Charakterisierung von follikulären dendritischen Zellen in Non-Hodgkin Lymphomen mit Fluoreszenzimmunhistochemie und digitaler Bildanalyse

Follicular dendritic cells represent a unique population of specialized antigen-presenting cells found in the primary and secondary lymphoid follicles under reactive conditions and in certain non-Hodgkin lymphomas among the reactive bystander cells of tumor. Follicular dendritic cells form a three-dimensional network to sustain the architecture of germinal center and play a pivotal role in the selection of antigen-specific B cells and their clonal expansion in the germinal center. Recently, several gene expression profiling studies and immunohistochemical analyses in lymphoma biopsy samples have revealed that follicular dendritic cell networks might be associated with the clinical outcome in certain non-Hodgkin lymphomas. We therefore determined semiquantitatively the extent and the immunophenotype of follicular dendritic cells in both reactive germinal centers and non-Hodgkin lymphomas, namely follicular lymphoma, angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma, using fluorescent double staining followed by digital image analysis. In all tested non-Hodgkin lymphomas, proteins that are involved in the antigen-dependent interaction of follicular dendritic cells and B cells, such as CD23 and CD35, and in adhesion, such as CD54, were expressed at relatively low levels on follicular dendritic cells, comparable to follicular dendritic cells found in the dark zone of the germinal center, suggesting functional and phenotypical heterogeneity of follicular dendritic cells in germinal centers and non-Hodgkin lymphomas. However, there was no association between the extent of follicular dendritic cell networks with the clinical outcome of 102 patients with follicular lymphoma treated within a prospectively randomized trial as measured by time to treatment failure or overall survival. In summary, follicular dendritic cells found in different types of non-Hodgkin lymphomas show quantitatively reduced expression of several proteins, suggesting that there are functional differences between follicular dendritic cells in normal germinal centers and non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The extent of the follicular dendritic cell networks in follicular lymphoma, however, is not useful as a prognostic marFollikuläre dendritische Zellen (FDC) sind spezialisierte Antigen-präsentierende Zellen in reaktiven Lymphfollikeln und in bestimmten Non-Hodgkin Lymphomen. Sie bilden dreidimensionale Netzwerke um die Architektur der Keimzentren aufrechtzuerhalten und spielen eine entscheidende Rolle in der Selektion und der klonalen Proliferation der Antigen-spezifischen B-Zellen in den Keimzentren. Im Rahmen von Genexpressionsstudien und immunhistochemischen Analysen von Lymphombiopsaten wurde in den letzten Jahren gezeigt, dass FDC mit der Prognose von Lymphompatienten assoziiert sein könnten. Diese Erkenntnisse inspirierten uns, die Immunphänotypen und die Ausdehnung der FDC in reaktiven Keimzentren und in bestimmten Non-Hodgkin Lymphomen, insbesondere follikulären Lymphomen, Mantelzell-Lymphomen und Angioimmunoblastischen T-Zell Lymphomen, mittels Fluoreszenzmehrfachfärbungen und digitaler Bildanalyse semiquantitativ zu bestimmen. In allen getesteten Non-Hodgkin Lymphomen kamen die Proteine, die an den Antigen-abhängigen Interaktionen der FDC mit B-Zellen, zum Beispiel CD23 und CD35, oder an der Adhänsion, zum Beispiel CD54, beteiligt sind, in niedrigem Expressionsniveau zur Darstellung, vergleichbar mit dem Expressionsniveau der FDC in den dunklen Zonen der Keimzentren. Diese Ergebnisse weisen auf eine funktionelle und phänotypische Heterogenität der FDC in reaktiven Keimzentren und Non-Hodgkin Lymphomen hin. Ein Zusammenhang zwischen der Ausdehnung von FDC-Netzwerken und der Zeit bis zum Therapieversagen sowie dem Gesamtüberleben konnte jedoch an 102 Patienten mit follikulären Lymphomen, die im Rahmen einer prospektiven, randomisierten Studie behandelt wurden, nicht gezeigt werden. Zusammenfassend exprimierten die FDC in unterschiedlichen Typen von Non-Hodgkin Lymphomen einige funktionelle Proteine in reduziertem Niveau. Dies deutet auf funktionelle Unterschiede zwischen den FDC in normalen Keimzentren und in Non-Hodgkin Lymphomen hin. Die Ausdehnung der FDC-Netwerke in follikulären Lymphomen ist nicht als Prognosemarker geeignet

