Objective To explore the relationship between translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 40（TOMM40）gene polymorphism and inflammatory status and cognitive function in patients with vascular dementia（VaD）. Methods From June 2020 to December 2022，48 patients with VaD and 40 age-matched control participants were enrolled. TOMM40_rs11556505 and IL-10-592 A/C_rs1800872 polymorphisms were measured. The cognitive function of the patients was evaluated by using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status（RBANS）. Results The main effects of VaD were significant in all the analyses of the sub-scores and total score of RBANS（all P<0.001，all FDR<0.001）. TOMM40_rs11556505 polymorphism had a significant main effect on language score（F=4.524，P=0.034，Cohen f=0.08）. TOMM40×VaD had significant interaction effects on immediate memory（F=4.682，P=0.031，Cohen f=0.08）and language score（F=4.465，P=0.035，Cohen f=0.08）. The two-way multivariate analysis of covariance（IL-10×TOMM40）revealed significant interaction effects between their gene polymorphisms on visual space/structure（F=4.063，P=0.045，FDR=0.080，Cohen f=0.13），language（F=12.031，P<0.001，FDR=0.006，Cohen f=0.23），and delayed memory（F=5.118，P=0.025，FDR=0.075，Cohen f=0.23）in patients with VaD. Conclusion IL-10-592 A/C and TOMM40_rs11556505 gene polymorphisms have interaction effects on cognitive function，with their influence direction depending on each other's genotype.
Interleukin-10

Objective: To investigate the effect of microRNA (miR-148b) targeting decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) on macrophage polarization in sepsis. Methods: Experimental study. From December 2019 to December 2022, serum microRNA expression was detected in 3 patients with sepsis and 3 healthy controls in the clinical laboratory of Songjiang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was used to induce the differentiation of human acute monocytic leukemia cells THP-1 into macrophages, and then lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was added to stimulate the establishment of a sepsis cell model, and the expression changes of miR-148b and DcR3 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Overexpression of DcR3 was used to detect the expression levels of TNF-α, CD163 and IL-10 in macrophages stimulated by LPS (100 ng/ml). Overexpression of miR-148b was used to observe the changes of molecular markers of macrophage polarization. The targeting regulation effect of miR-148b on DcR3 was determined by dual-luciferase reporter assay. t test was used to analyze whether there were statistical differences among the groups. Results: The expression of miR-148b was down-regulated (P<0.05) and the expression of DcR3 was up-regulated (P<0.01) in THP-1 macrophages stimulated by LPS. Overexpression of DcR3 inhibited the expression of TNF-α (P<0.05) and promoted the expression of CD163 (P<0.01) and IL-10 (P<0.01). When miR-148b mimics was added, the opposite effect was observed. The dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-148b targets and binds to DcR3, inhibiting its transcription and expression. The results of flow cytometry showed that DcR3 could reverse the promoting effect of miR-148b on the CD86/CD163 ratio of macrophages (P<0.05). Conclusion: miR-148b inhibits the expression of DcR3, thereby inhibiting M2 polarization in LPS-stimulated macrophage cells.
Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology* ; Macrophages ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 6b/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protective effect of recombinant Schistosoma japonicum cystatin (rSj-Cys) against acute kidney injury induced by acute liver failure and unravel the underlying mechanism, so as to provide insights into the clinical therapy of acute kidney injury. METHODS: Twenty-four male C57BL/6J mice at ages of 6 to 8 weeks were randomly divided into the normal control group, rSj-Cys control group, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/D-galactosamine (D-GaIN) model group and LPS/D-GaIN + rSj-Cys treatment group, of 6 mice each group. Mice in the LPS/D-GaIN group and LPS/D-GaIN + rSj-Cys group were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (10 μg/kg) and D-GaIN (700 mg/kg), and mice in the LPS/D-GaIN + rSj-Cys group were additionally administered with rSj-Cys (1.25 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection 30 min post-modeling, while mice in the rSj-Cys group were intraperitoneally injected with rSj-Cys (1.25 mg/kg), and mice in the normal control group were injected with the normal volume of PBS. All mice were sacrificed 6 h post-modeling, and mouse serum and kidney samples were collected. Serum creatinine (Cr) and urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were measured, and the pathological changes of mouse kidney specimens were examined using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 levels were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the expression of inflammatory factors and pyroptosis-related proteins was quantified in mouse kidney specimens using immunohistochemistry. In addition, the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway-associated proteins was determined in mouse kidney specimens using Western blotting assay. RESULTS: HE staining showed no remarkable abnormality in the mouse kidney structure in the normal control group and the rSj-Cys control group, and renal tubular injury was found in LPS/D-GaIN group, while the renal tubular injury was alleviated in LPS/D-GaIN+rSj-Cys treatment group. There were significant differences in serum levels of Cr (F = 46.33, P < 0.001), BUN (F = 128.60, P < 0.001), TNF-α (F = 102.00, P < 0.001) and IL-6 (F = 202.10, P < 0.001) among the four groups, and lower serum Cr [(85.35 ± 32.05) μmol/L], BUN [(11.90 ± 2.76) mmol/L], TNF-α [(158.27 ± 15.83) pg/mL] and IL-6 levels [(56.72 ± 4.37) pg/mL] were detected in the in LPS/D-GaIN + rSj-Cys group than in the LPS/D-GaIN group (all P values < 0.01). Immunohistochemical staining detected significant differences in TNF-α (F = 24.16, P < 0.001) and IL-10 (F = 15.07, P < 0.01) expression among the four groups, and lower TNF-α [(106.50 ± 16.57)%] and higher IL-10 expression [(91.83 ± 5.23)%] was detected in the LPS/D-GaIN + rSj-Cys group than in the LPS/D-GaIN group (both P values < 0.01). Western blotting and immunohistochemistry detected significant differences in the protein expression of pyroptosis-related proteins NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) (F = 24.57 and 30.72, both P values < 0.001), IL-1β (F = 19.24 and 22.59, both P values < 0.001) and IL-18 (F = 16.60 and 19.30, both P values < 0.001) in kidney samples among the four groups, and lower NLRP3, IL-1β and IL-18 expression was quantified in the LPS/D-GaIN + rSj-Cys treatment group than in the LPS/D-GaIN group (P values < 0.05). In addition, there were significant differences in the protein expression of NF-κB signaling pathway-associated proteins p-NF-κB p-P65/NF-κB p65 (F = 71.88, P < 0.001), Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 (F = 45.49, P < 0.001) and p-IκB/IκB (F = 60.87, P < 0.001) in mouse kidney samples among the four groups, and lower expression of three NF-κB signaling pathway-associated proteins was determined in the LPS/D-GaIN + rSj-Cys treatment group than in the LPS/D-GaIN group (all P values < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS rSj-Cys may present a protective effect against acute kidney injury caused by acute liver failure through inhibiting inflammation and pyroptosis and downregulating the NF-κB signaling pathway.
Mice ; Male ; Animals ; Interleukin-10 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics* ; NF-kappa B/therapeutic use* ; Interleukin-18/therapeutic use* ; Schistosoma japonicum/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6/therapeutic use* ; Lipopolysaccharides/therapeutic use* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Acute Kidney Injury/drug therapy* ; Liver Failure, Acute ; Cystatins/therapeutic use*

Objective: To investigate the effect of microRNA (miR-148b) targeting decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) on macrophage polarization in sepsis. Methods: Experimental study. From December 2019 to December 2022, serum microRNA expression was detected in 3 patients with sepsis and 3 healthy controls in the clinical laboratory of Songjiang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was used to induce the differentiation of human acute monocytic leukemia cells THP-1 into macrophages, and then lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was added to stimulate the establishment of a sepsis cell model, and the expression changes of miR-148b and DcR3 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Overexpression of DcR3 was used to detect the expression levels of TNF-α, CD163 and IL-10 in macrophages stimulated by LPS (100 ng/ml). Overexpression of miR-148b was used to observe the changes of molecular markers of macrophage polarization. The targeting regulation effect of miR-148b on DcR3 was determined by dual-luciferase reporter assay. t test was used to analyze whether there were statistical differences among the groups. Results: The expression of miR-148b was down-regulated (P<0.05) and the expression of DcR3 was up-regulated (P<0.01) in THP-1 macrophages stimulated by LPS. Overexpression of DcR3 inhibited the expression of TNF-α (P<0.05) and promoted the expression of CD163 (P<0.01) and IL-10 (P<0.01). When miR-148b mimics was added, the opposite effect was observed. The dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-148b targets and binds to DcR3, inhibiting its transcription and expression. The results of flow cytometry showed that DcR3 could reverse the promoting effect of miR-148b on the CD86/CD163 ratio of macrophages (P<0.05). Conclusion: miR-148b inhibits the expression of DcR3, thereby inhibiting M2 polarization in LPS-stimulated macrophage cells.
Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology* ; Macrophages ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 6b/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

This study aims to investigate the effect of Bombyx Batryticatus extract(BBE) on behaviors of rats with global cerebral ischemia reperfusion(I/R) and the underlying mechanism. The automatic coagulometer was used to detect the four indices of human plasma coagulation after BBE intervention for quality control of the extract. Sixty 4-week-old male SD rats were randomized into sham operation group(equivalent volume of normal saline, ip), model group(equivalent volume of normal saline, ip), positive drug group(900 IU·kg~(-1) heparin, ip), and low-, medium-, and high-dose BBE groups(0.45, 0.9, and 1.8 mg·g~(-1)·d~(-1) BBE, ip). Except the sham operation group, rats were subjected to bilateral common carotid artery occlusion followed by reperfusion(BCCAO/R) to induce I/R. The administration lasted 7 days for all the groups. The behaviors of rats were examined by beam balance test(BBT). Morphological changes of brain tissue were observed based on hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. Immunofluorescence method was used to detect common leukocyte antigen(CD45), leukocyte differentiation antigen(CD11b), and arginase-1(Arg-1) in cerebral cortex(CC). The protein expression of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-4(IL-4), interleukin-6(IL-6), and interleukin-10(IL-10) was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The non-targeted metabonomics was employed to detect the levels of metabolites in plasma and CC of rats after BBE intervention. The results of quality control showed that the BBE prolonged the activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT), prothrombin time(PT), and thrombin time(TT) of human plasma, which was similar to the anticoagulation effect of BBE obtained previously. The results of behavioral test showed that the BBT score of the model group increased compared with that of the sham operation group. Compared with the model group, BBE reduced the BBT score. As for the histomorphological examination, compared with the sham operation group, the model group showed morphological changes of a lot of nerve cells in CC. The nerve cells with abnormal morphology in CC decreased after the intervention of BBE compared with those in the model group. Compared with the sham operation group, the model group had high average fluorescence intensity of CD45 and CD11b in the CC. The average fluorescence intensity of CD11b decreased and the average fluorescence intensity of Arg-1 increased in CC in the low-dose BBE group compared with those in the model group. The average fluorescence intensity of CD45 and CD11b decreased and the average fluorescence intensity of Arg-1 increased in medium-and high-dose BBE groups compared with those in the model group. The expression of IL-1β and IL-6 was higher and the expression of IL-4 and IL-10 was lower in the model group than in the sham operation group. The expression of IL-1β and IL-6 was lower and the expression of IL-4 and IL-10 was higher in the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose BBE groups than in the model group. The results of non-targeted metabonomics showed that 809 metabolites of BBE were identified, and 57 new metabolites in rat plasma and 45 new metabolites in rat CC were found. BBE with anticoagulant effect can improve the behaviors of I/R rats, and the mechanism is that it promotes the polarization of microglia to M2 type, enhances its anti-inflammatory and phagocytic functions, and thus alleviates the damage of nerve cells in CC.
Humans ; Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Interleukin-10 ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Interleukin-4/metabolism* ; Bombyx ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Microglia/metabolism* ; Saline Solution/metabolism* ; Reperfusion Injury/metabolism* ; Brain Ischemia/metabolism* ; Cerebral Infarction ; Reperfusion ; Neurons

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the gene polymorphisms of patients with lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic syndrome in Longyan area, Fujian province. METHODS: A total of 125 patients with lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic syndrome in Longyan, Fujian province, admitted to Longyan First Hospital from May 2017 to November 2020 were selected. Peripheral venous blood was collected from all the patients, and the genotypes of perforin 1 (PRF1) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene loci were detected by PCR-fluorescence probe method, and the correlation between PRF1 and IL-10 gene polymorphisms and lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic syndrome was analyzed. RESULTS: The mutation frequencies of PRF1 gene loci rs885821 (C>T), rs885822 (C>T), rs1889490 (G>A) in patients with lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic syndrome were 10.40%, 78.8% and 64.4%, respectively. The mutation frequencies of rs1800872 (A>C), rs1800871 (C>T) and rs1800896 (G>A) of IL-10 loci were 56.0%, 45.2% and 77.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION PRF1 and IL-10 gene loci were polymorphic in patients with lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic syndrome in Longyan area, Fujian province. Alleles C and G of PRF1 and IL-10 were risk factors, and alleles T and A were protective factors.
