Extracellular Ca2+-dependent and independent calcium transient in fetal myotubes

Spatio-temporal changes in the intracellular calcium concentration [Ca²⁺]_i of dissociated mice myotubes from 14-day and 18-day-old fetuses were studied using digital imaging analysis of the Ca²⁺ indicator fura-2. Myotubes from 18-day-old fetuses displayed a transient [Ca²⁺]_i increase upon electrical stimulation either in nominally calcium-free external solution or in Krebs solution containing 100 M lanthanum. Thus, at this developmental stage, membrane depolarization appears to increase [Ca²⁺]_i by stimulating Ca²⁺ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum independently of extracellular Ca²⁺ influx. Similarly, myotubes from 14-day-old fetuses also showed a calcium transient upon electrical stimulation in Krebs solution. However, in 46% of these myotubes the calcium transient was abolished when Ca²⁺ entry through calcium channels was suppressed.     

High incidence of horse serum protein allergy in various autoimmune disorders.

In 186 persons (68 patients suffering from different so-called autoimmune diseases, 30 kidney recipients, 38 control patients from a surgical ward, and 50 healthy volunteers) the immune response to horse IgG was examined. The lowest rate of sensitization was found in kidney transplant recipients (3%) and the highest in autoimmune patients (33%). After excluding 39 patient who had received horse serum treatment prior to the examination, it was found that without previous injection of horse serum, 27% of the patients with autoimmune disease were sensitized to horse IgG. Compared to the other groups (kidney transplant recipients, 4%: surgical controls, 0%; healthy volunteers, 3%), this difference was statistically significant (p is less than 0.01).     

FcγRⅡB1介导的信号传导异常与SLE患者B细胞的过度活化

目的:观察系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)患者B细胞表面功能分子表达的特征及其功能状态,评价以FcγRⅡB1(CD32)为代表的B细胞自身抑制调节机制在SLE发病中的作用。方法:采用Ficoll密度梯度离心法分离出人外周血单个核细胞(PBMC),并以免疫磁珠法(MACS)分离纯化B细胞。采用荧光分光光度法检测B细胞受不同激活物刺激后细胞内钙([Ca2 ]i)的反应。用ELISA法检测B细胞与刺激物共同培养后所分泌IgG的量。采用流式细胞术及间接免疫荧光染色法,检测B细胞膜表面CD32、CD19及IgM的表达水平。结果:(1)以羊抗人μ链的F(ab′)2片段及完整IgG分别刺激SLE患者B细胞时,其[Ca2 ]i反应的比值显著低于类风湿性关节炎(RA)患者(P<0.05)及正常人对照(P<0.01)。(2)分别用葡萄球菌A蛋白(SPA)单独刺激与SPA和羊抗人μ链的完整IgG抗体共同刺激SLE患者的B细胞所分泌的IgG的比值,明显低于RA患者及正常人对照组(P<0.05)。(3)SLE患者与RA患者及正常对照组B细胞上CD19、CD32及IgM的表达无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:SLE患者B细胞上CD32抑制性信号传导的异常,可能是导致B细胞过度活化的重要机制。     

聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a治疗HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎的疗效和安全性

目的 探讨聚乙二醇α-2a干扰素（PEG INFα-2a）治疗HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎的疗效和安全性。方法 按随机对照原则选择80例HBV DNA、HBeAg阳性的慢性乙型肝炎患者，按1：1随机分配进入PEG INFa-2a组和IFNα-2a组。结果 治疗6个月时，PEG INFα-2a组HBeAg血清转换率（45．7％）高于IFNα-2a组（35．1％），但P〉0．05。停药6个月后，持续的HBeAg血清转换率分别为48．6％和37．8％，P〉0．05。停药6个月后，持续的HBVDNA阴转率分别为62．9％和45．9％，P〉0．05。治疗后，两组的丙氨酸转氨酶（ALT）复常率差异无显著性，为62．9％和45．9％，停药后6个月，两组的联合应答率分别为57．1％和40．5％。PEG INFα-2a组有3例患者HBsAg阴转，而IFNα-2a组仅有1例患者HBsAg阴转。两组有相似的不良反应，不良反应间差异无统计学意义，两组治疗过程中均未发生重要的不良事件。结论PEG INFα-2a治疗HBeAg阳性的慢性乙型肝炎疗效优于普通干扰素IFN-2a，耐受性和安全性好。     

Pregnancies following blastocyst stage transfer in PGD cycles at risk for beta-thalassaemic haemoglobinopathies.

