Evaluation of immunoprotection against coronavirus disease 2019:Novel variants,vaccine inoculation,and complications / 药物分析学报

The strikingly rapidly mutating nature of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)genome has been a constant challenge during the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.In this study,various techniques,including reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction,antigen-detection rapid diagnostic tests,and high-throughput sequencing were analyzed under different scenarios and spectra for the etiological diagnosis of COVID-19 at the population scale.This study aimed to summarize the latest research progress and provide up-to-date understanding of the methodology used for the evaluation of the immunoprotection conditions against future variants of SARS-CoV-2.Our novel work reviewed the current methods for the evaluation of the immunoprotection status of a specific population(endogenous antibodies)before and after vaccine inoculation(adminis-tered with biopharmaceutical antibody products).The present knowledge of the immunoprotection status regarding the COVID-19 complications was also discussed.Knowledge on the immunoprotection status of specific populations can help guide the design of pharmaceutical antibody products,inform practice guidelines,and develop national regulations with respect to the timing of and need for extra rounds of vaccine boosters.

Molecular immune pathogenesis and diagnosis of COVID-19 / 药物分析学报

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a kind of viral pneumonia which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has been marked as the third introduction of a highly pathogenic coronavirus into the human population after the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coro-navirus (MERS-CoV) in the twenty-first century. In this minireview, we provide a brief introduction of the general features of SARS-CoV-2 and discuss current knowledge of molecular immune pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 on the base of the present understanding of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV infections, which may be helpful in offering novel insights and potential therapeutic targets for combating the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Preparation of monoclonal antibody against human KIAA0100 protein and Northern blot analysis of human KIAA0100 gene / 药物分析学报

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are important tools for the study of proteins′ function and structure. But there has been no report on the preparation of MAbs against human KIAA0100 protein up to date. Here, first, we generated the mouse MAb against human KIAA0100 protein using purified recombinant 6×Histidinc (6×His)- tagged human KIAA0100 protein segment (1557–2234) as an antigen; then, the mRNA expression of human KIAA0100 gene was detected in U937 cells using Northern blot analysis. The results showed that the mouse MAb against human KIAA0100 protein could sensitively recognize the human KIAA0100 protein using Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry analysis. Besides, Western blot analysis revealed that human KIAA0100 gene possibly encoded two different protein products (254 kDa and < 250 kDa) in U937 cells. Moreover, Northern blot analysis confirmed that human KIAA0100 gene might produced two different mRNA products (6000–10000 bp and 5000–6000 bp) in U937 cells. The results provide a basis for large-scale production of the MAb against human KIAA0100 protein, which will be useful for the study of human KIAA0100 protein′s function/structure and MAb-targeted drugs in the future.

Bioinformatic prediction and functional characterization of human KIAA0100 gene / 药物分析学报

Our previous study demonstrated that human KIAA0100 gene is a novel acute monocytic leukemia-associated antigen (MLAA) gene. But the functional characterization of human KIAA0100 gene has remained unknown to date. Here, firstly, bioinformatic prediction of human KIAA0100 gene was carried out using online software;Secondly, human KIAA0100 gene expression was downregulated by the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) 9 system in U937 cells. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were next evaluated in KIAA0100-knockdown U937 cells. The bioinformatic prediction showed that human KIAA0100 gene was located on 17q11.2, and human KIAA0100 protein was located in the secretory pathway. Besides, human KIAA0100 protein contained a signal peptide, a transmembrane region, three types of secondary structures (alpha helix, extended strand, and random coil) , and four domains from mitochondrial protein 27 (FMP27). The observation on functional characterization of human KIAA0100 gene revealed that its downregulation inhibited cell proliferation, and promoted cell apoptosis in U937 cells. To summarize, these results suggest human KIAA0100 gene possibly comes within mitochondrial genome; moreover, it is a novel anti-apoptotic factor related to carcinogenesis or progression in acute monocytic leukemia, and may be a potential target for immunotherapy against acute monocytic leukemia.

The pharmacological mechanism of gastrodin on calcitonin gene-related peptide of cultured rat trigeminal ganglion / 药学学报

The Chinese herbal medicine Tianma (Gastrodia elata) has been used for treating and preventing primary headache over thousands of years, but the exact pharmacological mechanism of the main bioactive ingredient gastrodin remains unclear. In present study, the effects of gastrodin on calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (pERK1/2) expression were observed in rat trigeminal ganglion (TG) after in vitro organ culture to explore the underlying intracellular mechanism of gastrodin on primary vascular-associated headache. CGRP-immunoreactivity (CGRP-ir) positive neurons count, positive area, mean optical density and integrated optical density by means of immunohistochemistry stain were compared at different concentrations of gastrodin, which was separately co-incubated with DMEM in SD rat TG for 24 hours. Only at 5 or 10 mmol L(-1) concentration, gastrodin demonstrated significantly concentration-dependent reduction of CGRP-ir (+) expression and its action closed to 1.2 mmol L(-1) sumatriptan succinate. While at 2.5, 20, and 40 mmol L(-1) concentration, gastrodin did not show remarkable effects on CGRP-ir (+) expression. The optimal concentration of gastrodin (5 and 10 mmol L(-1)) similarly inhibited CGRP-mRNA expression level separately compared with 1.2 mmol L(-1) sumatriptan succinate and 10 micromol L(-1) flunarizine hydrochloride, which was quantitatively analyzed by real-time PCR (RT-PCR). pERK1/2 level was examined by Western blotting after co-cultured with optimal concentration of gastrodin and effective specific ERK1/2 pathway inhibitors PD98059, U0126. The result indicated that gastrodin significantly reduced pERK1/2 protein actions similarly to ERK1/2 pathway specific blockade. It suggests ERK1/2 signaling transduction pathway may be involved in gastrodin intracellular mechanism. This study indicates gastrodin (5 and 10 mmol L(-1)) can remarkably reduce CGRP-ir (+) neuron, CGRP-mRNA and pERK1/2 expression level in cultured rat TG, with its actions similar to the effective concentration of sumatriptan succinate, flunarizine hydrochloride and specific ERK1/2 pathway blocker. The intracellular signaling transduction ERK1/2 pathway may be involved in the gastrodin reducing CGRP up-regulation in rat TG after organ culture.

Selection of antigen retrieval methods in immunohistochemical staining of nuclear receptors / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

Objective To explore the effects of different methods of antigen retrieval on the results of immunohistochemical staining of nuclear receptors. Methods Antigens were retrieved by using microwave oven, autoclave, enzyme and autoclave plus enzyme, respectively, in liver sections from DA.1U rats, followed by immunohistochemical staining. Results After antigen retrieval with autoclave, the positive staining intensity of nuclear receptors LXR-α, LXR-β, PPAR-γ and FXR in the liver sections from DA.1U rats was enhanced obviously, and the location of nuclear receptors was better by using this method than the others. Conclusion In the immunohistochemical staining of nuclear receptors, using autoclave to retrieve antigens is the best method.

Feasibility evaluation of real-time quantitative PCR with small reaction volume / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of real-time quantitative PCR (RtPCR) with small volume regarding the stability, efficiency and reliability of amplification, and determine the optimal quantity of cDNA template suitable for small PCR volume. Methods The experiment was carried out in 3 groups with 10, 15 and 20μL reaction volume, respectively. In each group, rat β-actin mRNA was detected by RtPCR with 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 or 0.4μL rat cDNA as template, respectively. The amplification curve and melting curve were used to evaluate the reaction stability. The fitting of a curve of gradient templates against threshold cycle numbers was to show the reaction efficiency and the linear correlativity was to estimate the suitability of the template quantity. In addition, in order to estimate reliability, pristane-induced arthritis (PIA) rat model was established, and spleen TNF-α mRNA expression was detected by RtPCR with the selected reaction volumes. Results The amplification of rat β-actin mRNA was specific and stable in 10μL, 15μL and 20μL PCR volume, and had a high efficiency. Furthermore, the standard curves fitted by 0.1-0.4μL gradient templates showed a significant linear correlation in each volume group. When the 10μL and 20μL PCR volumes, and 0.2μL cDNA templates were chosen, the TNF-α mRNA expression in PIA rat spleen showed significant upregulation in both two volume groups as anticipated. Conclusion The experiment shows that it is feasible in the RtPCR amplification to use the small reaction volume of 10μL and 15μL, which has good stability and reliability. And 0.1-0.4μL templates are all suitable for the reaction system. PCR with small volume can not only save the reagents and template, especially rare clinical specimens, but also is helpful for the realization of high-throughput reaction.

SELENIUM LOAD TESTS IN THE CHILDREN FROM KASHIN-BECK DISEASE AFFECTED AREAS / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

Se load tests were carried out by administering 150?g Se as 0.1% sodium selenite 0. 5ml in 5 groups of male children (7～13 years) including 2 groups from different Kashin-Beck disease affected areas, 2 groups from non-endemic areas and another from an endemic area supplementing Se-fortilled salt for 4 years. The results showed that Se urinary excretion amounts, 6,12 and 24 hour accumulated rates and 24 hour net excretion amounts as well as rates after Se administration were similar between 2 endemic groups, but all far lower than those of 2 non-endemic groups; that urinary Se excretion peak in endemic groups delayed as comparied with non-endemic groups and that the above—mentioned parameters in endemic group supplementing Se restored to the levels of non-endemic groups. All those findings suggested that the children from Kashin-Beck disease affected areas might be in a Se deficiency status and Se supplementation to the endemic children consuming Se fortified salt significantly improve their Se deficiency status.