Expression and significance of VEGF and p53 in degenerate intervertebral disc tissue

Objective:To investigate the mechanism of expression and significance of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and p53 in degenerate intervertebral disc tissue.Methods:Pathological sections collected from 156 patienls with lumbar disc herniation after surgery were tested by immunohistochemistry method,for evaluation of the expression of VEGF and p53 in degenerate intervertebral disc tissue.Results:98 cases(62.8%) with vascular infiltration phenomenon are found,and positive rates of VEGF and p53 in degenerate intervertebral disc tissue are 73.42% (116/156) and 58.97%(92/156);co-expression rate is 53.2%(83/l56);the expression rates of VEFG and p53 are significantly higher in the tissue with blood vessel infiltration than in the tissue without infiltration;there is a close relationship of VEGF with p53.Conclusions:VEGF and p53 gene synergetic express in degenerate intervertebral disc tissue,working together in neovascularization and infiltration,and accelerating intervertebral disc tissue degeneration.

Comparative proteome analysis of Helicobacter pylori clinical strains by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

Objective： To investigate the pathogenic properties of Helicobacterpylori by comparing the proteome map of H. pylori clinical strains. Methods： Two wild-type H. pylori strains, YN8 （isolated from biopsy tissue of a gastric cancer patient） and YN14 （isolated from biopsy tissue of a gastritis and duodenal ulcer patient）, were used. Proteomic analysis, using a pH range of 3-10 and 5-8, was performed. The individual proteins were identified by quadrupole time-of-flight （Q-TOF） mass spectrometer and protein database search. Results： Variation in spot patterns directed towards differential protein expression levels was observed between the strains. The gel revealed prominent proteins with several protein ＂families＂. The comparison of protein expressions of the two strains reveals a high variability. Differentially present or absent spots were observed. Nine differentially expressed protein spots identified by Q-TOF included adenosine triphosphate （ATP）-binding protein, disulfide oxidoreductase B （DsbB）-Iike protein, N utilization substance A （NusA）, ATP-dependent protease binding subunit/heat shock protein, hydantoin utilization protein A, seryl-tRNA synthetase, molybdenum ABC transporter ModD, and hypothetical proteins. Conclusions： This study suggests that H. pylori strains express/repress protein variation, not only in terms of the virulence proteins, but also in terms of physiological proteins, when they infect a human host. The difference of protein expression levels between H. pylori strains isolated from gastric cancer and gastritis may be the initiator of inflammation, and result in the different clinical presentation. In this preliminary study, we report seven differential proteins between strains, with molecule weights from approximately 10 kDa to approximately 40 kDa. Further studies are needed to investigate those proteins and their function associated with H. pylori colonization and adaptation to host environment stress.