Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Are Associated with Viral Persistence and Downregulation of TCRζ Chain Expression on CD8+ T Cells in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Qing-Lei Zeng,Bin Yang,Hong-Qi Sun,Guo-Hua Feng,Lei Jin,Zheng-Sheng Zou,Zheng Zhang,Ji-Yuan Zhang,Fu-Sheng Wang 한국분자세포생물학회 2014 Molecules and cells Vol.37 No.1

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play an important role in impairing the function of T cells. We characterized MDSCs in two chronic hepatitis C (CHC) cohorts: a cross-sectional group that included 61 treatment-naive patients with CHC, 14 rapid virologic response (RVR) cases and 22 early virologic response (EVR) cases; and a longitudinal group of 13 cases of RVR and 10 cases of EVR after pegylated-interferon-α/ribavirin treatment for genotype 1b HCV infection. Liver samples from 32 CHC patients and six healthy controls were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis. MDSCs frequency in treatmentnaive CHC was significantly higher than in RVR, EVR, or healthy subjects and was positively correlated with HCV RNA. Patients infected with HCV genotype 2a had a significantly higher frequency of MDSCs than those infected with genotype 1b. Decreased T cell receptor (TCR) ζ expression on CD8+ T cells was significantly associated with an increased frequency of MDSCs in treatment-naive CHC patients and was restored by L-arginine treatment in vitro. Increased numbers of liver arginase-1+ cells were closely associated with the histological activity index in CHC. The TCR ζ chain was significantly downregulated on hepatic CD8+ T cells in CHC. During antiviral follow up, MDSCs frequency in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was directly correlated with the HCV RNA load in the plasma and inversely correlated with TCR ζ chain expression in CD8+ T cells in both RVR and EVR cases. Notably, the RVR group had a higher frequency of MDSCs at baseline than the EVR group. Collectively, this study provides evidence that MDSCs might be associated with HCV persistence and downregulation of CD8 ζ chain expression.

Influence of Guide Vane Number on the Internal Flow of Francis Hydro Turbine Model

Qing-Sheng Wei,Young-Do Choi 한국마린엔지니어링학회 2012 한국마린엔지니어링학회 학술대회 논문집 Vol.2012 No.10

Corrosion Resistance and Compressive Strength of Cemented Soil Mixed with Nano-Silica in Simulated Seawater Environment

Qing-Sheng Chen,Hongyu Zhang,Jianjun Ye,Gao-LiangTao,Sanjay Nimbalkar 대한토목학회 2023 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Vol.27 No.4

Cemented soil structures are frequently exposed to the corrosive environment of seawater for an extended period, severely affecting their interior structure and mechanical qualities. This study presents laboratory-based approach to investigate the effect of nano-SiO2 on the structural and mechanical properties of cemented soil in a simulated seawater environment. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS), elastic modulus and other mechanical properties of cemented soil mixed with nano-SiO2 and ordinary silicate cemented soil were evaluated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to deduce the crystalline composition and microstructure characteristics of the modified cemented soil. The results show that the addition of nano-SiO2 greatly increased the compressive strength and corrosion resistance of the cemented soil. In a 3C (105% salinity) simulated saltwater curing environment, the compressive strength of the cemented soil containing 2% nano-SiO2increased by 86% and 158% at 30days and 60days, respectively. XRD and SEM showed that nano-SiO2 enhanced the interface structure of cemented soil and increased the compactness of the cement-soil system. The current study demonstrates that nano-SiO2 could considerably improve the mechanical characteristics and corrosion resistance of cemented soil when exposed to simulated seawater.

Correlations among Six Hormone-Induced Transcription Factors and the Alcohol Acyltransferase Gene in Apple

Qing-Qing Li,JIN SHENG,Pengcheng Li,Dapeng Li,Cheng-Chao Zheng,Dequan Li,Huairui Shu 한국식물학회 2012 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.55 No.4

Alcohol acyltransferase (AAT) plays an important role in ester biogenesis in ripening fruit. In apple, MdAAT2 is up-regulated in response to treatment with defense-related hormones. We cloned a novel MdAAT2 promoter via thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR (TAIL-PCR). Sequence analysis indicated the presence of salicylic acid (SA)- and methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-responsive elements in the promoter region. To examine further the operational mechanism for transcription factors (TFs) in regulating expression of the MdAAT2 promoter, we isolated and investigated six potential stress-induced TFs -- MdMYB1, MdMYB2, MdMYB6,MdERF1, MdERF2, and WRKY. These were monitored during various stages of fruit development as well as under several hormonal treatments. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis showed that all of these TF genes, as well as MdAAT2, were detectable in the stigmas. Levels of expression by MdMYB1, MdMYB2, and MdERF1were significantly correlated with that by MdAAT2 during fruit ontogeny. Moreover, transcription of three TFs (MdMYB1,MdMYB6, and MdERF1) was significantly correlated with that of MdAAT2 upon exposure to ethephon, SA, or MeJA. Sequence analysis demonstrated that CAAT, CCAAT elements,and several MYB transcription factor binding sites (CNGTTmotif,AACCA, and CTAACCA elements) existed in the MdAAT2 promoter region. Using that analysis, we performed modeling of MdMYB1 and MdMYB6 based on PROTEINDNA complex1 and complex3 (PDB Accession Numbers 1H88 and 1H8A). There, similarities were found with the protein complex of CAAT or CCAAT consensus sequences. Thus, we propose that two TFs -- MdMYB1 and MdMYB6-- are directly or indirectly involved in the activation of MdAAT2 expression in apple fruit.

폴리프로필렌/폴리아미드 엘라스토머 블렌드

Qing Sheng Liu,Yan Xu,Hong Xia Zhang,Yu Hao Li,Bing Yao Deng 한국고분자학회 2014 폴리머 Vol.38 No.5

The polypropylene/polyamide elastomer (PP/PAE) blends were prepared by melt mixing. PP and PAE in PP/PAE were immiscible completely. The size of PAE domains was large and the clear gap in the interface between PP and PAE existed, which did not meet the conditions enhancing toughness of polymers by elastomer. Therefore, maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MP) was used to improve the miscibility between PP and PAE. The miscibility between PP and PAE was improved and the size of dispersed phase PAE decreased by introducing MP. The crystallization of PP became easier by introducing PAE as a nucleating agent. With the increase of PAE content, the melt-crystallization temperatures of PP components in PP/PAE/MP blends increased gradually. The melt-crystallization of the polytetramethyleneoxide segment of PAE component in PP/PAE blends were hampered by PP component. In addition, PAE can enhance significantly the toughness of PP, and the tensile strength and modulus did not decrease.

Strength and Deformation Characteristics of Calcareous Sands Improved by PFA

Qing-Sheng Chen,Wan Peng,Gao-LiangTao,Sanjay Nimbalkar 대한토목학회 2021 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.25 No.1

Calcareous sand is widely distributed in the islands of the South China Sea, which could be promisingly used as the construction materials. However, particle breakage commonly occurs in calcareous sands, which may significantly influence their mechanical characteristics. To address these issues, an eco-friendly agent, i.e., polyurethane foam adhesive (PFA) is proposed to improve the engineering properties of calcareous sands, compared to the commonly used alkaline stabilizing agents (e.g., lime, cement). The objective of this work is to examine the effectiveness of using PFA in improving the strength-deformation properties of calcareous sand. A series of laboratory tests including direct shear tests, unconfined compression tests, and oedometer tests were performed on the calcareous sands improved by PFA. In addition, A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was conducted to reveal microstructural analysis of using PFA for calcareous sand. The experimental results provided insights into the shear strength, deformation modulus, as well as the micro-structural characteristics of improved calcareous sands with various PFA contents and particle size distributions.

A review on Fluorides Uptake Characters of Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis L.)

Qing-Sheng Li,Yue-Rong Liang 한국차학회 2015 한국차학회지 Vol.- No.S

Tea plants accumulate large amounts of fluoride while the mechanism of F uptake by tea plants is still unclear. The objectives of this study are, therefore, to summarize recent researches about F uptake characters of tea plants especially pH, Al, Ca, anion channel blockers and metabolism inhibitors influences. Al facilitating F uptake by tea plants might have occurred mainly in the processes of uptake and been less likely during the translocation from roots to shoots. And it was convinced that the concentration of F in tealeaves reached maximum, when soil pH came to 5.5. Meanwhile Ca was important for the stabilization of plant cell walls and membranes. Reasonably, the reduced F uptake by tea plants was possibly related to a decreased passage of F as the properties of the cell wall or membrane permeability were altered considerably by Ca addition. Also the uptake of F by roots of accumulator tea plants was likely an active process and energy dependent and probably through a kind of anion transport system.

Adenoviral Vector Mediates High Expression Levels of Human Lactoferrin in the Milk of Rabbits

( Zeng Sheng Han ),( Qing Wang Li ),( Zhi Ying Zhang ),( Yong Sheng Yu ),( Bo Xiao ),( Shu Yun Wu ),( Zhong Liang Jiang ),( Hong Wei Zhao ),( Rui Zhao ),( Jian Li ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2008 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.18 No.1

The limitations in current technology for generating transgenic animals, such as the time and the expense, hampered its extensive use in recombinant protein production for therapeutic purpose. In this report, we present a simple and less expensive alternative by directly infusing a recombinant adenovirus vector carrying human lactoferrin cDNA into rabbit mammary glands. The milk serum was collected from the infected mammary gland 48 h post-infection and subjected to a 10% SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. An 80-kDa protein was visualized after viral vector infection. With this method, we obtained a high level of expressed human lactoferrin of up to 2.3 mg/ml in the milk. Taken together, the method is useful for the transient high-level expression recombinant proteins, and the approach established here is probably one of the most economical and efficient ways for large-scale production of recombinant proteins of biopharmaceutical interest.

A Study on the Marine Environmental Management Capacity of China’s Shandong Peninsula

Ma, Sheng-Qing(마승청),Kim, Sang-Goo(김상구) 한국해양대학교 국제해양문제연구소 2015 해항도시문화교섭학 Vol.0 No.13

해양경제는 국가경제의 중요한 부문을 차지하고 있고, 이제 한 국가의 경제사회 발전은 해양산업과 분리할 수 없는 시점에 도달하였다. 자연적 요인으로서 해양환경은 인간의 삶과 발전에 전체적 및 지역적 영향을 미치고 있다. 해양환경은 자원 및 가치로서의 경제적 특징들을 가지고 있기 때문에 이제 해양환경관리능력은 필수적인 것으로 되었다. 지속적이고 안정적인 경제발전을 위해, 해양환경관리는 개발과 자원 및 인간과 환경의 관계에 초점을 맞추고 있다. 해양력 강화는 궁극적으로 한 국가의 종합 경쟁력을 강화하는 수단이며, 해양의 지속 가능한 개발을 도모하기 위해서는 지속적인 해양환경관리의 중요성이 강조된다. 본 논문에서는 중국의 산동반도 해양환경관리실태를 사례분석하였다. 산둥반도의 해양환경 관련 제도수립 및 인적자원양성 등을 고찰하고, 해양환경관리의 문제점들을 지적 분석하고, 대응방안을 제시하고자 하였다. Marine economy is an important component of national economic, the national economic and social development inseparable from the marine industry. The marine environmental as a natural factors affecting human life and development, and has many characteristics, such as holistic and regional. Because the marine environmental with the economic characteristics of the resource and the value, its specificity to the marine environmental management become necessary. For the lasting and stable development of the economy, the marine environmental management focuses on development and resources, and the relationship between humans and the environment. Sea power in the world continue to rely on marine environmental management and upgrading national comprehensive competitiveness, which highlights the important status in the marine environmental management in marine sustainable development. In this paper a case study of China’s Shandong Peninsula(山東半島) marine environmental management, proceeding from the system construction and the human resources construction, analyses the present situation of the marine environmental management, points out problems existing in the marine environmental management, and puts forward corresponding countermeasures and suggestions.

Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Are Associated with Viral Persistence and Downregulation of TCR ζ Chain Expression on CD8⁺ T Cells in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Zeng, Qing-Lei,Yang, Bin,Sun, Hong-Qi,Feng, Guo-Hua,Jin, Lei,Zou, Zheng-Sheng,Zhang, Zheng,Zhang, Ji-Yuan,Wang, Fu-Sheng Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 2014 Molecules and cells Vol.37 No.1

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play an important role in impairing the function of T cells. We characterized MDSCs in two chronic hepatitis C (CHC) cohorts: a cross-sectional group that included 61 treatment-naive patients with CHC, 14 rapid virologic response (RVR) cases and 22 early virologic response (EVR) cases; and a longitudinal group of 13 cases of RVR and 10 cases of EVR after pegylated-interferon-${\alpha}$/ribavirin treatment for genotype 1b HCV infection. Liver samples from 32 CHC patients and six healthy controls were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis. MDSCs frequency in treatment-naive CHC was significantly higher than in RVR, EVR, or healthy subjects and was positively correlated with HCV RNA. Patients infected with HCV genotype 2a had a significantly higher frequency of MDSCs than those infected with genotype 1b. Decreased T cell receptor (TCR) ${\zeta}$ expression on $CD8^+$ T cells was significantly associated with an increased frequency of MDSCs in treatment-naive CHC patients and was restored by L-arginine treatment in vitro. Increased numbers of liver arginase-$1^+$ cells were closely associated with the histological activity index in CHC. The TCR ${\zeta}$ chain was significantly downregulated on hepatic $CD8^+$ T cells in CHC. During antiviral follow up, MDSCs frequency in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was directly correlated with the HCV RNA load in the plasma and inversely correlated with TCR ${\zeta}$ chain expression in $CD8^+$ T cells in both RVR and EVR cases. Notably, the RVR group had a higher frequency of MDSCs at baseline than the EVR group. Collectively, this study provides evidence that MDSCs might be associated with HCV persistence and downregulation of CD8 ${\zeta}$ chain expression.