Protective effect of ethanol on acute ammonia intoxication in mice

A single i.p injection of 12 mmoles ammonium acetate/kg produced 100% mortality in mice. Ethanol in doses of 11 to 75 mmoles/kg administered along with the ammonium acetate decreased dramatically the mortality, the maximum protective effect being at 75 mmoles/kg. Blood and brain ammonia levels were also significantly reduced, while blood ethanol was higher in animals injected with ammonia and ethanol. Methanol and butanol also had some protective effect.     

The effect of air ions on bacterial and viral pneumonia in mice

Ambient air untreated for removal of ordinary pollutants and ionized with tritium powered generators to contain 1–2 × 10⁵ small positive ions/cm³ accelerated the rate of death of mice challenged intranasally with measured doses of KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE or of the PR8 strain of influenza virus. The differences between the cumulative mortality rates of controls and ion-treated animals were significant (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001) for several days of the period of observation. Exposure of infected mice to an electrical field of the same strength as that used for ion-treated mice showed no statistically significant field effect. Repetition of the influenza virus experiments using pollutant-free air and ion densities averaging 4.1 × 10⁵ small positive ions/cm³ produced essentially the same results. The observation that high concentrations of positive ions accelerate the rate of death in pulmonary infections with KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE and with influenza virus conforms to the pattern of earlier work with COCCIDIOIDES IMMITIS.

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Zusammenfassung Ungereinigte Umgebungsluft mit 1–2 × 10⁵ kleinen positiven Ionen/cm³ nach Ionisation mit Tritiumbetriebenen Generatoren beschleunigte die Todesrate von Mäusen, die intranasal mit bekannten Mengen KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE und PR8 Influenza Virus okuliert worden waren. Die Unterschiede zwischen den Kontrolltieren und den ionenbehandelten Tieren waren an mehreren Beobachtungstagen signifikant (p < 0,05 bis p < 0,001). Die Exponierung der infizierten Tiere in einem elektrischen Feld der gleichen Stärke, wie für die ionenbehandelten Tiere verwendet wurde, ergab keine statistischen Unterschiede. Die Wiederholung der Versuche mit Influenza Virus in reiner Luft mit 4,1 × 10⁵ kleinen positiven Ionen/cm³ ergab die gleichen Ergebnisse.

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Resume De l'air non purifié additionné de 1–2 × 10⁵ petits ions positifs/cm³ — ions provenant de générateurs au Trititium — a augmenté le taux de décès de souris qu'on avait au préalable infectées par le nez de quantités déterminées de KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE et de virus d'influenza PR8. La différence du taux cumulatif de mortalité entre des animaux traités avec cet air ionisé et des témoins a été significative pour chacun des jours de la période d'essais (p < 0,05 à p < 0,001). L'exposition de souris infectées à un champ électrique de même intensité que celui utilisé pour les animaux traités n'a pas présenté d'effets significatifs. La répétition de l'essai avec le virus de l'influenza, mais en utilisant de l'air libre de tout polluant et une densité d'ions moyenne de 4,1 × 10⁵ petits ions positifs/cm³ a conduit à des résultats similaires. La constatation que de hautes concentrations en ions positifs augmente le taux de décès dûs à des infections pulmonaires avec KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE et avec le virus de l'influenza vient confirmer le résultat d'un essai antérieur pratiqué avec COCCIDIOIDES IMMITIS.

     

Protective effect of L-theanine on carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in mice

We studied effects of L-theanine, a unique amino acid in tea, on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver injury in mice. The mice were pre-treated orally with L-theanine (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg) once daily for seven days before CCl(4) (10 ml/kg of 0.2% CCl(4) solution in olive oil) injection. L-theanine dose-dependently suppressed the increase of serum activity of ALT and AST and bilirubin level as well as liver histopathological changes induced by CCl(4) in mice. L-theanine significantly prevented CCl(4)-induced production of lipid peroxidation and decrease of hepatic GSH content and antioxidant enzymes activities. Our further studies demonstrated that L-theanine inhibited metabolic activation of CCl(4) through down-regulating cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1). As a consequence, L-theanine inhibited oxidative stress-mediated inflammatory response which included the increase of TNF-α and IL-1β in sera, and expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in livers. CCl(4)-induced activation of apoptotic related proteins including caspase-3 and PARP in mouse livers was also prevented by L-theanine treatment. In summary, L-theanine protects mice against CCl(4)-induced acute liver injury through inhibiting metabolic activation of CCl(4) and preventing CCl(4)-induced reduction of anti-oxidant capacity in mouse livers to relieve inflammatory response and hepatocyte apoptosis.     

Influence of endogenous catecholamines on responses of rat lung to beta-adrenergic agonists

Relaxation responses to the beta-adrenoceptor agonists: isoprenaline (non selective), salbutamol (beta 2-selective) and noradrenaline (plus phentolamine 10(-5) M) (beta 1-selective) have been obtained on rat lung parenchymal strips in the absence and presence of pargyline and tropolone (monoamino-oxidase and catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors), cocaine (neuronal uptake blocking agent), corticosterone (extraneuronal uptake inhibitor) as well as in reserpinized rat. Responses to these beta-adrenergic agonists were not potentiated in the presence of any of these inhibitors. This indicates that endogenous catecholamines, enzymatic or uptake processes, do not modulate beta-adrenoceptor mediated responses of rat lung strip and demonstrates that there is no correlation between neuronal uptake/beta 1-adrenoceptors and extraneuronal uptake/beta 2-adrenoceptor mediated responses, as had previously been suggested.     

Lung-protective effect of Punicalagin on LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice

Background: Punicalagin (Pun) is one of the main bioactive compounds in pomegranate peel, it possesses many properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammation and immunosuppressive activities. The study was aimed to investigate the protective effect and mechanisms of Pun on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice.Methods and Results: Forty-eight BALB/c male mice were used to establish ALI by intratracheal-instilled 2.4 mg/kg LPS, the mice were randomly divided into model and Pun (10, 20, 40 mg/kg) groups. The other 12 mice were intratracheal-instilled same volume of water as control. After 2 h of receiving LPS, mice were administered drug through intraperitoneal injection. Lung index, histopathological changes, white blood cells and biomarkers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were analyzed. The protein expression of total and phosphor p65, IκBα, ERK1/2, JNK and p38 in lung tissue was detected. The result showed that Pun could reduce the lung index and wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio, improve lung histopathological injury. In addition, Pun decreased the inflammation cells and regulated the biomarkers in BALF. Furthermore, Pun dose-dependently reduced the phosphor protein levels of p65, IκBα, ERK1/2, JNK and p38 in lung tissue, which exhibited that the effect of Pun related to mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathway. More importantly, there was no toxicity was observed in the acute toxicity study of Pun.Conclusion: Pun improves LPS-induced ALI mainly through its anti-inflammatory properties, which is associated with nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and MAPKs signaling pathways. The study implied that Pun maybe a potent agent against ALI in future clinic.     

Integrated control of lung fluid balance

This review summarizes the highlights of the EB2004 symposium that dealt with the integrated aspects of the lung fluid balance. It is apparent that maintenance of lung fluid balance requires the proper functioning of vascular endothelial and alveolar epithelial barriers. Under physiological conditions, the transcytotic pathway requiring repeated fission-fusion events of the caveolar membrane with other caveolae solely transports albumin. Caveolin-1, which forms caveolae, and albumin-binding proteins play a central role in signaling the transcytosis of albumin. Signals responsible for increasing endothelial permeability in lung microvessels in response to inflammatory mediators were also described. These studies in gene knockout mouse models revealed the importance of Ca(2+) signaling via store-operated transient receptor channel 4 and the activation of endothelial myosin light chain kinase isoform in mediating the increase in microvessel permeability. Increases in the cytosolic Ca(2+) in situ in microvessel endothelia can occur by mitochondria-dependent as well as mitochondria-independent pathways (such as the endoplasmic reticulum). Both these pathways, by triggering endothelial cell activation, may result in lung microvascular injury. The resolution of alveolar edema, requiring clearance of fluid from the air space, is another area of intense investigation in animal models. Although beta-adrenergic agonists can activate alveolar fluid clearance, signaling pathways regulating these events in intact alveoli remain to be established. Development of mouse models in which the function of regulatory proteins (identified in cell culture studies) can be systematically analyzed will provide a better and more integrated picture of lung fluid balance. In vivo veritas!     

急性呼吸窘迫综合征小鼠肺内源性干细胞表达水平的研究

目的探讨急性呼吸窘迫综合征（ARDS）小鼠肺组织中肺内源性干细胞的表达水平。 方法10只C57BL/6小鼠分成两组：实验组和对照组,实验组通过气管内注射脂多糖（LPS）构建小鼠ARDS模型,采用气管内注射PBS作为对照组;采用胶原酶、热消化法消化小鼠肺组织获取小鼠肺单细胞悬液;双重免疫荧光染色方法鉴定小鼠肺组织中sca-1⁺CD31^-CD45^-细胞;流式细胞术对肺sca-1⁺CD31^-CD45^-细胞进行分选。采用方差分析及独立t检验进行统计学分析。 结果通过气管内注入LPS成功制作小鼠急性ARDS模型;5只小鼠的全肺组织制备单细胞悬液总数目达5×10⁷个/ml,活细胞百分比为98﹪;肺内源性干细胞包括Ⅱ型肺泡上皮细胞、clara细胞以及支气管肺泡干细胞等,通过肺组织双重免疫荧光染色,验证小鼠肺组织Ⅱ型肺泡上皮细胞、clara细胞以及支气管肺泡干细胞;对照组及实验组各样本肺内源性干细胞数目占单细胞悬液细胞数比例呈正态分布,且实验组肺内源性干细胞数目水平（10.73±10.65）﹪较对照组水平（12.23±0.73）﹪降低（t = -3.405,P < 0.01）。 结论ARDS时,小鼠肺内源性干细胞（sca-1⁺CD31^-CD45^-）水平降低,减少的肺内源性干细胞具体去向尚不明确,其有可能参与机体急性炎症过程中气道上皮细胞的修复、再生过程。     

Protective effect of purinergic agonist ATPgammaS against acute lung injury

Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are major causes of acute respiratory failure associated with high morbidity and mortality. Although ALI/ARDS pathogenesis is only partly understood, pulmonary endothelium plays a major role by regulating lung fluid balance and pulmonary edema formation. Consequently, endothelium-targeted therapies may have beneficial effects in ALI/ARDS. Recently, attention has been given to the therapeutic potential of purinergic agonists and antagonists for the treatment of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Extracellular purines (adenosine, ADP, and ATP) and pyrimidines (UDP and UTP) are important signaling molecules that mediate diverse biological effects via cell-surface P2Y receptors. We previously described ATP-induced endothelial cell (EC) barrier enhancement via a complex cell signaling and hypothesized endothelial purinoreceptors activation to exert anti-inflammatory barrier-protective effects. To test this hypothesis, we used a murine model of ALI induced by intratracheal administration of endotoxin/lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cultured pulmonary EC. The nonhydrolyzed ATP analog ATPgammaS (50-100 muM final blood concentration) attenuated inflammatory response with decreased accumulation of cells (48%, P < 0.01) and proteins (57%, P < 0.01) in bronchoalveolar lavage and reduced neutrophil infiltration and extravasation of Evans blue albumin dye into lung tissue. In cell culture model, ATPgammaS inhibited junctional permeability induced by LPS. These findings suggest that purinergic receptor stimulation exerts a protective role against ALI by preserving integrity of endothelial cell-cell junctions.     

银杏叶提取物对对乙酰氨基酚诱导的小鼠急性肝损伤的保护作用

目的：探究银杏叶提取物（GBE）对对乙酰氨基酚（APAP）诱导的小鼠急性肝损伤的保护作用及其机制。方法：30只小鼠随机分为对照组、模型组、GBE低、中、高剂量组（50,100,and 200 mg·kg^-1）,每组6只。除对照组外,剩余小鼠腹腔注射APAP （300 mg/kg）一次,随后GBE低、中、高剂量组按照相应剂量灌胃给药,治疗2 d后取材。观察各组肝脏大体情况和肝组织的病理组织学变化;取血测定各组小鼠血清中ALT、AST的活性和TNF-α、IL-6的水平;取肝检测各组肝组织中SOD、MPO的活性和GSH、MDA的含量;通过Western blot检测各组肝组织中Nrf2、HO-1蛋白的表达量。结果：与对照组相比,模型组肝脏明显肿大,病理表现差,血清中ALT、AST、TNF-α、IL-6的水平显著升高（P<0.01）,肝组织中GSH的含量和SOD的活性显著降低（P<0.01）,MDA的含量和MPO的活性显著升高（P<0.01）,Nrf2、HO-1蛋白表达明显下调（P<0.01）。与模型组相比,GBE组肝脏肿大减轻,病理表现有所改善,血清中ALT、AST、TNF-α、IL-6的水平显著降低（P<0.01）,肝组织中GSH的含量和SOD的活性显著提高（P<0.01）,MDA的含量和MPO的活性显著降低（P<0.01）,Nrf2、HO-1蛋白表达上调（P<0.05）,其中高剂量GBE组治疗效果最明显。结论：GBE可对APAP诱导的小鼠急性肝损伤具有保护作用,其作用机制可能是通过Nrf2/HO-1抗氧化途径发挥作用。     

Effects of hypobaria on lung fluid balance in awake sheep

Effects of hypobaria on lung fluid balance were studied in five awake sheep with chronic lung lymph fistulas using a decompression chamber. Each sheep was exposed to three conditions of 6,600-m-simulated high altitude in random order as follows: 1) 6,600-m-simulated hypoxic hypobaria (barometric pressure 326 Torr, 21% inspired O2 fraction), 2) 6,600-m-simulated normoxic hypobaria (barometric pressure 326 Torr, 65% inspired O2 fraction), and 3) 6,600-m-simulated normoxic hypobaria (barometric pressure 326 Torr, 65% inspired O2 fraction) after pretreatment with a 2-h pure O2 inhalation (i.e., denitrogenation) to allow elimination of dissolved gases, especially N2, from the blood and tissues. We observed that under both hypoxic hypobaria and normoxic hypobaria, lung lymph flow (Qlym) significantly increased from the base-line values of 6.4 +/- 0.3 to 13.0 +/- 1.0 ml/h and 6.0 +/- 0.2 to 9.4 +/- 0.3 ml/h, respectively (P less than 0.05) and that the lymph-to-plasma protein concentration ratio remained unchanged. Moreover, pretreatment with a 2-h denitrogenation inhibited the increase in Qlym. These results suggest that rapid exposure to hypobaria causes an increase in pulmonary vascular permeability and that intravascular air bubble formation may account for this permeability change.     

Effect of progressive exercise on lung fluid balance in sheep

The purpose of this study is to determine the roles of cardiac output and microvascular pressure on changes in lung fluid balance during exercise in awake sheep. We studied seven sheep during progressive treadmill exercise to exhaustion (10% grade), six sheep during prolonged constant-rate exercise for 45-60 min, and five sheep during hypoxia (fraction of inspired O2 = 0.12) and hypoxic exercise. We made continuous measurements of pulmonary arterial, left atrial, and systemic arterial pressures, lung lymph flow, and cardiac output. Exercise more than doubled cardiac output and increased pulmonary arterial pressures from 19.2 +/- 1 to 34.8 +/- 3.5 (SE) cmH2O. Lung lymph flow increased rapidly fivefold during progressive exercise and returned immediately to base-line levels when exercise was stopped. Lymph-to-plasma protein concentration ratios decreased slightly but steadily. Lymph flows correlated closely with changes in cardiac output and with calculated microvascular pressures. The drop in lymph-to-plasma protein ratio during exercise suggests that microvascular pressure rises during exercise, perhaps due to increased pulmonary venous pressure. Lymph flow and protein content were unaffected by hypoxia, and hypoxia did not alter the lymph changes seen during normoxic exercise. Lung lymph flow did not immediately return to base line after prolonged exercise, suggesting hydration of the lung interstitium.     

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。     

Protective effect of endogenous PPARgamma against acute gastric mucosal lesions associated with ischemia-reperfusion

Acute gastric mucosal lesions (AGMLs) are an important cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. Herein, we demonstrate that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma), a member of a nuclear receptor family, functions as an endogenous anti-inflammatory pathway in a murine model of AGML induced by ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Treatment with specific PPARgamma ligands such as BRL-49653, pioglitazone, or troglitazone was examined in a model of AGML induced by I/R. PPARgamma-deficient and wild-type mice were also examined for their response to I/R in stomach. Specific PPARgamma ligands exhibited dramatic and rapid protection against AGML formation associated with I/R in mice in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, the AGML induced by I/R in PPARgamma-deficient mice was more severe than that observed in wild-type mice. Administration of the PPARgamma ligand significantly inhibited the upregulation of TNF-alpha, ICAM-1, inducible nitric oxide synthase, apoptosis, and nitrotyrosine formation induced by I/R in the stomach. These data indicate that an endogenous pathway associated with PPARgamma plays an important role in the pathogenesis of I/R-associated injury in the stomach.     

Protective role of vascular endothelial growth factor in endotoxin-induced acute lung injury in mice

Background

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a substance that stimulates new blood vessel formation, is an important survival factor for endothelial cells. Although overexpressed VEGF in the lung induces pulmonary edema with increased lung vascular permeability, the role of VEGF in the development of acute lung injury remains to be determined.

Methods

To evaluate the role of VEGF in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury, we first evaluated the effects of exogenous VEGF and VEGF blockade using monoclonal antibody on LPS-induced lung injury in mice. Using the lung specimens, we performed TUNEL staining to detect apoptotic cells and immunostaining to evaluate the expression of apoptosis-associated molecules, including caspase-3, Bax, apoptosis inducing factor (AIF), and cytochrome C. As a parameter of endothelial permeability, we measured the albumin transferred across human pulmonary artery endothelial cell (HPAEC) monolayers cultured on porous filters with various concentrations of VEGF. The effect of VEGF on apoptosis HPAECs was also examined by TUNEL staining and active caspase-3 immunoassay.

Results

Exogenous VEGF significantly decreased LPS-induced extravascular albumin leakage and edema formation. Treatment with anti-VEGF antibody significantly enhanced lung edema formation and neutrophil emigration after intratracheal LPS administration, whereas extravascular albumin leakage was not significantly changed by VEGF blockade. In lung pathology, pretreatment with VEGF significantly decreased the numbers of TUNEL positive cells and those with positive immunostaining of the pro-apoptotic molecules examined. VEGF attenuated the increases in the permeability of the HPAEC monolayer and the apoptosis of HPAECs induced by TNF-α and LPS. In addition, VEGF significantly reduced the levels of TNF-α- and LPS-induced active caspase-3 in HPAEC lysates.

Conclusion

These results suggest that VEGF suppresses the apoptosis induced by inflammatory stimuli and functions as a protective factor against acute lung injury.     

Protective effect of MDL28170 against thioacetamide-induced acute liver failure in mice

Liver injury is known to often progress even after the hepatotoxicant is dissipated. The hydrolytic enzyme calpain, which is released from dying hepatocytes, destroys the surrounding cells and results in progression of injury. Therefore, control of calpain activation may be a suitable therapeutic intervention in cases of fulminant hepatic failure. This study evaluated the effects of a potent cell-permeable calpain inhibitor, MDL28170, and its mechanisms of action on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. We found that MDL28170 significantly decreased mortality and change in serum transaminase after TAA administration. The necroinflammatory response in the liver was also suppressed. Furthermore, a significant suppression of hepatocyte apoptosis could be found by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling assay. The upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-), both of which are known to mediate the propagation of inflammation, was abolished. MDL2810 also effectively blocked hepatic stellate cell activation, which is assumed to be the early step in liver fibrosis. These results demonstrated that MDL28170 attenuated TAA-induced acute liver failure by inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis, abrogating iNOS and TNF- mRNA upregulation and blocking hepatic stellate cell activation.     

Protective effect of aminoguanidine against paraquat-induced oxidative stress in the lung of mice

The effect of aminoguanidine (AG) against toxicity of paraquat (PQ), an oxidative-stress inducing substance, in mice was investigated. A single dose of PQ (50 mg/kg, i.p.) induced lung-toxicity, manifested by significant decrease of the activity of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) in lung tissue indicating pulmonary capillary endothelial cell damage. Lung toxicity was further evidenced by significant decrease of total sulfhydryl (-SH) content and significant increase in lipid peroxidation measured as malondialdehyde (MDA) in lung tissues. Oral pretreatment of mice with AG (50 mg/kg) in drinking water, starting 5 days before PQ injection and continuing during the experimental period, ameliorated the lung toxicity induced by PQ. This was evidenced by a significant increase in the levels of ACE activity, a significant decrease in lung MDA content and a significant increase in the total sulfhydryl content 24 h after PQ administration. Moreover, pretreatment of mice with AG leads to an increase of the LD(50) value of paraquat. These results indicate that AG is an efficient cytoprotective agent against PQ-induced lung toxicity.