ArgD of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a functional N-acetylornithine aminotransferase with moonlighting function as an effective immune modulator

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) encodes an essential enzyme acetyl ornithine aminotransferase ArgD (Rv1655) of arginine biosynthetic pathway which plays crucial role in M. tuberculosis growth and survival. ArgD catalyzes the reversible conversion of N-acetylornithine and 2 oxoglutarate into glutamate-5-semialdehyde and L-glutamate. It also possesses succinyl diaminopimelate aminotransferase activity and can thus carry out the corresponding step in lysine biosynthesis. These essential roles played by ArgD in amino acid biosynthetic pathways highlight it as an important metabolic chokepoint thus an important drug target. We showed that M. tuberculosis ArgD rescues the growth of ΔargD E. coli grown in minimal media validating its functional importance. Phylogenetic analysis of M. tuberculosis ArgD showed homology with proteins in gram positive bacteria, pathogenic and non-pathogenic mycobacteria suggesting the essentiality of this protein. ArgD is a secretory protein that could be utilized by M. tuberculosis to modulate host innate immunity as its moonlighting function. In-silico analysis predicted it to be a highly antigenic protein. The recombinant ArgD protein when exposed to macrophage cells induced enhanced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF, IL6 and IL12 in a dose dependent manner. ArgD also induced the increased production of innate immune effector molecule NOS2 and NO in macrophages. We also demonstrated ArgD mediated activation of the canonical NFkB pathway. Notably, we also show that ArgD is a specific TLR4 agonist involved in the activation of pro-inflammatory signaling for sustained production of effector cytokines. Intriguingly, ArgD protein treatment activated macrophages to acquire the M1 phenotype through the increased surface expression of MHCII and costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86. ArgD induced robust B-cell response in immunized mice, validating its antigenicity potential as predicted by the in-silico analysis. These properties of M. tuberculosis ArgD signify its functional plasticity that could be exploited as a possible drug target to combat tuberculosis.     

全身型幼年特发性关节炎患儿合并巨噬细胞活化综合征早期预警量表建立的研究

目的　总结全身型幼年特发性关节炎（sJIA）合并巨噬细胞活化综合征（MAS）的早期临床特征、实验室及辅助检查特点，筛选对诊断MAS有预警作用的检测指标，并量化形成量表，以达到快速对疾病“早识别，早治疗，降低病死率”的目的。方法　回顾性分析2006年1月至2016年1月，北京儿童医院风湿免疫科收治sJIA合并MAS患儿的病例资料，在临床及辅助检查观测指标中筛选出对早期诊断MAS有评估意义的候选指标；通过ROC曲线的方法选择最佳的诊断界限值（Cut-off值）；采用多因素Logistic回归分析MAS独立危险因素，效果以优势比（OR）表示，计算95％置信区间；经过同行评议对上述因素进行权重分值量化并最终形成积分表。结果　390例sJIA患儿，其中141例合并MAS。临床表现全部患儿均有高热、肝脾和（或）淋巴结进行性增大、血液系统受累，中枢神经系统受累患儿19例。单因素Logistic回归及ROC曲线分析结果显示，MAS组和重症sJIA组比较，10个变量存在显著差异（P<0.05）。Logistic回归分析结果显示，Fib ≤3.11g/L、WBC≤11.0×109/L、SF/ESR≥99.4及PLT≤260×109/L为MAS的独立危险因素。绘制模型ROC曲线，灵敏度和特异度分别为92.42%、81.20%。经过30位同行专家评议并投票，分别对上述患儿进行MAS诊断，并对各项临床表现及检验检查项目进行权重值评分，形成早期预警量表。结论　临床表现结合辅助检查结果，利用积分量表的形式，快速判断重症sJIA是否合并早期MAS，对诊断窗口提前，提高MAS诊断率，降低漏诊及前瞻性研究提供参考。     

How does measurement of platelet P-selectin compare with other methods of measuring platelet function as a means of determining the effectiveness of antiplatelet therapy?

Measurement of P-selectin on activated platelets as a means of measuring platelet function utilizing the technology described here has the advantage of not requiring immediate access to specialist equipment and expertise. Blood samples are activated, fixed, stored, and transported to a central laboratory for flow cytometric analysis. Here we have compared P-selectin with other more traditional approaches to measuring platelet function in blood and/or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from patients with acute coronary syndromes on treatment for at least 1 month with either aspirin and clopidogrel or aspirin with prasugrel. The comparators were light transmission aggregometry (LTA), VerifyNow and Multiplate aggregometry (for determining the effects of aspirin) and LTA, VerifyNow and Multiplate together with the BioCytex VASP phosphorylation assay (for the P2Y₁₂ antagonists). The P-selectin Aspirin Test revealed substantial inhibition of platelet function in all but three of 96 patients receiving aspirin with clopidogrel and in none of 51 patients receiving aspirin and prasugrel. The results were very similar to those obtained using LTA. There was only one patient with high residual platelet aggregation and low P-selectin expression. The same patients identified as “non-responders” to aspirin also presented with the highest residual platelet activity as measured using the VerifyNow system, although not quite as well separated from the other values. With the Multiplate test only one of these patients clearly stood out from the others. The results obtained using the P-selectin P2Y₁₂ Test in 102 patients taking aspirin and clopidogrel were similar to the more traditional approaches in that a wide scatter of results was obtained. Generally, high values seen with the P-selectin P2Y₁₂ Test were also high with the LTA, VerifyNow, Multiplate, and BioCytex VASP P2Y₁₂ Tests. Similarly, low residual platelet function using the P2Y₁₂ test was seen irrespective of the testing procedure used. However, there were differences in some patients. Prasugrel was always more effective than clopidogrel in inhibiting platelet function with none of 56 patients (P-selectin and VerifyNow), only 2 of 56 patients (Multiplate) and only 3 of 56 patients (Biocytex VASP) demonstrating high on-treatment residual platelet reactivity (HRPR) defined using previously published cut-off values. The exception was LTA where there were 11 of 56 patients with HRPR. It remains to be seen which experimental approach provides the most useful information regarding outcomes after adjusting therapies in treated patients.     

儿童免疫性血小板减少症发病机制研究进展

免疫性血小板减少症(immune thrombocytopenia,ITP)是一种由自身免疫介导的出血性疾病,其特点为血小板破坏增多和生成不足。ITP发病机制复杂多样,具有异质性,至今尚未完全明确,在儿童中尤其突出。现有研究表明,免疫失耐受引起各种免疫细胞或分子异常,进而导致血小板破坏增多或生成不足,是ITP的核心发病机制。随着研究的不断深入,越来越多的机制被报道。该文就儿童ITP的发病机制及其研究进展进行介绍。     

Cutaneous histiocytoses in children

Cutaneous histiocytoses constitute a heterogeneous group of diseases characterised by the cutaneous accumulation of cells with the cytological and phenotypic features of macrophages or dendritic cells. The clinical spectrum ranges from self-resolving, skin-limited conditions to severe, multiorgan disease with a high morbidity rate. Until recently, cutaneous histiocytoses were classified according to the immunophenotype of the pathological cells, with differentiation between Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) [CD1a+, CD207 (langerin)+] and non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis (CD68+, CD163+, CD1a?, CD207?). Over the last 12 years, a number of new pathophysiological findings (in particular, molecular pathology results) regarding histiocytoses have contributed to a new classification based on molecular alterations, as well as on clinical and imaging characteristics and the phenotype. The most frequent entities in children are juvenile xanthogranuloma and LCH.     

外周血单个核细胞内人类免疫缺陷病毒DNA和RNA定量对病毒转录活性的区分

目的基于人类免疫缺陷病毒Ⅰ型(HIV-1)感染者外周血单个核细胞(PBMCs)中HIV-1总DNA和RNA定量检测结果对感染细胞内病毒的转录活性进行区分。方法采集2017年10月至2018年12月于哈尔滨医科大学附属第四医院感染科就诊的HIV-1感染者血液样本,分离PBMCs细胞,采用PCR荧光探针法对PBMCs细胞内HIV-1总DNA和RNA进行定量检测,并计算两者比值(Ratio)。根据Ratio值筛选出HIV-1转录活跃组样本和相对非活跃组样本,另外选择健康人PBMCs样本作为对照组。对3组样本进行基因转录组表达谱检测以及人口特征差异性检验,并对基因表达谱检测结果进行主成分分析以验证对3组样本病毒转录活性区分的准确性。结果从60例感染HIV-1患者的PBMCs样本中筛选出HIV-1转录活跃组样本(10例)和相对非活跃组样本(11例),另外选择6例健康人PBMCs样本作为对照组。其中转录活跃组样本Ratio值为165.2~738.93,平均为(339.27±189.68);相对非活跃组Ratio值为4.67~42.39,平均为(17.65±11.78)。转录活跃组和相对非活跃组样本间的CD4+T细胞计数(P=0.049)和Ratio值(P<0.001)差异均具有统计学意义;3组样本年龄(P=0.989)和性别(P=0.650)分布差异无统计学意义。对3组样本的PBMCs基因表达谱主成分分析结果显示:对照组与HIV-1感染者(包括转录活跃组和相对非活跃组)间区分明显。转录活跃组和相对非活跃组间有部分样本重合,同时结果也显示当HIV-1感染者的CD4+T淋巴细胞计数与健康人无显著差异时,其细胞内的基因表达与健康人接近。结论基于HIV-1总DNA和RNA定量检测结果及两者间比值可以较好地区分PBMCs内病毒转录活性。HIV-1感染细胞内部病毒的不同转录激活状况可导致其基因表达谱的异质性。     

Factors associated with patient activation in a socially deprived population: Evidence from Germany

ObjectivePatient activation has been identified as a crucial determinant of health, but little is known about its own determinants, particularly in low socioeconomic status populations. To address this research gap, we analyzed factors that might explain variation in patient activation in such a population.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional patient survey (n = 582) in a low socioeconomic status urban district in Germany in 2017. Using multivariate linear regressions, we examined the association between patient activation and a range of psychological, sociodemographic, and health-related factors. To assess the relative importance of these factors, we used dominance analysis.ResultsOur results suggest that age, employment status, linguistic acculturation, health status, and self-efficacy were significantly associated with patient activation. Dominance analysis indicated that self-efficacy was the most important factor explaining variation in patient activation.ConclusionsAge, employment status, linguistic acculturation, health status, and self-efficacy are important determinants of patient activation.Practice implicationsOur results can inform decision makers about approaches for more targeted and effective interventions to improve patient activation in low socioeconomic status populations. Much might be gained by investing in interventions that focus on age, employment status, linguistic acculturation, and health status. Interventions that improve self-efficacy may represent a particularly promising approach.