The potential molecular effects of bursal septpeptide II on immune induction and antitumor activity

The bursa of Fabricius (BF) is the acknowledged central humoral immune organ in birds. Bursal septpeptide II (BSP-II) is an immunomodulatory bioactive peptide isolated from BF. To understand the effects of BSP-II on immune induction, gene expression profiles of hybridoma cells treated with BSP-II were evaluated. Pathway analysis showed that regulated genes were involved in cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, T cell receptor signaling pathway, and pathway in cancer. It was observed that BSP-II reduced tumor cells proliferation and stimulated p53 expression. These results indicate potential mechanisms underlying the effects of the humoral immune system on immune induction, including antitumor activities. Our study has provided a novel insight into immunotherapeutic strategies for treating human tumors.

Mutation analysis of beta myosin heavy chain gene in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy families / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the gene mutations of beta-myosin heavy chain gene (MYH7) in Chinese pedigrees with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and to analyze the correlation between the genotype and phenotype.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Exons 3, 5, 7-9, 11-16 and 18-23 of the MYH7 gene were amplified with PCR in three Chinese pedigrees with HCM. The products were sequenced. Sequence alignment between the detected and the standard sequences was performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A missense mutation of Thr441Met in exon 14 was identified in a pedigree, which was not detected in the controls. Several synonymous mutations of MYH7 gene were detected in the three pedigrees.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mutation of Thr441Met, located in the actin binding domain of the globular head, was first identified in Chinese. It probably caused HCM. HCM is a heterogeneous disease. Many factors are involved in the process of its occurrence and development.</p>

Screening and analysis of the mutations on beta-myosin heavy chain gene in 3 Chinese families with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect gene mutations on beta-myosin heavy chain gene MYH7 in 3 Chinese families with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and to analyze the correlation between genotype and phenotype.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) and sequencing mutation screening of the exons (exon3-23) coding for MYH7 gene were performed in 3 Chinese families with HCM.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In this study, we identified several mutations in MYH7. A mutation of Thr441Met previously reported in a patient with Laing distal myopathy was first identified in one Chinese pedigree.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study illustrated the high frequency of mutation in MYH7 gene in Chinese HCM families. Different mutations and carriers of the MYH7 gene present phenotypic heterogeneity. Mutation screening and analysis in HCM family could therefore facilitate the early HCM diagnosis and would be helpful for the prediction, prevention and early treatment of HCM linked with MYH7 gene mutation.</p>

PINK1 IVS5-5 G>A polymorphism may contribute to the risk of late onset Parkinson disease in Chinese / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the possible association of IVS5-5G>A polymorphism, positioned in the upstream region of exon 5 of PINK1 gene with the risk for sporadic late onset Parkinson disease (LOPD) in Chinese.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Intronic regulatory sequence analysis was performed using the web-based in-silico analysis. The authors performed an association study using a case-control series (comprising 382 LOPD patients and 336 controls, Chinese of Han ancestry). Genotyping was performed by PCR-based denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) combined with sequencing analyses. Allele and genotype frequencies were compared by the Chi-square test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In-silico analysis showed that the intronic IVS5-5G>A polymorphism was located within acceptor site of exon 5 and may be the functional single polymorphism (SNP) in the regulatory region with impact on the splicing of PINK1 gene. Those result yielded statistical significant evidence for the association of PINK1 IVS5-5G>A polymorphism with risk for typical PD in Chinese Han population (OR=1.95, 95%CI: 1.29-2.94, P=0.0012). Homozygote of A allele may have increased risk for LOPD (OR=2.45, 95%CI: 1.27-4.72, P=0.009).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The authors provide the first evidence that the common genetic variation PINK1 IVS5-5G>A may contribute to the risk of LOPD in Chinese population.</p>

Possible association between polymorphisms of human leukocyte antigen-DQ genes and susceptibility to trichloroethylene-induced severe generalized dermatitis / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between genetic polymorphisms of human leukocyte antigen-DQ (HLA-DQ) and susceptibility to trichloroethylene (TCE)-induced severe generalized dermatitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A case-control study was conducted which included 112 patients with TCE-induced severe generalized dermatitis and 142 healthy controls exposed to TCE in the same workshop. The DNA sequences in exon2 of HLA-DQA1 and HLA-DQB1 were performed by direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products. The frequencies distribution of allelic genotypes and codon polymorphisms were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequencies of DQA1*0201 and 060101/0602 in cases [7.6% (17/224) and 16.1% (36/224)] were significantly higher than those of the exposed controls [3.5% (10/284) and 7.0% (20/284)], while frequencies of DQA1*0103 and 050101/0503/0505 in cases [5.8% (13/224) and 8.9% (20/224)] were significantly lower than those of exposed controls [10.9% (31/284) and 17.3% (49/284)]. In terms of codon polymorphisms, there were 5 codons of DQA1 (25, 41, 52, 54 and 69) showing significant differences between cases and controls. There were no significant differences in the frequencies of allelic genotypes of HLA-DQB1 between cases and exposed controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The genetic polymorphisms of HLA-DQA1 might be one of the factors influencing the individual susceptibility to TCE-induced severe generalized dermatitis.</p>

Polymorphisms of neural nicotinic cholinergic receptor alpha 4 gene of Chinese / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To screen for polymorphisms in alpha 4 subunit (principal subunit of nAChR) gene (CHRNA4).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DNA was extracted from leukocytes of all subjects including 100 healthy senior people and 100 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The exons and adjacent intron regions of CHRNA4 were amplified with PCR. SNPs were screened by denatured high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) techniques and restriction fragment length polymorphisms. Potential mutations were confirmed by sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Total 10 polymorphisms were detected and identified in coding and adjacent intron regions of nAChR alpha 4 gene, that are 420C/T (0.873/0.127), 870C/T (0.828/0.172), 1440A/C (0.858/0.142), 1860C/T (0.738/0.262), 1890C/T (0.605/0.395), intron 5 +14T/C (0.553/0.447), intron 2 +22G/A (0.873/0.127), intron 3 +182 Del22bp (0.813/0.187), 1758C/T and 1809C/T (reference for coding sequence is GenBank SNPs 000744), of which the last three are novel mutations. PD patients appeared higher frequency of deletion in intron 3+182(0.235) than normal controls (0.140)(P=0.015).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>nAChR alpha 4 gene is polymorphic. PD patients take higher frequency of intron3+182 Del 22 bp.</p>

New polymorphism (IVS3-20 T-->C) of the parkin gene associated with the early-onset Parkinson's disease in Chinese / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between a new polymorphism (IVS3-20 T>C GenBank accession number: AY463003) in intro 3 of the parkin gene and the risk for Parkinson's disease (PD) in Chinese, particularly the relation between this polymorphism and the age of onset of PD patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PD was diagnosed according to the criteria of Core Assessment Program for Intracerebral Transplantations(CAPIT). All patients and controls were examined by two neurologists and were of the Han ethnic background. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) and sequencing were used to determine the genotype of each subject.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 312 PD patients (including 99 early-onset PD patients and 213 late-onset PD patients) and 236 controls were studied. The C/C homozygote was not found in this study. Chi-square analysis revealed that the frequencies of the C allele and T/C genotype were higher in total PD group but were not statistically different from those of the control group (P=0.6350 and 0.6331, respectively). After being stratified by age of onset, the frequency of T/C genotype was significantly higher (OR=3.52, 95%CI 0.97-13.13) in PD group with an onset age at or below 45 years old (7.07%), compared with that in the control group (2.12%). Similarly, C allele was much higher (OR=3.42, 95%CI 0.96-12.57, P=0.0276) in the early-onset PD group (3.90%) than that in the control group (1.06%). The linear trend analysis showed that both the T/C genotype and C allele increased significantly in the PD group with the increase of the onset age [chi-square(trend of Genotypes)=4.414, P=0.036; chi-square(trend of Alleles)=4.344, P=0.037]. On the other hand, there was no difference in the frequencies of allele and genotype between the late-onset PD patients and controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The above results suggest that the parkin IVS3-20 T>C polymorphism might be a genetic risk factor for early-onset PD in Chinese.</p>