Effect of aluminum phosphate gel and Kangfuxin on esophageal pathology and IL-8 and PGE2 expressions in a rat model of reflux esophagitis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of aluminum phosphate gel and Kangfuxin on esophageal pathology and expressions of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in rats with reflux esophagitis and explore the possible mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty SD rats were randomized into aluminum phosphate gel group (n=10), Kangfuxin group (n=10), aluminum phosphate gel+Kangfuxin group (n=10), model group (n=20), and control group (n=10). Except for those in the control group, all the rats were subjected to infusion of diluted lysolecithin with hydrochloric acid in the esophagus for 14 days. Ten rats in the model group and those in the control group were sacrificed to examine the pathological changes and contents of IL-8 and PGE2 in the esophagus using optical and electron microscopes and radioimmunoassay. The next day the rest rats were given corresponding treatments (saline in model group) administered into the esophagus on a daily basis for 14 days, after which esophageal pathologies and IL-8 and PGE2 contents were examined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The model rats showed obvious esophageal pathologies including inflammatory cell infiltration, vacuolar degeneration of the epithelial cells, esophageal erosion and even ulceration, with severe detachment of the epithelial cells. The rats in all the intervention groups showed lessened esophageal pathologies and lowered esophageal IL-8 and PGE2 contents compared with those in the model group. Esophageal mucosal injury index and IL-8 and PGE2 contents were all significantly lower in rats receiving combined treatment with aluminum phosphate and Kangfuxin than in those receiving either of the treatments (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both Kangfuxin and aluminum phosphate gel are effective in the treatment for reflux esophagitis induced by lysolecithin and hydrochloric acid, and their therapeutic effects are achieved possibly by reducing IL-8 and PGE2 levels in the esophagus.</p>

Relationship of levels of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells and expression of Foxp3 mRNA in peripheral blood with serum immunoglobulin E level in children with bronchiolitis / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the roles of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells and Foxp3 mRNA in peripheral blood as well as serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the pathogenesis of bronchiolitis caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The proportion of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells and expression of Foxp3 mRNA in peripheral blood, and total serum IgE level were tested by flow cytometry, RT-PCR and ELISA respectively in 57 children with RSV bronchiolitis (26 atopic patients and 31 nonatopic patients). Twenty five healthy children were used as the control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The proportion of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells in peripheral blood in children with bronchiolitis, either in the atopic (7.7+/- 1.6%)or the nonatopic group (8.8+/- 2.1%), was significantly lower than that in the control group (10.5+/- 1.6%) (P< 0.01). Foxp3 mRNA expression in peripheral blood was significantly lower in both atopic and nonatopic children with bronchiolitis than that in the control group (P< 0.01). Significantly increased total serum IgE level was noted in both atopic (241.2+/- 102.5 IU/mL) and nonatopic children (125.5+/- 63.2 IU/mL) with bronchiolitis compared with that in the control group (27.2+/- 10.5 IU/ml) (P< 0.01). There were significant differences in the proportion of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells and Foxp3 mRNA expression in peripheral blood (P< 0.05) as well as total serum IgE level (P< 0.01) between the atopic and the nonatopic group. The proportion of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (r=-0.70, P< 0.01) and Foxp3 mRNA expression in peripheral blood (r=-0.79, P< 0.01) were closely negatively correlated to total serum IgE level.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both the proportion of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells and Foxp3 mRNA expression in peripheral blood were reduced, in contrast, the total serum IgE level increased in children with RSV bronchiolitis. This suggested that CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells and Foxp3 mRNA together with IgE participated in the pathogenesis of RSV bronchiolitis.</p>