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AIM:To investigate the effects of thalidomide ( THD) on the activation of connective tissue growth factor ( CTGF) gene promoter induced by transforming growth factor β1 ( TGF-β1 ) in human embryonic lung fibroblasts ( HELF) .METHODS:DNA sequence of CTGF gene promoter was cloned into luciferase reporter gene vector to construct the recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pGL 3-CTGFP, and the recombinant vector was transfected into HELF cell line.The effects of TGF-β1 and THD on the activation of CTGF gene promoter were detected by dual-luciferase analysis . RESULTS:TGF-β1 increased the reporter gene activity dose-dependently (P<0.05), with a plateau at 5 μg/L being 2.16 folds as high as the control .TGF-β1-induced increase in the reporter gene activity was also time-dependent ( P<0.05).After exposure to TGF-β1(5 μg/L), the level of luciferase activity reached its peak at 12 h and was 2.52 folds as high as the control .THD significantly inhibited TGF-β1-induced increase in the reporter gene activity in a dose-dependent manner , but its basal activity was not changed .CONCLUSION: TGF-β1 stimulates the transcriptional activity of CTGF gene promoter in HELF cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner , while THD may inhibit the effects dose-dependently .
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AIM: To investigate intracellular free calcium ([Ca 2+ ]i ) alterations in hypothalamus of febrile rabbits induced by endotoxin (ET), and compare with the effect of ET and IL-1? on [Ca 2+ ]i in hypothalamic neurocytes from normothermia rabbits. METHOD: The concentration of [Ca 2+ ]i was determined by using spectrofluorometer and fluorescent Ca 2+ probe fura-2 /Am. RESULTS: 1. A minute dose of ET (2 ng/mL) induced a significant rise in [Ca 2+ ]i in hypothalamic neurocytes from normothermia rabbits. The rise in [Ca 2+ ]i in hypothalamic neurocytes from febrile rabbits induced by intravenous injection of ET was also observed. 2. In hypothalamic neurocytes from normotheria rabbits, IL-1? failed to affect [Ca 2+ ]i at concentrations of 100, 500, 1 000 ng/mL, respectively. CONCLUSION:The action site of low concentration of calcium that plays a regulatory role during fever seems unlikely to be in cytosolic compartment of hypothalamic neurons. The change of [Ca 2+ ]i in hypothalamic neurocytes by ET can not be considered the direct effect of IL-1?.
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AIM: To investigate the relationship among MCP-1 and monocyte chemoattract protein activity (MCA) and pathogenesis of lung cancer. METHODS: 173 patients were involved in the study and divided into three groups: group A: lung cancer group (60 patients); group B: benign lung disease group (55 patients) and group C: healthy control group (58 patients). MCP-1 level and MCA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured. RESULTS: The concentration of MCP-1 and MCA in BALF in group A were much higher than those in group B and group C (P
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In order to determine further whether cAMP and PGE takes part in the mechanism of EGTA-induced fever in the present experiment with 40 New Zealand rab bits, the influence of intravenous infusion of sodium salicylate (SS) on the febrile response and the rise of cAMP and PGE_2 concentration in c.s.f. produced by intraventricular perfusion of EGTA were observed. The results showed that intravenous infusion of SS (9.6?M/min. following an initial dose of 1.25mM) could inhibit the rise of PGE_2 concentration in c.s.f. (P0.05) after 0.6 mM EGTA was perfused into lateral cerebroventricle. The concentration of cAMP in c.s.f. was correlated apparently positively with the febrile response in EGTA-induced fever (r=0.9839, P
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0.05). Compared with group A, GMBF of group C, D, and E were reduced (P0.05). CONCLUSION: Hepatic portal interdicting can aggravate the gastric mucosa damage of the liver cirrhosis rat, and famotidine can protect against such gastric mucosa injury through improving the microcirculation of gastric mucosa.