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OBJECTIVE To investigate the change of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),intercellular adhesion molecules(ICAM-1),matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 contents in cultured pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) in rats after perfluoroisobutylene (PFIB) exposure. METHODS PMVECs were separated and purified using a modified method of implantation of pulmonary tissues. After identification,PMVECs were divided into the normal control group and the PFIB-exposed groups(n=3). The PFIB-exposed groups inhaled PFIB at the concentration of 200 mg · m-3 for 5 min in a flow-past header,while the normal control group were PMVECs in quiescent condition. The supernatants and lysates of PMVECs were harvested at 0.5,1,2,4 and 8 h,respec?tively, after execution. The contents of TNF-α,IL-1β,ICAM-1,MMP-2 and MMP-9 were measured by ELISA,and the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was measured by gelatin zymography. RESULTS① According to the morphologic characteristics of cell growth and the expression of specificity antigens and the bind experiment of phytohemagglutinin,the cells separated and purified by modified method shared the characteristics of PMVECs.②TNF-αwas rapidly expressed by PMVECs at 0.5 h post PFIB stimulation and the maximum value was achieved at 2 h post PFIB stimulation(P<0.05). The newly synthesized TNF-α was slowly released out of the cells. The maximum TNF-α in the supernatant was achieved at 4 h post stimulation.③Within 2 h of stimulation,PMVECs synthesized a large amount of IL-1β and peaks at 2 h. However,IL-1βwas never released to the extracellular milieu.④The amount of ICAM-1 was rapidly synthesized by PMVECs after PFIB stimulation,but at a low level.⑤After stimulation with PFIB,MMP-2 in the supernatant of PMVECs culture was gradually increased,peaked at 2 h and then decreased subsequently. The biological activity of MMP-2 in the supernatant was also enhanced after PFIB stimulation. PFIB did not stimulate synthesis or secretion of MMP-9,indicating that PMVECs were not the main source of MMP-9 during PFIB inhalation-induced acute lung injury. CONCLUSION PFIB stimulates the surviving PMVECs to synthesize a large amount of TNF-α,IL-1β, MMP-2 and conjunctive ICAM-1.
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Objective To investigate the effect of asarone on the zebrafish embryonic development and behavior. Methods The 3 hours post fertilization(hpf) zebrafish embryos were exposed to different concentrations(0, 25,50,100,200 and 400 μmol/L) of asarone solution. The asarone solution was replaced each 24 h. Microscope was used to observe embryos morphology at 24,48,72 and 96 hpf, respectively. Spontaneous movements at 24 hpf, heart rate at 48 hpf, hatch rate, deformity rate and mortality rate were evaluated.The sepn1 gene expression of zebrafish in 96 hpf was detected by RT-qPCR. With Noldus tracking system the behaviors of zebrafish larvae exposed to asarone were recorded. Results After zebrafish embryos were exposed to the different concentrations of asarone, their spontaneous movements were decreased. Compared with the control group, the 100,200 and 400 μmol/L groups were significantly decreased (P<0.01). There was a significant difference(P<0.01) in 48 hpf heart rate between all asarone groups and control group. Spine curvature, pericardial edema, yolk sac edema and other deformity were observed at 72 hpf and 96 hpf. Compared with the control group, the 100, 200 and 400 μmol/L groups showed significanly decreased hatch rate(P<0.01). There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in mortality rate between the 400 μmol/L group and control group. With concentrations of asarone increasing, the speed and distance of movement of 200 and 400 μmol/L group were significantly reduced compared to the control group(P<0.05). There was a significant difference between the 200,400 μmol/L groups and the control group in activity(P< 0.01).At 96 hpf, the expression of sepn1 gene in arone groups were decreased compared to control group, especially the 100 μmol/L group(P<0.05), and the 200 and 400 μmol/L groups(P<0.01). Conclusion Asarone had teratogenic effect on zebrafish embryos and larvae ,and inhibitory effect on larvae behavior .We should be careful to use asarone in infant medication.
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Objective To elevated the decontam ination properties of commercial nanoscale metal oxides against chemical warfare agents (CWA), and provide more foundation for the satisfactory materials of CWA decontamination. Methods Some nanocrystals of commercial metal oxides such an MgO, TiO2, ZnO and zinc nickel ferrite compound had been chosen to compare their decontamination properties. The nanocrystals were mixed with three representative compounds, sulfur mustard (HD), soman (GD) and S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) O-ethyl methylphosphonothioate (VX) at room temperature and natural light. The analogous experiments were conducted without addition of nanocrystals as negative control. After a fixed time, the samples were then analyzed by the methods of T-135, Schoeneman reaction and conversion method to determine the content of CWA. The decontamination properties of nanocrystals were compared with negative control. Results The chosen nanoscale metal oxides excepted nanoscale MgO had good decontamination properties against HD, and they all could decontaminate GD quickly. Nanoscale TiO2 had superior decontamination properties against GD and HD. At the room temperature and natural light, HD was completely decontaminated within 20 hours and GD was completely decontaminated within 4 hours by nanoscale TiO2. The nanocrystals of metal oxides didn′t decontaminate VX effectively. Compared to the activated clay group, nanoscale MgO had superior decontamination properties against VX over other nanocrystals (P<0.05), but the percentage of degradation was lower than 20% within 7 h. Conclusion The chosen nanoscale TiO2 has superior decontamination properties against GD and HD than others in natural condition, but it isn′t a promising agent for the decontamination of VX.
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OBJECTlVE To establish Tg(-6.3CYP3A65∶EGFP) transgenic zebrafish for quick, intuitive detection of heavy metals ( copper, cadmium and zinc) , dioxin-like PCBs ( PCB126) and other environmental pollutants. METHODS Tol2 transposon system was used to generate transgenic zebrafish lines Tg(-6.3CYP3A65∶EGFP) in which CYP3A65 promoter regualated labeled fluorescence. The effect of heavy mentals ( copper, cadmium and zinc ) and PCB126 on the relative amounts of CYP3A65 gene expression was determined by observing the change in fluorescence intensity. RESULTS The relative gene expression of CYP3A65 was significantly increased after 96 h exposure to copper 0.1 and 0.2μmol·L-1 , cadmium 0.35 and 0.7μmol·L-1 , zinc 1.5 and 3μmol·L-1 , and PCB126 2-32μmol·L-1 , respectively ( P<0.01) , but decreased after 96 h exposure to copper 0. 9 μmol·L-1 , cadmium 2. 7 and 5.4 μmol·L-1 , and zinc 24μmol·L-1 , respectively( P<0.01) . CYP3A65 gene expression was significantly increased after 168 h exposure to copper 0.1 and 0.2 μmol·L-1 , cadmium 0.35 and 0.7 μmol·L-1 , zinc 1.5 and 3 μmol·L-1, and PCB126 2-32 μmol·L-1, respectively(P<0.01), but decreased after 168 h exposure to copper 0.9 μmol·L-1, cadmium 2.7 and 5.4 μmol·L-1, and zinc 12 and 24 μmol·L-1( P<0.05) , in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSlON The results suggest that zebrafish CYP3A65 gene expression and the CYP3A65 labeled fluorescence lines can be another candidate biomarker for detecting environmental pollutants.
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Objective To investigate tentatively the role of angiotensionⅡ( AngⅡ) in perfluoroisobutylene ( PFIB)-in-duced acute lung injury ( ALI) in rats.Methods Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into one control group(0 h) and six PFIB-exposed groups which were executed at 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24 h after PFIB exposure (n=4). The PFIB-exposed groups inhaled PFIB at a concentration of 145 mg/m3 for 8 min in a flow-past header while the control group was exposed to the filtered air in a similar manner .After execution at the corresponding time-point, the samples of the lung, serum and brochoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were harvested.The measurement of the lung wet-to-dry weight ratio ( W/D) and total protein content in BALF , and the histopathological examination of the lung were carried out to evalu -ate the degree of lung injury .The over-time changes in the content of AngⅡin the lung homogenates and blood plasma and the activity of angiotensin converting enzyme ( ACE) in the lung tissue were observed .Results The lung W/D and total protein content in BALF were increased significantly at 16 h after PFIB exposure with severe acute lung edema and abun-dant neutrophil exudation to the alveoli , which were alleviated dramatically at 24 h after PFIB exposure .The content of AngⅡin the lung homogenate showed a tendency of increase during the first 8 hours with significant decrease at 16 and 24 h after exposure.However, the content of AngⅡin the plasma and the activity of ACE in the lung experienced of fluctuations , but without significant difference compared to the control group .Conclusion There is no obvious correlation between the extent of lung injury and that of AngⅡin the lung.The pathological significance of AngⅡin PFIB-induced ALI needs to be further clarified.
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OBJECTIVE To investigate whether the pulmanary fibrosis formed after a single PFIB exposure.METHODS A total of 70 male mice were exposed to PFIB 130 mg·m-3 for 5 min.Pulmonary edema of 10 mice was evaluated by lung indices at 24 h after PFIB exposure.Pathological changes and collagen deposition were detected by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Sirius red stainings in the other mice,changes in collagen content in lungs and plasma by measuring the respective hydroxyproline content at 2,4,6,8,12 and 16 weeks after PFIB exposure.RESULTS Severe pulmonary edema was observed at 24 h after PFIB exposure.At day 14 after PFIB exposure,inflammatory cell infiltration,alveolar septum thickening,interstitial and alveolar edema and protein leakage were noticed.Collagens types Ⅰ and Ⅲ on the wall of vessel and bronchi were severely damaged,but considerable amount of collagen type Ⅲ deposited on the alveolar wall.The content of hydroxyproline considerably decreased in the lungs but increased significantly in the plasma up to six weeks.Hydroxyproline in lungs and plasma began to recover at the end of 8 weeks,and then returned to normal.At 16 weeks,they recovered to normal level.At the end of 4 weeks,the lung lesions and the collagens at the wall of vessel and bronchi began to recover gradually; collagen typeⅢ at the alveolar wall was gradually absorbed,too.At 16 weeks,the lungs almost recovered to normal level.CONCLUSION At earlier phase after PFIB exposure,the excessive collagens destruction in lungs is observed,but no pulmonary fibrosis forms at the later phase.