Adult-onset chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection: Report of two cases and literature review北大核心CSCD

Objective To report two cases of adult-onset chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (CAEBV) infection, and review the relevant literature to improve the awareness of this disease. Methods The clinical data of 2 CAEBV patients were analyzed retrospectively. We also summarized the current understanding of CAEBV and described recent progress of CAEBV research. Results Two patients were diagnosed with CAEBV. The follow-up data showed that viral load was still detectable in one patient. The other patient lost to follow up. Conclusions The clinical presentations of CAEBV are diverse and nonspecific. The disease is progressive and more aggressive than the childhood-onset cases. The viral load in peripheral blood plays an important role in assessing patients’ conditions and planning therapeutic strategies. Viral load combined with tissue biopsy is an effective way for early diagnosis of this disease. © by Editorial Department of Chinese Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy.     

芥子气经腹腔和气管致大鼠急性肺损伤细胞凋亡的变化

目的  经腹腔和气管建立大鼠芥子气（SM）急性肺损伤动物模型,比较两种大鼠急性肺损伤模型细胞凋亡的差异。方法  选取Sprague Dawley大鼠136只,随机分为5组,正常对照组8只,其他4个组为腹腔SM组、腹腔丙二醇对照组、气管SM组、气管丙二醇对照组,每组32只。腹腔SM组腹腔内注入稀释的SM 0.1 ml（0.96 LD50=8 mg/kg）,气管SM组气管内注入稀释的SM 0.1 ml（0.98 LD50=2 mg/kg）,正常对照组未做任何处理。采用末端脱氧核苷酸转移酶介导的dUTP缺口末端标记测定法（TUNEL）染色和免疫组织化学法及电镜观察,判断细胞凋亡情况。结果  ①腹腔SM组各时间段肺泡间隔TUNEL染色阳性细胞表达率较气管SM组增多（P <0.05）。②腹腔SM组各时间段肺泡间隔凋亡蛋白Bax阳性表达率较气管SM组升高（P <0.05）;腹腔SM组各时间段肺泡间隔凋亡蛋白Bcl-2阳性表达率较气管SM组降低（P <0.05）。③腹腔SM组各时间段肺泡间隔凋亡蛋白酶Caspase-3、Caspase-9阳性表达率较气管SM组增多（P <0.05）。④电镜显示,染毒72 h,腹腔SM组和气管SM组Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型肺泡上皮凋亡细胞形态特征为上皮细胞膜附着的微绒毛断裂缺失,排列紊乱;线粒体嵴模糊,粗面内质网表面附着的核糖体脱离,并游离于细胞质中。结论  SM经腹腔和气管染毒致大鼠急性肺损伤,通过内源性通道引发细胞凋亡调节异常,SM经腹腔染毒大鼠各项细胞凋亡指标比经气管明显升高,推测可能与SM腹膜腔的快速吸收有关。

     

Hypothetical protein Cpn0308 is localized in the Chlamydia pneumoniae inclusion membrane

The hypothetical protein encoded by Chlamydia pneumoniae open reading frame cpn0308 was detected in inclusion membranes of C. pneumoniae-infected cells using antibodies raised with Cpn0308 fusion proteins. The anti-Cpn0308 antibodies did not cross-react with IncA, a known C. pneumoniae inclusion membrane protein, although the anti-Cpn0308 antibody staining overlapped with the anti-IncA antibody labeling. The labeling of the inclusion membrane by the anti-Cpn0308 antibody was specifically blocked by the Cpn0308 but not IncA fusion proteins. The Cpn0308 antigen was detectable 24 h after infection and remained in the inclusion membrane throughout the infection course.     

Nogo-A is involved in secondary axonal degeneration of thalamus in hypertensive rats with focal cortical infarction

We investigate whether Nogo-A is involved in the secondary axonal degeneration in the thalamus after distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in stroke-prone renovascular hypertensive rats (RHRSP). The expression of Nogo-A in ipsilateral ventroposterior nucleus (VPN) of the thalamus in RHRSP was observed at 1, 2 and 4 weeks after distal MCAO. In addition, intracerebroventricular infusion of NEP1-40, a Nogo-66 receptor (NgR) antagonist peptide, was administered starting 24 h after MCAO and continued for 1, 2 and 4 weeks, respectively. Axonal damage and regeneration were evaluated by analysis of the immunoreactivity (IR) of amyloid betaA4 precursor protein (APP), growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43) and microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP-2) in ipsilateral VPN of the thalamus at 1, 2 and 4 weeks after distal MCAO. Following ischemia, the expression of Nogo-A in oligodendrocytes increased persistently and its localization became redistributed around damaged axons and dendrites. Administration of NEP1-40 downregulated the expression of Nogo-A, reduced axonal injury and enhanced axonal regeneration. Our data suggest that Nogo-A is involved in secondary axonal degeneration and that inhibition of Nogo-A can reduce neuronal damage in the thalamus after distal MCAO.     

