ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the expression of interleukin 16 (IL-16) in atherosclerosis (AS) patients, and to study the roles of IL-16in the pathogenesis of AS.Methods Thirty AS patients in Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College from August 2015to August 2016were randomly selected as the case group and twenty-nine healthy subjects were selected as the healthy control group.Peripheral blood of the subjects were collected.IL-16levels were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was applied to analyze IL-16mRNA level.IL-16expression in the atherosclerotic plaque samples was detected with immunohistochemical analysis.IL-16expression in aortic atherosclerotic plaque of AS patients and atherosclerotic ApoE-/-mice were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining.The aortic plaque changes of AS mice injected intraperitoneally with recombinant IL-16were detected.Results Both IL-16protein levels and IL-16mRNA levels were higher in case group than those of healthy control group, the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).The IL-16mRNA was highly expressed in the atherosclerotic plaque.The aortic plaque area of the mice underwent IL-16intraperitoneal injection were decreased while the plaque stability increased.Conclusion IL-16levels elevated in both AS patients and AS mice, which suggested that IL-16might play aprotective role against AS.
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effects of Huoxue Chubi Decoction on contents of PDGF-A and TGF-βin skin lesion of scleroderma mimicking mice models;To discuss its possible mechanism. Methods Thirty mice were randomly assigned into blank group, model group, TCM high-, medium-, low-dose group, with six mice in each group. Other than blank group, the rest of the 4 groups were given bleomycin-hydrocholoride 0.1 mL intradermal injection daily for 3 weeks to establish scleroderma mice models. From week 4 to 7, blank group and model group received gavage with equal amount of distilled water daily;TCM high-, medium-, low dosage group received gavage with Huoxue Chubi Decoction with different concentrations of 44.8, 22.4, 11.2 g/kg daily. The pathological changes in the skin tissue samples taken from each group were observed under microscope;the thickness of skin from each group was measured and the expression of PDGF-A, TGF-β, type-Ⅰ collagen (COL-Ⅰ) and type-Ⅲ collagen (COL-Ⅲ) were tested through immunohistochemical staining. Results Compare with blank group, the dermis tissue of model group was thicker, with the presence of thicker and greater number of collagen fibers, as well as infiltration of inflammatory cells. Compare with model group, thickness of skin and dermis collagen growth of TCM high-, medium-, low-dose group were milder varied by the concentration of the decoction. The result of immunohistochemical staining showed that the expressions of PDGF-A, TGF-β, COL-Ⅰ and COL-Ⅲ of modelgroup significantly increased than blank group (P<0.01); the expression of the mentioned indicators were statistically significant lower in the TCM high-, medium-, low-dose group than model group; The expressions of PDGF-A and TGF-β showed a positive correlation with the amount of COL-Ⅰ and COL-Ⅲpresented in each group. Conclusion Huoxue Chubi Decoction can suppress collagen expression and fibroblast formation in skin lesion of scleroderma mice models by down regulating the expressions of TGF-β and PDGF-A, thus demonstrate its potential in scleroderma treatment.