Objective To clone and analyze the cDNA of major allergen Der f 2 of Dermatophagoides farinae in south China. Methods cDNA of Der f 2 was cloned by RT-PCR, screened and their sequences were analyzed. Results cDNAof Der f 2 was cloned. The sequence of the cloned Der f 2 was different with that published (D10448) in GenBank, with 87 additional nucleotides inserted into the 62th nucleotide of the original one. According to the original ORF, the deduced amino acids that were located prior or after the inserted 29 amino acid sequence showed no changes. Conclusion The cDNA of Der f 2 was cloned from Dermatophagoides farinae and its sequence showed significant difference with that reported in the GenBank.

Objective To establish a simple and practical method for isolating and purifying nucleosomes. Methods Nuclei were isolated from chicken erythrocytes, and then digested with staphylococcal nuclease. After centrifugation, the supernatant of digestion was separated and centrifugated on sucrose gradients. Results Nucleosomes with good stability were isolated properly by gradient centrifugation. Conclusion This method for the isolation and purification of nucleosomes is simple and effective, which might contribute to the further researches of the roles of nucleosomes in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective To investigate the role of nucleosome in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods BALB/c mice were immunized with nucleosome, and then serum dsDNA and ANA autoantibodies were detected by ELISA. Kidney specimens were observed by immunofluorescence and histological examination. Results High titers of IgG dsDNA and ANA autoantibodies in sera of BALB/c mice were observed at the 14th day after immunization with nucleosome. Nephritis and immune complex deposition in renal glomeruli were observed at the 35th day. Conclusion Nucleosome could induce SLE-like disease in BALB/c mice, and may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Objective To screen and identify the predicted epitopes of synthesized predicted HLA-A2-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) derived from HPV16 E7 antigen. Methods The predicted epitopes of HLA-A2-restricted CTLs derived from HPV16 E7 antigen were synthesized and purified with Standard Fmoc assays, and the standard 51Cr release assay was used to determine their activities to induce specific CTL. Results Two epitopes of HLA-A2-restricted CTLs, namely E711-19 (YMLDLQPET) and E749-57 (RAHYNIVTF) derived from HPV16 E7 antigen were identified. Conclusion E711-19 (YMLDLQPET) and E749-57 (RAHYNIVTF) have antigenicity, and may be the candidates for development of peptide vaccine in the treatment of HPV infections.

Objective To assess the levels of nucleosomes released from peripheral blood mononu-clear cells(PBMC)of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE),and their relationship with auto-antibodies as well as disease activity.Methods Levels of both nucleosomes released from PBMC and vari-ous auto-antibodies were detected by ELISA in sera from SLE patients.The disease severity was evaluated using SLEDAI(systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index)system.Results Levels of nucleosomes released from PBMC were significantly higher in patients with active SLE than those of patients with inactive disease and normal controls(39.39?25.70,13.44?8.82,and11.73?7.87IU/mL,respectively).There was a significant positive correlation between nucleosome levels and SLEDAI scores,serum ds-DNA auto-an-tibody levels,and low C3levels.Conclusion Nucleosomes released from apoptotic PBMC of patients with SLE is closely correlated to disease activity,which implies that nucleosomes may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Objective To evaluate the effect of hypothermia on the expression of dynamin?related protein 1 ( Drp1) in brain tissues during global cerebral ischemia?reperfusion ( I∕R) in rats. Methods Thirty?six healthy male Sprague?Dawley rats, weighing 280-320 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table: sham operation group ( group Sham ) , global cerebral I∕R group ( group I∕R) and hypothermia group ( group H) . Cardiac arrest was induced by transoesophageal cardiac pacing followed by cardiopulmonary resuscitation to establish the global cerebral I∕R model in anesthetized rats in I∕R and H groups. In group H, the body temperature ( rectal temperature) was cooled down to 32-34 ℃ within 15 min starting from the beginning of reperfusion, and maintained at this level for 6 h. At 72 h of reperfusion, neurological deficit was scored, and the rats were sacrificed, and the whole brain was removed for examination of the pathological changes in hippocampal CA1 region and for determination of nor?mal pyramidal cell count and neuronal apoptosis in hippocampal CA1 region and expression of Drp1 and cy?tochrome c (Cyt c) in hippocampal tissues (by Western blot). The apoptosis rate was calculated. Re?sults Compared with group S, the neurological deficit score and apoptosis rate were significantly in?creased, and the number of normal pyramidal cells was decreased in I∕R and H groups, the expression of Drp1 and Cyt c in hippocampal tissues was significantly up?regulated in group I∕R ( P<0.05) , and no sig?nificant change was found in the expression of Drp1 and Cyt c in hippocampal tissues in group H ( P>0.05) . Compared with group I∕R, the neurological deficit score and apoptosis rate were significantly de?creased, the number of normal pyramidal cells was increased, and the expression of Drp1 and Cyt c in hip?pocampal tissues was down?regulated in group H ( P<0.05) . Conclusion The mechanism by which hypo?thermia inhibits cell apoptosis during global cerebral I∕R may be related to down?regulation of Drp1 expres?sion in rats.

Objective To investigate the effect of mild hypothermia combined with mitochondrial divison inhibitor 1 in mitochondrial after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (IR).Methods Fourty male healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, weighing 280-320 g, were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=8 each): group Sham, group IR, hypothermia group (group H), Mdivi-1 group (group M) and hypothermia+Mdivi-1 group (group HM).Animal models of global cerebral IR were established by transoesophageal cardiac pacing inducing cardiac arrest followed by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ischemia 4 min and reperfusion 6 h).The group Sham was similarly treated to group IR except the cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.In groups H and HM, the core temperature was cooled down to 32-34℃ within 15 min starting from the beginning of reperfusion, and maintained for 6 h.In the other groups, the core temperature was maintained at the normal temperature.In groups M and HM, the animals were given Mdivi-1 (1.2 mg/kg) intravenously at the beginning of the reperfusion and the other groups were given the same Volume of dimethylsnlfone (DMSO).After 6 h of reperfusion, the rats were sacrificed, and bilateral hippocampi were immediately removed for determination the protein level of dynamin-related proten 1 (Drp1) and cytochrome C (Cyt-C) expression by Western blot and obsevation of the mitochondrial structure of pyramidal cell in hippocampal CA1 under electronic microscope.Results Compared with group Sham, the expression of Drp1 and Cyt-C was up-regulated in groups IR, H, M and HM (P＜0.05).Compared with group IR, the expression of Drp1 and Cyt-C was down-regulated in groups H, M and HM (P＜0.05).Compared with groups H and M, the expression of Drp1 and Cyt-C was down-regulated in group HM (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the expression of Drp1 and Cyt-C between groups H and M.The mitochondria were rod-shaped with clear and sound structure in group Sham, while mitochondria showed various degree of fission, swollen structures, matrix deposit, vacuoles formation and cristae collapse in other groups.The changes of group HM were relatively slight.Conclusion Mild hypothermia combined with mitochondrial divison inhibitor 1 alleviate mitochondrial damage after global cerebral IR of rats.The combined effect is better than that of any individual application.

The Editors of Korean J Physiol Pharmacol have informed that this article may include the results of experiments that were not performed by the authors. All authors have agreed that retraction from the literature is the best corrective action to the scientific community, and apologize to the Editors and readership of Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.

OBJECTIVETo study the role of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis.

METHODSArchival material of 22 patients with a histologic diagnosis of sarcoidosis were retrieved. Real-time fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect DNA fragments of the complex-specific insertion sequence IS6110 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded biopsy samples.

RESULTSAmong the 22 samples studied, Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA was detected in 11 cases. The sequence of PCR amplified IS6110 DNA fragments completely matched with the related sequence in Mycobacterium tuberculosis gene.

CONCLUSIONSMycobacterium tuberculosis DNA is identified in a certain proportion of patients with a clinicopathologic diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis may be an important etiologic agent, at least in some of these patients.

Adult ; DNA, Bacterial ; analysis ; Female ; Fluorescence ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; microbiology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Paraffin Embedding ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sarcoidosis ; microbiology ; pathology

Fifteen cassaen-type diterpenes were isolated from the 95% ethanolic extract of the seeds of C. minax through various chromatographic techniques. Their structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic data as pulcherralpin (1), caesalpinin ML (2), chamaetexane C (3), chamaetexane D (4), 6β, 18-diacetoxycassan-13, 15-diene (5), neocaesalpin K (6), neocaesalpin MP (7), neocaesalpin M (8), neocaesalpin Q (9), neocaesalpin P (10), neocaesalpin R (11), caesaldekarin D (12), caesaldekarin A (13), caesaldekarin b (14), 3β,6α-diacetoxyvouacapane (15). Among them, compounds 14, 9-11 were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Caesalpinia ; chemistry ; Diterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization