多发性硬化患者外周血单个核细胞SP3基因mRNA表达缺失研究

目的 研究我国多发性硬化(multiple sclerosis,Ms)患者外周血单个核细胞基因SP3(specificprotein 3)mRNA表达缺失的特点及其与临床表型的关系.方法 采集56例MS患者外周血单个核细胞,提取总RNA,设计SP3特异性引物,采用逆转录PCR方法观察SP3基因mRNA表达情况,并与其他疾病组、健康对照组进行比较.结果 56例MS患者中23例SP3为阴性结果,SP3表达缺失率为41.1%;健康对照组35例有5例为阴性结果,缺失率为8.6%;其它疾病对照组27例有4例为阴性结果,缺失率为14.3%.MS组与两对照组之间的差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).SP3表达缺失组与表达组急性期的改良残废程度量表评分差异无统计学意义,稳定期则差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 通过对MS患者SP3基因mRNA表达的研究,观察到中国人MS存在该基因mRNA表达缺失.SP3与MS临床表现及其免疫学发病机制之间可能存在一定的相关性.     

环孢素A受体在多发性硬化病人外周血单个核细胞中的表达

目的 通过对多发性硬化患者外周血单个核细胞中环孢素Ａ受体ｍＲＮＡ表达的研究，为临床采用环孢素Ａ辅助治疗该病提供一定的依据。方法 采用逆转录ＰＣＲ方法，结果经凝胶图像分析。结果 患者组即多发性硬化患者外周血单个细胞存在有ＣｙＰｍＲＮＡ的表达，与对照组相比较降低，尚无明显统计学差异（Ｐ〉０．０１）。结论 多发性硬化患者外周血单个核细胞中存在有ＣｙＰ，ＣｓＡ与细胞内的ＣｙＰ结合后是否产生生物活性还与其蛋     

系统性红斑狼疮外周血单个核细胞CD40L的表达增高

目的:了解系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)患者外周血单个核细胞(PBMCs)的白细胞分化抗原40配体(CD40L)表达,探讨其在发病中的作用。方法:分离SLE患者和正常人PBMCs,采用流式细胞术,检测其在正常状况和应用植物凝集素(PHA)及地塞米松(Dex)后,CD40L的表达水平,并进行比较;分析SLE患者CD40L的表达水平和狼疮活动指数(SLEDAI)的相关性。结果:活动期SLE患者PBMCs的CD40L阳性细胞百分率(%)明显高于对照组,且高于静止期SLE患者;应用PHA处理24h后,3组PBMC表达CD40L均明显增加,但活动期SLE患者增加更明显;应用地塞米松后,SLE患者(活动期和静止期)PBMCs的CD40L表达明显减少,对照组无明显改变;SLE患者(活动期和静止期)CD40L的表达水平和SLEDAI均呈明显正相关。结论:CD40L在SLE患者PBMCs的表达增加,和疾病活动度有关;其受PHA和Dex调控,在SLE发病和病程中起重要作用。     

Increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in white blood cells of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients

Central nervous system (CNS)-autoreactive immune responses can exert neuroprotective effects, possibly mediated via the release of neurotrophic factors from infiltrating leucocytes. Herein, we analysed neurotrophin and cytokine mRNA levels using TaqMan polymerase chain reaction in unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in remission and controls. We demonstrate that mRNA for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), but not neurotrophin-3 or nerve growth factor (NGF), is readily detectable in PBMC and that levels in MS are increased by approximately 60% compared with patients with other neurological diseases or healthy subjects. These results provide additional evidence that a potentially neuroprotective facet of autoimmune inflammation is present in MS.     

Expression of aminopeptidase N and neutral endopeptidase on the endometrial stromal cells in endometriosis and adenomyosis.

Indirect immunofluorescence staining revealed that endometrial stromal cells (ESC) in the ectopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis or adenomyosis expressed aminopeptidase N/cluster of differentiation (CD) 13 antigen and neutral endopeptidase/CD10 antigen, both of which are expressed on ESC in the normal endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle. Thus, ESC in the ectopic endometrium resembled ESC in the normal endometrium not only morphologically but also antigenically. Both peptidase antigens may be useful markers for the histological diagnosis of endometriosis and adenomyosis.     

Regulatory effects of cytokines and cyclosporine A on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from stable multiple sclerosis patients.

