Elevated serum α-fetoprotein level of nude mice bearing hepatoma cells by treatment with monoclonal antibodies to α-fetoprotein

This study was carried out to clarify the reason for elevation of serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) level of nude mice bearing hepatoma cells after treatment with monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) to AFP. MoAbs to AFP showed no effect on the cumulative amounts of AFP secreted from human hepatoma cell line, HuH-7, in vitro. However, the treatment of nude mice bearing HuH-7N cells (HuH-7 xenograft) with MoAbs to AFP led to elevation of the serum AFP level in spite of the fact that the growth curve of HuH-7N cells was similar to that for PBS treatment. This apparent elevation of the serum AFP level is thought to be due to the slow elimination of AFP-MoAb immune complexes with little lattice structure from circulation, but not the enhancement of AFP secretion of HuH-7N cells. Thus, when using a MoAb alone or MoAb-drug conjugate, the serum AFP level should only be cautiously used as a tumor marker for evaluating the targeting immunotherapy.     

The synergistic effects of interleukin 2 and interleukin 7 on the proliferation and autologous tumor cell lysis of tumor-associated lymphocytes

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) has an ability to stimulate the proliferation of pre-B cells. It has been shown that IL-7 can also activate T lymphocytes. We here demonstrate that IL-7 in combination with interleukin-2 (IL-2) can drive cell proliferation and enhance the autologous tumor cell lysis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and autologous mixed lymphocyte tumor cell culture (MLTC)-derived effector cells (MLTC cells). These synergistic effects of IL-2 and IL-7 on the proliferation and the augmentation of autologous tumor cell lysis were found for both effector cells. These effects were inhibited by neutralizing antibodies to IL-2 or IL-7, and by a combination of both antibodies, significantly. In terms of phenotypical expression, CD3 positive cells comprised the vast majority of MLTC cells after culture in medium containing IL-2 and IL-7 with an increase of IL-2 receptor positive cells.Abbreviations CD cluster differentiation - IFN interferon - IL interleukin - JRU Japanese Reference Unit - LAK lymphokine activated killer - mAb monoclonal antibody - MLTC mixed lymphocyte tumor cell culture - PBMC peripheral blood mononuclear cells - TILs tumor infiltrating lymphocytes     

Pollen-pistil interactions in Populus: β-galactosidase activity associated with pollen-tube growth in the crosses P. nigra x P. nigra and P. nigra x P. alba

Summary In order to understand the nature of interspecific barriers in Populus, we have explored pollen/pistil interactions in intra- and interspecific crosses Populus nigra x P. nigra and P. nigra x P. alba. The kinetics of pollen-tube growth demonstrated that P. nigra and P. alba pollen tubes have distinct behavioral patterns inside P. nigra pistils. P. alba pollen tubes exhibit an unique S-shaped growth curve and an arrested growth site near the sylodium. P. nigra pollen tubes exhibit two growth phases, in the stigmatic tissues and in the ovarian cavity respectively. P. nigra and P. alba curves diverge 5 h after controlled pollination and could be related to a change in the physiology of the P. nigra pollen tube, which shifts from an autotrophic to a heterotrophic type of nutrition. Protein analysis of pollinated stigmatic extracts (0,6 and 20 h after pollination) revealed qualitative and quantitative differences that are related to the presence of either P. nigra or P. alba pollen tubes inside the stigmatic tissues. Increasing numbers of protein bands were detectable from 0 to 20 h after pollination only in intraspecific cross. Glycoproteins were detected, and the differences observed were dependent of the cross. -Galactosidase activity was found in pollinated stigmas, but an increase in its activity (one isozyme of pHi 4.2) between 6 h and 20 h after pollination was detected only in the intraspecific cross. This enzyme could play a role in heterotrophic pollen-tube nitrition, and its activity could be the final result of a series of interactions started by the initial pollen-stigma dialog.     

The effects of grazing on the pollen production of grasses

Samples from moss polsters taken over three consecutive years during a controlled grazing experiment in a nature reserve in the Netherlands were analysed for their pollen content, particularly grass pollen. Samples were also taken in the year following the experiment, with grazing pressure strongly diminished. This yielded data regarding the effect of grazing on the pollen production of grasses in open habitats, plantations, and unproductive and productive woods under different grazing pressures.     

circPVT1通过miR-24-3p/let-7a-5p/FSCN1轴促进鼻咽癌细胞侵袭迁移

目的 鼻咽癌是一种来源于鼻咽上皮的恶性肿瘤,其临床特征之一是易发生淋巴转移,但是目前鼻咽癌转移的分子机制尚未阐明。circPVT1是由PVT1基因2号外显子反向拼接形成的环状RNA (circRNA),在多种肿瘤中表达上调,本文探讨了circPVT1在鼻咽癌侵袭迁移中的作用和分子机制。方法 通过RT-qPCR检测circPVT1及其下游miRNA和FSCN1在鼻咽癌细胞的表达情况,Transwell和划痕愈合实验检测circPVT1对鼻咽癌细胞侵袭迁移的影响,RNA pull-down实验检测circPVT1结合的miRNA,双荧光素酶报告实验检测miR-24-3p和let-7a-5p靶向抑制FSCN1 mRNA表达。结果 在鼻咽癌细胞中过表达circPVT1可以促进鼻咽癌细胞侵袭迁移,而敲低circPVT1则可以抑制鼻咽癌细胞的侵袭迁移。进一步研究发现,circPVT1可以通过竞争性吸附miR-24-3p和let-7a-5p,上调FSCN1的表达,从而促进鼻咽癌细胞的侵袭迁移。结论 circPVT1通过miR-24-3p/let-7a-5p/FSCN1轴促进鼻咽癌细胞侵袭迁移,证实c...     

