Paired inspiratory-expiratory chest CT scans to assess for small airways disease in COPD

Background

Gas trapping quantified on chest CT scans has been proposed as a surrogate for small airway disease in COPD. We sought to determine if measurements using paired inspiratory and expiratory CT scans may be better able to separate gas trapping due to emphysema from gas trapping due to small airway disease.

Methods

Smokers with and without COPD from the COPDGene Study underwent inspiratory and expiratory chest CT scans. Emphysema was quantified by the percent of lung with attenuation < −950HU on inspiratory CT. Four gas trapping measures were defined: (1) Exp₋₈₅₆, the percent of lung < −856HU on expiratory imaging; (2) E/I MLA, the ratio of expiratory to inspiratory mean lung attenuation; (3) RVC_856-950, the difference between expiratory and inspiratory lung volumes with attenuation between −856 and −950 HU; and (4) Residuals from the regression of Exp₋₈₅₆ on percent emphysema.

Results

In 8517 subjects with complete data, Exp₋₈₅₆ was highly correlated with emphysema. The measures based on paired inspiratory and expiratory CT scans were less strongly correlated with emphysema. Exp₋₈₅₆, E/I MLA and RVC_856-950 were predictive of spirometry, exercise capacity and quality of life in all subjects and in subjects without emphysema. In subjects with severe emphysema, E/I MLA and RVC_856-950 showed the highest correlations with clinical variables.

Conclusions

Quantitative measures based on paired inspiratory and expiratory chest CT scans can be used as markers of small airway disease in smokers with and without COPD, but this will require that future studies acquire both inspiratory and expiratory CT scans.     

Enhancement of sapovirus recombinant capsid protein expression in insect cells

Human sapovirus (SaV) is uncultivable, but expression of the recombinant capsid protein (rVP1) in insect cells results in the formation of virus-like particles (VLPs) that are morphologically similar to the native viruses. However, the SaV rVP1 expression levels are considerably low. We have found that inclusions of short foreign nucleotide sequences inserted directly upstream from the predicted rVP1 AUG start codon lead to increased yield of VLPs. This method allowed us to express a SaV rVP1, which could not have been expressed to measurable or practical levels otherwise.     

Human testis-expressed sequence 101 is limitedly distributed in germinal epithelium of testis and disappears in seminoma

Background

Testis-expressed sequence 101 (TEX101) was found to be highly expressed in testis and involved in acrosome reaction in previous studies. Recently, the metastasis suppressor function of TEX101 in cancer was disclosed, but the comprehensive investigation of its expression has rarely been reported. In this study, the expression features of TEX101 in normal human organs and seminoma were systematically analyzed.

Results

Immunohistochemistry demonstrated intense staining of TEX101 in human testis tissues; however, its expression in 27 other types of normal human organs, including the ovary, was negligible. Higher expression of TEX101 was observed in the spermatocytes and spermatids of the testis, but relatively lower staining was detected in spermatogonia. Western blotting showed a single TEX101 band of 38 kDa in human testis, but it did not correspond to the predicted molecular weight of its mature form at 21 KDa. Furthermore, we examined seminoma tissues by immunohistochemistry and found that none of the 36 samples expressed TEX101.

Conclusions

Our data confirmed TEX101 to be a testis protein that could be related to the maturation process of male germ cells. The lack of TEX101 in seminoma indicated its potential role in tumor progression. This characteristic expression of TEX101 could provide a valuable reference for understanding its biological functions.     

Neuropeptide expression in the airways of COPD patients and smokers with normal lung function

Neurogenic mechanisms seem to play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as suggested by a number of in vitro data. However, few studies have investigated the presence of neuropeptides in the airways of patients with COPD, and they have yielded conflicting results. The aim of this study is to compare the expression of the neuropeptide substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the airways of smokers with and without COPD. Surgical lung samples were obtained from 15 smokers with COPD and 16 smokers with normal lung function, who underwent lobectomy for a solitary lung carcinoma. Airway expression and distribution of SP, VIP, and NPY were identified by immunohistochemistry and analyzed by a computerized image analysis system. Compared to smokers with normal lung function, COPD patients exhibited an increased immunoreactivity for SP and VIP, paralleled by a decreased NPY expression in the epithelium and glands, and a decreased expression of all these three neuropeptides in the smooth muscle layer. Therefore, in the present study we have documented a different expression and distribution of the neuropeptides SP, VIP, and NPY in the airways of smokers with and without COPD. These findings suggest a possible involvement of such neuropeptides in the pathogenesis of some changes occurring in COPD.     

