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.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the data of peripheral inflammatory markers in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) to further indicate pathogenesis and antidiastole.MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect studies on peripheral inflammatory markers in patients with AD and VaD from inception to July 2020. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias of included studies, and meta-analysis was performed by using Stata 15.1SE software.ResultsA total of 30 studies involving 2 377 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that the IL-6 level was higher in VaD group than that in AD group (SMD=−0.477, 95%CI −0.944 to −0.009, P=0.046). However, there were no statistical difference in peripheral IL-1β (SMD=−0.034, 95%CI −0.325 to 0.257, P=0.818), TNF-α (SMD=0.409, 95%CI −0.152 to 0.970, P=0.153) or CRP (SMD=0.277, 95%CI −0.228 to 0.782, P=0.282) levels.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that IL-6 may be sensitive markers to distinguish AD from VaD. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are required to verify the conclusions.
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.
ObjectiveTo isolate and identify the cartilage progenitor cells (CPCs) from normal cartilage, and to explore the influence of interleukin 1β (IL-1β) in different concentrations on its chondrogenesis. MethodsCPCs were isolated from normal cartilage of adult New Zealand white rabbit with the fibronectin adhesion assay;the cell phenotype was identified;and the cloning and differentiation of CPCs were observed. CPCs were incubated with H-DMEM in group A, with chondrogenic induced medium in group B, with chondrogenic induced medium+0.1 ng/mL IL-1β in group C and chondrogenic induced medium+1.0 ng/mL IL-1β in group D for 3 weeks. The histology, biochemistry, and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR were performed to observe the effect of IL-1β on the chondrgenic differentiation. ResultsThe CPCs from normal cartilage expressed positively stem cell phenotype, which have similar ability of cloning and differentiation to stem cells. The cell pellets in groups C and D were significantly smaller than those in group B, and cell showed hypertrophic morphology change. There were more expressions of collagen type Ⅱ and collagen type X in group B than in group A, in group B than in groups C and D, and in group C than group D with Safranin O staining. The biochemistry results showed that collagen type Ⅱ content, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content, and the ratio of GAG/DNA were significantly lower in groups C and D than in group B (P<0.05), and in group D than in group C (P<0.05);but the DNA content was significantly higher in groups C and D than in group B (P<0.05), and no significant difference between groups C and D (P>0.05). The real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR results showed that the relative mRNA expressions of collagen type Ⅱ, collagen type X, and Sox-9 were significantly lower in groups C and D than in group B (P<0.05), and in group D than in group C (P<0.05), but the relative mRNA expressions of Runx-2 and matrix metalloproteinase 13 were significantly higher in groups C and D than in group B (P<0.05), and in group D than in group C (P<0.05). ConclusionThere are CPCs having the character of stem cells in normal cartilage, and they have the capability of cloning and potential differentiation. IL-1β can inhibit the chondrogenesis of CPCs, and possibly promote the osteogenic differentiation.
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.
ObjectiveThis study applied Mendelian randomization to explore the potential causal relationship between inflammatory factors and diabetic nephropathy. MethodsSummary-level data from genome-wide association studies of inflammatory factors and diabetic nephropathy were used, and inverse variance weighted analysis was used as the primary analytical method, complemented by results from weighted median, MR-Egger regression, simple model, and median model approaches. Sensitivity analysis was used to test the reliability of the MR analysis results. ResultsIn the inverse variance weighted method, stem cell factor (OR=1.28, 95%CI 1.04 to 1.58, P=0.020) and interferon-γ (OR=1.36, 95%CI 1.10 to 1.70, P=0.005) were positively correlated with diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic nephropathy was positively correlated with interferon-inducible protein 10 (OR=0.90, 95%CI 0.83 to 0.98, P=0.012) were negatively correlated with diabetic nephropathy. Sensitivity analysis showed that MR analysis was reliable. ConclusionStem cell factors and interferon-γ are associated with an increased risk of developing diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic nephropathy decreases the expression of interferon-inducible protein 10 in vivo. Our results demonstrate a potential causal relationship between inflammatory factors and the development of diabetic nephropathy. This finding is of clinical significance for the pre-diagnosis and treatment of diabetic nephropathy.
Objective To investigate the effect of sodium hyaluronate (SH) intra-articular injection on the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA), andto compare the contents of free radicals and inflammatory factors in joint fluids of pre-and pro-treatment as to explore the treatment mechanism of SH. Methods Ninety-two patients (111 knees) with mild(51)，moderate(35) and serious(25) knee OA were treated with intra-articular injections of SH (20 mg once a week for 5 weeks). According to Lysholm scoring, clinical signs such aspain, swelling,and the ability to walk, squat, run, go upstairs and downstairs were assessed before and after the treatment, and the contents of nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase(SOD), malonic dialdehyde(MDA) and IL-1β、TNF-α in joint fluids from the OA joints before 1st,2nd, and 5th injection and 3 months after each injection were observed. Results All cases were followed up for 3 months. The improvements in the signs and function of knees were excellent in 42 knees, good in 38 knees, fair in 21 knees and poor in 10 knees, with 72.1% excellent and good results. The lighter the illness was, the better the improvement was: the rate of the excellent and good was 92.1% in mild group, 68.6% in moderate group and 42.9% in serious group. The contents of oxygen free radicals and IL-1β、TNF-α of the patients with mild and moderate OA decreasedmarkedly after being treated with SH（Plt;0.05）, but these decreased lightlyin serious OA group（Pgt;0.05）. SH had mild effect on the contents of NO. Three months after treatment, only in mild OA group the contents of NO significantly decreased（Plt;0.05）, and no significant change in moderate and serious groups was observed（Pgt;0.05）. Conclusion SH intraarticular injection has a positive effect on the relief of clinical symptoms and on the improvement of articular function of knee OA. The therapeutical effect of SH on OA is achieved possibly by decreasing the contents of free radicals especially oxygen free radicals and inflammatory factors in joint fluids.
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 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.