含CEA片段的重组腺病毒转染DCs诱导特异性T细胞对结直肠癌细胞株的体外杀伤作用

目的:探讨人外周血单核细胞来源的树突状细胞转染含CEA片段的重组腺病毒后所诱导的特异性T细胞对直肠癌细胞株LOVO和SW480的体外杀伤作用。方法:抽取HLA表型为A11的健康志愿者外周血,分离单核细胞,体外培养,使用含CEA片断的重组腺病毒转染未成熟DCs,诱导特异性T细胞。检测体外培养的DCs和CTL活性,并使用MTT法检测CTL对LOVO细胞的杀伤作用。结果:转染或未转染的体外培养的成熟DCs高表达CD40、CD86,IL-12,诱导的CTL细胞高表达IFN-γ;转染后DCs诱导特异性CTL可有效识别并杀伤HLA-A11阳性的LOVO细胞。结论:重组腺病毒转染DCs,不明显改变DCs表型和刺激淋巴细胞增殖、分化功能,可诱导自体CTL增殖,含CEA片断的腺病毒转染DCs诱导自体CTL对LOVO细胞有明显杀伤作用。

New mutation points in 23S rRNA gene associated with Helicobacter pyloriresistance to clarithromycin in northeast China

AIM: TO investigate the resistance rate of Helicobacter pylori(H pylori) to clarithromycin, metronidazole, amoxicillin and tetracycline to guide clinical practice, and to study the mechanism of Hpylori resistant to clarithromycin. METHODS: Thirty Hpyloristrains were isolated from the mucosa of peptic ulcer, gastric tumor and chronic gastritis patients, then the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) to clarithromycin, metronidazole, amoxicillin and tetracycline was evaluated by E-test method. The sequence analysis of PCR fragments was conducted in 23S rRNA gene of H pylori resistant to clarithromycin to get the resistance mechanism of the bacteria. RESULTS: Among 30 Hpyloristrains, 7 cases were resistant to clarithromycin, 12 to metronidazole, 2 to tetracycline and no strain was found to be resistant to amoxicillin. The resistance rates were 23.3%, 40%, 6.7% and 0%, respectively. Three new mutation points were found to be related to the clarithromycin resistance in Hpyloriisolates, which were G2224A, C2245T and T2289C. CONCLUSION: In northeast China, H pylori shows high resistance to metronidazole, while sensitive to amoxicillin. The mechanism of resistance to clarithromycin may be related to the mutation of G2224A, C2245T and T2289C in the 23S rRNA gene.

Comparison Study on Clinical and Neuropathological Characteristics of Hamsters Inoculated With Scrapie Strain 263K in Different Challenging Pathways

Objective To understand the infectious characteristics of a hamster-adapted scrapie strain 263K with five different routes of infection including intracerebral (i.e.), intraperitoneal (i.p.), intragastrical (i.g.), intracardiac and intramuscular (i.m.) approaches. Methods Hamsters were infected with crude- or fine-prepared brain extracts. The neuropathological changes, PrPSc deposits, and patterns of PK-resistant PrP were analyzed by HE stain, immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay and Western blot. Reactive gliosis and neuron loss were evaluated by glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) specific IHC. Results The animals inoculated in i.m. and Lp. ways with crude PrPSc extracts showed clinical signs at the average incubation of 69.212.8 and 65.5±3.9 days. Inoculation in i.c. and intracardiac ways with fine PrPSc extracts (0.00035 g) caused similar, but relative long incubation of around 90 days. Only one out of eight hamsters challenged in i.g way with low dosage (0.01 g) became ill after a much longer incubation (185 d), while all animals (4/4) with high dosage (0.04 g) developed clinical signs 105 days postinfection. The most remarkable spongiform degeneration and PrPSc deposits were found in brain stem among the five challenge groups generally. The number of GFAP-positive astrocytes increased distinctly in brain stems in all infection groups, while the number of NSE-positive cells decreased significantly in cerebrum, except i.c. group. The patterns of PK-resistant PrP in brains were basically identical among the five infection routes. Conclusion Typical TSE could be induced in hamsters by inoculating strain 263K in the five infection ways. The incubation periods in bioassays depend on infective dosage, administrating pathway and preparation of PrPSc. The neuropathological changes and PrPSc deposits seem to be related with regions and inoculating pathways.

