Acute-phase protein synthesis in human hepatoma cells: differential regulation of serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin by interleukin-1 and interleukin-6.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6, BSF-2 or IFN-beta 2) is thought to be the major regulator of the acute-phase protein response that follows tissue injury and inflammation, with interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumour necrosis factor and more recently, LIF or HSF III, slightly stimulatory on only certain acute phase proteins. The synthesis of the major acute-phase protein SAA, originally described as being synthesized in response to IL-1, has been claimed recently to be mainly under IL-6 regulation. Our results show that in the human hepatoma cell line HuH-7, IL-1 is the major stimulating cytokine increasing SAA synthesis by a factor in excess of 100-fold. We also show that under most conditions interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor stimulate additively in combination with IL-1. Isoelectric focusing has demonstrated that SAA1 and SAA2 alpha are expressed but not SAA2 beta. The HuH-7 cell line is IL-6 responsive since haptoglobin is stimulated mainly by IL-6.     

In vitro biosynthesis of plasma proteins under ischemic conditions of closed-circuit perfusion of healthy and intoxicated rabbit liver

We are elaborating on the kinetics and mechanisms of septic rabbit liver to de novo biosynthesize acute-phase response (APR) proteins under in vitro conditions of deepening ischemia in reference to their in vivo prevalence in serum and cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) collected at predetermined times. The significance of the data is interpreted as relevant to grafting cadaveric liver into end-stage liver diseased patients and APR-induced ischemic heart diseases (IHD). Hepatic APR was induced by CCl(4)-intubation, and the administration of cholera toxin (CT) or scorpion venom (SV), or both, to rabbits. Hepatic functional efficiency, in terms of biosynthesis of APR proteins in closed circuit perfusion of the isolated intoxicated liver with oxygenated saline or L-15 media paralleled the two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis (2D-IEP) spectrum of APR serum proteins at time of liver isolation. We are suggesting: (a) in vitro biosynthesis of plasma proteins by isolated perfused liver is the result of in vivo decoded and retained APR inflammatory signals; and (b) decoded inflammatory signals are expressed not withstanding the perfusate's organic composition. Furthermore, 90 min of ischemic perfusion in saline or L-15 medium precipitated mitochondrial aberrations which resulted in further deterioration of de novo biosynthesis of APR plasma proteins. Regardless of the nature of the inflammatory stimuli, mitochondrial aberrations rendered the perfused organ a biologically inert tissue mass that was incapable of resuming biological function upon perfusion with oxygenated L-15 medium. This is most likely due to ischemia-induced irreversible hepatic necrosis. Thus, in vitro aberrations of mitochondrial function(s) critically limit the capability of the isolated liver to resume its organic function to sustain biosynthesis of de novo plasma proteins. Extrapolation of these results to the surgical management of end-stage liver diseases points to the importance of the status and the handling protocol(s) of the cadaver donor liver prior to successful grafting. We conclude that although histology of a cadaver liver may reveal well-preserved hepatic cellular organelles with at least minimal intra- and intercellular communication required for viable hepatic function, we deem it essential to further define acceptable minimal capabilities to de novo biosynthesize plasma proteins by a cadaver liver as a measure of its functional viability and suitability for transplantation. Ultimately, this measure may improve the success of liver transplants with minimal surgical and drug interventions.     

Shenfu Injection(参附注射液) Suppresses Inflammation by Targeting Haptoglobin and Pentraxin 3 in Rats with Chronic Ischemic Heart Failure

Objective:To investigate the regulatory effects of Shenfu Injection(SFI,参附注射液) on hemodynamic parameters and serum proteins in rats with post-infarction chronic heart failure(CHF).Methods:Forty-five healthy Wistar rats were randomized into three groups:sham,heart failure(model) and SFI group.The CHF was induced by left coronary artery ligation.Seven days after the surgical operation,animals in the sham group and the model group received saline(6.2 mL/kg/d),while animals in the SFI group received SFI(6.2 mL/kg·d) intraperitoneally.Four weeks later,cardiac hemodynamic parameters were measured via the carotid route.The expression of serum proteins was analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis and matrixassisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer(MALDI-TOF MS).Results:Recording of hemodynamic parameters showed that left ventricular systolic pressure(LVSP),maximum rate of left ventricular pressure(+dp/dt_(max)) rise,and maximum rate of left ventricular pressure(-dp/dt_(max)) decrease,while the left ventricular end diastolic pressure(LVEDP) rose in the model group compared to those in the sham group(P0.05).The results of the MALDI-TOF MS indicated that haptoglobin(HP),pentraxin 3(PTX3) and alpha-1-antitrypsin were up-regulated,while serum albumin and 40 S ribosomal protein were down-regulated in the model group(P0.05).Compared with the model group,LVSP,+dp/dt_(max)and-dp/dt_(max) were higher,while LVEDP was lower in the SFI group(P0.05).Expression levels of HP and PTX3 were lower than in the model group(P0.05).Conclusion:SFI could improve hemodynamic function and decrease inflammatory reactions in the pathophysiology of CHF.The serum proteins HP and PTX3 could be potential biomarkers for chronic ischemic heart failure,and they could also be the serum protein targets of SFI.     

Haptoglobin therapy for acute favism: a Japanese boy with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase Guadalajara

Summary. We report the case of a 2-year-old Japanese boy with acute favism who was treated with human haptoglobin products. He had been exhibiting chronic nonspherocytic haemolytic anaemia until the diagnosis of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency when 14 months old. He suffered a favic crisis at 24 months of age, when the administration of haptoglobin was effective for relieving bilirubinaemia and haemoglobinuria. Serum-free Hb rapidly decreased to normal levels despite the sustained level of serum lactate dehydrogenase. His G6PD gene was G6, Guadalajara. This is the first application of haptoglobin therapy for acute favism and the first reported case of Japanese G6PD deficiency with typical favic crisis. Haptoglobin treatment might be helpful for managing the haemolytic crisis in the disease.     

骨性关节炎患者关节滑液中结合珠蛋白水平与病情严重程度的相关性

目的研究骨性关节炎（osteoarthritis,OA）患者关节滑液中结合珠蛋白（haptoblobin,Hp）水平与病情严重程度的相关性,探讨Hp在OA病理过程中的作用机制。方法收集2011年7月-2012年2月在解放军总医院行关节镜诊治的41例OA患者及18例非OA膝关节疾病患者（半月板损伤16例,盘状半月板2例,均无明显关节软骨损伤）关节滑液,采用Outerbridge软骨损伤评分法对OA患者分级并记录OA患者膝关节HSS评分（美国特种外科医院膝关节评分）。采用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）检测两组关节滑液中Hp水平。比较不同程度OA患者滑液Hp水平。结果 OA组滑液中Hp水平明显高于非OA组[（23.04±13.19）μg/mlvs（7.32±3.76）μg/ml,P〈0.001]。OA组滑液中Hp水平与膝关节HSS评分呈负相关（r=-0.487,P=0.001）。结论滑液中Hp水平与OA病变严重程度呈正相关,测定OA患者滑液中Hp水平对早期诊断和有效防治具有重要意义。     

卵巢癌患者血清中肿瘤特异标志物的鉴定研究

目的:通过分析卵巢癌患者血清中的蛋白质组分,寻找可能的肿瘤相关蛋白并对该蛋白鉴定,以期确定其作为卵巢癌血清学诊断的特异标志物。方法:采用双向凝胶电泳方法分离6例卵巢癌患者及2例正常健康妇女血清总蛋白,经考马斯亮蓝染色后对比找出差异蛋白斑点,该蛋白斑点经蛋白酶水解后进行液质联用串联质谱(LC-MS/MS)分析,用SEQUEST搜索软件查询Finngan公司提供的FASTA格式蛋白序列数据库。采用WesternBlotting、ELISA、斑点印迹及亲和层析等方法对目标蛋白作进一步的分析。结果:经双向电泳分离,卵巢癌患者血清中有3-4个组分显示含量高于正常健康妇女血清,选其中最明显的一个差异斑点进行质谱分析,对库检索确定为结合珠蛋白。进一步的分析证实,卵巢癌患者血清中结合珠蛋白总含量有高于正常健康妇女的趋势。此外,通过凝集素斑点印迹法检测发现,岩藻糖基化结合珠蛋白成分明显增加是该蛋白总量增高的主要特性。结论:检测血清结合珠蛋白总量以及特异的岩藻糖基化组分可能成为卵巢癌的血清诊断指标之一,可与其它检测方法相结合,提高卵巢癌早期诊断的有效性。     

Increased renal hypertrophy in diabetic mice genetically modified at the haptoglobin locus

BACKGROUND: The human haptoglobin (Hp) gene is polymorphic with two functional classes of alleles, denoted 1 and 2. We have demonstrated in three longitudinal studies and several cross-sectional studies that the Hp genotype is an independent risk factor for diabetic vascular disease. These studies have presented a compelling argument that diabetic individuals homozygous for the Hp 1 allele are at decreased risk of vascular complications as compared to diabetic individuals with the Hp 2 allele. METHODS: The naturally occurring (wild type) mouse Hp is a class 1 Hp allele. We examined renal hypertrophy in wild-type mice, Hp knockout mice (Hp 0), and in mice with the Hp 2 allele (Hp 2) with and without diabetes. RESULTS: In the absence of diabetes, we found that renal hypertrophy was significantly increased in Hp 0 mice and that this could be prevented with vitamin E. There was no difference between wild type and Hp 2 mice with regard to renal hypertrophy in the absence of diabetes. However, in the presence of diabetes, Hp 2 mice demonstrated a significant increase in renal hypertrophy as compared to wild-type mice. CONCLUSIONS: These results support a direct linkage between diabetic vascular disease and the Hp genotype. These Hp-modified mice may serve as a platform on which to test a variety of pharmacological agents in order to decrease diabetic vascular disease.