1.The expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in invasive pulmonary aspergillosis mice
Hongdan LUO ; Jinhui LIU ; Dandan DAI ; Kai LONG ; Xiaomei XIE
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2008;28(8):685-689
Objective To study the roles of TLR2 and TLR4 in the progress of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis(IPA) in experimental mice.Methods The mice were divided into three groups including the group of normal mice,the group of normal mice infected with A.fumigatus and the group of IPA mice.The mice were sacrificed at four time points(8 h,24 h,48 h and 72 h) after infection.The lung tissues from each group were collected for pathological analysis and RT-PcR for detecting the expression level of,TLR2,TLR4 and β-tublin.The ratio of density value of band of each PCR product on electrophoresis to the density value of β-tublin was used to evaluate the expression level of each gene like TLR2.TLR4 and TNF-α.Re-suits The pathological analysis showed the normal structure and no inflananatory reaction in the lungs in the group of normal mice.The infiltration of inflammatory cells,weak injuries and no germination of spore into hypha in the lungs of normal mice infected with A.fumigatus,and serious injuries like destruction of alveolar structure,bleeding,infiltration of inflammatory cells and germination of spore into hypha in the lungs of IPA mice.The expression level of TLR4 at 8 h,24 h,48 h and TNF-α at 24 h and 48 h were lower in IPA mice than that in healthy mice with infection(P<0.05).Conclusion There was low expression of TLR4 and TNF-α in IPA mice lung tissues.Typical pathological injuries in the lungs and germination of spore into hy-pha in IPA mice were observed by the microscope.
2.Silencing gene of TLR4 down-regulates the effect of TLR2 signal transduction in RAW264.7 cells to anti-Aspergillus fumigatus conidia stimulation
Zhenhua RAO ; Genhua ZHU ; Weihua XIE ; Mingsheng SU ; Kai LONG ; Hongdan LUO ; Xiaomei XIE
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2012;32(2):108-113
Objective To study the role of TLR2 and TLR4 signal transduction in RAW264.7 monocyte-macrophages stimulated by Aspergillus fumigatus conidia,and to investigate the expression of TLR2 signal transduction after silencing gene of TLR4.Methods Macrophages were randomly divided into normal group ( N group),normal+stimulated with Aspergillus fumigatus conidia ( N +Af group ),normal + transfected with TLR4-siRNA [ TLR4 (RNAi) group ],normal+transfected with TLR4-siRNA +stimulated with Aspergillus fumigatus conidia[ TLR4(RNAi) +Af group].RT-PCR and Western blot were used to assay expression levels of TLR2,TLR4,MyD88 mRNA and pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α protein when macrophages were stimulated 12 h by Aspergillus fumigatus conidia after tranfected 24 h with TLR4-siRNA by technology of RNAi.Results ( 1 ) Compared with N group,the expression of TLR2,TLR4,MyD88 mRNA and TNF-αprotein in N+Af group significantly increased before silencing gene of TLR4.(2) Silencing efficiency of macrophates was up to 83% after transfected with TLR4-siRNA.(3)The expression of TLR2,MyD88 mRNA in TLR4 (RNAi) group significantly decreased contrast with normal group.Meanwhile the expression of TLR2,MyD88 mRNA and TNF-α protein also obviously reduced in TLR4(RNAi) +Af group when compared with N +Af group.Compared with TLR4 (RNAi) group,the expression of MyD88 mRNA in TLR4 (RNAi) +Af group significantly increased.However,the expression of TLR2 mRNA and TNF-α protein have no significant change after silencing gene of TLR4.Conclusion Signaling pathway of TLR2 and TLR4 in macrophages was activated by given stimulus of Aspergillusfumigatus conidia and exerted the effect of anti-Aspergillus fumigatus spores stimulation through the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α.Meanwhile,silencing gene of TLR4 down-regulate the effect of TLR2 signal transduction in RAW264.7 cells to anti-Aspergillus fumigatus conidia stimulation,and it found that TLR4 played an more important role by contrast with TLR2.
3.Activation of TLRs/NF-κB signal pathway and occurrence of different functional cytokines during invasive pulmonary aspergillosis
Xiaomei XIE ; Xiang LI ; Hongdan LUO ; Qing SHI ; Haihong ZHANG ; Zhenhua RAO
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2011;(3):213-219
Objective To study the activation of TLRs/NF-κB signal pathway and production of different functional cytokines during invasive pulmonary aspergillosis( IPA) , in order to probe the pathogene-sis of IPA. Methods Mouse were randomly divided into normal, normal + inoculated with Aspergillus fumigatus( normal inoculation group), and immune suppression + inoculation with Aspergillus fumigatus (IPAmodel group) , the mouse were killed at different time points after inhaling Aspergillus fumigatus spores by nose. Removing the lung tissue in a sterile manner and making pathological section respectively, counting Aspergillus fumigatus colony, dynamiclly detecting the expression of TLR2, TLR4 mRNA, variation of NF-κB p65 protein, pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 levels in the lung tissue by RT-PCR and Western blot method during Aspergillus fumigatus infection in mouse. Results (1) When it's 72 h after inhaling Aspergillus fumigatus by nose, IPA model emerged severe lung tissue inflammation, and generated a large number of hyphae, meanwhile, burthen of Aspergillus fumigatus was higher than normal inoculation group at each time point. (2)Compared with the normal inoculation group, IPA group whose TLR2 mRNA was low expression at early stage of infection (24 h), and emerged high expression at late stage of infection (120 h, 144 h); and TLR4 mRNA has been at a state of low expression in the infection process; NF-κB p65 suddenly increased at early stage of infection(24 h) and then continued to decline. (3) After infected by Aspergillus fumigatus in normal mouse, proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α, IL-1β in lung exhibited high expression at the early stages of infection, and the highest expression levels appeared at 48 h or 72 h, then decreased and recovered to normal level. And the expression level of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 rised at late stage of infection; The IP A mouse released a lot of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 at early stage of infection, which significantly reduced at late stage, and released pro-inflammatory cyto-kines TNF-α, IL-1β at slow and low level. Conclusion The abnormal activation of TLRs/NF-β signaling pathway caused the loss of dynamic balance between pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines, leading to the occurrence and development of IPA.
4.Value of ultrasound monitoring of endometrial thickness in assessing pregnancy rate improvement after estrogen administration following a missed abortion
Junjun SHEN ; Hongdan SUN ; Xiaofang LUO
Chinese Journal of Primary Medicine and Pharmacy 2024;31(3):432-436
Objective:To analyze the clinical value of ultrasound monitoring of endometrial thickness in assessing pregnancy rate improvement after estrogen administration following a missed abortion.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 86 patients who underwent surgical abortion at Cixi Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2022 to June 2023. Based on the treatment received, the patients were divided into two groups: a control group and an observation group, with 43 patients in each group. The control group received only routine postoperative care without any medication, while the observation group received estrogen treatment after surgery. The clinical efficacy, endometrial thickness, intrauterine adhesion and re-pregnancy rate were compared between the two groups.Results:In the observation group, there was significant difference in endometrial thickness in terms of intergroup, group-by-time interaction, and time effect ( Fintergroup =129.49, Finteraction =14.25, Ftime =146.64, all P < 0.001). Intrauterine adhesions were less severe in the observation group compared with the control group ( χ2 = 4.34, P < 0.05). The clinical effective rate was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group [88.37% (38/43) vs. 69.76% (30/43), Z = 2.35, P = 0.019]. Additionally, the rate of re-pregnancy was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group [46.54% (20/43) vs. 13.95% (6/43), χ2 = 10.81, P < 0.05]. Conclusion:Patients who have retained abortion can benefit from ultrasound examination to assess endometrial thickness after estrogen administration. This approach significantly enhances endometrial thickness, promotes menstrual recovery, and reduces intrauterine adhesions. It also improves the rate of re-pregnancy and is highly valuable in clinical settings.