Designing of relative quantitative Real-Time PCR for detection of CD40 gene expression in dendritic cell after suppression with antisense

Dendritic cells have a critical role in control and regulation of immune responses. It is believed that these cells can be used for the treatment of many diseases. One of the methods used in immunotherapy is based on generating of tolerogenic dendritic cells through inhibition of expression costimulatory molecules. CD40 is one of the costimulatory molecules, and inhibition of expression by antisense or siRNA techniques, can generate tolerogenic dendritic cells. Generation of tolerogenic dendritic cells will be useful in the treatment of many diseases. By developing a quantitive RT-PCR for evaluation of gene expression, generation of these cells could be possible. Using proper software we designed an Antisense and transfection of dendritic cells by lipofectamine 2000 [Invitrogen] could lead us to generate tolerogenic dendritic cells. In this study dendritic cells were extracted from of Balb/c mice Spleen and the purity of this extraction was determined by flow cytometry. BCL 1 cell line as a CD40 expressing control group and Wehi-164 cell line were cultured in RPMI-1640+10%FCS. Primer design for CD40 gene and house keeping gene [GADPH] was done by bioinformatic soft wares such as Beacon designer, mfold and Blast. RNasy plus mini kit [Qiagen] was used for RNA extraction and the Purity and Integrity were determined by O.D at 260/280 and agarose gel electrophoresis. In the next step cDNA synthesized and quantitative RT-PCR for CD 40 using IQ sybergreen [Biorad] were setup. Finally, standard curve for CD40 and internal control in different RNA concentrations were performed. After transfection with lipofectamin 2000 the amount of gene suppression were quantified by qualitative RT-PCR. Using gradient real time PCR, optimum annealing temperature, C[t] and delta Rn for CD40 and GADPH were determined, annealing temperature was 59.5 degree sign c and melting temperature was 84 degree sign c. Slope of the curve and the efficacy of PCR for CD40 and GADPH genes were quantified by serial dilution method. CD 40 Standard curve efficiency is 96.5 and the slope is -3.408 and the efficacy of GADPH standard curve is 94.1 and its slope is -3.471. The amount of CD40 gene suppression by antisense in dendritic cells was 1/32 and in BCL1 cell line was 1/64. Also the transfection reagent had no effect on the gene expression. The best time for CD40 gene expression is 48h after transfection. Semi quantitative PCR, absolute quantitative PCR and relative quantitative PCR are used to evaluative the expression of different genes such as CD40. In this study we found that for making CD40 and GADPH standard curves, Biorad two steps PCR kit [IQ -sybergreen] and Oligo dt for cDNA synthesis were very suitable. In this case, GADPH is a good internal control. Also for evaluation of gene suppression relative quantitative RT-PCR was more efficient compare to other methods such as northern blotting. The CD40 gene Suppression after 48 hours in dendritic cells was 1/32 and in BCL1 cells was 1/64

Characteristics and prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection in patients with hepatitis C in Iran

Hepatitis B vims [HBV] infection in patients who lack detectable hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] is called occult hepatitis B infection. Such infections have been frequently identified in patients with chronic hepatitis C liver disease, but their prevalence is not known.207 patients with chronic hepatitis C who were HCV-RNA and anti-HCV positive were studied for HBV-DNA by PCR, and for HBsAg and anti-HBc by ELIS A. DNA was extracted by high pure nucleic acid kit [Roche-Germany]. HB V-DNA amplification was done with a set of primer directed to the pre-S region. HBsAg and anti-HBc were evaluated by a commercially available ELIS A kit [Dade Behring].23 of 207 patients with chronic hepatitis C liver disease [11.1%] were positive for HB V-DNA [co-infection]. Among this group 17 patients [8.2%] were HBsAg negative [occult infection]. 8 of 17 patients with occult infection [47%] were anti-HBc positive and 9 were anti-HBc negative [53%]. No significant difference was found in epidemiological and biochemical parameters in patients with HCV alone in comparison with HCV co-infected with occult hepatitis B [p= 0.453 for ALT and77= 0.498 for AST]. Occult hepatitis B virus infections occur frequently in patients with chronic hepatitis C liver disease and may have clinical significance