Genetic association of autoimmune hepatitis and human leucocyte antigen in German patients

AIM: To report on our large German collective and updated data of 142 patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) type 1. METHODS: Key investigations performed were liver biopsy, serum autoantibodies as well as serum markers such as IgG and elevated transaminases. Antinuclear antigen (ANA) and smooth muscle antigen (SMA) autoantibodies characterized type 1 AIH. Type 3 (AIH) was solely characterized by the occurrence of soluble liver antigen/liver-pancreas antigen (SLA/LP) autoantibodies either with or without ANA or SMA autoantibodies. RESULTS: Most prevalent HLAs were A2 (68 patients, 48%), B8 (63 patients, 44%), C7 (90 patients, 63%), DR3 (49 patients, 38%), DR4 (49 patients, 38%) and DQ2 (42 patients, 30%). Compared to the Italian and North American patients, we found fewer patients with a DQ2 subtype. Furthermore, the B8-DR3-DQ2 human leucocyte antigen (HLA) was also less prominent compared to the North American patients. However, prevalences of B8, DR3, DR4, DR7, DR11 and DR13 were comparable to the Italian and North American patients. Furthermore, we report on an additional subgroup of patients with SLA/LP positive AIH. Generally, in this subgroup of patients the same HLA subtypes were favoured as the AIH type 1. CONCLUSION: Although HLA subtypes were comparable between these three collectives, the German patients were distinct from the Italian and North American patients with respect to DQ2 and from the North American patients with respect to B8-DR3-DQ2HLA. A clinical correlation, e.g. difference in severity or treatability of AIH type 1, has yet to be determined.

The human leucocyte differentiation antigens (HLDA) workshops: the evolv-ing role of antibodies in research, diagnosis and therapy

The 8^th International Workshop on Human Leucocyte Differentiation Antigens （chaired by HZ and managed by BS） was run over a 4-year period and culminated in a conference in December 2004. Here we review the achievements of the HLDA Workshops and provide links to information on CD molecules and antibodies against them, including the 93 new CDs assigned in the 8^th Workshop. We consider what remains to be achieved （including an estimate of the number of leucocyte surface molecules still to be discovered）, and how the field can best move forward.

Phagocytosis Conditions of Peripheral Blood Leucocytes in Chicken

[Objective] To investigate the optimal conditions of peripheral blood leucocytes phagocytosing Staphy/ococcus spp. [Method] With Staphylococcus spp. 10 145 as tested materials, phagocytosis activity of chicken＇s peripheral blood leucocytes was detected by the method of Wright＇s staining. The effects of time, temperature and concentration of Staphylococcus spp. 10 145 on phagocytosis percentages （PP） and phagocytosis index （PI） were optimized by orthogonal test and their morphologic characteristics were observed by microscope. [ Result] The concentration of Staphylococcus spp. 10 145 was the primary factor effecting leucocytes phagocytosis index. The optimal phagocytosis conditions were at the temperature of 41℃, time of 40 min and concentration of Staphylococcus spp. 10 145 of 5 ×10^ 6/ml. The order of various factors on leucocytes phagocytcsis index was the concentration of Staphylococcus spp. 10 145 〉 time 〉 temperature. [ Conclusion] This study provides a more simple and reliable method for detecting leucocytes phagocytosis function.

INFLUENCES OF MOLECULAR WEIGHT AND BRANCHING PARAMETER OF LACQUER POLYSACCHARIDE ON THE GROWTH OF LEUCOCYTES

A method of determining branching parameter of lacquer polysaccharide wasestablished by acid-base back-titration of terminal uronic acid of branches. The branchingfactors obtained are in agreement with the values determined by colorimetric method withcarbazole and the results estimated by using Zimm-Stockmayer equation from viscositydata. Influences of molecular weights and branching factors of five fractions of lacquerpolysaccharide on the bioactivities were studied. The results show that the polysaccharideshave bioactivities in motivating the growth of leucocytes, and the effect increases with thedecrease of molecular weight and branching factor in the range studied (17×10~4 >M_w>4×10~4).

COMPARISON OF THE CLASTOGENIC EFFECTS OF CHLORIDES OF THE TOXIC METALS COBALT AND CESIUM ON HUMAN LEUCOCYTE CULTURE

Peripheral human leucocyte culture from samplesof both sexes was used to screen the relativeclastogenecity of CoCl2 and CsCl - both knowntoxic metals.The endpoints were mitotic indexand chromosomal aberrations.Blood was collectedfrom healthy donors of three age groups between0-20,20-40 and 40-60 vears.Each group

Prevention of febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reaction with leucocyte filtrated concentrates

Objective: To assess the clinical efficiency of the transfusion of leucocyte filtrated RBC concentrates to prevent febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions (FNHTRs). Methods: One hundred patients with liver cirrhosis, gastric ulcer or cancer were subjected to receive RBC concentrates after leucocyte filtration. Another 50 patients with similar diseases were selected to receive non-filtrated RBC concentrates. The incidence of FNHTRs in all patients was investigated. Results: There was no FNHTR in 100 transfusions with leucocyte filtrated RBC concentrates, while FNHTRs occurred in 8 of 50 patients with non-filtrated RBC concentrates, with the incidence of 16%. Conclusion: FNHTRs to RBC transfusion can be prevented with leucocyte filtration.

Leucocyte and leucocyte function

9300161 Gene diagnosis and successful rever-sion in a patient with preleukemia.FENGBaozhang(冯宝章),et al.Instit Hematol,CAMS,Tianjin,300020.Chin J Intern Med1992;31(9):539-542.According to the FAB classification,a patient(cases 1)could not he diagnosed as myelodys-plastic syndrome-refractory anemia(MDS-RA ),although she had clinical features ofMDS,as compared with another patient(case 2)who was diagnosed as RAS and had

In vitro immunotoxicity of untreated and treated urbanwastewaters using various treatment processes to rainbow trout leucocytes

Municipal effluents are known to impede the immune system of aquatic organisms. The purpose of this studywas to examine the immunotoxicity of urbanwastewaters before and after 6 treatment processes from 12 cities toward trout leucocytes. Freshly prepared trout leucocyteswere exposed to increasing concentrations of solid phase （C18） extracts ofwastewaters for24 hr at 15°C. Immunocompetencewasdetermined by following changes in leucocyte viability and the proportion of cells able to ingest at least one （immunoactivity） and at least three （immunoefficiency） fluorescent beads. The influentswere treated by sixdifferent treatment strategies consisting of facultative aerated lagoons, activated sludge, biological aerated filter, biological nutrient removal, chemically-assisted physical treatment and trickling filter/solid contact. Water quality parameters of thewastewaters revealed that the plants effectively removed total suspended solids and reduced the chemical oxygendemand. The results revealed that the effluents＇ immunotoxic propertieswere generally more influenced by the properties of the untreatedwastewaters than by the treatment processes. About half of the incoming influentsdecreased leucocyte viabilitywhile4 treatment plantswere able to reduce toxicity. The influents readily increased phagocytosis activity for 8/12 influentswhile itwasdecreased in4/12 influents. This increasewas abolished for4/12 of the effluents using treatments involving biological and oxidative processes. In conclusion, municipal effluents have the potential to alter the immune system in fish and more researchwill be needed to improve the treatments ofwastewaters to better protect the quality of the aquatic environment.

Effect of Allitridi on Peripheral Leucocytes Deformation of Patients with Acute Cerebral Infarction

Objective: To prove the effect of Allitridi in treating acute cerebral infarction. Methods: Millipore membrane filtering technique was adopted to systematically observe the blood rheology and the peripheralleucocytes filtering index of 53 healthy subjects and that of 33 patients before and after treatments, who sufferedfrom acute cerebral infarction and were confirmatorily diagnosed through CT. Results: The filtering index of peripheral leucocytes during the acute period of cerebral infarction rose significantly (6. 1397±4. 4602), and thedifference was significant compared with that of the healthy subjects (0. 8651±0. 4603, P＜0. 01 ). Treatedwith Allitridi, the patients' symptoms got improved and at the same time the filtering index of leucocytes lowered markedly(1. 6261±1. 3472). The conditions of the patients before and after treatments were obviously different(p＜0. 01). The index of the whole blood rheology was improved significantly. Conclusions: Allitridicould effectively improve the leucocytes deformation and the whole blood rheology as well, and alleviate clinicalsymptoms.

Axonal growth inhibitors and their receptors in spinal cord injury:from biology to clinical translation

Axonal growth inhibitors are released during traumatic injuries to the adult mammalian central nervous system, including after spinal cord injury. These molecules accumulate at the injury site and form a highly inhibitory environment for axonal regeneration. Among these inhibitory molecules, myelinassociated inhibitors, including neurite outgrowth inhibitor A, oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein, myelin-associated glycoprotein, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans and repulsive guidance molecule A are of particular importance. Due to their inhibitory nature, they represent exciting molecular targets to study axonal inhibition and regeneration after central injuries. These molecules are mainly produced by neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes within the scar and in its immediate vicinity. They exert their effects by binding to specific receptors, localized in the membranes of neurons. Receptors for these inhibitory cues include Nogo receptor 1, leucine-rich repeat, and Ig domain containing 1 and p75 neurotrophin receptor/tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 19(that form a receptor complex that binds all myelin-associated inhibitors), and also paired immunoglobulin-like receptor B. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans and repulsive guidance molecule A bind to Nogo receptor 1, Nogo receptor 3, receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase σ and leucocyte common antigen related phosphatase, and neogenin, respectively. Once activated, these receptors initiate downstream signaling pathways, the most common amongst them being the Rho A/ROCK signaling pathway. These signaling cascades result in actin depolymerization, neurite outgrowth inhibition, and failure to regenerate after spinal cord injury. Currently, there are no approved pharmacological treatments to overcome spinal cord injuries other than physical rehabilitation and management of the array of symptoms brought on by spinal cord injuries. However, several novel therapies aiming to modulate these inhibitory proteins and/or their receptors are under investigation in ongoing clinical trials. Investigation has also been demonstrating that combinatorial therapies of growth inhibitors with other therapies, such as growth factors or stem-cell therapies, produce stronger results and their potential application in the clinics opens new venues in spinal cord injury treatment.

ABO血型不合肾移植的现状及研究进展

肾移植是治疗终末期肾病最有效的方法。供体来源严重短缺是限制器官移植发展的一大瓶颈。积极开展器官捐献和亲属活体肾移植,是解决供肾短缺的重要途径（[1-2]）。随着围术期和术后管理方案的不断进步,肾移植逐渐突破了人类白细胞抗原（human leucocyte antigen,HLA）配型和ABO血型的限制（[3]）。据统计,潜在亲属活体肾移植中,

尾静脉注射和鼻腔接种禽流感H5N1亚型病毒对血细胞的影响

[目的]Balb/c小鼠通过尾静脉注射和鼻腔接种禽流感H5N1亚型病毒造疾病模型,观察其血细胞变化。[方法]以禽流感H5N1亚型病毒通过静脉和鼻腔接种Balb/c小鼠,分别在0~7天和0~11天取血进行血细胞计数和分类,同时对于静脉接种方法进行了0~8小时的短时间监控。[结果]静脉接种途径在接种病毒后2小时就能显著的降低小鼠的白细胞总数、粒细胞及淋巴细胞数,白细胞总数及淋巴细胞数在第3天、粒细胞数在第2天就恢复正常而后均显著升高;而鼻腔接种仅在1~3天淋巴细胞有所降低,而后恢复正常;1~6天白细胞总数及粒细胞数显著升高,而后恢复正常。[结论]从血细胞变化而言,静脉接种相比鼻腔接种方法要好。

遗传性共济失调的遗传及生化研究

文献报道遗传性共济失调已有60多种类型,通常为家族遗传性。近年研究发现本病可能有HLA 相关和非相关两型,并发现病人的神经递质和酶在量及代谢方面都发生改变。把症状学、病理发现和脑尸检的生化改变结合起来,将可进一步了解本病的异型和分类,并对患者的预后作出更准确的估计。

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Since its initial description in 1964,research hastransformed spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP)from a feared disease (with reported mortality of 90%)to a treatable complication of decompensated cirrhosis,albeit with steady prevalence and a high recurrencerate. Bacterial translocation,the key mechanism in thepathogenesis of SBP,is only possible because of theconcurrent failure of defensive mechanisms in cirrhosis.Variants of SBP should be treated. Leucocyte esterasereagent strips have managed to shorten the 'tap-to-shot' time,while future studies should look into theircombined use with ascitic fluid pH. Third generationcephalosporins are the antibiotic of choice becausethey have a number of advantages. Renal dysfunctionhas been shown to be an independent predictor ofmortality in patients with SBP. Albumin is felt to reducethe risk of renal impairment by improving effectiveintravascular volume,and by helping to bind pro-inflammatory molecules. Following a single episodeof SBP,patients should have long-term antibioticprophylaxis and be considered for liver transplantation.

Genetics of inflammatory bowel disease: The role of the HLA complex

The human leucocyte antigen （HLA） complex on chromosome 6p21.3 is the most extensively studied genetic region in Inflammatory bowel disease （IBD）. Consistent evidence of linkage to IBD3 （6p21.1-23）, an area which encompasses the HLA complex, has been demonstrated for both Crohn＇s disease and ulcerative colitis, and a number of replicated associations with disease susceptibility and phenotype have recently emerged. However, despite these efforts the HLA susceptibility gene （s） for IBD remain elusive, a consequence of strong linkage disequilibrium, extensive polymorphism and high gene density across this region. This article reviews current knowledge of the role of HLA complex genes in IBD susceptibility and phenotype, and discusses the factors currently limiting the translation of this knowledge to clinical practice.

Efficacy of boswellic acid on lysosomal acid hydrolases,lipid peroxidation and anti-oxidant status in gouty arthritic mice

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of boswellic acid against monosodium urate crystal-induced inflammation in mice.Methods:The mice were divided into four experimental groups.GroupⅠserved as control;mice in groupⅡwere injected with monosodium urate crystal;groupⅢconsisted of monosodium urate crystal-induced mice who were treated with boswellic acid(30mg/kg/b.w.);groupⅣcomprised monosodium urate crystal-induced mice who were treated with indomethacin(3mg/kg/b.w.).Paw volume and levels/activities of lysosomal enzymes,lipid peroxidation,anti-oxidant status and inflammatory mediator TNF-αwere determined in control and monosodium urate crystal-induced mice.In addition,the levels ofβ-glucuronidase and lactate dehydrogenase were also measured in monosodium urate crystal-incubated polymorphonuclear leucocytes(PMNL)in vitro.Results:The activities of lysosomal enzymes,lipid peroxidation,and tumour necrosis factor-αlevels and paw volume were increased significantly in monosodium urate crystal-induced mice,whereas the activities of antioxidant status were in turn decreased.However,these changes were modulated to near normal levels upon boswellic acid administration.In vitro,boswellic acid reduced the level ofβ-glucuronidase and lactate dehydrogenase in monosodium urate crystal-incubated PMNL in concentration dependent manner when compared with control cells.Conclusions:The results obtained in this study further strengthen the anti-inflammatory/antiarthritic effect of boswellic acid,which was already well established by several investigators.