AIM: To observe the effect of hemin on the expression of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) in rat vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs). METHODS: Wistar rat aortic VSMCs were cultured in vitro and induced to proliferate by angiotensinⅡ(AngⅡ),hemin(a substrate and inducer of HO-1) and zinc protoporphyrin-Ⅸ(ZnPP,an inhibitor of HO-1)were added to induce and inhibit the expression of HO-1,respectively.The expression of HO-1 mRNA and protein were detected using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)and Western blot,respectively. The relative amount of CO released into the media was quantitated as carbon monoxide hemoglobin(COHb)by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),the proliferation of VSMCs was detected by MTT. RESULTS: The expression of HO-1 mRNA and protein in VSMCs and the amount of COHb in the media were increased significantly by hemin.Meanwhile the proliferation of VSMCs was suppressed markedly. CONCLUSION: The change of HO-1 mRNA and protein expression is the molecular base of the antiproliferation of endogenous CO .The HO-CO system might play a significant role in the development of cardiovascular diseases characterized by proliferation of VSMCs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect on the inflammatory indexes of septic gastrointestinal dysfunction treated with acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2). METHODS: A total of 118 patients of septic gastrointestinal dysfunction were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 59 cases in each one. In the control group, mosapride citrate was prescribed for oral administration, 5 mg each time, 3 times a day, bifidobacterium triple viable capsules, 420 mg each time, twice a day, intravenous drip with omeprazole, 40 mg, twice a day. Additionally, the antibiotics and the symptomatic treatment were selected rationally for maintaining the functions of the important organs, e.g. heart, lung, brain and kidney, and water-electrolyte balance. In the observation group, on the routine management as the control group, acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2, T-T) was added, the needles were retained for 30 min in each treatment, once a day, 10 days as one course and 1 course was required. Separately, on the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 10th days of treatment, the white blood cell (WBC) count, the levels of hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) were observed, the enteral nutrition feeding dose and gastrointestinal dysfunction score before and after treatment as well as the clinical effect were assessed in the two groups. RESULTS: The differences were not significant in the indexes mentioned above on 1st and 3rd days of treatment between the two groups (>0.05). On the 6th and 10th days of treatment, regarding the gastrointestinal dysfunction score and inflammatory indexes count, the results in the observation group were lower than the control group (all <0.05), and feeding dose in the observation group was higher than the control group (<0.05). After treatment, the gastrointestinal dysfunction scores and inflammatory indexes count were all reduced and feeding dose was increased as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (all <0.05). After treatment, the total effective rate was 91.5% (54/59) in the observation group, higher than 76.3% (45/59) in the control group (<0.05). CONCLUSION Acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) points achieves the satisfactory effect on septic gastrointestinal dysfunction and reduces the inflammatory indexes count.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Case-Control Studies ; Chlorophenols ; therapeutic use ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; therapy ; Humans ; Needles ; Sepsis

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of gamma-chain (γC) cytokines in regulating the expression of T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule 3 (TIM-3) in CD8+ T cells of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. MethodsA total of 23 CHB patients who attended Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, from January to May, 2017, were enrolled. Peripheral blood was collected from all patients, and Ficoll density gradient centrifugation was used to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). PBMCs were stimulated with interleukin-7 (IL-7), interleukin-15 (IL-15), and interleukin-21, respectively, and then anti-γC antibody and/or anti-IL-7Rα, anti-IL-2Rβ, and anti-IL-21R were added to the culture solution. After 96 hours of culture, flow cytometry was used to measure the expression of TIM-3, interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interferon-γ (IFNγ) and the phosphorylation level of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) in CD8+ T cells. A one-way analysis of variance and the least significant difference t-test were used for comparison of continuous data. ResultsThe CD8+ T cells stimulated by IL-7 and IL-15 had a significantly higher percentage of TIM-3-positive CD8+ T cells than those without stimulation (t=9.966 and 9074, P＜0.05), as well as significantly higher expression levels of IL-2, IL-10, and IFN-γ and phosphorylation levels of STAT-5 and STAT-1 (all P＜0.05). Stimulation with anti-IL-7Rα and anti-γC antibody significantly reduced the elevated expression levels of TIM-3, IL-2, and IL-10 in the IL-7 stimulation group (t=5.537, 6.224, and 4.500, P＜0.05). Stimulation with anti-IL-2Rβ alone or in combination with anti-γC antibody significantly reduced the expression levels of TIM-3 and IL-2 and the phosphorylation level of STAT-1 in the IL-15 stimulation group (P ＜0.05). ConclusionIL-7 and IL-15 can upregulate the expression of TIM-3 in CD8+ T cells of CHB patients, possibly via the γC receptor-mediated STAT-cytokine signaling pathway.