OBJECTIVES: To examine the changes in serum levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) proteins GRP78/CHOP in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) and analyze their diagnostic value and association with renal pathological features. METHODS: From a sample bank established based on a multicenter cohort study of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 60 LN patients and 35 SLE patients without renal involvement were randomly selected. ELISA was used to detect serum levels of GRP78 and CHOP in the patients to analyze their correlation with clinical features and their diagnostic ability for LN and active LN. MRL/lpr mice were used as an animal model of LN to examine their serum levels of GRP78 and CHOP expression and renal expressions of endoplasmic reticulum apoptosis-related proteins. RESULTS: Serum GRP78 and CHOP levels were significantly higher in LN patients than in SLE patients without renal involvement (P<0.05), and were also higher in active LN patients than in patients in the stable phase (P<0.05). Correlation analysis indicated that serum GRP78 and CHOP levels were positively correlated with SLEDAI scores and 24-h urinary protein. ROC analysis showed that CHOP had a high diagnostic ability for LN (AUC=0.762) and active LN (AUC=0.933). Consistent with the clinical findings, serum GRP78 and CHOP levels were elevated in LN mice, and the expressions of PERK and IRE1α pathway proteins were also increased in the kidneys of the mice. TUNEL staining showed increased renal cell apoptosis and elevated renal expressions of apoptosis-related proteins in LN mice. CONCLUSIONS Serum levels of GRP78/CHOP are increased in LN patients possibly in association with ERS-induced apoptosis mediated by the PERK/IRE1α dual pathway.
Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP ; Lupus Nephritis/blood* ; Transcription Factor CHOP/blood* ; Heat-Shock Proteins/blood* ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred MRL lpr ; Female ; Adult ; Endoribonucleases/metabolism* ; Male ; eIF-2 Kinase/metabolism* ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Young Adult ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Kidney/metabolism* ; Middle Aged ; Signal Transduction

Objective To explore the effect of rehmanniae radix extract(RRE)on chondrocyte apoptosis in the rabbit model of knee osteoarthritis(KOA)by regulating the miR-485-5p/heat shock protein 90 beta family member 1(Hsp90b1)axis.Methods New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned into control,KOA,low-dose RRE,medium-dose RRE,high-dose RRE,celecoxib,high-dose RRE+antagonist control,and high-dose RRE+miR-485-5p antagonist groups,with 12 rabbits in each group.Rabbits in other groups except the control group were modeled for KOA with the improved Hulth method.After modeling for 8 weeks,the rabbits were administrated with corresponding agents for 4 weeks.The changes in the activity rating of rabbits were recorded.ELISA was employed to measure the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin(IL)-6 in the serum.Safranine O-fast green staining was conducted to reveal the pathological changes in the cartilage tissue and Mankin scoring was performed.TUNEL was employed to detect chondrocyte apoptosis.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was performed to determine the expression of miR-485-5p in the cartilage tissue.Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of Hsp90b1,cleaved cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-3(Caspase-3),and Bcl2-associated-X(Bax)in the cartilage tissue.The dual-luciferase reporter assay was employed to examine the relationship between miR-485-5p and Hsp90b1.Results Compared with the control group,the KOA group showed down-regulated expression of miR-485-5p,elevated levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the serum,cartilage erosion and losses,and increases in activity rating,Mankin score,chondrocyte apoptosis rate,and protein levels of Hsp90b1,cleaved Caspase-3,and Bax(all P<0.001).Compared with the KOA group,RRE at low,medium,and high doses,and celecoxib up-regulated the expression of miR-485-5p,lowered the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the serum,alleviated the pathological damage to the cartilage tissue,and decreased the activity rating,Mankin score,chondrocyte apoptosis rate,and protein levels of Hsp90b1,cleaved Caspase-3,and Bax(all P<0.05).Compared with the high-dose RRE group and the high-dose RRE+antagonist control group,high-dose RRE+miR-485-5p antagonist down-regulated the expression of miR-485-5p,elevated the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the serum,exacerbated the pathological damage to the cartilage tissue,and increased the activity rating,Mankin score,chondrocyte apoptosis rate,and protein levels of Hsp90b1,cleaved Caspase-3,and Bax(all P<0.05).The results indicated that there was a targeted regulatory relationship between miR-485-5p and Hsp90b1.Conclusion RRE may inhibit the expression of Hsp90b1 by up-regulating miR-485-5p,thereby inhibiting chondrocyte apoptosis in the rabbit model of KOA.
Animals ; Rabbits ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Chondrocytes/pathology* ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/drug therapy* ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Rehmannia/chemistry* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood* ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Interleukin-6/blood* ; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism* ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific, multi-system disorder and the leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in obstetrics worldwide. Excessive vasoconstriction and dysregulated coagulation function are closely associated with PE. Heat shock protein 20 (HSP20) is ubiquitously expressed under normal physiological conditions and has important roles in vascular dilatation and suppression of platelet aggregation. However, the role of HSP20 in the pathogenesis of PE remains unclear. In this study, we collected chorionic plate resistance arteries (CPAs) and serum from 118 healthy pregnant women and 80 women with PE and detected the levels of HSP20 and its phosphorylated form. Both HSP20 and phosphorylated HSP20 were downregulated in CPAs from women with PE. Comparison of the vasodilative ability of CPAs from the two groups showed impaired relaxation responses to acetyl choline in preeclamptic vessels. In addition to the reduced HSP20 in serum from women with PE, the platelet distribution width and mean platelet volume were also decreased, and the activated partial thromboplastin time and thromboplastin time were elevated.With regard to the vital roles of HSP20 in mediating vasorelaxation and coagulation function, the decreased HSP20 might contribute to the pathogenesis of PE.
Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Chorion ; blood supply ; Female ; HSP20 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Phosphorylation ; Placenta ; blood supply ; Platelet Function Tests ; Pre-Eclampsia ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Vasoconstriction ; Vasodilation

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress on lung ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) induced myocardial injury in mice. METHODS: Forty healthy SPF male C57BL/6J mice were divided into 4 groups randomly (=10):sham operation group (Sham group), lung I/R group (I/R group), endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) pathway agonist Tunicamycin group (TM) and ERS inhibitor 4-phenyl butyric acid group (4-PBA). The model of lung I/R injury was established by clamping the left hilum of lung for 30 min followed by 180 min of reperfusion. In sham group, only sternotomy was performed, the hilum of lung was not clamped, and the mice were mechanically ventilated for 210 min. In TM and 4-PBA groups, TM 1mg/kg and 4-PBA 400 mg/kg were injected intraperitoneally, respectively, at 30 min before establishment of the model. At 180 min of reperfusion, blood samples were collected from the orbit for determination of myocardial enzyme. The animals were then sacrificed, and hearts were removed for determination of light microscope, TUNEL, Caspase 3 enzymatic activity, real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with sham group, the cardiomyocytes had obvious damage under light microscope, and the serum creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, apoptosis index and Caspase 3 enzymatic activity were increased significantly, the expressions of p-Jun N-terminalkinase(p-JNK), Caspase 12, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) and glucose regulated protein 78(GRP78) protein and mRNA were up-regulated in I/R, TM and 4-PBA groups (<0.01). Compared with I/R group, the cardiomyocytes damage was obvious under light microscope, and the serum CK-MB and LDH activities, apoptosis index and Caspase 3 enzymatic activity were increased significantly, the expressions of p-JNK, Caspase 12, CHOP and GRP78 protein and mRNA were up-regulated in group TM; while all above changes were relieved in group 4-PBA (<0.01). Compared with TM group, the cardiomyocytes damage was relieved under light microscope, and the serum CK-MB and LDH activities, apoptosis index and Caspase 3 enzymatic activity were decreased significantly, the expressions of p-JNK, Caspase 12,CHOP and GRP78 protein and mRNA were down-regulated in group 4-PBA. CONCLUSIONS The excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress participates in myocardial injury induced by lung ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) and inhibit excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress response can relieved myocardial injury.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Caspase 12 ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; blood ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Heart Injuries ; physiopathology ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Lung ; pathology ; MAP Kinase Kinase 4 ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Reperfusion Injury ; Transcription Factor CHOP ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) on airway hyperresponsiveness and airway inflammation in mice with asthma and possible mechanisms.

METHODSA total of 36 mice were randomly divided into four groups: control, asthma, HSF1 small interfering RNA negative control (siHSF1-NC), and siHSF1 intervention (n=9 each). Ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge were performed to induce asthma in the latter three groups. The mice in the siHSF1-NC and siHSF1 groups were treated with siHSF1-NC and siHSF1, respectively. A spirometer was used to measure airway responsiveness at 24 hours after the last challenge. The direct count method was used to calculate the number of eosinophils. ELISA was used to measure the serum level of OVA-specific IgE and levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5), interleukin-13 (IL-13), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of HSF1 in asthmatic mice. Western blot was used to measure the protein expression of HSF1, high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), and phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK).

RESULTSThe asthma group had significant increases in the mRNA and protein expression of HSF1 compared with the control group (P<0.05). The siHSF1 group had significantly reduced mRNA and protein expression of HSF1 compared with the siHSF1-NC group (P<0.05). The knockdown of HSF1 increased airway wall thickness, airway hyperresponsiveness, OVA-specific IgE content, and the number of eosinophils (P<0.05). Compared with the siHSF1-NC group, the siHSF1 group had significantly increased levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 and significantly reduced expression of IFN-γ in lung tissues and BALF (P<0.05), as well as significantly increased expression of HMGB1 and p-JNK (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSKnockdown of HSF1 aggravates airway hyperresponsiveness and airway inflammation in asthmatic mice, and its possible mechanism may involve the negative regulation of HMGB1 and JNK.

Animals ; Asthma ; etiology ; Bronchial Hyperreactivity ; etiology ; immunology ; Cytokines ; biosynthesis ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; analysis ; physiology ; Eosinophils ; physiology ; Female ; HMGB1 Protein ; analysis ; Heat Shock Transcription Factors ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Transcription Factors ; analysis ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the protection of high intensity microwave radiation on hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) activity and hippocampal CA1 structure in rats and the protectiveeffect of Qindan Granule (QG) on radiation injured rats.

METHODSTotally 48 Wistar rats were randomlydivided into 8 groups, i.e., the normal control group, post-radiation day 1, 7, and 10 groups, 7 and 10days prevention groups, day 7 and 10 treatment groups, 6 in each group. Rats in prevention groups wererespectively administered with QG liquid (1 mL/100 g, 4. 75 g crude drugs) for 7 days and 10 days bygastrogavage and then microwave radiation. Then preventive effect for radiation injury was statisticallycalculated with the normal control group and the post-radiation day 1 group. Rats in treatment groupswere firstly irradiated, and then administered with QG liquid (1 mL/100 g, 4.75 g crude drugs). Finally preventive effect for radiation injury was statistically calculated with the normal control group, post-radiation day 7 and 10 groups. Contents of corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH), beta endorphin (beta-EP), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were detected. Morphological changes and structure of hippocampal CA1 region were observed under light microscope.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, contents of CRH and beta-EP significantly decreased in each radiation group. Serum contents of ACTH and beta-EP significantly increased in post-radiation day 1 and 7 groups (P < 0.05). Compared with radiation groups, beta-EP content in serum and pituitary significantly increased, and serum ACTH content significantly decreased in prevention groups (P < 0.05). Pituitary contents of CRH and beta-EP significantly increased in prevention groups. Serum contents of ACTH, beta-EP, and HSP70 were significantly lower in day 7 treatment group than post-radiation day 7 group (P < 0.05). Morphological results showed that pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region arranged in disorder, with swollen cells, shrunken and condensed nucleus, dark dyeing cytoplasm, unclear structure. Vessels in partial regions were dilated with static blood; tissues were swollen and sparse. In prevention and treatment groups pathological damage of hippocampal CA1 region was obviously attenuated; neurons were arranged more regularly; swollen, pycnotic, or deleted neuron number were decreased; vascular dilatation and congestion was lessened.

CONCLUSIONQG could affect HPAA function and activity of high intensity microwave radiated rats, showing certain preventive and therapeutic effects of microwave radiated rats by adjusting synthesis and release of partial bioactive peptides and hormones in HPAA, improving pathological injury in hippocampal CA1 region.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; blood ; Animals ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal ; drug effects ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; blood ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Microwaves ; adverse effects ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; beta-Endorphin ; blood ; metabolism

The effects of storage temperatures, repeated freeze-thaw cycles, or delays in separating plasma or serum from blood samples are largely unknown for heat shock protein 27 (HSP27). We evaluated (1) the imprecision of the HSP27 assay used in this study; (2) the in vitro stability of HSP27 in blood samples stored at 4℃ for up to 6 hr with immediate and delayed serum/plasma separation from cells; and (3) the in vitro stability of HSP27 in blood samples stored at -80℃ after repeated freeze-thaw cycles. The ELISA to detect HSP27 in this study showed a within-run CV of <9% and a total CV of <15%. After 4-6 hr of storage at 4℃, HSP27 concentrations remained stable when using serum tubes irrespective of sample handling, but HSP27 concentrations decreased by 25-45% when using EDTA plasma tubes. Compared with baseline HSP27, one freeze-thaw cycle had no effect on serum concentrations. However, plasma concentrations increased by 3.1-fold after one freeze-thaw cycle and by 7.3-fold after five freeze-thaw cycles. In conclusion, serum is an appropriate biological sample type for use in epidemiological and large-scale clinical studies.
*Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Freezing ; HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins/*blood ; Humans ; Protein Stability ; Reproducibility of Results ; Specimen Handling ; Temperature ; Time Factors

Heat-shock protein (Hsp) 70 potentiates specific immune responses to some antigenic peptides fused to it. Here, the prokaryotic plasmids harboring the envelope glycoprotein E0 gene of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) and/or the Hsp70 gene of Haemophilus parasuis were constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli Rosseta 2(R2). The fusion proteins were then purified. Groups of Balb/c mice were immunized with these fusion proteins, respectively, and sera collected 7 days after the third immunization. Immune effects were determined via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometric analyses. E0-Hsp70 fusion protein and E0+Hsp70 mixture significantly improved the titer of E-specific antibody, levels of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and release of interferon-γ. These findings suggested that Hsp70 can significantly enhance the immune effects of the envelope glycoprotein E0 of CSFV, thereby laying the foundation of further application in pigs.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Cell Proliferation ; Classical swine fever virus ; genetics ; Female ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Haemophilus parasuis ; genetics ; Immunization ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the apoptosis of testicular germ cells in hyperlipidemic rats.

METHODSWe randomly assigned 42 four-week-old male Wistar rats into a normal control group (n = 12) and a high-fat group (n = 30) to be fed on a normal diet and a high-fat diet, respectively, for 10 weeks. Then we measured the concentrations of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) in the serum using an automatic biochemistry analyzer, detected the apoptosis of testicular germ cells by TUNEL staining, and determined the protein and mRNA expressions of GRP78 and. caspase-12 in the testis tissue by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively.

RESULTSThe concentrations of TG and TC were significantly increased in the animals of the high-fat group ([3.00 ± 0.92] and [3.04 ± 0.39] mmol/L) as compared with the control rats ([1.43 ± 0.41] and [1.55 ± 0.23] mmol/L) (P < 0.01), and so was the apoptosis index of the testicular germ cells ([37.17 ± 2.74]% vs [5.16 ± 0.81]%, P < 0.01). The high-fat group, in comparison with the control, also showed remarkably upregulated protein and mRNA expressions of GRP78 (0.32 ± 0.03 and 0.86 ± 0.05 vs 0.19 ± 0.01 and 0.37 ± 0.03, P < 0.01) and caspase-12 (0.34 ± 0.02 and 0.87 ± 0.01 vs 0.12 ± 0.01 and 0.34 ± 0.03, P < 0.01) in the testis tissue.

CONCLUSIONThe apoptosis of testicular germ cells is increased in hyperlipidemic rats, which may be attributed to endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Caspase 12 ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Diet, High-Fat ; adverse effects ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; physiology ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spermatozoa ; pathology ; Staining and Labeling ; Testis ; metabolism ; Transcriptional Activation ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Up-Regulation

Uncontrolled fibrosis of skin and internal organs is the main characteristic of scleroderma, and collagen is a major extracellular matrix protein that deposits in the fibrotic organs. As the chaperone of collagen, heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) is closely related with the development of fibrosis. To explore the potential function of HSP47 in the pathogenesis of scleroderma, the clinical, in vivo and in vitro studies were performed. In clinical, the increased mRNA level of HSP47 was observed in the skin fibroblasts and PBMC from scleroderma patients, and the enhanced protein level of HSP47 was also detected in the skin biopsy and plasma of the above patients. Unexpectedly, the enhanced levels of HSP47 were positively correlated with the presence of anti-centromere antibody in scleroderma patients. Moreover, a high expression of HSP47 was found in the skin lesion of BLM-induced scleroderma mouse model. Further in vitro studies demonstrated that HSP47 knockdown could block the intracellular and extracellular collagen over-productions induced by exogenous TGF-β. Therefore, the results in this study provide direct evidence that HSP47 is involved in the pathogenesis of scleroderma. The high expression of HSP47 can be detected in the circulatory system of scleroderma patients, indicating that HSP47 may become a pathological marker to assess the progression of scleroderma, and also explain the systemic fibrosis of scleroderma. Meanwhile, collagen over-expression is blocked by HSP47 knockdown, suggesting the possibility that HSP47 can be a potential therapeutic target for scleroderma.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Biopsy ; Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Fibrosis ; HSP47 Heat-Shock Proteins ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C3H ; Middle Aged ; NIH 3T3 Cells ; Protein Binding ; RNA Interference ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Skin ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; pharmacology ; Young Adult