Objective To investigate possible intracellular s ignal molecules involved in TGF-?-induced airway smooth muscle cell proli feration in rats. Methods The cultured airway smooth muscle cells were divide d into 3 groups: control group (20 mL?L -1FCS/DMEM), 10 ?g?L -1 TGF-?1 group and 10?g?L -1 TGF-?1 /U-0126 (1 ? mol?L -1) group. The proliferation of ASMCs was detected by MTT. Exp ression of phospho-p42/p44 extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERKs) with i mmunocytochemistry were examined in different groups. A values were detected by image analysis. Results By MTT, A values of 10?g?L -1 TGF- ?1 group (0.36?0.043) were significantly higher than those of control grou p (0.126?0.052, t=5.44,7.62, P

Objective To study the expression changes in haptoglobin and ferritin after acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods A rat model of acute PE was reproduced in the present study by injecting 3-4 thrombi into the left jugular vein. The total RNA of the lung tissue was obtained at different time points, i.e. 1h, 8h, 24h, and 48h, and the normal rats were used as control. The changes in mRNA level of haptoglobin and ferritin were determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and the changes in serum protein level of haptoglobin and ferritin were assessed by Western blot methods. Finally the serum concentrations of haptoglobin and ferritin were determined by means of immunonephelometry in 58 PE/deep vein thrombosis (PE/DVT) patients and 40 healthy individuals (controls). Results The mRNA levels of haptoglobin and ferritin were increased gradually in the experimental animals compared with controls, and their serum protein levels were also elevated in the rat with acute PE. The concentration of serum ferritin in controls was 79.42?31.57?g/L, whereas in PE/DVT patients it was 554.43?136.18?g/L (P