肺炎衣原体对血管内皮细胞的感染及其对ICAM-1表达的影响

目的:观察肺炎衣原体对人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs)的感染及其对细胞分泌和表达细胞间粘附分子1(ICAM-1)的影响,探讨C.pneumoniae感染在动脉粥样硬化形成中的作用及其可能机制。方法:用人喉表皮癌(HEP-2)细胞培养C.pneumoniae,以C.pneumoniae感染HUVE细胞,经透射电镜及PCR检测有无感染。用流式细胞仪检测感染前后HUVE细胞表面ICAM-1蛋白的表达的变化,用荧光定量RT-PCR检测ICAM-1mRNA的变化。结果:C.pneumoniae能感染体外培养的HUVE细胞;感染后12h,细胞表面ICAM-1蛋白的表达即增加,其峰值约在感染后24h;荧光定量RT-PCR结果显示其增加在mRNA水平。结论:C.pneumoniae能感染体外培养的人脐静脉内皮细胞并增加ICAM-1的表达,提示C.pneumoniae感染可能是动脉粥样硬化的始动因子之一,其致动脉粥样硬化机制可能与感染后血管内皮细胞粘附分子表达的增加有关。     

HIV-1协同受体CXCR4、CCR5及相关趋化因子SDF-1在胎盘的表达

目的：研究HIV-1协同受体CXCR4、CCR5及CXCR4的特异性配体SDF-1在人胎盘组织的表达，探索HIV-1子宫内垂直传播的分子机制。方法：半定量RT-PCR检测早、中、晚孕期胎盘及早孕滋养细胞CXCR4、CCR5 mRNA水平；免疫组化和免疫细胞化学检测早孕胎盘及原代培养滋养细胞CXCR4、CCR5蛋白表达；原位杂交及免疫组化分析SDF-1在早孕胎盘的表达；ELISA测定滋养细胞SDF-1的动态分泌水平。结果：各孕期胎盘表达CXCR4及CCR5 mRNA；CXCR4蛋白定位于滋养细胞，而CCR5蛋白定位于绒毛基质中。滋养细胞可转录并翻译SDF-1，且能分泌可溶性SDF-1。结论：滋养细胞同时表达CXCR4及SDF-1，SDF-1可能通过降调CXCR4而拮抗X4-HIV-1感染胎儿细胞；R5-HIV-1或许能通过滋养层裂隙感染CCR5^#基质细胞和/或Hotbauer细胞，从而发生子宫内垂直传播。     

白细胞介素-1基因多态性与高血压易感性的研究

目的　观察白细胞介素 - 1(interleukin- 1,IL- 1)基因多态性在中国汉族人群中的分布及其与原发性高血压 (essential hypertension,EH)的关系 ,初步分析其基因型与 EH易感性的相关性。方法　应用聚合酶链反应和限制性片段长度多态性的方法 ,检测湖北省汉族 15 2例 EH患者和 16 8名正常对照者的IL- 1基因多态性 ,包括 IL- 1α(- 889C/ T)位点、IL- 1β(- 5 11C/ T)位点、IL- 1β( 395 3C/ T)位点、IL- 1Ra( 80 0 6 T/ C)位点多态性以及 IL- 1Ra第 2内含子可变数串联重复序列多态性。结果　IL- 1α(- 889C/ T)位点、IL- 1β( 395 3C/ T)位点、IL- 1Ra( 80 0 6 T/ C)位点多态性和 IL- 1Ra可变重复序列多态性在 EH组和正常人群中的分布差异无显著性 (P>0 .0 5 ) ,而 IL- 1β(- 5 11C/ T)位点多态性在两组人群中的分布差异存在显著性 (P<0 .0 5 ) ,携带 CT基因型罹患 EH的危险性可增加 2 .5 4倍。结论　 IL- 1β基因启动子区 - 5 11位点 C/ T多态性可能与 EH易感性存在相关关系。     

马凡综合征两种新的原纤维蛋白-1基因突变

目的对9例马凡综合征(Marfansyndrome,MFS)患者的原纤维蛋白-1(fibrillin-1,FBN1)基因进行突变筛查,以发现新的FBN1基因突变。方法应用变性高效液相色谱法对MFS患者FBN1基因65个外显子中的35个进行突变筛查,对变性高效液相色谱图形异常的PCR扩增片段用DNA测序鉴定突变位置及性质,并用等位基因特异性PCR以及限制性片段长度多态性分析等方法进一步证实突变。结果在两例MFS患者中发现两种新的FBN1基因突变。其中一种为第34外显子4307～4308位4个碱基TCGT的插入突变(4307insTCGT),另一种为第43外显子5309位的点突变5309G>A。结论FBN1基因移码突变(4307insTCGT)与点突变(5309G>A)分别是这两例MFS患者的发病原因。     

Apoptosis incidence and protein expression of p53, TGF-beta receptor II, p27Kip1, and Smad4 in benign, premalignant, and malignant human prostate

Deregulation of apoptosis is involved in prostate cancer development and progression. This study involved an immunohistochemical "profiling" of prostate tissue specimens from patients who underwent prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer, to identify apoptosis-specific alterations associated with premalignant precursor lesions. Prostate tissue was pathologically evaluated, and areas of benign acini, high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN), and prostate cancer were identified. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to determine the expression of p27Kip1, a key cell cycle regulator, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta receptor II (TbetaRII), a critical signaling effector of TGF-beta; Smad4, a downstream intracellular effector of TGF-beta signaling; p53, a key apoptosis regulator; and prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a clinical marker of prostate cancer. The apoptotic index of the same cell populations was determined using the transferase-mediated digoxigenin-tagged 16-desoxy-uridine-triphosphate nick end labeling assay. Our findings indicate a significant reduction in p27Kip1 immunoreactivity in HGPIN (P<0.0001) and prostate cancer (P<0.0001) compared with the benign tissue. A significant down-regulation was detected in TbetaRII expression in HGPIN and prostate cancer compared with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)(P<0.001). A significant decrease was also observed in Smad4 levels in HGPIN and prostate cancer compared with BPH (P<0.001). Evaluation of the incidence of apoptosis revealed a significant decrease in the apoptotic index among the epithelial cell populations in HGPIN and a further decrease in prostate carcinoma (P<0.01). This reduced apoptotic index correlated with a significant increase in p53 immunoreactivity in the prostatic carcinoma foci. Prostate cancer cells exhibited strong nuclear staining for p53 compared with adjacent HGPIN (P<0.05) and the benign lesions of the same prostate specimens (P<0.05). A significant reduction in PSA immunostaining was detected in HGPIN and prostate carcinoma foci compared with the benign glandular epithelia (P<0.001). These results further define deregulation of TGF-beta signaling effectors as a molecular basis for loss of apoptotic control contributing to the development of prostate tumors. Identification of apoptotic regulators in precursor premalignant lesions may have prognostic significance in disease progression as well as therapeutic value for targeting prostate cancer.     

Immunity in HIV-1-Infected Adults with a Previous State of Moderate-Severe Immune-Suppression and More Than 500 CD4+ T Cell After Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

We evaluated phenotypic and functional parameters of immune restoration of 27 HIV-infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (HIV-cases) with HIV-RNA levels below detectable limits at least during 18 months, and CD4+ cell per microliter higher than 500 at the moment of the study and lower than 300 anytime before. These patients were compared with 11 HIV-controls that never had less than 500 CD4+ cell per microliter and 20 healthy-controls (HIV seronegative subjects) in a cross-sectional study. HIV-cases had lower counts of naïve CD4+ than HIV-controls and healthy-controls. HIV-patients (both HIV-cases and HIV-controls) showed higher values of naïve and memory CD8+ counts than healthy-controls. TREC-bearing cell levels were significantly lower in HIV-cases than in healthy-controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cultures, HIV-cases had lower values in proliferation to streptokinase (SK) and tetanus toxin (TT) than in healthy-controls. HIV-cases had lower IFN-γ and higher IL-5 production with pokeweed than healthy-controls (P < 0.01). However, IL-5 production of HIV-cases after TT stimulation was lower than in HIV-controls and healthy-controls. Total IgG and IgG1 levels were significantly higher in HIV-cases than in HIV-controls and healthy-controls. Also, IgM levels were significantly higher in HIV-cases than in healthy-controls. Nevertheless, IgG2 levels were significantly lower in HIV-cases and HIV-controls than in healthy-controls. The levels of specific Igs antipneumococcal capsular polysaccharide and TT were significantly lower in HIV-cases than in healthy-controls. HIV-patients with a previous state of severe-moderate immunosuppression normalizing their CD4+ counts have a incomplete immune reconstitution after HAART. Long-term consequences of this subclinical immune deficiency remain to be determined.     

