ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives@#The immunomodulatory effects and mechanism of probiotics in allergic airway disease are largely unknown. We studied whether Bacillus clausii (BC), a probiotic derived from mudflats, had anti-allergic effects and compared the results with those of Lactobacillus paracasei (LP). We also examined whether the anti-allergic mechanisms of probiotics are associated with hypoxia signaling.Materials and Method: Forty-two BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to six experimental groups: controls, ovalbumin (OVA)-induced mice for inducing asthma, and OVA-induced mice that were orally administered LP or BC, at 1×109 or 5×109 CFU/mL each. We performed differential cell count testing on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), lung histopathology, serum totals and OVA-specific IgE and IgG1 assessments, Th2 cytokine titers (IL-4, IL-5) in BALF and pulmonary parenchyma, quantitative PCR for heme oxygenase (HO)-1 and Hif-1α, and immunohistochemistry. @*Results@#Compared to the OVA group mice, OVA-sensitized mice treated with LP or BC showed significantly reduced numbers of eosinophils and neutrophils in the BALF (p<0.05). Both probiotics also significantly reduced pulmonary inflammation and eosinophil infiltration. Mice in the LP or BC group had a substantially lower titer of IL-4 and IL-5 in BALF, and decreased IL-4 and IL-5 expression in the lung parenchyma. Real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry showed that both LP and BC could significantly suppress HO-1 and Hif-1α expression in asthmatic mice (p<0.05). @*Conclusion@#BC can attenuate murine allergic asthma by regulating HIF-1α signaling, and its anti-allergic effect is comparable to that of LP.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to elucidate the effect of keratinase on epidermis of rat skin. Twenty-five male Sprague-Dolly rats were used. The hair on the back were removed and 2x2cm area was marked. The rats were divided five groups; 1) Control group(Co), 2) Cleansing gel group(Cl), 3) Cleansing gel+keratinase group, 4) Exfoliant gel group(Ex), and 5) Exfoliant gel+ keratinase group(Ex+K). The solutions were applied to the back area twice a day for five days. On fifth day, the skins were harvested, fixed and prepared for histologic sections. The thickness of keratin layer, living epidermis, dermis, and cell layer number of living epidermis were measured. In the group containing keratinase(Cl+K, Ex+K), the thickness of keratin layer and living layer were thinner than other groups. However, there were no significant differences of the cell layer number of living epidermis and thickness of the dermis among the five groups. We think the keratinase may have the effect thinning the keratin layer as well as the thickness of living epidermis, without effecting the living cell and dermal component. The keratinase containing soap may be of benefit to remove the excess keratin layers in human.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Male , Rats , Dermis , Epidermis , Hair , Skin , SoapsABSTRACT
Malonate is regarded as a reversible competitive inhibitor of succinate dehydrogenase and malate transport in the Krebs cycle and showed neurotoxicity by persistent NMDA receptor activation due to inhibition of ATP production and glutamate utilization. However, little was known about its biological effects and the range of normal concentration of malonate in central nervous system. In order to understand the relationship between malonate and vasospsasm, malonate concentrations in rabbit model of experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage were measured at 0, 4th, and 7th day following SAH in serum, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine using malonyl-CoA synthetase. The results were as follows: 1) Malonate level is increased significantly in serum at the 4th day after subarachnoid hemorrhage that followed by vasospasm(p<0.01). 2) CSF malonate concentration tends to increase at post-SAH 7th day but statistically not significant. 3) The change of urine malonate concentration is not significant. These results suggest that early increase of serum malonate level is significant because clinically important vasospam begin from the fourth through the seventh day after hemorrhage. The increased level of serum malonate at this time is due to impairment of cellular metabolism following delayed cerebral ischemia and may influence to development of vasospasm. In conclusion, the measurement of serum malonate concentration after subarachnoid hemorrhage is one of possible candidates for the early diagnosis of vasospasm.