金双歧预防新生儿坏死性小肠结肠炎的效果探讨

目的比较金双歧、妈咪爱预防新生儿坏死性小肠结肠炎(NEC)的效果。方法将我院新生儿科2012年7月至2014年6月两年间收治的新生儿随机分为金双歧组、妈咪爱组、对照组。将颅内出血Ⅲ-Ⅳ级、严重先天性疾病的患儿排除。金双歧组给予金双歧口服或鼻饲0.5 g tid,妈咪爱组给予妈咪爱口服或鼻饲1.0 g bid,对照组给予生理盐水口服或鼻饲1.0 mL bid,观察各组NEC发生率。结果金双歧组170例,发生NEC 4例,发生率为2.35%;妈咪爱组160例,发生NEC 10例,发生率为6.25%;对照组150例,发生NEC 20例,发生率为13.33%。结论口服益生菌对预防新生儿NEC有显著作用,可以降低其发病率。金双歧、妈咪爱对预防新生儿NEC差异无统计学意义,但金双歧组的发病率更低,秩和值更低。推荐临床上尽早使用金双歧预防NEC的发生。     

新生鼠坏死性小肠结肠炎肠道菌群变化及意义

目的探讨新生鼠坏死性小肠结肠炎(NEC)时肠道菌群变化,旨在阐明肠道菌群在NEC发病中的作用,为探讨新生儿NEC的发病机制及寻求有效的防治措施提供理论依据。方法SD新生大鼠出生48 h开始给予鼠乳代用品人工喂养,100%氮气缺氧90 s,4℃冷刺激10 min,每天2次,连续3 d,建立新生SD大鼠NEC模型。40只新生SD大鼠随机分成NEC模型组(A组)和正常对照组(B组)。每组动物各20只。在最后一次缺氧、冷刺激后24 h空腹断头处死大鼠,留取回盲部近端肠管组织进行肠组织损伤评分,组织学评分≥2确定为NEC;实验前后留取两组新生鼠粪便,按照张秀荣方法进行肠道菌群检测。实验前后比较采用配对t检验,组间比较采用方差分析,α=0.05为显著性检验标准。结果模型组新生鼠相继出现腹泻、腹胀、萎靡、活动减少,生长减慢,对照组新生大鼠进食及排便均正常,无腹胀及胃潴留,活动度良好,皮下脂肪丰满。模型组新生大鼠NEC的发生率为100%(20/20),对照组无1例发生NEC。实验组和对照组肠损伤病理评分(x±s)分别为:3.25±0.85、0.45±0.51,t=12.622,P<0.01。模型组和对照组新生鼠实验前肠道细菌总数,杆菌、球菌总数,G 杆菌、G 球菌,G-杆菌、G-球菌数差异均无显著性,肠道菌群中杆菌和球菌的比例都在正常范围中。实验结束时,正常对照组新生大鼠肠道菌群总数明显增多,其中以G 杆菌增加为主;G-杆菌属及G 球菌属菌数占肠道菌群的比率在实验前后差异无显著性;模型组新生大鼠肠道群总数亦明显增多,而且明显高于正常对照组。实验结束时肠道菌群数量,其中主要是G 球菌显著增加,而G 杆菌却较对照组明显减少,与实验前相比,明显下降,差异有显著性;模型组实验结束时肠道菌群中杆菌和球菌比值减少、倒置。结论NEC发病前正常肠道菌群已发生质和量的变化,肠道菌群紊乱在NEC发病机制中起关键作用;及时纠正肠道菌群紊乱可能会降低新生大鼠发生NEC危险性。     

Role of lactadherin in intestinal barrier integrity in experimental neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the most widespread and devastating gastrointestinal diseases in neonates. Destruction of the intestinal barrier is the main underlying cause of NEC. The aim of this study was to determine the role of lactadherin in preventing NEC in a neonatal rat model and investigate the molecular mechanism of lactadherin-mediated protection of the intestinal barrier. Neonatal rats were divided into three groups: dam feeding (DF), NEC (NEC), and NEC supplemented with 10 μg/(g·day) recombinant human lactadherin (NEC+L). Intestinal permeability, tissue damage, and cell junction protein expression and localization were evaluated. We found that lactadherin reduced weight loss caused by NEC, reduced the incidence of NEC from 100% to 46.7%, and reduced the mean histological score for tissue damage to 1.40 compared with 2.53 in the NEC group. Intestinal permeability of lactadherin-treated rats was significantly reduced when compared with that of the NEC group. In addition, the expression levels of JAM-A, claudin 3, and E-calcium in the ileum of NEC group animals increased compared with those in the ileum of DF group animals, and these levels decreased in the NEC+L group. Lactadherin changed the localization of claudin 3, occludin, and E-cadherin in epithelial cells. The mechanism underlying lactadherin-mediated protection of the intestinal barrier might be restoring the correct expression levels and localization of tight junction and adherent junction proteins. These findings suggest a new candidate agent for the prevention of NEC in newborns.     

国内益生菌制剂预防新生儿坏死性小肠结肠炎的Meta分析

目的系统评价益生菌制剂在预防新生儿坏死性小肠结肠炎(NEC)的临床效果。方法计算机联机检索数据库,应用RevMan 5.3软件,对益生菌制剂治疗预防NEC的随机对照试验(RCT)所收集的数据资料进行Meta分析。结果纳入9篇RCT文献中包涵2 058例新生儿,对预防NEC的发生率进行Meta分析。结果显示益生菌制剂预防NEC的效果优于对照组[OR=0.20,95%CI(0.12,0.33),P0.000 01]。结论给予益生菌制剂治疗,可降低NEC的发生率。     

Decreased development of necrotizing enterocolitis in IL-18-deficient mice

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating gastrointestinal disease predominantly of prematurely born infants, characterized in its severest from by extensive hemorrhagic inflammatory necrosis of the distal ileum and proximal colon. Proinflammatory cytokines have been implicated in the development of NEC, and we have previously shown that IL-18 is significantly elevated in the well-established neonatal rat model of NEC. To determine whether IL-18 contributes to intestinal pathology in NEC, we subjected IL-18 knockout mice to the protocol used to develop experimental NEC in newborn rats. Newborn B6.129P2-Il18(tm1Aki)/J (NEC IL-18(-/-)) and wild-type (NEC WT) mice were hand fed every 3 h with cow's milk-based formula and exposed to asphyxia and cold stress twice daily. After 72 h, animals were killed and distal ileum and liver were removed. Disease development was determined via histological changes in the ileum as scored by a blinded evaluator. The number of TNF-alpha-, IL-12-, and IL-1beta-positive cells and macrophages were determined in both ileum and liver via immunohistology. IkappaB-alpha and IkappaB-beta were determined from protein extracts from both ileum and liver using Western blot analysis. The incidence and severity of NEC was significantly reduced in NEC IL-18(-/-) mice compared with NEC WT. Furthermore, mean ileal macrophages and hepatic IL-1beta were significantly reduced in IL-18(-/-) mice subjected to the NEC protocol. There were no statistically significant changes in Kupffer cells, hepatic TNF-alpha, ileal IL-1beta, or IL-12. IkappaB-alpha and IkappaB-beta were significantly increased in NEC IL-18(-/-) mice ileum and liver, respectively. These results confirm that IL-18 plays a crucial role in experimental NEC pathogenesis.     

Branched chain fatty acids reduce the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis and alter gastrointestinal microbial ecology in a neonatal rat model

Introduction

Branched chain fatty acids (BCFA) are found in the normal term human newborn''s gut, deposited as major components of vernix caseosa ingested during late fetal life. We tested the hypothesis that premature infants'' lack of exposure to gastrointestinal (GI) BCFA is associated with their microbiota and risk for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) using a neonatal rat model.

Methods

Pups were collected one day before scheduled birth. The pups were exposed to asphyxia and cold stress to induce NEC. Pups were assigned to one of three experimental treatments. DF (dam-fed) ; Control, hand-fed rat milk substitute ; BCFA, hand-fed rat milk substitute with 20%w/w BCFA. Total fat was equivalent (11%wt) for both the Control and BCFA groups. Cecal microbiota were characterized by 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing, and intestinal injury, ileal cytokine and mucin gene expression, interleukin-10 (IL-10) peptide immunohistochemistry, and BCFA uptake in ileum phospholipids, serum and liver were assessed.

Results

NEC incidence was reduced by over 50% in the BCFA group compared to the Control group as assessed in ileal tissue; microbiota differed among all groups. BCFA-fed pups harbored greater levels of BCFA-associated Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared to Controls. Bacillus subtilis levels were five-fold greater in healthy pups compared to pups with NEC. BCFA were selectively incorporated into ileal phospholipids, serum and liver tissue. IL-10 expression increased three-fold in the BCFA group versus Controls and no other inflammatory or mucosal mRNA markers changed.

Conclusion

At constant dietary fat level, BCFA reduce NEC incidence and alter microbiota composition. BCFA are also incorporated into pup ileum where they are associated with enhanced IL-10 and may exert other specific effects.     

Hypothesis: inappropriate colonization of the premature intestine can cause neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis.

Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a major cause of morbidity in preterm infants. We hypothesize that the intestinal injury in this disease is a consequence of synergy among three of the major risk factors for NEC: prematurity, enteral feeding, and bacterial colonization. Together these factors result in an exaggerated inflammatory response, leading to ischemic bowel necrosis. Human milk may decrease the incidence of NEC by decreasing pathogenic bacterial colonization, promoting growth of nonpathogenic flora, promoting maturation of the intestinal barrier, and ameliorating the proinflammatory response.     

Short-chain fatty acids and polyamines in the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis: Kinetics aspects in gnotobiotic quails

Despite years of investigation, pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains elusive. Bacterial metabolites were implicated by several authors but their roles remain controversial. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of SCFAs and polyamines through a kinetic study of histological and macroscopical digestive lesions in monobiotic quails. Germ-free quails, inoculated with a Clostridium butyricum strain involved in a NEC case, were fed or not with a diet including lactose (7%). Quails were sacrificed at various times between D7 and D24 after bacterial inoculation. NEC-like lesions, i.e. thickening, pneumatosis, and hemorrhages, occurred only in lactose-fed quails and increased with time. The main histological characteristics were infiltrates of mononuclear cells, then heterophilic cells, then gas cyst and necrosis. The first event observed, before histological and macroscopical lesions, is a high production of butyric acid, which precedes an increase of iNOS gene expression. No difference in polyamines contents depending on the diet was observed. These results show the major role of butyric acid produced by commensal bacteria in the onset of the digestive lesions.     

Inhibition of carnitine acetyltransferase by bile acids: implications for carnitine analysis

Carnitine acetyltransferase is used in a radioenzymatic assay to measure the concentration of carnitine. While determining the concentration of carnitine in rat bile, we found that the apparent concentration increased as bile was diluted (6.7 +/- 1.0 and 66.6 +/- 9.4 nmol/ml in undiluted and 20-fold diluted bile, respectively). The present study was designed to investigate whether a component of bile inhibited carnitine acetyltransferase. Inhibition was evaluated by measuring carnitine concentration in bile or by determining the recovery of a known amount of carnitine in the presence of bile. Inhibitory activity was extractable in organic solvents, stable to heat and base treatments, resistant to trypsin and lipase digestions, and removable by cholestyramine, a bile acid-binding resin. These results suggested that the inhibitory activity was associated with bile acids. Direct evidence was obtained by showing a reduced detectability of carnitine in the presence of individual bile acids. Chenodeoxycholic acid was the most potent inhibitor. Inhibition was unrelated to the detergent properties of bile acids. Kinetic studies revealed that carnitine acetyltransferase was inhibited competitively by chenodeoxycholic acid with a Ki of 520 microM. Bile acids also interfered in the quantitation of carnitine in cholestatic plasma. Carnitine concentration in such plasma was underestimated (17.5 +/- 2.1 mmol/ml). Reduction of bile acid concentration by a 20-fold dilution of cholestatic plasma resulted in a 3-fold higher carnitine concentration (54.6 +/- 9.0 nmol/ml). Results demonstrate that, because of the inhibition of carnitine acetyltransferase by bile acids, the radioenzymatic assay will underestimate carnitine concentration in bile or in cholestatic plasma. Accurate measurement requires either the removal of bile acids or a marked reduction in their concentration.     

Hepatic cholesterol transport from plasma into bile: implications for gallstone disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The transhepatic traffic of cholesterol from plasma lipoproteins into the bile is critical for overall cholesterol homeostasis and its alterations may lead to cholesterol gallstone formation. This review summarizes recent progress in understanding the key hepatic cholesterol metabolism-related proteins and pathways that influence biliary secretion of cholesterol. RECENT FINDINGS: In cholesterol-fed apolipoprotein E knockout mice, the availability of dietary cholesterol for biliary disposal is decreased and diet-induced gallstone formation is impaired. Scavenger receptor class B type I is relevant for cholesterol transport from plasma HDL into the bile in chow-fed mice, however its expression is not critical for biliary cholesterol secretion and gallstone formation in lithogenic diet-fed mice. Intrahepatic cholesterol transport proteins (e.g. sterol carrier protein-2, Niemann Pick type C-1 protein) also determine liver cholesterol available for biliary secretion in mice. Genetic manipulation of canalicular ATP-binding cassette transporter G5 and G8 expression in mice has established their essential role for biliary cholesterol secretion. SUMMARY: Recent studies have underscored that different proteins involved in hepatic cholesterol transport regulate the availability of cholesterol for biliary secretion. These advances may provide new avenues for prevention and treatment of various disease conditions linked to abnormal cholesterol metabolism.     

双歧杆菌对新生大鼠坏死性小肠结肠炎肠损伤及肠细胞凋亡影响

目的探讨添加双歧杆菌对新生鼠坏死性小肠结肠炎(necrotizing enterocolitis,NEC)模型肠损伤的保护作用。方法 32只新生SD大鼠按析因设计随机分成4组,每组动物8只。A1B1组为NEC模型组并添加双歧杆菌(109CFU/d),A1B2组为NEC模型组,但未添加双歧杆菌;A2B1组为对照组并添加双歧杆菌(109CFU/d),A2B2组为对照组,且未添加双歧杆菌。在出生48 h开始给予鼠配方奶人工喂养,100%氮气缺氧90 s,4℃冷刺激10 min,每天2次,连续3 d,建立新生大鼠NEC模型;在最后1次缺氧、冷刺激后24 h空腹断头处死小鼠,解剖留取十二指肠下端至直肠上端肠道组织,其中,回盲部近端肠管进行病理学检查及肠损伤评分,组织学评分≥2为NEC,其余肠管进行肠细胞凋亡率检测及电镜观察。采用流式细胞仪检测肠细胞凋亡率。SPSS 11.0统计学软件进行统计分析,α=0.05为显著性检验标准。结果造模后,A1B1组、A1B2组相继出现腹泻、腹胀、生长发育减慢和活动度减少,显微镜下可见肠黏膜坏死、黏膜下层出血以及肌肉层坏死等肠损伤表现,透射电镜显示肠黏膜出现大量凋亡细胞,形成凋亡小体,但A1B1组程度较轻。A1B1、A1B2、A2B1和A2B24组肠损伤组织病理评分(x±s)分别为2.04±0.52、3.38±0.55、0.33±0.36和0.38±0.33,肠细胞凋亡率分别为(23.97±10.48)%、(47.28±21.98)%、(11.42±4.75)%和(12.16±4.95)%;各组间肠损伤组织评分、肠细胞凋亡率差异有显著统计学意义(H分别为26.657、20.916,P均0.01);与A1B2组相比,A1B1组新生鼠肠损伤组织评分、肠细胞凋亡率均明显降低,但仍高于A2B1、A2B22个对照组(P均0.01);肠组织损伤评分值、肠细胞凋亡率均受到NEC造模和添加双歧杆菌两个因素的影响,NEC造模与补充双歧杆菌之间均存在交互作用。结论添加双歧杆菌可以降低新生鼠NEC肠损伤程度,可能通过抑制肠上皮细胞凋亡,从而降低新生大鼠发生NEC危险性。     

Active transport of nonpolar amino acids in Chromatium vinosum

The photosynthetic purple sulfur bacterium, Chromatium vinosum, takes up the amino acids, L-phenylalanine and L-leucine, via two apparently different electrogenic, H+/amino acid symports. Na+ serves as an allosteric modulator for leucine transport, lowering the Km for leucine from 66 to 15 microM. C. vinosum cells also contain a system that transports both isoleucine and valine. The isoleucine/valine system has the attributes of a H+/amino acid symport at pH less than 7.5 but appears to function as a H+/Na+ (Li+)/amino acid symport at pH greater than or equal to 7.5. Na+ gradients produce an allosteric lowering of the Km values for both isoleucine and valine, from 14 to 7 microM and from 34 to 17 microM, respectively. C. vinosum also accumulates D-alanine in an energy-dependent reaction. The transport process appears to involve the electrogenic cotransport of D-alanine and Na+. The Km value for D-alanine was determined to be 9 microM. Unlike the previously characterized C. vinosum L-alanine/Na+ symport, Na+ gradients did not affect the Km for D-alanine transport. L-Alanine and glycine, but not alpha-aminoisobutyric acid, act as competitive inhibitors for D-alanine transport.     

