Objective: To study the factors effecting the expression of the reporter green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene in the mouse embryo stem cell line R1. Methods: Three different kinds of GFP euko-expression vectors were constructed, and the expression efficiency was contrasted both at mRNA and protein levels after they were integrated into the chromosomes of host cells. Results: At protein level, the GFP expression level of the colonies transfected by the expression vector-pEF-GFP with the promoter of the peptide elongation factor (EF) were significantly higher than that of the colonies transfected by pCMV-GFP with CMV promoter and by pdCMV-GFP with double copies of CMV-GFP expression unit. There was no significant difference between the colonies transfected by pCMV-GFP and pdCMV-GFP. The detection results on mRNA level of GFP had the same tendency as that at protein level. Conclusion: (1) GFP gene expression efficiency controlled by EF promoter is distinctly higher than that by CMV promoter in NIH3T3 and R1 ES cell line.(2) A slight increase of the copy number of the foreign gene expression units in the host chromosome can not make obvious increase of its expression efficiency. (3) The vector express GFP in R1 ES cell line efficiently and stablely is obtained.

Objective: To study the factors effecting the expression of the reporter green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene in the mouse embryo stem cell line R1. Methods: Three different kinds of GFP euko-expression vectors were constructed, and the expression efficiency was contrasted both at mRNA and protein levels after they were integrated into the chromosomes of host cells. Results: At protein level, the GFP expression level of the colonies transfected by the expression vector-pEF-GFP with the promoter of the peptide elongation factor (EF) were significantly higher than that of the colonies transfected by pCMV-GFP with CMV promoter and by pdCMV-GFP with double copies of CMV-GFP expression unit. There was no significant difference between the colonies transfected by pCMV-GFP and pdCMV-GFP. The detection results on mRNA level of GFP had the same tendency as that at protein level. Conclusion: (1) GFP gene expression efficiency controlled by EF promoter is distinctly higher than that by CMV promoter in NIH3T3 and R1 ES cell line.(2) A slight increase of the copy number of the foreign gene expression units in the host chromosome can not make obvious increase of its expression efficiency. (3) The vector express GFP in R1 ES cell line efficiently and stablely is obtained.

AIM:To observe the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) and neuroglobin (NGB) in piglet cortex during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.METHODS:Wuzhishan piglets were randomly assigned to car-diopulmonary bypass group ( CPB group) , 40 min of circulatory arrest ( CA) at 18 ℃ without cerebral perfusion ( DHCA group) or with selective antegrade cerebral perfusion ( SACP group) .After 180 min of reperfusion, cortical tissue was har-vested for determining HIF-1αand NGB expression by HE staining, Western blot and real-time PCR.RESULTS:Severer cerebral injury was observed in DHCA group than that in SACP group.After 180 min of reperfusion, HIF-1αprotein and mRNA levels were significantly higher in DHCA group than those in CPB group (P<0.05).Accordingly, SACP animal had higher levels of HIF-1αprotein and mRNA than those in DHCA group (P<0.05).Simultaneously, higher NGB pro-tein and mRNA levels were found in DHCA group than those in CPB group after 180 min of reperfusion ( P<0.05) .The SACP animal had higher levels of NGB protein and mRNA than those in DHCA group (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Up-regulation of HIF-1 and NGB are involved in the mechanism against cerebral injury resulting from DHCA in the cortex and possibly a part of cerebral protective effect of SACP.

