Effects of tacrolimus and cyclosporine on albumin secretion in cultured human hepatocyte / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effects of inflammation cytokines, (FK506) and cyclosporine (CSA) on albumin secretion, and the effects of FK506 and CSA on the IL-6 induced suppression of albumin synthesis in cultured human hepatocytes.@*METHODS@#Human hepatoma cell lines (HepG2 cells) were separately cultured with IL-6, IL-2 and IL-10 (0 approximately 10 microg/L) and FK506, CSA (0 approximately 100 microg/L) for 48 h. In another experiment, HepG2 cells were stimulated with different doses of FK506 and CSA (0 approximately 10 microg/L) in the presence of IL-6 (5 microg/L) for 48 h. Albumin levels in the supernatant of all groups were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The concentration of LDH secreted by cells stimulated with FK506 and CSA were detected with spectrophotometry.@*RESULTS@#For cultured HepG2 cells, IL-6 significantly decreased albumin levels in a dose-dependent manner (P 0.05). FK506 obviously decreased LDH levels in the supernatant (P 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#IL-6 but not IL-2 and IL-10 suppressed the production of hepatic albumin in vitro. FK506 protected against the suppression of hepatic albumin synthesis caused by IL-6, suggesting its potential role in improving hypoalbuminaemia in immune glomerulonephritis.

Plasma level and genetic variation of apolipoprotein E in patients with lipoprotein glomerulopathy / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Lipoprotein glomerulopathy (LPG) is a renal disease characterized by thrombus-like lipoproteins in the glomerular capillaries and its abnormal lipoprotein profiles with marked elevation of apolipoprotein E (apoE). In this study, 15 Chinese patients with LPG were involed in exploring the association of the genetic variation and its plasma level in the pathogenesis of LPG.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective analysis of the clinical and pathological features was made in 15 patients with LPG. Plasma concentrations of apoE were measured with radial immunodiffusion assay. Genetic variations of apoE gene were detected using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Glomerular deposition of apoA, apoB and apoE in these patients were detected by immunofluorescence staining using monoclonal antibodies.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Biochemical profiles of lipids and lipoproteins revealed markedly elevated levels of triglyceride, apoB and apoE, but approximately normal levels of total cholesterol, apoA1 and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], which resembled familial hypertriglyceridemia. Genetic analysis demonstrated that the genotype distribution of apoE were 7 cases with epsilon3/epsilon4, 4 cases with epsilon3/epsilon3 and 2 cases with epsilon2/epsilon3. The other 2 cases (a mother and her son) showed a same distinct band. The band pattern of later 2 cases was quite similar to the apoE variant of Tokyo type. The calculated allele frequency of epsilon 4 was relatively high in cases with LPG in comparison with that in the normal controls. We further divided the 13 patients into three groups according to their genotypes of apoE. Patients with the genotype of apoE epsilon2/epsilon3 showed a lower level of plasma apoE as compared to those with apoE epsilon3/epsilon4 (P < 0.05). The serum level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was the lowest in patients with the genotype of apoE epsilon3/epsilon4. No difference was found among the patients with different apoE genotype in the other clinical and pathological characteristics.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The genotype of apoE epsilon3/epsilon4 is the predominant one in Chinese patients with LPG. Patients with this genotype tend to have a higher plasma level of apoE and more severe lipid dysmetabolism. No correlation was found between the genotype of apoE and the clinical features in patients with LPG.</p>

Lipoprotein glomerulopathy: clinical features and pathological characteristics in Chinese / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Lipoprotein glomerulopathy (LPG), once recognized as a rare glomerular disease, has been reported around the world in recent years. In this study, we reported 8 patients of LPG and aimed to explore the clinical features and pathological characteristics of LPG under light microscope, immunofluorescence staining, and electron microscope.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical manifestations were recorded on the day of renal biopsy. Biochemical patterns of lipids and lipoproteins were detected by routine examination. Plasma concentrations of apo B and apo E were determined by radial immunodiffusion assays. Biopsy specimens were then processed for light microscopy, immunohistochemical staining for immunoglobulins and complement components, and electron microscopy. Glomerular deposition of apo A, B, and E were detected using monoclonal antibodies on cryostatic sections.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All of the eight patients presented with edema, microscopic hematuria, severe proteinuria, anemia, and enlarged kidney size. Biochemical profiles revealed high levels of triglycerides, apo B, and apo E. We noted increments of glomerular size and lipoprotein thrombi occupying capillary lumina in the glomeruli of all patients. Immunofluorescence staining showed that the thrombi were strongly positive for apo A, B, and E. Granules and various sizes of vacuoles were observed in the thrombi under electron microscope.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared with previous reports on LPG in other countries, unique clinical and pathological features were found in this group of Chinese LPG patients.</p>

Comparison of clinical features in type 2 diabetic patients with various lesions of diabetic nephropathy / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective To retrospectively investigate and compare the clinical features in type 2 diabetic patients with various lesions of diabetic nephropathy.Methods One hundred and fifty patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus were registered from December 1990 to April 2004,among them 73 cases of diffuse glomerulosclerosis (DIF)and 77 nodular glomerulosclerosis(NOD)were all proven by renal biopsy.Data such as the durations of diabetes mellitus and hypertension,body mass index(BMI),diabetic retinopathy,HbA_1c,plasma albumin, proteinuria,urine N-acetyl-?,-glucosaminidase,urine osmolarity,ereatinine clearance rate(Ccr)were collected and compared.Results(1)Compared with the patients with DIF,the patients with NOD had longer duration of diabetes mellitus[(122.0?8.1 vs 56.0?7.8)months,P