Effects of baicalin on inflammatory reaction, oxidative stress and PKDl and NF-kB protein expressions in rats with severe acute pancreatitis

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the effects of baicalin on inflammatory reaction, oxidative stress and protein kinase D1 (PKD1) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) protein expressions in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) rats. Methods: Sixty rats were divided into sham operation, model, and low-, medium- and high-dose baicalin group. SAP model was established in later 4 groups. The later 3 groups were injected with 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 ml/100 g 5% baicalin injection, respectively. At 12 h, the serum SAP related indexes and inflammatory factors, peripheral blood CD3 and γδT cell percentages, wet/dry ratio and pancreas ascites volume, oxidative stress indexes and PKD1 and NF-κB protein expressions in pancreatic tissue were determined. Results: Compared with model group, in high-dose baicalin group the wet/dry ratio and ascites volume, serum amylase level, phospholipase A2 activity, TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 levels, and pancreatic malondialdehyde level and PKD1 and NF-κB protein expression were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and peripheral blood CD3 and γδT cell percentages and pancreatic superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase levels were significantly increased (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Baicalin can resist the inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress, and down-regulate protein kinase D1 and nuclear factor-kappa B protein expressions, thus exerting the protective effects on severe acute pancreatitis in rats.

Effect of major burn on immunophenotype of peripheral blood T lymphocytes

The immunosuppressive effect of a major burn has been known for many years. However, a complete understanding of the effects of a burn on the immune system remains elusive. Lymphocytes immunophenotype is a reflection of the functional level of immune system. There is little knowledge concerning the expression of HLA-DR on peripheral blood [Pb] T lymphocytes. T lymphocytes of 26 major burn [25-40%] patients were analyzed in 24 hours, 1 week and 2 weeks after burn, using, monoclonal antibodies of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD25 [IL2R,] and HLA-DR by flow cytometry and comparing them with those of26 apparently healthy donors. There was statistically significant reduction in absolute number of CD3 [p<0.0001], CD4/CD8 ratio [p=0.01] in the first 24 h in comparison with controls. CD25 [IL2R] shows insignificant upregulation on T lymphocytes after burn with significant upregulation of HLA-DR. The absolute number of CD3[+] cells began to increase after 2 weeks [p=0.03]. but still reduced than controls [p=0. 08,]. CD4/CD8 ratio was more or less as healthy control after 2 weeks. Upregulation of CD25 was insignificantly increased and that of HLA-DR were marked increased after 2 weeks. The absolute number CD25 and HLA-DR[+] T lymphocyte subsets all over the time of the study are low than controls except that of HLA-DR[+] T lymphocytes after 2 weeks [p=0.009]. The data obtained suggest persistent activation of T lymphocytes 2 weeks post major burns. HLA-DR expression can reflect post burn lymphocyte activation

Flow cytometric study of T-cell subsets and costimulatory molecules in clinical forms of human schistosoma mansoni chronic infection

Helminthic parasites cause widespread, persistent infections in humans. Schistosomiasis mansoni infected patients being in a chronic immune-activation state enabled us to investigate the effects of such immune activation on immune responses. We performed by flow cytometry aphenotypic analysis of peripheral blood T lymphocytes from 64 Schistosoma mansoni infected patients, in different clinical forms of the chronic disease. The main findings in the patient group in comparison with the non-infected controls were: [i] decreased CD3, CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte counts; [ii] elevated levels of activated T cells [CD4 expressing HLA-DR]; [iii] decreased numbers of CD28+ CD8+ lymphocytes. These findings support the notion that chronic helminthic infections cause persistent immune activation that result in hyporesponsiveness and anergy. Such impaired immune functions may diminish the capacity of these individuals to cope with infections and to generate cellular protective immunity after vaccination

T lymphocyte activation and expression of costimulatory molecules in intestinal Ascariasis

This study was carried on 48 patient with Ascriasis and 12 cross matched healthy control persons. All the studied cases were submitted to flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells using monoclonal antibodies against CD3, CD4, CD8, CD28, HLA-DR. In this study, there was a significant decrease in CD3, CD4 and expression of costimulatory molecule CD28 on CD8 T lymphocytes but the decrease in CD8 T lymphocytes was insignificant, while the activation marker HLA-DR expression on CD4 T lymphocytes was increased

T lymphocyte activation and expression of costimulatory molecules in filarial elephantiasis

This study was carried in 48 patients with positive blood films for W. bancrofti microfilaria and 12 cross matched healthy control persons. All the studied cases were submitted to flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells using monoclonal antibodies against CD3, CD4, CD8, CD28, HLA-DR. In this study, there was a significant decrease in CD3 and CD4 T lymphocytes but the changes in CD8 T cells and CD28 expression on CD8 T lymphocytes was insignificant while the activation marker HLA-DR expression on CD4 T lymphocytes was increased

T-lymphocytes activation and expression of costimulatory molecules in human toxoplasmosis during pregnancy

The study was carried on 48 pregnant patients with positive sera for Toxoplasma antibodies [IgG, IgM] and 12 cross matched healthy control pregnant women. All studied cases were submitted to flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMNCs]; using monoclonal antibodies [MAbs] against CD3, CD4, CD8, CD28 and HLA-DR. Results revealed that, there was a significant decrease in CD4 and the expression of co stimulatory molecule CD28 on CD8 T lymphocytes, while the activation marker HLA-DR expression on CD4 T lymphocytes was significantly increased, but the changes in CD3 and CD8 T lymphocytes were insignificant

Relation between T lymphocytes activities and the intensity of schistosoma mansoni infection

This study was done on 60 schistosome patients and 12 cross matched healthy control persons. The schistosome patients were classified on the bases of intensity of infection into: 22 patients with light infection [one to 100 eggs/gm stool], 24 patients with moderate infection [101- 400 eggs/gm stool], 14 patients with heavy infection [>400 eggs/gm stool]. All the studied cases were submitted to flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells using monoclonal antibodies against CD3, CD4, CD8, CD28, HLA-DR. It was found that there was a significant decrease in CD3, CD4 and the expression of costimulatory molecule CD28 on CD8 T lymphocytes, while CD8 T lymphocytes and the activation marker HLA-DR expression on CD4 T lymphocytes were increased. These changes were more obvious with the increase in intensity of infection

Growth hormone improves immune function in GH-deficient young adolescents

To delineate the role of growth hormone [GH] in the development and function of the immune system, sixteen GH-deficient young adolescents were studied for evaluation of the immune status before and after treatment with recombinant human growth hormone [rhGH]. Ten apparently healthy young adolescents age and sex-matched with the study group were included in the study as control group. Blood samples were obtained for immune studies before treatment and at 2, 6 and 9 months after. Immune studies included; enumeration of total T and B lymphocyte number, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+/ D8+ ratio, serum immunoglobulin concentrations [IgG, IgM], assessment of Iympho-proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin and testing for intracellular killing by Nitro blue tetrazolium test [NBT]. Results showed significant impairment in mitogen stimulation and phagocytic function in GH-deficient young adolescents when compared to control group [73.18 +/- 5.2 versus 146.2 +/- 7.6, P < 0.0001 and 50.13 +/- 5.8 versus 82.2 +/- 4.49, P < 0.0001 respectively]. This impairment improved significantly after treatment with rhGH [p < 0.0001]. However, there were no significant differences in the total B-Iymphocytes numbers, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+ / CD8+ ratio, and serum immunoglobulin levels between GH-deficient group and control group, as well as between values obtained before and after rhGH treatment. These results indicate that growth hormone administration has profound immune-enhancing effects in GH-deficient young adolescents and may be of therapeutic effect in states of compromised immune function