技术资料

CD154 (CD40 ligand) expression on CD4 T cells is normally tightly controlled,but abnormal or dysregulated expression of CD154 has been well documented in autoimmune diseases,such as systemic lupus erythematosus. Beyond regulation by NFAT proteins,little is known about the transcriptional activation of the CD154 promoter. We identified a species-conserved purine-rich sequence located adjacent to the CD154 transcriptional promoter proximal NFAT site,which binds early growth response (Egr) transcription factors. Gel shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays reveal that Egr-1,Egr-3,and NFAT1 present in primary human CD4 T cells are capable of binding this combinatorial site in vitro and in vivo,respectively. Multimerization of this NFAT/Egr sequence in the context of a reporter gene demonstrates this sequence is transcriptionally active upon T cell activation in primary human CD4 T cells. Overexpression of Egr-1,but not Egr-3,is capable of augmenting transcription of this reporter gene as well as that of an intact CD154 promoter. Conversely,overexpression of small interfering RNA specific for Egr-1 in primary human CD4 T cells inhibits CD154 expression. Similarly,upon activation,CD154 message is notably decreased in splenic CD4 T cells from Egr-1-deficient mice compared with wild-type controls. Our data demonstrate that Egr-1 is required for CD154 transcription in primary CD4 T cells. This has implications for selective targeting of Egr family members to control abnormal expression of CD154 in autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. View Publication

Stem cells are highly conserved biological units of development and regeneration. Here we formally demonstrate that stem cell lineages are also legitimate units of natural selection. In a colonial ascidian,Botryllus schlosseri,vascular fusion between genetically distinct individuals results in cellular parasitism of somatic tissues,gametes,or both. We show that genetic hierarchies of somatic and gametic parasitism following fusion can be replicated by transplanting cells between colonies. We prospectively isolate a population of multipotent,self-renewing stem cells that retain their competitive phenotype upon transplantation. Their single-cell contribution to either somatic or germline fates,but not to both,is consistent with separate lineages of somatic and germline stem cells or pluripotent stem cells that differentiate according to the niche in which they land. Since fusion is restricted to individuals that share a fusion/histocompatibility allele,these data suggest that histocompatibility genes in Botryllus evolved to protect the body from parasitic stem cells usurping asexual or sexual inheritance. View Publication

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and its soluble receptor (sIL-6R) are major factors for maintenance and expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Sensitivity of HSCs to IL-6 has been previously studied,in part by measuring the expression of IL-6R on the membrane (mIL-6R). Several studies have described the regulation of cell surface expression of IL-6R by several cytokines,but the role of glycoprotein 130 activation has not yet been investigated. In this study,CD133(+) cells were purified from adult peripheral blood and were precultured in the absence or presence of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for selection of quiescent HSCs. Cells were cultured with continuous or pulsed stimulations of an IL-6-sIL-6R fusion protein (hyperinterleukin-6 [HIL-6]) to 1) detect mIL-6R by flow cytometry,2) assess mIL-6R and sIL-6R RNAs by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction,3) measure sIL-6R in supernatants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,4) analyze cell-cycle status,and 5) perform long-term culture-initiating cell assays. The level of mIL-6R(-) cells was preserved by 5-FU incubation. HIL-6 increased steady-state mIL-6R RNA and expression rate on HSCs,independently of treatment with 5-FU. Enhanced production of sIL-6R was observed with short pulses of HIL-6 on CD133(+) 5-FU-pretreated cells. This overproduction of sIL-6R was abrogated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha protease inhibitor-1,an inhibitor of a disintegrin and metalloprotease proteases,suggesting the shedding of mIL-6R. This phenomenon was mediated through the phosphatidylinositol-3'-kinase pathway and was involved in the maintenance of primitive HSCs. In conclusion,expression and production of IL-6R are tightly regulated and stage specific. We assume that sIL-6R produced by shedding should be involved in autocrine and paracrine loops in the HSC microenvironment. View Publication

