低聚果糖对AOM/DSS诱导的结肠炎相关结直肠癌小鼠辅助性T细胞的调控作用

探讨益生元低聚果糖（FOS）对结肠炎相关结直肠癌（CAC）小鼠肠道辅助性T细胞的调节作用。

将6周龄SPF级雄性C57BL6小鼠（体重18～20 g）随机分为对照组、模型组和干预组,每组10只。通过偶氮甲烷、葡聚糖硫酸钠构建CAC小鼠模型,干预组每日使用2 mg/kg b.w. FOS灌胃,持续10周。造模期间监测各组小鼠体重变化,造模结束后测量结肠长度和肿瘤数目。采用微球免疫分析法检测血清Th1/Th2/Th17相关细胞因子水平,流式细胞术分析肠系膜淋巴结内Th1、Th2、Th17细胞亚群比例。

与模型组相比,干预组小鼠结肠长度显著增加（t=3.106,P=0.006 4）,肿瘤数目显著减少（U=15.000,P=0.011 1）,血清中IL-17A（t=3.504,P=0.008 8）、TNF-α（t=2.381,P=0.030 0）等促炎细胞因子水平降低,肠系膜淋巴结Th17细胞比例显著降低（t=6.031,P=0.002 7）,Th1/Th2显著升高（t=2.419,P=0.038 7）。

FOS可调控CAC模型小鼠结肠内辅助性T细胞的分化,抑制肿瘤的发生。

     

氨基酸型肠内营养制剂支持后克罗恩病患者肠道微生物和非靶向代谢组学指标的分析

探讨氨基酸型肠内营养制剂支持后克罗恩病患者的肠道微生物和非靶向代谢组学指标的变化,为该类患者的治疗提供参考。

选择我院收治的20例克罗恩病活动期患者作为研究对象,所有患者均采用氨基酸型肠内营养制剂进行支持治疗。比较患者治疗前后肠道菌群结构、菌群多样性以及非靶向代谢组学检测结果的差异。

治疗后,患者肠道乳杆菌属（t=5.200,P＜0.001）、大肠埃希菌（t=11.974,P＜0.001）、克雷伯菌属（t=15.033,P＜0.001）、糖单胞菌（t=12.166,P＜0.001）、恶臭假单胞菌（t=31.063,P＜0.001）、肠球菌属（t=28.867,P＜0.001）数量均显著升高;同时患者肠道菌群OUTs（t=40.435,P＜0.001）、Observed species（t=5.475,P＜0.001）、Chao1指数（t=12.348,P＜0.001）、Simpson指数（t=2.961,P=0.005）、Shannon指数（t=3.330,P=0.002）均显著升高。相比治疗前,治疗后患者血清以及粪便中的氨基酸、多肽、脂肪酸、胆固醇及碳水化合物水平均显著改善。

氨基酸型肠内营养制剂支持后,克罗恩病患者肠道菌群丰度提高,同时患者脂质代谢的改善可能与氧化应激反应通路相关联。

     

杀菌型副干酪乳酪杆菌N1115发酵乳饮品对小鼠免疫功能的影响

研究杀菌型副干酪乳酪杆菌N1115（Lacticaseibacillus paracasei N1115）发酵乳饮品对小鼠免疫脏器指数、免疫球蛋白、巨噬细胞、NK细胞、B淋巴细胞及T淋巴细胞的影响。

将SPF级6～8周龄雄性Balb/c小鼠随机分为对照组以及杀菌型副干酪乳酪杆菌N1115发酵乳饮品低、中、高剂量组,每组15只,连续灌胃30 d,进行免疫脏器指数测定、免疫球蛋白测定、碳廓清能力测定、腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬鸡红细胞实验、NK细胞活性测定、脾淋巴细胞转化实验、迟发型变态反应、血清溶血素测定和抗体细胞生成实验。

杀菌型副干酪乳酪杆菌N1115发酵乳饮品低、中、高剂量组的小鼠碳廓清指数显著高于对照组（t = 3.926 2,P = 0.000 7;t = 6.000 1,P＜0.000 1;t = 5.314 4,P＜0.000 1）,腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬鸡红细胞的吞噬率显著高于对照组（t = 3.812 1,P = 0.001 5;t = 4.257 2,P = 0.000 4;t = 4.976 3,P = 0.000 5）。

杀菌型副干酪乳酪杆菌N1115发酵乳饮品具有增强小鼠非特异性免疫力的功能,可为副干酪乳酪杆菌N1115的开发利用提供科学依据。

     

乳杆菌及双歧杆菌缓解便秘的机制

探讨可改善患者便秘症状的植物乳植杆菌LP45、嗜酸乳杆菌La28和动物双歧杆菌乳亚种BAL531的作用机制。

采用HT-29细胞与肠道菌群体外批量发酵系统结合的方法,检测益生菌增殖肠上皮细胞、提升肠道紧密连接性与黏膜屏障能力以及增强五羟色胺转运体（SERT）、水通道蛋白-3（AQP-3）表达的能力。

菌株LP45和BAL531均具有较好的黏附能力并能够增殖肠上皮细胞,菌株La28无增殖作用;菌株LP45、La28和BAL531能显著提升紧密连接蛋白ZO-1和Occludin的mRNA相对表达水平,最高达2.73倍（t = 13.099,P＜0.001）,从而增强肠道屏障。菌株LP45使黏蛋白（MUC2）mRNA相对表达量显著提升1.89倍（t = 10.285,P = 0.001）,菌株La28与BAL531无显著影响;菌株LP45、La28和BAL531使SERT mRNA相对表达量分别提升2.13倍、1.45倍和4.00倍,其中菌株BAL531效果最显著（t = 21.308,P＜0.001）;另外,菌株LP45可使AQP-3 mRNA相对表达量提升2.12倍（t = 10.625,P＜0.001）,菌株BAL531使AQP-3 mRNA相对表达量下调0.79倍（t = ‒2.611,P = 0.059）,菌株La28无显著影响（t = ‒0.951,P = 0.395）。

菌株LP45、La28和BAL531对便秘症状的缓解作用可能是通过特异性增加肠道润滑、促进肠道蠕动、减缓肠道水液吸收等不同机制实现的。

     

慢性肾衰竭患者肠道菌群改变与肾小球滤过率的关系

探究慢性肾衰竭患者肠道菌群结构改变与肾小球滤过率的关系。

选取2017年3月至2020年3月我院收治的202例慢性肾衰竭患者作为试验组, 并选取198例同期健康体检者作为对照组。收集两组入选者粪便标本并进行检测, 对比两组入选者肠道菌群数量; 同时对比两组入选者体质量、肾小球滤过率、血肌酐、血尿素氮、血胱抑素C水平, 采用Pearson相关性分析肠道菌群改变与肾小球滤过率的相关性。

相比于对照组, 试验组患者肠道双歧杆菌(t=21.915, P < 0.001)、大肠埃希菌数量显著降低(t=18.220, P < 0.001), 肠球菌数量显著增高(t=16.782, P < 0.001)。相比于对照组, 试验组患者肾小球滤过率(t=147.035, P < 0.001)显著降低, 血肌酐(t=43.129, P < 0.001)、血尿素氮(t=170.206, P < 0.001)、血胱抑素C(t=22.432, P < 0.001)水平显著增高。Spearman相关性分析显示, 慢性肾衰竭患者肠道双歧杆菌(r=-0.695, P < 0.001)和大肠埃希菌(r=-0.631, P < 0.001)与肾小球滤过率呈负相关。Logistic回归分析显示, 双歧杆菌、大肠埃希菌、肠球菌、血肌酐、血尿素氮和血胱氨酸均是慢性肾衰竭患者肾小球滤过率降低的独立危险因素。

慢性肾衰竭患者肠道双歧杆菌和大肠埃希菌数量降低、肠球菌数量升高, 且与肾小球滤过率呈显著负相关。

     

红茶对新生幼鼠肠道菌群形成的影响

探讨红茶对新生幼鼠肠道菌群形成的影响,为从微生态角度研究红茶在人体肠道菌群形成过程中的作用机制奠定基础。

利用宏基因组测序技术检测4周龄新生幼鼠（4weeks组,n = 30）、12周龄正常对照组小鼠（control组,n = 15）和12周龄喂饲红茶水实验组小鼠（teadrink组,n = 15）的肠道菌群分布,分析3组样本的菌群差异情况,探求红茶对新生幼鼠肠道菌群形成的影响。

与control组相比,teadrink组小鼠肠道拟杆菌门（t = −7.711,P＜0.001）、拟杆菌科（t = −3.411,P = 0.009）、长尾嗤菌体科（t = −2.515,P = 0.036）、拟杆菌属（t = −2.693,P = 0.027）、邓肯菌属（t = −2.434,P = 0.041）、居海事城球杆菌属（t = −3.327,P = 0.029）、迪博邓肯菌（t = −2.679,P = 0.028）、普通居海事城球杆菌（t = −3.401,P = 0.027）和Duncaniella_sp._C9（t = −3.104,P = 0.035）相对丰度显著增加,厚壁菌门（t = 8.952,P＜0.001）、乳杆菌科（t = 13.102,P＜0.001）、消化链球菌科（t = 3.665,P = 0.021）、爱格菌科（t = 4.481,P = 0.002）、理研菌科（t = 3.626,P = 0.022）、乳杆菌属（t = 5.542,P = 0.004）、黏液乳杆菌属（t = 6.334,P = 0.002）、龙包茨菌属（t = 3.785,P = 0.005）、阿德勒菌属（t = 4.504,P = 0.002）、约氏乳杆菌（t = 4.282,P = 0.011）和罗伊氏粘液乳杆菌（t = 6.156,P = 0.003）相对丰度显著减少。与4weeks组相比,teadrink组小鼠肠道菌群分布差异大于control组。

红茶对新生幼鼠肠道菌群的形成能够产生影响,不同丰度的菌群可能通过调节碳水化合物代谢等途径来达到改善肠道菌群结构、增强肠道稳态的目的,具体代谢机制有待深入研究。

     

维生素K2对四氯化碳诱导的急性大鼠肝损伤的保护作用

探讨枯草芽胞杆菌产物维生素K2(MK-7)对四氯化碳诱导的急性肝损伤的保护作用及机制。

选取SPF级实验用6~8周龄SD雄性大鼠30只, 体质量200~220 g, 随机分为5组(每组6只): 空白组、肝损伤模型组、模型+溶剂组、模型+水飞蓟素组和模型+维生素K2组。空白组不做额外处理, 其余各组均予四氯化碳染毒, 溶剂组给予与维生素K2组相同体积的大豆油, 水飞蓟素组添加水飞蓟素100 mg/100 g体质量, 维生素K2组用维生素K2每日灌胃(给药剂量为2 μg/100 g体质量)。1周后观察大鼠体征和肝脏外观、肝脏炎症及微肉芽肿、肝细胞空泡化结构, 检测血液AST、ALT、MDA、SOD、TNF-α和IL-6含量。

与肝损伤模型组大鼠比, 模型+维生素K2组肝脏指数下降(t=3.250 0, P=0.031 4)。HE染色结果显示, 与肝损伤模型组大鼠比, 模型+维生素K2组空泡化程度明显降低, 损伤较为弥散。与肝损伤模型组大鼠比, 模型+维生素K2组肝功、氧化应激指标及相关炎症因子水平降低[AST(t=4.283 0, P=0.012 8)、ALT(t=2.582 0, P=0.041 6)、MDA(t=7.028 0, P=0.005 9)、SOD(t=3.384 0, P=0.011 7)、TNF-α(t=3.459 0, P=0.013 5)、IL-6(t=2.422 0, P=0.041 8)]。

维生素K2可减轻大鼠急性肝损伤程度, 其作用可通过改善抗氧化酶体系、抑制氧化应激反应及降低炎性因子水平而实现。

     

靛蓝对葡聚糖硫酸钠诱导的溃疡性结肠炎小鼠肠道菌群作用研究

研究靛蓝对葡聚糖硫酸钠（DSS）诱导的溃疡性结肠炎（UC）模型小鼠的干预作用,并分析对小鼠肠道菌群的影响。

实验小鼠分为对照组、模型组、柳氮磺胺吡啶组（125 mg/kg）和靛蓝组（50 mg/kg),每组小鼠各9只。观察给药后小鼠体征并进行疾病活动指数（DAI）评分,通过苏木素―伊红（HE）染色观察小鼠结肠组织切片形态变化,ELISA法检测小鼠血清中IL-6、TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-8和IL-10水平;针对16S rRNA基因V4‒V5区进行高通量测序,分析小鼠肠道内容物的菌群变化。

