PURPOSE: This study tried to identify novel gastric autoimmune antigens that might be involved in aggravating the atrophic gastritis among patients with Helicobacter pylori infection using two-dimensional immunoblotting analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Proteins from gastric mucosal antrectomy specimens and AGS cells (gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines derived from a Caucasian patient who had received no prior therapy) were 2-dimensionally immunoblotted separately with a pool of 300 sera from H. pylroi-infected patients at Gyeongsang National University Hospital. RESULTS: Thirty-eight autoantigenic proteins including alcohol dehydrogenase [NADP+], alpha enolase, gastrokine-1, gastric triacylglycerol lipase, heat shock 70 kDa protein 1, and peroxiredoxin-2 were identified in the gastric mucosal tissue. Fourteen autoantigenic proteins including programmed cell death 6-interacting protein, serum albumin and T-complex protein 1 subunit gamma were identified in the AGS cells. Albumin, alpha-enolase, annexin A3, cytoplasmic actin 1, heat shock cognate 71 kDa protein and leukocyte elastase inhibitor were commonly observed autoantigenic proteins in both gastric mucosal tissue and AGS cells. Alpha-enolase, glutathione S-transferase P, heat shock cognate 71 kDa protein, heat shock 70 kDa protein 1, human mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate synthase (ATP) subunit beta, mitochondrial 60 kDa heat shock protein, peroxiredoxin-2, 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein precursor, tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 11 and Tryptophan-Aspartic acid (WD) repeat-containing protein 1 showed 60% or higher amino acid positivity. CONCLUSION: These newly identified gastric autoimmune antigens might be useful in the control and prevention of gastroduodenal disorders, and might be valuable in breaking the vicious circle that exists in gastroduodenal disorders if their pathophysiological roles could be understood in the progress of chronic atrophic gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcers, intestinal metaplasia, and gastric carcinogenesis.
Alcohol Dehydrogenase/metabolism ; Autoantigens/*metabolism ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Gastric Mucosa/metabolism/microbiology ; Helicobacter Infections/*metabolism ; Humans ; Peptide Hormones/metabolism ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase/metabolism

Obesity is prevalent in Korea. An increase in food intake and a decrease in energy expenditure are responsible for obesity. Gut hormones play a role in controlling food intake. Obesity is suggested to be linked to common gastrointestinal functional disorders. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease, Barrett esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Epidemiologic studies indicate that obesity is associated with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms. This association suggests the possibility that obesity and functional gastrointestinal disorders may be pathophysiologically linked. However, data on the relationship between obesity and functional gastrointestinal disorders are inconsistent. In this paper, we review the role of gastrointestinal hormones in food intake and the relationship between obesity and functional gastrointestinal disorders.
Barrett Esophagus/*etiology ; Energy Intake ; Energy Metabolism ; Esophageal Neoplasms/*etiology ; Gastroesophageal Reflux/*etiology ; Humans ; Obesity/*complications/pathology ; Peptide Hormones/metabolism/physiology

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a contiguous gene syndrome characterized by uncontrollable eating or hyperphagia. Several studies have confirmed that plasma ghrelin levels are markedly elevated in PWS adults and children. The study of anorexigenic hormones is of interest because of their regulation of appetite by negative signals. To study the pattern and response of the anorexigenic hormones such as cholecystokinin (CCK) and peptide YY (PYY) to a meal in PWS, we measured the plasma CCK, PYY, ghrelin and serum insulin levels in PWS patients (n=4) and in controls (n=4) hourly for a day, and analyzed hormone levels and hormonal responses to meals. Repeated measures of ANOVA of hormone levels demonstrated that only insulin levels decreased (p=0.013) and CCK (p=0.005) and ghrelin (p=0.0007) increased in PWS over 24 hr. However, no significant group x time interactions (ghrelin: p=0.89, CCK: p=0.93, PYY: p=0.68 and insulin: p=0.85) were observed; in addition, there were no differences in an assessment of a three-hour area under the curve after breakfast. These results suggest that the response pattern of hormones to meals in PWS patients parallels that of normal controls. In addition, the decrease of insulin levels over 24 hr, in spite of obesity and elevated ghrelin levels, suggests that the baseline insulin level, not the insulin response to meals, may be abnormal in patients with PWS.
Adolescent ; Area Under Curve ; Biopsy ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Child ; Cholecystokinin/*blood ; Ghrelin ; Humans ; Insulin/*blood/metabolism ; Male ; Obesity ; Peptide Hormones/*blood/metabolism ; Peptide YY/*blood ; Prader-Willi Syndrome/*blood ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of long-term high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet on body weight and the expression of gastrointestinal hormones in diet-induced obesity rats.

METHODSTwenty-four diet-induced obesity rat models were established by feeding fat-enriched diet, then were randomly divided into two groups by stratified sampling method by weight: the high-protein diet group (HP, 36.7% of energy from protein), and the normal chow group (NC, 22.4% of energy from protein), 12 rats in each group. The total calorie intake of each rat per day was similar and was maintained for 24 weeks, then body weight, visceral fat mass, fasting plasma ghrelin and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) were determined, as well as protein expression of ghrelin in stomach, GLP-1 in ileum were detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSAfter 24 weeks, body weight of HP, NC groups were (490.92 ± 39.47) g and (545.55 ± 31.08) g, respectively (t = -3.664, P < 0.01); visceral fat mass were (22.42 ± 7.04) g and (32.33 ± 9.27) g, respectively (t = -2.503, P < 0.05); plasma ghrelin level were (2.36 ± 0.82) and (1.95 ± 0.64) ng/ml, respectively (t = 1.337, P > 0.05), and plasma ghrelin level was negatively correlated to body weight (r = -0.370, t = -1.899, P < 0.05), visceral fat mass (r = -0.454, t = -2.52, P < 0.01); plasma GLP-1 concentration were (0.52 ± 0.13) and (0.71 ± 0.19) ng/ml, respectively(t = -2.758, P < 0.05); ghrelin protein expression in stomach were 25 473 ± 8701 and 10 526 ± 6194, respectively (t = 2.501, P < 0.05); GLP-1 protein expression in ileum were 27 431 ± 5813 and 36 601 ± 5083, respectively (t = -1.833, P = 0.081).

CONCLUSIONLong-term isocaloric high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet can reduce body weight and visceral fat, increase the expression of ghrelin, and decline GLP-1 expression in diet-induced obesity rats.

Animals ; Body Weight ; Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted ; Dietary Proteins ; administration & dosage ; Gastrointestinal Hormones ; metabolism ; Ghrelin ; blood ; metabolism ; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 ; metabolism ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; metabolism ; Male ; Obesity ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Jiaweisinisan (JWSNS), a traditional Chinese herbal medicinal recipe, on gastric mucosal ultrastructure and brain-gut axis in rat models of chronic psychological stress and elucidate the mechanism of JWSNS for ameliorating stress-induced gastrointestinal dysfunction.

METHODSSixty rats were randomly assigned into normal control group, model group, 3 JWSNS groups (high, moderate, and small doses), and omeprazole group (n=10). Rat models of chronic psychological stress were established by random stressful stimulations, and following the corresponding interventions, plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol (CORT) levels were detected using radioimmunoassay, and the mRNA expressions of gastrin receptor in the gastric tissue (GASR) and vasoactive intestinal peptide II receptor (VIPR2) in the jejunal tissue were examined using RT-PCR. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to examine the ultrastructural changes in the gastric mucosa tissue cells of the glandular stomach area and alterations in the intercellular junctions.

RESULTSElectron microscopy revealed obvious damages in gastric mucosal epithelial cell organelles and nuclei in the model rats. These damages were ameliorated after treatments with JWSNS and omeprazole. Compared with the model group, the 3 JWSNS groups and omeprazole group all showed significantly lowered plasma ACTH and CORT levels, increased gastrin receptor mRNA expression and decreased jejunal VIPR2 mRNA expression (P<0.05 or 0.01).

CONCLUSIONJWSNS can obviously ameliorate the pathologies of the gastric mucosa cells, regulate the state of brain-gut axis, and modulate the gastric gastrin receptor and jejunal VIPR2 mRNA expressions in rats with chronic psychological stress.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; blood ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; blood ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gastric Mucosa ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; Jejunum ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Bombesin ; metabolism ; Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, Type II ; metabolism ; Stress, Psychological ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of REMP2 derived from limulus anti-lipopolysaccharide factor in neutralizing endotoxin in vitro and its antibacterial activity.

METHODS(1) REMP2 and PMB in the concentrations of 100.00, 10.00, 1.00, 0.10, 0.01 micromol/L were respectively mixed with LPS (lEU/mL), with PMB as positive control. The LPS concentrations in different specimens were determined by routine method, and the neutralizing percentage was respectively calculated. (2) After adding isotonic saline (NS), the final concentrations of REMP2 and PMB were 10, 20, 40, 80 micromol/L, and the concentration of LPS was 100 microg/L. The murine monocytic macrophages were stimulated with LPS, then cultured with REMP2 and PMB, with NS in culture as negative control. The content of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha was determined by ELISA kit. (3) The morphologic changes of Escherichia coli. was observed under electron microscope at 10, 20 and 40 minutes after addition of REMP2 to Escherichia coli suspension (with terminal concentration of REMP2 at 40 micromol/L).

RESULTSThere were no significant difference in endotoxin-neutralizing percentages between PMB and REMP2 in concentrations of 0.10, 10.00, 100.00 micromol/L (P > 0.05). The contents of TNF-alpha were 1175 +/- 162, 859 +/- 122, 645 +/- 142, 489 +/- 102 ng/L, respectively,after treatment of 10, 20, 40, 80 micromol/L REMP2, which were obviously lower than that of NS (3463 +/- 218 ng/L, P < 0.01). Under transmission electron microscope, the outer and interior membranes of Escherichia coli were obscure and rough, bacterial bodies were swollen with vacuoles in cytoplasm after treatment with REMP2.

CONCLUSIONREMP2 has ability of neutralizing endotoxin and also antibacterial activity.

Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; Arthropod Proteins ; Cells, Cultured ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Invertebrate Hormones ; pharmacology ; Limulus Test ; Lipopolysaccharides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; Mice ; Peptide Fragments ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the differentially expressed proteins in normal cervix, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and squamous cervical carcinoma (SCC) tissues by differential proteomics, and to provide a basis for studies on CIN molecular pathogenesis, clinical diagnosis and treatment.

METHODSUterine cervical tissue specimens from the patients treated between August 2008 and September 2009 in the Department of Oncology of Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital were collected. There were samples of normal cervix (n = 9), CIN (n = 23, CIN I = 7, CIN II = 8, CIN III = 8) and SCC (n = 7). 2-D DIGE and DeCyder software were used to detect the differentially expressed protein-spots. Then MALDI-TOF/TOF MS was used to analyze the differentially expressed proteins. Collect normal cervix(n = 20), CIN (n = 60) and SCC (n = 20), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot were used to verify the differentially expressed proteins of S100A9 (S100 calcium-binding protein A9) , eEF1A1 (eukaryotic elongation factor 1-alpha-1) and PKM2 (pyruvate kinase isozymes M2) among the normal cervix, CIN and SCC tissues. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the differentially expressed S100A9, eEF1A1 and PKM2 in the cervical tissues.

RESULTS2D gel electrophoresis images with high resolution and good repeatability were obtained. Forty-six differentially expressed proteins (27 were up-regulated and 19 were down-regulated) were selected among the normal, CIN, and SCC, and 26 proteins were successfully identified. Immunohistochemistry showed that protein S100A9 was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm, and its positive expression rate was 20.0% in normal cervical mucosa, 70.0% in CIN, and 100.0% in squamous cell carcinoma, with a significant difference between them (P = 0.006). eEF1A1 was mainly expressed in the cell plasma. Its positive expression rate was 70.0% in normal cervix, 73.3%in CIN and 60.0% in SCC tissues, with a non-significant difference between them (P = 0.758). The protein PKM2 was mainly expressed in the cell nuclei. Its positive expression rate was 100.0% in normal cervix, 93.3% in CIN and 75.0% in SCC tissues, showing a difference close to statistical significance (P = 0.059) between them. The results of Western blot were similar with that of immunohistochemical examination.

CONCLUSIONSThere are differentially expressed proteins among normal cervix, CIN and SCC. S100A9, eEF1A1 and PKM2 may become candidate markers for early diagnosis of cervical cancer and new targets for therapy. It also provides a further basis for studies of the pathogenetic mechanism of CIN developing to cervical cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Calgranulin B ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; metabolism ; Cervix Uteri ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Peptide Elongation Factor 1 ; metabolism ; Proteomics ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Thyroid Hormones ; metabolism ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Recently, gastric Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) colonization has been shown to affect the expression of leptin and ghrelin, hormones that control appetite and satiety. Gastric leptin, produced by chief and parietal cells and released in response to meals, may play a role in weight gain after eradication of H. pylori infection, whereas ghrelin, produced by X/A-like enteroendocrine cells in oxyntic gland, is released during fasting, and suppressed by feeding and leptin. Whether either that H. pylori genes represent microbial contributions to the complement of thrifty genes of humans, or that H. pylori disappearance plays a role in adiposity remains to be determined. Simply, ghrelin-leptin might tango in body weight regulation, gastric inflammation, and gastric motility. In the current review about the possible role of ghrelin in gastric inflammation, we found that high serum albumin condition decreased ghrelin expression, whereas serum albumin deprivation significantly increased ghrelin expression, however, of which regulation was abolished after H. pylori infection. Ghrelin significantly attenuated the inflammatory stimuli imposed after H. pylori, shown with inactivation of phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) and nuclear factor-KappaB (NF-KappaB)-DNA binding activities. Conclusively, besides orexigenic and weight gaining actions of gastric hormone, ghrelin, it likely endows the stomach the protective effect from exogenous damages.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Appetite Stimulants ; Gastritis/*metabolism/microbiology ; Ghrelin/*blood/chemistry ; Helicobacter Infections/*metabolism ; *Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/analysis ; Leptin/*blood ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; Neurosecretory Systems/*metabolism ; Peptide Hormones/*blood ; Signal Transduction ; Weight Gain

Since GABA and its related enzymes had been determined in beta-cells of pancreas islets, effects of GABA on pancreatic exocrine secretion were investigated in the isolated perfused rat pancreas. GABA, given intra-arterially at concentrations of 3, 10, 30 and 100 microM, did not exert any influence on spontaneous or secretin (12 pM)-induced pancreatic exocrine secretion. However, GABA further elevated cholecystokinin (10 pM)-, gastrin-releasing peptide (100 pM)- or electrical field stimulation-induced pancreatic secretions of fluid and amylase, dose-dependently. The GABA-enhanced CCK-induced pancreatic secretions were completely blocked by bicuculline (10 microM), a GABAA receptor antagonist but not affected by saclofen (10 microM), a GABA(B) receptor antagonist. The enhancing effects of GABA (30 microM) on CCK-induced pancreatic secretions were not changed by tetrodotoxin (1 microM) but partially reduced by cyclo-(7-aminoheptanonyl-Phe-D-Trp-Lys-Thr[BZL]) (10 microM), a somatostatin antagonist. In conclusion, GABA enhances pancreatic exocrine secretion induced by secretagogues, which stimulate enzyme secretion predominantly, via GABA(A) receptors in the rat pancreas. The enhancing effect of GABA is partially mediated by inhibition of islet somatostatin release. GABA does not modify the activity of intrapancreatic neurons.
Amylases/metabolism ; Animal ; Baclofen/pharmacology ; Baclofen/analogs & derivatives* ; Bicuculline/pharmacology ; Cholecystokinin/metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Electric Stimulation ; GABA/pharmacology* ; GABA Antagonists/pharmacology ; Gastrin-Releasing Peptide/metabolism ; Hormones/pharmacology ; In Vitro ; Pancreas/secretion* ; Pancreas/enzymology ; Pancreas/drug effects* ; Rats ; Receptors, GABA-A/metabolism ; Secretin/metabolism ; Somatostatin/pharmacology ; Tetrodotoxin/pharmacology

We investigated the role of fasting hormones and pro-inflammatory cytokines in cancer patients. Hormones (ghrelin, adiponectin, and leptin) and cytokines (TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-6) were measured by ELISA or RIA in lung cancer and colorectal cancer patients before the administration of cancer therapy, and measurements were repeated every 2 months for 6 months. From June 2006 to August 2008, 42 patients (19 with colorectal cancer and 23 with lung cancer) were enrolled. In total, 21 patients were included in the cachexia group and the others served as a comparison group. No significant difference in the initial adiponectin, ghrelin, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, or IL-6 level was observed between groups, although leptin was significantly lower in cachectic patients than in the comparison group (15.3 +/- 19.5 vs 80.9 +/- 99.0 pg/mL, P = 0.007). During the follow-up, the patients who showed a > 5% weight gain had higher ghrelin levels after 6 months. Patients exhibiting elevated IL-6 levels typically showed a weight loss > 5% after 6 months. A blunted adiponectin or ghrelin response to weight loss may contribute to cancer cachexia and IL-6 may be responsible for inducing and maintaining cancer cachexia.
Adiponectin/analysis ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use ; Cachexia/*physiopathology ; Colorectal Neoplasms/drug therapy/*metabolism/mortality ; Cytokines/*analysis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ghrelin/analysis ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma/analysis/physiology ; Interleukin-6/analysis ; Leptin/analysis ; Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy/*metabolism/mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptide Hormones/*analysis ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/analysis ; Weight Gain ; Weight Loss