OBJECTIVETo probe into the mechanisms of thread implantation at Zusanli(ST 36) and Chinese herbs in treatment of chronic renal failure(CRF).

METHODSCRF rat model was made by Platt subtotal nephrectomy. They were divided into 5 groups, sham operation group, model group, Chinese herbs group, thread implantation group and thread implantation plus Chinese herbs group. After treatment of 8 weeks, serum parathyroid hormone (PHT), transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) expression in residual renal cells, malondialdehyde(MDA) content in the residual renal tissue, serum urea nitrogen(BUN) and creatinine(Scr), protein in urine and pathological changes were investigated.

RESULTSThe above indexes after treatment by thread implantation at acupoint, Chinese herbs, and acupoint thread implantation plus Chinese herbs showed begin reversion, especially, the most obviously improvement in the acupoint thread implantation plus Chinese herbs treatment group.

CONCLUSIONThe mechanism of acupoint thread implantation and Chinese herbs in improvement of CRF is related with decrease of PTH, inhibition of TGF-beta1 expression, decrease of MDA content and resisting lesion of renal fibrosis.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; blood ; therapy ; Male ; Parathyroid Hormone ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; blood ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; pathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; blood ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

Humans ; Leptin ; blood ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; etiology ; metabolism ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; complications ; Male ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

The expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) in placental tissue of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and the relationship between the level of expression of TGF-beta1 and the amount of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in serum was studied. Immunohistochemistry ABC was used to detect the expression and distribution of TGF-beta1 in placental tissues in 40 PIH women and 20 normal pregnancy women. High resolution pathological image analysis system was used to determine the quality of TGF-beta1. The VCAM-1 in serum was examined by enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that TGF-beta1 could be express in syncytiotrophoblast. The levels of TGF-beta1 expression in placental tissues of the patients with moderate and severe PIH were significantly higher (P < 0.05), while the serum VCAM-1 was significantly lower than in normal group (P < 0.01). There was a significant positive correlation between the expression of TGF-beta1 in placental tissues and the serum VCAM-1 (r = 0.969, P < 0.01). It was concluded that the level of TGF-beta1 expression in PIH was increased and was positively correlated with the amount of serum VCAM-1, indicating that they might be involved in the pathogenesis of PIH.
Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced/*metabolism ; Placenta/metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/*metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1/*blood

OBJECTIVETo measure the plasma levels of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1), the protein expression of alpha-SMA in hepatic stellate cells and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and study on the relationships between the plasma levels of TGFbeta1, the protein expression and the serum hyaluronic acid (HA) in patients with different grades of hepatic fibrosis.

METHODSThirty seven cases with hepatic fibrosis of different grades were classified according to HE and VG staining categories from 0 to 4, in which there were 8 cases in grade 1, 9 cases in grade 2, 7 cases in grade 3, 13 cases in grade 4. The plasma levels of TGFbeta1 and the serum levels of HA were detected by ELISA. The protein expressions of a-SMA, uPA and PAI-1 in fibrotic liver tissue were observed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSWith the progression of hepatic fibrosis, the plasma levels of TGFbeta1 and the protein expression of a-SMA, uPA and PAI-1 in fibrotic liver tissue were increased. In grade 3 and 4, the plasma levels of TGFbeta and the protein expression of a-SMA and PAI-1 in fibrotic liver tissue were significantly increased, but the protein expression of uPA in cirrhosis liver tissue did not increased.

CONCLUSIONTGFbeta1, a-SMA, uPA and PAI-1 play an important role in the progression of hepatic fibrosis. Inhibiting the early activation of latent TGFbeta1 or increasing uPA and inhibiting PAI-1 over express may contribute to matrix degradation and retard the progression of hepatic fibrosis.

Actins ; blood ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; complications ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; blood ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; blood ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; blood

Animals ; Blood Platelets ; physiology ; Microscopy, Electron ; Osteogenesis ; Platelet Count ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; analysis ; Rabbits ; Radiography ; Radius ; diagnostic imaging ; ultrastructure ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; blood

The roles of TGF-beta1, beta2 and beta3 according to gestational ages and histodifferentiation were studied using immunohistochemistry with rat fetuses. 1. From day 14 to 21 of fetal rat, all the TGF-beta1, beta2 and beta3 were expressed in endocardium, myocardium, bronchiole, tunica intima of blood vessles, mucosa and serosa of intestine, striated muscle, hepatic capsule, hepatic hemopoietic cells, meninges, epidermis and dermis. 2. From day 14 to 21 of fetal rat, TGF-beta1 was not expressed in the smooth muscle of blood vessel and intestinal tract, alveolar cell and renal tubular cell. TGF-beta2 was not expressed in the smooth muscle of blood vessel and intestinal tract and alveolar cell. TGF-beta3 was not expressed in osteocyte, alveolar cell, and basement membrane of renal cuboidal epithelial cell. And TGF-betas expressed especially in early or late gestational age and the degree of expression increased or decreased with gestational age. 3. The TGF-beta1, beta2 and beta3 were expressed in tissues originated from 3 germ layers except several tissues, and those originated from mesoderm exhibited strong expression. The TGF-beta1 was expressed more widely than TGF-beta2 and beta3 during gestation. In summary, TGF-beta1, beta2 and beta3 were considered as important control factors of cell to cell interaction in the morphogenesis of tissues during fetal development.
Animals ; Basement Membrane ; Blood Vessels ; Bronchioles ; Cell Communication ; Dermis ; Endocardium ; Epidermis ; Epithelial Cells ; Fetal Development ; Fetus ; Germ Layers ; Gestational Age ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intestines ; Meninges ; Mesoderm ; Morphogenesis ; Mucous Membrane ; Muscle, Smooth ; Muscle, Striated ; Myocardium ; Osteocytes ; Pregnancy ; Rats* ; Serous Membrane ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Transforming Growth Factor beta2 ; Transforming Growth Factor beta3 ; Transforming Growth Factors* ; Tunica Intima

OBJECTIVETo explore the changes of cytokines including TNFalpha, TGFbeta1 and nitrogen monoxide, and endotoxin in the serum of chronic severe hepatitis after the treatment of ALSS, and to evaluate further the value of ALSS in the treatment of chronic severe hepatitis.

METHODSForty two patients were screened. The changes of TNFalpha, TGFbeta1, nitrogen monoxide and endotoxin were detected respectively. The relationship between the cytokines and the severity and prognosis were further analyzed.

RESULTSALSS was effective to decrease the serum concentration of cytokines. TNFalpha dropped from (481.57+/-229.33) pg/ml to (156.46+/-78.12) pg/ml (P < 0.05). TGFbeta1 from (44.09+/-31.73) ng/ml to (27.77+/-23.28) ng/ml (P < 0.01), endotoxin from (1.05+/-0.37) Eu/ml to (0.28+/-0.22) Eu/ml (P < 0.001). NO from (71.15+/-33.09) micromol/L to (58.11+/-29.30) micromol/L (P < 0.001). Before the therapy endotoxin was related with TNFalpha and total bilirubin, while after the therapy, NO was related with protime and aminonemia.

CONCLUSIONHigh level of endotoxin and nitrogen monoxide in serum plays an important role in hepatocyte damage of chronic severe hepatitis. The changes of serum endotoxin TNFalpha, TGFbeta1 and nitrogen monoxide level in patients with chronic severe hepatitis can be used to judge the severity and prognosis of severe hepatitis. ALSS is a reliable hepatic support device for chronic severe hepatitis

Adult ; Aged ; Cytokines ; blood ; Endotoxins ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; blood ; immunology ; therapy ; Humans ; Liver, Artificial ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Prognosis ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; blood

BACKGROUND: Umbilical cord (UC) is a promising source of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). We compared the characteristics of MSCs from cryopreserved UC with those from fresh tissues, and demonstrated the possibility of UC cryopreservation for acquisition of MSCs from cryopreserved UC. METHODS: Each UC was sliced into two types (1~2 mm3 vs. 0.5 cm), and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen using different media (autologous cord blood plasma, aCBP vs. RPMI 1640). A fresh aliquot of 1~2 mm3-sized UC was used as control tissue. After one week, the cryopreserved tissues were thawed and cultured. For the 0.5 cm UC, a slicing step into 1~2 mm3 was needed. Cell count, viability, proliferative activity, and surface antigens were determined from harvested MSCs. Several growth factors (EGF, IGF-1, PDGF, TGF-beta, bFGF, and VEGF), were measured from the culture supernatant. RESULTS: Eleven UC were enrolled in the study. Efficiencies of obtaining MSCs were higher in cryopreserved UC using RPMI 1640, compared with use of aCBP; the same result was observed for 0.5 cm sized UC, compared with 1~2 mm3 sized UC. No difference in proliferative activity was observed between MSCs from fresh and cryopreserved UC. The amount of growth factors in culture supernatant using RPMI 1640 was larger than that of fresh tissues. CONCLUSION: We obtained growth factors from the supernatant as well as MSCs from cryopreserved UC. As with a cord blood bank, in the future, cryopreservation of UC for acquisition of both MSCs and growth factors would be possible in a time of need.
Antigens, Surface ; Cell Count ; Cryopreservation ; Fetal Blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Nitrogen ; Plasma ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Umbilical Cord

OBJECTIVETo detect the level of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), TGF-beta2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFRalpha) in plasma and peripheral blood leukocytes in a hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia type 2 (HHT-2) family, and explore the implication of angiogenesis related proteins in HHT-2 pathogenesis.

METHODSThe diagnosis of the HHT-2 patient was based on clinical features and further confirmed by determining a C1231T mutation of activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK1) gene. Five other new members in this family were evaluated with ALK1 gene screening and clinical manifestation. Plasma level of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2 or VEGF was measured by ELISA, and the expression of PDGFRalpha,TGF-beta1, and VEGF in peripheral blood leukocytes by flow cytometry combined with direct or indirect immunofluorescence.

RESULTSNo C1231T mutation was detected in exon 8 of ALK1 gene in the 5 new members. Plasma TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 concentration in 3 affected HHT case was (16 954 +/- 3 709) ng/L and (11 548 +/- 2 611) ng/L, respectively, compared with that of normal control, the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). VEGF concentration in the 3 HHT patients, 6 unaffected family members and 6 normal controls was (179.2 +/- 22.0) microg/L, (149.8 +/- 22.7) microg/L and (132.9 +/- 21.0) microg/ L, respectively. Plasma VEGF level in HHT patients was significantly higher than that in normal subjects (P < 0.025). Peripheral leukocyte PDGFRalpha and VEGF in HHT patients and unaffected family members were markedly higher than that of normal control (P < 0.05 and P < 0.02), while TGF-beta1 distribution was similar in HHT patients and normal subjects.

CONCLUSIONCompared with normal controls there is no difference in plasma TGF-beta1 concentration on peripheral leukocytes of HHT patients. Plasma VEGF concentration or leukocytes VEGF expression in HHT is significantly higher than that of normal subjects. Leukocytes PDGFRalpha expression in HHT is significantly higher than that of normal control. These changes may be associated with a compensable mechanism in HHT.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Granulocytes ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree ; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha ; blood ; Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic ; blood ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; blood ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood