微流控与细胞迁移技术的研究进展

细胞迁移在多种生理、病理过程中扮演着重要角色。在细胞迁移研究中,琼脂糖平板法、transwell小室法等因操作简单、重现性好被广泛运用于细胞迁移的体外建模。但传统方法大多是检测单因素条件下的细胞迁移情况,却忽略了血流这一重要因素对细胞迁移的影响。微流控芯片的出现不仅解决了上述难题,并能保证迁移试验在多参数条件下一步到位的完成并及进行实时观测。因此,微流控芯片将带来一场细胞迁移技术及相关领域的革命。对近10年微流控技术在细胞迁移研究中运用进行了总结。     

Separation of apoptotic cells using a microfluidic device

A highly sensitive microfluidic device has been developed to separate apoptotic cells. Apoptotic Jurkat cells were selectively labeled with magnetic beads (0.8 μm diam) using the C2A protein which recognizes phosphatidylserine. The cell mixture was flowed through a microfluidic channel and apoptotic cells were separated by a 0.3 T permanent magnet. Separations using our device showed 96% agreement with those of a commercial flow cytometer, indicating our device can be used to sort apoptotic cells in a miniaturized system.     

微流控芯片对乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231的捕获及再培养研究

目的:利用实验室构建的微流控芯片对乳腺癌细胞(MDA-MB-231)进行捕获,提高捕获率并保证细胞活性,实现再培养。抗肿瘤药物阿霉素处理正常培养和再培养的细胞,分析细胞内的基因表达变化。方法:对微流控芯片进行基底修饰,利用MUC1抗原与抗体特异性结合捕获肿瘤细胞,优化捕获条件提高捕获率。对微流控芯片捕获的细胞进行分离、收集和再培养。用1μmol/L阿霉素对正常培养和再培养的细胞分别孵育24h,然后提取RNA并逆转录合成c DNA。选择乳腺癌细胞中高表达及与肿瘤转移相关的基因FN1、ITGA6和LAMB3设计引物,以c DNA为模板分别进行RT-PCR扩增,对琼脂糖凝胶电泳结果进行灰度分析。结果:经MUC1抗体修饰的微流控芯片能有效地捕获肿瘤细胞,捕获率达80%±3%,释放率约98%,细胞释放后存活率高实现再培养。阿霉素对正常培养和再培养的乳腺癌细胞中FN1、ITGA6和LAMB3的基因表达均有抑制作用。结论:MUC1抗体修饰的微流控芯片能有效捕获乳腺癌细胞并实现再培养,捕获前后细胞内基因表达无显著差异,均能产生药物敏感性。     

微流控芯片在心肌细胞功能研究中的应用

心肌细胞是心脏结构和功能的基本单位,约占心脏细胞总数的三分之一,是心脏发育、生理病理研究的重点对象,然而传统的在体和体外研究技术存在诸多困难,无法实现细胞微环境的有效控制和生理功能的实时动态监测,制约着心肌细胞功能研究的快速发展。近年来迅速发展的微加工技术,尤其是微流控芯片技术为心肌细胞功能研究提供了便利。微流控芯片技术具有微米尺度的细胞及其微环境的时空控制功能,有效提高了体外细胞研究的组织相关性,是心肌细胞生理功能和力学特性研究的重要工具,如实时监测单个心肌细胞的代谢活性、表征细胞的电生理特性和力学特性、研究细胞微环境和力学微环境对心肌细胞形态和功能的影响。本文从前述几个方面对微流控芯片在心肌细胞生理功能研究中的应用进行综述和对其应用前景进行了展望。     

Effect of temperature on biofilm formation by Antarctic marine bacteria in a microfluidic device

Polar biofilms have become an increasingly popular biological issue because new materials and phenotypes have been discovered in microorganisms in the polar region. Various environmental factors affect the functionality and adaptation of microorganisms. Because the polar region represents an extremely cold environment, polar microorganisms have a functionality different from that of normal microorganisms. Thus, determining the effective temperature for the development of polar biofilms is crucial. Here, we present a simple, novel one-pot assay for analysis of the effect of temperature on formation of Antarctic bacterial biofilm using a microfluidic system where continuous temperature gradients are generated. We find that a specific range of temperature is required for the growth of biofilms. Thus, this microfluidic approach provides precise information regarding the effective temperature for polar biofilm development with a new high-throughput screening format.     

Magnetic resonance imaging of a microvascular-interstitium model on a microfluidic device

We report a microvascular-interstitium model on microfluidic devices to study leakage of drugs from blood vessels under in vivo-like flow conditions. We employed magnetic resonance imaging to demonstrate the compatibility of the model for experimental animals and humans. We observed transport of two types of different molecular-weight contrast agents into the model interstitium. The ratio of the transport rates of agents agreed with the ratio calculated from diffusion coefficients of the agents. We expect that the model will be useful for the estimation and evaluation of leakage of many kinds of agents in vivo.     

Microfluidic separation of (S)-ibuprofen using enzymatic reaction

This study was investigated for the enantioselective separation of (S)-ibuprofen using the ionic liquid in the microfluidic device. A stable and thin ionic liquid flow (ILF) was made by controlling the flow rate of the ILF in the microfluidic channel. In addition, coupling lipase as a biocatalyst with the ILF based on the microfluidic device showed the facilitative and selective transport of (S)-ibuprofen across the ILF, indicating successful optical resolution of a racemic mixture. Subsequently, the enantioselectivity was evaluated in the transport ratio (η) of (R)- and (S)-ibuprofen, the optical resolution ratio () and enantiomeric excess of (S)-ibuprofen (ee_S).     

Colchicine effects on neurosecretory neurons and other hypothalamic and hypophysial cells,with special reference to changes in the cytoplasmic membranes

Summary The morphological effects of colchicine on the entire neurosecretory (NS) tract and on various hypothalamic nuclei have been studied. The perturbation in axonal flow, indicated by the accumulation of NS material, coincide with fragmentation of the cytoplasmic membranes, i. e. the Golgi apparatus and the endoplasmic reticulum, whereas the neurotubules remain relatively well preserved. Autophagic destruction of NS material is observed along the entire length of the NS fibres. The rapid and systematic changes in the axoplasmic reticulum, known to store calcium, lead us to envisage a role for this system — similar to that of the sarcoplasmic reticulum — in controlling the transport of NS vesicles. The junctional zone between the stalk and the neural lobe seems to play a particular rôle in the transport of NS material to the posthypophysial terminals of the NS axons. Colchicine provokes an increase in dense-cored vesicles in most of the neurons of the other hypothalamic nuclei studied: arcuate, suprachiasmatic, periventricular and ventromedial. Membranous alterations are also observed in these sites. Colchicine administered to animals which were hypothyroid, castrated or adrenalectomized, reveals stimulated neurons, identified by their excessive content of dense-cored vesicles. These neurons display no specific localization, for they occur in all hypothalamic nuclei, irrespective of the stimulation. The frequency of stimulation of neurons of the periventricular nucleus is striking.     

Local protein synthesis in neuronal axons: why and how we study

Adaptive brain function and synaptic plasticity rely on dynamic regulation of local proteome. One way for the neuron to introduce new proteins to the axon terminal is to transport those from the cell body, which had long been thought as the only source of axonal proteins. Another way, which is the topic of this review, is synthesizing proteins on site by local mRNA translation. Recent evidence indicates that the axon stores a reservoir of translationally silent mRNAs and regulates their expression solely by translational control. Different stimuli to axons, such as guidance cues, growth factors, and nerve injury, promote translation of selective mRNAs, a process required for the axon’s ability to respond to these cues. One of the critical questions in the field of axonal protein synthesis is how mRNA-specific local translation is regulated by extracellular cues. Here, we review current experimental techniques that can be used to answer this question. Furthermore, we discuss how new technologies can help us understand what biological processes are regulated by axonal protein synthesis in vivo. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(3): 139-146]     

灵长类动物胫神经和腓总神经损伤再生规律的研究

目的:研究灵长类动物胫神经和腓总神经再生能力差异。方法:健康成年恒河猴16只,分为A、B两组,每组8只,使用刀片切割完全损伤胫神经和腓总神经,后立即予神经外膜缝合,在术后3周、8周分别取A、B组胫神经和腓总神经吻合口远、近端神经组织行Luxol Fast Blue染色,观察胫神经和腓总神经远端、近端轴突数目,计算轴突密度,远端轴突密度/近端轴突密度为神经再生通过率。结果:术后3周和8周时,胫神经和腓总神经相比,胫神经在远端轴突密度、神经通过率等指标上,胫神经愈后优于腓总神经(P0.05)。结论:坐骨神经神经损伤修复后,胫神经轴突通过吻合口的通过率较腓总神经高,吻合口远端有更多的神经轴突,其靶器官有更多的神经纤维支配,这是导致坐骨神经损伤修复后胫神经功能恢复较腓总神经功能恢复好的重要原因之一。     

Modeling mitochondrial dynamics during in vivo axonal elongation

Many models of axonal elongation are based on the assumption that the rate of lengthening is driven by the production of cellular materials in the soma. These models make specific predictions about transport and concentration gradients of proteins both over time and along the length of the axon. In vivo, it is well accepted that for a particular neuron the length and rate of growth are controlled by the body size and rate of growth of the animal. In terms of modeling axonal elongation this radically changes the relationships between key variables. It raises fundamental questions. For example, during in vivo lengthening is the production of material constant or does it change over time? What is the density profile of material along the nerve during in vivo elongation? Does density change over time or vary along the nerve? To answer these questions we measured the length, mitochondrial density, and estimated the half-life of mitochondria in the axons of the medial segmental nerves of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd instar Drosophila larvae. The nerves were found to linearly increase in length at an average rate of 9.24 microm h(-1) over the 96 h period of larval life. Further, mitochondrial density increases over this period at an average rate of 4.49x10(-3) (mitochondria microm(-1))h(-1). Mitochondria in the nerves had a half-life of 35.2h. To account for the distribution of the mitochondria we observe, we derived a mathematical model which suggests that cellular production of mitochondria increases quadratically over time and that a homeostatic mechanism maintains a constant density of mitochondria along the nerve. These data suggest a complex relationship between axonal length and mass production and that the neuron may have an axonal length sensor.     

Depletion type floating gate p-channel MOS transistor for recording action potentials generated by cultured neurons

We report the realization of electrical coupling between neurons and depletion type floating gate (FG) p-channel MOS transistors. The devices were realized in a shortened 0.5 μm CMOS technology. Increased boron implant dose was used to form the depletion type devices. Post-CMOS processing steps were added to expose the devices sensing area. The neurons are coupled to the polycrystalline silicon (PS) FG through 420 Å thermal oxide in an area which is located over the thick field oxide away from the transistor. The combination of coupling area pad having a diameter of 10 or 15 μm and sensing transistor with W/L of 50/0.5 μm results in capacitive coupling ratio of the neuron signal of about 0.5 together with relatively large transistor transconductance. The combination of the FG structure with a depletion type device, leads to the following advantages. (a) No need for dc bias between the solution in which the neurons are cultured and the transistor with expected consequences to the neuron as well as the silicon die durability. (b) The sensing area of the neuron activity is separated from the active area of the transistor. Thus, it is possible to design the sensing area and the channel area separately. (c) The channel area, which is the most sensitive part of the transistor, can be insulated and shielded from the ionic solution in which the neurons are cultured. (d) There is an option to add a switching transistor to the FG and use the FG also for the neuron stimulation.     

Glycoproteins of Axonal Transport: Affinity Chromatography on Fucose-Specific Lectins

Rapidly transported fucose-labeled glycoproteins from axons of rabbit retinal ganglion cells were solubilized with nonionic detergents. The solubilized components were subjected to affinity chromatography on three different fucose-specific lectins. A recently characterized fucose-specific lectin from Aleuria aurantia bound reversibly approximately 60% of the applied protein-bound radioactivity. The lectins from Lotus tetragonolobus and Ulex europaeus bound are very small proportions of the labeled rapidly transported glycoproteins.