雌二醇对成年大鼠肺表面活性物质分泌的影响

采用离体非灌流肺模型,观察了雌二醇(E_2)对成年大鼠肺表面活性物质(PS)分泌的影响,并探讨了前列腺素(PG)在其中的作用。结果显示:E_2(10~(-6)mol/L)可使肺磷脂释放指数和肺磷脂释放量增多,分别为对照组的150.0％(P<0.05)及160.7％(P<0.01),表明E_2可促进成年大鼠PS的分泌;PG合成抑制剂消炎痛(10~(-5)mol/L)可以抑制E_2促进肺磷脂释放的效应,表明PG在E_2促进PS分泌中起介导作用。以上结果提示E_2可能参与成年动物PS分泌的调控。     

小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞的抗肿瘤作用和免疫抑制效应的体外调变

巯基乙酸盐(Thioglycollate)诱发的小鼠腹腔激活巨噬细胞显示了天然的抑制活性,即对Con A,PHA,PWM和LPS致分裂原诱导的T,B淋巴细胞的增殖能产生显著的抑制效应,同时也能抑制脾脏NK细胞对YAC-1肿瘤靶细胞的杀伤功能。但是这些巨噬细胞却同时具有明显的抗肿瘤的细胞静止效应。在体外用脂多糖(LPS,10微克/毫升)处理粘附性激活巨噬细胞明显地降低了对NK活性和T,B淋巴细胞增殖功能的抑制,然而这些免疫调变巨噬细胞仍然保持了显著的抗肿瘤的细胞静止效应。实验还表明,这类激活巨噬细胞的抑制功能不为前列腺素合成酶的抑制剂In-dom所阻断,从而提示了它们的免疫抑制效应似乎不是前列腺素介导的。本实验结果提示,体外用脂多糖处理后的免疫调变巨噬细胞是一类具有抗肿瘤功能和低免疫抑制性的巨噬细胞亚群,这为进一步研究它们的产生以及作用机理准备了条件。     

前列腺素E_2与缺血性脑卒中

前列腺素E_2(prostaglandin E_2, PGE_2)是由花生四烯酸经环氧合酶途径代谢生成的前列腺素之一,PGE_2通过其4种受体亚型(EP_1、EP_2、EP_3和EP_4)介导产生多种生理功能,同时是缺血性脑损伤中的重要炎症介质。而在缺血性脑卒中发病机制中,PGE_2激活不同受体亚型而发挥不同的作用。本文将从受体作用特点的角度对PGE_2在细胞凋亡、谷氨酸的兴奋性毒性及钙超载、血脑屏障损伤和免疫炎症等缺血性脑卒中发病机制中的作用进行总结,为缺血性脑卒中的治疗寻找新的靶点和策略。     

肺泡巨噬细胞对豚鼠气道平滑肌张力的调控

经调理酵母多糖(OPZ)刺激的大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞培养上清液可松弛豚鼠离体气管肌条,上清液中PGE_1增加,表明PGE_1是肺泡巨噬细胞松弛气管肌条的介质之一。经OPZ激活的肺泡巨噬细胞培养上清液与豚鼠血小板作用后,其松弛效应被逆转为收缩效应,提示可能由于肺泡巨噬细胞分泌血小板活化因子激活血小板,使释放收缩介质所致。肺泡巨噬细胞借助所分泌的介质经常性地调节气道阻力,对肺通气具有保护意义。     

肺泡巨噬细胞对肺表面活性物质分泌的调控

为了观察肺泡巨噬细胞(AM)对肺表面活性物质(PS)分泌的影响,本实验以激活的AM培养上清液对离体非灌流肺进行持续灌洗,观察肺内PS含量的变化。结果表明,由调理酵母多糖(OPZ)激活的AM上清液,能使肺磷脂释放量(PL)和肺磷脂释放指数(b)增大,与激活物(OPZ)对照组及细胞对照组比较,有显著差异,P<0.01。用消炎痛预处理AM 30min后,再用OPZ激活AM,PL值和b值减少;而用细胞松弛素B预处理AM30min后,再用OPZ激活AM,则PL值和b值增大。以上两组与对照组比较,P<0.01。这表明激活AM增强肺PS分泌的作用能被消炎痛所抑制,而被细胞松弛素所增强,提示激活AM增强肺PS分泌可能是以前列腺素为中介的。激活AM能使PS分泌增加,这对于在生理和病理情况下稳定肺泡表面张力和增强肺的防御机能有重要意义。     

铜绿假单胞菌生物被膜对巨噬细胞的免疫逃逸作用及机制

目的探讨铜绿假单胞菌生物被膜对巨噬细胞的免疫逃逸作用以及相关机制。方法用PMA刺激THP-1细胞获得巨噬细胞模型。用6孔板建膜法获得铜绿假单胞菌生物被膜菌。分别用铜绿假单胞菌的生物被膜菌和浮游菌感染巨噬细胞,观察巨噬细胞形态的变化,并检测巨噬细胞的细胞毒性和吞噬功能的变化。进一步用ELISA试剂盒检测感染的巨噬细胞培养上清中炎症细胞因子IL-1β的变化。结果成功构建巨噬细胞模型和铜绿假单胞菌生物被膜菌模型。与感染了浮游菌的细胞相比,感染了生物被膜菌的巨噬细胞形态变化小,释放的LDH降低,吞噬功能减弱,IL-1β的表达量减少。结论铜绿假单胞菌生物被膜菌可以逃逸巨噬细胞的免疫防御作用,其机制可能与降低巨噬细胞的炎症反应有关。     

巨噬细胞激活在维甲酸和维胺酸抗肿瘤活性中的作用

巨噬细胞是体内执行免疫监视机能的重要效应细胞之一,可通过分泌和释放可溶性细胞毒因子对肿瘤细胞进行细胞外杀伤。本文报道维甲酸(RA)和维胺酸(R Ⅱ)可使小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞释放过氧化氢的能力增强。电镜观察表明,经药物激活的巨噬细胞对艾氏腹水癌细胞有明显的细胞外杀伤作用。预先给小鼠腹腔注射药物,然后腹腔接种10~4个艾氏腹水癌细胞,100%的动物不形成肿瘤。但增加瘤细胞接种数或改变给药途径,预防作用消失,这提示RA和R Ⅱ的抗肿瘤作用部分是通过激活的巨噬细胞完成的。     

一个日益重要的冠心病标志物———新蝶呤

动脉粥样硬化是一种慢性炎症过程,炎症反应在动脉粥样斑块的形成、发展、稳定性丧失和斑块破裂过程中都起着非常重要的作用,贯穿于动脉粥样硬化的各个环节。从早期的脂质条纹到进一步的动脉粥样病变及血栓性并发症都能见到炎症细胞的浸润,其中又以激活的巨噬细胞尤为重要。新蝶呤是巨噬细胞激活后的代谢产物,它不仅是巨噬细胞激活的炎症标志物,还参与多种调节氧化平衡的生化途径,增加氧化应激水平,促进动脉粥样硬化的进展,是斑块不稳定性及不良性心血管事件的独立预测因子。在临床上,降低血清新蝶呤水平可以降低冠心病患者发生危险事件的风险。因此,新蝶呤对冠心病的诊断和治疗都有重要意义。本文将对新蝶呤在冠心病中的角色做一综述。     

人巨噬细胞刺激蛋白的生化特性、抗炎作用和分子机理

巨噬细胞刺激蛋白（macrophage-stimulating protein,MSP）,又称肝细胞生长因子样蛋白,是肝脏合成的一种具有免疫调节活性的糖蛋白。MSP以无生物学活性的单链蛋白前体的形式存在于血浆中。在炎症反应过程中,MSP前体经胰酶样丝氨酸蛋白酶和多种凝血酶激活,成为由α/β异二聚体构成的成熟MSP。MSP通过激活巨噬细胞膜上的特异性受体酪氨酸蛋白激酶RON而发挥其双重的炎症调节功能,既促进巨噬细胞的黏附、变形、移行和吞噬作用,又抑制巨噬细胞释放的多种炎症介质,如一氧化氮（NO）、前列腺素E2和一些细胞因子,从而达到清除病原体,控制炎症反应强度和促进组织修复的目的。MSP发挥其生物学功能的分子基础是它能够调节巨噬细胞内多条信号转导通路。因此,MSP在固有免疫、适应性免疫以及自身免疫性炎症反应中具有重要的抗炎作用。采用生物和药理学方式特异地激活MSP,可能在抑制炎症反应强度和减轻组织损伤中具有潜在的临床使用价值。     

Kupffer细胞在APAP所致肝损伤中作用研究进展

对乙酰氨基酚所致肝损伤(acetaminophen-induced liver injury, AILI)是一类普遍的药物源性肝损伤(drug-induced liver injury, DILI),是造成急性肝衰竭(acute liver failure, AIF)的主要原因。Kupffer细胞为肝脏固有巨噬细胞,是机体先天免疫重要组成部分。Kupffer具有促炎和抗炎的双重作用,通过识别损伤相关模式分子(damage-associated molecular patterns, DAMPs)激活细胞内炎症信号,释放促炎因子、抗炎因子和趋化因子。Kupffer在AILI氧化应激、细胞招募、炎症反应、肝再生和纤维化等过程起着重要作用,对AILI的发生、发展及转归有着重要的影响。     

Release of prostaglandins and thromboxanes by guinea pig isolated type II pneumocytes

Lung cells have been isolated by enzymatic digestion of guinea pig lungs and mechanical dispersion to obtain a suspension of viable cells (approximately 500 X 10(6) cells). Type II pneumocytes have been purified to approximately 92% by centrifugal elutriation (2000 rpm, 15 ml/min) followed by a plating in plastic dishes coated with guinea pig IgG (500 micrograms/ml). We have investigated the arachidonic acid metabolism through the cyclooxygenase pathway in this freshly isolated type II cells (2 x 10(6) cells/ml). Purified type II pneumocytes produced thromboxane B2 (TxB2) predominantly and to a smaller extent the 6-keto prostaglandin PGF1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) after incubation with 10 microM arachidonic acid. The stimulation of pneumocytes with 2 microM calcium ionophore A23187 released less eicosanoids than were produced when cells were incubated with 10 microM arachidonic acid. There was no additive effect when the cells were treated with both arachidonic acid and the ionophore A23187. Guinea pig type II pneumocytes failed to release significant amounts of TxB2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PGE2 after stimulation with 10 nM leukotriene B4, 10 nM leukotriene D4, 10 nM platelet-activating factor, 5 microM formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, 0.2 microM bradykinin and 10 nM phorbol myristate acetate. Our findings indicate that guinea pig type II pneunomocytes possess the enzymatic machinery necessary to convert arachidonic acid to specific cyclooxygenase products, which may suggest a role for these cells in lung inflammatory processes.     

Inhibition of an vitro cell-mediated response: further experiments on the cell lineage and target of suppressor cells

The contribution of lymphotoxin to guinea pig leukocyte natural cytotoxicity was evaluated with [³H]TdR release and colony-inhibition assays of 104C1 benzo(a)pyrene in vitro-transformed and tumorigenic, tumor-specific transplantation antigen-negative, syngeneic strain 2/ N fibroblasts. Cytolethal ³H-release activities of mitogen (PHA)¹-stimulated nonimmune and ovalbumin (OA) immune as well as OA-stimulated OA immune unfractionated, adherent (macrophage-enriched) and nonadherent peritoneal leukocytes are qualitatively similar. ³H release is maximal by 48 hr, increases with antigen or mitogen concentration, is greatest with unfractionated leukocytes, and is least with adherent macrophages. Lymphotoxin produced by peritoneal leukocytes, alone or in combination with the leukocytes does not or only minimally induces ³H release even after 6 days of incubation with guinea pig target cells although guinea pig lymphotoxin possesses cytolytic activity as indicated by ³H release from αL929 mouse tumor cells. In contrast to the absent or very weak cytolytic activity of guinea pig lymphotoxin for the guinea pig target cells nonimmune macrophages, nonadherent leukocytes, and lymphotoxin all exhibit readily detectable colony-inhibitory (CI) activity for the syngeneic tumor cells. Macrophage and lymphotoxin CI, moreover, are additive, whereas nonadherent leukocyte and lymphotoxin CI are synergistic. The latter may be due to additional lymphotoxin induced by target cell antigens or other mechanisms of target cell stimulation of effector lymphoid cells and result from very high local levels of lymphotoxin released by the effector cells. Lymphotoxin CI, furthermore, can be cytostatic or cytolethal as indicated by resumption of 104C1 but not αL929 colony growth following removal of lymphotoxin, indicating that natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity consists of lymphotoxin-dependent and -independent cytostatic and cytolethal effector mechanisms.     

Tumor cell killing by macrophages activated in vitro with lymphocyte mediators. II. Inhibition by inhibitors of protein synthesis.

The effect of inhibitors of protein synthesis on the killing of tumor cells by in vitro activated macrophages was determined. Cytotoxicity was inhibited by concentrations of puromycin, pactamycin, and actinomycin D that almost completely inhibited protein synthesis by guinea pig macrophages, but not by concentrations of drug that inhibited protein synthesis by only ± 50%. Cytotoxicity was inhibited when the effector macrophages were pretreated with the metabolic inhibitors, but not when the drugs were added 30 to 60 min after the initiation of the reaction. Pretreatment with puromycin or pactamycin also markedly inhibited the binding of tumor cells by mediator activated macrophages. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that one possible mechanism by which inhibitors of protein synthesis inhibit macrophage mediated cytotoxicity is by inhibiting close contact between effector and target cells. The finding that pretreatment of activated macrophages with trypsin also inhibits tumor cell killing suggests that protein synthesis may be necessary to maintain an adequate number of “recognition structures” on the macrophage membrane, structures that mediate the initial contact between the activated macrophage and the target tumor.     

Metabolism of arachidonic acid by guinea pig Clara cells.

A method for the isolation of non-ciliated bronchiolar epithelial (Clara) cells from the guinea pig is described. Following digestion of the lung tissue with Type XXIV protease, the isolated lung cells showed a viability greater than 90% and contained 3% of Clara cells. Several cell populations were then separated on the basis of size using 2 centrifugal elutriations. The macrophages and endothelial cells were removed from the Clara cells enriched fractions by differential adherence on Petri dishes. The Clara cell-rich suspension was then further purified by centrifugation on Percoll non-continuous density gradients consisting of 48-52-55% Percoll solution. The lower interface and the pellet of the non-continuous gradient consisted of approximately 80% Clara cells. Identification of isolated Clara cells was confirmed by light microscopic observations after nitroblue tetrazolium staining and by ultrastructural characteristic features as observed by electron microscopy. The metabolism of arachidonic acid into prostaglandins and TxB2 by purified Clara cells was examined by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and leukotriene formation was investigated by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Enriched guinea pig Clara cells incubated with arachidonic acid released TxB2, PGE2 and 6-keto PGF1 alpha, but did not produce leukotrienes. These cells could however transform exogenous leukotriene A4 into leukotriene B4. These results suggest that guinea pig Clara cells possess the enzymes of the cyclooxygenase pathway required for TxB2, PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha synthesis. Clara cells do not possess the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme but show some leukotriene A4 hydrolase activity since they can produce leukotriene B4 upon incubation with leukotriene A4.     

Alveolar macrophages are a major determinant of early responses to viral lung infection but do not influence subsequent disease development

Macrophages are abundant in the lower respiratory tract. They play a central role in the innate response to infection but may also modulate excessive inflammation. Both macrophages and ciliated epithelial cells respond to infection by releasing soluble mediators, leading to the recruitment of innate and adaptive effector cells. To study the role of lung macrophages in acute respiratory viral infection, we depleted them by the inhalation of clodronate liposomes in an established mouse model of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease. Infection caused an immediate local release of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, peaking on day 1, which was virtually abolished by clodronate liposome treatment. Macrophage depletion inhibited the activation (days 1 to 2) and recruitment (day 4) of natural killer (NK) cells and enhanced peak viral load in the lung (day 4). However, macrophage depletion did not affect the recruitment of activated CD4 or CD8 T cells, weight loss, or virus-induced changes in lung function. Therefore, lung macrophages play a central role in the early responses to viral infection but have remarkably little effect on the adaptive response occurring at the time of peak disease severity.     

Acetyl glyceryl ether phosphorylcholine (platelet-activating factor) mediates heightened metabolic activity in macrophages: Studies on PGE, TXB2 and O2 production, spreading, and the influence of calmodulin-inhibitor W-7

The phospholipid mediator AGEPC (acetyl glyceryl ether phosphorylcholine) was examined for its effects on guinea pig peritoneal macrophages. At a concentration of 10⁻⁹ -10⁻⁶ M, AGEPC evoked release of prostaglandin E (PGE) and thromboxane B₂ (TXB₂) from albumin-elicited macrophages. It also triggerd generation of O⁻₂ by Corynebacterium parvum-induced cells. Moreover, it caused augmented spreading of macrophages. The calmodulin antagonis W-7 attenuated AGEPC-mediated O⁻₂ production and cell spreading whereas prostanoid synthesis was enhanced. These novel actions of AGEPC on the major cellular component of the inflammatory process attest to its role as a potent mediator of immunoinflammatory responses.     

Regulation of guinea pig macrophage collagenase production by dexamethasone and colchicine

Previous studies have demonstrated that exposure of guinea pig macrophages to a primary signal, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), stimulates the synthesis of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) which, in turn, elevates cAMP levels resulting in the production of the enzyme, collagenase. The potential of regulating the biochemical events in this activation sequence was examined with the anti-inflammatory agents dexamethasone and colchicine, which suppress the destructive sequelae in chronic inflammatory lesions associated with the degradation of connective tissue. The addition of dexamethasone with LPS to macrophage cultures resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of PGE2 and collagenase production, which was reversed by the exogenous addition of phospholipase A2. Collagenase production was also restored in dexamethasone-treated cultures by the addition of products normally produced as a result of phospholipase action, such as arachidonic acid, PGE2 or dibutyryl-cAMP. Since the effect of dexamethasone was thus linked to phospholipase A2 inhibition, mepacrine, a phospholipase inhibitor, was also tested. Mepacrine, like dexamethasone, caused a dose-dependent inhibition of PGE2 and collagenase. In addition to corticosteroid inhibition, colchicine was also found to block collagenase production. However, this anti-inflammatory agent had no effect on PGE2 synthesis. Colchicine was effective only when added at the onset of culture and not 24 h later, implicating a role for microtubules in the transmission of the activation signal rather than enzyme secretion. The failure of lumicolchicine to inhibit collagenase activity provided additional evidence that microtubules are involved in the activation of macrophages. These findings demonstrate that dexamethasone and colchicine act at specific steps in the activation sequence of guinea pig macrophages to regulate collagenase production.     

Prostaglandin E2 suppresses lipopolysaccharide-stimulated IFN-beta production

Macrophages activate the production of cytokines and chemokines in response to LPS through signaling cascades downstream from TLR4. Lipid mediators such as PGE(2), which are produced during inflammatory responses, have been shown to suppress MyD88-dependent gene expression upon TLR4 activation in macrophages. The study reported here investigated the effect of PGE(2) on TLR3- and TLR4-dependent, MyD88-independent gene expression in murine J774A.1 macrophages, as well as the molecular mechanism underlying such an effect. We demonstrate that PGE(2) strongly suppresses LPS-induced IFN-beta production at the mRNA and protein levels. Poly (I:C)-induced IFN-beta and LPS-induced CCL5 production were also suppressed by PGE(2). The inhibitory effect of PGE(2) on LPS-induced IFN-beta expression is mediated through PGE(2) receptor subtypes EP(2) and EP(4), and mimicked by the cAMP analog 8-Br-cAMP as well as by the adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin. The downstream effector molecule responsible for the cAMP-induced suppressive effect is exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac) but not protein kinase A. Moreover, data demonstrate that Epac-mediated signaling proceeds through PI3K, Akt, and GSK3beta. In contrast, PGE(2) inhibits LPS-induced TNF-alpha production in these cells through a distinct pathway requiring protein kinase A activity and independent of Epac/PI3K/Akt. In vivo, administration of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor before LPS injection resulted in enhanced serum IFN-beta concentration in mice. Collectively, data demonstrate that PGE(2) is a negative regulator for IFN-beta production in activated macrophages and during endotoxemia.     

The proinflammatory effect of prostaglandin E2 in experimental inflammatory bowel disease is mediated through the IL-23-->IL-17 axis

Although Crohn's disease has been traditionally considered to be Th1-mediated, the newly identified Th17 cells emerged recently as crucial participants. Th1/Th17 differentiation is controlled primarily by the IL-12 family of cytokines secreted by activated dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages. IL-23 and IL-12/IL-27 have opposite effects, supporting the Th17 and Th1 phenotypes, respectively. We found that PGE(2), a major lipid mediator released in inflammatory conditions, shifts the IL-12/IL-23 balance in DCs in favor of IL-23, and propose that high levels of PGE(2) exacerbate the inflammatory process in inflammatory bowel disease through the IL-23-->IL-17 axis. We assessed the effects of PGE(2) on IL-12, IL-27, and IL-23 and found that PGE(2) promotes IL-23, inhibits IL-12 and IL-27 expression and release from stimulated DCs, and subsequently induces IL-17 production in activated T cells. The effects of PGE(2) are mediated through the EP2/EP4 receptors on DCs. In vivo, we assessed the effects of PGE analogs in an experimental model for inflammatory bowel disease and found that the exacerbation of clinical symptoms and histopathology correlated with an increase in IL-23 and IL-17, a decrease in IL-12p35 expression in colon and mesenteric lymph nodes, and a substantial increase in the number of infiltrating neutrophils and of CD4(+)IL-17(+) T cells in the colonic tissue. These studies suggest that high levels of PGE(2) exacerbate the inflammatory process through the preferential expression and release of DC-derived IL-23 and the subsequent support of the autoreactive/inflammatory Th17 phenotype.