DGGE法分析慢性化脓性中耳炎耳道菌群变化及药敏试验研究

目的解析正常成人及慢性化脓性中耳炎（CSOM）患者耳道内菌群结构的差别,寻找有效抑制致病菌同时对皮肤主导菌群影响不大的抗生素,指导临床合理用药。方法取20例正常成人及20例CSOM患者耳道分泌物行血琼脂平板划线法分离鉴定细菌,选择典型病例进行DGGE法分析耳道菌群多样性,对培养的常见细菌进行药物敏感试验,分析药敏结果。结果（1）20例正常成人耳道分泌物中18例培养分离出表皮葡萄球菌（90％）,2例培养阴性（10％）;20例CSOM患者耳道分泌物中离出金黄色葡萄球菌8例（40％）,铜绿假单胞菌5例（25％）,溶血性葡萄球菌、表皮葡萄球菌各2例（各10％）,阴沟肠杆菌、洋葱伯克霍尔德菌各1例（各5％）,无菌生长1例（5％）。（2）DGGE分析显示,正常成人耳道菌群种类比CSOM明显增多。（3）金黄色葡萄球菌、表皮葡萄球菌、铜绿假单胞菌对环丙沙星均敏感。表皮葡萄球菌对阿莫西林、头孢唑林、左旋氧氟沙星耐药而金黄色葡萄球菌对其敏感。结论（1）正常人耳道正常菌群多样性高于CSOM。（2）目前培养出的正常成人主要耳道菌群为表皮葡萄球菌,CSOM主要菌群为金黄色葡萄球菌、铜绿假单胞菌。（3）环丙沙星同时抑制正常菌群和致病菌的生长。阿莫西林、头孢唑林、左旋氧氟沙星在抑制金黄色葡萄球菌等致病菌的同时,可以在一定程度上保护正常菌群成员表皮葡萄球菌。     

慢性化脓性中耳炎患者耳道分泌物的病原菌检测及药物敏感性分析

目的 分析慢性化脓性中耳炎（CSOM）患者耳道分泌物的病原菌分布及其药敏情况,为临床合理应用抗菌药物提供参考。方法 收集浙江省立同德医院100例（116耳）CSOM患者耳道分泌物标本进行常规病原菌分离、鉴定及药敏试验。结果 116耳中有97耳培养出病原菌,检出率为83.6%。共检出病原菌103株,其中革兰阳性菌占53.4%（55/103）,革兰阴性菌占41.7%（43/103）,真菌占4.9%（5/103）。金黄色葡萄球菌和表皮葡萄球菌对青霉素和磺胺甲恶唑/甲氧苄啶耐药性较高,对利福平和莫西沙星敏感性较高,对呋喃妥因和万古霉素完全敏感。铜绿假单胞菌和肺炎克雷伯菌对头孢唑啉、氨苄西林、头孢吡肟、头孢曲松、哌拉西林/舒巴坦耐药性均较高,对妥布霉素、氨曲南、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦敏感性较高,对阿米卡星、美罗培南及亚胺培南完全敏感。真菌对氟胞嘧啶、两性霉素B及制霉菌素均敏感,而对酮康唑和氟康唑有一定的耐药性。结论 CSOM患者耳道分泌物中病原菌以金黄色葡萄球菌、表皮葡萄球菌、铜绿假单胞菌及肺炎克雷伯菌为主,这4种病原菌对多数常用抗菌药物有较强的耐药性,治疗时需根据细菌培养及药敏分析结果合理选用抗菌药物。     

Breviscapine provides a neuroprotective effect after traumatic brain injury by modulating the Nrf2 signaling pathway

Breviscapine (BVP) has been widely used in the treatment of several systemic diseases, including those of the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems. But, few studies have looked at the neuroprotective effects of BVP and its potential effect in treating traumatic brain injury (TBI). The present study investigated the neuroprotective effect of BVP following TBI and illuminated the underlying mechanism. The weight drop-induced closed diffuse traumatic brain injury method was used to induce TBI in rats. BVP was injected intraperitoneally 30 minutes after TBI. Neurologic scores were performed to measure behavioral outcomes. Nissl staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assays were performed on histopathologic tissue sections to evaluate neuronal apoptosis. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its related downstream proteins, including heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and quinine oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) were detected with Western blots. BVP treatment alleviated or attenuated TBI-induced neuron cell apoptosis and improved neurobehavioral functions through the upregulated expression of Nrf2 and its related downstream proteins. This study, using the drug, BVP, we present new mechanisms responsible for neuronal apoptosis in TBI with possible involvement of the Nrf2 pathway.     

Enhanced Nrf2 up-regulation by extracellular basic pH in a human skin equivalent system

Extracellular basic pH regulates cellular processes in wounds, and consequently influenced wound healing. Oxidative defence system modulation in the skin helps heal wounds, inhibits skin ageing and improves the skin condition. Moreover, the role of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in antioxidant systems has been reported in various skin models. However, the effects of extracellular basic pH on wound- or skin ageing-related skin damage have not been examined. Thus, we investigated the antioxidant systems affected by extracellular basic pH in a 3D human skin equivalent system (3HSE). Extracellular basic pH decreased KGF expression and enhanced the oxidative defence system, and thus activated Nrf2 in the 3HSE. Additionally, extracellular basic pH and KGF treatment up-regulated Nrf2 activation and its regulation of the oxidative defence system in the 3HSE. This indicates that Nrf2 up-regulation is enhanced by reactive oxygen species production, rather than KGF, and by extracellular basic pH of the skin. The inhibition of skin damage through pH imbalance and KGF regulation suggests that the development of pH-regulating or pH-maintaining materials may provide effective therapeutic strategies for maintaining a healthy skin.     

香椿子正丁醇提取物通过激活Nrf2改善高糖引起的肾小球内皮细胞氧化应激

目的探讨香椿子正丁醇提取物(n-butyl alcohol extract of toona sinensis,NBAE)对高糖引起的肾小球内皮细胞氧化应激的影响及机制。方法分别以高糖(high glucose,HG)、HG+NBAE刺激人肾小球内皮细胞,采用DCFDA法检测细胞内活性氧(reactive oxygenspecies,ROS)生成情况,Nitrate/Nitrite Colorimetric法检测细胞内NO的含量,Western blot检测Nrf2、NQO1及HO-1的蛋白表达,免疫荧光方法检测Nrf2、P47phox在细胞内的定位及表达。结果高糖刺激肾小球内皮细胞后出现氧化应激损伤,ROS升高,NO减少,p47phox表达量增高,Nrf2及下游蛋白NQO1、HO-1表达减少;NBAE可明显提高Nrf2的表达,并增加下游蛋白NQO1和HO-1的表达,从而抑制高糖导致的ROS升高,抑制p47phox的表达,并稳定NO的含量。结论NBAE通过激活Nrf2及其下游靶蛋白来改善高糖对肾小球内皮细胞造成的氧化应激损伤。     

LL202 ameliorates colitis against oxidative stress of macrophage by activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway

LL202, a newly synthesized flavonoid derivative, has been confirmed to inhibit the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and activation protein-1 activation in monocytes; however, the anti-inflammatory mechanism has not been clearly studied. Uncontrolled overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has involved in oxidative damage of inflammatory bowel disease. In this study, we investigated that LL202 reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ROS production and malondialdehyde levels and increased superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and total antioxidant capacity in RAW264.7 cells. Mechanically, LL202 could upregulate heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) via promoting nuclear translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NF-E2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2) to regulate LPS-induced oxidative stress in macrophages. In vivo, we validated the role of LL202 in dextran sulfate sodium- and TNBS-induced colitis models, respectively. The results showed that LL202 decreased the proinflammatory cytokine expression and regulated colonic oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. In conclusion, our study showed that LL202 exerts an anti-inflammatory effect by enhancing the antioxidant capacity of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway to macrophages.     

Retracted: Receptor for advanced glycation end products reveals a mechanism regulating thyroid hormone secretion through the SIRT1/Nrf2 pathway

