Evidence for a human IgG1 class switch program

In activated murine B lymphocytes, immunoglobulin class switch recombination occurs as a highly regulated process which is targeted to distinct switch regions. Here we present first evidence that in human B lymphocytes, switch recombination is targeted to distinct switch regions as well. In a panel of clonally unrelated IgG1-expressing human B cells, immortalized by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformation, seven out of nine cells show switch recombination between Sμ and Sγ1 on both alleles, the active and inactive one. The remaining cells show no switch recombination on the inactive IgH locus. The very strong correlation of switch recombination on both alleles of IgG1-expressing cells proves that class switch recombination to IgG1 is not random but directed in human B lymphocytes.     

Expression of Na+/HCO3− co‐transporter proteins (NBCs) in rat and human skeletal muscle

Aim: Sodium/bicarbonate co‐transport (NBC) has been suggested to have a role in muscle pH regulation. We investigated the presence of NBC proteins in rat and human muscle samples and the fibre type distribution of the identified NBCs. Methods and results: Western blotting of muscle homogenates and sarcolemmal membranes (sarcolemmal giant vesicles) were used to screen for the presence of NBCs. Immunohistochemistry was used for the subcellular localization. The functional test revealed that approximately half of the pH recovery in sarcolemmal vesicles produced from rat muscle is mediated by bicarbonate‐dependent transport. This indicates that the NBCs are preserved in the vesicles. The western blotting experiments demonstrated the existence of at least two NBC proteins in skeletal muscle. One NBC protein (approximately 150 kDa) seems to be related to the kidney/pancreas/heart isoform NBC1, whereas the other protein (approximately 200 kDa) is related to the NBC4 isoform. The two NBC proteins represent the electrogenic isoforms named NBCe1 and NBCe2. Membrane fractionation and immunofluorescence techniques confirmed that the two NBCs are located in the sarcolemmal membrane as well as in some internal membranes, probably the T‐tubules. The two NBCs localized in muscle have distinct fibre type distributions. Conclusions: Skeletal muscle possesses two variants of the sodium/bicarbonate co‐transporter (NBC) isoforms, which have been called NBCe1 and NBCe2.     

PCBP1:一种在多水平上参与基因表达调控的蛋白因子

多聚胞嘧啶结合蛋白1 (poly C binding protein-1,PCBP1),属于RNA结合蛋白亚家族,因其具有同RNA的多聚胞嘧啶(poly C)区域特异的结合活性而得名.目前该亚家族共有5个成员:hnRNP K(heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K)、PCBP1、PCBP2、PCBP3和PCBP4.PCBP1蛋白在多个水平参与基因的表达调控,如转录、mRNA加工、mRNA的转运、mRNA稳定以及翻译水平调控等.本文对PCBP1基因的结构和生物学功能进行了综述.     

兔骨髓基质细胞诱导分化为胰岛素分泌细胞的方法

目的 探讨将骨髓基质细胞（MSCs）诱导成为胰岛素分泌细胞（IPCs）的方法。方法 体外培养新西兰兔骨髓及胰腺基质细胞和SD大鼠胰腺基质细胞，利用含有胰腺基质细胞培养基的混合培养基诱导培养MSCs。结果 以兔及SD大鼠胰腺基质细胞培养基均可诱导兔MSCs生成IPCs。结论 兔及SD大鼠的胰腺基质细胞培养基均可将兔MSCs诱导分化为IPCs。     

Secretogranin I (chromogranin B) mRNA accumulation is hormonally regulated in GH3B6 rat pituitary tumor cells

Secretogranin I (SgI; chromogranin B) belongs to a class of acidic tyrosine-sulfated secretory proteins believed to play a role in the secretory process of endocrine cells. Our aim here was to compare the levels of SgI mRNA to that of prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH), using rat pituitary cell lines. As far as the constitutive expression is concerned, we found a positive correlation between SgI mRNA and PRL mRNA levels. However, the neuropeptide TRH (50 nM) inhibited the accumulation of SgI mRNA in GH3B6 cells whereas, as expected, it induced a rapid and sustained increase in PRL mRNA accumulation. By contrast, 17β-estradiol (1 nM) stimulated the accumulation of both SgI and PRL mRNAs, with the same EC₅₀ (18–59 pM). Reciprocally, treatment with dexamethasone (100 nM) reduced the level of SgI and PRL mRNAs to 23% and 29% of control, respectively, but led to a 2.1-fold increase in the GH mRNA level. Altogether, the present work shows that SgI gene expression is subject to multiple hormonal regulations and occasionally parallels the regulation of the PRL gene but never that of the GH gene, under the conditions tested.     

Inhibition of Complement Regulation Is Key to the Pathogenesis of Active Heymann Nephritis

Crry (complement receptor 1–related protein/gene y) is a key cellular complement regulator in rodents. It is also present in Fx1A, the renal tubular preparation used to immunize rats to induce active Heymann nephritis (HN), a model of membranous nephropathy. We hypothesized that rats immunized with anti-Fx1A develop autoantibodies (auto-Abs) to Crry as well as to the megalin-containing HN antigenic complex, and that anti-Crry Abs promote the development of injury in HN by neutralizing the complement regulatory activity of Crry. Rats immunized with Fx1A lacking Crry remained free of proteinuria and glomerular deposits of C3 during a 10-wk follow-up despite typical granular immunoglobulin (Ig)G deposits in glomeruli. Anti-Fx1A auto-Abs were present in their sera at levels that were not different from sera pooled from proteinuric rats with HN induced with nephritogenic Fx1A. Passive administration of sheep anti-Crry Abs to rats immunized with Crry-deficient Fx1A led to proteinuria and glomerular C3 deposition, which were not seen in such rats injected with preimmune IgG, nor in rats with collagen-induced arthritis injected with anti-Crry IgG. To directly examine the role of Crry in HN, rats were immunized with Crry-deficient Fx1A reconstituted with rCrry. This led to typical HN, with 8 out of 15 rats developing proteinuria within 14 wk. Moreover, the extent of glomerular C3 deposition correlated with proteinuria, and anti-Crry Abs were present in glomerular eluates. Thus, Crry is a key nephritogenic immunogen in Fx1A. Formation of neutralizing auto-Abs to Crry impairs its function, leading to unrestricted complement activation by Abs reactive with the HN antigenic complex on the epithelial cell surface.     

大鼠烧伤后急性期蛋白mRNA的表达

分析了不同烧伤程度大鼠肝、脾、肾和骨骼骨内４种急性期蛋白，即ａ１－酸性糖蛋白、ａ１－抗胰蛋白酶、白蛋白和转铁蛋白（Ｔｒｆ）ｍＲＮＡ水平的动态变化特征，结果表明：（１）肝脏是合成各种ＡＰＲ的主要场所；（２）即使是小面积的烧伤也可以诱发急性期反应。（３）烧伤后血清Ａｌｂ水平下降是急性期反应的特征，但在ｍＲＮＡ水平上并不下降而是增加。