Hypertension is a common chronic disease,and its incidence is increasing year by year worldwide.Its pathological mechanism is complex,involving genetics,environment,lifestyle and other factors.In recent years,the role of immune-inflammatory mechanism in the pathogenesis of hypertension has gradually attracted attention.Especially T helper cell 17(Th17)and regulatory T cells(Treg),as important components of the immune system,the effect of their balance on hypertension has become a research hotspot.This article reviews the research progress of the correlation between Th17/Treg and hypertension,in order to provide new ideas and methods for the immunotherapy and prevention of hypertension.

Objective To investigate the effects of CORM-2 via p38 mitogeu-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) signaling pathway on the expression of the mitochondrial fission protein 1 (Fisl) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse pulmonary macrophages.Methods The rat subculture alveolar macrophages were seeded on 96 well plates with 2 × 105/ml densities.After 24 hours of culture,it was divided into 4 groups by random number table method:normal control group (group C),group LPS (group L),CO releasing agent CORM-2 + LPS group (group LC),p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 + CORM-2 + LPS group (group LCS).When the cells were incubated for 24 hours,the mitochondrial MDA content and SOD activity were determined by ELISA kit,the levels of HO-1、mitochondrial fission protein Fis1 and p38 were determined by Western blot,the expressions of HO-1 and mitochondrial fission protein Fis1 were detected by RT-PCR.Results Compared with the C group,the levels of MDA [(2.43 ±0.12) vs.(3.59 ±0.07)],HO-1 [(1.31±0.27) vs.(1.65±0.41)],Fis1 [(1.27±0.23) vs.(1.65±0.41)] andp38 [(1.01 ±0.24) vs.(1.36 ±0.17)] in group L were increased,and the activity of SOD [(81.7 ± 1.62) vs.(54.7 ± 1.62)] was decreased (P ＜ 0.05);Compared with the group L,the MDA content [(3.59 ± 0.07) vs.(3.08 ±0.52)] and the level of Fis1 [(2.01 ±0.35) vs.(1.48 ±0.39)] in group LC were down-regulated,and the levels of SOD [(54.7 ± 1.62) vs.(67.4 ± 1.32)]、and the expressions of HO-1 [(1.65±0.41)vs.(2.25±0.18)] andp38 [(1.36±0.17) vs.(1.78±0.23)] wereup-regulated (P ＜0.05).Compared with the group LC,the MDA content [(3.08 ±0.52) vs.(4.16 ±0.19)] and the expression of Fis1 [(1.48 ±0.39) vs.(1.96 ±0.31)] in group LCS were increased,and the level of SOD [(67.4±1.32)vs.(45.9±1.52)]、and the expressions of HO-1 [(2.25±0.18)vs.(1.78± 0.19)] and p38 [(1.78 ±0.23) vs.(1.12 ±0.29)] were decreased (P ＜0.05).Conclusions HO-1/CO system inhibits the expression of Fis1 in LPS-induced lung macrophages,which may be regulated by p38MAPK signaling pathway.

Objective To evaluate the role of mitochondrial fusion?fission in endotoxin?induced a?cute lung injury in rats. Methods Twenty healthy male Sprague?Dawley rats, weighing 160-180 g, were e?qually and randomly divided into either control group ( group C ) or endotoxin?induced acute lung injury group (group L) using a random number table. Lipopolysaccharide 5 mg∕kg was injected intravenously in group L, while the equal volume of normal saline 0?5 ml was given instead in group C. The animals were sacrificed at 6 h after administration of lipopolysaccharide or normal saline. The lungs were immediately re?moved for measurement of wet to dry lung weight ratio ( W∕D ratio) , superoxide dismutase ( SOD) activity and malondialdehyde ( MDA) content. The mitochondrial fusion proteins mitofusin 1 ( Mfn1) , Mfn2 and op?tic atrophy 1 ( OPA1) mRNA and protein expression was detected, and mitochondrial fission proteins dy?namin?related protein 1 (Drp1) and fission 1 (Fis1) mRNA and protein expression was also detected in lung tissues. Results Compared to group C, the W∕D ratio and MDA contents in lung tissues were signifi?cantly increased, SOD activity was decreased, Mfn1, Mfn2 and OPA1 mRNA and protein expression in lung tissues was down?regulated, and Drp1 and Fis1 mRNA and protein expression was up?regulated in group L. The pathological damage to lung tissues was obviously aggravated in group L when compared to group C. Conclusion The mechanism underlying endotoxin?induced acute lung injury is related to enhanced oxidative stress responses caused by decreased mitochondrial fusion and increased mitochondrial fission in rats.

