Objective To investigate the effects of expression of TNFα mRNA on glucose uptake in both the liver and skeletal muscle after endotoxemia. Methods In the mice with intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the changes of TNFα level of plasma and uptake of 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) in the isolated soleus muscle and hepatic tissues were determined, then the reinstatement of glucose uptake by injecting TNF-McAb for 3 days was also observed. In addition, changes of TNFα mRNA expression of liver were evaluated. Results The expression of TNFα mRNA in the liver showed markedly increased in the first 3 hours post endotoxemia and remaind high for 3 days, and the plasma TNFα level paralleled with TNFα mRNA expression of liver also was elevated. The basal uptake of 2-DG both in muscle and liver were markedly increased, but the stimulated 2-DG uptake with insulin was greatly reduced as compared with the control. In addition, these abnormalities of 2-DG uptake can be partially corrected by neutralization of the circulatory TNFα by administration of TNF-McAb. Conclusion The disorders of glucose uptake of the liver and the muscle due to the overexpression of TNFα mRNA and elevated circulatory TNFα level may be the mechanism of insulin resistance after endotoxemia.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in choroidal neovascularization (CNV) induced by laser in mice. Methods Eighty male C57BL/6J mice at the age of 6-8 weeks old were randomly divided into the normal control, photocoagulation model, photocoagulation with phosphate buffered saline (PBS control group) and photocoagulation with TGF-β receptor inhibitor groups (TGF-β receptor inhibitor group), twenty mice of each group. Fundus argon laser photocoagulation was performed in the photocoagulation model group, PBS control group and TGF-β receptor inhibitor group to induce CNV. One week, two, three and four weeks after the laser procedure, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) was carried out in the normal control or photocoagulation model groups to observe CNV formation dynamically. Western blot was used to analyze the expressions of TGF-β in the retina from the mice of normal control or photocoagulation model groups, and VEGF or TNF-α in the retina of normal control, PBS control or TGF-β receptor inhibitor groups. The CNV areas of each group were evaluated by using fluorescein stain on retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/choroid flat mounts after two weeks of photocoagulation. ResultsThe FFA results showed the retinal vessels centered on the optic disc and arranged radially, while the choroidal vascular present network distribution in the normal control mice. Significant leakage of fluorescein showed discoid strong fluorophore in photocoagulation sites of retina at one week after photocoagulation. The quantitative analysis results of Western blot demonstrated that the TGF-β protein expression levels in retina of photocoagulation model mice gradually increased with time passing. The protein expression levels of TGF-β were significant differences in the photocoagulation model group comparing with the normal control group (F=13.042, P < 0.05). The protein expression levels of TNF-α (F=14.721, 17.509) and VEGF (F=18.890, 11.251) increased significantly in retina of PBS control or TGF-β receptor inhibitor groups when compared with that of normal control group at one week, two, three and four weeks after photocoagulation, and the differences were both statistically significant (P < 0.05). Compared with PBS control group, the protein levels of TNF-α and VEGF in retina from TGF-β receptor inhibitor group were significantly reduced, the differences was statistically significant (F=21.321, 16.160, P < 0.05). Two weeks after laser photocoagulation, a distinct reduction in CNV lesion size in the TGF-β receptor inhibitor group mice when compared to PBS or normal control groups, the differences was statically significant (F=4.482, P < 0.05). ConclusionTGF-β may promote CNV formation by up-regulating both TNF-α and VEGF protein expressions, the application of its specific inhibitor is able to reduce CNV progression.
Objective To investigate the clinical significance of insulin resistance ( IR) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) .Methods Patients with stable COPD were recruited while healthy volunteers were enrolled as control. The diagnosis and severity assessment were made according to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease diagnosis and treatment guideline ( revised edition 2007) . Fasting serum levels of glucose ( FBG) , insulin ( FIN) , blood lipids, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein ( CRP) , tumor necrosis factor ( TNF-α) , and interleukin-6 ( IL-6) were measured. The degree of IR was calculated by IAI( IAI =1/FBG ×FIN) . The relationship of IR with COPD severity and above parameters was analyzed. Results A total of 121 subjects with COPD were enrolled in which 22 cases of mild COPD, 28 cases of moderate COPD,34 cases of severe COPD, and 37 cases of extremely severe COPD. The levels of FBG and FIN were significantly higher in the COPD group than those in the normal control group ( P lt;0. 05) . ISI in the COPD patients was higher than that in the controls ( - 3. 88 ±0. 54 vs. - 3. 40 ±0. 28, P lt;0. 05) . The levels of CRP, fibrinogen, TNF-α, and IL-6 were significantly higher in the COPD group than those in the control group ( P lt;0. 05) . The levels of CRP, TNF-αand IL-6 increased progressively with the severity of COPD. There was a negative correlation between ISI and the severity of COPD ( r = - 0. 512, P lt; 0. 01) , positive correlations of CRP, fibrinogen, TNF-αand IL-6 levels with COPD severity, respectively( r=0. 710, 0. 600,0. 708,0. 707, all P lt;0. 01) , and negative correlations of ISI with the levels of CRP, fibrinogen, TNF-α and IL-6 ( r = - 0. 384, - 0. 240, - 0. 298, - 0. 396, all P lt; 0. 01) , respectively. Conclusion There is an increase in fasting serum insulin and insulin resistance in patients with COPD compared with healthy subjects, which deteriorates with severity of COPD.
Objective To investigate the changes of microRNA-150 ( miR-150) in peripheral blood leukocytes in sepsis patients, and their relationship with expression of immune cytokines and sepsis severity. Methods The level of mature miR-150 was quantified by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and normalized to that of control miRNA, U6, in peripheral blood leukocytes of 40 patients with sepsis, 20 patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome ( SIRS) , and 20 normal individuals. Serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay in all subjects. The sequential organ failure assessment ( SOFA) score systemwas used to evaluate the severity of sepsis. The relationships between miR-150 and the white blood cell count ( WBC) , TNF-α, IL-10 and SOFA score of the sepsis patients were analyzed. Results MiR-150 was stable for at least 5 days when specimen stored at 4 ℃ and the determination of miR-150 had a broad linear detecting range ( 6. 97-6. 97 ×104 pg/ μL RNA, the lowest detecting limit: 6. 97 pg/μL RNA,r=0.999) .MiR-150 expression in the peripheral blood leukocytes in the sepsis group was significantly lower than that in the healthy control group ( Plt;0.01) , while WBC, IL-10 and IL-10/TNF-α ratio were significantly higher ( Plt;0.05) . There was no significant difference in levels of miR-150, IL-10, IL-10/TNF-α ratio, and WBC between the sepsis group and the SIRS group (Pgt;0.05) . There was no significant difference in serum concentrations of TNF-α among three groups ( Pgt;0.05) . MiR-150 expression in non-survivor sepsis patients was significantly lower than that in survivor sepsis patients (Plt;0.05) , while serum IL-10 and IL-10/TNF-αratio were significantly higher (Plt;0.01) , but there was no significant difference in serum TNF-α between the non-survivor group and the survivor group ( Pgt;0.05) . There was significantly negative correlation between miR-150 and SOFA score, TNF-α and IL-10( r=-0. 619, - 0.457, -0. 431, Plt;0.05, respectively) , but no correlation between miR-150 and WBC ( r =-0. 184, Pgt;0.05) . There was no relationship between serum TNF-α, IL-10, IL-10 /TNF-α ratio or SOFA score ( Pgt;0.05) . Conclusions MiR-150 expression in the peripheral blood specimens is significantly decreased in sepsis patients. The expression level of miR-150 not only reflect the situation of inflammatory response, but also may be used as a prognostic marker in sepsis, as it can reflect the severity of sepsis in certain degree.
Objective To investigate the protective effects of endotoxin pretreatment on lung injury of rats with endotoxemia. Methods The rat model of acute endotoxemia was established by injecting lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intraperitoneally. Seventy-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups, ie. a saline control group (N, n=24) , a LPS-treated group (L, n=24) , and a LPS pretreated group ( P, n=24) . Each group was divided into 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, and 12 h subgroups. The rats in group P were firstly administered with introperitoneal injection of 0.25 mg/kg LPS. After 24 hours, they were subjected to the injection of 0.5 mg/kg LPS. The rats in group N and L received injection of equivalent amount of saline. After 72 hours, the rats in group L and P were challenged with intravenous injection of 10 mg/kg LPS, otherwise saline in group N. Six rats were killed at 2, 4, 6 and 12 hours respectively after injection of LPS in group L and P. The lungs were removed for detecting intercellular adhesion molecule-1 ( ICAM-1) , superoxide dismutase ( SOD) , and malondialdehyde (MDA) . Meanwhile the level of tumor necrosis factoralpha ( TNF-α) in serum was measured, and the pathological changes of lung were also examined. Results The contents of ICAM-1, MDA and TNF-α in the LPS-treated 4 h group were 75.07 ±0. 53, ( 3.93 ± 0.42) μmol/g, and (478.62 ±45.58) pg/mL respectively, significantly higher than those in the saline control group. The endotoxin pretreatment reduced the above indexes to 42.40 ±0.44, ( 2.89 ±0.49) μmol / g and ( 376.76 ±43.67) pg/mL respectively (Plt;0.05) . The content of SOD in the LPS-treated 4 h group was ( 6.26 ±0.31) U/mg, significantly lower than that in the saline control group. The endotoxin pretreatment increased SOD to ( 8.79 ±0.35) U/mg. Conclusion Endotoxin pretreatment can suppress the progress of lung injury in rats with endotoxemia and protect the lung tissue by down-regulating the inflammatory response and oxygen free radical production.
Objective To observe the levels of malonaldehyde (MDA) , interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in lung tissues of subjects with or without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) , and investigate their roles in the the pathogenesis of COPD. Methods The content of MDA, IL-8 and TNF-αin lung tissues of smokers with COPD (n=9) , ex-smokers with COPD (n=8) , non-smokers with COPD (n=7) , healthy smokers (n=9) , healthy ex-smokers (n=8) and healthy nonsmokers (n=6) was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) and corrected by creatinine. Results The levels of MDA, IL-8 and TNF-α in lung tissues of the COPD patients were significantly higher than those in the healthy subjects (Plt;0.05) , which were also significantly higher in the smokers when compared with the non-smokers (Plt;0.05) , whether suffering from COPD or not. In the COPD patients, not the levels of IL-8 but MDA and TNF-αin lung tissues of the smokers were significantly higher than those in the ex-smokers (Plt;0.05) ; whereas in the healthy cases, no statistical significance was revealed between the smokers and the ex-smokers on the levels of MDA and IL-8 in lung tissues except TNF-α( Pgt;0.05) . Conclusion The abnormal increase of MDA, IL-8 and TNF-αin lung tissues caused by chronic smoking may play an important role in the the pathogenesis of COPD.
Objective To investigate the role of macrophage stimulating protein (MSP) in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods Ninety subjects were recruited from health examination center, outpatient or inpatient department in Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College from July 2013 to December 2013. They were divided intoahealthy control group, a stable COPD group, and an acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) group with 30 subjects in each group. The levels of MSP, interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the plasma of all subjects, as well as the levels of MSP in the induced sputum of the AECOPD and the stable COPD patients were assessed by enzyme-linked-immuno-sorbent assay. Results The concentrations of MSP, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in the plasma of the patients with COPD were obviously higher than those of the healthy controls (P<0.05) while much higher in AECOPD patients than those in stable COPD patients (P<0.01).The concentration of MSP in the induced sputum of the patients with AECOPD was higher than that in the stable COPD patients (P<0.01). The concentrations of MSP in the serum and induced sputum as well as serum levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in the patients with COPD were negatively correlated with the level of FEV1%pred. The concentrations of MSP in the serum and induced sputum in the COPD patients were positively correlated with the concentrations of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α. Conclusions The concentrations of serum and induced sputum MSP, and the serum concentrations of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in COPD patients are related to the severity of the disease. MSP may play an important role in the pathogenesis of COPD. The mechanism might be mainly involved in the regulation of airway inflammation.