Multi-cellular natural killer (NK) cell clusters enhance NK cell activation through localizing IL-2 within the cluster

1154Ysciescopu

Effects of dodecacalcium heptaaluminate content on the setting time, compressive strength, alkalinity, and cytocompatibility of tricalcium silicate cement

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of dodecacalcium hepta-aluminate (C12A7) content on some physicochemical properties and cytocompatibility of tricalcium silicate (C3S) cement using human dental pulp cells (hDPCs). Material and Methods: High purity C3S cement was manufactured by a solid phase method. C12A7 was mixed with the cement in proportions of 0, 5, 8, and 10 wt% (C12A7-0, -5, -8, and -10, respectively). Physicochemical properties including initial setting time, compressive strength, and alkalinity were evaluated. Cytocompatibility was assessed with cell viability tests and cell number counts. Statistical analysis was performed by using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s test (p<0.05). Results: The initial setting time of C3S-based cement was shorter in the presence of C12A7 (p<0.05). After 1 day, C12A7-5 showed significantly higher compressive strength than the other groups (p<0.05). After 7 days, the compressive strength of C12A7-5 was similar to that of C12A7-0, whereas other groups showed strength lower than C12A7-0. The pH values of all tested groups showed no significant differences after 1 day (p>0.05). The C12A7-5 group showed similar cell viability to the C12A7-0 group (p>0.05), while the other experimental groups showed lower values compared to C12A7-0 group (p<0.05). The number of cells grown on the C12A7-5 specimen was higher than that on C12A7-8 and -10 (p<0.05). Conclusions: The addition of C12A7 to C3S cement at a proportion of 5% resulted in rapid initial setting time and higher compressive strength with no adverse effects on cytocompatibility

Potassium chloride elicits enhancement of bilobalide and Ginkgolides production by Ginkgo biloba cell cultures

This study investigated the ability of potassium chloride (KCl) to elicit the production of bilobalide (BB), ginkgolide A (GA) and ginkgolide B (GB) by Ginkgo biloba cell suspension cultures. The salt stress by KCl treatments increased production of BB, GA and GB in both suspended cells and cultured medium. Especially, treatment of KCl 800 mM of highest concentration was stimulated emission into cultured medium BB, GA and GB compounds accumulated in cells. Although KCl 800 mM severely inhibited cells growth, the maximum content of GA and GB in cells was obtained in the treatment of KCl 800 mM, which was 1.9 and 4.0 times higher than the control. These results thus suggest that salt stress can afford enhanced production of secondary metabolites by plant cell cultures

Anti-proliferative effects of Bifidobacterium adolescentis SPM0212 extract on human colon cancer cell lines

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are beneficial probiotic organisms that contribute to improved nutrition, microbial balance, and immuno-enhancement of the intestinal tract, as well as anti-tumor activity. The aim of the present work was to study the growth inhibition of tumor cells by butanol extract of <it>Bifidobacterium adolescentis </it>isolated from healthy young Koreans.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The anti-proliferative activity of <it>B. adolescentis </it>isolates was assessed by XTT assays on three human colon cancer cell lines (Caco-2, HT-29, and SW480). The effects of <it>B. adolescentis </it>SPM0212 butanol extract on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and nitric oxide (NO) production were tested using the murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cell line.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The butanol extract of <it>B. adolescentis </it>SPM0212 dose-dependently inhibited the growth of Caco-2, HT-29, and SW480 cells by 70%, 30%, and 40%, respectively, at 200 μg/mL. Additionally, the butanol extract of <it>B. adolescentis </it>SPM0212 induced macrophage activation and significantly increased the production of TNF-α and NO, which regulate immune modulation and are cytotoxic to tumor cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The butanol extract of <it>B. adolescentis </it>SPM0212 increased activity of the host immune system and may improve human health by helping to prevent colon cancer as a biological response modifier.</p

Facile synthesis of nano-Li4 Ti5O12 for high-rate Li-ion battery anodes

One of the most promising anode materials for Li-ion batteries, Li4Ti5O12, has attracted attention because it is a zero-strain Li insertion host having a stable insertion potential. In this study, we suggest two different synthetic processes to prepare Li4Ti5O12 using anatase TiO2 nanoprecursors. TiO2 powders, which have extraordinarily large surface areas of more than 250 m2 g-1, were initially prepared through the urea-forced hydrolysis/precipitation route below 100°C. For the synthesis of Li4Ti5O12, LiOH and Li2CO3 were added to TiO2 solutions prepared in water and ethanol media, respectively. The powders were subsequently dried and calcined at various temperatures. The phase and morphological transitions from TiO2 to Li4Ti5O12 were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The electrochemical performance of nanosized Li4Ti5O12 was evaluated in detail by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic cycling. Furthermore, the high-rate performance and long-term cycle stability of Li4Ti5O12 anodes for use in Li-ion batteries were discussed

Increasing late diagnosis in HIV infection in South Korea: 2000-2007

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The number of Koreans diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections is increasing annually; however, CD4+ T-cell counts at diagnosis have decreased. The purpose of the present study was to identify clinical and epidemiologic associations with low CD4+ T-cell counts at the time of HIV diagnosis in a Korean population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data from 2,299 HIV-infected individuals with initial CD4+ T-cell counts measured within 6 months of HIV diagnosis and reason for HIV testing were recorded and measured from 2000 to 2007. Data were selected from the database of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Late diagnosis was defined by CD4+ T-cell counts <200 cells/mm³. Reasons for HIV testing were analyzed using logistic regression including epidemiologic variables.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 858 individuals (37.3%) were included in the late diagnosis group. Individuals with a late diagnosis were older, exposed through heterosexual contact, and demonstrated clinical manifestations of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The primary reason for HIV testing was a routine health check-up (41%) followed by clinical manifestations (31%) of AIDS. The proportion of individuals with a late diagnosis was higher in individuals tested due to clinical symptoms in public health centers (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 17.3; 95% CI, 1.7-175) and hospitals (AOR, 4.9; 95% CI, 3.4-7.2) compared to general health check-up. Late diagnosis annually increased in individuals diagnosed by voluntary testing both in public health centers (PHCs, P = 0.017) and in hospitals (P = 0.063). Routine testing due to risky behaviors resulted in earlier detection than testing secondary to health check-ups, although this difference was not statistically significant (AOR, 0.7; P = 0.187). Individuals identified as part of hospital health check-ups more frequently had a late diagnosis (P = 0.001)</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>HIV infection was primarily detected by voluntary testing with identification in PHCs and by testing due to clinical symptoms in hospitals. However, early detection was not influenced by either voluntary testing or general health check-up. It is important to encourage voluntary testing for early detection to decrease the prevalence of HIV infection and AIDS progression.</p

Use of signal sequences as an in situ removable sequence element to stimulate protein synthesis in cell-free extracts

This study developed a method to boost the expression of recombinant proteins in a cell-free protein synthesis system without leaving additional amino acid residues. It was found that the nucleotide sequences of the signal peptides serve as an efficient downstream box to stimulate protein synthesis when they were fused upstream of the target genes. The extent of stimulation was critically affected by the identity of the second codons of the signal sequences. Moreover, the yield of the synthesized protein was enhanced by as much as 10 times in the presence of an optimal second codon. The signal peptides were in situ cleaved and the target proteins were produced in their native sizes by carrying out the cell-free synthesis reactions in the presence of Triton X-100, most likely through the activation of signal peptidase in the S30 extract. The amplification of the template DNA and the addition of the signal sequences were accomplished by PCR. Hence, elevated levels of recombinant proteins were generated within several hours