A20 plays a critical role in the immunoregulatory function of mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess an immunoregulatory capacity and are a therapeutic target for many inflammation‐related diseases. However, the detailed mechanisms of MSC‐mediated immunosuppression remain unclear. In this study, we provide new information to partly explain the molecular mechanisms of immunoregulation by MSCs. Specifically, we found that A20 expression was induced in MSCs by inflammatory cytokines. Knockdown of A20 in MSCs resulted in increased proliferation and reduced adipogenesis, and partly reversed the suppressive effect of MSCs on T cell proliferation in vitro and inhibited tumour growth in vivo. Mechanistic studies indicated that knockdown of A20 in MSCs inhibited activation of the p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, which potently promoted the production of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and inhibited the production of interleukin (IL)‐10. Collectively, these data reveal a crucial role of A20 in regulating the immunomodulatory activities of MSCs by controlling the expression of TNF‐α and IL‐10 in an inflammatory environment. These findings provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of various inflammatory‐associated diseases, and are a new reference for the future development of treatments for such afflictions.     

Horizontal Transfer of Archaeal Genes into the Deinococcaceae: Detection by Molecular and Computer-Based Approaches

Members of the Deinococcaceae (e.g., Thermus, Meiothermus, Deinococcus) contain A/V-ATPases typically found in Archaea or Eukaryotes which were probably acquired by horizontal gene transfer. Two methods were used to quantify the extent to which archaeal or eukaryotic genes have been acquired by this lineage. Screening of a Meiothermus ruber library with probes made against Thermoplasma acidophilum DNA yielded a number of clones which hybridized more strongly than background. One of these contained the prolyl tRNA synthetase (RS) gene. Phylogenetic analysis shows the M. ruber and D. radiodurans prolyl RS to be more closely related to archaeal and eukaryal forms of this gene than to the typical bacterial type. Using a bioinformatics approach, putative open reading frames (ORFs) from the prerelease version of the D. radiodurans genome were screened for genes more closely related to archaeal or eukaryotic genes. Putative ORFs were searched against representative genomes from each of the three domains using automated BLAST. ORFs showing the highest matches against archaeal and eukaryotic genes were collected and ranked. Among the top-ranked hits were the A/V-ATPase catalytic and noncatalytic subunits and the prolyl RS genes. Using phylogenetic methods, ORFs were analyzed and trees assessed for evidence of horizontal gene transfer. Of the 45 genes examined, 20 showed topologies in which D. radiodurans homologues clearly group with eukaryotic or archaeal homologues, and 17 additional trees were found to show probable evidence of horizontal gene transfer. Compared to the total number of ORFs in the genome, those that can be identified as having been acquired from Archaea or Eukaryotes are relatively few (approximately 1%), suggesting that interdomain transfer is rare.     

合欢皮提取物抑制血管生成的体内药效学研究

为了探讨合欢皮提取物体内对血管生成的抑制作用。本文采用MTT法和Matrigel plug方法考察合欢皮提取物对人血管内皮细胞(HMEC)增殖和体内Matrigel胶小管形成的影响,运用Lewis肺癌转移小鼠模型,观察合欢皮提取物对小鼠Lewis肺癌的疗效。结果表明合欢皮提取物可明显抑制HMEC细胞的体外增殖(IC50为30μg/mL),并且呈明显的剂量依赖性,同时具有抑制Matrigel plug中的血管新生的作用。合欢皮提取物还能够明显抑制Lewis肺癌肿瘤细胞生长,减少转移病灶。提示合欢皮提取物具有明显抑制血管生成的作用,有可能成为有效的血管生成抑制剂。     

浆细胞样树突状细胞在宿主抵御隐球菌肺部感染中的作用及机制研究进展

肺隐球菌病是由隐球菌感染引起的常见真菌病,由于症状的非特异性,临床上诊断较为困难。作为条件致病性真菌感染,肺隐球菌病的结局主要与宿主免疫力有关。目前肺隐球菌病免疫学发病机制研究主要局限在T细胞和巨噬细胞。近年研究表明,作为树突状细胞亚群之一的浆细胞样树突细胞,由于其激活后可以产生大量的I型干扰素并活化相关的T细胞,所以在机体抵抗病毒和细菌免疫中发挥着重要的作用。但是浆细胞样树突细胞在真菌病,尤其是在隐球菌病的发生发展中发挥的作用尚不明确。本文将介绍肺隐球菌病的临床表现、诊治及T细胞和巨噬细胞在肺隐球菌病中的免疫机制,并通过介绍肺隐球菌病和浆细胞样树突细胞及二者之间已有报道的联系,初步阐述浆细胞样树突细胞在肺隐球菌病免疫学发病机制中的相关作用。     

Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone protects retinal pigment epithelium cells from oxidative stress through activation of melanocortin 1 receptor–Akt–mTOR signaling

Patients with age related macular degeneration (AMD) will develop vision loss in the center of the visual field. Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell apoptosis is an important contributor of AMD. In this study, we explored the pro-survival effect of α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) on oxidative stressed RPE cells. We found that α-MSH receptor melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) was functionally expressed in primary and transformed RPE cells. RPE cells were response to α-MSH stimulation. α-MSH activated Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and Erk1/2 signalings in RPE cells, which were inhibited by MC1R siRNA knockdown. α-MSH protected RPE cells from hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced apoptosis, an effect that was almost abolished when MC1R was depleted by siRNA. α-MSH-mediated S6K1 activation and pro-survival effect against H₂O₂ was inhibited by Akt inhibitors (perifosine, MK-2206 and LY294002). Further, mTOR inhibition by rapamycin, or by mTOR siRNA knockdown, diminished α-MSH’s pro-survival effect in RPE cells. Thus, Akt and its downstream mTOR signaling mediates α-MSH-induced survival in RPE cells. In summary, we have identified a new α-MSH–MC1R physiologic pathway that reduces H₂O₂-induced RPE cell damage, and might minimize the risk of developing AMD.     

Microbial biosensors: a review

A microbial biosensor is an analytical device which integrates microorganism(s) with a physical transducer to generate a measurable signal proportional to the concentration of analytes. In recent years, a large number of microbial biosensors have been developed for environmental, food, and biomedical applications. Starting with the discussion of various sensing techniques commonly used in microbial biosensing, this review article concentrates on the summarization of the recent progress in the fabrication and application of microbial biosensors based on amperometry, potentiometry, conductometry, voltammetry, microbial fuel cell, fluorescence, bioluminescence, and colorimetry, respectively. Prospective strategies for the design of future microbial biosensors will also be discussed.     

Novel Bacillus thuringiensis δ-endotoxin active against Locusta migratoria manilensis

A novel δ-endotoxin gene was cloned from a Bacillus thuringiensis strain with activity against Locusta migratoria manilensis by PCR-based genome walking. The sequence of the cry gene was 3,432 bp long, and it encoded a Cry protein of 1,144 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 129,196.5 kDa, which exhibited 62% homology with Cry7Ba1 in the amino acid sequence. The δ-endotoxin with five conserved sequence blocks in the amino-terminal region was designated Cry7Ca1 (GenBank accession no. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"EF486523","term_id":"1121787749","term_text":"EF486523"}}EF486523). Protein structure analysis suggested that the activated toxin of Cry7Ca1 has three domains: 227 residues forming 7 α-helices (domain I); 213 residues forming three antiparallel β-sheets (domain II); and 134 residues forming a β-sandwich (domain III). The three domains, respectively, exhibited 47, 44, and 34% sequence identity with corresponding domains of known Cry toxins. SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis showed that Cry7Ca1, encoded by the full-length open reading frame of the cry gene, the activated toxin 1, which included three domains but without the N-terminal 54 amino acid residues and the C terminus, and the activated toxin 2, which included three domains and N-terminal 54 amino acid residues but without the C terminus, could be expressed in Escherichia coli. Bioassay results indicated that the expressed proteins of Cry7Ca1 and the activated toxins (toxins 1 and 2) showed significant activity against 2nd instar locusts, and after 7 days of infection, the estimated 50% lethal concentrations (LC₅₀s) were 8.98 μg/ml for the expressed Cry7Ca1, 0.87 μg/ml for the activated toxin 1, and 4.43 μg/ml for the activated toxin 2. The δ-endotoxin also induced histopathological changes in midgut epithelial cells of adult L. migratoria manilensis.     

高仿真组织工程神经支架制备工艺的参数优化

目的：对直接影响神经支架微观结构的关键因素进行分析,以确定制备不同孔径仿真支架的制备工艺。方法：用前期开发的神经支架制备工艺,应用不同浓度的醋酸浓度和冷淋速度制备仿真神经支架,以扫描电镜观察神经支架结构特征,以确定醋酸浓度和冷淋速度对神经支架内部结构的影响。结果：醋酸浓度和冷淋速度对神经支架内部结构具有重要影响。醋酸浓度为0mg/ml时,无法制备定向结构的神经支架,当醋酸浓度为1mg/ml、2mg/ml、3mg/ml和4mg/ml时,可制备轴定向仿真支架,并且神经支架的孔径随醋酸浓度增大而增大;当冷淋速度为1×10-5m/s、2×10-5m/s和5×10-5m/s时,所制备的仿真支架内部均呈明显的轴向微管结构,其中冷淋速度为2×10-5m/s时,其轴向微管结构排列最为有序、规律。当速度为1×10-6m/s,2×10-6m/s,5×10-6m/s以及1×10-4m/s时,所制备的材料内部微管结构走向无明显规律。结论：醋酸浓度和冷淋速度是影响神经支架内部结构的两个关键因素,通过改变醋酸浓度和冷淋速度可制备不同孔径的仿真神经支架。     

重组α_Ⅰb干扰素软膏对豚鼠皮肤疱疹病毒感染的作用

报道了重组α1b干扰素软膏对豚鼠皮肤单纯疱疹病毒感染的局部治疗的效果。目的是在疱疹病毒感染的动物模型上证实α1b干扰素软膏的治疗作用 ,为该药的临床应用提供临床前药效学资料。结果表明α1b干扰素软膏对疱疹病毒的皮肤感染具有缩短病程 ,促进结痂及痊愈的效果 ,可作为一种外用抗疱疹病毒药物应用于临床。     

Combinatorial signals of activin/nodal and bone morphogenic protein regulate the early lineage segregation of human embryonic stem cells

Cell fate commitment of pre-implantation blastocysts, to either the inner cell mass or trophoblast, is the first step in cell lineage segregation of the developing human embryo. However, the intercellular signals that control fate determination of these cells remain obscure. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) provide a unique model for studying human early embryonic development. We have previously shown that Activin/Nodal signaling contributes to maintaining pluripotency of hESCs, which are derivatives of the inner cell mass. Here we further demonstrate that the inhibition of Activin/Nodal signaling results in the loss of hESC pluripotency and trophoblast differentiation, similar to BMP4-induced trophoblast differentiation from hESCs. We also show that the trophoblast induction effect of BMP4 correlates with and depends on the inhibition of Activin/Nodal signaling. However, the activation of BMP signaling is still required for trophoblast differentiation when Activin/Nodal signaling is inhibited. These data reveal that the early lineage segregation of hESCs is determined by the combinatorial signals of Activin/Nodal and BMP.