维生素C对万古霉素诱导大鼠肾损伤自噬的作用

摘要 目的：探讨维生素C对万古霉素诱导肾损伤自噬水平的影响。方法：将20只雄性SD大鼠随机分为：对照组、万古霉素组、万古霉素+维生素C组和维生素C组。万古霉素组：连续每天腹腔注射400 mg/kg万古霉素;万古霉素+维生素C组：注射万古霉素之前30 min腹腔注射200 mg/kg维生素C;对照组和维生素C组分别单独注射同体积的生理盐水和200 mg/kg维生素C。连续给药7 d后,通过苏木精-伊红染色（HE）观察大鼠肾组织病理损伤;免疫组化和免疫荧光检测肾组织中LC3B和Beclin 1的表达情况,比较各组之间的表达差异。结果：相对于对照组,万古霉素诱导大鼠肾损伤模型组肾组织出现明显的病理改变,包括肾间质水肿,肾小管细胞质空泡性变化,细胞凋亡坏死等;同时观察到肾组织中LC3B光密度明显升高和Beclin 1的荧光强度显著增强。维生素C处理组,肾组织的病理损伤显著改善并且自噬相关蛋白LC3B和Beclin 1的表达显著降低。相对于对照组,维生素C单独处理组肾组织损伤和自噬相关蛋白的表达无明显变化。结论：维生素C可降低自噬相关蛋白LC3B和Beclin 1的表达,缓解万古霉素诱导的大鼠肾损伤。     

不同浓度姜黄素对胃癌SGC-7901细胞增殖、自噬性凋亡和TGF-β/Smad信号通路的影响

摘要 目的：研究不同浓度姜黄素（Cur）体外对胃癌SGC-7901细胞增殖、自噬性凋亡和TGF-β/Smad信号通路的影响。方法：体外培养SGC-7901细胞,以不同浓度Cur作用于SGC-7901细胞。MTT法检测不同浓度的Cur对SGC-7901细胞增殖的影响。Hoechst 33258法观察不同浓度Cur对SGC-7901细胞凋亡影响,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率。划痕实验检测不同浓度Cur对SGC-7901迁移能力的影响。免疫印迹法检测细胞凋亡相关蛋白NF-κB、自噬相关蛋白Beclin1、LC3Ⅱ及TGF-β/Smad信号通路蛋白TGF-β和p-smad2/3表达。结果：Cur能够抑制胃癌SGC-7901细胞的增殖和迁移,并且Cur对增殖和迁移的影响具有浓度依赖性。Cur能够促进胃癌SGC-7901细胞自噬性凋亡的发生,Cur浓度越高,SGC-7901细胞凋亡率越高（P<0.05）。Cur处理胃癌SGC-7901细胞后NF-κB、Beclin1、LC3Ⅱ表达明显升高,而TGF-β、p-smad2/3表达明显降低,且NF-κB、Beclin1、LC3Ⅱ、TGF-β和p-smad2/3的变化具有浓度依赖性。结论：Cur能够抑制胃癌SGC-7901细胞增殖和迁移并诱导自噬性凋亡的发生,其机制与促进NF-κB、Beclin1、LC3Ⅱ表达,抑制TGF-β/Smad信号通路激活有关。     

不同固定液对体外细胞系荧光蛋白淬灭及对胞内蛋白荧光染色的影响

目的:比较不同细胞固定液对荧光蛋白淬灭情况以及核内、胞浆蛋白免疫荧光染色的影响。方法:分别对融合了RFP和GFP基因的鼻咽癌HK1细胞采用95%乙醇、75%乙醇、甲醇、丙酮:甲醇=1:1、5%冰乙酸、Carnoy固定液进行固定,然后采用免疫荧光法对细胞进行免疫染色。结果:六种固定液均能使荧光蛋白猝灭。免疫荧光染色方面,对于核蛋白染色,75%乙醇、95%乙醇、丙酮:甲醇=1:1、Carnoy固定液固定后核区获得明显的荧光染色,而采用甲醇、5%冰乙酸固定后荧光染色不明显。对于胞质蛋白染色,按荧光染色的清晰程度分为固定于Carnoy固定液丙酮:甲醇=1:1甲醇5%冰乙酸75%乙醇95%乙醇,前四者固定可见分布于胞质,75%乙醇或95%乙醇固定的目标蛋白定位不清。结论:六种不同的固定液在有效失活荧光蛋白的情况下对核蛋白及胞浆蛋白抗原性的影响略有不同,可根据研究目的蛋白表达的部位及特点来选用合适的固定液。     

雷公藤甲素诱导肝细胞选择性自噬的形态学观察

摘要 目的：观察雷公藤甲素诱导肝细胞选择性自噬的水平。方法：在雷公藤甲素给药处理小鼠的尾静脉高压注射GFP-LC3质粒，制备肝细胞自噬示踪模型，观察雷公藤甲素在动物体内诱导肝细胞自噬的水平。在GFP-LC3稳定表达的L02细胞株中转入RFP-P62质粒，用活细胞工作站和荧光显微镜动态观察雷公藤甲素诱导L02细胞选择性自噬的轮廓，同时也观察细胞自噬复合体LC3-P62的变化。结果：动物实验结果表明，雷公藤甲素可显著诱导肝细胞自噬体的形成，Western blot结果显示P62蛋白和LC3II蛋白的表达趋势一致。活细胞动态观察及免疫荧光双标记实验结果表明LC3-P62存在共定位，提示雷公藤甲素可诱导肝细胞自噬流的形成。结论：雷公藤甲素可诱导肝细胞选择自噬，其生物学意义可能与肝细胞损伤后修复相关。     

Sfrp1通过阻断Wnt信号通路减轻血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导的心脏损伤并促进自噬的研究

摘要 目的：本研究旨在评估Sfrp1在血管紧张素II诱导的心肌肥厚中的心脏保护作用，并探讨其与自噬和Wnt信号通路相关的可能机制。方法：利用重组AAV9载体将Sfrp1导入Ang II诱导的肥厚型H9C2心肌细胞。用CCK8测定细胞活力。流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率。用显微照片记录肥厚细胞大小的变化。western blot检测Sfrp1、Bcl-2、Bax、CytC、Caspase-3、P62、ATG5、Beclin、LC3、β-catenin和DVL1的蛋白表达。通过qRT-PCR检测β-连环蛋白和DVL1的mRNA表达。自噬抑制剂3-MA也用于验证治疗过程中自噬的参与。结果：（1）Sfrp1成功转染H9C2细胞，其过度表达减轻了心肌肥厚。（2）经过AAV9-Sfrp1预处理可减少肥厚心肌的细胞凋亡，可逆转Ang II组自噬相关蛋白（p62、ATG5、Beclin、LC3）的表达；（3）自噬在治疗心肌肥厚过程中的作用通过可自噬抑制剂3-MA来证实。（4）激活的Wnt信号（β-连环蛋白，DVL1）也被AAV9-Sfrp1抑制。结论：Sfrp1通过Wnt信号通路促进细胞自噬，从而保护心肌细胞免受肥厚性损伤和凋亡，这为Sfrp1对心肌肥厚的心肌保护作用机制提供了一个重要的视角。     

KGF联合HIF-1α对BECN1敲除IEC-6细胞缺氧的保护作用及机制

摘要 目的：探讨KGF联合HIF-1α对BECN1敲除后的IEC-6细胞在缺氧应激状态下的保护作用及相关机制。方法：构建敲除BECN1基因的稳定细胞系IEC-6B-细胞,分为空白对照组（BC）、阴性对照组（NC）、HIF-1α组、KGF联合HIF-1α组（KH）。观察细胞形态学改变。检测细胞存活率、ATP含量、细胞周期和细胞凋亡率。检测自噬相关基因表达水平和凋亡、自噬相关蛋白的表达。结果：低氧处理24 h后,各组细胞可见梭形、星形及其它异常形态变化;NC组细胞胞质内可见大量大小不一的吞噬溶酶体泡;其他各组细胞呈现细胞早期凋亡形态变化,BC组和KH组细胞胞质中可见自噬泡。与BC组相比较,各敲除组细胞存活率均显著降低（P<0.01）,其中KH组细胞存活率高于NC组、KGF组及HIF-1α组（P<0.05）。BC组细胞内ATP含量均显著高于其他各组（P<0.05）。与BC组和KH组比较,其他三组细胞G0/G1期百分比显著增加,细胞凋亡率均显著增加（P<0.05）。与BC组相比较,其余各组细胞自噬基因BECN1、SQSTM1及LC3基因mRNA表达均显著降低（P<0.05）;Beclin 1蛋白及LC3 II/LC3 I的比值均显著降低（P<0.05）,且p62蛋白表达显著增加（P<0.05）。KH组的Bax/Bcl-2的比值、Caspase3蛋白表达低于NC组（P<0.05）。结论：KGF联合HIF-1α能促进细胞增殖、增强细胞能量代谢、减少G₀/G₁期阻滞细胞率、抑制细胞凋亡作用,对低氧应激的IEC-6B-细胞具有保护作用。     

