1.In vitro arsenic trioxide induces apoptosis in T cells of asthmatic patients by a Bcl-2 related mechanism
Dongyun QIN ; Ren HUANG ; Tie WU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2008;43(1):35-43
This study examined the effects of arsenic trioxide on apoptosis and interleukin4 release in T cells of asthmatic patients in vitro and investigated the role of Bcl2 in the active mechanism. Tcells were isolated from asthmatic patients (n=21) and healthy controls (n=20), and then treated with arsenic trioxide and dexamethasone. Cell apoptosis was measured using fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry and a cytochrome c ELISA kit. Interleukin4 levels in the serum and in supernatants from T cells were quantified by ELISA. Flow cytometric analysis and immunofluorescence studies were performed to determine Bcl 2 expression. Tcells of the asthmatic patients (I.e. without treatment) exhibited decelerated spontaneous apoptosis after 24 h incubation in vitro when compared to T cells of the healthy controls. With dexamethasone treatment, an increase in apoptosis of Tcells was not significantly different between both groups, irrespective of the method used. Arsenic trioxide treatment, however, significantly increased the apoptosis of T cells of the asthmatic group and showed a slight effect on the control group. In asthmatic patients, elevated levels of interleukin 4 and upregulated Bcl 2 expression were detected. Moreover, in vitro, T cells of asthmatic patients spontaneously released more interleukin4 and exhibited more Bcl 2 expression than T cells from the control group. Arsenic trioxide treatment significantly decreased interleukin4 release and downregulated Bcl 2 expression in asthmatic patients, while it only slightly affected healthy controls. Dexamethasone treatment decreased interleukin4 release in both groups examined. It did not significantly influence Bcl2 expression. These results suggest that arsenic trioxide induces T cell apoptosis and decreases interleukin4 release in T cells of asthmatic patients in vitro and that downregulation of Bcl2 expression may be an important mechanism.
2.Effects of arsenic trioxide on apoptosis and interleukin-4 release of peripheral T cells from asthmatic patients in vitro
Dongyun QIN ; Ren HUANG ; Tie WU
Chinese Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology 2007;21(6):470-475
AIM To study the possible mechanism of the treatment of arsenic trioxide on asthma. METHODS T cells isolated from 21 asthmatic patients and 20 healthy controls were treated with arsenic trioxide (0.1 mg·L-1) or dexamethasone (5 mg·L-1),in vitro, for 24 h. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels in supernatants from T cells were quantified with ELISA. Cell apoptosis was measured by using fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry and cytochrome c ELISA kit. RESULTS T cells of asthmatic patients spontaneously released more IL-4 than that of healthy controls. Arsenic trioxide significantly decreased IL-4 release of T cells from asthmatic patients, which was more obvious compared with healthy controls. Dexamethasone decreased IL-4 release in both groups. Apoptosis percentage and cytochrome c content in cytoplasm of T cells from asthmatic patients were lower than those from healthy controls. Arsenic trioxide significantly increased the apoptosis percentage and cytochrome c content in cytoplasm of T cells in the asthmatic group, and had slighter effects on that in healthy controls. Dexamathasone increased the apoptosis percentage and cytochrome c content of T cells in both groups. CONCLUSION The mechanism of the treatment of arsenic trioxide on asthma involves the induction of T cell apoptosis and decrease of IL-4 release in asthmatic patients.
3.HCV re-infection and hepatitis C recurrence after liver transplantation
Qiuhong WANG ; Jie HUANG ; Daguang TIAN ; Mingdao HU ; Xiaoping WEI ; Dongyun CUN
Chinese Journal of Hepatobiliary Surgery 2010;16(12):966-969
Different degrees of HCV re-infection exist in patients with hepatitis C after liver transplantation. Its pathogenesis is different according to different phases of the disease. Factors affecting its recurrence include HCV gene type, viral load, HLA matching between donor and recipient, time of recurrence, donor's age and so on, in which the application of immunosuppressants is the most important influencing factor. The virological response can be used to evaluate the effects of treatment. Now, it is widely accepted that the best choice and therapeutic plan is Pegy interferon alfa-2a/2b combined with Ribavirin.
4.CerbB-2 Expression and Significance in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Xiangping WANG ; Changjie HUANG ; Yongzi ZHAN ; Jianfeng HUANG ; Dongyun LI ; Min PAN ; Weiying BAO ; Li LI ; Yan DENG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Oncology 2009;36(23):1350-1352
Objective: To investigate the biological significance of CerbB-2 expression in nasopharyn-geal carcinoma. Methods: The expression of CerbB-2 was detected in 90 nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues and 22 nasopharyngitis tissues by SP immunohistochemical method. The relationship between CerbB-2 ex-pression and clinicopathological characteristics of nasopharyngeal carcinoma was investigated. Results: The positive expression rate of CerbB-2 protein was 65.56% in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues, and 31.82% in nasopharyngitis tissues, with a significant difference (P<0.05). The ratio of expression was 81.0% in patients of N_2 and N_3 lymth node stage, significantly different from that in patients of N_0 and N_1 lymph node stage (52.1%, P<0.05). The expression of CerbB-2 gene was not correlated with age, gender, clinical stage, T stage and distant metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (P>0.05). Conclusion: There is a high expression of CerbB-2 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues, which might be an important event in the pathogenesis and progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
5.Clinical application of lung biopsy through CT-guided percutaneous paracentesis.
Jianfeng HUANG ; Changjie HUANG ; Yongzi ZHAN ; Xiangping WANG ; Dongyun LI
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2002;5(1):58-60
BACKGROUNDTo explore the significance of lung biopsy through CT-guided percutaneous paracentesis in the diagnosis of space-occupying lesions of the lung.
METHODSThirty-five patients with space occupying lesions of the lung underwent lung biopsy through CT-guided percutaneous paracentesis and DLTRA-CUT 16G, 18G or 20G soft-tissue-cutting biopsy needles and PICKER IQ computerized tomograph were used.
RESULTSOf the 35 patients, 26 were confirmed by pathological examination to suffer from primary malignant tumor, 1 from metastatic carcinoma, 3 from tuberculosis and 3 from inflammatory pseudotumor. No definite diagnosis was made in two patients. The diagnostic rate was 94.3%. After operation, minor pneumothorax occurred in 5 cases and traces of blood in sputum in 2 cases, however, they didn't need any treatment.
CONCLUSIONSLung biopsy through CT-guided percutaneous paracentesis is a safe and practical technique and may be widely used in hospitals if conditions permit.