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Objective To investigate whether the sort of drugs causing drug eruptions complicated with drug-induced liver dysfunction are the same as those causing drug eruptions. Methods Sixty-one cases of drug eruption complicated with drug-induced liver dysfunction in 261 cases confirmed as drug eruptions from January 1998 to March 2003 were analyzed retrospectively. Results The major hepatotoxic drugs in these cases were antivirus drugs (60%, 9/15), antituberculosis drugs (66.67%, 8/12), zyloric (55.56%, 5/9), and some traditional Chinese medicines (31.58%, 6/19). Conclusion The sort of drugs causing drug eruptions complicated with drug-induced liver dysfunction are the same as those causing drug eruptions, which should be taken into consideration in clinical medication.
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Objective To investigate the role of IL-2,IFN-? and IL-10 in pemphigus acantholysis. Methods Acantholysis was observed histopathologically in the skin organ culture model of pemphigus after interacting with different concentrations of IL-2, IFN-? and IL-10 for 24 h?48 h and 72 h. Results The acantholysis was promoted by IL-2 and IFN-?, and the severity of acantholysis was related to the concentrations of IL-2 and IFN-?. The effect of IFN-? was weaker than that of IL-2. IL-10 could inhibit the acantholytic effect of IFN-? significantly, and inhibit the acantholytic effect of IL-2 when its concentration was higher than 100 pg/mL. Conclusions Th1 cytokines can promote acantholysis induced by antibody of pemphigus (Pab) while Th2 cytokines can inhibit the acantholysis induced by Pab, and the effect of Th1 cytokines. Th2 lymphocytes may play an important role in the pathogenesis of pemphigus.
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Objective To screen and analyze genes differentially expressed within dermal papillae cells(DPC)with aggregative behavior.Methods Total RNA was extracted from DPC with and without ag-gregative behavior,and double-stranded cDNA were synthesized by using SMART cDNA synthesis.The cD-NA fragments of differentially expressed genes in dermal papillae cells with aggregative behavior were isolat-ed by suppression subtractive hybridization,sequencing,and then subtracted library was set up.Positive clones were screened by PCR method and verified by cDNA dot blot and then analyzed through homologous retrieving.Results A subtractive cDNA library of DPC with aggregative behavior was successfully construct-ed.The results of screening and cloning of the library showed that DPC with aggregative behavior could ex-press genes related to homologous aggregation,regnlation of growth,differentiation and development,and sig-nal transduction proliferation and cycle control,which included known genes(capping protein,paladin,vas-cular endothelial growth factor),hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells(HSPC)related genes(HSPC011and HSPC016)and a new gene.Conclusions The construction of subtractive library of DPC lays solid founda-tion for screening and cloning new and specific genes related to aggregative behavior of DPC.Several genes may cooperatively involve in homologous aggregation,and regnlation of growth of DPC.Among these genes,capping protein and palladin may be closely related to aggregative behavior of DPC,and VEGF and HSPC re-lated clones may be responsible for the status of higher proliferation of DPC.
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Objective To investigate the prevalence of systemic fungal infection in patients at auto-psy and its association with clinical data.Methods The materials from unselected adult patients were exa-mined at necropsy in our hospital from1971to2000,and the fungal species were identified by their mor-phologies in pathology.The clinical and pathological data were compared.Results The rate of fungal infec-tion was7.8%(31/396)among396cases.Seventeen(54.8%)of the31cases were infected with as-pergillus.The frequencies of organs involved with fungal infection were83.87%in lungs,48.39%in kid-neys,35.48%in brain and29.03%in heart,respectively.The fungal infection attributed directly to death in21cases.Conclusion Systemic fungal infection is one of the most common fatal causes among the critically ill patients,and aspergillosis becomes a major pathogenic fungus for patients with systemic fungal infection at autopsy.
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Objective To assess the levels of nucleosomes released from peripheral blood mononu-clear cells(PBMC)of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE),and their relationship with auto-antibodies as well as disease activity.Methods Levels of both nucleosomes released from PBMC and vari-ous auto-antibodies were detected by ELISA in sera from SLE patients.The disease severity was evaluated using SLEDAI(systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index)system.Results Levels of nucleosomes released from PBMC were significantly higher in patients with active SLE than those of patients with inactive disease and normal controls(39.39?25.70,13.44?8.82,and11.73?7.87IU/mL,respectively).There was a significant positive correlation between nucleosome levels and SLEDAI scores,serum ds-DNA auto-an-tibody levels,and low C3levels.Conclusion Nucleosomes released from apoptotic PBMC of patients with SLE is closely correlated to disease activity,which implies that nucleosomes may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.
