OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) on endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI) of piglets.

METHODSEighteen piglets were randomly divided into three groups: control group (n = 6); heparin group (n = 6) and CVVHDF treatment group (n = 6). All the animals were anesthetized by muscle injection of ketamine (30 mg/kg), then placed in supine position, received continuous intravenous infusion of ketamine with the rate of 10 mg/(kgxh). After placing a 4.5 cm (inner diameter) tracheal tube via tracheostoma, controlled mechanical ventilation was established using the assisted-controlled ventilation option of the NEWPORT 200. Respiratory rate at 30 breath/min; PIP at 10 cm H2O (1 cm H2O = 0.098 kPa); PEEP at 2 cm H2O and fraction of inspired oxygen at 0.3. A vein catheter was placed into right vena jugularis interna to administer a Ringer's solution. Initially, at a rate of 10 ml/kg, followed by a rate of 15 ml/kg when the mean arterial blood pressure was below 70 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa), the rate of 20 ml/kg was used when the mean arterial blood pressure was below 60 mm Hg. An 8Fr double-lumen catheter was inserted into left femoral vein and served as the pathway for CVVHDF. A Pulsiocath Pcco catheter was positioned into left femoral artery to monitor the circulatory parameters. All catheters were flushed with heparinized saline to prevent clotting. Then all the animals were given intravenous infusion of 150 microg/kg endotoxin within 30 minutes to induce ALI. When the oxygenation index < 300 and pulmonary compliance < 30% of the baseline, the animals of heparin group received heparin infusion to maintain blood active coagulation time (ACT) 180 - 250 s, the animals of treatment group received CVVHDF with the blood flow of 50 ml/min, replacement rate of 300 ml/h, dialysis rate of 600 ml/h and the ultrafiltrate rate of 350 ml/h for six hours, heparin infusion to keep blood ACT 180 - 250 s. The circulatory parameters: heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), central venous pressure (CVP), pulse contour cardiac output index (PCCI); systemic venous resistance index (SVRI), cardiac function index (CFI), external venous lung water index (EVLWI), left ventricular contractile index (dPmx); respiratory parameters: respiratory rate (RR), pulmonary compliance (Cdyn) were monitored; arterial blood gas analysis was performed and oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2) was calculated. All the parameters were recorded at baseline (B), onset of ALI (A 0 h), two hours (A 2 h), four hours (A 4 h), six hours (A 6 h) after ALI.

RESULTSNo significant difference in circulatory parameters, respiratory parameters and blood gas analysis were found at B and A 0 h among the three groups. When the ALI occurred, PaO2/FiO2, Cdyn, MABP and PCCI of the three groups decreased; HR, RR, EVLWI, SVRI increased. After four hours of ALI, the RR, EVLWI, SVRI, CFI and dPmx of treatment group were improved, the differences were significant compared with the other two groups (P < 0.05). After six hours of ALI, the HR, PCCI, MABP, PaO2/FiO2 and Cdyn of treatment group were significantly improved, compared with control group and heparin group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in any of the parameters between control group and heparin group. The difference in CVP among three groups was not significant.

CONCLUSIONCVVHDF has a good effect on hemodynamics of the endotoxin-induced ALI of the piglets.

Acute Lung Injury ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Animals ; Endotoxins ; adverse effects ; Hemodiafiltration ; Hemodynamics ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of mastoparan-1 (MP-1) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute hepatic injury in mice and probe into its possible mechanism.

METHODSOne hundred and four BALB/c mice were randomly divided into healthy control group (n = 8, without treatment, HC), LPS group (n = 48, with injection of LPS 5 mg/kg via tail vein), and MP-1 group (n = 48, with injection of LPS 5 mg/kg and MP-1 3 mg/kg via tail vein). Mice in LPS group and MP-1 group were sacrificed at 2nd, 6th, 12th, 24th, 48th and 72nd post injection hour (PIH), 8 mice at each time point in each group. Blood samples were collected for determination of plasma levels of LPS by kinetic turbidimetric limulus test, TNF-alpha and IL-6 by ELISA, serum levels of ALT and AST by automatic biochemistry analyzer respectively. Hepatic tissue samples were collected for determination of TLR4, TNF-alpha and IL-6 mRNA by real-time fluorescent quantitation reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, along with the observation of pathological changes in hepatic tissue at each time point. Above-mentioned examinations were also performed in HC group.

RESULTSCompared with those of HC group, plasma levels of LPS and TNF-alpha in LPS group significantly increased at 2nd PIH (18,320.50 +/- 2782.50 EU/mL and 988 +/- 130 ng/L, respectively), then decreased gradually to 1.80 +/- 0.80 EU/mL and 150 +/- 44 ng/L at 72nd PIH, which was close to those of HC group. The values of IL-6, ALT and AST peaked at 12th PIH, which declined to the levels close to those of HC group at 72nd PIH. Meanwhile, the expressions of TLR4, TNF-alpha and IL-6 mRNA in liver were remarkably up-regulated after injection, and the pathological changes in hepatic tissue pronounced significantly at 12th, 24th and 48th PIH. Compared with those of LPS group, the levels of LPS, cytokines, ALT and AST decreased in MP-1 group in different degrees after injection (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), genes expression (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and pathological changes was respectively suppressed and alleviated in hepatic tissue.

CONCLUSIONSMP-1 can alleviate LPS-induced acute hepatic injury in mice, which may be associated with its neutralization of LPS and attenuation of synthesis and release of inflammatory mediators.

Animals ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; pathology ; Endotoxins ; adverse effects ; Inflammation ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Wasp Venoms ; pharmacology

Apoptosis ; Cell Line ; Endotoxins ; adverse effects ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Mitochondrial Proteins

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of different concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on proliferation and apoptosis of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) in vitro, and to explore their possible mechanism.

METHODShUCMSCs from umbilical cord tissue of full-term healthy fetus delivered by caesarean section were isolated and cultured in vitro using tissue attachment method. The 3rd passage hUCMSCs were used in the study. Cells were divided into groups A, B, C, D, and E, which were treated with DMEM/F12 medium containing 0, 0.1, 1.0, 10.0, and 100.0 µg/mL of LPS respectively. In groups B, C, D, and E, methyl-thiazole-tetrazolium assay was used to detect proliferative activity of hUCMSCs at post treatment hour (PTH) 12, 24, and 48 (denoted as absorption value), with 5 samples in each group at each time point; apoptosis of hUCMSCs at PBH 24 was identified with acridine orange-ethidium bromide (AO-EB) staining, with 4 samples in each group; apoptotic rate of hUCMSCs was determined by flow cytometer, with 5 samples in each group. Above-mentioned indexes were determined in group A at the same time points. Data were processed with analysis of variance and LSD- t test.

RESULTS(1) There was no statistically significant difference in proliferative activity of hUCMSCs at PTH 12 among groups A, B, C, D, and E (with t values from -1.67 to 1.33, P values above 0.05). Compared with that of group A, proliferative activity of hUCMSCs was increased in groups B, C, and D at PTH 24 and 48 (with t values from -13.42 to 17.34, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), especially so in group C. Proliferative activity of hUCMSCs was lower in group E at PTH 24 and 48 than in group A (with t values respectively 8.64 and 17.34, P values below 0.01). (2) Obvious apoptosis of hUCMSCs was observed in group E but not in the other 4 groups with AO-EB staining. (3) Apoptosis rates of hUCMSCs in groups A, B, C, D, and E were respectively (3.1 ± 0.6)%, (2.6 ± 0.7)%, (2.9 ± 0.8)%, (3.1 ± 0.4)%, (25.1 ± 2.7)% (F = 272.19, P < 0.01). Apoptotic rate of hUCMSCs in group B, C, or D was respectively close to that in group A (with t values respectively 1.22, 0.57, -0.14, P values above 0.05), but it was higher in group E than in group A (t = -17.63, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONShUCMSCs proliferation may be promoted by low concentration of LPS. hUCMSCs proliferation is inhibited or induced to apoptosis along with the increase in concentration of LPS, and it may be related to activation of different major molecular signaling pathways by different concentrations of LPS.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; Endotoxins ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Membrane Proteins ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Signal Transduction ; Umbilical Cord ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFAs) on gut microbiota and endotoxin levels in portal vein of rats fed with a high-fat diet (HFD).

METHODSThirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups and fed with normal control diet (CD), HFD, CD supplemented with n-3PUFAs, and HFD supplemented with n-3PUFAs, respectively. Fresh fecal samples were collected to analyze the gut microbiota 10 weeks after feeding. DNA was exacted from the fresh fecal samples. Quantitative PCR was used to detect the composition of the gut microbiota. The endotoxin levels were detected through modified azo chromogenic substrate limulus amebocyte lysate assay.

RESULTSThe differences in body weight before breeding in each group were not statistically significant among these four groups (P=0.613). The increase in the body weight was significantly larger in the HFD group than in the CD group (P=0.0002), CD+n-3PUFAs group (P=0.0001), and HFD+n-3PUFAs group (P=0.022). There were significantly more firmicutes (P=0.002) and enterobacteriales (P=0.022) and significantly less bacteroidetes (P=0.026) and bifidobactera (P=0.034) in the gut of rats from HFD group than those from the CD group. There were significantly more bacteroidetes in the fecal samples of the rats from the CD+n-3PUFAs group compared to those from the CD group (P=0.043). There were significantly more firmicutes (P=0.044)and enterobacteriales (P=0.012) and less bacteroidetes (P=0.042) in the fecal samples of the rats from HFD group compared to those from the HFD+n-3PUFAs group. The endotoxin in plasma form portal vein of rats in HFD group were significantly higher than in CD group (P=0.007) and HFD+n-3PUFAs group (P=0.042) but showed no significant difference between CD+n-3PUFAs and CD group (P=0.210).

CONCLUSIONSHFD can increase body weight and change gut microbiota. Supplementation of n-3PUFAs can partially counteract such gut dysbiosis, lower endotoxin level in portal vein blood, and improve the body weight.

Animals ; Body Weight ; Diet, High-Fat ; adverse effects ; Endotoxins ; blood ; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 ; pharmacology ; Intestines ; microbiology ; Male ; Microbiota ; drug effects ; Portal Vein ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVEBy using RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line, we studied the dose-effect relationship of endotoxin induced RAW 264.7 cells to release TNF-alpha, and then detected the content of endotoxin in 8 kinds of injections, so that we can investigate the feasibility and the interference factors of the novel test.

METHODBy using endotoxin of different concentrations to induce RAW 264. 7 cells to release TNF-a, we drew the curve of dose-effect relationship between endotoxin and generated TNF-alpha. Then we detected the content of TNF-alpha in yuxingcao, shuanghuanglian, qingkailing, gegensu, xiangdan, qianrongmei and jiangxianmei injections and shuanghuanglian powder injection, and calculated their content of endotoxin.

RESULTThe endotoxin could induce the cells to release TNF-alpha in a good dose-dependent manner, even at a very low concentration. In the range of maximum available dilution multiple, the content of endotoxin in the rest 7 kinds of injections was less than 1.0 EU x mL(-1) except qingkailing injection of two batch.

CONCLUSIONCytokine revulsion has the advantage of wide detection range, high sensitivity, simple operation, and the detected endotoxin is of bioactivity. This method provides another technical mean for pyrogen test of injections.

Animals ; Biological Assay ; methods ; Cell Line ; Drug Contamination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Endotoxins ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; immunology ; Mice ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis ; immunology

A series of pathophysiological changes in lymph circulation system occur after severe burns. We try to elucidate the importance through summarizing our experiments on some of the changes in lymph circulation based on rat and goat lymphatic fistula model since 1998. The lymphatic contraction frequency decreased while the lymph flow speed increased during burn shock stage. Contents of several key inflammatory factors, such as TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18, and HMGB-1, were increased in lymph or lymph nodes, and they were higher than those in blood and liver. The protein concentration increased in lymph while decreased in plasma. The endotoxin was translocated to lymph earlier than to blood, therefore, the number of E. coli or the number of endotoxin translocated via lymph route were more than those via blood. The bacteria and endotoxin of pseudomonas aeruginosa could invade through local lymphatic route from infected burn wound. Th2 shift from Th1/Th2 occurred in lymph and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T lymph cells decreased in lymph nodes after burns, denoting local immunosuppression. The apoptosis of lymphocytes in lymph organ might contribute to this immunosuppression.
Animals ; Burns ; immunology ; metabolism ; microbiology ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endotoxins ; adverse effects ; Goats ; Inflammation Mediators ; immunology ; Lymphatic System ; metabolism ; Rats ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

OBJECTIVESTo identify significantly differentially expression genes of steroid-induced femoral head necrosis (SINFH) of rats by gene chip, and to find out the potential factors and molecular mechanisms that oxidative stress originate or strengthen the SINFH.

METHODSTwenty Wistar rats were divided into experimental group and control group randomly. E. coli endotoxin was given to all rats at a dose of 20 µg/kg body weight by daily i.p. for two times. Then methylprednisolone (40 mg/kg) or saline was daily injected into the left gluteus muscle of the rats in experimental group and control group respectively. Six weeks later, the mRNA was extracted from the femoral head of rats in every group, and the cDNA were obtained by inverse transcript, then carried out microarray detection. The quantitative RT-PCR was used to confirm the result of microarray, and the differentially expressed genes were analyzed for the functional annotation by gene ontology (GO).

RESULTSCompared to the control group, 190 genes in the experimental group were differentially expressed, with 52 up-regulated and 138 down-regulated. Of these genes, 102 are known (have deposited in GeneBank), while 88 of them are unknown. The known genes can be divided into several families according to their biological functions, such as: oxidative stress, apoptosis, signal transduction, angiogenesis, extracellular matrix, lipid metabolism, and gene transcription related genes. The results of quantitative RT-PCR are consistent with gene-chip results.

CONCLUSIONSThe occurrence of SINFH is a complicated process affected by multiple factors and signaling pathways. Our findings indicate that many genes which are involved in different signaling pathways were differentially expressed between SINFH rats and normal rats.

Animals ; Endotoxins ; toxicity ; Female ; Femur Head Necrosis ; chemically induced ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Genomics ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Prednisolone ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of the decomposition products of necrotic tissues from wounds on the serum levels of inflammation factors in comparison with endotoxin.

METHODSThirty adult New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups and received injections of saline, necrotic tissue homogenate or endotoxin. From each rabbit, blood samples (2 ml) were collected from the central artery of the ears at 0, 2, 6, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, and 60 h after the injection for measurement of serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6.

RESULTSThe serum level of TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 in the rabbits increased 2-4 h after injection of the necrotic tissue homogenate and reached the peak level at 12 h, followed by a gradual reduction since 36 h. No obvious changes in the levels of the inflammatory factors were found in saline group (P<0.01). Compared with endotoxin, necrotic tissue homogenate resulted in an early increment (2-4 h vs 5-6 h) and significantly higher peak levels (at 30 h) of the inflammation factors (P<0.05). Curve fitting showed a distinct difference between necrotic tissue homogenate and endotoxin in their effect on the inflammatory factors.

CONCLUSIONThe necrotic tissue decomposition products contain toxic substances that possess a different toxicity profile from endotoxin, and their toxicity can be even stronger.

Animals ; Endotoxins ; adverse effects ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Necrosis ; Rabbits ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Wounds and Injuries ; blood ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect and mechanism of cinnabaris and realgar in promoting awake effect of endotoxin- induced brain injury rat applied with Angong Niuhuang Wan.

METHODNormal rats implanted cortical electrode in advance were divided into 6 groups: control, model, the Angong Niuhuang Wan (AGNH, 0.4, 0.2 g · kg(-1)), the Angong Niuhuang Wan without cinnabaris and realgar (QZX-AGNH, 0.32, 0.16 g · kg(-1)). Rats in the control and model groups were given distilled water. After three days of intragastric administration, the brain injury model was injected with endotoxin through tail vein. Then trace electro-corticogram (EcoG) 1-6 h after LPS injection, and compare the power and relative power of beta (β) and delta-waves (δ) at 6 h of these groups. The content of acetylcholine (Ach) and the affinity of M-receptor (M-R) in cortex and brainstem were detected by alkaline hydroxylamine colorimetric method and radioactive ligand binding assay, respectively.

RESULTAGNH (0.4, 0.2 g · kg(-1)) could increase the power and relative power of β and AGNH (0.4 g · kg(-1)) showed better action on brain electrical activation. QZX-AGNH showed weak effect on it. AGNH (0.4 g · kg(-1)) could increase the affinity of M-R in cortex and the content of Ach in brainstem. The action of QZX-AGNH was not obvious.

CONCLUSIONIn endotoxin-induced brain injury rats, AGNH can raise the cholinergic system function of cortex, and strengthen the uplink of cortex activation of brainstem cholinergic system, improve the level of cortical activity and enhance the activation of EcoG to promote the body's awakening. QZX-AGNH show weak effect. Cinnabaris and realgar play an important role in promoting awake effect in endotoxin-induced brain injury applied with Angong Niuhuang Wan. The mechanism may be related to cortical and brainstem cholinergic system function.

Animals ; Brain Injuries ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Endotoxins ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley