Expression of FK506-binding protein 52 (FKBP52) in chorionic villi with early recurrent spontaneous abortion.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mRNA and protein expression of FK506-binding protein 52 (FKBP52) in the chorionic villi of patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) and normal women during early pregnancy. METHODS: Fresh chorionic villus tissues were collected from 60 subjects. A total of 30 patients with a history of RSA were enrolled into the RSA group and 30 normal pregnant women were enrolled into the control group. The FKBP52 mRNA expression levels in chorionic villi of the RSA patients and healthy controls were measured via semiquantitative RT-PCR. The protein distribution and expression levels of FKBP52 in chorionic villi were analyzed through immunohistochemistry (IHC). The correlation between FKBP52 expression and RSA was analyzed. RESULTS: We demonstrated that FKBP52 mRNA is expressed in chorionic villi samples of normal pregnancy and RSA. RSA patients exhibited significantly lower FKBP52 gene expression levels compared with those in normal pregnancies (p < 0.05). FKBP52 immunoreactivity in chorionic villi was mainly observed in trophoblast cell cytoplasm. The FKBP52 protein expression levels in the chorionic villi of RSA patients was significantly lower than in normal women during pregnancy (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: FKBP52 protein levels were decreased in the chorionic villi of RSA patients, which indicate that the decrease in FKBP52 may be associated with RSA. The low FKBP52 mRNA expression level, which is consistent with the IHC result, may affect embryonic development and even lead to abortion. FKBP52 may be involved in the pathogenesis of RSA and new therapies that increase the FKBP52 expression may help treat RSA.

Association between islet xenograft rejection mediated by activated macrophages and upregulated chemokines / 中南大学学报(医学版)

Objective Our previous study has shown that porcine antigen-primed and CD4 + T cells activated macrophages are capable of the ecognition and rejection of porcine xenografts but not mouse allografts, and therefore suggested the involvement of signaling between the graft and macrophages in this specific graft recognition and destruction. Methods NOD-SCID mice were transplanted with fetal pig pancreatic fragment (FPP) before adoptive transfer with exogenous macrophages isolated from rejecting FPP xenografts of BALB/c recipient mice. The exogenous macrophages were tracked by Ly5.1 surface antigen or via CSFE staining. Gene expression of CCR2 and CCR5 and their chemokines in transplanted FPP xenografts was evaluated by real-time PCR. Results After the adoptive transfer, recently transplanted but not established FPP xenografts were rejected by exogenous activated macrophages. In the meantime, greater level of chemokine gene expression was detected in recently-transplanted compared with the established xenografts. Furthermore, expression of both CCR2 and CCR5 genes was enhanced significantly in activated macrophages when compared with non-activated macrophages. Conclusion Upregulated chemokines were associated with macrophage recruitment and destruction of islet xenografts.

Elemental contents in organs and tissues of Chinese adult men / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide basis of reference values for relevant parameters of Chinese Reference Man.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighteen kinds of major organ or tissue samples, including muscle, rib, liver, and so on, were obtained from 4 areas (Hebei, Shanxi, Jiangsu, and Sichuan provinces) with different dietary patterns in China in autopsy of 16 healthy adult men, who had just encountered sudden deaths. At the same time, whole blood samples were collected from 10 volunteers living in each of these areas. The concentrations of 56 elements in these samples were detected by using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES), and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GF-AAS) techniques. Based on obtained concentrations and reference values of these organ or tissue weights for Chinese Reference Man, the relative elemental burdens in these organs or tissues as well whole body were also estimated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The concentrations of 56 elements in 18 main organs or tissues were determined all together and their elemental organ or tissue and whole body burdens were estimated. Furthermore, the distributions of important elements for radiation protection in these organs or tissues were emphatically discussed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>By summing with past related results, the total results obtained from the series of research may provide more reliable and better representative basis of these reference values for Chinese Reference Man than before.</p>

[Correlation of light rare earth elements in rats hair, blood and organs].

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation of rare earth elements (REEs) in the rats' hair, blood and organs. METHODS: Based on the level of animal weights, 50 healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups including control group and four Citrate REEs level groups (low, middle, high-I and high-II). Before the experiment, the hair of rats' back was eliminated. After the rats were fed for four weeks, the fresh hair of the rats was collected. Except the high-II group, the blood and organs of the others were collected. The high-II group was fed for other four weeks without Citrate REEs. At the end of eighth week, hair, blood and organs of the high-II group were collected. Determination of light REEs concentration in the rats' hair, blood, liver, spleen and bone by ICP-MS. RESULTS: The correlation coefficients of REEs concentration between hair and organs (such as liver, spleen and bone) were more than 0.5, while those of REEs concentration between blood and organs (such as liver spleen and bond) were less than 0.5. In the group H- Il, the Rees concentration in blood, hair, liver, spleen and bone were all decrease, and the REEs concentration of blood was close to that of the control groups. CONCLUSION: The concentrations of REEs in these organs were different. And hair was better than blood as a biomarker to reflect body exposure of REEs.