ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the gene location of two Gitelman syndrome (GS) family SLC12A3 genes and explore treatments using Chinese medicine (CM) prescriptions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In order to locate the two GS mutations, samples were collected from 11 people from two different pedigrees for direct genetic sequencing and comparison of the 26 exons of SLC12A3. Furthermore, the change of serum potassium was monitored throughout the therapy and those two probands undertook a sequential superposition of Western medicine (including potassium, Panangin and potassium-sparing diuretics) with CM prescription based on Buyang Huanwu Decoction () and Sijunzi Decoction (). The treatment included three stages, oral potassium chloride for the first 2 weeks (stage 1), potassium-sparing diuretic and Panangin with potassium chloride for the next 2 weeks (stage 2), CM along with the medicine in stage 2 for the final 2 weeks (stage 3).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The three mutations occurring in proband 1 from pedigree I were Thr60Met, 965-1_976del13ins12 (small indels mutation) and Ala122Ala (homozygous silent mutation). Likewise, three mutations, Asn359Lys, Thr382Met and Arg913Gln, appeared in the proband 2 from pedigree II. The serum potassium levels increasing from baseline to sequential stages were 1.63 mmol/L (baseline), 2.5 mmol/L (stage 1), 3.1 mmol/L (stage 2) and 3.9 mmol/L (stage 3) in the proband 1, and 2.8 mmol/L (baseline), 3.1 mmol/L (stage 1), 3.5 mmol/L (stage 2) and 4.3 mmol/L (stage 3) in the proband 2, respectively. The symptoms (numbness of limbs, weakness, palpitations, etc.) of both probands were all alleviated.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The mutations of both GS pedigrees can be defined as compound heterozygous mutations, most of which are known as missense mutations. Applying CM could be an appropriate choice for future intervention of GS.</p>
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) on the production of fibronectin (FN) in human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMC) in vitro and the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in this course.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The AGE-human serum albumin (HSA) (0, 100, 500, 1 000 microg/ml) was used in culture medium to stimulate the HPMC. The mRNA level of FN was measured with real-time PCR, moreover, the protein level of FN in HPMC was detected by ELISA. With the method of ELISA, the PKC activities were observed. Inhibitors or activators of PKC were used to observe the roles of PKC pathways on the AGE-HSA stimulated productions of FN in HPMC.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>AGE-HSA activated PKC in HPMC in a dose, time-dependent manner (P < 0.05). AGE-HSA up-regulated the expression of FN mRAN and protein in dose- and time-dependently (P < 0.01); PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induced FN expression, respectively depletion of PKC and calphostin C, a PKC inhibitor, effectively prevented both PMA and AGE-HSA-induced expression of the FN (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AGEs can increase the activities of PKC. AGEs can directly increase FN expression in HPMC which may contribute to peritoneal fibrosis and this is regulated by PKC.</p>