Leptin receptor expression in the basolateral nucleus of amygdala of conditioned taste aversion rats

AIM: To determine whether serum leptin level and the leptin receptor (OB-R) expression in the basolateral amygdala (BLA)change following conditioned taste aversion (CTA) formation.METHODS: The serum leptin concentration was measured by rat leptin RIA kit, long and short forms of leptin receptor (OB-Rb and OB-Ra) mRNA in the brain sections were examined by in situ hybridization (ISH) and the expression of OB-R was assessed by immunohistochemistry ABC method with a highly specific goat anti-OB-R antibody.RESULTS: The level of serum leptin didn't show significant difference between CTA and control group. Comparing with the control group, the CTA group had an increase on count of OB-R immunohistochemistry positive-stained cells in the BLA (127±12 vs 48±9 per 1 mm2). The OB-Rb mRNA expression level enhanced by 11.9 % in the BLA, while OBRa mRNA level increased by 7.4 % on the choroid plexus in CTA group. So BLA was supposed to be a region where interactions between gustatory and vagal signals take place.CONCLUSION: BLA is one of the sites, which are responsible for CTA formation in the brain. Leptin and OB-R maybe involved in neuronal communication for CTA. So leptin and its receptors probably take part in CTA and integration of autonomic and extroceptive information.

A Novel near Net-Shape Technique for P/M Parts with Large H/D Ratio

In order to overcome the shortcomings of conventional hot pressing, a novel near net-shape technique, called radial hot pressing, for P/M parts with large height-to-diameter (H/D) ratio was introduced. Effects of processing parameters on the microstructures and density of P/M TiAl base alloy valves were studied. Results show that the radial hot pressing is an effective technique for manufacturing valves with a H/D ratio of about 10:1, and the perfect joint interface between the Mo sheet and the parts is helpful for subsequent HIPing.

Dormancy Breaking and Storage Behavior of Garcinia cowa Roxb. （Guttiferae） Seeds： Implications for Ecological Function and Germplasm Conservation

Abstract: The dormancy breaking and storage behavior of Garcinia cowa Roxb. seeds were investigated. The seeds of G. cowa had 8–11 months dormancy in their natural habitat. Seeds were matured and dispersed at the end of the rainy season (mid-late August to late September) and were scatter-hoarded by rodents as food for winter after the seeds had fallen to the ground. Seedlings often emerged in the forest during the rainy season (May to August) the following year. Intact seeds of G. cowa failed to germinate after being sown at 30 °C for 120 d and the mean germination time (MGT) of seeds cultured in a shade (50% sunlight) nursery was 252 d. The most effective method of breaking dormancy was to remove the seed coat totally, which reduced the MGT to 13 d at 30 °C. Germination was also promoted by partial removal of the seed coat (excising the hilum and exposing the radicle) and chemical scarification (immersion in 1% H2O2 for 1 d). Unscarified seeds take up water rapidly in the first 96 h, but water was absorbed by the outside seed coat, without penetrating through it. The moisture content (MC) of G. cowa seeds was high (50% in fresh weight) at shedding. The seeds could tolerate desiccation to some extent, until the MC reached approximately 40%; below that, the viability decreases rapidly and all seeds died at approximately 17% of MC. Seed viability decreased rapidly when seeds were chilled at 4 °C; germination was 2% after storage for 1 week. Even stored at 10 °C, seeds began to be damaged after 4 weeks. Seed storage for 1 yr revealed that in both dry (relative humidity (35 ± 5)%) and moist (wet sand) storage conditions, seed viability declined, but germination percentages for seeds stored under moist conditions are better than for seed stored under dry conditions. Because of their low tolerance to desiccation, marked chilling sensitivity and relatively short lifespan, G. cowa seeds should be classified into the tropical recalcitrant category. The ecological implications of dormant recalcitrant seeds and cues on storing recalcitrant seeds were discussed.

Activation-Induced Cell Death in T Cells and Autoimmunity

Activation-induced cell death(AICD),which results from the interaction between Fas and Fas ligand,is responsible for maintaining tolerance to self-antigen.A defect in AICD may lead to development of autoimmunity.During the last several years,much progress has been made in understanding the mechanism(s) of AICD and its potential role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.In this review,we summarize the most recent progress on the regulation of the susceptibility of T cells to AICD and its possible involvement in autoimmune diseases.Cellular & Molecular Immunology.2004;1(3):186-192.

SYNTHESIS OF HYDROPHILIC ZnS NANOCRYSTALS AND THEIR APPLICATION IN PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF DYE POLLUTANTS

Hydrophilic ZnS nanocrystals with narrow size distribution were synthesized via homogeneous precipita- tion using EDTA as stabilizer. The as-synthesized products were characterized with XRD, TEM, HRTEM and UV-Vis spectrum. UV-Vis spectra showed that ZnS nanocrystals exhibited strong quantum-confined effect with a blue shift in the band gap of light absorbance. The photocatalytic activity of these nanocrystals was also investigated for the liquid phase photocatalytic degradation of Basic Violet 5BN (BV5) dye under UV irradiation. It was found that the ZnS nanocrystals had good catalytic activity for photodegradation of BV5.

A Genome Sequence of Novel SARS-CoV Isolates: the Genotype, GD-Ins29, Leads to a Hypothesis of Viral Transmission in South China

We report a complete genomic sequence of rare isolates (minor genotype) of the SARS-CoV from SARS patients in Guangdong, China, where the first few cases emerged. The most striking discovery from the isolate is an extra 29-nucleotide sequence located at the nucleotide positions between 27,863 and 27,864 (referred to the complete sequence of BJ01) within an overlapped region composed of BGI-PUP5 (BGI-postulated uncharacterized protein 5) and BGI-PUP6 upstream of the N (nucleocapsid) protein. The discovery of this minor genotype, GD-Ins29, suggests a significant genetic event and differentiates it from the previously reported genotype, the dominant form among all sequenced SARS-CoV isolates. A 17-nt segment of this extra sequence is identical to a segment of the same size in two human mRNA sequences that may interfere with viral genome replication and transcription in the cytosol of the infected cells. It provides a new avenue for the exploration of the virus-host interaction in viral evolution, host pathogenesis, and vaccine development.

The E Protein Is a Multifunctional Membrane Protein of SARS-CoV

The E (envelope) protein is the smallest structural protein in all coronaviruses and is the only viral structural protein in which no variation has been detected. We conducted genome sequencing and phylogenetic analyses of SARS-CoV. Based on genome sequencing, we predicted the E protein is a transmembrane (TM) protein characterized by a TM region with strong hydrophobicity and α-helix conformation. We identified a segment (NH2-_L-Cys-A-Y-Cys-Cys-N_-COOH) in the carboxyl-terminal region of the E protein that appears to form three disulfide bonds with another segment of corresponding cysteines in the carboxyl-terminus of the S (spike) protein. These bonds point to a possible structural association between the E and S proteins. Our phylogenetic analyses of the E protein sequences in all published coronaviruses place SARS-CoV in an independent group in Coronaviridae and suggest a non-human animal origin.

Complete Genome Sequences of the SARS-CoV: the BJ Group (Isolates BJ01-BJ04)

Beijing has been one of the epicenters attacked most severely by the SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus) since the first patient was diagnosed in one of the city's hospitals. We now report complete genome sequences of the BJ Group, including four isolates (Isolates BJ01, BJ02, BJ03, and BJ04) of the SARS-CoV.It is remarkable that all members of the BJ Group share a common haplotype, consisting of seven loci that differentiate the group from other isolates published to date. Among 42 substitutions uniquely identified from the BJ group, 32 are non-synonymous changes at the amino acid level. Rooted phylogenetic trees, proposed on the basis of haplotypes and other sequence variations of SARS-CoV isolates from Canada, USA, Singapore, and China, gave rise to different paradigms but positioned the BJ Group, together with the newly discovered GD01 (GD-Ins29) in the same clade, followed by the H-U Group (from Hong Kong to USA) and the H-T Group (from Hong Kong to Toronto), leaving the SP Group (Singapore) more distant. This result appears to suggest a possible transmission path from Guangdong to Beijing/Hong Kong, then to other countries and regions.