Positive selection is an early event in thymocyte differentiation: high TCR expression by cycling immature thymocytes precedes final maturation by several days

T cell antigen receptor expression by cycling and post-cycling thymocytes has been analysed by flow cytometry. Normal mice were pulsed with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdUrd), a thymidine analogue detectable with a monoclonal antibody. Thymocytes were surface-stained with antibodies against several V beta gene products and against whole alpha beta receptors and detection of BrdUrd in the nuclei was performed after enzymatic generation of single-stranded DNA. A significant (10%) percentage of thymocytes expressing high levels of alpha beta TCR were found in the cycle: these cells were immature, as shown by the CD4+8+ phenotype and by high HSA expression. After division, most alpha beta high BrdUrd+ cells entered a resting state and their number remained constant for 3 days, decreasing in two steps thereafter. This post-mitotic evolution was not modified by injection of an anti-mitotic drug. After day 4, a majority of the studied subset acquired a single positive phenotype. Location of BrdUrd+ V beta 8.2 high cells studied on frozen sections was found cortical at early times and medullary after day 3. V beta 6 expression by cycling and post-cycling thymocytes was analysed in various mouse strains, and early high expression by cycling thymocytes was found to be restricted to MIs 1b strains. These results suggest that high alpha beta TCR expression by cycling immature thymocytes corresponds to positive selection, which must therefore be considered as an early event in intrathymic differentiation.     

Functional characterization of human natural killer cells responding to Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin

The kinetics of activation and induction of several effector functions of human natural killer (NK) cells in response to Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) were investigated. Owing to the central role of monocytes/macrophages (MM) in the initiation and maintenance of the immune response to pathogens, two different experimental culture conditions were analysed. In the first, monocyte-depleted nylon wool non-adherent (NW) cells from healthy donors were stimulated with autologous MM preinfected with BCG (intracellular BCG). In the second, the NW cells were directly incubated with BCG, which was therefore extracellular. In the presence of MM, CD4+ T lymphocytes were the cell subset mainly expressing the activation marker, CD25, and proliferating with a peak after 7 days of culture. In contrast, in response to extracellular BCG, the peak of the proliferative response was observed after 6 days of stimulation, and CD56+ CD3- cells (NK cells) were the cell subset preferentially involved. Such proliferation of NK cells did not require a prior sensitization to mycobacterial antigens, and appeared to be dependent upon contact between cell populations and bacteria. Following stimulation with extracellular BCG, the majority of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-producing cells were NK cells, with a peak IFN-gamma production at 24-30 hr. Interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4 were not detectable in NK cells or in CD3+ T lymphocytes at any time tested. IL-12 was not detectable in the culture supernatant of NW cells stimulated with extracellular BCG. Compared to the non-stimulated NW cells, the NW cells incubated for 16-20 hr with BCG induced the highest levels of expression of apoptotic/death marker on the NK-sensitive K562 cell line. BCG also induced expression of the activation marker, CD25, and proliferation, IFN-gamma production and cytotoxic activity, on negatively selected CD56+ CD3- cells. Altogether, the results of this study demonstrate that extracellular mycobacteria activate several NK-cell functions and suggest a possible alternative mechanism of NK-cell activation as the first line of defence against mycobacterial infections.     

T淋巴细胞自稳增殖对器官移植的影响

T淋巴细胞自稳增殖(HP)是指在没有外源性抗原刺激作用下,T细胞减少症的宿主体内残存的淋巴细胞或输注的淋巴细胞所发生的分裂增殖.其机制尚不完全清楚,但研究表明,T细胞数减少是驱动淋巴细胞HP的前提条件,T细胞HP很大程度上受到与两个配体接触的信号通路(即自身MHC/肽复合物和细胞因子或化学因子)的调控.HP的T细胞具有类记忆细胞的特点,这是对器官移植产生免疫耐受的一种障碍.     

6alpha-Methyl-16alpha,17alpha-cyclohexane progesterone and progesterone inhibit growth of doxorubicin-sensitive MCF-7 and HeLa tumor cells

Temporal and concentration dependencies of the effects of gestagens (6-methylpentarane and progesterone) and cytostatic doxorubicin on proliferation of MCF-7 and HeLa tumor cells was studied using ³H-thymidine test. Gestagens produced the maximum inhibitory effect of on cell proliferation in a concentration of 10^-5 M; the effect developed on day 6 of incubation. 6 -Methylpentarane in a concentration of 10^-8 inhibited proliferation of HeLa cells more effectively than progesterone (p<0.05). In experiments with combined treatment of doxorubicin-sensitive MCF-7 and HeLa cells, progesterone in a concentration of 10^-7 M attenuated the cytostatic effect of doxorubicin (p<0.05), while 6-methylpentarane in the studied concentrations did not modulate it.     

Analysis of thymic epithelial cell proliferation in vitro by combining bromodeoxyuridine and keratin labeling in an immunofluorescence assay

A simple method of analyzing thymic epithelial cell (TEC) proliferation has been developed by combining bromodeoxyuridine (BrDU) and keratin labeling in an immunofluorescence assay. The first reagent specifically visualizes the cells entering the S phase of the cell cycle, whereas the second immunostaining reveals which of the proliferating BrDU-positive cells actually belong to the epithelial lineage. This method, besides being rapid and free of radioactivity, appears to be reliable in view of the minor variations in the percentages of BrDU+ TEC observed in several distinct experiments. Thus, BrDU/keratin immunolabeling appears to represent a useful tool for the analysis of in vitro TEC proliferation.     

Significance of beta-catenin and pRB pathway components in malignant ovarian germ cell tumours: INK4A promoter CpG island methylation is associated with cell proliferation

To clarify the mechanisms underlying cell cycle promotion in malignant germ cell tumours of the ovary (MGCTOs), beta-catenin and components of the pRB pathway, cyclin D1 and p16, were analysed in relation to cell proliferation. Immunohistochemically, p16 protein was not expressed in a number of MGCTOs (9 of 42 tumours: 21.4%) and was associated with p16 gene (INK4A) promoter 5'-CpG islands methylation. Amplification of the cyclin D1 gene (CCND1) was detected in a small number of MGCTOs (5 of 42 tumours: 13.5%). Reduced expression of p16 due to promoter methylation correlated significantly with increased cell proliferation as evidenced by Ki-67 labelling index (p < 0.001) and mitotic index (p < 0.01). In some tumour types, nuclear localization of beta-catenin has been reported to be associated with beta-catenin gene (CTNNB1) mutation, cyclin D1 overexpression, and increased cell proliferation. Nuclear localization of beta-catenin, which was observed in MGCTOs other than dysgerminoma, was not associated with cyclin D1 expression and increased cell proliferation, but appeared to be related to tumour differentiation. Furthermore, CTNNB1 mutations were not detected in any of the MGCTOs examined. Our results suggest that reduced expression of p16 due to INK4A promoter methylation is one of the principal factors that promote cell proliferation in MGCTOs. Thus, p16 may be a novel target for gene therapies to treat MGCTOs.     

Proliferative funiculitis with a prominent infiltration of mast cells

A surgical case of proliferative funiculitis (pseudosarcomatous myofibroblastic proliferation of the spermatic cord) with a prominent mast cell infiltration is reported. A 67-year-old man with a history of right inguinal herniorrhaphy 7 years earlier was operated on for diffuse swelling of the inguinal region and scrotum. A large lipoma was found in the inguinal region, and a nodular lesion, measuring 2.7 cm in maximal dimension, was firmly attached to the right spermatic cord. The nodular lesion showed diffuse proliferation of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts associated with the deposition of collagen. A diffuse infiltration of numerous mast cells was found throughout the lesion. Lesions that belong to the group of inflammatory pseudotumors are rarely accompanied by a prominent mast cell infiltration, and the differentiation from mast cell neoplasms is often problematic in such cases. The present case is the first example of proliferative funiculitis associated with this rare phenomenon.     

Cell damage and proliferation in human gastric mucosa infected by Helicobacter pylori--a comparison before and after H pylori eradication in non-atrophic gastritis

Helicobacter pylori (HP) is believed to be involved in the transition from normal gastric mucosa to atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia. Infection with the organism is one of the risk factors for development of intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma, possibly through altered cell turnover. Medical eradication of HP is widely performed for the treatment of peptic ulcers and other upper gastrointestinal disorders. Eradication of HP may affect altered cell turnover of the gastric mucosa caused by the infection, but there are few reports comparing sterilized mucosa with HP-infected and non-infected mucosa. In this study, we examined cell damage using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL), in situ nick translation (ISNT), and cell proliferation by Ki 67 immunohistochemistry staining in gastric mucosa before and after HP eradication and in non-infected gastric mucosa. We then compared these findings using endoscopic gastric biopsy specimens. Labeling indices of TUNEL (2.46 +/- 1.22), ISNT (1.13 +/- 0.42), and Ki67 (21.8 +/- 6.14) in tissue from which HP had been eradicated were significantly lower than those of HP-infected mucosa (6.36 +/- 2.26, 4.00 +/- 1.62, 45.8 +/- 5.35, for TUNEL, ISNT, and Ki67, respectively). There were no significant differences between formerly infected and non-infected mucosa (TUNEL: 2.26 +/- 0.69, ISNT: 1.29 +/- 0.63, Ki67: 23.5 +/- 8.20). These results indicate that medical HP eradication results in decreased cell proliferation and damage, restoring the condition seen in non-infected mucosa. Thus, HP eradication may be effective, not only in the treatment of gastric ulcers or gastric symptoms, but also in the prevention of gastric carcinoma.     

IL-2对辐射损伤后小肠上皮细胞生长影响的实验研究

目的: 观察电离辐射对体外培养的IEC -6细胞株生长的影响及IL- 2对其损伤后增殖和恢复的作用, 并进一步探讨肠黏膜免疫与肠上皮辐射损伤及修复的关系。方法: 用 4、8、12Gy的γ射线照射IEC- 6细胞株, 并于照后 3、6、9、12h及 1、2、3d, 用MTT比色法、光镜、电镜、DNA凝胶电泳和流式细胞术等, 检测受照射后IEC- 6细胞的增殖活力、形态和死亡方式的改变; 用不同浓度IL 2 ( 25×103、5×104、1×105U/L)处理 8Gyγ射线照射的IEC 6细胞, 并于照射后 3、6、9、12、24h, 采用MTT比色法检测其增殖活力的变化。结果: 在 0~12Gy的范围内, IEC 6细胞的增殖活力随γ射线照射剂量的增加而降低。8. 0γ射线照后 24h, 凋亡的IEC- 6细胞明显增多, DNA凝胶电泳显示有梯状带形成。IL- 2可促进照射后的IEC- 6细胞增殖且呈一定的剂量 效应关系, 尤以1×105U/L组的作用更明显。结论: 在一定剂量范围内, γ射线照射可降低IEC 6细胞增殖活力, 且存在剂量 效应关系;可导致IEC 6细胞发生凋亡。IL- 2可促进受照射的IEC- 6细胞增殖, 增强其抗辐射的作用。     

Opa相互作用蛋白5在胰腺癌中的表达及其对PANC-1细胞增殖的影响

目的探索Opa相互作用蛋白5(OIP5)在胰腺癌中的表达及其对PANC-1细胞增殖的影响。方法通过数据库分析OIP5在胰腺癌组织及癌旁组织中的表达;用实时定量PCR(RT-qPCR)和蛋白印迹法(Western blot)分别检测人胰腺癌细胞系MIAPaCa-2、PANC-1、KP-3、BxPC-3细胞中OIP5 mRNA和蛋白表达;构建OIP5基因沉默质粒的慢病毒(pGCSIL-shOIP5)和对照质粒慢病毒(pGCSIL-shCtrl),分别感染PANC-1细胞,分为OIP5基因沉默组和shCtrl对照组,5 d后采用RT-qPCR和Western blot测定慢病毒敲低效率,流式细胞计量术检测细胞凋亡;OIP5基因沉默组和shCtrl对照组连续5 d进行MTT检测和细胞计数;OIP5基因沉默组和shCtrl对照组孵育10 d形成集落,Giemsa染色分别集落总数。结果胰腺癌中OIP5 mRNA表达显著高于正常胰腺组织(P<0.05),OIP5高表达患者的总存活率显著低于OIP5低表达患者(P<0.05),且其无病生存率也显著降低(P<0.05);OIP5在MIAPaCa-2、PANC-1和KP-3中表达较高,而在BxPC-3细胞系中的表达较低;MTT检测结果显示OIP5沉默在第4和第5天显著降低了PANC-1细胞的增殖速率(P<0.01);OIP5沉默后细胞集落数(平均为9个)显著低于shCtrl对照组中的数量(平均为40个)(P<0.01);OIP5沉默后PANC-1细胞凋亡比例为8.3%显著高于shCtrl的4.5%(P<0.01)。结论OIP5在胰腺癌细胞系中异常高表达,OIP5基因可调控胰腺癌PANC-1细胞的增殖、凋亡以及集落形成,提示OIP5可能在胰腺癌发病机制中作为癌基因发挥作用,从而为胰腺癌的靶向治疗提供了潜在的生物标志物。