C57BL/6小鼠γδT细胞的组织器官分布和功能特点

目的 比较C57BL/6小鼠肝脏、肺脏、脾脏和肠系膜淋巴结中γδT细胞占所分离的淋巴细胞及其CD3+T细胞的百分比、表型和功能的特点.方法 分离正常C57BL/6小鼠肝脏、肺脏、脾脏和肠系膜淋巴结的淋巴细胞,应用细胞表面分子染色的方法,使用流式细胞仪观察γδT细胞占从不同组织分离的淋巴细胞及CD3+T细胞的百分比及其表型的特点.细胞经PMA和离子霉素刺激后,应用细胞内细胞因子染色的方法,通过流式细胞仪观察γδT细胞产生IFN-γ、IL-4、IL-9和IL-17细胞因子的情况.结果 γδT细胞占分离淋巴细胞中的百分含量在肝脏明显高于肺脏、脾脏和肠系膜淋巴结(P＜0.05),而γδT细胞在肠系膜淋巴结CD3+T细胞的百分含量要显著的低于其他脏器(P＜0.05).不同组织器官中γδT细胞以CD4-CD8-表型为主,还存在少量CD8+ γδT细胞.在肠系膜淋巴结γδT细胞中CD4+细胞的量明显高于其他器官,且明显可见一群CD4+ CD8+细胞.不同组织中γδT细胞中IL-17+的细胞量要明显高于IFN-γ+和IL-4+细胞.γδT细胞基本不分泌IL-9.肺脏的γδT细胞分泌细胞因子的能力最强,其IL-17+细胞的量达到(26.6±12.1)％.IFN-γ+细胞的量在肝脏和肺脏中较高,分别为(1.36±0.37)％和(1.6±0.7)％.结论 C57BL/6小鼠肝脏、肺脏、脾脏和肠系膜淋巴结γδT细胞的含量、表型和功能方面存在显著性差异.     

URSA小鼠模型中NKT细胞功能失调研究

利用原因不明复发性自发性流产 (URSA )小鼠模型 (CBA雌鼠×DBA/ 2J雄鼠 ) ,测定免疫性流产孕鼠不同孕期子宫蜕膜及胎盘内NKT细胞的数量及其分泌的细胞因子的格局 ,以调查NKT细胞数量和功能失调在URSA中的可能作用。研究结果显示 ,与正常孕鼠相比 ,流产模型鼠妊娠早期子宫和蜕膜中NKT细胞数量减少 ,分泌IFN γ能力降低。我们推测 ,妊娠早期子宫胎盘和蜕膜NKT细胞数量和功能失调可能是导致URSA的机制之一。     

汉坦病毒感染C57BL/6小鼠组织中特异性抗原的检测

目的通过检测汉坦病毒感染C57BL/6小鼠组织中特异性病毒抗原,以建立汉坦病毒感染动物的评价体系。方法将汉坦病毒陈株按照原病毒液、10-1、10-2三个滴度经肌肉注射感染C57BL/6小鼠,在感染后的第3、6、9、12、15天,分别取小鼠的心、肝、脾、肺、肾、脑等组织研磨后制成病毒悬液,以ELISA法检测各组织中的病毒特异性抗原。结果 C57BL/6小鼠感染汉坦病毒后短期内在其肝脏和脾脏可以检测到特异性抗原,随着时间的延长,这些抗原逐步消失。结论上述结果为建立汉坦病毒感染动物的评价体系提供了一种参考。     

人外周血NKT细胞亚群表型及生物学特征

目的:观察正常人周围血NKT细胞的频率、表型特征及功能,进一步了解NKT细胞在免疫应答中的作用。方法:分离正常成年人PBMCs,利用流式细胞术(FCM)检测TCRvβ11、CD4、CD8、CD45RA、CD62L、CCR7等表面分子的表达;PMA+Ionomycin刺激PBMCs后,检测细胞因子的产生。结果:正常成年人周围血CD3+TCRvβ11+NKT细胞的平均频率为0.35%,其范围为0.11%～1.20%。根据CD4和CD8分子的表达,可将CD3+TCRvβ11+NKT细胞分为CD4+、CD8+、CD4-CD8-三个亚群,分别为56.24%、25.82%、16.47%。此外多数CD3+TCRvβ11+NKT细胞表达CD45RA,近半数细胞表达CD62L,少数细胞表达CCR7。细胞因子表达的结果显示,经PMA和Ionomycin刺激后,近30%的CD3+TCRvβ11+NKT细胞分泌IFN-γ,6.9%的细胞分泌IL-4。CD4+NKT细胞产生IL-4的量要明显高于CD8+NKT细胞,但IFN-γ的表达二者没有明显差别。重要的是初始和记忆性NKT细胞都能产生细胞因子,以记忆性NKT细胞为主。结论:正常人周围血中CD3+TCRvβ11+NKT细胞的频率很小,但其表型复杂,产生细胞因子IFN-γ和IL-4的频率高,参与免疫调节及免疫应答的过程。     

人脐带血与周围血中NKT细胞频率、亚群、表型及功能的比较

目的比较足月产新生儿脐带血和正常人周围血NKT细胞的频率、亚群、表型特征及功能。方法分离足月产新生儿脐带血CBMCs和正常成年人周围血PBMCs,流式细胞术检测TCRvβ11、CD4、CD8、CD45RA、CD62L、CCR7等表面分子的表达及细胞因子IL-4和IFN-γ的产生。结果 CBMCs和PBMCs中CD3+TCRvβ11+NKT细胞的平均频率分别为0.35%和0.33%,二者无显著差别。CBMCs中CD4+NKT细胞频率(67.39%)高于PBMCs中CD4+NKT细胞频率(54.08%),但CD8+NKT细胞,PBMCs明显高于CBMCs(22.35%对5.86%),CD4-CD8-NKT二者相差无统计学意义。CBMCs中CD3+TCRvβ11+CD45RA+NKT细胞的频率(88.37%)高于PBMCs(61.32%)。CBMCs中CD62L(56.66%对49.60%)和CCR7(22.64%对20.03%)的比例稍高于PBMCs,但其差别无显著性。未刺激CBMCs和PBMCs中CD3+TCRvβ11+NKT细胞均不产生IL-4和IFN-γ,PMA+Ionomycin刺激后,CBMCs中CD3+TCRvβ11+NKT细胞仍不能产生IL-4和IFN-γ,但PBMCs中CD3+TCRvβ11+NKT细胞却有6.74%产生IL-4、26.96%产生IFN-γ、1.26%同时分泌IL-4和IFN-γ,产生细胞因子的CD3+TCRvβ11+NKT细胞主要为记忆性NKT细胞。结论 CBMCs和PBMCs中CD3+TCRvβ11+NKT细胞的亚群、表型和功能均存在一定差别,记忆性NKT细胞可能与其再次免疫应答相关。     

甘草甜素对C57BL/6小鼠脾脏中DC和巨噬细胞及其细胞因子分泌的影响

为探讨甘草甜素(glycyrrhizic acid,GA)对C57BL/6小鼠脾脏DC和巨噬细胞数量及其细胞因子分泌的影响,研究将小鼠分为对照组和GA组,后者连续4 d同一时间皮下注射GA,对照组给予等量生理盐水注射。8 d后处死两组小鼠并分离脾脏,制备单细胞悬液,FACS检测DC、巨噬细胞及其表型IFN-γ、IL-12、IL-10的百分比。结果显示,GA组小鼠脾脏中DC[(0.92±0.15)%]以及DC表达的细胞因子IL-12[(1.15±0.50)%]、IFN-γ[(1.84±1.25)%]与对照组[(1.06±0.14)%、(1.16±0.41)%、(2.12±1.03)%]相比均呈现出减少的趋势,但差异没有统计学意义(P 0.05);而DC表达的IL-10 [(0.40±0.07)%]与对照组[(0.20±0.04)%]相比明显升高(P0.01);脾脏中巨噬细胞[(2.35±0.48)%]较对照组[(1.43±0.06)%]明显升高(P0.01);巨噬细胞表达的细胞因子IFN-γ[(2.02±0.23)%]、IL-12 [(0.74±0.24)%]与对照组[(2.55±0.6)%、(1.31±0.20)%]相比均明显减少(P0.05),巨噬细胞表达的细胞因子IL-10[(0.50±0.05)%]较对照组[(0.35±0.05)%]明显升高(P0.05)。由此,文章认为C57BL/6小鼠给予GA后,可在一定程度上提高脾脏中巨噬细胞及其表达的IL-10水平和降低其表达的IFN-γ、IL-12水平,也可提高DC表达的细胞因子IL-10的水平,这提示GA在机体固有免疫反应中起一定的双向调节作用,其主要通过提高巨噬细胞百分比发挥免疫作用,以及通过抑制巨噬细胞的细胞因子IFN-γ、IL-12表达和提高其与DC表面负性因子IL-10的表达发挥负性调节作用。     

