177Lu-FA-DOTA-PEG-PLGA靶向可降解纳米粒子腹腔灌注治疗小鼠卵巢癌伴腹膜转移的实验研究

目的 观察放射性核素¹⁷⁷Lu标记的叶酸-二乙烯三胺五乙酸-聚乙二醇-聚乳酸共聚物(¹⁷⁷Lu-FA-DOTA-PEG-PLGA)纳米粒子的体内靶向分布,评价腹腔灌注纳米粒子治疗小鼠卵巢癌腹膜转移瘤及腹水疗效。方法 制备¹⁷⁷Lu-FA-DOTA-PEG-PLGA纳米粒子,向人卵巢癌移植瘤荷瘤小鼠尾静脉注射纳米粒子后4、24、72 h和7 d,行微型单光子发射计算机断层显像仪(micro-SPECT/CT)显像,观察纳米粒子体内分布情况。将12只人卵巢癌腹腔转移瘤裸鼠模型按随机抽签法分为阴性对照组(生理盐水)、化疗组(顺铂3 mg/kg,2次/周)和粒子组(¹⁷⁷Lu-FA-DOTA-PEG-PLGA粒子18.5 MBq),每组4只,腹腔灌注给药。7 d后行活体荧光成像评价腹腔肿瘤生长情况,计算相对抑瘤率,TUNEL法检测肿瘤细胞凋亡率,免疫组织化学法检测肿瘤Ki67增殖活性,比较治疗后各组腹水体积。结果 micro-SPECT/CT显像显示,移植瘤放射性浓聚,24 h肿瘤肌肉摄取比值(T/M)最高,为2.81±0.49。活体荧光成像显示,腹腔给药治疗后,粒子组、化疗组和阴性对照组的腹腔肿瘤荧光强度分别为(1.45±0.19)×10¹⁰、(2.21±0.36)×10¹⁰和(2.63±0.79)×10¹⁰,差异有统计学意义(F=6.09,P=0.029);粒子组和化疗组的相对肿瘤抑制率(TGI)分别为35.6%和18.6%。粒子组和化疗组的肿瘤细胞凋亡率(AI)均高于阴性对照组(F=9.96,P=0.009),粒子组和化疗组的Ki67指数均低于阴性对照组(F=9.93,P=0.013),粒子组和化疗组腹水体积均小于阴性对照组(F=13.43,P=0.006)。结论 ¹⁷⁷Lu-FA-DOTA-PEG-PLGA纳米粒子可行小鼠卵巢癌靶向显像,腹腔灌注后局部滞留和降解吸收,抑制卵巢癌腹膜转移瘤和腹水生长,为晚期卵巢癌伴腹膜转移患者诊疗提供新思路。     

Identification of novel markers for mouse CD4+ T follicular helper cells

CD4⁺ T follicular helper (T_FH) cells are central for generation of long‐term B‐cell immunity. A defining phenotypic attribute of T_FH cells is the expression of the chemokine R CXCR5, and T_FH cells are typically identified by co‐expression of CXCR5 together with other markers such as PD‐1, ICOS, and Bcl‐6. Herein, we report high‐level expression of the nutrient transporter folate R 4 (FR4) on T_FH cells in acute viral infection. Distinct from the expression profile of conventional T_FH markers, FR4 was highly expressed by naive CD4⁺ T cells, was downregulated after activation and subsequently re‐expressed on T_FH cells. Furthermore, FR4 expression was maintained, albeit at lower levels, on memory T_FH cells. Comparative gene expression profiling of FR4^hi versus FR4^lo Ag‐specific CD4⁺ effector T cells revealed a molecular signature consistent with T_FH and T_H1 subsets, respectively. Interestingly, genes involved in the purine metabolic pathway, including the ecto‐enzyme CD73, were enriched in T_FH cells compared with T_H1 cells, and phenotypic analysis confirmed expression of CD73 on T_FH cells. As there is now considerable interest in developing vaccines that would induce optimal T_FH cell responses, the identification of two novel cell surface markers should be useful in characterization and identification of T_FH cells following vaccination and infection.     

Improved cisplatin delivery in cervical cancer cells by utilizing folate-grafted non-aggregated gelatin nanoparticles

PurposeCisplatin is highly effective in the treatment of cervical cancer. However, in therapeutic doses, cisplatin induces several adverse effects due to undesirable tissue distribution. Therefore, it is worth targeting cisplatin in cervical cancer cells by implicating non-aggregated ligand-modified nanotherapeutics.Methods and resultsHere, we report the preparation of non-aggregated folic acid-conjugated gelatin nanoparticles of cisplatin (Cis-GNs-FA) by two-step desolvation method with mean particle size of 210.6 ± 9.6 nm and 140.5 ± 10.9 nm for Cis-GNs to improve the drug delivery in cervical cancer, HeLa cells. FTIR and DSC spectra confirmed the presence and stability of cisplatin in gelatin matrix. Furthermore, amorphization of cisplatin in nanoparticles was ascertained by PXRD. Drug release followed a first-order release kinetic at both pH ∼ 5.6 (cervical cancer pH) and pH ∼ 7.4. In addition, a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in IC₅₀ value (8.3 μM) and enhanced apoptosis were observed in HeLa cells treated with Cis-GNs-FA as compared to Cis-GNs (15.1 μM) and cisplatin solution (40.2 μM). In contrast, A549 lung cancer cells did not discriminate between Cis-GNs-FA and Cis-GNs due to the absence of folate receptors-α (FR-α). Consistently, higher cellular uptake, 80.54 ± 7.60% was promoted by Cis-GNs-FA significantly (two-way ANOVA, P < 0.05) greater than 51.68 ± 9.78%, by Cis-GNs. This was also illustrated by CLSM images, which indicated that Cis-GNs-FA preferably accumulated in the cytoplasm of HeLa cells nearby nucleus by following receptor-mediated endocytosis pathway as compared to Cis-GNs.ConclusionTherefore, Cis-GNs-FA warrants further in-depth in vitro and in vivo investigations to scale up the technology for clinical translation.     

Helicobacter pylori eradication lowers serum homocysteine level in patients without gastric atrophy

AIM: To determine whether Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection caused hyperhomocysteinemia by altering serum vitamin B_(12), serum folate and erythrocyte folate levels and whether eradication of this organism decreased serum homocysteine level. METHODS: The study involved 73 dyspeptic H pylork positive patients, none of them had gastric mucosal atrophy based on rapid urease test and histology. Out of 73 patients, 41 (56.2%) showed a successful eradication of H pylori 4 wk after the end of treatment. In these 41 patients, fasting serum vitamin B_(12) folate and homocysteine levels, and erythrocyte folate levels before and 4 wk after H pylori eradication therapy were compared. RESULTS: The group with a successful eradication of H pylori had significantly higher serum vitamin B_(12) and erythrocyte folate levels in the post-treatment period compared to those in pre-treatment period (210±97 pg/mL vs 237±94 pg/mL,P＜0.001 and 442±212 ng/mL vs 539±304 ng/mL, P=0.024, respectively), but showed no significant change in serum folate levels (5.6±2.6 ng/mL vs 6.0+2.4 ng/mL, P=0.341). Also, the serum homocysteine levels in this group were significantly lower after therapy (13.1±5.2 μmol/L vs 11.9±6.2 μmol/L, P=0.002). Regression analysis showed that serum homocysteine level was positively correlated with age (P=0.01) and negatively with serum folate level before therapy (P=0.003). CONCLUSION: Eradication of H pylori decreases serum homocysteine even in patients who do not exhibit gastric mucosal atrophy. It appears that the level of homocysteine in serum is related to a complex interaction among serum vitamin B_(12), serum folate and erythrocyte folate levels.     

叶酸代谢基因多态性及Hcy水平与新生儿早产、出生体重的关系

目的探究叶酸代谢基因多态性及同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)水平与新生儿早产、出生体重的关系。方法选取我院2018年11月~2019年3月收治的80例孕妇进行研究,于孕早期采集口腔黏膜标本予以检测,以检测结果为标准,将叶酸代谢障碍遗传风险分为无/低风险(39例)和中/高风险(41例);同时检测孕妇的Hcy水平,并详细记录。分析不同基因型及Hcy水平与新生儿早产、出生体重的相关性。结果Hcy水平与新生儿出生体重呈正相关(r=0.168,P=0.002),MTRR A66G基因型与新生儿早产呈正相关(r=0.174,P=0.001),基因型总风险与新生儿早产呈正相关(r=0.159,P=0.004)。中/高风险孕妇早产率为20.51%(8/39),无/低风险孕妇早产率为4.88%(2/41),中/高风险孕妇早产率高于无/低风险组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。分娩巨大儿孕妇Hcy水平为(5.76±0.73)μmol/L,分娩正常体重儿孕妇Hcy水平为(4.23±0.59)μmol/L,分娩极低体重儿孕妇Hcy水平为(4.01±0.56)μmol/L,分娩巨大儿孕妇Hcy水平高于分娩正常体重儿孕妇和分娩极低体重儿孕妇HCY水平,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。叶酸代谢障碍不同风险程度出生体重分布相比,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论叶酸代谢能力与早产具有相关性,叶酸代谢障碍越严重,早产儿的发生率越高;孕妇Hcy水平与新出生儿体重具有相关性,孕妇Hcy水平越高,新生儿出生体重越重。     

Vitamin B12 and Folate Status in Rats after Chronic Administration of Ethanol and Acute Exposure to Nitrous Oxide

