Coronavirus induced primary demyelination: indications for the involvement of a humoral immune response

Coronavirus MHV-JHM infection of rodents can result in demyelinating encephalomyelitis. We analysed histological changes induced by coronavirus MHV-JHM infection in Lewis rats. Besides an acute disease (AE), chronic panencephalitis (CPE) and subacute demyelinating encephalomyelitis (SDE) were induced. These disease types were differentiated by the incubation period, the localization of lesions, the type of tissue damage and distribution of virus antigen. In AE and CPE, virus antigen was detected in neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, whereas in SDE neurons lacked virus antigen. Viral nucleocapsid protein (N) was present in the cytoplasm and the spike protein (S) was displayed on the surface of infected neural cells. However, expression of S protein relative to N protein was severely impaired in SDE lesions. Quantitative analysis of infiltrating inflammatory cells revealed that the number of macrophages and T cells were similar in lesions of AE, CPE and SDE. In contrast to that, SDE lesions contained a significantly higher number of IgG + B cells and plasma cells. In addition active demyelinating SDE lesions displayed an enhanced IgG content and deposits of complement C9. These results indicate that virus induced primary demyelination could be a consequence of antibody mediated cytotoxicity. Furthermore, a reduction in the number of cells producing spike protein in the chronic forms of the disease indicates down-regulation of this protein, possibly mediated by anti-S antibodies.     

Competitive dissociation of encephalitogenic complexes between antigen presenting cells and myelin basic protein

Splenic T cells from myelin basic protein (MBP)-immunised Lewis rats were activated to transfer experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) by co-culture with MBP-pulsed lymphoid dendritic cells (DC). MBP-pulsed DC could be kept for at least 24 h at 37 degrees C in antigen-free medium without affecting their ability subsequently to activate encephalitogenic T cells. However, MBP-pulsed DC were rendered much less stimulatory after a 6 h, but not 2 h, secondary incubation with ovalbumin. Thus, although encephalitogenic complexes between MBP and DC appear very stable in the absence of competing antigens, in their presence, antigen exchange can take place over a period of a few hours; this has positive implications for therapy of EAE by antigen competition.     

Parvalbumin immunoreactivity reveals layer IV of monkey cerebral cortex as a mosaic of microzones of thalamic afferent terminations

Correlative light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical methods were used to study the pattern of staining for the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin (PV) in the primary visual area (area 17) and area 3b of the first somatic sensory area of the monkey cerebral cortex. A conspicuous feature of the light microscopic staining pattern is the presence of focal aggregations of immunoreactive terminal-like puncta within the major thalamic recipient layers (IV and VI). At the electron microscopic level these aggregations of puncta are found to be immunoreactive terminals most of which form asymmetric synapses, principally on dendritic spines and, to a lesser extent, on dendritic shafts. Outside the aggregations, most PV-immunoreactive terminals form symmetric synapses. Correlative observations in the present and other studies indicate that the aggregations of PV-immunoreactive terminals forming asymmetric synapses arise from thalamic afferent fibers while those forming symmetric synapses arise from intrinsic gamma-aminobutyric acid neurons. The aggregations of PV immunoreactivity in layers IV and VI form microzones of preferred thalamic afferent terminations which may contribute to the formation of functional columns based upon focussed thalamic inputs.     

An immunohistochemical study of MAP2 and clathrin in gerbil hippocampus after cerebral ischemia

Changes in MAP2 and clathrin immunoreactivity were studied in gerbil hippocampus after transient cerebral ischemia. MAP2 immuno-reactivity decreased significantly by 1 h in the subiculum-CA1 and CA2 areas which correspond to reactive change, while no decrease was observed in CA1 until day 4. Before the initiation of delayed neuronal death, MAP2 immunoreactivity was not changed in CA1. On the other hand clathrin immunoreactivity increased in the pyramidal cell layer of CA1 by 3 h after ischemia and remained high for 2 days. Clathrin immunoreactivity in the pyramidal cell layer of CA1 diminished after delayed neuronal death. The transient change of clathrin was noted especially in CA1 in the period prior to delayed neuronal death. These results imply an abnormal change in clathrin turnover after ischemia, which may participate in the pathogenesis of delayed neuronal death.     

抗氧化剂对糖尿病大鼠肾小球蛋白激酶C的影响

目的　通过大鼠糖尿病模型 ,观察抗氧化剂对糖尿病大鼠肾小球蛋白激酶的影响。方法　将 75只雄性Wistar大鼠分为正常对照组、糖尿病未治疗组、抗氧化剂治疗组各 2 5只 ,共观察 8周 ,分别测定尿白蛋白排泄量(UAE) ,内生肌酣消除率 (Ccr)、血浆及肾脏组织一氧化氮 (NO)、一氧化氮合成酶 (NOS)、内皮素 (ET)和肾小球蛋白激酶C(proteinkinaseC ,PKC)。结果　给予维生素E治疗组 8周时 ,Ccr[(5 .2 8± 0 .5 4)ml/(min·kg) ]及尿白蛋白排泄量 [(14.2 7± 1.16 ) μg/2 4h]显著低于未治疗组 ,肾小球细胞膜PKC[(6 8.2 7± 12 .33) pmol/(min·mgprotein) ],2周时N0 [(34 .2 3± 3.91) μmol/L]及NOS[(32 .0 7± 3.76 )U/L]明显低于未治疗组 ,维生素E治疗组 2周时与 8周时的NO及NOS下降幅度明显小于未治疗组。结论　维生素E具有抑制PKC活性作用。     

G proteins (Gi,Go) in the medial temporal lobe in schizophrenia: preliminary report of a neurochemical correlate of structural change

Summary We have measured the amount of Gi (the inhibitory G-protein) or Go (a similar G-protein of unknown function) in 5 areas of the medial temporal lobe of control and schizophrenic brains utilizing pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP ribosylation. The material used has previously been shown to have asymmetrical structural abnormalities of the ventricular system. The amount of Gi or Go was reduced on the left side in the hippocampus, amygdala and parahippocampal gyrus, the difference reaching significance in the hippocampus. This data is the first report of a neurochemical correlate of the structural change in the brains of patients with schizophrenia. Decreased Gi or Go in hippocampus may relate to other reported neurochemical deficits or other transmembrane signalling abnormalities. Further investigations of these indices of secondary messenger function in relation to structural changes are indicated.     

B组轮状病毒WH-2株vp7基因的原核表达与抗体的制备

目的：在大肠杆菌中表达人B组轮状病毒WH-2株VP7蛋白并制备其兔抗血清。方法：根据B组轮状病毒（GBRV）WH-2株vp7基因的全序列设计引物,用PCR的方法扩增得到vp7基因的编码区。将其克隆到原核GST融合表达载体pGEX-KG内,转化大肠杆菌E.coliDH5α,IPTG诱导表达人B组轮状病毒WH-2株VP7蛋白,经SDS-PAGE分离纯化表达的蛋白免疫新西兰兔,制备人B组轮状病毒WH-2株VP7蛋白抗血清。结果：经鉴定确认,vp7基因以正确的方式插入到载体中,此重组表达载体经IPTG诱导后,可表达相对分子量为53.4 kDa的GST-VP7融合蛋白。制备的抗血清经同样诱导表达的表达载体pGEX-KG表达产物吸收后1：500倍稀释后用Western Blot分析,与53.4 kDa的GST-VP7融合蛋白获得特异性显色信号。结论：人B组轮状病毒WH-2株VP7蛋白成功在大肠杆菌中GST融合表达,所表达的蛋白和制备的抗体不但为研究结构与功能提供了物质基础,也为GBRV所引起的疾病预防、诊断和治疗等流行病学研究和临床诊断奠定了基础,具有重要实际应用价值。     

蛋白激酶C激活调控FOS表达参与缺血诱导神经元凋亡的研究

目的：探讨蛋白激酶C（PKC）与神经元凋亡的可能机制，方法：采用大鼠全脑缺血模型，观察脑缺血／再灌流后PKC活性，FOS表达及神经元凋亡的变化。结果：脑缺血／再灌流可以导致PKC的移位激活伴FOS表达及神经元凋亡的增加；用蛋白激酶C抑制剂灯盏花可以阻止上述变化。结论：蛋白激酶C的激活可能通过促进FOS表达参与了脑缺血／再灌流诱导的神经元凋亡。     

老年人高粘滞血症预防的初步探讨

本文报告对32例60岁以上健康老年人预防高粘滞血症的观察结果.经采取综合预防措施六年,血流变学检测表明:全血(比)粘度、血浆(比)粘度、血沉、红细胞压积均低于对照组,统计学处理表明,前三项指标P值均小于0.01,因此达到了对老年人高粘滞血症的预防目的.