原发性肝细胞癌中5种细胞周期蛋白的表达及其临床意义

目的探讨原发性肝细胞癌中5种细胞周期蛋白(cyclin)的表达及其与肝癌细胞的增殖状态、侵袭转移和乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染的相关性。方法应用Instrumedics公司生产的组织芯片制作仪,将273例原发性肝癌组织、144例癌旁肝组织和10例尸检非肝病死亡肝组织制成组织芯片,取样针直径2．0am,采用免疫组织化学方法分别检测了cyclin A、cyclin B、cyclin D1、cyclin D3及cyclin E在肝癌、癌旁肝及尸检肝组织的表达率,并分析了肝癌、癌旁肝组织中HBV感染与这5种cyclin表达间的相关性。结果共获得3个肝癌组织芯片蜡块,分别含136、143和148个位点。在273例肝癌组织标本中5种cyclin的阳性表达率分别为cyclin A 52．7％、cyclin B 45．4％、cyclin D1 35．9％、cyclin D3 44．3％和cyclin E 23．1％;在144例癌旁肝组织中分别为8．3％、5．6％、4．9％、6．3％和1．4％;10例尸检肝组织除1例cyclin D1阳性外,其余均为阴性。5种cyclin在肝癌组织中的阳性表达率均显著高于癌旁肝组织(P＜0．01);组织学分级为Ⅱ、Ⅲ级的肝癌组织5种cyclin的表达高于Ⅰ级(P＜0．05);除cyclinA外,伴有门静脉癌栓组的阳性率高于无癌栓组(P＜0．01);HBV感染与cyclin的表达无明显相关性(P＞0．05)。结论各个cyclin在肝癌细胞中呈不同程度的高表达,使癌细胞周期缩短,处于细胞增殖活跃状态,并有利于肝癌细胞的侵袭转移;未发现与HBV感染有关。     

塞姆利基森林病毒翻译增强序列对HIV Gag DNA疫苗抗原表达和免疫原性的调节

目的 研究塞姆利基森林病毒（Semliki forest virus，SFV）衣壳蛋白5’翻译增强区对基于该病毒复制子的HIV Gag DNA疫苗抗原表达水平和免疫原性的影响：方法将SFV衣壳蛋白（capsid，C蛋白）基因的5’端102bp翻译增强区插入到SFT复制子DNA疫苗载体pCMV-Rep的SFV亚基因启动子下游，得到DNA疫苗载体pCMV-RepC。将删除ATG的HIV-1 gag基因插入pCMV-RepC，使gag编码区与翻详增强区融合，得到DNA疫苗质粒pCMV-RepC-gag。同时，构建携带未融合翻译增强序列的DNA疫苗质粒pCMV-Rep-gag。Western blot检测翻译增强序列对Gag表达水平的影响。用上述两种DNA疫苗分别免疫BALB／c雌性小鼠，ELISA检测Gag特片的抗体反应，ELISPOT和细胞内因子染色技术检测细胞免疫应答。结果衣壳蛋白5’翻译增强区增强了Gag表达水平，对体液免疫应答没有显著影响，但显著增强了特异性细胞免疫应答水平。结论SFVC蛋白翻译增强区能显著提高SFV复制子DNA疫苗的抗原表达和抗原特异性细胞免疫反心。     

Primary and recurrent cytomegalovirus infections have different effects on human herpesvirus-6 antibodies in immunosuppressed organ graft recipients: absence of virus cross-reactivity and evidence for virus interaction.

The relationship between serum antibodies to human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was studied in immunosuppressed adult organ graft recipients all of whom had IgG to both HHV-6 and Epstein-Barr virus capsid antigen (EBVCA) before operation and who had received an organ or organs from HHV-6 seropositive donors. In primary CMV infection the titre of IgG to HHV-6 rose substantially (between 32- and 512-fold) in eight out of eight patients whereas IgG to EBVCA only rose 32-fold in two patients. Moreover, the HHV-6 responses coincided closely with the CMV seroconversion. Serum absorption studies gave no evidence for antibody cross-reaction between CMV and HHV-6 because the CMV antibody titre could be reduced specifically without affecting HHV-6 antibody titres and vice versa. In recurrent CMV infection, HHV-6 antibody levels rose (32-fold) in three out of eight patients but these changes did not coincide with the CMV antibody response. Similarly, in the complete absence of CMV infection, five out of eight patients showed antibody rises to HHV-6 (between four- and 16-fold). IgG titres to EBVCA were stable in both these groups of patients. It is concluded that there is serological evidence (rising titre greater than or equal to four-fold) for genuine HHV-6 reactivation or, alternatively, for reinfection in 16 out of the 24 patients. This phenomenon was most frequent in primary CMV infection where the largest HHV-6 antibody responses were seen probably because of an, as yet, undetermined interaction between the two viruses.     

Analysis of the Equalization of Inverted Repeats and Neurovirulence Using a Pseudorabies Virus Mutant Strain Altered at the Ul/Ir Junction

A recombinant pseudorabies (Aujeszky’s disease) virus (PrV) designated as vE16lac was constructed by deleting a 3-kbp DNA segment spanning the junction of long and short components of the viral genome, and by replacing the deleted segment with a lacZ-expression cassette. The aim of constructing this mutant was (a) to determine whether the terminal repeat (Tr) can serve as a template for the regeneration of the internal repeat (Ir), and (b) whether this deletion causes a reduction in the neuroinvasiveness of the virus. To analyze the mechanism of equalization, revertant viruses were selected and structurally characterized from vE16lac infection of PK-15 cells, mice and pigs. Because all revertants acquired Ir sequences identical to that of the wild-type virus, the equalization process occurred using the Tr as a template to reconstitute the Ir. We also found that the recombinant virus vE16lac was virulent in both pigs and mice. The data are discussed in view of studies performed with similar PrV mutants by other authors (Rall et al., 1992, Dean and Cheung, 1995 and Dean et al., 1996). This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Detection of viral-specific nucleic acid and intracellular virions in ventral horn neurons of lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus infected C58 mice

C58 mice which have been immunosuppressed by treatment with cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg) one day prior to infection with the C strain of lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV-C) develop poliomyelitis. Using in situ hybridisation, we found that some ventral horn neurons in these mice contain cytoplasmic viral-specific nucleic acid. Viral-specific nucleic acid was also found within a few small cells located near inflammatory foci. In addition, mature virus particles were observed by electron microscopy in some ventral horn neurons, indicating that these cells are productively infected in C58 mice. Neither viral nucleic acid nor virions were found in the ventral horn neurons of poliomyelitis-resistant mouse strains or C58 mice that were not immunosuppressed prior to infection. Ventral horn neurons which contained viral nucleic acid or virions within cytoplasmic vesicles generally were normal in appearance and were not located within poliomyelitis inflammatory foci. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that infected neurons first replicate virus and subsequently are attacked and cleared by inflammatory cells.     

IgM antibodies in sera from patients with chronic active hepatitis reacting with the measles virus matrix protein and nucleoprotein

The antigenic specificity of measles virus IgM antibodies in sera from patients with chronic active hepatitis not caused by hepatitis B virus has been examined. An immunosorbent column containing antihuman IgM covalently bound to Sepharose was used to pick up IgM from the sera. Radiolabelled measles virus antigens were then allowed to react with the IgM antibodies. The immune complexes were eluted and analysed by sodium dodecyl sulfate [SDS]-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Four sera from patients with hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg]-negative chronic active hepatitis with high measles virus haemagglutination inhibition [HI] and complement fixation [CF] antibody titres and positive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] for measles-virus-specific IgM were examined. The results were compared with those obtained using sera from patients with an acute measles virus infection and from healthy controls. In both patient groups, IgM antibodies with specificity against the matrix protein represented the major portion of the measles virus IgM. IgM antibodies against the measles virus nucleoprotein and probably against host-cell-derived actin were also present. The patient sera contained only traces of IgM antibodies with specificity against the measles virus haemagglutinin or fusion protein. No specific IgM antibodies were found in sera from healthy controls.     

Absence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma confirmed by lack of EBV-coded nuclear RNA and latent membrane protein-1

AIMS: Studies are disclosing that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is involved in the aetiology of various neoplasms including undifferentiated carcinomas of the aerodigestive tract. The aetiology of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), a malignant neoplasm arising from intrahepatic biliary epithelia, has yet to be fully evaluated. To date, two cases of EBV-related ICC have been reported, and they presented foci of lymphoepitheliomatous undifferentiated carcinoma components. METHODS AND RESULTS: To determine whether EBV is commonly involved in the developments of ICC, we performed in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry for EBV in 215 cases of ICC in Japan, using a probe against EBV-coded nuclear RNA (EBER) and a specific antibody against latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1), respectively. We did not detect EBV-infected carcinoma cells in any of the ICC cases examined. No lymphoepitheliomatous undifferentiated carcinoma components were found either. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that EBV infection is unlikely to be involved in the pathogenesis of ICC.     

The haplotype block, NFKBIL1-ATP6V1G2-BAT1-MICB-MICA, within the class III-class I boundary region of the human major histocompatibility complex may control susceptibility to hepatitis C virus-associated dilated cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a heart muscle disease with impaired stretch response that can result in severe heart failure and sudden death. A small proportion of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients may be predisposed to develop dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The molecular mechanisms involved in the predisposition remain unknown due in part to the lack of information on their genetic background. Because the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region has a pivotal role in controlling the susceptibility to HCV-induced liver disease, we hypothesized that particular HLA alleles and/or non-HLA gene alleles within the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genomic region might control the predisposition to HCV-associated DCM (HCV-DCM) and/or HCV-associated HCM (HCV-HCM). Here, we present mapping results of the MHC-related susceptibility gene locus for HCV-associated cardiomyopathy by analyzing microsatellite and single nucleotide polymorphism markers. To delineate the susceptibility locus, we genotyped 44 polymorphic markers scattered across the entire MHC region in a total of 59 patients (21 HCV-DCM and 38 HCV-HCM) and 120 controls. We mapped HCV-DCM susceptibility to a non-HLA gene locus spanning from NFKBIL1 to MICA gene loci within the MHC class III-class I boundary region. Our results showed that HCV-DCM was more strongly associated with alleles of the non-HLA genes rather than the HLA genes themselves. In addition, no significant association was found between the MHC markers and HCV-HCM. This marked difference in the MHC-related disease susceptibility for HCV- associated cardiomyopathy strongly suggests that the development of HCV- DCM and HCV-HCM is under the control of different pathogenic mechanisms.     

Risk factors in HIV-1-infected patients developing repetitive bacterial infections: toxicological,clinical, specific antibody class responses,opsonophagocytosis and Fc(gamma) RIIa polymorphism characteristics

The aim of the study was to determine possible factors related to the risk of developing recurrent bacterial respiratory tract infections in HIV-1-infected patients, regardless of the degree of immune cellular impairment. Thirty-three HIV-1 seropositive patients with previous repetitive bacterial respiratory tract infections (case group), 33 HIV-1 seropositive controls (matched by CD4-cell counts) without these antecedents and 27 healthy controls were studied before and after administration of pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccines. Clinical or toxicological variables, cutaneous tests, complement factors, beta2-microglobulin, serum IgM, IgA, IgG and subclasses, specific antibodies (IgG, IgG2, IgA) against pneumococcal vaccine and polyribosylribitol phosphate (PRP), their avidity, opsonophagocytosis and IgG(2)m and Fc(gamma)RIIa allotypes were determined. A history of drug abuse (P = 0.001), less likelihood of receiving high activity antiretroviral treatment high activity antiretroviral treatment (HAART) (P = 0.01), higher levels of HIV-1 viral load (P < 0.05), serum IgG (P < 0.01) and beta2-microglobulin (P < 0.01) were observed in the case group. Also, a lower increase in specific antibodies to pneumococcal vaccine and PRP was demonstrated in the cases in comparison with the two control groups. No differences were observed in the avidity of antibodies, opsonophagocytic capacity or IgG(2)m and Fc(gamma)RIIa allotypes between the three groups. These data indicate that vaccination strategies against encapsulated bacteria can be unsuccessful in the HIV-1-infected patients presenting repetitive bacterial respiratory tract infections if behavioural aspects or measures to improve adherence to HAART therapies are not considered.