小鼠缺血性脑损伤模型急性期海马SIRT3与自噬相关蛋白表达水平的相关性分析

摘要 目的：观察小鼠缺血性脑损伤模型急性期海马区域沉默信息因子3(SIRT3)和自噬相关蛋白的表达,并探讨两者的相关性。方法：选择C57BL/6J小鼠,采用大脑中动脉阻塞(MCAO)法建立缺血性脑损伤模型,并将小鼠随机分为假手术组(sham)和模型组(MCAO)。缺血性脑损伤急性期(6h),采用间接免疫荧光法观察小鼠海马CA1、CA3和DG区域SIRT3的表达,应用蛋白印迹法检测SIRT3、自噬相关蛋白LC3 I/II和Beclin-1的表达,而后用Spearman相关性分析明确SIRT3和LC3-II、Beclin-1表达的相关性。结果：海马各区域SIRT3阳性细胞数量在损伤后明显增多(P<0.05),且SIRT3蛋白表达也相对上调(P<0.05);损伤后自噬相关蛋白LC3-II和Beclin-1表达亦增高(P<0.05);Spearman相关性分析发现SIRT3与自噬相关蛋白LC3-II、Beclin-1表达均呈显著正相关(P<0.05)。结论：小鼠缺血性脑损伤模型急性期海马区域SIRT3和自噬相关蛋白的表达具有显著相关性,SIRT3对海马区域自噬的调节可能有重要作用。     

转化生长因子β1影响三阴性乳腺癌顺铂耐药的机制研究

摘要 目的：建立三阴性乳腺癌MDA-MB-231/顺铂（DDP）耐药细胞株,探讨转化生长因子β1（TGF-β1）调控三阴性乳腺癌DDP耐药的机制。方法：采用小剂量间歇诱导法建立MDA-MB-231耐药细胞株（MDA-MB-231/DDP）,在MDA-MB-231/DDP中构建TGF-β1沉默细胞并分为TGF-β1沉默组（sh-TGF-β1）、阴性对照组以及对照组,实时定量聚合酶链反应（RT-qPCR）检测TGF-β1含量。另取MDA-MB-231细胞和MDA-MB-231/DDP细胞分为MDA-MB-231组（正常培养MDA-MB-231敏感细胞）、MDA-MB-231-DDP组（正常培养MDA-MB-231 DDP耐药细胞）、TGFβ1-shRNA组（MDA-MB-231 DDP细胞转染TGFβ1-shRNA慢病毒载体）和MDA-MB-231-DDP+3-MA组（MDA-MB-231 DDP细胞给予5mM 3-MA处理2 h）。细胞计数试剂盒（CCK-8）法检测耐药株的半数抑制浓度（IC₅₀）,并计算耐药指数及逆转耐药指数,RT-qPCR检测TGF-β1含量,蛋白印迹法（Western blot）检测TGF-β1、自噬相关蛋白LC3-I、LC3-II表达量,激光共聚焦显微镜观察自噬流的变化,应用SPSS 20.0软件进行统计分析。结果：成功建立DDP耐药细胞株MDA-MB-231/DDP,耐药指数为5.231;MDA-MB-231/DDP细胞的TGF-β1 mRNA表达和蛋白表达较MDA-MB-231细胞显著上调（P<0.05）。DDP耐药细胞MDA-MB-231/DDP中自噬相关蛋白LC3-II/LC3-I表达较MDA-MB-231细胞显著升高（P<0.05);应用自噬抑制剂3-甲基腺嘌呤（3-MA）后MDA-MB-231/DDP细胞自噬相关蛋白LC3-II/LC3-I表达显著下降（P<0.05);沉默MDA-MB-231/DDP细胞的TGF-β1基因后,DDP耐药细胞株的耐药指数从5.231下降到3.404,同时自噬相关蛋白LC3-II/LC3-I表达降低（P<0.05）,且激光共聚焦显微镜观察到黄色和红色斑点的显著减少,表明自噬受到抑制。结论：TGF-β1与三阴性乳腺癌DDP耐药有关,其机制可能是增加自噬引起MDA-MB-231细胞DDP耐药。通过沉默TGF-β1可降低自噬水平,恢复三阴性乳腺癌细胞对DDP的敏感性。     

