脑组织核因子-κB激活对实验性变态反应性脑脊髓炎的作用

为探讨脑组织核因子－κB（NF－κB）对实验性变态反应性脑脊髓炎（EAE）的作用,分别用凝胶电泳迁移分析和NF－κB p65免疫组化方法测定了CFA－GPSCH诱导大鼠EAE1、7、14和21d时脑组织NF－κB活性和蛋白表达的动态变化,并观察了这些变化与EAE症状之间的关系。结果表明;对照组大鼠脑组织仅有少量NF－κB蛋白表达,其活性也很低;诱导EAE后,伴随着大鼠EAE症状及脑组织病理损伤的出现和进行性加重,其NF－κB活性和蛋白表达量逐渐增高;在免疫后14d达到高峰,NF－κB阳性细胞主要位于脉络丛、穹隆下器、血管“套袖样”病灶的周围,与EAE病变部位一致,此时大鼠EAE发病率最高、病情最重、体重减轻最显著、脑组织病理改变也最明显;21h脑组织NF－κB活性和蛋白表达量逐渐下降,大鼠EAE症状也逐渐恢复。应用NF－κB特异性抑制剂PDTC以抑制脑内组织NF－κB活性和蛋白表达量逐渐下降,大鼠EAE症状也逐渐恢复。应用NF－κB特异性抑制剂PDTC以抑制脑内NF－κB蛋白表达后,大鼠EAE症状和脑组织损伤明显减轻,说明脑组织NF－κB的动态变化与EAE症状及脑组织损伤程度密切相关。结论：脑组织NF－κB的激活对EAE的发病起着关键的作用,应用NF－κB抑制剂可能是防治该病的有效方法之一。     

调节性T细胞的分化及其影响因素

调节性T细胞是近年发现的一种具有免疫抑制活性的CD4+T细胞亚群,它们可以在胸腺中被选择分化,也可以在外周淋巴组织内由转化生长因子-β等细胞因子诱导分化。本文就调节性T细胞分化过程的关键信号通路及影响因素进行综述。调控调节性T细胞的分化过程能够影响其在体内的数目,可通过对其数量的干预,为自身免疫性疾病、免疫监视、排斥反应及变态反应等相关疾病提供可能的治疗靶点。     

Risk Factors for Preterm Birth in Five Maternal and Child Health Hospitals in Beijing

Background

Preterm birth, the birth of an infant prior to 37 completed weeks of gestation, is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Preterm infants are at greater risk of respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurological diseases. Despite significant research in developed countries, little is known about the causes of preterm birth in many developing countries, especially China. This study investigates the association between sciodemographic data, obstetric risk factor, and preterm birth in five Maternal and Child Health hospitals in Beijing, China.

Methods and Findings

A case-control study was conducted on 1391 women with preterm birth (case group) and 1391 women with term delivery (control group), who were interviewed within 48 hours of delivery. Sixteen potential factors were investigated and statistical analysis was performed by univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis. Univariate analysis showed that 14 of the 16 factors were associated with preterm birth. Inter-pregnancy interval and inherited diseases were not risk factors. Logistic regression analysis showed that obesity (odds ratio (OR) = 3.030, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.166–7.869), stressful life events (OR = 5.535, 95%CI 2.315–13.231), sexual activity (OR = 1.674, 95%CI 1.279–2.191), placenta previa (OR 13.577, 95%CI 2.563–71.912), gestational diabetes mellitus (OR = 3.441, 95%CI1.694–6.991), hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (OR = 6.034, 95%CI = 3.401–10.704), history of preterm birth (OR = 20.888, 95%CI 2.519–173.218) and reproductive abnormalities (OR = 3.049, 95%CI 1.010–9.206) were independent risk factors. Women who lived in towns and cities (OR = 0.603, 95%CI 0.430–0.846), had a balanced diet (OR = 0.533, 95%CI 0.421–0.675) and had a record of prenatal care (OR = 0.261, 95%CI 0.134–0.510) were less likely to have preterm birth.

Conclusions

Obesity, stressful life events, sexual activity, placenta previa, gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy, history of preterm birth and reproductive abnormalities are independent risk factors to preterm birth. Identification of remedial factors may inform local health and education policy.     

