环孢菌素A对脂多糖诱导的小鼠急性肺损伤的保护作用

目的：探讨线粒体渗透性转换孔道抑制剂环孢菌素A（CsA）对脂多糖（LPS）诱导的小鼠急性肺损伤可能的保护作用。方法：LPS 4 mg/kg气管内滴入复制小鼠急性肺损伤模型,实验随机分为5组（n=24）：分别为正常对照组、LPS组、地塞米松组、CsA组和CsA＋苍术苷组。6 h后小鼠处死,测定各组支气管肺泡灌洗液乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）的含量,酶联免疫吸附法测定肺组织匀浆液TNF-α浓度,测定肺组织湿/干重比和肺毛细血管通透性指数。结果：气管内滴入LPS 6 h后,CsA组与LPS组相比,肺泡灌洗液中LDH活性降低,肺组织匀浆液TNF-α浓度下降,肺组织湿/干重比、肺毛细血管通透性指数均明显下降,但CsA＋Atr组与LPS组相比无明显区别。结论：环孢菌素A对脂多糖诱导的小鼠急性肺损伤有保护作用,其机制可能与其抑制线粒体渗透性转换孔道的开放有关。     

Astragalin attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses by down-regulating NF-κB signaling pathway

Astragalin (AG), a flavonoid from many traditional herbs and medicinal plants, has been described to exhibit in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. The present study aimed to determine the protective effects and the underlying mechanisms of astragalin on lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxemia and lung injury in mice. Mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (dose range: 5-40 mg/kg). We observed mice on mortality for 7 days twice a day and recorded survival rates. In drug testing, we examined the therapeutic effects of astragalin (25, 50 or 75 mg/kg) on LPS- induced endotoxemia by dosing orally astragalin 1 hour before LPS challenge. Using an experimental model of LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI), we examined the effect of astragalin in resolving lung injury. The investigations revealed that pretreatment with astragalin can improve survival during lethal endotoxemia and attenuate inflammatory responses in a murine model of lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury. The mechanisms by which Astragalin exerts its anti-inflammatory effect are correlated with inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) production via inactivation of NF-κB.     

氯沙坦对机械通气大鼠肺组织TNF-α和MPO表达的影响

目的通过观察AngⅡ受体拮抗剂——氯沙坦对呼吸机所致肺组织TNF-α水平和髓过氧化物酶（MPO）活性的影响,探讨氯沙坦对呼吸机所致肺损伤的保护作用。方法 24只健康雄性Wister大鼠随机分为对照组、呼吸机所致肺损伤组（VILI）和氯沙坦干预组（LAP）,分别采用ELISA法测定大鼠肺组织中血管紧张素II（AngⅡ）含量,采用免疫组织化学染色法测定大鼠肺组织TNF-α蛋白表达水平,采用化学比色法测定肺组织匀浆中MPO活性。结果 VILI组大鼠肺组织AngⅡ含量、TNF-α蛋白表达水平以及肺组织匀浆中MPO活性均明显高于对照组（均P〈0.01）。氯沙坦干预组大鼠肺组织AngⅡ含量与VILI组比较无明显差异（P〉0.05）,但肺组织TNF-α蛋白表达水平、肺组织匀浆中MPO活性和肺W/D比值均较VILI组明显降低（均P〈0.01）,同时肺组织病理损伤程度也较VILI组明显减轻。结论 AngⅡ通过调控肺组织中TNF-α的表达在VILI发病中起重要作用,氯沙坦可阻断AngⅡ与AT1受体的结合,下调肺组织TNF-α表达,降低MPO的活性,对VILI具有一定防治作用。     

Heterotrimeric Gα(i) proteins are regulated by lipopolysaccharide and are anti-inflammatory in endotoxemia and polymicrobial sepsis

Previous studies have implicated a role of heterotrimeric Gα(i) proteins in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses. We hypothesized that Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling regulates Gα(i) proteins, which are anti-inflammatory in endotoxemia and polymicrobial sepsis. RAW 264.7 cells were stimulated with LPS and the Gα(i)-GTP protein complex was immunoprecipitated with a Gα(i) protein activation assay. In subsequent in vivo studies, the Gα(i) protein inhibitor pertussis toxin (PTx) or G(i) protein agonist mastoparan (MP-7) were administrated prior to endotoxemia. LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines and mortality were determined. To examine the role of Gα(i2) in sepsis, Gα(i2) (-/-) and wildtype (WT) mice were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and monitored every 24 h for 120 h. Other mice were sacrificed 24 h after CLP. Peritoneal fluid, blood, and tissue samples were collected. Plasma pro-inflammatory cytokine production, bacterial load in peritoneal fluid, blood and lung tissue, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in lung and liver and different immune cell populations in spleen were studied. We found that Gα(i) proteins are rapidly activated by LPS followed by rapid inactivation. These studies provide the first direct evidence that Gα(i) proteins are modulated by TLR signaling. In following studies, PTx augmented LPS-induced plasma TNFα, IL-6, whereas MP-7 suppressed LPS-induced TNFα and decreased LPS-induced mortality. In sepsis studies, the survival rate post-CLP was significantly decreased in the Gα(i2) (-/-) mice compared to WT mice. CLP-induced plasma TNFα, IL-6, bacterial load in peritoneal fluid, blood and lung tissue and lung and liver MPO activity were significantly increased in Gα(i2) (-/-) compared to WT mice. Gα(i2) (-/-) mice also exhibited increased Th1 and Th2 responses compared to WT mice. Taken together, Gα(i) proteins are activated by LPS and negatively regulate endotoxemia and sepsis. Understanding the role of Gα(i2) protein in regulation of the inflammatory response in sepsis may provide novel targets for treatment of sepsis.     

Neutralization of IL-18 reduces neutrophil tissue accumulation and protects mice against lethal Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium endotoxemia

In addition to stimulating IFN-gamma synthesis, IL-18 also possesses inflammatory effects by inducing synthesis of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF and IL-1beta and the chemokines IL-8 and macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha. We hypothesized that neutralization of IL-18 would have a beneficial effect in lethal endotoxemia in mice. IL-1beta converting enzyme (ICE)-deficient mice, lacking the ability to process mature IL-18 and IL-1beta, were completely resistant to lethal endotoxemia induced by LPS derived from either Escherichia coli or Salmonella typhimurium. In contrast, both wild-type and IL-1beta-/- mice were equally susceptible to the lethal effects of LPS, implicating that absence of mature IL-18 or IFN-gamma but not IL-1beta in ICE-/- mice is responsible for this resistance. However, IFN-gamma-deficient mice were not resistant to S. typhimurium LPS, suggesting an IFN-gamma-independent role for IL-18. Anti-IL-18 Abs protected mice against a lethal injection of either LPS. Anti-IL-18 treatment also reduced neutrophil accumulation in liver and lungs. The increased survival was accompanied by decreased levels of IFN-gamma and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 in anti-IL-18-treated animals challenged with E. coli LPS, whereas IFN-gamma and TNF concentrations were decreased in treated mice challenged with S. typhimurium. In conclusion, neutralization of IL-18 during lethal endotoxemia protects mice against lethal effects of LPS. This protection is partly mediated through inhibition of IFN-gamma production, but mechanisms involving decreased neutrophil-mediated tissue damage due to the reduction of either chemokines (E. coli LPS) or TNF (S. typhimurium LPS) synthesis by anti-IL-18 treatment may also be involved.     

肺炎链球菌感染早期IFN-β通过调节巨噬细胞炎症反应保护宿主

该文旨在探讨干扰素-β(interferon-β,IFN-β)在肺炎链球菌(Streptococcus pneumoniae,S.pn)感染早期对宿主炎症免疫的影响。使用外源重组IFN-β蛋白(recombinant IFN-β,rIFN-β)预处理WT小鼠及其腹腔渗出巨噬细胞(peritoneal exudate macrophages,PEMs),以培养基处理组作为对照。同时应用内源干扰素α/β受体(interferonα/βreceptor,IFNAR)缺陷的小鼠以及PEMs,以WT组为对照。各组分别暴露于D39菌株后,通过RT-PCR和ELISA检测白细胞介素-1β(interleukin-1β,IL-1β)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)的表达水平,并通过小鼠肺切片HE染色和肺干/湿重比评估其肺部炎症浸润和组织损伤,以分析IFN-β对宿主炎症反应的影响;为分析细菌清除率,对小鼠巨噬细胞系RAW264.7行吞噬实验、计数小鼠肺部细菌载量,最后通过小鼠生存率分析确认IFN-β对宿主抵抗S.pn的影响。结果表明,IFN-β抑制D39诱导的IL-1β和TNF-α的过度表达。与NC组比,rIFN-β预处理提高RAW264.7细胞对S.pn的吞噬能力(P<0.001),降低感染小鼠的肺部细菌负荷(P<0.01)和肺损伤评分(P<0.05)。而IFNAR–/–感染小鼠肺部菌载量相较于WT小鼠显著升高(P<0.001),持续更高水平的局部炎症反应导致其肺组织损伤加重且在9天内死亡率明显增加(P<0.05)。但各组小鼠体质量、肺干/湿重比和脾指数值差异无显著性(P>0.05)。可见,在S.pn感染早期,IFN-β通过调节巨噬细胞中促炎细胞因子的表达而维持适度的局部炎症反应,有助于宿主清除细菌,防止局部感染进展为致死性感染。     

Heterotrimeric Gαi proteins are regulated by lipopolysaccharide and are anti-inflammatory in endotoxemia and polymicrobial sepsis

Previous studies have implicated a role of heterotrimeric Gα_i proteins in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses. We hypothesized that Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling regulates Gα_i proteins, which are anti-inflammatory in endotoxemia and polymicrobial sepsis. RAW 264.7 cells were stimulated with LPS and the Gα_i-GTP protein complex was immunoprecipitated with a Gα_i protein activation assay. In subsequent in vivo studies, the Gα_i protein inhibitor pertussis toxin (PTx) or G_i protein agonist mastoparan (MP-7) were administrated prior to endotoxemia. LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines and mortality were determined. To examine the role of Gα_i2 in sepsis, Gα_i2 (−/−) and wildtype (WT) mice were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and monitored every 24 h for 120 h. Other mice were sacrificed 24 h after CLP. Peritoneal fluid, blood, and tissue samples were collected. Plasma pro-inflammatory cytokine production, bacterial load in peritoneal fluid, blood and lung tissue, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in lung and liver and different immune cell populations in spleen were studied. We found that Gα_i proteins are rapidly activated by LPS followed by rapid inactivation. These studies provide the first direct evidence that Gα_i proteins are modulated by TLR signaling. In following studies, PTx augmented LPS-induced plasma TNFα, IL-6, whereas MP-7 suppressed LPS-induced TNFα and decreased LPS-induced mortality. In sepsis studies, the survival rate post-CLP was significantly decreased in the Gα_i2 (−/−) mice compared to WT mice. CLP-induced plasma TNFα, IL-6, bacterial load in peritoneal fluid, blood and lung tissue and lung and liver MPO activity were significantly increased in Gα_i2 (−/−) compared to WT mice. Gα_i2 (−/−) mice also exhibited increased Th1 and Th2 responses compared to WT mice. Taken together, Gα_i proteins are activated by LPS and negatively regulate endotoxemia and sepsis. Understanding the role of Gα_i2 protein in regulation of the inflammatory response in sepsis may provide novel targets for treatment of sepsis.     

Platelet-derived toll-like receptor 4 (tlr-4) is sufficient to promote microvascular thrombosis in endotoxemia

Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) produced by gram-negative bacteria initiates a host of pro-inflammatory effects through Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4). We reported previously that LPS enhances microvascular thrombosis in cremaster venules of wild-type mice, but had no effect in mice deficient in TLR-4. Since TLR-4 is expressed on various cell types, the cellular origin of TLR-4 responsible for the LPS-enhanced thrombosis remains undetermined. Platelets are known to express functional TLR-4. Platelet-derived TLR-4 has been suggested to mediate various inflammatory responses in endotoxemia, including production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), two cytokines reported to enhance microvascular thrombosis. We determined whether platelet-derived TLR-4 was sufficient to mediate the enhanced thrombosis induced by endotoxin and whether these responses were accompanied by systemic increases in TNF-α and IL-1β. We isolated platelets from wild-type mice and transfused them into either of two strains of TLR-4-deficient mice (C57BL/10ScN and B6.B10ScN-TLR-4(lps-del)/Jth). The mice were then injected with LPS or saline, and the kinetics of thrombosis were studied 4 hours later. Transfusion of wild-type platelets restored responsiveness to LPS in TLR-4-deficient mice with regards to microvascular thrombosis but not to plasma levels of TNF-α or IL-1β. The accelerated rates of microvascular thrombosis induced by platelet transfusions were specific to TLR-4, since isolation and transfusion of platelets derived from TLR-4-deficient donors did not restore responsiveness to LPS. These studies demonstrate that platelet-derived TLR-4 is sufficient to promote microvascular thrombosis in endotoxemia, independent of systemic increases in TNF-α or IL-1β.     

Therapeutic efficacy of Hypericum perforatum L. extract for mice infected with an influenza A virus

Hypericum perforatum L., a plant used in Chinese herbal medicine, has been proven effective against many viral diseases. In the present study, the therapeutic efficacy of an extract of H.?perforatum (HPE) against influenza A virus (IAV) was investigated in mice. Whether HPE would be a promising agent for influenza treatment was evaluated by measuring the protection rate, mean survival days, lung index, and viral titer, as well as the secretion of IL-6, interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in lung tissue and serum on days 3 and 5 post-infection. The results showed that HPE could reduce the lung index and viral titer of mice infected with IAV, decrease mortality, and prolong the mean survival time. HPE decreased the concentration of IL-6 and TNF-α in lung tissue and serum on day 5 post-infection. In contrast, HPE enhanced the lung and serum levels of IL-10 and IFN-γ on the days 3 and 5 post-infection. Our study indicates that HPE has significant therapeutic efficacy for mice infected with IAV. The possible reasons for these results were concluded to be pertaining to up-regulating the expression of IL-10 and IFN-γ, and down-regulating the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α in lung and serum.     

Blocking of tripartite motif 8 protects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury by regulating AMPKα activity

Acute lung injury (ALI) and its more serious form, respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), are considered as an acute and severe inflammatory process existing in lungs, and still remain high mortality rates. Tripartite motif 8 (TRIM8) contains an N-terminal RING finger, which is followed by two B-boxes and a coiled-coil domain, belonging to the TRIM/RBCC family and playing significant role in meditating inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis. In the study, we investigated the role of TRIM8 in ALI induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the underlying molecular mechanisms. The in vitro results indicated that LPS time-dependently enhanced TRIM8 expression in lung epithelial cells. Suppressing TRIM8 markedly ameliorated LPS-elicited inflammatory response, as evidenced by the down-regulated mRNA levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in cells mainly through inactivating nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway; however, over-expressing TRIM8 markedly promoted inflammation in LPS-challenged cells. In addition, LPS-induced oxidative stress was accelerated by TRIM8 over-expression, while being alleviated by TRIM8 knockdown by regulating Nrf2 signaling. Importantly, TRIM8 could negatively meditate AMP-activated protein kinase-α (AMPKα) activation to modulate LPS-triggered inflammatory response and ROS generation in vitro. Additionally, our in vivo findings suggested that TRIM8 knockdown effectively attenuated LPS-induced lung injury nu decrease of lung wet/dry (W/T) ratio, protein concentrations, neutrophil infiltration, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and superoxide dismutase (SOD) depletion. Meanwhile, the loss of TRIM8 markedly lessened IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α expression in lung tissues of LPS-challenged mice, and reduced NF-κB phosphorylation. Furthermore, TRIM8 knockdown evidently improved nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expressions in lung of LPS-treated mice. The anti-inflammation and anti-oxidant role of TRIM8-silence might be associated with AMPKα phosphorylation. Together, our study firstly provided a support that TRIM8 knockdown effectively protected LPS-induced ALI against inflammation and oxidative stress largely dependent on the promotion of AMPKα pathway.     

Divergent effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and lymphotoxin-alpha on lethal endotoxemia and infection with live Salmonella typhimurium in mice

During septic shock with Gram-negative microorganisms, mortality is determined by two independent factors: high concentrations of circulating proinflammatory cytokines and multiplication of the microorganisms in the organs of the host. We studied the role of endogenous tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) and lymphotoxin-alpha (LT) in the pathogenesis of lethal endotoxemia and infection with viable Salmonella typhimurium. Compared to wild-type control mice, TNF-/-LT-/- knock-out mice were more resistant (100% versus 25% mortality) to a lethal challenge with LPS, due to a significantly decreased production of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF, IL-1alpha and IL-1beta. In contrast, TNF-/-LT-/- mice were highly susceptible to infection with viable S. typhimurium as compared to wild-type mice (100% versus 0% mortality), and this was accompanied by a 100-fold greater bacterial load in their organs. The effect of endogenous TNF and LT during infection was mediated by a defective recruitment of neutrophils at the site of infection, as well as a reduced intracellular killing of S. typhimurium by these cells. These results show that TNF and LT have crucial, yet opposite effects on lethal endotoxemia induced by S. typhimurium LPS and on the infection of mice with live Salmonella microorganisms, and suggest caution when extrapolating results obtained in the lethal endotoxemia model to bacteremia in patients.     

Effects of esculetin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury via regulation of RhoA/Rho Kinase/NF-кB pathways in vivo and in vitro

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of esculetin (ES) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) and the lung epithelial A549 cells. Mice were intragastrically administered with ES (20 and 40 mg/kg) 1 h prior to LPS challenge. ES pretreatment at doses of 20 and 40 mg/kg effectively attenuated LPS-induced lung histopathological change, myeloperoxidase or MPO activity, inflammatory cells infiltration, pulmonary wet-to-dry weight ratio, and the generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, we demonstrated that ES blocked the activation of NF-кB and RhoA/Rho kinase pathways in LPS-induced mice and A549 cells. The results suggested that ES exhibited protective effect on ALI and might attribute partly to the inhibition of NF-кB and RhoA/Rho kinase pathways in vivo and in vitro.     

L-Arg对LPS诱导的急性肺损伤大鼠肺表面活性物质和肺泡巨噬细胞功能的影响

目的:探讨L-精氨酸(L-Arg)对脂多糖(LPS)诱导的急性肺损伤大鼠肺表面活性物质和肺泡巨噬细胞功能的影响。方法:舌下静脉注射脂多糖(LPS)复制肺损伤模型。健康雄性SD大鼠48只,随机分为对照组、模型组(LPS组)和L-Arg治疗组(L-Arg组)(n=16)。分别于给予LPS 3 h或6 h后给予生理盐水(对照组及LPS组,ip)和L-Arg(500 mg/kg ip)(L-Arg治疗组),治疗3 h。原位杂交法(ISH)检测肺组织中肺表面活性蛋白A(SP-A)mRNA的表达;测定肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中的总蛋白(TP)。体外分离培养大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞,以LPS(终浓度10 mg/L)处理巨噬细胞,观察L-Arg对肺泡巨噬细胞的影响。结果:与对照组比较,大鼠肺损伤后SP-A mRNA表达减弱,BALF中TP增多(P<0.01)。肺损伤3 h用L-Arg治疗3 h后,SP-A mRNA阳性细胞表达明显增强,BALF中TP较LPS组相同时间点明显降低(P<0.05,P<0.01),肺损伤减轻。体外实验中,与正常对照组相比,LPS组细胞培养上清中乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、一氧化氮(NO)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNFα-)和白细胞介素-6(IL-6)浓度明显增高(P<0.01);L-Arg明显减少LPS所致的LDH的释放,降低TNFα-和IL-6浓度。结论:L-Arg可减轻内毒素性肺损伤,此机制可能与增强SP-AmRNA表达有关;LPS可刺激巨噬细胞分泌促炎因子和NO,L-Arg可抑制LPS对巨噬细胞的作用。     

胃饥饿素对小鼠急性肺损伤的保护作用及其机制研究

目的探讨胃饥饿素对小鼠急性肺损伤的保护作用和机制。方法将60只小鼠采用随机数字表法分为6组:对照组、模型组、胃饥饿素低、中、高剂量组和地塞米松组。对照组和模型组腹腔注射0.2 mL生理盐水,胃饥饿素各组分别注射400、200、100 μg/ kg溶液,地塞米松组注射2 mg/kg。给药后1 h,对照组滴注等体积生理盐水,其余各组鼻腔滴入10 μg (20 μL)脂多糖 (LPS)。24 h后,测量肺湿/干重 (W/D),ELISA测量支气管肺泡灌洗液 (BALF)中肿瘤坏死因子 (TNF)-α、白细胞介素 (IL)-6和血清中TNF-α、IL-6和IL-1β含量,苏木精-伊红染色检测肺组织病理学形态,蛋白免疫印迹法测量肺组织中IL-1β p17、半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶-1 (caspase-1) p20、Nod样受体家族3 (NLRP3)和消皮素 (GSDMD)蛋白表达。体外培养肺泡巨噬细胞,分为对照组、LPS+三磷酸腺苷 (ATP)组、低、中和高剂量胃饥饿素组。碘化吡啶 (PI)染色观察细胞焦亡,蛋白免疫印迹法检测细胞中IL-1β p17、 caspase-1 p20、NLRP3和GSDMD蛋白表达。多组间比较采用单因素方差分析,组间两两比较采用LSD-t检验。结?果与对照组比较,模型组肺W/D (4.03±0.46比12.71±0.68)、BALF中TNF-α (3.92±0.59比12.83±0.66)、IL-6 (23.94±3.51比159.03±5.21)、血清中TNF-α (2.67±0.29比13.23±0.76)、IL-6 (26.73±2.61比141.64±3.86)和IL-1β (43.89±4.19比249.03±5.38)含量升高,肺组织IL-1β p17 (0.67±0.02比0.93±0.02)、caspase-1 p20 (0.67±0.04比1.02±0.08)、NLRP3 (0.58±0.04比0.91±0.03)和GSDMD蛋白表达 (0.46±0.06比1.06±0.09)上调,差异具有统计学意义 (P均< 0.05)。与模型组比较,低、中和高剂量胃饥饿素组和地塞米松组肺W/D (12.71±0.68比11.13±0.53,7.56±0.31,6.12±0.32,6.14±0.34)、BALF中TNF-α (12.83±0.66比9.89±0.47,9.78±0.53,7.33±0.27,6.27±0.38)、IL-6 (159.03±5.21比130.32±2.49,122.87±3.31,67.42±1.70,56.45±3.33)以及血清中TNF-α (13.23±0.76比10.14±0.52,9.04±0.46,6.43±0.38,6.35±0.26)、IL-6 (141.64±3.86比121.89±3.34,116.42±2.68,71.23±3.02,78.54±5.13)和IL-1β含量 (249.03±5.38比230.14±5.53,196.53±6.41,100.67±3.50,91.56±4.29)呈浓度依赖性减低,肺组织IL-1β p17 (0.93±0.02比0.84±0.01,0.71±0.02,0.61±0.04,0.60±0.02)、caspase-1 p20 (1.02±0.08比0.90±0.03,0.81±0.02,0.63±0.03,0.61±0.03)、NLRP3 (0.91±0.03比0.85±0.03,0.68±0.05,0.64±0.02,0.68±0.03)和GSDMD蛋白表达 (1.06±0.09比0.71±0.02,0.75±0.02,0.67±0.03,0.61±0.01)呈浓度依赖性下调,差异具有统计学意义 (P均 < 0.05)。与对照组比较,LPS+ATP组PI阳性细胞数增加,细胞肿胀和膜破裂,肺泡巨噬细胞中IL-1β p17 (0.44±0.01比0.99±0.03)、caspase-1 p20(0.37±0.01比1.32±0.02)、NLRP3 (0.39±0.02比1.31±0.01)和GSDMD表达 (0.39±0.01比0.83±0.02)上调,差异具有统计学意义 (P均 < 0.05)。与LPS+ATP组比较,低、中和高剂量胃饥饿素组PI阳性细胞数呈剂量依赖性减少,细胞肿胀和膜破裂缓解,肺泡巨噬细胞中IL-1β p17 (0.99±0.03比0.55±0.02,0.45±0.02,0.31±0.02)、caspase-1 p20 (1.32±0.02比0.45±0.02,0.42±0.02,0.09±0.01)、NLRP3 (1.31±0.01比0.90±0.02,0.82±0.02,0.33±0.01)和GSDMD (0.83±0.02比0.67±0.04,0.49±0.01,0.35±0.02)表达呈剂量依赖性下调,差异具有统计学意义 (P 均 < 0.05)。结论胃饥饿素对小鼠急性肺损伤具有保护作用,该作用可能与NLRP3炎性小体介导炎症反应和肺泡巨噬细胞焦亡有关。     

