Expression Level and Significance of Tim-3 in CD4+ T Lymphocytes in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Coronary Heart Disease

Abstract Objective: To investigate the expression level and significance of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing molecules-3 (Tim-3) and interleukin-7 (IL-7) in CD4+ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods: 75 patients with CHD treated at our hospital were selected and classified as mild group (25 cases), moderate group (25 cases) and severe group (25 cases), according to the severity of illness. Twenty-five healthy volunteers who underwent a physical examination at our hospital during the same period were selected as the control group. The expression level of Tim-3 in CD4+ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of patients in four groups was detected by flow cytometry and quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The expression level of IL-7 in peripheral blood serum was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Correlation analyses of Tim-3 and IL-7, Tim-3 and disease severity and IL-7 and disease severity were performed, respectively. Results: Flow cytometry and qRT-PCR demonstrated that the expression of Tim-3 in CD4+ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of patients with CHD increased with the aggravation of the disease. ELISA showed that the tendency of IL-7 expression in peripheral blood serum was consistent with the expression of Tim-3, and the expression of Tim-3 had a positive correlation with IL-7. The expression levels of both Tim-3 and IL-7 were positively correlated with the Gensini score. Conclusion: The expression of Tim-3 and IL-7 in peripheral blood of patients with CHD was upregulated and increased with the aggravation of CHD.

Anti-hyperlipidemic caffeoylquinic acids from the fruits of Pandanus tectorius Soland.

Ten caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs) were obtained from the anti-hyperlipidemic extract of fruits of Pandanus tectorius. All of the compounds were isolated and purified by various column chromatographies especially by preparative HPLC method. Their structures were determined under the aid of spectroscopic methods. All compounds were isolated from genus pandanus for the first time. The anti-hyperlipidemic activities of three compounds characterized with high content in the fruits were tested in HepG2 cells.The three CQAs all significantly reduced the intracellular content of TC and TG.