CXCL10 haplotypes and multiple sclerosis: association and correlation with clinical course

CXCL10 (interferon- γ -inducible protein-10) levels are increased in cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with symptomatic attacks of inflammatory demyelination, supporting a role for this molecule in MS pathogenesis. Two hundred and twenty-six patients with MS and 235 controls were genotyped for G  →  C and T  →  C single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in exon 4 of CXCL10 gene. Haplotypes were tested for association and correlated with clinical variables. The two SNPs studied were in complete linkage disequilibrium. None of the determined haplotypes was associated with MS. However, carriers of the GGTT haplotype (defined as wild type, according to the sequence in National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database) had a significantly lower progression index than non-carriers ( P  = 0.016). Furthermore, amongst patients who had an initial relapsing remitting (RR) course of the disease, the time between onset and second episode was significantly longer in GGTT carriers ( P  = 0.021). Considering secondary progressive (SP)–MS patients, the time between the initial RR form and the subsequent worsening to SP was longer in this group ( P  = 0.08). Therefore, the GGTT haplotype of the CXCL10 gene is not a susceptibility factor for the development of MS, but is probably to influence the course of MS, possibly contributing to slow down the progression of the disease.     

载脂蛋白A1、B基因多态性对非创伤性股骨头坏死发生的影响

目的:探讨载脂蛋白A1、B基因多态性对非刨伤性股骨头坏死(avascular necrosis of the femoral head,ANFH)发生的影响.方法:应用聚合酶链反应对中国北方汉族143例ANFH患者和92例正常人分别扩增含Apo AI基因启动子-75 bp和第一内舍子 83 bp及Apo B基因Eco RI、XbaI和3-VNTR的DNA片段,限制性内切酶酶切扩增产物,琼脂糖凝胶电泳分离基因多态性.结果:Apo A1基因启动子-75 bp处,ANFH患者中A/A基因型频率明显高于正常组(P＜0.01),而G/A基因型频率明显低于正常组(P＜0.01).Apo AI内舍子 83 bp位点,Apo B基因Eco RI、Xba I位点和3-VNTR区域ANFH患者组和正常组基因型及等位基因频率分布无统计学差异.结论:Apo A1基因启动子区域-75bp位点A/A型可能是非创伤性股骨头坏死易感基因之一,但未能发现Apo A1第一内舍子 83 bp位点及Apo B基因Eco RI、XbaI和3-VNTR位点多态性与非创伤性股骨头坏死发生有明显的关系.     

冠心病、高脂血症和低高密度脂蛋白血症患者载脂蛋白Al基因的多态性

本实验用分析基因限制性内切酶片段长度多态性(Restriction fragment length olymorphisms,RFLPs)技术,检测到中国人载脂蛋白AI(Apolipoprotein AI。Apo AI)基因3′端存一PstI多态位点,并发现该多态位点与低高密度脂蛋白(HDL)血症及冠心病有较密切的关系。     

七种常见MBL基因单倍型标准质粒的构建

目的 构建7种常见的MBL基因单倍型标准质粒。方法以已确认MBL基因单倍型及基因型的DNA样本为模板．利用SSP-PCR技术扩增出包含MBL基因启动子区及第一外显子的单倍型片段并将其克隆人T载体；用定点突变技术分别将其第一外显子52和57位密码相应的碱基突变；采用PCR和测序进行鉴定。结果以单倍型及基因型已确认的DNA样本为模板，采用SSP-PCR和分子克隆技术获得单倍型HYPA、LXPA、LYOA、LYPA和LYPB重组质粒；以单倍型HYPA及LYOA重组质粒为模板，采用定点突变技术获得单倍型HYPD及LYOC标准质粒。结论构建成功常见的7种MBL基因单倍型标准质粒，为采用SSP-PCR、Real-time PCR等技术分析MBL基因相应的SNP及其单倍型与基因型提供了标准对照。     

红色素基因RFLP及其与情感性精神病关系的研究

以红色素基因全长ｃＤＮＡ作探针，２０例正常人，２６例双相型情感性精神病患者进行ＲＦＬＰ分析。ＳａｃＩ酶切显示：部分正常人和部分患者基因组ＤＮＡ产生的７．５ｋｂ，４．８ｋｂ，４．５ｋｂ呈多态性改变的片段。正常人具多态改变的占４５％，患者为４６．２％，按Ｘ染色体数计，正常人出现７．５ｋｂ限制性片段的频率为１４．３％，患者为３２．４％，但两者差异不显著。     

中国人群DXS102座位多态性鉴定及其应用

目的探讨中国人群中ＤＸＳ１０２座位的多态分布。方法应用ＰＣＲ扩增片段长度多态性（Ａｍｐ－ＦＬＰ）研究了无亲缘关系的２３４条Ｘ染色体。结果ＤＸＳ１０２座位等位片段有８个，核心单元ＡＣ二核苷酸重复数为１３～２１，频率分布在０．０１３～０．１５６之间，杂合度观察值和无偏估测值分别为０．８７和０．８０，多态信息含量（ＰＩＣ）０．８０，女性基因型数为２２个，男性基因型数为８个，该座位多态分布符合Ｈａｒｄｙ－Ｗｅｉｎｂｅｒｇ平衡定律。ＤＸＳ１０２座位在中国人群和欧洲人群的分布有明显的种族差异，在中国人群中发现了两个新的等位片段。应用ＤＸＳ１０２座位的短串联重复序列多态性对一接受基因治疗的血友病Ｂ家系进行分析和携带者筛查。结论ＤＸＳ１０２座位连锁分析有望成为一种有效的血友病Ｂ基因诊断的方法。     

New TAP2 polymorphisms in Africans

Abstract: Polymorphisms in genes encoding transporters associated with antigen processing (TAP) have been associated with heterogeneity of disease progression in HTV-l-infected homosexual men. In our recent AIDS-related studies of cohorts from Rwanda and Zambia, four new polymorphic sites in the TAP2 coding region were detected by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and confirmed by bi-directional nucleotide sequencing and restriction enzyme digestion. The first, a substitution of Thr (GCC) for Ala (ACC) at codon position 374 in exon 5, was found in about 13% of Rwandans and Zambians ( n =213). The remaining 3 new polymorphisms were seen in the 7th exon with changes of 458Thr-ACG to ACA, 466Gly-GGG to GGA, and 467Val-GTT to Ile-ATT, respectively. These 3 variants occurred exclusively on the same chromosome and appeared to have arisen together from the 374Thr-bearing allele. Analyses of the relationship between the 374Thr-457Ile segment and the nearby markers in DQB1 and DRB1 suggested the existence of a unique extended haplotype related to these newly identified variants.     

Development of a PCR-SSOP approach capable of defining the natural killer cell inhibitory receptor (KIR) gene sequence repertoires

A molecular typing method based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of three different target domains (immunoglobulin domains 1 and 3, and the transmembrane-cytoplasmic domain), followed by hybridisation with 26 digoxigenin-labelled sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes (SSOP) has been established for the polymorphic killer inhibitory receptor (KIR) genes. In addition to identifying the 12 KIR subfamilies, our PCR-SSOP typing approach could also distinguish the putative alleles, NKB1 and NKAT3, that comprise the KIR3DL1 subfamily. Ninety unrelated blood donors and 13 families (52 individuals), including both parents, were subjected to our KIR PCR-SSOP typing approach. All 12 KIR subfamilies, including a 2DS5 variant sequence, were present in the 90 individuals and displayed varied phenotype frequencies: 2DL1 (0.96), 2DL2 (0.31), 2DL3 (0.95), 2DS1 (0.56) 2DS2 (0.51), 2DS3 (0.27), 2DS4 (0.96), 2DS5v (0.35), 3DS1 (0.47), 3DL1 (0.96), 3DL2 (1.0) and 2DL4 (1.0). A total of 23 different KIR phenotypes were defined in this study, and 10 of these were only found on one occasion in one individual, indicating considerable diversity in the KIR phenotype profiles within the Irish population. Most individuals (93%) possessed the complement of inhibitory KIR specificities for the three well-defined HLA-B and -C ligands. An unusual probe pattern for 3DS1 was observed in 3 individuals indicating a variant 3DS1 gene sequence with changes at nucleotide positions 1185-1186, within the cytoplasmic domain. Sequencing analysis revealed a new single nucleotide polymorphism in exon 3 of 3DL1 NKB1(195, G-A) and a 22-bp deletion polymorphism in exon 5 of 2DS4 (nucleotides 777-798 deleted). A number of strong KIR associations were observed, namely 2DL1 with 2DL3, 2DS4 with 3DL1, 2DL2 with 2DS1/2DS2/2DS3, 2DS1 with 2DS3/2DS5v/3DS1, 2DS2 with 2DS3 and 2DS5v with 3DS1. Analysis of the KIR segregation observed in the 13 families confirmed these strong associations and permitted the definition of a number of partial KIR haplotypes, e.g. 2DL2-2DS1-2DS2-2DS3-3DL1. The segregation analysis concluded that at least 3 distinct gene loci encode 2DL1-4 and at least 4 gene loci encode the non-inhibitory KIR2DS1-2DS5. In the case of 3DL1-2 and 3DS1, our data suggests 3 gene loci, one for each subfamily.     

Outcrossing in the homothallic oomycete,Pythium ultimum,detected with molecular markers

The oomycete Pythium ultimum is homothallic, thus a single isolate completes the sexual stage in pure culture. It has been generally assumed that homothallic oomycetes are predominantly inbreeding. In P. ultimum, antheridia occasionally develop from hyphae not directly connected to the oogonium and appear to participate in fertilization, suggesting a possible mechanism for outcrossing. We have used molecular markers to confirm that outcrossing can occur between isolates of P. ultimum. Genetic markers based on randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) were used to distinguish isolates in a collection of P. ultimum. Two isolates displaying a high level of polymorphism were mixed and placed on media which allows the development of the sexual stage. RAPD markers were used to screen single oospore progeny to identify potential hybrids between the two parental isolates. Subsequent self-fertilization of one putative F₁ yielded a F₂ population which demonstrated segregation and independent assortment of RAPD and RFLP markers. A similar strategy was used to show that an isolate which is incapable of producing oospores in pure culture can outcross when mixed with a homothallic isolate. These results suggest that other homothallic oomycetes may be capable of outcrossing, and sexual reproduction may, therefore, play an important role in the generation of variation in homothallic oomycetes.     

Inhibitory Fc Gamma Receptors: From Gene to Disease

Multiple lines of evidence have revealed a key role for inhibitory Fc gamma receptors class IIb (FcgammaRIIb) as negative modulators of innate and adaptive immune responses. Acquired and genetic factors regulate the expression of FcgammaRIIb receptors and modify their inhibitory potential. Recent advances have highlighted the importance of FcgammaRIIb receptors in influencing the development of cancer and autoimmunity. The association of increased FcgammaRIIb expression with tumor development is believed to operate at effector cell level resulting in inhibition of antitumor cytotoxicity. In autoimmune diseases, FcgammaRIIb receptors play a major role in controlling the amplitude of antibody- and immune complex-mediated reactions. Generally, FcgammaRIIb deficiency is associated with increased susceptibility and severity to organ-specific and systemic autoimmunity. This article discusses the proposed mechanisms for FcgammaRIIb deregulation associated with malignant and autoimmune pathology in animal models and human diseases.