ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of methylprednisolone(MP) on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-9 and airway inflammation in murine models of asthma. Methods Thirty female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into asthma group,MP group and control group(n=10).Murine models of acute asthma were established by ovalbumin(OVA) via peritoneal injection and intranasal instillation.The pathological changes of lung tissues were observed with HE staining,and cell quantitation was conducted in bronchalveolar lavage fluid(BALF).The expression of MMP-9 protein was determined by immunohistochemistry and gelatin zymogram,and the expression of MMP-9 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. Results Compared with control group,there were more significant airway spasm and more infiltration of inflammatory cells in histologic examination,and there was higher eosinophil cell quantitation in BALF in asthma group(P
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the expression of phosphorylated myosin light chain kinase(P-MLCK) in human pulmonary arterial endothelial cell(HPAEC) induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS). Methods HPAECs were cultured in vitro and treated with LPS(2 ?g/mL) and normal saline for 1 h,respectively.Immunofluorescence method and western blotting were used to detect P-MLCK. Results Compared with normal saline group,the number of HPAECs decreased,but the morphology of cells did not change.After treatment of LPS for 30 and 60 min,the expression of P-MLCK in HPAEC increased from 0.41?0.05 to 0.82?0.43 and 1.56?0.07,respectively(P
ABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>To explore the effects of hypoxia on expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA in cultured rat astrocytes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cultured rat astrocytes were randomly divided into 4 groups: glutamate group (G), hypoxic group (H), hypoxia + glutamate group (H + G) and the control (C). Cells of control group were exposed to normoxic (95% air, 5% CO2) condition, and cells of G and H + G were incubated with 100 micromol/L L-glutamate, cells of H and H + G exposed to hypoxic conditions (5% CO2, 95% N2) at 37 degrees C. Each group had five timepoints which included 0 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, respectively. Expression of mRNAs of iNOS were detected with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Expression of iNOS mRNA was not detectable in G and C, while it increased dramatically and continuously from 6 h to 24 h in H and G + H. Expression of iNOS mRNA was significantly higher in H than both in G and C at 6 h, 12 h and 24 h, and expression of iNOS mRNA was the highest of all groups in G + H.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Hypoxia upregulates the expression of iNOS mRNA in cultured astrocytes. Glutamate does not induce the expression of iNOS mRNA but enhance the effect of hypoxia, which is maybe one of the adaptive mechanisms of hypoxia-induced cerebral dilation.</p>