拟南芥ACOL8基因在乙烯合成与响应中的功能分析

植物激素乙烯在多种生理生化过程中发挥重要作用,但其在特定组织器官中的合成机制尚不完全清楚。拟南芥中存在12个功能未知的ACC氧化酶类似蛋白（ACO-like homolog,ACOL）,运用基因定点编辑技术构建了ACOL8的功能丧失型突变体,发现该基因的突变削弱了经典的乙烯“三重反应”。与野生型相比,突变体黄化幼苗下胚轴及主根的长度显著增加,这与突变体对外源ACC的敏感性下降现象一致。同时还发现ACOL8基因的表达受乙烯信号的正反馈调控,EIN3过表达增强其表达水平,而etr1-3的突变则产生相反效应。再者,在正常条件下,ACOL8基因的突变并未影响拟南芥的生长;但在盐胁迫条件下,突变体的根冠比显著下降,这说明该基因参与植物的盐胁迫响应。综上,这些结果说明ACOL8可能具有ACC氧化酶的功能,参与乙烯的合成与响应。     

Chemodiversity and α-Glucosidase Activity of Eucalyptus Species from Northwestern Himalaya,India

The aim of current work was to determine essential oils (EOs) composition from three Eucalyptus species, including E. citriodora, E. camaldulensis and E. globulus and assess their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The EOs were collected using the hydrodistillation technique and characterized by GC/MS, GC-FID and NMR. The isolated EOs from leaves parts of Eucalyptus species varied from 0.56 to 1.0 % on fresh weight basis. The content of the EOs was distinct according to the species. The most abundant metabolites were identified as citronellal (0–83.0 %), 1,8-cineole (0.2–44.8 %), spathulenol (0.4–16.1 %) α-pinene (0.4–15.9 %), p-cymene (3.7–11.9 %), citronellol (0–8.6 %), β-eudesmol (5.3–8.6 %) and β-pinene (0–7.1 %). The EOs obtained from targeted samples exhibited strong α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. These results are encouraging and underline that the EOs of Eucalyptus species may be a promising alternative source of natural antidiabetic.     

CX3CL1 induces cell migration and invasion through ICAM-1 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells

Human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has been associated with a relatively low survival rate over the years and is characterized by a poor prognosis. C-X3-C motif chemokine ligand 1 (CX3CL1) has been involved in advanced migratory cells. Overexpressed CX3CL1 promotes several cellular responses related to cancer metastasis, including cell movement, migration and invasion in tumour cells. However, CX3CL1 controls the migration ability, and its molecular mechanism in OSCC remains unknown. The present study confirmed that CX3CL1 increased cell movement, migration and invasion. The CX3CL1-induced cell motility is upregulated through intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression in OSCC cells. These effects were significantly suppressed when OSCC cells were pre-treated with CX3CR1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) and small-interfering RNA (siRNA). The CX3CL1-CX3CR1 axis activates promoted PLCβ/PKCα/c-Src phosphorylation. Furthermore, CX3CL1 enhanced activator protein-1 (AP-1) activity. The CX3CR1 mAb and PLCβ, PKCα, c-Src inhibitors reduced CX3CL1-induced c-Jun phosphorylation, c-Jun translocation into the nucleus and c-Jun binding to the ICAM-1 promoter. The present results reveal that CX3CL1 induces the migration of OSCC cells by promoting ICAM-1 expression through the CX3CR1 and the PLCβ/PKCα/c-Src signal pathway, suggesting that CX3CL1-CX3CR1-mediated signalling is correlated with tumour motility and appealed to be a precursor for prognosis in human OSCC.     

山东省假性肥大型肌营养不良的RFLP分析 Ⅰ．可疑携带者的基因型确定

本文选用10个DMD基因内部和桥探针,对山东省9个地区的21个DMD／BMD家系的173名成员进行RFLP分析,其中可疑携带者55人,多数家系应用1－3个探针,有基因重组家庭选用4－5个探针,便可完成多态分析,RFLP分析可以确定85．45％的可疑携带者（≥95％可信限）,即13人确定为携带者,30人排除携带者,另有4人风险大幅提高,通过这些探针的群体多态检测和不同家庭结构和类型的应用分析,我们提出了在中国人群中DMD／SMD基因诊断的基本程序。