The neurotoxin β-amyloid (Aβ) is the main hallmark of Alzheimer′s disease (AD). Recent evidence suggests that, in common sporadic or late-onset forms of AD, elevated brain Aβ levels are caused by impaired clearance rather than overproduction. The cell surface receptor′s low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1) has been reported to not only play a role in Aβ endocytosis, but also exist in the blood-brain barrier system, peripheral blood, liver, kidney and other tissues and organs, and transport Aβ to the cerebrospinal fluid or blood system by passing through the blood-brain barrier or the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier effectively, and finally clear it out of the body through peripheral tissues and organs. In this review, the role of LRP1 in the peripheral transport and clearance of Aβ is described, and it may be a safe and effective way to reduce Aβ in the brain and even improve cognitive dysfunction.

Several methods for the qualitative screening of fungi to degrade lignin were introduced in this paper, with detailed protocols and discussing for each assay.

Objective　To explore the role of tyrosine hydroxy lase (TH) gene in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) by using ex vivo gene transfer. Methods　After the construction of TH gene in a retroviral vector, the astrocytes were cultured with the supernatant containing the recombinant DNA and then grafted into the cerebrum of PD rats. The reduction of the rat rotation beharior was evaluated. Results　The rotati on of PD rats was markedly improved in the rats with ex vivo gene transfer. Conclusion　TH has an obvious efficiency on the treatment of PD and the astrocytes can be used as effective gene transfer cells.

Objective To observe the changes of islet cell apoptosis and oxidation-antioxidation before the transplantation, and to explore the pathways of islet protection. Methods Fifteen human pancreases were perfused with the Hanks solution containing collagenase, then digested and isolated. During the procedure, islet cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL, SOD and MDA in the pancreas were measured by colorimetric method, and the morphologic changes were observed by H-E staining and dithizone staining. Results In the procedure of human islet isolation, especially in the stage of digestion, the apoptosis of human islet cells occurred. In the stages of perfusion and digestion, the MDA contents reached the high levels (6. 18 ± 2. 38 and 9. 21 ± 2. 75 umol/mg protein respectively),and the structures of the islets and tissues around the islets were damaged. Conclusion In the stages of perfusion and digestion, apoptosis of islet cells can be caused by oxidation. It suggests that antioxidation is a pathway for protection of islets before transplantation.

Objective To construct a new recombinant immunotoxin expression vector by using human VEGF165 and a truncated pseudomonas exotoxin A ramification (PE38) gene, and explore the expression of the VEGF165-PE38 fusion protein in HEK293 cells. Methods VEGF165 was cloned by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PE38 gene was gained from an vector plasmid pRB391 by restriction endonuclease digestion, and then inserted to the eukaryotic expression vector pIRES2-EGFP. After the eukaryotic recombinant vector pIRES2-VEGF165-PE38-EGFP was identified by restriction endonuclease digestion and sequence analysis, the vector was transfected into HEK293 cells by liposome protocol. RT-PCR and ELISA method was used to confirm the expression of the fusion gene in the HEK293 cells. Results Restriction endonuclease digestion and sequence analysis revealed the VEGF165-PE38 fusion gene was cloned into the eukaryotic expression plasmid vector pIRES2-EGFP successfully. The pIRES2-VEGF165-PE38-EGFP fusion gene could express in the HEK293 cells. Conclusion The result provide the basis for search of the targeted cytotoxic activity to tumor vascular endothelial cells and may have some potential value in clinical application.

Objective:To study the effects of Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis on proliferation of DC -CIK cells and the activity of killing HepG-2 cells by DC-CIK cells.Methods:Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were routinely isolated and induced into DC and CIK.DC and CIK co-cultured by 1∶5 for 7 days,then Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis were added into medicine group ,observed the mor-phology of the cells on the tenth day and counted the DC-CIK number of each group.DC-CIK cells acted as effector cells and the HepG-2 cells as target cells , cck-8 method for the detection of DC-CIK in the killing rate of HepG-2.Results: The Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis was able to proliferate the DC-CIK dramatically ,the optimal concentration was 0.1 mg/ml.Cultivation of Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis induced DC-CIK cells on HepG-2 cells killing effect was better than that of the routine method of DC-CIK cells; the effection of Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis killing HepG-2 cells was not obviously.Conclusion: Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis can enhance the anti-tumor activity of DC-CIK mainly by promoting the proliferation of it.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of modified culture method used to cytogenetic analysis and the clinically significance of chromosomal abnormalities to multiple myeloma (MM).

METHODSMononuclear cells were isolated from bone marrow aspirate of 20 MM patients; and then cultured for 3 days without any cytokines, and 6 days in the presence of IL-6 (10 ng/mL) and GM-CSF (30 ng/mL) before RHG banding analysis; the remained part of aspirates were treated directly. Eight cases of iron deficiency anemia were taken as control.

RESULTSThe experiment was failure in 2 cases because of blood clot, and another 2 cases could be analyzed only by direct method due to inadequate cells. The karyotype abnormalities were found from 4 cases of 16 available patients. Of them, three cases had complex karyotypes. The abnormalities were detected after 6 days culture with addition of cytokines. No abnormalities were detected from those groups of directly analysis and 3 day culture. Meantime, the clinical data showed that the patients with cytogenetic abnormalities were in stage III, and had a high percentage of MM cells (25%-56%) in their bone marrow, and also poor responses to prior chemotherapy. No cytogenetic abnormalities were found from control individuals in all groups.

CONCLUSIONExtended culture in the presence of cytokines could improve the efficiency of cytogenetic analysis to MM. Complex karyotype was common cytogenetic abnormalities in MM patients with poor response to chemotherapy.

Aged ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; genetics ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effect of RNA interference on chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) bcr/abl oncogene expression.

METHODSThe small interference RNAs (siRNAs) were synthesized in vitro. K562 cells stably expressing bcr/abl gene were transfected with the siRNA by electroporation, both the non-transfected cells and non-specific siRNAs transfected cells were taken as controls. The enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) plasmid was used as positive control and the transfection efficiency was detected by flow cytometry. Inhibitory effect of siRNAs was demonstrated by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and Western blots. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay and apoptosis by Annexin V-FITC assay.

RESULTSThe transfection efficiency was about 70%. The synthesized siRNAs inhibited CML bcr/abl oncogene expression at both mRNA and protein levels. siRNAs could inhibit K562 cell proliferation to 47% and 56% at 24 h and 48 h after transfection, respectively, and induce cell apoptosis from 1.00% in control group to 15.05% and 19.4% at 24 h and 48 h respectively.

CONCLUSIONAt the cell level, inhibition of CML bcr/abl oncogene expression by chemically synthesized siRNAs provides the new method for anti-leukemia study.

Apoptosis ; genetics ; Cell Proliferation ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Transfection

When hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) were administrated by intravenous infusion (IV), most of them were trapped in some nonhematopoietic organs as like lungs that had abundant blood capillaries. Only a small fraction of injected cells could home to the bone marrow, which reduced the engraftment of HSCs. The purpose of intra-bone marrow (IBM) transplantation was to facilitate the homing of HSCs directly. Based on the established murine model for allogeneic umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) by IBM injection, the objective of this study was to compare the distribution of fetal and neonatal peripheral blood (FNPB) mononuclear cells (MNC) in vivo and the efficacy of HSCT by different routes of administration in mice. BALB/c recipient mice exposed to sublethal dose 60Co gamma-ray were transplanted with FNPBMNCs from C57BL/6 mice. Recipient mice were divided into six groups at random: unilateral-IBM group; bilateral-IBM group; IV group; bilateral-IBM + IV group; irradiated control group and normal group. The distribution of CFSE-labeled FNPBMNCs in the recipients was observed in frozen sections of different organs or by flow cytometry. The survival rate, engraftment level, recovery of hematopoietic function and GVHD of recipient mice were studied. The results showed that infused by IBM route, FNPBMNCs mainly accumulated in the bone marrow (BM) cavity of the injected side tibia. Some of them could enter the BM of noninjected bones via blood circulation and few were trapped in the lung. Though same amount of FNPBMNCs were injected into recipient mice of unilateral and bilateral-IBM group, less cells could leak into peripheral blood or other tissues when transplanted by bilateral-IBM route. Therefore, in term of accelerating hemopoietic recovery, the injection of IBM route was better than IV route, especially bilateral IBM injection of HSCs, which neared the normal level of peripheral blood cells and colony-forming units of bone marrow nucleated cells at day 21 after transplantation, followed by unilateral-IBM group and bilateral-IBM + IV group. The percentages of H-2Db cell subsets in the three IBM groups were much higher than that in IV group. There was no significant difference of the engraftment level in the injected side tibia between the unilateral and bilateral-IBM group. When secondary transplantation was performed, the engraftment level in bilateral-IBM group was still much higher than that in IV group. At day 90, the survival rates of IBM groups were all > or = 80%, while that of IV group was only 50%. It is concluded that bilateral-IBM route can facilitate the homing of more HSCs, accelerate the engraftment of HSCs and hematopoietic reconstitution, which promoted the efficacy of IBM-HSCT.
Animals ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Random Allocation ; Whole-Body Irradiation

OBJECTIVETo identify the abnormal karyotypes by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and explore prognostic implications in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

METHODSFISH was used to detect the frequently occurring chromosome abnormalities (-5/5q, +8, -7/7q-) in 37 MDS cases. SPSS 11.5 software and correlation analysis were used to analyze the relativity among the abnormal chromosomes, the prognosis and the disease conversion in 37 MDS patients.

RESULTSKaryotype abnormalities were found in 21 (56.8%) of 37 cases, among which 6 (16.2%) were complex karyotypes, 9 (24.3%) +8, 2(5.4%) -5/5q-, 2(5.4%) -7/7q-. In the median time of follow-up of 12 months, 12 cases transformed into acute leukemia. Complex karyotypes were significantly associated with the poor prognosis and leukemia transformation. + 8 and -7/7q- abnormalities were correlated with the death.

CONCLUSIONSFISH was more sensitive than conventional cytogenetics for detecting mini-clonal abnormality. There are some differences in abnormal karyotypes between patients in China and the western countries. Multi-probes used in cytogenetic detections may predict the patient' s prognosis more accurately. The higher proportion of abnormal karyotypes the poorer prognosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; genetics ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Karyotyping ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; genetics