Cell surface and nuclear changes during TNF-α-induced apoptosis in WEHI 164 murine fibrosarcoma cells

 Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced apoptosis is associated with several nuclear and cell surface alterations, in particular with the condensation of chromatin and the fragmentation of the cell nucleus, formation of blebs on the cell surface and breakdown of the plasma membrane. However, there is little information about the relationship between the cell surface alterations and the nuclear changes during apoptosis. To study this, cultured WEHI cells were exposed to TNF-α over different time periods. The cytological changes were studied using a correlative approach, which allowed observation of the same cell consecutively under light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The earliest sign of cell alteration was a reduction of the number of microvilli after 15 min of TNF-α exposure. This reaction was reversible (reappearance of microvilli) and took place during the first hour, in which neither nuclear alterations nor plasma membrane breakdown were observed. The changes in the nucleus began with condensation of chromatin after approximately 1 h of TNF-α-exposure. After 4–5 h the microvilli disappeared again, particularly in areas where the formation of blebs (blebbing) was observed. Strikingly, cell surface alterations (bleb formation) were detected only in those cells that presented with condensed chromatin, and not in cells with a normal chromatin pattern, proving at least a close correlation between nuclear and cell surface changes during the process of apoptosis. Received: 7 October 1997 / Accepted: 23 March 1998     

几种植物来源不同作用机制的抗癌药抗侵袭作用

用细胞培养法和癌细胞侵袭实验,观察几种植物来源不同作用机理的抗癌药如紫杉醇、三尖杉酯碱、高三尖杉酯碱及喜树碱^[1],对黑色素瘤高转移株B16-BL6细胞及人纤维肉瘤细胞HT-1080的细胞毒作用和抗侵袭作用。结果表明紫杉醇、三尖杉酯碱、高三尖杉酯碱及喜树碱对B16-BL6和HT-1080细胞增殖均有很强的抑制作用。紫杉醇、三尖杉酯碱及高三尖杉酯碱对B16-BL6细胞侵袭和运动也有明显的抑制作用,而喜树碱在同样浓度下对B16-BL6细胞侵袭和运动均无明显抑制。     

创面异体移植培养表皮细胞后存活的判定

应用４种方法判定烧伤创面异体移植的培养表皮细胞存活情况：１．聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）查Ｙ染色体特异性ＤＮＡ片段；２．ＰＣＲ扩增ＰＭＣＴ１１８长度多态性基因位点；３．ＰＣＲ／ＳＳＯＨＬＡ－ＤＱａ分型；４．ＤＮＡ指纹。共检测１６例病人的２７个活检标本，均证实有供者的ＤＮＡ，最长时间为移植后９２天。初步实验结果表明：培养表皮异体移植后可存活较长时间。     

Genetic factors controlling inheritance of susceptibility to 1,2-dimethylhydrazine

Summary Reciprocal crosses were made between AKR/J, a 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-resistant mouse strain, and SWR/J, a sensitive strain. The F1 hybrids were tested with DMH and methylazoxymethanol (MAM), two colon carcinogens. Either DMH (20 mg/kg body weight) or MAM (35 mg/kg body weight), a metabolic derivative of DMH, was injected weekly for 10 weeks. In each group of 35 mice, 10 were injected with tritiated thymidine (25 Ci) 1 week after the sixth injection of DMH and MAM for the evaluation of proliferative characteristics and the number of foci of dysplasia occuring in 325 m of distal colonic mucosa. At 27 weeks after the first injection of the carcinogen, the colons of remaining mice were opened longitudinally and the number of tumors enumerated. Compared with DMH-treated mice, the number of foci of dysplasia per mouse, the percentage of tumor-bearing mice, the number of tumors per animal, and the number of tumors per tumor-bearing animal induced by MAM were severalfold higher. This would suggest the presence of a gene(s) repressing metabolism of DMH to MAM. Moreover, differences in response to the carcinogens were observed between the sexes. In contrast to males, females treated with both DMH and MAM had significantly greater numbers of tumors per animal, tumors per tumor-bearing mice, and a greater proliferative response with extension of S-phase cells to the upper third and luminal surface of crypts. Among males, those with the X^AKR/Y^SWR heritage appeared more resistant than X^SWR/Y^AKR males, particularly in their response to MAM. A twofold difference in the number of foci of dysplasia per mouse, tumors per animal, and the number of tumors per tumor-bearing animals was seen. Analyses of the response to DMH and MAM by F1 reciprocal hybrids of the AKR and SWR strains have shown a complex inheritance pattern governing susceptibility to DMH. Resistance to the carcinogen is provided by at least two specific repressor genes, one governing metabolism of carcinogen from DMH to MAM, and the other controlled by gender. Genetic factors contributed by the AKR female appear to convey additional resistance to male progeny, suggesting more than one gender-related gene.Supported in part by CA 08748 from the National Cancer Institute and by CA 26674 from the National Cancer Institute through the National Large Bowel Cancer Project     

Synergistic action of immunostimulatory DNA and fcgamma receptor IIB-crosslinking on B-cell phenotype and function

CpG DNA functions via the toll-like receptor-9 (TLR-9) receptor, inducing B cell proliferation and promoting immunoglobulin production. B cell responses to CpG DNA-containing immune complexes could be important in chronic autoimmunity and immune responses to bacterial components. Therefore, we investigated the potential synergy of CpG DNA-stimulation with FcgammaR clustering (CFR) on splenic B cell activity. CFR-induced splenocyte proliferation was significantly increased compared to treatment with CpG DNA alone. While the levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) were increased in CpG DNA-treated splenocyte cultures, particularly following FcgammaRII/III-clustering, CFR treatment reduced IL-6 levels. B-cell maturation in culture was enhanced by CFR. Indeed, the frequency of IgG expressing cells after stimulation with CpG DNA was increased and was even higher after CFR stimulation. Furthermore, the frequency of plasma cell precursors was markedly increased by stimulation with CFR. Late splenic B cell subsets, transitional type 2 (T2) and mature (M) B cells, responded strongly to CpG DNA with proliferation and the response was enhanced by FcgammaR-clustering. Immature transitional type 1 (T1) B cells showed distinctly lower proliferative response to CpG DNA and very small effects of FcgammaR-clustering, despite similar expression of Fcgamma-receptors by all B cell subsets. In conclusion, these data show synergistic impact of CpG DNA and simultaneous FcgammaR-clustering on B cell proliferation and differentiation.     

Studies on mutants deficient in the photosystem I reaction centers in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Summary Genetic analysis of 25 nuclear mutants defective in the chlorophyll-protein complex CP1 was undertaken. The mutants belong to 13 complementation groups scattered throughout the nuclear genome. All these mutants lack the apoprotein of CP1 and, in addition, a specific set of six low molecular weight thylakoid polypeptides. System I particles obtained by treating WT thylakoid membranes with detergent specifically contain those polypeptides which the mutants lack. These observations suggest that a particular sub-structure of the thylakoid membrane associated with the photosystem I activity is missing from all 25 mutants studied, and that this general phenotype can result from mutation at any one of several unlinked Mendelian loci.     

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.     

川芎嗪诱导大鼠骨髓间质干细胞分化为神经元样细胞的研究

目的用川芎嗪(ligustrazin hydrochloride)在体外定向诱导SD青年鼠骨髓间质干细胞(mesenchymal stem cells，rMSCs)分化为神经元样细胞。方法用低糖DMEM冲洗骨髓腔，收集骨髓细胞悬液，接种在塑料培养瓶中。经体外扩增、纯化，选用第5代后的骨髓间质干细胞进行诱导分化。用10μg／LbFcF预诱导24h，更换成含川芎嗪的无血清培养基DMEM诱导间质干细胞分化为神经元样细胞。用免疫组织化学SABC法鉴定神经丝蛋白(NF—M)、神经元特异性烯醇化酶(NSE)、巢蛋白(nestin)、微管联合蛋白-2(MAP-2)、生长相关蛋白-43(GAP-43)、胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)的表达。结果第5代间质干细胞形态达到均一，呈梭形。用川芎嗪诱导15min到3h，间质干细胞胞体逐渐增大，并伸出细长突起形似神经元样细胞。免疫组织化学显示NF-M、NSE、nestin、MAP-2和GAP-43表达阳性，而GFAP阴性。对照组上述染色均为阴性。结论川芎嗪可诱导骨髓间质干细胞分化为神经元样细胞。     

Analysis of the subcellular localization of the proteins Rep, Rep' and Cap of porcine circovirus type 1

Porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1) encodes two major ORFs. The cap gene comprises the major structural protein of PCV, the rep gene specifies Rep and Rep', which are both essential for initiating the replication of the viral DNA. Rep corresponds to the full-length protein, whereas Rep' is a truncated splice product that is frame-shifted in its C-terminal sequence. In this study, the cellular localization of PCV1-encoded proteins was investigated by immune fluorescence techniques using antibodies against Rep, Rep' and Cap and by expression of viral proteins fused to green and red fluorescence proteins. Rep and Rep' protein co-localized in the nucleus of infected cells as well as in cells transfected with plasmids expressing Rep and Rep' fused to fluorescence proteins, but no signal was seen in the nucleoli. Rep and Rep' carry three potential nuclear localization signals in their identical N-termini, and the contribution of these motifs to nuclear import was experimentally dissected. In contrast to the rep gene products, the localization of the Cap protein varied. While the Cap protein was restricted to the nucleoli in plasmid-transfected cells and was also localized in the nucleoli at an early stage of PCV1 infection, it was seen in the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm later in infection, suggesting that a shuttling between distinct cellular compartments occurs.