The upregulation of peripheral blood polyamine metabolites spermidine and spermine in children with hand, foot, mouth disease is related to enterovirus 71 capsid protein VP1, but not VP4.

Background: Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common viral childhood illness caused most commonly by enterovirus 71 (EV71) and coxsackievirus A16. The pathogenesis of EV71 has been extensively studied, and the regulation of the host immune response is suspected to aggravate the serious complications induced by EV71. Our previous research showed that EV71 infection significantly increased the release of circulating interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-13, and IL-27. Notably, these cytokines are related to the EV71 infection risk and clinical stage. Polyamines are compounds that are ubiquitous in mammalian cells and play a key role in various cellular processes. Several studies have shown that targeting polyamine metabolic pathways can reduce infections caused by viruses. However, the significance of polyamine metabolism in EV71 infection remains largely unknown. Methods: Serum samples from 82 children with HFMD and 70 healthy volunteers (HVs) were collected to determine the polyamine metabolites spermidine (SPD) and spermine (SPM), and IL-6 levels. In addition, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were treated with EV71 viral protein 1 (VP1) and EV71 VP4, and the cells and supernatant were then collected to analyze the expression of polyamine metabolism-related enzymes by western blot. The data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism 7.0 software (USA). Results: The serum polyamine metabolites SPD and SPM were elevated in the HFMD patients, especially in the EV71-infected children. Further, a positive correlation was found between serum SPD and IL-6 levels in the EV71-infected children. We also found that the upregulation of peripheral blood polyamine metabolites in the EV71-infected HFMD children was related to EV71 capsid protein VP1, but not VP4. VP1 may promote the expression of polyamine metabolism-related enzymes and promote the production of polyamine metabolites, thereby upregulating the SPD/nuclear factor kappa B/IL-6 signaling pathway. However, VP4 has the opposite effect in this process. Conclusions: Our results suggest that EV71 capsid protein may regulate the polyamine metabolic pathways of infected cells in a variety of ways. This study provides insights into the mechanism of EV71 infection and polyamine metabolism and has good reference value for the development of EV71 vaccine.

Investigating the Impact of Past Trauma and Defense Styles on Posttraumatic Stress Following Homicide and Psychiatric Co-morbidity.

To examine the prevalence of PTSD following homicide and investigate the relationship between PTSD from past traumas, defense styles and PTSD following homicide and psychiatric co-morbidity. 167 male homicide perpetrators participated in the study and completed the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale, the General Health Questionnaire-28 and the Defense Styles Questionnaire. 45% met the criteria for PTSD following homicide and 55% for no-PTSD. With the number of times for imprisonment adjusted, regression analyses showed that immature defense style was associated with PTSD following homicide with the severity of PTSD from past traumas as a moderator. Neurotic and immature defense styles and PTSD from past trauma were significantly and independently associated with psychiatric co-morbidity. Homicide perpetrators could develop PTSD following homicide. The severity of PTSD from past traumas could affect PTSD following homicide and other psychological problems, and influence the effect of using immature defense against PTSD from homicide. Past trauma, immature and neurotic defense styles had a unique and specific pattern of influence on psychological symptoms, other than trauma symptoms.

[Effects of PTK787 on cell proliferation and expression of fak mRNA in K562].

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitor PTK787 on cell proliferation, cell cycle and the expression of fak mRNA of human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cell line K562, and to explore the mechanism of PTK787 against acute myeloid leukemia. The MTT method was used to detect the effects of PTK787 in various concentrations and at different time points on proliferation of K562 cells; the flow cytometry was used to determine the effects of PTK787 in different concentrations on cell cycle of K562 cells; the RT-PCR was used to assay the expression of fak mRNA in K562 cells treated with PTK787 for 48 hours. The results showed that along with increasing of the concentration and prolonging of time, the inhibitory rate of PTK787 on K562 proliferation was gradually enhanced. The comparison between various concentration groups at same time or comparison between various time groups in same concentration showed significant differences (p < 0.05), in which the effect of 320 micromol/L PTK787 on cells was strongest, while the continuous increase of PTK787 concentration or prolong of action time did not enhance the inhibitory rate on K562 proliferation. With increasing of drug concentration, the cell proportion in G(1) phase gradually increased, the cell proportion in S phase gradually decreased, the comparison between various groups revealed significant differences (p < 0.05), however the continuous increase of drug concentration from 160 micromol/L did not obviously change the cell proportion in phases of cell cycle. With increasing of drug concentration, the expression of fak mRNA in K562 cells gradually reduced with significant differences between various groups (p < 0.05), but with continuous increase of drug concentration from 160 micromol/L, the effect of PTK787 on the expression of fak mRNA in K562 cells also did not obviously change. It is concluded that the PTK787 shows effect of anti-leukemia cells through inhibiting transformation of the K562 cells from G(1) phase into S phase and decreasing the expression of fak mRNA in cells.