Objective To investigate the regulatory effect of adrenomedullin (AM) on the cell-cell contact formation of podocytes and the possible mechanism.Methods Podocytes were treated with AM (10-7 mol/L),AM combined with a PKA inhibitor H89 (10-4 mol/L),and forskolin (10-5 mol/L) as positive control respectively for 12 hours.Immunofluorescent staining was applied to observe the distribution of cell adhesion molecules and actin-associated proteins.Western blotting assay was used to assess their protein levels.Rho GTPases activity was analyzed by GST-pull down assay and their protein levels were tested by Western blotting.Results AM induced the redistribution of adhesion molecules,actin-associated proteins as well as the F-actin at cell-cell contacts between podocytes.This effect was similar to that of forskolin and could be blocked by H89.The levels of those proteins did not change significantly (P ＞ 0.05).AM up-regulated the activities of RhoA,Rac1 and Cdc42 (P ＜ 0.05),which were partially blocked by H89.The protein levels of Rho GTPases showed no difference compared with the control (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions AM may promote cell-cell contact formation of podocytes,probably through enhancing the activity of Rho GTPases and then resulting in the redistribution of adhesion molecules,actin-associated proteins and F-actin,which is partially mediated through cAMP-PKA signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies have mainly focused on costal cartilage, articular cartilage, nasal septal cartilage, and auricular cartilage, but in vitro culture of human vertebral endplate cartilage is stil rarely reported. OBJECTIVE: To discuss the feasibility of culture of vertebral endplate chondrocytes from type I neurofibromatosis associated with scoliosis patientsin vitro and to study the biological characters of the chondrocytes. METHODS: Through two-step enzymatic digestion and tissue culture, the chondrocytes from the vertebral endplate of seven type I neurofibromatosis patients isolated and cultured in monolayer and passaged to observe the changes of cel morphology under inverted phase contrast microscope. Colagen type II expression was detected by immunocytochemistry to identify whether the cels had chondrocyte characters. The growth kinetics was detected by using MTT colorimetric assay to draw the growth curve of passage 2 chondrocytes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A few chondrocytes crawled from the cartilage after 2 weeks culture and cels were passaged at 3 weeks. Along with passage going on, the phenotype of chondrocytes was changed from polygonal, round, triangle, and irregular shapes to fusiform. The colagen type II expression in passage 2 cels was positive by immunohistochemical staining. MTT test showed the growth curve of the passage 2 chondrocytes presented a transverse “S”. Cels were found logarithmic growth at days 4-7, reached platform stage at days 8-13, and decreased at day 14. It is an effective and simple procedure by two-step enzymatic digestion and tissue explant method to culture vertebral endplate chondrocytes with high purity and good viability from type I neurofibromatosis patients associated with scoliosisin vitro. Passage 2 chondrocytes from the vertebral endplate exhibit the best viability at days 4-7, which can be used as targets for research of pathogenesis of type I neurofibromatosis with atrophic scoliosis.

Objective:To accumulate dendritic cells(DC) into the peripheral blood and induce the specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte against tumor.Methods:B220~-CD11c~+ cells were sorted from the peripheral blood of C57BL/6 mice injected i.v.with P.acnes,and cultured for about six days in the presence of GM-CSF,IL-4 and mTNF-?.Phenotype and mixed leukocyte reaction(MLR) of these cells were assayed.CTL to anti-tumor,which was developed by cultured B220~CD11c~+ cells loading tumor antigen,was detected.Results:B220~-CD11c~+ cells were rapidly accumulated in the circulation of the mice after P.acnes injection.These cells could differentiate into mature DC when cultured in the presence of cytokines for several days.Moreover,cultured B220~-CD11c~+ cells loading tumor antigen could stimulate naive splenic CD3~+T cells generate high level of IFN-? and tumor specific cytolytic reactivity in vitro.Conclusion:B220~-CD11c~+ DC precursors rapidly accumulated in the peripheral blood after injection of(P.acnes) in mice.T cells could develop specific CTL to anti-target tumor cells in vitro when stimulated with P.acnes-mobilized DC loading tumor antigen.

BACKGROUND:With the extensive application of anterior titanium plate, postoperative complications such as dysphagia, titanium loose, screw exit and disc degeneration of neighboring segments induced more and more attention of researchers. However, the application of anterior cervical cage is expected to avoid these complications. ＜br> OBJECTIVE:To observe primary curative effect of anterior cervical cage ROI-C in anterior cervical spine surgery. ＜br> METHODS:A total of 32 patients with cervical spondylosis were treated with anterior cervical cage ROI-C in the Wuxi Ninth Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University from April to December 2013. The cage was implanted to promote interbody fusion. Of 32 cases, 23 cases affected cervical spondylotic myelopathy, 2 cases affected nerve root type cervical spondylosis, 3 cases affected cervical hyperextension injury, 1 case affected cervical disc herniation, 2 cases affected cervical instability and 1 case affected segmental cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Japanese Orthopaedic Association and NDI scores were determined to assess neurological symptoms and functional improvement before internal fixation and during final fol ow-up. Simultaneously, adverse reactions were recorded. ＜br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 32 patients finished the regular fol ow-up for 4 to 8 months. Clinical symptoms and spinal cord function of al patients were obviously improved. No ROI-C loosing or displacement or secondary surgery was found. The average fusion time was 4.2 months (3 to 5 months). Mean score of Japanese Orthopaedic Association was increased from 9.2 points pre-surgery to 13.8 points post-surgery. Japanese Orthopaedic Association and NDI scores were higher during final fol ow-up than before fixation (P＜0.05). These data indicated that ROI-C effectively restored intervertebral height in anterior cervical spine surgery, stably reconstructed cervical vertebra, obtained interbody fusion, effectively avoided related surgical complications induced by plate implantation, improved neurological symptoms and function, and showed good short-term effects.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the expression of the CD(40) and its ligand (CD(40)L) on bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC), and investigate interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-6, Flt3 ligand (FL) and stem cell factor (SCF) production of BMSC after stimulated with CD(40) agonistic monoclonal antibody (5C11) and its role in the regulation of hematopoiesis.

METHODSBMSC were freshly isolated from adult bone marrow. The expression of CD(40) on these cells was determined with flow cytometry, the concentrations of IL-3, IL-6, FL and SCF in the supernatant at 24, 48 and 72 hours after BMSC cultured with 5C11 at a dose of 20 micro g/ml were determined by the ELISA assay. After BMSC incubated with 5C11 for 24 hours, the supernatant was collected and cultured with purified cord blood CD(34)(+) cells for 7 days under 37 degrees C in a fully humidified atmosphere supplement with 5% CO(2). Colony formation assay and Annexin V assay were employed to determine the proliferation and apoptosis of the CD(34)(+) cells.

RESULTSBMSC expressed CD(40) and the production of IL-6 and FL increased after stimulated with 5C11 while IL-3 and SCF had no change. The supernatant collected from the stimulated BMSC promoted proliferation of CD(34)(+) cells, increased the CFU-GM yields and had anti-apoptosis effects.

CONCLUSIONCD(40) ligandization on BMSC increased the production of IL-6 and FL and promoted the proliferation of CD(34)(+) cells. The couple CD(40)/CD(40)L may be involved in the control of hematopoiesis via modulation of the cytokine network in the bone marrow.

Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; CD40 Antigens ; immunology ; metabolism ; CD40 Ligand ; metabolism ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; pharmacology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; immunology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; biosynthesis ; Membrane Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of Jinyaodai on neurological behavior and Akt expression in the cortex of rats following spinal cord contusion injury.MethodsRats were randomly divided into control group,spinal cord contusion group and Jinyaodai group.The weight-drop device was employed to prepare the spinal cord injury(SCI) model.Jinyaodai was administrated every day by using a stomach tube.Rats were performed the BBB assessment,and the detection of Akt expression and count of Neun positive neurons in cortex following SCI.ResultsCompared with control group,deficit of motor function in hindlimbs was seen at 3 dpo following cord contusion,and partial functional recovery could be seen from 7 dpo to 1 m.Treatment of Jinyaodai greatly increased the BBB scores ( 14.1 ± 1.4 ) more than SCI group ( 7.8 ± 1.3 ) at 1 month (P ＜ 0.05 ) ; Simultaneously,compared with SCI rats,treatment of Jinyaodai significantly increased the expression of Akt (0.53 ± 0.05,0.68 ± 0.07,P ＜0.05 ) and the number of neurons ( 11 ± 2, 15 ± 1 ; P ＜ 0.05 ) in the lesion-induced cortex of rats.Conclusion Jinyaodai may play an essential roles in functional recovery after spinal cord injury,in which the underlying mechanism may be involved in the expression of Akt in cortex.

Objective To examine the expression of response gene to complement 32 (RGC-32) in renal tissue of children with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), and to explore its significance. Methods The subjects were 45 children diagnosed as IgAN by renal biopsy. The expression of RGC-32, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) was examined by immunohistochemistry staining. The correlation of RGC-32 expression with α-SMA,TGF-β1, degree of renal pathological lesions and clinical index in IgAN was assessed by Spearman correlation analysis. Results RGC-32 protein located in renal tubular epithelial cells in normal and IgAN renal tissues. The positive expression index of RGC-32 in nomal group, IgAN mild group, moderate group and severe group was (18.29±6.22)%, (23.90±9.65)%, (31.23±9.86)%,and (34.52±10.63)% respectively. With more severity of renal pathological lesions, the expression of RGC-32 in IgAN was enhanced. The RGC-32 expression was positively correlated with the score of glomerulus and renal interstitium in children with IgAN (r=0.385, 0.347, P＜0.05), as well as α-SMA, TGF-β1 (r=0.594, 0.521, P＜0.01), but was not correlated with Scr, urinary NAG/Cr,Alb/Cr, IgG/Cr, and α1-M/Cr (r =0.117, -0.115, -0.138, -0.176, -0.028, all P ＞0.05).Conclusions RGC-32 protein locates in renal tubular epithelial cells in normal and IgAN renal tissues. RGC-32 may participate in the course of renal tubulointerstitial lesions in children with IgAN, especially in the course of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by TGF-β1.

