Association of Estrogen Receptor Gene Polymorphisms and Primary Biliary Cirrhosis in a Chinese Population: A Case-Control Study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic and slowly progressive cholestatic liver disease characterized by destruction of the interlobular bile ducts and a striking female predominance. The aim of this study was to identify associations between estrogen receptor (ESR) gene polymorphisms with the risk of developing PBC and abnormal serum liver tests in a Chinese population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-six patients with PBC (case group) and 35 healthy individuals (control group) from the First Hospital of Jilin University were studied. Whole genomic DNA was extracted from all the participants. Three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs2234693, rs2228480, and rs3798577) from ESR1 and two (rs1256030 and rs1048315) from ESR2 were analyzed by a pyrosequencing method. Demographic data and liver biochemical data were collected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Subjects with the T allele at ESR2 rs1256030 had 1.5 times higher risk of developing PBC than those with the C allele (odds ratio [OR] = 2.1277, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1872-4.5517). Haplotypes TGC of ESR1 rs2234693, rs2228480, and rs3798577 were risk factors for having PBC. The C allele at ESR1 rs2234693 was associated with abnormal alkaline phosphatase (OR = 5.2469, 95% CI = 1.3704-20.0895) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (OR = 3.4286, 95% CI = 1.0083-13.6578) levels in PBC patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>ESR2 rs1256030 T allele may be a significant risk factor for the development of PBC. Screening for patients with gene polymorphisms may help to make early diagnoses in patients with PBC.</p>

Inhibition of HCV replication by HCV specific U1 small nuclear RNA chimeric ribozyme in vivo / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the advantage of U1 small nuclear RNA as a ribozyme vector (U1-Rz) to inhibit HCV replication in vivo.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The 3rd stem-loop was substituted by HCV core specific ribozyme to construct an U1-Rz eucaryotic expression plasmid. Then it was co-transfected with pCMV/T7-NCRC Delta-luc into Huh7 cell line mediated by lipofectin. The cell lysis supernatant was subjected to Western blot and lumenometer to determine the luciferase levels.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A U1 snRNA chimeric ribozyme was constructed successfully. Both Rz and U1-Rz inhibited luciferase expression in Huh7 by 48.64% and 87.46%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Rz has more efficacy in cells when using U1 snRNA delivery system. U1 can be an efficient vector for HCV specific ribozyme.</p>