Analysis of teaching difficulties in the chapter of antigen in Medical Immunology and teaching strategy / 细胞与分子免疫学杂志

The concept of "ntigen"is a relative one. The narrow concept of it condenses the process of activation of adaptive immune response and re-recognition of the same antigen, revealing the protective mechanism of vaccines with great significance for research and development of vaccines. However, the narrow concept involves adaptive immune system members: B cells, T cells and their effector products, which is difficult for beginners to understand the inherent meaning. Meanwhile, antigen classification fully summarizes the immune response process, so a variety of classification approach increases the difficulty in learning. Our teaching team analyzes the difficulties of this chapter in depth, and we implements the strategy that takes antibody structure and function as the breakthrough point and simplified adaptive immune response process as the core in teaching. A mind map that includes the main contents of this chapter is made during the process, which promotes the effectiveness of classroom teaching greatly.

Distribution of monocyte subsets and their surface CD31 intensity are associated with disease course and severity of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome / 细胞与分子免疫学杂志

Objective To investigate the relationship between disease courses and severity and monocyte subsets distribution and surface CD31 intensity in patients of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Methods Peripheral blood samples from 29 HFRS patients and 13 normal controls were collected. The dynamic changes of classical monocyte subsets (CD14++CD16-), intermediated monocyte subsets (CD14++CD16+) and non-classical monocyte subsets (CD14+CD16++) and the mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) of CD31 on monocyte subsets were detected by multiple-immunofluorescent staining and flow cytometry. Results In acute phase of HFRS, the ratio of classical monocyte subsets to total monocytes was dramatically decreased compared to convalescent phase and normal control. It was still much lower in convalescent phase compared to normal controls. The ratio of classical monocyte subsets to total monocytes were decreased in HFRS patients compared to that in normal control, whereas there was no difference between severe/critical groups and mild/moderate groups. On the contrary, the ratio of intermediate monocyte subsets to total monocytes in acute phase of HFRS was significantly increased compared to convalescent phase and normal control. The ratio of intermediate monocyte subsets to total monocytes were increased in HFRS patients compared to that in normal control, whereas no difference was found between severe/critical groups and mild/moderate groups. Phases or severity groups had no difference in ratio of non-classical monocyte subsets to total monocytes. Additionally, the ratio of classical monocyte subsets had a tendency to decline and that of intermediate monocyte subsets showed an increase both to total monocytes between the acute and convalescent phases in 11 HFRS patients with paired-samples. Moreover, in acute phase of HFRS, the mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) of CD31 on three monocyte subsets all decreased, specifically classical monocyte subsets showed the highest MFI of CD31 while the normal control reported the highest MFI of CD31 in non-classical monocyte subsets. In convalescent phase, the MFI of CD31 on classical and intermediated monocyte subsets were both lower than that of normal control, while MFI of CD31 was still significantly lower than normal control on non-classical monocyte subsets. Finally, MFI of CD31 on classical and intermediated monocyte subsets in severe/critical group were both lower than those in mild/moderate group, showing no statistical difference in MFI of CD31 on non-classical monocyte subset across groups of different disease severity. Conclusion The ratio of classical and intermediated monocyte subsets to total monocytes are correlated with the course of HFRS, and so are the surface intensity of CD31 on these monocyte subsets with the disease course and severity. The surface intensity of CD31 on non-classical monocyte subsets, however, is correlated only with the course of the disease. Together, the underlying mechanisms for the observed changes in monocyte subsets in HFRS patients should be further investigated.

Mechanism of CD226-dependant NK cell regulation in mouse obesity / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of CD226 knockout ( KO) on obese mice fed with high fat diet and to analyze the composition of immune cells in CD226KO obese mice for further elucidating the immunological mechanism of CD226 involved in high fat diet-induced obesity. Methods Both wild-type ( WT) and CD226KO mice were randomly divided into two groups, high-fat and normal diet groups, and fed for 14 weeks to establish the type 2 diabetes model. Immune cells in mouse spleen and peripheral blood were analyzed by flow cytometry. In in vitro experiments, NK92-MI cells were infected with pshRNA-CD226 lenti-virus to silence CD226 expression, and then qPCR was performed to detect the expression of Foxp3, TNF-αand IFN-γ at mRNA level. Results In the high-fat diet groups, CD226KO mice had lower blood glucose, serum insulin and HOMA-IR than WT mice, but higher HOMA-IS and HOMA-β. CD226KO could reduce compensatory hyperplasia of islet tissue, and significantly down-regulate the proportion of spleen NK cells in mice. The proportion of CD3-CD49b+CD25+Foxp3+regulatory NK cells (NKreg) increased significantly in CD226KO mice. CD226KO could significantly increase Foxp3 expression in NK92-MI cells and decrease the expression of TNF-α and IFN-γ. Conclusions CD226KO can alleviate insulin resistance, increase the number of islet β-cell and improve islet β-cell function in obese mice. The mechanism might be related to the up-regulation of Foxp3+ NKreg ratio.

