Impaired neutrophil function in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and its normalization in those undergoing specific treatment,except the HIV-coinfected cases

Our study investigated whether the respiratory burst (RB) of polymorphonuclear neutrophils from tuberculosis (TB) patients was related with the disease severity or treatment, as well as the circulating levels of TNF-alpha. The sample comprised 57 patients with moderate (n=21) or advanced disease (n=36, 13 of them with HIV coinfection, TB-HIV) and 12 controls. Patients were newly diagnosed (n=27) or under treatment (moderate=14, advanced=10, TB-HIV=6). Cytometric analysis showed that untreated patients had a depressed RB in response to Candida albicans, being more pronounced in the advanced group and nearly absent in TB-HIV cases. A recovered RB was observed in treated patients, except for the TB-HIV cases that continued to show a poor response. TNF-alpha serum levels were increased in untreated patients, mostly in the advanced and TB-HIV groups, and showed an inverse and significant correlation with the RB. Disease severity and anti-TB therapy exerted negative and positive influences on the reactive oxygen intermediates production, respectively.     

虹鳟肿瘤坏死因子(TNFα)基因体外表达与纯化的研究

将虹鳟两种肿瘤坏死因子TNFα和TNFα2基因的成熟肽编码区域,用带有BamHI和HindⅢ酶切位点的基因特异性引物进行：PCR扩增。扩增片段用限制性内切酶消化并连接到pQE30表达载体上,连接产物转化到大肠杆菌JM109感受态细菌中。转化子经PCR筛选,质粒测序,完成了虹鳟两种TNFα基因重组子的构建。重组子经体外培养和诱导后,获得了高效表达的TNFα重组蛋白。高效表达的重组TNFα不受诱导剂IPTG的影响,并且由于重组子高效表达而形成了包涵体;重组蛋白产量约占菌体蛋白总量的25％—30％。应用Ni-NTA和固定金属亲和层析(IM-PC)技术,在变性条件下获得了高度纯化的重组蛋白,纯化重组蛋白的产量约为0．5—1mg／L。     

血必净注射液对梗阻性黄疸大鼠血清内毒素及肿瘤坏死因子-alpha水平的影响

目的：探究血必净注射液对梗阻性黄疸大鼠血清内毒素(ETX)及肿瘤坏死因子-alpha(TNF-alpha)水平的影响。方法：选取雄性SD 大 鼠60 只,随机分为假手术(A)组、梗阻性黄疸(B)组、血必净干预(C)组,每组20 只。A组不结扎胆总管,B、C两组结扎胆总管。术后 七天,C 组每日皮下注射血必净4 mL/Kg,A 组、B 组用等量生理盐水替代,持续用药一周。实验两周后,检测和比较各组大鼠血清 ETX、TNF-alpha、总胆红素(TBIL)及直接胆红素(DBIL)水平。结果：术后两周,A组血清TBIL、DBIL 水平显著低于B、C两组;B组血 清TBIL、DBIL 水平显著高于C 组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。B组血清ETX和TNF-alpha水平显著高于A、C 组,差异均有统计 学意义(P<0.05)。结论：血必净注射液可能通过降低血清ETX和TNF-alpha含量改善梗阻性黄疸。     

重组人肿瘤坏死因子α和白细胞介素6融合基因的构建和表达

本文利用ＰＣＲ技术和基因定位突变技术,将编码人肿瘤坏死因子α（ｈＴＮＦα）和白细胞介素６（ｈＩＬ－６）成熟肽的基因通过中间接头连接成编码单一蛋白的基因,构建了融合蛋白表达载体ｐＢＩＴ,并在大肠杆菌中得到了表达。ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ的电泳胶薄层扫描显示,融合蛋白的表达量是菌体总蛋白量的２０％,其分子量约为３７ｋＤ。活性检测证实,融合蛋白既有ＴＮＦ活性,又有ＩＬ－６活性。     

旋转恒定磁场对TNFa和CHX诱导的Hela细胞凋亡的影响

目的:研究旋转恒定磁场与凋亡诱导剂肿瘤坏死因子和放线菌酮的协同作用。方法:设置暴磁组和非暴磁组,用T检验的方法比较暴磁组和非暴磁组细胞凋亡的差别。结果:在其它条件相同的情况下,暴磁处理促进了由肿瘤坏死因子和放线菌酮诱导的Hela细胞的凋亡,但是单独暴磁处理或者暴磁处理与肿瘤坏事因子和放线菌酮其中之一共同处理并没有对细胞的凋亡产生显著的影响。结论:旋转恒定磁场能够与肿瘤坏死因子和放线菌酮产生协同作用。     

Fumonisin B(1) alters sphingolipid metabolism and tumor necrosis factor alpha expression in heart and lung of mice

Fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)), produced by Fusarium verticillioides, is a common contaminant in foods and feeds. Increase in tissue free sphingoid bases resulting from the inhibition of ceramide synthase is a biomarker of fumonisin exposure. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) is induced in liver in response to FB(1) treatment. This study determined whether fumonisin B(1) caused increases in free sphingoid bases and altered the expression of TNFalpha in heart and lung, organs that are not targets of FB(1) toxicity, of male and female mice treated with 5-daily subcutaneous injection of 2.25 mg/kg FB(1). A significant increase in free sphingoid bases was observed in both heart and lung of FB(1)-exposed mice. The magnitude of increases in free sphingoid bases in both organs of female mice was much higher than that in males. The expression of TNFalpha was increased by FB(1) treatment in the lung of male mice and in the heart of female mice, whereas the expression of interferon gamma was unaltered. Results suggest that both sphingolipid accumulation and TNFalpha induction are observed in the tissues of mice that are not associated with FB(1) toxicity.     

Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily members 1a and 1b contribute to exacerbation of atherosclerosis by Chlamydia pneumoniae in mice

The host immune responses that mediate Chlamydia-induced chronic disease sequelae are incompletely understood. The role of TNF-α, TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1), and TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2), in Chlamydia pneumoniae (CPN)-induced atherosclerosis was studied using the high-fat diet-fed male C57BL/6J mouse model. Following intranasal CPN infection, TNF-α knockout (KO), TNFR1 KO, TNFR2 KO, and TNFR 1/2 double-knockout, displayed comparable serum anti-chlamydial antibody response, splenic antigen-specific cytokine response, and serum cholesterol profiles compared to wild type (WT) animals. However, atherosclerotic pathology in each CPN-infected KO mouse group was reduced significantly compared to WT mice, suggesting that both TNFR1 and TNFR2 promote CPN-induced atherosclerosis.     

Gelastatins and their hydroxamates as dual functional inhibitors for TNF-alpha converting enzyme and matrix metalloproteinases: synthesis, biological evaluation, and mechanism studies

The hydroxamic acid analogues (2) of the natural product gelastatins (1) were prepared by 1 step conversion reaction. The synthetic analogues (2) showed potent enzymatic inhibitory activities against MMP-2, MMP-9, and TACE IC50's of 6, 23, and 28 nM, respectively. In addition, 2 were able to inhibit TNF-alpha production effectively in mice as well as in a macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7. The protective effect of 2 also was examined on LPS-induced acute septic shock model. The mechanism of TNF-alpha inhibition was examined by RT-PCR and Western blot analyses. The relation of TACE and alpha-secretase was examined using cellular alpha-secretase assays on IMR-32 and SH-SY5Y cell lines. The docking mode of 2 with the catalytic domain of TACE was illustrated to analyze the binding mode for the further analogue design.     

趋化因子与哺乳动物生殖

趋化因子(chemokine)通过其G蛋白偶联的受体介导白细胞在各种组织内迁移。最近发现,白细胞介素—8(IL-8)、单核细胞趋化蛋白—1(MCP—1)、调节激活的正常T细胞表达和分泌的蛋白(RANTES)、调节生长的原癌基因α(GRO-α)、粒细胞趋化蛋白—2(GCP—2)等趋化因子在卵泡发育、闭锁、排卵、类固醇激素生成、黄体功能、月经周期、着床、子宫颈成熟、早产和子宫内膜异位症等生殖过程中具有重要的调节作用。     

重症肺炎患者干扰素-r、IL-6 和TNF-alpha含量变化研究

目的：探究重症肺炎患者干扰素-r、白细胞介素-6 和肿瘤坏死因子-alpha含量变化及其临床意义。方法：选取我院收治并确诊 为肺炎的患者103 例,根据病情不同,将其分为重症肺炎组52 例及普通肺炎组51 例,同时选取同期参加健康体检人群50 例,为 对照组。比较三组成员不同时间段干扰素-r、白细胞介素-6 和肿瘤坏死因子-alpha含量,重症肺炎组患者存活与死亡组上述因子含 量情况。结果：入院6 h 后,与对照组比较,重症肺炎及普通肺炎组干扰素-r、白细胞介素-6 及肿瘤坏子因子-琢含量较高P＜ 0.05,与普通肺炎组比较,重症肺炎组重症肺炎组干扰素-r、白细胞介素-6 及肿瘤坏子因子-alpha含量较高P＜0.05;入院24 h后,与 对照组比较,重症肺炎组干扰素-r、白细胞介素-6 及肿瘤坏子因子-alpha含量较高P＜0.05,普通肺炎组与对照组比较无差异P＞ 0.05;重症肺炎死亡组患者干扰素-r、白细胞介素-6 及肿瘤坏子因子-alpha含量较高P＜0.05。结论：干扰素-r、白细胞介素-6 以及 肿瘤坏死因子-alpha参与患者的免疫调节,可间接提示患者的病程发展,可作为判断病情程度的有利依据。     

Globular adiponectin decreases leptin-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression by murine macrophages: involvement of cAMP-PKA and MAPK pathways

Several lines of evidence have supported a link between obesity and inflammation. The present study investigated the capacity of leptin and globular adiponectin to affect tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) production in murine peritoneal macrophages. Leptin stimulated TNF-alpha production at mRNA as well as protein levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Intracellular cAMP concentration was increased and protein kinase A (PKA) was activated with the treatment of leptin, subsequently downstream MAPK signal proteins, ERK1/2 and p38, were phosphorylated. Specific inhibitors for the signal proteins, Rp cAMPS, H89, PD98059, and U0126, or SB203580, suppressed the signaling pathway and TNF-alpha expression. Although gAd partially increased cAMP concentration and PKA activity, it directly reduced leptin-induced ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK phosphorylation thus inhibiting TNF-alpha production. In conclusion, leptin promotes inflammation by stimulating TNF-alpha production, which is mediated by cAMP-PKA-ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK pathways. gAd inhibited leptin-induced TNF-alpha production through suppressing phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 pathways.     

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 contributes to tumor necrosis factor alpha induced apoptosis in cultured rat cardiac myocytes

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of ischemic heart disease. However, the role of interactions between MMP-2 and TNFalpha, associated with cardiac apoptosis, is unknown. We hypothesized that MMP-2 will contribute to TNFalpha-induced myocardial apoptosis. After treatment with TNFalpha (1-20 ng/ml) for 24 h, or with TNFalpha (10 ng/ml) for 0, 6, 12, 24, or 48 h, MMP-2 activity, percent of TUNEL-positive myocytes, and DNA fragmentation dose, and time-dependently increased compared to control. However, TNFalpha blockade (neutralizing antibodies against human TNFalpha, 25 microg/ml) significantly reduced the activity of MMP-2 and markers of apoptosis induced by TNFalpha. Interestingly, MMP-2 antibody (30 microg/ml), or the MMP-2 inhibitors Doxycycline (Dox, 1-50 micromol/l) or GM6001 (GM, 10 micromol/l), prior to TNFalpha insult, decreased myocardial MMP-2 activity and reduced the percent of TUNEL-positive myocytes and DNA fragmentation. Moreover, MMP-2 inhibition reduced Bax expression and caspase3 activity, as well as increasing Bcl2 expression. MMP-2 inhibition was associated with decreased cardiac MMP-2 activity and decreased myocardial apoptosis induced by TNFalpha. These results suggest that MMP-2 contributes to TNFalpha-induced apoptosis in cultured rat cardiac myocytes.     

Pharmacological evaluation and docking studies of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl based synthetic compounds as inhibitors of secretory phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenases,lipoxygenase and proinflammatory cytokines

Arachidonic acid and its metabolites have generated high level of interest among researchers due to their vital role in inflammation. The inhibition of enzymes involved in arachidonic acid metabolism has been considered as synergistic anti-inflammatory effect. A series of novel α,β-unsaturated carbonyl based compounds were synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory activity on secretory phospholipase A₂ (sPLA₂), cyclooxygenases (COX), soybean lipoxygenase (LOX) in addition to proinflammatory cytokines comprising IL-6 and TNF-α. Six α,β-unsaturated carbonyl based compounds (2, 3, 4, 12, 13 and 14) exhibited strong inhibition of sPLA₂ activity, with IC₅₀ values in the range of 2.19–8.76 μM. Nine compounds 1–4 and 10–14 displayed inhibition of COX-1 with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.37 to 1.77 μM (lower than that of reference compound), whereas compounds 2, 10, 13 and 14 strongly inhibited the COX-2. The compounds 10–14 exhibited strong inhibitory activity against LOX enzyme. All compounds were evaluated for the inhibitory activities against LPS-induced TNF-α and IL-6 release in the macrophages. On the basis of screening results, five active compounds 3, 4, 12, 13 and 14 were found strong inhibitors of TNF-α and IL-6 release in a dose-dependent manner. Molecular docking experiments were performed to clarify the molecular aspects of the observed COX and LOX inhibitory activities of the investigated compounds. Present findings increases the possibility that these α,β-unsaturated carbonyl based compounds might serve as beneficial starting point for the design and development of improved anti-inflammatory agents.     

The effect of a single dose of tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitor on gut permeability in rats during exposure to a heat stress

Heat stroke is a life threatening illness characterized by a core body temperature of >40 °C, delirium and convulsions, and often results in multi-organ dysfunction, due to the release of endotoxin through the intestinal wall into the circulation. While playing a major role in the gastrointestinal tract permeability changes seen in Crohn's disease, it is not clear whether tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) mediates the increase in intestinal permeability and the release of endotoxin into the circulation in heat stroke. The aim of the present study was to determine the acute effects of a single dose of TNF-α antibody on gut permeability in rats during heat stress. Fifty-five Sprague-Dawley rats (28 male and 27 female) were treated with either saline or infliximab (a monoclonal antibody to TNF-α), anesthetized with pentobarbitone (50 mg kg⁻¹) and then exposed to either normothermic conditions or an ambient temperature of between 41 and 42 °C for 70 min. Fluorescent isothiocyanate labeled dextrans (FITC-dextrans) were administered intragastrically as a marker of intestinal permeability. Liver enzymes, endotoxin and TNF-α were analyzed in the blood. Exposure to a heat stress significantly increased intestinal permeability to FITC-dextrans compared to the controls (P<0.05). Infliximab did not have an effect on the intestinal permeability to the FITC-dextrans. Heat stress had no significant effect on liver enzymes or endotoxin concentration versus controls (P>0.05). TNF-α was not detectable in any of the samples. TNF-α did not mediate the release of endotoxin into the circulation after an acute bout of heat stroke.     

The potential biological and clinical significance of the soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors

The role of TNF receptors (TNF-Rs) is not limited to signal transduction but includes extracellular regulatory functions affecting systemic TNF bioavailability. This review summarizes the regulation of TNF-R shedding and its kinetics, the complex interaction between the soluble receptors and their ligand in vitro and in vivo, and the potential diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic value of the soluble receptors in malignant, inflammatory, infectious and autoimmune disorders.     

Chemokines and chemokine receptors: Insights from human disease and experimental models of helminthiasis

Infection with helminth parasites affects more than 1.5 billion people and is concentrated in global areas of extreme poverty, having a significant impact on public health, social life and the economy. Upon entry into the host, helminth parasites often migrate through specific tissues triggering host immunity. The immune response triggered by helminth infections is complex and depends on parasite load, site of infection, acuteness/chronicity of the infection and is species-dependent. In general, susceptibility or resistance to the infection involves the participation of the innate immune response and then the balance between several effector CD4⁺ T cells subsets, such as Th1, Th2, Th9, Th17, Tfh and Treg, coordinated by immune mediators such as cytokines and chemokines. Chemokines guide the recruitment and activation of leukocytes under inflammatory and homeostatic states. The chemokine system has been associated with several diseases and experimental models with a significant inflammatory component, including infection with helminth parasites. Therefore, this critical review will highlight the main findings concerning chemokine responses elicited by the interaction between helminth parasites and the hosts’ immune system, hence contributing to the understanding of the relevance of chemokine synthesis and biology in the immunological response to infection by parasitic helminths.     

Association of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma and interleukin 10 gene polymorphisms with peripheral neuropathy in South Indian patients with type 2 diabetes

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a major global health threat and a common complication of diabetes. Peripheral nerve complications due to irregular cytokine production are eminent factors in many inflammatory diseases. The present study focused on gene polymorphisms of pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines that may be responsible for nerve damage in diabetic neuropathy. We examined three common functional SNPs primarily at the positions on genes of tumor necrosis alpha (TNFα) −308G/A, interferon gamma (IFNγ) +874A/T and interleukin (IL) 10 −1082G/A in order to establish their association with peripheral neuropathy in type 2 diabetes. Results: Genotypic frequencies obtained from TNFα −308G/A gene analysis in DPN group comprised 86.4% of G/A, 10.6% of G/G and 3% of A/A genotype, where as the control group had 94% of G/A, 2% of G/G and 4% of A/A which could not reach the statistical significance with the disease after Bonferroni correction. The IFNγ +874 A/T polymorphism in patient group revealed 33.3% of A/A, 47.5% of A/T and 19.2% of T/T genotype. The A/A genotype had attained statistical significance of P = 0.04 (P corrected); OR 2; 95% CI 1.14–3.64 when compared to controls. The IL10 −1082 G/A polymorphism in the patient group has showed 62.6% of A/A, 21.2% of G/A, 16.2% of G/G genotype, revealing significant association with G/G genotype (P < 0.01, OR 2.9; 95% CI 1.47–5.84) when compared to controls. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the tested markers within the IFNγ and IL-10 genes, but not the TNFα gene, are significantly associated with peripheral neuropathy in South Indian type 2 diabetic patients. The study shows that the ‘high-producer’ IL-10 −1082 G/G genotype and the ‘low-producer’ IFNγ +874 A/A genotype may be responsible for the down regulation of immune response leading to inflammation in this setting.     

美沙拉嗪对溃疡性结肠炎患者血清CRP,IL-10及TNF-α水平的影响

目的:探讨美沙拉嗪对溃疡性结肠炎患者血清CRP,IL-10及TNF-α水平的影响。方法:收集我院就诊的120例溃疡性结肠炎患者,随机分为实验组和对照组,每组60例。两组给予柳氮磺吡啶肠溶片治疗,实验组患者给予美沙拉嗪肠溶片治疗。观察并比较两组患者治疗前后血清C-反应蛋白(CRP)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)及白介素-10(IL-10)水平、临床疗效及安全性。结果:与治疗前相比,治疗后两组患者血清CRP及TNF-α水平均下降,而IL-10水平均升高,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);与对照组相比,实验组患者血清CRP及TNF-α水平较低,而IL-10水平较高,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);与对照组相比,实验组患者临床治疗有效率较高,不良反应发生率较低,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:美沙拉嗪能够抑制溃疡性结肠炎患者的炎症反应水平,降低CRP、TNF-α水平,升高IL-10水平,临床疗效较好,且用药安全。