继往开来,积极推动中国生物多样性科学发展——《生物多样性》创刊二十年回顾

《生物多样性》自1993年由中国科学院生物多样性委员会创办以来,一直秉承首任主编钱迎倩先生确定的刊物定位:紧跟国际热点和趋势,反映中国生物多样性科学研究进展;及时报道保护、管理和持续利用生物多样性的经验,包括法律法规和国际履约。时逢《生物多样性》创办20周年,我们总结了刊物的发展历程,分析了创刊以来策划的研究热点、报道对象、作者队伍及产生的影响,以期更好为推动中国生物多样性科学发展服务。这些年,生物多样性科学领域的热点问题,如生物入侵、全球变化下的生物多样性、DNA条形码、生物多样性监测与变化机制、谱系多样性、生物多样性信息学等,以及《生物多样性公约》及其履行进展在本刊上都得到了及时报道,2000年以后出版的13个专刊(专栏)更是热点问题的集中体现。在发表的1,189篇(不包括增刊)文章中物种多样性方面文章最多,遗传多样性方面的文章次之;从研究类群上看,植物和动物方面的文章明显多于微生物方面的文章。研究对象的地理分布则与所属地区的多样性丰富程度或受关注程度有一定的相关性。刊物目前已形成较为稳定的作者群,发表文章最多的前10位作者分别来自中国科学院(6人)、北京大学(2人)和复旦大学(2人);文章的平均作者数从1993年的约1.5人/篇增加到2011年的约4人/篇,一定程度上反映了团队合作的态势;每篇文章的平均页码数也从创刊时的平均5页左右逐渐增加到目前的10页左右,文章的信息量大大增加。发表的论文主要受国家自然科学基金、科技部项目和中国科学院项目资助,表明作者群的层次是比较高的。发表的论文中被引次数大于40的文章超过200篇,最高达970次(中国知网,2012年8月10日检索);被SCI刊物的引用次数也呈逐年递增趋势。《生物多样性》是目前我国发表生物多样性研究成果最多、影响最大、生物多样性科学领域最重要的刊物。但毋庸讳言,《生物多样性》如国内其他中文科技期刊一样,正面临巨大挑战,如优秀稿源匮乏、刊物国际化和国内评价体系的压力、如何协调基础性和应用性、如何兼顾作者和读者的需求等。针对上述问题,我们提出了对策建议,指出《生物多样性》在"立足本土的国际化"和前沿创新与基础支撑兼顾的定位下,继续提高学术质量,并通过数字化平台和新闻媒体宣传发表的重要成果等方式,提高科技信息传播效率,扎实推动中国生物多样性科学的发展。     

Activation of adherent vascular neutrophils in the lung during acute endotoxemia

Background  

Neutrophils constitute the first line of defense against invading microorganisms. Whereas these cells readily undergo apoptosis under homeostatic conditions, their survival is prolonged during inflammatory reactions and they become biochemically and functionally activated. In the present study, we analyzed the effects of acute endotoxemia on the response of a unique subpopulation of neutrophils tightly adhered to the lung vasculature.     

人血管抑素（k1—3）在家蚕细胞和幼虫中的表达及活性测定

将人血管抑素 (angiostatin)基因重组于家蚕杆状病毒转移载体 pBacPAK8中 ,获得重组转移载体pBacPAK angiostatin ,并与被线性化的Bm BacPAK6病毒DNA共转染家蚕细胞 ,获得重组病毒BacPAK angiostatin。DNA点杂交结果表明重组病毒基因组中含有血管抑素基因。重组病毒以MOI=10感染家蚕细胞 (2×10 6个细胞 /瓶 )和家蚕 5龄幼虫 ,表达产物用体外培养的人脐静脉血管内皮细胞 (ECV30 4 )及体内鸡胚尿囊膜(CAM)新生血管实验检测其抑制活性 ,测得血管抑素可明显抑制体外培养的内皮细胞增殖 ,家蚕细胞的产物活性在表达 72h达到最高值 ,在 2× 10 6个细胞中的表达量约 2 2u ;在家蚕体内表达 14 4h生物活性达到最高值 ,表达量约 15 9u/ml。2 .5u/ml的血管抑素能使ECV30 4细胞在 2 4h发生明显凋亡 ;可使CAM新生血管化率明显下降。此外 ,用ELISA、Western印迹方法测定了表达产物的免疫反应性。     

