Maturação in vitro de oócitos de cutias (Dasyprocta prymnolopha, Wagler 1831) seguida de fertilização in vitro e ativação partenogenética / In vitro maturation of agoutis (Dasyprocta prymnolopha) oocytes followed by in vitro fertilization and parthenogenetic activation

O objetivo foi avaliar protocolos de maturação in vitro (MIV) para oócitos de cutias, seguida de fertilização in vitro (FIV) e ativação partenogenética (AP). Os oócitos imaturos (CCOs) foram obtidos por fatiamento do ovário, após OSH, e submetidos a três grupos: MAT - 16 (16 horas de maturação), MAT - 20 (20 horas de maturação) e MAT - 24 (24 horas de maturação), em incubadora de cultivo a 38,8°C, com atmosfera de 5% de CO2 e 95% de umidade relativa. A maturação foi analisada pela presença do primeiro corpúsculo polar. Em seguida, os CCOs maduros foram submetidos à FIV, com período de coincubação dos CCOs e dos espermatozoides de 15h, a 38,8ºC e 5% de CO2, e AP com ionomicina. Os grupos de MIV foram analisados utilizando-se o teste qui-quadrado e, nos experimentos de FIV e AP, foram analisadas a taxa de clivagem e a proporção de desenvolvimento embrionário. A análise estatística foi realizada utilizando-se o programa SAS. Houve diferença significativa entre os grupos de maturação, tendo os grupos MAT - 20 e MAT - 24 apresentado maior porcentagem de oócitos maturados in vitro. As taxas de clivagem e de desenvolvimento embrionário foram de 8,6% e 2,9%, respectivamente, na FIV, e de 63,6% e 15,1%, na AP. Entretanto, nos dois casos, o embrião não passou do estágio de mórula.(AU)

The objective was to evaluate IVM protocols for agouti oocytes, followed by in vitro fertilization (IVF) and parthenogenetic activation (PA). The immature oocytes (CCOs) were obtained by slicing the ovary after OSH and submitted to three groups: MAT - 16 (16 hours maturation), MAT - 20 (20 hours maturation) and MAT - (24 hours maturation), in a culture incubator at 38.8°C, with an atmosphere of 5% CO2 and 95% relative humidity. The maturation was analyzed by the presence of the first polar corpuscle. Then, mature CCOs were submitted to IVF, with co-incubation period of CCOs and spermatozoa from 15h to 38.8°C and 5% of CO2, and PA with inomycin. The IVM groups were analyzed using the chi-square test and in the FIV and PA experiment the rate of cleavage and the rate of embryonic development were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using the SAS program. There was a significant difference between the maturation groups, and the MAT - 20 and MAT - 24 groups showed a higher percentage of matured oocytes in vitro. The rates of cleavage and embryonic development were 8.6% and 2.9%, respectively in FIV and 63.6% and 15.1% in PA. However, in both cases the embryo did not pass beyond the morula stage.(AU)

Activation of K+ channel by 1-EBIO rescues the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells from Ca2+ ionophore-induced cell death

Ion channels in carcinoma and their roles in cell proliferation are drawing attention. Intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i)-dependent signaling affects the fate of cancer cells. Here we investigate the role of Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel (SK4) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells (HNSCCs) of different cell lines; SNU-1076, OSC-19 and HN5. Treatment with 1 microM ionomycin induced cell death in all the three cell lines. Whole-cell patch clamp study suggested common expressions of Ca(2+)-activated Cl- channels (Ano-1) and Ca(2+)-activated nonselective cation channels (CAN). 1-EBIO, an activator of SK4, induced outward K+ current (ISK4) in SNU-1076 and OSC-19. In HN5, ISK4 was not observed or negligible. The 1-EBIO-induced current was abolished by TRAM-34, a selective SK4 blocker. Interestingly, the ionomycin-induced cell death was effectively prevented by 1-EBIO in SNU-1076 and OSC-19, and the rescue effect was annihilated by combined TRAM-34. Consistent with the lower level of ISK4, the rescue by 1-EBIO was least effective in HN5. The results newly demonstrate the role of SK4 in the fate of HNSCCs under the Ca2+ overloaded condition. Pharmacological modulation of SK4 might provide an intriguing novel tool for the anti-cancer strategy in HNSCC.

A Case of Common Variable Immunodeficiency with Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a heterogeneous collection of disorders with hypogammaglobulinemia with recurrent bacterial infections and high incidence of autoimmune disorders as its hallmark. We report a 7-year-old girl suffering from CVID with Coombs' test positive hemolytic anemia. She had been relatively well until 23-months old when she was admitted to Taejon St. Mary's Hospital with pneumonia 5 years ago. Afterwards, she had suffered from recurrent otitis media, paranasal sinusitis, bronchitis and pneumonia, experiencing 13 admissions. She was diagnosed as autoimmune hemolytic anemia at 4-years old and had been treated with prednisolone. Laboratory finidings showed hypogammaglobulinemia(gamma-globulin in immunoelectrophoresis 0.04g/dL, IgG 170mg/dL, IgA 31mg/dL, IgM 27.5mg/dL) which was previously within normal limits checked at the age of 3- and 5-years old. Isohemmagglutinins (Anti-A,-B IgM and IgG) and anti-measles IgG, anti-mumps IgG, anti-rubella IgG and anti-HBs antibody along with PPD skin test were all negative. Peripheral lymphocyte subsets revealed as follows : pan T cells (CD3+) 48.6% (normal values : 60-85%), pan B cells (CD19+) 36.7% (8-20%), CD4+ T cells 24.4% (28+/-8%), CD8+ T cells 15.3% (5+/-10%), and CD4/CD8 ratio of 1.6 (0.6-2.8). Proliferations of peripheral blood mononuclear cells induced by various T cell stimulants were all markedly depressed. Chronic paranasal sinusitis and lung parenchymal damages were revealed on computerized tomography and lung scan, and a monthly intravenous immunoglobulin therapy was started.

Mechanisms underlying the induction of IL-2 secretion by PDB plus ionomycin in CD4~+CD25~+ T cells from cord blood and adult peripheral blood / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM: To confirm that CD4~+CD25~+ regulatory T cells don't have an instinctive defection in IL-2 secretion, and to have an insight into the maturation state of CD4~+CD25~+ T cells in cord blood. METHODS: CD4~+CD25~+ and CD4~+CD25~- T cells were purified from cord blood of term infants (CB) and adult peripheral blood (PB) by autoMACS, and stimulated with PDB plus ionomycin. After 45 hours of culture, cells were detected for expression of CD69 and CD25 by flow cytometry, and the supernatants were measured for 7 kinds of cytokines by Luminex. RESULTS: CD4~+CD25~+ T cells from both CB and PB proliferated comparably with CD4~+CD25~- T cells when stimulated with PDB plus ionomycin. After 45 hours of culture, however, the CD4~+CD25~+ T cells underwent a tendency of cell death. Expression of CD25 was further upregulated when CD25~+ cells were activated. Under stimulation of PDB plus ionomycin, both CD4~+CD25~+ and CD4~+CD25~- T cells in PB secreted high levels of IFN-?, IL-2 and TNF-?, with CD25~+ cells secreted much higher level of IL-5, IL-4 and IL-10 than those in CD25~- cells; CD4~+CD25~+ and CD4~+CD25~- T cells in CB also secreted high level of IL-2 and TNF-? but much lower level of IFN-? than those in PB, and no secretion of IL-5, IL-4 and IL-10 was observed. CONCLUSION: CD4~+CD25~+ regulatory T cells don't have an instinctive defection in IL-2 secretion, otherwise there may be a different TCR signaling pattern in CD4~+CD25~+ T cells from traditional T cells. The CD4~+CD25~+ T cells in cord blood have not fully matured in function.