To study the preparation and cleavage of hairpin ribozyme (HpRz) directed against the transcript of HBV core regionin vitro, HRz gene designed by computer targeting the transcript of HBV core gene was cloned into the vector p1. 5 between 5′-cis-Rz and 3′-cis-Rz.³²P-labeled HpRz transcript proved whether the vector fit for the preparation of hairpin ribozyme.³²P-labeled pKC transcript containing HBV core region as targets-RNA was transcribed by using T₇ RNA polymerase and purified by PAGE. Cold HpRz transcript was incubated with³²P-labeled target-RNAs under different conditions and radioautographed after denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results showed that HpRz had the ability of cleavage at 37°C and 12 mmol/L MgCl₂ and the design of ribozyme was correct. It is concluded that HpRz preparedin vitro possesses specific catalytic activity, indicating that it is possible for HpRz to intracellularly inhibit the replication of HBV. It may be developed into a nucleic acid drug in the treatment of hepatitis B in the future.

In order to study the clinical significance and change of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-10 concentration in intestinal mucosal tissues in various stage of ulcerative colitis (UC), IL-1β and IL10 levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Our results showed that IL-β level caused by spontaneous secretion in the intestinal mucous tissues in active stage of ulcerative colitis was significantly higher than that in normal controls and in remission stage of ulcerative colitis (P <0. 01,P<0. 001). IL-10 level in various stage of UC was relatively lower in controls, but there was no significantly difference between the two groups. Our study suggested that higher IL-1β level in active might play an important role in pathogenesis of UC, and IL-10, as an anti-inflammatory cytokine, was low in active UC, suggesting that it may be a important factor contributing to the development of higher IL-1β level.