Over-expression of talin 1 and integrin-linked kinase in PBMCs of patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a proteomic study

OBJECTIVES

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is difficult to diagnose in its early stage due to the lack of simple and specific diagnostic indicators. This study was performed to screen candidate AS-associated proteins from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of AS patients by combining a two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) technique with mass spectrometry (MS) analysis.

METHODS

Twelve subjects consisting of 6 AS patients and 6 healthy volunteers (HVs) were enrolled in the 2-DE experiments. The protein expression patterns of PBMCs from different groups were analysed by PDQuest software, and the protein spots over/under-expressed by more than 2-fold between the two groups were identified by MS analysis. Western blot analyses were used to verify the differentially expressed proteins in 32 AS patients and 32 HVs.

RESULTS

Six proteins including pyruvate kinase (PK), profilin 1 (PFN1), talin 1 (TLN1), Chain A of cyclophilin A (CyPA), unknown protein (gi|16306948) and integrin-linked kinase (ILK) were identified from 10 over-expressed protein spots found by 2-DE in the AS group. Western blot experiments confirmed a higher expression of both TLN1 and ILK in AS group compared to the HV group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

TLN1 and ILK expressed higher in PBMCs of AS patients compared to healthy controls, which were involved in the integrin signalling pathway. The two proteins are likely novel disease-associated proteins and potential disease markers of AS.

An anatomical study in a Chinese population of the position of the rib head for placing anterior vertebral body screws

The instrumentation of anterior vertebral body screws has become an important approach for the treatment of unstable fractures or curvature of the spine, but little attention has been paid to the starting point of placing the screws and the variability of the rib head position. We analysed the variability of rib head position in a Chinese population in terms of the spinal canal and vertebral body using computed tomography (CT). Images from transverse CT scans of the T4-T12 vertebral bodies of 30 normal individuals were 3-D reconstructed and analysed for measurement of parameters which included: 1) distance between the left (or right) anterior border of the rib head and the posterior (or anterior) margin of the vertebral body [L(R)ARHP(A)VB]; 2) left (or right) transverse dimension [L(R)TD]; 3) left (or right) posterior (or anterior) safe angle [L(R)P(A)SA]; and 4) distance between the inferior border of the left (or right) rib head and the superior (or inferior) end-plate in the sagittal plane [I L(R)RHS(I)EP]. The ARHPVB, PSA, and IRHIEP gradually decrease, but ARHAVB, TD, ASA, and IRHSEP gradually increase, from T4 to T12, indicating that the position of the rib head changes from a more anterior position to a more posterior position and from a more superior position to a more inferior position, as the number of the vertebra increases. Our study has provided a comprehensive reference guide for accurate and safe instrumentation of vertebral body screws in treating related spine diseases.

Programmed cell death during pigment gland formation in Gossypium hirsutum leaves

Ultrastructural studies have shown that the formation of pigment glands in Gossypium hirsutum L. leaves is a lysigenous process, originating from a cluster of cells in the ground meristem. Various techniques were used here to investigate whether programmed cell death (PCD) plays a critical role in this developmental process. Nuclei of internal cells in the pigment gland-forming tissue were TUNEL-positive and DAPI-negative, suggesting that DNA cleavage is an early event and complete DNA degradation is a late event. Smeared bands and a lack of laddering after gel electrophoresis indicate that DNA cleavage is random. Ultrastructurally, secretory cells in the pigment glands become distorted, nuclei are densely stained, and chromosomes become condensed until completely degraded at late stages. Vacuoles with electron-dense bodies and membrane-bound autophagosomes are seen in both secretory and sheath cells, suggesting that autophagy plays a key role in PCD during cytoplasm degradation. Buckling of cell walls, seen at early stages, later leads to a complete breakdown of the walls. Together, these results suggest that PCD plays a critical role in the lysigenous development of pigment glands in G. hirsutum leaves.

Controlled synthesis and characterization of ZnSe quantum dots

Adopting improved metal-organic "Green method," Colloidal ZnSe quantum dots were synthesized by using cheap and low toxic zinc oxide (ZnO) in an organic solvent system of 1-hexadecylamine (HDA), lauric acid (LA) and tri-n-octylphosphine (TOP). The effects of HDA dosage, injection temperature, growth temperature and time on the microstructure and optical properties of ZnSe were studied by means of X-Ray diffraction(XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), spectrofluorometers and ultraviolet spectrophotometer, respectively. The results showed that ZnSe quantum dots with the best range of the size evolution were obtained under the condition of injection at 280 degrees C and growth at 240 degrees C by choosing the optimal parameters of ZnO:HDA:LA= 1:2.1:5.2 and TOPSe = 1 mol/L. Its size became larger and the emission peak shifted obviously to red with increasing the growth time. Meanwhile, the obtained ZnSe was of the wurtzite structure, had good uniformity and fluorescent characteristics.

Thyroid hormone mediates otolith growth and development during flatfish metamorphosis

Flatfish begin life as bilaterally symmetrical larvae that swim up-right, then abruptly metamorphose into asymmetrically shaped juveniles with lateralized swimming postures. Flatfish metamorphosis is mediated entirely by thyroid hormone (TH). Changes in flatfish swim posture are thought to be regulated via vestibular remodeling, although the influence of TH on teleost inner ear development remains unclear. This study addresses the role of TH on the development of the three otolith end-organs (sacculus, utricle, and lagena) during southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) metamorphosis. Compared with pre-metamorphosis, growth rates of the sacculus and utricle otoliths increase dramatically during metamorphosis in a manner that is uncoupled from general somatic growth. Treatment of P. lethostigma larvae with methimazol (a pharmacological inhibitor of endogenous TH production) inhibits growth of the sacculus and utricle, whereas treatment with TH dramatically accelerates their growth. In contrast with the sacculus and utricle otoliths that begin to form and mineralize during embryogenesis, a non-mineralized lagena otolith is first visible 10-12 days after hatching. The lagena grows during pre- and pro-metamorphosis, then abruptly mineralizes during metamorphic climax. Mineralization of the lagena, but not growth, can be induced with TH treatment, whereas treatment with methimazol completely inhibits lagena mineralization without inhibiting its growth. These findings suggest that during southern flounder metamorphosis TH exerts differential effects on growth and development among the three types of otolith.

Transplantation of immortalized human fetal hepatocytes prevents acute liver failure in 90% hepatectomized mice

AIM

The aim of this study was to investigate whether human fetal hepatocytes are amenable to simian virus 40 large T-antigen (SV40Tag) mediated immortalization and whether the immortalized cells rescue mice with acute liver failure induced by 90% hepatectomy.

METHODS

We constructed a retroviral vector expressing a thermolabile mutant SV40Tag for transfer into primary human fetal hepatocytes. We quantitatively detected the synthetic ability for albumin and urea by the immortalized cells, which were subcutaneously inoculated into mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) to evaluate tumorigenzcity. The immortalized cells were also transplanted into the spleens of mice with acute liver failure.

RESULTS

One clone resulting after selection, referred to as HepCL, was highly differentiated, growing steadily in a chemically defined serum-free medium. HepCL cells were positive for albumin, cytokeratin 18, and cytokeratin 19 immunocytochemical staining. The average synthetic efficacies of HepCL cells for albumin and urea were comparable to that of unmodified primary human fetal hepatocytes. The population doubling time of HepCL cells in the logarithmic growth phase was approximately 17 hours. HepCL cells showed no oncogenicity in immunodeficient mice at 16 months. Mice receiving HepCL cells (G1) and primary human fetal hepatocytes (G2) showed significantly lower blood ammonia levels after 90% hepatectomy. Pairwise comparisons between the 4 groups showed that xenotransplantation of HepCL (G1) or primary fetal hepatocytes (G2) significantly improved survivals of recipient mice.

CONCLUSIONS

HepCL may be useful as a source of hepatic function for cell-based therapeutics in acute liver failure.

Measuring myelin repair and axonal loss with diffusion tensor imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

DTI is an MR imaging measure of brain tissue integrity and provides an attractive metric for use in neuroprotection clinical trials. The purpose of our study was to use DTI to evaluate the longitudinal changes in brain tissue integrity in a group of patients with MS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-one patients with MS starting natalizumab were imaged serially for 12 months. Gadolinium-enhancing lesions and 20 regions of interest from normal-appearing white and gray matter brain tissue were followed longitudinally. Average values within each region of interest were derived for FA, λ(∥), λ(⊥), and MD. New T1 black holes were identified at 12 months. Analysis was performed by using mixed-model regression analysis with slope (ie, DTI change per month) as the dependent variable.

RESULTS

During 1 year, FA increased in gadolinium-enhancing lesions but decreased in NABT (P < .0001 for both). Changes in FA within gadolinium-enhancing lesions were driven by decreased λ(⊥) (P < .001), and within NABT, by decreased λ(∥) (P < .0001). A higher λ(⊥) within gadolinium-enhancing lesions at baseline predicted conversion to T1 black holes at 12 months. MD was unchanged in both gadolinium-enhancing lesions and NABT.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed changes in DTI measures during 1 year in both gadolinium-enhancing lesions and NABT. The DTI results may represent possible remyelination within acute lesions and chronic axonal degeneration in NAWM. These results support the use of DTI as a measure of tissue integrity for studies of neuroprotective therapies.

Prognosis of colorectal cancer with liver metastasis: value of a prognostic index

The objective of the present study was to explore the factors related to the prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) and to establish a prognostic model for the selection of patients who might benefit from hepatic resection for metastatic CRC. A total of 293 patients undergoing liver resection for metastatic CRC (172 males and 80 females ranging in age from 26 to 80 years) were selected and clinical, pathological and outcome data were examined in this retrospective study. The prognostic index (PI) of the patients was calculated on the basis of results of multivariate analysis. Patients were stratified into different groups, with survival curves projected according to PI. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 58.3, 26.4, and 11.3%, respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that degree of primary tumor differentiation, resection margin, preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, number of liver metastases, and resection of liver metastases were associated with prognosis (P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, the last three factors were found to be independent prognostic factors. The resection of liver metastases was a favorable factor. Patients were classified into three groups according to PI, which differed significantly in survival rate (P < 0.05). The individual survival rate was evaluated based on PI. Resection of hepatic colorectal metastases may produce long-term survival and cure. The proposed PI was easy to use, was highly predictive of patient outcome, and permitted categorization of patients into treatment groups.

Cyclosporin A inhibits hepatitis C virus replication and restores interferon-alpha expression in hepatocytes

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading indication for liver transplantation and a major cause of graft failure. This study investigated whether cyclosporin A (CsA), a widely used immunosuppressant for organ transplantation, inhibits full cycle HCV replication and restores type I interferon (IFN) signaling pathway in human hepatocytes. CsA treatment of hepatocytes before, during, and after HCV infection significantly inhibited full cycle viral replication, which is evidenced by decreased expression of HCV RNA, protein, and infectious viruses in human hepatocytes. The suppression of HCV replication by CsA was associated with elevated levels of endogenous IFN-α in infected hepatocytes. Although CsA had little effect on IFN-α signaling pathway in uninfected hepatocytes, CsA treatment of HCV-infected hepatocytes specifically upregulated the expression of IFN regulatory factor-1 and inhibited the expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 and protein inhibitor of activated signal transducers and activators of transcription-x, the primary negative regulators of IFN signaling pathway. These findings provide additional evidence to support the development of CsA-based prevention/treatment of HCV infection for transplant recipients.

Ultrashort electron pulses as a four-dimensional diagnosis of plasma dynamics

We report an ultrafast electron imaging system for real-time examination of ultrafast plasma dynamics in four dimensions. It consists of a femtosecond pulsed electron gun and a two-dimensional single electron detector. The device has an unprecedented capability of acquiring a high-quality shadowgraph image with a single ultrashort electron pulse, thus permitting the measurement of irreversible processes using a single-shot scheme. In a prototype experiment of laser-induced plasma of a metal target under moderate pump intensity, we demonstrated its unique capability of acquiring high-quality shadowgraph images on a micron scale with a-few-picosecond time resolution.

Effect of heparin-superoxide dismutase on γ-radiation induced DNA damage in vitro and in vivo

The effects of heparin-superoxide dismutase (SOD) conjugate (heparin-SOD) on γ-radiation induced DNA damage in vivo and in vitro were evaluated. Plasmid pcDNA3.0 solution was mixed with heparin-SOD, SOD, and a mixture of heparin and SOD (heparin + SOD), respectively, and irradiated with (60)Co at a dosage of 120 Gy. DNA injury was analyzed using agarose gel electrophoresis. The results showed that the degree of injury of pcDNA3.0 mixed with heparin-SOD, SOD, or heparin + SOD was less than that of untreated pcDNA3.0, and among them the degree of injury of pcDNA3.0 mixed with heparin-SOD was the least. It also showed that the protective effect increased with an increase of heparin-SOD concentration. The effects of SOD and heparin-SOD on the DNA damage and tumor inhibition rate of (60)Co γ-radiation exposure on tumor-bearing mice were also studied. Agarose gel electrophoresis showed that, when different SOD samples were administered before irradiation, the thymus DNA injuries of heparin-SOD, SOD, or heparin + SOD groups were more serious than that of the control group, and the DNA injuries of heparin-SOD or heparin + SOD groups were the most serious, which contradicted the above in vitro experiments. However, when heparin-SOD was administered post irradiation, it showed a repairing effect on the injured DNA.