[Genetic characterization of rubella virus isolated in Guizhou Province from 2012 to 2015]

Objective: To analyze the genetic characteristics of rubella virus isolated from 2012 to 2015 in Guizhou province. Methods: A total of 390 cases of suspected measles were collected from Guizhou measles network laboratory from 2012 to 2015 and 25 cases of rubella cases were diagnosed. Rubella virus isolation was performed using Vero/SLAM cells. The presence of rubella viral RNA was detected using Real-time RT-PCR after RNA extraction from infected tissue culture cells. Fragments of 480 bp and 633 bp nucleotides of E1 genes of the isolates were amplified by RT-PCR and the PCR products were sequenced and spliced. The phylogenetic tree was conducted based on the 739 bp nucleotide sequences of E1 genes and gene characteristic analysis was performed. Results: There were 19 cases of rubella outbreaks and 6 cases of rubella sporadic cases in 25 cases of suspected rubella cases. There were 11 males (44.0%) and 14 females (56.0%). The mean age and standard deviation were (12.3±3.9) years. A total of 10 rubella strains were isolated. The results of phylogenetic analysis showed that 7 strains of rubella virus isolates belonged to genotype 1E and the other belonged to genotype 2B. The nucleotide acid and amino acid homology among 7 strains 1E genotype were 99.0%-100% and 100% respectively. 2B genotype of 3 strains of nucleotide and amino acid homology were 99.4%-100% and 99.5%-100% respectively. Ten strains of rubella virus were not mutated in the E1 glycoprotein gene, Asn 177 and Asn 209 N-type glycosylation sites and E1 antigen epitopes between 213 and 285aa.Among them, 7 strains of 1E genotype had a mutation from leucine to phenylalanine in 338 amino acid, 2 strains of 2B genotype at 377 amino acids from valine to alanine. Conclusion: Rubella virus epidemic was caused by 1E and 2B genotypes in Guizhou from 2012 to 2015.Ten strains of rubella virus were highly conserved in nucleotide and amino acid sequences and there was no variation of important functional sites.

Autoantibodies in Melanoma-Associated Retinopathy Recognize an Epitope Conserved Between TRPM1 and TRPM3

Purpose

Melanoma-associated retinopathy (MAR) is a paraneoplastic syndrome associated with malignant melanoma and the presence of anti-retinal autoantibodies, including autoantibodies against transient receptor potential melanopsin 1 (TRPM1), a cation channel expressed by both melanocytes and retinal bipolar cells. The goal of this study was to further map the antigenic epitope.

Methods

Patient sera were tested by immunofluorescence and Western blotting on HEK293 cells transfected with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-TRPM1 fusion constructs and mouse retina sections.

Results

The epitope recognized by MAR patient sera was mapped to a region encoded by exons 9 and 10 of the human TRPM1 gene. This region of TRPM1 is highly conserved with TRPM3, and indeed MAR sera were found to cross-react with TRPM3, a closely related channel expressed in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).

Conclusions

These results indicate that TRPM1 autoantibodies in MAR patient sera recognize a short, intracellular segment of TRPM1. Cross-reactivity with TRPM3 in the RPE may account for other visual symptoms that are experienced by some MAR patients such as retinal and RPE detachments. We propose that TRPM1 autoantibodies are generated in response to abnormal TRPM1 polypeptides encoded by an alternate mRNA splice variant expressed by malignant melanocytes.

Ultrasound hyperthermia induces apoptosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: An in vitro study

Background

Hyperthermia is considered an efficient complement in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Hyperthermia induces cell apoptosis in a temperature- and time-dependent manner. However, the molecular mechanism of hyperthermia remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of apoptosis induced by ultrasound hyperthermia in HNSCC cell lines HN-30 and HN-13.

Material and Methods

We examined the dynamic changes of early apoptosis and secondary necrosis in HN-30 and HN-13 cells treated by hyperthermia at 42°C for 10 min. We further examined mitochondrial membrane potential in vitro by ultrasound hyperthermia for different heating temperatures (38-44°C, 10 min) and heating times (42°C, 10-50 min). After heating by ultrasound at 42°C for 10 min, the apoptosis index achieved its highest level at 8 h after treatment, decreased rapidly and remained constant at a reduced level at 12 h.

Results

The level of secondary necrosis increased with the level of early apoptosis but remained at a higher level until 14 h. The level of secondary necrosis correlated with the level of early apoptosis (HN-13: r=0.7523, P=0.0030; HN-30: r=0.6510, P=0.016). The fractions of cells with low mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ) in the heating-temperature grads group and heating-time grads group decreased significantly over time. Therefore, HN-30 and HN-13 cells developed apoptosis after ultrasound hyperthermia treatment with decreases in the mitochondrial transmembrane potential level.

Conclusions

Ultrasound hyperthermia induces apoptosis in HN-30 and HN-13 cells, possibly via the mitochondrial caspase pathway.

Key words:Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential, ultrasound hyperthermia.

Neutron Generation by Laser-Driven Spherically Convergent Plasma Fusion

We investigate a new laser-driven spherically convergent plasma fusion scheme (SCPF) that can produce thermonuclear neutrons stably and efficiently. In the SCPF scheme, laser beams of nanosecond pulse duration and 10^{14}-10^{15}  W/cm^{2} intensity uniformly irradiate the fuel layer lined inside a spherical hohlraum. The fuel layer is ablated and heated to expand inwards. Eventually, the hot fuel plasmas converge, collide, merge, and stagnate at the central region, converting most of their kinetic energy to internal energy, forming a thermonuclear fusion fireball. With the assumptions of steady ablation and adiabatic expansion, we theoretically predict the neutron yield Y_{n} to be related to the laser energy E_{L}, the hohlraum radius R_{h}, and the pulse duration τ through a scaling law of Y_{n}∝(E_{L}/R_{h}^{1.2}τ^{0.2})^{2.5}. We have done experiments at the ShengGuangIII-prototype facility to demonstrate the principle of the SCPF scheme. Some important implications are discussed.

Engineering Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Release Adenosine Using miRNA Technology

Adenosine is an important modulator of metabolic activity with powerful tissue and cell protective functions. Adenosine kinase (ADK), the major adenosine-regulating enzyme, is critical to adapt its intra- and extracellular levels in response to environmental changes. Lentiviral RNAi-mediated downregulation of ADK in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) has therefore been considered an effective tool for engineering therapeutically effective adenosine-releasing cell grafts that could constitute patient-identical autologous implants for clinical application. We constructed lentiviral vectors that co-express miRNA directed against ADK and an emerald green fluorescent protein (EmGFP) reporter gene. Following lentiviral transduction of hMSCs, we demonstrated up to 80% downregulation of ADK and 98% transduction efficiency. Transduced hMSCs continued to express EmGFP after four to six consecutive passages, and EmGFP-positive hMSC grafts survived in the hippocampal fissure of mouse brains and provided efficient adenosine-dependent neuroprotection in a mouse model of seizure-induced cell loss.

Development of a vaccine against Streptococcus agalactiae in fish based on truncated cell wall surface anchor proteins

Streptococcus agalactiae is an important fish pathogen and a leading cause of major economic losses to the aquaculture industry worldwide. In the present study, the two truncated recombinant proteins of cell wall surface anchor family of S agalactiae, CWSAP465 and CWSAP1035, were expressed in Escherichia coli, and their immunogenicity and efficacy against the bacterium were evaluated in tilapia and turbot. The results showed that the prokaryotic expression of the two constructs, p32a-CWSAP465 and p32a-CWSAP1035, gave rise to a high yield of soluble proteins with good immunogenicity. The immunisation-challenge study revealed that tilapia and turbot immunised with recombinant truncated proteins produced high levels of antibodies with a peak at four weeks after immunisation and were protected from a challenge by a virulent S agalactiae at a dose of 1×10⁹ colony forming units/ml. The recombinant truncated proteins had higher efficacy than the whole-cell inactivated vaccine. Therefore, the study demonstrated that CWSAP465 and CWSAP1035 are two viable vaccine candidates against S agalactiae in fish.

[Head and neck alveolar soft-part sarcoma: a review in diagnosis and treatment]

Head and neck alveolar soft part sarcoma(ASPS) is a rare, distinctive sarcoma, typically occurring in infants and children.It displays a relatively fast clinical course, and the ultimate prognosis is poor and is often characterised by late metastases. It is now clear that they are caused by the formation of an ASPL TFE3 fusion gene,and the new molecular target therapies under study may change the possible approach to primary disease.The diagnosis and treatment of head and neck ASPS are reviewed in this article.

Lubricin/Proteoglycan 4 binds to and regulates the activity of Toll-Like Receptors In Vitro

Proteoglycan 4 (PRG4/lubricin) is secreted by cells that reside in articular cartilage and line the synovial joint. Lubricin may play a role in modulating inflammatory responses through interaction with CD44. This led us to examine if lubricin could be playing a larger role in the modulation of inflammation/immunity through interaction with Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK) cells overexpressing TLRs 2, 4 or 5 and surface plasmon resonance were employed to determine if full length recombinant human lubricin was able to bind to and activate TLRs. Primary human synovial fibroblasts were also examined using flow cytometry and Luminex multiplex ELISA. A rat destabilization model of osteoarthritis (OA) was used to determine if lubricin injections were able to regulate pain and/or inflammation in vivo. Lubricin can bind to and regulate the activity of TLRs, leading to downstream changes in inflammatory signalling independent of HA. We confirmed these findings in vivo through intra-articular injections of lubricin in a rat OA model where the inhibition of systemic inflammatory signaling and reduction in pain were observed. Lubricin plays an important role in regulating the inflammatory environment under both homeostatic and tissue injury states.

Interferon-α-2b as an adjuvant therapy prolongs survival of patients with previously resected oral muscosal melanoma

Two major subtypes of melanoma include cutaneous melanoma and mucosal melanoma. The latter type is rare and usually occurs in the head and neck region. High-dose interferon-α-2b (IFN-α-2b) has proven effective in the treatment of cutaneous melanoma. Recently, a regimen of temozolomide plus cisplatin was reported more likely to improve relapse-free survival and overall survival than high-dose IFN-α-2b for mucosal melanoma. We conducted this study to analyze the therapeutic effect of high-dose IFN-α-2b for patients with oral mucosal melanoma who had received prior chemotherapy. One hundred and seventeen patients with stage III-IVa oral mucosal melanoma who had received chemotherapy were analyzed. The overall survival and relapse-free survival were compared between the patients with/without high-dose IFN-α-2b. The results indicate that the IFN-α-2b treatment group had a longer relapse-free survival rate (P = 0.0169) as compared to the control group. However, the overall survival was not significant between the two groups (P = 0.096), except in patients in stage IVa, whose overall survival increased by 20 months (P = 0.0146). The adverse reactions included a drug-induced influenza-like syndrome, gastrointestinal responses, myelosuppression, and hepatoxicity, which were predominantly of grade 1-2 and reversible. Thus, patients with resected oral mucosal melanoma, even those who have received chemotherapy, could benefit from the treatment of high-dose IFN-α-2b.

Comparison of PEGylated FGF-21 with insulin glargine for long-lasting hypoglycaemic effect in db/db mice

AIM

This study investigated the long-acting antidiabetic efficacy of PEGylated fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-21 in type 2 diabetic db/db mice.

METHODS

PEGylated FGF-21 was prepared by modifying the N-terminus of human FGF-21 (hFGF-21) using mPEG-ALD. To compare the long-lasting hypoglycaemic effects of PEGylated FGF-21 and insulin glargine in diabetic db/db mice, their pharmacological efficacy was evaluated by changes in blood glucose levels, body weight, insulin levels, glycosylated haemoglobin levels, lipid profile and liver function parameters, and by oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs).

RESULTS

Both PEGylated FGF-21 and insulin glargine decreased plasma glucose in db/db mice. However, compared with insulin glargine treatment, PEGylated FGF-21 therapy had more significant effects in lowering blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin levels, improving lipid profile and liver function parameters, alleviating insulin resistance and reducing the glucose area under the curve in OGTTs.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that PEGylated FGF-21 is an ideal candidate as a long-acting antidiabetes drug, and holds significant promise as an effective therapeutic agent in the treatment of type 2 diabetes patients.

Polymorphism in the 5ꞌ-UTR of the insulin-like growth factor I gene associated with production traits in Chinese cattle

The insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) gene plays important roles in the growth and body composition of animals. Serum IGF1 concentration has been associated with growth traits in many livestock species. We found a polymorphism of cattle IGF1-TasI locus and analyzed the distribution of alleles in three cattle breeds, including Qinchuan, Nanyang, and Chinese Holstein. PCR-RFLP analysis showed that allele A was the dominant allele. The frequencies of allele A varied from 0.84 to 0.97. Distributions of genotypic and allelic frequencies were significantly different among breeds. Polymorphism of the IGF1 gene was significantly affecting hucklebone width at 6 months in the Nanyang breed and protein and fat yield of the third lactation in Chinese Holstein cattle. Individuals with allele C had a significantly higher performance in production traits.

Molecular characterization and expression pattern of an α-amylase gene (HcAmy) from the freshwater pearl mussel, Hyriopsis cumingii

The freshwater pearl mussel Hyriopsis cumingii is of commercial importance because it produces the freshwater pearl; however, knowledge about the molecular characterization and regulation mechanisms of α-amylase remains unknown for this species. In this study, the full-length cDNA of the α-amylase gene (HcAmy) was isolated from H. cumingii by the rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Tissue-specific expression analysis showed that HcAmy mRNA was mainly expressed in the hepatopancreas; although, the gene was also expressed in the adductor muscle, intestine, gill, and crystalline style. After 2 weeks starvation, the expression of HcAmy mRNA in the hepatopancreas was upregulated at 24 h after re-feeding or when exposed to algal concentration of 32 μg/L chlorophyll-a, indicating that the HcAmy mRNA expression in H. cumingii is regulated by algal availability. The results of this study confirm that the HcAmy gene is an important component of the carbohydrate metabolism of H. cumingii fed phytoplankton. In addition, this study demonstrates that the modulation of this gene is dependent on environmental food availability, including starvation, re-feeding time following a period of starvation, and algal concentrations during re-feeding.

Tumor resident mesenchymal stromal cells endow naïve stromal cells with tumor-promoting properties

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (BM-MSCs) can infiltrate into tumors and subsequently evolve into tumor resident MSCs in tumor microenvironment. In this study, using a mouse lymphoma model, we showed that the lymphoma resident MSCs (L-MSCs) are able to confer tumor-promoting property to the naïve cocultured BM-MSCs. Examination of cytokines and chemokines showed that post exposure to L-MSCs, BM-MSCs acquired an expression profile that is similar to that in L-MSCs. In vivo, BM-MSCs educated by L-MSCs (BM-L-MSCs) possess a greatly enhanced ability in promoting lymphoma growth. Consistent with an elevated CCL-2 expression in BM-L-MSCs, the tumor-promoting effect of BM-L-MSCs largely depends on CCR2-mediated macrophage recruitment to tumor sites. We further showed that the transmission of tumor-promoting effect is partially mediated by soluble factors. Our findings thus revealed a novel reinforcing mechanism in the maintenance of tumor microenvironment.