自噬基因CTSL表达与胶质母细胞瘤患者预后相关

本研究旨在探讨自噬基因CTSL对胶质母细胞瘤(GBM)患者的预后影响。利用癌症基因组图谱(TCGA)、人类自噬数据库(HADB)、中国脑胶质瘤基因组图谱(CGGA)数据库、基因表达谱分析(GEPIA)获取数据信息,通过筛选差异表达基因及单因素和多因素COX分析确定GBM的独立预后危险因素,同时通过基因本体论(GO)、基因组百科全书途径(KEGG)、临床病理相关性、基因集富集分析(GSEA)、自噬基因网络分析CTSL的相关作用机制。结果显示:(1)富集分析显示胶质母细胞瘤中差异自噬基因(ARG)与自噬体的形成、细胞凋亡、血管生成、细胞化疗等相关;(2)GBM中CTSL的mRNA水平明显高于正常组织样本;(3)多因素COX回归分析显示自噬基因CTSL的高表达为GBM预后的独立危险因素,STUPP治疗(术后替莫唑胺[Tmz]同步放化疗+Tmz辅助化疗)为独立保护因素;(4)自噬基因CTSL在非GCIMP(CpG岛甲基化)型、间质型、IDH野生型、1p/19q无缺失型胶质母细胞瘤及化疗后表达量更高。综上所述,本研究分析了自噬基因在GBM中的作用,并表明自噬基因CTSL的过表达预示胶质母细胞瘤患者不良预后,显示自噬基因CTSL有作为有效靶标的潜质。     

心房颤动并发血栓栓塞患者脑钠肽与D-二聚体的表达及相关性分析

目的:观察房颤及房颤并发血栓栓塞患者血浆内脑钠肽(brain natriuretic peptide,BNP)和D-二聚体(D-dimer)的表达水平;探讨两者表达水平的关联性以及两者对房颤血栓栓塞的预测价值。方法:回顾分析2010年5月-2012年12月上海市第一人民医院心内科住院病人;根据入组及排除标准将符合条件的研究对象74例分为对照组、单纯房颤组与房颤血栓组;对所有对象进行数据采集,包括年龄、性别、血脂情况、高血压病史、血糖等情况;对所有对象进行D-dimer及BNP水平的数据采集。结果:(1)房颤血栓组的年龄明显高于对照组(P0.01)和单纯房颤组(P0.001);(2)房颤血栓组的D-dimer和BNP水平高于单纯房颤组(P0.05)和对照组(P0.001);(3)单纯房颤组BNP水平与D-dimer水平呈正相关性(r=0.507,P=0.004),房颤血栓组BNP水平与D-dimer水平呈正相关性(r=0.680,P0.001)。结论:(1)心房颤动患者随着年龄的增加并发血栓栓塞风险也增加,指导我们在临床治疗时需要重视年龄因素。(2)患者血浆中D-dimer和BNP水平的增高是心房颤动并发血栓栓塞患者的危险信号。(3)D-dimer和BNP检测在预防心房颤动并发血栓栓塞中有重要的临床意义。     

Vulnerability of neurons with mitochondrial dysfunction to oxidative stress is associated with down-regulation of thioredoxin

In this study, we first developed an in vitro model of neuron with mitochondrial dysfunction, based on sodium azide (NaN(3))-induced inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV) that is reduced in post-mortem AD brains, and then investigated the role of Trx expression in response of neurons with mitochondrial dysfunction to oxidative stress. We found that neurons treated with sub-threshold concentration (8mM) of NaN(3) have mitochondrial dysfunction and that thioredoxin (Trx) mRNA and protein level decreased in neurons with mitochondrial dysfunction though no significant change in the viability. When exposed to extracellular H(2)O(2), neurons with mitochondrial dysfunction were significantly more vulnerable than control neurons. Trx mRNA and protein levels in neurons with mitochondrial dysfunction decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner (mRNA: 25-150 microM H(2)O(2) for 1h and 50 microM H(2)O(2) for 1-3h; protein: 25-150 microM H(2)O(2) for 1h and 50 microM H(2)O(2) for 1-4h), while those in control neurons had no significant changes (50-250 microM H(2)O(2) for 1h). The data implied that vulnerability of neurons with mitochondrial dysfunction to oxidative stress is associated with down-regulation of thioredoxin.     

Treatment of experimental destruction of the duodenum with preparations with nootropic action

In the experiments on rats the peptic ulcer of duodenum was simulated by means of mechanic compression of reflexogenic zones of pylorus and intestine. The destruction of duodenal mucosa was developed in 3-4 hours after the compression and retained in the course of 5-6 days. Piracetam (200 mg/kg) and etimizol (3 mg/kg) eliminated and cimetidine (25 mg/kg), solcoseryl (0.5 mg/kg) and metacine (5 mg/kg) diminished the destruction after the course of 6 injections of each drug with an interval of 10-12 hours. Therapeutic effects of piracetam and etimizol correlated with their ability to return towards normal concentration of creatine phosphate.     

Association of activated properdin with complexes of properdin with C3

An ELISA using antibody to properdin (P), followed by antibody to C3 to detect complexes of P with C3 (P-C3), detected low levels of P-C3 complexes in human serum and plasma samples. Incubating serum for 1 h at 37 degrees C increased the amount of P-C3 and diminished factor B hemolytic activity without altering total alternative pathway activity or C3 activity in serum. When P and C3 in incubated serum were analyzed by size exclusion HPLC, complexes of P-C3 were detected at retention times corresponding to molecular mass measuring in excess of 2 x 10(6) Da. Activation of serum with zymosan or cobra venom factor greatly increased the level of P-C3 and decreased alternative pathway hemolytic activity. Chromatography of proteins eluted from serum-treated zymosan detected a peak of P at 9.7 x 10(5) Da and a peak of P-C3 at 1.5 x 10(6) Da. Functional assays for activated properdin also revealed a peak of activity at 1.5 x 10(6) Da, congruent with the peak of P-C3. Native properdin was detected at 3.9 x 10(5) Da. When native properdin was added to properdin-depleted serum and incubated for 1 h at 37 degrees C, activated properdin was detected at the same position in the chromatograph as were P-C3 complexes. We conclude that incubation of serum at 37 degrees C produces complexes of P with C3, that exposure of serum to alternative pathway activators increases the amount of P-C3, and that generation of P-C3 complexes is associated with the presence of activated P.     

Mechanism of reaction of myeloperoxidase with nitrite

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a major neutrophil protein and may be involved in the nitration of tyrosine residues observed in a wide range of inflammatory diseases that involve neutrophils and macrophage activation. In order to clarify if nitrite could be a physiological substrate of myeloperoxidase, we investigated the reactions of the ferric enzyme and its redox intermediates, compound I and compound II, with nitrite under pre-steady state conditions by using sequential mixing stopped-flow analysis in the pH range 4-8. At 15 degrees C the rate of formation of the low spin MPO-nitrite complex is (2.5 +/- 0.2) x 10(4) m(-1) s(-1) at pH 7 and (2.2 +/- 0.7) x 10(6) m(-1) s(-1) at pH 5. The dissociation constant of nitrite bound to the native enzyme is 2.3 +/- 0.1 mm at pH 7 and 31.3 +/- 0.5 micrometer at pH 5. Nitrite is oxidized by two one-electron steps in the MPO peroxidase cycle. The second-order rate constant of reduction of compound I to compound II at 15 degrees C is (2.0 +/- 0.2) x 10(6) m(-1) s(-1) at pH 7 and (1.1 +/- 0.2) x 10(7) m(-1) s(-1) at pH 5. The rate constant of reduction of compound II to the ferric native enzyme at 15 degrees C is (5.5 +/- 0.1) x 10(2) m(-1) s(-1) at pH 7 and (8.9 +/- 1.6) x 10(4) m(-1) s(-1) at pH 5. pH dependence studies suggest that both complex formation between the ferric enzyme and nitrite and nitrite oxidation by compounds I and II are controlled by a residue with a pK(a) of (4.3 +/- 0.3). Protonation of this group (which is most likely the distal histidine) is necessary for optimum nitrite binding and oxidation.     

Conjugation of catechins with cysteine generates antioxidant compounds with enhanced neuroprotective activity

Antioxidant compounds derived from the conjugation of (-)-epicatechin and (-)-epicatechin 3-O-gallate with cysteine and cysteine derivatives protected HT-22 nerve cells (EC50 between 36 and 65 microM) from death triggered by glutamate while underivatized (-)-epicatechin was almost inactive (EC50=610 microM). Differences in free radical scavenging capacity (DPPH assay) could not account for the improvement in neuroprotective activity upon derivatization of (-)-epicatechin with thiols. Moreover, while the gallate-containing compounds are more efficient radical scavengers than their non-galloylated counterparts, they are only equally or less potent as neuroprotective agents. Although all of the conjugates were able to scavenge mitochondrially generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) inside the cells, the majority of their neuroprotective activity appeared to be dependent upon their ability to maintain glutathione levels. These results suggest that a mechanism other than ROS scavenging is involved in the neuroprotective action exerted by the epicatechin conjugates.     

In vitro reactions of isopropyl methanesulfonate with DNA and with 2'-deoxyribonucleosides

Isopropyl methanesulfonate (IPMS), an SN1 alkylating agent, is a direct-acting mutagen in bacteria. We recently reported that s.c. and topical administration of IPMS to mice resulted in the rapid induction of thymic lymphomas. Thymic lymphoma induction was not observed following administration of the SN2 alkylating agents methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS). We have studied the reactions of IPMS with dAdo, dCyd, dGuo and dThd at pH 6.5 to 7.5 and 37 degrees C for 3 h. IPMS formed the following isopropyl (IP) adducts: 7-IP-Gua (4% yield), O6-IP-Gua (8%), O2-IP-Cyt (1%), O2-IP-dThd (2%), 3-IP-dThd (1%), and O4-IP-dThd (0.4%). Adducts were characterized from UV and mass spectra. IPMS was reacted in vitro with calf thymus DNA (pH 6.5 to 7.5, 37 degrees C, 3 h) and yielded (nmol/mg DNA): 7-IP-Gua (22) O6-IP-dGuo (11), O2-IP-Cyt (9), O2-IP-dThd (2), O4-IP-dThd (2), 3-IP-Ade (0.2) and 3-IP-dThd (0.2). The relatively greater alkylation of exocyclic oxygen atoms in DNA by IPMS compared to values for MMS and EMS reported by others, may play a role in the induction of thymic lymphomas in mice by IPMS and the lack of such activity by MMS and EMS.     

Identification of biomarkers correlated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with co-expression analysis

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is reported to be the most common genetic heart disease. To identify key module and candidate biomarkers correlated with clinical prognosis of patients with HCM, we carried out this study with co-expression analysis. To construct a co-expression network of hub genes correlated with HCM, the Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was performed. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed by Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID). The protein-protein interaction network analysis of central genes was performed to recognize the interactions of central genes. Gene set enrichment analyses were carried out to discover the possible mechanisms involved in the pathways promoted by hub genes. To validate the hub genes, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed. Based on the results of topological overlap measure based clustering, 2,351 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Those genes were included in six different modules. Of these modules, the yellow and the blue modules showed a pivotal correlation with HCM. DEGs were enriched in immune system procedure associated GO terms and KEGG pathways. We identified nine hub genes (TYROBP, STAT3, CSF1R, ITGAM, SYK, ITGB2, LILRB2, LYN, and HCK) affected the immune system significantly. Among the genes we validated with RT-PCR, TYROBP, CSF1R, and SYK showed significant increasing expression levels in model HCM rats. In conclusion, we identified two modules and nine hub genes, which were prominently associated with HCM. We found that immune system may play a crucial role in the HCM. Accordingly, those genes and pathways might become therapeutic targets with clinical usefulness in the future.     

Interactions of the DNA intercalator acridine orange, with itself, with caffeine, and with double stranded DNA

Caffeine (CAF) inhibits the intercalation of acridine orange (AO) into cellular DNA. Optical absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy were employed to determine the molecular interactions of AO with itself, with CAF, and with double stranded herring sperm DNA (dsDNA). AO dimerization was observed at concentrations >2 micromol. The sharp increase in fluorescence (lambda(em)=530 nm) at 5 micromol of AO was attributed to AO multimer formation. From 0.5 to 5.0 micromol, the AO self-association binding constant (K(assoc)) was determined to be 38620 mol(-1), however, the presence of 150 mmol NaCl increased K(assoc) to 118000 mol(-1) attributed to the charge neutralization. The K(assoc) for AO with CAF was confirmed to be 256 mol(-1). K(assoc) for the binding of AO with 20 micromol DNA ranged from, 32000 mol(-1) at 2 micromol AO, to approximately 3700 mol(-1) at 10 micromol AO, in the absence of NaCl. This AO concentration dependency of K(assoc) value with DNA was attributed to AO intercalation into dsDNA at high dsDNA/AO ratios, and electrostatic binding of AO to dsDNA at low AO ratios. The findings provide information used to explain fluorescence intensity values at lambda(em) at 530 nm from studies that combine AO, caffeine, and dsDNA.     

Vaccination of patients with cutaneous melanoma with telomerase-specific peptides

Purpose  

A phase I study was conducted to investigate the safety, tolerability, and immunological responses to vaccination with a combination of telomerase-derived peptides GV1001 (hTERT: 611–626) and p540 (hTERT: 540–548) using granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or tuberculin as adjuvant in patients with cutaneous melanoma.     

Regulation of gene expression with thyroid hormone in rats with myocardial infarction

Introduction

The expression of hundreds of genes is altered in response to left ventricular (LV) remodeling following large transmural myocardial infarction (MI). Thyroid hormone (TH) improves LV remodeling and cardiac performance after MI. However, the molecular basis is unknown.

Methods

MI was produced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery in female SD rats. Rats were divided into the following groups: (1) Sham MI, (2) MI, and (3) MI+T4 treatment (T4 pellet 3.3 mg, 60 days release, implanted subcutaneously immediately following MI). Four weeks after surgery, total RNA was isolated from LV non-infarcted areas for microarray analysis using the Illumina RatRef-12 Expression BeadChip Platform.

Results

Signals were detected in 13,188 genes (out of 22,523), of which the expression of 154 genes were decreased and the expression of 200 genes were increased in MI rats compared with Sham MI rats (false discovery rate (FDR) <0.05). Compared to MI rats, T4 treatment decreased expression of 27 genes and increased expression of 28 genes. In particular, 6 genes down-regulated by MI and 12 genes up-regulated by MI were reversed by T4. Most of the 55 genes altered by T4 treatment are in the category of molecular function under binding (24) and biological processes which includes immune system process (9), multi-organism process (5) and biological regulation (19) nonexclusively.

Conclusions

These results suggest that altered expression of genes for molecular function and biological process may be involved in the beneficial effects of thyroid hormone treatment following MI in rats.     

Differential scanning calorimetry study of mixed-chain phosphatidylcholines with a common molecular weight identical with diheptadecanoylphosphatidylcholine

To examine the thermotropic phase behavior of various mixed-chain phosphatidylcholines in excess water and to compare it with the known behavior of identical-chain phosphatidylcholines, we have carried out high-resolution differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) studies on aqueous dispersions of 10 different mixed-chain phosphatidylcholines. These lipids, C(16):C(18)PC, C(18):C(16)PC, C(15):C(19)PC, C(19):C(15)PC, C(14):C(20)PC, C(20):C(14)PC, C(13):C(21)PC, C(21):C(13)PC, C(12):C(22)PC, and C(22):C(12)PC, have a common molecular weight which is the same as that of C(17):C(17)PC, an identical-chain phosphatidylcholine with a molecular weight of 762.2. When the values of any of the thermodynamic parameters (Tm, delta H, and delta S) of the mixed-chain phosphatidylcholines and C(17):C(17)PC are plotted against the normalized chain-length difference (delta C/CL), a linear function with negative slope is obtained provided that the value of delta C/CL is within the range of 0.09-0.4. The linear relationship suggests that these mixed-chain phospholipids are packed in the gel-state bilayer similar to the bilayer structure of C(17):C(17)PC at T less than Tm; however, the negative slope suggests that the conformational statistics of the hydrocarbon chain and the lateral lipid-lipid interactions of these phosphatidylcholines in the gel-state bilayer are perturbed proportionally by a progressive increase in the chain-length inequivalence between the two acyl chains within each lipid molecule. When the value of delta C/CL for mixed-chain phosphatidylcholines reaches the range of 0.44-0.55, the thermotropic phase behavior deviates markedly from that of less asymmetric phosphatidylcholines, suggesting that these highly asymmetric lipids are packed into mixed interdigitated bilayers at T less than Tm. The heating and cooling pathways of aqueous dispersions prepared from the 10 mixed-chain phospholipids are also discussed.     

Mice with targeted deletion of eNOS develop hyperdynamic circulation associated with portal hypertension

Systemic vasodilation is the initiating event of the hyperdynamic circulatory state, being most likely triggered by increased levels of vasodilators, primarily nitric oxide (NO). Endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) is responsible for this event. We tested the hypothesis that gene deletion of eNOS and inducible NOS (iNOS) may inhibit the development of the hyperdynamic circulatory state in portal hypertensive animals. To test this hypothesis, we used mice lacking eNOS (eNOS-/-) or eNOS/iNOS (eNOS/iNOS-/-) genes. A partial portal vein ligation (PVL) was used to induce portal hypertension. Sham-operated animals were used as a control. Hemodynamic characteristics were tested 2 wk after surgery. As opposed to our hypothesis, PVL also caused significant reduction in peripheral resistance in eNOS-/- compared with sham animals (0.33 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.41 +/- 0.03 mmHg. min x kg body wt x ml(-1); P = 0.04) and in eNOS/iNOS-/- animals with PVL compared with that of the sham-operated group (0.44 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.54 +/- 0.04; P = 0.03). This demonstrates that, despite gene deletion of eNOS, the knockout mice developed hyperdynamic circulation. Compensatory vasodilator molecule(s) are upregulated in place of NO in the systemic and splanchnic circulation in portal hypertensive animals.     

High efficient degradation of dyes with lignin peroxidase coupled with glucose oxidase

The H(2)O(2) supply strategy was one of crucial factors for high efficient degradation of pollutants with lignin peroxidase (LiP). In this paper, an attempt was made to couple a H(2)O(2) producing enzymatic reaction to the LiP catalyzed oxidation of dyes. H(2)O(2) needed was generated by glucose oxidase (GOD) and its substrate glucose. The generation rate of H(2)O(2) could be easily controlled by adjusting the pH of the degradation system and the amount of GOD added. Due to the controlled release of H(2)O(2), a sustainable constant activity of LiP was observed. The inhibition of LiP by high level H(2)O(2) supplied externally by a single addition at the beginning of the experiments could be avoided. Degradation of three dyes (xylene cyanol, fuchsine and rhodamine B) with LiP coupled with GOD indicated that the present H(2)O(2) supply strategy was very effective for improvement of the efficiency of the decolourization of dyes.     

Interaction of isofraxidin with human serum albumin

This study was designed to examine the interaction of isofraxidin with human serum albumin (HSA) under physiological conditions with drug concentrations in the range of 3.3 x 10(-6) mol L(-1)-3.0x10(-5) mol L(-1) and HSA concentration at 1.5 x 10(-6) mol L(-1). Fluorescence quenching methods in combination with Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy were used to determine the drug-binding mode, the binding constant and the protein structure changes in the presence of isofraxidin in aqueous solution. Spectroscopic evidence showed that the interaction results in one type of isofraxidin-HSA complex with binding constants of 4.1266 x 10(5) L mol(-1), 3.8612 x 10(5) L mol(-1), 3.5063 x 10(5) L mol(-1), 3.1241 x 10(5) L mol(-1) at 296 K, 303 K, 310 K, 318 K, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters, enthalpy change (DeltaH) and entropy change (DeltaS) were calculated to be -10.08 kJ mol(-1) and 73.57 J mol(-1) K(-1) according to van't Hoff equation, which indicated that hydrophobic interaction played a main role in the binding of isofraxidin to HSA. The experiment results are nearly in accordance with the calculation results obtained by Silicon Graphics Ocatane2 workstation.     

Interactions of retinol with binding proteins: studies with rat cellular retinol-binding protein and with rat retinol-binding protein

The interactions of retinol with rat cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) and with rat serum retinol-binding protein (RBP) were studied. The equilibrium dissociation constants of the two retinol-protein complexes (Kd) were found to be 13 x 10(-9) and 20 x 10(-9) M for CRBP and for RBP, respectively. The kinetic parameters governing the interactions of retinol with the two binding proteins were also studied. It was found that although the equilibrium dissociation constants of the two retinol-protein complexes were similar, retinol interacted with CRBP 3-5-fold faster than with RBP; the rate constants for dissociation of retinol from CRBP and from RBP (koff) were 0.57 and 0.18 min-1, respectively. The rate constants for association of retinol with the two proteins (kon) were calculated from the expression: Kd = koff/kon. The kon's for retinol associating with CRBP and with RBP were found to be 4.4 x 10(7) and 0.9 x 10(7) M-1 min-1, respectively. The data suggest that the initial events of uptake of retinol by cells are not rate-limiting for this process and that the rate of uptake is probably determined by the rate of metabolism of this ligand. The data indicate further that the distribution of retinol between RBP in blood and CRBP in cytosol is at equilibrium and that intracellular levels of retinol are regulated by the levels of CRBP.     

Superovulation of dairy cows with purified FSH supplemented with defined amounts of LH

This study investigated the effects of a purified follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) preparation supplemented with three different amounts of bovine luteinizing hormone (bLH) and a commercially available FSH with a high LH contamination on superovulatory response, plasma LH and milk progesterone levels in dairy cows. A total of 112 lactating Holstein-Friesian crossbred dairy cows were used for these experiments; the cows were randomly assigned to treatment groups consisting of purified porcine FSH (pFSH) supplemented with bLH. Group 1 was given 0.052 IU LH 40 mg armour units (AU) FSH (n = 6); Group 2 was given 0.069 IU LH (n = 32); Group 3 received 0.423 IU LH (n = 34); while Group 4 cows (n = 36) were superovulated with a commercially available FSH-P((R)). This compound appeared to contain 8.5 IU LH 40 mg AU FSH according to bioassay measurement. All animals received a total of 40 mg AU FSH at a constant dose twice daily over a 4-d period. Levels of milk progesterone and plasma LH were determined during the course of superovulatory treatment. The Group 1 treatment did not reveal multiple follicular growth, and no embryos were obtained. Superovulation of Group 3 cows resulted in significantly (P<0.05) more corpora lutea (CL; 12.6+/-1.1) and fertilized ova (5.1+/-1.3) compared with Groups 2 and 4 (10.1+/-0.9 and 2.6+/-0.6, 9.0+/-0.9 and 2.7+/-0.5, respectively). Due to a high percentage of degenerated embryos (33%) Group 3 yielded only one more transferable embryo than Groups 2 and 4. Among groups, LH levels differed in the period prior to induction of luteolysis and were similar thereafter. The progesterone pattern following FSH LH administration reflected the amount of LH supplementation. Milk progesterone levels on the day prior to embryo collection were correlated to the number of CLs and recovered embryos. It is concluded that under the conditions of our experiment superovulation with 0.423 IU LH 40 mg AU FSH may yield a significantly improved superovulatory response in dairy cows. It is further suggested that LH supplementation exerts its effects mainly on follicular and oocyte maturation during the period prior to luteolysis.     

Solubilization of low-density lipoprotein with sodium deoxycholate and recombination of apoprotein B with dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine

Apoprotein B (apoB) of human plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (d 1.025-1.050 g/mL) has been solubilized with solid sodium deoxycholate (NaDC) above its critical micellar concentration. ApoB is isolated by gel-filtration chromatography as a mixed micellar complex of protein and detergent in high yield in a lipid-free form. A soluble apoB-dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) complex has been prepared by incubation of aqueous solutions of apoB-NaDC and DMPC-NaDC (2/1 w/w) at room temperature with detergent removal by extensive dialysis. A combination of gel chromatographic and density gradient fractionation of DMPC-apoB incubation mixtures demonstrates that a reasonably well-defined complex of DMPC and apoB is formed with a 4:1 w/w lipid:protein ratio. Negative-stain electron microscopy shows these particles to be single-bilayer phospholipid vesicles with a diameter of 210 +/- 20 A into which the apoB is incorporated. Circular dichroic spectra of NaDC-solubilized apoB show apoB to have similar conformation to that seen in the native LDL particle. However, apoB that has been complexed with DMPC exhibits more alpha-helix. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis shows a single band (apparent Mr 366000) for apoB after solubilization, purification, and interaction with phospholipid. The behavior of apoB during its reassociation with phospholipid and the structural features of the DMPC-apoB particle are similar to those observed in the interaction of solubilized membrane proteins with lipid rather than that of other apo-lipoproteins.     

拉米夫定联合胸腺肽A1 治疗慢性乙型肝炎的疗效观察

目的:探讨拉米夫定(LAM)联合胸腺肽α1(Tα1)治疗慢性乙型肝炎的长期疗效和安全性。方法:72例慢性乙肝患者(HBV-DNA和HBeAg均阳性),按1:1随机分配进入联合治疗组(LAM+Tα1组)和单用拉米夫定组(LAM组)。结果:治疗1年时LAM+Tα1组HBeAg血清转换率(44.4%,16/36例)明显高于LAM组(5.6%,2/36例),P<0.01。停药1年后,持续的HBeAg血清转换率分别为36.1%(13/36例)和8.3%(3/36例),P<0.01。治疗过程中及停药后,两组HBV-DNA水平均明显下降,但两组的HBV-DNA转阴率相仿。治疗后1年ALT复常率联合治疗组与拉米夫定组相似,分别为75%(27/36例)和66.7%(24/36例)、随访1年时ALT复常率联合治疗组明显高于拉米夫定组,分别为58.3%(21/36例)和16.7%(6/36例)。在治疗过程中,未发现严重的不良反应。结论:LAM联合Tα1治疗慢性乙肝,不良反应少,疗效优于单一LAM用药组。