Multi-drug resistance-1 gene polymorphisms in nephrotic syndrome: Impact on susceptibility and response to steroids

Background

Role of multidrug resistance-1 (MDR-1) gene polymorphisms has not been clarified in nephrotic syndrome (NS). Additionally, researchers studied several genetic polymorphisms to explain their influence on different patients' responses to steroid; however the data were inconsistent. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association of MDR-1 gene polymorphisms [C1236T, G2677T/A, C3435T] and haplotypes with susceptibility to childhood nephrotic syndrome, and whether they influence steroid response.

Methods

We detected MDR-1 gene polymorphisms using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 138 NS patients and 140 age and sex matched healthy children.

Results

The frequencies of MDR1 G2677T/A GT, GA, TT + AA genotypes or T allele, MDR1 C3435T TT genotype, and T allele genotype frequencies were significantly increased in NS group. While no significant differences were observed in distributions of C1236T genotypes or allele between NS patients and healthy children. Moreover, steroid non-responder NS patients had significantly higher frequencies of MDR1 G2677T/A GT, GA, and TT + AA genotypes than steroid responsive NS patients. We observed also that NS patients with age less than 6 years old had increased frequencies of MDR1 G2677T/A GT, GA, TT + AA genotypes or T allele MDR1 C3435T CT, TT genotypes and T allele. Interestingly the frequency of the TGC haplotype of MDR1 was lower in the initial steroid responders than in non-responders NS patients. On the contrary, there were no any association between the MDR1 haplotypes with NS susceptibility and they did not influence renal pathological findings.

Conclusion

Our data suggested that MDR1 C3435T or G2677T/A gene polymorphisms are risk factors of increased susceptibility, earlier onset of NS, and steroid resistance.     

Exploring insights for virulent gene inhibition of multidrug resistant Salmonella typhi,Vibrio cholerae,and Staphylococcus areus by potential phytoligands via in silico screening

In our recent studies on prevalence of multidrug resistant pathogens in Byramangala reservoir, Karnataka, India, we identified Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, and Vibrio cholerae which had acquired multiple drug resistance (MDR) and emerged as superbugs. Hence, there is a pressing demand to identify alternative therapeutic remedies. Our study focused on the screening of herbal leads by structure-based virtual screening. The virulent gene products of these pathogens towards Kanamycin(aph), Trimethoprim(dfrA1), Methicillin (mecI), and Vancomycin (vanH) were identified as the probable drug targets and their 3D structures were predicted by homology modeling. The predicted models showed good stereochemical validity. By extensive literature survey, we selected 58 phytoligands and their drug likeliness and pharmacokinetic properties were computationally predicted. The inhibitory properties of these ligands against drug targets were studied by molecular docking. Our studies revealed that Baicalein from S. baicalensis (baikal skullcap) and Luteolin from Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) were identified as potential inhibitors against aph of S. typhi. Resveratrol from Vitis vinifera (grape vine) and Wogonin from S. baicalensis were identified as potential inhibitors against dfrA1 of S. typhi. Herniarin from Herniaria glabra (rupture worts) and Pyrocide from Daucus carota (Carrot) were identified as the best leads against dfrA1 of V. cholerae. Taraxacin of T. officinale (weber) and Luteolin were identified as potential inhibitors against Mec1. Apigenin from Coffee arabica (coffee) and Luteolin were identified as the best leads against vanH of S. aureus. Our findings pave crucial insights for exploring alternative therapeutics against MDR pathogens.     

Characterization of arsenic trioxide resistant clones derived from Jurkat leukemia T cell line: Focus on PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

In this study the role of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in arsenic trioxide (ATO)-treated parental Jurkat cells and also in derived ATO-resistant clones grown in the presence of given ATO concentration was investigated. ATO-resistant clones (cultured for 8–12 weeks in the presence of 1, 2.5 and 5 μM ATO) were characterized by high viability in the presence of ATO but slower growth rate compared to the parental cells. Morphological and functional characterization of derived ATO-resistant clones revealed that they did not differ fundamentally from parental Jurkat cells in terms of cell size, level of GSH, the lysosomal fluorescence or CD95/Fas surface antigen expression. However, a slight increase in the mitochondrial potential (JC-1 staining) was detected in the clones compared to parental Jurkat cells. Side population analysis (Vybrant DyeCycle Violet™ staining) in ATO resistant clones did not indicate any enrichment withcancer stem cells. Akt1/2, AktV or wortmannin inhibitors decreased viability of ATO-resistant clones grown in the presence of ATO, with no effect on ATO-treated parental cells. Flow cytometry analysis showed that ATO decreased the level of p-Akt in ATO-treated parental cells, while the resistant clones exhibited higher levels of p-Akt immunostaining than parental Jurkat cells. Expression analysis of 84 genes involved in the PI3K/Akt pathway revealed that this pathway was predominantly active in ATO-resistant clones. c-JUN seems to play a key role in the induction of cell death in ATO-treated parental Jurkat cells, as dose-dependent strong up-regulation of JUN was specific for the ATO-treated parental Jurkat cells. On the other hand, changes in expression of cyclin D1 (CCND1), insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) and protein kinase C isoforms (PRKCZ,PRKCB and PRKCA) may be responsible for the induction of resistance to ATO. The changes in expression of growth factor receptor-bound protein 10 (GRB10) observed in ATO-resistant clones suggest a possibility of induction of different mechanisms in development of resistance to ATO depending on the drug concentration and thus involvement of different signaling mediators.     

Dietary Resistant Starch Reduces Histone Acetylation on the Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide Gene in the Jejunum

We have reported that dietary resistant starch (RS) reduces glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) mRNA levels along the jejunoileum in both normal and diabetic rats. In this study, we found that jejunal reduction of the GIP gene by feeding normal rats dietary RS was associated with decreases in histone H3 and H4 acetylation on the promoter/enhancer region of the gene.     

大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌对三种氨基糖苷类抗生素的耐药性分析

【摘 要】 目的 评价庆大霉素、妥布霉素及阿米卡星三种氨基糖苷类抗生素（AGs）对大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌的体外抗菌活性。方法 对902株大肠埃希菌和404株肺炎克雷伯菌,采用VITEK-2全自动微生物分析仪配套的AST-GN13药敏卡进行庆大霉素、妥布霉素及阿米卡星的体外药敏试验。结果 大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌的产超广谱β-内酰胺酶（ESBLs）菌株检出率分别为40.8％和36.6％;产ESBLs的大肠埃希菌对庆大霉素、妥布霉素及阿米卡星的敏感率分别为42.4%、39.1%和96.5%,与非产ESBLs菌株比较,敏感率差异均有统计学意义（P<0.01）;产ESBLs的肺炎克雷伯菌对庆大霉素、妥布霉素及阿米卡星的敏感率分别为64.2%、62.8%和91.9%,与非产ESBLs菌株比较,敏感率差异均有统计学意义（P<0.01）;阿米卡星对产与非产ESBLs的大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌均高度敏感,敏感率均在91%以上。结论 本地区大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌产ESBLs菌株流行严重,ESBLs的产生可使大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌对AGs的耐药情况加重,提示ESBLs和AGs引起的耐药可能存在一定的相关性。     

环介导恒温扩增法检测肺炎链球菌的研究

目的 建立环介导恒温扩增(LAMP)检测肺炎链球菌的方法.方法 用LAMP技术扩增肺炎链球菌菌株,并应用50例临床标本采用传统培养法、PCR法、LAMP法进行检测,比较3种方法的检出率,同时检测方法特异性和灵敏度.结果 所测肺炎链球菌均获扩增产物,对其他非肺炎链球菌无交叉反应.LAMP检测灵敏度可达102 CFU/mL.50例临床标本使用LAMP法检出9例肺炎链球菌阳性(18.0％),使用传统培养法检出阳性4例(8.0％).结论 LAMP法较传统培养检测方法特异性强、灵敏度高、操作方便、快速,适合临床标本的肺炎链球菌检测.     

厄他培南不敏感大肠埃希菌耐药性及同源性分析

目的探讨临床分离大肠埃希菌对碳青霉烯类抗生素的耐药机制及流行情况,为临床用药和院内感染监控提供依据。方法收集2012年8月至2013年7月温州医科大学附属第二医院厄他培南不敏感的大肠埃希菌10株,采用VITEK Compact2全自动微生物分析仪检测18种常用抗菌药物的MIC值;改良Hodge试验检测碳青霉烯酶,PCR扩增包括碳青霉烯酶基因在内的多种B．内酰胺酶基因;应用脉冲场凝胶电泳（PFGE）分析菌株同源性。结果分离菌株来自不同病区无聚集现象,标本来源以尿液为主;菌株对广谱青霉素、三代、四代头孢菌素、氟喹诺酮类和酶抑制剂复合物耐药严重,对氨基糖苷类抗生素较为敏感;PCR扩增几乎所有菌株携带ESBL基因,只有一株除外,其中主要是blarsm和、blactx-mo3株blaNOM-1基因阳性,未检出其他碳青霉烯酶基因;脉冲场凝胶电泳分析表明,菌株之间没有克隆关系。结论该院分离10株大肠埃希菌对碳青霉烯类耐药主要是存在NDM-1金属酶联合ESBL,菌株间未发现克隆传播。     

转基因抗草甘膦抗虫棉对棉田冠层节肢动物群落的影响

【背景】随着转基因抗虫棉在我国的广泛种植,一种具有抗虫和耐除草剂（草甘膦）的双价棉被培育成功。这种转双价基因棉和转单价基因抗虫棉对棉田节肢动物群落结构的影响可能不同。因此,在该类转双价基因棉花进行环境释放之前,有必要研究其对棉田节肢动物群落的影响,评价其环境安全性。【方法】试验于2010年5月9日~9月23日和2011年5月10日~9月24日在河南省安阳市中国农业科学院棉花研究所试验农场进行,棉田类型有3种——转基因抗草甘膦抗虫棉田、转Bt棉田和常规棉田,每种棉田种植3个小区,每个小区面积为200 m2（8 m×25 m）。采用对角线5点取样方法,每5 d调查1次棉田的节肢动物群落,通过目测对节肢动物鉴定到属。【结果】抗草甘膦抗虫棉田、Bt棉田和常规棉田节肢动物群落、害虫亚群落和天敌亚群落的结构与组成无明显差异;抗草甘膦抗虫棉田害虫种群数量低于抗虫棉田和常规棉田,而其天敌种群数量与常规棉田相当,略低于Bt棉田;3种棉田节肢动物群落、害虫亚群落和天敌亚群落的多样性指数、均匀性指数均无明显差异。【结论与意义】种植转基因抗草甘膦抗虫棉花不会对棉田节肢动物群落组成造成显著影响。本研究为转基因抗草甘膦抗虫棉田的环境安全性评价提供了依据。     

肺炎链球菌粘附和毒力因子A研究进展

肺炎链球菌（Streptococcus pneumoniae,SP）普遍定植于呼吸道,是人类重要的侵袭性病原菌之一,是社区获得性肺炎、中耳炎、脑膜炎、菌血症、鼻窦炎的主要病原菌。肺炎链球菌粘附和毒力因子A（pneumococcal adherence and virulence factor A,PavA）是肺炎链球菌早期感染和侵袭过程中关键的毒力因子。体外试验表明,缺失PavA的肺炎链球菌的突变株其粘附和侵入上皮细胞和内皮细胞的能力明显下降。作为一种保护性抗原,其诱导的细胞和体液免疫可以有效的抵抗肺炎链球菌的感染,是肺炎链球菌新一代疫苗的候选蛋白。但是,PavA在肺炎链球菌与人肺上皮细胞交互对话中作用机制的研究尚属空白,本文就肺炎链球菌粘附和毒力因子A得最新研究进展作一综述。     

应用分子标记技术改良京作1号的稻瘟病抗性

稻瘟病是危害水稻产量的重要生物胁迫之一。实践证明,解决这一问题的最有效方法是培育具广谱、持久稻瘟病抗性的品种并推广种植。本研究以优质、高产、感稻瘟病的京作1号为轮回亲本,与稻瘟病抗性基因Pi9、Pigm和pi21的供体材料进行杂交、回交和复交,结合分子标记辅助选择和农艺性状筛选,培育不同的单基因导入系和聚合系。苗期人工接种多个稻瘟病菌的结果显示,Pi9抗性改良系的抗性频率达到100%,Pigm抗性改良系平均为90%,均极显著高于轮回亲本京作1号的抗性频率,且农艺性状与京作1号基本一致。pi21抗性改良系的抗性水平与京作1号没有明显差异,单株产量极显著低于京作1号。与轮回亲本相比,Pi9和pi21聚合系的抗性频率极显著提高,达到93.33%,但单株产量明显降低。研究结果证实了Pi9和Pigm基因在大幅度提高抗瘟性的同时对主要农艺性状影响小,都具有较大的育种利用价值。基因pi21抗谱较窄,抗性不强,且可能存在对产量的负效应,不宜单独用来改良水稻品种的稻瘟病抗性,需要与抗性强的主基因聚合,通过多次回交和自交打破该基因与产量的不利连锁累赘。