CD40 ligand-activated human monocytes amplify glomerular inflammatory responses through soluble and cell-to-cell contact-dependent mechanisms.

Monocytes/macrophages play a critical role in the initiation and progression of a variety of glomerulonephritides. We sought to define the interactions between physiologically activated human monocytes and glomerular mesangial cells (MC) by employing a cell culture system that permits the accurate assessment of the contribution of soluble factors and cell-to-cell contact. Human peripheral blood monocytes, primed with IFN-gamma and GM-CSF, were activated with CD40 ligand (CD40L) or TNF-alpha and cocultured with MC. CD40L-activated monocytes induced higher levels of IL-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and ICAM-1 synthesis by MC. Separation of CD40L-activated monocytes from MC by a porous membrane decreased the mesangial synthesis of IL-6 by 80% and ICAM-1 by 45%, but had no effect on MCP-1. Neutralizing Abs against the beta 2 integrins, LFA-1 and Mac-1, decreased IL-6 production by 40 and 50%, respectively. Ligation of mesangial surface ICAM-1 directly enhanced IL-6, but not MCP-1, production. Simultaneous neutralization of soluble TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta decreased MCP-1 production by 55% in membrane-separated cocultures of MC/CD40L-activated monocytes. Paraformaldehyde-fixed CD40L-activated monocytes (to preserve membrane integrity but prevent secretory activity), cocultured with MC at various ratios, induced IL-6, MCP-1, and ICAM-1 synthesis by MC. Plasma membrane preparations from activated monocytes also induced mesangial IL-6 and MCP-1 synthesis. The addition of plasma membrane enhanced TNF-alpha-induced mesangial IL-6 production by approximately 4-fold. Together, these data suggest that the CD40/CD40L is essential for optimal effector function of monocytes, that CD40L-activated monocytes stimulate MC through both soluble factors and cell-to-cell contact mediated pathways, and that both pathways are essential for maximum stimulation of MC.     

Selenium-Alleviated Hepatocyte Necrosis and DNA Damage in Cyclophosphamide-Treated Geese by Mitigating Oxidative Stress

Biological Trace Element Research - Selenium (Se) has been well recognized as an immune-enhancing agent with antioxidant and anti-tumor properties. The commonly used chemotherapy drug,...     

婴儿与母亲皮肤细菌群落结构的比较分析

为探索母婴皮肤细菌群落特征,本研究对8对母婴7个不同皮肤部位的细菌群落进行焦磷酸测序分析。结果显示,皮肤细菌主要属于放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)和拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)。总体而言,母婴皮肤细菌群落的组成相似,但丰度存在差异。母亲皮肤表面的丙酸杆菌属(Propionibacterium)丰度显著高于婴儿(P<0.05)。在婴儿皮肤表面,链球菌属(Streptococcus)和葡萄球菌属(Staphylococcus)最丰富;剖宫产出生的婴儿额头表面葡萄球菌属的丰度显著高于自然分娩出生的婴儿(P<0.05)。婴儿皮肤表面特有的常驻菌属包括孪生球菌属(Gemella)、普雷沃菌属(Prevotella)、罗思菌属(Rothia)和韦荣球菌属(Veillonella)与成人常见的口腔细菌一致,表明母亲的口腔细菌对婴儿早期皮肤微生态有一定的塑造作用。婴儿皮肤表面的细菌种类与自己母亲相近,各细菌的含量则与其他婴儿相近。母亲皮脂溢出部位(额头和背部)的细菌多样性较其他部位低,且皮肤潮湿、干燥、脂溢部位之间细菌群落差异较大;而婴儿背部细菌群落与肘窝相似,额头与手背相似。     

Alisol A attenuates high‐fat‐diet‐induced obesity and metabolic disorders via the AMPK/ACC/SREBP‐1c pathway

Obesity and its associated metabolic disorders such as diabetes, hepatic steatosis and chronic heart diseases are affecting billions of individuals. However there is no satisfactory drug to treat such diseases. In this study, we found that alisol A, a major active triterpene isolated from the Chinese traditional medicine Rhizoma Alismatis, could significantly attenuate high‐fat‐diet‐induced obesity. Our biochemical detection demonstrated that alisol A remarkably decreased lipid levels, alleviated glucose metabolism disorders and insulin resistance in high‐fat‐diet‐induced obese mice. We also found that alisol A reduced hepatic steatosis and improved liver function in the obese mice model.In addition, protein expression investigation revealed that alisol A had an active effect on AMPK/ACC/SREBP‐1c pathway. As suggested by the molecular docking study, such bioactivity of alisol A may result from its selective binding to the catalytic region of AMPK.Therefore, we believe that Alisol A could serve as a promising agent for treatment of obesity and its related metabolic diseases.     

Effects of PAMK on lncRNA,miRNA, and mRNA expression profiles of thymic epithelial cells

Functional & Integrative Genomics - Polysaccharides from Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz (PAMK) can promote the proliferation of thymocytes and improve the body’s immunity. However, the...     

胚胎干细胞衍生的视网膜色素上皮细胞移植治疗眼病

Schwartz等报告的用从人胚胎干细胞分化成的视网膜色素上皮细胞（RPE）移植治疗视网膜病,已观察4月,尚属成功。这是首次用从人胚胎干细胞（hESC）定向分化而成的细胞移植至患者取得成功。本文复习RPE移植的历史与现况;hESC分化而成的RPE（hESC-RPE）的实验研究以及临床移植的意义、方法、效果及存在问题,并展望了应用干细胞分化的RPE移植的前景。     

LRG‐1 promotes fat graft survival through the RAB31‐mediated inhibition of hypoxia‐induced apoptosis

Autologous adipose tissue is an ideal soft tissue filling material, and its biocompatibility is better than that of artificial tissue substitutes, foreign bodies and heterogeneous materials. Although autologous fat transplantation has many advantages, the low retention rate of adipose tissue limits its clinical application. Here, we identified a secretory glycoprotein, leucine‐rich‐alpha‐2‐glycoprotein 1 (LRG‐1), that could promote fat graft survival through RAB31‐mediated inhibition of hypoxia‐induced apoptosis. We showed that LRG‐1 injection significantly increased the maintenance of fat volume and weight compared with the control. In addition, higher fat integrity, more viable adipocytes and fewer apoptotic cells were observed in the LRG‐1‐treated groups. Furthermore, we discovered that LRG‐1 could reduce the ADSC apoptosis induced by hypoxic conditions. The mechanism underlying the LRG‐1‐mediated suppression of the ADSC apoptosis induced by hypoxia was mediated by the upregulation of RAB31 expression. Using LRG‐1 for fat grafts may prove to be clinically successful for increasing the retention rate of transplanted fat.     

几种主要眼遗传病在我国的发病情况与遗传规律

中国遗传学会眼科遗传协作组于1979年成立后,组织了对国内主要眼遗传病发病情况及遗传规律的研究,现已进行了70万人的普查,整理分析了各种眼遗传病5000余家系。本文报告了先天性红绿色盲、高度近视、视网膜色素变性、先天性上睑下垂、先天性小眼球、先天性白内障、先天性青光眼、Leber视神经萎缩、家族性角膜营养不良、先天性原发性眼球震颤、先天性眼内组织缺损、先天性无虹膜、视网膜母细胞瘤、家族性黄斑变性、近视和原发性青光眼的群体患病率与遗传规律。     

Effect of Selenium on Ion Profiles and Antioxidant Defense in Mice Livers

Se entering the mammalian body from diverse sources shows different liver accumulation patterns. However, the effects of Se from diverse sources on the body’s I on spectrum and the relationship between the changes in the ion spectrum and antioxidant function are not clear. In this study, 80 3-week-old female mice were randomly divided into four groups: a control group, sodium selenite group, yeast Se group, and seaweed Se group. The estimated Se contents were 0.03, 0.23, 0.23, and 0.23 mg/kg, respectively. The liver was collected from mice on day 60. The results showed that, compared with the control group, sodium selenite significantly reduced Na and Li contents and significantly increased Cr, Ni, Se, and Sb contents (P < 0.05); yeast Se significantly increased Mg, Ca, Si, Cr, Fe, Co, Cu, Se, Sb, and Al contents, and significantly reduced Tl, As, and Hg contents (P < 0.05); seaweed Se significantly increased B, Si, Cr, Fe, Se, As, and Hg contents, and significantly reduced Zn and Tl contents (P < 0.05). The results of antioxidant parameter analysis showed that Se from three sources increased total superoxide dismutase content and significantly reduced malondialdehyde content (P < 0.05), whereas no clear effect was observed on total antioxidant capacity (P > 0.05). Combined with the ion spectrum and antioxidant test results, yeast Se was found to most effectively promote the accumulation of beneficial elements, enhance antioxidant capacity, and reduce the concentration of toxic elements. The variety of ion spectrum antioxidants followed a similar trend, which indicated that the ion spectrum might be related to antioxidant activity.     

Characterization of tyrosine kinase and screening enzyme inhibitor by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluoresce detector

An effective, rapid and reliable capillary electrophoresis-laser induced fluorescence (CE-LIF) procedure was built to study the characterization of tyrosine kinase (TK), which was a target for drug screening. In this procedure, CE separated the sample of the TK reaction and LIF selectively detected the fluorescence-labeled polypeptide substrate and product. The precise TK activity was quantitated by introducing the transformation ratio of the substrate (T%) to avoid the deviation resulted from the detection sensitivity and the injection amounts in different runs and different capillaries. By measuring the T%, the effects of various reaction conditions were optimized. Meanwhile, the progression of the enzyme reaction was monitored. The K(m) and V(max) were calculated for TK under the optimized experimental conditions. In addition, the inhibition effectiveness of two model inhibitors, Staurosporine and SU6656 were evaluated. The results indicated that the screening platform based on electrophoresis was suitable for TK analysis and laid a foundation for the HTS of TK inhibitors.