Synthetic sulfonolipids deduced from sulfonoquinovosyl diacylglycerols of sea urchin reduces hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

BACKGROUND: In hepatic surgery and liver transplantation, ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) is an unavoidable process, and protection against hepatic I/R injury is a major unresolved problem. In this study, we investigated whether 3-O-(6-deoxy-6-sulfono-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-1,2-di-O-acylglycerol bound to saturated C18 fatty acids (beta-SQAG9), which was derived from sea urchin intestines, could reduce this injury. This agent was recently reported to have immunosuppressive effects in allogeneic rat skin grafts. MATERIALS & METHODS: Male Lewis rats were divided into two experimental groups. Group 1 rats were injected with SQAG9 (50 mg/kg) into the penile vein 15 minutes before the induction of ischemia and into the portal vein just reperfusion. The same amounts of normal saline were injected into rats in the control group (group 2). Each experimental groups included six rats. Seventy percent hepatic ischemia (20 minutes) was induced by occluding the blood vessels and bile duct with a vascular clamp. For examination of hepatic function, serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, (AST) alanine transaminase (ALT), and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured. In addition, histological examination was also assessed. RESULTS: Three hours after reperfusion, the mean plasma concentration of AST, ALT, LDH in group 1 was suppressed compared with group 2. Six hours after reperfusion, the hepatic damage in group 1 was mild in comparison with that in group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrated that SQAG-9 reduced the warm hepatic I/R injury.     

The management of hand injuries caused by sea urchin spines

Injuries to the hand by sea urchin spines are not commonly seen in the United Kingdom. There are many varieties of sea urchins (Echinoidea) throughout the world. They have a spherical calcium carbonate exoskeleton covered with spines. Certain varieties may be venomous, in particular the flower urchin (Toxopneustes pileolus) found in the Indo-Pacific oceans. Injury may also be caused by the urchin spines or pedicellaria (delicate seizing organs equipped with jaws). A small number of hand injuries associated with sea urchin spines have been reported in the literature.     

Ultrastructure and growth of the sea urchin tooth

Individual sea urchin teeth consist of many elements, each secreted by a syncytium formed for the purpose. The numerous syncytia of each tooth take up secondary connection with one another in the vicinity of needles and prisms. The elements of the primary tooth skeleton are surrounded by cytoplasm and are therefore intracellular. Following the origin of a syncytium in the plumula, a new tooth element sheath originates in the form of a vesicle, which develops a unified crystallization cavity in the shape of the future tooth element. During the early growth of the sheath, calcium carbonate crystallization begins within the sheath. An inner coating of the sheath functions as a crystallization matrix, and further growth of calcium carbonate takes place centripetally. Collagen does not take part in mineralization. Neither an axial thread nor other organic material inside the hardened mineral was found.     

Management of sea urchin spines in the hand

The left palm of a 43-year-old woman was penetrated by sea urchin spines. Localization of the spines by soft tissue technique x-ray films proved to be the key to their easy removal. A review of the literature shows this to be an uncommon problem and that spine removal may be important to avoid long-term sequelae of pain and loss of function.     

An immunosuppressive factor from serum of thermally traumatized patients

An immunosuppressive factor was isolated and partially purified from a fraction of the serum of acute thermally traumatized patients which contained primarily albumins. The factor proved to be either a small protein or a peptide of molecular weight less than 10,000. It inhibited migration of peripheral blood leukocytes of thermally traumatized patients, and of guinea pig peritoneal macrophages. In the presence of the serum, it caused the lysis of peripheral lymphocytes from thermally traumatized patients, and depressed mitogenic stimulation of normal human peripheral lymphocytes. It had no effect on migration, and did not lyse peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy subjects.     

An effective alternative management for multiple sea urchin spine injury: Erbium–YAG laser ablation

Complete surgical removal of sea urchin spines can be extremely difficult due to the multiplicity and fragility of the spines. We describe a 49-year-old lady with multiple sea urchin spine injury over her left sole which was successfully treated with Erbium–YAG laser therapy. Laser ablation is very effective in destroying multiple sea urchin spines without causing thermal necrosis of the adjacent tissues, and may be considered as an important non-operative treatment modality.     

青藤碱对同种异体胰岛刺激淋巴细胞的免疫抑制作用

目的研究青藤碱(SIN)对同种异体胰岛刺激淋巴细胞的免疫抑制作用以及对胰岛活性和功能的影响。 方法以Wistar大鼠胰岛作为刺激原,Lewis大鼠脾淋巴细胞作为反应细胞体外共同培养,分为4组：SIN组为SIN＋胰岛＋淋巴细胞共培养;他克莫司(Tac)组为Tac＋胰岛＋淋巴细胞共培养;阴性对照组为胰岛＋淋巴细胞共培养;空白对照组为单纯淋巴细胞培养。四甲基噻唑蓝法检测各组淋巴细胞增殖情况,ELISA法检测上清液细胞因子(IFN-γ、IL-2、IL-10)浓度以及胰岛素分泌量,吖啶橙－碘化丙啶染色检测胰岛细胞活性。采用单因素方差分析比较4组混合淋巴细胞培养后OD值、细胞增殖率、上清液细胞因子浓度、胰岛素分泌量及胰岛素刺激指数等指标,采用LSD法进行组间两两比较。 结果混合淋巴细胞培养第3天,阴性对照组、SIN组、Tac组和空白对照组OD值分别为0.524±0.048、0.438±0.032、0.429±0.037、0.327±0.026;SIN组OD值低于阴性对照组、高于空白对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P均<0.05),但与Tac组相比差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。计算淋巴细胞增殖率SIN组和Tac组分别为(33.9±2.8)%、(33.2±3.0)%,均低于阴性对照组(P均<0.05),但SIN组和Tac组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。SIN组上清液IFN-γ、IL-2浓度分别为(67±6)、(322±21) pg/mL,均低于阴性对照组,高于空白对照组(P均<0.05),但与Tac组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);IL-10浓度为(76±4) pg/mL,高于其他3组,差异均有统计学意义(P均<0.05)。SIN组高糖及低糖刺激下胰岛素分泌量分别为(14.7±2.1)、(8.3±1.2) mU/L,计算胰岛素刺激指数为1.73±0.24,胰岛细胞存活率为(82.5±4.7)%,均优于Tac组和阴性对照组(P均<0.05)。 结论SIN对同种异体胰岛刺激的淋巴细胞具有免疫抑制作用,同时可减轻胰岛免疫损伤;与他克莫司相比,能更好地保持胰岛细胞活性及分泌功能。     

The immunosuppressive effect of hepatocytes in rats

The immunosuppressive effect of hepatocytes was examined experimentally by heart allograft and delayed-type-hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions. The hepatocyte inoculation (1×10⁷) of BDE (of the major histocompatibility complex haplotype RT1^u), LEW (RT1¹), and DA (RT1^a) into the spleens of LEW rats significantly prolonged the survival of BDE heart allografts to 14.3±2.7 (mean±SD), 9.2±0.8, and 10.8±2.3 days respectively, compared with 6.7±0.8 days in controls (p<0.01). Moreover, the BDE hepatocytes had a significantly prolonged survival compared to the LEW (p<0.01) and DA (0.02     

The immunosuppressive effect of experimentally induced uremia

Isogeneic BN rats were made uremic by subtotal renal resections. After different periods of uremia the possibility of an immunodeficiency was evaluated by (WF X BN) F1----BN heterotopic heart transplantations. A prolongation of transplant survival was found that was not related to the duration of uremia. In some rats the uremia was reversed by isogeneic BN----BN kidney transplantation before cardiac grafting. An immediate reversal of the immunodeficiency occurred. Thus an immunosuppressive effect by uremia can be documented, and to some extent quantitated, by heterotopic heart transplantation between rats of different isogeneic strains.     

Studies on the immunosuppressive effect of seminal plasma

In vitro suppression of immune responses by seminal plasma is well documented, but the mechanism by which it exerts its effects remains to be established. Our studies on T-lymphocyte proliferation and natural killer cell target-cell lysis reveal that seminal plasma mediated suppression is dose-dependent and temperature-dependent, and that cells which have been activated are less susceptible to suppression. In the case of mitogen-induced T-cell responses this results in a decrease in the expression of the Interleukin-2 receptor whose generation is essential to T-cell proliferation. These studies provide further evidence about suppression of the immune response by seminal plasma. This may be a contributory factor in the aetiology of AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases, infertility and malignancies of the urogenital tract including carcinoma of the cervix.     

The immunosuppressive effect of hepatocytes in rats--assessment by heart allograft survival and delayed-type-hypersensitivity reactions

The immunosuppressive effect of hepatocytes was examined experimentally by heart allograft and delayed-type-hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions. The hepatocyte inoculation (1 X 10(7) of BDE (of the major histocompatibility complex haplotype RT1u), LEW (RT1l), and DA (RT1a) into the spleens of LEW rats significantly prolonged the survival of BDE heart allografts to 14.3 +/- 2.7 (mean +/- SD), 9.2 +/- 0.8, and 10.8 +/- 2.3 days respectively, compared with 6.7 +/- 0.8 days in controls (p less than 0.01). Moreover, the BDE hepatocytes had a significantly prolonged survival compared to the LEW (p less than 0.01) and DA (0.02 less than p less than 0.05) groups. BDE hepatocyte (donor specific) inoculation 4 and 7 days before priming with the spleen cells reduced DTH responses in the LEW rats to 44.6 +/- 4.8 per cent, and 74.2 +/- 8.0 per cent, respectively. DA hepatocyte inoculation (third party) 4 and 7 days prior to priming reduced DTH responses to 72.5 +/- 11.5 per cent, and 76.5 +/- 11.9 per cent, respectively. All DTH responses were significantly suppressed after hepatocyte inoculation compared to 100 per cent in the controls (p less than 0.01). Moreover, the inoculation of BDE hepatocytes (donor specific) 4 days prior to the priming significantly reduced DTH responses compared to the group primed 7 days before (p less than 0.01). From these results we concluded that hepatocytes produced not only non-specific but also donor specific immunosuppressive effects through T cell immune reaction. Moreover, donor specific immunosuppressive effects were induced at least 4 to 7 days after hepatocyte inoculation.     

Protective effect of immunosuppressive treatment before orthotopic kidney autotransplantation

BackgroundIschemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is one of the risk factors for delayed graft function, acute rejection and long term allograft survival after kidney transplantation. IRI is an independent antigen inflammatory process that produces tissue damage. Our objective was to study the impact of immunosuppressive treatment (IS) on IRI applying only one dose of IS before orthotopic kidney autotransplantation.MethodsTwenty-four rats allocated in four groups were studied. One group served as control (G1: autotransplanted rats without IS) and the rest received IS 12 h before kidney autotransplantation (G2: Rapamycin, G3: Mycophenolate mofetil and G4: Tacrolimus).ResultsImproved renal function and systemic inflammatory response were found among IS groups compared to the control group (Delta Urea p < 0.0001; Delta Creatinine p < 0.0001; Delta C3 p < 0.001). The number of apoptotic nuclei in renal medulla in G1 was higher than in IS groups (p < 0.0001). Tubular damage was less severe in IS groups respecting G1 (p < 0.001). C3, TNF-α and IL-6 expression in kidney samples was reduced when IS was used compared to the control group. No differences were observed among the different immunosuppressive drugs tested. However, Heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) was increased only in Rapamycin treatment.ConclusionsThese data suggest that the use of IS administered before transplant attenuates the IRI process after kidney transplantation in an animal model.     

深低温冻储在大鼠同种异体气管移植中免疫抑制作用

目的 探讨深低温冻储在同种异体气管移植中的作用。方法选择近交系Lewis大鼠自体气管移植（L-L组），及F344和Lewis行未冻储（F-L组）、冻储（CF-L组）同种异体气管移植，分别在术后2、7、30天观察各组移植段光镜下免疫排斥反应变化。结果①CF-L组在移植术后各时间点与F-L组相比较，炎细胞浸润程度及上皮下组织增殖相比显著降低（P〈0．05）。②CF-L组PBMC内γ-IFN表达量在术后2、7、30天均明显低于F-L组（P〈0．01）。③F-L组在移植术后2、7、30天，凋亡细胞计数均较L-L组和CF-L组高（P〉0．05）。结论深低温冻储可能通过调节同种异体气管移植术后Th型细胞因子的变化和移植物细胞凋亡，从而抑制了免疫排斥反应。