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.
Abstract： Objective To explore the feasibility of using protamine-agarose gel to achieve heparin-free cardiopulmonary bypass （CPB）. Methods A total of 12 healthy adult dogs were chosen, the dogs were between 2-3 years old,either male or female, with their mean body weight of 23.3±3.7 kg （ranging from 20 to 28 kg）. All the dogs were randomly divided into two groups with 6 dogs in each group. In the heparinized group, conventional CPB technique was used; in the non-heparinized group, protamine-agarose gel column was used to absorb plasma clotting factors in CPB without use of heparin. At the beginning of CPB and 1 h, 2 h, 3 h after CPB, arterial blood samples were collected from dogs in both groups. The expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）, interleukin-6 （IL-6） and interleukin-8 （IL-8） were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）and compared. Results There was no thrombus formation in the membrane oxygenators during CPB by naked eye observation in both groups. Activated coagulation time （ACT） was always greater than 480 s during CPB. The vital signs of the dogs were all stable during CPB. At the beginning of CPB, there was no statistical difference in plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 between the two groups. At 1 h, 2 h and 3 h after CPB, the expression levels of TNF-α and IL-8 of the non-heparinized group were significantly higher than those of the heparinized group （CPB 3 h TNF-α：156.48±16.65 ng/L vs. 115.87±15.63 ng/L, t=4.356, P=0.001；CPB 3 h IL-8：365.38±46.18 ng/L vs. 299.29±34.50 ng/L, t=2.808, P=0.019）. There was no statistical difference in the expression level of IL-6 between the two groups （P＞0.05）. Conclusion Using protamine-agarose gel to absorb plasma clotting factors is an effective technique to establish heparin-free CPB. But this method can induce significant systemic inflammatory response.
ObjectiveTo observe the relationship between the serum level changes of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin (IL)-18, intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM1), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2(Lp-PLA2), and the multiple factors of acute cerebral infarction (ACI). MethodsWe chose 76 patients with ACI treated between July 2012 and June 2014 as our study subjects.On the second day (acute phase) and the 15th day (recovery phase) after onset, we checked the patients for their serum levels of hsCRP, IL-18, ICAM1, MMP-9 and Lp-PLA2.Then, multiple linear regression analysis was performed to observe the correlation of the serum level change degree of inflammatory factors with hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, smoking history, carotid atherosclerotic plaque, lipid levels, infarct size and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score. ResultsThe changes of all the inflammatory factors in the acute phase and the recovery phase of cerebral infarction were not significantly related to smoking history, hypertension, coronary heart disease, low-density lipoprotein and NIHSS scores (P > 0.05).The changes of hsCRP and ICAM1 had significant correlation with cerebral infarct size, diabetes mellitus and carotid atherosclerotic plaque (P < 0.05), and the change level of Lp-PLA2 was related to diabetes mellitus, and carotid atherosclerotic plaque (P < 0.05).MMP-9 serum level change had correlation with only cerebral infarct size (P < 0.05). ConclusionsSerum level changes of inflammatory factors are related to various factors of cerebral infarction.The main factors that affecting the serum level changes are cerebral infarction area, diabetes mellitus and carotid atherosclerosis.
ObjectiveTo investigate the levels of nutritional status, serum leptin, TNF-α, IL-8 and C-reactive protein(CRP) in patients with two clinical phenotypes of COPD. MethodsNutritional parameters, including body mass index, percent ideal body weight, triceps skin-fold thickness, mid-upper arm circumference, albumin, lymphocytes count, serum leptin, TNF-α, IL-8 and CRP levels were determined in 40 healthy controls and 120 patients with COPD. The COPD patients were divided into a typical emphysema type(A group) and a bronchitis type(B group), both groups included COPD patients in acute exacerbation phase and in stable phase. ResultsThe nutritional parameters in B group were higher than those in A group(P < 0.05). Serum leptin level was lower in stable A group and stable B group than that in the control group[(7.76±2.93) ng/L and (10.04±5.11) ng/L vs. (14.93±8.47) ng/L, P < 0.05], higher in A group[(12.99±5.56) ng/L)] and B group in acute exacerbation phase[(13.52±5.82) ng/L] than that in stable phase(P < 0.05), and lower in stable A group than that in stable B group (P < 0.05). Serum TNF-αlevel was higher in A group with acute exacerbation than that in B group with acute exacerbation and the control group[(234.65±95.74)μg/L and(195.03±88.00)μg/L vs. (182.07±42.35)μg/L, P < 0.05], and higher in stable A group than that in stable B group[(225.31±84.14)μg/L vs. (188.17±72.62)μg/L, P < 0.05]. Serum IL-8 level in A and B groups in acute exacerbation phase and stable phase was higher than that in the control group(P < 0.05), and was not significantly different between A group and B group in acute exacerbation or stable phase(P > 0.05). The CRP level was higher in A group and B group with acute exacerbation than that in the control group[(46.87±35.89) mg/L and(70.11±65.50) mg/L vs. (5.05±4.49) mg/L, P < 0.01], and higher in B group with acute exacerbation than that in A group with acute exacerbation (P < 0.05). ConclusionsThere are differences in nutritional status, serum leptin, TNF-αand CRP levels between the emphysema type and bronchitis type of COPD, while the IL-8 level is not different between two phenotypes. Leptin and TNF-αmay be involved in weight-loss of malnutritional COPD patients.
ObjectiveTo bioinformatically analyze the gene chip data of chondrocytes from osteoarthritis patients from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and explore the molecular mechanisms of osteoarthritis.MethodsWe searched the GEO database (up to April 23rd, 2021) for data of chondrocytes and gene expression profiling in human knee osteoarthritis via the key words of “osteoarthritis OR cartilage OR chondrocyte*”. Then, we selected the samples by our inclusion criteria. The data were normalized before analysis. After differentially expressed genes were identified, Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, Search Tool for the Retrival of Interacting Genes/Proteinsm, R language, Perl language, Cytoscape software, and DAVID database were used to perform differentially expressed gene analysis, functional annotation, and enrichment analysis.ResultsThe differentially expressed genes were mostly enriched in cell components and some extracellular regions, which participated in cell division, mitosis, cell proliferation and inflammatory response mainly via the regulation of protein kinase activity. The differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in the cell proliferation signaling pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, oocyte meiosis, cell cycle and so on.ConclusionsMultiple signaling pathways are involved in the changes of chondrocytes in human knee osteoarthritis, mainly about cell cycle and protein metabolism genes/pathways. Inflammatory factors and cytokines may be the most important links in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.
ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical usage of modified ultrafiltration in pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass. MethodsWe selected 40 infants with congenital heart defects as our study subjects between January 2010 and February 2012. They were randomly divided into two groups. One group used modified ultrafiltration, while the other did not, during the operation with cardiopulmonary bypass. The different perioperative changes of pulmonary pressure and the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) concentration in plasma were observed in both the two groups. ResultsNo complication relative to modified ultrafiltration was found. After the operations began, TNF and IL-8 concentration in the two groups rose fast; at the end of operations and 2 hours after operation, the pulmonary pressure and TNF and IL-8 concentration in the two groups decreased, and the decrease in the modified ultrafiltration group was faster. ConclusionThe use of modified ultrafiltration during operations with cardiopulmonary bypass can reduce residual water within the body in a short period and decrease the concentration of inflammatory factors, which is helpful for postoperative recovery of the cardiac and lung functions.
ObjectiveTo explore the levels of serum leptin,TNF-α,IL-8 and hypersensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in stable COPD patients with different body mass index (BMI). Methods30 healthy controls with BMI 18.5 to 23.9 kg/m2 and 105 patients with stable COPD were recruited in the study. The serum levels of leptin,TNF-α,and IL-8 were determined by radioimmunoassay and hs-CRP level was determined by versatile biochemical automatic analyzer. The COPD patients were divided into a low BMI group (BMI<18.5 kg/m2,n=32),a normal BMI group (BMI 18.5-23.9 kg/m2,n=48),and a high BMI group (BMI≥23.9 kg/m2,n=25). ResultsSerum leptin level in the COPD patients was significantly reduced compared with the control subjects (P<0.05). Serum leptin levels were reduced in the low BMI and the high BMI groups compare with the normal BMI group [(7.89±3.16)ng/L and (10.52±5.98)ng/L vs. (13.04±5.73) ng/L,P<0.01 or P<0.05]. Leptin level in the low BMI group was lower than that in the high BMI group (P<0.05). Serum TNF-α levels were significantly increased in the low BMI group compared with the normal BMI and high BMI groups [(229.39±89.57)μg/L vs. (180.06±74.24) μg/L and (189.46±82.41) μg/L,P<0.01]. Serum TNF-α level in the COPD patients was significantly increased compared with the control subjects [(192.37±83.65) μg/L vs. (178.59±60.38) μg/L,P<0.05]. The IL-8 levels were not significant different among three BMI groups with COPD. The hs-CRP level in the high BMI group was higher than that in the low BMI and normal BMI groups (P<0.05). ConclusionLeptin and TNF-α may be involved in weight-loss of COPD malnutritional patients.
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of simvastatin on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and inflammatory factors in rats with smoke-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods40 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups, including a normal group (group A), a simvastatin group (group B), a COPD model group (group C) and a simvastatin intervention group (group D). The COPD model of the group C and D were induced through exposing to the cigarette smoke repeatedly. At the same time, the rats of group B and D were given by gavage 5 mg/(kg·d) with simvastatin, and the other two groups were given with the same volume saline for 16 weeks. Pulmonary function tests and pathological examination of the lung tissue were performed after the induction of COPD model. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to measure the content of MMP-2, MMP-9, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α in lung tissue homogenate. ResultsThe airway resistance of group C and group D was significantly higher than the group A and group B (P<0.01), and the airway resistance of group D was significantly lower than group C (P<0.01). The degree of bronchial inflammation and emphysema of group C was more apparent than group D in the pathological section, and there were no bronchial inflammation and emphysema in group A and group B. The ELISA results showed that the contents of MMP-2, MMP-9, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α in group C were all significantly higher than those in group D. ConclusionSimvastatin has inhibitory effect on pulmonary inflammation of COPD, and can reduce the expression of matrix metalloproteinase and inflammatory factors in the lung.
Objective To investigate the influence of proteasome inhibitorMG-132 on inflammatory factors in COPD rats and its potential mechanism. Methods The COPD rat model was established by instillation of lipopolysaccharide and exposure to cigarette smoke. Then the rats were randomly divided into 4 groups( n = 12 in each group) , ie. a COPD model group, a COPD + MG-132 low concentration group ( 0. 05 mg·kg- 1·d - 1 ) , a COPD + MG-132 high concentration group( 0. 1 mg· kg- 1 · d - 1 ) , and a normal control group. The rats were injected intraperitoneally with different dose of MG-132 or normal saline. After 1 week and 4 weeks, 6 rats in each group were sarcrificed. Then the following parameters were determined including histopathological changes of lung tissue, and the concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 in serum and diaphragm via ELISA. Results The lung histopathological examination showed obvious emphysema and inflammatory infiltration in the COPD rats. These pathological changes were obviously ameliorated in two MG-132 treatment groups. The IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 levels in serumand diaphragmin the COPD model group were all significantly increased from1 week and 4 week than those in the normal control group( P lt;0. 05) .MG-132 down-regulated the expression of these inflammatory factors in a time-and dosedependent manner. The IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 levels in serum and diaphragm in the MG-132 low concentration group and high concentration group were all decreased compared with the COPD model group ( P lt; 0. 05) . Conclusion COPD is a systemic inflammatory disease which can be inhibited by the proteasome inhibitor MG-132 through suppressing inflammatory factors.
Objective To evaluate the prognostic values of CURB-65 score and inflammatory factors in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods A retrospective study was conducted in hospitalized adult CAP patients in West China Hospital between January 1st, and December 31th, 2013. Data of CURB-65 score and serum levels of inflammatory factors (WBC, ESR, PCT, CRP, IL-6 and ALB) on admission and clinical outcomes were collected. The associations between CURB-65 score, inflammatory factors and clinical outcomes were examined. Logistic regression analysis was performed to develop combined models to predict in-hospital death of CAP patients, and ROC analysis was conducted to measure and compare the prognostic values of CURB-65 score, inflammatory factors or combined models. Results A total of 505 hospitalized CAP patients were included. 81 patients died during the hospitalization and the in-hospital mortality rate was 16.0%. Possible risk factors of in-hospital death included old age, male sex, hypertension, cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases, multi-lobular pneumonic infiltration, high risk scores, ICU admission, mechanical ventilation and severe pneumonia (all P values<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that CURB-65 score, ALB and IL-6 were the independent factors in predicting in-hospital death of CAP patients and the area under curve (AUC) of them while predicting in-hospital death were 0.75 (95%CI 0.69 to 0.81), 0.75 (95%CI 0.69 to 0.81) and 0.75 (95%CI 0.69 to 0.80), respectively. ROC analysis found that ALB and IL-6 could improve the AUC of CURB-65 score significantly while predicting the in-hospital death (P<0.05). When ALB and IL-6 were added to the CURB-65 score simultaneously, the AUC was improved to 0.84 (95%CI 0.80 to 0.87). When IL-6 or ALB was added to the CURB-65 score to form a new scale, the AUC of the new scale was significantly higher than that of the CURB-65 score in predicting in-hospital death (P<0.001). Conclusion The prognostic values of CURB-65 score and inflammatory factors may be not ideal when they are used alone in hospitalized CAP patients. IL-6 and ALB may significantly improve the prognostic value of CURB-65 score in predicting in-hospital death.