OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of Eotaxin-3 in chronic rhinosinusitis with and without nasal polyps. METHOD: The ethmoid inflammation mucosa of 15 cases diagnosed as chronic rhinosinusitis (sinusitis group), the nasal polyps in the middle meatus of 25 cases diagnosed as nasal polyps (nasal polyp group) and the ethmoid or uncinate process mucosa of 7 cases diagnosed as sinonasal non-inflamnatory diseases (control group), were collected as the research object. Eotaxin-3 expression was detected in the tissues by immunohistochemical SABC assay and the correlation between Eotaxin-3 and blood eosinophil counts was analyzed. RESULT: Eotaxin-3 were detected both in sinusitis group and nasal polyp group, and the expression level in sinusitis group and nasal polyp group were higher than that in control group. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The Eotaxin-3 expression in nasal polyps group was higher than that in sinusitis group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The expression of Eotaxin-3 in nasal polyps group and sinusitis group were both significantly positively correlated with the eosinophil counts in the blood (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Eotaxin-3 may be involved,in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with and without nasal polyps, and further research will help us to understand the pathophysiology of chronic rhinosinusitis with and without nasal polyps.
Chemokine CCL26 ; Chemokines, CC ; metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; Eosinophils ; Ethmoid Sinus ; pathology ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; pathology ; Nasal Polyps ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rhinitis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sinusitis ; metabolism ; pathology

BACKGROUNDKeshan disease (KD) is an endemic cardiomyopathy in China. The etiology of KD is still under debate and there is no effective approach to preventing and curing this disease. Young women of child-bearing age are the most frequent victims in rural areas. The aim of this study was to determine the differences between molecular pathogenic mechanisms in male and female KD sufferers.

METHODSWe extracted RNA from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of KD patients (12 women and 4 men) and controls (12 women and 4 men). Then the isolated RNA was amplified, labeled and hybridized to Agilent human 4×44k whole genome microarrays. Gene expression was examined using oligonucleotide microarray analysis. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay was also performed to validate our microarray results.

RESULTSAmong the genes differentially expressed in female KD patients we identified: HLA-DOA, HLA-DRA, and HLA-DQA1 associated with spontaneous autoimmunity; BMP5 and BMP7, involved in cardiomyocyte differentiation defect; and ADAMTS 8, CCL23, and TNFSF15, implicated in anti-angiogenic activities. These genes are involved in the canonical pathways and networks recognized for the female KD sufferers and might be related to the pathogenic mechanism of KD.

CONCLUSIONOur results might help to explain the higher susceptibility of women to this disease.

ADAM Proteins ; genetics ; ADAMTS Proteins ; Adult ; Autoimmunity ; genetics ; physiology ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 5 ; genetics ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 ; genetics ; Cardiomyopathies ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; physiology ; Chemokines, CC ; genetics ; Enterovirus Infections ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; HLA-D Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DQ alpha-Chains ; genetics ; HLA-DR alpha-Chains ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Sex Factors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 15 ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo compare the CC-chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18) expression in the serum and malignant pleural effusion (MPE) of NSCLC patients and explore its regulatory effect on differentiation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (Mo-DC).

METHODSCCL18 levels in the serum and MPE from 62 NSCLC patients were quantitated by immunoassay. CCL18 in sera from 26 healthy individuals, 28 exudative pleural effusions from inflammatory pulmonary diseases and 17 transudative pleural effusions from non-inflammatory diseases were used as control. Mo-DC was generated by culturing NSCLC-derived monocytes with GM-CSF and IL-4 in the presence or absence of CCL18. The mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) of CD14, CD80, CD83, CD86 and HLA-DR were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). Mo-DC was then co-cultured with purified T cells and the percence of CD25(+)FoxP3(+) cells was assayed by FCM.

RESULTSCCL18 levels in the sera of NSCLC patients and healthy individuals were (132.70 ± 15.52) ng/ml and (18.44 ± 0.99) ng/ml, respectively (P < 0.001). The levels of CCL18 in MPE, exudative PE and transudative PE were (155.6 ± 13.58) ng/ml, (190.4 ± 22.33) ng/ml and (20.89 ± 3.03) ng/ml, respectively. CCL18 in the MPE was significantly higher than that in transudates (P < 0.001), however, no significant difference was observed between CCL18 expression in exudative PE and MPE (P = 0.172). Of note, a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.421, P < 0.01) was observed between CCL18 levels in the paired MPE and serum of NSCLC. In the healthy control group, Mo-DC cultured in the presence of CCL18 showed 31.4 ± 15.8 (MFI) of CD14 expression, which was significantly higher than that in Mo-DC cultured in the absence of CCL18 (18.5 ± 8.9, P < 0.05). In contrast, the expressions of MFI of CD80, CD83, CD86 and HLA-DR were significantly decreased upon CCL18 induction (P < 0.05). In the NSCLC group, GM-CSF+IL-4+CCL18 induced a MFI of 45.2 ± 13.8 of CD14 expression in Mo-DC, which was also significantly higher than that of GM-CSF+ IL-4 induction (22.6 ± 10.5, P < 0.01). Similarly, the expressions of MFI of CD80, CD83, CD86 and HLA-DR were significantly decreased in the presence of CCL18 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the MFI of CD14, CD83, CD86 and HLA-DR had significant differences between GM-CSF/IL-4/CCL18-induced Mo-DC derived from NSCLC patients and healthy control (P < 0.05). Finally, CD4(+) T cells co-cultured with NSCLC-derived, GM-CSF/IL-4/CCL18-treated Mo-DC had significantly higher percent of CD25(+)FoxP3(+) cells compared with that of CD4(+) T cells stimulated with Mo-DC induced by GM-CSF/IL-4(P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSCCL18 is present at a high level in MPE and serum of NSCLC patients complicated with pleural effusion and a moderate positive correlation exists between CCL18 levels in the two fluids. CCL18 inhibits maturation of Mo-DC, which consequently stimulates T cells to differentiate into CD25(+)FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Chemokines ; Chemokines, CC ; metabolism ; Coculture Techniques ; Dendritic Cells ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Ligands ; Lung Neoplasms ; Monocytes ; physiology ; Pleural Effusion ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

In order to study whether cysteine-rich 61 protein (cyr61) is involved in the pathogenesis of asthma and its relation to airway inflammation, the effect of dexamethasone (Dxm) on the expression of cyr61 in the lung tissues of asthmatic mice was investigated. Forty BALB/c mice were divided into asthma group (n=15), control group (n=10) and Dxm group (n=15). The asthma group was sensitized and challenged by ovalbumin (OVA). The mice in Dxm group were intraperitoneally administered with Dxm after OVA challenge. The expression of cyr61 in the lung tissues was detected by using immunohistochemistry, and that of eotaxin protein in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The number of inflammatory cells in BALF was also analyzed. The results showed that the cyr61 expression was highest in asthma group (P<0.05), followed by Dxm group (P<0.05) and control group. The cyr61 had a positive correlation with the total nucleated cells (r=0.867, P<0.05), especially eosinophils (r=0.856, P<0.05), and eotaxin level (r=0.983, P<0.05) in the BALF. Our findings suggested that cyr61 is expressed in airway epithelial cells and has a positive correlation with eotaxin and number of airway infiltrating eosinophils.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Asthma ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; cytology ; Chemokines, CC ; metabolism ; Cysteine-Rich Protein 61 ; biosynthesis ; Dexamethasone ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Leukocyte Count ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neutrophils ; drug effects ; pathology ; Ovalbumin

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of CCL28 in hypoxia-induced cell migration of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSResected liver tissues from 50 HCC patients were subjected to real-time (rt)-PCR analysis to evaluate the mRNA expression levels of the hypoxia-induced factor HIF-1a and the chemokine CCL28. Patient data on treatment and outcome were analyzed. The human HCC cell lines HepG2 and HCCLM3 were used to investigate effects of hypoxic conditions on HIF-1a and CCL28 expressions by rt-PCR, western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunoassay. The CCL28-mediated effects of hypoxic conditions on cell mobility and invasion were assessed by trans-well and matrigel assays, respectively, in HCCLM3 with CCL28 expression silenced by small-interfering (si)RNA transfection. Spearman's rank test was used to assess the correlation between CCL28 and effects on disease- and treatment-related factors.

RESULTSThe mRNA levels of CCL28 (0.025 +/- 0.075) were found to be strongly correlated with HIF-1a(0.065 +/- 0.098) in human clinical samples of HCC (r = 0.595, P less than 0.01), with higher expressions of both related to recurrence after surgery (P = 0.011 and 0.019, respectively). In vitro hypoxic conditions stimulated HIF-1a and CCL28 expression in a time-dependent manner in both HepG2 (HIF-1a: F = 873.5; CCL28: F = 151.6) and HCCLM3 (HIF-1a: F = 964.5; CCL28: F = 285.8) (all P less than 0.01). siRNA inhibition of CCL28 in HCCLM3 cells led to a significant reduction in hypoxia-induced invasion and migration (all P = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONChemokine CCL28 expression is up-regulated in human HCC and under in vitro hypoxic conditions, and may play an important role in hypoxia-induced HCC migration and invasion.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chemokines, CC ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Silencing ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

To explain biological function of protein CCL15 in HCC cell lines. The different expression level of CCL15 among HCC cell lines was validated by RT-PCR and Western blot. The expression recombinant plasmid of siRNA-CCL15 was constructed successfully and transfected into high metastasis cell lines HCCML3 to observe the alteration of biological function of HCCML3. The overexpression of CCL15 in high metastasis HCC cell lines was confirmed by validation tests. After transfected with siRNA-CCL15, the average amounts of invaded cells in cell invasion assay were 657.9 (HCCML3) and 148.4(HCCML3-siCCL15) (t=19.34, P less than 0.05). And in the scratch assay, the migrating distance were (0.35+/-0.02) mm (HCCML3) and (0.82+/-0.03)mm (HCCML3-siCCL15) (t=15.67, P less than 0.05). The expression of MMP-9 in HCCML3 was higher than HCCML3-siCCL15 through Western blot. Some biological properties (migration, invasion, MMP-9) of HCCML3 transfected with siRNA-CCL15 were decreased. The results suggest CCL15 might play an important role in HCC cell invasion and metastasis through two paths of MMPs regulation and invasion potential strengthening.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Chemokines, CC ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Transfection

Toxoplasma gondii provokes rapid and sustained nuclear translocation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) in HeLa cells. We observed activation of STAT6 as early as 2 hr after infection with T. gondii by the nuclear translocation of fluorescence expressed from exogenously transfected pDsRed2-STAT6 plasmid and by the detection of phosphotyrosine-STAT6 in Western blot. STAT6 activation occurred only by infection with live tachyzoites but not by co-culture with killed tachyzoites or soluble T. gondii extracts. STAT6 phosphorylation was inhibited by small interfering RNA of STAT6 (siSTAT6). In view of the fact that STAT6 is a central mediator of IL-4 induced gene expression, activation of STAT6 by T. gondii infection resembles that infected host cells has been stimulated by IL-4 treatment. STAT1 was affected to increase the transcription and expression by the treatment of siSTAT6. STAT6 activation was not affected by any excess SOCS's whereas that with IL-4 was inhibited by SOCS-1 and SOCS-3. T. gondii infection induced Eotaxin-3 gene expression which was reduced by IFN-gamma. These results demonstrate that T. gondii exploits host STAT6 to take away various harmful reactions by IFN-gamma. This shows, for the first time, IL-4-like action by T. gondii infection modulates microbicidal action by IFN-gamma in infected cells.
Active Transport, Cell Nucleus ; Animals ; Chemokines, CC/biosynthesis ; Hela Cells ; Humans ; Interleukin-4/*immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; STAT6 Transcription Factor/*immunology/*metabolism ; Toxoplasma/*immunology

Chemokines and chemokine receptors play a role in migration of circulating leukocytes to the region of inflammation. Human LZIP is an uncharacterized transcription factor and is known to participate in leukotactin (Lkn)-1/CCL15-induced cell migration. We investigated the role of human LZIP in expression of CC chemokine receptors (CCRs) and its involvement in monocyte migration. RNase protection analysis showed that LZIP increased mRNA expression of CCR2 and CCR1 in THP-1 cells. Surface expressions of both CCR2 and CCR1 were also increased by LZIP. Results from an electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that LZIP binds to the C/EBP element in the CCR2 promoter. LZIP also enhanced the chemotactic activities of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1/CCL2 and Lkn-1. These results suggest that LZIP regulates expression of chemokine receptors that are involved in monocyte migration.
Atherosclerosis/drug therapy/etiology ; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement/drug effects/*physiology ; Chemokine CCL2/*pharmacology ; Chemokines, CC/pharmacology ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding ; Humans ; Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins/pharmacology ; Monocytes/drug effects/metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Binding ; RNA, Messenger/analysis ; Receptors, CCR1/biosynthesis/genetics ; Receptors, CCR2/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Transcriptional Activation/drug effects ; Transfection ; Transgenes

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of alternatively activated macrophages /mononuclear phagocytes(MNP) on breast cancer cells and explore the mechanisms for the action of tumor-associated macrophages in breast cancer.

METHODSHuman peripheral blood monocytes were isolated and cultured in vitro and divided into 3 groups, namely classically activated monocytes (CAM) which were induced by lipopolysaccharide, alternatively activated monocytes (AAM) induce by IL-4, and control cells treated with the culture medium only. After cell culture for 48-72 h, the mRNA of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), alternative monocytes activation- associated CC-chemokine 1 (AMAC-1), and beta-actin of the 3 groups were extracted for RT-PCR, or the cells were cocultured with breast cancer cell line SKBR3, or seeded in chicken chorioallantoic membrane along with SKBR3.

RESULTSTNF-alpha mRNA was significantly increased in CAM, and AMAC-1 was highly expressed in AAM. The coculture experiments showed that CAM exhibited obvious inhibitory effect on SKBR3 cells after a 3-day culture whereas AAM significantly promoted the growth of SKBR3 cells after a 5-day culture. In chicken on chorioallantoic membrane experiment, the macrophages promoted tumor angiogenesis and AAM showed the most obvious effect.

CONCLUSIONIL-4 induces high expression of AMAC-1, a molecular marker of AAM, in the macrophages, and AAM can promote the growth of SKBR3 cells and tumor angiogenesis.

Animals ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Chemokines, CC ; metabolism ; Chick Embryo ; Coculture Techniques ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Macrophage Activation ; Phagocytes ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo clone human CCL3L1 cDNA and to express and purify the glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fusion protein and human CCL3L1 protein.

METHODSTotal RNA was isolated from breast cancer cell line MCF7. CCL3L1 cDNA including open reading frame was obtained by RT-PCR. PCR product was digested with EcoR I and cloned into the pGEX-4T-1 vector. The plasmids from positive clone was prepared and sequenced to confirm the CCL3L1 in correct fusion form. pGEX-4T-CCL3L1 was transfected to BL21 E. coli via isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG) induction to produce GST-CCL3L1 fusion protein, which was further detected by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting.

RESULTSAs shown and confirmed by restriction endonuclease digestion analysis, CCL3L1 was correctly inserted into pGEX-4T-1 vector. The expressed fusion protein had a relative molecular weight of approximately 34 kD.

CONCLUSIONGST-CCL3L1 fusion protein can be successfully expressed using appropriate vector.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Chemokines, CC ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; Glutathione Transferase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Isopropyl Thiogalactoside ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction