The distribution of neurotensin (NT) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the rat hypothalamic arcuate nucleus has been studied ultrastructurally by means of double labeling preembedding immunoelectron microscopic PAP technique. First, the NPY immunoreaction was demonstrated by chromogen DAB, and second, the NT immunoreaction was demonstrated by ammonium molybdate-TMB method. After being stabilized by DAB-cobalt chloride, the vibratome sections were processed for electron microscopic study. The results showed that in the arcuate nucleus the NPY immunoreactive products appeared as high electron-dense granular or flocculent materials deposited diffusely in the organelles and matrix of perikaryon, around the dendritic microtubules and axonic small clear vesicles. Whereas the NT immunoreactive products were dense needle- or mass-like deposits distributed dispersively in the perikaryon, dendrites and axon terminals. They can easily be distinguished although being intermingled together. The NPY-containing dendrites and axons formed synaptic connections with immuno-negative axon terminals, NT-containing somata and dendrites formed also synaptic conections with negative axon terminals. In addition, NPY-positive axon terminals formed symmetrical axodendritic synapses with NT-positive dendrites. The present results provided another new ultrastructural evidence for the peptidergic synaptic regulation of NT neurons in hypothalamus.

Acceleration ; Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase, Long-Chain ; genetics ; Animals ; Aorta ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Heart ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; genetics ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Using electron immunocytochemical method, the ultrastructural distribution and the synaptic connections of CCK-containing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the rat were studied. The results showed that the CCK-like immunoreactive products located in farge granular vesicles, cytoplasmic matrix, at the periphery of small clear vesicles, rough endoplasmic reticulum and the membrane of mitochondria. The CCK-positive nerve cell bodies were large or small in size and distributed mainly in the medial part of the PVN, subependymal region and the vicinity of capillaries. Some of them as postsynaptic elements formed axosomatic synapses with CCK-negative axonal terminals. The CCK-positive dendrites and axons situated everywhere in the PVN. Some of them as postsynaptic elements formed axodendritic and axoaxonic synapses with CCK-negative structures. Some CCK-positive axonal endings surrounded the capillaries. Other CCK axonal terminals as presynaptic elements formed axosomatic, axondendritic and axo-axonic synapses with CCK-negative structures, respectively. In addition, we have first found that the CCK-positive dendrites penetrated ependyma and contacted directly with the cerebrospinal fluid in third ventricle, the CCK-positive axons traveled in the cavity of third ventricle near the ependyma. The above mentioned results suggested: (1) the soma, dendrite and axon of the CCK-containing neurons and CCK-negetive neurons in the PVN might form local neuronal circuit; (2) the neuron vessel circuit might be established between CCK-containing neurons and the blood vessels in the PVN; (3) the CSFcontacting neurons in the PVN may participate in forming brain-cerebrospinal fluid neurohumoral circuit and regulate functional activity of distal target area through the CSF pathway.

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing protein 2 (NOD2) is a member of intracellular pattern recognition receptor. After being activated, it will induce the release of inflammatory factors through a series of signal cascade transduction, thus playing an important role in the innate immune response. The abnormal NOD2 signaling pathway is involved in the occurrence and development of many diseases, especially the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the NOD2 gene have been identified to be closely associated with autoinflammatory diseases (AIDs). Therefore, inhibitors targeting NOD2 pathway have great potential in the treatment of inflammatory immune diseases. This review presents the recent progress of NOD2 receptor-mediated signal transduction pathways and its regulation mechanisms, the relationship between NOD2 and AIDs, and the inhibitors of NOD2 pathway.

Objective To evaluate the inhibitory effect of the small interfering RNA(siRNA) on hepatitis B virus(HBV)in vivo which targets HBV S gene region.Methods An animal model of HBV infection was developed hydrodynamically by injecting pcDNA3.1-HBV together with siRNA through the tail vein of Balb/c.HBsAg was analyzed by time resolved immunofluorometric assay, HBV DNA was analyzed by fluorogenic quantitative PCR(FQ-PCR),HBV S-mRNA was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR,and viral specific proteins(HBsAg and HBcAg)in the liver were assayed by immunohistochemical staining.Results In the mice,the siRNA could effectively inhibit the secre- tion of HBsAg,reduce the titers of HBV DNA,and immunohistochemical results also indicated that the number of HBsAg and HBcAg positive cells was reduced.The inhibitory effect of siRNA on HBV lasted 3 clays at least.Conclusion These results demonstrate that the siRNA targeting HBV S gene region can substantially and specifically inhibit HBV replication and expression in vivo.

Objective To evaluate MRI in the diagnosis of the bone contusion of the knee joint and its clinical significance.Methods Using special coil for knee joint,coronal,sagittal,axial and oblique sagittal plane scanning with fast spin-echo sequence(T_1WI,T_2WI,PDWI+FS)was performed on knee joint in 205 patients in three days after injury.According the distributing bone marrow edema and injury mechanism,bone contusion were classified five types as pivot shift injury,clip injury,dashboard injury, hyperextension injury and lateral patellar dislocation.Results One hundred and forty-five cases of the 205 patients were found bone marrow edema without fracture on X-ray films.Among them,pivot shift injury was found in 43 cases accompanied with anterior cruciate ligament rupture in 30 cases,tear of the posterior horn of the lateral or medial meniscus in 12 and tears of the medial collateral ligament in 8 cases;clip injury in 53 cases accompanied with anterior cruciate ligament rupture in 10 cases,tear of the posterior horn of the lateral or medial meniscus in 15 and tears of the medial collateral ligament in 38 cases;dashboard injury 40 cases accompanied with posterior cruciate ligament rupture in 16 cases,hyperextension injury 9 cases accompanied with anterior cruciate ligament rupture in 2 cases,posterior cruciate ligament rupture in 5 cases.No lateral patellar dislocation was found.Forty-eight of 145 patients had undergone arthroscopy, 43 cases(89.6%)of them were in accordance with MRI diagnosis.Bone contusion were defined as geographic regions of abnormal signal intensity,that is,low signal intensity in T_1-weighted images and high signal intensity in PD-weighted or T_2-weigeted images with fat saturation.Conclusion MRI can accurately display the location and area of bone contusion of the knee joint as well as its adjunctive structure injury and deduce their injury mechanism.MRI should be used routinely for knee trauma.

Objective:On the basis of the use of chemical methods to establish mouse model of lupus nephritis and its biological identification , we investigate the reverse effect of pathological lesions of B 7-1 human-mouse chimeric antibody blockade against B7/D28 signaling pathway in mice with lupus nephritis model.Methods:Pristane was injected intraperitoneally to 6-week-old female C57BL/6J mice at dose of 0.5 ml per mouse in one go,and urine protein,ANA and renal pathological changes were detected on a monthly basis.Mice whose urine protein content reached ++and ANA fluorescence intensity reached ++were randomly devided into three groups ,five each.Antibody intervention group was sequentially injected with B 7-1-mouse chimeric antibody by orbital venous , positive control group was injected with immunosuppressant CTX , negative control group was injected with isotype control IgG.Urine protein and ANA were also detected on a monthly basis.Mice were sacrificed three months after intervention was executed.Kidney was used for H&E dying , IC detection and electric microscope observation.Results: After four-month Pristane induction , urine protein content of 80%mice reached +-+++,meanwhile,serum ANA fluorescence intensity reached ++-+++.Glomerulonephritis infiltrating cells were observed Mice with urine protein and ANA , glomerular inflammatory cell infiltration , tubular epithelial cell degeneration visible edema ,vascular congestion significantly ,fibrosis.After antibody intervention ,urine protein content in antibody intervention group gradually reduced from ++-+++to ±-+++,ANA ++-+++to +-++,and were significantly different from that in the negative control group ( P<0.01 ).Analysis of kidney H&E dying showed that antibody glomerular infiltration of inflammatory cells in the intervention group and tubular congestion and other symptoms were improved significantly.Immunofluorescence staining indicated that fluorescence intensity of IC was significantly reduced in the antibody intervention group.Electron dense deposits reduction and glomerular basement membrane uniformity were observed in antibody intervention group by electric microscope when compared with the negative control group.Conclusion:B7-1 antibodies could downregulate immune response through inhibiting B 7-1/CD28 signaling pathway , reducing the production of autoantibodies and reversing pathological damage caused by autoimmune response .

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of treatment of renal anemia by combination of Bushen Jianpi Recipe (BJR, a Chinese experience recipe for supplementing Shen and supporting Pi) and low dosage erythropoietin (EPO), and the influence of treatment on change of serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) so as to explore the possible mechanism of integrative Chinese and western medicine (ICWM) in treating renal anemia.

METHODSPatients with renal anemia were randomly divided into two groups, the ICWM group and the control group, symptomatic and supporting treatment such as dialysis, supplementing of ferrous, foliac acid and vitamin B12, was given to both groups. Additionally, to the ICWM group, 50 IU/kg of EPO subcutaneous injection for twice every week, and oral intake of BJR, one dose per day taken in two parts, were given, and to the control group, EPO alone, 50 IU/kg by subcutaneous injecting, 3 times per week, was given. The therapeutic course for two groups was 3 months. Blood levels of hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), TNF-alpha were measured before treatment and the therapeutic effect was observed.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the levels of Hb and Hct increased significantly in both groups (P < 0.01), comparison between the two groups in Hb and Hct after being treated for 3 months showed significant difference (P < 0.05). The serum level of TNF-alpha was markedly higher than normal range in both groups before treatment, it significantly lowered after treatment in the ICWM group (P < 0.05), but unchanged in the control group.

CONCLUSIONCombination of BJR and EPO could significantly inhibit the production of TNF-alpha, this may be an important factor for ICWM in effectively improving sensitivity to EPO.

Adult ; Anemia ; blood ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Chronic Disease ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Erythropoiesis ; drug effects ; Erythropoietin ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Recombinant Proteins ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Objective To observe the effect of inhibition of polo like kinasel (Plk-1) gene expression on 5-Fu and CDDP induced apoptosis of gastric cancer cell line-MKN45 in vitro. Methods The Plk-1 expression was inhibited by chemically synthesized siRNA, the Plk-1 mRNA and protein level were measured by real-time PCR and Western blotting, MKN45 cells proliferation was measured by MTT method, the apoptosis rate was detected by flow-cytometry. Results After treatment by siRNA targeting Plk-1, Plk-1 mRNA level decreased by 51.91% .89.45%.91.03% at 24 h.48 h and 72 h, and Plk-1 protein level decreased by 38.43% and 60.66% at 48 h and 72 h, compared with control group. The proliferation of MKN45 cells treated by a combination of 5-Fu, CDDP and Plk-1 siRNA significantly slowed down when compared with treatment of 5-Fu, CDDP or Plk-1 siRNA(P

Objective:To construct lentiviral vector specific for mouse B7-1 RNA interference and study lentivirus-mediated B7-1 gene silencing effects in L929 fibroblast cells.Methods:Three candidate sequences for B7-1 RNAi selected from coding sequence of mouse B7-1 transcription were used to design short hairpin RNA ( shRNA ) templates and then cloned into lentiviral expression plasmid followed with correctness identification of inserted sequence by DNA sequencing.Recombinant lentivirus were prepared by co-transfecting lentiviral expression vector and packaging plasmids into 293T cells.Then the resulting culture supernatant containing infectious lentiviral particles was pooled and centrifuged via ultra-centrifugation.Infectious titer of the preparations was determined by detecting the expression of GFP in 293T cells after transfected by lentivirus.Cultured L929 cells were transfected with lentivirus to deter-mine transduction efficiency and silencing efficacy of B7-1 expression by flow cytometry.Transducted L929 cells were then screened using puromycin to generate stable cell clones followed by flow cytometry analysis of GFP and B7-1 expression.A mixed reaction system consisting of stable B7-1 silencing L929 cells and mouse splenic T cells was used to analyze ability of the established cell line to trigger T cells proliferation.Results: Lentiviral expression vector for mouse B7-1 RNAi was correctly constructed with inserted sequences as designed.Recombinant RNAi lentivirus were prepared with titers ranging (3-5) ×108 TU/ml and efficacy to mediate GFP transgene expression and B7-1 silencing.B7-1 expression and the ability to trigger T cells proliferation of stable L929 cells were suppressed significantly ( P<0.05 ).Conclusion: We generated lentiviral vector specific for mouse B7-1 RNAi with high performance of transduction efficiency as well as B7-1 silencing efficacy and the recombinant RNAi lentivirus can mediated stable B7-1 gene silencing in L929 cells and inhibition of T cells proliferation induced by B7-1/CD28 co-stimulatory signal.