Immunisation with the BCG and DTPw vaccines induces different programs of trained immunity in mice

In addition to providing pathogen-specific immunity, vaccines can also confer nonspecific effects (NSEs) on mortality and morbidity unrelated to the targeted disease. Immunisation with live vaccines, such as the BCG vaccine, has generally been associated with significantly reduced all-cause infant mortality. In contrast, some inactivated vaccines, such as the diphtheria, tetanus, whole-cell pertussis (DTPw) vaccine, have been controversially associated with increased all-cause mortality especially in female infants in high-mortality settings. The NSEs associated with BCG have been attributed, in part, to the induction of trained immunity, an epigenetic and metabolic reprograming of innate immune cells, increasing their responsiveness to subsequent microbial encounters. Whether non-live vaccines such as DTPw induce trained immunity is currently poorly understood. Here, we report that immunisation of mice with DTPw induced a unique program of trained immunity in comparison to BCG immunised mice. Altered monocyte and DC cytokine responses were evident in DTPw immunised mice even months after vaccination. Furthermore, splenic cDCs from DTPw immunised mice had altered chromatin accessibility at loci involved in immunity and metabolism, suggesting that these changes were epigenetically mediated. Interestingly, changing the order in which the BCG and DTPw vaccines were co-administered to mice altered subsequent trained immune responses. Given these differences in trained immunity, we also assessed whether administration of these vaccines altered susceptibility to sepsis in two different mouse models. Immunisation with either BCG or a DTPw-containing vaccine prior to the induction of sepsis did not significantly alter survival. Further studies are now needed to more fully investigate the potential consequences of DTPw induced trained immunity in different contexts and to assess whether other non-live vaccines also induce similar changes.     

Cell integrity indicators assessed by bioelectrical impedance: A systematic review of studies involving athletes

IntroductionBioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) has been used to evaluate cellular health and integrity through bioelectrical indicators. In the sporting context, monitoring these indicators can be useful to assess the quality and vitality of cells and body tissues.ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic review was to investigate indicators of cellular health and integrity evaluated by BIA in athletes.MethodsSearches were performed in December 2017 in the Lilacs, Medline, PubMed, Science Direct, Scielo, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science databases, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.ResultsThe searches retrieved 31 articles (30 involving professional athletes and one involving university athletes). In longitudinal studies (n = 15), the bioelectrical parameters directly associated with cellular health and integrity were extracellular water (ECW), phase angle (PA), BIA vector analysis (BIVA), crude reactance data (Xc), resistance (R), and ECW/BCM ratio. Regarding the findings of cross-sectional studies (n = 16), the investigated parameters (ECW, PA, BIVA, Z, BCM, and ECW/BCM) were directly associated with gender, age, sports performance level, modality, and game position.ConclusionsIn the included studies, the cellular health and integrity indicators were: Z, Xc, R, total water, intracellular water, ECW, PA, BIVA, BCM, and ECW/BCM.     

Cost-effective differentiation of hepatocyte-like cells from human pluripotent stem cells using small molecules

Significant efforts have been invested into the differentiation of stem cells into functional hepatocyte-like cells that can be used for cell therapy, disease modeling and drug screening. Most of these efforts have been concentrated on the use of growth factors to recapitulate developmental signals under in vitro conditions. Using small molecules instead of growth factors would provide an attractive alternative since small molecules are cell-permeable and cheaper than growth factors. We have developed a protocol for the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into hepatocyte-like cells using a predominantly small molecule–based approach (SM-Hep). This 3 step differentiation strategy involves the use of optimized concentrations of LY294002 and bromo-indirubin-3’-oxime (BIO) for the generation of definitive endoderm; sodium butyrate and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for the generation of hepatoblasts and SB431542 for differentiation into hepatocyte-like cells. Activin A is the only growth factor required in this protocol. Our results showed that SM-Hep were morphologically and functionally similar or better compared to the hepatocytes derived from the growth-factor induced differentiation (GF-Hep) in terms of expression of hepatic markers, urea and albumin production and cytochrome P450 (CYP1A2 and CYP3A4) activities. Cell viability assays following treatment with paradigm hepatotoxicants Acetaminophen, Chlorpromazine, Diclofenac, Digoxin, Quinidine and Troglitazone showed that their sensitivity to these drugs was similar to human primary hepatocytes (PHHs). Using SM-Hep would result in 67% and 81% cost reduction compared to GF-Hep and PHHs respectively. Therefore, SM-Hep can serve as a robust and cost effective replacement for PHHs for drug screening and development.     

