Regulation of autoimmune arthritis by the pro-inflammatory cytokine interferon-gamma

The pathogenesis of T cell-mediated diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has typically been explained in the context of the Th1-Th2 paradigm: the initiation/propagation by pro-inflammatory cytokines, and downregulation by Th2 cytokines. However, in our study based on the adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) model of RA, we observed that Lewis (LEW) (RT.1(l)) rats at the recovery phase of AA showed the highest level of IFN-gamma in recall response to mycobacterial heat-shock protein 65 (Bhsp65), whereas AA-resistant Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) (RT.1(l)) rats secreted high levels of IFN-gamma much earlier following disease induction. However, no significant secretion of IL-10 or TGF-beta was observed in either strain. Furthermore, pre-treatment of LEW rats with a peptide of self (rat) hsp65 (R465), which induced T cells secreting predominantly IFN-gamma, afforded protection against AA and decreased IL-17 expression by the arthritogenic epitope-restimulated T cells. These results provide a novel perspective on the pathogenesis of autoimmune arthritis.     

Interchromosomal duplications of the adrenoleukodystrophy locus: a phenomenon of pericentromeric plasticity

A 9.7 kb segment encompassing exons 7-10 of the adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) locus of the X chromosome has duplicated to specific locations near the pericentromeric regions of human chromosomes 2p11,10p11, 16p11 and 22q11. Comparative sequence analysis reveals 92-96% nucleotide identity, indicating that the autosomal ALD paralogs arose relatively recently during the course of higher primate evolution (5-10 million years ago). Analysis of sequences flanking the duplication region identifies the presence of an unusual GCTTTTTGC repeat which may be a sequence-specific integration site for the process of pericentromeric- directed transposition. The breakpoint sequence and phylogenetic analysis predict a two-step transposition model, in which a duplication from Xq28 to pericentromeric 2p11 occurred once, followed by a rapid distribution of a larger duplicon cassette among the pericentromeric regions. In addition to facilitating more effective mutation detection among ALD patients, these findings provide further insight into the molecular basis underlying a pericentromeric-directed mechanism for non- homologous interchromosomal exchange.      

Degenerate peptide recognition by Candida albicans adhesins Als5p and Als1p

Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing the adhesins Als5p or Als1p adhere to immobilized peptides and proteins that possess appropriate sequences of amino acids in addition to a sterically accessible peptide backbone. In an attempt to further define the nature of these targets, we surveyed the ability of yeast cells to adhere to 90- micro m-diameter polyethylene glycol beads coated with a 7-mer peptide from a library of 19(7) unique peptide-beads. C. albicans bound to ca. 10% of beads from the library, whereas S. cerevisiae expressing Als5p or Als1p bound to ca. 0.1 to 1% of randomly selected peptide-beads. S. cerevisiae expressing Als1p had a distinctly different adherence phenotype than did cells expressing Als5p. The former adhered in groups or clumps of cells, whereas the latter adhered initially as single cells, an event which was followed by the build up of cell-cell aggregates. Beads with adherent cells were removed, and the peptide attached to the bead was determined by amino acid sequencing. All adhesive beads carried a three-amino-acid sequence motif (tau phi+) that possessed a vast combinatorial potential. Adherence was sequence specific and was inhibited when soluble peptide identical to the immobilized peptide was added. The Als5p adhesin recognized some peptides that went unrecognized by Als1p. The sequence motif of adhesive peptides identified by this method is common in proteins and offers so many possible sequence combinations that target recognition by the Als proteins is clearly degenerate. A degenerate recognition system provides the fungi with the potential of adhering to a multitude of proteins and peptides, an advantage for any microorganism attempting to establish a commensal or pathogenic relationship with a host.     

