AIM To examine hepatitis C in hepatocellular carcinoma in most endemic area, Guangxi, China.METHODS Immunochemistry was performed on formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue sections. A total202 specimens were analysed from the high, intermediate and low HCC prevalent regions of Guangxi.RESULTS The distribution of positive hepatitis C cases from high, intermediate and low regions wasrespectively 24/63 (38%), 23/62 (37%) and 30/77 (39%), with a total of 77/202 (38.12%).CONCLUSION Hepatitis C virus is an important risk factor in the development of hepatocellularcarcinoma, but the regional difference in prevalence of this cancer is more likely influenced by hepatitis Bviral infection and aflatoxin B1 exposure. In Guangxi, infection of hepatitis B and C virus in thedevelopment of hepatocellular carcinoma may be greatly enhanced by exposure to aflatoxin.

AIM To characterize genomic DNA flanking IS900 insertions and develop a rapid Multiplex PCR IS900Locus (MPIL) typing method for MAP reporting the presence or absence of the element at each locus,METHODS Genomic DNA flanking 14 of the 18 IS900 loci was sequenced and compared with databasehomologues. An MPIL typing method was developed using a common IS900 primer and individual locus-specific primers designed to produce amplification products differing by about 50bp which could be easilyresolved on a single gel. MPIL was applied to a panel of 81 MAP isolates and compared with RFLP profiles.RESULTS Genes flanking IS900 loci included homologues of transcription regulators, a sigma factor, anitrate reductase, a polyketide synthase and an O6-methylguanine-methyl transferase. MPIL rapidly andconsistently identified 10 individual types of MAP from the panel of 81 isolates, and distinguished betweenbovine and ovine strains. Nine MPIL types corresponded directly to single RFLP types previously identified.CONCLUSION Isg00 insertions in MAP may affect the expression of genes critically associated with thepathogenic phenotype. MPIL typing can identify bovine and ovine strains independent of the need for cultureand may contribute to studies of the molecular epidemiology of these difficult organisms.

AIM To isolate, done and sequence gcys-18 overexpressed in gastric carcinoma.METHODS gcys-18 was isolated from differential display gel between GC7901 and GES-1 by mRNAdifferential display PCR, and was cloned into T vector. As a probe gcys-18 was hybridized to total RNAs ofGC7901 and GES-l, and was sequenced. Its sequence was screened against GeneBank. According to theobtained sequence, a pair of primers were designed and used to examine 26 specimens of gastric cancers andcorresponding paracancerous tissues by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR.RESULTS gcys-18 was isolated and cloned, and confirmed to be expressed higher in GC7901 than in GES-1 by RNA dot blot; gcys-18 was 416bp, and partly similar to HEK5, and its accepted number in GeneBankwas AF071057; 18 out of 26 specimens of gastric cancers and 2 out of corresponding paracancerous tissueswere examined by RT-PCR.CONCLUSION gcys-18 may be an important expressed sequence tag in gastric cancer, and takes part inprogression of gastric carcinoma.

AIM To clone core gene cDNA of Chinese hepatitis C virus ( HCV ) into eukaryotic expression vector cosmid pTM3 and to express HCV core antigen in HepG2 cells.METHODS Core gene cDNA of HCV was introduced into eukaryotic expression vector cosmid pTM3. Using vaccinia virus/bacteriophage T7 hybrid expression system,HepG2 cells were transfected with the recombinant plasmid pTM3-Q534 by lipofectin.RESULTS From the transfected bacteria Top10F′, 2 pTM3-Q534 clones containing the recombinant plasmid were identified from randomly selected 10 ampicillin-resistant colonies. By reverse transcription PCR and indirect immunofluorescence technique, HCV RNA and core protein was identified in HepG2 cells transfected with the recombinant plasmid.CONCLUSION The construction of a recombinant plasmid and the expression of core gene cDNA of HCV in HepG2 was successful.

The transcription factor early growth response protein 3 (EGR3) is involved in schizophrenia. We developed a putative rat model of schizophrenia by transfecting lentiviral particles carrying the Egr3 gene into bilateral hippocampal dentate gyrus. We assessed spatial working memory using the Morris water maze test, and neuronal metabolite levels in bilateral hippocampus and thalamus were determined by 3.0 T proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Choline content was significantly greater in the hippocampus after transfection, while N-acetylaspartate and the ratio of N-acetylaspartate to creatine/phosphocreatine in the thalamus were lower than in controls. This study is the first to report evaluation of brain metabolites using 3.0 T proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in rats transfected with Egr3, and reveals metabolic abnormalities in the hippocampus and thalamus in this putative model of schizophrenia.

Objective.To search for genomic DNA sequence of the augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) of rat.Methods.Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific primers was used to amplify the sequence from the rat genome.Results.A piece of genomic DNA sequence and a piece of pseudogene of rat ALR were identified.The lengths of the gene and pseudogene are 1508 bp and 442 bp,respectively.The ALR gene of rat includes 3 exons and 2 introns.The 442 bp DNA sequence may represent a pseudogene or a ALR related peptide.Predicted amino acid sequence analysis showed that there were 14 different amino acid residues between the gene and pseudogene.ALR related peptide is 84 amino acid residues in length and relates closely to ALR protein.Conclusion.There might be a multigene family of ALR in rat.

Objective.To explore the expression characteristic of fibronectin gene in hypertrophic scars and diabetic ulcer tissues.Methods.The biopsies from normal skins,hypertrophic scars and diabetic foot ulcers were taken.The technique of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to evaluate the gene expression of fibronectin in the above biopsies.Results.Fibronectin gene expression was enhanced in hypertrophic scars and decreased in diabetic foot ulcers compared with that in normal skins.Quantitative comparison showed about 2 fold increase of fibronectin mRNA level in hypertrophic scars and about 3 fold decrease of fibronectin mRNA level in diabetic ulcers as compared with that in normal skins.Conclusions.Fibronectin gene expression is influenced by the tissue environment.Different expression and synthesis of fibronectin may cause different outcomes in wound healing.

新的细胞凋亡抑制基因survivin在垂体腺瘤中的表达及其与caspase－3表达相关性的研究

Objective To study the expression of a inhibitor gene,survivin,in pituitary adenomas and its relationship with the expression of caspase- 3 gene.Method Using streptavidin- biotin peroxidase(SP),the expression of surviving,caspase- 3 protein was examined in 8 normal pituitary tissue and 38 pituitary adenomas.Result Survivin was expressed in 23 of 38 cases of pituitary adenomas,in contrast,normal pituitary tissue did not express surviving.Positive expression rate of PRL group,GH group,Mixed group in pituitary adenomas was 12/17,7/13,4/8,respectively.Overexpression of surviving was not related with the tumor type(P >0.05).Meanwhile,surviving positive rate in caspase- 3 positive and negative groups was 5/14,79% .The result showed it was strongly associated with caspase- 3 expression(P<0.05).Conclusions Apoptosis suppression by surviving play an important role in apoptosis of pituitary adenomas.Survivin could be a new diagnostic/therapeutic target in pituitary adenomas.

Objective To investigate the effects of dexamethasone on the promoter activity of human al(1) procollagen gene.Methods Fibroblasts from human skin were primary cultured and subcultured. (1) The effects of dexamethasone on the human skin fibroblasts were determined by BrdU incorporation into DNA of fibroblasts. (2) Three plasmids containing various engths of 5＇ flanksequence of human al(1) procollagen gene and CAT as reporter gene were constructed, and were transfected into the human skin fi-broblasts by FuGENE Transfecfion Reagent. The effects of dexamethasone on 3 plasmids were determined by CAT - ELlSA. Results (1)After 24h of treatment on the fibroblasts with 110-9 ～110-4mol/L examethasone in DMEM containing 2% or 10% FCS, BrdU in-corporation into DNA showed no difference ( P > 0.05) . (2) the 3 plasmids were transfected into fibroblasts and then treated with 110-5mol/L and 110-6mol/L dexamethasones for 24h, relative CAT values were different belwent dexamethasone and control,higher dexamethasone(110 -5mol/L} and lower examethasone(110 -6mol/L) ( P <0. 05) . ConcluSion Dexamethasone has noeffects on the proliferation of human skin fibroblasts, and it has negative effect on the promoter activity of human al(1) procollagengene, which is dose- dependent.

冠心病电生理紊乱及基因、细胞疗法

Objective:To investigate the potential role of KAI1 in epithelial ovarian carcinoma(EOC), and to determine whether the expression of the KAI1 gene is associated with EOC progression.The clinical significance in this tumor is also evaluated.Method: Immunohistochemistry SP method was performed to examine the expression level of KAI1 in EOC.Results: Thirty eight of 66 cancer specimens showed KAI1 protein positive (57.58%),which lower significantly than that in the patients with benign and borderline tumors(90.91%).The statistical evaluation showed that the expression of KAI1 had a correlation with FIGO stags as well as lymph node metastasis(or distant metastasis)(P<0.05).It also revealed an inverse relationship between histological grade and KAI1 expression (P<0.05).Conclusion: KAI1 protein expression is closely correlated with the malignent progression and metastasis of EOC; detecting the expression of KAI1 probably possesses clinical significance in evaluating the differentiation,tumor progression and predicting the prognosis of EOC.

Objective: To investigate the cellular immunity response in vitro and the tumorigenecities in vivo of mB7-1 gene transfected murine ovarian cancer cell line. Methods: mB7-1 gene was transfected into the NuTu-19 cell line by retrovirus vector, and the expression of mB7-1 gene was confirmed by flow cytometry(FCM).NuTu-19/neo and NuTu-19/mB7-1 cells were injected subcutaneously into syngeneic Fischer 344 rats respectively, and their tumorigenecities were recorded. Proliferation indices of lymphocyte were assayed after syngenieic mixed tumor-lymphocyte cultures(MTLCs). The lysis activity of CTL toward tumor cells was determined using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay. Results: Successful transfection of mB7-1 gene into NuTu-19 cell line was comfirmed with FCM. In vitro study showed that there was no obvious changes in cell growth of gene transfected cell line, compared with the cell line NuTu-19. NuTu-19/mB7-1 cells could induce more effective proliferation of effector lymphocytes( P ＜ 0.05). The lysis activity of CTL activated by NuTu-19/mB7-1 was stronger than that of NuTu-19/neo ( P ＜ 0.01). Tumor sizes were smaller in the NuTu-19/mB7-1 receptance syngeneic Fischer 344 rats compared with those in the control group. Conclusion: mB7-1 genetically modified ovarian cancer cells could induce the cellular immunity response in vitro and the tumorigenecitiy of NuTu-19 cells was decreased after inoculation with the experimental vaccine.