Objective To investigate the regulation effect of hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF) 1α on the gene expression profile and the signal pathways in HuH7 cells.Methods The expression of HNF1α was increased or decreased in HuH7 cells by Lenti-virus carrying HNF1α or shHNF1α.The expression profile of the cells after treated was examined by microarray technology.The difference expressed gene regulated by HNF1α were screened and the pathway was analyzed with DAVID software and related analysis system.The regulation effect of HNF1α on transforming growth factor (TGF)β signal pathway was detected by reporter gene test and the regulation role of HNF1α on related genes of TGFβ signal pathway was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blotting assay.Results The expression of HNF1α in HuH7 cells was significantly up-regulated by Lenti-virus carrying HNF1α gene (Lenti-HNF1α) and which was down regulated by Lenti-virus with shHNF1α gene (LentishHNF1 α).Expression profile analysis revealed that 339 genes were positively up regulated two times by HNF1α and 325 genes were negatively down regulated two times.Signal pathway analysis revealed that HNF1α regulated drug metabolism,biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis metabolism signal pathways.Moreover,it also involved in the regulation of TGFβ、nuclear factor (NF)-κB and p53 tumor-related signal pathways.Furthermore,Luciferase reportor gene experiment indicated that up-regulated HNF1α could inhibit the activation of TGFβ signal pathway.And the results of real-time PCR and Western blotting verified that up-regulated HNF1α could inhibit TGFβ signal pathway related gene c-myc and TGFβ1 and then inhibited the activation of TGFβ signal pathway.Conclusion HNF1α broadly affects the gene expression profile and the tumor genesis and development related signal pathways in HuH7 cells,furthermore,HNF1α can inhibit the activation of TGFβ signal pathway.

Objective To investigate the syndrome differentiation characteristics of children with atopic dermatitis(AD)and the immune imbalance status in children with different syndrome types of AD.Methods A total of 159 AD children and 100 normal control children were enrolled.The peripheral blood eosinophil(Eo)count was measured by impedance method,total serum immunoglobulin E(IgE)by immunoturbidimetric assay,and interferon-gamma(IFN-γ),interleukin-4(IL-4),interleukin-5(IL-5)and interleukin-17(IL-17)were measured by multiple microspheres flow immunofluorescence assay.Results Among 159 AD children,syndrome of heart-fire and spleen-deficiency was most commom,accounting for 38.4%,followed by syndrome of blood-deficiency and wind-dryness(22.0%),syndrome of heat accumulation in heart and spleen(20.1%)and syndrome of spleen-deficiency and dampness-accumulation(19.5%).Compared with normal control group,there was no significant difference in serum IFN-γ level among different syndrome types of AD.The levels of peripheral blood Eo,serum total IgE,IL-4 and IL-17 in AD with heart-fire and spleen-deficiency syndrome were significantly increased(P<0.05).The levels of peripheral blood Eo,IL-4,IL-5 and IL-17 in AD with blood-deficiency and wind-dryness syndrome were significantly increased(P<0.05).The levels of IL-4,IL-5 and IL-17 in AD with heat accumulation in heart and spleen syndrome were significantly increased(P<0.05).The levels of peripheral blood Eo and serum IL-4 in AD with spleen-deficiency and dampness-accumulation syndrome were significantly increased(P<0.05).Conclusion Heart-fire and spleen-deficiency syndrome is the most common type in children with AD,however,the main type under 3 years old is heat accumulation in heart and spleen syndrome.Th2/Th17 immune imbalance are the main pathogenesis in heart-fire and spleen-deficiency syndrome,blood-deficiency and wind-dryness syndrome and heat accumulation in heart and spleen syndrome,and Th2 immune imbalance is the main pathogenesis of spleen-deficiency and dampness-accumulation syndrome.

Background::Urticaria is a common skin disease characterized by episodes of wheals, and it has a negative effect on patients’ quality of life. Large-scale population-based epidemiological studies of urticaria are scarce in China. The aim of this survey was to determine the prevalence, clinical forms, and risk factors of urticaria in the Chinese population.Methods::This survey was conducted in 35 cities from 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities of China. Two to three communities in each city were selected in this investigation. Participants completed questionnaires and received dermatological examinations. We analyzed the prevalence, clinical forms, and risk factors of urticaria.Results::In total, 44,875 questionnaires were distributed and 41,041 valid questionnaires were collected (17,563 male and 23,478 female participants). The lifetime prevalence of urticaria was 7.30%, with 8.26% in female and 6.34% in male individuals ( P < 0.05). The point prevalence of urticaria was 0.75%, with 0.79% in female and 0.71% in male individuals ( P < 0.05). Concomitant angioedema was found in 6.16% of patients. Adults had a higher prevalence of urticaria than adolescents and children. Living in urban areas, exposure to pollutants, an anxious or depressed psychological status, a personal and family history of allergy, thyroid diseases, and Helicobacter pylori infection were associated with a higher prevalence of urticaria. Smoking was correlated with a reduced risk of urticaria. Conclusion::This study demonstrated that the lifetime prevalence of urticaria was 7.30% and the point prevalence was 0.75% in the Chinese population; women had a higher prevalence of urticaria than men. Various factors were correlated with urticaria.