问号钩端螺旋体毒力相关蛋白InvA转录和表达特征的研究

目的 确定我国不同基因种问号钩端螺旋体(简称钩体)参考标准株携带毒力相关基因invA的情况,了解问号钩体赖株感染细胞前后invA基因转录和表达水平的变化.方法 采用PCR检测4个不同基因种问号钩体株及双曲钩体Patoc Ⅰ株invA基因.克隆问号钩体全长invA基因并测序,构建问号钩体黄疸出血群赖型赖株invA基因原核表达系统.Ni-NTA亲和层析法提纯目的重组蛋白rlnvA后免疫家兔获得抗血清,免疫双扩散法检测其效价.建立问号钩体赖株感染人胚肾上皮细胞HEK293模型,采用荧光定量RT-PCR和Western blot分别检测问号钩体赖株感染HEK293细胞前后invA基因的转录和表达水平的变化.结果 4个不同基因种的问号钩体株均含有invA基因,双曲钩体Patoc Ⅰ株则否.4株不同基因种的问号钩体invA基因核苷酸和氨基酸序列相似性分别为99.33%～100%和98.66%～100%.所构建的原核表达系统能有效地表达rInvA.rInvA兔抗血清免疫双扩效价为1:16.问号钩体赖株感染HEK293细胞30 min以后可大量黏附于细胞表面.问号钩体赖株感染HEK293细胞30 min时,invA基因mRNA水平明显上调,45 min时达到峰值,然后逐渐下降.问号钩体赖株感染HEK293细胞后45 min和60 min时可检出InvA蛋白,感染前及感染90 min以后检测结果均为阴性.结论 invA基因是致病性问号钩体所特有的基因.invA基因具有宿主细胞接触式表达及瞬时表达的特点,与问号钩体侵入宿主细胞密切相关.     

钩端螺旋体毒性蛋白VapC核酸酶活性及其对宿主细胞毒性作用的研究

目的 了解钩端螺旋体毒素-抗毒素系统中毒性蛋白VapC的功能及其对宿主细胞的毒性作用.方法 以致病性问号钩体黄疸出血群赖型赖株基因组DNA为模板,采用PCR扩增全长vapB、vapC、vapBC基因并构建其原核表达系统.采用SDS-PAGE检测目的重组蛋白rVapB和rVapC 表达情况,Ni-NTA亲和层析柱提纯rVapB和rVapC.检测rVapB和rVapC有无水解问号钩体赖株及THP-1细胞DNA或RNA活性.分别采用实时荧光定量PCR和Western blot试验,检测问号钩体赖株感染THP-1细胞前后vapB和vapC基因转录及表达水平的变化.构建vapB和vapC基因真核表达载体并转染细胞,采用CCK-8试剂检测VapB和VapC蛋白对细胞活性的影响.结果 所克隆的vapB和vapC基因核苷酸及氨基酸序列与文献报道完全相同.所构建的原核表达系统能分别表达rVapB 和rVapC.rVapC可水解RNA,但不水解DNA.问号钩体赖株感染THP-1细胞后,vapB和vapC基因 转录及表达水平均显著上调,部分毒性蛋白VapC外分泌.转染vapC基因的人肾小管上皮细胞HEK293大量死亡.结论 问号钩体赖株VapC蛋白为RNA酶,可在感染宿主细胞过程中外分泌并对细胞有明显毒性.     

问号钩端螺旋体鞘磷脂酶类溶血素基因功能分析及其感染细胞后转录水平变化

目的 了解问号钩端螺旋体(简称钩体)鞘磷脂酶类溶血素基因sph1～sph4产物溶血活性及其感染细胞后转录水平的变化.方法 以致病性问号钩体黄疸出血群赖型赖株、波摩那群波摩那型罗株和非致病性双曲钩体三宝垄群Patoc型Patoc Ⅰ株基因组DNA为模板,采用PCR扩增全长sph1～spl4基因片段,扩增产物T-A克隆后测序.构建sph1～sph4基因原核表达系统,采用SDS-PAGE检测目的 重组蛋白rSph1～rSph4的表达情况,Ni-NTA亲和层析柱提纯rSph1～rSpM.采用绵羊血平板对rSph1～rSph4溶血活性进行鉴定,实时荧光定量RT-PCR检测问号钩体赖株感染J774A.1细胞前后sph1～sph4基因转录水平的变化.结果 问号钩体赖株和罗株基因组DNA中均能扩增sph1～sph4基因,双曲钩体Patoc Ⅰ株则否.与报道的相应基因序列比较,所克隆的sph1～sph4基因核苷酸序列相似性均为100%.所构建的原核表达系统能分别表达目的蕈组蛋白rSph1～rSph4.rSph1～rSph4均有溶血活性,其中以rSph2溶血活性最强.问号钩体赖株感染J774A.1细胞后,sph1～sph4基因转录水平均上调,其中sph2和sph4基因mRNA水平上调更为明显.结论 sph1～sph4基因仅存在于致病性问号钩体中,其表达产物有溶血活性.问号钩体赖株感染细胞后sph1～sph4基因转录水平的上调,提示此类鞘磷脂酶类溶血素可能在问号钩体感染宿主过程中有重要作用.     

钩端螺旋体溶血素Sph2表达模式及诱导巨噬细胞和肝细胞凋亡活性

目的 了解问号钩端螺旋体(简称钩体)感染细胞前后sph2基因表达水平变化,确定鞘磷脂酶类溶血素Sph2及诱导细胞凋亡的活性.方法 采用PCR从黄疸出血群赖型赖株钩体基因组DNA中扩增全长sph2基因片段,T-A克隆后测序.构建sph2基因原核表达系统,采用SDS-PAGE检查重组Sph2(rSph2)的表达情况,Ni-NTA亲和层析法提纯rSph2.采用绵羊血平板溶血试验及血红蛋白分光光度法测定rSph2的溶血活性.采用流式细胞术检测rSph2诱导小鼠单核-巨噬样细胞株J774A.1和肝细胞株IAR20凋亡的活性,实时荧光定量PCR检测赖株钩体感染J774A.1和IAR20细胞前后sph2基因mRNA水平变化.结果 与GenBank中sph2基因比较,所克隆的sph2基因序列相似性为100%.所构建的原核表达系统能高效表达rSph2.rSph2以浓度依赖方式溶解绵羊红细胞.10 μg/ml rSph2可诱导J774A.1和IAR20细胞凋亡,凋亡率峰值分别为23.96%和32.92%.赖株钩体感染J774A.1和IAR20细胞后0.5～2 h内sph2基因mRNA水平显著升高,2 h后mRNA水平迅速下降.结论 钩体sph2基因呈宿主细胞接触式瞬时表达.rSph2有溶解绵羊红细胞及诱导巨噬细胞和肝细胞凋亡的活性,因而Sph2是钩体致病过程中重要的毒力因子.     

问号钩端螺旋体MazF蛋白对巨噬细胞的毒性作用分析

目的了解问号钩端螺旋体（简称钩体） MazEF毒素-抗毒素系统中MazF蛋白对巨噬细胞的细胞毒性及其机制。方法采用原核表达系统表达问号钩体赖型赖株MazEF毒素-抗毒素系统中的MazE和MazF蛋白（ rMazE和rMazF ）。采用DNA和RNA降解试验确定rMazF的DNA或RNA酶活性以及rMazE抑制rMazF酶活性的作用。采用实时荧光定量RT-PCT、Western blot 和激光共聚焦显微镜法,分别检测问号钩体赖株感染THP-1单核细胞时mazE和mazF基因转录、表达及分泌情况。采用CCK-8法和流式细胞术检测mazF基因产物对THP-1细胞的细胞毒性及死亡方式。结果 rMazF能水解问号钩体赖株和 THP-1细胞的RNA,但无DNA酶活性, rMazE 能抑制rMazF的RNA酶活性。感染THP-1细胞后,mazE-mRNA和mazF-mRNA及MazE和MazF蛋白表达水平显著升高,但仅有MazF蛋白外分泌。 mazF 基因产物对 THP-1细胞有细胞毒性并引起细胞坏死。结论MazEF毒素-抗毒素系统中具有RNA酶活性的MazF蛋白是问号钩体的毒力因子,可引起感染的巨噬细胞坏死。     

问号钩端螺旋体ompA基因分析及其重组表达产物的免疫学鉴定

目的 了解我国15群15株问号钩端螺旋体(简称问号钩体)参考标准株携带ompA基因情况,重组表达OmpA(rOmpA)并鉴定rOmpA的免疫原性和免疫保护性.方法 采用酚-氯仿法提取问号钩体基因组DNA,PCR扩增全长ompA基因,T-A克隆后测序.构建问号钩体黄疸出血群赖型56601株ompA基因的原核表达系统,采用SDS-PAGE及Bio-Rad凝胶}冬{像分析系统检测rOmpA表达情况及其产鼍.rOmpA免疫家兔以获得抗血清,采用免疫扩散试验检测抗血清效价.采用Western blot检测rOmpA与其抗血清和问号钩体56601株全菌抗血清的免疫反应性,显微镜凝集试验(MAT)检测rOmpA抗血清对15株问号钩体的交叉凝集情况.分别采用问号钩体黏附J774A.1细胞模型和豚鼠感染模型,了解rOmpA兔抗血清黏附阻断及rOmpA免疫保护作用.结果 15株问号钩体均含有序列保守的ompA基因,双曲钩体Patocl株则否.rOmpA表达量约占细菌总蛋白的20%.rOmpA能诱导家兔产生抗体,其抗血清免疫扩散效价为1:4.兔抗血清及问号钩体56601株全菌抗血清均能与rOmpA产生阳性Western blot信号.rOmpA抗血清对15株问号钩体的MAT效价为1:20～1:320.1:10～1:160稀释的rOmpA抗血清均能阻断问号钩体黏附J774A.1细胞,100μg和200μg rOmpA对豚鼠的免疫保护率分别为50.0%和75.0%.结论 ompA基因仅存在于不同血清群致病性问号钩体基因组中.rOmpA具有较好的抗原性,多种免疫学方法 检测显示,有可能作为通用型问号钩体基因上程疫苗的候选抗原.     

问号钩端螺旋体T和B细胞表位联合基因的原核表达及其产物免疫性分析

目的 构建问号钩端螺旋体(简称钩体)LipL32、OmpL1和LipL21蛋白的优势T-和B-细胞联合表位融合基因及其原核表达系统,并对表达产物的免疫原性进行鉴定.方法 人工合成多表位联合基因并构建其原核表达系统.采用SDS-PAGE检测重组蛋白;采用MAT检测重组蛋白兔抗血清与我国钩体标准参考株的凝集效价;Western blot和ELISA检测重组蛋白的免疫原性.结果 获得了多表位融合基因并构建了原核表达系统.表达产物的相对分子质量约为23×103,且主要以可溶性形式存在;重组蛋白兔抗血清免疫双扩散效价为1∶8,该抗血清能与我国15群的钩体标准参考株发生凝集反应,ELISA证明该重组蛋白能检测不同群型钩体感染患者血清中的抗钩体抗体.结论 成功构建了包含钩体LipL32、OmpL1和LipL21蛋白的优势T和B细胞联合表位基因及其原核表达系统,表达产物具有良好的抗原性和交叉免疫反应性,可作为研制通用型问号钩体基因工程疫苗及血清学检测的抗原.     

问号钩端螺旋体在体外诱导细胞凋亡及相关信号通路的研究

目的 了解问号钩端螺旋体诱导不同宿主细胞凋亡的作用及相关胞内信号传导通路.方法 建立问号钩体黄疸出血群赖型赖株小鼠单核-巨噬样细胞J774A.1、人脐静脉内皮细胞EVC304和人Ⅱ型肺泡上皮细胞A549感染模型.采用FITC-Annexin V/PI荧光标记流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡或坏死情况.分别采用荧光比色法和Western blot检测感染的J774A.1细胞caspase-3,-8,-9活性和凋亡相关蛋白FADD(Fas-associated death domain)表达水平.结果 问号钩体赖株感染1～6 h后,36.70%～63.70%的J774A.1细胞可H{现明显的早期凋亡,感染12 h时转变为晚期凋亡或坏死为主(53.68%).78.52%问号钩体赖株感染的A549细胞仪出现晚期凋亡或坏死.问号钩体赖株感染的EVC304细胞无细胞凋亡或坏死现象.感染的J774A.1细胞caspase-3和-8最大活性分别为(1453.41±36.07)和(1402.15±59.09)Fu,是未感染细胞的16.38和29.99倍.感染的J774A.1细胞caspase-9虽略有升高为(89.42±5.08)Fu,但明显低于caspase-3和-8(P<0.001).随着感染时间的延长,感染的J774A.1细胞FADD蛋白表达量逐步增加.结论 问号钩体诱导宿主细胞凋亡的效应町因细胞种类不同而有明显差异,FADD→caspase-8→caspase-3是介导问号钩体感染J774A.1细胞凋亡的主要信号通路.     

