Objective To determine the contents of matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) and interleukin 1 (IL-1) in the tissues of the lumbar disc herniation and to investigate their roles in the pathogenesis. Methods The tissues of the herniated lumbar disc were obtained from 30 patients undergoing surgery for persistent radiculopathy from June 2003 to December 2004 and at the same time these samples were divided into the following three experimentalgroups: the bulge group (n=11), the protrusion group (n=9), and the prolapsus group (n=10)，14 males, 16 females, aged 33.64 years. As the control group, 9 lumbar disc specimens were harvested from 9 patients(4 males, 5 females, aged 21-58 years) suffering from bursting fracture of the lumbar spine. The specimens were analyzed by the ELISA method for the contents of MMP-3 and IL-1. Results The contents of MMP-3(14.25±1.32, 19.89±2.97,20.69±2.18 ng/ml in the bulge group, protrusion group and prolapsus group, separately) and IL-1(8.52±0.22， 11.88±0.52，11.90±0.73 pg/ml in the bulge group, protrusion group and prolapsus group, separately) in the experimental groups were significantly higher than those in the control group. The contents of MMP-3 and IL-1 in the protrusion group were not significantly higher than those in the prolapsus group, but they were significantly higher than those in the bulge group(P＜0.01). The contents of MMP-3 had a significant relationship with the contents of IL-1 in the three experimental groups and the control group(P＜0.01). Conclusion The result demonstrates that the tissues of the lumbar disc herniation can produce both MMP-3 and IL-1, which may have an unknown but important relationship with each other.
Objective To examine the levels of interferon-gamma; (INF-gamma;), tumor necrosis factor-alpha; (TNF-alpha;) and interleukin-6(IL-6) in serum of patients with acute uveitis before and after treatment, and to explore the possible roles of those cytokines in the initiation and progression of the uveitis. Methods A series of 75 patients with acute uveitis,and 30 healthy persons from our hospital were investigated. The levels of INF-gamma;, TNF-alpha; and IL-6 in acute phase and convalescent phase were measured by the enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. Result The serum levels of INF-gamma;, TNF-alpha; and IL-6 in acute phase were significantly higher than that of the convalescent phase and the healthy controls (F=65.805/50.418/155.381, P=0.000). A significant negative correlation was found between the serum levels of INF-gamma;, TNF-alpha; and IL-6 in acute phase with their initial visual acuity(r=-0.656, -0.592 and -0.653, Plt;0.01). There was also a positive correlation among the serum levels of INF-gamma;, TNF-alpha; and IL-6(r=0.340, 0.467 and 0.338, Plt;0.05). Conclusions There are high serum levels of INF-gamma;, TNF-alpha; and IL-6 in patients with acute uveitis, and the cytokines levels were decreased after the treatment. The results suggested that the INF-gamma;, TNF-alpha; and IL-6 involved in initiation and progression of uveitis.
Objective To explore the changes and interrelationship of serum interleukin-12 (IL-12) and T lymphocyte subset in patients with primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC). Methods Serum IL-12 level was determined by ELISA in 36 patients with PHC. The peripheral blood T lymphocyte subset was assessed with flow cytometry. The distribution and changes of T lymphocyte subset in the tumor tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry analysis. Results The numbers of the CD＋4 T cell were reduced and of the CD＋8 T cell increased either in peripheral blood or tumor tissue, and showed the trend of the ratio (T4/T8) declined progressively with the aggravation of the state with PHC. IL-12 and T4/T8 had significant interrelationship.Conclusion IL-12 is an important antitumor factor of the patients with PHC. T lymphocyte subset plays a great role in the process of antitumor.
Objective To summarize the change in the cytokine network, the classification of various cytokines, interaction, and systemic impact on patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods The recently published literatures in domestic and abroad about advancement of cytokines in AP were reviewed. Results Cytokines had a complex network and interactions. There were a variety of regulatory mechanisms. The tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin cytokines played important roles in the progress of AP. Conclusions Change of cytokines during AP is a complex process. Any separate regulation for the release of sigle factor has no significant effect on the disease. The treatment according to immune balance should be a better direction.
ObjectiveTo study the inhibitory effects of pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) on oxygen-induced retinal neovascularization in mice, and to investigate the possible involvement of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the neovascular-inhibitory function of PEDF. Methods A total of 140 postnatal day (P)7 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal control group, oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model group, PEDF treatment group and PBS treatment control group. All mice except normal control group with their mothers were exposed to (75±2)% oxygen environment for 5 days and then kept in room air for another 5 days to establish the OIR model. Mice in normal control group were kept in room air only. At P12 and P14, respectively, mice in PEDF treatment group received intravitreous injections of 1 μl PEDF (2 μg/μl), while PBS treatment control group received the same volume of PBS (10 mmol/L, pH7.4).All mice were euthanized at P17 and eyes were isolated. The changes of retinal vessels were observed on retinal flat mounts and cryosections by fluorescence microscopy. Retinal specimens were prepared for IL-1β protein and mRNA analysis by Western blot and real time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (Real-time RT-PCR). ResultsChanges of retinal vessels had been viewed by fluorescence microscopy on flat-mounted retina, the relative retinal neovascularization areas were significantly increased in OIR model group compared with normal control group (t=15.02, P < 0.01), and the relative retinal neovascularization areas were obviously smaller in PEDF treatment group than those in PBS treatment control group (t=5.96, P < 0.01). Fluorescence staining revealed that retinal vascular tufts were extending from outer plexiform layer (OPL) to ganglion cell layer (GCL) of the retina along with multiple interconnections; Neovascular tufts in OIR model group and PBS treatment control group were presenting distinctly more than those of normal control group and PEDF treatment group. The specific expression levels of IL-1β protein in retinas of OIR mice by Western-blot analysis were higher than those of normal control group(t=3.35, P < 0.05), While these of PEDF treatment group showed a considerable decline in comparison with PBS treatment control group (P < 0.01), and there were no difference in normal control group and PEDF-treated group (F=11.764, P > 0.05). Similarly, expression levels of IL-1β mRNA tested by Real-time RT-PCR were obviously increased in the OIR model group when compared to normal control group(t=4.43, P < 0.01). After treated with PEDF, expression levels of IL-1β mRNA showed a considerable decrease when compared to PBS treatment control group (P < 0.01), and there were no difference in normal control group and PEDF-treated group (F=11.15, P > 0.05). ConclusionsPEDF can inhibit oxygen-induced retinal neovascularization. The mechanism may be related to that PEDF can downregulate the expression of IL-1β in retina.
Objective To investigate the effect of B7-1 and IL-12 gene expression on the immunogenicity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) HepG2 cells. Methods Plasmids encoding B7-1 and IL-12 molecules were retrovirally introduced into human HCC cells,empty vector as control. PBLs were cocultured with HepG2/B7-1,HepG2/IL-12 and HepG2/neo cells. Three days later,PBLs were submitted to specific cytotoxicity test and nonspecific cytotoxicity test against K562 cells by MTT assay.Results HLA-Ⅰ molecules on PBLs were detected by FACS.HLA-Ⅰ molecules expressing on PBL cocultured with HepG2/B7-1,HepG2/IL-12 cells were enhanced by 16.95% and 14.71% than those of HepG2/neo group, respectively(Ｐ＜0.05). Specific cytotoxicity against HepG2/B7-1 cells was 12.5% higher than that of against HepG2/neo cell,while no increase in that of against HepG2/IL-12 cells. Cytotoxicities against K562 cells in HepG2/B7-1,HepG2/IL-12 groups were 19.38% and 14.78% higher than those of HepG2/neo group, but no significant difference between the first two groups.Conclusion B7-1 and IL-12 gene transfer could remarkably promote immunogenicity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and induce b specific and nonspecific immunity against hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro.
Objective To observe the effect of glutamine （Gln） on intestinal permeability after surgery of children, also its influence on the plama level of interleukin-2（IL-2）, endotoxin and synthesize of protein through a random nutrition trial. Methods Twenty children suffered from congenital heart disease were divided into Gln group and control group with random number table, 10 cases in each group. They were all given isonitrogenous and isocaloric total paraenteral nutrition after 24 h postoperatively. In Gln group the Dipeptiven [-N （2）-L-alanyl-Lglutamine] was used with 2 ml/kg · 24h additionly. Before operation, 24h and 96 h after operation, intestinal permeability, serum level of endotoxin, IL-2, C-reaction protein, prealbumine were measured. Results Intestinal permeability increased in 24 h after cardiac surgery in two groups, while the concentration of endotoxin also increased, 96 h after surgery the intestinal permeability recovered, but the endotoxin level did not decrease in control group （P〈0. 01）. Conclusion Utilization of Gln can improve immune suppression, elevate the IL-2 level, decrease the endotoxin concentration, alleviate the infection, but has no effect on the protein synthesis after congenital cardiac operation of children.
Objective To investigate the expression and significance of Fork head /winged helix protein 3 (Foxp3) , retinoic acid-related orphan receptorγt (RORγt) , and interleukin-17 (IL-17) in Guinea pigs with emphysema. Methods Smoking and active immunization with elastin were separately used in guinea pigs to establish emphysema model. Then the destruction of lung tissue was assayed by measurement of the average radius of alveolar. The expressions of Foxp3 , RORγt, and IL-17 in lung tissue of the guinea pigs were detected by immunohistochemical technique. The results were compared with the normal control group by the analysis of variance or kruskal-Wallis test. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the correlation between the ratio of Foxp3/RORγt and IL-17, also the correlation between Foxp3/RORγt and the average radius of alveolar. Results In the smoking group and the active immunization group, the average radius of alveolar were significantly longer than the control group (Plt;0.05) . And the expression of Foxp3/RORγt was significantly unbalanced, with the number of Foxp3-positive cells decreased and RORγt-positive cells increased (Plt;0.05) . Meanwhile the level of IL-17 was significantly increased compared with the control group ( Plt;0.05) . The difference between the smoking group and the active immunization group was not significant (Pgt;0.05) . The ratio of Foxp3/RORγt was negatively correlated with the level of IL-17 and the average radius of alveolar. Conclusions Active immunization with elastin can induce emphysema in guinea pigs. The Foxp3/RORγt expression was unbalanced in lung tissue of guinea pigs with emphysema.This imbalance may be an important mechanism attributed to the disordered expression of CD4+ Treg cells and Th17 cells, which may be involved in autoimmune regulation and development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
To study the role of endotoxin in acute hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis (AHNP), the change of endotoxin were studied in rats AHNP models by injection of 5% sodium taurocholate 1 ml/kg into pancreatic duct, and the effects of recombinant interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the treatment of AHNP were observed in this experiment. The results indicated that endotoxin involved the aggravation of AHNP and was associated with the increase of serum phospholipas-2 (PLA2), and these mediators were positively correlated with severe degrees of pancreatic damage. The results also suggeste that IL-2 might inhibit the overexpression of endotoxin and PLA2 and mitigate the pancreatic injury and decrease the 72h-mortality rate of AHNP from 66.7% to 26.7% (Ｐ＜0.01). Endotoxin might play a major role in the pathogenesis of AHNP and IL-2 might have a potential role in the treatment of AHNP.
Objective To explore the feasibility of allogeneic marrow stromal stem cells(MSCs) as seed cells to construct tissue engineered bone bydetecting the expressions of interleukin 2(IL-2) and IL-2 receptor in rhesus monkeys after implanting these tissue engineered bones.Methods Engineered bones were constructed with osteoblasts which derived from allogeneic MSCs and bio-derived materials in vitro, and then were implanted to bridge 2.5 cm segmental bone defects of left radius in 15 rhesus monkeys as experimental group, bioderived materials only were implanted to bridge same size defects of right radius as control group. Every 3 monkeys were sacrificed in the 1st, the 2nd, the 3rd, the 6th andthe 12th weeks postoperatively and the expressions of IL-2 and IL-2 receptor in blood and graft samples were detected quantitatively by enzymelinked immuneosorbent assay (ELISA).Results There was no significant difference in the contents of IL-2 and its receptor between 2 groups（P＞0.05）. The contents ofIL-2 and its receptor increased from the 2nd week and maintained high level from the 2nd to the 6th week, but decreased after 6 weeks.ConclusionTissue engineered bones constructed with allogeneic MSCs and bio-derived materials show low immunogenicity. Allogeneic MSCs may be used as seed cells to construct tissue engineered bone.