Culture and the Human Body: An Anthropological Perspective

Culture and the Human Body: An Anthropological Perspective. John W. Burton. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press, 2001. Pp. 129. vii.     

Corneal Endothelial Cells Provide Evidence of Accelerated Cellular Senescence Associated with HIV Infection: A Case-Control Study

Background

Cellular senescence may be a key factor in HIV-related premature biological aging. We assessed features of the corneal endothelium that are known to be associated with biological aging, and cellular senescence markers in HIV-infected adults.

Methods

Case-control study of 242 HIV-infected adults and 249 matched controls. Using specular microscopy, the corneal endothelium was assessed for features of aging (low endothelial cell density [ECD], high variation in cell size, and low hexagonality index). Data were analysed by multivariable regression. CDKN2A expression (a cell senescence mediator) was measured in peripheral blood leukocytes and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHDG; an oxidative DNA damage marker) levels were measured in plasma.

Results

The median age of both groups was 40 years. Among HIV-infected adults, 88% were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART); their median CD4 count was 468 cells/µL. HIV infection was associated with increased odds of variation in cell size (OR = 1.67; 95% CI: 1.00–2.78, p = 0.04). Among HIV-infected participants, low ECD was independently associated with current CD4 count <200 cells/µL (OR = 2.77; 95%CI: 1.12–6.81, p = 0.03). In participants on ART with undetectable viral load, CDKN2A expression and 8-OHDG levels were higher in those with accelerated aging, as reflected by lower ECD.

Conclusions

The corneal endothelium shows features consistent with HIV-related accelerated senescence, especially among those with poor immune recovery.     

Luminal matrices: An inside view on organ morphogenesis

Tubular epithelia come in various shapes and sizes to accommodate the specific needs for transport, excretion and absorption in multicellular organisms. The intestinal tract, glandular organs and conduits for liquids and gases are all lined by a continuous layer of epithelial cells, which form the boundary of the luminal space. Defects in epithelial architecture and lumen dimensions will impair transport and can lead to serious organ malfunctions. Not surprisingly, multiple cellular and molecular mechanisms contribute to the shape of tubular epithelial structures. One intriguing aspect of epithelial organ formation is the highly coordinate behavior of individual cells as they mold the mature lumen. Here, we focus on recent findings, primarily from Drosophila, demonstrating that informative cues can emanate from the developing organ lumen in the form of solid luminal material. The luminal material is produced by the surrounding epithelium and helps to coordinate changes in shape and arrangement of the very same cells, resulting in correct lumen dimensions.     

Reduced Cellular Susceptibility to In Vitro HIV Infection Is Associated with CD4+ T Cell Quiescence

Background

HIV preferentially establishes productive infection in activated CD4+ T cells. Since proportions of activated CD4+ T cells vary between individuals, this study aimed to determine if individuals with a greater proportion of activated CD4+ T cells would be more susceptible to in vitro HIV infection.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from various donors were inoculated with HIV_ML1956 in vitro. HIV replication was evaluated by HIV p24 ELISA of culture supernatants and intracellular staining for HIV p24, which was detected by flow cytometry. Baseline T cell phenotypes and infected cell phenotypes were also evaluated by flow cytometry. Ex vivo phenotyping at the time of blood draw showed that elevated T cell activation and reduced Tregs were associated with increased cellular susceptibility to in vitro infection. Furthermore, the infected CD4+ T cell population was enriched for activated cells.

Conclusion/Significance

These data suggest that CD4+ T cell quiescence provides an environment less conducive to the establishment of HIV infection by limiting the pool of activated target cells.     

Manipulating the Interferon Signaling Pathway: Implications for HIV Infection

During human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) infection, type I interferon(IFN-I) signaling induces an antiviral state that includes the production of restriction factors that inhibit virus replication, thereby limiting the infection. As seen in other viral infections, type I IFN can also increase systemic immune activation which, in HIV disease, is one of the strongest predictors of disease progression to acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS) and non-AIDS morbidity and mortality.Moreover, IFN-I is associated with CD4 T cell depletion and attenuation of antigen-specific T cell responses. Therefore,therapeutic manipulation of IFN-I signaling to improve HIV disease outcome is a source of much interest and debate in thefield. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of timing(acute vs. chronic infection) and have suggested that specific targeting of type I IFNs and their subtypes may help harness the beneficial roles of the IFN-I system while avoiding its deleterious activities.     

