Differential effects of IL-1ra on sickness behavior and weight loss induced by IL-1 in rats

Peripheral and central injections of recombinant human interleukin-1β (IL-1β) have been shown to decrease social exploration and to induce body weight loss in rats. To characterize the receptor mechanisms of these effects, we used as a tool a specific antagonist of the receptors of IL-1, IL-1ra. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of IL-1ra (8 mg/kg) blocked the effect of i.p. injection of IL-1β (4 μg/rat) on social behaviour but not on body weight. Central administration of IL-1ra (60 μg/rat, i.c.v.) abrogated the effects of centrally administered IL-1β (30 ngn/rat, i.c.v.) on both social behaviour and body weight. Central injection of IL-1ra (4 μg/rat, i.c.v.) also attenuated the effects of i.p. administered IL-1β (4 μg/rat) on social behaviour but not on body weight. These results suggest that the effects of IL-1β on social behavior are mediated centrally and that its effect on the loss of body weight involves different receptor mechanisms.     

Keratinocyte-derived Cytokines and UVB-Induced Immunosuppression

Ultraviolet radiation (UVB) in sunlight is known to have multiple effects on the immune system. Evidence suggests that UVB-induced immunosuppression is mediated in part by immunosuppressive and immunoregulatory cytokines. Our studies have utilized gene-targeted mutant mice to determine key molecular requirements essential for the development of UVB-induced immunosuppression. Preliminary results from our laboratory suggest that TNF-α plays a regulatory role in contact hypersensitivity, but is not a crucial factor for UVB-induced immunosuppression, and that multiple factors are involved in the induction of UVB mediated immunosuppression.     

Inhibition of tissue factor surface expression in human peripheral blood monocytes exposed to cytokines

Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, IL-13 and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) are known to regulate several monocyte functions, including inhibition of the synthesis of different cytokines. Using quantitative RT-PCR and flow cytometry analysis we investigated the effects of these cytokines on bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tissue factor (TF) expression in human monocytes. The effects of IL-4 and IL-10 on monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)- and C-reactive protein (CRP)-induced TF expression were also studied. A direct comparison revealed that IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 all down-regulated LPS-induced TF expression in a concentration-dependent manner without the need for priming. In contrast, TGF-β required 4 h of priming to inhibit TF expression induced by LPS. IL-10 was the most powerful inhibitor, causing almost complete inhibition at 5 ng/ml. IL-4 and IL-13 exhibited a significantly lower inhibitory capacity even at concentrations of 100 ng/ml. IL-4 and IL-10 showed similar concentration-dependent inhibition of MCP-1- and CRP-induced TF expression. We also showed that the regulatory effect of the interleukins occurred at the mRNA level. In vivo , these inhibitory cytokines may play an important regulatory role in preventing thrombosis. IL-10, in particular, may be a possible candidate as a TF-preventing drug.     

Abdominal vagotomy attenuates interleukin-1β-induced nitric oxide release in the paraventricular nucleus region in conscious rats

Nitric oxide (NO) has recently been shown to modulate the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis response to interleukin-1β (IL-1β). We measured levels of nitrite (NO₂⁻) and nitrate (NO₃⁻) in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) region using an in vivo brain microdialysis technique in conscious rats. Intraperitoneally administered IL-1β produced a significant increase in both NO₂⁻ and NO₃⁻ levels in the PVN region. We also examined the possible involvement of the abdominal vagal afferent nerves in this effect. In abdominal-vagotomized rats, the increase was significantly attenuated compared to that in sham-operated rats. Our results suggest that the abdominal vagal afferent nerves are involved in intraperitoneally administered IL-1β-induced NO release in the PVN region.     

The behaviorally active peptide ACTH 4-10: Measurement in plasma and pharmacokinetics in man

Summary A specific radioimmunoassay for the quantitative measurement of ACTH 4-10 and a procedure for its extraction from plasma have been developed.Its pharmacokinetics was studied in eight healthy male volunteers given ACTH 4-10 125 µg/kg body weight as a bolus i.v. injection, by infusion and intranasally. Following the i.v. bolus, plasma levels rapidly declined biexponentially, with half-lives of 0.39±0.05 min for the -phase and 3.84 ± 1.5 min for the -phase (mean±SD). The constant rate i.v. infusion yielded steady-state levels between 0.74 and 5.06 ng/ml plasma. Administered as intranasal spray, absorption of intact ACTH 4-10 was low and variable (maximal bioavailability 7.6%).The results are discussed in relation to the dose-dependent effects of ACTH 4-10 on the auditory evoked potential.     

白藜芦醇对脑小血管疾病大鼠神经细胞损伤及免疫因子白细胞介素-6、白细胞介素-10水平的影响

目的 探究白藜芦醇对脑小血管疾病（CSVD）大鼠神经细胞损伤及免疫因子白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、白细胞介素-10(IL-10)水平的影响。方法 将60只CSVD大鼠分为假手术组、模型组和治疗组,每组20只。通过水迷宫实验测试大鼠神经认知功能,HE染色观察大鼠海马组织病理学改变,TUNEL染色检测大鼠海马组织神经细胞凋亡率,Western blotting检测大鼠海马组织BAX/BCL-2、IL-6、IL-10蛋白的表达,酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）检测外周血IL-6、IL-10、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、谷胱甘肽（GSH）和丙二醛（MDA）水平。结果 模型组大鼠神经行为评分高于治疗组（P <0.05）。模型组大鼠穿越次数和停留时间少于假手术组（P <0.05）,治疗组大鼠穿越次数和停留时间较模型组增加（P <0.05）。模型组大鼠海马组织神经细胞凋亡率、BAX/BCL-2蛋白表达比值高于假手术组（P <0.05）,治疗组大鼠海马组织神经细胞凋亡凋亡率、AX/BCL-2蛋白表达比值低于模型组（P <0.05）。与假手术组比较,模型组...     

Synergistic action of immunostimulatory DNA and fcgamma receptor IIB-crosslinking on B-cell phenotype and function

CpG DNA functions via the toll-like receptor-9 (TLR-9) receptor, inducing B cell proliferation and promoting immunoglobulin production. B cell responses to CpG DNA-containing immune complexes could be important in chronic autoimmunity and immune responses to bacterial components. Therefore, we investigated the potential synergy of CpG DNA-stimulation with FcgammaR clustering (CFR) on splenic B cell activity. CFR-induced splenocyte proliferation was significantly increased compared to treatment with CpG DNA alone. While the levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) were increased in CpG DNA-treated splenocyte cultures, particularly following FcgammaRII/III-clustering, CFR treatment reduced IL-6 levels. B-cell maturation in culture was enhanced by CFR. Indeed, the frequency of IgG expressing cells after stimulation with CpG DNA was increased and was even higher after CFR stimulation. Furthermore, the frequency of plasma cell precursors was markedly increased by stimulation with CFR. Late splenic B cell subsets, transitional type 2 (T2) and mature (M) B cells, responded strongly to CpG DNA with proliferation and the response was enhanced by FcgammaR-clustering. Immature transitional type 1 (T1) B cells showed distinctly lower proliferative response to CpG DNA and very small effects of FcgammaR-clustering, despite similar expression of Fcgamma-receptors by all B cell subsets. In conclusion, these data show synergistic impact of CpG DNA and simultaneous FcgammaR-clustering on B cell proliferation and differentiation.     

