Localization of adhesion molecules on human spermatozoa by fluorescence microscopy

Summary.  The expression of adhesion molecules on human spermatozoa of healthy probands was analysed. The localization patterns of adhesion molecules (AM) on the spermatozoal surface were documented by fluorescence microscopy. Spermatozoa were incubated with antibodies against α1 (CD49a), α2 (CD49b), α3 (CD49c), α4 (CD49d), α5 (CD49e), α6 (CD49f) chains of β1 integrins, β1 (CD29), β2 (CD18), αV (CD51), β3 (CD61) and β4 integrin chains, the LFA-3 (Lymphocyte function antigen, CD58) from the immunoglobulin superfamily and the extracellular matrix proteins laminin, fibronectin and collagen IV. For collagen IV, α1 and α2 chains no expression could be noticed. Laminin was detected at the acrosomal membrane, fibronectin and β4 chain mainly at the equatorial membrane. The fibronectin receptors α3, α4 and α5 chains of the β1 integrins were mainly located on acrosomal and equatorial membrane areas. Laminin receptor α6 chain was located postacrosomal and less frequently acrosomal. β2 chain and vitronectin receptors αV and β3 chains had a mainly postacrosomal localization pattern. LFA-3 was found constantly on postacrosomal membrane areas. Double staining technique was used to prove the simultaneous occurrence of fibronectin and its integrin receptors α3, α4 and α5 chains and of αV and β2 chains on spermatozoa. The localization patterns of integrins on double stained spermatozoa were similar to the patterns described for single stained spermatozoa. The localization of fibronectin appeared to be influenced by the presence of integrins: the typical equatorial fibronectin band disappeared in case of an equatorial localization of integrins.     

PTEN基因在喉鳞癌中的表达及意义

目的:探讨蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶基因(PTEN)在喉鳞癌中的表达及其临床意义.方法:应用半定量RTPCR方法检测喉癌组织中PTEN mRNA的表达.结果:淋巴结转移组喉癌较正常喉组织PTEN mRNA表达下降有统计学意义(P＜0.05).病理低分化与高分化相比,PTEN mRNA表达差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论:PTEN基因表达下降在喉鳞癌演进中起重要作用.     

Expression of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 gene products in the short-term cultured skin tissues of an adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma patient with cutaneous manifestations.

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is recognized as a disease etiologically associated with human T lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) infection, but, neither viral replication nor specific virus antigen expression have been detected on ATLL cells distributed in organs, including skin. To examine the latent expression of HTLV-1 in the cutaneous lesions of ATLL patients, we cultured the lesional skin tissues in vitro and applied immunofluorescence staining with mouse monoclonal antibodies Lt-4, GIN-14, and F10, which react with p40tax, p19 and gp21, respectively. We recognized HTLV-1 specific antigens on clustered ATLL cells only in the deeper dermis of the skin after 24 hrs cultivation of the lesional skin tissue from an ATLL patient in RPMI-1640 medium supplemented with 20% fetal calf serum. In the electron microscope, we observed HTLV-1 like particles, 80-140 nm in diameter with envelope and core structures, in the same tissue specimen. These findings suggest that HTLV-1 gene products may be expressed in the skin lesions of ATLL patients and involved in the pathogenesis of skin eruptions in cutaneous type ATLLs. To our knowledge, this is the first report that envisages the potency of intracutaneous HTLV-1 expression in vivo.     

Effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on biological characteristics of osteoblasts

Objective: To elucidate the effects of exogenous basic fibroblast growth factor ( bFGF ) on biological characteristics of rat osteoblasts cultured in vitro. Methods: The osteoblasts isolated from a Sprague-Dawley rat and cultured in vitro were treated with different concentrations of bFGF ( 5-50 ng/ml) respectively. At 24 hours after treatment, the proliferating cell nuclear antigen was measured with immunocytochemistry, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was determined and the expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 ( TGF-β1 )was detected to observe the effects of bFGF on growth and differentiation of osteoblasts. Resu/ts: bFGF ( 5-50 ng/ml ) could obviously promote the growth of osteoblasts. The intracellular expression of TGF-β1 mRNA increased significantly, but the intracellular ALP content decreased. Conclusions: bFGF can obviously stimulate the proliferation of osteoblasts and promote the synthesis of TGF-β1, but cannot promote the differentiation of osteoblasts.     

