基于双荧光系统的HepG2肝细胞癌原位移植裸鼠模型建立及活体荧光成像动态定量分析

目的:建立一种可以实时、定量、动态监测的肝细胞癌原位移植模型,并利用活体荧光成像系统对裸鼠体内原位肝细胞癌生长进行分析。方法:利用慢病毒包装系统包装pCDH-GFP-Luc质粒,将绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)和萤光素酶(Luc)基因通过病毒感染的方式整合到HepG2肝癌细胞染色体中,利用流式细胞术分选GFP+细胞,扩增培养后,将该细胞注射到裸鼠皮下进行成瘤,成瘤后分离肿瘤组织接种裸鼠肝脏,将造模成功的裸鼠分为对照组和治疗组,分别灌胃给与0.5%羧甲基纤维素钠(CMC-Na)和50 mg/kg索拉非尼,2/d,连续28 d,每7 d利用活体荧光成像系统观察肝癌细胞在对照组和治疗组裸鼠肝脏内的生长情况。实验结束后,分离裸鼠肝脏肿瘤,拍照称重。结果:建立了稳定表达双荧光的人肝癌细胞系HepG2-GFP-Luc,体外发光强度与表达萤光素酶的细胞数量呈正相关(R2=0.9945);建立了肝细胞癌原位移植活体荧光成像模型,对照组和治疗组肝脏内肿瘤细胞荧光强度随时间的延长逐渐增加,治疗组荧光强度明显低于对照组。定量分析结果显示,在第24、31和38 d,治疗组荧光总光子数值显著低于对照组;治疗组平均瘤重显著低于对照组。结论:建立了一种肝细胞癌原位移植荧光成像模型,可通过活体成像系统对肿瘤大小进行动态定量分析,为抗肝癌药物的药效学评价提供了实时定量分析动物模型。     

肝纤维化进程中miRNA-19b表达变化的研究

目的:观察微小RNA(miRNA)-19b在肝纤维化大鼠肝脏组织的表达,探讨miRNA-19b在肝纤维化进程中的作用.方法:将20只SD大鼠随机分成正常对照组和肝纤维化模型组.采用改良式复合因素法复制大鼠肝纤维化模型,分别在6、7周后,取各组大鼠肝脏组织,用荧光实时定量PCR方法检测miRNA-19b的表达.结果:6周后肝纤维化模型组大鼠肝脏组织miRNA-19b的表达低于正常对照大鼠组(P＜0.05),7周模型组大鼠肝脏组织miRNA-19b的表达低于6周模型组(P＜0.05).结论:miRNA-19b在肝纤维化大鼠肝脏组织中表达降低,可能与纤维化进程相关,且可能成为肝纤维的诊断以及预后的一个指标.     

藏红花抗大鼠肝纤维化的实验研究

目的:观察藏红花对实验性大鼠肝纤维化的防治效果,探讨其作用机制.方法:将清洁级雄性大鼠60只随机分为正常对照组、模型对照组、复方丹参组、藏红花组.除正常对照组外,其余3组均予四氯化碳腹腔注射,复方丹参组、藏红花组分别予复方丹参、藏红花溶液灌胃,第8周末处死动物,用放射免疫法检测血清透明质酸、层粘连蛋白、Ⅲ型前胶原和Ⅳ型胶原.肝组织切片HE、MASSON染色,显微镜下观察结果.结果:藏红花组大鼠肝纤维化病理改变较轻,血清透明质酸、层粘连蛋白、Ⅲ型前胶原和Ⅳ型胶原水平下降,与模型对照组差异显著(P<0.05).结论:藏红花具有减少肝纤维化大鼠的胶原沉积,抗肝纤维维化作用.     

小干扰RNA沉默瘦素揭示了瘦素在大鼠肝纤维化中的作用

目的观察靶向瘦素(leptin)小干扰RNA(interference,siRNA)真核细胞表达质粒对大鼠肝纤维化的影响。方法采用已构建的重组Leptin-siRNA真核细胞表达质粒,用脂质体包埋法通过腹腔注射将其导入大鼠肝纤维化模型体内。通过HE染色观察肝脏病理形态学变化;Western Blot检测leptin、I型胶原和STAT3蛋白表达变化;半定量RT-PCR检测leptin mRNA表达。结果与正常对照组相比,肝纤维化组(CCl4)和质粒空载体组(CCl4(+)K)肝纤维化程度较重,纤维化评分多为Ⅳ级(P0.01),同时肝脏leptin、I型胶原和STAT3含量明显上升(P0.05);而与肝纤维化组(CCl4)和质粒空载体组(CCl4(+)K)比,leptin-siRNA质粒转染组(The CCl4(+)L)肝纤维化程度减轻,纤维化程度多为Ⅰ-Ⅱ级,肝脏leptin、I型胶原和STAT3表达均显著抑制(P0.05)。正常对照组和leptin-siRNA质粒组(The CCl4(+)L)在组织学及leptin、I型胶原和STAT3基因转录和表达水平无统计学差异(P0.05)。结论 leptin-siRNA表达质粒降低I型胶原和STAT3含量、抑制leptin表达,阻抑肝纤维化;Leptin有望成为肝纤维化基因治疗的新靶位点。     

