AIM: To construct the liver-specific transgene vectors encoding wild-type as well as most common disease mutant STBXATP7B cDNA under the control of mouse albumin promoter and to explore their expression. METHODS: Two Kbpala/Alb-STBXATP7B mutants containing the Arg778Leu and His1069Gln mutations were constructed using site-directed mutagenesis system plus site-subcloning technique. The vectors expressed wild-type and mutants of human STBXATP7B in mouse liver cells were obtained and transiently transfected into BRL and BHK cell lines. Western blotting analysis was utilized to detect the expression of human STBXATP7B. RESULTS: Enzyme analysis and sequencing analysis confirmed that the target genes were STBXATP7B and in right position. The results of Western blotting showed that the gene products were expressed specifically in liver cells. CONCLUSION: The Kbpala/Alb-STBXATP7B vectors were constructed successfully and the liver-specific expression of human STBXATP7B proteins were conformed.

Objective 　To screen for gene mutation of exon 18 in Chinese patients with Wilson disease. Methods　PCR-SSCP was used to screen exon 18 in 45 Wilson disease patients among 39 Chinese families and 10 normal controls. Those with abnormality were further analyzed by necleotide sequence analysis. Results　There were 16 mobility shift with two different styles in exon 18. All abnormal mobility shifts were sequence analysed. No gene mutation was found. Conclusions　Our result suggest that, contrary to findings in Caucasians, exon 18 is not a frequent mutation point in Chinese patients with Wilson disease.

Objective To study the gene mutation and clinical characteristic of hereditary spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 (SCA7).Methods The SCA7 (CAG) trinucleotide repeat mutations were detected by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis technique in 24 patients with autosomal dominant SCA from 15 families, 20 sporadic SCA patients and 41 normal persons from the same family and 30 healthy persons from different family,the abnormal allele fragments were sequenced by ABI 373 DNA sequencing machine.Results 24 patients with SCA had CAG repeat numbers of SCA 7 allele from 9~18.Normal alleles of SCA 7 had CAG repeat number from 9 to 19. One sporadic SCA patient had one abnormal SCA 7 allele with the CAG repeat expanded to 63 repeats, being confirmed by DNA sequencing.Conclusion CAG expansions were pathogenic cause of SCA 7. The technique of gene mutation detection could provide an effective way for the prediction of asymptomatic and genetic counseling,which was a basis for gene typing.

【Objective】 To investigate the molecular basis of hepatolenticular degeneration (Wilson disease, WD) and to attempt to construct the feasibility of gene diagnosis in the disease. 【Methods】 We have performed the molecular biological study on this disease for 10 years by molecular geneti c techniques. 【Results】 ①Location of WD gene in Ch inese: Using pairwise linkage analysis and multipoint linkage analysis method, w e constructed a genetic map of DNA markers within D13q14.2-3 which refined the location of WD gene by restriction fragment length polymorphism(RFL P) and microsatellite polymorphism analysis; ②Screen for mutations of WD gene in Chinese people: we detected the structure of 21 exons of WD ge ne in 45 patients from 39 pedigrees by PCR-SSCP(Single strand conformation poly morphism) and PCR-DNA sequencing technology, found a new mutation in exon 5 and nuclcotide sequence analysis showed it is a T insertion. We also conformed the Arg778Leu in exon 8, the highest frequence mutation point in Chinese people, wit h mutation rate 22.8% in total;③Carrier detection and presymptomatic diagnosi s of WD: Based on DNA recombination technology, we peformed successfully the gen e diagnosis in all individuals of 79 families with WD and built up a helpful spe cific enzyme cut method (PCR-Msp1) to detect the carrier and presympomatic patients in Chinese pe ople with WD. 【Conclusion】 These results showed that the location of WD gene within D13q14.2-3 is the same in Chinese as in Caucasians, but the g ene high m utation point,the gene diagnosis method and its pathogenesis are markly different.

Objective 　To study the sequence and structure of intron 8 in WD gene in order to further understand the relationship between intron 8 and WD. Methods　We utilized polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to the amplification of exon 8-intron 8-exon 9 which were then sequenced by a dideoxy chain termination methon in 10 normal controls and 32 members of 11 families(20 WD patients and 10 of their relative). The results were analyzed by the computer. Results　The sequence of intron 8 was 703 bp with the G　+　C content of 42.7%. There were one short tandom repeats, 7 direct and inverted repeats in it. An open reading frame coded with 82aa was found at 323 base pairs of downstream of a TATAbox. There were two DNA polymorphisms at 408 and 487 nucleotides. The sequence analysis showed that the 5end has the sequence of 5-GTAAC, 3end has the sequence of CCTAG-3, and branchpoint of 5-TTTCGA-3.Conclusions　The sequences and structures of intron 8 in WD familiess members are not different from normal controls. Our data suggest that the WD gene intron 8 might not play an important role in the pathogenesis of WD.

Objective 　Determination of Wilson disease gene mRNA expression in human fibroblast cell strain (Me32aT22/2L) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Methods　Using lipofection reagent, the plasmid vector carrying the Wilson disease gene (pRc/CMV-WD) was transferred into Me32aT22/2L cultured in serum free complement medium. RT-PCR was used to determine WD mRNA expression in Me32aT22/2L. Results　 Wilson disease gene expression was detected in Me32aT22/2L, while no specific signals were detected in untransfected fibroblast. Conclusions　It demonstrated that Me32aT22/2L strain could express the Wilson disease gene, suggesting that Wilson disease gene transfer might develop a new approach to study Wilson disease.

Objective:To explore the effect of hydrogen sulfide (H 2S) on modulating the subunit Kir6.2 of adenosine triphosphate sensitive potassium channels via the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase (cGMP/PKG) signaling pathway in epileptic rat models. Methods:Sixty adult male SD rats were randomly divided into the following six groups (10 rats in each group) by random number table method: control, epileptic, H 2S donor, H 2S donor+epileptic, KT5823 (one inhibitor of the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase)+H 2S donor+epileptic, and glibenclamide (one inhibitor of the adenosine triphosphate sensitive potassium channels)+H 2S donor+epileptic groups. Except the control group, SD rats were intraperitoneally injected with plentylenetetrazole to make the kindling models and their behaviours were recorded including the latency period, the grade, and the duration of the first epileptic seizure according to the Racine′s standard. The waveforms of electroencephalogram (EEG) in hippocampus were also recorded during the seizure. The mRNA and protein levels of PKG and Kir6.2 in hippocampus were evaluated by Western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and the hippocampal concentrations of cGMP and phosphorylation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase (p-PKG) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results:Rats in the epileptic group showed Ⅳ-Ⅴ grade of epileptic seizure [4.500 (4.000, 4.875)], short latency period [(10.37±8.21) min] but long duration [(69.50±24.37) s] of seizure. Compared to the epileptic group, rats in the H 2S donor group showed Ⅱ-Ⅲ grade of epileptic seizure ( P=0.004), significantly longer latency period ( P<0.001), and shorter duration of seizure ( P<0.001). Compared to the H 2S donor+epileptic group, rats in the KT5823+H 2S donor+epileptic group showed Ⅲ-Ⅳ grade of epileptic seizures, significantly shorter latency period ( P<0.001), and longer duration of seizure ( P<0.001). The results of EEG showed that the wave patterns in the epileptic group were spike or sharp waves and the amplitudes were largest [(190.570±23.590) μV]. Compared with the epileptic group, amplitudes were reduced ( P<0.001) in the H 2S donor+epileptic group. PKG mRNA and PKG protein were expressed differently among all groups (PKG mRNA: n=5, H=26.714, P<0.001; PKG protein: n=5, F=30.597, P<0.001). Compared with the control group, the expression of both PKG mRNA and PKG protein was decreased (PKG mRNA: 1.000±0.001 vs 0.782±0.064, P=0.023; PKG protein: 0.550±0.037 vs 0.145±0.020, P=0.042) in the epileptic group. Besides, Kir6.2 mRNA and Kir6.2 protein were expressed differently among all groups (Kir6.2 mRNA: n=5, H=27.761, P<0.001; Kir6.2 protein: n=5, F=60.659, P<0.001). Compared with the control group, the expression of both Kir6.2 mRNA and Kir6.2 protein was decreased (Kir6.2 mRNA: 1.000±0.001 vs 0.897±0.033, P=0.004; Kir6.2 protein: 0.384±0.035 vs 0.215±0.016, P=0.024) in the epileptic group. And the concentrations of cGMP and p-PKG were decreased (cGMP: P<0.001; p-PKG: P<0.001) in the epileptic group. The results in the H 2S donor+epileptic group were up-regulated (PKG mRNA: P=0.047; PKG protein: P<0.001; Kir6.2 mRNA: P=0.011; Kir6.2 protein: P<0.001; cGMP: P<0.001; p-PKG: P<0.001) compared with the epileptic group. However, the results in the KT5823+H 2S donor+epileptic group were down-regulated (PKG mRNA: P=0.015; PKG protein: P=0.027; Kir6.2 mRNA: P=0.013; Kir6.2 protein: P=0.017; cGMP: P=0.005; p-PKG: P<0.001) compared with the H 2S donor+epileptic group. Conclusion:A possible mechanism is that H 2S prevents the epileptic seizure from modulating the subunit Kir6.2 of ATP sensitive potassium channels via the cGMP/PKG signaling pathway.

Lewy bodies formed by abnormal deposition of α-synuclein (α-syn) in neurons and glial cells are diagnostic markers of α-synucleinopathies. However, the early diagnosis of α-synucleinopathies is delayed due to the difficulty of brain biopsy at present. Because that α-syn can produce prion-like replication and spread to the periphery under pathological conditions, the ultramicro detection of pathologic α-syn in extracranial tissues by real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) technique can provide a basis for early diagnosis of α-synucleinopathies. In this paper, we review RT-QuIC technique in detecting α-syn seeding activity in different tissues of patients with α-synucleinopathies to summarize the potential value of RT-QuIC technique in early diagnosis or differential diagnosis of α-synucleinopathies.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify whether lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) have protective effects on retina neuronal cells in diabetic rats and to identify the related mechanism involved in this process. METHODS: Eighteen SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n= 6): normal control group (NC), diabetes mellitus group (DM) and LBP-treatment group (DM+LBP). The diabetic rat model was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The rats in DM+LBP group were treated with LBP at the dose of 1 mg/kg by gavage, once a day for 12 weeks. After the treatment, the weight and blood glucose, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the surviving retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and amacrine cells and the protein expressions of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were detected. RESULTS: The successful rate of diabetic model was 100%. Compared with NC group, the rats of DM group caused weight loss, elevated blood glucose, a marked increase of ROS generation and a significant decrease in the number of RGCs and amacrine cells (P＜0.01), and these effects were diminished or abolished by LBP treatment. Meanwhile, LBP significantly increased the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the retinas of diabetic rats (P＜0.01). CONCLUSION LBP can improve retinal oxidative stress and exert beneficial neuroprotective effects in diabetic rats, and its mechanism may be associated with the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway.
Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; drug effects ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; drug effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retina ; drug effects

Objective:To investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and its related risk factors in patients with prodromal Parkinson's disease (pPD).Methods:Forty-seven pPD patients from Nanjing community and 37 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited in the present study. The pPD patients were divided into pPD-MCI group and normal cognition (pPD-NC) group according to Beijing version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (BJ-MoCA). The general clinical data, Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) scores, Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) scores, number of patients with rapid eye movement-sleep behavior disorder (RBD), overall cognitive function and cognitive domain impairment of members from pPD group and HCs, pPD-MCI group and pPD-NC group were respectively compared. Risk factors for pPD-MCI were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression analysis.Results:The prevalence of pPD-MCI in the 47 pPD patients was 57.45% (27/47). As compared with the HCs, pPD patients had significantly higher HAMD scores and HAMA scores, statistically larger number of patients with RBD, while significantly lower overall Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores and statistically lower scores in cognition domains of visuospatial and executive function, attention, abstraction, delayed memory and orientation ( P<0.05). Patients in pPD-MCI group had significantly higher HAMA scores, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale-Motor Examination scores, statistically lower education level, significantly lower MoCA scores, and statistically lower scores in cognition domains of visuospatial and executive function, abstraction, and delayed memory as compared with patients in pPD-NC group ( P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that low education level was an independent risk factor for pPD-MCI ( OR=0.800, 95%CI: 0.650-0.985, P=0.035). Conclusions:The prevalence of MCI in pPD patients is high, and multiple cognitive domains can be impaired in early stage. Patients with pPD-MCI are more vulnerable to depression and mild motor symptoms, so attention should be paid to emotional intervention and sport life guidance for patients at early stage. Education level is crucial for pPD-MCI, and cognitive training may contribute to slow down the process of MCI.