Objective To investigate the effect of taurine on colonic fibrosis in rats with colitis induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid(TNBS). Methods Thirty-two SD rats were divided into normal control group, model group, low-dose (400 mg/kg) taurine group and high-dose (800 mg/kg) taurine group. Rats in normal group were administrated with 0.9% NaCl solution enema, and the other three groups received TNBS enema. The rats in low-dose and high-dose taurine groups were administrated with 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg of taurine daily, respectively, one week before TNBS enema. Morphology and disease activity index (DAI) were evaluated, and the colonic tissues were histologically examined. Colon length and weight of the rats were also measured. The concentrations of hydroxyproline, collagen type Ⅰ, transforming growth factor-betal(TGF-β1), and Smad3 protein and mRNA in colon tissues were tested. Results In comparison with control group, the body weight and colon length were decreased while DAI score and colon weight were increased obviously in model group (P`0.01). All above parameters were improved after intervention of taurine. The fibrotie score in model group (1.88±0.35) was significantly higher than that in control group (0.25±0.46), low-dose (1.25±0.71) and high-dose (0.75±0.47) taurine groups (all P values <0.05). High levels of hydroxyproline, collagen type Ⅰ, TGF-β1 and Smad3 were detected in model group compared with low-dose and high-dose taurine groups (all P values < 0.05). Conclusions Taurine is effective in prevention of colonic fibrosis induced by TNBS in rats, which is mediated by the down regulation of TGF-β1 and the inhibition of TGF-β/ Smad3 pathway. It may be beneficial in treatment of Crohn's disease with colonic fibrosis and strictures.

ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy of herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) gene modifled dendritic cells (DCs) in protecting against myosin induced myocarditis,and to investigate the involving mechanism.MethodsWe treated experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) mice with myosin-pulsed DCs which were transfected with HVEM-expressing adenovirus (Ad-HVEM) or control vectors,then evaluated myocarditis,plasm cTn [ and autoantibody by histopathology,fluoroimmunoassay,and ELISA,respectively.ResultsWe found that DCs transfected with Ad-HVEM (DC-Ad-HVEM) could protect against EAM.Further study showed DC-Ad-HVEM could produce regulatory cytokine IL-10,and IL-10 promoted the production of a key regulatory T cell subset which is important in peripheral tolerance.The T cells mediated protection against EAM.ConclusionThis study suggest that myosin-DC-Ad-HVEM cell gene therapy is a safe and effective way for inhibiting the development of EAM,and the signal net mediated by HVEM plays different roles in different cells.

Objective To estimate the effect and the intracellular signal transduction pathway of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on the expression of stem cell factor(SCF) in colonic smooth-muscle cells(SMC). Methods The SMCs isolated from colon of the SD rats by enzymolysis were cultured and identified by α-actin immunocytochemical method. Colonic SMCs were cultured either with 100 μg/L of IGF-I at different time points (0, 8, 16, 24 and 48 hours) or with different concentrations (0,5,10,50,100 and 150 μg/L) of IGF-I for 16 hours. The expressions of SCF in colonic SMCs pretreated with or without speicific phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) inhibitor LY-294002 or mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase (MEK1) inhibitor PD-98059 were examined by Western blotting and quantitative reverse transeription-polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence. Results Low expression of SCF was found in colonic SMCs cultured in the bovine serum free medium. There was no effect of 5 or 10 μg/L of IGF- I on the expression of SCF. However, the expressions of SCF mRNA and protein were increased when stimulated with high concentrations (50,100,150 μg/L) of IGF-I. The peak expression of SCF was showed at the 16th hour after stimulating with 100 μg/L of IGF- I that was considered as the most effective concentration in vitro. The expression of SCF was not influenced by LY-294002, but was partly blocked by PD-98059. Conclusions The expression of SCF in colon SMCs may be induced by IGF-Ⅰ through MAP kinase signaling pathway.

Objective To assess the sequence variations in preS/S regions of occult hepatitis B virus (OHB) and their relationship to severe chronic hepatic injury. MethodsWe collected samples from HBsAg negative patients, and evaluated their HBV-DNA by nest-PCR. HBV-DNA positive samples were used for analysis of preS/S region by PCR sequencing. Results Sixty-nine cases with HBV-DNA were identified in 468 cases without HBsAg. The positive percents were 16％, 8.7％, 36.4％, 18.3％ and 0％in group of only HBcAb positive, only HBeAb positive, only HBeAg positive, both HBcAb and HBsAb positive and all indexes negative, respectively. The level of HBV-DNA of OHB was significant lower than that in HBsAg positive patients. Compared with HBsAg positive controls, preS/S deletion, M1I and Q2K in preS2 region, Q129N/R/P,G185R and S210R in S region were more common in OHB. Moreover, M1I and Q2K in preS2 region, G185R and S210R in S region in OHB with severe chronic hepatic injury were more common that those in OHB without severe chronic hepatic injury. Compared with HBsAg positive patients with severe chronic hepatic injury, the level of HBV-DNA was lower, while the frequency of M1I and Q2K mutation in preS2 region, G185R and S210R in S region were more common in OHB patients with severe chronic hepatic injury. ConclusionThe virological factors were different between OHB and HBsAg positive patients. The M1I and Q2K in preS2 region, G185R and S210R in S region might be useful for prognosis evaluation of OHB patients.

Objective To investigate the expression of IL-17-producing regulatory T cells ( Treg) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE) and to analyze their clinical significance. Methods This study recruited 32 patients with SLE ( including 14 with active SLE and 18 with inactive SLE) and 13 healthy subjects matched for age and sex. Flow cytometry was performed to detect the expression of Foxp3 and IL-17 in CD4 T lymphocytes and the phenotypic characteristics of IL-17-producing Treg. Correlations between these cells and clinical indicators of SLE were analyzed. Peripheral CD4+CD25+ T cells were isola-ted from five healthy subjects and then stimulated with IL-6 and IL-1βalone or in combination. An in vitro T cell polarization assay was performed to investigate the role of cytokines in the polarization and regulation of IL-17-producing Treg. Results Compared with the healthy subjects and patients with inactive SLE, the pa-tients with active SLE had a higher percentage of IL-17-producing Treg in peripheral blood. Moreover, the expression of Foxp3 and CD45RA by IL-17-producing Treg in the active SLE group was down-regulated, while that of IL-2, granzyme B (GramB), programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and glucocorticoid-in-duced tumor necrosis factor receptor ( GITR) was up-regulated. Inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-1 could induce Treg to produce IL-17. Conclusions This study suggested that increased inflammatory cytokines might correlate with higher percentages of IL-17-producing Treg in patients with active SLE. These cells were a subset of pathogenic Treg failing to prevent autoimmune.

Objective:To explore the role of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 4 (TRAF4) in promoting the abnormal activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its effect on lung cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion.Methods:Tumor tissues from patients who underwent lung adenocarcinoma resection at The First Affiliated Hospital of Second Military Medical University, from January 2015 to May 2017 were collected, and the expressions of TRAF4 and Ki-67 in lung cancer tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry, the mRNA levels of Cyclin D and Vimentin were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). The effect of TRAF4 on the tumor growth ability of lung cancer A549 cells was investigated by the xenograft model, the effect of TRAF4 or EGFR on the tumor proliferation ability was detected by using cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) and BrdU assay, and the migration and invasion abilities of tumor cells were detected by Transwell assay. Different structural domain deletion expression vectors of TRAF4 and EGFR were constructed to transfect cells, and the interaction mode of TRAF4 and EGFR was investigated by immunoprecipitation assay.Results:The expression of TRAF4 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues was positively correlated with the expressions of Ki-67, cyclin D, and vimentin ( r2: 0.438, 0.695, and 0.736, respectively, all P＜0.01). Immunohistochemical assay of tumor tissues from NSCLC patients showed that tissues with high expression of TRAF4 were also high in Ki-67. Patients with high TRAF4 expression (TRAF4 positivity >30%) had a shorter progression-free survival (PFS) time than that of patients with low TRAF4 expression (TRAF4 positivity ≤30%) (median PFS of 12 and 19 months, respectively; P=0.034). Traf4 -/- cells had a weakened proliferative capacity than traf4+/+ cells and formed tumors with smaller size ( P＜0.05). The expression level of Ki-67 in the tumor tissues formed by traf4 -/- cells [(45.6±8.7)%] was lower than that in the tumor tissues formed by traf4+/+ cells [(62.3±10.3)%, P=0.015], the mRNA levels of cyclin D (1.01±0.15) and vimentin (1.01±0.12) in the traf4 -/- cells were lower than those of the traf4+/+ cells (3.41±0.32 and 3.12±0.18, respectively, both P＜0.05).The western blot results showed that, with the elevated intracellular expression level of TRAF4, phosphorylation level of EGFR was significantly increased in both wild-type EGFR and activation mutant EGFR-expression cells. The capacities of proliferation, migration and invasion of A549 cells was weakened after EGFR knockdown (all P＜0.01). Immunoprecipitation experiments showed that TRAF4 binds to the peptide segment of the near-membrane region of EGFR through the TRAF structural domain, and the mutual binding between EGFR molecules was enhanced under TRAF4 overexpression conditions. Increasing TRAF4 expression promoted EGFR molecular phosphorylation and activation of downstream signaling. Conclusions:TRAF4 expression is elevated in NSCLC tissues and tumor cells, which promotes tumor proliferation, migration and invasion. TRAF4 directly binds to EGFR molecules, enhances its own phosphorylation and activates the downstream signaling pathway by promoting the interaction between EGFR molecules.

Objective:To analyze the mutations of globin genes among patients suspected for thalassemia from the Shanghai area.Methods:A total of 4 644 patients diagnosed at Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine between June 2016 and December 2019 were selected as the study subjects. The patients were tested for common mutations associated with thalassemia gene by Gap-PCR and reverse dot blotting (RDB). Patients were suspected to harbor rare mutations based on the inconsistency between hematological phenotypes and results of common mutation detection, and were further analyzed by Gap-PCR and Sanger sequencing.Results:Among the 4 644 patients, 2 194 (47.24%) were found to carry common thalassemia mutations, among which 701 (15.09%) were α-thalassemia, 1 448 (31.18%) were β-thalassemia, and 45 (0.97%) were both α- and β-thalassemia. Forty six samples were found to harbor rare mutations, which included 17 α-globin gene and 29 β-globin gene mutations. CD77(CCC>ACC) ( HBA2: c. 232C>A) of the α-globin gene, NG_000007.3: g. 70567_71015del449, codon 102(-A) ( HBB: c. 308_308delA) and IVS-Ⅱ-636 (A>G) ( HBB: c. 316-215A>G) of the β-globin gene were previously unreported new types of globin gene mutations. Conclusion:Among the 4 644 patients, the detection rate for common thalassemia mutations was 47.24%, whilst 46 samples were detected with rare gene mutations. The type of gene mutation types were diverse in the Shanghai area. The study has provided more accurate results for genetic diagnosis and counseling.

Objective:To explore the role of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 4 (TRAF4) in promoting the abnormal activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its effect on lung cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion.Methods:Tumor tissues from patients who underwent lung adenocarcinoma resection at The First Affiliated Hospital of Second Military Medical University, from January 2015 to May 2017 were collected, and the expressions of TRAF4 and Ki-67 in lung cancer tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry, the mRNA levels of Cyclin D and Vimentin were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). The effect of TRAF4 on the tumor growth ability of lung cancer A549 cells was investigated by the xenograft model, the effect of TRAF4 or EGFR on the tumor proliferation ability was detected by using cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) and BrdU assay, and the migration and invasion abilities of tumor cells were detected by Transwell assay. Different structural domain deletion expression vectors of TRAF4 and EGFR were constructed to transfect cells, and the interaction mode of TRAF4 and EGFR was investigated by immunoprecipitation assay.Results:The expression of TRAF4 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues was positively correlated with the expressions of Ki-67, cyclin D, and vimentin ( r2: 0.438, 0.695, and 0.736, respectively, all P＜0.01). Immunohistochemical assay of tumor tissues from NSCLC patients showed that tissues with high expression of TRAF4 were also high in Ki-67. Patients with high TRAF4 expression (TRAF4 positivity >30%) had a shorter progression-free survival (PFS) time than that of patients with low TRAF4 expression (TRAF4 positivity ≤30%) (median PFS of 12 and 19 months, respectively; P=0.034). Traf4 -/- cells had a weakened proliferative capacity than traf4+/+ cells and formed tumors with smaller size ( P＜0.05). The expression level of Ki-67 in the tumor tissues formed by traf4 -/- cells [(45.6±8.7)%] was lower than that in the tumor tissues formed by traf4+/+ cells [(62.3±10.3)%, P=0.015], the mRNA levels of cyclin D (1.01±0.15) and vimentin (1.01±0.12) in the traf4 -/- cells were lower than those of the traf4+/+ cells (3.41±0.32 and 3.12±0.18, respectively, both P＜0.05).The western blot results showed that, with the elevated intracellular expression level of TRAF4, phosphorylation level of EGFR was significantly increased in both wild-type EGFR and activation mutant EGFR-expression cells. The capacities of proliferation, migration and invasion of A549 cells was weakened after EGFR knockdown (all P＜0.01). Immunoprecipitation experiments showed that TRAF4 binds to the peptide segment of the near-membrane region of EGFR through the TRAF structural domain, and the mutual binding between EGFR molecules was enhanced under TRAF4 overexpression conditions. Increasing TRAF4 expression promoted EGFR molecular phosphorylation and activation of downstream signaling. Conclusions:TRAF4 expression is elevated in NSCLC tissues and tumor cells, which promotes tumor proliferation, migration and invasion. TRAF4 directly binds to EGFR molecules, enhances its own phosphorylation and activates the downstream signaling pathway by promoting the interaction between EGFR molecules.

OBJECTIVETo discover the techniques for ex vivo generation and cryopreservation of erythroid progenitor cells (EPCs)derived from umbilical cord blood (UCB)mononuclear cells (MNCs).

METHODSUCB was chosen as the source of EPCs. Erythrocytes were precipitated by hydroxyethyl starch (HES). MNCs were separated by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation. Erythroid progenitor cell were generated from MNC ex vivo in suspension culture supplemented with stem cell growth factor, insulin growth factor, erythropoietin, Fms- liketyrosinekinase ligand, transferrin and dexamethasone. Cell maturation was evaluated by morphologic analysis and CD71/CD235a expression profiling. In vitro induced cells were cryopreserved using different cryopreservation media. The cell survival rate, phenotype and proliferation curves were detected after cell thawing.

RESULTSWith the extension of culture time, the total number of cells increased significantly accompanied with the elevation of CD71 and CD235 positive populations. After 14- day inducing, the cells reached to approximately 110 times of the starting number with the cell viability as (88.92±0.95)%. The percentages of cell surface markers were (86.77±9.11)% for CD71 and (64.47±16.67)% for CD71/CD235, respectively. With the extension of inducing time, wright- Giemsa staining showed that the middle erythroblasts appeared mostly at day 10, and the late erythroblasts were seen at day 14. The red pellets were present at day 14, which indicated the more production of hemoglobin. Colony forming assay showed that erythroid colonies at induction day 7 were higher than that for non-induced cells (326.00±97.96vs 61.60±20.03 per 2 000 cells). With the extension of culture time, the number of erythroid colonies decreased. Induced EPCs were preserved with different cryopreservation solutions, in which 10% DMSO were better than 5% DMSO. Additionally, 10% DMSO + 2% HSA showed no different with 10% DMSO + 5% HSA. Combined 50% plasma with 2% HSA was more effective.

CONCLUSIONSThis non- serum culture media could effectively induced and expanded EPCs, and 10% DMSO + 2% HSA + 50% plasma appeared to be a desirable cryopreservation solution for EPCs from UCB.

Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; Erythroblasts ; cytology ; Erythroid Precursor Cells ; cytology ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology ; Umbilical Cord

Objective: To observe the effect of poloxamer 188 (P188) on megakaryocyte cultivation and induction from cord blood mononuclear cells in order to obtain more megakaryocyte progenitor cells (MPC). Methods: The cord blood mononuclear cells were isolated and inoculated in cell culture bag or cell culture flask respectively. The WIGGENS shaker and cell culture bags were used to mimick WAVE Bioreactor for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture, and the P188 was added to induction medium, The cells were detected for morphology, surface marker, viability, and number on day 14. Results: In the two-dimensional (2D) culture, CD41⁺, CD41⁺/CD61⁺, CD61⁺ megakaryocytic numbers increased significantly after adding P188 (all P<0.01). And in the 3D culture of adding P188, the cell volume became larger and the nuclear shape was irregular, the cytoplasm appeared magenta granules, and the megakaryocyte cells became more mature. By 3D culture, the expression of CD41/CD61 was (36.30±1.27)% vs (23.95±1.34)%, hence the differentiation for MPC was significantly higher than that in the 2D group (P<0.01). Furthermore, adding P188 in 3D culture resulted in highest differentiation efficiency for MPC [(59.45±1.20)%]. There were no significantly differences in terms of cell viability and cell number among 3D culture containing P188, 2D and 3D culture groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion 3D culture was beneficial for the differentiation of MPC, but the cell viability was lower than 2D group; However, the satisfied cell growth and better induction efficiency were obtained by adding of P188, which might provide a new method of megakaryocytes production for clinical application.