Eosinophil traffic in the circulation following allergen challenge

BACKGROUND: Eosinophils contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma and localize to the lung after allergen exposure by uncertain mechanisms. METHODS: We used intrabronchial instillation of allergen to model the interaction between inhaled allergen and the lung. We measured the number of peripheral blood leukocytes and the expression of VLA-4 (CD49d), Mac-1 (CD11b) and PSGL-1 (CD162) up to 4 h after instillation of allergen into a bronchus of eight atopic asthmatics. For controls, we instilled normal saline into a subset of the asthmatic subjects, and allergen into nonatopic, nonasthmatic subjects. RESULTS: There were changes of total leukocyte number, number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils in all three groups (atopic asthmatics instilled with allergen, atopic asthmatics instilled with saline, nonatopic nonasthmatic subjects instilled with allergen), which were likely related to bronchoscopy. However, the decrease of eosinophils was significant only in the atopic asthmatics instilled with allergen. The remaining eosinophils in the allergen challenged asthmatics were not activated as defined by cell density or change of expression of VLA-4, Mac-1 and PSGL-1. CONCLUSIONS: While eosinophils rapidly and specifically leave the circulation after allergen challenge of atopic asthmatics, the remaining circulating eosinophils are not activated.     

Ro 11-2465 (cyan-imipramine), citalopram and their N-desmethyl metabolites: Effects on the uptake of 5-hydroxytryptamine and noradrenaline in vivo and related pharmacological activities

Ro 11-2465 (cianopramine, cyan-imipramine) and citalopram (CIT), putative antidepressant drugs, are very potent and selective 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) uptake inhibitors in vitro. This study investigated the effects of these drugs and their desmethyl metabolites, Ro 12-5419 (desmethylcianopramine, cyan-desipramine) and desmethylcitalopram (DCIT), respectively, on the uptake of 5-HT and noradrenaline (NA) in vivo [protection against H 77/77 (4, alpha-dimethyl-metatyramine)-induced displacement of 5-HT and NA] and on related pharmacological activities. All the investigated drugs antagonized H 77/77-induced displacement of 5-HT in the rat brain, though the effects of the metabolites were considerably weaker than those of the parent compounds. The H 77/77-induced displacement of brain NA in rats and mice was antagonized only by Ro 12-5419 and Ro 11-2465. All the drugs potentiated the pressor response to 5-HT in pithed rats; however, Ro 12-5419 and particularly Ro 11-2465 could also block the response when used in higher doses (0.1 mg/kg). Only Ro 12-5419 and Ro 11-2465 were able to potentiate the pressor response to NA. Ro 12-5419 also potentiated thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) hyperthermia and antagonized reserpine hypothermia in mice; Ro 11-2465 potentiated the TRH hyperthermia only. CIT and DCIT were inactive in both these tests. Of all the four drugs only CIT and Ro 12-5419 considerably stimulated the hind limb flexor reflex in spinal rats. However, whereas the stimulatory effect of CIT was inhibited by the 5-HT antagonists metergoline and cyproheptadine, that of Ro 12-5419 was counteracted by the NA antagonist phenoxybenzamine only. Ro 11-2465, when used in low doses (ca. 1 mg/kg), slightly potentiated the flexor reflex, whereas in higher doses (4–16 mg/kg) it had no effect itself but antagonized the stimulatory action of the 5-HT agonists fenfluramine, quipazine and LSD. The results obtained indicate that Ro 11-2465 and CIT, as well as their desmethyl metabolites, are also potent 5-HT uptake inhibitors in vivo. However, only CIT and DCIT are concurrently devoid of effect on uptake of NA. In contrast, Ro 11-2465 and particularly Ro 12-5419 appear to also inhibit the uptake of NA. Moreover, Ro 11-2465 appears to block central and peripheral 5-HT receptors.The results were presented at the 14th CINP Congress, Florence, June 19–23, 1984     

Carbon-11 labelled tyrosine to study tumor metabolism by positron emission tomography (PET)

To measure the rate of protein synthesis in human neoplasms by positron emission tomography, we prepared no carrier added DL-(1-¹¹C)-tyrosine by ¹¹C-carboxylation of the appropriate -lithioisocyanide followed by hydrolysis of the isocyanide function and removal of the protecting methoxy group. The purification, resolution and solvent switch to saline was performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). DL-(1-¹¹C)-Tyrosine in 0.1 N NaH₂PO₄ buffer was prepared with a radiochemical yield of 8%–16% (EOS, 35 min). The enantiomeric separation and solvent switch to saline were achieved in 5 min and 10 min respectively. Consequently L-(1-¹¹C)-tyrosine in physiological saline was obtained in 2%–4% radiochemical yield. Tumor accumulation in rats with the experimental WALKER 256 carcinosarcoma was observed for both the L- and D-isomer. Using positron emission tomography a tumor/muscle ratio of two was observed for the L-isomer 15 min after injection. The corresponding figure for the D-isomer was 2.5. The first clinical results with DL-(1-¹¹C)-tyrosine show accumulation of radioactivity in meningioma, a primary breast carcinoma and in liver metastases of a colonic carcinoma.     

The Nutraceutical N-Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) Reveals Widespread Molecular Effects Unmasking New Therapeutic Targets in Murine Varicocele

Varicocele is an age-related disease with no current medical treatments positively impacting infertility. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression is present in normal testis with an involvement in the immunological reactions. The role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α), a nuclear receptor, in fertility is still unclear. N-Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), an emerging nutraceutical compound present in plants and animal foods, is an endogenous PPAR-α agonist with well-demonstrated anti-inflammatory and analgesics characteristics. In this model of mice varicocele, PPAR-α and TLR4 receptors’ roles were investigated through the administration of ultra-micronized PEA (PEA-um). Male wild-type (WT), PPAR-α knockout (KO), and TLR4 KO mice were used. A group underwent sham operation and administration of vehicle or PEA-um (10 mg/kg i.p.) for 21 days. Another group (WT, PPAR-α KO, and TLR4 KO) underwent surgical varicocele and was treated with vehicle or PEA-um (10 mg/kg i.p.) for 21 days. At the end of treatments, all animals were euthanized. Both operated and contralateral testes were processed for histological and morphometric assessment, for PPAR-α, TLR4, occludin, and claudin-11 immunohistochemistry and for PPAR-α, TLR4, transforming growth factor-beta3 (TGF-β3), phospho-extracellular signal-Regulated-Kinase (p-ERK) 1/2, and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) Western blot analysis. Collectively, our data showed that administration of PEA-um revealed a key role of PPAR-α and TLR4 in varicocele pathophysiology, unmasking new nutraceutical therapeutic targets for future varicocele research and supporting surgical management of male infertility.     

胆道结石术后继发急性胆管炎病原菌及sCD14-ST和IL-8的诊断价值

目的探讨胆道结石术后继发急性胆管炎病原菌及可溶性CD14亚型(sCD14-ST)、白细胞介素-8(IL-8)的诊断价值。方法选择海南医学院第一附属医院2017年1月-2019年6月收治的胆道结石术后继发急性胆管炎患者62例作为研究对象,纳入研究组,选择同期医院收治的胆道结石术后未继发急性胆管炎的患者60例设为对照组;对研究组患者病原菌进行统计;比较不同急性胆管炎程度、不同预后结局患者血清sCD14-ST、IL-8水平;采用受试者工作特征曲线评估血清sCD14-ST、IL-8水平对于患者不良预后的诊断价值。结果 62例患者共培养分离病原菌67株,其中革兰阴性菌43株占64.18%,革兰阳性菌21株占31.34%,真菌3株占4.48%,以大肠埃希菌为主;重度急性胆管炎患者血清sCD14-ST、IL-8分别为(91.38±25.67)pg/ml、(45.28±13.61)pg/ml高于中度患者分别为(74.34±19.65)pg/ml、(32.06±10.44)pg/ml及轻度患者(P均<0.001),中度患者血清sCD14-ST、IL-8水平高于轻度患者(P均<0.001);预后不良患者急性胆管炎血清sCD14-ST、IL-8分别为(89.84±25.09)pg/ml、(41.94±12.28)pg/ml高于预后良好患者(P<0.05);sCD14-ST、IL-8对胆道结石术后急性胆管炎患者预后的截断值分别为65.65、29.31 pg/ml,其曲线下面积分别为0.841、0.768。结论胆道结石术后继发急性胆管炎病原以革兰阴性菌为主;运用血清sCD14-ST、IL-8可较好区分疾病严重程度,且对患者预后具有一定预测价值。     

Typical and partial cat eye syndrome: identification of the marker chromosome by FISH

Three children are reported with typical cat eye syndrome (CES) and three more children with partial CES because of absence of coloboma, in which the supernumerary marker chromosome was studied by FISH. Using a genomic library, and also a centromeric and particularly a cosmid probe of 22q11, partial tetrasomy was shown in all cases.     

Choleretic activity of 2-demethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxycarbonyl-11-deoxymisoprostol on the model of CCl<Subscript>4</Subscript>-induced hepatitis

Therapeutic administration of 11-deoxymisoprostol had a hepatoprotective effect, which manifested in a decrease in the content of alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase in blood plasma, and produced a choleretic effect in rats with CCl₄-induced toxic hepatitis. __________ Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 145, No. 2, pp. 183–184, February, 2008     

Identification of natural antibodies to interleukin-18 in the sera of normal humans and three nonhuman primate species

Natural antibodies to cytokines can be found in the sera of normal healthy individuals in the absence of specific immunostimulation. However, the function, impact, and purpose of natural antibody development have yet to be fully elucidated. Interleukin (IL)-18 is a cytokine that exerts proinflammatory activities and induces natural killer (NK) cell activity. Recombinant human IL-18 (rHuIL-18) is currently in development as a cancer immunotherapy. In this study, the presence of natural antibodies to IL-18 in the sera of normal humans and three nonhuman primate species was evaluated by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). Of the human sera tested, 6 of 47 samples were positive for natural antibodies to IL-18. Of the nonhuman primate sera tested, 22 of 80 cynomolgus monkey samples, 4 of 31 rhesus monkey samples, and 2 of 20 chimpanzee samples were positive for natural antibodies to IL-18. Natural anti-IL-18 antibodies were neutralizing in 5 of 22 cynomolgus and 2 of 4 rhesus sera. None of the chimpanzee or human sera were able to neutralize IL-18 induction of interferon (IFN)-gamma in vitro. In vivo activity of rHuIL-18 was compared in IL-18 natural antibody-positive and -negative cynomolgus monkeys. The presence of natural antibodies to IL-18 did not alter rHuIL-18 systemic exposure levels, induction of neopterin, or induction of treatment-induced antibodies following intravenous administration of rHuIL-18. In conclusion, our data indicate that, as has been found with other cytokines, natural anti-IL-18 antibodies are relatively common. Moreover, natural anti-IL-18 antibodies do not appear to influence rHuIL-18 activity in vivo and are not predictive of a heightened immune response, suggesting that natural anti-IL-18 antibodies do not impact IL-18 therapy. Finally, our data suggest that the ability to detect natural anti-cytokine antibodies may be a useful measure of the adequacy of an assay for deployment in clinical trials.     

Interleukin-6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with COPD

目的　本研究通过检测支气管肺灌洗液 (BALF)中及肺泡巨噬细胞 (AM)产生的IL 6 ,揭示IL 6与慢性支气管炎(COPD)肺气肿发生的关系 ,为IL 6提供新的研究领域。方法　检测 6名正常无吸烟人及 2 1名COPD患者BALF中及AM释放的IL 6 ,根据正常人组BALF中IL 6的 95 %正常值可信区限 ,将COPD患者分为二组 ,在正常值可信区限内为第一组 ,在正常值可信区限外为第二组。结果　表明 2组中AM产生的IL 6第二组明显高于第一组 ,且 2组患者肺功能 (Dlco ,FEV1,FEV1/FVC和RV/TLC)有明显差异结论　AM产生的IL 6可能与COPD患者肺功能变化有关 ,在COPD患者肺气肿发生发展过程中发挥重要作用     

阴道炎患者HPV6/11-DNA定量分析

目的：了解女性阴道炎患者人乳头瘤病毒6／11型（HPV6／11）的感染情况。方法：荧光定量聚合酶链反应（FQ－PCR）技术检测258例门诊患者阴道分泌物中HPV6／11的病毒拷贝数。结果：共检出HPV6／11阳性者94例,阳性率36．43％,拷贝数在10^5以上者78例,占阳性者中82．98％,40岁以上年龄组阳性率高且病毒复制量均在10^5以上。结论：（1）中老年阴道炎患者就诊晚,感染重。（2）FQ－PCR检测HPV敏感,快速,准确,特别是其定量特点对临床很有意义。