Abrogation of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis by nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, aminoguanidine in mice.

The effects of aminoguanidine (AG), a specific inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase, on the bleomycin (BL)-induced lung fibrosis was evaluated in mice. The animals were placed into five groups: saline (SA)-instilled drinking water (SA+H(2)O), saline-instilled drinking water containing 0.5%AG (SA+0.5%AG), BL-instilled drinking water (BL+H(2)O), BL-instilled drinking water containing 0.2%AG (BL+0.2%AG), and BL-instilled drinking water containing 0.5%AG (BL+0.5%AG). The mice had free access to H(2)O or H(2)O containing AG and lab chow ad lib 2 days prior to intratracheal (IT) instillation of BL (0.07U/mouse/100 microL) or an equivalent volume of sterile isotonic saline. The mice in the SA+0.5%AG group consumed the greatest amount of AG without any ill effects than the mice in any other group. There were no differences in any of the measured biochemical determinants between the SA+H(2)O and SA+0.5%AG control groups. The IT instillation of BL in the BL+H(2)O group caused significant increases in the lipid peroxidation, hydroxyproline content, and prolyl hydroxylase activity of lungs and influx of inflammatory cells in the broncheoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) as compared to both control groups. The intake of aminoguanidine by mice in the BL+0.5%AG group caused significant reductions in the BL-induced increases in all measured biochemical indices of lung fibrosis without any effects on the influx of inflammatory cells in the BALF. In fact, AG in both BL-treated groups additionally increased the total cell counts in the BALF from mice in the BL+0.2%AG and BL+0.5%AG groups as compared to the BL+H(2)O group. Histopathological evaluation of the lungs revealed that the mice in the BL+0.5%AG group had markedly fewer fibrotic lesions than mice in the BL+H(2)O group. These results demonstrate that aminoguanidine minimizes the BL-induced lung fibrosis at both the biochemical and the morphological level and support our earlier hypothesis that the production of nitric oxide plays a significant role in the pathogenesis lung fibrosis caused by BL.     

Dietary supplementation with taurine and niacin prevents the increase in lung collagen cross-links in the multidose bleomycin hamster model of pulmonary fibrosis

Taurine and niacin have been previously found to block the accumulation of collagen in lung in the multidose bleomycin hamster model of pulmonary fibrosis. Previous studies have found an increase in the pulmonary collagen cross-links dihydroxylysinonoroleucine (DHLNL) and hydroxypyridinium (OHP) in the single dose bleomycin rat model. In this study, we asked if taurine and niacin would block the increase in DHLNL and OHP in the multidose bleomycin hamster model of lung fibrosis. Hamsters were intratracheally instilled with three consecutive doses of saline or bleomycin sulfate 1 week apart (2.5, 2.0,1.5 units/ 5 mL/kg). Animals were fed diet containing either 2.5% niacin and 2.5% taurine or control diet throughout the experiment. The four groups were saline-instilled with control diet (SCD), bleomycin instilled with control diet (BCD), bleomycin-instilled with taurine-niacin in diet (BTN), and saline-instilled with taurine-niacin in diet (STN). Animals were sacrificed at 1, 4, and 8 weeks after the last bleomycin instillation. Hydroxyproline per lung in the BCD group was significantly elevated by 38, 56, and 60% over the SCD group at 1, 4, and 8 weeks, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences among the four groups in DHLNL (mmole) per mole collagen at the 1 or 8 week time point. At four weeks, DHLNL was significantly elevated by 46.4% in the BCD group over the SCD group. The OHP (mmole) per mole of collagen at 1 and 4 weeks in the BCD group was not statistically different from the SCD group. However, at 8 weeks, this was significantly elevated by 31.4% over the SCD group. The DHLNL and OHP contents per mole of collagen were increased in the multidose bleomycin hamster model. Treatment with taurine and niacin in combination prevented the bleomycin-induced increases in the DHLNL and OHP contents of the lung collagen and this may be one of the mechanisms for their antifibrotic effect in this multidose bleomycin hamster model of pulmonary fibrosis.     

Mechanism of antifibrotic effect of taurine and niacin in the multidose bleomycin-hamster model of lung fibrosis: Inhibition of lysyl oxidase and collagenase

In the multiple-dose bleomycin-hamster model of pulmonary fibrosis, combined treatment with taurine and niacin blocks the increase in lung collagen deposition. We investigated the effects of taurine and niacin on lung lysyl oxidase and type I collagenase activities in this model. Hamsters were intratracheally instilled with three weekly doses of saline or bleomycin sulfate. Animals were fed either a diet containing 2.5% niacin and 2.5% taurine, or a control diet throughout the experiment. The four groups were saline-instilled with the control diet (SCD), bleomycin-instilled with control diet (BCD), bleomycin-instilled with the diet containing taurine and niacin (BTN), and saline-instilled with the diet containing taurine and niacin (STN). Animals were sacrificed at 1, 4, and 8 weeks after the last bleomycin instillation. Hydroxyproline per lung in the BCD group was significantly elevated by 38, 56, and 60% over the SCD group at 1, 4, and 8 weeks, respectively. Lysyl oxidase activity per lung in the BCD group was significantly elevated by 57.5 and 91.4% over the SCD controls at 1 and 4 week time periods, respectively. Type I collagenase activity per lung in the BCD group was significantly elevated by 65 and 80% over the SCD controls at 1 and 4 weeks, respectively. The combined treatment with taurine and niacin abolished the bleomycin-induced increases in the lung hydroxyproline content and lysyl oxidase and collagenase activities. It was postulated that one of the mechanisms for the antifibrotic effect of taurine and niacin may be the blockage of bleomycin-induced increases in the lung lysyl oxidase and collagenase activities. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

地塞米松联合缬沙坦对慢性阻塞性肺疾病小鼠保护作用及机制探讨*

目的: 评估地塞米松联合缬沙坦对香烟所致慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)小鼠的保护作用。方法: 40只C57BL/6小鼠随机分为(n=8):对照组、COPD组、地塞米松组、缬沙坦组和地塞米松+缬沙坦联合处理组。COPD组小鼠持续8周进行香烟暴露;在香烟暴露基础上,地塞米松组小鼠在5~8周香烟暴露前腹腔注射地塞米松(2 mg/kg);缬沙坦组小鼠在1~8周香烟暴露前腹腔注射缬沙坦(30 mg/kg);地塞米松+缬沙坦联合处理组小鼠腹腔注射地塞米松(2 mg/kg)和缬沙坦(30 mg/kg)。8周后收集各组小鼠肺组织及支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF),评估肺组织病理学评分及BALF中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和基质金属蛋白酶9(MMP-9)活性,以及丙二醛(MDA)、细胞内黏附分子1(ICAM-1)、C反应蛋白(CRP)和一氧化氮(NO)含量。结果: 与对照组相比,COPD组小鼠存在肺气肿和肺泡充血,BALF中MDA、ICAM-1、MMP-9、CRP和淋巴细胞升高,SOD、巨噬细胞和NO降低(P均＜0.05)。与COPD组相比,地塞米松或缬沙坦组小鼠肺气肿和肺泡充血无明显改善,BALF中SOD 和NO升高,MDA、淋巴细胞和巨噬细胞降低(P均＜0.05)。与地塞米松或缬沙坦组相比较,地塞米松+缬沙坦联合处理组能更有效预防香烟引起的肺气肿和肺泡充血,降低BALF中MDA、ICAM-1、MMP-9、CRP和淋巴细胞,升高SOD、巨噬细胞和NO(P均＜ 0.05)。结论: 地塞米松联合缬沙坦通过抑制氧化应激和炎症,可以更有效在COPD小鼠中发挥保护作用。     

Hypoxia-induced acute lung injury in murine models of sickle cell disease

Vaso-occlusive events are the major source of morbidity and mortality in sickle cell disease (SCD); however, the pathogenic mechanisms driving these events remain unclear. Using hypoxia to induce pulmonary injury, we investigated mechanisms by which sickle hemoglobin increases susceptibility to lung injury in a murine model of SCD, where mice either exclusively express the human alpha/sickle beta-globin (halphabetaS) transgene (SCD mice) or are heterozygous for the normal murine beta-globin gene and express the halphabetaS transgene (mbeta+/-, halphabetaS+/-; heterozygote SCD mice). Under normoxia, lungs from the SCD mice contained higher levels of xanthine oxidase (XO), nitrotyrosine, and cGMP than controls (C57BL/6 mice). Hypoxia increased XO and nitrotyrosine and decreased cGMP content in the lungs of all mice. After hypoxia, vascular congestion was increased in lungs with a greater content of XO and nitrotyrosine. Under normoxia, the association of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) with endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in lungs of SCD and heterozygote SCD mice was decreased compared with the levels of association in lungs of controls. Hypoxia further decreased association of HSP90 with eNOS in lungs of SCD and heterozygote SCD mice, but not in the control lungs. Pretreatment of rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells in vitro with xanthine/XO decreased A-23187-stimulated nitrite + nitrate production and HSP90 interactions with eNOS. These data support the hypotheses that hypoxia increases XO release from ischemic tissues and that the local increase in XO-induced oxidative stress can then inhibit HSP90 interactions with eNOS, decreasing *NO generation and predisposing the lung to vaso-occlusion.     

急性力竭运动后小鼠肾细胞凋亡水平的变化及牛磺酸的保护作用

为探讨急性力竭运动后小鼠(Mus musculus)肾细胞凋亡水平的时相性变化及牛磺酸对肾的保护作用,将56只雄性小鼠随机分为对照组、力竭运动组(分为运动后即刻组、12h组、24 h组和48 h组)及牛磺酸运动组(分为12h组和24 h组),每小组8只,一次性力竭游泳运动后检测肾细胞凋亡水平、Bcl-2和Bax蛋白表达、一氧化氮(NO)含量及结构型一氧化氮合酶(cNOS)、诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)活性的变化.结果显示,力竭运动后各组小鼠肾细胞凋亡水平呈先升高后下降的趋势,其中运动后24 h组的凋亡水平达峰值(P＜0.05).与对照组相比,运动各组Bax表达均显著增强(P＜0.05).除运动后即刻组外,运动各组Bcl-2表达显著减弱(P＜0.05).各组Bax/Bcl-2比值显著升高,并在运动后24 h达峰值(P＜0.01),后出现下降趋势.小鼠力竭游泳后24 h和48 h肾组织NO含量显著高于对照组(P＜0.05),同时iNOS活性升高(P＜0.01),cNOS活性无显著性变化.相比同时刻运动组,牛磺酸运动组小鼠肾细胞凋亡水平、Bax表达及Bax/Bcl-2比值、iNOS活性显著降低(P＜0.05),Bcl-2表达显著升高(P＜0.05).以上结果表明,急性力竭运动可导致肾细胞凋亡的发生,iNOS、Bax、Bcl-2水平及Bax/Bcl-2比值可能在肾细胞凋亡的发生过程中发挥重要的介导作用.牛磺酸可通过调控iNOS活性及Bax/Bcl-2比值,抑制急性力竭运动后小鼠肾细胞凋亡的发生.     

Effects of taurine on metal cations,transthyretin and LRP-1 in a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease

BackgroundResearches on diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease, the most common type of dementia, are still ongoing. Taurine is frequently used in Alzheimer's disease models due to its protective effects. Metal cation dyshomeostasis is an important etiological factor for Alzheimer's disease. Transthyretin protein is thought to act as a transporter for the Aβ protein that accumulates in the brain and is eliminated in the liver and kidneys via the LRP-1 receptor. However, the effect of taurine on this mechanisms is not fully known.Methods30 male rats, aged 28 ± 4 months, were divided into 5 groups (n = 6) as follows: control group, sham group, Aβ 1–42 group, taurine group and taurine+Aβ 1–42 group. Oral taurine pre-supplementation was given as 1000 mg/kg-body weight/day for 6 weeks to taurine and taurine+Aβ 1–42 groups.ResultsPlasma copper, heart transthyretin and Aβ 1–42, brain and kidney LRP-1 levels were found to be decreased in the Aβ 1–42 group. Brain transthyretin was higher in taurine+Aβ 1–42 group and brain Aβ 1–42 was higher in Aβ 1–42 and taurine+Aβ 1–42 groups.ConclusionTaurine pre-supplementation maintained cardiac transthyretin levels, decreased cardiac Aβ 1–42 levels and increased brain and kidney LRP-1 levels. Taurine may have a potential to be used as a protective agent for aged people at high risk for Alzheimer's disease.     

Improvement in cholesterol metabolism in mice given chronic treatment of taurine and fed a high-fat diet

The effects of chronic treatment of taurine on hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis were examined in C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet containing 15% fat and 1.25% cholesterol. Taurine was dissolved in drinking water at 1% (w/v) and was given to mice ad libitum during 6 months-feeding of a high-fat diet. Hypercholesterolemia occurred and lipid accumulation on the aortic valve was evident. Taurine treatment lowered serum LDL + VLDL cholesterol by 44% in mice fed a high-fat diet, while it elevated serum HDL cholesterol by 25%. As a result, the atherogenic index, the ratio of HDL to LDL + VLDL was markedly improved. Cholesterol content in the liver also decreased by 19% with taurine. Similar tendencies were seen in mice fed regular chow, but the changes were not significant. The area of aortic lipid accumulation, which served as an index of atherosclerosis, was reduced by 20% with taurine. In the liver, taurine doubled the activity of cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase. These observations, together with prior findings, suggest that the cholesterol-lowering action of taurine may relate to the increased conversion of cholesterol to bile acids via stimulation of cholesterol 7a-hydroxylase activity. Thus, chronic treatment of high-fat mice with taurine improves the abnormal profile of the serum lipoproteins, and thereby retards the progression of atherosclerosis.     

Taurine stimulation of isolated hamster brain Na+,K+-ATPase: activation kinetics and chemical specificity

Epileptic foci are associated with locally reduced taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) concentration and Na+,K+-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) specific activity. Topically applied and intraperitoneally administered taurine can prevent the development and/or spread of foci in many animal models. Taurine has been implicated as a possible cytosolic modulator of monovalent ion distribution, cytosolic "free" calcium activity, and neuronal excitability. Taurine may act in part by modulating Na+,K+-ATPase activity of neuronal and glial cells. We characterized the requirements for in vitro modulation of Na+,K+-ATPase by taurine. Normal whole brain homogenate Na+,K+-ATPase activity is 5.1 +/- 0.4 (4) mumol Pi X h-1 X mg-1 Lowry protein. Partial purification of the plasma membrane fraction to remove cytosolic proteins and extrinsic proteins and to uncouple cholinergic receptors yields a membrane-bound Na+,K+-ATPase activity of 204.6 +/- 5.8 (4) mol Pi X h-1 X mg-1 Lowry protein. Taurine activates the Na+,K+-ATPase at all levels of purification. The concentration dependence of activation follows normal saturation kinetics (K1/2 = 39 mM taurine, activation maximum = +87%). The activation exhibits chemical specificity among the taurine analogues and metabolites: taurine = isethionic acid greater than hypotaurine greater than no activation = beta-alanine = methionine = choline = leucine. Taurine can act as an endogenous activator/modulator of Na+,K+-ATPase. Its action is mediated by a membrane-bound protein.     

Decreased alveolar macrophage apoptosis is associated with increased pulmonary inflammation in a murine model of pneumococcal pneumonia

