Mapping of the hepatitis B virus attachment site by use of infection-inhibiting preS1 lipopeptides and tupaia hepatocytes

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Studies on the early steps in the life cycle of hepatitis B virus have been hampered by the lack of readily available target cells. In this study, we mapped a defined virus attachment site to primary hepatocytes that is essential for infection. METHODS: We used purified virus particles from human carrier plasma as an inoculum and primary cultures of tupaia hepatocytes as susceptible target cells and studied the inhibitory effect of amino-terminally acylated preS1-derived lipopeptides on infection interference. RESULTS: Infectivity of virus could be blocked efficiently in this system by amino-terminally acylated peptides containing amino acids 2-18 from the preS1 domain. The addition of amino acids 28-48 enhanced the inhibitory capacity, whereas amino acids 49-78 did not contribute to inhibition. Myristoylated preS1 peptides 2-48 bound strongly to tupaia hepatocytes but not to nonhepatic cells or rodent hepatocytes and thereby inhibited infection even at concentrations of 1 nmol/L completely. Particles consisting only of the small hepatitis B surface protein-the active component of current hepatitis B vaccines-did not bind at all to tupaia hepatocytes, but the addition of the preS1 domain to the particles allowed binding. CONCLUSIONS: The preS1 sequence 2-48 mediates attachment of the virus to its target cells, whereas the small surface protein seems to be involved in other steps. These findings indicate that the current subunit hepatitis B vaccines may be improved by the addition of distinct preS1 epitopes. Moreover, preS1 lipopeptides are promising candidates for specific antiviral therapy against hepatitis B infections.     

Reduced levels of transforming growth factor-beta1, interleukin-12 and increased migration inhibitory factor are associated with severe malaria

In the present study, we investigated plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-12 and transforming growth factor (TGF-beta1) in malaria patients as these two cytokines regulate the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. We compared plasma IL-12 and TGF-beta1 levels in groups of malaria patients categorized as uncomplicated, severe, cerebral and placental malaria. Both TGF-beta1 and IL-12 levels were significantly reduced in peripheral plasma of adults with severe and cerebral malaria as well as in plasma of Tanzanian children with cerebral malaria (P<0.05). Similar results were observed with both placental and peripheral plasma of pregnant women who were infected with Plasmodium falciparum. IL-18, a cytokine known to be critical for the induction of IFN-gamma along with IL-1, was produced more in uncomplicated adult patients than in aparasitimic healthy controls (P<0.05). However, IL-18 response rate declined as the symptoms of the disease became more severe suggesting that the IL-18 response may be impaired with increased malaria severity. Together, the results of the three cytokines support the notion that imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines may contribute to the development of severe malaria infection. With malaria infection during pregnancy, we demonstrated that macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) levels in infected placental plasma were significantly higher than those in the paired peripheral plasma (P<0.05). MIF, therefore, may play an important role in the local immune response to placental P. falciparum infection.     

LIF和RANTES在单病原菌性血流感染小鼠模型中的表达及意义

目的探讨4种血流感染常见病原菌分别致小鼠血流感染后白血病抑制因子(leukaemia inhibitory factor,LIF)和活化T细胞调节的、正常T细胞表达和分泌的细胞因子(regulated upon activation,normal T cell expressed and secreted factor,RANTES)的表达及变化规律,为细菌性血流感染的早期诊断提供研究基础。方法建立金黄色葡萄球菌、粪肠球菌、大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌标准菌株的CD-1(ICR)小鼠血流感染模型,用蛋白质液相芯片技术检测各实验组和PBS对照组感染后0.5 h、1 h、3 h、6 h、12 h、24 h和48 h时LIF和RANTES的浓度。结果金黄色葡萄球菌、粪肠球菌、大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌的致小鼠死亡的半数致死量(LD50)分别约为8.1×108/m L、9.6×108/m L、8.1×108/m L和1.1×109/m L。细菌入血1 h时血清中LIF的浓度明显升高,大肠埃希菌组、肺炎克雷伯菌组、金黄色葡萄球菌组和粪肠球菌组LIF的峰浓度分别为(51.6±5.0)pg/m L、(73.2±20.8)pg/m L、(7.3±0.9)pg/m L和(6.1±1.2)pg/m L,与对照组相比,差异均有统计学意义(P均0.01)。粪肠球菌组、大肠埃希菌组和肺炎克雷伯菌组细菌入血1 h时RANTES浓度明显升高,3 h时升高更明显。且大肠埃希菌组和肺炎克雷伯菌组升高的幅度较金黄色葡萄球菌和粪肠球菌组更为明显。达峰值时浓度分别为(1 929.0±25.2)pg/m L、(1 218.1±227.4)pg/m L、(55.7±10.0)pg/m L和(179.2±9.2)pg/m L,与对照组相比,差异均有统计学意义(P均0.01)。结论 LIF和RANTES的浓度在细菌入血后1 h即明显升高。感染后的2 d内,大肠埃希菌组和肺炎克雷伯菌组LIF和RANTES浓度的升高幅度明显高于金黄色葡萄球菌组和粪肠球菌组。联合检测LIF和RANTES可能在细菌性血流感染早期诊断和区分革兰阴性/革兰阳性菌感染方面有一定作用。     

