BACKGROUND: Anesthetics have been suspected of impairing various aspects of the immune function either directly by affecting the function of immunocompetent cells or indirectly by modulating the stress response. Splenocytes play important roles in the cellular host defense against infection. In order to assess the immune modulatory effects of propofol, this study examined the cytotoxic and proliferative effects of propofol on splenocytes. METHODS: Splenocytes, as responders, were isolated from BALB/c mice (n = 10). The cells were pretreated with different propofol concentrations (0micrometer, 30micrometer, 100micrometer, 300micrometer) for 24 hours. The cytotoxic effect was assayed by the NADH dehydrogenase activity and the proliferation was evaluated by the level of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyunridine (BrdU) incorporation during DNA synthesis in the presence or absence of propofol, in addition to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 microgram/ml) for mitogenic stimulation. A cell proliferation enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) system was used, and the stimulation index was calculated in the presence or absence of propofol. RESULTS: The percentage of the NADH dehydrogenase activity was changed by the propofol pretreatment (P < 0.001). LPS stimulation significantly decreased the NADH dehydrogenase activity at 100micrometer and 300micrometer compared with the propofol-added or pretreated cells (P < 0.05). The stimulation index to LPS was lower at concentrations of 100micrometer and 300micrometer than at 30micrometer, and proliferative response of splenocytes were completely abrogated by adding toxic concentrations (100micrometer) of propofol (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Neither cytotoxicity, as defined by the NADH dehydrogenase activity, nor a proliferative effect, as measured by the level of (BrdU) incorporation in the splenocytes, were affected by the clinical concentration of propofol.
Anesthetics ; Animals ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; Cell Proliferation ; DNA ; Mice ; NADH Dehydrogenase ; Propofol

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a Chinese pedigree with suspected mitochondrial functional defects through combined next-generation sequencing (NGS), copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq), and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing. METHODS: Clinical data of the proband and his family members were collected. The patient and his parents were subjected to family-trio whole-exome sequencing (WES), CNV-seq and mtDNA variant detection. Candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Trio-WES revealed that the proband has carried compound heterozygous variants of the NDUFS1 gene, including a paternally derived c.64C>T (p.R22X) nonsense variant and a maternally derived c.845A>G (p.N282S) missense variant. Both variants may cause loss of protein function. No variant that may cause the phenotype was identified by CNV-seq and mtDNA variant analysis. CONCLUSION Children with suspected mitochondrial disorders may have no specific syndromes or laboratory findings. A comprehensive strategy including mtDNA testing may facilitate the diagnosis and early clinical interventions.
Child ; China ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Electron Transport ; Humans ; Mutation ; NADH Dehydrogenase/genetics* ; Pedigree

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of indium exposure on the relative content of mitochondrial ND1 gene in lymphocytes.

METHODSVenous blood was obtained from 14 healthy workers and anticoagulated with heparin. Blood lymphocytes were separated and divided into three tube cultures. For two tubes in the exposed group, indium chloride was added to final concentrations of 0.2 mmol/L and 0.8 mmol/L, respectively. For one tube in the control group, an equal volume of normal saline solution was added. After incubation for 72 h, the relative content of mitochondrial gene in each group was determined using quantitative real-time PCR.

RESULTSLymphocytes exposed to 0.8 mmol/L indium chloride had a significantly higher relative content of mitochondrial gene than those exposed to 0.2 mmol/L indium chloride and those in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLymphocytes exposed to a high concentration of indium and its compounds have an elevated relative content of mitochondrial ND1 gene, indicating increased oxidative DNA damage induced by exposure to a high concentration of indium and its compounds.

DNA Damage ; drug effects ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Humans ; Indium ; toxicity ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; NADH Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; Occupational Exposure

In the present study, a Spirometra species of Tanzania origin obtained from an African leopard (Panthera pardus) and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) was identified based on molecular analysis of cytochrome c oxidase I (cox1) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit I (nad1) as well as by morphological observations of an adult tapeworm. One strobila and several segments of a Spirometra species were obtained from the intestine of an African male leopard (Panthera pardus) and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in the Maswa Game Reserve of Tanzania. The morphological characteristics of S. theileri observed comprised 3 uterine loops on one side and 4 on the other side of the mid-line, a uterine pore situated posterior to the vagina and alternating irregularly either to the right or left of the latter, and vesicular seminis that were much smaller than other Spirometra species. Sequence differences in the cox1 and nad1 genes between S. theileri (Tanzania origin) and S. erinaceieuropaei were 10.1% (cox1) and 12.0% (nad1), while those of S. decipiens and S. ranarum were 9.6%, 9.8% (cox1) and 13.0%, 12.6% (nad1), respectively. The morphological features of the Tanzania-origin Spirometra specimens coincided with those of S. theileri, and the molecular data was also consistent with that of S. theileri, thereby demonstrating the distribution of S. theileri in Tanzania. This places the leopard (Panthera pardus) and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) as new definitive hosts of this spirometrid tapeworm.
Adult ; Animals ; Cestoda ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; Humans ; Hyaenidae ; Intestines ; Male ; NADH Dehydrogenase ; Panthera ; Spirometra ; Tanzania ; Vagina

The genus Spirometra belongs to the family Diphyllobothriidae and order Pseudophyllidea, and includes intestinal parasites of cats and dogs. In this study, a plerocercoid labeled as Spirometra mansonoides from the USA was examined for species identification and phylogenetic analysis using 2 complete mitochondrial genes, cytochrome c oxidase I (cox1) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 3 (nad3). The cox1 sequences (1,566 bp) of the plerocercoid specimen (USA) showed 99.2% similarity to the reference sequences of the plerocercoid of Korean Spirometra decipiens (GenBank no. KJ599679), and 99.1% similarity in regard to nad3 (346 bp). Phylogenetic tree topologies generated using 4 analytical methods were identical and showed high confidence levels with bootstrap values of 1.00, 100%, 100%, and 100% for Bayesian inference (BI), maximum-likelihood (ML), neighbor-joining (NJ), and maximum parsimony (MP) methods, respectively. Representatives of Diphyllobothrium and Spirometra species formed a monophyletic group, and the sister-genera status between these species was well supported. Trapezoic proglottids in the posterior 1/5 region of an adult worm obtained from an experimentally infected cat were morphologically examined. The outer uterine loop of the uterus coiling characteristically consisted of 2 complete turns. The results clearly indicated that the examined Spirometra specimen from the USA matched to S. decipiens very well, and indicated possible presence of the life cycle of this species in this region.
Adult ; Animals ; Cats ; Diphyllobothrium ; Dogs ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; Genes, Mitochondrial ; Humans ; Life Cycle Stages ; NADH Dehydrogenase ; Parasites ; Sparganum ; Spirometra* ; Trees ; United States* ; Uterus

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify Radiosensitivity of proteins in tissues with different radiosensitivity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: C3H/HeJ mice were exposed to 10 Gy. The mice were sacrifiud 8 hrs after radiation. Their spleen and liver tissues were collected and analyzed histologicaly for apoptosis. The expressions of radiosusceptibility protein were analyzed by 2-dimensional electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The peak of apoptosis levels were 35.3+/-1.7% in spleen and 0.6+/-0.2% in liver at 8 hrs after radiation. Liver, radioresistant tissues, showed that the levels of ROS metabolism related to proteins such as cytochromm c, glutathione S transferase, NADH dehydrogenase, riken cDNA and peroxiredoxin VI increased after radiation. The expression of cytochrome c increased significantly in spleen and liver tissues after radiation. In spleen, radiosensitivity tissue, the identified proteins showed a significantly quantitative alteration following radiation. It was categorized as signal transduction, apoptosis, cytokine, Ca signal related protein, stress-related protein, cytoskeletal regulation, ROS metabolism, and others. CONCLUSION: Differences of radiation-induced apoptosis by tissues specifted were coupled with the induction of related radiosensitivity and radioresistant proteins. The result suggests that apoptosis relate protein and redox proteins play important roles in this radiosusceptibility.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cytochromes c ; DNA, Complementary ; Electrophoresis ; Glutathione Transferase ; Liver ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolism ; Mice ; NADH Dehydrogenase ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Peroxiredoxin VI ; Proteomics* ; Radiation Tolerance* ; Signal Transduction ; Spleen

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of the mutational status of the ND4 gene and the clinical features of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients with ND4 mutations.

METHODSUsing PCR combined with directly sequencing, we identified somatic mutations of ND4 in 121 primary AML patients to couple with their clinical features.

RESULTSThere were 58 male patients and 63 female patients (median age 49 years, 10-86 years). Eight of 121 patients (6.6%) with de novo AML were found harboring missense mutation of ND4 gene, including 3 patients with A131V (3/8, 37.5%), 2 patients with A404T (2/8, 25%), 1 patient with F149L (1/8, 12.5%), 1 patient with G242D (1/8, 12.5%) and 1 patient with Y409H (1/8, 12.5%), respectively. Patients with ND4 mutations were associated with good karyotype (P=0.049), regardless of gender, age, white blood cell, hemoglobin, platelet, blast cells of bone marrow or immunophenotype (P>0.05). There were no statistical significance in mutations of FLT3-ITD, NPM1, CEBPA, c-KIT and DNMT3A between patients with ND4 mutation and wild-type (wt) ND4 (P>0.05). The median overall survival of patients with ND4 mutations and wt ND4 were all not reached. The median relapse-free survival were not reached and 29(2-53) months, respectively (P>0.05). There was no significance in the ratio of CR and RR patients between wt ND4 and ND4 mutated groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONIt was concluded that novel ND4 mutations could be found in de novo AML patients, especially in patients with good karyotype. Thus, ND4 mutations might play an important role in AML prognosis. However, whether the mitochondria dysfunction contribute to leukemogenesis needs to be further investigated.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; NADH Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; Prognosis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of MT-ND1 m.3635G>A mutation in the pathogenesis of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).

METHODSBiochemical characteristics including the activity of complex Ⅰ, ATP production and oxygen consumption rate among lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from 3 carriers, 3 affected matrilineal relatives of the families and 3 controls were compared.

RESULTSComparison of mitochondrial functions in lymphoblastoid cell lines of the carriers, patients and controls showed a 51.0% decrease in the activity of complex Ⅰ in patients compared with controls (P<0.05). The m.3635G>A mutation has resulted in decreased efficiency of ATP synthesis (P<0.05). Comparison of oxygen consumption rate showed that the basal OCR (P<0.05), ATP-linked OCR (P<0.05) and the maximum OCR (P<0.05) have all reduced to some extent compared with the controls.

CONCLUSIONThese results showed that m.3635G>A, as a LHON-associated mutation, can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction.

Adenosine Triphosphate ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mitochondria ; genetics ; Mutation ; genetics ; NADH Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; Optic Atrophy, Hereditary, Leber ; genetics ; Pedigree

OBJECTIVE: To test droplet digital PCR for species identification and absolute quantification of biological sample. METHODS: Specific primers and probes for human mtDNA encoding gene ND4 and 16S rRNA were designed, and the species-specificity was assessed on DNA samples derived from human and common animals. To determine the sensitivity and stability of droplet digital PCR for species identification and absolute quantification, gradient dilution series of recombinant plasmid and 16 human DNA samples were analyzed. RESULTS: Human recombinant plasmid FAM (ND4) could be used in detecting the samples of human. And the results of detecting were consistent with all levels of diluted concentrations. Droplet digital PCR was able to detect low and single copy of target DNA. CONCLUSION Droplet digital PCR, with high sensitivity and specificity, is fully amenable for species identification and absolute quantification of biological samples, also it can be applied on routine forensic examination.
Animals ; DNA ; DNA Primers/genetics* ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics* ; Humans ; NADH Dehydrogenase/genetics* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Species Specificity

We describe a Korean family presenting with pediatric-onset, progressive, generalized dystonia with bilateral striatal necrosis and the homoplasmic G14459A mutation in the mitochondrial ND6 gene. The G14459A mutation has been reported in families presenting with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) alone, LHON plus dystonia, or pediatric-onset dystonia. The proband had shown dysarthria, progressive generalized dystonia, and spasticity at 5 yr. Brain MRI demonstrated bilateral striatal necrosis. Additional investigation of family members revealed the presence of homoplasmic G14459A mutation in asymptomatic individuals. The clinical manifestation of the homoplasmic G14459A mtDNA mutation within the same family showed asymptomatic or pediatric-onset dystonia, without optic neuropathy. This study reemphasizes that the G14459A mutation is a candidate mutation for maternally inherited dystonia, regardless of optic neuropathy, and supports the hypothesis that nuclear genes may play a role in modifying the clinical expression of mitochondrial disease.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Brain/pathology ; Dystonia/complications/diagnosis/*genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mitochondrial Diseases/complications/diagnosis/*genetics ; NADH Dehydrogenase/*genetics ; Necrosis ; Optic Atrophy, Hereditary, Leber/genetics ; Pedigree ; *Point Mutation ; Republic of Korea