Dopamine Receptor Gene Expression Changes in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Schizophrenic Patients Treated with Haloperidol and Olanzapine

We investigated dopamine receptor gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of schizophrenic patients before and after treatment. Also dopamine receptor genes expression profile was compared in two treatment groups including haloperidol and olanzapine. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells were separated from whole blood by Ficoll-hypaque; the total cellular RNA was extracted and the cDNA was synthesized. This process was followed by real-time polymerase chain reaction using primer pairs specific for five dopamine receptor mRNAs and β-actin as internal control. The results show the presence of all types of dopamine receptor in lymphocytes. Dopamine receptor gene expression profile in dopamine receptor D2 gene and dopamine receptor D4 gene showed significant changes that were correlated with the type of treatment and Clinical Global Impressions score improvement. In conclusion, the present study shows that human lymphocytes express dopamine receptor D1–D5 genes. Moreover, investigated dopamine receptors gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of schizophrenic patients correlated with clinical symptom improvement.

Novel Mutation Detection of an Inflammatory Molecule Elastase ii Gene Encoding Neutrophil Elastase in Kostmann Syndrome

Severe congenital neutropenia (SCN), often referred to as Kostmann syndrome, is a rare immune deficiency syndrome diagnosed at or soon after birth, characterized by maturation arrest of myeloid cells at the promyelocyte stage of hematopoiesis. In severe congenital neutropenia due to disorder of neutrophil production, patients are predisposed to recurrent bacterial infections. Recently, there have been reports of detected mutations in neutrophil elastase II (ELA2) gene in genomic DNA of severe congenital neutropenia. In this study we attempted to determine whether there is any mutation in elastase II gene encoding. Peripheral blood was collected from five patients with severe congenital neutropenia and 20 healthy individuals. Total RNA was isolated using RNA standard techniques from fresh separated cells by Polymorphoprep. RNA was analyzed by employing PCR amplification of reverse transcribed using a total of ten specific primers. We amplified five exons of ELA2 gene separately and sequenced each exon. Mutational analysis was performed by directed capillary sequencing method. We found mutations in all severe congenital neutropenia patients and no mutation in 20 healthy individuals. The most mutations were in exon 4 and no mutation was found in exons 3 and 5.

Growth Hormone Antibodies Formation in Patients Treated with Recombinant Human Growth Hormone

Human growth hormone (hGH) is normally produced by acidophilic cells of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. Recombinant DNA technology has made it possible to produce rhGH. There have been reports of immunological reactions in patients treated with rhGH. For this reason, it is necessary to check sera of patients for presence of antibody against rhGH. Forty-seven children were treated for up to 6 months with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH-Novo), 0.1 IU/Kg body weight, subcutaneously, three times weekly. The magnitude of growth response was similar to those expected from clinical experience with pituitary growth hormone. We examined sera for specific antibodies against rhGH by ELISA methods. Four patients developed serum antibodies against growth hormone. The analysis of these four sera by Dot blotting method also showed presence of antibodies against rhGH. In the sera of treated patients, pre-incubated with different concentration of rhGH, specific antibodies were detected by neutralizing assay. This finding was confirmed by ELISA technique. In conclusion, the main concern with anti-GH antibodies could be their ability to neutralize circulating growth hormone and inhibition its growth promoting effect.

RT-PCR Based Mutation Detection of the Inflammatory Molecules Elastase II Gene Encoding Neutrophil Elastase in Cyclic Neutropenia Patients by Capillary Sequencing

Cyclic neutropenia is characterized by the maturation arrest of myeloid cells at the promyelocyte stage of hematopoiesis. In cyclic neutropenia, due to the disorder of neutrophil production, patients are predisposed to recurrent bacterial infections. Detected mutations in neutrophil elastase (ELA2) gene in genomic DNA of cyclic neutropenia were recently reported. Peripheral blood was obtained from 18 patients with cyclic neutropenia and 20 healthy individuals. Total RNA was isolated using RNA standard techniques from fresh separated cells by polymorphoprep. Elastase II mRNA expression was analyzed by employing reverse transcription PCR amplification using a total of ten specific primers. We amplified five exon of ELA2 gene separately and sequenced each exon. Mutational analysis was performed by directed capillary sequencing method. We found mutations in 15 out of 18 cyclic neutropenia patients (83%) and no mutation in 20 healthy individuals. Most of the mutations were in exon 4 and fewer mutation were found in exon 1.

A novel report of apoptosis in human lung carcinoma cells using selective agonist of D2-like dopamine receptors: a new approach for the treatment of human non-small cell lung cancer

In our previous study, a relationship between low expression of D2-like dopamine receptor genes and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) disease was found. In this new research, by using selective agonist of these receptors, Bromocriptine (BR), we attempted to activate D2-like expression and apoptotic induction in a selective cell line of NSCLC. In addition, the relationship of apoptotic response of human lung carcinoma cells to BR and D2- dopamine receptor genes is investigated. Human lung cancer (QU-DB) cells were treated by five doses of BR at 48 h and cell viability was determined by MTT assay. The gene expression pattern of D2-like dopamine receptor Genes was studied by Real Time PCR. Nuclear morphology of cells was monitored by DAPI flourescent staining then induction of DNA fragmentation by BR was shown in an agarose gel. Finally, the detection and quantification of apoptosis and its differentiation from necrosis was carried out by using Annecxin-V-Fluos Staining. In this study, it is demonstrated that BR inhibited the proliferation of human lung cancer cells and induced apoptosis in them. In addition, the probable relationship between D2-dopamine receptor genes expression and the development of apoptosis was found. In conclusion, BR is responsible for induction of apoptosis in human lung cancer cells and can be used in treatment of these tumoric cells. In addition, normal expression of D2 dopamine receptors was associated with apoptotic effect of BR on these cells.

Inflammatory Mediator Serotonin Receptor Gene (5-HTR3A) Expression Changes on Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes in Rheumatoid Arthritis

The 5-HT3 receptor is a pentameric ligand-gated cation channel located in the central and peripheral nervous system and on extraneuronal locations like lymphocytes, monocytes and fetal tissue. Serotonin receptor gene expressions and their alterations in RA diseases have not been reported. The aim of this study is to show whether the serotonin receptor gene expresses on peripheral blood lymphocytes and also to characterise the lymphocyte serotonin receptor expression profiles in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the present study, using RT-PCR technique, the research team investigated 5-HT3A receptor gene expression in peripheral blood lymphocyte cells (PBMC) of forty healthy individuals compared to forty RA patients. The PBMC was separated from whole blood by Ficoll-hypaque. Total cellular RNA was extracted and then cDNA was synthesized. The research team analyzed quantititavely gene expression profile by Real time-PCR using primer pairs specific for 5-HT3A receptor and for β-actin as internal control. Each PCR product of 5-HT3A receptor was confirmed by DNA sequencer ABI 3700 capillary system (Applied Biosystem, USA). The results showed that the 5-HT3A receptor gene is detected on the lymphocytes of both normal control and RA patients. There was a significant difference between 5-HT3A receptor expression profile in RA and that of healthy individuals. Moreover, no SNP-based change on sequenced fragments was observed. In conclusion, the present study indicated that not only human lymphocytes in normal individuals and patients express 5HT3A receptor, but the expression pattern of 5HT3A receptor gene is different between normal controls and RA patients. Moreover, after sequencing no changes in either controls or patients were observed. The above-mentioned changes can contribute to new information related to the pathogenesis of RA disease.

Novel Mutation Detection of Regulatory Molecule Dopamine Gene Receptors (D1–D5) Encoding Analysis on Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes in Schizophrenia Patients

There is much evidence which highlights the involvement of the dopamine system in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Recently, there have been reports of detected mutations in dopamine gene receptors in genomic DNA of schizophrenia. In this study, we attempt to determine whether there is mutation in encoding dopamine receptor. The PBMC was separated from whole blood by Ficoll-hypaque; the total cellular RNA was extracted and the cDNA was synthesized. This process followed by real-time PCR using primer pairs specific for five dopamine receptor mRNAs and β-actin as internal control. The results show the presence of all types of dopamine receptor types in lymphocytes. The mutational analysis of the obtained PCR products for the respective dopamine receptor fragments were analyzed by sequenced capillary system. The results presented in this study confirm the high frequency of mutations in dopamine gene receptor DRD5 in schizophrenia patients. Mutational amino acid changes in dopamine gene receptors of DR2, DR3, DR4 but not DR1 are also shown. In conclusion, this is the first report of such complete mutational analyses in all dopamine gene receptors. Moreover, we found new mutations and 80% frequency of mutations in DRD5. These data further strengthen the argument for the role of dopamine gene receptor mutations in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

Plasma glucose lowering effect of the wild Satureja khuzestanica Jamzad essential oil in diabetic rats: role of decreased gluconeogenesis

This study was to evaluate the effect of the wild SKEO on activities and genes expression of hepatic Glycogen Phosphorylase (GP) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in normal and diabetic rats. The wild SKEO was orally administered at different doses (50 and 100 mg/kg/day) to normal as well as diabetic rats for 21 days. The levels of mRNA were determined using the quantitative real-time RT-PCR technique. The plasma glucose concentrations of diabetic rats receiving SKEO (100 mg kg(-1)) compared with diabetic control were significantly decreased. Hepatic GP activity and its mRNA levels of diabetic rats treated with SKEO moderately increased. The activity of hepatic PEPCK and its mRNA levels were significantly decreased in normal rats treated with SKEO (100 mg kg(-1)). The enhancement of PEPCK activity and its mRNA levels of diabetic treated rats with SEKO (100 mg kg(-1)) was significantly decreased compared with diabetic control. In conclusion, an excessive inhibition of PEPCK in liver of diabetic rats treated with the wild SKEO may contribute to the plasma glucose lowering action of SKEO that seems to be in relation with antioxidant properties of SKEO.

A novel tissue engineering-based assay for immunological infertility

Antisperm antibodies (ASA) are present in 9-36% of infertile couples, a condition called immunological infertility. The variability of ASA in terms of antigenic specificity and biological effects has made it difficult to design a test able to distinguish reliably between ASA that contribute to infertility and those that do not. To develop a reliable and reproducible method able to detect sperm antibodies, we took advantage of recent progress made in tissue engineering techniques. We used collagen gel as a bio-scaffold for the production of engineered sperm analogues. The advantages of using collagen gels include biocompatibility, ease of fabrication and low cost. We found that this tissue engineering-based assay is more specific and more sensitive than a conventional test routinely used for ASA detection. In addition, it exhibited low intra- and inter-variations. We envision the use of this novel approach for the detection of a variety of autoantibodies in autoimmune diseases. In addition to diagnostic purposes, tissue-engineering based tests could be useful in monitoring treatments with bio-drugs.

Elastase II Gene Encoding as Inflammatory Molecules in Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia

Acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation with the bone marrow (BM) of malignant myeloid progenitors arrested in their maturation process and the egress of these abnormal cells into the circulation. There is evidence that neutrophil production is a balance between the proliferative action of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and a negative feedback from mature neutrophils. Recently, there have been reports on mutations in neutrophil elastase (ELA2) gene in genomic DNA of cyclic neutropenia. These patients developed acute myeloblastic leukemia. Therefore, we hypothesized that elastase may play role in the abnormal AML. Peripheral blood was obtained from 42 patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia and 30 healthy individuals. Total RNA was isolated using RNA standard techniques from freshly separated cells by polymorphoprep. RNA was analyzed by employing PCR amplification of reverse transcribed using a total of ten specific primers. We amplified five exons of ELA2 gene separately and sequenced each exon. Mutational analysis was carried out by directed capillary sequencing method. We found no mutation in 42 Acute myeloblastic leukemia patients compared to healthy individuals. Interestingly, we found heterozygote 50% single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in exon II codon 44 of healthy individuals but not in AML patients. It was a silent mutation G to A substitution but no changes in amino acid sequences. The codon sequence was GCG that changed to GCA.

