Objective To summarize the current progress in the genetic modification of vascular prostheses and to look forward to the future of genetic modification in vascular prostheses. Methods PubMed onl ine search with the key words of “vascular prostheses, gene” was undertaken to identify articles about the genetic modification of vascular prostheses. Then these articles were reviewed and summarized. Results To improve long-term patency of vascular prostheses, various genes were transfected into seeded cells. The antithrombosis activity of local vessels increased. Conclusion Progresses in tissue engineering and molecular biology make possible endothel ial ization and genetic modification of vascular prostheses. However, because most relevant researches are still basic experiments, further study is needed before cl inical appl ication.
ObjectiveTo identify and observe the pathogenic genes and clinical phenotypes of a family with a special platelet phenotype, Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome type 6 (HSP6). MethodsA retrospective clinical study. In November 2019, one proband and three family members from six HSP families who visited Henan Eye Hospital were included in the study. The child's medical history and family history were inquired in detail. The proband and all family members underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus color photography, frequency-domain optical coherence tomography, and general physical examination. The proband underwent platelet transmission electron microscopy (PTEM) and colonoscopy. Peripheral venous blood was collected from the proband, her parents and younger brother, and genomic DNA was extracted. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was used to screen pathogenic genes and their loci. Bioinformatics analysis determines the pathogenicity of gene variation sites. Fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot were used to verify the related variations. ResultsThe proband (Ⅱ-1) was a 7-year-old female. The BCVA in both eyes was 0.1, who exhibited mild horizontal nystagmus and iris depigmentation. Fundus examination revealed obvious depigmentation and an underdeveloped fovea centralis. At the age of 7, the patient underwent colonoscopy due to acute gastrointestinal bleeding. A polyp approximately 5 mm in size was found on the floor of the sigmoid colon, with erosion and mucosal leukoplakia on its surface. PTEM showed that the number of platelet dense granules was normal, but the nuclei were small or exhibited low compactness. The skin on both lower legs showed pigmentation. The clinical phenotypes of the proband’s parents (Ⅰ-1, Ⅰ-2) and younger brother (Ⅱ-2) showed no obvious abnormalities. WES revealed that the proband carried compound heterozygous variants in exon 1 of the HPS6 gene: c.60_64dup (p.L22fs) (M1) and c.1147_1148del (p.L383fs) (M2). The mother carried the M1 variant, while the father and younger brother carried the M2 variant. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that both variants were pathogenic. RT-qPCR results showed that, compared with the relative expression level of HPS6wt mRNA, the relative expression levels of HPS6L22fs and HPS6L383fs mRNA were significantly decreased (t = 3.549, 4.560; P＜0.05). Western blot analysis demonstrated that the HPS6L383fs protein was truncated, whereas the HPS6L22fs protein was not detected. ConclusionsThis family is a special HPS6 with a normal number of dense platelet granules. The compound heterozygous variations of M1 and M2 in the HPS6 gene are pathogenic genes in this family.
Genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+) is a new type of genetic epilepsy syndrome with a marked hereditary tendency. Febrile seizure is the most common clinical symptom, followed by febrile seizure plus, and with/without absence seizures, focal seizures, and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Results of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), exon sequencing and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis showed that the occurrence of GEFS+ is mainly related to the mutation of gamma aminobutyric acid type A receptor gamma 2 subunit (GABRG2), but its pathogenesis was still unclear. The main types of GABRG2 mutations include missense mutation, nonsense mutation, frameshift mutation, point mutation and splice site mutation. All these types of mutations can reduce the function of ion channels on cell membrane, but the degree and mechanism of dysfunction are different, which may be the main mechanism of epilepsy. This article will focus on the relationship between GEFS+ and the mutation types of GABRG2 in recent years, which is of great significance for clinical accurate diagnosis, anti-epileptic treatment strategy and new drug development.
Objective To summarize results of the correlation of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) promoter –308A/G polymorphism with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) susceptibility in Chinese populations. Methods We collected all the publications about the correlation between TNF-α promoter –308A/G polymorphism and SLE in Chinese populations by searching PubMed, EBSCO, CBM, CNKI and Wanfang Data before the date of March 20, 2010. Meta-analysis was performed for checking the difference between two groups about genotypes such as AA versus GG, GA versus GG, AA versus GG+GA, GA+AA versus GG, and A allele versus G allele. Results A total of 8 studies involving 731 SLE patients and 901 healthy people were included. The meta-analysis of total populations showed that, there was no significant correlation between A allele and increased SLE risk (OR=1.42, 95%CI 0.97 to 2.09, P=0.07); the meta-analyses of populations in different regions showed there was no significant correlation of A allele and increased SLE risk in Chinese Taiwan populations (OR=1.04, 95%CI 0.77 to 1.40, P=0.82). Moreover, there was no significant difference between SLE group and control group in the genotypes of AA versus GG, GA versus GG, AA versus GG+GA, and GA+AA versus GG.Conclusion This meta-analysis dosen’t demonstrate the correlation between TNF-α promoter–308A/G polymorphism and SLE in Chinese populations.
Inherited retinal diseases (IRD) are a group of genetic disorders with high genetic and clinical heterogeneity. Patients with IRD may have their clinical diagnosis confirmed by genetic testing. Over the past 30 years, rapid advances in molecular genetics have raised the disease-causing gene variant detection rate and the accuracy of genetic testing, which provide hope to patients. The genetic diagnosis of patients with IRD is complicated due to the overlapping clinical phenotypes, and the fact that different variants lead to different phenotypes and severity even of the same gene. It is very important to overall evaluate the clinical phenotype of patients, precisely select genetic testing methods, and reasonably define disease-causing genes and variants during genetic diagnosis, which can guide the patient's subsequent treatment and provide genetic counseling.
Objective To study the latest research progress of the formation mechanism of cholesterol stone disease and forming factors of cholesterol stone disease and to provide new theoretical level and develop a new development direction for guiding clinical application. Methods The related literatures at home and abroad were analyzed, compared and summarized, and the current relevant research dynamic of cholesterol stone disease was sketched. Results The formation of cholesterol gallstone is closely related to the abnormal levels of serum lipids metabolism, bacterial and viral infection, and the expression of genes related to cholesterol gallstone. Conclusions The formation of cholesterol calculus disease is a kind of interaction and intricate disease process involving of environmental factors, genetic factors, and biological factors. Although there has been a lot of blood lipid, protein correlation research with cholesterol stone, there are also many studies such as using gene transplantation and gene knockout, but gene technology of cholesterol stone disease diagnosis and treatment is expected to become the new hot research topic.
Objective To observe the effect of RNA interference (RNAi) on HepG2 hepatic cancer cell by small interfering RNA (siRNA). Methods siRNA targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene was transfected into HepG2 cells by LipofectimineTM 2000. The VEGF mRNA and protein were respectively detected by real-time quantitive PCR and Western blot, and the concentration of VEGF protein in the cell culture supertant was determined by ELISA at 48 h after culture. Results The average efficiency of siRNA transfection was (90.4±2.9)% after 6 h cell culture. The expressions of VEGF mRNA and protein in HepG2 cells could be effectively suppressed by siRNA, and the concentration of VEGF protein in the cell culture supertant was also decreased. Conclusion siRNA can knock down the expression of VEGF gene and decrease the concentration of VEGF protein in HepG2 cells.
Objective To investigate the impact of genetic factors on mental health status in child and adolescent twins. Methods A total of 102 pairs of twins aged 6 to 16 years were recruited with the support from educational committees and schools. After the guardians of these twins had signed an informed consent form, the Chinese version growth and the state of health evaluation (Development and Well-Bing Assessment, DAWBA) were completed by the parents of these twins to investigate their mental health status. Buccal mucosa samples were collected from all twins for DNA extraction and zygosity identification test. Result A total of 102 pairs of twins were recruited, among whom 93 pairs finished the investigation, including 50 monozygotic pairs and 43 dizygotic pairs. The results of emotional symptoms and behavior symptoms and the impact of symptoms from the DAWBA screening questionnaire showed that the intrapair correlation coeficien of the emotional disorder and the oppositional/conduct disorder and the impact in monozygotic twins were more remarkable than those in dizygotie twins, including separation anxiety (MZ group correlation coefficient (r) = 0.821, Plt;0.01; DZ group r=0.348, Plt;0.01), generalized anxiety (MZ group r=0.546, Plt;0.01; DZ group r=0.309, Plt;0.01), a special terror symptoms (MZ group r=0.849, Plt;0.01; DZ group r=0.726, Plt;0.01 ), and oppositional defiant / conduct disorder (MZ group r=0.237, Plt;0.01; DZ group r=0.163, Plt;0.01), attention deficit - hyperactivity disorder (MZ group r=0.640, Plt;0.01; DZ group r=0.198, Plt;0.01), autistic symptoms (MZ group r=0.680, Plt;0.01; DZ group r=0.372, Plt;0.01). Conclusion Genetic factors play an important role in mental health status of child twins.
Objective To summarize recent research advancement on gene therapy for hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Methods Relevant references about basic and clinical researches of hepatic IRI were collected and reviewed. Results Recent experimental researches indicated that the expression of several genes and cytokines could protect hepatic cells by suppressing cell apoptosis, decreasing the production of oxyradical, remaining and improving portal venous flow, promoting bilifaction, self immunoloregulation and decreasing inflammatory reaction, so that it could decrease IRI. Conclusion IRI could be decreased by regulating the expressing of target genes or transducing relative genes in vivo, but the path of gene transfer and the selection and optimization of gene carrier still need more basic and clinical researches to prove.
Objective To summarize the advancement of hereditary thrombophilia. Methods Relevant literatures about hereditary thrombophilia published recently domestic and abroad were reviewed and analyzed. Results The hereditary risk factors of venous thromboembolism were different among different races. In western population, the main risk factors were activated protein C resistance (APC-R) and mutation of factor V Leiden, methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism (C677T) and prothrombin G20210A. While in Chinese population, the disorder of protein C system and hyperhomocysteinemia were the major genetic risk factor. The existence of multiple genetic risk factors increased the incidence of primary and recurrent venous thromboembolism. Conclusion Further study on the relations between the hereditary risk factors and thrombophilia will be very important for prediction and prevention of the venous thromboembolism.