Regulation of the inflammatory infiltrate is critical to the successful outcome of pneumonia. Alveolar macrophage apoptosis is a feature of pneumococcal infection and aids disease resolution. The host benefits of macrophage apoptosis during the innate response to bacterial infection are incompletely defined. Because NO is required for optimal macrophage apoptosis during pneumococcal infection, we have explored the role of macrophage apoptosis in regulating inflammatory responses during pneumococcal pneumonia, using inducible NO synthase (iNOS)-deficient mice. iNOS(-/-) mice demonstrated decreased numbers of apoptotic macrophages as compared with wild-type C57BL/6 mice following pneumococcal challenge, greater recruitment of neutrophils to the lung and enhanced expression of TNF-alpha. Pharmacologic inhibition of iNOS produced similar results. Greater pulmonary inflammation was associated with greater levels of early bacteremia, IL-6 production, lung inflammation, and mortality within the first 48 h in iNOS(-/-) mice. Labeled apoptotic alveolar macrophages were phagocytosed by resident macrophages in the lung and intratracheal instillation of exogenous apoptotic macrophages decreased neutrophil recruitment in iNOS(-/-) mice and decreased TNF-alpha mRNA in lungs and protein in bronchial alveolar lavage, as well as chemokines and cytokines including IL-6. These changes were associated with a lower probability of mice becoming bacteremic. This demonstrates the potential of apoptotic macrophages to down-regulate the inflammatory response and for the first time in vivo demonstrates that clearance of apoptotic macrophages decreases neutrophil recruitment and invasive bacterial disease during pneumonia.     

Attenuation by dietary taurine of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice and of THP-1-induced damage to intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayers

The effects of dietary taurine on the experimental colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in mice were evaluated. C57BL/6 female mice were given 3% DSS in drinking water for 5 d to induce acute colitis. Taurine at 2% was added to the drinking water 5 d before and during the DSS-treatment to investigate its preventive effect. Taurine supplementation significantly attenuated the weight decrease, diarrhea severity, colon shortening, and the increase in the colonic tissue myeloperoxidase activity induced by DSS. Taurine also significantly inhibited the increase in the expression of a pro-inflammatory chemokine, macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2), but not of interleukin (IL)-1beta or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha mRNA. Furthermore, taurine significantly protected the intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayers from the damage by macrophage-like THP-1 cells in an in vitro coculture system. These results suggest that taurine prevented DSS-induced colitis partly in association with (1) its inhibitory effects on the secretion of MIP-2 from the intestinal epithelial cells and on the infiltration of such inflammatory cells as neutrophils and (2) its cytoprotective functions on the epithelial barrier from the direct toxicity of DSS and from the inflammatory cell-induced injury.     

The effect of taurine on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury

Summary. Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is one of the most common causes of renal dysfunction. Taurine is an endogenous antioxidant and a membrane-stabilizing, intracellular, free beta-amino acid. It has been demonstrated to have protective effects against I/R injuries to tissues other than kidney. The aim of this study was to determine whether taurine has a beneficial role in renal I/R injury. Forty Wistar-Albino rats were allocated into four groups as follows: sham, taurine, I/R, and I/R + taurine. Taurine 7.5 mg/kg was given intra-peritoneally to rats in the groups taurine and I/R + taurine. Renal I/R was achieved by occluding the renal arteries bilaterally for 40 min, followed by 6 h of reperfusion. Immediately thereafter, blood was drawn and tissue samples were harvested to measure 1) serum levels of BUN and creatinine; 2) serum and/or tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6PD), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD) and glutathione reductase (GSH-red); 3) renal morphology; and 4) immunohistochemical staining for P-selectin. Taurine administration reduced I/R-induced increases in serum BUN and creatinine, and serum and tissue MDA levels (p < 0.05). Additionally, taurine lessened the reductions in serum and tissue glutathione levels secondary to I/R (p < 0.05). Taurine also attenuated histopathologic evidence of renal injury, and reduced I/R-induced P-selectin immunoreactivity (p < 0.05). Overall, then, taurine administration appears to reduce the injurious effects of I/R on kidney.     

The protective role of nitric oxide in a neurotoxicant-induced demyelinating model.

Demyelination is often associated with acute inflammatory events involving the recruitment-activation of microglia/macrophage, astrocytes, and leukocytes. The ultimate role of inflammatory products in demyelinating disease and in the survival of oligodendrocytes, the myelin forming cells, is unresolved. The current study examines the role of inducible NO synthase (iNOS)-derived NO in a neurotoxicant-induced model of demyelination. NO levels were greatly elevated in the midline corpus callosum during demyelination in genetically intact C57BL/6 mice, and this NO was due solely to the induction of iNOS, as the correlates of NO were not found in mice lacking iNOS. C57BL/6 mice lacking iNOS exhibited more demyelination, but did not display an increased overall cellularity in the corpus callosum, attributable to an unimpeded microglia/macrophage presence. An enhanced course of pathology was noted in mice lacking iNOS. This was associated with a greater depletion of mature oligodendrocytes, most likely due to apoptosis of oligodendrocytes. Microglia and astrocytes did not undergo apoptosis during treatment. Our results suggest a moderately protective role for NO during acute inflammation-association demyelination.     

Effects of niacin on bleomycin-induced increases in myeloperoxidase,prolyl hydroxylase,and superoxide dismutase activities and collagen accumulation in the lungs of hamsters

It has been shown that lung nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) depletion accompanies bleomycin (BL)-induced lung fibrosis in the hamster and that treatment with niacin (NA), a precursor of NAD, was found to attenuate lung fibrosis caused by this agent. Niacin was used in the present study to investigate changes in some biochemical parameters and enzymes involved in the development of BL-induced lung fibrosis in the hamster. Niacin (500 mg/kg, IP), or an equivalent volume of saline (SA, IP), was given daily 2 days prior to intratracheal instillation of BL (7.5 U/5 mL/ kg) or SA and everyday thereafter throughout the study. Hamsters were killed at 1, 4, 7, 10, and 14 days after the BL or SA instillation and their lungs processed for various biochemical assays. Hydroxyproline content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in SABL treated animals were significantly (P ± 0.05) elevated at 7 and 10 days, peaking at 14 days to 161 ± 11% and 159 ± 11% of the SASA treated animals, respectively. Although the hydroxyproline level of NABL treated animals was significantly elevated at 7 and 10 days and peaked at 14 days to 123 ± 8% of the NASA control, these values were significantly lower than the SABL treated animals at the corresponding times. The lung SOD activity of NABL groups was significantly higher at 4 days but significantly lower at 10 and 14 days than the SABL groups at the corresponding times. Prolyl hydroxylase (PH) activity and total lung calcium in SABL treated groups were significantly elevated compared to SASA treated groups starting at 4 days, with PH peaking at 10 days to 163 ± 13% and calcium peaking at 7 days to 148 ± 8% of SASA treated groups. The NABL treated animals displayed a significant elevation in PH activity at 4 days only (132 ± 15%), while the calcium content in this group was significantly increased at 4 and 14 days compared to NASA treated animals. However, the activity of PH in the NABL treated animals was significantly lower than the SABL treated animals at 7, 10, and 14 days. The calcium content of the NABL group was significantly lower than the SABL group at 7 and 10 days. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substance equivalents (TBARS) content and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were significantly elevated at all time points in SABL groups as compared to SASA groups, with peak elevation of TBARS to 160 ± 9% at 4 days and MPO to 268 ± 40% at 1 day. The TBARS content of NABL groups was significantly elevated above NASA groups at 1, 4, 7, and 10 days. The MPO activity in NABL groups was significantly elevated above NASA groups at 1, 4, 7, and 14 days, but the activity was significantly lower than SABL groups at 4 and 14 days. The data suggest that NA inhibits the extent of oxidative damage or enhances processes involved in the repair of BL-induced alveolar epithelial damage.     

Structural deficiencies in granuloma formation in TNF gene-targeted mice underlie the heightened susceptibility to aerosol Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, which is not compensated for by lymphotoxin

TNF and lymphotoxin-alpha (LT alpha) may act at various stages of the host response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. To dissect the effects of TNF independent of LT alpha, we have used C57BL/6 mice with a disruption of the TNF gene alone (TNF-/-). Twenty-one days following aerosol M. tuberculosis infection there was a marked increase in the number of organisms in the lungs of TNF-/- mice, and by 28-35 days all animals had succumbed, with widespread dissemination of M. tuberculosis. In comparison with the localized granulomas containing activated macrophages and T cells in lungs and livers of C57BL/6 wild-type (wt) mice, cellular infiltrates in TNF-/- mice were poorly formed, with extensive regions of necrosis and neutrophilic infiltration of the alveoli. Phenotypic analysis of lung homogenates demonstrated similar numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in TNF-/- and wt mice, but in TNF-deficient mice the lymphocytes were restricted to perivascular and peribronchial areas rather than colocated with macrophages in granulomas. T cells from TNF-/- mice retained proliferative and cytokine responses to purified protein derivative, and delayed-type hypersensitivity to purified protein derivative was demonstrable. Macrophages within the lungs of TNF-/- and wt mice showed similar levels of MHC class II and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, and levels of serum nitrite were comparable. Thus, the enhanced susceptibility of TNF-/- is not compensated for by the presence of LT alpha, and the critical role of TNF is not in the activation of T cells and macrophages but in the local organization of granulomas.     

Overexpression of Dimethylarginine Dimethylaminohydrolase 1 Attenuates Airway Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Asthma

Levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, are increased in lung, sputum, exhaled breath condensate and plasma samples from asthma patients. ADMA is metabolized primarily by dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 (DDAH1) and DDAH2. We determined the effect of DDAH1 overexpression on development of allergic inflammation in a mouse model of asthma. The expression of DDAH1 and DDAH2 in mouse lungs was determined by RT-quantitative PCR (qPCR). ADMA levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum samples were determined by mass spectrometry. Wild type and DDAH1-transgenic mice were intratracheally challenged with PBS or house dust mite (HDM). Airway inflammation was assessed by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) total and differential cell counts. The levels of IgE and IgG1 in BALF and serum samples were determined by ELISA. Gene expression in lungs was determined by RNA-Seq and RT-qPCR. Our data showed that the expression of DDAH1 and DDAH2 was decreased in the lungs of mice following HDM exposure, which correlated with increased ADMA levels in BALF and serum. Transgenic overexpression of DDAH1 resulted in decreased BAL total cell and eosinophil numbers following HDM exposure. Total IgE levels in BALF and serum were decreased in HDM-exposed DDAH1-transgenic mice compared to HDM-exposed wild type mice. RNA-Seq results showed downregulation of genes in the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) signaling pathway in PBS-treated DDAH1-transgenic mice versus PBS-treated wild type mice and downregulation of genes in IL-13/FOXA2 signaling pathway in HDM-treated DDAH1-transgenic mice versus HDM-treated wild type mice. Our findings suggest that decreased expression of DDAH1 and DDAH2 in the lungs may contribute to allergic asthma and overexpression of DDAH1 attenuates allergen-induced airway inflammation through modulation of Th2 responses.     

牛磺酸抗小鼠动脉粥样硬化的研究

为了探讨牛磺酸抗小鼠动脉粥样硬化的影响及可能机制,将C57BL/6J小鼠分成五组,正常对照组给予基础饲料喂养,高脂组给予高脂饲料,牛磺酸组分别给予含1.0%、3.0%和5.0%牛磺酸的高脂饲料,实验时间为90d。结果表明,高脂组小鼠主动脉内膜和肝脏发生了粥样硬化病变和脂肪变性,而牛磺酸组病变程度随剂量增大而减轻。高脂组较正常对照组血清及肝脏甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-c)、动脉硬化指数(AI)显著升高,高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-c)显著降低;牛磺酸组较高脂组显著改善。可见牛磺酸可通过改善脂质代谢紊乱发挥抗动脉粥样硬化的作用。     

Dose-Dependent, K+-Stimulated Efflux of Endogenous Taurine from Primary Astrocyte Cultures Is Ca2+-Dependent

The K+-stimulated efflux of endogenous taurine from primary rat cerebellar astrocyte cultures prepared from 7-9-day-old rats was studied at 16-18 days in vitro using HPLC analysis. Taurine efflux was dose-dependent at K+ concentrations between 10 mM and 80 mM, with an EC50 of approximately 50 mM. Maximum stimulation of efflux above basal levels ranged from 56% at 10 mM K+ (204 pmol/min/mg protein) to 470% at 80 mM K+ (960 pmol/min/mg protein). Removal of Ca2+ from the buffer and the addition of either 1 mM EGTA or 10 mM Mg2+ abolished K+-stimulated efflux. Taurine efflux peaked and fell in parallel with the K+ concentration, but with an approximate lag of 3-5 min. The time course and amount of preloaded [3H]taurine released did not differ significantly from that seen for endogenous efflux. Basal taurine efflux varied inversely with the extracellular concentration of Ca2+ over the concentration range 0-5.0 mM. The observed Ca2+ dependence is consistent with a role for Ca2+ in the regulation of taurine release. Furthermore, taurine release from astrocytes in response to elevated K+ may reflect a neuromodulatory role for this amino acid in the CNS.     

硫化氢对1型糖尿病大鼠膈肌NO含量和iNOS活性的影响

目的：观察硫化氢（H2S）对1型糖尿病大鼠膈肌一氧化氮（NO）含量和诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）活性的影响。方法：将32只雄性SD大鼠随机分为4组：正常组（NC组）、糖尿病组（DM组）、糖尿病治疗组（DM + NaHS组）和NaHS对照组（NaHS组）（n=8）。采用一次性腹腔注射链脲佐菌素55 mg/kg制备1型糖尿病大鼠模型,造模成功后第4周起,DM + NaHS组和NaHS组大鼠腹腔注射NaHS溶液14μmol/kg干预治疗。连续注射5周后,测大鼠空腹血糖值（FBG）和膈肌重量/体重量比（DW/BW）;HE染色观察膈肌显微结构变化;利用NOS分型测试盒测膈肌组织iNOS活性;硝酸还原法测定膈肌组织NO含量;利用RT-PCR和Western blot分别检测膈肌组织iNOS mRNA和蛋白表达。结果：与NC组比较,DM组大鼠FBG显著升高,膈肌显微结构损伤明显,DW/BW下降,膈肌组织iNOS活性和NO含量显著增加,iNOS mRNA和蛋白表达明显增高,NaHS组各项指标差异无统计学意义。与DM组比较,DM + NaHS组膈肌显微结构明显改善,DW/BW增高,膈肌组织iNOS活性和NO含量明显下降,iNOS mRNA和蛋白表达显著降低。结论：外源性补充H2S可能通过下调膈肌组织iNOS活性和蛋白表达,降低NO含量,进而保护糖尿病大鼠膈肌的功能。     

Immune evasion by Helicobacter pylori is mediated by induction of macrophage arginase II

Helicobacter pylori infection persists for the life of the host due to the failure of the immune response to eradicate the bacterium. Determining how H. pylori escapes the immune response in its gastric niche is clinically important. We have demonstrated in vitro that macrophage NO production can kill H. pylori, but induction of macrophage arginase II (Arg2) inhibits inducible NO synthase (iNOS) translation, causes apoptosis, and restricts bacterial killing. Using a chronic H. pylori infection model, we determined whether Arg2 impairs host defense in vivo. In C57BL/6 mice, expression of Arg2, but not arginase I, was abundant and localized to gastric macrophages. Arg2(-/-) mice had increased histologic gastritis and decreased bacterial colonization compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Increased gastritis scores correlated with decreased colonization in individual Arg2(-/-) mice but not in WT mice. When mice infected with H. pylori were compared, Arg2(-/-) mice had more gastric macrophages, more of these cells were iNOS(+), and these cells expressed higher levels of iNOS protein, as determined by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence microscopy. There was enhanced nitrotyrosine staining in infected Arg2(-/-) versus WT mice, indicating increased NO generation. Infected Arg2(-/-) mice exhibited decreased macrophage apoptosis, as well as enhanced IFN-γ, IL-17a, and IL-12p40 expression, and reduced IL-10 levels consistent with a more vigorous Th1/Th17 response. These studies demonstrate that Arg2 contributes to the immune evasion of H. pylori by limiting macrophage iNOS protein expression and NO production, mediating macrophage apoptosis, and restraining proinflammatory cytokine responses.