The proliferative response (PR) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to lectins such as phytohemaglutinin (PHA), anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies such as OKT-3 or phorbol esters such as tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) was investigated in 18 stable multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (9 untreated and 9 treated patients) and 10 healthy controls. PBMC from untreated MS patients showed a significantly higher PR to PHA than healthy controls. The PR of PHA, anti-CD3 or TPA stimulated PBMC from treated patients was lower than that from untreated MS patients. Mitogen stimulated PBMC from untreated patients shown both increased sensitivity to the stimulatory effect of IL-2 and increased resistance to the inhibitory effect of IL-10 and IFN-alpha. The addition of IL-2 increased the PR in PHA-stimulated PBMC from untreated MS patients, but not in those from treated MS patients and healthy controls. Mitogen stimulated cells from untreated patients were more resistant to the inhibitory effect of IL-10 and IFN-alpha than PBMC from either treated MS patients or healthy controls. Cyclosporine A (CsA) inhibited the PR and the expression of activation antigens induced by PHA in PBMC from the three groups of subjects. This inhibitory effect of CsA have was enhanced by the addition of IFN-alpha.     

HMGB1及TLR2在多发性硬化患者外周血单核细胞中的表达及其作用

通过检测高迁移率族蛋白B1(high mobility group protein B1,HMGB1)及Toll样受体2(toll like receptor 2,TLR2)在多发性硬化(multiple sclerosis,MS)患者外周血单个核细胞(peripheral blood mononuclear cell,PBMC)中的表达变化及血清中单核细胞趋化蛋白1(monocyte chemotactic protein 1,MCP-1)、IL-17分泌变化,初步探讨HMGB1及TLR2在MS发病中可能的免疫学作用。应用流式细胞术检测MS患者组、健康对照组人群PBMC中HMGB1及TLR2蛋白的相对表达并采用Pearson相关分析观察两者表达的相关性;应用ELISA法检测两组人群血清中MCP-1、IL-17分泌水平。MS组HMGB1、TLR2蛋白的相对表达及MCP-1、IL-17分泌水平较对照组明显上调(P0.01),HMGB1蛋白与TLR2蛋白表达呈正相关(r=0.893,P0.01)。HMGB1可能会通过其受体TLR2启动下游炎性信号传导通路,参与MS免疫损伤过程。     

多发性硬化患者外周血白细胞粘附分子的表达

目的 :探讨多发性硬化 (MS)患者外周血白细胞粘附分子表达的水平及予甲基强的松龙 (MP)治疗后的变化。方法 :流式细胞仪测定 2 8例缓解复发型MS患者及 12例复发期MS予静脉MP治疗后外围血淋巴细胞和单核细胞细胞间粘附分子 3(CD5 0 )、细胞间粘附分子 1(CD5 4 )、整合素LFA 1β亚单位 (CD18)、非常晚抗原 4 (VLA 4 )α、β亚单位 (CD4 9d、CD2 9)和 (- )选择素 (CD6 2L)的阳性百分率。结果 :复发期MSCD4 9d和CD2 9在淋巴细胞和单核细胞、CD5 4和CD6 2L在单核细胞的阳性百分率高于缓解期MS和对照组 ,复发和缓解期MSCD5 4在淋巴细胞的阳性百分率高于对照组 ;MP治疗后 ,CD5 4和CD4 9d在淋巴细胞和单核细胞、CD6 2L在单核细胞的阳性百分率下降。结论 :MS患者外周血白细胞粘附分子的表达升高并可作为MS活动期的指标     

Activity of neutral endopeptidase and aminopeptidase N in mouse thymic stromal cells which bind double-positive thymocytes

The activity of two peptidases was determined in immortalized lines of thymic stromal cells. A line of total stromal cells (T-TG-St) was grown from transgenic mouse expressing temperature-sensitive SV40T antigen under the control of the regulatory elements of the mouse major histocompatibility complex class I gene. From these cells we isolated a subset (DP-TG-St) that binds thymocytes which are mainly CD4⁺8⁺. We also assayed a clone of fetal thymic epithelial cells (BA/10) that binds CD4⁺8⁺ thymocytes. Both lines of double-positive cell-binding stroma exhibited strong activity of two peptidases, neutral endopepti dase (NEP; EC 3.4.24.11) and aminopeptidase N (APN; EC 3.4.11.2). In contrast, the activity of both enzymes was very low in the total thymic stromal line. Use of specific inhibitors confirmed that these two enzymes were responsible for the activity observed but also suggested the presence of additional unidentified aminopeptidase(s) in the same stromal cells. The high activity of the two peptidases on stromal cells that bind thymocytes at the double-positive stage raises the possibility that they might contribute to the microenvironment of the developing thymocytes.     

