OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of Zengye Decoction (, ZYD) on the submandibular glands (SMGs) in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. METHODS: Twenty-seven female NOD mice were randomly equally divided into 3 groups: the model group, the hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) group, and the ZYD group. Nine C57/B6 mice served as the normal group. After 1-week acclimation, the HCQ and ZYD groups were intragastrically administered with HCQ and ZYD, respectively, and the normal and model groups were administered with normal saline. Changes in the salivary flow rate were observed. Mice from all 4 groups were sacrificed at the age of 20 weeks. The serum and SMGs were collected. Serum cytokines gamma-interferon (IFN-γ), interleukin-10 (IL-10) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Histological changes in the submandibular glands were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The mRNA expression of IFN-γ, IL-10 and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the submandibular glands were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the salivary flow of the ZYD group significantly increased (P<0.05), the extent of the histological changes was ameliorated (P<0.05), and the Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance was remedied (P<0.05). In the ZYD-treated mice, the VIP mRNA was up-regulated (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS ZYD is beneficial in protecting structure and function of SMGs in NOD mice. The mechanism may be associated with the correction of the Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance, and with the prevention of a progressive decline of the VIP level.
Animals ; Cytokines ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Salivation ; drug effects ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Submandibular Gland ; drug effects ; pathology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; genetics

There is still a need for better protection against or mitigation of the effects of ionizing radiation following conventional radiotherapy or accidental exposure. The objective of our current study was to investigate the possible roles of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, ilomastat, in the protection of mice from total body radiation (TBI), and the underlying protective mechanisms. Ilomastat treatment increased the survival of mice after TBI. Ilomastat pretreatment promoted recovery of hematological and immunological cells in mice after 6 Gy γ-ray TBI. Our findings suggest the potential of ilomastat to protect against or mitigate the effects of radiation.
Acute Radiation Syndrome ; blood ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Animals ; Blood Cells ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gamma Rays ; adverse effects ; Hydroxamic Acids ; therapeutic use ; Indoles ; therapeutic use ; Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Mice ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; blood ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Spleen ; drug effects ; immunology ; radiation effects ; Survival Analysis ; Whole-Body Irradiation

OBJECTIVETo explore the change of T help cell 17 (Th17) in the peripheral blood of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) before and after treatment with thalidomide.

METHODSA total of 35 MM patients treated with thalidomide and 35 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The percentage of Th17 cells were detected by flow cytometry. The mRNA levels of retinoid-related orphan receptor gamma-t (RORγt) were detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the plasm IL-17 levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe percentage of Th17 cells, the mRNA expression of RORγt and the plasm IL-17 levels in patients with MM were statistically higher than those in normal controls (P < 0.05). The percentage of Th17 cells was not correlate with the sex, age, disease type, globulin, immune globulin, light chain, M-protein and the proportion of plasmocytes (P > 0.05), but correlated with ISS stage, the level of β2-microglobulin and the plasm IL-17 levels (P < 0.05). The percentage of Th17 cells, the mRNA expression of RORγt and the plasm IL-17 levels in patients with response to thalidomide were statistically lower than those in patients before treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe Th17 cells increase in the peripheral blood of patients with MM, the Th17 cells may participate in the occurrence of MM. Thalidomide may exert anti-MM through down-regulating Th17 cells.

Case-Control Studies ; Down-Regulation ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; Multiple Myeloma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Th17 Cells ; drug effects ; Thalidomide ; pharmacology

This study aimed to investigate the involved immunologic mechanism of pure total flavonoids from Citrus (PTFC) on the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). C57BL/6 mice were fed with high .fat diet for 16 weeks to induce the NASH model, and from the 7th week three dosages (25, 50 and 100 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) of PTFC were administrated intragastric for 10 weeks respectively. Serum TG, CHOL, ALT, AST were determined by biochemical assay, histopathological changes of the liver tissue were observed by HE staining, expression of RORyt and Foxp3 mRNA of the liver tissue was detected by Real-time PCR, and serum IL-17, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-4 were determined by.Cytometric Beads Array. As a result, we find that after the administration of PTFC, the in- flammation of the liver tissue of NASH mice was attenuated, liver function was improved, and the expression of RORgammat mRNA was higher in the liver tissue while which was lower of Foxp3 mRNA, the level of proinflammatory cytokines IL-17 and IL-6 decreased and the level of suppressive cytokines IL-10 and IL-4 increased. These data show that PTFC protects the development of NASH through regulating the Th17/Treg balance and attenuating inflammation.
Animals ; Citrus ; chemistry ; Cytokines ; blood ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; immunology ; prevention & control ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; drug effects ; Th17 Cells ; drug effects

OBJECTIVE: To explore the protective and therapeutic effects of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (Fp) supernatant on ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and the underlying mechanisms.
 METHODS: Forty male mice were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a treatment group and a prevention group (n=10 in each group). The colorectal histopathologic damage score (HDS) were calculated; the proportion of helper T cell (Th17) in mononuclear cells (MNC) in spleen, the levels of IL-17A and IL-6 in plasma were detected; the mRNA levels of transcription factor retinoic acid-related orphan receptor-γt (ROR-γt), interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-6 in colon mucosa tissues were also determined.
 RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the colon HDS in the treatment group and the prevention group were significantly decreased (both P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the treatment group and the prevention group (P>0.05). The proportion of Th17 cells in spleen in the treatment group and the prevention group was also remarkably lower than that in the model group (both P<0.01). The levels of IL-17A and IL-6 in plasma in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the model group (both P<0.05). The mRNA expression of ROR-γt, IL-17A and IL-6 in the colon mucosa tissues in the treatment group were remarkably lower than those in the model group (all P<0.05). But there was no statistic difference in the level of IL-6 in the plasma and the colon mucosa tissues between the prevention group and the model group (P>0.05).
 CONCLUSION Fp supernatant has protective and therapeutic effects on ulcerative colitis in mice induced by DSS, which might be mediated by decrease of Th17 and IL-17A levels in the plasma and the colon mucosa tissues. Fp supernatant also can decrease mice colitis by reducing IL-6 levels.
Animals ; Clostridiales ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; chemically induced ; immunology ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; pharmacology ; Dextran Sulfate ; adverse effects ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; immunology ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Th17 Cells ; drug effects ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo observe the anti-virus effects of andrographolide (AD) on the retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I)-like receptors (RLRs) signaling pathway when immunological cells were infected with H1N1.

METHODSLeukomonocyte was obtained from umbilical cord blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and immunological cells were harvested after cytokines stimulation. Virus infected cell model was established by H1N1 co-cultured with normal human bronchial epithelial cell line (16HBE). The optimal concentration of AD was defined by methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium (MTT) assay. After the virus infected cell model was established, AD was added into the medium as a treatment intervention. After 24-h co-culture, cell supernatant was collected for interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detection while immunological cells for real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe optimal concentration of AD for anti-virus effect was 250 μg/mL. IL-4 and IFN-γ in the supernatant and mRNA levels in RLRs pathway increased when cells was infected by virus, RIG-I, IFN-β promoter stimulator-1 (IPS-1), interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-7, IRF-3 and nuclear transcription factor κB (NF-κB) mRNA levels increased significantly (P<0.05). When AD was added into co-culture medium, the levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ were lower than those in the non-interference groups and the mRNA expression levels decreased, RIG-I, IPS-1, IRF-7, IRF-3 and NF-κB decreased significantly in each group with significant statistic differences (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe RLRs mediated viral recognition provided a potential molecular target for acute viral infections and andrographolide could ameliorate H1N1 virus-induced cell mortality. And the antiviral effects might be related to its inhibition of viral-induced activation of the RLRs signaling pathway.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; DEAD Box Protein 58 ; DEAD-box RNA Helicases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dendritic Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; virology ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; drug effects ; immunology ; Influenza, Human ; drug therapy ; immunology ; virology ; Interferon-beta ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; drug effects ; immunology ; virology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; virology ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; drug effects ; immunology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of Bushen Jiedu Recipe (BJR) and Jianpi Jiedu Recipe (JJR) containing plasma on dendritic cells (DCs) of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection patients under different immune states.

METHODSRecruited were 36 chronic HBV infection outpatients from First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from April 2010 to January 2011. They were assigned to the immune tolerance group (18 cases) and the immune clearance group (18 cases).Another 10 healthy subjects were recruited as the healthy control group. Their anticoagulated peripheral venous blood was respectively collected. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and further extracted for incubating DCs. The DCs were intervened by BJR and JJR containing plasma. The morphology of DCs was identified. The expressions of CD1alpha, CD80, CD86, and HLA-DR were detected. The level of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in the supernatant was observed by ELISA.

RESULTSThe CD80 expression level was lower in the immune clear group than in the healthy control group before intervention (P < 0.05). The expression levels of CD80, CD86, and HLA-DR were lower in the immune tolerance group than in the healthy control group before intervention (P < 0.05).The IFN-alpha expression level was lower in the immune tolerance group and the immune clearance group than in the healthy control group before intervention (P < 0.05). The expression levels of CD80, HLA-DR, and IFN-alpha were lower in the immune tolerance group than in the immune clearance group before intervention (P < 0.05). Compared with the same group before intervention, the CD80 expression significantly increased in each treatment group (P < 0.05). After intervention the expression levels of CD80 and HLA-DR were higher in the immune tolerance group than in the immune clearance group in the same time phase, and the CD86 expression level was higher in the BJR group than in the immune clearance group in the same time phase, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe middle dose BJR and the small dose JJR both could promote the recovery of DCs in chronic HBV infection patients. Besides, BJR showed more prominent effects on the function of DCs in chronic HBV infection patients in the immune tolerance stage.

Adult ; B7-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; B7-2 Antigen ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Dendritic Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; HLA-DR Antigens ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; drug effects ; Interferon-alpha ; metabolism ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Plasma ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) induced by IgA1 from Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) patients.

METHODHUVEC were cultured in 3 different conditional media with IgA1 from HSP patients, normal healthy children and simply the cell culture medium. Serum IgA1 was purified by jacalin affinity chromatography, rates of apoptosis in HUVEC cells at different concentration and different times after incubation with IgA1 were determined by TUNEL method and flow cytometry. Real-time PCR and Western blot methods were used to detect the expression of caspase-3 and Fas, respectively.

RESULTApoptosis rate of HUVEC by IgA1 isolated from HSP patients were significantly higher than that of the blank control [(14.77 ± 2.23)% vs. (2.25 ± 0.77)%, P < 0.01] and the apoptosis rate of HUVEC induced by IgA1 from normal healthy children was higher than that of blank control [(7.97 ± 1.48)% vs. (2.25 ± 0.77)%, P < 0.01]. The apoptosis rate of HUVEC induced by IgA1 from HSP was time and concentration-dependent. Moreover IgA1 isolated from HSP patients could significantly increase the caspase-3 and Fas expression (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe IgA1 from HSP patients could induce the apoptosis of HUVEC, which might be related to the progression of HSP.

Adolescent ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Fas Ligand Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; blood ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; blood ; immunology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors

Animals ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Cytokines ; biosynthesis ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Selenium ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Th1 Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Thyroid Gland ; drug effects ; immunology ; pathology ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Trace Elements ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the immunotoxicological effects of genetically modified wheat with TaDREB4 gene in female BALB/c mice.

METHODSFemale mice weighing 18-22 g were divided into five groups (10 mice/group), which were set as negative control group, common wheat group, parental wheat group, genetically modified wheat group and cyclophosphamide positive control group, respectively. Mice in negative control group and positive control group were fed with AIN93G diet, mice in common wheat group, non-genetically modified parental wheat group and genetically modified wheat group were fed with feedstuffs added corresponding wheat (the proportion is 76%) for 30 days, then body weight, absolute and relative weight of spleen and thymus, white blood cell count, histological examination of immune organ, peripheral blood lymphocytes phenotyping, serum cytokine, serum immunoglobulin, antibody plaque-forming cell, serum half hemolysis value, mitogen-induced splenocyte proliferation, delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction and phagocytic activities of phagocytes were detected.

RESULTSNo immunotoxicological effects related to the consumption of the genetically modified wheat were observed in BALB/c mice when compared with parental wheat group, common wheat group and negative control group.

CONCLUSIONFrom the immunotoxicological point of view, results from this study demonstrate that genetically modified wheat with TaDREB4 gene is as safe as the parental wheat.

Animals ; Antibody-Producing Cells ; immunology ; Body Weight ; Cytokines ; blood ; Female ; Genes, Plant ; Hemolysis ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; Immune System ; drug effects ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Organ Size ; Phagocytosis ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; toxicity ; Spleen ; immunology ; Thymus Gland ; immunology ; Triticum ; genetics