Bacterial ghosts (BGs)—Advanced antigen and drug delivery system

Bacterial ghosts (BGs) are empty bacterial envelopes of Gram-negative bacteria produced by controlled expression of cloned gene E, forming a lysis tunnel structure within the envelope of the living bacteria. BGs are devoid of cytoplasmic content and possess all bacterial bio-adhesive surface properties in their original state while not posing any infectious threat. BGs are ideally suited as an advanced drug delivery system (ADDS) for toxic substances in tumor therapy. The inner space of BGs can be loaded with either single components or combinations of peptides, drugs or DNA which provides an opportunity to design new types of (polyvalent) drug delivery vehicles. Uptake of BGs loaded with Doxorubicin (Dox) by CaCo2 cells led to effective Dox release from endo-lysosomal compartments and accumulation in the nucleus. Viability and proliferative capacity of the cells were significantly decreased (2–3 orders of magnitude) after internalization of Dox loaded BGs as compared to cells incubated with free Dox. The same effect was observed with leukemia cells. Melanoma cells also revealed a high capability to internalize BGs. These results indicate that BGs are able to target a range of types of cancer. BGs have also been investigated as DNA delivery vectors. Studies show DNA loaded BGs are efficiently phagocytosed and internalized by both professional APCs and tumor cells with up to 82% of cells expressing the plasmid-encoded reporter gene. Our studies with BGs as an ADDS system contribute (i) to optimize drug delivery for the treatment of cancer; (ii) define specific conditions for selection and preparation of BG formulations; (iii) and provide a background for the clinical application of BGs in cancer therapy.     

热休克蛋白90对大鼠缺氧心肌细胞丝氨酸苏氨酸蛋白激酶表达的影响

目的探讨内源性热休克蛋白90（HSP90）在缺氧心肌细胞丝氨酸苏氨酸蛋白激酶（AKT）相关信号通路中的作用。方法建立新生Wistar大鼠心肌细胞缺氧模型，将细胞分为正常组、缺氧组、加入HSP90特异性阻断剂格尔德霉素后再缺氧组（格尔德霉素＋缺氧组）。于缺氧后1、3、6、12、24、48h用噻唑蓝法检测心肌细胞的活力；缺氧24h，原位缺口末端标记法检测心肌细胞凋亡指数（AI）；缺氧1、3、6、12、24h，蛋白质印迹法检测大鼠心肌细胞中内源性HSP90及AKT表达水平。结果（1）缺氧24、48h，缺氧组、格尔德霉素＋缺氧组细胞活力均较正常组明显下降（P〈0．05）；格尔德霉素＋缺氧组细胞活力缺氧12h即开始明显下降，缺氧48h时明显低于缺氧组（P〈0．05）。（2）缺氧24h，缺氧组细胞AI为（10．7±1．2）％，明显高于正常组[（1．9±0．3）％．P〈0．05]；格尔德霉素＋缺氧组细胞AI为（26、3±5．3）％，明显高于缺氧组（P〈0．01）。（3）缺氧12h，缺氧组心肌细胞内源性HSP90及AKT表达水平高于正常组与格尔德霉素＋缺氧组；缺氧24h，缺氧组有所下降．格尔德霉素＋缺氧组则下降更明显。结论内源性HSP90对维持心肌细胞的活力有重要作用．缺氧心肌细胞AKT表达水平可受内源性HSP90表达水平的影响。     

基质金属蛋白酶和细胞因子在强直性脊柱炎骨破坏中的作用

强直性脊柱炎(ankylosing spondylitis,AS)是以中轴关节慢性炎症为主的原因不明的全身性免疫性疾病。其特点为几乎全部累及骶髂关节,常发生椎间盘纤维环及其附近韧带钙化和骨性强直,也可累及外周关节并造成关节软骨及骨的破坏,晚期可发生脊柱及外周关节强直、畸形以致严重功能受损[1]。所以我们必须强调重视AS骨质破坏发生机制的研究,有利于寻找有效药物,减少致残。1骶髂关节炎组织学研究较系统的骶髂关节炎组织学研究表明,AS的5个阶段不同程度存在滑膜炎、骨髓黏液样变、浅表软骨破坏、肌腱端炎、关节内纤维赘、新骨形成和骨性强直等众多病理表现;其中滑膜炎和软骨下骨髓黏液样变较肌腱端炎更能合理解     

Monoclonal antibody production to human and bovine 2′:3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase (CNPase): high-specificity recognition in whole brain acetone powders and conservation of sequence between CNP1 and CNP2

Monoclonal antibodies against human and bovine 2′:3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) were generated by fusing FOX-NY myeloma cells with spleen cells from RBF/Dn mice previously immunized with the purified brain antigens. The enzyme isolated from bovine brain was quite basic, with an isoelectric point of 9.71 and both the bovine and human enzymes consisted of a closely spaced doublet at approximately 44 and 46 kDa on SDS-PAGE. Six monoclonals were identified as strongly recognizing the enzyme on both ELISA plates and on immunoblots of whole brain protein. Four monoclonals very weakly cross-reacted with guinea pig myelin basic protein. In contrast with two previous reports, some of our monoclonal antibodies did immunostain 2 or 3 protein bands in peripheral nerve, two bands closely corresponding to those immunostained in central nervous system (CNS) myelin, the Wolfgram protein fraction and in acetone powders of whole brain. Each of the 6 monoclonals reacting strongly on immunoblots recognized the enzyme in from 2 to 5 of the species examined (human, bovine, rat, mouse and rabbit). In addition, all 6 monoclonals that immunostained the enzyme in whole brain, myelin and Wolfgram protein immunoblots recognized both CNP1 (44 kDa) and CNP2 (46 kDa). The two closely spaced protein bands observed on SDS-PAGE and previously stained on immunoblots of CNS CNPase using polyvalent rabbit anti-bovine CNPase antisera, and now different monoclonal antibodies, appear to be immunologically related and to contain highly conserved sequences.     

Expression of epithelial matrix molecules collagen and laminin and corresponding integrins in chronic wounds

Re-epithelialization of cutaneous wounds is a coordinated process of proliferation and migration of keratinocytes at the wound edge. The study objective was to identify the differences in epidermal morphology, keratinocyte proliferation and matrix molecules (laminin 1, laminin 5, type IV collagen) and their specific integrin (α3, α6) expression in biopsies of meshed split thickness grafted and chronic wounds. The mean mitotic index of keratinocytes (ratio of cell cycle associated antigen Ki-67 expressing keratinocytes to basal keratinocytes) was highest in chronic wounds (38.7%) compared to acute wounds (22.25%, range 5.7% to 54%). The mean thickness of the hyper-proliferative epithelium at the wound edge of chronic wounds was 0.69 mm compared to 0.15 mm at the wound margin of split thickness grafted wounds. Both chronic wounds and skin grafted wounds exhibited strong laminin 5 immunoreactivity at the basal side of the epithelium, which extended under the most forward keratinocytes. Laminin 1 and type IV collagen immunoreactivity did not extend to the wound margin in either skin grafted or chronic wounds. In both transplanted skin and chronic wounds, the integrin sub-units α3 and α6 exhibited a strong pericellular immunoreactivity on the leading keratinocytes of the wound margin. Our data demonstrates that the proliferation of keratinocytes and the expression of associated integrins are not impaired in chronic wounds. Presented at the 33rd Congress of the Association of German Plastic Surgeons, Germany, 18–21 September, 2002.     

