[Role of CD4+ CD25 high regulatory T cells in the pathogenesis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) regulatory T cells and CD(4)(+)CD(25)(high) regulatory T cells in peripheral blood and decidua in the pathogenesis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).

METHODS

Peripheral blood and decidua CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) regulatory T cells and CD(4)(+)CD(25)(high) regulatory T cells in 30 ICP patients (15 mild ICP and 15 severe ICP) and 28 normal pregnant women were analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The percentage of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) regulatory T cells and CD(4)(+)CD(25)(high) regulatory T cells in the CD(4)(+) T cells population in both peripheral blood and decidua in ICP patients were significantly lower than those in control women [(7.96 +/- 1.32)% vs (17.05 +/- 2.86)%, (17.18 +/- 2.27)% vs (32.01 +/- 3.88)%; (0.78 +/- 0.22)% vs (1.71 +/- 0.69)%, (2.25 +/- 0.89)% vs (8.30 +/- 1.13)%; P < 0.01]. Meanwhile, a significantly higher percentage of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) regulatory T cells and CD(4)(+)CD(25)(high) regulatory T cells in the CD(4)(+) T cells population was observed in all decidua samples compared to peripheral blood both in ICP patients (P < 0.01) and in control women (P < 0.01). In addition, the percentages of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) regulatory T cells and CD(4)(+)CD(25)(high) regulatory T cells in the CD(4)(+) T cell population in both decidua and peripheral blood in severe ICP [(15.94 +/- 1.95)%, (7.17 +/- 1.17)%, (1.87 +/- 0.90)%, (0.68 +/- 0.19)%] were lower than those in mild ICP [(18.43 +/- 1.90)%, (8.74 +/- 0.96)%, (2.62 +/- 0.72)%, (0.89 +/- 0.20)%] and normal pregnancy (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

CD(4)(+)CD(25)(high) regulatory T cell may play an important role in the pathogenesis of ICP and control of disease progression.

[Study on preparation and determination of Liaojin plastics]

OBJECTIVE

To establish the optimum preparation and determination method of Liaojin plastics through screening different factors.

METHODS

The Orthogonal Test was applied to optimize the best preparation technology, and the content of peoniflorin in Liaojin plastics was determined by HPLC.

RESULTS

The best matrix proportion of plastics was PVA-124 : alcohol : acetone : distilled water = 1 : 4 : 2 : 10; The average recovery of plastics was 98.56%, RSD was 1.66% (n = 9), and the average content of six samples was 0.6817 mg/g, RSD was 1.44%.

CONCLUSION

The good quality plastics can be produced through this process. HPLC determination method is simple, reliable and can be used in the quality control of Liaojin plastics.

Changes of serum p53 antibodies and clinical significance of radiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

AIM: To explore the relationship between serum p53 antibodies (p53-Abs) and clinicopathological characteristics and therapeutic effect in patients with esophageal carcinoma (EC), and to investigate sequential changing regularity of serum p53-Abs after radiotherapy.

METHODS: The serum p53-Ab levels were detected in 46 EC patients and 30 healthy adults by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The blood samples were collected on the day before radiotherapy and on the administration of an irradiation dose of 20 Gy/10 f/12 d, 40 Gy/20 f/24 d and 60 Gy/30 f/36 d after radiotherapy.

RESULTS: The level and positive rate of serum p53-Abs in EC patients were significantly higher than those in normal individuals (P < 0.05). Serum anti-p53 antibodies were positive in 18 of 46 EC patients (39.1%). The positive rate of p53-Abs in EC was related to histological grade, disease stage and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05), but it was not significantly related to sex, age and to the size and site of tumor. The level and positive rate of p53-Abs had significant differences between before radiotherapy and after administration of an irradiation dose of 40 Gy/20 f/24 d and 60 Gy/30 f/36 d (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The positive rate of p53-Abs in EC patients with effect was significantly lower than that in those without effect after radiotherapy (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION: Detection of serum p53-Abs is helpful to the diagnosis of esophageal carcinoma. Monitoring for sequential change of serum p53-Abs before and after radiotherapy in patients with esophageal carcinoma is also useful to evaluate the response to the treatment and prognosis of the patients.

[Anti-fibrotic effect of N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline in lung of rat with silicosis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (AcSDKP) on the collagen synthesis and expression in lung of rats with silicosis.

METHODS

Rats were divided into 6 groups randomly, 10 rats in each group: Control 1 of silicotic model: each rat was intratracheally instilled with 1 ml normal sodium and was killed at the fourth week; Control 2 of silicotic model: each rat was intratracheally instilled with 1 ml normal sodium and was killed at the eighth week; Silicotic model 1: each rat was intratracheally instilled with 1 ml silica suspension and was killed at the fourth week; Silicotic model 2: each rat was intratracheally instilled with 1 ml silica suspension and was killed at the eighth week; Anti-fibrosis treatment of AcSDKP: after each rat was intratracheally instilled with 1 ml silica suspension for 4 weeks, AcSDKP 800 microg/(kgxd) was administered into every rat and rats were killed at the eighth week; Preventing fibrosis treatment of AcSDKP: after AcSDKP 800 microg/(kgxd) was administered into every rat for 48 hours, each rat was intratracheally instilled with 1 ml silica suspension and rats were killed at the eighth week. Lung fibrosis in morphology was observed by HE and VG staining. Collagen content was detected by hydroxyproline assay. The expression of type I and III collagen was evaluated by western blot.

RESULTS

Compared with those of silicotic model 1 and silicotic model 2 group, in anti-fibrosis treatment of AcSDKP group, the area of silicosis nodules decreased to 84.28% and 67.93%, the content of hydroxyproline decreased to 70.89% and 58.18%, the expression of type I collagen decreased to 71.08% and 58.13%, and expression of type III collagen decreased to 80.13% and 70.70%. Compared with those of silicotic model 2 group, in preventing fibrosis treatment of AcSDKP group, area of silicosis nodules decreased to 61.13%, content of hydroxyproline decreased to 60.27%, and expression of type I and type III collagen decreased to 40.13% and 65.77%.

CONCLUSION

AcSDKP could obviously inhibit the synthesis and expression of collagen in lung of rats with silicosis, which is possibly related with anti-fibrosis effect of AcSDKP.

Mental health evaluation and psychological intervention of elderly patients with gastroesophageal reflux diseases: an analysis of 157 cases

AIM: To analyze the mental health and determine psychological intervention of elderly patients with gastroesophageal reflux diseases.

METHODS: One hundred and fifty-seven elderly patients with gastroesophageal reflux diseases admitted to our hospital during May 2007 and December 2007 were enrolled. Symptom check list-90 (SCL-90) were completed twice by patients before and after the intervention.

RESULTS: Final score of SCL-90 and number of symptomatic items were higher than that of domestic norm (t = 2.61, t = 2.57, both P < 0.01). Except psychotic factors, hostility and phobic anxiety, scores in other factors of SCL-90 were higher than that of domestic norm. There was a significant score difference before and after the psychological intervention (i = 1.99, P < 0.05) with a significant score decrease in anxiety, depression and somatization.

CONCLUSION: Mental health of elderly patients with gastroesophageal reflux diseases is significantly lower than that of normal population. Psychological intervention is effective in alleviating psychological disorders and improving subjective clinical symptoms.

Poultry drinking water used for avian influenza surveillance

Samples of drinking water from poultry cages, which can be collected conveniently and noninvasively, provide higher rates of influenza (H9N2) virus isolation than do samples of fecal droppings. Studies to confirm the usefulness of poultry drinking water for detecting influenza (H5N1) should be conducted in disease-endemic areas.

Primary molecular features of self-incompatible and self-compatible F(1) seedling from apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) Katy x Xinshiji

Expression of the S-RNase genes in the self-compatible (SC) apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) cultivar Katy, the self-incompatible (SI) cultivar Xinshiji and their F(1) seedling was examined in this study. Three S-genotypes, S(9)Sc (Sc, self-compatibility S-gene absent from the style), S(8)S(9), and S(8)S(10), were obtained. Seedlings with S-RNase that migrated as a single band in gel electrophoresis were SC, despite high transcript abundance, and those with S-RNase that migrated as two bands were SI with high transcript abundance or SC with low transcript expression. S(8)-RNase was induced in SI cultivars only 24 h after self-pollination, indicating post-transcriptional regulation of S(8)-RNase in SI apricots. A Proteomic study showed that 35 protein spots were synthesized differently between SC and SI pistils. Fifteen of the 35 protein spots were identified; nine proteins, including receptor protein kinase-like protein, reversibly glycosylated polypeptide-2, and isoflavone reductase-like protein, were detected only in the SC pistils; while nine proteins, including actin 7, a putative serine/threonine kinase, and S-RNase, were detected only in the SI pistils. A mitochondrial NAD-dependent malate dehydrogenase and a probable elongation factor G were up-regulated, while heat shock cognate 70 was down-regulated in the SC pistils compared to those in the SI pistils. The results suggest that the proteins responsible for self-compatibility and self-incompatibility may be different.

Antifibrotic effects of interleukin-10 on experimental hepatic fibrosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

To study the effects of interleukin-10 on hepatic stellate cells and liver tissue in experimental rats hepatic fibrosis.

METHODOLOGY

Rat hepatic fibrosis model induced by carbon tetrachloride was established. Liver tissues were harvested from the rats administered CCl4 with or without IL-10 treatment and the animals of the control group. The expression of TGF-beta1, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 in the liver tissues was measured by S-P immunohistochemistry. In addition, another model was established; HSCs in rats in each group were isolated. RT-PCR was employed to analyze TGF-beta1, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 mRNA expression in cells and immunocytochemistry was performed to detect protein expression of alpha-SMA, NF-kappaB, TGF-beta1, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 in HSCs.

RESULTS

Rat hepatic fibrosis was developed successfully. The fibrosis changes were partially reversed by simultaneous administration of IL-10. The positive signals of TGF-beta1, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 were observed more frequently (P<0.05) in the CCl4-treated group compared to those in the IL-10-treated group and the control group. HSCs were successfully isolated. TGF-beta1, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 mRNA in HSCs increased obviously during the course of hepatic fibrosis, and their levels were decreased after the treatment with IL-10 (P<0.05). The immunocytochemistry positive levels for TGF-beta1, MMP-2, TIMP-1, alpha-SMA and NF-kappaB in the fibrogenesis group were increased significantly compared to the normal group (P<0.01). The positive signals decreased significantly (P<0.05) after the treatment with IL-10.

CONCLUSIONS

The expression of TGF-beta1, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 increased in liver or in HSC of hepatic fibrosis rats and decreased after treatment with IL-10. The IL-10 could inhibit the activation of HSCs and make an antifibrogenic process come into effect in this way.

Status of experimental and clinical research into the anti-fibrotic effects of interleukin-10

Although liver fibrosis represents a process of healing and scarring in response to chronic liver injury, there is a lack of effective therapy that targets liver fibrosis. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a cytokine that down-regulates pro-inflammatory responses. In vitro and animal experiments have suggested that IL-10 plays an important role in hepatic fibrogenesis. Recombinant human IL-10 has been produced and is undergoing clinical trials. IL-10 therapy may be clinically effective against liver fibrosis.

Renal artery aneurysm: diagnosis and surveillance with multidetector-row computed tomography

PURPOSE

To investigate the prevalence of renal artery aneurysms, and to assess the value of multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) in diagnosing renal artery aneurysms.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Altogether, 862 patients underwent arterial-phase contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen in the period November 2003 to October 2005. A search for renal artery aneurysms was performed in our reporting system and revealed six patients with renal artery aneurysm (RAA).

RESULTS

The incidence of RAA was 0.7%. All renal artery aneurysms were solitary, located in the main trunk or the first branch of the renal artery, with sizes from 1.5 cm to 3.4 cm. Five aneurysms were saccular, one fusiform. No underlying thrombosis was seen. Extensive calcification was found in one aneurysm. Three aneurysms were diagnosed using axial images, while three aneurysms were only displayed by volume rendering and maximum-intensity projection images.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates a 0.7% incidence of renal artery aneurysms in a total of 862 patients. MDCT has an important role in detecting and assessing renal artery aneurysms. Some aneurysms can only be displayed by post-processing techniques such as volume rendering and maximum-intensity projection.

[Application of new biological nitrogen removal technologies in full-scale treatment of landfill leachate]

In order to improve the treatment efficiency of the high concentration of ammonium nitrogen in landfill leachate, anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) and hybrid biofilm reactor (HBR) were introduced to the full-scale treatment of Datianshang landfill leachate. The efficiencies of nitrogen removal and the status of microorganism of the two biological treatment processes were analyzed. To achieve ANAMMOX and partial nitritation process, the concentration of dissolved oxygen in HBR was controlled and the effluent of HBR was recycled to the inlet of the ABR in a large proportion. The full-scale operation results showed that when the concentration of influent ammonium nitrogen was at 336.24 - 685.09 mg/L, the anaerobic granule sludge and the ANAMMOX bacteria were observed and the average ammonium nitrogen removal rate reached 34.9% in ABR after the start-up period of 60 days. The population of ammonium oxidizing bacteria and the average ammonium nitrogen removal rate in HBR reached 6.4 x 10(7) cells/mL and 95.1%, respectively, after 30 days of ABR stable running process. The final effluent ammonium nitrogen concentration was under 25 mg/L and the removal rate of total nitrogen was above 80% after the ABR-HBR combined processes treatment. It was suggested that using of advance environmental biotechnology to improve the capacity of the conventional leachate treatment plant was advisable, especially for those low efficiency facilities working improperly.

[Effect of AcSDKP on the proliferation and collagen synthesis in cultured rat cardiac fibroblasts stimulated by PDGF]

AIM

To investigate whether AcSDKP can inhibit proliferation and collagen synthesis in cultured rat cardiac fibroblasts mediated by PDGF.

METHODS

Neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts were isolated. The cell proliferation was observed by 3H-proline incorporation assay.

RESULTS

On the culture of 0.4% FBS, PDGF stimulated cardiac fibroblasts proliferation and collagen synthesis with a dose-dependent manner at the concentrations from 1 ng/ml to 20 ng/ml, in which 10 ng/ml PDGF reached its peak. AcSDKP at the concentration from 10(-10) mol/L to 10(-8) mol/L could inhibit cardiac fibroblasts proliferation and collagen synthesis mediated by PDGF. 10(-9) mol/L AcSDKP attained its peak on inhibiting cardiac fibroblasts proliferation and collagen synthesis.

CONCLUSION

AcSDKP can inhibit proliferation and collagen synthesis in cultured rat cardiac fibroblasts mediated by PDGF.

Serum amyloid A protein: a potential biomarker correlated with clinical stage of lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

To identify serum diagnosis or progression biomarkers in patients with lung cancer using protein chip profiling analysis.

METHOD

Profiling analysis was performed on 450 sera collected from 213 patients with lung cancer, 19 with pneumonia, 16 with pulmonary tuberculosis, 65 with laryngeal carcinoma, 55 with laryngopharyngeal carcinoma patients, and 82 normal individuals. A new strategy was developed to identify the biomarkers on chip by trypsin pre-digestion.

RESULTS

Profiling analysis demonstrated that an 11.6 kDa protein was significantly elevated in lung cancer patients, compared with the control groups (P < 0.001). The level and percentage of 11.6 kDa protein progressively increased with the clinical stages I-IV and were also higher in patients with squamous cell carcinoma than in other subtypes. This biomarker could be decreased after operation or chemotherapy. On the other hand, 11.6 kDa protein was also increased in 50% benign diseases of lung and 13% of other cancer controls. After trypsin pre-digestion, a set of new peptide biomarkers was noticed to appear only in the samples containing a 11.6 kDa peak. Further identification showed that 2177 Da was a fragment of serum amyloid A (SAA, MW 11.6 kDa). Two of the new peaks, 1550 Da and 1611 Da, were defined from the same protein by database searching. This result was further confirmed by partial purification of 11.6 kDa protein and MS analysis.

CONCLUSION

SAA is a useful biomarker to monitor the progression of lung cancer and can directly identify some biomarkers on chip.

Bee-hawking by the wasp, Vespa velutina, on the honeybees Apis cerana and A. mellifera

The vespine wasps, Vespa velutina, specialise in hawking honeybee foragers returning to their nests. We studied their behaviour in China using native Apis cerana and introduced A. mellifera colonies. When the wasps are hawking, A. cerana recruits threefold more guard bees to stave off predation than A. mellifera. The former also utilises wing shimmering as a visual pattern disruption mechanism, which is not shown by A. mellifera. A. cerana foragers halve the time of normal flight needed to dart into the nest entrance, while A. mellifera actually slows down in sashaying flight manoeuvres. V. velutina preferentially hawks A. mellifera foragers when both A. mellifera and A. cerana occur in the same apiary. The pace of wasp-hawking was highest in mid-summer but the frequency of hawking wasps was three times higher at A. mellifera colonies than at the A. cerana colonies. The wasps were taking A. mellifera foragers at a frequency eightfold greater than A. cerana foragers. The final hawking success rates of the wasps were about three times higher for A. mellifera foragers than for A. cerana. The relative success of native A. cerana over European A. mellifera in thwarting predation by the wasp V. velutina is interpreted as the result of co-evolution between the Asian wasp and honeybee, respectively.

Regulation of oxidant-induced intestinal permeability by metalloprotease-dependent epidermal growth factor receptor signaling

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects more than 1 million Americans with more than 30,000 new cases diagnosed each year. IBD increases patient morbidity and susceptibility to colorectal cancer, yet its etiology remains unknown. Current models identify two key determinants of IBD pathogenesis: hyperpermeability of the gut epithelial barrier to bacterial products and an abnormal immune response to these products. Two factors seem critical for hyperpermeability: oxidant-induced stress and proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., tumor necrosis factor-alpha). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of oxidant stress-mediated transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in intestinal hyperpermeability. This study used the Caco-2 human colonic epithelial cell in vitro model of intestinal epithelium. Cells were grown on inserts for permeability and signaling studies and glass coverslips for microscopy studies. show that oxidant-induced intestinal hyperpermeability can be blocked by specific inhibitors of the EGFR, tumor necrosis factor convertase (TACE) metalloprotease, transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha, and mitogen-activated protein kinases, especially extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. We also show that oxidant initiates these signaling events, in part by causing translocation of TACE to cell-cell contact zones. In this study, our data identify a novel mechanism for oxidant-induced intestinal hyperpermeability relevant to IBD. We propose a new intestinal permeability model in which oxidant transactivates EGFR signaling by activation of TACE and cleavage of precursor TGF-alpha. These data could have a significant effect on our view of IBD pathogenesis and provide new therapeutic targets for IBD treatment.

Imaging of primary adrenal lymphoma: case report and literature review

Primary adrenal lymphoma is very rare, and correct preoperative diagnosis is difficult because of its nonspecific imaging findings. We report a case of bilateral primary adrenal lymphoma, with the largest dimension of 18 cm, which is the largest one reported so far, to our knowledge. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) findings were not specific enough to establish a correct diagnosis, but positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT) showed high fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake, indicating its malignant nature. We describe the imaging findings and review the related literature to highlight this uncommon entity.

Genetic differentiation of Chinese isolates of Rickettsia sibirica by partial ompA gene sequencing and multispacer typing

Current data on rickettsiae and rickettsial diseases in China remain limited. Using partial ompA gene sequencing and multispacer typing, we identified 15 rickettsial isolates from China. All isolates were found to belong to Rickettsia sibirica subsp. sibirica. Four isolates from Dermacentor sinicus collected in Beijing, China, were fully identical to strain BJ-90, previously demonstrated to belong to R. sibirica subsp. sibirica despite antigenic and genotypic specificities. All 11 remaining isolates were similar to the R. sibirica subsp. sibirica type strain, 246. These were widely distributed in China in humans and different tick species. We emphasize the importance of surveying the distribution of R. sibirica in China.

Evolution and adaptation of H5N1 influenza virus in avian and human hosts in Indonesia and Vietnam

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 is endemic in poultry in East and Southeast Asia with disease outbreaks recently spreading to parts of central Asia, Europe and Africa. Continued interspecies transmission to humans has been reported in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and China, causing pandemic concern. Here, we genetically characterize 82 H5N1 viruses isolated from poultry throughout Indonesia and Vietnam and 11 human isolates from southern Vietnam together with sequence data available in public databases to address questions relevant to virus introduction, endemicity and evolution. Phylogenetic analysis shows that all viruses from Indonesia form a distinct sublineage of H5N1 genotype Z viruses suggesting this outbreak likely originated from a single introduction that spread throughout the country during the past two years. Continued virus activities in Indonesia were attributed to transmission via poultry movement within the country rather than through repeated introductions by bird migration. Within Indonesia and Vietnam, H5N1 viruses have evolved over time into geographically distinct groups within each country. Molecular analysis of the H5N1 genotype Z genome shows that only the M2 and PB1-F2 genes were under positive selection, suggesting that these genes might be involved in adaptation of this virus to new hosts following interspecies transmission. At the amino acid level 12 residues were under positive selection in those genotype Z viruses, in the HA and PB1-F2 proteins. Some of these residues were more frequently observed in human isolates than in avian isolates and are related to viral antigenicity and receptor binding. Our study provides insight into the ongoing evolution of H5N1 influenza viruses that are transmitting in diverse avian species and at the interface between avian and human hosts.

Relationship between transforming growth factor β1 and anti-fibrotic effect of interleukin-10

AIM: To study the effect of interleukin-10 (IL-10) on the expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in hepatic fibrosis rats and the anti-fibrotic role of exo-genous IL-10.

METHODS: Hepatic fibrosis was induced by carbon tetrachloride administered (CCl₄) intraperitoneally. The experiment was performed in two stages. In the first stage, 60 SD rats were divided randomly into normal control group 1(GN₁, n = 8), hepatic fibrosis group(GC, n = 28)and IL-10 intervened group(GI, n = 24). At the beginning of the 7^th and 11^th wk, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were isolated, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reation (RT-PCR) and immunocytochemistry were performed to detect the expression of TGF-β1 in HSCs. Histological examination was used to determine the degree of hepatic fibrosis. In the second stage, 47 SD rats were divided randomly into normal control group 2(GN₂, n = 6)and CCl₄ group(GZ, n = 41). At the end of the 9th week, rats in GZ group were allocated randomly into model group(GM, n = 9), IL-10 treatment group(GT, n = 9)and recovered group(GR, n = 9). At the end of the 12^th week, all rats were sacrificed. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were performed to detect the expression of TGF-β1 in liver tissue. ELISA was used to assay serum TGF-β1 levels.

RESULTS: Hepatic fibrosis developed in rats with the increase of the injection frequency of CCl₄. In the first stage, hepatic fibrosis developed and HSCs were isolated successfully. At the 7^th and 11^th week, TGF-β1 mRNA in GC group increased significantly compared with that in GN₁(P = 0.001/0.042)and GI groups(P = 0.001/0.007), whereas there was no significant difference between the two groups. The levels of TGF-β1 at the beginning of the 7^th wk was higher than that of the 11^th wk(P = 0.049). Immunocytochemistry results of TGF-β1 were consistent with the above findings. In the second stage, TGF-β1 increased significantly in GM group compared to GN₂. After treatment with IL-10, TGF-β1 declined obviously. The expression of TGF-β1 decreased in GR group but was still higher than that in GT group.

CONCLUSION: The levels of TGF-β1 are increased in hepatic fibrosis rats and decreased after treatment with exogenous IL-10. IL-10 may play an anti-fibrotic role by suppressing TGF-β1 expression.

