Summary： Alveolar epithelial type II （AT II） cells are essential for lung development and remodeling, as they are precursors for type I cells and also produce other non-repair cells （fibroblasts）. Progenitor ceil...Summary： Alveolar epithelial type II （AT II） cells are essential for lung development and remodeling, as they are precursors for type I cells and also produce other non-repair cells （fibroblasts）. Progenitor ceils are believed to possess capability of multi-potent transdifferentiation, which is closely related to the niche, suggesting the importance of establishment of a lung progenitor cell niche model. We hypothesized that pulmonary surfactant-associated protein A （SPA） suicide gene system would cause AT II cell to kill itself through apoptosis and leave its niche. In vitro, the recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors-SPA-thymidine kinase （rAAV-SPA-TK） system was established to get targeted apoptotic AT II cells. The apoptosis of AT II cells was detected by using MTT. The results showed that cloned SPA gene promoter had specific transcriptional activity in SPA high expression cells, and SPA high expression cells （H441） transfected with TK gene had higher sensitivity to ganciclovir （GCV） than SPA low expression cells （A549）. In vivo, increased apoptosis of AT II cells induced by GCV in rAAV-SPA-TK system was observed by TUNEL. Finally, the successful packaging and application of rAAV-SPA-TK system provide experimental basis to get specific lung progenitor cell （AT II） niche in vitro and in vivo.展开更多
Objective To evaluate the alterations of biomarkers in the development and progression of coal workers＇ pneumoconiosis （CWP）. Methods The type and number of cells, and the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha （T...Objective To evaluate the alterations of biomarkers in the development and progression of coal workers＇ pneumoconiosis （CWP）. Methods The type and number of cells, and the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α）, pulmonary surfactant protein, phospholipids and fibronectin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were assayed in 14 health active coal miners, 21 coal miners without CWP and 13 miners with CWP of 0/1 to 1/1. Results Compared to active coal miners without CWP （8,23μg/mL）, TNF-α concentration was gradually decreased when dust exposure was stopped （5.90 μg/mL）. Elevated surfactant protein A （SP-A） level and phosphatidylglycerol （PG） to phosphatidylinositol （PI） ratio were found in miners actively exposed to coal dust （6528 μg/mL for SP-A and 10. for PG/P1）, and both parameters decreased when CWP progressed from CWP （0/1） （3419μg/mL for SP-A and 5.9 for PG/PI） to CWP （1/1） （1654 μg/mL for SP-A and 5.5 for PG/PI）. Conclusion Biomarkers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid can be used to screen coal miners at high risk of developing coal workers＇ pneumoconiosis.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.30500224)
文摘Summary： Alveolar epithelial type II （AT II） cells are essential for lung development and remodeling, as they are precursors for type I cells and also produce other non-repair cells （fibroblasts）. Progenitor ceils are believed to possess capability of multi-potent transdifferentiation, which is closely related to the niche, suggesting the importance of establishment of a lung progenitor cell niche model. We hypothesized that pulmonary surfactant-associated protein A （SPA） suicide gene system would cause AT II cell to kill itself through apoptosis and leave its niche. In vitro, the recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors-SPA-thymidine kinase （rAAV-SPA-TK） system was established to get targeted apoptotic AT II cells. The apoptosis of AT II cells was detected by using MTT. The results showed that cloned SPA gene promoter had specific transcriptional activity in SPA high expression cells, and SPA high expression cells （H441） transfected with TK gene had higher sensitivity to ganciclovir （GCV） than SPA low expression cells （A549）. In vivo, increased apoptosis of AT II cells induced by GCV in rAAV-SPA-TK system was observed by TUNEL. Finally, the successful packaging and application of rAAV-SPA-TK system provide experimental basis to get specific lung progenitor cell （AT II） niche in vitro and in vivo.
基金This research was supported by University of Essen in Germany and Xishan Coal & Power Company
文摘Objective To evaluate the alterations of biomarkers in the development and progression of coal workers＇ pneumoconiosis （CWP）. Methods The type and number of cells, and the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α）, pulmonary surfactant protein, phospholipids and fibronectin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were assayed in 14 health active coal miners, 21 coal miners without CWP and 13 miners with CWP of 0/1 to 1/1. Results Compared to active coal miners without CWP （8,23μg/mL）, TNF-α concentration was gradually decreased when dust exposure was stopped （5.90 μg/mL）. Elevated surfactant protein A （SP-A） level and phosphatidylglycerol （PG） to phosphatidylinositol （PI） ratio were found in miners actively exposed to coal dust （6528 μg/mL for SP-A and 10. for PG/P1）, and both parameters decreased when CWP progressed from CWP （0/1） （3419μg/mL for SP-A and 5.9 for PG/PI） to CWP （1/1） （1654 μg/mL for SP-A and 5.5 for PG/PI）. Conclusion Biomarkers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid can be used to screen coal miners at high risk of developing coal workers＇ pneumoconiosis.
