Identification of HLA-A3 restricted cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitopes from cancer-testis antigen MAGEC2 / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To predict and identify an HLA-A3 supertype-restricted cytotoxic T-lymphocyte(CTL) epitope derived from MAGEC2,which is utility in epitope design for the development of HLA-based vaccines and immuno-therapeutics.METHODS:HLA-A3 epitopes from MAGEC2 protein were predicted by BIMAS, SYFPEITHI and IEDB. The binding affinity of the peptides to HLA-A*03 molecule was evaluated by T2A3 cell binding assay.ELISPOT assay was used to investigate the ability of the peptides inducing specific restricted CTLs to release interferon -γ(IFN-γ).The ability of the peptides to induce T-cell response was investigated by cytotoxicity assay in vitro.RESULTS:The candidate peptides P147,P167, P196, P229 and P251 showed moderate affinity toward HLA-A3 molecule.ELISPOT assay showed that P167,P196 and P251 were able to induce specific CTLs and higher levels of IFN-γwere released.The CTLs induced by P196 and P251 were able to lyse target cells.CONCLUSION:The peptides P196 and P251 have higher binding affinity with HLA-A3 and retain immunogenicity.They are excellent HLA-A3-restricted CTL epitopes from tumor antigen MA-GEC2,which could serve as new candidates towards antitumor peptide vaccines.

Effect of altitude chronic hypoxia on liver enzymes and its correlation with ACE/ACE2 in yak and migrated cattle / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the difference of liver enzyme levels and its correlation with serum ACE/ACE2 among yak and cattle on Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, and to further explore the biochemical mechanism of their liver of altitude adaptation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The serum samples of yak were collected at 3,000 m, 3,500 m, 4,000 m and 4,300 m respectively, meanwhile the serum samples of migrated cattle on plateau (2,500 m) and lowland cattle (1,300 m) were also collected. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), cholinesterase (CHE), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum lipase (LPS), angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE), angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) in serum were measured by using fully automatic blood biochemcal analyzer. We analysed the differences of the above enzymes and its correlation with ACE/ACE2. We used one way analysis of variance (ANOVA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of ALT in 4,000 m group and 4,300 m group of yak increased significantly compared with other groups, there were no statistically significant differences in AST, CHE, GGT, ACE/ACE2 levels of yaks at different altitudes. As compared to lowland cattle, the serum levels of AST and CHE were increased, the level of LPS and ACE was decreased significantly, respectively, and especially, the ratio of ACE/ACE2 of migranted cattle reduced nearly two times. The levels of LPS were significantly correlated to the ratio of ACE/ACE2 in yak (r = 0.357, P < 0.01), and a high correlation between ALP and ACE/ACE2 in lowland cattle( r = 0.418, P < 0.05), But the biggest contribution rate of the ratio of ACE/ACE2 was only 17.5% for the changes of the levels of liver enzyme.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results indicated that with the altitude increased did not significantly influence the changes of liver enzymes' activities in mountainous yaks but not in cattle. However, all above these changes weren't actually correlated to the ratio of ACE/ACE2.</p>

Hematological parameters in high altitude residents: Tibetan natives versus Han migrants / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Aim of our study was to compare hematological parameters in Tibetan natives with those in Han migrants living on the Tibet plateau in order to determine the potential effects of age, gender, and ethnicity on hematological response to hypoxia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Blood hemoglobin (Hb, g/dl), hematocrit (Hct, %), red blood cells (RBC,10(6)/mm3) were measured in 3 588 healthy Tibetan natives and 3 371 Han migrants ranging in age from 5 to 72 years, living at a mean altitudes of 2 664 m, 3 813 m, 4 525m and 5 226 m.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration analysis was made by multiple regression equations relating hemoglobin to altitude and age. For 2 093 Han males, Hb = 9.612+ 0.001440xaltitude+ 0.06148xage. For 1 948 Tibetan males, Hb =12.202+ 0.000462xaltitude+ 0.02893xage. For 1 278 Han females, Hb = 10.858+ 0.000939xaltitude+ 0.02632xage. For 1 640 Tibetan females, Hb = 11.402+ 0.000626xaltitude+ 0.00412xage. Each of the four equations was statistically significant (P < 0.001), and had variance (r2) of 0.86 or more, indicating that altitude and age accounted for at least 85% of the variation in hemoglobin levels. The coefficients for altitude and for age were higher (P < 0.05) in Han males than in Tibetan males and higher (P < 0.05) in Han females than in Tibetan females. The Tibetan postmenopausal females had higher Hb values than premenopausal females only presented at altitude above 4 000 m while this phenomenon was beginning at altitude of 2 664 m among Han females.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>We conclude that gender and increasing age in Tibetans are associated with lower hemoglobin values than those in Han at high altitude, and we speculate that genetic factors seems to be important.</p>

Effect of Wenhua Juanbi recipe on proliferation and apoptosis of synoviocytes in rats with collagen-inducing arthritis / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Wenhua Juanbi Recipe (WJR) on proliferation and apoptosis of synoviocytes in rats with collagen-inducing arthritis (CIA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A CIA model was induced by intradermal injection of bovine collagen type II emulsion at the base of rat tails. Thirty modeled healthy Wistar rats were randomly assigned to one of three groups (10 per group): the model group, the methotrexate (MTX)-treated group (0.78 mg/kg) and the WJR-treated group (22.9 g/kg). A group of 10 healthy rats was used as normal control. Treatments or normal saline for the control group were administered by oral gavage once daily. Rats were sacrificed after 30-day treatment and subjected to the following examinations: arthritis index (AI) was estimated, inflammatory cell infiltration and proliferation in synovial membrane were evaluated by microscopy, the synoviocyte apoptosis was determined by TUNEL assay, and the cell apoptosis index was calculated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>AI was lowered significantly in the WJR group compared to the model group (P<0.01). The pathological findings observed in the model group were reversed in the WJR group, including increase in inflammatory cell infiltration and synoviocyte proliferation in synovial membrane and reduction in cell apoptosis index (all P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Synoviocyte proliferation and apoptosis reduction were present in CIA rats. WJR was effective in treating the rat model of CIA. The therapeutic effect might be exerted through inducing apoptosis and suppressing proliferation of synoviocytes.</p>

