Objective To explore the effect of electrical acupuncture on the cytokines in adjuvant arthritis rats. Methods 60 rats were divided into 5 groups randomly, each with 12 rats. The blank control group and the model group were only bundled; while the Zusanli group, the Guanyuan group, and the Weizhong group were electroacupunctured each single point after bundled, once per 2 d. 32 d later, the swelling of voix pedis was measured and the level of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in plasma was determined in each group. Results After being modeled, the voix pedis of rats were swelling (P<0.05), while the swelling of voix pedis in the Zusanli, Guanyuan and Weizhong groups significantly reduced (P<0.05). The plasma IL-1, IL-2 and TNF-α was significantly higher in the model group than in the blank group (P<0.01), and reduced in Zusanli, Guanyuan and Weizhong groups (P<0.05). Compared with Zusanli and Guanyuan groups, there was a significant difference in the Weizhong group (P<0.01). The plasma IL-10 was significantly lower in the model group than in the blank control group (P<0.05), and increased in the Zusanli, Guanyuan and Weizhong groups (P<0.05). Compared with Zusanli and Guanyuan groups, there was a significant difference in the Weizhong group (P<0.01). The swelling of voix pedis was positively correlated with the level of IL-1, IL-2, and TNF-α (r=0.881~0.912, P<0.01). There was positive correlation among the IL-1, IL-2, and TNF-α (P<0.01). IL-10 was negatively correlated with the swelling, IL-1, IL-2, and TNF-α (r=-0.293~-0.519, P<0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture can significantly reduce the swelling of voix pedis in adjuvant arthritis rats, and it may be related with improving immune function by increasing the level of IL-10 and decreasing the level of IL-1, IL-2 and TNF-α in plasma.

OBJECTIVETo investigate effect of AP-1 and Ets binding site adjacent to matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) promoter on activation of MMP-9 transcription of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells transfected with EBV-encoded latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), and to ascertain if cross-talk between c-Jun and Ets1 is involved in LMP1-regulating expression of MMP-9.

METHODSSite-directed mutagenesis technique was used to establish a series of mutants, including MMP-9-CAT-Ets(-540)mt, MMP-9-CAT-AP-1(-533)mt and MMP-9-CAT-AP-1(-533)/Ets(-540)mt. After the mutants were transfected into LMP1-expressing NPC HNE2 cells regulated by Tet-on system (pTet-on-LMP1 HNE2), CAT activity of these mutants were assayed with induction of LMP1. With blockade of c-Jun or Ets1 antisense oligonucleotides, the activity of MMP-9 induced by LMP1 was assayed with gelatin zymography.

RESULTSThe CAT activity of MMP-9-Ets(-540)mt-CAT, MMP-9-AP-1(-533)mt-CAT, MMP-9-AP-1(-533)/Ets(-540) mt-CAT decreased significantly compared to MMP-9-CAT wt. After blockade with c-Jun or Ets1 antisense oligonucleotides, activity of MMP-9 induced by LMP1 decreased significantly, especially with combined blockade of c-Jun and Ets1.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that transcription factor AP-1 and Ets play an crucial role in activation of MMP-9 transcription induced by LMP1, and cross-talk between c-Jun/Ets1 is involved in expression of MMP-9 mediated by LMP1.

Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; virology ; Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1 ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; genetics