This study examined endogenous cannabinoid (ECB)-anandamide (AEA) and its cannabinoid receptors (CBR) in mice liver with the development of schistosoma japonicum. Mice were infected with schistosoma by means of pasting the cercaria onto their abdomens. Liver fibrosis was pathologically confirmed nine weeks after the infection. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to determine the concentration of AEA in the plasma of mice. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of CBR1 and CBR2 in liver tissue. Morphological examination showed typical pathological changes, with worm tubercles of schistosoma deposited in the liver tissue, fibrosis around the worm tubercles and infiltration or soakage of inflammatory cells. Also, CBR1 and CBR2 were present in hepatocytes and hepatic sinusoids of the two groups, but they were obviously enhanced in the schistosoma-infected mice. However, the average optical density of CBR1 in the negative control and fibrosis group was 13.28+/-7.32 and 30.55+/-7.78, and CBR2 were 28.13+/-6.42 and 52.29+/-4.24 (P<0.05). The levels of AEA in the fibrosis group were significantly increased as compared with those of the control group. The concentrations of AEA were (0.37+/-0.07) and (5.67+/-1.34) ng/mL (P<0.05). It is concluded that the expression of endocannabinoids AEA and its cannabinoid receptor CBR were significantly increased in schistosoma-infected mice. Endogenous endocannabinoids may be involved in the development of schistosoma-induced liver fibrosis.
Arachidonic Acids/*metabolism ; Endocannabinoids/*metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis/etiology ; Liver Cirrhosis/*metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis/parasitology ; Polyunsaturated Alkamides/*metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/*metabolism ; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/*metabolism ; Schistosomiasis japonica/*complications ; Schistosomiasis japonica/metabolism

Objective To investigate the characteristics and significance of atypical flow cytometric immunophenotype in plasma cell myeloma.Methods Using case-control study , 48 cases with atypical immunophenotype of plasma cell myeloma and 42 cases as control group were studied by flow cytometry , the former cases were classified into three groups according to the expression of CD 38, CD138, CD19, CD56 :CD38 +/CD138 +/CD19 +/CD56 +, CD38 +/CD138 +/CD19 +/CD56 -, CD38 +/CD138 +/CD19 -/CD56 -.And compare the three groups with intracellular immunoglobulin light chain (cKappa, cLambda) , bone marrow morphology and immunofixation.The positive rate was compared with chi-square test.Results Bone marrow plasma cells showed expression of particular antigens in the following proportion of the 48 cases:CD45 29.17%, CD38 100%, CD138 100%, CD19 95.83%, CD56 43.75%, cKappa 43.75%and cLambda 56.25%.And in the three groups , the expression of monoclonal immunoglobulin were 43.75%, 52.08%and 4.17%, which bone marrow morphology and immunofixation were 57.14%,80%, 100%and 71.43%,88%,100%.The positive rate of flow cytometry , bone marrow morphology and serum immunofixation electrophoresis were 100%, 70.83% and 81.25%.While the expression of particular antigens in the control group were:CD45 47.62%, CD38 100%, CD138 100%, CD19 100%, CD56 0%, cKappa 100% and cLambda 100%.And no abnormalities were detected in bone marrow morphology and immunofixation.Conclusions Compared with the bone marrow morphology and immunofixation , multiparameter flow cytometry has more helpful to find out atypical immune phenotype of plasma cell myeloma, and differentiate malignant and benign plasma cell , contributes to the diagnosis of clinical plasma cell myeloma, prognosis and treatment monitoring.

This study examined endogenous cannabinoid (ECB)-anandamide (AEA) and its can-nabinoid receptors (CBR) in mice liver with the development of schistosomajaponicum.Mice were infected with schistosoma by means of pasting the cercaria onto their abdomens.Liver fibrosis was pathologically confirmed nine weeks after the infection.High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to determine the concentration of AEA in the plasma of mice.Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of CBR 1 and CBR2 in liver tissue.Morphological examination showed typical pathological changes,with worm tubercles of schistosoma deposited in the liver tissue,fibrosis around the worm tubercles and infiltration or soakage ofinfiammatory cells.Also,CBRI and CBR2 were present in hepatocytes and hepatic sinusoids of the two groups,but they were obviously enhanced in the schistosoma-infected mice.However,the average optical density of CBR1 in the negative control and fibrosis group was 13.28±7.32 and 30.55±7.78,and CBR2 were 28.13±6.42 and 52.29±4.24 (P<0.05).The levels of AEA in the fibrosis group were significantly increased as compared with those of the control group.The concentrations of AEA were (0.37±0.07) and (5.67±1.34) ng/mL (P<0.05).It is concluded that the expression of endocannabinoids AEA and its cannabinoid receptor CBR were significantly increased in schistosoma-infected mice.Endogenous endocannabinoids may be involved in the development of schistosoma-induced liver fibrosis.