Genome-wide identification and analysis of TMT-based proteomes in longissimus dorsi tissue from Kazakh cattle and Xinjiang brown cattle.

With the gradual completion of the human genome project, proteomes have gained extremely important value in the fields of human disease and biological process research. In our previous research, we performed transcriptomic analyses of longissimus dorsi tissue from Kazakh cattle and Xinjiang brown cattle and conducted in-depth studies on the muscles of both species through epigenetics. However, it is unclear whether differentially expressed proteins in Kazakh cattle and Xinjiang brown cattle regulate muscle production and development. In this study, a proteomic analysis was performed on Xinjiang brown cattle and Kazakh cattle by using TMT markers, HPLC classification, LC/MS and bioinformatics analysis. A total of 13,078 peptides were identified, including 11,258 unique peptides. We identified a total of 1874 proteins, among which 1565 were quantifiable. Compared to Kazakh cattle, Xinjiang brown cattle exhibited 75 upregulated proteins and 44 downregulated proteins. These differentially expressed proteins were enriched for the functions of adrenergic signaling in cardiomyocytes, fatty acid degradation and glutathione metabolism. In our research, we found differentially expressed proteins in longissimus dorsi tissue between Kazakh cattle and Xinjiang brown cattle. We predict that these proteins regulate muscle production and development through select enriched signaling pathways. This study provides novel insights into the roles of proteomes in cattle genetics and breeding.

[Expression of WT1 gene in children with acute myeloid leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To study WT1 gene expression in children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its possible correlations to clinical outcomes. METHODS: Bone marrow samples were collected from 45 children with AML (excluding acute promyelocytic leukemia, AML-M3) at different time points of AML treatment and follow-up. WT1 gene expression levels in bone marrow mononuclear cells were assayed by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. The correlation between WT1 expression and prognosis was retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The WT1 expression level in AML children with bone marrow blast cell percentage of >60% was significantly higher than in those with bone marrow blast cell percentage of ≤ 60% (p<0.05). The lower WT1 expression level was documented in children with AML-M2 compared with in children with other non-M2 subtypes (p<0.05). WT1 expression level in patients in complete remission was significantly lower than that in patients at diagnosis or relapse (p<0.01). The 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with higher WT1 expression was significantly lower than in those with lower WT1 expression at the end of induction chemotherapy (p<0.05). The 2-year overall survival (OS) and DFS in patients with ≥1 log WT1 reduction range were significantly higher than those with <1 log reduction of WT1 expression level at the end of induction chemotherapy (p<0.05). WT1 expression levels tended to rise 2-3 months prior to bone marrow relapse. CONCLUSIONS: WT1 expression level is closely correlated prognosis in children with AML. Dynamic monitoring of WT1 expression level is of great clinical importance in terms of individualized management, prognosis evaluation and relapse prediction.

Mutation scanning of the COQ2 gene in ethnic Chinese patients with multiple-system atrophy.

Multiple-system atrophy (MSA) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder with unknown etiology. It is widely considered to be a nongenetic disorder, but accumulating evidence suggests that several genes are linked to MSA. Recently, functionally impaired variants in the coenzyme Q2 4-hydroxybenzoate polyprenyltransferase (COQ2) gene have been reported to increase the risk of MSA in familial and sporadic Japanese patients. In this study, we investigated the mutation spectrum of COQ2 and analyzed the association between the common variant Val393Ala in exon 7 of COQ2 and MSA in a Chinese population. This study included 312 sporadic MSA patients from the Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University. All 7 exons of COQ2 in all the patients and exon 7 in 598 healthy controls (HCs) were directly sequenced. Novel candidate mutations and variations were confirmed by direct sequencing in 300 HCs. Two novel nonsynonymous variants, including p.R173H and p.N386I, and a reported missense variant, p.L162F, were found in 4 patients (p.R173H in 2 patients). However, the Val393Ala variant was not detected in the above 4 patients. Thirteen MSA patients (4.17%) and 18 controls (3.01%) had the heterozygous variant (Val393Ala/NM) of COQ2. No significant differences existed in the genotype frequency and minor allele frequency of Val393Ala between patients and controls or between MSA characterized predominantly by cerebellar ataxia and by pakinsonism groups. The mutation frequency of COQ2 is 1.28% in a Chinese MSA population. The common variant Val393Ala in COQ2 does not appear to be associated with MSA in ethnic Chinese.

[Expression of CD20 in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia and its correlation with clinical outcomes].

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether expression of CD20 is associated with clinical outcomes of childhood B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). METHODS: 271 newly diagnosed childhood BCP-ALL during January 2009 to May 2013 were enrolled in this study. The patients were treated in line with the Chinese Childhood Leukemia Group ALL 2008 protocol (CCLG-ALL 2008). The clinical feature, early therapeutic response and clinical outcomes of the patients with a CD20 positive (CD20+ BCP) expression were compared with those with a CD20 negative (CD20- BCP) expression. RESULTS: CD20- BCP accounted for 45.76% (124 cases) of all participants. There were no significant differences between CD20- BCP and CD20- BCP patients in gender distribution, age, WBC counts when diagnosis was made, proportion of prednisone poor responders, and distribution of risk categories (P > 0.05). Patients of 10 years or older comprised 25.81% and 14.29% of CD20+ BCP and CD20- BCP patients, respectively (P = 0.017). Pro-B and pre-B cases accounted for 43.55% and 59.86% of CD20- BCP patients respectively, compared with 56.45 and 40.14% in CD20- BCP patients (P = 0.007). CD20+ BCP patients had 12.20% Philadelphia positive ALL and 6.50% BCP-ALL with TEL-AML1 fusion gene, compared with 4.86% (P = 0.03) and 18.06% (P = 0.005) in those of CD20 BCP. No significant differences were found between the two groups of patients in 15-day (77.50% vs. 74.13%, P = 0.525) and 33-day (95.04% vs. 95.83%, P = 0.757) complete remission rates. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were found in predicted 4-year event-free survival CEFS (78.00% +/- 4.96%) vs. (79.05% +/- 5.40%)) and predicted 4-year overall survival (OS (83.01% +/- 6.13%) vs. (93.64% +/- 2.46%)) between the two groups of patients either. CONCLUSION: CD20 positivity was not found to be associated with worse prognosis of children with BCP-ALL. More studies are needed to validate the correlation between CD20 and unfavorable outcomes in BCP-ALL.

SNCA variants rs2736990 and rs356220 as risk factors for Parkinson's disease but not for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple system atrophy in a Chinese population.

Previous studies found that polymorphisms rs2736990 and rs356220 in the alpha-synuclein (SNCA) gene increase the risk for Parkinson's disease (PD) in a Caucasian population. In consideration of the overlapping of clinical manifestations and pathologic characteristics among PD, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple system atrophy (MSA), the possible associations of these 2 polymorphisms and 3 neurodegenerative diseases were studied in the Chinese population. A total of 1011 PD, 778 sporadic ALS (SALS), 264 MSA patients, and 721 healthy controls (HCs) were studied. All subjects were genotyped for the 2 polymorphisms using polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing. Significant differences in the genotype frequencies (p = 0.0188 and 0.0064, respectively) and minor allele frequencies (MAFs) (p = 0.0065 and 0.0095, respectively) of rs2736990 and rs356220 were observed between the PD patients and HCs. Moreover, significant differences were found between the early-onset PD patients (<50 years) and matched controls but not in the late-onset PD patients (≥50 years). However, no differences were observed between subgroups with regard to clinical features, such as sex, onset symptoms (tremor or rigidity), cognition (normal or abnormal), and anxiety and depression (presence or absence). No significant differences were found in the genotype frequencies and MAFs of these 2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms between SALS patients and HCs and between MSA patients and HCs. No significant differences were found between subgroups with regard to the clinical presentation of SALS and MSA. Our results show that rs2736990 and rs356220 in SNCA decreased the risk for PD in a Chinese population. These candidate polymorphisms were unlikely to be the causes of SALS and MSA in this population.

GDF15-mediated upregulation of ferroportin plays a key role in the development of hyperferritinemia in children with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

BACKGROUND: Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), a divergent TGFß superfamily, has recently been implicated in the modulation of iron homeostasis, acting as an upstream negative regulator of hepcidin, the key iron regulatory hormone produced primarily by hepatocytes. However, little is known about possible roles that GDF15 might play in the regulation of iron homeostasis and development of hyperferritinemia in children with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). PROCEDURES: We compared serum GDF15 level and mRNA expressions of GDF15 and key molecules of iron metabolism, and made correlations between their expressions in children with HLH and control children. RESULTS: Serum GDF15 level was remarkably higher in HLH group than that in controls, with median serum concentration of 1,700 and 260 pg/ml, respectively (P < 0.001). In addition, GDF15 mRNA was significantly upregulated but independent of hypoxia-inducible factor-mediated oxygen signaling pathway. More importantly, GDF15 induction was positively correlated to upregulation of ferroportin, the only cellular iron exporter, and to upregulation of ferritin heavy chain. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that GDF15 induction helps suppress further activation of macrophages in stressful physiologic states as HLH, and is intimately implicated in the development of hyperferritinemia by modulating the hepcidin-ferroportin axis, resulting in enhanced ferroportin-mediated iron efflux.

Suppression of inflammation by tumor-derived exosomes: a kind of natural liposome packaged with multifunctional proteins.

Exosomes are small-membrane vesicles secreted by hematopoietic and malignant epithelial cells as well as trophoblasts. The composition of cancerous exosomes has been proven to play pivotal roles in the maintenance of the microenvironment that is beneficial for the progression of cancer, such as Fas-ligand-triggered lymphocyte apoptosis. We supposed that the immunosuppressive effect of cancerous exosomes might be helpful in the treatment of diseases characterized by overactivation of the immune system and subsequent tissue injury. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of tumor-derived exosomes in the mice model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation. Tetrazolium (MTT) and DNA electrophoresis were used to measure the cytotoxicity of exosomes on lymphocytes. Pathologic observation of tissue sections, serologic analysis of aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT), and urinary analysis of protein were used to assess the protection effect of exosomes in LPS-induced multiorgan damage. In vitro outcomes of MTT and DNA electrophoresis showed the cytotoxicity of exosomes on lymphocytes. Together with the alleviation of organ damages evaluated by urine protein, serum AST/ALT, and pathologic analysis, we confirmed the possibility that pretreatment of mice with exosomes, produced by H22 hepatic tumor cells, resulted in protection against LPS-induced tissue damage, which is caused by overactivation of the immune system and inflammation response. This therapeutic strategy will raise an interesting way to search new therapeutics in pairs of diseases with complementarities in etiology and pathology, namely, a strategy of taking advantage of the mutual complementarities between diseases.

[TfR2 mRNA expression in bone marrow mononuclear cells of children with hyperplastic anemia and its implications].

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of transferrin receptor 2 (TfR2) mRNA in bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) of children with hyperplastic anemia (HA), to analyze the correlation of TfR2 mRNA expression level with Hb level, bone marrow erythroid hyperplasia, iron status in body and underlying diseases, and to evaluate the role of TfR2 in erythroid hemopoiesis and the useful value in diagnosis of HA. The experiment was divided into 2 groups: test group, in which 40 patients with HA were enrolled, and control group in which 10 patients without erythroid disorders and hematological malignancies confirmed by bone marrow examination were enrolled. The bone marrow samples of patients in mentioned above 2 groups were collected, the TfR2 mRNA expression in BMMNC of patients with HA was detected by fluorescence-quantitative PCR, the correlation of HA with bone marrow erythroid hyperplasia, iron status of body and underlying diseases was analyzed. The results showed that the relative level of TfR2 mRNA expression in HA patients was significantly higher than that in control patients. The TfR2 mRNA expression level negatively correlated with Hb level in peripheral blood (r = -0.715), while it positively correlated with ratio of bone marrow erythroblasts (r = 0.533). It is concluded that TfR2 mRNA expression in HA patients increases and closely correlates with hyperplasia status of bone marrow and anemia level in peripheral blood.

Destructive pulmonary staphylococcal infection in a boy with hyper-IgE syndrome: a novel mutation in the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) gene (p.Y657S).

UNLABELLED: Hyper IgE syndrome (HIES) is a rare primary immunodeficiency disorder, characterized by eczema, recurrent skin and lung infections, and significantly elevated serum IgE level. It was previously diagnosed based on clinical manifestations and laboratory markers that were not specific to the disease. Recent studies have demonstrated that mutations in signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) cause the autosomal dominant or sporadic HIES, which make the disease definitively characterized at molecular level. Here, we reported a 3-year old Chinese boy with neonatal-onset rash and multiple serious Staphylococcus aureus infections including recurrent skin abscesses, liver abscess, sepsis, and destructive pulmonary infection (pneumonia, multiple pulmonary abscesses, pyopneumothorax, and finally, pneumatocele). Genetic study revealed a heterozygous mutation in exon 21 of STAT3 gene (g.66583 A > C, c.1970A > C) in the boy, which resulted in a substitution of tyrosine at the amino acid position 657 to serine (p.Y657S) in the Src homology 2 (SH2) domain of STAT3. Functional prediction with bioinformatics programs of the Sorting Intolerant from Tolerant (SIFT) and the Polymorphism Phenotyping (PolyPhen) reported "deleterious (SIFT score 0.02)" and "probably damaging (PSIC score difference 2.94)" values, respectively. Further study of family members revealed that neither his parents, nor his twin brother carried the mutation, indicating the mutation was likely to occur de novo in our patient. CONCLUSION: The mutation,p.Y657S,in SH2 domain of STAT3 is a disease-causing mutation in the boy with HIES.

[Expression of mitochondrial ferritin in K562 leukemic cell during ATRA-induced cell differentiation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of MtF, transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) and ferritin (Fn) mRNAs in K562 leukemic cells during ATRA-induced cell differentiation and to explore the interrelationship between the expression levels of these iron metabolism-related molecules. METHODS: K562 cells cultured with or without ATRA (1 micromol/L) were collected at 24, 72 and 120 hours respectively. Cell differentiation toward granulocyte lineage was confirmed by microscopic study (Wright's staining) and flowcytometry. Expression levels of MtF, TfR1 and Fn were evaluated with semiquantitative RT-PCR, while K562 cells cultured without ATRA as control. RESULTS: Over 21.2% of K562 cells demonstrated features of granulocyte, and the expression of CD13 on cell surface increased significantly at day 5 with ATRA treatment (P < 0.05, compared with control). K562 cells could express a certain level of MtF before ATRA-induced differentiation. With increase of ATRA-induced cell differentiation, MtF mRNA expressions were downregulated progressively. After 5 days of induced cell differentiation, expression levels of MtF and TfR1 mRNA were just 86.5% and 79.2% of that before ATRA treatment. While Fn mRNA expression increased to 1.21 folds of that before ATRA treatment. CONCLUSION: MtF expression is downregulated during ATRA-induced K562 cell differentiation, with concomitant downregulation of TfR1 and upregulation of Fn. The coordinated expression regulation of these key iron metabolism-related molecules during cell differentiation may in turn inhibit TfR1-mediated iron uptake via endocytosis and thus adversely affect cell proliferation potential.

[Expression of transferrin receptor 2 in mononuclear cells from children with acute leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of TFR2 mRNA in mononuclear cells of bone marrow and peripheral blood from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and to explore possible correlations between TFR2 expression and a panel of prognostic/risk factors. METHODS: Bone marrow or peripheral mononuclear cells were isolated from 56 children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 15 normal children as control. TFR2 mRNA expression level in mononuclear cell was determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: Relative expression level of TFR2 mRNA in prednisone good responders (median: 0.0848) was significantly higher than that in prednisone poor responders (median: 0.0126) (P = 0.038). The medians of TFR2 mRNA expression levels in low-risk, moderate-risk and high-risk ALL were 0.1677, 0.0728 and 0.0125 respectively (P = 0.003). The medians of TFR2 mRNA expression levels in three ALL groups with initial WBC counts less than 50 x 10(9)/L, from 50 x 10(9)/L to 100 x 10(9)/L and more than 100 x 10(9)/L were 0.0974, 0.0294 and 0.0078 (P = 0. 013). In addition, the relative TFR2 mRNA level in B-lineage ALL was significantly higher than that in T-ALL, with medians of 0.0636 and 0.0065 respectively (P = 0.004). Ranked correlation analysis revealed that TFR2 expression was negatively correlated to initial white blood cell count, percentage of blast cells and absolute numbers of blasts in peripheral blood, with ranked correlation coefficients of -0.398, -0.307 and 0.421 respectively (correponding P values were 0.003, 0.022 and 0.001). CONCLUSION: TFR2 might be a novel prognostic factor for ALL.

[Detection of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli by real-time polymerase chain reaction by using MGB-TaqMan probe technique].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR) based on TaqMan technology by using a new MGB probe for detecting enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) in paper. METHODS: Primers and MGB probe were designed in the ecoding region of heat-stable toxin of ETEC. Real-time PCR detected ETEC by using the exterior standard method with protracting standard curves. The specificity, sensitivity, accuracy, stability of real-time PCR system was evaluated. An internal negative antithesis was added to the real-time PCR system in order to get rid of the false positive of system. Using UNG enzyme expelled the contamination of PCR reaction. RESULTS: Primers and MGB probe were suited to the Real-time PCR. The assay showed that the method was quick, special, sensitive and stable. The real-time PCR system could detect ETEC in a large scale. The assay might be finished in two hour. CONCLUSION: These observations suggested that real-time PCR based on MGB probe should be an excellent candidate for a standard ETEC detection method.

[Isolation of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells from the tissue of umbilical cord for osteoblasts and adipocytes differentiation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the methods and conditions for isolating and proliferating multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from the tissue of umbilical cord, with an aim to induce osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation in vitro. METHOD: The cord was dissected along the long axis, with vessels pulled away and then sutured into a "loop". Collagenase solution was filled into the loop. Suspended cells were collected from the loop suspension after 6-8 hours and centrifuged. The cells were finally cultured in polystyrene dishes. The single cell-derived colonies were obtained and tested for their immunophenotype and osteoblast and lipoblast differentiations. RESULT: Adherent cells were obtained from the tissue of umbilical cord, which proliferated and formed single cell-derived colonies. The colonies presented matrix cells immunophenotype and differentiated into osteoblasts that produced mineralized matrices, which were stained by alizarin red and alkaline phosphatase. The colonies also differentiated into adipocytes that accumulated lipid vacuoles, which were demonstrated by the morphology and oil red stains. CONCLUSION: MSCs can be isolate from the tissue of umbilical cords and proliferate in vitro. The proliferated colonies show matrix cell immunophenotypes and can differentiate into osteoblasts and adipocytes.

[Expression of mitochondrial ferritin in K562 leukemic cell during TPA-induced cell differentiation].

Mitochondrial ferritin (MtF), a new player in iron metabolism, first identified in 2001, is highly homologous to ferritin both structurally and functionally. Preliminary studies have suggested that MtF might play very important roles in the regulation of mitochondrial iron homeostasis. Leukemic cells, just like other malignant cells, demand more iron for their greater proliferation potential. However, little is known about what roles MtF might play in leukemic cell iron metabolism and cell proliferation. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of MtF, transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) and ferritin (Fn) mRNAs in K562 leukemic cells during TPA-induced cell differentiation and to explore the interrelationship between the expression levels of these iron metabolism-related molecules. K562 cells cultured with or without TPA (16 nmol/L) were collected at 24, 72 and 120 hours respectively. Cell differentiation toward monocyte lineage was confirmed by microscopic study (Wright's staining) and flow cytometry. Semiquantitative RT-PCR was performed to determine mRNA expression, with house-keeping gene beta-actin as control reference. This study revealed that over 95% of K562 cells showed morphological features of monocyte/macrophage, and the expression of CD64 on cell surface increased significantly at day 5 with TPA treatment. K562 cells could express a certain level of MtF before TPA-induced differentiation. With increase of TPA-induced cell differentiation, MtF mRNA expressions were downregulated progressively. After 5 days of induced cell differentiation, expression levels of MtF and TfR1 mRNA were just 50.3% and 68.2% of that before TPA treatment. While Fn mRNA expression increased to 1.97 folds of that before TPA treatment. It is concluded that MtF expression is downregulated during TPA-induced K562 cell differentiation, with concomitant downregulation of TfR1 and upregulation of Fn. The coordinated expression regulation of these key iron metabolism-related molecules during cell differentiation may in turn inhibit TfR1-mediated iron uptake via endocytosis and thus adversely affect cell proliferation potential.

[Detection of the labile iron pool in leukemia cells and its significance].

To explore a rapid and easy method to detect labile iron of pool (LIP) in cells, HL-60 and K562 cells were cultured at a concentration 1 x 10(6)/ml in RPMI 1640 containing 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum. The iron deprivation was induced by adding desferrioxamine (DFO) 10 - 100 micromol/L for 0 - 48 hours. The intracellular LIP was measured by probe calcein-AM. Calcein fluorescence was monitored in 1420 multilabel counter. The results indicated that when HL-60 and K562 cells were incubated with different concentrations of DFO, the calcein fluorescence intensity was higher than that of control group at 12, 24 and 48 hours (P < 0.05). Fluorescence value of representing LIP in DFO groups was lower than that in the control group. In conclusion, DFO can decrease LIP in leukemia cells. The approach used in this study may provide a simple and reliable method for detection of intracellular iron homeostasis.

[Alternations of ADF and G-actin in renal tubular epithelial cell of neonatal rats during kidney ischemic Injury].

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of ADF and G-actin in renal tubular epithelial cell of neonatal rats during kindney ischemic injury. To explore the interactions between ADF and G-actin and their relationships with actin cytoskeleton. METHODS: Twenty-four neonatal rats were used to the experiments due to have the weights from 30 to 40 g respectively. Renal ischemia was induced by clamping the left renal pedicle for different periods of time that was in 10 min or 30 min. The kidneys of normal neonatal rats were functioned as the control group. Two kinds of primary antibodies, which one was rabbit anti-chick ADF antiserum and another was mouse monoclonal G-actin antibody, were used on one same section of kidney tissue. FITC-labeled and TRITC-labeled secondary antibodies were used to identify ADF and G-actin respectively. These samples were examined by using a fluorescene microscope. RESULTS: In control group, ADF and G-actin showed to be diffused in cytoplasm of renal tubular epithelial cell. In ischemic injury group, the distributions of ADF and G-actin were changed significantly to apical region of tubular epithelial cells and the renal tubula lumen. Regardless of the ADF expression to not change but G-actin was increased after kidney ischemia. CONCLUSION: Under the physiolgical condition, ADF and G-actin got a diffuse distribution in cytoplasm of renal tubular epitbelial cell. However, when the kidney got in ischemia, the distributions of ADF and G-actin were changed significantly to apica region of tubular epithelial cell or the renal tubular lumen.

[Effects of Losartan on expression of heme oxygenases in volume-overloaded rats with left-to-right shunt].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of heme oxygenase-1 mRNA and pulmonary remodeling before and after surgical establishment of left-to-right shunt in volume-overloaded SD rats and rats with Losartan intervention. METHODS: Left-to-right shunt volume-overloaded SD rat models were established by aortocaval shunt operation. Seven rats with shunt were placed on Losartan (Losartan group), 7 rats with but not given Losartan were included in the operation group, and 4 rats after sham operation served as controls. Pulmonary pressure and right ventricular pressure were measured during catheterization. The relative weights ventricles were determined after execution of the rats. Pulmonary vascular remodeling parameters, including percentage arterial wall thickness and percentage muscularized small arteries, were assessed by morphometry. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA expression and heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2) mRNA expression were detected RT-PCR method. RESULTS: Pulmonary artery pressure and right ventricular relative weight decreased significantly in the rats of Losartan group; in addition, the percentage arterial wall thickness and percentage of muscularized small arteries in the Losartan group were reduced as compared with those in the operation group. The level 1 mRAN expression in rats with shunt was significantly higher than that in rats without shunt. The level mRNA expression in the Losartan group decreased remarkably as compared against that in the operation The level of HO-1 mRNA expression in lungs was significantly higher than that in ventricles. There statistically significant differences in HO-2 mRNA expression levels between the three rat groups. CONCLUSION: Losartan intervention can markedly reduce pulmonary pressure, inhibit vascular remodeling in volume-overloaded left-to-right shunt rats, and result in down-regulation of HO-1 mRNA expression.

[Expression of MOST-1 mRNA in bone marrow mononuclear cells from patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the MOST-1 mRNA expression in bone marrow (BM) mononuclear cells in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and to explore its association with immunophenotype and treatment response. METHODS: Semiquantitative RT-PCR was employed to study the MOST-1 mRNA expression in BM mononuclear cells separated by Ficoll density gradient method. The MOST-1 expression levels were represented by the ratio of MOST-1 band pixels against its corresponding housekeeping gene beta-actin mRNA band pixels determined by GDS8000 densitometry and GelWork-1 analysis software. The PCR product was eluted and sequenced, and its sequence was confirmed by Pairwise BLAST search. RESULTS: A total of 17 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were studied. MOST-1 mRNA was exclusively expressed in the mononuclear cells from 3 patients with ALL-L3 type. However, there was no MOST-1 mRNA expression in other 14 children with ALL-L1 or ALL-L2, irrespective of their initial peripheral WBC count and blast cell percentage in peripheral blood and bone marrow. The MOST-1 mRNA expression levels in two of the ALL-L3 patients with higher blast cell percentages in peripheral blood and bone marrow were 3- and 2-fold respectively as compared with that in the third ALL-L3 child with lower initial blast cell load. MOST-1 mRNA expression was no longer detected in the two ALL-L3 children after complete remission with combination chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: MOST-1 was expressed in the bone marrow mononuclear cells in patients with ALL-L3, and its expression level was somewhat related to tumor cell burden. It might be implicated in the leukemogenesis of ALL-L3 and might serve as an indicator of tumor burden and thus a useful guide for clinical management.