支气管哮喘患者白细胞介素4和白细胞介素13测定的临床意义

目的:探讨血清中白细胞介素4(IL-4)和白细胞介素13(IL-13)在支气管哮喘发病中的作用.方法:本研究对临床确诊的支气管哮喘46例,与正常对照组46例,分别抽取血清采用 ELISA 法测定其 IL-4、IL-13的含量.结果:支气管哮喘急性发作期病人和对照组正常人血清中的 IL-4水平分别为(460.84±27.11)和(132.97±24.66) ng/L,二组经 t 检验后 P＜0.001.两组 IL-13 的水平分别为(23.76±5.44)和(12.61±2.49) ng/L,二组经 t 检验后 P＜0.001.结论:哮喘病人 IL-4、IL-13 明显高于对照组,提示 IL-4、IL-13 对哮喘发病有一定的调控作用,对支气管哮喘气道非特异性炎症和局部免疫反应起重要作用.     

Global gene profiling reveals a downregulation of BMP gene expression in experimental atrophic nonunions compared to standard healing fractures.

Nonunion is a challenging problem that may occur following certain bone fractures. However, there has been little investigation of the molecular basis of nonunions. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play a significant role in osteogenesis. However, little is known about the expression patterns of BMPs in abnormal bone healing that results in nonunion formation. These facts prompted us to investigate and compare the gene expression patterns of BMPs and their antagonists in standard healing fractures and nonunions using rat experimental models. Standard closed healing fractures and experimental atrophic nonunions produced by periosteal cauterization at the fracture site were created in rat femurs. At postfracture days 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28, total RNA was extracted from the callus of standard healing fracture and fibrous tissue of nonunion (n=4 per each time point and each group). Gene expression of BMPs, BMP antagonists, and other regulatory molecules were studied by methods including Genechip microarray and real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Gene expression of BMP-2, 3, 3B, 4, 6, 7, GDF-5, 7, and BMP antagonists noggin, drm, screlostin, and BAMBI were significantly lower in nonunions compared to standard healing fractures at several time points. Downregulation in expression of osteogenic BMPs may account for the nonunions of fracture. The balance between BMPs and their endogenous antagonists is critical for optimal fracture healing.     

Regional gene therapy for full-thickness articular cartilage lesions using naked DNA with a collagen matrix.

A novel gene therapy approach for treating damaged cartilage is proposed that involves placing endotoxin-free cDNA containing the gene for bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) in type I collagen sponges and then transferring the naked plasmid DNA construct to the injury site. A full-thickness cartilaginous defect in rabbits implanted with plasmid containing a marker gene (beta-galactosidase) showed expressed protein as detected by immunostaining. At 1 week postimplantation, mesenchymal cells subjacent to the defect had incorporated the implanted naked plasmid DNA and, once transfected, served as local bioreactors, transiently producing the gene product. Plasmids containing the gene for BMP-2 implanted in collagen sponges in cartilage lesions stimulated hyalinelike articular cartilage repair at 12 weeks postimplantation, nearly equivalent in quality to that induced by collagen sponges with recombinant BMP-2 protein. Our approach circumvents the risks of inflammation and immunogenic response associated with the use of viral vectors. Naked plasmid DNA as a vehicle for transferring therapeutic genes has been shown to be effective in a therapeutic model within rabbit articular cartilage and appears to be safe and cost effective.     

Osteoclastogenesis in the nonadherent cell population of human bone marrow is inhibited by rhBMP-2 alone or together with rhVEGF.

