Objective To investigate the effects of photodynamic reaction on cytokines production of HaCat keratinocytes treated with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). Methods The HaCat cells were cocultured in vitro with different concentrations of ALA. Three hours later PpIX levels in HaCat cells were detected, and phtotodynamic reaction was induced by 632.8 nm laser radiation on cells. The cell death was analyzed using a flow cytometer to evaluate reactive intensity. The cytokines contents in supernatant were determined, including interleukin (IL)- lα, IL-6, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), endothelin (ET)-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Results Different cellular PpIX levels and cell death rates were seen according to ALA concentrations. The cell death rate did not exceed 10% and showed a positive linear relationship with ALA concentration (P＜0.05), when the later was at 0.0-1.6 mmol/L interval. The levels of IL-1α, bFGF and TNF-α increased as ALA concentration ascended at this interval (P＜0.05). No significant correlation was found between ALA concentration and IL-6 or ET-1 level (P＞0.05). Conclusion The photodynamic reactive intensity could be enhanced by increasing ALA concentration. And at certain scope, higher reactive grade might induce higher levels of keratinocyte-derived cytokines.

< 0.05; 8.9% vs 0.1%, x2 = 8.23, P< 0.05). Conclusion Low concentration (0.1%) of DMSO could enhance the effect of ALA-PDT on HaCaT cells.

Objective To examine whether activation of nuclear factor-?B (NF-?B) exists in skin lesions of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE ) and its association with disease activity. Methods The skin lesions were inves tigated histopathologically in patients with SLE, and NF-?B activation was ass essed by immunohistochemical analysis semi quantitatively. Results Expression o f NF-?B was found on skin lesions in 14 of 15 patients with SLE, including 8 s trong positive (), 3 moderate positive (), and 3 mild positive (+). Brown-coloured particles were mainly distributed in keratinocytes, especially in prick le cells and granular layer cells, as well as in mononuclear cells of dermis. Th ere was no correlation between NF-?B activation and disease activity. However, NF-?B was not detected in skin lesions of all patients with non-SLE and heal thy controls. Conclusions NF-?B activation may be associated with the developm ent of skin lesions in patients with SLE,and not with disease activity.

The iron chelators can be utilized in target cells to improve 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA)-based photodynamic therapy (PDT). The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of two kinds of iron chelators, desferrioxamine (DFO) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on the enhancement of ALA-PDT. HaCat cells were cultured in medium containing 2.0 mmol/L of ALA and 0.5 mmol/L of DFO or EDTA. After 3-h incubation in the dark, the concentration of cellular protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) was detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the fluorescence of PpIX was observed at 630 nm emission under confocal laser scanning microscope. For PDT, HaCat cells were irradiated using 632.8 nm laser, and the fractions of apoptotic and necrotic cells were flow cytometrically assayed. Related differences in morphology and ultrastructure of Ha-Cat cells were observed using optical microscope or transmission electron microscope. Compared to incubation with ALA alone, the addition of DFO or EDTA increased the concentration of cellular PpIX and the fluorescent density of PpIX, and also increased cell death ratio after PDT. PDT using ALA plus DFO produced the highest cellular PpIX level, greatest cell death ratio and most severe structural damage to the cells. It was concluded that both DFO and EDTA could enhance ALA-based PpIX production and PDT. Compared to the non-specific iron chelator of EDTA, the specific chelator, DFO, showed more potential for the enhancement.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of embryo thymus transplantation in the treatment of lupus-like BXSB mice,study the pathogenesis of SLE in BXSB mice and the therapeutic effect of embryo thymus transplantation.Methods The embryonic thymus of CB57L mice was transplanted to50day-old male BXSB mice.Levels of proteinuria,ANA,blood urea nitrogen(BUN),blood creatinine and the deposits of immunoglobulin(Ig)in the glomerulus were detected regularly for5months,and the number of mice died of SLE was observed.Results The levels of proteinuria,ANA,BUN,blood creatinine of the5,6,7month old mice in embryo thymus transplantation group were lower than that of5month old mice in control group.The efficacy of treatment in embryo thymus transplantation group were similar to that of dexamethasone treatment group,and the SLE-caused death was reduced in these two groups.However,the embryo thymus transplantation seemed not to reduce the deposits of lg in glomerulus significantly,the deposits of lg in the glomerulus were similar in all three groups.Conclusions Embryo thymus transplantation could improve renal functions and reduce the titer of ANA.Its efficacy is similar to that of dexamethasone.Embryo thymus transplantation has a short term therapeutic effect in the treatment of lupus-like BXSB mice.The deficiency of thymus in the BXSB mice may play an important role in the pathogenesis of lupus-like mice.Embryo thymus transplantation may be a valuable approach to treat SLE.

The iron chelators can be utilized in target cells to improve 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA)-based photodynamic therapy (PDT). The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of two kinds of iron chelators,desferrioxamine (DFO) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on the enhancement of ALA-PDT. HaCat cells were cultured in medium containing 2.0 mmol/L of ALA and 0.5 mmol/L of DFO or EDTA. After 3-h incubation in the dark,the concentration of cellular protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) was detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC),and the fluorescence of PpIX was observed at 630 nm emission under confocal laser scanning microscope.For PDT,HaCat cells were irradiated using 632.8 nm laser,and the fractions of apoptotic and necrotic cells were flow cytometricaUy assayed. Related differences in morphology and ultrastructure of HaCat cells were observed using optical microscope or transmission electron microscope. Compared to incubation with ALA alone,the addition of DFO or EDTA increased the concentration of cellular PpIX and the fluorescent density of PpIX,and also increased cell death ratio after PDT. PDT using ALA plus DFO produced the highest cellular PpIX level,greatest cell death ratio and most severe structural damage to the cells. It was concluded that both DFO and EDTA could enhance ALA-based PpIX production and PDT. Compared to the non-specific iron chelator of EDTA,the specific chelator,DFO,showed more potential for the enhancement.