基于Image J软件的裸鼠肝脏原位肿瘤图像定量分析方法

目的:采用门静脉注射肝细胞癌细胞的方法,能够在裸鼠肝脏形成多发与弥散的肿瘤病灶,进而模拟进展期肝细胞癌的转移与侵袭性生长。本研究旨在建立基于图像分析软件Image J的裸鼠肝脏原位肿瘤图像定量分析方法。方法:培养高侵袭性的人肝细胞癌细胞系MHCC97-H,通过肝门静脉注射的方法,将MHCC97-H细胞接种于裸鼠肝脏,经2~4周生长,MHCC97-H细胞能够在裸鼠肝脏形成多发与弥散的肿瘤病灶;收集动物获得肝脏脏器进行拍照,对所得图片进行分析;用Image J软件对图像进行定量分析,分别确定整体肝脏脏器的面积与肿瘤病灶的面积,二者之比即可反映出肝细胞癌在裸鼠肝脏形成肿瘤病灶占肝脏脏器的面积比例;在此基础上,对接种有肝细胞癌细胞的裸鼠,行灌胃给药,给予2 mg/kg剂量的分子靶向药物索拉非尼进行治疗,分别确定对照组与治疗组肝脏形成的肿瘤病灶并进行定量分析,可依据此计算索拉非尼治疗对肿瘤病灶的抑制率。结果:MHCC97-H细胞接种能够在裸鼠肝脏形成多发与弥散的肿瘤病灶,用Image J软件可准确圈出肝脏脏器上的肿瘤病灶,确定病灶占肝脏脏器的面积比例。利用本研究的方法能够定量分析索拉非尼对MHCC97-H细胞形成多发、弥散病灶的抑制作用。结论:建立了基于图像分析软件Image J的裸鼠肝脏原位肿瘤图像定量分析方法,对抗肿瘤药物活性评价相关研究具有重要意义。     

Flk1+间充质干细胞减轻四氯化碳导致的肝纤维化的研究

许多慢性肝脏疾病都会发生肝纤维化,但是目前尚缺乏对肝纤维化切实有效的治疗手段。实验发现,Flk1(fetal liver kinase)阳性间充质干细胞(MSC)能够减轻四氯化碳(CCl4)所致小鼠肝纤维化。取雄性BALB／c小鼠骨髓,分离培养Flk1^ MSC,用CCl4制作雌性小鼠肝纤维化模型,在CCl4损伤后立即或1周后经尾静脉注射Flk1^ MSC,2或5周后检测受体小鼠肝脏的纤维化程度和供体细胞的植入。结果发现,CCl4损伤后立即注射Flk1^ MSC,可以使肝脏损伤程度明显减轻,减少胶原沉积,使肝脏羟脯氨酸含量及血清纤维化指标显下降;而损伤1周后注射细胞则无明显变化。免疫荧光、PCR和荧光原位杂交方法证实,在受体肝脏中有供体细胞植入,呈上皮细胞形态,并表达白蛋白,但是数量很少。因此,Flk1^ MSC具有潜在的植入肝组织的能力,并可能启动肝组织的内源性修复,减轻CCl4导致的肝纤维化。     

共聚焦显微技术简介

共聚焦显微镜在生物学研究中得到广泛应用,共聚焦显微技术按照显微镜构造原理的不同分成激光扫描共聚焦和数字共聚焦显微技术两种,共聚焦技术具有成像清晰,获得三维图像,进行多标记观察,活细胞内动态生理反应的实时观察记录,定性定量分析等优势,与共聚焦显微技术相关的技术有荧光染料的选择,荧光指示剂装载以及图像数据处理等。     

二次谐波显微成像技术

二次谐波非线性显微成像技术是近年发展起来的一种新型光学成像方法,已广泛应用于生物医学的各个领域。介绍了光学二次谐波产生的原理、成像装置及其技术发展,描述了二次谐波的成像特点和它与双光子荧光成像的异同,并对其在生物医学上的应用及发展前景做出展望。     

生物活组织的背向二次谐波成像

光学二次谐波成像技术由于具有三维高分辨率、不需要荧光标记、对生物样品的杀伤效应小等特点,在生物医学研究上具有广阔的应用前景.在双光子荧光成像基础上,实现了适合对厚组织样品观测的背向光学二次谐波成像,探讨了背向二次谐波成像的特点和影响因素.通过对多种生物组织样品进行大量实验,发现胶原纤维和肌肉纤维均可以产生很强的背向二次谐波,并成功地将背向二次谐波成像技术应用于糖尿病患者皮肤的观测.背向二次谐波成像技术可望推广到病理检查等临床应用中.     

用光学二次谐波成像技术观察皮肤内不同种类的胶原

目的：用光学二次谐波成像的方法比较成熟皮肤与新生皮肤内不同种类胶原的含量,以及正常皮肤与创伤皮肤内胶原种类的变化。方法：用前向及背向二次谐波观察正常及创伤皮肤内的胶原,并与传统的天狼猩红染色法相对照。结果：与传统方法相比,二次谐波可以更快速,更灵敏地检测组织中的胶原。背向二次谐波信号强度随着切片厚度的增加而增强。结论：光学二次谐波成像技术是一种灵敏、简单、快速检测皮肤组织内胶原的新方法,具有很好的应用前景,可应用于活体检测。     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.