Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and immunological mechanisms of pegylated interferon α-2b (Peg-IFNα-2b) antiviral therapy in treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).Methods:A total of 166 treatment-naive CHB patients, who were treated at Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from March 2021 to March 2023, were enrolled in this study. All the patients received Peg-IFNα-2b therapy for 48 weeks. Serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, HBV serological markers, biochemical parameters, peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and serum cytokine levels were detected and compared before and after treatment. Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test and paired sample t test were used for statistical comparison. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroconversion by stepwise regression method, and the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to evaluate the predictive efficacy of immune indicators on HBsAg seroconversion. Results:Among the 166 treatment-naive CHB patients, the rate of HBV DNA negativity following 48 weeks of Peg-IFNα-2b therapy was 71.08%(118/166), the rate of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) negativity was 32.05%(25/78), and the rate of HBsAg negativity was 20.48%(34/166). HBsAg negativity rate was 52.17%(24/46) in patients with baseline HBsAg<200 IU/mL, 10.26%(4/39) in patients with baseline HBsAg 200 to <1 200 IU/mL, and 7.41%(6/81) in patients with baseline HBsAg≥1 200 IU/mL, and the difference was statistically significant( χ2=39.37, P<0.001). After 48 weeks of treatment, serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil), and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were significantly lower than those before treatment ( Z=9.33, 8.58, 5.99, 2.36, respectively, all P<0.05). lmmune indicators were detected in 58 patients, and the proportion of peripheral blood lymphocytes increased significantly post-treatment, with notable increases in CD3 + CD8 + T/CD3 + T, CD3 + CD4 + DR + /CD3 + CD4 + , CD3 + CD8 + DR + /CD3 + CD8 + , CD3 + CD8 + CD38 + /CD3 + CD8 + , CD3 + CD8 + CD28 + /CD3 + CD8 + , and CD19 + B cells, and the differences were all statistically significant ( t=-2.56, t=-8.65, Z=-3.58, t=-3.66, Z=-3.04, t=-3.62, t=-3.87, respectively, all P<0.05). Conversely, the proportion of CD3 + , CD3 + CD4 + T/CD3 + T, CD3 + CD4 + CD45RO + /CD3 + CD4 + , CD3 + CD8 + CD45RO + /CD3 + CD8 + and the CD4 + /CD8 + ratio decreased significantly post-treatment ( t=3.13, t=5.61, t=3.69, Z=3.95, Z=7.33, respectively, all P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in the proportion of CD16 + CD56 + natural killer (NK) cells, CD3 + CD4 + CD28 + /CD3 + CD4 + , CD3 + CD4 + CD38 + /CD3 + CD4 + cells before and after treatment (all P>0.05). Serum levels of interleukin(IL)-8, IL-12P70, and IL-17 significantly decreased post-treatment ( Z=2.85, 3.26, 4.12, respectively, all P<0.05), while IL-2, IL-1β, and interferon(IFN)-α levels were significantly elevated compared to baseline ( Z=-4.92, -4.85, -9.01, respectively, all P<0.001). There were no significant differences in IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 levels before and after treatment (all P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis identified CD3 + CD8 + T/CD3 + T(odd ratios ( OR)=1.198, 95%confidence interval( CI) 1.003 to 1.432, P=0.046), CD3 + CD4 + DR + /CD3 + CD4 + ( OR=1.185, 95% CI 1.035 to 1.357, P=0.014), CD3 + CD8 + DR + /CD3 + CD8 + ( OR=0.813, 95% CI 0.690 to 0.958, P=0.013), CD3 + CD4 + CD38 + /CD3 + CD4 + ( OR=0.678, 95% CI 0.488 to 0.940, P=0.020), CD3 + CD8 + CD38 + /CD3 + CD8 + ( OR=1.272, 95% CI 1.069 to 1.512, P=0.007), CD19 + B cells( OR=0.752, 95% CI 0.582 to 0.971, P=0.029), IL-2( OR=8.568, 95% CI 1.927 to 38.087, P=0.005), and IL-17( OR=0.728, 95% CI 0.535 to 0.989, P=0.042) as independent factors influencing HBsAg seroconversion. The area under the curve (AUC) of the proportion of dCD19 + B cells (the reciprocal of CD19 + B cells) for predicting HBsAg seroconversion was 0.716, the sensitivity was 0.636, and the specificity was 0.809. The AUC of IL-2 was 0.657, the sensitivity was 0.818, and the specificity was 0.404. The AUC of dIL-17 (the reciprocal of IL-17 levels) was 0.624, the sensitivity was 0.727, and the specificity was 0.489. The AUC of IL-2 and dIL-17 as a combined predictor was 0.830, the sensitivity was 0.909, and the specificity was 0.787. Conclusions:Peg-IFNα-2b demonstrates significant antiviral, biochemical, and serological responses in treatment-naive CHB patients, with enhanced efficacy in patients exhibiting HBsAg levels <200 IU/mL. In patients with HBsAg<200 IU/mL, the rate of HBsAg negativity reached 52.17%.Peg-IFNα-2b can regulate the immune function of patients with CHB by increasing the proportion of activated T lymphocyte subsets and functional subsets. The proportion of CD19 + B cells, IL-2 levels, and IL-17 levels hold predictive value for achieving HBsAg seroconversion.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and immunological mechanisms of pegylated interferon α-2b (Peg-IFNα-2b) antiviral therapy in treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).Methods:A total of 166 treatment-naive CHB patients, who were treated at Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from March 2021 to March 2023, were enrolled in this study. All the patients received Peg-IFNα-2b therapy for 48 weeks. Serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, HBV serological markers, biochemical parameters, peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and serum cytokine levels were detected and compared before and after treatment. Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test and paired sample t test were used for statistical comparison. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroconversion by stepwise regression method, and the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to evaluate the predictive efficacy of immune indicators on HBsAg seroconversion. Results:Among the 166 treatment-naive CHB patients, the rate of HBV DNA negativity following 48 weeks of Peg-IFNα-2b therapy was 71.08%(118/166), the rate of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) negativity was 32.05%(25/78), and the rate of HBsAg negativity was 20.48%(34/166). HBsAg negativity rate was 52.17%(24/46) in patients with baseline HBsAg<200 IU/mL, 10.26%(4/39) in patients with baseline HBsAg 200 to <1 200 IU/mL, and 7.41%(6/81) in patients with baseline HBsAg≥1 200 IU/mL, and the difference was statistically significant( χ2=39.37, P<0.001). After 48 weeks of treatment, serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil), and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were significantly lower than those before treatment ( Z=9.33, 8.58, 5.99, 2.36, respectively, all P<0.05). lmmune indicators were detected in 58 patients, and the proportion of peripheral blood lymphocytes increased significantly post-treatment, with notable increases in CD3 + CD8 + T/CD3 + T, CD3 + CD4 + DR + /CD3 + CD4 + , CD3 + CD8 + DR + /CD3 + CD8 + , CD3 + CD8 + CD38 + /CD3 + CD8 + , CD3 + CD8 + CD28 + /CD3 + CD8 + , and CD19 + B cells, and the differences were all statistically significant ( t=-2.56, t=-8.65, Z=-3.58, t=-3.66, Z=-3.04, t=-3.62, t=-3.87, respectively, all P<0.05). Conversely, the proportion of CD3 + , CD3 + CD4 + T/CD3 + T, CD3 + CD4 + CD45RO + /CD3 + CD4 + , CD3 + CD8 + CD45RO + /CD3 + CD8 + and the CD4 + /CD8 + ratio decreased significantly post-treatment ( t=3.13, t=5.61, t=3.69, Z=3.95, Z=7.33, respectively, all P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in the proportion of CD16 + CD56 + natural killer (NK) cells, CD3 + CD4 + CD28 + /CD3 + CD4 + , CD3 + CD4 + CD38 + /CD3 + CD4 + cells before and after treatment (all P>0.05). Serum levels of interleukin(IL)-8, IL-12P70, and IL-17 significantly decreased post-treatment ( Z=2.85, 3.26, 4.12, respectively, all P<0.05), while IL-2, IL-1β, and interferon(IFN)-α levels were significantly elevated compared to baseline ( Z=-4.92, -4.85, -9.01, respectively, all P<0.001). There were no significant differences in IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 levels before and after treatment (all P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis identified CD3 + CD8 + T/CD3 + T(odd ratios ( OR)=1.198, 95%confidence interval( CI) 1.003 to 1.432, P=0.046), CD3 + CD4 + DR + /CD3 + CD4 + ( OR=1.185, 95% CI 1.035 to 1.357, P=0.014), CD3 + CD8 + DR + /CD3 + CD8 + ( OR=0.813, 95% CI 0.690 to 0.958, P=0.013), CD3 + CD4 + CD38 + /CD3 + CD4 + ( OR=0.678, 95% CI 0.488 to 0.940, P=0.020), CD3 + CD8 + CD38 + /CD3 + CD8 + ( OR=1.272, 95% CI 1.069 to 1.512, P=0.007), CD19 + B cells( OR=0.752, 95% CI 0.582 to 0.971, P=0.029), IL-2( OR=8.568, 95% CI 1.927 to 38.087, P=0.005), and IL-17( OR=0.728, 95% CI 0.535 to 0.989, P=0.042) as independent factors influencing HBsAg seroconversion. The area under the curve (AUC) of the proportion of dCD19 + B cells (the reciprocal of CD19 + B cells) for predicting HBsAg seroconversion was 0.716, the sensitivity was 0.636, and the specificity was 0.809. The AUC of IL-2 was 0.657, the sensitivity was 0.818, and the specificity was 0.404. The AUC of dIL-17 (the reciprocal of IL-17 levels) was 0.624, the sensitivity was 0.727, and the specificity was 0.489. The AUC of IL-2 and dIL-17 as a combined predictor was 0.830, the sensitivity was 0.909, and the specificity was 0.787. Conclusions:Peg-IFNα-2b demonstrates significant antiviral, biochemical, and serological responses in treatment-naive CHB patients, with enhanced efficacy in patients exhibiting HBsAg levels <200 IU/mL. In patients with HBsAg<200 IU/mL, the rate of HBsAg negativity reached 52.17%.Peg-IFNα-2b can regulate the immune function of patients with CHB by increasing the proportion of activated T lymphocyte subsets and functional subsets. The proportion of CD19 + B cells, IL-2 levels, and IL-17 levels hold predictive value for achieving HBsAg seroconversion.

Objective To explore the effect of sling exercise with Tuina therapy on kinesiophobia in old patients with lumbar disc herniation,and analyze the mechanism based on brain-bone axis. Methods A total of 56 old patients with chronic lumbar disc herniation and kinesiophobia were selected from the Reha-bilitation Hospital of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from September,2022 to December,2023;and randomly divided into control group(n=28)and experimental group(n=28).The control group accepted conventional exercise therapy,while the experimental group accepted sling exercise with Tuina therapy,for four weeks.They were assessed with simplified Chinese version of Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia(TSK),Japanese Orthopaedic Association score(JOA)and Visual Analogue Scale for pain(VAS)before and after treatment,while the bone mineral density(BMD)was tested,the levels of osteoprote-gerin(OPG),norepinephrine(NE)and corticosteroids(Cor)in serum were measured,and the median frequency(MF)of weak-link erector spinae was detected with surface electromyography. Results Two cases dropped off in the control group,and one in the experimental group.The scores of all the assessment improved in both groups after treatment(|t|>14.168,P<0.001),as well as the serum levels of OPG,NE and Cor(|t|>2.103,P<0.05),BMD(|t|>2.726,P<0.05),and MF of erector spinae(|t|>14.736,P<0.001);all of them were better in the experimental group than in the control group(|t|>2.154,P<0.05). Conclusion Sling exercise with Tuina therapy can improve the pain and kinesiophobia of lumbar disc herniation in the old adults,which may promote the recovery of physical and mental function through regulating the levels of hor-mones and neurotransmitters related to the brain-bone axis.

Objective To observe the effectiveness of the three-dimensional balanced chiropractic technique in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and analyze predictive factors for resorption of the herniated nucleus pulposus based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods From June 2015 to June 2021, 95 patients with LDH treated with the three-dimensional balanced chiropractic techniquein our hospital were followed up for clinical and MRI data. They were divided into resorption group and non-resorption group based on the nucleus pulposus resorption rate. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association of 12 factors (sex, age, course of disease, etc.)with nucleus pulposus resorption. Results Thirty-two cases (33.7%)were found at follow-up to have nucleus pulposus resorption (resorption rate≥30%). Resorption was most likely to occur in patients with a disease course of less than a year (P < 0.001), type 3 LDH accoding to the Michigan State University (MSU) classification (P = 0.014), leg numbness (P = 0.006), and a L4/5 or L5/S1 disc herniation (P < 0.001). Conclusion MRI can be used as an important tool to observe nucleus pulposus resorption in LDH. A disease course of less than a year, MSU type 3, leg numbness, a L4/5 or L5/S1 disc herniation are associated with a higher possibility of nucleus pulposus resorption, which can be used as indicators predicting the outcome of patients with LDH treated with the three-dimensional balanced chiropractic technique.

Objective:To investigate the interventional effect of metformin on pulmonary inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis in silicotic rats.Methods:In April 2019, 48 Wistar male rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into negative control group, metformin control group, silicon dioxide (SiO 2) model group, low, medium and high dose metformin intervention group according to the random number table method, 8 rats in each group. The SiO 2 model group and the low, medium and high dose metformin intervention groups were given 1 ml 50 mg/ml of SiO 2 by intratracheal instillation, the negative control group and the metformin control group were given 1 ml normal saline by intratracheal instillation. 24 hours later, the low, medium and high dose metformin intervention groups and the metformin control group were treated with 100, 200, 400 and 400 mg/kg metformin daily, the control and SiO 2 model groups received normal saline daily. Then the rats were sacrificed at the 28th day after SiO 2 exposure. The changes of rat body weight and pathological examination of rat lung tissue were observed, and the lung organ coefficient, the content of hydroxyproline (HYP) , the expression levels of inflammatory factors transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1) , tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) , interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and the protein expression of E-cadherin (E-Cad) , Vimentin, α-SMA were detected. Results:Compared with the negative control group, SiO 2 model group had a significant decrease in the body weight of rats ( P<0.05) , lung organ coefficient, alveolitis and fibrosis scores, HYP content and the levels of TGF-β1, TNF-α, IL-1β were all significantly increased ( P<0.05) . Compared with the SiO 2 model group, the weights of the rats in the medium and high dose intervention group of metformin increased significantly ( P<0.05) . And after intervention with different doses of metformin, the lung organ coefficient, alveolitis and fibrosis scores, HYP content and the levels of TGF-β1, TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly decreased ( P<0.05) . Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting results showed that compared with the negative control group, the expression of E-Cad of the SiO 2 model group was decreased, and the expression levels of Vimentin and α-SMA were significantly increased ( P<0.05) . After metformin intervention, the expression of E-Cad was significantly increased, the expression levels of Vimentin and α-SMA were significantly decreased ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:Metformin can reduce lung tissue inflammation and fibrosis in rats exposed to SiO 2 dust, which may be related to reducing the expression of inflammatory factors in lung tissue and inhibiting the EMT process.

Objective:To investigate the interventional effect of metformin on pulmonary inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis in silicotic rats.Methods:In April 2019, 48 Wistar male rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into negative control group, metformin control group, silicon dioxide (SiO 2) model group, low, medium and high dose metformin intervention group according to the random number table method, 8 rats in each group. The SiO 2 model group and the low, medium and high dose metformin intervention groups were given 1 ml 50 mg/ml of SiO 2 by intratracheal instillation, the negative control group and the metformin control group were given 1 ml normal saline by intratracheal instillation. 24 hours later, the low, medium and high dose metformin intervention groups and the metformin control group were treated with 100, 200, 400 and 400 mg/kg metformin daily, the control and SiO 2 model groups received normal saline daily. Then the rats were sacrificed at the 28th day after SiO 2 exposure. The changes of rat body weight and pathological examination of rat lung tissue were observed, and the lung organ coefficient, the content of hydroxyproline (HYP) , the expression levels of inflammatory factors transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1) , tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) , interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and the protein expression of E-cadherin (E-Cad) , Vimentin, α-SMA were detected. Results:Compared with the negative control group, SiO 2 model group had a significant decrease in the body weight of rats ( P<0.05) , lung organ coefficient, alveolitis and fibrosis scores, HYP content and the levels of TGF-β1, TNF-α, IL-1β were all significantly increased ( P<0.05) . Compared with the SiO 2 model group, the weights of the rats in the medium and high dose intervention group of metformin increased significantly ( P<0.05) . And after intervention with different doses of metformin, the lung organ coefficient, alveolitis and fibrosis scores, HYP content and the levels of TGF-β1, TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly decreased ( P<0.05) . Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting results showed that compared with the negative control group, the expression of E-Cad of the SiO 2 model group was decreased, and the expression levels of Vimentin and α-SMA were significantly increased ( P<0.05) . After metformin intervention, the expression of E-Cad was significantly increased, the expression levels of Vimentin and α-SMA were significantly decreased ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:Metformin can reduce lung tissue inflammation and fibrosis in rats exposed to SiO 2 dust, which may be related to reducing the expression of inflammatory factors in lung tissue and inhibiting the EMT process.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of toluene diisocyanate(TDI) on the activation of autophagy and expression of inflammatory cytokines interleukin(IL)-4 and IL-6 in normal human bronchial epithelial cells(16 HBE). METHODS: i) We prepared TDI-human serum albumin(HSA) and determined the mass concentration of TDI in TDI-HSA. ii) The cells were treated with TDI-HSA and HSA at concentrations of 0.00-400.00 mg/L for 12 hours. CCK-8 assay was used to determinate the cell viability, and TDI-HSA and HSA doses were selected for subsequent experiments. iii) The cells were treated with TDI-HSA and HSA at doses of 0.00-120.00 mg/L for 12 hours, and the levels of reactive oxygen species(ROS) in the cells were detected by flow cytometry. The levels of IL-4 and IL-6 in the cell supernatant were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. iv) The cells were treated with TDI-HSA at doses of 0.00-120.00 mg/L for 12 hours, and the autophagy activity was observed under transmission electron microscope. Western blot was utilized to detect the expression of Beclin1, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain(LC3β) and P62. RESULTS: i) The mass concentrations of TDI in 40.00, 80.00 and 120.00 mg/L TDI-HSA groups were 0.44, 0.89 and 1.33 mg/L respectively. ii) The results of CCK-8 showed that TDI-HSA and HSA at doses below 120.00 mg/L did not affect cell viability, and 0.00-120.00 mg/L was selected as the TDI-HSA and HSA treatment doses for subsequent experiments. iii) The level of ROS in cells and the levels of IL-4 and IL-6 in the supernatant of 16 HBE cells in the TDI-HSA group at 40.00, 80.00, and 120.00 mg/L were higher than that in HSA group at the same dose(P<0.01). The level of ROS in cells and the levels of IL-4 and IL-6 in the supernatant of 16 HBE cells increased with the increase of TDI-HSA doses(P<0.01). iv) Transmission electron microscopy showed that the number of autophagic lysosomes in 16 HBE cells increased significantly, and the number of mitochondrial vacuoles increased in 40.00, 80.00, 120.00 mg/L TDI-HSA group compared with 0.00 mg/L group. With the increase of TDI-HSA dose, the relative expression of Beclin1 protein and LC3β-Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio in 16 HBE cell supernatant increased(P<0.05), and the relative expression of P62 protein decreased(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: TDI-HSA induces increased expression of ROS and inflammatory factors and induces autophagy activation in 16 HBE cells. Autophagy may be an important factor for the development of airway inflammation in TDI-induced occupational asthma.

Objective: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of hesperetin (HSP) on lung damage induced by paraquat (PQ) in rats by detecting the levels of inflammatory makers in rat lung tissues. Methods: 140 Wistar male rats were randomly divided into negative control group, HSP control group, HSP control group, paraquat model group, pirfenidone (PDF) positive control group, and 100, 200, 400 mg/kg HSP treatment groups. All groups were exposed to 50mg/kg paraquat by oral gavage except for the negative control group and HSP control group. After 24 hours, the rats in each group were given drug intervention once daily. 10 rats were randomly sacrificed at 7th day and 28th day after exposure to paraquat respectively. 3 rats were randomly selected from them and HE, Masson staining were used to observe the pathological changes in the lungs of each group. Each group randomly selected 6 rats at two time points to detect the levels of TGF-β₁, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-10, IL-1β and IFN-γ in rat lung tissues. Results: Histopathological examination found that the lung injury were reduced in the rats of PDF positive control group and all HSP treatment groups. Compared with the negative control group, the levels of TGF-β1, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-4, and IL-10 in rat lung tissues were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01) after PQ exposure at two points in time, and there was no significant difference in the level of IFN-γ in lung tissues compared with the negative control group (P>0.05) . The levels of TGF-β1, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-10 and TNF-α in the lung tissues of rats on the 7th day in different dose treatment groups of HSP were reduced compared with those in the PQ model group with varying degrees (P<0.05, P<0.01) . The level of IFN-γ in lung tissues of rats were not significantly different from that of model group (P>0.05) . The levels of TGF-β₁ and TNF-α in lung tissue of rats on the 28th day in PDF positive control group and different dose treatment groups of HSP were reduced compared with those in the PQ model group with varying degrees (P<0.05, P<0.01). The levels of IFN-γ in the rat lung tissues were increased compared with those in the PQ model group (P<0.05). Besides, there were no significant in the levels of IL-1β, IL-4 and IL-10 in lung tissues compared with PQ model group (P>0.05). Conclusion HSP can reduce lung damage induced by PQ in rats by inhibiting the release of inflammatory factors and promoting the secretion of anti-inflammatory factors.

Objective: To explore the changes in the autophagy marker microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and yeast autophagy-related gene 6 (Beclin1) in rat lungs exposed to free silica (SiO₂) dust for different periods. Methods: A total of 72 male specific pathogen-free Wistar rats were randomly divided into solvent control group and SiO₂ model group. The SiO₂ model group received one-time non-exposed intratracheal instillation of suspension of SiO₂ particles to establish a model of silicosis. The solvent control group received an equal amount of saline. Six rats each were sacrificed at 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 60 days after model establishment. The pathological changes and fibrosis of rat lungs at different time points were evaluated by H&E staining and Masson staining, respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) , interleukin-1 (IL-1) , and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in lung tissue homogenate. Western blot was used to determine the relative expression levels of LC3 and Beclin1 in the lung tissue. Results: The results of H&E staining showed that the model group had continuous inflammation in the lung tissue from day 1 to day 60, and the inflammatory scores were significantly higher in the model group than in the control group (P<0.05) . The results of Masson staining showed that rats in the model group had a small amount of collagen fibers in the lung tissue on day 14 and a large amount of collagen fibers on day 60. The fibrosis score was significantly higher in the model group than in the control group (P<0.05) . No collagen fibrosis was observed in the lung tissue in the control group. The results of ELISA showed that the model group had significantly higher levels of IL-1, TNF-α, and TGF-β in lung tissue homogenate than the control group at each time point after exposure (P<0.05) . The results of Western blot showed that the model group had decreased expression of Beclin1 protein in the lung tissue on days 7, 14, 21, 28, and 60, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05) . The model group also had a decreased ratio of LC3II/LC3I on days 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 60, which were significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05) . Conclusion In the rat model of silicosis induced by free SiO₂ dust, the expression levels of autophagy-related proteins, LC3 and Beclin1, are correlated with different stages of silicosis. In the early stage of silicosis, the lung tissue has inflammation, substantially increased ratio of LC3II/LC3I and expression of Beclin1, and active autophagy. With the progression of silicosis, the ratio of LC3II/LC3I and expression level of Beclin1 gradually decrease and autophagy becomes weak.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the changes of retinoic acid related orphan receptor-γt( ROR-γt),interleukin( IL)-17 A and forkhead / winged helix protein 3( Foxp3) mRNA expression and promoter methylation in the process of asthma induced by toluene-diisocyanate( TDI). METHODS: Specific pathogens free grade healthy male BALB / c mice were randomly assigned into asthma group and control group with 18 animals in each group. In the asthma group,the mice were sensitized with 0. 30% TDI( mass-volume concentration) dropped on the dorsum of both ears( 20 μL / ear) on day 1 and day 8. On day 15,the mice were challenged with 20 μL 0. 01% TDI( mass-volume concentration) by the trachea. The control group mice were sensitized and challenged by the same procedures with the same amount of solvent( acetone / olive oil). The mice were challenged 24 hours,the pathological changes of trachea and lung tissues were observed. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid( BALF) from each group was collected,and the inflammatory cells in BALF were counted and classified. IL-4and Interferon-γ( IFN-γ) levels in BALF supernatant were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ROR-γt,IL-17 A and Foxp3 mRNA expression in the lung tissue were measured by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymease chain reaction. The degree of ROR-γt,IL-17 A and Foxp3 promoter methylation in lung issue were detected by Mass Array system.RESULTS: The asthmatic group demonstrated the symptoms of acute asthma,such as breathing deeply and fastly,bowing the back,lifting the forelimbs,et al. But the control group had no such symptoms in mice. Hematoxylin-Eosin staining showed obvious inflammatory lesions in the trachea and lung tissue of asthmatic mice. Compared with the control group,the white blood cell count,the neutrophil and eosinophil percentages in BALF,the IL-4,IFN-γ levels in BALF supernatant in asthma group were all significantly increased( P < 0. 01),meanwhile the lymphocyte and monocyte percentages in BALF were reduced( P < 0. 01); ROR-γt mRNA expression was significantly increased( P < 0. 01),and the degree of promoter methylation from sites 3,4,5,6,8,11 and 12 was significantly reduced( P < 0. 05); IL-17 A mRNA expression was significantly increased( P < 0. 01),and the degree of promoter methylation from sites 6 and 7 was significantly reduced( P < 0. 01); Foxp3 mRNA expression was significantly reduced( P < 0. 01),and the degree of promoter methylation from sites 1 and 10 was significantly increased( P < 0. 01). CONCLUSION: Th17 / Treg cell immune imbalance occurs in asthma induced by TDI. ROR-γt,IL-17 A and Foxp3 gene promoter methylation abnormalities may be involved in Th17 / Treg cell immune imbalance.