To study the relationship between endog-enous digitalis-like substance (EDLS) and ch-ronic renal insuffieiency(CRI), using radioimmu-noassay (RIA)with digoxin kit, we measured serum level of EDLS in patients with CRI, patients on hemodialysis (HD) and renal tra-nsplant patients. The results suggest that serum level of EDLS is closely related with renal function. When renal function goes down, the level of EDLS increases. This suggest that EDLS may be involved in pathogensis of CRI. HD can decrease serum level of EDLS. When the graft is functioning, the serum level of EDLS is similar to that in haalthy controls. The cor-relation between ELLS and renal hypertension is not clear.

AIM: To investigate whether Fas promoter-670 polymorphism is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) in Southern Chinese. METHODS: 103 SLE patients and 110 controls were studied. Fas promoter -670 polymorphism was typed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found when Fas promoter -670 genotype and allele frequencies were compared between the SLE and the controls. Similarly, no significant differences were seen between the male and female SLE and the controls, the SLE with lupus nephritis (LN) and the controls, the SLE with LN and the SLE without LN. CONCLUSION: Fas promoter -670 polymorphism does not appear to be associated with susceptibility to SLE in Southern Chinese. [

This paper first reports on systemic lupus erythematosus with galactorrhea.From May 1994 to April 1995,we checked 48 female in-patients,in whom we found 9 cases,aged from 20 to 45 years,with various degrees of galactorrhea.The serum prolactin levels of 9 cases with galactorrhea were 45.86?28.84ng/ml and those of the rest 39 cases without galactorrhea were 21.43?14.92ng/ml,P

Objective To determine the expression of membrane-bound B lymphocyte stimulator (Blys) and Blys mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and investigate the relationship between Blys mRNA expression and SLE activity or lupus nephritis. Methods Measure the expression of Blys mRNA with reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) in PBMCs from patients with SLE, who were separated into active group (n=26) and inactive group (n=20) according to the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) and 20 healthy volunteers; analyze the relationship among Blys mRNA and several clinical items; measure the expression of membrane-bound Blys with flow cytometry (FACs) in 20 patients with SLE and 16 healthy controls. Results The expression of Blys mRNA in PBMCs from patients with SLE was significantly elevated compared to healthy controls (P

0.05).We did not find any difference of the expression of fibronectin,laminin and type IV collagen in them.Expression of ICAM and VCAM were(56.4?14.8)% and(55.6?12.2)%,respectively,obviously higher than those in control group(P

AIM: To determine the expression of membrane-bound B lymphocyte stimulator((BLyS)) and its mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) from individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE),and to investigate the effect of dexamethasone on(BLyS) expression.METHODS: PBMCs were obtained from 25 individuals with SLE(mean age of 31.40?14.23) and 20 female healthy volunteers(mean age of 28.20?10.36).They were randomized into dexamethasone((1 ?mol/L)) group and media group.PBMCs were gathered at 0,6,12 and 24 h for(BLyS) mRNA assessment using reverse transcription-PCR(RT-PCR).PBMCs were also collected at 72 h for membrane-bound(BLyS) protein detection using flow cytometry(FACS) and direct immunofluorescence.RESULTS:(1) The expression of(BLyS) mRNA and membrane-bound protein were significantly higher in PBMCs from individuals with SLE than that in PBMCs from healthy controls(0.40?0.18 vs 0.27?0.20,P

AIM: To investigate the expression of osteopontin (OPN) and CD44 in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells stimulated by human serum albumin (HSA). METHODS: Proximal tubular epithelial HK-2 cells were stimulated by HSA at different concentrations for different time, then OPN mRNA production was detected by RT-PCR, and OPN protein was detected by Western blotting. The expression of OPN and CD44 in HK-2 cells after stimulation for 24 h or 48 h were detected by immunofluorescence with confocal laser scanning microscope. RESULTS: Osteopontin mRNA in HK-2 cells showed a highest expression at 3 h and 48 h after HSA stimulation. However, the expression of OPN protein in HK-2 cells reached the maximum at 24 h after HSA stimulation. OPN mRNA and protein showed a strong dose-dependence relation with the concentration of HSA. HSA also stimulated HK-2 cells to express CD44 protein, the fluorescence of CD44 was most prominent at 48 h after HSA stimulation. CONCLUSION: HSA stimulates human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells to express OPN and CD44.

AIM: To investigate the effect of IL-1 gene polymorphism on the expression of IL-1? mRNA in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: The method of FQ-RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of IL-1? mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells separated from rheumatoid arthritis patients with different IL-1? genotype. RESULTS: The expression levels of IL-1? mRNA in 20 patients who carried IL-1? 2*2 genotype were higher than patients who carried no 2*2 genotype and normal subjects. Significant difference existed among three groups. CONCLUSION: IL-1? gene polymorphism influences the transcription of IL-1?. [

AIM: To investigate the effect of antisense RNA on osteopontin (OPN) expression in renal tubular epithelial cells. METHODS: Cell clone expressing stably OPN antisense RNA was formed by transfering retroviral vector expressing OPN antisense RNA into renal tubular epithelial cells, NRK52E cells, using liposome, with cell clones transfected by empty vector and vector expressing OPN sense RNA as controls. Ribonuclease protection assay(RPA), Western Blot, ELISA and assay of OPN activity were performed to detect expression of OPN mRNA and protein in above clones cultured with or without epidermal growth factor(EGF). RESULTS: The antisense RNA was only expressed by antisense clone. Antisense clone, sense clone and empty clone all expressed OPN mRNA. EGF enhanced expression of OPN mRNA, but not OPN antisense RNA or OPN sense RNA in above clones. OPN protein was not expressed in antisense clone cultured with or without EGF and empty clone cultured without EGF, but was expressed in sense clone cultured with or without EGF and empty clone cultured with EGF. CONCLUSION: Antisense RNA can inhibit OPN protein expression by means of preventing OPN mRNA translation, but not inhibit OPN mRNA transcription in renal tubular epithelial cells.

AIM: To determine the influence of interleukin-1?(IL-1?) and ?(IL-1?) gene polymorphisms on rheumatoid arthritis(RA) disease severity and secretion of IL-1?. METHODS: The study included 136 RA patients and 102 healthy controls. PCR-RFLP was used to detect site mutation at IL-1 gene. Meanwhile the IL-1? was also measured in the supernatant of the cultured and stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC). RESULTS: No difference in the allele frequencies or genotypes of the IL-1? gene polymorphisms was found between the controls and RA patients.IL-1? allele 2 was overrepresented in patients with erosive RA but not in nonerosive patients. The patients with IL-1? allele 2 had a higher swollen joint index, higher tender joint index and erythrocyte sedimentation rate than those without IL-1? allele 2.The IL-1? in supernatant of stimulated PBMC from patients with IL-1? allele 2 had a higher level than that from those without allele 2. CONCLUSION: IL-1 gene polymorphisms may influence the occurrence of RA. Detection of IL-1? allele 2 have a potential prognostic value in RA.