Subcutaneously administered recombinant human β-interferon in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection

Background: Treatment of chronic replicative hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is aimed at stopping viral replication and preventing the development of chronic liver disease. β-Interferon treatment has been less well studied than α-interferon. Methods: The efficacy and tolerability of a 6-month course of subcutaneously administered human recombinant β-interferon (rINF-β_ser) was studied and the results of a low-dose regime compared with a high-dose regime. Twenty patients (17 men and three women), aged 24–54 years, with chronic hepatitis B virus infection (all hepatitis B surface antigen-positive with detectable HBV-DNA in their sera for at least 3 months prior to therapy) were randomized into two treatment groups of 10 patients each. The low-dose group received 6×10⁶ U/dose and the high-dose group received 30×10⁶ U/dose, both groups receiving their respective doses three times a week initially for 1 month and continuing for a total of 6 months. Results: The treatment was well tolerated in both groups. None of the patients required dosage reduction or cessation of treatment because of side-effects. HBV-DNA decreased in all patients during treatment, demonstrating the anti-viral efficacy of rINF-β_ser, and was undetectable in 20 and 40% of patients receiving low-dose and high-dose regimes, respectively, at the end of 6 months treatment (P=N.S.). One year after completion of treatment, HBV-DNA was undetectable in 50 and 30% of patients in the low-dose and high-dose groups, respectively (P=N.S.). However, only one patient achieved seroconversion with loss of the hepatitis B surface antigen and appearance of an anti-hepatitis B ‘e’ antigen at the end of 18 months. Conclusion: This study shows that subcutaneously administered rINF-β_ser is well tolerated, but the optimal dose and duration of treatment still needs to be defined by further studies.     

内皮超极化因子的研究进展

内皮超极化因子（EDHF）是由内皮释放的NO和PGI_2以外的另一种舒张因子,它通过使平滑肌细胞膜超极化而舒张血管,是内皮依赖性血管松驰的第3种重要机制。EDHF可能是花生四烯酸的细胞色素P450代谢产物EET-s,乙酰胆碱、缓激肽等激动剂作用于内皮细胞,使细胞内游离钙浓度升高,合成和（或）释放EDHF,作用于平滑肌细胞膜,激活钙依赖性钾通道,使细胞膜超极化,抑制电压依赖性钙通道的开放,引起血管松弛。在大血管中NO-cGMP松弛机制可能占主导地位,并且抑制EDHF生成;而在阻力小血管,EDHF则可能是引起血管松弛的主要因素。     

Identification, characterization, and expression pattern of the chicken EKLF gene.

EKLF/KLF1 was the first of the Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) to be identified in mammals and plays an important role in primitive and definitive erythropoiesis. Here, we identify and characterize EKLF in the chicken (cEKLF). The predicted amino acid sequence of the zinc finger region of cEKLF is at least 87.7% similar to mammalian EKLF proteins and is 98.8% and 95% similar to the EKLF orthologues in Xenopus and zebrafish, respectively. During early embryonic development, cEKLF expression is seen in the posterior primitive streak, which gives rise to hematopoietic cells, and then in the blood islands and in circulating blood cells. cEKLF mRNA is expressed in blood cells but not in brain later in chicken embryonic development. cEKLF mRNA is increased in definitive compared with primitive erythropoiesis. The conserved sequence and expression pattern of cEKLF suggests that its function is similar to its orthologues in mammals, Xenopus, and zebrafish.     

淋巴细胞经TCR－CD3活化增殖作用的分析

本文探讨了抗ＣＤ３单抗诱导的淋巴细胞活化增殖及有关影响因素。实验结果表明：①淋巴细胞内钙升高是淋巴细胞活化增殖的重要条件，ＣＤ３ＭｃＡｂ引起的早期胞浆游离钙迅速升高主要由内质网释放钙离子所致，而淋巴细胞增殖不仅需要细胞内钙释放，还需要细胞外钙内流；②ＧＴＰ结合蛋白是淋巴细胞激活过程的一重要环节，经Ｇ蛋白作用物霍乱毒素作用后，淋巴细胞ＤＮＡ合成显著降低；③新霉素和ＰＳＳ可抑制ＰＬＣ和ＰｋＣ的活性，对淋巴细胞ＮＤＡ合成造成剂量依赖性抑制作用。此外，抗ＣＤ３ＭｃＡｂ诱导的淋巴细胞ＤＮＡ合成需要辅佐细胞的存在，高度纯化的Ｔ细胞对ＣＤ３ＭｃＡｂ的刺激不发生增殖反应。     

Suppressive effects of Sairei-to on monoclonal antibody 1–22–3-induced glomerulonephritis: Analysis of effective components

The effects of treditional Chinese medlclne (Salrel-to) on experimental glomerulonephritls Induced In rats by monodonal antibody (mAb) 1–22–3 lnjectlon was examined. The level of proteinuria in the Sairel-to-treated group was significantly lower than that In the PBS treated group. This suppressive effect was caused by the major component of Sealer-to, Syo-salko-to but not by another component, Gorel-san. The suppressive effect of Syo-salko-to was Identified In Its components ( Bupleuri radix, Pindilae tuber and Zingibers rhizoma ), but not In the other combined components ( Ginseng radix and Zizyphl fructus ). Further study weeled that the suppressive effects of the combined components were mainly derived from Bupleuri radix . It was demonstrated that the actual active Ingredient is probably Salkosaponin-d. Light microscopy revealed that Sairel-to and Its effective components suppressed the proliferation of mesanglal cells and mesanglal matrix expansion. Semi quantitative morphological studies of glomerular lesions on the eighth day showed that Syo-salko-to and Its combined components ( Bupleuri radix, Zinglberis rhizoma and Pinelliae tuber ) suppressed mesanglal matrix expansion significantly compared with phosphate-buffered saline control groups (matrix score: 28.0±19.1 vs 102.3±14.1; 30.9±30.1 vs 102.3±14.1, p<0.005, respectively). It was concluded that Salkosaponln-d, as well as Bupleuri radix , Syo-salko-to and Sairel-to can suppress proteinurla and morphological changes In the rat glomerulonephritls model Induced by mAb 1–22–3.     

胰岛素样生长因子(IGF)与子宫内膜异位症关系的研究进展

本文对IGF家族的组成、结构、在多种肿瘤中的作用机制及其在内异症中的研究进展作一综述,旨在为内异症的诊治提供新的依据。其中研究较明确的是IGF-I和IGFBP-3。IGF-I促进甾体激素的生成、促进细胞增殖、抑制细胞凋亡,与多种肿瘤的发生有关。IGF-I促进异位子宫内膜生长,与内异症形成有关。IGFBP-3作用与IGF-I相反,可能是通过与IGF-I的结合而实现。     

GSK-3及P70S6K在胰岛素抵抗大鼠肌肉中的表达及意义

目的:观察饮食诱导的胰岛素抵抗(IR)大鼠骨骼肌中糖原合成酶-3(GSK-3)及核糖体S6蛋白激酶(P70S6K)的表达及变化情况,并探讨GSK-3和P70S6K在IR发生中的作用及意义.方法:将40只4周龄Wistar大鼠随机分为正常对照组、高糖组、高脂组、高脂高糖饲养组,喂养8周后用高胰岛素-正葡萄糖钳夹技术(钳夹试验)对大鼠进行胰岛素敏感性的评估,采用Western blot法检测各组大鼠骨骼肌中GSK-3及P70S6K的含量,同时测定各组大鼠的附睾脂肪垫重量、血糖(BG)、胰岛素(INS)、甘油三酯(TG)、胆固醇(TC)及游离脂肪酸(FFA)水平、超敏C反应蛋白(hsCRP).结果:高脂高糖组、高脂组大鼠产生明显IR,体重增加(P＜0.01),以附睾脂肪垫的重量增加更为显著(P＜0.01),TG、TC及FFA水平、hsCRP增加(P＜0.01),GSK-3、P70S6K在IR大鼠肌肉中的表达明显升高.结论:高脂高糖饮食可诱导大鼠产生IR,IR大鼠的hsCRP、TG、TC及FFA水平明显增高,大鼠产生IR与炎症反应有关,GSK-3、P70S6K在IR大鼠中的表达明显升高,在胰岛素信号传导中起负相调节作用.     

Plasmids encoding foot-and-mouth disease virus VP1 epitopes elicited immune responses in mice and swine and protected swine against viral infection

VP1 is a capsid protein of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) and contains epitopes of the virus. Plasmids encoding two VP1 epitopes (amino acid residues 141-160 and 200-213) and a host-self immunoglobulin molecule were constructed to produce a new type of FMD DNA vaccine. Two plasmids, namely, pCEIM and pCEIS, containing mouse immunoglobulin (IgG) or swine IgG were subjected to immunogenicity testing in mice and swine, respectively. In mice administrated pCEIM in the abdomen using a genegun, both FMDV-specific T-cell proliferation and neutralizing antibodies were detected. In swine immunized with pCEIS at the back of the ear, immune responses were achieved after the second administration. Swine showed a T-cell proliferative response with a stimulation index (SI) of up to 8.1 and a neutralizing antibody response that was able to protect suckling mice from 10(2) LD(50) (lethal dose 50) FMDV challenge. To compare the immunogenicity of the DNA-based vaccine candidate, versus the protein-based vaccine candidates, a second group of swine was immunized with the protein F1-scIgG, which was encoded by the plasmid pCEIS. Injection with F1-scIgG elicited a T-cell proliferative response of SI < 1.7 and a neutralizing antibody response that protected suckling mice from up to 10(5) LD(50) FMDV challenge. In the challenge test, three of three swine immunized with pCEIS were fully protected from FMDV challenge.