The impact of HSF on endometrium

Summary Objective: We conducted the research in order to explore the impact of hydrosalpinx fluid (HSF) on endometrium. Method: HSF group: 261 patients with HSF scheduled to undergo laparoscopic surgery 3 to 7 days after menstruation in our center. Hysteroscopy would also be performed in order to observe the endometrial morphology during the surgery. Sixty (60) patients would be randomly selected for endometrial biopsy in order to detect the inflammatory cytokines TNF-a and IL-2 mRNA. Non-HSF group: 210 patients with no evidence of HSF due to chronic salpingitis or pelvic adhesion. IVF-ET treatment was performed after eliminating the factor of male infertility and hysteroscopy was conducted before the treatment. Fifty (50) patients underwent endometrial biopsy in order to detect TNF-a and IL-2 mRNA. Results: Hysteroscopy was performed in 261 patients with HSF and 210 patients without HSF. The incidence rate of endometritis manifestation among these two groups of patients was 37.2% (97/261) and 20.5% (43/210), respectively. The incidence rate of endometritis in the patients with HSF is significantly higher than in the patients without HSF (p<0.05). Sixty (60) patients from the HSF group and 50 patients from the non-HSF group were regrouped according to inflammatory and normal manifestation after the endometrial biopsy. There were 49 patients in the inflammatory manifestation group and 61 patients in the normal manifestation group. RT-PCR technology was adopted to detect the expression of inflammatory cytokines TNF-a and IL-2 mRNA in endometrial tissue. The level of TNF-a mRNA expression in endometrial tissues with inflammatory manifestation was higher than in normal endometrium (76.75±11.95 vs. 23.45±9.75, p<0.01). There are significant differences between them. The level of IL-2 mRNA expression in endometrial tissues with inflammatory manifestation was higher than that found in normal endometrium (80.56±13.35 vs. 35.12±8.35, p<0.01). There are significant differences between them. Conclusion: Chronic endometritis is related to HSF and may therefore affect endometrial receptivity.

Effects of herbal medicine Sijunzi decoction on rabbits after relieving intestinal obstruction

Intestinal obstruction leads to blockage of the movement of intestinal contents. After relieving the obstruction, patients might still suffer with compromised immune function and nutritional deficiency. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Sijunzi decoction on restoring the immune function and nutritional status after relieving the obstruction. Experimental rabbits (2.5±0.2 kg) were randomly divided into normal control group, 2-day intestinal obstruction group, 2-day natural recovery group, 4-day natural recovery group, 2-day treated group, and 4-day treated group. Sijunzi decoction was given twice a day to the treated groups. The concentration of markers was analyzed to evaluate the immune function and nutritional status. The concentration of interleukin-2, immunoglobulins and complement components of the treated groups were significantly higher than the natural recovery group (P<0.05). The levels of CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ increased then decreased in the treated groups. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and CD8+ were significantly lower than the natural recovery group. The level of total protein in the treated groups also increased then decreased after relieving the obstruction. The levels of albumin, prealbumin and insulin-like growth factor-1 were significantly higher in the treated groups than in the natural recovery group (P<0.05). Transferrin level in the treated groups was significantly higher than the obstruction group (P<0.05). Sijunzi decoction can lessen the inflammatory response and improve the nutrition absorption after relieving the obstruction.

