Expression of nonclassical MHC class Ib genes

Peptide binding proteins of the major histocompatibility complex consist of the “classical” class Ia and “nonclassical” class Ib genes. The gene organization and structure/function relationship of the various exons comprising class I proteins are very similar among the class Ia and class Ib genes. Although the tissue-specific patterns of expression of these two gene families are overlapping, many class Ib genes are distinguished by relative low abundance and/or limited tissue distribution. Further, many of the class Ib genes serve specialized roles in immune responses. Given that the coding sequences of the class Ia and class Ib genes are highly homologous we sought to examine the promoter regions of the various class Ib genes by comparison to the well characterized promoter elements regulating expression of the class Ia genes. This analysis revealed a surprising complexity of promoter structures among all class I genes and few instances of conservation of class Ia promoter regulatory elements among the class Ib genes.     

人α2（I）型胶原基因启动子活性研究

目的 探索器官纤维化形成中调控I型胶原基因高水平转录的启动片段及TGF-β、PDGF－BB、IGF－1等细胞因子对其活性的影响。方法 从人α2（I）胶原基因转录起始点上游－2.4kb至＋58bp的片段中，取长度不等的片段作为启动子与含氯霉素乙酰基转移酶（CAT）报告基因的质粒组成5个重组体，转染上述重组体至正常人原代培养皮肤成纤维细胞，测定细胞CAT表达水平以比较各重组体的启动子活性，同时加入细胞因子，以测定其对I型胶原启动序列的影响。结果 除－129～＋58bp序列外，其余4个重组体CAT表达水平均较高，其中－2292～＋58bp、－1476～ 58bp序列具较强启动CAT表达活性，－339～ 58bp、－616～ 58bp片段次之。TGF－β、IGF－1均能在一定程度上调人α2（I）胶原基因启动活性。结论 人α2（I）胶原基因片段－2292～ 58bp、－1476～ 58bp、－339～ 58bp有高启动活性，是进一步研究纤维化相关DNA结合蛋白的重要调控靶序列。TGF－β、IGF－1促进胶原表达，与其上调胶原基因启动活性有关。     

Chromatin interactions in differentiating keratinocytes reveal novel atopic dermatitis– and psoriasis-associated genes

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Genetic and epigenetic alterations of the PTEN gene in soft tissue sarcomas

The PTEN/MMAC1 ( PTEN ) gene was identified as a tumor suppressor gene encoding a cytoplasmic protein that controls cellular processes. To investigate the potential role and the alteration of the PTEN gene in soft tissue sarcomas (STSs), we searched for homozygous deletion and promoter hypermethylation in a series of 48 STSs that was composed of malignant fibrous histiocytoma, leiomyosarcoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, including 2 cases with a mutation that we previously reported; differential polymerase chain reaction and methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction, respectively, were used for the analyses. Furthermore, to determine whether PTEN gene alterations are involved in the down-regulation of PTEN expression, we examined the expression of PTEN protein in 38 cases in which paraffin-embedded tissues were available for immunohistochemical analysis. In addition to our previous results showing that 2 (4%) of 51 cases had a PTEN mutation, promoter methylation was recognized in 6 (13%) of 48 cases, and homozygous deletion was detected in 1 (2%) of 48 cases in the current study. Of 6 cases with promoter methylation of PTEN gene, 5 were malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. Decreased expression of PTEN protein was recognized in 11 (29%) of 38 STS cases. Of 9 cases with PTEN alterations (6 cases with promoter methylation, 2 with mutation, and 1 with homozygous deletion), 3 (33%) showed decreased expression of PTEN protein. Furthermore, decreased expression of the PTEN gene showed a statistically significant correlation with high MIB-1 labeling index in 38 STS cases examined ( P = .0441). In conclusion, promoter methylation and homozygous deletion of the PTEN gene were found to be relatively rare events in cases of STS, as is mutation of the gene. Of 9 cases with a PTEN alteration, 3 (33%) showed a decrease in PTEN expression, indicating that PTEN gene alterations seem to play a minor role in the inactivation of PTEN in these tumors. Furthermore, although a further detailed analysis of a larger number of cases is still necessary, the present results suggest that PTEN expression may be a useful indicator of cell proliferation in patients with STS.     

肝脏特异性表达载体Kbpala/Alb-ATP7B 的构建及表达

目的：构建小鼠白蛋白启动子引导下携带野 生及常见突变型Arg778Leu、His1069Gln的人ATP7B cDNA的肝脏特异 性表达载体Kbpala/Alb-ATP7B，并检测其表达情况。方法:定点突变法获取人群中常见的Arg778Leu及His1069Gln两种ATP7B突变体，定向克隆将小鼠白蛋白启动子Alb序列及野生和突变的ATP7B cDNA依次亚克隆至转基因载体Kbpala上，得到可在肝脏特异性表达的正常及突变型人 ATP7B的转基因载体Kbpala/Alb-ATP7B。将其 短暂转染BRL细胞及BHK细胞，通过Western blotting检测其蛋白表达情况。结果:经酶切鉴定及定点测序证实，转基因载体Kbpala/Alb-ATP7B 构建成功；Western blotting显示仅在肝脏细胞实现表达。结论:带 有人类ATP7B cDNA的野生及常见致病突变型的转基因载体Kbpala/Alb -ATP7B构建成功并在肝脏细胞特异性表达。     

哮喘患儿IL-4近侧启动子区克隆和多态性分析

目的：对哮喘症患儿白细胞介素-4(IL-4)近侧启动子区进行克隆并分析其DNA序列的多态性。方法：对40名有明显家族及过敏史哮喘患儿和１０名正常儿童，以多聚酶链式反应（PCR）结合单链构象多态性（SSCP）扩增、筛选IL-4近侧启动子片段，进一步构建正常对照和异常条带PCR产物的重组质粒pIL-4-Jx2，并用双脱氧链终止法对重组质粒进行序列测定。结果：在对40名患儿SSCP分析中发现了7组异常条带。DNA测序结果显示有４外变异位点于已知的调控元件之内或毗邻位点，１名病人-229位C被A所替代，该变异恰好位于IL-4正性调节元件-I(PRE-I)之内；２名病人负性调节元件-Ⅱ（NRE-Ⅱ）毗邻C被T所替代，TATA框前增加1个G；1名病人STAT-6元件附近缺少了ATTTT五碱基核苷酸。结论：过敏性哮喘患儿IL-4近侧启动子区DNA序列存在多态性，这可能与IL-4基因异常表达及哮喘的发病有关。     

FAM19A4基因启动子甲基化检测在宫颈癌及其癌前病变筛查的研究

宫颈癌是最常见的妇科恶性肿瘤之一。目前人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)检测及细胞学检查是宫颈癌及其癌前病变(CCPL)的主要筛查手段。由于上述传统筛查方法,仍然存在对CCPL漏诊的风险,因此寻找有效识别CCPL的特异性分子标志物,具有重要临床意义。对具有序列相似性家族19成员A4(FAM19A4)基因启动子甲基化定量检测,可有效检出CCPL组织,较传统筛查方法有较高特异度,有望成为CCPL筛查的特异性分子标志物。笔者拟就FAM19A4基因启动子甲基化定量检测,在CCPL筛查中应用的最新研究现状进行阐述,旨在为进一步推进CCPL筛查方法的开发,提供思路。