Human γδ T cells

A numerically small subset of human T lymphocytes expresses a γδ T cell receptor (TCR). These γδ T cells share certain effector functions with αβ T cells as well as with NK cells and NKT cells. The major peripheral blood γδ T cell subset in healthy adults expresses a Vγ9Vδ2 TCR, which recognizes small phosphorylated metabolites referred to as phosphoantigens. Vδ1 γδ T cells mainly occur in the intestine. They recognize the stress-induced MICA/B and CD1c. Furthermore, γδ T cells express a variety of NK cell and pattern-recognition receptors which are responsible for the “fine-tuning” of effector functions. In recent years, γδ T cells start to emerge as a rewarding target for immunotherapeutic strategies against viral infections and cancer. A better understanding of factors that modulate γδ T cell function will further eluminate the potential of these cells.     

Getting to Know the Human Brain

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Suitability of Human Tenon’s Fibroblasts as Feeder Cells for Culturing Human Limbal Epithelial Stem Cells

Corneal epithelial regeneration through ex vivo expansion of limbal stem cells (LSCs) on 3T3-J2 fibroblasts has revealed some limitations mainly due to the corneal microenvironment not being properly replicated, thus affecting long term results. Insights into the feeder cells that are used to expand LSCs and the mechanisms underlying the effects of human feeder cells have yet to be fully elucidated. We recently developed a standardized methodology to expand human Tenon’s fibroblasts (TFs). Here we aimed to investigate whether TFs can be employed as feeder cells for LSCs, characterizing the phenotype of the co-cultures and assessing what human soluble factors are secreted. The hypothesis that TFs could be employed as alternative human feeder layer has not been explored yet. LSCs were isolated from superior limbus biopsies, co-cultured on TFs, 3T3-J2 or dermal fibroblasts (DFs), then analyzed by immunofluorescence (p63α), colony-forming efficiency (CFE) assay and qPCR for a panel of putative stem cell and epithelial corneal differentiation markers (KRT3). Co-cultures supernatants were screened for a set of soluble factors. Results showed that the percentage of p63α⁺LSCs co-cultured onto TFs was significantly higher than those on DFs (p?=?0.032) and 3T3-J2 (p?=?0.047). Interestingly, LSCs co-cultures on TFs exhibited both significantly higher CFE and mRNA expression levels of ΔNp63α than on 3T3-J2 and DFs (p?<?0.0001), showing also significantly greater levels of soluble factors (IL-6, HGF, b-FGF, G-CSF, TGF-β3) than LSCs on DFs. Therefore, TFs could represent an alternative feeder layer to both 3T3-J2 and DFs, potentially providing a suitable microenvironment for LSCs culture.     

Ultrastructural Study of Human Lymphatic Drainage Units

Lymphatic drainage units (LDU) may take up fluid, ceils and particles from the peritoneal cavity. The object of this study is to elucidate the ultrastructure of human LDU with ODO (OsO_4-DMSO-OsO_4) freeze fracture of SEM and TEM. LDU located between the peritoneal stomata and lymphatic lacunae, are composed of three components: the cuboidal cells, the endothelial cells of lacunae, and intervening connective tissue. All these three structures abut each other but are not linked by junctional specializations. The cuboidal cells often extend     

Human serum γ-globulin binds copper cations

Binding of copper cations to human serum γ-globulin was studied using molecular ultrafiltration. The content of free metal in the filtrate was evaluated by the reaction with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate. Conformation characteristics of the protein were evaluated by UV spectrophotometry. γ-Globulin molecule has several copper-binding sites differing by binding constants and filled one-by-one as the content of bound metal increased. __________ Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 141, No. 1, pp. 59–62, January, 2006     

Visible Human计划的发展与应用

ＶｉｓｉｂｌｅＨｕｍａｎ计划是由美国国家医学图书馆发起的建立真实三维人体的ＣＴ、ＭＲＩ和解剖切面的数字化图像库。ＶｉｓｉｂｌｅＨｕｍａｎ数据集已经成为构造电子医学图像库和虚拟解剖环境的理想基础。本文介绍了ＶｉｓｉｂｌｅＨｕｍａｎ计划的有关背景和发展过程，并概括分析了重建三维人体模型的基本方法和所要解决的主要问题。     

SV40: A Human Pathogen?

Over the past eight years an increasing number of investigators have found SV40 genomic sequences in a variety of human samples, both malignant and normal. Tumor types recurrently reported as SV40-positive include choroid plexus neoplasms, ependymomas, osteosarcomas, and mesotheliomas. Nonetheless, considerable skepticism that SV40 is a human pathogen still prevails. More constructively, the study of SV40 in humans has renewed interest in the related BK and JC viruses and their role in human disease. New questions now must be addressed. In particular, seroepidemiologic studies utilizing reagents that distinguish SV40, BKV, and JCV immune responses would be a logical next step for independently assessing viral prevalence. Also, prospective studies of select patient groups using optimized detection methods might determine whether SV40 is associated with human oncogenesis in particular circumstances. The importance of such research is underscored by the potential to prevent human polyomavirus infections, and possible associated malignancy, through immunization of high risk populations.     