嗜肺军团菌重组免疫原蛋白(IP)对RAW264.7细胞自噬的影响

【目的】观察嗜肺军团菌重组免疫原蛋白(immunogenic protein,IP)对RAW264.7细胞自噬流及自噬相关因子表达水平的影响并探讨其作用机制。【方法】采用His标签蛋白纯化试剂盒纯化嗜肺军团菌重组免疫原蛋白(IP),并用CCK-8法检测IP对RAW264.7细胞半数抑制浓度(half maximal inhibitory concentration,IC₅₀)。采用低浓度(0.05×IC₅₀)、中浓度(0.1×IC₅₀)、高浓度(0.2×IC₅₀) IP与RAW264.7细胞进行体外共培养1、3、6、12 h,并设细胞对照组,应用自噬双标质粒pmCherry-C1-EGFP-LC3B检测巨噬细胞自噬流的变化,筛选最佳浓度进行后续实验;最佳浓度IP与RAW264.7细胞进行体外共培养6、12、24 h,并设细胞对照组,RT-qPCR检测各组自噬相关蛋白Beclin1、微管相关蛋白1轻链3 (microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3,LC3)、SQSTM 1 (sequestosome 1,p62)及组蛋白去乙酰化酶6 (histone deacetylase 6,HDAC6)的mRNA表达水平;Western blotting法检测各组自噬相关因子的蛋白表达水平;免疫荧光检测各组自噬相关因子的表达。【结果】根据CCK-8结果计算IC₅₀为0.26μg/μL。自噬双标质粒pmCherry-C1-EGFP-LC3B检测自噬流结果显示,与对照组相比,中浓度(0.026μg/μL) IP与RAW264.7细胞进行体外共培养后自噬流抑制显著。RT-qPCR及Western blotting检测结果显示,与对照组相比,IP与RAW264.7细胞共培养6 h,P62表达水平升高,LC3B、HDAC6、Beclin1表达水平均降低,P<0.05;与6 h组相比,12 h组LC3B表达水平降低,P62、HDAC6及Beclin1表达水平均升高,P<0.05;与12 h组相比,24 h组Beclin1表达水平升高,P<0.05。IP一定程度上以时间依赖的方式降低了LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ比值并升高了P62蛋白的表达水平,P<0.05。免疫荧光结果基本与RT-qPCR及Western blotting检测结果一致。【结论】嗜肺军团菌IP抑制巨噬细胞自噬,可能与通过影响自噬小体-溶酶体融合途径,干扰自噬小体及自噬溶酶体的形成、成熟等过程有关。     

MiR-21靶向调控Mfn2对缺血再灌注损伤肾小管上皮NRK-52E细胞自噬及凋亡的影响

摘要 目的：探讨miR-21对缺血再灌注损伤肾小管上皮细胞自噬及凋亡的影响及其与线粒体融合素2（mitochondria fusion protein mitofusin2,Mfn2）的靶向关系。方法：将大鼠近端肾小管上皮细胞株NRK-52E细胞按处理方式不同分组：I/R+control mimics组（转染control mimics后缺氧3 h/复氧3 h）,I/R+miR-21mimics组（转染miR-21mimics后缺氧3 h/复氧3 h）,I/R组（缺氧3 h/复氧3 h）及对照组（正常培养）。选取30只Sprague-Dawley(SD)大鼠,随机分为假手术组、缺血再灌注模型组(I/R组)。取大鼠肾组织进行HE染色,自动生化分析仪检测大鼠血清尿素氮（BUN）、肌酐（Cr）,四甲基偶氮唑盐比色法（MTT）检测细胞增殖能力,TUNEL法检测细胞凋亡,实时荧光定量PCR检测细胞自噬和凋亡相关基因LC3-Ⅱ、LC3-Ⅰ、Beclin1、Bcl-2、Bax及Mfn2 mRNA表达,Western blot法检测细胞自噬和凋亡相关蛋白的表达,荧光素酶实验验证miR-21与Mfn2的靶向关系。结果：Sham组大鼠血清BUN、Cr水平,大鼠肾组织细胞凋亡率高于I/R组（P<0.05）。I/R组大鼠肾组织肾小管结构紊乱,大量炎症细胞浸润。Sham组大鼠肾组织miR-21水平高于I/R组（P<0.05）。48 和 72 h 时,I/R+miR-21 mimics组细胞活力明显低于I/R+control mimics组,I/R组及对照组（P<0.05）,I/R组细胞活力低于对照组（P<0.05）。I/R+miR-21mimics组凋亡率显著高于I/R+control mimics组,I/R组及对照组（P<0.05）,I/R组凋亡率显著高于对照组（P<0.05）。与对照组比较,I/R组细胞Beclin1、LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ、Bax蛋白及基因mRNA表达量升高,Bcl-2蛋白及基因mRNA表达量降低（P<0.05）;与I/R组比较,I/R+miR-21mimics组细胞Beclin1、LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ、Bax蛋白及基因mRNA表达量升高,Bcl-2蛋白及基因mRNA表达量降低（P<0.05）。miR-21与Mfn2具有靶向关系。结论：miR-21可靶向Mfn2促进肾缺血再灌注损伤引起的凋亡及自噬。     

Sequential paraformaldehyde and methanol fixation for simultaneous flow cytometric analysis of DNA, cell surface proteins, and intracellular proteins.

A cell fixation and permeabilization procedure consisting of sequential paraformaldehyde and methanol was evaluated and found suitable for concomitant flow cytometric quantification of total cellular DNA, immunofluorescence measurements of cell surface proteins, and immunofluorescence measurements of intracellular proteins. Paraformaldehyde/methanol-fixed cells exhibited significantly greater intracellular antitubulin immunofluorescence than cells fixed with paraformaldehyde or methanol alone (p less than 0.002) and significantly greater intracellular antitubulin immunofluorescence than cells fixed with methanol followed by paraformaldehyde (p less than 0.006). With paraformaldehyde/methanol fixation, cell morphology was well preserved and forward and right angle light scatter properties were sufficiently well maintained to permit gating on these parameters. Cell surface marker staining with fluorescent anti-leukocyte antibodies was unaffected by fixation with paraformaldehyde/methanol. Paraformaldehyde effects on the intensity of DNA staining with propidium iodide were dependent on paraformaldehyde concentration and fixation temperature; these effects were least pronounced at low paraformaldehyde concentrations (0.25% or less), and at temperatures lower than 37 degrees C. Paraformaldehyde fixation may result in differences in propidium iodide staining of DNA in some diploid cells, which may produce small spurious aneuploid peaks in normal peripheral blood leukocytes. Paraformaldehyde fixation also produces an apparent increase in the DNA index of aneuploid cell populations in comparison with methanol fixation, particularly when the DNA index exceeds 1.5. Occasionally, this paraformaldehyde fixation-induced effect is useful in identifying biologically distinct near-diploid subpopulations in tumors.     

Establishment of HEp-2 cell preparation for automated analysis of ANA fluorescence pattern.

BACKGROUND: Identification of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) has large clinical importance for the assessment of autoimmune diseases. HEp-2 cell preparations on microscopic slides are commonly used as antigenic substrate. Methods used for cell preparation are important for ANA pattern analysis; however, these methods differ widely and are mostly not specified. METHODS: HEp-2 cells were fixed using acetic acid-ethanol, methanol-acetone, acetone, formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, or glutaraldehyde. Morphological analysis was done after haematoxylin-eosin staining and DAPI-staining of cell nuclei. RESULTS: The results demonstrate a high variability of cell and nuclear morphology depending on the used fixatives. Aldehyde fixatives conserved the cell structures best, acetone fixatives revealed remarkable changes. CONCLUSIONS: After selecting appropriate fixation procedures to preserve nuclear structures further experiments are necessary to find out which fixation procedure preserves the disease-linked antigens the best way and are, therefore, suitable to be used in ANA-testing of AABs.     

Flow Cytometric Analysis of DNA Content of Living and Fixed Cells: a Comparative Study Using Various Fixatives

The majority of studies dealing with DNA analyses are made on fixed cells. In this context, the efficiency as fixatives of ethanol, methanol, acetone, Carnoy, Boehm-Sprenger and aldehydes was determined using two different DNA fluorescent probes, Hoechst 33342 and propIDium iodIDe. The purpose of our study was to find the fixative that would provIDe the best results with respect to the following parameters: aggregates, cell size and granularity, and DNA staining analysis. Using murine fibroblasts, we found that 68% ethanol, 85% methanol and aldehydes dID not increase aggregate formation, whereas Carnoy, acetone or Boehm-Sprenger fixatives dID. The results show that aldehydes seem to alter cell size least. All fixatives induce an increase in cell granularity, which is very pronounced with alcohols, but aldehydes alter morphology less than alcohols. We observed that the fixatives giving the best resolution with Hoechst 33342 staining lead to a lower measurement variabili ty than with propIDium iodIDe staining. This study leads us to conclude that 68% ethanol and 85% methanol can be consIDered as appropriate fixatives for flow cytometry studies of DNA content.     

Lymphocyte membrane antigens in glycol methacrylate embedded tissue

The use of formalin or Michel's solution either alone or in combination with acetone, and acetone, methanol or ethanol alone as fixatives, and glycol methacrylate as embedding medium were evaluated for their suitability in procedures to detect lymphocyte membrane antigens by OKT and Leu monoclonal antibodies in human tonsils. No staining was detected in sections fixed in 70% or absolute ethanol and embedded in glycol methacrylate with either the direct immunofluorescence or avidin-biotin methods. Fixation in Michel's solutions plus acetone at room temperature revealed staining by both. Neither method resulted in staining after fixation in Michel's solution plus acetone at 4 C presumably due to the slow action of the fixative. Staining was enhanced using a combination of primary and secondary biotinylated antibodies. Dual staining allowed concurrent detection of two antigens in the same section. Glycol methacrylate embedding is a possible replacement for ultracold storage in the preservation of tissue for immunofluorescent staining.     

Lymphocyte Membrane Antigens in Glycol Methacrylate Embedded Tissue

The use of formalin or Michel's solution either alone or in combination with acetone, and acetone, methanol or ethanol alone as fixatives, and glycol methacrylate as embedding medium were evaluated for their suitability in procedures to detect lymphocyte membrane antigens by OKT and Leu monoclonal antibodies in human tonsils. No staining was detected in sections fixed in 70% or absolute ethanol and embedded in glycol methacrylate with either the direct immunofluorescence or avidin-biotin methods. Fixation in Michel's solutions plus acetone at room temperature revealed staining by both. Neither method resulted in staining after fixation in Michel's solution plus acetone at 4 C presumably due to the slow action of the fixative. Staining was enhanced using a combination of primary and secondary biotinylated antibodies. Dual staining allowed concurrent detection of two antigens in the same section. Glycol methacrylate embedding is a possible replacement for ultracold storage in the preservation of tissue for immunofluorescent staining.     

Intracellular localization of oligonucleotides: influence of fixative protocols

In many studies reporting the use of antisense oligonucleotides (ODN), the intracellular localization was investigated by using fluorescent-labeled oligonucleotides (F-ODN). More often, cells were fixed on uptake of F-ODN before microscopic analysis. We report here the influence of various methods of cell fixation on the intracellular localization of ODN. By confocal microscopy, we show that with unfixed cells, endocytosed peptides, oligonucleotides (Mr around 10,000), and endocytosed proteins were mainly localized in vesicular compartments. On mild fixation with paraformaldehyde, an identical intracellular localization was observed repeatedly after fixation, from immediately up to several days. In contrast, with methods based on the use of strong fixatives, such as methanol or acetone, the small molecules diffuse into the cytosol and in the case of oligonucleotides into the nucleus. These results point out the importance of the fixation protocol in the study of intracellular localization of ODN and their derivatives.     

The search for an optimal DNA, RNA, and protein detection by in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and solution-based methods

Clinical trials and correlative laboratory research are increasingly reliant upon archived paraffin-embedded samples. Therefore, the proper processing of biological samples is an important step to sample preservation and for downstream analyses like the detection of a wide variety of targets including micro RNA, DNA and proteins. This paper analyzed the question whether routine fixation of cells and tissues in 10% buffered formalin is optimal for in situ and solution phase analyses by comparing this fixative to a variety of cross linking and alcohol (denaturing) fixatives. We examined the ability of nine commonly used fixative regimens to preserve cell morphology and DNA/RNA/protein quality for these applications. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and bovine papillomavirus (BPV)-infected tissues and cells were used as our model systems. Our evaluation showed that the optimal fixative in cell preparations for molecular hybridization techniques was "gentle" fixative with a cross-linker such as paraformaldehyde or a short incubation in 10% buffered formalin. The optimal fixatives for tissue were either paraformaldehyde or low concentration of formalin (5% of formalin). Methanol was the best of the non cross-linking fixatives for in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. For PCR-based detection of DNA or RNA, some denaturing fixatives like acetone and methanol as well as "gentle" cross-linking fixatives like paraformaldehyde out-performed other fixatives. Long term fixation was not proposed for DNA/RNA-based assays. The typical long-term fixation of cells and tissues in 10% buffered formalin is not optimal for combined analyses by in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, or--if one does not have unfixed tissues--solution phase PCR. Rather, we recommend short term less intense cross linking fixation if one wishes to use the same cells/tissue for in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and solution phase PCR.     