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Objective To investigate the status of expression and gene polymorphism of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated molecule4(CTLA4)on peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)from patients with psoriasis.Methods Expression of CTLA4mRNA/antigen and polymorphism of CTLA4gene were analyzed in33and133patients with psoriasis confirmed clinically and/or pathologically,respectively.Expression of CT-LA4mRNA and antigen was detected by in situ hybridization and immmunohistochemistry.CTLA4exon1and3'untranslated region were amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and the amplified products were identified by single-stand conformation polymorphism(SSCP),restriction fragment length polymorphism(RFLP)or sequencing.Results Expression of both mRNA and antigen of CTLA4was significantly weaker on PBMCs induced by staphytococcal enterotoxin B(SEB)in patients with psoriasis than that in normal con-trols,without a regular pattern.The guanine49on exon1in association with fragment106bp of3'untranslat-ed region was shown to be linked to the susceptibility of psoriasis.Conclusion Defective translation and ex-pression of CTLA4take place in patients with psoriasis,which is possibly related to the polymorphism of CT-LA4.Our results suggest that CTLA4may be one of the candidate genes which cause autoimmunity in psoria-sis.
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Objective To establish a new method for detecting pemphigus antibody (PAb). Methods PI 1 anti idiotype monoclonal antibodies against pemphigus and purified PAb from the serum of a patient with active pemphigus were used to establish an ELISA system for detecting the PAb. Results The result showed the purified PAb was IgG4 subclass, the sensitivity and specificity for the detection of PAb were high in the ELISA system, the sensitivity and specificity were not significantly different among the IIF, indirect ELISA and ABC ELISA. The standard curve for detecting the concentration of the purified PAb was primarily obtained in the study. Conclusion The ELISA system for the detection of PAb in the sera of patients is a good qualitative method, it might be of value in the clinical diagnosis of pemphigus. It is expected to quantitatively detect PAb of pemphigus patients in the future with the ELISA system established, which is directed to the IgG4 subclass of PAb, so it may be of value in the study of IgG4 subclass in the pathogenesis of pemphigus.
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Objective To investigate the immortalization of human melanocytes by transfection with SV40 T antigen ( SV40T ). Methods By using SofastTM,a gene transfection reagent, the reconstructed eukaryotic expression vector SV40T-pEGFP was stably transfected into cultured primary human melanocytes, then the positive cells were selected with G418. After the positive cells were expanded in culture, the expression of SV40T gene was detected by RT-PCR and PCR, and the protein expression of SV40T by Western blotting. Results The genome DNA and total RNA were isolated from the positive cell clones, and a 288 bp fragment, which was specific for the SV40T antigen gene, was amplified. The results of immunohis-tochemistry and Western blotting confirmed the expression of SV40T protein in transfected cells. Conclusion SV40T antigen gene can successfully induce the immortalization of human melanocytes.
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Objective To investigate specific cellular immune response induced by dendritic cells(DCs) activated by human papilloma virus (HPV) 16 E7 peptide. Methods DCs separated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells were induced with granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4), the DCs were then activated by HPV 16 E7 peptide. After that the surface antigens on the DCs were detected by flow cytometer. Homogenic mixed lymphocyte reaction (HMLR) with DCs was performed. LDH release assay was also used to detect the activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes(CTL)to Caski tumor cells, which was induced by DCs. Results The surface antigens on the activated DCs were highly expressed, such as CD1a(58.4 ? 6.7)%, CD80(70.6 ? 3.4)% and HLA-DR(74.8 ? 4.2)%. HMLR showed that the activated DCs stimulated T cell proliferation significantly. Antigen-specific CTL induced by the activated DCs specifically killed Caski tumer cells, but had no effect on SiHa and AN3CA cells. Conclusions DCs loaded with HPV 16 E7 peptide can induce highly effective and specific cellular immune response.
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Objective To study the effects of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) on a ctivation, proliferation and melanin synthesis of hair-follicle melanocytes. Me thods The cultured human hair follicle melanocytes were treated with various con centrations of 8-MOP(10～500 ?mol/L) in vitro. The effects of 8-MOP were obse rved on cellular morphologic changes, proliferation, tyrosinase activity and mel anin contents of cultured melanocytes. Results Seven days after treatment with 8-MOP(50 ?mol/L), striking changes were found in cellular morphology with many elongated dendrites, and deposition of brown granules in cytoplasm. Tyrosinase a ctivity and melanin contents also remarkably increased in treated cells compared to those in untreated cells(P
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In order to study the role of prostaglandin E2(PGE_2)on the pathogenesis of candidal vaginitis,the effect of Candida albicans and histamine on the production of PGE_2 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with candidal vaginitis and normal controls,the effect of PGE2 on germ tube formation of Candida albicans,and the effect of PGE2 on Candida albicans adhering to vaginal ep- ithelial cells were observed.The results showed that:Candida albicans and histamine induced PGE2 synergistically,and the production of PGE2 increased markedly.PGE2 enhanced germ tube formation in Candida albicans,increased the number of Candida albicans adhering to the vaginal epithelial cells, and the pathogenicity of C.albicans.The above results indicate that PGE_2 plays a role in the pathogene- sis of candidal vaginitis.
