MicroRNA-150 suppresses p27 expression and promotes cell proliferation in HeLa human cervical cancer cells.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) exert critical roles in the majority of biological and pathological processes. Recent studies have associated miR-150 with a number of different cancer types. However, little is known about miR-150 targets in cervical cancer.

Genetic Factors of Low-responsiveness to Hepatitis B Virus Vaccine Confirms the Importance of Human Leukocyte Antigen Class II Types in a Japanese Young Adult Population.

We investigated the genetic mechanisms underlying the association between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) types and the immune response to hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination in 84 healthy Japanese adults, and found that the HLA-DRB1＊04 and HLA-DQB1＊03 frequencies were higher in the low responders (<10 mIU/ml; n=9, 10.7%) compared to the responders (≥10 mIU/ml, n=75, 89.3%).

QPY/RAH haplotypes of the GZMB gene are associated with natural killer cell cytotoxicity.

Granzyme B (GzmB) is a component of cytolytic granules within NK cells and is involved in several pathologies. It has previously been reported that there are three non-synonymous coding SNPs (rs8192917; Q48R, rs11539752; P88A, and rs2236338; Y245H) in the GZMB gene and that the QPY/RAH allele was clustered together close to the C-terminal α-helix. However, it is unknown whether the function of GzmB produced from NK cells is influenced by QPY/RAH polymorphism.

Influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms of cytokine genes on anti-HBs antibody production after hepatitis B vaccination in a Japanese young adult population.

Hepatitis B (HB) vaccination is one of the most efficient tools to prevent the transmission of the virus. Considerable variability exists in HB vaccine responses, with 5-10% of healthy Japanese adults demonstrating no response following a standard vaccination. Recently, polymorphisms of immune-regulatory genes, such as cytokine genes, have been reported to influence the immune response to HB vaccine.

Flow Cytometric Evaluation of Surface CD56 Expression on Activated Natural Killer Cells as Functional Marker.

Surface CD56 is the most important cell marker for defining NK cells. However, the relationship between the expression of surface CD56 and NK cell activity has not yet been elucidated in detail. Thirteen healthy volunteers were enrolled in the present study.

SNPs rs4656317 and rs12071048 located within an enhancer in FCGR3A are in strong linkage disequilibrium with rs396991 and influence NK cell-mediated ADCC by transcriptional regulation.

CD16 receptors are mainly expresses on the surface of NK cells and mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). The authors previously reported that NK cell-mediated ADCC is influenced by the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs396991 (T>G; F158V), and the structure and expression levels of CD16 differed among these genotypes. The authors examined haplotype frequency distributions among rs396991 and other SNPs, rs10917571 (G>T), rs4656317 (C>G), and rs12071048 (G>A), located in an enhancer of the FCGR3A gene.

The influence of NK cell-mediated ADCC: Structure and expression of the CD16 molecule differ among FcγRIIIa-V158F genotypes in healthy Japanese subjects.

NK cells express the CD16 (FcγRIIIa) receptor, which mediates antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), on their cell surface. Therefore, ADCC activity may be influenced by qualitative or quantitative changes in the CD16 molecule on NK cells. Responses to NK cell-mediated ADCC have been shown to depend on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at FcγRIIIa amino acid position 158.

[Increase in Alkaline Phosphatase Activity after High-Fat Meal Ingestion is Correlated to the Amount of ABH Substances in Saliva].

Intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) appears in the circulation more frequently in blood group B or O secretors than in blood group A or AB secretors and non-secretors, and serum IAP activity rises following the ingestion of a high-fat meal. In a previous study, the occurrence of two IAP isoforms, with high (HIAP) and normal molecular mass (NIAP), in healthy sera was demonstrated by 6.0% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of 1% Triton X-100.

Evaluation of new automated syphilis test reagents 'IMMUNOTICLES AUTO3' series: performance, biochemical reactivity, and clinical significance.

Background: Automated nontreponemal and treponemal test reagents based on the latex agglutination method (immunoticles auto3 RPR: ITA3RPR and immunoticles auto3 TP: ITA3TP) have been developed to improve the issues of conventional manual methods such as their subjectivity, a massive amount of assays, and so on. We evaluated these reagents in regards to their performance, reactivity to antibody isotype, and their clinical significance.

Methods: ITA3RPR and ITA3TP were measured using a clinical chemistry analyzer.

[Alkaline phosphatase activity in blood group B or O secretors is fluctuated by the dinner intake of previous night].

We previously reported that two intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) isoforms, high molecular mass IAP (HIAP) and normal molecular mass IAP (NIAP), appear in healthy serum with our Triton-PAGE method for determination of ALP isozymes. In addition, HIAP is chiefly present in blood group B or O secretors, and a large amount of NIAP is secreted into the circulation after high-fat meal in blood group B or O secretors. In the present paper, we investigated the relationship between alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in early morning with the patient in a fasted state and the dinner intake of previous night.

[Analysis of the complete hepatitis B virus genomes in a patient for repeated seroconversion to anti-HBe antibody due to co-infection with two virus clones].

We report a case of repeated seroconversion to anti-HBe antibody in a patient with chronic hepatitis B. We amplified and cloned sections of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and sequenced the PCR products. The results were analyzed by connecting all of the sequences to generate complete genomes.

[Analysis of the relevance of the mutations of the precore and basic core promoter in HBV genome with the DNA amount of HBV viremia].

In the course of hepatitis B, serum concentrations of the virus usually fall following sero-conversion, characterized by the loss of HBe antigen and appearance of detectable anti-HBe. However, hepatitis B viremia may persist even after sero-conversion. We assessed the association of continuous viremia with the precore (PC) (G1896A) mutation, basic core promoter (BCP) (A1762T, G1764A) mutations, the viral genotype and the quantity of viral DNA.

[Evaluation of the anti-TP antibody latex agglutination immunoassay in routine testing and a clinical viewpoint].

We evaluated TP-LAIA (anti-TP latex agglutination immunoassay) and compared the results with those obtained using Serological Tests for Syphilis (STS), namely Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) method and Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) test. We also examined early-stage antibody reaction using rabbits infected with active pathogen, and analyzed early-stage syphilis patient serum with IgM class anti-TP antibody. Based on routine test results and case history reviews for possible syphilis infection, TP-LAIA showed high specificity, 0.

[A case of repeated seroconversion to HBe antibody due to co-infection with Mutant- and wild-type hepatitis B virus clones].

It is reported that co-infection with different hepatitis B virus (HBV) clones in a patient with chronic hepatitis B induces rare serotypes (adywr) or abnormal laboratory data such as negative HBs antigen, in the presence of positive HBV DNA. In this study, we experienced a case of repeated seroconversion to HBe antibody in a patient with chronic hepatitis B. Since seroconversion is considered to be related to genetic mutations, we investigated the HBV genes in this male patient in his 30's.

[The relation between virus genotypes and coexisting surface antigen and antibody in patients with hepatitis B, and the development of preS region deletions].

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes. Our previous data have shown the importance of in-frame deletions in the preS region in cases of coexisting hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb). The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation between HBV genotypes and coexisting HBsAg and HBsAb, preS deletion mutants.

[Hepatitis C virus genotyping by restriction fragment length polymorphism of polymerase chain reaction products generated with a HCV detection kit].

Highly conserved sequence in the 5' untranslated region(UTR) of hepatitis C virus(HCV) genome have been targeted by most nucleic acid amplification-based detection assays, such as Amplicor HCV test, a commercially available assay kit. In this study, we classified HCV genotypes by direct sequencing determination for 5' UTR of nested-PCR after Amplicor HCV test. Then, based on the results of sequence, RFLP analysis after digestion of the nested PCR fragments with Hae III or Sau 3AI to classify HCV genotype was evaluated.

[Hepatitis B virus gene mutations in the sera of three patients with coexisting hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-surface antibody].

We analyzed gene mutations in the Hepatitis B virus of three virus carriers with coexisting Hepatitis B surface(HBs) antigen and anti-HBs antibody. Viral DNAs were extracted from sera and the pre-S, S and X(including core promoter and pre-core region) regions were amplified by PCR, and sequenced. Case 1 and Case 2 were positive for HBe antigen, while Case 3 was negative.

Successive occupancy by immediate early transcriptional factors of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene TRE and CRE sites in PACAP-stimulated PC12 pheochromocytoma cells.

We previously demonstrated that pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) coordinately upregulates the expression of the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) genes by activating the cyclic AMP (cAMP) and protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathways. In this study, we examined the effects of PACAP on the expression of fos and jun immediate early gene (IEG) families, expression of which can be up-regulated by both PKC and cAMP signaling pathways, in rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12 cells. PACAP potently stimulated the expression of c-fos, fosB junB and junD, but not c-jun mRNAs, at doses of 0.

Enhanced expression of mRNA coding for the adrenaline-synthesizing enzyme phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase in adrenaline-secreting pheochromocytomas.

Purpose: In some pheochromocytomas, the tumors contain and secrete greater amounts of adrenaline than do normal adrenal medullas. It is not yet known how adrenaline synthesis is enhanced in the adrenaline-secreting pheochromocytomas.

Materials And Methods: As a first step toward understanding the molecular mechanisms by which adrenaline synthesis is controlled in these tumors, we measured the level of mRNA coding for the adrenaline-synthesizing enzyme phenylethanolamine N-methyl transferase (PNMT) and the content of adrenaline in the pheochromocytomas (n = 9), including 3 cases of the adrenaline-secreting type (one of the patients had bilateral pheochromocytomas), and in normal adrenal medullas (n = 7).

Transfusion-transmitted virus infection in China: prevalence in blood donors and in patients with liver diseases.

Background: Prevalence of transfusion-transmitted virus (TTV) infection among blood donors and in patients with liver diseases in China was studied.

Methods: DNA was extracted from serum and amplified by seminested polymerase chain reaction with reported primer sets from a conserved region of the TTV genome.

Results: TT Virus DNA was detected in 55 of 196 blood donors (28%); 31% (40 of 127) in the north and 22% (15 of 69) in the south.

Expression of mRNA coding for four catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes in human adrenal pheochromocytomas.

Objective: To understand the molecular mechanisms by which catecholamine synthesis is controlled in pheochromocytomas--tumors that synthesize and release catecholamines, which are related to various clinical manifestations of the condition.

Methods: We measured the concentrations of mRNA coding for the catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase, aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC), dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) and phenylethanolamine N-methyl transferase (PNMT) and for the catecholamine contents in 12 pheochromocytomas and 12 normal adrenal medullas.

Results: The mean content of total catecholamine and the beta-actin mRNA expression in the pheochromocytomas were almost the same as those in the normal adrenal medullas.

[Comparison of three methods for quantitative measurement of hepatitis C virus].

Three assays for measuring hepatitis C virus(HCV) were compared with regard to sensitivity and correlations. The methods included were the Roche Amplicor HCV Monitor test(PCR), the branched DNA signal amplification assay(b-probe), and the serum concentration of HCV core protein measured by the sandwich FEIA (Core-Ag). Also, HCV serotypes were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide induces gene expression of the catecholamine synthesizing enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine beta hydroxylase, through 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate- and protein kinase C-dependent mechanisms in cultured porcine adrenal medullary chromaffin cells.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)i a potent stimulant of catecholamine secretion, increased catecholamine production in cultured porcine adrenal medullary chromaffin cells. PACAP induced dose-and time-dependent increases in mRNAs for the catecholamine synthesizing enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), with maximal 6- and 4-fold increases occurring at 8-16 h, respectively. The half-maximally and maximally effective PACAP concentrations for stimulation of TH and DBH gene expression were 0.

[Expression of mRNAs coding for catecholamine synthesizing enzymes in human adrenal pheochromocytoma].

Pheochromocytomas synthesize and release catecholamines, which subsequently are related to various clinical manifestations of the disease. However, pheochromocytomas are not innervated and the catecholamine release and synthesis are not initiated by neural impulses. It is still unknown how catecholamine synthesis is regulated in pheochromocytomas.