Vitamin d-binding protein levels in plasma and gingival crevicular fluid of patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis

Vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) is the main transport protein of vitamin D and plays an important role in the immune system and host defenses. The purpose of this study was to measure DBP levels in plasma and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP), in comparison to healthy controls, with the goal of elucidating the relationship between DBP and GAgP. Fifty-nine GAgP patients and 58 healthy controls were recruited for the study; clinical parameters of probing depths (PD), bleeding index, and attachment loss (AL) were recorded. DBP levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. From the results, GAgP patients had higher plasma DBP concentrations (P < 0.001) but lower GCF DBP concentrations (P < 0.001) than healthy controls. In GAgP group, after controlling the potential confounders of age, gender, smoking status, and BMI index, GCF DBP concentrations correlated negatively with PD (P < 0.001) and AL (P = 0.009). Within the limits of the study, we concluded that decreased GCF DBP level and increased plasma DBP level are associated with periodontitis.

Chronopharmacokinetics of puerarin in diabetic rats

Puerarin injection has been widely used for clinic treatment of diabetes recently. To assess the relationship between the administration time of puerarin and the blood concentration of puerarin as well as its pharmacokinetic parameters, the diabetic rat model was used in current study. The rats were randomly divided into morning and evening groups according to the administration time. After the puerarin injection, blood glucose was tested in order to know whether the efficiency of puerarin was influenced by its concentration and pharmacokinetic parameters. Our results show that the average concentration of puerarin in the evening group is significantly higher than that in the morning group. The numbers of t_1/2α, t_1/2β, CL and AUC_(0-∞) are significantly different between the morning and evening groups. The blood glucose level in the evening group was lower than that in the morning group. The speed of its onset is higher and the blood glucose level declines much more significantly in the evening group. These findings suggest that the concentration and pharmacokinetic parameters of puerarin affect its efficiency in diabetic rats. Therefore, it might be better to give puerarin in evening than in the morning for the mellitus treatment.

Daclizumab reduces CD25 levels on T cells through monocyte-mediated trogocytosis

Daclizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that prevents interleukin-2 (IL-2) binding to CD25, blocking IL-2 signaling by cells that require high-affinity IL-2 receptors to mediate IL-2 signaling. The phase 2a CHOICE study evaluating daclizumab as a treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) included longitudinal analysis of activated T cell counts. Whereas an exposure-dependent relationship was observed between daclizumab and reductions in HLA-DR(+)-activated T cells, a similar relationship was not observed for reductions in CD25 levels. The objective of this report is to determine the mechanism by which daclizumab reduces CD25 levels on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using cytometric techniques. Daclizumab reduced T cell CD25 levels through a mechanism that required the daclizumab-Fc domain interaction with Fc receptors (FcR) on monocytes, but not on natural killer (NK) cells, and was unrelated to internalization or cell killing. Activated CD4(+) T cells and FoxP3(+) Treg cells showed evidence of trogocytosis of the CD25 antigen in the presence of monocytes. A daclizumab variant that retained affinity for CD25 but lacked FcR binding did not induce trogocytosis and was significantly less potent as an inhibitor of IL-2-induced proliferation of PBMCs. In conclusion, Daclizumab-induced monocyte-mediated trogocytosis of CD25 from T cells appears to be an additional mechanism contributing to daclizumab inhibition of IL-2 signaling.

[Predictive model for post-treatment tooth loss of patients with aggressive periodontitis]

OBJECTIVE

To establish a predictive model for long-term tooth loss of patients with aggressive periodontitis (AgP) after periodontal treatment.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed as AgP in Department of Periodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, who were re-evaluated 3 to 11 years after periodontal treatment were enrolled (n=85). Logistic regression was performed to select background, periodontal and radiographic factors which were related to long-term post-treatment tooth loss. A predictive model was built and analyzed by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve.

RESULTS

After periodontal treatment, 55 teeth from 22 patients lost further. High prevalence of baseline bone loss, root abnormality, and residual severe bleeding sites, as well as poor compliance to maintenance were detected as risk factors in the predictive model. ROC analysis found the sensitivity and specificity of the model could reach up to 80% simultaneously.

CONCLUSION

Predictive model for post-treatment tooth loss of patients with AgP is an important adjunct in clinical practice.

New attempts to modify periodontal risk assessment for generalized aggressive periodontitis: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Periodontal risk assessment (PRA) model was designed for risk evaluation of treated patients with periodontal disease. However, its use on generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP) had been scarcely reported. This study aims to investigate the association of original PRA/modified PRA (MPRA) and compliance of periodontal maintenance with long-term treatment outcomes of Chinese patients with GAgP.

METHODS

Eighty-eight patients from a GAgP cohort, who completed active periodontal treatment (APT) and accepted reevaluation 3 to 11 years (mean of 5.5 years) afterward, were enrolled. PRA was modified (three strategies involving replacement of bleeding on probing with bleeding index >2, counting sites with probing depth ≥6 mm and changing method of bone loss [BL] calculation) to classify patients into different risk groups based on data at the first recall after APT. PRA and three MPRA models were investigated regarding long-term association with tooth loss (TL) and alteration of bone level (∆BL).

RESULTS

Based on original PRA, 87 patients (98.8%) had a high-risk profile. According to three MPRA models, annual TL per patient values were greater in high-risk groups than in low-to-moderate risk groups (MPRA-1, 0.20 ± 0.33 versus 0.04 ± 0.14; MPRA-2, 0.18 ± 0.32 versus 0.05 ± 0.14; MPRA-3, 0.17 ± 0.32 versus 0.05 ± 0.15; P <0.05). By MPRA-1, irregular compliers with low-to-moderate risk profile had greater ∆BL (0.027 ± 0.031, indicating bone increment) than those with high risk (-0.012 ± 0.064, tendency for BL). For regular compliers, no significant differences of annual TL or ∆BL were found between risk groups.

CONCLUSIONS

MPRA models could be used for evaluating the long-term outcomes of Chinese patients with severe GAgP, especially irregular compliers. High-risk patients of MPRAs exhibited more TL and less bone fill than low-to-moderate risk ones.

136 EFFECTS OF INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR I (IGF-1) ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND APOPTOSIS OF PREIMPLANTATION BUFFALO (BUBALUS BUBALIS) EMBRYOS

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1) on the development and apoptosis of preimplantation buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) embryos derived from IVF or somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in order to improve the quality of in vitro embryo culture (IVC). Buffalo oocytes collected from ovaries at slaughter were cultured in the maturation medium (TCM-199 + 26.2 mmol L–1 NaHCO3 + 5 mmol L–1 HEPES + 5% FBS) for 22–24 h, and fertilized in vitro, or enucleated and reconstructed for SCNT. Embryos were then cultured in the culture medium (CM: TCM-199 + 3% FBS) supplemented with different concentrations of IGF-1. Blastocyst development was evaluated after 7 days of culture. A total of 1566 oocytes were used in this study. The experimental data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA, P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. The results showed that the cleavage rates of IVF or SCNT embryos cultured with 0, 10, 50, or 100 ng mL–1 IGF-I, were not significantly different (P > 0.05). However, the blastocyst rate of IVF embryos cultured with 50 ng mL–1 IGF-1 was significantly increased compared to the 0 ng mL–1 group (35.1 v. 23.0%; P < 0.05), but not significantly different among the 0, 10, and 100 ng mL–1 groups (23.0 v. 28.2 and 26.5%; P > 0.05). In the same line, more SCNT embryos could develop to the blastocyst stage when cultured in the CM supplemented with 50 ng mL–1 IGF-I by comparison with the 0 ng mL–1 group (32.3 v. 20.2%; P < 0.05), but the blastocyst development decreased with 100 ng mL–1 (32.3 v. 21.4%; P < 0.05). Apoptosis and total cell number (TCN) of IVF/SCNT blastocysts were respectively detected by TUNEL or Hoechst 33342 staining. By comparison with the 0 ng mL–1 group, the TCN of IVF/SCNT blastocysts was significantly increased (IVF: 91.7 ± 6.9 v. 108.7 ± 3.9, SCNT: 76.3 ± 5.6 v. 92.8 ± 3.9; P < 0.05) and the apoptotic index was obviously decreased (IVF: 3.9 ± 0.7 v. 2.5 ± 0.7; 7.2 ± 0.5 v. 2.9 ± 0.5; P < 0.05) when the embryos were cultured in the CM with 50 ng mL–1 IGF-I. The result of RT-qPCR analysis showed that the mRNA expression level of the anti-apoptotic bcl-2 gene was distinctly enhanced, while the mRNA expression level of the pro-apoptotic bax gene was remarkably reduced in IVF/SCNT embryos cultured with 50 ng mL–1 IGF-I by comparison with the 0 ng mL–1 group (P < 0.05). These results demonstrated that supplementing CM with 50 ng mL–1 IGF-1 could improve the developmental competence of buffalo embryos, increase the TCN of blastocysts and decrease their apoptotic index, probably by down-regulating the mRNA level of pro-apoptotic bax gene and up-regulating the mRNA level of anti-apoptotic bcl-2 gene. This work was funded by the China High Technology Development Program (2011AA100607), China Natural Science Foundation (31072033), and Guangxi Science Foundation (2012GXNSFFA060004).

165 THE EFFECT OF shRNA TARGETING CLUSTER OF DIFFERENTIATION ANTIGEN 14 ON GENE EXPRESSION OF TNF-α, TLR4, AND IL-6 IN LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE-INDUCED BUFFALO PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONOCYTE/MACROPHAGE

Cluster of differentiation antigen 14 (CD14) plays a crucial role in the inflammatory response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which interacts with TLR4 and MD-2 to enable cell activation, leading to inflammation. Several studies have proved that upstream inhibition of bacterial LPS/toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/CD14-mediated inflammation pathway is an effective therapeutic approach for attenuating damaging immune activation. In this study, to explore the effect of CD14 down-regulation on TLR4 signal conductive-related genes expression after stimulation by LPS, five CD14 shRNA (319/421/755/970/1041) sequences and a negative control sequence (NC-1864) were synthesised and used to construct lentiviral recombinant plasmid pSicoR-GFP-shRNA. Lentiviral recombinant plasmids of pSicoR-GFP-shRNA and fusion expression vector of pDsRed-N1-buffalo CD14 were co-transfected into HEK293 using liposome. At 72 h after transfection, the expression of exogenous buffalo CD14 mRNA was reduced at different level for all shRNA plasmids, in which shRNA-1041 had the highest interfering efficiency by RT-qPCR and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. Then, buffalo peripheral blood monocyte/macrophage was purified and infected by the CD14 shRNA lentivirus. After 7 days of infection, the cells were stimulated by 1 µg mL–1 LPS for 3 h, then the mRNA expression level of CD14, TLR4, IL-6, and TNF-α transcripts in the cells were detected by the RT-qPCR method. After stimulation by LPS, the expression of endogenous CD14 was significantly reduced by CD14 shRNA-1041, the mRNA expression level of TLR4, IL-6, and TNF-α genes was also significantly down-regulated in comparison with control group (P ≤ 0.01). In conclusion, the selected CD14 shRNA-1041 cannot only inhibit the expression of endogenous CD14 mRNA in buffalo peripheral blood monocyte/macrophage, but also downregulate the mRNA expression of CD14, TLR4, IL-6, and TNF-α. The above results demonstrate that knockdown of endogenous CD14 has obvious coordination effects on the signal conductive function of TLR4 after stimulating by LPS, and shRNA technology will provide a new way to prevent endotoxin-related diseases in livestock. This work was supported by the National Transgenic Project (2009ZX08007-009B), Guangxi natural science funding (2012GXNSFCB053002), and funding of State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Bioresource Conservation and Utilisation (KSL-CUSAb-2012-02).

[Association between plasma leptin level and periodontal parameters in patients with aggressive periodontitis]

OBJECTIVE

To detect the plasma leptin levels in patients with aggressive periodontitis (AgP) and to analyze the relationship between circulating leptin level and periodontal condition.

METHODS

A total of 97 patients with AgP and 44 healthy controls were recruited. Detailed clinical examinations were conducted and clinical parameters such as bleeding index (BI), probing depth (PD), attachment loss (AL) were recorded. Plasma leptin level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

The plasma leptin level in AgP group was significantly higher than that of control subjects [(20.0 ± 4.3) µg/L vs. (7.5 ± 1.3) µg/L, P < 0.01)]. The plasma leptin level was positively related to BI, PD and AL, and the r values were 0.647, 0.596 and 0.632 respectively (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Plasma leptin concentration in AgP patients was significantly elevated compared with healthy controls. Circulating leptin level was positively related to periodontal parameters including BI, PD and AL.

Association of Toll-like receptor 4 gene polymorphisms in Japanese subjects with primary open-angle, normal-tension, and exfoliation glaucoma

PURPOSE

To determine whether polymorphisms in the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) gene are associated with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), and exfoliation glaucoma (XFG) in Japanese individuals.

DESIGN

Genetic association study.

METHODS

SETTING

Multicenter study.

STUDY POPULATION

One hundred eighty-four unrelated Japanese patients with POAG, 365 unrelated patients with NTG, and 109 unrelated patients with XFG from 5 hospitals.

PROCEDURES

Genomic DNA was extracted from leukocytes of the peripheral blood, and 8 polymorphisms in the TLR4 genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and directly sequenced. Allele and genotype frequencies and the inferred haplotypes were estimated.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Differences in allele and genotype frequencies and haplotypes between subjects with POAG, NTG, and XFG.

RESULTS

The allele frequency of rs2149356 of the TLR4 gene in the POAG, NTG, and XFG groups was the most significantly different from that of the control group (minor allele frequency 0.446, 0.395, 0.404, vs 0.308; P = .000058, P = .0030, and P = .015). The allele frequencies of the 5 TLR4 SNPs were higher in all of the glaucoma groups than that in the control group. The statistics of genotypes of TLR4 were approximately the same for all allele frequencies. The haplotypic frequencies with Tag SNPs studied earlier showed that only POAG was statistically significant. Other haplotypes, such as rs10759930, rs1927914, rs1927911, and rs2149356, had higher statistical significance (overall P = .00078 in POAG, overall P = .018 in NTG, and overall P = .014 in XFG).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that TLR4 polymorphisms are associated with NTG in the Japanese, and they also play a role in the pathogenesis of POAG and XFG.

Polymorphisms in the IL-13 and IL-4R genes are associated with the development of renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Cytokines are the important modulators that bind to their relevant receptors in response to some stimuli to mediate the homeostasis. It has been suggested that the imbalance of immune system of the host might affect the generation of diseases, including cancers.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We investigated the association between six functional polymorphisms of IL-4, IL-13, and IL-4R genes and susceptibility to renal cell cancer in a hospital-based study, including 620 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients and 623 controls. Logistic regression model was used to assess the genetic effects on the development of RCC.

RESULTS

Overall, individuals with IL-4R Ile50Val CT/TT genotypes had a 0.34-fold significantly decreased RCC risk (CT/TT versus CC), and the T variant allele was associated with a decreased risk of RCC in a dose-response manner (Ptrend=0.009). In addition, we also observed that IL-13 C-1055T and Arg130Gln polymorphisms could decrease the risk of RCC [TT versus

CC/CT

odds ratio=0.36, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.16-0.78; AA versus GG/GA: 0.66, 0.44-0.97, respectively]. Furthermore, a multiplicative interaction association between the combined IL-4R Ile50Val and IL-13 C-1055T genotypes was observed to decrease the risk of RCC (P=0.036).

CONCLUSION

IL-13 and IL-4R may play an important role in the etiology of RCC.

Fluorescent and highly stable unimodal DMPC based unilamellar vesicles formed by spontaneous curvature

The formation of uniform and highly stable unilamellar vesicles (ULVs) and the theory behind it are ongoing tasks within the vesicle community. Herein, we report the formation of highly stable, fluorescent, and unimodal 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) based ULVs with an average size of ~100 nm, as determined by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The ULVs are formed by mixing a two-component powder mixture or mixed lipid film of DMPC and 5 mol % of a novel amphiphilic carbenium salt, sodium 2-didecylamino-6,10-bis(N-methyltaruino)-4,8,12-trioxatriangulenium (Na-DSA) in aqueous solution when subjected to shaking. We propose that the high stability and the unimodal size distribution of the 5% DSA ULVs confirmed by DLS studies are a product of spontaneous curvature. UV-vis absorption/emission studies reveal that the structure of DSA promotes a strong interaction between the DMPC and the DSA to take place due to the complementary charge distribution of the DSA and DMPC head groups. The strong interaction may introduce an asymmetric amphiphile composition in the inner and outer leaflet of the bilayer which drives the spontaneous curvature.

Evaluation of CNTNAP2 gene polymorphisms for exfoliation syndrome in Japanese

PURPOSE

To investigate the contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) gene for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Japanese patients with the exfoliation syndrome (XFS).

METHODS

One hundred and eight unrelated Japanese patients with the XFS, and 199 normal controls were studied. Genomic DNA was extracted from the leukocytes of the peripheral blood, and 8 SNPs, rs826802, rs1404699, rs7803992, rs700308, rs4725736, rs2107856, rs2141388, and rs6970064, were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), directly sequenced, and genotyped.

