Clinical Correlates and Reference Intervals for Cystatin C in a Han Population from Southeast China.

BACKGROUND: Cystatin C (CysC) is an endogenous filtration marker for estimation of kidney function. This study aimed to define the reference interval (RI) for serum CysC in a southeast Chinese adult population and to explore the variables that affect serum CysC levels. METHODS: 532 reference individuals (259 male, 273 female, aged 18 - 79 years) were recruited from Guangzhou, China. Multiple regression analysis (MRA) was used to investigate the association between serum CysC levels and clinical factors including age, gender, body mass index, lifestyle, and biochemistry parameters. Reference values were defined using a parametric method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guideline (C28A3). RESULTS: The mean serum CysC levels were significantly lower in females than in males (p < 0.001). Serum CysC levels increased with age (~0.047 mg/L increase per decade). MRA demonstrated that serum CysC levels correlated significantly with serum creatinine (Cr), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin (ALB), and uric acid (UA) concentrations, although their relationships were less prominent than those of gender or age. The RIs for serum CysC levels were calculated at 0.73 - 1.17 mg/L for subjects aged 18 - 49 years and at 0.73 - 1.49 mg/L for those aged 50 - 79 years. CONCLUSIONS: The RIs for serum CysC were established in a southeast Chinese population. In addition to gender and age, serum Cr, HDL-C, ALP, ALB, and UA also influenced serum CysC levels.

[Bone marrow-derived dendritic cells rather than spleen-derived dendritic cells can generate regulatory T cells].

There are many evidences that dendritic cells (DC) can establish and maintain immunological tolerance through inducing the differentiation of regulatory T cells Treg. This study was purposed to explore the possibility to gene-rate Treg from bone marrow-derived DC (BM-DC) or spleen-derived DC (spDC) generated CD4(+) CD25(+) FOXP3(+) Treg by induction. Bone marrow immature DC (imDC) induced from bone marrow precursor cells of C57BL/6 mice by GM-CSF and IL-4; after culture for 6 day, imDC were stimulated by LPS for additional 16 hours and the mature DC (mDC) have been got; the spDC were collected from spleen of C57BL/6 mice by MACS. Co-culturing fresh BALB/c mouse CD4(+) T cells with these three sorts of DC above mentioned respectively was performed to generate CD4(+) CD25(+) FOXP3(+) Treg. The expression of FOXP3 in CD4(+) T cells was detected by flow cytometry, and the capacity of different DC generated CD4(+) CD25(+) FOXP3(+) Treg was evaluated. The results showed that stimulated by C57BL/6 immature or mature DC, the positive rate of FOXP3 in BALB/c CD4(+) T cells increased from (8.57 ± 1.14)% to (15.80 ± 1.35)%, (17.93 ± 1.45)% respectively (P < 0.01); while stimulated by spDC, the positive rate of FOXP3 in BALB/c CD4(+) T cells decreased from (8.57 ± 1.14)% to (3.95 ± 0.79)% (P < 0.05). It is concluded that the BM-DC but not spDC can generate Treg from CD4(+) T cells, BM-DC may mediate immune tolerance rather than the immune response.

[Correlations of extrocellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer and microvessel density to invasiveness of ameloblastoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in local invasion of ameloblastomas. This study was to evaluate the role of matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) in angiogenesis in ameloblastomas by analyzing EMMPRIN expression and microvessel density (MVD) in ameloblastomas and odontogenic cysts. METHODS: EMMPRIN expression and MVD in 41 specimens of ameloblastoma and 40 specimens of odontogenic cyst were examined by SP immuno-histochemistry. RESULTS: EMMPRIN was detected in all specimens of ameloblastomas and odontogenic cysts. The strong positive rate of EMMPRIN was significantly higher in ameloblastomas than in odontogenic cysts (85.4% vs. 62.5%, P<0.05). MDV was positively correlated to EMMPRIN expression to some extent (r=0.677, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: EMMPRIN may play an important role during the progression of ameloblastoma via controlling angiogenesis and degradation of extracellular MMPs.

Cellular toxic effects of combination of low dose of cisplatin and interstitial injection of 32P glass microspheres on mouse solid tumor S180.

BACKGROUND: Although 32P-glass microspheres (32P-GMS) have been used in internal radiotherapy for malignant tumors, it has been one of the key obstacles to improve the effect of radiotherapy. We investigated the cellular and hypersensitive effect of combined use of low dose of cisplatin and interstitial injection of 32P-GMS on mouse solid tumor S180. METHODS: The mice with solid tumor S180 were randomly divided into four groups (controls, cisplatin therapy, 32P-GMS therapy and combination therapy). The specimens of the mice were sectioned two weeks after treatment and weighed. The death rate of tumor cells and the inhibition rate of tumor were calculated respectively. The cell cycle and apoptosis rate were evaluated with flow-cytometry. The ultrastructural changes of the four groups were observed by a transmission electron microscope. The data were analyzed by the chi-square test. RESULTS: The growth of tumor was slower in the combination therapy group than in the simple therapy groups by macrography. The inhibition rate and the death rate of tumor cells of the combination therapy group were significantly higher than those of the control group and the other two simple therapy groups (P < 0.05). More cell damages were displayed in the combination therapy group than in the other groups under the light and electronic microscope. CONCLUSION: Low-dose cisplatin combined with interstitial injection of 32P glass microspheres could be used as an effective hypersensitive regimen for the internal radiotherapy of mouse solid tumor S180.