Expression of leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 (LAIR-1) on osteoclasts and its potential role in rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE: Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 is an inhibitory receptor primarily expressed by immune cells. This study was undertaken to define the role of this molecule in osteoclast differentiation and rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: In vitro osteoclast assays were performed to characterize the role of Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 in murine and human osteoclastogenesis. Human Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry staining in the synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The levels of soluble Human Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: We found that multinucleated osteoclast formation from mouse bone marrow cells was inhibited by treatment with a monoclonal antibody against mouse Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 in vitro. By immunohistochemistry, we found that Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 was mainly expressed by macrophages in the inflamed synovial tissue of rheumatoid arthritis patients. In addition, serum and synovial fluid levels of soluble Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 were higher in rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to healthy controls or osteoarthritis patients. Moreover, overexpression of Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 in CD14+ monocytes from healthy volunteers also inhibited human osteoclastogenesis. CONCLUSION: Collectively, these data demonstrate for the first time that Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 inhibits osteoclastogenesis. Therefore, these results may have therapeutic implications for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. .

Epidemiological study of cytopenia among benzene-exposed workers and its influential factors / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the benzene exposure level and cytopenia among the benzene exposed workers in Shanghai, China and to analyze the influential factors for the health of benzene-exposed workers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 3314 benzene-exposed workers, who were from 85 benzene-related enterprises selected by stratified random sampling based on enterprise sizes and industries, were included in the study. The time-weighted average (TWA) concentration of benzene in each workshop was measured by individual sampling and fixed point sampling, and the benzene exposure level in workshop was evaluated accordingly. The occupational health examination results and health status of benzene-exposed workers were collected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median of TW A concentrations of benzene was 0.3 mg/m3. The TWA concentrations measured at 7 ( 1.4%) of the 504 sampling points were above the safety limit. Of the 7 points, 3 were from large enterprises, 2 from medium enterprises, and 2 from small enterprises; 3 were from shipbuilding industry, 1 from chemical industry, and 3 from light industry. Of the 3314 benzene-exposed workers, 451 ( 13.6%) had cytopenia, including 339 males ( 339/2548, 13.3%) and 112 females ( 112/766, 14.6% ). There were significant differences in the incidence rates of leukopenia and neutropenia among the benzene-exposed workers of different sexes and ages (P<0.05); there were significant differences in the incidence rate of cytopenia among the benzene-exposed workers of different ages and working years ( P<0.05 ); there were significant differences in the incidence of neutropenia among the benzene exposed workers of different working years ( P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Monitoring and intervention measures should be enhanced to protect the benzene-exposed workers in the large enterprises in shipbuilding industry and medium and private enterprises in chemical industry from occupational hazards.</p>

Study on the effect of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell adoptive transfusion on humoral immune function in rat composite tissue allotransplantation model / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To approach the effect of the donor antigenic specificity CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell (Treg) on cellular immune tolerance function in rat composite tissue allotransplantation (CTA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Use the method of immunomagnetic beads to separate CD4+CD25+ Treg, (1 x 10(6))CD4+CD25+ Treg was transfused to rat CTA model. Collected peripheral blood 30 days after operation, and used nylon wool column to separate B cell and T cell. With the stimulation of IgM, detected B cell proliferation and the level of IgG and IgA in serum. Observed the effect of CD4+CD25+ Treg on B cell and T cell function and the survival of allotransplants, and analyzed the data by statistics.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The purity of separated CD4+CD25+ Treg was 95.6%. The CPM of T cell of normal control group, topical intervention group, systemic intervention group and non-intervention group were (2436 +/- 358), (2273 +/- 136), (2338 +/- 228) and (3749 +/- 245). The CPM of B cells of normal control group, topical intervention group, systemic intervention group and non-intervention group were (2418 +/- 348), (2252 +/- 127), (2315 +/- 218) and (3720 +/- 224), there was a significant difference in these groups (P < 0.01). The serum level of IgG and IgA of topical intervention group and systemic intervention group were (12.56 +/- 1.30), (2.38 +/- 0.21), (13.48 +/- 1.23) and (2.86 +/- 0.24) g/L, and of normal control group was (12.35 +/- 1.28), (2.36 +/- 0.12) g/L, had no significant difference (P > 0.05). But Treg of non-intervention group was (16.58 +/- 1.12), (3.75 +/- 0.37) g/L, there was a significant difference in the non-intervention group and the three above groups (P < 0.01). The survival time of CTA in intervention of local and systemic groups were (97 +/- 13) and (63 +/- 10) d, which were significant longer than the non-intervention group [(22 +/- 8) d, P < 0.01].</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Donor antigen specific CD4+CD25+ Treg has significantly inhibited B cell and T cell function. It can induce immune tolerance and extend the survival time of CTA; as well local application is better than systemic.</p>