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.
Interleukin-18 is an inactive precursor which lacks a signal peptide, it has a role in regulating retinal pathological angiogenesis. It also inhibits experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV) via interferon-γand thrombospondin-1. Currently little is known about its mechanisms of inhibition for CNV, may be speculated to be due to effects of anti-angiogenesis, down-regulates vascular permeability and lower vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels via directly acting on the vascular endothelial cell and epithelial cells. Exogenous administration of mature recombinant interleukin-18 has no adverse effect on retinal pigment epithelial cell viability. In addition, the anti-VEGF role of interleukin-18 is tested to be safe and effective for humans. Interleukin-18 alone or in combination with anti-VEGF shows to be a good prospect for improving the prognosis of experimental CNV. However, more large clinical studies are required to confirm the exact efficacy of interleukin-18 for CNV.
OBJECTIVE: To study the nerve growth factor (NGF) expression and the influence of IL-1 alpha or IL-1 beta on NGF secretion in newborn rat astrocytes. METHODS: Astrocytes obtained from the brain cortex of newborn rats were cultured and purified, and they were divided into three groups, experimental, control and blank groups. IL-1 alpha or IL-1 beta were added into the experimental group with 25, 50 and 100 U/ml, each group was cultured for 24, 48 or 72 hours, and then the NGF contents in cultured astrocytes suspension media were measured by a two-cite enzymelinked immunoserbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Astrocytes could secret NGF by themselves and each concentration of IL-1 alpha or IL-1 beta media at any testing time could enhance NGF secreting in newborn rat astrocytes in certain degrees. The effects of IL-1 beta were ber than IL-1 alpha, the best effect in the unit time was observed in IL-1 beta with 50 U/ml for 24 hours. CONCLUSION: Astrocytes can express NGF, and IL-1 alpha or IL-1 beta can enhance the NGF expression in newborn rat astrocytes.
Objective To explore the therapeutic effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2( ACE2) on pulmonary edema after sea-water drowning.Methods Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, ie. a control group, a seawater drowning group, and an ACE2 treatment group. The rats in the seawater drowning group and the ACE2 treatment group were infused sea-water into their lungs. Then the rats in the ACE2 treatment group were intraperitoneally injected with recombinant rat ACE2. All rats were killed at the time point of 3 hours. Rat arterial blood gas was analyzed and wet /dry weight ratio of lung tissue was measured. The IL-8 content in lung tissue was measured with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Pathological changes of lung tissue were observed under light microscope. Results Acute lung injury induced by seawater drowning was successfully reproduced in the rats. The PaO2 in the seawater drowning group was significantly lower than that in the control group and the ACE2 treatment group [ ( 52. 34 ±2. 69) mmHg vs. ( 96. 40 ±3. 47) mm Hg and ( 64. 58 ±3. 42) mm Hg, P lt;0. 05] . The lung W/D ratio and IL-8 level in the seawater drowning group were significantly higher than those in the control group and the ACE2 treatment group ( 8. 30 ±0. 24 vs. 4. 49 ±0. 19 and 5. 65 ±0. 25, P lt; 0. 05; 1112. 2 ±40. 02 vs. 440. 39 ± 4. 06 and 858. 56 ±9. 92, P lt;0. 05) . Lung pathological examination revealed hemorrhage and hyaline membrane formation, alveolar and interstitial edema in the seawater drowning group while those changes significantly relieved in the ACE2 treatment group. Conclusion ACE2 treatment has therapeutic effects on acute lung injury induced by seawater drowning.
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of amniotic fluid levels and blood serum levels of matrix metalloproteinases-8 (MMP-8) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in women with preterm delivery. MethodsBetween January 2010 and December 2012, we collected the amniotic fluid of 102 preterm pregnant women and 98 full term pregnant women and analyzed the MMP-8 levels and IL-6 levels in amniotic fluid and blood serum. Meanwhile, we also collected the amniotic fluid to do bacterial culture. ResultsThe amniotic fluid levels of MMP-8 in preterm pregnant women were higher than those in full term pregnant women [(320.45±59.88) vs (153.72±29.12) ng/mL, P<0.05], but there was no obvious discrepancy in the blood serum levels of MMP-8 in the two groups [(9.56±2.11) vs (9.42±2.01) ng/mL, P>0.05]. Both amniotic fluid levels and blood serum levels of IL-6 in preterm pregnant women were significantly higher than the full term pregnant women [(90.5±16.3] vs (20.6±12.5) μg/L, P<0.05; (159.2±20.4) vs (22.3±11.8) μg/L, P<0.05]. The positive bacterial culture rate of preterm pregnant women was higher than the full term pregnant women (8.8% vs 1.0%, P<0.05). ConclusionInfection is the most important reason for preterm pregnancy. MMP-8 level increases in the amniotic fluid, and the level of IL-6 in amniotic fluid and blood serum is a valuable clinical index for identifying premature delivery.
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.
ObjectiveTo investigate the changes of inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in rats exposed to paraquat (PQ). MethodsAdult healthy SD rats were randomly divided into a control group (n=8) and three experimental groups (PQ in low dosage of 15 mg/kg,medium dosage of 30 mg/kg,and high dosage of 60 mg/kg,n=24 in each group). The rats in three experimental groups were intragastrically administered with PQ,and the rats in the control group were treated with saline by gavage. Two rats in the control group and six rats in three experimental groups were sacrificed on 1st,7th,14th,and 21st day after exposure respectively. BALF was collected for measurement of interleukin-1(IL-1),IL-6,macrophage inflammatory protein-2(MIP-2),monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1),and biopterin by ELISA. ResultsThe levels of cytokines in all experimental groups were higher than those in the control group at any time point. In the exposure day 1 to day 14, IL-1 and biopterin levels in BALF increased significantly with the increase in PQ dose. On 14th and 21st day,IL-6 level in BALF increased significantly with the increase in PQ dosage. The levels of IL-1,IL-6,and biopterin in the experimental groups reached the peak on 14th day. On 14th day,the MIP-2 level in BALF of high-dosage group was significantly higher than that of low-dosage and medium-dosage groups (all P<0.05). The level of MCP-1 in the low-dosage group was lower than that in the medium-dosage and high-dosage groups at any time point (P<0.05). ConclusionIL-1,IL-6,MIP-2,MCP-1,and biopterin may play important roles in the development and progression of PQ-induce lung inflammation.