BACKGROUND: Traditional scaphotrapeziotrapezoid limited intercarpal arthrodesis contains Kirschner wire, U-shaped nail, AO/ASIF steel plate and so on. Long-term plaster external fixation was needed following surgery. USA-designed arthrodesis apparatus is mainly suitable for European and people from USA, but not fit for Asian.OBJECTIVE: To simulate scaphotrapeziotrapezoid limited intercarpal arthrodesis, and to test the stability of the novel arthrodesis apparatus developed by the group according to anatomic form of dorsal joint fovea of Chinese scaphotrapeziotrapezoid.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The observational study was performed at the Laboratory of Biomechanics of the Department of Orthopaedics, Nantong University from April 2006 to March 2007.MATERIALS: A total of 40 fresh forearm samples of corpses that were not subjected to antiseptic treatment were used for this study. Radiograph verified that these samples did not develop wrist joint affection or abnormal alinement.METHODS: The cadaver models were imitated limited intercarpal instability before scaphotrapeziotrapezoid arthrodesis used circular plate. Then, simulated flexion 50°, extenion 35°, ulnar deviation 30°, radial deviation 10° ultimate activities (50000).CT scan and 3-D reconstruction should be taken before and after motion.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The index of the radial-scapho angle (RSA), radial-scapho distance (RSD), scapho length(SL), trapezium-trapezoid inclination (TTI), trapezium-trapezoid width (TTW) were measured.RESULTS: Prior to motion RSA, RSD, SL, TTW and TTI were (38.725±2.230) °, (18.988±1.216) mm, (1.686±0.191) cm,(27.360±1.571) mm and (114.975±2.293) °. Following motion RSA, RSD, SL, TTW and TTI were (38.800±2.388) °,(19.215±1.443) mm, (1.683±0.209) cm, (27.718±1.910) mm, (115.300±3.023) °. No significant difference in above-described indexes was determined before and after motion (P > 0.05).CONCLUSION: The novel STT limited intercarpal arthrodesis apparatus shows confidential stability. Thus, wrist joint can do exercises in an early stage at the range of 35 dorsal extension, 50 palmar flexion, 10 radial deviation and 30 ulnar deviation.

The technique conditions of decolonization of fermentation broth were successively optimized using single factor assay and orthogonal layout method in Cordyceps jiangxiensis. The optimal condition of decolorization was investigated to be 3g/100mL active carbon, 5 min absorption time, pH5 of fermented broth and 25℃absorption temperature. Under the optimal condition, the maximum decolorization rate of fermented broth reached 89. 6% , simultaneously 10. 7% consuming rate of exopolysaccahride was minimum. Subsequently, the extract condition of exopolysaccharide of C. jiangxiensis was further optimized by orthogonal layout design. The maximum exopolysaccharide production was 0. 38 g/L under the optimal condition, i. e. firstly fermented filtrate decolorized and deproteined was concentrated to 1/7 of its total volume, secondly concentration broth was mixed with four times its volume of absolute ethanol and stirred vigorously, lastly precipitation of exopolysaccharide proceeded at 4℃for 16 hrs and the exopolysaccharide collected by centrifugal ion and dryness.

Objective CD4 +IL-17 +cells are a group of newly discovered effector CD4 +T cells, which may play a key role in the pathogenesis of cancer.This study aims to investigate the expres-sion of CD4 +IL-17 +cells in pancreatic cancer and its correlation with the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of the dis-ease as well as the clinical significance of the cells in the microenvironment of pancreatic cancer. Methods We collected tumor tis-sue and tumor-adjacent normal tissue samples from 51 pancreatic cancer patients.We determined the expressions of CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) and measured the proportion of IL-17 +cells in the cancer tissue using immunohistochemistry and the fluorescence activated cell sorter, respectively, followed by analysis of their correlation with tumor angiogenesis, clinicopathological pa-rameters, and survival time of the patients. Results The percentage of CD4 +IL-17 +cells in tumor tissue was positively correlated with microvessel density (r =0.534, P<0.05) and the expression of VEGF in the tumor tissue (r=0.356, P<0.05).IL-17 +cells were expressed more highly in the tumorous than in the tumor-adjacent normal tissue (P<0.05), and the expression level was correla-ted with the stage of tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05), but not with the patients′gender or age, tumor size, tumor location, histological grade, or local invasion (P>0.05).Fifty (98.0%) of the patients were successfully followed up for 2-67 months, which revealed a median survival time of 16.6 ±4.8 months, significantly longer in those with a higher expression of intratumoral IL-17 +cells (P<0.05).Univariate analysis showed an association of the survival rate with the tumor size, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, and level of intratumoral IL-17 +cells, while multivariate analysis showed the TNM stage to be an independent prognostic factor for the survival of the pancreatic cancer patients. Conclusion The expression of CD4 +IL-17 +cells in the tumor tissue is positively correlated with tumor angiogenesis, while that of IL-17 +cells with the clinicopathological parameters and survival time of the patients and therefore may serve as an important immune indicator for the prognosis of pancreatic cancer.

