Objective To explore the protective effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) serum onβ-amyloid protein (Aβ) induced primary rat hippcampal neurons. Methods The rat models of Alzheimer's disease were established by intracerebral injection of Aβ1-40. After treated them with EA, the serum was harvested. Primary cultured hippocampal neurons were treated with Aβ25-35 to establish neuronal damage model in vitro, and divided into normal group, model group and EA serum group. The proliferation of neurons was detected by MTT test. Neuronal apoptosis was examined by TUNEL staining, and expression of cysteine aspartic acid proteases-3 (Caspase-3) was detected by immunocytochemical staining. Results MTT test showed that the cell viability was significantly decreased after treated with Aβ. While compared with the model group, cell proliferation of EA serum group was significantly enhanced (P<0.01). TUNEL staining showed that the number of apoptotic cells in EA serum group decreased significantly compared with the model group (P<0.01). After 48 h of Aβ treatment, Caspase-3 expression levels were significantly elevated. However, compared with the model group, the number of Caspase-3 positive cells in EA serum group was significantly reduced (P<0.01). Conclusion The EA serum could promote the proliferation of hippocampal neurons, reduce the expression of Caspase-3, counteract the neurotoxicity of β-amyloid protein, and reduce neuronal apoptosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in gingival tissues of chronic periodontitis.

METHODSHuman peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) were stimulated with 1 microg x mL(-1) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 h or 48 h. Expression and release of HMGB1 were checked by immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. PBMC were stimulated with 100 ng x mL(-1) HMGB1 or 50 ng x mL(-1) tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), the expressions of TNF-alpha and HMGB1 in the supernatant were studied by ELISA. Gingival tissues and gingival crevicular fluids (GCF) were collected from patients and healthy people. Expression of HMGB1 in gingival tissues and GCF was studied using immunofluorescence and ELISA, respectively.

RESULTSHMGB1 was translocated from nucleus to cytosol in PBMC after LPS stimulation for 24 h. The content of HMGB1 in the supernatant from stimulated cells was significantly higher than that from unstimulated cells after 48 h (P < 0.01). HMGB1 was released by PBMC in response to TNF-alpha stimulation, it also stimulated PBMC to release TNF-alpha (P < 0.01). Translocation of HMGB1 from nucleus to cytosol was also found in infiltrated cells in gingival tissues from patients, and HMGB1 in GCF from patients was significantly higher than that from healthy people P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that HMGB1 may play an important role in the pathological progress of chronic periodontitis.

Chronic Periodontitis ; Gingiva ; HMGB1 Protein ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Male ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism by which carbon monoxide inhibits the expression of adhesion molecules on human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) stimulated with inflammatory cytokines.

METHODSHGF were cultured in vitro, and stimulated with 50 ng x mL tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and 10 ng x mL(-1) interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) concurrently in the presence or absence of carbon monoxide releasing molecule-3 (CORM-3) at 500 micromol x L-1. Expression of phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK), phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (NK) and phosphorylated p38 in mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) pathway was studied by Western blot at 10 min and 20 min, respectively. Nuclear expression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) was checked by Western blot after 4 h stimulation. In some experiments, cells were prestimulated by 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-alpha]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) for 8 h before cytokine stimulation and the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was checked by Western blot after 24 h.

RESULTSCORM-3 significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of MAPK p38 after 10 min stimulation with cytokines, but had no signifi-cant effect on the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK. CORM-3 significantly inhibited the nuclear expression of NF-KB-p65 on HGF after 4 h stimulation by inflammatory cytokines. The inhibitory effect of CORM-3 on the expression of ICAM-1 was not influenced by guanylate cyclase inhibitor ODQ.

CONCLUSIONThe inhibitory effect of carbon monoxide on the expression of adhesion molecules might be exerted by its inhibitory effect on the NF-kappaB activity and MAPK p38 phosphorylation.

Carbon Monoxide ; Cytokines ; Fibroblasts ; Gingiva ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; NF-kappa B ; Phosphorylation ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of carbon monoxide on the expression of adhesion molecules stimulated by inflammatory cytokines on human gingival fibroblasts.

METHODSHuman gingival fibroblasts were stimulated with 50 ng x mL(-1) tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and 10 ng x mL(-1) interleukin (IL)-1beta concurrently in the presence or absence of 500 micromol x L(-1) carbon monoxide releasing molecule (CORM). Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 at protein and mRNA level was examined by Western blot and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. Activity of transcription factor NF-kappaB was evaluated by reporter gene assay.

RESULTSExpression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on human gingival fibroblasts increased dramatically after concurrent stimulation of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta, while CORM inhibited the upregulation of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. CORM decreased the activity of NF-KB stimulated by TNF-alpha and IL-1beta.

CONCLUSIONCarbon monoxide could be a promising way in treating of periodontitis.

Carbon Monoxide ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; Gingiva ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Interleukin-1beta ; NF-kappa B ; RNA, Messenger ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1