Effects of interleukin-10 on activation and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells in fibrotic rat liver

AIM: To study the effects of interleukin-10 (IL-10) on the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB) and Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) in hepatic stellate cells of experimental rats with hepatic fibrosis.

METHODS: Sixty clean SD rats were randomly divided into control group (group N), liver fibrotic group (group C) and IL-10 treatment group (group I). Control group received intraperitoneal injection of saline (2ml•kg^-1), twice a week. Fibrotic group was injected intraperitoneally with 50% carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) (2 ml•kg^-1), twice a week. IL-10 treatment group was given IL-10 at a dose of 4 µg•kg^-1 20 minutes before CCl₄ administration from the third week. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were isolated from these rats at the seventh and eleventh weeks during the course of liver fibrosis, respectively. The expression of α-SMA and NF-κB in HSCs was measured by S-P immunohistochemistry. The expression of Fas and FasL mRNA was measured by RT-PCR. Furthermore, liver tissues were harvested from three groups at the same time.

RESULTS: The CCl₄- induced experimental rat hepatic fibrosis model was established successfully. The purity of extracted hepatic stellate cells was about 95% and the yield of hepatic stellate cells was 1.2-2.3×10⁶/g liver tissue averagely. The positive expression of α-SMA and NF-κB was 36.5% and 28.5% respectively in group N. The positive levels of α-SMA and NF-κB were increased significantly in group C compared to group N (P<0.01). The positive signals decreased significantly (P<0.05) in group I. In the 11^th week, the HSCs of group I became round with visible pyknotic nuclei. The expression of NF-κB in group C was significantly increased in a time-dependentmanner (P<0.01), but there was no difference in the α-SMA expression (P >0.05). The mRNA of Fas and FasL in group C was significantly increased in a time-dependent manner compared to that in control group. After treated with IL-10, the expression level of Fas and FasL was higher in group I than in group C.

CONCLUSION: The positive expression of α-SMA and NF-κB in hepatic stellate cells is decreased by ectogenic IL-10 in liver fibrosis induced by CCl₄. The expression of Fas and FasL is increased in the course of liver fibrosis, and is further increased by IL-10. IL-10 could inhibit the activation of HSCs and cause apoptosis of activated HSCs.

Interleukin-10 and chronic liver disease

Interleukin (IL)-10 is an important immunoregulatory cytokine produced by many cell populations. Numerous investigations suggest that IL-10 plays a major role in chronic liver diseases. IL-10 gene polymorphisms are possibly associated with liver disease susceptibility or severity. Recombinant human IL-10 has been produced and is currently tested in clinical trials. These trials may give new insights into the immunobiology of IL-10 and suggest that the IL-10/IL-10 receptor system may become a new therapeutic target.

Therapeutic effect of interleukin-10 on CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats

AIM: To study the therapeutic effect of exogenous interleukin-10 on CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats and its possible mechanisms.

METHODS: Fourty-seven SD rats were randomly divided into control group (group N) and CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis model group (group C). After CCl₄ was given for 9 wk, the model group was divided into three groups. Rats in group M were put to death immediately, rats in group T were treated with IL-10 for another three wk and then put to death, rats in group R recovered after three weeks and were then killed. The degree of hepatic fibrosis was measured by HE staining and histological activity index (HAI). Histological activity index (HAI), change of collagen types I and III were measured by Picrosirius staining. The expression of TNF-α, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 in liver tissue was measured by S-P immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: CCl₄- induced experimental rat hepatic fibrosis model was established successfully. The degree of hepatic fibrosis was markedly lower in group T than in groups M and R, and there was no difference between the two groups. The expression of collagen types I and III was significantly suppressed in group T and was slightly suppressed in groups M and R. The positive levels of TNF-α, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 in group M increased significantly compared to those in group N (P < 0.01). The positive signals decreased significantly in groups T and R (P < 0.01), but positive score was significantly lower in group T than in group R (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Exogenous IL-10 can reverse CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats. IL-10 may exert its reversible effects on hepatic fibrosis by blocking CCl₄-induced inflammation, inhibiting expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 and promoting resolution of collagen types I and III.