OBJECTIVETo observe the relationship between the contents of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the seminal plasma of infertile males and sperm function indexes.

METHODSBy radioimmunoassay (RIA), we determined the contents of IL-1beta, IL-4 and IL-10 in the seminal plasma of 126 infertile and 20 normal males. According to the sperm count, the infertile were divided into three groups: Groups A (sperm count > or = 20 x 10(6)/ml), B (sperm count < 20 x 10(6)/ml) and C (azoospermia). Based on sperm vitality and motility, Group A was subdivided into a normal and abnormal vitality group and a normal and decreased motility group. In line with the serum results of antisperm antibody (AsAb) and semen WBC, the infertile males were divided into AsAb positive and negative, and WBC semen and non-WBC semen groups. According to the assay results of normal males, Groups A and B were each subdivided into normal and decreased groups of sperm penetrating power, intact acrosome rate and terminal swelling rate.

RESULTSThe content of IL-1beta in the seminal plasma of the infertility group was obviously higher, but the content of IL-4, IL-10 significantly lower than that of the normal group (P < 0.01). In the infertility group, there existed significant differences in the contents of IL-1beta, IL-4, IL-10 in seminal plasma between the WBC and non-WBC semen groups, as well as between the AsAb positive and negative groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); and the same was true for the content of IL-4 between the normal and decreased groups of sperm vitality, motility, penetrating power, intact acrosome rate, and terminal swelling rate (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe contents of IL-1beta, IL-4 and IL-10 in seminal plasma are closely related to male reproduction. The increase or decrease of the contents reflects the state of immunity and infection of the reproductive system, and influences sperm functions.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; immunology ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1 ; analysis ; Interleukin-10 ; analysis ; Interleukin-4 ; analysis ; Male ; Radioimmunoassay ; Semen ; chemistry ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility

OBJECTIVETo investigate the levels of immunoregulatory cytokine IL-2, pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in the expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) of chronic prostatitis (CP) patients and to evaluate the significance of the cytokines to the pathogenesis and diagnosis of CP.

METHODSIL-2, IL-8 and IL-10 levels were measured in the EPS of 31 CP patients and 10 normal controls by enzyme-linked immune sandwich assay (ELISA). Urine was cultured and EPS studied according to the 2-glass test. NIH-CPSI (NIH-chronic prostatitis symptom index) was performed in every patient. The cases of CP were divided into 3 types: II (n=5), IIIA (n=13) and IIIB (n=13) according to NIH.

RESULTSThe IL-8 levels in CP patients were significantly higher (P < 0.05) while the IL-2 and IL-10 levels significantly lower than those in the controls (both P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the cytokine levels in II CP and in IIIA CP (P > 0.05). The IL-8 levels in IIIB CP were significantly lower than those in both II CP and IIIA CP (both P < 0.05). The IL-8 levels were correlated directly with WBC count (r = 0.663, P < 0.05) , and inversely with IL-10 levels (r = -0.503, P < 0.05), but there was no correlation between NIH-CPSI scores and cytokines levels (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCytokines may play an important role in pathogenesis of prostatitis. The results indicate that the expression of cytokines (IL-2, IL-8, IL-10) in EPS can serve as a valuable marker for the diagnosis of CP.

Adult ; Bodily Secretions ; Chronic Disease ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; analysis ; Interleukin-2 ; analysis ; Interleukin-8 ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate ; secretion ; Prostatitis ; diagnosis ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the levels and roles of cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP).

METHODSThe levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 in BALF were measured using ELISA in children with MPP at acute stage (n=45) and at remission stage (n=30). Twenty children without lung lesions severed as the control group.

RESULTSThe TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 levels in BALF were higher in children with MPP at acute stage than those in the control group (P<0.05). The levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in BALF at remission stage were reduced to the levels similar to the control group and were significantly lower than those at the acute stage in children with MPP. However, the levels of IL-10 in BALF remained at higher levels at remission stage in children with MPP.

CONCLUSIONSThe levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 in BALF increase in children with MPP at acute stage, suggesting that the cytokines may be involved in the pathogenesis of MPP.