The chronic administration of ethanol or brief exposure to nitrous oxide (N2O) decreases the activity of hepatic methionine synthase and disrupts normal metabolic processes that require folate and vitamin B12. This combination of drugs has clinical relevance since alcoholic patients often require surgery and receive N2O as a component of their anesthetic. To assess this clinical problem using a rodent model, rats were given a liquid ethanol diet (35% of calories as ethanol) and control rats were pair-fed a liquid diet with carbohydrate substituting for the caloric content of ethanol. After receiving liquid diets for 6 weeks, rats were exposed to 60% N2O/40% O2 for 6 hr. Urinary excretions of formic acid and formiminoglutamic acid (FIGLU) were used as indirect markers of folate status. In both the ethanol-fed and control groups, excretion of formic acid and FIGLU markedly increased the first day after N2O and returned towards background values by the second day after N2O exposure. Ethanol treatment alone decreased methionine synthase activities in liver, but not kidney or brain. Exposure to N2O further decreased methionine synthase activities, and recovery of methionine synthase activity after N2O occurred over a period of 4 days at the same rate in both the ethanol-fed and control groups. Ethanol treatment for 6 weeks combined with acute exposure to N2O did not deplete the rats of vitamin B12 in blood, liver, kidney, or brain. We conclude that in this animal model, chronic treatment with ethanol does not markedly exacerbate the disturbances in folate/vitamin B12 metabolism caused by brief exposure to N2O.     

人胎盘叶酸受体蛋白的提取、纯化及鉴定

目的 建立人胎盘叶酸受体蛋白的提取及纯化方法,并对其进行定性定量检测. 方法 采集医院分娩的正常人的胎盘样品.将胎盘剪碎,组织匀浆,酸化及中和,过柱提纯,组分鉴定,除杂并用分子筛进一步纯化.利用Bradford检测蛋白浓度,用SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和银染方法进行蛋白分子量检测,用Western Blot对提取蛋白进行定性鉴定. 结果 用于本实验的胎盘湿重370 g.在经过亲和层析柱抽提后的8个留样组分中,组分2～5含有目的蛋白的粗提物.经过分子筛等方法除杂后,Bradford蛋白检测显示本次共提取蛋白总量345 μg.SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和银染方法结果证实此蛋白分子量大约为35 ～40 KDa.Western Blot方法显示此蛋白与叶酸受体抗体特异结合. 结论 使用本研究方法能够从人胎盘中成功提取并纯化人源的叶酸受体蛋白,每100 g胎盘可提取叶酸受体蛋白93 μg.本研究为以后的叶酸受体抗体检测奠定了基础.     

MTHFR Gene Polymorphisms and the Risk of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Adults and Children: A Case Control Study in India

Genetic polymorphisms in the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene have been associated with the development of acute leukemias and various malignancies. The role of MTHFR polymorphism in the development of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has been extensively studied among north Indians in various settings, yet its association with acute leukemias remains unresolved. To evaluate the relationship between functional MTHFR polymorphisms, C677T and A1298C and possible effect on risk of ALL in adults and children in North Indian population by comparing them with healthy controls. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood of 184 ALL patients (33 adults, 151 children) and 155 controls and analyzed by a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. The frequency of MTHFR 677CT and 1298 AC genotypes were significantly lower among adult ALL cases when compared to the controls. We found a 1.74-fold reduced risk of ALL in individuals with 1298AC polymorphic variant and a 9.17-fold decreased risk of adult ALL. However, no statistically significant difference was evident between the above polymorphisms and susceptibility to ALL in children. Polymorphisms in the MTHFR gene possibly modulate risk of ALL in north Indian adults but not in children, although larger studies are needed.     

Plasma homocysteine,dietary B vitamins,betaine, and choline and risk of peripheral artery disease

Objective

Few studies have examined the roles of homocysteine and related nutrients in the development of peripheral artery disease (PAD). We examined the associations between plasma homocysteine, dietary B vitamins, betaine, choline, and supplemental folic acid use and incidence of PAD.

Methods

We used two cohort studies of 72,348 women in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS, 1990–2010) and 44,504 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS, 1986–2010). We measured plasma homocysteine in nested matched case–control studies of clinically recognized PAD within both cohorts, including 143 PAD cases and 424 controls within the NHS (1990–2010) and 143 PAD cases and 428 controls within the HPFS (1994–2008). We examined the association between diet and risk of incident PAD in the cohorts using a food frequency questionnaire and 790 cases of PAD over 3.1 million person-years of follow-up.

Results

Higher homocysteine levels were positively associated with risk of PAD in men (adjusted IRR 2.17; 95% CI, 1.08–4.38 for tertile 3 vs. 1). There was no evidence of an association in women (adjusted IRR 1.14; 95% CI, 0.61–2.12). Similarly, higher folate intake, including supplements, was inversely associated with risk of PAD in men (adjusted HR 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82–0.98 for each 250 μg increase) but not women (HR 1.01, 95% CI, 0.88–1.15). Intakes of the other B vitamins, betaine, and choline were not consistently associated with risk of PAD in men or women.

Conclusion

Homocysteine levels were positively associated and dietary folate intake was inversely associated with risk of PAD in men but not in women.