Double mutations in eIF4E and eIFiso4E confer recessive resistance to <Emphasis Type=Italic>Chilli veinal mottle virus</Emphasis> in pepper

To evaluate the involvement of translation initiation factors eIF4E and eIFiso4E in Chilli veinai mottle virus (ChiVMV) infection in pepper, we conducted a genetic analysis using a segregating population derived from a cross between Capsicum annuum ‘Dempsey’ containing an eIF4E mutation (pvr1 ² ) and C. annuum ‘Perennial’ containing an eIFiso4E mutation (pvr6). C. annuum ‘Dempsey’ was susceptible and C. annuum ‘Perennial’ was resistant to ChiVMV. All F₁ plants showed resistance, and F₂ individuals segregated in a resistant-susceptible ratio of 166:21, indicating that many resistance loci were involved. Seventy-five F₂ and 329 F₃ plants of 17 families were genotyped with pvr1 ² and pvr6 allele-specific markers, and the genotype data were compared with observed resistance to viral infection. All plants containing homozygous genotypes of both pvr1 ² and pvr6 were resistant to ChiVMV, demonstrating that simultaneous mutations in eIF4E and eIFiso4E confer resistance to ChiVMV in pepper. Genotype analysis of F2 plants revealed that all plants containing homozygous genotypes of both pvr1 ² and pvr6 showed resistance to ChiVMV. In protein-protein interaction experiments, ChiVMV viral genome-linked protein (VPg) interacted with both eIF4E and eIFiso4E. Silencing of eIF4E and eIFiso4E in the VIGS experiment showed reduction in ChiVMV accumulation. These results demonstrated that ChiVMV can use both eIF4E and eIFiso4E for replication, making simultaneous mutations in eIF4E and eIFiso4E necessary to prevent ChiVMV infection in pepper. These authors contributed equally to this work.     

A gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method to monitor detergents removal from a membrane protein sample

In membrane protein biochemical and structural studies, detergents are used to mimic membrane environment and maintain functional, stable conformation of membrane proteins in the absence of lipid bilayers. However, detergent concentration, esp. molar ratio of membrane protein to detergent is usually unknown. Here, a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry selected ion monitoring (GC–MS-SIM) method was developed to quantify four detergents which are frequently used in membrane protein structural studies. To remove excessive detergents, a filtered centrifugation using Centricon tubes was applied. A membrane protein Ig-Beta fragment in four different detergent micelles was exemplified. Detergent concentrations in the upper and lower fraction of the Centricon tube were measured after each round of centrifugation. The results were very consistent to basic properties of detergent micelles in aqueous solvents. Therefore, coupling of GC–MS-SIM and detergent removal by Centricon tubes, detergents concentration, esp. molar ratio of membrane protein to detergent could be controlled, which will expedite membrane protein structural and biochemical studies.     

The Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR): validation and psychometric properties

Introduction  

The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) is a commonly used instrument in the evaluation of fibromyalgia (FM) patients. Over the last 18 years, since the publication of the original FIQ, several deficiencies have become apparent and the cumbersome scoring algorithm has been a barrier to widespread clinical use. The aim of this paper is to describe and validate a revised version of the FIQ: the FIQR.     

肿瘤血管生成及抗血管生成的分子影像学研究进展

血管生成是肿瘤发生、发展的重要生物学过程,因此针对其的抗肿瘤血管生成治疗成为肿瘤治疗的重要策略.随着分子影像学的出现,以及对血管生成机制研究的不断深入,活体监测肿瘤血管生成及评价靶向介入治疗的疗效成为可能.本文就血管生成与肿瘤血管生成、肿瘤抗血管生成治疗,以及介入导向的抗血管生成治疗在肿瘤分子影像学领域的研究进展做一综述.     

移植胚胎数目对高龄不孕患者IVF-ET结局的影响

目的:探讨移植胚胎数目对高龄不孕患者IVF-ET结局的影响.方法:根据移植胚胎个数将年龄超过35岁的不孕患者338个周期分为单胚胎移植组(Ⅰ组),2个胚胎移植组(Ⅱ组),3个胚胎移植组(Ⅲ组).分析患者IVF治疗情况并按年龄分层比较三组患者的IVF-ET结局.结果:高龄不孕患者行IVF,随年龄增加,获卵数、优质胚胎率和临床妊娠率降低,流产率呈增高趋势.Ⅰ组的妊娠率9.43%,显著低于Ⅱ组(24.24%)和Ⅲ组(31.37%)(P＜0.05).对于40岁以下的患者,移植3个胚胎的妊娠率与移植2个胚胎差无异,但显著高于移植1个胚胎(P＜0.05).增加40岁以上患者移植胚胎的数目,妊娠率未出现有统计学意义的升高.三组的胚胎种植率分别为9.43%,12.12%和12.2%,无统计学差异.Ⅲ组中多胎率12.5%(6/48),其中35～36岁年龄段多胎率16.67%(5/30).结论:高龄不孕患者可移植的胚胎数目随年龄增加和获卵数目降低而降低.其中较年轻者(35～36岁年龄段),移植3个胚胎,对妊娠率提高无明显效果,但多胎发生显著增加.     

刺参酸性粘多糖对人宫颈癌Hela细胞株增殖的影响

目的:研究刺参酸性粘多糖(SJAMP)对人宫颈癌Hela细胞株增殖的影响,并探讨其可能的作用机制.方法:体外培养Hela细胞;采用四甲基偶氮唑蓝比色法(MTT法)测定SJAMP对Hela细胞的增殖抑制率;免疫细胞化学法检测SJAMP对Hela细胞内突变型P53、细胞周期抑制蛋白P21表达的影响.结果:SJAMP在体外抑制Hela细胞生长呈时效和量效关系;与对照组比,各SJAMP浓度组均能影响细胞周期调控因子p53、p21蛋白的表达:降低p53蛋白的表达(p＜0.05),刺激p21蛋白的表达(p＜0.05).结论:SJAMP可能通过调整细胞周期调节蛋白而在体外对宫颈癌Hela细胞起到生长抑制作用.     

碱性成纤维细胞生长因子在苜蓿中的表达

为了降低bFGF(basic fibroblast growth factor)的生产成本,结合植物生物反应器的优点,就bFGF在转基因苜蓿中的表达进行了探索.将bFGF插入植物表达载体pBⅡ21中,获得了含有bFGF基因的植物表达pBIcbFGF,再将pBIcbFGF利用冻融法转到农杆菌中.利用农杆菌介导法将基因转化保定苜蓿,转基因苜蓿在TM-1培养基+20 mg/L卡那霉素(Kan)+200 mg/L特美汀(Tim)中诱导分化,在生根培养基中生根,获得再生植株.再生植株通过PCR检测、RT-PCR及Western blot证实外源基因已经在苜蓿中成功表达.获得含有目的蛋白的阳性植株.为苜蓿作为植物生物反应器生产bFGF奠定了理论及技术基础.     

Phenotype and functional evaluation of ex vivo generated antigen-specific immune effector cells with potential for therapeutic applications

Ex vivo activation and expansion of lymphocytes for adoptive cell therapy has demonstrated great success. To improve safety and therapeutic efficacy, increased antigen specificity and reduced non-specific response of the ex vivo generated immune cells are necessary. Here, using a complete protein-spanning pool of pentadecapeptides of the latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A) of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a weak viral antigen which is associated with EBV lymphoproliferative diseases, we investigated the phenotype and function of immune effector cells generated based on IFN-γ or CD137 activation marker selection and dendritic cell (DC) activation. These ex vivo prepared immune cells exhibited a donor- and antigen-dependent T cell response; the IFN-γ-selected immune cells displayed a donor-related CD4- or CD8-dominant T cell phenotype; however, the CD137-enriched cells showed an increased ratio of CD4 T cells. Importantly, the pentadecapeptide antigens accessed both class II and class I MHC antigen processing machineries and effectively activated EBV-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells. Phenotype and kinetic analyses revealed that the IFN-γ and the CD137 selections enriched more central memory T (Tcm) cells than did the DC-activation approach, and after expansion, the IFN-γ-selected effector cells showed the highest level of antigen-specificity and effector activities. While all three approaches generated immune cells with comparable antigen-specific activities, the IFN-γ selection followed by ex vivo expansion produced high quality and quantity of antigen-specific effector cells. Our studies presented the optimal approach for generating therapeutic immune cells with potential for emergency and routine clinical applications.