Anti-inflammatory effect of β2-agonists: Inhibition of TNF-α release from human mast cells

β₂-Agonists inhibit the release of preformed mediators such as histamine and newly synthesized mediators such as prostaglandin D₂ from mast cells. However, although mast cells have been identified as an important source of several cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), there is no information about their regulation by β₂-agonists. Thus given the importance of TNF-α in inflammation and the widespread use of β₂-agonists, we investigated the effect of long-acting (salmeterol) and short-acting (salbutamol) β₂-agonists on the secretion of TNF-α from human skin mast cells. Treatment of mast cells with salmeterol or salbutamol (100 nmol/L) inhibited the IgE-dependent release of TNF-α (82% and 74%, respectively). Moreover, 2-hour treatment with salmeterol, isoproterenol, or salbutamol inhibited mast cell cytotoxicity against a TNF-α–sensitive cell line, WEHI-164, with an IC₅₀ of 71, 50, and 29 nmol/L, respectively. Specificity for β-adrenergic receptors was shown with propranolol. The inhibitory effect of β₂-agonists was observed after only 20 minutes of treatment but was lost by 24 hours after removal of salbutamol and isoproterenol (7% and 11% inhibition remaining, respectively). In contrast, the inhibition of TNF-α release was increased 1 hour after removal of salmeterol and remained significant 24 hours later. Furthermore, β₂-agonists did not show tachyphylaxis for the inhibition of TNF-α release. Thus selective β₂-agonists demonstrate anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the release of TNF-α from mast cells stimulated through their IgE receptor or by a tumor target cell. This inhibitory effect of β-agonists may be important in their mode of action in the treatment of allergic diseases. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1997;100:825-31.)     

Kupffer cell depletion in vivo results in clearance of large-sized IgA aggregates in rats by liver endothelial cells.

We investigated the clearance kinetics and tissue distribution of different sized IgA in normal and macrophage-depleted rats. Rats were injected iv with liposomes containing dichloromethylene diphosphonate (DMDP). DMDP treatment resulted in complete depletion of liver macrophages 24-48 h after administration. Normal and macrophage depleted rats were injected intravenously with monomeric, dimeric, polymeric or aggregated polymeric IgA (AIgA) and assessed for blood clearance and tissue distribution. In normal rats, clearance of IgA was size dependent, i.e. a faster clearance with increasing size. No differences in clearance kinetics were observed of the different sized IgA between normal and DMDP-treated rats. TCA non-precipitable radioactivity, a measure for degradation of IgA, was found in the circulation of normal and DMDP-treated rats after AIgA administration. The liver was the main organ responsible for the clearance of IgA in normal and DMDP-treated rats. Immunofluorescence studies on liver biopsies indicated that AIgA was associated with Kupffer cells in normal rats. Electron microscopical studies revealed that the AIgA was internalized and located in vesicles in Kupffer cells. In DMDP-treated rats the AIgA was associated with endothelial cells and electron microscopy studies showed that this AIgA was taken up by endothelial cells. These data show that rat liver endothelial cells are able to bind, internalize and degrade AIgA in situations where Kupffer cells are absent, and that these cells may play an important role in the handling of AIgA and IgA-immune complexes.     

人HLA半相合混合脐血在SCID小鼠移植的实验研究

目的：探讨不同供者来源脐血混合移植的可行性和植入特性。方法：分别将两份人HLA半相合混合脐血或单份脐血输入经亚致量照射后的严重联合免疫缺陷（SCID）小鼠，观察两组脐血在SCID小鼠体内的植入状况及多系造血重建特性。结果：混合脐血和单份脐血移植均可在受鼠体内植入，形成供－受混合嵌合体，并能重建多系造血，存活率和植入率无统计学意义（P＞0．05）。用多聚酶链反应－序列特异性寡核苷酸（PCR－SSO）探针检测人HLA－DQB1基因发现，HLA半相合混合脐血移植可有1份或2份脐血植入，其中造血祖细胞含量和体外克隆形成能力高者，更易于植入，造血重建特性与单一脐血移植比较无统计学意义。结论：HLA半相合人混合脐血可同时在SCID小鼠体内植入，形成来自供－受三者的多嵌合状态，并能重建造血及免疫功能。     

系膜细胞的功能对肾小球滤过作用的影响

系膜细胞有两种类型即肾小球内系膜细胞和肾小球外系膜细胞，研究表明系膜细胞内有收缩系统存在，肾上球内系膜细胞与收缩功能有密切的关系，肾小球外系膜细胞功能的改变在管－球反馈的信号转导中起关键作用。此外，系膜细胞还有吞噬及产生并分泌多种生物活性物质等功能。其中系膜细胞的收缩在调节肾小球血液动力学如滤过系数和管－球反馈的变化方面可能具有重要的生理意义。     

Ex vivo estimation of thoracolumbar vertebral body compressive strength: The relative contributions of bone densitometry and vertebral morphometry

The estimation of vertebral fracture risk in individuals with suspected osteopenia is commonly based on measurements of lumbar spine bone density. The efficacy of vertebral size and deformity, as assessed by vertebral morphometry, in the prediction of fractures has been less studied. In an ex vivo investigation the regional relationships between vertebral size, vertebral deformity, bone density and compressive strength throughout the thoracolumbar spine were examined. In 16 vertebral columns (T1–L5) the bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) of each segment were measured using lateral projection dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and the vertebral cancellous density (VCD) and mid-vertebral cross-sectional area (CSA) measured using quantitative computed tomography. Vertebral body heights were determined from mid-sagittal CT scans, and vertical height ratios calculated for each segment. The failure load and failure stress of the isolated vertebral bodies were determined using a material testing device. Separate analyses were performed for the upper (T1–4), middle (T5–8) and lower (T9–12) thoracic, and lumbar (L1–5) segments. In all regions, failure load was strongly correlated with BMD (r=0.82–0.86), moderately correlated with VCD (r=0.60–0.71) and vertebral height (r=0.22–0.49), and poorly correlated with the height ratios (r=0.04–0.33). Failure stress was best predicted by BMD (r=0.73–0.78) and VCD (r=0.70–0.78) but was poorly correlated with all morphometric variables (r=0.01–0.33). The segmental correlations between BMD and VCD ranged fromr=0.49 tor=0.79. For all regions, BMD and VCD were included in the stepwise regression models for predicting failure load and failure stress. Either the mid-vertebral height or CSA were included in all the failure load models, while mid-vertebral height was included in only one of the failure stress models. The results suggest that vertebral deformity and size (as assessed by vertebral morphometry) make only a minor contribution to the prediction of vertebral strength additional to that provided by bone densitometry alone. The consistent regional relationships between variables appear to support the practice of global fracture risk assessment based on lumbar spine densitometry.     

骨膜间质干细胞移植时机的实验和临床研究

目的 研究骨膜间质干细胞异体移植时机。方法 根据骨缺损内纤维组织生长时间的不同，将从大鼠骨膜分离培养的细胞分别分批植入，在植入的第2、3、4和8周时动态观察其成骨量，即骨小梁体积比；另将幼儿骨膜间质干细胞悬液，移植于26例长管状骨干骨折2周后的缺损内，观察骨折临床愈合的时间。结果 大鼠骨缺损后2周以内移植干细胞其骨小梁体积比大，愈合快，2周以后与对照组比无显著差异；临床应用9个月内病人骨折缺损愈合15例(57．7％)，骨不愈合者11例(42．3％)。结论 大鼠骨缺损2周以内移植干细胞其疗效好，大鼠实验和临床上骨缺损2周以后移植骨膜间质干细胞不能明显促进骨缺损愈合。     

缝匠肌髂骨瓣移植治疗股骨中上段骨缺损性骨不连

股骨中上段骨折因骨折严重粉碎、周围软组织损伤大、治疗方法选择不当、手术技术操作失误或内固定不完善,以及术后不恰当的活动或功能锻炼等因素而导致骨折段缺损不愈合。2001年至今应用缝匠肌髂骨瓣移植治疗股骨中上段缺损性骨不连13例,全部病例经16～26个月术后随访,均获得满     

骨质疏松防治药物研究（8）：喹啉酮类新衍生物的合成

作者合成了９个喹啉酮类新衍生物，其结构经红外光谱，核磁共振氢谱，质谱及元素分析证实，对合成的化合物ＴＭ－９进行抗骨质疏松活性测定，初步结果表明，目标化合物ＴＭ－９促进骨形成活性高于日本已上市的异丙氧基异黄酮。     

对－苯二甲酸衍生物的合成及其诱导分化HL－60细胞的活性

作者合成了１３个对－苯二甲酸衍生物，其中有９个化合物尚未见文献报道。通过对ＨＬ－６０细胞诱导分化活性试验，发现有两个化合物在浓度为５×１０￣（－６）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ时，可使细胞分化率达５５％，低于维Ａ酸的分化率（７９％，１０￣（－７）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）。     

Relationship of Spinal Fracture to Bone Density,Textural, and Anthropometric Parameters

To investigate risk factors for spinal fracture, we studied the relationship between the prevalence of asymptomatic spinal fracture and various morphological measures including spinal bone mineral density (BMD) in women. A total of 122 women ranging in age from 55 to 79 years were studied. The group consisted of 46 women aged 55–59 years (18 with fracture), 51 women aged 60–69 years (26 with fracture), and 26 women aged 70–79 years (14 with fracture). BMD of cortical and trabecular bone from L1 to L3 was measured using quantitative computed tomography (QCT). Run-length analysis was applied to evaluate the spinal trabecular textural features using CT images; the texture indices which represent the mean width of trabeculae (the T-texture) and that of intertrabecular spaces (the I-texture) were obtained. Anthropometric factors including body weight and height, psoas muscle area, and vertebral bone volume were measured using CT images. Among the various factors, trabecular BMD in women aged 55–69 years showed the highest odds ratio for the presence of fracture per standard deviation (SD) decrease in bone density. However, in women aged 70–79 years, the highest odds ratio was observed for trabecular texture index but not for trabecular BMD. The I-texture in women aged 55–59 years, the muscle area in women aged 60–69 years, and cortical BMD and muscle area in women aged 70–79 years were also considered significantly related to the risk of fracture. Received: 31 December 1995 / Accepted: 24 July 1996