Up-regulation interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 by activated protein C in lipopolysaccharide-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Objective： To investigate the effect of activated protein C （APC） on inflammatory responses in human umbilical vein endothelial cells （HUVEC） stimulated with lipopolysaccharide （LPS）. Methods： The second passage of collagenase digested HUVEC was divided into the following groups： serum free medium control group （SFM control）, phosphate buffer solution control group （PBS control）, LPS group with final concentration of 1 μg/ml （LPS group）, APC group with final concentration of 7 μg/ml, Pre-APC group （APC pretreatment for 30 min prior to LPS challenge）, and Post-APC group （APC administration 30 min after LPS challenge）. Supernatant was harvested at 0, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after LPS challenge. Interleukin-6 （IL-6） and Interleukin-8 （IL-8） levels were analyzed with ELISA. Cells were harvested at 24 h after LPS challenge, and total RNA was extracted. Messenger RNA levels for IL-6 and IL-8 were semi-quantitatively determined by RT-PCR. Results： Compared with control group, IL-6 and IL-8 levels steadily increased 4 to 24 h after LPS stimulation. APC treatment could increase LPS-induced IL-6 and IL-8 production. The mRNA levels of IL-6 and IL-8 exhibited a similar change. Conclusion： APC can further increase the level of IL-6 and IL-8 induced by LPS. The effect of these elevated cytokines is still under investigation.     

NE对THP-1细胞IL-6 HMGB1和CD137表达的影响

目的:探讨去甲肾上腺素对人THP-1细胞CD137、IL-6及HMGB1表达的影响.方法:加入101μmol/L的去甲肾上腺素处理THP-1细胞1小时.运用逆转录多聚酶链反应检测其CD137、IL-6及HMGB1mRNA的表达.结果:10μmol/L的去甲肾上腺素能上调THP-1细胞CD137及IL-6mRNA的表达,与对照组比较差异有显著性(P<0.01);但对HMGB1mRNA的表达没有影响.结论:去甲肾上腺素上调THP-1细胞CD137及IL-6mRNA水平.     

Effect of tramadol on immune responses and nociceptive thresholds in a rat model of incisional pain

Objective: To evaluate the effects oftramadol on the proinflammatory responses in a rat model of incisional pain by investigating its effects on nociceptive thresholds and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-2 levels. Methods: Forty-two male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats scheduled for plantar incision were randomly divided into 7 groups (n=6 in each group). Rats in Group 1 receiving general anesthesia with no incision were served as control; At 30 min before skin incision, Groups 2～5 were given 5 ml normal saline or 1, 10, and 20 mg/kg tramadol, respectively, intraperitoneally (i.p.); Group 6 received 10 mg/kg tramadol after operation; Group 7 received 10 mg/kg tramadol before incision, followed by 200 μg/kg naloxone after operation. Mechanical allodynia was measured by electronic von Frey filament to evaluate the nociceptive thresholds 1 h before incision, and 1 h and 2 h after operation. Serum IL-6 and IL-2 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) 2 h after operation. Results: Mechanical thresholds decreased significantly and serum IL-6 level increased significantly after operation in Group 2 compared with control (P＜0.01), and these changes were reversed respectively by tramadol in a dose-dependent manner (P＜0.05 and P＜0.01, respectively). IL-2 level remained unchanged after operation in Group 2, but decreased in Group 3 (P＜0.05), then gradually returned to the normal level in Groups 4 and 5. The intraperitoneally injected tramadol (10 and 20 mg/kg) produced a potent and dose-dependent antinocicptive effect on the lesioned paw. The antinocicptive effects of tramadol were partially an-tagonized by naloxone (200 μg/kg), suggesting an additional non-opioid mechanism. Conclusion: The results suggest that tramadol could be a good choice for the treatment of pain under the conditions that immunosuppression may be particularly contraindicated.     

Adiponectin levels are associated with the number and activity of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with coronary artery disease

Objective: To study the relationship between plasma adiponectin concentration and the functional activities of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: Circulating EPCs were enumerated as AC133+/KDR+ cells via flow cytometry and identified by co-staining with Dii-acLDL and fluorescein isothiocy-anate (FITC)-conjugated lectin under a fluorescent microscope. The migratory capacity of EPCs was measured by modified Boyden chamber assay. Adhesion capacity was performed to count adherent cells after replating EPCs on six-well culture dishes coated with fibronectin. Results: The number of circulating EPCs (AC133+/KDR+ cells) decreased significantly in CAD patients, compared with control subjects [(74.2±12.3) vs (83.5±12.9) cells/ml blood, P<0.0\]. In addition, the number of EPCs also decreased in CAD patients after ex vivo cultivation [(54.4±8.6) vs (71.9±11.6) EPCs/field, P<0.01]. Both circulating EPCs and differentiated EPCs were positively correlated with plasma adiponectin concentration. The functional activities of EPCs from CAD patients, such as migratory and adherent capacities, were also impaired, compared with control subjects, and positively correlated with plasma adiponectin concentration. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that the impairment of the number and functional activities of EPCs in CAD patients is correlated with their lower plasma adiponectin concentrations.     

Effect of interrupted endogenous BMP/Smad signaling on growth and steroidogenesis of porcine granulosa cells

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play a critical role in the growth and steroidogenesis of granulosa cells (GCs). BMP signals act through membrane-bound heteromeric serine/threonine kinase receptors. Upon ligand binding, BMPs activate intracellular Smad proteins and regulate growth and apoptosis in various cell types. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the effects of BMP/Smad signal on growth and steroidogenesis of porcine GCs. A strategy of RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated ‘gene silencing’ of Smad4, a core molecule mediating the intracellular BMP/Smad signal transduction pathways, was used to interrupt endogenous BMP/Smad signaling. Results indicate that Smad4-small interfering RNA (siRNA) caused specific inhibition of Smad4 mRNA and protein expression after transfection. Interrupted endogenous BMP/Smad signaling significantly inhibited growth, and induced apoptosis of porcine GCs, while decreasing estradiol production. In addition, interrupted BMP/Smad signaling significantly (P<0.05) changed the expression of Cyclin D2, CDK4, Bcl-2, and Cyp19a1. These findings provide new insights into how BMP/Smad signaling regulates the growth and steroidogenesis of porcine GCs.     

转染瘦素人胎盘源间充质干细胞对经X射线辐照后人脐静脉内皮细胞的成血管潜能和周围炎症的影响

目的:放创复合伤是一种以血管损伤和促炎细胞因子缺乏为特征的难愈性创伤。瘦素(leptin)的直接应用在血管生成和炎症中起着重要作用。本研究构建了一种可持续稳定的leptin表达系统——leptin修饰的人胎盘来源间充质干细胞(HPMSCs/leptin),并探究其对经X射线辐照后的人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs)的成血管潜能及周围炎症的影响和潜在机制。创新点:可持续稳定的leptin表达系统(HPMSCs/leptin)促进受X射线辐照后HUVECs的成血管潜能及外周炎症反应,有助于解决放创复合伤伤口愈合过程中血管损伤和促炎因子缺乏的问题。方法:利用慢病毒载体将leptin基因转染HPMSCs获得HPMSCs/leptin。采用X射线单次照射HUVECs,剂量为20 Gy。细胞迁移侵袭实验技术(Transwell)检测照射后HUVECs的迁移情况。在Transwell体系的基础上,建立HPMSCs与受辐照HUVECs共培养体系。CCK-8比色法测定细胞增殖。酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测促炎细胞因子(粒细胞-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子(GM-CSF)、白细胞介素-1α(IL-1α)、IL-6和IL-8)的分泌。实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(RT-qPCR)检测促血管生成因子(VEGF和bFGF)mRNA的表达。蛋白免疫印迹法(westernblot)检测核因子κB(NF-κB)和JAK/STAT信号通路的相关分子表达。结论:可持续稳定的leptin表达系统(HPMSCs/leptin)具有更好的细胞增殖、迁移和成血管潜能。HPMSCs/leptin单独培养和HPMSCs/leptin与受辐照HUVECs共培养体系中,促炎细胞因子的分泌增加与NF-κB和JAK/STAT信号通路的相互作用有关。HPMSCs/leptin可能促进X射线照射后HUVECs的成血管潜能和外周炎症反应。     

CD_(40)-CD_(40)L相互作用对人脐静脉内皮细胞增殖及迁移的影响

目的探讨CD40-CD40配体相互作用对体外培养的人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVEC)增殖及迁移的影响。方法采用Ⅱ型胶原酶消化法培养人脐静脉内皮细胞,以3H-胸腺嘧啶脱氧核苷(3H-TdR)、3H-亮氨酸(3H-Leu)掺入法分别测定HUVEC增殖,内皮细胞的迁移采用琼脂糖凝胶刮取法,倒置显微镜观察。结果CD40-CD40配体相互作用能明显促进HUVEC3H-TdR、3H-Leu的掺入,两者具有时间、剂量依赖性,CD40-CD40配体相互作用随CD40L浓度的增加及刺激时间延长(30h内),能明显增加内皮细胞迁移率,an-ti-CD40单克隆抗体能明显抑制上述效应。结论CD40-CD40配体相互作用能促进内皮细胞增殖、迁移。