Preimplantation genetic diagnosis of the fragile X syndrome by use of linked polymorphic markers

Fragile X syndrome is the most common cause of familial mental retardation. The most common mutation is expansion of a triplet (CGG)_n repeat in the 5′ untranslated region of the FMR1 gene on Xq27.3. The expansion is refractory to PCR due to preferential amplification of the smaller allele in heterozygous cells and the high GC content of the repeat and surrounding sequences. Direct detection of the normal parental alleles in preimplantation embryos has been used for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of this disorder. However, this approach is only suitable for approximately 63% of couples due to the heterozygosity of the repeat in the normal population. As an alternative we investigated the use of polymorphic markers flanking the mutation to track the normal and premutation carrying maternal chromosomes in preimplantation embryos. Using a panel of 11 polymorphisms, six (CA)_n repeats and five single nucleotide polymorphisms, diagnosis was developed for 90% of referred couples. Multiplex amplification of informative markers was tested in 300 single buccal cells from interested couples with efficiency and allele drop out (ADO) rates ranging from 69% to 96% and 6% to 18%, respectively. Use of this approach is accurate and applicable to a larger number of patients at risk of transmitting fragile X to their offspring. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

DIDP通过线粒体-Caspase途径诱导昆明小鼠肝脏损伤的研究

为探究DIDP（Di-iso-decyl phthalate,邻苯二甲酸二异癸酯）对肝脏的影响及其可能的分子机制,以昆明小鼠为研究对象,选用Res（resveratrol,白藜芦醇）为抗氧化剂,分别设置对照组,0.15、1.5、15、150 mg/（kg·d）DIDP组,Res组,150 mg/（kg·d）DIDP+Res组,灌胃染毒9 d后,对小鼠肝脏切片进行HE染色观察,并检测ROS（reactive oxygen,活性氧）、GSH（glutathione,谷胱甘肽）、MDA（malondialdehyde,丙二醛）、Cyt-C（cytochromec,细胞色素C）、Caspase-3和血清中的ALT（alanine aminotransferase,丙氨酸氨基转移酶）含量.结果表明:与对照组相比,15、150 mg/（kg·d）DIDP组小鼠血清中ALT含量极显著上升（P < 0.01）;HE染色结果显示,15、150 mg/（kg·d）DIDP组小鼠出现肝细胞水肿、肝索紊乱、肝窦以及肝中央静脉扩张等现象;15、150 mg/（kg·d）DIDP组小鼠肝脏ROS含量显著上升（P < 0.05）,GSH含量显著下降（P < 0.05）,150 mg/（kg·d）DIDP组小鼠肝脏MDA含量极显著上升（P < 0.01）;1.5、15、150 mg/（kg·d）DIDP组小鼠肝脏中c（Cyt-C）极显著上升（P < 0.01）;15、150 mg/（kg·d）DIDP组小鼠肝脏中Caspase-3表达量极显著上升（P < 0.01）.DIDP染毒剂量的增加对肝脏的各种损伤程度呈上升趋势,Res可减轻上述DIDP对肝脏造成的各种损伤.研究显示,15、150 mg/（kg·d）DIDP可诱导肝脏组织氧化应激水平上升,进而造成线粒体损伤,导致细胞凋亡,造成肝功能受损,因此,线粒体-Caspase途径可能是DIDP诱导肝脏损伤的潜在机制之一.      

纳米氧化锌颗粒物通过氧化应激和离子通道失调诱导大鼠气管上皮细胞凋亡的机理

纳米氧化锌具有广泛的工业用途,其生态安全性受到广泛关注,针对纳米氧化锌诱导的呼吸道细胞毒性及其作用机理研究尚不广泛.本研究分别采用不同浓度和粒径(30 nm和90 nm)的氧化锌颗粒物处理大鼠气管上皮细胞(rat tracheal epithelial cells,RTE cells),暴露时间为12 h,通过检测细胞内锌元素含量,细胞增殖抑制率,细胞凋亡率,凋亡相关caspsae 3基因与蛋白相对表达量,细胞内金属硫蛋白活性,ROS和MDA含量、细胞内Ca~(2+)-ATP酶和Na~+/K~+-ATP酶活性来分析纳米氧化锌诱导细胞毒效应机理.在90 nm纳米氧化锌高浓度暴露时,其细胞内锌元素浓度为0.845μg·L~(-1),约为低浓度暴露组的4.7倍,是30 nm低浓度暴露组的9倍;纳米颗粒物诱导的细胞增殖和凋亡毒效应具有剂量和尺寸依赖效应;30 nm处理组的pro-caspase 3和cleaved-caspase 3蛋白表达量均高于90 nm暴露组;暴露浓度为10 mg·L~(-1)的90 nm处理组的金属硫蛋白增加量为0.533μg·L~(-1),增幅达到46%;不同粒径氧化锌颗粒物处理后,细胞内ROS和MDA含量显著上升,且30 nm处理组结果均高于90 nm处理组;纳米氧化锌颗粒物暴露诱导细胞Ca~(2+)-ATP酶和Na~+/K~+-ATP酶活性显著下降,30 nm氧化锌颗粒物暴露组,其Na~+/K~+-ATP酶活性分别是对照组的1.8倍和3.5倍.纳米氧化锌颗粒物进入RTE细胞,通过干扰锌在细胞内代谢,诱导细胞内ROS和MDA水平升高,产生氧化应激,进而诱导细胞凋亡是导致纳米氧化锌产生细胞毒性的主要原因之一.纳米氧化锌会导致细胞内Ca~(2+)-ATPase和Na~+/K~+-ATPase活性下降,离子通道失调,破坏细胞内离子平衡,进一步造成细胞凋亡.     

低浓度甲醛促进K562细胞增殖的分子机制探究

低浓度甲醛(Formaldehyde,FA)可以促进细胞增殖.本实验选用K562细胞为实验对象,用不同浓度的甲醛溶液处理细胞,探究其中可能存在的分子机制.测定细胞活力及胞内氧化损伤程度后,发现当甲醛浓度为75μmol·L~(-1)时,细胞增殖率上升(p0.05或p0.01),Warburg效应中的丙酮酸激酶M2型同工酶(PKM2)、葡萄糖转运蛋白1(GLUT1)、乳酸脱氢酶A(LDHA)、葡萄糖和乳酸含量上升(p0.05);此外,细胞周期调控因子Cyclin D-cdk4与转录因子E2F1含量也上升(p0.05).同时,细胞内氧化损伤加强,其中活性氧簇(reactive oxygen species,ROS)含量上升(p0.01),还原型谷胱甘肽(glutathione,GSH)下降(p0.05).然而,在加入抗氧化剂VE后,氧化损伤程度减弱,细胞增殖率降低,PKM2、GLUT1、LDHA、葡萄糖、乳酸,Cyclin D-cdk4、E2F1含量均下降.结果表明低浓度甲醛可能通过氧化应激诱导Warburg效应和影响细胞周期调控因子两条途径促进细胞的增殖.     

碘代乙酸体外暴露诱导斑马鱼(Danio rerio)淋巴细胞内源性凋亡可能机理研究

以斑马鱼(Danio rerio)为试验生物,经淋巴细胞体外暴露试验,从细胞内源性凋亡角度,研究了饮用水消毒副产物—碘代乙酸诱导斑马鱼淋巴细胞损伤的致毒机理.结果表明,在碘代乙酸的环境浓度1μg·L-1下暴露24、36、48和96 h后,细胞凋亡率从对照组的3.52%分别增加到15.89%、22.47%、40.76%和52.13%,与对照组差异均为极显著(p0.01);线粒体膜电位分别较对照组下降了32.9%、50.1%、68.6%和81.5%,与对照组差异均为极显著(p0.01);细胞色素C的相对释放量分别增加了0.85、1.37、1.86和2.66倍,与对照组差异均为极显著(p0.01).暴露36、48和96 h后,Caspase-3酶活性分别增加了0.49、0.86和1.43倍,与对照组差异均为极显著(p0.01);Caspase-9酶活性分别增加了0.73、1.41和1.88倍,与对照组差异均为极显著(p0.01);抑制凋亡Bcl-2基因的相对表达量分别下降27.0%、35.3%和52.3%,与对照组差异均为极显著(p0.01);而促进凋亡的Bax基因相对表达量分别增加1.1、2.3和3.2倍,与对照组差异均为极显著(p0.01).碘代乙酸体外诱导斑马鱼淋巴细胞凋亡的可能机制是,线粒体膜电位的崩溃导致细胞色素C持续从线粒体中释放,进而引起细胞凋亡下游通路的变化;Bcl-2基因和Bax基因明显参与了对凋亡的调控.此外,Caspase-9酶的活化导致Caspase-3酶活化,最终引起细胞凋亡.     

反硝化脱硫微生物燃料电池的可行性研究

微生物燃料电池(microbial fuel cell,MFC)可在去除废水中污染物的同时回收电能.以S2-和NO-3-N分别作为阳极电子供体和阴极电子受体,研究了反硝化脱硫MFC的同步阳极除硫与阴极脱氮,分析了阳极进水S2-浓度对MFC产电性能及污染物去除情况的影响,探究了MFC阳极石墨纤维丝上的硫沉积情况及其对内阻的影响.结果表明,反硝化脱硫MFC在32 d内实现稳定的阳极除硫与阴极脱氮.外阻为100Ω时,电压稳定在(176.0±6.9)m V,相应的S2-和NO-3-N去除负荷分别为(0.94±0.04)kg·m-3NC·d-1和(11.1±0.6)g·m-3NC·d-1.MFC的产电能力随着阳极进水S2-浓度的增加逐渐增强,SO_2-4的生成率和NO-3-N去除负荷受S2-浓度影响较小.在试验S2-浓度下S2-的去除较彻底,SO_2-4的生成率均超过65%.NO-3-N去除负荷维持在12 g·m-3NC·d-1左右,出水NO-2-N浓度均低于0.01 mg·L-1.反硝化过程较完全.在运行过程中,MFC阳极的石墨纤维丝上会沉积颗粒硫,降低电极的有效面积,使MFC的内阻升高.     

Dynamic contact angle effects on gas-liquid behaviors in the cathode of proton exchange membrane fuel cell with stirred tank reactor design

Liquid water management is still a critical issue in the improvement of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) performance. In this work, for the first time, the liquid water behavior and transport inside the cathode of a PEMFC with a stirred tank reactor (STR) design, rather than the conventional PEMFC flow channel design, are numerically studied. The dynamic contact angle (DCA) is applied to multiple wall boundaries in the numerical model through a user-defined-function (UDF) code, i.e., STR-DCA model. Another numerical model with the static contact angle (SCA) and same operating conditions, i.e., STR-SCA model, is also developed for comparison. The volume of fluid (VOF) method is employed in the simulation to track the gas-liquid interface. The results show that the liquid water distribution and transport are significantly different between these two models, indicating the remarkable effects of DCA on the simulation results. It is also verified the capability of STR-PEMFC to reduce the liquid water flooding, showing the potential of this channel-less type fuel cell in the further development.     

In vitro evaluation of inorganic and methyl mercury mediated cytotoxic effect on neural cells derived from different animal species

To extend the current understanding of the mercury-mediated cytotoxic effect,five neural cell lines established from different animal species were comparatively analyzed using three different endpoint bioassays:thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide,3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay(MTT),neutral red uptake assay(NRU),and Coomassie blue assay(CB).Following a 24-hr exposure to selected concentrations of mercury chloride(HgCl_2) and methylmercury(Ⅱ) chloride(MeHgCl),the cytotoxic effect on test cells was characterized by comparing their 50%inhibition concentration(IC_(50)) values.Experimental results indicated that both these forms of mercury were toxic to all the neural cells,but at very different degrees.The IC_(50)values of MeHgCl among these cell lines ranged from 1.15±0.22 to 10.31 ± 0.70 μmol/L while the IC_(50) values for HgCl_2 were much higher,ranging from 6.44 ± 0.36 to 160.97±19.63 μmol/L,indicating the more toxic nature of MeHgCl.The IC_(50) ratio between HgCl_2and MeHgCl ranged from 1.75 to 96.0,which confirms that organic mercury is much more toxic to these neural cells than inorganic mercury.Among these cell lines,HGST-BR and TriG44 derived from marine sea turtles showed a significantly high tolerance to HgCl_2 as compared to the three mammalian neural cells.Among these neural cells,SK-N-SH represented the most sensitive cells to both chemical forms of mercury.     

Fetal cells and DNA in maternal blood

Although fetal cells have been known to escape to the maternal circulation for a number of years, research attempts to use them for prenatal diagnosis have not had any consistent success. This review attempts to trace the history of such attempts and to document their progress and reasons for success or failure. The opinions of recent conferences including that of the US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, a sponsor of major US research in the field, are reported and discussed. It is concluded that although basic work has demonstrated the biologic availability of both fetal cells and their free DNA representatives in the maternal circulation at gestational ages relevant to prenatal diagnosis, much work remains to develop practical technology for their consistent recovery and assay. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.