Prostate-derived IL-1β upregulates expression of NMDA receptor in the paraventricular nucleus and shortens ejaculation latency in rats with experimental autoimmune prostatitis / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP)-induced persistent inflammatory immune response can significantly upregulate the expression of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). However, the mechanism has not yet been elucidated. Herein, we screened out the target prostate-derived inflammation cytokines (PDICs) by comparing the inflammatory cytokine levels in peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) between EAP rats and their controls. After identifying the target PDIC, qualified males in initial copulatory behavior testing (CBT) were subjected to implanting tubes onto bilateral PVN. Next, they were randomly divided into four subgroups (EAP-1, EAP-2, Control-1, and Control-2). After 1-week recovery, EAP-1 rats were microinjected with the target PDIC inhibitor, Control-1 rats were microinjected with the target PDIC, while the EAP-2 and Control-2 subgroups were only treated with the same amount of artificial CSF (aCSF). Results showed that only interleukin-1β(IL-1β) had significantly increased mRNA-expression in the prostate of EAP rats compared to the controls (P < 0.001) and significantly higher protein concentrations in both the serum (P = 0.001) and CSF (P < 0.001) of the EAP groups compared to the Control groups. Therefore, IL-1β was identified as the target PDIC which crosses the blood-brain barrier, thereby influencing the central nervous system. Moreover, the EAP-1 subgroup displayed a gradually prolonged ejaculation latency (EL) in the last three CBTs (all P < 0.01) and a significantly lower expression of NMDA NR1 subunit in the PVN (P = 0.043) compared to the respective control groups after a 10-day central administration of IL-1β inhibitors. However, the Control-1 subgroup showed a gradually shortened EL (P < 0.01) and a significantly higher NR1 expression (P = 0.004) after homochronous IL-1β administration. Therefore, we identified IL-1β as the primary PDIC which shortens EL in EAP rats. However, further studies should be conducted to elucidate the specific molecular mechanisms through which IL-1β upregulates NMDA expression.

Detection of epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutation in non-small cell lung cancer by allele-specific oligonucleotide-PCR and bi-loop probe specific primer quantitative PCR / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the detection sensitivity of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations between allele specific oligonucleotide PCR (ASO-PCR) and bi-loop probe and specific primer quantitative PCR (BPSP-qPCR).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 96 non-small cell lung cancer specimens were selected from West China Hospital from September 2009 to December 2010. ASO-PCR was developed to detect the presence of classical EGFR mutations. A total 39 available specimens were also tested by BPSP-qPCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>EGFR mutation detection rate was 30.2% (26/96) by ASO-PCR. The mutation rate was higher in female than in male patients [45.5% (20/44) vs. 17.3% (9/52), P = 0.003], non-smokers than smokers [44.1% (26/59) vs. 8.1% (3/37), P < 0.001] and adenocarcinomas than other subtypes of lung cancer [37.0% (27/73) vs. 8.7% (2/23), P = 0.01]. Among mutation negative cases by ASO-PCR, BPSP-qPCR increased the rate of detection of 19-del and L858R mutation by 10.3% (4/39) in adenocarcinomas and non-smoking subset. Overall, the mutation detection rate of BPSP-qPCR was higher than that of ASO-PCR [66.7% (26/39) vs. 41.0% (16/39), P = 0.02].</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>BPSP-qPCR has a better detection sensitivity than that of ASO-PCR.</p>

Construction of a recombinant adenovirus vector harboring human transforming growth factor-beta type II receptor-IgG1Fc fusion gene / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To construct a recombinant adenoviral vector harboring human transforming growth factor-beta type II receptor-IgG1Fc (TbetaRII-IgG1Fc) fusion gene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The cDNA fragments of human TbetaRII and IgG1Fc genes were amplified by RT-PCR and fused with overlap PCR to obtain the fusion gene TbetaRKK-IgG1Fc. The TbetaRII-IgG1Fc gene was cloned into the shuttle plasmid pAdTrack-CMV, which was linearized and transfected into E.coli BJ 5183 strain containing the adenoviral backbone vector. The recombinant adenovirus vector was constructed by homologous recombination. The recombinant adenoviral plasmid was linearized and transfected into 293 cells, followed by amplification and purification of the virus and detection of TbetaRII-IgG1Fc mRNA expression by RT-PCR. The functional activity of the recombinant adenoviral plasmid was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results of restriction endonuclease digestion and DNA sequencing indicated correct sequence of the target TbetaRII-IgG1Fc fusion gene. The recombinant adenoviral plasmid expressed hTbetaRII-IgG1Fc and neutralized TGF-beta1 in vitro after infection of the human lung fibroblasts (HLF), as confirmed by RT-PCR and ELISA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The recombinant adenoviral plasmid capable of neutralizing TGF-beta1 in vitro is constructed successfully.</p>