Adolescent ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; analysis ; Interleukin-6 ; analysis ; Male ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; etiology ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has been shown to generally decrease levels of innate immune markers and inflammatory cytokines, but the specific associations between blood levels of PUFAs and those of innate immune markers have not been investigated. Thus, the present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that innate immune markers as well as cytokines are negatively associated with n-3 PUFAs but positively associated with n-6 PUFAs in healthy adults. MATERIALS/METHODS: One hundred sixty-five healthy Korean adults aged 25-70 years old were included in this cross-sectional study. RESULTS: Serum levels of n-3 PUFAs, such as 18:3n3, 20:5n3, 22:5n3, and 22:6n3 were negatively correlated with eosinophil and basophil counts and TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-10 levels. Multivariate analysis also showed that serum levels of n-3 PUFAs were negatively associated with monocyte, eosinophil, and basophil counts and TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-12 levels. Additionally, the ratio of 20:4n6 to 20:5n3 was positively correlated with eosinophil counts and associated with TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-4 levels. However, NK cell activity was not associated with serum fatty acid composition. CONCLUSIONS: Innate immune markers such as eosinophil, monocyte, and basophil counts were inversely associated with serum levels of n-3 PUFAs, but were positively associated with the 20:4n6/20:5n3 ratio in this population.
Adult* ; Basophils ; Biomarkers* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Cytokines ; Eosinophils ; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-4 ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Monocytes ; Multivariate Analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study evaluated the effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on functional dyspepsia (FD), and the relationship between the changes of histological gastritis and FD symptom responses. METHODS: A total of 213 FD patients diagnosed by Rome III criteria were consecutively enrolled. H. pylori tests and gastritis grade by the Sydney system were performed before and 1 year after the proton pump based-eradication therapy for 7 days. Serum levels of pepsinogen, and genetic polymorphisms IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 were investigated. RESULTS: Total of 91 patients completed the 1 year follow-up. When the response rate of dyspepsia was compared at 1 year between the non-eradicated group (n = 24) and eradicated group (n = 67), each group showed complete response of 62.5% and 62.7%; satisfactory response (> or = 50%) of 0.0% and 19.4%; partial response (< 50%) of 12.5% and 11.9%; and refractory response of 25.0% and 6.0%, respectively (P = 0.015). In addition, the responder group (complete + satisfactory response) at 1 year showed improvement of activity and chronic inflammation in both the antrum and corpus (all P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that H. pylori eradication (OR, 5.81; 95% CI, 1.07-31.59) and symptom improvement at 3 month (OR, 28.90; 95% CI, 5.29-157.82) were associated with the improvement of dyspepsia at 1 year. Among the successfully eradicated FD patients (n = 67), male (P = 0.013) and higher initial BMI (P = 0.016) were associated with the improvement of dyspepsia at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori eradication improved FD symptoms, as well as gastritis at 1 year, suggesting that inflammation mediates FD.
Dyspepsia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pepsinogen A ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Proton Pumps ; Rome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (USPIO-MRA) combined with interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 detection for detecting atherosclerotic plaques in rabbits.

METHODSTwenty-four normal male rabbits were randomly assigned (n=8) into group A with atherosclerosis induced by damaging the aortic tunica intima with Foley's tube in combination with a high fat diet, group B with a high fat diet, and group C without any intervention. At week 12, plain and USPIO-MRA was performed in all the 24 rabbits and the results were compared with pathological examinations; blood samples were collected from the ear vein to examine blood lipids and levels of IL-6 and IL-10.

RESULTSThe rabbits in groups A and B showed significantly different IL-6 levels (167 ± 21.3 vs 116 ± 14.3 pg/ml, P<0.05) but comparable blood lipids and IL-10 levels (P>0.05). The levels of IL-6, IL-10, TC, TG, and LDL, but not HDL, differed significantly between groups A and C and between groups B and C (P<0.01). Continuous MRA scan showed significantly different signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) between the 3 groups.

CONCLUSIONUSPIO-MRA combined with IL-6 and IL-10 detection is feasible in detecting atherosclerotic plaques in rabbits.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; Contrast Media ; Dextrans ; Interleukin-10 ; analysis ; Interleukin-6 ; analysis ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Magnetite Nanoparticles ; Male ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; diagnosis ; Rabbits

BACKGROUNDInterleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) is the principal mediator in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Continuous injection of interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) into the knee articular cavities of animals can induce models that resemble rheumatoid arthritis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of local recombinant retrovirus viral interleukin 10 (rRV-vIL-10) gene transfer treatment of a rabbit model of arthritis induced by IL-1beta.

METHODSAn hIL-1beta-induced rabbit rheumatoid arthritis model was established using the MFG-hIL-1beta-neo-HIG-82 cell line, which is capable of continuous secretion of hIL-1beta. After transfecting the rabbit synovial fibroblast cell line (MFG-hIL-1beta-neo-HIG-82) with rRV-vIL-10, G418 was then added to identify the positive clone. The rRV-vIL-10 positive clone was injected into the established rabbit rheumatoid arthritis model through intra-articular injection. Successful gene transfer was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. The levels of IL-1beta before and after treatment were determined by enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSRetrovirus vector was an effective vector both to synoviocytes in vitro and synovium tissue in vivo as confirmed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The rabbit arthritis model treated with rRV-vIL-10 showed a dramatic remission of arthritis and a decline in the level of cytokines such as IL-1beta.

CONCLUSIONSRetrovirus-mediated transfection of vIL-10 successfully transferred the gene into rabbit synovium ex vivo and was able to suppress intra-articular inflammation response to IL-1beta.

Animals ; Arthritis ; therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Interleukin-10 ; analysis ; genetics ; Interleukin-1beta ; toxicity ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rabbits ; Retroviridae ; genetics

Aeriscardovia aeriphila, also known as Bifidobacterium aerophilum, was first isolated from the caecal contents of pigs and the faeces of cotton-top tamarin. Bifidobacterium species play important roles in preventing intestinal infections, decreasing cholesterol levels, and stimulating the immune system. In this study, we isolated a strain of bacteria from the duodenal contents of broiler chickens, which was identified as A. aeriphila, and then evaluated the effects of A. aeriphila on growth performance, antioxidant functions, immune functions, and gut microbiota in commercial broiler chickens. Chickens were orally gavaged with A. aeriphila (1×10⁹ CFU/mL) for 21 d. The results showed that A. aeriphila treatment significantly increased the average daily gain and reduced the feed conversion ratio (P<0.001). The levels of serum growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were significantly increased following A. aeriphila treatment (P<0.05). Blood urea nitrogen and aspartate aminotransferase levels were decreased, whereas glucose and creatinine levels increased as a result of A. aeriphila treatment. Furthermore, the levels of serum antioxidant enzymes, including catalase (P<0.01), superoxide dismutase (P<0.001), and glutathione peroxidase (P<0.05), and total antioxidant capacity (P<0.05) were enhanced following A. aeriphila treatment. A. aeriphila treatment significantly increased the levels of serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) (P<0.05), IgG (P<0.01), IgM (P<0.05), interleukin-1 (IL-1) (P<0.05), IL-4 (P<0.05), and IL-10 (P<0.05). The broiler chickens in the A. aeriphila group had higher secretory IgA (SIgA) levels in the duodenum (P<0.01), jejunum (P<0.001), and cecum (P<0.001) than those in the control group. The messenger RNA (mRNA) relative expression levels of IL-10 (P<0.05) and IL-4 (P<0.001) in the intestinal mucosa of chickens were increased, while nuclear factor-‍κB (NF‍-‍κB) (P<0.001) expression was decreased in the A. aeriphila group compared to the control group. Phylum-level analysis revealed Firmicutes as the main phylum, followed by Bacteroidetes, in both groups. The data also found that Phascolarctobacterium and Barnesiella were increased in A. aeriphila-treated group. In conclusion, oral administration of A. aeriphila could improve the growth performance, serum antioxidant capacity, immune modulation, and gut health of broilers. Our findings may provide important information for the application of A. aeriphila in poultry production.
Animals ; Swine ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Chickens ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Interleukin-10/pharmacology* ; Interleukin-4/pharmacology* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Immunity ; Diet/veterinary* ; Animal Feed/analysis* ; Dietary Supplements/analysis*

OBJECTIVESTo explore the relationship between the expression of IL-10 and liver regeneration following reduced-size orthotopic liver transplantation in rats.

METHODSRats models with reduced-size orthotopic liver transplantation were established. The rats were divided in three groups: partial liver resection (I), orthotopic liver transplantations (II), and reduced-size orthotopic liver transplantation (III). The expression of IL-10 and regenerative response of liver in rats were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry on the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 7th days after the operations, respectively.

RESULTSThe liver grafts were capable of regeneration, the proliferation activity peaked on the fourth day with 26.3+/-0.9, 35.8+/-2.2, and 32.4+/-1.8 in I, II, and III groups, respectively. The expression of IL-10 was negative correlation to liver regeneration (r=-0.58, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSWhole and reduced-size transplanted livers show the same regenerative activity. The maximal regenerative response delayes slightly, compared with that after partial hepatectomy. IL-10 plays an important immunomodulatory role in liver regeneration,and the effect is affected by general immune system and other cytokines.

Animals ; Flow Cytometry ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interleukin-10 ; analysis ; Liver ; chemistry ; Liver Regeneration ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUNDIntratracheal instillation of blood induces self-repaired acute lung injury. However, the mechanism of repair has been unclear. Heme-oxygenase (HO)-1, which catalyzes heme breakdown, acts as an inducible defense against oxidative stress and plays an important role in inflammation. The objective of this study was to test the role of HO-1 in lung injury caused by intratracheal instillation of red cells.

METHODSForty healthy, male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal group, saline group, erythrocyte group, erythrocyte+zinc-protoporphyrin (ZnPP, HO-1 inhibitor) group and saline+ZnPP group. At 2 days after intratracheal instillation of red cells, lung tissues and lavage samples were isolated for biochemical determinations and histological measurements.

RESULTSHistological analysis revealed that administration of ZnPP worsened the acute lung injury induced by instilled erythrocytes. HO-1 was over-expressed in the erythrocyte group and in the erythrocyte + ZnPP group. Compared with the erythrocyte + ZnPP group, the levels of total protein, lactate dehydrogenase and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the lavage were lower (P < 0.01), while the level of interleukin-10 was higher in the erythrocyte group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHO-1 protects against erythrocyte-induced inflammatory injury in lung.

Animals ; Erythrocytes ; physiology ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; analysis ; physiology ; Interleukin-10 ; analysis ; Lung ; pathology ; Lung Injury ; prevention & control ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis