Inteleukin-37 is a member of IL-1 family and originally named as IL-1F7.It has five different subtypes (IL-37a-e).It has been reported that IL-37 suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines production of a variety of immune cells, and further regulate innate immune response. In addition, IL-37 has protective effects on colitis, arthritis, pancreatitis and other inflammatory diseases that induced by exogenous stimuli. In a word, IL-37 is a novel anti-inflammatory cytokine and plays an important role in a variety of inflammation-related diseases.

Objective To investigate the expression of recombinant IL-37b protein and removal of the endotoxin, and identify its biological activity.Methods The prokaryotic expression vector pET28/IL-37b was constructed and to transform Escherichia coli (E.coli) Rosetta.After induction with IPTG, the recombinant protein was purified through Ni2+-NTA gel column and identified by SDS-PAGE and Coomassie brilliant blue staining.Then, the endotoxin protein was removed and was treated with LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.The culture supernatant was collected.The expression of IL-6 was detected by ELISA and the biological activity of the protein was identified.Results The recombinant IL-37b with high purity was expressed and the endotoxin produced by prokaryotic expression was reduced, and it was identified to have good biological activity.Conclusions In this study a recombinant IL-37b protein with high biological activity is successfully obtained.

Objective To establish a C57BL/6 mouse model of intestinal infection induced by S.Typhimurium.Methods In order to improve the infectious sensitivity of S.Typhimurium, C57BL/6 mice were intragastrically given 5% (w/v) NaHCO3.Then mice were challenged with S.Typhimurium.The health condition, survival and body weight of mice were observed from day 0 to day 7 after the bacterial infection.The pathological changes were also examined.Results the mice challenged with S.Typhimurium showed decreased body weight and typical clinical signs, including in appetence, piloerection and low survival rate.Macroscopic dissection revealed that intestinal hyperemia and swelling were founded in the mice challenged with S.Typhimurium.Histopathology showed intestinal epithelial and mucosal damages.Conclusions We have successfully established a C57BL/6 mouse model of S.Typhimurium infection.This model may be of crucial significance for studying the biological functions of associated immunological molecules or cytokines in the process of inflammatory bowel disease induced by S.Typhimurium.

Objective To investigate the effect of Smad3 on cell migration of A549 and HeLa cells.Methods Primers for pCMV-Myc-Smad3 plasmid construction and siRNA targeting Smad 3 were designed and synthesized .pCMV-Myc-Smad3 plasmid was constructed with molecular cloning techniques .Overexpression of Smad 3 with Myc-tag or silencing of endogenous Smad3, and then scratch assay was used to detect the migration ability of A 549 and HeLa cells in vitro. Results pCMV-Myc-Smad3 plasmid was successfully constructed .Overexpression of Smad 3 significantly up-regulated the migration rate of A549 and HeLa cells.Conversely, in the same cells, silencing of endogenous Smad3 or treatment with Smad3 inhibitor, SIS3, down-regulated the migration rate .Conclusions Smad3 promotes cell migration of A549 and HeLa cells.

PURPOSE: The role of IL28B gene variants and expression in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are not well understood. Here, we evaluated whether IL28B gene expression and rs12979860 variations are associated with HBV outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: IL28B genetic variations (rs12979860) were genotyped by pyrosequencing of DNA samples from 137 individuals with chronic HBV infection [50 inactive carriers (IC), 34 chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 27 cirrhosis, 26 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)], and 19 healthy controls. IL28A/B mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was determined by qRT-PCR, and serum IL28B protein was measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Patients with IL28B C/C genotype had greater IL28A/B mRNA expression and higher IL28B protein levels than C/T patients. Within the various disease stages, compared to IC and healthy controls, IL28B expression was reduced in the CHB, cirrhosis, and HCC cohorts (CHB vs. IC, p=0.02; cirrhosis vs. IC, p=0.01; HCC vs. IC, p=0.001; CHB vs. controls, p<0.01; cirrhosis vs. controls, p<0.01; HCC vs. controls, p<0.01). When stratified with respect to serum HBV markers in the IC and CHB cohorts, IL28B mRNA and protein levels were higher in HBeAg-positive than negative individuals (p=0.01). Logistic regression analysis revealed that factors associated with high IL28B protein levels were C/C versus C/T genotype [p=0.016, odds ratio (OR)=0.25, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.08-0.78], high alanine aminotransferase values (p<0.001, OR=8.02, 95% CI=2.64-24.4), and the IC stage of HBV infection (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that IL28B genetic variations may play an important role in long-term development of disease in chronic HBV infections.
Adult ; Aged ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*genetics ; Biological Markers/blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; DNA, Viral/blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/ethnology/*genetics/immunology/*virology ; Humans ; Interleukins/blood/*genetics/metabolism ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Liver Cirrhosis/blood ; Liver Neoplasms/genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger/*genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction