OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of Artesunate on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1), and on reduced activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) in the serum and the synoviocyte culture supernate of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats.

METHODSEighty male Wistar rats were selected to establish the CIA rat model. On the 6th day after modeling, 60 rats with the sum of arthritis index of right metapedes and two propodium > or = 6 were selected, and randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 10), i.e., the blank control group, the CIA model control group (treated with normal saline, abbreviated as the CIA group), the MTX positive control group (abbreviated as the MTX group), the large dose Artesunate group (at the daily dose of 20 mg/kg), the moderate dose Artesunate group (at the daily dose of 10 mg/ kg), and the small dose of Artesunate group (at the daily dose of 2.5 mg/kg). Mice were sacrificed 7 days of immune injection and their venous blood was collected to obtain the serum. Meanwhile, the synovial tissues of the knee joint were taken by aseptic techniques and primary cultured for 48 h. The supernate was collected by centrifuge. The changes of MCP-1, RANTES, and TNF-alpha in the serum and the synoviocyte culture supernate were observed in each group before and after treatment using ELISA.

RESULTSArtesunate significantly decreased the expressions of TNF-alpha in the serum and the synoviocyte culture supernate, showing significant difference when compared with the model control groups (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the large dose Artesunate group and the moderate dose Artesunate group when compared with the MTX group (P > 0.05). But statistical difference existed in the large dose Artesunate group, the moderate dose Artesunate group, and the MTX group when compared with the small dose Artesunate group (P < 0.05). Artesunate could significantly decrease the expressions of MCP-1 and RANTES in the serum and the synoviocyte culture supernate, showing statistical difference when compared with the model control group (P < 0.05). But no statistical difference existed when compared with the MTX group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe mechanism of anti-inflammatory action and immune regulation of Artesunate might be correlated with the inhibition of inflammatory factor TNF-alpha and chemotactic factors MCP-1 and RANTES.

Animals ; Artemisinins ; pharmacology ; Arthritis, Experimental ; blood ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CCL2 ; blood ; metabolism ; Chemokine CCL5 ; blood ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Synovial Fluid ; cytology ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; metabolism

This study was purposed to investigate the accumulative regularity of tumor-associated noncellular components in supernatant of stored packed red blood cells (PRBC) during storage. The supernatant of PRBC was obtained by centrifugation with 1 006×g for 10 min at day 0, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 d. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the expression of T cells and the accumulative levels of secreted RANTES/CCL5, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1). The results showed that the high concentration of RANTES/CCL5 and TNF-α was found in fresh PRBC, and their accumulative concentration did not increase along with the prolonging of storage time. The VEGF level in PRBC at day 0 of storage was 229.9 pg/ml, and increased to 749.08 pg/ml at end of day 7, then it was stable, and increased to 760.67 pg/ml at end of day 35. The PDGF level in supernatant of PRBC was 13.54 ng/L at dag 0 of storage, and increased stably during storage, then decreased at day 28, however PDGF rapidly rose to 22.13 ng/L at the end of day 35 (P < 0.05). The MCP-1 level in supernatant of PRBC was 39.98 ng/L at day 0 of storage, then slowly increased during storage time, at end of day 35 MCP-1 level increased to 49.83 ng/L. It is concluded that along with the prolongation of storage time, the growth factors in the supernatant of PRBC display the tendency of accumulative increment and RANTES/CCL5 and TNF-α show relative high level at day 0 of storage, moreover, no obvious increase of accumulation is observed along with prolonging of the storage time, suggesting no relation of concentration with storage time.
Adult ; Blood Donors ; Blood Preservation ; Chemokine CCL2 ; blood ; Chemokine CCL5 ; blood ; Erythrocytes ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of serum from the obesity patients and obesity patients with Diabetic mellitus on toll-like receptor 4/Nuclear factor -κB p65 (TLR/NF-κB) pathway in human THP-1 monocytes and to explore the inflammatory immune response in obesity. METHODS: Peripheral serum was isolated from healthy volunteers (the control group), the obesity patients (Ob group) and the obesity patients with diabetic mellitus (the Ob with DM group), respectively, 20 in each group. THP-1 monocytes were incubated with the serum for 48 h. The monocytes and culture supernatant were collected. The phosphorylation level of NF-κB p65 protein in THP-1 monocytes was evaluated by Western blot as well as immunofluorescence assay. The TLR4 mRNA expression was evaluated by RT-PCR. ELISA was used to measure the monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) levels in the culture supernatant. RESULTS: In the presence of serum, the obesity group and the obesity with diabetic mellitus group showed the up-regulated phosphorylation level of NF-κB p65 protein and TLR4 mRNA expression in THP-1 monocytes compared with the healthy control group (both P<0.05), and the MCP-1 levels in the obesity patients were up-regulated significantly compared with the healthy control group [healthy control group (26.4 ± 3.9) pg/mL, Ob group (45.8 ± 10.0) pg/mL, Ob with DM group (58.0 ± 15.3) pg/mL; P<0.05]. These parameters were further up-regulated in the obesity patients with diabetic mellitus patients. CONCLUSION The serum from the obesity patients or the obesity patients with diabetes can induce monocyte dysfunction, which might be related to the activation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Cell Line ; Chemokine CCL2 ; Diabetes Mellitus ; blood ; Humans ; Monocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Obesity ; blood ; Phosphorylation ; Serum ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

Ascites ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; metabolism ; pathology ; Chemokine CCL2 ; blood ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; metabolism ; pathology ; Receptors, CCR2 ; blood ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEKawasaki disease (KD) is a febrile illness of childhood. The etiology of KD remains unknown. Multiple theories exist, including an infectious etiology and an immunological abnormality. Cardiac involvement ranges from myocarditis and pericarditis in the acute stage to the development of coronary artery aneurysms later in the course. The present study aimed to explore the effect of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in Kawasaki disease and its relationship with damage to the coronary arteries during the development of KD.

METHODSPlasma MCP-1 concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and MCP-1 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was measured by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in comparison of three groups: 56 patients with KD, 60 age-matched patients with non-infectious diseases, and 66 age-matched febrile patients with various diseases.

RESULTSPlasma MCP-1 concentration and MCP-1 mRNA expression in PBMC of patients with active KD [(409.55 +/- 97.42) pg/ml] and (1.97 +/- 0.77) were higher than those of control group. Plasma MCP-1 levels and MCP-1 mRNA expression of inactive KD group [(301.64 +/- 71.55) pg/ml] and (1.31 +/- 0.39) were significantly higher than those of non-infectious diseases patients. There was a marked increase in patients with inactive KD than those of non-infective patients, but there were no significant differences between inactive KD and febrile patients. Plasma MCP-1 levels and MCP-1 mRNA expression were markedly increased in KD patients with coronary artery lesions than those in patients without coronary artery lesions.

CONCLUSIONPlasma MCP-1 concentration and MCP-1 mRNA expression in PBMC were significantly increased in patients with KD, and they were higher in KD with coronary artery lesions. It indicates that MCP-1 may be a useful parameter for monitoring disease activity in patients with KD.

Chemokine CCL2 ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; blood ; genetics ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To explore the microvessel counts and the expressions of interleukin-8 (IL-8), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and macrophage inflammatory protein-1 ( MIP-1) alpha mRNA in the pathological scar tissues. METHODS: Immunohistochemical method of avidin-biotin complex was used for microvessel counts on the routinely formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections of specimens of hypertrophic scars, keloids, normal skin, and surgical scar, and in situ hybridization for the expressions of IL-8, MCP-1, MIP-1alpha mRNA. RESULTS: The microvessel counts as well as the positive rates and the scorings of IL-8, MCP-1, and MIP-1alpha mRNA were significantly higher in pathological scars than those in the normal skin and surgical scar (all P < 0.05). The microvessel counts were significantly higher in the positive cases of IL-8, MCP-1 and MIP-1alpha mRNA than those in the negative ones (P < 0.05). The close positive correlations were found among the microvessel counts and the expressive scorings of 3 factors (P < 0.05). The close positive correlations were also found among the expressive scorings of IL-8, MCP-1, and MIP-1alpha mRNA in pathological scars. Microvessel counts were significantly higher in hypertrophic scars with the course less than 1 year than those with the course more than 1 year. CONCLUSION IL-8, MCP-1 and MIP-1alpha play important roles in promoting the neovascularization of pathological scars.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; complications ; Capillaries ; metabolism ; Chemokine CCL2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Chemokine CCL3 ; Chemokine CCL4 ; Cicatrix ; etiology ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Skin ; blood supply

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the change of serum MCP-1 level and CCR2 expression in isolated monocytes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and its possible relationship with ACS pathogenesis. METHODS: Thirty ACS patients and 30 healthy controls were enrolled. Serum MCP-1 levels were determined by ELISA in all subjects. The protein expression of CCR2 in isolated monocytes was assessed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Serum MCP-1 concentrations in ACS patients were higher than those in healthy controls (P<0.05) and the ratio of CCR2 protein expression in monocytes in ACS patients was higher than that in healthy controls (P<0.01). CONCLUSION The serum MCP-1 concentrations and protein expression of CCR2 in ACS patients are significantly higher than those in healthy controls, which might be associated with the pathogenesis of ACS.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Chemokine CCL2 ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes ; metabolism ; Receptors, CCR2 ; blood

OBJECTIVETo assess the association between peripheral blood dendritic cells subtype distribution and plasma monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) concentration in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODSSixty consecutive CHD patients admitted in our department during the period from November, 2010 to December, 2011 were enrolled, including 10 with stable angina pectoris (SAP), 25 with unstable angina pectoris (UAP), and 25 with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), with 28 healthy volunteers as normal controls. All the subjects underwent routine tests and coronary angiography. The percentages of peripheral blood myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and plasma cell-like dendritic cells (pDCs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were detected by flow cytometry, and plasma MCP-1 levels were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSThe percentage and absolute quantity of mDCs and pDCs were significantly lower in AMI and UAP groups than in the normal control and SAP groups (P<0.001). In the CHD patients, the plasma MCP-1 level was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (P<0.001) with an inverse correlation with the percentage of peripheral mDCs.

CONCLUSIONMCP-1 may promote the migration of mDCs into atherosclerotic plaques and mediate the local immune and inflammatory responses to aggravate plaque instability in CHD patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Chemokine CCL2 ; blood ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged

Animals ; Aorta ; pathology ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; etiology ; metabolism ; Chemokine CCL2 ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, Dietary ; administration & dosage ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Dehydroepiandrosterone ; pharmacology ; Diet, Atherogenic ; Immunohistochemistry ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDCardiovascular diseases, especially coronary artery disease (CAD), are major causes of death in industrialized countries. Elevated concentrations of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) have been associated with an increased risk of CAD. Increased plasma levels of chemokine, characterized by their ability to induce migration and activation of leukocytes, may contribute to the pathogenesis of CAD. This study was designed to investigate the changes of plasma Hcy, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and oxidative stress markers in acute coronary syndrome patients.

METHODSA total of 149 subjects were divided into four groups: 50 patients with unstable angina, 30 patients with acute myocardial infarction, 20 coronary restenosis patients after percutaneous coronary intervention and 49 healthy control subjects. Plasma levels of Hcy, MCP-1, malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase were measured.

RESULTSPlasma levels of Hcy and MCP-1 showed significant increases in unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction and restenosis patients compared with control subjects (P < 0.05, respectively). Plasma levels of malondialdehyde were significantly increased in unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction patients when compared with control subjects (P < 0.05, respectively). Plasma superoxide dismutase levels were significantly reduced in acute myocardial infarction patients when compared with control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHcy might act as an atherogenic factor through promoting chemokine, reactive oxygen species and oxidized low density lipoprotein production and thereby convert a stable plaque into an unstable potentially occlusive lesion.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Chemokine CCL2 ; blood ; Coronary Artery Disease ; etiology ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; complications ; metabolism ; Female ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Oxidative Stress ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood