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ObjectiveTo analyze the effective components of Periploca forrestii against rheumatoid arthritis（RA）by targeting tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α based on network pharmacology and experimental verification. MethodThe preliminary research of the research group found that the alcohol extracts of P. forrestii （CDLF and CQAF） had significant anti-RA activities，and 10 monomers with such activities were identified. The anti-RA activities of active monomers，CDLF， and CQAF were compared by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）with interleukin（IL）-6，nitric oxide （NO），IL-1β， and prostaglandin E2（PGE2）as indicators. Network pharmacology was employed to analyze the possible molecular mechanism of P. forrestii against RA. The targeting ability of P. forrestii chemical monomers to TNF-α was verified by TNF-α molecular docking，surface plasmon resonance （SPR）， and TNF-α-induced L929 injury model. ResultELISA showed that the anti-RA activities of CDLF and CQAF were significantly stronger than those of identified 10 active monomers. Network pharmacology analysis showed that the core targets of P. forrestii against RA were signal transducer and activator of transcription protein 3 （STAT3），TNF， and IL-6. Gene Ontology（GO） analysis revealed collagen catabolism，inflammatory response，positive regulation of nuclear factor kappa-B（NF-κB） transcription factor activity，and positive regulation of B cell proliferation. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （EKGG） pathway enrichment analysis demonstrated TNF signaling pathway，phosphoinositide 3-kinase（PI3K）/protein kinase B（Akt） signaling pathway，NF-κB signaling pathway，Toll-like receptor signaling pathway，mitogen-activated protein kinase（MAPK） signaling pathway， etc. Verification experiments by TNF-α molecular docking，SPR， and TNF-α-induced L929 injury model found that CDLF and CQAF had good binding activities and could manifestly antagonize TNF-α. However， the active components separated and identified from CDLF and CQAF did not show the same anti-TNF-α activity. ConclusionThe CDLF and CQAF of P. forrestii may treat RA by targeting TNF-α. The experiments found that the isolated chemical components had weaker binding activity to TNF-α than CDLF and CQAF. Meanwhile，the research group isolated chemical components with a minimum mass fraction of 0.25 ng·g-1 from P. forrestii， which suggested that the active components generated by binding to TNF-α with anti-RA activities were presumedly trace components .
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Objective To evaluate the effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) on the expression of interleukin (IL)-10 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in mice with ischemia-reperfusion acute kidney injury (IR-AKI). Methods All mice were randomly divided into the sham operation group (control group), ischemia-reperfusion injury group (IRI group) and BMSC treatment group (BMSC group), with 6 mice in each group, respectively. The renal function and pathological changes of mice were detected. The cell apoptosis of renal tissues of mice was determined. The expression levels of serum IL-10 and TNF-α of mice were quantitatively measured. The mouse BMSC was randomly divided into the control and hypoxia-reoxygenation groups (IRI group), and the expression levels of IL-10 and TNF-α in cell supernatant were determined. Results The renal structure of mice was normal in the control group, severe damage was observed in the IRI group, and mild damage occurred in the BMSC group. Compared with the control group, the renal tissue injury scores were significantly higher in the IRI and BMSC groups (both P < 0.05). Compared with the IRI group, the renal tissue injury score was significantly lower in the BMSC group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the levels of serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were remarkably up-regulated in the IRI group, and the level of BUN was significantly up-regulated in the BMSC group (all P < 0.05). Compared with the IRI group, the levels of Scr and BUN were significantly down-regulated in the BMSC group (both P < 0.05). In the IRI group, the quantity of apoptotic cells in the renal tissues was considerably higher than those in the BMSC and control groups, and the quantity of apoptotic cells in the BMSC group was significantly higher than that in the control group (all P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the levels of serum IL-10 and TNF-α were significantly up-regulated in the IRI group, whereas the level of serum TNF-α was significantly down-regulated and the level of serum IL-10 was significantly up-regulated in the BMSC group (all P < 0.05). Compared with the IRI group, the levels of serum IL-10 and TNF-α were significantly down-regulated in the BMSC group (both P < 0.05). The levels of IL-10 and TNF-α in the cell supernatant did not significantly differ between the IRI and control groups (P=0.080、0.627). Conclusions BMSC infusion may reduce the incidence of renal IRI and inflammation, probably via the mechanism of down-regulating TNF-α expression rather than up-regulating IL-10 expression.
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Objective To investigate the effect and its molecular mechanism of phosphoglycerate mutase 5 (PGAM5) mediated pyroptosis on liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Methods C57 mouse models of liver IRI were established and randomly divided into the 6 h reperfusion (6 h group) and 12 h reperfusion (12 h group), and sham operation group (sham group) was established too, 10 rats in each group. The effect of IRI on the parameters in the liver tissues and serum samples was evaluated. The expression levels of PGAM5 and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase (Caspase)-1 in the liver tissues during IRI were quantitatively detected. The IRI models of liver cells were established (IRI group). The IRI models of liver cells were established after pretreatment with Caspase-1 inhibitor Z-YVAD-FMK (inhibitor group). The untreated AML12 cells were allocated into the control group. The effect of inhibiting Caspase-1 activity on pyroptosis was analyzed. AML12 cells were transfected with PGAM5 small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) (siRNA group) and siRNA-negative control (siRNA-NC) (siRNA-NC group) by liposome 3000, and then IRI models of liver cells were established. The untreated AML12 cells were assigned into the control group. The effect of PGAM5 mediated pyroptosis on IRI of liver cells was assessed. Results In the 6 h and 12 h groups, partial liver cell edema, hepatic sinusoid narrowing, central vein congestion and occasional spot necrosis were observed in the mouse liver tissues, and these changes in the 12 h group were more aggravated than those in the 6 h group. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the 6 h and 12 h groups were higher than those in the sham group, and the values in the 12 h group were higher than those in the 6 h group. The levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β were increased in the 6 h and 12 h groups, and the values in the 12 h group were lower than those in the 6 h group. The relative expression levels of IL-1β messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in the mouse liver tissues in the 6 h and 12 h groups were up-regulated, and the value in the 12 h group was lower than that in the 6 h group. The cell apoptosis rates in the liver tissues were significantly increased in the 6 h and 12 h groups, and the value in the 12 h group was remarkably lower than that in the 6 h group (P < 0.01-0.05). Compared with the sham group, the relative expression levels of PGAM5 mRNA and protein in the mouse liver tissues in the 6 h and 12 h groups were significantly up-regulated, and the values in the 12 h group were significantly higher than those in the 6 h group (P < 0.01-0.05). The protein expression levels of PGAM5 and Caspase-1 in the liver tissues were up-regulated in the 6 h and 12 h groups. Compared with the control group, the relative expression levels of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), cleaved Caspase-1 and Gasdermin D (GSDMD) proteins were up-regulated and the fluorescence intensity of GSDMD was increased in the IRI group. Compared with the IRI group, the relative expression levels of NLRP3, cleaved Caspase-1 and GSDMD proteins were significantly down-regulated and the fluorescence intensity of GSDMD was considerably decreased in the inhibitor group (P < 0.01-0.05). Compared with the control group, the cell survival rate was significantly decreased, and the relative expression levels of PGAM5, NLRP3, cleaved Caspase-1 and GSDMD proteins were significantly up-regulated in the siRNA-NC group (P < 0.01-0.05). Compared with the siRNA-NC group, the cell survival rate was remarkably increased, whereas the relative expression levels of PGAM5, NLRP3, cleaved Caspase-1 and GSDMD proteins were significantly down-regulated in the siRNA group (P < 0.01-0.05). Conclusions PGAM5 may aggravate the liver IRI in mouse models probably by mediating pyroptosis via PGAM5/Caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway and aggravating liver cell injury.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) preconditioning on cerebral infarct volume and the contents of TNF-α, IL-10 in serum of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-six rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a model group and an EA preconditioning group, 12 rats in each group, which were further divided into 12 h and 24 h after reperfusion subgroups, 6 rats in each one. EA was used before model establishment for 2 weeks in the EA preconditioning group. The model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats was established with modified Longa suture method. 12 h and 24 h after reperfusion, the degree of neurological deficit was assessed by the modified behavioral scoring scale; the cerebral infarct volume was measured by TTC method and the contents of TNF-α, IL-10 in serum were detected by ELISA method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the model group, the neurological severity scores in the EA preconditioning group significantly reduced 12 h and 24 h after reperfusion (both<0.05), the cerebral infarct volume in the EA preconditioning group significantly reduced 12 h and 24 h after reperfusion (both<0.05). Compared with the sham operation group, the serum TNF-α, IL-10 contents in the model group increased 12 h and 24 h after reperfusion (both<0.05). Compared with the model group, the serum TNF-α content reduced, while the serum IL-10 content increased in the EA preconditioning group 12 h after reperfusion (both<0.05). Compared with the model group, the serum TNF-α, IL-10 contents reduced in the EA preconditioning group 24 h after reperfusion (both<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA preconditioning can improve neurological deficit, reduce cerebral infarct volume after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of EA on the dynamic balance between pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in peripheral blood of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in acute phase, thus alleviate acute cerebral ischemia-reperfusion inflammatory response.</p>
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Objective To explore the value of peripheral blood serum levels of PCT,CRP,TNF-α and free DNA of cells in predicting the development of MODS in patients with multiple trauma.Methods Complete detail clinical data of 54 casualties with multiple trauma admitted within 24 hours after accident from January 2011 through January 2012 were collected for retrospective study.The patients were divided into MODS group and non-MODS group according the criteria set forth by the Chinese Society of Critical Care and Emergency Medicine in 1995 national conference.The data of two groups are comparable,and data of another 20 healthy subjects undertaking routine annual physical examination were taken as control.The peripheral blood levels of PCT,CRP,TNF-α and free DNA of patients of two groups were determined 1 d,2 d,3 d,and 5 days after admission.Then the results were analyzed and compared between groups.Results Compared with non MODS group,the levels of PCT,CRP,free DNA of cells in MODS group were significantly higher (P ＜ 0.05),but there was no deference in TNF-α between MODS group and non-MODS group (P ＞ 0.05).When the relative risks of increased PCT (PCT≥6 mg/L),increased CRP (CRP≥ 130 mg/L)、and increased free DNA of cells (free DNA ≥ 10 0005/L) were analyzed,the presence of these 3 biomarkers with high levels occurred at the same time was the most accurate way to predicts MODS in 6.00 relative risk (RR),and the positive predictive value was 100％.Conclusions PCT,CRP,free DNA of cells could be the predictors of MODS in patients with severe multiple trauma,and the presence of high levels of these three biomarkers appearing together had high sensitivity and specificity for prediction.
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Objective To investigate the changes of interleukin-18 (IL-18), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels of liver cirrhosis induced by the composite factors of carbon tetrachloride (CCl_4) in SD rats and their significance. Methods Totally 80 male SD rats of clean class were randomly divided into normal control group (20 rats) and model groups, the latter of which were further divided into three groups according to the length of administration time, namely, 2-week group (2 wk group), 4-week group (4 wk group) and 6-week group (6 wk group), with 20 rats in each. Six rats were killed after 2 wk, 4 wk and 6 wk administration time, respectively. The rat serum levels of IL-18, TNF-α and IFN-γ and the hepatic homogenate supernatant of IL-18 were detected by ELISA; pathological changes of liver tissues were observed by HE staining. Results ① Pathological observation revealed that in the model groups hepatic cells degenerated and swelled at week 2 while large amounts of fibrosis and pseudolobules of some liver tissues occurred at week 6. ② The serum levels of IL-18, TNF-α and IFN-γ were gradually increased with the modeling time, and they were significantly higher in 6-week group than in normal control group (P<0.01). ③ The levels of hepatic homogenate supernatant of IL-18 in the model groups were elevated with liver damage, and they were significantly higher in 6-week group than in normal control group (P<0.01). Conclusion During the formation of liver cirrhosis induced by composite factors of CCl_4 in rats, IL-18, TNF-α and IFN-γ levels gradually increase, suggesting that the three cytokines play a certain role during the occurrence of liver cirrhosis in rats.