Effects of the Bushen Ningxin Chinese herb-containing serum on the adherence of human monocytes to endothelial cells

AIM: To study effect of the Bushen Ningxin decoction, a Chinese medicine, on the adherence of monocytes to endothelial cells and its mechanism. METHODS: Using cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) as target cells, oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) was added to the endothelial cell culture to prepare the model of human endothelial cell injury. The serum of rabbits having been treated with Bushen Ningxin decoction was added to trial architecture, the adherence of monocyte-like cell line U937 to HUVECs was analyzed using Rose Bengal staining. In addition, the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1) and E-selectin in HUVECs was measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Treatment of HUVEC with ox-LDL (100 mg/L) for 24 hours significantly increased adhesion of U937 to HUVECs. If serum of the animal treated with Bushen Ningxin decoction was added to trial architecture, the adhesion decreased significantly. The flow cytometry analysis showed that ox-LDL could induce the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin in HUVECs. Serum of the animal treated with Bushen Ningxin decoction significantly decreased the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin in HUVECs. CONCLUSION: The Bushen Ningxin Chinese herb-containing serum has an inhibitory effect on the adherence of monocytes to endothelial cells, probably by way of down-regulating the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E -selectin in endothelial cells.     

Influence of Salvia miltiorrhiza injection on lipid and ICAM-1 expression in rats with atherosclerosis

AIM: To study the effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza injection on rat atherosclerosis (AS), and elucidate the possible mechanism. METHODS: Wistar rats were fed with fat-rich diet and high dose of vitamin D₃ to induce AS, then treated with Salvia miltiorrhiza injection. Concentrations of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) in serum were measured by automatic serum biochemical assay. The level of ICAM-1 protein and mRNA were determined by Western blot and RT-PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the AS model group, the levels of TG and TC in serum were significantly lower in Salvia miltiorrhiza injection group (P<0.05). Western blot and RT-PCR showed that the level of ICAM-1 protein and mRNA were decreased in Salvia miltiorrhiza injection group compared with AS group. CONCLUSION: Salvia miltiorrhiza injection decreased blood lipid and reduced the ICAM-1 gene expression in rats with atherosclerosis.     

The blood-brain barrier and its role in inflammation

The unique microenvironment within the central nervous system (CNS) relies upon the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This selectively permeable barrier comprises interendothelial tight junctions located at the capillaries and postcapillary venules. Cells and structures in the local environment are required to maintain normal BBB function. When inflammation is present, the BBB itself plays an integral role in the inflammatory response by either producing or expressing a variety of cytokines, adhesion molecules, metalloproteinases, serine proteases, products of arachidonic acid metabolism, and nitric oxide. Understanding the role of the BBB during inflammation is essential when creating and employing a therapeutic regime for animals with CNS disease. This review focusses on recent discoveries about the BBB and its role in inflammation, and applies this knowledge to our current understanding of inflammatory CNS disease in dogs and cats.     

布鲁菌免疫分子研究进展

布鲁菌病是布鲁菌引起的人兽共患传染病,包括7种21型,其中感染人的主要有牛、羊、猪布鲁菌3种,其免疫涉及体液免疫和细胞免疫.在布鲁菌的免疫过程中,先天性免疫应答主要通过补体、自然杀伤细胞、巨噬细胞、细胞因子等的参与.获得性免疫应答中,CD4 、CD8 、γβT细胞起重要作用.布鲁菌重组亚单位疫苗是近年研究的热点,而且发现的免疫分子也很多.文章围绕布鲁菌免疫机理、免疫相关分子进行探讨,为筛选疫苗候选分子奠定基础.     

Use of flow cytometry to develop and characterize a set of monoclonal antibodies specific for rabbit leukocyte differentiation molecules

Flow cytometry was used to identify and characterize monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that react with rabbit leukocyte differentiation molecules (LDM). Screening sets of mAbs, developed against LDM in other species, for reactivity with rabbit LDM yielded 11 mAbs that recognize conserved epitopes on rabbit LDM orthologues and multiple mAbs that recognize epitopes expressed on the major histocompatibility class I or class II molecules. Screening of mAbs submitted to the Animal Homologues Section of the Eighth Human Leukocyte Differentiation Workshop yielded 7 additional mAbs. Screening of mAbs generated from mice immunized with leukocytes from rabbit thymus or spleen or concanavalin A activated peripheral blood and/or spleen lymphocytes has yielded 42 mAbs that recognize species restricted epitopes expressed on one or more lineages of leukocytes. Screening of the anti-rabbit mAbs against leukocytes from other species yielded one additional mAb. The studies show that screening of existing sets of mAbs for reactivity with rabbit LDM will not be productive and that a direct approach will be needed to develop mAbs for research in rabbits. The flow cytometric approach we developed to screen for mAbs of interest offers a way for individual laboratories to identify and characterize mAbs to LDM in rabbits and other species. A web-based program we developed provides a source of information that will facilitate analysis. It contains a searchable data base on known CD molecules and a data base on mAbs, known to react with LDM in one or more species of artiodactyla, equidae, carnivora, and or lagomorpha.     

Effect of ex vivo short time expansion with SCF and IL-6 on the adhesion and transmigration activities of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells

AIM:To investigate the expression and function of homing related molecules and transmigration ability of human cord blood CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells after short time stimulation with cytokine SCF and IL-6.METHODS:CD34+ cells were separated by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation and stimulated by SCF and IL-6 cytokines for 48 h. The changes of CD49d (VLA-4), CD11a (LFA-1), CD62L (L-selectin) and CD184 (CXCR4) were analyzed by flow cytometry. The adherent and migration activities of CD34+ cells were evaluated in human fibronectin (FN) coated microplates (96 wells) and transwell system.RESULTS:The numbers of CD34+ cell expanded to 3 folds and the percentages of CD34+ cells that were positive expressions for CD49d, CD11a, CD62L or CD184 increased 1 to 2 folds after the cytokine stimulation. The spontaneous adhesion between CD34+, FN and SDF-1 induced migration increased after SCF+IL-6 stimulated.CONCLUSION:SCF+IL-6 can improve the most of the homing related characteristics and activities in the short time expansion of CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, which may be partly related to the increased intrinsic homing potential.     

Effects of Compound Chinese Herbal Medicinal Polysaccharides on Immune Signal Molecules Expression in Different MHC B-LβⅡ Genotypes Chickens Lymphocyte

This study was aimed to explore the effect of compound Chinese herbal medicinal polysaccharides (cCHMPS) on immunomodulatory in different MHC B-LβⅡ genotype chickens.MHC B-LβⅡ genotype was analyzed by PCR-SSCP method in 500 chickens.Collected the blood from different MHC B-LβⅡ genotype chickens,isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes,and added cCHMPS with the final concentration of 200,100,75,50,25 and 0 μg/mL cocultured for 24 h.Then the lymphocyte supernatant cAMP,cGMP,Ca²⁺,NO and iNOS content were detected by ELISA.The results showed that cCHMPS could increase cAMP,cGMP,Ca²⁺,NO and iNOS levels in chicken lymphocyte supernatant compared with control group in each MHC B-LβⅡ genotype chickens.And when the concentration of cCHMPS was 50 μg/mL,cAMP,Ca²⁺,NO and iNOS levels of AA and BC genotypes chicken lymphocyte supernatant were higher than that of the same genotype chicken,cGMP level of BC genotype chicken lymphocyte supernatant was higher than that of the same genotype chicken;When cCHMPS concentration was 75 μg/mL,cGMP level of AA genotype chicken lymphocyte supernatant was higher than that of the same genotype chicken;When cCHMPS concentration was 100 μg/mL,cAMP,cGMP,Ca²⁺,NO and iNOS levels of BB genotype chicken lymphocyte of the supernatant were higher than that of the same genotype chicken.cCHMPS could increase cAMP,cGMP,Ca²⁺,NO and iNOS levels in different MHC B-LβⅡ genotypes chickens,and the cCHMPS optimum immunomodulatory doses were different in each MHC B-LβⅡ genotypes chickens.     

Debate on the Exploitation of Natural Plant Diversity to Create Late Blight Resistance in Potato

This paper reports on a debate on intriguing propositions relating to the scientific, agronomic, societal and economic impact of the BIOEXPLOIT project, focusing on late blight resistance in potato. It discusses (i) whether identifying pathogen effectors will facilitate selecting durable R genes, (ii) whether breeding for durable late blight resistance requires deploying Rpi (for Resistance to P hytophthora i nfestans) genes, (iii) whether breeding strategies and cultural practices determine the durability of new resistance genes, (iv) whether marker-assisted breeding for Phytophthora infestans resistance is already in the stage of adoption, (v) to what extent genetically-modified organism technology can advance realizing late-blight resistant potato cultivars, and (vi) whether modifying R genes will result in novel broad spectrum resistance.     

共刺激分子配体B7-H1基因真核表达载体和转基因细胞的构建

以PHA刺激的小鼠外周血单核细胞中抽提的总RNA为模板,通过RT-PCR技术,扩增出B7-H1基因。按常规方法克隆进pEF6V5His A载体,重组质粒经鉴定后采用脂质体法转染CHO细胞,48h后进行间接免疫荧光试验,72h后用Blasticidin进行筛选,挑选出能稳定表达B7-H1的细胞株。结果表明：成功地克隆小鼠B7-H1基因并构建了用于表达B7-H1基因的真核表达载体,经间接免疫荧光试验证明,该基因在CHO细胞中得到表达。经Western-blot检测表明筛选出的转基因细胞稳定表达了B7-H1基因。     

干旱胁迫对4种常绿藤本植物抗性生理生化指标的影响

以4种常绿藤本植物为材料,研究了不同程度干旱胁迫对4种藤本植物的生理生化特性的影响。结果表明：在干旱胁迫下,4种藤本植物叶片的质膜透性上升,其中地枇杷增长幅度最小;超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性先下降后上升,过氧化物酶（POD）活性先上升后下降,且地枇杷、扶芳藤能维持较高的活性;可溶性糖、脯氨酸含量增加,地枇杷的可溶性糖与脯氨酸含量增幅最大。经综合分析,得出地枇杷抗旱性最强,其次是扶芳藤,常春藤抗旱性最弱。