[Preparation and identification of the polyclonal antibody against human VSTM1].

Aim: To prepare and characterize the polyclonal antibody against human VSTM1.

Methods: VSTM1 has two main isoforms, VSTM1-v1, a type I transmembrane protein, and VSTM1-v2, a classical secretory protein, lacking only the transmembrane domain compared with VSTM1-v1. Two recombinant prokaryotic proteins of VSTM1-v2, Trx-His-S-VSTM1-v2 and GST-VSTM1-v2, were constructed, expressed, purified, and then used for immunization of New Zealand rabbits to prepare anti-VSTM1 antibody and coupling with CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B to purify the antibody by immunoaffinity chromatography, respectively.

[Sensitizing effect of recombinant human PDCD5 protein on chemotherapy of acute monocytic leukemia cell line U937 and its mechanism].

This study was aimed to investigate the sensitizing effect of recombinant human PDCD5 (rhPDCD5) protein on chemotherapy of U937 cell line and its mechanism. The flow cytometry was performed to assess the changes of cell apoptosis and cell cycle influenced by rhPDCD5. Hochst 33258 staining was used to observe morphology of the apoptotic cells.

[Both PIK3IP1 and its novel found splicing isoform, PIK3IP1-v1, are located on cell membrane and induce cell apoptosis].

Objective: To find novel isoform of PIK3IP1 and analyze their effects on cell viability, subcellular localization, and expression profile in cell lines.

Methods: RT-PCR was used to clone PIK3IP1 and its novel splicing isoform PIK3IP1-v1 from multi-tissue cDNA pool. By cell-based assays, we studied how PIK3IP1 and PIK3IP1-v1 affected the activity of Renila luciferase and morphological change in the HEK 293T cells.

[Preparation, purification and characterization of the polyclonal antibody against human CMTM4].

Aim: To prepare, purify and characterize the polyclonal antibodies against CMTM4.

Methods: Four polypeptides named peptide 1, 2, 3, and 4 were synthesized based on the bioinformatics analysis of the three isoforms of CMTM4, CMTM4-v1, -v2, and -v3, and coupled with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) for immunization. Among them, peptide 1, 2, and 3, common for CMTM4-v1, v2, and v3, were mixed for immunization to prepare the antibody which can recognize all of the three isoforms (Ab1); while peptide 4, which is specific for CMTM4-v1, was injected separately into New Zealand rabbits to prepare the antibody specifically targeting CMTM4-v1 (Ab2).

[Application of NF-kappaB reporter and Dual-Luciferase assays in the measure of bioactivity of interleukin-1beta and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist].

Objective: To develop a reporter gene system based on transient transfections with a NF-kappaB responsive reporter gene to detect the bioactivity of IL-1beta and IL-1 receptor antagonist.

Methods: NF-kappaB reporter and Dual-Luciferase assays were applied to measure the bioactivity of IL-1beta and IL-1 receptor antagonist in mouse EL4 cells (some subclones of EL4 cells expressed high level of IL-1 receptor on cell surface). pNF-kappaB-luc and pRL-TK, used as an internal control, were co-transfected into EL4 cells and then the IL-1beta was added.

[Preparation and identification of monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV putative protein X4].

Objective: To obtain monoclonal antibodies against putative protein X4 of SARS-CoV for further study of the structure and function of protein X4.

Methods: Balb/c mice were immunized with recombinant Protein X4, hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies against protein X4 were screened by regular cell fusion and subcloning approach. The specificities of these monoclonal antibodies were determined by Western blotting and Immunofluorescence assay.

The protein X4 of severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus is expressed on both virus-infected cells and lung tissue of severe acute respiratory syndrome patients and inhibits growth of Balb/c 3T3 cell line.

Background: The genome of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) includes sequences encoding the putative protein X4 (ORF8, ORF7a), consisting of 122 amino acids. The deduced sequence contains a probable cleaved signal peptide sequence and a C-terminal transmembrane helix, indicating that protein X4 is likely to be a type I membrane protein. This study was conducted to demonstrate whether the protein X4 was expressed and its essential function in the process of SARS-CoV infection.

[Preparation, identification, and analysis on tissue chips of polyclonal anti-peptide antibody to chemokine-like factor 1].

Objective: To prepare the polyclonal anti-peptide antibody against chemokine-like factor1 (CKLF1) and apply it to the expression and functional studies of CKLF1.

Methods: CKLF1 was analyzed with bioinformatics methods. The 16 amino acids sequence peptide was selected from CKLF1 C terminal end.

[Study on the metabolism of cartilage matrix by the chondrocytes in osteoarthritic condylar cartilage].

