HCV-Specific Interleukin-21+CD4+ T Cells Responses Associated with Viral Control through the Modulation of HCV-Specific CD8+ T Cells Function in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Guo-Hua Feng,Fu-Sheng Wang,Ji-Yuan Zhang,Qing-Lei Zeng,Lei Jin,Junliang Fu,Bin Yang,Ying Sun,Tianjun Jiang,Xiangsheng Xu,Zheng Zhang,Jinhong Yuan,Liyuan Wu 한국분자세포생물학회 2013 Molecules and cells Vol.36 No.4

Interleukin-21 (IL-21)+CD4+ T cells are involved in the immune response against hepatitis B virus (HBV) by secreting IL-21. However, the role of IL-21+CD4+ T cells in the immune response against chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus infection is poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the role of IL-21+CD4+ T cells in CHC patients and the potential mechanisms. The study subjects in-cluded nineteen CHC patients who were grouped by viral load (low, < 106 RNA copies/ml, n = 8; high, > 106 RNA copies/ml, n = 11). The peripheral frequency of HCV-specific IL-21+CD4+ T cells was higher in the low viral load group and was negatively correlated with the serum HCV RNA viral load in all CHC patients. Meanwhile, IL-21+ cells accumulated in the liver in the low viral load group. In vitro, IL-21 treatment increased the expression of proliferation markers and cytolytic molecules on HCV-specific CD8+ T cells. In summary, these findings suggest that HCV-specific IL-21+CD4+ T cells might contribute to HCV control by rescuing HCV-specific CD8+ T cells in CHC patients.

Effect of metal ions on the secondary structure and activity of calf intestine phosphatase

Feng Juan Chen,Guo Qi Liu,Zhi Hong Xu,Zheng Zhi Zeng 한국생화학분자생물학회 2008 BMB Reports Vol.41 No.4

Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Are Associated with Viral Persistence and Downregulation of TCR ζ Chain Expression on CD8⁺ T Cells in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Zeng, Qing-Lei,Yang, Bin,Sun, Hong-Qi,Feng, Guo-Hua,Jin, Lei,Zou, Zheng-Sheng,Zhang, Zheng,Zhang, Ji-Yuan,Wang, Fu-Sheng Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 2014 Molecules and cells Vol.37 No.1

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play an important role in impairing the function of T cells. We characterized MDSCs in two chronic hepatitis C (CHC) cohorts: a cross-sectional group that included 61 treatment-naive patients with CHC, 14 rapid virologic response (RVR) cases and 22 early virologic response (EVR) cases; and a longitudinal group of 13 cases of RVR and 10 cases of EVR after pegylated-interferon-${\alpha}$/ribavirin treatment for genotype 1b HCV infection. Liver samples from 32 CHC patients and six healthy controls were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis. MDSCs frequency in treatment-naive CHC was significantly higher than in RVR, EVR, or healthy subjects and was positively correlated with HCV RNA. Patients infected with HCV genotype 2a had a significantly higher frequency of MDSCs than those infected with genotype 1b. Decreased T cell receptor (TCR) ${\zeta}$ expression on $CD8^+$ T cells was significantly associated with an increased frequency of MDSCs in treatment-naive CHC patients and was restored by L-arginine treatment in vitro. Increased numbers of liver arginase-$1^+$ cells were closely associated with the histological activity index in CHC. The TCR ${\zeta}$ chain was significantly downregulated on hepatic $CD8^+$ T cells in CHC. During antiviral follow up, MDSCs frequency in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was directly correlated with the HCV RNA load in the plasma and inversely correlated with TCR ${\zeta}$ chain expression in $CD8^+$ T cells in both RVR and EVR cases. Notably, the RVR group had a higher frequency of MDSCs at baseline than the EVR group. Collectively, this study provides evidence that MDSCs might be associated with HCV persistence and downregulation of CD8 ${\zeta}$ chain expression.

Post-diagnosis Soy Food Intake and Breast Cancer Survival: A Meta-analysis of Cohort Studies

Chi, Feng,Wu, Rong,Zeng, Yue-Can,Xing, Rui,Liu, Yang,Xu, Zhao-Guo Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.4

Background and Objectives: Data on associations between soy food intake after cancer diagnosis with breast cancer survival are conflicting, so we conducted this meta-analysis for more accurate evaluation. Methods: Comprehensive searches were conducted to find cohort studies of the relationship between soy food intake after cancer diagnosis and breast cancer survival. Data were analyzed with comprehensive meta-analysis software. Results: Five cohort studies (11,206 patients) were included. Pooling all comparisons, soy food intake after diagnosis was associated with reduced mortality (HR 0.85, 95%CI 0.77 0.93) and recurrence (HR 0.79, 95%CI 0.72 0.87). Pooling the comparisons of highest vs. lowest dose, soy food intake after diagnosis was again associated with reduced mortality (HR 0.84, 95%CI 0.71 0.99) and recurrence (HR 0.74, 95%CI 0.64 0.85). Subgroup analysis of ER status showed that soy food intake was associated with reduced mortality in both ER negative (highest vs. lowest: HR 0.75, 95%CI 0.64 0.88) and ER positive patients (highest vs. lowest: HR 0.72, 95%CI 0.61 0.84), and both premenopausal (highest vs. lowest: HR 0.78, 95%CI 0.69 0.88) and postmenopausal patients (highest vs. lowest: HR 0.81, 95%CI 0.73 0.91). In additioin, soy food intake was associated with reduced recurrence in ER negative (highest vs. lowest: HR 0.64, 95%CI 0.44 0.94) and ER+/PR+ (highest vs. lowest: HR 0.65, 95%CI 0.49 0.86), and postmenopausal patients (highest vs. lowest: HR 0.67, 95%CI 0.56 0.80). Conclusion: Our meta-analysis showed that soy food intake might be associated with better survival, especially for ER negative, ER+/PR+, and postmenopausal patients.

Ultramini nephrostomy tract combined with flexible ureterorenoscopy for the treatment of multiple renal calculi in paediatric patients

Jingyang Guo,Wen Zeng Yang,Yanqiao Zhang,Feng An,Ruojing Wei,Yu Li,Haisong Zhang 대한비뇨의학회 2015 Investigative and Clinical Urology Vol.56 No.7

Purpose: To assess the safety and efficacy of an ultramini nephrostomy tract, which we were using for the first time, combinedwith flexible ureterorenoscopy (URS) in the treatment of pediatric patients with multiple renal calculi. Materials and Methods: Twenty pediatric patients (age, ≤6 years) underwent ultramini percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL)combined with flexible URS. The group had multiple renal calculi, which were bilateral in 3 cases and were located in a total of 23sites. The calculi were located in 2 calyces in 10 cases, scattered in more than 2 calyces in 7 cases, and limited to 1 calyx in 3 cases. The average patient age was 37.35 months (range, 14–68 months). The average stone diameter was 2.0 cm (range, 1–3.0 cm). Inall patients, an ultramini nephrostomy tract was established under ultrasound guidance (dilated to F10) with simultaneous sheathplacement. The flexible URS was placed into the collecting system during holmium laser lithotripsy. Results: When ultramini PCNL was combined with flexible ureterorenoscopic holmium laser lithotripsy, the complete stone-freerate was 87% (20/23). The average level of hemoglobin decreased to 1.0 g/dL after the operation. No blood transfusions wereneeded. Levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and C-reactive protein were not significantly different before and after the operation. The average duration of hospitalization was approximately 4.85 days, and all cases were followed up for 6 to 12 months. No complications were found. Conclusions: Ultramini PCNL combined with flexible ureterorenoscopic holmium laser lithotripsy is a safe and effective treatmentfor children with multiple renal calculi.

