IL-33 promotes IL-10 production in macrophages: a role for IL-33 in macrophage foam cell formation

We evaluated the role of IL-10- in IL-33-mediated cholesterol reduction in macrophage-derived foam cells (MFCs) and the mechanism by which IL-33 upregulates IL-10. Serum IL-33 and IL-10 levels in coronary artery disease patients were measured. The effects of IL-33 on intra-MFC cholesterol level, IL-10, ABCA1 and CD36 expression, ERK 1/2, Sp1, STAT3 and STAT4 activation, and IL-10 promoter activity were determined. Core sequences were identified using bioinformatic analysis and site-specific mutagenesis. The serum IL-33 levels positively correlated with those of IL-10. IL-33 decreased cellular cholesterol level and upregulated IL-10 and ABCA1 but had no effect on CD36 expression. siRNA-IL-10 partially abolished cellular cholesterol reduction and ABCA1 elevation by IL-33 but did not reverse the decreased CD36 levels. IL-33 increased IL-10 mRNA production but had little effect on its stability. IL-33 induced ERK 1/2 phosphorylation and increased the luciferase expression driven by the IL-10 promoter, with the highest extent within the −2000 to −1752 bp segment of the 5′-flank of the transcription start site; these effects were counteracted by U0126. IL-33 activated Sp1, STAT3 and STAT4, but only the STAT3 binding site was predicted in the above segment. Site-directed mutagenesis of the predicted STAT3-binding sites (CTGCTTCCTGGCAGCAGAA→CTGCCTGGCAGCAGAA) reduced luciferase activity, and a STAT3 inhibitor blocked the regulatory effects of IL-33 on IL-10 expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) confirmed the STAT3-binding sequences within the −1997 to −1700 and −1091 to −811 bp locus regions. IL-33 increased IL-10 expression in MFCs via activating ERK 1/2 and STAT3, which subsequently promoted IL-10 transcription and thus contributed to the beneficial effects of IL-33 on MFCs.

Atorvastatin Attenuates TNF-alpha Production via Heme Oxygenase-1 Pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 Macrophages / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the effect of atorvastatin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNF-α production in RAW264.7 macrophages.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>RAW264.7 macrophages were treated in different LPS concentrations or at different time points with or without atorvastatin. TNF-α level in supernatant was measured. Expressions of TNF-α mRNA and protein and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were detected by ELISA, PCR, and Western blot, respectively. HO activity was assayed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>LPS significantly increased the TNF-α expression and secretion in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The HO-1 activity and HO-1 expression level were significantly higher after atorvastatin treatment than before atorvastatin treatment and attenuated by SB203580 and PD98059 but not by SP600125, suggesting that the ERK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways participate in regulating the above-mentioned effects of atorvastatin. Moreover, the HO-1 activity suppressed by SnPP or the HO-1 expression inhibited by siRNA significantly attenuated the effect of atorvastatin on TNF-α expression and production in LPS-stimulated macrophages.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Atorvastatin can attenuate LPS-induced TNF-α expression and production by activating HO-1 via the ERK and p38 MAPK pathways, suggesting that atorvastatin can be used in treatment of inflammatory diseases such as sepsis, especially in those with atherosclerotic diseases.</p>

The responses of moxibustion and the countermeasures / 中国针灸

To make a distinction among the local response of body, the moxibustion sensation, its influence on the disease, adverse reaction and others during and after the moxibustion treatment, and explore the countermeasures to these reactions in order to guide the clinical practice. Of them, the responses of the body surface and local acupoints are usual one of the bases to assess the moxibustion effect, while the occurs of moxibustion sensation and its influence on the disease are normal, which is not necessary to deal with, and the adverse reaction and others could be handled according to the different situations.

MA Shao-qun's clinical experience of warm moxibustion for the liver diseases / 中国针灸

To summarize MA Shao-qun's clinical experience of warm moxibustion for the liver diseases. The warm moxibustion was put to use by MA Shao-qun to treat many diseases, including hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver functional disorder. Under the human-oriented theory, he focuses on regulating the whole function of the body and tonifying the original qi to increase physical fitness and avoid illness. Besides, he is good at the combination of multi-acupoints for long-term and circulating moxibustion treatment, and also pays attention to nourishing the spleen-stomach, adjusting the fu-qi and resolving the dampness in the body.

Potential proarrhythmic effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy during perioperative period: data from a single cardiac center / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) could improve heart function, symptom status, quality of life and reduce hospitalization and mortality in patients with severe heart failure (HF) with optimal medical management. However, the possible adverse effects of CRT are often ignored by clinicians.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>A retrospective analysis of CRT over a 6-year period was made in a single cardiac center.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fifty-four patients were treated with CRT(D) device, aged (57 ± 11) years, with left ventricular ejection fraction of (32.1 ± 9.8)%, of which 4 (7%) developed ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) or junctional tachycardia after operation. Except for one with frequent ventricular premature beat before operation, the others had no previous history of ventricular arrhythmia. Of the 4 patients, 3 had dilated cardiomyopathy and 1 had ischemic cardiomyopathy, and tachycardia occurred within 3 days after operation. Sustained, refractory VT and subsequent VF occurred in one patient, frequent nonsustained VT in two patients and nonparoxysmal atrioventricular junctional tachycardia in one patient. VT was managed by amiodarone in two patients, amiodarone together with beta-blocker in one patient, and junctional tachycardia was terminated by overdrive pacing. During over 12-month follow-up, except for one patient's death due to refractory heart and respiratory failure in hospital, the others remain alive and arrhythmia-free.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>New-onset VT/VF or junctional tachycardia may occur in a minority of patients with or without prior history of tachycardia after biventricular pacing. Arrhythmia can be managed by conventional therapy, but may require temporary discontinuation of pacing. More observational studies should be performed to determine the potential proarrhythmic effect of CRT.</p>

Alcohol consumption and coronary heart disease in Eastern Asian men: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption and relative risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) morbidity, mortality and all-cause mortality among Eastern Asian men.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Potential prospective cohort studies were retrieved by searching Pubmed (1966 - 2000), Biosis Previews (1980 - 2009), Embase (1980 - 2009) and ISI Web of Knowledge (1986 - 2009) using Medical Subject Headings alcohol drinking, ethanol, coronary heart (or artery) disease, myocardial infarction, mortality, etc; and Koreans, or Japanese or Chinese. From the 28 relevant retrieved reports, 15 prospective cohort studies met the criteria were included. Information on study design, participant characteristics, level of alcohol consumption, CHD outcome, control for potential confounding factors, and risk estimates were abstracted using a standardized protocol. For each study, relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were extracted and pooled with either a fixed effect model or random effect model according to the result of the test of heterogeneity.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Due to the limited available data for women, this study only comprised of 2406 cases of CHD among 177 723 male subjects. Findings were also pooled from 216 233 male subjects and 15 462 deaths from any cause. Compared with nondrinkers, the RRs on CHD morbidity for those who drank alcohol ≤ 20, 21 - 40, 41 - 60, > 60 g/d were 0.65 (0.34 - 1.23, P = 0.18), 0.48 (0.26 - 0.87, P = 0.02), 0.46 (0.32 - 0.67, P < 0.01), and 0.48 (0.29 - 0.78, P < 0.01) respectively; the RRs on CHD mortality were 0.98 (0.73 - 1.31, P = 0.87), 0.68 (0.58 - 0.79, P < 0.01), 0.64 (0.43 - 0.96, P = 0.03), 0.75 (0.54 - 1.03, P = 0.08); and on all-cause mortality were 0.83 (0.79 - 0.91, P < 0.01), 0.93 (0.87 - 0.99, P = 0.03), 1.01 (0.95 - 1.07, P = 0.86), 1.32 (1.29 - 1.36, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Light-to-moderate alcohol intake was associated with decreased risk of CHD morbidity and mortality, while heavy alcohol intake was associated with increased all-cause mortality among Eastern Asian men.</p>