HIV超感染防御研究进展

机体在原发感染病毒后,体内能产生某种可能的干扰以阻挡、防止被同种（或同类别）株病毒再次感染现象,HIV感染中也存在这种超感染防御现象。显然,该的研究对于改进HIV疫苗研制策略及其他抗病毒策略十分重要。目前研究认为感染细胞在分子水平上产生的超感染抵抗（superinfection resistance,SIR）和机体免疫反应是感染个体能防御超感染的主要原因。但以上各种假说都没有得到充分验证,HIV超感染防御依然尚未明确。本文将这些研究进行总结,以期找出新的突破口,推进该项研究。     

Cellular Localisation of Adenylyl Cyclase: A Post-genome Perspective

The intracellular messenger cAMP is essential for vital processes ranging from ovulation to cognition. There are 10 genes for adenylyl cyclase (AC), the biosynthetic enzyme of cAMP. Nine of these encode membrane-bound proteins and one gives rise to soluble AC. The understanding of the biological significance of this molecular diversity is incomplete. Membrane-bound ACs conform to the same structural blueprint but have markedly different regulatory characteristics. AC mRNAs are differentially distributed in the body suggesting non-redundant physiological functions. The subcellular localisation of AC isoforms has not been examined in detail. Here we discuss the current knowledge on the intracellular targeting of AC isoforms, and highlight the technical problems of AC detection, some of which appear to be caused by the poor quality-control of commercially supplied antibodies. The principal message is that intracellular targeting of ACs may be isoform-specific and also dependent on the cellular context of expression.Invocation: This paper was written to honour one of the founders of chemical neuroanatomy—Professor Miklós Palkovits on his 70th birthday.     

中老年女性血清铁蛋白（SF）水平与年龄和体质指数（BMI）之间的关系的流行病学研究

目的：评估中老年女性血清铁蛋白（SF）水平与年龄和体质指数（BMI）之间的关系。方法：选自中国4046 名健康女性进行横断面研究,受试者年龄均在45-70 岁并签署了知情同意书。所有受试者血清铁蛋白水平采用放射免疫分析法测定。采用Spearman秩相关检验分析血清铁蛋白与各指标之间的相关性。不同组别SF 差异的显著性用Kruskal-Wallis 秩和检验来比较。结果：Spearman 相关性分析显示血清铁蛋白与年龄（r = 0.425;p < 0.05）和BMI（r = 0.238;p < 0.05）均呈正相关。Kruskal-Wallis 秩和检验显示不同年龄组和不同BMI组的血清铁蛋白水平均有显著性差异（p < 0.05）。65-70 岁人群的血清铁蛋白平均水平比45-50 岁人群高出近两倍。并且肥胖人群中血清铁蛋白水平要远远高于偏瘦人群。结论：中老年女性铁储存的增加与年龄的增长和体质指数的增加呈现正相关关系。     

育龄妇女和母婴巨细胞病毒感染的流行病学调查

我们应用ＥＬＩＳＡ技术和ＰＣＲ技术对武汉市地区１０５１名育龄妇女和１　９　５对母婴的巨细胞病毒感染进行了血清流行病学调查。结果表明：１２４６名受检妇女ＣＭＶ　ＩｇＭ和　ＩｇＧ抗体阳性率分别为３．６％和８２．２％。１９５对母婴有２０名产妇尿中ＣＭＶ－ＤＮＡ阳性,所生子女中　有３名尿中ＣＭＶ－ＤＮＡ阳性,相关率为１５％。受检妇女中９８名有不良孕产史,其ＣＭＶ　ＩｇＭ和ＩｇＧ抗　体阳性率与无不良孕产史妇女比较均有显著性差异（ｐ＜０．０１）。     

育龄妇女和母婴巨细胞病毒感染的流行病学调查

我们应用ELISA技术和PCR技术对武汉市地区1051名育龄妇女和195对母婴的巨细胞病毒感染进行了血清流行病学调查.结果表明1246名受检妇女CMV IgM和IgG抗体阳性率分别为3.6%和82.2%.195对母婴有20名产妇尿中CMV-DNA阳性,所生子女中有3名尿中CMV-DNA阳性,相关率为15%.受检妇女中98名有不良孕产史,其CMV IgM和IgG抗体阳性率与无不良孕产史妇女比较均有显著性差异(p＜0.01).     

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum: Epidemiological Factors Affecting Infection of Greenhouse Aubergine Crops

A series of greenhouse cultivations of Aubergine plants were studied for a three-year period which included the 1981—1982, 1984—1985 and 1985—1986 growing seasons to determine the number of infections produced by S. sclerotiorum and the plant organs infected. A time-phase difference was detected between the discharge of air-borne spores and the appearance of infections. The appearance of flowers, the plant organ most susceptible to infection, appeared to mark the end of the latent period and the beginning of infections. The distribution of the infections within the greenhouse was random for two of the three seasons studied and fitted a Poisson distribution (p < 0.01). Analysis of the tendencies of the number of infections and numbers of infected plants revealed a sigmoidal curve that was a function of the accumulated hours in which relative humidity was 80 % or more.     

Effect of Myxovirus Infection on Synthesis of Cellular Ribonucleic Acid

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis of chick embryo fibroblasts was inhibited by two members of the myxovirus group, Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and fowl plague virus. It was also found that cellular deoxyribonucleic acid-dependent RNA polymerase was inhibited by a cytoplasmic factor induced by NDV infection.