Mechanisms of oral tolerance and the treatment of autoimmune diseases

Oral tolerance describes the phenomenon that orally administered proteins induce sys-temic hyporesponsiveness to the protein fed. The primary mechanisms which oral tolerance is mediated include clonal deletion, clonal anergy and active Sue CALT, Low doses favor active suppression cellular suppression through gut associated lymphoid tis-mediated Th2 and Th3 cells, whereas high doses favor deletion and anergy mediated Thl and Th2 cells. Oral tolerance is an effective and specific approach without toxicity. In recent years, it has been used successfully to treat autoimmune diseases in model ani-mals and patients. The article discussed the mechanisms and advances of oral tolerance for the purpose of provid new ways of treat autoimmune diseases.     

Bortezomib attenuates LPS-induced inflammatory response of human monocytes through regulating miR-223/NLRP3 signaling pathway

AIM To investigate the effects of bortezomib (BTZ) on microRNA-223 (miR-223)/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) signaling pathway and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response of human monocytes. METHODS Monocytes were isolated and purified from peripheral blood of rheumatodid arthritis (RA) patients. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in supernatants of the monocytes were determined by ELISA, and the optimal induction time of LPS and the optimal treatment concentration of BTZ were selected according to the levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α. The monocytes were divided into control group, LPS induced group and BTZ group. The level of miR-223 in the monocytes was measured by RT-qPCR, and the protein levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) and SH2 domain-containing inositol phosphatase-1 (SHIP-1) in the monocytes were determined by Western blot. RESULTS The monocytes successfully isolated and purified from the peripheral blood of RA patients were spherical, evenly distributed and regular in shape.And after LPS induction for 24 h, the cells were mostly spindle-shaped and aggregated. According to the levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α, the optimal induction time of LPS was 24 h, and the optimal concentration of BTZ was 50 nmol/L. Compared with control group, the levels of miR-223, SOCS1 and SHIP-1 in LPS induction group were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the levels of NLRP3 and caspase-1 were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with LPS induction group, the levels of miR-223, SOCS1 and SHIP-1 in BTZ group were significantly increased (P< 0.05), and the levels of NLRP3 and caspase-1 were significantly lowered (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Bortezomib may block the activation of miR-223/NLRP3 signaling pathway, thus reducing the secretion of inflammatory factors in LPS-induced human monocytes.     

Effects of PM2.5 on metabolic pathways based on metabolomics

As one of the common air pollutants, fine particulate matter/particulate matter 2.5 (PM_2.5) is an important risk factor affecting human health. Many epidemiological studies have shown that PM_2.5 increases the risk of various diseases. However, its underlying biological mechanisms have not been well understood. Metabolomics is an emerging field that has been used to identify the metabolic pathways involved in pathogenesis by analyzing changes in metabolite levels for disease diagnosis and treatment development. Many metabolomics-based studies have shown that the pathophysiological changes caused by PM_2.5 exposure may involve disturbances in various metabolites and metabolic pathways. In this paper, a brief review of the research progress of the effects of PM_2.5 on the metabolic pathways using metabolomics is presented.     

Intracellular calcium alterations induced by endotoxin and IL-1β in rabbit hypothalamic neurons

AIM: To investigate intracellular free calcium ( [Ca²⁺]i ) alterations in hypothalamus of febrile rabbits induced by endotoxin (ET), and compare with the effect of ET and IL-1β on i in hypothalamic neurocytes from normothermia rabbits. METHOD: The concentration of [Ca²⁺]i was determined by using spectrofluorometer and fluorescent Ca²⁺ probe fura-2 /Am. RESULTS: 1. A minute dose of ET (2 ng/mL) induced a significant rise in [Ca²⁺]i in hypothalamic neurocytes from normothermia rabbits. The rise in [Ca²⁺]i in hypothalamic neurocytes from febrile rabbits induced by intravenous injection of ET was also observed. 2. In hypothalamic neurocytes from normotheria rabbits, IL-1β failed to affect [Ca²⁺]i at concentrations of 100, 500, 1 000ng/mL, respectively. CONCLUSION:The action site of low concentration of calcium that plays a regulatory role during fever seems unlikely to be in cytosolic compartment of hypothalamic neurons. The change of [Ca²⁺]i in hypothalamic neurocytes by ET can not be considered the direct effect of IL-1β.     

Histopathological observation of cerebral cortex and hippocampus in the mouse with synthetic vascular dementia

AIM:To observe pathomorphological changes in cerebral cortex and hippocampus in the mouse with synthetic vascular dementia.METHODS:The synthetic vascular dementia model was produced in the mouse. Animals were killed 7 d, 15 d, and 30 d after the operation, brain tissues were removed and embedded in paraffin. Section of 8μm thickness were stained with hematoxylin-eosin(HE)and Nissl methods, and observed with light microscope.RESULTS:The cerebral cortex in the mouse became thinner on the seventh day, karyopyknosis in partial nervous cells was formed, the number of local neurons was reduced, sieve structure was observed, and glial cells pro liferated, with the similar results 15 d and 30 d afteroperation.Model mouseπs hippocampal cells in CA₁ area were reduced and almost disappeared 30 d after operation.At the same time, glial cells were abundantly proliferated, tu bercles were formed.Cells in CA₂, CA₃ area were also reduced and hippocampal sclerosis occurred.CONCLUSION:Delayed necrosis of hippocampal pyramidal cells may be the pathological basis of ischemia cerebral vascular dementia.     

Adhesion of bone marrow stromal cell in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

AIM and METHOD: The adhesion behavior of bone marrow stromal cells(BMSC) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL) to bone marrow mononuclear cells(BMMC) and Raji cells were investigated by MTT method. The expression of adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The adhesion ability of BMSC in acute period of ALL to BMMC was lower than that of control group. The adhesion ability of BMSC in long term remission period of ALL to Raji cells higher than that of control group. The expression of ICAM-1 on the surface of BMSC in acute period of ALL is much lower than that of control group. CONCLUSIONS: The adhesion of BMSC to BMMC or tumor cells in children with ALL was abnormal. The abnormal adhesion behavior might be partially due to the changed expression of adhesion molecules on BMSC.     

Experimental research on cardiac fibrosis induced by recombinant mouse interleukin-11 in mice

AIM To observe the effect of recombinant mouse interleukin-11 （rmIL-11）injected subcutaneously into mice on heart structure and function and to determine its pro-fibrotic effect. METHODS C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into experimental group and control group.The mice in experimental group were injected subcutaneously with recombinant mouse IL-11 at the dose of 100 μg·kg^-1·d^-1 for 3 consecutive weeks, while the control group were given equal volume of normal saline in the same way. After the experiment was finished, the parameters of heart function were measured by echocardiography.The heart weight was weighed and the cardiac weight index (CWI) was calculated. HE staining and Masson's trichrome staining were performed to observe the pathological changes and the extent of myocardial fibrosis in mouse myocardia respectively, and the cardiac collagen volume fraction (CVF) was calculated. The expression levels of extracellular matrix proteins in the myocardial tissues of mice, including type Ⅰ collagen, type Ⅲ collagen and fibronectin, were determined by Western blot. RESULTS Left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular fraction shortening in experimental group were obviously lower than those in control group (P<0.01), however left ventricular end-diastolic diamension and left ventricular end systolic dimension were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05).Compared with control group, the CWI was increased (P<0.01), the myocardial arrangement was disorder, the necrosis of cardiac myocytes was increased, and excessive deposition of collagen was observed in the myocardial tissues in experimental group. Correspondingly, the CVF and protein levels of type Ⅰ collagen, type Ⅲ collagen and fibronectin in the left ventricle in experimental group were increased significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Injection of rmIL-11 into the mice subcutaneously induces fibrogenesis in the heart, which implies that IL-11 is likely a novel pro-fibrotic factor.     

A study on the mechanism of doxorubicin promoting IL-1β and collagen type I secretion in cardiac fibroblasts

AIM To observe the effect of adriamycin/doxorubicin （DOX） on the production of inflammatory cytokines and collagen in cardiac fibroblasts and its mechanism. METHODS Neonatal SD rat cardiac fibroblasts were isolated, cultured, and identified by immunofluorescence staining with monoclonal antibodies against vimentin observed under a confocal laser-scanning microscope. The Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to detect the toxicity of DOX on cardiac fibroblasts, and flow cytometry with annexin V-FITC/PI double staining was used to detect apoptosis. ELISA was used to detect the release of inflammatory factors in the supernatant of cultured cells. Immunofluorescence labeling assay was used to detected α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA） expression and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species （mROS） in the cells. Western blot was used to detect the expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome-related proteins in cardiac fibroblasts. RESULTS （1） Compared with the control group, DOX inhibited the proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts （P<0.05）, but had no significant effect on apoptosis （P>0.05）. （2） Treatment with DOX promotes the release of proinflammatory factors interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and IL-6 in cardiac fibroblasts （P<0.05）. （3） The expression of α-SMA, collagen type I and transforming growth factor-β in DOX treatment group increased significantly compared with control group （P<0.05）. （4） Compared with the control group, the levels of mROS, cellular NLRP3 and cleaved caspase-1 in cardiac fibroblasts increased significantly after DOX treatment. CONCLUSION Doxorubicin promotes cardiac fibroblasts to secrete IL-1β and collagen type I by promoting mROS production and activating NLRP3 inflammasome.     

Activation of repair pathways after neuronal DNA damage induced by bupivacaine

AIM To investigate the activation of related repair pathways after bupivacaine-induced neuronal DNA damage by cDNA gene screening. METHODS The bupivacaine-induced SH-SY5Y neuronal damage and DNA damage model was established. The technique of cDNA microplate array was used to screen the 21 important regulatory factors in the DNA damage repair pathway. Post-analysis of these differentially expressed repair genes for the repair pathway enrichment and distribution was performed. The data were analyzed by GraphPad Prism 6 statistical software to compare differences between groups. RESULTS The viability of SH-SY5Y cells treated with bupivacaine at different concentrations （detected by CCK-8 assay） showed that the IC₅₀ value of bupivacaine was 1.5 mmol/L. The comet assay related index （the comet tail） was increased （P<0.05）, the phosphorylation level of γH2AX protein was increased （P<0.05）, indicating that DNA damage in the SH-SY5Y cells was significantly aggravated after bupivacaine treatment. The results of cDNA microplate assay showed that compared withcontrol group, the differentially expressed genes after bupivacaine treatment were DNA-PKcs, PTEN, NTH1, RAD9, CSB, GADD45, XPD, XPC-HR23B and P53. The analysis showed that these repair genes were mainly concentrated in the following 3 repair mechanisms： base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair, and non-homologous reconstitution. CONCLUSION The repair genes differentially expressed after neuronal DNA damage caused by local anesthetics are mainly concentrated in the pathways of non-homologous end-joining, base excision repair and nucleotide excision repair.