Construction of micelles and hollow spheres the self-assembly behavior of poly(styrene-HPMI) copolymers with poly(4-vinylpyridine) derivatives mediated by hydrogen bonding interactions.

This study describes the preparation of hydrogen bonding connected micelles, consisting of a poly(styrene--(-hydroxyphenylmaleimide)) [poly(S--pHPMI)] core and a poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) derivative shell in a selective solvent. The aim was to modify hydrogen bonding interaction sites at the core/shell interface by synthesizing P4VP derivatives in three different sequences, namely, P4VP homopolymers, PS--P4VP random copolymers, and block copolymers. TEM images showed the successful self-assembly of poly(S--pHPMI)/PS--P4VP inter-polymer complexes into spherical structures.

Intra- and Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding in Miscible Blends of CO/Epoxy Cyclohexene Copolymer with Poly(Vinyl Phenol).

In this study, we synthesized a poly(cyclohexene carbonate) (PCHC) through alternative ring-opening copolymerization of CO with cyclohexene oxide (CHO) mediated by a binary LZnOAc catalyst at a mild temperature. A two-dimensional Fourier transform infrared (2D FTIR) spectroscopy indicated that strong intramolecular [C-HO=C] hydrogen bonding (H-bonding) occurred in the PCHC copolymer, thereby weakening its intermolecular interactions and making it difficult to form miscible blends with other polymers. Nevertheless, blends of PCHC with poly(vinyl phenol) (PVPh), a strong hydrogen bond donor, were miscible because intermolecular H-bonding formed between the PCHC C=O units and the PVPh OH units, as evidenced through solid state NMR and one-dimensional and 2D FTIR spectroscopic analyses.

Meso/Microporous Carbons from Conjugated Hyper-Crosslinked Polymers Based on Tetraphenylethene for High-Performance CO Capture and Supercapacitor.

In this study, we successfully synthesized two types of meso/microporous carbon materials through the carbonization and potassium hydroxide (KOH) activation for two different kinds of hyper-crosslinked polymers of TPE-CPOP1 and TPE-CPOP2, which were synthesized by using Friedel-Crafts reaction of tetraphenylethene (TPE) monomer with or without cyanuric chloride in the presence of AlCl as a catalyst. The resultant porous carbon materials exhibited the high specific area (up to 1100 m g), total pore volume, good thermal stability, and amorphous character based on thermogravimetric (TGA), N adsoprtion/desorption, and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analyses. The as-prepared TPE-CPOP1 after thermal treatment at 800 °C (TPE-CPOP1-800) displayed excellent CO uptake performance (1.

Development of Quantitative Methylation-Specific Droplet Digital PCR (ddMSP) for Assessment of Natural Tregs.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) suppress immune responses in an antigen-specific manner. Of clinical relevance, Tregs can be isolated and expanded while maintaining immunoregulatory function. Tregs are classified as CD4CD25CD127 FOXP3 cells.

Intra-pancreatic tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells: a promising therapeutic potential with anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic profiles.

Background: Human pancreata contain many types of cells, such as endocrine islets, acinar, ductal, fat, and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). MSCs are important and shown to have a promising therapeutic potential to treat various disease conditions.

Methods: We investigated intra-pancreatic tissue-derived (IPTD) MSCs isolated from tissue fractions that are routinely discarded during pancreatic islet isolation of human cadaveric donors.

Factors affecting Salmonella-based combination immunotherapy for prevention of type 1 diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice.

We previously reported the development of an oral vaccine for diabetes based on live attenuated Salmonella-expressing preproinsulin (PPI) as the autoantigen. When combined with host cell-expressed TGFβ, the vaccine prevented the onset of diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. Herein, we investigated factors that could affect vaccine efficacy including vaccination number, optimization of the autoantigen codon sequence, Salmonella SPI2-TTSS promoter/effector combinations, concurrent short-course low-dose anti-CD3.

Synthesis of Sodium Complexes Supported with NNO-Tridentate Schiff Base Ligands and Their Applications in the Ring-Opening Polymerization of L-Lactide.

A series of sodium complexes bearing NNO-tridentate Schiff base ligands with an N-pendant arm were synthesized and used as catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide (L-LA). Electronic effects of ancillary ligands coordinated by sodium complexes substantially influence the catalysis, and ligands with electron-donating groups increase the catalytic activity of the sodium complexes for catalyzing L-LA polymerization. In particular, a sodium complex bearing a 4-methoxy group has the highest activity with conversion up to 95% within 30 s at 0 °C and a low polydispersity index of 1.

Reduced MIR130A is involved in primary immune thrombocytopenia via targeting TGFB1 and IL18.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a vital role in the regulation of immunological functions and prevention of autoimmune disease. The abnormal expressions of several miRNAs in patients with the acquired autoimmune disease, immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), have been reported. However, the exact mechanism of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of ITP is currently not well understood.

Foxp3+ Treg expanded from patients with established diabetes reduce Helios expression while retaining normal function compared to healthy individuals.

Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) play a crucial role in regulating immune tolerance. The use of Treg to restore immune tolerance is considered an attractive novel approach to inhibit autoimmune disease, including type 1 diabetes (T1D), and to prevent rejection of organ transplants. In view of the goal of developing autologous Treg-based cell therapy for patients with long-term (>15 years) T1D, it will be necessary to expand a sufficient amount of functional Treg in vitro in order to study and compare Treg from T1D patients and healthy subjects.

PTPN22 -1123G > C polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to primary immune thrombocytopenia in Chinese population.

Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired autoimmune disorder characterized by autoantibody-mediated platelet destruction. Multiple factors have been implicated in ITP pathogenesis, including T-lymphocyte dysfunctions. The protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22) gene encodes lymphoid-specific phosphatase (LYP), a critical negative regulator of T cell activation.

Inhibition of S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2) reprograms and converts diabetogenic T cells to Foxp3+ regulatory T cells.

Autoreactive pathogenic T cells (Tpaths) and regulatory T cells (Tregs) express a distinct gene profiles; however, the genes and associated genetic/signaling pathways responsible for the functional determination of Tpaths vs. Tregs remain unknown. Here we show that Skp2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase that affects cell cycle control and death, plays a critical role in the function of diabetogenic Tpaths and Tregs.

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate mice trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are poorly immunogenic and have potent immunosuppressive activities, have emerged as a promising candidate for cellular therapeutics for the treatment of disorders caused by abnormal immune responses. In this study we investigated whether human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) could ameliorate colitis in a trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis model. TNBS-treated colitic mice were infused with hUC-MSCs or vehicle control.

Decreased expression of MBD2 and MBD4 gene and genomic-wide hypomethylation in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia.

Genome-wide hypomethylation has been confirmed in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Proteins containing methylcytosine-binding domain (MBD) are involved in promoter methylation as transcriptional repressors and promote the gene-silencing effect of DNA methylation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the methylation pattern of T cells and the relationship between genomic methylation and the expression of MBD2 and MBD4 in ITP patients.

Killer cell Ig-like receptor (KIR) 3DL1 down-regulation enhances inhibition of type 1 diabetes by autoantigen-specific regulatory T cells.

Both Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) and antigen-expanded Foxp3(-) Tregs play an important role in regulating immune responses as well as in preventing autoimmune diseases and graft rejection. Molecular mechanisms modulating Treg function remain largely unclear, however. We report here on the expression and function of an inhibitory killer cell Ig-like receptor, KIR3DL1, in a nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse-derived autoantigen-specific Treg (2D2), which protects from type 1 diabetes (T1D) in adoptive transfer experiments.

Association of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 gene polymorphisms with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in a Chinese population.

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an acquired organ-specific autoimmune hemorrhagic disease with many immune dysfunctions. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) is a T-lymphocyte surface molecule that can down modulate and terminate immune responses. Recently, several studies have confirmed that some polymorphisms of this gene can influence its expression level, therefore speculating that they might be associated with autoimmune diseases.

Factor VIII gene mutations profile in 148 Chinese hemophilia A subjects.

Background: Hemophilia A (HA) is a common X-linked recessive bleeding disease caused by mutations in FVIII gene. The identification of mutation in HA subjects can lead to more accurate diagnosis and contribute to the genetic counseling/prenatal diagnosis.

Objectives: Our objective is to identify the FVIII defects in 148 unrelated Chinese HA subjects and to analyze the potential consequence of novel mutations.

Th1 (CXCL10) and Th2 (CCL2) chemokine expression in patients with immune thrombocytopenia.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired organ-specific autoimmune disease with a polarization of T(h)1. Both the T(h)1 chemokine CXCL10 and T(h)2 chemokine CCL2 have been studied in several autoimmune diseases, but the status of these chemokines in ITP is still unknown. The aims of this study were to determine the expression of CXCL10 and CCL2 and their receptors, CXCR3 and CCR2, in ITP patients, and to conduct a preliminary study of the pathogenic roles of these factors in ITP.

[Combined deficiency of factors V and VIII caused by a novel compound heterozygous mutation of gene Lman1].

Combined deficiency of factor V and VIII (F5F8D) is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations of either lman1 or mcfd2. To identify mutations of these two genes in a Chinese F5F8D family, the samples of peripheral blood were collected from the proband and her parents. Coagulation tests were carried out, including activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT), fibrinogen (Fg) and coagulate activity of FV, FVIII (FV:C, FVIII:C).

The expression of IFN-gamma, IL-4, Foxp3 and perforin genes are not correlated with DNA methylation status in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

We investigated the relationship between the expression of IFN-gamma, IL-4, Foxp3 and perforin gene and the methylation status of their promoters in immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) patients. Gene expression and DNA methylation were determined by quantitative PCR and bisulfite genomic sequencing, respectively. The expression of IFN-gamma was higher, while the expression of IL-4 was notably lower in ITP patients when compared with the controls.

Single nucleotide polymorphism in the methyl-CpG binding domain 4 gene and the risk for immune thrombocytopenic purpura in Chinese population.

Epigenetics might contribute to autoimmune diseases including immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Methyl-CpG binding domain protein 4 (MBD4) plays an important role in DNA methylation and transcriptional regulation of gene expression. The polymorphism of the MBD4 gene may influence MBD4 activity on gene expression profiles, thereby influencing individual susceptibility to ITP.

[Comparative study of in vitro hematopoietic supportive capability of human mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow and umbilical cord].

The present study was aimed to isolate and identify human mesenchymal stem cells from adult bone marrow (BM-MSC) and umbilical cord (UC-MSC), and to compare their ability to support in vitro long-term hematopoiesis. MSC from bone marrow and umbilical cord were isolated by using density gradient centrifugation or enzyme digestion. MSC were further purified by adherent culture.

Raised expression of APRIL in Chinese patients with immune thrombocytopenia and its clinical implications.

Background: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an immune-mediated disorder in which destruction of platelets is accelerated by anti-platelet autoimmune antibodies. B-cell-activating factor (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), essential factors for B cell survival are elevated in systemic autoimmune diseases and correlated with clinical findings. High expression of BAFF has been shown in patients with ITP, but the status of APRIL in ITP is still unknown.

[Genetic analysis of an inherited afibrinogenemia family caused by a novel frameshift mutation in FGA].

Inherited afibrinogenemia is a rare autosomal recessive bleeding disease characterized by complete absence of fibrinogen in blood. To identify the genotype in a Chinese family with inherited afibrinogenemia, the samples of peripheral blood were collected from 6 members of 3 generations. The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT) and fibrinogen (Fg, clauss) were tested.