Prolyl-leucyl-glycinamide shares some effects with oxytocin but decreases oxytocin levels

Oxytocin treatment in rats induces long-lasting antistress and growth promoting effects. This study investigated whether prolyl-leucyl-glycinamide (PLG) (the c-terminal tripeptide of oxytocin) or tocinoic acid (the ring structure of oxytocin) could induce some of these effects in male rats. For this purpose, PLG (2 or 10 mg/kg, s.c.) or tocinoic acid (1 mg/kg, s.c.) was administered to rats once a day for 3 or 5 days. Blood pressure, heart rate, spontaneous motor activity, nociceptive thresholds, and the survival of ischaemic musculocutaneous flaps were measured. In addition, endogenous oxytocin levels and plasma levels of some hormones known to be influenced by oxytocin were determined. PLG (2 mg/kg, s.c., but not 10 mg/kg, s.c.) decreased diastolic blood pressure (p<0.05) and locomotor activity (p<0.05). PLG (10 mg/kg, s.c.) decreased gastrin (p<0.05) and endogenous oxytocin levels in plasma (p<0.01). Tocinoic acid decreased locomotor activity (p<0.05), but did not affect any of the other parameters measured. In conclusion, this study showed that both PLG and tocinoic acid decrease locomotor activity. In addition, PLG also induced some other effects similar to those induced by oxytocin treatment but when administered in high doses it decreased oxytocin levels.     

Novel mutations in the EXT1 gene in two consanguineous families affected with multiple hereditary exostoses (familial osteochondromatosis)

Multiple hereditary exostoses (HME) is an autosomal dominant developmental disorder exhibiting multiple osteocartilaginous bone tumors that generally arise near the ends of growing long bones. Here, we report two large consanguineous families from Pakistan, who display the typical features of HME. Affected individuals also show a previously unreported feature--bilateral overriding of single toes. Analysis using microsatellite markers for each of the known EXT loci, EXT1, EXT2, and EXT3 showed linkage to EXT1. In the first family, mutation analysis of the EXT1 gene revealed that affected individuals were heterozygous for an in-frame G-to-C transversion at the conserved splice donor site in intron 1. This mutation is predicted to disrupt splicing of the first intron and produce a frameshift that leads to a premature termination codon. In the second family, an insertion of an A in exon 8 is predicted to produce a frameshift at codon 555 followed by a premature termination, a further 10 codons downstream. In both families, an increased number of affected male subjects were observed. In affected females in family 2, phenotypic variability and incomplete penetrance were noted.     

The effect of inflammatory cytokines on secretion of macrophage colony-stimulating factor and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in human granulosa cells

PROBLEM: In order to investigate the role of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and monocyte chemoattractant protein -1 (MCP-1) in human ovulation, we studied the regulation of M-CSF and MCP-1 in cultured human granulosa cells. METHOD OF STUDY: Immortalized granulosa cells (GC1a) were cultured in serum-free medium, and incubated with interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-1 receptor antagonist (ra) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. The supernatants were collected, and M-CSF and MCP-1 were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: The levels of M-CSF and MCP-1 were increased after treatment with IL-1alpha (1 nm) and TNF-alpha (1 nm) in a time-dependent manner. The levels of M-CSF and MCP-1 were significantly increased after treatment with IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha in a dose-dependent manner. However, the levels of M-CSF and MCP-1 were significantly decreased by treatment with IL-1alpha (1 nm) and/or increasing concentrations of IL-1 ra. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicated that M-CSF and MCP-1 were regulated by IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha. It was suggested that M-CSF and MCP-1 may play an important role in human preovulatory processes.