模拟氮沉降对杉木丛枝菌根真菌侵染率和球囊霉素的影响

杉木是我国南方重要的速生用材树种,同时南方面临着日益增强的大气氮沉降。尽管有大量的研究探索了氮沉降对杉木林的影响,但关于氮沉降对杉木与丛枝菌根真菌（arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF）共生关系影响的研究则较少报道。以10年生杉木为研究对象,模拟了不同氮沉降水平（N3：3 g N m^-2a^-1,N6：6 g N m^-2a^-1和Control：0 g N m^-2a^-1）对AMF侵染率和球囊霉素的影响。结果显示：在冬季,与对照相比,N3处理显著增加了AMF侵染率,N6处理显著增加易提取球囊霉素的含量,而氮沉降对总球囊霉素含量无显著影响。在春季,与对照相比,N3处理显著增加AMF侵染率,但是显著降低了易提取球囊霉素的含量。N6处理显著增加总球囊霉素的含量,但显著降低易提取球囊霉素的含量。相同氮添加情况下,春季的AMF侵染率显著低于冬季,而球囊霉素含量（易提取球囊霉素和总球囊霉素）均显著高于冬季的。土壤有效磷与AMF侵染率显著负相关,而与易提取球囊霉素和总球囊霉素含量显著正相关。侵染率与pH显著正相关,球囊霉素与pH显著负相关。本实验针对AMF侵染率和球囊霉素的含量对于氮沉降的响应做出探讨,对全面了解杉木与AMF之间的共生关系对氮沉降的响应及其机制提供了新的参考。     

光免疫治疗的抗肿瘤研究进展

光免疫治疗是一种新兴的肿瘤靶向光疗手段,它将单克隆抗体的肿瘤特异性与光吸收剂的光毒性相结合,可以快速且极具免疫原选择性地诱导靶肿瘤细胞的死亡。由于靶向性强,光免疫治疗的副作用小。而且因为该疗法诱导的免疫原性死亡会引起垂死肿瘤细胞周围未成熟树突状细胞的快速成熟,继而将肿瘤抗原提呈给CD8+T细胞,导致治疗后CD8+T细胞的激活和增殖,增强宿主抗肿瘤免疫反应。不仅如此,光免疫治疗还能通过增强纳米药物的肿瘤组织穿透性而提高疗效。鉴于光免疫治疗的优良应用前景,文中从其免疫激活机制、超级高渗透长滞留效应、新进展与联合治疗等方面进行综述,旨在为其深入研究和临床转化提供参考。     

A New Coronary Retroinfusion Technique in theRat Infarct Model: Transjugular Cardiac Vein Catheterization

Cell delivery via the retrograde coronary route boasts less vessel embolism, myocardial injury, and arrhythmogenicity when compared with those via antegrade coronary administration or myocardial injection. However, conventional insertion into the coronary sinus and consequent bleeding complication prevent its application in small animals. To overcome the complication of bleeding, we described a modified coronary retroinfusion technique via the jugular vein route in rats with myocardial infarction (MI). A flexible wire with a bent end was inserted into the left internal jugular vein and advanced slowly along the left superior vena cava. Under direct vision, the wire was run into the left cardiac vein by rotating the wire and changing the position of its tip. A fine tube was then advanced along the wire to the left cardiac vein. This modified technique showed less lethal hemorrhage than the conventional technique. Retroinfusion via transjugular catheter enabled efficient fluid or cell dissemination to the majority areas of the free wall of the left ventricle, covering the infarcted anterior wall. In conclusion, transjugular cardiac vein catheterization may make retrocoronary infusion a more safe and practical route for delivering cell, drug, and gene therapy into the infarcted myocardium of rats.     

In Vivo Delivery of Adenoviral Vector Containing Interleukin-17 Receptor A Reduces Cardiac Remodeling and Improves Myocardial Function in Viral Myocarditis Leading to Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Th17 cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of myocarditis. Interleukin (IL)-17A produced by Th17 cells is dispensable for viral myocarditis but essential for the progression to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). This study investigated whether the adenoviral transfer of the IL-17 receptor A reduces myocardial remodeling and dysfunction in viral myocarditis leading to DCM. In a mouse model of Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)-induced chronic myocarditis, the delivery of the adenovirus-containing IL-17 receptor A (Ad-IL17RA:Fc) reduced IL-17A production and decreased the number of Th17 cells in the spleen and heart, leading to the down-regulation of systemic TNF-α and IL-6 production. Cardiac function improved significantly in the Ad-IL17R:Fc- compared with the Ad-null-treated mice 3 months after the first CVB3 infection. Ad-IL17R:Fc reduced the left ventricle dilation and decreased the mortality in viral myocarditis, leading to DCM (56% in the Ad-IL17R:Fc versus 76% in the Ad-null group). The protective effects of Ad-IL17R-Fc on remodeling correlated with the attenuation of myocardial collagen deposition and the reduction of fibroblasts in CVB3-infected hearts, which was accompanied by the down-regulation of A distintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 motifs (ADAMTS-1), Matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2), and collagen subtypes I and III in the heart. Moreover, in cultured cardiac fibroblasts, IL-17A induced the expression of ADAMTS-1, MMP-2, and collagen subtypes I and III and increased the proliferation of fibroblasts. We determined that the delivery of IL-17-RA:Fc reduces cardiac remodeling, improves function, and decreases mortality in viral myocarditis leading to DCM, possibly by suppressing fibrosis. Therefore, the adenoviral transfer of the IL-17 receptor A may represent an alternative therapy for chronic viral myocarditis and its progression to DCM.     

Time Course of Current of Injury Is Related to Acute Stability of Active-Fixation Pacing Leads in Rabbits

Background

Magnitude of current of injury (COI) consequent to pacemaker lead fixation is recognized as a predictor of acute lead stability. It is unclear whether dynamic monitoring of COI after lead fixation provides additional information beyond a single assessment performed at the time of fixation.

Objectives

This study was aimed to test the hypothesis that the time course of COI is related to acute lead stability.

Methods and Results

Active fixation leads with fixed screw were anchored to either Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts endocardially or in vivo hearts epicardially in manners of contact the helix with no rotation, half rotation and full rotation, respectively. Intracardiac electrogram (EGM) was monitored dynamically from onset to resolution of COI, and magnitudes of intrinsic R wave and COI, including ST-segment elevation, ST/R and intracardiac EGM duration (IED), were measured. A digital force gauge was applied to assess lead stability. In vitro, COI in contacted leads was significantly smaller than those in half rotated (p<0.05) and fully rotated leads (p<0.05), and presented most precipitous recovery to baseline (1.5±1.1 min, p<0.05). Half-rotated and fully rotated leads manifested the same magnitude of COI right after placement. However, the time course of COI was significantly longer in fully rotated leads than that in half rotated leads (26.5±2.8 min vs. 5.6±2.0 min, p<0.05). Similar findings were observed in vivo. The time course of COI was significantly correlated with the force needed to detach the lead from myocardium (r = 0. 72, n = 48, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Time course of COI is related to acute lead stability in rabbits. One might be misled by a single assessment of COI magnitude right after lead placement, whereas persistence of COI is likely to be a useful indicator of adequate lead stability.     

The relationship between human cytomegalovirus infection and atherosclerosis development

Transport characteristics of essential trace elements as zinc, copper, selenium and iron have been studied in maternal–fetal direction in normal pregnancies, using in vitro perfusion of human placental lobules. Solutions of trace elements corresponding to twice the physiological concentrations were injected (100 l bolus) into the maternal arterial perfusate. Serial perfusate samples were collected every 30 sec from venous outflows for a study period of 5 min. Concentrations of these trace elements and their transport kinetics were determined. Transport fractions (TF) of zinc, copper, selenium and iron averaged 0.21, 0.49, 0.55 and 0.10% of maternal load respectively. Other parameters such as area under the curve, clearance, elimination constant, absorption and elimination rates showed some significant differences between the various elements. Copper and selenium appear to be transported passively in maternal–fetal direction, while for iron and zinc, role of active transport for transfer across the human placental membrane cannot be discounted. We speculate that alterations in copper: zinc TR50 (transport rate for 50% efflux) and TF ratios could serve as useful indicators for assessing placental transport status of these essential elements in complicated pregnancy states.