Tissue-specific expression and cold-induced mRNA levels of uncoupling proteins in the Djungarian hamster

The uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), a mitochondrial transmembrane protein, is responsible for adaptive thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT). Two UCP1 homologues, UCP2 and UCP3, were recently discovered, but it is controversial whether they also play a role in energy homeostasis. Djungarian hamster UCPs were found to exhibit high similarity with homologues known in other species. UCP1 mRNA was restricted to BAT, UCP2 mRNA was expressed in multiple tissues, and UCP3 mRNA was detected mainly in BAT and skeletal muscles. We examined the cold-induced regulation of hamster UCP mRNA levels and tested their correlation with serum free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations. In BAT UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3 expression was upregulated in the cold, but the increase and time course of increase differed. In skeletal muscle, UCP2 and UCP3 mRNA levels were not altered. Cold-induced changes of serum FFA levels correlated with the stimulation of UCP1 mRNA in BAT but not with UCP2 and UCP3.     

Infection of cells with replication deficient adenovirus induces cell cycle alterations and leads to downregulation of E2F-1

Gene products of recombinant replication-deficient adenovirus vectors of the first generation (Ad vector) can induce cell cycle dysregulation and apoptosis after infection in eukaryotic cells. The mechanisms underlying this complex process are largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated the regulation of the pRb/E2F-1 complex, which controls transition from G(0)/G(1) to S phase of the cell cycle. As Ad vector infection results in a decrease in the number of cells in G(0)/G(1) phase of the cell cycle, we observed a decline of the pRb protein level and, surprisingly, also a decrease of the E2F-1 protein and mRNA level in infected cell lines. Furthermore, in contrast to the reduction of cells in the G(0)/G(1) phase we observed increased protein levels of p53 and p21 proteins. However, as experiments in p53 deficient cell lines indicated, the decrease of pRb and E2F-1 is independent of p53 and p21 expression. Moreover, results obtained with Rb deficient cell lines indicated that the reduced E2F-1 expression is independent of pRb. These results suggest that Ad vector-induced cell cycle dysregulation is associated with a specific downregulation of E2F-1 independent of Rb and p53 genomic status of cells.     

A codominant role of Fc gamma RI/III and C5aR in the reverse Arthus reaction

Recent attempts to specify the relative contribution of FcR and complement in various experimental systems of immune complex disease have led to opposing conclusions. As concluded in IgG FcRgamma-/- mice, manifestation of disease is almost exclusively determined by FcgammaR on effector cells, arguing for a minor role of complement. In contrast, data obtained with C5aR-/- mice suggested that, dependent on the tissue site, complement is more important than FcgammaR. In this paper, we demonstrate that, in response to IgG immune complex formation, FcgammaRI/III- and C5aR-mediated pathways are both necessary and only together are they sufficient to trigger the full expression of inflammation in skin and lung. Moreover, both effector systems are not entirely independent, suggesting an interaction between FcgammaR and C5aR. Therefore, FcgammaR-mediated responses can be integrated through C5aR activation, which may explain why these two receptor pathways have previously been considered to dominate each other.     

Expression and function of the mouse collagen receptor glycoprotein VI is strictly dependent on its association with the FcRgamma chain

Platelet glycoprotein (GP) VI has been proposed as the major collagen receptor for activation of human platelets. Human GPVI belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily and is noncovalently associated with the FcRgamma chain that is involved in signaling through the receptor. In mice, similar mechanisms seem to exist as platelets from FcRgamma chain-deficient mice do not aggregate in response to collagen. However, the activating collagen receptor on mouse platelets has not been definitively identified. In the current study we examined the function and in vivo expression of GPVI in control and FcRgamma chain-deficient mice with the first monoclonal antibody against GPVI (JAQ1). On wild type platelets, JAQ1 inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen but not PMA or thrombin. Cross-linking of bound JAQ1, on the other hand, induced aggregation of wild type but not FcRgamma chain-deficient platelets. JAQ1 stained platelets and megakaryocytes from wild type but not FcRgamma chain-deficient mice. Furthermore, JAQ1 recognized GPVI (approximately 60 kDa) in immunoprecipitation and Western blot experiments with wild type but not FcRgamma chain-deficient platelets. These results strongly suggest that GPVI is the collagen receptor responsible for platelet activation in mice and demonstrate that the association with the FcRgamma chain is critical for its expression and function.     

低免疫原性的新型葡激酶ΔNMSak在大肠杆菌中的高效表达和分离纯化

为了降低野生型葡激酶 (wild- type staphylokinase,wt- Sak)的免疫原性 ,对已构建的葡激酶N端缺失突变体 (ΔNSak) c DNA进行改造 ,将其主要的抗原决定簇编码序列突变为丙氨酸密码子 .该突变体 (ΔNMSak) c DNA与原核表达载体 p LY- 4重组后 ,转化大肠杆菌 JF1 1 2 5.经温度诱导 ,ΔNMSak获得高效表达 ,重组蛋白占全菌总蛋白的 60 % ,以包涵体形式存在 .包涵体经洗涤 ,8mol/L尿素溶解 ,稀释复性 ,离子交换色谱一步分离至电泳纯 ,纯度达 95%以上 ,分子量与理论值相符 ,比活性 8.5× 1 0 4 HU/mg.经 ELISA法、发色底物法测定 ,ΔNMSak与 wt- Sak制备的兔抗wt- Sak抗血清的免疫反应性显著降低 ,经抗血清温育后 ,wt- Sak活性下降程度远高于 ΔNMSak.ΔNMSak、wt- Sak分别免疫豚鼠 ,以 ELISA法测定豚鼠血清中相应抗体的效价 ,ΔNMSak组的抗体效价明显低于 wt- Sak组 ,表明 ΔNMSak的免疫原性显著下降 .     

DNA分子标记信息不完全的统计处理

显性分子标记提供的有关该标记基因型的遗传信息是不完全的 ,缺失标记则丧失了它本来可能提供的遗传信息 .根据遗传学和统计学的一些基本原理 ,导出了一种通用算法 ,可以在F₂ 代群体中系统地恢复基因组上所有显性和缺失标记的基因型信息 ,从而增进构建数量性状基因图和标记辅助选择等工作的效率和精度 .这一方法也可方便地推广应用于一个标记具有 3种基因型的各类群体 ,例如由F₂ 自交衍生的高世代群体和随交群体等     

不同治疗方案对原发免疫性血小板减少症患者外周血调节T细胞水平变化的影响及其意义分析(英文)

目的:探讨原发免疫性血小板减少症(immune thrombocytopenia,ITP)患者治疗前后外周血调节性T细胞(regulatory T cell,Treg)水平变化及其在ITP发病中的作用。方法:选取2010年6月至2013年7月间276例新诊断ITP患者,男114例、女162例,中位年龄40(18-70)岁。按治疗方案随机分为地塞米松组(90例):地塞米松40 mg/d第1~4天口服;泼尼松组(98例):泼尼松1.5 mg·kg-1·d-1口服;2泼尼松组(98例):泼尼松1.5 mg·kg-1·d-1口服;地塞米松+小剂量利妥昔单抗组(88例):地塞米松40 mg/d第1-4天口服,利妥昔单抗100 mg第7、14、21、28天静脉滴注。各组患者于治疗前、治疗后14 d和28 d分别采取外周静脉血,采用流式细胞术检测CD4+CD25+CD127-细胞水平。以60名健康体检者为正常对照组。结果:治疗后第28天,地塞米松组、泼尼松组、地塞米松+小剂量利妥昔单抗组的总有效率分别66.7%、69.4%、79.5%,差异无统计学意义;随访12个月,泼尼松组(37.8%)和地塞米松组(22.7%)之间差异无统计学意义,而与地塞米松+小剂量利妥昔单抗组持续有效率(66.7%),差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。所有ITP患者治疗前外周血CD4+CD25+CD127-细胞表达水平低于健康对照组[(1.66±0.69)%对(4.01±0.38)%,P0.05];地塞米松组、泼尼松组患者治疗后14d CD4+CD25high CD127low细胞水平均高于治疗前[(3.46±0.76)%对(1.68±0.72)%、(3.22±0.77)%对(1.69±0.74)%,P值均0.05];地塞米松+小剂量利妥昔单抗组治疗后14、28d CD4+CD25+CD127-细胞水平[(4.27±1.08)%、(4.43±0.62)%]均高于治疗前[(1.67±0.67)%],差异有统计学意义(P值均0.05);治疗后28 d,泼尼松组、地塞米松组患者CD4+CD25+CD127-细胞水平[(2.68±0.63)%、(2.58±0.66)%]与治疗前比较差异无统计学意义。结论:地塞米松联合小剂量利妥昔单抗在长期疗效及提升T细胞数量方面显著优于地塞米松和泼尼松,值得临床推广。     

Effects of a plant product consisting of green tea and curcuma extract on milk production and the expression of hepatic genes involved in endoplasmic stress response and inflammation in dairy cows

During the periparturient phase, cows are typically in an inflammation-like condition, and it has been proposed that inflammation associated with the induction of stress of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in the liver contributes to the development of fatty liver syndrome and ketosis. In the present study, the hypothesis that supplementation of dairy cows with a plant product consisting of green tea (95%) and curcuma extract (5%) rich in polyphenols attenuates inflammation and ER stress in the liver during early lactation was investigated. Twenty-seven cows were assigned to two groups, either a control group (n = 14) or a treatment group (n = 13). Both groups of cows received a total mixed ration, and the ration of the treatment group was supplemented with 0.175 g of the plant product per kg dry matter from week 3 prepartum to week 9 postpartum. Dry matter intake and energy balance during week 2 to week 9 postpartum were not different between the two groups. However, cows supplemented with the plant product had a greater amount of energy-corrected milk during week 2 to week 9 postpartum and lower concentrations of triacylglycerols and cholesterol in the liver in week 1 and week 3 postpartum than cows of the control group (p < 0.05). Cows supplemented with the plant product showed a trend towards a reduced mRNA concentration of haptoglobin (p < 0.10), while relative mRNA concentrations of eight genes of the unfolded protein response considered in the liver were not different between the two groups of cows. Relative hepatic mRNA concentration of fibroblast growth factor, a stress hormone induced by various stress conditions, was reduced at week 1 and week 3 postpartum in cows supplemented with the plant product (p < 0.05). Overall, the data of this study suggest that – although there were only minor effects on the occurrence of ER stress and inflammation – a supplementation of polyphenols might be useful to improve milk yield and prevent fatty liver syndrome in dairy cows.     

Production and Functional Characterization of Murine Osteoclasts Differentiated from ER-Hoxb8-Immortalized Myeloid Progenitor Cells

In vitro differentiation into functional osteoclasts is routinely achieved by incubation of embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, or primary as well as cryopreserved spleen and bone marrow-derived cells with soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand and macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Additionally, osteoclasts can be derived from co-cultures with osteoblasts or by direct administration of soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand to RAW 264.7 macrophage lineage cells. However, despite their benefits for osteoclast-associated research, these different methods have several drawbacks with respect to differentiation yields, time and animal consumption, storage life of progenitor cells or the limited potential for genetic manipulation of osteoclast precursors. In the present study, we therefore established a novel protocol for the differentiation of osteoclasts from murine ER-Hoxb8-immortalized myeloid stem cells. We isolated and immortalized bone marrow cells from wild type and genetically manipulated mouse lines, optimized protocols for osteoclast differentiation and compared these cells to osteoclasts derived from conventional sources. In vitro generated ER-Hoxb8 osteoclasts displayed typical osteoclast characteristics such as multi-nucleation, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining of supernatants and cells, F-actin ring formation and bone resorption activity. Furthermore, the osteoclast differentiation time course was traced on a gene expression level. Increased expression of osteoclast-specific genes and decreased expression of stem cell marker genes during differentiation of osteoclasts from ER-Hoxb8-immortalized myeloid progenitor cells were detected by gene array and confirmed by semi-quantitative and quantitative RT-PCR approaches. In summary, we established a novel method for the quantitative production of murine bona fide osteoclasts from ER-Hoxb8 stem cells generated from wild type or genetically manipulated mouse lines. These cells represent a standardized and theoretically unlimited source for osteoclast-associated research projects.