Objective To analysis the genomic sequence of a novel human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B*3818 allele.Methods Full length genomic sequence of an unknown HLA-B allele was cloned,followed by bi-directional sequencing and the specificity of the antigen coded by this novel allele was defined by microcytotoxicity assay.The frequency and haplotype of this novel allele was acquired by population census and parentage analysis.Results The full length genomic sequence of this novel HLA-B*3818 allele with accession number FJ561482 differs from HLA-B*380201 by two nucleotide changes in exon 4 and intron 5,respectively.One change is located at nt 660 in exon 4 where C→A alternation,which results in an amino acid substitution from Asp(GAC)to Glu(GAA)at codon 196.This alternation is a new single nucleotide polymorphism compared with all other HLA-B alleles.Another is located at genomic position 2133 in intron 5(A→C).Except for this substitution,the intron sequences of HLA-B*3818 allele are identical to those of other HLA-B*38 alleles including HLA-B*380101,B*380201 and B*3814.The serological specificity of HLA-B*3818 is B38 and the frequency of this new allele is less than 0.000 5 in Chinese Han population.The parentage analysis showed the haplotype of novel allele is A*030101-Cw*010201-B*3818-DRB1*1312-DOB1*060101.Conclusion The simultaneous mutations in exon and intron were found in the Hovel HLA-B*3818 allele,and so it can present more sequence information for studies and applications associated with HIA genes by analyzing the genomic sequences of novel HLA alleles.

Objective To investigate the effect of local hyperthermia on the morphology and quantity of Langerhans cells (LCs)at challenged skin sites of a mouse model of contact hypersensitivity.Methods Sixty mice were equally divided into 3 groups to be treated with local hyperthermia (37℃,39℃,41℃and 43℃)for 20 minutes at sensitization sites on the back of mice 3 days before (pre-heat group),concurrently with (concurrent-heat group)or 2 days after(post-heat group)sensitization respectively.Five mice which remained unsensitized and untreated served as the controls.Five days after the sensitization,the mice were challenged on the dorsal surface of right ears.Two days after the elicitation,the right ears were resected and immunohistochemistry was performed to observe the morphology and determine the quantity of LCs at challenged sites.Results With the rise in temperature,the number of LCs in the epidermis of ear skin decreased in pre-heat group(321.83±41.81,251.12±16.29,191.41±28.7,128.33±77.61 per square millimeter at 37 ℃,39 ℃,41℃and 43℃,respectively,P<0.05),but increased gradually in the concurrent-heat group(309.08±84.69,355.33±11.38,405.5±55.25,438.16±99.56 per square millimeter at 37℃,39℃,41℃ and 43℃,respectively,P>0.05)and in the post-heat group(320.83±113.6,398.33±31.91,437.83±29.78,477.25±86.79 per square millimeter at 37℃,39 ℃,41℃and 43℃,respectively,P<0.01).The dendrites of LCs increased in number and length when the temperature lose from 37 ℃ to 41℃,but slightly declined at 43℃.Conclusions Local hyperthermia at sensitization sites could affect the morphology and density of LCs at challenged sites,and the effect is likely associated with the severity of contact hypersensitivity.

No abstract available.
Dermatitis, Contact ; Hyperthermia, Induced