Erythropoietin prevents lymphoid apoptosis but has no effect on survival in experimental sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Lymphoid apoptosis in sepsis is associated with poor outcome, and prevention of apoptosis frequently improves survival in experimental models of sepsis. Recently, erythropoietin (EPO) was shown to protect against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mortality. As cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) is a clinically more relevant model of sepsis, we evaluated the effect of EPO on CLP-induced lymphoid tissue apoptosis and mortality. METHODS: Young Wistar rats were subjected to polymicrobial sepsis by CLP. EPO (5,000 U/kg intraperitoneal) was administered 30 min before CLP and then 1 and 4 h after CLP. Spleen, thymus, and small intestine were harvested at 24 h and assessed for apoptosis by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and caspase-3 staining. A separate group of animals was followed up for mortality. RESULTS: Splenic, thymic, and intestinal apoptosis was increased after CLP; administration of EPO significantly decreased apoptosis as determined by TUNEL and caspase-3 staining. Final survival in the CLP mortality study was 30% in both saline and EPO groups. CONCLUSION: Our results provide the first evidence that EPO attenuates lymphoid apoptosis in the CLP model of sepsis. However, EPO is not associated with a survival benefit in the CLP model of sepsis.

Biological markers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and evaluation of in vitro effect of CSF on PC12 cell line viability in Alzheimer's disease.

The definite diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is based on post mortem pathological examination. To date, there is no laboratory test that can discriminate AD patients from healthy individuals. In the perspective of recent knowledge, there are three cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers which have the highest sensitivity and specificity: A beta(1-40), A beta(1-42), and p-tau. In the present study, 15 'Probable Alzheimer's Disease' (PAD) patients and 15 control subjects were included. PAD patients were selected from the patients of Dokuz Eylül University Neurology Department Dementia outpatient clinic and control subjects were selected from the patients who were undergone epidural anesthesia because of any surgical operation. The concentrations of Ab1-40, Ab1-42, and p-tau in CSF were quantified by using ELISA. Also, the effects of 'PAD patients' CSF on the survival of PC12 cell line were assessed. There was a significant decrease of Ab1-40 and increase of p-tau in patients with AD when compared with controls. Ab1-42 concentration was not significantly different between groups. There was a positive correlation between duration of the disease and CSF of p-tau concentration in patients with AD. There was no significant difference in cell line viability values between groups.

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand level in Alzheimer's disease.

In the present study, we determined the significance of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We characterized the expression of TRAIL protein in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum with ELISA and TRAIL mRNA in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with real-time PCR in 22 patients with AD and 20 control cases. We could not find TRAIL protein in the CSF samples. The concentration of TRAIL protein in sera from patients with AD was not different from controls. However, there was an inverse correlation between serum TRAIL levels and Mini-Mental State Examination scores in AD patients. Also we did not find significant difference in TRAIL mRNA in the PBMCs of patients with AD when compared with control group. Our data indicate that TRAIL serum level decreases in the late stage of disease.

Special-study modules in a problem-based learning medical curriculum: an innovative laboratory research practice supporting introduction to research methodology in the undergraduate curriculum.

We describe the organization of wet-lab special-study modules (SSMs) in the Central Research Laboratory of Dokuz Eylül Medical School, Izmir, Turkey with the aim of discussing the scientific, laboratory, and pedagogical aspects of this educational activity. A general introduction to the planning and functioning of these SSMs is given, along with specific examples. The wet-lab SSMs incorporate several innovative pedagogies: problem-based learning, research-based learning, practical laboratory education, team-based learning, and project-based learning. Oral and written evaluations show that the students find this activity rewarding. The wet-lab SSM model applied in the Research-Lab of Dokuz Eylül School of Medicine represents a format which is effective in training the students in research methodology, practical laboratory work, and independent learning.

In vitro reoxygenation following hypoxia increases MMP-2 and TIMP-2 secretion by human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Endothelial cells lining the inner blood vessel walls play a key role in the response to hypoxia, which is frequently encountered in clinical conditions such as myocardial infarction, renal ischemia and cerebral ischemia. In the present study we investigated the effects of hypoxia and hypoxia/reoxygenation on gelatinases (matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9), their inhibitor (TIMP-2) and activator (MT1-MMP), in human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) cells. HUVE cells were subjected to 4 h of hypoxia or hypoxia followed by 4 and 24 h of reoxygenation. The pro- and active forms of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were analyzed by gelatin zymography; TIMP-2 protein level was assayed using ELISA, while MT1-MMP activity was measured using an activity assay. The secretion of MMP-2 proform increased significantly in cells subjected to 4 h of hypoxia followed by 4 or 24 h of reoxygenation, compared with the normoxic group. TIMP-2 protein level also increased significantly in the hypoxia/reoxygenation groups, compared with the normoxic group. There were no statistically significant differences in the levels of active MT1-MMP in all groups. This study indicates that MMP-2 and TIMP-2 could be regarded as important components of a mechanism in the pathophysiology of ischemic injury following reperfusion.