Kombucha tea ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mouse model of multiple sclerosis

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a mouse model for multiple sclerosis (MS), in which an inflammatory demyelination and axonal damage occurs. Kombucha tea is a fermented beverage made from kombucha mushroom, brewed tea, and sugar. In recent years kombucha tea has attracted interest due to its pharmacological properties like antioxidant effects. The aim of the present research was to test the therapeutic effect of kombucha tea in EAE. We induced EAE model in 18 female C57BL/6 mice by inoculation of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-35-55 (MOG_35-55) in complete Freund’s adjuvant emulsion. Then, in order to ameliorate EAE symptoms, we used kombucha tea. During the course of study clinical evaluation was assessed, and on the day 21 post-immunization, for evaluation of nitric oxide (NO), total antioxidants capacity and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), blood samples were taken from the heart of mice. The mice were sacrificed and brains and cerebellums of mice were removed for histological analysis. Our findings demonstrated that kombucha tea had beneficial effects on EAE by lower incidence, attenuation in the severity, and also a delay in the onset of disease. Histological analysis showed that inflammatory criteria including the number of infiltrated immune cells and plaques as well as demyelination in kombucha tea dosed mice were significantly lower than the control group. Also, in comparison with control mice, the serum levels of NO and TNF-α in kombucha tea-treated mice were significantly decreased. Kombucha tea with its potential therapeutic effects and immunomodulatory properties might be proposed, after additional necessary tests and trials, for treatment of MS.     

IL-19及其相关因子在大鼠自身免疫性心肌炎各时程的表达特征

目的探讨IL-19及其相关因子在大鼠实验性自身免疫性心肌炎(EAM)急慢性期各时程的表达特征。方法建立大鼠EAM模型;病理学评估EAM急慢性期(normal、3w、3m、6m)心肌损伤程度;应用实时荧光定量RT-PCR检测IL-19及其两条受体链IL-20R1/IL-20R2,IL-20在EAM大鼠各脏器(心、肝、脾、肾)以及在心肌组织各时程(normal、3w、3m、6m)的mRNA表达;进一步应用ELISA法检测IL-19和IL-20在EAM各时程心脏组织匀浆中的蛋白表达。结果在EAM大鼠急性期3周时IL-19、IL-20与IL-20R2主要在心脏表达,IL-20R1主要在肾脏表达;在EAM大鼠慢性期3个月时IL-19主要在脾脏表达,IL-20主要在肝脏及脾脏表达,IL-20R1主要在肾脏表达,IL-20R2主要在心脏表达;IL-19及其两条受体链IL-20R1/R2在EAM大鼠心肌组织的表达高峰均出现在急性期3周,随后逐渐减少,在慢性期(3m、6m)已基本接近正常水平;而IL-20在EAM大鼠心肌组织的表达高峰在慢性期3个月,IL-19和IL-20心肌组织的蛋白水平与基因表达呈现一致性。结论 IL-19及其相关因子参与EAM的发病进程,IL-19主要在EAM急性期炎症反应的过程中发挥重要作用。     

HVEM过表达树突状细胞对自身免疫性心肌炎的作用

目的 探讨单纯疱疹病毒进入介导子(herpes virus entry mediator,HVEM)基因修饰的树突状细胞(dendritic cells,DC)能否防治肌凝蛋白诱导的小鼠心肌炎模型,并分析其机制.方法 以肌凝蛋白加弗氏佐剂免疫小鼠制备实验性自身免疫性心肌炎(EAM)动物模型,通过小鼠尾静脉输注肌凝蛋白冲击的HVEM基因修饰的DC,观察其对心肌炎的免疫保护作用,并探讨其可能机制.结果 HVEM基因修饰的DC能够抑制自身免疫应答造成的小鼠心肌损伤,其机制主要是通过分泌IL-10,并诱导产IL-10调节性T细胞(Tr1)抑制自身反应性T细胞的活化.结论 HVEM基因修饰的DC能抑制EAM的发生,并且HVEM介导的信号网络可能在不同的细胞中产生不同的作用.     