Objective: To study the characteristics of cellular metabolism of mandibular condylar chondrocytes in repairing state of osteoarthrosis and investigate its role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Methods: Temporomandibular joint osteoarthrosis model of rabbits was created by the partial resection of joint disc and confirmed with histological diagnosis. The chondrocytes were harvested from osteoarthritic condylar cartilage in the repairing state and cultured in vitro under the monolayer culture condition.

Chemokine-like factor 1, a novel cytokine, contributes to airway damage, remodeling and pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Chemokine-like factor 1 (CKLF1) was recently identified as a novel cytokine. The full-length CKLF1 cDNA contains 530 bp encoding 99 amino acid residues with a CC motif similar to that of other CC family chemokines. Recombinant CKLF1 exhibits chemotactic activity on leucocytes and stimulates proliferation of murine skeletal muscle cells.

[The protective effect of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist on postischemic reperfused myocardium and its possible mechanism].

Objective: To observe the dynamic changes of plasma inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) in patients with acute myocardiac infarction (AMI) before and after recanalization of the infarct related artery (IRA) and to observe the effect of recombinant human IL-1 receptor antagonist (rhIL-1ra) on the postischemic reperfused myocardium in experimental rabbits.

Methods: (1) ELISA was used to measure the plasma IL-1 beta of 22 AMI patients, 20 males and 2 females, aged 64 +/- 12, before emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and 12 hours and 24 hours after-intervention, and measure the plasma IL-1 beta of 8 healthy controls, 6 males and 2 females, aged 56 +/- 9. (2) Forty rabbits underwent ligation of the left circumflex branch of coronary artery (LCX) for 50 minutes and reperfusion for 4 hours after the ligatures were untied.

Expression of PDCD5, a novel apoptosis related protein, in human osteoarthritic cartilage.

Aim: To investigate the expression features of PDCD5 (programmed cell death 5 protein) in osteoarthritic and normal human cartilage, and speculate on its potential functions in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Articular cartilage specimens were obtained from 30 patients with OA and 16 healthy patients at the time of arthroplasty. Expression of PDCD5 was detected by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analysis.

[Regulation of [12Asp]K-ras4B on transcriptional activity of estrogen receptor in endometrial carcinoma HEC-1A cell lines].

Objective: To investigate the effect of mutant-type [(12)Asp]K-ras4B gene on the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and beta and their transcriptional activity as a transcription factor in endometrial carcinoma HEC-1A cell line.

Methods: (1) Effect of [(12)Asp]K-ras4B on the expression of ER alpha and beta were determined using Western blot assay. (2) Eukaryotic expression plasmid pGL3-luciferase-ERE containing luciferase report gene and estrogen receptor element (ERE) was constructed, and co-transfected into NIH3T3 and HEC-1A cell lines with pEGFP-N1 to examine the effect of [(12)Asp]K-ras4B on ER transcription that is regulated by estradiol.

Gene transfer of kringle 5 of plasminogen by electroporation inhibits corneal neovascularization.

Purpose: To test the efficacy of naked plasmid that expresses human kringle 5 of plasminogen (K5) in suppressing experimental corneal neovascularization in a rat model.

Methods: A eukaryotic expression plasmid encoding human K5 (pSecK5) was constructed. COS cells were transiently transfected with pSecK5 using a lipid-based transfection reagent.

[Carcinogenesis and its mechanism of mutant-type[12Asp]K-ras4B gene].

Background & Objectives: Ras gene plays an important role in the extra- and intra-cellular signal transduction pathway. It mediates series cascade reactions, and eventually actives transcriptional factors in nucleus. It is unknown on the mechanism of carcinogenesis of Ras gene in endometrial carcinoma, though K-ras mutant is very common in endometrial atypical hyperplasia and carcinoma.

[Molecular cloning, characterization, chromosomal assignment, genomic organization and verification of SFRS12(SRrp508), a novel member of human SR protein superfamily and a human homolog of rat SRrp86].

We have identified and characterized a novel human serine-arginine-rich (SR) splicing regulatory protein 508 (SRrp508) gene that is related to other members of the growing SR superfamily, but only homologous to rat (Rattus norvegicus) serine-arginine-rich splicing regulatory protein 86 (SRrp86) gene. The full-length cDNA of 3811 bp for human SRrp508 was cloned through a blast search of public databases following the identification of a cDNA contig of 658 bp obtained by EST assembly with full robotization in supercomputer in large-scale. Structurally, human SRrp508 encodes a polypeptide of 508 amino acids, which contains a single amino-terminal RNA recognition motif (RRM) and two carboxy-terminal domains rich in serine-arginine dipeptides that are highly conserved among other members of the SR superfamily.