Expression of Angiopoietin-1/-2 in the Process of Mouse Embryo Implantation

This study examined the expression and distribution of angiopoietin-1/-2 （Ang-1/-2） in the endometrium of early pregnant mice. The expression of Ang-1/-2 was detected by immunohistochemical staining and in situ hybridization respectively. Computerized image analysis system was used to measure the average optical intensity of Ang-1/-2 in endometria at different time points after gestation. Mice were randomly divided into 5 groups： control group, D2 group （2 days after pregnancy）, D4 group （4 days after pregnancy）, D6 group （6 days after pregnancy） and D8 group （8 days after pregnancy）, each containing 15 mice. The results showed that the expression of Ang-1 and Ang-2 was very different among 4 groups （P〈0.01）. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that Ang-1 was localized in the cytoplasma of stromal cells 2 days after pregnancy （day 2）, and in luminal epithelial cells on day 4. The protein of Ang-2 was mainly expressed in the cytoplasma of glandular epithelia and stromal cells. With gestation time, the positive reactions of Ang-1/-2 were stronger in the endometria of the pregnant mice （P〈0.01）. In situ hybridization showed Ang-I mRNA in stromal cells on day 2. Hybridization signal was localized in both stromal cells and vessel epithelial cells on day 4; Ang-2 mRNA was expressed in stromal cells and glandular epithelia on day 2; high mRNA levels appeared in stromal cells, glandular epithelia and vascular endothelia on day 4; an increasing in mRNA expression of Ang-1/-2 was observed on day 6 and day 8 （P〈0.01）. It is suggested that Ang-1/-2 may play an important role in the cross-talk between blastocyst and maternal endometrium during the process of embryo implantation.

Comparative effects of α2δ-1 ligands in mouse models of colonic hypersensitivity

AIM: To investigate anti-hypersensitive effects of α2δ-1 ligands in non-inflammatory and inflammationassociated colonic hypersensitivity(CHS) mouse models.METHODS: To induce an inflammation-associated CHS, 1% dextran sulfate sodium(DSS) was administered to C57Bl/6J male mice, in drinking water, for 14 d. Regarding the non-inflammatory neonatal maternal separation(NMS)-induced CHS model, wild-type C57BI/6J pups were isolated from their mother from day 2 to day 14(P2 to P14), three hours per day(from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.). Colorectal distension was performed by inflating distension probe from 20 μL to 100 μL by 20 μL increment step every 10 s. After a first colorectal distension(CRD), drugs were administered subcutaneously, in a cumulative manner,(Gabapentin at 30 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg; Pregabalin at 10 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg; Carbamazepine at 10 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg) and a second CRD was performed one hour after each injection.RESULTS: The visceromotor response(VMR) to CRD was increased by our NMS paradigm protocol in comparison to non-handled(NH) mice, considering the highest distension volumes(80 μL: 0.783 ± 0.056 mV /s vs 0.531 ± 0.034 m V/s, P < 0.05 and 100 μL: 1.087 ± 0.056 m V/s vs 0.634 ± 0.038 m V/s, P < 0.05 for NMS and NH mice, respectively). In the inflammationassociated CHS, DSS-treated mice showed a dramatic and significant increase in VMR at 60 and 80 μL distension volumes when compared to control mice(60 μL: 0.920 ± 0.079 m V/s vs 0.426 ± 0.100 m V/s P < 0.05 and 80 μL: 1.193 ± 0.097 mV /s vs 0.681 ± 0.094 mV /s P < 0.05 for DSS- and Water-treated mice, respectively). Carbamazepine failed to significantly reduce CHS in both models. Gabapentin significantly reduced CHS in the DSS-induced model for both subcutaneous injections at 30 or 100 mg/kg. Pregabalin s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e d u c e d V M R t o C R D i n t h e n o n-inflammatory NMS-induced CHS model for the acute subcutaneous administration of the highest cumulative dose(30 mg/kg) and significantly reduced CHS in lowdose DSS-treated mice in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, the percent decrease of AUC induced by acute GBP or Pregabalin treatment were higher in the inflammatory DSS-induced CHS model in comparison to the non-inflammatory NMS-induced CHS model.CONCLUSION: This preclinical study demonstrates α2δ-1 ligands efficacy on inflammation-associated CHS, highlighting their potential clinical interest in patients with chronic abdominal pain and moderate intestinal inflammation.

Anti-tumor effects induced by gene vaccines co-expressing truncated human prostate specific membrane antigen gene and mouse 4-1BBL

Objective To investigate the influence of m4-1BBL on anti-tumor effects induced by truncated human prostate specific membrane antigen ( tPSMA ) gene in mice. Methods A eukaryotic expression plasmid encoding tPSMA and m4-1BBL ( pDC316-tPSMA-IRES m4-1BBL) ,pDC316-tPSMA and pDC316 were constructed.

Isatin decreases Bax protein expression in the substantia nigra of a mouse model of Parkinson's disease

The present study observed the action of 1H-indole-2, 3-dione （isatin） on Bax protein expression in the substantia nigra of a Parkinson＇s disease animal model. Parkinson＇s disease-like behaviors were induced in C57BL/6J mice treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine （MPTP） Bax protein expression was significantly reduced in isatin （100, 200 mg/kg）-pretreated mice. Results demonstrate that isatin plays a neuroprotective role in mice treated with MPTP by down-regulating Bax protein expression.

