Effects of moxibustion on Treg cells in sarcoma microenvironment / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the therapeutic effect of moxibustion on sarcomas from mesenchymal tissues, which have a low response rate to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.@*METHODS@#S180 sarcoma cell line was inoculated in C57BL/6 mice to form transplanted tumor. Moxibustion therapy was directly applied at the transplanted tumor sites, at a distance of 3.0 cm, 10 min per session, till skin temperature reached 45 °C, once a day, for 14 consecutive days of intervention. After the mice were killed, serum was collected and used to detect concentrations of interleukin-10 (IL-10), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), IL-4 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) by Luminex liquid suspension chip. The numbers of Treg@*RESULTS@#Weight of S180 transplanted tumor in the control group was (2.03 ± 0.54) g, and that in the moxibustion group was (1.27 ± 0.29) g, which was statistically different (P = 0.023). The mean value of Foxp3@*CONCLUSION@#Moxibustion may have therapeutic effects on sarcomas by reducing the number of Treg cells in the blood and controlling the infiltration of Treg cells in the TME.

Andrographolide as an anti-H1N1 drug and the mechanism related to retinoic acid-inducible gene-I-like receptors signaling pathway / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the anti-virus effects of andrographolide (AD) on the retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I)-like receptors (RLRs) signaling pathway when immunological cells were infected with H1N1.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Leukomonocyte was obtained from umbilical cord blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and immunological cells were harvested after cytokines stimulation. Virus infected cell model was established by H1N1 co-cultured with normal human bronchial epithelial cell line (16HBE). The optimal concentration of AD was defined by methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium (MTT) assay. After the virus infected cell model was established, AD was added into the medium as a treatment intervention. After 24-h co-culture, cell supernatant was collected for interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detection while immunological cells for real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The optimal concentration of AD for anti-virus effect was 250 μg/mL. IL-4 and IFN-γ in the supernatant and mRNA levels in RLRs pathway increased when cells was infected by virus, RIG-I, IFN-β promoter stimulator-1 (IPS-1), interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-7, IRF-3 and nuclear transcription factor κB (NF-κB) mRNA levels increased significantly (P<0.05). When AD was added into co-culture medium, the levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ were lower than those in the non-interference groups and the mRNA expression levels decreased, RIG-I, IPS-1, IRF-7, IRF-3 and NF-κB decreased significantly in each group with significant statistic differences (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The RLRs mediated viral recognition provided a potential molecular target for acute viral infections and andrographolide could ameliorate H1N1 virus-induced cell mortality. And the antiviral effects might be related to its inhibition of viral-induced activation of the RLRs signaling pathway.</p>

Effect of acupuncture on the activity of the peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets and NK cells in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastasis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of acupuncture on the immune function of patients with colorectal cancer liver metastasis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases with colorectal cancer liver metastasis confirmed by pathology and mageology diagnosis were treated with acupuncture. Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Neiguan (PC 6), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Hegu (LI 4), Taixi (KI 3), Taichong (LR 3) ,Yinlingquan (SP 9), Yanglingquan (GB 34), etc. were selected for acupuncture, and Shenque (CV 8), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), Zusanli (ST 36) were selected for moxibustion. The changes of CD(3) , CD(4) , CD(8) T cells and NK cells in value were examined with flow cytometry before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The value of T lymphocyte subsets such as CD(3) , CD(4), and CD(8) , as well as NK cells were obviously increased after treatment, and there were significant differences between them before and after treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture can improve the immune function of patients with colorectal cancer liver metastasis.</p>

Association between hemoglobin scavenger receptor CD163 expression and coronary atherosclerotic severity in patients with coronary heart disease / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between hemoglobin scavenger receptor (CD163) expression levels on monocytic surfaces and coronary atherosclerotic severity in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) as well as the roles of CD163 in inflammation and lipidperoxidation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-four patients were diagnosed as CHD according to the results of coronary angiography and ACC/AHA diagnostic criteria. The patients were divided into 3 groups: acute myocardial infarction (AMI) group (n = 30), unstable angina (UA) group (n = 30), stable angina (SA) group (n = 24). Another 20 patients with normal coronary artery served as control. Expression levels of CD163 on monocytes were detected by means of flow cytometry, and the results were shown as mean fluorescence intensity (mfi). All patients underwent coronary angiography and the results were further evaluated by Jenkins score. Serum CRP and LDL-C were also measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression levels of CD163 on monocytes in peripheral blood were significantly higher in CHD patients compared to controls (P < 0.01) in the order of AMI group [(84.4 +/- 6.9) mfi] > UA group [(64.1 +/- 5.5) mfi, P < 0.01 vs. AMI] > SA group [(46.7 +/- 6.5) mfi, P < 0.01 vs. AMI and UA] > control group [(22.0 +/- 6.1) mfi, P < 0.01 vs. AMI, UA and SA]. The expression levels of CD163 on monocytes in patients with CHD were positively correlated with Jenkins score (r = 0.9107, P < 0.01), CRP (r = 0.766, P < 0.01) and LDL-C (r = 0.749, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Expression levels of CD163 was significantly increased in patients with CHD and positively correlated with coronary heart disease severity and serum CRP and LDL-C.</p>

Histopathological study on Mooren’s ulcer / 第三军医大学学报

Objective To observe the histopathologic and ultrastructural characteristics of cornea and adjacent conjunctiva in Mooren’s ulcer. Methods The samples of limbal and central cornea and adjacent bulbar conjunctiva taken from active Mooren’s ulcer after lamellar keratoplasty were cut into paraffin sections and ultrathin sections and observed by light and transmission electron microscopy. The samples taken from patients of a Terrien’s marginal degeneration and a bacterial corneal ulcer were used as controls. Results Chronic inflammation including lymphocytes and plasma cells infiltrating existed in bulbar conjunctiva and sclera of Mooren’s ulcer. Limbal corneal epithelium, Bowman’s membrane, anterior stroma and adjacent superficial sclera melted and the inferior stromal collagen disorganized. The epithelial basement membrane of ulcer progressive edge had been destroyed while the epithelium and stroma kept quiescent. Lymphocytes infiltrated in conjunctiva and corneal epithelium of Terrien’s marginal degeneration with normal epithelial basement membrane, while Bowman’s membrane was destroyed. The epithelial basement membrane of bacterial corneal ulcer was intact. Conclusion Bulbar conjunctiva may act as a local lymph node of Mooren’s ulcer. Epithelial basement membrane of Mooren’s ulcer may have some abnormality as it was invaded first during ulcer progressing and it’s valuable to have a further study.