Use of Tregs as a cell‐based therapy via CD39 for benign prostate hyperplasia with inflammation

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) occurs most commonly among older men, often accompanied by chronic tissue inflammation. Although its aetiology remains unclear, autoimmune dysregulation may contribute to BPH. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) prevent autoimmune responses and maintain immune homeostasis. In this study, we aimed to investigate Tregs frequency, phenotype, and function in BPH patients and to evaluate adoptive transfer Tregs for immunotherapy in mice with BPH via CD39. Prostate specimens and peripheral blood from BPH patients were used to investigate Treg subsets, phenotype and Treg‐associated cytokine production. Sorted CD39^+/? Tregs from healthy mice were adoptively transferred into mice before or after testosterone propionate administration. The Tregs percentage in peripheral blood from BPH patients was attenuated, exhibiting low Foxp3 and CD39 expression with low levels of serum IL‐10, IL‐35 and TGF‐β. Immunohistochemistry revealed Foxp3+ cells were significantly diminished in BPH prostate with severe inflammatory. Although the Tregs subset was comprised of more effector/memory Tregs, CD39 was still down‐regulated on effector/memory Tregs in BPH patients. Before or after testosterone propionate administration, no alterations of BPH symptoms were observed due to CD39‐ Tregs in mice, however, CD39⁺Tregs existed more potency than Tregs to regulate prostatic hyperplasia and inhibit inflammation by decreasing IL‐1β and PSA secretion, and increasing IL‐10 and TGF‐β secretion. Furthermore, adoptive transfer with functional Tregs not only improved prostate hyperplasia but also regulated muscle cell proliferation in bladder. Adoptive transfer with Tregs may provide a novel method for the prevention and treatment of BPH clinically.     

Decreasing fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphate aldolase activity reduces plant growth and tolerance to chilling stress in tomato seedlings

In northern China, low temperature is the most common abiotic stresses for tomato plants cultivated in solar‐greenhouse in winter. We recently found that the expression and enzyme activity of fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphate aldolases (FBAs) in tomato, which are important enzymes in the Calvin–Benson cycle (CBC), were significantly altered in tomato seedlings subjected to heat/cold stresses. In order to study the role of FBA in photosynthesis and in regulating cold stress responses of tomato seedlings (Solanum lycopersicum ), we transformed a tomato inbred line (FF) with RNA interference (RNAi) vector containing SlFBA 7 reverse tandem repeat sequence. We found that the decreased SlFBA7 expression led to the decreased activities of FBA, as well as the activities of other main enzymes in the CBC. We also noticed a decrease in net photosynthetic rate, ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate and soluble sugar content, stem diameter, dry weight and seed size in RNAi SlFBA7 plants compared to wild‐type. However, there are no changes in starch contents in the RNAi transgenic plants. RNAi SlFBA7 plants showed a decreased germination rate, and an increased levels of superoxide anions (O₂^·‐) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) under low temperature (8/5°C) and low‐light intensity (100 μmol m^?2 s^?1 photon flux density) growth conditions. These findings demonstrated the important role of SlFBA7 in regulating growth and chilling tolerance of tomato seedlings, and suggested that the catalytic activity of FBA in the CBC is sensitive to temperature.     

β—连接素在膀胱移行细胞癌中表达的意义

目的 探讨β－连接素（β－ctenin）蛋白的表达及其与膀胱移行细胞癌组织学特征和侵袭的关系。方法 采用免疫组化SP法检测46例膀胱移行细胞癌组织中的β－ctenin的表达。结果 正常膀胱粘膜上皮细胞全部表达β－ctenin,膀胱移行细胞癌中β－ctenin的表达率分别是“＋＋＋”为52．1％（24／46）,“＋＋”为32．6％（15／46）,“＋”O 15．2％（7／46）。侵袭型的膀胱移行细胞癌中β－ctenin表达率是“＋＋＋”为11．1％（1／9）,显著低于乳头状型者（P＜0．01）。结论 β－ctenin的表达与膀胱移行细胞组织学特征及侵袭有相关性,可作为判断肿瘤恶笥肿瘤、侵袭、预后的价值指标。     

马尾松雌球果的发生和早期发育研究

采用常规石蜡制片技术对马尾松雌球果的发生和早期发育进行了研究。结果表明：雌球果原基发生时间为10月中旬,不同的树龄和着生部位,其发生时间不同。雌球果原基与营养茎端在外部形态及内部细胞组织学分区结构有明显差异。营养茎端外形扁平,内部顶端分生组织结构有顶端原始细胞区、中央母细胞区、形成层状过渡区、周围分生组织区及肋状分生组织区5个明显的分区;而雌球果原基外形呈圆锥状,内部结构只有套层和髓区。12月初,最初的苞片原基在雌球果原基的鳞片的叶腋处产生,之后其由基部向顶部连续发生。翌年1月初,在苞片原基的叶腋处,珠鳞原基发生,发生方向亦为向顶发育。2月底,苞片体积不再发生变化,珠鳞膨大端的基部的近轴面分化出2个倒生胚珠。从雌球果原基发生到胚珠分化历时4个多月。亚热带的冬季气候对马尾松雌球果的生长发育没有明显的抑制作用。     

代谢性谷氨酸受体配体(s)-4C3HPG对大鼠脑缺血耐受性诱导的影响

目的：观察侧脑室注射代谢型谷氨酸受体1／5亚型（mGluR1/5)配体（s)-4C3HPG对海马脑缺血耐受（BIT）诱导的影响,以探讨mGLUR1/5在BIT诱导中的作用。方法：采用大鼠四血管闭塞全脑缺血模型（4－vessel occlusion,4VO),应用硫堇染色和GFAP免疫组化法。36只大鼠椎动脉凝闭后分为sham组、单纯缺血组、BIT组和（s)-4C3HPG组,其中（s)-4C3HPG组又按所给药物剂量不同,分为0．2、0．04和0．008mg三个亚组。所有动物均在手术后或末次缺血后7d处死取材观察。结果：（1）单纯8min缺血可使海马CA1区组织学分级升高、锥体神经元密度降低和胶质纤维酸性蛋白（glial fibrillary acidic protein,GFAP)阳性表达增加（P＜0．05vs sham）.(2)BIT组未见单纯缺血组的上述变化,表明CIP可防止后续8min缺血造成的神经元损伤。（3）CIP的这种保护作用可被（s)-4C3HPG阻断,表现为海马CA1区组织学分级升高和锥体神经元密度降低（P＜0．05 vs sham)。这种变化与（s)-4C3HPG的剂量呈现明显的相关性,即剂量越大,上述改变越明显。结论：（s)-4C3HPG可阻断CIP诱导BIT的作用,提示mGluR1/5参与BIT的诱导。     

Meta-analysis supports association of a functional SNP (rs1801133) in the MTHFR gene with Parkinson's disease

The MTHFR is a candidate risk gene for Parkinson's disease (PD), and a functional SNP (rs1801133) in the coding region of this gene has been investigated for the associations with the illness extensively among worldwide populations, but overall the results were inconsistent. Here, to assess the relationship between rs1801133 and risk of PD in general populations, we conducted a systematic meta-analysis by combining all available case–control samples in European and Asian populations, with a total of 1820 PD cases and 7530 healthy controls, and the pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for rs1801133 and PD were calculated using the Mantel–Haenszel method with a fixed-effect model. Overall, rs1801133 was significantly associated with the risk of PD (allelic model, pooled OR = 1.212 for T allele, 95% CI = 1.097–1.340, p-value = 0.0002). When stratifying for ethnicity, significant association was also observed in European (allelic model, pooled OR = 1.187 for T allele, 95% CI = 1.058–1.332, p-value = 0.004) and Asian samples (allelic model, pooled OR = 1.293 for T allele, 95% CI = 1.058–1.580, p-value = 0.012) respectively. In addition, rs1801133 was also significantly associated with MTHFR mRNA expression in both CEU (European, p-value = 0.0149) and CHB (Chinese, p-value = 0.0178) HapMap populations. Collectively, our meta-analysis suggests that rs1801133 is significantly associated with susceptibility to PD in European and Asian populations, and MTHFR is likely an authentic risk gene for PD.     

急性低压低氧对大鼠空间学习记忆的影响及与海马内孤啡肽的关系

目的:研究暴露在不同海拔高度的急性低压低氧环境中,大鼠空间学习记忆能力的变化及与海马内孤啡肽的关系.方法:采用低压舱模拟4 500 m(中度)和7 500 m(重度)两种海拨高度,Morris水迷宫训练方法和反转录多聚酶链式反应(RT-PCR)技术.结果:①海马内孤啡肽mRNA表达在急性重度低压低氧(8 h/d,连续6 d)后明显增加,然而在Morris 水迷宫训练(6 counts/d,连续6 d,定位航行潜伏期逐渐缩短)后则显著降低.②急性低压低氧后,定位航行潜伏期明显延长,而海马内孤啡肽mRNA表达较学习记忆训练组明显升高.结论:海马内孤啡肽参与急性低压低氧降低大鼠空间学习记忆的机制.     

马尾松毛虫及其寄主松属植物的地史初步考证

初步考证了我国重要的森林害虫———马尾松毛虫DendrolimuspunctatusWalker及其寄主松 (科 )属植物的化石起源 ,认为马尾松毛虫衍生为一个新的物种的时间 ,不应早于中生代的侏罗纪 ,很可能是侏罗纪与白垩纪早期的某个时期 ;并初步探讨了第三纪以来中国古地质、古气候变化对现今马尾松毛虫的分布、遗传多样性的空间格局及其历史成因的可能影响 ,文史还涉及许多重要的生物地质历史事件 ,对于理解马尾松毛虫在同样的地质时期的动态等具有重要的参考意义