Comment on Polarization-Adjustable Dual-Band Absorption in GHz-Band Metamaterial, Based on the No-Smoking Symbol

Li Zeng,Guo-Biao Liu,Tong Huang,Hai-Feng Zhang 한국물리학회 2019 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.74 No.6

Recently, a polarization-adjustable dual-band metamaterial absorber based on a modied no- smoking symbol was reported by Yoo et al. [J. Korean. phys. Soc. 67, 1651 (2015)]. When the angle (φ) between the y-axis and the incident electric eld E is 0 ◦ , the proposed absorber based on a modied no-smoking symbol has two resonance absorption peaks, one at 4.59 GHz and the other at 6.75 GHz with absorption of 99% and 84%, respectively, and the high-frequency peak can be controlled by changing φ. In addition, the original author indicated that the absorption effect could be expressed in a split-ring structure and the real no-smoking symbol. In this paper, we express doubt that the design of Yoo et al. is not an absorber. When the missing cross-polarization re ec- tion component is taken into the calculation of the absorption, we conrmed that the absorption peaks were 4.05 GHz and 6.03 GHz with real absorption rates of 36.31% and 34.88%, respectively. Obviously, the proposed absorber cannot act as an absorber.

Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Are Associated with Viral Persistence and Downregulation of TCRζ Chain Expression on CD8+ T Cells in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Qing-Lei Zeng,Bin Yang,Hong-Qi Sun,Guo-Hua Feng,Lei Jin,Zheng-Sheng Zou,Zheng Zhang,Ji-Yuan Zhang,Fu-Sheng Wang 한국분자세포생물학회 2014 Molecules and cells Vol.37 No.1

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play an important role in impairing the function of T cells. We characterized MDSCs in two chronic hepatitis C (CHC) cohorts: a cross-sectional group that included 61 treatment-naive patients with CHC, 14 rapid virologic response (RVR) cases and 22 early virologic response (EVR) cases; and a longitudinal group of 13 cases of RVR and 10 cases of EVR after pegylated-interferon-α/ribavirin treatment for genotype 1b HCV infection. Liver samples from 32 CHC patients and six healthy controls were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis. MDSCs frequency in treatmentnaive CHC was significantly higher than in RVR, EVR, or healthy subjects and was positively correlated with HCV RNA. Patients infected with HCV genotype 2a had a significantly higher frequency of MDSCs than those infected with genotype 1b. Decreased T cell receptor (TCR) ζ expression on CD8+ T cells was significantly associated with an increased frequency of MDSCs in treatment-naive CHC patients and was restored by L-arginine treatment in vitro. Increased numbers of liver arginase-1+ cells were closely associated with the histological activity index in CHC. The TCR ζ chain was significantly downregulated on hepatic CD8+ T cells in CHC. During antiviral follow up, MDSCs frequency in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was directly correlated with the HCV RNA load in the plasma and inversely correlated with TCR ζ chain expression in CD8+ T cells in both RVR and EVR cases. Notably, the RVR group had a higher frequency of MDSCs at baseline than the EVR group. Collectively, this study provides evidence that MDSCs might be associated with HCV persistence and downregulation of CD8 ζ chain expression.

Longissimus lumborum muscle transcriptome analysis of Laiwu and Yorkshire pigs differing in intramuscular fat content

Wei Chen,Guo‑feng Fang,Shou‑dong Wang,Hui Wang,Yong‑qing Zeng 한국유전학회 2017 Genes & Genomics Vol.39 No.7

The pig provides meat products for human consumption on a large scale. High-throughput sequencing technology provides a powerful approach for the characterization of the muscle transcriptome of pigs. Despite many studies using high-throughput technologies, the functional complexity of porcine muscle transcriptome is not fully elucidated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to gain insight into the longissimus lumborum muscle transcriptome between two pig breeds with distinct phenotypes, Laiwu pig, a Chinese indigenous pig breed, and Yorkshire pig, a Western breed. RNA-seq was applied to sample transcripts of the longissimus lumborum muscle between the two pig breeds to gain insights into wholegenome transcription profiles. For the Laiwu and Yorkshire libraries, we obtained a total of 40,498,476 and 59,072,892 high quality reads, respectively. Moreover, the resulting data set provided expression patterns for many annotated, predicted and novel pig genes. 178 significantly differentially expressed genes were identified between the Laiwu and Yorkshire pigs, with 98 up-regulated and 80 downregulated genes in Laiwu pig compared with Yorkshire pig. Gene expression results of the RNA-seq data were validated by qRT-PCR for twelve genes. Genes that were differentially expressed were involved in lipid metabolism and were more highly expressed in Laiwu pigs. The present study provides a comprehensive view of differences in the muscle transcriptome between two pig phenotypes. These results expand our knowledge of the genes transcribed in the skeletal muscle of two breeds and provide a basis for future research of the molecular mechanisms underlying the phenotypic differences on meat quality.

Characterization and differential expression of microRNA in skeletal muscle of Laiwu and Yorkshire pig breeds

Wei Chen,Guo-Feng Fang,Shou-Dong Wang,Hui Wang,Yong-Qing Zeng 한국유전학회 2017 Genes & Genomics Vol.39 No.2

The domestic pig is an important agricultural animal used as a source of meat worldwide. As an important resource, Laiwu pig has some special characteristics compared with Yorkshire pig. It is necessary to identify the differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in skeletal muscle between two pig breeds. Therefore, we herein performed a comprehensive investigation for miRNA transcriptome of skeletal muscle from the two pig breeds. On average, we obtained approximately 13,493,607 clean reads in Laiwu pig and 12,938,257 clean reads in Yorkshire pig in this study. Totally, 265 known miRNAs were identified, and among these, 229 miRNAs were expressed in all the six pigs. From the 265 known miRNAs, 19 of these miRNAs were found significantly differentially expressed (q\0.05). Of these significantly expressed miRNAs, seven miRNAs were significantly upregulated and 12 miRNAs were down-regulated in Laiwu pig compared with Yorkshire pig. Among the significantly expressed miRNAs, ssc-miR-194-5p has the largest foldchange (6.35-fold). Ten differentially expressed miRNAs selected from high throughput sequencing were confirmed by real-time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR), and the results indicated that the expression patterns were consistent with sequencing results. Our results not only present a comprehensive miRNA transcriptome profile of skeletal muscle between two pig breeds with distinct phenotypes, but also could be useful for investigating the functions of differentially expressed miRNAs associated with the phenotype traits.

Seismic behavior of cross-shaped concrete-filled steel tubular columns

Ji-Cheng Zhang,Xiao-Yu Liu,Lei Zeng,Guo-Feng Du,Jia-Hao Xiao 국제구조공학회 2021 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.40 No.3

This paper experimentally investigated the behavior of a cross-shaped concrete-filled steel tubular (C-CFST) column subjected to a constant axial load and a low-cycle repeated loading. Nine C-CFST columns with different length-width ratio, width-thickness ratio and axial compression ratio were designed, and the failure mode, hysteresis curve, skeleton curve, ductility, stiffness degradation and energy dissipation capacity of each specimen were studied and analyzed. The results indicated that the cross-shaped steel tube had a strong restraining effect on the core concrete, and C-CFST columns of different sectional dimensions all exhibited favorable seismic behavior, which is suitable for middle-high residential buildings. An increase of length-width ratio enhanced the initial stiffness with a decrease of ductility, and more rapid stiffness degradation during loading. Specimens with smaller width-thickness ratios had higher ductility, stiffness, and energy dissipation capacity. A larger axial compression ratio could reduce the bearing capacity, and cause the stiffness to degrade faster. Moreover, a hysteretic model of C-CFST columns was also proposed based on an analysis of the test results.