Divergent regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor and of erythropoietin gene expression in vivo

There is accumulating evidence from in vitro experiments that the gene expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is, like that of the erythropoietin (EPO) gene, regulated by the oxygen tension and by divalent cations such as cobalt. Since the information about the regulation of VEGF gene expression in vivo is rather scarce, this study aimed to examine the influence of hypoxia and of cobalt on VEGF gene expression in different rat organs and to compare it with that on EPO gene expression. To this end male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to carbon monoxide (0.1% CO), hypoxia (8% O₂ ) or to cobalt chloride (12 and 60 mg/kg s.c.) for 6 h. mRNA levels for VEGF- 188, -164, and -120 amino acid isoforms in lungs, hearts, kidneys and livers were semiquantitated by RNase protection. For these organs we found a rank order of VEGF mRNA abundance of lung >> heart > kidney = liver. EPO mRNA levels were semiquantitated in kidneys and livers. Hypoxia, CO and cobalt increased EPO mRNA levels 60-fold, 140-fold and 5-fold, respectively, in the kidneys, and 11-fold, 11-fold and 3-fold, respectively, in the livers. None of these manoeuvres caused significant changes of VEGF mRNA in lung, heart or kidneys. Only in the livers did hypoxia lead to a significant (50%) increase of VEGF mRNA. These findings suggest that, in contrast to the in vitro situation, the expression of the VEGF gene in normal rat tissues is rather insensitive to hypoxia. In consequence, the in vivo regulation of the VEGF and the EPO genes appear to differ substantially, suggesting that the regulation of the VEGF and EPO genes may not follow the same essential mechanisms in vivo. Received: 31 July 1995/Received after revision: 20 November 1995/Accepted: 27 November 1995     

Removal of hydrosalpinges increases endometrial leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) expression at the time of the implantation window

BACKGROUND: The presence of hydrosalpinges is associated with lower implantation and pregnancy rates in women undergoing IVF-embryo transfer, while salpingectomy improves these parameters. Although the mechanism by which hydrosalpinges affects fertility is not entirely understood, an adverse effect on endometrial receptivity has been postulated. In this study, we hypothesized that the adverse effects of hydrosalpinges on fertility may be in part mediated by inappropriate endometrial expression of leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), a cytokine implicated in implantation. METHODS: In order to test our hypothesis, we prospectively examined the expression of LIF during the window of implantation in the endometrium of infertile women (n = 10) with hydrosalpinges prior to and following salpingectomy and of fertile controls (n = 10) by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: LIF expression was significantly lower in infertile women with hydrosalpinges compared with fertile controls (P < 0.05). Salpingectomy resulted in an increase in LIF expression in eight out of 10 women with hydrosalpinges. LIF levels were increased by 231 +/-49% (mean +/- SEM) following salpingectomy. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the Western blot findings. The increased LIF immunoreactivity was predominantly localized to luminal and glandular epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that observed benefit from salpingectomy in infertile women with hydrosalpinges may be in part mediated by the up-regulation of endometrial LIF expression.     

白细胞介素及肿瘤坏死因子基因超家族在先兆子痫胎盘中的表达

为探讨白细胞介素和肿瘤坏死因子 (受体 )超家族基因表达与先兆子痫病理发生的关系 ,以包含 2 4 3种人类细胞因子相关基因cDNA片段的基因芯片 ,检测严格配对的先兆子痫和正常胎盘组织中基因表达谱的差异。结果显示受检的白细胞介素和 (或 )白细胞介素受体基因共 2 2种 ,绝大多数基因在先兆子痫胎盘中的表达增强 ,而IL 2受体 (IL 2Rα )基因 (Gen Bank :X0 10 5 7)在先兆子痫胎盘中的表达低于正常胎盘。肿瘤坏死因子 (GenBank :X0 2 910 )及其配体 (GenBank :U0 3398、U375 18、AF0 5 3712、AF0 5 5 872 )、受体 (GenBank :X6 0 5 92、X6 3717、M835 5 4、AF0 16 2 6 6、AF0 16 2 6 7、U812 32 )等 10余种肿瘤坏死因子 (受体 )超家族基因在先兆子痫胎盘中的表达也较高。说明 ,白细胞介素及肿瘤坏死因子 (受体 )基因超家族的高表达可能与先兆子痫的病理发生关系密切     

兔肾缺血再灌注损伤时TNF-α、IL-6和bFGF的变化及当归的影响

目的:探讨当归对兔肾缺血再灌注损伤的防治作用及其机制。方法:健康成年日本大耳白兔25只, 随机均分为假手术对照(control)组、单纯缺血再灌注(IR)组和缺血再灌注+当归(RAS+IR)组。在肾缺血1h再灌注48h后取肾组织作电镜检查, 并测血清肌酐(Cr)、肾组织肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)和碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)含量。结果:IR组肾组织变性改变显著, RAS+IR组病变轻微;IR组Cr、TNF-α和IL-6含量显著高于control组(P<0.05, P<0.05和P<0.01);RAS+IR组上述指标显著低于IR组。IR组bFGF含量显著低于control组(P<0.01), RAS+IR组bFGF含量显著高于IR组(P<0.01)和control组(P<0.05).结论:当归具有防治肾IR损伤的作用, 其机制可能与其对TNF-α、IL-6和bFGF等细胞因子的调控有关。     

Seven novel and four recurrent point mutations in the factor VIII (F8C) gene

Haemophilia A is a X‐linked bleeding disorder, caused by deficiency in the activity of coagulation factor VIII due to mutations in the corresponding gene. The most common defect in patients is an inversion of the factor VIII gene that accounts for nearly 45% of individuals with severe hemophilia A. Point mutations and small deletions/insertions are responsible for the majority of cases with moderate to mild clinical course and for half of the severe hemophilia A occurrences. The majority of these mutations are “private”, because of the high mutation rate for this particular gene. We report on eleven pathological changes in the factor VIII sequence detected in male patients with haemophilia A or in female obligate carriers. Seven of these mutations are novel [E204N, E265X, M320T, F436C, S535C, N2129M and R2307P] and four have been previously identified [V162M, R527W, R1966X, and R2159C]. Genotype‐phenotype correlations and computer prediction analysis on the effect of missense mutations on the secondary structure of the factor VIII protein are performed and the relationships evaluated. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

胰腺癌微淋巴管的分布及其临床意义

目的探讨胰腺癌组织周边和内部VEGF-C、VEGF-D蛋白表达与微淋巴管密度(microlymphtic vesseles density,MLVD)及淋巴结转移之间的相关关系,阐明癌周淋巴管增生的机制及意义。方法免疫组化检测30例胰腺癌组织周边和内部VEGF-C、VEGF-D、VEGFR-3(MLVD)蛋白的表达。结果肿瘤周边部位VEGF-C、VEGF-D蛋白阳性率分别为73.3%(22/30)、56.7%(17/30),显著高于肿瘤中心部位;在VEGF-C蛋白阳性组,MLVD显著高于阴性组(P<0.01),淋巴结转移发生率增高(P=0.0318);VEGF-D蛋白阳性组MLVD高于阴性组(P<0.01),淋巴结转移发生率增加(P=0.0179)。结论胰腺癌癌周VEGF-C、VEGF-D蛋白表达、MLVD显著高于肿瘤中心部位;癌周VEGF-C、VEGF-D蛋白表达、MLVD与淋巴结转移发生率呈正相关;提示VEGF-C和VEGF-D诱导胰腺癌癌周淋巴管生成,促进肿瘤细胞淋巴道转移。     

Numerous eosinophilic globules (skeinoid fibers) in a duodenal stromal tumor: An exceptional case showing smooth muscle differentiation

A unique case of duodenal stromal tumor In a 51-year-old man is reported. The tumor histologically showed spindle cell proliferation and numerous eosinophilic globules. Most globules were composed of tangled 45 nm thick fibrils, which were ultrastructurally Identical to 'skelnoid fibers'. The presence of glycogen granules in the tumor cells and the Immunoreactivity for α-smooth muscle actin suggested smooth muscle differentiation. Focal ultrastructural findings also supported the smooth muscle nature of this tumor. There were no immunohistochemical and ultra-structural features indicating neural differentiation. In previous studies, the presence of such 'skeinoid fibers' was suggested to be a histological marker for neural differentiation in gastrointestinal stromal tumor. However, the findings In the present case suggest that numerous 'skeinoid fibers' can be Identified in duodenal stromal tumor with smooth muscle differentiation, although this condition may be rare.     

化学交联的抗TNF和抗CALLA双功能抗体的制备及其导向功能研究

本文探索了用抗 CALLA 和抗 TNF 的双功能抗体导向 TNF 杀伤 CALLA 阳性白血病细胞的可行性.用化学交联剂 SPDP 制备了抗 TNF 和抗 CALLA 抗体的交联物,经鉴定为双功能抗体;与 TNF 联合使用,在 CALLA 阳性白血病细胞系 nalm—6上进行体外杀伤实验。MTT 比色法测定杀伤效果。我们发现经双功能抗体导向后,nalm—6细胞对 TNF 的敏感性明显增加。     

多囊卵巢综合征患者的生长分化因子9基因的突变分析

目的通过对多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）妇女的生长分化因子9（GDF-9）基因的突变分析，探索GDF-9基因与PCOS的发病机制的关系。方法对120例PCOS患者釉80例正常对照的GDF-9基因进行聚合酶链反应（PCR）特异扩增，应用单链构象多态性（SSCP）分析和DNA测序方法检测基因突变。结果PCOS患者的GDF-9的所有外显予均未发现错义突变。结论GDF-9因子的DNA变异可能与PCOS的发病没有相关关系。研究PCOS患者的GDF-9的mRNA与蛋白表达水平与其发病的关系可能是今后的研究方向。