CHARACTERIZATION OF GAMMA-RADIATION CROSS-LINKED CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS BY CRYSTALLIZATION TEMPERATURE

The effect of gamma-radlatlon on plain crystalline polymers and crystalline polymers containing different amounts of difunctional monomer both in vacuum and in air at room temperature has been investigated with DSC. It was found that the crystallization temperature T_c of crosslinked sample measured on DSC at a constant cooling rate decreases with increasing radiation dose. The difference between T_c before and after crosslinking (T_(c_0)-T_(c_R)) is linearly related to the radiation dose for plain polymer....

Isolation, properties and spatial site analysis of gamma subunits of B-phycoerythrin and R-phycoerythrin

Polysiphonia urceolata R-phycoerythrin and Porphyridium cruentum B-phycoerythrin were degraded with proteinaseK, and then the nearly native gamma subunits were isolated from the reaction mixture. The process of degradation of phycoerythrin with proteinaseK showed that the gamma subunit is located in the central cavity of (alpha beta)(6) hexamer of phycoerythrin. Comparative analysis of the spectra of the native phycoerythrin, the phycoerythrin at pH 12 and the isolated gamma subunit showed that the absorption peaks of phycoerythrobilins on alpha or beta subunit are at 535 nm (or 545 nm) and 565 nm, the fluorescence emission maximum at 580 nm; the absorption peak of phycoerythrobilins on the isolated gamma subunit is at 589 nm, the fluorescence emission peak at 620 nm which overlaps the absorption maximum of C-phycocyanin and perhaps contributes to the energy transfer with high efficiency between phycoerythrin and phycocyanin in phycobilisome; the absorption maximum of phycourobilin on the isolated gamma subunit is at 498 nm, which is the same as that in native phycoerythrin, and the fluorescence emission maximum at 575 nm.

Bromophenols coupled with methyl gamma-ureidobutyrate and bromophenol sulfates from the red alga Rhodomela confervoides

Four new bromophenols C-N coupled with methyl gamma-ureidobutyrate (1-4), a phenylethanol bromophenol (5), and three phenylethanol sulfate bromophenols (6-8) have been isolated from polar fractions of an ethanolic extract of the red alga Rhodomela confervoides. On the basis of spectroscopic evidence including HRMS and 2D NMR data, the structures of the new compounds were determined as methyl N'-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-gamma-ureidobutyrate (1), methyl N,N'-bis(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-gamma-ureidobutyrate (2), methyl N'-[3-bromo-2-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl]-gamma-ureidobutyrate (3), methyl N'-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-A7-[3-bromo2-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl]-gamma-ureidobutyrate (4), 2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenylethanol (5), 2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenylethanol Sulfate (6), 3-bromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenylethanol sulfate (7), and 3-bromo2-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-4,5-dihydroxyphenylethanol sulfate (8). The cytotoxicity of all compounds was evaluated against several human cancer cell lines including human colon cancer (HCT-8), hepatoma (Bel7402), stomach cancer (BGC-823), lung adenocarcinoma (A549), and human ovarian cancer (A2780). Among them, the phenylethanol and the phenylethanol sulfate bromophenols (5-8) showed moderate cytotoxicity against all tested cell lines.

T-Kernel在Blackfin处理器上的移植分析

T-Kernel是日本T-Engine组织推出的开源免费的嵌入式实时操作系统(RTOS),以其强实时小体积内核著称。本文针对T-Kernel在Blackfin处理器(BF533)上的移植过程进行了分析,给出了中断管理,任务切换和系统调用入口的实现方法,并进行了稳定性和实时性测试,保证了移植系统的性能。

开源RTOS T-Kernel在Blackfin处理器上的移植

随着嵌入式计算技术的飞速发展,多种功能强大的微处理器和相应嵌入式操作系统也相继问世。选择合适的嵌入式操作系统和处理器平台进行移植成为嵌入式开发的重要技术环节。本文介绍了开源嵌入式实时操作系统RTOS(Real Time Operating System)T-Kernel和Blackfin(BF)533处理器及其开发环境VisualDSP++4.5Environment,给出了中断管理、任务切换和系统调用入口三个模块的移植方法,并讨论了相应的系统稳定性和实时性测试方法。日本T-Engine组织推出的T-Kernel RTOS拥有高实时性、小体积的内核,并强调对底层处理器全面封装;ADI Blackfin系列微处理器同时具有DSP和MCU的特点,非常适合于移植RTOS。因此T-Kernel在BF533上的移植是一个典型的开发应用实例,其移植分析方法对于其他嵌入式RTOS移植也具有参考价值。

Integracja szlaków sygnalizacyjnych interferonu gamma i receptora TLR4 w procesie zapalnym naczyń krwionośnych, warunkowana czynnikami transkrypcyjnymi STAT1 i IRF

Wydział Biologii: Instytut Biologii Molekularnej i Biotechnologii Zakład Genetyki Molekularnej Człowieka

Active Hidden Models for Tracking with Kernel Projections

We introduce Active Hidden Models (AHM) that utilize kernel methods traditionally associated with classification. We use AHMs to track deformable objects in video sequences by leveraging kernel projections. We introduce the "subset projection" method which improves the efficiency of our tracking approach by a factor of ten. We successfully tested our method on facial tracking with extreme head movements (including full 180-degree head rotation), facial expressions, and deformable objects. Given a kernel and a set of training observations, we derive unbiased estimates of the accuracy of the AHM tracker. Kernels are generally used in classification methods to make training data linearly separable. We prove that the optimal (minimum variance) tracking kernels are those that make the training observations linearly dependent.

Molecular mechanisms underpinning IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha synergy in intestinal epithelial cells

Cytokine-driven signalling shapes immune homeostasis and guides inflammatory responses mainly through induction of specific gene expression programmes both within and outside the immune cell compartment. These transcriptional outputs are often amplified via cytokine synergy, which sets a stimulatory threshold that safeguards from exacerbated inflammation and immunopathology. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underpinning synergy between two pivotal Th1 cytokines, IFN-γ and TNF-α, in human intestinal epithelial cells. These two proinflammatory mediators induce a unique state of signalling and transcriptional synergy implicated in processes such as antiviral and antitumour immunity, intestinal barrier and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction. Since its discovery more than 30 years ago, this biological phenomenon remains, however, only partially defined. Here, using a functional genomics approach including RNAi perturbation screens and small-molecule inhibitors, we identified two new regulators of IFN-γ/TNF-α-induced chemokine and antiviral gene and protein expression, a Bcl-2 protein BCL-G and a histone demethylase UTX. We also discovered that IFN-γ/TNF-α synergise to trigger a coordinated shutdown of major receptor tyrosine kinases expression in colon cancer cells. Together, these findings extend our current understanding of how IFN-γ/TNF-α synergy elicits qualitatively and quantitatively distinct outputs in the intestinal epithelium. Given the well-documented role of this synergistic state in immunopathology of various disorders, our results may help to inform the identification of high quality and biologically relevant druggable targets for diseases characterised by an IFN-γ/TNF-α high immune signature

Diversion of intestinal flow decreases the numbers of interleukin 4 secreting and interferon gamma secreting T lymphocytes in small bowel mucosa.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The intestinal immune system faces large amounts of antigens, and its regulation is tightly balanced by cytokines. In this study, the effect of intestinal flow diversion on spontaneous secretion of interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)- gamma was analysed. METHODS: Eight patients (two with Crohn's disease, four with ulcerative colitis, and two with previous colon cancer) carrying a double lumen small bowel stoma after a total colectomy procedure were included in the study. For each patient, eight biopsy samples were taken endoscopically from both the diverted and non-diverted part of the small bowel. Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) and lamina propria lymphocytes (LPLs) were isolated separately and assayed for numbers of cells spontaneously secreting IL-4 and/or IFN-gamma by an ELISPOT technique. RESULTS: Compared with the non-diverted mucosa, a significant decrease in the number of spontaneously IFN-gamma secreting CD3 lymphocytes was observed in the diverted small bowel mucosa among both IELs (p = 0.008) and LPLs (p = 0.007). The same results, although less significant, were obtained for IL-4, especially in LPLs (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The intestinal content influences the spontaneous secretion of IFN-gamma and IL-4 by intestinal lymphocytes. These results could help to elucidate the anti-inflammatory role of split ileostomy in patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases.

A variant of SCID with specific immune responses and predominance of gamma delta T cells.

We describe here a patient with a clinical and molecular diagnosis of recombinase activating gene 1-deficient (RAG1-deficient) SCID, who produced specific antibodies despite minimal B cell numbers. Memory B cells were detected and antibodies were produced not only against some vaccines and infections, but also against autoantigens. The patient had severely reduced levels of oligoclonal T cells expressing the alphabeta TCR but surprisingly normal numbers of T cells expressing the gammadelta TCR. Analysis at a clonal level and TCR complementarity-determining region-3 spectratyping for gammadelta T cells revealed a diversified oligoclonal repertoire with predominance of cells expressing a gamma4-delta3 TCR. Several gammadelta T cell clones displayed reactivity against CMV-infected cells. These observations are compatible with 2 non-mutually exclusive explanations for the gammadelta T cell predominance: a developmental advantage and infection-triggered, antigen-driven peripheral expansion. The patient carried the homozygous hypomorphic R561H RAG1 mutation leading to reduced V(D)J recombination but lacked all clinical features characteristic of Omenn syndrome. This report describes a new phenotype of RAG deficiency and shows that the ability to form specific antibodies does not exclude the diagnosis of SCID.

Spontaneous secretion of interferon gamma and interleukin 4 by human intraepithelial and lamina propria gut lymphocytes.

BACKGROUND: Cytokines secreted by intestinal T lymphocytes probably play a critical role in regulation of the gut associated immune responses. AIMS: To quantify interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin 4 (IL-4) secreting cells (SC) among human intraepithelial (IEL) and lamina propria (LPL) lymphocytes from the duodenum and right colon in non-pathological situations and in the absence of in vitro stimulation. PATIENTS: Duodenal and right colonic biopsy specimens were obtained from patients with no inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. METHODS: Intraepithelial and lamina propria cell suspensions were assayed for numbers of cells spontaneously secreting IFN-gamma and IL-4 by a two site reverse enzyme linked immunospot technique (ELISPOT). RESULTS: The relatively high proportion of duodenal lymphocytes spontaneously secreting IFN-gamma (IEL 3.6%; LPL 1.9%) and IL-4 (IEL 1.3%; LPL 0.7%) contrasted with the very low numbers of spontaneously IFN-gamma SC and the absence of spontaneously IL-4 SC among peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In the basal state, both IFN-gamma and IL-4 were mainly produced by CD4+ cells. Within the colon, only 0.2% of IEL and LPL secreted IFN-gamma in the basal state, and 0.1% secreted IL-4. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with peripheral lymphocytes substantial proportions of intestinal epithelial and lamina propria lymphocytes spontaneously secrete IFN-gamma and/or IL-4. These cytokines are probably involved in the normal homoeostasis of the human intestinal mucosa. Disturbances in their secretion could play a role in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases.

Differential inducibility of HLA class I and II antigens by r-IFN gamma in type III bare lymphocyte syndrome.

Case Reports

Differential inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and TZM-bl cells by endotoxin-mediated chemokine and gamma interferon production.

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) is a frequent contaminant of biological specimens and is also known to be a potent inducer of beta-chemokines and other soluble factors that inhibit HIV-1 infection in vitro. Though lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been shown to stimulate the production of soluble HIV-1 inhibitors in cultures of monocyte-derived macrophages, the ability of LPS to induce similar inhibitors in other cell types is poorly characterized. Here we show that LPS exhibits potent anti-HIV activity in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) but has no detectable anti-HIV-1 activity in TZM-bl cells. The anti-HIV-1 activity of LPS in PBMCs was strongly associated with the production of beta-chemokines from CD14-positive monocytes. Culture supernatants from LPS-stimulated PBMCs exhibited potent anti-HIV-1 activity when added to TZM-bl cells but, in this case, the antiviral activity appeared to be related to IFN-gamma rather than to beta-chemokines. These observations indicate that LPS stimulates PBMCs to produce a complex array of soluble HIV-1 inhibitors, including beta-chemokines and IFN-gamma, that differentially inhibit HIV-1 depending on the target cell type. The results also highlight the need to use endotoxin-free specimens to avoid artifacts when assessing HIV-1-specific neutralizing antibodies in PBMC-based assays.

Lightning mapping observation of a terrestrial gamma-ray flash

We report the observation with the North Alabama Lightning Mapping Array (LMA) related to a terrestrial gamma-ray flash (TGF) detected by RHESSI on 26 July 2008. The LMA data explicitly show the TGF was produced during the initial development of a compact intracloud (IC) lightning flash between a negative charge region centered at about 8.5 km above sea level (-22C temperature level) a higher positive region centered at 13 km, both confined to the convective core of an isolated storm in close proximity to the RHESSI footprint. After the occurrence of an LMA source with a high peak power (26 kW), the initial lightning evolution caused an unusually large IC current moment that became detectable 2 ms after the first LMA source and increased for another 2 ms, during which the burst of gamma-rays was produced. This slowly building current moment was most likely associated with the upward leader progression, which produced an uncommonly large IC charge moment change (+90 Ckm) in 3 ms while being punctuated by a sequence of fast discharge. These observations suggest that the leader development may be involved in the TGF production. Copyright © 2010 by the American Geophysical Union.