Genotype-phenotype relationship in a large cohort of osteogenesis imperfecta patients with COL1A1 mutations revealed by a new scoring system / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a heritable bone fragility disorder, is mainly caused by mutations in COL1A1 gene encoding α1 chain of type I collagen. This study aimed to investigate the COL1A1 mutation spectrum and quantitatively assess the genotype-phenotype relationship in a large cohort of Chinese patients with OI.@*METHODS@#A total of 161 patients who were diagnosed as OI in Department of Endocrinology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2010 to December 2017 were included in the study. The COL1A1 mutation spectrum was identified by next generation sequencing and confirmed by Sanger sequencing. A new clinical scoring system was developed to quantitatively assess the clinical severity of OI and the genotype-phenotype relationship was analyzed. The independent sample t-test, analysis of variance, Mann-Whitney U-test, Chi-squared test, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression were applied for statistical analyses.@*RESULTS@#Among 161 patients with OI, 32.9% missense mutations, 16.8% non-sense mutations, 24.2% splice-site mutations, 24.8% frameshift mutations, and 1.2% whole-gene deletions were identified, of which 38 variations were novel. These mutations led to 53 patients carrying qualitative defects and 67 patients carrying quantitative defects in type I collagen. Compared to patients with quantitative mutations, patients with qualitative mutations had lower alkaline phosphatase level (296 [132, 346] U/L vs. 218 [136, 284] U/L, P = 0.009) and higher clinical score (12.2 ± 5.3 vs. 7.4 ± 2.4, P < 0.001), denoting more severe phenotypes including shorter stature, lower bone mineral density, higher fracture frequency, more bone deformity, vertebral compressive fractures, limited movement, and dentinogenesis imperfecta (DI). Patients would not present with DI if the glycine substitutions happened before the 79th amino acid in triple helix of α1 chains.@*CONCLUSIONS@#This presented distinctive COL1A1 mutation spectrum in a large cohort of Chinese patients with OI. This new quantitative analysis of genotype-phenotype correlation would be helpful to predict the prognosis of OI and genetic counseling.

A homozygous mutation in TMEM38B causes rare osteogenesis imperfecta type XIV / 基础医学与临床

Objective To investigate the phenotype of a boy with osteogenesis imperfecta(OI)and detect the path-ogenic gene mutation in his family.Methods The clinical data of a uygur ethnic boy was investigated in detail, who suffered from early onset repeated fragile fractures.Bone turnover biomarkers, bone mineral density(BMD) and bone morphology were evaluated.The pathogenic mutations in this patient were investigated by targeted next-generation sequencing and subsequently confirmed by Sanger sequencing.Results Serum β-cross linked C-te-lopeptide of type Ⅰcollagen was elevated.Radiological assessment revealed a generalized osteoporosis in thoraco-lumbar spine,slender long bone with thin cortices.The pathogenic mutations in TMEM38B were detected as follow:a homozygous mutation c.507G>A transition in exon 4,which would generate a new downstream termination codon (p.W169X).His parents were heterozygous carriers of the mutation.Conclusions Mutation in TMEM38B is iden-tified for the first time in a uygur ethnic boy with extremely rare autosomal recessive OI type XIV.The clinical and genetic findings expands our understanding of rare OI induced by TMEM38B mutation.

Effect of Tangshenkang Granule containing serum on renal mesangial cells' proliferation and TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathway in the high glucose condition / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Tangshenkang Granule (TG) containing serum on renal mesangial cells' (RMCs) proliferation and TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathway in the high glucose condition.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twelve SD rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the low dose TG group, the middle dose TG group, the high dose TG group, and the blank control group, 3 in each group. After 7-day gastrogavage via portal vein blood, rats were sacrificed and their serum samples were collected. RMCs were cultured in common rat serum and TG containing serum respectively. The proliferation of mesangial cells was determined by methly thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay to determine the optimal TG containing serum concentration. Expression levels of TGF-β1 mRNA and protein were determined by real time quantitative PCR and ELISA. Smad2/3 protein expression and phosphorylation were determined by Western blot and immunofluorescence.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TG containing serum at different doses could inhibit high glucose induced RMC cells' proliferation, TGF-β1 over-expression and Smad2/3 phosphorylation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TG containing serum could inhibit high glucose induced RMC cells' proliferation, and its mechanism might be possibly associated with inhibiting TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway.</p>

The impact of fluoride on in vitro cultured human chondrocytes / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To study the cell vitality and ultra-structure of in vitro cultured fetus chondrocytes exposed to different doses of fluoride.Methods Primary chondrocytes were obtained from articular cartilage of the 24-27 weeks,aborted and dead fetuses.The third generation of primary cultured chondmcytes were exposed to concentrations of 0,10-2,5 × 10-3,10-3,10-4,10-5,10-6,10-7 and 10-8 mol/L fluoride for 24,48 and 72 h.Cell vitality was detected with Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and ultra-structure of chondrocytes was observed by transmission electron microscope.Results The cell vitalities of chondrocytes exposed to doses of fluoride (10-2,5 ×10-3,10-3,10-4,10-5,10-6,10-7 and 10-8 moL/L) for 24,48 and 72 h were(15.04 ± 0.55)％,(62.53 ± 1.03)％,(100.34 ± 5.19)％,(111.40 ± 3.69)％,(121.47 + 6.09)％,(129.95 ± 4.96)％,(121.81 ± 4.97)％,(111.00 ± 1.63)％;(10.35 ± 0.64)％,(35.23 ± 2.41)％,(110.30 ± 2.07)％,(113.66 ± 6.98)％,(120.36 ± 6.23)％,(133.40 ± 5.80)％,(126.06 ± 5.40)％,(115.62 ± 7.33)％; (6.19 ± 0.16)％,(18.44 ± 0.21)％,(120.83 ± 4.93)％,(123.77 ± 4.82)％,(129.09 ± 5.21)％,(140.44 + 4.18)％,(131.99 ± 7.00)％,(124.10 ± 3.68)％,respectively.The cell vitalities of 10-2,5 × 10-3 mol/L fluoride groups were significantly lower than that of the control group (all P ＜ 0.05).The cell vitality of 10-2 mol/L group was significantly lower than that of the 5 × 10-3 mol/L group (P ＜ 0.05).Doses of fluoride (10-2,5 × 10-3 mol/L) could inhibit the cell vitality and promote the apoptosis of chondrocytes in vitro with increasing doses and prolonged time.The cell vitalities of 10-3,10-4,10-5,10-6,10-7,10-8 mol/L of fluoride groups were significantly higher than that of the control group (except the 24 h 10-3 mol/L,P ＜ 0.05).Between 10-4 and 10-3 mol/L groups(the vitalities of 48 h and 72 h were higher,but not significantly); 10-5 and 10-4 mol/L groups (the vitality of 72 h was higher,but not significantly); 10-6 and 10-5 mol/L groups,the cell vitalities were significantly higher than that of the control group(all P ＜ 0.05).Between 10-7 and 10-6 mol/L groups,10-8 and 10-7 mol/L groups (the vitality of 72 h was lower,but not significantly),the cell vitalities were significantly lower than that of the control group(all P ＜ 0.05).Doses of fluoride(10-3-10-8 mol/L) could promote the cell vitality of chondrocytes in vitro with prolonged time.The optimal concentration for the promotion was 10-6 mol/L.The cells of the control group were characterized as regular morphology,the abnormal surface microvillis,abundant cytoplasm and mitochondrial,abundant and slightly expanded rough endoplasmic reticulums and low electron-dense materials.The cells of 10-6 mol/L fluoride group had the following changes,increased and swell mitochondrial,hypertrophy and expanded rough endoplasmic reticulums.The cells of 5 × 10-3 mol/L fluoride group had the following changes,decreased microvillis,invaginated cell membrane,pyknosis and apoptotic body.Conclusion Doses of fluoride (10-3-10-8 mol/L) can promote the proliferation of human chondrocytes cultured in vitro.Doses of fluoride (10-2,5 × 10-3 mol/L) can promote the apoptosis of human chondrocytes cultured in vitro.

Effect of Chinese herbal compounds for blood activating stasis removing, qi benefiting Shen invigorating on high glucose stimulated proliferation of renal mesangial cells and expressions of fibronectin / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study effects of Chinese Herbal Compounds (CHC) for blood activating stasis removing (BASR), qi benefiting Shen invigorating (QBSI) on high glucose stimulated proliferation of renal mesangial cells (RMCs) and expressions of fibronectin (FN).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rats' RMCs were dealt with high glucose and different concentrations of Chinese medicine for 24 and 48 h respectively. The proliferation of RMCs was detected with 4-A thiazolyl blue. mRNA expressions of FN was detected by real time quantitative PCR. The protein expression of FN was detected by ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the proliferation obviously increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) after 24 and 48 h of treatment in the high glucose group, mRNA and protein expressions of FN also increased (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the proliferation of RMCs or expressions of FN at 24 h between each CHC group and the high glucose group (P > 0.05). Compared with the high glucose group, the proliferation of RMCs and expressions of FN at 24 h each obviously decreased in the CHC group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>High glucose could promote the proliferation of RMCs and induce expressions of FN. No obvious effect could be stimulated by CHC treatment for 24 h. The proliferation of RMCs, protein and mRNA expressions of FN could be reversed by CHC treatment for 48 h.</p>

Effect of fluoride on the expression of bcl-2 and Bax proteins in chondrocyte / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To study the effect of fluoride on the expression of bcl-2 and Bax in chondrocyte in vitro, and investigate the mechanism of action of chondrocyte apoptosis induced by fluoride. Methods Articular chondrocytes of neonate rat were cultured in vitro and treated with 0(control),5,20,40 mg/L of fluoride,respectively, for 10 days. Then observed the u]trastructure of chondrocytes under eletronicmicroscope, and tested the expression of bcl-2 and Bax in chondrocyte in different groups by Western blotting. Results Abundant rough endoplasmic reticulums (RERs) and complete structure of mitochondria membranes were presented in globular chondrocytes in the control group and 5 mg/L group; but more lipid droplets and vacuoles were seen in the cytoplasm, and the structure of intracellular membranes became incomplete, and some shrieked chromatin and pyknosis were seen in the chondrocytes of the 20,40 mg/L groups. The expression of bcl-2 markedly decreased in 20 mg/L group(0.626 ± 0.042) and 40 mg/L group(0.531± 0.039) compared to the control group(0.876 ± 0.035,all P ＜ 0.01 ). And the expression of Bax significantly increased in 20 mg/L group(0.966 ± 0.047) and 40 mg/Lgroup ( 1 .289 ± 0.156) compared to the control group(0.642 ± 0.050, all P ＜ 0.01). But there was no statistical significant difference of the expression of bcl-2 or Bax between 5 mg/L group(0.885 ± 0.065,0.657 ± 0.045) and control group (all P ＞ 0.05 ). However there were statistical differences of expressions of bcl-2 and Bax between 20 and 40 mg/L groups(all P ＜ 0.01 ). Conclusions Twenty and 40 mg/L fluoride can cause damage to the ultrastructure of chondrocyte, and fluoride possibly promotes chondrocyte apoptosis by reducing the expression of antiapoptotic factor bcl-2 and increasing the expression of Bax.

Antioxidant activity of natural and cultured Cordyceps sp / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Investigating the antioxidant activities of water and ethanol extracts of natural Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris and their fermentation preparations.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The samples were tested through 6 assays: inhibition ability of linoleic acid oxidation; scavenging activity of DPPH, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical and superoxide anion; and metal chelating activity.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Samples showed different antioxidant ability, and there was not an extract that exhibited high activity in all assays; however, water extract of natural C. militaris could be regarded as the most powerful antioxidant among 8 samples. It had high activity in inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation, chelating metal ions, and scavenging DPPH and hydroxyl radical. The research also indicated that the contents of phenolic compounds in water and ethanol extracts of natural and cultured Cordyceps sp. had huge difference.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Natural Cordyceps sp. and its fermentation preparations could be used as potential natural antioxidants. The fermented process affected the antioxidant ability of cultured Cordyceps sp., and the antioxidant activity of both natural and cultured Cordyceps sp. did not significantly related with the quantity of phenolics.</p>