IL-15 mRNA expression is up-regulated in blood and cerebrospinal fluid mononuclear cells in multiple sclerosis (MS)

IL-15, produced by monocytes and epithelial cells, is a novel cytokine with actions similar to IL-2. IL-15 induces T cell proliferation, B cell maturation and natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, and is a chemoattractant for T cells. We investigated the expression of IL-15 mRNA in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) mononuclear cells (MNC) in MS, an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system where cytokines are involved. MS patients had higher numbers of IL-15 mRNA-expressing blood MNC than patients with aseptic meningo-encephalitis (AM) and healthy controls. In CSF, MS patients had even higher numbers of IL-15 mRNA-expressing cells than in blood. This discrepancy between IL-15 mRNA expression between blood and CSF MNC was not seen in AM patients. Patients examined during the secondary chronic-progressive phase of MS had higher numbers of IL-15 mRNA-expressing blood MNC compared with patients examined during the relapsing-remitting phase. Levels of IL-15 mRNA-positive blood MNC were similar in patients with AM, myasthenia gravis, non-inflammatory neurological diseases and healthy controls. Taken together these data indicate that IL-15 mRNA expression is up-regulated in MS, further suggesting a role for proinflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of MS.     

Stimulation with type I collagen induces changes in gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (scleroderma)

An autoantigenic role for collagen type I (CI) has been suggested previously in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc). Whether CI is indeed capable of affecting the immune system in dcSSc is not known. Patients with early (3 years or less) or late (>3 years) dcSSc and healthy controls donated blood. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were cultured with or without CI, and expression of genes known for their involvement in autoimmune and inflammatory processes was assessed using cDNA arrays; results were confirmed by real‐time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for selected genes. Patients with early and late dcSSc were similarly different from healthy controls in basal gene expression. When cultured with CI, PBMC from patients with early dcSSc differed from healthy controls in expression of 34 genes, whereas PBMC from patients with late dcSSc differed from healthy controls in expression of only 29 genes. Direct comparisons of matched PBMC samples cultured with and without CI revealed differences in expression of eight genes in healthy controls, of five genes in patients with early dcSSc, and no differences in patients with late dcSSc. Thus, PBMC from patients with dcSSc respond differently than do PBMC from healthy controls when cultured with CI. Exposure to CI in culture of PBMC from patients in the early stage of dcSSc in contrast to PBMC from patients with late‐stage dcSSc evokes a greater degree of activation of immune‐related genes, suggesting that CI is more dominant as an autoantigen in early versus late dcSSc.     

Lack of genetic association of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a condition that is characterized by severe pain and exaggerated neurogenic inflammation, which may develop after injury or surgery. Neurogenic inflammation is mediated by neuropeptides, such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) that are released from nociceptors. Genetic factors may play a role in CRPS as was suggested by the occurrence of familial cases and several genetic association studies investigating mainly the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system. Here we investigated the role of neutral endopeptidase (NEP), a key enzyme in neuropeptide catabolism. NEP dysfunction resulting in reduced inactivation of neuropeptides may be a possible pathomechanism in CRPS. To this end, we tested a GT-repeat polymorphism in the NEP promoter region as well as 18 tag-SNPs in six linkage disequilibrium (LD) blocks in the NEP gene region in 320 CRPS patients and 376 controls. No significant genetic association was observed. Thus, we conclude that the NEP gene does not seem to be a major risk factor for CRPS.     

Increased release of soluble CD163 by the peripheral blood mononuclear cells is associated with worse prognosis in patients with systemic sclerosis

PurposeCD163 is a scavenger receptor which is exclusively expressed on monocytes/macrophages and participates in modulation of inflammatory response. We aimed to evaluate ex vivo production of soluble CD163 (sCD163) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma, SSc).Material/MethodsConcentration of sCD163 was measured by commercially available ELISA kit in the PBMC suparnates from 23 SSc patients and 16 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC). Eighteen SSc patients were subsequently followed for at least three years or until death whichever happened earlier. Disease progression was defined as death due to SSc-related organ complication, development of a new or progression of pre-existing SSc-related organ involvement.ResultsPBMC from SSc patients released significantly greater amounts of sCD163 as compared with HC (p<0.05). No significant associations between release of sCD163 by PBMC and baseline clinical or laboratory parameters of the disease could be found. However, concentration of sCD163 in cell culture supernates was significantly higher in 6 SSc patients who experienced subsequent progression of the disease as compared with 12 SSc patients with stable disease course over a 3-year follow-up period (p<0.05).ConclusionsWe show, for the first time, that PBMC from SSc release significantly greater amounts of sCD163 than do PBMC from healthy subjects. Evaluation of sCD163 production by PBMC ex vivo may serve as a new biomarker of disease progression. Further studies are required to evaluate the role of sCD163 in the development of SSc.     

Gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

BACKGROUND: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a multisystem disease, the pathogenesis of which remains undetermined. AIMS: To test the hypothesis that there are reproducible abnormalities of gene expression in patients with CFS compared with normal healthy persons. METHODS: To gain further insight into the pathogenesis of this disease, gene expression was analysed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 25 patients with CFS diagnosed according to the Centers for Disease Control criteria and 25 normal blood donors matched for age, sex, and geographical location, using a single colour microarray representing 9522 human genes. After normalisation, average difference values for each gene were compared between test and control groups using a cutoff fold difference of expression > or = 1.5 and a p value of 0.001. Genes showing differential expression were further analysed using Taqman real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in fresh samples. RESULTS: Analysis of microarray data revealed differential expression of 35 genes. Real time PCR confirmed differential expression in the same direction as array results for 16 of these genes, 15 of which were upregulated (ABCD4, PRKCL1, MRPL23, CD2BP2, GSN, NTE, POLR2G, PEX16, EIF2B4, EIF4G1, ANAPC11, PDCD2, KHSRP, BRMS1, and GABARAPL1) and one of which was downregulated (IL-10RA). This profile suggests T cell activation and perturbation of neuronal and mitochondrial function. Upregulation of neuropathy target esterase and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4G1 may suggest links with organophosphate exposure and virus infection, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that patients with CFS have reproducible alterations in gene regulation.     

Cytokine gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with pharmacologically treated cystic echinococcosis

The aim of the study was to assess the role of the complement system in Staphylococcus aureus arthritis and septicaemia. The murine model of haematogenously acquired septic arthritis was used, injecting intravenously toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), producing S. aureus LS-1. Complement was depleted using cobra venom factor (CVF). Evaluation of arthritis was performed clinically and histopathologically. In addition, the effect of complement depletion on the phagocytic activity of leucocytes was assessed in vivo and in vitro. Six days after inoculation of S. aureus the prevalence of arthritis in decomplemented mice was three-fold higher than that in controls (91% versus 25%). The clinical severity of arthritis at the end of the experiment, expressed as arthritic index, was 7.3 and 1.9, respectively. These findings were confirmed by histological index of synovitis as well as of cartilage and/or bone destruction being significantly higher in decomplemented mice than in controls (9.8 ± 1.7 versus 4.9 ± 1.2, P < 0.05; and 7.9 ± 1.7 versus 3.0 ± 0.9, P < 0.05, respectively). Also, the septicaemia-induced mortality was clearly higher in decomplemented mice compared with the controls. CVF treatment significantly reduced in vivo polymorphonuclear cell-dependent inflammation induced by subcutaneous injection of olive oil and mirroring the capacity of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNC) to migrate and/or extravasate. Besides, the decomplementation procedure significantly impaired phagocytic activity of peripheral blood leucocytes in vitro, since the number of phagocytes being able to ingest bacteria decreased by 50% when the cells were maintained in decomplemented serum compared with those in intact serum. The conclusion is that complement depletion aggravates the clinical course of S. aureus arthritis and septicaemia, possibly by a combination of decreased migration/extravasation of PMNC and an impairment of phagocytosis.     

原发性胆汁性肝硬化患者外周血单个核细胞中Tim-3 mRNA表达增高及其意义

为研究Tim-3是否参与了原发性胆汁性肝硬化(PBC)的发病机制,我们采用实时荧光定量逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)技术检测了38例PBC患者及30例健康者外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)中Tim-3mRNA的相对表达量,并分析Tim-3mRNA表达与PBC患者Mayo危险评分和碱性磷酸酶(ALP)之间的关系。结果表明,PBC患者外周血PBMC中Tim-3mRNA表达较健康对照组明显增高(P<0.01),且与Mayo危险评分呈正相关(r2=0.31,P<0.01),与血清ALP水平呈负相关关系(r2=0.37,P<0.01)。本研究表明Tim-3可能参与了PBC的发病机制,同时还是PBC的潜在标志物。     

Increased asymmetric dimethylarginine concentrations in stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Elevated concentrations of total homocysteine as well as of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in the blood have been reported to reflect an increased cardiovascular risk. ADMA is formed by endothelial cells and is an endogenous inhibitor of NO synthase. Earlier we have found that human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) produce homocysteine upon stimulation with mitogens concanavalin A, phytohaemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen. In this study, the ability of PBMC to form ADMA and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) was determined. Effects were compared with levels of cysteine, homocysteine and arginine in cultures. Increased concentrations of ADMA and SDMA were found in mitogen-stimulated compared with unstimulated PBMC. Arginine and cysteine concentrations did not differ between stimulated and unstimulated PBMC. There existed significant associations between concentrations of homocysteine and ADMA (Spearman rank correlation (rs) = 0.575) as well as SDMA (rs = 0.436, both P < 0.001). Treatment of stimulated PBMC with the anti-inflammatory compounds salicylic acid (5 mm) and atorvastatin (25 microm) decreased the rate of ADMA and SDMA formation. Results of these in vitro studies show that ADMA and SDMA formation coincides with homocysteine production in human PBMC. Activated PBMC not only release Th1-type cytokine gamma-interferon, which is the most important inducer of nitric oxide synthase, but also ADMA, a natural inhibitor of the enzyme.