Objective To investigate the awaken effect of naloxon on dexmedetomidine anesthetized mice and its mechanism. Methods Thirty Kunming mice of clean grade were randomly divided into 3 groups which included NAL group (Naloxon group), ATI group(Atipamezole group)and NS group (Normal Saline group). All groups were given dexme?detomidine 1 mg·kg-1 intraperitoneally. Naloxon 2 mg·kg-1, atipamezole 2 mg·kg-1 and normal saline 10 mL·kg-1 were ran?domly given intraperitoneally to the NAL, ATI and NS group respectively 90 minutes after dexmedetomidine administration. At timepoints prior to dexmedetomidine administration and 5, 15, 30, 60, 90, 95, 105, 120, 180 minutes after it, the sedative and analgesic effects besides recovery time (based on restore of righting reflex loss) were assessed. Results Sedation and analgesia effects became apparent within 5 minutes, and peaked at approximately 60 minutes then spontaneously recovered at 180 minutes after injection of dexmedetomidine. The sedative and analgesic effects were reduced in both ATI and NAL groups. Compared with ATI group, the sedation scores were higher at 95, 105 and 120 minutes after dexmedetomidine admin?istration than those in NAL group (P<0.05) but the scores were not statistically significant at 180 minutes between these two groups. Compared with NS group, the sedation scores were lower at time points of 95, 105, 120 and 180 minutes than those in NAL group (P>0.05). The analgesic scores were not statistically significant at time points of 95, 105, 120 and 180 min?utes between NAL group and ATI group, but they were lower in NAL group compared with NS group at timepoints of 95, 105 and 120 minutes (P>0.05). The recovery time in ATI and NAL group were shorter than that in NS group (F=1 793.368, P<0.05), but it showed no statistical difference between ATI group and NAL group (P>0.05). Conclusion Naloxone had a certain awaken effect on dexmedetomidine anesthetized mice.

Objective To evaluate the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) at Zusanli and Feishu on endotoxin shock-induced acute lung injury in rabbits.Methods Sixty healthy male New Zealand white rabbits aged 2 months weighing 1.5-2.0 kg were randomly divided into 6 groups (n =10 each):group sham operation (group S); group zinc protoporphyrin-Ⅸ (ZnPP-Ⅸ) (group Z); group lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (group L); group LPS + EA (group EL) ; group LPS + sham EA (group SEL) and group LPS + EA + ZnPP-Ⅸ (group ELZ).The animals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal 10％ chloral hydrate 400 mg/kg and tracheostomized.The animals kept spontaneous breathing.Right internal carotid artery was cannulated for BP monitoring.Ear vein was cannulated for drug administration.LPS 5 mg/kg was injected iv in groups L,EL,SEL,ELZ.Endotoxin shock was confirmed by decrease in BP by 20 ％ of the baseline value and PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 300.ZnPP-Ⅸ (heme oxygenase (HO-1 ) inhibitor)10μmol/kg was injected intraperitoneal at 2 h after LPS injection in groups Z and ELZ.Bilateral 15 min EA stimulation of Zusanli and Feishu ( according to atlas of animal acu-points) was performed once a day for 5 days before LPS administration in groups EL and ELZ.The animals were sacrificed by blood-letting at 6 h after LPS administration.The lungs were removed for microscopic examination (0 =no injury,4 =most severe injury),detection of alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis (by TUNEL) and determination of HO-1 protein and mRNA expression.Results LPS significantly increased lung injury scores,alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis index (the number of apoptotic cells/total cells) and HO-1 protein and mRNA expression.EA significantly attenuated lung injury and alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis induced by LPS and further increased the expression of HO-1 protein and mRNA in group EL as compared with group L.The protective effects of EA was counteracted by ZnPP- Ⅸ in group ELZ.Conclusion EA at Zusanli and Feishu can attenuate endotoxin shock-induced lung injury by up-regulation of HO-1 expression and inhibiting alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis in the lung.

