Characterization of “plasma proteins” secreted by cultured rat macroglial cells

The brain is isolated behind a blood-tissue barrier that restricts the access of circulating proteins to neural cells. There is evidence that some of these proteins are synthesized within the central nervous system. The present study examines the synthesis and secretion of such proteins by cultured macroglial cells. Primary glial cultures were derived from cortical and subcortical regions of neonatal rat brains, and subsequent secondary cultures were enriched in type-1 astrocytes, type-2 astrocytes, or oligodendrocytes. Newly synthesized proteins were immunoprecipitated from the culture media using antisera directed against whole rat serum. All three types of glial cells secreted a range of plasma proteins. In general, type-1 astrocytes secreted more of these proteins than did type-2 astrocytes or oligodendrocytes, although the one-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) profiles were specific for each cell type. Antisera directed against specific plasma proteins identified three of the most abundant proteins secreted by type-1 astrocytes as transferrin, α-2-macroglobulin, and ceruloplasmin. Northern blot analysis of cellular RNA confirmed that type-1 astrocytes contained transferrin mRNA, and that it was more abundant in cultures derived from subcortical regions than from cortical regions. In situ hybridization studies revealed that virtually all type-1 and type-2 astrocytes contained transferrin mRNA. Since the proteins identified in this study have been proposed to have a variety of neurotrophic roles in the central nervous system, these data further extend the range of possible functions that glial cells may serve in the CNS.     

Wilson''''s病患者亲体部分肝移植和全肝移植术后血清铜蓝蛋白及尿铜水平的变化

目的　总结Wilson’s病患者亲体肝移植和全肝移植术后血清铜蓝蛋白及尿铜水平的恢复情况。方法　自 2 0 0 0年 9月至 2 0 0 3年 11月我院为 2 6例Wilson’s病患者施行了肝移植术 ,均并发终末期肝硬变 ,其中 3例发生急性肝功能衰竭。术前血清铜蓝蛋白和尿铜水平分别为 (12 4 .8± 2 2 .8)mg/L和 (15 2 4 .8± 32 8.6 ) μg/ 2 4h ,其中行活体部分肝移植 2 2例 ,全肝移植 4例 ,亲体肝移植供体术前血清铜蓝蛋白水平为 (2 30 .4± 2 9.6 )mg/L ,尿铜水平均 <5 0μg/ 2 4h。结果　所有患者手术顺利 ,全肝移植患者术后 1、3、6及 12个月血清铜蓝蛋白和尿铜水平分别为 (32 0 .2±36 .8)mg/L、(380 .4± 4 5 .6 )mg/L、(36 0 .5± 37.6 )mg/L、(35 6 .2± 2 7.6 )mg/L和 (2 4 0 .4± 2 2 .8) μg/ 2 4h、(86 .5± 10 .6 ) μg/ 2 4h、(5 4 .2± 6 .8) μg/ 2 4h及 (46 .8± 3.4 ) μg/ 2 4h ;亲体肝移植患者术后 1、3、6及 12个月血清铜蓝蛋白和尿铜水平分别为 (2 16 .8± 2 0 .4 )mg/L、(2 4 8.5± 32 .6 )mg/L、(2 85 .4± 4 4 .3)mg/L、(2 6 0 .2± 36 .6 )mg/L和(380 .8± 37.6 ) μg/ 2 4h、(15 0 .6± 2 4 .5 ) μg/ 2 4h、(75 .5± 9.6 ) μg/ 2 4h及 (6 0 .3± 5 .8) μg/ 2 4h。结论　全肝移植和亲体肝     

四氯化碳、黄磷、三硝基甲苯引起肝纤维化及某些生化指标变化规律的研究

本研究分别给四组大鼠注射CCl_4、P_4、TNT及纯生油,进行亚慢性实验,在不同的时间处死动物,测定血清及肝组织NAG、CP、MAO、羟脯氨酸和肝组织病理观察。CCl_4染毒3周后就发生肝纤维化;P_4和TNT染毒12周后才发生肝纤维化。血清中NAG、CP及肝组织中NAG、羟辅氨酸含量在肝纤维化早期即有明显升高,其中血清NAG、CP与肝组织中羟脯氨酸含量有明显正相关关系。血清NAG、CP似可以用作了解肝纤维化情况的指标。     

醋酸纤维膜电泳筛查血清铜蓝蛋白

目的：建立一种快速、有效的血清铜蓝蛋白（ＣＰ）筛查方法。方法：醋酸纤维膜电泳分离血清ＣＰ,盐酸联苯胺显示法。结果：用此方法可明确检测出Ｗｉｌｓｏｎ氏病患者血清中ＣＰ含量的变化。结论：醋酸纤维膜电泳检测血清ＣＰ是一种有效的血清ＣＰ筛查方法。     

以癫痫为首发症状的肝豆状核变性

目的总结以癫痫为首发症状的肝豆状核变性的临床特点及治疗经验。方法回顾性总结6例以癫痫为首发症状青少年肝豆状变性的临床特点,所有患者的癫痫症状明显,但经详细询问病史,认真体格检查及相关血生化、影像学等辅助检查均找到了癫痫病因。结果6例首发症状为癫痫患者的原发病为肝豆状核变性,给予驱铜、抗癫痫等治疗,随访1￣3年,症状控制良好。结论肝豆状核变性以癫痫为首发症状者少见,以癫痫症状为首诊的青少年患者应警惕肝豆状核变性为可能的病因。     

中国肝病患者血清铜蓝蛋白水平的研究

目的　探讨我国不同肝病患者血清铜蓝蛋白 (CP)水平交叉程度 ,为肝豆状核变性(WD)的诊断和鉴别诊断提供科学的依据。方法　测定 90 5例正常人、WD及其他各种肝病患者血清CP水平 ,采用SPSS12统计软件进行统计分析。结果　WD患者血清CP平均为 (93 9± 98 1)mg/L ,与其他各组相比差异有非常显著性 ,72 7%的患者低于 10 0mg/L ,其中 4 2 9%的患者低于 5 0mg/L ,但是也有 9 1%的患者其血清CP正常 ,其中 3例高于 4 0 0mg/L ,最高达 5 0 1mg/L。 6 8%的非WD患者血清CP低于正常 ,最低为 2 8mg/L。急性肝炎患者血清CP平均为 (398 4± 15 1 3)mg/L ,显著高于其他各组。重型肝炎患者血清CP平均为 (2 96 5± 10 6 5 )mg/L ,显著低于其他各组 ,其中18 8%的患者低于正常。结论　WD患者CP水平显著低于正常人和其他肝病患者 ,但是与其他肝病有一定程度的交叉 ,单凭CP水平不足以确诊或排除WD。     

血清铜蓝蛋白水平与慢性乙型肝炎患者临床病理关系的初步研究

目的 探讨慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)患者血清铜蓝蛋白(CP)水平与肝脏炎症活动度分级、纤维化分期的关系,建立肝纤维化分级无创模型并分析其诊断价值.方法 2009年1月至2011年6月于福建医科大学附属第一医院肝病中心确认的CHB患者148例,同步进行肝组织病理学、血清CP及生物化学指标检查.Spearman等级相关分析法判断CP水平与肝脏病理学分级之间的相关性;Logistic回归分析法分析相关指标的诊断意义.构建肝脏纤维化诊断预测模型,受试者工作曲线(ROC)法评价模型的诊断价值.结果 148例CHB患者炎症活动度分级G1、G2、G3、G4的血清CP平均值分别为(212.5±34.9)、(205.5±32.0)、(201.4±37.7)和(172.8±20.4) mg/L,ANOVA分析提示4组炎症活动度分级间CP水平的差异有统计学意义(F=6.309,P＜0.01);纤维化分期S1、S2、S3、S4的血清CP平均水平分别为(217.4±32.3)、(206.0±37.7)、(194.2±29.8)和(179.7±30.4)mg/L,ANOVA分析提示纤维化分期间CP的差异有统计学意义(F=8.608,P＜0.01).Spearman等级相关分析法分析提示,CP与炎症活动度分级(r=-0.316,P＜0.01)以及纤维化分期(r=-0.404,P＜0.01)均呈负相关关系.应用ROC分别建立CP水平对S≥2、S≥3、S=4的诊断曲线,曲线下面积(AUC)分别为0.71、0.70和0.72.经Logistic回归分析,筛选出模型-1(S≥2)、模型-2(S≥3)、模型-3(S=4)组包括CP、甲胎蛋白、胆碱酯酶、PLT、年龄的肝纤维化独立预测因子,最终构建数学模型并计算肝纤维化评分,模型-1、模型-2、模型-3的AUC分别为0.84、0.83和0.87,准确率分别为71.8％、80.3％和79.2％.结论 CHB患者的血清CP水平与肝脏炎症活动度分级、纤维化分期呈负相关关系,随病理分级的增加而呈阶梯状降低.CP水平可作为无创性判断肝脏纤维化状态的一项重要指标,纳入CP而构建的肝纤维化预测模型对CHB肝纤维化肝硬化有较好的诊断价值.     

Wilson's disease: Revisiting an old friend

Wilson's disease(WD) is a rare condition caused by copper accumulation primarily in the liver and secondly in other organs, such as the central nervous system. It is a hereditary autosomal recessive disease caused by a deficiency in the ATP7 B transporter. This protein facilitates the incorporation of copper into ceruloplasmin. More than 800 mutations associated with WD have been described. The onset of the disease frequently includes manifestations related to the liver(as chronic liver disease or acute liver failure) and neurological symptoms, although it can sometimes be asymptomatic. Despite it being more frequent in young people, WD has been described in all life stages. Due to its fatal prognosis, WD should be suspected in all patients with unexplained biochemical liver abnormalities or neurological or psychiatric symptoms. The diagnosis is established with a combination of clinical signs and tests, including the measurement of ceruloplasmin, urinary copper excretion, copper quantification in liver biopsy, or genetic assessment. The pharmacological therapies include chelating drugs, such as D-penicillamine or trientine, and zinc salts, which are able to change the natural history of the disease, increasing the survival of these patients. In some cases of end-stage liver disease or acute liver failure, liver transplantation must be an option to increase survival. In this narrative review, we offer an overview of WD, focusing on the importance of clinical suspicion, the correct diagnosis, and treatment.     

Serum microRNA-133b is associated with low ceruloplasmin levels in Parkinson's disease

IntroductionThe cause of low serum ceruloplasmin levels in Parkinson's disease (PD) remains to be clarified. In this study, we explored serum miR-133b expression to determine whether it correlates with serum ceruloplasmin level in PD patients.MethodsForty-six patients with PD and forty-six control subjects were evaluated for miR-133b expression using qRT-PCR. The serum ceruloplasmin levels in all of the subjects were also determined.ResultsSerum miR-133b expression levels were significantly decreased in PD patients compared with those in the control subjects. Furthermore, PD patients with low serum ceruloplasmin levels also exhibited significantly lower expression of miR-133b compared with that of patients with normal ceruloplasmin levels. MiR-133b expression was correlated with the ceruloplasmin level in patients with PD, whereas no correlation was found between miR-133b and disease severity or motor phenotype.ConclusionOur observations suggest that miR-133b might be involved in ceruloplasmin dysmetabolism in PD patients and a further investigation is warranted to confirm this hypothesis.     

The effect of diet on total antioxidant status,ceruloplasmin, transferrin and ferritin serum levels in phenylketonuric children

Objectives: To investigate the effect of diet on total antioxidative status (TAS), transferrin, ferritin and ceruloplasmin serum levels in phenylketonuric (PKU) children. Patients and methods: Seventeen poorly controlled PKU children underwent clinical and laboratory examinations before, ‘off diet’, and 60 days after adhering to their special diet ‘on diet’, whereas controls (N = 24) were examined once. Blood chemistry was performed with the appropriate methodologies. Results: Phenylalanine levels differed significantly among the examined groups. Lipids and lipoproteins were higher in ‘off diet’ than in ‘on diet’ group, except of high density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein AI that remained unaffected. Total antioxidative status (386 ± 30 vs 204 ± 23 μmol/L, p < 0.001), ferritin (48.2 ± 2.3 vs 33.0 ± 2.8 μg/L, p < 0.001) and ceruloplasmin (40.02 ± 2.5 vs 25.5 ± 2.8 mg/dL, p < 0.001) levels were significantly higher in ‘on diet’ patients’ group compared to ‘off diet’ one. The low lipoprotein and the high TAS and ferritin levels in patients with PKU ‘on diet’ may be related to the vegetarian diet and the rich in iron formula supplementation. Conclusions: The low ferritin levels found in ‘off diet’ patients with PKU may be attributed to a decreased liver production of ceruloplasmin, which evaluation may be a useful tool for the follow‐up of patients with PKU.