氧化型低密度脂蛋白对单核细胞表达尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物受体的影响

目的探讨不同浓度的氧化型低密度脂蛋白（oxLDL）对体外培养单核细胞表达尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物受体（uPAR）的影响。方法采用密度梯度离心法及黏附法分离、提取并纯化健康人外周血单核细胞,对原代培养的单核细胞分别加入25,50,100mg/L浓度的oxLDL,分别培养12,24,48h,测定单核细胞的uPAR蛋白表达量及uPAR mRNA的水平变化。药物干预组加入含阿托伐他汀（终浓度为5.0μmo/L）和50mg/L的ox-LDL的培养液培养12,24,48h,同样方法测定单核细胞的uPAR蛋白表达量及uPAR mRNA的水平变化。结果与正常组比较,oxLDL刺激组单核细胞uPAR蛋白表达水平有显著升高,并呈剂量依赖关系;oxLDL刺激组单核细胞uPAR mRNA的合成量被显著上调。阿托伐他汀干预组uPAR蛋白的表达水平及uPAR mRNA合成量的刺激效果均被显著抑制。结论 oxLDL刺激单核细胞高表达uPAR是通过转录水平的上调来刺激蛋白质合成增加的;阿托伐他汀对uPAR表达的抑制是通过下调uPAR转录水平来实现的。     

Venlafaxine inhibits naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal symptoms: Role of inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide

Metabolic Brain Disease - Opioid-induced neuroinflammation plays a role in the development of opioid physical dependence. Moreover, nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in several oxidative and...     

单核细胞增生李斯特菌感染对Bewo细胞炎症因子及迁移能力的影响

目的 研究单核细胞增生李斯特菌(Lm)感染致Bewo细胞炎症因子表达及迁移能力的变化,并探讨其可能的机制。方法 Lm以MOI=10感染Bewo细胞,实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)检测Bewo细胞炎症因子IL-1β、IL-6及TNF-α的mRNA水平;划痕试验及Transwell试验检测Bewo细胞的迁移能力;Western Blot检测Bewo细胞迁移相关蛋白(MMP2,MMP9,TIMP-1)以及MAPK家族蛋白(p-p38MAPK,p38MAPK,p-ERK1/2,ERK1/2)的表达水平。结果 Lm感染Bewo细胞后炎症因子IL-1β、IL-6及TNF-α的mRNA水平与感染1 h相比均升高。Western Blot结果表明,随着感染时间的延长,迁移相关蛋白MMP2逐渐升高;MMP9和TIMP-1变化趋势一致,先上升后下降;Lm感染致MAPK家族p38MAPK及ERK1/2蛋白磷酸化水平升高。结论 Lm感染Bewo细胞后导致细胞迁移能力增强,MMP2在调控细胞迁移能力的变化中起主要作用,Lm感染可以激活Bewo细胞MAPK家族p38MAPK及ERK1/2信号通路。     

肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体对肝癌耐药细胞株阿霉素化疗敏感性的影响

目的 研究肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体(TRAIL)联合阿霉素(ADM)处理肝癌耐药细胞株HePG2／ADM对化疗敏感性的影响。方法 通过培养液中ADM的浓度梯度增加法长期筛选培养，建立肝癌HepG2／ADM耐药细胞株，荧光定量PCR检测多药耐药(MDR)1的表达，TRAIL联合化疗药物ADM处理HePG2／ADM，MTT比色法检测细胞增殖，细胞凋亡采用流式细胞仪和TUNEL法检测观察HePG2／ADM对化疗药物的敏感性变化。结果 HepG2／ADM细胞是一个明确的多药耐药细胞模型，联合TRAIL(100ng／L) ADM(0．1mg／L)后，MTT显示HepG2／ADM细胞的增殖明显抑制，流式细胞术、TUNEL法检测TRAIL联合ADM处理HePG2／ADM细胞诱导的凋亡，与对照组相比，凋亡指数显著增加。结论 MDR1不参与TRAIL耐受。TRAIL可部分逆转HepG2／ADM对ADM的耐药，增加其对化疗药物的敏感性。联合TRAIL和亚毒剂量化疗药物可望克服肿瘤细胞中存在的化疗耐药和TRAIL耐受。     

Transfection of a rearranged viral DNA fragment, WZhet, stably converts latent Epstein-Barr viral infection to productive infection in lymphoid cells.

