发酵乳对脓毒症患者肠黏膜屏障功能的影响

观察发酵乳对脓毒症患者肠黏膜屏障功能及炎症指标的影响。

选取60例确诊为脓毒症的患者, 随机分成对照组和发酵乳组, 每组各30例。对照组给予抗生素及营养支持治疗, 治疗组在常规综合治疗的基础上给予口服发酵乳治疗。在治疗前及治疗1周后分别检测并比较两组患者肠黏膜屏障功能、C-反应蛋白(CRP)、降钙素原(PCT)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)和白细胞介素-6(IL-6)水平变化, 记录患者APACHEⅡ评分。采用SPSS 22.0软件进行数据统计。

治疗前两组患者的肠屏障功能、PCT和IL-6水平差异无统计学意义(P > 0.05)。治疗1周后, 发酵乳组血清内毒素(LPS)、血清二胺氧化酶(DAO)、D-乳酸、CRP、PCT、TNF-α、IL-6水平和APACHEⅡ评分较治疗前均显著降低(P < 0.05), 较对照组治疗后也降低(P < 0.05)。

脓毒症患者在常规综合治疗基础上加用发酵乳可改善肠粘膜屏障功能, 减轻患者全身炎症反应。

     

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。

     

Caspase-4非经典炎症小体对问号钩体诱导THP-1细胞炎症因子分泌水平的影响

了解Caspase-4非经典炎症小体在问号钩体诱导THP-1细胞炎性细胞因子分泌过程中的作用。

采用问号钩体感染THP-1细胞(预先经佛波酯刺激分化为巨噬细胞)建立细胞模型, 用实时荧光PCR扩增检测caspase-4、IL-18、IL-1β和IL-1αmRNA水平, Western blotting检测Caspase-4蛋白表达, ELISA定量检测细胞上清中IL-18、IL-1β和IL-1α分泌情况。

实时荧光PCR和Western blotting显示, 与未感染细胞比较, THP-1细胞Caspase-4 mRNA及蛋白表达水平均升高(t=46.03、29.36, 均P < 0.05), Caspase-4 siRNA转染后, Caspase-4 mRNA及蛋白表达水平显著下降(t=32.48、30.77, 均P < 0.01);钩体感染后, IL-18、IL-1β和IL-1αmRNA水平显著升高(t=25.70、26.13、19.94, 均P < 0.05), 在Caspase-4特异性阻断后显著下降(t=11.55、44.68、15.68, 均P < 0.05);ELISA检测显示, 钩体感染后, IL-18、IL-1β和IL-1α分泌均显著升高(t=50.24、34.17、25.18, 均P < 0.05), 且能被Caspase-4特异性阻断剂有效抑制(t=42.00、17.07、5.03, 均P < 0.05)。

Caspase-4非经典炎症小体参与介导问号钩体诱导人单核-巨噬细胞炎性细胞因子IL-18、IL-1β和IL-1α的分泌。

     

微生态制剂对慢性支气管炎的临床疗效和对患者免疫功能的影响

探究微生态制剂对慢性支气管炎的临床疗效和对患者免疫功能的影响。

选择2019年6月至2022年6月我院呼吸内科收治的86例慢性支气管炎患者为研究对象,按照随机分配的原则分为对照组和观察组。对照组患者接受常规治疗,包括平喘药物、抗炎药物和止咳药物;观察组患者在常规治疗的基础上使用微生态制剂进行治疗。比较两组患者治疗后的临床疗效、临床症状持续时间以及相关免疫指标（IL-8、TNF-α、CD4⁺细胞、CRP）水平。

与对照组相比,观察组患者的住院时间、喘息、咳嗽、肺部喘鸣音持续时间显著短于对照组（均P＜0.05）。观察组患者的治疗有效率达95.35%,显著高于对照组的81.40%（P＜0.05）。与治疗前相比,治疗后两组患者IL-8、TNF-α、CRP水平均显著降低,且观察组上述指标水平均低于对照组（均P＜0.05）。

微生态制剂可有效治疗慢性支气管炎,提高临床疗效,改善患者的免疫功能。

     

益生菌联合标准四联疗法对幽门螺杆菌感染再次治疗的疗效及其对炎症因子的影响

研究布拉酵母菌联合标准四联疗法对幽门螺杆菌(H.pylori)感染患者再次治疗的疗效及其对炎症因子的影响。

选取我院124例H.pylori感染患者, 按随机分配的方法分为A组和B组, 每组62例。A组患者给予阿莫西林胶囊1 000 mg/次, 2次/d; 呋喃唑酮100 mg/次, 2次/d; 雷贝拉唑40 mg/次, 2次/d; 胶体果胶铋干混悬剂150 mg/次, 4次/d, 疗程14 d。B组患者在A组治疗方案的基础上加用布拉酵母菌250 mg/次, 3次/d, 疗程14 d。在治疗过程中观察患者的不良反应发生情况。疗程结束完全停药4周后检测两组患者H.pylori根除及症状改善情况。对比治疗前后患者血清白介素-6(IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)、C-反应蛋白(CRP)水平。

观察组患者H.pylori的根除率、症状改善率和不良反应的发生率与对照组相比差异均有统计学意义(χ²=7.322、9.239、10.016, 均P < 0.05)。治疗后观察组患者血清IL-6、TNF-α、CRP水平较对照组降低(t=9.780、8.495、7.002, 均P < 0.05)。

布拉酵母菌联合标准四联疗法可提高H.pylori根除率, 改善患者症状, 降低不良反应发生率, 同时可降低血清炎症因子水平。

     

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。

     

益生菌辅助四联疗法对H. pylori感染患者根治效果及肠道菌群的影响

研究益生菌辅助四联疗法对H. pylori感染患者根治效果及肠道菌群的影响。

选择2019年1月至2020年6月在我院接受治疗的160例H. pylori感染患者为研究对象,用随机数字表法分为对照组（n = 80）和观察组（n = 80）。对照组患者给予标准铋剂四联药物治疗,观察组加用双歧杆菌四联活菌片治疗。比较两组患者的H. pylori根除率、复发率、不良反应发生率、临床症状（上腹痛、上腹胀、嗳气、纳差）、肠道菌群（双歧杆菌、乳杆菌）和炎性因子[白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、白细胞介素-8（IL-8）及肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）]水平。

观察组患者的H. pylori根除率（95.00%）高于对照组（82.5%）,复发率和不良反应发生率低于对照组（均P＜0.05）。治疗后两组患者的临床症状积分均显著下降,同时观察组患者上腹痛、上腹胀、嗳气、纳差等临床症状积分低于对照组（均P＜0.05）。治疗后观察组患者肠道双歧杆菌和乳杆菌数量升高,而对照组降低,同时观察组患者肠道双歧杆菌和乳杆菌数量高于对照组（均P＜0.05）。治疗后观察组患者IL-6、IL-8和TNF-α水平均低于对照组（均P＜0.05）。

双歧杆菌四联活菌片辅助标准铋剂四联疗法治疗可显著提高H. pylori感染患者H. pylori根除率,降低复发率和不良反应的发生率,改善肠道菌群分布,减轻患者的临床症状和炎症状态。

     

肠道微生物与2型糖尿病患者T淋巴细胞亚群和炎症因子水平的相关性

探究肠道微生物与2型糖尿病（T2DM）患者T淋巴细胞亚群和炎症因子水平的相关性。

选择2019年4月到2022年4月我院收治的94例T2DM患者作为T2DM组,另选体检健康者81例作为对照组,采集所有受试者外周血及粪便样本,检测空腹血糖（FPG）、胰岛素抵抗指数（HOMA-IR）、空腹胰岛素（FINS）、炎症因子IL-6、hs-CRP水平、T淋巴细胞亚群（CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD8⁺）水平和主要肠道菌群丰度,分析主要肠道菌群变化与CD4⁺/CD8⁺、IL-6、hs-CRP的关系。

治疗后T2DM组FBG、FINS、HOMA-IR、IL-6、hs-CRP水平均高于对照组（P＜0.05）,T2DM组CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD8⁺及CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值均低于对照组（P＜0.05）。T2DM组肠道双歧杆菌、乳酸杆菌数量、B/E值低于对照组,大肠杆菌、肠球菌数量高于对照组（P＜0.05）。Pearson相关性分析显示：T2DM患者双歧杆菌、乳酸杆菌、B/E值与IL-6、hs-CRP水平呈负相关,与CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值呈正相关（P＜0.05）;大肠杆菌、肠球菌数量与IL-6、hs-CRP水平呈正相关,与CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值呈负相关（P＜0.05）。

T2DM患者肠道菌群失调、定植力受损,这可能与其能引发患者CD4⁺/CD8⁺水平降低和炎症因子IL-6、hs-CRP水平升高有关。

     

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。

     

急性心肌梗死并发肺部感染患者的临床特点和病原菌特征及危险因素分析

分析急性心肌梗死（AMI）并发肺部感染患者的临床特点、病原菌特征及危险因素,为该类患者的治疗提供参考。

选择2019年1月至2021年1月海安市人民医院收治的96例AMI患者作为研究对象,并根据患者在治疗过程中是否并发肺部感染将其分为感染组（40例）和非感染组（56例）。采集患者痰液标本并对感染病原菌进行鉴定,同时观察肺部感染患者的临床特点。采用多因素Logistic回归分析探讨AMI患者并发肺部感染的危险因素。

96例AMI患者中存在40例肺部感染,共检出病原菌22株,其中革兰阴性菌14株（占63.64%）,革兰阳性6株（占27.27%）,真菌2株（占9.09%）。与非感染组比较,感染组患者血红蛋白、白蛋白、总蛋白水平较低,降钙素原、超敏C反应蛋白、肿瘤坏死因子-α水平较高（均P＜0.05）。单因素分析显示,AMI患者并发肺部感染与年龄、卧床时间、有无慢性阻塞性肺疾病、有无侵入性操作存在显著关联（均P＜0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,年龄≥60岁（OR = 3.71,95%CI：1.62～8.49）、卧床时间≥2周（OR = 3.42,95%CI：2.12～5.54）、慢性阻塞性肺疾病（OR = 2.68,95%CI：2.19～3.29）、侵入性操作（OR = 3.40,95%CI：2.69～4.30）及低蛋白血症（OR = 1.37,95%CI：1.09～1.74）均为AMI患者并发肺部感染的相关因素（均P＜0.05）。

AMI患者并发肺部感染的病原菌以革兰阴性菌为主,其次为革兰阳性菌;年龄、卧床时间、慢性阻塞性肺疾病、侵入性操作及低蛋白血症均为AMI患者并发肺部感染的独立危险因素。

     

肿瘤坏死因子-α和白介素-2对成骨细胞增殖的影响

成骨细胞在骨组织改建中至关重要。本试验体外培养人骨肉瘤细胞系MG63,MTT方法检测白介素-2(Interleukin-2,IL-2)和肿瘤坏死因子-α(tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)对成骨细胞增殖的影响。结果表明,当IL-2的浓度大于100U/mL,其能够促进成骨细胞增殖(P0.05),一定浓度(50～1000U/mL)的TNF-α对成骨细胞的增殖也有促进作用。     

Effect of honey on mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 following acute toxoplasmosis in mice

This study analyzed the mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in mice experimentally infected with T. gondii undergoing honey treatment. Thirty male mice were divided in groups: pre-treatment/infected (1), infected/non-treated (2), infected/treated (3), non-infected/treated (4) and control (5). Honey was applied for groups 1, 3, 4 by gavage and the mice in group 1–3 were infected by T. gondii tissue cysts. The parasite load and the level of mRNA expression of the aforementioned cytokines in the brains of mice were assessed by qPCR. The mean number of T. gondii tachyzoite in 1 mg brain tissue was 32, 73 and 59 in groups one, two and three, respectively. The mRNA expression of TNF-α increased in group 1, 2 and 3, about 49.1%, 307.3% and 63.2%, respectively but it was down-regulated by 53% in group 4. The mRNA expression of IL-1β and IL-6 was also up-regulated in all groups except group 2. The mRNA level of TNF-α was reduced by 2.7-fold and 1.18-fold in pre-treated/infected (group 1) and infected/treated (group 3) compared with infected/non-treated (group 2). The mRNA level of IL-1β and IL-6 were increased in these groups. The current study demonstrated that honey can stimulate or suppress the mRNA expression of some pro-inflammatory cytokines in mice brains. Furthermore, honey suppresses the TNF-α mRNA expression in the presence of T. gondii infection but it stimulates the IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA expression. Treatment of the mice with honey reduces parasite multiplication in the brain.     

Visfatin、IL-6、TNF-α与2型糖尿病的相关研究

目的：探讨血浆visfatin、IL-6、TNF-α与2型糖尿病的关系。方法：2型糖尿病患者60例,正常对照组30例。根据体重指数分为肥胖组和非肥胖组。检测空腹血浆胰岛素、糖化血红蛋白、血糖、血脂、血压、visfatin、TNF-α、白介素-6等。计算体重指数、腰臀比值及稳态模型胰岛素抵抗指数（HOMA-IR）。结果：2型糖尿病组血浆visfatin、IL-6、TNF-α水平显著高于正常对照组（P〈0.05）;2型糖尿病组与正常肥胖组比较,糖尿病非肥胖组visfatin（301.60±58.07）明显升高,糖尿病肥胖组visfatin（336.68±37.61）、TNF-α（3.58±1.10）明显升高（P〈0.05）。多元线性相关分析表明,在肥胖的2型糖尿病患者中血浆TNF-α与糖化血红蛋白显著正相关,血浆IL-6与血糖（FPG）显著正相关,血浆visfatin与腰臀比值（WHR）显著正相关（P〈0.05）。结论：visfatin、IL-6、TNF-α的变化可能对2型糖尿病的发生、发展具有一定的作用。     

Cytokines in rats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma evansi

The aim of this study was to measure the levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 (IL-1) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in the serum of rats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma evansi and to correlate these levels with hematological parameters. Initially, 48 rats (group T) were intraperitoneally inoculated with cryopreserved blood containing 1 × 10⁶ trypomastigotes per animal. Twenty-eight animals (group C) were used as negative controls and received 0.2 mL of saline by the same route. The experimental groups were formed according to the time after infection and the degree of parasitemia as follows: four control subgroups (C3, C5, C10 and C20) with seven non-inoculated animals each and four test subgroups (T3, T5, T10 and T20) with 10 animals each inoculated with T. evansi. The blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture at days 3 (C3, T3), 5 (C5, T5), 10 (C10, T10) and 20 (C20, T20) post-infection (PI) to perform the complete blood count and the determination of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 levels using an ELISA quantitative sandwich. Infected rats showed normocytic normochromic anemia during the experimental period. T. evansi infection in rats caused a serum increase (P < 0.01) of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 levels at days 3, 5, 10 and 20 PI compared to the controls. The multiple linear regressions showed a reduction of 24% in the hematocrit as a consequence of the increased IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-1. Therefore, we conclude that the infection caused by T. evansi causes an increase in the pro-inflammatory cytokines. These results suggest a synergism among IL-1, TNF-α and IFN-γ contributing to the development of anemia. This increase is associated with the regulation of immune responses against the parasite.     

乌司他丁对肠缺血-再灌注大鼠血清TNF—α，IL-6的影响

目的：通过检测血清TNF-α,IL-6的变化,评价乌司他丁对小肠缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用及机制。方法i健康Wistar大鼠84只,通过夹闭肠系膜上动脉（SMA）60min制作肠缺血模型,随机分成假手术组（C）,肠缺血再灌注组（I）,UTI治疗组（u）。根据缺血后再灌注时间不同又将I组和U组分成0min、2h和6h组。I组、U组于手术前经尾静脉分别注入生理盐水2mL、乌司他丁5×10^4U／kg,假手术组仅分离SMA,不夹闭血管。于各时点取腹主动脉血测定血清TNF-α、IL-6含量。结果：肠缺血再灌注各时相点均引起血清TNF-α、IL-6的变化,与假手术组相比,各时点TNF-α值显著升高（P〈0．01）,IL-6显著升高（P〈0．01）。u组0min、2h血清TNF-α值低于相应时点的I组（P〈0．01）;U组0min、2h、6h血清IL-6值低于相应时点的I组（P〈0．05）。结论：乌司他丁可减轻小肠缺血再灌注后的炎症反应。     

Comparison of myotoxic effects of levobupivacaine,bupivacaine and ropivacaine: apoptotic activity and acute effect on pro-inflammatory cytokines

We investigated the myotoxic effects of bupivacaine, ropivacaine and levobupivacaine on rat skeletal muscle and compared its apoptotic activity and acute effects on pro-nflammatory cytokines. We divided 40 Wistar albino rats into four equal groups. Rats were injected intramuscularly with 0.5% bupivacaine (group B), 0.5% ropivacaine (group R), 0.5% levobupivacaine (group L) or 0.9% normal saline (group SF). Animals were sacrificed on the second day after the injection. TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 levels were examined in muscle tissue using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Apoptotic cells were visualized by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. We found that levobupivacaine caused the lowest TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 expression levels, while the bupivacaine group caused the highest level compared to the other two agents. The greatest number of apoptotic cells was found in the bupivacaine group. Bupivacaine was more myotoxic than other anesthetic agents and increased apoptosis. The number of TUNEL positive apoptotic cells was lowest in the SF group. The greatest IL-1 immunoreactivity was found in the bupivacaine group. Bupivacaine and ropivacaine produced greater IL-6 expression than the SF group. Bupivacaine and ropivacaine caused greater TNF-α expression than the SF group, whereas the immunoreactivity of TNF-α was similar in the bupivacaine and ropivacaine groups.     

Protective effects of salusin-α and salusin-β on renal ischemia/reperfusion damage and their levels in ischemic acute renal failure

Salusin-α and salusin-β are expressed in many tissues including the central nervous system, vessels and kidneys; they have been shown to decrease endoplasmic reticulum stress during heart ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) and to decrease apoptosis. We investigated the relation of salusin-α and salusin-β levels to acute ischemic renal failure. We also investigated whether these peptides are protective against renal I/R damage. Fifty-three rats were divided into six groups: control, I/R, I/R + salusin-α1, I/R + salusin-α10, I/R + salusin-β1 and I/R + salusin-β10. After removing the right kidney, the left kidney was subjected to ischemia for 1 h and reperfusion for 23 h. The treatment groups were injected subcutaneously at the beginning of ischemia with 1 or 10 μg/kg salusin-α, and 1 or 10 μg/kg salusin-β. Histopathology was assessed at the end of the experiment. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in the kidney tissue. Serum levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cre), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) also were measured. Levels of salusin-α and salusin-β were measured in the serum and kidney tissues of the control and I/R groups. SOD, CAT and GSH-PX activities were decreased and the levels of MDA, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, BUN and Cre were increased in the I/R group compared to controls. Severe glomerular and tubular damage was apparent in the I/R group compared to controls. The level of salusin-β was decreased in the serum and kidney tissue of the I/R group compared to controls, whereas the level of salusin-α was decreased in the serum and increased in the kidney tissue. Salusin-α and salusin-β administration increased SOD and GSH-PX enzyme activation and decreased the levels of MDA, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β compared to the I/R group. BUN and Cre levels were decreased in the I/R + salusin-α1 group and the level of Cre was decreased in I/R + salusin-β10 group compared to the I/R group. We demonstrated a protective effect of salusin-α and salusin-β against renal I/R damage. Changes in the levels of salusin-α and salusin-β in the I/R group suggest that these peptides may be associated with acute renal failure.     

THE NEUROPEPTIDE CALCITONIN GENE-RELATED PEPTIDE INHIBITS TNF-α BUT POORLY INDUCES IL-6 PRODUCTION BY FETAL RAT OSTEOBLASTS

Tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) are potent inflammatory cytokines produced by osteoblasts and whose contribution to bone loss occurring in oestrogen deficiency is well documented. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a neuropeptide abundantly concentrated in sensory nerve endings innervating bone metaphyses and periosteum suggesting that it controls bone homeostasis locally. Since CGRP was shown to inhibit TNF-α production by T cells and stimulate IL-6 expression by fibroblasts, this study was designed to investigate whether CGRP regulated TNF-α and IL-6 production by osteoblasts. We show that CGRP inhibits the production of TNF-α by both lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and IL-1-stimulated fetal rat osteoblasts. Like CGRP, the cAMP agonists prostaglandin E₂(PGE₂), dibutyryl cAMP (Bt₂cAMP) and forskolin inhibit TNF-α production by osteoblasts. Exposure of osteoblasts to a high dose of phorbol myristoyl acetate (PMA) to deplete PKC activity abolished CGRP-mediated TNF-α suppression. In contrast with its potent inhibition of TNF-α production, we show that CGRP is a weak inducer of IL-6 when compared to PGE₂, Bt₂cAMP and forskolin. However, in presence of isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) CGRP stimulates the production of IL-6. Collectively, these data suggest that the inhibition of TNF-α CGRP is cAMP dependent and PMA sensitive and that the concentration of intracellular cAMP may be a regulatory mechanism for IL-6 expression in osteoblasts.     

Interleukin-1 superfamily member,interleukin-33, in periodontal diseases

Interleukin (IL) -33 is a nuclear protein that is released from damaged cells and acts as an alarmin. We investigated the expression of IL-33 in human gingival fibroblasts after stimulation by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Human periodontal tissue samples were collected and fixed in phosphate-buffered 4% formalin in saline and processed to paraffin blocks. TNF-α was immunostained in samples of ten periodontitis patients and ten controls. Human gingival fibroblasts were isolated using an explant culture technique. The influence of TNF-α on IL-33 in gingival fibroblasts was analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The number of TNF-α positive cells was significantly greater in periodontitis samples than in controls. TNF-α was located mainly in macrophage- and fibroblast-like cells, vascular endothelial cells and epithelial cells. Analysis of IL-33 expression in cell culture lysates showed that TNF-α induced IL-33 in cultured gingival fibroblasts. Periodontitis samples are characterized by Th2 cell dominance, which has been linked to anti-inflammatory responses and periodontal repair. TNF-α-induced IL-33 may link inflammation directly to the IL-33-dependent stimulation of Th2 cytokine producing cells and participate in the induction of lymphocytes, which results in protective, anti-inflammatory and reparative responses.     

Nox2 and Nox4 mediate tumour necrosis factor-α-induced ventricular remodelling in mice

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines are crucial in ventricular remodelling, such as inflammation-associated myocarditis. We previously reported that tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced ROS in human aortic smooth muscle cells is mediated by NADPH oxidase subunit Nox4. In this study, we investigated whether TNF-α-induced ventricular remodelling was mediated by Nox2 and/or Nox4. An intravenous injection of murine TNF-α was administered to a group of mice and saline injection was administered to controls. Echocardiography was performed on days 1, 7 and 28 post-injection. Ventricular tissue was used to determine gene and protein expression of Nox2, Nox4, ANP, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α and to measure ROS. Nox2 and Nox4 siRNA were used to determine whether or not Nox2 and Nox4 mediated TNF-α-induced ROS and upregulation of IL-1β and IL-6 in adult human cardiomyocytes. Echocardiography showed a significant increase in left ventricular end-diastolic and left ventricular end-systolic diameters, and a significant decrease in the ejection fraction and fractional shortening in mice 7 and 28 days after TNF-α injection. These two groups of mice showed a significant increase in ventricular ROS, ANP, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α proteins. Nox2 and Nox4 mRNA and protein levels were also sequentially increased. ROS was significantly decreased by inhibitors of NADPH oxidase, but not by inhibitors of other ROS production systems. Nox2 and Nox4 siRNA significantly attenuated TNF-α-induced ROS and upregulation of IL-1β and IL-6 in cardiomyocytes. Our study highlights a novel TNF-α-induced chronic ventricular remodelling mechanism mediated by sequential regulation of Nox2 and Nox4 subunits.