β-淀粉样蛋白对培养神经细胞的毒性作用及神经节苷脂的保护作用

向培养液中加入15mmol／L的β-AP1-40，48h后，发现原代培养的海马细胞内Ca2+的浓度明显增高，对照组为23．9±3．6（n=51）而β-AP组为36．5±15．8（n=30），两组比较P＜0．001，有非常显著性的差别。对照组的乳酸脱氢酶没有明显变化，而β－AP组在加β－AP1－4048h后乳酸脱氢酶明显增加，从52iu／L增加到105iu／L，实增加了101％。实验结果表明，β－AP1-40对培养的神经细胞有明显的毒性作用，但没有发现形态学的变化和对细胞的特异性。如在培养液中加β－AP1-40的同时再加25mg／ml的神经节苷脂（GAs）可明显减弱β-AP1-40引发的胞内Ca2+浓度和培养液中LDH浓度的升高。β-AP＋GAs组胞内Ca2+浓度为27.7±5.58，与β-AP组比较，有显著性差异（P＜0．01）。β-AP组海马细胞培养液中乳酸脱氢酶的浓度增高为101％，而β-AP-GAs组培养液中乳酸脱氢酶的浓度增高仅为67％。在NG108－15细胞上也获得了相同的结果。单唾液酸神经节苷脂虽有与GAs类似的作用，但较弱。这些实验结果指出，神经节苷脂和单唾液酸神经节苷脂均能拮抗β-AP1-40的毒性作用，从而对细胞可起到保护作用。     

Time of onset of action of acrivastine in the skin of pollen-allergic subjects

The purpose of this study was to assess the time of onset of action of acrivastine in suppressing the wheal response to histamine (10 mg/ml) and allergen (10000 and 100000 BU/ml) in the skin prick test. Ten subjects with a well-documented allergy to pollen received single doses of 8 mg of acrivastine and placebo according to a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover treatment design. Duplicate skin prick tests were performed 0, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 60 min after medication. The results demonstrated a statistically significant suppression of the wheal reactions 15–20 min after medication, depending on the reaction producers used. The sum of all three producers showed a statistically significant effect on the wheal reaction 15 min after medication. The upper 95% confidence limit for time lag from dosing of acrivastine until reduction from placebo level commences was 6.5 min. The study substantiates that orally administered acrivastine has a rapid onset of action in the skin of allergic subjects. The results indicate that allergen SPT is a more sensitive tool for studying antihistaminergic activity than histamine SPT.     

Type 1 and type 2 tumor infiltrating effector cell subpopulations in progressive breast cancer

Effector T cells fall into two subpopulations based on cytokine-secretion. Type 1 cells secrete IFN-gamma, whereas type 2 cells secrete IL-4, IL-10, and GM-CSF. NKT cells represent a third subpopulation that secretes similar cytokines and have been associated with immunoregulation. Using the TS/A adenocarcinoma, we assessed the phenotype and kinetics of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in mice challenged subcutaneously in the mammary region. Flow cytometric analysis shows that T cells do not infiltrate the primary tumor site until days 7-14 following tumor challenge. Both CD4 and CD8 TILs were predominantly CD44(High) and expressed CD25, CD69, and CD95 cell surface activation markers. Activated CD4/CD44(High) TIL numbers reached peak levels at day 21 that precipitously decreased by day 28 whereas corresponding CD8 cell numbers progressively increased, however, at lower levels and with later kinetics. Intracellular cytokine staining showed that greater numbers of IL-4-producing Th2 cells were elicited and with earlier kinetics than that of IFN-gamma-producing Th1 cells. T cells co-expressing DX5 (CD3(+)/DX5(+)) emerged (>21 days), suggesting a recruitment of NK-like T cells at later stages of tumor progression. Moreover, tumors selectively up-regulated TGF-beta, MIF, and IP-10 gene expression at times as early as day 4, with peak levels at day 7 in vivo. Such gene expression remained elevated and correlated with a continued progression in tumor growth suggesting that preferential effector cell recruitment and production of select factors during different stages of tumor maturation may aid in regulating effective endogenous antitumor responses in progressive breast cancer.     

Dopaminergic agents differentially alter β-endorphin processing patterns in the rat pituitary neurointermediate lobe

We have established the content and molecular species of immunoreactive β-endorphin (ir-β-END) and immunoreactive N-acetyl-endorphin (ir-Nac-END) in rat neurointermediate lobe by specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) and high-performance liquid chromatography after chronic administration of dopamine (DA) agonists and antagonists. The DA agonist, bromocriptine, reduces tissue levels of all major immunoreactive species, in particular the C-terminally shortened N-acetylated forms. The DA antagonist, haloperidol, proportionally increases all immunoreactive forms, except Nac-β-END_1–27, thus altering the relative abundance of this species. These data indicate that DA is involved in the control of both tissue levels and processing of β-END-like peptides in the rat neurointermediate lobe.     

Alteration in expression of beta 2 integrins on lamina propria lymphocytes in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease

We have previously demonstrated by immunohistochemistry that mucosal expression of beta 2 integrins was enhanced in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis as compared to normal controls. We aimed, therefore, to determine whether there was a corresponding alteration in the expression of CD11a/CD18 (LFA-1), the primary lymphocyte beta 2 integrin, among the principal subsets of lamina propria lymphocytes (LPLs). Accordingly, LPLs were extracted from surgical resection specimens derived from patients with Crohn's colitis, ulcerative colitis, and from noninflamed controls. Following immunofluorescent staining, three-color flow-cytometry analysis identified LPLs on the basis of CD45 side scatter gating, which in turn, were further subdivided into CD4(+), CD8(+), and CD19(+) cells to account for the predominant T and B cells in the lamina propria. Expression patterns of CD11a, the alpha-subunit of LFA-1; CD18, the beta-subunit of LFA-1; and alpha d, a novel alpha-subunit of the beta 2 integrin family were assessed for each of these lymphocyte subsets. In Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis there was an increased mean percentage expression of CD4(+) cells and CD11a(+) cells compared with noninflamed controls. CD11a was more likely to be expressed on CD4(+) cells in both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and compared with controls and less expressed on CD19(+) cells. It is likely that an influx of CD4(+)11a(+) cells into the lamina propria accounted for these changes. These results suggest that although currently there is great interest in harnessing alpha 4 beta 7 in treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, further consideration should be given to the role of CD11a in these disease states.     

Association between HLA and Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were observed to have a statistical association with HLA-DR4, MT3. Strong association between the clinical severity of RA and HLA was also observed. Male patients had a stronger association with HLA than female patients. Males are more resistant to RA than females. This suggested that the threshold of liability for RA is higher in males than in females. Japanese patients with RA with systemic vasculitis were negative for HLA-Bw44 and had antilymphocytotoxic autoantibody, indicating that RA with systemic vasculitis is different in etiology from RA without systemic vasculitis.     

Pharmacological basis for use of madecassoside in gouty arthritis: anti-inflammatory,anti-hyperuricemic,and NLRP3 inhibition

Objectives: Gouty arthritis is caused by the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in joints, which is associated with the rise of serum urate content. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effect of Madecassoside on gouty arthritis and hyperuricemia.

Methods: DBA/1 mice were intradermally injected with MSU to stimulate joint inflammation or intraperitoneally injected with MSU to trigger peritonitis. Moreover, ICR mice were exposed to potassium oxonate to stimulate hyperuricemia.

Results: Madecassoside repressed MSU-triggered pad swelling, joint 99mTc uptake, and joint inflammation in DBA/1 mice with gouty arthritis. Neutrophil infiltration and IL-1β & IL-6 & MCP-1 secretion was also alleviated in lavage fluids from DBA/1 mice with peritonitis due to Madecassoside treatment. Furthermore, Madecassoside decreased MSU-induced neutrophil cytosolic factor 1, caspase-1 and NLRP3 expression in mice with peritoneal inflammation. In hyperuricemic mice, Madecassoside improved renal dysfunction. Serum uric acid, BUN, and creatinine were down-regulated by Madecassoside.

Conclusion: These findings indicate that Madecassoside has potential to ameliorate inflammation in both acute gouty arthritis model and peritonitis model, probably via regulating IL-1β and NLRP3 expression.

Practical point: Madecassoside also exhibited a urate-lowering effect and a renal protective effect in hyperuricemic mice.     

The effects of verapamil on cerebrospinal fluid pressure in surgical patients

The effects of verapamil upon cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP) were studied in twenty surgical patients without intracranial pathology who were divided into two groups of ten patients each: verapamil 0.075mg·kg^–1 was given in group 1 and 0.15mg·kg^–1 was given in group 2. A spinal needle was inserted into the subarachnoid space to permit continuous measurement of CSFP. Intravenous verapamil as a bolus produced a statistically significant increase in CSFP: from 6.0 ± 3.5 (mean ± SD) to 10.5 ± 4.3mmHg in group 1 (P < 0.01), and from 6.2 ± 3.1 to 12.6 ± 3.8mmHg in group 2 (P < 0.01). CSFP after verapamil attained its maximum in 0.5–1.5min, then gradually returned to control levels. Changes in CSFP were always associated with statistically significant decreases in arterial blood pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure, while the heart rate showed variable changes. It is concluded that a clinical dose of verapamil showed variable changes. It is concluded that a clinical dose of verapamil (0.075–0.15mg·kg^–1) has no neurological side effects in patients without intracranial hypertension. However, it must be emphasized that verapamil may increase CSFP to undesirable levels and should be avoided in patients with compromised intracranial compliance.(Nishikawa T, Namiki A: The effects of verapamil on cerebrospinal fluid pressure in surgical patients. J Anesth 1: 132–136, 1987)     

Gadd45β和Gadd45γ在亚砷酸钠所致的MIHA细胞周期改变中的作用

目的 探索Gadd45β和Gadd45γ在亚砷酸钠所致的MIHA细胞周期改变中的作用,为砷中毒的人群防治提供依据。方法 收集贵州省兴仁县雨樟镇交乐病区砷中毒人群以及格沙屯正常人群分别作为砷中毒组和对照组,实时荧光定量PCR检测各组人群Gadd45β和Gadd45γ基因mRNA表达水平。同时,分别以不同剂量亚砷酸钠、不同时间处理MIHA细胞,流式细胞术测定细胞周期改变情况,实时荧光定量PCR和免疫印迹法分别检测Gadd45β和Gadd45γ基因mRNA表达水平和蛋白表达情况。在上述实验基础上,针对Gadd45β和Gadd45γ基因分别设计的siRNA作用于染砷的MIHA细胞,反向验证Gadd45β和Gadd45γ基因在砷致细胞周期改变过程中的影响。统计学分析采用独立样本t检验比较两组间差异,采用单因素方差比较多组间差异。结果 人群实验研究发现,与对照组相比,砷中毒患者Gadd45β和Gadd45γ基因mRNA表达水平升高（t = 2.576,P = 0.011;t = 2.312,P = 0.022）;MIHA细胞中,随亚砷酸钠染毒剂量、染毒时间增加,细胞G2/M期比例明显升高（F剂量 = 340.136,P＜0.001;F时间 = 49.194,P＜0.001）;在相对较低亚砷酸钠浓度（低于20 μmol/L）、一定时间内（低于48 h）Gadd45β和Gadd45γ基因mRNA和蛋白表达水平随染砷剂量、染砷时间升高而升高,超过该浓度范围和作用时间后,出现表达下降的现象（Gadd45β:F剂量-蛋白 = 37.568,P＜0.001;F剂量- mRNA = 9.771,P＜0.001;F时间-蛋白 = 61.144,P＜0.001;F时间- mRNA = 46.366,P = 0.001;Gadd45γ:F剂量-蛋白 = 12.989,P = 0.001;F剂量- mRNA = 23.613,P＜0.001;F时间-蛋白 = 27.425,P＜0.001;F时间- mRNA = 37.969,P＜0.001）。转染siRNA分别下调Gadd45β和Gadd45γ的表达后,细胞周期都出现G2/M期比例下调（t = 3.053,P = 0.038;t = 14.47,P＜0.001）。结论 砷致Gadd45β和Gadd45γ基因表达水平升高在其诱导MIHA细胞出现G2/M期阻滞过程中发挥重要作用。