The current study analyzed the data of 4 000 umbilical cord blood (UCB) units collected in Shandong Cord Blood Bank from the end of 1999 to March 2001. The averages of nucleated cells and CD34(+) cells were more than 1.2 x 10(9) and 3.9 x 10(6) per UCB unit respectively, and more than 1.5 x 10(9) nucleated cells per UCB unit were obtained in 768 UCB units. These UCB units are suitable for transplantation in patients with a body weight greater than 40 kg. The analysis of HLA gene frequency showed that A2, A24, A11, B13, B51, DR15, DR7 and DR9 are the common halotypes in Shandong population and similar to those in the other areas of China. 40% patients could search out at least 1 UCB unit with 1 mismatched HLA locus in Shandong Cord Blood Bank.
Antigens, CD34 ; immunology ; Blood Banks ; Blood Preservation ; Cell Count ; China ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Gene Frequency ; HLA-A Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-B Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Leukocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo determine whether interleukin-1 alpha and 1 beta gene polymorphism is associated with rheumatoid arthritis disease activity and bone mineral metabolism, and whether there is any relationship between IL-1 beta and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) motif gene.

METHODSIL-1 gene polymorphisms were analyzed in 65 RA patients who met American College of Radiology (ACR) criteria and 60 controls. From genomic DNA, 2 polymorphisms in each gene for IL1 alpha-889 and IL-1 beta + 3953 were typed by PCR-RFLP and HLA-DRB1 allele typing was also undertaken by PCR-SSOP. Some clinical and laboratory parameters were collected. The allelic frequencies and carriage rates were compared between RA patients and controls and between patients with active and quiescent disease. Comparison was also made between IL-1 polymorphism and parameters of bone mineral metabolism and between patients with the HLA-DRB1 RA motif plus IL-1 beta 2 and patients without the two alleles. Fisher test and the analysis of variance was used to analyze the data.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in the frequency and carriage rate of IL-1 alpha polymorphisms between RA patients and the controls. The beta 2/2 genotype of IL-1 beta was more common in female RA patients compared with controls (P = 0.001). A lower carriage rate of IL-1 beta 2 occurred in male RA patients (P = 0.001). A higher carriage rate of IL-1 alpha 2 is associated with a higher ESR (P = 0.008), HAQ score (P = 0.03), and vit-D3 (P < 0.001), but conversely a lower SJC (p = 0.002), a lower RF (P = 0.002) and a lower BMD at the lumbar spine (P = 0.001). A higher frequency of IL-1 alpha 1 is associated with a lower CRP value (P = 0.009). An increased IL-1 beta 2 carriage is associated with active rheumatoid disease as indicated by a higher CRP (P < 0.001), ESR (P < 0.001) and pain score (P = 0.001) and a higher BMD at the lumbar spine (P = 0.007), lower vit-D3 and. Udpd/Crea level The presence of the HLA DRB1 RA motif and IL-1 beta allele 2 at same time did not contribute to disease activity.

CONCLUSIONPolymorphisms of the IL-beta gene may affect the RA occurrence. Carriage of IL-1 beta 2 polymorphisms is associated with more active disease in RA and the presence of both the IL-1 alpha 2 and the IL-1 beta 1 allele in RA influences bone resorption.

Alleles ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bone Density ; Female ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DRB1 Chains ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 ; genetics ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic

The HLA system was discovered by virtue of the fact that it was polymorphic. The impetus for its discovery was the search for polymorphic antigens to match for transplantation, by analogy with the human red cell blood groups. The most usually DNA method of HLA typing is sequence specific oligonucleotides (SSO) and PCR sequence specific primers (SSP). SSO technique is perfectly suited for analyzing large number of samples, it is not suitable for individual or small numbers. The SSP method is ideal for typing individual samples, but it is costly and requires high capacity thermal cycles for larger numbers of samples. To set up a simple, quick, cheap and high resolution DNA method, were collected sixty-three cord blood samples from Guangzhou Cord Blood Bank, got DNA from blood by the traditional guanidine hydrochloride distillation method. Each sample was simultaneously typed by SSOP, PCR-SSP and reverse dot-blot hybridization (RDB) methods. All of typed is success. The results of three DNA methods are consistent each other. 60 HLA-DRB1 alleles could be accurately distinguished with the RDB method. Our results show that RDB method is a simple, quick, cheap and high resolution method for HLA-DRB types. It can be used in any HLA typing.
Fetal Blood ; immunology ; metabolism ; Genotype ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; Histocompatibility Testing ; methods ; Humans ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; methods

To study the gene polymorphism of HLA-A, B, DRB1 alleles in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia and to explore the correlation of HLA with chronic myelogenous leukemia, the polymerase chain reaction-reverse sequence specific oligonucleotide (PCR-RSSO) was used to analyze the polymorphism of HLA-A, B, DRB1 alleles of 293 CML Patients and 406 randomized and synchronous blood donors (healthy and unrelated with patients) from Guangdong Han population. The results indicate that the gene frequency of HLA-A*24 in CML group was 15.53% lower than that of control group (22.09%, RR = 0.63, p = 0.005); the gene frequency of HLA-B*13 in CML group was 10.41% higher than that of control group (6.74%, RR = 1.68, p = 0.016). The gene frequency of HLA- DRB1*14 in CML group was 7.51% lower than that of control group (11.89%, RR = 0.58, p = 0.008). The differences were all statistically significant. It is concluded that the gene frequency of HLA-A*24, HLA- DRB1*14 in CML patients is significantly lower than normal people in Guangdong. The gene frequency of HLA-B*13 in CML patients is significantly higher than normal people in Guangdong. Further study is needed to make sure whether HLA-A*24 and HLA- DRB1*14 are protective gene markers for CML acquisition on Guangdong Chinese Han population and whether HLA-B*13 is a gene marker for CML susceptibility on this population.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Donors ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; HLA-A Antigens ; genetics ; metabolism ; HLA-A24 Antigen ; HLA-B Antigens ; genetics ; metabolism ; HLA-B13 Antigen ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; metabolism ; HLA-DRB1 Chains ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of a non-lethal heat shock, in comparison with the treatment of interferon-gamma (IFN gamma), on the expression of major histocompatibility complex transactivator (CTA) and its downstream target gene of the human leukocyte antigens (HLA)-DR in Jurkat cells.

METHODSThe changes of CTA mRNA in Jurkat cells before and after the treatment of heat shock or IFN gamma were detected using real time RT-PCR. The changes of CTA protein were detected with Western blot. The expression of HLA-DR was detected with flow cytometry. : CTA mRNA and protein were induced in Jurkat cells under heat shock, but not with IFN-gamma. The expression of HLA-DR gene significantly increased after recovery (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expressions of CTA and HLA-DR in Jurkat cells remarkably increase after heat shock, indicating that heat shock may help reconstruct relevant genes in cells with immunologic gene deficiencies.

HLA-DR Antigens ; metabolism ; Heat-Shock Response ; physiology ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; metabolism

Allo-cell transplant rejection is associated with class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC II), while its transactivator (namely C II TA) regulates MHC II molecules expression strictly and exclusively. The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibiting effect of C II TA anti-sense RNA on MHC II expression. The cDNA for anti-sense RNA recognizing the 114-523 sequence of C II TA (arC II TA) was obtained from Raji cell by RT-PCR, and then inserted into the pcDNA3.1B plasmid (pcDNA3.1B-arC II TA, pD-arC II TA). Raji cells were transfected stably with pD-arC II TA, classic MHC II antigen (HLA-DR, -DP, -DQ) expression was assayed by flow cytometry (FCM). mRNA abundance of C II TA, invariant chain and classic MHC II were detected by RT-PCR. The results showed that compared with control (sense C II TA), the expression inhibition of HLA-DR, -DP, -DQ on pD-arC II TA positive Raji cell was 65.93%, 54.14%, 68.32% respectively. The mRNA contents of C II TA, invariant chain and classic MHC II also decreased. In conclusion, arC II TA inhibited C II TA and thus the family of MHC II molecules were regulated by it, therefore these results provide a novel approach for the control of graft versus host diseases.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Flow Cytometry ; Graft Rejection ; genetics ; prevention & control ; HLA-DP Antigens ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; HLA-DR Antigens ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; RNA, Antisense ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the expression of CD133 and its clinical significance in acute leukemia (AL) patients.

METHODSThe expression of CD133 and CD133 mRNA in leukemic blasts from 76 AL patients were detected by three-color flow-cytometry and hemi-quantitative RT-PCR respectively.

RESULTS(1) CD133 mRNA expression was highly correlated with CD133 expression in both of normal donors and AL patients groups. The expression of CD133 in AL patients was significantly higher than that in control group (P < 0.01). (2) The positive rates of CD133 and CD133 mRNA in AL group were 42.1% (32/76) and 46.1% (35/76) respectively. There was no significant difference in CD133 expression between AML-M(3) and normal control, AML and ALL, as well as T-ALL and B-ALL. The expression of CD133 in AML-M(4) were significantly higher than those in other AML subtypes (81.8% vs 43.7% and 81.8% vs 46.9% at CD133 and CD133 mRNA level, respectively, P < 0.01). (3) The expression of CD133 in AML was significantly correlated with the expression of CD34 and HLA-DR (P < 0.001). (4) The expression of CD133 had no relationship with the clinical prognostic factors such as cytogenetic or molecular aberrations, WBC counts, LDH, mdr1 expression and age. (5) There was a trend toward lower CR rate in CD133(+) cases, but only CD34/CD133(+) double positive cases had significant lower CR rate than that of negative ones (44.4% vs 71.4%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAL had significantly higher CD133 expression compared to normal control. The detection of CD133 expression might help to identify AL type and predict therapeutic outcomes. Co-expression of CD133/CD34 might convey adverse prognosis of AL.

AC133 Antigen ; Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD ; genetics ; Antigens, CD34 ; genetics ; Child ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glycoproteins ; genetics ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukemia ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptides ; genetics ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism

This study focused on the characterization of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from the chorion of human full term placenta from 15 donors. Chorionic MSCs revealed homologous fibroblast-like morphology and expressed CD73, CD29, CD105, and CD90. The hematopoietic stem cell markers including HLA DR, CD11b, CD34, CD79a, and CD45 were not expressed. The growth kinetics of their serial passage was steady at the later passages (passage 10). The multilineage capability of chorionic MSCs was demonstrated by successful adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation and associated gene expression. Chorionic MSCs expressed genes associated with undifferentiated cells (NANOG, OCT4, REX1) and cardiogenic or neurogenic markers such as SOX2, FGF4, NES, MAP2, and NF. TERT was negative in all the samples. These findings suggest that chorionic MSCs undifferentiated stem cells and less likely to be transformed into cancer cells. A low HLA DR expression suggests that chorionic MSCs may serve as a great source of stem cells for transplantation because of their immune-privileged status and their immunosuppressive effect. Based on these unique properties, it is concluded that chorionic MSCs are pluripotent stem cells that are probably less differentiated than BM-MSCs, and they have considerable potential for use in cell-based therapies.
Antigens, CD/genetics/metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Chorion/cytology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; HLA-DR Antigens/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/*cytology/metabolism ; Placenta/*cytology ; Pregnancy ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism

This study investigated the feasibility of using an hammerhead ribozyme against C II TA, a major regulator of MHC II antigens, to repress the expression of MHC II molecules on Hela cells. A hammerhead ribozyme (Rz464) specific to 463-465 GUC triplet of C II TA and its target gene were transcribed, then mixed up and incubated in vitro. The cleavage products were analyzed by PAGE and silver-staining. Rz464 was then inserted into the pIRES2-EGFP vector (pRz464). Stable transfectants of Hela with pRz464 were tested for class II MHC induction by recombinant human interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). mRNA of C II TA was measured by RT-PCR. Our results showed that Rz464 could exclusively cleave C II TA RNA. When induced with IFN-gamma, the expression of HLA-DR, -DP, -DQ on pRz464+ Hela was induced, and the mRNA content of C II TA decreased too. It is concluded that Rz464 could inhibit C II TA and thus the family of genes was regulated by C II TA:MHC II molecules. These results provided insight into the future application of Rz464 as a new nucleic acid drug against auto-immune diseases.
Autoimmune Diseases ; therapy ; Base Sequence ; Genetic Therapy ; HLA-DP Antigens ; metabolism ; HLA-DQ Antigens ; metabolism ; HLA-DR Antigens ; metabolism ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; pharmacology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nuclear Proteins ; immunology ; RNA, Catalytic ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; physiology ; Recombinant Proteins ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Trans-Activators ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; immunology ; Transfection

In previous studies we reported that the expression of HLA-DR on melanoma cell lines was differentially modulated by IFN- gamma and that the transcription rate was responsible for this differential modulation. We have also reported the nucleotide sequence variations in the promoter region of HLA-DR genes, and proposed that differences in the promoter activity by the sequence variations of the HLA-DR promoters might contribute to such a differential transcriptional regulation at the promoter level. In this study, in order to assess whether the sequence variations of the HLA-DR promoters affect the factor binding and exert influence on the promoter activity, nuclear factor binding to our previous six HLA-DRA and fourteen HLA-DRB promoter clones was evaluated with the nuclear protein extracted from a B-lymphoblastoid cell line (BLCL), BH, together with the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter assay. In the HLA-DRA promoters, clone 35 containing one bp nucleotide sequence variation at the octamer binding site (OCT) (GATTTGC to GATCTGC) showed relatively weak factor binding. In the HLA-DRB promoters, clusters I, III, and IV of our previous HLA-DRB promoter homologues, containing one bp nucleotide sequence variation (GATTCG) in their Y boxes exhibited weak factor binding and CAT activity compared to other clusters (GATTGG) that showed strong factor binding and CAT activity. This data suggests chat the binding patterns of transcription factors influenced by the nucleotide sequence variations of the HLA-DR promoter could affect the promoter activity and the DNA sequence elements in the HLA-DR promoter could mediate transcriptional regulation.
Base Sequence/genetics ; HLA-DR Antigens/genetics* ; Human ; Melanoma/pathology* ; Melanoma/genetics* ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nuclear Proteins/metabolism* ; Promoter Regions (Genetics)/physiology* ; Promoter Regions (Genetics)/genetics* ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Variation (Genetics)*