A novel lipopolysaccharide-antagonizing aptamer protects mice against endotoxemia

A growing number of researchers have recognized the importance of using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as target for the prevention and treatment of sepsis. However, no drugs targeting LPS have been applied clinically. In this study, LPS-inhibiting aptamers were screened by Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX), and their therapeutic effects for experimental sepsis were observed. After 12 rounds of screening, 46 sequences were obtained. Primary structure analysis indicated that they had identical sequences, partly conserved sequences, or non-conserved sequences. Secondary structure analysis showed these sequences usually contained hairpin or stem-loop structures. Aptamer 19 significantly decreased NF-κB activation of monocytes challenged by LPS and reduced the IL-1 and TNF-α concentration in the media of LPS-challenged monocytes. Furthermore, aptamer 19 significantly increased the survival rate of mice with endotoxemia. The results suggest that a novel LPS antagonizing aptamer was obtained by SELEX, which successfully treated experimental sepsis.     

Silencing of Paralemmin-3 Protects Mice from lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury

Excessive inflammatory response induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plays a critical role in the development of acute lung injury (ALI). Paralemmin-3 (PALM3) is a novel protein that can modulate LPS-stimulated inflammatory responses in alveolar epithelial A549 cells. However, it remains unclear whether it is involved in the progression of ALI in vivo. Therefore, we studied the role of PALM3 in the pathogenesis of ALI induced by LPS. ALI was induced by LPS peritoneal injection in C57BL/6J mice. Lentivirus-mediated small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting the mouse PALM3 gene and a negative control siRNA were intranasally administered to the mice. We found that the expression of PALM3 was up-regulated in the lung tissues obtained from the mouse model of LPS-induced ALI. The LPS-evoked inflammatory response (neutrophils and the concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines [IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, MIP-2] in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid [BALF]), histologic lung injury (lung injury score), permeability of the alveolar capillary barrier (lung wet/dry weight ratio and BALF protein concentration) and mortality rates were attenuated in the PALM3 siRNA-treated mice. These results indicate that PALM3 contributes to the development of ALI in mice challenged with LPS. Inhibiting PALM3 through the intranasal application of specific siRNA protected against LPS-induced ALI.     