Asymmetric dimethyl-arginine (ADMA) response to inflammation in acute infections.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: The endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOs) asymmetrical dimethyl-arginine (ADMA) has been implicated as a possible modulator of inducible NOs during acute inflammation. We examined the evolution in the plasma concentration of ADMA measured at the clinical outset of acute inflammation and after its resolution in a series of 17 patients with acute bacterial infections. RESULTS: During the acute phase of inflammation/infection, patients displayed very high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), procalcitonin and nitrotyrosine. Simultaneous plasma ADMA concentration was similar to that in healthy subjects while symmetric dimethyl-arginine (SDMA) levels were substantially increased and directly related with creatinine. When infection resolved, ADMA rose from 0.62 +/- 0.23 to 0.80 +/- 0.18 micromol/l (+29%, P = 0.01) while SDMA remained unmodified. ADMA changes were independent on concomitant risk factor changes and inversely related with baseline systolic and diastolic pressure. Changes in the ADMA/SDMA ratio were compatible with the hypothesis that inflammatory cytokines activate ADMA degradation. CONCLUSIONS: Resolution of acute inflammation is characterized by an increase in the plasma concentration of ADMA. The results imply that ADMA suppression may actually serve to stimulate NO synthesis or that in this situation plasma ADMA levels may not reflect the inhibitory potential of this methylarginine at the cellular level.     

冠心病患者CRP水平与肾动脉狭窄的关系

【论文特点介绍】本研究观察了CRP是否可以作为肾动脉粥样硬化狭窄（ARAs）的独立危险因子。通过对危险因素进行多变量Logistic回归分析，结果表明年龄、冠脉病变严重程度、外周血管疾病是ARAS的独立危险因素，而CRP水平、高血压、高脂血症、肾功能不全并非ARAS的独立危险因素。     

Astroglial alterations in rat hippocampus during chronic lead exposure.

The present study was performed in order to follow the response of astroglial cells in the rat hippocampus to chronic low-level lead exposure. The experiments combined immunohistochemistry using anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) antibody and conventional transmission electron microscopy (EM). Chronic administration with drinking water [1 g% w/v (subclinical dose) of lead acetate dissolved in distilled water] was started through the mother's milk when pups were 7 days old. Following weaning, experimental offspring were treated for 3 months with the same concentration of adulterated water. The group of intoxicated animals and their controls were sacrificed by perfusion-fixation at 30, 60, and 90 days of exposure. After 60 days of lead treatment, staining of GFAP-positive cells demonstrated an astroglial transformation from the quiescent to the reactive state, characterized by an increase in GFAP. In control rats no changes in GFAP immunostaining were observed. The intensity of the astroglial response was enhanced after 90 days of lead intoxication, showing an increment of GFAP immunoreactivity. Quantification of these changes was made by computerized image analysis, confirming that the sectional areas of the astroglia in lead-exposed animals were larger than those in controls. These results are consistent with the ultrastructural alterations. Simultaneously with the increment in gliofilaments, intranuclear inclusions were seen in some astrocytes. The mechanisms by which lead affects astrocytes are unknown. Probably the astroglial changes induced by lead intoxication produce microenvironmental modifications that may disturb the neuronal function.     

Contact urticaria from protein hydrolysates in hair conditioners

Protein hydrolysates (PHs) are added to hair-care products (to "repair" broken hair), soaps, bath gels, creams, etc. From one to 22 PHs used in hair-care products (collagen, keratin, elastin, milk, wheat, almond, and silk) were tested in three patient groups: A) 11 hairdressers with hand dermatitis B) 2160 consecutive adults with suspected allergic respiratory disease subjected to routine skin prick tests C) 28 adults with atopic dermatitis.
In group A, all the 22 PHs were tested with scratch and patch tests. In groups B and C, one to three PHs were tested with prick tests. Positive scratch/prick test reactions were seen in 12 patients from three PHs altogether. All were women with atopic dermatitis, and all reacted to at least hydroxypropyl trimonium hydroly:ed collagen (Crotein Q"). In three patients, prick and open tests with a hair conditioner containing Crotein Q were performed with positive results. One patient reported contact urticaria on her hands, and two reported acute urticaria on their head, face, and upper body from a hair conditioner containing Crotein Q. In seven of the eight studied sera, specific IgE to Crotein Q was detected. In conclusion, PHs of hair cosmetics can cause contact urticaria, especially in patients with atopic dermatitis.