超顺磁性氧化铁标记大鼠骨髓基质细胞经门静脉移植MRI活体示踪的研究

目的观察1．5T场强MRI联合动物专用线圈是否可以活体示踪经门静脉移植的纳米级超顺磁性氧化铁颗粒标记的骨髓基质细胞（bone marrow stromal cells BMSCs），为介人性门静脉骨髓基质细胞移植治疗终末期肝脏疾病的研究提供进一步的依据。方法供体大鼠5只，梯度密度离心分离BMSCs，纳米级超顺磁性氧化铁颗粒和脂质体转染BMSCs，体外经普鲁士蓝染色和HE染色确定细胞标记率。受体大鼠15只，分为5组，分别为对照组和纳米级超顺磁性氧化铁颗粒标记的骨髓基质细胞经门静脉移植人正常大鼠肝脏后2h、3d、7d及2周组。1．5T场强MRI联合动物专用线圈行T1W、T2W和T2＊序列扫描，观察肝脏信号改变情况，与对照组比较，并且与组织切片对照。结果纳米级超顺磁性氧化铁颗粒和脂质体转染BMSCs，细胞标记率〉95％。经门静脉移植人正常大鼠肝脏后，T2＊序列扫描显示经标记的BMSCs在肝内显示弥漫性的结节性低信号影，移植后2h到2周均可见到细胞在受体肝脏内存在，组织学切片显示信号缺失部位与铁颗粒标记细胞相一致。结论纳米级超顺磁性铁氧体颗粒标记的大鼠BMSCs经门静脉移植后可以通过1、5T场强行MRI活体示踪，为临床干细胞移植的应用提供可行的示踪方法。     

大黄乙醇提取物的体外抗新城疫病毒作用

目的：研究大黄乙醇提取物的抗新城疫病毒（ＮＤＶ）作用。方法：采用体外细胞培养的方法研究大黄乙醇提取物对ＮＤＶ感染的拮抗作用。结果：２０ｇ／Ｌ剂量大黄乙醇提取物对ＢＨＫ２１细胞未有任何毒性作用；０．５ｇ／Ｌ大黄对ＮＤＶ所致ＣＰＥ有明显的抑制作用；大黄可预防ＮＤＶ感染，并对ＮＤＶ的复制动力学有明显影响。结论：大黄乙醇提取物具有明显的抗ＮＤＶ作用。     

转TrkC基因神经干细胞移植对脊髓损伤的治疗作用

目的 研究转酪氨酸激酶C（tyrosine kinase C，TrkC）基因神经干细胞（neural stem cells，NSCs）移植治疗脊髓损伤的作用。方法 60只SD大鼠随机分成正常对照组（A组）、脊髓半切组（B组）、NSCs移植组（C组）、NSCs移植＋神经营养素（NT）-3局部使用（D）组、转TrkC基WNSCs移植组（E组）和转TrkC基因NSCs移植＋NT-3局部使用组（F组），每组10只。脊髓损伤后第9天进行细胞移植。各组大鼠在细胞移植后2个月，行体感诱发电位（SEP）和运动诱发电位（MEP）检查以及脊髓运动功能（BBB）评分。结果 细胞移植后2个月SEP和MEP发生潜伏期和峰峰波幅以及右后肢BBB评分的恢复均以下组最佳，与其他各组比较，差异有统计学意义（P＜ 0．05，0．01）。结论在局部给予的NT-3作用下，转TrkC基因NSCs能较好地促进损伤脊髓功能的恢复。     

Membrane-seeded autologous chondrocytes: cell viability and characterization at surgery

The implantation of chondrocytes, seeded on matrices such as hyaluronic acid or collagen membranes, is a method that is being widely used for the treatment of chondral defects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the distribution, viability and phenotype expression of the cells seeded on a collagen membrane just at the time of the implantation. Twelve patients who were suffering from articular cartilage lesions were treated by the MACI^® procedure. The residual part of each membrane was tested by colorimetric assay (MTT) and histochemical and ultrastructural analyses were carried out. In all of the samples a large number of viable cells, quite homogenously distributed, was detected. The cells expressed the markers of the differentiated hyaline chondrocytes. These data reassure in that the MACI procedure provides a suitable engineered tissue for cartilage repair, in line with the clinical evidences emerging in the literature.     

用心肌灌注显像靶心图定量分析评价AMI患者骨髓干细胞移植术疗效

目的 探讨靶心图上心肌灌注缺损区定量分析方法的可靠性、重复性及应用价值。方法 16例急性心肌梗死（AMI）行自体骨髓单个核细胞移植治疗的住院患者，于治疗前、治疗后45和90d行^99Tc^m-MIBI静息心肌灌注显像。在靶心图上勾画缺损区（在左心室靶心图中放射性计数低于40％的区域），并进行定量分析。结果 （1）不同操作者所得ROI结果之间的差异无统计学意义（t=0．52，P〉0．05）。（2）治疗后45d心肌灌注缺损区面积较治疗前缩小34．32％，差异有统计学意义（t=2．83，P〈0．05）；治疗后90d心肌灌注缺损区面积较治疗后45d缩小14．77％，差异有统计学意义（t=2．51，P〈0．05）。示自体骨髓单个核细胞移植对缺血心肌的恢复有一定疗效，能够缩小梗死面积，且自体骨髓单个核细胞冠状动脉内移植治疗AMI的疗效在移植后早期（45d内）即有体现。（3）面积百分比是观察心肌灌注变化的重要定量指标。结论 该方法对心肌病变范围及严重程度能准确定量；对评价AMI骨髓于细胞移植术疗效有一定的价值。