effects of taurochenodeoxycholic acid in preventing pulmonary fibrosis in mice

The present study prepared the pulmonary fibrosis model in mice by using Bleomycin and carry out the investigations on the effects of taurochenodeoxycholic acid [TCDCA] in preventing pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Expression profiles of the bile acid receptors in the lung of mice FXRalpha and TGR5 were examined, and pulmonary coefficient, pathohistology as well as expression of TNF-alpha, MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-2 in pulmonary fibrosis mice. The results showed that FXRalpha and TGR5 simultaneously expressed in the lung of the mice; TCDCA in dosages of 0.05 and 0.1g/kg can extremely significantly decrease the pulmonary coefficient in the model mice [P<0.01], TCDCA in a dosage of 0.2g/kg significantly decreased the pulmonary coefficient in the model mice [P<0.05]; TCDCA in dosages of 0.05 and 0.1g/kg significantly reduce the pathological damages on their lungs; TCDCA can extremely significantly decrease the expression levels of TNF-alpha and TIMP-2 in pulmonary tissues in the pulmonary fibrosis mice [P<0.01], the expression level of MMP-9 extremely significantly increased [P<0.01], while it has no significant effects on MMP2. The results as mentioned above indicated that TCDCA had antagonistic actions on pulmonary fibrosis in mice

The critical time of avian leukosis virus subgroup J-mediated immunosuppression during early stage infection in specific pathogen-free chickens

The critical time of avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J)-mediated immunosuppression was determined by body weight, relative immune organ weight, histopathology, and presence of group specific antigen and antibodies in specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens. CD4+ and CD8+ cell activity in the spleen, total and differential leukocyte counts in blood, and viral RNA levels in spleen were measured. Significant growth suppression was observed in the two ALV-J-infected groups. A strong immune response by infected groups was present in spleen at 2-weeks-of-age, but after 4-weeks-of-age, the response decreased quickly. The thymus and bursa showed persistent immunosuppression until 4-weeks-of-age. Proliferation of fibroblasts and dendritic cells were observed in immune organs at 4- and 5-weeks-of-age. However, the granulocyte cell number was markedly lower in the infected groups than in the control group. In group 1 (day 1 infection) CD4+ cells increased during the second week but significantly decreased during the fourth week, while group 2 (day 7 infection) showed the opposite effect. Viral RNA increased significantly by the fourth week. These data identify 3~4 weeks post-infection as the key time at which the ALV-J virus exerts its immunosuppressive effects on the host.