The effect of influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 virus infection on cytokine production and gene expression in BV2 microglial cells.

Acute influenza infection has been reported to be associated with neurological symptoms such as influenza-associated encephalopathy (IAE). Although the pathophysiology of this condition remain unclear, neuroinflammation and associated alterations in the central nervous system (CNS) are usually induced. Microglia (MGs), CNS-resident macrophages, are generally the first cells to be activated in response to brain infection or damage. We performed reverse transcriptase droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) and luminex assays to investigate virus proliferation and immune reactions in BV2 MGs infected with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus. Furthermore, isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based quantitative proteomics methods were used to investigate the dynamic change in the protein expression profile in BV2 MGs to gain insight into the CNS response to influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 infection. Our results showed that the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus was replicative and productive in BV2 MG cells, which produced cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1. The expression of osteopontin (OPN) in the influenza A (H1N1) pdm09-infected BV2 MGs was upregulated at 16 and 32 h post-infection (hpi) compared to that in the control group, resulting in aggravated brain damage and inflammation. Our study indicates that OPN signalling might provide new insights into the treatment of CNS injury and neurodegenerative diseases in IAE.

[Angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphism and type 2 diabetic retinopathy].

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively clarify the relationship between angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: A 6-year prospectively study was designed to investigate the change of retina of 72 Type 2 diabetic patients without retinopathy . All patients suffered from diabetes mellitus for more than 5 years and matched well in age, body mass index (BMI), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and fasting blood glucose (FBG). Patients were classified into 3 groups according to their genotypes of ACE. ACE gene I/D polymorphism was identified by polymerase chain reaction. The patients were followed up for 6 years and their BMI, serum creatinine (Scr), MAP, HbA1c, and retina were checked once every 1 - 2 years. RESULTS: Seven subjects (9.7%) were discontinued prematurely. At the end of the study, there were no significant differences in the clinical parameters such as BMI, MAP, FBG, HbA1c, and Scr among the 3 groups (P > 0.05), and also in DR incidence in Type 2 diabetic patients among the 3 groups (II 67.9%, ID 69.6%, DD 64.3%, respectively, P > 0. 05). CONCLUSION: There is no association between ACE gene I/D polymorphism and the genesis and development of DR in Type 2 diabetic patients.

[Levels of transition on maternal transferred measles antibody in infants in 3 cities in China].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of age distribution of measles and related policies on measles vaccines (live; MV) in infants through analyzing the antibody levels of comparison in maternal-infant pairs. Transition of immunity in infants was also studied to provide theoretic basis for measles immunization strategy and to reduce the incidence of month-old infants. METHODS: In cities of Ningbo, Harbin, and Jinan from Zhejiang, Heilongjiang and Shandong provinces, data was collected from 2004 to 2007 and analyzed regarding the epidemic situation of measles. Studies on maternal-transferred measles antibody were carried our sero-epidemiologically. RESULTS: Most of the measles cases were found among babies younger than 12 months, and the incidence of < 1 year olds had been increasing. The distribution was dominated by 5 - 8 month olds in infant measles cases. The positive rate and GRMT of measles antibody in newborns were 89.3 percent and 738.93. The positive rate of the measles antibody and GMRT of the 6-month infant were 6.9% and 6.89, while 6.7% and 3.69 in 8-month infant. There was a declining trend of the positive rate of the measles antibody during the newborns to 8-month infant. The positive rate and GRMT of measles antibody in mothers were 84.3 percent and 516.94. Mother's measles antibodies mainly to be at low and moderate level, which accounted for 50.4 percent and 30.3 percent respectively, the correlation coefficient between mother and infant was 0.840. CONCLUSION: Maternal-transferred measles antibody decreased as the growth of infants. The positive rates of measles antibody were quite low in 6-month and 8-month olds which were the age range that needs most attention.