Protective effects of AGM through inflammatory cytokines mediated on MODS mice / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To explore the protective effect of agmatine on mice with multiple organ failure (MODS) induced by yeast polysaccharide(ZYM) on the expression of inflammatory factors.Methods:ZYM induced inflammation model was established by intraperitoneal injection of ZYM in mice.All mice were divided into blank group,ZYM group and ZYM+AGM group.The mice feeding, white cell count,heart rate and so on were observed before and after the modeling to determine whether the model was successful.The liver function of mice,renal function,myocardial enzymes and other biochemical indicators were detected after the success of the model;and through the qPCR and ELISA method for detection of blood tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha),interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta),interleukin 6 (IL-6),IL-10 gene and protein secretion level.Results: After the injection of ZYM,mice looked disorganized, activity and reduce consumption;the functional serological indexes of various organs of the mice were detected,which showed that the function of the viscera was serious.Compared with the blank control group,the serum parameters of ZYM group and ZYM+AGM group were significantly higher,and the inflammatory factors TNF-α,IL-1,IL-6 and IL-10 were significantly increased (P<0.05).Compared with ZYM group,ZYM+AGM serum markers of organ function decreased,inflammatory factor TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6 decreased significantly (P<0.05),while there was no significant difference in IL-10 (P>0.05); and the mouse spirit,eating and activity had no significant change.Conclusion:Intraperitoneal injection of 500 mg/kg ZYM can successfully construct a model of MODS,AGM by reducing the release of inflammatory factors,play a protective role in the function of various organs of MODS mice.

Immunomodulatory Effects of ZYM-201 on LPS-stimulated B Cells

ZYM-201 is a methyl ester of triterpenoid glycoside from Sanguisorba officinalis which has been used for treatment of inflammatory and metabolic diseases. In this study, immunomodulatory effects of ZYM-201 on B cells were examined in vitro and in vivo. When splenocytes were activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the major population which had shown an increase in cell numbers was B cells. However, when the B cells were treated with ZYM-201 after LPS activation, their cell numbers and the expression of major costimulatory molecules, CD80 and CD86, were decreased. Furthermore, the effect of LPS, which induces activation of NF-kappaB, was abolished by ZYM-201: LPS-stimulated B cells showed decrease of phosphorylation after treatment of ZYM-201. The same results were shown in vivo experiments. These results suggest that ZYM-201 may play a role in the modulation of inflammatory responses through inhibiting NF-kappaB activation and downregulating the expression of costimulatory molecules on B cells.

Isolation and Characterization of Cryptococcus neoformans from Environmental Sources in Busan

Twenty nine samples of pigeon droppings (n = 12) and soil contaminated with avian excreta (n = 19), collected from different sites in Busan, were examined for isolation and characterization of Cryptococcus neoformans. Of these samples, 5 strains of C. neoformans were recovered from pigeon droppings (5/12 : 41.7%). All isolates were belonged to C. neoformans var. grubii (serotype A). The extracellular enzyme activities of the strains by using the API-ZYM system showed two different enzymatic patterns. The genetic variability among C. neoformans isolates was analyzed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) using three 10-mer primers. Two different RAPD patterns, which clearly distinguished the isolates, were identified. Analysis of RAPD patterns provided a good characterization of environmental strains of C. neoformans serotype A as a heterogeneous group and were in good agreement with enzymatic profiles.