Host protection against Omicron BA.2.2 sublineages by prior vaccination in spring 2022 COVID-19 outbreak in Shanghai / 医学前沿

The Omicron family of SARS-CoV-2 variants are currently driving the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we analyzed the clinical laboratory test results of 9911 Omicron BA.2.2 sublineages-infected symptomatic patients without earlier infection histories during a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Shanghai in spring 2022. Compared to an earlier patient cohort infected by SARS-CoV-2 prototype strains in 2020, BA.2.2 infection led to distinct fluctuations of pathophysiological markers in the peripheral blood. In particular, severe/critical cases of COVID-19 post BA.2.2 infection were associated with less pro-inflammatory macrophage activation and stronger interferon alpha response in the bronchoalveolar microenvironment. Importantly, the abnormal biomarkers were significantly subdued in individuals who had been immunized by 2 or 3 doses of SARS-CoV-2 prototype-inactivated vaccines, supporting the estimation of an overall 96.02% of protection rate against severe/critical disease in the 4854 cases in our BA.2.2 patient cohort with traceable vaccination records. Furthermore, even though age was a critical risk factor of the severity of COVID-19 post BA.2.2 infection, vaccination-elicited protection against severe/critical COVID-19 reached 90.15% in patients aged ≽ 60 years old. Together, our study delineates the pathophysiological features of Omicron BA.2.2 sublineages and demonstrates significant protection conferred by prior prototype-based inactivated vaccines.

Host protection against Omicron BA.2.2 sublineages by prior vaccination in spring 2022 COVID-19 outbreak in Shanghai / 医学前沿

The Omicron family of SARS-CoV-2 variants are currently driving the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we analyzed the clinical laboratory test results of 9911 Omicron BA.2.2 sublineages-infected symptomatic patients without earlier infection histories during a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Shanghai in spring 2022. Compared to an earlier patient cohort infected by SARS-CoV-2 prototype strains in 2020, BA.2.2 infection led to distinct fluctuations of pathophysiological markers in the peripheral blood. In particular, severe/critical cases of COVID-19 post BA.2.2 infection were associated with less pro-inflammatory macrophage activation and stronger interferon alpha response in the bronchoalveolar microenvironment. Importantly, the abnormal biomarkers were significantly subdued in individuals who had been immunized by 2 or 3 doses of SARS-CoV-2 prototype-inactivated vaccines, supporting the estimation of an overall 96.02% of protection rate against severe/critical disease in the 4854 cases in our BA.2.2 patient cohort with traceable vaccination records. Furthermore, even though age was a critical risk factor of the severity of COVID-19 post BA.2.2 infection, vaccination-elicited protection against severe/critical COVID-19 reached 90.15% in patients aged ≽ 60 years old. Together, our study delineates the pathophysiological features of Omicron BA.2.2 sublineages and demonstrates significant protection conferred by prior prototype-based inactivated vaccines.

Integrated analysis of gut microbiome and host immune responses in COVID-19 / 医学前沿

Emerging evidence indicates that the gut microbiome contributes to the host immune response to infectious diseases. Here, to explore the role of the gut microbiome in the host immune responses in COVID-19, we conducted shotgun metagenomic sequencing and immune profiling of 14 severe/critical and 24 mild/moderate COVID-19 cases as well as 31 healthy control samples. We found that the diversity of the gut microbiome was reduced in severe/critical COVID-19 cases compared to mild/moderate ones. We identified the abundance of some gut microbes altered post-SARS-CoV-2 infection and related to disease severity, such as Enterococcus faecium, Coprococcus comes, Roseburia intestinalis, Akkermansia muciniphila, Bacteroides cellulosilyticus and Blautia obeum. We further analyzed the correlation between the abundance of gut microbes and host responses, and obtained a correlation map between clinical features of COVID-19 and 16 severity-related gut microbe, including Coprococcus comes that was positively correlated with CD3+/CD4+/CD8+ lymphocyte counts. In addition, an integrative analysis of gut microbiome and the transcriptome of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) showed that genes related to viral transcription and apoptosis were up-regulated in Coprococcus comes low samples. Moreover, a number of metabolic pathways in gut microbes were also found to be differentially enriched in severe/critical or mild/moderate COVID-19 cases, including the superpathways of polyamine biosynthesis II and sulfur oxidation that were suppressed in severe/critical COVID-19. Together, our study highlighted a potential regulatory role of severity related gut microbes in the immune response of host.

PathogenTrack and Yeskit: tools for identifying intracellular pathogens from single-cell RNA-sequencing datasets as illustrated by application to COVID-19 / 医学前沿

Pathogenic microbes can induce cellular dysfunction, immune response, and cause infectious disease and other diseases including cancers. However, the cellular distributions of pathogens and their impact on host cells remain rarely explored due to the limited methods. Taking advantage of single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis, we can assess the transcriptomic features at the single-cell level. Still, the tools used to interpret pathogens (such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi) at the single-cell level remain to be explored. Here, we introduced PathogenTrack, a python-based computational pipeline that uses unmapped scRNA-seq data to identify intracellular pathogens at the single-cell level. In addition, we established an R package named Yeskit to import, integrate, analyze, and interpret pathogen abundance and transcriptomic features in host cells. Robustness of these tools has been tested on various real and simulated scRNA-seq datasets. PathogenTrack is competitive to the state-of-the-art tools such as Viral-Track, and the first tools for identifying bacteria at the single-cell level. Using the raw data of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples (BALF) from COVID-19 patients in the SRA database, we found the SARS-CoV-2 virus exists in multiple cell types including epithelial cells and macrophages. SARS-CoV-2-positive neutrophils showed increased expression of genes related to type I interferon pathway and antigen presenting module. Additionally, we observed the Haemophilus parahaemolyticus in some macrophage and epithelial cells, indicating a co-infection of the bacterium in some severe cases of COVID-19. The PathogenTrack pipeline and the Yeskit package are publicly available at GitHub.

ABO blood group profile of patients in Naqu, Tibet: An analysis from a district-central hospital / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To investigate the distribution of ABO blood type of patients in Naqu, northern Tibet Plateau. 【Methods】 Blood group data of 5258 patients who underwent blood group identification in People′s Hospital of Naqu from 2017 to 2019 were retrospectively collected. Statistical analysis and Hardy-Weinberg coincidence test were conducted, and the disease profile, including anemia, high altitude polycythemia, obstetrics & gynecology, etc., of patients with different blood types was analyzed. 【Results】 Analysis showed that type O was most prevalent with the proportion of 37.73%(1 983/5 258), following with type B 34.12%(1 794/5 258), type A 21.3% (1 120/5 258)and type AB 6.85%(360/5 258). The distribution of ABO blood group was in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium law, showing a trend of O>B>A>AB, and the trend of gene frequency was r>q>p. The distribution of ABO blood group in male and female patients was basically the same, and showed the trend of O>B>A>AB. The distribution of ABO blood group in Naqu area was similar to other high altitude areas of Tibet (P>0.05), but presented a certain difference with that in low altitude areas of Tibet (PB>A>AB. Blood group distribution of patients with different systemic diseases was different, but with no statistical significance. 【Conclusion】 The profile of ABO blood group of patients in Naqu area is consistent with that in high altitude areas of Tibet, but quite different from that in low altitude areas of Tibet. Knowing the distribution characteristics of ABO blood group of patients in this area (hospital) is helpful to formulate a set of safe and reasonable blood use (storage) plan and ensure clinical blood use, especially emergency blood use.

Durability of neutralizing antibodies and T-cell response post SARS-CoV-2 infection / 医学前沿

The ongoing pandemic of Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is caused by a newly discovered β Coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). How long the adaptive immunity triggered by SARS-CoV-2 can last is of critical clinical relevance in assessing the probability of second infection and efficacy of vaccination. Here we examined, using ELISA, the IgG antibodies in serum specimens collected from 17 COVID-19 patients at 6-7 months after diagnosis and the results were compared to those from cases investigated 2 weeks to 2 months post-infection. All samples were positive for IgGs against the S- and N-proteins of SARS-CoV-2. Notably, 14 samples available at 6-7 months post-infection all showed significant neutralizing activities in a pseudovirus assay, with no difference in blocking the cell-entry of the 614D and 614G variants of SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, in 10 blood samples from cases at 6-7 months post-infection used for memory T-cell tests, we found that interferon γ-producing CD4

Characterization analysis of gM, gL genes of varicella zoster virus in six provinces of China / 中华预防医学杂志

Objective@#To analyze the genetic characterization of glycoprotein M(gM.),glycoprotein L(gL) of varicella zoster virus.@*Methods@#According to the program of "Ministry of Science and Technology of China" , Based on the 12 suspected VZV patients monitored in Beijing (1 case), Shanghai (5 cases), Jilin (2 cases), Qinghai (1 case), Guangdong (2 case) and Sichuan (case) in 2007-2015. A total of 12 Vesicle fluid and throat swab samples were collected. Positive samples were identified by Agarose gel electrophoresis and two glycoprotein genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Nucleotide sequences were determined and analyzed by PCR amplification of VZV positive specimens V-OKA-BK of the domestic varicella attenuated live vaccine and the Varilrix-1 of the imported attenuated live vaccine. Nucleotide sequences of VZV positive specimens, vaccine strains (V-OKA-BK, varilrix-1) and GenBank foreign wild strains (41 strains), parent strains (P-oka), vaccine strains (V-oka, Varilrix, Varivax) were compared using BioEdit and MEGA 5.0.@*Results@#12 specimens were VZV positive. Compared with the vaccine strains and the parent strains, the GM gene of 1 positive specimen had radical mutation at 86686 sites, which resulted in amino acid mutation, 5 positive specimens had base mutation at 87844 sites, and 30 strains of foreign wild strains had the same variation at 87 844 sites. 1 positive specimens of gL gene in 101245 sites had base mutation, and led to amino acid mutation, 6 positive specimens at 101624, 101625, 101626 sites had base of loss and the foreign wild strains in these 3 sites had the same variation. Compared with the vaccine strains, the nucleotide and amino acid homology of gM of 12 VZV positive specimens were 99.2%-100% and 98.2%-100%, respectively, and gL of those were 99.3%-100% and 98.6%-100%, respectively. Compared with 41 strains of foreign wild strains, homology of gM's nucleotides and amino acid were 99.3%-100% and 98.5%-100%, respectively; 99.1%-100% and 98.6%-100% for gL. The results of phylogenetic analysis showed that 7 VZV positive samples were on the same branch with 4 vaccine strains and p-oka strain. Based on gL, 12 VZV positive samples were on the same branch as the vaccine strains and p-oka strain.@*Conclusion@#This study demonstrates that the genes of gM, gL are highly conserved and remain stable immunogen, which may be involved in the attenuation of VZV and need to be further researched.

Comparison of injecting tissue glue and lauromacrogol in modiifed sandwich method with synchronization or sequential ligation for esophageal and gastric variceal / 中国内镜杂志

Objecive To evaluate and compare the efficacy of injecting tissue glue and lauromacrogol in modified sandwich method combined with synchronous ligation for patients with esophageal and gastric variceal.Methods 42 cases of patients with esophageal and gastric variceal were randomly divided into synchronous treatment group (22 cases) and sequential treatment group (20 cases). Both group received modiifed sandwich method for gastric varices (lauromacrogol-tissue adhesive-lauromacrogol). Synchronous treatment group meanwhile received synchronization ligation for esophageal varices, but sequential treatment group received sequential ligation after one week. The hemostasis rate, effective rate of varices, rebleeding and complications rate were analyzed.Results There were no signiifcant difference in hemostasis rate, effective rate and rebleeding rate between two groups. The incidence of complications, such as chest and abdominal pain, fever, transient bacteremia were equal between these two groups. No patients had ectopic embolism. The number of ligation device in synchronous treatment group was more than sequential treatment group (8.19 ± 2.01 vs 7.81 ± 1.78,P > 0.05), and the rate of esophageal varices disappearance was inferior to sequential treatment group (59.09% vs 70.00%), however, there were no statistical difference (P > 0.05).Conclusion Endoscopic injection of tissue glue and lauromacrogol synchronization ligation is safe and effective for esophageal and gastric variceal with low complication rates. This method could reduce gastroscopy times and medical expenses, and is worthy of further investigating.

Expression of galectin-7 in acute antibody-mediated rejection after renal transplantation / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:The role of galactose lectin family proteins in transplantation immunity has been proposed, but there is currently no galectin-7 detection for auxiliary diagnosis of renal dysfunction in the perioperative period after renal transplantation. For renal transplant recipients, monitoring of galectin-7 may contribute to early diagnosis of renal dysfunction after renal transplantation, and buy time for clinical treatment. OBJECTIVE:To detect the expression of galactose-7 in acute antibody mediated rejection after renal transplantation. METHODS:Twenty-seven patients who were diagnosed as having acute antibody mediated rejection after renal transplantation by renal biopsy were enrol ed, and another 10 patients without acute antibody mediated rejection after renal transplantation were selected as controls. Immunohistochemical staining and western blot assay were used to detect expression of galectin-7 in tissue and serum, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Results of immunohistochemistry staining showed that under light microscope, in the control group, galectin-7 distributed in the surface microvil i of proximal tubule epithelial cells, but not in glomeruli, distal tubule, col ecting duct and vein;in the acute rejection group, renal arteriole intima edema, tube wal fibrinoid necrosis, infiltration of renal glomerulus and tubule cells and mononuclear cells were found and galectin-7 only expressed in the surface microvil i of proximal tubule epithelial cells as wel as in the arterial smooth muscle. The number of galectin-7 positive cells in the acute rejection group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.1). Western blot assay results showed that the protein expression of serum galectin-7 in the acute rejection group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). These findings indicate that renal puncture for renal transplantation is safe and reliable, has no adverse effect on the patients and renal transplant. Galectin-7 detection has an important guiding significance for the auxiliary diagnosis of renal dysfunction during the perioperative period after renal transplantation.

Evaluation on effectiveness of salmeterol/fluticasone propionate combined with N-acetylcysteine in treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 吉林大学学报(医学版)

Objective To explore the effects of salmeterol/fluticasone propionate complicated or combined with N-acetylcysteine on the pulmonary function and arterial blood gas analysis of the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to evaluate its curative effect.Methods 84 cases of COPD patients were randomly divided into combination treatment group (n=44)and simple treatment group (n=40).The patients in combination treatment group were treated with salmeterol/fluticasone propionate combinated with N-acetylcysteine while the patients in simple treatment group were treated only with salmeterol/fluticasone propionate, both of which were followed up for 6 months.The changes of pulmonary function (FEV1%FVC,FEV1%Pred,PEF daily variation rate:ΔPEF%)and the arterial blood gas analysis indexes (PaO2 and PaCO2 )of the patients in two groups were recorded before treatment, 3 months after treatment, and 6 months after treatment. Results The FEV1%FVC,FEV1%Pred and PaO2 of the patients in combination treatment group and simple treatment group were obviously increased 3 and 6 months after treatment compared with before treatment (P0.05).TheΔPEF% of the patients in two groups had no significant differences between inter-group and intra-group before and after treatment (P > 0.05 ). Conclusion Combination of salmeterol/fluticasone propionate and N-acetylcysteine can obviously improve the pulmonary function and arterial blood gas analysis indexes of the COPD patients, which is superior to the simple application of salmeterol/fluticasone propionate and has definite and lasting curative effect on the treatment of COPD.

Changing levels of serum iron and hemoglobin in Streptococcus pneumoniae-induced rat pneumonia model / 中国感染与化疗杂志

Objective To examine the changing levels of serum iron and hemoglobin in Streptococcus pneumoniae-induced rat pneumonia model and the relationship among infection severity,serum iron and hemoglobin.Methods Sixty Sprague Dawley (SD)rats were randomly assigned to one of the four groups,1 5 SD rats in each group,including three treatment groups and one control group. Low, medium and high doses of bacteria were administered to the animals in the treatment groups respectively through tracheal cannula.The severity of pneumonia was indicated by the level of bacterial load.The animals in the control group did not receive bacterial challenge.The mean serum iron and hemoglobin levels were calculated on day 3,5, and 7 to analyze the relationship between bacterial dose and serum iron or hemoglobin levels.Results The serum iron level in the animals receiving medium or high doses of bacteria was significantly lower compared with that in control group on day 3 (P=0.009,P=0.005).The serum iron level in the animals receiving low dose of bacteria showed significant difference compared with that in the control group on day 5 (P=0.007).The hemoglobin level in the animals receiving medium or high doses of bacteria was significantly different from that in the control group on day 5 (P=0.031,P=0.046).The hemoglobin level in the animals receiving low dose of bacteria did not show significant difference compared with that in the control group on day 3,5 or 7.The bacterial dose level was negatively correlated with the mean level of serum iron (correlation coefficient r=-0.65,r=-0.53,r=-0.61,respectively).There was no definite correlation between the bacterial dose and the mean hemoglobin level.Conclusions Streptococcus pneumoniae infection may be associated with lower serum iron and hemoglobin levels in rats.The severity of infection is negatively correlated with serum iron level,but not hemoglobin level.

The research progress of parathyroid hormone and parathry oid hormone-related peptide in skin dies ase / 药学实践杂志

Parathyroid hormone/parathyroid hormone-related peptides are polypeptide hormones. They have similar gene struc-ture and same membrane receptor .They play great roles in regulating the calcium and phosphorus metabolism in vivo.PTH/PTHrP and their receptors are expressed in tissues of tumor ,skin, hair follicle and other normal tissues .Because of their physiological action on the proliferation and differentiation of epidermis and hair growth ,they may be a potential therapeutic target for some skin diseases including psoriasis.

Impacts of concentrations of Tacrolimus on NK cells and receptors in peripheral blood of renal transplant recipients / 中华器官移植杂志

Objective To study the effects of tacrolimus(Tac) concentrations on the number of NK cells and receptor expression in peripheral blood of renal transplantation receptors.Methods A total of 60 first-time kidney transplantation recipients in our institute from Dec.2007 to July 2009 were followed up.Tac maintenance immunosuppressive therapy was given to all recipients.The recipients were divided into low-concentration Tac group (6.84 + 1.72μg/L,n =30) and highconcentration Tac group ( 11.88 + 2.59 μg/L,n =30) according to concentrations of Tac.Twenty healthy volunteers served as controls.Before and 6 months after operation,concentrations of Tac were analyzed by using micro particle immunoassay chemiluminescent method.NK cells and their receptors (CD85j,CD158d,CD94 and NKG2D) were detected by using flow cytometry.The concentrations of soluble HLA-G5 were detected by using ELISA.Results The number of NK cells in lowconcentration Tac group and high-concentration of Tac group preoperatively was significantly reduced as compared with control group (P ＜ 0.05 ). The percentage and number of NK cells in low concentration Tac group and high-concentration Tac group at 6th month after operation were significantly reduced as compared with control group (P＜0.05).The number of NK cells in lowconcentration Tac group was significantly greater than in high-concentration Tac group (P＜ 0.05).There was no significant differende in the expression of CD85j,CD158,CD94 and NKG2D before operation between two groups(P＞0.05).The expression of CD85j and CD158d in two groups was increased,but that of CD94 and NKG2D was decreased at 6th month post-transplantation as comapred with that preoperation.In low-concentration Tac group,the expression of CD85j and CD158d was increased as compared with that in high-concentration Tac group (P＜0.05 ).Spearman correlation analysis revealed that the CD85j and CD158d expression had a positive correlation with sHLA-G5(P＜0.01 ),but the NKG2D had a negative correlation with sHLA-G5(P＜0.01 ).Conclusion There was correlation between the concentrations of Tac and NK cells count and NK receptors. Low concentrations of Tac can safely and effectively protect kidney function.The number of NK cells andtheir inhibitor receptors are increased in the recipients with low concentration of Tac.

Correlation of HLA-G expression with CMV active infection following kidney transplantation / 中华器官移植杂志

ObjectiveTo determine the correlation of human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G)expression with CMV active infection after kidney transplantation. MethodsA total of 215 first-time kidney transplantation recipients in one transplantation center were divided into CMV ( + ) group and CMV ( - ) group according to whether they had active CMV infection. mhla-g1 expression on leukocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry. The concentrations of soluble HLA-G5 were detected by using ELISA. The sHLA-G5 cutoff levels by ROC curve was employed to predict the active CMV infection. The expression of sHLA-G5 mRNA and protein in leukocytes was analyzed by using RTPCR and Western blotting respectively. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the HLA-G expression in kidney biopsies of 12 cases. ResultsThe expression of mHLA-G1 in peripheral blood was low in both CMV ( + ) group and CMV ( - ) group. Also when CMV-PP65 was positive, there was no significant change in mHLA-G1. In CMV ( + ) group, the proportion of CD14+ mHLA-G1 +cells[(45. 53 ± 17.32)％]in peripheral blood was increased as compared with that in CMV (-)group[(10. 22 ± 5.78)％]. The expression of sHLA-G5 was increased significantly in CMV ( + )group. The optimal cutoff value of sHLA-G5 predicting the active CMV infection was 202. 9 μg/L,with high diagnostic accuracy. HLA-G was positive in the kidney tissue of 10 patients out of 12 patients with active CMV infection. Both RT-PCR and Western blot analysis showed that sHLA-G5 was significantly higher in CMV ( + ) group than that in CMV ( - ) group. ConclusionROC curve analysis of sHLA-G5 with the cutoff value of 202. 9 μg/L can be used to predict the active CMV infection. The HLA-G levels in peripheral blood were significantly increased and HLA-G expression in the tubular epithelial cells of the graft could be a protection mechanism of the kidney function.

Expressions of interleukin (IL)-22 and related cytokines in the sera and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with psoriasis / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To investigate the expressions and significance of IL-22 and related cytokines (IL-23pl9 and IL-6) in sera and PBMCs of patients with psoriasis. Methods Sera and PBMCs were obtained from the venous blood samples from 58 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 20 normal human controls. The PBMCs were subjected to culture for 5 hours followed by the collection of cells and culture supernatant. Then,quantitative real-time RT-PCR was used to examine the mRNA expressions of IL-22, IL-23pl9 and IL-6 in PBMCs, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELJSA) to detect the level of IL-22 protein in the sera and culture supernatant of PBMCs. Results In the patients with psoriasis and controls, the relative expression level in PBMCs was 4.48 ± 2.64 and 2.35 ± 0.91 respectively for IL-22 mRNA, 6.07 ± 4.09 and 2.61 ± 1.46 respectively for IL-23pl9 mRNA, 3.87 ± 1.49 and 1.48 ± 0.62 respectively for IL-6 mRNA; significant differences were observed between the two groups in all the above parameters (all P < 0.01). ELISA revealed that the level of IL-22 protein in the patients and controls was (86.23 ± 25.58) ng/L and (43.67 ± 14.82) ng/L respectively in the sera (P< 0.01), (119.11 ± 21.51) ng/L and (57.70 ± 13.17) ng/L respectively in the culture supernatant of PBMCs (P< 0.01). Conclusion There is an overexpression of IL-22 in the PBMCs and sera of patients with psoriasis, implying that IL-22 is involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

The correlation of HLA-G expression with AR and CMV active infection after kidney transplantation / 中华器官移植杂志

Objective To study the correlation of HLA-G levels with acute rejection and CMV active infection post-kidney transplantation.Methods A total of 132 initial kidney transplantation recipients were divided into kidney function stable group (F),acute rejection group (AR),CMV group according to whether they had active CMV infection and acute rejection.Forty-one healthy donors served as control group (H).HLA-G levels and mRNA expression were analyzed by using flow cytometry,ELISA,RT-PCR and Western blotting.Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the HLA-G expression in kidney biopsies.Results The expression levels of mHLA-G1 were low in all 4 groups pre-transplantation.Only CMV group had significantly more CD14+ mHLA-G1+ cells post-transplantation (P＜0.05).sHLA-G5 levels were higher in F group than in H group (P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference among other groups pre-transplantation (P＞0.05).sHLA-G5 levels were increased significantly in CMV group as compared with F group (P＜0.05),and those in F group were higher than in H and AR groups (P＜0.05).Renal tissue biopsies from 21 renal transplantation recipients with AR indicated that HLA-G5 was expressed negatively in 17 patients,positively in 3 patients and 1 weakly positively.HLA-G was positive in the kidney tissue of 9 patients out of 9 patients with active CMV infection.In total 132 recipients,AR incidence was significantly lower in CMV ( + ) group (7.1 ％,2/28) than that in CMV ( - ) group (24.0 ％,25/104).Conclusion The sHLA-G5 may contribute to predict AR and CMV active infection; AR and CMV active infection may be correlation with immune balance in kidney transplantation recipients.

Immunomodulatory effects of xenogenous umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on rat heart transplantation / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can prolong the survival time of mice and baboons' alloskin graft and degrade acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) incidence after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. But, at present there is no report that rat umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) reduced rejection response following heart transplantation. OBJECTIVE: To study the immunomodulatory effects of rat UC-MSCs on a model of allogeneic heart transplantation. METHODS: A total of 20 DA rats served as donors, and 20 Lewis rats as recipients. They were equally and randomly assigned to 2 groups: drug intervention and control groups (n=10). Using double cannulation, the left pulmonary artery and innominate artery of rat donors and external jugular vein and common carotid artery of rat recipients received end-to-end anastomosis under a microscope to establish heterotopic cardiac transplantation. One Wistar pregnant rat was selected to harvest UC-MSCs by collagenase digestion method. Following model establishment, rats in the cell transplantation group received UC-MSCs via caudal vein. Rats in the control group received sodium chloride. Survival time of the transplanted heart was determined. The transplanted heart received histopathology score using the acute rejection diagnosis criteria. Lymphocyte infiltration of transplanted heart was observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the control group, the survival time of the transplanted heart was significantly longer in the cell transplantation group (P = 0.001), and the pathological score of acute rejection was significantly reduced (P = 0.000 4). There were lots of lymphocyte and monocyte infiltration in the myocardium in the control group. Little lymphocyte infiltration was detected in the myocardium in the cell transplantation group, with the presence of mild edema of myocardial interstitial substance. Results verified that rat UC-MSCs can induce immune tolerance of heart transplantation, soften immunological rejection and prolong xenograft survival.

Effects of C4d deposition in peritubular capillary of patients with acute renal allograft rejection one year post-transplant on the prognosis of renal allograft / 中华器官移植杂志

Objective To analyze C4d deposition in the patients with late acute renal allograft rejection,and explore the role of C4d in grafts survival and grafts loss. Methods Thirty-six patients clinical and pathologically diagnosed as having acute rejection more than one year post-transplant were selected. C4d was detected by immunohistochemistry in renal allograft biopsies. The effect of C4d deposition on long-term graft survival was studied. Results Among 36 recipients with late acute renal allograft rejection, 16 cases were positive for C4d (44.4 %) and 20 negative for C4d (55.6 %). Five cases experienced graft loss in C4d positive group (31.3 %), while 6 cases in C4d negative group (30.0%). There was no significant difference in the graft loss rate between C4d-positive group and C4d-negative group. Log-Rank test demonstrated there was no significant difference in graft survival between C4d-positive group and C4d-negative group. The count of the interstitial infiltrated eosinophils in renal allograft was (9.4 + 4.5) and (2.6 + 1.8) respectively in the C4d-positive group and C4dnegative group (P＜0.05). Conclusion C4d deposition in peritubular capillary of the recipients with late acute renal allograft rejection might not be a prognostic marker for graft outcome.

Impact of tripterygium glycosides on the expression of CXCR3 and CCR4 genes in peripheral blood from experimental autoimmune thyroiditis rats / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To analyze the impact of tripterygium glycosides (TG) on the expression of CXCR3 and CCR4 gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) rats, and to explore the possible mechanism for regulation of Th1/Th2 balance by TG. Methods EAT was induced in 20 rats, which were randomly divided into two groups, i.e., control group and TG group, to receive intragastric physiological saline and TG suspension (5.5 mg/kg) daily, respectively. The rats were killed 4weeks later, and total RNA was extracted from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of rats and used for cRNA synthesis. The gene expressions of CXCR3 and CCR4 were detected with a Th1-Th2-Th3 microarray gene chip and realtime RT-PCR. Results Compared with the control group, there was a significant decrease in the mRNA expression of CXCR3 (0.52 ± 0.10 vs. 1.05 ± 0.17, P < 0.01 ) and CXCR3/CCR4 ratio (0.39 ± 0.22 vs. 1.04 ± 0.12, P< 0.01) in the TG group, together with an increase in the mRNA expression of CCR4 (1.56 ±0.13 vs. 1.02 ± 0.09, P < 0.01 ). Conclusions TG could regulate the number of Th1 and Th2 cells as well as their cytokine expression ratio likely by reducing CXCR3 and enhancing CCR4 expression, so as to modulate the Th1/Th2 balance in EAT rats.

Determination of cytokines in peripheral blood by cytometric bead array in kidney transplantation recipients / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective To measure the cytokines levels in peripheral blood from kidney transplantation recipients by using cytometric bead array and to analyze their change and the clinical significance in pre- and post- kidney transplantation, inducting with basiliximab and graft rejection. Methods A total of 72 renal transplantation recipients were divided into two groups, kidney function stable group(n =53) and acute rejection group (n = 19). And they were also grouped by induction with basiliximab or not,32 in basiliximab group and 40 in without basilixmab group. The levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-5,IL-4, IL-2 were measured by cytometric bead array in peripheral blood of 72 kidney transplantation recipients and 30 healthy donors at differential time. The data was analyzed according to the following grouping:donors and recipients, kidney function stable group and acute rejection group post transplantation and with or without basiliximab group. Results The levels of TNF-α, IL-10, IL-5, IL-4, IL-2 in recipients before transplantation were ( 1.65 ±0. 10) ,(2. 55 ±0. 19) ,( 1.88 ±0. 14) ,(1.85 ±0. 12) ,(2. 12 ±0. 09) ng/L,respectively. While they were (3.04 ±0. 17), (3.33 ±0. 26), (4.03 ±0.25), (2.73 ±0. 16), (4.03 ±0. 26) ng/L respectively in healthy donors. There was statistical significance between the two groups ( t =6. 890, 2. 375, 7. 851,3.955,7.153, P<0. 01, <0. 05, <0.01, <0.01, <0.01). While the level of IFN-γ in recipients before transplantation was (2. 50 ±0. 18) ng/L,compared with (3. 00 ±0. 24) ng/L in healthy donors. There was no statistical significance between the two groups( t = 1. 625, P > 0. 05 ). The levels of IFN-γ and IL-10 in kidney function stable group were (2. 71 ± 0. 11 ) ng/L and (3.91 ± 0. 52) ng/L,while they were ( 3.30 ± 0. 36 ) ng/L and ( 12. 01 ± 5.35 ) ng/L in acute rejection group. There were statistical dirrerences between the two groups ( t = 5. 061, 11. 465, P < 0. 01, < 0. 05 ). Before induction with basiliximab, the levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10 in recipients were (2.90 ±0. 21 ), ( 1.67 ±0. 12),(2. 45 ± 0. 16) ng/L respectively. But they were ( 2. 78 ± 0. 17 ), ( 1.58 ± 0. 07 ), ( 2. 77 ± 0. 24 ) ng/L respectively after induction with basiliximab, which showed significantly different ( t = 5. 605, 6.011,4. 126, P <0. 01, <0. 01, <0. 05). Four weeks after kidney transplantation in recipients with basiliximab,the levels of IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-4 were (2. 90 ± 0. 31 ), (9. 08 ± 0. 16), (2. 73 ± 0. 11 ) ng/L. While they were (3.28 ±0. 11 ), (4. 17 ±0. 21 ), (2. 11 ±0. 20) ng/L respectively in recipients without basiliximab induction, which were significantly different from those with basiliximab induction (t = 4. 268,4. 263,3.762, P <0. 01, <0. 01, < 0. 05 ). Conclusions Six kinds of cytokines can be measured by cytometric bead array simultaneously and accurately. The data suggests that the detection of multiple cytokines in kidney transplantation recipients by cytometric bead array can provide more guidance for clinical diagnosis and therapy.