Siglec-1 on monocytes is a potential risk marker for monitoring disease severity in coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVES: Siglec-1 has long been considered as an important biomarker of the activation of monocyte/macrophage and a type I interferon-specific imprint, but its role in atherosclerosis has not been elucidated. METHODS: We examined the expression of Siglec-1 by flow cytometry and RT-PCR in 83 CAD patients and 38 healthy controls. In addition, the levels of serum lipids, Gensini score, hs-CRP and homocysteine were determined. RESULTS: The transcriptional and protein levels of Siglec-1 on monocytes in CAD patients were significantly increased compared with healthy controls [3.17 versus 1.0, P<0.01; (11.5+/-3.9)% versus (1.8+/-2.0)%, P<0.01], but the increased Siglec-1 had no correlation with the level of native serum lipids. Interestingly, the expression of Siglec-1 was positively correlated with Gensini score (r=0.338, P=0.015), hs-CRP (r=0.316, P=0.016) and homocysteine level (r=0.224, P=0.042). CONCLUSION: Siglec-1 may be considered as a potential non-invasive indicator for monitoring disease severity and a biomarker for predicting the relative risk of cardiovascular events.

[A study on the relativity between La protein and the stability of HBV mRNA and the expression of HBV protein].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relativity between La protein and the stability of HBV mRNA and the expression of HBV protein. METHODS: Four specific siRNAs were obtained by transcription in vitro. After transfection with the siRNAs into HepG2.2.15 cells for 3 days, the inhibitive effects of La protein were analyzed by Western blot; the content changes of HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV-DNA were detected by ECL and RT-PCR. RESULTS: In comparison to normal cells, La protein was less in the cells. There was less La protein in the cells trans-infected with siRNAs. HBsAg, the HBeAg and HBV-DNA secreted by the cells transfected with siRNA were also less than that in the normal cells. CONCLUSION: There is a correlation between La protein and HBV mRNA and the expression of HBV protein.

[Quantitation of antigen specific T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis using tetramer technology].

AIM: To quantitate antigen specific T lymphocytes in peripheral blood from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis(PBC) and study the role of antigen specific T lymphocytes in the development of PBC. METHODS: Using tetramers and CD8 monoclonal antibody staining, PDC-E2 159-167aa and PDC-E2 165-174aa specific CD8(+) T lymphocytes were determined respectively in the peptide-induced cytotoxic T cell lines prepared from peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) of 15 PBC patients. The frequencies of these two kinds of antigen specific T lymphocytes in HLA-A*0201 positive (A2(+)) PBC were compared with those in A2(-) PBC patients, patients with other A2(+) chronic liver diseases and healthy controls. RESULTS: PDC-E2 159-167aa/HLA-A*0201 and PDC-E2 165-174aa/HLA-A*0201 tetramer positive CD8(+) T lymphocytes were detected in all of A2(+) PBC patients with average percentages of 0.42%+/-0.24% (0.17%-1.08%) and 0.27%+/-0.17% (0.05%-0.56%), respectively. The frequencies of the two kinds of antigen specific CD8(+) T lymphocytes from peripheral blood were significantly higher in earlier stages I and II of PBC as compared with stage III (P<0.001), while no difference was found between PDC-E2 159-167aa and PDC-E2 165-174aa specific CD8(+) T lymphocytes at the same stages. In addition, there existed no statistical difference between frequencies of antigen specific T lymphocytes in AMA or anti-PDC positive and negative PBC patients (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that HLA-A*0201 restricted PDC-E2 165-174aa and PDC-E2 159-167aa specific CTL play important roles in the development of PBC, and there might be a similar mechanism of T cell-mediated damage between AMA or anti-PDC positive and negative PBC patients.