To explore the expression and clinical significance of molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and plasma level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), HSP90 was detected in PBMC by Western blot assay and the plasma level of IL-6 was measured by ELISA in 38 SLE patients and 20 normal controls. The correlation analysis was performed between the SLE disease activity index (SLE-DAI) and the expression of HSP90 and IL-6. The results showed that there was increased expression of HSP90 in the SLE patients. The active SLE group exhibited higher HSP90 levels (0.82+/-0.10) than the inactive SLE group (0.54+/-0.09) (P<0.01). The expression of HSP90 in normal control group (0.37+/-0.11) showed significant statistical difference as compared to both the inactive and active SLE groups (P<0.01, P<0.01, respectively). The plasma level of IL-6 exhibited a significant increase in both the inactive and active SLE groups (28.99+/-1.74 pg/mL, 44.58+/-9.15 pg/mL, respectively) compared with normal control group (P<0.01, P<0.01, respectively). The expression of HSP90 and IL-6 in SLE patients showed significant positive correlation with SLEDAI scoring (r=0.80, P<0.01: r= 0.74, P<0.01, respectively). In addition, there was a positive correlation between the level of IL-6 and HSP90 in SLE patients (r=0.86, P<0.01). The increased expression of molecular chaperone HSP90 and IL-6 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE by regulating autoimmunity.

Objective To investigate the mRNA expression of a proliferation inducing ligand (APRIL) and its receptors including B cell maturation antigen (BCMA),transmembrane activator.calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SEE).Methods APRIL mRNA、BCMA mRNA and TACI mRNA in PBMCs were detected by real-time quantitative PCR in 66 SLE patients and 25 normal controls.Gene expression level was measured as 2-AACT.Results The expression levels of APRIL mRNA、BCMA mRNA and TACI-mRNA were significantly increased in both active SLE group and stable SLE group compared with those in the normal controls(P<0.01 for all).The expression levels of APRIL mRNA and TACI mRNA in active SLE group were significantly higher than those in stable SLE group(P<0.01,P<0.05,respectively).But there was no significant difierence in the expression levels of BCMA mRNA between the SLE stable and active groups-Beside,the expression levels of APRIL mRNA and TACI mRNA were significantly increased in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) compared to patients with non-LN (P<0.01 for all).Conclusion The expression levels of APRIL and its receptors are significantly elevated in SLE patients.It may suggest that APRIL and its receptors play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.

To explore the expression and clinical significance of molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and plasma level of interleukin-6ells (PBMC) and plasma level of interleukin-6(IL-6) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), HSP90 was detected in PBMC by West and the plasma level of IL-6 was measured by ELISA in 38 SLE patients and 20 normal controls. The correlation analysis was performed between the SLE disease activity index (SLEe results showed that there was increased expression of HSP90 in the SLE patients. The active SLE group exhibited higher HSP90 levels (0.82±0.10) than group (0.54±0.09) (P＜0.01). The expression of HSP90 in normal control group (0.37±0. 11) showed significant statistical difference as compared to both the inactive and active SLE The plasma level of IL-6 exhibited a significant increase in both the inactive and active SLE groups (28.99±1.74 pg/mL, 44.58±9.15 pg/mL, respectively) com0.01, P＜0.01, respectively). The expression of HSP90 and IL-6in SLE patients showed significant positive correlation with SLEDAI scoring (r=0.80, P＜0.01: r=. In addition, there was a positive correlation between the level of IL-6 and HSP90 in SLE patients (r= 0.86, P＜0.01). The increased expression of molecular chaperone HSP90thogenesis of SLE by regulating autoimmunity.

Summary: CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) and the expression of their molecular markers (GITR, Foxp3) in peripheral blood of the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were investigated in order to reveal the pathogenesis of SLE on the cellular and molecular levels. The level of Tregs in peripheral blood was detected by flow cytometry. The expression levels of GITR and Foxp3 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were assayed by reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The level of IL-6 in the plasma was measured by ELISA.Comparisons were made among 3 groups: the active SLE group, the inactive SLE group, and normal control group. The level of Tregs in the active SLE group and the inactive SLE group was significantly lower than in the normal control group (P<0.01). The level of Tregs in the active group was lower than in the inactive group with the difference being not significant (P>0.05). The level of Tregs in SLE patients was significantly negatively correlated with the disease active index in SLE (SLEDAI) (r=--0.81, P<0.01). The expression levels of GITR mRNA in PBMCs of the active SLE group and the inactive SLE group were significantly higher than in the normal control group (P<0.05), and those of Foxp3 mRNA in SLE patients of both active and inactive SLE groups were significantly lower than in the normal control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression of GITR and Foxp3 mRNA between the active SLE group and inactive SLE group (P>0.05). The plasma levels of IL-6 in both the inactive SLE group and active SLE group were significantly higher than in the normal control group (P<0.01). The plasma level of IL-6 in the active S LE group was significantly increased as compared with that in the inactive SLE group (P<0.05), and the plasma level of IL-6 in SLE was significantly positively correlated with SLEDAI scores (r=0.58, P<0.01) and significantly negatively correlated with the ratio of CD4+CD25+ cells/CD4+ cells (r=-0.389, P<0.05). It was concluded that the levels of Tregs and Foxp3 mRNA in peripheral blood of SLE patients were decreased and the levels of GITR mRNA and plasma IL-6 were increased. The Tregs and their molecular markers GITR, Foxp3 as well as the plasma IL-6 might play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Glucagon like peptide-1(GLP-1) is a category of peptide secreted by intestine. The finding of GLP-1 was originated from the observation of "Incretin" phenomenon in 1960s. Besides lowering plasma glucose, GLP-1 can protect pancreas,improve cardiovascular outcome,and play a role in regulating appetite,as well as lower body weight. Given that food intake regulation mechanism modulated by GLP-1 remains uncertain,it is postulated that the central nervous system has played a vital role in this mechanism. In the present review,we focused on the following aspects about central nervous system's role in GLP-1's regulation of appetite:(1)The brain nuclei related to appetite regulation;(2) The brain nuclei related to blood glucose regulation; (3) The brain nuclei related to food intake reward behavior;(4) the role of food-related peptides and GLP-1;(5) How the GLP-1 receptor expression nuclei regulates the food intake.