1.
Effect of alpha 2b interferon on inducement of mIL-2R and treatment of HCV in PBMC from patients with chronic viral hepatitis C.
Wang, J, Xiang, GJ, Liu, BX
World journal of gastroenterology. 2003;(4):751-4
Abstract
AIM: To study the level of membrane interleukin-2 receptor (mIL-2R) on surface of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and the therapeutic efficacy of alpha 2b interferon on the treatment of HCV-RNA in PBMC of patients with chronic hepatitis C and to compare the negative rates of HCV-RNA in PBMC, HCV-RNA and anti-HCV in serum. METHODS Before and after treatment of alpha 2b interferon, the level of mIL-2R of patients with chronic hepatitis C was detected by biotin-streptavidin (BSA). The therapeutic group (26 cases) was treated with alpha 2b interferon (3 MU/d) and control therapeutic group (22 cases) was treated with routine drugs (VitC, aspartic acid). The total course of treatment with alpha 2b interferon and routine drug was six months and per course of the treatment was three months. The levels of HCV-RNA in PBMC, HCV-RNA and anti-HCV in serum were detected before and after a course of the treatment. RESULTS Before and after treatment of alpha 2b interferon and routine drugs, the levels of mIL-2R in silence stage were (3.44+/-0.77) % and (2.95+/-0.72) %, the levels of mIL-2R in inducement stage were (33.62+/-3.95) % and (30.04+/-3.73) %. There was a significant difference between two groups (P<0.01-P<0.05). After treatment of alpha 2b interferon with 3 MU/d for two courses of the treatment, the total negative rates of HCV-RNA in the PBMC and HCV-RNA, anti-HCV in serum were 42.31 % (11/26), 57.69 % (15/26), 65.38 %(17/26) respectively. After the treatment of routine drug, the negative rates of HCV-RNA in PBMC and HCV-RNA, anti-HCV in serum were 13.64 % (3/22), 22.73 % (5/22), 27.27 % (6/22) respectively. There was high significant difference in the group treated with alpha 2b interferon and the group treated with routine drugs (P<0.01-P<0.05). CONCLUSION The mIL-2R can be induced by alpha 2b interferon during the treatment. The alpha 2b interferon has a definite effect on the treatment of HCV-RNA in PBMC. The curative effect of alpha 2b interferon is better than that of the routine drugs.
2.
Aberrant tyrosine transport across the cell membrane in patients with schizophrenia.
Flyckt, L, Venizelos, N, Edman, G, Bjerkenstedt, L, Hagenfeldt, L, Wiesel, FA
Archives of general psychiatry. 2001;(10):953-8
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is evidence that patients with schizophrenia exhibit abnormalities, not only in the brain but also in peripheral organs. An abnormal cell membrane composition has been suggested to be a common denominator, supported by findings of alterations in membrane phospholipid levels. In a previous study, the transport of amino acids across the plasma membrane was investigated with fibroblasts from patients with schizophrenia and controls. An isolated decrease in the maximal transport capacity (V(max)) of tyrosine was observed in the cells from patients. In this context, tyrosine transport across the fibroblast membrane was investigated in patients with schizophrenia and healthy control subjects. METHODS Skin fibroblasts were obtained from 36 patients with schizophrenia (15 first episode and 21 chronic) and 10 healthy controls. Tyrosine transport across the cell membrane was studied in cultivated fibroblasts. The V(max) and the affinity of the tyrosine binding sites (K(m)) were determined. RESULTS Significantly lower V(max) (F(1,41) = 12.80; P =.001; effect size = 1.36) and K(m) (F(1,41) = 24.85; P<.001; effect size = 1.00) were observed in fibroblasts from the patients. The findings were present in both neuroleptic-naive patients with their first episode and patients with chronic schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS The lower V(max) and K(m) are compatible with a cell membrane disturbance and support the view of schizophrenia as a systemic disorder. The decreased V(max) and K(m) observed in cells from schizophrenic patients probably reflect a genetic trait, as the changes were transmitted through several cell generations of cultured fibroblast.