Identification of ORM1, vWF, SPARC, and PPBP as immune-related proteins involved in immune thrombocytopenia by quantitative LC-MS/MS.

BACKGROUND: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a common autoimmune disease characterized by loss of immune tolerance to platelet autoantigens leading to excessive destruction and insufficient production of platelets. METHOD: Quantitative liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was performed to detect the differentially expressed proteins in bone marrow samples from active ITP patients and normal controls. RESULT: Our bioinformatic analysis identified two upregulated proteins (ORM1 and vWF) and two downregulated proteins (PPBP and SPARC) related to immune function. The four proteins were all found to be related to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α signalling pathway and involved in the pathogenesis of ITP in KEGG pathway analysis. CONCLUSION: Bioinformatics analysis identified differentially expressed proteins in bone marrow that are involved in the TNF-α signalling pathway and are related to the activation of immune function in ITP patients. These findings could provide new ideas for research on the loss of immune tolerance in ITP patients.

Gene mutations in the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway were related to immune thrombocytopenia pathogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Immune thrombocytopenic (ITP) is an autoimmune bleeding disease with genetic susceptibility. Twenty newly diagnosed active primary ITP patients who had not been treated with glucocorticosteroids, immune globulin or immunosuppressants prior to sampling were enrolled in this study. Bone marrow blood mononuclear cells were used for whole exome sequencing to further elucidation the variant genes of ITP. METHODS: High-molecular-weight genomic DNA was extracted from freshly frozen bone marrow blood mononuclear cells from 20 active ITP patients. Next, the samples were subjected to molecular genetic analysis by whole-exome sequencing, and the results were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. The signaling pathways and cellular processes associated with the mutated genes were identified with gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses. RESULTS: The results showed that there were 3998 missense mutations involving 2269 genes in more than 10 individuals. Unique genetic variants including phosphatase and tensin homolog, insulin receptor, and coagulation factor C homology were the most associated with the pathogenesis of ITP. Functional analysis revealed these mutation genes mainly affect Phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/serine/threonine kinase B signaling pathways (signal transduction) and platelet activation (immune system). CONCLUSION: Our finding further demonstrates the functional connections between these variant genes and ITP. Although the substantial mechanism and the impact of genetic variation are required further investigation, the application of next generation sequencing in ITP in this paper is a valuable method to reveal the genetic susceptibility.

High-throughput DNA methylation analysis in ITP confirms NOTCH1 hypermethylation through the Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation pathways.

BACKGROUND: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a prevalent autoimmune disease with a complex aetiology where DNA methylation changes are becoming triggers. METHOD: To investigate novel abnormally methylated genes in the pathogenesis of ITP, we performed a high-throughput methylation analysis on 21 ITP patients and 9 normal control samples. We analysed the extent of key methylated genes and their downstream cytokines through Luminex assay or qRT-PCR. Then, bone marrow mononuclear cells were extracted from ITP patients, and decitabine (demethylation drug) was added to the culture medium of cultured cells. qRT-PCR and ELISA were used to detect whether decitabine could effectively affect target genes and related cytokines. RESULTS: Through the STRING and Metascape databases, hypermethylated NOTCH1 can be identified and can influence ITP by regulating many downstream cytokines through Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation pathways. Compared with those in the normal control group, the expression levels of NOTCH1 and its downstream Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, and GATA3) were significantly decreased and those of Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-12, and TNF-α) were significantly increased in the ITP group. Decitabine exerts its demethylation effect, so the expression of NOTCH1 and its related cytokines in the ITP group treated with 100 nM decitabine were significantly reversed. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the pathogenesis of ITP may exert its influence on epigenetics through alteration of DNA methylation at regulatory regions of the target NOTCH1 gene in the Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation pathways. At the same time, decitabine may achieve a therapeutic effect on ITP by demethylation.

Research Progress on Artemisinin and Its Derivatives against Hematological Malignancies.

Although current therapeutic methods against hematological malignancies are effective in the early stage, they usually lose their effectiveness because of the development of drug resistances. Seeking new drugs with significant therapeutic effects is one of the current research hotspots. Artemisinin, an extract from the plant Artemisia annua Linne, and its derivatives have excellent antimalarial effects in clinical applications as well as excellent safety. Recent studies have documented that artemisinin and its derivatives (ARTs) also have significant effects against multiple types of tumours, including hematological malignancies. This review focuses on the latest research achievements of ARTs in the treatment of hematological malignancies as well as its mechanisms and future applications. The mechanisms of ARTs against different types of hematological malignancies mainly include cell cycle arrest, induction autophagy and apoptosis, inhibition of angiogenesis, production of reactive oxygen species, and induction of differentiation. Additionally, the review also summarizes the anticancer effects of ARTs in many drug-resistant hematological malignancies and its synergistic effects with other drugs.

The tissue distribution in mice and pharmacokinetics in rabbits of oxaliplatin liposome.

A rapid, sensitive, and simple high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with an ultraviolet detector (UV) has been developed for the determination of oxaliplatin in the plasma of rabbits and tissues of mice. The sample preparation was carried out by complexation with 0.5 mL of DETC (diethyl-dithiocarbamate) solution and extracted by ether and chloroform. Then, 20 microL of supernatant was injected into the HPLC system with 0.25 mol/L of sodium chloride solution and methanol (30:70 v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Separation was performed with a C(18) column at 25 degrees C. The peak was detected at 254 nm. The calibration curve was linear (R(2) > or = 0.9995) in the concentration range of 0.1 approximately 200 microg/mL in plasma and tissues. The intra- and interday variation coefficients were not more than 2.61 and 3.83%, respectively. The limit of detection was 20 ng/mL. The mean recoveries of oxaliplatin were ranged from 97.83 to 104.17% in plasma and tissues. The present method has been successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of oxaliplatin liposome in mice and rabbits.

Blockade of T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule 3 aggravates T-helper cell 1 polarization in immune thrombocytopenia.

: An increased T-helper cell (Th) 1/Th2 ratio in the peripheral blood has been proposed to correlate with the disease activity of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule 3 (TIM-3) is a Th1-associated cell surface molecule that regulates Th1 responses and promotes tolerance. Consequently, we aimed to determine whether the regulation of TIM-3 expression is likely to be a promising therapeutic approach for ITP. In the present study, we investigated the immunomodulatory activities of TIM-3 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures. Levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-2, and IL-10 were determined in PBMCs from 11 ITP patients and 10 healthy patients after TIM-3 antibody administration for 48 h. The proliferation of PBMCs was examined by cell counting kit-8 assay. Flow cytometry was used to observe apoptosis by staining cells with annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidine iodide. PBMCs from ITP patients secreted higher amounts of IFN-γ than those from control patients but paradoxically expressed lower levels of TIM-3. Depletion of TIM-3 in PBMCs in vitro using a TIM-3 antibody enhanced IFN-γ secretion, directly demonstrating that TIM-3 expression on human T cells regulates proliferation and IFN-γ secretion. Failure to upregulate the T-cell expression of TIM-3 may represent a novel intrinsic defect that contributes to the pathogenesis of ITP.

[Expression of TFPI-2 gene and its promoter methylation in acute myeloid leukemia].

The aim of this study was to detect the mRNA expression of tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 ( TFPI-2) and its methylation in bone marrow mononuclear cells from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and to explore its significance in AML. Bone marrow mononuclear cells were isolated from newly diagnosed AML patients (n = 33), complete remission AML patients (n = 19), relapsed/refractory AML patients (n = 12) and iron deficiency anemia patients (control group, n = 15). Expression of TFPI-2 mRNA was detected with real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) and the methylation of CpG island in its promoter was detected with methylation-specific PCR (MSP). The results showed that the expression of TFPI-2 mRNA in newly diagnosed AML, complete remission AML and relapsed/refractory AML patients was much lower than that in the controls (P < 0.05). Furthermore, its expression in relapsed/refractory AML patients was lower than that in newly diagnosed AML patients (P = 0.006). Compared with complete remission AML patients, the expression of TFPI-2 mRNA in newly diagnosed AML patients was significantly reduced (P = 0.030). The percentage of TFPI-2 promoter methylation in AML patients was 64.63% (42/64). In newly diagnosed AML group, complete remission AML group and relapsed/refractory AML group,the percentages of TFPI-2 promoter methylation were 66.67% (22/33), 52.63% (10/19) and 83.33% (10/12) (P > 0.05), respectively. The optical density ratio of TFPI-2 mRNA expression was 0.165 (0.005-2.099) in methylated AML patients, and 0.597 (0.011-2.787) in unmethylated AML patients (P < 0.05). Methylation of TFPI-2 gene promoter was not detected in control patients. After 2 courses of chemotherapy, the level of TFPI-2 mRNA was much higher in the CR group than that in the non-CR group (P < 0.05). It is concluded that the down-regulation or silence of TFPI-2 gene potentially results from its promoter methylation, and the expression level of TFPI-2 and the methylation status of its promoter may be used as indicators of risk stratification and evaluation of disease progress.

[Expressive changes of CD4(+)T cell subset transcription factors in patients with aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia and their clinical significances].

This study was aimed to compare the expressions of specific transcription factors of CD4(+) T cell subset ( T-bet, GATA-3, RORγt and FoxP3 mRNA) in peripheral blood of patients with aplastic anemia(AA), myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS), and acute myeloid leukemia(AML), and investigate their immune status and pathogenesis, so as to provide experimental basis for the choice of clinical treatment. The expression of T-box (T-bet), GATA-3, ROR-γt and Foxp3 mRNA in PBMNC were examined by RT-PCR in 42 cases of MDS, including 22 refractory anemia(MDS-RA) and 20 refractory anemia with excess blasts (MDS-RAEB), in 23 cases of AA, 17 cases of AML patients and 16 healthy volunteers respectively. The results indicated that, compared with normal control group, expressions of T-bet and RORγt mRNA in AA patient group were significantly higher (P < 0.01), expression levels of GATA3 Foxp3 mRNA were lower (both P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in expression of T-bet and GATA3 mRNA between MDS group and normal control group, but the expression levels of Foxp3 and RORγt mRNA were higher than those in normal controls (P < 0.05); T-bet and RORγt in MDS-RA group were higher than those in the normal controls(P < 0.01), and GATA3 expression significantly reduced (P < 0.05), however, there was no significant difference in expression of Foxp3 between MDS-RA and the controls. Expression levels of T-bet and RORγt mRNA in patients with MDS-RAEB and AML were lower than those in normal controls (P < 0.05), but the expression levels of GATA3 and Foxp3 mRNA were significantly higher than those in normal controls (P < 0.01). It is concluded that the transcription factor expressions are different in PBMNC of patients among these three diseases. Immune-mediated excessive apoptosis may play an important role in pathogenesis, bone marrow failure in patients with AA and MDS-RA, and abnormal clones of immature cells may be one of main reasons for bone marrow failure in AML and late stage of MDS.

[Clinical significance of mast cells and IL-9 in B-NHL].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of mast cells and interleukin-9 (IL-9) in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) development and its clinical significance. METHODS: The expression level of CD117 in tumor tissues of 32 B-NHL patients was determined by Western blot. The infiltration of CD117⁺ mast cells (MCs) in human B-NHL tumor tissues was observed by immunohistochemistry staining. To evaluate the correlations between the data from CD117⁺ MCs and biological markers of human B-NHL, a Spearman correlation coefficient (rs) was calculated. IL-9 levels in sera of B-NHL patients were measured by ELISA. Effects of IL-9 on expressions of functional genes of mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) were detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: The expression of CD117 was upregulated significantly in human B-cell NHL involved tissues when compared with that of controls (0.0551±0.0064 vs 0.0192±0.0072, P<0.01). Infiltration of more CD117⁺ MCs was found in tissues from B-cell NHL subjects compared with that of controls. IL-9 level in serum samples from patients with B-cell NHL was higher than that from healthy controls. Addition of rIL-9 to the culture gave rise to increase in the purity of mouse BMMCs in the first three weeks. In vitro culture experiments showed that the addition of IL-9 could induce the differentiation of mouse BMMC and the expressions of MC-related genes, including CD117, Fcer1α, Mcpt1 and Mcpt5. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that IL-9 promoted immune response mediated by MCs, and probably played important roles in B-NHL growth. Pharmacological or targeted inhibition of mast cells or IL-9 activity may provide new strategy for B-cell NHL therapy.

[Changes and clinical significance of CD8(+) T cell subset in patients with aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia].

This study was purposed to detect the balance and the activity change of cytotoxic T cell subsets in aplastic anemia (AA) patients, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, and to explore the cellular immune mechanism for abnormal hematopoiesis of the three diseases, so as to provide experimental basis for the choice of clinical treatment. The proportion of the cytotoxic T cells and part of the T-cells subsets in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry in 35 cases of MDS, including 19 refractory anemia (MDS-RA), 16 refractory anemia with excess blasts (MDS-RAEB), 17 AA, 15 AML patients and 10 normal donors respectively. The results showed that compared with the control group, the percentage of Tc1, Tc1/Tc2, CD8(+)HLA-DR(+), CD3(+)CD8(+)CD28(+), CD8(+)CD45RO(+) cells was significantly higher and the percentage of CD8(+)CD45RA(+) was significantly lower in AA and MDS-RA group. There was no difference in the percentage of Tc2 cells between AA/MDS-RA and normal controls; the percentage of CD8(+)CD45RO(+) cells was significantly higher and the percentage of Tc1, CD3(+)CD8(+)CD28(+), CD8(+)HLA-DR(+) was significantly lower in MDS-RAEB group, the percentage of CD8(+)CD45RA(+) was lower but the difference was not significant, and there was no difference in the percentage of Tc, Tc1/Tc2 cells between MDS-RAEB group and the control group. The percentage of Tc2 cells was significantly higher and the percentage of other parameters was significantly lower in AML group than those of normal controls. It is concluded that the cellular immune statuses in AA, the different stages of MDS and AML are different. In AA and the early stage of MDS, the balance of Tc1/Tc2 shifts to Tc1, and the activation of T-cell subsets increases. In the late stage of MDS and AML, the balance of Tc1/Tc2 shifts to Tc2, the activation of T-cell subsets decreases. The former may be closely related to bone marrow failure while the latter may be one of the important mechanisms in which the malignant clones escape from immune effect.

[Secretion of IL-18 and IL-18 binding protein from splenocytes of ITP patients in vitro].

This study was aimed to investigate the expression and clinical significance of IL-18, IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP), IFN-γ and IL-4 secreted from splenocytes of patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in vitro. Spleen mononuclear cells (MNC) were prepared by using routine sterile method, and were cultured in RPMI 1640 complete medium containing 10 µg/ml PHA, 10% fetal calf serum at 37°C and 5% CO2. The levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-18 and IL-18BP secreted from MNC of ITP patients and normal controls were determined after culture for 48 hours. The results showed that after culture of spleen MNC for 48 hours, the levels of IL-18 and IFN-γ were significantly higher in patients with ITP than that in controls, but the levels of IL-18BP was not significantly elevated in ITP patients. The level of IL-4 was below the detectable limit of the assay used. It is concluded that imbalance between IL-18 and IL-18BP may play an important role in pathogenesis of ITP, and regulation of balance between IL-18 and IL-18BP may be a therapeutic approach against ITP.

[The study of IL-18 and IL-18BP balance in aplastic anemia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of IL-18 and IL-18BP balance in aplastic anemia (AA). METHODS: A total of 29 AA patients and 22 controls were recruited in present research. The expressions of IL-18 and IL-18BP were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA expressions of IL-18 and IL-18BP were measured in all subjects using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The levels of the IL-18 in plasma of AA and normals were (365.5 ± 160.6) pg/ml and (175.9 ± 92.8) pg/ml (P < 0.01); and the expression of IL-18 in severe AA patients (441.3 ± 116.9) pg/ml were higher than that in non-severe AA patients (326.4 ± 167.0) pg/ml (P < 0.05). The level of IL-18BP was increased in plasma of AA (1788.6 ± 523.8) pg/ml than in normals (1083.6 ± 489.6) pg/ml (P < 0.05). But the ratio of IL-18/IL-18BP in AA patients was much higher than that in controls (P < 0.05). RT-PCR revealed the levels of IL-18 and IL-18BP mRNA were up-regulated in AA patients when compared to controls, but the ratio of IL-18/IL-18BP was significantly elevated in AA patients. CONCLUSION: IL-18/IL-18BP imbalance may play an important role in pathogenesis of AA and regulating the balance of IL-18 and IL-18BP may be a therapeutic approach to AA.