Chemical constituents with inhibition against TNF-α from Merrillanthus hainanensis.

Two new steroidal glycosides oxystauntoside A (1) and oxystauntoside B (2), together with sixteen known compounds (3-18) were isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of Merrillanthus hainanensis. Their structures were characterized by extensive spectroscopic analysis including NMR and mass spectra and single crystal X-ray crystallography. The absolute configuration of 1 and 2 were further determined by ECD calculations. All of these compounds were isolated from M. hainanensis for the first time. All the fractions and compounds were tested for the anti-inflammatory activity against the TNF-α factor. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the most potent inhibition (71.3%) at 10 µg/mL and compounds 5 (78.9%) and 9 (73.4%) in this fraction with both carboxyl and phenolic hydroxyl groups showed significant inhibition at 10 µM. Our study provided the first scientific report for the medicinal value of M. hainanensis.

[The affection of antigen presentation ability, which sources from the spleen macrophage of Balb/c mouse during late gestation, on maternal Th2/Th1 type of immune].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between antigen presentation ability of spleen macrophage and maternal Th2>Th1 immune bias in Balb/c mice during late pregnancy. METHODS: Balb/c mice during late gestation were adopted in our study, and mice of same species in estrus were used as control. With antigen stimulation, the spleen macrophages of Balb/c mice were pulsed as antigen presentation cells (APC). T cells sensitized previously by pulsed macrophage (1 degree APC) were cultured in mixture with macrophage pulsed by same antigen (2 degrees APC). An antigen special lymphocyte transformation test in vitro was used to evaluate the antigen presentation ability of spleen macrophage from mice of late gestation, and a flow cytometry method was used to measured the ration of CD4, CD8, IL-10 and IFN-gamma positive cell in T cells which had being induced to proliferate. RESULTS: When spleen macrophage from mice during late gestation was used as 1 degree APC, the proliferation of sensitized T cell induced by macrophage from late pregnancy mice used as 2 degree APC was no more intense than that from estrous mice (P > 0.05). When spleen macrophage from mice in oestrus was used as 1 degree APC, the proliferation of sensitized T cell induced by macrophage from late pregnancy mice as 2 degrees APC was lower intense than that from estrous mice (P < 0.05). The type of 1 degree APC did not affect the ratio of IL-10 positive T cell, and macrophage from late pregnancy mice could induce more IL-10 positive T cell than that from estrous mice when they were used as 2 degrees APC (P < 0.05). The type of 1 degree or 2 degrees APC did not affect the ratio of IFN-gamma positive T cell. CONCLUSION: The spleen macrophage from mice during late gestation is not an effective APC, but can induce maternal Th2 type of immune and maintain the Th1 type immune at a lower stage during pregnancy, which means it may has some important role in pregnancy.

[Study of fetal lymphocyte of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy].

OBJECTIVE: To explore effect of fetal lymphocyte on pathogenesis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). METHODS: Twenty pregnant women with ICP and 20 normal pregnant women were enrolled in the study. The single mixed lymphocyte culture/reaction (MLC/MLR) was conducted using inactive lymphocyte obtained from maternal peripheral blood and lymphocyte of cord blood from fetus. Antigen-induced-lymphocyte-proliferation-reaction was used for dermic soluble antigen and decidual soluble antigen obtained from maternal blood and cord blood from fetus. The intense of proliferation was calculated and compared between normal and ICP-complicated pregnancies. RESULTS: (1) The level of intense of proliferation of fetal lymphocyte was significantly increased in ICP group 2.75 +/- 0.36 than those of normal control group 1.45 +/- 0.19 in single mixed lymphocyte culture (P < 0.05). (2) The level of intense of proliferation of fetal lymphocyte was significantly increased in ICP group 1.45 +/- 0.19 than those of normal control group 0.67 +/- 0.24 in decidual soluble antigen induced lymphocyte proliferation reaction (P < 0.05). (3) The level of intense of proliferation of fetal lymphocyte was significantly increased in ICP group (1.22 +/- 0.44) than those of normal control group (0.66 +/- 0.27) in dermic soluble antigen induced lymphocyte proliferation reaction. CONCLUSIONS: (1) The fetal lymphocyte may be one of the effector cells in pathogenesis of ICP. (2) The disturbance of fatal-maternal immune-tolerance is one of the important mechanisms underlying ICP.

[The role of progesterone in human early pregnancy is mediated by insulin-like growth factors binding protein1-3].

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the functional role of progesterone in human early pregnancy is mediated by progesterone receptor(PR) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1-3(IGFBP1-3). METHODS: Sample collection was conducted in accordance to the principle of informed content. Decidua and villi were obtained from 48 healthy women in 5-7 weeks of pregnancy, and endometrium in mid-secretory phase was obtained as control. The serum levels of progesterone were detected by radioimmunoassay, and the expressions of IGFBP1-3 and progesterone receptor were detected by immunohistochemistry (LsAB)and quantified by a computer image analysis system. RESULTS: Serum progesterone increased gradually and reached peak level in 5-6 weeks, which was significantly higher than that during the mid-secretory phase (P<0.05). The expression of progesterone receptor in luminal epithelium and decidual cells had significant correlations with serum progesterone, but its expression in glandular epithelium and trophoblast cells had no correlations with serum progesterone. IGFBP1-3 in luminal, glandular epithelium, and decidual cells had significant correlations with serum progesterone, but their expression in trophoblast cells had no correlations with serum progesterone. CONCLUSION: Progesterone plays an important role in the support and maintenance of early pregnancy, and its effect may be mediated by progesterone receptor and IGFBP1-3, in decidual-trophoblast interface.