感染人单核细胞THP-1前后钩端螺旋体外膜蛋白抗原表达差异性

目的 了解感染人单核细胞THP-1前后钩端螺旋体(简称钩体)外膜蛋白表达变化,为选择钩体基因工程疫苗候选抗原提供依据.方法 采用Triton X-114法提取感染THP-1细胞前后问号钩体黄疸出血群赖型赖株外膜蛋白.采用双向电泳技术分离钩体外膜蛋白,银染色法检测感染前后钩体外膜蛋白表达量及其差异.感染细胞后4个表达显著上调和4个表达显著下调的钩体蛋白点胰酶水解后,采用LC-MS/MS方法进行鉴定.应用生物信息学软件分析靶蛋白跨膜区和信号肽,采用实时荧光定量RT-PCR检测感染细胞前后靶基因mRNA水平变化.构建靶基因原核表达系统,采用钩体感染豚鼠模型了解重组靶蛋白的免疫保护作用.结果 感染THP-1细胞60 min后,问号钩体赖株外膜蛋白中Loa22、GroEL、F0F1 ATP合成酶α和β亚单位表达水平均显著升高(P＜0.05),FluB2、LigB、OmpA和OmpA家族蛋白表达显著下降(P＜0.05),实时荧光定量RT-PCR检测结果与之基本一致.生物信息学分析结果显示,上述8个外膜蛋白中,OmpA和OmpA家族蛋白为跨膜蛋白,其余均无跨膜结构,Loa22、LigB和OmpA家族蛋白含有信号肽.200 μg重组表达的靶蛋白 rLoa22或rGroEL对豚鼠的免疫保护率均为75.0％.结论 问号钩体赖株感染细胞时外膜蛋白表达谱可发生明显变化.感染后高表达的钩体外膜蛋白尤其是GroEL和Loa22,可作为钩体基因工程疫苗侯选抗原.     

问号钩端螺旋体血清群LipL41基因型分析及其表达产物的免疫学鉴定

目的 确定我国15群15株问号钩端螺旋体(简称钩体)参考标准株和2群2株双曲钩体国际标准株携带LipL41基因情况，构建该基因的原核表达系统，鉴定表达产物的免疫原性。方法 常规酚—氯仿法提取上述17株钩体基因组DNA，高保真PCR扩增全长LipL41基因片段，T—A克隆后测序分型。构建LipL41基因原核表达系统，SDS-PAGE检测重组目的蛋白(rLipL41)表达情况。分别用钩体属特异性TP/patoe Ⅰ抗原、rLipL41兔抗血清的Western blot鉴定其免疫反应性和抗原性。分别用显微镜凝集试验(MAT)、钩体黏附J774A．1细胞模型检测兔抗rLipL41血清的交叉凝集效价和黏附阻断作用。结果 15株问号钩体均有LipL41基因，并可分为LipL41／1和LipL41／2两种基因型，2株双曲钩体则否。11个LipL41／1基因和4个LipL41／2基因克隆之间的核苷酸和氨基酸序列相似性分别为88．61％—88．67％和93．24％—97．18％。所构建的原核表达系统rLipL41／1和rLipL41／2的表达量分别占钩体总蛋白的30％和40％。rLipL41／1和rLipL41／2均能与TP/patoe Ⅰ抗血清发生结合反应，免疫家兔能产生抗体。rLipL41／1和rLipL41／2兔抗血清对上述15株问号钩体MAT效价为1：8，1：128、1：16～1：2．S6稀释时均能有效地阻断钩体对细胞的黏附。结论 我国主要的15群问号钩体代表株均有LipL41／1或LipL41／2基因。所构建原核表达系统能高效表达rLipL41／1和rLipL41／2。rLipL41／1和rLipL41／2是具有良好抗原性和免疫反应性、广泛存在于不同血清群问号钩体表面的蛋白抗原。     

