IL-1β TNF-α, and IL-2 in Peritoneal Fluid and Macrophage-Conditioned Media of Women With Endometriosis

PROBLEM : The presence of various cytokines in human peritoneal fluid has been incompletely evaluated. Changes in cytokine levels may be related to the development of endometriosis, infertility, and activation of peritoneal macrophages. This study assesses levels of IL-1β, IL-2, and TNF-α in peritoneal fluid and macrophage conditioned media of women with endometriosis. METHOD : Peritoneal fluid was collected from 51 women at the time of diagnostic or operative laparoscopy for benign gynecologic disease. Peritoneal macrophages were isolated, cultured for 24 h, and the culture media collected. IL-1β, IL-2, and TNF-α levels were determined by commercial ELISA kits. RESULTS : The mean concentration of IL-1β and TNF-α was significantly higher in macrophage conditioned media of patients with endometriosis (P < 0.02). However, there were no significant changes in peritoneal fluid cytokine levels. Peritoneal macrophage concentrations were also higher in patients with endometriosis. CONCLUSION : This study supports the concept that endometriosis is associated with activation of peritoneal macrophages, and a higher concentration of these cells. This activation is reflected by the increased levels of cytokines found in macrophage conditioned media. The absence of significant changes in peritoneal fluid cytokine levels would seem to indicate that the above derangements are not responsible for the development or progression of endometriosis.     

葫芦素E对脂多糖诱导RAW264.7巨噬细胞炎症反应的影响及作用机制

分析葫芦素E(CuE)对脂多糖(LPS)诱导的小鼠RAW264.7巨噬细胞炎症反应的影响,研究其抗炎作用的分子机制。采用改良MTT法检测RAW264.7细胞的增殖;以碘化丙锭染色检测CuE对细胞周期的影响;采用细胞内细胞因子染色法分析肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)的表达;免疫荧光染色分析胞内Actin的结构;应用免疫印迹法检测CuE对G-肌动蛋白(G-ac-tin)及核转录因子NF-κB核转位的影响。实验结果显示CuE对RAW264.7细胞的增殖具有剂量依赖性抑制作用,并降低细胞内G-actin的水平;CuE明显阻止LPS诱导的细胞伸展和伪足形成,使细胞周期阻滞于G2/M期。同时,CuE还明显抑制LPS活化的RAW264.7细胞表达促炎因子TNF-α,并显著降低LPS诱导的转录因子NF-κB的核转位作用。这些结果表明,CuE通过破坏RAW264.7巨噬细胞的肌动蛋白细胞骨架,引起细胞周期阻滞,并抑制LPS诱导的NF-κB核转位以及TNF-α的表达,从而发挥抗炎作用。     

Upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 via PI3K/Akt and Nrf-2 signaling pathways mediates the anti-inflammatory activity of Schisandrin in Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS-stimulated macrophages

The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Porphyromonas gingivalis is thought to induce periodontitis. In this study, we isolated Schisandrin from the dried fruits of Schisandra chinensis and examined the anti-inflammatory effect of Schisandrin in macrophages stimulated with LPS from P. gingivalis. First, Schisandrin inhibited LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. And Schisandrin suppressed the nuclear translocation and activity of NF-κB and phosphorylation of IκBα in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Next, the presence of a selective inhibitor of HO-1 (SnPP) and a siRNA specific for HO-1 inhibited Schisandrin-mediated anti-inflammatory activity. Furthermore, Schisandrin induced HO-1 expression of RAW 264.7 cells through Nrf-2, PI3K/Akt, and ERK activation. Therefore, these results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of Schisandrin on P. gingivalis LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells may be due to a reduction of NF-κB activity and induction of the expression of HO-1, leading to TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 down-regulation.     

