AIM: To detect the changes of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in kidney following ischemia-reperfusion(I-R)of hindlimbs and to elucidate their significance. METHODS: I-R was established using the occlusion of the femoral arteries for 4 h and re-opening for 2-24 h in rats. The expression of iNOS mRNA,and iNOS protein and the nitrotyrosine (NT),a marker of peroxynitrite (ONOO -),in renal tissue were detected with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical technique,respectively. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in renal tissue were spectraphotometrically measured. The observation of pathologic changes of renal tissue was made following the inhibition of iNOS by aminoguanidine (AG). RESULTS: Compared with control group,the relative expression level of iNOS mRNA significantly increased in I-R group. There were more iNOS and more NT positive product in the epithelial cells of renal proximal convoluted tubules and thick segments of Henle′ loops in I-R group than control group. The contents of MDA markedly increased,while the activity of SOD significantly decreased in I-R group,compared to those in the control groups. The pathologic changes of kidney became milder in I-R group following the inhibition of iNOS by AG. CONCLUSION: The expression of iNOS mRNA and protein in renal tissue were significantly upregulated,excess induction of NO contributed to the kidney injury during the I-R of hindlimbs.

AIM: To detect the changes of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression in kidney following ischemia-reperfusion of hindlimbs and to elucidate their significance. METHODS: Health SD rats were randomly divided into normal (N), sham (S), 4h ischemia without reperfusion (I), 4 h ischemia-2, 6, 12, 18 or 24 h reperfusion (I-R) groups and I-R18h+zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) group. I-R was established using the occlusion for 4 h and re-opening for 2-24 h of the femoral arteries. In I-R 18 h+ZnPP group, ZnPP (5 ?mol?kg~(-1) body weight) was intravenously injected 6 h and 12 h after reperfusion, respectively. The expression of HO-1 mRNA in kidney was detected with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression and location of HO-1 protein were detected with immunohistochemical technique. The observation of pathologic changes of kidney was made following the inhibition of HO-1 by ZnPP. RESULTS: The relative expression level of HO-1 mRNA significantly increased in I-R group, compared to those in the control groups, It was maximal in I-R 18 h group, and thereafter expression level of HO-1 mRNA decreased, however significant expression was still detected in I-R 24 h group (P

AIM: To elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8). METHODS: The pulmonary interstitial macrophages (PIMs) from rats were stimulated with LPS (1 mg?L~(-1)) in the presence or absence of CCK-8 (10~(-8)-10~(-6) mol?L~(-1)) or/and CCK receptor antagonist proglumide (2 mg?L~(-1)). The expression of TNF-? mRNA was assayed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at 3 h of the stimulation, and nuclear factor-?B (NF-?B) binding activity was analyzed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) at 1 h of stimulation. The I?B? protein level in the cytoplasma at 30 min of the stimulation was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: CCK-8, at concentrations from 10~(-8) mol?L~(-1) to 10~(-6) mol?L~(-1) obviously inhibited LPS-induced TNF-? mRNA expression and NF-?B binding activity in a dose-dependent manner. Stimulation with LPS resulted in a reduction of I?B? protein level in PIMs, which was elevated by CCK-8. The effects of CCK-8 on NF-?B activity and I?B protein level were attenuated by CCK receptor antagonist proglumide. CONCLUSION: CCK-8 inhibits LPS-induced TNF-? mRNA expression by regulating NF-?B activity in rat PIMs, which is mediated through CCK receptors and inhibition of I?B? degradation. This represents one of the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of CCK-8.

AIM:To investigate the effect of sulfated cholecystokinin octapeptide(CCK-8) on TNF-? induced IL-6 mRNA expression,NF-?B activation in the rat fibroblast-like synovial cell strain RSC-364 and its possible receptor mechanisms.METHODS:RSC-364 cells were stimulated with TNF-?(10 ?g/L) in the presence or absence of sCCK-8(10-8-10-6 mol/L) or/and CCK receptor antagonist proglumide(2 mg/L).IL-6 and CCK receptor A/B(CCK-AR/CCK/BR) mRNA expression were assayed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) at 3 h after stimulation,and nuclear factor-?B(NF-?B) binding activity was analyzed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA) at 1h after stimulation.At 30 min of stimulation the I?B protein level in cytoplasma was measured by Western blotting.RESULTS:Both CCK-AR and CCK-BR were constitutively expressed on RSC-364.sCCK-8,at concentrations from 10-8 mol/L to 10-6 mol/L,significantly increased IL-6 mRNA expression,CCK-AR and CCK-BR mRNA expression,NF-?B binding activity and I?B protein degradation.The effects of sCCK-8 on NF-?B activity and I?B degradation level were attenuated by CCK receptor antagonist proglumide.CONCLUSION:sCCK-8 upregulats TNF-?-induced IL-6 mRNA expression by NF-?B pathway through its receptor on rat synoviocytes,suggesting its possible regulatory role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective To investigate the expression of osteopontin ( OPN) in epithelial ovarian cancer tissue and its prognostic value. Methods The immunohistochemistry method was used to detect the expression of OPN in 64 cases of epithelial ovarian cancer tissue, and 20 cases with ovarian benign tumors and 10 normal ovarian tissues as well. The relationship between the OPN expression and clinical pathological characteristics and its prognostic value were analyzed statistically. Results The positive expression of OPN case was confirmed in 52 cases in 64 epithelial ovarian cancer. The expression level of OPN in epithelial ovarian cancer tissue was significantly higher than that in benign ovarian tumor and normal control (P <0. 01). The OPN expression in epithelial ovarian cancer tissues was associated with the pathological grading, lymphatic metastasis and production of ascites. The survival time is longer in OPN negative patients than the positive group. Conclusions OPN plays an important role in the tumorgenesis and development of epithelial ovarian cancer and correlates with its prognosis.

AIM: To investigate the effect of sulfated cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK -8 ) on TNF -α induced IL - 6 mRNA expression, NF - κB activation in the rat fibroblast - like synovial cell strain RSC - 364 and its possible receptor mechanisms. METHODS: RSC -364 cells were stimulated with TNF - α( 10 μg/L) in the presence or absence of sCCK- 8( 10-8 - 10-6 mol/L) or/and CCK receptor antagonist proglumide(2 mg/L). IL -6 and CCK receptor A/B (CCK- AR/CCK/BR) mRNA expression were assayed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) at 3 h after stimulation, and nuclear factor - κB (NF - κB) binding activity was analyzed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) at lh after stimulation. At 30 min of stimulation the IκB protein level in cytoplasma was measured by Western blotting. RESULTS: Both CCK - AR and CCK - BR were constitutively expressed on RSC - 364. sCCK - 8, at concentrations from 10-8 mol/L to 10 -6 mol/L, significantly increased IL - 6 mRNA expression, CCK - AR and CCK - BR mRNA expression, NF - κB binding activity and IκB protein degradation. The effects of sCCK - 8 on NF - κB activity and IκB degradation level were attenuated by CCK receptor antagonist proglumide. CONCLUSION: sCCK - 8 upregulats TNF - α- induced IL - 6 mRNA expression by NF - κB pathway through its receptor on rat synoviocytes, suggesting its possible regulatory role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.

AIM:To investigate the pathologic changes in the brain and its underlying mechansims during ischemia-reperfusion of rat hindlimbs.METHODS:SD rats were divided into the normal(N), sham(S), 4 h ischemia without reperfusion(I), and 4 h ischemia-2, 6,12,18 or 24 h reperfusion (I-R) groups at random. Ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion were established with the occlusion or/and re-opening of the terminal of abdominal aorta, respectively. The pathologic changes in the brain tissue were morphologically observed. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA, and iNOS protein and the nitrotyrosine, a marker of peroxynitrite (ONOO-)，in the brain tissue were detected with RT-PCR and immunohistochemical technique, respectively. The brain superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were spectraphotometrically measured.RESULTS:Hydropic degeneration and severe injury to neurons were only showed in I-R group. Expressions of iNOS mRNA and protein were demonstrated in I-R, I and S groups, which were maximal in I-R 6 h group. iNOS positive neurons and microglias were more spread in I-R 6 h group than those in S and I groups. NT positive neurons were localized in the cerebral cortex and hippcampus of I-R 6 h group. The contents of MDA markedly increased, while the activity of SOD significantly decreased in I-R 6 h group compared to the N, S and I groups. There were no significant changes in MDA and SOD in N, S and I groups.CONCLUSION:Severe ischemia-reperfusion of rat hindlimbs could induce brain injury, and its mechanisms might be related to enhanced expression of iNOS-NO-ONOO- in the brain.