Apolipoprotein D is down-regulated during malignant transformation of neurofibromas

Apolipoprotein D (apoD) expression was studied in nonneoplastic peripheral nerve, neurofibromas (NFs), and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. Multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction for messenger RNA was performed on a series of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens that included 9 MPNSTs, 12 NFs, and 4 normal peripheral nerves. The average apoD expression was 108-fold decreased (DeltaCt = -7.3) in the MPNSTs compared with the NFs (P < .05). ApoD expression levels were 3.0-fold elevated (DeltaCt = 1.7) in the NFs compared with nonneoplastic peripheral nerve (P < .05). In situ hybridization for apoD RNA was performed on a separate series of 10 cases in which each microscopic section included both MPNST and the NF from which it arose. These studies confirmed elevated apoD expression in NFs compared with MPNSTs and demonstrated that this expression was variable among individual cells within the NFs. Differential expression by immunohistochemistry could only be demonstrated in selected areas, most likely because apoD protein is a small molecule that is secreted out of the cell into the extracellular space and plasma. ApoD expression initially increases a small amount with the formation of NFs from nonneoplastic peripheral nerve and subsequently decreases markedly as NFs transform into MPNSTs. This expression pattern may serve as a marker for cell cycle inhibition during peripheral nerve tumorigenesis.     

THE POTENTIAL USES OF GENOTYPING OF PLASMODIUMFALCIPARUMISOLATESBYTHENESTEDPOLYMERASECHAINREACTION

巢式ＰＣＲ方法被应用于泰国疟区（Ｂｏｒａｉ）恶性疟原虫的基因分型。应用特异的等位基因引物扩增了恶性疟原虫裂殖子表面蛋白１（ＭＳＰ１）基因的１、４变异多态区。以凝胶电泳分析扩增的目的基因片段。结果表明：共分别检测出恶性疟原虫６个ＭＡＤ２０等位基因型、４个Ｋ１和１个ＲＯ３３等位基因型。在９个月的流行季节，上述虫株的等位基因频率没有明显的改变，关存在较高程度的恶性疟原虫不同等位基因株的混合感染。本文进一步阐明了巢式ＰＣＲ技术在疟疾流行病学上的应用前景及优点。     

Altered Th1/Th2 cytokine profiles in the intestinal mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel disease as assessed by quantitative reversed transcribed polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Cytokines serve a central function as key factors in the regulation of the intestinal immune response and mediation of tissue damage in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Abnormalities in the expression of immunoregulatory cytokines such as IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) may indicate a dysregulation of intestinal immunity probably associated with pathogenic events. Therefore, cytokine mRNA concentrations were determined in the mucosa of patients with IBD at sites of active (n = 13) and inactive (n = 12) ulcerative colitis (UC), active (n = 11) and inactive (n = 11) Crohn's disease (CD) and in control patients (n = 14) using quantitative RT-PCR. IL-10 mRNA concentrations were significantly increased in patients with both active UC (P < 0.001) and active CD (P < 0.005) compared with control patients. IFN-gamma mRNA concentrations were also significantly increased both in patients with active UC (P < 0.02) and active CD (P < 0.05) compared with control patients, whereas IL-2 mRNA levels were significantly (P < 0.02) increased only in active CD. IL-4 mRNA expression in the intestinal mucosa was frequently below the detection limit. Our results demonstrate that chronic intestinal inflammation in patients with CD is characterized by an increase of Th1-like cytokines. Furthermore, the increased IL-10 mRNA expression at sites of active IBD suggests that IL-10 is an important regulatory component involved in the control of the inflammatory response in inflammatory bowel disease.     

Differential RNA fingerprinting as a tool in the analysis of spermatozoal gene expression

The apparent decline in human male fertility and the concomitantincrease in testicular pathology have prompted discussion ofthe underlying molecular mechanisms which may underpin theseobservations. While monitoring the expression of protamlne-2genes in the human ejaculate, we found a representative complementof sperm mRNAs following sequence-independent amplificationof reverse-transcribed cDNAs with the polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). The revelation of unique sperm-derived PCR productsusing this method suggests that it should now be possible toinvestigate gene expression in human spermatogenesis by differentialRNA fingerprinting of ejaculate spermatozoa. The Identificationof molecular markers and the corresponding genes associatedwith male Infertility will be considerably enhanced by theseinvestigations while obviating the requirement for invasivebiopsy.     

Complete coding region of the new HLA-DQB1*0612 allele, obtained by RT-PCR

A novel HLA-DQB1 allele was detected by oligotyping in the Bubi population of Equatorial Guinea. In order to characterize the new allelic variant, a RT-PCR method which permitted the cloning of its complete coding region was designed. With this method, we have determined the nucleotide sequence of the new DQB1*0612 allele, related to *0604 and *0609 but differing from them at polymorphic codon 70. A proposal for the improvement of the sequencing strategies of HLA class II alleles is made.