氯喹可加重Con A诱导的自身免疫性肝损伤

氯喹(chloroquine,CQ)可抑制免疫反应,偶用于类风湿性关节炎、系统性红斑狼疮等自身免疫性疾病的治疗,但氯喹对自身免疫性肝炎的影响目前尚不明确。本研究拟探讨CQ对小鼠自身免疫性肝损伤的影响及可能机制。小鼠尾静脉注射Con A建立小鼠肝损伤模型,1h后,腹腔注射CQ或等体积PBS。观察小鼠生存状况,在不同时间点收集血清和肝组织,采用赖氏法检测血清谷丙转氨酶(GPT)水平;ELISA方法检测血清细胞因子IFN-γ及TNF-α含量;HE染色观察肝脏病理损伤情况;免疫印迹检测小鼠肝脏自噬水平指标LC3-Ⅱ和P62。结果显示,Con A+CQ组小鼠血清中GPT水平显著高于Con A组,且病理切片染色显示Con A+CQ组肝脏损伤较Con A组更严重;Con A+CQ注射组小鼠的存活率明显低于仅注射Con A组(P0.0001);Con A+CQ组小鼠血清中炎性细胞因子IFN-γ和TNF-α的分泌高于Con A组;CQ可抑制Con A刺激诱导的小鼠肝脏自噬水平升高。氯喹可加重Con A诱导的自身免疫性肝损伤,其机制可能是通过抑制肝脏自噬水平从而加剧小鼠肝脏损伤。     

Glycyrrhizin protects mice from concanavalin A-induced hepatitis without affecting cytokine expression.

The administration of concanavalin A (Con A) to mice induces cytokine-dependent hepatitis. In the present study, the effect of glycyrrhizin on Con A-induced hepatitis was examined. Treatment of mice with Con A (0.2 mg/mouse, i.v.) induced elevation of the plasma transaminase activities at 24 h. Mice were treated with glycyrrhizin (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, i.p.), and glycyrrhizin at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg inhibited the Con A-induced elevation of the plasma transaminase activities. At 1 h after Con A treatment, interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-2 and interleukin-6 proteins were released into the plasma. Although treatment with glycyrrhizin at 200 mg/kg inhibited Con A-induced hepatitis, it did not affect the release of any of these Con A-induced cytokines into the plasma. The present results clearly show that glycyrrhizin inhibited Con A-induced hepatitis without affecting cytokine expression.     

经肝动脉同种异体脂肪干细胞移植治疗小鼠自身免疫性肝炎的实验研究

目的: 探讨同种异体脂肪干细胞经肝动脉移植对刀豆素A(Con A)诱导的小鼠自身免疫性肝炎的治疗价值。方法: Con A注射法建立小鼠自身免疫性肝炎模型。将40只小鼠随机分为4组:阴性对照组、经肝动脉移植组、经尾静脉移植组(移植脂肪干细胞2×10⁶)和阳性对照组。阳性对照组应用环磷酰胺腹腔注射。观察移植前后肝脏组织病理病变情况、血清炎症指标和肝功能指标的改变。结果: 经肝动脉移植组和经尾静脉移植组行脂肪干细胞移植后全部存活,未发生明显并发症;经肝动脉移植组血清炎症指标(IFN-γ、IL-4和IL-5)及血清天冬氨酸氨基转移酶、丙氨酸氨基转移酶及碱性磷酸酶明显下降(P<0.05);经尾静脉移植组血清炎症指标及血清肝功能指标有所下降,但无显著差异。经肝动脉移植组及阳性对照组病理学上改善最明显,肝内炎症细胞浸润及肝细胞坏死均明显减少。结论: 同种异体脂肪干细胞移植有助于改善Con A介导的小鼠自身免疫性肝炎,经肝动脉途径可提高脂肪干细胞肝移植的效能。     

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate protects mice from concanavalin A-induced hepatitis through suppressing immune-mediated liver injury

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the major active component of green tea. Increasing evidence has suggested that EGCG exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and immunosuppressive effects. In this study, we investigated the effect of EGCG on concanavalin A (ConA)-induced hepatitis (CIH) in mice, a model of immune-mediated liver injury in humans. We pretreated mice with EGCG before ConA injection, and then measured alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in plasma, inflammatory infiltration and hepatocyte apoptosis in liver. Potential therapeutic mechanisms were elucidated further by measuring several inflammatory mediators. Mice pretreated with EGCG exhibited much less increased ALT levels in plasma, reduced inflammatory infiltration and hepatocyte apoptosis in liver compared with control mice pretreated with vehicle solutions. We further investigated the mechanisms of the protective effects of EGCG. In EGCG-pretreated mice, we found abrogated tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma at both protein levels in plasma and mRNA levels in liver. At the same time, the concentration of nitrite in plasma and inducible nitric oxide synthase production in liver were both down-regulated in these mice. Moreover, IFN-inducible protein-10 and macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha expressions in liver were decreased significantly. Therefore, EGCG is capable of regulating immune-mediated liver injury in vivo. The protective effect depended on its suppressive effect on the production of important inflammatory mediators.     

Macrophage-virus interaction during Con A-induced protection against Japanese encephalitis virus in infant mice

Eight to ten-day-old mice when inoculated i.p. with Concanavalin A yielded a large number of cells in the peritoneal exudate (PE), the majority of which belonged to the macrophage series. Con A-treated and untreated (control) mice were infected i.p. with Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus. The PE cells of Con A-treated mice showed a higher percentage and greater intensity of virus specific immunofluorescent cells as compared with the cells from control mice. No live virus was detected in the Con A-induced cells. However, traces of live virus were found in the cells of control mice, 3-6 hr after infection. In vitro, peritoneal macrophages from Con A-treated mice showed a higher uptake of the virus (83.3%) within 18 hr as compared to the cells from paraffin-treated mice (34%). The protection of Con A-induced mice to JE virus challenge by i.p. route could be due to increased uptake and subsequent inactivation of the JE virus in the peritoneal exudate cells.     

Retinoic acid alleviates Con A-induced hepatitis and differentially regulates effector production in NKT cells

Retinoic acid (RA) is a diverse regulator of immune responses. Although RA promotes natural killer T (NKT) cell activation in vitro by increasing CD1d expression on antigen-presenting cells (APCs), the direct effects of RA on NKT-cell responses in vivo are not known. In the present study, we demonstrated the effect of RA on the severity of Con A-induced hepatitis and molecular changes of NKT cells. First, we demonstrated that Con A-induced liver damage was ameliorated by RA. In correlation with cytokine levels in serum, RA regulated the production of IFN-γ and IL-4 but not TNF-α by NKT cells without influencing the NKT-cell activation status. However, RA did not alleviate α-GalCer-induced liver injury, even though it reduced IFN-γ and IL-4 but not TNF-α levels in serum. This regulation was also detected when liver mononuclear cells (MNCs) or NKT hybridoma cells were treated with RA in vitro. The regulatory effect of RA on NKT cells was mediated by RAR-α, and RA reduced the phosphorylation of MAPK. These results suggest that RA differentially modulates the production of effector cytokines by NKT cells in hepatitis, and the suppressive effect of RA on hepatitis varies with the pathogenic mechanism of liver injury.     

Prevention of concanavalin A-induced mice hepatitis by molsidomine

Molsidomine is effective in reducing portal hypertension in cirrhosis, but its effect on hepatitis is not known. In the present study, the effect of molsidomine on hepatitis was examined using mouse concanavalin A (Con A)-induced hepatitis and mouse anti-Fas antibody-induced hepatitis. Treatment of mice with Con A caused elevation of plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) at 8 and 24 h (n=4). Pretreatment of mice with molsidomine (3, 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) prevented Con A-induced hepatitis. Treatment of mice with anti-Fas antibody (150 microg/kg, i.v.) caused elevation of plasma ALT at 3.5 h. Pretreatment mice with molsidomine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) showed only 47% inhibition of anti-Fas antibody caused elevation of plasma ALT. The present results showed effectiveness of molsidomine in preventing Con A-induced mice hepatitis.     

FXR通过调节促甲状腺素胚胎因子减轻Con A诱导的自身免疫性肝炎病变

 目的：观察法尼酯衍生物X受体（farnesoid X receptor,FXR)-促甲状腺素胚胎因子（thyrotropin embryonic factor,TEF）通路在自身免疫性肝炎模型小鼠肝损害中的作用,探讨FXR-TEF通路改善自身免疫性肝炎的部分可能机制。方法：检测FXR在伴刀豆球蛋白A (concanavalin A, Con A) 诱导的肝炎（Con A-induced hepatitis, CIH）小鼠肝脏的表达;检测FXR激活对TEF表达的影响;观察C57BL/6小鼠和鹅去氧胆酸（chenodeoxycholic acid,CDCA）激活FXR的CIH小鼠肝脏病理、肝脏酶学及炎症因子变化。结果：FXR在CIH小鼠中低表达;CDCA激活FXR的C57BL/6小鼠TEF表达上调;FXR被激活的CIH小鼠的肝损害较轻,FXR激活可减轻肝脏炎症因子释放。结论：CDCA激活FXR能减轻CIH引起的肝功能损害和炎症反应。FXR激活使TEF上调。FXR可能是自身免疫性肝炎的保护因素,其保护作用可能是通过TEF来实现的。激活FXR可能成为治疗自身免疫性肝炎的一个途径。     

Development of anorexia in concanavalin A-induced hepatitis in mice

Anorexia that develops in chronic hepatitis is associated with cytokine expression in the brain. Treatment of mice with concanavalin A (12.5 mg/kg, i.v.) elevated the plasma alanine aminotransferase activity at 8.5 h after treatment. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta mRNA expression was induced at 6 and 24 h after concanavalin A treatment in both the liver and brain. Treatment of mice with concanavalin A reduced the body weight at 24 h after treatment and this decreased body weight was accompanied by a decreased food intake. Glycyrrhizin (200 mg/kg, i.p.) inhibited the concanavalin A-induced elevation of plasma alanine aminotransferase activity, however, it did not inhibit the concanavalin A-induced decreased body weight. The present results indicate that treatment of mice with concanavalin A caused the development of anorexia and that this anorexia might develop independently of the induction of hepatitis.     

原花青素A-1调节ConA刺激小鼠脾细胞分泌Th1/Th2细胞因子的影响

目的研究从碎米花杜鹃叶中分离得到的化合物原花青素A-1(proanthocyanidin A-1,简称PAA-1)对Con A刺激的小鼠脾细胞细胞因子分泌水平的调节作用,确定其免疫增强的作用机制。方法采用双抗夹心ELISA法,通过不同浓度PAA-1协同Con A体外刺激,检测其对小鼠脾细胞分泌的各种细胞因子分泌量的影响。结果 1)PAA-1各浓度在体外能增加Con A刺激的脾细胞分泌的辅助性T细胞亚群(Th1)细胞因子(IL-2、IL-12、IFN-γ、TNF-α)的分泌量;2)PAA-1对Con A刺激的脾细胞分泌的抑制Th2细胞因子(IL-4、IL-10)的分泌量起抑制作用。结论 PAA-1是通过增加Con A刺激的小鼠脾细胞Th1细胞因子的分泌量,来发挥免疫增强作用,并使Th1/Th2的平衡向Th1方向移动,这对许多的Th2占优势的免疫紊乱性疾病的治疗具有重要的意义,为其开发为新型免疫增强剂提供试验依据。     

Hepatocyte growth factor, but not insulin-like growth factor I, protects podocytes against cyclosporin A-induced apoptosis

Cyclosporin A (CsA) nephropathy is associated with altered expression of apoptosis regulatory genes such as Fas-ligand and Bcl-2 family members in the glomerular, tubulointerstitial, and vascular compartments. Both hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) protect against apoptosis, and HGF specifically up-regulates Bcl-xL, a protein that regulates apoptosis. We investigated whether Bcl-xL and Fas/Fas-ligand were regulated by CsA in cultured podocytes and whether CsA-induced apoptosis was prevented by HGF or IGF-I. A murine podocyte cell line was treated with CsA in the presence or absence of HGF or IGF-I. Apoptosis was quantitated by ELISA and by flow cytometry; Bcl-xL, Fas, and Fas-ligand were measured by Western blotting. Inhibitors of MAP kinase/ERK kinase (MEK)-1 and of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3'-K) were used to determine the signaling pathways involved in Bcl-xL regulation. Apoptosis was induced by CsA in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. CsA also decreased Bcl-xL levels. HGF, but not IGF-I, prevented apoptosis and restored Bcl-xL levels. The regulation of Bcl-xL by HGF was mediated by the PI3'-K but not by the MEK-1 pathway. In summary, we showed that CsA induces apoptosis in podocytes. Apoptosis was prevented by pretreatment with HGF but not IGF-I. Decreased apoptosis appeared to be mediated by regulation of Bcl-xL via the PI3'-K pathway. Our data suggest that the effect of CsA on podocytes may contribute to the glomerular damage and that HGF could provide protection.     

A broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor blocks concanavalin A-induced hepatitis in mice

Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is a clinical syndrome resulting from massive death of liver cells or sudden and severe impairment of liver function. The causes of FHF are diverse and the overall mortality is very high. Recently, it became clear that apoptosis of hepatocytes is the critical cause of acute hepatic failure in FHF. It is well known that a family of cysteine proteases called caspase is one of the key mediators of the apoptotic pathway. Thus, caspases are attractive potential targets for the treatment of disorders resulting from excessive apoptosis. In this report, we examined the activity of a new caspase inhibitor, Xyz 033 mp. This nonpeptide inhibitor showed broad-spectrum caspase-inhibiting activity and protected primary rat hepatocytes from apoptotic death. In a mouse model of FHF induced by concavalin A (Con A), Xyz 033 mp suppressed elevated AST and ALT and specifically reduced IL-1 beta concentration. Also, Xyz 033 mp rescued mice from lethal experimental hepatitis induced by Con A. In addition, histological examinations indicated that Xyz 033 mp protected hepatocytes from the fatal apoptogenic effect of Con A. These results suggest that Xyz 033 mp may be a candidate therapeutic agent for FHF caused by massive apoptotic death of hepatocytes.     

Leptin and Leptin receptor polymorphisms,plasma Leptin levels and obesity in Tunisian volunteers

Adipose tissue is an important endocrine organ that secretes a number of adipokines, like Leptin (LEP). The aim this study was to investigate the prevalence of single nucleotide polymorphisms in LEP gene (LEP 3′UTR A/C, ?2548 G/A) and LEPR (K109R and Q223R) and their association with Leptin level and obesity. We recruited 169 non‐obese (body mass index [BMI] = 24.51‐3.69 kg/m²) and 160 obese (BMI = 36‐4.78 kg/m²) patients. Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism, BMI was calculated, and Leptin level was measured by ELISA. Statistical analyses were performed by spss 19.0. According to LEP 3′UTR A/C polymorphism, AC and CC genotype carriers had higher Leptin levels than AA genotype carriers, respectively, 31[0.05‐148.8] (P = .008) vs 41[0.05‐111.6] (P = .003). The K109R polymorphism was associated with obesity (P = .025) and seems to significantly decrease the LEP levels (P < .001). Concerning LEP G2548A polymorphism, our results showed that the OR of obesity associated with 2548 AA/GG was 1.87[1.106‐2.78] P = .028 vs 1.41[1.035‐1.85] P = .045 for 223AA/GG polymorphism. In our haplotype analysis, one haplotype seems to be the more protective and one other seems to be the highest risk to obesity. LEP 3′UTR A/C and LEPR K109R polymorphisms were associated with Leptin level and obesity.     

Concanavalin A-induced hepatitis in mice is prevented by interleukin (IL)-10 and exacerbated by endogenous IL-10 deficiency

One single intra-venous (i.v.) injection of Concanavalin A (Con A) into mice provokes a cell-mediated immunoinflammatory hepatitis. We have presently evaluated the immunopharmacological effects of exogenous interleukin (IL)-10 and the role of endogenous IL-10 in this model by using exogenous IL-10, anti-IL-10 monoclonal antibody (mAb) and mice with disrupted IL-10 gene (IL-10 KO mice). Whilst exogenous IL-10 administered in a prophylactic (1 h prior to Con A) and even "early" therapeutic fashion (30 min after Con A) reduced the elevation of transaminase activities in plasma in a dose-dependent manner, observed in control mice, these biochemical markers of liver injury were significantly increased both in IL-10 KO mice as well as in those receiving anti-IL-10 mAb. Interestingly, doses of Con A lower than 20 mg/kg that were only capable of inducing slight serological signs of hepatitis in mice, exerted marked hepatitic effects when administered to either anti-IL-10 mAb-treated mice or to IL-10 KO mice. The disease modulating effects of exogenous IL-10 and either genetical or pharmacologically-induced IL-10 deficiency were associated with profound and opposite modifications of the Con A-induced increase in the circulating levels of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. Relative to control animals, the blood levels of these cytokines were diminished in IL-10-treated mice and augmented in both IL-10 KO mice and anti-IL-10 mAb-treated mice. These results prove the physiological antiinflammatory role of endogenous IL-10 in Con A induced hepatitis and the beneficial effects of IL-10 treatment to prevent this condition.     

Bimodal role of endogenous interleukin-6 in concanavalin A-induced hepatitis in mice

Acute concanavalin A (Con A)-induced hepatitis in mice is an animal model for hepatic injury induced by activated T cells. The evolution of hepatic involvement can be followed from hour to hour by measuring serum transaminase levels. We investigated the possible role of endogenous interleukin-6 (IL-6) in this model. We found serum IL-6 levels and splenic IL-6 mRNA during Con A-induced hepatitis to be significantly lower in interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-deficient mice, which are resistant against the Con A-induced syndrome, than in wild-type ones, suggesting that systemic IL-6 production favors development of hepatic injury. However, IL-6-deficient mice proved to be more susceptible to the disease than wild-type mice, indicating that endogenous IL-6 plays a predominantly hepatoprotective role. Experiments in which wild-type mice were treated with anti-IL-6 antibodies, before or after Con A challenge, allowed us to reconcile these contrasting observations. The antibody injections resulted in a biphasic alteration of serum IL-6 levels, initial neutralization being followed by rebound increased levels due to accumulation of IL-6 in the form of antigen-antibody complexes. The effect of antibody on disease severity differed depending on the time of injection. Antibody injection at 2.5 h post Con A resulted in delayed disease manifestation, whereas treatment initiated before Con A resulted in accelerated disease. We conclude that endogenous IL-6 plays a bimodal role. IL-6 present before Con A challenge as well as that induced in the very early phase after Con A injection triggers hepatoprotective pathways. Continuation of IL-6 production beyond this early phase, by some other pathway, seems to be harmful to hepatocytes.     

Caveolin-1 deficiency protects from pulmonary fibrosis by modulating epithelial cell senescence in mice

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is associated with a decreased expression of caveolin-1 (cav-1), yet its role remains unclear. To investigate the role of cav-1, we induced pulmonary fibrosis in wild-type (WT) and cav-1-deficient (cav-1(-/-)) mice using intratracheal instillation of bleomycin. Contrary to expectations, significantly less collagen deposition was measured in tissue from cav-1(-/-) mice than in their WT counterparts, consistent with reduced mRNA expression of procollagen1a2 and procollagen3a1. Moreover, cav-1(-/-) mice demonstrated 77% less α-smooth muscle actin staining, suggesting reduced mesenchymal cell activation. Levels of pulmonary injury, assessed by tenascin-C mRNA expression and CD44v10 detection, were significantly increased at Day 21 after injury in WT mice, an effect significantly attenuated in cav-1(-/-) mice. The apparent protective effect against bleomycin-induced fibrosis in cav-1(-/-) mice was attributed to reduce cellular senescence and apoptosis in cav-1(-/-) epithelial cells during the early phase of lung injury. Reduced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 expressions indicated a low profile of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in the bleomycin-injured cav-1(-/-) mice. However, IL-6 and macrophage inflammatory protein 2 were increased in WT and cav-1(-/-) mice after bleomycin challenge, suggesting that bleomycin-induced inflammatory response substantiated the SASP pool. Thus, loss of cav-1 attenuates early injury response to bleomycin by limiting stress-induced cellular senescence/apoptosis in epithelial cells. In contrast, decreased cav-1 expression promotes fibroblast activation and collagen deposition, effects that may be relevant in later stages of reparative response. Hence, therapeutic strategies to modulate the expression of cav-1 should take into account cell-specific effects in the regenerative responses of the lung epithelium to injury.