Lianmei Qiwu Decoction relieves diabetic cardiac autonomic neuropathy by regulating AMPK/TrkA/TRPM7 signaling pathway / 中国中药杂志

This study investigated the effect of Lianmei Qiwu Decoction(LMQWD) on the improvement of cardiac autonomic nerve remodeling in the diabetic rat model induced by the high-fat diet and explored the underlying mechanism of LMQWD through the AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)/tropomyosin receptor kinase A(TrkA)/transient receptor potential melastatin 7(TRPM7) signaling pathway. The diabetic rats were randomly divided into a model group, an LMQWD group, an AMPK agonist group, an unloaded TRPM7 adenovirus group(TRPM7-N), an overexpressed TRPM7 adenovirus group(TRPM7), an LMQWD + unloaded TRPM7 adenovirus group(LMQWD+TRPM7-N), an LMQWD + overexpressed TRPM7 adenovirus group(LMQWD+TRPM7), and a TRPM7 channel inhibitor group(TRPM7 inhibitor). After four weeks of treatment, programmed electrical stimulation(PES) was employed to detect the arrhythmia susceptibility of rats. The myocardial cell structure and myocardial tissue fibrosis of myocardial and ganglion samples in diabetic rats were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and Masson staining. The immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR), and Western blot were adopted to detect the distribution and expression of TRPM7, tyrosine hydroxylase(TH), choline acetyltransferase(ChAT), growth associated protein-43(GAP-43), nerve growth factor(NGF), p-AMPK/AMPK, and other genes and related neural markers. The results showed that LMQWD could significantly reduce the arrhythmia susceptibility and the degree of fibrosis in myocardial tissues, decrease the levels of TH, ChAT, and GAP-43 in the myocardium and ganglion, increase NGF, inhibit the expression of TRPM7, and up-regulate p-AMPK/AMPK and p-TrkA/TrkA levels. This study indicated that LMQWD could attenuate cardiac autonomic nerve remodeling in the diabetic state, and its mechanism was associated with the activation of AMPK, further phosphorylation of TrkA, and inhibition of TRPM7 expression.

Protective Effect of Alkaloid A from Acanthi Ilicifolii Herba seu Radix on Drug-induced Liver Injury in Mice / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the effect of alkaloid A from Acanthi Ilicifolii Herba seu Radix(AAIA) on liver injury model caused by acetaminophen. Method:Mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group, positive drug group (bifendate, 150 mg·kg-1) and high, medium and low-dose AAIA groups (200, 100, 50 mg·kg-1), with 10 in each group. They were given drugs by gavage for 10 days, and fasted for 8 hours after the last administration. Except the normal group, the other groups were intraperitoneally injected with 275 mg·kg-1 acetaminophen to induce acute liver injury model in mice. Six hours later, blood was taken from the eyeball. The body, liver, spleen, kidney and thymus were weighed, and then the corresponding organ indexes were calculated. The kits were used to detect the contents of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum. The contents of nitric oxide (NO) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in liver homogenate were determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry, and the expressions of extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK1/2) and phosphorylated extracellular regulatory protein kinase (p-ERK1/2) were determined by Western blot. Result:Compared with the normal group, the liver index, serum AST and ALT levels, the production of NO and iNOS in liver homogenate, the expression of p-ERK1/2 protein in liver of the model group increased significantly (PPConclusion:AAIA may protect mice from drug-induced liver injury by reducing AST and ALT levels, down-regulating the expressions of NO and iNOS, and reducing the expression of protein p-ERK1/2.

Effects of delivery history on the dosage of propofol in painless hysteroscopy patients / 医学研究生学报

Objective To observe the effect of vaginal delivery history on the dosage of propofol and the quality of postoperative recovery in painless hysteroscopy patients. Methods 120 patients from November 2018 to May 2019 who required painless hysteroscopy were enrolled in the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. According to their previous history, the patients were divided into two groups: the control group (no history of delivery, 60 cases) and the observation group (had a history of delivery, 60 cases). Basic vital signs (MAP, HR) of the two groups were compared at the following five time points: baseline, uterin edilation, immediately, 10 min and 30 min after surgery. The dosage of sufentanil, the total and induced dosage of propofol, the additional cases and dosage of propofol, the time of surgery and recovery, the satisfaction of doctor and patients were recorded. Results Compared with the control group, the observation group showed significant decrease in the total dosage of propofol [(133.3±25.4)mg vs (145.1±27.8)mg], the additional cases [(28,46.7%) vs (39,65%)] and dosage of propofol [(1.0, 2.0)mg vs (0.0,40.0)mg], and shorter recovery time [(32.7±10.2)s vs (42.8±11.5)s] (all P<0.05). The satisfaction of doctor and patients were significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group. There was no significant difference in adverse events between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion In painless outpatient hysteroscopy, in order to shorten the recovery time of patients, improve the quality of postoperative recovery, improve the efficiency and safety of painless hysteroscopic surgery, anesthesiologists should reduce the additional dosage of propofol for patients with previous vaginal delivery.

