Mapping and definition of HLA class I and II serologic epitopes using an unbiased reverse engineering strategy

Current models describing HLA epitopes are both theoretical and empirical. Each has limitations yielding discordant results and increasingly complex modeling. The models make a priori assumptions that epitopes must be present only on the mature protein, solvent accessible, on the ‘top’ (peptide binding surface) of the molecule, restricted to the same class as the antibody, and in the same position on the target allele if reactive to more than one locus. Results obtained counter to these assumptions are routinely discounted. For the 17th International Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Workshop, we developed a reverse engineering algorithm to define epitopes without these assumptions on a cohort of 332 primary transplant pairs. Complete NGS typing of the transcribed (including leader) genomic DNA for 11 HLA loci of donor and recipient and DSA assignment by single antigen beads was performed. Our results show that, when grouped by 16 class I and II allele specific DSA, uniform clusters and 172 specific amino acid target epitopes are recognized by recipients despite originating from disparate HLA pairs. Data also show that these targets can be in the leader, alpha 3, transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains, thus calling into question current assumptions regarding immunogenic epitopes. Comparisons of amino acid epitopes defined by the Terasaki and Duquesnoy groups (TerEp and EpRegistry) are given.     

重离子放射治疗技术及临床应用

重离子的细胞杀伤作用大,有倒转剂量分布优势,而且具有拓展布拉格峰、高传能线密度、高相对生物效应等特点。将其应用于癌症治疗,可使深部区域肿瘤细胞因高剂量辐射而被有效杀灭,而对周围组织因低剂量分布、相对危害较小,能实现精确靶向治疗,这也被认为是最有前景的肿瘤放疗技术。本文简要介绍了重离子放射治疗的物理和生物学特征,回顾了重离子放射治疗的发展历程及现状;重点阐述了重离子放射治疗技术在临床的应用现状及优势,以期为重离子辐射生物学的研究人员提供一定的数据参考和未来方向参考,更好地促进重离子放射治疗在临床治癌中的良好应用。     

99Tcm-MIBI SPECT/CT同机融合显像在卵巢恶性肿瘤诊断中的应用价值

近几年来,在SPECT/CT同机融合显像技术的高速发展下,广泛应用于临床的亲肿瘤示踪显像剂99Tc^m-MIBI在卵巢恶性肿瘤的早期诊断方面展现了越来越大的应用价值。本文介绍了显像剂99Tc^m-MIBI的显像机制以及多模态影像学技术,并阐明了99Tc^m-MIBISPECT/CT同机融合显像技术在卵巢恶性肿瘤诊断中的临床应用价值。     

Rapamycin attenuates Tc1 and Tc17 cell responses in cigarette smoke-induced emphysema in mice

Inflammation Research - Chronic exposure to cigarette smoke promotes airway inflammation and emphysema accompanied by enhanced CD8+ interferon (IFN)-γ+ T(Tc1) and CD8+ interleukin (IL)-17+...     

Peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length is associated with age but not renal function: A cross-sectional follow-up study

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the relationship between baseline renal function and changes in telomere length in Han Chinese.

Methods

The telomere restriction fragment (TRF) length of leukocytes in the peripheral blood was measured in healthy volunteers recruited in 2014. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated based on serum creatinine (Scr) and serum cystatin C (CysC)-eGFRcys and eGFRScr-cys through the Cockcroft-Gault formula (eGFRC-G) or the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI / eGFRCKD-EPI) equation. The correlation between telomere length changes over time and renal function was analyzed.

Results

Leukocyte TRF lengths were negatively correlated to age (r = -0.393, p < 0.001) and serum CysC (r = -0.180, p < 0.01), while positively associated with eGFRCKD-EPI, eGFRC-G, eGFRcys, and eGFRScr-cys (r = 0.182, 0.122, 0.290, and 0.254 respectively, p < 0.01). The 3-year change of telomere length was 46 bp/years. When adjusted for age, the associations between telomere length changes and baseline, subsequent TRF lengths, and serum CysC were no longer present. No association was observed between TRF length changes and renal function.

Conclusion

The rate of telomere length changes was affected by age and baseline telomere length. The telomere length changes might be important markers for aging.

     

Angiolipoma of the tongue: report of a case

Angiolipoma is a rare variety of lipoma in the maxillofacial region. Only eight cases have been documented so far. A case in which an angiolipoma occurred within the tongue of a 49-year-old man is described here. The difference from earlier cases occurring in the tongue is noted. Close follow-up has, as yet, revealed no recurrence.