Expression of TET and 5-HmC in Trophoblast Villi of Women with Normal Pregnancy and with Early Pregnancy Loss / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Increasing evidence suggests that epigenetic dysfunction may influence the stability of normal pregnancy.The ten-eleven translocation (TET) family and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) were found to be linked with epigenetic reprogramming.The present study aimed to examine the expression of the TET family and 5-hmC in the villi of human embryos and compared their expression between normal pregnancy and early pregnancy loss (EPL).Embryonic villi were collected from normal pregnant women (control) experiencing medical abortion and from EPL patients at gestation ages of 6,7 and 8 weeks.The mRNAs of TET family were analysed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR),and TET proteins using Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis.The MethylFlashTM Kit was used to quantify the absolute amount of 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) and 5-hmC.Our results showed that the expression of the TETs and 5-hmC in the normal villus decreased with increasing gestational age.Immunohistochemistry revealed that the TET proteins were expressed in the cytoplasm of trophoblasts and their expression was the highest in the 6-week tissue samples,which was consistent with the qPCR and Western blot results.The expression of TET1,TET2,and TET3 was lower in the villi in EPL group than in normal pregnancy group (P＜0.05 for all).It was concluded that the TET family and 5-hmC are critical in epigenetic reprogramming of human embryo.The findings also suggest that a deficiency of TETs in the villus might be associated with human EPL.

Expression of TET and 5-HmC in Trophoblast Villi of Women with Normal Pregnancy and with Early Pregnancy Loss / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Increasing evidence suggests that epigenetic dysfunction may influence the stability of normal pregnancy.The ten-eleven translocation (TET) family and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) were found to be linked with epigenetic reprogramming.The present study aimed to examine the expression of the TET family and 5-hmC in the villi of human embryos and compared their expression between normal pregnancy and early pregnancy loss (EPL).Embryonic villi were collected from normal pregnant women (control) experiencing medical abortion and from EPL patients at gestation ages of 6,7 and 8 weeks.The mRNAs of TET family were analysed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR),and TET proteins using Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis.The MethylFlashTM Kit was used to quantify the absolute amount of 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) and 5-hmC.Our results showed that the expression of the TETs and 5-hmC in the normal villus decreased with increasing gestational age.Immunohistochemistry revealed that the TET proteins were expressed in the cytoplasm of trophoblasts and their expression was the highest in the 6-week tissue samples,which was consistent with the qPCR and Western blot results.The expression of TET1,TET2,and TET3 was lower in the villi in EPL group than in normal pregnancy group (P＜0.05 for all).It was concluded that the TET family and 5-hmC are critical in epigenetic reprogramming of human embryo.The findings also suggest that a deficiency of TETs in the villus might be associated with human EPL.

Placental Foxp3 expression in patients with preeclampsia and correlation of Foxp3 gene locus 924 (rs2232365) polymorphism with preeclampsia / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect changes of Foxp3 expression in the decidua in patients with preeclampsia and investigate the correlation of Foxp3-924 (rs2232365) polymorphisms with preeclampsia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From October 2011 to December 2012, 252 normal pregnant women and 156 preeclampsia patients of Han nationality from the same geographic region were tested for Foxp3-924 genotypes by polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primer (PCR-SSP). Sixty-eight of the patients with preeclampsia (33 with mild and 35 with severe preeclampsia) and 30 of the normal pregnant women were also examined for Foxp3 expression in the decidua using immunohistochemical method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Foxp3 positive expression rates in the decidua was 51.52% in mild preeclampsia and 28.57% in severe preeclampsia cases, significantly lower than that in the control group (86.67%, P<0.05). In preeclampsia patients, the frequencies of Foxp3-924G/G, G/A, and A/A genotypes were 0.1346, 0.4615 and 0.4038, respectively, and the frequencies of Foxp3-924A and Foxp3-924 G were 0.6346 and 0.3654, respectively. The genotype frequencies of Foxp3-924G/G, G/A and A/A in the control group were 0.1508, 0.4087 and 0.4405, respectively, and the frequencies of Foxp3-924 A and Foxp3-924 G were 0.6448 and 0.3552, respectively. No significant differences were found in the gene frequencies of Foxp3-924G/A between preeclampsia patients and the control group (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression level of Foxp3 in the placental tissue of preeclampsia patients is significantly lower than that in normal pregnant women, suggesting that lowered Foxp3 expression decreases the immunosuppressive function and causes imbalance of immune tolerance between maternal-fetal to induce preeclampsia. Foxp3-924 polymorphisms is not significantly correlated with the occurrence of preeclampsia.</p>

Preparation of human anti-HBs from volunteers with hepatitis B vaccine boost vaccination by modified B-cell immortalization technique / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish immortalized B lymphoblast cell lines (B-LCLs) from healthy anti-HBs antibody (anti-HBs)-positive volunteers and screen for human anti-HBs and the antibody-secreting cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from 3 healthy volunteers positive for anti-HBs with hepatitis B vaccine boost vaccination were infected with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and incubated in the presence of CpG DNA motifs and cyclosporin A (CyA). The anti-HBs in the culture supernatant of the immortalized B-cells was quantified by Architect anti-HBs assay with chemiluminescent microparticle technique. Immunocytochemistry was performed to identify the differentiation of the cell clones expressing anti-HBs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Immortalized B-cell culture was successfully established from the cell clones secreting anti-HBs with EBV infection and CpG DNA stimulation. The titer of anti-HBs in the culture supernatant was at its peak at 3 weeks of cell culture and then decreased gradually. At 3 months of cell culture, the cells still retained the capacity of anti-HBs production as verified by the results of immunocytochemistry for CD20 and CD138.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Immortalized B-cell culture secreting anti-HBs from volunteers receiving boost hepatitis B vaccination has been successfully established by modified EBV immortalization technique.</p>

Expression of IFN-alpha/beta receptor in the PBMCs and liver of patients with hepatitis B and its clinical significance / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the role of interferon (IFN)-alpha/beta receptor beta subunit (IFNAR2) in the patients' response to IFN-alpha therapy as influenced by the grade of chronic hepatic inflammation, and understand the relation of IFNAR2 expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with HBV infection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Liver tissue specimens were obtained from 21 patients with chronic hepatitis B for examination of the hepatic inflammation, and PBMCs were isolated from another 16 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 15 health control subjects. Both the hepatic tissues and PBMCs were examined for IFNAR2 expression using immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 21 patients with chronic hepatitis B were divided into 3 groups according to the severity of hepatic inflammation, namely G(1) (n=3), G(2) (n=7) and G(3) (n=11) groups. The patients in G(3) group showed had significantly higher IFNAR2 expressions in liver (25.1307-/+7.0700) than those of the G(1) (5.6913-/+1.8422) and G(2) (7.4706-/+5.3572) groups (P=0.000). The IFNAR2 levels in the PBMCs, however, did not show significant difference between patients with chronic hepatitis B and the healthy control subjects.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In patients with chronic hepatitis B, IFNAR2 expression level is positively correlated to the severity of hepatic inflammation, and increased IFNAR2 expression in severe hepatic inflammation is therefore likely to result in increased response rate to INF-alpha therapy. The expression of IFNAR2 in the PBMCs is not associated with HBV infection.</p>

Azoospermia factor microdeletions in idiopathic azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the relationship between microdeletions of AZF( azoospermia factor) on Y chromosome in male with idiopathic azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Only patients with an apparently normal 46,XY karyotype and normal FSH, LH and T were included in this study. Multiplex PCR was used to detect the sequence-tagged sites( STS) as follows :sY84, sY86, sY127, sY134, sY152, sY153, sY254, sY255, and ZFX/Y was used as internal control gene.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No microdeletion was detected in the control whereas 8 microdeletion cases existed in 67 idiopathic azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia, including 4 in AZFc, 2 in AZFa + AZFc, 1 in AZFc + AZFb, and 1 in AZFb. The prevalence rate of microdeletion was 11.94%, which was statistically different from the control.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Microdeletions in the AZF regions on the long arm of the Y-chromosome are associated with idiopathic azoospermic and severely oligozoospermic men. Multiplex PCR was a rapid and reliable method for screening microdeletions of AZF.</p>

Investigating the correlation between polymorphisms with couple sharing rate of TAP gene and hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate and clarify whether the genetic susceptibility to women with hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy or pre-eclampsia is associated with polymorphisms and couple sharing rate of transporter associate with antigen processing genes(TAP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and two severe pre-eclampsia women and their spouses served as study group, and 200 normal pregnant women and their spouses were selected as control group. All pregnant women were primipara with single fetus. Genomic DNA was extracted from 2 mL cubital venous blood. We used the amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction(ARMS-PCR) to characterize TAP gene locus 333, 637, 379, 565, 665.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We observed eleven TAP haplotypes. There were four kinds of haplotypes(1A-1D) existing in TAP1, and seven kinds of haplotypes(2A-2G) existing in TAP2. The gene frequencies of TAP2B(Chi2=9.19, P<0.01, RR=4.18) and TAP2F(Chi2=5.34, P<0.05, RR=4.63) of patient group with pre-eclampsia were significantly higher as compared with control group. The analyses of some TAP haplotypes such as TAP1B(Chi2=4.87, P<0.05, RR=3.14), TAP1C(Chi2=5.42, P<0.05, RR=4.90), TAP2B(Chi2=9.65, P<0.01, RR=5.39) showed that the couple sharing rate of pre-eclampsia women and their spouses had statistically a highly significant increase in comparison with that of controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our data suggest that the presence of TAP2B or TAP2F haplotypes should be considered as a risk increased to pregnant women being susceptible to hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy; and also the elevated couple sharing rates of TAP1B, TAP1C and TAP2B genes will increase the opportunity or possibility of pregnant women suffering from pre-eclampsia disease.</p>

Analysis of the literature in West China Journal of Stomatology cited by science periodical embodied by Chinese biological medical disc / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The literature published in West China Journal of Stomatology (WCJS) cited by science periodical from 1983 to 2001 were analyzed to evaluate the academic level and quality of WCJS.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The cited literature was searched by Chinese biological medical disc (CBMDisc) from 1983 to 2001. The distributions of the times, the periodical and the authors were described.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The quantities of cited literature were 1 338 and increased with years. The periodical and the authors were 266 and 1 003 respectively from 1998 to 2001. The cited frequencies of stomatological periodicals were more than that of other academic periodical. The authors scattered in 32 provinces and 448 units of China. The medical university and affiliated hospital were 32.14%, the local hospital and stomatological dispensary were 54.69%, the military hospital was 10.71%, and other unit was 2.46%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The literature published in WCJS are superior in quality. The cited frequency of WCJS is high relatively. WCJS is one of the most important informational source of stomatology.</p>

HOXD13 polyalanine tract expansion in synpolydactyly: mutation detection and prenatal diagnosis in a large Chinese family / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Synpolydactyly (SPD, MIM 186000), also known as syndactyly type II, is a dominantly inherited limb malformation with incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity. Polyalanine tract expansion in HOXD13 has been shown to be the disease-causing mutation in SPD. The present study was designed to identify mutation in HOXD13 and to provide prenatal diagnosis, in a large Chinese SPD family consisting of 54 individuals.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The proband and 4 other affected individuals in the family were evaluated physically and radiologically to ascertain the SPD phenotype. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples obtained from 18 family members (9 affected and 9 unaffected), and from amniotic fluid and chorionic villus samples obtained from the proband during her two consecutive pregnancies. With the use of a pair of specific primers, a fragment of 161bp was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to cover the imperfect GCN triplet repeat sequence in exon 1 of HOXD13 encoding the 15-residue polyalanine tract. The PCR products were detected by agarose gel electrophoresis, and sequenced after cloning into pMD18T vector. To confirm prenatal diagnosis, haplotype analysis was also performed by allele-typing three microsatellite markers, including the intronic CA repeats in HOXD13.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Digital and radiographic findings indicated a typical SPD phenotype in the family. These included 3/4 finger syndactyly and 4/5 toe syndactyly with an extra digit in the syndactylous web. Unilateral finger syndactyly in the proband, unilateral toe syndactyly in 2 individuals, bilateral brachydactyly of the fifth toes in 1 individual, and clinodactyly of the fifth fingers in 4 individuals were also observed, indicating variable expressivity. Gel electrophoresis of the PCR products showed an additional longer fragment in all 9 affected individuals but not in the unaffected ones. Sequence analysis of the longer fragment revealed a 9-alanine expansion. The expansion was detectable in DNA from the amniotic fluid and chorionic villus samples. Furthermore, haplotype analysis ruled out potential contamination of the maternal DNA. These suggested that the two fetuses carried the same polyalanine expansion.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HOXD13 polyalanine expansion was detected in a large Chinese family with SPD and prenatal diagnosis of two affected fetuses was achieved. This is the first report on prenatal diagnosis of SPD by detecting the HOXD13 polyalanine expansion in the Han population of the Chinese mainland.</p>