Objective To systematically evaluate the curative effect and safety of treating winter diseases in summer acupoint application therapy for asthma in children.Methods The domestic and international databases were retrieved till Feb 2017.The randomized controlled trials about treatment of treating winter diseases in summer acupoint application therapy for children with asthma were identified.The methodology quality of included trials was assessed.Results A total of 3 RCT involving 146 patients were included.The compositions of Chinese medicines and acupuncture points used were quite diverse,which inhibited us to conduct meta-analysis.The methodological quality of included RCT was generally lower.The results showed that treating winter diseases in summer acupoint application therapy might have advantage in reducing asthma acute attack times and improving clinical symptoms and respiratory function.Conclusion treating winter diseases in summer acupoint sticking therapy for asthma in children may have some advantages,however,due to the lack of a number of trials and poor methodology quality,the claimed benefits of treating winter diseases in summer acupoint sticking therapy for for children with asthma are inconclusive;more rigorous studies are warranted to support clinical practice.

Objective To establish the murine congenital infection model by MCMV and observe the pathological changes and infection status of brain tissue.Methods After anesthesia,mice who were pregnant 11-13.5 days (E11-13.5 d) were intra-amniotic injected one uterus by one with virus (MCMV K181 suspension,1 μl,1×103 PFU).The control group of the same period was intra-anmiotic injected with culture medium DMEM (1 μl).Carefully reset the uteruses and close the abdomen.After 5 days of separated feeding,kill the pregnant mice,take the fetus out of the uterus,anesthetize and kill them.Make frozen sections of these fetal brains.Some sections were stained using conventional HE method,to observe the pathological changes under the light microscope.Detect MCMV early antigen in the brain tissue by immunohistochemistry staining and immunofluorescence assay.Results The survival rates of the infected group were 71.9％.Compared with the control group,intra-amniotic inoculation of MCMV does not affect the rate of fetal survival,fetal absorption,fetal death and the average weight of the heads,but decrease their average weight of the bodies.The pathological changes are found in the brain tissue of the mouse in the infection group.Through enzyme immunohistochemistry assay,there are many MCMV infected cells in brain-ventricular zone,brain subependymal zone,cerebral cortex and hippocampus area in the infection group.Similar findings were observed by immunofluorescence method.Conclusion By intra-amniotic injection of MCMV suspension,murine model of MCMV congenital infection can be successfully established.This model could be used to study the mechanisms of encephalodysplasia caused by congenital CMV infection in vivo.

ObjectiveTo construct the eukaryotic expression plasmids containing cysteine protease inhibitor (CPI) and glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene from periodic Brugia malayi (Bm),and to observe its cellular immune response in mouse.Methods pcDNA3.1 (+)-BmCPI/BmGAPDH was constructed.The recombinant plasmids were screened and identified by digestion with restriction enzyme.BALB/c mice were injected intramuscularly with a dosage of 100 μg purified recombinant plasmid DNA with GpG oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG ODN) and two same doses were administrated at 2-week intervals.pcDNA3.1 (+) and phosphate buffered solution (PBS) were used as controls.The tissue of muscles at 4 weeks after the third injection was collected and the target gene was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR).Two weeks after the third immunization,the stimulation index (SI) of spleen lymphocytes of immunized mice was measured by methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method and the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-γ were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The data were analyzed by t test.ResultsBmCPI/BmGAPDH gene in the injected muscle of the immunized mice was detected by RT-PCR. At 6 weeks after immunization,the SIot spleen T lymphocytes in pcDNA3.1 (+)-BmCPI/CpG group and pcDNA3.1 (+)-BmCPI/BmGAPDH/CpG group were 1.466 ± 0.635 and 1.610 ± 0.112,respectively,which were both higher than PBS group and pcDNA3.1( +)-CpG group (1.004 ± 0.019 and 1.078 ± 0.129,respectively) (t=64.438,45.318,42.749 and 34.314,respectively; all P＜0.05).At 4 weeks after immunization,the serum levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ of mice in pcDNA3.1 ( + )-BmCPI/BmGAPDH/ CpG group were significantly higher than those in pcDNA3.1 (+)-CpG group (t=288.053 and 76.453,respectively; both P＜0.05),while the serum level of IFN-γ was also higher than that in pcDNA3.1 (+)-BmCPI/CpG group (t=129.642,P＜0.05). ConclusionThe recombinant eukaryotic plasmid pcDNA3.1 (+)-BmCPI/BmGAPDH could be expressed in mice,and could elicit specific cellular immune responses in immunized mice.

