透明质酸介导的树突状细胞肿瘤抗原提呈效应的形态学研究

目的:探讨透明质酸对树突状细胞肿瘤抗原提呈效应的调节作用.方法:建立B16黑色素瘤小鼠模型;用GM-CSF和IL-4诱导扩增小鼠骨髓来源的树突状细胞,并用透明质酸孵育,Brdu标记;经肿瘤周围皮下回输,以普通DC、生理盐水为对照组;测量瘤体积,计算抑瘤率.光镜、透射电镜、免疫组织化学法观察HA-DC于肿瘤局部组织和淋巴结内的分布和形态学特征.结果:HA-DC细胞组的抑瘤作用强于DC细胞组(P＜0.05);HA-DC细胞主要分布于肿瘤周围和淋巴结副皮质区,透射电镜观察可见HA-DC组肿瘤周围组织中有大量树突状细胞和淋巴细胞浸润,相互有膜接触,淋巴细胞以突起深入肿瘤细胞,并与其接触、融合,肿瘤细胞发生凋亡.结论:DC负载透明质酸后可以有效激活和扩增淋巴细胞,增强机体肿瘤特异性CTL效应.     

人外周血树突状细胞的形态学研究

血树突状细胞是一种重要的免疫辅助细胞,可以从外周血分离获得。本研究对自人外周血分离的树突状细胞进行了免疫细胞化学、透射电镜和扫描电镜观察。结果表明,血树突状细胞呈Ｓ—１００蛋白阳性反应,ｌｙｓｏｚｙｍｅ阴性反应。细胞形态不规则,有长短、粗细不等的突起,核不规则且多扭曲。体外培养时,血树突状细胞可互相接触,或数个聚集成群或与淋巴细胞形成花环。实验中发现Ｓ—１００蛋白阳性的血树突状细胞有两种不同的形态类型。文中除对血树突状细胞的生理功能进行了讨论外,还提出了这两类细胞很可能是外周血树突状细胞的前体细胞和成熟的树突状细胞。     

大肠杆菌菌蜕装载质粒DNA实验方法的优化

目的:优化大肠杆菌菌蜕装载质粒的效率,并将装载质粒的菌蜕转染抗原提呈细胞,以提高核酸疫苗的递送水平。方法:将质粒pHH43转化大肠杆菌DH5α,制备大肠杆菌菌蜕;优化菌蜕装载质粒时菌蜕、质粒和膜囊的比例,获得更高的装载效率,通过扫描及透射电镜、流式细胞术观察其形态变化及装载效率;将装载质粒的菌蜕与抗原提呈细胞——巨噬细胞RAW264.7和树突状细胞DC2.4共孵育,观察吞噬效果。结果:优化了大肠杆菌菌蜕装载质粒的效率,当菌蜕、质粒、膜囊的比例为7∶10∶4时效率达到最佳,装载DNA效率达98%以上;抗原提呈细胞吞噬装载了质粒的菌蜕,效率达100%。结论:大肠杆菌菌蜕可高效装载核酸疫苗,且高效被抗原提呈细胞捕获,有助于提高核酸疫苗的递送和免疫效果的提高。     

喉癌组织中血管内皮生长因子、CD1a阳性树突状细胞表达及相关性的研究

目的:观察喉癌病人癌组织内CDla~ 树突状细胞(dendritic cells,DC)的分布、形态学特征以及血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)的表达情况,同时探讨喉癌组织CDla~ DC分布与VEGF表达的关系。方法:采用抗VEGF、抗CDla抗体进行免疫组化染色和透射电镜等方法研究了42例喉癌组织。结果:喉癌组织CDla~ 树突状细胞树突状细胞形态不规则,表面有许多不规则树状突起。大部分散在分布于癌巢内,与肿瘤细胞有密切接触,少量分布于癌巢之间的间质和癌周组织。喉癌组织内CDla~ DC密度与喉癌临床期次呈明显的负相关,而VEGF的表达与喉癌临床期次呈明显的正相关。喉癌组织中VEGF表达明显升高的病例,其CDla~ DC密度显著降低。结论:癌巢内树突状细胞为不成熟状态的DC,与肿瘤细胞密切接触而捕获肿瘤抗原。喉癌组织中VEGF表达与DC含量呈负相关。     

