Investigation of MHC gamma block C4A and C4B polymorphisms in unrelated hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

ABSTRACT Background: Immunological life-threatening complications frequently occur in post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), despite matching recipient and donor (R/D) pairs for classical human leukocyte antigens (HLA). Studies have shown that R/D non-HLA disparities within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are associated with adverse effects post-HSCT. Methods: We investigated the impact of mismatches of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in C4A/C4B genes, for showing the highest diversity in the MHC gamma block, on 238 patients who underwent HLA 10/10 unrelated donor (URD) HSCT. The endpoints were acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) and mortality. One hundred and twenty-nine R/D pairs had 23 C4-SNPs typed by PCR-SSP (Gamma-Type™v.1.0), and 109 R/D pairs had these 23 SNPs identified by next-generation sequencing (NGS) using the Illumina platform. Results: The percentage of patients who received HSC from HLA 10/10 donors with 1-7 mismatches was 42.9%. The R/D pairs were considered C4 mismatched when bearing at least one disparity. These mismatches were not found to be risk factors for aGVHD, cGVHD or mortality after unrelated HSCT when SNPs were analyzed together (matched or mm ≥ 1), independently or according to the percentage of incompatibilities (full match for 23 SNPs; 1-3 mm and >3 mm). An exception was the association between 1-3 mismatches at the composite of SNPs C13193/T14952/T19588 with the development of aGVHD (P = 0.012) and with grades III-IV of this disease (P = 0.004). Conclusion: Our data are not consistent with the hypothesis that disparities in C4A/C4B SNPs increase the risks of post-HSCT adverse effects for the endpoints investigated in this study.

Genetic characteristics of human enterovirus A group 71 type in Xining City in 2017 / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the genetic characteristics of enterovirus A group 71 type (EV-A71) and etiological features of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Xining city in 2017.@*Methods@#The pharyngeal swab specimens were collected from HFMD patients, and detected by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). For EV-A71 positive samples, virus isolation was performed. Then RNA of EV-A71 strains was extracted, and then VP1 coding region was amplified by RT-PCR. The phylogenetic tree was constructed by comparing with other genotypes and sub-genotypes strains of EV-A71.@*Results@#Total 57 strains of EV-A71 were isolated in Xining city in 2017, which all belonged to genotype C4a, and could be divided into two different lineages by phylogenetic analysis. The epidemic strains of EV-A71 in Xining City was closely related to other provinces of China in 2017.@*Conclusions@#C4a was the dominant genotype of EV-A71 in Xining city in 2017, and no other genotype was detected. In addition, EV-A71 isolated from Xining city was co-evolved with EV-A71 in other provinces of China.

Impact of C4, C4A and C4B gene copy number variation in the susceptibility, phenotype and progression of systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract Background Complement component 4 (C4) gene copy number (GCN) affects the susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in different populations, however the possible phenotype significance remains to be determined. This study aimed to associate C4A , C4B and total C4 GCN and SLE, focusing on the clinical phenotype and disease progression. Methods C4 , C4A and C4B GCN were determined by real-time PCR in 427 SLE patients and 301 healthy controls, which underwent a detailed clinical evaluation according to a pre-established protocol. Results The risk of developing SLE was 2.62 times higher in subjects with low total C4 GCN (< 4 copies, OR = 2.62, CI = 1.77 to 3.87, p < 0.001) and 3.59 times higher in subjects with low C4A GCN (< 2 copies; OR = 3.59, CI = 2.15 to 5.99, p < 0.001) compared to those subjects with normal or high GCN of total C4 (≥4) and C4A (≥2), respectively. An increased risk was also observed regarding low C4B GCN, albeit to a lesser degree (OR = 1.46, CI = 1.03 to 2.08, p = 0.03). Furthermore, subjects with low C4A GCN had higher permanent disease damage as assessed by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics - Damage Index (SLICC-DI; median = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.2-1.9) than patients with normal or high copy number of C4A (median = 1.0, 95% CI = 0.8-1.1; p = 0.004). There was a negative association between low C4A GCN and serositis ( p = 0.02) as well as between low C4B GCN and arthritis ( p = 0.02). Conclusions This study confirms the association between low C4 GCN and SLE susceptibility, and originally demonstrates an association between low C4A GCN and disease severity.

Genetic characteristics of human enterovirus A type 71 in Qinghai province during 2016-2017 / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the genetic characteristics of enterovirus A 71 (EV-A71) and etiological features of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Qinghai province from 2016 to 2017.@*Methods@#Specimens were collected from HFMD patients in Qinghai province, and detected by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). For EV-A71 positive samples, virus was isolated and RNA was extracted, and then VP1 coding region was amplified by RT-PCR. The phylogenetic tree was constructed by comparing with other genotypes and sub-genotypes strains of EV-A71.@*Results@#It was shown that 114 strains of EV-A71 were isolated in Qinghai province from 2016 to 2017, which all belonged to genotype C4a, and could be divided to two different lineages by phylogenetic analysis. From 2016 to 2017, the epidemic strains of EV-A71 in the different transmission chains of Qinghai province was closely related to other provinces of China.@*Conclusions@#C4a was the dominant genotype of EV-A71 in Qinghai province from 2016 to 2017, and no other genotype was detected. In addition, EV-A71 isolated from Qinghai province co-evolved with EV-A71 in other provinces of China.

Changes in serum levels of Th22 cell-related cytokines and complements in patients with drug eruption before and after treatment / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To investigate changes in serum levels of Th22 cell ? related cytokines and complements in patients with drug eruption before and after treatment, and to explore their possible roles in the occurrence and development of drug eruption. Methods This study included 35 patients with drug eruption, and 35 sex?and age?matched healthy controls. Five milliliters of peripheral blood samples were collected from the controls and patients before and after treatment. Enzyme?linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was performed to measure serum levels of interleukin 22(IL?22)and IL?13, and the cytometric bead array(CBA)system was used to determine serum levels of tumor necrosis factor?α(TNF?α) and complement components C3a, C4a and C5a. Results Before treatment, the patients with drug eruption showed significantly higher serum levels of IL?22(40.85 ± 14.56 vs. 29.09 ± 8.66 ng/L, t=5.549, P 0.05). Correlation analysis showed positive correlations between complement C3a and C4a serum levels(r = 0.660, P < 0.05), between C3a and C5a serum levels(r = 0.404, P < 0.05), between C4a and C5a serum levels(r = 0.501, P < 0.05), and between IL ? 22 and TNF ? α serum levels(r = 0.573, P = 0.005), but negative correlations between IL ? 22 and complement C3a serum levels(r = -0.490, P = 0.005), in patients before treatment. Conclusion The activation of Th22 cell?related cytokines and complements may play important roles in the occurrence and development of drug eruption, and IL?22 may participate in the regulation of complements.