Endoplasmic reticulum stress is involved in ventilator-induced lung injury in mice via the IRE1α-TRAF2-NF-κB pathway

Inflammation plays a critical role in the development of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is associated with a variety of diseases through the modulation of inflammatory responses. However, little is known about how ER stress is implicated in VILI. In this study, murine mechanical ventilation models were constructed. Total protein and inflammatory cytokines were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and lung tissue injury was assessed by histology. Our data revealed that mice subjected to high tidal ventilation (TV) for 4 h showed more severe pulmonary edema and inflammation than those of mice with spontaneous breathing and low TV-treatment. In addition, the high TV-treated animals upregulated the ER stress markers GRP78, CHOP, p-IRE1α, TRAF2, and p-NF-κB expression at both the mRNA and protein levels in lung tissue. Administration of thapsigargin exacerbated the histological changes, inflammation and expression of GRP78 and CHOP after high TV, but treatment with ER stress and IRE1α kinase inhibitors attenuated the pathological damage and downregulated the high expression of GRP78, CHOP, p-IRE1α, TRAF2, and p-NF-κB, suggesting that ER stress is involved in VILI though the IRE1α/TRAF2/NF-κB signaling pathway in mice.     

Suppression of lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages by aqueous extract of Clinopodium vulgare L. (Lamiaceae)

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The wild basil Clinopodium vulgare L. is commonly used in Bulgarian folk medicine for treatment of irritated skin, mastitis- and prostatitis-related swelling, as well as for some disorders accompanied with significant degree of inflammation (e.g. gastric ulcers, diabetes, and cancer).

Aim of study

To determine the effect of aqueous extract of Clinopodium vulgare L. on LPS-induced inflammatory responses of murine RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Materials and methods

Cell cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay. Protein expression levels were monitored by Western blot analysis. Production of NO and PGE₂ was measured by the Griess colorimetric method and enzyme immunoassay, respectively. Activation of MMP-9 was visualized by gelatin zymography. Cytokine levels were determined by BioPlex assay. Intracellular ROS and free radical scavenging potential were measured by DCFH-DA and DPPH method, respectively. Xanthine oxidase activity was evaluated spectrophotometrically.

Results

The extract suppresses NF-κB activation by preventing Iκ-B phosphorylation and inhibits the phosphorylation of p38 and SAPK/JNK MAPKs. It down-regulates iNOS expression which manifests as a drastic decrease of NO production, inhibits MMP-9 activation, but does not affect COX-2 protein levels and reduces only slightly the released PGE₂. Secretion of IL-1β and Il-10 is greatly reduced, whereas suppression of TNF-α and GM-CSF production is less dramatic. The extract has strong free radical scavenging properties and exerts inhibitory effect on xanthine oxidase activity, which lowers the levels of intracellular ROS.

Conclusion

The study provides evidence for the anti-inflammatory potential of Clinopodium vulgare L. aqueous extract.     

丙泊酚对大鼠缺血再灌注肾NF-κB、TNF-α表达的影响

目的 研究丙泊酚对大鼠肢体缺血再灌注损伤后肾组织中肿瘤坏死因子-α（tumornecrosisfactor-α，TNF-α）、核因子-κB（nuclear factor-κxB，NF-κB）表达的影响。方法 24只SD雄性大鼠，随机分为假手术对照组（A组），肢体缺血再灌注组（B组）和丙泊酚干预组（C组），每组8只。采用免疫组织化学方法检测TNF-α、NF-κB的表达，行图像分析半定量。结果 B组大鼠肾组织中TNF-α、NF-κB的表达明显高于A组（P〈0．05），C组明显低于B组（P〈0．05）。结论 肢体缺血再灌注后有明显肾损伤，丙泊酚对肢体缺血再灌注肾损伤有一定程度的保护作用，其机制可能与下调大鼠肢体缺血再灌注损伤肾组织中TNF-α、NF-κB的过度表达有关。     

Flavocoxid is as effective as naproxen for managing the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee in humans: a short-term randomized,double-blind pilot study

Flavocoxid (Limbrel), a proprietary mixture of flavonoid molecules (baicalin and catechin), was tested against a traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, naproxen, for the management of the signs and symptoms of moderate osteoarthritis (OA) in humans. Discomfort and global disease activity were used as the primary end points, and safety assessments were also taken for both treatments as a secondary endpoint. In this double-blind study, 103 subjects were randomly assigned to receive either flavocoxid [500 mg twice daily (BID)] or naproxen (500 mg BID) in a 1-month onset of action trial. Outcome measures included the short Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index, subject Visual Analogue Scale for discomfort and global response, and investigator Visual Analogue Scale for global response and fecal occult blood. Both flavocoxid and naproxen showed significant reduction in the signs and symptoms of knee OA (P ≤ .001). There were no statistically detectable differences between the flavocoxid and naproxen groups with respect to any of the outcome variables. Similarly, there were no statistically detectable differences between the groups with respect to any adverse event, although there was a trend toward a higher incidence of edema and nonspecific musculoskeletal discomfort in the naproxen group. In this short-term pilot study, flavocoxid was as effective as naproxen in controlling the signs and symptoms of OA of the knee and would present a safe and effective option for those individuals on traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. A low incidence of adverse events was reported for both groups.     

核因子-κB与创伤的关系及其在法医病理学中的应用

损伤时间推断是法医病理学的一个研究热点和难点。核因子-κB(NF-κB)是一种核转录调节蛋白,参与多种炎性介质的转录和调控。近年来研究发现NF-κB与机体创伤后的反应密切相关,其在损伤后的时序性表达可望在法医病理学用于损伤时间推断。     

小鼠耳蜗核因子-κB p50免疫组化定位

目的 了解核因子-κB(NF-κB)在耳蜗的表达情况.方法 小鼠皮下注射卡那霉素(KA),鼓室注射脂多糖(LPS),以注射等量生理盐水作为对照,用多克隆兔抗体NF-κB p50免疫组化染色,观察NF-κB p50在小鼠耳蜗的表达.结果 NF-κB p50主要定位在耳蜗的螺旋缘、盖膜、血管纹、螺旋韧带、螺旋神经节和神经纤维.整个耳蜗各圈均可观察到免疫反应,而螺旋韧带、盖膜、螺旋突、螺旋神经节和神经纤维均可观察到较强的免疫反应,Corti器的免疫反应比上述结构要弱一些.Corti器的内、外毛细胞,内、外柱细胞,Deiter细胞和Claudious细胞均可观察到NF-κB p50的免疫反应,这些免疫反应在内沟细胞、Hensen细胞和Claudious细胞较弱,而在螺旋神经节可观察到较强的免疫反应,内、外毛细胞核未见免疫反应.结论 注射脂多糖和卡那霉素可使NF-κB p50在小鼠耳蜗产生急性反应.     

同型半胱氨酸对黑质细胞凋亡及NF-κB表达的影响

目的研究同型半胱氨酸(homocysteine,Hcy)对帕金森(parkinson’s disease,PD)大鼠的黑质细胞的细胞凋亡及NF-κB表达的影响作用。方法100只SD鼠随机分为四组,即正常对照组、6-OHDA组、Hcy组、6-OHDA+Hey组,通过脑立体定向注射6-羟多巴胺建立大鼠PD模型,2小时后同侧脑立体定向注射同型半胱氨酸或生理盐水,采用TUNEL法、免疫组化技术,选择实验后后4h、1d、2d、7d及14d为研究时点,观察黑质细胞凋亡的数量;并检测黑质细胞NF-κB p65的表达情况。结果局部注射同型半胱氨酸能明显增加6-羟基多巴胺引起的黑质细胞凋亡,并增加黑质细胞NF-κB p65的表达,与对照组存在显著性差异(P<0.01)。结论Hcy可以促进6-OHDA引起的黑质细胞凋亡,NF-κBp65的激活可能是机制之一。