[Changes of pathogens and susceptibility to antibiotics in hematology ward from years 2001 to 2005].

The purpose of this study was to determine the changes of pathogens in hematological ward and susceptibility of patients received chemotherapy to antibiotics. The pathogens were taken from blood, urine and sputum of patients who accepted chemotherapy from years 2001 to 2005, then were isolated and identified. The susceptibility test was performed by disk diffusion method. The results showed that the total of 418 strains were detected. Gram-negative bacteria were the most common of nosocomial infection. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, E. coli account for the most of Gram negative- bacteria infection and most resistant to broad-spectrum penicillin, Acinetobacter baumannii showed a trend of increase. The ratios of gram positive bacteria and fungi were increased slowly, mainly as Enterococcus and Candida. Enterococcus is the most common cause of Gram-positive bacterial infection. Vancomycin resistance did not occur. It is concluded that Gram-negative bacteria are main cause of nosocomial infection in patients with hematological malignancies. Gram positive bacteria and fungi had been more frequent. Strains resistant to antimicrobial agents increase.

[Long-term expansion of T cell progenitors by JAK3 gene transduced primitive hematopoietic cells in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether activation of the JAK3-signaling pathway can stimulate long-term expansion of the earliest T cell progenitors from transduced primitive hematopoietic cells and evaluate their potential ability of committed differentiation. METHODS: A retrovirus vector (RV) containing JAK3 gene, two binding sites for chemical inducers of dimerization (AP20187), and green fluorescence protein (GFP), MGI-F(2)JAK3, was constructed. The RV vector MGI-F(2)JAK3 was then transduced into murine bone marrow hematopoietic cells. The transduced murine bone hematopoietic marrow cells were divided equally into four groups blank control group (No drug group), AP20187 group (added with AP20187 only), SCF group (added with stem cell factor only), and AP20187 + SCF group. Cytometry was used to detect the GFP marker and observe the survival of cells. The murine bone hematopoietic marrow cells expanded for 50 days were divided into 2 groups: one group was washed to remove the cytokines to observe their survival, and AP20187 + SCF was added into the culture fluid of other group. Cytometry and CELLQuest v3.1 software analysis were used to analyze the phenotype of the cells of AP20187 + SCF after 50 days' expansion. The C-kit(hi) CD44(+)CD25(-)TN cells after 50 days' expansion were further cultured under the condition of SCF + IL7 + IL3 for 5 days. The differentiation rate of Thy1.2 positive cells was observed by cytometry. Five Ly5.2 mice underwent radiation of the dose of 600 cGy, and then injected with the expanded cells into the thymus. Three weeks later the mice were killed and their thymus glands were taken out to prepare suspension of single cells to undergo cytometry to observe the proportions of GFP positive CD3 and CD4 mature T lymphocytes. RESULTS: One week later the cells of the No Drug group all died, the cells of the AP20187 group and SCF group died 2 - 4 weeks later, however, the cells of the AP20187 + SCF continued to grow and expanded up to 10(12)-fold after 50 days' culture. The cells of the AP20187 + SCF group with the cytokines washed died 2 more weeks later, and those with the cytokines washed and added with AP20187 + SCF continued to grow. The phenotype of the expanded proportion was identified as the earliest T cell progenitors expressing C-kit(hi) CD44(+) CD25(-)TN (triple negative). These progenitors could differentiate into Thy1.2 + T cells in the presence of SCF + IL-7 + IL-3 culture condition. 32% - 96% of the mice thymus cell were GFP positive, 5% +/- 0.8% of the thymus cells were GFP + CD(3) double positive, and 11.0% +/- 2.1% of the T lymphocytes were GFP + CD4(+) double positive. CONCLUSION: AP20187 combined with SCF mediating the activation of JAK3 signaling can dramatically expand the earliest T cell progenitors subpopulation, and acquires the capacity to induce the differentiation into T mature cells. This system may help understand the T cell biology and provide a fundamental basement for gene therapy to immunodeficiency disease in the future.

