Transcriptomic Analysis of Stimulated Response in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Reveal Potential Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis of Leprosy.

We aimed to identify an unique host transcriptional signature in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in response to antigens to distinguish between patients with leprosy and non-leprosy controls for early diagnosis of the disease. Sixteen individuals were enrolled in the discovery cohort [eight patients with leprosy, comprising four multibacillary (MB) and four paucibacillary (PB); and eight non-leprosy controls, comprising four healthy house contacts (HHCs) and four endemic controls (ECs)]. The differences in the transcriptome response of PBMCs to sonicate antigen were evaluated between leprosy patients and non-leprosy controls, and 12 differentially expressed genes (, , , , , , , , , , and ) were identified.

Host immune responses induced by specific Mycobacterium leprae antigens in an overnight whole-blood assay correlate with the diagnosis of paucibacillary leprosy patients in China.

Background: Leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, affects over 200,000 people annually worldwide and remains endemic in the ethnically diverse, mountainous and underdeveloped southwestern provinces of China. Delayed diagnosis of leprosy persists in China, thus, additional knowledge to support early diagnosis, especially early diagnosis of paucibacillary (PB) patients, based on the host immune responses induced by specific M. leprae antigens is needed.

Evaluation of antigen-specific immune responses for leprosy diagnosis in a hyperendemic area in China.

Objective: To evaluate antigen-specific immune responses for leprosy diagnosis in a hyperendemic area in China.

Methods: Eighty-three leprosy patients and 161 non-leprosy controls were enrolled from Hani-yi Autonomous Prefecture of Honghe, Yunnan Province, China. Leprosy patients were divided into multibacillary (MB, n = 38), paucibacillary (PB, n = 23), and post-multi-drug therapy (MDT, n = 22) groups.

Evaluation of novel tools to facilitate the detection and characterization of leprosy patients in China.

Leprosy is the disabling outcome of chronic infection with Mycobacterium leprae. The disease often evades early detection, particularly now that fewer clinicians are able to confidently diagnose the disease following the integration of leprosy control measures within general health services in many countries. Although leprosy is officially eliminated in China, endemic regions remain in some difficult-to-reach, underdeveloped areas in Southwest China.

Optimisation of preparation conditions and properties of phytosterol liposome-encapsulating nattokinase.

Phytosterol liposomes were prepared using the thin film method and used to encapsulate nattokinase (NK). In order to obtain a high encapsulation efficiency within the liposome, an orthogonal experiment (L9 (3)(4)) was applied to optimise the preparation conditions. The molar ratio of lecithin to phytosterols, NK activity and mass ratio of mannite to lecithin were the main factors that influenced the encapsulation efficiency of the liposomes.

Downstream of tyrosine kinase/docking protein 6, as a novel substrate of tropomyosin-related kinase C receptor, is involved in neurotrophin 3-mediated neurite outgrowth in mouse cortex neurons.

Background: The downstream of tyrosine kinase/docking protein (Dok) adaptor protein family has seven members, Dok1 to Dok7, that act as substrates of multiple receptor tyrosine kinase and non-receptor tyrosine kinase. The tropomyosin-related kinase (Trk) receptor family, which has three members (TrkA, TrkB and TrkC), are receptor tyrosine kinases that play pivotal roles in many stages of nervous system development, such as differentiation, migration, axon and dendrite projection and neuron patterning. Upon related neurotrophin growth factor stimulation, dimerisation and autophosphorylation of Trk receptors can occur, recruiting adaptor proteins to mediate signal transduction.

[Dok6 promote neurite outgrowth of tropomyosin-related kinase C overexpressed PC12 cells in stimulation of neurotrophin-3].

Objective: To study the role of adaptor protein Dok6 in neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells.

Methods: Series of fusion clones were constructed by fusing different domains of Dok6 into mutant TrkC/Y516F. These constructs were transiently transfected into PC12 cells separately and the expression levels of fusion proteins were detected by Western blot.

[ShcD interacts with TrkC through its PTB and SH2 domains].

Objective: To study the interaction between ShcD and TrkC and to reveal the molecular mechanism of the downstream signal transduction of TrkC.

Methods: Yeast two-hybrid assay was used. The intracellular domains of TrkC and TrkC mutants were cloned into pAS2-1, and ShcD and its four domains (CH2, PTB, CH1, and SH2 domains) were cloned into pACT2 vector respectively.