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) play a causative role in the complications involved with diabetes mellitus (DM). Nowadays, DM with hypothyroidism (DM-hypothyroidism) is indicative of an ascended tendency in the combined morbidity. In this study, we examine the role of the receptor (RAGE) played for AGEs in thyroid hormone (TH) secretion via the silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1)/nuclear factor erythroid-derived factor 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. Blood samples were collected from patients with type 2 DM (T2DM)-hypothyroidism and from patients with T2DM, followed by detection of serum AGEs level. The underlying regulatory mechanisms of RAGE were analyzed in association with the treatment of high glucose, siRNA against RAGE, AGE, SIRT1, or Nrf2 vector in normal immortalized thyroid Nthy-ori 3-1 cells. Serum of patients with T2DM-hypothyroidism indicated promoted levels of AGEs vs those with just T2DM. Both AGEs and high glucose triggered cellular damage, increased oxidative stress, as well as displayed a decreased survival rate along with TH secretion in the Nthy-ori 3-1 cells. Moreover, AGEs and high glucose also led to RAGE upregulation, both SIRT1 and NRF2 downregulation, and the decreased expression of TH secretion–related proteins in Nthy-ori 3-1 cells. Notably, these alternations induced by the AGEs can be reserved by silencing RAGE or upregulating either SIRT1 or Nrf2, indicating a mechanism of regulating TH secretion through the SIRT1/Nrf2 pathway. Collectively, our data proposed that AGEs and high glucose exerted a potent effect on cellular damage and TH deficiency in Nthy-ori 3-1 cells through the RAGE upregulation as well as SIRT1/Nrf2 pathway inactivation. This mechanism may underlie the occurrence of DM-hypothyroidism.     

Oxidised LDL up-regulate CD36 expression by the Nrf2 pathway in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes

The effect of oxLDL on CD36 expression has been assessed in preadipocytes induced to differentiate. Novel evidence is provided that oxLDL induce a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma-independent CD36 overexpression, by up-regulating nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NF-E2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2). The nuclear translocation of Nrf2 appeared to depend on PKC pathway activation. In adipocytes, the CD36 up-regulation may indicate a compensation mechanism to meet the demand of excess oxLDL and oxidised lipids in blood, reducing the risk of atherogenesis. Besides strengthening the hypothesis that oxLDL can contribute to the onset of insulin-resistance, data herein presented highlight the significance of oxLDL-induced CD36 overexpression within the cellular defence response.     

Decreased histone deacetylase 2 impairs Nrf2 activation by oxidative stress

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) plays a crucial role in cellular defence against oxidative stress by inducing the expression of multiple anti-oxidant genes. However, where high levels of oxidative stress are observed, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Nrf2 activity is reduced, although the molecular mechanism for this defect is uncertain. Here, we show that down-regulation of histone deacetylase (HDAC) 2 causes Nrf2 instability, resulting in reduced anti-oxidant gene expression and increase sensitivity to oxidative stress. Although Nrf2 protein was clearly stabilized after hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) stimulation in a bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS2B), Nrf2 stability was decreased and Nrf2 acetylation increased in the presence of an HDAC inhibitor, trichostatin A (TSA). TSA also reduced Nrf2-regulated heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression in these cells, and this was confirmed in acute cigarette-smoke exposed mice in vivo. HDAC2 knock-down by RNA interference resulted in reduced H₂O₂-induced Nrf2 protein stability and activity in BEAS2B cells, whereas HDAC1 knockdown had no effect. Furthermore, monocyte-derived macrophages obtained from healthy volunteers (non-smokers and smokers) and COPD patients showed a significant correlation between HDAC2 expression and Nrf2 expression (r = 0.92, p < 0.0001). Thus, reduced HDAC2 activity in COPD may account for increased Nrf2 acetylation, reduced Nrf2 stability and impaired anti oxidant defences.     

Polysulfide exerts a protective effect against cytotoxicity caused by t-buthylhydroperoxide through Nrf2 signaling in neuroblastoma cells

Polysulfide is a bound sulfur species derived from endogenous H₂S. When mouse neuroblastoma, Neuro2A cells were exposed to tert-butyl hydroperoxide after treatment with polysulfide, a significant decline in cell toxicity was observed. Rapid uptake of polysulfides induced translocation of Nrf2 into the nucleus, resulting in acceleration of GSH synthesis and HO-1 expression. We demonstrated that polysulfide reversibly modified Keap1 to form oxidized dimers and induced the translocation of Nrf2. Moreover, polysulfide treatment accelerated Akt phosphorylation, which is a known pathway of Nrf2 phosphorylation. Thus, polysulfide may mediate the activation of Nrf2 signaling, thereby exerting protective effects against oxidative damage in Neuro2A cells.     

Eriodictyol protects against H(2)O(2)-induced neuron-like PC12 cell death through activation of Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway

Eriodictyol, a flavonoid isolated from the Chinese herb Dracocephalum rupestre has long been established as an antioxidant. The present study was designed to explore the protective effects of eriodictyol against hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced neurotoxicity with cultured rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12 cells) and the possible mechanisms involved. For this purpose, differentiated PC12 cells were cultured and exposed to 200 μM H(2)O(2) in the absence or presence of eriodictyol (20, 40 and 80 μM). In addition, the potential contribution of the Nrf2/ARE neuroprotective pathway in eriodictyol-mediated protection against H(2)O(2)-induced neurotoxicity was also investigated. The results showed that H(2)O(2)-induced cell death can be inhibited in the presence of eriodictyol as measured by assays for MTT and apoptosis. Further study revealed that eriodictyol induced the nuclear translocation of Nrf2, enhanced the expression of heme oxygenase (HO-1) and γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS), and increased the levels of intracellular glutathione. Treatment of PC12 cells with Nrf2 small interference RNA abolished eriodictyol-induced HO-1 and γ-GCS expression and its protective effects. In conclusion, these results suggest that eriodictyol upregulates HO-1 and γ-GCS expression through the activation of Nrf2/ARE pathway and protects PC12 cells against H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress.     

TLR-7 agonist attenuates airway reactivity and inflammation through Nrf2-mediated antioxidant protection in a murine model of allergic asthma

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) through innate immune system recognize pathogen associated molecular patterns and play an important role in host defense against bacteria, fungi and viruses. TLR-7 is responsible for sensing single stranded nucleic acids of viruses but its activation has been shown to be protective in mouse models of asthma. The NADPH oxidase (NOX) enzymes family mainly produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the lung and is involved in regulation of airway inflammation in response to TLRs activation. However, NOX-4 mediated signaling in response to TLR-7 activation in a mouse model of allergic asthma has not been explored previously. Therefore, this study investigated the role TLR-7 activation and downstream oxidant–antioxidant signaling in a murine model of asthma. Mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) intraperitoneally and treated with TLR-7 agonist, resiquimod (RSQ) intranasally before each OVA challenge from days 14 to 16. Mice were then assessed for airway reactivity, inflammation, and NOX-4 and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) related signaling [inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitrotyrosine, lipid peroxides and copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD)]. Treatment with RSQ reduced allergen induced airway reactivity and inflammation. This was paralleled by a decrease in ROS which was due to induction of Nrf2 and Cu/Zn SOD in RSQ treated group. Inhibition of MyD88 reversed RSQ-mediated protective effects on airway reactivity/inflammation due to reduction in Nrf2 signaling. SOD inhibition produced effects similar to MyD88 inhibition. The current study suggests that TLR-7 agonist is beneficial and may be developed into a therapeutic option in allergic asthma.     

Induction of glutathione synthesis and heme oxygenase 1 by the flavonoids butein and phloretin is mediated through the ERK/Nrf2 pathway and protects against oxidative stress

Butein and phloretin are chalcones that are members of the flavonoid family of polyphenols. Flavonoids have well-known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In rat primary hepatocytes, we examined whether butein and phloretin affect tert-butylhydroperoxide (tBHP)-induced oxidative damage and the possible mechanism(s) involved. Treatment with butein and phloretin markedly attenuated tBHP-induced peroxide formation, and this amelioration was reversed by l-buthionine-S-sulfoximine [a glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL) inhibitor] and zinc protoporphyrin [a heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) inhibitor]. Butein and phloretin induced both HO-1 and GCL protein and mRNA expression and increased intracellular glutathione (GSH) and total GSH content. Butein treatment activated the ERK1/2 signaling pathway and increased Nrf2 nuclear translocation, Nrf2 nuclear protein-DNA binding activity, and ARE-luciferase reporter activity. The roles of the ERK signaling pathway and Nrf2 in butein-induced HO-1 and GCL catalytic subunit (GCLC) expression were determined by using RNA interference directed against ERK2 and Nrf2. Both siERK2 and siNrf2 abolished butein-induced HO-1 and GCLC protein expression. These results suggest the involvement of ERK2 and Nrf2 in the induction of HO-1 and GCLC by butein. In an animal study, phloretin was shown to increase GSH content and HO-1 expression in rat liver and decrease carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity. In conclusion, we demonstrate that butein and phloretin up-regulate HO-1 and GCL expression through the ERK2/Nrf2 pathway and protect hepatocytes against oxidative stress.