Homeobox(HOX) gene is a kind of regulatory gene,which can regulate the embryonic development and cell differentiation,and participate in the regulation and control of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell proliferation,differentiation and maturation,etc.Cluster A in HOX gene family is the master gene for proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells,which has an influence on the number of hematopoietic stem cells and the differentiation of hematopoietic stem cell into erythroid,myeloid,megakaryocytic and lymphatic system,and has a relationship with the generation of leukemia.In this article,study progress of Cluster A in HOX gene family and its relationship with leukemia were briefly stated.

Objective To culture human pituitary adenoma cells to provide some useful experimental foundations to practice pituitary adenoma cells as donor cells in the extracranial implantation. Methods Human pituitary adenoma cells obtained by operation were cultured in vitro, and their growth state was dynamically observed. Immunohistochemical staining and RIA were used to evaluate their functional status. Results The cultured pituitary adenoma cells still had secretory function in vitro. 6 cases of GH adenoma cells secreted a large amount of GH, 5 cases of PRL adenoma cells secreted a large amount of PRL, and 3 cases of pituitary adenoma cells without function could also secrete a small quantity of FSH, LH and PRL. Conclusion 14 cases of cultured human pituitary adenoma cells had secretory function in vitro, which provides the useful experimental data to perform extracranial implantation with pituitary adenoma cells as donor cells.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome is of high variation,which results in persistent infection of HCV and increases the incidence of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.Following the successful paradigm established for HIV protease inhibitors,HCV NS3-4A serine protease has been selected as the main target for the development of small molecule antiviral agents.In this article,we review recent progress in the discovery and development of HCV NS3-4A protease inhibitors,and discuss their antiviral activities,pharmacokinetic properties,side effects and resistance profiles.

To study the influence of foreign plasmid DNA on spleen metabolism in immune-stimulated mice via the gastrointestinal tract. Mice were oral administered by pipette with 200?g of plasmid pcDNA3 and spleen were isolated at 4h and 18h after oral administration. Total RNA were extracted from spleen and spleen gene expression profile of Balb/c mice was analyzed by using Affymetrix oligonucleotide genechip after oral plasmid pcDNA3 administration. Functional cluster analysis was conducted by Genmapp and MAPPFinder software. By functional cluster analyzing the genes which were up-regulated more than twofolds, Genmapp results showed that plenty of metabolic pathway were induced in spleen after oral administration of plasmid pcDNA3. These metabolic process included purine metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, protein synthesis, cholesterol synthesis, fatty acid synthesis, Glycolysis, TCA cycle and mitochondria oxidative phosphorylation pathway. The similar results also took place at 18h after oral administration. The result indicated that foreign plasmid DNA can modulate metabolism process in spleen of mice via the gastrointestinal tract, and may help understand the mechanism of action of foreign plasmid DNA uptaked via the gastrointestinal tract.

SARS coronavims is an emerging virus. A lot of animals could be infected by SARS-CoV and Himalayan palm civets, as one of important hosts, is an ideal animal model. Viral genetic factors have been implicated in the emergence of SARS-CoV, with the suggestion that this virus is a recombinant between mammalian and avian coronaviruses. However, the recombination is unlikely to explain the appearance of SARS in humans.

Partial immunoactivities of peptidoglycan(PG)isolated from lactic acid bacteria were investigated.PG isolated from strain Z8 and Z17 of lactic acid bacteria respectively,had similar immunoactivities.The phagocytic function of M?(macrophage)increased markedly and serum lysozyme activity was significantly enhanced by injection of PG-extracts on mice.Investigation of immuno-enhancing effects of PG on vaccine of Newcastle disease in chickens showed that the hemagglutination inhibition levels of PG were higher than that of the control and the level was maintained for a longer time as compared to the control.

Objective To investigate the role of TLR4 in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B(CHB) by study the expression of TLR4 in liver tissues in patients with CHB, and the relationship among TLR4 and serum HBV DNA level, clinical severity degrees and histo-logical grades and stages. Methods Expression of TLR4 in liver tissues was semi-quantitatively determined by immunohistochemistry and e-valuated by a scoring system in 75 patients with CHB and 10 health controls. Results The positive staining of TLR4 mainly located in the cytoplasm and some on cell membrane of bepatocytes. Expression of TLR4 in the liver tissues of patients with CHB was stronger than that of health controls. The scores of TLR4 expression in patients with mild, moderate and severe CHB were 1.0±0.5,2.3±0.5 and 2.9±0.4. The scores increased gradually and significantly along with the increase of clinical severity degrees( F = 104.8, P<0.01). The scores of TLR4 expression in the liver tissues of patients with CHB were positively correlated with the clinical severity degrees (r=0.838, P<0.01) and histological grades (r=0.579, P<0.05), but not correlated with Lg (serum HBV DNA) or histological stages. Conclusion TLR4 was up-regulated in the hepatocytes of patients with CHB. There may be a role of TLR4 in the pathogenesis of CHB.

Objective To observe the effects of 5-fluorouraeil(5-FU)and eisplatin(DDP)on the expression of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)and Toll-like receptor4(TLR4)in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HepG2 and HepG2.2.15.Methods Direct immanotlaorescenee flow cytometry was used to detect mean flubrescence intensity(MFI)of TLR2 and TLR4,and TLR2 and TLR4 positive cell percentage in HepG2 and HepG2.2.15 cells before and after treated with 5-FU.and DDP at various concentrations for 24h,48h and 72h.Results MFI of TLR2 and TLR4.and TLR2 and 11LR4 positive cell percentage in HepG2.2.15 cells were significantly higher than those in HepG2(P＜0.01).After HepG2 and HepG2.2.15 cells were treated with different concentration of 5-FU and DDP,MFI of TLR2 and TLR4,TLR2 and TLR4 positive cell percentage in HepG2 and HepG2.2.15 cells almost had no change.only MFI of TLR2 in HepG2.2.15 cells decreased after cells were treated with 5-FU at the concentrations of 100,200μg/ml and DDP at the concentrations of 20μg/ml for 72h(P＜0.05 for all).Conclusions 5-FU and DDP can not activate TLR2 and TLR4 signal pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HepG2 and HepG2.2.15.To find the activated pathway in TLR2 and TLR4 signal pathway,some other methods should be used,and this will be helpful in antieancer therapy.

Objective To study the change of TLR4 on peripheral blood monoeytes (PBMCs) and its role in the pathogenesis of chronic severe hepatitis B. Methods The expression of TLR4 on 10000 CDI4 + PBMCs was determined by flow eytometer in 30 healthy control,31 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 30 patients with chronic severe hepatitis B. The level of serum tumor necrosis factor α(TNF- α) was determined by ELISA. Results The values of TLR4 on PBMCs and serum TNF-αof the groups of healthy control, patients with chronic hepatitis B and patients with chronic severe hepatitis B were 2.3±1.1,3.7±2.3, (6.9±4.1 ) mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) and (53.8±38.1 ), ( 164.3±89.9) and (359.8±140.0) ng/L. The TLR4 value in patients with chronic severe hepatitis B was signifi- cant higher than those in healthy control and the patients with chronic hepatitis B ( P <0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the patients with chronic hepatitis B and healthy control ( P > O. 05 ). TNF-α increased gradually and significantly from the healthy control to the patients with chronic hepatitis B and patients with chronic severe hepatitis B. There was a significant positive correlation be- tween the value of TLR4 and the value of serum TNF-αin the patients with chronic severe hepatitis B( r=0.666, P <0.01). Conclusion There may be a role of TLR4 in the pathogenesis of chronic severe hepatitis B.