Collagenase gene expression in fibroblasts is regulated by a three-dimensional contact with collagen

Collagenase activity in fibroblasts is regulated by cytokines and the interaction with the extracellular matrix. In this study we demonstrate that fibroblasts cultured within a three-dimensional collagen gel show a strong induction of collagenase gene expression. In addition to increased de novo synthesis most of the secreted enzyme was found to be activated leading to a high collagenolytic activity and complete degradation of collagen matrices after removal of fetal calf serum. Collagen I gene expression was found to be reduced under these conditions. These data suggest a specific modulation of cellular metabolism in response to contact with a three-dimensional collagenous matrix resulting in the divergent regulation of collagen and collagenase.     

Progesterone receptor in the reproductive system of the female of Octopus vulgaris: Characterization and immunolocalization

In this study for the first time we have characterized a progesterone receptor in the reproductive system of the female of Octopus vulgaris. Scatchard analysis revealed that one binding component with high affinity and low capacity for the ligand was present only in the nuclear extract. Competition experiments showed that the progesterone receptor was strictly specific for progesterone. DNA-cellulose binding and DEAE-Sephacel both confirmed the presence of one ³H-progesterone binding component which eluted at a salt concentration of 0.14 ± 0.05 M NaCl and 0.15 ± 0.05 M NaCl respectively. By using monoclonal antibodies against chicken progesterone receptor (subunits A and B), we have localized on Western Blot one band of about 70 kDa. Immunoreactivity for progesterone binding molecules has been localized in the nuclei of the follicle cells of the ovary, of the proximal portion of the oviduct and of the outer region of the nidimental gland. These data, taken together, provide evidence that in Octopus vulgaris the progesterone receptor has biochemical and immunohistochemical characteristics resembling those of progesterone receptor in vertebrates. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 50:451–460, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

E-cadherin promoter methylation can regulate its expression in invasive ductal breast cancer tissue in Chinese woman

Promoter methylation is an important mechanism of regulating E-cadherin expression. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) assay was done to evaluate the promoter methylation status of E-cadherin gene in primary tumor samples from 23 cases of Chinese women with invasive ductal breast cancers. Western blotting assay was employed for E-cadherin and beta-actin expressions. Positive MSP results occurred in 26.1% (6/23) of primary tumor samples and none of four normal skin samples. These molecular events tended to occur in breast cancers associated with poor prognosis. Whereas the mean ratio of CDH1/beta-actin for six MSP-positive cases was 0.0290 +/- 0.0355, the mean ratio for 17 MSP-negative cases was 0.4726 +/- 0.5049 (P = 0.046). In conclusion, aberrant E-cadherin methylation preferentially occurs in invasive ductal breast cancer associated with poor prognosis and is one of the mechanisms of E-cadherin expression silence in breast cancers from Chinese women.     

应用双质粒共表达体系提高融合蛋白GGH在毕赤酵母GS115中的表达量

为实现人胰高血糖素样肽-1-人血清白蛋白融合蛋白 ((GLP-1A2G)2-HSA,简称GGH) 的规模化制备,通过pPICZαB与pPIC9K双质粒共表达体系提高融合蛋白GGH在毕赤酵母中的表达量。首先运用PCR技术扩增出融合蛋白GGH的基因片段,构建了表达质粒pPICZαB-ggh,并电转至经载体pPIC9K-ggh异位整合的GGH分泌型菌株——毕赤酵母GS115/F2;然后采用免疫学方法并结合高浓度抗生素筛选获得高产菌GS115/F3,在30 ℃,3％甲醇诱导80 h后GGH的表达量达到了491 m     

Comparison of CEL I gene expression and mismatch-cleavage activity in some Apiaceae plants

The most familiar enzyme in mutation screening through heteroduplex analysis, CEL I, has been isolated from celery of the Apiaceae family. In this study, in a search for new sources with the same or better enzymatic activity, we studied the mismatch-cleavage activity of plant juice extracts from several Apiaceae plants (celery, carrot, coriander, parsley, dill, and fennel). This study was then followed by investigation of the level of CEL I gene expression in these plants. Mismatch-cleavage activity of fennel and dill juice extracts was lower than that of celery juice extract, and levels of CEL I mRNA expression in these plants were substantially higher than in celery. In contrast, the ability of juice extract from a local cultivar of parsley to cleave heteroduplex DNA substrates was clearly more than that of celery juice extract, whereas the level of CEL I gene expression in parsley was obviously lower than in celery. We concluded that there are multiple mismatch-cleaving enzymes collaborating in digestion of heteroduplex DNA substrates by plant juice extracts.     

The expression, activity and localisation of the secretory pathway Ca-ATPase (SPCA1) in different mammalian tissues

The distribution of the secretory pathway Ca²⁺-ATPase (SPCA1) was investigated at both the mRNA and protein level in a variety of tissues. The mRNA and the protein for SPCA1 were relatively abundant in rat brain, testis and testicular derived cells (myoid cells, germ cells, primary Sertoli cells and TM4 cells; a mouse Sertoli cell line) and epididymal fat pads. Lower levels were found in aorta (rat and porcine), heart, liver, lung and kidney.SPCA activities from a number of tissues were measured and shown to be particularly high in brain, aorta, heart, fat pads and testis. As the proportion of SPCA activity compared to total Ca²⁺ ATPase activity in brain, aorta, fat pads and testis were relatively high, this suggests that SPCA1 plays a major role in Ca²⁺ storage within these tissues. The subcellular localisation of SPCA1 was shown to be predominantly around the Golgi in both human aortic smooth muscle cells and TM4 cells.     

Genetic polymorphism of CON 1 and CON 2 salivary proteins detected by immunologic and concanavalin a reactions on nitrocellulose with linkage of CON 1 and CON 2 genes to the SPC (salivary protein gene complex)

Two new genetic protein polymorphisms (CON 1 and CON 2) were identified in parotid saliva. Genetic polymorphisms of salivary CON 1 (concanavalin A) and CON 2 proteins are determined by autosomal inheritance of one expressed (dominant) and one unexpressed (recessive) allele for each gene. Autosomal inheritance is supported by studies in 26 families including 105 children for CON 1 and 23 families including 95 children for CON 2. Gene frequencies determined for randomly collected salivas from 134 whites, 79 Chinese, and 74 blacks are as follows: for whites, CON 1 ⁺= 0.396 and CON 1 ^– = 0.604, CON 2 ⁺ = 0.034 and CON 2 ^–= 0.966; for Chinese, CON 1 ⁺ = 0.580 and CON 1 ^– = 0.420, CON 2 ⁺ = 0 and CON 2 ^– = 1; for blacks, CON 1 ⁺ = 0.581 and CON 1 ^– = 0.419, CON 2 ⁺ = 0.007 and CON 2 ^– = 0.993. Both CON 1 and CON 2 proteins, transferred from SDS gels to nitrocellulose, react with concanavalin A. The CON 1 and CON 2 proteins react with antisera prepared to proline-rich proteins (PRP), and the CON 1 and CON 2 proteins have isoelectric points greater than pH 8.5. In randomly collected salivas, the CON 1 protein shows a strong association with Ps proteins, and the CON 2 protein shows a strong association with the PmF protein. On the basis of association data, PmS and CON 2 genes may be outside markers in a linear arrangement of the three genes, PmS, PmF, and CON 2. There is strong evidence for linkage of CON 1 and CON 2 to the SPC (salivary protein gene complex), CON 1 to Ps (15 families, lod score at = 0 is 6.77), CON 2 to PmF (7 families, lod score at = 0 is 5.93), and CON 2 to Gl (5 families, lod score at =0 is 3.91). In addition to immunologic reactions with the CON 1 and CON 2 proteins, antisera to PRP show extensive immunologic reactions with many other salivary proteins when tested by immunoblotting on nitrocellulose. Some of these proteins were previously identified PRP (proline-rich proteins) that are determined by different PRP loci.This study was supported by Grant (DEO 3658-18) from the National Institutes of Dental Research. Paper No. 2647 of the Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706.     

Fibroblasts as a part of the contractile system in duodenal villi of rat

Summary The stroma of duodenal villi of rats was studied by light- and electron microscopy. Fibroblasts are rather evenly distributed within the villus. Their branched processes embrace all blood vessels, the lacteal and the bundles of smooth muscle cells. They are connected to each other and to smooth muscle cells by close contacts. Unmyelinated axons are found close to the fibroblasts where they may show synapse-like formations.The fibroblasts within intestinal villi contain many dilated cisterns of rER similar to normal fibroblasts. In contrast to the latter, there are many aggregated, contractile filaments, being situated mainly below the plasma membrane and within the processes. It is suggested that fibroblasts representing a 3-dimensional contractile network may be activated by smooth muscle cells and/or by innervation. So, they seem to be involved in the diminution of the vascular and stromal spaces within the villus.     

游仆虫中心蛋白在大肠杆菌中的高效表达和多克隆抗体制备

中心蛋白是一种在微管组织中心的复制和分离中起着重要作用的蛋白质。为了进一步进行中心蛋白结构和功能的研究 ,我们克隆了单细胞真核生物游仆虫中心蛋白基因并构建了重组表达质粒pGEX 6P EoCen ,其在大肠杆菌BL2 1中经IPTG诱导后获得了大量的可溶性表达 ,融合蛋白表达水平达到了细菌总蛋白的 32 6 %。GST抗体进行Westernblotting检测结果为阳性。经GST亲和层析和superdex 75凝胶层析后得到 90 %以上电泳纯的蛋白。用纯化后的蛋白免疫大鼠产生抗血清 ,经ELISA检测抗体效价达 1∶2 5 6 0     

ELF magnetic fields induce internalization of gap junction protein connexin 43 in Chinese hamster lung cells

We have previously demonstrated that exposure of Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cells to 50 Hz magnetic fields (MFs) and/or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-3-acetate (TPA)-inhibited gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC). To explore and compare the mechanisms of GJIC inhibition induced by extremely low frequency (ELF) MF and TPA, the number and localization of connexin 43 (C x 43) were studied. The localization of C x 43 was determined with indirect immunofluorescence histochemical analysis and detected by confocal microscopy after exposing CHL cells to 50 Hz sinusoidal magnetic field at 0.8 mT for 24 h without or with TPA (5 ng/ml) for the last 1 h. The C x 43 levels in nuclei and in cytoplasm were examined by Western blotting analysis. The results showed that the cells exposed to MF and/or TPA displayed individual plaques at regions of intercellular contact, which were fewer than the normal cells in number, while the number of C x 43 in cytoplasm increased and congregated near the nuclei. Western blot analysis further demonstrated the quantity of changes in location of Cx43. These results suggest that reduction of C x 43 at regions of intercellular contact may be one of the mechanisms of GJIC inhibition induced by ELF MF.     

电转移中蛋白质的透膜现象及其对蛋白质印迹结果的影响

探讨了电转移中蛋白质的透膜现象及其对蛋白质印迹结果的影响.采用抗凋亡抑制蛋白-Survivin的抗体,对细胞裂解液进行蛋白质印迹.与常规操作方法不同之处是：在电转移的凝胶“三明治”中,重叠放置两张硝酸纤维素膜.电转移后,对两张膜同时进行免疫印迹.在特定的转移条件下,两张膜的免疫印迹都出现了Survivin蛋白的特异印迹带,证实了电转移中存在着蛋白质的透膜现象.转移时间、电流强度和蛋白质的分子质量,都是影响蛋白质透膜的相关因素.电转移中蛋白质的透膜,可以产生“印迹复制失真”的效应,从而最终影响蛋白质印迹定性和定量的结果.所得实验结果和结论,揭示了蛋白质印迹技术方法学中一个需要加以充分关注的问题,对于科学掌握和应用该技术具有积极作用.     

Single bout of running exercise changes LC3-II expression in rat cardiac muscle

Macroautophagy (autophagy) is an intracellular catalytic process. We examined the effect of running exercise, which stimulates cardiac work physiologically, on the expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)-II, an indicator of autophagy, as well as some autophagy-related proteins in rat cardiac muscle. The left ventricles were taken from rats immediately (0 h), and at 0.5 h, 1 h or 3 h after a single bout of running exercise on a treadmill for 30 min and also from rats in a rest condition. In these samples, we evaluated the level of LC3-II and p62, and the phosphorylation level of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Akt and AMP-activated protein kinase alpha (AMPKα) by Western blotting. The exercise produced a biphasic change in LC3-II, with an initial decrease observed immediately after the exercise and a subsequent increase 1 h thereafter. LC3-II then returned to the rest level at 3 h after the exercise. A negative correlation was found between the LC3-II expression and mTOR phosphorylation, which plays a role in inhibiting autophagy. The exercise increased phosphorylation of AMPKα, which stimulates autophagy via suppression of mTOR phosphorylation, immediately after exercise. The level of p62 and phosphorylated Akt was not altered significantly by the exercise. These results suggest for the first time that a single bout of running exercise induces a biphasic change in autophagy in the cardiac muscle. The exercise-induced change in autophagy might be partially mediated by mTOR in the cardiac muscle.     

Detection of residual toxin in tissues of ricin-poisoned mice by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoprecipitation

This work aimed to evaluate a method to detect the residual ricin in animal tissues. Immunoprecipitation and sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect ricin in the tissues of intoxicated mice. The monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) 4C13 and 3D74 were used to assay the whole ricin molecules via sandwich ELISA. Mab 4C13 was conjugated with Sepharose 4B to capture ricin or ricin A chain by immunoprecipitation. Mice injected intravenously with ricin at the dosage of 5 μg/mouse were killed at different time points after intoxication. The serum, liver, kidney, lung, and intestine were harvested. High levels of ricin were found in serum and liver samples at each poisoning time point by sandwich ELISA, suggesting the possibility of determining ricin intoxication by detecting residual ricin in the serum. However, this method turned out to be ineffective for examining ricin in the kidney, lung, and intestine of poisoned mice. Although the same tissue samples of intoxicated mice were analyzed by immunoprecipitation, positive bands were found. This indicated that some components in the kidney, lung, and intestine could bind with ricin and interfere in its binding activity with the coated antibody. Immunoprecipitation could be used to measure the existence of ricin in these samples.