Insulin degrading enzyme activity selectively decreases in the hippocampal formation of cases at high risk to develop Alzheimer's disease

In this study we report that the membrane-bound, but not cytosolic insulin degrading enzyme (IDE) protein concentration and IDE activity are significantly decreased in the hippocampal formation of cases affected by mild cognitive impairment (MCI) which are at high risk to develop Alzheimer's disease (AD), relative to normal neurological controls. Membrane-bound IDE protein concentrations and activity in the hippocampal formation continued to decrease during the conversion from MCI to mild-severe AD. This selective decrease in hippocampal membrane-bound, but not cytosolic, IDE concentration and activity was tissue specific since no changes in either membrane-bound or cytosolic IDE were found in the occipital cortex of the same cases examined. Most interestingly, the decreased hippocampal membrane-bound IDE protein activity negatively correlated with brain beta-amyloid (Abeta)X-42 content in MCI and in AD brain. The study tentatively suggests that interventions aimed at promoting membrane-bound IDE activities in the brain of MCI cases may help to prevent the onset and possibly the progression into AD through mechanisms involving the clearance of monomeric Abeta from the brain.     

An inv(16) in Ph-negative cells of a chronic myelogenous leukemia patient after imatinib treatment

Secondary chromosomal changes are known to develop in Philadelphia chromosome-negative (Ph-) cells of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients after treatment with imatinib mesylate, an ABL kinase inhibitor. We report here a novel case of a pericentric inversion of chromosome 16 as the sole cytogenetic abnormality in Ph- cells after treatment of Ph+ CML with imatinib.     

Efficient gene silencing induction in tomato by a viral satellite DNA vector

Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is currently routinely analysed using Tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-based vector. We recently reported a new vector system modified from DNA beta (DNAm beta) of Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus (TYLCCNV) for VIGS analysis in Solanaceous species including tomato. Here, we describe DNAm beta-induced gene silencing in tomato. We found that DNAm beta-induced gene silencing was initiated from vascular tissues, and later scattered to other tissues. Once initiated in seedlings, the silencing phenotype lasted for the entire life span of the plants, was expressed in a variety of tissues and organs including leaf, shoot, stem, flower and fruit, and could be achieved at any growth stage. It was insensitive to temperature as high as 32 degrees C and no symptoms were observed in silenced plants. The DNAm beta vector worked efficiently in at least seven tomato cultivars, indicating that this system has great potential as a versatile VIGS system for routine functional analysis of genes in tomato.     

Murine dendritic cells modified with CXCL10 gene and tumour cell lysate mediate potent antitumour immune responses in mice

The aim of our present study was to estimate the effect of a therapeutic vaccine against tumour based on dendritic cells (DC) vaccine modified with tumour cell lysate and chemokine CXCL10 gene. In this study, mouse bone marrow DC were pulsed with tumour cell (RM-1) lysate and then transfected with a plasmid vector expressing CXCL10 cDNA by DOTAP liposome. The protective and therapeutic effects of the DC vaccine in RM-1 tumour model were assessed (divided into CXCL10/Lysate-DC, CXCL10/DC, pcDNA/Lysate-DC, Lysate-DC, pcDNA-DC, DC and PBS). The DC transfected with CXCL10 gene were capable of synthesizing and secreting CXCL10 chemokine. The highest CTL activity against RM-1 cells was induced in mice immunized with DC vaccine that was modified with RM-1 lysate and CXCL10 gene (CXCL10/Lysate-DC) when compared with its counterpart in mice. The CXCL10/Lysate-DC immunized mice also exhibited resistance to tumour challenge most effectively. In the RM-1 tumour model, immunization of CXCL10/Lysate-DC inhibited the tumour growth most significantly when compared with other groups and the survival time of the mice treated with CXCL10/Lysate-DC was greatly extended. These findings provide a potential strategy to improve the efficacy of DC-based tumour vaccine.