[ ABSTRACT] AIM: To investigate the influence of advanced glycosylation end products-modified bovine serum albumin (AGE-BSA) on mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), urokinase-type plasminogen activator re-ceptor ( uPAR) , and cell mobility in the podocytes, and to further explore the probable relationship.METHODS: The conditionally immortalized mouse podocyte cell line was cultured in vitro.MTT assay and immunofluorescence were used to analyze the cell viability and cytoskeleton of the podocytes treated with the stimuli and intervention agents.The activity of mTORC1 and the expression level of uPAR in normal podocytes and podocytes treated with control BSA or AGE-BSA were detected by Western blotting.The migration ability of the podocytes was determined by would-healing assay.Rapamycin was added to inhibit the activity of mTORC1 along with the addition of AGE-BSA to observe the changes of uPAR and the motility of podocytes.RESULTS:No significant difference of the cell viability or cytoskeleton in the podocytes treated with the stimuli and intervention agents was observed.AGE-BSA up-regulated the activity of mTORC1 and the expression of uPAR, and induced the high mobility of the podocytes.Rapamycin obviously reduced the high expression level of uPAR and the increase in the migration ability of podocytes caused by AGE-BSA treatment.CONCLUSION: AGE-BSA might cause the high migration of podocytes through the mTORC1/uPAR signaling pathway.

Objective To compare and analyze the primary and secondary structures and antigenic epitopes of the two allergens: Der p 2 and Der f 2. Methods The protein sequences of Der p 2 and Der f 2 were downloaded online. The primary and secondary structures of the dust mite allergens were compared and analyzed bioinformatically to determine the potential epitope and signal peptide sites. Results Both Der p 2 and Der f 2 contained 146 amino acids and 9 potential protein binding sites with a secondary structure that mainly contains [3 - sheets, and there might be signal peptides site at the 1st 17th segment of the N - terminus. B cell epitopes analysis revealed that both Der p 2 and Der f 2 have 9 potential linear B epitopes and 2 conformational B epitopes. NetMHCⅡserver prediction showed Der p 2 contains 6 high affinity sites, whereas Der f 2 0nly contains 5. Conclusion This study may lay the foundation for further research of the biochemical function of the 2 allergens and contribute to vaccine development for allergen - specific immunotherapy.