Anti-C4B (aa 1347-1446) polyclonal antibody

Using a family of cationic gold nanoparticles (NPs) with similar size and charge, we demonstrate that proper surface engineering can control the nature and identity of protein corona in physiological serum conditions. The protein coronas were highly dependent on the hydrophobicity and arrangement of chemical motifs on NP surface. The NPs were uptaken in macrophages in a corona-dependent manner, predominantly through recognition of specific complement proteins in the NP corona. Taken together, this study shows that surface functionality can be used to tune the protein corona formed on NP surface, dictating the interaction of NPs with macrophages.

Background and aim: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) is a common autosomal recessive disorder. Our objective was to identify the 21-hydroxylase active gene, CYP21A2 mutations in Malaysian 21-OHD patients using different techniques. Materials and methods: Blood samples were obtained from 97 Malaysian 21-OHD patients, which included 40 siblings from 19 families. We used various techniques which include restriction enzyme digestion, Southern blot, multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and sequencing to elucidate CYP21A2 mutations. Results: Homozygous and compound heterozygous mutations were identified in 95 of the 97 patients (98%). Deletions of CYP21A2 were found in 43 patients (44.3%). Deletions identified in CYP21A2 gene were the usual 30-kb deletion comprising 3'UTR CYP21A1P, C4B and 5'CYP21A2, complete deletion of CYP21A2 gene, deletion in exons 1-3, exons 1-6 and exons 1-8 of CYP21A2. The common mutations identified in CYP21A2 gene were deletion/conversion (22.6%), p.R356W (22%), IVS2-13A/C>G (21.3%), p.I172N (5.3%), p.Q318X (5.3%), and p.P30L (1.03%). This is the first report of the mutation frequency in CYP21A2 gene among the Malay ethnic group. Two novel mutations, c.Y97insT and p.L345P were identified in our patients. Our results show good phenotype-genotype correlation in most of the cases, although clinical variations were identified in some patients. Conclusions: The study has found various mutations including deletions in CYP21A2 gene in Malaysian patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency using the MLPA technique that is being widely used in present laboratory settings. (C) 2013, Editrice Kurtis