BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus genotype 3a(HCV G3a)is highly prevalent in Pakistan.Due to the elevated cost of available Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs against HCV,medicinal natural products of potent antiv...BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus genotype 3a(HCV G3a)is highly prevalent in Pakistan.Due to the elevated cost of available Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs against HCV,medicinal natural products of potent antiviral activity should be screened for the cost-effective treatment of the disease.Furthermore,from natural products,active compounds against vital HCV proteins like non-structural protein 3(NS3)protease could be identified to prevent viral proliferation in the host.AIM To develop cost-effective HCV genotype 3a NS3 protease inhibitors from citrus fruit extracts.METHODS Full-length NS3 without co-factor non-structural protein 4A(NS4A)and codon optimized NS3 protease in fusion with NS4A were expressed in Escherichia coli.The expressed protein was purified by metal ion affinity chromatography and gel filtration.Citrus fruit extracts were screened using fluorescence resonance energy transfer(FRET)assay against the protease and polyphenols were identified as potential inhibitors using electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry(MS)/MS technique.Among different polyphenols,highly potent compounds were screened using molecular modeling approaches and consequently the most active compound was further evaluated against HCV NS4A-NS3 protease domain using FRET assay.RESULTS NS4A fused with NS3 protease domain gene was overexpressed and the purified protein yield was high in comparison to the lower yield of the full-length NS3 protein.Furthermore,in enzyme kinetic studies,NS4A fused with NS3 protease proved to be functionally active compared to full-length NS3.So it was concluded that co-factor NS4A fusion is essential for the purification of functionally active protease.FRET assay was developed and validated by the half maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50)values of commercially available inhibitors.Screening of citrus fruit extracts against the native purified fused NS4A-NS3 protease domain showed that the grapefruit mesocarp extract exhibits the highest percentage inhibition 91%of protease activity.Among the compounds identified by LCMS analysis,hesperidin showed strong binding affinity with the protease catalytic triad having S-score value of-10.98.CONCLUSION Fused NS4A-NS3 protease is functionally more active,which is effectively inhibited by hesperidin from the grapefruit mesocarp extract with an IC50 value of 23.32μmol/L.展开更多
Objective:In this study,we aimed to explore the expression of TUSC3 in Preeclampsia and to research the potential function of TUSC3 in placental trophoblast cells.Methods:We collected 10 cases of normal placental tiss...Objective:In this study,we aimed to explore the expression of TUSC3 in Preeclampsia and to research the potential function of TUSC3 in placental trophoblast cells.Methods:We collected 10 cases of normal placental tissues and preeclampsia placental tissues,respectively.These parturient received treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University between June 1,2020,and December 31,2022.The expression of TUSC3 in placenta was detected by immunohistochemistry.The effect of TUSC3 on the migration and invasion of HTR8/SVneo cells was analyzed by migration assay and Transwell assay.Results:The expression of TUSC3 was slightly increased in placental villis in preeclampsia.Immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR were used to detect the expression of TUSC3 protein and mRNA in placental tissues.TUSC3 was markedly upregulated in PE placental tissues(P<0.01).The results of migration assay and Transwell assay showed that the migration rate and the number of invasive cells were significantly decreased in HTR8 overexpressing TUSC3(P<0.01).Conclusions:TUSC3 was markedly increased in PE placental tissues and inhibited trophoblast cells migration and invasion.展开更多
AIM:To report a novel splicing mutation in the RPGR gene(encoding retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator)in a three-generation Chinese family with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa(XLRP).METHODS:Comprehensive ophthalmic ex...AIM:To report a novel splicing mutation in the RPGR gene(encoding retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator)in a three-generation Chinese family with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa(XLRP).METHODS:Comprehensive ophthalmic examinations including best corrected visual acuity,fundus photography,vision field,and pattern-visual evoked potential were performed to identify the disease phenotype of a six-yearold boy from the family(proband).Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of five available members of the pedigree.Whole-exome sequencing(WES),Sanger sequencing,and pSPL3-based exon trapping were used to investigate the aberrant splicing of RPGR.Human Splice Finder v3.1 and NNSPLICE v0.9 were used for in silico prediction of splice site variants.RESULTS:The proband was diagnosed as having retinitis pigmentosa(RP).He had severe symptoms with early onset.A novel splicing mutation,c.619+1G>C in RPGR was identified in the proband by WES and in four family members by Sanger sequencing.Minigene splicing assays verified that c.619+1G>C in RPGR would result in the formation of a damaging alternative transcript in which the last 91 bp of exon 6 were skipped,leading to the subsequent deletion of 623 correct amino acids(c.529_619del p.Val177Glnfs*16).CONCLUSION:We identify a novel splice donor site mutation causing aberrant splicing of RPGR.Our findings add to the catalog of pathological mutations of RPGR and further emphasize the functional importance of RPGR in RP pathogenesis and its complex clinical phenotypes.展开更多
BACKGROUND Defective neutrophil regulation in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is thought to play an important role in the onset or manifestation of IBD,as it could lead to damage of the intestinal mucosal barrier by th...BACKGROUND Defective neutrophil regulation in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is thought to play an important role in the onset or manifestation of IBD,as it could lead to damage of the intestinal mucosal barrier by the infiltration of neutrophils in the inflamed mucosa and the accumulation of pathogens.Like neutrophils in the context of innate immune responses,immunoglobulin A(IgA)as an acquired immune response partakes in the defense of the intestinal epithelium.Under normal conditions,IgA contributes to the elimination of microbes,but in connection with the loss of tolerance to chitinase 3-like 1(CHI3L1)in IBD,IgA could participate in CHI3L1-mediated improved adhesion and invasion of potentially pathogenic microorganisms.The tolerance brake to CHI3L1 and the occurrence of IgA autoantibodies to this particular target,the exact role and underlying mechanisms of CHI3L1 in the pathogenesis of IBD are still unclear.AIM To determine the predictive potential of Ig subtypes of a novel serological marker,anti-CHI3L1 autoantibodies(aCHI3L1)in determining the disease phenotype,therapeutic strategy and long-term disease course in a prospective referral cohort of adult IBD patients.METHODS Sera of 257 Crohn’s disease(CD)and 180 ulcerative colitis(UC)patients from a tertiary IBD referral center of Hungary(Division of Gastroenterology,Department of Internal Medicine,Faculty of Medicine,University of Debrecen)were assayed for IgG,IgA,and secretory IgA(sIgA)type aCHI3L1 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using recombinant CHI3L1,along with 86 healthy controls(HCONT).RESULTS The IgA type was more prevalent in CD than in UC(29.2%vs 11.1%)or HCONT(2.83%;P<0.0001 for both).However,sIgA subtype aCHI3L1 positivity was higher in both CD and UC patients than in HCONT(39.3%and 32.8%vs 4.65%,respectively;P<0.0001).The presence of both IgA and sIgA aCHI3L1 antibodies was associated with colonic involvement(P<0.0001 and P=0.038,respectively)in patients with CD.Complicated disease behavior at sample procurement was associated with aCHI3L1 sIgA positivity(57.1%vs 36.0%,P=0.009).IgA type aCH3L1 was more prevalent in patients with frequent relapse during the disease course in the CD group(46.9%vs 25.7%,P=0.005).In a group of patients with concomitant presence of pure inflammatory luminal disease and colon involvement at the time of diagnosis,positivity for IgA or sIgA type aCH3L1 predicted faster progression towards a complicated disease course in time-dependent models.This association disappeared after merging subgroups of different disease locations.CONCLUSION CHI3L1 is a novel neutrophil autoantigenic target in IBD.The consideration of antibody classes along with location-based prediction may transform the future of serology in IBD.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus genotype 3a(HCV G3a)is highly prevalent in Pakistan.Due to the elevated cost of available Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs against HCV,medicinal natural products of potent antiviral activity should be screened for the cost-effective treatment of the disease.Furthermore,from natural products,active compounds against vital HCV proteins like non-structural protein 3(NS3)protease could be identified to prevent viral proliferation in the host.AIM To develop cost-effective HCV genotype 3a NS3 protease inhibitors from citrus fruit extracts.METHODS Full-length NS3 without co-factor non-structural protein 4A(NS4A)and codon optimized NS3 protease in fusion with NS4A were expressed in Escherichia coli.The expressed protein was purified by metal ion affinity chromatography and gel filtration.Citrus fruit extracts were screened using fluorescence resonance energy transfer(FRET)assay against the protease and polyphenols were identified as potential inhibitors using electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry(MS)/MS technique.Among different polyphenols,highly potent compounds were screened using molecular modeling approaches and consequently the most active compound was further evaluated against HCV NS4A-NS3 protease domain using FRET assay.RESULTS NS4A fused with NS3 protease domain gene was overexpressed and the purified protein yield was high in comparison to the lower yield of the full-length NS3 protein.Furthermore,in enzyme kinetic studies,NS4A fused with NS3 protease proved to be functionally active compared to full-length NS3.So it was concluded that co-factor NS4A fusion is essential for the purification of functionally active protease.FRET assay was developed and validated by the half maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50)values of commercially available inhibitors.Screening of citrus fruit extracts against the native purified fused NS4A-NS3 protease domain showed that the grapefruit mesocarp extract exhibits the highest percentage inhibition 91%of protease activity.Among the compounds identified by LCMS analysis,hesperidin showed strong binding affinity with the protease catalytic triad having S-score value of-10.98.CONCLUSION Fused NS4A-NS3 protease is functionally more active,which is effectively inhibited by hesperidin from the grapefruit mesocarp extract with an IC50 value of 23.32μmol/L.
基金Hainan Natural Science Foundation project(822MS175)National Nature Science Foundation of China(No.82072880,82003144,81960283,82201874)+1 种基金Supported by the Specific Research Fund of the Innovation Platform for Academicians of Hainan ProvinceProject supported by Hainan Province Clinical Medical Center。
文摘Objective:In this study,we aimed to explore the expression of TUSC3 in Preeclampsia and to research the potential function of TUSC3 in placental trophoblast cells.Methods:We collected 10 cases of normal placental tissues and preeclampsia placental tissues,respectively.These parturient received treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University between June 1,2020,and December 31,2022.The expression of TUSC3 in placenta was detected by immunohistochemistry.The effect of TUSC3 on the migration and invasion of HTR8/SVneo cells was analyzed by migration assay and Transwell assay.Results:The expression of TUSC3 was slightly increased in placental villis in preeclampsia.Immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR were used to detect the expression of TUSC3 protein and mRNA in placental tissues.TUSC3 was markedly upregulated in PE placental tissues(P<0.01).The results of migration assay and Transwell assay showed that the migration rate and the number of invasive cells were significantly decreased in HTR8 overexpressing TUSC3(P<0.01).Conclusions:TUSC3 was markedly increased in PE placental tissues and inhibited trophoblast cells migration and invasion.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31751003)Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(No.LY20H120009)+1 种基金Health Commission of Zhejiang Province(No.2022KY168)Beijing Bethune Charitable Foundation(No.BJ-GY2021013J).
文摘AIM:To report a novel splicing mutation in the RPGR gene(encoding retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator)in a three-generation Chinese family with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa(XLRP).METHODS:Comprehensive ophthalmic examinations including best corrected visual acuity,fundus photography,vision field,and pattern-visual evoked potential were performed to identify the disease phenotype of a six-yearold boy from the family(proband).Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of five available members of the pedigree.Whole-exome sequencing(WES),Sanger sequencing,and pSPL3-based exon trapping were used to investigate the aberrant splicing of RPGR.Human Splice Finder v3.1 and NNSPLICE v0.9 were used for in silico prediction of splice site variants.RESULTS:The proband was diagnosed as having retinitis pigmentosa(RP).He had severe symptoms with early onset.A novel splicing mutation,c.619+1G>C in RPGR was identified in the proband by WES and in four family members by Sanger sequencing.Minigene splicing assays verified that c.619+1G>C in RPGR would result in the formation of a damaging alternative transcript in which the last 91 bp of exon 6 were skipped,leading to the subsequent deletion of 623 correct amino acids(c.529_619del p.Val177Glnfs*16).CONCLUSION:We identify a novel splice donor site mutation causing aberrant splicing of RPGR.Our findings add to the catalog of pathological mutations of RPGR and further emphasize the functional importance of RPGR in RP pathogenesis and its complex clinical phenotypes.
基金Supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research(BMBF-Wachstumskern-PRAEMED.BIO),03WKDB2Csupported by the Janos Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences,BO/00232/17/5+1 种基金Research Grants of National Research Development and Innovation Office,K115818/2015/1New National Excellence Program of the Ministry of Human Capacities,ÚNKP-18-4 Bolyai Plus.
文摘BACKGROUND Defective neutrophil regulation in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is thought to play an important role in the onset or manifestation of IBD,as it could lead to damage of the intestinal mucosal barrier by the infiltration of neutrophils in the inflamed mucosa and the accumulation of pathogens.Like neutrophils in the context of innate immune responses,immunoglobulin A(IgA)as an acquired immune response partakes in the defense of the intestinal epithelium.Under normal conditions,IgA contributes to the elimination of microbes,but in connection with the loss of tolerance to chitinase 3-like 1(CHI3L1)in IBD,IgA could participate in CHI3L1-mediated improved adhesion and invasion of potentially pathogenic microorganisms.The tolerance brake to CHI3L1 and the occurrence of IgA autoantibodies to this particular target,the exact role and underlying mechanisms of CHI3L1 in the pathogenesis of IBD are still unclear.AIM To determine the predictive potential of Ig subtypes of a novel serological marker,anti-CHI3L1 autoantibodies(aCHI3L1)in determining the disease phenotype,therapeutic strategy and long-term disease course in a prospective referral cohort of adult IBD patients.METHODS Sera of 257 Crohn’s disease(CD)and 180 ulcerative colitis(UC)patients from a tertiary IBD referral center of Hungary(Division of Gastroenterology,Department of Internal Medicine,Faculty of Medicine,University of Debrecen)were assayed for IgG,IgA,and secretory IgA(sIgA)type aCHI3L1 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using recombinant CHI3L1,along with 86 healthy controls(HCONT).RESULTS The IgA type was more prevalent in CD than in UC(29.2%vs 11.1%)or HCONT(2.83%;P<0.0001 for both).However,sIgA subtype aCHI3L1 positivity was higher in both CD and UC patients than in HCONT(39.3%and 32.8%vs 4.65%,respectively;P<0.0001).The presence of both IgA and sIgA aCHI3L1 antibodies was associated with colonic involvement(P<0.0001 and P=0.038,respectively)in patients with CD.Complicated disease behavior at sample procurement was associated with aCHI3L1 sIgA positivity(57.1%vs 36.0%,P=0.009).IgA type aCH3L1 was more prevalent in patients with frequent relapse during the disease course in the CD group(46.9%vs 25.7%,P=0.005).In a group of patients with concomitant presence of pure inflammatory luminal disease and colon involvement at the time of diagnosis,positivity for IgA or sIgA type aCH3L1 predicted faster progression towards a complicated disease course in time-dependent models.This association disappeared after merging subgroups of different disease locations.CONCLUSION CHI3L1 is a novel neutrophil autoantigenic target in IBD.The consideration of antibody classes along with location-based prediction may transform the future of serology in IBD.