高良姜素对肺癌肿瘤细胞DNA 拓扑异构酶的抑制及细胞杀伤作用

目的：探讨高良姜素对肺癌肿瘤细胞DNA拓扑异构酶(Topo I)的活性的影响及对肺癌肿瘤细胞株A549和 H46生长的抑制作用。方法：采用MTT 法研究高良姜素对肺癌肿瘤细胞株A549和H46生长的抑制作用,利用琼脂糖凝 胶电泳法测定高良姜素对Topo I活性的影响,在此基础上通过荧光光谱和分子对接研究高良姜素与Topo I的相互作用 机制,最后进一步探讨高良姜素对Topo I结构的影响。结果：高良姜素对肺癌肿瘤细胞株A549和H46的生长起抑制作 用 (半抑制率IC50分别为0.221 mmol/L和0.173 mmol/L);琼脂糖凝胶电泳显示高良姜素对Topo I的活性有较好的抑制作 用;荧光光谱分析显示高良姜素能显著猝灭Topo I的荧光,且疏水作用力是二者相互作用的主要驱动力;圆二色谱分 析表明高良姜素诱导Topo I构象的解折叠,使α-螺旋含量增加,而不利于其形成活性中心,进而导致Topo I活性的降 低;分子模拟结果表明：高良姜素能够优先结合到Topo I的活性中心附近,并与催化基团Arg364和Asn352形成氢键。 结论：高良姜素能够抑制Topo I的活性,而使肿瘤细胞DNA单链解旋的速率降低,从而在诱导肺癌肿瘤细胞株A549和 H46凋亡的过程中起重要作用。     

3-取代吲哚-2-酮类化合物的设计、合成及抗肿瘤活性研究

目的设计合成对微管蛋白和血管内皮细胞生长因子受体2(VEGFR-2)激酶具有双重抑制作用的3-取代吲哚-2-酮类化合物,考察其体外抑瘤活性。方法以取代的苯胺为起始原料,经缩合、环合、还原、取代等反应制得系列目标化合物,并考察该系列化合物对微管蛋白和肿瘤细胞的抑制活性。结果共合成了11个新的目标化合物。实验结果显示,化合物j9对微管蛋白和VEGFR-2激酶具有双重抑制活性。所有目标化合物对3种肿瘤细胞株均有中等强度的抑制活性。结论该类化合物是一类具有多靶点作用的抗肿瘤化合物。     

The value of melanoma inhibitory activity and LDH with melanoma patients in a Chinese population

Malignant melanoma is a highly malignant tumor originating from the melanocytes of the neural crest, which is prone to metastasis and has a poor prognosis. Previous research demonstrated that melanoma inhibitory activity (MIA) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) could serve as serum markers in malignant melanoma and indicate prognosis in the Caucasian race. Researchers suspected that both MIA and LDH could prompt the prognosis of malignant melanoma in the Chinese population. This study aimed to investigate the value of MIA and LDH in the prognosis of acral malignant melanoma.From January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2017, in Jiangsu Province, 44 acral malignant melanoma patients with complete data were chosen from the clinic. The LDH levels were extracted from their clinical data, and MIA levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. 8 paired advancing samples before and after metastasis were examined. 22 health donors were matched to the patient group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of MIA and LDH were drawn to determine acral malignant melanoma tumorigenesis and metastasis and finally got the cut-off value. Cumulative survival was illustrated with the Kaplan-Meier plot, and factors were compared using the Log-rank test.Compared with age-matched healthy donors, MIA was significantly high in patients (P < .001). Moreover, serum MIA was significantly higher in III-IV stage patients than I-II stage patients (P < .001). However, there was no such association between LDH and melanoma stage and risk. Further study indicated that the MIA cut-off > 914.7pg/mL predicted disease progression with 86.4% specificity and 95.5% sensitivity. In the Kaplan-Meier analysis, MIA levels were independent risk factors for long-term mortality of acral malignant melanoma patients.It concluded that the quantification of MIA in the serum should be performed as a general standard of care in patients at risk of developing metastatic melanoma.     

Cortisol Response to Stress in Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Background:

Differences in the cortisol response have been reported between children exhibiting the inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive subtypes of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, there is no such information about adults. The aim of the present study was to determine the possible differences between the combined and inattentive subtypes in the cortisol response to stress.

Methods:

Ninety-six adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, 38 inattentive and 58 combined, without any medical or psychiatric comorbidities and 25 healthy controls were included. The Trier Social Stress Test was used to assess physiological stress responses. Clinical data and subjective stress levels, including the Perceived Stress Scale, were also recorded.

Results:

No significant differences in the cortisol response to the Trier Social Stress Test were found between patients and controls. However, albeit there were no basal differences, lower cortisol levels at 15 (P=.015), 30 (P=.015), and 45 minutes (P=.045) were observed in the combined compared with the inattentive subtype after the stress induction; these differences disappeared 60 minutes after the stress. In contrast, the subjective stress responses showed significant differences between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder patients and controls (P<.001), but no differences were seen between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder subtypes. In turn, subjective stress measures, such as the Perceived Stress Scale, positively correlated with the whole cortisol stress response (P<.027).

Conclusions:

Both the combined and inattentive attention deficit hyperactivity disorder adults exhibited a normal cortisol response to stress when challenged. Nevertheless, the inattentive patients displayed a higher level of cortisol after stress compared with the combined patients. Despite the differences in the cortisol response, adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder reported high levels of subjective stress in their every-day life.     

Internal anal sphincter

The internal anal sphincter, the smooth muscle component of the anal sphincter complex, has an ambiguous role in maintaining anal continence. Despite its significant contribution to resting anal canal pressures, even total division of the internal anal sphincter in surgery for anal fistulas may fail to compromise continence in otherwise healthy subjects. However, recently reported abnormalities of the innervation and reflex response of the internal anal sphincter in patients with fecal incontinence indicate its significance in maintaining continence. The advent of sphincter-saving surgery and restorative proctocolectomy has re-emphasized the major contribution of the internal anal sphincter to resting pressure and its significance in preventing fecal leakage. The variable effect of rectal excision on rectoanal inhibitory reflex has led to a reappraisal of the significance of this reflex in discrimination of rectal contents and its impact on anal continence. Electromyographic, manometric, and ultrasonographic evaluation of the internal anal sphincter has provided new insights into its pathophysiology. This article reviews advances in our understanding of internal anal sphincter physiology in health and disease.     

Effects of gastric inhibitory polypeptide and glucagon on portal venous and hepatic arterial flow in conscious dogs

Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) has considerable structural homology with glucagon, which is known to increase liver blood flow. We compared the effects of GIP on portal venous and hepatic arterial flow with those of glucagon in conscious dogs. Injection of GIP significantly increased portal venous flow in a dose-related manner (by 7%, 15%, and 46% at doses of 1, 100, and 500 pmol/kg, respectively). The increase in portal venous flow induced by GIP and glucagon was comparable; however, the increase in portal venous flow after GIP injection reached its peak significantly earlier than that after glucagon injection. Hepatic arterial flow decreased after GIP injection (by 17%, 21%, and 35% at doses of 1, 100, and 500 pmol/kg, respectively), whereas it was not altered by glucagon. Thus, GIP causes significant changes in both portal venous and hepatic arterial flow in conscious dogs. Although structurally related, GIP and glucagon may influence liver blood flow through different mechanisms.Supported by a grant from the Ministry of Education, Japan (No. A-02404052)