Autoimmune Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Chromogranin A ; metabolism ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Gastric Mucosa ; pathology ; Gastrin-Secreting Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gastrins ; metabolism ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-6 ; metabolism ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Stomach ; pathology ; surgery ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism

Gastrins ; metabolism ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; metabolism ; Growth Hormone ; metabolism ; Hormones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; metabolism ; Thyroid Hormones ; metabolism

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) is characterized by gastrinoma and resultant hypergastrinemia, which leads to recurrent peptic ulcers. Because gastrinoma is the most common pancreatic endocrine tumor seen in multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (MEN 1), the possibility of gastrinoma should be investigated carefully when patients exhibit symptoms associated with hormonal changes. Ureteral stones associated with hyperparathyroidism in the early course of MEN 1 are known to be its most common clinical manifestation; appropriate evaluation and close follow-up of patients with hypercalcemic urolithiasis can lead to an early diagnosis of gastrinoma. We report a patient with ZES associated with MEN 1, and urolithiasis as the presenting entity. A 51-year-old man visited the emergency department with recurrent epigastric pain. He had a history of calcium urinary stone 3 years ago, and 2 years later he had 2 operations for multiple jejunal ulcer perforations; these surgeries were 9 months apart. He was taking intermittent courses of antiulcer medication. Multiple peripancreatic nodular masses, a hepatic metastasis, parathyroid hyperplasia, and a pituitary microadenoma were confirmed by multimodal imaging studies. We diagnosed ZES with MEN 1 and performed sequential surgical excision of the gastrinomas and the parathyroid adenoma. The patient received octreotide injection therapy and close follow-up.
Gastrinoma/metabolism/pathology/ultrasonography ; Gastrins/metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver/radiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior/radiography ; Middle Aged ; Multimodal Imaging ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1/complications/*diagnosis/radiography ; Pancreas/radiography/radionuclide imaging ; Pituitary Gland/radiography ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Radiopharmaceuticals/diagnostic use ; Thyroid Gland/ultrasonography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Urolithiasis/*diagnosis/etiology ; Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome/complications/*diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects and mechanisms of Gong-tone music on the immunological function in rats with the Chinese medicine syndrome of Liver (Gan)-qi stagnation and Spleen (Pi)-qi deficiency (LSSD).

METHODSTwenty five male Wistar rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal group, model group, Xiaoyao Powder () group, Gong-tone group and combined group (the combination of Gong-tone and Xiaoyao Powder), with 5 rats in each group. The rat model for the Chinese medicine syndrome of LSSD was induced by chronic bandage and irregular diet. The course of treatment was 21 days. After the treatment, the levels of serum gastrin and IgG were detected by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). Phagocytosis of macrophages was detected by the neutral red uptake assay and T cell proliferation was investigated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

RESULTSThe serum gastrin, macrophage phagocytosis, IgG level and proliferation ability of T cells in the model group were significantly decreased compared with those in the normal group (P <0.05). Compared with those in the model group, the serum levels of gastrin, macrophage phagocytosis, IgG level and proliferation ability of T cells in Gong-tone, Xiaoyao Powder, and combined groups were significantly increased (P <0.05). The combined group was superior to either Gong-tone group or Xiaoyao Powder group.

CONCLUSIONGong-tone music may upregulate the immunological function and play a role in adjuvant therapy in the Chinese syndrome of LSSD.

Animals ; Auditory Perception ; Behavior, Animal ; Body Weight ; Cell Proliferation ; Depression ; blood ; immunology ; Gastrins ; blood ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Liver ; immunology ; Macrophages ; cytology ; Male ; Music ; Phagocytosis ; Qi ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spleen ; immunology ; Syndrome ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of gastrin on the expression of 1,25(OH)2D3-membrane associated rapid response steroid (1,25D3-MARRS) binding protein in rat intestinal epithelium.

METHODSSD rats received intraperitoneal injections of gastrin, omeprazole or physiological saline. The protein expression of 1,25D3-MARRS binding protein in SD rat intestinal was determined with Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, and its mRNA levels determined by RT-PCR. The serum calcium and phosphate levels in the rats were also detected.

RESULTSImmunohistochemistry showed that 1,25D3-MARRS binding protein was expressed mainly in the nuclei, cytoplasm and membrane of the intestinal epithelial cells. Both the protein and mRNA expression levels of 1,25D3-MARRS binding protein were up-regulated after treatments with gastrin and omeprazole (P<0.05), but the serum calcium and phosphate concentrations showed no obvious increase.

CONCLUSION1,25D3-MARRS binding protein, which is widely expressed with versatile functionalities, is regulated by gastrin and shows high potentials in the study of gastrointestinal diseases.

Animals ; Calcitriol ; metabolism ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gastrins ; pharmacology ; Intestines ; cytology ; drug effects ; Male ; Protein Disulfide-Isomerases ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Herba dendrobii on rats with stomach-heat syndrome and to explore the mechanisms.

METHODRats were fed with decoction of Rhizoma Zingiberis for 15 continuous days to induce the model of stomach-heat syndrome. After modeling, Herba Dendrobii (HD) decoction were given (in the doses of 1.5, 0.75 g x kg(-1) respectively) for 10 days. After treatment, amount of the daily diet, volume and absorbance of urine, pellet number and moistness of excrement, color and coating degree of tongue were recorded; the body thermal effects were detected with thermal texture maps (TTM) system; the biochemical indexes of blood reflecting the physiological function of stomach, including thromboxaneB2 (TXB2), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha(6-keto-PGF1alpha), motilin (MTL), gastrin (Gas), somatostation (SS), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were measured by radio immunoassay; and the histological changes of gastric mucosa were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) stain.

RESULTThe model rat had yellow coating and red tongues (P < 0.05). The amount of daily diet were increased (over 10%), urine volume and excrement pellet number were decreased (over 10%). The their urine color became deep (P < 0.01) and their excrement became dry. The temperatures in head, neck, left fore-armpit, chest, up-abdomen, mid-abdomen of the model rats were raised up (difference > 0.5 degrees C or difference > 1.0 degree C ). The content of 6-keto-PGF1alpha in blood of model rats decreased evidently (P < 0.01), and the contents of MTL, Gas and IL-8 increased conspicuously (P < 0.01). The histological changes of gastric mucosa in the model rats were as follows: diffuse congestion, infiltration of neutrophil, less secretion, decrease of the number of chief and parietal cells, etc (P < 0. 05 or P < 0.01). After treatment with HD, except the daily food weight, the temperatures in head, neck and chest, the content of MTL and the number of chief cells, the other indexes observed above were improved noticeably (difference > 0.5 RC or difference > 1.0 degree C, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe reason why HD relieves the general symptom and sign the gastric mucosa of rats with stomach-heat syndrome is that HD can increase 6-keto-PGF1alpha and decrease IL-8, Gas, TXB2 in their blood.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Gastric Dilatation ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Gastrins ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Male ; Motilin ; metabolism ; Prostaglandins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Detection, Psychological ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Stomach Diseases ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Syndrome ; Thromboxanes ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the regulatory effect of Helicobacter pylori CagA protein on gastrin promoter and the related signaling pathways as to further elucidate the mechanism of the development and progression of human gastric carcinoma.

METHODSAfter pcDNA3.1ZEO(-)/CagAand PGL/GP were identified by double restriction enzyme digestion, PCR and sequencing, the gastric cancer cell lines AGS and SGC-7901 cells were co-transfected with pcDNA3.1ZEO(-)/CagA and PGL/GP for 48 h. Alternatively, AGS and SGC-7901 cells were transfected by PGL/GP for 36 h later, and infected with Helicobacter pylori for additional 12 h. Meanwhile, the transfected and infected cells were treated using the JAK2 signaling pathway inhibitor AG490 and the ERK signaling pathway inhibitor U0126. The untreated cells and empty-vector-transfected cells were used as the control. Finally, luciferase activity was detected using the luciferase reporter assay system in transfected and infected cells. The levels of gastrin mRNA was determined by TaqMan® real-time quantitative PCR.

RESULTSAfter co-transfection with pcDNA3.1ZEO(-)/CagA and PGL/GP, the activities of luciferase were increased by 251.3, 106.1 and 2.4 times in AGS cells and 35.8, 22.7 and 13.4 times in SGC-7901 cells, respectively, as compared with that of the control, pcDNA3.1 ZEO(-)/CagA + PGL3/Basic and pcDNA3.1 ZEO(-) + PGL/GP groups. The activities of luciferase in PGL/GP transfection and HP infection group were also increased by 1673.2, 33.5, 1.4 times in AGS cells and 1180.2, 72.2 and 1.5 times in SGC-7901 cells, respectively, as compared with that of the control, PGL3/Basic + HP and PGL/GP groups. There were statistically significant differences between them (P < 0.05), which suggested that the transcription activity of gastrin promoter increased significantly. But after adding the inhibitor AG490 and U0126, respectively, the activities of luciferase were significantly decreased by 95.7% (U0126) and 33.0% (AG490) in co-transfected AGS cells and 94.8% (U0126) and 86.2% (AG490) in co-transfected SGC-7901 cells with pcDNA3.1ZEO(-)/CagA and PGL/GP (P < 0.05). In the PGL/GP transfection and HP infection group, the activities of luciferase were significantly decreased by 24.6% (U0126) and 25.8% (AG490) in AGS cells and 57.3% (U0126) and 14.1% (AG490) after adding the inhibitor AG490 and U0126, respectively (P < 0.05). The results showed that the gastrin promoter activities were significantly inhibited. The gastrin mRNA levels were 3.0 and 4.5 times higher in HP-infected AGS and SGC-7901 cells, respectively, than that in the control groups. In the cells transfected with pcDNA3.1ZEO(-)/CagA, the gastrin mRNA levels were raised 10.8 and 2.3 times (AGS cells) and 10.9 and 16.2 times (SGC-7901 cells), respectively, as compared with that of control and pcDNA3.1ZEO(-) groups. All of the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that CagA may activate the gastrin promoter and up-regulate the expression of gastrin gene, and CagA is one of the important proteins in regulating gastrin gene expression. The ERK/MAPK and JAK/STAT signaling pathways may be involved in the controlling of gastrin gene expression by CagA.

Antigens, Bacterial ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Butadienes ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Gastrins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genetic Vectors ; Helicobacter Infections ; Helicobacter pylori ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Nitriles ; pharmacology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Transfection ; Tyrphostins ; pharmacology ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of the method of soothing the liver and regulating qi on expression of gastrin and somatostatin in hypothalamus and gastric antrum of functional dyspepsia model rats.

METHODThe 32 rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, Chaihu Shugansan group and domperidone group (n = 8). The functional dyspepsia model was established by constantly squeezing their tails and mean while saline, Chaihu Shugansan decoction and domperidone suspension were administered respectively to 4 groups by gavage. The expression of gastrin and somatostatin in hypothalamus and gastric antrum of rats by immunohistochemical were detected 3 weeks later.

RESULTThe expression of GAS in the hypothalamus and gastric antrum of model group were less than those of normal group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while the expression of SS in the hypothalamus and gastric antrum in Model group were significantly increased than those of normal group (P < 0.01). The expression of GAS and SS in gastric antrum of Chaihu Shugansan group and domperidone group were increased and decreased respectively, and the differences were significant (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There were no obvious difference about expression of GAS, SS in the hypothalamus between domperidone group and model group. GAS expression in hypothalamus of Chaihu Shugansan group were increased than those of normal group but there was no obvious difference in SS expression in hypothalamus between Chaihu Shugansan group and model group.

CONCLUSIONThe method of soothing the liver and regulating qi can increase GAS expression in central and peripheral and decrease SS expression in peripheral gastric antrum, which may be one of its therapeutic mechanisms on functional dyspepsia.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Dyspepsia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gastrins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Pyloric Antrum ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Qi ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Somatostatin ; genetics ; metabolism

The ontogeny and distribution of gastrin- and serotonin-immunoreactive (IR) cell in the proventriculus of chicks (Gallus gallus domestica, n = 60) in different growth periods was examined immunohistochemically using antisera specific to gastrin and serotonin. Gastrin and serotonin-IR cells were detected in chick proventriculus. Gastrin-IR cells were first evident after 12 days of incubation in lamina epithelialis and compound glands, while serotonin-IR cells were observed only in compound glands at that same time. Gastrin-IR and serotonin-IR cells increased in frequency on incubation day 14 and 16, respectively. Towards the end of incubation, gastrin- and serotonin-IR cell numbers decreased. In adult chicken, both IR cells were present but not lower numbers. The observations demonstrate the presence of gastrin- and serotonin-IR cells in the proventriculus of developing chicks in temporally changing frequencies.
Animals ; Chick Embryo/*metabolism ; Endocrine Cells/cytology/metabolism ; Gastrins/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/physiology ; Proventriculus/*embryology/*metabolism ; Serotonin/*metabolism

OBJECTIVETo examine the correlation between the mRNA and proteins expressions of gastrin(GAS), and the association of protein expression of GAS with apoptosis index(AI) and apoptosis regulation gene Fas/FasL, caspases in colorectal cancer.

METHODSThe expressions of GAS mRNA in tumor tissues of 79 cases with colorectal cancer were detected by nested RT-PCR. Cell apoptosis was detected by molecular biology in situ apoptosis detecting technic(TUNEL). Protein expressions of GAS, Fas/FasL, and caspases were detected by immunohistochemical staining (SP method).

RESULTSThe positive correlation was found between the mRNA and proteins expressions of GAS(rGAS=0.99, P<0.01). The mRNA and protein expressions of GAS in well and moderately differentiated cancers were significantly lower than those in poorly differentiated cancers (chi(2)(high vs low)=10.47, 10.23, P<0.01, chi(2)(middle vs low)=6.68, 4.95, P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expressions of GAS in papillary and tubular adenocarcinomas were significantly lower than those in mucinous adenocarcinomas, signet-ring cell carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma (chi(2)(papillary vs mucinous and signet-ring)=4.80, 6.22, chi(2)(papillary vs undifferentiation)=5.44, 8.43, chi(2)(tubular vs mucinous and signet-ring)=4.40, 4.38, chi(2)(tubular vs undifferentiation)=4.92, 6.43, P<0.05, respectively). The mRNA and protein expressions of GAS in Dukes' stages A, B were significantly lower than those in Dukes stages C, D (chi(2)=4.84, 4.45, P<0.01). The AI in GAS high and moderate expression groups of colorectal cancer were significantly lower than that in low expression group (q(high vs low)=6.71, q(middle vs low)=4.60, P<0.01). The positive expression rate of FasL was significantly different among GAS high, moderate and low expression groups of colorectal cancer (chi(2)=9.35, P<0.01). The positive expression rate of FasL in GAS high and moderate expression groups was higher than that in low expression group (chi(2)high vs low=6.24, chi(2)(middle vs low)=4.74, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSGAS plays an important role in the regulation of cell apoptosis in colorectal carcinoma, whose mechanism may be related to the aberrant expression of Fas/FasL. GAS will be one of the indicators of the biological behavior in colorectal carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fas Ligand Protein ; metabolism ; Female ; Gastrins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Young Adult ; fas Receptor ; metabolism