Activation of protease-activated receptor 2 stimulates proliferation and interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 secretion of endometriotic stromal cells

BACKGROUND: Inflammation has been proposed to play essential roles in the pathophysiology of endometriosis, in which neutrophils and mast cells have been suggested to be involved. We studied whether the protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2), which is activated by enzymes from neutrophils and mast cells, in endometriotic stromal cells (ESC) has any implication in the development of the disease. METHODS: Cultured ESC were stimulated with various concentrations of a specific PAR2 agonist peptide. Proliferating activity of the cells was determined using immunostaining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (a cell proliferation marker), 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation into DNA and cell count. The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 were measured using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The phosphorylation of three mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), i.e. p38 MAPK, p42/44 MAPK and stress-activated protein Kinase/c-jun N terminal Kinase, in ESC was examined with Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Activation of PAR2 stimulated the proliferation of ESC and the secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 from ESC in a dose-dependent manner. Activation of PAR2 stimulated the phosphorylation of all three MAPK, and inhibitors of each MAPK suppressed the PAR2 activation-induced proliferation of ESC. CONCLUSIONS: The activation of PAR2 in ESC may be involved in the pathophysiology of endometriosis by inducing the growth and inflammation of endometriotic lesions.     

Reconstitution of CD4+ T cell responses in HIV-1 infected individuals initiating highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is associated with renewed interleukin-2 production and responsiveness

Reconstitution of functional CD4(+) T cell responsiveness to in vitro stimuli is associated with continuous highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Thirty-six antiretroviral naive patients received HAART over 16 weeks. Antigen-specific, mitogen and interleukin (IL)-2 induced lymphocyte proliferative responses and specific IL-2 and IL-4 production were assessed at each time-point, together with quantification of HIV-1 RNA load and lymphocyte populations. Reconstitution of recall responses was limited largely to persistent antigens such as Herpes simplex virus and Candida, rather than to HIV-1 or neo-antigens. Recall antigens, mitogens and IL-2-induced renewed responses were associated with in-vitro production of IL-2, but not IL-4. Differential responsiveness to low versus high concentration IL-2 stimulus increases in a stepwise manner, suggesting normalization of IL-2 receptor expression and improved functionality. These increases in in-vitro proliferative responses thus probably reflect short lived effector clones, driven by ongoing antigenic stimulus associated with persisting long-term organisms. In this context non-responsiveness to HIV-1 antigens suggests ongoing HIV-1 specific clonal T cell anergy.     

Membrane carbohydrates of lymphoid cells: the receptor for interleukin 2

The contribution of sialic acids and of N-linked sugars to the biological activity of the receptor for IL 2 has been evaluated by treating activated cells with Neuraminidase or by growing them in the presence of inhibitors of N-linked glycosylation or processing. After treatment with Neuraminidase, Con A-activated spleen cells had not lost their ability to bind IL 2. The IL 2-absorbing capability was, however, strongly reduced after trypsinisation. 6 hours after Trypsin treatment, this property was again expressed. Proliferation of the IL 2-dependent CTLL cells was normal in the presence of Swainsonine but strongly impaired in the presence of Tunicamycin. Glycosylation of the IL 2 receptor may thus be required, but integrity of the sugars is not critical.     

TGF-β1 Null Mutation Leads to CD154 Upregulated Expression in Affected Tissues

The TGF-1(–/–) mouse is a murine model for systemic autoimmune disease. The aim of this study is to elucidate the immunological mechanism that leads to multifocal tissue inflammation and autoantibody production in TGF-1(–/–) mice. Heart, lung, liver, and salivary gland from TGF-1(–/–) were assessed for CD154 expression by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Compared to wild-type littermates, CD154 expression was elevated in all tissues studied. Furthermore, IL-12 mRNA was expressed in the salivary gland and heart of TGF-1(–/–) mice and not in wild-type littermates. This suggests that the CD154 pathway is activated in these tissues. This shows that TGF-1 regulates CD154 expression leading to spontaneous IL-12 production and autoimmunity.     

人可溶性IL-6R基因在COS7细胞中的表达及活性分析

目的在ＣＯＳ７细胞中表达具有生物学功能的人可溶性ＩＬ－６Ｒ（ｓＩＬ－６Ｒ），作为研究ｓＩＬ－６Ｒ结构与功能关系的基础。方法首先利用ＰＣＲ技术扩增出人可溶性ＩＬ－６Ｒ（ｈｓＩＬ－６Ｒ）编码基因片段，并重组入克隆载体ｐＡＬＴＥＲ－１。通过基因序列分析确定了目的基因的核苷酸序列，并进一步构建了由ＳＶ４０晚期启动子和ＨＣＭＶ早期启动子控制的表达质粒ｐＳＶＬ６Ｒ和ｐＣＭＶ６Ｒ。用脂质体介导的方法将表达质粒转染ＣＯＳ７细胞，并分别在ｍＲＮＡ水平（斑点杂交）和蛋白水平（ＥＬＩＳＡ和Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ－ｂｌｏｔ）检测ｓＩＬ－６Ｒ基因在ＣＯＳ７细胞中的表达。在７ＴＤ１，ＬＴ１２两种ＩＬ－６反应细胞系上检测转染细胞上清（含ｓＩＬ－６Ｒ）的生物学活性。结果在ｍＲＮＡ水平和蛋白水平分别检测到ｓＩＬ－６Ｒ基因在ＣＯＳ７细胞中的表达，表达产物分子量约为５００００。表达产物在７ＴＤ１，ＬＴ１２细胞系上检测到明显的生物学活性。结论天然ｓＩＬ－６Ｒ基因在ＣＯＳ７细胞中的成功表达为进一步制备ｓＩＬ－６Ｒ突变体及其结构与功能关系的研究奠定了基础     

Gastric mucosal lesions caused in rats of different strains by emotional stress,and the protective effect of interleukin 1β

Acute emotional stress results in damage to gastric mucous membranes in August, Wag, and particularly Wistar rats. The damage is less severe in rats preinjected with inter-leukin 1β into a lateral ventricle of the cerebrum. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 117, N ^o 3, pp. 238–239, March, 1994     

IL-1β诱导体外培养的大鼠中脑黑质神经元c-jun表达

应用细胞原位杂交技术，观察经重组小鼠白细胞介素-19（IL-1β）处理后的体外培养的新生1d大鼠中脑黑质神经元c－jun基因的表达．结果显示，培养的黑质细胞多为酪氨酸羟化酶阳性神经元，IL-1β可诱导体外培养的黑质神经元c－junmRNA表达，高水平的表达出现在IL-1β处理后2～4h。说明IL－1β有兴奋黑质神经元的作用，并提示黑质神经元上可能存在IL－1β受体．     

炎症因子对肾小球系膜细胞分泌IL—8的影响

目的：观察炎症因子ＩＬ－１及肿瘤坏死因子（ＴＮＦ）对人肾小球系膜细胞（ＨＭＣ）分泌ＩＬ－８的影响。方法：体外细胞培养技术及ＥＬＩＳＡ夹心法。结果：ＩＬ－１、ＴＮＦ均可诱导ＨＭＣ分泌ＩＬ－８，并呈剂量依赖性。结论：在一些炎症因子刺激下，ＨＭＣ可能通过分泌趋化因子ＩＬ－８参与肾脏炎症反应的启动和维持     

T-lymphocyte activation in IgA nephropathy: Serum-soluble interleukin 2 receptor level,interleukin 2 production,and interleukin 2 receptor expression by cultured lymphocytes

The present study was undertaken to examine the T-lymphocyte activation in IgA nephropathy. Serum-soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL2R) levels were studied in 29 IgA nephritic patients, 17 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (non-IgA nephropathy), and 30 healthy controls during an infection-free period. No difference in serum sIL2R level was demonstrated among these three groups of subjects. However, the serum sIL2R levels of IgA nephritic patient rose significantly during clinical exacerbation with synpharyngitic macroscopic hematuria and the serum sIL2R levels fell when hematuria subsided. Mitogen-stimulated cellular interleukin 2 receptor (IL2R) expression, sIL2R release, and interleukin 2 (IL2) production were also examined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cultured for 24–48 hr in 21 patients with IgA nephropathy, 17 patients with chronic glomerulonephritides, and 17 healthy controls. The total cellular IL2R expression and sIL2R release did not differ among these three groups of subjects. However, the individual T-cell subsets bearing IL2R were distinctly different between IgA nephritic patients and the other two groups of controls. IgA nephritic patients had increased activated CD4+ lymphocytes and reduced activated CD8+ lymphocytes. Furthermore, IL2 production in response to phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen stimulation was increased in lymphocytes from patients with IgA nephropathy. The IL2 production did not correlate with the quantities of cellular and sIL2R yet the cellular IL2R expression paralleled the sIL2R released by cultured lymphocytes. Our present study suggests that the T lymphocytes from patients with IgA nephropathy have a defect in overproduction of IL2 and increased activated T helper-cell subset upon mitogenic stimulation. Serum measurement of sIL2R could potentially be useful in monitoring the disease activity.     

T suppressor lymphocytes reverse ongoing acute allograft rejection

(LEW X BN)F1 cardiac allografts are rejected within 8 days in untreated LEW recipients. At the critical time point of 5 days after transplantation, the obviously rejecting grafts are enlarged and maximally infiltrated by host cells as shown by 111In-labeled lymphocyte tracer studies. However, when such hearts were retransplanted back to naive (LEW X BN)F1 secondary hosts, they survive indefinitely, showing that even late rejection is reversible in the absence of sustained host immunological drive. Attempts were then made to abrogate this advanced immune responsiveness using Cyclosporine (CsA). CsA therapy (15 mg/kg/day for 7 days) starting from day 5 produced indefinite graft survival, similar as if initiated at the time of operation. Addition of exogenous IL-2, which drives the proliferation of Tc, could not reverse this effect. Serial changes in phenotype of lymphocyte subpopulations infiltrating both acutely rejecting and indefinitely functioning cardiac allografts in unmodified and CsA treated hosts, respectively, were then studied. Ratio of Th:Tc/s cells in acutely rejecting grafts was 1.6 by day 3; it inverted abruptly to 0.7 by day 5-6, suggesting predominance of Tc/s during the later stages of allograft rejection. Similarly, treatment with CsA produced a transient depression of Th, with recovery of original Th:Tc/s ratio during the next 2-3 weeks. Adoptive transfer experiments were then performed to investigate the functional significance of these findings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)