A genetic adaptive pattern-low hemoglobin concentration in the Himalayan highlanders / 中国应用生理学杂志

Mean hemoglobin (Hb) concentration of about 3 500 subjects derived from 17 studies of Himalayan highlanders (Tibetans, Sherpas, and Ladakhis) was compared with lowlanders (Chinese Han, Indian Tamils) lived in the Himalayas, and European climbers during Everest expeditions as well as Andean natives. The results found that Hb concentration in Himalayan highlanders was systemically lower than those reported for Andean natives and lowland immigrants. These comparative data demonstrated that a healthy native population may successfully reside at high altitude without a significant elevation in Hb, and the lower Hb levels of Himalayan highlanders than those of migrated lowlanders and Andean natives are an example of favourable adaptation over the generations. In addition, excessive polycythemia has frequently been used as a marker of chronic mountain sickness (CMS). Altitude populations who have a higher Hb concentration also have a higher incidence of CMS. The low Hb in Himalayans suggested as showing adaptation over many generations in Tibetan stock. Recent work in Tibet, suggested that Tibetans there may have adapted to high altitude as a result of evolutionary pressure selecting for genes which give an advantage at altitude. All of the population genomic and statistical analysis indicated that EPAS1 and EGLN1 are mostly likely responsible for high altitude adaptation and closely related to low Hb concentration in Tibetans. These data supported the hypothesis that Himalayan highlanders have evolved a genetically different erythropoietic response to chronic hypoxia by virtue of their much longer exposure to high altitude.

A cross-sectional study of congenital heart disease among children aged from 4 to 18 years at different altitudes in Qinghai province, China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The epidemiological characteristics of congenital heart disease (CHD) in children aged from 4 to 18 years were investigated in Qinghai province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Altogether 288 066 children inhabiting at 6 prefectures and 3 counties were examined by the following three steps: pre-screening, re-examination and diagnosis with color Doppler. And the entity distribution was analyzed while the differences were compared by age, gender, altitudes and nationalities respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Altogether 1633 cases of CHD were discovered. The total prevalence of CHD was 5.71 per thousand. The prevalence of CHD was found to increase with the increase of altitude by 4.89 per thousand at the altitude of 2535 m, 5.71 per thousand at 3600 m, and 8.74 per thousand at 4200 m respectively. There were significant differences among different altitude (chi(2) = 54.696, P < 0.001). chi(2) trend analysis showed the increase with chi(2) = 41.826(P < 0.001). The total incidence of CHD in females was 6.95 per thousand, which was significantly higher than that in males with 4.54 per thousand (chi(2) = 73.79, P < 0.001). There were significant differences between males and females at the altitude of 3000 m (chi(2) = 84.733, P < 0.001) and 4000 m (chi(2) = 16.313, P < 0.001) except at the altitude of 2000 m (chi(2) = 0.807, P > 0.05). The prevalence of CHD in different age groups was statistically significant at the every altitude of 2000 m (chi(2) = 18.138, P < 0.001), 3000 m (chi(2) = 18.544, P < 0.001) and 4000 m (chi(2) = 27.535 P < 0.001). The prevalence of CHD was increasing with the increase of age groups at the altitude of 3000 m (chi(2) = 19.230, P < 0.001) and 4000 m (chi(2) = 26.894, P < 0.001) except at the altitude of 2000 m. Within the prevalence of CHD of different nationalities, there was a significant difference with chi(2) = 24.456 (P < 0.001). Within the constituent rate of CHD, the prevalence of atrial septal defect (ASD) was as high as 37.42%, followed by the prevalence of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) as 28.47% and ventricular septal defect (VSD) as 26.01%. Regarding the four categories of CHD, the constituent rate varied at different altitudes. For example, the prevalence rate of ASD constituted 37% at the altitude of 2000 m and 3000 m, and that of PDA accounted for 46.36% at the altitude of 4200 m.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The epidemiological characteristics of CHD in Qinghai children were possibly associated with altitude levels.</p>

Expression of TMP Fc in Pichia pastoris and identification of its biological activity / 生物工程学报

The DNA coding for the fusion protein of thromobopoietin mimetic peptide (TMP) and human IgG1 Fc fragment was amplified from recombinant plasmid pET28a/TMPFc, inserted into pPICZalphaA and transformed into Pichia pastoris using electroporation. The recombinants of correct phenotype were identified after screening on MDH and MMH culture medium. The fusion gene was verified with PCR and western blot. MTT method was used to test the activity of TMPFc in promoting the growth of Ba/ F3-mpl cell. The TMPFc with a 64 000 molecular weight was a secretary protein in the system and its expression amounted to 65% of the total protein in the medium supernatant. The TMPFc showed a promotive effect on the growth of Ba/F3-mpl in vitro. A significant portion of the secretary protein existed as dimer, which provided material for studying the dimer in future.