AIM:To study the effect of proprotein convertases (PCs) on the transforming growth factor (TGF) ?1-induced inhibition of HBV replication.METHODS:HepG2.2.15 cells cultured regularly were exposed to recombinant TGF?1 at concentration of 2 ?g/L or 5 ?g/L and/or PC inhibitor at concentration of 20 ?mol/L for 18 h.The total RNA and HBV core particle DNA were extracted from these cells,and PC mRNA and core-associated HBV DNA were detected by real-time PCR technique.RESULTS:The mRNA expression levels of 7 PCs in HepG2.2.15 cells were observed with various degrees.Recombinant TGF?1 significantly up-regulated the mRNA expression of all PCs except for the down-regulation of PC5 /6,though PC1 /3 and PC2 were up-regulated most obviously.Furin and PACE4 were the predominant PCs before and after TGF?1 exposure when the basic mRNA expression was taken into account.Further study showed that TGF?1-induced the inhibition of HBV replication was abrogated by PC inhibitor in HepG2.2.15 cells.CONCLUSION:TGF?1-induced the inhibition of HBV replication is mediated by the up-regulation of PCs,which might be of many implications in efficient interferences of TGF?1 on HBV replication.

Objective To investigate the effects of tumor-necrosis factor α (TNF-α) on the expressions of proprotein convertases (PC) and its relationship with the inhibition of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication.Methods HepG2.2.15 cells cultured routinely were exposed to 20 μg/L recombinant TNF-α and/or 20 μmol/L PC inhibitor (DEC) for 18 h.Then Followed cells werecollected and cell total RNA and HBV DNA were extracted.PC mRNA and core-associated HBV DNA were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques.Measurement data was compared using t-test.Results When PC mRNA expressions in the blank group was as to 1,the expressions of PC1/3、PC2、furin、PC4 、PC5/6 、PACE4 and PC7/8 mRNA in HepG2.2.15 cells treated with 20μg/L TNF-α treatment for 18 h were all up-regulated,which were 3.3±0.7、79.3±3.3、77.5±1.3、19.2±3.1、1.3±0.1、1.4± 0.2、274.8± 7.1,respectively (all P＜0.05).Treatment of 20 μg/L recombinant TNF-α for 18 h significantly reduced core-associated HBV DNA compared with blank gourp (0.21∶1,t =8.79,P =0.002),while 20 μmol/L DEC significantly up-regulated core-associated HBV DNA (3.84∶ 1,t=7.67,P=0.004).Moreover,core-associated HBV DNA in group of DEC and TNF-α treatment was significantly higher than group of TNF-α treatment (0.31∶0.21,t=10.49,P=0.007).Conclusion Up-regulated PC mRNA expression induced by TNF-α is significantly associated with the inhibition of HBV replication.

Tandem-repeated sequence of nucleic acid was constructed by splicing 4 fragments which contain the same sequence in the central part, using overlap extension polymerase chain reaction and then repeatedly cloning it in the same vector at different site of restriction endonuclease. Its signal amplification action was evaluated using electrophoresis of hybridized product and dot hybridization assay. 24-repeat sequence was successfully constructed and confirmed by restriction endonuclease digestion analysis. The construct was 25-repeat actually since the vector itself had the same basic sequence. Hybridized product electrophoresis revealed that the 25-repeat sequence could combine with several secondary probes. Dot hybridization assay demonstrated that tandem-repeated sequence was 16-fold more sensitive than that of non-repeated sequence. Tandem-repeated sequence had good effect on signal amplification. It could be easily cheaply prepared in large amount after cloning. Thus, it might be useful in clinical examinations and biological researches.
Genetic Vectors ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Tandem Repeat Sequences ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To establish the norms of Sub-Health Measurement Scale (SHMS V1.0) for Chinese urban residents. METHODS: Using a multistage stratified sampling method, we conducted a large-scale epidemiological investigation among 15 066 urban residents sampled from 6 regions in China, including Tianjin City (north China), Guangdong Province (south China), Anhui Province (central south China), Sichuan Province (southwest China), Lanzhou City (northwest China) and Harbin City (northeast China). The mean, percentile and threshold norms were established based on the characteristics of SHMS V1.0 scores for Chinese urban residents. RESULTS: The mean and percentile norms of total, physical, mental and social sub-health of Chinese urban residents were established according to gender and different age groups (14-19, 20-29, 30-49, 50-64 and ≥65 years). The threshold norms of SHMS V1.0 divided 5 health states, namely disease, severe sub-health, moderate subhealth, mild sub-health and healthy states according to the ± and ±0.5 of the converted scores. CONCLUSIONS The norms of Sub-Health Measurement Scale (SHMS V1.0) for Chinese urban residents were established, which provides a reference for rapid screening and diagnosis of sub-health status in Chinese urban residents and facilitates further study of the prevalence and contributing factors of sub-health.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Health Status ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Health ; Urban Population