The presence of immunosuppressive ''p15E-like'' factors in the serum and urine of patients suffering from malign and benign breast tumours.

Autoantibodies in sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and onchocerciasis recognize calreticulin (CaR), a calcium-binding protein, as antigen. In this study we present the immunological properties of two synthetic peptides prepared to correspond to the 1-24 and 7-24 amino acid sequence of CaR. In contrast to information previously reported for the recombinant protein, the CaR-peptide analogues appeared immunoreactive to anti-Ro/SSA autoimmune sera. Human sera from patients with SLE, Sjögren's syndrome (SS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as well as mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), demonstrated a positive autoimmune response (binding of antibodies), to the CaR-peptide analogues. These findings suggest that anti-calreticulin autoantibodies are not restricted to any disease specificity.     

Preferential activation of peripheral blood V gamma 9+ gamma/delta T cells by group A, B and C but not group D or F streptococci.

Previous studies have established that inactivated mycobacteria are potent and selective activators of V gamma 9+/V delta 2+ human gamma/delta T cells. Here we have analysed the proliferative response of human gamma/delta T cells to five serologically distinct groups of streptococci. While heat-inactivated streptococci of all five serogroups tested (A, B, C, D and F) induced a strong proliferative response in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), only groups A, B and C elicited a selective activation of V gamma 9+ gamma/delta T cells in 10 (serogroup B) or 11 (serogroups A and C) of 11 tested healthy individuals. In striking contrast, groups D and F streptococci failed to activate gamma/delta T cells in nine of 11 donors and induced only a weak gamma/delta T cell response in two additional individuals. Depletion of V gamma 9+ T cells before culture completely eliminated all gamma/delta T cell responses to streptococci. These data indicate that groups A, B and C (but not D or F) streptococci can be included in the growing list of selective ligands for V gamma 9+/V delta 2+ human gamma/delta T cells.     

An immunohistochemical study of neuronal and glial cell reactions in retinae of rats with experimental glaucoma

Glaucoma is a common disease seen in the eye clinic, but its associated pathological processes, especially the role of glial cells in glaucomatous retinae, are still under debate. The aim of the present work was to study the responses of astrocytes, Müller cells and microglia in retinae of rats with experimental glaucoma. Glaucoma was induced in adult male Wistar rats by cauterizing limbal-derived veins and the changes in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), OX42, OX18, OX6 and EDI expression were studied by immunohistochemical staining. Neuronal cell viability was studied by immunostaining with the neuronal nuclei (NeuN) antibody. In the experimental glaucomatous eyes, a significant drop in the number of NeuN-positive neurons was observed from 7 days postoperation and beyond in both the ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer. The expression of GFAP and OX42 was increased during the first 2 months after operation and reduced in rats at 3 and 4 months. OX6 and OX18 immunoreactivity was induced in some microglia of both glaucomatous and sham-operated control eyes. Possible mechanisms of the reaction of astrocytes, Müller cells and microglia in neuronal degeneration following glaucoma are discussed.     

Requirement of the T cell receptor for antigen presentation by T lymphocytes. Effect of envelope glycoproteins of HIV-1 on antigen presentation by T cells.

We have developed CD4+, tetanus antigen-specific T cell clones that proliferate in the presence of tetanus antigen and autologous irradiated peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL) as antigen-presenting cells (APC). There have been several reports that T cells can present antigen themselves. We have used tetanus antigen-specific T cell clones to examine the effects of envelope glycoproteins of HIV-1 on processing and presentation of antigen to T cells. Cloned T cells were pre-incubated with soluble crude preparation of tetanus antigen for 4 h at 37 degrees C, irradiated, and used as APC (T-APC). These cells could present antigen, as assessed by the ability of the autologous cloned T cells to proliferate. Resting T cells and phytohaemagglutinin-activated T cell blasts from autologous PBL could not present tetanus antigen to the responder cloned T cells. Antigen presentation by T-APC was abrogated by treating cells with anti-HLA-DR but not by anti-HLA-DQ monoclonal antibodies; treatment of tetanus antigen-pulsed T-APC with anti-tetanus antibody also blocked the ability of these cells to induce proliferation in responder T cells. Antigen presentation by cloned T cells was by a chloroquine-resistant pathway. Pretreatment of T-APC with envelope glycoprotein of HIV-1, gp120, did not affect the proliferative responses of the responder T cells. These data suggest that gp120 does not inhibit the antigen-presenting function while suppressing antigen-specific responses.     

尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物系统对骨巨细胞瘤细胞基质金属蛋白酶-2和组织基质金属蛋白酶抑制物-3表达的影响

目的:研究尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物(uPA)及其受体(uPAR)信号转导对骨巨细胞瘤基质金属蛋白酶-2(MMP-2)和金属蛋白酶组织抑制物-3(TIMP-3)的调节。方法:用免疫组化检测骨巨细胞瘤组织中uPAR、MMP-2和TIMP-3的表达。用免疫共沉淀法检测uPA对瘤细胞信号转导通路的p44蛋白磷酸化水平。用蛋白印迹法检测用uPA和uPAR抗体处理后瘤细胞MMP-2和TIMP-3蛋白表达。结果:(1)uPAR主要表达在部分单核基质细胞和一些多核巨细胞的胞膜上;(2)MMP-2主要表达在瘤细胞的胞浆,在多核巨细胞,其表达有明显的极向性;(3)在骨巨细胞瘤组织TIMP-3表达量低于MMP-2,在多核巨细胞也显示极向性表达;(4)将uPA-ATF加入培养的骨巨细胞瘤细胞后,细胞信号通路上的p44蛋白磷酸化水平明显增高。用uPAR抗体处理后,细胞p44蛋白磷酸化水平明显降低。说明uPA-ATF参与细胞信号转导,而且受uPAR拮抗剂的影响;(5)uPA-ATF信号通路上调MMP-2和TIMP-3的表达,而uPAR抗体则下调MMP-2和TIMP-3的表达。结论:本实验首次直接证明uPA-ATF通过信号转导能调节MMP-2和TIMP-3的表达,而后者则在骨巨细胞瘤局部骨质吸收中起重要作用。     

Case of postradiation osteosarcoma with a short latency period of 3 years

Osteosarcoma is one of the neoplasms that may occur following exposure to radiation. A case of osteosarcoma arising in the craniofacial bone with a short latency period of 3 years after radiotherapy for maxillary squamous cell carcinoma is described. A 64-year-old-man underwent right partial maxillectomy and chemoradiotherapy due to squamous cell carcinoma of his right maxillary sinus. Histologically, the tumor was composed of moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma with a component of spindle cell carcinoma. Three years later, osteosarcoma developed in the craniofacial bone within the irradiation field of the first tumor. Detailed histological examination demonstrated that there was no component of osteosarcoma in the first tumor or squamous cell carcinoma in the second tumor. Radiation-induced osteosarcoma usually occurs after a long latency period of more than 10 years after the radiotherapy. In this case, osteosarcoma was possibly a radiation-induced osteosarcoma with a short latency period of 3 years.     

重组卡介苗及猪苓多糖对荷瘤小鼠巨噬细胞NO释放量的影响

目的 观察重组卡介苗（rBCG)和中药猪苓多糖（PPS），对荷瘤小鼠空巨噬细胞释放NO的影响。方法 将黑色素瘤细胞株B16接种于小鼠左大腿外侧皮下，建立荷瘤小鼠模型，分别用rBCG－IL-2,rBCG-IL-2 PPSPPS进行局部治疗。于给药后第1，2，3和5wk处死小鼠，用NO酶法测定小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞释放NO的水平，并观察不同实验组瘤体的变化。结果 rBCG－IL－2组小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞释放NO的水平最高。与对照组相比较，PPS组小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞释放NO的水平在第1wk与第2wk增高，第3wk起与对照组释放的NO水平没有差异。rBCG－IL－2组小鼠随给药时间的延长，皮下瘤体逐渐缩小。PPS组小鼠瘤体在给药后第1wk和第2wk生长缓慢，第3wk起瘤体生长速度明显增加。结论 rBCG－IL－2与PPS能提高小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞释放NO的水平，rBCG－IL－2能明显抑制肿瘤生长。     

Serial cloning of pigs by somatic cell nuclear transfer: restoration of phenotypic normality during serial cloning.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (scNT) is a useful way to create cloned animals. However, scNT clones exhibit high levels of phenotypic instability. This instability may be due to epigenetic reprogramming and/or genomic damage in the donor cells. To test this, we produced transgenic pig fibroblasts harboring the truncated human thrombopoietin (hTPO) gene and used them as donor cells in scNT to produce first-generation (G1) cloned piglets. In this study, 2,818 scNT embryos were transferred to 11 recipients and five G1 piglets were obtained. Among them, a clone had a dimorphic facial appearance with severe hypertelorism and a broad prominent nasal bridge. The other clones looked normal. Second-generation (G2) scNT piglets were then produced using ear cells from a G1 piglet that had an abnormal nose phenotype. We reasoned that, if the phenotypic abnormality of the G1 clone was not present in the G2 and third-generation (G3) clones, or was absent in the G2 clones but reappeared in the G3 clones, the phenotypic instability of the G1 clone could be attributed to faulty epigenetic reprogramming rather than to inherent/accidental genomic damage to the donor cells. Blastocyst rates, cell numbers in blastocyst, pregnancy rates, term placenta weight and ponderal index, and birth weight between G1 and G2 clones did not differ, but were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than control age- and sex-matched piglets. Next, we analyzed global methylation changes during development of the preimplantation embryos reconstructed by donor cells used for the production of G1 and G2 clones and could not find any significant differences in the methylation patterns between G1 and G2 clones. Indeed, we failed to detect the phenotypic abnormality in the G2 and G3 clones. Thus, the phenotypic abnormality of the G1 clone is likely to be due to epigenetic dysregulation. Additional observations then suggested that expression of the hTPO gene in the transgenic clones did not appear to be the cause of the phenotypic abnormality in the G1 clones and that the abnormality was acquired by only a few of the G1 clone's cells during its gestational development.     

A complex component modulating immune-deficient cells in leprosy patients leading to loss of viability of Mycobacterium leprae--a possible vaccine.

Macrophages from peripheral blood of leprosy patients, both multi-bacillary and paucibacillary are unable to kill phagocytosed Mycobacterium leprae due to their inability to produce superoxide (O2-) and hydroxyl radicals (OH.). The macrophages from healthy individuals are able to kill M. leprae along with release of O2- and OH. radicals. The deficiency in the macrophages of both types of leprosy patients is removed by activation of these cells when exposed to a culture supernatant obtained after stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the same patients with delipidified cell components of M. leprae which are most likely cell wall proteins. The activation of macrophages also leads to recognition of whole live M. leprae as an antigen by cells from lepromatous patients. This activation of the phagocytes by delipidified cell components is blocked by cyclosporin A, indicating the possible role of several steps involved in immune activation of cells. The observations thus indicate the significant ability of delipidified cell components to eliminate the deficiencies in the macrophages from leprosy patients and restore them to behave like the cells from healthy individuals. Considering all these, it is suggested that delipidified cell components could be potential modulators, and are probably capable of functioning as a vaccine for leprosy.