Objective To probe into the effect of the endotoxin(ET) on cellular immunity function of patients wih chronic hepatitis B.Methods 98 patients and 15 normal persons as control group were studied.Measurements of endotoxin,interleukin-2 and peripheral blood T lymphocyte subset were done.Results The level of endotoxin in patients was higher than that in controls(P

Objective To construct prokaryotic expression vector of XTP3 gene and induce the expression of fusion protein in E.coli,and prepare XTP3-specific rabbit polyclonal antibody,detect the specificity of the antibody in hepatic carcinoma tissue and normal liver tissue.Methods DNA fragment of XTP3 amplified by PCR was inserted into pET-32a(+) to construct prokaryotic expression vector pET-32a(+)-XTP3.After identified by sequencing,pET-32a(+)-XTP3 was transformed into E.coli BL21 and induced with IPTG.After analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting,the induced expression product was purified and renatured by Ni+ affinity column chromatography.The purified protein was used to immunize New Zealand rabbits to gain polyclonal antibody,and the polyclonal antibody was then detected by ELISA,immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.Results Prokaryotic expression vector pET-32a(+)-XTP3 was successfully constructed,and the XTP3 fusion protein of about 52kD was highly expressed in E.coli.DS-PAGE showed that the protein product was mainly in inclusion body.The purified protein and polyclonal antibody were obtained successfully.It was manifested by ELISA that the titer of polyclonal antibody was over 1∶128 000.Immunohistochemistry showed that XTP3 antibody presented membrane-positive in hepatic carcinomous tissue.Conclusions The recombinant XTP3 protein and polyclonal antibody have been obtained successfully.These results lay a foundation for studying the immuneogenicity and bionomics of XTP3 protein.

Objective To screen promoter binding protein of cyclin B2 by using human liver cDNA library, and investigate the expression and regulation mechanism of cyclin B2 gene. Methods By using cyclin B2 biotinylated promoter DNA as the selective molecule, the T7select human liver cDNA library was biopanned and positive clones were selected. After screening, positive plaques were performed to amplify for inserted DNA fragment, and the DNA fragment was cloned into pGEM-Teasy vector. Results Sequence analysis was performed in 20 positive plaques, and the full length sequences were obtained with bioinformatics method and searched for homologous DNA sequence from GenBank, altogether 6 coding sequences were obtained, all of which were known ones. Conclusion Cyclin B2 promoter binding proteins were screened. The results will be useful for further study the expression and regulation mechanism of cyclin B2.

AIM: To study the roles of endotoxemia in the occurence and development of cirrhosis. METHODS: The cirrhosis of rats were made by oral intake of thioacetamide (TAA-treated rats). A separate group of rats were subjected to a injection of small dosage of lipopolisaccharride (LPS) in the period of thiocetamide treatment in order to observe the possible effect of LPS on the forming of cirrhosis. RESULTS:Both plasma endotoxin levels and hepatic collagen contents were increased in TAA-treated rats,and there was a linear correlation between them ;Plasma and hepatic tumor necrosis factor (TNF?)、endothelin-1(ET-1)、nitric oxide(NO)、and MDA levels were all increased,and plasma endotoxin was correlated with all of their plasma contents;Only TNF? levels and hepatic collagen contents of TAA+LPS group were increased significantly compared with TAA group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that endotoxemia (ETM) could play an important role in the development of cirrhosis mainly through activating Kupffer cells, which secrete TNF?, ET-1, NO and free radicals could be involved in the process.

AIM: To explore the effect of endotoxemia on hepatocarcinoma course induced by TAA. METHODS: The rat cirrhosis was induced by intaking TAA (0.03%) for four months, hepatocarcinom for six months. Lipoplysaccharide (100 ?g/kg) was administered subcutaneously every two days from the fifth month to the end of sixth month in TAA-treated rats. The plasma endotoxin content, ?-glutamyl transpeptidase(?-GT) activity, DNA index and aneuploidy index were determined, the point mutation of N-ras, p53 gene was detected in hepatocarcinoma rats. RESULTS: Endotoxin increased protein overexpression of p53, bcl-2 and N-ras , p53 gene mutation point and free radical production, reduced antioxidase activity and aggravated DNA damage in hepatocarcinoma rats. CONCLUSION: Endotoxin could accelerate hepatocarcinogenesis promoted by TAA.

Objective To understand Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome(SARS)better and accumulate more experience of preventing and treating this disease. Methods 63 cases of SARS patients diagnosed during March and May of 2003 were studied by retrospective. Results The average age of patients was(35.1?14.4) years old. Among them, 36 patients had the histories of closing contact with diagonosed patients and 22 patients showed infectious links. There were 3 medical staff patients infected. The average incubations period was (6.2?3.1) days and the SARS epidemic pick in Taiyuan is on April of 2003. People between 20～40 years old had the highest incidence. The most common symptom is fever. The second is dry cough. Most of the patients with SARS had normal or lower white blood counts than normal. The chest radiographs showed infiltration signs such as ground-glass opacities, focal consolidation or pathy consolidation within one week after being ill. The Average period of beginning absorption of the infiltration on chest radiograph is (11.6?5.9) days and the average period of completely resolution is (22.9?6.7) days after being admitted in hospital. There were 14 cases of severe type and 6 patients died of ARDS among 63 patients. Conclusions SARS patients showed obvious infectious link. Therefore it supports the view that SARS is mainly conmmunicated by close air droplets. The main characteristics of SARS are fever, normal or lower white blood cells counts and abnormal chest radiographs.

Objective To clone and identify human genes transactivated by homo sapiens HCV FTP2 by constructing a cDNA subtractive library with suppression subtractive hybridization tech- nique.Methods Suppression subtractive hybridization(SSH)and bioinformatics techniques were used for screening and cloning of the target genes transactivated by HCV FTP2.The mRNA was iso- lated from HepG2 cells transfected pcDNA3.1(-)-HCV FTP2 and pcDNA3.1(-)empty vector re- spectively,and SSH method was employed to analyze the differentially expressed DNA sequence be- tween the two groups.After digestion with restriction enzyme Rsa I,small-size cDNAs were ob- tained.Then tester cDNA was divided into two groups and ligated to the specific adaptor I and adap- tor 2 respectively.After tester cDNA was hybridized with driver cDNA twice and underwent two times of nested PCR and then was subcloned into T/A plasmid vectors to set up the subtractive library. Amplification of the library was carried out with E.coli strain DH5?.Futhermore,the cDNA was se- quenced and analyzed in GenBank with Blast search after PCR.Results The subtractive library of genes transactivated by HCV FTP2 was constructed successfully.The amplified library contains 71 positive clones.Colony PCR shows that 56 clones contain 200～1000 hp inserts.Sequence analysis was performed in 24 clones randomly,and the full length sequences were obtained with bioinformatics method.Altogether 20 coding sequences in total were obtained,consisting of 19 known and 1 un- known.Conclusion The obtained sequences may be target genes transactivated by HCV FTP2,and some genes coding proteins involved in cell cycle regulation,metabolism and cell apoptosis.

Objective To investigate the relationship between dendritic cell (DC)and intestinal endotoxemia in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).Methods Peripheral blood were collected from CHB patients (n = 80)and healthy controls (n = 21 ).Plasma endotoxin (ET)levels,liver function (alanine transaminase,total bilirubin)were detected.According to plasma ET concentration,all CHB patients were divided into two groups:ET positive and ET negative.The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)were isolated and then cultured with recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor ( rhGM-CSF),recombinant human interleukin-4 ( rhIL-4 ),FMS-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L)and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)to derive DC.The phenotypic patterns were characterized by flow cytometry.The proliferation of T lymphocytes was evaluated with mixed leukocytes reaction (MLR)and the levels of IL-12 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)produced by DC were analyzed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Comparisons among the two groups and healthy control group were done by single factor analysis of variance.Results Compared to healthy controls,the expressions of CD83,CD80,CD86,human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DR and the proliferation of allogeneic T lymphocytes by DC were all significantly reduced in CHB patient groups.The expressions of CD83,CD80,CD86,HLA-DR and the activation of proliferation in ET positive subjects were lower than those in ET negative subjects [CD83 (8.25±3.63)% vs(11.39±4.35)% ,CD80 (10.63±4.52)% vs (13.56±5.13)%,CD86 (36.61±16.16)% vs (45.90±15.35)%,HLA-DR (61.65±14.33)% vs (70.35±18.89)%,the activation of proliferation0.812±0.311 vs 1.153±0.324; F=5.123,4.213,3.714,3.323 and 3.125,respectively; all P＜0.05].After cultured for 9 days,the secretions of IL-12 and IFN-γ by DC were significantly lower in CHB patients than in healthy controls [IL-12 (16.99± 6.74)pg/mL vs (44.51±14.56)pg/mL,IFN-γ (10.52±4.19)pg/mL vs (17.94±5.86)pg/mL].The level of IL-12 in the ET positive group was significantly lower than that ET negative group [( 13.14 ±5.71)pg/mL vs (20.98 ± 9.03)pg/mL; F= 3.225,P = 0.016].The level of IFN-γ was not different between two groups [(9.46 ± 3.24)pg/mL vs (11.54 ± 5.20)pg/mL; F = 2.003,P =0.076].Conclusion The intestinal endotoxemia may play a role in DC dysfunction in CHB patients.

Objecfive To investigate the effects of endotoxin on nuclear factor-κB p65(NF-κB p65)mRNA expression and ahtosteron secretion in rat hepatic stellate cells(HSCs).Methods Cultured rat HSCs(HSC-T6)were divided into endotoxin-treated group and control group.Cells in endotoxin-treated group were exposure to 1 mg/ml.endotoxin.Aldosteron secretions of HSCs were determined by radioimmunoassay,and NF-κB p65 mRNA expressions of HSCs were detected by one-step RT-PCR.Results At 6,12,24 and 48 h,aldosteron secretions in endotoxin-treated group were significantly hisher than those in the control group(t=3.063,4.577,6.847 and 9.317,P<0.05),and the expressions of NF-κB p65 mRNA in endotoxin-treated group were also higher than those in control group(t=5.155,6.095,7.875 and 9.313,P<0.01).Aldosteron secretions and NF-κB p65 mRNA expressions in HSCs displayed a positive correlation(r=0.886,P<0.01).Conclusion Endotoxin can up-regulate the aldosteron secretion and NF-κB p65 mRNA expression in rat HSCs,which may be one of the mechanisms of liver fibrosis induced by endotoxin.

Objective To study the effects of endotoxin on aldosteron secretion and nuclear factor-κB P65(NF-κB P65)mRNA expression in rat hepatic stellate cell(HSC).Methods Cultured rat HSC were treated with endotoxin of different concentrations. Aldosteron secretion of HSC was detected by radio-immunoassay. NF-κB P65 mRNA expression of HSC was determined by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).The data were analyzed by variance analysis,t-test and Pearson linear regression analysis. Results Aldosteron secretions of HSC groups treated with 0.01,0.1,1.0 and 10.0 mg/L endotoxin[(4.95±0.35),(5.52±0.32),(6.04±0.60)and(5.16±0.46)μg/L, respectively] were all significantly higher than that in control group(3.655±0.51)μtg/L(t=2.9745,5.8725,6.8465 and 3.2065,respectively;all P＜0.05).NF-κB P65 mRNA expressions of HSC groups treated with 0.01,0.1,1.0 and 10.01 mg/L endotoxin (0.82±0.06、1.07±0.07,1.23±0.06 and 0.96±0.05.respectively)were also significantly higher than that in control group 0.43±0.04(t=5.4776,6.8084,7.9382 and 7.5136,respectively;all P＜0.01).Both aldosteron secretion and NF-κB P65 mRNA expression in HSC groud treated with 10.0 mg/L endotoxin were significantly lower than those in HSC group treated with 1.0 mg/L endotoxin(t=4.3865,3.7246;both P＜0.05).In these treated HSC,aldosteron secretion was positively correlated with NF-κB P65 mRNA expression(r=0.886,P＜0.01).Conclusions Aldosteron secretion and NF-κB P65 mRNA expression in rat HSC could be up-regulated by stimulation with endotoxin, which shows a certain dose-response relationship. This may be one of the important factors of hepatic fibrosis development.