Frequent polymorphism of the mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma gene (POLG) in patients with normal spermiograms and unexplained subfertility

BACKGROUND: Male fertility largely depends on the quality of sperm production, which may be affected by environmental and genetic factors. In this study, we explored a possible role of the polymerase gamma (POLG) gene polymorphism, recently reported to be associated with male infertility in some populations. METHODS: The polymorphic CAG repeat (usually 10 codons long) in the POLG gene was studied in 1298 male subjects: 429 patients with infertility/subfertility, and 869 controls (495 men from the general population with unknown fertility and 374 recent fathers). In all subjects, the POLG polymorphism was assessed in relation to their semen quality, and--in the fertile controls--with biological fecundity measured as waiting time-to-pregnancy (TTP) for the couples. In the patients lacking the common POLG allele, the outcome of the assisted reproductive techniques (ART) for the couples was evaluated. RESULTS: The absence of one (10/ not equal to 10) or both common POLG alleles (not equal to 10/not equal to 10) was more frequent among the subfertile patients than among fertile controls (P=0.021 and P=0.04 respectively). The estimated predictive value for infertility in a man homozygous for the POLG polymorphism was 15.5% (95% CI: 4.8-51%). There was a positive association with sperm concentration: 14.3% of the normospermic subfertile patients were homozygous for the absence of the common POLG allele (not equal to 10/not equal to 10), in comparison with 2.3% of unselected controls (P=0.001) and 0.9% of the fertile men (P=0.0001). No association with sperm motility, morphology and TTP was found. Spermatozoa of the three not equal to 10/not equal to 10 patients treated with IVF retained the ability to penetrate the egg, but the fertilization rate was low. Nine homozygous not equal to 10/ not equal to 10 patients were treated with ICSI, resulting in pregnancy in seven couples. CONCLUSIONS: The POLG gene polymorphism should be considered as a possible contributing factor in patients with unexplained subfertility and normal spermiograms. The oocyte penetration ability of sperm may be partially impaired in the not equal to 10/not equal to 10 patients but most of them can be successfully treated with ICSI.     

The human immunoglobulin VH7 gene family consists of a small,polymorphic group of six to eight gene segments dispersed throughout the VH locus

In this report we describe the analysis and mapping of members of the human immunoglobulin V_H7 gene family. V_H7 and V_H1 gene segments are closely related, with individual gene segments sharing between 78% and 82% sequence identity. Divergence from V_H1 gene sequence occurs as an abrupt event at the boundary between framework region (FR) 2 and complementarity-determining region (CDR) 2 and continues through a major portion of FR 3. We used polymerase chain reaction amplification to create a 162-base pair probe spanning the family-specific region of CDR 2 and FR 3 that proved suitable for standard Southern analysis of genomic DNA. The V_H7 gene family was found to be a small but discrete V_H gene family consisting of five to eight germ-line elements, of which at least three are polymorphic. Four different V_H7 gene segments were cloned from the germ line of a single individual, and assigned to specific restriction fragments by sequence-specific hybridization. Two of the four V_H7 elements were pseudogenes. The pattern of sequence variation in these and other known pseudogenes suggests that these nonfunctional elements may play a role in the evolution of novel V_H families. A combination of one and two-dimensional pulsed field gel electrophoresis was employed to map the chromosomal location of all of these V_H7 elements. Individual V_H7 gene segments were found to be dispersed over a region of at least 940 kb of DNA, and interspersed with members from other V_H gene families. The polymorphism of the V_H7 gene segments and their scattered location throughout the V_H locus makes them potentially useful markers for mapping and linkage studies.     

Association of the CYP17 gene and CYP19 gene polymorphisms with risk of endometriosis in Japanese women

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether polymorphisms of CYP17 and CYP19 genes are associated with the risk of endometriosis, we analysed the frequency and distribution of a single nucleotide polymorphism at the 5' untranslated region of the CYP17 gene, and a tetranucleotide (TTTA) tandem repeat polymorphism and a 3 bp insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism in intron 4 of the CYP19 gene. METHODS: We studied 140 patients with endometriosis, 67 with adenomyosis and/or leiomyomas and 177 healthy control women. RESULTS: The distribution of the genotypes of CYP17 and alleles of the TTTA repeat polymorphism of CYP19 were not significantly different between the groups. In contrast, an increased frequency of the D/D genotype was observed in the endometriosis group as compared with the control group (D/D genotype versus I/I plus I/D genotypes; corrected P = 0.024). This was more evident in the endometriosis subgroups with chocolate cysts (corrected P = 0.043) and at severe clinical stages (corrected P = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the 3 bp I/D polymorphism of the CYP19 gene may be weakly associated with the susceptibility of endometriosis in a Japanese population.     

