Effect of mutant β-catenin gene on the proliferation of hepatocytes

AIM:The β-catenin is a key molecule in the Wnt signal pathway, which plays a critical role in normal development and tumorigenesis. However, the mechanisms of the β-catenin on the cell growth control are still not completely defined. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the mutant β-catenin may regulate the hepatocyte proliferation. METHODS: The immortalized murine hepatocyte cell line, AML12, was used for this study. A plasmid that contain mutant β-catenin S33Y was transfected into the AML12 cells and a stable cell line AML12S33Y was established. The cell growth property of this cell line and the parental cell were compared by flow cytometry analysis and direct cell count. The cells were also tested for the ability to form soft agar colonies, and the ability to form tumors in the severe immune deficient mice (SCID). RESULTS:1. The mutant β-catenin containing cell line AML12S33Y has higher proliferating index compared with the parental AML12 cells (P<0.01), suggesting that mutant β-catenin promotes cell growth. 2. The mutant β-catenin cells formed small colonies in soft agar after 4 weeks of culture, but did not generate tumor in SCID mice. CONCLUSION:The mutant β-catenin promotes liver cell growth.     

Effect of antifibrotic herb serum on rat hepatic stellate cell proliferation and collagen synthesis

AIM: To investigate the effect of Chinese herbs, Ganxianfang(GXF), on rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC) proliferation and collagen synthesis. METHODS: Two types of herb serum, portal venous serum and circumferential venous serum, were prepared from rats infused intragastrically with 16, 8, 4 times adult dose of GXF decoction. HSC isolated from rat liver were processed with the above sera in vitro. Then we mensurated the radioactivity of HSC admixed with [[³H]H]proline and [[³H]H]thymine to judge the effect on proliferation and collagen synthesis of HSC. RESULTS: Both two types of serum collected 0.5, 1, 2 h after intragastrical infusion inhibited HSC proliferation (P＜0.05), and the serum collected 1 h after intragastrical infusion had the strongest effect (P＜0.05). Portal serum decreasea collagen synthesis (P＜0.05), but circumferential serum had no effect (P＞0.05). CONCLUSION: Inhibition of HSC proliferation and decrease of collagen synthesis may contribute to the GXF antifibrotic action.     

大白菜软腐病菌游动性突变体在大白菜体内增殖扩展研究

 用培养皿滤纸吸附测定法和不伤根土壤拌菌处理及针刺接种法,测定了大白菜软腐病菌游动性突变体进入大白菜体内、并在其中侵染定殖和扩展的特性。结果表明,游动性丧失和增强的突变体都可以通过种子萌发和主动接触进入大白菜体内、并可以在体内有短期的繁殖,但菌量远低于野生菌。大白菜叶片接种实验说明,这两种突变体也都可以进行短距离扩展,但扩展距离和菌的繁殖量低于野生菌。     

Preparation and characterization of anti-hBLyS monoclonal antibody by DNA immunization

AIM:To establish the monoclonal antibody against human B lymphocyte stimulator (hBLyS) by DNA immunization and analyse its characterization. METHODS:The 858 bp DNA fragment of hBLyS was cloned into pcDNA3 plasmids. The cloned insert was identified by both sequence analysis and double digestion of the recombinant plasmid with restriction enzymesXho Iand EcoR I. After the splenocytes from BALB/c mice immunized with the recombinant plasmid of pcDNA3/hBLyS were fused with myeloma cells SP2/0,the hybridoma which can produce monoclonal antibodies against hBLyS were obtained. The specificity of anti-BLyS monoclonal antibody from hybridoma was verified by ELISA, Western blot and flow cytometry. RESULTS:The recombinant mammalian cell expression vector of pcDNA3/hBLyS was constructed,the sequence of the insert gene was identified to be the sequence encoding hBLy S antigen. The culture supernatants of hybridoma 9c10 were tested to be the monoclonal antibody with specificity against hBLyS on human peripheral blood CD3⁺T cell activated by hIFN-γ by ELISA,Western blot and flow cytometry.CONCLUSION:The monoclonal antibodies against hBLyS with high activity and specificity have been established successfully, and will be an useful tool in the studies of relationship between hBLyS and human autoimmunity diseases.     

Effect of Jiawei Sini Decoction on glucocorticoid receptor in thymocytes of chronic psychological stress rats

AIM: To observe the effect of Jiawei Sini Decoction (JWSND) on glucocorticoid receptor (GCR) in thymocytes of chronic psychological stress rats. METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, control group (C), model group (M), group treated by JWSND C₁, group treated by ginsenosides C₂. The number of thymocyte GCR sites and the GCR nuclear thanslocation rate were detected by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, in the model group, the thymocyte weight index lowered significantly ( P<0.05 ), and the GCR nuclear thanslocation rate was increased significantly ( P<0.01 ), but the number of thymocyte GCR sites was unchanged. Compared with the model group, thymus gland weight indexes of C₁ and C₂ were increased significantly ( P<0.05 ), while the GCR nuclear thanslocation rate lowered significantly ( P<0.01 ). Moreover, no significant difference was found in all indexes between C₁ and control group. CONCLUSION: The inhibitory effect of glucocorticoid on the thymus could be significantly reversed by JWSND via suppressing the thanslocation of GCR from cytoplasm to nucleus in chronic psychological stress rats.     

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells are induced to differentiate into cardiomyocytes by hepatocyte growth factor in vitro

AIM: To explore a new method of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) inducing bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. METHODS: Bone marrow MSC was cultured with DMEM media (10% fetal calf serum) 4-6 passages, and induced by HGF (10 μg/L) for 30 d. Automatical beating of the differentiated cells was observed daily with transverse microscopy, or under condition of 0.1% isoproterenol or cal-cium-deprived incubation. Specific cardiac myosin in the cells was indentified by immunochemistry. RESULTS: At 14-20 d of differentiation, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells formed clones, in 10%-50% of which spontaneous beating cell-mass had come to continuously exist. Isoproterenol increased the beating rate and calcium-deprived media inhibited the beating. The cells were identified to be cardiomyocytes by expression of cardiac myosin heavy chain. CONCLUSION: HGF may induce bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into cardiomyocytes with high efficiency, but the differentiating pathway of stem cells remains to be further studied.     

The mechanism of apoptosis induced by homoharringtonine in HL-60 cells

AIM: To study the signal transduction pathway of apoptosis initiation induced by homoharringtonine in HL-60 cells. METHODS: After establishing the model of apoptosis initiation induced by homoharringtonine in HL-60 cells, at the point of apoptosis initiation, molecular caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax and Fas/FasL were measured with flow cytometry and transmission electron microscope. ERK2 and P38 expression in HL-60 cells were detected by using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The model of apoptosis initiation induced by homoharringtonine was established in HL-60 cells. At the point of apoptosis initiation, upregulation of caspase-3 and decrease in Bcl-2/Bax were observed. However, the expression of Fas/FasL did not significantly change. ERK2 expression decreased and P38 expression increased. CONCLUSIONS: Caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax and mitogen activated protein kinase pathways were involved in signal transduction of apoptosis initiation induced by homoharringtonine in HL-60 cells.     

Effects of blocking the expression of PKARⅠβ gene with antisense nucleotide on Shuang long-Jie gu Pill (SLJGP) containing serum osteoblast proliferation

AIM: To further investigate the role of PKARⅠβ in the growth-promoting effects of shuang long Jiegu pill (SLJGP), a Chinese medicine, on cultured osteoblasts. METHODS: pcDNA- antiPKARⅠβ, a recombinant expressing the antisense sequence of PKARⅠβ, was constructed and transformed HFOB1.19 by lipofectin. MTT was undertaken to assess the cell growth with the treatment of high dosage of SLJGP containing serum. RESULTS: Antisense gene blocked the growth-promoting effects of SLJGP containing serum on HFOB1.19. CONCLUSION: The function of SLJGP is closely related to cAMP-dependent protein kinase A.     

宁夏毛乌素沙地退化草原恢复演替过程中物种多样性与生产力的变化

对宁夏毛乌素沙地退化草原种植不同林龄柠条Caragana korshinskii后物种的多样性、群落结构及草地生产力进行了研究,结果表明:种植柠条林对退化草地的植被恢复有积极的作用,植物群落的多样性随柠条林龄的增加而增加,而且随林龄年份的增加,群落结构更趋于稳定.草地生产力由于土壤储水量相对较高,表现为随林龄的增加,草产量受季节降水量变化的影响较小,相对稳定的趋势.     

苜蓿秋眠性研究进展

苜蓿Medicago sativa的秋眠性实质上是在秋季日照变短和温度降低时植株所表现出的一种适应性生长特性,这种生长特性与植物的抗寒性和生产性能相关.早在20世纪20年代,美国就发现了这一现象,但直至20世纪70年代末期,随着秋眠性测定方法的发明和分类标准的制订,才使它在苜蓿生产中发挥着越来越重要的作用,在许多国家秋眠性已成为栽培选择品种时的首要指标.概述了秋眠性的概念及发展史、测定方法、有关生理生化研究进展及其在国内外的应用.