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Objective To investigate Th1/Th2 pattern of response in psoriasis and to study the effects of CTLA4Ig on Th1/Th2 shift in psoriasis. Methods The levels of IL-2, IFN-?and IL-4 were assessed by ELISA in the supernatant of cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 33 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 20 healthy blood donors. Cytokine synthesis was induced by activation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) with or without CTLA4Ig. Results Levels of IL-2, IFN-?and IL-4 were markedly increased by PBMCs from psoriatic patients incubated with SEB (P
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Objective To screen and identify the predicted epitopes of synthesized predicted HLA-A2-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) derived from HPV16 E7 antigen. Methods The predicted epitopes of HLA-A2-restricted CTLs derived from HPV16 E7 antigen were synthesized and purified with Standard Fmoc assays, and the standard 51Cr release assay was used to determine their activities to induce specific CTL. Results Two epitopes of HLA-A2-restricted CTLs, namely E711-19 (YMLDLQPET) and E749-57 (RAHYNIVTF) derived from HPV16 E7 antigen were identified. Conclusion E711-19 (YMLDLQPET) and E749-57 (RAHYNIVTF) have antigenicity, and may be the candidates for development of peptide vaccine in the treatment of HPV infections.
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There are controversies concerning whether congential small nevus(CSN)is liable to undergo malignant degeneration and whether it should be resected promptly.The signif-icane of CSN in the pathogenesis of malignant melanoma(MM)was assessed with microspec-trophotometric determination of DNA quantity,the detection of the gene product of N-ras,p21 protein,with ABC technique,ultrastructural study of MM tissue with electron microscopy,and analysis of clinical data of MM.The findings were as follows:(1)The DNA content increased sequentially in order of acquired nevus(AN),CSN,congenital giant nevus(CGN)and MM,and the difference was statistically significant among the 4 groups(P
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Fifteen cases of malignant melanoma,17 cases of acquired nevus,18 cases of congenital small nevus,and 3 cases of congenital giant nevus were labeled with anti-human prolifera-tive cell antibody Ki-67 with ABC labeling method.It was found that 13 out of the 15 cases of malignant melanoma were positive and the positive rate of the tumor cells was ranged between 2% to 33%.After culture,the positive rate of the melanoma cells was 88%.But all the 3.types of melanocytic nevi were negative.The findings suggest that the labeling of anti-human proliferative cell antibody Ki-67 is a sensitive and specific method to identify melanocytic tumors and it is not sensitive enough to differentiate the minor changes of the 3 types of nevi.
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Desmosomes with well-preserved architecture were isloated from the epidermis of bovine muzzle.The thickness of the dense plaque was about 15 nm and the width of desmoso-mal interspace 30~40 nm.The midline in the desmosomal interspace was shown as a moderately electrondense material.The component proteins of the desmosomes were analyzed with SDS-PAGE.It was found that both DP Ⅰ and DP Ⅱ consisted of 3 polypeptides and the molecular weight of DP 1 a,b and c was 235 kd,226 kd and 215kd and that of DP Ⅱ a,b and c was 206 kd,198 kd and 186 kd respectively ; and DP Ⅲ was composed of 2 polypeptides and the molecular weight of DP I a and b was 87 kd and 86 kd.The above mentioned data were different from those of other reports,while the data of the other component proteins were similar to those of others.The molecular weight of DG I was 150 kd.that of DG Ⅱ a and b was 135 kd and 118 kd,that of DG Ⅲ was probably 22 kd.and that of DP Ⅳ was 82 kd.According to our findings,it is concluded that both DP Ⅰ and DP Ⅱ consist of 3 polypeptides and DP Ⅲ of 2 polypepties.
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Seventeen cases of malignant melanoma (MM) were observed with transmission electron microscopy in order to clarify the significance of abberant melanosomes in its diagnosis.30 cases of nevus were also studied to serve as control.It was found that aberrant melanosomes were present in 14 cases of MM including 2 cases of amelanotic MM and absent in 2 cases of pigmented MM and one case of amelanotic MM.In addition,aberrant melanosomes were found in 4 cases of congenital nevus.The findings suggest that the significance of aberrant melanosomes in the diagnosis of MM has been overemphasized.It is believed that the diagnosis of MM must be judged comprehensively on all the ultrastructural changes under transmission electron microscope.