大鼠下丘脑-缰核系统对中缝大核痛反应神经元放电的影响

在大鼠尾部给以伤害性刺激后,外侧缰核和中缝大核的单位按其反应型式可分为四种类型,即痛兴奋单位、广动力型单位、痛抑制单位和无反应单位。电刺激下丘脑外侧区对外侧缰核中各种单位的自发放电主要产生抑制作用,对其中痛兴奋单位和痛抑制单位的自发放电尤为明显。刺激下丘脑外侧区对中缝大核中痛兴奋单位的自发放电有明显兴奋作用,刺激外侧缰核则有抑制作用,损毁外侧缰核后,下丘脑外侧区的兴奋作用消失。分别刺激下丘脑外侧区和外侧缰核对中缝大核中痛抑制单位的自发放电都有明显的抑制作用;损毁外侧缰核后下丘脑外侧区的抑制作用仍存在。以上结果提示,下丘脑外侧区影响中缝大核活动的途径有二。其一可能是通过去除外侧缰核对中缝大核中痛兴奋单位的紧张性抑制作用;另外还可能通过外侧缰核以外的途径抑制中缝大核中痛抑制单位的活动。     

刺激大鼠杏仁外侧核对皮层A Ⅰ区ON-OFF神经元反应及调谐曲线的影响

在30只氨基甲酸乙酯麻醉的SD大鼠上记录神经元单位放电,观察短纯音诱发的皮层A Ⅰ区神经元ON-OFF反应的特性及电刺激杏仁外侧核(lateral amygdaloid nucleus,LA)对ON-OFF反应以及调谐曲线的影响.实验证实,A Ⅰ区神经元ON-OFF反应的模式与纯音刺激的强度、频率及作用时程有关;刺激LA可以抑制ON-OFF反应的放电频数,使反应的阈值升高,或使反应放电构型发生变化;此外,刺激LA能使ON-OFF神经元的调谐曲线变窄,Q10数值增大.研究结果不仅表明ON-OFF神经元能对纯音刺激的时程、强度和频率等多种信息进行编码,而且还证明杏仁外侧核可以在皮层水平参与听觉信息的调制,削弱或衰减某些听觉信息,导致整个调谐曲线上移变窄,从而提高A Ⅰ区ON-OFF神经元的频率选择性能,有利于检测外界嘈杂环境中特定的听觉信息.     

大鼠下丘脑室旁核神经元对电刺激中脑中央灰质、内侧丘系的反应

本工作以玻璃微电极记录PVH神经元的单位放电。当用双极电极刺激CG和LM时,观察PVH神经元对刺激的反应。其中,刺激CG时,在284个PVH神经元中发生逆行反应的有4个单位,发生顺行反应的有47个单位。顺行反应分为两型:Ⅰ型对单刺激发生反应,Ⅱ型只对串刺激发生反应。刺激IIM时,未能观察到PVH神经元的反应。 实验结果表明,PVH与CG之间有双向连接,而PVH与LM之间在电生理学上未能证明有连接的存在。     

肌神经刺激和穴位电针诱发的延脑网状巨细胞核的单位放电

电刺激麻痹家兔的腓深神经,在延脑内侧网状结构记录诱发电位和单位反应。此外,还观察电针足三里-三阴交穴对后者的影响。结果如下:1.根据动作电位各成分的大小,测得:腓深神经Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ类纤维的兴奋阈分别是1、2和5—10T,而最大反应阈则分别是2、4—10和15—25T。当电刺激强度达到5T 时,通常能在双侧网状巨细胞核区记录到诱发反应,并随强度增大而增大。中缝大核区的反应相似。2.分析了共81个单位对不同刺激强度的放电反应,大体划为三类:Ⅰ类有5个,Ⅱ类24个,Ⅲ类52个。在Ⅱ类单位中,有14个仅对Ⅱ类传入发生反应,另10个则对Ⅱ和Ⅲ类传入均产生反应,称作“会聚型”单位。此外,还观察到半数单位能被皮神经δ类传入所兴奋。3.5个巨细胞核单位和2个中缝大核单位对电针穴位的反应表现为:电针频率为2周/秒时,细胞放电率虽增不多,但在20分钟的电针期间能维持同样的兴奋水平;频率为80周/秒时,初期放电率明显增加,但5分钟后迅速下降至低于2周/秒时水平。这似可提示临床远节段穴位电针以低频刺激为宜。     

大鼠下丘脑室旁核神经元对电刺激迷走神经的反应

用玻璃微电极记录了93只大鼠的1059个PVH单位的电活动,观察了电刺激颈部迷走神经对PVH单位自发放电的效应和所引起的PVH单位的诱发反应。电刺激迷走神经分别使46个及10个PVH单位呈诱发兴奋和抑制反应。给予迷走神经以不同强度的刺激时,发现PVH神经元对激活A和C两类纤维的强刺激反应,而对仅激活A类纤维的弱刺激则不反应。PVH单位对电刺激坐骨神经或迷走神经的反应有以下几种:对迷走神经和坐骨神经刺激均作出兴奋或抑制反应;仅对迷走刺激作出兴奋或兴奋-抑制反应,而对坐骨神经刺激不反应;对坐骨神经刺激作出兴奋反应,而对迷走神经刺激不反应。讨论了迷走神经到室旁核的中枢传导特点以及内脏传入和躯体传入信息在PVH单位会聚的可能意义。     

吸入刺激性气体对迷走神经传出纤维单位放电的影响

记录兔迷走神经传出纤维单位放电,并观察SO_2及氨水刺激对它放电的影响。 共记录到68支传出单纤维放电,其形式可大致分为四个类型。 Ⅰ型:有一个快而短促的吸气相放电,在吸入SO_2或氨水时,以及由气管内抽气时,频率增加;向气管内注入空气时,则频率降低。 Ⅱ型:吸气期放电频率高,呼气期频率低。吸入SO_2或氨水后发放冲动增多;但向气管内注入空气或抽出空气对放电活动没有影响。 Ⅲ型:呈现不规则的与吸节律无明显关系的放电活动。这些纤维对上述刺激均不发生反应. Ⅳ型:通常没有自发性发放,只是在给予SO_2或氨水刺激后以及向管内注入空气或抽出空气后,才出现高波幅的呼气相放电。 对照我们过去的实验,ⅠⅡⅣ三类纤维可能是支配呼吸道的迷走传出纤维,给SO_2或氨水吸入刺激放电频率增加,大概是由于刺激了支气管内激惹型感受器,反射性引起支气管收缩。     

血管紧张素Ⅱ、心房钠尿肽和血管升压素对大鼠脑片穹窿下器神经元活动的影响

在31个脑片观察了血管紧张素Ⅱ(AGⅡ)、心房钠尿肽(ANP)和血管升压素(AVP)三种多肽对87个穹窿下器(SFO)神经元单位电活动的影响。脑片灌流AGⅡ(10~(-7)mol/L,3min)后,40/55个单应(72.73％)放电频率明显增加,3/55个单位(5.45％)放电频率降低,12/55个单位(21.82％)无明显反应。AGⅡ对SFO放电单位的兴奋作用可被AGⅡ受体阻断剂saralasin(10~(-6)mol/L)完全阻断。脑片灌流心房肽Ⅲ(APⅢ)(10~(-7)mol/L,3min)后,7/17个单位(41.18％)放电频率明显降低,2/17个单位(11.76％)放电频率增加,8/17个单位(47.06％)无明显反应。脑片灌流AVP(10~(-7)mol/L,3min)后,8/15个单位(53.33％)放电频率明显增加,3/15个单位(20.00％)放电频率降低,4/15个单位(26.67％)无明显反应。在观察这三种多肽对同一SFO神经元的作用时,1个单位对AGⅡ和AVP均产生兴奋反应;3个单位对AGⅡ呈兴奋和被APⅢ所抑制;1个单位对AVP呈兴奋,而对APⅢ为抑制,未见到既对AGⅡ和AVP呈兴奋,又为APⅢ所抑制的单位。结果提示:AGⅡ,ANP和AVP三种多肽都能影响SFO神经元的自发电活动,SFO可能也是三者调节机体水盐平衡和血压的中枢部位之一。     

神经元诱发反应与自发放电的关系

分析上丘神经元光诱发反应与其背景放电频率的关系。结果见到：根据密度迭加直方图判断呈兴奋反应的单位,背景放电频率高的反应变化率小,反之则大。呈抑制反应的单位,背景放电频率低的反应变化率小,反之则大。部分无明显反应的单位,背景放电频率低时,呈兴奋反应,北京放电频率高时,呈抑制反应。提示：对神经元活动的分析,如果仅以密度迭加直方图判断有无反应而忽视与背景放电频率的关系,将丢失部分阳性反应单位。     

刺激大鼠杏仁外侧核对皮层AⅠ区ON-OFF神经元反应及调谐曲线的影响

在30只氨基甲酸乙酯麻醉的SD大鼠上记录神经元单位放电,观察短纯音诱发的皮层AI区神经元ON－OFF反应的特性及电刺激杏仁外侧核（lateral amygdaloid nucleus,LA)对ON－OFF反应以及调谐曲线的影响。实验证实,AI区神经元ON－OFF反应的模式与纯音刺激的强度、频率及作用时程有关;刺激LA可以抑制ON－OFF反应的放电频数,使反应的阈值升高,或使反应放电构型发生变化;此外,刺激LA能使ON－OFF神经元的调谐曲线变窄,Q10数值增大。研究结果不仅表明ON－OFF神经元能对纯音刺激的时程、强度和频率等多种信息进行编码,而且还证明杏仁外侧核可以在皮层水平参与听觉信息的调制,削弱或衰减某些听觉信息,导致整个调谐曲线上移变窄,从而提高AI区ON－OFF神经元的频率选择性能,有利于检测外界嘈杂环境中特定的听觉信息。     

猫脊髓胸段对刺激内脏大神经发生反应的神经元

刺激左侧内脏大神经,同时记录肋间神经反射放电(VSR)及脊髓灰质单位电活动。由于 VSR 的阈值相当于内脏神经中 A-delta 纤维的阈值,故以诱发放电阈值等于或略高于 VSR的阈值的单位为 A-delta 单位。阈值等于或高于 VSR 中 C 突起的阈值的单位为 C-单位。我们所观察到的90个 A-delta 单位广泛分布在 Rexed 第Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ、Ⅵ、Ⅶ层,这和Pomeranz 等报道脊髓灰质中对内脏神经的 A-delta 纤维传入起反应的神经元仅分布在第Ⅴ层有所不同。我们记录到的30个 C 单位分布在第Ⅰ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ、Ⅶ、Ⅶ等层。在64个单位中有62个可观察到内脏大神经和肋间神经传入的会聚。在本工作中,我们还观察到自发放电受刺激内脏大神经抑制的单位。有许多单位的诱发放电出现在 VSR 时程以外,显然不可能参与 VSR 的反射弧。     

Toll-like receptor 3 is involved in airway epithelial cell response to nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is the etiological agent most frequently associated with bacterial exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The present work shows that NTHi strains induced in primary normal human bronchial epithelial cells (NHBE) a cytokine/chemokine response in which CCL-5 and CXCL-10 were predominant. Production of both cytokines was inhibited by an anti-TLR3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) in a dose-dependent manner, but not by control human IgG4 antibodies, thus suggesting a TLR3-dependency of the NTHi stimulation. BEAS-2B, an immortalized human bronchial epithelial cell line, also showed a similar NTHi-induced response that was inhibited by the anti-TLR3 mAb. A BEAS-2B cell line stably expressing TLR3 siRNA showed significantly reduced cytokine/chemokine responses to NTHi stimulation, confirming the role of TLR3 in the response. These results indicate that TLR3 is a key component in the response of human bronchial epithelial cells to NTHi, and suggest that cognate neutralizing mAbs might be a useful therapeutic tool to regulate the inflammatory response.     

Limited contribution of Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 to the host response to a fungal infectious pathogen, Cryptococcus neoformans

The present study was designed to elucidate the role of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and TLR4 in the host response to Cryptococcus neoformans. Both TLR2 knockout (KO) and TLR4KO mice produced interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-6, IL-12p40 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in sera and cleared this fungal pathogen from infected lungs at a comparable level to control littermate (LM) mice. Synthesis of these cytokines was not significantly different in the lungs of these KO mice and LM mice, although IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-12p40 tended to be lower in TLR2KO, but not TLR4KO, mice than in controls. In addition, there was no significant reduction detected in the synthesis of IL-12 and TNF-alpha by bone marrow-derived dendritic cells from TLR2KO and TLR4KO mice upon stimulation with live yeast cells. Finally, HEK293 cells expressing either TLR2/dectin-1 or TLR4/MD2/CD14 did not respond to C. neoformans in the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB) detected by a luciferase assay. Our results suggest that TLR2 and TLR4 do not or only marginally contribute to the host and cellular response to this pathogen.     

Kinetics of Toll-like receptor-4 splice variants expression in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated antigen presenting cells of healthy donors and patients with cystic fibrosis

Toll-like receptors (TLR) are key components of innate immune system. As TLR activation could induce potentially harmful inflammatory response, activation of TLR signaling pathways has to be under tight control. Besides other control mechanisms, an inhibitory function of murine TLR4 splice variants was recently demonstrated. In this study we investigated expression of four TLR4 splice variants in human antigen presenting cells (APC). Furthermore, we studied modification in TLR4 splice variants expression in APC in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients chronically infected by Gram-negative bacteria. We developed a novel reliable real-time PCR detection system that allowed monitoring of individual TLR4 splice variants expression. In APC from healthy donors we detected a characteristic transient increase of two out of four splice variants after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Similarly to murine TLR4, one of these variants, NM 003266, might translate to a potentially inhibitory protein. In contrast to controls, CF monocytes had significantly changed LPS-induced expression of TLR4 gene and its variants including reduced ability to up-regulate the expression of the potentially inhibitory variant upon stimulation. In accordance with this observation, monocytes from CF patients produced significantly more tumor necrosis factor after LPS stimulation than healthy controls. Our results thus describe the kinetics of TLR4 splicing variants expression after LPS stimulation and indicate a possible alteration of its regulation in CF patients.     

Inhibition of autoimmune diabetes by TLR2 tolerance

We have reported that apoptotic β cells undergoing secondary necrosis, called "late apoptotic (LA) β cells," stimulated APCs and induced diabetogenic T cell priming through TLR2, which might be one of the initial events in autoimmune diabetes. Indeed, diabetogenic T cell priming and the development of autoimmune diabetes were significantly inhibited in TLR2-null NOD mice, suggesting the possibility that TLR2 blockade could be used to inhibit autoimmune diabetes. Because prolonged TLR stimulation can induce TLR tolerance, we investigated whether repeated TLR2 administration affects responses to LA β cells and inhibits autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice by inducing TLR2 tolerance. Treatment of primary peritoneal macrophages with a TLR2 agonist, Pam3CSK(4), suppressed cytokine release in response to LA insulinoma cells or further TLR2 stimulation. The expression of signal transducer IRAK-1 and -4 proteins was decreased by repeated TLR2 stimulation, whereas expression of IRAK-M, an inhibitory signal transducer, was enhanced. Chronic Pam3CSK(4) administration inhibited the development of diabetes in NOD mice. Diabetogenic T cell priming by dendritic cells and upregulation of costimulatory molecules on dendritic cells by in vitro stimulation were attenuated by Pam3CSK(4) administration in vivo. Pam3CSK(4) inhibited diabetes after adoptive transfer of diabetogenic T cells or recurrence of diabetes after islet transplantation by pre-existing sensitized T cells. These results showed that TLR2 tolerance can be achieved by prolonged treatment with TLR2 agonists, which could inhibit priming of naive T cells, as well as the activity of sensitized T cells. TLR2 modulation could be used as a novel therapeutic modality against autoimmune diabetes.     

日本鳗鲡TLR21基因的鉴定、免疫应答与启动子分析

为研究TLR21（Toll like receptor 21）在低等脊椎动物中的功能及表达调控机制,我们扩增获得了日本鳗鲡TLR21（AjTLR21）cDNA序列,其编码的蛋白具有TLR家族的共同特征。AjTLR21基因结构与其他鱼类和两栖类TLR21相同,由单个外显子编码。荧光定量结果显示,AjTLR21在血液、鳃、脾脏、中肾等11个组织/器官中转录表达,其中在血液中表达量最高。经Poly I:C诱导后8h,AjTLR21在脾脏和中肾中的表达量显著性上调;诱导后16h,AjTLR21在血液、鳃、肠和脾脏中的表达量显著性上调（P < 0.05）。双荧光素酶报告基因结果显示,在AjTLR21 5'上游调控序列-1179 bp到+117 bp存在Poly I:C调节的正调控元件。经Edwardsiella tarda诱导后16h和72h,AjTLR21分别在血液和中肾组织的表达量显著性上调,表明AjTLR21同时也参与了抗细菌免疫应答,其在机体免疫系统中的功能具有多样性。研究对于理解日本鳗鲡AjTLR21的免疫学功能具有重要的理论意义和应用价值。     

CMRF-35-like molecule 3 preferentially promotes TLR9-triggered proinflammatory cytokine production in macrophages by enhancing TNF receptor-associated factor 6 ubiquitination

TLRs are critical innate immune sensors in the induction of proinflammatory cytokines to eliminate invading pathogens. However, the mechanisms for the full activation of TLR-triggered innate immune response need to be fully understood. The murine CMRF-35-like molecule (CLM)-3 is a representative of CLM family belonging to the Ig superfamily. Considering that CLM-3 is selectively expressed in macrophages and the roles of CLM members in innate immune response remain unclear, in this study we investigated the role of CLM-3 in the regulation of TLR-triggered innate response. We found that CLM-3 was an endosome/lysosome-localized molecule, and was downregulated in macrophages by stimulation with TLR9 ligand, but not TLR4 and TLR3 ligands. Interestingly, CLM-3 selectively promoted production of TNF-α and IL-6 in macrophages triggered by TLR9, but not TLR4 or TLR3. CLM-3 enhanced activation of MAPKs and NF-κB pathways in TLR9-triggered macrophages. Furthermore, CLM-3-transgenic mice were generated, and CLM-3 expression was confirmed by mAb against CLM-3 that we prepared. Accordingly, the macrophages derived from CLM-3-transgenic mice were more sensitive to TLR9 ligand stimulation, with more pronounced production of TNF-α, IL-6, and increased activation of MAPKs and NF-κB pathways. Moreover, ubiquitination of TNFR-associated factor 6, a crucial signaling transducer of TLR-triggered MAPKs and NF-κB activation, was found to be significantly promoted by CLM-3 in macrophages. Collectively, the endosome/lysosome-localized CLM-3 can promote full activation of TLR9-triggered innate responses by enhancing TNFR-associated factor 6 ubiquitination and subsequently activating MAPKs and NF-κB.     

The Early Induction of Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 and the Downregulation of Toll-like Receptors 7 and 9 Induce Tolerance in Costimulated Macrophages

Toll-like receptors (TLR) 7 and 9 transduce a cellular signal through the MyD88-dependent pathway and induce the production of inflammatory mediators against microbial nucleotide components. The repeated stimulation of TLR4 leads to endotoxin tolerance, but the molecular mechanisms of tolerance induced through the costimulation of individual TLR has not yet been established, although endosomal TLRs share signaling pathways with TLR4. In the present study, mouse macrophages were simultaneously stimulated with the TLR7 agonist, gardiquimod (GDQ), and the TLR9 agonist, CpG ODN 1826, to examine the mechanism and effector functions of macrophage tolerance. Compared with individual stimulation, the costimulation of both TLRs reduced the secretion of TNF-α and IL-6 through the delayed activation of the NF-κB pathway; notably, IL-10 remained unchanged in costimulated macrophages. This tolerance reflected the early induction of suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS-1), according to the detection of elevated TNF-α secretion and restored NF-κB signaling in response to the siRNA-mediated abrogation of SOCS-1 signaling. In addition, the restimulation of each TLRs using the same ligand significantly reduced the expression of both TLRs in endosomes. These findings revealed that the costimulation of TLR7 and TLR9 induced macrophage tolerance via SOCS-1, and the restimulation of each receptor or both TLR7 and TLR9 downregulated TLR expression through a negative feedback mechanisms that protects the host from excessive inflammatory responses. Moreover, the insufficient and impaired immune response in chronic viral infection might also reflect the repeated and simultaneous stimulation of those endosomal TLRs.     

Functions of toll-like receptors: lessons from KO mice

The innate immune response is a first-line defense system in which individual Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize distinct pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and exert subsequent immune responses against a variety of pathogens. TLRs are composed of an extracellular leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain and a cytoplasmic domain that is homologous to that of the IL-IR family. Upon stimulation, TLR recruits a cytoplasmic adaptor molecule MyD88, then IL-IR-associated kinase (IRAK), and finally induces activation of NF-kappaB and MAP kinases. However, the responses to TLR ligands differ, indicating the diversity of TLR signaling pathways. Besides MyD88, several novel adaptor molecules have recently been identified. Differential utilization of these adaptor molecules may provide the specificity in the TLR signaling.     

The human lactoferrin-derived peptide hLF1-11 primes monocytes for an enhanced TLR-mediated immune response

Earlier we reported that the peptide corresponding to the first eleven N-terminal amino acids of human lactoferrin (hLF1-11) is active against multi-drug resistant pathogens in mice. The mechanisms underlying this anti-infective activity remain unclear. Since hLF1-11 is ineffective against pathogens at physiological salt concentrations and hLF1-11 directs differentiation of monocytes toward a macrophage subset with enhanced effector functions, we investigated the effects of hLF1-11 on human and murine monocytes. Results revealed that human and murine monocytes exposed for 1 h to hLF1-11 and then stimulated with the Toll-like receptor (TLR)-ligand LPS for 18 h, displayed enhanced cytokine and chemokine production as compared to control (peptide-treated) monocytes. We also found that expression of mRNA, cell-surface receptor expression, and NF-κB activation by hLF1-11-exposed human monocytes were enhanced as compared to control (peptide-treated) monocytes. Furthermore, the kinetics of the cytokine production was unchanged as mRNA levels and protein levels paralleled the enhanced response of hLF1-11-exposed monocytes to LPS. The cytokine production by human monocytes in response to TLR4, TLR5, and TLR7 stimulation, but not to TLR2 stimulation, was elevated by hLF1-11. In concordance, translocation of NF-κB subunits to the nucleus was enhanced in hLF1-11-exposed monocytes after TLR stimulation, except for TLR2, as compared to control (peptide-exposed) monocytes. In conclusion, monocytes were primed by hLF1-11 for an enhanced inflammatory response upon TLR4, TLR5, and TLR7 stimulation, but not TLR2 stimulation. Such effects of hLF1-11 on monocyte reactivity should be taken into account when considering the clinical development of this peptide for a therapeutic intervention in patients.     

The lipopolysaccharide-recognition mechanism in cells expressing TLR4 and CD14 but lacking MD-2

We analysed the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-recognition mechanism in cells expressing TLR4 and CD14 but lacking MD-2. When TLR4 and CD14 were transiently expressed in HEK293 cells, cell-surface expression of TLR4 was observed, although the expression level was lower than that in cells coexpressing MD-2. We found that membrane CD14-TLR4 complexes were formed in these cells in response to LPS stimulation even in the absence of MD-2 expression, although NF-kappaB-dependent reporter activity was not induced. A strong activation of NF-kappaB was observed when these cells were stimulated with LPS followed by soluble MD-2 in this order, even when excess LPS was removed after formation of the CD14-TLR4 complex by washing cells prior to sMD-2 addition. From these results, we propose an additional LPS-recognition mechanism. In cells expressing TLR4 and CD14 but lacking MD-2, LPS is first transferred to membrane CD14 with the aid of LPS binding protein, which leads to the formation of the TLR4-CD14 complex. Then, the binding of soluble MD-2 to this complex triggers the transmembrane signal transduction. Cells expressing TLR4 and CD14 but lacking MD-2, such as airway epithelial cells, may be activated in response to LPS by this mechanism.