Suppressive Effects of the Flavonoids Quercetin and Luteolin on the Accumulation of Lipid Rafts after Signal Transduction via Receptors

Quercetin (QUER) and luteolin (LUTE) are dietary flavonoids capable of regulating the production of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). However, their mechanisms of action are not fully understood. In lipopolysaccharide-triggered (LPS)-triggered signaling via Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), QUER and LUTE suppresses not only the degradation of the inhibitor of κB (IκB), with resultant activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), but also the phosphorylation of p38 and Akt in bone marrow-derived macrophages that have been stimulated with LPS. We report here that, in TNF-α-induced signaling, QUER and LUTE significantly suppressed the production of IL-6 and activation of NF-κB. Accumulation of lipid rafts, the initial step in the signaling pathway, was significantly inhibited when macrophages were treated with QUER or with LUTE prior to exposure to LPS. Similarly, the accumulation of lipid rafts was inhibited by the flavonoids when B cells were activated via the membrane IgM and when T cells were activated via CD3. In contrast, QUER and LUTE did not inhibit the activation of phorbol myristate acetate-induced NF-κB in macrophages. Our observations suggest that QUER and LUTE interact with receptors on the cell surface and suppress the accumulation of lipid rafts that occurs downstream of the activation of the receptors.     

Chinese herbal medicinal ingredients inhibit secretion of IL-6, IL-8, E-selectin and TXB2 in LPS-induced rat intestinal microvascular endothelial cells

The aim of the research was to investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Pulsatillae Decoction (PD), the levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, E-selectin, and thromboxane B₂ (TXB₂) secreted by cultured rat intestinal microvascular endothelial cells (RIMECs) were determined after treatment with its active ingredients, namely anemoside B4, anemonin, berberine, jatrorrhizine, palmatine, aesculin, and esculetin. RIMECs were challenged with 1 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 3?h, and then treated with each of the seven ingredients at three concentrations (1, 5 and 10 μg/mL) for 24?h. The results revealed that anemonin, aesculin and esculetin inhibited the production of IL-6, aesculin and esculetin inhibited the secretion of IL-8, anemoside B4, berberine and jatrorrhizine downregulated E-selectin expression, anemonin, berberine, jatrorrhizine and palmatine decreased the content of TXB₂. All these changes were significant. Taken together, the data suggest that all seven active ingredients of PD can effectively reduce inflammatory response, thus relieving intestinal dysfunction via multiple pathways.     

Can non-selective beta-blockers prevent hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis?

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the main liver-related cause of death in patients with compensated cirrhosis. The early phases are asymptomatic and the prognosis is poor, which makes prevention essential. We propose that non-selective beta-blockers decrease the incidence and growth of hepatocellular carcinoma via a reduction of the inflammatory load from the gut to the liver and inhibition of angiogenesis.     

Female rats express heroin-induced and -conditioned suppression of peripheral nitric oxide production in response to endotoxin challenge

Opioids and opioid-conditioned stimuli (CS) negatively alter host immunity, impairing the response to pathogens during opioid use and following drug cessation. Using male rats, our laboratory has determined that heroin or heroin-CS exposure preceding a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge markedly suppresses normal induction of peripheral pro-inflammatory biomarkers. Presently, it is unknown if these heroin-induced and -conditioned effects extend to the female immune response. To begin this venture, the current study tested the direct effects of heroin and heroin-CS on LPS-induced peripheral nitric oxide (NO) production in female rats. We focused investigations on peripheral NO as it is a critical pro-inflammatory molecule necessary for pathogen resistance. In Experiment 1, male and female Lewis rats were administered 0 (Saline), 1, or 3 mg/kg heroin subcutaneously (s.c). Sixty minutes later, animals were injected with LPS (1 mg/kg, s.c.). Spleen and plasma samples were collected 6 h later to examine NO production through inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression and nitrate/nitrite concentration, respectively. In Experiment 2, female Lewis rats underwent five, 60-minute context conditioning sessions with heroin (1 mg/kg, s.c.) or saline. On test day, CS-exposed and control (home cage) animals were injected with LPS (1 mg/kg, s.c.). Tissue was collected 6 h later to examine splenic iNOS expression and plasma nitrate/nitrite concentration. Both heroin administration alone and exposure to heroin-CS suppressed LPS-induced indices of NO production in spleen and plasma. Our results are the first to indicate that, similar to males, female rats express heroin-induced and -conditioned immunomodulation to a LPS challenge.     

Factors Affecting the Stimulating Capacity of Mitogen-Transformed,Glutaraldehyde-Treated Mouse Spleen Cells in the Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction

Mouse spleen cells transformed by certain mitogens and subsequently fixed with glutaraldehyde can be utilized as stimulators in the mixed lymphocyte reaction. In addition to bacterial lipopolysaccharide which has been shown previously to be effective, we have found the other B cell mitogens, dextran sulfate and Concanavalin A-Sepharose, to be functional. The ability of the treated cells to activate allogeneic cells in MLR depends upon the concentration of glutaraldehyde and the type of tissue culture medium utilized.     

NOD8对LPS诱导巨噬细胞释放NO、TNF-α和IL-1β的影响

 目的： 探讨NOD8对脂多糖（LPS）诱导巨噬细胞释放一氧化氮（NO）、肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）和白细胞介素1β（IL-1β）的影响。方法： pEGFP-C2及pEGFP-NOD8重组质粒分别转染小鼠巨噬细胞RAW264.7,以LPS刺激RAW264.7细胞0、6、12、24 h后,采用Griess reagent法测定观察细胞分泌的NO水平;ELISA法检测IL-1β 和 TNF-α 的含量;荧光法测定活化的caspase-1水平; Western blotting检测NOD8蛋白表达及NF-κB  p65亚基的核转位情况。结果： (1)与转染pEGFP-C2空质粒组比较,转染pEGFP-NOD8质粒组NOD8蛋白表达明显增加。(2) LPS刺激6、12、24 h后,RAW264.7细胞释放NO、IL-1β及TNF-α均明显增加;而在pEGFP-NOD8+LPS组RAW264.7细胞, NO于12、24 h 的释放显著降低,IL-1β于6、12、24 h的释放也明显降低,TNF-α的释放则无明显变化。（3）在LPS刺激6、12、24 h后, RAW264.7细胞caspase-1活化水平均明显升高,胞浆NF-κB p65亚基表达明显减少,表明p65核转位增加;而pEGFP-NOD8+LPS组可显著抑制caspase-1的活化以及NF-κB p65亚基的核转位,差异有统计学意义。结论： NOD8可抑制LPS诱导的巨噬细胞NO与IL-1β释放,其作用机制可能与NOD8抑制caspase-1及NF-κB 的活化有关。     

MicroRNA‐7 negatively regulates Toll‐like receptor 4 signaling pathway through FAM177A

Toll‐like receptor (TLR) 4 signalling is critical for innate immunoinflammatory response and widely triggers the development of various types of clinical diseases. MicroRNA‐7 (miR‐7) is well documented to play an important regulatory role in various biological events. However, the exact role of miR‐7 in TLR4 signalling pathway remains to be fully elucidated. In the present study, we found that miR‐7 expression in TLR4 signalling‐activated bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMDMs) stimulated by LPS was dramatically increased. Importantly, miR‐7 deficiency significantly enhanced the production of related inflammatory cytokines including IL‐1β, IL‐6 and IL‐12, as well as TNF‐α, on LPS‐activated BMDMs, accompanied by elevated transduction of TLR4 signalling including Myd88‐dependent and Myd88‐independent pathways, whereas miR‐7 overexpression significantly decreased the transduction of TLR4 signalling and the production of related inflammatory cytokines. Mechanistically, we identified family with sequence similarity 177, member A (FAM177A) as a novel target molecule of miR‐7. Furthermore, down‐regulation of FAM177A using RNAi could impair the transduction of TLR4 signalling. Finally, down‐regulation of FAM177A also reversed the effect of miR‐7 deficiency on TLR4 signalling transduction and production of related inflammatory cytokines on BMDMs. Therefore, we provide the new evidence that miR‐7 acts as a novel negative fine‐tuner in regulating TLR4 signalling pathways by targeting FAM177A, which might throw light on the basal understanding on the regulatory mechanism of TLR4 signalling and benefit the development of therapeutic strategies against related clinical diseases.     

细菌脂多糖对人根尖牙乳头干细胞自噬作用研究

目的　研究细菌脂多糖（lipopolysaccharide,LPS）对人根尖牙乳头干细胞（stem cells from apical palilla,SCAP）自噬的作用及影响,以探讨年轻恒牙根尖周炎损伤与修复的分子机制。方法　原代分离培养人SCAP,采用不同质量浓度（0.05、0.5、5 μg/mL）的细菌LPS处理SCAP记为LPS处理组,未加入细菌LPS的记为对照组。Western blot检测各组自噬相关基因5（autophagy related gene 5,Atg5）及自噬调节蛋白P62的表达情况,透射电子显微镜观察细菌LPS对SCAP自噬泡形态及数量的影响,数据采用SPSS18.0软件进行统计学分析。结果　原代培养的人SCAP表达间充质干细胞表面标志物CD73、CD90、CD105,不表达造血干细胞表面标记物CD45,体外诱导培养具有成骨向分化潜能。Western blot结果显示,各组间Atg5和P62的表达总的比较差异具有统计学意义（F值分别为118.227、74.144,P < 0.05）。Atg5的表达随处理组细菌LPS质量浓度的增大而升高,其中0.05 μg/mL LPS处理组Atg5相对表达量低于对照组,5 μg/mL LPS处理组Atg5相对表达量高于对照组,差异均具有统计学意义（均P < 0.05）。与对照组相比,0.5、5 μg/mL LPS处理组P62的表达降低,其中5 μg/mL LPS组P62相对表达量最低,差异均有统计学意义（均P < 0.05）。透射电子显微镜观察发现,与对照组相比,LPS处理组自噬泡数量显著增加。结论　细菌LPS能够促进人SCAP自噬的发生,提示在炎性环境下自噬可能对人SCAP生物学性能的调控发挥重要作用。