An Epstein-Barr viral gene (ZEBRA) is identified that, in human lymphoblastoid cells, activates a switch causing the virus to shift from the latent to the replicative phase of its life cycle. We have shown that a 2.7-kilobase-pair rearranged Epstein-Barr virus DNA fragment of this gene (BamHI fragment WZhet) induced transient expression of viral replicative antigens and polypeptides when it was transfected into a somatic cell hybrid, which was derived from the fusion of an epithelial line cell with a Burkitt lymphoma cell. We now show that this rearranged WZhet fragment, when introduced stably into lymphoblastoid cells, will activate expression of the complete viral replicative cycle in 1-10% of the lymphoblastoid cells, leading to production of biologically active virions that can immortalize primary lymphocytes. The transfected plasmid appears to be regulated in a manner analogous to the complete Epstein-Barr virus genome.     

An imbalance in serum concentrations of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in hypertension

Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and there is increasing evidence that inflammation and abnormal immune responses are involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension. However, the data on the association between specific cytokine concentrations and hypertension are inconsistent. We have evaluated the association between 12 cytokines/growth factors and the presence of different degrees of hypertension, comparing these concentrations to values in a healthy group of subjects. The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1α, -1β, -2, -4, -6, -8, -10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1), epidermal growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor were measured in 155 hypertensive patients and 148 healthy subjects, using EV-3513 cytokine biochip arrays, a competitive chemiluminescence immunoassay. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the association of specific cytokines and growth factors with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Hypertensive subjects had higher serum concentrations of IL-1α, -2, -8, vascular endothelial growth factor, IFN-γ, TNF-α, MCP-1, and epidermal growth factor; and lower concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10 (P < .05), compared with the healthy individuals. The serum concentrations of IL-4, -6, and -1β did not differ between the hypertensive subjects and control group. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that IL-1α and IFN-γ were independent predictors of a high SBP, while IFN-γ, IL-1α, TNF-α, and MCP-1 remained statistically significant for DBP after correction for age, gender, Body mass index, smoking, fasting blood glucose, and triglycerides. There was a significant association between the concentrations of several cytokines and hypertension. These associations may either be related to common underlying factors that cause hypertension and may also be proinflammatory or because these inflammatory cytokines might directly be involved in the etiology of hypertension.     

HOXA/PBX3 knockdown impairs growth and sensitizes cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia cells to chemotherapy

The cytogenetically normal subtype of acute myeloid leukemia is associated with an intermediate risk which complicates therapeutic options. Lower overall HOX/TALE expression appears to correlate with more favorable prognosis/better response to treatment in some leukemias and solid cancer. The functional significance of the associated gene expression and response to chemotherapy is not known. Three independent microarray datasets obtained from large cohorts of patients along with quantitative polymerase chain reaction validation were used to identify a four-gene HOXA/TALE signature capable of prognostic stratification. Biochemical analysis was used to identify interactions between the four encoded proteins and targeted knockdown used to examine the functional importance of sustained expression of the signature in leukemia maintenance and response to chemotherapy. An 11 HOXA/TALE code identified in an intermediate-risk group of patients (n=315) compared to a group with a favorable risk (n=105) was reduced to a four-gene signature of HOXA6, HOXA9, PBX3 and MEIS1 by iterative analysis of independent platforms. This signature maintained the favorable/intermediate risk partition and where applicable, correlated with overall survival in cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia. We further showed that cell growth and function are dependent on maintained levels of these core genes and that direct targeting of HOXA/PBX3 sensitizes cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia cells to standard chemotherapy. Together the data support a key role for HOXA/TALE in cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia and demonstrate that targeting of clinically significant HOXA/PBX3 elements may provide therapeutic benefit to patients with this subtype of leukemia.     

