bnormality in these parameters was improved.

Objective To understand the molecular mechanism underlying the epidermal growth factor receptors(EGFR)signal transduction and its feed-back regulation.Methods Two human keratinocyte cell lines,HaCaT and CHOwt,were cultured and treated with a certain concentration of different ligands,including epidermal growth factor(EGF),heparin-bounding(HB)-EGF,transforming growth factor α (TGFα)and heregulin(HER),for various durations(2,4,8,16,20 hours).After the treatment,cells were collected and protein was extracted.The amount of total and active EGFR was measured by immunoprecipitation and immunoblot assay.The internalization and down-regulation of EGFR were visualized with immunofluorescence and laser seanning confocal microscopy.Results As shown by immunoblot technique,EGF and HB-EGF continuously down-regulated the total amount of EGFRs,whereas TGFα and HER had no significant effect on the degradation of EGFRs.The activation of EGFRs was also attenuated to different extent after long-time treatment with EGF,HB-EGF and TGFα.As indirect immunofluorescenee revealed,in untreated HaCaT and CHOwt cells,EGFRs were essentially located at the plasma membrane,with a little cytosolic distribution;after ten-minute treatment with EGF,EGFRs clustered into patch-like structures which were particularly obvious in HaCaT cells,and translocated into cytoplasmic vesicles resembling endosomes (relatively apparent in CHOwt cells),while the total amount of EGFRs remained constant in these cells.The fluorescence signal from the total EGFRs decreased evidently after four-hour treatment with EGF,indicating a strong reduction in the receptors.Conclusions EGF and HB-EGF,but not TGFα or Heregulin,could down-regulate the amount of total and active EGFRs.There might be different mechanisms for the signal transduction related to EGFRs intemalization and down-regulation between HaCaT and CHOwt cells.

Objective To determine the relationship between serum interferon-inducible T cell alpha chemoattractant(I-TAC)levels and disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).Methods Serum level of I-TAC was measured by sandwich ELISA.Results①Serum level of I-TAC was significantly increased in patients with SLE as compared with controls,and significantly higher in patients with active SLE than those of the inactive.Serum level of I-TAC showed significant positive correlation with disease activity,erythrocyte sedimetation rate(ESR),logarithm of serum ANA titer,and negative correlation with serum C3levels.②Serum level of I-TAC was significantly higher in patients with renal involvement than those without renal diseases.Conclusions These results suggest that I-TAC might be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE,and its serum level might be used as a good indicator for the disease activity of SLE and renal involvement.

Objective To determine the relationship between serum levels of MCAF/MCP-1 (monocyte chemotactic and activating factor/monocyte chemoattractant protein-1), RANTES(regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted) and the disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). Methods Serum levels of MCAF and RANTES were measured by ELISA. Results ①Serum level of MCAF but not RANTES, was significantly increased in patients with SLE as compared with controls. ②Serum level of MCAF but not RANTES, was markedly higher in patients with active disease than those with inactive disease. ③No significant differences were found in the serum levels of MCAF and RANTES between patients with renal damage and those without. Conclusions These results suggest that MCAF may be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE, and serum MCAF levels could be an indicator for the disease activity of SLE.

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of isotretinoin erythromycin gel, a gel containing isotretinoin (0.05%) and erythromycin (2%), versus adapalene gel in the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris. Methods A multicenter, randomized, open, parallel-controlled clinical study was conducted. A total of 192 patients with mild to moderate (Grade Ⅰ -Ⅲ ) acne vulgaris were enrolled in this study according to the grading criteria for acne severity in guidelines for the treatment of acne in China. Efficacy analysis was carried out in 169 patients and safety analysis in 190 patients. The patients were classified into trial group (n = 86) and control group (n = 83 ) to be treated with isotretinoin erythromycin gel or adapalene gel once a night for 6 weeks. Patients were evaluated at the baseline, on week 2, 4 and 6 during the treatment for the count of comedones (both open and closed), inflammatory papules and pustules, severity of acne and local or general adverse effects. Results After the start of treatment, the response rate gradually increased and severity of acne decreased in both groups. On week 6, the total response rate was 51.16% in the trial group and 40.96% in the control group (P ＞ 0.05), while a greater reduction in the count of pustules and inflammatory lesions was observed on week 4 and 6 in the trial group with a lower severity grade of acne compared with the control group (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01 ). Adverse reactions were similar in both groups and manifested as tolerable local irritation. Conclusions The efficacy of isotretinoin erythromycin gel is similar to that of adapalene gel in the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris, however, isotretinoin erythromycin gel seems superior to adapalene gel in reducing inflammatory lesions and rapidly improving severity of acne vulgaris.