NKT细胞及其免疫调节与免疫耐受诱导作用

NKT细胞是一种特殊类型的T淋巴细胞,同时表达NK细胞和T淋巴细胞标记,其主要特征为T细胞受体基因表达的恒定性、CD1d的限制性以及细胞因子产生的高水平性。NKT细胞通过识别由非经典的MHC-Ⅰ类分子CD1d递呈的糖脂类抗原而活化,通过分泌大量Th1和Th2类细胞因子,调节Th1和Th2淋巴细胞的分化,参与自身免疫、感染免疫、抗肿瘤免疫和移植免疫等多种免疫反应。     

免疫调节细胞的研究现况:NKT细胞

NKT细胞在免疫学的研究中日趋广泛。目前的进展揭示 ,该群细胞既有效应功能又有调节作用 ,其结构与功能的研究必将对一系列临床免疫病的病因学和治疗起到指导作用。本文旨在对NKT细胞研究的近况作一概括和阐述 ,希望对国内有关NKT细胞的结构和功能的研究起促进作用     

C57BL6小鼠呼吸系统组织学特征研究

目的获取正常C57BL6小鼠的呼吸系统组织学图谱资料,并与人体呼吸系统的组织学特征进行比较。方法选取从南京大学模式动物研究所购得的C57BL／6J小鼠20只,在SPF级环境中用全价营养鼠饲料饲养,饲养到6周龄时将其处死。在1h内对处死的小鼠进行组织解剖,取出呼吸系统器官和组织,于10％中性缓冲福尔马林固定;常规病理制片,HE染色;显微镜观察,照相机摄影,图像采集,用计算机对图像进行标注。结果对小鼠呼吸系统进行详细、系统的组织学观察,并发现人体与小鼠在呼吸系统的差异主要存在于气管腺,小鼠气管腺分3种：浆液腺、粘液腺及混合腺,主要分布于粘膜固有层;人的气管腺主要为混合腺,分布于粘膜下层。结论正常C57BL6小鼠的呼吸系统组织学图谱已基本建立,为利用该品系小鼠建立呼吸系统疾病遗传工程小鼠模型奠定了基础。     

C57BL/6小鼠肺组织CD103~+T细胞的免疫学特性

为了研究正常C57BL/6小鼠肺脏组织中CD103~+T细胞的数量、表型和功能等免疫学特性,本研究选取C57BL/6小鼠肺脏组织,制备冰冻切片进行免疫荧光染色,可观察到小鼠肺脏组织中CD103的表达及其分布情况;制备单细胞悬液,使用FCM检测肺CD103~+T细胞的表型特征;用佛波酯(phorbol myristate acetate,PMA)和离子霉素刺激后,检测细胞因子IL-4、IFN-γ、IL-9的分泌情况。实验结果显示,小鼠肺脏组织中CD103主要在CD8~+T淋巴细胞中表达,比例高达(51.28±10.37)%。在CD8~+CD103~+T细胞中,CD62L的表达率为(79.63±2.87)%,明显高于CD103~-T细胞(47.83±9.55)%(P0.01);但是CD103~-T细胞比CD103~+T细胞表达更高水平的IFN-γ(P0.01)和IL-9(P0.05)。以上结果表明在C57BL/6小鼠肺脏组织中存在一群表型和功能独立的CD103~+T细胞。     

Aluminum in the organs and diet of ageing C57BL/6J mice

Total aluminum concentrations increased with ageing in the liver and kidney of male C57BL/6J mice, remained unchanged in brain and heart, and decreased with ageing in femur and lung for mice ranging in age from 56 to 1186 days. Ligating one kidney did not significantly increase aluminum concentrations in the various organs. Feeding 1 X 10(-2) M aluminum chloride (270 ppm Al) in the drinking water beginning at 604 days of age decreased the average life span by 6.7%. We conclude that very little aluminum accumulation occurs with ageing in the organs tested in this study, in spite of a high dietary intake. Other organs might show a change. Only one aluminum concentration was used in this study which accelerated the rate of ageing as indicated by a change in the survival curve. The effect of higher or lower aluminum concentrations remains to be seen.     

Age-related resistance of C57BL/6 mice to Cryptococcus neoformans is dependent on maturation of NKT cells

Conflicting results have been reported regarding the ability of C57BL/6 mice to clear infections due to Cryptococcus neoformans. Examination of the various experimental protocols used suggested that C57BL/6 mice might develop the ability to resist infection as they mature. We analyzed the ability of C57BL/6 mice of different ages to respond to immunization with cryptococcal antigen or to clear a cryptococcal infection. Mice were immunized with a soluble cryptococcal culture filtrate antigen (CneF) emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant (CneF-CFA). Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions elicited by the immunization were significantly stronger in 15-week-old C57BL/6 mice than in 7-week-old mice. Analysis of cryptococcal CFU 8 weeks following intratracheal infection of 7-week-old mice or 15-week-old mice revealed a relative inability of the younger animals to control the infection. Six-week-old immunized and infected mice cleared cryptococci from brain, spleen, and liver in a manner similar to that of immunized and infected 15-week-old mice. However, the older mice cleared cryptococci much more efficiently from the lungs. The possible role for NKT cells was determined by passive transfer of thymocytes from 10-week-old mice (containing mature NKT cells) or 2-week-old mice (containing immature NKT cells) to 6-week-old mice. The 10-week-old thymocytes significantly enhanced the ability of the mice to develop a DTH response after immunization with CneF-CFA, while animals treated with 2-week-old thymocytes did not improve their DTH response after immunization. The cells in the 10-week-old thymocyte population responsible for improvement of DTH responses were identified as being NK1.1 positive.     

Primary infection of C57BL/6 mice with Plasmodium yoelii induces a heterogeneous response of NKT cells

NKT cells are a population of innate-like lymphocytes that display effector functions and immunoregulatory properties. We characterized the NKT cell response induced in C57BL/6 mice during a primary infection with Plasmodium yoelii sporozoites. We observed a heterogeneous NKT cell response that differed between liver and spleen. Hepatic NKT cells found in infected livers consisted mainly of CD1d-dependent CD4+ and double-negative (DN) NKT cells, whereas CD1d-independent NKT cells exhibiting a TCR(high) CD4(high) phenotype were prominent among splenic NKT cells during the infection. Hepatic and splenic NKT cells isolated from infected mice were activated and secreted mainly gamma interferon and tumor necrosis factor alpha in response to stimulation. Finally, P. yoelii-activated hepatic DN NKT cells inhibited the parasite's liver stage in a CD1d-dependent manner in vitro. However, experiments using B6.CD1d-deficient mice showed that CD1d and CD1d-restricted NKT cells are not necessary to control the parasite's development in vivo during neither the preerythrocytic stage nor the erythrocytic stage. Thus, our results show that a primary P. yoelii infection induces a heterogeneous and organ-specific response of NKT cells and that CD1d-dependent NKT cells play a minor role in the control of the development of Plasmodium in vivo in our model.     

Asbestos-induced autoimmunity in C57BL/6 mice

Environmental impacts on autoimmunity have significant public health implications. Epidemiological studies have shown associations between exposure to airborne silicates, such as crystalline silica or asbestos, and autoimmunity, but the etiology remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that asbestos could lead to a specific pattern of autoantibodies and pathology indicative of systemic autoimmune disease (SAID). Female C57Bl/6 mice were instilled intratracheally with 2 doses x 60 microg/mouse of amphibole asbestos (tremolite), wollastonite (a non-fibrogenic control fiber), or saline alone. Serum samples were collected and urine was checked for protein bi-weekly for 7 months. By 26 weeks, the asbestos-instilled animals had a significantly higher frequency of positive anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) tests compared to wollastonite and saline groups. The majority of positive ANAs showed homogeneous or combined homogeneous/speckled patterns, and tested positive for antibodies to dsDNA and SSA/Ro 52. Serum isotyping showed no significant changes in IgM, IgA, or IgG subclasses. However, there was an overall decrease in the mean IgG serum concentration in asbestos-instilled mice. IgG immune complex deposition was demonstrated in the kidneys of asbestos-instilled mice, with evidence of glomerular and tubule abnormalities suggestive of glomerulonephritis. Flow cytometry demonstrated moderate changes in the percentages of CD25+ T-suppressor cells and B1a B-cells in the superficial cervical lymph nodes of the asbestos-instilled mice. These data demonstrate that asbestos leads to immunologic changes consistent with the development of autoimmunity. This study provides a non-autoimmune prone murine model for use in future elucidation of mechanisms involved in asbestos-induced autoimmune disease.     

Role for hedgehog pathway in regulating growth and function of invariant NKT cells

Lymphocyte accumulation is characteristic of chronic hepatitis, but the mechanisms regulating lymphocyte numbers and their roles in liver disease progression are poorly understood. The Hedgehog (Hh) pathway regulates thymic development and lymphopoeisis during embryogenesis, and is activated in fibrosing liver disease in adults. Our objective was to determine if Hh ligands regulate the viability and phenotype of NKT cells, which comprise a substantial sub‐population of resident lymphocytes in healthy adult livers and often accumulate during liver fibrosis. The results demonstrate that a mouse invariant NKT cell line (DN32 iNKT cells), mouse primary liver iNKT cells, and human peripheral blood iNKT cells are all responsive to sonic hedgehog (Shh). In cultured iNKT cells, Shh enhances proliferation, inhibits apoptosis, induces activation, and stimulates expression of the pro‐fibrogenic cytokine, IL‐13. Livers of transgenic mice with an overly active Hh pathway harbor increased numbers of iNKT cells. iNKT cells also express Shh. These results demonstrate that iNKT cells produce and respond to Hh ligands, and that Hh pathway activation regulates the size and cytokine production of liver iNKT cell populations. Therefore, Hh pathway activation may contribute to the local expansion of pro‐fibrogenic iNKT cell populations during certain types of fibrosing liver damage.     

C57BL/6J小鼠耳蜗内毛细胞传入神经突触的超微结构观察

目的利用投射电镜观察C57Bl/6J小鼠耳蜗内毛细胞传入神经突触的形态和结构。方法选择发育成熟的C57Bl/6J小鼠,ABR检测听力正常后获取耳蜗标本,分别经过半薄定位和超薄连续切片观察的方法寻找观察耳蜗内毛细胞传入神经突触的形态和结构,探讨发育成熟状态下小鼠耳蜗内毛细胞突触的形态和结构特点,并进一步分析它们可能出现的区域以及与周围解剖结构的关系。结果在听力正常的C57Bl/6J小鼠的不同耳蜗内毛细胞核下区域可以观察到带状突触结构,包括ribbon、突触囊泡、突触间隙和突触后致密带等典型结构;然而有时即使是在听力正常的小鼠耳蜗内,也不能同时观察到这些结构的全部,即内毛细胞带状突触的超微结构和形态可能表现出彼此之间存在明显区别的形式。结论在听力正常的生理状态下,成熟小鼠(c57BL/6J)耳蜗内毛细胞突触的形态和结构处于动态变化之中,突触的个体形态和结构可以表现出不同的特点,而这种结构上的动态变化可能和突触功能的变化有关。     

The superior olivary complex in C57BL/6 mice

The cellular and cytoarchitectural features of the lateral superior olive, the medial superior olive, the superior paraolivary nucleus and the medial, lateral and ventral nuclei of the trapezoid body are described in C57BL/6 mice using Nissl, Bodian and Golgi techniques. Principal, spindle and marginal cells are present in a well-defined lateral superior olive. The dendrites of these cells run primarily within rostrocaudal sheets as in the cat. The principal cells of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body are similar to the principal cells in the cat. Large multipolar cells characterize the lateral nucleus of the trapezoid body and bipolar cells with a medial-lateral orientation are found in the medial superior olive. The largest neurons are found in the superior paraolivary nucleus and the lateral superior olive, and the medial and ventral nuclei of the trapezoid body. While brain weight and neuronal packing density change with development, the characteristic location of cell groups and the shape and Nissl-staining pattern of neurons in the youngest brains examined were essentially unchanged in the adult mice, although dendritic maturation had occurred. The homologies of the C57BL/6 superior olivary complex nuclei with the same areas described in other mouse strains, rat and cat are discussed. This study expands our understanding of the organization of the superior olivary complex in an inbred strain of Mus musculus and relates it to other species. The data about changes occurring during postnatal maturation may aid in the interpretation of behavioral and physiological studies of neonatal plasticity of the auditory system.     

Innate and adaptive stimulation of murine diverse NKT cells result in distinct cellular responses

Natural killer T (NKT) cells recognize glycolipids presented on CD1d. They share features of adaptive T lymphocytes and innate NK cells, and mediate immunoregulatory functions via rapid production of cytokines. Invariant (iNKT) and diverse (dNKT) NKT cell subsets are defined by their TCR. The immunological role of dNKT cells, that do not express the invariant TCRα‐chain used by iNKT cells, is less well explored than that of iNKT cells. Here, we investigated signals driving Toll‐like receptor (TLR) ligand activation of TCR‐transgenic murine dNKT cells. IFN‐γ production by dNKT cells required dendritic cells (DC), cell‐to‐cell contact and presence of TLR ligands. TLR‐stimulated DC activated dNKT cells to secrete IFN‐γ in a CD1d‐, CD80/86‐ and type I IFN‐independent manner. In contrast, a requirement for IL‐12p40, and a TLR ligand‐selective dependence on IL‐18 or IL‐15 was observed. TLR ligand/DC stimulation provoked early secretion of pro‐inflammatory cytokines by both CD62L⁺ and CD62L^? dNKT cells. However, proliferation was limited. In contrast, TCR/co‐receptor‐mediated activation resulted in proliferation and delayed production of a broader cytokine spectrum preferentially in CD62L^? dNKT cells. Thus, innate (TLR ligand/DC) and adaptive (TCR/co‐receptor) stimulation of dNKT cells resulted in distinct cellular responses that may contribute differently to the formation of immune memory.     

Redundancy in the immune system restricts the spread of HSV-1 in the central nervous system (CNS) of C57BL/6 mice

Resistance to lethal encephalitis in mice infected with HSV-1 via the oral mucosa is mouse strain dependent. In susceptible BALB/c, HSV-1 spreads throughout the CNS but in resistant BL/6 mice, virus is restricted to the brainstem. To examine the contribution of cellular immunity in restricting viral spread, we used a combination of antibody depleted and KO mice. Individually, NK/NKT, iNKT, CD4⁺, CD8⁺, and γδ T-cells do not restrict HSV-1 spread. In contrast, virus spreads throughout the CNS of BL/6 CL I KO mice and BL/6 mice treated with either anti-asialoGM1 Ab or both anti-CD8 and anti-NK1.1 mAbs. The results highlight the importance of redundancy in the immune system in restricting viral spread in the CNS, argue for a role of NK/NKT and CD8⁺ T-cells in mediating the restriction, and provide a hierarchical order of the individual elements in controlling virus in BL/6 mice infected with HSV-1 via the oral mucosa.