Cleavage of integrin by mu-calpain during hypoxia in human endometrial cells

PROBLEM: The distribution and activation of mu-calpain and possible cleavage of integrin in human endometrial cells under hypoxic condition were investigated. METHOD OF STUDY: Human endometrial epithelial and stromal cells were subjected to hypoxia, and subsequently used for immunostaining and western blot analysis. RESULTS: The proform of mu-calpain was detected in the cytoplasm of normal cells, and displayed a substantial decrease after hypoxia. Conversely, the active form of mu-calpain was not detected in normal cells, but was abundant after hypoxia. The cytoplasmic domain of integrin beta3 was also detected in the cytoplasm of endometrial cells. Western blot analysis confirmed that both the proform of mu-calpain and the integrin beta3 cytoplasmic domain decreased during hypoxia. CONCLUSIONS: Mu-calpain is activated in human endometrial cells during hypoxia and that subsequent cleavage of the integrin beta3 cytoplasmic domain may give some adverse effects to the function of human endometrium.     

骨髓间质干细胞体外分化为成骨细胞的实验研究

建立猪骨髓间质干细胞 (mesenchymalstemcells ,MSCs)体外分离培养方法。对猪MSCs体外分化为成骨细胞的能力进行研究。抽取猪骨髓 ,体外培养MSCs。取第二代MSCs ,以含有不同浓度的抗坏血酸、β -磷酸甘油、地塞米松及碱性成纤维细胞生长因子等条件培养基进行成骨细胞诱导分化。通过细胞形态变化 ,碱性磷酸酶染色及钙盐沉积对成骨细胞进行鉴定。结果表明MSC细胞形态由长梭形向多边形转变 ,ALP染色阳性 ,VonKossa染色阳性 ,经体外诱导分化后呈典型的成骨细胞样改变。猪骨髓MSCs可在体外长期、稳定培养 ,具有向成骨细胞分化的潜能 ,可以为骨组织工程研究提供较理想的细胞来源和动物模型。     

Argyrophil cell carcinoma (apudoma) of the esophagus

Summary In a series of 79 cases of primary esophageal carcinoma resected at The Center for Adult Diseases, Osaka, there were six tumors with specific histopathologic features valid for the diagnosis of argyrophil cell carcinoma. Of the 6 tumors, 3 were studied electron microscopically and assay for ACTH content was performed on 4 tumors.Clinically, the ages of the 6 patients ranged from 56 to 71 years; two were women and four men. Four of the 6 patients died with widespread tumor recurrences within 9 months of operation.Microscopically, the 6 tumors were composed largely or almost entirely of small, spindle-shaped cells resembling those of oat cell carcinoma of the lung, and were characterized by the arrangement of tumor cells in solid sheets or anastomosing cords, the presence of argyrophil tumor cells, and the deposits of amyloid. Electron microscopically, the three tumors contained neurosecretory-type granules. Using bioassay or radioimmunoassay ACTH activity in the tumor tissues was detected in 3 out of the 4 tumors determined.From the light and electron microscopic characteristics and the assay evidence, it seems reasonable to conclude that the 6 tumors are endocrine polypeptide producing tumors (apudomas) that arise from argyrophil cells normally found among the basal cells of the esophageal mucosa, and that they represent a distinct histopathologic entity clearly distinguishable from other types of esophageal carcinomas.Supported in part by a Grant-in Aid for Cancer Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, JapanThe authors are grateful to Prof. H. Imura and Dr. Y. Hirate, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University School of Medicine for their interest and performing the assays for ACTH on the tumor tissues.     

Neuronal expression of Raf protooncogene in the brain stem of adult guinea pig

The Raf protooncogenes encode for cytoplasmic serine/threonine-specific protein kinases which can be activated via growth factor receptors by phosphorylation. Immunohistochemical and Western blotting studies have proven the existence of Raf protein kinases in neurons of the cerebral cortex of rats and guinea pigs. The aim of the present study was to map the immunohistochemical distribution of Raf kinase-like staining in the brain stem of guinea pig. Polyclonal antibodies were used that were raised against a recombinant viral protein in combination with the avidin-biotin-peroxidase system for detection of immunoreactivity. Specificity of the antibodies was tested in Western blotting experiments. Cytoplasmic immunostaining was observed in motor nuclei of hypoglossal, accessory, vagus, facial, trigeminal, abducent, oculomotor and trochlear nerves, and in the nucleus ambiguus, nucleus retroambigualis, lateral vestibular nucleus, mesencephalic nucleus of the trigeminal nerve, the red nucleus, raphe nuclei and reticular formation. Scattered neurons were stained in other sensory nuclei, such as solitary tract nuclei, medial, dorsal and ventral vestibular nuclei and cochlear nuclei. The spinal trigeminal nucleus and the main sensory nucleus of the trigeminal nerve contained few medium-sized immunoreactive cells. In general, staining was mainly somatodendritic; the axonal plexus was not positive. It is concluded, that the widespread neuronal appearance of cytoplasmic Raf kinase suggests an important role in transmission of trophic and growth factor signals in these neurons.     

兔骨髓基质细胞诱导成骨细胞复合同种异体生物衍生骨实验研究

目的探讨体外培养的骨髓基质细胞与自体来源的生物衍生骨复合后的生长特性，为进一步研究骨髓基质细胞作为种子细胞，以及探索一种良好的支架材料提供实验依据。方法分离纯化兔骨髓基质细胞并诱导成成骨细胞后与同种异体来源的生物衍生骨复合后体外培养，并在相差显微镜和扫描电镜下观察其生长情况。结果骨髓基质细胞在生物衍生骨上贴附生长、增殖良好。结论骨髓基质细胞可作为骨组织工程的理想种子细胞，与生物衍生骨复合后可作为骨组织工程的载体。     

Distribution of ferritin in the rat hippocampus after kainate-induced neuronal injury

A gradual increase in iron occurs in the lesioned hippocampus after neuronal injury induced by the excitotoxin kainate, and the present study was carried out to investigate whether this increase in iron might be associated with changes in expression of the iron binding protein, ferritin. An increase in ferritin immunoreactivity was observed in glial cells of the hippocampus, as early as three days after intracerebroventricular injections of kainate. The number of ferritin positive cells peaked four weeks after the kainate injection, and decreased eight and twelve weeks after injection. They were found to be mostly microglia and oligodendrocytes by double immunofluorescence labeling with glial markers. A number of ferritin-labeled endothelial cells were also observed via electron microscopy. The decline in ferritin immunoreactivity four weeks after the injection of kainate is accompanied by an increase in the number of ferric and ferrous iron positive cells in the lesioned tissue. A substantial non-overlap between ferritin and iron-containing cells was observed. In particular, spherical ferric or ferrous iron-laden cells in the degenerating hippocampus were unlabeled for ferritin for long time periods after the kainate injection. An increase in iron, together with a reduced expression of iron binding proteins such as ferritin at long time intervals after kainate lesions, could result in a relative decrease in ferritin-induced ferroxidase activity and the presence of some of the iron in the ferrous form. It is postulated that this may contribute to chronic neuronal injury, following acute kainate-induced neurodegeneration.     

Postnatal expression of transport proteins involved in acid–base transport in mouse kidney

The kidney plays a major role in maintaining and controlling systemic acid–base homeostasis by reabsorbing bicarbonate and secreting protons and acid-equivalents, respectively. During postnatal kidney development and adaptation to changing diets, plasma bicarbonate levels are increasing, the capacity for urinary acidification maturates, and the final morphology and distribution of intercalated cells is achieved. In adult kidney, at least two types of intercalated cells (IC) are found along the collecting duct characterised either by the expression of AE1 (type A IC) or pendrin (non-type A IC) where non-type A IC are found only in the convoluted distal tubule, connecting tubule and cortical collecting duct. Here we investigated in mouse kidney the relative mRNA abundance, protein expression levels and distribution of several proteins involved in renal acid–base transport, namely, the Na⁺/HCO₃ ^– cotransporter NBC1 (SLC4A4), the Na⁺/H⁺-exchanger NHE3 (SLC9A3), two subunits of the vacuolar H⁺-ATPase [ATP6V0A4 (a4), ATP6V1B1 (B1)], the Cl^–/HCO₃ ^– exchangers AE1 (SLC4A1) and pendrin (SLC26A4). Relative mRNA abundance of all transport proteins was lowest at day 3 after birth and increased thereafter in parallel with protein levels. The numbers of type A and non-type A IC in the cortical collecting duct (CCD) increased from day 3 to days 18 and 24, whereas the number of IC in the CCD with apical staining for the vacuolar H⁺-ATPase subunits a4 and B1 decreased from day 3 to days 18 and 24, respectively. In addition, cells with characteristics of non-type A IC (pendrin expression, basolateral expression of vacuolar H⁺-ATPase subunits) were found in the inner and outer medulla 3 days after birth but were absent from the medulla of 24-day-old mice. Taken together, these results demonstrate massive changes in mRNA and protein expression levels of several acid–base transporters during postnatal kidney maturation and also show changes in intercalated cell phenotype in the medulla during these processes.     

体外分化胚胎干细胞为造血干细胞重建造血功能的研究

目的：探讨体外定向分化胚胎干细胞（ESCs）为造血干细胞（HSCs）对体内造血功能的重建作用。方法：将小鼠E14.1胚胎干细胞采用“三步诱导法”在体外分化发育为HSCs，造血克隆形成(CFU)实验观察其体外造血集落形成情况，免疫磁珠分选纯化HSCs移植给经亚致死剂量γ射线照射的雌性SCID小鼠，观察其植入及小鼠造血功能恢复情况。结果: 经过分阶段诱导，多种造血刺激因子联合应用能有效促进ESCs定向分化发育为HSCs,流式细胞仪检测HSCs特异性表面标志物CD34+/Sca-1+表达最高为（58.64±4.20）%，CFU培养能形成较多的红系、粒系/巨噬细胞系及混合细胞集落, Wright-Giemsa 染色显示为原始的造血细胞。此阶段的HSCs经分选纯化后移植给经γ射线照射后的小鼠，移植组小鼠+10 d造血功能开始恢复，观察40 d后除血小板恢复较慢外，白细胞、红细胞、血红蛋白等指标已接近正常，植入率为71.4%，存活率为43.0%，染色体检测证实已由受体鼠的XX转为供体鼠的XY。结论: 采用分阶段诱导的方法，可在体外定向诱导小鼠ESCs分化发育为HSCs，此来源的HSCs可以有效重建体内造血功能。     

嗅鞘细胞/细胞外基质夹层支架的制备和形态学观察

目的研究嗅粘膜嗅鞘细胞在细胞外基质夹层支架内的生长特性,为治疗神经系统损伤寻找新的移植供体。方法嗅鞘细胞/细胞外基质夹层支架由四层毯状细胞外基质支架和三层嗅粘膜嗅鞘细胞相间叠加构成。纤维蛋白原、层粘连蛋白和纤粘连蛋白按一定比例混合后,在新鲜大鼠血浆促凝作用下,构建单层毯状细胞外基质支架,在支架表面种植嗅粘膜来源的嗅鞘细胞。于倒置显微镜下观察嗅鞘细胞在支架上/内的生长过程,培养3d后,在细胞表面再次滴加上述细胞外基质混合胶以构建第二层毯状支架,依次重复两次。夹层支架制成组织切片和超薄切片后,用光镜和电镜观察和分析夹层支架的内部结构以及嗅鞘细胞在支架内的生长情况。结果由顶层至底层,支架内的嗅鞘细胞数量逐渐增多,细胞突起逐渐延长,细胞内分泌颗粒逐渐增多及其电子密度逐渐增高;细胞可在支架之间迁移,其水平排列方向具有一致性;嗅鞘细胞的细胞膜可与支架紧密粘附,支架内局部区域出现组织间隙。结论嗅粘膜嗅鞘细胞可在细胞外基质夹层支架内正常增殖和分化,细胞与支架具有良好的组织相容性。该夹层支架可作为嗅鞘细胞三维生长的载体,用于移植治疗神经损伤。     

Human CD8+ intraepithelial lymphocytes: a unique model to study the regulation of effector cytotoxic T lymphocytes in tissue

Summary:  The epithelium of the human small intestine contains a large population of intraepithelial cytolytic αβ T-cell receptor (TCR) CD8αβ T lymphocytes (IE-CTLs), whose main role is to sustain epithelial integrity by rapidly eliminating infected and damaged cells. In mouse, the recognition of inducible/modified self-molecules, i.e. non-classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, is mediated by the TCR and natural killer receptors (NKRs) co-expressed on the cell surface of a non-conventional autoreactive CD8αααβTCR cell subset. In contrast, in humans, the recognition of non-classical MHC class I molecules induced by stress and inflammation on intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) is principally mediated by NKRs expressed on conventional CD8αβαβTCR cells. By sensing microenvironmental signals of inflammation and stress through NKRs, IE-CTLs fine tune their TCR activation threshold. Furthermore, IE-CTLs under particular conditions, involving interleukin-15 upregulation, acquire the capacity to kill distressed intestinal epithelial cells in an antigen non-specific manner. Adaptive IE-CTLs appear hence to have autoreactive properties and modulate their immune response based on innate signals, reflecting the fitness of the tissue.