ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: T-helper (Th) cells abnormalities are considered to be associated with the pathogenesis of Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Recently, The Th22 cells have been identified and implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), although therir role in Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains unclear. The present study intends to investigate their roles in SLE. METHODS: Clinical data were collected in 65 SLE patients and 30 healthy controls. The patients were divided into active and inactive groups. CD4(+)IFN-γ(-)IL-17(-)IL-22(+)Tcells (Th22 cells),CD4(+) IFN-γ(-)IL-22(-)IL-17(+)T cells (Th17 cells),and CD4(+) IFN-γ(+) (Th1 cells) were assayed by flow cytometry. Serum interleukin-22 (IL-22) and IL-17 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The main observation focused on increased Th22 cells in patients with sole lupus skin disease and decreased Th22 cells in patients with sole lupus nephritis. Likewise, concentrations of serum IL-22 were increased in patients with sole lupus skin disease, and decreased in patients with sole lupus nephritis. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between the percentage of Th22 cells and IL-22 production. The percentage of Th17 cells or concentration of serum IL-17 correlated positively with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). CONCLUSION: Th22 seems to be a more significant index to predict the tissue involvement of SLE than Th17, although Th17 may play a role in the activity of SLE.
Subject(s)
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/immunology , T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology , Th1 Cells/immunology , Th17 Cells/immunology , Adult , CD4 Antigens/metabolism , Cell Separation , Dermatitis/diagnosis , Dermatitis/etiology , Dermatitis/immunology , Female , Flow Cytometry , Humans , Interferon-gamma/metabolism , Interleukin-17/blood , Interleukin-17/immunology , Interleukins/blood , Interleukins/immunology , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/diagnosis , Lupus Nephritis/diagnosis , Lupus Nephritis/etiology , Lupus Nephritis/immunology , Male , Middle Aged , Organ Specificity , Prognosis , Severity of Illness Index , Young Adult , Interleukin-22ABSTRACT
Berbamine, a natural compound from the plant Berberis amurensis, is a traditional Chinese medicine mainly used in stimulating normal hematopoiesis in clinic. Our previous studies demonstrated that berbamine has anti-leukemia activity. In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity of berbamine against human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) HepG2 cells in vitro and in vivo. Berbamine treatment decreased the cell growth in a dose-dependent manner with an IC(50) value of 34.5 +/- 0.5 microM. Flow cytometric analysis of apoptosis using Annexin V/propidium iodide staining showed that the percentage of apoptotic cells was increased in a time-dependent manner. Berbamine treatment increased the expression level of Fas and P53, caused depolarization of mitochondrial membrane and decrease of membrane potential, and activated caspase-3, -8, and -9 in HepG2 cells. Berbamine-induced apoptosis could be blocked by the broad caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk. HepG2 human HCC xenograft mice treated with berbamine showed a significant reduction in tumor growth rates compared to saline-treated mice. These studies suggest that berbamine exerts anticancer effects on human HCC HepG2 cells in vivo and in vitro, the induction of p53 and the activity of the Fas apoptotic system may participate in the anticancer activity of berbamine in HepG2 cells.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/chemistry , Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology , Benzylisoquinolines/chemistry , Benzylisoquinolines/pharmacology , Animals , Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacokinetics , Apoptosis/drug effects , Benzylisoquinolines/pharmacokinetics , Berberine/chemistry , Bisbenzimidazole/pharmacology , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor , Humans , Medicine, Chinese Traditional , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Mice, Nude , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Time Factors , Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism , Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays , fas Receptor/metabolismABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of brucea javanica oil on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in A549 cell line. METHOD: A549 cells were incubated with different concentrations of brucea javanica oil (0.5, 1.25, 2.5, 5 g x L(-1) for 48 h respectively. VEGF level in supernatant was determined by VEGF ELISA kits and mRNA expression of VEGF was evaluated by RT-PCR. PMN in health volunteers was treated as control groups. RESULT: Supernatant VEGF protein and mRNA expression were significantly elevated in A549 cells compared with the mononuclear cells (120.73 vs 21.21, P < 0.05). Brucea javanica oil (2.5 g x L(-1)) could reduced supernatant VEGF protein in A549 cells (20.30 vs 120.73, P < 0.05), but had no effect on the expression of VEGF mRNA (1.0230 vs 0.9573). It was found that brucea javanica oil (5 g x L(-1)) significantly reduced VEGF mRNA expression (0.4682 vs 0.9573, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Brucea javanica oil can depress the VEGF mRNA expression and secretion in A549 cells, which may be one of the mechanisms of its antitumor effect.
