Bleomycin Can Cleave an Oncogenic Noncoding RNA

Noncoding RNAs are pervasive in cells and contribute to diseases such as cancer. A question in biomedical research is whether noncoding RNAs are targets of medicines. Bleomycin is a natural product that cleaves DNA; however, it is known to cleave RNA in vitro. Herein, an in‐depth analysis of the RNA cleavage preferences of bleomycin A5 is presented. Bleomycin A5 prefers to cleave RNAs with stretches of AU base pairs. Based on these preferences and bioinformatic analysis, the microRNA‐10b hairpin precursor was identified as a potential substrate for bleomycin A5. Both in vitro and cellular experiments demonstrated cleavage. Importantly, chemical cleavage by bleomycin A5 in the microRNA‐10b hairpin precursors occurred near the Drosha and Dicer enzymatic processing sites and led to destruction of the microRNA. Evidently, oncogenic noncoding RNAs can be considered targets of cancer medicines and might elicit their pharmacological effects by targeting noncoding RNA.     

Expression and Functional Studies on the Noncoding RNA,PRINS

PRINS, a noncoding RNA identified earlier by our research group, contributes to psoriasis susceptibility and cellular stress response. We have now studied the cellular and histological distribution of PRINS by using in situ hybridization and demonstrated variable expressions in different human tissues and a consistent staining pattern in epidermal keratinocytes and in vitro cultured keratinocytes. To identify the cellular function(s) of PRINS, we searched for a direct interacting partner(s) of this stress-induced molecule. In HaCaT and NHEK cell lysates, the protein proved to be nucleophosmin (NPM) protein as a potential physical interactor with PRINS. Immunohistochemical experiments revealed an elevated expression of NPM in the dividing cells of the basal layers of psoriatic involved skin samples as compared with healthy and psoriatic uninvolved samples. Others have previously shown that NPM is a ubiquitously expressed nucleolar phosphoprotein which shuttles to the nucleoplasm after UV-B irradiation in fibroblasts and cancer cells. We detected a similar translocation of NPM in UV-B-irradiated cultured keratinocytes. The gene-specific silencing of PRINS resulted in the retention of NPM in the nucleolus of UV-B-irradiated keratinocytes; suggesting that PRINS may play a role in the NPM-mediated cellular stress response in the skin.     

Circulating Long Noncoding RNA as a Potential Target for Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is considered the second most common visceral malignancy in men in Western countries. Its emergence is largely due to the coordination of a malignant network, and long noncoding RNA has been recently demonstrated to play a critical role in prostate carcinogenesis. The aberrant expression of long noncoding RNA in prostate cancer patients is strongly associated with diagnosis, risk stratification and carcinogenesis, information that provides new insight into the complicated intracellular milieu of prostate cancer. This review focuses mainly on literature evidence for the role of long noncoding RNA in prostate cancer, which may suggest novel strategies for its prognosis, diagnosis and clinical treatment.     

Long Noncoding RNA MALAT-1 Enhances Stem Cell-Like Phenotypes in Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a vital role in tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, chemoresistance, and recurrence. The mechanisms that maintain the stemness of these cells remain largely unknown. Our previous study indicated that MALAT-1 may serve as an oncogenic long noncoding RNA in pancreatic cancer by promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and regulating CSCs markers expression. More significantly, there is emerging evidence that the EMT process may give rise to CSCs, or at least cells with stem cell-like properties. Therefore, we hypothesized that MALAT-1 might enhance stem cell-like phenotypes in pancreatic cancer cells. In this study, our data showed that MALAT-1 could increase the proportion of pancreatic CSCs, maintain self-renewing capacity, decrease the chemosensitivity to anticancer drugs, and accelerate tumor angiogenesis in vitro. In addition, subcutaneous nude mouse xenografts revealed that MALAT-1 could promote tumorigenicity of pancreatic cancer cells in vivo. The underlying mechanisms may involve in increased expression of self-renewal related factors Sox2. Collectively, we for the first time found the potential effects of MALAT-1 on the stem cell-like phenotypes in pancreatic cancer cells, suggesting a novel role of MALAT-1 in tumor stemness, which remains to be fully elucidated.     

Epidermal Stem Cells and Their Epigenetic Regulation

Stem cells play an essential role in embryonic development, cell differentiation and tissue regeneration. Tissue homeostasis in adults is maintained by adult stem cells resident in the niches of different tissues. As one kind of adult stem cell, epidermal stem cells have the potential to generate diversified types of progeny cells in the skin. Although its biology is still largely unclarified, epidermal stem cells are widely used in stem cell research and regenerative medicine given its easy accessibility and pluripotency. Despite the same genome, cells within an organism have different fates due to the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. In this review, we will briefly discuss the current understanding of epigenetic modulation in epidermal stem cells.     

人黏蛋白1串联重复区DNA疫苗诱导小鼠的免疫应答

目的观察人黏蛋白1串联重复区(MUC1 VNTR)DNA疫苗诱导BALB/c小鼠的体液及细胞免疫应答。方法将含有33个黏蛋白1重复区序列(33m)的重组质粒pVR1012-33m,经肌肉注射免疫BALB/c小鼠,并加强免疫2次,每次100μg,间隔2周,分别以空载体pVR1012和生理盐水为对照。末次免疫后取小鼠血清及脾淋巴细胞,Western blot检测血清抗体特异性,LDH法检测CTL反应活性,MTS/PMS法检测脾淋巴细胞增殖活性。结果重组质粒免疫组小鼠血清中检出了MUC1 VNTR抗原特异性抗体。用重组质粒pVR1012-33m免疫BALB/c小鼠后,在效靶比为100:1和33:1时,可显著地诱导特异性CTL应答。在MUC1 VNTR抗原肽的刺激下,免疫小鼠脾淋巴细胞得到增殖,与空载体和生理盐水对照组相比,差异均有显著意义。结论DNA疫苗pVR1012-33m在BALB/c小鼠体内可诱导特异性细胞免疫和体液免疫应答,为预防、治疗性MUC1 VNTR疫苗的研制提供了一定的实验依据。     

乙型肝炎表面抗原联合rmIL-12诱导的小鼠细胞免疫应答

目的探讨乙型肝炎表面抗原(HBsAg)联合重组鼠白介素-12(rmIL-12)对免疫小鼠诱导细胞免疫应答的影响。方法以不同给药方式、不同剂量的HBsAg联合rmIL-12免疫C57BL/6J小鼠,ELISA法检测小鼠血清及脾淋巴细胞中IFNγ及IL-4的水平。结果HBsAg+rmIL-12高剂量组免疫的C57BL/6J小鼠,其脾淋巴细胞IFNγ水平明显高于BALB/c小鼠;3种不同给药方式均可诱导C57BL/6J小鼠血清和脾细胞IFNγ水平明显升高,三者之间差异无统计学意义;HBsAg+rmIL-12高、中、低剂量组免疫C57BL/6J小鼠血清可诱导IFNγ水平明显升高,且呈剂量依赖性,脾细胞IFNγ水平在中、低剂量组均未产生效应,高剂量组明显升高,而对IL-4无明显影响。结论rmIL-12可显著增强HBsAg诱导的细胞免疫应答,并使免疫应答转向Th1型,对于发展治疗性乙肝疫苗具有潜在的应用价值。     

Adaptive Response, Evidence of Cross-Resistance and Its Potential Clinical Use

Organisms and their cells are constantly exposed to environmental fluctuations. Among them are stressors, which can induce macromolecular damage that exceeds a set threshold, independent of the underlying cause. Stress responses are mechanisms used by organisms to adapt to and overcome stress stimuli. Different stressors or different intensities of stress trigger different cellular responses, namely induce cell repair mechanisms, induce cell responses that result in temporary adaptation to some stressors, induce autophagy or trigger cell death. Studies have reported life-prolonging effects of a wide variety of so-called stressors, such as oxidants, heat shock, some phytochemicals, ischemia, exercise and dietary energy restriction, hypergravity, etc. These stress responses, which result in enhanced defense and repair and even cross-resistance against multiple stressors, may have clinical use and will be discussed, while the emphasis will be on the effects/cross-effects of oxidants.     

不同乙型肝炎表面抗原配制的免疫复合物的免疫原性

目的研究不同乙型肝炎表面抗原配制的免疫复合物(IC)的免疫原性,并进一步优选治疗性乙型肝炎疫苗最佳抗原。方法用不同重组乙型肝炎表面抗原(HBsAg)与不同的乙型肝炎表面抗体(anti-HBs)制备IC,分别免疫BALB/c小鼠,检测体液免疫及细胞免疫应答水平。结果IC诱生的抗-HBs效价、抗-HBsIgG2a/IgG1的比值及IFN-γ形成细胞数,YHB-IC组总体上略高于CHO-IC组,但差异无显著意义。结论IC的免疫效果优于单独HBsAg;不同乙型肝炎表面抗原配制的IC之间免疫原性差异无显著意义。     

腮腺炎病毒蛋白组分疫苗的免疫效果

目的观察腮腺炎病毒蛋白组分疫苗的免疫效果。方法SP株腮腺炎病毒液经灭活、浓缩、裂解后,采用SP SepharoseTM Fast Flow阳离子层析柱及Sepharose CL-4B分子筛层析柱纯化,收集各峰样品,经12%SDS-PAGE、Western blot分析及HPLC检测。并取第1峰样品免疫ICR及BALB/c小鼠,检测血清中和抗体效价及CTL杀伤活性。结果所收集的第1峰样品为单一的腮腺炎病毒蛋白组分。免疫ICR小鼠可诱导产生中和抗体,其免疫后各检测时间点的GMT水平与减毒活疫苗组相比,差异均无统计学意义;免疫BALB/c小鼠可诱导产生针对HN肽段的CTL杀伤活性,而减毒活疫苗组则未能诱导此特异性CTL反应。结论腮腺炎病毒蛋白组分疫苗在小鼠体内可诱导特异性细胞免疫和体液免疫应答,为新型腮腺炎疫苗的研制提供了实验依据。     

人用狂犬病脂质体疫苗的免疫效果

目的对狂犬病脂质体疫苗进行免疫效果评价。方法用狂犬病脂质体疫苗和无佐剂疫苗分别免疫小鼠,以NIH法检测保护效力,RFFIT法检测中和抗体,流式细胞仪检测淋巴细胞表面标记,体外实验法检测淋巴细胞增殖能力,乳酸脱氢酶释放法检测NK细胞活性,ELISA检测试剂盒检测免疫后小鼠IL-2和IFN水平。结果狂犬病脂质体疫苗与无佐剂疫苗相比,可提高效力2~3倍,脂质体疫苗组中和抗体水平明显高于无佐剂疫苗组,两组之间差异有显著意义。狂犬病脂质体疫苗可增强细胞免疫,小鼠CD4+/CD8+比例、淋巴细胞增殖指数、NK细胞活性、IL-2及IFN活性与无佐剂疫苗相比,差异均有显著意义。结论狂犬病脂质体疫苗可同时增强细胞免疫和体液免疫。     

狂犬病毒糖蛋白DNA疫苗的构建及免疫效果的研究

目的构建狂犬病毒糖蛋白基因DNA疫苗,并检测其免疫小鼠的免疫应答。方法用RT-PCR法扩增和分离CTN株狂犬病毒糖蛋白基因,测序后克隆入VR1055载体中,构建重组质粒VR1055-CTN,经碱裂解法提取质粒,并经Sepharose4FF柱层析纯化后免疫NIH小鼠,用ELISA法检测体液抗体,用MTT法检细胞免疫,并进行常规效力试验。结果VR1055-CTNDNA疫苗具有较好的诱导狂犬病毒抗体的能力,在诱导细胞免疫中,刺激脾淋巴细胞转化指数和小鼠血清中的IL-2活性均高于空白载体对照,差异有显著意义(P=0.000)。效力试验的小鼠存活率分别为73%和25%。结论该疫苗既能诱导体液免疫,又能诱导细胞免疫,并具有较好的免疫保护效果。     

国产结核菌素对人体的免疫应答

本文将国内五个生物制品研究所生产的不同效价的结素制品分别与国内标准结素H—PPD—C进行同体双臂对比观察。从阳性检出率看上海＞长春＞兰州＞北京＞成都，但是，各生研所制品相互间无显著性差异。综合结果表明，上海所生产的OT效价比较稳定，无论是结素反应阳性率还是硬结均径可与国内标准结素相媲美。     

葡萄籽提取物复合胶囊的免疫调节作用研究

经口连续灌胃30 d,采用免疫器官重量法、小鼠迟发型超敏反应、溶血素测定法、单核吞噬细胞功能测定法(小鼠碳粒廓清法)等方法,考察了葡萄籽提取物复合胶囊的免疫调节作用.结果表明,与阴性对照组比较,各剂量组小鼠体重、小鼠脾脏/体重比值和胸腺/体重比值无明显差异,高剂量组小鼠的细胞免疫功能、体液免疫功能及非特异性免疫功能显著提高,证明葡萄籽提取物复合胶囊具有增强小鼠免疫功能的作用.     

自适应救生降落伞伞材织物的研制

进行了自适应救生降落伞伞材织物的开发及研究,并对其在不同应力及压差条件下的弹性及透气量进行了测试。结果表明:开发的救生降落伞伞材具有在不同外力下呈现出不同的弹性及透气量,能满足自适应救生降落伞的要求。     

Immunological Mechanisms in the Pathophysiology of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is characterized by the presence of steatosis, inflammation and hepatocyte injury and constitutes hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. The pathogenesis of NASH is complex and implicates cross-talk between different metabolically active sites, such as liver and adipose tissue. Obesity is considered a chronic low-grade inflammatory state and the liver has been recognized as being an “immunological organ”. The complex role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of NASH is currently raising great interest, also in view of the possible therapeutic potential of immunotherapy in NASH. This review focuses on the disturbances of the cells constituting the innate and adaptive immune system in the liver and in adipose tissue.     

Prediction of Mature MicroRNA and Piwi-Interacting RNA without a Genome Reference or Precursors

The discovery of novel microRNA (miRNA) and piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) is an important task for the understanding of many biological processes. Most of the available miRNA and piRNA identification methods are dependent on the availability of the organism’s genome sequence and the quality of its annotation. Therefore, an efficient prediction method based solely on the short RNA reads and requiring no genomic information is highly desirable. In this study, we propose an approach that relies primarily on the nucleotide composition of the read and does not require reference genomes of related species for prediction. Using an empirical Bayesian kernel method and the error correcting output codes framework, compact models suitable for large-scale analyses are built on databases of known mature miRNAs and piRNAs. We found that the usage of an L₁-based Gaussian kernel can double the true positive rate compared to the standard L₂-based Gaussian kernel. Our approach can increase the true positive rate by at most 60% compared to the existing piRNA predictor based on the analysis of a hold-out test set. Using experimental data, we also show that our approach can detect about an order of magnitude or more known miRNAs than the mature miRNA predictor, miRPlex.