Pericardial cytokines in neoplastic, autoreactive, and viral pericarditis

Pericardial cytokine patterns in various diseases are not well established. We have analyzed pericardial proinflammatory (interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha) and immunoregulatory cytokines (transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 and interferon (IFN)-gamma) in patients with pericarditis, myocarditis, and ischemic heart disease. Pericardial fluid was obtained in 30 subsequent patients undergoing pericardiocentesis (Group 1: 60 % males, 52.4 ± 14.2 years) and in 21 patients during aortocoronary bypass surgery (Group 2: 42.9 % males, age 67.2 ± 7.4 years). After clinical, laboratory, echocardiography examination, fiberoptic pericardioscopy (Storz-AF1101Bl, Germany) and pericardial/epicardial biopsy Group 1 was subdivided to 40 % neoplastic, 36.6 % autoreactive, 10 % iatrogenic, and 13.3 % viral pericarditis. Samples were promptly aliquoted, frozen, and stored at ?70 °C. The cytokines were estimated using quantikine enzyme amplified-sensitivity immuno-assays (R&D Systems, USA) and the results compared between neoplastic, viral, iatrogenic, and autoreactive pericarditis and surgical groups. IL-6 was significantly increased in PE versus serum in all forms of pericarditis (except in autoreactive) and increased in comparison with pericardial fluid of surgical patients. TNF-alpha was increased only in PE of patients with viral pericarditis in comparison with Group 2. TGF-beta1 was strikingly lower in the PE than in the serum of all pericarditis patients. However, TGF-beta1 levels in PE were significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2, except in viral pericarditis. IFN-gamma levels did not significantly differ between PE and serum or in comparison with Group 2. The cytokine pattern “high TNF-alpha/low TGF-beta1” was found in viral pericarditis and low IL-6 in autoreactive PE. Different etiologies of pericardial inflammation did not influence the IFN-gamma levels. IL-6 pericardial to serum ratio was significantly higher in autoreactive PE than in viral and neoplastic forms. However, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma pericardial to serum ratios were significantly higher in viral than in autoreactive and neoplastic PE.     

Pancreatic stellate cells respond to inflammatory cytokines: potential role in chronic pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: It is now generally accepted that chronic pancreatic injury and fibrosis may result from repeated episodes of acute pancreatic necroinflammation (the necrosis-fibrosis sequence). Recent studies suggest that pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), when activated, may play an important role in the development of pancreatic fibrosis. Factors that may influence PSC activation during pancreatic necroinflammation include cytokines known to be important in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis, such as tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and the interleukins 1, 6, and 10 (IL-1, IL-6, and IL-10). AIM: To determine the effects of these cytokines on PSC activation, as assessed by cell proliferation, alpha smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) expression, and collagen synthesis. METHODS: Cultured rat PSCs were incubated with cytokines for 24 hours. Cell proliferation was assessed by measuring (3)H thymidine incorporation into cellular DNA, alpha-SMA expression by western blotting, and collagen synthesis by incorporation of (14)C proline into collagenase sensitive protein. mRNA levels for procollagen alpha(1)(1) in PSCs were determined by northern and dot blotting methods. RESULTS: Expression of alpha-SMA by PSCs was increased on exposure to each of the cytokines used in the study. Stellate cell proliferation was stimulated by TNF-alpha but inhibited by IL-6, while IL-1 and IL-10 had no effect on PSC proliferation. Collagen synthesis by PSCs was stimulated by TNF-alpha and IL-10, inhibited in response to IL-6, and unaltered by IL-1. Changes in collagen protein synthesis in response to TNF-alpha, IL-10, and IL-6 were not regulated at the mRNA level in the cells. CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated that PSCs have the capacity to respond to cytokines known to be upregulated during acute pancreatitis. Persistent activation of PSCs by cytokines during acute pancreatitis may be a factor involved in the progression from acute pancreatitis to chronic pancreatic injury and fibrosis.     

Anti‐inflammatory cytokines,pro‐fibrogenic chemokines and persistence of acute HCV infection

Chemokines and cytokines play a vital role in directing and regulating immune responses to viral infections. Persistent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is characterized by the loss of anti‐HCV cellular immune responses, while control of HCV infection is associated with maintenance of anti‐HCV cellular immune responses. To determine whether plasma concentrations of 19 chemokines and cytokines controlling T‐cell trafficking and function differed based on infection outcome, we compared them in at‐risk subjects followed prospectively for HCV infection. Levels were compared over time in subjects who controlled HCV infection (Clearance) and subjects who developed persistent HCV infection (Persistence) at two time points during acute infection: (i) first viraemic sample (initial viraemia) and (ii) last viraemic sample in Clearance subjects and time‐matched samples in Persistence subjects. At initial viraemia, increased pro‐inflammatory tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) plasma concentrations were observed in the Clearance group, while the plasma levels of anti‐inflammatory interleukin (IL)‐2, IL‐10 and IL‐13 were higher in the Persistence group. IL‐13 was positively correlated with IL‐2 and IL‐10 at initial viraemia in the Persistence group. At the time of last viraemia, plasma levels of eotaxin, macrophage chemoattractant protein‐4 (MCP‐4), IL‐5 and IL‐10 were higher in the Persistence group and IL‐10 and IL‐5 levels were positively correlated. Collectively, these results suggest that the development of persistent infection is associated with an anti‐inflammatory and pro‐fibrogenic chemokine and cytokine profile that is evident at the onset of infection and maintained throughout acute infection.     

A self-assembled leucine polymer sensitizes leukemic stem cells to chemotherapy by inhibiting autophagy in acute myeloid leukemia

Chemotherapy is the primary treatment option for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but leukemic stem cells (LSC) can survive chemotherapy for disease recurrence and refractory. Here, we found that AML cells obtained from relapsed patients had increased autophagy levels than de novo AML cells. Furthermore, doxorubicin (DOX) treatment stimulated autophagy in LSC by repressing the mTOR pathway, and pharmaceutical inhibition of autophagy rendered chemoresistant LSC sensitive to DOX treatment in MLL-AF9 induced murine AML. Moreover, we developed a self-assembled leucine polymer, which activated mTOR to inhibit autophagy in AML cells by releasing leucine. The leucine polymer loaded DOX (Leu-DOX) induced much less autophagy but more robust apoptosis in AML cells than the DOX treatment. Notably, the leucine polymer and Leu-DOX were specifically taken up by AML cells and LSC but not by normal hematopoietic cells and hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in the bone marrow. Consequently, Leu-DOX efficiently reduced LSC and prolonged the survival of AML mice, with more limited myeloablation and tissue damage side effects than DOX treatment. Overall, we proposed that the newly developed Leu-DOX is an effective autophagy inhibitor and an ideal drug to efficiently eliminate LSC, thus serving as a revolutionary strategy to enhance the chemotherapy efficacy in AML.     

如何评价心血管病中的炎症因子与炎症标志物

炎症不仅仅局限于感染和创伤的病理生理过程,随着对炎症因子的深入研究,发现炎症与心血管病之间存在复杂的网络联系,如动脉粥样硬化、高血压、心力衰竭和心肌病等的发病过程都有炎症因子参与。炎症因子是指在炎症过程中由细胞产生和分泌参与炎症反应的物质,包括趋化因子、黏附分子、细胞因子、转化生长因子和急性期炎症反应蛋白等。随着炎症因子的不断发现,是否发现一个新的炎症因子就称为炎症标志物、如何界定心血管炎症因子与炎症标志物等问题也随之提出。理想的炎症标志物应该具备以下特点:①可以用于心血管特异性炎症的定量分析,测定方…     

Procoagulant soluble tissue factor is released from endothelial cells in response to inflammatory cytokines

Inflammatory cytokines alter the hemostatic balance of endothelial cells (ECs). Alternatively spliced human tissue factor (asHTF), a soluble isoform of tissue factor (TF), has recently been detected in ECs, possibly contributing to procoagulability. Agonists regulating asHTF expression and release are yet unknown. This study examines the effect of TNF-alpha and IL-6 on the endothelial expression of both TF variants and delineates the impact of asHTF on the procoagulability of extracellular fluids. asHTF and TF mRNA were assessed by real-time PCR, and asHTF, TF, and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) proteins by Western blot and fluorescence microscopy before and after stimulation with TNF-alpha (10 ng/mL) or IL-6 (10 ng/L). The procoagulability of cell supernatant was analyzed by a chromogenic assay with or without phospholipid vesicles. We found asHTF mRNA to be maximally increased 10 minutes after TNF-alpha and 40 minutes after IL-6 treatment (asHTF/GAPDH ratio 0.0223+/-0.0069 versus 0.0012+/-0.0006 for control, P<0.001 and 0.0022+/-0.0004 versus 0.0012+/-0.0007, P<0.05, respectively). Not only was asHTF increased, but also TFPI decreased after cytokine treatment. asHTF was found in the supernatant as early as 5 hours after TNF-alpha stimulation, supporting factor Xa generation after relipidation (6.55+/-1.13 U versus 2.99+/-0.59 U in control supernatant, P<0.00001). Removal of asHTF from supernatants by immunoprecipitation diminished its procoagulability to baseline. The soluble TF isoform expressed and released from ECs in response to inflammatory cytokines becomes procoagulant in the presence of phospholipids. Thus, asHTF released from ECs is a marker for and a contributor to imbalanced hemostasis.