Role of Aberrant Splicing in Pathogenesis of Myelodysplastic Syndromes-Review / 中国实验血液学杂志

The spectrum of genetic abnormalities in myelodysplastic syndromes(MDS) has been revealed by high-throughput sequencing. However, the functional role of these mutations in occurrence and development of MDS was not delineated. The mutations in splicing factors have been identified as the commonest gene mutations in MDS. Recently, it was reported that the mutated or dysregulated splicing factors, including SF3B1, SRSF2 and U2AF1, attribute to aberrant mRNA splicing, which leads to hematopoietic dysfunction and drives MDS. These findings will be of great help in searching for candidate therapeutic targets in mis-splicing pathway in MDS. In this review the role of aberrant splicing in pathogenesis of MDS is summarized briefly.

Modified Shengma Biejia Decoction Combined with CAG Program for Elderly Acute Myeloid Leuke- mia Patients with Yin Deficiency Toxin Stasis Syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the efficacy and safety of modified Shengma Biejia Decoction (MSBD) combined with CAG program in treating elderly acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with yin deficiency toxin stasis syndrome (YDTSS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 46 elderly AML patients were assigned to the treatment group (24 cases; treated with MSBD + CAG) and the control group (22 cases; treated with CAG + placebos of Chinese medicine) according to random digit table. The therapeutic course of CM placebo or MSBD was 21 days. The clinical efficacy and adverse reactions were observed. Meanwhile, physical state (ECOG Score), transfusion dependency, and TCM syndrome score were compared before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The complete remission rate was 54% (13/24) and the objective response rate (ORR) was 71% (17/24) in the treatment group, obviously higher than those of the control group [36% (8/22); 54% (13/24)], with statistical difference (P = 0.036, 0.042). When comparing the efficacy based on risk level, the moderate and poor ORR was 71% (10/14) and 67% (6/9) in the treatment group, and 57% (8/14) and 33% (2/6) in the control group, with statistical difference between the two groups (P = 0.048; P = 0.010). (2) Compared with before treatment in the same group, the ECOG score significantly decreased, the average infusion time of red cells and platelets were markedly prolonged in the treatment group after treatment (P < 0.05). ECOG score, the average infusion time of red cells and platelets were significantly better in the treatment group than in the control group after treatment (P < 0.05). (3) Compared with before treatment in the same group, scores of fever, hemorrhage, and bone pain were markedly reduced in the control group (P < 0.05); scores of fever, fatigue, hemorrhage, dry mouth, and bone pain were markedly reduced in the treatment group (P < 0.05). Better effect in relief of fever, fatigue, hemorrhage, dry mouth, and so on was obtained in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). (4) In aspect of hematotoxicity, the incidence of neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia was obviously lower in the treatment group than in the control group [29.2% (7/24) vs 54.5% (12/22); 16.7% (4/ 24) vs 45.5% (10/22); 33.3% (8/24) vs 63.6% (14/22); P < 0.05]. The incidence of fatigue and anorexia was obviously lower in the treatment group than in the control group [37.5% (9/24) vs 63.6% (14/22), 37.5% (9/24) vs 81.8% (18/22); P < 0.05].</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MSBD combined with CAG program in treating elderly AML patients with YDTSS, with efficacy enhancing toxicity reducing effect, had distinct advantages in improving physical condition and clinical symptoms, and reducing transfusion dependency.</p>

Research on molecular markers for epigenetic changes in myeloid malignancies / 中华医学遗传学杂志

Novel recurrent somatic mutations have been identified in patients with myeloid malignancies including myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Mutations of tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 2 (TET2), DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)1/2, enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) and additional sex combs-like 1 (ASXL1) have been shown to play important roles in the regulation of epigenetic patterning, and may be used as molecular predictors for pathogenesis and clinical outcome for patients with myeloid malignancies.

FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 gene mutations in acute myeloid leukemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to investigate the frequency of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) mutations including internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutation of juxtamembrane region and point mutation of the second tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and its clinical significance. The ITD mutation in FLT3 exon 14, 15 of bone marrow mononuclear cells was detected by genomic DNA-PCR, the TKD point mutation in FLT3 exon 20 was detected by genomic DNA-PCR combined with restriction endonuclease digest. The results indicated that among 131 newly diagnosed AML patients, 21 patients (16.0%) showed FLT3-ITD positive, 3 patients (2.3%) showed FLT3-TKD positive. None was found harboring both mutations. The WBC and bone marrow blast counts in FLT3-ITD positive patients seemed both higher than those in patients with wild-type FLT3 (FLT3-wt), but there was significant difference only in WBC count (p<0.05). The complete remission (CR) rate in FLT3-ITD positive patients was 47.6%, which was significantly lower than that in FLT3-wt patients (88.1%, p<0.05). There was no statistical difference in CR rate between FLT3-ITD positive and negative patients in 20 cases of M3; the CR rate in FLT3-ITD positive patients with non M(3) was 37.5 (6/16) which was obviously lower than that in FLT3-wt patients with non M3 (90.6%, 48/53) (p<0.05). 3 FLT3-ITD positive patients with CR relapsed after CR for 14 (2-20) months with relapse rate 50% (3/6) which was higher than that in FLT3-wt patients (29.2%, 14/48). It is concluded that FLT3 mutation is common in AML patients, while FLT3-ITD mutation is more frequent than FLT3-TKD mutation. The AML patients with FLT3-ITD mutation have a poor prognosis, while FLT3-TKD point mutation does not significantly influences prognosis of the patients. Therefore early detection of FLT3 mutation may be important for targeting therapy and evaluating clinical prognosis of AML patients.

Analysis of NPM1 gene mutations in acute myeloid leukemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

The aim of this study was to evaluate the nucleophosmin (NPM1) gene exon 12 mutation in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and its clinical characteristics. Genomic DNAs from 33 AML patients were amplified by PCR and sequencing for NPM1 mutations. The results showed that the NPM1 exon 12 mutations were found is 8 patients from 33 AML patients (24.2%) including 1 of M(1), 3 of M(2), 1 of M(4) and 3 of M(5). The NPM1 gene mutations were found in 7 out of 19 patients with normal karyotype and their incidence was significantly higher than that in patients with karyotype abnormalities (1/14, 7.1%, p < 0.005). The proportion of bone marrow blast cells and the count of peripheral white blood cells in patients with NPMI exon 12 mutation were higher than that in patients with wild type NPMI gene. It is concluded that the occurrence of NPM1 exon 12 mutations is observed more in AML patients with normal karyotype. NPM1 mutant cases are associated with more high amount of boon marrow blast cells and peripheral white blood cell count.

Dendritic cell-based immunotherapy for multiple myeloma -- review / 中国实验血液学杂志

Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) have increased constantly in recent years, but treatment for patients with MM is currently unsatisfactory and it is necessary to develop new complementary therapies. Dendritic cells (DCs) are specialized antigen-presenting cells capable of initiating and regulating immune responses. Vaccination with tumor antigen-pulsed DCs has shown to be safe and possesses therapeutic effect against many tumors. In this review, the various types of MM-associated antigens and clinical trials on DC-based immunotherapy in MM are summarized, the development of DC immunotherapy for MM patients in future trials is discussed.

Tyrosine kinase mutation and acute myeloid leukemia with T (8; 21) / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to investigate the status of c-KIT, Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) and Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with t (8; 21) and to analyze their relation to clinical feature and prognosis. PCR, AS-PCR, restriction and sequencing methods were used respectively to detect the FLT3, JAK 2 and c-KIT mutations in 8 cases of de novo AML with t (8; 21) and 6 cases of relapsed AML with t (8; 21). The results showed that the c-KIT mutation was found in 2 cases out of 14 AML patients with t (8; 21) (14.3%), among them 1 case had c-KIT D816V mutation, the other had c-KIT D816Y mutation. The FLT3-ITD mutation was detect in 1 out of 14 patients (7.1%), but JAK2 mutation could not be detected in all 14 cases. In conclusion, tyrosine kinase mutation relates to AML with t (8; 21), patients with tyrosine kinase mutation may have higher relapse, extramedullary infiltration and poor prognosis. The screening c-KIT, FLT3 mutations may play an important role in evaluating prognosis and guiding treatment of t (8; 21) AML.

Effect of recipient mouse splenocytes taken orally by donor mouse on GVHD after splenocyte transplantation / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to explore whether the GVHD in mice can be ameliorated and the GVL effect in mice can be reserved by transfusion of lymphocytes of donors fed with recipient splenocytes effect. Male (DBA-2) mice (H-2(d)) as donors were fed with BALB/c splenocytes, DBA-2 splenocytes, bovine serum albumin, or regular chow, every other day. Induction of tolerance was assessed by a mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). Female (BALB/c) mice (H-2(d)) as recipients received total body irradiation (TBI) of 6.0 Gy ((60)Cogamma-ray) followed by inoculation of 3 x 10(3) P388 mouse leukemia cells on the same day. Subsequently, tail vein injection of 2 x 10(7) splenocytes supplied by DBA-2 was undertaken. Control groups were fed identically without leukemia cell inoculation. The results showed that GVHD was significantly ameliorated and CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio increased in recipient-mice transplanted with splenocytes of tolerated donors, compared with control animals. There was no significant difference in survival rate between different groups of recipients inoculated with leukemia cell. It is concluded that the peroral recipient-mouse splenocytes can ameliorate GVHD without hampering effect on GVL.

Correlations of jak2v617f mutation with clinical and laboratory findings in primary thrombocythemia patients / 中国实验血液学杂志

To evaluate the frequency of jak2v617f mutation and analyze its correlation with clinical features of primary thrombocythemia (PT) patients, the mutation was detected by allele specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR), the clinical and laboratory data in 66 PT patients with and without jak2v617f mutation were compared and clinical features of these PT patients were retrospectively analyzed. The results showed that among 66 patients, 27 patients (41%) had the mutation. The patients carrying the mutation displayed higher bone marrow erythropoiesis (26.9%+/-9.4% vs 16.3%+/-8.7%, p<0.05), higher ratio of granulopoiesis/erythropoiesis (2.9+/-1.8 vs 5.2+/-2.9, p<0.05) and higher incidence of microvascular disturbances (29.6% vs 5.1%, p<0.05). However, the age, gender, leukocyte and platelet counts, hemoglobin level, bone granulopoiesis, splenomegaly, history of thrombosis and hemorrhage had no difference between patients with and without the mutation. It is concluded that the frequency of jak2v617f mutation in primary thrombocythemia patients is 41%. The presence of the jak2v617f mutation is associated with a higher bone marrow erythropoiesis in primary thrombocythemia patients at diagnosis.

New insight into pathogenesis of idiopathic myelofibrosis--review / 中国实验血液学杂志

Idiopathic myelofibrosis is a type of chronic myeloproliferative disorders characterized by splenomegaly, a leukoerythroblastic blood picture, teardrop poikilocytosis, in various degrees of bone marrow fibrosis and extramedullary hematopoiesis. In this paper, the biological characters and pathogenesis of idiopathic myelofibrosis such as mutation of tyrosine kinase receptor, mutation of GABA transporter 1, JAK2 mutation and c-MPl mutation, as well as other pathogenesis related with idiopathic myelofibrosis were reviewed.

Abnormal activation of tyrosine kinases and its role in the pathogenesis of hematological malignancies - review / 中国实验血液学杂志

Protein tyrosine kinases are key participants in signal transduction pathways that regulate cellular growth, activation and differentiation. Aberrant PTK activity resulting from gene mutation (often accompanying chromosome translocation) or overexpression of these enzymes plays an etiologic role in several clonal hematopoietic malignancies. Other than the causative effect of PTK product of the bcr/abl fusion gene on chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), more evidence suggests that mutated tyrosine kinases are pivotal in the pathogenesis of most of other chronic myeloproliferative disorders, such as chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) and hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). And the exciting results in several dependent groups in 2005 showed that a single nucleotide JAK2 somatic mutation (JAK2V617F mutation) was found to be involved in the pathogenesis of polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET) and chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis (CIMF). In the leukogenesis of acute myeloid leukemias (AML), the losing of the control of the proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells was principally the results of the aberrant PTK activity, such as FLT3 and C-kit overexpression. It works together with the loss of function mutation genes in promoting progenitor cell differentiation to confer AML's phenotypes. These upregulated PTK molecules represent attractive disease-specific targets, to which a new class of therapeutic agents are being developed. This review focuses on abnormal tyrosine kinases that have been involved in the pathogenesis of hematopoietic malignancies.

Selective elimination of alloreactive donor lymphocytes by using TBI and cyclophosphamide / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to investigate a new method of avoiding graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) through selective elimination of alloreactive donor lymphocytes by using total body irradiation (TBI) and cyclophosphamide (Cy). Female (BALB/c x C57BL/6) F1 mice (H-2(d/b)) as recipients received (60)Co gamma-ray sublethal TBI of 4 Gy on day 0 followed by being inoculated with P388D1 leukemia cell line on day 1, injection of allogeneic splenocytes from C57BL/6 male mice (H-2(b)) was carried out for induction of graft-vs-leukemia (GVL) effect prior to stem cell transplantation (SCT), intraperitoneally injection of cyclophosphamide (Cy) (200 mg/kg) and TBI (9 Gy) was given on day 6. One day later, treated mice were rescued with bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells from (BALB/c x C57BL/6) F1 male mice (H-2(d/b)). The results showed that recipients had no occurrence of leukemia and GVHD through selective elimination of alloreactive donor lymphocytes by Cy and TBI, survived more than 210 days, the complete-donor chimerism occurred on day 21 after transplantation. The ratio of chimerism descended subsequently, but still displayed mixed-chimerism at 90 days. Control mice died of GVHD, leukemia or other death-related-transplantation within 20 to 36 days (P<0.01). It is concluded that to induce GVL effects by MHC mismatched splenocytes given before syngeneic bone marrow transplantation followed by selective elimination of alloreactive donor lymphocytes through TBI and Cy, graft-vs-host disease was thus avoided.

Effects of sensitized donor lymphocyte infusion on the chimerism and graft-versus-host disease after nonmyeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation / 中国实验血液学杂志

To explore whether the complete donor chimerism could be achieved and graft-versus-host disease could be alleviated by donor lymphocyte infusion which was sensitized by the skin of the recipient, female C57BL/6 mice (H-2(b), B6) as recipients received total body irradiation (TBI) of 5.5 Gy ((60)Co gamma-ray) on day 0 followed by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The allo-grafts consisted of 2 x 10(7) peripheral hematopoietic stem cells from mobilized male BALB/c (H-2(d)) donor mice with the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Day 2 after allo-HSCT, the recipient mice were given 200 mg/kg cyclophosphamide intraperitoneally. Afterwards these recipient mice were infused 2 x 10(6) sensitized or unsensitized-donor lymphocytes at the 28 days after transplantation. The results showed that the mice receiving sensitized-donor lymphocyte infusion did not suffer from GVHD and the phenotypic character of the recipient mice (black color) converted to that of the donor mice (white color), and to become full-donor chimerism. It was found that the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) T lymphocytes of them decreased at the earlier period and increased after half month, but which were also lower than that of the normal value. While various grades of acute GVHD was observed in that of the control group and the mixed-chimeras were maintained, though it increased a little, and the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) T lymphocytes increased at first, then decreased to the normal level half month later. It is concluded that sensitized DLI converted mixed to complete donor chimerism without GVHD, and the rate of CD4(+)/CD8(+) has close relation to the incidence of GVHD.

Effect of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in malignant hematologic disease of lymphatic system / 中国实验血液学杂志

The study was aimed to investigate the effect of hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (HSCT) in treatment for hematologic malignancies of lymphatic system. Through observing 8 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and 3 patients with lymphoblastic leukemia, who received auto or allo-HSCT after chemotherapy, the hematopoietic reconstitution, complication and survival time were evaluated. The results showed that 11 patients (7 patients after auto-PBSCT, 4 patients after allo-PBSCT) all achieved hematopoietic reconstitution and complete remission (CR). Within three years following-up, 5 patients with NHL were survival, but one case of NHL died at the 2 months after auto-PBSCT, one patient suicided. From 4 cases received allo-PBSCT, one patient with NHL (NK cell) was died at 79 days later, one patient with chronic lymphoblastic leukemia was surviving, another 2 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia were dead at 17 months and 54 days respectively after allo-PBSCT. In conclusion HSCT is an effective treatment for hematologic malignancies of lymphatic system, but the replase would occur in some patients received auto-PBSCT. The others by allo-PBSCT might die of severe complication of transplantation.

The relationship between the plasma homocysteine level and the polymorphism of MTHFR gene C667T in liver cirrhosis / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship between the plasma homocysteine (HCY) level and the polymorphism of N(5), N(10)-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene C667T in liver cirrhosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>112 normal subjects and 87 liver cirrhosis patients were recruited in the study. Their plasma HCY levels were measured using high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and polymorphisms of their MTHFR gene were analyzed using PCR-RFLP.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean level of plasma HCY was significantly higher in patients with liver cirrhosis (21.71+/-4.86) micromol/L than that in healthy individuals (8.34+/-3.59) micromol/L. There were three kinds of MTHFR genotypes: +/+ (TT, homozygous mutation), +/- (CT, heterozygous mutation) and -/- (CC, wild type). The frequencies of the three genotypes were as follows: +/+, 29.9%; +/-, 52.9%; -/-, 17.2% in cirrhosis patients and +/+, 19.6%; +/-, 33.9%; -/-, 46.4% in normal subjects. The frequency of homozygous or heterozygous mutation was significantly higher in cirrhosis patients than that in the normal control. Moreover, plasma homocysteine level was markedly higher in patients with MTHFR genetic mutation than those without mutation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Hyperhomocysteinemia may be an independent risk factor for liver cirrhosis. MTHFR is the main enzyme related to homocysteine metabolism. The genetic mutation of MTHFR C667T is possibly an important mechanism of hyperhomocysteinemia in liver cirrhosis. The level of plasma homocysteine may be an early indicator for liver cirrhosis.</p>

Induction of immune tolerance for allogenic recipient mice by non-myeloablative bone marrow transplantation / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to explore the effects and mechanisms of transplantation tolerance induced by "TBI + cyclophosphamide (CTX)" regimen combined with intra-bone marrow injection of allogenic BMCs. On day 0 C57BL/6 (H-2(b), B6) mice received sublethal dose of total body irradiation (TBI) ((60)Co gamma-ray) followed by intrabone marrow-bone marrow transplantation (IBM-BMT) of 3 x 10(7) cells/30 microl BMCs from BALB/c (H-2(d)) mice. The recipient mice were given CTX intraperitoneally 2 days after IBM-BMT. On day 7 skin grafting was performed and the skin survival was observed. The tolerance mechanism was investigated by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), IL-2 reverse test, adoptive transfer assay in vitro. The results showed that the mean survival time (MST) of skin allografts in group treated with TBI + CTX + BMT was significantly longer, compared with that of other groups (P < 0.01). On day 90 after IBM-BMT, the phenotypic character of the recipient mice (black color) began to convert to that of the donor mice (white color). The MLR demonstrated that the immune responses of recipient mice were donor-specific tolerance. Suppressive activity in the spleen cells of tolerant B6 mice was observed in adoptive transfer assay in vitro. IL-2 reversal and the phenotypic conversion showed that the tolerance mechanisms were involved in clonal anergy and the development of chimerism. It is concluded that the nonmyeloablative regimen combined with IBM-BMT can induce a long-term tolerance, and the multiple mechanisms including clonal anergy, suppressor cells and chimerism were involved in transplantation immune tolerance.

Hammerhead ribozyme against human telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT) induced apoptosis of liver cancer cells / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To construct vector pEGFP-C1-hTERT-ribozyme (pGTRz-U6) and its mutant (pGTmRz-U6) against hTERT containing U6 promoter, then transfect them into human liver cancer cell line SMMC7721 to observe the action of the human telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT) hammerhead ribozyme on proliferation and apoptosis of human liver cancer cell SMMC7721.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eukaryotic expressing vector pGTRz-U6 and mutant pGTmRz-U6 were constructed and transfected into SMMC7721 using Lipofectamine2000 Reagent, with pEGFP-C1 as the control group. After strict screening by G418, positive clones were cultured; the amount of expression of ribozyme and hTERT was detected by RT-PCR; cell proliferation by MTT; telomerase activity by TRAP and silver staining assay; cell apoptosis by FCM.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We found that the two ribozymes were expressed persistently in SMMC7721; different expression levels (P < 0.01) of hTERT among SMMC7721-Rz, SMMC7721-mRz and SMMC7721-pEGFP-C1 was exhibited by the analysis of variance with SPSS software. The difference between SMMC7721-Rz and the others is significant in t-test (P < 0.01), while there was no difference between SMMC7721-mRz and SMMC7721-pEGFP-C1 (P > 0.05). With the advance of cell division, telomerase activities of the cells treated by SMMC7721-Rz and SMMC7721-mRz decreased gradually, and the percentage of apoptosis of the cells transfected with Rz and mRz increased gradually. The apoptosis percentage of 7PDS SMMC7721-Rz was 29.86%, while those of SMMC7721-mRz and SMMC7721-pEGFP-C1 were 9.87% and 3.36%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The apoptosis level of SMMC7721 induced by hTERT ribozyme increases as cells divide, and this ribozyme maybe a potential approach for liver cancer gene therapy.</p>