Growth-inhibiting extracellular matrix proteins also inhibit electrical activity by reducing calcium and increasing potassium conductances

Inhibitionof neurite sprouting and electrical activity by extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoproteins was studied during neurite regeneration by using anterior pagoda (AP) neurons of the leech. Adult isolated neurons were plated in culture inside ganglion capsules, which among many ECM proteins, contain a group of inhibitory peanut lectin- (PNA) binding glycoproteins. These proteins inhibit neurite production and contribute to the formation of a bipolar outgrowth pattern by AP neurons. Addition of PNA lectin to the culture medium to block the inhibitory effects of ECM glycoproteins induced an increase of neurite sprouting, the loss of the bipolar pattern, and also an increase in the amplitude and duration of action potentials evoked by intracellular current injection. PNA lectin had independent effects on neurite sprouting and electrical activity, since there was no correlation between the total neurite length and the amplitude of the action potentials. Moreover, action potentials were increased by the presence of PNA lectin even in neurons that did not grow. The changes induced by PNA lectin on the active conductances underlying the action potentials were estimated by quantitative model simulations. We predict that the increases in the amplitude and duration of the action potential induced by PNA lectin were due to an increase in a calcium conductance and a reduction in the delayed rectifier potassium conductance. Our results suggest that inhibitory ECM glycoproteins may use independent signaling pathways to inhibit neurite sprouting and electrical activity. These proteins affect the action potential by changing the proportion of inward and outward active conductances.     

Increased expression of caveolin-1 and -2 in the hearts of Lewis rats with experimental autoimmune myocarditis

The expression of caveolin-1, -2 and -3 was studied in the hearts of rats with experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM), to elucidate the involvement of caveolins in the pathogenesis of EAM. Western blot analysis showed that levels of caveolin-1 and -2 were significantly increased in the hearts of rats with EAM on day 14 post-immunization (pi), as compared to the hearts of normal controls (p < 0.05, normal controls vs. EAM). Caveolin-3 is already at a high level in control animals, so it does not increase further.

Immunohistochemistry showed that caveolin-1 was expressed mainly in ED1-positive macrophages and in some cardiomyocytes and vessels in the EAM lesions. Caveolin-2 was expressed constitutively in the vascular endothelial cells of normal hearts, and its expression was enhanced in EAM rats, as compared with the normal control group. Caveolin-3 was expressed constitutively in the plasma membranes of cardiomyocytes, but not in the vascular endothelial cells and inflammatory cells in the EAM lesions. Our results suggest that the expression of caveolin-1 and -2 is increased in EAM lesions and that the increased expression of caveolin-1 stimulates second signals in affected cells, such as macrophages and some cardiomyocytes, in EAM rats.     

腺病毒载体介导的共刺激分子融合蛋白对实验性自身免疫性心肌炎的作用

目的探讨腺病毒载体介导的共刺激分子融合蛋白CTLA4Ig与ICOSIg联合治疗对实验性自身免疫性心肌炎（EAM）的作用.方法猪心肌肌球蛋白免疫Lewis大鼠制成EAM模型.分别构建CTLA-4胞外域、ICOS胞外域与人IgG Fc段融合的腺病毒表达载体,常规方法生产表达上述融合蛋白的腺病毒用于治疗,免疫第14天注射后观察至第28天.第28天超声心动图检测心脏功能,苏木素-伊红（HE）染色观察心肌炎症程度,Western blot检测心肌CTLA-4、ICOS、ICOSL及B7-1、B7-2蛋白表达水平,ELISA检测血浆IL-2、IL-4和IFN-γ水平.结果CTLA4Ig、ICOSIg单独或联合治疗均使大鼠心功能指标、心肌炎症程度明显改善.Western blot显示联合治疗组CTLA-4、ICOSL及ICOS、B7-1蛋白表达下调,而B7-2表达差异无统计学意义.细胞因子平衡向TH2方向偏离.结论CTLA4Ig及ICOSIg联合阻断共刺激分子通路减轻EAM自身免疫性心肌损伤,改善大鼠心脏功能.其机制可能通过下调心肌组织CTLA-4、ICOS、ICOSL及B7-1蛋白表达.     

Absence of nonhematopoietic MHC class II expression protects mice from experimental autoimmune myocarditis

Experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) is a CD4⁺ T‐cell‐mediated model of human inflammatory dilated cardiomyopathies. Heart‐specific CD4⁺ T‐cell activation is dependent on autoantigens presented by MHC class II (MHCII) molecules expressed on professional APCs. In this study, we addressed the role of inflammation‐induced MHCII expression by cardiac nonhematopoietic cells on EAM development. EAM was induced in susceptible mice lacking inducible expression of MHCII molecules on all nonhematopoietic cells (pIV?/? K14 class II transactivator (CIITA) transgenic (Tg) mice) by immunization with α‐myosin heavy chain peptide in CFA. Lack of inducible nonhematopoietic MHCII expression in pIV?/? K14 CIITA Tg mice conferred EAM resistance. In contrast, cardiac pathology was induced in WT and heterozygous mice, and correlated with elevated cardiac endothelial MHCII expression. Control mice with myocarditis displayed an increase in infiltrating CD4⁺ T cells and in expression of IFN‐γ, which is the major driver of nonhematopoietic MHCII expression. Mechanistically, IFN‐γ neutralization in WT mice shortly before disease onset resulted in reduced cardiac MHCII expression and pathology. These findings reveal a previously overlooked contribution of IFN‐γ to induce endothelial MHCII expression in the heart and to progress cardiac pathology during myocarditis.     

Effects of nitric oxide on the adhesion of human melanocytes to extracellular matrix components

The aim of the present study was to explore whether nitric oxide (NO) interferes with the attachment of human melanocytes to the extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Consequently, the effects have been investigated of the NO-releasing compounds 3-morpholino-sydnonimine (SIN-1) and S-nitroso-glutathione (GSNO) on the in vitro adhesion of human melanocytic cells to fibronectin. The NO donors induced a concentration-dependent reduction in the adhesion of both ⁵¹CrO₄²⁻-labelled melanocytes and melanoma cells to fibronectin. Pigmented M14 melanoma cells were more susceptible to the effect of SIN-1 (half-maximal inhibiting effect at about 0·5 mm) than normal human melanocytes and also than the non-pigmented melanoma cells Mel57 (half-maximal inhibiting effects between 0·9 and 2 mm). This effect of SIN-1 also appeared to be related to the melanin content of normal melanocytes, whereas GSNO was significantly less active. Both flow cytometric analysis and immunocytochemical staining showed expression of neuronal NO synthase in all cell lines. The results of this study suggest that aberrant in vivo production of NO during infection and inflammation may contribute to loss of melanocytes in, for example, vitiligo, by reducing de novo attachment of melanocytes to the ECM. These findings could also be important for understanding the process of metastasis. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Diagnostic utility of tenascin-C for evaluation of the activity of human acute myocarditis

Tenascin-C (TN-C) is an extracellular matrix protein that is expressed transiently in close association with tissue remodelling in various body sites. In the heart, TN-C is only present during early stages of development, is not expressed in the normal adult, but reappears in pathological states. The purpose of this study was to analyse the expression of TN-C in myocardial tissue from myocarditis patients, and to evaluate the diagnostic value of immunostaining for TN-C in the assessment of inflammatory activity in biopsy specimens. A total of 113 biopsy specimens obtained from 32 patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute myocarditis were examined by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization for TN-C. The immunostaining was semi-quantified and compared with histological diagnosis according to the Dallas criteria. Furthermore, serial biopsies from 22 patients were taken during convalescence, and sequential changes in TN-C levels were analysed. Expression of TN-C was specifically detected in endomyocardial biopsy specimens from patients with active-stage inflammation, and disappeared in healed stages. The degree of expression of TN-C correlated with the severity of histological lesions. These data suggest that TN-C reflects disease activity in cases of human myocarditis. Immunostaining for TN-C could enhance the sensitivity and accuracy of diagnosis using biopsy specimens.     

Heart failure alters matrix metalloproteinase gene expression and activity in rat skeletal muscle

Heart failure is associated with a skeletal muscle myopathy with cellular and extracellular alterations. The hypothesis of this investigation is that extracellular changes may be associated with enhanced mRNA expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). We examined MMP mRNA expression and MMP activity in Soleus (SOL), extensor digitorum longus (EDL), and diaphragm (DIA) muscles of young Wistar rat with monocrotaline-induced heart failure. Rats injected with saline served as age-matched controls. MMP2 and MMP9 mRNA contents were determined by RT-PCR and MMP activity by electrophoresis in gelatin-containing polyacrylamide gels in the presence of SDS under non-reducing conditions. Heart failure increased MMP9 mRNA expression and activity in SOL, EDL and DIA and MMP2 mRNA expression in DIA. These results suggest that MMP changes may contribute to the skeletal muscle myopathy during heart failure.     

Polarity of helper T cell subsets represents disease nature and clinical course of experimental autoimmune myocarditis in rats

The mechanisms of progression, remission and relapse of myocarditis remain unclear. To clarify these mechanisms, we focused on T helper-1 (Th1)/T helper-2 (Th2) subsets balance of peripheral lymphocytes and serum cytokine levels during disease progression in rats with experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). Lewis rats were immunized with cardiac myosin on day 0. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 7, 15, 18, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49 and 56 following immunization. We examined percentages of interferon (IFN)-gamma and/or interleukin (IL)-4 producing cells in stimulated peripheral CD4-positive lymphocytes using flow cytometry analysis. Serum IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-6 and IL-10 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The percentage of Th1/Th2 subsets in EAM on days 0, 15, 28 and 56 were 2.5 +/- 0.5/0.5 +/- 0.1%, 19.4 +/- 3.2/1.6 +/- 0.3%, 2.0 +/- 0.5/22.1 +/- 5.7% and 3.0 +/- 0.4/1.7 +/- 0.3%, respectively. Serum levels of Th1 cytokines, IFN-gamma and IL-2 significantly increased in the acute phase (from day 15-18) and immediately decreased in the early recovery phase. On the other hand, serum levels of Th2 cytokine, IL-10 significantly increased in the early recovery phase (from day 24-30). These results suggest that induction of acute myocarditis might be associated with systemic Th1 dominance, while recovery is related to systemic Th2 polarity. Thus, analysis of Th1/Th2 balance in peripheral T cells may be useful in disease monitoring in patients with myocarditis and postmyocarditic dilated cardiomyopathy.     

IL-18、IL-12及相关因子在大鼠实验性自身免疫心肌炎心肌中的表达时程和特征

目的:探讨IL-18、IL-12及相关细胞因子在大鼠实验性自身免疫心肌炎(EAM)心肌中的表达时程和特征。方法:以猪心脏肌球蛋白加等体积弗氏完全佐剂,辅结核杆菌H37Ra株之乳液为抗原,于Lewis大鼠双后肢皮下注射造模(EAM);用胶原酶灌流和网筛过滤法分离纯化心肌细胞;经免疫组化技术评估心肌损伤程度;按实时荧光定量法测急性期和慢性期,IL-18、IL-12及相关因子(IL-18R,IL-18RAcPL,IL-18BP以及IL-12p40,IL-12p35,IL-12Rβ1,IL-12Rβ2)mRNA表达情况。结果:IL-18、IL-12及相关因子表达主要在急性期,免疫后2周表达增多并达峰值(P<0.01,与正常对照组比较),4周后减少,并与EAM病程正相关;IL-18、IL-12及相关因子主要在巨噬细胞表达,其受体复合物在αβT细胞表达;慢性期仅IL-18BP在心肌细胞有表达。结论:IL-18、IL-12及相关因子参与EAM病理过程,各因子主要集中于急性期巨噬细胞和αβT细胞表达。     

The role of chemokines and extracellular matrix components in the migration of T lymphocytes into three-dimensional substrata

The role of chemokines and their interactions with extracellular matrix components (ECM) or the capacity of T cells to migrate into and accumulate within three-dimensional (3D) collagen type 1 substrata was studied. We examined the influence of chemokines and fibronectin on the infiltration properties of non-infiltrative (do not migrate into 3D substrata) and spontaneously infiltrative (migrate into 3D substrata) T-cell lines. Infiltrative and non-infiltrative T-acute lymphocytic leukaemic cell lines exhibited no consistent differences with respect to the expression of various chemokine receptors or beta(1)-integrins. Chemokines presented inside the collagen increased the depth of migration of infiltrative T-cell lines, but did not render non-infiltrative T-cell lines infiltrative, although they augmented the attachment of non-infiltrative T-cell lines to the upper surface of the collagen. The presence of fibronectin inside the collagen did not render non-infiltrative T-cell lines infiltrative, but markedly augmented the migration of 'infiltrative' T-cell lines into collagen. Both infiltrative and non-infiltrative T-cell lines showed migratory responses to chemokines in Boyden assays (migration detected on 2D substrata). These results indicate that the process of T-cell infiltration/migration into 3D substrata depends on a tissue penetration mechanism distinguishable from migration on 2D substrata and that the basic capacity of T cells to infiltrate is independent of chemokines and ECM components applied as attractants.     

Effects of N‐nitro l‐arginine methyl ester (l‐NAME), a potent nitric oxide synthase inhibitor,on visual evoked potentials of rats exposed to different experimental stress models

Aim: The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N‐nitro l ‐arginine methyl ester (l ‐NAME, 10 mg kg^?1 day^?1 i.p.), on visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and lipid peroxidation expected to occur during chronic stress (15 days). Methods: Eight experimental groups, each consisting of 10 rats, were formed: control group (C), the group injected with l ‐NAME (L), groups exposed to cold stress (CS), immobilization stress (IS), and both cold and immobilization stress (CIS), groups exposed to stress and injected with l ‐NAME (CSL, ISL, CISL). Results: l ‐NAME decreased brain and retina nitrite levels in all experimental groups compared with their corresponding control groups. l ‐NAME decreased glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) activity in the brain and retina in the L group, but increased it in the CSL and CISL groups compared with the C group. Lipid peroxidation was increased in the brain and retina tissues of all stress groups with respect to the C group. l ‐NAME markedly increased brain thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels in the L group, while significantly decreasing brain and retina TBARS levels in all stress groups in comparison with their respective control groups. l ‐NAME caused a significant delay in all components of VEPs in the L group compared with the C group. However, l ‐NAME significantly decreased latencies of P₁, N₁, P₂ and P₃ components in the CSL group and all components in the ISL and CISL groups with respect to their corresponding control groups. Conclusion: This study clearly indicated that lipid peroxidation may be one possible factor affecting VEP components.     

Adherence of Staphylococcus epidermidis to extracellular matrix proteins and effects of fibrinogen-bound bacteria on oxidase activity and apoptosis in neutrophils

Staphylococcus epidermidis often causes foreign-body infections such as those associated with hip prostheses, but the underlying pathogenic mechanisms are not fully understood. We performed spectrophotometry to study the ability of S. epidermidis to bind to immobilised fibrinogen, fibronectin, vitronectin, and collagen. The strains were isolated from infected hip prostheses or from normal flora and the well-known protein-binding strain Staphylococcus aureus Cowan was used as positive control. We also analysed the interaction between neutrophils and a fibrinogen-bound prosthesis-derived strain of S. epidermidisby measuring chemiluminescence to determine the neutrophil oxidative response and binding of annexin V to indicate neutrophil apoptosis. We found that binding of S. epidermidis to extracellular matrix proteins varied under different growth conditions, and that prosthesis isolates adhered better to vitronectin than did strains from normal flora. The oxidative response caused by fibrinogen-bound S. epidermidis was not above the background level, which was in marked contrast to the distinct response induced by fibrinogen-associated S. aureus Cowan. Furthermore, fibrinogen-adhering S. epidermidis retarded neutrophil apoptosis. We conclude that surface-bound S. epidermidis induces only a weak inflammatory response, which in combination with the ability of the adherent bacteria to retard neutrophil apoptosis may contribute to low-grade inflammation and loosening of prostheses.     

Inhibition of tumor invasion and extracellular matrix degradation by ubenimex (bestatin)

We have investigated the effect of the immunomodulator ubenimex (hereafter referred to as bestatin) on the enzymatic degradation of the extracellular matrix by human renal cell carcinoma SN12M cells during the invasive process. The invasion of SN12M cells into reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel) was inhibited by the presence of bestatin in a concentration-dependent manner. However, bestatin did not have any effect on tumor cell adhesion and migration to the extracellular matrices which may be involved in tumor cell invasion. Bestatin inhibited the degradation of type IV collagen by tumor cells, but not by tumor-conditioned medium (TCM), in a concentration-dependent manner. We also found that bestatin inhibited hydrolysing activities towards substrates of aminopeptidases in SN12M cells. Since bestatin was found to inhibit aminopeptidase activity, the inhibition of tumor invasion by bestatin is likely to be associated with its action as an enzyme inhibitor. Bestatin only slightly inhibited tumor cell plasmin activity, which can lead to the conversion of the latent collagenase to the active form, but this slight effect was not significant. The zymography of TCM from SN12M cells showed that the treatment of tumor cells with bestatin resulted in the disappearance of the 68 kDa type IV collagenase-enzyme level (active form) and slight reduction of the 72 kDa type IV collagenase-enzyme level (latent form). These results indicated that bestatin may inhibit tumor cell invasion through a mechanism involving its inhibitory action on aminopeptidases in tumor cells, suggesting that the aminopeptidase may partly be associated with the conversion of a latent form of type IV procollagenase to an active form or the secretion of the collagenases from tumor cells.     

A locus on chromosome 1 promotes susceptibility of experimental autoimmune myocarditis and lymphocyte cell death

We previously identified by linkage analysis a region on chromosome 1 (Eam1) that confers susceptibility to experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). To evaluate the role of Eam1, we created a congenic mouse strain, carrying the susceptible Eam1 locus of A.SW on the resistant B10.S background (B10.A-Eam1 congenic) and analyzed three outcomes: 1) the incidence and severity of EAM, 2) the susceptibility of lymph node cells (LNCs) to Cy-enhanced cell death, and 3) susceptibility of lymphocytes to antigen-induced cell death. Incidence of myocarditis in B10.A-Eam1 congenic mice was comparable to A.SW mice, confirming that Eam1 plays an important role in disease development. Caspase 3, 8 and 9 activation in LNCs following Cy treatment and in CD4(+) T cells after immunization with myosin/CFA was significantly lower in A.SW than B10.S mice whereas B10.A-Eam1 congenic mice exhibited an intermediate phenotype. Our results show that Eam1 reduces lymphocyte apoptosis and increases susceptibility to EAM.     

神经细胞外基质材料制备及修复周围神经缺损的实验研究

目的 :制备一种新型天然神经细胞外基质材料 ,通过动物实验研究 ,探讨其修复周围神经干节段性缺损的可行性。方法 :采用NaOH消蚀法 ,制备家兔坐骨神经细胞外基质材料 ,行扫描电镜观察及生物相容性实验 ,用于桥接修复家兔坐骨神经节段性缺损并以自体神经修复作为对照 ,术后通过肌电图检测、再生神经纤维组织学观察等方法 ,证实该支架可有效地引导和促进神经纤维再生。结果 :(1)经NaOH消蚀处理的坐骨神经组织 ,其细胞成分被完全消蚀掉 ,神经膜管保持原有的构筑特征 ;无明显排异反应并可降解吸收。 (2 )该材料和自体神经移植修复周围神经干节段性缺损在电生理和组织结构的恢复方面经统计学处理无显著性差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论 :此方法制备的细胞外基质材料可有效地桥接修复周围神经干节段性缺损 ,为其临床应用奠定实验基础。