Complement system is an important constituent in immune system.Membrane attack complex (C5b-9)is the final ingredient in the complement activation.Recently,a few studies showed that C5b-9 deposition was found in the diabetics with chronic complications,indicating that complement activation might be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications.Our aim is to summarize some newly published works and show a prelimimary work we did in this area.We hope that more attention should be paid to the role of autoimmune mechanism in diabetic complications.

Organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1) is an important liver-specific uptake transporter, which mediates transport of numerous endogenous substances and drugs from blood into hepatocytes. To identify and investigate potential modulators of OATP1B1 from natural products, the effect of 21 frequently used natural compounds and extracts on OATP1B1-mediated fluorescein methotrexate transport was studied by using Chinese hamster ovary cells stably expressing OATP1B1 (CHO-OATP1B1) in 96-well plates. This method could be used for the screening of large compound libraries. Our studies showed that some flavonoids (e.g., quercetin, quercitrin, rutin, chrysanthemum flavonoids and mulberrin) and triterpenoids (e.g., glycyrrhetinic acid and glycyrrhizic acid) were inhibitors of OATP1B1 with IC50 values less than 16 µmol · L(-1). The IC50 value of glycyrrhetinic acid on OATP1B1 was comparable to its blood concentration in clinics, indicating an OATPlB1-mediated drug-drug interaction could occur. Structure-activity relationship analysis showed that flavonoids had much higher inhibitory activity than their glycosides. Furthermore, the type and length of saccharides had a significant effect on their activity. In addition, we used OATP1B1 substrates fluvastatin and rosuvastatin as probe drugs to investigate the substrate-dependent effect of several natural compounds on the function of OATP1B1 in vitro. Our results demonstrated that the effect of these natural products on the function of OATPlB1 was substrate-dependent. In summary, this study would be conducive to predicting and avoiding potential OATP1B1-mediated drug-drug and drug-food interactions and thus provide the experimental basis and guidance for rational drug use.
Animals ; Biological Products ; CHO Cells ; Cricetulus ; Drug Interactions ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ; pharmacology ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Indoles ; pharmacology ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Organic Anion Transporters ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rosuvastatin Calcium ; pharmacology ; Structure-Activity Relationship

Objective To investigate the feasibility and clinical effect of the posterior single segment anterolateral decompression and anterior column reconstruction in the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures. Methods A retrospective study was done on 21 patients with type Denis B thorocalumbar burst fractures who were treated by posterior approach minimal incision pedicle SCreW fixation,single segment anterolateral decompression and titanium mesh and bone graft from August 2007 to August 2009.There were 15 males and six males at mean age of 35.6 years(range,23-50 years).The involved segments included T12 in six patients,L1 in 11,L2 in three,and L3 in one.The preoperative spinal canal enemachment rate was 62.5%and the anterior-middle vertebral compression of all patients was less than 50%.CT scanning showed normal vertebral body and inferior endplate structure.The fracture reduction,graft fusion,neurological function recovery,correction loss,lumbar activities and adjacent lumbar disc degeneration were observed through preoperative,immediate postoperative and final follow up X-ray,CT and neurological examinations. Results The operation duration was 1.5-3.2 hours(average 2.1hours),with the bleeding of 350-1 000 ml(average 580 ml).All the patients were followed up for 4-26months(average 10.3 months),which showed that the vertebral fusion time was 4-6 months,with no loss of the vertebral height,implant breakage,loosening or extrusion.The nerve function was improved for 1-2 grades. Conclusions With correct selection of the indications,the posterior single segment anterolateral decompression and anterior column reconstruction is a reliable fixation,for it takes advantages of simple operation,minor trauma,less fusion segments and fast recovery.

Objective To study the microbiology of root surface caries in elderly patients. Methods Seventy-five elderly people (aged 60～77 years) were divided into 2 groups:Control group of patients without root caries (n=30) and root caries group of patients with root caries without apicitis and pulpitis (n=45).Plaque samples were collected,cultured in selective and non-selective media.After the bacteria were isolated,the total count and the detection rates and bacterium numbers of porphyromonas,pervotella,streptococcus mutants group,actiomyces and lactobacillus were compared between the groups of control and root caries.Results The count of total bacteria, streptococcus mutants group,actinomyces,lactobacillus and of root caries group were significantly higher that those of the control group(4.73?0.75)lg(CFU/ml+1)vs(4.17?0.47)lg(CFU/ml+1), (3.89?0.89)lg(CFU/ml+1) vs (2.84?1.14) lg (CFU/ml+1),(3.24?1.89) lg (CFU/ml+1) vs (2.19?0.11)lg(CFU/ml+1),(3.24?1.11)lg(CFU/ml+1)vs(2.43?0.95)lg(CFU/ml+1), (2.67?0.70)lg(CFU/ml+1)vs (3.24?0.21)lg(CFU/ml+1),(P

The depositions of immunoglobulins on the retina of diabetic rat were studied with immunohistochemistry,immunofluorecence and computer analysing system.In comparison with control group, depositions of IgG,IgA and IgM on the retina of diabetic rat induced by streptozotocin were significantly increased (all P＜0.05 ).So the immunoglobulin depositions may contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of low T3 syndrome in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI) and explore the effect of low T3 syndrome on outcome of AMI.MethodsThree hundred and thirty-eight patients with AMI admitted to cardiac care unit(CCU) underwent examinations of thyroid function and cardial ultrasound,and were further categorized according to thyroid hormone profile.The records of noninvasive bi-level positive airway pressure(BiPAP)ventilation utilization,length of hospital stay,mortality during hospitalization were evaluated,and the related factors were analysed.ResultsOne hundred and thirty-nine of the 338 patients(41.12%) with AMI complicated with low T3 syndrome.Free triiodothyronine(FT3) was the independent influential factor for length of hospital stay.Low FT3 was significantly correlated with noninvasive BiPAP ventilation utilization and mortality during hospitalization.The average time of follow-up was(21.4?8.1) months.It was revealed by multivariate Cox regression analysis that FT3 was the chief predictor for cumulative death(risk ratio,4.25;95% confidential interval,2.30-7.87),followed by age and left ventricular ejection fraction.ConclusionThe recognition of AMI complicated with low T3 syndrome plays an important role in predicting the disease severity and outcome.

A gene that could be potentially involved in spermatogenesis was identified and characterized by using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) with total RNA from type A spermatogonia and pachytene spermatocytes of rat. This gene consists of 3 433 base pairs (bp) with a complete open reading frame (ORF) of 3 171 bp and encodes a putative protein containing 1057 amino acids. The nucleotide sequence displays a 93% identity to mouse ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1, Chr Y 1 (Ube1y1) and an 82% identity to human ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1 (UBE1). The putative protein of this gene contains an ubiquitin-activating enzyme signature 1 and an ubiquitin-activating enzyme active site, which are also existed in mouse ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1, human ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1 et al. So we named this gene as Rattus norvegicus ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1 (Ube1). The sequence of Ube1 was submitted to GenBank and the accession number is EF690356. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis showed that Ube1 was specifically expressed in testis, while its expression was not detected in heart, brain, spleen, lung, liver, muscle, kidney and ovary. Comparison of the expression of Ube1 in different developmental stages of testis and Sertoli cells (real-time PCR) indicated that Ube1 was expressed more highly in spermatogonia than in spermatocytes, spermatids and Sertoli cells. In conclusion, Ube1 is a gene encoding rat ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1 and specifically expressed in testis, which might play a key role in ubiquitin system and influence spermatogenesis.
Animals ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Male ; Rats ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spermatids ; metabolism ; Spermatocytes ; metabolism ; Spermatogenesis ; genetics ; Spermatogonia ; metabolism ; Testis ; metabolism ; Ubiquitin-Activating Enzymes ; genetics ; metabolism

To investigate the biological properties of cryopreserved dendritic cell (DC) derived from K562 cell line, thus to provide a simple, quick and efficient preservative method of DC for infusion of DC to patients with leukemia after complete remission, fresh DC induced from K562 cell line (K562-DC) was frozen in -196 degrees C liquid nitrogen and -80 degrees C mechanical freezer by method of steps (RPMI 1640 with 10% DMSO, 20% FCS as cryopreservatives), and thawed in different time, respectively. Survivals of cryopreserved and fresh K562-DC, expression of surface antigens, stimulating index (SI) and cytotoxic eliminating rate were detected. The results of fresh induced cells were compared with that of cryopreserved ones. The results showed that before and after frozen in liquid nitrogen, the morphological characteristics of K562-DC had no distinct change; and both their expression rates of surface molecular and capacity to stimulate allogeneic lymphocyte had no statistic significance (P > 0.05). In addition, there were no differences in terms of viability, stimulatory capacity and cytotoxicity of K562-DC from two ways for less than one month (P > 0.05), but there were differences when frozen for more than one month (P < 0.05). It is concluded that there is no significant difference when frozen less than one month between liquid nitrogen and -80 degrees C freezer; but when time is more than one month, K562-DC frozen in -196 degrees C liquid nitrogen is better than that in -80 degrees C freezer.
Antigens, Surface ; immunology ; Cell Shape ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; pathology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; pathology ; Time Factors

It has been known that the glutamate transmission system and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R) were possibly related to anxiety processes. Although anxiety symptom can be relieved by NMDA-R antagonists and partial agonists treatment, the functions of NMDA-R and its subunits in anxiety behaviors remain unclear. We used forebrain specific NR2B over-expression mice to examine whether the increase of NR2B subunit level would induce anxiety behaviors. The results indicated that the juvenile (3-5 months old), middle-aged (8-10 months old) and old (19-22 months old ) NR2B transgenic mice showed no significant difference in open field test and elevated plus maze test as compared with the control mice. Capillary electrophoresis of monoamine neurotransmitter in subregions of forebrain revealed no significant difference between transgenic and control mice of 16-18 months age. These results suggest that the increase of NR2B expression and followed NR1 and NR2A expression augmentations in the forebrain have no significant effect on anxiety-related behaviors in mice.
Animals ; Anxiety ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Prosencephalon ; metabolism ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the in vitro effects of fludarabine on apoptosis and gene expression profile in human multiple myeloma (MM) cells.

METHODSCell growth was measured by a MTT assay. Cells apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. The activation of caspase cascade was determined by Western blot analysis. The expression profile of apoptosis-related genes in human MM cells was detected by cDNA expression array system.

RESULTSThe growth of RPMI8226 and KM3 cells was suppressed by fludarabine treatment in a dose and time-dependent manner. After treatment with fludarabine for 24 h, the IC(50) for RPMI8226 cells was 2.13 µg/ml, and 0.36 µg/ml for KM3 cells. Apoptotic cells of RPMI8226 and KM3 increased in a dose- dependent manner after exposure to fludarabine for 24 h. Western blot analysis showed the activation of caspase-3 and PARP in the MM cells treated with fludarabine. The cDNA expression array showed that multiple pathways were involved in the apoptosis induced by fludarabine. Among 97 apoptosis-related genes, 25 genes were differently expressed and 13 expressions were up-regulated in fludarabine treated group, involving in Bcl-2 pro-apoptotic gene, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and its receptor superfamily gene, and caspase recruitment domain family, 12 genes expression down-regulated, including Bcl-2 antiapoptotic gene, TNF superfamily and its receptor related factor gene and apoptosis inhibitor protein family.

CONCLUSIONFludarabine can significantly inhibit MM cell growth and induce apoptosis in vitro. The multiple pathways may be involved for the apoptosis in MM cells.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Transcriptome