Humanized mouse G6 anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibody has therapeutic potential against IGHV1-69 germline gene-based B-CLL

In 10–20% of the cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia of B-cell phenotype (B-CLL), the IGHV1-69 germline is utilized as VH gene of the B cell receptor (BCR). Mouse G6 (MuG6) is an anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibody discovered in a screen against rheumatoid factors (RFs) that binds with high affinity to an idiotope expressed on the 51p1 alleles of IGHV1-69 germline gene encoded antibodies (G6-id⁺). The finding that unmutated IGHV1-69 encoded BCRs are frequently expressed on B-CLL cells provides an opportunity for anti-idiotype monoclonal antibody immunotherapy. In this study, we first showed that MuG6 can deplete B cells encoding IGHV1-69 BCRs using a novel humanized GTL mouse model. Next, we humanized MuG6 and demonstrated that the humanized antibodies (HuG6s), especially HuG6.3, displayed ～2-fold higher binding affinity for G6-id⁺ antibody compared to the parental MuG6. Additional studies showed that HuG6.3 was able to kill G6-id⁺ BCR expressing cells and patient B-CLL cells through antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). Finally, both MuG6 and HuG6.3 mediate in vivo depletion of B-CLL cells in NSG mice. These data suggest that HuG6.3 may provide a new precision medicine to selectively kill IGHV1-69-encoding G6-id⁺ B-CLL cells.     

NF-κB is involved in the LPS-mediated proliferation and apoptosis of MAC-T epithelial cells as part of the subacute ruminal acidosis response in cows

Objectives

To determine the effect of NF-κB on cell proliferation and apoptosis, we investigate the expression of inflammation and apoptosis-related factors in the bovine mammary epithelial cell line, MAC-T.

Results

MAC-T cells were cultured in vitro and MTT and LDH assays used to determine the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on proliferation and cytotoxicity respectively. RT-PCR and western blotting were used to evaluate the effect of LPS and NF-κB inhibition [pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) treatment] on the expression of inflammation and apoptosis-related factors. LPS significantly inhibited MAC-T cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, LPS promoted apoptosis while the NF-кB inhibitor PDTC attenuated this effect. After LPS treatment, the NF-кB signaling pathway was activated, and the expression of inflammation and apoptosis-related factors increased. When PDTC blocked NF-кB signaling, the expression of inflammation and apoptosis-related factors were decreased in MAC-T cells.

Conclusions

LPS activates the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis in MAC-T cells. NF-кB inhibition attenuates MAC-T cell apoptosis and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. NF-кB inhibitor alleviating MAC-T cell apoptosis is presumably modulated by NF-кB.

     

FUNDC1 regulates mitochondrial dynamics at the ER–mitochondrial contact site under hypoxic conditions

In hypoxic cells, dysfunctional mitochondria are selectively removed by a specialized autophagic process called mitophagy. The ER–mitochondrial contact site (MAM) is essential for fission of mitochondria prior to engulfment, and the outer mitochondrial membrane protein FUNDC1 interacts with LC3 to recruit autophagosomes, but the mechanisms integrating these processes are poorly understood. Here, we describe a new pathway mediating mitochondrial fission and subsequent mitophagy under hypoxic conditions. FUNDC1 accumulates at the MAM by associating with the ER membrane protein calnexin. As mitophagy proceeds, FUNDC1/calnexin association attenuates and the exposed cytosolic loop of FUNDC1 interacts with DRP1 instead. DRP1 is thereby recruited to the MAM, and mitochondrial fission then occurs. Knockdown of FUNDC1, DRP1, or calnexin prevents fission and mitophagy under hypoxic conditions. Thus, FUNDC1 integrates mitochondrial fission and mitophagy at the interface of the MAM by working in concert with DRP1 and calnexin under hypoxic conditions in mammalian cells.     

iQPR法处理水对SD鼠生物安全性的研究

iQPR技术处理污水是一项新型尖端的技术,此技术可以成功降低污水乃至受到污染的地下水中的各种污染指标。但是,iQPR技术处理污水尤其是地下水是否存在潜在的生物安全性问题有待于进一步研究。因此,为评估iQPR技术对生物安全性的影响,本研究首先分析了三种不同iQPR法处理水的水质成分;其次系统研究了iQPR水对SD鼠在个体水平、组织水平和病理形态学损伤的研究。研究表明:iQPR处理的水质成分较对照组普通饮用水好,在个体组织水平检测未见异常,尽管其中一组iQPR处理水造成了SD鼠的脾小体增大,但是可能的原因是水处理环节存在微生物污染现象,因此,初步认定此技术未造成SD大鼠的个体损伤。本研究为揭示iQPR处理的水对生物体的安全性评价提供一个理论依据。     

β‐arrestin 2 negatively regulates NOD2 signalling pathway through association with TRAF6 in microglia after cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion injury

We previously reported that nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain‐containing protein (NOD) 2 was involved in the inflammatory responses to cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) insult. However, the mechanism by which NOD2 participates in brain ischaemic injury and the regulation of NOD2 in the process are still obscure. Increased β‐arrestin 2 (ARRB2) expression was observed in microglia following cerebral I/R in wild‐type mice besides the up‐regulation of NOD2 and TRAF6. Stimulation of NOD2 by muramyl dipeptide (MDP) in BV2 cells induced the activation of NF‐κB by the phosphorylation of p65 subunit and the degradation of IκBα. Meanwhile, the protein level of Cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2), the protein expression and activity of MMP‐9 were significantly increased in BV2 cells after administration of MDP. Furthermore, overexpression of ARRB2 significantly suppressed the inflammation induced by MDP, silence of ARRB2 significantly enhanced the inflammation induced by MDP in BV2 cells. In addition, we observed endogenous interaction of TRAF6 and ARRB2 after stimulation of MDP or cerebral I/R insult, indicating ARRB2 negatively regulates NOD2‐triggered inflammatory signalling pathway by associating with TRAF6 in microglia after cerebral I/R injury. Finally, the in vivo study clearly confirmed that ARRB2 negatively regulated NOD2‐induced inflammatory response, as ARRB2 deficiency exacerbated stroke outcomes and aggravated the NF‐κB signalling pathway induced by NOD2 stimulation after cerebral I/R injury. These findings revealed ARRB2 negatively regulated NOD2 signalling pathway through the association with TRAF6 in cerebral I/R injury.     

Enhanced resistance to sclerotinia stem rot in transgenic soybean that overexpresses a wheat oxalate oxidase

Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR), caused by the oxalate-secreting necrotrophic fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is one of the devastating diseases that causes significant yield loss in soybean (Glycine max). Until now, effective control of the pathogen is greatly limited by a lack of strong resistance in available commercial soybean cultivars. In this study, transgenic soybean plants overexpressing an oxalic acid (OA)-degrading oxalate oxidase gene OXO from wheat were generated and evaluated for their resistance to S. sclerotiorum. Integration and expression of the transgene were confirmed by Southern and western blot analyses. As compared with non-transformed (NT) control plants, the transgenic lines with increased oxalate oxidase activity displayed significantly reduced lesion sizes, i.e., by 58.71–82.73% reduction of lesion length in a detached stem assay (T₃ and T₄ generations) and 76.67–82.0% reduction of lesion area in a detached leaf assay (T₄ generation). The transgenic plants also showed increased tolerance to the externally applied OA (60 mM) relative to the NT controls. Consecutive resistance evaluation further confirmed an enhanced and stable resistance to S. sclerotiorum in the T₃ and T₄ transgenic lines. Similarly, decreased OA content and increased hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) levels were also observed in the transgenic leaves after S. sclerotiorum inoculation. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that the expression level of OXO reached a peak at 1 h and 4 h after inoculation with S. sclerotiorum. In parallel, a significant up-regulation of the hypersensitive response-related genes GmNPR1-1, GmNPR1-2, GmSGT1, and GmRAR occurred, eventually induced by increased release of H₂O₂ at the infection sites. Interestingly, other defense-related genes such as salicylic acid-dependent genes (GmPR1, GmPR2, GmPR3, GmPR5, GmPR12 and GmPAL), and ethylene/jasmonic acid-dependent genes (GmAOS, GmPPO) also exhibited higher expression levels in the transgenic plants than in the NT controls. Our results demonstrated that overexpression of OXO enhances SSR resistance by degrading OA secreted by S. sclerotiorum and increasing H₂O₂ levels, and eliciting defense responses mediated by multiple signaling pathways.

     

Carbon footprints of grain-, forage-, and energy-based cropping systems in the North China plain

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment - Low carbon footprint agriculture has received increasing attention in the effect of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate...