Objective To investigate the incidence and the types of gene mutations of α-thalassemia in the child-bearing pop-ulation of Conghua District,Guangzhou.Methods Blood samples from 24 083 people of childbearing age were screened by blood cell analysis and hemoglobin electrophoresis,α-globin gene variation was detected by GAP-PCR and PCR reverse dot blot in the positive cases,and 17 common β-globin gene mutations were detected by PCR reverse Dot blot.Results A total of 2 596 cases of α-thalassemia gene abnormality were detected by gene identification,and the abnormal rate was 10.78%.A sum of 170 cases(0.71%)had a compound mutation of α-β gene.There were 2 550 cases(98.23%)of deletion and 46 cases(1.77%)of non-deletion in the mutant genes.There were 14 types of gene mutation,including 5 types of HbH disease(with--SEA/-α3.7 primarily),4 mild types(with 68.61%of--SEA/αα genotype),and 5 quiescent types(the top two genotypes were-α3.7/αα and-α4.2/αα).A total of 23 types of αβ complex gene mutation were detected,and the top six types were--SEA/βCD41-42,-α3.7/βCD41-42,--SEA/β654,--SEA/-28,-α3.7/β654 and-α3.7/βCD17,which accounted for 75.27%of all the complex types.Conclusion The gene abnormality rate of α-thalassemia in Conghua District of Guangzhou City was high.The gene mutation type and constitu-ent ratio,which have their own characteristics,is a special region of α-thalassemia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of ARID5B gene and resistance to methotrexate (MTX) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). METHODS: A total of 144 children with ALL who were treated in General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from January 2015 to November 2021 were enrolled and divided into MTX resistant group and non-MTX resistant group, with 72 cases in each group. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) technology was used to measure the SNP of ARID5B gene in all children and analyze its correlation with MTX resistant. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the genotype and gene frequency of rs7923074, rs10821936, rs6479778, and rs2893881 between MTX resistant group and non-MTX resistant group (P>0.05). The frequency of C/C genotype in the MTX resistant group was significantly higher than that in the non-MTX resistant group, while the frequency of T/T genotype was opposite (P<0.05). The frequency of C allele in the MTX resistant group was significantly higher than that in the non-MTX resistant group, while the frequency of T allele was opposite (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ARID5B gene rs4948488 TT genotype and T allele frequency were risk factors for MTX resistant in ALL children (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The SNP of ARID5B gene is associated with MTX resistant in ALL children.
Child ; Humans ; DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics* ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Methotrexate ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics* ; Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the toxic effect of long-term low-dose exposure to microcystin-LR (MC-LR) on kidney and its underlying molecular mechanism. METHODS: Forty male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into 4 groups for exposure to 0, 1, 60, and 120 μg/L MC-LR (mixed in drinking water) for 12 months, and the body and kidney weight changes and renal pathologies of the mice were observed. The renal function indexes, the mRNA expression levels of IL-6, TNF-α and IL-10, and relative expression levels of PI3K/AKT pathway proteins in the kidney of the mice were detected. These parameters were also detected in HEK293 cells treated with MC- LR, LY294002, or both. RESULTS: The overall trend of body weight changes was consistent among the 4 groups of mice, and their kidney mass and kidney index underwent no significant changes. In mice exposed to 60 and 120 μg/L MC-LR, obvious renal structural damage and significant elevation of the BUN and SCr levels were observed (P < 0.05) with up-regulated levels of IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA and increased protein expressions of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT in the renal tissues (P < 0.05). IL-10 mRNA expression was significantly decreased in all the exposure groups (P < 0.05). The levels of BUN and Cr increased significantly in MC-LR-treated HEK293 cells and decreased in cells treated with both MC-LR and LY294002 (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression levels of IL-6 and TNF-α increased and the level of IL-10 mRNA decreased obviously in MC-LR-treated cells, and the opposite changes were observed in the cells with the combined treatment (P < 0.05). The proteins levels of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT were significantly up-regulated in MC-LR group and down-regulated in the combined treatment group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION MC- LR can activate inflammatory response and induce renal structural and functional damages in mice by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Animals ; Male ; Mice ; HEK293 Cells ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-6/pharmacology* ; Kidney/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/pharmacology*

Objective To investigate the expression of circulating microRNA (miRNA) of rats with hypobaric hypoxia‐induced pulmonary hypertension (HPH) .Methods Commercial rat miRNA microarray was employed to detect and analyze the circulating miRNA profile in the serum samples of Sprague‐Dawley rats with hypobaric hypoxia‐induced HPH and controls .Furthermore ,differentially expressed candidate circulating miRNAs between HPH and control groups were validated by Real‐time quantitative PCR based on the case‐control study ,and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC ) analysis was used to test the performance of four differentially expressed circulating miRNAs in discriminating HPH and control groups .Results Compared with those in the control group ,13 upregulated miRNAs and 10 downregulated miRNAs were identified in hypobaric hypoxia‐induced HPH rats by using miRNA microarray . And differentially expressed miR‐451 , miR‐505 , let‐7d and miR‐214 were validated by using RT‐PCR .ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve of miR‐451 ,miR‐505 and let‐7d was 0 .979 ,0 .938 and 0 .993 in discriminating HPH and control groups ,respectively .Conclusion The aberrant expression of circulating miR‐451 ,miR‐505 and let‐7d in serum may be correlated with the pathogenesis of HPH .

Objective To characterize the mutation of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene in patients with phenylketonuria(PKU) in Ningxia area,China.Methods Seventy-three children diagnosed with PKU at the Child and Maternal Healthcare Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region between January 2010 and June 2013,and 100 non-PKU children randomly chosen from children with normal results in PKU screening were enrolled in the study.Venous blood was collected and the PAH gene sequence was determined by direct DNA sequencing after amplification with the polymerase chain reaction technique.The new gene mutations were defined based on the national and international literature search and databases.The source of the newly discovered mutations was also measured by examining and sequencing the blood samples of their parents.The Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.Results Among 146 alleles of the 73 PKU children,the detection rate of mutation of PAH gene was 79.5％ (116/146),including 37 types of mutations occurring in 11 exons other than exon 2 and exon 13.The 37 different mutations included 22 missense mutations (59.5％,22/37),six nonsense mutations(16.2％,6/37),six splice site mutations(16.2％,6/37) and three deletion mutations(8.1％,3/37).p.R243Q(17.1％,25/146),EX6-96A ＞ G (6.8％,10/146),p.R241C(6.2％,9/146),p.R413P (5.5％,8/146),p.Rl11X(4.8％,7/146) and IVS4-1G ＞ A(4.8％,7/146) were found to have a higher mutation frequency.Meanwhile,p.R243Q was the most common mutation among Han and Hui ethnic groups with a frequency of 18.8％(12/64) and 15.9％ (13/82),respectively.In contrast,p.R241C showed a significant higher frequency in the Hui group [9.8％(8/82) vs 1.6％(1/64),x2=4.17,P=0.04].Four new mutations of PAH genes,including p.Q304K,p.H107R,p.F392I and p.N223I,were discovered after literature search and comparative studies.Conclusions PAH gene mutations in children with PKU in Ningxia area are unique and are characterized by the diversity and complexity of mutation occurrence in this ethnic region.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feature of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene mutations and provide guidance for genetic and prenatal diagnosis of patients with phenylketonuria from Shaanxi.

METHODSFor 55 patients whose blood Phe concentration was over 2.0 mg/dL, potential mutations in 13 exons and flanking sequences of the PAH gene were detected by PCR and DNA sequencing.

RESULTSA total of 98 mutations were detected in 110 PAH alleles, with the detection rate being 89.10%. Nine mutations have been identified in exon 7, which accounted for 33.67% of all. Exon 12 (14.29%) and exon 3 (12.24%) have followed. Thirty eight mutations, locating in exon2-exon12 and the flanking sequence, were detected in the 55 PKU patients. p.R243Q (24.49%) was the commonest mutation, whilstp.A47E, p.I65S and p.A259T were first discovered in China. After querying international databases including PAHdb and HGMD, the p.C334X was verified as the novel PAH gene mutation.

CONCLUSIONThe mutation spectrum of the PAH gene in Shaanxi has been identified. And a novel mutation has been identified. This may facilitate the diagnosis of PKU in the future.

Alleles ; Base Sequence ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mutation ; Phenylalanine Hydroxylase ; blood ; genetics ; Phenylketonurias ; enzymology ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo determine the type and frequency of phenylalanine hydroxylase gene (PAH) mutations in ethnic Hui patients from Ningxia with phenylketonuria (PKU).

METHODSFor 35 PKU children patients and 50 healthy individuals, all exons and promoters of the PAH gene were analyzed with PCR and direct sequencing.

RESULTSTwenty mutations, including 8 missense mutations (40%), 5 nonsense mutations (25%), 4 splice site mutations (20%) and 3 deletion mutants (15%) were discovered. The overall detection rate was 68.57% (48/70). Common mutations have included R243Q (12.86%), R241C (11.43%), EX6-96A to G (5.71%), Y356X (5.71%), R413P(4.29%) and Q232X(4.29%), whilst rarer ones have included S16fsX10 (2.86%), R111X (2.86%) and L430P (2.86%). Among these, S16fsX10, L430P, D222G and IVS11+ 1G to A have not been reported previously. Y414X and S303fsX38 have not been reported in Hui ethnic group. No mutation was detected in the 50 normal controls.

CONCLUSIONThe types and distribution of PAH gene mutations in ethnic Hui from Ningxia have been different from other areas of China. The mutations also showed a rich diversity.

Adolescent ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mutation ; Phenylalanine Hydroxylase ; genetics ; Phenylketonurias ; enzymology ; genetics

Objective To understand the type and frequency of the gene mutation in exon 6 of phenylalanine hydroxylase(PAH) in the children of Ningxia,in order to provide foundation for phenylketonuria(PKU) gene diagnosis and prenatal diagnosis.Methods The exon 6 and flanking introns of 73 cases of classic PKU patients in Ningxia[all confirmed at Ningxia Neonatal Screening Center from Jan.2010 to Jun.2013,and distributed in Ningxia 22 County (city,district),aged from 15 days to 13 years,including 38 male cases,35 female cases,and Hui 39 cases,Han 34 cases] as well as 100 healthy newborn babies(Hui 50 cases;Han 50 cases) were sequentially analyzed by using the approach of PCR direct sequencing.Results There were 6 kinds of mutations detected,including EX6-96A ＞ G(6.85％),Q232X(2.74％),D222G(1.37％),V2301 (1.37％),R176X (0.68％) and N223I (0.68％).Mutation detection rate of exon 6 was 13.70％,and there were 3 mutation types:50.0％ missense mutation (3 types) ;33.3 ％ nonsense mutation (2 types) ;16.7％ cleavage site mutation(1 type).After reviewing the previous studies,the researchers had found out that EX6-96A ＞ G,Q232X and R176X were ever reported in China,and V2301 and D222G had been reported in our country for the first time but N223I was a new kind of PAH gene mutations were not been reported in the world.Conclusions It has defined the gene type and frequency of PAH gene mutations in exon 6 in the children of Ningxia and it will enrich the research of PKU in this area,and provide the basis for the development of gene diagnosis of PKU.

Objective To study the T cells lineage polymorphism of TCR BV CDR3 in the peripheral blood of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients,in order to provide experimental basis for the immunological patho-genesis study of AS.Methods Twenty-six subfamilies of CDR3 T cells of TCR BV in the PBMC of AS patients were amplified by RT-PCR method,then TCR BV CDR3 lineages polymorphism were analyzed by immunization scanning spectrum.Results TCR BV CDR3 scanning spectrum of 20 active AS patients showed abnormal distribution peak,including monoclonal,oligoclonal/oligoclonal trend,skewing peak and irregular abnormal peak.Among them,some subfamilies of 18 patients showed oligoclonal/oligoclonal trend expansion,BV16 and BV18 two subfamilies of one case showed monoclonal expansion.Most spectral type of PBMC TCR BV CDR3 in five normal controls showed Gauss distribution.Conclusion TCR BV CDR3 lineage have significant characteristic polymorphism and spectrum drift characteristics in the peripheral blood of AS patients,which further indicate that T cells has plaied an important role in the immunological pathogenesis of AS.Monoclonal/oligoclonal expansion of T cells may be autoreactive T cells in nature and they may be involved in the pathogenesis of AS.

Objective To investigate the distributions of PAH gene mutation and provide guidance for gene diagnosis and prenatal diagnosis of patients with PKU in Xinjiang of China.Methods A total of 15 patients (aged from 2 to 10 years, all with blood Phe concentration over 700 μmol/L) who visited Urumqi general hospital of Lanzhou Command were clinically diagnosed as PKU and were included in this study. PCR followed by DNA sequencing was performed to analyze the promoters, all the 13 exons and their flanking introns of PAH gene in these 15 PKU patients.Results PAH gene of 15 PKU patients was amplified by PCR, and PCR products were subjected to DNA sequencing directly.Four PAH gene mutation types, including 5′- Flanking-626G > A, 5′-Flanking-480DelACT, S196fsX4 and IVS8+1G>C, were identified in each of four PKU patients.Consequently reverse DNA sequencing showed G>A at -626 site, ACT deletion at -480 position in the promoter of PAH gene, an insertion at 584 site in the coding region and G>C at the border between exon 8 and intron 8 of PAH gene, respectively. After inquirying from PAH website and international PAH database (www.pahdb.mcgill.ca), these four PAH gene mutation types were verified as novel PAH gene mutations. Additionally, four patients carrying either of these four PAH gene mutation aged 3-5 years old were characterized by typical clinical phenotypes including blood Phe levels between 1 572-1 782 μmol/L, mental retardation, yellow hair and mousy odor of hair, skin and urine. Conclusions 5′-Flanking-626G>A, 5′-Flanking-480DelACT, S196fsX4 and IVS8+1G > C are identified as four novel PAH gene mutations to cause PKU directly probably either by disrupting the normal 3-D structure and affecting enzymatic activity of PAH or depressing the transcription and translation of PAH gene.Together, our identification of four novel PAH gene mutations will provide important clues for future gene diagnosis and prenatal diagnosis of PKU.