Human papillomaviruses’ proteins with clinical utility

ABSTRACT

Cervical cancer, the fourth leading cause of cancer-associated deaths among women worldwide, is associated with human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. Despite the prophylactic HPV vaccination and the implementation of cervical and HPV-based screening programs, a significant increase in cervical cancer incidence is estimated by the year 2020. Thus, further development of diagnostic tools that allow detection and risk assesment in genital HPV infection is necessary. A special interest is focused on the HPV viral proteins whose expression might be of use either as primary screening tool or in conjunction with other markers (cellular proteins, HPV DNA, PAP test).     

Culture of Human Tendon Cell Transfected by Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Plasmid and their Biological CharacteristicsIn Vitro

1 IntroductionThe proliferative and functional characteristics of tendon cell are the key issue in the research of tissue engineered tendon. The standard tendon cell line, which has normal functional characteristics, and can be subcultured continuously and permanently, will not only meet the demands of seeding cell in tissue engineered tendon, but also control the variable of tendon cell. In our previous study, it showed that the proliferative ability of human tendon cell cultured in vitro is …     

α-Fetoprotein in Human Fetal Vitreous Body

α-Fetoprotein was detected in human fetal vitreous body and its concentrations on gestation weeks 16–24 were measured. The concentration of α-fetoprotein was maximum during week 17 of pregnancy (17.4 mg/ml), but then decreased and reached 1.42 mg/ml by week 24.     

Visible Human计划的发展与应用

Ｖｉｓｂｌｅ Ｈｕｍａｎ计划是由美国国家医学图书馆发起的建立真空三维人体的ＣＴ、ＭＲＩ和解剖切面的数字经图像库，Ｖｉｓｉｂｌｅ Ｈｕｍａｎ数据集已经成为构造电子医学图像库和虚拟解剖环境的理想基础。本文介绍了Ｖｉｓｂｌｅ Ｈｕｍａｎ计划的有关前景和发展过程，并概括分析了重建三维人体模型的基本方法和所要解决的主要问题。     

A New Method for Human Microcirculation Image Enhancement

Microcirculation images often have uneven illumination and low contrast in the acquisition process, which affect the image reorganization and following process. This paper presents a new method for microcireulatory image illumination correction and contrast enhancement based on the Contourlet transform. Initially, the image illumination model is extracted by Contourlet transform and then uneven illumination is corrected. Next, in order to restrain noise and enhance image contrast, the probability function associated with noise coefficient and edge coefficient is established and applied to all Contourlet coefficients. Then, a nonlinear enhancement function is applied to modified Contourlet coefficient to adaptively enhance image contrast. Finally, the enhanced image is obtained by inverse Contourlet transform. We compare this approach with other contrast enhancement methods, result showing that our method has a better effect than other enhancement methods, which might be helpful for clinical diagnostics of microcirculation.     

IgG Binding Sites on Human FCγ Receptors

The structure for the three human Fcγ receptors classes FCγRI (CD64), FCγRII (CD32) and FCγRIII (CD16) has been well characterized. Here the IgG binding sites on FCγRII and FCγRIII with their responsive FG, BC and C'/E loops on the membrane proximal domains are described in detail. For FCγRI the second extracellular domain is suggested as a key structure of IgG binding. The lower hinge regions of human and murine IgG binding to these Fc receptors and their structural relationship in FcγR-IgG interactions are discussed. The potential of inhibiting the pathophysiological effects of Fcγ receptors by blocking studies are considered for future therapeutic modalities.     

Comparison of Human Primary with Human iPS Cell-Derived Dopaminergic Neuron Grafts in the Rat Model for Parkinson’s Disease

Neuronal degeneration within the substantia nigra and the loss of the dopaminergic nigro-striatal pathway are the major hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Grafts of foetal ventral mesencephalic (VM) dopaminergic (DA) neurons into the striatum have been shown to be able to restore striatal dopamine levels and to improve overall PD symptoms. However, human foetus-derived cell grafts are not feasible for clinical application. Autologous induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS cell)-derived DA neurons are emerging as an unprecedented alternative. In this review, we summarize and compare the efficacy of human iPS cell-derived DA neuron grafts to restore normal behaviour in a rat model for PD with that of human foetal primary DA neurons. The differences we observed in the efficacy to restore normal function between the 2 types of DA neuron grafts could be ascribed to intrinsic properties of the iPS cell-derived DA neurons that critically affected survival and proper neurite extension in the striatum after implantation.     

Overexpression of the �� Subunit of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Promotes the Transformation of Human Ovarian Epithelial Cells and Ovarian Tumorigenesis

Ovarian carcinoma is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy, however underlying molecular events remain elusive. Expression of human chorionic gonadotropin β subunit (β-hCG) is clinically significant for both trophoblastic and nontrophoblastic cancers; however, whether β-hCG facilitates ovarian epithelial cell tumorigenic potential remains uncharacterized. Immortalized nontumorigenic ovarian epithelial T29 and T80 cells stably overexpressing β-hCG were examined for alterations in cell cycle and apoptotic status by flow cytometry, expression of proteins regulating cell cycle and apoptosis by Western blot, proliferation status by MTT assay, anchorage-independent colony formation, and mouse tumor formation. Immunoreactivity for β-hCG was evaluated using mouse xenografts and on human normal ovarian, fallopian tube, endometrium, and ovarian carcinoma tissues. T29 and T80 cells overexpressing β-hCG demonstrated significantly increased proliferation, anchorage-independent colony formation, prosurvival Bcl-X_L protein expression, G2-checkpoint progression, elevated cyclins E/D1 and Cdk 2/4/6, and decreased apoptosis. Collectively, these transformational alterations in phenotype facilitated increased xenograft tumorigenesis (P < 0.05). Furthermore, β-hCG immunoreactivity was elevated in malignant ovarian tumors, compared with normal epithelial expression in ovaries, fallopian tube, and endometrium (P < 0.001). Our data indicate that elevated β-hCG transforms ovarian surface epithelial cells, facilitating proliferation, cell cycle progression, and attenuated apoptosis to promote tumorigenesis. Our results further decipher the functional role and molecular mechanism of β-hCG in ovarian carcinoma. β-hCG may contribute to ovarian cancer etiology, which introduces a new therapeutic intervention target for ovarian cancer.Ovarian cancer is the most lethal form of gynecologic cancer in the United States, accounting for an estimated 21,550 new cases and 14,600 deaths in 2009.¹ Survival rates can approach 90% when ovarian cancer is diagnosed at an early stage; however, early detection is challenging, because the relatively nonspecific symptoms of ovarian lesions may be overlooked until abdominal distension by ascites fluid or by large tumor masses becomes unmistakable. Even with extensive surgical debulking and aggressive chemotherapy, the prognosis for women with ovarian cancer currently is not hopeful. Several studies have indicated that different histological subtypes of ovarian carcinoma are associated with different causes and underlying mechanisms, including gene amplification, genetic predisposition, and various carcinogens.^2–5 Nonetheless, the origin and causes of ovarian carcinoma remain to be elucidated.Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has a physiologically significant role during pregnancy. It is produced as a heterodimeric glycoprotein complex by the placenta over the course of the first 3 months of gestation. The heterocomplex consists of an α subunit and a hormone-specific β subunit, which collectively act as a ligand in activating the luteinizing hormone/hCG receptor (LH/hCGR) in gonadal cells to regulate sex hormone synthesis and reproductive processes.⁶ The β subunit of the hCG complex (β-hCG) is an accurate marker for diagnosis and monitoring of trophoblastic tumors and ovarian germ cell tumors.^7,8 Recently, it was shown that elevation in levels of β-hCG in serum, urine, or tumor tissue correlates with patient outcome in a variety of nontrophoblastic tumors of diverse primary tissue origin.^9–15 Moreover, elevated β-hCG was associated with aggressive disease, poor prognosis, and predicted resistance to therapy in bladder cancer patients.¹⁶ Additionally, increased β-hCG expression simultaneously stimulates proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of cancer cells derived from the bladder and the cervix in vitro.^17,18 Furthermore, ovarian carcinoma tissue displays an overexpression not only of the hormone-specific β-hCG subunit, but also the cognate receptor hCGR.^9,19 The functional role and molecular mechanism of β-hCG within ovarian cancer tumorigenesis have yet to be characterized. Recent evidence has strongly implicated epithelial cells derived from the fallopian tube, especially the fimbriated ends, as the likely origin for high-grade serous carcinoma.²⁰ To test whether this molecule plays a direct role in facilitating ovarian epithelial cell activation and tumorigenic potential, we designed a panel of experiments using both in vitro and in vivo methods, including evaluation of β-hCG expression in the normal fallopian tube.     

Reactions between Human Serum γ-Globulin and Zinc Cations

Interactions of human serum γ-globulin with zinc cations in solution were studied by differential spectrophotometry in UV light. Supraphysiological concentrations of zinc caused an increment in optical density of protein solution reflecting the effect of γ-globulin saturation with the metal. Zinc concentrations below physiological led to hypochromism in the protein absorption spectrum. Conformation changes in γ-globulin during interactions with zinc are analyzed for the surface and intramolecular binding sites and are compared with the effects of copper cations. __________ Translated from Byulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 140, No. 8, pp. 177–180, August, 2005     

Visible Human图象数据集的自动匹配方法

VisibleHuman计划是由美国国家医学图书馆发起建立的真实三维入体的CT、MRI和解剖切面的数字化图象库。Visible Human数据集已经成为构造电子医学图象库和虚拟解剖环境的理想基础,本文首先对CT图象进行灰度校正,并用基于像素相似性的方法实现了CT图象和MRI图象间的自动匹配。具有自适应空间搜索的遗传算法被用于实现全局性的优化过程,本文给出了初步的实验结果。