BACKGROUND: Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) is a protein possesses potential activity, which can increase and enhance its activity when the bone issues are damaged, so it can be used to repair the bone defects when combined with carrier. However,there are few reports concerning it as gene therapy.OBJECTIVE: To construct recombinant retroviral vector expressing human BMP2 gene and to discuss its biological function in ostecblasts.METHODS: BMP2-specific primers were designed and synthesized according gene sequence of human BMP2 gene in Genbank, then BMP2 gena was amplified by Hifi PCR, which was recombined with cloning vector pDNR-CMV homologousiy into pDNR-CMV-BMP2 plasmid identified by BMP2 PCR and enzyme digestion of Sail and EcoRI as well as gene sequencing; recombinant plasmid pDNR-CMV-BMP2 and retroviral plasmid pLP-LNCX were recombined homologously in IoxP sites into pLP-LNCX-BMP2 plasmid transferred into packing cell line PT67 and the supernatant was collected to assay viral titre. Human osteoblast was infected with retrovirus, then the growth of cells were observed by MTT, and the expression of BMP2 protein was detected by Western blotting at 48 hours transfectionRESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Digestion, BMP2 PCR and gene sequencing of pDNR-CMV-BMP2 were coincided with expected. After transfected with plasmid pLP-LNCX-BMP2, PT67 cells could be screened with G418 only to get stably integrated in BMP2, of whose supemanant viral titra amounted to 5×10~8 pfu/mL. MTT assay showed that there had no evident difference in cellular inhibition between the normal and retrovirus groups at 72 hours after transfection (P ＞ 0.05); Western blotting showed that the BMP2 was strong expressed at 48 hours after transfection. It demonstrated that BMP2 gene was successful cloned and its retrovirus vector was constructed.

Objective To compare the effects of rat proinsulin gene therapy via intraportal infusion and intramuscular injection blood glucose level in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rots. Methods (1) Recombinant eukaryotic cell expression plasmid of rat proinsulin gene pCMV/proiusulin was transferred into streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats by intraportal infusion and intramuscular injection to observe the effect of rat proiusulin gene therapy in diabetic rats. The treatment group by intraportal infusion (group A) and the group by intramuscular injection (group C) were given pCMV/proinsulin naked plasmid DNA 100 μg, while the control groups by intraportal infusion (group B) or by intramuscular injection (group D) were treated with similar amount of pCMV DNA. Normal group and diabetes mellitus group were also observed at the same time. (2) Blood glucose level was tested and serum insulin was determined by radioimmunoassay. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to detemine proinsulin mRNA and protein expressions in liver and skeletal muscle and protein. Results (1) The blood glucose levels in two treated groups were both decreased. In group A, levels of blood sugar decreased about 7 mmol/L and glycemie control was maintained for 3-4 weeks. Serum insulin levels step up significantly after pCMV/proinsulin gene therapy. The blood glucose level in group A was significantly lower than those of group B and DM group (P<0.05), while the serum insulin level was higher than those of two groups (P<0.05). In group C, blood glucose levels decreased about 4 mmol/L and glycemic control was maintained for 1-2 weeks. Meanwhile, the concentrations of insulin increased markedly after gene therapy. The blood glucose in group C was significantly lower than those of group D and DM group (P<0.05), while the serum insulin level was higher than those of two groups (P<0.05). (2) Proinsulin mRNA and protein expressions could be detected in either hepatic cell of group A or skeletal muscle cell of group C, not in group B and group D. Conclusion Proiusulin genetherapy via intraportal infusion or intramuscular injection lowers significantly blood glucose in diabetic rats, and thus offers a potential approach to treatment of diabetes.

Six thousand and forty-four subjects in Jiangsu community were enrolled to investigate the relationship between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and blood pressure. It was shown that subclinical thyroid dysfunction, including both the subclinical hyperthyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism, had no relationship with increased blood pressure.

The residents who had lived for at least 5 years and aged over 20 years old were sampled from urban to rural districts of Jiangsu Province with a stratified cluster sampling technique. B mode ultrasonography and thyroid function determination were carried out in 6 128 persons. The location, diameter, number, boundary, and calcification in thyroid nodules were described by using 7.5 MHz/50 mm transducer of thyroid ultrasonography. TSH was measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay. Free triiodothyronine(FT3)and free thyroxin(FT4)were measured when TSH was abnormal. The crude prevalence of thyroid nodules was 21.12% in total population, 14.55% in male, and 25.24% in female. The standardized prevalence was 15.69%, 11.20%, and 20.40%, respectively. The prevalence was lower in male than in female, and increased with age(P＜0.05). Thyroid nodules in Jiangsu Province were highly prevalent and more attention should be paid to the follow-up, early diagnosis, and treatment.