Gene-gene interaction between fetal MTHFR 677C>T and transcobalamin 776C>G polymorphisms in human spontaneous abortion

BACKGROUND: Genetic polymorphisms in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and transcobalamin (TC) genes influence homocysteine metabolism which in turn may influence the risk of spontaneous abortion. It was hypothesized that there may be a significant interaction between MTHFR and TC genotypes which affects the pathogenesis of spontaneous abortion. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 76 fetal tissue samples from spontaneous abortions between weeks 6 and 20 of pregnancy, and 114 control samples from healthy blood donors were genotyped for the MTHFR 677C>T and 776C>G polymorphisms. Subjects with combined MTHFR 677TT/TC 776GG and combined MTHFR 677TT/TC 776CG genotypes gave an odds ratio for spontaneous abortion of 3.8 (95% confidence interval 1.4-9.9, P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Embryos that have combined MTHFR 677TT and TC 776CG or 776GG genotypes; genotypes that individually are associated with impaired homocysteine metabolism in adults, are at increased risk for spontaneous abortion compared with embryos that have only one of these genotypes.     

Association of SHBG gene polymorphism with menarche

The age of menarche may be subject to hereditary influencesbut the specific determinants are unknown. Our aim was to investigatethe possible association of a functional (TAAAA)_n polymorphismin the promoter of the sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) genewith the timing of menarche. This polymorphism has been associatedwith polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and is considered to contributeto SHBG levels. We studied 130 healthy normal-weight adolescentfemales from a closed community in North–Western Greece.Information on menarche was obtained through interviews. TheBMI was recorded. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral bloodleukocytes for genotyping the TAAAA repeat region. We subdividedour subjects into two groups based on median age of menarche:those with menarche <13 years and those with menarche 13years. Genotype analysis revealed six (TAAAA)_n alleles containing5–10 TAAAA repeats. The distribution of alleles was differentin the two groups. Girls with late menarche had more frequentlylonger TAAAA alleles (>8 repeats), while girls with early menarchehad shorter alleles at a greater frequency (P=0.048). The majorcontribution to early menarche was by the 6 TAAAA repeat allele.Furthermore, carriers of the longer allele genotypes had latermenarche (13.24±1.15 years) than those with shorter allelegenotypes (12.67±1.15, P=0.018). These findings provideevidence for a genetic contribution of SHBG gene to the ageof menarche.     

A heterozygous mutation in the desert hedgehog gene in patients with mixed gonadal dysgenesis

Aetiology of mixed gonadal dysgenesis (MGD) has not been completely elucidated. Molecular analyses have failed to demonstrate the presence of mutations in sex-determining region on Y chromosome (SRY); it has been suggested that these individuals may bear mutations in other genes involved in the testis-determining pathway. Desert hedgehog's (DHH) importance regarding male sex differentiation has been demonstrated in various studies we describe here, for the first time, two cases of MGD in which a monoallelic single base deletion in DHH is associated with the disorder. Genomic DNA was isolated from paraffin-embedded gonad tissue from 10 unrelated patients with MGD and three controls; in addition to, DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes in 100 controls. Coding sequence abnormalities in DHH were assessed by exon-specific PCR, single-stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and direct sequencing. In two patients, a heterozygous 1086delG in exon 3 was found. Comparing previously described mutations in DHH to the one observed in this study, we can affirm that the phenotypic spectrum of patients with gonadal dysgenesis due to mutations in DHH is variable. This study continues to demonstrate the importance that DHH has in mammalian male sexual differentiation, providing extended evidence that DHH constitutes a key gene in gonadal differentiation.     

