Serologic Response to SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 Patients with Different Severity

Virologica Sinica - The immense patient number caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic brings the urge for more knowledge about its immunological features, including the...     

Enhanced chemiluminescence of 6-(4-methoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3(7H)-one by attachment of a cyclomaltooligosaccharide (cyclodextrin). Attachment of cyclomaltononaose (delta-cyclodextrin)

2-Methyl-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3(7H)-one (MCLA) is an oxygen-induced chemiluminescent compound. It has been shown that the chemiluminescence can be enhanced by forming a cyclomaltooligosaccharide (cyclodextrin)-bound MCLA, and therefore, in continuation of the survey of the types of cyclodextrins, in this study, MCLA was attached to the secondary hydroxyl face of delta-cyclodextrin, which consists of nine D-glucose units. Although the oxygen-induced chemiluminescence efficiency of delta-cyclodextrin-bound MCLA in a pH 8.0 aqueous phosphate buffer was 12 times greater than that of MCLA, the efficiency was markedly lower than that of gamma-cyclodextrin-bound MCLA, which exhibited the highest chemiluminescence efficiency in the previous investigation. Although fluorescence efficiency and light-emitter formation efficiency for delta-cyclodextrin-bound MCLA were similar to those for gamma-cyclodextrin-bound MCLA, singlet-excited state formation efficiency for delta-cyclodextrin-bound MCLA was lower than that for gamma-cyclodextrin-bound MCLA. This study distinctly indicated the optimum cyclodextrin for construction of greatly luminescent cyclodextrin-bound MCLA is gamma-cyclodextrin.     

Mitochondrial superoxide production during oxalate-mediated oxidative stress in renal epithelial cells

Crystals of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) in the renal tubule form the basis of most kidney stones. Tubular dysfunction resulting from COM-cell interactions occurs by mechanism(s) that are incompletely understood. We examined the production of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) by proximal (LLC-PK1) and distal (MDCK) tubular epithelial cells after treatment with COM (25–250 μg/ml) to determine whether ROI, specifically superoxide (O₂^•−), production was activated, and whether it was sufficient to induce oxidative stress. Employing inhibitors of cytosolic and mitochondrial systems, the source of ROI production was investigated. In addition, intracellular glutathione (total and oxidized), energy status (ATP), and NADH were measured. COM treatment for 1–24 h increased O₂^•− production 3–6-fold as measured by both lucigenin chemiluminescence in permeabilized cells and dihydrorhodamine fluorescence in intact cells. Using selective inhibitors we found no evidence of cytosolic production. The use of mitochondrial probes, substrates, and inhibitors indicated that increased O₂^•− production originated from mitochondria. Treatment with COM decreased glutathione (total and redox state), indicating a sustained oxidative insult. An increase in NADH in COM-treated cells suggested this cofactor could be responsible for elevating O₂^•− generation. In conclusion, COM increased mitochondrial O₂^•− production by epithelial cells, with a subsequent depletion of antioxidant status. These changes may contribute to the reported cellular transformations during the development of renal calculi.     

Effects ofin vivo taurine depletion on induced- chemiluminescence production in macrophages isolated from rat lungs

Summary Alveolar macrophages isolated by pulmonary lavage from partially taurine-depleted ratsdemonstrated increased (2–2.6 fold) chemiluminescence due to the extracellular reaction between exogenous zymosan and various reactive forms of oxygen compared to macrophages isolated from control animals. Partial taurine depletion was achieved by adding 3% ß-alanine to the drinking water of the rats for 5 weeks prior to harvesting the macrophages. Superoxide dismutase activity was not increased in the lung tissue of the taurine-depleted rats. These data suggest that taurine has antioxidant properties and that taurine depletion is potentially deleterious to alveolar macrophages and pulmonary tissue.     

黑曲霉3.795glaA基因及其5'调控区的克隆和序列分析

黑曲霉Ｔ２１是由黑曲霉３．７９５经诱变育种获得的糖化酶高产菌株,为阐明其高产的分子机制,由黑曲霉３．７９５克隆了糖化酶结构基因及其５′旁侧序列,并与黑曲霉Ｔ２１的相应序列进行了比较．由黑曲霉３．７９５菌丝体分离染色体ＤＮＡ,Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ杂交分析表明,糖化酶结构基因位于～２．５ｋｂ的ＥｃｏＲⅠ－ＥｃｏＲⅤ染色体ＤＮＡ片段上,在此ＥｃｏＲⅠ位点上游约１．０ｋｂ处有一ＳａｌⅠ位点．为构建糖化酶结构基因及其５′旁侧序列的基因组文库,该染色体ＤＮＡ分别用ＥｃｏＲⅠ＋ＥｃｏＲⅤ和ＥｃｏＲ＋ＳａｌⅠ消化,琼脂糖凝胶电泳分离并回收长度在１．０ｋｂ左右和２．５ｋｂ左右的ＤＮＡ片段,分别与ｐＵＣ１９载体连接后转化入Ｅ．ｃｏｌｉＤＨ５．用原位杂交方法筛选到了携带糖化酶基因编码区及其１５０５ｂｐ５′旁侧序列的阳性克隆．对克隆片段的ＤＮＡ序列进行了测定并与黑曲霉Ｔ２１的相应序列进行了比较,结果表明,在糖化酶基因编码区及其１５０ｂｐ３′非编码区内,未发现碱基差异,但在－３４０～－１５０５的５′上游区内发生了９个位置的碱基变化,包括缺失、插入和替换．这些结果表明,黑曲霉Ｔ２１与３．７９５的糖化酶产量的差异与其结构基因无关,但可能与其     

神经营养因子GDNF编码顺序的克隆及表达产物的纯化

根据基因库中的顺序,设计了胶质细胞源神经营养因子（ＧＤＮＦ）基因的ＰＣＲ引物,以此从人基因组ＤＮＡ中扩增并克隆了ＧＤＮＦ的编码序列,经ＤＮＡ测序确认后,该片段克隆到表达质粒ｐＥＴ－３ａ中,转化大肠杆菌ＢＬ２１（ＤＥ３）．培养的重组菌经ＩＰＴＧ诱导,在Ｔ７启动子调控下表达出ｈＧＤＮＦ蛋白．经电泳分析表明ＧＤＮＦ主要存在于细菌包涵体中．从培养菌中制备包涵体,经充分洗涤,溶解于含８ｍｏｌ／Ｌ尿素的变性缓冲液中．经ＳＰ－Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ柱层析分离,梯度洗脱,以１５％ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ检查含ＧＤＮＦ的部分．将含单体ＧＤＮＦ部分进行复性,再次用ＳＰ－Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ离子柱分离同源二体ＧＤＮＦ．最后经ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ制备电泳纯化,纯度大于９５％．经Ｎ端测序表明序列正确．经测定,每升培养菌可得约１０ｍｇ纯化的ＧＤＮＦ．     

箬叶多糖的分离纯化及其理化性质的研究

采用分步提取的方式从中药箬叶中分离得到８种多糖组分：酸性杂多糖ＦＳ、ＦＥ、ＦⅠ,β－Ｄ－葡萄糖醛酸聚糖ＦⅡ和四种半纤维素多糖α－Ｄ－木聚糖ＦⅢ－ａ、ＦⅢ－ｂ、ＦⅣ－ａ及ＦⅣ－ｂ．紫外光谱、红外光谱、凝胶色谱、元素分析等结果表明８种箬叶多糖为纯品．并采用纸层析,气相色谱分析确定其单糖组成．采用高效凝胶渗透色谱ＧＰＣ法测定了４种箬叶多糖ＦＥ、ＦⅠ、ＦⅢ－ａ及ＦⅣ－ａ的重均分子量Ｍｗ、数均分子量Ｍｎ,均为大分子,分子量分布较窄,纯度较高．     

细胞凋亡过程中bcl-2基因的甲基化

为探讨凋亡过程中,ｂｃｌ－２基因下调与该基因甲基化状态的关系,用５－氟尿嘧啶（５－Ｆｕ）诱导小鼠成纤维细胞ＮＣ３Ｈ１０,ＴＣ３Ｈ１０及人乳腺癌细胞ＭＣＦ－７的凋亡,分别检测了这三种细胞凋亡过程中ｂｃｌ－２的表达变化,与其调控区及编码区的甲基化状况．我们曾观察到５－Ｆｕ作用２４～４８ｈ出现细胞存活率下降,ＤＮＡ梯状断裂及细胞周期凋亡峰显现等典型凋亡现象．Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ杂交显示,在５－Ｆｕ作用１２ｈ时ｂｃｌ－２ｍＲＮＡ水平已明显降低．由此,我们用小鼠ｂｃｌ－２（ｍｂｃｌ－２）及人ｂｃｌ－２（ｈｂｃｌ－２）基因调控区ＰＣＲ扩增片段及ｂｃｌ－２编码区（ｃＤＮＡ）片段作为探针,与５－Ｆｕ作用１２ｈ的细胞ＤＮＡ的ＭｓｐⅠ／ＨｐａⅡ酶切产物进行Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ杂交,以未作用的细胞ＤＮＡ同样酶切杂交为对照．通过杂交带谱的变化,分析ｂｃｌ－２基因的甲基化状况．结果显示：ｍｂｃｌ－２及ｈｂｃｌ－２在５－Ｆｕ作用１２ｈ后调控区甲基化水平增高,但其编码区甲基化状态皆未出现可检出的变化．上述结果提示：ｂｃｌ－２基因调控区甲基化水平升高可能与该基因下调有关     

维甲酸对鼻咽癌细胞生长、表型和瘤基因表达的作用

研究了维甲酸（ＲＡ）对鼻咽癌细胞生长、表型和癌基因表达的作用．用ＲＡ诱导鼻咽癌细胞,绘制诱导前后的细胞曲线,观察细胞形态,并用Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ杂交和ＤＮａｓｅⅠ超敏感区分析法检测基因表达和调控．结果表明,ＲＡ能显著抑制鼻咽癌细胞的生长,前５ｄ下降约５０％．ＲＡ处理后的细胞从典型的多边形形态变成扁平、细长,类似纤维细胞状的形态．ＲＡ诱导前ｃ－ｍｙｃ基因和ｃ－Ｈａ－ｒａｓ基因ＨＮＥ２细胞中高表达,而诱导后ｃ－ｍｙｃ基因表达水平急剧下降,ｃ－Ｈａ－ｒａｓ基因无明显改变．在实验中还发现ＲＡ诱导前后的ｃ－ｍｙｃ基因和ｃ－Ｈａ－ｒａｓ基因中一些重要的超敏感位点和它们的功能．由实验结果可得到如下结论：ＲＡ能促进鼻咽癌细胞分化,通过对染色体上调控位点的作用来抑制ｃ－ｍｙｃ基因的表达,ＤＮａｓｅⅠ超敏感位点与细胞的分化程度、细胞的组织特异性和基因表达状态有关,ｃ－ｍｙｃ基因可通过不同的调控方式而失活．     

Vitamin E prevents cell death induced by mild oxidative stress in chicken skeletal muscle cells

Apoptosis and necrosis are two forms of cell death that can occur in response to various agents and oxidative damage. In addition to necrosis, apoptosis contributes to muscle fiber loss in various muscular dystrophies as well participates in the exudative diathesis in chicken, pathology caused by dietary deficiency of vitamin E and selenium, which affects muscle tissue. We have used chicken skeletal muscle cells and bovine fibroblasts to study molecular events involved in the cell death induced by oxidative stress and apoptotic agents. The effect of vitamin E on cell death induced by oxidants was also investigated. Treatment of cells with anti-Fas antibody (50 to 400 ng/mL), staurosporine (0.1 to 100 microM) and TNF-alpha (10 and 50 ng/mL) resulted in a little loss of Trypan blue exclusion ability. Those stimuli conducted cells to apoptosis detected by an enhancement in caspase activity upon fluorogenic substrates but this activity was not fully blocked by the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk. Oxidative stress induced by menadione (10, 100 and 250 muM) promoted a significant reduction in cell viability (10%, 20% and 35% for fibroblasts; 20%, 30% and 75% for muscle cells, respectively) and caused an increase in caspase activity and DNA fragmentation. H2O2 also promoted apoptosis verified by caspase activation and DNA fragmentation, but in higher doses induced necrosis. Vitamin E protected cells from death induced by low doses of oxidants. Although it was ineffective in reducing caspase activity in fibroblasts, this vitamin diminished the enzyme activity in muscle cells. These data suggested that oxidative stress could activate apoptotic mechanisms; however the mode of cell death will depend on the intensity and duration of the stimulus, and on the antioxidant status of the cells.