ObjectiveTo investigate the D8/17 antigen expression of patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Guangdong province and study the antigen's characteristics.Methods The level of D8/17 antigen expression on B lymphocytes was determined with flow cytometry assay in 96 RHD patients and 83 unaffected controls.The percentage of B-cells expressing the D8/17 antigen having more than 10％ was considered to be positive. D8/17 antigen was extracted by immunopreeipitation,and the antigen characteristics was analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry. Results The mean percentage of B-cells expressing the D8/17 antigen was (85.36 ± 15.15)％ in the RHD patients and (82.89 ±4.55)％ in the controls,with no significant difference between the two groups ( P =0.436).Moreover,the positive rate of the D8/17 cxprcssion was 100％ in either the RHD patients or the controls.The molecular weight of D8/17 antigen was found to be 40 000-67 000,and the purified protein was most likely to match moesin or β-actin.ConclusionsB-cell antigen D8/17 is not associated with RHD in Guangdong province of China.Moesin or β-actin is the most likely protein to match D8/17 antigen.

Objective    To investigate the effect and mechanism of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on the prevention and treatment of transplant vein graft disease. Methods    The 25 New Zealand white rabbits were divided into three groups: an experimental group [n=8, the rabbit jugular veins transfected with adeno-associated virus vector tipe 2/1 containing CGRP gene (AAV2/1-CGRP)], a carrier group [n=9, transfected with mosaic adeno-associated virus vector tipe 2/1 containing LacZ gene (AAV2/1-LacZ)] and a control group (n=8, saline) and then the cervical veins were implantated into the ipsilateral carotid artery by reverse end-side anastomosis. At 4 weeks after surgery, the pathology of the specimens, CD68 immunohistochemistry, in situ β-galactosidase staining were obtained. The expression of CGRP gene was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP- 1), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). Results    The CGRP and LacZ gene expression was positive at postoperative 4 weeks. The intima/media ratio was significantly inhibited in the experimental group. Macrophage infiltration and expression of inflammatory mediators including MCP-1, TNF-α, iNOS and MMP-9 were also significantly inhibited in the experimental group. Conclusion    Transfection of AAV2/1-CGRP inhibits inflammatory mediator expression, macrophage infiltration and neointimal hyperplasia in experimental vein graft disease.