Research progress of lung aging in chronic respiratory diseases / 生理学报

Cell aging is an extremely complex process, which is characterized by mitochondrial structural dysfunction, telomere shortening, inflammatory microenvironment, protein homeostasis imbalance, epigenetic changes, abnormal DNA damage and repair, etc. Aging is usually accompanied by structural and functional damage of tissues and organs which further induces the occurrence and development of aging-related diseases. Aging includes physiological aging caused by increased age and pathological aging induced by a variety of factors. Noteworthy, as a target organ directly contacting with the outside air, lung is more prone to various stimuli, causing pathological premature aging which is lung aging. Studies have found that there is a certain proportion of senescent cells in the lungs of most chronic respiratory diseases. However, the underlying mechanism by which these senescent cells induce lung senescence and their role in chronic respiratory diseases is still obscure. This paper focuses on the causes and classification of lung aging, the internal mechanism of lung aging involved in chronic respiratory diseases, and the application of anti-aging treatments in chronic respiratory diseases. We hope to provide new research ideas and theoretical basis for the clinical prevention and treatment in chronic respiratory diseases.

Research progress of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection and respiratory diseases in infancy / 生理学报

Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) induced by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important cause of hospitalization for infants. Compared with adults, infants are more likely to cause serious respiratory diseases after RSV infection due to the specific immature airway structure and immune system. The balance of immune resistance and immune tolerance of the host is critical to effective virus clearance and disease control. This paper reviews the relationship between RSV infection and respiratory diseases in infancy, the influence factors of the high pathogenicity of RSV infection in early life, as well as the research progress of anti-RSV therapy, and expands the specific molecular events regulating immune resistance and immune tolerance. We expect to present new ideas for the prevention and treatment of RSV-related respiratory diseases in clinical practice.

Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo and American ginseng mixture: A Chinese herbal formulation for gut microbiota modulation / 中国天然药物

Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo (D. officinale) is a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). A mixture of D. officinale and American ginseng has been shown to enhance cell-mediated immunity, humoral immunity, and monocyte/macrophage functions in mice. Here, the effects of a D. officinale and American ginseng mixture on the structure of gut microbial community in dogs were examined using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The data revealed that while the mixture did not change the diversity of gut microbial community significantly, differences among individuals were significantly reduced. Furthermore, the mixture-responsive operational taxonomic units (OTUs) exhibited a phase-dependent expression pattern. Fifty-five OTUs were found to exhibit a mixture-induced expression pattern, among which one third were short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing genera and the others were probiotic genera included Lactobacillus spp., Sutterella, Alistipes, Anaerovorax, Bilophila, Coprococcus, Gordonibacter, Oscillibacter, among others. By contrast, 36% of the OTUs exhibiting a mixture-repressed expression pattern were disease-associated microorganisms, and six genera, namely Actinomyces, Escherichia/Shigella, Fusobacterium, Slackia, Streptococcus and Solobacterium, were associated with cancer. In addition, five genera were closely associated with diabetes, namely Collinsella, Rothia, Howardella, Slackia and Intestinibacter. Our results indicate that this D. officinale and American ginseng mixture may be used as a prebiotic agent to enhance SCFA-producing genera and prevent gut dysbiosis.

Rapid Determination of γ-Hydroxybutyric Acid in Beverage and Urine by Direct Analysis in Real-time Mass Spectrometry / 分析化学

A method for rapid determination of γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) in beverages (water, sodas, beer) and urine was established by direct analysis real-time mass spectrometry (DART-MS). Samples were analyzed directly after dilution with mixture of methanol and water(1:1,V/V). Instrument parameter settings were optimized to obtain the sensitive and accurate determination of GHB. At the sample introduction speed of 0.5 mm/s, high intensity of[M-H]- ions for GHB were observed in the negative ion and selection ion monitoring mode by utilization of high purity helium gas at 350℃. For different samples of water,sodas,beer and urine,the limits of detection (LODs) (S/N=3) were in the range of 1-2 μg/mL, while the limits of quantification (LOQs) (S/N=10) were in the range of 3-5 μg/mL. The linear correlation coefficients of the standard curves with different sample matrixes were between 0.9899 and 0.9980. The recoveries were in the range of 80.8%-115.2% with the relative standard deviations of 1.9%-12.8%. With its rapid analysis and simple pretreatment steps,the method is expected to have a strong advantage in the rapid screening analysis of large quantities of beverage and urine.