BACKGROUND: Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) usually involves blastomere biopsy 3 days post-insemination (p.i.), followed by genetic analysis and transfer of unaffected embryos later on day 3 or 4. We evaluate a strategy involving embryo biopsy on day 3 p.i., genetic analysis on day 4 and, following culture in blastocyst sequential media, transfer of unaffected embryos on day 5 p.i. METHODS: PGD cycles were initiated in 15 couples at risk of transmitting beta-thalassaemia major. Oocyte retrieval and ICSI were performed according to standard protocols. Embryo culture used blastocyst sequential media. Embryos were biopsied on day 3 p.i. using acid Tyrode's for zona drilling, and the single blastomeres were genotyped by a protocol involving nested polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis. RESULTS: Forty of 109 (37%) embryos biopsied on day 3 p.i. developed to blastocysts by day 5 p.i., with at least one blastocyst available for transfer in 12 cycles (80%). Genotype analysis characterized 51/109 (47%) embryos unaffected for beta-thalassaemia major, of which 28 were blastocysts. Transfer of 37 day 5 p.i. embryos (blastocysts and non blastocysts) initiated eight clinical pregnancies. Implantation rate per embryo transferred was 12/37 (32%). CONCLUSIONS: Embryo biopsy on day 3, followed by delayed transfer until day 5 p.i. offers a novel and effective strategy to overcome the time limit encountered when performing PGD, without compromising embryo implantation.     

α2-Adrenergic receptor subtype alterations in the brainstem in the sudden infant death syndrome

Background: The sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is still the main cause of postneonatal infant death. However, the causes and mechanisms of SIDS have never been completely elucidated. Catecholamines, via α2-adrenergic receptor (α2-AR) interactions, are known to influence brainstem autonomic and respiratory activity. Aims: To examine the catecholaminergic system abnormalities in SIDS victims, we investigated the alterations of α2-AR subtypes. Subjects and methods: We examined the developmental changes of α2-AR subtypes in the brainstem, especially in cardiorespiratory nuclei, in 21 SIDS victims and 17 age-matched controls by means of immunohistochemical methods. For statistical analysis, the χ²-test or Fisher’s exact probability test was performed. Results: There was a significant decrease in α2A-AR immunoreactivity in the solitary nucleus and ventrolateral medulla (VLM) in the medulla oblongata in SIDS victims compared with in control cases, but there were no significant differences of the α2B and α2C-AR immunoreactivity in the brainstem between SIDS victims and controls. Conclusion: α2A-AR immunoreactivity was selectively decreased in the solitary nucleus and VLM in the medulla oblongata in SIDS victims, so there was no possibility that it was secondary to chronic hypoxia or repeated ischemia. It may be related to some impairment of the cardiorespiratory neuronal system. Therefore, SIDS victims may be vulnerable to asphyxia, hypoxia, and/or hypercapnia, and fail to exhibit brainstem responses.     

小鼠胃癌MAGE3抗原H-2K~k限制性抗原肽的筛选

本研究对小鼠胃癌MAGE3抗原H 2Kk 限制性的抗原肽进行了筛选。用CTL表位预测的基序法对易与H 2Kk 结合的多肽序列进行了预测并人工合成了 4个多肽。在体外检测了各多肽刺激H 2Kk 型小鼠T细胞增殖和分泌IFN γ的能力 ,同时测定了各多肽诱导出的CTL对小鼠前胃癌细胞株MFC细胞的杀伤活性。结果显示 ,抗原肽MAGE31 3 0 1 3 7可有效地刺激特异性T细胞的增殖和分泌细胞因子IFN γ ,其诱导出的CTL细胞对MFC细胞也有较高的杀伤活性。这些实验结果证实抗原肽MAGE31 3 0 1 3 7可以作为多肽疫苗来对表达MAGE3抗原的H 2Kk 型小鼠胃癌进行免疫治疗。     

人KIR2DL1-Ig融合蛋白在COS-7细胞的表达

目的：获得人KIR2DL1分子(killer lg—like receptor 2DL1)胞外区与人IgG Fc段的融合蛋白。方法：从人外周血单个核细胞中提取总RNA，通过RT—PCR扩增编码KIR2DL1胞外段cDNA，经Nhe Ⅰ和BamH Ⅰ双酶切后，定向插入真核细胞表达载体CD51negl中。构建的重组真核表达载体CD51negl—KIR2DL1。经酶切分析和测序鉴定后，通过DEAE—dextran／ehloroquine法转染COS—7细胞：瞬时表达后，取培养上清液经亲和层析、ELISA、SDS—PAGE及Western印迹，鉴定融合蛋白的表达及其免疫学活性。结果：序列测定证实，该重组表达载体含有正确的KIR2DL1胞外区基因序列。重组真核表达载体CD5lnegl—KIR2DL1转染COS—7细胞后，ELISA法检测细胞培养上清中有融合蛋白的表达。SDS—PAGE结果显示，该融合蛋白的相对分子质量(Mc)约为73000。Western印迹结果证实，该蛋白能被特异性单克隆抗体(mAb)EB6所识别。结论：KIR2DL1—Ig融合蛋白表达载体成功构建并在COS—7细胞中获得功能性表达，为KIR2DL1的功能及其配体MHC的研究奠定了基础。