Functional Morphology of the Antennae and Sensilla of Coeloides qinlingensis Dang et Yang (Hymenoptera: Braconidae).

Coeloides qinlingensis Dang et Yang, 1989 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a biocontrol agent of several scolytid pine pests in Southwest China. We examined the fine morphology of the antennae of adult C. qinlingensis, as well as the type, shape, and distribution of antennal sensilla, via scanning electron microscopy. The antennae of female and male C. qinlingensis are filiform and comprise a scape, pedicel, and 31-36 flagellomeres. We detected sexual dimorphism in antennal flagellar length but not in the length of other subsegments. A total of nine morphological types of antennal sensilla varying in cuticular pore structure are present in both sexes, including nonporous types (sensilla trichodea, sensilla chaetica (2 subtypes), and sensilla coeloconica); apical pore types (sensilla basiconica and sensilla auricillica); and multiporous types (dome-shaped sensilla and sensilla placodea (2 subtypes)). Dome-shaped sensilla and sensilla auricillica are reported for the first time for C. qinlingensis, and their shape differs from that of sensilla in other parasitic wasps. The functional morphology of the sensilla of C. qinlingensis was compared with that of the sensilla of other parasitic wasps, including those that parasitize concealed insects. This information provides a foundation for further research on the chemical communication and behavior of C. qinlingensis.

Focal electrical stimulation of dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus modulates auditory response properties of inferior collicular neurons in the albino mouse.

The inferior colliculus (IC) receives and integrates excitatory and inhibitory inputs from many bilateral lower auditory nuclei, intrinsic projections within IC, contralateral IC through the commissure of IC and from the auditory cortex (AC). These excitatory and inhibitory inputs from both ascending and descending auditory pathways contribute significantly to auditory response properties and temporal signal processing in IC. The present study examines the contribution of gamma-aminobutyric acid-ergic (GABAergic) inhibition of dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus (DNLL) in influencing the response properties and amplitude sensitivity of contralateral IC neurons using focal electrical stimulation of contralateral DNLL and by the application of bicuculline to the recording site of modulated IC neurons. Focal electrical stimulation of contralateral DNLL produces inhibition (78.1%), facilitation (7.1%) or no effect (14.8%) in the number of spikes, firing duration and the first-spike latency of modulated IC neurons. The degree of modulation is inversely correlated to the difference in best frequency (BF) between electrically stimulated DNLL neurons and modulated IC neurons (p < 0.01). The application of bicuculline to the recording site of modulated IC neurons abolishes the inhibitory effect of focal electrical stimulation of DNLL neurons. DNLL inhibition also modulates the amplitude sensitivity of IC neurons by changing the dynamic range (DR) and the slope of rate-amplitude function (RAF) of modulated IC neurons. Possible biological significance of these findings in relation to auditory signal processing is discussed.

Synthesis of novel folate conjugated fluorescent nanoparticles for tumor imaging.

A novel folate fluorescent nanoconjugate was synthesized and used for detection of cancer cells overexpressing the folate receptor (FR). The folate conjugate (PCMS-NA-FA) was synthesized by conjugating folic acid (FA) and 4-ethylnyl-N-ethyl-1, 8-naphthalimide (NA) to the polychloromethylstyrene (PCMS) functionalized with azido group (PCMS-N3) through click reaction. The obtained conjugate had clear structure and could form PCMS-NA-FA nanoparticles with particle size around 86 nm in aqueous solution. Ability of PCMS-NA-FA targeting to cancerous cells was investigated by comparing the uptake of the nanoparticles by human adenocarcinoma HeLa cells and by non-FR expressing human lung carcinoma A549 cells. Specificity of the PCMS-NA-FA nanoparticles targeting on FRs was verified with cellular uptake inhibition assay, in which HeLa cells were incubated with both nanoconjugate and free FA. In addition, the specificity was also confirmed by the collocation of the immunofluorescence staining of anti-FR and the cellular uptake of the PCMS-NA-FA nanoparticles. Furthermore, the organ distribution of this folate nanoconjugate was studied on HeLa cell-bearing mice via frozen slicing, and the results showed that the folate nanoparticles were preferentially accumulated in the tumor site rather than other tissues, indicating the desired specificity for tumor targeting and imaging. All these findings suggested that this practical synthetic strategy can potentially facilitate the preparation of multifunctional imaging probe in biology and diagnosis of disease.

[Two-photon ionization spectroscopy of methyl iodide in the region of 76 500-81 120 cm(-1)].

Using the device for ion velocity imaging, the laser frequency is doubling with the wavelength in the region of 492-523 nm, and the laser after frequency doubling was used as the light source. The ion spectrum of methyl iodide parent molecular (CH3 I+) in the range of 76 500-81 120 cm(-1) was obtained by the way of two-photon ionization, with a very high-resolution. The mechanisms of the methyl iodide molecule two-photon ionization were also described, the CH3 I+ spectrum obtained in the experiment was marked based on Rydberg formula and the quantum defect, the split arising from p series, d series and f series levels was also explained, and the spectral assignment showed that the two-photon ionization of methyl iodide molecule can not only be used to observe the reported characteristics of single photon ionization, but also can find some transitions which is forbidden in the single photon ionization, such as f series transitions.

Immunological mechanisms and clinical implications of regulatory T cell deficiency in a systemic autoimmune disorder: roles of IL-2 versus IL-15.

Regulatory T cell deficiency is evident in patients with lupus, but the casual [corrected] relationship and underlying mechanism leading to Treg deficiency are unclear. We analyzed the Treg profile, induction and functions of Treg in a lupus mouse model. A characteristic age-dependent biphasic change of Treg frequency was observed in the MRL/lpr mice, which developed a spontaneous lupus-like disease. After an early increase, Treg frequency in the peripheral lymphoid organs rapidly declined with age. Functionally, Treg from both young and old MRL/lpr mice were fully competent in suppressing the wild-type MRL/+ T effector cell (Teff) responses. Adoptive transfer of MRL/+ Treg markedly suppressed clinical disease in the MRL/lpr mice. We demonstrated that the reduced Treg frequency was a result of insufficient peripheral Treg expansion due to defective MRL/lpr Teff in IL-2 production, and the associated defects in dendritic cells, which could be fully restored by exogenous IL-2. In the absence of IL-2, MRL/lpr Teff but not MRL/lpr Treg were highly responsive to IL-15 and could expand rapidly due to enhanced IL-15R expression and IL-15 synthesis. These findings thus provide a clear causal relationship and immunological mechanism underlying Treg deficiency and systemic autoimmunity.

Differential effects of immunosuppressive drugs on chemokine receptor CCR7 in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells: selective upregulation by rapamycin.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate recruitment of dendritic cells (DC) at sites of inflammation and migration to secondary lymphoid organs is of critical importance for the initiation of Ag-specific immune responses. The proper localization of DC in selected tissues is guided primarily by the coordinated expression of chemokine receptors (CKR). Here we show that immunosuppressive drugs have divergent effects on the modulation of CKR in maturing DC. METHODS AND RESULTS: Dexamethazone (DEX) and IL-10 inhibited human DC migration to CCL19 in vitro and mouse DC migration to lymph nodes (LN) in vivo, by impairing CCR7 expression. The calcineurin inhibitors cyclosporine A (CsA) and tacrolimus (FK506) were characterized by the inability to modulate CKR expression and migratory activity. Rapamycin (RAPA) increased DC migration to CCL19 in vitro and to LN in vivo by enhancing CCR7 expression. This effect could be mediated, in LPS-maturing DC, by the inhibition of autocrine IL-10 production. The in vivo data obtained with ex vivo RAPA treated DC were confirmed in a model of in vivo drug administration in mice, suggesting a potential clinical relevance. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that immunosuppressive agents differently modulate the CKR switch associated with maturing DC; in particular, RAPA selectively up-regulates CCR7 and enhances the migration of differentiated DC to regional LN. This study contributes to a better understanding of the role of immunosuppressive therapy on DC migration, a potentially relevant check point of immunosuppressive treatment.

Systemic autoimmune disease induced by dendritic cells that have captured necrotic but not apoptotic cells in susceptible mouse strains.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder of a largely unknown etiology. Anti-double-stranded (ds) DNA antibodies are a classic hallmark of the disease, although the mechanism underlying their induction remains unclear. We demonstrate here that, in both lupus-prone and normal mouse strains, strong anti-dsDNA antibody responses can be induced by dendritic cells (DC) that have ingested syngeneic necrotic (DC/nec), but not apoptotic (DC/apo), cells. Clinical manifestations of lupus were evident, however, only in susceptible mouse strains, which correlate with the ability of DC/nec to release IFN-gamma and to induce the pathogenic IgG2a anti-dsDNA antibodies. Injection of DC/nec not only accelerated disease progression in the MRL/MpJ-lpr/lpr lupus-prone mice but also induced a lupus-like disease in the MRL/MpJ-+/+ wild-type control strain. Immune complex deposition was readily detectable in the kidneys, and the mice developed proteinuria. Strikingly, female MRL/MpJ-+/+ mice that had received DC/nec, but not DC/apo, developed a 'butterfly' facial lesion resembling a cardinal feature of human SLE. Our study therefore demonstrates that DC/nec inducing a Th1 type of responses, which are otherwise tightly regulated in a normal immune system, may play a pivotal role in SLE pathogenesis.