During bone development and repair, angiogenesis, osteogenesis, and bone remodeling are closely associated processes that share some common mediators. In the present study nonadherent human bone marrow mononuclear cells under the induction of sRANKL and M-CSF, differentiated into osteoclasts with TRAP-positive staining, VNR expression, and Ca-P resorptive activity. The effects of various combinations of rhBMP-2 (0, 3, 30, and 300 ng/mL) and rhVEGF (0 and 25 ng/mL) on osteoclastogenesis potentials were examined in this experimental system. The percentages of TRAP-positive multiple nucleated cells represent osteoclast differentiation potential, and the percentages of resorptive areas in the Ca-P coated plates resemble osteoclast resorption capability. The presence of rhBMP-2 at 30 and 300 ng/mL showed inhibitory effects on osteoclast differentiation and their resorptive capability in the human osteoclast culture system. rhVEGF (25 ng/mL) enhanced the resorptive function of osteoclast whenever it was used alone or combined with 3 ng/mL rhBMP-2. However, rhVEGF-induced resorptive function was inhibited by 30 ng/mL and 300 ng/mL rhBMP-2 in a dose-dependent manner. Statistical analysis demonstrated that an interactive effect exists between rhBMP-2 and rhVEGF on human osteoclastogenesis. These findings suggested that an interactive regulation may exist between BMPs and VEGF signaling pathways during osteoclastogenesis; exact mechanisms are yet to be elucidated.     

Polyclonal and allergen-induced cytokine responses in children with elevated immunoglobulin E but no atopic disease

BACKGROUND: Reduced Th1 and elevated Th2 cytokine responses are considered to be a principal mechanism in the generation of the inflammation leading to the manifestations of atopic disease in the skin of atopic dermatitis and in the airways of asthma. If reduced Th1 and elevated Th2 responses are principal determinants of the manifestation of atopic disease it might be expected that subjects with established disease would exhibit differences in their cytokine profiles as compared with atopic patients without clinical disease. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether asymptomatic atopic children exhibit a cytokine imbalance similar to that seen in patients with established atopic disease or if they behave like non-atopic controls. Cytokine responses in a group of children with elevated IgE but no clinical manifestations of disease, atopic children with established disease and non-atopic controls were compared. METHODS: We examined allergen-induced (house dust mite, HDM, rye grass pollen and RYE) cytokine responses in parallel with polyclonal (staphylococcal enterotoxin B, SEB) cytokine responses in a group of children with elevated serum IgE levels without current or past evidence of atopic disease (median age 6.6 years) and compared these with a non-atopic control group (median age 6.5 years) and a group of children with atopic disease (median age 6.7 years). RESULTS: Symptomatic atopic children had reduced SEB-induced IFN-gamma and increased SEB-induced IL-4 and IL-5 as compared with non-atopic controls. In contrast, SEB-induced IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-5 production in asymptomatic atopics was not significantly different from the non-atopic control subjects. Allergen-induced Th1 (IFN-gamma) and Th2 (IL-5 and IL-13) cytokine production was increased in both symptomatic atopics and asymptomatic atopics when compared with non-atopic controls. CONCLUSION: The defect in polyclonally induced IFN-gamma production was associated with the clinical manifestation of atopic disease but not the atopic stateper se. This suggests that the global reduction in IFN-gamma is the key determinant of the development of overt atopic disease. In contrast, elevated allergen-induced Th2 cytokine responses in children related to the atopic state per se irrespective of the presence of clinical atopic disease.     

白细胞介素-13功能研究进展

白细胞介素－13主要由活化的Th2(CD4^ )细胞分泌，诱导单核巨噬细胞分化及延长寿命；促进MHC－Ⅱ，CD23表达；抑制炎性和趋化因子产生；诱导B细胞增殖，活化，刺激IgM,IgG的产生和重链的转换；使血管细胞粘附分子－1表达；抑制人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）复制；间接诱导巨噬细胞和NK细胞参与抗肿瘤作用。在变态反应性疾病和哮喘中引起呼吸道高反应性，嗜酸粒细胞性炎症，粘液分泌过多，基膜纤维化等，其受体是与IL－4Rα形成功能复合体而发挥作用。IL－13信号转导途径除了JAK／STAT6以外，尚有IRS－1,Fes，磷酸激酶，BCL－6／SOCS等途径。     

New players in old amyloid precursor protein-processing pathways

The amyloid precursor protein (APP) gives rise to beta-amyloid peptides, which are the main constituents of senile plaques in brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. The generation of beta-amyloid peptides requires the enzymatic activity of the beta-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1). BACE1 is primarily expressed by neurons and increased BACE1 protein concentrations and enzymatic activities have been reported in the brains of AD patients. However, there is accumulating evidence that, in addition to neurons, reactive astrocytes are capable of expressing BACE1 and, therefore, may contribute to beta-amyloid plaque formation. This suggests that conditions accompanied by chronic astrocyte activation may contribute to developing AD. Non-amyloidogenic processing of the APP can be stimulated by phorbol esters (PEs) and by intracellular diacylglycerol (DAG) generation. This led to the hypothesis that classical and novel protein kinase Cs (PKCs), which are activated by DAG/PEs, regulate APP processing. However, in addition to PKCs, there are other DAG/PE receptors present in neurons which may participate in the modulation of APP processing. Munc13-1, a presynaptic protein with an essential role in synaptic vesicle priming, represents such an alternative target of the DAG second messenger pathway. Using Munc13-1 knock-out mice and human neuroblastoma cells transfected with wild-type and mutant Munc13-1 constructs it was demonstrated that Munc13-1 acts independently of and in parallel with PKC to modulate APP metabolism. Therefore, agonists specific for the Munc13-1 C1-domain or small molecules mimicking the function of the endogenous Munc13-1 activator RIM1 may prove useful to shift APP processing towards the non-amyloidogenic pathway.     

半乳糖凝集素PPL13在人胎盘血管内皮细胞中表达的实验研究

目的：以原位杂交法检测PPL13在人胎盘组织的表达情况。方法：用DIG标记的PPL13有义RNA探针及反义RNA探针与胎盘组织切片进行原位杂交。结果：反义RNA探针杂交标本显色3h，显微镜下可见胎盘毛细血管内皮细胞中出现棕色沉淀物，滋养层细胞中未见棕色沉淀物；而有义RNA探针杂交标本显色24h仍无棕色沉淀物出现。结论：PPL13在人胎盘内皮细胞中特异性表达．提示PPL13可能与胎盘的屏障作用有关。     

人脑胶质瘤白介素13受体基因表达与肿瘤增殖活性的关系研究

目的探讨人脑胶质瘤白介素13受体（IL-13R）基因表达与肿瘤增殖活性的关系。方法对6例正常脑组织，50例人脑胶质瘤和2个脑瘤体外细胞系采用RT—PCR法和免疫组织化学法检测IL-13R。结果人脑胶质瘤组织IL-13RαmRNA总阳性表达率70％，正常脑组织中仅1例有极弱的表达；2例恶性胶质瘤体外细胞系均高表达。IL-13RαmRNA表达率和表达丰度与胶质瘤分级（前者rs=0．87，P〈0．01；后者rs=0．69，P〈0．01）、肿瘤增殖活性Ki-67LI（r=0．64，P〈0．01）呈正相关，即胶质瘤恶性程度越高，IL-13RαmRNA表达率和表达水平越高。结论IL-13Rα基因在人脑胶质瘤中表达上升，与肿瘤的分级和肿瘤增殖活性呈正相关，可作为预测某些肿瘤治疗效果及监测复发的指标之一。     

Nutritional Aspects of Breath Testing Based on Stable Isotopes

Stable isotope methodologies offer a number of possibilities for the nutritional assessment of many different processes and metabolic pathways. The application of stable isotopes has been boosted by the development of new mass spectrometers, lower costs of probes, and the risks associated with radioactive tracers. The use of ¹³C as a tracer offers all the advantages of stable isotopes and has been widely applied for measuring various types of metabolic processes. This review is focused on clinical and nutritional assessments using ¹³C breath tests.