Concanavalin Research Articles

Curcumine inhibits migration and invasion of hepatic stellate cells by reducing MMP-2 expression and activity

To investigate the molecular mechanism of the inhibitory effect of curcumine on the migration and invasion of hepatic stellate cells (HSC). Rat hepatic stellate cells were cultured and activated with ConA. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expression and activity was determined by Western blot and gelatin zymography. Migration and invasion of HSC was assessed by wound healing assay and modified Boyden chamber assay. Curcumine reduced the level and activity of MMP-2 expression in activated HSC in a dose-dependent manner. When treated with 25, 50 or 100 micromol/L curcumine, the expression of MMP-2 was reduced by 21.8%+/-5.1%, 65.5%+/-9.2% or 87.9%+/-11.5% (P < 0.05), and the activity of MMP-2 was also significantly reduced by curcumine. Migration and invasion of activated HSC was also inhibited by curcumine in a dose-dependent way. When treated with 25, 50 or 100 micromol/L curcumine, the migration of activated HSC was reduced by 27.5%+/-5.8%, 54.4%+/-7.6% or 67.1%+/-9.3% (P < 0.05), and the invasion of activated HSC was also significantly reduced by curcumine. Curcumine inhibits migration and invasion of activated HSC by reducing MMP-2 expression and activity.

Generation of gas‐phase sodiated arenes such as [(Na3(C6H4)+] from benzene dicarboxylate salts

Upon collision-induced activation, gaseous sodium adducts generated by electrospray ionization of disodium salts of 1,2- 1,3-, and 1,4-benzene dicarboxylic acids (m/z 233) undergo an unprecedented expulsion of CO(2) by a rearrangement process to produce an ion of m/z 189 in which all three sodium atoms are retained. When isolated in a collision cell of a tandem-in-space mass spectrometer, and subjected to collision-induced dissociation (CID), only the m/z 189 ions derived from the meta and para isomers underwent a further CO(2) loss to produce a peak at m/z 145 for a sodiated arene of formula (Na(3)C(6)H(4))(+). This previously unreported m/z 145 ion, which is useful to differentiate meta and para benzene dicarboxylates from their ortho isomer, is in fact the sodium adduct of phenelenedisodium. Moreover, the m/z 189 ion from all three isomers readily expelled a sodium radical to produce a peak at m/z 166 for a radical cation [(*C(6)H(4)CO(2)Na(2))(+)], which then eliminated CO(2) to produce a peak at m/z 122 for the distonic cation (*C(6)H(4)Na(2))(+).

Effect of Xuebijing injection on lipopolysaccharide-induced apoptosis of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells and immune function of effector T cells in vitro.

Objective To investigate the effect of Xuebijing injectiong on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced apoptosis of CD4+CD25+regulatory T cells(Tregs)and immune function of effector T cells(Teff)in vitro.Method CD4+CD25+Tregs isolated from rat spleens were divided into the control group,anti-CD3/CD28 group,anti-CD3/CD28+LPS group,anti-CD3/CD28+Xuebijing injection group,and anti-CD3/CD28+LPS+Xuebijing injection group.The apoptosis rate and expression of forkhead/winged helix transcription factor p3 (Foxp3)and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4(CTLA-4)of CD4+CD25+Tregs were detected by flow cytometry(FCM),and the secretion of IL-10 of Tregs was measured by ELBA on day 3.CD4+CD25-T cells were co-cultured with CD4+CD25+Tregs(1:1)for 68 hours,proliferative activity of Teff was determined by MTT,and interleukin(IL)-2/sIL-2Rα levels were measured by ELISA.Results The apoptosis rate of CD4+CD25+Tregs in anti-CD3/CD28 group was 33.70± 3.06%,which was significantly higher than that in control group(12.84±0.84%).Also,apoptosis rate of CD4 CD25+Tregs in anti-CD3/CD28+LPS+Xuebijing injection group(45.13±2.70%)was much higher than that in anti-CD3/CD28+IPS group(29.41 ± 1.63%,P＜0.01).The expression of Foxp3 as well as CTLA-4,and the secretion of IL-10 were markedly decreased along with increases in the apoptosis rates.Compared with control group(54.48%),the mean inhibitory rate of Teff proliferative activity in response to Con A was significantly decreased in anti-CD3/CD28+Xuebijing injection group(31.26%,P＜0.05),and it was markedly decreased in anti-CD3/CD28+LPS+Xuebijing injection group comaped to anti-CD3/CD28+LPS group(P＜0.01).In addition,IL-2 levels in the supernatant of anti-CD3/CD28+Xuebijing injection group and anti-CD3/CD28+LPS+Xuebijing injection group were significantly higher than those of anti-CD3/CD28+IPS group(P＜0.01).Conclusions The inhibitory activity of CD4+CD25+Tregs on Teff appears to be upregulated by IPS stimulation in vitro,and Xuebijing injection could markedly enhance apoptosis of CD4+CD25+Tregs,thereby improving suppressive immune function of Teff. Key words: Sepsis; Regulatory T cells; Effector T cells; Apoptosis; Xuebijing injection

