Polymorphisms of KAP6, KAP7, and KAP8 genes in four Chinese sheep breeds

High glycine-tyrosine proteins (HGTPs), also known as keratin-associated proteins (KAPs), play a key role in the major structures and mechanical properties of wool fiber. Sheep HGTPs consist of three multigene families: KAP6, KAP7, and KAP8 genes. Polymorphisms of these three genes have been proposed to have important effects on wool fiber traits. The aim of the present study was to identify polymorphisms of the KAP6, KAP7, and KAP8 genes in four sheep breeds, including Chinese Merino superfine wool sheep, Hu sheep, a Merino x Hu crossed breed, and Romney sheep. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product direct sequencing, PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphism, and cloned sequencing methods were used to find genetic variation and identify polymorphisms in these genes. The Mutation Surveyor v3.97 software was used to analyze the sequences. These methods revealed six different sequences of the KAP6 gene, two different sequences of the KAP7 gene, and five different sequences of the KAP8 gene. Accordingly, three (with frequencies>1%) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the KAP6 gene, one SNP of the KAP7 gene, and five SNPs of the KAP8 gene were detected. Interestingly, some of these sequences were present in only certain sheep breeds, thereby suggesting that these special allele sequences could be used as candidate genes of wool characteristics in further studies.

Construction and functional identification of a hepatitis B virus S protein small hairpin RNA recombinant adenovirus

Hepatitis B virus S protein (HBs) plays an important role in hepatocellular carcinoma progression. However, to date, no direct and effective methods exist to research the function of HBs. Here, we combined the technology of RNA interference with recombinant adenovirus, constructed a recombinant adenovirus-expressing small hairpin RNA of HBs, and infected HepG2.2.15 cells. Then, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative real-time PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blot analysis were performed to verify the interference effects. As a result, a recombinant adenovirus was successfully constructed and effectively packaged in AD293 cells, and it significantly inhibited HBs mRNA and protein expression in vitro. Our study may provide a novel tool to study HBs function.

Selective killing of lung cancer cells by miRNA-506 molecule through inhibiting NF-κB p65 to evoke reactive oxygen species generation and p53 activation

The tumor suppressor p53, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) have crucial roles in tumorigenesis, although the mechanisms of cross talk between these factors remain largely unknown. Here we report that miR-506 upregulation occurs in 83% of lung cancer patients (156 cases), and its expression highly correlates with ROS. Ectopic expression of miR-506 inhibits NF-κB p65 expression, induces ROS accumulation and then activates p53 to suppress lung cancer cell viability, but not in normal cells. Interestingly, p53 promotes miR-506 expression level, indicating that miR-506 mediates cross talk between p53, NF-κB p65 and ROS. Furthermore, we demonstrated that miR-506 mimics inhibited tumorigenesis in vivo, implicating that miR-506 might be a potential therapeutic molecule for selective killing of lung cancer cells.

Expression of anti-inflammatory mediator lipoxin A4 and inflammation responsive transcriptive factors NF-kappa B in patients with preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the role of lipoxin A4 (LXA4), NF-kappaB p65 in preeclampsia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

LXA4 in blood serum and the lipoxin A4 receptor (ALX-R), NF-kappaB p65 mRNA, protein expressions in placenta-specific tissues were obtained from patients with preeclampsia and normal pregnancy.

RESULTS

Levels of lipoxin A4 in women with mild preeclampsia was significantly high (p < 0.05). There was no significant statistical difference between normal pregnancy and severe preeclampsia (p > 0.05). The mRNA expression of ALX-R was significantly low in women with preeclampsia than in control group (p < 0.01) and mRNA expression of NF- kappaB p65 was significantly high in preeclampsia (p < 0.01). The immunohistochemical staining of NF-kappaB p65 protein was stronger in severe preeclampsia group whereas staining of ALX-R in placental tissue was weaker than in control group (p < 0.01). ALX-R mRNA was negatively correlated with NF-kappaB (p < 0.0001), but there was no correlation between LXA4 and ALX-R mRNA.

CONCLUSION

There was an excessive maternal inflammatory response in preeclampsia. LXA4, ALX-R, and NF-kappaB p65 may be involved in the disease process ofpreeclampsia.

Pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular dysfunction in hemodialysis patients

OBJECTIVE

Hemodialysis treatment has been revealed to increased the systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP). Right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) had been demonstrated to predict mortality in chronic renal failure patients. We investigate the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension and RVD among patients and possible contributing factors for pulmonary hypertension.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional survey consisted of 70 hemodialysis patients was performed in our hemodialysis center. By using echocardiography, an estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure of > 35 mmHg at rest met the criterion of pulmonary hypertension. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) of the right ventricle was performed in all patients.

RESULTS

27 out of 70 (38.57%) patients met the definition of pulmonary hypertension, while 32 out of 70 (45.71%) patients met the definition of RVD. Compared to patients without pulmonary hypertension, patients with pulmonary hypertension demonstrated higher systolic blood pressure and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). RVD, indicated by TDI myocardial performance index (MPI), was worse impaired in patients with pulmonary hypertension. Echocardiographic findings suggested elevated MPI values of right ventricular and right ventricular wall thickness were significantly associated with sPAP. While a high level of LVEF and Kt/V values was inversely correlated with sPAP. The multivariate determinants of pulmonary hypertension were systolic blood pressure and Kt/V values.

CONCLUSIONS

Among hemodialysis patients, pulmonary hypertension is extraordinary common and is significantly associated with RVD. The poor control of systolic blood pressure and volume overload have played an important role in the mechanism of pulmonary hypertension in chronic uremia patients.

Protective effect of ischaemic preconditioning in total knee arthroplasty

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the genomic response induced by ischaemic preconditioning (IPC) in muscle biopsies taken from the operative leg of total knee arthroplasty patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The gene expression profile GSE21164 was extracted from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Patients undergoing primary knee arthroplasty were randomized to control and treatment (IPC) groups. Muscle biopsies were taken from the quadriceps muscle of the operative knee at the immediate onset of surgery (T0) and at 1 hour into surgery (T1). Limma package of R language was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between control and treatment group. To find out specific genes, DEGs at T0 were compared with DEGs at T1. Scansite was used to find out the binding domain for specific DEGs. Functional enrichment analysis was done by DAVID.

RESULTS

Of the genes queried on the Affymetrix Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 microarray, we identified 263 (T0) and 266 (T1) DEGs compared to the control group. Down-regulation of DEGs related with regulation neuron apoptosis was observed at T1. The most significant function of DEGs at T0 was related with neurological system process. The most specific DEG was FAM125B at T0 and T1 time points. Its common binding domain was SH3.

CONCLUSIONS

The protective effect of IPC was associated with altered expression of genes involved in neurological system process and regulation of neuron apoptosis. The dynamic expression of FAM125B can be a supervised marker during the surgery. IPC may be of potential benefit in this and other musculoskeletal conditions.

Suicide gene approach using a dual-expression lentiviral vector to enhance the safety of ex vivo gene therapy for bone repair

'Ex vivo' gene therapy using viral vectors to overexpress BMP-2 is shown to heal critical-sized bone defects in experimental animals. To increase its safety, we constructed a dual-expression lentiviral vector to overexpress BMP-2 or luciferase and an HSV1-tk analog, Δtk (LV-Δtk-T2A-BMP-2/Luc). We hypothesized that administering ganciclovir (GCV) will eliminate the transduced cells at the site of implantation. The vector-induced expression of BMP-2 and luciferase in a mouse stromal cell line (W-20-17 cells) and mouse bone marrow cells (MBMCs) was reduced by 50% compared with the single-gene vector. W-20-17 cells were more sensitive to GCV compared with MBMCs (90-95% cell death at 12 days with GCV at 1 μg ml(-1) in MBMCs vs 90-95% cell death at 5 days by 0.1 μg ml(-1) of GCV in W-20-17 cells). Implantation of LV-Δtk-T2A-BMP-2 transduced MBMCs healed a 2 mm femoral defect at 4 weeks. Early GCV treatment (days 0-14) postoperatively blocked bone formation confirming a biologic response. Delayed GCV treatment starting at day 14 for 2 or 4 weeks reduced the luciferase signal from LV-Δtk-T2A-Luc-transduced MBMCs, but the signal was not completely eliminated. These data suggest that this suicide gene strategy has potential for clinical use in the future, but will need to be optimized for increased efficiency.

Efficacy and safety of entecavir treatment in a heterogeneous CHB population from a ‘real-world’ clinical practice setting in China

Chronic hepatitis B infection is an important cause of liver-related mortality in China. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of entecavir in a heterogeneous patient population from a ‘real-world’ clinical practice setting in China. This prospective, observational cohort provides 48-week data on 2600 patients from 50 sites in China who received entecavir (0.5 or 1.0 mg) and were assessed for virologic, serologic and biochemical responses. Patients were nucleos(t)ide-na€ıve or -experienced and had compensated or decompensated liver function. At Week 48, 1545/2424 (64%) patients with compensated liver disease and 30/44 (68%) patients with decompensated liver disease achieved HBV DNA<50 IU/mL. Greater proportions of nucleos(t)ide-na€ıve than nucleos(t)ide-experienced (69% vs 53%), and adefovir-experienced than lamivudine/ telbivudine-experienced (62% vs 52%) patients achieved this endpoint. Most patients with HBV DNA<50 IU/mL also achieved HBV DNA<12 IU/L (60%, 45% and 61% of nucleos(t)ide-na€ıve, nucleos(t)ide-experienced and decompensated patients, respectively). In patients with compensated liver disease, ALT values normalized in 1532/1792 patients (85%), and HBeAg loss and HBeAg seroconversion were observed in 17% and 15% of treatment-na€ıve and 15% and 11% of treatment-experienced patients. Entecavir was generally well tolerated. Adverse event rates were comparable between treatment-na€ıve and treatment-experienced patients with compensated liver disease, but were higher in decompensated than in compensated patients, consistent with previous reports in these patients with more advanced disease. Four patients discontinued treatment due to adverse events. In a ‘real-world’ setting, entecavir was efficacious and well tolerated throughout 48 weeks in a heterogeneous Chinese CHB population.

Intrahepatic IFN-alpha expression in liver specimens from HBV-infected patients with different outcomes

BACKGROUND

Interferon-alpha (IFN-α), an active cytokine, plays an important role in antiviral host responses, including protection against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. This study was designed to investigate the correlation between intrahepatic IFN-α expression levels and disease severity using liver biopsy specimens from HBV-infected patients with different outcomes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to detect intrahepatic IFN-α expression in liver biopsy specimens obtained from 69 HBV-infected patients with different outcomes (including 23 cases with chronic hepatitis B [CHB], 18 cases with severe hepatitis B [SHB], and 28 cases with liver cirrhosis [LC]). In situ hybridization (ISH) was carried out to measure the levels of HBV DNA in liver samples. In addition, the liver specimens of 33 healthy liver transplant donors without detectable liver diseases comprised a normal control (NC) group.

RESULTS

The intrahepatic expression levels of IFN-α were higher in the HBV-infected patients than the NC group (p = 0.001). Intrahepatic IFN-α expression was also significantly higher in the SHB and CHB groups compared to the NC group (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively), while the intrahepatic HBV DNA levels of the SHB patients were higher than those of LC patients (p = 0.013). Furthermore, intrahepatic IFN-α expression was positively correlated with serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in CHB patients; no significant correlations were discovered between intrahepatic IFN-α expression and intrahepatic HBV DNA levels in all other sub-groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Intrahepatic IFN-α expression may correlate with liver inflammation after hepatitis B virus infection, and IFN-α may play a vital role in the occurrence of SHB.

Comparison of prediction equations to estimate glomerular filtration rate in Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease

AIM

We sought to evaluate the applicability of formulae based on serum creatinine (SC) levels in Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three hundred and twenty-seven patients with CKD who had undergone (99m) Tc-DTPA glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimation were enrolled. The Cockcroft-Gault equation, SC-reciprocal equation, Gate equation, Hull equation, Jelliffe-1973 equation, Jelliffe-1971 equation, Mawer equation, Bjornsson equation, reexpressed 6-variable MDRD equation and reexpressed 4-variable MDRD equation were compared. Using the (99m) Tc-DTPA GFR as the standard GFR (sGFR), the accuracy of estimated GFR was compared with sGFR in various stages of CKD.

RESULTS

Median per cents of the absolute difference ranged from 28.16% to 39.39%, accuracy with a deviation less than 30% ranging from 39.4% to 53.5%, accuracy with a deviation less than 50% ranging from 63.0% to 80.7%. None of the equations had accuracy up to the 70% level with a deviation less than 30% from sGFR. Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated that mean difference ranged from -2.42 to 16.39 mL/min/1.73 m(2), whereas precision ranged from 82.66 to 106.15 mL/min/1.73 m(2). However, the agreement limits of all the equations exceeded the prior acceptable tolerances defined as 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2). Linear regression showed that the slopes of regression line ranged from 0.37 to 0.54 and intercepts ranged from -12.10 to 3.86. When the overall performance as well as bias and accuracy were compared in different stages of CKD, GFR estimated by Jelliffe-1973 equation, Cockcroft-Gault equation and Bjornsson equation showed promising results.

CONCLUSION

When SC was measured by the enzymatic method, GFR estimation equations showed great bias in Chinese CKD patients. At present, the Jelliffe-1973 equation and Cockcroft-Gault equation may be more accurate in the Chinese ethnic group.

Roles of functional NFKB1 and β-TrCP insertion/deletion polymorphisms in mRNA expression and epithelial ovarian cancer susceptibility

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the leading cause of death among all gynecological cancers. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) is involved in carcinogenesis and in the development of EOC. The β-transducin repeat-containing protein (β-TrCP) is a positive regulator of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Recent studies have indicated that the -94 ins/del ATTG polymorphism in the promoter region of the NFKB1 gene, and the 9N ins/del polymorphism in the 3'-untranslated region of the β-TrCP gene are associated with increased susceptibility to a variety of cancers. We examined a potential association between these two polymorphisms and EOC. Genotypes were determined for 187 patients with EOC and 221 healthy control subjects, using the MassARRAY system. We found a significant association between the -94 ins/del ATTG genotype distribution and EOC. The frequency of the -94 del ATTG allele was significantly lower in EOC patients compared to healthy controls. The NF-κB mRNA level in cancer tissue was significantly correlated with -94 ins/del ATTG genotypes. Compared to the ATTG1/ATTG1 phenotype, the NF-κB mRNA level was 2.089 and 1.257 times higher in the ATTG2 (insertion)/ATTG2 homozygote and the ATTG1 (deletion)/ATTG2 heterozygote, respectively. However, we found no evidence of association between the 9N ins/del polymorphism of the β-TrCP gene and EOC in this Chinese population. Based on these results, we suggest that the NF-κB -94 ins/del ATTG polymorphism is a risk factor for EOC susceptibility.

The p53-Bak apoptotic signaling axis plays an essential role in regulating differentiation of the ocular lens

The tumor suppressor p53 is a master regulator of apoptosis and also plays a key role in cell cycle checking. In our previous studies, we demonstrated that p53 directly regulates Bak in mouse JB6 cells (Qin et al. 2008. Cancer Research. 68(11):4150) and that p53-Bak signaling axis plays an important role in mediating EGCG-induced apoptosis. Here, we demonstrate that the same p53-Bak apoptotic signaling axis executes an essential role in regulating lens cell differentiation. First, during mouse lens development, p53 is expressed and differentially phosphorylated at different residues. Associated with p53 expression, Bak is also significantly expressed during mouse lens development. Second, human p53 directly regulates Bak promoter and Bak expression in p53 knockout mice (p53-/-) was significantly downregulated. Third, during in vitro bFGF-induced lens cell differentiation, knockdown of p53 or Bak leads to significant inhibition of lens cell differentiation. Fourth, besides the major distribution of Bak in cytoplasm, it is also localized in the nucleus in normal lens or bFGF-induced differentiating lens cells. Finally, p53 and Bak are co-localized in both cytoplasm and nucleus, and their interaction regulates the stability of p53. Together, these results demonstrate for the first time that the p53-Bak apoptotic signaling axis plays an essential role in regulating lens differentiation.

Potential for enhanced therapeutic activity of biological cancer therapies with doxycycline combination

Despite significant strides made in the clinical translation of adoptive immune cell therapies, it is apparent that many tumors incorporate strategies to avoid recognition by receptors expressed on the immune cells, such as NKG2D. Strategies that stabilize the expression of ligands for these receptors may enhance the therapeutic potential of these and related therapies. Doxycycline inhibits matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that act to cleave the extracellular domain of MICA/B, ligands for the NKG2D receptor. Doxycycline treatment blocked shedding of MICA/B from a panel of human tumor cells, but also acted to increase their expression and cell surface translocation, possibly through its action on ATM. This meant that many tumor cells displayed increased MICA/B expression and enhanced susceptibility to CIK cells. Interestingly, doxycycline also selectively enhanced the replication of oncolytic vaccinia in many tumor cell lines, leading to increased sensitivity to these therapies. Combination (CIK-oncolytic vaccinia) therapies used in conjunction with doxycycline led to increased anti-tumor effects. The unexpected and pleiotropic beneficial anti-tumor effects of doxycycline on both immune cell and oncolytic viral therapies make it an excellent candidate for rapid clinical testing.

The current status of combination therapy of chronic hepatitis B

In the past decade, the treatment of chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) has been revolutionized by the increased availability of effective antiviral agents. However, there is an alarming of the increasing rates of viral resistance and suboptimal response in CHB patients with single drug therapy. Recently, the strategy of combination therapy for CHB has been proposed and concerned by clinicians. In this review, using PubMed and web of science as main searching tools, we evaluated various latest research reports on combination therapy for CHB, and made a summary of the progress of combination antiviral therapy and outline areas that need to be addressed in the future.

Antepartum embolization in management of labor induction in placenta previa

The authors present a case of a 29-year-old woman, gravid 2 para 1, who experienced complete placenta previa and underwent vaginal delivery, after performing antepartum uterine artery embolization and rivanol amniotic injection due to contraindication of obstetric surgery. In this case, treatment was successful despite thromboembolism. Hypercoagulability in pregnancy needs to be addressed.

Potentiometric pH sensors based on chemically modified electrodes with electropolymerized metal-tetraaminophthalocyanine

Potentiometric pH sensors based on polymer film were prepared by electropolymerization of the monomer nickel(II)-4,4',4'',4'''-tetraaminophthalocyanine (NiTAPc) or copper(II)-4,4',4'',4'''-tetraaminophthalocyanine (CuTAPc) on glassy carbon (GC) electrodes. The polymer of metal tetraaminophthalocyanine (p-MTAPc) film coated electrodes show a slope of 55 +/- 1 mV/pH (at 20 degrees C) and nearly Nernstain potentiometric response to pH over the range of pH 1-13. The electrodes possess good potential reproducibility and high selectivity, and are useful sensing devices in pH determination and end-point indication of acid-base potentiometric titration.

In-Situ Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect of Epitaxial GD (0001)

We have characterized magnetization loops of epitaxially grown Gd (0001) films on W (110) in the temperature range 145≤T≤300K. This was accomplished by measuring magneto-optical Kerr loops in UHV, in the transverse geometry, using a 2×10-4 deg sensitivity differential detector and He-Ne laser light.

Films grown in the Stranski-Krastanov (SK) Mode (growth temperature 400°C) and films grown in a Frank-van-der-Merwe (FM) like Mode (growth temperature 20°C) behave significantly differently. While the room temperature grown films (FM) show square hysteresis behavior only after an annealing cycle to at least 300°C, the higher growth temperature (SK) leads to highly remanent films in the as grown state.

The hysteresis behavior of these films is most important in conjunction with recently reported spin-polarized photoemission results, which showed that the growth temperature and therefore the film morphology has a strong influence on the surface magnetic reconstruction of Gd (0001) [1].

Canted Magnetic Moments at the Gd (0001) Surface

With spin polarized electron spectroscopies, we have investigated ordered Gd (0001) films deposited on W (110). The photoemission features of the gadolinium 5d surface state, the 4f levels, and the background exhibit considerable spin polarization along the same direction in the plane of the film, indicative of ferromagnetic coupling between the surface and the bulk. The 4f spin polarized photoemission data provides strong evidence that the surface 4f polarization differs from the bulk 4f polarization for Gd (000l). Our temperature dependent measurements with spin polarized secondary electron spectroscopy conclusively establishes that the surface of clean Gd (0001) possesses a perpendicular polarization component which persists to an enhanced surface Curie temperature. SMall amounts of contamination at the surface result in the disappearance of the perpendicular component and, therefore, a more perfect ferromagnetic coupling between the surface and the bulk.