Expression of Apoptosis Related Protein in Skin Lesions of Lichen Planus and Its Implication

In order to investigate the role of Caspase-3 and Bax in the pathogenesis of lichen planus, immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of Caspase-3 and Bax in skin lesions of the patients with lichen planus and skin tissues of normal subjects. The results showed that positive rate of Caspase-3 and Bax expression in lichen planus were significantly higher than that in normal skins （both P〈0.05）. Meanwhile, there was a obvious correlation between the increase of Caspase-3 and that of Bax in lichen planus. The expression of Caspase-3 and Bax might play an important role in the development of lichen planus.     

Expression of TLR9 and Its mRNA in the Lesions of Lichen Planus

To investigate the role of toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) in the pathogenesis of lichen planus, the expressions of TLR9 and its mRNA in the lesional skin of lichen planus were detected by immu- nohistochemical technique (SP) and RT-PCR. As control, normal skin of healthy volunteers was also tested. The immunohistochemical study showed that the expression of TLR9 in the lesional skin of lichen planus was significantly higher than that in the normal controls. The results of RT-PCR showed that both skin lesions and normal controls had TLR9 expression. In skin lesions, the expression level of TLR9 mRNA was 1.6075±0.0930, which was significantly higher than that in normal controls (P<0.001). These findings indicated that up-regulated expression of TLR9 and its mRNA might be involved in the pathogenesis of lichen planus.     

Expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in Lesions of Systemic Sclerosis and Its Implications

In order to investigate the role of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis, the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was immunohistochemically detected in skin lesions of the patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, skin lesions of the patients with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis, and skin tissues of normal subjects. The results showed that the expression of MMP-9 in lesions of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis was significantly lower than that of normal skins （P〈0.05）. However, no significant difference in the level of MMP-9 in the limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis and normal skin was found. Meanwhile, the expression of TIMP-1 in lesions of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis and limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis were significantly higher than that of normal skins （both P〈0.05）. It was suggested that the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 might play an important role in the development of systemic sclerosis.     

Expression of p63 and Cyclooxygenase-2 and Their Correlation in Skin Tumors

To study the expression of p63 and cyclooxygenase-2 (cox-2) in skin tumors and evalu- ate the correlation between p63 and cox-2, the expressions of cox-2 and p63 were measured by streptavidin-peroxidase complex immunohistochemical technique in 17 cases of skin squamous cell carcinoma(SCC), 19 cases of Bowen's disease(Bowen), 11 cases of actinic keratosis(AK), 12 cases of seborreic keratosis(SK) and 13 specimens of normal skin. Our results showed that the expression of p63 in skin squamous cell carcinoma, Bowen's disease and actinic keratosis were significantly higher than that in seborreic keratosis, while the expression of p63 in seborreic keratosis was sig- nificantly higher than that in normal skin. The expression of cox-2 in skin squamous cell carcinoma, Bowen's disease and actinic keratosis were significantly higher than that in seborreic keratosis, while no statistical difference was noted in the expression of cox-2 between seborreic keratosis and normal skin. Cox-2 expression was positively correlated with the high p63 expression in malignant skin tu- mors. The increased expression of cox-2 and p63 may play an important role in the development of skin tumors and work synergetically in malignant skin tumors.     

Expression of β-1,4-galactosyltransferase I in a surgically-induced rat model of knee osteoarthritic synovitis

Background There are few reports of a biological role for glycosyltransferases in the infiltration of osteoarthritic synovitis. The aim of this research was to investigate the expression and cellular location of β-1,4-galactosyltransferase Ⅰ （β-1,4-GaIT-Ⅰ） in a surgically-induced rat model of knee osteoarthritis （OA）, and explore the role of β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ in the pathogenesis of OA.Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups： OA group, sham group and normal group. The model of OA was established in the right knees of rats by anterior cruciate ligament transaction （ACLT） with partial medial meniscectomy. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes （FLSs） obtained from normal rat synovial tissue were cultured.The expression of β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ mRNA in the synovial tissue, articular cartilage and FLSs treated with tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） were assayed by real-time PCR. Western-blotting and immunohistochemisty were used to observe the expression of β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ at the protein level. Double immunofluorescent staining was used to define the location of the β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ with macrophage-like synoviocytes, FLSs, neutrophils, and TNF-α in the OA synovium. The alteration of TNF-α in FLSs which were treated with lipopolysaccharide （LPS） and β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ-Ab were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）.Results The mRNA and protein expression of β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ increased in synovial tissue of the OA group compared with the normal and sham groups at two and four weeks after the surgery, however, no significant difference appeared in the articular cartilage. Immunohistochemistry also indicated that the β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ expression in OA synovium at four weeks after surgery increased sharply compared with the control group. β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ co-localized with macrophage-like synoviocytes, FLSa, neutrophils and TNF-α in rat OA synovitis. Moreover, in vitro β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ mRNA in FLSs was affected in a dose- and time-dependent manner in response to TNF-α stimulation. ELISA revealed that the expression of TNF-α was attenuated in FLSs in vitro when treated with anti β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ antibody.Conclusion β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ may play an important role in the inflammation process of rat OA synovial tissue which would provide the foundation for further researching into the concrete mechanism of β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ in OA synovitis.     

Role of Nuclear Transcription Factor-κB in Endotoxin-induced Shock in Rats

To investigate the role of NF-κB in endotoxic shock in rats. the model of endotoxinshock rats was induced by intravenous infusion of lipopolysaccharidc (LPS). 1 h. 2 h. 4 h and 6 h after LPS injection, the activation of NF-κB in blood mononuclear cells and the content of TNF-α and IL-6 in plasma was detected by enzyme-linked immunoadsordent assay (ELISA). The level of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the histopathological changes of lung and liver were also observed. The activation of NF-κB in mononuclear cells increased 1 h after LPS injection and reached its peak 2 h after the injection, and its level was higher than that of normal group. The level of TNF-α was increased 1 h after the infusion and peaked 2 h after the injection, and its level was higher than that of normal group after LPS infusion. The content of IL-6 increased gradually with time. the IL-6 level was higher than that of normal group after LPS injection. MAP was decreased gradually with time and its level was lower than that of normal group after LPS injection. Pathological examination showed that endotoxic shock could cause pulmonary alveolar hemorrhage, edema and infiltration of inflammatory cell in lung tissue and congestion, edema, capillary dilation and inflammatory cell infiltration in liver tissue. It is concluded that NF-κB can up-regulate the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 in plasma and play an important role in endotoxin induced shock in rats.     

Expression of IL-βα and TNF-α in MCMV Myocarditis and Its Role

In order to study the expression of IL-β and TNF-α in the myocardium of MCMV myocarditis and their role in the myocardial damages, 60 BALB/C mice of 4 weeks were randomly divided into two groups: 36 were injected intraperitoneally with MCMV and 24 served as control group. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect IL-β and TNF-α expression in the myocardium, and myocardial lesions were observed histopathologically. Histopathological study on the myocardium from infected mice revealed focal or diffuse lesions characterized by inflammatory cells and degeneration or necrosis of myocytes. The myocardial lesion score showed the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration was slight in MCMV myocarditis. The positive staining signals for IL-β and TNF-α proteins which mainly located in the infiltrating inflammatory cells and degenerative or necrotic myocytes were markedly detectable whereas there were no positive findings in the myocardium of control mice. IL-β and TNF-α was expressed in the myocardium of viral myocarditis murine model induced by MCMV. IL-β and TNF-α may play an important role in the pathogenesis of viral myocarditis.     

Expression and Significance of Bcl-2, Bax, Fas and Caspase-3 in Different Phases of Human Hemangioma

Summary： The relationship between Bcl-2, Bax, Fas, caspase-3 and development of hemangioma and the molecular mechanism was investigated. By using immunohistochemical S-P method, proliferating cell nuclear antigen was detected. According to the classification of Mulliken in combination with PCNA expression, 27 cases were identified as proliferating hemangioma and 22 cases as involutive hemangioma. Five normal skin tissues around the tumor tissue served as controls. By using immunohistochemical technique, the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, Fax and Caspase-3 was detected. The cells expressing Bcl-2, Bax, Fax and cappase-3 were identified as hemangioma endothelia by immunohistochemical staining of Ⅷ factor. The average absorbance （A） and average positive area rate of Bcl-2, Bax, Fas and caspase-3 expression were measured by using HPIAS-2000 imaging analysis system. The results showed that the expression of Bcl-2 in the endothelia of proliferating hemangioma was significantly higher that in involutive degenerative hemangioma endothelia and vascular endothelia of normal skin tissue （P〈0.01）. The expression of Bax, Fas and Caspase-3 in the endothelia of involutive hemangioma was obviously higher than in the endothelia of proliferating hemangioma and normal skin tissue （P〈0.01）. The expression of BAx and Fas in endothelia of proliferating hemangioma was higher than in those of normal skin tissue （P〈0.05）. It was suggested that Bcl-2, Bax, Fas and caspase-3 might be involved in the development and involution of hemangioma. Bcl-2 could promote the growth of hemangioma by inhibiting apoptosis of endothelia. Bax, Fas and caspase-3 promote the switch of hemangioma from proliferation to involution by inducing the apoptosis of hemangioma endothelia.     

Effect of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α on Acyl Coenzyme A： Cholesteryl Acyltransferase Activity and ACAT1 Gene Expression in THP-1 Macrophages

In order to explore the effect and mechanisms of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) on the activity of the acyl coenzyme A: cholesteryl acyltransferase (ACAT), THP-1 monocytes were cul- tured and induced to differentiate into macrophages with phorbol ester. TNF-α (60 ng/mL) was added at different time points into the macrophage-containing medium and the ACAT enzyme activity was measured by quantifying the incorporation of 1-14C oleoyl CoA into cholesteryl esters. The expres- sion of ACAT-1 protein and mRNA was respectively detected by Western blotting and RT-PCR in THP-1 macrophages 24 h after treatment with TNF-α (60 ng/mL). The results indicated that ACAT activity in THP-1 macrophages treated with TNF-α was increased in a time-dependent manner. The expression levels of ACAT-1 protein and mRNA were significantly increased in THP-1 macrophages after treatment with TNF-α (P<0.05). It was suggested that TNF-α could increase the activity of ACAT in THP-1 macrophages by up-regulating the expression of ACAT-1 gene.     

Expression of MDM2 Protein and mRNA in Condyloma Acuminata

In order to investigate the role of murine double minute 2 (MDM2) in cell proliferation and carcinogenesis in condyloma acuminatum (CA), immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were used to detect the expression of MDM2 protein and mRNA in normal skin and skin lesions of CA of vulva. PCR was also used to detect HPV types. The results showed that in 32 observed CA specimens, the expression of MDM2 protein and mRNA was detected in 18(56.25 %)and 22 (68.75 %)respectively, while the co-expression of MDM2 protein and mRNA was found in 14. PCR results revealed that HPV6/11 and HPV16/18 subtypes were shown in 28(87.5 %)and 4 (12.5 % )respectively out of 32 CA specimens. Out of the 18 positive specimens expressing MDM2 protein, HPV6/11 subtypes were shown in 15 and HPV16/18 subtypes in 3. In 22 positive specimens expressing MDM2 mRNA, HPV6/ll subtypes were shown in 18 and HPV16/18 subtypes in 4. No expression of MDM2 protein and MDM2 mRNA was observed in normal skin. Our study indicated that the overexpression of MDM2 might be involved in malignant proliferation and carcinogenesis of CA.     

Dynamic Expression of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Rat Model of Pulmonary Emphysema Induced by Smoke Exposure

In order to explore the roles of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in the pathogenesis of pulmonary emphysema,male Wistar rats were randomized into group A1,group A2.5 and group A4,each with smoke exposure for 1 month,2.5 months or 4 months,respectively.Group B1,group B2.5 and group B4 were used as non smoking controls at corresponding time points.TNF-α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) and expression of VEGF in lung tissue was determined by ELISA or by SABC immunohistochemistry assay either.Lung slices were stained with hematoxylin and eosin(HE).Results showed that in animal with smoke exposure the mean linear interceptor(Lm),an index of pulmonary emphysema and the content of TNF-α in BALF increased gradually,on contrary,the expression of VEGF in lung tissue decreased(P<0.05).This phenomenon was not obvious in animals without smoke exposure.Lm was negatively correlated to the VEGF expression(γ=-0.81,P<0.01) and positively correlated to TNF-α concentration(γ = 0.52,P<0.004),which implies that smoke exposure decreased the expression of VEGF and increased the expression of TNF-α.It is plausible to speculate that the imbalance of TNF-α and VEGF may play an important role in the pathogenesis of smoke-induced pulmonary emphysema.     

Expression of HSP90aaaaaa in hepatocellular carcinoma and its signiflcance

Objective To investigate the expression of HSP90α in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and explore its relation to biological behavior and prognosis of the tumor. Methods Immunohistochemical S - P method was used to detect the expression of HSP90α in liver tissue from 10 normal individuals and liver and juxtacancerous tissues from 40 patients with HCC. Results The expression rate of HSP90α was 10% ,52.5% and 72.5% in normal liver tissue,juxtacanerous tissue and HCC tissue,respectively. A significantly higher distribution of HSP90α expression in HCC tissue compared with juxtacancerous tissue and normal liver tissue was found (P < 0. 05). HSP90α was markedly correlated to tumor differentiation and size (P <0. 05) but not to tumor number (P > 0. 05). Meanwhile,it was correlated with prognosis of HOC. The mean tumor-free survival time in HSP90α-negative patients was 38. 6 months while that in HSP90α-positive ones 25. 5 months. There was significant difference between these 2 groups of patients ( P     

Expression of interleukin-15 and its receptor on the surface of stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Summary： Human interleukin-15 （hIL-15） is an important cytokine to activate endothelial cells and can be regulated by many other cytokines. The aim of this study is to examine the ability of interferon-γ （IFN-γ）, and tumor necrosis factor-or （TNF-α to induce the production of human interleukin-15 （hIL-15） and IL-15 receptor （IL-15Rα by human umbilical vein endothelial cells （HUVECs）. The data are summarized as follows： 1. Northern blot revealed that IL-15 mRNA was up-regulated by IFN-γ and TNF-α 2. Intracellular IL-15 protein was visualized by fluorescence microscopy, whereas the expression of IL-15 on the surface of HUVECs was detected by fluorescence activated cell sorting （FACS）, and no detectable IL-15 in the medium was verified by ELISA. 3. IL-15Rα was detected on the surface of HUVECs by FACS after IFN-α and TNF-α stimulation, whereas Western blotting revealed that the elevated expression on surface IL-15Rα was not due to the increased protein expression. The conclusion demonstrated from our results is that IFN-α and TNF-α play an important role in regulating the expression of IL-15 and IL-15Rα on the surface of HUVECs.     

Lentivector-mediated RNAi efficiently downregulates expression of murine TNF-α gene in vitro and in vivo

In order to explore the role of TNF-α in Niemann-Pick type C （NPC） disease, lentiviral-delivered RNA interference （RNAi） was used to silence the expression of murine TNF-α gene in vitro and in npc mice. Interference efficiency of the lentivirus expressing TNF-α-siRNA, previously constructed with the concentration of 2 x 108 ifu/mL, was determined by RT-PCR and ELISA in BV-2 cells and astrocytes. At the same time, the constructed Lenti-TNF-α-siRNA was intracerebroventricularly infused into 4-week old npc mice for a 4-week period, and the mice were divided into 3 groups： Lenti-TNF-α-siRNA （n=6）, control lentivirus （n=6）, and NPC mice without any intervention （n=4）. By using immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR, the down-regulation of the target genes was detected. The Lenti-TNF-α-siRNA downregulated the expression of murine TNF-α gene efficiently in vitro and the interference efficiency was 66.7%. Lentivirus could be expressed stably for long-term in the npc mice brain. Immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR revealed that, as compared with non-intervention group and Lenti-control group, Lenti-TNF-α-siRNA efficiently down-regulated the expression of murine TNF-α gene with the interference efficiency being 66.9%. TNF-α-siRNA downregulated the expression of TNF-α gene in vitro and in vivo, which provided a potential tool for studying and treating neurodegenerative diseases and TNF-α-related diseases.     

Expression and Prognostic Significance of Livin in the Progression of Bladder Cancer

It has been suggested that progression of bladder transitional cell cancer (BTCC) may be regulated at the molecular level by a typical pattern of expression of genes involved in apoptosis. Re-cently Livin, belonging to the inhibitors of apoptosis (IAP) family, has been found to be expressed in most solid tumors, where its expression is suggested to have clinical significance. In order to explore the significance of Livin expression in the development of BTCC, immunohistochemistry and RT-QPCR were used to detect the expression of Livin mRNA in tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues of 30 cases of BTCC. The results showed that the positive rate of Livin expression in adjacent normal tissues and tumor tissues was 0 and 60% (18/30) respectively. The -△△CT value of Livin in BTCC tissues was 8.0454 (7.4264-8.6644) times of that in adjacent normal tissues. The expression of Livin mRNA had no correlation with tumor pathological grades and clinical stages. It was sug-gested that there was weak expression of Livin mRNA in adjacent normal tissues, but strong in tumor tissues.     

Expression of IRF-4 and IBP in skin lesions of patients with psoriasis vulgaris

The expression of the interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF-4) and the IRF-4-binding pro-tein (IBP) in psoriatic skin lesions was investigated. The expression of IRF-4 and IBP in skin lesions of 20 patients with psoriasis vulgaris were immunohistochemically dectected. Normal skin from 10 healthy people was used as normal control. The study showed that expression of IRF-4 was increased significantly in keratinocytes and inflammatory cells in the lesions of psoriasis vulgaris than that in the normal control. The detection revealed that IBP expression in keratinocytes, lymphocytes, hair follicles, and sebaceous glands in normal skin was significantly lower than that in the lesions of pso-riasis vulgaris (P<0.05). Both IRF-4 and IBP might be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis vul-garis.