Kinetic Evidence for the Occurrence of Independent Ion-Exchange Processes in the Cationic Micellar-Mediated Reaction of Piperidine with Anionic Phenyl Salicylate

A kinetic probe, which involves the determination of pseudo-first-order rate constants (k(obs)) for the nucleophilic reaction of piperidine (Pip) with ionized phenyl salicylate (S(-)) at constant [Pip](T) (= 0.1 M), [S(-)](T) (= 2 x 10(-4) M), [CTABr](T), < or = 0.10 M NaOH and varying concentration of MX (= 3-ClC(6)H(4)CO(2)Na and C(6)H(5)CH=CHCO(2)Na), gives the following information. The nonlinear plots of k(obs) versus [MX] reveal indirectly the occurrence of more than one independent ion-exchange processes at the CTABr micellar surface. These observed data fit to a kinetic relationship derived from an empirical equation coupled with pseudophase micellar (PM) model. This relationship gives an empirical constant (K(X/S)) that is used to determine the usual ion-exchange constant (K(X)(Y)). The values of K(X)(Br) (Y = Br) have been calculated for X = 3-ClC(6)H(4)CO(2)(-) and C(6)H(5)CH=CHCO(2)(-). More than 12-fold larger value of K(X)(Br) for X = 3-ClC(6)H(4)CO(2)(-) than that for X = 2-ClC(6)H(4)CO(2)(-) is attributed to the presence and absence of viscoelasticity in the respective presence of 3-ClC(6)H(4)CO(2)(-) and 2-ClC(6)H(4)CO(2)(-).

Effect of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate on concanavalin A (Con A)-induced immunological liver injury in mice

异甘草酸镁是第四代甘草酸制剂,其有效成分是一种高纯度单-18-α异构体甘草酸,临床主要用于治疗肝炎.通过抗炎、保护肝细胞膜及改善肝功能的药理作用,对四氯化碳、D-氨基半乳糖等引起的化学性肝损伤模型发挥保护效应[1-2].但目的鲜见对免疫性肝损伤作用的报道,因此,本实验通过建立刀豆蛋白A(ConA)诱导的小鼠免疫性肝损伤模型,进一步探讨异甘草酸镁的疗效及部分作用机制。

Mouse bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells suppress lymphocyte proliferation through co-Inhibitor B7-H1 upregulated by IFN-γ

Objective To study the mechanism of mesenchymal stem cells immunosupression lym- phocyte proliferation via B7-H1/PD-1 pathway upregnlated by IFN-γ. Methods Bone marrow derived mes-enchymal stem cells (MSC) were isolated and purified by repeat adherent passage and detected them multi-potential differentiation in conditioned culture medium. Then MSC were cocuhured with lymphocyte prolifera-tion and assayed the level using γ H-thymidine incorporation. Meanwhile, ELISA measured IFN-γ, TGF-β, TNF-α and IL-10 in the cocuhured supernaatant and analyzed variation of B7-H1 molecular profile in MSC by flow cytometry. At last siRNA technology was deploied to interfere B7-H1 expression and analyzed MSC im-munosuppression on lymphocyte proliferation. Results In vitro the isolated MSC become homogeneous spi-die-shaped adherent cells after five passages, and in conditioned culture medium they could differentiate into adipocytes, osteocytes and chondrocytes. In the eocuhure of MSC with mixed lymphocyte, lymphocyte prolif- eration stimulated by Con A or by anti-CD3/CD28 antibody. The cpm value of the proliferation detected by 3H thymidine incorporation showed MSC suppressed the proliferation significantly (P = 0. 0167, 0. 0081,<0.0001 ) and the suppressive potential in a dose-dependent fashion. In the coeuhured supernatant cyto-kine IFN-T and TNF-α were detected in high concentration, but TGF-β, IL-10 were undetected. Simultane- ously MSC in the coeuhure upregulated B7-H1 expression from basic expression 7% to higher than 70% ( P < 0.05 ). After interfere B7-H1 expression in MSC by specific siRNA, we detected lymphocyte proliferation and got higher cpm by 3H thymidine incorporation ( P < 0. 05 ). Conclusion MSC upregulated B7-H1 mo-lecular expression upon the stimuli of IFN-γ, and through the B7-H1/PD-1 pathway mediated immunosu-pression on lymphocyte proliferation. Key words: Mesenchymal stem cells; Immunosuppression; B7-H1 ; IFN-γ

Influence of coal-arsenic exposure on human T cells proliferation and its mechanism

Objective To explore the influence of coal-arsenic exposure on human T cells proliferation and its mechanism.Methods Blood samples colleoted from individuals which lived in arsenism area of coal-burning type and non-arsenism area in Guizhou Province were divided into exposed group(17),mild(35),moderate(38) and severe arsenism group(19)and control group(35)according to Diagnosis Smndard for Endemic Arsenism (WS/T 211-2001).T cell stimulation index wag determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT)colorimetric method.The intracellular Ca2+ exponential(IECa2+)in peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC)was analyzed by Fho-3/AM dye and flow cytometry.DNA binding activity of actively T cells nuclear factor(NF-AT)in PBMC was evaluated by electrophoretie mobility shift assay(EMSA).Results Concanavalin A(ConA)stimulation decreased the T cells stimulation indexes in exposed group,mild,moderate and severe arsenism groups(1.315±0.962, 1.611±1.224,1.114±0.545,1.289±0.875)compared with control group(2.322±1.241),all the differences being statistically significant(P＜0.01).After stimulated by anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody(McAb),the T cells stimulation index in exposed group,mild,moderate and severe arsenism group(0.997±0.177,1.103±0.291,1.007±0.221, 0.957±0.205) were lower than that of control group(1.842±0.429,P ＜ 0.01 ). IECa2+ of PBMC after treated by anti-CD3 McAb in mild,moderate and severe arsenism group( 110.130±49.637,92.429±31.191,77.640± 35.372) were lower compared with control group(145.986±59.450,P ＜0.01 ). Moreover,IECa2+ in moderat and severe arsenism group were lower than exposed group(121.337±46.410,P ＜ 0.05). DNA binding activity of PBMC NF-AT in mild,moderate and severe arsenism group(1.354±0.446,1.290±0.291,1.159±0.411 ) were lowered than that of control group(1.722±0.291,P ＜ 0.01) and exposed group(1.611±0.294,P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions The coal-arsenic exposure can reduce the human T cells stimulation indexes,IECa2+ in PBMC and the DNA binding activity of NF-AT. It suggest that arsenic may suppress the proliferation ability of human T cells,which may be partly related to the influence of arsenic on T cell receptor(TCR)/CD3 signal transduetion pathway. Key words: Arsenic; Coal; T lymphocytes; Intracellular Ca2+; NFATC transcription factors

Analysis of in vitro lymphocyte proliferation as a screening tool for cellular immunodeficiency

Measuring lymphocyte response to mitogens and antigens is a mainstay of screening for cellular immunodeficiency. Few reports analyze performance as a screening tool in diverse patient cohorts. We studied proliferation assays performed at Children's Hospital Boston from 1996 to 2003 using mitogens phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (CONA) and pokeweed mitogen, and antigens tetanus (TT) and diphtheria (DT) toxoids, and compared a subset of patients with T cell dysfunction with adult controls using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Results were correlated with clinical data. CONA was superior to PHA in identifying patients with immunodeficiency. TT was second best. Interpretation based on raw CPM, a stimulation index, or reference to simultaneous controls all performed equally. Combining data from multiple mitogens and/or antigens did not enhance performance. Proliferation testing is a useful component of screening for cellular immunodeficiency, but is not a sensitive predictor of cellular immune compromise or risk of opportunistic infection.

Glycoconjugate Histochemistry in the Fundic Stomach and Small Intestine of the Frog (Rana ridibunda)

Mucins in the fundic stomach and small intestine of Rana ridibunda were studied by using the techniques such as lectins as a specific probe binding terminal sugar residues and standard histochemistry in light microscopic level. In this study, we focused on morphofunctional diversities of different regions of the digestive tract and their feasible physiological and evolutionary implications. We used the following standard histochemical techniques: contained periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), Alcian blue (AB) pH 1.0 and 2.5, toluidin blue, aldehyde fucsin and bromfenol blue. For lectin histochemistry, five different lectins were used namely, DBA, WGA, PNA, ConA and UEA-I. The glycoconjugate produced in the fundic part of the stomach is composed of mainly neutral mucins and strongly sulphated acid mucins with α-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosamine residues. Besides, the glycoconjugate secreted from the small intestine consists of mostly sulphated sialo and neutral mucins with N-acetyl-β-D-glucosamine moieties. It can be concluded that the differences in glycoconjugates types and the sugar residues in two digestive tract regions of Rana ridibunda may be related to special functions and rheological characteristics of the mucins.

Inhibition of metabolic cooperation in Chinese hamster cells by various chemical including tumor promoters.

The effects of 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and other chemicals on the contact-feeding phenomenon were investigated. The death of 6-TGr cells was prevented by TPA even upon culture with 3 times as many wild-type cells as in TPA-free medium. Seven out of 18 chemicals tested were shown to inhibit the phenomenon of metabolic cooperation. They were concanavalin A, lithocholic acid, chaetoglobosin A, 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid, urea, anthralin and saccharin. Among known tumor promoters, sodium deoxycholate, estradiol and phenobarbital did not inhibit the phenomenon of metabolic cooperation.

Effects of Salt Concentrations on the Functional Properties of Some Legume Flours

The effect of various salt concentrations on the functional properties of gourd seed, white melon, yellow melon and bulma cotton seed was investigated. The studies on the effect of salts commonly used in food industries such as NaCl, KCl, Na SO , K SO and CH CO Na on the functional properties of 2 4 2 4 3 2 the sample suggested that water absorptivity, emulsification, foamability and gelation were affected by the salts and that these effects were functions of the types of salt considered and their various concentrations. The data generated showed that salts may be used at appropriate concentrations to enhance or inhibit the functionalities of the flours.

A factor inducing differentiation of the human monocytic cell line U-937 produced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate-treated U-937.

A new factor capable of inducing differentiation of human leukemic cell line U-937 into macrophages was found and partially purified from the conditioned medium of U-937 previously treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate. The purification procedure included ultrafiltration, DEAE-Sephacel and butyl-Toyopearl column chromatography. The purified factor gave a major band of protein with a molecular weight of 67,000 daltons which coincided with the biological activity of differentiation-inducing factor, and it was not adsorbed on a concanavalin A column. These results suggest that this factor is distinct from other differentiation-inducing factors.

Expression of certain proteins in the subfornical organ and cerebrospinal fluid of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The objective of this study was to analyze the proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid of spontaneously hypertensive rats and to study their possible role in the relationship between hydrocephalus, arterial hypertension and variations in the subfornical organ. Brains and cerebrospinal fluid from control Wistar-Kyoto rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats sacrificed with chloral hydrate were used. Cerebrospinal fluid and extract of subfornical organ were processed by protein electrophoresis. Antisera against protein bands of 141, 117 and 48 kDa and Concanavalin A were used for immunohistochemical and western blot study of the subfornical organ, adjacent circumventricular structures and cerebrospinal fluid. Ventricular dilation in the spontaneously hypertensive rats and the presence of quite a lot of protein bands in the cerebrospinal fluid of the hypertensive rats, which were either not observed or scarcely present in the cerebrospinal fluid of the Wistar-Kyoto rats, were confirmed. The subfornical organ, third ventricle ependyma and choroideus plexus showed immunoreactive material for antibodies against 141kDa, 117 and 48 kDa proteins band (anti-B1, anti-B2 and anti-B3). The larger amount of the immunoreactive material was found in the subfornical organ of the spontaneously hypertensive rat. Our results and the alterations observed by other authors in the subfornical organ in hydrocephalic and hypertensive rats support the possibility that this circumventricular organ, some proteins of the cerebrospinal fluid and ventricular dilation could be connected with the physiopathology of this type of hypertension.

Identification of protein and mannoprotein antigens of Candida albicans of relevance for the serodiagnosis of invasive candidiasis.

Antigens from Candida albicans blastoconidia and germ tubes were identified by two-dimensional electrophoresis and Western blotting and characterized by microsequencing, reactivity with concanavalin A, and a panel of human sera. Antigens identified included a polydispersed area in the acidic high-molecular-mass regions of blastoconidium and germ-tube extracts, and 16 antigens varying in molecular masses and isoelectric points (pIs). The majority of the detected antigens, especially those in the polydispersed region, showed mannosyl groups, as determined by concanavalin A reactivity. Antibodies present in sera from patients with invasive candidiasis showed high reactivity with a number of antigens not detected with sera from blood donors. Eight of the 16 antigens could be identified by reactivity with monoclonal antibodies or by microsequencing. Five antigens showed homology with five enzymes previously described as antigens in C. albicans: enolase, phosphoglycerate kinase, malate dehydrogenase, and two isoforms of the fructose biphosphate aldolase. However, to our knowledge, this is the first report of the immunogenic activity of a kexin precursor, a mitochondrial complex I chaperone, and a diacylglycerol kinase catalytic domain from C. albicans. Antigens described in this study may be of potential interest for the serodiagnosis of invasive candidiasis.

Effects of dietary essential amino acid deficiencies on immunological variables in broiler chickens.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of essential amino acid deficiencies on several immunological variables in male broiler chickens. Essential amino acids were classified into five groups as follows: S-containing amino acids (SAA; methionine + cysteine), aromatic amino acids (AAA; phenylalanine + tyrosine), branched-chain amino acids (BCAA; isoleucine + leucine + valine), arginine plus lysine (Arg + Lys), and other essential amino acids (OEAA; glycine + serine + histidine + threonine + tryptophan). Chickens were fed ad libitum from 10 to 24 d of age on a control diet or amino-acid-deficient diets formulated to contain each amino acid group at 50% and 16% (Expt 1) at 50% (Expt 2) of the recommended requirements (National Research Council, 1984). Effects of feed consumption on immune responses were also considered by setting pair-feeding (Expt 1) or restricted-feeding (Expt 2) groups fed on the control diet. In Expt 1, changes in lymphoid organ weights varied with the type and degree of deficiency of amino acid groups, with BCAA deficiency markedly decreasing weights. The haemagglutinin titres against sheep erythrocytes did not change in any amino-acid-deficient chickens except that the titres were lower in chickens fed on the 50%- and 16%-BCAA diets as compared with their pair-fed counterparts. In Expt 2, the splenocyte proliferative response to concanavalin A was higher in the chickens fed on the BCAA- and Arg + Lys-deficient diets and lower in chickens fed on the SAA- and AAA-deficient diets than the control chickens, independent of feed consumption. These results suggest that the effects of specific amino acid deficiencies on immune responses cannot be generalized, and that BCAA have the greatest potential to modulate immune responses among the amino acids in chickens.

Concanavalin A, biotinylated

Concanavalin A, biotinylated

Expression and localization of endothelin-converting enzyme-1 isoforms in human endothelial cells.

Endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE)-1 is a membrane-bound metalloprotease responsible for production of vasoactive endothelin (ET)-1 from inactive big ET-1. ECE-1 exists as four separate isoforms, ECE-1a, b, c, and d, which differ only in their amino-terminal regions. We investigated the expression and localization of the ECE-1 isoforms in primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and EAhy926 cells. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction showed expression of all four isoforms in both cell lines, with ECE-1d seeming, at least qualitatively, to be the predominant isoenzyme. Isoform-specific polyclonal antibodies were used to investigate isoform protein expression. ECE-1a, b, and c protein was detected in EAhy926 cells by immunoblotting; only ECE-1a and ECE-1c were detected in HUVECs. Using immunofluorescence microscopy analysis, both HUVEC and EAhy926 cells showed nuclear immunoreactivity with a monoclonal antibody recognizing all ECE-1 isoforms. The ECE-1a antibody also showed nuclear immunoreactivity in both cell lines; this seemed to colocalize with nucleolin. The ECE-1b antibody showed nuclear immunoreactivity in EAhy926 cells, but no overlap with nucleolin was seen. Intracellular immunoreactivity was seen in both cell lines using the ECE-1c antibody; this showed some colocalization with concanavalin A (an endoplasmic reticulum marker). von Willebrand Factor was used as a marker for Weibel-Palade bodies in HUVECs, but no colocalization with ECE-1 was seen during this study. The data presented here sheds new light on the localization of ECE-1a, b, and c in cultured human endothelial cells, which may further understanding of the ET system and aid design of therapeutic ECE inhibitors.

Endocrine and immunological correlates of behaviorally identified swim stress resilient and vulnerable rats

Animal models of stress-induced depression have identified a bimodal reactivity to stress, namely ‘resilience’ and ‘vulnerability.’ Possible corresponding differences in endocrine and immunological responses between these groups have not been delineated. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into three groups: stress ( n = 25), confined controls ( n = 7), and home cage controls ( n = 7). Stress rats were exposed to 80, 5-s inescapable cold water swim trials (15 °C). Twenty-four hours later, the stress rats were tested on an instrumental swim escape test (SET) but now they had access to an omnidirectional lever that terminated the stress. Immediately after the SET, trunk blood was collected to assay for serum corticosterone (CORT), and spleens were removed and natural killer cell activity (NKCA) and concanavalin A (CON-A) induced lymphocyte proliferation determined. Subjects in the stress treatment group were divided into distinct ‘resilient’ and ‘vulnerable’ categories by a median split for average escape latencies across the last 25 trials of the SET. Stress rats secreted more CORT than controls and vulnerable rats secreted greater levels than resilient rats. NKCA was greatest in control rats, and was decreased in the stress rats although the resilient and the vulnerable groups did not differ. Conversely, CON-A-induced lymphocyte proliferation was greatest in stress rats, vulnerable rats exhibiting more proliferation than resilient rats, but both were greater than both control groups. Stress animals were hypothermic throughout the swim stress procedures but exhibited a stress-induced fever following the initial swim trials. The observed differences may have important predictive and theoretical utility for vulnerable and resilient profiles.

FTIR Spectroscopy Study of CO Adsorption on Pt−Na−Mordenite

Different carbonyls are formed after CO adsorption at ambient temperature on a Pt-Na-mordenite (Pt-Na-MOR) sample. Pt(3+)(CO)(2) dicarbonyls (nu(s) at 2205 cm(-1) and nu(as) at 2167 cm(-1)) are decomposed without formation of monocarbonyls. The respective mixed-ligand species, Pt(3+)((12)CO)((13)CO), formed after (12)CO-(13)CO coadsorption, display bands at 2192 and 2131 cm(-1), in excellent agreement with the theoretically calculated values. Pt(2+)-CO species absorb at 2145 cm(-1) and are not able to accept a second CO molecule. Pt(+)-CO carbonyls are characterized by a band at 2111 cm(-1). Under CO equilibrium pressure, these species are converted into dicarbonyls (nu(s) at 2135 cm(-1) and nu(as) at 2101 cm(-1)). The respective mixed-ligand species, Pt(+)((12)CO)((13)CO), manifest bands at 2123 and 2069 cm(-1), in good agreement again with the theory. Different carbonyls of metallic platinum are observed below 2100 cm(-)(1). In addition, weakly adsorbed CO was registered as Na(+)-CO complexes (2177 and 2165 cm(-1)) and Na(+)-OC-Na(+) species (2138 cm(-1)). It was found that during desorption of CO platinum was reduced, ultimately to metal. However, heating in a NO + O(2) mixture leads to reoxidation of the metal particles and restoration of the initial state of the sample.

Application of flow cytometry on functional assessment of health food

To establish flow cytometry (FCM) methods and evaluate their application value for measuring the index for enhancing immune function of health food. In mice experiment model, the dosage groups were respectively oral fed with three test substances according to 5, 10, 30 times of the recommended dose for human body; both the negative and positive control groups were fed with equivalence purified water once a day. The positive control was fed with 25 mg/kg body weight levamisole for 3 days before finishing the administration, and the immune two percent of sheep erythrocytes were administrated at the last day. In rats experiment model, the test substance was given by mixing feed according to 25 and 50 times of the recommended dose for human body. At the end of the experiment, indices below were simultaneously detected. (1) The classical indices included: spleen lymphocyte transformation test by using ConA (MTT assay); spleen NK cell activity test (LDH assay); delayed-type hypersensitivity test by using sheep erythrocyte (foot palm thickening) method and phagocytosis activity tested by mice peritoneal macrophages. (2) FCM indices included: T and B lymphocytes quantitating in mice peripheral blood, activated antigen expression level in the surface of T lymphocytes and NK cells and phagocytosis activity for fluospheres in mice peritoneal macrophages. (1) Compared with the negative control group, there were no significant differences in T and B lymphocytes proportion and the number of lymphocytes in mice peripheral blood after given 0.83, 1.67, 5.01 g/kg protein powder; (2) mice peripheral blood T lymphocyte sub-cluster CD(69)(+)/CD(3)(+) of 3.75, 7.50, 15.0 ml/kg bw Cen-Rong Cream groups were all significantly increased (P < 0.05), which were shown a good coherence with the classic test index; (3) mice peripheral blood NK cell sub-cluster CD(69)(+)/NKG2D(+) of 0.83, 1.67 g/kg protein powder groups were both significantly increased (P < 0.05), which was kept in good coherence with those of NK cell activity test (LDH assay); rats peripheral blood NK cell sub-cluster CD(161a+)/CD(25)(+) of 1.50 g/kg ganoderma lucidum and cordycepicmycelia group was significantly increased (P < 0.05); (4) the phagocytosis activity in mice peritoneal macrophages: there were no significant difference found between the controls and the dosage groups in the classic test. However, in the FCM test, the percentage of phagocytic cells of 0.15, 0.30, 0.90 g/kg ganoderma lucidum and cordycepicmycelia groups and the phagocytic index of 0.30, 0.90 g/kg were enhanced. It suggests that was shown in detecting and assessing enhancing immune function of health food the results tested by FCM were fairly consistent with those by using traditional methods, most of them would have higher sensitivity. It should be valuable to applying FCM in the measurement and assessment of enhancing immune function of health food and worth while to further study as to enlarging its application.