Preliminary clinical measurement of the expression of B-cell activating factor in Chinese systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

It has recently been found that excessive serum B-cell activating factor (BAFF) production triggers severe autoimmune disorders in mice resembling systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Whether such dysregulation in circulating levels of BAFF results from overexpression of BAFF gene in clinical patients with SLE is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the expression of BAFF and SLE.

Correlation of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection with primary biliary cirrhosis.

Aim: To evaluate the association between Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) infection and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).

Methods: Cpn IgG and IgM were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 41 well-established PBC patients and two race-matched control groups (post-hepatitis cirrhosis, n = 70; healthy controls, n = 57).

Results: The mean level and seroprevalence of Cpn IgG in PBC group and post-hepatitis cirrhosis (PHC) group were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (46.

[Analysis of HLA alleles polymorphism in Chinese patients with primary biliary cirrhosis].

Objective: To investigate the frequencies of human leuckocyte antigens (HLA) -A, B and DRB1 alleles in Chinese patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) using polymerase chain reaction-based techniques, and to assess the correlation of HLA molecules with other clinical and laboratory profiles.

Methods: Genotyping of HLA-A, B, and DRB1 were performed in 65 well-characterized patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and 431 healthy controls with PCR amplification with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP).

Results: The frequency of DRB1*0701 was increased to 29.

Genetic association of cytokines polymorphisms with autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis in the Chinese.

Aim: To characterize gene polymorphism of several cytokine gene in-patients with AIH and PBC and to analyze the difference of the polymorphism distribution between Chinese patients and healthy controls.

Methods: The study population consisted of 62 patients with AIH, and 77 patients with PBC. The genetic profile of four cytokines was analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism after specific PCR amplification (PCR-RFLP) or sequence-specific primers PCR (SSP-PCR).

[The value of antimitochondrial antibody and its subtypes in the diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis].

Objective: A study on the value of antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) and its subtypes anti-M2, anti-M4, and anti-M9 in diagnosing primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).

Methods: Antimitochondrial antibody was detected by indirect immunofluorescence and anti-M2, anti-M4 and anti-M9 by Western blotting. AMA and anti-M2 of 78 PBC patients, of 35 non-PBC hepato-biliary disease patients and 20 healthy controls were studied and anti-M2, anti-M4 and anti-M9 were studied in 30 of the 78 PBC patients.

[Genetic association between interleukins gene polymorphisms with primary biliary cirrhosis in Chinese population].

Objective: To determine the relationship between polymorphisms in the genes encoding IL-1, IL-6, and IL-10 with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) in Chinese population.

Methods: Whole-blood samples were taken from 77 patients with PBC and 160 healthy controls. DNA was extracted and the polymorphisms at positions IL-1 +3953, IL-1RN intron 2, IL-6 -174, and IL-10 -1082, -819, and -592 were determined by using sequence-specific polymerase chain reaction (SSP) or polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

[Prediction and identification of autoepitopes of PDC-E2 specific CD8+ CTL in primary biliary cirrhosis patients].

Objective: To identify autoepitopes of E2 subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC-E2) specific CD8+ CTL in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) patients.

Methods: An online database SYFPEITHI was applied to predict HLA-A*0201 restricted epitopes which located in PDC-E2 30-50 aa and 150-190 aa where B-cell epitopes clustered with CD4+ T-cell epitopes. T2 cell line reconstitution and stabilization assay, induction of specific CTL lines from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with PBC and cytotoxicity of peptides-induced CTL were performed to screen the epitopes from those candidates.

[Study on the relationship of CTLA-4 -318, +49 polymorphisms with autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis in a Chinese population].

Objective: To investigate the association between Chinese patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and the polymorphisms of cytotoxic T lymphocyte -associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) gene promoter (-318) and exon 1 (+49).

Methods: The CTLA-4 promoter (-318 T/C) and exon 1 (+49A/G) polymorphisms were genotyped via restriction fragment length polymorphism methods in 62 Chinese AIH patients, 77 Chinese PBC patients and 160 healthy controls.

Results: There was no difference in the distribution of CTLA-4 promoter -318 T/C polymorphisms between AIH patients and controls, but the C allele frequency was significantly increased in patients with AIH, compared to controls (P=0.

[The relationship between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and primary biliary cirrhosis].

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP) infection and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).

Methods: Chlamydia pneumoniae IgG and IgM were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 41 well-established PBC patients and two race-matched control groups, PHC, n = 70; healthy controls, HC, n =57).

Results: The mean levels and seroprevalence of CP IgG in PBC group and PHC group were significantly higher than in the HC [(46.

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 gene polymorphisms confer susceptibility to primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis in Chinese population.

Aim: To investigate the association between Chinese patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and the polymorphisms of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) gene promoter (-318) and exon 1 (+49).

Methods: CTLA-4 promoter (-318 T/C) and exon1 (+49A/G) polymorphisms were genotyped via restriction fragment length polymorphism methods in 62 Chinese AIH patients, 77 Chinese PBC patients and 160 healthy controls.

Results: We found a significant association in CTLA-4 gene exon1 49 A/G polymorphism between PBC patients and controls (P = 0.

[A study on the relationship between interleukin-10 promoter polymorphism and autoimmune liver disease].

Objective: To investigate whether three biallelic polymorphisms at the position -592, -819 and -1082 in the promoter region of the IL-10 gene were associated with the incidence of autoimmune liver disease.

Methods: The IL-10 -592 and IL-10-1082 polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms analysis (PCR-RFLP), while polymerase chain reaction- sequence specific primer (PCR-SSP) assay was used to detect IL-10 -819 polymorphisms.

Results: Among 54 Chinese patients with AIH or 77 Chinese patients with PBC versus healthy controls, the frequency of AA, GA genotypes at IL-10 gene promoter -1082 position was 87.

[Genetic association of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha polymorphisms with primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune liver diseases in a Chinese population].

Objective: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) are two autoimmune diseases of unknown etiology. Genetic factors appear to be involved in the pathogenesis of both diseases. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is one of the proinflammatory cytokines and immunomodulators, and is implicated in the pathogenesis of AIH and PBC.