Humans ; Genotype ; Interleukin-10/genetics* ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic/genetics* ; Lymphoma/genetics* ; Perforin/genetics* ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of the expression levels of cytokines interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and chemokine （C-X-C motif） ligand-13 (CXCL-13) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for central nervous system infiltration of lymphoma. METHODS: Forty patients diagnosed as lymphoma or acute lymphoblastic leukemia in General Hospital of Northern Theater Command from July 2020 to July 2021 were collected and recorded their CSF indexes, including pressure, protein, Pandy test, nucleated cell count, glucose and chlorine content in CSF. The levels of cytokines IL-6, IL-10 and CXCL-13 were detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The patients were divided into CNSI (central nervous system infiltration) group and non-CNSI group, the average levels of IL-6, IL-10, CXCL-13 and IL-10/IL-6 ratio in CNSI group were higher than those in non-CNS group, but the difference of IL-10/IL-6 ratio between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). Then the patients were divided into protein elevated(n=14) group and protein normal group(n=26), the levels of IL-6 ［ (5.78±2.69) pg/ ml］ and CXCL-13 ［(0.83±0.59) pg/ml］ in protein elevated group were significantly higher than those in the protein normal group ［IL-6: (2.41±1.16) pg/ml; CXCL-13: (0.38±0.18) pg/ml］ (P<0.05). Further analysis of the expression levels of the cytokines in non-CNSI group (n=32), IL-6, IL-10, CXCL-13 level and IL-10/IL-6 ratio in the protein elevated group (n=12) were higher than those in the protein normal group (n=20), but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION The levels of IL-6, IL-10 and CXCL-13 in CSF of lymphoma patients with CNS infiltration were higher than those in non-CNS infiltration group, and those in patients with protein elevated group are higher than those in the protein normal group.
Humans ; Central Nervous System ; Cytokines ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-6 ; Lymphoma

Objective: To investigate the effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway on the migration ability of HaCaT cells and full-thickness skin defects in mice. Methods: The experimental research method was adopted. According to the random number table (the same below), HaCaT cells were divided into the normal oxygen group and the hypoxia group cultured under hypoxia (with oxygen volume fraction of 1%, the same below) condition. After 24 hours of culture, the significantly differentially expressed genes between the 2 groups were screened using the microarray confidence analysis software SAM4.01. The significance of the number of each gene in the signaling pathway was analyzed through the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes to screen the significantly differentially signaling pathways (n=3). HaCaT cells were cultured for 0 (immediately), 3, 6, 12, and 24 h under hypoxia condition. The secretion level of TNF-α was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the number of samples was 5. HaCaT cells were divided into normal oxygen group, hypoxia alone group, and hypoxia+inhibitor group cultured with FR180204 (an ERK inhibitor) and under hypoxia condition. The cells were cultured for 3, 6, 12, and 24 h. The migration ability of the cells was detected by scratch test (n=12). The expressions of phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa B (p-NF-κB), phosphorylated p38 (p-p38), phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2), N-cadherin, and E-cadherin in HaCaT cells were detected by Western blotting under hypoxic condition for 0, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h (n=3). Sixty-four BALB/c male mice aged 6 to 8 weeks were used to make a full-thickness skin defect wound model on the dorsum of the mice. The mice were divided into the blank control group and the inhibitor group treated with FR180204, with 32 mice in each group being treated accordingly. On post injury day (PID) 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15, the wound conditions of mice were observed and the healing rate was calculated (n=8). On PID 1, 3, 6, and 15, hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe neovascularization, inflammatory cell infiltration, and epidermal regeneration on wound, Masson staining was used to observe collagen deposition on wound, the expressions of p-NF-κB, p-p38, p-ERK12, N-cadherin, and E-cadherin in wound tissue were detected by Western blotting (n=6), the number of Ki67 positive cells and the absorbance value of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected by immunohistochemistry (n=5), the protein expressions of interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-10, IL-1β, and CCL20 in wound tissue were detected by ELISA (n=6). Data were statistically analyzed with one-way analysis of variance, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, factorial design analysis of variance, Tukey test, least significant difference test, and independent sample t test. Results: After 24 hours of culture, compared with normal oxygen group, 7 667 genes were up-regulated and 7 174 genes were down-regulated in cells in hypoxic group. Among the above differentially expressed genes, the TNF-α signaling pathway had significant change (P<0.05) with large number of genes. Under hypoxia condition, the expression of TNF-α at 24 h of cell culture was (11.1±2.1) pg/mL, which was significantly higher than (1.9±0.3) pg/mL at 0 h (P<0.05). Compared with normal oxygen group, the migration ability of cells in hypoxia alone group was significantly enhanced at 6, 12, and 24 h of cell culture (with t values of 2.27, 4.65, and 4.67, respectively, P<0.05). Compared with hypoxia alone group, the migration ability of cells in hypoxia+inhibitor group was significantly decreased at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h of cell culture (with t values of 2.43, 3.06, 4.62, and 8.14, respectively, P<0.05). Under hypoxia condition, the expressions of p-NF-κB, p-ERK1/2, and N-cadherin were increased significantly at 12 and 24 h of cell culture compared with 0 h of culture (P<0.05), the expression of p-p38 was significantly increased at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h of cell culture (P<0.05), the expression of E-cadherin was significantly decreased at 6, 12, and 24 h of cell culture (P<0.05), the expression of p-ERK1/2, p-NF-κB, and E-cadherin was time-dependent. Compared with blank control group, on PID 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15, the wound healing rate of mice in inhibitor group was significantly decreased (P<0.05); there were more inflammatory cell infiltration around the wound edge of mice in inhibitor group on PID 3, 6, and 15, especially on PID 15, a large number of tissue necrosis and discontinuous new epidermal layer were observed on the wound surface, and collagen synthesis and new blood vessels were reduced; the expression of p-NF-κB in the wound of mice in inhibitor group was significantly decreased on PID 3 and 6 (with t values of 3.26 and 4.26, respectively, P<0.05) but significantly increased on PID 15 (t=3.25, P<0.05), the expressions of p-p38 and N-cadherin were significantly decreased on PID 1, 3, and 6 (with t values of 4.89, 2.98, 3.98, 9.51, 11.69, and 4.10, respectively, P<0.05), the expression of p-ERK1/2 was significantly decreased on PID 1, 3, 6, and 15 (with t values of 26.69, 3.63, 5.12, and 5.14, respectively, P<0.05), the expression of E-cadherin was significantly decreased on PID 1 (t=20.67, P<0.05) but significantly increased on PID 6 (t=2.90, P<0.05); the number of Ki67 positive cells and absorbance value of VEGF of wound in inhibitor group were significantly decreased on PID 3, 6, and 15 (with t values of 4.20, 7.35, 3.34, 4.14, 3.20, and 3.73, respectively, P<0.05); the expression of IL-10 in the wound tissue of the inhibitor group was significantly decreased on PID 6 (t=2.92, P<0.05), the expression of IL-6 was significantly increased on PID 6 (t=2.73, P<0.05), the expression of IL-1β was significantly increased on PID 15 (t=3.46, P<0.05), and CCL20 expression levels were significantly decreased on PID 1 and 6 (with t values of 3.96 and 2.63, respectively, P<0.05) but significantly increased on PID 15 (t=3.68, P<0.05). Conclusions: The TNF-α/ERK pathway can promote the migration of HaCaT cells, and regulate the healing of full-thickness skin defect wounds in mice by affecting the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines.
Male ; Animals ; Mice ; Humans ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Interleukin-10 ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; HaCaT Cells ; Interleukin-6 ; Ki-67 Antigen ; NF-kappa B ; Hypoxia ; Oxygen

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of moxibustion on the stem cell factor (SCF)/tyrosine kinase receptor (c-kit) signaling pathway and immune function in rats with diarrhea irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D), and to explore the mechanism of moxibustion for IBS-D. METHODS: Among 52 young rats born from 6 healthy pregnant SPF rats, 12 rats were randomly selected into the normal group, and the remaining 40 rats were treated with the three-factor combination method of maternal separation, acetic acid enema and chronic restraint stress to establish the IBS-D rat model. Thirty-six rats with successful IBS-D model were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion group, and a medication group, 12 rats in each group. The rats in the moxibustion group were treated with suspension moxibustion at "Tianshu" (ST 25) and "Shangjuxu" (ST 37); the rats in the medication group were treated with intragastric administration of rifaximin suspension (150 mg/kg). All the treatments were given once a day for 7 consecutive days. The body mass, loose stool rate (LSR), the minimum volume threshold when abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) scored 3 were measured before acetic acid enema (35 days old), after modeling (45 days old), and after intervention (53 days old). After intervention (53 days old), HE staining was used to observe the morphology of colon tissue, and spleen and thymus coefficients were measured; ELISA method was used to detect serum inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor a [TNF-a], interleukin [IL]-10, IL-8), T-lymphocyte subsets (CD⁺₄, CD⁺₈, CD⁺₄₅), value of CD⁺₄/CD⁺₈ and immune globulin (IgA, IgG, IgM); real-time PCR method and Western blot method was used to detect the expression of SCF, c-kit mRNA and protein in colon tissue; immunofluorescence staining method were used to detect positive expression of SCF and c-kit. RESULTS: After intervention, compared with the normal group, in the model group, the body mass and the minimum volume threshold when AWR scored 3 were decreased (P<0.01), LSR, spleen and thymus coefficients, serum levels of TNF-α, IL-8, CD⁺₄, CD⁺₄₅, CD⁺₄/CD⁺₈, IgA, IgG, IgM were increased (P<0.01), serum IL-10 level and protein and mRNA expression of SCF and c-kit in colon tissue were decreased (P<0.01), and the positive expression of SCF and c-kit was decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, in the moxibustion group and the medication group, the body mass and the minimum volume threshold when AWR scored 3 were increased (P<0.01, P<0.05), LSR, spleen and thymus coefficients, serum levels of TNF-α, IL-8, CD⁺₄, CD⁺₈, CD⁺₄₅, CD⁺₄/CD⁺₈, IgA, IgG, IgM were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), serum IL-10 level and protein and mRNA expression of SCF and c-kit in colon tissue were increased (P<0.01), and the positive expression of SCF and c-kit was increased (P<0.01). Compared with the medication group, in the moxibustion group, the level of serum CD⁺₄ was decreased (P<0.05), the value of CD⁺₄/CD⁺₈ was increased (P<0.01), and there was no significant difference in other indexes (P>0.05). The expression of SCF and c-kit mRNA was positively correlated with the minimum volume threshold when AWR scored 3 and IL-10 (P<0.01), and negatively correlated with remaining indexes (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION Moxibustion could reduce visceral hypersensitivity, improve symptoms of abdominal pain and diarrhea in IBS-D rats, and its mechanism may be related to up-regulation of the expression of SCF/c-kit signaling pathway and improvement of IBS-D immune function.
Rats ; Animals ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/therapy* ; Moxibustion/methods* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-8 ; Maternal Deprivation ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Diarrhea ; Signal Transduction ; Homeostasis ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Immunity ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin M

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of moxibustion on the ultrastructure of synovial cells of knee joint and serum cytokines in adjuvant arthritis (AA) rats, and to explore the potential mechanism of moxibustion in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: Forty-five Wistar male rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group and a moxibustion group, with 15 rats in each group. In the model group and the moxibustion group, the AA model was replicated under wind, cold and humid environment and by injection with complete freund's adjuvant. In the moxibustion group, moxibustion at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Shenshu" (BL 23) was used, 20 min each time, once daily, for consecutive 21 days. In the normal group and the model group, no intervention was processed. The scores of the knee joint swelling degree (JSD) and arthritis index (AI) were compared among groups. The ultrastructure of synovial cells of knee joint were observed under transmission electron microscope (TEM). The levels of serum cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interieukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 were detected using ELISA method. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, JSD and AI scores, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were increased (P<0.01), while IL-10 was reduced (P<0.01) in the model group after intervention. JSD and AI scores, and the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were lower (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the level of IL-10 was higher (P<0.01) in the moxibustion group compared with the model group. Compared with the normal group, the ultrastructure of synovial cell was obviously damaged in the model group, and the damage was attenuated in the moxibustion group compared with the model group. CONCLUSION Moxibustion can reduce the symptoms of arthritis in AA rats, which may be related to the improvement of the ultrastructure of synovial cells and the regulation of cytokines.
Male ; Rats ; Animals ; Cytokines ; Interleukin-10 ; Arthritis, Experimental ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Interleukin-6 ; Moxibustion ; Rats, Wistar ; Knee Joint