Upregulation of FIk-1 by bFGF via the ERK pathway is essential for VEGF-mediated promotion of neural stem cell proliferation

Neural stem cells (NSCs) constitute the cellular basis for embryonic brain development and neurogenesis.The processis regulated by NSC niche including neighbor cells such as vascular and glial cells.Since both vascular and glial cellssecrete vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF),we assessed the effect ofVEGF and bFGF on NSC proliferation using nearly homogeneous NSCs that were differentiated from mouse embryonicstem cells.VEGF alone did not have any significant effect.When bFGF was added,however,VEGF stimulated NSCproliferation in a dose-dependent manner,and this stimulation was inhibited by ZM323881,a VEGF receptor (Flk-1)-specific inhibitor.Interestingly,ZM323881 also inhibited cell proliferation in the absence of exogenous VEGF,suggestingthat VEGF autocrine plays a role in the proliferation of NSCs.The stimulatory effect of VEGF on NSC proliferationdepends on bFGF,which is likely due to the fact that expression of Flk-1 was upregulated by bFGF via phosphoryla-tion of ERK1/2.Collectively,this study may provide insight into the mechanisms by which mieroenvironmental nichesignals regulate NSCs.     

HSC的活化、增殖与TGF-β1及其Ⅰ型受体在中晚期纤维化肝组织中的改变及护肝片对其的影响

目的 探讨护肝片对中、晚期纤维化大鼠肝组织肝星状细胞（HSC）的活化与增殖及转化生长因子-β1（TGF-β1）及其工型受体（TβRⅠ）表达的影响。方法 采用12．5％CCh诱导的大鼠肝纤维化模型,自造模之日起,大鼠分组灌胃给药（护肝片921mg·kg^-1）或溶媒,每日一次,直至8或13周末,分别处死动物,取左叶肝组织石蜡包埋,制作组织芯片,免疫组化S-P法检测大鼠肝组织α-平滑肌肌动蛋白（α-SMA）、TGF-β1及TβRⅠ蛋白的表达,并用Meta Morph图像分析系统计数α-SMA阳性细胞数、对TGF-β1。及TβRⅠ蛋白表达量进行定量分析。结果 1．模型复制8周和13周,模型组的肝损伤及其纤维化分级均明显高于正常组（P〈0．01）,护肝片组的肝损伤及其纤维化分级均轻于模型组。2．模型复制8周和13周,模型组活化的HSC（即α-SMA阳性细胞）数量较正常组明显增多、TGF-β1及TβRⅠ蛋白的表达较正常组明显增强（P〈0．01）;3．护肝片显著抑制8、13周纤维化肝组织HSC的活化与增殖和TGF-β1及TβRⅠ蛋白的表达（P〈0．01）。结论 抑制HSC的活化与增殖和TGF-β1及TβRⅠ的表达可能是护肝片抗肝纤维化作用的靶点之一。     

Nitric Oxide Inducing Function and Intracellular Movement of Chicken Interleukin-18 in Cultured Cells

To evaluate the characteristics of chicken interleukin-18 (ChIL-18) in different forms in vitro,the ChIL-18 full-length gene (ChIL-18-F) and the ChIL-18 presumed mature protein gene (ChIL-18-M) werecloned and inserted into the eukaryotic expression vector pCI,to construct recombinant pCI-ChIL-18-Fand pCI-ChIL-18-M.The recombinant plasmids were then transferred into chicken splenic lymphocytes(CSLs).Western blot showed that ChIL-18-F,with a molecular weight of 23.0 kDa,was produced in CSLstransfected by pCI-ChlL-18-F;ChIL-18-M,with a molecular weight of 19.5 kDa,was produced in CSLstransfected by pCI-ChIL-18-M.The nitric oxide (NO) level in the transfected CSLs and the culture mediumat different time points was further examined under confocal microscopy using 4.5-diaminofluoresceinstaining.The results showed that both pCI-ChIL-18-F and pCI-ChIL-18-M groups showed significantincrease in intracellular and extracellular NO production compared with pCI transfected control cells.Theseresults suggest that both ChIL-18-F and ChIL-18-M could stimulate NO secretion in CSLs.To characterizethe intracellular distribution of ChIL-18,ChIL-18-F and ChIL-18-M were each fused to the enhanced greenfluorescent protein gene,and expressed in Vero cells.The results showed that the ChIL-18-F tended to themembranous region in Vero cells,while ChIL-18-M did not.This indicates that the N-terminal 27 amino acidpeptide helped ChIL-18 target to Veto cell membranes.     

Phylogenetic positions of several amitochondriate protozoa——Evidence from phylogenetic analysis of DNA topoisomerase II

In the 1980s some special protozoa were gradually recognized: being eukaryotes, they possess some characteristics between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, for example, lack of eukaryotic organelle such as mi-tochondria, and even 70S ribosomes in some species, containing 16S, 23S rRNA like those of prokaryotes. These protozoa contain diplomonads (e.g. intestinal parasite Giardia), parabasalids (e.g. venereal disease pathogen Trichomonas), microsporidia (e.g. the human pathogen Encephalitozoon), a…     

Effects of drug relief hospital-based AIDS educational methods on drug users

INTRODUCTION Today, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has become a public health and social problem that has caused significant harm to the survival and development of humanbeings. Route of transmission of Human Im- munodeficiency Virus (HIV) is still predominantly through shared syringes by drug abusers. Currently, there is no efficient medicine, treatment or educational method to prevent HIV transmission in China. Intervention is prob- ably the best “vaccine” [1]. Despi…     

Residues Met~(76) and Gln~(79) in HLA-G α1 domain involved in KIR2DL4 recognition

INTRODUCTIONThe non-classical HLA class I antigen HLA-G is mainlyexpressed on extravillous cytotrophoblasts that invade de-ciduae in uterine pregnancy. Furthermore, HLA-G canmodulate the function of most immune component cellssuch as NK cells, T cells and…     

MSM and HIV/AIDS in China

INTRODUCTION The term MSM (men who have sex with men) was introduced into mainland China in 2000. Homosexuals, without identifying gender, were used previously to de- scribe MSM by authorities, the public and even professionals. The first confirmed MSM ca…     

Proteomic Comparison of Two-Dimensipnal Gel Electrophoresis Pro- files from Human Lung Squamous Carcinoma and Normal Bronchial Epithelial Tissues

Differential proteome profiles of human lung squamous carcinoma tissue compared to paired tumor-adjacent normal bronchial epithelial tissue were established and analyzed by means of immobilized pH gradient-based two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorp-tion/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The results showed that well-resolved, reproducible 2-DE patterns of human lung squamous carcinoma and adjacent normal bronchial epithelial tissues were obtained under the condition of 0.75-mg protein-load. The average deviation of spot position was 0.733±0.101 mm in IEF direction, and 0.925±0.207 mm in SDS-PAGE direction. For tumor tissue, a total of 1241±88 spots were detected, 987±65 spots were matched with an average matching rate of 79.5%. For control, a total of 1190±72 spots were detected, and 875±48 spots were matched with an average matching rate of 73.5%. A total of 864±34 spots were matched between tumors and controls. F     

Senescence-like changes induced by expression of p21~(Waf1/Cip1) in NIH3T3 cell line

P21Waf1/Cip1 is a potent cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. As a downstream mediator of p53, p21Waf1/Cip1 involves in cell cycle arrest, differentiation and apoptosis. Previous studies in human cells provided evidence for a link between p21Waf1/Cip1 and cellular senescence. While in murine cells, the role of p21Waf1/Cip1 is indefinite. We explored this issue using NIH3T3 cells with inducible p21Waf1/Cip1 expression. Induction of p21Waf1/Cip1 triggered G1 growth arrest, and NIH3T3-p21 cells exhibited morphologic features, such as enlarged and flattened cellular shape, specific to the senescence phenotype. We also showed that p21Waf1/Cip1-transduced NIH3T3 cells expressed β-galactosidase activity at pH 6.0, which is known to be a marker of senescence. Our results suggest that p21Waf1/Cip1 can also induce senescence-like changes in murine cells.     

登革2型病毒E蛋白在酵母菌中的分泌表达

以 pPICZαB为载体 ,应用RT PCR从感染D2V的C6 / 36病变细胞中克隆全长E基因 ,电转化法将重组质粒整合入巴斯德毕赤氏酵母菌 ,经抗生素筛选、表型鉴定和PCR分析得到Mut 型的多拷贝整合菌 ,经甲醇诱导培养可产生 6 9kD的融合蛋白 ,与含组氨酸尾的D2V包膜糖蛋白分子量理论值相符 ;免疫印迹证实该表达产物可与D2VE特异性单抗和D2V多抗进行反应 ;表达产物经金属螯合亲和层析可获得纯化的含组氨酸尾的E融合蛋白并保留其免疫反应性。研究显示克隆的全长D2VE基因可在毕赤氏酵母菌中高效分泌表达 ,E融合蛋白最大表达量 0 .1g/L。