Enhancement of antibody synthesis in rats by feeding cis-9,trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid during early life

Previous studies have demonstrated that the intake of a 1% conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) diet in an 80:20 mixture of cis-9,trans-11 and trans-10,cis-12 exerts age-specific effects on the immune system: immunoglobulin enhancement and proliferative down-modulation in neonatal and adult rats, respectively. The present study evaluates the influence of the same diet on antibody synthesis of early infant Wistar rats during suckling and/or after weaning. Dietary supplementation was performed during suckling and early infancy (4 weeks), only during suckling (3 weeks), or only in early infancy (1 week). CLA content in plasma and serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgM and IgA concentration were determined. Proliferation, cytokines and Ig production were evaluated on isolated splenocytes. Cis-9,trans-11- and trans-10,cis-12-CLA isomers were detected in the plasma of all CLA-supplemented animals, and the highest content was quantified in those rats supplemented over the longest period. These rats also exhibited higher concentrations of serum IgG, IgM and IgA. Moreover, splenocytes from CLA-supplemented rats showed the highest IgM and IgG synthesis and interleukin (IL)-6 production, whereas their proliferative ability was lower. In summary, in infant rats, we observed both the enhance antibody synthesis previously reported in neonates, and the reduced lymphoproliferation previously reported in adults.     

Stimulation of IFN-γ production by garlic lectin in mouse spleen cells: Involvement of IL-12 via activation of p38 MAPK and ERK in macrophages

Several lectins, present in beans and edible plant products, have immuno-potentiating and anti-tumor activities. We here report the effects of garlic lectin purified from garlic bulbs on the production of cytokines such as interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in the mouse. Garlic lectin induced IFN-γ production in spleen cells in a bell-shaped time (24-60 h)- and concentration (0.25-2.0 mg/ml)-dependent manner. The maximal enhancement was observed at 36 h with 0.5 mg/ml of garlic lectin. The stimulatory effect of garlic lectin on IFN-γ production was completely inhibited by both actinomycin D and cycloheximide, an inhibitor of ribosomal protein synthesis and DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, respectively, and was associated with an increase in IFN-γ mRNA level. Garlic lectin also induced IL-12 production in mouse peritoneal macrophages in a concentration (0.25-1.0 mg/ml)- and bell-shaped time (3-24 h)-dependent manner. The lectin increased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) in macrophages. Furthermore, specific pharmacological inhibitors of ERK kinase (U0126) and p38 MAPK (SB203580) also suppressed the production of IL-12 induced by garlic lectin. The present findings suggest that garlic lectin induces IL-12 production via activation of p38 MAPK and ERK in mouse macrophages, which, in turn, stimulates IFN-γ production through an increase in IFN-γ mRNA in the spleen cells.     

S-腺苷甲硫氨酸代谢途径相关基因在小麦水分胁迫中的表达

以小麦品种‘晋麦47’为材料,利用半定量RT-PCR方法,对S-腺苷甲硫氨酸代谢途径中的S-腺苷甲硫氨酸合成酶(SAMS)基因、S-腺苷甲硫氨酸脱羧酶(SAMDC)基因和γ-谷氨酰半胱氨酸合成酶(-γECS)基因在正常供水、PEG-6000模拟水分胁迫和复水过程中小麦叶片的表达模式进行了分析。结果表明,3个基因在正常生长情况下有一定量的表达,SAMS和SAMDC基因在水分胁迫早期(PEG-6000胁迫6、12、244、8 h)上调表达,水分胁迫后期(PEG-6000胁迫75 h)表达量下降;复水后3~6 h上调表达,复水9 h后表达量下调至对照水平。-γECS基因在水分胁迫阶段呈上调表达,复水后表达量下调至对照水平。可见,小麦SAMS、SAMDC和-γECS基因的表达都受水分胁迫诱导,同时,SAMS与SAMDC基因还参与水分胁迫后的复水调节,说明S-腺苷甲硫氨酸代谢途径在小麦抗旱节水中具有重要作用。     

60Co-γ射线诱变连麦2号M3代主要农艺性状的变异及多元分析

用60Co-γ射线诱变小麦连麦2号,对M3代292个穗行进行了主要农艺性状的变异及多元分析.结果表明:各性状的变异幅度是不同的,变异系数从大到小依次为:穗数＞千粒重＞穗长＞小穗数＞株高＞行粒重＞退化小穗数＞穗粒数＞穗粒重;变异率从大到小依次为:穗数＞千粒重＞株高=行粒重＞穗粒数＞穗长＞穗粒重＞小穗数＞退化小穗数.穗数、...     

产γ-谷氨基甲酰胺合成酶菌株的筛选及产酶条件研究

以假单胞菌(Pseudomonas sp.)为出发菌株,通过紫外诱变筛选得到一株γ-谷氨基甲酰胺合成酶高产菌株UV-19,其酶活提高32.54%。以突变株UV-19为供试菌株,对γ-谷氨基甲酰胺合成酶的发酵条件进行优化。首先利用Plackett-Burman设计筛选出影响较大的4个因素:葡萄糖、蛋白胨、起始pH值、装液量。在此基础上再利用CCD响应面分析法进行优化,得到最佳产酶培养条件为(g/L):葡萄糖15、蛋白胨12、NaCl 5.0、MgSO4.7H2O 0.2、K2HPO4.3H2O 0.5、甲胺盐酸盐1.0g/L、起始pH值6.5、装液量72mL/250mL。该优化条件下进行产酶培养,假单胞菌发酵产γ-谷氨基甲酰胺合成酶酶活力可达32.68U/mL。     

人外周血Th细胞和Tc细胞内IFN-γ及IL-4表达水平与白塞病的关系

目的检测BD患者外周血Th细胞和Tc细胞内INF-γ和IL-4的表达水平,探索BD患者体内的免疫状况。方法采用流式细胞术检测BD活动期患者(n=22),BD稳定期(n=6)以及健康体检者(n=22)外周血T细胞亚群INF-γ和IL-4的表达水平。结果 BD患者活动期外周血细胞Th细胞和Tc细胞经过刺激后胞内合成IFN-γ的水平明显高于正常人水平(Th细胞:22.45%±7.33%vs.16.32±4.96%,P<0.05;Tc细胞:36.74%±13.19%vs.28.67%±11.56%,P<0.05),稳定期患者Th细胞和Tc细胞体外合成IFN-γ的能力与正常人相比无明显差异;稳定期患者Th细胞和Tc细胞胞内合成IL-4的能力相对于正常人均无明显差异:(稳定期Th细胞:3.01%±1.38%vs.2.87%±1.46%,Tc细胞:1.14%±0.28%vs.1.07%±0.32%,P>0.05)。而活动期患者Th细胞和Tc细胞胞内合成IL-4的能力相对于正常人均存在明显差异:(Th细胞:3.54%±1.62%vs.2.87%±1.46%,Tc细胞:1.82%±0.43%vs.1.07%±0.32%,P<0.05);导致Th细胞和Tc细胞有偏向Th1及Tc1的趋势(Th细胞IFN-γ/IL-4:6.34±3.24 vs.5.69±4.72,p>0.05;Tc细胞IFN-γ/IL-4:20.19±13.65 vs.26.79±14.52,P>0.05)。结论 BD患者外周血INF-γ和IL-4的表达水平明显升高,并与疾病活动期存在一定程度相关,可能对白塞病患者的诊断具有重要的临床意义。     

14-3-3 proteins in neurodegeneration

Among the first reported functions of 14-3-3 proteins was the regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity suggesting a possible involvement of 14-3-3 proteins in Parkinson's disease. Since then the relevance of 14-3-3 proteins in the pathogenesis of chronic as well as acute neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, polyglutamine diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and stroke has been recognized. The reported function of 14-3-3 proteins in this context are as diverse as the mechanism involved in neurodegeneration, reaching from basal cellular processes like apoptosis, over involvement in features common to many neurodegenerative diseases, like protein stabilization and aggregation, to very specific processes responsible for the selective vulnerability of cellular populations in single neurodegenerative diseases.Here, we review what is currently known of the function of 14-3-3 proteins in nervous tissue focussing on the properties of 14-3-3 proteins important in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis.     

Malic enzyme activity and related Biochemical aspects during ripening of γ-irradiated mango fruit

The increase in malic enzyme (l-malate: NADP⁺ oxidoreductase (oxalacetate-decarboxylating) EC 1.1.1.40) activity, usually observed during the r     

Protective efficacy of nonpathogenic nef-deleted SHIV vaccination combined with recombinant IFN-gamma administration against a pathogenic SHIV challenge in rhesus monkeys

We previously reported that a nef-deleted SHIV (SHIV-NI) is nonpathogenic and gave macaques protection from challenge infection with pathogenic SHIV-C2/1. To investigate whether IFN-gamma augments the immune response induced by this vaccination, we examined the antiviral and adjuvant effect of recombinant human IFN-gamma (rIFN-gamma) in vaccinated and unvaccinated monkeys. Nine monkeys were vaccinated with nef-deleted nonpathogenic SHIV-NI. Four of them were administered with rIFN-gamma and the other five monkeys were administered with placebo. After the challenge with pathogenic SHIV-C2/1, CD4(+) T-cell counts were maintained similarly in monkeys of both groups, while those of the unvaccinated monkeys decreased dramatically at 2 weeks after challenge. However, the peaks of plasma viral load were reduced to 100-fold in SHIV-NI vaccinated monkeys combined with rIFN-gamma compared with those in SHIV-NI vaccinated monkeys without rIFN-gamma. The peaks of plasma viral load were inversely correlated with the number of SIV Gag-specific IFN-gamma-producing cells. In SHIV-NI-vaccinated monkeys with rIFN-gamma, the number of SIV Gag-specific IFN-gamma-producing cells of PBMCs increased 2-fold compared with those in SHIV-NI-vaccinated monkeys without rIFN-gamma, and the NK activity and MIP-1alpha production of PBMCs were also enhanced. Thus, vaccination of SHIV-NI in combination with rIFN-gamma was more effective in modulating the antiviral immune system into a Th1 type response than SHIV-NI vaccination alone. These results suggest that IFN-gamma augmented the anti-viral effect by enhancing innate immunity and shifting the immune response to Th1.