AIM: To find out whether traditional Chinese medicine Angelicae Sinensis has direct suppressive effect on schistosome egg-induced granulomatous response. METHODS: The lung model of granuloma response was established by injecting living eggs of Schistosoma japonicum into the tail veins of eggs-sensitized mice then the preparation of Angelicae Sinensis were given intraperitoneally once a day for ten days. In vitro model of granulomatous reaction was set up by incubating dry schistosome eggs together with those splenocytes isolated from schistosome infected-mice or from the mice with pulmonary granuloma formation. Different doses of the preparation was, in the need of experiment, added to culture fluid. The sizes of granulomas formed surrounding single egg in lungs or the intensity of in vitro granulomatous responses were measured and observed. RESULTS: The average diameter of pulmonary granulomas in administered group was significantly smaller than that of the control ( P

Aim To prepare the monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against human CD28 and to study its biological feature. Methods The hybridoma cell lines were obtained by fusing spleen cells of Blab/c mice that had been immunized with murine lymphoma cells transfected with full-length huaman CD28 cDNA to myeloma cells Sp2/0. Ascites were induced to produce the mAbs. The specificity and affinity of the mAb 18G8 was verified by CD28 competitive inhibitory test and FACS. Reactivities of mAb 18G8 to PBTC, U266, 8226, Jurkat and Daudi cell were studied by indirect immunofluorescence staining. mAb 18G8-inducing proliferation of peripheral blood T cells (PBTCs) was determined by [3H]thymidine incorporation test. Results Five hybridoma cell lines were obtained. mAb 18G8 secreted by one of the them, belong to mouse IgG2a. It recognized a epitope different from which recognized by the standard mAb(clone CD28.2). The Reactivitrates of the mAb 18G8 to PBTC, U266, 8266, Jurkat and Daudi cells were 70.2％ , 99.3％ , 98.6％ , 76.4％ and 1.9％ , respectively, similar with CD28.2. It was indicated that different antigen epitopes expressed on all above cells. mAb 18G8 could promote the PBTC proliferation in vitro(SI=7). It was indicated that The substitution of mAb 18G8 for B7-1 molecule could also mediate the costimulatory signals. Conclusion 18G8 is a specific and functional anti-CD28 mAb it may be of significant value in basic studies and clinical application.

Objective To investigate the clinical significance and biological role of G-protein coupled receptor 49(GPR49) expression in pancreatic carcinoma.Methods GPR49 expression in tumor and adjacent normal tissues of 77 patients with pancreatic cancer was compared by tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry.And then, the GPR49 expression levels in the tumor tissues of patients with different pathological grades and clinical stages were analyzed.GPR49 positive pancreatic cancer cell line CFPAC-1 was taken as cellular model.CFPAC-1 cells were stimulated with roof plate-specific spondin(RSPO)1, the ligand of GPR49, in vitro.The effect of RSPO1 on CFPAC-1 cells proliferation was evaluated with cell counting.The effect of RSPO1 on the expression of membrane molecular CD44 in CFPAC-1 cells was detected by flow cytometry.CFPAC-1 cells incubated with RSPO1 were subcutaneously implanted into nude mice.And then, the time of tumor formation and tumor size were observed.T test and single factor analysis of variance were performed for statistical analysis.Results GPR49 was widely expressed in all 77 pancreatic cancer tissues.By immunohistochemistry, the score of GPR49 expression in pancreatic cancer tissues was 9.0±2.4, which was higher than that of adjacent normal tissues (5.7±2.4), and the difference was statistically significant (t=8.995, P<0.01).There was no correlation between GPR49 expression and tumor sizes, pathological grades, lymph node metastasis, and clinical stages (all P>0.05).The results of experiments in vitro indicated that RSPO1 could promote CFPAC-1 cells proliferation and up-regulate CD44 expression in CFPAC-1 cells.Experiments in vivo demonstrated that after 30 days the tumor volume of mice implanted with RSPO1-pretreated CFPAC-1 cells was (606.0±188.0) mm3, which was larger than that of PBS-pretreated group ((364.2±83.7) mm3), and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.616, P=0.031).Conclusion GPR49 is widely expressed in pancreatic cancer cells and RSPO1/GPR49 pathway has play a role in promoting the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells, which might be a potential target for interfering pancreatic cancer.

Objective To discuss function of the fusion cells of human bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and human myeloma cell RPMI 8226 in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma bone disease.Methods The cells,labeled by cell tracer green fluorescent probe (CMFDA) and red fluorescent probe (CMTMR),respectively,were induced into fusion by chemical polyethylene glycol (polyethyleneglycol,PEG-1000),and cell fusion model was set up.Whether fusion cells had nucleus fusion was determined by Karyotype analysis.The expressions of stemness-related genes,SIRP α gene and DC-STAMP gene in fusion cells were identified.Results Polyethylene glycol (PEG-1000) could mediate the integration of BMSCs and RPMI 8226 cells.The number of chromosomes in more than 80 ％ the hybrid cells was about 80.Fusion cells not only showed that BMSCs,stemness-related genes of c-myc,Klf-4 and OCT-4 genes expressed positively,but also the fusion-related genes SIRPα and DC-STAMP expressed positively.Conclusion BMSCs and RPMI 8226 cells can form fusion cells,and the cells have the potential for further integration,which is one of the important reasons for the promotion of muhiple myeloma bone destruction.

Objective To study the expression of co-stimulatory molecules, GL50-ICOS, in thyroid tissue of patients with Graves' disease (GD) and to explore their relationship with the immune pathogenesis of GD.Methods RT-PCR, Western blot, immunohistochemistry were applied to detect the expression of GL50-ICOS in thyroid of GD. Thyrocytes were cultured in the absence or presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The expression of GL50 on thyroid follicular cells (TFC) was further measured by flow cytometry. Results (1) In GD patients,the percentage of CD4+ CD28- T cells was significantly increased as compared with the control healthy individuals. The expression of co-stimulatory molecule ICOS was up-regulated. (2) The mRNA level of ICOS was significantly increased in GD patients than that in nontoxic goiter(NTG) patients(P＜0.01). (3)Compared with NTG control group, the GL50 protein expression was much higher in thyroid tissues of GD patients (P ＜0.01). (4)The results of immunohistochemistry showed that GL50 expression was observed in all GD thyroid tissues, while no expression of GL50 was detected in NTG thyroid tissues(P＜0. 01). (5) The expression of GL50on primary cultured thyroid follicular cells was significantly increased under the stimulatation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro. Conclusion GL50-ICOS is expressed abnormally in thyroid tissue of patients with GD.