Proinflammatory Th17 cells and CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells are two newly identified T lymphocyte subsets, which have opposite effects on autoimmunity and inflammation. To assess the Th17/Treg pattern and cytokine microenvironment in peripheral blood of patients with RA, we included 66 RA patients and 20 healthy volunteers. Of all these subjects, peripheral Th17 and Treg frequencies were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM) and the plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-17, 23, 6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 were detected by ELISA. The results demonstrated that RA patients revealed an obvious increase in peripheral Th17 frequencies and levels of Th17-related cytokines (IL-17, IL-23, IL-6, TNF-α) while a significant decrease in Treg frequencies and Treg-related cytokine (TGF-β1) levels when compared with healthy people. Our study indicated that development of RA is associated with peripheral Th17/Treg imbalance and characterized by a proinflammatory cytokine microenvironment, which supports continuing generation of Th17 cells.

Recent advances in the study of the CRISPR/Cas9 system have provided a precise and versatile approach for genome editing in various species. However, the applicability and efficiency of this method in large animal models, such as the goat, have not been extensively studied. Here, by co-injection of one-cell stage embryos with Cas9 mRNA and sgRNAs targeting two functional genes (MSTN and FGF5), we successfully produced gene-modified goats with either one or both genes disrupted. The targeting efficiency of MSTN and FGF5 in cultured primary fibroblasts was as high as 60%, while the efficiency of disrupting MSTN and FGF5 in 98 tested animals was 15% and 21% respectively, and 10% for double gene modifications. The on- and off-target mutations of the target genes in fibroblasts, as well as in somatic tissues and testis of founder and dead animals, were carefully analyzed. The results showed that simultaneous editing of several sites was achieved in large animals, demonstrating that the CRISPR/Cas9 system has the potential to become a robust and efficient gene engineering tool in farm animals, and therefore will be critically important and applicable for breeding.

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The CRISPR/Cas9 system provides a flexible approach for genome engineering of genetic loci. Here, we successfully achieved precise gene targeting in sheep by co-injecting one-cell-stage embryos with Cas9 mRNA and RNA guides targeting three genes (MSTN, ASIP, and BCO2). We carefully examined the sgRNAs:Cas9-mediated targeting effects in injected embryos, somatic tissues, as well as gonads via cloning and sequencing. The targeting efficiencies in these three genes were within the range of 27–33% in generated lambs, and that of simultaneously targeting the three genes was 5.6%, which demonstrated that micro-injection of zygotes is an efficient approach for generating gene-modified sheep. Interestingly, we observed that disruption of the MSTN gene resulted in the desired muscle hypertrophy that is characterized by enlarged myofibers, thereby providing the first detailed evidence supporting that gene modifications had occurred at both the genetic and morphological levels. In addition, prescreening for the off-target effect of sgRNAs was performed on fibroblasts before microinjection, to ensure that no detectable off-target mutations from founder animals existed. Our findings suggested that the CRISPR/Cas9 method can be exploited as a powerful tool for livestock improvement by simultaneously targeting multiple genes that are responsible for economically significant traits.

The aim of this study was to perform an association study between two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs2910164 G>C and rs3746444 T>C in pre-miRNA (hsa-mir-146a and hsa-mir-499) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the Han Chinese population. 208 Han Chinese patients with RA and 240 healthy controls were recruited in this study. The SNPs was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and rheumatoid factor (RF) was measured by rate nephelometry. The genotype frequencies between cases and controls were compared by χ(2) analysis. No significant association between the SNPs (rs2910164 and rs3746444) and RA was observed (P = 0.631 and 0.775, respectively), and the SNPs did not show any association with the RF-positive (P = 0.631 and 0.775, respectively). However, there was a significant difference on the level of anti-CCP antibody between different genotypes in rs3746444 (P = 0.007). The heterozygote CT had significantly higher level of anti-CCP antibody compared with homozygote CC and TT (P = 0.054 and 0.003, respectively). We first investigated the association between the SNPs (rs2910164 G>C and rs3746444 T>C) in the pre-miRNA (hsa-mir-146a and hsa-mir-499) and RA in a Han Chinese population. We did not find a significant association between the SNPs and the susceptibility to RA, while the SNP rs3746444 may affect anti-CCP antibody production.

Here we show that fusion of two complementarity-determining regions (CDRs), VHCDR1 and VLCDR3, through a cognate framework region (VHFR2) yields mimetics that retain the antigen recognition of their parent molecules, but have a superior capacity to penetrate tumors. The antigen-recognition abilities of these approximately 3 kDa mimetics surpass those of comparable fragments lacking the framework region. In vivo activities of the mimetics suggests that the structural orientation of their CDRs approximates the conformation of the CDRs in the complex of the parent antibody with antigen. We linked the antibody mimetics to the bacterial toxin colicin Ia to create fusion proteins called "pheromonicins," which enable targeted inhibition of tumor growth. In mice bearing human malignant tumors, pheromonicins directed against tumor-specific surface markers show greater capacity to target and penetrate tumors than their parent antibodies. Rational recombination of selected VH/VL binding sites and their framework regions might provide useful targeting moieties for cytotoxic cancer therapies.

BackgroundStudies focused on the correlation of mutations in the genome of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) like Pre-S mutation, Basal Core promoter (BCP), Enhancer II (EnhII), especially Precore mutation, with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have triggered stiff controversies. With an increasing number of studies in this field recently, we conducted this meta-analysis to appraise the correlations.MethodsWe searched the commonly used databases both in English and Chinese till February 1st, 2012. Meta-analysis was performed in fixed/random-effects models using STATA 10.0. Publication bias was examined through Egger's test and Begg's funnel plot.ResultsIn total, 85 case-control studies were included involving 16745 HBV-infected patients, of whom 5781 had HCC. Statistically significant correlations were observed in Precore mutation G1896A (OR = 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15–1.85, POR = 0.002), G1899A (OR = 3.13, 95%CI = 2.38–4.13, POR<0.001) and Pre-S mutation especially Pre-S1 deletion (OR = 2.94, 95%CI = 2.22 to 3.89) and Pre-S2 deletion (OR = 3.02, 95%CI = 2.03 to 4.50). Similar correlation existed between BCP double mutation A1762T/G1764A, T1753V, C1653T and HCC. In subgroup analysis, the Asians, genotype C or HBeAg positive patients with certain above mutations may be more susceptible to HCC. Besides, the mutations like G1896A and BCP double mutation may be associated with the progression of the liver diseases.ConclusionsPrecore mutation G1896A, G1899A, deletions in Pre-S region as well as the other commonly seen mutations correlated with the increased risk of HCC, especially in Asians and may predict the progression of the liver disease.

The resistance mutations occurred frequently in untreated CHB patients, especially in China. The lamivudine resistance had the highest natural prevalence rate, while other nucleos(t)ide analogues showed rarely spontaneous resistance. Detecting the spontaneous resistance mutations will benefit the clinical management of CHB patients.