IL‐21 has a critical role in establishing germinal centers by amplifying early B cell proliferation

The proliferation and differentiation of antigen‐specific B cells, including the generation of germinal centers (GC), are prerequisites for long‐lasting, antibody‐mediated immune protection. Affinity for antigen determines B cell recruitment, proliferation, differentiation, and competitiveness in the response, largely through determining access to T cell help. However, how T cell‐derived signals contribute to these outcomes is incompletely understood. Here, we report how the signature cytokine of follicular helper T cells, IL‐21, acts as a key regulator of the initial B cell response by accelerating cell cycle progression and the rate of cycle entry, increasing their contribution to the ensuing GC. This effect occurs over a wide range of initial B cell receptor affinities and correlates with elevated AKT and S6 phosphorylation. Moreover, the resultant increased proliferation can explain the IL‐21‐mediated promotion of plasma cell differentiation. Collectively, our data establish that IL‐21 acts from the outset of a T cell‐dependent immune response to increase cell cycle progression and fuel cyclic re‐entry of B cells, thereby regulating the initial GC size and early plasma cell output.     

Detection of Trichomonas Vaginalis Infection in Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome Patients by Rapid Immunochromatographic Test

This study aims to evaluate associations between the immunochromatographic rapid test technique and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) infection in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) in Taiwan. All patients received post-prostate massage urine (VB3) Trichomonas rapid tests. The demographic characteristics and urogenital symptoms of CP/CPPS were recorded. Routine urinalysis of VB3 was also performed, and laboratory examination results of semen were recorded if available. A total of 29 patients with TV infection and 109 without TV infection were enrolled, which reflected that the prevalence in patients with TV infection was approximately 21%. Patients with TV infection displayed a significantly higher frequency of suprapubic/lower abdominal pain (p = 0.034), semen leukocyte > 5/high-power field (HPF) (p = 0.020), and an inflammatory type (category IIIA) (p = 0.005) than patients without TV infection. A higher prevalence of TV infection was found in patients with category IIIA (47.37%). No significant difference was found in the symptom duration and other clinical symptoms. In conclusion, the high prevalence of TV infection was revealed in CP/CPPS patients using the VB3 rapid Trichomonas test, especially in CP/CPPS patients with category IIIA. Thus, rapid TV testing might be vital for CP/CPPS patients in the hospital.     

人CD55基因的克隆及其转基因构件的组装

本实验采用人肝组织作为RNA的来源 ,经RT -PCR扩增得到CD55基因的cDNA片段。与人α -珠蛋白启动子及其polyA序列重组 ,插入质粒载体pGEM - 5zf,获得了可用于受精卵原核显微注射的基因构件 ,为建立人CD55转基因动物模型奠定了基础。     

肌球蛋白X干涉载体的构建与鉴定

肌球蛋白X(Myosin X,Myo X)是近年来发现的在细胞运动中发挥重要功能的非传统型肌球蛋白,但其发挥功能的分子机制目前尚不明确,RNA干扰技术是目前研究基因功能常用的方法。构建针对鼠的Myo X基因mRNA的shRNA真核表达载体,并转染NLT细胞,观察其对Myo X表达的抑制效应。结果显示,shRNA-2能够有效地降低Myo X的蛋白表达水平,而shRNA-1则不能。进一步分析显示,转染shRNA-2的NLT细胞丝状伪足的形成受到抑制,表明shRNA-2是能够抑制Myo X表达的干涉载体,此干涉载体的构建为进一步研究Myo X的新功能,揭示其作用的分子机制奠定基础。     

Noggin and bFGF cooperate to maintain the pluripotency of human embryonic stem cells in the absence of feeder layers

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells are typically maintained on mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) feeders or with MEF-conditioned medium. However, these xenosupport systems greatly limit the therapeutic applications of hES cells because of the risk of cross-transfer of animal pathogens. Here we showed that the bone morphogenetic protein antagonist noggin is critical in preventing differentiation of hES cells in culture. Furthermore, we found that the combination of noggin and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was sufficient to maintain the prolonged growth of hES cells while retaining all hES cell features. Since both noggin and bFGF are expressed in MEF, our findings suggest that they may be important factors secreted by MEF for maintaining undifferentiated pluripotent hES cells. Our data provide new insight into the mechanism how hES cell self-renewal is regulated. The newly developed feeder-free culture system will provide a more reliable alternative for future therapeutic applications of hES cells.