Immune reactivity in SL2 lymphoma-bearing mice compared with SL2-immunized mice

Summary We have studied the rather paradoxical phenomenon of the growth of an antigenic tumor in an immunocomponent host. This phenomenon was studied by comparing (a) the lymphocyte reactivity and (b) the macrophage cytotoxicity, during SL2 growth in DBA/2 mice (SL2-bearing mice) and in DBA/2 mice immunized against SL2 tumor cells (SL2-immune mice). Immune mice rejected a challenge of tumor cells. The immune T-lymphocytes rendered macrophages cytotoxic (arming) and were able to transfer tumor resistance to naive animals. Nonimmunized mice did not reject a challenge of SL2 cells. In these tumor-bearing mice various forms of immune reactivity were tested. Lymphocytes with the capacity to arm macrophages could not be found in the lymphoid organs. However, lymphocytes isolated from the tissue directly surrounding the subcutaneous SL2 tumor could arm macrophages in vitro.Shortly after subcutaneous tumor grafting cytotoxic macrophages were found in the peritoneal cavity. In the serum macrophage arming factors were detected that rendered macrophages cytotoxic in vitro. This cytotoxicity of the peritoneal macrophages and the presence of macrophage arming factors in the serum showed a similar biphasic pattern. The first phase of cytotoxicity between day 3 and 8 after tumor grafting was tumor (SL2) specific. The second phase from day 12 and onwards was not tumor specific. During the first 4 days after SL2 grafting the DBA/2 mice expressed a specific concomitant immunity to a second tumor graft. Then 7 or more days after grafting the first SL2 tumor, the concomitant immunity was nonspecific as the growth of a second SL2 tumor graft and a L5178Y (DBA/2) tumor graft were inhibited. In addition, the immune suppressive activity of serum and lymphocytes was tested. Neither serum nor lymphocytes from SL2-bearing mice suppressed the macrophage arming capacity of SL2 immune lymphocytes. Lymphocytes from tumor-bearing mice did not inhibit the capacity of SL2-immune lymphocytes to transfer resistance to naive animals. On the contrary, lymphocytes obtained from SL2-bearing mice 14 days after SL2 grafting transfered tumor resistance in a Winn-type assay. These data suggest that the growth of an antigenic tumor is due to the inability of the immune system to mount an effective antitumor effector cell population during tumor growth, rather than an immune suppression of the antitumor reactivity, as a limited immune reactivity could be detected in tumor-bearing mice, whereas immune suppression could not be detected.     

罗伊氏乳酸杆菌SL001对AD模型小鼠和C57BL/6小鼠肠道微生物的影响

本研究旨在调查阿尔茨海默症模型小鼠(APP/PS1双转基因小鼠,AD小鼠)与野生型小鼠(C57BL/6小鼠)肠道菌群的多样性差异,以及添食罗伊氏乳酸杆菌SL001 (Lactobacillus reuteri SL001)对两种小鼠肠道微生物菌群结构组成的影响,探讨其是否可对AD小鼠起到积极的改善作用。首先将雄性AD模型和野生型小鼠分别分成添食组和未添食组(每组5只),添食组小鼠每天用0.2 mL浓度为5×10¹¹ CFU/mL的L. reuteri SL001菌悬液灌胃,未添食组则每天接受等量的无菌PBS,通过口服管饲法进行给物,周期为45 d。实验结束后,采集小鼠的粪便样本,通过高通量测序技术测定了16S rRNA V3–V4区序列,并对群落结构和多样性进行比较分析。结果显示4个处理组小鼠的肠道微生物OTUs总共包括19个门、40个纲、64个目、104个科和175个属。AD模型小鼠的α多样性大于野生型小鼠,但是两者之间的差异不显著。添食L. reuteri SL001后,两种小鼠的α多样性均增加,AD模型小鼠的增幅较小。在门水平上,4组小鼠的优势菌门均为拟杆菌...     

