The effect of aging on the frequency,phenotype and cytokine production of human blood CD4 + CXCR5 + T follicular helper cells: comparison of aged and young subjects

Background

T cell-dependent B-cell responses decline with age, indicating declined cognate helper activity of aged CD4?+?T cells for B cells. However, the mechanisms remain unclear. T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, a novel T helper subset, play an essential role in helping B cells differentiation into long-lived plasma cells in germinal center (GC) or short-lived plasma cells. In the present study, we proposed that there might existe changes of proportion, phenotype or cytokine production of blood Tfh cells in healthy elderly individuals compared with healthy young individuals.

Results

The results showed that frequencies of aged blood CXCR5?+?CD4?+?Tfh cells increased compared with young subjects. Both aged and young blood CXCR5?+?CD4?+?Tfh cells constitutively expressed CD45RO, CCR7 and CD28, and few of these cells expressed CD69 or HLA-DR, which indicated that they were resting memory cells. There was no significant difference of IL-21 frequency production by aged blood CXCR5?+?CD4?+?Tfh determined by FACS compared with young individuals, however, aged PBMCs produced significantly higher levels of IL-21 evaluated by ELISA. Furthermore, there were no significant differences of percentages of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-17 or IL-22 production by aged Tfh cells compared with their counterparts of young individuals respectively. However, frequencies of IL-17+ cells within aged CD4?+?CXCR5-T cells were markedly lower than in the young individuals. Furthermore we observed different frequencies of IFN-γ, IL-17, IL-4 or IL-22 production by Tfh or by CD4?+?CXCR5- cells in aged and young subjects respectively.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrated that the frequencies of blood memory CXCR5?+?CD4?+?Tfh cells increased in the elderly population. There were similar frequencies of Th characterized cytokine production such as IL-21, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-17 or IL-22 in aged and young Tfh cells. However, aged PBMCs produced a significantly higher amount of IL-21 compare to young subjects.

     

Experiences of Stigma and Discrimination among Caregivers of Persons with Schizophrenia in China: A Field Survey

In China, caregivers for family members with schizophrenia play an important role in treatment and recovery but may experience stigma and discrimination simply because of their family relationship. The object of this study was to measure the degrees and correlates of stigma and discrimination experiences among this group. Four hundred twenty-seven caregivers participated in this hospital-based and cross-sectional study in Ningbo and Guangzhou, China. Data were collected by trained interviewers using fixed questionnaires. Stigma and discrimination experiences were measured by the Modified Consumer Experiences of Stigma Questionnaire (MCESQ). Caregivers’ social support was measured by the Social Support Rating Scale. Parametric analysis, nonparametric analysis and multivariate linear regression were used. The mean (SD) score of MCESQ was 2.44(0.45), 2.91(0.71) for stigma experiences and 1.97(0.37) for discrimination experiences on a five-point score (“1 = never” and “5 = very often”). Approximately 65% of caregivers reported that they tried to conceal their family members’ illness, and 71% lacked the support of friends. The experience of stigma was significantly negatively associated with the perceived social support of caregivers (standard β = −0.2,p<0.001). Caregivers who were children of the patients experienced fewer stigmas than other (standard β = −0.18, p<0.001). Urban residence (standard β = −0.12, p<0.01) and patients did not complete primary school education (standard β = −0.13, p<0.01) were negatively related with stigmas. In addition, stigma and discrimination was more experienced in Zhejiang than in Guangdong (p<0.05). In conclusion, this study performed that caregivers of people with schizophrenia in China experienced general stigmas and rare discrimination and found the relations with social support, kinship, patient’s educational level and regional differences. More interventions and supports should been given to caregivers who are lack of social support, who live in rural area and who are the patients’ parents, spouses or siblings.     

STAT3小分子抑制剂FLLL31对卵白蛋白致敏小鼠气道炎症治疗活性的初步研究

目的:研究新结构化合物FLLL31抑制卵白蛋白(OVA)致敏引发的小鼠气道炎症的活性,探讨FLLL31治疗哮喘的初步疗效。方法:雄性BALB/c小鼠(18~20 g)随机分为4组,每组10只,包括正常对照组(Control组)、模型对照组(OVA组)、地塞米松组(1 mg/kg,腹腔注射)和FLLL31组(15 mg/kg,口服灌胃)。各组小鼠分别于第0 d和第14 d致敏,每只鼠腹腔注射20μg OVA和2.25 mg Al(OH)3凝胶,FLLL31自致敏第24 d开始给药,给药周期为7 d;于第28、29、30 d以气管滴入OVA进行攻击,攻击前1 h给予受试化合物FLLL31及阳性药地塞米松。结果:小鼠肺灌流液炎症细胞分类计数、肺组织病理分析等实验结果证明,FLLL31以15 mg/kg连续给药7 d后,与模型组相比,抑制了小鼠肺部气道中炎症细胞的浸润,明显改善OVA致敏引发的小鼠气道炎症症状;ELISA结果证明FLLL31降低小鼠肺灌流液中炎症因子白细胞介素6的含量;免疫组化结果显示FLLL31降低OVA致敏小鼠肺部白细胞介素6受体浓度,减少中性粒细胞标志物淋巴细胞抗原6G(Ly6G)的表达(P0.05)。结论:特异抑制STAT3的新结构化合物FLLL31在体内对OVA致敏小鼠模型气道炎症有较好的改善和免疫调节活性。     

RU5区对BFV3026基因表达的调控

以牛泡沫病毒(Bovine foamy virus, BFV)中国株BFV3026原病毒DNA为材料,构建R区系列缺失质粒, 通过对其转染细胞中RT水平及对缺失质粒与luc报告质粒共转染细胞中萤火虫荧光素酶活性的测定,确立U5区对于BFV3026两类启动子LTR和IP均具有负调控作用;同时将带有不同R区的BFV3026结构基因片段克隆于异源启动子CMV之下,通过对其转染细胞293T中RT酶活性的测定,确立R区对于病毒结构基因pol的表达具有一定的调节作用,并将其功能区域初步界定在R区5′端100bp内.     

分枝杆菌脂聚糖的分离、纯化及其结构和功能分析

【目的】建立分离、纯化分枝杆菌脂聚糖的方法,初步比较分析不同菌株来源的脂阿拉伯甘露聚糖(Lipoarabinomannan,LAM)和脂甘露聚糖(Lipomannan,LM)的结构差异及研究脂聚糖刺激对巨噬细胞环氧合酶-2(Cyclooxygenase-2,COX-2)蛋白表达的影响。【方法】应用Triton X-114液相法提取脂聚糖,电洗脱法分离纯化,基质辅助激光解析电离串联飞行时间质谱(MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS)进行分子量鉴定;基于特异性识别非还原性末端α-D-甘露糖基的刀豆球蛋白(Concanavalin A,Con A)分析新诺分枝杆菌JDM601、结核分枝杆菌H37Rv标准株和耻垢分枝杆菌mc2155脂聚糖的结构差异;进一步用Western blot检测脂聚糖刺激的RAW 264.7巨噬细胞COX-2蛋白的表达。【结果】通过电洗脱法成功纯化出3种菌株脂聚糖;MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS鉴定发现,分子量从小到大依次为新诺分枝杆菌JDM601、耻垢分枝杆菌mc2155和结核分枝杆菌H37Rv来源的脂聚糖。Western blot显示,Con A能与结核分枝杆菌H37Rv标准株来源的LAM相互作用,而不能与新诺分枝杆菌JDM601和耻垢分枝杆菌来源的LAM相互作用;并且发现Con A与新诺分枝杆菌JDM601来源的LM有很强的反应,然而与其余两种来源的LM反应很弱。3种菌株来源的脂聚糖均能刺激RAW 264.7巨噬细胞COX-2蛋白的表达。【结论】首次成功对来源于中国临床分枝杆菌分离株的脂聚糖进行了分离纯化,初步探讨了不同菌株来源分枝杆菌脂聚糖的结构差异,并表明LAM和LM均能刺激巨噬细胞诱导COX-2蛋白的表达,为进一步研究其对宿主的毒力和免疫机制奠定了基础。     

东海低氧区及邻近水域浮游植物的季节变化

根据2011年5月、8月、11月在东海低氧区及邻近水域(25°00'—33°30'N,120°00'—127°30'E)进行的多学科综合调查,对东海低氧区及邻近水域浮游植物群落结构特征及季节变化进行了相关研究。经Utermhl方法初步分析共鉴定出浮游植物4门74属248种(含变种、变型,不含未定种),主要由硅藻和甲藻组成,此外还有少量的金藻和蓝藻。春季优势种主要为具齿原甲藻(Prorocentrum dentatum)、柔弱伪菱形藻(Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissim)、骨条藻(Skeletonema sp.)和具槽帕拉藻(Paralia sulcata);夏季主要是中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum)和海链藻(Thalassiosira sp.);秋季主要是具槽帕拉藻、圆筛藻(Coscinodiscus sp.)和柔弱伪菱形藻。调查区浮游植物平均细胞丰度在夏季最高,达到85.002×103个/L,春季次之,秋季最低。在水平方向上,春、夏两季,表层浮游植物细胞丰度在近岸出现高值,由近岸到外海细胞丰度逐渐降低;而在秋季则相反,在调查海域的东北部出现高值,随离岸距离的增加细胞丰度逐渐增加。在垂直方向上,春、夏两季,浮游植物细胞丰度在表层出现最大值,随着深度的增加细胞丰度逐渐降低;而在秋季细胞丰度分布比较均匀,随水深变化不明显。调查区表层浮游植物ShannonWiener多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数的平面分布基本一致,并且与细胞丰度的分布大致呈镶嵌分布。调查浮游植物群落的演替规律是:从春季的甲藻(具齿原甲藻、微小原甲藻(Prorocentrum minimum)等)为主,硅藻(柔弱伪菱形藻、骨条藻等)为辅;演替至夏季的硅藻(中肋骨条藻、海链藻等)为主,甲藻(主要是梭状角藻(Ceratium fusus)和叉状角藻(Ceratium furca))为辅,到秋季进一步演替为硅藻(具槽帕拉藻、圆筛藻、柔弱伪菱形藻等)为主,铁氏束毛藻(Trichodesmium thiebaultii)为辅。浮游植物物种组成、优势种、细胞丰度及多样性指数均表现出明显的时空变化。低氧区与非低氧区浮游植物群集存在明显差异。     

川楝子中两个新的苯丙三醇甙

从川楝子（fruitsofMeliatoosendanSieb．etZucc．）的水溶性成分中分离出两个新的苯丙三醇甙：川楝甙A（3-甲氧基-5-羟基-9－（1’-O-β-D-葡萄糖）-苏式-苯丙三醇）和川楝甙B（4-羟基-7,8-（2’,1’－O－β-D-葡萄糖）-苯丙三醇）;同时首次分离出苏式-愈创木基甘油。通过波谱解析和化学方法确定了它们的结构。     

Genetic differentiation between populations of swimming crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Portunus trituberculatus</Emphasis> along the coastal waters of the East China Sea

Portunus trituberculatus is a commercially important species widely spread in the East China Sea. Intraspecific variation of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mtDNA COI) gene was investigated in 213 individuals from six localities (Changjiang Estuary, Shengsi Islands, Zhoushan Islands, Dongtou Islands, Dinghai Bay, and Quanzhou Bay) ranging from north (31°21′N) to south (24°55′N) coastal waters of the East China Sea. Overall, a total of 27 mtDNA haplotypes and 21 variable sites were detected in the 787 bp segment of COI gene. Analysis of mtDNA COI sequence data revealed that crabs from the six localities were characterized by moderately high haplotypic diversity (h = 0.787 ± 0.026), while sequence divergence values between haplotypes were relatively low (π = 0.00241 ± 0.00098). Each population was characterized by a single most frequent haplotype, shared among all six localities, and a small number of rare ones, typically present in only one or two individuals and representative of a specific population. However, neither the neighbor-joining tree nor the minimum spanning network (MSN) based on the haplotype data exhibited geographical patterns of the six populations. Mismatch distribution analysis of P. trituberculatus individuals sampled from the six localities suggested that sudden population expansion might have occurred in CJ and SS population that might be consistent with over-exploitation of the swimming crab. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and F _ST statistics showed that significant genetic differentiation existed among the SS, ZS, DT, DH, and QZ populations, suggesting that gene flow might be reduced, even between the geographically close sites, despite the high potential of dispersal. The possible causes of the observed genetic heterogeneity among the P. trituberculatus populations and the potential applications of the mtDNA COI marker in the artificial breeding and fisheries management are discussed. Handling editor: C. Sturmbauer     

何首乌中新的二苯乙烯甙

用反相层析法从何首乌（Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.)根茎的水提物只发得2个新的二苯乙烯甙（1,2）及9个已知化合物：没食子酸（3）,2,6－二羟基－苯甲酸（4）,吲哚－3－（L－）α氨基－α－羟基－丙酸）甲酯（5）1,2－二羟基丙烷－1－（4－羟基－苯基）（6）,大黄素（7）,大黄素－8－β－D－葡萄糖甙（8）,（＋）－lyoniresinol-3α－O－β－D－葡萄糖甙（9）,2,3,4、,5－四羟基反式二苯乙烯－2－O－β－D－吡喃葡萄糖甙（10）和2,3,4',5－四羟基反式二苯乙烯－2,3,－二－O－β－D－吡喃葡萄糖甙（11）。亲化合物结构通过理化性质与波谱分析特别是2D NMR得以确定。化合物2表现出很强的DNA裂解活性,化合物1,2与10具有很强的抗脂质过氧化活性。     

VITEK 2 Compact微生物检测系统在生物制剂无菌环境监测中的应用

目的通过收集生物制剂生产中洁净间环境微生物、微生物限度检测样品,应用全自动微生物检测系统(VITEK 2 Compact)进行监测分析,评价其适用性。方法利用革兰染色法和VITEK 2 Compact系统对4种标准菌株和291个纯菌鉴定样本进行方法学验证;对人员及设备表面微生物、沉降菌及微生物限度样本共313个进行菌型鉴定,确认此系统在生物制剂生产中的应用价值。结果共在收集的313个样本中,共检出微生物268株,其中人员及设备表面微生物18株、沉降菌188株、微生物限度62株。可信度均在93%以上。其中革兰阳性菌:藤黄/里拉微球菌46次,库克菌属35次,葡萄球菌属70次;阴性菌:少动鞘氨醇单胞菌38次,鲁氏不动杆菌7次。结论 VITEK 2 Compact微生物检测系统具有高度特异性、敏感性和重复性,并具有操作简便、检测速度快等优点,可广泛应用于医院及疾控中心,尤其对无菌生产环境中微生物的质控和微生物数据库的建立具有重要意义。