Resting respiratory tract dendritic cells preferentially stimulate T helper cell type 2 (Th2) responses and require obligatory cytokine signals for induction of Th1 immunity

Consistent with their role in host defense, mature dendritic cells (DCs) from central lymphoid organs preferentially prime for T helper cell type 1 (Th1)-polarized immunity. However, the "default" T helper response at mucosal surfaces demonstrates Th2 polarity, which is reflected in the cytokine profiles of activated T cells from mucosal lymph nodes. This study on rat respiratory tract DCs (RTDCs) provides an explanation for this paradox. We demonstrate that freshly isolated RTDCs are functionally immature as defined in vitro, being surface major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II lo, endocytosishi, and mixed lymphocyte reactionlo, and these cells produce mRNA encoding interleukin (IL)-10. After ovalbumin (OVA)-pulsing and adoptive transfer, freshly isolated RTDCs preferentially stimulated Th2-dependent OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)G1 responses, and antigen-stimulated splenocytes from recipient animals produced IL-4 in vitro. However, preculture with granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor increased their in vivo IgG priming capacity by 2-3 logs, inducing production of both Th1- and Th2-dependent IgG subclasses and high levels of IFN-gamma by antigen-stimulated splenocytes. Associated phenotypic changes included upregulation of surface MHC II and B7 expression and IL-12 p35 mRNA, and downregulation of endocytosis, MHC II processing- associated genes, and IL-10 mRNA expression. Full expression of IL-12 p40 required additional signals, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha or CD40 ligand. These results suggest that the observed Th2 polarity of the resting mucosal immune system may be an inherent property of the resident DC population, and furthermore that mobilization of Th1 immunity relies absolutely on the provision of appropriate microenvironmental costimuli.     

Dynamics of glucose-induced insulin release from mouse islets transplanted under the kidney capsule

Mouse pancreatic islet grafts under the kidney capsule of syngeneic hosts were removed and perifused in vitro 1-40 weeks after the transplantation. In comparison with fresh islets, 12- to 40-week-old grafts exhibited an attenuated first phase of glucose-stimulated insulin release. In grafts 1, 12, 28, or 40 weeks old, but not in fresh islets, the mean secretory rate during the initial 10 min of stimulation was significantly lower than that during the subsequent 15 min. When expressed in relation to insulin content, the insulin output in response to 11 mmol/L glucose was no less from grafts than from fresh islets; in grafts 12 or 40 weeks old at 16.7 mmol/L glucose, the fractional output above baseline was significantly diminished during the initial 10 min, but not subsequently. Immediately on switching from basal to stimulatory glucose concentration, there was a transient drop in insulin secretion from the grafts, especially after more than 12 weeks of transplantation and in response to 16.7, as compared with 11, mmol/L glucose. When glucose was switched back from stimulatory to basal concentration, grafts also frequently exhibited a transient increase in the insulin secretory rate. Neither initial drops nor "off responses" were seen in untransplanted islets. The modifications of the secretory dynamics in islet grafts suggest that transplantation influences the balance between the stimulatory and inhibitory influences of glucose on the beta-cell's secretory machinery.     

Voltage sensitivity of the osteoclast calcium receptor

We demonstrated previously that osteoclasts possess a divalent cation-sensitive "receptor", the Ca2+ receptor. Activation of the Ca2+ receptor by the surrogate cation Ni2+ was shown to elicit an increase in cytosolic [Ca2+] to a peak value followed by an exponential decline. In the present study we examined the influence of surface membrane voltage on the kinetics of Ca2+ receptor inactivation. The K+ ionophore, valinomycin was applied to intercept the declining phase of the cytosolic [Ca2+] transient elicited by application of between 50 microM- and 5 mM-[Ni2+]. This resulted in a sustained elevation of cytosolic [Ca2+] or even a 'hump' followed by a gradual decline. Such a kinetic alteration persisted in a Ca(2+)-free solution, but was abolished in high extracellular [K+] (105 mM). Thus, we demonstrate for the first time to our knowledge, a modulatory effect of membrane potential on the function of the osteoclast Ca2+ receptor.     

阻截紫外线背光板玻璃

全球领先的特种玻管制造商——德国肖特集团新近开发出两种新型玻璃．用于满足纯平液晶电视显示器(LCD—TFT）的市场需求。这两种新型玻璃8688(Tungsten型)和8271(KOVAR型)是专为纯平液晶电视显示器而开发的。     

Products of pertechnetate radiolysis in highly alkaline solution: structure of TcO2 x xH2O

The chemistry of technetium in certain high-level nuclear waste (HLW) tanks at the Hanford Site complicates the treatment and vitrification of HLW. A major problem is the presence, in certain tanks, of unidentified, lower-valent technetium species, which are difficult to remove from the waste by current separation processes. Radiolytic reduction of TcO4- in alkaline solutions containing selected organic compounds, approximating the conditions in HLW, was investigated to determine the classes of compounds that can be formed under these conditions. Insoluble TcO2 x xH2O is the primary radiolysis product with the majority of organic compounds investigated, including citrate, dibutyl phosphate, and aminopolycarboxylates. X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements show that TcO2 x xH2O has a one-dimensional chain structure consisting of edge-sharing TcO6 octahedra with bridging oxide and trans water ligands. When diols, such as ethylene glycol, are present, only soluble, Tc(IV) alkoxide compounds are produced. The XAFS and UV-visible spectra of these compounds provide evidence for a binuclear structure similar to (H2EDTA)2Tc2(mu-O)2. The properties of the Tc(IV) alkoxide complexes were determined and are consistent with those observed for the soluble, lower-valent technetium complexes that complicate the treatment of HLW at the Hanford site.     

Effects of plasma total ammonia content and pH on urea excretion in Nile tilapia

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were infused with ammonium salts, acid, and base to investigate the effects of changes in arterial plasma total ammonia content (Tamm) and pH (pHa) on plasma urea-nitrogen (urea-N) levels and urea-N excretory fluxes (Jurea-N). The tilapia did not possess a functional hepatic ornithine urea-cycle (no significant carbamyl phosphate synthetase III activity). Infused substances were dissolved in a saline vehicle and injected twice (5 mL kg-1), the first infusion to "prime" the animal and promote a more marked response to the second infusion, given 2.5 h later. The results reported are those of the second infusion. Infusion of 200 mM NH4Cl increased Tamm, reduced pHa, and increased plasma urea-N and Jurea-N. Two hundred mM NH4HCO3 increased Tamm and arterial plasma total CO2 content (TaCO2), reduced pHa, and increased Jurea-N. Fifty mM HCl reduced pHa but had no effects on urea dynamics. Fifty mM NaOH increased pHa, plasma urea-N levels, and Jurea-N. Two hundred mM NaHCO3 increased pHa, TaCO2, plasma urea-N levels, and Jurea-N. Infusion of the saline vehicle was without effect. The results indicate that ammonia loading and plasma alkalosis both stimulate urea excretion in uricolytic fish. The responses to hyperammonemia or alkalosis were not modified when combined with elevated plasma bicarbonate levels.     

Transferable, plasmid-mediated vanB-type glycopeptide resistance in Enterococcus faecium

An approximately 60-kb transferable, vanB-carrying plasmid has been identified in a clinical Enterococcus faecium strain. A similar plasmid has been observed in an unrelated E. faecium strain, suggesting that plasmid transfer of vanB operons occurs in nature and plays a role in the dissemination of VanB-type resistance among strains of E. faecium.