Ketonic bile acids in urine of infants during the neonatal period

Ketonic bile acids have been found to be quantitatively important in urine of healthy infants during the neonatal period. In order to determine their structures, the bile acids in urine from 11 healthy infants were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GLC-MS) and three samples with particularly high levels of ketonic bile acids were selected for detailed studies by ion exchange chromatography, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, microchemical reactions, and GLC-MS. The major ketonic bile acid was identified as 7 alpha, 12 alpha-dihydroxy-3-oxo-5 beta-chol-1-enoic acid, not previously described as a naturally occurring bile acid. The positional isomer 7 alpha, 12 alpha-dihydroxy-3-oxo-4-cholenoic acid, recently described as a major urinary bile acid in infants with severe liver diseases, was also excreted by most infants. Three acids related to cholic acid were identified: 7 alpha, 12 alpha-dihydroxy-3-oxo-, 3 alpha, 12 alpha-dihydroxy-7-oxo-, and 3 alpha, 7 alpha-dihydroxy-12-oxo-5 beta-cholanoic acids. Five bile acids having one oxo and three hydroxy groups were also present. Based on mass spectra and biological considerations two of these were tentatively given the structures 1 beta, 7 alpha, 12 alpha-trihydroxy-3-oxo- and 1 beta, 3 alpha, 12 alpha-trihydroxy-7-oxo-5 beta-cholanoic acids. Some of the others had a hydroxy group at C-4 or C-2. The levels of ketonic bile acids were higher on the third than on the first day of life, and lower after 1 month. The formation and excretion especially of 3-oxo bile acids is proposed to result from changes of the redox state in the liver in connection with birth.     

Tumor necrosis factor receptor 1-dependent depletion of mucus in immature small intestine: a potential role in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in premature infants. NEC is believed to occur when intestinal bacteria invade the intestinal epithelial layer, causing subsequent inflammation and tissue necrosis. Mucins are produced and secreted by epithelial goblet cells as a key component of the innate immune system and barrier function of the intestinal tract that help protect against bacterial invasion. To better understand the role of mucins in NEC, we quantified the number of mucus-containing small intestinal goblet cells present in infants with NEC and found they had significantly fewer goblet cells and Paneth cells compared with controls. To test whether inflammation has a developmentally dependent effect on intestinal goblet cells, TNF-α was injected into mice at various stages of intestinal development. TNF-α caused a loss of mucus-containing goblet cells only in immature mice and induced Muc2 and Muc3 mRNA upregulation only in mature ileum. Only minimal changes were seen in apoptosis and in expression of markers of goblet cell differentiation. TNF-α increased small intestinal mucus secretion and goblet cell hypersensitivity to prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2)), a known mucus secretagogue produced by macrophages. These TNF-α-induced changes in mucus mRNA levels required TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2), whereas TNF-α-induced loss of mucus-positive goblet cells required TNFR1. Our findings of developmentally dependent TNF-α-induced alterations on intestinal mucus may help explain why NEC is predominantly found in premature infants, and TNF-α-induced alterations of the intestinal innate immune system and barrier functions may play a role in the pathogenesis of NEC itself.     

Fast flip-flop of cholesterol and fatty acids in membranes: implications for membrane transport proteins

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The rates by which unesterified fatty acids and cholesterol move through and desorb from membranes have been difficult to measure, in part because of the simple structures of these lipids but also because methods have generally not clearly distinguished the two steps of membrane transport. Lack of definitive knowledge has given rise to speculation about the mechanism(s) of membrane 'transport' proteins for fatty acids and cholesterol. RECENT FINDINGS: New biophysical and biochemical approaches have provided evidence that fatty acids and cholesterol exhibit rapid diffusion (flip-flop), as fast as milliseconds, across both protein-free phospholipid bilayers and cell membranes. In contrast, desorption of the cholesterol molecule from a membrane surface (hours) is much slower than that of common dietary fatty acids (milliseconds to seconds). SUMMARY: Knowledge of these properties provides a framework for understanding transport and metabolism of cholesterol and fatty acids and how their putative membrane and intracellular transporters might function.     

Active transport of amino acids by gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase through Caco-2 cell monolayers.

The possible role of the gamma-glutamyl cycle in the transport of amino acids, using the Caco-2 cell monolayer as an in vitro model of the small intestine, has been investigated. The transport of [2-3H]glycine and [2-3H]glycylglycine through the Caco-2 monolayer has been shown to occur by two modes of action. Active transport is unidirectional from apical to basolateral region and is a carrier mediated system. The enzyme gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase seems to be involved in this process, since when the enzyme is inhibited, the active transport is also inhibited. However transport still takes place, and this occurs by a slower non-active process, which is bidirectional and is mediated by passive diffusion. The rate of transport of [2-3H]glycylglycine and [2-3H]glycine were 585 (+/- 24) and 287 (+/- 16) pmolcm-2min-1 respectively, while the non-active transport takes place at 87 (+/- 6) pmolcm-2min-1. Thus, amino acid translocation in Caco-2 cells is shown to occur by two methods, one of which involves the gamma-glutamyl cycle.