Study on mRNA expression of immune-related genes in patients with allergic dermatitis induced by trichloroethylene / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study mRNA expression of immune-related genes (Foxp3, GATA3, CTLA4 and T-bet) in peripheral blood of the patients with allergic dermatitis induced by trichloroethylene (TCE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The peripheral blood samples were collected from 8 healthy workers (control group) and 8 patients with allergic dermatitis induced by TCE (case group). Real-time quantitative PCR was applied to detect mRNA expression of immune-related genes (Foxp3, GATA3, CTLA4, T-bet).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mRNA expression levels of Foxp3, GATA3 and CTLA4 genes increased by 115%, 97% and 241% in case group, as compared with control group (P < 0.01). The mRNA expression level of T-bet gene decreased by 47% in case group, as compared with control group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mRNA expression levels of some immune-related genes changed in patients with allergic dermatitis induced by TCE, those genes may play an important role in TCE-induced allergy.</p>

Effect of cadmium chloride on the expression and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase in normal rat kidney epithelial cells / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of cadmium chloride on the expression and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in normal rat kidney epithelial (NRK) cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The NRK cells were incubated with cadmium chloride either at respective dose (0, 1, 5, 10, 20, 40 µmol/L) for 24 h or at same dose (10 µmol/L) for respective time (0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0 h). Western blotting was applied to test the expression of MAPK in NRK cells (ERK1/2, p38, JNK); and phosphor-specific antibody to detect the phosphorylated MAPK (p-ERK1/2, p-p38, p-JNK).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference in the MAPK expression among the groups either treated with different doses or for different time; however, the level of phosphorylated MAPK was comparatively higher than it in control group. There was an obvious expression of p-ERK1/2 at 1.00 ± 0.06 in the group incubated with 10 µmol/L CdCl(2); and the expression in the 20 µmol/L and 40 µmol/L CdCl(2) group was 2.58 ± 0.11, 2.76 ± 0.23 respectively, which was 1.58 and 1.76 times more than it in 10 µmol/L CdCl(2) group. The differences were statistically significant (F = 827.70, P < 0.01). The respective expression of p-p38MAPK in the 20 µmol/L (2.47 ± 0.20)and 40 µmol/L CdCl(2) group (3.73 ± 0.25)was 1.47 and 2.73 times more than it in control group (1.00 ± 0.02), and the differences were also statistically significant (F = 280.06, P < 0.01). There was a dose-effect relationship of the concentration of cadmium in the expression of p-ERK1/2 (r = 0.919, t = 4.69, P = 0.009) and p-p38MAPK (r = 0.945, t = 5.79, P = 0.004). Additionally, phosphorylated MAPK expressed in a time-dependent manner. The expression of p-ERK1/2 was obvious in the group incubated for 1 h (1.26 ± 0.11), and the respective expression in the 4 h group (1.51 ± 0.07) and 8 h group (3.53 ± 0.23) was 1.5 and 3.5 times of it in the control group (1.00 ± 0.02). The differences were statistically significant (F = 427.82, P < 0.001). The expression of p-p38MAPK increased significantly in 1 h group (1.31 ± 0.07); while the respective expression in 4 h group (3.53 ± 0.32) and 8 h group (4.41 ± 0.38) was 3.5 and 4.4 times of it in control group (1.00 ± 0.03). The differences were also statistically significant (F = 280.06, P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cadmium chloride could significantly enhance the phosphorylation of MAPK in NRK cells; and it is probably associated with the activation of MAPK.</p>

Study on skin sensitization as well as liver and kidney impairment in guinea pigs treated with trichloroethylene / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study skin sensitization as well as liver and kidney impairment in guinea pigs treated with trichloroethylene (TCE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Guinea pig maximization test (GPMT) was applied in this study, guinea pigs were divided into 3 groups, namely negative control, positive control and TCE treatment. Animals of 3 groups were administrated with olive oil, 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), and TCE, respectively, by intradermal injection. The animal skin was observed and blood was collected after various treatment, the liver function tests were conducted, including detection of activities of ALT, AST, LDH and levels of creatinine, uric acid, and urea with automatic biochemical analyzer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Obvious skin impairment was observed in the groups of positive control and TCE treatment, the skin impairment included erythema and edema, the sensitization rate was 100% in positive control and 83.3% in TCE treatment group. Additionally, the activities of ALT, AST and LDH increased significantly in the groups of positive control and TCE treatment when compared with the negative control.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Trichloroethylene is one of the strong hypersensitizing substances, it could induce skin allergic reaction and liver impairment in guinea pigs.</p>