Talpha-1 tubulin promoter-driven EYFP expression is seen in murine neurons born as early as E9.5. Double labeling with markers for stem cells (Sox 1,Sox 2,nestin),glial progenitors (S100beta,NG2,Olig2),and neuronal progenitors (doublecortin,betaIII-tubulin,PSA-NCAM) show that Talpha-1 tubulin expression is limited to early born neurons. BrdU uptake and double labeling with neuronal progenitor markers in vivo and in vitro show that EYFP-expressing cells are postmitotic and Talpha-1 tubulin EYFP precedes the expression of MAP-2 and NeuN,and follows the expression of PSA-NCAM,doublecortin (Dcx),and betaIII-tubulin. Talpha-1 tubulin promoter-driven EYFP expression is transient and disappears in most neurons by P0. Persistent EYFP expression is mainly limited to scattered cells in the subventricular zone (SVZ),rostral migratory stream,and hippocampus. However,there are some areas that continue to express Talpha-1 tubulin in the adult without apparent neurogenesis. The number of EYFP-expressing cells declines with age indicating that Talpha-1 tubulin accurately identifies early born postmitotic neurons throughout development but less clearly in the adult. Assessment of neurogenesis after stab wound injuries in the cortex,cerebellum and spinal cord of adult animals shows no neurogenesis in most areas with an increase in BrdU incorporation in glial and other non neuronal populations. An up-regulation of Talpha-1 tubulin can be seen in certain areas unaccompanied by new neurogenesis. Our results suggest that even if stem cells proliferate their ability to generate neurons is limited and caution is warranted in attributing increased BrdU incorporation to stem cells or cells fated to be neurons even in neurogenic areas. View Publication

Adipose tissue represents an abundant and accessible source of multipotent adult stem cells and is used by many investigators for tissue engineering applications; however,not all laboratories use cells at equivalent stages of isolation and passage. We have compared the immunophenotype of freshly isolated human adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells relative to serial-passaged adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). The initial SVF cells contained colony-forming unit fibroblasts at a frequency of 1:32. Colony-forming unit adipocytes and osteoblasts were present in the SVF cells at comparable frequencies (1:28 and 1:16,respectively). The immunophenotype of the adipose-derived cells based on flow cytometry changed progressively with adherence and passage. Stromal cell-associated markers (CD13,CD29,CD44,CD63,CD73,CD90,CD166) were initially low on SVF cells and increased significantly with successive passages. The stem cell-associated marker CD34 was at peak levels in the SVF cells and/or early-passage ASCs and remained present,although at reduced levels,throughout the culture period. Aldehyde dehydrogenase and the multidrug-resistance transport protein (ABCG2),both of which have been used to identify and characterize hematopoietic stem cells,are expressed by SVF cells and ASCs at detectable levels. Endothelial cell-associated markers (CD31,CD144 or VE-cadherin,vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2,von Willebrand factor) were expressed on SVF cells and did not change significantly with serial passage. Thus,the adherence to plastic and subsequent expansion of human adipose-derived cells in fetal bovine serum-supplemented medium selects for a relatively homogeneous cell population,enriching for cells expressing a stromal immunophenotype,compared with the heterogeneity of the crude SVF. View Publication

Natural killer (NK) cells are thought to develop from common lymphoid progenitors in the bone marrow. However,immature thymocytes also retain NK potential. Currently,the contribution of the thymus-dependent pathway in normal steady-state NK-cell development is unknown. Here,we show that TCRgamma genes are rearranged in approximately 5% of neonatal and 1% of adult mouse splenic NK cells,and similar levels are detected in NK cells from TCRbeta,delta double-knockout mice,excluding the possibility of T-cell contamination. NK-cell TCRgamma gene rearrangement is thymus dependent because this rearrangement is undetectable in nude mouse NK cells. These results change the current view of NK-cell development and show that a subset of NK cells develops from immature thymocytes that have rearranged TCRgamma genes. View Publication

In this report we describe a quantitative in vitro assay for the most primitive type of leukemic precursors yet defined in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). This assay is based on the recently described long-term culture-initiating cell" (LTC-IC) assay for primitive normal human hematopoietic cells. Such cells View Publication

BACKGROUND: The dose-limiting toxicity of doxorubicin on hematopoietic stem cells reduces the maximum benefit from this powerful drug. Melatonin may play a role in reducing this toxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Melatonin at 10 microM was used while challenging human peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) with doxorubicin (0.6 microM and 1 microM),and colony formation was used to evaluate the protective effect of melatonin. RESULTS: Melatonin was protective for the myeloid and erythroid series when given during or 1 hour after,but not before,doxorubicin,as measured by colony assay. This protection was independent from its antioxidant function as measured by 2',7'-dichlodihydro-fluorescein diacetate and was selective for PBSC when compared to the MCF-7 cancer cell line. CONCLUSION: The results suggest the importance of the time sequence for melatonin administration to exert its protective effect in relation to doxorubicin treatment,as well as its protective effect on both erythroid and myeloid elements independent from its antioxidant function. View Publication

The aim of this investigation was to characterize the proliferative precursor cells in the adult mouse hippocampal region. Given that a very large number of new hippocampal cells are generated over the lifetime of an animal,it is predicted that a neural stem cell is ultimately responsible for maintaining this genesis. Although it is generally accepted that a proliferative precursor resides within the hippocampus,contradictory reports exist regarding the classification of this cell. Is it a true stem cell or a more limited progenitor? Using a strict functional definition of a neural stem cell and a number of in vitro assays,we report that the resident hippocampal precursor is a progenitor capable of proliferation and multipotential differentiation but is unable to self-renew and thus proliferate indefinitely. Furthermore,the mitogen FGF-2 stimulates proliferation of these cells to a greater extent than epidermal growth factor (EGF). In addition,we found that BDNF was essential for the production of neurons from the hippocampal progenitor cells,being required during proliferation to trigger neuronal fate. In contrast,a bona fide neural stem cell was identified in the lateral wall of the lateral ventricle surrounding the hippocampus. Interestingly,EGF proved to be the stronger mitogenic factor for this cell,which was clearly a different precursor from the resident hippocampal progenitor. These results suggest that the stem cell ultimately responsible for adult hippocampal neurogenesis resides outside the hippocampus,producing progenitor cells that migrate into the neurogenic zones and proliferate to produce new neurons and glia. View Publication

For antibody-based therapy of cancer,monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) of human origin are superior to mouse,mouse/human chimeric or humanized mAbs,because of their minimum immunogenicity to humans and their efficient collaboration with human effector cells. In the present study,human mAbs were prepared against a pancarcinoma antigen,MK-1 (Ep-CAM),using a genetically-engineered mouse (KM mouse) that contains the human immunoglobulin genes. Spleen cells from KM mice,immunized with recombinant MK-1,were fused with P3-U1 mouse myeloma cells. Of 44 anti-MK-1 clones analyzed,two were of IgG4 and the others of IgM clones. Although the two IgG4 clones were suggested to recognize the same antigenic determinant or two closely located determinants,their VK regions were encoded by different light-chain genes while their VH sequences were identical. The two IgG4 and one of the IgM clones tested revealed antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity,respectively,against MK-1-expressing cells in vitro,suggesting that these fully human mAbs produced against MK-1 and their V-region genes,which are applicable for the preparation of engineered antibody fragments that may be useful for antibody-based therapy of cancer. View Publication

Resident host microflora condition and prime the immune system. However,systemic and mucosal immune responses to bacteria may be divergent. Our aim was to compare,in vitro,cytokine production by human mononuclear and dendritic cells (DCs) from mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to defined microbial stimuli. Mononuclear cells and DCs isolated from the MLN (n = 10) and peripheral blood (n = 12) of patients with active colitis were incubated in vitro with the probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118 or Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 or the pathogenic organism Salmonella typhimurium UK1. Interleukin (IL)-12,tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha,transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta,and IL-10 cytokine levels were quantified by ELISA. PBMCs and PBMC-derived DCs secreted TNF-alpha in response to the Lactobacillus,Bifidobacteria,and Salmonella strains,whereas MLN cells and MLN-derived DCs secreted TNF-alpha only in response to Salmonella challenge. Cells from the systemic compartment secreted IL-12 after coincubation with Salmonella or Lactobacilli,whereas MLN-derived cells produced IL-12 only in response to Salmonella. PBMCs secreted IL-10 in response to the Bifidobacterium strain but not in response to the Lactobacillus or Salmonella strain. However,MLN cells secreted IL-10 in response to Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli but not in response to Salmonella. In conclusion,commensal bacteria induced regulatory cytokine production by MLN cells,whereas pathogenic bacteria induce T cell helper 1-polarizing cytokines. Commensal-pathogen divergence in cytokine responses is more marked in cells isolated from the mucosal immune system compared with PBMCs. View Publication

The molecular mechanism responsible for a decline of stem cell functioning after replicative stress remains unknown. We used mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to identify genes involved in the process of cellular aging. In proliferating and senescent MEFs one of the most differentially expressed transcripts was Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (Ezh2),a Polycomb group protein (PcG) involved in histone methylation and deacetylation. Retroviral overexpression of Ezh2 in MEFs resulted in bypassing of the senescence program. More importantly,whereas normal HSCs were rapidly exhausted after serial transplantations,overexpression of Ezh2 completely conserved long-term repopulating potential. Animals that were reconstituted with 3 times serially transplanted control bone marrow cells all died due to hematopoietic failure. In contrast,similarly transplanted Ezh2-overexpressing stem cells restored stem cell quality to normal levels. In a genetic genomics" screen View Publication