Detection of Apolipoprotein E Gene Polymorphism and Blood Lipid Level in Hemodialysis Patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to investigate the clinical characteristics of lipid metabolism and the effect of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene polymorphism on lipid metabolism in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: The serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), ApoA1, ApoB, ApoE and lipoprotein Lp(a) were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: The level of serum TG was significantly increased and the level of HDLC was significantly decreased in hemodialysis patients. Serum TG level was 33% higher than normal, and HDLC was 10.4% less than normal. The correlation analysis showed that TG level was significantly correlated with serum albumin level and extracorporeal circulation blood flow during dialysis. HDLC was significantly correlated with KT/V. The incidence of hypertension in hemodialysis patients was 73.6% and cardiovascular disease was 25%. The level of TG in the cardiovascular disease group was significantly higher than that in the non-cardiovascular disease group, and there was no significant difference between the hypertensive group and the non-hypertensive group. ApoE gene polymorphism test showed that the frequency of ApoE genotype ε3/3 and allele ε3 was the highest in hemodialysis patients, and the levels of TC, TG and LDLC were higher in ApoE genotype ε3/4 + ε4/4. CONCLUSION: The levels of serum TG and ApoB were significantly increased in patients with hemodialysis, and HDLC and other indexes were significantly decreased. The level of TG in patients with cardiovascular complications was significantly higher than in patients without complications. TG level was significantly correlated with serum albumin level and extracorporeal circulation blood flow during dialysis. HDLC was significantly correlated with KT/V. Hemodialysis patients who had ApoE allele ε4 are prone to lipid metabolism disorders.

Tracking intrahepatically transplanted islets labeled with Feridex-polyethyleneimine complex using a clinical 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the images acquired with a clinical 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging machine as the quantification of transplanted and surviving islets in vivo. METHODS: Polyethyleneimine (PEI) was introduced to increase the labeling efficiency of Feridex, a dextran-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide. Allogeneic (Lewis-to-Wistar) and syngeneic (Wistar-to-Wistar) intraheptatic islet transplantations were performed to study the relationship among magnetic resonance imaging, metabolic monitoring, and pathological examination. RESULTS: After receiving Feridex-PEI-labeled islets, dark voids could be observed in the livers of both groups, accompanied with a significant decrease in liver/muscle intensity ratio from 1.25 +/- 0.03 to 1.09 +/- 0.05 (P < 0.01). One week after transplantation, islet grafts were rejected in the allogeneic group. Rapid disappearance of dark voids and a significant increase of liver/muscle ratio were observed. No islet grafts could be found in the paraffin sections of livers by that time. Meanwhile, in the syngeneic group, islet grafts survived indefinitely. Dark voids persisted and low liver/muscle ratios retained. The fact that the dark voids represented the labeled islets was confirmed by combined staining of insulin activity and Prussian blue. CONCLUSIONS: Either spot counting or signal intensity measurement provides a perfect quantification of transplanted and surviving islets in vivo. Feridex-PEI provides an effective and safe way to label islets.

The expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and C-C chemokine receptor 2 in post-kidney transplant patients and the influence of simvastatin treatment.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in post-kidney transplantation. METHODS: Sixty patients, selected from 167 renal transplant patients, were divided into 2 groups: Group A (normal lipidemia group, n=30) and Group B (hyperlipidemia group, n=30). In addition, Control Group came from 30 healthy volunteers. In Group B, the patients were treated with simvastatin for 3 months. The mRNA expressions of MCP-1 and CCR2 were detected with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The mRNA expressions of MCP-1 and CCR2 of all post-kidney transplant patients were significantly higher than controls. Compare Group A with Group B and the mRNA expressions of MCP-1 and CCR2 in Group B were much higher than Group A. After simvastatin treatment, the mRNA expressions of MCP-1 and CCR2 were significantly reduced in one and a half months and decreased to the lowest levels in three months. CONCLUSIONS: Simvastatin decreased the expressions of MCP-1 and CCR2 in post-kidney transplant patients with hyperlipidemia.

TNF-alpha and the phenotypic transformation of human peritoneal mesothelial cell.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate if tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) could induce phenotypic transformation or the associated cell function changes of human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs). METHODS: All tests were performed on the human peritoneal mesothelial cell line (HMrSV5, kindly donated by Prof. Pierre RONCO). Morphological changes of HPMCs were observed by phase contrast microscopy. The expressions of cytokeratin 8, cytokeratin 18 and vimentin were detected by immunocytochemistry. mRNA expressions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) were detected by semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Production of MMP-9 and type I collagen was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: TNF-alpha (1 - 10 ng/ml) induced morphological changes in about 50% - 60% of human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs). The original polygonal cobblestone monolayer was changed into elongated, spindle-shape characteristic of fibroblasts. The original strong positive expression of cytokeratin 8 and cytokeratin 18 was changed in all morphologically changed HPMCs to negative, but the expression of vimentin maintained positive. By 4-hour treatment with TNF-alpha (1 - 10 ng/ml), mRNA expression of MMP9 was significantly up-regulated, and mRNA expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were down-regulated. We also observed that the production of MMP-9 and type I collagen increased significantly after 24-hour treatment with TNF-alpha. CONCLUSION: 24-hour treatment with TNF-alpha, produced a partial transformation of HPMCs into the fibroblast phenotype. TNF-alpha treatment of HPMCs up-regulated the synthesis of MMP-9 and type I collagen, which may facilitate peritoneal extracellular matrix remodeling and fibrogenesis.