Organization of human homeobox genes

The chromosomal localization of 17 human homeoboxes and thepredicted primary sequence of the encoded homeodomains is reported.These homeoboxes are clustered in four complex HOX loci on chromosomes2, 7, 12 and 17. Although the identification of human homeoboxeshas not been completed, existing data permit preliminary conclusionson the origin and evolution of these complex loci to be drawn.The homeodomains of one HOX locus can be unambiguously alignedto the homeodomains of the other HOX loci, so that correspondinghomeodomains in all loci can share the maximal peptide sequenceidentity. This one-to-one correspondence of individual homeodomainsin different chromosomal loci suggests the hypothesis of large-scaleduplications of a single complex locus and subsequent spreadingin different chromosomes. The existence of an ancestral complexlocus might have predated the divergence of the arthropod/annelidand vertebrate evolutive lineages.     

KAL1 mutations are not a common cause of idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism in humans

Hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism results in the absence of puberty and if left untreated leads to infertility. Mutations in KAL1 are known to account for some of the cases of Kallmann syndrome. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of KAL1 mutations in a large number of patients with idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (IHH). One hundred and thirty eight patients (109 males and 29 females) with IHH were studied for mutations in KAL1. DNA from these patients was subjected to denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis or single strand conformation polymorphism to identify mutations. Sequencing was performed to confirm mutations detected. Four mutations were found in 109 males (3.7%). All four mutations were in anosmic/hyposmic men making the prevalence 4/63 (6.3%) in this group of patients. No mutations were found in the 29 female patients. KAL1 mutations are an uncommon cause of Kallmann syndrome.     

Differential expression of angiopoietins 1 and 2 and their receptor Tie-2 in human endometrium

Angiogenesis, the growth of new capillaries from pre-existing blood vessels, is a physiological process involved in both normal menstrual cycling and implantation of the embryo. So far, very little is known about the expression of angiopoietins, growth factors involved in angiogenesis, in human endometrium. Both angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) are ligands for the endothelial cell-specific receptor tyrosine kinase Tie-2. In this study we determined the mRNA expression of Ang-1, Ang-2 and Tie-2 by quantitative competitive RT/(QC)-PCR (including specifically designed competitor cDNA) in biopsied human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle. We detected the mRNA for the angiopoietins in 30 out of 32 endometrial biopsies (94%), covering early proliferative (n = 4), mid proliferative (n = 12), late proliferative (n = 3), early secretory (n = 3), mid secretory (n = 5) and late secretory (n = 3) phases. Analysis of the target/competitor ratios (QC-PCR) revealed that Ang-1 mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated (P = 0.027) during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. In contrast, the expression levels of both Ang-2 mRNA and Tie-2 mRNA showed only minor variations at different cycle stages. These findings were confirmed by the relative expression ratio of Ang-1 versus Ang-2 in a multiplex PCR. The expression of Ang-1, Ang-2 and Tie-2 mRNA was detected in both isolated endometrial epithelial and stromal cell fractions. Immunohistochemical localization of the proteins revealed qualitative differences in both cell type and cycle stage expression. In conclusion, the enhanced Ang-1 expression during the secretory phase might serve to stabilize the newly developed blood vessels.     

CYP17, CYP1A1 and COMT polymorphisms and the risk of adenomyosis and endometriosis in Taiwanese women

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to test whether the COMT, CYP1A1 and CYP17 genes influence the risk of developing adenomyosis and endometriosis. METHODS: We conducted two case-control studies, where the cases (n = 198) had either of the two diseases, and controls (n = 312) were disease-free women. For the COMT gene, we selected the G/A nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) that leads to valine-to-methionine (Val/Met) substitution. For the CYP1A1 gene, we used a functional T/C SNP in the 3'-noncoding region, and we genotyped a T/C functional SNP in the 5' region of the CYP17 gene for the present study. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was checked in both cases and controls. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the genetic effect, with adjustment for other covariates. RESULTS: We found that the homozygous COMT genotype that encodes low enzyme activity had an increased risk for adenomyosis with an age-adjusted odds ratio of 3.2 (95% confidence interval 1.3-7.8; P = 0.006). The COMT gene, however, was not associated with endometriosis. Neither the CYP1A1 nor CYP17 genes had any significant association with either of the two diseases. CONCLUSION: The COMT gene significantly influences the risk of adenomyosis but not endometriosis. The present study does not provide evidence to support any of the three genes exerting pleiotropic effects on both diseases.