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.     

多发性骨髓瘤患者血浆尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物及其可溶性受体的检测与临床意义

目的 :研究多发性骨髓瘤 ( MM)患者血浆尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物 ( u- PA )及其可溶性受体 ( su PAR )的水平变化 ,并探讨其临床意义。方法 :用 ELISA法检测 34例 MM患者血浆 u- PA及 su PA R的浓度 ,同时观察其中6例 MM患者化疗前后血浆 u- PA及 su PAR的浓度变化。结果 :MM患者血浆 u- PA及 su PA R水平均明显高于正常对照组 ,其中进展期 MM患者血浆 u- PA及 su PAR水平明显高于正常对照组和稳定期 MM患者 ( P <0 .0 1) ,而稳定期 MM患者血浆 u- PA及 su PA R水平与正常对照组无显著性差异 ( P>0 .0 5)。 6例 MM患者化疗后血浆 u- PA及 su PA R水平 ,明显低于化疗前血浆 u- PA及 su PAR水平 ( P<0 .0 5)。骨髓涂片瘤细胞比例 >2 0 %的 MM患者血浆 u- PA及 su PA R水平 ,明显高于瘤细胞比例≤ 2 0 % M M患者 ( P<0 .0 5;P<0 .0 1)。M M患者血浆 u- PA及su PA R水平均与骨髓瘤细胞百分比及血清球蛋白呈正相关 ,而与血清白蛋白呈负相关。结论 :血浆 u- PA及 su PA R水平升高可能与多发性骨髓瘤的发生、发展有密切关系 ;其水平可作为临床分期、判断疗效、了解疾病进展情况及预后的一个重要指标。     

瘦素受体在条件性厌味大鼠脑的表达

目的 :观察瘦素受体 (LR)在条件性厌味 (CTA)大鼠脑的表达 .方法 :采用高度特异的抗瘦素受体血清 ,用免疫组化ABC法观察LR在CTA和对照大鼠脑的分布与表达 .结果 :与对照组大鼠相比 ,CTA大鼠皮层Ⅲ层、视交叉上核、弓状核、杏仁基底外侧核、海马CA3、下丘脑外侧区等核团瘦素受体表达增加 (14 6vs 12 0 ,138vs 92 ,118vs 78,10 7vs70 ,85vs 38cells·mm-2 ,P <0 .0 5 ) ,而下丘脑前区、脑桥臂旁核、杏仁中央核瘦素受体表达减弱 (13vs2 6 ,70vs5 5 ,12 2vs 16 2cells·mm-2 ,P <0 .0 5 ) ,孤束核瘦素受体的表达与对照大鼠无显著性差异 (5 0vs 5 7cells·mm-2 ,P >0 .0 5 ) .结论 :瘦素可能通过杏仁核、臂旁核、海马、皮层的瘦素受体参与CTA的形成与维持     

Massive Immune Hemolysis Caused by Anti-D After Dual Kidney Transplantation

Massive immune hemolysis due to passenger lymphocyte-derived anti-D has not been reported in renal transplantation. A 50-year-old (B-positive) male received a dual deceased-donor kidney transplant (B-negative) for diabetic renal failure. Two weeks post-transplant, the patient developed severe hemolytic anemia. The donor anti-D titer was 1:8. The recipient anti-D titer (zero pre-transplant) increased from 1:4 to 1:16 over 4 days. Rapid hemolysis caused severe anemia, minimum Hb = 4.2 g/dL, while selectively lysing the patient's autologous red cells during this time. The hemolytic anemia did not impair the allografts and subsided without monoclonal B-cell pharmacotherapy or apheresis. The anti-D titer decreased to barely detectable levels at four months and had cleared when checked 2 years post-transplant. Transfusion support subsided after two months. If complications of anemia can be avoided, the deleterious effects of hemolysis may be well tolerated by renal allografts using antigen negative transfusion alone.     

螺旋CT三维重建成像在先天性高肩胛症手术方式选择中的作用

[目的]探讨螺旋CT三维重建技术在先天性高肩胛症分度和手术方式选择中的作用。[方法]22例先天性高肩胛症术前应用螺旋CT对病变部位进行扫描并三维重建，测量以肩胛骨肩胛冈内侧缘为参照点，两侧肩胛骨高度差。根据测量结果依据Cavendish分度将其分类，并根据三维重建成像选择不同的矫形手术术式。[结果]本组22例病人，随访2—4年，外观及功能均有不同程度的改善，未出现神经、血管和椎体等的损伤。[结论]根据螺旋CT扫描和三维重建检查结果，术前即可直观的明确先天性高肩胛症的病变程度，相互关系，伴发畸形，患侧肩胛骨与正常对侧肩胛骨的外观差异等，便于手术操作方案的制定，避免了手术操作的盲目性，减少医源性并发症的发生。     

早期大剂量维生素C对重症急性胰腺炎大鼠核因子-κB的影响

目的:观察早期大剂量应用抗坏血酸(维生素C)对重症急性胰腺炎(SAP)大鼠的核因子-!B(NF-!B)的影响,研究其作用机制。方法:将72只SAP模型SD大鼠随机分成3组,每组各24只。A组:由大鼠股静脉滴注生理盐水5 ml/kg。B组:大鼠股静脉滴注Vit C 15 mg/kg加生理盐水至5 ml/kg。C组:由大鼠股静脉滴注Vit C 150 mg/kg加生理盐水至5 ml/kg。另取8只SD大鼠作为正常对照组。各组分别于8 h和24 h处死8只大鼠,采血测淀粉酶、脂肪酶、维生素C(PV-C)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、TNF-αI、L-6。大鼠处死时分别取胰头组织3份,一份组织HE染色,行光镜检查,按Kusske的方法,对水肿、炎症、出血和坏死分别评分;一份制成超薄切片,行电镜检查;另一份SP法进行免疫组化染色,检测NF-!B的表达。每组另外8只大鼠观察3 d内存活情况,计算3 d成活率。结果:各组大鼠3 d内的生存率为正常对照组100%(8/8),A组0%(0/8),B组12.5%(1/8),C组50%(4/8),C组的3 d生存率显著高于其他两组(P<0.05)。各组的4项病理学评分均高于正常对照组(P<0.01),C组的4项病理学评分均低于A、B组(P<0.05)。透射电镜检查示C组中分泌颗粒较少,其包膜完整、内质网轻度肿胀、线粒体清晰,未见大片坏死。SAP大鼠体内淀粉酶、脂肪酶、细胞因子TNF-α和IL-6的水平明显增高,血清SOD和P-VC降低,胰腺组织中NF-!B活化阳性胰腺细胞数明显增多。C组的血清淀粉酶和脂肪酶低于A、B组(P<0.05),SOD和P-VC水平高于A、B组(P<0.05),血清TNF-αI、L-6水平低于A、B组(P<0.05),胰腺组织NF-!B活化水平低于A、B组(P<0.05)。结论:早期大剂量应用Vit C有助于及时提高SAP大鼠的P-VC、E-SOD水平,降低体内淀粉酶、脂肪酶、TNF-αI、L-6水平,其作用机制可能与大剂量Vit C抑制SAP大鼠体内NF-!B活化、在整体水平上抑制细胞因子基因表达、有助于机体免受自由基和过量细胞因子的损伤及减轻胰腺组织的病理性改变等因素有关。     

性别差异对脓毒症大鼠肝脏Toll样受体4和髓样分化蛋白-2基因表达的影响

目的探讨性别差异对脓毒症大鼠肝脏组织Toll样受体4(TLR4)和髓样分化蛋白- 2(MD-2)基因表达的影响。方法以脂多糖(LPS)按5 mg/kg体重由大鼠腹腔注射制作脓毒症动物模型,注射后2 h留取肝脏组织检测TLR4、MD-2和肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)基因表达,同时测定各组大鼠血浆中丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)及雌二醇含量。结果正常雌雄性大鼠肝脏组织均可表达少量TLR4、MD-2、TNF-α基因,其中雌性组分别为0．175±0．034、0．211±0．044、0．201±0．068; 雄性组分别为0．205±0．061、0．243±0．049、0．243±0．063,两组数据差异无统计学意义(P> 0．05),但LPS刺激后雌性大鼠肝脏组织上述指标分别为0．615±0．089、0．708±0．181、0．730± 0．118,血浆中ALT含量为(81．07±10．72)U／L;雄性组分别为0．723±0．091、1．123±0．272、 0．881±0．156,ALT含量为(106．39±14．21)U／L,雌性组各项指标均明显低于雄性大鼠(P< 0．05)。相关分析表明雌性及雄性脓毒症大鼠肝脏组织TLR4及TNF-α基因表达与相应性别大鼠血浆中雌二醇含量呈显著负相关(P<0．05)。结论 LPS刺激后大鼠肝脏组织TLR4、MD-2及 TNF-α基因表达存在性别差异,内源性雌激素的作用可能导致雌性脓毒症大鼠肝脏组织损伤较雄性轻。     

Association between cord blood IgE and genetic polymorphisms of interleukin-4, the β-subunit of the high-affinity receptor for IgE, lymphotoxin-α, and tumor Necrosis factor-α

High cord blood immunoglobulin E (cbIgE) is known to be associated with increased risks of atopic diseases in childhood. The relationship between genetic polymorphisms and high cbIgE has not been well documented. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the association between cbIgE and genetic polymorphisms of interleukin (IL)-4 -590C/T, the beta-subunit of the high-affinity receptor for IgE (FcepsilonRI-beta) E237G, lymphotoxin (LT)-alphaNcoI alleles, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha -308G/A. A total of 320 mother-neonate pairs were recruited from four maternity hospitals from different locations of Taiwan. Cord blood was obtained and assayed for cbIgE. Polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to assess the genotypes. Three hundred pairs of mothers and neonates were included in the final analysis. Infants with IL-4 -590 C allele were found to have higher risk of elevated cbIgE (> or =0.35 IU/ml, 24.3%) (p = 0.004). After adjusting for gender, birth order, maternal age, and history of allergic disease in maternal and paternal families, odds ratios for CC and CT genotypes were 4.41 and 3.16 (95% confidence interval 0.78-22.67, and 1.66-6.13), respectively, using TT genotype as reference. The genotypes of FcepsilonRI-beta, LT-alpha, and TNF-alpha were not associated with cbIgE before or after the adjustment. Our finding suggested a significant association of cbIgE with genetic polymorphism of IL-4 -590C/T, but not with the genotypes of FcepsilonRI-beta, LT-alpha, and TNF-alpha.     

Expression profile of chemokines and chemokine receptors in epithelial cell layers of oral lichen planus

BACKGROUND: To understand the immunopathological features of oral lichen planus (OLP), we analyzed the expression of chemokines in the epithelial cell layers. Methods: Epithelia from OLP or healthy gingiva were collected by laser microdissection. The chemokine and chemokine receptor expressions in the epithelia were analyzed by DNA microarray. RESULTS: High levels of MIP-3alpha/LARC/CCL20 and its receptor CCR6 were expressed in the lesional epithelia. Furthermore, DC-CK1/CCL18, ELC/CCL19, SDF-1/CXCL12 and CXCR4 expressions were also increased. Immunohistologial analysis showed that high numbers of Langerhans cells (LCs) were present in the epithelia of OLP. Lesional epithelia also expressed high levels of the ligands specific for CXCR3 (e.g. MIG/CXCL9, IP-10/CXCL10 and I-TAC/CXCL11) and CCR5 (e.g. RANTES/CCL5). CONCLUSIONS: Infiltration of LCs is orchestrated by CCR6. Further, LCs residing in the lesional epithelia may be a mature phenotype. Moreover, infiltration of T cells in OLP could be mediated by signaling pathways through CXCR3 and CCR5.