甲种胎儿球蛋白(AFP)定性定量酶联免疫试盒剂的研制

甲胎蛋白是一种癌胚相关蛋白,它在胎儿血清中含量每毫升数毫克之多,在正常人血清中低于25μg/ml,在原发性肝细胞癌者血清中甲胎蛋白的阳性率和滴度都很高,所以血清中甲胎蛋白的检测是诊断肝癌的特异指标。本方法采用双抗体夹心法原理,可定性及定量检测血清和血浆标本中甲胎蛋白含量,并配制AFP系列标准,为原发性肝癌的早期诊断及普查具有重要的临床意义。     

Enhanced Escherichia coli invasion of human brain microvascular endothelial cells is associated with alternations in cytoskeleton induced by nicotine

Although epidemiological studies have shown that exposure to tobacco smoking significantly increases the risk of bacterial meningitis, heretofore the pathogenic effects of smoking on this disease have been poorly understood. In order to dissect this issue, we have investigated the effects of nicotine, the major component of tobacco, on E. coli invasion of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC). Our studies showed that E. coli invasion of HBMEC was significantly enhanced by nicotine in a dose-dependent manner. The nicotine-mediated enhancement was associated with actin cytoskeleton rearrangement and morphological changes in the eukaryotic host cell that are essential for bacterial entry. The recombinant IbeA protein and alpha-bungarotoxin (a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist) were able to efficiently block the nicotine-mediated cellular effects, suggesting the involvement of the IbeA and nicotinic receptors. Blocking of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) by LY294002 abolished the entry of E. coli in HBMECs treated with nicotine in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of PI3K was associated with decreased phosphorylation of Akt and actin cytoskeletal rearrangement. In contrast to PI3K, blockage of Rho kinase (ROCK) by Y27632 upregulated both nicotine- and E. coli-mediated cellular responses. Thus, this study provides experimental evidence for the first time that the major component of tobacco, nicotine, enhances meningitic E. coli invasion of HBMEC through modulation of cytoskeleton.     

Synthesis and antiviral activity of novel HCV NS3 protease inhibitors with P4 capping groups

We have synthesized and evaluated a series of novel HCV NS3 protease inhibitors with various P4 capping groups, which include urea, carbamate, methoxy-carboxamide, cyclic carbamate and amide, pyruvic amide, oxamate, oxalamide and cyanoguanidine. Most of these compounds are remarkably potent, exhibiting single-digit to sub-nanomolar activity in the enzyme assay and cell-based replicon assay. Selected compounds were also evaluated in the protease-inhibitor-resistant mutant transient replicon assay, and they were found to show quite different potency profiles against a panel of HCV protease-inhibitor-resistant mutants.     

Xylose isomerase overexpression along with engineering of the pentose phosphate pathway and evolutionary engineering enable rapid xylose utilization and ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Xylose is the main pentose and second most abundant sugar in lignocellulosic feedstocks. To improve xylose utilization, necessary for the cost-effective bioconversion of lignocellulose, several metabolic engineering approaches have been employed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this study, we describe the rational metabolic engineering of a S. cerevisiae strain, including overexpression of the Piromyces xylose isomerase gene (XYLA), Pichia stipitis xylulose kinase (XYL3) and genes of the non-oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). This engineered strain (H131-A3) was used to initialize a three-stage process of evolutionary engineering, through first aerobic and anaerobic sequential batch cultivation followed by growth in a xylose-limited chemostat. The evolved strain H131-A3-AL^CS displayed significantly increased anaerobic growth rate (0.203±0.006 h^?1) and xylose consumption rate (1.866 g g^?1 h^?1) along with high ethanol conversion yield (0.41 g/g). These figures exceed by a significant margin any other performance metrics on xylose utilization and ethanol production by S. cerevisiae reported to-date. Further inverse metabolic engineering based on functional complementation suggested that efficient xylose assimilation is attributed, in part, to the elevated expression level of xylose isomerase, which was accomplished through the multiple-copy integration of XYLA in the chromosome of the evolved strain.