NKG2D ligand RAE1ε induces generation and enhances the inhibitor function of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells in mice

Expression of surface NKG2D ligands on tumour cells, which activates nature killer (NK) cells and CD8⁺ T cells, is crucial in antitumour immunity. Some types of tumours have evolved mechanisms to suppress NKG2D‐mediated immune cell activation, such as tumour‐derived soluble NKG2D ligands or sustained NKG2D ligands produced by tumours down‐regulate the expression of NKG2D on NK cells and CD8⁺ T cells. Here, we report that surface NKG2D ligand RAE1ε on tumour cells induces CD11b⁺Gr‐1⁺ myeloid‐derived suppressor cell (MDSC) via NKG2D in vitro and in vivo. MDSCs induced by RAE1ε display a robust induction of IL‐10 and arginase, and these MDSCs show greater suppressive activity by inhibiting antigen‐non‐specific CD8⁺ T‐cell proliferation. Consistently, upon adoptive transfer, MDSCs induced by RAE1ε significantly promote CT26 tumour growth in IL‐10‐ and arginase‐dependent manners. RAE1ε moves cytokine balance towards Th2 but not Th1 in vivo. Furthermore, RAE1ε enhances inhibitory function of CT26‐derived MDSCs and promotes IL‐4 rather than IFN‐γ production from CT26‐derived MDSCs through NKG2D in vitro. Our study has demonstrated a novel mechanism for NKG2D ligand⁺ tumour cells escaping from immunosurveillance by facilitating the proliferation and the inhibitory function of MDSCs.     

Growth form and distribution of introduced plants in their native and non-native ranges in Eastern Asia and North America

There is a growing interest in understanding the influence of plant traits on their ability to spread in non-native regions. Many studies addressing this issue have been based on relatively small areas or restricted taxonomic groups. Here, we analyse a large data base involving 1567 plant species introduced between Eastern Asia and North America or from elsewhere to both regions. We related the extent of species distributions in each region to growth form and the distinction between upland and wetland habitats. We identified significant relationships between geographical distribution and plant traits in both native and exotic ranges as well as regional differences in the relationships. Range size was larger for herbaceous graminoids and forbs, especially annuals compared to perennials, than for woody species, and range size also was larger for plants of wetland compared to upland habitats. Distributions were more extensive in North America than in Eastern Asia, although native plants from both regions had broader distributions than non-natives, with exotics from elsewhere intermediate. Growth form and environment explained more of the variance in distribution of plants in North America than in Eastern Asia. The influence of growth form and habitat on distribution suggests that these traits might be related to tolerance of ecological conditions. In addition, the smaller extents of species in non-native compared to native areas suggest roles for dispersal limitation and adaptation to region-specific ecological conditions in determining distribution.     

EPA,not DHA,prevents fibrosis in pressure overload-induced heart failure: potential role of free fatty acid receptor 4

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is half of all HF, but standard HF therapies are ineffective. Diastolic dysfunction, often secondary to interstitial fibrosis, is common in HFpEF. Previously, we found that supra-physiologic levels of ω3-PUFAs produced by 12 weeks of ω3-dietary supplementation prevented fibrosis and contractile dysfunction following pressure overload [transverse aortic constriction (TAC)], a model that resembles aspects of remodeling in HFpEF. This raised several questions regarding ω3-concentration-dependent cardioprotection, the specific role of EPA and DHA, and the relationship between prevention of fibrosis and contractile dysfunction. To achieve more clinically relevant ω3-levels and test individual ω3-PUFAs, we shortened the ω3-diet regimen and used EPA- and DHA-specific diets to examine remodeling following TAC. The shorter diet regimen produced ω3-PUFA levels closer to Western clinics. Further, EPA, but not DHA, prevented fibrosis following TAC. However, neither ω3-PUFA prevented contractile dysfunction, perhaps due to reduced uptake of ω3-PUFA. Interestingly, EPA did not accumulate in cardiac fibroblasts. However, FFA receptor 4, a G protein-coupled receptor for ω3-PUFAs, was sufficient and required to block transforming growth factor β1-fibrotic signaling in cultured cardiac fibroblasts, suggesting a novel mechanism for EPA. In summary, EPA-mediated prevention of fibrosis could represent a novel therapy for HFpEF.     

重组乙型肝炎病毒e抗原的研究进展

乙型肝炎e抗原（HBeAg）是由HBV DNA C基因区编码的一种非颗粒性的分泌型核壳蛋白，临床上将其作为判断HBV活动性复制的指标之一。HBeAg是重要的生物原材料，广泛用于HBV感染者血清学检测的相关诊断用品的制备。重组HBeAg的表达和纯化技术较为成熟，已经在各种表达系统中成功地表达了目的蛋白。而影响其表达的关键因素包括前C区重要位点变异、载体选取以及RNA干扰（RNAi）的影响作用等。因此，提高重组HBeAg的表达量和纯度，避免与HBcAg交叉反应才能满足相关诊断制品的要求。高质量重组乙肝e抗原的获取，能为改善相关诊断制品奠定物质基础，为开发新型HBV治疗和预防性疫苗提供了依据，同时也为HBeAb检测方法学的优化提供可能。     

沙蛤中牛磺酸的制备研究

以沙蛤提取液中牛磺酸含量为指标,考察乙醇回流法、水煮法和预处理方法,并采用单因素和正交实验法优化工艺条件,确定了沙蛤中提取牛磺酸的最佳工艺。结果:提取牛磺酸的最佳工艺条件为:超声波破碎15 m in,60℃下80%乙醇回流40 m in,该条件下所得牛磺酸质量分数达6.41 mg.g-1原料。结论:超声波破碎与乙醇回流方法相结合,利于牛磺酸溶出,其含量提高26.9%。     

聚乙二醇定点修饰集成干扰素突变体Ⅱ

目的：用聚乙二醇（PEG）修饰集成干扰素突变体Ⅱ（IFN-Con-m2，IIFNm2），通过纯化获得新型修饰分子并对该分子进行抗胰蛋白酶水解稳定性及初步药代动力学研究。 方法：将mPEG20000定点偶联到IIFNm2的第86位Cys残基上，修饰后的产物经CM层析后，以SDS-PAGE考察其纯度，用WISH-VSV系统进行生物活性测定；在0.1%胰蛋白酶条件下考察体外抗酶解稳定性；并以SD大鼠进行初步药代动力学研究，绘制血药浓度-时间曲线。采用3P87软件进行数据拟合，分析药物动力学参数。 结果：干扰素修饰率约为50%，且绝大多数以单修饰体（mono-PEG- IIFNm2）形式存在；提纯后mono-PEG-IIFNm2 的纯度大于98%，比活性约为修饰前IIFNm2的1%。抗胰蛋白酶水解试验表明：30min后，IIFNm2抗病毒活性残留为8%，mono-PEG-IIFNm2为41%。初步药代动力学研究显示：IIFNm的消除半衰期为(1.57±0.34)h，mono-PEG-IIFNm2为(18.0±4.0)h。 结论：成功地偶联了PEG和IIFNm2，建立了mono-PEG-IIFNm2的纯化工艺，PEG修饰能增加IIFNm2的体外抗胰蛋白酶水解稳定性，并显著延长体内半衰期。     

DNA聚合酶iota在HEK-293细胞中高表达体系的建立

目的:将带有DNA聚合酶iota(DNA Polymerase iota,Polι)目的基因的真核表达质粒PCDNA3.1转入HEK-293细胞,建立DNA聚合酶iota在HEK-293细胞中的高表达体系,为进一步研究DNA聚合酶在DNA损伤修复中的生物学功能奠定了基础.方法:用脂质体2000(Lipofectamine2000)将带有目的基因的真核表达质粒PCDNA3.1转入HEK-293细胞,通过G418筛选抗性克隆,用一步法提取细胞总RNA,采用逆转录聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)技术检测出高表达克隆.结果:通过G418筛选筛选出了具有G418抗性的克隆,通过RT-PCR技术检测出高表达DNA聚合酶iota的HEK-293细胞系.结论:建立了高表达DNA聚合酶iota的HEK-293细胞系.为进一步研究DNA聚合酶在DNA损伤修复中的生物学功能奠定了基础.     

Which Is Better: Holdout or Full-Sample Classifier Design?

Is it better to design a classifier and estimate its error on the full sample or to design a classifier on a training subset and estimate its error on the holdout test subset? Full-sample design provides the better classifier; nevertheless, one might choose holdout with the hope of better error estimation. A conservative criterion to decide the best course is to aim at a classifier whose error is less than a given bound. Then the choice between full-sample and holdout designs depends on which possesses the smaller expected bound. Using this criterion, we examine the choice between holdout and several full-sample error estimators using covariance models and a patient-data model. Full-sample design consistently outperforms holdout design. The relation between the two designs is revealed via a decomposition of the expected bound into the sum of the expected true error and the expected conditional standard deviation of the true error.