AIM: To investigative the inhibitory effects of Paecilomyces cicadae polysaccharide (PcPS) against HBV in vitro, and the effects on the Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) mRNA expression in HepG2.2.15 cell strain. METHODS: HepG2.2.15 cell strain was co-cultured in vitro with PcPS in different concentrations, and lamivudine (LMV) was applied as positive control. MTT assay was employed to detect the cytotoxicities of PcPS in vitro, when the HepG2.2.15 cells was used as target cells. The effects of PcPS on the secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg were assayed by ELISA method. Fluorescence quantitative-PCR (FQ-PCR) was used to detect the inhibitory effects of PcPS on the content of HBV-DNA and TLR4 mRNA in HepG2.2.15 cells. RESULTS: The inhibitory effects of PcPS on the HBsAg and HBeAg were observed and the maximum inhibitory ratio up to 44.8% and 31.0%, respectively. The same inhibitory effects of PcPS on the HBV-DNA replication and TLR4 mRNA expression in HepG2.2.15 cells were also found. CONCLUSION: A certain concentration of PcPS significantly inhibits HBV replication in vitro.

Objective To investigate the optimized parameters of dye (SYBR Green Ⅰ) realtime fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (RF-PCR) for detecting αβT lymphocyte clones in the peripheral blood and its application in monitoring specific T cell clone in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods The total RNA was extracted from the PBMC of six healthy donors, and was reversely transcripted into cDNA. Then the cDNA was amplified using RF-PCR with the primers specific for T cell receptor β viable region (TCRBV) gene families as upstream primers and the primer for T cell receptor (TCR) β constant region (TCRBC) as downstream primer. The annealing temperature,concentration of primers and the total number of cycles were comparatively analyzed. The optimized PCR was performed to investigate the 24 TCRBV gene families from 12 patients with CHB, and the PCR products were monitored by melting curve analysis, and the clone expansion of peripheral blood T cell was detected by peak-motif of melting curve analysis. Results The optimized annealing temperature, final premier concentration,the number of cycles were 60.6 ℃, 0.5 μmol/L and 40 cycles, respectively. The begin temperature for melting curve analysis was better as 80 ℃ compared to 75 ℃. There was mono-peak on melting peak chart for TCRBV gene families in PBMC from patients with CHB, and PCR products of the single peak were determined as monoclonal T cell by sequencing. Conclusions The optimized reaction parameters of RF-PCR for monitoring 24 TCRBV gene families are determined. The melting peak chart could be used to monitor the clone expansion of the peripheral lymphocytes and to detect the clone-specific T cells in the peripheral blood from patients with CHB.

AIM: To study the immune regulation of paecilomyces cicadidae total polysaccharides. METHODS: After subcutaneous injection with 200 mg/L paecilomyces cicadidae total polysaccharides in the back of the rats for 17 days, the white blood cell (WBC) counts, and the levels of lipid peroxide (LPO) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in the spleen and thymus of rats were detected. The alveolar macrophages (AM?) cultured with 10% fetal bovine serum-RPMI-1640 for 2 h in vitro , then the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and acid phosphatase (ACP) were detected by automatic biochemistry analyzer, and the ability devouring neutral red in the AM? were examined. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the WBC, the levels of GSH in the spleen and thymus, and the activities of LDH and ACP were significantly increased and the ability of devouring neutral red was also strengthened( P

AIM: To explore the immunomodulatory effect of paecilomyces cicadidae polysaccharides (PCPS).METHODS: Subcutaneous injection with 50, l00, 200 mg/kg of PCPS were given in the back of the rats everyday for l5 days. The number of white blood cells (WBC) was counted. The activities of acid phosphatase (ACP) and lactase dehydrogenase (LDH)in liver, kidney, spleen and thymus were detected by automatic biochemistry analyzer. The ability of devouring neutral red and activity of ACP, LDH, arginase in alveolar macrophages were also detected. The body weight of the rat everyday during experiment and weight of the spleen and thymus after the rats were killed were measured and wet weight index was calculated.RESULTS: The wet weight index of spleen and thymus, the activity of ACP, LDH, arginase and ability of devouring neutral red in alveolar macrophages in the test group treated with PCPS were significantly higher than those in control group. CONCLUSION: PCPS shows a significant immunomodulatory effect with the increasing counts of WBC and activation of alveolar macrophages in a dose-dependent manner.

AIM: To study the effects of paecilomyces cicadidae total polysaccharides on the immune function and free radical scavenging of tissues in immunosuppressed rats.METHODS: The activities of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and arginase(Arg) in liver,kidney,spleen,thymus of immunosuppressed rats were detected by automatic biochemistry analyzer.The content of lipid peroxide(LPO) and the reduced glutathione(GSH) level in liver,kidney,spleen,thymus of immunosuppressed rats were observed.RESULTS: The activity of the LDH,Arg and GSH level were significantly increased,and the LPO content were significantly declined in liver,kidney,spleen,thymus of immunosuppressed rats induced by cyclophosphamide.CONCLUSION: Paecilomyces cicadidae total polysaccharides promote immune function and the ability of free radical scavenging of tissues in immunosuppressed rats.

AIM: To study the activation and the immune regulation of paecilomyces cicadidae total polysaccharides on macrophages in old rats. METHODS: The ability of devouring neutral red and stimulating index in the alveolar macrophages (AM) and peritoneal macrophages (PM) were observed. The activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), acid phosphatase (ACP) and arginase (Arg) were detected by automatic biochemistry analyzer. The shape and structure of spleen macrophages were observed by electron microscope. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the activity of the LDH/ACP/Arg in the AM or PM and in the culture fluid of the AM or PM were significantly increased (P

Objective To determine the changes of peripheral levels of T helper cell cytokines of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) during antiviral treatment,and to further explore its clinical significance.Methods The plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-2,IL-6,IL-10,interferon (IFN)-γ and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α of thirty-three CHB patients during antiviral treatment (entecavir) were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbont assay (ELISA).And their biochemical indicators of liver function were determined.The differences of cytokines levels before and after antiviral treatment were compared using ANOVA.The correlations between the changes of cytokines and alanine transaminase (ALT),hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels were analyzed.Results Levels of IFNγ before and 12,24,48 weeks after treatment were (5.98±2.77),(5.95±3.37),(2.93±2.15) and (9.29±4.65) pg/mL,respectively (F=3.845,P＜0.05),which were positively correlated with ALT levels (r =0.396,P＜0.05).Both TNF-α and IL-10 levels declined after antiviral treatment,which were significantly different at different time points (F=20.156 and 16.695,respectively; both P＜0.05),and both levels of TNF-α and IL-10 were positively correlated with ALT levels (r=0.354and 0.316,respectively; both P＜0.05) and positively correlated with HBV DNA levels (r=0.382and 0.386,respectively; both P＜0.05).While both IL-2 and IL-6 levels were not significantly different between before and after antiviral treatment (F=0.010 and 0.932,respectively; both P＞0.05).The serum levels of ALT and HBV DNA before and after antiviral treatment were all significantly different (F=17.69 and 198.98,respectively; both P＜0.05),which declined gradually during treatment and were positively correlated (r =0.581,P＜0.05).Conclusions IL-10,IFNγand TNF-α may be involved in the pathologic process of CHB,and closely related to the deterioration of the disease.Monitoring plasma levels of these cytokines during antiviral treatment could be useful to understand the immune status and evaluate the efficacy of antiviral drugs.