胶质细胞源性神经营养因子(△N39)-R9神经营养活性和透过血脑屏障的研究

为了研究胶质细胞源性神经营养因子(GDNF)在中枢神经系统疾病中的治疗应用,运用基因突变、蛋白质融合表达和蛋白质纯化技术获得分子质量较小的GDNF(△N39)活性片段.将HIV-1 Tat蛋白转导区(protein transduction domain,PTD)的9个碱性氨基酸49RKKRRQRRR57模拟物9个精氨酸(R9)与GDNF(△N39)活性片段融合表达,获得纯度达95%以上的GDNF(△N39)-R9融合蛋白.将GDNF、GDNF(△N39)、GDNF(△N39)-R9分别加入原代培养的中脑多巴胺能神经元和转染GDNF受体GFRαl和Ret的PC12细胞中,观察它们的神经营养活性和毒性.运用脑微血管内皮细胞株B-Endo 3,观察GDNF(△N39)-R9蛋白穿越血管内皮细胞膜的功能;运用脑血管内皮细胞和Matrigel铺板模拟血脑屏障,Transwell法检测Tat-GDNF(△N39)蛋白穿越脑血管内皮细胞和外周胶质膜的能力.结果显示:GDNF(△N39)-R9蛋白具有类似GDNF的神经营养活性,促进原代培养的中脑多巴胺能神经元和稳定表达GFRα1和Ret受体的PC12-GFRα1-Ret细胞株的存活,没有显示毒性,并且能很好地穿过脑微血管内皮细胞层和模拟的血脑屏障.     

胶质细胞源性神经营养因子(ΔN39)-R9神经营养活性和透过血脑屏障的研究

为了研究胶质细胞源性神经营养因子 (GDNF) 在中枢神经系统疾病中的治疗应用,运用基因突变、蛋白质融合表达和蛋白质纯化技术获得分子质量较小的GDNF(ΔN39)活性片段. 将HIV-1 Tat 蛋白转导区 (protein transduction domain,PTD) 的9个碱性氨基酸⁴⁹RKKRRQRRR⁵⁷模拟物9个精氨酸(R9)与GDNF(ΔN39)活性片段融合表达,获得纯度达95%以上的GDNF(ΔN39)-R9融合蛋白. 将GDNF、GDNF(ΔN39)、GDNF(ΔN39)-R9分别加入原代培养的中脑多巴胺能神经元和转染GDNF受体GFRα1和Ret的PC12细胞中,观察它们的神经营养活性和毒性. 运用脑微血管内皮细胞株B-Endo 3,观察GDNF(ΔN39)-R9蛋白穿越血管内皮细胞膜的功能;运用脑血管内皮细胞和Matrigel铺板模拟血脑屏障,Transwell法检测Tat-GDNF(ΔN39)蛋白穿越脑血管内皮细胞和外周胶质膜的能力. 结果显示：GDNF(ΔN39)-R9蛋白具有类似GDNF的神经营养活性,促进原代培养的中脑多巴胺能神经元和稳定表达GFRα1和Ret受体的PC12-GFRα1-Ret细胞株的存活,没有显示毒性,并且能很好地穿过脑微血管内皮细胞层和模拟的血脑屏障.     

野生稻抗病虫基因的研究与利用

野生稻是宝贵的种质资源,具有丰富的遗传多样性。多项研究表明,野生稻对多种病虫害有较强的抗性。但由于野生稻的远缘杂交存在许多的弊端,因而采用常规杂交技术不能选育出新的抗性品种而未能这到利用野生稻抗性基因的目的。可考虑从野生稻中提取抗性活性成分用于植物源农药的开发研究,但在实际的研究中发现其有效活性成分含量较少和基因遗传连锁障碍等两个问题。基因的分子标记定住技术可解决这两个难点。使野生稻特别是非AA组野生稻的抗病虫基因在植物源农药开发中的利用成为现实。     

金钟藤的危害与利用

金钟藤是旋花科。打花碗属的一种大型缠绕藤本或亚灌木植物。在森林中。它缠绕幼树使其扭曲变形,影响其正常生长;遮蔽成树接受阳光照射,无法进行光合作用,最终导致其死亡。通过介绍金钟藤的生长特点、分布和危害情况。探讨其防治方法及其可利用的可能性和价值。     

Identification of genetic associations of SP110/MYBBP1A/RELA with pulmonary tuberculosis in the Chinese Han population

Genetic factors play important roles in the development of tuberculosis (TB). SP110 is a promising candidate target for controlling TB infections. However, several studies associating SP110 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with TB have yielded conflicting results. This may be partly resolved by studying other genes associated with SP110, such as MYBBP1A and RELA. Here, we genotyped 6 SP110 SNPs, 8 MYBBP1A SNPs and 5 RELA SNPs in 702 Chinese pulmonary TB patients and 425 healthy subjects using MassARRAY and SNaPshot methods. Using SNP-based analysis with Bonferroni correction, rs3809849 in MYBBP1A [Pcorrected (cor) = 0.0038] and rs9061 in SP110 (Pcor = 0.019) were found to be significantly associated with TB. Furthermore, meta-analysis of rs9061 in East Asian populations showed that the rs9061 T allele conferred significant risk for TB [P = 0.002, pooled odds ratio (OR), 1.24, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 1.08–1.43]. The MYBBP1A GTCTTGGG haplotype and haplotypes CGACCG/TGATTG within SP110 were found to be markedly and significantly associated with TB (P = 2.00E?06, 5.00E?6 and 2.59E?4, respectively). Gene-based analysis also demonstrated that SP110 and MYBBP1A were each associated with TB (Pcor = 0.011 and 0.035, respectively). The logistic regression analysis results supported interactions between SP110 and MYBBP1A, indicating that subjects carrying a GC/CC genotype in MYBBP1A and CC genotype in SP110 possessed the high risk of developing TB (P = 1.74E?12). Our study suggests that a combination of SP110 and MYBBP1A gene polymorphisms may serve as a novel marker for identifying the risk of developing TB in the Chinese Han population.     

Lenalidomide overcomes suppression of human natural killer cell anti-tumor functions by neuroblastoma microenvironment-associated IL-6 and TGFβ1

Background

Treatment for children with high-risk neuroblastoma with anti-disialoganglioside mAb ch14.18, IL-2, and GM-CSF plus 13-cis-retinoic acid after myeloablative chemotherapy improves survival, but 40 % of patients still relapse during or after this therapy. The microenvironment of high-risk neuroblastoma tumors includes macrophages, IL-6, and TGFβ1. We hypothesized that this microenvironment suppresses anti-tumor functions of natural killer (NK) cells and that lenalidomide, an immune-modulating drug, could overcome suppression.

Methods

Purified NK cells were cultured with IL-2, neuroblastoma/monocyte-conditioned culture medium (CM), IL-6, TGFβ1, and lenalidomide in various combinations and then characterized using cytotoxicity (direct and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity), cytokine, flow cytometry, and Western blotting assays. Anti-tumor activity of NK cells with lenalidomide, ch14.18, or both was evaluated with a xenograft model of neuroblastoma.

Results

CM from neuroblastoma/monocyte co-cultures contains IL-6 and TGFβ1 that suppress IL-2 activation of NK cell cytotoxicity and IFNγ secretion. IL-6 and TGFβ1 activate the STAT3 and SMAD2/3 pathways in NK cells and suppress IL-2 induction of cytotoxicity, granzymes A and B release, perforin expression, and IFNγ secretion. Lenalidomide blocks IL-6 and TGFβ1 activation of these signaling pathways and inhibits their suppression of NK cells. Neuroblastoma cells in NOD/SCID mice exhibit activated STAT3 and SMAD2/3 pathways. Their growth is most effectively inhibited by co-injected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) containing NK cells when mice are treated with both ch14.18 and lenalidomide.

Conclusion

Immunotherapy with anti-tumor cell antibodies may be improved by lenalidomide, which enhances activation of NK cells and inhibits their suppression by IL-6 and TGFβ1.     

Fibronectin conformation regulates the proangiogenic capability of tumor-associated adipogenic stromal cells

Background

Changes in fibronectin (Fn) matrix remodeling contribute to mammary tumor angiogenesis and are related to altered behavior of adipogenic stromal cells; yet, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear due in part to a lack of reductionist model systems that allow the inherent complexity of cell-derived extracellular matrices (ECMs) to be deciphered. In particular, breast cancer-associated adipogenic stromal cells not only enhance the composition, quantity, and rigidity of deposited Fn, but also partially unfold these matrices. However, the specific effect of Fn conformation on tumor angiogenesis is undefined.

Methods

Decellularized matrices and a conducting polymer device consisting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) were used to examine the effect of Fn conformation on the behavior of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Changes in cell adhesion and proangiogenic capability were tested via cell counting and by quantification of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion, respectively. Integrin-blocking antibodies were utilized to examine varied integrin specificity as a potential mechanism.

Results

Our findings suggest that tumor-associated partial unfolding of Fn decreases adhesion while enhancing VEGF secretion by breast cancer-associated adipogenic precursor cells, and that altered integrin specificity may underlie these changes.

Conclusions and general significance

These results not only have important implications for our understanding of tumorigenesis, but also enhance knowledge of cell-ECM interactions that may be harnessed for other applications including advanced tissue engineering approaches. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Organic Bioelectronics — Novel Applications in Biomedicine.     

MicroRNA-19a targets tissue factor to inhibit colon cancer cells migration and invasion

The over-expression of tissue factor (TF) and its roles in colon cancer progression have attracted much attention. However, the mechanisms regulating TF expression have not yet been shown in detail. In this study, we over-expressed miR-19a, miR20a and miR-106b in colon cancer cells, and evaluated their impact on TF expression and cellular function. We provide evidence demonstrating that miR-19a inhibited TF expression in vitro. Luciferase reporter assay confirmed that TF was a direct target of miR-19a because the miR-19a mediated repression of luciferase activity was abolished by mutation of the putative binding site. Moreover, miR-19a suppressed colon cancer cell migration and invasion. This effect was due to the indirect down-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase 9. Finally, we investigated the relevance of TF and miR-19a expression in a total of 48 paired colon cancer samples and revealed that miR-19a was inversely correlated with TF expression in stages I and II cases. Therefore, our results suggested that miR-19a was capable of suppressing TF expression in vitro and inhibiting cell migration and invasion. Although it was not the unique mechanism responsible for the expression of TF in vivo, miR-19a was inversely correlated with TF expression in early stage colon cancer patients.