赤子爱胜蚓再生过程中肌细胞超微结构变化的研究

将赤子爱胜蚓在60／61体节处剪切,用透射电镜观察肌肉再生过程中的形态变化。结果表明：剪切后伤口处的受损细胞呈降解状态并被迁移至伤口面的吞噬细胞所吞噬;伤口处的其他未受损细胞去分化,失去特化细胞的特征,并且增殖形成圆锥状的芽基;芽基细胞再次进行分化,成肌细胞合成肌丝,最终生成新的肌肉组织。     

大鼠骨髓来源未成熟与成熟树突状细胞的对比研究

目的:对比培养大鼠骨髓来源的未成熟树突状细胞与成熟树突状细胞,并从形态学、表型及功能检测等多方面进行对比研究,为后续的实验做出基础研究。方法:大鼠脱臼法处死后取两侧胫骨、股骨,PBS冲洗骨髓腔收集骨髓细胞,经GM-CSF和IL-4刺激培养六天后,对比研究经LPS刺激组与未经LPS刺激培养组细胞状况。结果:①成熟树突状细胞悬浮生长,集落分散,扫描电镜下见其突起数目明显多于未成熟树突状细胞。②成熟树突状细胞高表达表面标记分子CD80、CD86、MHCⅡ,而未成熟树突状细胞均低表达。③成熟树突状细胞培养基上清中IL-12水平高,而未成熟树突状细胞培养基上清中IL-12水平低。④成熟树突状细胞具有强的刺激T细胞增殖能力,而未成熟树突状细胞基本不具有诱导T细胞增殖能力。结论:未成熟状态的树突状细胞具备致耐受原性,可抑制T细胞的应答,而成熟状态的树突状细胞由于获得了免疫刺激潜能从而会对炎性刺激做出反应。     

乌龟脑细胞辐射损伤的研究

在细胞培养的基础上,利用透射电镜和流式细胞术对乌龟脑细胞的辐射损伤进行了研究。在电镜下观察,未辐射脑细胞为不规则的几何形状,有突起伸出;细胞核不规则,几何状或椭圆形,核仁和核周间隙明显;线粒体基质电子密度均匀,内部嵴结构清晰;内质网清晰可见;细胞质匀质,内部充满大量糖原颗粒。乌龟脑细胞受辐射后,细胞外碎片增多;核出现明显的分叶,并可见核碎片;核染色质固缩、边集;线粒体、内质网和部分细胞质出现空泡化;可见凋亡小体。流式细胞术的检测结果显示:辐射组和未辐射组的细胞大部分都处于G₀/G₁期,分别占检测细胞总数59.7%和61.9%:在主峰前,辐射组细胞出现细胞凋亡峰:在G₂/M期,辐射组细胞的细胞数较未辐射组有所减少。研究结果表明,乌龟脑细胞经辐射后出现了凋亡现象。     

大鼠脊髓匀浆上清诱导骨髓间充质干细胞分化为神经元样细胞的实验研究

目的:观察大鼠脊髓匀浆上清诱导骨髓间充质干细胞(mesenchymal stem cells,MSCs)形成的神经元样细胞形态特征.方法:通过贴壁法培养分离大鼠骨髓MSCs,体外扩增纯化后加入正常大鼠脊髓匀浆上清诱导72h,倒置显微镜下观察诱导前后细胞的形态结构.激光共聚焦显微镜观测钙离子细胞形态和荧光强度变化,免疫细胞化学方法鉴定诱导后细胞的表型特征.结果:倒置显微镜下可见MSCs呈纺锤形和多角形,核居中,有1-2个核仁,诱导后细胞呈神经元样,细胞伸出较长的轴突样和树突样突起.免疫细胞化学法显示NSE(神经元特异性烯醇化酶)、NF(神经丝蛋白)阳性,GFAP(神经胶质细胞酸性蛋白)阴性.共聚焦显微镜扫描脊髓匀浆上清诱导前细胞形态呈细长的梭形,细胞核不明显,胞体染色强,突起染色弱,荧光像素值低;诱导后,细胞呈现神经元样形态,胞体大,有多个突起,胞体及各突起染色强,荧光像素值高.结论:大鼠脊髓匀浆上清液可在体外诱导骨髓间充质干细胞分化为神经元样细胞.     

抗原负载DCs诱导的CIK细胞对B16黑色素瘤抑制作用的形态学观察

目的:探讨抗原负载树突状细胞(dentritic cells,DCs)诱导的CIK(cytokine induced killer)细胞对B16黑色素瘤的抑瘤作用。方法:分离、培养DC和CIK细胞,取部分DC进行肿瘤抗原负载,将其与CIK细胞按1:10的比例共培养3d,即为抗原负载的DC-CIK。建立B16黑色素瘤小鼠模型,分别于瘤周围皮下注射经Brdu标记的CIK、DC-CIK、抗原负载DC-CIK。按注射细胞进行分组,测量注射前后各组小鼠的瘤体积,计算抑瘤率,比较其抑瘤作用。应用免疫组化方法和透射电镜观察抗原负载DC-CIK细胞在皮肤中的分布及杀伤肿瘤细胞的形态学表现。结果:抗原负载DC诱导的CIK(细胞组抑瘤率(86.57%)高于CIK细胞组(33.34%,P<0.05)和DC-CIK细胞组(61.08%,P<0.05);光镜下抗原负载DC-CIK细胞主要分布在皮下组织,癌组织周围,特别是癌巢周边。透射电镜下抗原负载DC-CIK细胞体积大,核有切迹,细胞质内细胞器丰富,粗面内质网扩张。细胞表面有突起,与肿瘤细胞密切接触。大量肿瘤细胞凋亡、坏死。结论:CIK细胞经抗原负载DC诱导后抑瘤作用明显强于单纯CIK细胞和DC-CIK细胞。     

IL-12诱导后白血病细胞的免疫激活效应

为探讨IL -1 2在肿瘤免疫治疗过程中的作用 ,以小鼠FBL -3红白血病细胞为实验模型 ,采用流式细胞仪和电镜等 ,观察了IL -1 2对FBL- 3细胞的诱导分化作用 .FBL -3细胞经 2 0 0U/mLIL- 1 2作用 48h后 ,S期DNA合成水平显著下降 ,单核细胞的特异性标志CD1 4表达水平明显增加 ,NBT⁺细胞率升高 ;IL -1 2作用 72h后 ,树突状细胞的特异性标志 33D1和NLDC1 45表达水平显著增加 ,MHC Ⅱ ,B7- 1 ,B7 -2和VCAM 1表达水平增加 .观察IL -1 2处理后FBL -3细胞的超微结构变化 ,可见两类细胞 :一是表面有许多皱褶 ,胞浆中有丰富的溶酶体 ;另一种细胞表面呈绒毛状 ,有许多树突状突起 ,线粒体发达 ,细胞核呈分叶状 .IL -1 2处理后的FBL -3细胞 ,能够明显刺激静息的T淋巴细胞增殖 .表明 ,IL -1 2可诱导小鼠红白血病细胞向单核细胞及树突状细胞方向分化 ,具有了抗原提呈功能 ,为应用IL -1 2治疗白血病提供了新的机制     

Cellular changes in the bone marrow of Plasmodium berghei-infected mice: II. Blast transformation and phagocytosis

The present work is concerned with early cellular changes occurring during a malaria infection. Blast transformation by lymphoid cells and phagocytosis by adherent cells from the bone marrow was performed, using immune and nonimmune Balb/c mice. Nonadherent bone marrow cells from immune mice show an increased specific lymphoblast transformation. This increase was not observed during a lethal infection (PI). Adherent bone marrow cells were assayed for phagocytosis of parasitized (PE) or normal erythrocytes (NE). Cells from immune mice show an increase in phagocytosis of PE and NE. Cells from PI mice showed a decreased phagocytosis throughout the infection, beginning at Day 1 after challenge.     

Stromal cells of the regenerating bone marrow in rats (an immunocytochemical electron microscopy study)

Process of the bone marrow regeneration has been studied after its removal out of the rat femoral bone cavity. The stage of stroma formation precedes hemopoiesis. The stromal cells during its reconstruction (the 4th-5th day after removal of the bone marrow) are analyzed by means of the indirect immune-peroxidase electron microscopical method with antiserum applied against insoluble antigens of the rat bone marrow cells. Most of the stromal cells do not fix the antiserum used, as do the hemopoietic cells, macrophages and preosteoclasts. Some part of the stromal cells (not more than 30%) demonstrate the immune-peroxidase label. The labelled stromal cells have some ultrastructural signs of poorly differentiated elements of fibroblastic and osteoblastic raws. In the regeneration area, there are non-labelled poorly differentiated cells, which do not differ, at the ultrastructural level, from labelled poorly differentiated stromal elements. Possible causes of the difference revealed among the poorly differentiated stromal cells concerning their fixing of the anti-bone-marrow antiserum are discussed.     

Phosphatidylserine- and integrin-mediated phagocytosis of apoptotic luteal cells by macrophages of the rat

Corpora lutea disappear from ovaries in the absence of conception. The present study was undertaken to examine the hypothesis that disappearance of corpora lutea is accomplished through apoptosis-dependent phagocytosis of luteal cells. When bone marrow cells expressing green fluorescence protein were transplanted into X-ray-irradiated mice, macrophages derived from donor mice were detected within corpora lutea, suggesting macrophage infiltration into the tissue. Dispersed rat luteal cells underwent spontaneous apoptosis during culture and were phagocytosed by luteal macrophages. Treatment with doxorubicin increased the extent of apoptosis in luteal cells, and those cells were more efficiently phagocytosed than cells left untreated. The phagocytosis was inhibited by liposomes containing phosphatidylserine or a peptide containing the integrin-targeted sequence, and was stimulated by milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8. These results collectively indicate that apoptotic luteal cells are phagocytosed by macrophages in a manner mediated by phosphatidylserine and integrin.     

Opsonins and erythrophagocytosis

The author studied the capacity of granulocytes and reticular cells of rat bone marrow to phagocytize mouse red blood cells in the action of opsonins against them. A comparative assessment of phagocytosis of fresh and formaldehyde-treated mouse red blood cells was conducted. A moderate phagocytosis observed with the use of fresh erythrocytes and immune noninactivated rat serum was less pronounced when inactivated serum was used. No phagocytosis occurred with rat nonimmune serum. On the contrary, when formaldehyde-treated erythrocytes were used with the same sera phagocytosis was much stronger.     

Macrophages and stromal cells phagocytose apoptotic bone marrow-derived B lineage cells

It has been hypothesized that B cell precursors that undergo programmed cell death due to nonproductive Ig gene rearrangements are cleared from the bone marrow by macrophages. However, a role for macrophages in this process is supported only by micrographs showing their association with apoptotic-appearing, B lineage cells. Functional data demonstrating phagocytosis of apoptotic, bone marrow lymphocytes by macrophages have not been presented, nor have receptors potentially involved in that process been identified. The data in this report demonstrate that macrophages isolated from murine bone marrow efficiently phagocytose apoptotic murine B lineage cells using multiple receptors that include CD14, integrins, class A scavenger receptor, and CD31 (PECAM-1). In addition, the results further reveal a new role for the hemopoietic microenvironment in B cell development in view of data demonstrating that murine bone marrow stromal cells are also capable of clearing apoptotic cells via an integrin-dependent mechanism.     

Different populations of macrophages use either the vitronectin receptor or the phosphatidylserine receptor to recognize and remove apoptotic cells.

One of the key features associated with programmed cell death in many tissues is the phagocytosis of apoptotic bodies by macrophages. Removal of apoptotic cells occurs before their lysis, indicating that these cells, during the development of apoptosis, express specific surface changes recognized by macrophages. We have compared the mechanisms by which four different macrophage populations recognize apoptotic cells. Murine macrophages elicited into the peritoneal cavity with either of two different phlogistic agents were able to phagocytose apoptotic cells. This phagocytosis was inhibited by phosphatidylserine (PS), regardless of the species (human or murine) or type (lymphocyte or neutrophil) of the apoptotic cell. In contrast, the murine bone marrow macrophage, like the human monocyte-derived macrophage, utilized the vitronectin receptor, an alpha v beta 3 integrin, for the removal of apoptotic cells, regardless of their species or type. That human macrophages are capable, under some circumstances, of recognizing PS on apoptotic cells was suggested by the observation that PS liposomes inhibited phagocytosis by phorbol ester-treated THP-1 cells. These results suggest that the mechanism by which apoptotic cells are recognized and phagocytosed by macrophages is determined by the subpopulation of macrophages studied.     

Ultrastructural localization of acidic glycoconjugates with the low iron diamine method

The present study has applied the low iron diamine (LID) method at the ultrastructural level to demonstrate acid glycoconjugates. We have examined rat epiphyseal cartilage, human bone marrow, rat tracheal glands, and mouse sublingual glands stained with LID prior to embedment. The LID staining appeared to require postosmication for adequate visualization at the electron microscope level. Thiocarbohydrazide-silver proteinate (TCH-SP) staining of thin sections variably enhanced LID reactive sites. LID-TCH-SP stained carboxyl and sulfate groups of glycosaminoglycans in the extracellular cartilage matrix, secretory granules, and expanded Golgi saccules of chondrocytes. In human bone marrow, LID-TCH-SP variably stained the cytoplasmic granules, known to contain sulfated glycosaminoglycans, and the external surface of the plasma membrane of leukocytes. Moderately strong LID staining was observed in secretory granules in mucous tubules of rat tracheal glands, known to contain sulfated glycoproteins, and in acinar cells of mouse sublingual glands, known to contain a sialoglycoprotein. The lack of sulfated glycoconjugates in acinar cells of the mouse sublingual gland was confirmed by their failure to stain with the high iron diamine method. Thus these studies indicate that the LID and LID-TCH-SP methods are useful for the ultrastructural localization of carboxylated and sulfated glycoconjugates in extracellular and intracellular sites.     

Comparative analysis of dendritic cells transduced with different anti-apoptotic molecules: sensitivity to tumor-induced apoptosis

BACKGROUND: Tumors develop mechanisms to escape recognition by the immune system. It has recently been demonstrated that tumors cause apoptotic death of key immune cells, including the major antigen-presenting cells, dendritic cells (DC). Elimination of DC from the tumor environment significantly diminishes development of specific immunologic responses. We have recently demonstrated that tumor-induced DC apoptosis could be prevented by overexpression of the anti-apoptotic molecule Bcl-x(L). The aim of this study was to identify extrinsic and intrinsic tumor-induced apoptotic pathways in DC by targeting different anti-apoptotic molecules, including FLIP, XIAP/hILP, dominant-negative procaspase-9 and HSP70. METHODS: Murine bone marrow derived DC were transduced with adenoviral vectors carrying different anti-apoptotic molecules and co-incubated with tumor cells in a Transwell system. Apoptosis of DC was assessed by Annexin V and PI staining. RESULTS: We have demonstrated that adenoviral infection of DC with genes encoding different anti-apoptotic molecules exhibits different degrees of resistance to melanoma-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, we have shown that anti-apoptotic molecules other than the Bcl-2 family of proteins are able to protect DC and prevent tumor-induced apoptosis in DC. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that tumor-induced apoptosis of DC is not limited to the mitochondrial pathway of cell death and open additional possibilities for targeted molecular protection of DC longevity in cancer. Therefore, effective protection of DC from tumor-induced apoptosis may significantly improve the efficacy of DC-based therapies for cancer.     

Aspirin regulates SNARE protein expression and phagocytosis in dendritic cells

Since being introduced globally as Aspirin in 1899, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) has been widely used as an analgesic, immune-regulatory, anti-pyretic and anti-thrombotic drug. ASA and its metabolite, salicylate, were also reported to be able to modulate antigen presenting functions of dendritic cells (DC). However, the intracellular targets of ASA in DC are still poorly understood. Since phagocytosis is the initial step taken by antigen-presenting cells in the uptake of antigens for processing and presentation, ASA might exerts its immune-regulatory effects by regulating phagocytosis. Here we show that ASA inhibits phagocytosis and modulates expression of endosomal SNAREs, such as Vti1a, Vti1b, VAMP-3, VAMP-8 and Syn-8 (but not syn-6 and syn-16) in DC. We further show that the phagocytic inhibitory effect of ASA is dependent on the expression of Vti1a and Vti1b. Consistently, Vti1a and Vti1b localize to the phagosomes and up-regulation of Vti1a and Vti1b inhibits phagocytosis in DC. Our results suggest that ASA modulates phagocytosis in part through the control of endosomal SNARE protein expression and localization in DC. All experiments were performed using either a murine DC line (DC2.4) or primary DC derived from murine bone marrow cells.     

Tumor-peptide-pulsed dendritic cells isolated from spleen or cultured in vitro from bone marrow precursors can provide protection against tumor challenge

 Dendritic cells (DC) purified from murine spleen or generated in vitro from bone marrow precursors were compared for their respective abilities to stimulate T cell responses and provide tumor protection in vivo. In vitro incubation with synthetic tumor peptide conferred on both DC populations the ability to induce proliferation of tumor-peptide-specific T cells in vitro. Spleen DC were reproducibly about twofold more effective than bone-marrow-derived DC in this assay. Both DC populations could also induce cytotoxic activity in vivo. In vitro cytoxicity assays showed that, while cytotoxic activity induced by immunization with spleen DC was clearly peptide-specific, a high non-specific cytotoxic activity was consistently observed after immunization with bone-marrow-derived DC, whether peptide-pulsed or not. Regardless of such high non-specific activity in vitro, only tumor-peptide-pulsed DC could provide protection against subsequent inoculation of tumor cells. DC not pulsed with tumor peptide were ineffective. We conclude that DC isolated from spleen or generated in vitro from bone marrow precursors are suitable reagents for use in tumor vaccination studies. Received: 13 March 1997 / Accepted: 25 May 1997