Bioinformatics of mouse uteroglobin binding protein and its polyclonal antibody preparation / 生理学报

To prepare anti-mouse uteroglobin binding protein (mUGBP) polyclonal antibody, two polypeptides were synthesized based on the bioinformatics analysis of mUGBP, and New Zealand white rabbits were immunized separately with each peptide coupled with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). The data indicate that a 13-amino acid polypeptide (positions 221st-233rd) was able to generate anti-peptide antibodies. The titer of the antisera detected with ELISA was 1:10(8). The antisera were then purified with immuno-affinity chromatography to obtain antibodies. Western blot analysis of mUGBP expressed as a fusion protein with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) was performed on the cell lysates of COS-1 cells with the purified antisera, suggesting that the antisera specifically recognized UGBP. By immunohistochemistry and indirect immunofluorescence analysis, we examined the expression of UGBP in the lung tissues from a patient undergoing surgical lung resection for a tumor and from normal mouse lung tissue, and found for the first time that UGBP protein was widely expressed in both mouse and human lung tissue with the most abundant expression in bronchial epithelial cells. These results suggest that the antigen epitopes of mUGBP are well predicted by using bioinformatics analysis. We have obtained anti-mUGBP polyclonal antibody, which will be useful for further investigation.

Role of uteroglobin-binding protein in antiflammin-1 promoting IL-10 expression and secretion in RAW264.7 cells induced by endotoxin / 生理学报

The present study investigated the effect of antiflammin-1 (AF-1) on LPS-induced IL-10 secretion from RAW264.7 cells through uteroglobin-binding protein (UGBP). Cultured RAW264.7 cells, a murine monocyte-macrophage cell line, were divided as following: control group, LPS group (1 µg/mL LPS), AF-1 group (100 μmol/L AF-1), LPS+AF-1 group (2 h of 100 μmol/L AF-1 pretreatment before LPS addition), and LPS+AF-1+anti-UGBP group (30 min of anti-UGBP antibody pretreatment before successive treatments with AF-1 and LPS). IL-10 concentration in the supernatants was detected by ELISA assay, and the level of IL-10 mRNA expression in macrophage was detected by using RT-PCR method. The results showed that AF-1 significantly increased LPS-induced IL-10 secretion in RAW264.7 cells in a dose dependent way, and up-regulated its mRNA level. Anti-UGBP antibody pretreatment attenuated the augmented effect of AF-1 on LPS-induced IL-10 secretion and gene expression. These results suggest that AF-1 promotes LPS-induced IL-10 secretion from macrophages, and this effect is mediated by UGBP.

Impact of multidisciplinary team working on the management of colorectal cancer / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The continual and rapid development of techniques which are used for diagnosis and treatment makes management of colorectal cancer more difficult depending on single discipline. Colorectal cancer multidisciplinary team (MDT) working model is recommended by UK and other countries, but there is little information on the impact of MDT working on management of colorectal cancer in China. The aim of this study was to assess the effect on management of colorectal cancer after the inception of an MDT.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 595 consecutive colorectal cancer patients were referred to the Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, the pre-MDT cohort include 297 patients, recruited from January 1999 to November 2002, and the MDT cohort had 298 patients enrolled from December 2002 to September 2006. Information recorded included: TNM stage from histological reports, degree of differentiation, the number of examined lymph nodes and CT TNM staging performed or not, and its accuracy, including local and distant recurrence.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The number of examined lymph nodes and the accuracy of TNM staging by CT in the MDT group were significantly more than those in pre-MDT group. CT TNM staging was more accurate in the MDT group compared to the pre-MDT group (P = 0.044). The rate of tumor recurrence in the MDT group was lower than pre-MDT group (log-rank test, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that age (P = 0.001), management after inception of the MDT (P = 0.002), degree of differentiation (P = 0.003), number of examined lymph nodes (P = 0.002), and TNM stage (P = 0.000) were important factors that independently influence overall survival.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The inception of MDT working improved the diagnostic accuracy and overall survival of colorectal cancer patients. MDT working promoted communication and cooperation between disciplines and ensured high-quality diagnosis, evidence-based decision making, and optimal treatment planning.</p>

Changes of mitochondria membrane potential and cytoplasmic cytochrome C in neuron apoptosis induced by benzo(a)pyrene / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the changes of mitochondria membrane potential and cytoplasma cytochrome C as the mechanism of neuron apoptosis induced by B(a)P.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Primary neurons were dissociated from cerebral cortex of 1 - 3 days old SD rats and cultured with DMEM incubator at 37 degrees C. After 5 days' cultivation, the neurons were added S9 and B(a)P, and the concentrations of treated B(a)P were 0, 10, 20 and 40 micromol/L respectively. After administering of B(a)P, the neurons were cultivated for 40 hours. Apoptosis rate was measured by flow cytometry using Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide (PI) staining, and the changes in mitochondrial potential (DeltaPsim) were tested with Rhodamine fluorescence (R2123) technique. Preparation of cytosolic extracts by centrifugation. Western blotting analysis was used to evaluate the level of cytochrome C of cytoplasm.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The apoptotic rate of neuron increased in both the middle dose group and the high dose group compared with controls, and had a dose-response tendency with the concentration of B(a)P. Moreover mitochondrial potential decreased in a dose dependent manner. There was a negative correlation between DeltaPsim and the apoptotic rate of neurons (r = -0.763, P < 0.05); Western blotting analysis showed cytoplasmic cytochrome C level increased significantly, which was positively related with neuron apoptosis (r = 0.831, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Loss of mitochondria membrane potential and increase of cytoplasma cytochrome C may be the main cause of neuron apoptosis induced by B(a)P.</p>

Activation of mGluRI in neutrophils promotes the adherence of neutrophils to endothelial cells / 生理学报

L-glutamate (Glu) is an excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system. Relatively much attention has been paid to functional expression of Glu signaling molecules in peripheral tissues very recently. The present study tested the hypothesis that the activation of group I metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluRI) in neutrophils stimulated neutrophils adherence to endothelial cells by increasing the surface expression of certain adhesion molecules. Peripheral blood was obtained by venipuncture from healthy donors, and the neutrophils were isolated by Ficoll-Hypaque gradient centrifugation. Neutrophils floating into DMEM/F12 culture medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum were then used immediately. Immunocytochemistry and real-time quantitative RT-PCR were used to detect the expression of mGluRI (mGluR1 and mGluR5) in neutrophils. The adherence of neutrophils to cultured human normal umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVE-12) was measured by the colorimetric method. Cell surface expression of adhesion molecule CD11a in the neutrophils was determined by flow cytometry. Immunocytochemistry and real-time quantitative RT-PCR showed that mGluR1 and mGluR5 were constitutively expressed in neutrophils. Application of mGluRI agonist S-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (S-DHPG) (1x10(-8)-1x10(-6) mol/L) showed a dose-dependent stimulatory effect on the adherence of neutrophils to HUVE-12 (P<0.05 or P<0.01), with a maximum effect at 1x10(-6) mol/L (P<0.01). Incubations as short as 30 min were sufficient to induce increased adherence after the beginning of S-DHPG treatment. Following time extension (0.5-5 h), S-DHPG (1x10(-6) mol/L) increased the rate of neutrophils adhesion to HUVE-12 with a maximum effect at 0.5 h (P<0.01). However, a time-dependent effect of S-DHPG on the rate of neutrophils adhesion to HUVE-12 was not observed during the experimental period. 1x10(-6) mol/L of S-DHPG also induced an increased surface expression of adhesion molecule CD11a (P<0.01) when neutrophils were preincubated with 1x10(-6) mol/L of S-DHPG for 1 h. Furthermore, the specific mGluRI antagonist (RS)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine ((+/-)-MCPG, 0.5 mmol/L) significantly abolished the stimulatory effect of S-DHPG (1x10(-6) mol/L) on the adherence of neutrophils to HUVE-12 (P<0.01). These results suggest that the activation of mGluRI in neutrophils results in increased adhesion molecule CD11a expression and thereby promotes the adherence of neutrophils to endothelial cells.

Incidence and prognosis of intra-and extracranial large-artery stenosis in the rural community of Beijing / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To assess the prevalence rates of intra-and extraeranial large-artery stenosis in the rural community population and its related risk to the development of stroke.Methods The study subjects included 1337 residents in the rural community of Beijing.Transcranial Doppler Was carried our to examine the relation between intra-and extracranial large-artery stenosis and subsequent cerebrovascular events, with a meall follow-up period of 16.7 months.Results The incidence densities of cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage in persons without cerebral large-artery stenosis were 410.6 and 351.9/100-thousand person-years,respectively.In the group wlth large-artery stenosis,the incidence density of cerebral infarction was 3303.7/100-thousand person-years.Data from The Fisher's Exact test showed a significant difference in the two groups (P=0.004).Cerebral large-artery stenosis(OR=6.593,95%CI:1.712-25.390)and smoking (OR=8.437,95% CI:2.327-30.598)appeared to be independent risk factors to cerebral infarction.Conclusion Cerebral large-artery stenosis and smoking were independent risk factors to cerebral infarction.

Characteristic of the neurobehavioral functional changes in coke oven workers / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the neurobehavioral function of coke oven workers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>200 healthy adult male coke oven workers were selected from a coke plant of a state-owned steel enterprise in Taiyuan City. 88 controls occupationally unexposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were selected from the same enterprise. All the subjects participated in this investigation voluntarily in their consent. Concentration of B(a)P in the working environment was monitored by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Urine samples were sampled immediately after working shifts. The level of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene was determined by HPLC. General information of workers correlated with the investigation was collected in a questionnaire according to the same criteria by well-trained investigators. Neurobehavioral core test battery (NCTB) recommended WHO was performed on coke oven workers and controls to test the neurobehavioral changes and the mood state.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>the concentration of B(a)P at oven bottom,oven side and oven top were 0.0195 microg/m3, 0.186 microg/m3 and 1.624 microg/m3 respectively, that at oven side and oven top being higher than the one stipulated by the occupational hygiene criterion. Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene was significantly different between the exposure group (3.42 +/- 0.98 micromol/mol creatinine) and control group (2.75 +/- 1.09 micromol/mol creatinine). No significant differences were found between exposure group and control group of age, working years, smoking, drinking and unhealthy food consumption; however, compared to the controls, the scores of total digital span, the forward digital span, and right dotting in the coke oven workers were lower, but that of total dotting was higher, with a statistical significance. According to urinary 1-hydroxypyrene concentration, all the subjects were divided into three groups. (<3.10 micromol/mol creatinine, 3.10 micromol/mol creatinine, >3.87 micromol/mol creatinine). Significant differences of the total digital span, the forward digital span, backward digital span, digit symbol and Benton visual retentions existed in different urinary 1-hydroxypyrene concentration groups and showed a dose-response tendency. Results of multiple stepwise regression analysis and correlation analysis showed that the level of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene affected memory and perception of coke oven workers and negative correlations between the level of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene and changes in neurobehavioral function were found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PAHs mainly causes decrease of memory and perception in coke oven workers.</p>

High-density lipoprotein attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice / 生理学报

High-density lipoprotein (HDL), an abundant plasma lipoprotein, has been thought to be anti-inflammatory in both health and infectious diseases. It binds lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and neutralizes its bioactivity. The present study aimed to investigate the potential role of HDL, which was separated from human plasma, in LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice. Kunming mice (18-22 g) were treated with either HDL (70 mg/kg body weight, via tail vein) or saline 30 min after LPS administration (10 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally) and were decapitated 6 h after LPS challenge. The arterial blood was collected and analyzed for blood gas variables (PaO(2), pH, and PaCO(2)). The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were analyzed for total protein concentration, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, and white blood cell (WBC) count. The lung samples were taken for histopathological evaluation and for determination of lung wet-to-dry weight ratio (W/D), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) content. Arterial blood gas analysis showed that after LPS challenge, HDL-treated mice exhibited a higher PaO(2), and pH, but a lower PaCO(2) than HDL-untreated ones (P<0.01). LPS-induced increases in total protein concentration, WBC number and LDH activity in BALF were significantly attenuated in HDL-treated mice (P<0.01). HDL treatment also resulted in a significant protection of lung tissues against LPS-induced acute lung injury via decreasing W/D ratio, MPO activity, MDA content, and the content of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α (P<0.05, P<0.01). Histological examination revealed that HDL treatment resulted in significantly lower scores of acute lung injury induced by LPS, with reduced hemorrhage, intra-alveolar edema and neutrophilic infiltration (P<0.01). It is suggested that HDL plays a protective role in attenuating LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice.

Influence of intrapulmonary regulatory peptides on the expressions of HLA-DR, CD80 and CD86 in human bronchial epithelial cells / 生理学报

Antigen presenting is the initial step of the immune responses. In order to verify that human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) can express antigen presentation molecules, which can be modulated by intrapulmonary regulatory peptides, the present study was designed to examine the expressions of human leukocyte antigen DR (HLA-DR), CD80 and CD86 in resting or ozone-stressed HBECs by using immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry analysis. The results showed that HBECs expressed HLA-DR, CD80 and the expressions of HLA-DR and CD80 molecules were down-regulated under ozone stress. While VIP, P3513 and CGRP upregulated the expression of HLA-DR in resting or ozone-stressed HBECs, they had different effects on CD80 expression. VIP did not influence the expression of CD80 under resting state, but increased the expression of CD80 under ozone stress. CGRP decreased CD80 expression in resting HBECs, but increased CD80 expression in ozone-stressed HBECs. P3513 increased CD80 expression in resting HBECs, but decreased CD80 expression in ozone-stressed HBECs. The expression of CD86 was absent in resting or ozone-stressed HBECs. The results obtained demonstrate that HBECs have the capability to act as antigen presenting cells and the expression of HLA-DR and costimulatory molecules can be modulated by intrapulmonary regulatory peptides.

Experimental study of acute lung injury induced by glutamate in vivo / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the possible injury induced by glutamate in the lung.@*METHODS@#The lung wet weight/body weight (LW/BW), lung wet/dry weight (W/D), the content of cells and the total protein (TP) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined together with the micromorphology observation.@*RESULTS@#(1) The LW/BW, W/D, the content of white blood cells, red blood cells and TP in BALF increased in a dose dependent manner 2 hours after the administration of the glutamate (0.50 - 0.75 g/kg). (2) Examination of histological sections showed the presence of lung inflammation charactered by neutrophils recruitment 2 hours after the glutamate administration. (3) The increase of W/D caused by glutamate (0.50 g/kg) was nearly abolished by pre-treatment with MK801 (a specific blocker of NMDA receptor, 0.1 mg/kg) for 30 minutes (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Glutamate can cause the acute lung injury through the activation of NMDA receptor in vivo.

Effect of calcitonin-gene-related peptide on MMP-9 production in human bronchial epithelial cells / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To examine the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in human bronchial epithelial cells treated with calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP).@*METHODS@#RT-PCR and gelatin zymography were performed to examine the dynamic expression and activity of MMP-9 in human bronchial epithelial cells at different doses (10(-10), 10(-9), 10(-8), 10(-7), and 10(-6)mol/L) and different time points (6,12,18,24,36, and 48h) after the stimulation of CGRP.@*RESULTS@#The unstimulated human bronchial epithelial cells only secreted a small amount of MMP-9. After the CGRP stimulation, the expression of MMP-9 presented in a concentration-dependent (10(-10), 10(-9), 10(-8), 10(-7), and 10(-6) mol/L) and time-dependent (6,12,18,24,36, and 48 h) manners (P<0.01) in human bronchial epithelial cells. The effect of CGRP could be diminished by H-7 and W-7, an antagonist of protein kinase C (PKC) and calmodulin (CaM) (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#CGRP can stimulate the secretion and expression of MMP-9 in human bronchial epithelial cells, and the signal transduction is partly via the PKC and CaM pathway.

Effects of CGRP on LPS-induced MMP-9 secretion by alveolar macrophages / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To explore the effects of calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) on LPS-induced MMP-9 secretion by alveolar macrophages (AM) in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The supernatant of LPS-induced Wistar rat AM from different intervention groups were collected to measure the activity by gelatin zymography.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(Only secreting a small amount of MMP-9 with unstimulated AM, LPS stimulated MMP-9 production in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.01). (2) The activity of MMP-9 in CGRP intervention groups at different levels were significantly lower than those in non-intervention group (p < 0.01). (3) The inhibiting effects of CGRP were diminished by H-7 and W-7, an antagonist of protein kinase C (PKC) and calmodulin (CaM) (p < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These data suggested that CGRP involved in the MMP-9 secretion by AM, partly, via PKC and CaM pathway.</p>

Protective effect of bombesin receptor subtype-3 on human brochial epithelial cells against injury / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the role and mechanism of bombesin receptor subtype 3 (BRS-3) in the proliferation and protection against injury of human brochial epithelial cells (HBECs).@*METHODS@#Effect of P3513 (a specific agonist of BRS-3) on the proliferation of HBECs was observed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method; the release rate of 3H-Udr, and LDH activity, catalase activity, and the expression of cadherin and integrin beta1 were also analyzed under O3 stress with or without P3513 treatment.@*RESULTS@#The proliferation of HBECs was accelerated by P3513 in a concentration-dependent manner (10(-9) approximately 10(-7) mol/L). Ozone stress could promote the release rate of 3H-Udr, and LDH activity, which could be inhibited by P3513. P3513 could promote the activity of catalase. The effect of proliferation and protection against injury caused by P3513 could be inhibited by W7 (calmodulin inhibitor), PD98059 (tyrosin kinase inhibitor) and H89 (PKA inhibitor). P3513 could stimulate the expression of caderin and integrinbeta1 of ozone-stressed HBECs.@*CONCLUSION@#Activation of BRS-3 caused by P3513 may play an important role in protecting HBECs from oxidant injury, and the signal pathway is possibly relevant to Ca2+, MEK and PKA.

Effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide on LPS-induced MMP-9 expression by alveolar macrophages in rats / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the role of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on LPS-induced MMP-9 expression by alveolar macrophages (AM) in rats.@*METHODS@#LPS-induced cultured Wistar rats AMs were treated with different concentrations of VIP (10(-10) to approximately 10(-6) mol/L) for 24 h. AMs and the supernatant were collected to measure the MMP-9 expression and activity by RT-PCR and gelatin zymography, respectively. Results The MMP-9 activity and expression of LPS-induced AMs were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01). VIP (10(-9) to approximately 10(-6) mol/L) down-regulated LPS-induced MMP-9 activity and its expression. The effects were diminished by H-7 and W-7, an antagonist of protein kinase C (PKC) and calmodulin (CaM) (P < 0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#VIP can decrease LPS-induced MMP-9 activity and its expression, which may be related to protein kinase C and calmodulin pathway. VIP may have protective roles in the lung injury.

Transmission disequilibrium test of polymorphisms of serotonin transporter gene and schizophrenia based on family trios / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between two polymorphisms (Intronic VNTR and 5-HTTLPR) of the serotonin transporter gene and schizophrenia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A set of 314 schizophrenic trio samples collected from Shanghai, Xi'an and Jilin regions of China independently was subjected to analysis of the polymorphisms by transmission/disequilibrium test(TDT).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significantly preferential transmission of any allele was detected from both polymorphisms investigated.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results suggest that the serotonin transporter gene is unlikely to have a major contribution to susceptibility to schizophrenia in Han Chinese population.</p>