Objective To explore the expression of myeloid differentiation protein2 ( MD-2) in rat lung and its role in acute lung injury ( ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharide ( LPS) . Methods Twenty male SD rats were randomly divided into a LPS group and a control group. The wet/dry ratios of lung tissues were measured and the histological changes of lung tissues were observed under microscope. Alveolar macrophages were collected from bronchial alveolar lavage fluid ( BALF) . The MD-2 mRNA and protein expressions were detected by RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry respectively. The MD2-siRNA oligo were transfected into NR8383 cells and 1 μg/mL LPS was used to stimulate the cells. The expressions of MD-2 mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. The levels of TNF-αin rat serum and cell culture supernatant were detected by ELISA. Results Compared with the control group, the expressions of MD-2 mRNA and protein in alveolar macrophages and lung tissue were elevated ( P lt;0. 01) , as well as the level of TNF-αin rat serum. The expressions of MD-2 mRNA and protein in NR8383 cell and the level ofTNF-αin supernatant increased obviously after LPS stimulation ( P lt;0. 01) . There were no changes of MD-2 mRNA and protein expressions and TNF-α of NR8383 cells treated by MD-2 siRNA with or without LPS stimulation ( P gt;0. 05) . Conclusions The expression of MD-2 in lung increases obviously after challengedby LPS. KnockdownMD-2 gene of NR8383 cell byMD-2 siRNA can inhibit TNF-αsecretion induced by LPS stimulation.MD-2 may play an important role in rat ALI induced by LPS.
Objective To explore the role of macrophage-stimulating protein ( MSP) and receptor tyrosine kinase RON in the airway inflammation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease( COPD) , and investigate its possible mechanism. Methods The rat COPDmodel was established by exposing the rats to cigarette smoke daily for three months. Rat alveolar macrophages ( AMs) were isolated in vivo and cultured,and then challenged with different concentrations of MSP for 24 hours. The concentrations of MSP in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid ( BALF) and serum, and the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-10 in the supernatants were measured by ELISA. The expression of RONmRNA in lung tissue was assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The levels of RON protein in the lung tissue and AMs cultured in vitro were observed by immunohistochemistry. The activity of superoxide dismutase ( SOD) and malondialdehyde ( MDA) content in the culture solution were measured with chromatometry method. Results Compared with the control group, the concentrations of MSP in serum and BALF of the COPD rats were significantly higher ( P lt;0. 01) . The levels of RONmRNA and RON protein in the COPD rats were also upregulated significantly ( P lt; 0. 01) . MSP evoked the AMs isolated from the normal and COPD rats to generate more content of MDA and caused a reduction in activity of SOD. In addition, MSP stimulated TNF-α, IL-8, IL-1βand IL-10 release fromAMs of the normal and COPD rats dose-dependently. The levels of TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-1βwere higher, while the level of IL-10 and the SOD activity were lower in AMs of the COPD group than those of the control group in the same dose of MSP ( P lt;0. 01) . The more significant increase in the levels of TNF-α, IL-8, IL-1β, and the more notable decrease in the activity of SOD was found in the COPD group compared with the control group. But the degree of increasing MDA and IL-10 in the AMs of the COPD group was lower than that in the control group. Linear correlation analysis showed that the MSP concentration and the RON protein level in the COPD rats were positively associated with the total cellcounts and AM counts in BALF, and were related to the indexes for pulmonary emphysema. Conclusions There is a close correlation between the MSP and receptor tyrosine kinase RON with the airway inflammation of COPD. The mechanism might be that MSP promote the macrophages release inflammatory factors and increase the production of oxygen free radicals.
Objective To investigate the role of alveolar macrophages ( AMs ) in airway inflammation of smoke-induced COPD rat model and its possible regulating mechanism. Methods Twelve Wistar rats were randomly divided into a COPD group and a control group. The rat model of COPD was established with smoke exposure and LPS intrathacheal instillation. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( BALF)was collected for measurement of total and differential cell counts. Then AMs were isolated and identified byimmunofluorescence. Western blot was employed to analyze the cytoplasmic and nuclear NF-κB p65 expression of AMs. The concentrations of TNF-α,macrophage inflammatory protein 2 ( MIP-2) and IL-10 in cell culture supernatantwere assayed by ELISA.Results The scores of bronchitis and mean liner intercepts in the COPD group were significantly higher than those in the control group [ 4. 33 ±1. 16 vs. 1. 33 ±0. 58,P =0. 016; ( 168. 77 ±11. 35) μm vs. ( 93. 61 ±4. 16) μm, P = 0. 000) ] . The total cell count in BALF of the COPD group was significantly higher than that in the control group ( P lt; 0. 05) , and the AMs and neutrophils were predominant [ ( 72. 00 ±2. 22) % and ( 18. 29 ±8. 34) % ] . The cytoplasmic NF-κB p65 expression of AMs in the COPD group was significantly lower , while the nuclear NF-κB p65 expression was significantly higher ( P lt; 0. 05) compared with the control group. The ELISA results showed that the concentrations of TNF-αand MIP-2 in culture supernatant of AMs in the COPD group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( P lt;0. 05) , while the concentration of IL-10 was not significantly different between the two groups ( P gt;0. 05) . Conclusions COPD rat model was established successfully with smoke exposure and LPS intratracheal instillation with a profile of macrophage-based chronic inflammation and increased secretion of TNF-αand MIP-2. The mechanismis closely related to activation of NF-κB.
ObjectiveTo establish a methodology for alveolar macrophages (AMs) phagocytosis of AlexaFluor 488 (AF488) labeled bacteria by flow cytometry.MethodsStaphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae were labeled with different concentrations of AF488. A flow cytometric assay was used to quantify in vivo bacterial uptake by AMs. AMs and different ratio of fluorescent-labeled bacteria were incubated at 37 ℃ for 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours and 8 hours, respectively. AMs were washed with DPBS and extracellular fluorescence was quenched with 1% (w/v) trypan blue. Trypan blue was aspirated and phagocytosis of fluorescent-labeled bacteria by AMs was measured using a flow cytometry. Confocal microscopy was performed to ensure that bacterial in positive AM had been internalized rather than bound to the cell surface.ResultsWhen the concentration of AF488 was more than 50 μg/mL, the labeling rates of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae were higher than 92% (P<0.05), and has quickly reached the upper limit. With the prolongation of incubation time, the phagocytic rate of AMs increased from 20.4% at 2 hours to 76.5% at 8 hours. With the increase in the number of bacteria, the phagocytic rate of AMs increased from 7.7% by ratio of 1∶10 to 85.1% by ratio of 1∶300.ConclusionDetection of AMs phagocytosis of AF488 labeled bacteria by flow cytometry is an effective method, but the dye concentration, incubation time and the proportion of bacteria will influence the results.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of curcumin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation and apoptosis in alveolar macrophage via microRNA-132 (miR-132)/high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1).MethodsThe cultured mouse alveolar macrophage line (RAW264.7 cells) were divided into the control group, the LPS group, the LPS+50 μmol/L curcumin group, and the LPS+100 μmol/L curcumin group. Forty-eight hours after drug treatment, the levels of miR-132/HMGB1, inflammatory mediator and apoptotic were detected. Secondly, the empty vector, synthetic miR-132 mimics and inhibitors were transfected into another cultured mouse alveolar macrophage line (RAW264.7 cells) to detect the inflammation and apoptosis of alveolar macrophage after transfection.ResultsCompared with the control group, in the LPS group, the apoptosis of alveolar macrophage, the levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and the expression of miR-132 increased, while the expression of HMGB1 decreased (P<0.05); compared with the LPS group, in the two curcumin groups, the apoptosis of alveolar macrophage, the levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α, and the expression of miR-132 decreased, while the expression of HMGB1 increased (P<0.05); and the greater the drug concentration, the more obvious the effect (P<0.05). In addition, up-regulation of miR-132 reduced the expression of HMGB1 in alveolar macrophage, increased inflammatory factor, and induced apoptosis in alveolar macrophage; however, down-regulation of miR-132 increased the expression of HMGB1 in alveolar macrophage, reduced inflammatory factor, and inhibited apoptosis in alveolar macrophage (P<0.05).ConclusionCurcumin could decrease LPS-induced inflammation and apoptosis in alveolar macrophage via decreasing miR-132 and increasing HMGB1.