Objective To evaluate the role of c-AMP-protein kinase A (cAMP-PKA) on the up-regulation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression during lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats.Methods Forty-eight healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 180-220 g,aged 2.5-3.0 months,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =12 each)∶ normal control group (group C),ALI group (group ALI),H89 +ALI group (group H + ALI) and H89 group (group H).In group C,normal saline (solvent for LPS) 0.5 ml was injected via the femoral vein and normal saline (solvent for H89) 0.5 ml was injected subcutaneously 2 h later.In group ALI,10 mg/kg LPS 0.5 ml was injected via the femoral vein and normal saline 0.5 ml was injected subcutaneously 2 h later.In group H +ALI,10 mg/kg LPS 0.5 ml was injected via the femoral vein and 5 mg/kg H89 0.5ml was injected subcutaneously 2 h later.In group H,normal saline 0.5 ml was injected via the femoral vein and 5 mg/kg H89 0.5 ml was injected subcutaneously 2 h later.The rats were then sacrificed at 6 h after iv injection of LPS and the lungs were removed for microscopic examination and lung water content.The pathological changes of the lung were scored.The expression of HO-1 and PKA (by Western blot) and HO-1 mRNA (by RT-PCR) was detected.Results Compared with group C,the pathological score and lung water content were significantly increased,and the expression of HO-1,PKA and HO-1 mRNA was up-regulated in groups ALI and H +ALI (P ＜0.05),and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group H (P ＞ 0.05).The pathological score and lung water content were significantly higher,and the expression of HO-1,AP-1 and HO-1 mRNA was significantly lower in group H + ALI than in group ALI (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Activation of signaling pathway c-AMP-PKA is involved in the up-regulation of HO-1 expression during LPS-induced ALI in rats.

Objective To evaluate the role of activator protein-1 (AP-1) in the up-regulation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression during lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats.Methods Forty-eight healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 200-220 g,aged 2.5-3.0 months,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=12 each): normal control group (group C),ALI group,curcumin + ALI group (group Cur+ ALI),and curcumin group (group Cur).In groups C and ALI,normal saline 0.5 ml and LPS 10 mg/kg (0.5 ml) were injected intravenously,respectively,30 min after 0.1％ dimethyl sulfoxide (the vehicle for curcumin) 0.5 ml was injected intraperitoneally.In groups Cur+ ALl and Cur,curcumin 20 mg/kg (0.5 ml) was injected intraperitoneally,and 30 min later LPS 10 mg/kg and normal saline 0.5 ml were injected,respectively.The rats were then sacrificed at 6 h after injection of LPS.The lungs were removed for microscopic examination.The pathological changes of the lung were scored.The malondialdehyde (MDA) content,superoxide dismutase (SOD)activity and expression of HO-1,AP-1 and HO-1 mRNA in lung tissues were determined.Results Compared with group C,the pathological score and MDA content were significantly increased,the SOD activity was significantly decreased,and the expression of HO-1,AP-1 and HO-1 mRNA was up-regulated in groups ALl and Cur +AL(l) (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group Cur (P ＞ 0.05).The pathological score and MDA content were significantly higher,and the SOD activity and expression of HO-1,AP-1 and HO-1 mRNA were significantly lower in group Cur + ALl than in group ALI(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Transcription factor AP-1 activation is involved in the up-regulation of HO-1 expression during LPS-induced ALI in rats.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of crocin on rat experimental hyperlipemia and its mechanisms.

METHODHyperlipemia model was established by feeding heavy cholesterol for 2 months and the effect of crocin on blood lipid in experimental hyperlipemia rats was observed. Aortic smooth muscle cells were cultured in different culture media and proliferation was measured by MTT assay. Western blotting was used to detect the effect of crocin on phosphorylation of p38 MAPK.

RESULTCrocin not only decreased greatly the content of cholesterol, triglyceride and density lipoprotein in blood, but also increased the content of high density lipoprotein. In addition, the proliferation of smooth muscle cells and the activation of p38MAPK were inhibited by Crocin.

CONCLUSIONCrocin prevents atherosclerosis in hyperlipemia, which may be mediated by the inhibition of both proliferation of smooth muscle cells and activation of p38MAPK.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; cytology ; Carotenoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Crocus ; chemistry ; Hyperlipidemias ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; blood ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; enzymology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Triglycerides ; blood ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism