ObjectiveTo study the inhibitory effects of pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) on oxygen-induced retinal neovascularization in mice, and to investigate the possible involvement of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the neovascular-inhibitory function of PEDF. Methods A total of 140 postnatal day (P)7 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal control group, oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model group, PEDF treatment group and PBS treatment control group. All mice except normal control group with their mothers were exposed to (75±2)% oxygen environment for 5 days and then kept in room air for another 5 days to establish the OIR model. Mice in normal control group were kept in room air only. At P12 and P14, respectively, mice in PEDF treatment group received intravitreous injections of 1 μl PEDF (2 μg/μl), while PBS treatment control group received the same volume of PBS (10 mmol/L, pH7.4).All mice were euthanized at P17 and eyes were isolated. The changes of retinal vessels were observed on retinal flat mounts and cryosections by fluorescence microscopy. Retinal specimens were prepared for IL-1β protein and mRNA analysis by Western blot and real time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (Real-time RT-PCR). ResultsChanges of retinal vessels had been viewed by fluorescence microscopy on flat-mounted retina, the relative retinal neovascularization areas were significantly increased in OIR model group compared with normal control group (t=15.02, P < 0.01), and the relative retinal neovascularization areas were obviously smaller in PEDF treatment group than those in PBS treatment control group (t=5.96, P < 0.01). Fluorescence staining revealed that retinal vascular tufts were extending from outer plexiform layer (OPL) to ganglion cell layer (GCL) of the retina along with multiple interconnections; Neovascular tufts in OIR model group and PBS treatment control group were presenting distinctly more than those of normal control group and PEDF treatment group. The specific expression levels of IL-1β protein in retinas of OIR mice by Western-blot analysis were higher than those of normal control group(t=3.35, P < 0.05), While these of PEDF treatment group showed a considerable decline in comparison with PBS treatment control group (P < 0.01), and there were no difference in normal control group and PEDF-treated group (F=11.764, P > 0.05). Similarly, expression levels of IL-1β mRNA tested by Real-time RT-PCR were obviously increased in the OIR model group when compared to normal control group(t=4.43, P < 0.01). After treated with PEDF, expression levels of IL-1β mRNA showed a considerable decrease when compared to PBS treatment control group (P < 0.01), and there were no difference in normal control group and PEDF-treated group (F=11.15, P > 0.05). ConclusionsPEDF can inhibit oxygen-induced retinal neovascularization. The mechanism may be related to that PEDF can downregulate the expression of IL-1β in retina.
Objective To study the regulative effect of angelica sinensis on cellular immune function in perioperative patients with obstructive jaundice. Methods Fourteen patients with obstructive jaundice were injected with angelica before and after operation for 14 days. The activity of IL-2 and the expression of IL-2R in lymphocytes in peripheral blood were measured, respectively. Results The activity of IL-2 and the expression of IL-2R decreased significantly in patients with obstructive jaundice (P＜0.01). The activity of IL-2 and the expression of IL-2R in peripheral blood lymphocyte increased significantly before and after operations (after treatment using angelica) (P＜0.01), though there was a little decrease after operation but they were still higher than that befor using angelica.Conclusion It maybe useful to use angelica to improve the cellular immune function in patients with obstructive jaundice.
Objective To observe the levels of malonaldehyde (MDA) , interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in lung tissues of subjects with or without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) , and investigate their roles in the the pathogenesis of COPD. Methods The content of MDA, IL-8 and TNF-αin lung tissues of smokers with COPD (n=9) , ex-smokers with COPD (n=8) , non-smokers with COPD (n=7) , healthy smokers (n=9) , healthy ex-smokers (n=8) and healthy nonsmokers (n=6) was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) and corrected by creatinine. Results The levels of MDA, IL-8 and TNF-α in lung tissues of the COPD patients were significantly higher than those in the healthy subjects (Plt;0.05) , which were also significantly higher in the smokers when compared with the non-smokers (Plt;0.05) , whether suffering from COPD or not. In the COPD patients, not the levels of IL-8 but MDA and TNF-αin lung tissues of the smokers were significantly higher than those in the ex-smokers (Plt;0.05) ; whereas in the healthy cases, no statistical significance was revealed between the smokers and the ex-smokers on the levels of MDA and IL-8 in lung tissues except TNF-α( Pgt;0.05) . Conclusion The abnormal increase of MDA, IL-8 and TNF-αin lung tissues caused by chronic smoking may play an important role in the the pathogenesis of COPD.
Objective To explore the mechanism of Liuhedan in promoting wound healing through applying Liuhedan to the infective wounds of New Zealand white rabbits. Methods A total of forty New Zealand white rabbit models of infective wounds were established after anesthesia. Five circular infective incisions were generated on the back of each rabbit, with a diameter of 2 cm. Five wounds of each rabbit were assigned respectively to the control group, model group, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) group (Oleum Lithospermum), Western medicine group (calcium alginat), and treatment group (Liuhedan). Wound dressings were performed every day since postoperative day 1. Ten rabbits were selected randomly to be euthanized on postoperative day 3, 7, 14 and 21, respectively. Each specimen was divided into two parts. One was used for detecting interleukin-1β (IL-1β) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the other was used for detecting tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) by immunocytochemistry. Results On postoperative day 3 and 7, groups with the expression of IL-1β from low to high were respectively the control group, the treatment group, the Western medicine group, the TCM group, and the model group [postoperative day 3: (680.81±185.53), (1 028.67±205.57), (1 278.67±251.15), (1 449.86±230.74), (1 544.62±371.77) pg/mL; postoperative day 7: (1 024.43±239.94), (1 333.57±257.31), (1 635.14±222.40), (1 784.71±323.85), (1 953.29±324.78) pg/mL], and all the differences among the groups were significant (P<0.05); On postoperative day 14, groups with the expression of IL-1β from low to high were respectively the treatment group, the control group, the Western medicine group, the TCM group, and the model group [(908.71±108.61), (978.57±161.75), (1 120.43±265.39), (1 129.71±298.06), (1 191.14±234.92) pg/mL], and all the differences among groups were significant (P<0.05) except the difference between the Western medicine group and the TCM group (P>0.05); On postoperative day 21, the expression of IL-1β in the control group, the model group, the TCM group, and the Western medicine group was (487.19±121.80), (496.35±102.15), (500.31±139.34), (499.08±120.67) pg/mL, respectively, with no significant differences among the groups (P>0.05), which were all higher than that in the treatment group [(398.62±102.93) pg/mL] with significant difference (P<0.05). The expression of TNF-α in the model group was significantly greater than those in the other groups. The expression of TNF-α in the treatment group and Western medicine group was significantly lower compared with the model group. The expression of TNF-α in the TCM group was stronger compared with those in the treatment group and the Western medicine group. Conclusion Liuhedan can specifically suppress the expressions of IL-1β and TNF-α in the treatment of infective wounds, decrease the release of inflammatory factor and promote the healing.
Objective To evaluate the role of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in acute pancreatitis. Methods Thirty mongrel dogs were divided into three groups based on the severity: acute edematous pancreatitis (AEP) group (n＝11), acute hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis (AHNP) group (n＝12), and control group (n＝7). Serum level of IL-10 was determined with enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA). Results Within 24 hours, AEP group had serum level of IL-10 significantly higher than that of AHNP group. Control group had no detectable serum IL-10. No significant difference was observed between AEP group and AHNP group at 48 hours. Conclusion The finding of low values of serum IL-10 suggests that there may be more consumption in AHNP group than in AEP group and it may be beneficial to decrease the severity of experimental acute pancreatitis.
Objective To observe the histopathologic features and expression patterns of tumor necrosis factor-alpha; （TNF-alpha;）, interleukin-1beta;（IL-1beta;） and Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the rat vitreous with LPS inducedendophthalmitis. Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into saline control group (SC,136 rats）,endophthalmitis group （EO, 168 rats）and blank control group （BC,12 rats）.EO group received an intravitreal injection of 5 mu;l LPS; SC group received 5 mu;l sterile saline and no intervention for BC group.Six,12,24,48, and 72 hours,5 and 7 days after injection, intraocular inflammation were observed and the eyes and vitreous were collected for histopathological examination and measurement of TNF-alpha;, IL-1beta; and LPS expression. Results Severe inflammatory responses in the eyes were observed in EO group between six and 72 hours after LPS injection，ocular inflammation subsided seven days after LPS injection. In the vitreous, a peak neutrophil count was observed at 24 hours （1224.64plusmn;132.2） cells/eye that rapidly declined at 72 hours （342.25plusmn;47.7） cells/eye. The levels of TNF-alpha; and IL-1beta; in EO group were peaked at 24 hours with （996.18plusmn;89.45） and（5556plusmn;1440）pg/ L, respectively；Persisted at 48 hours and began to decline rapidly thereafter. Seven days after LPS injection, levels of TNF-alpha; and IL-1beta; returned to baseline with （22.16plusmn;5.84）and （73.7plusmn;18.7） pg/L, respectively. LPS concentration in EO group decrease rapidly at 72 hours with （11.03plusmn;3.41） ng and disappear on days 7 with (0.22plusmn;0.08) ng after LPS injection.Conclusions Massive neutrophils infiltration, high levels expression of TNF-alpha; and IL-1beta; and spontaneous elimination of bacterial elements in vitreous cavity were major pathologic characteristics in this experimental model. The expression patterns of TNF-alpha;,IL-1beta; were in accord with LPS clearance process.
Objective To investigate the effect of B7-1 and IL-12 gene expression on the immunogenicity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) HepG2 cells. Methods Plasmids encoding B7-1 and IL-12 molecules were retrovirally introduced into human HCC cells,empty vector as control. PBLs were cocultured with HepG2/B7-1,HepG2/IL-12 and HepG2/neo cells. Three days later,PBLs were submitted to specific cytotoxicity test and nonspecific cytotoxicity test against K562 cells by MTT assay.Results HLA-Ⅰ molecules on PBLs were detected by FACS.HLA-Ⅰ molecules expressing on PBL cocultured with HepG2/B7-1,HepG2/IL-12 cells were enhanced by 16.95% and 14.71% than those of HepG2/neo group, respectively(Ｐ＜0.05). Specific cytotoxicity against HepG2/B7-1 cells was 12.5% higher than that of against HepG2/neo cell,while no increase in that of against HepG2/IL-12 cells. Cytotoxicities against K562 cells in HepG2/B7-1,HepG2/IL-12 groups were 19.38% and 14.78% higher than those of HepG2/neo group, but no significant difference between the first two groups.Conclusion B7-1 and IL-12 gene transfer could remarkably promote immunogenicity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and induce b specific and nonspecific immunity against hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro.