Objective To explore the role of IL-18 in the pathogenesis of chronic eczema. Methods Twenty-seven patients with chronic eczema were enrolled into this study along with 12 normal human controls. The severity of eczema was evaluated by eczema area and severity index (EASI) in patients. Skin specimens and vein blood samples were obtained from all the subjects. Reverse-transcription PCR was performed to detect the mRNA expression of IL-18 and IFN-γ in the skin tissue, and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure the protein expression of IL-18 and IFN-γ in the sera of these subjects. Results The mRNA expression level in patients and controls was 1.04±0.29 pg/mL and 0.52±0.15 pg/mL for IL-18, respectively, 0.96±0.34 pg/mL and 0.47±0.12 pg/mL for IFN-γ, respectively; a significant increase was observed in the mRNA expression level of both IFN-γ and IL-18 in the patients than in the controls (both P<0.01). Moreover, the mRNA expression level of both IFN-γ and IL-18 positively correlated with the severity of eczema in patients (r=0.737, 0.883, both P<0.01). The protein expression level of IL-18 and IFN-γ was 475.8±59.4 pg/mL and 10.1±7.0 pg/mL, respectively, in the patients, 123.6 ±29.5 pg/mL and 11.1±3.4 pg/mL, respectively, in the controls; a statistical difference was observed in the protein expression level of IL-18 (P<0.01), but not in that of IFN-γ(P>0.01), between the patients and controls. No significant correlation was observed betweenthe serum level of IL-18 or IFN-γ and sererity of eczema in the patients (both P>0.01). Conclusions IL-18 may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic eczema. Also, in local lesions, IL-18 seems to correlate with the induction of production of Th1 type cytokines, such as IFN-γ which could subsequently mediate hypersensitivity response.

Objective To investigate the expression and secretion of mice DNaseI gene plasmid transfected into bone marrow (BM-MSCs) mesenchymal stem cells. Methods The plasmids of mouse DNaseI gene had been transfected into the BM-MSCs of mice by liposomes. The expression of DNaseI gene in the BM-MSCs was detected by western blotting and the DNaseI activity was measured by DNA-methyl green substrate colorimetry. Results About 30% BM -MSCs were transfected with mice plasmid DNaseI gene, DNaseI was expressed in the transfected BM-MSCs and active DNaseI could be detected in the supernatant of cell culture. Conclusion The mice DNaseI gene plasmid can be transfected into mice BM -MSCs by liposomes and DNaseI gene can be expressed by the transfected BM-MSCs and active DNaseI can be secreted. This may provide potential target for the treatment of SLE.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possible effects of oral cadmium(Cd) exposure on the expression levels of metallothionein-I and metallothionein-II (MT-I and MT-II) mRNA and the distribution of zinc (Zn) and Cd in rat prostate.

METHODSCadmium was given to rats at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg in drinking water. The contents of Zn and Cd in prostate were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry(AAS), and the levels of MTs mRNA were determined by RT-PCR.

RESULTSAfter Cd administration, the content of Zn was decreased in both the ventral and the dorsolateral lobes of rat prostate. In 200 mg/kg Cd group, the contents of Zn in ventral prostate were 9.5 and 8.5 micrograms/g wet weight respectively after one month and six months, which were significantly lower than those of control(17.0 and 18.9 micrograms/g wet weight). In contrast, the contents of Cd in both ventral and dorsolateral lobes of prostate significantly increased with the increasing dose and time of Cd administration. It was also noted that Cd administration resulted in a significant down-regulation of the expression of MT-I and MT-II mRNA in rat ventral prostate. In 200 mg/kg Cd group after one and six months, the relative expression levels of MT-I (0.410, 0.339 respectively) and MT-II (0.100, 0.112 respectively) were significantly lower than those of MT-I (0.760, 0.830 respectively) and MT-II (0.429, 0.439 respectively) in control group.

CONCLUSIONOral Cd exposure could influence the distribution of Zn and the expression levels of MTs mRNA in rat prostate.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Cadmium ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Male ; Metallothionein ; genetics ; Prostate ; drug effects ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Zinc ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in serum levels of sex hormones in male workers occupationally exposed to cadmium (Cd).

METHODSEighty-five Cd-exposed workers in a cadmium refinery in the south China and 76 local healthy subjects as control were selected in the study. Air samples in the workplaces were collected and detected for Cd concentration. Urinary Cd (UCd) level of the workers was measured by graphite atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and adjusted by urine level of creatinine (Cr), as an indicator of Cd-burden in the body of all subjects. Also, their serum levels of testosterone (T), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were determined with radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay, respectively, and dose-effect relationship was evaluated.

RESULTSThe serum testosterone levels in Cd-exposure group with 10.9-21.9 and > 21.9 micro mol/mol Cr were 13.00 and 11.37 nmol/L, significantly higher than that (9.31 nmol/L) in those with 0.0-2.2 micro mol/mol Cr. Significantly more increased level of LH (4.11 and 4.32 U/L) was detected in heavy exposure group in the workshop for electrolysis than in control group (2.52 U/L) and in the group with 0.0-2.2 micro mol/mol Cr of UCd (2.64 U/L). No changes in serum level of FSH were found related to Cd exposure.

CONCLUSIONOccupational Cd exposure could independently contribute to the changes of serum levels of sex hormone in male workers.

Cadmium ; adverse effects ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Testosterone ; blood

BACKGROUND:It has been hypothesized that PANoptosis may be involved in the pathologic process of osteoporosis,but there have been no studies addressing the mechanisms of PANoptosis genes in osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the biological mechanism of PANoptosis regulators in the occurrence and development of osteoporosis. METHODS:The GSE56815 dataset was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and PANoptosis genes were extracted for differential analysis.The key genes of PANoptosis were screened by random forest tree model to construct a disease risk prediction model.Consensus clustering algorithm,single sample genome enrichment analysis and immune infiltration analysis were used to explore the differences between different PANoptosis molecular subtypes.Herbal drugs that regulate the key genes of PANoptosis were predicted through Coremine medical database,a medical ontology information retrieval platform. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Based on the four PANoptosis key genes(CASP1,CASP10,MEFV,and TNF),the diagnostic markers of osteoporosis were determined,and the risk prediction model was constructed and verified.Osteoporosis was divided into two different PANoptosis subtypes(clusters A,B and gene clusters A,B),and the PANoptosis scores of cluster B and gene cluster B were higher than those of cluster A and gene cluster A,respectively.Traditional Chinese drugs such as ginseng which can regulate the key genes of PANoptosis were predicted by the Coremine medical database.