The aim of the this study was to search for bacterial DNA sequences in cholesterol gallstones with negative bacterial culture by NP-PCR technique. Bacterial gene fragments were amplified in vitro from DNA which were extracted from cholesterol gallstones in gallbladder for identifying the existence of bacteria. The gallbladder gallstones of 30 patients were analysed. Bacterial DNA was found in the stones of 26 patients, indicating that most cholesterol gallstones harbor bacterial DNA.
Objective To investigate the mutations of the gene in Chinese patients with X linked juvenile retinoschisis (XLRS), and to provide the genetic diagnosis and consultation of heredity for the patients and their families. Methods Genomic DNA was isolated from leukocytes of 29 male patients with XLRS, 38 female carriers and 100 normal controls (the patients and the carriers were from 12 families). All 6 exons of XLRS1 gene were amplified by polhism (SSCP) assay. The positions and types of XLRS1 gene mutations were determined by direct sequencing. Results Eleven different XLRS1 mutations were identified in these 12 families, including one frameshift mutation due to base loss of the first exon: c.22delT（L9CfsX20）, one nonsense mutation due to base loss of the first exon (Trp163X), one splice donor site mutation(c.52+2 Trarr;C; IVS1+2T to C), and eight missense mutation due to base replacement（Ser73Pro, Arg102Gln, Asp145His, Arg156Gly, Arg200Cys, Arg209His, Arg213Gln, and Cys223Arg). No gene mutation was detected in the control group. Four new mutations included frmaeshift mutation（L9CfsX20）and mutations of Asp145His, Arg156Gly, and Trp163X at the fifth exon. A newly discovered non-disease-related polymorphism (NSP) was the c.576C to T (Pro192Pro) change at the sixth exon. Conclusion Eleven different XLRS1 mutations were detected, which is the cause of XLRS in Chinese people. The detection of gene mutations may provide the guidance of genetic diagnosis and the consultation of family heredity for the patients and their families. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2006, 22: 77-81)
Objective To investigate the genetic interaction of HLA-DQB1 promoter and coding alleles in the pathogenesis of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome (VKH). Methods Eighty-eight Chinese Han patients with VKH and eighty-eight non-VKH normal controls were enrolled in this study. DNA was extracted from white blood cells of the subjects by phenolchloroform method. Thirteen alleles were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP), polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and clone-sequencing was applied to determine the polymorphisms of the promoter and coding regions of HLA-DQB1 gene. Chromas and Bioedit software were used to analyze the sequences of the promoter of HLA-DQB1. Chi-square test and Fisher exact test were the statistical methods. Relationships among single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the promoter and coding region were analyzed. Results Twelve of thirteen already known HLA-DQB1 alleles were genotyped by PCR-SSP in VKH patients. The most frequent allele in VKH patients was HLA-DQB10401 (0.318, 56∶176) which was significantly higher in patients than that in normal controls (0.045, 8∶176) (chi;2＝44.00, P＝0.000, OR＝9.8). So was for HLA-DQB10303 (0.068 vs. 0.006, chi;2＝9.67, P＝0.002, OR＝12.81). In contrast, the frequency of HLA-DQB10601 (0.017 vs.0.096, chi;2＝10.39, P＝0.001, OR＝0.16) and HLA-DQB10302 (0.062 vs. 0.193,chi;2＝13.48, P＝0.000, OR＝0.28) in VKH patients were significantly lower than normal controls. Twelve SNP were found in all subjects. The frequency of C allele at position -189C/A in VKH patients was significantly higher than that in controls (0.324 vs. 0.074, chi;2＝45.92, P＝0.000). However, the frequency of G allele at position -227G/A in VKH patients was significantly lower than that in the normal controls (0.011 vs. 0.108, chi;2＝15.63,P＝0.000). The frequency of combination of susceptible alleles in promoter and coding area （-189C and HLA-DQB10401） in VKH patients was statistically higher than that in controls, the frequency of combination of resistant alleles in control (-227G and HLA-DQB10601) was higher than that in VKH patients. Conclusions The specific interactions of SNP in the promoter and coding alleles of HLA-DQB1 are associated with the pathogenesis of VKH.
Objectives To study the relationships between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase(MTHFR ) gene polymorphism and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Chinese Han race． Methods With polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-FLP), MTHFR gene 677 T mutation (cytosine is replaced by thymine in No. 677 site) was detected in 85 health controls, 62 with DR and 117 without DR of type 2 diabetics comfrimed by ophthalmoscope． Results The frequency of MTHFR variant genotypes and alleles of DR in Chinese Han race．patients were signigicantly higher than those without retinopathy and healthy controls (Plt;0．01)． Conclusions The results suggested that MTHFRgene C677T mutation was probably one of the genetic risk factors of diabetic retinopathy in Chinese Han rase． (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2001,17:198-200
Objective To construct specifically expressed vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)165 gene in retina. Methods Rho promoter, specifically expressed in retina, was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from the genomic DNA of a BLAB/C rat, then it was cut with restriction enzymes and cloned into the plasmid pcDNA3.1+-VEGF165 to form recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1+-rho-VEGF165. The correct recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1+-rho-VEGF165 was identified by restriction enzymes and PCR, and was transferred by jetPEI into cultured human navel vein endothelial cells and human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. The expression of VEGF protein in human navel vein endothelial and RPE cells was detected by immunocytochemical staining and protraction of the growth curve of the cells. Results In human RPE cells, the expression of VEGF protein was more in recombinant plasmidpcDNA3.1+-rho-VEGF165 than that in plasmidpcDNA3.1+-rho-VEGF165 ; in human navel vein endothelial cells, no obvious difference of the expression of VEGF protein between recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1+-rho-VEGF165 and plasmid pcDNA3.1+-rho-VEGF165 was found. Conclusions The construction of pcDNA3.1+-rho-VEGF165 carrier may provide the basic material for the study of the nosogenesis of VEGF in retinal neovascularization, and establish the foundation to set up the model of transgenic mice with VEGF specific expressing in retina. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2005,21:106-108)
Objective To detect and analyse the mutations in rhodopsin gene of members in a family affected by autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP). Methods Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we amplified exon 1-5 of rhodopsin gene in patients with ADRP,and analyzed it with direct sequence measuement. Results The Gly-182-Asp mutation in the rhodopsin gene was detected in most of affected members of this ADRP family, but no mutation was detected in two affected members and the control ones. Conclusion We cannot regard the Gly-182-Asp mutation in the rhodopsin gene as the pathagenic factor of the ADRP family. It is likely there is a new gene next to the rhodopsin gene. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 256-258)
Objective To evaluate the rapid diagnosis of bacterial and (or) fungal endophthalmitis by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (MPCR). Methods MPCR was performed to detect the DNA segment of bacteria and (or) fungi from standard strains and 41 samples of intraocular fluid or vitreous from 38 patients (3 with double eyes and 35 with single), and the results were compared with the cultured bacteria and fungi. Results Five hours after detected by MPCR, bacteria and (or) fungi in 34 out of 41 samples (82.9%) from patients were detected，in cluding bacteria in 26，fungi in 6，and both bacteria and fungi in 2. The positive rate of MPCR was obviously higher than the cultured ones（χ2＝9.60, P＜0.05）. Conclusion With the advantages of rapidity, sensibility, and specificity, MPCR can make for the rapid and definitive diagnosis of bacterial and (or) fungal endophthalmitis. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：81-83)
Optic atrophy,hereditary／diagnosis; Polymerase chain reaction; DNA,mitochondrial; Point mutation; Sequence analysis
Objective To investigate the expression of T cell receptor (TCR) Vβ8.3 gene on CD4+ T lymphocytes in the rats with experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU). Methods Eighteen Lewis rats were divided into EAU, complete Freund′s adjuvant, and the control group. Inter photoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) R16 peptide was synthesized using Fmoc procedure for induction of EAU. Magnetic absorption cell sorting (MACS) me thod was used to isolate the CD4+T lymphocytes from the spleen of the rats. Flow cytometry was used to monitor the efficiency of isolation. The expression of TCR Vβ8.3 gene segment on CD4+T lymphocytes was determined by fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results EAU was successfully induced in the Lewis rats immunized with IRBP R16 peptide. The proportion of CD4+T lymphocytes isolated by means of MACS was statistically higher than that before isolation (P＜0.001). The expression of TCR Vβ8.3 gene segment on CD4+ T lymphocytes in EAU rats was significantly higher than that in the control (P＜0.05). Conclusions There is a predominant usage of antigen-specific TCR Vβ 8.3 gene in EAU rats induced by IR BP R16 peptide, which may serve as a target for immunotherapy of EAU. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：165-167)
Objective To investigate the role of β-catenin gene in breast tumorigenesis by detecting mutation and expression of β-catenin gene in breast hyperplasia and breast cancer. Methods Mutation and expression of β-catenin gene in 42 breast cancer, 15 simple hyperplasia and 15 atypical hyperplasia were detected by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism and immunohistochemistry. Results Normal expression of β-catenin occurred in tissue of breast simple hyperplasia. The rate of abnormal expression of β-catenin in tissue of breast atypical hyperplasia and breast cancer were 26.7% （4/15） and 59.5% （25/42）, respectively, which were higher than that of simple hyherplasia tissue (P＜0.05). And there was a markedly difference between the atypical hyperplasia tissue and breast cancer tissue (P＜0.05). Mutation of β-catenin gene wasn’t detected in this three kinds of tissues. Conclusion Abnormal expression of β-catenin plays an important role in human breast tumorigenesis, reason of abnormal expression of β-catenin isn’t mutation of β-catenin gene. Expression of β-catenin can be regulated by other mechanisms.