Pemphigus vulgaris: the role of IL-1 and IL-1 receptor antagonist in pathogenesis and effects of intravenous immunoglobulin on their production

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is increasingly being used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. In the present report, the role of IVIG on in vivo and in vitro production of IL-1 and IL-1 receptor antagonist (Ra) was studied in patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV). Serum samples from 20 untreated patients with active PV prior to initiation of systemic therapy, 20 patients receiving IVIG treatment, 20 patients in clinical remission after conventional therapy, and 20 normal human controls were studied to determine the serum levels of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-1Ra. The in vitro production of these cytokines was measured in the culture supernatant of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 10 PV patients immediately before and after IVIG therapy and from age and sex-matched 10 healthy donors simultaneously. Elevated levels of IL-1alpha and IL-1beta were detected (i) in the serum of untreated PV patients with active disease prior to systemic therapy and (ii) before IVIG infusions in patients receiving IVIG therapy. These increased levels are statistically significant when compared to the levels in healthy controls (P < 0.01). A marked reduction of IL-1alpha and IL-1beta was detected (i) in the serum of patients in prolonged clinical remission and (ii) immediately after IVIG infusion in those patients on IVIG therapy. Increased level of IL-1Ra was detected in PV patients in prolonged clinical remission and after IVIG infusion in those receiving IVIG therapy. These differences were statistically significant when compared to the levels in normal controls and to the levels in the sera of patients with active disease (P < 0.01) or just before the beginning of IVIG infusion (P < 0.01). Similar differences in the levels of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-1Ra were found in the culture supernatant of PBMC isolated from the PV patients pre and post IVIG therapy. These observations suggests that, compared to normal controls, patients with active PV have reversed levels of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-1Ra. IVIG therapy may down-regulate production of IL-1alpha and IL-1beta and enhance production of IL-1Ra, in vivo and in vitro. This might be one of the important mechanisms by which IVIG produces its early therapeutic effects in pemphigus vulgaris.     

鞭毛抗原与细菌的群集运动

群集运动是指在培养基表面某些运动细菌依赖鞭毛的群体迁移行为,涉及繁殖体细胞分化成群集细胞,发生形态、代谢以及蛋白表达等显著变化。菌细胞密度、表面接触和生理学信号均可成为群集运动的刺激因素。群集运动的关键是鞭毛的生物合成,flhDC鞭毛操纵子是支配分化和迁移的细菌调控网络的焦点。     

颅骨缺损状态下区域血流速度变化

目的 :探讨颅骨缺损病理状态下区域血流速度变化。方法 :应用TCD测定不同缺损面积的颅骨缺损病人术前患侧及健侧和术后患侧ICA、ACA、MCA、PCA、BA平均血流速度。结果 :≥ 35cm2 病人患侧颅内血管平均血流速度高于正常 ,而健侧颅内血管平均血流速度正常。 <35cm2 病人患侧及健侧颅内血管平均血流速度均在正常范围。结论 :颅骨缺损病理状态下常可引起区域血流速度改变 ,血流速度改变是指导颅骨缺损修补的重要依据     

幽门螺杆菌疫苗免疫机制的研究进展

幽门螺杆菌(H.pylori)是定植于人体胃粘膜的重要致病菌,而粘膜疫苗以其有效的保护性免疫成为防治H.pyiori的热点,但对相应的免疫机制的认识目前尚不明确.故本文对H.pyiori疫苗的保护性免疫机制中的抗原递呈机制,抗体的作用以及TH细胞反应的作用等研究进展做一概要介绍.     

The early phase of experimental acute renal failure

Experiments were conducted to establish whether diminished solute reabsorption in the loop of Henle during acute renal failure could explain the loss of urinary concentration and participate in generating a tubuloglomerular feedback-mediated reduction in filtration rate. The electrolyte content of the fluid in the ascending limb of the loop of Henle was determined in situ by monitoring its electrical conductivity after propulsion into the distal tubule with a sudden burst perfusion. The value of the minimum electrolyte concentration decreased exponentially with increasing equilibration time, reaching a steady-state value equivalent to 27±9 mM NaCl in normal kidneys, 34±15 mM in mercuric chloride kidneys and 53±22 mM following ischaemia. A mathematical model was derived to describe the process of sodium chloride dilution from which it was possible to calculate both the permeability and transport velocity of the cortical thick ascending limb. In the normal kidney, the transport velocity was calculated to be 4.65±0.92 ·10^–5 cm/s, a value not significantly different from that of the mercuric chloride or ischaemic kidneys, and the estimated permeability was 1.13±0.52·10^–5 cm/s, not different from that of the mercuric chloride kidneys but significantly lower than that calculated for the ischaemic kidneys. It is concluded that for the more severely damaged ischaemic model, the loss of urinary concentrating ability was accompanied by a reduction in diluting ability of the ascending limb of the short loop of Henle, which appears to be due, at least in part, to an elevation of the passive permeability to sodium chloride in this segment.     

人格特征与防御方式的相关研究

目的 :尝试用防御机制解释EPQ各维度的特征。方法 :采用EPQ人格问卷、DSQ防御方式问卷、16PF中的G量表对 2 2 0例成人进行测试。结果 :本样本中EPQ各维度与成熟防御方式均无显著相关 (P >0 .0 5 ) ,N维度和P维度均与不成熟防御方式、中间型防御方式有显著正相关 (P <0 .0 0 1)。结论 :本研究显示 ,可以用防御机制解释EPQ各维度的某些特征。     

齿龈内阿米巴的致病作用与致病机制的研究

在注射免疫抑制剂 1周后的大白鼠龈缘涂抹齿龈内阿米巴 (Emtamoebagingivalis ,E .g .) ,5天后 ,牙龈组织出现溃疡、牙周脓肿形成、脓液查见活E .g .、牙槽骨吸收等牙周炎病症。电镜术与生化分析发现 :E .g .伪足活跃、有丰富的溶酶体 ,所含水解酶与ACP显著较健康组高 (P <0 0 1) ,可使牙周组织溶解与受损。SOD较健康组显著性低 (P <0 0 1) ,MDA显著性增高 (P <0 0 1) ,说明E .g .感染产生较多氧自由基可使细胞膜受损 ,加上口腔共生菌的协同作用使免疫力低下的宿主发生牙周炎。     

Involvement of a Na−Ca exchange mechanism in contraction induced by low-Na solution in isolated guinea-pig aorta

The possibility of involvement of a Na–Ca exchange mechanism in the contractile responses induced by a reduction of external Na concentration ([Na]₀) has been studied in isolated guinea-pig aorta. Low-Na (11.9 mM) solution (Lisubstituted) produced a contraction in ouabain-treated muscles in the presence of phentolamine (10^–6 M). The magnitude of the contraction was dependent on the duration of the pretreatment with ouabain (2×10^–5 M). Ca-free solution, but not verapamil (10^–6 M), abolished the contraction induced by low-Na solution. The muscles were loaded with various amounts of Na by incubating the tissue with ouabain and varying [Na]₀ (11.9–148.7 mM) in the absence of Ca. The magnitude of the contractions induced in these muscles by low-Na solution containing Ca (2.5 mM) was dependent on the cellular Na content. Loss of cellular Na into low-Na solution followed a single exponential time course and the rate coefficient of Na-loss in the presence of external Ca was about twice as great as in the absence of Ca. Cellular⁴⁵Ca uptake in low-Na solution was significantly greater in Na-loaded tissues (pretreated with ouabain for 3 h) than in normal tissues. The⁴⁵Ca uptake in low-Na solution was not inhibited by verapamil. These results suggest that the contraction induced by low-Na solution is caused by a Ca influx which is dependent on internal Na (a Na–Ca exchange mechanism).