes or bacteria (E. coli) by infected cells was similar to that by uninfected macrophages. In addition, LDV failed to affect the ability of peritoneal macrophages in a nitroblue tetrazolium reduction reaction which serves as an alternative parameter for measuring phagocytic activity. Our results support the assumption that LDV, which probably propagates in the cells of the reticuloendothelial system, impairs some of the immunogenic functions of macrophages and thereby affects macrophage-dependent immune responses.     

鼠巨细胞病毒抑制神经干细胞分化及分化基因表达的体外研究

目的 研究鼠巨细胞病毒(MCMV)感染对体外培养神经干细胞(NSCs)分化及分化基因表达的影响,探讨CMV先天感染致神经损伤的机制.方法 体外分离培养和鉴定BALB/c胎鼠NSCs并检测其分化潜能,用感染复数(MOI)为5、1和0.1的MCMV Smith毒株感染NSCs并进行分化培养,倒置显微镜下观察细胞形态学改变,流式细胞术检测分化细胞比率,免疫荧光法观察NSCs及其分化细胞标记物Nestin、胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)和神经元特异性烯醇化酶(NSE)表达的变化,采用MCMV早期抗原(EA)示踪感染过程(MOI=1),real-time RT-PCR检测分化早期NSCs Wnt信号途径关键分化基因Wnt-3和Wnt-Ta mRNA水平的动态变化.结果 体外培养的NSCs呈球样生长,神经干细胞特异性标记Nestin表达阳性,并可进一步诱导分化为NF-200阳性的神经元和GFAP阳性的星形胶质细胞;分化培养后,感染组NSCs不能贴壁分化生长并逐渐出现肿胀,细胞Nestin表达下调缓慢并显著高于正常对照组,而GFAP和NSE表达显著低于正常对照组(P<0.05),可检测到MCMV EA的阳性表达;分化培养3-9 d,感染组Nestin阳性细胞比率显著高于正常对照组,GFAP和NSE阳性细胞比率显著低于正常对照组(P<0.05);感染组Wnt-3 mRNA水平在分化培养后第1～2天显著低于正常对照组(P<0.05),感染组Wnto-7a mRNA水平在第0.5～2天明显低于正常对照组(P<0.05);感染组和正常对照组的差异随病毒MOI的增加而更加明显.结论 MCMV感染可明显抑制NSCs向神经元和星形胶质细胞方向分化,导致分化细胞比率减少;下调或干扰NSCs wnt信号途径分化基因wnt-3和Wnt-7a的表达;抑制NSCs分化及其分化基因表达的效应与MOI大小存在一定量效依赖关系;MCMV可能通过抑制NSCs分化基因的表达来抑制其分化,这可能是CMV先天感染致脑发育异常的重要机制之一.     

人胎盘CD133+细胞具有高增殖潜能集落形成细胞特性

目的 通过对人胎盘CD133⁺细胞群中高增殖潜能集落形成细胞(HPP-CFC)检测与生物学特性的分析，证明人胎盘存在早期造血干/祖细胞（HSPC）。 方法 采用机械法制备人胎盘组织（PT）单细胞悬液，用Histopaque-1007分离出单个核细胞(MNC)，经磁式分选（MACS）富集CD133⁺细胞，培养28 d后观察HPP-CFC集落形成能力，用流式细胞仪（FCM）对分选的细胞组份和HPP-CFC进行表型分析，实验全程用脐带血（UCB）作平行比较分析。 结果 培养28 d后，PT-CD133⁺与UCB-CD133⁺细胞组份分别扩增了266和362倍，前者低于后者（P<0.01）；PT-CD133⁺与UCB-CD133⁺细胞中HPP-CFC分别为(32.4±11.2)/5×10³、(17. 7±5.7)/5×10³，前者形成的HPP-CFC数量明显高于后者（P<0.01）；PT-CD133⁺、UCB-CD133⁺细胞培养至28 d时，除UCB-CD133⁺组的CD133⁺CD34^-亚群比例无明显改变外，CD133⁺CD34⁺、CD133^-CD34⁺和CD133⁺CD34^-（PT-CD133⁺组）亚型均比培养前减少。 结论 人胎盘组织CD133⁺细胞中存在HPP-CFC，说明胎盘CD133⁺细胞群中存在早期HSPC。