Immune enhancement activities of silk lutein extract from Bombyx mori cocoons

BACKGROUND: Declining immune function poses an important clinical challenge worldwide and supplementation with natural products that possessing immune enhancing properties is a promising approach for preventing or delaying immune function decline. Cocoons from yellow silkworms are a significant source of lutein, and this unexplored silk extract could be a viable alternative source for dietary lutein. This study assessed immunomodulatory activities of the silk lutein extract. Female BALB/c mice orally received lutein, either as silk or marigold extracts (10 or 20 mg/kg daily), or vehicle only (1% tween 80 in PBS pH 7.4) for 4 weeks. Natural killer (NK) cell activity, specific antibody production, lymphocyte subpopulations, mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation, and cytokine production were examined. RESULTS: Silk lutein extract increased NK cell activity, and the effect was dose-related whereas marigold lutein extract was ineffective. Silk lutein extract dose-dependently enhanced antibody production in pre-immunized mice but marigold lutein extract had no effect. Feeding with silk lutein extract increased the populations of CD3+ and CD4 + CD3 + cells. Silk lutein extract also stimulated concanavalin A- and lipopolysaccharide-induced proliferations of T and B lymphocytes, respectively. Moreover, silk lutein extract increased IL-2 and IFN-γ production while the effect of marigold lutein extract was undetectable. CONCLUSIONS: Together, silk lutein extract enhanced both innate and adaptive immune functions. This preparation may prove to be an effective supplement for strengthened immunity.

Gastrin, secretin, GIP and VIP alter levels of IL-2 and IFN-gamma in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells under various culture conditions

Gastrointestinal hormones have traditionally been viewed as mere regulators of gut movement and secretions, but, it is becoming increasingly apparent that other body systems may be affected by these hormones. Secretion of gut hormones is influenced by the type of food we take. Therefore, the more we know about the effects of gut hormones on the various body tissues, the more we know about the different mechanisms by which our diets affect our health. This in vitro study aimed to explore the effects of physiologically-relevant concentrations of four gut hormones on the production of IL-2 and IFN-gamma by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and how culture conditions may modif_ those effects. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were separated by density gradient centrifugation from the blood of 15 adults. Cells were cultured with/without PHA and treated with four concentrations of gastrin, secretin, GIP and VIP. IL-2 and IFN-gamma in culture supernatants were assayed by ELISA. Gastrin, secretin, GIP and VIP increased IL-2 and TFN-gamma levels under some culture conditions and depressed lL-2 under other conditions. An increase was oflen observed under culture conditions in which the cytokine production was not initially high. Repeated administration of the hormone was also more likely to result in a stimulatory effect. Physiologically-relevant concentrations of gastrin, secretin, GIP and VIP are potential immunomodulators as they have shown their ability to alter the production of IL-2 and/or IFN-gamma under various culture conditions

Role of murine Peyer's patch lymphocytes against primary and challenge infections with Cryptosporidium parvum

In order to determine the role of Peyer's patch lymphocytes (PPL) in self-clearing of Cryptosporidium parvum infection in murine models, changes in PPL subsets, their cytokine expression, and in vitro IgG1 and IgA secretions by PPL were observed in primary- and challenge-infected C57BL/6 mice. In primary-infected mice, the percentages of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, sIgA+ B cells, IL-2+ T cells, and IFN-gamma+ T cells among the PPL, increased significantly (P 0.05) than those in primaryinfected mice. The results suggest that murine PPL play an important role in self-clearing of primary C. parvum infections through proliferation of CD4+, CD8+, IL-2+, and IFN-gamma+ T cells, and IgG1 and IgA-secreting B cells. In challenge infections, the role of T cells is reduced whereas that of B cells secreting IgA appeared to be continuously important.

IL-2 and IFN-gama, but not IL-4 secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are related to CD4+ T cells and clinical status in brazilian HIV-1-infected subjects

E relatado que a producao de IL-2 e IFN-gama, conhecidas como citoquinas T-auxiliador tipo 1, pelas celulas mononucleares do sangue periferico fica deprimida no decorrer da infeccao HIV. Por outro lado, a producao de IL-4 e IL-10, chamada padrao T-auxiliador tipo 2, aumenta com o avanco da doenca (AIDS). Nesse estudo, foram avaliados 55 individuos infectados pelo HIV-1 em acompanhamento no Ambulatorio da Imunodeficiencias Secundarias do Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo. Celulas mononucleares foram estimulados "in vitro" com fitohemaglutina (PHA) por 24 horas e o sobrenadante foi utilizado para a dosagem de citoquinas atraves de kits de ELISA disponiveis comercialmente. Foi observado que a producao de IFN-y pelos individuos assintomaticos HIV+ esta aumentada quando comparada aos controles nao infectados pelo HIV, enquanto os pacientes com AIDS tiveram producao similar aos controles...

Valores de referencia del receptor soluble de interleucina-2 en recién nacidos de término / Reference values of soluble interleukin-2 receptor in full term newborns

Se determinó la concentración sérica del receptor soluble de interleucina-2 (RSIL-2) en recién nacidos de término (RNT) sanos. La determinación cuantitativa del RSIL-2 se realizó con técnica de ELISA con equipo de INMUNOTECH. Se estudiaron 31 RNT a las 24 horas de vida. Se obtuvo un valor medio de RSIL-2 de 3.281 pg/ml (ñ 759,5 DS), con una mediana de 3.360 pg/ml (rango 1.470-4.704 pg/ml). Los niveles fueron similares en los RNT nacidos por parto y por cesárea, p = 0,79. Conocer los valores de referencia de RSIL-2 en RNT sanos es de importancia para poder interpretar cuándo están elevados por activación del sistema inmune

Interleukin-2 and interleukin-2 receptors in children with rheumatic carditis

This study aimed to assess the role of interleukin-2 [IL-2] and IL-2 receptors [IL-2R] in the pathogenesis of rheumatic carditis. Three groups of children were studied. Group I included 15 children with active rheumatic carditis; Group II included 15 children with inactive rheumatic carditis and group III was composed of 20 healthy control children. Before phytohemagglutinin [PHA] stimulation, group I showed higher mean values of IL-2 and IL-2R than the other two groups. After stimulation, the control group had significantly higher mean values than both rheumatic groups. The mean percent change of IL-2 receptors was higher in controls compared to active and inactive rheumatic carditis. Thus, under resting conditions, there is increased production of IL-2 and IL-2R in rheumatic carditis. This increase is higher in active than in inactive disease. This underlying immunological abnormalities might lead to activation of helper T cells producing more immune complexes and producing tissue damage

Soluble interleukin-2 receptor, interleukin-4 and interferon-Gamma in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of asthmatic patients

To clarify the role of immunoregulatory cytokines in pathogenesis of bronchial asthma, soluble interleukin-[2] receptor [sIL-[2R]], interleukin-4 [IL-[4]] and interferon- gamma [lFN-gama] as products of T -cell activation were estimated in bronchoalveolar lavage [BAL] fluid of asthmatic patients. Their levels were correlated with the degree of bronchial hyperreactivity [BHR] [PD[20]], sIL-[2R] and IL-[4] levels were significantly higher in asthmatics than normal controls. In extrinsic asthma their levels were significantly higher than that in intrinsic asthma. IL-[4] levels showed significant inverse correlation with PD[20] in extrinsic asthma. sIL-[2R] level showed insignificant inverse correlation with PD[20] in both extrinsic and intrinsic asthma, IL-[4] was poorly correlated with PD[20] in intrinsic asthma. There was no significant difference in concentration of IFN-gama between asthmatics and normal controls, however, it was slightly higher in normal control. The results of this study suggest that the elevated T-cell markers [sIL-[2R], IL-[4]] in BAL fluid from asthmatic patients is an indication that T-cell activation is present in asthma. The higher level of these cytokines in atopic asthma and their correlation with BHR suggest the preferential activation of the. TH[2]. The lower level of IFN-gama may suggest its role in the treatment of bronchial asthma and this may open the way for further studies

Local and systemic assessment of LL-2 in children [9-14 years old] with severely inflamed gingiva

Measuring of interleukin-2 [IL-2] in gingival tissue and culture supernatants from children with gingival specimens were assayed for its presence. Ten gingival specimens from 10 patients and five blood supernatant samples assayed for presence of IL-1 IL-2 were significantly elevated in culture supernatants as well as tissue in comparison to normal [control] specimens. These results provided an evidence for the activation of immune cells in gingivitis, and suggested the role for IL-2 in the pathogenesis of the disease in children

Caracterización de la estructura primaria de la interleucina-2 humana recombinante / Characterization of the primary structure of the recombinant human interleukin-2

La interleucina-2 humana recombinante clonada y expresada en E. coli, y purificada mediante cromatografía líquida de alta eficacia (HPLC), fue analizada para verificar su estructura primaria. El análisis de aminoácidos de la proteína pura coincide con la composición teórica esperada. La proteína fue hidrolizada con bromuro de cianógeno, los péptidos separados por HPLC fueron secuenciados automáticamente y determinada su composición aminoacídica, confirmándose la estructura desde el extremo N-terminal hasta el residuo 56. Con el propósito de completar la secuencia de la proteína, esta fue reducida y carboximetilada. La proteína se sometió a digestión con endoproteinasa GLU-C (Staphyloccocus aureus V8) y una parte de esta digestión se incubó a continuación con tripsina. Los péptidos purificados mediante gel filtración (Biogel P-6) y HPLC en fase inversa, fueron secuenciados con la técnica manual de doble acoplamiento con dimetilaminoazobenzeno isotiocianato e isotiocianato de fenilo (DABITC/PITC). La purificación de la digestión tríptica de la proteína reducida y carboximetilada mediante fase inversa, suministró los péptidos para análisis en espectrometría de masas utilizando como fuente de ionización bombardeo con átomos rápidos (MS FAB). Tanto los resultados de la secuenciación como la espectrometría de masas confirman que la interleucina-2 obtenida en E. coli posee la estructura primaria reportada para esta proteína

Structure-function relationships for the interleukin 2 receptor system

Receptors for interleukin 2 (IL-2) esit in at least three forms which differ in their subunit compositio, their affinity for ligand and their ability to mediate a cellular reponse. Type I receptors occur following cellular acitivation and consist of the 55,000 m. w. glycoprotein Tac. These receptors bind IL-2 with a low affinity, do not internalize ligand and have not been definitively associated with any response. Type II receptors, on the other hand, conssit of one or more glycoproteins of 70,000 m. w. which have been termed "beta ([beta]) chains." They bind IL-2 with an intermediate affinity and rapidly internalize the ligand. [Beta] proteins mediate many cellular IL-2-dependent reponses, including the short-term activation of natural killer cells and the induction of Tac protein expression. Type III receptors consist of a ternary complex of the Tac protein, the [beta] chain(s) and IL-2. They are characterized by a paricularly high affinity for ligand association. Type III receptors also internalize ligand and mediate IL-2-dependent responses at low factor concentrations. The identification of two independent IL-2-binding molecules, Tac and [beta], thus provides the elusive molecular explanation for the differences in IL-2 receptor affinity and suggests the potential for selective therapeutic manipulation of IL-2 reponses.

The immunomodulatory and antitumor activities of trichosanthin-an abortifacient protein isolated from tian-hua-fen (Trichosanthes kirilowii).

Trichosanthin, a basic protein purified from the root tuber of Trichosanthes kirilowii, has been used effectively in China to induce midterm abortion in humans. In this paper, we show that trichosanthin at non-cytotoxic concentrations markedly inhibited the mitogen-induced lymphoproliferative response and the generation of a primary alloreactive CTL response in vitro. Similarly, the production of IL-2 by Con A activated splenocytes and the in vitro effector functions of macrophages were also significantly suppressed. In contrast, the cytolytic activity of CTL and NK cells was unimpaired. Moreover, the in vivo activation of NK cells was not significantly altered by a single injection of a non-toxic microgram amount of trichosanthin into mice. However, other immune reactivities such as the induction of a DTH response and the humoral antibody formation to SRBC were markedly depressed. Our data suggest that trichosanthin is a potent immunosuppressive protein that could affect humoral immunity and a variety of cell-mediated processes. In addition, our preliminary results show that this abortifacient protein could also inhibit the growth of a murine malignant tumour (MBL-2), both in vivo and in vitro.