Phylogeny of Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue

Gastrointestinal (GI) tracts from four anuran and four urodelespecies were examined macroscopically and histologically fromthe esophagus to the cloaca. Anatomic observations were facilitatedby treating the GI tracts with acetic acid, a procedure whichremoves gut epithelium and exposes underlying structures. Histologicanalysis involved routine as well as specific histochemicaltechniques. Detailed observations reveal that anuran amphibianspossess nodular, well-organized gut-associated lymphoid tissue(GALT) throughout their GI tracts. In striking contrast, nosuch patterns of lymphoid tissue have been noted in the Urodela. Similar techniques have revealed the location of lymphoid tissuesin the urogenital system (e.g., cloaca and bladder) of advancedanurans. These nodules appear to be lacking in the primitiveanuran Xenopus and in all the urodele species we examined. Preliminary observations have confirmed GALT and urogenital-associatedlymphoid tissues in the snapping turtle.     

Electron Tomography of HIV-1 Infection in Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue

Critical aspects of HIV-1 infection occur in mucosal tissues, particularly in the gut, which contains large numbers of HIV-1 target cells that are depleted early in infection. We used electron tomography (ET) to image HIV-1 in gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) of HIV-1–infected humanized mice, the first three-dimensional ultrastructural examination of HIV-1 infection in vivo. Human immune cells were successfully engrafted in the mice, and following infection with HIV-1, human T cells were reduced in GALT. Virions were found by ET at all stages of egress, including budding immature virions and free mature and immature viruses. Immuno-electron microscopy verified the virions were HIV-1 and showed CD4 sequestration in the endoplasmic reticulum of infected cells. Observation of HIV-1 in infected GALT tissue revealed that most HIV-1–infected cells, identified by immunolabeling and/or the presence of budding virions, were localized to intestinal crypts with pools of free virions concentrated in spaces between cells. Fewer infected cells were found in mucosal regions and the lamina propria. The preservation quality of reconstructed tissue volumes allowed details of budding virions, including structures interpreted as host-encoded scission machinery, to be resolved. Although HIV-1 virions released from infected cultured cells have been described as exclusively mature, we found pools of both immature and mature free virions within infected tissue. The pools could be classified as containing either mostly mature or mostly immature particles, and analyses of their proximities to the cell of origin supported a model of semi-synchronous waves of virion release. In addition to HIV-1 transmission by pools of free virus, we found evidence of transmission via virological synapses. Three-dimensional EM imaging of an active infection within tissue revealed important differences between cultured cell and tissue infection models and furthered the ultrastructural understanding of HIV-1 transmission within lymphoid tissue.     

仙鹤藓属（Atrichum）藓类植物组织培养再生体系的建立

报道了仙鹤藓（Atrichum undulatum(Hedw.)P.Beauv.)和仙鹤藓小形变种（Atrichum undulatum var.minus(Hedw.)Par.)的组织培养再生体系的建立。为研究仙鹤藓属（Atrichum)藓类愈伤组织的诱导和再分化,将仙鹤藓和仙鹤藓小形变种原丝体接种在含有4%葡萄糖和0.2-2.0mg/L 6-BA的MS培养基上,培养一个月后,成功地诱导出疏松、易碎的绿色愈伤组织。愈伤组织诱导和常规继代培养较适合的培养基为含4%葡萄糖和1-2mg/L 6-BA的MS培养基。当将继代培养5次的脱分化藓类愈伤组织转移到含4%葡萄糖但无任何激素的MS培养基上时,能再分化形成原丝体,而在无任何碳源的Benecke培养基土培养时,能再分化形成经原丝体阶段发育来的直立配子体。     

Absence of HIV-1 Evolution in the Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue from Patients on Combination Antiviral Therapy Initiated during Primary Infection

Mucosal mononuclear (MMC) CCR5+CD4+ T cells of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are selectively infected and depleted during acute HIV-1 infection. Despite early initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) CD4+ T cell depletion and activation persist in the majority of HIV-1 positive individuals studied. This may result from ongoing HIV-1 replication and T-cell activation despite effective cART. We hypothesized that ongoing viral replication in the GI tract during cART would result in measurable viral evolution, with divergent populations emerging over time. Subjects treated during early HIV-1 infection underwent phlebotomy and flexible sigmoidoscopy with biopsies prior to and 15–24 months post initiation of cART. At the 2^nd biopsy, three GALT phenotypes were noted, characterized by high, intermediate and low levels of immune activation. A representative case from each phenotype was analyzed. Each subject had plasma HIV-1 RNA levels <50 copies/ml at 2^nd GI biopsy and CD4+ T cell reconstitution in the peripheral blood. Single genome amplification of full-length HIV-1 envelope was performed for each subject pre- and post-initiation of cART in GALT and PBMC. A total of 280 confirmed single genome sequences (SGS) were analyzed for experimental cases. For each subject, maximum likelihood phylogenetic trees derived from molecular sequence data showed no evidence of evolved forms in the GALT over the study period. During treatment, HIV-1 envelope diversity in GALT-derived SGS did not increase and post-treatment GALT-derived SGS showed no substantial genetic divergence from pre-treatment sequences within transmitted groups. Similar results were obtained from PBMC-derived SGS. Our results reveal that initiation of cART during acute/early HIV-1 infection can result in the interruption of measurable viral evolution in the GALT, suggesting the absence of de-novo rounds of HIV-1 replication in this compartment during suppressive cART.     

Characteristics of Nasal-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (NALT) and Nasal Absorption Capacity in Chicken

As the main mucosal immune inductive site of nasal cavity, nasal-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) plays an important role in both antigen recognition and immune activation after intranasal immunization. However, the efficiency of intranasal vaccines is commonly restricted by the insufficient intake of antigen by the nasal mucosa, resulting from the nasal mucosal barrier and the nasal mucociliary clearance. The distribution of NALT and the characteristic of nasal cavity have already been described in humans and many laboratory rodents, while data about poultry are scarce. For this purpose, histological sections of the chicken nasal cavities were used to examine the anatomical structure and histological characteristics of nasal cavity. Besides, the absorptive capacity of chicken nasal mucosa was also studied using the materials with different particle size. Results showed that the NALT of chicken was located on the bottom of nasal septum and both sides of choanal cleft, which mainly consisted of second lymphoid follicle. A large number of lymphocytes were distributed under the mucosal epithelium of inferior nasal meatus. In addition, there were also diffuse lymphoid tissues located under the epithelium of the concha nasalis media and the walls of nasal cavity. The results of absorption experiment showed that the chicken nasal mucosa was capable to absorb trypan blue, OVA, and fluorescent latex particles. Inactivated avian influenza virus (IAIV) could be taken up by chicken nasal mucosa except for the stratified squamous epithelium sites located on the forepart of nasal cavity. The intake of IAIV by NALT was greater than that of the nasal mucosa covering on non-lymphoid tissue, which could be further enhanced after intranasal inoculation combined with sodium cholate or CpG DNA. The study on NALT and nasal absorptive capacity will be benefit for further understanding of immune mechanisms after nasal vaccination and development of nasal vaccines for poultry.     

胡萝卜组织培养和高效遗传转化体系的建立

为了建立高效的胡萝卜遗传转化体系,本实验选用3个胡萝卜(Daucuscarotavar.sativa)栽培品种:‘金笋五寸’、‘Carol’和‘改良黑田七寸’,以它们的下胚轴和子叶为外植体,首先建立了高频愈伤诱导体系。在此基础上,以Carol的下胚轴和愈伤组织为受体材料,利用根癌农杆菌LBA4404介导转化质粒pBI121。经X-Gluc染色,证明GUS基因瞬间表达成功,经PCR方法鉴定,证明GUS基因已整合到胡萝卜的染色体中,从而建立了高效的胡萝卜遗传转化体系。     

In Vitro Retina as an Experimental Model of the Central Nervous System

Abstract Methods are described for isolating adult rabbit retina and maintaining it in a medium designed to resemble CSF. Morphologic, metabolic, and electrophysiologic measurements obtained on the in vitro retinas showed that they remained in a nearly physiological state for at least 8 h, and even after 2 days in vitro they still exhibited a high level of metabolic activity and electrical responsiveness to light. Physiological activity was modified by photic stimulation, and data are presented to document changes in metabolism in response to the changes in function. The isolated retina appears to offer a number of unusual advantages for studying relationships between function and metabolism in organized mammalian central nervous tissue     

Knockdown of Lymphoid Enhancer factor 1 Inhibits Colon Cancer Progression In Vitro and In Vivo

Expression of lymphoid enhancer factor 1 (LEF1) is frequently altered in different human cancers. This study aimed to assess LEF1 expression in colon cancer tissues and to explore changed phenotypes, gene expressions, and the possible mechanism after knocked down LEF1 expression in colon cancer cell lines. A total of 106 colon cancer and matched paratumorous normal tissues were used to assess LEF1 expression using immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR. LEF1 lentivirus was used to knockdown LEF1 expression for the assessment of cell viability, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, and gene expressions. The nude mouse xenograft assay was performed to detect the effects of LEF1 knockdown in vivo. The data showed that the levels of LEF1 mRNA and protein were significantly increased in human colon cancer tissues compared to the matched paratumorous normal tissues and were associated with infiltration depth, lymph node and distant metastases, advanced TNM (tumor-node-metastasis) stages, and shorter overall survival. Furthermore, LEF1 knockdown reduced tumor cell viability, invasion capacity, MMP2 and MMP-9 expression, but induced apoptosis. Nude mouse xenograft assay showed that LEF1 knockdown suppressed tumor formation and growth in vivo. In addition, the expression of Notch pathway-related proteins RBP-jκ and Hes1 was reduced in LEF1 knockdown cells. Taken together, LEF1 protein was overexpressed in colon cancer tissues and knockdown of LEF1 expression inhibited colon cancer growth in vitro and in vivo. These data suggest that targeting of LEF1 expression should be further evaluated for colon cancer prevention and therapy.     

Studies of Inositol Phosphate Export from Neuronal Tissue In Vitro

Abstract: Recent in vivo microdialysis studies have demonstrated the presence of extracellular levels of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P₃] that can be increased in a concentration-dependent manner by muscarinic receptor activation. The aim of the present study was to determine whether extracellular levels of Ins(1,4,5)P₃ could be measured in vitro. Despite rapid increases in internal Ins(1,4,5)P₃ levels after stimulation with 1 m M carbachol, there was no change in external levels in both rat brain cortical slices and human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Suprafusion of myo -[³H]inositol-prelabelled hippocampal slices with 1 m M carbachol caused an increase in ³H-inositol phosphates over basal levels in the perfusate after 10 min, reaching a peak (223 ± 56% of basal) 20 min after suprafusion with carbachol was started. This response to carbachol was potentiated in the presence of 30 m M K⁺. Analysis of the individual ³H-inositol phosphates in the perfusate revealed that levels of [³H]inositol monophosphate, [³H]inositol bisphosphate, [³H]inositol trisphosphate, and [³H]inositol tetrakisphosphate were all significantly increased. A similar increase in extracellular ³H-inositol phosphates was demonstrated in SH-SY5Y cells incubated with 1 m M carbachol for 30 min. This response was again enhanced by 30 m M K⁺, although the intracellular response was not potentiated. Possible roles for extracellular inositol phosphates are discussed.     

一种基于连续PMCA的PrPSc体外扩增方法的建立

为建立一种基于蛋白质错误折叠循环扩增(PMCA)的体外稳定扩增方法以观察PrPSc是否能在体外连续传代,我们分别制备了正常仓鼠和羊瘙痒病因子263K感染的发病仓鼠的全脑匀浆,将两种脑匀浆以不同体积比混合后,分别进行144个循环的直接PMCA和每轮48个循环、共8轮的连续PMCA,用Western blot对PrPSc的扩增情况进行检测.结果显示,与常规的直接PMCA方法相比,连续PMCA能更有效地使低浓度的PrPSc扩增到可检出的水平,表明连续PMCA可以支持羊瘙痒因子263K在体外长期稳定的复制.连续PMCA方法是一种体外高效地扩增PrPSc的方法,有潜力成为一种Prion体外培养方法,用于研究Prion错误折叠和复制机制,以及检测脑组织、外周组织和体液样品中的微量PrPSc.     

Chicken Interferon-Inducible Transmembrane Protein 3 Restricts Influenza Viruses and Lyssaviruses In Vitro

Interferon-inducible transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) is an effector protein of the innate immune system. It confers potent, cell-intrinsic resistance to infection by diverse enveloped viruses both in vitro and in vivo, including influenza viruses, West Nile virus, and dengue virus. IFITM3 prevents cytosolic entry of these viruses by blocking complete virus envelope fusion with cell endosome membranes. Although the IFITM locus, which includes IFITM1, -2, -3, and -5, is present in mammalian species, this locus has not been unambiguously identified or functionally characterized in avian species. Here, we show that the IFITM locus exists in chickens and is syntenic with the IFITM locus in mammals. The chicken IFITM3 protein restricts cell infection by influenza A viruses and lyssaviruses to a similar level as its human orthologue. Furthermore, we show that chicken IFITM3 is functional in chicken cells and that knockdown of constitutive expression in chicken fibroblasts results in enhanced infection by influenza A virus. Chicken IFITM2 and -3 are constitutively expressed in all tissues examined, whereas IFITM1 is only expressed in the bursa of Fabricius, gastrointestinal tract, cecal tonsil, and trachea. Despite being highly divergent at the amino acid level, IFITM3 proteins of birds and mammals can restrict replication of viruses that are able to infect different host species, suggesting IFITM proteins may provide a crucial barrier for zoonotic infections.     

Cellular Origin of Ischemia-Induced Glutamate Release from Brain Tissue In Vivo and In Vitro

The uptake and release of D-[3H]aspartate (used as a tracer for endogenous glutamate and aspartate) were studied in cultured glutamatergic neurons (cerebellar granule cells) and astrocytes at normal (5 mM) or high (55 mM) potassium and under conditions of hypoglycemia, anoxia or "ischemia" (combined hypoglycemia and anoxia). In glutamatergic neurons it was found that "ischemic" conditions led to a 2.4-fold increase in the potassium-induced release of D-[3H]aspartate as compared to normal conditions. Hypoglycemia or anoxia alone affected the release only marginally. The ischemia-induced induced increase in the evoked D-[3H]aspartate release was shown to be calcium-dependent. In astrocytes no difference was found in the potassium-induced release between the four conditions and the K+-induced release was not calcium-dependent. The uptake of D-[3H]aspartate was found to be stimulated at high potassium in both glutamatergic neurons (98%) and in astrocytes (70%). This stimulation of D-aspartate uptake, however, was significantly reduced under conditions of anoxia or "ischemia" in both cell types. In glutamatergic neurons (but not in astrocytes) hypoglycemia also decreased the potassium stimulation of D-aspartate uptake. In a previous report it was shown, using the microdialysis technique, that during transient cerebral ischemia in vivo the extracellular glutamate content in hippocampus was increased eightfold. In the present paper it is shown that essentially no increase in extracellular glutamate is seen under ischemia when the perfusion is performed using calcium-free, cobalt-containing perfusion media. The results from the in vitro and in vivo experiments indicate that the glutamate accumulated extracellularly under ischemia in vivo originates from transmitter pools in glutamatergic neurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Modeling Long-Term Host Cell-Giardia lamblia Interactions in an In Vitro Co-Culture System

Globally, there are greater than 700,000 deaths per year associated with diarrheal disease. The flagellated intestinal parasite, Giardia lamblia, is one of the most common intestinal pathogens in both humans and animals throughout the world. While attached to the gastrointestinal epithelium, Giardia induces epithelial cell apoptosis, disrupts tight junctions, and increases intestinal permeability. The underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of giardiasis, including the role lamina propria immune cells, such as macrophages, play in parasite control or clearance are poorly understood. Thus far, one of the major obstacles in ascertaining the mechanisms of Giardia pathology is the lack of a functionally relevant model for the long-term study of the parasite in vitro. Here we report on the development of an in vitro co-culture model which maintains the basolateral-apical architecture of the small intestine and allows for long-term survival of the parasite. Using transwell inserts, Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells and IC-21 macrophages are co-cultured in the presence of Giardia trophozoites. Using the developed model, we show that Giardia trophozoites survive over 21 days and proliferate in a combination media of Caco-2 cell and Giardia medium. Giardia induces apoptosis of epithelial cells through caspase-3 activation and macrophages do not abrogate this response. Additionally, macrophages induce Caco-2 cells to secrete the pro-inflammatory cytokines, GRO and IL-8, a response abolished by Giardia indicating parasite induced suppression of the host immune response. The co-culture model provides additional complexity and information when compared to a single-cell model. This model will be a valuable tool for answering long-standing questions on host-parasite biology that may lead to discovery of new therapeutic interventions.     

Characterization of Wolbachia Host Cell Range via the In Vitro Establishment of Infections

Maternally transmitted bacteria of the genus Wolbachia are obligate, intracellular symbionts that are frequently found in insects and cause a diverse array of reproductive manipulations, including cytoplasmic incompatibility, male killing, parthenogenesis, and feminization. Despite the existence of a broad range of scientific interest, many aspects of Wolbachia research have been limited to laboratories with insect-rearing facilities. The inability to culture these bacteria outside of the invertebrate host has also led to the existing bias of Wolbachia research toward infections that occur in host insects that are easily reared. Here, we demonstrate that Wolbachia infections can be simply established, stably maintained, and cryogenically stored in vitro using standard tissue culture techniques. We have examined Wolbachia host range by introducing different Wolbachia types into a single tissue culture. The results show that an Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) cell line can support five different Wolbachia infection types derived from Drosophila simulans (Diptera: Drosophilidae), Culex pipiens (Culicidae), and Cadra cautella (Lepidoptera: Phycitidae). These bacterial types include infection types that have been assigned to two of the major Wolbachia clades. As an additional examination of Wolbachia host cell range, we demonstrated that a Wolbachia strain from D. simulans could be established in host insect cell lines derived from A. albopictus, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and Drosophila melanogaster. These results will facilitate the development of a Wolbachia stock center, permitting novel approaches for the study of Wolbachia infections and encouraging Wolbachia research in additional laboratories.     

