The aims of this study were to investigate the relationships between the production of interleukin-1 (IL-1), and IL-6 system by whole blood cells, and bone mineral density (BMD), and polymorphisms in IL-1 system and IL-6 gene in postmenopausal Korean women. The production of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), IL-6, and soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6r) by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated whole blood cells was measured by ELISA in 110 subjects. Serum osteocalcin, C-telopeptide of type I collagen, and BMD at lumbar spine and proximal femur were measured. IL-1alphaC(-889)T polymorphism, IL-1beta C(-511)T polymorphism, 86-base pair variable number tandem repeat polymorphism in the IL-1ra gene, and IL-6 C(-634)G polymorphism were analyzed. The production of IL-1beta correlated positively with BMD at femoral neck, whereas the production of other ILs did not correlate with BMD at the skeletal sites examined. No significant differences in the production of ILs were observed among normal, osteopenic and osteoporotic postmenopausal women, and among the different IL system polymorphisms groups studied. No correlation between bone turnover markers and the production of ILs was noted. In conclusion IL-1beta may regulate bone metabolism at femoral neck, and the IL system polymorphism do not affect the production of ILs by whole blood cells.
Aged ; Blood Cells/drug effects/immunology ; Bone Density/*genetics/*immunology ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic/blood/genetics/immunology ; Cytokines/*biosynthesis/blood ; Female ; Humans ; In Vitro ; Interleukin-1/biosynthesis/blood/genetics ; Interleukin-6/biosynthesis/blood/genetics ; Interleukins/*genetics ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/blood/genetics/immunology ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Interleukin-6/biosynthesis/blood/genetics ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Sialoglycoproteins/biosynthesis/blood/genetics

OBJECTIVE: To determine the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA in peripheral blood monocytes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and to explore the effect of the expression of COX-2 mRNA in ACS. METHODS: The expressions of COX-2 mRNA in peripheral blood monocytes from 18 normal subjects and 42 ACS patients were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the monocytes from patients were incubated with celecoxib in vitro. The concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in supernates of monocytes were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). RESULTS: The expression of COX-2 mRNA and the secrections of IL-6 and MMP-9 in peripheral blood monocytes in ACS patients significantly increased compared with those from normal controls [0.61 +/- 0.17 vs 0.11 +/- 0.09; (97.24 +/- 11.21) ng/L vs (22.15 +/- 6.30) ng/L; (41.20 +/- 8.41) g/L vs (11.76 +/- 4.23) g/L; all P < 0.05, respectively]. Celecoxib reduced IL-6 and MMP-9 secretion level of monocytes from ACS patients up to 48% and 50% respectively (all P < 0.05), in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSION COX-2 in peripheral blood monocytes may play an important role in the acute coronary syndrome.
Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; blood ; enzymology ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; enzymology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; biosynthesis ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes ; enzymology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study changes of several related indexes of neuro-endocrino-immune (NEI) network in rat asthma model, and to observe effects of epimedium herb (EH, a Chinese herb for replenishing Shen) and milkvetch root (MR, a Chinese herb for strengthening qi) on these indexes.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty male healthy Brown Norway rats of clean grade were randomly divided into 11 groups. Their mRNA expression of corticoid release hormone (CRH) in hypothalamus was tested by Realtime-PCR, serum ACTH and CORT, IL-6, IL-4, IFN-gamma were detected with radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay respectively and pathological changes of lung tissue were observed with hematoxylin and eosin stain.

RESULTSAs compared with the normal group, mRNA expression of CRH in hypothalamic tissue, plasma ACTH and serum concentration of IFN-gamma not changed significantly, but serum level of CORT raised significantly and the pre-inflammatory factors IL-6 and IL-4 showed an increasing trend in the model rats. As compared with the model group, level of CRH mRNA expression in groups treated with low dose and moderate dose of both EH and the formula (HE and MR), IFN-gamma in group treated with moderate dose of EH and serum CORT in group treated with low dose of MR were higher, and serum levels of IL-4 and IL-6 in groups treated with high dose of MR were lower.

CONCLUSIONRats suffered from repeated asthmatic attack for three weeks had some disorders in indexes of NEI network. Chinese herbs for replenish Shen and strengthening qi could improve the function of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and adjust the balance of Th1 and Th2 cytokines, which might be one of the mechanisms of Chinese herbs for treatment of repeated asthma attack.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; blood ; Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; drug effects ; immunology ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Radioimmunoassay ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred BN ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo study the hepatoprotective effects of Terminalia catappa chloroform extract (TCCE) and its effects on IL-6 gene over expression in liver of CCl4-treated mice.

METHODMice were orally pretreated with TCCE (20, 50, 100 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) for 5 days, and the sALT activity of mice was detected 24 hours after the intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 on the 5 th day. Meanwhile, IL-6 mRNA level was determined by using the method of RT-PCR. And the liver morphological changes were also observed.

RESULTsALT activity was remarkably increased (5.6 fold) after the injection of CCl4. However, with oral pretreatment of TCCE, changes in sALT were dose-dependently reversed. On the other hand, significant increase in IL-6 mRNA level induced by CCl4 was remarkably decreased. The level of IL-6 mRNA in 100 mg x kg(-1) TCCE treated mice was reversed to that of control. In addition, histological changes such as the infiltration of numerous inflammatory cells and hepatocyte swelling in injured mice were effectively lessened by the pretreatment of TCCE.

CONCLUSIONTCCE has hepatoprotective activity and the mechanisms underlying its protective effects may be related to the inhibition on the over expression of IL-6 gene in liver.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; blood ; etiology ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Protective Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Terminalia ; chemistry

We investigated acute effects of intermittent large dose bisphophonate therapy in osteoporotic patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were incubated with alendronate (100 micrometer) for 18 hr, in vitro and cytokine expressions were measured by real-time RT-PCR. Pamidronate 30 mg was administered on 26 osteoporotic patients; and acute phase reactants, inflammatory cytokines and bone biomarkers were measured. The in vitro study showed significant increase in mRNA expression of IL-6, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma. A notable rise in serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was observed over 3 days after pamidronate infusion (P=0.026). Serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IFN-gamma were also significantly increased (P=0.009, 0.014, 0.035, respectively) and the increase in IL-6 levels were strongly correlated with CRP levels (P=0.04). Serum calcium and c-telopeptide levels rapidly decreased after the treatment (P=0.02, <0.001, respectively). This study showed that mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines at peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) level were observed within 18 hr and marked elevation of inflammatory cytokines and acute phase reactants were demonstrated after pamidronate infusion at the dose for osteoporosis. Our studies confirmed that intermittent large dose aminobisphosphonate causes acute inflammation.
Acute-Phase Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alendronate/pharmacology ; Biological Markers/blood ; Blood Cells/drug effects ; Bone Density Conservation Agents/*administration & dosage ; C-Reactive Protein/genetics/metabolism ; Calcium/blood ; Collagen Type I/blood ; Diphosphonates/*administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Interferon-gamma/blood/genetics ; Interleukin-6/blood/genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis/*drug therapy ; Peptides/blood ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics/metabolism