The α-l-Rhamnose recognizing lectin site of human dermal fibroblasts functions as a signal transducer: Modulation of Ca fluxes and gene expression

An α-l-Rhamnose specific lectin site was described on human skin keratinocytes and fibrobasts. The addition of Rhamnose-rich oligo- and polysaccharides (RROPs) to fibroblasts has been shown to stimulate cell proliferation and increase extracellular matrix biosynthesis, suggesting that this lectin site functions as a “true” receptor transmitting messages to the cell interior. It was confirmed here that addition of the Rhamnose-rich polysaccharide, RROP-1, to normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) and human endothelial cells produced a dose-dependent stimulation of the calcium-signaling pathway, inducing fast and transient increases in Ca²⁺ influx and intracellular free Ca²⁺ level. The Rhamnose-rich oligosaccharide RROP-3 as well as l-Rhamnose alone were also able to trigger similar intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration increases in NHDFs. Moreover, the recording of the RROP-1-induced modification of the gene-expression profile in fibroblasts showed that this polysaccharide triggered a down-regulation of the expression of several growth factors, adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix proteins involved in pro-tumoral activity and/or fibrotic processes. These results further support the hypothesis of a receptor function for the Rhamnose-recognizing lectin site in fibroblasts. Anti-fibrotic and anti-tumoral potential of RROP-1 remains to be further explored.     

7beta-hydroxy-epiandrosterone modulation of 15-deoxy-delta12,14-prostaglandin J2, prostaglandin D2 and prostaglandin E2 production from human mononuclear cells

7β-hydroxy-epiandrosterone (7β-OH-EPIA) has been shown to be cytoprotective in various organs including the brain. It has also been shown that prostaglandin D₂ (PGD₂) and its spontaneous metabolite 15-deoxy-Δ^12,14-prostaglandin J₂ (15d-PGJ₂) are also cytoprotective. It is possible that these prostaglandins derived from circulating mononuclear cells may mediate the actions of 7β-OH-EPIA. The aim of this study, therefore, was to ascertain the effect of 7β-OH-EPIA (in the absence or presence of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)), a pro-inflammatory stimulus, on the biosynthesis of PGD₂, PGE₂ and 15d-PGJ₂ from human mononuclear cells. Prostaglandins were measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). 7β-OH-EPIA alone induced a concentration-dependant increase in the production of PGD₂. TNF-α increased PGD₂ levels which were enhanced by 7β-OH-EPIA. 7β-OH-EPIA increased 15d-PGJ₂ levels both in the absence and presence of TNF-α. 7β-OH-EPIA alone had no effect on PGE₂ biosynthesis but suppressed TNF-α-induced PGE₂ circa 50%. 7β-OH-EPIA also increased the level of free arachidonic acid and radiolabelled prostaglandins in cells pre-incubated with radiolabelled arachidonic acid, indicating that the increase may occur via the enhanced release of substrate arachidonic acid. 7β-OH-EPIA did not affect levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 indicating that this is an unlikely mechanism by which 7β-OH-EPIA induces its actions but more likely exerts its effects via the production of cytoprotective prostaglandins.     

Potentials for monitoring gene level biodiversity: using Sweden as an example

Programs for monitoring biological diversity over time are needed to detect changes that can constitute threats to biological resources. The convention on biological diversity regards effective monitoring as necessary to halt the ongoing erosion of biological variation, and such programs at the ecosystem and species levels are enforced in several countries. However, at the level of genetic biodiversity, little has been accomplished, and monitoring programs need to be developed. We define “conservation genetic monitoring” to imply the systematic, temporal study of genetic variation within particular species/populations with the aim to detect changes that indicate compromise or loss of such diversity. We also (i) identify basic starting points for conservation genetic monitoring, (ii) review the availability of such information using Sweden as an example, (iii) suggest categories of species for pilot monitoring programs, and (iv) identify some scientific and logistic issues that need to be addressed in the context of conservation genetic monitoring. We suggest that such programs are particularly warranted for species subject to large scale enhancement and harvest—operations that are known to potentially alter the genetic composition and reduce the variability of populations.     

Seedling establishment of vascular epiphytes on isolated and enclosed forest trees in an Andean landscape, Ecuador

The impact of human disturbance on colonisation dynamics of vascular epiphytes is poorly known. We studied abundance, diversity and floristic composition of epiphyte seedling establishing on isolated and adjacent forest trees in a tropical montane landscape. All vascular epiphytes were removed from plots on the trunk bases of Piptocoma discolor. Newly established epiphyte seedlings were recorded after 2 years, and their survival after another year. Seedling density, total richness at family and genus level, and the number of families and genera per plot were significantly reduced on isolated trees relative to forest trees. Seedling assemblages on trunks of forest trees were dominated by hygrophytic understorey ferns, those on isolated trees by xerotolerant canopy taxa. Colonisation probability on isolated trees was significantly higher for plots closer to forest but not for plots with greater canopy or bryophyte cover. Seedling mortality on isolated trees was significantly higher for mesophytic than for xerotolerant taxa. Our results show that altered recruitment can explain the long-term impoverishment of post-juvenile epiphyte assemblages on isolated remnant trees. We attribute these changes to a combination of dispersal constraints and the harsher microclimate documented by measurements of temperature and humidity. Although isolated trees in anthropogenic landscapes are considered key structures for the maintenance of forest biodiversity in many aspects, our results show that their value for the conservation of epiphytes can be limited. We suggest that abiotic seedling requirements will increasingly constitute a bottleneck for the persistence of vascular epiphytes in the face of ongoing habitat alteration and atmospheric warming.     

替换HIV-1衣壳蛋白基因SHIV的构建及其活性测定

将猴免疫缺陷病毒(Simianimmunodeficiencyvirus,SIVmm239)中gag基因的衣壳蛋白部分置换成人免疫缺陷病毒(Humanimmunodeficiencyvirustype1,HIV-1HXBc2)的相应部分,构建出替换了衣壳蛋白基因的人/猿嵌合免疫缺陷病毒(SHIV)原病毒DNA。用此SHIV原病毒DNA转染293T细胞,细胞中能够检测到嵌合病毒基因的转录与翻译;在细胞培养液上清中亦可检测到装配出的病毒颗粒。病毒颗粒形态正常,含有基因组RNA,具有反转录酶活性,嵌合的外源衣壳蛋白能够正确剪切,形成棒状的核心。将此嵌合SHIV病毒感染MT4细胞,病毒能够吸附并进入细胞,能完成反转录过程,但不能增殖。     

人胎海马内nNOS神经元的形态学观察

目的研究胎儿海马内nNOS神经元的分布、形态的变化以及意义.方法采用ABC免疫细胞化学法结合DAB显色技术研究人胎儿海马内nNOS神经元的定位和分布.结果人胎脑13周开始有少量的nNOS的表达,20周后随着胎龄的增加含nNOS阳性神经元数量逐渐增加,于28周海马内nNOS神经元数量最多,随后数量逐渐减少;阳性神经元胞体体积随着胎龄的增加逐渐增大;根据细胞形态nNOS阳性神经元可分两种类型,其比例随着胎龄的变化而变化.结论人胎海马存在有nNOS阳性神经元的表达,且呈两种不同的形态.     

人胚胎干细胞程序降温保存的实验研究

本文采用升降式程序降温仪对人胚胎于细胞进行了程序降温保存,并探讨和比较了降温速率、置核温度、保护剂和投入液氮前温度对冻存复苏后胚胎干细胞的存活率、活力及分化特性的影响。结果表明:采用Me_2SO 血清 DMEM(体积比为1∶3∶6)的保护剂,从0℃开始,以0.5℃/min的速率对细胞悬液降温;至-10℃时对其进行置核,并于-35℃时将其快速投入液氮中保存,复温后效果最佳。冻存复温后细胞存活率可达81.8%,复苏后的胚胎干细胞形态和集落生长方式都与冻前的生长形态相同,且胚胎干细胞标志之一碱性磷酸酶(AKP)反应阳性,同时染色体组型仍正常。     

体外化学诱导人骨髓间充质干细胞分化为心肌样细胞

为了探讨人骨髓间充质干细胞(MSCs)的体外培养及化学诱导向心肌细胞分化的过程及条件,我们用1.073g/mL密度梯度离心法分离健康人骨髓单个核细胞,经骨髓间充质干细胞培养基传代培养后用流式细胞仪检测细胞表面抗原,在完全培养基中分别加入3、5、10μmol/L的5氮胞苷(每组n=5)进行化学诱导分化,阴性对照组采用完全培养基培养,诱导后21天细胞爬片免疫荧光法鉴定,透射电镜观察细胞超微结构。结果显示人MSCs为形态均一的梭形细胞,生长旺盛时呈旋涡样分布,流式细胞仪检测细胞表面CD44阳性,CD34、CD45阴性;5、10μmol/L的5氮胞苷进行化学诱导后细胞形态变长,诱导后14天时20%-30%细胞融合形成多核肌管样结构,3μmol/L组MSCs未出现肌管结构,诱导后21天5、10μmol/L组MSCs中desmin、心肌早期转录因子GATA4、心肌特异性cTnI及闰盘蛋白connexin43的表达阳性,10μmol/L组cTnI阳性染色细胞数目(65.3±4.7%)高于5μmol/L诱导组(48.2±5.4%)(p<0.05);3μmol/L组及阴性对照组无心肌特异性蛋白的表达。细胞诱导后28天透射电镜下可见肌丝形成。本实验说明,人MSCs在体外经化学诱导可分化为心肌样细胞,而且5-氮胞苷对于心肌相关蛋白的表达呈浓度依赖性正相关。     

人乳头瘤病毒16型E7变异株免疫原性研究

采用分子克隆技术,构建E7变异株重组质粒[pcDNA3．1-(by)E7]和E7标准株重组质粒【pcDNA3．1．(ys)-E7】,并将两种质粒分别皮下免疫Balb／c小鼠,免疫后于不同时间提取小鼠血清和制备脾淋巴细胞悬液,分别用ELISA法和MTT比色法检测特异性抗体和特异性淋巴细胞增殖反应。基因免疫后,ELISA法显示,HPVl6E7变异株和标准株均能诱导特异性抗E7抗体;MTTT比色法显示,E7标准株免疫组脾淋巴细胞在体外受到变异株E7蛋白的再次刺激后出现特异性淋巴细胞增殖反应,变异株E7免疫组脾淋巴细胞经过同样处理后,出现非特异性淋巴细胞增殖反应。结果表明HPV16E7变异株能诱导特异性体液免疫应答而不能诱导特异性细胞免疫应答,HPVl6E7变异株无论在结构还是免疫原性上均与标准株有差异。由此推测,HPV16E7变异可能导致其逃逸机体自然感染或疫苗诱导的免疫应答。用基因免疫方法研究E7变异株免疫原性也为其它不能或难以进行体外培养的病毒变异研究提供借鉴。