Objective To summarize the role of inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis (AP) and gut barrier dysfunction in recent years. Methods Literatures on cytokines and experimental pancreatitis as well as clinical pancreatitis were collected and reviewed. Results Tumor necrosis factor-α and other inflammatory cytokines were elevated significantly during pancreatitis in many tissues, especially in pancreas and alimentary tract, in a fashion independent of the animal model used. Anti-cytokine therapy could decrease the concentration of the cytokines in experimental animal. Conclusion Inflammatory cytokines are believed to be primarily responsible for the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis and its associated distant organ dysfunction. Further study of the nature of these cytokines may provide a new approach to treating this disease.
ObjectiveTo observe the expression of vascular endothelial growth inhibitor (VEGI, TL1A), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in diabetes rats' serum, vitreous and retina, and discuss the role of VEGI in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR). MethodsA total of p70 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, the control group (10 rats), the diabetes mellitus (DM) 1 month group (20 rats), the DM 3 month group (20 rats) and the DM 6 month group (20 rats). Cytokines of serum and vitreous were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the concentrations of the cytokines in the retina were determined by immunohistochemistry on paraffin retinal sections. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining of retina was used to estimate the pathological change of DR. The results were analyzed by one-way analysis of variances, independent samples t-test and LSD test. ResultsThe serum TL1A levels of the control group, the DM 1 month group, the DM 3 month group and the DM 6 month group rats were (92.09±2.05), (118.36±8.30), (85.90±7.51) and (78.90±4.88) ng/L respectively, the level of TL1A in serum of the DM 1 month group, the DM 3 month group and the DM 6 month group were significantly lower than that of the control group (F=77.405, P < 0.05). The concentration of serum TNF-α and IL-1β increased after DM model was established (F=3.508, 15.416; P < 0.05); the VEGF level in serum showed no difference between the groups (F=1.242, P > 0.05). The vitreous TL1A levels of the control group, the DM 1 month group, the DM 3 month group and the DM 6 month group were (91.50±8.18), (67.03±6.74), (47.44±4.92) and (46.01±4.62) ng/L respectively, every DM groups showed significant difference with the control group (F=114.777, P < 0.05); VEGF level in vitreous increased from 1 month after DM model was established (F=8.816, P < 0.05); TNF-α and IL-1β level in vitreous also showed an upward tendency (F=4.392, 3.635; P < 0.05). Paraffin section immunohistochemistry showed that the absorbance (also called optical density) of TL1A of the DM 1 month group and the DM 3 month group were significantly lower than that of the control group (t=6.851, 6.066; P < 0.05), but the DM 6 month group showed no difference with the control group (t=1.401, P > 0.05); the level of VEGF and TNF-α in DM groups were higher than that of the control group (tVEGF=-4.709, -16.406, -9.228; tTNF-α=-4.703, -6.583, -17.762; P < 0.05); the level of IL-1β were significantly higher in the DM 1 month group and the DM 6 month group (t=-4.108, -3.495; P > 0.05); but the DM 3 month showed no difference with the control group (t=-0.997, P > 0.05). HE staining of retina showed that the retina of the control group and the DM 1 month group had normal retinal structures, the DM 3 month group had retinal edema and disorganization, the DM 6 month group had severe retinal edema, deep stain of ganglion cells, and more neovascularization in inner plexiform layer. ConclusionVEGI is involved in the pathogenesis of DR, and it might interacts with VEGF, TNF-α and IL-1β to affect the development of DR.
