The purpose of this study was to construct the IgHV and IL-2 coexpressed vector. The IgHV gene fragments were obtained from the peripheral blood of patients with lymphoma, and were cloned into eukaryotic expression vector. Meanwhile, the gene fragments of IgHV linked with gene of IL-2 were inserted into pcDNA3.0 to form a fusion gene of IgHV-IL-2. Then fusion genes were transfected into COS cells by Lipofectin and the expression of IL-2 was detected by ELISA. The results showed that the IgHV/pcDNA3.0 expression vector was successfully constructed. The 3' end of IgHV was linked to IL-2 gene, and IL-2 could be correctly expressed. In conclusion, the expression vector of IgHV-IL-2 can express IL-2 correctly in COS cells.
Cancer Vaccines ; immunology ; Eukaryotic Cells ; metabolism ; Genes, Immunoglobulin ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains ; genetics ; Immunoglobulin Variable Region ; genetics ; Interleukin-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Lymphoma ; immunology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Vaccines, DNA ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology

Hepcidin can regulate cell irons' efflux transport. The expression of hepcidin can be influenced by the body signals (such as serum ferritin and erythropoietin levels) as well as inflammation, hypoxia and other disease states. These stimulus activate the signaling pathway of BMP-the SMAD, the JAK-STAT and HIF1 through the liver parenchymal cell surface type I transmembrane glycoprotein of HFE, transferrin receptor 1, 2, hepcidin regulatory proteins, thereby changing the hepcidin gene transcription, regulating the expression levels of hepcidin. However, the molecular mechanism that regulate hepcidin expression is unclear. From the signal factors that affect hepcidin expression and signaling pathways involved in its expression, the latest research progress on regulatory mechanism of hepcidin are summarized.
Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; metabolism ; Hepcidins ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

This study was purposed to explore the expression of p57kip2 in the bone marrow of patients with de novo myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and its role in MDS pathogenesis, as well as the relationship between the expression of p57kip2 and SDF-1/CXCR4 signal. The expression of p57kip2 and CXCR4 in 67 de novo MDS patients was measured by real-time quantitative PCR. The percentage of CD34(+) cells in the bone marrow from MDS patients was measured by flow cytometry. 18 healthy volunteers were recruited for control. The effect of SDF-1 on p57kip2 expression in bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMNC) from MDS or normal controls was investigated in vitro, and difference between them was compared. The results showed that low-risk MDS and high-risk MDS displayed a significant reduction of p57kip2 mRNA expression in BMMNC compared with that in control group (P < 0.001) and there was a negative correlation between p57kip2 expression and percentage of CD34(+) (r = -0.458, P < 0.001); the patients with abnormal karyotype showed lower expression of p57kip2 gene, compared to patients with normal karyotype (P = 0.045). Although the expression of CXCR4 had no difference between MDS patients and normal controls, a positive correlation between p57kip2 and CXCR4 in MDS patients was still found (r = 0.609, P < 0.001). Moreover, SDF-1 increased p57kip2 expression in normal BMMNC in dose-dependent manner, but BMMNC from MDS patients showed no response to SDF-1. SDF-1-induced p57 expression was blocked by AMD3100. It is concluded that the low expression of p57 gene in MDS may play a role in the pathogenesis of MDS. Furthermore, SDF-1-induced p57kip2 expression in BMMNC, and the decreasing response of BMMNC to SDF-1 may contribute to the low expression of p57kip2 in MDS patients.
Case-Control Studies ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p57 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the methylation status of p73 gene promoter in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and explore its significance with clinical prognosis.

METHODSMethylation of p73 promoter was detected in bone marrow cells from 135 MDS patients and 13 healthy controls by methylation-specific PCR (MSP). The results of MSP were confirmed by bisulfite sequencing. The expression of p73 mRNA was detected by real-time quantitative PCR. Primary bone marrow cells from MDS patients were treated with decitabine, the changes of p73 methylation status and p73 mRNA expression were measured. The role of p73 methylation in the prognosis of MDS and the correlated clinical data were explored.

RESULTSp73 hypermethylation was present in 37.04% of MDS cases and patients with high risk MDS (RAEB-1 and RAEB-2) exhibited a significantly higher frequency of p73 methylation than that of low risk MDS (58.8% vs 29.7%, P = 0.002). The expression of p73 mRNA in the methylated group was decreased compared to that of the unmethylated group (P = 0.032). Decitabine treatment decreased the level of p73 methylation and increased the level of p73 transcripts. Patients with p73 methylation progressed rapidly to AML (P < 0.001) and had shorter survival (P = 0.002) than those who did not have p73 methylation. In the multivariate Cox regression model, BM blast and p73 methylation status emerged as independent prognostic factor for overall survival and leukemia free survival.

CONCLUSIONp73 gene methylation is common in patients with MDS and may indicate poor prognosis. p73 may be a therapeutic target in MDS.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA Methylation ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; genetics ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Prognosis ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Tumor Protein p73 ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of regulated expansion and committed differentiation potential of JAK2 gene modified hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in vitro.

METHODSA murine stem cell virus (MSCV) based retroviral vector MGI-F2Jak2, which encodes a green fluorescent protein (GFP) and a fusion protein containing two copies of modified FK506 binding protein (F36v) linked tyrosine kinase JAK2 was cloned. F36v served as a high-affinity binding site for dimerizer AP20187. GpE + 86 packaging cell was transfected with this vector. Bone marrow cells from C57BL/6 mice were transduced by co-cultured with irradiated (1500 cGy) GpE + 86 producer clone for 48 h. Transduced marrow cells were expanded in X-VIVO 15 and divided into four groups as follows: (1) control group; (2) AP20187 alone group; (3) SCF alone group and (4) AP20187 + SCF group. The phenotypes of the expanded cells were analyzed by directly phycoerythrin-labeled anti-Sca1, c-kit, CD(34), Gr1, CD(11b), TER119, CD(41), B220 and CD(3) monoclonal antibodies for flow cytometry. Committed differentiation, progenitor colony assay and spleen colony forming units (CFU-S) were further evaluated.

RESULTSA significant sustained outgrowth of transduced marrow cells was obtained only in the AP20187 + SCF group. Cells expanded up to 10(14)-fold after 80 days culture. The doubling time was about 30 hs. The phenotypes of the expanded cells were homogeneously strong positive for CD(34), c-kit and Sca1, while were almost negative for Gr1, CD(11b), TER119, CD(41), B220 and CD(3). Functional assay demonstrated that the expanded cells had multipotential to differentiate into granulocyte, macrophage, erythrocyte, or B-cells under different cytokines combinations. A prominent megakaryocytic differentiation was observed when cultured with SCF/Tpo/IL-11 combination. The expanded cells were also capable of forming BFU-E, CFU-GM and CFU-Mix in methylcellulose colony assay. The expanded cells over three months could still form CFU-S.

CONCLUSIONSAP20187 combined SCF mediated activation of JAK2 signaling domain can dramatically expand hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, and the expanded cells can be regulated and committed to differentiate into multilineage cells. This system may provide important insights into stem cell biology and may be promising for gene and cell therapy.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Janus Kinase 2 ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; Tacrolimus ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Transfection

This study was aimed to explore the expression of MIP-1alpha, MCP-1 and their receptors CCR-1, CCR-2 in bcr/abl fusion gene positive CML cells, and to study the effects of P210(bcr/abl) fusion protein tyrosine kinase on expression of MIP-1alpha, MCP-1 and their receptors CCR-1, CCR-2 mRNAs in chronic myeloid leukemia cells. The expression levels of MIP-1alpha, MCP-1 and their receptors CCR-1, CCR-2 mRNA were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR in bcr/abl negative cells, bcr/abl positive cells, and P210(bcr/abl)-Rb-C-Box positive cells. The results showed that MIP-1alpha and CCR-1 mRNAs were expressed in bcr/abl negative cells, but not in positive cells. Both MCP-1 and CCR-2 mRNA cannot be detected in both bcr/abl positive and negative cells. After inhibiting P210(bcr/abl) tyrosine kinase activity by Rb-C-Box, expressions of MIP-1alpha and CCR-1 mRNAs were restored to normal (similar to P210(bcr/abl) negative cells). It is concluded that P210(bcr/abl) fusion protein inhibits the expression of MIP-1alpha and CCR-1 in chronic myeloid leukemia cells, but does not inhibit MCP-1 and CCR-2 mRNA expressions in these leukemia cells.
Chemokine CCL2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Chemokine CCL3 ; Chemokine CCL4 ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; metabolism ; Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Receptors, CCR1 ; Receptors, CCR2 ; Receptors, Chemokine ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The purpose of this study was to determine the changes of pathogens in hematological ward and susceptibility of patients received chemotherapy to antibiotics. The pathogens were taken from blood, urine and sputum of patients who accepted chemotherapy from years 2001 to 2005, then were isolated and identified. The susceptibility test was performed by disk diffusion method. The results showed that the total of 418 strains were detected. Gram-negative bacteria were the most common of nosocomial infection. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, E. coli account for the most of Gram negative- bacteria infection and most resistant to broad-spectrum penicillin, Acinetobacter baumannii showed a trend of increase. The ratios of gram positive bacteria and fungi were increased slowly, mainly as Enterococcus and Candida. Enterococcus is the most common cause of Gram-positive bacterial infection. Vancomycin resistance did not occur. It is concluded that Gram-negative bacteria are main cause of nosocomial infection in patients with hematological malignancies. Gram positive bacteria and fungi had been more frequent. Strains resistant to antimicrobial agents increase.
Cross Infection ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Hematologic Diseases ; microbiology ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; microbiology ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests

OBJECTIVESTo explore the effects of p210 bcr/abl fusion gene on expression of beta1 integrin and L-selectin mRNAs in mouse chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells.

METHODSComparisons of beta1 integrin and L-selectin mRNA levels among p210 bcr/abl negative, p210 bcr/abl positive, and p210 bcr/abl-Rb-C-Box positive cells were undertaken by quantity RT-PCR.

RESULTSIn p210 bcr/abl positive cells, L-selectin mRNA level was decreased, but beta1 integrin mRNA expression had no change as compared to those in p210 bcr/abl negative cells. When inhibition of bcr-abl tyrosine kinase activity by Rb-C-Box, the L-selectin mRNA expression restored to normal (similar to p210 bcr/abl negative cells).

CONCLUSIONp210 bcr/abl oncoprotein inhibits expression of L-selectin mRNA, but not of beta1 integrin mRNA.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; Genes, Retinoblastoma ; genetics ; Integrin beta1 ; genetics ; L-Selectin ; genetics ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; genetics ; Mice ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Transfection

BACKGROUNDIt has been long suggested that abnormal clinical factors in the body, such as dyslipidemia and diabetes, can affect the presence of atherosclerosis. However, few studies on the effect of factors within the normal range, such as the loss of renal function with age, on the prevalence of atherosclerosis are few know in healthy individuals. The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors affecting the presence of asymptomatic carotid plaques in a middle-aged and elderly healthy population.

METHODSIn this regard, we prospectively evaluated 245 healthy individuals (98 males and 147 females) at baseline and after 5 years. Changes in the presence of carotid plaque between 2003 and 2008 were categorized into four groups, i.e. subjects without plaque at entry (n = 165): Group 1 (without plaque on two occasions, n = 129) and Group 2 (with nascent plaque at follow-up, n = 36); subjects with plaque at entry (n = 80); Group 3 (with plaque regression at follow-up, n = 29) and Group 4 (with plaque on two occasions, n = 51).

RESULTSUnivariate analysis showed that the positive rate of carotid plaques in males was higher than that in females at the baseline, and that a significantly inverse correlation existed between the prevalence rate of plaque and aging. Logistic regression analysis of cross-sectional research showed that independent risk factors for the prevalence of atherosclerosis were male gender, lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) at the baseline, and older age and lower eGFR were involved in the presence of carotid plaques at follow-up point. However, logistic regression analysis of the longitudinal data showed that older age, decreased eGFR and increased systolic blood pressure (SBP) independently predicted the presence of carotid plaques after 5 years in subjects without plaque at entry. In addition, in subjects with plaque at entry, age, changes in eGFR and the baseline levels of serum albumin (ALB) and serum total bilirubin (BIL) dependently influenced the outcome of carotid plaque.

CONCLUSIONPhysiological decline of renal function, together with advancing age, was an independent risk factor which consistently affected the presence of carotid atherosclerosis in two categories of healthy individuals.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging ; physiology ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; physiology ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate phenotype, cell differentiation and cytogenetic properties of bone marrow (BM) mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) separated from the myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients. And to analyze cytogenetic aberration of MSC derived from MDS (MDS-MSC) and its mechanism in pathogenesis of MDS.

METHODSAdherent MSC from both myelodysplastic (n = 22) and normal (n = 7) marrow were obtained by a stromal culture procedure. Morphological features were observed by optical microscope. The cell-surface antigens were performed by flow cytometer(FCM). Adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation potential of MSC were identified under specific induction conditions. Standard cytogenetic analysis of both hematopoietic cells and MSC were performed by trypsin-Giemsa (GTG) banding. The karyotype analysis DNA content was determined by FCM to verify the results.

RESULTSThe morphology of MDS-MSC was typical slender spindle-shaped cells, MSC obtained from MDS patients had a MSC immunophenotype, lacked the expression of hematopoietic antigens-CD34, CD45 and expressed MSC markers, such as CD73, CD90, and CD105. MDS-MSC layers showed the capability to differentiate towards adipocytes, chondrocytes and osteoblasts. Cytogenetic aberrations were observed in MSC from 14 (64%) MDS patients, usually involve the loss of chromosomal material (92%), and the clonal loss (7 cases, 50%). Two cases of structural aberrations were also detected. Abnormal karyotypes in MSC were still more frequently identified in abnormal hematopoietic cells group (12 out of 13, 92% vs 3 out of 9, 33%, P < 0.05). There were not exactly the same type of chromosomal aberrations between hematopoietic cells and MSC, but different type of the aberrations in the same chromosome were involved.

CONCLUSIONMDS-MSC retains the phenotyping characteristics and differentiated function of normal MSC, but has different type of chromosomal abnormalities. A high proportion of loss of chromosomal may be a marker of chromosomal instability of MDS-MSC. Detection of abnormalities in MDS-MSC suggests enhanced genetic susceptibility of these cells in MDS. This may indicate potential involvement of MSC in the pathophysiology of MDS.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Karyotyping ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; genetics ; immunology ; Phenotype ; Young Adult