Identification and clinical validation of gene signatures with grade and survival in head and neck carcinomas

This study aimed to explore gene expression profiles that drive malignancy from low- to high-grade head and neck carcinomas (HNC), as well as to analyze their correlations with survival. Gene expressions and clinical data of HNC were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository. The significantly differential genes (SDGs) between low- and high-grade HNC were screened. Cox regressions were performed to identify prognostic SDGs of progression-free survival (PFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). The genes were experimentally validated by RT-PCR in clinical tissue specimens. Thirty-five SDGs were identified in 47 low-grade and 30 high-grade HNC samples. Cox regression analyses showed that CXCL14, SLC44A1, and UBD were significantly associated with DSS, and PPP2R2C and SLC44A1 were associated with PFS. Patients were grouped into high-risk or low-risk groups for prognosis based on gene signatures. High-risk patients had significantly shorter DSS and PFS than low-risk patients (P=0.033 and P=0.010, respectively). Multivariate Cox regression showed HPV (P=0.033), lymph node status (P=0.032), and residual status (P<0.044) were independent risk factors for PFS. ROC curves showed the risk score had better efficacy to predict survival both for DSS and PFS (AUC=0.858 and AUC=0.901, respectively). The results showed CXCL14 and SLC44A1 were significantly overexpressed in the low-grade HNC tissues and the UBD were overexpressed in the high-grade HNC tissues. Our results suggested that SDGs had different expression profiles between the low-grade and high-grade HNC, and these genes may serve as prognostic biomarkers to predict survival.

Mutational analysis of SLC22A5 gene in eight patients with systemic primary carnitine deficiency / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the mutations of SLC22A5 gene in patients with systemic primary carnitine deficiency (CDSP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>High liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS/MS) was applied to screen congenital genetic metabolic disease and eight patients with CDSP were diagnosed among 77 511 samples. The SLC22A5 gene mutation was detected using massarray technology and sanger sequencing. Using SIFT and PolyPhen-2 to predict the function of protein for novel variations.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Total detection rate of gene mutation is 100% in the eight patients with CDSP. Seven patients had compound heterozygous mutations and one patient had homozygous mutations. Six different mutations were identified, including one nonsense mutation [c.760C>T(p.R254X)] and five missense mutations[c.51C>G(p.F17L), c.250T>A(p.Y84N), c.1195C>T(p.R399W), c.1196G>A(p.R399Q), c.1400C>G(p.S467C)]. The c.250T>A(p.Y84N) was a novel variation, the novel variation was predicted to have affected protein structure and function. The c.760C>T (p.R254X)was the most frequently seen mutation, which was followed by the c.1400C>G(p.S467C).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study confirmed the diagnosis of eight patients with CDSP on the gene level. Six mutations were found in the SLC22A5 gene, including one novel mutation which expanded the mutational spectrum of the SLC22A5 gene.</p>

Expressions of SLC22A14 and SPAG6 proteins in the ejaculated sperm of idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the expressions of solute carrier family 22 member 14 (SLC22A14) and sperm-associated antigen 6 (SPAG6) in the sperm of idiopathic asthenospermia men.@*METHODS@#We collected semen samples from 50 idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients and another 50 normal sperm donors, purified the sperm by discontinuous density centrifugation on Percoll gradients, and then determined the mRNA and protein expressions of SLC22A14 and SPAG6 by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the normal controls, the idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients showed significantly decreased mRNA expressions of SLC22A14 (0.77 ± 0.08 vs 0.53 ± 0.10, P<0.01) and SPAG6 (0.78 ± 0.09 vs0.52 ± 0.10 , P<0.01) and protein expressions of SLC22A14 (0.80 ± 0.09 vs 0.55 ± 0.10 , P<0.01) and SPAG6 (0.78 ± 0.09 vs 0.56 ± 0.09, P<0.01).@*CONCLUSIONS@#T The expressions of SLC22A14 and SPAG6 are reduced in the sperm of the patients with idiopathic asthenospermia, which may be one of the important causes of asthenospermia.

Genetic and prenatal diagnosis for a Chinese family with primary carnitine deficiency / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify potential mutation of SLC22A5 gene in a 5-month-old boy affected with primary carnitine deficiency and provide genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for the members of his family.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples derived from the proband, his parents and elder sister, as well as amniotic fluid from his pregnant mother. All of the 10 exons of the SLC22A5 gene were amplified by PCR and subjected to Sanger sequencing. The amniotic fluid sample was also subjected to G-banded karyotyping and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A homozygous mutation c.760C>T (p.R254X) of the SLC22A5 gene was detected in the proband. Heterozygous mutation c.760C>T (p.R254X) was also found in other family members including the fetus. The karyotyping and chromosomal microdeletion testing for the amniotic fluid sample were both normal.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The newly identified homozygous nonsense c.760C>T (p.R254X) mutation of the SLC22A5 gene probably underlies the primary carnitine deficiency of the proband. Genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis have been provided for this family.</p>

Exploring the Correlation between Pi and Shen from the Excretion of AA-I and Expressions of Or- ganic Anion Transporting Polypeptide 2al and 2 b1 in Pi Deficiency Model Rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the correlation between Pi and Shen by observing the relationship between the metabolism of aristolochic acid (AA) and mRNA and protein expression levels of organic anion transporting polypeptide (oatp) superfamily member 2a1 and 2 b1 (oatp2al and oatp2bl) in renal, small intestinal, and large intestinal tissues of Pi deficiency syndrome (PDS) model rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 46 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the blank group (n = 12), the PDS group (n = 22), the AA-I group (n = 6), and the PDS AA-I group (n = 6). PDS model was established by subcutaneously injecting Reserpine at the daily dose of 5 mg/kg for 16 successive days. Carotid intubation was performed in 6 rats selected from the blank group and the PDS group. Pharmacokinetics of AA-I were detected at 5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 min after gastrogavage of AA-I. AA-I concentrations in renal, small intestinal, and large intestinal tissues of 10 rats selected from the PDS group were determined. Normal saline was administered to 6 rats selected from the PDS group and the blank group by gastrogavage. Renal, small intestinal, and large intestinal tissues were collected in the AA-I group and the PDS AA-I group at 60 min after gastrogavage of AA-I. mRNA and protein expression levels of oatp2a1 and oatp2b1 in each tissue were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) and Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the blank group, plasma concentrations of in vivo AA-I were obviously higher in the PDS group at 15, 30, 45, and 60 min after gastrogavage of AA-I with statistical difference (P < 0.05). Plasma concentrations of AA-I were obviously decreased at 60 min after gastrogavage of AA-I; AA-I concentrations in renal and large intestinal tissues were elevated; AA-I concentrations in small intestinal tissues were obviously reduced in the PDS group. There was no statistical difference in mRNA expression levels of oatp2a1 and oatp2b1 in the aforesaid three tissues of rats between the blank group and the PDS group. Compared with the blank group, mRNA expression levels of oatp2a1 and oatp2b1 decreased in small intestinal tissues of the AA-I group, and the mRNA expression level of oatp2a1 in large intestinal tissues significantly decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the PDS group, mRNA expression levels of oatp2a1 and oatp2b1 increased in renal tissues of the PDS AA-I group (P < 0.05); mRNA expression levels of oatp2b1 increased in large intestinal tissues of the PDS AA-I group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The difference in AA-I metabolism might be associated with changed expression levels of oatp2a1 and oatp2b1 in renal, small intestinal, and large intestinal tissues under Pi deficiency induced loss of transportation. Shen and Dachang played important roles in substance metabolism under Pi deficiency state, which proved Pi-Shen correlated in Chinese medical theories.</p>

Establishment of MDCK cell models expressing human MATE1 or co-expressing with human OCT1 or OCT2 / 药学学报

To establish single- and double-transfected transgenic cells stably expressing hMATE1, hMATE1 cDNA was cloned by RT-PCR from human cryopreserved kidney tissue, and subcloned into pcDNA3.1(+) plasmid by virtue of both HindIII and Kpn I restriction enzyme sites. Subsequently, the recombined pcDNA3.1(+)- hMATE1 plasmid was transfected into MDCK, MDCK-hOCT1 or MDCK-hOCT2 cells using Lipofectamine 2000 Reagent. After a 14-day-cultivation with hygromycin B at the concentration of 400 µg · mL(-1), all clones were screened with DAPI and MPP+ as substrates to identify the best candidate. The mRNA content of hMATE1, the cellular accumulation of metformin with or without cimetidine as inhibitor, or transportation of cimetidine was further valuated. The results showed that all of the three cell models over expressed hMATE1 mRNA. The cellular accumulation of metformin in MDCK-hMATE1 was 17.6 folds of the control cell, which was significantly inhibited by 100 µmol · L(-1) cimetidine. The transcellular transport parameter net efflux ratios of cimetidine across MDCK-hOCT1/hMATE1 and MDCK-hOCT2/hMATE1 monolayer were 17.5 and 3.65, respectively. In conclusion, cell models with good hMATE1 function have been established successfully, which can be applied to study the drug transport or drug-drug interaction involving hMATE1 alone or together with hOCT1/2 in vitro.

Expression of non-neuronal cholinergic system in maxilla of rat in vivo

BACKGROUND: Acetylcholine (ACh) is known to be a key neurotransmitter in the central and peripheral nervous systems, which is also produced in a variety of non-neuronal tissues and cell. The existence of ACh in maxilla in vivo and potential regulation role for osteogenesis need further study. RESULTS: Components of the cholinergic system (ACh, esterase, choline acetyltransferase, high-affinity choline uptake, n- and mAChRs) were determined in maxilla of rat in vivo, by means of Real-Time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Results showed RNA for CarAT, carnitine/acylcarnitine translocase member 20 (Slc25a20), VAChT, OCTN2, OCT1, OCT3, organic cation transporter member 4 (Slc22a4), AChE, BChE, nAChR subunits α1, α2, α3, α5, α7, α10, ß1, ß2, ß4, γ and mAChR subunits M1, M2, M3, M4, M5 were detected in rat's maxilla. RNA of VAChT, AChE, nAChR subunits α2, ß1, ß4 and mAChR subunits M4 had abundant expression (2(-ΔCt) > 0.03). Immunohistochemical staining was conducted for ACh, VAChT, nAChRα7 and AChE. ACh was expressed in mesenchymal cells, chondroblast, bone and cartilage matrix and bone marrow cells, The VAChT expression was very extensively while ACh receptor α7 was strongly expressed in newly formed bone matrix of endochondral and bone marrow ossification, AchE was found only in mesenchymal stem cells, cartilage and bone marrow cells. CONCLUSIONS: ACh might exert its effect on the endochondral and bone marrow ossification, and bone matrix mineralization in maxilla.

Progress in the study of multidrug and toxin extrusion proteins / 药学学报

Mammal multidrug and toxin extrusion proteins (MATEs) play an important role in the transport of organic cations in the body. MATEs mediate the final excretion step for multiple organic cation drug used clinically and important endogenous substances. This article reviews the discovery, type, gene coding and polymorphism, body distribution, classification of substrates and inhibitors and their research method of MATEs. The article also discusses the major research significance of MATEs with examples.

Genetics and pedigree analysis of primary carnitine deficiency cardiomyopathy in 6 cases / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the mutation and background of SLC22A5 in 6 patients with primary carnitine deficiency (PCD) who only presented as cardiomyopathy.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Genomic DNA were abstracted from the blood of the patients and their parents. Using high-throughput sequencing to determine the mutation site.Using Sanger method to confirm the mutated alleles in PCD patients and detect the corresponding sequences in their patients. Using SIFT and PolyPhen to predict the function of protein for detected missense mutations.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Three different mutations were identified, including 2 nonsense mutations (R254X and R289X), 1 missense mutation (C113Y), R254X was the most frequently seen mutation. Four patients had compound heterozygous mutations and 2 patients had homozygous mutations. Their parents were found to have heterozygous mutations in corresponding alleles.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>R254X, R289X and C113Y might be associated with primary carnitine deficiency.</p>

Mutation analysis for a family affected with riboflavin responsive-multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify pathogenic mutation in a boy affected with riboflavin responsive-multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (RR-MADD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The patient was initially diagnosed as primary carnitine deficiency (PCD) and has been treated with carnitine supplementation for 7 years. Clinical manifestations and characteristics of fibula muscle specimen were analyzed. Potential mutation in electron transfer flavoprotein dehydrogenase (ETFDH) gene (for the patient and his parents) and carnitine transfer protein gene (SLC22A5) (for the patient) was screened.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Electronic microscopy of the muscle specimen has suggested lipid storage myopathy. Mutation analysis has found that the patient carried compound heterozygous mutations, c.250G>A and c.380T>C, in exon 3 of the ETFDH gene, whilst his father and mother were heterozygous for the c.380T>C and c.250G>A mutations, respectively. Screening of the SLC22A5 gene has yielded no clinically meaningful result. After the establishment of diagnosis of RR-MADD, the condition of the patient has improved greatly with supplementation of high doses of riboflavin along with continuous carnitine supplement.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The c.250G>A (p.Ala84Thr) mutation of exon 3 of the ETFDH gene has been a hot spot in Southern Chinese population, whilst the c.380T>C (p.Leu127Pro) is rarely reported. Our case has suggested that therapeutic diagnosis cannot substitute genetic testing. The mechanism for having stabilized the patient with only carnitine supplementation for 7 years needs further investigation.</p>

Primary carnitine deficiency in 17 patients: diagnosis, treatment and follow up / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Many children were found to have low free carnitine level in blood by tandem mass spectrometry technology. In some of the cases the problems occurred secondary to malnutrition, organic acidemia and other fatty acid oxidation metabolic diseases, and some of cases had primary carnitine deficiency (PCD). In the present article, we discuss the diagnosis of PCD and evaluate the efficacy of carnitine in the treatment of PCD.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>We measured the free carnitine (C0) and acylcarnitine levels in the blood of 270 000 neonates from newborns screening program and 12 000 children with suspected clinical inherited metabolic diseases by tandem mass spectrometry. The mutations of carnitine transporter protein were tested to the children with low C0 level and the diagnosis was made. The children with PCD were treated with 100 - 300 mg/kg of carnitine.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Seventeen children were diagnosed with PCD, 6 from newborn screening program and 11 from clinical patients. Mutations were found in all of them. The average C0 level [(2.9 ± 2.0) µmol/L] in patients was lower than the reference value (10 µmol/L), along with decreased level of different acylcarnitines. The clinical manifestations were diverse. For the 6 patients from newborn screening, 4 were asymptomatic, 1 showed hypoglycaemia and 1 showed movement intolerance from 2 years of age. For the 11 clinical patients, 8 showed hepatomegaly, 7 showed myasthenia, 6 showed cardiomyopathy, 1 showed chronic abdominal pain, and 1 showed restlessness and learning difficulty. Among these patients, 14 cases were treated with carnitine. Their clinical symptoms disappeared 1 to 3 months later. The C0 level in the blood rose to normal, with the average from (4.0 ± 2.7) µmol/L to (20.6 ± 8.3) µmol/L (P < 0.01). However, the level was still lower than the average level of healthy children [(27.1 ± 4.5) µmol/L, P < 0.01].</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Seventeen patients were diagnosed with PCD by the test levels of free carnitine and acylcarnitines in blood with tandem mass spectrometry, and gene mutation test. Large dose of carnitine had a good effect in treatment of the PCD patients.</p>

Association of prostate cancer with PDLIM5, SLC22A3 and NKX3-1 in Chinese men / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association of prostate cancer (PCa) with PDLIM5 (rs17021918, T), SLC22A3 (rs9364554, C) and NKX3-1 (rs1512268, A) in Chinese men.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We included 124 PCa patients and 138 normal controls in this study, compared the alleles and genotypes of PDLIM5 (rs17021918, T) , SLC22A3 (rs9364554, C) and NKX3-1 (rs1512268, A) of the two groups, and explored the association of each of the genes with the age, body mass index (BMI), Gleason score, PSA level and tumor stage of the patients. We analyzed the gene-gene interaction using the multifactor dimensionality reduction method (MDR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no statistically significant differences in the frequency distribution of the risk alleles and genotypes of PDLIM5, SLC22A3 and NKX3-1 between the case and control groups (P > 0.05), nor were the three gene loci significantly associated with the age, Gleason score, PSA level and pathological grade of the PCa patients (CP < 0.05). MDR analysis showed no interaction between PDLIM5 and NKX3-1, but tree-diagram analysis revealed a possible synergistic action of the two polymorphism loci.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PCa might not be associated with PDLIM5 (rs17021918,T), SLC22A3 (rs9364554,C) and NKX3-1 (rs1512268,A) in Chinese men. However, PDLIM5 and NKX3-1 might have a synergistic action on the risk PCa.</p>

Role of transporters in hepatic drug disposition / 药学学报

Liver is regarded as one of the most important organs for drug clearance in the body, which mediates both the metabolism and biliary excretion of drugs. Transporters are a class of functional membrane proteins and control the movement of substances into or out of cells. Transporters, which are extensively expressed in the liver, play important roles in the drug hepatic disposition by regulating the uptake of drugs from blood into hepatocytes or the efflux of drugs and their metabolites into bile. In this review, the localization, functions and substrate selectivity of the major transporters in the liver will be summarized, and the impacts of these transporters on drug hepatic disposition, the potential drug-drug interactions as well as their genetic polymorphisms will also be reviewed.

Effect of pravastatin on transportation of scutellarin in mouse liver and its mechanism / 药学学报

This study is to investigate the transportation of scutellarin in cell and live models and study on mechanism of absorption and transport of scutellarin in mouse liver. The concentration of scutellarin in plasma and liver from control and pretreated groups was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The uptake of scutellarin was examined in control hepatocytes group, induced hepatocytes group and induced hepatocytes plus pravastatin group. Pravastatin can affect the pharmacokinetics of scutellarin in mouse: CL is decreased while AUC is increased. The scutellarin absorption of hepatocyte induced group was higher than that of control group, but was decreased in the group with pravastatin added. The research showed that there was potential drug interaction between pravastatin and scutellarin. The drugs may compete for oatp2 mediated transport pathway consisted in the uptake of scutellarin in liver.

A review on regulation of drug transporters during inflammation / 药学学报

Drug metabolism will change significantly during inflammation, including the reduction of expression and activity of many drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters. Body would release a series of inflammatory cytokines which can regulate drug metabolizing enzymes. Recent studies have revealed that drug transporters are also regulated by the cytokines with obvious species difference. Mechanism studies show that several transcription factors play important roles during the signal pathways of regulation. This review focuses on the progress in the regulation of drug transporters during inflammation.

A Case of Exercise-induced Acute Renal Failure with G774A Mutation in SCL22A12 Causing Renal Hypouricemia

Acute renal failure with severe loin pain which develops after anaerobic exercise is rare. One of predisposing factors of exercise-induced acute renal failure is renal hypouricemia. Idiopathic renal hypouricemia is a genetic disorder characterized by hypouricemia with abnormally high renal tubular uric acid excretion. The mutation in SCL22A12 gene which encodes renal uric acid transporter, URAT1, is the known major cause of this disorder. We here described a 25-yr-old man showing idiopathic renal hypouricemia with G774A mutation in SCL22A12 who presented exercise-induced acute renal failure. There have been a few reports of mutational analysis in Korean idiopathic renal hypouricemia without acute renal failure. This is the first report of genetically diagnosed idiopathic renal hypouricemia with exercise-induced acute renal failure in Korea.

Arranjos supramoleculares de oligodeoxinucleotídeos e fragmentos de bicamada catiônica: preparação, caracterização e atividade imunoadjuvante / Supramolecular assemblies of oligodeoxynucleotides and cationic bilayer fragments: preparation, characterization and immunoadjuvant activity

A interação entre fragmentos de bicamada (BF) de brometo de dioctadecildimetilamônio (DODAB) e um mononucleotídeo-modelo (deoxiadenosina monofosfato, dAMP) ou um oligodeoxinucleotídeo-modelo (5'- AAAAAAAAAA-3', poli(dA)) ou um oligodeoxinucleotídeo terapêutico (5'- TTGACGTTCG -3', CpG) foi investigada por turbidimetria, espalhamento de luz dinâmico, espectroscopia de dicroísmo circular e de fluorescência e calorimetria diferencial de varredura (DSC). Respostas imunológicas foram caracterizadas com ensaio de hipersensibilidade tardia por inchamento de coxim patelar de camundongo, dosagem de anticorpos IgG1 e IgG2a e de citocinas secretadas por células de linfonodo em cultura. Poli(dA), em contraste com dAMP, induziu fusão máxima de DODAB BF a partir da neutralização de cargas, quando houve obtenção de um tamanho máximo e um potencial-zeta igual a zero para os arranjos. Para [poli(dA)] maiores do que aquela correspondente à neutralização de cargas, houve recuperação da estabilidade coloidal com reversão do potencial-zeta e com obtenção de tamanhos que foram aproximadamente o dobro daqueles determinados inicialmente para DODAB BF. A proporção molar de neutralização poli(dA): DODAB foi 1:10 para DODAB BF e 1:20 para vesículas grandes (LV) de DODAB, de acordo com as estruturas de bicamada aberta e fechada dessas duas dispersões de bicamada de DODAB. A fusão de DODAB BF induzida por poli(dA) foi extensiva aumentando o grau de empacotamento das bicamadas formadas conforme inferido a partir dos termogramas de DSC. Em condições de equivalencia de cargas, nucleotídeo não causou fusão de DODAB BF, mostrando a importância do caráter de polieletrólito do poli(dA) para induzir fusão. O sal divalente Na2HPO4 causou fusão e aumentou o empacotamento da bicamada graças à blindagem eficiente de cargas. Reestabilização coloidal como aquela induzida por poli(dA) não ocorreu em presença de Na2HPO4, NaCl ou nucleotídeo. Para complexos DODAB BF/CpG em presença de ovalbumina (OVA)...

The interaction between bilayer fragments (BF) of dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB) and a model nucleotide (deoxyadenosine monophosphate, dAMP) or a model oligodeoxynucleotide (5'- AAAAAAAAAA-3', poly(dA)) or a therapeutic oligodeoxynucleotide (5'- TTGACGTTCG -3', CpG) was investigated by means of turbidimetry, dynamic light scattering, circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopies and differential scanning calorimetry. Immune responses were characterized using footpad swelling delayed type hipersensitivity assay and antibody and cytokine measurements. In contrast to dAMP, poly(dA) induced maximal DODAB BF fusion from charge neutralization, where assemblies presented maximal size and zero zeta-potential. Above charge neutralization colloid stability was recovered with negative zeta-potentials and sizes that were about the double of those initially determined for DODAB BF. The poly(dA):DODAB molar ratio for neutralization was 1:10 for DODAB BF and 1:20 for DODAB LV, in agreement with the open and closed bilayer structures of these two DODAB bilayer dispersions. The poly(dA)-induced DODAB BF fusion was extensive and increased the packing of the formed bilayers, as inferred from DSC thermograms. In conditions of charge equivalence, nucleotide did not cause DODAB BF fusion, highlighting the importance of poly(dA)'s polyelectrolyte character to induce fusion. Divalent Na2HPO4 salt caused fusion and increased bilayer packing due to efficient BF charge shielding. Colloid restabilization as induced by poly(dA) was not observed in presence of Na2HPO4, NaCl and nucleotide. For DODAB BF/CpG complexes in presence of the ovalbumin (OVA) model antigen, the charge neutralization of DODAB BF/OVA by CpG reduced colloid stability, while charge overcompensation led to restabilization due to electrostatic repulsion, as observed for DODAB BF/poly(dA) interaction. Differences in size and neutralization proportions by CpG indicate that BF are able to load more OVA…

Association of the exon 8 and intron 8 polymorphisms of the human urate transporter 1 gene with primary hyperuricemia in Chinese Han population / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association of the exon 8 and intron 8 polymorphisms of the human urate transporter 1 gene SLC22A12 with primary hyperuricemia (HUA) in Chinese Han population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Genomic DNA from 215 individuals with HUA and 323 controls was extracted. The exon 8 and intron 8 of the SLC22A12 gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR product was sequenced directly. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected and the association of the SNPs with primary HUA was assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Two SNPs were identified, they were T1309C located in exon 8 (rs7932775) and -103A to G located in intron 8. Pairwise linkage disequilibrium analysis displayed an absolute linkage disequilibrium between the two SNPs (D'= 1). (2) The minor allele frequencies for both SNPs were 51.9% in HUA patients, which were significantly different from that of controls (42.4%)(P< 0.01). (3) The genotype frequencies of GG+ GA and CC+ CT in HUA patients were significantly higher than that in controls (80.0% vs. 69.0%, P< 0.01). (4) Individuals of both GG+ GA and CC+ CT genotypes had 1.79 fold increase of HUA risk (OR= 1.794, 95%CI: 1.19-2.70).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These findings indicated that T1309C and -103A to G polymorphisms of the SLC22A12 gene were associated with primary HUA in Chinese Han population.</p>

Mangiferin promotes uric acid excretion and kidney function improvement and modulates related renal transporters in hyperuricemic mice / 药学学报

The effects of mangiferin on uric acid excretion, kidney function and related renal transporters were investigated in hyperuricemic mice induced by potassium oxonate. Mice were divided into normal control group, and 5 hyperuricemic groups with model control, 50, 100, and 200 mg x kg(-1) mangiferin, and 5 mg x kg(-1) allopurinol. Mice were administered by gavage once daily with 250 mg x kg(-1) potassium oxonate for seven consecutive days to create the model. And 3 doses of mangiferin were orally initiated on the day 1 h after potassium oxonate was given, separately. Serum uric acid, creatinine and urea nitrogon levels, as well as urinary uric acid creatinine levels were measured. Mouse uromodulin (mUMOD) levels in serum, urine and kidney were determined by ELISA method. The mRNA and protein levels of related renal transporters were assayed by RT-PCR and Western blotting methods, respectively. Compared to model group, mangiferin significantly reduced serum uric acid, creatinine and urea nitrogon levels, increased 24 h uric acid and creatinine excretion, and fractional excretion of uric acid in hyperuricemic mice, exhibiting uric acid excretion enhancement and kidney function improvement. Mangiferin was found to down-regulate mRNA and protein levels of urate transporter 1 (mURAT1) and glucose transporter 9 (mGLUT9), as well as up-regulate organic anion transporter 1 (mOAT1) in the kidney of hyperuricemic mice. These findings suggested that mangiferin might enhance uric acid excretion and in turn reduce serum uric acid level through the decrease of uric acid reabsorption and the increase of uric acid secretion in hyperuricemic mice. Moreover, mangiferin remarkably up-regulated expression levels of renal organic cation and carnitine transporters (mOCT1, mOCT2, mOCTN1 and mOCTN2), increased urine mUMOD levels, as well as decreased serum and kidney mUMOD levels in hyperuricemic mice, which might be involved in mangiferin-mediated renal protective action.

Advances in the study of regulation of novel organic cation transporter-2 / 药学学报

Novel organic cation transporter-2 (OCTN2), a member of the organic cation transporter family, may transport carnitine and multiple organic cationic drugs. Thus OCTN2 possesses substantial roles in physiology and pharmacology. A number of researches have proven that many factors can regulate the expression and/or function of OCTN2 via different pathways, and then may affect the homeostasis and disposition of drugs. This paper reviews recent progresses in this field.