[Suppression subtractive hybridization for the identification of differentially expressed genes in the hippocampus of the offsprings of lead exposed female rats].

OBJECTIVE: To screen and identify differentially expressed genes in the hippocampus of the offsprings of lead exposed female rats in order to provide a theoretical basis for identifying learning and memory deficits related genes. METHODS: RNA was extracted from the hippocampus of young rats with learning and memory deficits due to maternal lead exposure. Suppression subtractive hybridization was used to identify the differentially expressed genes in the hippocampus. RESULTS: An effective subtracted library was constructed which consisted of approximately 200 clones. Sequencing for the library identified 93 clones harboring insertion fragments which included 43 different genes and 4 unknown genes. These genes might be related to learning and memory deficits due to maternal lead exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The up-regulated genes in the hippocampus of young rats from pregnant rats under lead exposure include some housekeeping genes and some proteins involved in cellular protein folding, signal transduction, stress response and DNA methylation. These proteins might be directly related to a significant reduction in learning and memory abilities in the young rats.

A novel emulsion adjuvant increases the immunogenic responses and protective efficacy of an inactivated influenza vaccine in BALB/c mice.

OBJECTIVE: The research of adjuvants is a hot topic in vaccinology. In this paper, we were seeking a concise method to produce a stable and effective emulsion adjuvant. METHODS: A novel emulsion [Well Adjuvant Formulation 3 (WAF3)] was produced by adding additional glycerol and using a timely cooling process. Surface morphology analysis of the novel emulsion was performed by atomic force microscopy. Animal experimentation was used to evaluate the efficacy of the novel adjuvant. RESULTS: Surface morphology analysis of the novel emulsion showed a homogeneous distribution of the antigen protein. We also confirmed the morphological changes of the WAF3-carrying antigen. The WAF3-adjuvanted vaccine engendered higher antibody responses 128-fold compared to that of a naked antigen. Furthermore, in the presence of the WAF3 adjuvant, the influenza virus antigen was able to reduce the titer disparities of IgG2a and IgG1. The WAF3-adjuvanted influenza vaccine was able to provide full protection and alleviation of infective symptoms as other clinically adjuvanted vaccines. CONCLUSION: The WAF3 adjuvant is a promising candidate to be further investigated in the development of emulsion adjuvants.

Vesicles from Pluronic/poly(lactic acid) block copolymers as new carriers for oral insulin delivery.

The morphologies of poly(lactic acid)-b-Pluronic-b-poly(lactic acid) (PLA-F127-PLA) aggregates in aqueous solutions were reported previously to be vesicular nano-particles by our group. In the present study, we seek to investigate the feasibility of using PLA-F127-PLA vesicles as oral delivery carrier for insulin. Both in vitro and in vivo release behavior of insulin loaded in PLA-F127-PLA vesicles were studied. A biphasic release behavior was observed for the in vitro release of insulin from PLAF127-29 vesicles. More importantly, it was found in the diabetic mice tests that the blood glucose concentration of oral insulin-loaded PLAF127-29 vesicles decreased from 18.5 to 5.3 mmol/L within 4.5 h and the minimum blood glucose concentration (about 4.5 mmol/L) was achieved after about 5 h. Furthermore, the blood glucose concentration was maintained at this level for at least an additional 18.5 h. These results proved that PLA-F127-PLA vesicles could be promising polymeric carriers for oral insulin delivery application due to their prolonged hypoglycemic effect.