Background Corneal neovascularization (CNV) is one of the causes of corneal blindness.Studies showed that zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) can inhibit pathological angiogenesis through physical barrier formed by tight junction structure.However,whether ZO-1 plays a role in CNV is unclear.Objective The aim of this study was to explore the effect of ZO-1,a tight junction protein on experimental CNV.Methods The CNV models were established in the left eyes of 24 clear male BALB/c mice aged 7-8 weeks by putting NaOH filter paper in the center of corneas for 15 seconds (15 s group) or 40 seconds (40 s group).CNV was examined and evaluated under the slit lamp microscope,and the expression of ZO-1 mRNA in the corneas were detected and compared by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) between the two groups 2 weeks after modeling.In addition,54 models created by the same method were assigned to 3 groups according to randomized number table,0.2％ hyaluronic acid (HA),antiZO-1 neutralizing antibody (10 mg/L) +0.2％ HA and mouse hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) recombinant protein (5 mg/L)+0.2％ HA were topically administrated in the mice three times a day for 1 week after modeling respectively.The corneas were extracted 2 weeks after application of the drugs.Expression of CD31 in the CNV was assayed to calculate the number and the area of CNV by immunohistochemistry.The expression of VEGF mRNA in the corneas was detected by RT-PCR.The percentages of macrophage-specific F4/80 positive cells and neutrophilsspecific Ly-6G positive cells were calculated to evaluate the infiltrations of inflammatory cells in the corneas by flow cytometry.Results In 2 weeks after alkali burn of corneas,the number of severe CNV was more in the 40 s group than that in the 15 s group (x2 =6.032,P=0.049),and the expression level of ZO-1 mRNA was lower in the 40 s group than that in the 15 s group (1.15±0.08 versus 1.53±0.04) (t=4.157,P=0.014).CD31 positive cell number was more and the staining area was larger in the ZO-1 antibody group and HIF-1α positive control group than those in the 0.2％ HA group (cells:t=-129.590,-226.820,both at P=0.000;area:t =-5.310,-8.840,both at P=0.000).The relative expressions level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA was 1.33±0.10 and 1.46±0.11 in the ZO-1 antibody group and HIF-1 α positive control group respectively,which were significantly higher than 0.93±0.06 of the 0.2％ HA group (t =-5.820,-7.284,both at P =0.000).The percentages of positive cells in the ZO-1 antibody group and HIF-1α positive control group were significantly increased in comparison with the 0.2％ HA group for F4/80 (t =-16.750,-17.480,both at P =0.000) and for Ly-6G (t =-21.450,-27.680,both at P=0.000).Conclusions Alkali burn induced CNV downregulates the expression of ZO-1 mRNA.Administration of ZO-1 antibody causes the rise of VEGF mRNA in CNV and the infiltration inflammation cells,which suggests that the influence of ZO-1 on CNV is associated with the expression of VEGF.

Object: To investigate the effects of Huaiqihuang Granule, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, on expressions of nephrin and podocin of slit diaphragm of glomerular podocytes in rats with adriamycin-induced nephrosis and to explore the mechanism in reducing the proteinuria. Methods: Twenty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups: control group, model group, glucocorticoid group, Huaiqihuang Granule group and Huaiqihuang Granule plus glucocorticoid group. The 24-hour urine was collected 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after adriamycin injection respectively to measure 24-hour urinary protein, and all rats were sacrificed after 28-day treatment. Pathological changes in renal tissues were observed under a light microscope and an electron microscope. Expressions of nephrin and podocin mRNAs in renal cortex were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction, and protein levels of nephrin and podocin were detected by Western blotting. Results: (1) In the model group and the treatment groups, the level of urinary protein increased significantly from the 14th day. (2) Under the light microscope, inflammatory cells and slight fibroplasia were found in renal interstitium of the model group, but there were less inflammatory cells in renal interstitium in the intervention groups than in the model group. Under the electron microscope, 29 days after adriamycin injection, extensive fusion of foot processes was observed. (3) The expressions of nephrin and podocin were higher in treatment groups than in the model group. (4) Proteinuria level was negatively correlated with the expressions of nephrin mRNA and nephrin and podocin proteins. Conclusion: The above results indicate that Huaiqihuang Granule can maintain the integrity of the slid diaphragram in podocyte, alleviate the lesion of glomerular filtration membrane, and decrease the proteinuria by up-regulating the expressions of nephrin and podocin. Huaiqihuang Granule plus glucocorticoid maybe has better effects than glucocorticoid alone.

Objective To investigate the levels of IL-2,IL-6and their receptors in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)before and after treatment.Methods The levels of IL-2,IL-6and their receptors were detected by ELISA,immunofluorescence labelling technique and flow cytometry analysis,respectively,in peripheral blood taken from SLE patients before and after treatment and normal controls.Results①IL-2was significantly decreased(P