Molecular mimicry and the autoimmune response to the peripheral nerve myelin PO glycoprotein

In the Lewis rat immunisation with the myelin PO glycoprotein can induce an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the peripheral nervous system, experimental allergic neuritis (EAN), which has many clinical and histopathological parallels with the human disease the Guillain-Barre syndrome. In view of the reported association of GBS with a number of infectious agents we have investigated whether molecular mimicry may occur between microbial antigens and the PO protein that could possibly trigger a similar pathogenic autoimmune response in man. A computer search of the available protein sequence data bases identified several absolute sequence homologies between PO and viral proteins that involve five or more consecutive amino acid residues. Four of these sequence homologies involved viral pathogens previously associated with the Guillain-Barre syndrome, namely Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Varicella zoster virus (VZV) and human immunodeficiency virus I (HIV I). Although, sequence homologies were also found between viral peptides and the neuritogenic determinants of PO, residues 56–71 and 180–199, these homologies proved incapable of eliciting EAN in the Lewis rat. These observations are discussed with reference to the role that molecular mimicry between T cell epitopes on pathogen derived antigens and the PO protein may play in the pathogenesis of the Guillain-Barre syndrome.Abbreviations EAN Experimental allergic neuritis - EAE experimental allergic encephalomyelitis - PNS peripheral nervous system - CNS central nervous system - MBP myelin basic protein - GBS Guillain Barre syndrome - CFA complete Freund's Adjuvant - LPC lysophosphatidyl choline - VZV Varicella zoster virus - CMV cytomegalovirus - EBV Epstein Barr virus - HIV I human immunodeficiency virus I Special issue dedicated to Dr. Alan N. Davison     

不同容量胸段经椎间孔硬膜外注射阻滞范围的CT影像研究及诊断性阻滞的可行性分析

摘要 目的：探讨不同容量对胸段经椎间孔硬膜外注射（TFEI）药液扩散范围和镇痛效果的影响以及胸段TFEI用于诊断性阻滞的可行性。方法：选择2021年1月至2022年12月南京大学医学院附属鼓楼医院收治的胸段带状疱疹相关疼痛患者140例,随机分为4组,实施单次TFEI并分别注入不同容量含造影剂局麻药（A组：0.2 mL;B组：0.5 mL;C组：1.0 mL;D组：2 mL）,CT扫描并观察造影剂在硬膜外向头侧、尾侧及总扩散节段,造影剂在椎间孔、同侧椎旁间隙、同侧及对侧硬膜外间隙扩散情况,判断是否为选择性神经根阻滞。评估注射前、注射后30分钟及24小时视觉模拟评分（VAS）。结果：头侧和尾侧扩散节段以及总扩散节段数,D组最多,A组最少（P<0.05）;C组、D组造影剂扩散≥3个节段发生率明显高于B组（P<0.05）;C组、D组病例造影剂扩散至同侧椎旁间隙和对侧硬膜外间隙的发生率明显高于A组、B组（P<0.05）,仅A组37.1%的病例实现选择性神经根阻滞,其余各组均无选择性阻滞病例。注射后30分钟,C、D组VAS评分显著低于A、B组（P<0.05）;注射后24小时,D组VAS评分显著低于A、B组（P<0.05）。结论：胸段带状疱疹相关疼痛患者TFEI药液扩散范围随注射容量的增加而扩大,且在硬膜外倾向于头侧扩散,2 mL容量单次TFEI可阻滞3个以上的神经节段,获得良好的镇痛效果。胸段TFEI行诊断性阻滞的可行性较差。     

加巴喷丁联合射频脉冲、神经阻滞治疗带状疱疹后神经痛的效果

摘要 目的：探讨加巴喷丁联合脉冲射频、神经阻滞治疗带状疱疹后遗神经痛的效果。方法：本研究选取106例确诊为带状疱疹后遗神经痛的患者,采用随机数表法将其分为对照组A（36例）、试验组B（35例）和试验组C（35例）。A组患者采用口服加巴喷丁进行治疗,B组患者采用加巴喷丁联合神经阻滞治疗,C组患者采用加巴喷丁联合脉冲射频治疗,观察比较三组患者的治疗效果,分别对视觉模拟评分（VAS）、夜间睡眠评分（SRSS）、疼痛程度（NRS）、不良反应及综合疗效进行统计评估。结果：治疗3天、7天、14天和1月后,与对照组A比较,B、C组患者的VAS、SRSS和NRS评分较治疗前均有显著降低（P<0.05）;试验组B、C不良反应发生率分别为8.57%（3/35）和5.71%（2/35）,对照组A不良反应发生率为22.22%（8/36）,试验组不良反应发生率显著低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论：相较于使用加巴喷丁和加巴喷丁联合神经阻滞这两种治疗方案,加巴喷丁联合射频脉冲及神经阻滞治疗带状疱疹后遗神经痛能够在短期内有效缓解患者疼痛并改善睡眠状况。     

去N端信号肽的水痘-带状疱疹病毒糖蛋白E的原核可溶性表达及其免疫原性评价

水痘-带状疱疹病毒(varicella zoster virus,VZV)糖蛋白E(glycoprotein E,gE)是VZV亚单位疫苗的主要候选蛋白,但目前原核表达系统制备的gE蛋白以包涵体形式为主,可溶性差。本研究采用去除第1～30氨基酸序列的VZV gE胞外域基因,将其与原核表达载体pET32a连接,并转化至感受态细胞BL21(DE3)中。使用异丙基-β-D-硫代半乳糖苷(Isopropylβ-D-thiogalactoside,IPTG)诱导表达,His-tag柱纯化重组gE蛋白,蛋白质印迹法(Western blot,WB)检测其特异性。用该重组gE蛋白免疫BALB/c小鼠制备多克隆抗体,酶联免疫吸附试验(enzyme linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA)和间接免疫荧光法检测多克隆抗体效价及特异性。结果显示,BL21/pET32a-VZV gE工程菌可以表达可溶性重组gE蛋白,纯化后纯度约为90%。WB鉴定该重组蛋白具有良好的免疫反应性。ELISA检测显示小鼠抗VZV gE多克隆抗体效价＞1∶10 000,间接免疫荧光实验结果显示该抗体特异性较高。结果表明,本研究在原核表达系统中成功表达可溶性重组VZV gE蛋白,同时该蛋白具有较强的免疫原性,这为VZV gE亚单位疫苗的研制和大规模生产奠定了基础。     

24小时错峰使用芬太尼透皮贴剂在带状疱疹性疼痛治疗中的疗效观察

目的：比较24小时错峰使用芬太尼透皮贴剂（多瑞吉）和常规使用多瑞吉对中、重度带状疱疹性疼痛的镇痛效果及不良反应。方法：36例中、重度带状疱疹性疼痛患者经静脉吗啡滴定后,随机分为两组（n=18）,A组使用等效剂量多瑞吉,B组先使用等效剂量一半的多瑞吉,24小时后使用另一半,每贴多瑞吉更换周期均为72 h,以视觉模拟评分（VAS）评定治疗效果。结果：分别于治疗前、使用多瑞吉后3d、7d、14d记录两组患者VAS评分,结果发现两组患者在多瑞吉治疗后3d、7d、14dVAS评分均逐渐降低。但在使用多瑞吉后3d,B组VAS评分明显低于A组（P〈0.01）,用多瑞吉后7d、14d,两组VAS评分无明显差异（P〉0.05）。B组患者在使用多瑞吉7d内恶心、呕吐及头晕不良反应发生率较A组低。结论：多瑞吉24小时错峰使用简单有效,可平稳有效缓解带状疱疹性疼痛,与常规使用多瑞吉相比其不良反应较少。     

The impact of demographic changes on the epidemiology of herpes zoster: Spain as a case study

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes varicella upon first exposure and may reactivate later in life into herpes zoster (HZ), with a risk that is thought to be reduced by re-exposures to VZV. Given the decades-long time scales of reactivation and its dependence on the accumulation of re-exposure episodes, adopting a long-term perspective may be useful to correctly interpret current epidemiological trends of VZV. In this study, we investigate the possible impact of demographic changes on varicella and HZ in Spain, using an age-structured mathematical model informed with historical demographic data and calibrated against age-specific profiles of varicella seroprevalence and HZ incidence data. The model qualitatively reproduces the remarkable growth of HZ incidence observed in Spain between 1997 and 2004, before the introduction of varicella vaccination programmes. We demonstrate that this growth may be partially ascribed to the reduction of varicella circulation that followed the overall decline of the birth rate in the twentieth century. Model predictions further suggest that, even under the most optimistic projections, HZ incidence will continue its rise until at least 2040. Considering the effect of demographic changes can help interpreting variations in epidemiological trends of HZ, contributing to a more accurate evaluation of vaccination programmes against VZV.     

SLE带状疱疹患者外周血CD4~+CD28~+和CD4~+CD25~+FoxP3~+调节性T细胞的表达及相关性研究

目的:检测系统性红斑狼疮(systemic lupus erythematosus,SLE)合并带状疱疹患者外周血CD4~+CD28~+和CD4~+CD25~+Fox P3~+调节性T细胞的表达及相关性,探讨其在SLE合并带状疱疹发病中的临床意义。方法:采用流式细胞术检测30例SLE患者、30例SLE合并带状疱疹患者及30例健康对照者外周血中CD4~+/CD8~+T淋巴细胞亚群表面CD28的表达及CD4~+CD25~+Fox P3~+Treg细胞的表达水平,并分析SLE合并带状疱疹患者外周血CD4~+CD28~+和CD4~+CD25~+Fox P3~+调节性T细胞表达的相关性。结果:SLE合并带状疱疹组患者急性期外周血CD4~+T淋巴细胞比率、绝对计数显著降低,CD4~+、CD8~+T淋巴细胞表面的CD28表达下调,CD4~+CD25~+Fox P3~+Treg细胞水平显著高于SLE组及健康对照组,SLE合并带状疱疹组患者外周血CD4~+CD25~+Fox P3~+Treg水平与CD4~+CD28~+水平成负相关(P均0.05)。结论:SLE合并带状疱疹患者CD4~+、CD8~+T细胞活化异常,CD4~+CD25~+Fox P3~+Treg细胞可能参与抑制了T细胞的活化。     

Ocular herpes: the pathophysiology,management and treatment of herpetic eye diseases

Herpesviruses are a prominent cause of human viral disease, second only to the cold and influenza viruses. Most herpesvirus infections are mild or asymptomatic. However, when the virus invades the eye, a number of pathologies can develop and its associated sequelae have become a considerable source of ocular morbidity. The most common culprits of herpetic eye disease are the herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella zoster virus (VZV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV). While primary infection can produce ocular disease, the most destructive manifestations tend to arise from recurrent infection. These recurrent infections can wreck devastating effects and lead to irreversible vision loss accompanied by a decreased quality of life, increased healthcare usage, and significant cost burden. Unfortunately, no method currently exists to eradicate herpesviruses from the body after infection. Treatment and management of herpes-related eye conditions continue to revolve around antiviral drugs, although corticosteroids, interferons, and other newer therapies may also be appropriate depending on the disease presentation. Ultimately, the advent of effective vaccines will be crucial to preventing herpesvirus diseases altogether and cutting the incidence of ocular complications.     

10株水痘带状疱疹病毒的分离鉴定与生物学特性

用ＶｅｒｏＥ６细胞从１２例水痘及带状疱疹病人水疱液中分离到１０株病毒,分离阳性率为８３．３％。１０株病毒均具有使感染细胞圆缩、融合、脱落等典型的ＶＺＶ局灶性细胞病变（ＣＰＥ）特点,ＣＰＥ随着传代次数增加而加快。用带状疱疹恢复期病人血清作间接免疫荧光染色镜检,可见典型的感染细胞核内荧光块。１０株病毒感染细胞制成的抗原片,检测５例带状疱疹病人急性期及恢复期血清,荧光抗体滴度均有４倍以上增高。ＶＺＶ对Ｖｅｒｏ细胞敏感;对沙鼠肾,胎兔肾,胎豚鼠肾、肺、脾原代单层细胞不敏感;对乳小白鼠不敏感。毒种在－２０℃保存一周内死亡;但在３０％脱脂牛奶、２０％小牛血清及１０％山梨醇Ｅａｇｌｅ’ｓ液中,液体或真空冷冻干燥－１００℃可保存二年以上。     

Simian varicella virus antibody response in experimental infection of African green monkeys

Abstract: The humoral immune response to simian varicella virus (SVV) was investigated following primary and secondary experimental infection of African green monkeys. Neutralization and immunoprecipitation assays were used to determine antibody titers to SVV throughout the course of infection. The immune response to specific viral polypeptides was analyzed by immunoprecipitation analysis. The results demonstrate that the simian varicella model offers a useful approach to investigate immune mechanisms in human varicella zoster virus (VZV) infections.