Objectives To investigate the effects of lipoxin receptor agonist BML-111 on IFN-βand IE86 mRNA expression of macrophages infected by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Methods Macrophages were infected with HCMV (MOI=0.5), and the cultured cells were randomly divided into control group, HCMV group, HCMV+BML-111 group, and HCMV+MP group. The cells were collected at 0,1,2,4,8 and 12 h after infection, and the levels of IFN-βand IE86 mRNA were tested by real-time PCR. Results Compared with HCMV group, the levels of IFN-βmRNA in HCMV+BML-111 group increased significantly (P < 0.05), while the levels of IFN-βmRNA in HCMV+MP group decreased significantly (P < 0.05); Compared with HCMV group, there were no significant differences of the levels of IE86 mRNA in HCMV+BML-111 group (P>0.05), while the levels of IE86 mRNA in HCMV+MP group increased significantly (P < 0.05). Conclusion BML-111 exerts antiviral activity by promoting the expression of IFN-βmRNA at the early stage of HCMV infection.

BACKGROUND:The anti-inflammation and protective effects of lipoxin have been verified in several immunity-related disease models. Preliminary studies of our research group have shown that, lipoxin receptor agonist BML-111 has negative regulation effects on the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-induced immunological injury. However, the effect of BML-111 on the HCMV replication remains unclear.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the influence of lipoxin receptor agonist BML-111 on HCMV replication and proliferation in THP-1 macrophages and human embryonic lung fibroblasts.
METHODS:THP-1 macrophages were infected by HCMV AD169 strain, and were divided into three groups:mock infection, HCMV infection, HCMV+BML-111. The final concentration of BML-111 was 100 nmol/L. cells in each group were col ected at 0, 1, 2, 4, 12, 36, 48 hours, the mRNA levels of IE86 and pp65 in the THP-1 macrophages were tested by RT-PCR method. Human embryonic lung fibroblasts were infected with HCMV (MOI=0.1), and were divided into two groups:HCMV infection and HCMV+BML-111. The patho-morphous changes of human embryonic lung fibroblasts were observed under light microscope, and the cellnumber was measured. The infective virus titer changes in human embryonic lung fibroblasts were examined by plaque assay.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After the macrophages were infected by HCMV, compared with the mock infection group, the mRNA levels of IE86 and pp65 in the HCMV group and HCMV+BML-111 group were increased significantly;compared with the HCMV infection group, the mRNA levels of IE86 and pp65 in the HCMV+BML-111 group were increased significantly in the early stage (within 4 hours) after infection, but the pp65 mRNA levels were decreased significantly in the medium and late stages (24-72 hours) after infection. After human embryonic lung fibroblasts were infected by HCMV, the degree of the patho-morphous in the HCMV+BML-111 group reached 100%2 days earlier than the of HCMV infection group. The infective virus titer reached the peak 2 days earlier than the HCMV infection group, but no significant difference was found between the two groups. BML-111 accelerates the replication of HCMV in the early stage of infection, but inhibits the expression of pp65 gene in the late stage. BML-111 has no impact on the proliferation of the infective HCMV titer in vitro.

Objective To explore the correlation between the expression of IL-17A and the degree of spleen damage in acute mouse cytomegalovirus(MCMV) disseminated infection in vivo and to understand the mechanism about how IL-17A involved in the pathological damage of the spleen in MCMV infection.Methods An acute disseminated MCMV infection model was established in mice.BALB/c mice were randomly divided into two groups.Mice in group one were infected with MCMV Smith to establish disseminated infection.Mice in another group were sham-infected control.Three mice from each group were randomly chosen to be sacrificed on days 3,7,14 and 28 after the infection.Viral titers in spleen tissues were determined using a standard plaque assay.The expression of IL-17A mRNA and MCMV mRNA in the splenocytes were measured by RT-PCR.The expression of IL-17A in spleen tissues was observed by immunohistochemical staining.The pathology of the infected mice was assessed by histological examination of H&E stained spleen sections.Results Viral titers and MCMV mRNA in the spleen peaked on day 3,but quickly diminished on day 7.Virus was no longer detectable in the spleen on day 14 after the infection.The expression of IL-17A mRNA was significantly increased during the acute infection and reached the highest level on day 14,then decreased on day 28.It is significantly higher than that of the mock infection group.Immunohistochemistry assay also indicated that the expression of IL-17A in spleen tissue gradually increased to climax on day 14,then decreased on day 28.Accordingly,the pathological damages of spleen tissue in the infected mice deteriorated until day 14,then showed signs of recovery on day 28.The most severe pathological injury of spleen tissue and the highest expression of IL-17A appeared in the same period of time.Conclusion Our results showed a close correlation between IL-17A and the pathological damage in spleen.Thus,IL-17A may contribute to the spleen pathological damage during the acute disseminated MCMV infection.

ObjectiveTo observe the changes of AIM2 ( absent in melanoma 2) inflammasome during early murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection.MethodsBALB/c mice were randomly divided into two groups.One was infected with MCMV Smith for establishing disseminated infection,the other was sham-inoculated control.On days 1,3,5 and 7 of the experiment,three mice of each group were randomly chosen to be killed separately.The expression of AIM2,ASC and caspase-1 in splenic macrophages was detected by Western blot,the levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in sera were measured by double antibody sandwich ELISA,and the viral titers in salivary gland tissues were quantified by a standard plaque assay.Results The MCMV titers in salivary gland tissues were gradually increased in MCMV-infected mice on days 3,5 and 7,while the expressions of AIM2 in macrophages were began to increase on day 1 and significantly increased and reached the highest level on day 3 but gradually decreased afterwards.The relative intensity of AIM2 on day 3 differed significantly between the MCMV-infected mice and the controls (1.121±0.243 vs 0.240±0.046,P＜0.01,t test),as did ASC ( 1.318±0.333 vs 0.248±0.090,P＜0.01 ) and caspase-1 ( 1.085±0.243 vs 0.247±0.064,P＜0.01 ).Meanwhile,the levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in MCMV-infected mice were (112.72±5.20) pg/ml and (42.74±4.23) pg/ml,and the levels were significantly higher (P＜0.01 ) than those in controls [ (47.86±4.35) pg/ml and (22.60±2.82) pg/ml].ConclusionThese results demonstrate that AIM2 inflammasome is activated in macrophages during early MCMV infection and could be as a therapeutic target for CMV-induced diseases.

Objective To investigate the nature of Th17 cells in murine cytomegalovirus(MCMV)infection during the acute stage,we characterized the frequency of IL-17A-producing CD4 T cells and the level of Th17 cytokines,IL-17A,in MCMV-infected mice.Methods BALB/c mice were randomly divided into two groups.One was infected with MCMV Smith for establishing disseminative infection; the other was sham-inoculated control.On day 3,7,14 and 28 of the experiment,three mice of each group were randomly chosen to be killed separately.Real-time PCR was used to detect MCMV loads in organs of MCMV-infected mice,the pathology of spleen was observed by HE staining.The frequency of CD4+IL-17A+ T cells in total splenocytes of mice was detected by flow cytometry.The level of IL-17A in culture supernatants of splenocytes was measured by double antibody sandwich ELISA.Results MCMV loads in salivary gland reached the peak on day 14 after MCMV infection,the most severe spleen injury was also shown on day 14,the frequencies of CD4+IL-17A+ T cells in total splenocytes increased significantly( all P＜0.01 ) in MCMV-infected mice than those in controls,and reached the peak on day 14 ( 1.14％ ±0.09％ vs 0.19％ ±0.04％,t =17.551,P=0.000).The levels of MCMV-specific IL-17A in culture supernatants were increased dramatically in MCMV-infected mice than those in controls on day 14 [ (81.98± 12.37) pg/ml vs (44.96±8.44)pg/ml,t=4.281,P=0.006].In MCMV-infected mice,correlation was positive between the levels of MCMV-specific IL-17A in culture supernatants and MCMV loads in salivary gland tissues (r=0.54,P＜0.05 ),the levels of IL-17 A in culture supernatants were higher in more severe spleen injury.Conclusion Thl7 cells and IL-17A were involved in the immunity response during acute MCMV infection.They may correlate with the persistence of MCMV and the pathology of spleen in infected mice.

Objective To explore the role of CD4+CD25+regulatory T cells(Treg)in the co-culture svstem consisting of T cells and mouse embryo fibroblasts(MEF)infected with murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV)in vitro.Methods A co-culture system of T cells and MCMV infected MEF(MEFMCMV)was established.The viral load in the supernatants was determined by plaque assay.TH1/TH2 differentiation-specific transcription factors T-bet/GATA-3 were assayed by Western blot.The levels of cytokines IL-4,IL-10and IFN-γ in the co-culture supenatants were measured by double-antibody sandwich ELISA.Results After 3 d incubation,the viral load in the supernatants of TdepTreg-MEFMCMC group,in which the T cells depleted Treg(TdepTreg)were co-cultured together with MEFMVMV,was significantly lower than that in MEFMCMV group.And in the co-cultivation of MEFMCMV and T cells without Treg the expressions of T-bet/GATA-3,IL-4,IL-10 and IFN-γ incteased significantly.Compared with the virus content in the TdepTreg-MEFMCMV group,the MCMV load in the"add-on Treg group"increased and the levels of T-bet/GATA-3 and IFN-γ were lower,and the expression of IL-4 didn't show any significant difference. Compared with the level of IL-10 in the TdepTreg-MEFMCMV group,the IL-10 level in the"add-on TREG group"didn't show any significant differece when the Treg ratio among total T cells was 1%～2%,and increased significantly when the Treg ratio was more than 5%.These eflfects were all correlated with Treg ratios in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusion MCMV infected MEF can induce the proliferation and activation of effector T cells,but Treg can inhibit the T cell-mediated protective effect on MCMV infection.

Objective To investigate the influence of murine cytomegalovirus(MCMV) infection on differentiation and differentiation gene expression of neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro for studying the mechanisms of brain abnormalities calmed by congenital cytomegalovirns infection. Methods NSCs were separated from fetal BALB/c mouse and cultured and identified in vitro. The differentiation potency of NSCs was observed by immunnfluorescence. The NSCs infected by MCMV at dosage of multiplicity of infection (MOI) equaled to 5, I and 0. 1, respectively, were cultured in differentiation medium. The morphological changes of the cells were observed by inverted microscope. The ratios of NSCs and its differentiated cells were detected by flow cytometry. The expression changes of nestin, GFAP and NSE, markers of NSCs and its differentiated cells, were studied by immunofluorescence ( MOI = 1 ). The expression of early antigen (EA) of MCMV was detected to observe the infection process. Real-time RT-PCR method was employed to measure the expression levels of the key differentiation genes Wnt-3 and Wnt-7a in Wnt signal pathway of NSCs at early phage of differentiation culture. Results NSCs isolated from embryonic mouse brains could proliferate to form neurnspheres and strongly express Nestin and differentiate into NF-200 positive neurons or GFAP positive astrocytes. The NSCs of the infected groups couldn't adhere to the wall and appear differentia-tion growth, but showed swollen gradually after differentiation culture. The nostin expression of the infected groups downregulated slowly and was higher than that of the control groups ( P < 0.05 ). The GFAP and NSE expression of the infected groups were lower than that of the control groups (P <0.05). The EA of MCMV could be always detected in the cells of the infected groups. The ratios of nestin positive cells of the infected groups were higher than that of the control groups, but the ratios of GFAP and NSE positive cells of the for-mer were lower than that of the latter from 3rd to 9th day after differentiation culture ( P < 0.05 ). The levels of Wnt-3 mRNA and Wnt-7a mRNA of the infected groups were markedly lower than that of the control groups from 1st to 2nd clay and from 12th hour to 2nd day after differentiation culture respectively ( P < 0.05 ) . These changes of the infected groups became more obvious as MCMV MOI increased . Conclusion MCMV could inhibit significantly NSCs differentiate to neurons and astrocytes and lead to the decrease of dif-ferentiated cells. MCMV could inhibit or interfere with the gene expression of Wnt-3 and Wnt-7a in Wnt sig-nal pathway of NSCs. The effect that MCMV inhibited the differentiation and the differentiation gene expres-sion of NSCs showed dose-dependent with MCMV MOI. The inhibitory effect of MCMV on the differentiation of NSCs might be induced by interfering the differentiation gene expression of NSCs, which is possibly the one of primary causes of brain development disorders caused by congenital CMV infection.