Genetic polymorphisms in the Toll-like receptor signalling pathway in Helicobacter pylori infection and related gastric cancer

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) is a progressive process initiated by Helicobacter pylori-induced inflammation. Initial recognition of H. pylori involves Toll-like receptors (TLRs), central molecules in the host inflammatory response. Here, we investigated the association between novel polymorphisms in genes involved in the TLR signalling pathway, including TLR2, TLR4, LBP, MD-2, CD14 and TIRAP, and risk of H. pylori infection and related GC.

Methods

A case-control study comprising 310 ethnic Chinese individuals (87 non-cardia GC cases and 223 controls with functional dyspepsia) was conducted. Twenty-five polymorphisms were detected by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, PCR, PCR–RFLP and real-time PCR.

Results

Seven polymorphisms showed significant associations with GC (TLR4 rs11536889, TLR4 rs10759931, TLR4 rs1927911, TLR4 rs10116253, TLR4 rs10759932, TLR4 rs2149356 and CD14 −260 C/T). In multivariate analyses, TLR4 rs11536889 remained a risk factor for GC (OR: 3.58, 95% CI: 1.20–10.65). TLR4 rs10759932 decreased the risk of H. pylori infection (OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.41–0.86). Statistical analyses assessing the joint effect of H. pylori infection and the selected polymorphisms revealed strong associations with GC (TLR2, TLR4, MD-2, LBP and TIRAP polymorphisms).

Conclusions

Novel polymorphisms in TLR2, TLR4, MD-2, LBP, CD14 and TIRAP, genes encoding important molecules of the TLR signalling pathway, showed clear associations with H. pylori-related GC in Chinese.     

Should IFN-γ, IL-17 and IL-2 be considered predictive biomarkers of acute rejection in liver and kidney transplant? Results of a multicentric study

Acute rejection (AR) remains a major challenge in organ transplantation, and there is a need for predictive biomarkers. In the present multicenter study, we prospectively examined a series of biomarkers in liver and kidney recipients. Intracellular expression of IFN-γ, IL-17 and IL-2 and IL-17 soluble production were evaluated both pre-transplantation and post-transplantation (1st and 2nd week, 1st, 2nd and 3rd month). 142 transplant patients (63 liver/79 kidney) were included in the study. Twenty-eight recipients (14 liver/14 kidney) developed AR. Pre- and post-transplantation intracellular expression of %IFN-γ⁺ in CD4⁺CD69⁺ and in CD8⁺CD69⁺ and soluble IL17 identified liver and kidney transplant patients at high risk of AR. Pre-transplantation, %IL-2⁺ in CD8⁺CD69⁺ also identified kidney patients at high risk. We constructed pre- and post-transplantation risk prediction models, based on a composite panel of biomarkers, which could provide the basis for future studies and will be a useful tool for the selection and adjustment of immunosuppressive treatments.     

尿Ⅳ型胶原测定的方法学评价及分析前因素对于测定的影响

目的对一步法酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）试剂盒进行功能评价,建立参考范围并对分析前和可能影响测定的一些因素进行研究。方法采用ELISA对尿液中的Ⅳ型胶原进行测定。对试剂盒的敏感性,测量线性,精密度,特异性,回收率进行了测定和评价,并进行干扰试验和初步建立参考范围。同时评价分析前因素,包括采样、离心、保存条件和时间,以及冻融和昼夜节律对于测定的影响。结果该方法具有令人满意的敏感性（0．2ng／m1）,测量线性（0．8～50ng／m1）,精密度（CV〈7％）,特异性和回收率（82．84％～97．45％）。精液的污染对于Ⅳ型胶原的测定没有显著影响。尿内Ⅳ型胶原的量呈明显的昼夜节律,晨尿内含量最低,白天含量达到最高,睡前再次下降。Ⅳ型胶原在尿液内比较稳定,但长时间室温保存也可被各种蛋白酶的降解。冻融对于Ⅳ型胶原的影响不大,但离心可以造成测量值下降。将尿液与一定量的缓冲液（pH7．5的TRIS-HCI）混合（10：1）可以得到一个满意的回收率,避免Ⅳ型胶原被降解。结论该试剂盒具有良好的性能;Ⅳ型胶原在尿液内比较稳定,但如需长期保存,应加入缓冲液并在-80℃保存。     

丙型肝炎病毒核心抗原检测技术的应用评价

目的 探讨丙型肝炎病毒核心抗原(HCV-cAg)检测技术筛查丙型肝炎的应用价值.方法 对门诊体检人群、无偿献血人群进行HCV抗体初检、复检,筛选HCV阳性血清标本、HCV可疑血清标本检测HCV-cAg;同时对单项丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)增高的标本和血液筛查合格的标本进行HCV-cAg的检测.对HCV-cAg阳性标本进...     

Angiogenesis as a novel component of inflammatory bowel disease pathogenesis

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Angiogenesis is a critical component of neoplastic and chronic inflammatory disorders, but whether angiogenesis also occurs in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has yet to be established. We assessed mucosal vascularization, expression of endothelial alphaVbeta3 integrin, angiogenic factors, and their bioactivity in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) mucosa. METHODS: Mucosal endothelium was immunostained for CD31 and factor VIII and quantified by digital morphometry. alphaVbeta3 expression was studied in vivo by confocal microscopy and in vitro by flow cytometric analysis of human intestinal microvascular endothelial cells (HIMECs). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin (IL)-8, and bFGF levels were measured in mucosal extracts and cells and angiogenic bioactivity shown by induction of HIMEC migration and the corneal and chorioallantoic membrane angiogenesis assays. RESULTS: Microvessel density was increased in IBD mucosa. Endothelial alphaVbeta3 was strongly expressed in IBD but only sporadically in normal mucosa and was up-regulated in HIMECs by VEGF, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and bFGF. IBD mucosal extracts induced a significantly higher degree of HIMEC migration than control mucosa, and this response was mostly dependent on IL-8 and less on basic fibroblast growth factor or vascular endothelial growth factor. Compared with normal mucosa, IBD mucosal extracts induced a potent angiogenic response in both the corneal and chorioallantoic membrane assays. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide morphological, phenotypic and functional evidence of potent angiogenic activity in both CD and UC mucosa, indicating that the local microvasculature undergoes an intense process of inflammation-dependent angiogenesis. Thus, angiogenesis appears to be an integral component of IBD pathogenesis, providing the practical and conceptual framework for anti-angiogenic therapies in IBD.     

Serum IL-21 levels are elevated in atopic dermatitis patients with acute skin lesions

Background

Interleukin (IL)-21 is a member of the type I cytokine family and plays a role in the pathogenesis of T helper type 2 allergic diseases. It has been reported that IL-21 expression is upregulated in acute skin lesions in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients; however, little is known about the serum IL-21 levels of AD patients. The aim of this study was to quantify the serum IL-21 levels of AD patients and to evaluate the relationships between the serum IL-21 level and disease severity, laboratory markers, and eruption type in AD patients.

建立固相Capture-ELISA技术诊断糖尿病人HCMV活动性感染

目的建立检测HCMV抗原特异性IgM的抗体捕捉酶联免疫吸附试验（IgM antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,Capture-ELISA）,并分析糖尿病患者HCMV活动性感染状态。方法利用抗人IgM（μ链特异性）抗体包被固相载体,作为＂捕捉抗体＂吸附待检血清中的IgM,经过洗涤除去血清中IgG及其它成分,再加入特异性抗原与＂捕捉＂到的相应IgM抗体结合,然后加入酶标抗体和底物显色进行测定。同时,应用建立的酶联免疫捕获法诊断糖尿病患者HCMV近期感染状态,并与常用的间接酶联免疫吸附试验（In-ELISA）及RT-PCR进行比较。结果 Capture-ELISA的特异性及敏感性均高于间接法,且不受RF因子的影响。结论 Capture-ELISA操作简单、快速,且具有较高的特异性和灵敏度,是检测IgM抗体理想的方法之一。     

TP-ELISA一步法检测梅毒螺旋体抗体钩状现象研究

目的 通过探讨钩状效应对酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)双抗原夹心一步法检测梅毒特异性抗体结果的影响,评价双抗原夹心ELISA一步法检测梅毒螺旋体特异性抗体的应用价值.方法 采用稀释法,ELISA双抗原夹心二步法和振荡法分别检测怀疑存在钩状效应的血清标本8例;采用ELISA双抗原夹心一步法和二步法分别检测40例健康体检者血清和卫生部临床检验中心提供的梅毒抗体临床科研血清盘一套.结果 8例ISA双抗原夹心一步法检测结果为阴性,怀疑存在钩状效应的患者血清标本,采用ELISA双抗原夹心二步法进行检测时,结果均转为阳性;进行1:2,1:10,1:50和1:100倍稀释后,采用ELISA双抗原夹心一步法进行检测,分别有7例,8例,8例和5例结果转为阳性;将反应板在孵育过程中同时进行振荡,有5例转为弱阳性;ELISA双抗原夹心一步法和二步法分别检测40例健康体检者血清和卫生部临床检验中心提供的梅毒抗体临床科研血清盘,除3例弱阳性结果不符外,其它结果均一致.结论 建立敏感度高的ELISA两步法或采用现有ELISA一步法试剂同时对标本进行原倍和一定倍数稀释后检测,可以既克服钩状效应,又保证检测的敏感度.     

Total expression of HLA-G and TLR-9 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients

Suppressed immune status facilitates immune escape mechanisms that allow chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells to proliferate and expand. The expression of HLA-G could effectively inhibit the immune response. In immune response inhibitory signals follow activation of immune system which might be occur during bacterial or viral infection in CLL patients. In the current study we characterized two components of immune system, inhibitory molecule HLA-G with its receptor – CD85j and Toll-like receptor 9.