与模型组相比,靛蓝组小鼠DAI评分降低,病理切片结果显示靛蓝可改善UC小鼠结肠黏膜损伤,减少炎性细胞浸润,血清中促炎因子IL-6、IL-8、IL-1β和TNF-α水平显著降低（t = 4.377 0、5.374 0、12.140 0、5.508 0,P = 0.011 9、0.005 8、0.000 3、0.005 3）,抑炎因子IL-10水平显著升高（t = 3.716 0,P = 0.020 5）。16S rRNA基因测序结果显示,模型组小鼠肠道菌群多样性降低,靛蓝组小鼠肠道菌群多样性升高。

给予靛蓝干预后可有效缓解UC小鼠结肠炎症状,通过降低炎症因子水平和调节UC小鼠肠道菌群平衡达到治疗UC的效果。

     

高校女性日常能耗与肠道菌群的相关性研究

探讨高校女性日常能耗及肠道菌群结构特征,分析不同能耗指标与特征肠道菌群之间的相关性。

基于智能可穿戴设备人体运动能耗检测仪对广州两所大学的青年女性（Y组,n=30）、中年女性（M组,n=30）进行48 h能耗监测,统计分析日常能耗的组间差异。采集调查对象清晨粪便进行16S rRNA基因测序,运用多元统计学分析中青年女性肠道菌群结构特征。将目、属水平的特征菌群与能耗指标进行相关性检验及回归分析。

Y组人群的日均步数（t=4.250,P＜0.001）、每日能耗值（t=3.590,P＜0.001）、日均中高强度活动时长（t=4.357,P＜0.001）均显著高于M组;两组人群肠道菌群的目、属水平的丰度差异菌群主要为乳杆菌目（Lactobacillales）（t=2.537,P=0.014）、小杆菌属（Dialister）（t=2.904,P=0.005）、布劳特菌属（Blautia）（t=3.246,P=0.002）,其中Lactobacillales和Dialister与多项能耗指标呈正相关,Blautia与多项能耗指标呈负相关。

日均步数、每日能耗值、日均中高强度活动时长的能耗指标可用于预测更好的身体机能;一定条件下,增加低、中、高强度活动时长可能提高Lactobacillales和Dialister的丰度,进而延缓身体机能下降。

     

益生菌治疗类风湿关节炎的meta分析和试验序贯分析

系统评价益生菌治疗类风湿关节炎的临床疗效。

检索中国生物医学数据库、中国知网、万方、维普、Embase、PubMed、the Cochrane Library、Web of Science数据库,时间均从建库至2021年7月,对公开发表的益生菌治疗类风湿关节炎的随机对照试验进行meta分析和试验序贯分析。

共纳入6项研究,总样本量242例。Meta分析显示,益生菌治疗类风湿关节炎能显著降低CRP[MD = ‒2.26,95% CI = （‒4.30,‒0.23）,P = 0.03]和TNF-α[MD = ‒1.78,95% CI = （‒2.73,0.83）,P＜0.01]水平,提高IL-10[MD = 3.80,95% CI = （0.40,7.19）,P = 0.03]水平,而ESR、IL-1β、IL-6、MDA、TAC、DAS28、TJC、SJC、HAQ和ACR20等水平均与安慰剂相当。敏感性分析显示结果较为稳健,试验序贯分析显示CRP的获益具有结论性,Egger检验显示不存在发表偏倚（P = 0.17）。

益生菌能够有效降低CRP和TNF-α水平,提高IL-10水平,具有治疗类风湿关节炎的潜力。

     

Measles virus V protein inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated interleukin-1β secretion

Inflammasomes are cytosolic protein complexes that stimulate the activation of caspase-1, which in turn induces the secretion of the inflammatory cytokines Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18. Recent studies have indicated that the inflammasome known as the NOD-like-receptor-family, pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome recognizes several RNA viruses, including the influenza and encephalomyocarditis viruses, whereas the retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) inflammasome may detect vesicular stomatitis virus. We demonstrate that measles virus (MV) infection induces caspase-1-dependent IL-1β secretion in the human macrophage-like cell line THP-1. Gene knockdown experiments indicated that IL-1β secretion in MV-infected THP-1 cells was mediated by the NLRP3 inflammasome but not the RIG-I inflammasome. MV produces the nonstructural V protein, which has been shown to antagonize host innate immune responses. The recombinant MV lacking the V protein induced more IL-1β than the parental virus. THP-1 cells stably expressing the V protein suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated IL-1β secretion. Furthermore, coimmunoprecipitation assays revealed that the V protein interacts with NLRP3 through its carboxyl-terminal domain. NLRP3 was located in cytoplasmic granular structures in THP-1 cells stably expressing the V protein, but upon inflammasome activation, NLRP3 was redistributed to the perinuclear region, where it colocalized with the V protein. These results indicate that the V protein of MV suppresses NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated IL-1β secretion by directly or indirectly interacting with NLRP3.     

牙龈卟啉单胞菌感染通过激活NLRP3小体诱导牙周膜细胞炎症反应及凋亡效应

目的 观察牙龈卟啉单胞菌感染通过激活含NLR家族PYRIN域蛋白3(NLRP3)小体诱导人牙周膜细胞(hPDLCs)炎症反应及凋亡的效应。 方法 取健康前磨牙样本并分离培养hPDLCs,分为牙龈卟啉单胞菌感染的感染组和常规处理的对照组,检测细胞中NLRP3小体[NLRP3、凋亡相关斑点样蛋白(ASC)、含半胱氨酸的天冬氨酸蛋白水解酶(Caspase)-1]、凋亡基因[自杀相关因子(Fas)、Fas配体(FasL)、B淋巴细胞瘤-2基因(Bcl-2)、Bcl-2相关x蛋白(Bax)、Caspase-3]的表达量及培养基中炎症细胞因子[白细胞介素(IL)-1β、IL-18、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)]的含量。 结果 感染组hPDLCs中NLRP3、ASC、Caspase-1、Fas、FasL、Bax、Caspase-3的表达量及培养基中IL-1β、IL-18、TNF-α的含量明显高于对照组,细胞中Bcl-2的表达量明显低于对照组。 结论 牙龈卟啉单胞菌感染能够诱导hPDLCs的炎症反应及凋亡且该作用与NLRP3小体的激活有关。     

Human pathogenic fungus Trichophytonschoenleinii activates the NLRP3 inflammasome

The fungus Trichophyton schoenleinii (T. schoenleinii) is the causative agent of Trichophytosis and Tinea favosa of the scalp in certain regions of Eurasia and Africa. Human innate immune system plays an important role in combating with various pathogens including fungi. The inflammasome is one of the most critical arms of host innate immunity, which is a protein complex controlling maturation of IL-1β. To clarify whether T. schoenleinii is able to activate the inflammasome, we analyzed human monocytic cell line THP-1 for IL-1β production upon infection with T. schoenleinii strain isolated from Tinea favosa patients, and rapid IL-1β secretion from THP-1 cells was observed. Moreover, applying competitive inhibitors and gene specific silencing with shRNA, we found that T. schoenleinii induced IL-1β secretion, ASC pyroptosome formation as well as caspase-1 activation were all dependent on NLRP3. Cathepsin B activity, ROS production and K⁺ efflux were required for the inflammasome activation by T. schoenleinii. Our data thus reveal that the NLRP3 inflammasome plays an important role in host defense against T. schoenleinii, and suggest that manipulating NLRP3 signaling can be a novel approach for control of diseases caused by T. schoenleinii infection.     

The development and function of memory regulatory T cells after acute viral infections

Leptospira interrogans is responsible for a zoonotic disease known to induce severe kidney dysfunction and inflammation. In this work, we demonstrate that L. interrogans induces NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent secretion of IL-1β through the alteration of potassium transport in bone marrow-derived macrophages. Lysosome destabilization also contributed to the IL-1β production upon stimulation with live, but not dead, bacteria. Using bone marrow-derived macrophages from various TLRs and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-deficient mice, we further determined that IL-1β production was dependent on TLR2 and TLR4, suggesting a participation of the leptospiral LPS to this process. Hypokaliemia in leptospirosis has been linked to the presence of glycolipoprotein, a cell wall component of L. interrogans that is known to inhibit the expression and functions of the Na/K-ATPase pump. We show in this study that glycolipoprotein activates the inflammasome and synergizes with leptospiral LPS to produce IL-1β, mimicking the effect of whole bacteria. These results were confirmed in vivo, as wild-type mice expressed more IL-1β in the kidney than TLR2/4-deficient mice 3 d postinfection with L. interrogans. Collectively, these findings provide the first characterization, to our knowledge, of bacteria-induced activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome through the downregulation of a specific host potassium transporter.     

Activation of the pyrin inflammasome by intracellular Burkholderia cenocepacia

Burkholderia cenocepacia is an opportunistic pathogen that causes chronic infection and induces progressive respiratory inflammation in cystic fibrosis patients. Recognition of bacteria by mononuclear cells generally results in the activation of caspase-1 and processing of IL-1β, a major proinflammatory cytokine. In this study, we report that human pyrin is required to detect intracellular B. cenocepacia leading to IL-1β processing and release. This inflammatory response involves the host adapter molecule ASC and the bacterial type VI secretion system (T6SS). Human monocytes and THP-1 cells stably expressing either small interfering RNA against pyrin or YFP-pyrin and ASC (YFP-ASC) were infected with B. cenocepacia and analyzed for inflammasome activation. B. cenocepacia efficiently activates the inflammasome and IL-1β release in monocytes and THP-1. Suppression of pyrin levels in monocytes and THP-1 cells reduced caspase-1 activation and IL-1β release in response to B. cenocepacia challenge. In contrast, overexpression of pyrin or ASC induced a robust IL-1β response to B. cenocepacia, which correlated with enhanced host cell death. Inflammasome activation was significantly reduced in cells infected with T6SS-defective mutants of B. cenocepacia, suggesting that the inflammatory reaction is likely induced by an as yet uncharacterized effector(s) of the T6SS. Together, we show for the first time, to our knowledge, that in human mononuclear cells infected with B. cenocepacia, pyrin associates with caspase-1 and ASC forming an inflammasome that upregulates mononuclear cell IL-1β processing and release.     

Emerging inflammasome effector mechanisms

Caspase 1 activation by inflammasome complexes in response to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) induces the maturation and secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18. Recent reports have begun to identify additional inflammasome effector mechanisms that proceed independently of IL-1β and IL-18. These include the induction of pyroptotic cell death, the restriction of bacterial replication, the activation of lipid metabolic pathways for cell repair and the secretion of DAMPs and leaderless cytokines. These non-canonical functions of caspase 1 illustrate the diverse mechanisms by which inflammasomes might contribute to innate immunity, repair responses and host defence.     

骨髓间充质干细胞对肾移植受者T淋巴细胞分化和miRNA-155表达的影响

目的探讨骨髓间充质干细胞（MSCs）对肾移植受者T淋巴细胞分化和miRNA-155表达的影响。 方法选取2013年1月至2017年12月于福州总医院接受MSCs诱导+同种异体肾移植术的受者20例（MSCs组）,对照组为同期配对的异体肾移植受者20例。两组患者术后免疫抑制方案均为霉酚酸酯+他克莫司+强的松。两组患者分别于移植术前、术后第15天抽取静脉血,流式细胞仪检测外周血CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FoxP3⁺ Treg细胞/?CD4⁺细胞亚群比值;ELISA检测白细胞介素2（IL-2）、肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）和白细胞介素10（IL-10）浓度;免疫磁珠分选外周血T淋巴细胞后,Rea1-time PCR法检测外周血T淋巴细胞中miRNA-?155的表达。两组间均数比较采用独立t检验,治疗前后均数比较采用配对t检验。 结果移植前两组肾移植受者外周血CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FoxP3⁺ Treg细胞/?CD4⁺细胞比值、IL-2、IL-?10、TNF-α、T淋巴细胞miRNA-155表达水平差异均无统计学意义（P均> 0.05）;术后第15天,与对照组相比,MSCs组外周血CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FoxP3⁺ Treg细胞/?CD4⁺细胞亚群比值（30.44﹪?± 4.23﹪? vs 26.06﹪?±4.77﹪,t = 2.365,P = 0.042）、IL-10水平（20.35?ng/?L?±?5.10?ng/?L? vs 16.63?ng/?L±6.26?ng/?L,t = 2.062,P?=?0.046）上升,而IL-2（27.47ng/?L±4.30 ng/?L vs 31.40?ng/?L±5.33 ng/L,t = 2.252,P = 0.015）、TNF-α（41.52?ng/?L±8.32?ng/L vs 46.67?ng/?L±6.71?ng/L,t = 2.157,P = 0.037）和T淋巴细胞miRNA-155表达水平（1.61±0.31 vs 1.89±0.15,t = 3.688,P?= 0.001）则降低。 结论MSCs能够升高肾移植受者外周血CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FoxP3⁺ Treg细胞/?CD4⁺细胞比值和IL-10水平,降低IL-2、TNF-α和T淋巴细胞miRNA-155表达水平,与MSCs的免疫耐受诱导有关。     

Serum amyloid A activates the NLRP3 inflammasome via P2X7 receptor and a cathepsin B-sensitive pathway

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is an acute-phase protein, the serum levels of which can increase up to 1000-fold during inflammation. SAA has a pathogenic role in amyloid A-type amyloidosis, and increased serum levels of SAA correlate with the risk for cardiovascular diseases. IL-1β is a key proinflammatory cytokine, and its secretion is strictly controlled by the inflammasomes. We studied the role of SAA in the regulation of IL-1β production and activation of the inflammasome cascade in human and mouse macrophages, as well as in THP-1 cells. SAA could provide a signal for the induction of pro-IL-1β expression and for inflammasome activation, resulting in secretion of mature IL-1β. Blocking TLR2 and TLR4 attenuated SAA-induced expression of IL1B, whereas inhibition of caspase-1 and the ATP receptor P2X(7) abrogated the release of mature IL-1β. NLRP3 inflammasome consists of the NLRP3 receptor and the adaptor protein apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (a caspase-recruitment domain) (ASC). SAA-mediated IL-1β secretion was markedly reduced in ASC(-/-) macrophages, and silencing NLRP3 decreased IL-1β secretion, confirming NLRP3 as the SAA-responsive inflammasome. Inflammasome activation was dependent on cathepsin B activity, but it was not associated with lysosomal destabilization. SAA also induced secretion of cathepsin B and ASC. In conclusion, SAA can induce the expression of pro-IL-1β and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome via P2X(7) receptor and a cathepsin B-sensitive pathway. Thus, during systemic inflammation, SAA may promote the production of IL-1β in tissues. Furthermore, the SAA-induced secretion of active cathepsin B may lead to extracellular processing of SAA and, thus, potentially to the development of amyloid A amyloidosis.     

Ginsenoside metabolite compound K differentially antagonizing tumor necrosis factor-α-induced monocyte-endothelial trafficking

Human leukocyte endothelial adhesion and transmigration occur in the early stage of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Vascular endothelial cells are targeted by pro-inflammatory cytokines modulating many gene proteins responsible for cell adhesion, thrombosis and inflammatory responses. This study examined the potential of compound K to inhibit the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α induction of monocyte adhesion onto TNF-α-activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). HUVEC were cultured with 10 ng/ml TNF-α with individual ginsenosides of Rb1, Rc, Re, Rh1 and compound K (CK). Ginsenosides at doses of ?50 μM did not show any cytotoxicity. TNF-α induced THP-1 monocyte adhesion to HUVEC, and such induction was attenuated by Rh1 and CK. Consistently, CK suppressed TNF-α-induced expression of HUVEC adhesion molecules of VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin, and also Rh1 showed a substantial inhibition. Rh1 and CK dampened induction of counter-receptors, α4/β1 integrin VLA-4 and αL/β2 integrin LFA-1 in TNF-α-treated THP-1 cells. Additionally, CK diminished THP-1 secretion of MMP-9 required during transmigration, inhibiting transendothelial migration of THP-1 cells. CK blunted TNF-α-promoted IL-8 secretion of HUVEC and CXCR1 expression of THP-1 monocytes. Furthermore, TNF-α-activated endothelial IκB phosphorylation and NF-κB nuclear translocation were disturbed by CK, and TNF-α induction of α4/β1 integrin was abrogated by the NF-κB inhibitor SN50. These results demonstrate that CK exerts anti-atherogenic activity with blocking leukocyte endothelial interaction and transmigration through negatively mediating NF-κB signaling.