Inhibitory effect of berberine on the activation and proliferation of T lymphocytes

AIM: To investigate the effect of berberine (Ber) on the activation and proliferation of T lymphocytes and its mechanism of action. METHODS: Whole peripheral blood from normal subjects was stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or phorbol ester (PDB) plus ionomycin (Ion) and the expression levels of CD69 and CD25 were evaluated with flow cytometry after the staining with appropriate fluorescent monoclonal antibody. The distribution of cell cycles was analyzed by propidium iodide staining and dead cells by 7-aminoactinomycin live staining. RESULTS: 100 μmol/L and 50 μmol/L of Ber had significant inhibition of the expression of CD69 on T cells stimulated with PDB plus Ion or PHA, while effect of 25 μmol/L Ber was not significant. And as time of action extended, the extent of inhibition decreased. For the expression of CD25, Ber at the concentrations as above all exerted significant inhibitory effect in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, Ber could block lymphocytes cell cycle progression from G₀/G₁ phase to S and G₂/M phase without phase specificity. Besides, live staining analysis revealed that Ber did not have significant cytotoxicity on lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Ber significantly inhibits the expression of early and mid activation antigens of T cells and also blocks the progression of lymphocytes cell cycles. These results suggest that Ber exerts immunosuppression effect through inhibiting the activation and proliferation of T cells.     

Protein expression of cyclin D2 and p16 in proliferation and differentiation of cultured cardiac myocytes

AIM:To investigate the protein expression of cyclin D₂ and p16 in proliferation and differentiation of cultured cardiac myocytes.METHODS:One-day-old Sparague-Dawley rats were used. Cardiac myocytes(CM) were collected by a trypsin-dispersal method and cultured. Cell growth line and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) were used to investigate the proliferation of CM. Ultra-thin sections were made to observe the ultrastructure of CM under transmission electron microscope. The expression of cyclin D₂ and p16 in CM were measured using immunocytochemistry and image analysis.RESULTS:①Results of cell growth line and FACS analysis showed that cultured CM could proliferate in the first 3 cultured days, but the ability decreased quickly, concomitant with differentiation. CM was obseved quiescent in cell cycle three days later. The ultrastructure of CM showed the large amount of myofilaments and mitochondrion. ②The protein expression of cyclin D₂ in 3,4,5 day CM group was 0.89 times(P＜0.05),0.80 times (P＜0.05) and 0.56 times (P＜0.01) of that in 1 day group, respectively. The expression of p16 in CM was increased during the culture process, 2,3,4,5 day group were 1.63 times, 1.72 times, 1.99 times and 2.84 times (P＜0.01) of that in 1 day group, respectively.CONCLUSION:Cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes could proliferate during the first 3 days after incubation, but the ability of proliferation decreased, from the fourth day, concomitant with differentiation. Cyclin D₂ and p16 play the key roles in CM postnatal development. Downregulation of cyclin D₂ and upregulation of p16 may induce CM differentiation.     

黑杨萎蔫枝叶对棉铃虫生殖行为的影响

研究了黑杨(Populus nigra)萎蔫枝叶及其气味对棉铃虫成虫的隐藏部位、产卵部位、交配率及产卵量等的影响，并对黑杨萎蔫枝把在田间诱集到的棉铃虫雌蛾进行了解剖观察。结果表明，在田间，黑杨萎蔫枝把诱集到的棉铃虫93．3％已经交配。在气候箱中，放置黑杨萎蔫枝叶的环境中配对饲养的棉铃虫，经过1个暗期和2个暗期后，其交配率与对照环境中的均无显著差异。在光期开始时，有51．5％的成虫隐藏在饲养笼内所设置的黑杨叶子圆片下，对照纱布圆片下仅有16．7％。叶子圆片所在区域的日平均落卵量显著大于对照区。黑杨萎蔫枝叶及其气味对棉铃虫的产卵前期、产卵持续期、成虫寿命和产下50％的卵所用的时间无显著影响，但饲养笼内有黑杨枝把或黑杨叶片气味存在时，棉铃虫的产卵量比模拟枝把和对照显著提高。     

Effect of EGFP gene transfection on the cell cycle distribution of primary cultured human chondrocytes

AIM: To investigate the effect of enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) gene transfection on the cell cycle distribution of primary cultured human chondrocytes in order to establish a tracking method of cultured human nasoseptal chondrocytes. METHODS: pEGFP-N1 plasmid was amplified in E.coli, and purified by high purity kit. Primary cultured human chondrocytes,which were initially obtained from the nasoseptal cartilage, were cultured in vitro and transferred with pEGFP-N1 by means of electroporation with Amaxa nucleofector device. Transfering process and transient expression were evaluated by laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM), the transfer efficiency and the cell cycle distribution were evaluated by flow cytometry. RESULTS: There was significant expression of EGFP at 24 h after transferring. The transfection efficiency of pEGFP-N1 into primary cultured human chondrocytes reached 35.37％ at 48 h. It didn't affect the process of cell adherance and had no effect on the cell cycle distribution. CONCLUSION: Primary cultured human chondrocytes, which were transfected with pEGFP, are alive in vitro, and the transferring process doesn't affect the cell cycle distribution. These results suggest that pEGFP-N1 is an ideal transient expression vector for primary cultured human chondrocytes and it might be a well tracer in construction tissue engineered cartilage.     

Significance of local immunity in hen reproductive organs

The current paper describes aspects of local immunity in the ovary and oviduct, and the significance of immunity to reproductive functions in hens. The immunocompetent cell populations in the ovary and oviduct change with a positive correlation to sexual activity, and gonadal steroid is one of the key factors in the increase. Local immune responses mediated by major histocompatibility complex class II and T cell subsets occur in response to infection by Salmonella enteritidis, which may contaminate eggs. In the ovary, immunocompetent cells are also suggested to play roles in the regulation of ovarian functions. Macrophages and T cells are likely to enhance the regression of atretic follicles to maintain the ovarian tissue microenvironment. Autoantibodies to ovarian tissues appeared in the hens with low egg laying frequency, suggesting that the auto‐antibodies may be one of the factors in the decline of egg production. In the oviduct, local immunity possibly has a role in the selection of sperm, though the immunoreactions may also affect sperm survival leading to the decline in fertility. The concentration of yolk IgY, which plays a role in maternal immunity transmission, significantly decreases with the aging of birds, whereas it is significantly increased by estrogen. Therefore, the immune system plays significant roles not only in defense against infection, but also in the functions of reproductive organs. Investigations on the local immune system in the reproductive organs and factors affecting it are of importance for the production of sterile eggs and improvement of reproductive functions.     

草地生态系统碳循环研究进展

随着全球气候变化和陆地生态系统碳循环研究的发展,碳循环正成为草地生态系统研究的热点.本文在介绍其研究发展过程、主体内容和方向的同时,对目前的研究动态和研究方法进行系统的概述,重点分析了目前国内外草地生态系统碳循环过程研究、机制研究、研究方法及模型的发展动态,并对今后草地生态系统碳循环和相关研究提出了建议.     

猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒缺失变异株的基因组特征

对猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)分离株HB2(sh)／2002的全基因组序列进行了测定与分析。该毒株基因组全长为15373nt(不包括PolyA尾)，与国内外美洲型PRRSV分离株全序列相似性介于88．7％～95．1％之间。序列分析表明，该毒株是1个天然存在缺失的变异毒株，其ORFla的Nsp2存在编码12个氨基酸的连续36个核苷酸的缺失，ORF、3存在编码1个氨基酸的3个核苷酸的缺失。这是国内外首次发现PRRSV存在缺失变异现象，研究结果补充和丰富了PRRSV毒株的基因组信息数据，为深入研究该毒株的遗传与变异及其与生物学特性的关系奠定了基础。     

种公猪精液中猪瘟和蓝耳病病毒混合感染的快速检测

参考GenBank公布的猪蓝耳病病毒(PRRSV)VL2332株、LV株以及猪瘟兔化弱毒(CSFV)C株的基因序列,各设计合成了一对引物,建立了在相同PCR扩增条件下能同时检测PRRSV和CSFV的RT-PCR方法。对2003~2004年期间江苏、浙江、安徽、福建、上海等省市的17个大中型猪场送检的186份种公猪精液进行了检测,结果18份呈PRRSV阳性,24份呈CSFV阳性,其中有11份为PRRSV和CSFV的混合感染,约占送检精液样品的5.91%。试验结果表明,所建立的RT-PCR方法可用于精液中这2种野毒感染的快速鉴定和分子流行病学调查。     

我国部分地区猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒分离株ORF5基因的遗传变异分析

参考Genbank发表的猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒（PKRSV）ATCC VR-2332的ORF5基因序列，设计并合成了一对引物．对来自福建、浙江、山东等地的PRRSV分离毒株进行RT-PCR扩增．获得约748bp的DNA片断，将其分别克隆入pMD18-T载体中，并进行测序。应用DNAStar软件分析所测序列，并与ATCCVR-2332、CH-1a、MLV、Lv等毒株的ORF5序列进行比较，结果表明：SHDl与F114、MLV、ATCCVR-2332同源性高达98．5％，与CH-1a同源性为91．0％，与其它毒株同源性为86．6％~88．4％；F114与MLV、ATCCVR-2332同源性为99．3％～99．7％．其余分离毒株在遗传关系上和CH-1a又分为明显的两个群．显示近年来各地PRRSV分离毒株与cH-1a株的遗传差异越来越大。     

乙烯对匍匐翦股颖ISR抗病反应中AsA-GSH循环及胼胝质沉积的影响

以匍匐翦股颖品种“Penn-A4”为试验材料,侵染立枯丝核菌后,经丁二醇(BDO)诱导产生系统抗性(ISR),喷施不同浓度的乙烯合成抑制剂氯化钴(CoCl₂)和促进剂1-氨基环丙烷羧酸(ACC)后,检测抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽(AsA-GSH)循环中抗坏血酸(AsA)和还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量及相关酶活性的变化,并观察匍匐翦股颖ISR反应中胼胝质沉积的变化。结果表明,乙烯抑制剂处理下,匍匐翦股颖幼苗中AsA含量较低,抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性下降,大量GSH被催化还原为氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG),GSSG大量积累,同时谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性较低,GSSG经GR少量还原为GSH。乙烯促进剂处理下,AsA含量较高,APX活性升高,GSSG在高活性GR作用下催化还原为GSH,使得GSH大量积累。因此在匍匐翦股颖ISR抗病反应中,高浓度乙烯促进AsA和GSH的大量积累,它们不仅参与了活性氧的代谢平衡,同时也作为信号分子在ISR抗病反应中起着重要作用。匍匐翦股颖感染褐斑病后,胼胝质主要沉积在厚壁细胞、韧皮部、木质部和表皮组织,其中厚壁细胞胼胝质沉积最多,表皮组织沉积最少。此外,胼胝质沉积面积在不同乙烯信号分子处理间存在差异,但随着处理时间的延长差异不显著。一定浓度的乙烯对ISR反应中胼胝质的沉积具有一定的影响,随着处理时间的延长显著增加,在100 μmol·L^-1ACC处理5 d后,胼胝质沉积总面积仅为9.916 mm²,处理10 d后升至最高,为38.396 mm²,但在病害侵染后期,胼胝质数量减少,在100 μmol·L^-1ACC处理15 d后,胼胝质沉积总面积降至20.052 mm²,反映了乙烯信号分子对胼胝质沉积的影响是一种短期效应,短期内可提高匍匐翦股颖植株抗病性,具有信号分子的短时效特点。研究结果为探清匍匐翦股颖ISR抗病响应中ET信号分子如何调控抗病生理特性提供了理论基础。