淫羊藿总黄酮调控Wnt/β-catenin信号通路对去卵巢大鼠抗骨质疏松作用研究

目的 通过淫羊藿总黄酮(TFE)对去卵巢大鼠骨组织Wnt/β-catenin信号通路及腰椎骨和股骨生物力学性能影响研究,探讨TFE对去卵巢大鼠抗骨质疏松的可能机制.方法 选用40只90天龄的SPF级SD雌性大白鼠,随机分为4组:对照组、去卵巢组(OVX)组、去卵巢+己烯雌酚(DES)组、去卵巢+淫羊藿总黄酮(TFE)组.实验持续12周后处死全部大鼠,取腰椎骨、股骨分别测量生物力学参数及骨密度.免疫蛋白印迹法检测各组大鼠胫骨骨皮质区p-GSK3-β(thr9)、RANKL、OPG、β-catenin蛋白表达水平.结果 与对照组比较,OVX组大鼠股骨、腰椎骨的生物力学性能及骨密度下降(P＜0.05);DES组、TFE组股骨和腰椎骨的生物力学性能和骨密度较去卵巢OVX组明显改善(P＜0.05);两治疗组的组间差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).免疫蛋白印迹法提示去卵巢大鼠分别加用TFE、DES治疗后,胫骨蛋白β-catenin、OPG表达上调,p-GSK3-β(thr9)、RANKL表达下调.结论 淫羊藿总黄酮能够改善去卵巢大鼠的骨生物力学性能,上调Wnt/β-catenin信号通路,从而改善骨质疏松.     

Intermediate monocytes are increased in enthesitis‐related arthritis,a category of juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Microarray of peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid mononuclear cells (PBMC, SFMC) of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis–enthesitis‐related arthritis (JIA‐ERA) has shown the involvement of monocytes. On the basis of CD14 and CD16 expression, monocytes are classified as classical, intermediate and non‐classical. In response to Toll‐like receptor (TLR) stimulation, intermediate monocytes produce proinflammatory cytokines and play a role in inflammatory diseases. Therefore, we have studied the microarray profile of monocytes, the frequency of their subsets and cytokine production. Monocyte‐specific microarray analysis was performed in six healthy controls' PBMC and six patients' PBMC and SFMC using Illumina chips WG12. Monocyte subsets were assessed in 46 patients with JIA‐ERA and 17 healthy controls and 17 disease controls by flow cytometry. Interleukin (IL)?23 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) levels were measured in culture supernatants of eight controls and seven patients' PBMC/SFMC with/without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Cytokine‐producing intermediate monocytes were assessed by flow cytometry. Genes related to antigen presentation, cytokine signalling and TLR pathway were regulated differentially in PB and synovial monocytes of patients with JIA‐ERA. Key genes of intermediate monocytes, such as CLEC10A and MARCO, were expressed three‐ to fourfold more in JIA‐ERA. In PB, the frequency of intermediate monocytes was significantly higher in JIA‐ERA (4·90% ± 3·5) compared to controls (1·8% ± 1·06; P < 0·001). Patients' synovial cells also had more intermediate monocytes compared to PB (11·25% ± 11·32, 5·9% ± 4·8; P = 0.004). Intermediate monocytes are the major producers of IL‐23. Thus, intermediate monocytes may play an important role in JIA‐ERA, possibly by producing cytokines, and contribute to joint inflammation.     

Development of aceclofenac nanovesicular system using biomaterial for transdermal delivery: physical characterization,ex vivo,in vivo,and anti-inflammatory studies

Context: Aceclofenac is an important NSAID; however, it causes GI disturbances whereas employing transdermal route would require permeation enhancer for systemic application, thereby causing skin damage. Ceramide 2 is a natural lipid having an important role in the maintenance of skin. Objective: Aceclofenac-loaded nanovesicles of ceramide-2, cholesterol, palmitic acid, and cholesteryl sulfate were formulated and analyzed for physical and biological properties. Materials and method: Film hydration method was used to prepare the vesicles and physical parameters, in vitro drug release and stability were evaluated. Then, they were formulated into gel and evaluated against a commercial formulation (CF) and gel-containing plain drug (CPG) for ex vivo, in vivo drug permeation, and anti-inflammatory activity. Results: The developed formulations showed best physical profile and ACV-1 gave 92.89% drug release in in vitro studies. Ex vivo studies showed drug permeation between 15.32–31.12?μg/cm², whereas CPG and CF released 0.47 and 2.81?μg/cm², respectively. ACVG-1 and CF showed C_max of 8.1 and 1.2?μg/ml at 8 and 4?h, respectively. ACVG-1 showed 11.6 times AUC than CF. ACVG-1 inhibited edema by 44% in first hour itself. Discussion: Ceramide 2 and palmitic acid played an important role in the formulation and promotes the drug permeation through stratum corneum and dermis. Ceramide content of the formulation also contributes towards stability and skin protection. Conclusion: The composition of the vesicle formulation performs an important role in physical properties and drug permeation, thereby producing an optimum formulation.     

Exploring the utility of whole‐exome sequencing as a diagnostic tool in a child with atypical episodic muscle weakness

The advent of whole‐exome next‐generation sequencing (WES) has been pivotal for the molecular characterization of Mendelian disease; however, the clinical applicability of WES has remained relatively unexplored. We describe our exploration of WES as a diagnostic tool in a 3½‐year old female patient with a 2‐year history of episodic muscle weakness and paroxysmal dystonia who presented following a previous extensive but unrevealing diagnostic work‐up. WES was performed on the proband and her two parents. Parental exome data was used to filter potential de novo genomic events in the proband and suspected variants were confirmed using di‐deoxy sequencing. WES revealed a de novo non‐synonymous mutation in exon 21 of the calcium channel gene CACNA1S that has been previously reported in a single patient as a rare cause of atypical hypokalemic periodic paralysis. This was unexpected, as the proband's original differential diagnosis had included hypokalemic periodic paralysis, but clinical and laboratory features were equivocal, and standard clinical molecular testing for hypokalemic periodic paralysis and related disorders was negative. This report highlights the potential diagnostic utility of WES in clinical practice, with implications for the approach to similar diagnostic dilemmas in the future.     

EL9611红白血病小鼠急性GVHD动物模型的建立

目的: 建立EL9611红白血病小鼠急性移植物抗宿主病(GVHD)的动物模型。方法: 同种异基因骨髓移植(allo-BMT)以C57BL/6(H-2^b)鼠为供鼠,BALB/c(H-2^d)为受鼠。设白血病组(n=10)、照射对照组(白血病鼠照射后不进行allo-BMT,n=4)、GVHD组(白血病鼠照射+allo-BMT,n=10)及正常对照组(n=4)。白血病组采用每只BALB/c鼠尾静脉输注2×10⁶个EL9611红白血病细胞建立红白血病动物模型;GVHD组于接种白血病细胞7 d后行总剂量为8.0 Gy的1次性 γ射线全身照射(TBI),照射后5 h内每只小鼠尾静脉输注C57BL/6鼠骨髓细胞2×10⁶个＋脾细胞1×10⁷个,建立EL9611红白血病小鼠的急性GVHD动物模型。观察小鼠体位、皮毛、大便等临床表现,病理检查肝脾、皮肤、小肠、外周血和骨髓,计算生存率。结果: 白血病组生存时间(14.5±2.1) d ,生存时间与GVHD组相比P<0.01,死亡率100％,无自发缓解,死亡时肝脾肿大(肝重2.40 g±0.48 g,脾重0.84 g±0.20 g,与正常对照组比P<0.01),外周血WBC升高 ,病理检查示组织正常结构破坏,白血病细胞浸润。照射对照组生存时间为(9.0±0.7) d,生存时间与GVHD组和正常对照组相比差异显著(P<0.01),死亡率100％,病理检查显示造血衰竭。GVHD组生存时间为(32.0±3.2)d,生存时间与其它各组相比P<0.01,死亡率100％,allo-BMT后第10-13 d出现症状,临床表现和病理检查符合Ⅰ到Ⅱ度GVHD的改变。结论: 采用EL9611红白血病细胞(2×10⁶/鼠)静脉输注的方式可成功建立EL9611红白血病动物模型;接种EL9611红白血病细胞第7 d行TBI +allo-BMT可成功建立EL9611红白血病小鼠的急性GVHD动物模型。     

人肠道病毒71型感染免疫抑制恒河猴的分析

目的: 通过建立人肠道病毒71型(EV71)感染在免疫抑制恒河猴的动物模型,进一步分析人EV71在免疫抑制动物体内病毒增殖、病理变化以及病毒抗原在不同组织的表达情况。方法: 按照每天15 mg/kg的剂量给8只恒河猴口服环孢菌素A连续7 d后造成其免疫抑制状态,再经呼吸道和消化道感染EV71病毒FY23株,对其进行14 d的临床观察后处死,采集各器官组织进行病毒载量检测,同时对不同的组织进行病理学分析和免疫组化分析。结果: 感染EV71病毒后,免疫抑制组的临床症状、病毒载量、病理分析和免疫组化结果都明显比非免疫抑制组严重,从病毒对机体造成的影响来看呼吸系统感染较消化系统感染明显严重。结论: 本实验分析了人EV71在免疫抑制动物体内病毒增殖的情况,为建立用于EV71疫苗评价的恒河猴动物模型提供了依据,并对未来的EV71疫苗的使用人群范围做出了新的限定。