Tree shrew is a novel and high-quality experimental animal model. In this study, the real-time polymerase chain reaction methods were established to detect infection-related cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-10, IL-17A, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and housekeeping gene glyceraldehyde-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) of tree shrew. The results indicated that the establised methods had good specificity. The high point of the linear range of these reagents reached 1 × 1010 copies, and the low points ranged from 10 copies (IL-6, IL-17A), 100 copies (IL-10, GAPDH) to 1 000 copies (IL-8, IFN-γ). In this interval, the linear correlation coefficient R2 of each reagent was greater than 0.99. The lowest detectable values of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17A, IFN-γ and GAPDH were 8, 8, 4, 8, 128 and 4 copies, respectively. The results showed that the established detection methods had good specificity, sensitivity and wide linear range. The methods were suitable for detection of multiple concentration range samples, and could be used for the subsequent studies of tree shrew cytokines.
Abstract： Objective To investigate the acute cardioprotective effect of 17b-estradiol (17b-E2) against severe myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rabbits and the mechanism of the effect. Methods We established the model of myocardial I/R in vivo by occluding the left anterior descending coronary artery of the rabbits (who underwent coronary occlusion for 40 minutes followed by 3 hours of reperfusion). Twentyfour New Zealand white male rabbits were randomly divided into two groups with 12 in each group. Before coronary occlusion, 1 ml of ethanol or 17b-E2 at 10 μg/kg was administered intravenously to the rabbits in the control group and the experimental group respectively. The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at the following time points: before occlusion, 40 minutes after occlusion, 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours after reperfusion. Activation of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase(MAPK) was determined by Western blotting analysis, and apoptosis of cardiocytes was identified by terminal deoxynucleotidlyl transferase mediated deoxyuridinebiotin dUTP Nick End Labeline (TdT)mediated dNTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Results During myocardial ischemia, TNF-α decreased significantly in the experimental group compared with the control group (F=0.007,P=0.001), while there was no difference in IL-6 between the two groups (F=0.616,P=0.095). During the process of reperfusion, the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group (Plt;0.01). Besides, the activation of p38 MAPK and apoptotic index for the experimental group were also lower (45.07%±2.73% vs. 61.25%±2.41%, t＝－15.398, P=0.000; 11.21%±3.85% vs. 22.02%±4.49%, t＝－6.332, P=0.000). Conclusion The cardioprotective effect of 17b-E2 against myocardial I/R may be attributed to its antiinflammatory and antiapoptotic properties, which is probably associated with the inhibition of 17bE2 on p38MAPK activity.
ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and clinical efficacy of dendritic cell (DC)-cytokine induced killer (CIK) cell adoptive immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy in patients with gastric cancer after radical gastrectomy.MethodsForty-eight patients with gastric cancer after the radical gastrectomy receiving the DC-CIK cell adoptive immunotherapy combined with XELOX or FOLFOX chemotherapy were enrolled as a study group in the First Hospital of Lanzhou University from January 2014 to January 2016. In addition, 48 patients with gastric cancer after the radical gastrectomy in the same period and only receiving XELOX or FOLFOX chemotherapy were collected as a control group. The CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+, CD3–CD56+ (NK cell), and CD3+CD56+ (NKT cell), toxic reaction, quality of life were evaluated in both groups before and after the treatment, and the long term effect were compared in both groups.Results① There were no significant differences in the gender, age, clinical stage, etc. between the two groups (P>0.05). ② The CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+, CD3–CD56+, and CD3+CD56+ cells in the peripheral blood had no significant changes between before and after treatment in the study group (P>0.05), which were decreased after the treatment in the control group as compared with before the treatment and were significantly lower than those in the study group (P<0.05). ③ The levels of CEA, CA19-9, and CA724 in the peripheral blood after the treatment in the study group and the control group were significantly lower than those before the treatment (P<0.05), which in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group after the treatment (P<0.05). ④ The incidences of leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and diarrhea in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). ⑤ Compared with before the treatment, the body function and emotional function after the treatment were significantly improved in the study group (P<0.05). And in the body function, emotion function, role function, cognitive function, and social function were significantly improved than those in the control group (P<0.05) after the treatment. ⑥ The progression-free survival in the study group was significantly better than that in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the overall survival between the study group and the control group (P>0.05).ConclusionDC-CIK cell adoptive immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy could significantly improve immune status and quality of life of patients with gastric cancer after radical gastrectomy, reduce adverse effects of chemotherapy, improve long term effect, and prolong progression-free survival.
Objective To investigate the protective effect of castanospermine (CS) on renal injury induced by severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in rats and its possible mechanism. Methods Twenty-four SPF adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: shame operation group (SO group, n=8), SAP group (n=8), and CS group (n=8). SAP models were induced by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate (1 mL/kg) in biliopancreatic duct in the SAP group and the CS group. CS solution (200 mg/kg) was immediately administered via intraperitoneal injection after the induction of pancreatitis in the CS group. Rats in the SO group were subjected to a sham surgery that the pancreas and duodenum were flipped a number of times. All rats were sacrificed at 12 h after modeling. Blood samples were collected by inferior vena cava puncture, and serum activities of amylase (AMY), levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) were measured by using a fully automatic chemistry analyzer. The head of pancreas and renal tissues were harvested and pathological change was observed under the light microscope. Expressions of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and Caspase-3 in renal tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemistry assay. Results ① Compared with the SO group, the damages of the pancreas and kidney tissues were significantly worse in the SAP group, and the above damages in the CS group were significantly decreased when comparing with the SAP group. ② Compared with the SO group, the serum activities of AMY, levels of BUN and Cr were significantly increased in the SAP group (P<0.05). The serum activities of AMY, levels of BUN and Cr in the CS group were significantly lower than those of the SAP group (P<0.05). ③ Compared with the SO group, the integrated optical density (IOD) of NF-κB, TNF-α, ICAM-1, and Caspase-3 in renal tissues were significantly increased in the SAP group (P<0.05), and the above indicators in kidney tissues of the CS group were significantly decreased when comparing with the SAP group (P<0.05). Conclusions CS can mitigate severe acute pancreatitis-induced renal injuries in rats, it ameliorates renal injury and improves renal function. The mechanism for the above improvements is that CS can widely inhibit the activation of NF-κB, and then downregulate the expressions of TNF-α, ICAM-1, and Caspase-3.
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a common antibody mediated, cell-mediated, and complement dependent neuromuscular junction immune disease. The treatment mainly includes drug therapy (symptomatic therapy, non-specific immunosuppressive therapy, targeted immunotherapy), immune regulation (intravenous injection of human immunoglobulin and plasma exchange), and thymectomy. With the continuous deepening of research on MG treatment, targeted immune regulation of B cells, complement system, and neonatal Fc receptors has become a current research hotspot in the treatment of MG. Compared with traditional immunosuppressants, MG patients have better tolerance to new biological agents. This article elaborates on the research of MG targeted therapy related drugs and summarizes their efficacy and safety in MG treatment, aiming to find more treatment options.
Objective To summarize the research progress on the mechanism related to traumatic brain injury (TBI) to promote fracture healing, and to provide theoretical basis for clinical treatment of fracture non-union. Methods The research literature on TBI to promote fracture healing at home and abroad was reviewed, the role of TBI in fracture healing was summarized from three aspects of nerves, body fluids, and immunity, to explore new ideas for the treatment of fracture non-union. Results Numerous studies have shown that fracture healing is faster in patients with fracture combined with TBI than in patients with simple fracture. It is found that the expression of various cytokines and hormones in the body fluids of patients with fracture and TBI is significantly higher than that of patients with simple fracture, and the neurofactors released by the nervous system reaches the fracture site through the damaged blood-brain barrier, and the chemotaxis and aggregation of inflammatory cells and inflammatory factors at the fracture end of patients with combined TBI also differs significantly from those of patients with simple fracture. A complex network of humoral, neural, and immunomodulatory networks together promote regeneration of blood vessels at the fracture site, osteoblasts differentiation, and inhibition of osteoclasts activity. Conclusion TBI promotes fracture healing through a complex network of neural, humoral, and immunomodulatory, and can treat fracture non-union by intervening in the perifracture microenvironment.
Objective To observe the expression and investigate the significance of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU). Methods 100 Lewis rats were immunized with interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) to induce EAU animal model, and they were divided into control group and treatment group randomly. The treatment group was administered cyclosporine A 20mg/（kgmiddot;d）after 1 to 28 days of immunization; the control group received saline buffer at equal quantity. All eyes were evaluated by slit-lamp microscopy before and after 7, 14, 21, 28 days of immunization; IL-4，IL-12，IFN-gamma; in the serum were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA); the SOCS mRNA and protein level in PBMC were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) and western blot. Results The inflammation was most obvious at 14 days after immunization. The control group showed obvious iridocyclitis; the treatment group showed mild anterior chamber inflammation but no posterior synechia and hypopyon. The highest level of IL-12 and IFN-gamma; were observed at 14 days after immunization, followed by decline to the baseline at 28 days after immunization in control group; the highest level of IL-12 and IFN-gamma; were found at 14 days after immunization in treatment group, but the level was lower than control group obviously. Compared with the level before immunization, there are no differences at other time-point. The concentration of IL-4 decreased indistinctly in control group but increased in treatment group. SOCS1、Both of SOCS1 and SOCS5 increased to the highest level at 14 days after immunization, as 4.05 and 383 times of preimmunization in control group respectively, as 1.15 and 1.16 times in treatment group respectively. The CIS and SOCS3 mRNA increased lightly in two groups and treatment group milder than control group. Marked increased expression of SOCS1 and SOCS5 protein was detected at 7, 14, 21days than preimmunization, both of CIS and SOCS3 protein were significantly increased on 14, 21 days in control group; only SOCS1 protein was significantly increased on 14 days in treatment group and there are no differences at other time-point compared to pre-immunization. Conclusion Up-regulation of SOCS1 and SOCS5 expression maybe related to intensive response of Th1 in the development of EAU. Mild up-regulation of CIS and SOCS3 maybe associated with intensive response of Th2 which against the reaction of Th1 to carry out the dynamic immune balance.
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) in thymocytes of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and its effect on cytokine secretion and T cell proliferation. MethodsPatients with MG who underwent expanded thoracoscopic thymectomy in the Comprehensive Diagnosis and Treatment Center of the Henan Provincial People’s Hospital from June 2021 to June 2022 were selected and allocated to a MG group. Patients who underwent partial thymectomy to expose the surgical field during the cardiac disease surgery from June 2021 to September 2022 in the Department of Adult Cardiac Surgery of Fuwai Huazhong Cardiovascular Hospital were selected as the control group. Thymic single cell suspensions were prepared from MG and control groups, and the expression of α7 nAChR in thymocytes of the two groups was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Then CD3/CD28 monoclonal antibody coupled with magnetic beads was used to induce T cell activation, and the levels of cytokines interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and IL-21 in thymocytes of the two groups were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The activated T cells of the MG group were divided into a blank control group, an α7 nAChR antagonist group, and an α7 nAChR agonist group according to different treatment methods. After 72 hours of culture, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and IL-21 expression levels in the culture supernatant were measured by ELISA. Afterwards, CD4-PE and CD8-APC antibodies were added, and the proliferation of T cell subsets was detected by flow cytometry. ResultsA total of 10 MG patients were collected, including 3 males and 7 females with an average age of 19.25±6.28 years; and 15 control patients were collected, including 6 males and 9 females with an average age of 26.18±6.77 years. Compared with the control group, the mRNA and protein levels of α7 nAChR in the thymocytes of MG group were decreased, and the expression levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-21 in the supernatant were increased (P<0.05), but there was no statistical difference in the expression of IL-10 and IL-17 (P>0.05). The cell-culture experiment showed that compared with the blank control group, the levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-21 secreted by T cells in the α7 nAChR antagonist group were increased (P<0.05), while they were decreased in the α7 nAChR agonist group (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the secretion levels of IL-4, IL-10 or IL-17 among the three groups (P>0.05). CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells in the α7 nAChR agonist group were significantly less than those in the blank control group and α7 nAChR antagonist group (P<0.001), while they were significantly more in the α7 nAChR antagonist group than those in the blank control group (P<0.001).ConclusionThe expression of α7 nAChR in thymocytes of MG patients is decreased, and α7 nAChR may be involved in the inflammatory response in thymocytes and thus in thymic function.
Sepsis is a worldwide problem. Although there are many related researchs and animal experiments about sepsis, the mortality of sepsis is still high. In the early stage of sepsis, after the pathogenic bacteria invade the body, the immune response produced by the body promotes the synthesis and secretion of a series of cytokines. Among them, there are proinflammatory cytokines that promote inflammatory response and anti-inflammatory cytokines that inhibit inflammatory response. These cytokines interact with each other and maintain a dynamic balance in complex cell grid. This is to restore the steady state of the body after resisting and eliminating the invaders.Anti-inflammatory cytokines play an important role in it. They act on specific immune cells or immune regulatory receptors. Anti-inflammatory cytokines limit persistent or excessive inflammatory responses after killing invaders, and reduce or block pro-inflammatory cytokine activities. These anti-inflammatory cytokines also can heal body to restore the normal immune physiological level of the organism. This article will review the related research of anti-inflammatory cytokines in sepsis.
Objective To explore the effect of IL-10 on the inhibition of early proinflammatory cytokine release in intraabdominal infection and early sepsis. Methods Forty eight SD rats were randomized into 4 groups, 12 in each group, ①sham operation group, ②control group, ③prophylactic group, ④therapeutic group. Group 1 underwent laparotomy only, group 2 received laparotomy and cecal ligation plus punctures (CLP) with saline injected once every 3 hrs, group 3 underwent CLP and IL-10 injection intraperitoneally 1 hr before surgery and once every 3 hrs following operation, group 4 received CLP and IL-10 injection once every 3 hrs after operation. At 3 and 9 hr points, rats were sacrificed and blood samples were taken for measurement of inflammatory cytokines. Results Almost no inflammatory cytokines were detected in sham group, CLP produced a significant rise in serum TNF-α (tumor necrosis α), IL-1, IL-6 (interleukin 1,6) in control group, IL-10 reduced the rise of inflammatory cytokines significantly. Conclusion IL-10 could inhibit the early inflammatory cytokine release in rat model of sepsis. Suggesting it may attenuate the severity of inflammation.