RESULTS

The allele frequencies of rs1404699 (p=8.57XE-3, odds ratio (OR)=1.59, 95% confidential intervals (CI); 1,12-2.24) and rs7803992 (p=5.43XE-4, OR=1.86, 95% CI; 1.31-2.65) were statistically significantly different between XFS and controls. In addition, there were significant differences in these genotype frequencies (p=0.0197 and 1.75XE-3). The allele and the genotype frequencies of rs2107856 and rs2141388, which were statistically significant SNPs in an earlier study, were not significantly different.

CONCLUSIONS

The variants, rs1404699 and rs7803992, of CNTNAP2 should be associated with XFS in the Japanese population.

The first multicenter and randomized clinical trial of herbal Fufang for treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis

This multicenter and randomized clinical trial showed that daily oral herbal formula Xian Ling Gu Bao (XLGB) was safe in postmenopausal women over a 1-year treatment. Those patients (n ∼ 50) treated with XLGB at the conventional dose demonstrated a statistically significant increase in dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine at 6 months and a numerically increased BMD at 12 months.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to examine the safety and efficacy of a herbal formula XLGB in postmenopausal women (ChiCTR-TRC-00000347).

METHODS

One hundred eighty healthy postmenopausal women (≥60 years old) with BMD T-score ≤ -2.0 (lumbar spine or femoral neck) were recruited from four clinical centers to receive low-dose (conventional dose) XLGB (L-XLGB group, 3 g/day, n = 61) or high-dose XLGB (H-XLGB group, 6 g/day, n = 58) or placebo (CON group, n = 61). Women received daily calcium (500 mg) and vitamin D (200 IU) supplementation. Primary endpoints were lumbar spine BMD and safety; secondary endpoints were femoral neck BMD and bone turnover markers measured at baseline and at 6 and 12 months.

RESULTS

Of 180 women recruited, 148 completed the study. The compliance in each group was comparable. Prominent adverse events were not observed in either group. In the L-XLGB group at 6 months, lumbar spine BMD by DXA increased significantly from baseline (+2.11% versus CON +0.58%, p < 0.05), but femoral neck BMD did not; at 12 months, BMD in the L-XLGB group decreased from 6-month levels yet remained higher than baseline, but without difference from the CON group. There was no dose-dependent response. Bone turnover marker levels declined during the first 6 months after XLGB treatment. There was no significant difference in the overall incidence of side effects among treatment and control groups.

CONCLUSION

XLGB over 1-year treatment at the conventional dose demonstrated safe and only a statistically significant increase in BMD at lumbar spine at 6 months in postmenopausal women.

Association analysis between the -2518MCP-1(A/G) polymorphism and generalized aggressive periodontitis in a Chinese population

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

It has been suggested that aggressive periodontitis has a genetic basis. Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) plays a critical role in the recruitment of monocytes and the development of periodontitis. The -2518MCP-1(A/G) polymorphism has been implicated as a risk or susceptibility factor for a variety of autoimmune conditions and inflammatory diseases. The intent of this investigation was to study whether the -2518MCP-1(A/G) polymorphism is associated with generalized aggressive periodontitis in the Chinese population.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

One hundred and twenty-four patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis and 94 healthy subjects were included in this case-control study. Genomic DNA was isolated from a peripheral blood sample obtained from each subject. Gene polymorphisms of -2518MCP-1(A/G) were analyzed by a standard polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay. A logistic regression analysis was performed to test the association between the -2518MCP-1(A/G) genotype (alleles) and generalized aggressive periodontitis with adjustment of the major covariates (gender, age and smoking status).

RESULTS

There was no significant association of the -2518MCP-1(A/G) polymorphism with generalized aggressive periodontitis in the unstratified subjects. However, when patients were stratified by gender, the frequency of the G(+) genotype was significantly lower in female patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis compared with female controls (p = 0.036, adjusted odds ratio = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1-0.9). In female patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis, the probing pocket depth was larger in subjects with the AA genotype than in subjects with the G(+) genotype (5.07 mm vs. 4.30 mm; Z = -2.470, p = 0.014).

CONCLUSION

The polymorphisms of -2518MCP-1 may play an important role in determining generalized aggressive periodontitis susceptibility in this cohort of Chinese women.