人巨细胞病毒pp150基因的原核表达及抗原性分析

①目的 构建人巨细胞病毒（HCMV）PP150的原核高效表达系统，制备用于急性，活动性HCMV感染血清学诊断的基因工程抗原。②方法 PCR扩增HCMV PP150抗原决定簇（840-1048aa）编码基因片段，分别插入原核表达载体PMAL-p2,pet-28a，转化宿主菌E.coli.诱导表达，经麦芽糖亲和层析树脂纯化，以WesternBlot及间接ELISA法鉴定及其抗原性。③结果 重组表达质粒PMAL-P2-PP150可在E.coli.5DH5a中有效表达，表达产物经SDS-PAGE电泳后，凝胶成像系统分析显示相对分子质量约为6.4万，约占菌体蛋白的10%。而重组质粒pET-28a-pp150未见明显表达带，Western-Blot检测，阳性识别率为80%（12/15）。用此蛋白包被ELISA板，检测正常孕妇血清，阳性率为6.5%(17/263)。与本室制备的全病毒抗原的ELISA的诊断符合率为96%。④结论此重组蛋白具有良好的抗原性，进一步完善后可用于HCMV急性和活动性感染的诊断。     

High level production of soluble single chain antibodies in small-scale Escherichia coli cultures

We have investigated the effect of growth and induction conditions on the production of soluble single-chain Fv antibody fragments in Escherichia coli under the control of wt lac promoter. The scFv was directed into the periplasmic space by a pelB leader sequence. Addition of sucrose to the medium gave a 15–25-fold increase in the yield of soluble scFv-phOx (3.0 mg/l) for bacterial shake-tube cultures and an increase of 80–150-fold (16.5 mg/l) for shake-flask cultures. Using flask culture in the presence of 0.4 M sucrose, a significant amount of scFv was released into the medium. We found that the scFv could be made to accumulate in the periplasm or be secreted into the medium by simply changing the incubation conditions and the concentration of the inducer. The ratio between soluble antibody fragments and insoluble scFv aggregates proved to be dependent on the strength of the promoter. Lowering the incubation temperature below 20°C had no effect on the yield of soluble antibody fragments in the periplasm, but they were no longer secreted into the medium. An example of high level production in shake-flask cultures and one-step purification by immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) is described for a soluble scFv specific for the T cell surface antigen CD3. The biological activity of the purified anti-CD3 scFv was demonstrated by flow cytometry. This method should be especially useful for the functional screening of a large number of clones in small-scale cultures.     

Analysis of gene expression in MOG-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis after treatment with a novel brain-penetrating antioxidant

Accumulating data from experimental studies indicate that oxidative stress has a major role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). It has been suggested that local production of reactive oxygen species, probably by macrophages, mediates axonal damage in both MS patients and the mouse model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We have shown previously that our novel brain-penetrating antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine amide (AD4), reduces the clinical and pathological symptoms, including inflammation and axonal damage in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-induced chronic EAE in mice. The aim of this study was to examine the molecular mechanism by which AD4 exerts protection in MOG-induced EAE mice. Therefore, we analyzed gene-expression profile in the spinal cords of MOG-induced chronic EAE mice and compared them with MOG-induced mice treated with AD4, using a cDNA microarray. We found that MOG treatment up-regulated genes encoding growth factors, cytokines, death receptors, proteases, and myelin structure proteins, whereas MOG- and AD4-treated mice demonstrated gene expression profiles similar to that seen in na?ve healthy mice. In conclusion, our study shows that chronic AD4 administration suppresses the induction of various pathological pathways that play a role in EAE and probably in MS.     

Expression of 5α-Reductase Type 2 Gene in Human Testis, Epididymis and Vas Deferens

Objectives To study the expression pattern of 5α-reductase type 2 gene in human male reproductive organsMethods The expression level of 5α-reductase type 2 gene inhuman testis, epididymis and vas deferens tissues was determined by in situ hybridization using Digoxin labeled 5α-reductase type 2 cRNA probe.Results The brown granules of hybridizing signals distributed in the cytoplasm of Sertoli and Leydig cells of the testis, the principle cells of epididymis and the epithelial cells of vas deferens, but there was no positive signal in the nuclei of above-mentioned cells. No positive signal was observed in germ cells, basement of the testis, interstium of epididymis and basement, as well as smooth muscle of vas deferens. Conclusion This study confirmed that the 5α-reductase type 2 gene expressed in Sertoli , Leydig cells of the testis, and the principle cells of epididymis. The expression pattern of the gene in these cells in human was similar to that of rat and monkey. The presence of 5α-reductase t     

巨噬细胞炎性蛋白4的突变和原核表达

目的 探索如何抑制嗜酸细胞的趋化作用，选择β-趋化因子巨噬细胞炎性蛋白4（MIP4）的突变性（Met-MIP4)作为趋化因子受体3的拮抗剂，将Met-MIP4基因在原核细胞中进行表达。方法 设计MIP4基因的PCR引物并进行氨基酸突变，将MIP4N末端的丙氨酸突变为蛋氨酸，以正常人肺酸突变，将MIP4N末端的丙氨酸突变为蛋氨酸。以正常人肺cDNA文库为模板，PCR方法获取Met-MIP4基因，克隆入载体pUC19，测序验证序列已得到突变，将正确的基因插入到GST融合表达载体pGEX-4T中，以IPTG诱导表达。结果 PCR产物为220bp左右的片段，连接入pUC19质粒后测序验证获得正确突变，构建的pGEX-4T融合表达载体在大肠杆菌中表达，经SDS-PAGE凝胶电泳显示有大小约34kU的新生融合蛋白表达。结论 成功突变并克隆了β-趋化因子MIP4基因，SDS-PAGE表明，与GST融合的Met-MIP4突变体已得到表达，为进一步研究其生物学活性奠定了基础。