The role of cyclooxygenase-2/prostanoid pathway in visceral pain induced liver stress response in rats:

Mahuang decoction mitigates airway inflammation and regulates IL-21/STAT3 signaling pathway in rat asthma model

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Nowadays, bronchial asthma is still a severe disease threatening human health, and it is incumbent upon us to seek effective therapeutic drugs. Mahuang decoction (MHD), a classic famous Chinese prescription, has been used for thousands of years to prevent phlegm from forming, stop coughing and relieve asthma, but the relevant mechanism has not been thoroughly clarified. This study aims to investigate the anti-airway inflammation effect of MHD and the possible molecular mechanism underlying IL21/STAT3 signaling pathway, so as to provide guidance for the treatment of MHD on bronchial asthma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Specific pathogen free SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: normal control group, model group, positive group (Compound methoxyphenamine), MHD-treated groups at doses of 10 ml/kg, 5 ml/kg and 2.5 ml/kg, 10 rats in each group. Except for the normal control group, rats in other groups were sensitized with ovalbumin via introperitoneal injection and challenged with ovalbumin inhalation to trigger asthma model. At 24 h after the last excitation, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of every rat was drawn and the number of inflammatory cells was analyzed using cell counting method. ELISA method was performed to determine the concentrations of TXB₂, 6-keto-PGF_1α, MMP-9, TIMP-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 and TNF-α in rat serum. The protein expressions of IL-21, IL-21R, STAT3 and p-STAT3 in murine pulmonary tissues were assessed with western blotting analysis.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the airway wall and airway smooth muscle of murine pulmonary tissues significantly thickened and massive inflammatory cells infiltration occurred around the bronchus in the model group, and the cell counts of WBC and EOS in BALF were also apparently increased, which indicated the rat asthma model was successfully established. MHD or Compound methoxyphenamine not only alleviated the pulmonary inflammatory pathological damages, but also down- regulated the numbers of WBC and EOS in BALF. What's more, the levels of TXB₂, MMP-9, TIMP-1, ILs-(2, 4, 5) and TNF-α in rat serum were lessened by the treatment of MHD. In western blotting analysis, treatment with 10 ml/kg or 5 ml/kg MHD markedly declined the increased protein expressions of IL-21, IL-21R, STAT3 and p-STAT3 in lung tissues of asthmatic rats to normal level.

CONCLUSION

MHD intervention demonstrated a strong inhibitory action on the secretion of inflammatory mediators as well as the inflammatory cell infiltration in pulmonary tissues of asthmatic rats, and also depressed the protein expressions of IL-21, IL-21R, STAT3 and p-STAT3 in pulmonary tissues. MHD effectively mitigates airway inflammation and regulates the IL-21/STAT3 signaling pathway in rat asthma model.

Propyl gallate inhibits TPA-induced inflammation via the nuclear factor-κB pathway in human THP-1 monocytes

Propyl gallate (PG) is an antioxidant that has been used as an additive in several foods to protect against oxidation. The present study examined the anti-inflammatory effect of PG on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation in human THP-1 monocytes. Pretreatment with PG markedly inhibited the TPA-induced expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandin E2. The application of PG significantly inhibited the nuclear translocation of p65, a subunit of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and phosphorylation of p65 (Ser536) in TPA-treated THP-1 cells. PG also inhibited the phosphorylation of IκB and IκB kinase. These results indicate that PG inhibits the inflammatory response by blocking the NF-κB signaling pathway in TPA-induced THP-1 monocytes. Therefore, PG may be useful as a therapeutic agent in inflammatory diseases.

Silybin inhibits interleukin-1β-induced production of pro-inflammatory mediators in canine hepatocyte cultures

Hepatocytes are highly susceptible to cytokine stimulation and are fundamental to liver function. We established primary canine hepatocyte cultures to study effects of anti-inflammatory agents with hepatoprotective properties. Hepatocyte cultures were incubated with control media alone, silybin (SB), or the more bioavailable silybin-phosphatidylcholine complex (SPC), followed by activation with interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β; 10 ng/mL). Inflammatory response was measured by prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2) ), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) production and also nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) translocation. Hepatocyte cultures continued production of the phenotypic marker albumin for more than 7 days in culture. IL-1β exposure increased PGE(2) , IL-8, and MCP-1 production, which was paralleled by NF-κB translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Pretreatment with SB and SPC significantly inhibited IL-1β-induced production of pro-inflammatory markers and attenuated NF-κB nuclear translocation. We demonstrate for the first time that primary canine hepatocyte cultures can be maintained in culture without phenotypic loss. The observation that hepatocyte cultures respond to pro-inflammatory IL-1β activation indicates hepatocytes as primary cellular targets of extrinsic IL-1β. The ability of SB and SPC to inhibit hepatocyte culture activation by IL-1β reinforces the notion of their hepatoprotective effects. Our primary canine hepatocyte culture model facilitates identification of hepatoprotective agents and their mechanism of action.

A randomised comparison of parecoxib versus placebo for pain management following minor day stay gynaecological surgery

At therapeutic concentrations, parecoxib selectively inhibits the cyclo-oxygenase-2 enzyme. We investigated the impact of a single preoperative dose of parecoxib on pain relief following minor gynaecological surgery. Ninety women undergoing uterine dilatation and curettage, with or without hysteroscopy, were randomised to receive either 40 mg of parecoxib intravenously or a saline placebo prior to induction of standardised general anaesthesia. Exclusion criteria included a preoperative history of renal dysfunction or hypertension and the preoperative use of anti-inflammatory or opioid medication. The primary endpoint was the pain score during recovery. There was no difference in global pain scores or area under the curve for pain scores in the recovery area. Pain scores with coughing one hour after surgery were low in both groups but significantly lower after parecoxib (median 2 [interquartile range 0 to 4] parecoxib group vs. 2 [interquartile range 0 to 6] placebo group, P = 0.037). The 24 hour Quality of Recovery score did not differ significantly between groups but the parecoxib group was less likely to experience headache at 24 hours postoperatively (12 vs. 38%, P = 0.007) and reported complete satisfaction more frequently (78 vs. 57%, P = 0.042). The preoperative administration of parecoxib was associated with a significant but small decrease in dynamic pain scores one hour postoperatively. Women who received preoperative parecoxib had a lower incidence of postoperative headache and higher satisfaction.

Endogenous opiates and behavior: 2007

This paper is the thirtieth consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2007 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior, and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia; stress and social status; tolerance and dependence; learning and memory; eating and drinking; alcohol and drugs of abuse; sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology; mental illness and mood; seizures and neurologic disorders; electrical-related activity and neurophysiology; general activity and locomotion; gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions; cardiovascular responses; respiration and thermoregulation; and immunological responses.