Measurement of estrogen receptors in intact cells by flow cytometry

BACKGROUND: Estrogen receptor (ER) levels in tumor cells are important for determining the outcome of treatment and the prognosis of breast cancer patients. Flow cytometry is a convenient tool for quantifying the ER in cells, but a more sensitive, reproducible method for immunostaining the ER with anti-ER antibody is needed. Materials and Methods ER-positive human breast cancer cells MCF-7 and T47D, and ER-negative MDA-MBA-321 cells, were fixed and permeabilized by three different protocols. The cells were then stained by indirect immunofluorescence, using two commercial antibodies to ER (MA1-310 and DAKO 1D5), or by direct immunofluorescence using FITC-labeled anti-idiotypic antibody clone 1D(5). The stained cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The fixation of cells with a mixture of 0.25% paraformaldehyde and 70% methanol, permeabilization with 0.05% Triton X-100, and increasing antibody and antigen reaction time led to 80-99% of cells being stained with anti-ER antibodies. The relative brightness of ER immunostaining was as follows: anti-idiotypic antibody ID5 > MA1-310 > DAKO 1D5. CONCLUSIONS: Direct immunofluorescence with the FITC-labeled anti-idiotypic antibody of permeabilized cells resulted in improved specific staining of the ER, as compared to indirect immunofluorescence with anti-ER antibodies of fixed and permeabilized cells. Increasing the length of staining, and treatment of cells with Triton X-100, are both necessary to improve the staining of intracellular antigen for flow cytometric analysis.     

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins

"Centromeres" and "kinetochores" refer to the site where chromosomes associate with the spindle during cell division. Direct visualization of centromere-kinetochore proteins during the cell cycle remains a fundamental tool in investigating the mechanism(s) of these proteins. Advanced imaging methods in fluorescence microscopy provide remarkable resolution of centromere-kinetochore components and allow direct observation of specific molecular components of the centromeres and kinetochores. In addition, methods of indirect immunofluorescent (IIF) staining using specific antibodies are crucial to these observations. However, despite numerous reports about IIF protocols, few discussed in detail problems of specific centromere-kinetochore proteins.^1-4 Here we report optimized protocols to stain endogenous centromere-kinetochore proteins in human cells by using paraformaldehyde fixation and IIF staining. Furthermore, we report protocols to detect Flag-tagged exogenous CENP-A proteins in human cells subjected to acetone or methanol fixation. These methods are useful in detecting and quantifying endogenous centromere-kinetochore proteins and Flag-tagged CENP-A proteins, including those in human cells.     

激光微切割与定量PCR技术分析肾脏病理切片RNA

采用激光微切割与定量PCR技术,分析使用不同提取方法从不同固定方法固定的病理切片中提取的RNA.用70%乙醇、丙酮、甲醇、4%多聚甲醛固定肾脏冰冻切片,使用激光微切割技术切取肾小球,用硫氰酸胍方法(guanidinethiocyanatemethods,GTC)和Trizol试剂方法提取RNA,使用Taqman定量PCR方法分析比较各组RNA的量;选取丙酮固定的石蜡切片,使用激光微切割技术切取肾小球,采用RNA裂解液提取RNA,使用Taqman定量PCR方法,比较石蜡切片和冰冻切片中RNA含量.结果显示:提取沉淀性固定剂如乙醇、丙酮、甲醇固定的冰冻切片的RNA时,2种提取方法和3种固定方法对RNA含量的影响都无明显差异;但在提取4%多聚甲醛固定冰冻切片时,使用Trizol提取RNA含量明显高于使用GTC方法,且其含量与沉淀性固定剂固定的切片RNA含量无明显差异.石蜡切片中经激光微切割肾小球的RNA含量与冰冻切片经激光微切割肾小球的RNA含量无明显差异.结果提示:切片的固定方法和RNA的提取方法是影响切片RNA提取量的主要原因.