GD3 expression by cultured human tumor cells of neuroectodermal origin

Summary Seven monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) reactive with ganglioside II³(NeuAc)₂-LacCer (GD3) were generated; four of these mAbs (DMAb-21, DMAb-22, DMAb-23, and DMAb-24) by immunizing mice with GD3 adsorbed to Salmonella minnesota and the remaining three (DMAb-7, DMAb-8, and DMAb-17) with melanoma line SK-MEL 28, which contains 1.4 nmol sialic acid of GD3 per mg protein. The specificities of the mAbs were defined by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) immunostain and solid-phase radioimmunoassay (SP-RIA) with a panel of purified gangliosides. DMAb-7 and DMAb-8 reacted with GD3, IV³(NeuAc)₂nLcOse₄Cer(3,8-LD1), and very weakly with IV³(NeuAc)₂II³NeuAc-GgOse₄Cer (GTla), but not with II³NeuAc-LacCer (GM3), II³NeuAcGgOse₃Cer(GM2), II³NeuAc-GgOse₄Cer(GM1), II³NeuAc, IV³NeuAcGgOse₄Cer (GD1a), II³(NeuAc)₂GgOse₃(GD2), II³(NeuAc)₂GgOse₄Cer (GD1b), IV³NeuAcII³(NeuAc)₂, GgOse₄Cer(GT1b), suggesting the binding epitope to be a terminal tetrasaccharide NeuAc2-8NeuAc2-3Gal1-4(Glc or GlcNAc). DMAb-7 and DMAb-8 were used to investigate the expression of GD3 on cultured human tumor cells of neuroectodermal origin. Thirteen of 19 gliomas, 3 of 5 medulloblastomas, 5 of 5 neuroblastomas, 2 of 2 melanomas, and 1 of 3 teratomas were shown to react with DMAb-8 and/or DMAb-7 by cell surface-RIA (CS-RIA) and immunofluorescence (IF) assays. HPTLC and densitometric analysis confirmed these results, as positive immunostains in the GD3 region were obtained with oligoganglioside fractions from 9 glioma, 1 medulloblastoma, 2 neuroblastoma, 1 melanoma, and 1 teratoma cell line. Glioma cell line U-105 MG and medulloblastoma cell line Daoy contain GD3 as shown by HPTLC immunostain analysis of extracts, although GD3 was undetectable on the cell surface as determined by CS-RIA and IF. There was no detectable GD3 found in gangliosides isolated from cell lines U-373 MG, D-54 MG, TE-671, and PA-1, which were negative for both DMAb-7 and DMAb-8 by CS-RIA and IF assay. Our results provide evidence that GD3 is expressed extensively with significant quantitative heterogeneity on cultured human neuroectodermal tumor cells including glioma, medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma, and melanoma.Supported by NIH grants R37 CA11898, NS 20023, and CA32672 and by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council (project no. 03X-627), Swedish Cancer Society (project no. 2260-B88-01X) and the National Swedish Board for Technical Development (project no. 84-4667)     

Inhibition of anti-GD3-ganglioside antibody-induced proliferation of human CD8+ T cells by CD16+ natural killer cells

The ganglioside GD3 has been described as a membrane component of human T cells which is involved in T cell growth. In the present study the activating function of GD3 for human CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells was analyzed by five different monoclonal antibodies (mAb) directed against the GD3 molecule. Three mAb U5, Z21 and R24 induced strong proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and purified CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells of normal donors containing less than 5% CD16⁺ natural killer (NK) cells. In contrast to CD4⁺ T cells, CD8⁺ T cells proliferated only weakly in the presence of 15% CD16⁺ NK cells. The proliferative response of purified CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells (<5% NK cells) correlated with the antibody-dependent induction of integral and soluble interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptors and was reduced to 20% by an anti-IL-2 receptor antibody. Our results show, that the GD3 molecule represents an activation molecule for both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells and that CD16⁺ NK cells selectively inhibit anti-GD3 antibody-induced proliferation of CD8⁺ T cells.     

Functional analysis of 13 GBA mutant alleles identified in Gaucher disease patients: Pathogenic changes and "modifier" polymorphisms

Gaucher disease, the most prevalent sphingolipidosis, is caused by the deficient activity of acid beta-glucosidase, mainly due to mutations in the GBA gene. Over 200 mutations have been identified worldwide, more than 25 of which were in Spanish patients. In order to demonstrate causality for Gaucher disease, some of them: c.662C>T (p.P182L), c.680A>G (p.N188S), c.886C>T (p.R257X), c.1054T>C (p.Y313H), c.1093G>A (p.E326K), c.1289C>T (p.P391L), c.1292A>T (p.N392I), c.1322T>C (p.I402T), and the double mutants [c.680A>G; c.1093G>A] ([p.N188S; p.E326K]) and [c.1448T>C; c.1093G>A] ([p.L444P; p.E326K]), were expressed in Sf9 cells using a baculovirus expression system. Other well-established Gaucher disease mutations, namely c.1226A>G (p.N370S), c.1342G>C (p.D409H), and c.1448T>C (p.L444P), were also expressed for comparison. The levels of residual acid beta-glucosidase activity of the mutant enzymes produced by the cDNAs carrying alleles c.662C>T (p.P182L), c.886C>T (p.R257X), c.1054T>C (p.Y313H), c.1289C>T (p.P391L), and c.1292A>T (p.N392I) were negligible. The c.1226A>G (p.N370S), c.1322T>C (p.I402T), c.1342G>C (p.D409H), c.1448T>C (p.L444P), and [c.1448T>C; c.1093G>A] ([p.L444P; p.E326K]) alleles produced enzymes with levels ranging from 6 to 14% of the wild-type. The three remaining alleles, c.680A>G (p.N188S), c.1093G>A (p.E326K), and [c.680A>G; c.1093G>A] ([p.N188S; p.E326K]), showed higher activity (66.6, 42.7, and 23.2%, respectively). Expression studies revealed that the c.1093G>A (p.E326K) change, which was never found alone in a Gaucher disease-causing allele, when found in a double mutant such as [c.680A>G; c.1093G>A] ([p.N188S; p.E326K]) and [c.1448T>C; c.1093G>A] ([p.L444P; p.E326K]), decreases activity compared to the activity found for the other mutation alone. These results suggest that c.1093G>A (p.E326K) should be considered a "modifier variant" rather than a neutral polymorphism, as previously considered. Mutation c.680A>G (p.N188S), which produces a mutant enzyme with the highest level of activity, is probably a very mild mutation or another "modifier variant."     

GraVe's病患者血清肿瘤坏死因子的研究

本文检测了４５例ＧＤ,１００例健康对照组血清ＴＮＦ－α水平,结果ＧＤ患者血清ＴＮＦ－α水平显著升高（Ｐ〈０．０１）。与其ＦＴ３,ＦＴ４,ＴＧＡＢＭ,ＴＭＡＢ水平及其甲吸率无相关性。升高的水平与病程长短和甲状腺大小有关。ＧＤ患者＾１３１Ｉ治疗前后血清ＴＮＦ－α水平无明显变化,＾１３１Ｉ治疗后不同效果组治疗前血清ＴＮＦ－α水平无明显差异。表明ＧＤ患者血清ＴＮＦ－α水平升高：ＧＤ的“功能缓解”与“免疫缓     

儿童精索静脉曲张130例临床分析

目的总结儿童精索静脉曲张的临床特点及诊治体会，探讨其所致睾丸差异生长的临床意义。方法回顾性分析作者收治的130例精索静脉曲张患儿临床资料。结果130例中，左侧128例，双侧2例，发病年龄10岁以上者120例。首发症状为阴囊内包块者109例，体检发现者15例，阴囊疼痛、坠胀不适4例，左右阴囊大小不一2例。超声检查提示合并症以睾丸微石症最常见。130例均予手术治疗，其中开放手术13例，腹腔镜手术117例。术后随访105例无复发及睾丸萎缩。92例记录睾丸大小的患儿中，51．1％存在双侧睾丸差异生长，且随着临床分度的递增而睾丸差异生长显著。结论儿童精索静脉曲张以左侧多见，好发于10岁以上儿童，极少有自觉症状，诊断主要依靠体格检查及彩超，治疗上以手术为主，腹腔镜手术有望成为首选。睾丸差异生长是儿童精索静脉曲张较可靠的手术指征，合并睾丸微石症的发生率仍须进一步研究。     

Alcohol exposure during development: Impact on the epigenome

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders represent a wide range of symptoms associated with in utero alcohol exposure. Animal models of FASD have been useful in determining the specific neurological consequences of developmental alcohol exposure, but the mechanisms of those consequences are unclear. Long-lasting changes to the epigenome are proposed as a mechanism of alcohol-induced teratogenesis in the hippocampus. The current study utilized a three-trimester rodent model of FASD to examine changes to some of the enzymatic regulators of the epigenome in adolescence. Combined pre- and post-natal alcohol exposureresulted in a significant increase in DNA methyltransferase activity (DNMT), without affecting histone deacetylase activity (HDAC). Developmental alcohol exposure also caused a change in gene expression of regulators of the epigenome, in particular, DNMT1, DNMT3a, and methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2). The modifications of the activity and expression of epigenetic regulators in the hippocampus of rodents perinatally exposed to alcohol suggest that alcohol's impact on the epigenome and its regulators may be one of the underlying mechanisms of alcohol teratogenesis.     

腹腔镜辅助 Duhamel 结肠次全切除术治疗肠神经元发育不良症

目的总结腹腔镜辅助 Duhamel 结肠次全切除术治疗肠神经元发育不良症 B 型（IND —B）的操作技巧,探讨其临床疗效。方法2010年至2014年,我们收治29例 IND — B 型患儿,经规范的保守治疗仍存在顽固型便秘,延迟拍片提示钡剂残留位于脾曲以近的结肠。均接受腹腔镜辅助 Du-hamel 结肠次全切除术,平均手术年龄为5岁2个月。手术操作按照 Smith 方法有改进：将腹腔镜下腹腔内直肠的离断改为经直肠后壁切口肛门外直肠离断。结果所有病例均在腹腔镜下顺利完成手术,平均手术时间为180 min,术中无并发症。术后发生小肠结肠炎1例,便血1例,均经保守治疗好转。均获随访,平均随访时间31个月,无吻合口狭窄、污粪发生。术后第2周排便频率为每日3～18次,第4周排便频率为每日6～10次,术后平均3．5个月,排便次数达到正常。1例术后需持续扩肛3个月。无一例出现便秘复发、大便失禁。结论腹腔镜辅助 Duhamel 结肠次全切除术治疗 IND — B 患儿安全有效,操作简便,创伤小,术后排便次数少,需扩肛的患儿少。     

Genetic susceptibility to autoimmune thyroid diseases in a Chinese Han population: Role of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms

Purpose

Previous studies have found that some immune-related genes were associated with autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs). A couple of studies have explored the association between vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3) receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to AITDs in different populations and found conflicting results. This case-control study was designed to evaluate the role of polymorphisms of VDR gene in the predisposition of AITDs in a Chinese Han population.

Methods

A total of 417 patients with Graves’ disease (GD), 250 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and 301 healthy subjects were enrolled. The Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (MALDI-TOF-MS) Platform was applied to detect four SNPs (rs1544410, rs2228570, rs731236 and rs7975232) in the VDR gene.

Results

In the rs7975232 allele A frequency showed a significant increase in GD patients (30.34% vs. 25.42% in controls; P = 0.041, OR = 1.278, 95%CI = 1.010–1.617). However, no relationship was found between clinical phenotypes and the four SNPs.

Conclusions

This result suggests that the VDR gene may be one susceptibility gene which contributes to the risk of GD.