Response to Rhinovirus Infection by Human Airway Epithelial Cells and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in an In Vitro Two-Chamber Tissue Culture System

Human rhinovirus (HRV) infections are associated with the common cold, occasionally with more serious lower respiratory tract illnesses, and frequently with asthma exacerbations. The clinical features of HRV infection and its association with asthma exacerbation suggest that some HRV disease results from virus-induced host immune responses to infection. To study the HRV-infection-induced host responses and the contribution of these responses to disease, we have developed an in vitro model of HRV infection of human airway epithelial cells (Calu-3 cells) and subsequent exposure of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to these infected cells in a two-chamber trans-well tissue culture system. Using this model, we studied HRV 14 (species B) and HRV 16 (species A) induced cytokine and chemokine responses with PBMCs from four healthy adults. Infection of Calu-3 cells with either virus induced HRV-associated increases in FGF-Basic, IL-15, IL-6, IL-28A, ENA-78 and IP-10. The addition of PBMCs to HRV 14-infected cells gave significant increases in MIP-1β, IL-28A, MCP-2, and IFN-α as compared with mock-infected cells. Interestingly, ENA-78 levels were reduced in HRV 14 infected cells that were exposed to PBMCs. Addition of PBMCs to HRV 16-infected cells did not induce MIP-1β, IL-28A and IFN-α efficiently nor did it decrease ENA-78 levels. Our results demonstrate a clear difference between HRV 14 and HRV 16 and the source of PBMCs, in up or down regulation of several cytokines including those that are linked to airway inflammation. Such differences might be one of the reasons for variation in disease associated with different HRV species including variation in their link to asthma exacerbations as suggested by other studies. Further study of immune responses associated with different HRVs and PBMCs from different patient groups, and the mechanisms leading to these differences, should help characterize pathogenesis of HRV disease and generate novel approaches to its treatment.     

Development and Evaluation of an In Vitro System to Study Strawberry Fruit Development

Growth and ripening of strawberry (Fragariaananassa Duch.)fruit harvested at immature stages of development was accomplishedby placing the peduncles of individual fruit in solutions composedof hydroxyquinoline hemisulphate (HQS) and sucrose. Fruit cultivarand developmental stage at harvest were the major determinantsof in vitro performance. ‘Pajaro’ fruit harvestedat 50 to 60% maturity exhibited the greatest and most uniformweight gain when placed in solutions containing 200 mol m^–3HQS and 88 mol m^–3 sucrose. Although the final fruit weightof in vitro-ripened fruit was less than that of field-ripenedfruit, colour development in vitro occurred at the same rateand to the same extent as field-grown fruit. Key words: Ripening, non-climacteric fruit     

In Vitro Multiplication of Sesame (Sesamum indicum) through Tissue Culture

Tissue cultures were established from different parts of sesame(Sesamum indicum L. cv. PT) seedlings. A callus tissue derivedfrom hypocotyl segments produced embryo like structures. Shoottips with cotyledons excised from 8 to 10-d-old seedlings producedmultiple shoot buds on a cytokinin-enriched medium. Presoakingand germination of seeds in BA or 2iP (8 mg l–1) enhancedthe development of shoot buds. Upon isolation and culture theshoots buds formed rooted plantlets in a charcoal-enriched medium. Sesamum, multiple buds, plantlets     

鸡输卵管上皮细胞瞬时表达系统(英文)

在开发利用生物反应器生产特定蛋白的研究中,若先用特异组织作原代培养,建立瞬时表达系统,对特定调控元件和融合基因进行分析,可大大缩短研究进程。本文首次报道用鸡输卵管上皮细胞原代培养, 建立瞬时表达系统的方法。输卵管细胞体外培养(Fig.1~3),在二、三周时间内仍能保持分泌卵清蛋白的功能。当分泌功能减弱时,若在培液中添加激素,一般一周后大部分细胞又可恢复分泌功能(Fig.4)。由于卵清蛋白是一种分泌蛋白,通过斑点免疫渗滤法可迅速简便的从培液中检测到(Fig.4)。为了验证培养细胞能否表达外源基因,在原代培养细胞中转染绿色荧光蛋白基因,可在细胞浆中显示绿色荧光(Fig.5),说明这是一个有效而又方便的检测调控元件的瞬时表达系统。