Monte Carlo study of the effect of β2-microglobulin on the binding cleft of the HLA-A2 complex

Peptide recognition by class I products of the major histocompatibility complex requires association of the class I heavy chain with β₂-microglobulin. We present results of Monte Carlo simulations of the β-pleated sheet floor of the human class I MHC molecule, HLA-A2, with and without β₂-microglobulin. We find a significant effect of β₂-microglobulin on the side chains of residues near a region that would accommodate the C-terminus of a bound peptide. By modeling simultaneously each loop and its neighboring strand at either end of the class I cleft, we find that β₂-microglobulin restricts the conformational space of residues that are central to binding peptides. The effect is most pronounced for R97 and H114 and somewhat less important for Y99 and Y116, the latter forming strong hydrogen bonds with neighboring residues in the heavy chain itself.     

Daily rhythms of leukocytes populations,biochemical and enzymatic blood parameters in a carnivorous freshwater catfish (Lophiosilurus alexandri)

The aim of this study was to investigate the daily rhythms of hematological, biochemical and enzymatic parameters of the blood of a nocturnal model of fish (Lophiosilurus alexandri) bred in the laboratory (F1). Thirty-six juveniles were stocked in six tanks of a recirculation aquaculture system for 20 days. The fish were exposed to a light:dark cycle of 12:12 h and were fed 1% of biomass twice a day with commercial diet. The daily rhythms of hematological, biochemical and enzymatic parameters were then measured at six sampling times “zeitgeber time = ZT” at four-hour intervals under light:dark 12:12 h (lights on = ZT0, at 8.00 a.m). No differences were observed to alkaline phosphatase, glucose, cortisol, aspartate aminotransferase, superoxide dismutase, total protein and hematocrit (p > 0.05). However, white blood cell count, Lymphocytes (LYN), Neutrophils (NEU), Eosinophil and Neutrophils to Lymphocytes ratio were significant different between sample times (p < 0.05). Also, a significant difference in alanine transaminase was observed, with a peak of production at nighttime. In contrast, glutathione peroxidase peaked at 8:00. Uric acid, magnesium and Calcium (Ca⁺⁺) showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). A significant difference was observed (p < 0.05), with a peak of albumin at 08:00 and triglycerides at 12:00, while cholesterol was low (p < 0.05) at 08:00 and higher from 12:00 to 04:00. Cosinor analysis revealed also rhythmicity to SOD, UA, Mg and Ca⁺⁺, ALB and CHO (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the time of day must be considered a key factor when using blood parameters as biomarkers for disease, health and welfare in the L. alexandri aquaculture.     

Immune response to stem cells and strategies to induce tolerance

Although recent progress in cardiovascular tissue engineering has generated great expectations for the exploitation of stem cells to restore cardiac form and function, the prospects of a common mass-produced cell resource for clinically viable engineered tissues and organs remain problematic. The refinement of stem cell culture protocols to increase induction of the cardiomyocyte phenotype and the assembly of transplantable vascularized tissue are areas of intense current research, but the problem of immune rejection of heterologous cell type poses perhaps the most significant hurdle to overcome. This article focuses on the potential advantages and problems encountered with various stem cell sources for reconstruction of the damaged or failing myocardium or heart valves and also discusses the need for integrating advances in developmental and stem cell biology, immunology and tissue engineering to achieve the full potential of cardiac tissue engineering. The ultimate goal is to produce 'off-the-shelf' cells and tissues capable of inducing specific immune tolerance.     

以Candin为佐剂的人乳头瘤病毒多肽治疗疫苗诱导小鼠的体液免疫应答

目的 研究以Candin为佐剂的人乳头瘤病毒（Human papillomavirus,HPV）多肽治疗疫苗诱导小鼠产生的体液免疫应答。方法 分别采用PBS（对照）、佐剂Candin（150 μL/只）、HPV16 E7多肽[3个E7多肽片段,50 μg/(段·只)]和包含佐剂Candin与HPV16 E7多肽的疫苗对C57BL/6小鼠进行免疫接种实验,在第21天和第42天各加强1次免疫,剂量同第1次免疫。第3次免疫后2周,颈脱位处死小鼠,取血清。以ELISA法检测血清总IgG、IgG1和IgG2a抗体浓度。结果 经多肽（P=0.001,P<0.001）和疫苗（P=0.001,P=0.008）免疫的小鼠总IgG抗体、IgG1抗体水平均较对照组高,差异有统计学意义。与对照组相比,疫苗（P=0.008）可明显提高小鼠血清中IgG2a抗体水平。结论 包含佐剂Candin及HPV16 E7多肽的疫苗能诱导小鼠产生明显的体液免疫应答。     

药物滥用者红细胞免疫功能的变化

通过检测红细胞C3b受体花环（RBC－C3bRR)、红细胞免疫复合物光环（RBC－ICR）、粘附增强因子活性（RFER）及抑制因子活性（RFIR）,观察了50例海洛因依赖者红细胞免疫功能的变化。结果表明,海洛因依赖者RBC－C3bRR、RFER明显下降（P＜0．01）,而RBC-ICR、RFIR则明显升高（P＜0．01）。本文对检测结果进行了初步探讨。     

Isolation,Characterization and Functional Examination of the Gingival Immune Cell Network

Immune cell networks in tissues play a vital role in mediating local immunity and maintaining tissue homeostasis, yet little is known of the resident immune cell populations in the oral mucosa and gingiva. We have established a technique for the isolation and study of immune cells from murine gingival tissues, an area of constant microbial exposure and a vulnerable site to a common inflammatory disease, periodontitis. Our protocol allows for a detailed phenotypic characterization of the immune cell populations resident in the gingiva, even at steady state. Our procedure also yields sufficient cells with high viability for use in functional studies, such as the assessment of cytokine secretion ex vivo. This combination of phenotypic and functional characterization of the gingival immune cell network should aid towards investigating the mechanisms involved in oral immunity and periodontal homeostasis, but will also advance our understanding of the mechanisms involved in local immunopathology.     

Dynamics of the Coreceptor-LCK Interactions during T Cell Development Shape the Self-Reactivity of Peripheral CD4 and CD8 T Cells

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肺癌个体基因型免疫核糖核酸的研制

为进一步研究肿瘤的免疫治疗,探索一种型特异、体专一的肿瘤免疫核糖核酸的制备方法。取一供体肺癌患者术后切下的病变组织免疫羊,再用羊的免疫器官提制核酸,然后回注射于供体。实验中制备的型、体特异性免疫核糖核酸,各种药理指标能够达到国家同类药品标准。此法可获得有实用价值的肿瘤免疫核糖核酸,为临床应用提供了理论依据。     

Immune responses of Litopenaeus vannamei to thermal stress: a comparative study of shrimp in freshwater and seawater conditions

The effects of hypothermal (22–16?°C) and hyperthermal (22–28?°C) stress on the immune system responses of the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei cultured in either freshwater or seawater were measured and compared. The following immune system indicators were measured for comparison: total hemocyte count (THC), activity of phenoloxidase (PO), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), superoxidase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Thermal stress significantly decreased THC in both freshwater and seawater shrimp within 6–12?h (P?0.05). After hypothermal stress, all shrimp had a significantly lower THC level than their prechallenge levels (P?0.05). Under both types of thermal stress, the activity of PO, NOS, and SOD first increased and then decreased. After 48?h of thermal stress, shrimp PO and NOS activity decreased in both freshwater and seawater. After 48?h of thermal stress, the reduction in the SOD activity in the hemolymph of freshwater shrimp was greater than that in seawater shrimp. During exposure to stress, the MDA content in freshwater shrimp was significantly higher than in seawater shrimp, which demonstrated that lipids in freshwater shrimp were more susceptible to peroxidation than those in seawater shrimp, particularly at low temperatures. Large temperature fluctuations, particularly sudden cooling, should be avoided when rearing L. vannamei because of high rates of lipid peroxidation and decreased immunity. These effects are more marked in freshwater than in seawater.