ABSTRACT
Objective To detect the levels of five trace elements in whole blood of patients with Keshan disease(KSD) and dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM) and explore their role in the pathogenesis of KSD.Methods One hundred and four patients with chronic KSD were selected from Keshan diseased areas in Shandong,Sichuan and Inner Mongolia.Thirty patients with DCM were selected from Qilu Hospital of Shandong University,Jinan Central Hospital,The First People's Hospital.Ninety-one healthy people from KSD endemic areas and 39 healthy people from Jinan were selected as endemic healthy controls and non-endemic healthy controls,respectively.Blood samples were collected to determinate the level of selenium (Se),copper (Cu),zinc (Zn),chromium (Cr) and manganese (Mn) with fluorescence method and atomic absorption spectrometry,according to the principle of informed consent.Results The level of Se,Zn and Cr of KSD group[(36.0 + 4.9)μg/L,(22.73 + 4.62)mg/L,(0.56 + 0.17)mg/L] was significantly lower than that of non-endemic healthy controls [(56.4 ± 6.8)lμg/L,(25.35 ± 4.44)mg/L,(0.71 ± 0.17)mg/L,all P ＜ 0.05],but the level of Cu of KSD group[(0.95 ± 0.24)mg/L] was significantly higher than that of non-endemic healthy controls[(0.73 ± 0.13) mg/L,all P ＜ 0.05].The level of Se and Cr of KSD was significantly lower than that of endemic healthy controls[(54.5 ± 5.4)μg/L,(0.87 ± 0.02)mg/L,P ＜ 0.05],and Cu was significantly higher than that of endemic healthy controls[(0.66 ± 0.02)mg/L,P ＜ 0.05].The level of Cu and Zn of KSD was significantly lower than that of DCM [(1.21 ± 0.23)mg/L,(27.09 ± 7.10)mg/L,all P ＜ 0.01].The level of Se and Cr of DCM group[(39.6 ± 3.5)μg/L,(0.58 ± 0.14)mg/L] was significantly lower than that of non-endemic healthy controls(all P ＜ 0.01),but Cu[(1.21 + 0.23)mg/L] was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with non-endemic healthy controls,the level of Se of endemic healthy control group was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.01),while Cu was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01).Se,Zn and Cr level of KSD decreased gradually following elevated heart function level,but the level of Cu gradually increased.Conclusions The metabolism of Se,Cr,Cu and Zn is unbalanced in KSD patients,whose Se level is still lower than that of people in non-endemic areas.The change of Se,Cr,Cu and Mn level between KSD and DCM is consistent.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the regulatory mechanism of immune response of guinea pigs sensitized by trichloroethylene (TCE), and the expression level of 3-arrestin, and the activity of NF-kappaB and AP-1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of guinea pigs sensitized by TCE.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Guinea pigs were treated with TCE based on the guinea pig maximum response test (GPMT); Blank control group and DNCB positive control group were established. Scores of skin reaction were evaluated and used to determine whether or not allergy in guinea pig. Then TCE treated group was divided into sensitized group or un-sensitized group. The expression levels of beta-arrestin protein, activity of NF-kappaB and AP-1 in PBMC were detected by Western Blotting and EMSA, respectively. TNF-alpha level in serum was detected by ELISA kits.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No erythema or edema was found in the control group; part of guinea pigs treated with TCE developed erythema and edema, while obvious erythema and edema could be found in DNCB group. The sensitization rates were 71.4% and 100% in TCE and DNCB group, respectively. Compared with TCE un-sensitized group, expression of beta-arrestin and AP-1 activity were not significantly different in TCE sensitized group (P > 0.05). While the NF-kappaB activity was elevated obviously (P < 0.05). Compared with blank control groups [(32.118 +/- 12.550) pg/ml], serum TNF-alpha levels in TCE sensitized groups [(55.485 +/- 8.732) pg/ml] significantly elevated (P < 0.05);</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In guinea pigs, beta-arrestin and AP-1 may not be activated, while the NF-kappaB activation is significant, and plays a immune regulatory role in the immune reaction of allergy induced by TCE.</p>