Dorsal root ganglia cocultured with macrophages: an in vitro model to study experimental demyelination

The present investigation introduces an in vitro model to study macrophage properties during demyelination. Rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were cultured for obtaining myelinated peripheral nerve fibers. These cultures were exposed to non-resident macrophages. In untreated control cultures, there was no indication of myelin removal by the added macrophages. DRG were exposed to enzymatically generated oxygen radicals using the xanthin/xanthin oxidase or the glucose/glucose oxidase system. Assessment of Schwann cell viability and ultrastructural morphology revealed different patterns of cell cytotoxicity and morphological changes in different experiments. High concentrations caused complete tissue necrosis of the DRG, while low concentrations did not affect either cell viability or ultrastructural morphology. Under intermediate experimental conditions, oxygen radicals caused non-lethal Schwann cell damage leading to Schwann cell retraction and myelin sheath rejection. Myelin lamellae were disrupted and decompacted. These changes were followed by a selective macrophage attack on myelin sheats, resulting in demyelination. Axons, Schwann cells and sensory ganglion cells survived this attack. The specificity of the oxygen radical effects was tested in experiments using the oxygen radical scavengers catalase and superoxide dismutase. Catalase prevented the described effects on cell morphology and subsequently blocked demyelination by non-resident macrophages.Supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) (Br 1274/1-1)     

ApoE-/-小鼠肾动脉粥样硬化斑块破裂的肾损害

目的 探讨ApoE^-/-小鼠肾动脉粥样硬化斑块破裂对下游肾脏的损伤机制。 方法 采用ApoE^-/-小鼠建立粥样硬化性肾动脉狭窄(ARAS)动物模型。选择肾动脉狭窄程度 <50％的ApoE^-/-小鼠，按斑块分为破裂组和未破裂组；选择同条件喂养的C57BL/6J 野生型小鼠为对照组。常规检测Scr及尿 N-乙酰-β-氨基葡萄糖苷酶(NAG)活性；Western印迹检测细胞核中核转录因子κBp65（NF-κBp65）、细胞间黏附分子1（ICAM-1）及P-选择素（P-sel）表达； RT-PCR检测白细胞介素6 （IL-6）mRNA表达；免疫组化染色检测巨噬细胞浸润情况。 结果破裂组Scr和尿NAG活性明显升高（均P < 0.01）；肾组织出现病理改变，肾间质中巨噬细胞浸润增加（P < 0.05）；细胞核中NF-κBp65表达增加（P < 0.05）；ICAM-1、P-sel、IL-6 mRNA表达增加（P < 0.05）。未破裂组上述指标与对照组比较，差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）；肾脏未见明显病理改变。 结论 肾动脉粥样硬化斑块破裂可引起肾脏病理改变和肾功能受损；在粥样硬化性肾动脉狭窄的肾损害机制中，炎性反应是重要因素之一。     

大鼠肺纤维化形成中肺巨噬细胞增殖和凋亡的变化

目的:观察肺纤维化形成过程中,肺泡巨噬细胞数量、增殖和凋亡的变化。方法:气管内滴注平阳霉素(BLMA₅)(5mg/kg),观察注后14d和30d组大鼠支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中肺泡巨噬细胞数量、增殖和凋亡的变化以及细胞的MTT活力。结果:(1)BLMA₅14d组和30d组大鼠BALF中巨噬细胞数分别多于sham14d和30d组,(分别P＜0.01,P＜0.05);但BLMA₅30d组的细胞数明显少于BLMA₅14d组(P＜0.05);(2)BLMA₅14d组巨噬细胞增殖指数高于sham14d组(P＜0.05),而BLMA₅30d组增殖指数低于sham30d组(P＜0.05);(3)BLMA₅14d和30d组凋亡细胞数分别多于sham14d和30d组(均P＜0.01),但BLMA₅14d组少于BLMA₅30d组(P＜0.05);(4)BLMA₅14d和30d组大鼠BALF中巨噬细胞数MTT活力分别高于sham14d和30d组,分别P＜0.01,P＜0.05。结论:在肺纤维化形成过程中,肺巨噬细胞增殖能力先增强后减弱;而肺巨噬细胞凋亡始终增加,上述变化是导致肺巨噬细胞数量和功能变化的因素之一。     

转化生长因子β1对香烟诱导的大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞γ-谷氨酰半胱氨酸合酶表达的影响

目的：探讨转化生长因子（TGF）-β1对香烟诱导的大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞γ-谷氨酰半胱氨酸合酶（γ-GCS）和活化蛋白(AP)-1亚单位c-fos mRNA及其蛋白表达的影响。方法:通过支气管肺泡灌洗获取大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞，随机分为对照组、香烟组和TGF-β1组。TGF-β1组加入终浓度为3 μg/L的TGF-β1,2 h后除对照组外，余2组均加入香烟烟雾提取物,对照组加入磷酸盐缓冲液。分别用逆转录聚合酶链式反应（RT-PCR）和免疫细胞化学方法检测肺泡巨噬细胞中γ-GCSh(重链亚单位)及c-fos mRNA和蛋白的表达。结果:香烟组γ-GCSh和c-fos mRNA及其蛋白表达水平显著高于对照组(分别P<0.05,P<0.01)。TGF-β1组γ-GCSh mRNA及其蛋白表达水平明显低于香烟组(均P<0.01)；而c-fos mRNA及其蛋白表达水平明显高于香烟组(均P<0.01)。结论:转化生长因子-β1参与香烟所致慢性阻塞性肺疾病肺氧化/抗氧化失衡的发病机制。     

CD154-CD40-induced reactivation of latent HIV-1 infection

Reservoirs of latent HIV-1 in T cells and macrophages pose one of the major obstacles that hamper final eradication of HIV-1 from infected patients. Targeting costimulatory molecules expressed on cell types harboring latent HIV-1 to achieve reactivation may provide a new approach to overcome this problem. One such molecule is CD40, a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-receptor family. Using THP89GFP cells as a model for latently infected macrophages, we demonstrate that trimeric forms of recombinant CD154 allow for the direct reactivation of latent HIV-1 infection. Reactivation is augmented by the release of TNF-alpha. The presence of TNF-alpha is also crucial for the expression of late structural genes such as p24 Gag. In addition, levels of secreted TNF-alpha are sufficiently high to reactivate latent HIV-1 in a latently HIV-1-infected T-cell line (J89GFP). Taken together, our results demonstrate that costimulatory molecules may be attractive targets to reactivate latent HIV-1 in infected patients.     

血管紧张素II对巨噬细胞(THP-1细胞)凝集素样氧化低密度脂蛋白受体表达的影响

目的:研究AngII对人单核/巨噬细胞(THP-1细胞)凝集素样氧化低密度脂蛋白受体(LOX-1)蛋白表达和基因转录的影响,从细胞蛋白、分子水平探讨AngII和巨噬细胞LOX-1相互之间的关系,以进一步了解两者在动脉粥样硬化中的地位。方法:将不同浓度AngII(1×10^-9-1×10^-5mol/L)与经0.1μmol/L佛波酯(PMA)诱导分化后的THP-1细胞共孵育24h,以及将1×10^-6mol/L浓度的AngII与诱导分化后的THP-1细胞作用不同时间0、3、6、12、24、48h后,用细胞酶联免疫法和半定量RT-PCR分别检测LOX-1蛋白和mRNA表达的情况。结果:未经诱导的THP-1细胞不表达LOX-1mRNA;而经PMA诱导后,THP-1细胞停止增殖,由单核细胞分化成为巨噬细胞,并表达LOX-1mRNA。不同浓度的AngII作用诱导分化后的THP-1细胞24h,细胞LOX-1蛋白和mRNA的表达呈浓度依赖性显著增加。同一浓度的AngII作用THP-1细胞,可呈时间依赖性诱导LOX-1蛋白和mRNA表达,其趋势是3h左右开始增加,24h左右至最高峰,之后逐渐减低。结论:经PMA诱导分化后的THP-1细胞表达LOX-1;AngII能明显增强分化后的THP-1细胞表达LOX-1蛋白和mRNA,并呈浓度和时间依赖性。AngII这种作用可能是促进动脉粥样硬化发生、发展的机制之一。     

CCK-8上调小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞B7.1和B7.2表达并增强其协同刺激活性

目的： 探讨八肽胆囊收缩素（CCK-8）对静息巨噬细胞B7.1和B7.2表达及其协同刺激功能的影响。方法：用CCK-8（10-12-10-6 mol/L）孵育小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞一定时间，采用流式细胞术分析细胞表面B7.1和B7.2含量的变化。用免疫磁珠从小鼠脾细胞分离CD4+T细胞，按4∶〖KG-*2〗1数量比与腹腔巨噬细胞（预先用CCK-8和/或抗B7.1抗体、抗B7.2抗体、CCK1R拮抗剂CR1409、CCK2R拮抗剂CR2945孵育24 h）共同体外培养，同时加入ConA 5 mg/L，采用［3H］掺入法测定CD4+T细胞增殖反映巨噬细胞的协同刺激活性。结果：CCK-8可上调静息巨噬细胞B7.1及B7.2的表达，并增强巨噬细胞的协同刺激活性。CCK-8的作用呈剂量依赖性，最大效应剂量是在10-9-10-7 mol/L之间。抗B7.2抗体可减轻CCK-8增强巨噬细胞协同刺激活性的作用，CR1409及CR2945均能逆转CCK-8的上述作用，且CR1409的作用较CR2945更明显。结论：CCK-8通过上调巨噬细胞B7.2表达而增强其协同刺激活性，该作用由CCK1R及CCK2R介导，其中CCK1R起主要介导作用。     

The innate immune response under the control of the LXR pathway

Macrophages play essential roles in infection and resolution of inflammation. This review summarizes recent findings that suggest a relevant role for the nuclear receptor liver X receptor (LXR) in the evolution of immune responses. By exerting both positive and negative regulation of specific macrophage gene expression networks, LXRs display anti-inflammatory activities and promote macrophage survival in bacterial infection settings. Agonists that activate the LXR pathway may be used to enhance innate immunity to highly virulent pathogens that otherwise induce macrophage apoptosis as a means to subvert host immune defense.     

Human immunodeficiency virus 1 favors the persistence of infection by activating macrophages through TNF

Macrophages play a major role in HIV-1 persistence. In the present paper, we demonstrate that the absence of apoptosis in HIV-1-infected primary human monocyte-differentiated macrophages (MDM) correlates with an increase in anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L)) and a decrease in pro-apoptotic (Bax and Bad) proteins. This is associated with macrophage activation as shown by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production and NF-kappaB activation upon infection. TNF production was shown to be involved in the upregulation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L) because this increase was abolished by an anti-TNF anti-serum or an inhibitor of TNF synthesis. In parallel, inhibition of TNF production induced an increase in the number of apoptotic cells. Furthermore, using an inhibitor of NF-kappaB activation, we demonstrated that TNF-induced upregulation of Bcl-x(L) and Bcl-2 occurs, respectively, through a NF-kappaB-dependent and an NF-kappaB-independent pathway.     

Interleukin-1 dysregulation is an intrinsic defect in macrophages from MRL autoimmune-prone mice

Macrophages (M?) from pre-diseased autoimmune-prone MRL mice (both MRL/+ and MRL/1pr) dramatically underproduce the cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) in comparison to M? from a number of normal strains. In this study we show that IL-1 dysregulation by MRL M? is fully expressed at birth, and that this defect does not change with time or the development of disease. We also constructed adult irradiation chimeras (consisting of A/J → MRL and MRL → A/J mice), and show that M? isolated from these chimeras display a pattern of IL-1 production indistinguishable from that of the donor strain controls. Moreover, when we constructed a mixed chimera (A/J + MRL → A/J), the A/J and MRL M? coexisting within the same animal retained their individual patterns of IL-1 production when isolated by negative selection. Taken together, these results provide the first substantive evidence for an intrinsic defect (IL-1 dysregulation) in M? from MRL autoimmune-prone mice.