Current humanized mouse models for studying human immunology and HIV-1 immuno-pathogenesis

A robust animal model for "hypothesis-testing/mechanistic" research in human immunology and immuno-pathology should meet the following criteria.First,it has well-studied hemato-lymphoid organs and target cells similar to those of humans.Second,the human pathogens establish infection and lead to relevant diseases.Third,it is genetically inbred and can be manipulated via genetic,immunological and pharmacological means.Many human-tropic pathogens such as HIV-1 fail to infect murine cells due to the blocks at multiple steps of their life cycle.The mouse with a reconstituted human immune system and other human target organs is a good candidate.A number of human-mouse chimeric models with human immune cells have been developed in the past 20 years,but most with only limited success due to the selective engraftment of xeno-reactive human T cells in hu-PBL-SCID mice or the lack of significant human immune responses in the SCID-hu Thy/Liv mouse.This review summarizes the current understanding of HIV-1 immuno-pathogenesis in human patients and in SIV-infected primate models.It also reviews the recent progress in the development of humanized mouse models with a functional human immune system,especially the recent progress in the immunodeficient mice that carry a defective gammaC gene.NOD/SCID/gammaC-/(NOG or NSG) or the Rag2-/-/gammaC-/double knockout (DKO) mice,which lack NK as well as T and B cells (NTB-null mice),have been used to reconstitute a functional human immune system in central and peripheral lymphoid organs with human CD34+ HSC.These NTB-hu HSC humanized models have been used to investigate HIV-1 infection,immuno-pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions.Such models,with further improvements,will contribute to study human immunology,human-tropic pathogens as well as human stem cell biology in the tissue development and function in vivo.

Tumor-associated autoantibodies are useful biomarkers in immunodiagnosis of α-fetoprotein-negative hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM To determine the prevalence and diagnostic value of autoantibodies inα-fetoprotein(AFP)-negative hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS Fifty-six serum samples from AFP-negative HCC cases,86 from AFP-positive HCC cases,168 from chronic liver disease cases,and 59 from normal human controls were included in this study.Autoantibodies to nucleophosmin(NPM)1,14-3-3zeta and mouse double minute 2 homolog(MDM2)proteins in AFP-negative HCC serum were evaluated by enzymelinked im munosorbent assay.Partially positive sera were further evaluated by western blotting.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of three tumor-associated antigens(TAAs)in AFP-negative HCC and normal control tissues.RESULTS The frequency of autoantibodies to the three TAAs in AFP-negative HCC sera was 21.4%,19.6%and 19.6%,which was significantly higher than in the chronic liver disease cases and normal human controls(P<0.01)as well as AFP-positive HCC cases.The sensitivity of the three autoantibodies for diagnosis of AFP-negative HCC ranged from 19.6%to 21.4%,and the specificity was approximately 95%.When the three autoantibodies were combined,the sensitivity reached 30.4%and the specificity reached 91.6%.CONCLUSION Autoantibodies to NPM1,14-3-3zeta and MDM2 may be useful biomarkers for immunodiagnosis of AFP-negative HCC.

Lipopolysaccharide enhances the inhibition of NF-κB expression in NNK-mediated peritoneal macrophages

Objective： The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of lipopolysaccharide （LPS） on the expression of nuclear factor kappa B （NF-κB） in 4-（methylitrosamino）-1-（3-pyridyl）-1-butanone （NNK）-mediated primary mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro. Methods： The activity of peritoneal rnacrophages treated with different concentrations of LPS was detected by MTT assay in rider to find the optimal concentration. Peritoneal macrophages were also treated with NNK （100-500 μM）, with or without LPS for 9 h. The expression of NF-κB was demonstrated via immunocytochemistry （ICC） and Western- blot, respectively. Results： The concentration of LPS at 25 μg/mL was found to be the optimal concentration to improve the activity of peritoneal macrophages （P 〈 0.01）. Simultaneously, LPS （25 μg/mL） increased the expression of NF-κB in both the nucleus and cytoplasm and facilitated transfer of NF-κB to the nucleus. NNK treatment significantly inhibited the expression of NF-κB in a concentration-dependent manner, among the LPS-stimulated or unstimulated peritoneal macrophages, especially when cotreated with LPS （25 μg/mL, P 〈 0.01 ）. Furthermore, NNK treatment （500 μM） with LPS yielded a significant decrease in NF-κB translocation to nucleus and inhibited the expression of NF-κB （P 〈 0.005）. Conclusion： LPS enhances the suppression of NF-κB expression in NNK-mediated mouse peritoneal macrophages, which may provide a theoretical basis for the inhibition of cancer.

Lack of an Additive Effect between the Deletions of Klf5 and Nkx3-1 in Mouse Prostatic Tumorigenesis

Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignancies.The development and progression of prostate cancer are driven by a series of genetic and epigenetic events including gene amplification that activates oncogenes and chromosomal deletion that inactivates tumor suppressor genes.Whereas gene amplification occurs in human prostate cancer,gene deletion is more common,

核心蛋白聚糖与纤维化

核心蛋白聚糖(DCN)是富含亮氨酸的蛋白聚糖基因家族的一种小分子的成员之一,研究发现该基因及蛋白与组织、器官的纤维化形成和发展密切相关。众多学者对其生物学特性、部分组织的表达情况以及其抗纤维化机制进行了研究,确定了该物质调节纤维化形成的作用。现综述DCN基因及蛋白在纤维化过程中的相关研究概况。