Objective To investigate the effects of tobacco smoke exposure on histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2),interleukin-8(IL-8)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)expression in peripheral blood of patients with lung adenocarcinoma and analyze the relationships among them. Methods Seventy-three cases diagnosed as lung adenocarcinoma were collected in the First Affiliated Hospital and Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from April 2014 to March 2015.All patients underwent lung function test preoperatively.Fourteen healthy volunteers without tobacco smoke exposure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)were recruited as healthy control.According to the lung function and tobacco smoke exposure,all cases were divided into four groups,ie. a healthy control group (group A,14 cases),a group without tobacco smoke exposure and COPD(group B,19 cases),a group with tobacco smoke exposure and without COPD(group C,33 cases),and a group with tobacco smoke exposure and COPD(group D,21 cases).The expressions of HDAC2 mRNA,IL-8 mRNA and TNF-α mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).The contents of IL-8 and TNF-α in serum were detected by ELISA. Results Compared with group A,the HDAC2 mRNA expression in PBMCs had no difference in group B(P>0.05),and was down-regulated significantly in group C and D (P<0.05),which in group D was the most obvious.Compared with group A,the expressions of IL-8 mRNA and TNF-α mRNA in PBMCs and the contents of IL-8 and TNF-α in serum were significantly higher in all lung adenocarcinoma patients(all P<0.05),and the up-regulation was more obvious in group D.The relative expression of HDAC2 mRNA in PBMCs showed no significant difference with respect to age,gender or TNM stage (P>0.05).IL-8 and TNF-α in PBMCs and serum showed no significant difference with respect to age and gender (P>0.05),and were higher in the patients with TNM stage Ⅲ lung adenocarcinoma than those with stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ(P<0.05),with no obvious difference between stage Ⅰ and stage Ⅱ (P>0.05). Conclusion Tobacco smoke exposure causes lower expression of HDAC2 and over-expression of IL-8 and TNF-α in peripheral blood of patients with lung adenocarcinoma,can aggravate inflammatory response especially when complicated with COPD,which may be related to the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma.
Objective To investigate whether P12，a kind of lipopolysaccharide（LPS）-binding protein（LBP） inhibitory peptide，could suppress the binding of LPS to alveolar macrophages（AMs） in a mouse model of endotoxemia in vivo.Methods Forty mice were randomly divided into five groups，ie.a control group，an endotoxemia group，a low dose P12-treated group，a middle dose P12-treated group and a high dose P12-treated group.Mouse model of endotoxemia was established by LPS injection intraperitoneally in the endotoxemia group and P12-treated groups.P12 was instilled via the tail vein.The effects of P12 on the binding of LPS to AMs were determined by flow cytometric analysis and quantization by mean fluorescence intensity(MFI).The productions of tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α) in serum of mice were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results MFI in AMs from low，middle and high dose P12-treated groups was 40.08%，30.76% and 24.45%，respectively，which was higher than that of the control group(4.61%)，but less than that of the endotoxemic mice(45.31%).The concentration of TNF-α in serum of low，media and high dose P12-treated mice was (112.69±19.78)pg/mL，(86.34±9.25) pg/mL，(70.48±8.48)pg/mL respectively，which was higher than that of the control group[(24.88±5.82)pg/mL]，but less than that of the endotoxemic mice[(180.17±39.14)pg/mL].Conclusion The results suggest that P12 inhibit the binding of LPS and AMs，thus reduce the proudction of TNF-α stimulated by LPS.
Objective To evaluate the correlation of TNF-α G308A polymorphism and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) using meta-analysis. Methods Databases including PubMed, EMbase, CNKI and WanFang Data were searched to collect case-control study on the correlation of TNF-α G308A polymorphism and RHD, published from January 1990 to June 2011. Two reviewers independently screened studies according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data and evaluated the methodological quality of the included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.1 and SPSS 16.0. Results A total of 5 studies were included, involving 539 RHD cases and 624 controls. The results of meta-analysis according to recessive genetic model of TNF-α G308A showed that there were significant differences in RHD risk between the AA genotype carriers and the GA+GG genotype carries (OR=5.06, 95%CI 2.15 to 11.89, P=0.0002), the same as the results of meta-analysis calculated according to dominant genetic model (OR=3.14, 95%CI 1.05 to 9.38, P=0.04). Conclusion Current evidence shows that TNF-α G308A polymorphism is related to RHD, and the AA genotype carriers tend to face an increasing RHD risk. This conclusion still needs to be further proved by more high-quality and large-scale clinical trials.