The Presence and Clearance of Immune Complexes in the Untreated Generalised Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a hyperproliferative inflammatory disease and 70% of patients develop a chronic plaque form of the disease. The pathogenesis of psoriasis is not known but evidence exists that changes in micro vascular occur. There are micro vascular abnormalities in the capillaries which display a multilayer basement membrane with fenestration. Study of involved synovium in psoriatic arthritis reveals endothelial cell swelling, thickening of the vessel walls and inflammatory cell infiltration. Investigation on expression of CD35 molecules that clear the immune complexes were carried out in this study. CD35 is single chain glycoprotein (MW160–240 kD) and is located on the long arm of the chromosome 1. FACScan was used as laser flow cytometer. Initially 40 blood samples from normal individuals, 35 untreated Lupus Erythematosus Systemic and 35 Rheumatoid arthritis patients were studied as controls for reference values of CD35, Circulating immune Complexes (CIC), Complement C3 & C4. Next 34 patients suffering from psoriasis were studied for, Circulating immune Complexes (CIC), Complement C3 & C4. Comparison of these results with those of reference values normal ranges showed significant increase of CIC (P<0.05) and decrease of CD35 (P<0.001). Where as, the complement component levels C3 (P>0.05) and C4(P>0.05) indicates werenot significantly altered. This study shows that the decrease in expression of CD35 on Red blood cells in psoriasis patients is more crucial than C3 and C4 levels. Thus decrease of CD35 molecule in psoriasis may cause increased levels of CIC in patients' sera and promotion of inflammatory responses.

The expression of the gene coding for the antibacterial peptide LL-37 is induced in human keratinocytes during inflammatory disorders

The epithelia constitute a major barrier to the environment and provide the first line of defense against invading microbes. Antimicrobial peptides are emerging as participants in the defense system of epithelial barriers in general. Originally we isolated the human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 from granulocytes. The gene (CAMP or cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide) coding for this peptide belongs to the cathelicidin family, whose members contain a conserved pro-part of the cathelin type. The human genome seems to have only one gene of this family, whereas some mammalian species have several cathelicidin genes. In the present work we demonstrate up-regulation of this human cathelicidin gene in inflammatory skin disorders, whereas in normal skin no induction was found. By in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry the transcript and the peptide were located in keratinocytes throughout the epidermis of the inflammatory regions. In addition, the peptide was detected in partially pure fractions derived from psoriatic scales by immunoblotting. These fractions also exhibited antibacterial activity. We propose a protective role for LL-37, when the integrity of the skin barrier is damaged, participating in the first line of defense, and preventing local infection and systemic invasion of microbes.

RT-PCR topography of chronic psoriasis skin based on analysis of T-cell receptor B variable region gene usage

Psoriasis is a hyperproliferative inflammatory disease and 70% of patients develop a chronic plaque form. The pathogenesis of psoriasis is not known but evidence exists that T cells play a crucial role. The T cell V-gene receptor repertoire from psoriasis skin (different layers) was compared with peripheral blood T cells by employing RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. T cell receptor (TCR) BV 5.1, 11, 12, 13.1 and 16 were utilized to a significantly higher degree in areas close to the basal layers when compared to CD4+, CD8+ or unfractionated blood T cells from the same patients, whereas only BV11 and 13.1 genes of T cells from deeper layers of the dermis showed such a skewed usage. No biased usage of TCRBV genes was observed in superficial layers or in whole skin. Furthermore, T cell receptor junctional diversity analysed by high resolution gel electrophoresis showed skin psoriatic T cells to be poly- or oligoclonal. In conclusion, we show that TCRBV gene usage from different layers of psoriatic skin has a different pattern compared with the corresponding gene usage in circulating peripheral blood T cells. This pattern may implicate possible skin-associated antigen or superantigens activating a limited number of T cells in areas of skin close to basal layers, which in turn could promote keratinocyte proliferation.

RT-PCR based analysis of T-cell receptor B variable region gene usage in normal human breast skin resident T lymphocytes (SRT)

The skin interfaces directly with the external environment that contains innumerable infectious agents. Therefore, an appropriate and rapid immunologic response is required to preserve internal homeostasis. An essential feature of the "skin immuno system' (SIS) is the presence of substantial numbers of T cells in normal skin. The T-cell receptor repertoire from normal human breast skin was analysed quantitatively and qualitatively by using PCR amplification of reverse transcribed RNA, T-cell receptor BV3 and BV14 gene usage was increased in skir T lymphocytes in all individuals tested (n = 8) compared to peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes from the same individuals. The T-cell receptor junctional diversity analysed by high resolution gel electrophoresis showed skin T-cell BV3 and BV14 gene usage to be predominantly polyclonal. Superantigen stimulation of T cells in human skin is considered a likely explanation of the present finding.