Effect of sulfatide on acute lung injury during endotoxemia in rats

Experimental studies have shown that intrapulmonary leukocyte sequestration and activation is implicated in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury during endotoxemia. Selectins are involved in the adhesion of leukocyte to the endothelium. Sulfatide is recognized by P selectin and blocks this adhesion molecule. We studied the effects of sulfatide on endotoxin-induced lung damage in rats. Endotoxin shock was produced in male rats by a single intravenous (i.v.) injection of 20 mg/kg of Salmonella enteritidis lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS administration reduced survival rate (0%, 72 h after endotoxin challenge) decreased mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), produced leukopenia (Controls = 11,234+/-231 cells/mL, LPS = 4,567+/-123 cells/mL) and increased lung myeloperoxidase activity (MPO; a marker of leukocyte accumulation) in the lung (Controls = 0.35+/-0.1 U/g/tissue; LPS = 10+/-1.2 U/g/tissue). Furthermore LPS administration markedly impaired the concentration-response curves for acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside in isolated pulmonary arterial rings. There was also an increased staining for P-selectin in the pulmonary arteries. Sulfatide treatment (10 mg/kg, 30 min. after LPS challenge), significantly protected against LPS-induced lethality (90% survival rate and 70% survival rate 24 h and 72 h after LPS injection), reduced LPS induced hypotension, reverted leukopenia (8,895+/-234 cells/ml) and lowered lung MPO activity (1.7+/-0.9 U/g/tissue). Furthermore sulfatide restored to control values the LPS-induced impairment in arterial pulmonary vasorelaxation and reduced P-selectin immunostaining. Our data indicate that sulfatide attenuates LPS-induced lung injury and protects against endotoxin shock.     

Effects of IL-18 and IL-10 pre-treatment on the alteration of endogenous cytokines in liver and spleen of mice with experimental endotoxemia

Mechanisms of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced endotoxemia are not clear; their protective role is being investigated so that they may effectively modulate the host cytokine levels during endotoxemia. The aim of the study was to evaluate protective effects of IL-18 and IL-10 in experimentally induced endotoxemia in mice correlating the changes in tissue anti-oxidant enzymes and circulating cytokines. Liver injury was determined by estimation of serum glutamate oxalate transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum nitric oxide (NOx), hepatic anti-oxidant enzyme and cytokine content in LPS (250 microg/kg) induced endotoxemic mice receiving either IL-18 (500 ng/mouse) or IL-10 (600 ng/mouse) treatment. Mice (87% of IL-10 treated and 74% of IL-18 treated) survived when administered prior to LPS challenge. Pre-treatment of mice with either IL-10 or IL-18 followed by LPS, lead to reduction in SGPT and SGOT level, serum NOx, and altered hepatic anti-oxidant enzymes activity and myeloperoxidase activity than the only LPS treated group. Marked reduction in the amounts of LPS-induced hepatic and splenic TNF-u content has been observed after IL-10 pre-treatment. Results suggested that attenuating the induction of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma and subsequent induction of nitric oxide formation in response to LPS may in part account for efficient protection by IL-18 and IL-10 in the reduction of LPS-induced liver injury.     

PPARγ受体激动剂罗格列酮治疗的慢性阻塞性肺疾病样大鼠肺组织细胞因子的变化

目的研究过氧化物酶体增殖物激活的受体γ（PPARγ）激动剂罗格列酮对慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）样大鼠肺组织、支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）中白介素-8（IL-8）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）和白介素-4（IL-4）的影响。方法被动吸烟和气管内滴注脂多糖（LPS）复制大鼠模型并随机分为模型组和罗格列酮治疗组。制备肺组织匀浆和支气管肺泡灌洗液,用放免法检测IL-8、TNF-α,用ELISA法测IL-4。结果与模型组比较罗格列酮治疗组大鼠肺组织IL-8、TNF-α含量降低而IL-4含量增加。结论 PPAR-γ通路激活对COPD中的炎症反应有负调节作用。