[Expressions of MIP-1alpha, MCP-1 and their receptors CCR-1, CCR-2 in chronic myeloid leukemia cells].

This study was aimed to explore the expression of MIP-1alpha, MCP-1 and their receptors CCR-1, CCR-2 in bcr/abl fusion gene positive CML cells, and to study the effects of P210(bcr/abl) fusion protein tyrosine kinase on expression of MIP-1alpha, MCP-1 and their receptors CCR-1, CCR-2 mRNAs in chronic myeloid leukemia cells. The expression levels of MIP-1alpha, MCP-1 and their receptors CCR-1, CCR-2 mRNA were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR in bcr/abl negative cells, bcr/abl positive cells, and P210(bcr/abl)-Rb-C-Box positive cells. The results showed that MIP-1alpha and CCR-1 mRNAs were expressed in bcr/abl negative cells, but not in positive cells. Both MCP-1 and CCR-2 mRNA cannot be detected in both bcr/abl positive and negative cells. After inhibiting P210(bcr/abl) tyrosine kinase activity by Rb-C-Box, expressions of MIP-1alpha and CCR-1 mRNAs were restored to normal (similar to P210(bcr/abl) negative cells). It is concluded that P210(bcr/abl) fusion protein inhibits the expression of MIP-1alpha and CCR-1 in chronic myeloid leukemia cells, but does not inhibit MCP-1 and CCR-2 mRNA expressions in these leukemia cells.

[Construction of fusion gene between IgGHV and IL-2 as IgHV nucleic acid vaccine against lymphoma].

The purpose of this study was to construct the IgHV and IL-2 coexpressed vector. The IgHV gene fragments were obtained from the peripheral blood of patients with lymphoma, and were cloned into eukaryotic expression vector. Meanwhile, the gene fragments of IgHV linked with gene of IL-2 were inserted into pcDNA3.0 to form a fusion gene of IgHV-IL-2. Then fusion genes were transfected into COS cells by Lipofectin and the expression of IL-2 was detected by ELISA. The results showed that the IgHV/pcDNA3.0 expression vector was successfully constructed. The 3' end of IgHV was linked to IL-2 gene, and IL-2 could be correctly expressed. In conclusion, the expression vector of IgHV-IL-2 can express IL-2 correctly in COS cells.

[Promotion of in vitro long term expansion of primitive multipotential hematopoietic cells by transduced JAK2 gene].

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether activation of the JAK2-signaling pathway can stimulate long-term expansion and regulation of hematopoietic stem cells/multipotential hematopoietic progenitor cells (HSC/MHPC), and evaluate their potential ability of committed differentiation. METHODS: A retrovirus vector (RV) which contains JAK2 gene and two binding sites for a chemical inducers of dimerization (AP20187) was constructed. JAK2 can be dimerized by adding AP20187. Female C57BL/6 mice were euthanized and marrow cells were harvested. The RV vector was then transduced into murine bone marrow cells. Following transduction, Transduced cells were divided equally into four groups as follow: (1) No drug group, (2) AP2018 alone group, (3) SCF + Flt3-Ligand group, (4) AP20187 + SCF + Flt3-Ligand group. The expanded cells were further analyzed by phenotype, committed differentiation, progenitor colony assay as well as colony forming unite-spleen. RESULTS: Only the group of AP20187 combined SCF and Flt3-Ligand have a significant sustained outgrowth. The cells reached at 10(19) fold on the day 80. The phenotype of expanded cells were checked by flow cytometry at various time points after two months in vitro culture and we repeated them in five separate experiments. Sca-1 was consistently expressed at the levels in 52% approximately 98%, while 56% approximately 69% of cells expressed c-kit, 40% approximately 85% expressed CD34, About 12% approximately 46% expressed B220, 6% approximately 17% expressed Gr1, 0% approximately 20% expressed TER119, 5% approximately 36% expressed CD41, 35% approximately 46% expressed CD11b and none expressed CD3. The expanded cells could differentiate into granulocytes, macrophages, erythocytes and megakaryocytes under different cytokines combination. They were also capable of forming BFU-E, CFU-GM, CFU-Mix and IL-7 responsive B-lymphoid colonies in methylcellulose colonies assay. Colonies forming unites-Spleen were obtained when the expanded cells injected into lethally irradiated mice. CONCLUSION: The JAK2-mediated transgenic hematopoietic cells could be expanded and regulated in long-term period, and they are capable of maintaining multipotential differentiation. This research is setting up a fundamental basement for cell therapy in the future.

[Long term regulated expansion and committed differentiation of JAK2 gene transfected hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of regulated expansion and committed differentiation potential of JAK2 gene modified hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in vitro. METHODS: A murine stem cell virus (MSCV) based retroviral vector MGI-F2Jak2, which encodes a green fluorescent protein (GFP) and a fusion protein containing two copies of modified FK506 binding protein (F36v) linked tyrosine kinase JAK2 was cloned. F36v served as a high-affinity binding site for dimerizer AP20187. GpE + 86 packaging cell was transfected with this vector. Bone marrow cells from C57BL/6 mice were transduced by co-cultured with irradiated (1500 cGy) GpE + 86 producer clone for 48 h. Transduced marrow cells were expanded in X-VIVO 15 and divided into four groups as follows: (1) control group; (2) AP20187 alone group; (3) SCF alone group and (4) AP20187 + SCF group. The phenotypes of the expanded cells were analyzed by directly phycoerythrin-labeled anti-Sca1, c-kit, CD(34), Gr1, CD(11b), TER119, CD(41), B220 and CD(3) monoclonal antibodies for flow cytometry. Committed differentiation, progenitor colony assay and spleen colony forming units (CFU-S) were further evaluated. RESULTS: A significant sustained outgrowth of transduced marrow cells was obtained only in the AP20187 + SCF group. Cells expanded up to 10(14)-fold after 80 days culture. The doubling time was about 30 hs. The phenotypes of the expanded cells were homogeneously strong positive for CD(34), c-kit and Sca1, while were almost negative for Gr1, CD(11b), TER119, CD(41), B220 and CD(3). Functional assay demonstrated that the expanded cells had multipotential to differentiate into granulocyte, macrophage, erythrocyte, or B-cells under different cytokines combinations. A prominent megakaryocytic differentiation was observed when cultured with SCF/Tpo/IL-11 combination. The expanded cells were also capable of forming BFU-E, CFU-GM and CFU-Mix in methylcellulose colony assay. The expanded cells over three months could still form CFU-S. CONCLUSIONS: AP20187 combined SCF mediated activation of JAK2 signaling domain can dramatically expand hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, and the expanded cells can be regulated and committed to differentiate into multilineage cells. This system may provide important insights into stem cell biology and may be promising for gene and cell therapy.

[Effects of bcr/abl fusion gene on expression of beta1 integrin and L-selectin in mouse chronic myeloid leukemia cells].

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effects of p210 bcr/abl fusion gene on expression of beta1 integrin and L-selectin mRNAs in mouse chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells. METHODS: Comparisons of beta1 integrin and L-selectin mRNA levels among p210 bcr/abl negative, p210 bcr/abl positive, and p210 bcr/abl-Rb-C-Box positive cells were undertaken by quantity RT-PCR. RESULTS: In p210 bcr/abl positive cells, L-selectin mRNA level was decreased, but beta1 integrin mRNA expression had no change as compared to those in p210 bcr/abl negative cells. When inhibition of bcr-abl tyrosine kinase activity by Rb-C-Box, the L-selectin mRNA expression restored to normal (similar to p210 bcr/abl negative cells). CONCLUSION: p210 bcr/abl oncoprotein inhibits expression of L-selectin mRNA, but not of beta1 integrin mRNA.