Expression of TRIM22 mRNA in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with direct-acting antiviral drugs

Hepatitis C is a global public health problem, and Pakistan is the second largest country in the globe with highest prevalence rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Until 2014, pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) has been the standard therapy for HCV, however, owing to its adverse side effects and very low sustained virologic response (SVR) rates therapeutics trend is shifted toward direct-acting antivirals. Tripartite motif containing 22 (TRIM22) is a dynamic antiviral protein that can inhibit multiple viruses in vivo. Expression of TRIM22 mRNA has been linked to outcome of PEG-IFN and ribavirin therapy, where its higher expression leads to rapid virus clearance. However, in terms of therapy with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) or double DAA, impact of TRIM22 expression is largely unknown. These new drugs show more than 90% of SVR rates and lesser side effects and have proven to be better than IFN therapy. Endogenous IFN system suppresses various pathogens through the induction of antiviral effectors termed as interferon-stimulating genes (ISGs). We have studied the expression levels of one of these antiviral effectors, TRIM22 in response to sofosbuvir (SOF) and daclatasvir (DAC) in combination with RBV, using quantitative PCR in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HCV-infected patients. We have observed sustained virus clearance in more than 90% of patients treated with DAA and double DAA and have seen the expression of TRIM22 to be higher in patients who attained SVR as compared to the untreated patients. We have also observed downregulation of TRIM22 in patients who failed to attain rapid virus clearance, and upregulation in those who achieved rapid clearance of virus. Genetic factors that determine the lower TRIM22 expression in these patients are needed to be explored that may also play a role in lower response to anti-HCV therapy. Endogenous IFN system and effects of antiviral proteins in response to DAA therapy is needed to be studied in order to better understand the host response toward these drugs to make them more effective.     

Compositional analyses reveal correlations between taxon-level gut bacterial abundance and peripheral T cell marker expression in African infants

ABSTRACT

Although exclusive breastfeeding has been linked to lower rates of postnatal HIV transmission compared to nonexclusive breastfeeding, mechanisms underlying this are unclear. Across a longitudinally sampled cohort of South African infants, we showed that exclusively breastfed (EBF) infants had altered gut bacterial communities when compared to nonexclusively breastfed (NEBF) infants, as well as reduced peripheral CD4 + T cell activation and lowered chemokine and chemokine receptor expression in the oral mucosa. We further demonstrated that the relative abundance of key taxa was correlated with peripheral CD4 + T cell activation. Here, we supplement those findings by using compositional data analyses to identify shifts in the abundance of several Bifidobacteria strains relative to select strains of Escherichia, Bacteroides, and others that are associated with the transition to NEBF. We illustrate that the abundance ratio of these taxa is tightly correlated with feeding modality and is a strong predictor of peripheral T cell activation. More broadly, we discuss our study in the context of novel developments and explore future directions for the field.     

IL-1Ra和IL-10真核表达质粒载体的构建及其表达检测

目的:构建人IL-1Ra和人IL-10真核表达质粒载体并检测其表达。方法:用双酶切方法切取PCDI-IL-1Ra和PCDI-IL-10质粒中包含人IL-1Ra和人IL-10 CDS全长序列的cD-NA片段,并分别连接到真核表达质粒pcDNA3.1上,然后用壳聚糖转染上述质粒到原代软骨细胞,RT-PCR检测其mRNA水平的表达。结果:成功将人IL-1Ra和IL-10 CDS全长序列的cDNA片段克隆到真核表达载体,mRNA水平检测到目的基因的表达明显提高。结论:真核表达质粒可以用于外源基因的原代软骨细胞导入和表达,为进一步的基因治疗研究提供依据。     

表达谱基因芯片筛选体外循环前后心肌细胞因子的变化

Objestive Systemic inflarmmation may be triggered by injury, hypothermia, ischemia-reperfusion and the contact of the blood with foreign body during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). To determine the application values of gene chip technique in the clinical practice and the study of cardiovascular stagery, as well as to provide clues to the study of inflammatory responess during CPB, microarry for gene expression profiles was used to identify the differences in the gene expression of myocardium between pre-and post- CPB. Methods Six adult patients who underwent CPB from March to May in 2003 were involved. Samples of right atrium were col- lected before and at immediate end of CPB. BD AtlasTM cDNA Expression Arrays was used to identify the differences in the gene ex- pression of cytokines. The results were compared with that of semi-quantative RT-PCR. Resellts The mean age of 6 patients (5 males and 1 female) was (32.67± 11.72) years. The baseline heart function was gradeⅡin 3 cases and grade Ⅲ in 3 other cases. The baseline left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)was (58.17±7.91)%. The mere duration was (91.67±43.88) minutes for CPB and was (58.67±43.46) minutes for aorta blocking. The minimum nasopharynx/rectal temperture was (29.37±1.90)℃/ (32.15±1.52)℃. Gene expression profiles of cytokines in the myocardium pre- and post-CPB were analysed successfully. The ex- pression of IL-6, IFN-γ,Wnt5a, TNFRSF1B, a member of tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, PIGF and MFNG in the myo- cardium were unpregulated after CPB. Conclusion Microarray technique is applicable in the study of cytokines changes dying CPB. cDNA microarray identified pleliminarily the differences in the gene expression between pre- and post-CPB. These genes may be in- valved in inflammation and other psthophysiological responses incuced by CPB. The myocardiym is probably one of the major sources of cytokines during CPB. Further study may be helpful in understanding the llngthe development of inflammation during CPB, and eventually, reducing the post-operative complications.     

Functional mechanism underlying cyclooxygenase-2 expression in rat small intestine following administration of indomethacin: Relation to intestinal hypermotility

Background and Aim:  We recently reported that cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is upregulated in the rat small intestine after administration of indomethacin, and this may be the key to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced intestinal damage. The present study investigated the mechanism for COX-2 expression induced in the rat small intestine by indomethacin, in relation with ulcerogenic processes.
Methods:  Animals were given indomethacin or SC-560 p.o., and the intestinal mucosa was examined 24 h later.
Results:  Indomethacin caused hemorrhagic lesions in the small intestine, accompanied with an increase in intestinal motility, bacterial invasion and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity, as well as the expression of COX-2 mRNA in the mucosa. Although SC-560 did not cause any damage, this agent caused intestinal hypermotility, the bacterial invasion and the upregulation of COX-2 expression. The mucosal PGE₂ content was decreased by SC-560 at 3 h but recovered 12 h later, and this recovery of PGE₂ was attenuated by both atropine and ampicillin, in addition to rofecoxib. The intestinal hypermotility response to indomethacin was prevented by both 16,16-dimethyl PGE₂ and atropine, but not ampicillin. Yet all these agents inhibited not only the bacterial invasion but also the expression of COX-2 and iNOS activity in the intestinal mucosa following indomethacin treatment, resulting in the prevention of intestinal lesions.
Conclusion:  These results suggest that COX-2 expression in the intestinal mucosa following the administration of indomethacin is associated with intestinal hypermotility and bacterial invasion. The intestinal hypermotility caused by COX-1 inhibition may be a key to COX-2 expression after administration of NSAIDs and their intestinal ulcerogenic properties.     

中国汉坦病毒H82O5株G2糖蛋白基因的克隆及在真核细胞中的瞬时表达

从感染病毒乳鼠脑组织提取总RNA，采用RT－PCR和分子克隆技术将扩增到的G2糖蛋白基因插入含CMV启动子的pcDNA3.1/His质粒载体中，通过脂质体介导转染COS－7细胞，用SDS－PAGE、Western-blot及IFIA方法分别测定表达产物的相对分子量及特异性。结果证明获得正向插入的G2－pcDNA3.1/His重组表达质粒，表达产物的相对分子量为56ku，与理论预期大小一致，并且可与汉坦病毒H8205株的腹水抗体起特异反应。表明构建的G2－pcDNA3.1/His重组质粒所表达的蛋白为中国汉坦病毒株特有，能在哺乳动物细胞中表达并具有抗原性，重组质粒可应用于汉坦病毒的DNA疫苗研究。     

Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer在基因差异表达研究中的应用

目的观察Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer 芯片分析系统(以下简称Bioanalyzer)在基因差异表达研究中的应用。方法应用限制性显示技术分别从正常和热休克处理后的酿酒酵母细胞中分离出cDNA片段,然后再用Bioanalyzer和传统的琼脂糖凝胶电泳技术对RD-PCR产物进行检测分析。结果Bioanalyzer能更快速、敏感地分离和显示差异表达的基因片段,并且通过对差异片段进行定量比较,发现了数个表达有明显差异的基因片段。结论Bioanalyzer在基因差异表达研究中具有重要的应用价值。