Abnormal neutrophil polarization in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and how cigarette smoke extracts attract neutrophils.

Background: Airway inflammation produced by neutrophils is a critical factor in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Poor or excessive neutrophil polarization and chemotaxis may lead to pathogen accumulation and tissue damage. However, it is unclear how cigarette smoke extract (CSE) attracts neutrophils and to what extent COPD is affected by the improper polarization of these abnormal neutrophils. This study sought to assess the polarization and migration dynamics of neutrophils isolated from patients with different severities of COPD compared to healthy smoking and non-smoking control subjects, and to detect how CSE triggers the polarization of neutrophils. Methods: The neutrophils were freshly isolated using standard isolation protocol. The polarization of the neutrophils was observed using a Zigmond chamber when stimulated by a linear concentration gradient of CSE or N-formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine (fMLP). Confocal laser-scanning microscopy was used to observe the intracellular calcium of the neutrophils. The experimental data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation. SPSS 20.0 software was used for the statistical analysis. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The neutrophils from the COPD patients showed a higher frequency of spontaneous polarization and a lower prevalence of directionality polarization than those from the healthy control (HC) and smoker subjects. The abnormal polarization of the neutrophils from the COPD patients was altered by the influence of store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) component matrix interaction molecules 1 and 2 and calcium release-activated calcium channel protein 1 [stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1), Stromal interaction molecule 2 (STIM2), and calcium release-activated calcium modulator 1 (ORAI1)]. Conclusions: The COPD neutrophils exhibited unique polarization and migration patterns compared to those of the cells examined from other populations. The attraction of CSEs to neutrophils was mediated by the SOCE/Akt/Src pathway.

Transfection of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells using green fluorescence protein labeled hVEGF165 recombinant plasmid mediated by liposome.

OBJECTIVE: To study the role of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in construction of vascularized engineered tissue. METHODS: hVEGF165 was amplified via RT-PCR before recombinant with pShuttle- green fluorescence protein;green fluorescent protein (GFP)-CMV. Then the recombinant shuttle plasmid was transfected into BMSCs with Lipofectamine(TM) 2000 for packaging and amplifying. hVEGF165 mRNA expression in BMSCs cells was tested. RESULTS: The sequence of hVEGF165 in pShuttle-GFP-hVEGF165 plasmid was confirmed by double-enzyme cleavage method and sequencing. hVEGF165 was highly expressed in BMSCs. CONCLUSIONS: The GFP/hVEGF165 recombinant plasmid vector was constructed successfully and expressed effectively in host cells, which may be helpful for discussing the possibility of the application of VEGF165-BMSCs in tissue engineering and ischemic disease cure.