Immunosenescence and age-related viral diseases

Immunosenescence is described as a decline in the normal functioning of the immune system associated with physiologic ageing.Immunosenescence contributes to reduced efficacy to vaccination and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases in the elderly.Extensive studies of laboratory animal models of ageing or donor lymphocyte analysis have identified changes in immunity caused by the ageing process.Most of these studies have identified phenotypic and functional changes in innate and adaptive immunity.However,it is unclear which of these defects are critical for impaired immune defense against infection.This review describes the changes that occur in innate and adaptive immunity with ageing and some age-related viral diseases where defects in a key component of immunity contribute to the high mortality rate in mouse models of ageing.     

Secretory/releasing proteome-based identification of plasma biomarkers in HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma

For successful therapy, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) must be detected at an early stage. Herein, we used a proteomic approach to analyze the secretory/releasing proteome of HCC tissues to identify plasma biomarkers. Serum-free conditioned media (CM) were collected from primary cultures of cancerous tissues and surrounding noncancerous tissues. Proteomic analysis of the CM proteins permitted the identification of 1365 proteins. The enriched molecular functions and biological processes of the CM proteins, such as hydrolase activity and catabolic processes, were consistent with the liver being the most important metabolic organ. Moreover, 19% of the proteins were characterized as extracellular or membrane-bound. For validation, secretory proteins involved in transforming growth factor-β signaling pathways were validated in plasma samples. Alphafetoprotein (AFP), metalloproteinase (MMP)1, osteopontin (OPN), and pregnancy-specific beta-1-glycoprotein (PSG)9 were significantly increased in HCC patients. The overall performance of MMP1 and OPN in the diagnosis of HCC remained greater than that of AFP. In addition, this study represents the first report of MMP1 as a biomarker with a higher sensitivity and specificity than AFP. Thus, this study provides a valuable resource of the HCC secretome with the potential to investigate serological biomarkers. MMP1 and OPN could be used as novel biomarkers for the early detection of HCC and to improve the sensitivity of biomarkers compared with AFP.     

Duck egg drop syndrome virus: an emerging Tembusu-related flavivirus in China

Duck egg drop syndrome virus(DEDSV) is a newly emerging pathogenic flavivirus isolated from ducks in China.DEDSV infection mainly results in severe egg drop syndrome in domestic poultry,which leads to huge economic losses.Thus,the discovery of ways and means to combat DEDSV is urgent.Since 2010,a remarkable amount of progress concerning DEDSV research has been achieved.Here,we review current knowledge on the epidemiology,symptomatology,and pathology of DEDSV.A detailed dissection of the viral genome and polyprotein sequences,comparative analysis of viral antigenicity and the corresponding potential immunity against the virus are also summarized.Current findings indicate that DEDSV should be a distinct species from Tembusu virus.Moreover,the adaption of DEDSV in wildlife and its high homology to pathogenic flaviviruses(e.g.,West Nile virus,Japanese encephalitis virus,and dengue virus),illustrate its reemergence and potential to become a zoonotic pathogen that should not be overlooked.Detailed insight into the antigenicity and corresponding immunity against the virus is of clear significance for the development of vaccines and antiviral drugs specific for DEDSV.     

自噬在肝脏蛋白质和脂质代谢中的作用

自噬是一个通过降解细胞组分如细胞器和蛋白质等以维持细胞存活和功能的重要的溶酶体途径。肝脏作为新陈代谢的中枢器官,肝脏高度依赖于自噬以发挥正常功能并防止疾病发展。肝细胞自噬的改变参与肝损伤,脂肪肝等肝病的病理变化,以自噬为靶点寻求治疗各种肝病的方法已成为热点研究领域,但自噬在肝脏蛋白质和脂质代谢中的作用极其机制尚不清楚。本文对自噬在肝脏蛋白质和脂质代谢中的作用的最新进展进行综述。     

脓毒症诊断的生物学标志物的研究进展

脓毒症是由致病微生物感染引发的全身炎症反应综合征(SIRS),合并血压降低且经快速液体复苏后血压仍不能恢复正常者称为脓毒性休克(Septic shock),其中一部分患者发展为多器官功能障碍综合症(MODS)。由于目前临床上仍缺乏早期敏感性诊断手段,脓毒症病死率居高不下。每10万人口中约50-300人会发生严重脓毒症,其短期死亡率达20%-25%,当发展为脓毒性休克时其死亡率达50%。随着分子生物学和现代生物技术的不断发展,人们发现多种生物标志物在脓毒症的早期诊断、病情及预后判断,疗效评估中发挥重要作用。因此深入了解脓毒症病理生理机制中不同生物标志物的意义及价值,对于脓毒症及其并发症的早期识别及干预,降低患者病死率及改善患者生活质量有积极意义。本文综述了近几年来对脓毒症的诊断和预后有一定价值的主要标志物及其应用。     

冰川退缩地26种丛藓科植物叶中肋细胞结构的研究

该研究应用离析方法,并通过光学显微镜对新疆天山一号冰川退缩地的26种丛藓科植物叶片中肋细胞的形态结构进行比较分析,结果表明:(1)丛藓科植物叶片的中肋细胞的长、宽和细胞壁厚度、纹孔场数目及细胞端尾数目在一定程度上存在着差异,反映出各中肋细胞的功能及导水作用在同属及不同属植物之间存在一定的差异。(2)中肋细胞的端尾多以及细胞壁的波状结构都具有增强细胞间的联系、提高机械固着和支撑作用。(3)不同生境下,中肋细胞侧壁的纹孔场数目能有效控制导水和物质交换的速度。这些特征可能都是冰川地区苔藓植物对恶劣生境的积极响应,具有一定的生态学和分类学意义。     

鄱阳湖沙地蔓荆灌丛沙堆形态特征及空间分布格局

目前灌丛沙堆研究主要集中在干旱半干旱区的沙质草原和沙漠边缘,对亚热带湿润区灌丛沙堆的形成、演变过程并不清楚。以鄱阳湖沙地为研究区,通过样方调查和地统计学的方法,研究不同沙化程度下蔓荆灌丛沙堆的形态特征及分布格局。结果表明:鄱阳湖沙地蔓荆沙堆的形态以盾形为主,其冠幅变化幅度为1.2—18.2 m~2,固定和半固定沙地显著高于流动沙地;对灌丛沙堆的形态参数来说,其长轴与短轴在固定和半固定沙地上呈极显著的线性相关关系,流动沙地上呈二次函数关系;半固定和流动沙地上沙堆底面积与沙堆高度呈二次函数关系(r0.6);3种类型沙地上灌丛底面积与沙堆体积之间极显著线性相关,其中半固定沙地线性函数的斜率最大;除固定沙地的沙堆高度和半固定沙地的灌丛高度外,3种沙地上蔓荆灌丛与沙堆的其他形态参数间均极显著相关,说明随着沙地的固定,蔓荆灌丛有利于沙堆水平尺度的增长;3种沙地上蔓荆沙堆均呈随机分布。     

高温和干旱胁迫对西红柿幼苗生长、养分含量及元素利用效率的影响

全球气候变化将增加未来高温与干旱的发生频率和强度,然而高温与干旱的交互作用对农作物生长、养分含量及其利用效率的影响还不甚清楚。因此,研究高温与干旱交互作用对农作物生理生态的影响将为准确评价农作物对未来极端气候条件的响应提供科学依据。选取全球第四大经济作物——西红柿为研究对象,在人工智能气候箱中模拟高温和干旱环境。共设置两个水分处理(正常浇水;干旱)与两个温度处理(常温-26℃/19℃(白天/夜间);高温-42℃/35℃(白天/夜间)(7d))。主要测定指标包括生物量以及生物量分配、比叶面积、养分含量(全氮、全磷)、光合元素利用效率(光合氮素利用效率、光合磷素利用效率)。研究表明,高温、干旱单独作用以及交互作用均显著降低了根、茎、叶生物量以及总生物量,并且高温干旱交互作用使总生物量降低最多。在生物量分配方面,高温单独作用显著降低了根质量分数以及根冠比,而干旱单独作用增加了根质量分数、茎质量分数以及根冠比,但降低了叶质量分数。在养分含量方面,高温单独作用导致叶片全氮、全磷含量显著降低、茎全磷含量显著增加、根全磷含量显著降低。干旱单独作用导致叶片、茎全磷含量显著降低、根全氮含量显著升高。高温与干旱交互作用对生物量分配及养分含量的影响与干旱胁迫单独作用类似。在光合元素利用效率方面,高温、干旱单独作用均降低了幼苗光合氮素利用效率、光合磷素利用效率,并且高温加剧了干旱对光合磷素利用效率的影响。因此,在未来气候变化情况下,高温与干旱交互作用可能会对农作物产生更大威胁。     

Dynamin is functionally coupled to insulin granule exocytosis

The insulin granule integral membrane protein marker phogrin-green fluorescent protein was co-localized with insulin in Min6B1 beta-cell secretory granules but did not undergo plasma membrane translocation following glucose stimulation. Surprisingly, although expression of a dominant-interfering dynamin mutant (Dyn/K44A) inhibited transferrin receptor endocytosis, it had no effect on phogringreen fluorescent protein localization in the basal or secretagogue-stimulated state. By contrast, co-expression of Dyn/K44A with human growth hormone as an insulin secretory marker resulted in a marked inhibition of human growth hormone release by glucose, KCl, and a combination of multiple secretagogues. Moreover, serial pulse depolarization stimulated an increase in cell surface capacitance that was also blocked in cells expressing Dyn/K44A. Similarly, small interference RNA-mediated knockdown of dynamin resulted in marked inhibition of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Together, these data suggest the presence of a selective kiss and run mechanism of insulin release. Moreover, these data indicate a coupling between endocytosis and exocytosis in the regulation of beta-cell insulin secretion.