Biological properties associated with the enhanced lung-colonizing potential in a B16 murine melanoma line grown in a medium conditioned by syngeneic Corynebacterium parvum-elicited macrophages

A previous study by our laboratory showed that the peritoneal murine Corynebacterium parvum-elicited macrophages released into their growth medium an activity which enhanced the ability of B16-F10 melanoma cells to form experimental metastases in the lung of syngeneic mice. In the present study, we used a clone of B16-F10 line (F10-M3 cells) to investigate whether the increase in lung-colonizing potential due to the pro-clonogenic activity released by C. parvum-elicited macrophages was associated with biological properties characteristic of a metastatic phenotype. We have found that the pulmonary retention, growth rate in lung parenchyma, invasiveness through Matrigel, adhesiveness to IL-1-activated endothelium and MHC class I expression were increased in F10-M3 cells stimulated by the macrophage pro-clonogenic activity. By using an in vitro experimental protocol, the enhancement of lung-colonizing potential in the stimulated melanoma cells turned out to be a transient phenomenon as was the increase of invasiveness through Matrigel and the higher expression of MHC class I antigens. In conclusion, the melanoma cells stimulated by the pro-clonogenic activity released by C. parvum-elicited macrophages showed changes in biological parameters which are relevant to metastatic diffusion. These changes appeared as a temporary phenomenon which sustains the view that the metastatic phenotype represents a transient biological character influenced by host factors. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Increased phagocytic capacity of the blood,but decreased phagocytic activity per individual circulating neutrophil after an ultradistance run

The effect of a long strenuous endurance exercise on the phagocytic function of neutrophils was examined. 9 athletes [7 males, 2 females, age: 36–68 years, body mass: 64 (SD 10) kg, height: 175 (SD 10) cm] completed a competetive 100 km run in 8:07 (median value; range: 7:29–9:50 hours). In a whole blood assay the phagocytosis of opsonized E. coli, the receptor density of the Fc receptor 3 (CD16) and the complement receptor 3 (CD11b, direct immunofluorescence) of neutrophils were measured on a per cell basis by flow cytometry before and up to 3 hours after the race. The phagocytic rate (percentage of neutrophils incorporating bacteria) was unchanged after exercise, whereas the phagocytic activity (number of incorporated bacteria per cell) was significantly reduced by –34 (SD 8) % (Wilcoxon test, P<0.001). The total phagocytic capacity of the blood increased 2-3fold post exercise. The surface antigen expressions of CD11b and CD16 were unaffected by the ultradistance run. The results indicate either a reduced phagocytic function of neutrophils on a single cell basis or the mobilization of neutrophils of the marginal pool with a lower phagocytic activity. However, after a long endurance exercise the phagocytotic capacity of the blood was enhanced due to increased cell concentrations.     

Impaired Ca-signaling in astrocytes from the Ts16 mouse model of Down syndrome

The trisomy 16 mouse model of Down syndrome has been used to compare calcium (Ca)-homeostasis and Ca-signaling in astrocytes from trisomic mice and from diploid littermates. Ratio calcium-imaging of Fura-2/AM loaded primary astroglial cultures prepared from the hippocampus shows that resting Ca levels are on average significantly higher in trisomic than in the control astrocytes (280 vs. 120 nM). Serotonin (3 μM) and glutamate (30–300 μM) evoked transient Ca-increases from 400 to 600 nM in euploid but from only 20 to 150 nM in trisomic astrocytes. Imaging of ATP-driven Ca-accumulation in cellular organelles revealed a significantly stronger uptake of Ca in trisomic astrocytes that might buffer cytosolic Ca-increases. Our results demonstrate major disturbances in Ca-signaling in trisomic astrocytes that are likely to be of pathophysiological relevance.     

PBX1基因对系统性红斑狼疮易感基因IFI16表达的影响

探讨PBX1基因转染人单核细胞系THP1后,对IFI16基因表达的影响。以携带人PBX1基因表达序列的复制缺陷型5型腺病毒载体(pDC315-PBX1-EGFP)转染THP1细胞后,采用实时定量PCR(RT-PCR)和Western blot技术分别在mRNA水平和蛋白水平检测PBX1和IFI16表达的变化。结果,pDC315-PBX1-EGFP转染THP1细胞后,PBX1基因的表达水平都增高,同时发现IFI16基因的表达水平降低。PBX1作为一种转录因子,能调节干扰素诱导蛋白IFI16的表达。     

软组织平滑肌肉瘤中p16基因的甲基化检测

目的 探讨软组织平滑肌肉瘤（ＬＭＳ）中p16基因ＩＮＫ４Ａ的甲基化状态及其与p16表达的关系。方法 应用ＭＳＰ法检测３８例软组织平滑肌肉瘤,１０例平滑肌瘤及５例正常平滑肌组织中p16基因ＩＮＫ４Ａ的甲基化状态,用免疫组织化学ＳＰ方法检测p16蛋白表达情况。结果 ３８例ＬＭＳ中９例发生异常甲基化,异常甲基化率为２３.7%（９／３８）。其中,７例p16蛋白表达阴性,２例p16蛋白弱阳性,在p16蛋白表达阴性的ＬＭＳ中,异常甲基化率为５０％（７／１４）。结论 p16基因第一外显子启动子区５‘CpG岛的异常甲基化是导致p16基因失活、蛋白缺如的重要基因外机制,并可能参与肿瘤的发生。     

Preferential presentation of herpes simplex virus T-cell antigen by HLA DQA1*0501/DQB1*0201 in comparison to HLA DQA1*0201/DQB1*0201

The HLA DQA1 locus is polymorphic. Haplotypes containing HLA DQA1*0501, but not HLA DQA1*0201, together with HLA DQB1*0201 are associated with Grave's disease and celiac sprue. In this report, we demonstrate a functional correlate of DQA1 polymorphism. T cells infiltrating a herpes simplex virus (HSV) lesion from a HLA DQ 2,7 individual yielded a virusspecific CD4+ clone restricted by DQ2. Presentation of viral peptide and protein segregated with DQA1 allele, because cell lines bearing DQA1*0501/DQB1*0201 heterodimers presented antigen in proliferation and cytotoxicity assays much more efficiently than cell lines bearing DQA1*0201/DQB1*0201. Binding of viral peptide to cell lines bearing DQA1*0201, in comparison to DQA1*0501, was only moderately reduced and may not explain this effect. Truncation and substitution analyses of peptide binding and T-cell activation were performed to determine which viral peptide residues contacting TCR might therefore be presented in an altered conformation by DQA1*0201/DQB1*0201. Residues 432, 435, 437, 438, and 440 (position P1, P4, P6, P7, and P9) contributed to DQ2 binding, whereas residues 431, 433, 434, and 436 (positions P-1, P2, P3, and P5) contributed to TCR contact. Differential presentation of peptide by HLA DQ2 heterodimers varying at the DQA1 locus may have relevance to host defense and the pathogenesis of HLA DQ2-associated autoimmune diseases. Human Immunology 53, 195-205 (1997).     

Quercetin inhibits the invasion and mobility of murine melanoma B16-BL6 cells through inducing apoptosis via decreasing Bcl-2 expression

Quercetin has been known to have anti-tumor and anti-oxidation activities. In the present study, we have investigated its in vitro anti-metastatic activity. Quercetin inhibited the invasion and mobility of murine melanoma B16-BL6 cells in a dose-dependent manner but did not affect their adhesion to either laminin, fibronectin, or type VI collagen. Moreover, quercetin significantly inhibited the proliferation of B16-BL6 cells only in the case of time incubation longer than 48 h. Quercetin dose-dependently decreased the cell rates in S and G2–M phases of cell cycle. The effect of quercetin to cause a remarkable apoptosis of B16-BL6 cells was also demonstrated by flow cytometric assay as well as DNA fragmentation with a typical 180-bp ladder band in agarose electrophoresis and a quantitative analysis. Furthermore, quercetin markedly inhibited the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 but hardly influenced Bcl-X_L. These results suggest that the inhibition of quercetin on invasiveness and migration of B16-BL6 cells are closely associated with the arrest of cell cycle as well as the induction of apoptosis by decreasing the Bcl-2 expression. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

大学生儿童期心理虐待经历与个性特征的关系

目的:了解大学生儿童期心理虐待和忽视状况及其与个性特征的关系。方法:应用儿童心理虐待与忽视量表和卡特尔16PF对216名大学生进行问卷调查。结果:①受试学生中心理虐待阳性者45人(20.83﹪);忽视阳性者88人(40.74﹪);不同性别的虐待和忽视阳性率均无统计学差异(P>0.05);②男生心理虐待总分均分、责骂均分、恐吓均分三项高于女生相应得分,差别具统计学意义(P<0.05);③虐待阳性组在乐群性、稳定性、兴奋性、有恒性、敢为性、自律性、内向与外向、感情用事与安详机警等多项个性因素上得分低于阴性组,在怀疑性、忧虑性、适应与焦虑三项上得分高于后者(P<0.05);④受试学生儿童期心理虐待和忽视与乐群性、稳定性、恃强性、兴奋性、有恒性、敢为性、自律性、内向与外向、感情用事与安详机警等人格因素呈负相关,与怀疑性、忧虑性、紧张性、适应与焦虑等个性因素呈正相关(P<0.05)。结论:①受试大学生儿童期心理虐待和忽视经历多见,男生儿童期心理虐待发生程度较女生重;②儿童期心理虐待和忽视与大学生外向乐观、开朗合群、情绪稳定等积极个性特征呈负相关,而与其多疑刚愎、抑郁自扰、对环境的适应能力不足等消极个性特征呈正相关。     

Attachment, invasion, chemotaxis, and proteinase expression of B16-BL6 melanoma cells exhibiting a low metastatic phenotype after exposure to dietary restriction of tyrosine and phenylalanine

We previously reported that low levels of tyrosine (Tyr) and phenylalanine (Phe) alter the metastatic phenotype of B16-BL6 (BL6) murine melanoma and select for tumor cell populations with decreased lung colonizing ability. To more specifically characterize the effects of Tyr and Phe restriction on the malignant phenotype of BL6, we investigated in vitro attachment, invasion, proteinase expression, and chemotaxis of high and low metastatic BL6 variants. High metastatic variant cells were isolated from subcutaneous tumors of mice fed a nutritionally complete diet (ND cells) and low metastatic variant cells were isolated from mice fed a diet restricted in Tyr and Phe (LTP cells). Results indicate that attachment to reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel) was significantly reduced in LTP cells as compared to ND cells. Attachment to collagen IV, laminin, and fibronectin were similar between the two variants. Invasion through Matrigel and growth factor-reduced Matrigel were significantly decreased in LTP cells as compared to ND cells. Zymography revealed the presence of M _r 92 000 and M _r 72 000 progelatinases, tissue plasminogen activator, and urokinase plasminogen activator in the conditioned medium of both variants; however, there were no differences in activity of these secreted proteinases between the two variants. Growth of the variants on growth factor-reduced Matrigel similarly induced expression of the M _r 92 000 progelatinase. The variants exhibited similar chemotactic responses toward laminin. However, the chemotactic response toward fibronectin by LTP cells was significantly increased. MFR5, a monoclonal antibody which selectively blocks function of the ₅ chain of the ₅ß₁ integrin, VLA-5, decreased the chemotactic response toward fibronectin of ND cells by 37%; the chemotactic response by LTP cells was reduced by 49%. This effect was specific for fibronectin-mediated chemotaxis since the chemotaxis toward laminin and invasion through Matrigel were not altered by the presence of MFR5. The surface expression of VLA-5 was significantly increased in LTP cells as compared to ND cells by flow cytometric analysis. These observations suggest that limitation of Tyr and Phe either directly modifies BL6 or selects for subpopulations with altered in vitro invasion, chemotaxis, and integrin expression.     

Differential expression of cdk inhibitors p16, p21cip1, p27kip1, and cyclin E in cervical cytological smears prepared by the ThinPrep method

Our objective was to correlate p16, p21cip1, p27kip1, and cyclin E protein expression with the degree of dysplasia on ThinPrep Papanicolaou (Pap) smears using a modified immunoperoxidase staining. Smears read as normal, atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), or high-grade SIL (HSIL) were identified and tested for high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV). Additional smears were processed for immunoperoxidase for p16, p21cip1, p27kip1, and cyclin E. Thirty-four smears were satisfactory for study. The p16 was positive in all nine HSIL, in four of nine LSIL, and in one of seven ASC-US. The p27kip1 was positive in all nine HSIL, in eight of nine LSIL, and in one of seven ASC-US. The p21cip1 was positive in all nine HSIL, in one of nine LSIL, and in one of seven ASC-US. Cyclin E was positive in seven of nine HSIL and in one of nine LSIL and in none of the ASC-US smears. Normal smears were negative for all the antigens. There was poor correlation of protein expression and HR-HPV infection. We concluded that p16, p21cip1, p27kip1, and cyclin E can be demonstrated on Pap smears and they are expressed differentially in dysplastic cells, with highest expression in HSIL. The p21cip1 and cyclin E showed the greatest correlation with HSIL.