IL-6–174G/C genotype is associated with the bone mineral density response to oestrogen replacement therapy in post-menopausal women

A reduction in interleukin-6 (IL-6) activity may contribute to the beneficial effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the menopausal decline in bone mineral density (BMD). We have examined this hypothesis using a genetic strategy. The –174C (rather than G) IL-6 gene variant is associated with lower IL-6 expression. As such, we might anticipate the C allele to be associated with a greater response to HRT. We have tested this hypothesis. Mean three-site [spine (L1-L4), neck of femur, and Wards triangle] BMD was measured in 65 women in a 1-year randomised controlled trial of HRT with 0.625 mg oestrogen/day and 0.15 mg norgestrel (n=30). Baseline BMD was genotype-independent for both the control and HRT group. In the control group, the percentage change in BMD after 1 year was similar between genotypes (P=0.45). In contrast, in the HRT group, the rise was genotype-dependent. Those homozygous for the G allele showed a 3.62 (2.14)% increase in BMD compared with 10.44 (4.68)% for the C-homozygous group. Heterozygotes had an intermediate BMD increase of 5.6 (2.82)% [P=0.006 (P value for interaction between HRT and genotype was 0.04)] Although the study was limited by its small sample size, these are the first data to demonstrate the importance of IL-6 genotype in determining response to oestrogen therapy, rather than its physiological withdrawal.     

一个新的多功能细胞因子一趋化素样因子

细胞因子是在免疫和炎症反应中起重要作用的小分子蛋白质,克隆和研究新的细胞因子具有重要的理论意义和应用价值.我们利用抑制性减数杂交技术(SSH),从PHA刺激的U937细胞中成功克隆了一个新的细胞因子趋化素样因子1(CKLF1).CKLF1全长cDNA包括530个碱基,有一个编码99个氨基酸的完整开放读码框架.CKLF1存在其他三种变异体,命名为CKLF2,3,4,分别编码152,67和120个氨基酸,其中,CKLF2是CKIF的全基因产物.亚细胞定位和Western blot分析发现,CKLF1和CKLF3主要为分泌性表达,而CKLF2和CKLF4主要以膜结合形式表达.CKLF1与已发现的其他细胞因子之间没有明显的同源性,CKLF1在PHA刺激的U937细胞中的表达可被IL-10部分抑制.重组的CKLF1在体内外对嗜中性细胞、单核细胞和淋巴细胞具有明显的趋化活性;在体内能引起肺部明显的炎性改变,与CKLF1转基因小鼠的肺部病变相;CKLF1还能刺激骨髓细胞和小鼠骨骼肌细胞增殖.CKLF2能促进小鼠肌母C2C12细胞增殖和分化,促进BALB/c 3T3细胞增殖,并能拮抗撤血清引起的细胞凋亡,以上结果表明CKLF1可能在炎症和骨骼肌再生过程中发挥重要作用.在CKLF1,2的序列基础上,利用生物信息学方法克隆了小鼠CKLF2,4和大鼠CKLF1,2,它们与人CKLF1,2,4有相似的结构和功能;在人和小鼠CKLF的序列基础上,我们成功克隆了其他4个与CKLF有同源性的新基因,命名为趋化素样因子相关蛋白1-4(CKLF-RP1-4),它们与CKLF2有相似的结构,在16号染色体上成基因簇形式存在,因此,CKLF代表一个有重要功能的新基因超家族.     

2型糖尿病患者血IL-6与循环内皮细胞的关系及意义

目的探讨2型糖尿病(DM)患者血管内皮细胞损伤与血白介素6(IL-6)的关系及其意义。方法检测45例2型DM患者及20例正常人外周血IL-6和循环内皮细胞(CEC)水平并进行比较。结果①2型DM患者血IL-6和CEC水平高于正常人(P<0.05);②早期糖尿病肾病患者血CEC水平明显高于单纯糖尿病患者(P<0.01);③多元逐步回归分析显示CEC与血IL-6水平和尿蛋白排泄率(UAER)显著相关,标准偏回归系数β分别为0.264(P=0.033)和0.545(P=0.000)。结论2型糖尿病血管内皮细胞损伤与体内IL-6升高有密切关系,并在糖尿病肾病的发病过程中起一定作用。