Study on Adenovirus Infection in vitro with Nanoself-Assembling Peptide as Scaffolds for 3D Culture.

PURPOSE: To construct a three-dimensional (3D) culture model of adenovirus in vitro using the nanoself-assembling peptide RADA16-I as a 3D cell culture scaffold combined with virology experimental technology to provide a novel research method for virus isolation and culture, pathogenesis research, antiviral drug screening and vaccine preparation. METHODS: The nanoself-assembling peptide RADA16-I was used as a 3D scaffold material for 293T cell culture, and adenovirus was cultured in the cells. The growth, morphological characteristics and pathological effects of 3D-cultured 293T cells after adenovirus infection were observed with an inverted microscope and MTS. The proliferation of adenovirus in 293T cells was observed by TEM and detected by qPCR. The levels of TNF-α and IL-8 secreted by adenovirus-infected 293T cells in the RADA16-I 3D culture system were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: The 293T cells grew well in the RADA16-I 3D culture system for a prolonged period of time. The adenovirus infection persisted for a long time with multiple proliferation peaks, which closely resembled those of in vivo infections. The adenovirus virions amplified in the 3D system remained infectious. There were multiple secretion peaks of TNF-α and IL-8 secretion levels in adenovirus-infected 293T cells cultured in 3D culture systems. CONCLUSION: The nanoself-assembling peptide RADA16-I can be used as a 3D scaffold for adenovirus isolation, culture and research. The 3D culture system shows more realistic in vivo effects than two-dimensional (2D) culture.

[Three cases of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis in a family and clinical analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of 3 cases of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis in a family, and therefore to improve the understanding of the disease. METHODS: To analyze the clinical, laboratory and radiological data of three patients with pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis in a family and the relevant literatures were reviewed. RESULTS: There was a typical manifestation in these three cases of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis: progressive dyspnoea, cough, family history. Chest X-ray and computed tomography demonstrate: the pulmones was full of high density reflection of intra-alveolar microliths especially in middle-lower lobe and posterior lobe. The etiology of these three cases is still unknown, consanguineous marriage of parents is possible reason. There was not effective therapies to them. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis is a disease without clear known etiology and effective therapy. For a patient with radiological features of high density intra-alveolar microliths and a positive family history, the diagnosis should be highly suspected.

[Preparation and identification of monoclonal antibodies against human DcR3].

AIM: To prepare monoclonal antibodies(mAbs) against human DcR3 and identify their characterization. METHODS: BALB/c mice were immunized with purified His-DcR3 protein, and mAbs against DcR3 which prepared by hybridoma technique were purified and identified by their specificity, subtype, titers via ELISA and Western blot. RESULTS: Five hybridoma cell lines secreting mAbs against human DcR3 were obtained, which were determined as IgG1 subtype and ascites titers of five mAbs against DcR3 reached 1x10(-5)-1x10(-7). Five mAbs were proved to recognize His-DcR3 protein specifically, one of which (1B1) could recognize SW480 cell. CONCLUSION: mAbs against DcR3 with high titers and specificity have been prepared and purified successfully, which laid a foundation for the study of DcR3 expression, distribution in tissu and development of ELISA kit.

[Detection of SLC34A2 in patients with pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis and the effect of SLC34A2 on transportation of calcium and phosphate in human alveolar epithelial cells].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the mutation of SLC34A2 in patients with pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis and to study the effect of SLC34A2 on transportation of calcium and phosphate in human alveolar epithelial cell (A549) cells. METHODS: The gene SLC34A2 was detected by segmentation-PCR and gene sequencing. RNA was obtained by Trizol from fresh lung tissues and the target gene was acquired by RT-PCR. Eukaryotic expression of recombinant pcDNA3.1(+)-SLC34A2 was constructed and SLC34A2 was transfected to A549 cells by liposome. The expression of SLC34A2 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR, and the content of calcium and phosphate of the extracellular fluid was measured by commercial kits. The cell experiments consisted of 3 groups including a control group (5 x 10(5)/well, one well), a blank group (5 x 10(5)/well, one well), a transfection group (5 x 10(5)/well, four wells). Every experiment was repeated 6 times. RESULTS: No mutation was found in patients with pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis. SLC34A2 cDNA was successfully amplified and the eukaryotic expression recombinant pcDNA3.1(+)-SLC34A2 was successfully constructed. The amount of SLC34A2 mRNA of the transfected cells was significantly higher (2.48 +/- 0.45), compared to the control cells (0.55 +/- 0.07) and the blank cells (0.60 +/- 0.06), q = 16.25, 15.78, all P < 0.01. The content of calcium and phosphate in the supernatant of the transfected cells was lower [(0.110 +/- 0.016) mmol/L, (3.8 +/- 0.4) mmol/L], compared with the control [(0.254 +/- 0.047) mmol/L, (7.3 +/- 0.8) mmol/L] and the blank (0.262 +/- 0.041) mmol/L, (7.1 +/- 0.4) mmol/L], q = 8.657 - 13.892, all P < 0.01. CONCLUSIONS: In human lung alveolar epithelial cells, the content of calcium and phosphate in cell supernatant decreased with increased amount of SLC34A2 mRNA. Mutation of SLC34A2 may not be at the DNA level.