Bromelain Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Cytokine Production in Human THP-1 Monocytes via the Removal of CD14

Bromelain has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. However, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of bromelain is unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effect of bromelain on cytokine production from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and monocytic leukemia THP-1 cells. The result showed that bromelain (50–100 μg/ml) significantly and reversibly reduced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α interleukin- (IL)-1β and IL-6 from LPS-induced PBMC and THP-1 cells. This effect was correlated with reduced LPS-induced TNF-α mRNA and NF-κB activity in THP-1 cells. In addition, bromelain dose-dependently inhibited LPS-induced prostaglandin E₂, thromboxane B₂ and COX-2 mRNA but not COX-1 mRNA. Importantly, bromelain degraded TNF-α and IL-1β molecules, reduced the expression of surface marker CD14 but not Toll-like receptor 4 from THP-1 cells. Taken together, the results suggest that the suppression of signaling pathways by bromelain's proteolytic activity may contribute to the anti-inflammatory activity of bromelain.     

肾上腺素对小鼠巨噬细胞中促炎／抗炎介质比值的影响

目的：研究肾上腺素对脂多糖（LPS）诱导的小鼠单核巨噬细胞株RAW264.7中促炎介质［肿瘤坏死因子（TNF-α）、一氧化氮（NO）、环加氧酶-2（COX-2）］和抗炎介质［血红素氧化酶-1（HO-1）、白介素10（IL-10）］表达及NF-κB活化的影响。 方法： 以10 μg/L的LPS刺激体外培养的RAW264.7细胞作为炎症模型，加入不同浓度的肾上腺素（1、5、10、50 μmol/L）孵育24 h后，收集培养上清并提取细胞总蛋白，酶联免疫法测定上清中TNF-α、IL-10浓度，Griess法检测上清NO含量(以NO2-/NO3-表示)，免疫印迹法检测细胞总蛋白中COX-2、HO-1、IκB-α的含量。 结果： 10 μg/L的LPS明显诱导TNF-α、NO(NO2-/NO3-)、COX-2、IL-10及HO-1的产生；LPS+肾上腺素组与LPS单独作用组相比促炎介质TNF-α、NO(NO2-/NO3-)、COX-2的表达量显著下降，而抗炎介质IL-10、HO-1的表达却明显增强；肾上腺素与LPS共同作用组中IκB-α的含量与单独LPS作用组相比无明显差异。 结论： 肾上腺素下调LPS诱导的巨噬细胞中促炎介质的表达同时促进抗炎介质的表达，这种效应并不通过影响NF-κB的活化来实现。     

Modulation of proinflammatory cytokine production in tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-transgenic mice by treatment with cells engineered to secrete IL-4, IL-10 or IL-13

TNF-α is one of the major proinflammatory cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory joint disease, in human rheumatoid arthritis as well as in murine models of this disease. It was previously described that a highly destructive chronic spontaneous inflammatory arthritis develops in mice expressing a human TNF-α transgene modified with the 3′ untranslated region of β-globin. The present study investigates in this mouse model the effects of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 administered in vivo on proinflammatory cytokine expression. Groups of TNF-α-transgenic mice were engrafted with xenogeneic transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) fibroblasts secreting murine IL-4, IL-10 or IL-13. In vivo treatments consisted of 3 or 4 weekly engraftments, starting when the mice were 4 weeks old. Control groups of transgenic mice were engrafted with β-galactosidase gene-transfected CHO cells or injected with medium. A significant decreased expression of TNF-α transgene, endogenous mouse TNF-α and IL-1 mRNA was observed in splenocytes of mice treated for 3 or 4 weeks with CHO/IL-4 and CHO/IL-13, and, to a lesser extent, with CHO/IL-10, compared with controls. Finally, attenuation of histological scores of arthritides was statistically significant only in the group of CHO/IL-4-treated mice after 3 weeks of treatment (P < 0.05), and was not significant in any other group. These results show that IL-4, IL-10 or IL-13, administered by gene therapy, can decrease the mRNA steady state levels of both endogenous and transgenic cytokines in human TNF-α transgenic mice. In addition, IL-4 can slightly attenuate the development of arthritides in this model.     

Estrogen suppresses heptatic IκB expression during short-term alcohol exposure

Objective

To assess the effects of sex steroids on hepatic inflammatory pathways in short-term chronically ethanol-fed rats.

Methods

Ovariectomized female Wistar rats (8–12?weeks old, n?=?8 per treatment group) were implanted with osmotic pumps releasing 17β-estradiol (20?μg/24?h) or testosterone (25?μg/24?h) and fed liquid diets with or without ethanol (8?% w/v) for two?weeks. Hepatic expression of IκBα/β, TNF-α, and IL-6 mRNA was examined by real-time PCR. Liver (nuclear) NFκB, IκBα and β, IL-6, and IL-6Rα protein expression was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or Western blot.

Results

Estrogen alone induced greater steatosis, NFκB translocation, TNF-α mRNA, as well as IL-6, and IL-6R protein. Alcohol consumption along with estrogen treatment further increased steatosis, NFκB translocation, TNF-α mRNA, and IL-6 protein. Conversely, neither estrogen nor ethanol consumption induced IκBα or IκBβ mRNA or protein expression, while testosterone robustly induced these inhibitory proteins regardless of treatment.

Conclusions

Estrogen exposure enhances alcohol-induced liver inflammation, and the anti-inflammatory effects of testosterone in the liver might be related to induction of IκB. Elevated inflammation in response to estrogen may overwhelm the regenerative influence of IL-6 in liver, leading to increased steatosis and greater liver damage.     

栀子苷抑制甲型流感病毒感染细胞中Toll样受体7/核因子-κB信号通路

目的 研究栀子苷对甲型流感病毒H3N2感染所致的Toll样受体7(Toll-like receptors7,TLR7)及其介导的细胞内转录因子核因子-κB(nuclear factor-kappa B,NF-κB)活性及前炎症细胞因子TNF-α和IL-6释放的影响,以探讨栀子苷干预甲型流感病毒作用的分子生物学机制.方法 甲型流感病毒H3N2作为刺激因素,利用双荧光素酶顺式报告系统和免疫荧光实验检测栀子苷对NF-κB转录活性及NF-κB核转位的影响.RT-PCR法进一步验证栀子苷对NF-κB上下游靶基因TLR7、TNF-α和IL-6 mRNA表达水平的影响.结果 通过NF-κB双萤光素酶报告系统检测发现,与正常对照组比较,病毒感染的细胞中NF-κB荧光素酶报告活性明显升高;与病毒损伤组比较,栀子苷治疗组NF-κB荧光素酶报告活性明显受到抑制.荧光倒置显微镜下观察NF-κB p65磷酸化水平及核转位变化结果显示,病毒感染的细胞中NF-κB磷酸化水平及人核率明显升高;与病毒损伤组比较,栀子苷治疗组NF-κB磷酸化水平及入核率明显受到抑制.RT-PCR结果显示栀子苷能明显抑制病毒诱导的TLR7、TNF-α和IL-6 mRNA的高表达.结论 栀子苷可拮抗甲型流感病毒H3N2感染细胞中TLR7介导的细胞内转录因子NF-κB信号转导通路的活化,并可抑制其下游靶基因TNF-α和IL-6 mRNA的高表达水平来发挥抗病毒感染的作用.     

Expression of classical NF‐κB pathway effectors in human ovarian carcinoma

Darb‐Esfahani S, Sinn B V, Weichert W, Budczies J, Lehmann A, Noske A, Buckendahl A‐C, Müller B M, Sehouli J, Koensgen D, Györffy B, Dietel M & Denkert C
(2010) Histopathology 56. 727–739
Expression of classical NF‐κB pathway effectors in human ovarian carcinoma Aims: Functional studies have demonstrated that nuclear factor (NF)‐κB promotes tumour progression in ovarian cancer cells. However, surprisingly little is known of the expression of effectors of the NF‐κB pathway in human ovarian cancer in vivo. Methods and results: Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization revealed that in a cohort of 85 primary ovarian carcinomas, total p65 expression was inversely correlated to nuclear and cytoplasmic phospho‐IκBα (P = 0.002 and P = 0.05, respectively), and IκBα mRNA expression (P = 0.032). In contrast, phospho‐p65 expression was paralleled by the expression of nuclear (P = 0.027) and cytoplasmic phospho‐IκBα (P = 0.01). Total p65 expression was an adverse prognostic factor for overall survival (P = 0.018). In contrast, total IκBα and phosphorylated nuclear and cytoplasmic IκBα expression were favourable prognostic markers (P = 0.001, P = 0.031, P = 0.001, respectively). Cytoplasmic phospho‐IκBα expression remained a significant prognostic factor on multivariate analysis (P = 0.010). In cultured, stimulated OVCAR‐3 ovarian cancer cells the cytoplasmic retranslocation of p65 was delayed by inhibition of the nuclear membrane transporter chromosomal region maintenance/exportin1 protein (CRM1). A positive association of p65 and CRM1 expression was demonstrated in ovarian cancer tissue (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Total and phosphorylated IκBα protein expression might serve as markers for NF‐κB activation in human ovarian carcinoma. Cytoplasmic localization of p65 may be related to deregulated nucleocytoplasmic transport in carcinomas overexpressing CRM1.     

Interleukin-12 activates human γδ T cells: synergistic effect of tumor necrosis factor-α

γδ T cell populations are known to expand in response to intracellular bacterial infectious agents regardless of previous priming. We have shown previously that soluble factor(s) produced by Mycobacterium-stimulated monocytes activate cord blood γδ T cells to proliferate. In this study, we investigated whether cytokines produced by monocytes are responsible for γδ T cell activation in vitro: interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor were examined. Recombinant human IL-12 stimulated γδ T cells, but not αβ T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, to express CD25 on their surfaces, and to expand in number in vitro. IL-12-primed γδ T cell numbers increased to a greater extent in the culture to which exogenous IL-2 (5 U/ml) was added. Anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody inhibited IL-12-induced up-regulation of CD25 on γδ T cells, suggesting that endogenous TNF-α may play a role in IL-12-induced activation of γδ T cells. Recombinant TNF-α synergistically augmented IL-12-induced activation of γδ T cells. Furthermore, IL-12 up-regulated TNF receptors on γδ T cells in vitro: TNF-α binding to its receptor induced CD25 expression on the γδ T cells in an autocrine or paracrine fashion, or perhaps both. It also became evident that both IL-12 and TNF-α were produced by mycobacterial lysate-stimulated monocytes. Taken together, these results suggest that upon confrontation with mycobacterial organisms, γδ T cells can be quickly and antigen-nonspecifically activated by soluble factors including IL-12 and TNF-α, both of which are produced by mononuclear phagocytes in response to mycobacterial organisms.     

Characteristics of IL-6 and TNF-α production by respiratory syncytial virus-infected macrophages in the neonate

The production of IL-6 and TNF-α and the expression of their mRNA were studied with neonatal (cord blood) and adult blood monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) after in vitro infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Cord blood MDM exhibited production of high levels of IL-6 within 24 hr after infection. Little or no IL-6 production was detected after 24–48 hr and after in vitro stimulation with inactivated (nonreplicating) virus. Adult blood MDM also produced high levels of IL-6 within 24 hr of RSV infection. Unlike cord blood MDM, adult MDM demonstrated significant activity of IL-6 after 24 hr of infection with live RSV and after exposure to the inactivated virus. The pattern of TNF-α production by cord and adult blood MDM after live RSV infection resembled closely the pattern of IL-6 production. Both cell types produced TNF-α in the first 24 hr after infection. However, little or no production was observed after 24 hr of infection and after exposure to the inactivated virus. The profile of mRNA expression was similar to the production of IL-6 or TNF-α. mRNA expression occurred over a shorter period in cord blood MDM. These observations suggest that inflammatory and immunoregulatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and TNF-α, are produced by neonatal as well as previously primed adult macrophages. However, neonatal cells may be less efficient in inducing IL-6 production. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.