Altered Dihydropyrimidine Dehydrogenase Activity Associated with Mild Toxicity in Patients Treated with 5-Fluorouracil Containing Chemotherapy

Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) plays a pivotal role in the metabolism of 5-fluorouracil (5FU). In patients treated with capecitabine or 5FU combined with other chemotherapeutic drugs, DPD activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was increased in patients experiencing grade I/II neutropenia. In contrast, decreased DPD activity proved to be associated with grade I/II dermatological toxicity, including hand-foot syndrome. Thus, patients with a low-normal or high-normal DPD activity proved to be at risk of developing mild toxicity upon treatment with 5FU-based chemotherapy, demonstrating the important role of DPD in the etiology of toxicity associated with 5FU and the catabolites of 5FU.     

Determination of 5-Fluorouracil in Plasma with HPLC-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

In this article, we describe a fast and specific method to measure 5FU with HPLC tandem-mass spectrometry. Reversed-phase HPLC was combined with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry and detection was performed by multiple-reaction monitoring. Stable-isotope-labeled 5FU (1,3–¹⁵N₂–5FU) was used as an internal standard. 5FU was measured within a single analytical run of 16 min with a lower limit of detection of 0.05 μM. The intra-assay variation and inter-assay variation of plasma with added 5FU (1 μM, 10 μM, 100 μM) was less then 6%. Recoveries of the added 5FU in plasma were > 97%. Analysis of the 5FU levels in plasma samples from patients with the HPLC tandem mass spectrometry method and a HPLC-UV method yielded comparable results (r² = 0.98). Thus, HPLC with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry allows the rapid analysis of 5FU levels in plasma and could, therefore, be used for therapeutic drug monitoring.     

Pharmacokinetics of 5-fluorouracil in patients heterozygous for the IVS14+1G > A mutation in the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase gene

5-Fluorouracil (5FU) and capecitabine are two of the most frequently prescribed chemotherapeutic drugs for the treatment of patients with cancer. Administration of test doses of 5FU to eight patients heterozygous for the IVS14+1G > A mutation and five control patients showed that the AUC and clearance were weak parameters with respect to the identification of patients with a DPD deficiency. However, highly significant differences were observed for the terminal half life of 5FU between DPD patients and controls. Thus, a DPD deficiency could be predicted from 5FU blood concentrations measured after the administration of a test dose of 5FU.     

不明原因男性不育人群中睾丸特异性乳酸脱氢酶基因突变的发现及其意义

为了研究睾丸特异性乳酸脱氢酶,即乳酸脱氢酶C4(LDH-C4)基因突变在男性不育发病中的作用,利用LDH-C4特异性底物对100名不明原因男性不育症患者的精子LDH-C4进行活性显色,用变性高效液相色谱(DHPLC)技术对LDH-C4活性低下的患者进行LDHC基因PCR产物的突变筛查,对DHPLC峰形异常的PCR产物进行序列测定.筛选到一组精子LDH-C4活性明显下降的患者,其中1名患者的LDHC基因PCR产物在DHPLC中呈异常洗脱峰.对这一PCR产物进行序列测定,发现患者LDHC基因第5外显子的115位碱基发生了T→A的杂合改变(GenBank登录号GU479375),该突变使LDHC基因的178位密码子由原来的TTG(编码亮氨酸)变为TAG(终止密码子),形成截短的C亚基.T克隆-测序进一步证实了该无义突变的杂合状态.这是在人类LDHC基因上发现的第一个突变,提示LDHC基因突变可能是男性不育发病的原因之一.     

PXR基因外显子3甲基化与肠癌细胞对5氟尿嘧啶的耐药性相关

孕烷X受体（pregnane X receptor, PXR）可通过调节细胞色素P450同工酶3A4 -CYP3A4的表达而影响肿瘤细胞对化疗的敏感性,而其表达水平则会受到自身基因 甲基化的影响.本文研究了结肠癌组织中pxr基因甲基化的分布情况及其对pxr, cyp3a4表达的影响,并在多种结肠癌细胞系中分析了pxr基因甲基化是否与5-氟尿嘧 啶 (5-FU)耐药性相关.收集结肠癌病灶区、癌旁区及正常结肠组织样本,分别提取基因组DNA及RNA.PCR限制性酶切分析检测pxr基因外显子3甲基化;real-time PCR检测pxr及cyp3a4基因的表达.鉴定LOVO、LS180、LS174T、HT29、HCT116等5种结 肠癌细胞中pxr外显子3甲基化与pxr, cyp3a4表达的相关性并分别筛选出PXR高/低表达的细胞株进行5-FU耐药性分析.结果显示,结肠癌病灶组织中pxr外显子3甲基化频率显著增加,伴有pxr,cyp3a4表达的增强.在结肠组织及结肠癌细胞系中,pxr与cyp3a4的表达均密切相关,且均与pxr甲基化程度相关.PXR高表达细胞株LS180对5-FU的耐药性显著升高,以siRNA分别下调pxr及cyp3a4的表达,均可增加LS180对5 -FU的敏感性.结果提示,pxr基因外显子3区甲基化与PXR及CYP3A4的高表达密切相关,并与结肠癌细胞对5-FU的抗药性相关.     

云南阿昌族G6PD基因突变G487A在DF213中的表达

为获得阿昌族G6PDWT和G6PDG487A重组蛋白,研究G6PDG487A的结构和功能改变,从云南省德宏州梁河县杞木寨乡湾中村阿昌族聚集地的G6PD缺陷家系先证者和正常阿昌族个体全血提取RNA,经RT-巢式PCR得cDNA,将cDNA克隆至pMD18-Tsimple载体中并测序;错配碱基经定点突变修复后,目的基因亚克隆至pThioHis(A)载体,构建了阿昌族G6PD基因野生型和G487A突变型原核表达载体:pThioHis(A)-AChang-G6PDWT和pThioHis(A)-AChang-G6PDG487A。用重组质粒转化E.coli Competent Cells DF213(G6PD defeciency),经IPTG诱导G6PD表达、10%SDS-PAGE电泳检测表达蛋白和紫外340nm定量测定G6PD活性的分析表明,pThioHis(A)-AChang-G6PDWT和pThioHis(A)-AChang-G6PDG487A在DF213中成功表达,分子量约为59kDa。IPTG诱导0、3、6、9、和12h后,G6PD活性逐渐增高,G6PD基因WT表达的酶活性约是G487A的20-25倍。表达载体的构建以及G6PDcDNA在DF213中成功表达,为重组酶G6PDG487A的进一步研究奠定了基础。     

A randomized study of combined 5-fluorouracil and plasma perfusion over protein A-Sepharose in human advanced colorectal carcinoma

To evaluate the advantage with regard to toxicity, response rate, time to progression and survival of combination chemoimmunotherapy over single-agent chemotherapy in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma (CRC), 30 patients were randomized to receive a combination of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) by continuous i.v. infusion and plasma perfusion (PP) over protein A-Sepharose (group A), or a combination of 5-FU and PP over sepharose (group B) or 5-FU alone (group C). 5-FU was given at 1,000 mg/m²/d on days 1-5 of a 4-weekly cycle until progression. Patients of groups A and B received bi-weekly on-line PPs until disease progression or for a maximum of 19 treatments. PP was well tolerated and no severe or life-threatening toxicity was observed. The response rates were 10% for the group A (1 PR), 0% for the group B and 20% for the group C (1 CR + 1 PR). The times to tumor progression for patients in groups A and C were 22 months, 12 and 11 months, respectively and the median survival times were 17 months, 10 months and 9 months. Although the time to progression and survival tended to be higher in patients treated with protein A. PP, these differences were not statistically significant. This is the first report of a randomized trial showing some therapeutic advantage in combining protein A. PP with 5-FU in CRC patients. Further randomized studies are required to demonstrate the real true value of this chemoimmunotherapeutic approach.This investigation was partially supported, for the protein A equipment, by Pharmacia Fine Chemicals (M. Manach, Paris, France and A. Hörst, Uppsala, Sweden).     

Regional Distribution in Rat Brain of 1-Pyrroline-5-Carboxylate Dehydrogenase and Its Localization to Specific Glial Cells

A possible alternative route for production of a small glutamate pool in brain is from proline or ornithine to 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) and thence to glutamate. The conversion from ornithine to P5C is catalyzed by ornithine delta-aminotransferase (OrnT) whereas that from proline is catalyzed by proline oxidase (PrO). The conversion of P5C to glutamate is catalyzed by 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase (PDH). Biochemical assays of PDH and PrO in various rat brain regions indicate no positive correlation between the two enzymes nor between either activity and high-affinity glutamate uptake or the regional distribution of OrnT. We have localized PDH and PrO histochemically by modifications of the Van Gelder [J. Neurochem. 12, 231-237, (1965)] method for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transaminase. The enzymes were found only in certain types of glial cells; the best stained were the Bergmann glial cells of the cerebellum but, for PDH, there was also good staining of astrocytes in the dentate area of the hippocampus. Since both these areas are believed to have heavy glutamate innervation and numerous GABA interneurons, these findings may reflect an alternative route of glutamate production in glial cells near some glutamate and/or GABA tracts but they do not support this as a possible route for glutamate formation in most brain regions. The findings do, however, provide further evidence for chemical specialization of glial cells.     

Exploring the Evolutionary History of the Alcohol Dehydrogenase Gene (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Adh</Emphasis>) Duplication in Species of the Family Tephritidae

In the olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae and the med fly Ceratitis capitata previous studies have shown the existence of two Adh genes in each species. This observation, in combination with the former finding that various Drosophila species of virilis and repleta group encode two isozymes of ADH which are the result of a gene duplication, challenged us to address a scenario dealing with the evolutionary history of the Adh gene duplication in Tephritidae. In our lab we proceeded to the cloning and sequence analysis of Adh genes from more tephritid species, a prerequisite for further study of this issue. Here we show that phylogenetic trees produced from either the nucleotide or the amino acid sequences of 14 tephritid Adh genes consisted of two main clusters, with Adh sequences of the same type grouping together (i.e., Adh1 sequences form a cluster and Adh2 sequences form a second one), as expected if there was one duplication event before speciation within the family Tephritidae. We used the amount of divergence between the two isozymic forms of Adh of the species carrying both Adh1 and Adh2 genes to obtain an estimate of the age of the duplication event. Interestingly, our data again support the hypothesis that the duplication of an ancestral Adh single gene in the family Tephritidae occurred before the emergence of the genera Bactrocera and Ceratitis, thus suggesting that Adh duplication was based on a prespeciation rather than a postspeciation event that might have involved two independent duplication events, one in each of the two genera.     

A Novel Splice-Site Mutation in Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Gene,c.3691+1G>A (IVS25+1G>A), Causes a Dramatic Increase in Circulating ACE through Deletion of the Transmembrane Anchor

Background

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) (EC 4.15.1) metabolizes many biologically active peptides and plays a key role in blood pressure regulation and vascular remodeling. Elevated ACE levels are associated with different cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Methods and Results

Two Belgian families with a 8-16-fold increase in blood ACE level were incidentally identified. A novel heterozygous splice site mutation of intron 25 - IVS25+1G>A (c.3691+1G>A) - cosegregating with elevated plasma ACE was identified in both pedigrees. Messenger RNA analysis revealed that the mutation led to the retention of intron 25 and Premature Termination Codon generation. Subjects harboring the mutation were mostly normotensive, had no left ventricular hypertrophy or cardiovascular disease. The levels of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system components in the mutated cases and wild-type controls were similar, both at baseline and after 50 mg captopril. Compared with non-affected members, quantification of ACE surface expression and shedding using flow cytometry assay of dendritic cells derived from peripheral blood monocytes of affected members, demonstrated a 50% decrease and 3-fold increase, respectively. Together with a dramatic increase in circulating ACE levels, these findings argue in favor of deletion of transmembrane anchor, leading to direct secretion of ACE out of cells.

Conclusions

We describe a novel mutation of the ACE gene associated with a major familial elevation of circulating ACE, without evidence of activation of the renin-angiotensin system, target organ damage or cardiovascular complications. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that membrane-bound ACE, rather than circulating ACE, is responsible for Angiotensin II generation and its cardiovascular consequences.     

The NADP-dependent Glutamate Dehydrogenase Gene from the Astaxanthin Producer <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous:</Emphasis> Use of Its Promoter for Controlled Gene Expression

The gdhA gene encoding the NADP-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity from Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous has been cloned and characterized, and its promoter used for controlled gene expression in this red-pigmented heterobasidiomycetous yeast. We determined the nucleotide sequence of a 4701 bp DNA genomic fragment, showing an open reading frame of 1871 bp interrupted by five introns with fungal consensus splice-site junctions. The predicted protein (455 amino acids; 49 kDa) revealed high identity to GDHs, especially to those from the fungi Cryptococcus neoformans (70%), Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (66%), and several species of Aspergillus (66–67%). Gene phylogenies support the grouping of X. dendrorhous GDH close to those from the majority of the filamentous fungi. The promoter region of the gdhA gene (PgdhA) contains a TATA-like box and two large pyrimidine stretches. The use of PgdhA for gene expression was validated by electrotransformation of X. dendrorhous using an in-frame fusion with the hygromycin resistance gene (hyg ^R) as a reporter. X. dendrorhous transformants were able to grow in YEME complex medium and in Czapek minimal medium supplemented with 50 μg/ml hygromycin, but gene expression in Czapek medium was repressed when using ammonium acetate as a nitrogen source. PgdhA is a valuable tool for controlled gene expression in Basidiomycetes.     

人类单纯性先天性心脏病中TBX5基因的突变及表达研究

本文首次较为完整地报道了藏汉通婚子代群体的14项肤纹参数（其中藏父汉思及汉父藏母各100 例）,并将这些肤纹参数分别与其藏汉父母样本的有关肤纹参数进行比较,再与1000例藏族及1040例 汉族两个大样本的有关肤纹参数进行比较。结果表明：藏汉后代的肤纹特征介于藏族和汉族之间,提示 肤纹参数的多因子遗传本质。     

奈达铂联合5 氟尿嘧啶对晚期食管癌患者CEA及SCC 水平的影响及其临床疗效

目的:探讨奈达铂联合5-氟尿嘧啶对食管癌晚期患者CEA,SCC及临床疗效的影响。方法:收集我院收治的食管癌晚期患者60例,随机分为对照组和实验组,每组各30例,对照组患者给予顺铂+5-氟尿嘧啶的化疗方案,实验组患者给予奈达铂+5-氟尿嘧啶方案化疗。观察并比较两组患者治疗前后血清CEA及SCC水平的变化情况、毒副反应发生率以及临床疗效。结果:与治疗前相比,两组患者治疗后CEA及SCC水平均降低,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);与对照组相比,实验组患者治疗后CEA及SCC水平较低,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);与对照组比较,实验组患者毒副反应发生率较低,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);与对照组比较,实验组患者治疗有效率较高,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:奈达铂联合5氟尿嘧啶能够降低食管癌晚期患者CEA、SCC以及毒副反应发生率,提高治疗效果。     

维生素D_3联合5-氟尿嘧啶对人食管癌Eca-109细胞移植瘤VDR表达的影响

探讨维生素D3、5-氟尿嘧啶单独与联合使用对人食管癌Eca-109细胞移植瘤维生素D受体(vitamin Dreceptor,VDR)的作用.随机分为对照组(C)、预处理组(PT)、维生素D3组(V)、5-氟尿嘧啶组(F)、预处理+5-氟尿嘧啶组(PT+F)、维生素D3+5-氟尿嘧啶组(V+F).体外培养人食管癌Eca-109细胞,BALB/c裸鼠皮下荷瘤,2.5μg/kg1,25-(OH)2维生素D3、25 mg/kg 5-氟尿嘧啶单独与联合腹腔注射,观察瘤体生长情况,逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)和蛋白质印迹技术(Western blot)检测裸鼠瘤体组织VDR mRNA与蛋白的表达.研究发现1,25-(OH)2维生素D3、5-氟尿嘧啶均能抑制裸鼠移植瘤的生长,PT、V、F、PT+F、V+F组瘤体体积与C组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);RT-PCR与Western blot结果显示经1,25-(OH)2维生素D3单独与联合5-氟尿嘧啶使用后瘤体组织中VDR mRNA和蛋白表达升高,且联合用药更为显著(P<0.05).结果表明1,25-(OH)2维生素D3、5-氟尿嘧啶均能抑制人食管癌Eca-1...     

Polymorphism of the Gene for Subunit 6 of the NADH Dehydrogenase Complex in Ethnic Russians of Russia

A sample of ethnic Russians of Russia was tested for polymorphism of the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6 (ND6) gene mapping to the mtDNA region 14,170–14,569. Genetic diversity of ND6 haplotypes was estimated at 0.406, and probability of haplotype random match, at 0.598. Combined with typing the mtDNA control region, analysis of the ND6 gene polymorphism was assumed to improve the reliability of forensic identification. Several point substitutions in the ND6 gene region proved to be associated with particular transitions in the mtDNA control region; the association was characterized with the coefficient.     

人载脂蛋白A5基因多态性56C〉G与脑梗死的关系

目的：研究载脂蛋白A5基因编码区56C〉G这一多态性位点与动脉粥样硬化性脑梗死（atherosclerotic cerebral infarction, ACI ）及与血脂的关系。方法：选择170例ACI患者和171例健康人,应用聚合酶链反应一限制片长多态性的原理,逐个鉴定每个个体的基因型。结果：56C〉G这一位点多态性在研究人群未被发现。结论：56C〉G位点在研究人群中可能不是一个多态性位点,可能与ACI及血脂无关联。