Objective To investigate the protective effects of endotoxin pretreatment on lung injury of rats with endotoxemia. Methods The rat model of acute endotoxemia was established by injecting lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intraperitoneally. Seventy-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups, ie. a saline control group (N, n=24) , a LPS-treated group (L, n=24) , and a LPS pretreated group ( P, n=24) . Each group was divided into 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, and 12 h subgroups. The rats in group P were firstly administered with introperitoneal injection of 0.25 mg/kg LPS. After 24 hours, they were subjected to the injection of 0.5 mg/kg LPS. The rats in group N and L received injection of equivalent amount of saline. After 72 hours, the rats in group L and P were challenged with intravenous injection of 10 mg/kg LPS, otherwise saline in group N. Six rats were killed at 2, 4, 6 and 12 hours respectively after injection of LPS in group L and P. The lungs were removed for detecting intercellular adhesion molecule-1 ( ICAM-1) , superoxide dismutase ( SOD) , and malondialdehyde (MDA) . Meanwhile the level of tumor necrosis factoralpha ( TNF-α) in serum was measured, and the pathological changes of lung were also examined. Results The contents of ICAM-1, MDA and TNF-α in the LPS-treated 4 h group were 75.07 ±0. 53, ( 3.93 ± 0.42) μmol/g, and (478.62 ±45.58) pg/mL respectively, significantly higher than those in the saline control group. The endotoxin pretreatment reduced the above indexes to 42.40 ±0.44, ( 2.89 ±0.49) μmol / g and ( 376.76 ±43.67) pg/mL respectively (Plt;0.05) . The content of SOD in the LPS-treated 4 h group was ( 6.26 ±0.31) U/mg, significantly lower than that in the saline control group. The endotoxin pretreatment increased SOD to ( 8.79 ±0.35) U/mg. Conclusion Endotoxin pretreatment can suppress the progress of lung injury in rats with endotoxemia and protect the lung tissue by down-regulating the inflammatory response and oxygen free radical production.
In order to observe activity of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the serum, pancreatic histopathological damage, as well as their relationships in acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP), thirty five SD rats were randomly divided into 7 groups according to their sampling time with 5 in each group. ANP was induced by retrograde infusion of 5% sodium taurocholate through biliopancreatic duct in 6 experimental groups (Group B1～B6).Blood and pancreatic tissue samples were obtained at hour 0,0.5,2,4,6 or 8 respectively when the animals were sacrificed.Results showed that serum level of TNF activity rose significantly in Group B2,and reached the maximal value in Group B4.The pancreatic histopathological damage in ANP rats was getting worse along with time. Serum TNF activity had close relation to pancreatic histopathological score (r=0.63, Ｐ＜0.01),suggesting that serum TNF may play an important role in the process of deterioration of pancreatic tissue damage during ANP.
ObjectiveTo investigate the role of Wnt5a in the mechanism of radiculopathy and the relation between Wnt5a and tumor necrosis factorα(TNF-α) by observing the change of the expression of Wnt5a in the rat model of chronic compression of dorsal root ganglia (CCD). MethodsA total of 192 adult male Sprague Dawley rats were allocated into 4 groups: shame group (group A, n=48), CCD group (group B, n=48), CCD+sal ine group (group C, n=48), and CCD+etanercept group (group D, n=48). An L-shaped needle (about 3.5 mm in length, 0.6 mm in diameter) was inserted into the L5 intervertebral foramen, and the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) was compressed by the needle to prepare the CCD model in groups B, C, and D, and then normal sal ine (5.5 mg/kg) or etanercept was injected intraperitoneally in groups C and D. The intervertebral foramen was exposed in group A. The mechanical pain threshold of the posterior paw was tested by the von Frey filaments at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after operation; the expressions of Wnt5a protein and mRNA were detected at 3 and 7 days after operation by immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR, respectively. ResultsThe mechanical pain threshold of groups B and C was significantly lower than that of groups A and D, and in group D than in group A (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found between groups B and C (P > 0.05). The Wnt5a positive cells and the mRNA expression of Wnt5a at 7 days were significantly more than those at 3 days in groups B, C, and D (P < 0.05). The Wnt5a positive cells and the mRNA expression of Wnt5a in groups B and C were significantly more than in groups A and D, and in group D than in group A (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was shown between groups B and C (P > 0.05). ConclusionThe expression of Wnt5a in the DRG is increased after CCD. The expression of Wnt5a in the DRG is decreased after the administration of the inhibitor of TNF-α.
Objective To investigate the expressions of tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand （TRAIL） and its receptors (DR4, DcR1) in human rectal cancer tissues and normal rectal tissues. MethodsThe expressions of TRAIL and its receptors (DR4, DcR1) in 31 cases of human rectal cancer tissues and 20 cases of normal rectal tissues were detected by immunohistochemical staining. ResultsThe positive expression rates of TRAIL, DR4 and DcR1 （32.26%， 29.03%， 0） were lower than those of normal rectal tissues （55.00%， 70.00%， 65.00%）, the difference was statistically significant(P=0.015， P=0.000， P=0.000). There were no relation between the expressions of TRAIL, DR4 and DcR1 and clinicopathologic characteristics (Pgt;0.05). ConclusionThe expressions of TRAIL and its receptors (DR4, DcR1) in human rectal cancer tissues were lower than those of normal rectal tissues, which may suggest that the apoptotic effect induced by the interaction between TRAIL and its receptors has attenuated in human rectal cancer.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of the femoral tunnel angle on the femoral tunnel after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in rabbits. MethodsFifty-four healthy 4-5 months old rabbits (weighing, 1.8-2.3 kg, male or female) were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=18). The ACL reconstruction models of the right knee were established in 3 experimental groups using its Achilles tendons, and the left knee served as the control group. On the coronal position, the angle between the femoral tunnel and the femoral shaft axis was 30°, 45°, and 60°. The level of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in the synovial fluid at 1, 2, and 4 weeks, the maximum load of the ligament and the rate of bone tunnel enlargement at 4, 8, and 12 weeks were detected. ResultsThe level of TNF-α significantly increased, and the maximum load of the ligament significantly decreased in the 3 experimental groups when compared with ones in the control group (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found among 3 experimental groups (P>0.05). The bone tunnel enlargement was observed in 3 experimental groups at each time point and reached the peak at 4 weeks, but no significant difference was shown among 3 groups (P>0.05). ConclusionThe 30-60° angle between the femoral tunnel and the femoral shaft axis in the coronal position has no significant effect on the femoral tunnel enlargement after ACL reconstruction in rabbits.
Interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-2(IL-2) and interleukin-6(IL-6) activities and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) contents in plasma from patients with different sites of cancers as well as controls using bioassay technique were studied. The results showed that the levels of IL-1,IL-2,IL-6 s from patients with different sites of cancer were decreased remarkably in comparision with controls and the contents of TNF from patients with different sites of cancers increased significantly. But the difference between different sites of cancer was not statistically significant. The data suggest that the variations in the contents of TNF and the levels of interleukins may be related to the development of these caner patients.
Objective To detect the effects of cytokines on the expression of early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1) in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Methods Immunofluorescence staining, Western blotting and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to detect and quantitatively analyze the expression of Egr-1 protein and mRNA in cultured human RPE cells which were exposed to stimulants, including 20 mu;g/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS), 40 ng/ml tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha;, 10 U/ml interferon (IFN)gamma;, 30% supernatant of monocyte/macrophage strain (THP1 cells) and the vitreous humor from healthy human eyeballs, for 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 60 minutes, respectively. Results The RPE cells stimulated for 0 minute revealed faint green fluorescence of Egr-1 in the cytoplasm. With exposure to the stimulants, the expressionof Egr-1 increased obviously and b green fluorescence was found in cytoplasm in some nuclei of RPE cells. Compared with the untreated RPE cells, after stimulated by 20 mu;g/ml LPS, 40 ng/ml TNFalpha;, 10 U/ml IFNgamma;, 30% supernatant of THP-1 cells and the vitreous humor, the approximate ultimate amplitudes of Egr-1 mRNA enhanced 1.9, 1.3, 14, 1.2, and 1.4 times, respectively; the greatest amplitudes of Egr-1 protein increased 3.4, 1.2, 1.7, 32, and 1.3 times, respectively. Conclusion LPS, TNF-alpha;, IFN-gamma;, supernatant of THP-1 cells and the vitreous humor can upregulate the expression of Egr-1 mRNA and protein in cultured human RPE cells, and induce its nuclear transposition, which suggests the activation of Egr-1.
The synthesis and secretion of inflammatory cytokines in the monocytes of 68 cases of multiple system organ failure (MSOF) patients was investigated by the method of MTT stained in cytokines dependent defferential cell strain. The data showed that the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor, interleukine 1 and interleukine 6 were increased (Ｐ＜0.01) in the monocytes of MSOF patients. The synthesis and secretion of these inflammatory cytokines gradually increased in the monocytes after onset of MSOF. After 5 days of treatment with antibiotics and electrolytes intravenous infusion, the secretion of TNF, IL-1 and IL-6 were decreased respectively. These results suggested that the TNF, IL-1 and IL-6 are integrated into system inflammatory responese and caused the injury to the tissues and organs. The production levels of these cytokines can be regarded as the index of MSOF and its severity.