Critical factors for liposome-incorporated tumour-associated antigens to induce protective tumour immunity to SL2 lymphoma cells in mice

Physical and immunogenic properties of reconstituted membranes designed for the presentation of tumour-associated antigens (TAA) to the immune system are described. Proteins and lipids of crude membranes of SL2 murine lymphosarcoma cells were partially solubilized with octylglucoside. Reconstituted membranes, consisting mainly of unilamellar vesicles with a diameter of 0.03–0.15 μm, were formed by detergent removal and were purified by floatation in a discontinuous sucrose gradient to remove non-lipid-bound protein. Subcutaneous immunization of syngeneic mice with reconstituted membranes or with purified reconstituted membranes induced protection against an intraperitoneal challenge with 10³ viable SL2 cells. Reconstituted membranes were more immunogenic than crude membranes in immunoprotection experiments when compared on the basis of protein dose. Detergent removal was required to obtain an immunogenic presentation form of SL2 membrane antigens and to avoid toxicity associated with the detergent. Reconstitution of SL2 membranes in the presence of exogenous phospholipid slightly increased the fraction of protein that associated with the reconstituted membranes. However, the immunogenicity of the solubilized membrane TAA was not significantly affected by the presence of exogenous phospholipid. The reconstitution procedure described may be useful in identifying membrane factors required for the induction of immune responses against TAA. The versatility of the system may be employed to develop safe alternatives for whole-cell vaccines.     

Role of anionic charges of osmoregulated periplasmic glucans of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium SL1344 in mice virulence

opgB gene of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium was identified earlier in a genome-wide screen for mice virulence (Valentine et al. in Infect Immun 66:3378-3383, 1998). Although mutation in opgB resulted in avirulent Salmonella strain, how this gene contributes to pathogenesis remains unclear. Based on DNA homology, opgB is predicted to be responsible for adding phosphoglycerate residues to osmoregulated periplasmic glucans (OPGs) giving them anionic characteristics. In Escherichia coli, yet another gene, opgC, is also reported to contribute to anionic characteristics of OPGs by adding succinic acid residues. We constructed opgB, opgC, and opgBC double mutants of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium strain SL1344. As predicted opgBC mutant synthesized neutral OPGs that were devoid of any anionic substituents. However, opgB, opgC, and opgBC mutations had no significant impact on mice virulence as well as on competitive organ colonization. In low osmotic conditions, opgB, opgC, and opgBC mutants exhibited delay in growth initiation in the presence of sodium deoxycholate. Anionic substituents of OPGs from Salmonella although appear to be needed to overcome resistance of deoxycholate in hypoosmotic growth media, no evidence was found for their role in mice virulence.     

Chronic apocynin treatment attenuates beta amyloid plaque size and microglial number in hAPP(751)(SL) mice

Background

NADPH oxidase is implicated in neurotoxic microglial activation and the progressive nature of Alzheimer''s Disease (AD). Here, we test the ability of two NADPH oxidase inhibitors, apocynin and dextromethorphan (DM), to reduce learning deficits and neuropathology in transgenic mice overexpressing human amyloid precursor protein with the Swedish and London mutations (hAPP(751)_SL).

Methods

Four month old hAPP(751)_SL mice were treated daily with saline, 15 mg/kg DM, 7.5 mg/kg DM, or 10 mg/kg apocynin by gavage for four months.

Results

Only hAPP(751)_SL mice treated with apocynin showed reduced plaque size and a reduction in the number of cortical microglia, when compared to the saline treated group. Analysis of whole brain homogenates from all treatments tested (saline, DM, and apocynin) demonstrated low levels of TNFα, protein nitration, lipid peroxidation, and NADPH oxidase activation, indicating a low level of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in hAPP(751)_SL mice at 8 months of age that was not significantly affected by any drug treatment. Despite in vitro analyses demonstrating that apocynin and DM ameliorate Aβ-induced extracellular superoxide production and neurotoxicity, both DM and apocynin failed to significantly affect learning and memory tasks or synaptic density in hAPP(751)_SL mice. To discern how apocynin was affecting plaque levels (plaque load) and microglial number in vivo, in vitro analysis of microglia was performed, revealing no apocynin effects on beta-amyloid (Aβ) phagocytosis, microglial proliferation, or microglial survival.

Conclusions

Together, this study suggests that while hAPP(751)_SL mice show increases in microglial number and plaque load, they fail to exhibit elevated markers of neuroinflammation consistent with AD at 8 months of age, which may be a limitation of this animal model. Despite absence of clear neuroinflammation, apocynin was still able to reduce both plaque size and microglial number, suggesting that apocynin may have additional therapeutic effects independent of anti-inflammatory characteristics.     

Site-related differences in the localization of the monoclonal antibody OX7 in SL2 and SL1 lymphomas

Summary The uptake of a monoclonal antibody (OX7) by murine lymphomas (SL1, SL2) growing in two sites in the mouse were compared. SL2 tumors grown in the subrenal site showed greater specific antibody uptake than did the same tumor grown in the subcutaneous site. Major differences in membrane bound antibody, in vitro antibody binding patterns, and gamma scintillation camera imaging were also observed between the two sites. These differences may be due to the greater blood flow measured in tumors growing in the subrenal capsule than those growing at the subcutaneous site. The differences observed in antibody uptake of the same tumor growing in two different sites raises questions concerning the choice of animal model systems that can be used to predict clinical utility.     

Complete genome sequence of Halorhodospira halophila SL1

Halorhodospira halophila is among the most halophilic organisms known. It is an obligately photosynthetic and anaerobic purple sulfur bacterium that exhibits autotrophic growth up to saturated NaCl concentrations. The type strain H. halophila SL1 was isolated from a hypersaline lake in Oregon. Here we report the determination of its entire genome in a single contig. This is the first genome of a phototrophic extreme halophile. The genome consists of 2,678,452 bp, encoding 2,493 predicted genes as determined by automated genome annotation. Of the 2,407 predicted proteins, 1,905 were assigned to a putative function. Future detailed analysis of this genome promises to yield insights into the halophilic adaptations of this organism, its ability for photoautotrophic growth under extreme conditions, and its characteristic sulfur metabolism.     

杆状病毒SpltMNPV SL136蛋白的功能

先前的研究发现斜纹夜蛾核多角体病毒 (Spodopteralituramulticapsidnucleopolyhedrovirus,SpltMNPV)基因组中Sl136表达产物具有膜融合功能。通过RT PCR检测了该基因的转录时相 ;制备该蛋白质的多克隆抗血清 ,SDS PAGE、Western印迹实验证明SL136蛋白质是芽生型病毒粒子特有的蛋白质。该基因在斜纹夜蛾离体细胞系中表达产物分子量为 86、6 5kD的两条带 ,后者与芽生型病毒粒子中检测到的一条蛋白质带分子量基本一致。另外 ,细胞酶联免疫吸附测定 (cellenzyme linkedimmunosorbantassay ,CELISA)实验证明SL136蛋白可分布于重组病毒Bac Sl136和野生型SpltMNPV分别感染的Hi5、Sl zsu 1细胞表面 ,并进行了定量分析。生物测定结果表明 ,弗林蛋白酶 (furin)抑制剂对于病毒感染力没有明显的影响 ,但是抑制病毒蛋白的糖基化却使病毒的滴度大为下降     

水稻SL基因调控水稻的粒形

水稻产量和稻米品质的提高是水稻研究的中心问题。水稻产量主要取决于单株穗数、每穗粒数和粒重;粒重作为一个非常重要的产量性状,由粒长、粒宽和粒厚所决定。影响粒重和粒形的基因多为数量性状基因,精细定位并克隆到的较少。本研究中,我们克隆到一个影响粒形的基因SL,超表达（SL-OE）转基因植株表现出粒长增加、粒宽减小、叶宽减小的表型;同时,SL-RNAi的转基因植株呈现出粒长缩短、叶宽增加的表型。颖壳表面细胞在超表达转基因植株中伸长,而在RNAi转基因植株中缩短。叶片横向细胞数目在转基因植株中发生变化,推测乩基因可能与细胞分裂相关。SL-OE转基因植株中G嗽因被明显上调,说明盟基因可能通过调节GW2的表达对水稻粒宽造成影响。另外,观基因影响稻米的品质。     

trans-Stilbene degradation by Arthrobacter sp. SL3 cells

trans-Stilbene degradation was examined by the reaction using resting cells of microorganisms isolated through the enrichment culture using trans-stilbene. The strain SL3, showing the highest trans-stilbene-degrading activity, was identified as Arthrobacter sp. One of the reaction products was identified to be cis,cis-muconic acid. Arthrobacter sp. SL3 cells also transformed benzaldehyde, benzoic acid and catechol into cis,cis-muconic acid, suggesting that one benzene ring of trans-stilbene was converted into cis,cis-muconic acid via benzaldehyde formed by its C_α=C_β bond cleavage.     

SL2-like spliced leader RNAs in the basal nematode Prionchulus punctatus: New insight into the evolution of nematode SL2 RNAs

Spliced-leader (SL) trans-splicing has been found in all molecularly characterized nematode species to date, and it is likely to be a nematode synapomorphy. Most information regarding SL trans-splicing has come from the study of nematodes from a single monophyletic group, the Rhabditida, all of which employ SL RNAs that are identical to, or variants of, the SL1 RNA first characterized in Caenorhabditis elegans. In contrast, the more distantly related Trichinella spiralis, belonging to the subclass Dorylaimia, utilizes a distinct set of SL RNAs that display considerable sequence diversity. To investigate whether this is true of other members of the Dorylaimia, we have characterized SL RNAs from Prionchulus punctatus. Surprisingly, this revealed the presence of a set of SLs that show clear sequence similarity to the SL2 family of spliced leaders, which have previously only been found within the rhabditine group (which includes C. elegans). Expression of one of the P. punctatus SL RNAs in C. elegans reveals that it can compete specifically with the endogenous C. elegans SL2 spliced leaders, being spliced to the pre-mRNAs derived from downstream genes in operons, but does not compete with the SL1 spliced leaders. This discovery raises the possibility that SL2-like spliced leaders were present in the last common ancestor of the nematode phylum.     

Dicer-dependent biogenesis of small RNAs derived from 7SL RNA

It has been reported that decreased Dicer expression leads to Alu RNAs accumulation in human retinal pigmented epithelium cells, and Dicer may process the endogenous SINE/B1 RNAs (the rodent equivalent of the primate Alu RNAs) into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). In this study, we aimed to address whether Dicer can process Alu RNAs and their common ancestor, 7SL RNA. Using Solexa sequencing technology, we showed that Alu-derived small RNAs accounted for 0.6% of the total cellular small RNAs in HepG2.2.15 cells, and the abundance decreased when Dicer was knocked down. However, Alu-derived small RNAs showed different characteristics from miRNAs and siRNAs, the classic Dicer-processed products. Interestingly, we found that small RNAs derived from 7SL RNA accounted for 3.1% of the total cellular small RNAs in the control cells, and the abundance dropped about 3.4 folds in Dicer knockdown cells. Dicer-dependent biogenesis of 7SL RNA-derived small RNAs was validated by northern blotting. In vitro cleavage assay using the recombinant human Dicer protein also showed that synthetic 7SL RNA was processed by Dicer into fragments of different lengths. Further functional analysis suggested that 7SL RNA-derived small RNAs do not function like miRNAs, neither do they regulate the expression of 7SL RNA. In conclusion, the current study demonstrated that Dicer can process 7SL RNA, however, the biological significance remains to be elucidated.