In order to study the tumor suppression effect of p53 with CMV enhancer and hTERT promoter mediated by human-derived vector pHrn in liver cancer cell Bel-7402, report plasmid pchEGFP, tumor suppressor plasmids pchp53Arg and pchp53Pro were constructed by inserting expression cassette CMVe+hTERTp+EGFP, CMVe+hTERTp+p53Arg and CMVe+hTERTp+p53Pro into pHrn respectively. 24 h after cell transfection by lipofectamine 2000, GFP expression pattern was analyzed through fluorescence microscope and flow cytometry; RT-PCR and Western blot were taken to study the p53 expression pattern. The cell apoptosis by Hoechst 33258 and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining was also studied. Results show that the expression of GFP and p53 protein in Bel-7402were detected, but apparent cell apoptosis could not be found. The recombinant p53 mediated by human-derived vector could express in Bel-7402, but no significant tumor suppression effect was detected, which might result from the down regulation effect of the wild type p53 on hTERT promoter.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Lipid Metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Orthotopic liver transplantation has proven to be effective in the treatment of a variety of life-threatening liver diseases, however, the limitations of donated organs available and long-term immunosuppression provided an impetus for developing alternative therapies. Cell replacement strategies have been one major effective approach for overcoming the obstacles of organ transplantation in recent years. The exogenous cells should be able to proliferate and differentiate into mature hepatic cells after grafting. Use of mature hepatocytes is also hampered by limited tissue source and inability to proliferate and maintain the function for a long term in vitro. Embryonic stem cells are immortal and pluripotent and may provide a novel cell source for potential cell therapy. This review summarizes the mechanisms of controlling early liver development and hepatic differentiation of visceral endoderm in embryoid bodies, and provides an overview of diverse differentiation systems in vitro and in vivo that were applied to hepatic research in recent years. Several studies have demonstrated that ES cell-derived hepatocytes can incorporate into liver tissue and function in vivo , but a few of them have shown complete restoration of liver function after transplantation into mice with liver diseases. Further studies should be made to exploit efficient methods and clinical applications of hepatocytes derived from ES cells in the future. In addition to clinical transplantation for treatment of liver diseases, ES cells can provide a valuable tool for drug discovery applications and study on of molecular basis of hepatic differentiation.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; transplantation ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; therapy

AIMTo investigate the effects of fungal elicitors on inophyllums production in suspension cultured cell of Calophyllum inophyllum Linn.

METHODSThe pathogen of leaf spot disease of C. inophyllum L. was isolated and prepared as fungal elicitor. The fungal elicitor was added to the medium with different concentrations and culture period. Their effects on biomass and inophyllums content of the suspension of cultured cells were studied.

RESULTSThe optimum effects of S-I fungal elicitor concentrations on inophyllums content was 60 mg GE x L(-1). Adding the fungi elicitor into the cell suspension culture system at stationary phase (being cultured for 18 days) resulted in a highest inophyllum content of 59.174 mg x L(-1) at the 3rd day with 27% higher than control. Fungal elicitor treatment promoted the inophyllums accumulation in medium.

CONCLUSIONAdding the Stagonospora curtisii (Berk.) Sacc. to the medium was effective approaches to enhance inophyllums yield in the suspension of C. inophyllum L culture cell.

Calophyllum ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cell Division ; Cells, Cultured ; Coumarins ; metabolism ; Culture Media ; Mitosporic Fungi ; physiology