1.Anatomical and clinical research on splenic infarction
Shaoyou XIA ; Rong LI ; Chen LI ; Wenyu HOU ; Chunxi WANG ; Ning NING
Chinese Journal of Hepatobiliary Surgery 2013;19(10):738-741
Objective To study the anatomical basis and clinical causes of splenic infarction with an attempt to improve on the diagnosis and treatment of splenic infarction.Methods This study was conducted on 11 patients with splenic infarction seen in our hospital from December 2003 to September 2012,131 patients with a clinical diagnosis and treatment reported in the literature since 1999,and 25 adult cadavers showing the anatomy of the splenic arteries with an aim to find out the causes of splenic infarction.Results The clinical data showed that splenic infarction occurred more commonly in patients 60 years of age or older (73% vs 27%,P<0.05),and in males more than in females (62% vs 38%,P<0.05).The diagnosis was first made significantly more often by physicians than by surgeons 88/32 (79% vs 21%,P<0.05).The anatomical data showed that the majority of the splenic arteries in the 25 adult cadavers was curved.Conclusions The clinical manifestations of splenic infarction easily led to a misdiagnosis.Improvement in the diagnosis and treatment of splenic infarction would depend on the clinical awareness of this condition,the prothrombotic state detection and the implementation of timely and standardized treatment.
2.Genetic analysis of a Chinese pedigree with Cohen syndrome due to compound heterozygous variants of VPS13B gene.
Wenyu ZHANG ; Na QI ; Liangjie GUO ; Hongdan WANG ; Yue GAO ; Qiaofang HOU ; Guiyu LOU
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2023;40(8):966-972
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the clinical phenotype and genetic characteristics of a Chinese pedigree affected with Cohen syndrome.
METHODS:
A proband who was admitted to Zhengzhou People's Hospital on June 2, 2021 due to intellectual disability and developmental delay, in addition with her younger sister and other family members, were selected as the study subjects. Clinical data of the proband and her younger sister were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral venous blood and chorionic villi samples. Chromosomal abnormalities were detected with chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA). Whole exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing were carried out to detect candidate variants in the proband. With RNA extracted from the peripheral blood samples, VPS13B gene transcripts and expression were analyzed by PCR and real-time quantitative PCR. Prenatal diagnosis was carried out at 12 weeks' gestation.
RESULTS:
The proband was a 10-year-old female with clinical manifestations including development delay, obesity, severe myopia and peculiar facial features. Her sister was 3 years old with a similar phenotype. CMA revealed no chromosomal abnormality in the proband, while WES results revealed that the proband and her sister had both harbored compound heterozygous variants of the VPS13B gene, namely c.10076_10077delCA (p.T3359fs*29) and c.6940+1G>T, which were respectively inherited from their mother and father. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), both variants were classified as pathogenic (PVS1+PS4+PM4+PP1; PVS1+PM2_Supporting+PM3+PP1). In vivo splicing assay confirmed that the c.6940+1G>T variant has produced a frameshift transcript with skipping of exon 38. Compared with the control group, the expression of RNA in the peripheral blood of the proband's parents has decreased to 65% ~ 70% (P < 0.01), whilst that in the proband and her sister has decreased to 40% (P < 0.001). Prenatal diagnosis at 12 weeks of gestation has found that the fetus only harbored the heterozygous c.10076_ 10077delCA variant.
CONCLUSION
The c.10076_10077delCA (p.T3359fs*29) frameshift variant and c.6940+1G>T splicing variant probably underlay the Cohen syndrome in this pedigree. Genetic testing has facilitated the diagnosis of this disease.
Female
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Humans
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East Asian People
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Intellectual Disability/genetics*
;
Mutation
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Myopia/genetics*
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Pedigree
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Vesicular Transport Proteins/genetics*
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Child, Preschool
;
Child
3.Preparation and immune-enhancing effects of monophosphoryl lipid A pH-sensitive liposome
Wenyu CUI ; Wenjing QUAN ; Jilai LI ; Yibo HOU ; Jing XU ; Yuntao ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2022;42(9):699-704
Objective:To prepare pH-sensitive liposomes to avoid the degradation of monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) by lysosomes.Methods:Using DOPE and CHEMS as carrier materials, pH-sensitive liposomes were prepared by thin-film dispersion method. Particle sizes and Zeta potential of the liposomes were detected by dynamic light scattering. The morphological features of pH-sensitive liposomes under different pH conditions were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Flow cytometry was performed to detect the phagocytosis of liposomes by THP-1 and DC2.4 cells. Confocal laser microscopy was used to observed the colocalization of liposomes and lysosomes. BALB/c mice were immunized with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using MPLA pH-sensitive liposome as an adjuvant. The levels of serum anti-HBs were quantitatively detected by ELISA. IFN-γ and IL-2 spot forming cells (SFCs) in mouse splenic lymphocytes were detected by ELISPOT.Results:The pH-sensitive liposomes were constructed with an average particle size of (90.90±1.13) nm, polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.076±0.013 and Zeta potential of (-27.900±0.666) mV. As the pH value of the solution decreased, the particle size increased significantly and the liposomes presented irregular shapes, indicating the pH-sensitive features. The phagocytosis rates by THP-1 cells and DC2.4 cells were 10.40% and 12.40% for pH-sensitive fluorescent liposomes, and 1.09% and 0.28% for fluorescent liposomes. Confocal laser microscopy revealed that pH-sensitive fluorescent liposomes were phagocytosed by THP-1 cells and existed in the cytoplasm, while fluorescent liposomes existed in lysosomes. Compared with MPLA liposomes, MPLA pH-sensitive liposomes could significantly improve the cellular immune response in mice. The levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 SFCs in the MPLA pH-sensitive liposome group were significantly higher than those in the MPLA liposome group ( P<0.01) and the non-adjuvant group ( P<0.001). Conclusions:The pH-sensitive liposome delivery system could improve the utilization of MPLA as an adjuvant.
4.Expression of recombinant varicella-zoster virus gE Δ-Fc in CHO cells and analysis of its immunogenicity
Wenyu CUI ; Jilai LI ; Zhuan ZHANG ; Yibo HOU ; Jing XU
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2020;40(9):709-713
Objective:To express the recombinant varicella-zoster virus (VZV) gE Δ-Fc fusion protein using CHO cell expression system, and provide reference for screening candidate antigens of recombinant herpes zoster vaccines. Methods:A eukaryotic expression plasmid containing the gE Δ-Fc gene was transfected into CHO cells. Monoclonal cells were selected by methionine sulfoximine (MSX) pressure screening and limited dilution method to obtain the CHO cells secreting and expressing the gE Δ-Fc fusion protein. The expressed gE Δ-Fc fusion protein was purified by MabSelect SuRe affinity chromatography. The binding activity of gE Δ-Fc fusion protein to Fc receptors was identified by ELISA. Flow cytometry was used to detect the phagocytosis of antigens by DC2.4 cells. Antibody titers in serum samples of BALB/c mice immunized with the gE Δ-Fc fusion protein were detect by ELISA. Results:A CHO cell line stably expressing the gE Δ-Fc fusion protein was obtained. Flow cytometry suggested that the phagocytotic activity of DC2.4 cells against the gE Δ-Fc fusion protein was stronger than that against gE. Moreover, the gE Δ-Fc fusion protein could induce BALB/c mice to produce high titers of specific anti-VZV antibodies. Conclusions:The recombinant VZV gE Δ-Fc fusion protein expressed in CHO cells had a good immunogenicity. This study provided reference for screening candidate antigens of recombinant herpes zoster vaccines.
5.Identification and analysis of anovel variant of TRAPPC2 in a X-linked spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda pedigree
Wenyu ZHANG ; Ke KANG ; Yuwei ZHANG ; Qiaofang HOU ; Litao QIN ; Hongyan LIU ; Bingtao HAO ; Ke YANG ; Shixiu LIAO ; Guiyu LOU
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics 2022;42(5):313-319
Objective:To provide experimental evidence for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis by analyzing the clinical characteristics, screening and identification of the function of suspicious variants in a X-1inked spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda (SEDT) family.Methods:The family members' medical history, general physical examination, femur, spine X-ray examination were collected. Peripheral blood samples of the family members were collected and DNA was extracted from these samples. Sequencing clinical whole exons of proband DNA by targeted gene high-throughput sequencing method, then analysis sequencing data. The suspicious mutation was confirmed in pedigree members by PCR and Sanger sequencing. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) experiments of total RNA from blood lymphocytes were performed. The amplification of exons 3 and 4 of the pathogenic gene were amplified and identified by agarose gel. The expression of the pathogenic gene was also detected.Results:Three affected males of the family were diagnosed with SEDT according to their clinical and radiological features. A nonsense mutation in the transport protein particle complex subunit 2 ( TRAPPC2) gene NM_001011658: c.91A>T (p.K31*) was found in the proband using whole exome sequencing. This variation was also detected in his cousin, but not in non-phenotypic members of the family. The RT-PCR result for amplification of exon 3 and 4 of peripheral blood lymphocytes was the same as those of normal controls, indicating that the mutation did not affect the splicing of transcripts. qPCR results showed that the transcriptional expression of TRAPPC2 in patients was significantly lower than that in family normal controls and normal people controls. Conclusion:Identification of the novel nonsense mutation (c.91A>T) in the SEDT family enables early patients screening, carrier detection, genetic counseling, prenatal diagnosis, and clinical prevention and treatment. The detailed genotype/phenotype descriptions contribute to the SEDT mutation spectrum. The study of the function of TRAPPC2 mutation will help to further elucidate the role of sedlin in cartilage.