Expression of nuclear factor -κBp65 in mononuclear cells in Kawasaki disease and its relation to coronary artery lesions.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and complications of Kawasaki disease (KD) in Chinese children. METHODS: Based on color Doppler examination results, 86 affected children in the KD group were divided into two groups: 39 cases in coronary artery lesion group (CALs subgroup) and 47 cases in non-coronary artery lesion group (Non-CALs subgroup). Infection control group consisted of 65 cases of hospitalized infected children with fever, having same age as the affected children. Healthy control group consisted of 102 cases of healthy children of the same age, visiting the hospital for physical examination. Western blot was used to detect the expression of NF-кBp65 and IкBα proteins in periphery blood mononuclear cells (PBMC); reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of TNF-α and MCP-1 mRNA. RESULTS: The value of NF-kBp65 (optical density) in the PBMC cell nuclei in the KD group was significantly higher than that in the two control groups (p < 0.01). The value of NF-κBp65 in the CALs subgroup was significantly higher than that in the Non-CALs subgroup (p < 0.05). The value of NF-κBp65 inhibitor IκBα in the KD group was significantly lower than that in the infection control group and the healthy control group (p < 0.01). There was a positive correlation between the ratio nucleus NF-κBP65/ IκBα and the severity degree of CALs(r = 0.536, p < 0.05). The value of TNF-α mRNA (O.D ratio) in the KD group was significantly higher than that in the two control groups (P < 0.01), and the value of TNF-α mRNA in the CALs subgroup was significantly higher than that in the Non-CALs subgroup (P < 0.05). The value of MCP-1 mRNA in the KD group was significantly higher than that in the two control groups (P < 0.01), and the value of MCP-1 mRNA in the CALs subgroup was significantly higher than that in the Non-CALs subgroup (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NF-κBp65 participates in the pathogenesis of vasculitis of KD in acute stage, and may aggravate the vasculitis in KD and plays a part in the formation of CALs.

[Effects of TNF-α on ICAM-1 and LFA-1 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of children with febrile seizures].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of TNF-α on ICAM-1 and LFA-1 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of children with febrile seizures (FS). METHODS: Sixteen children with FS and 16 age- and gender-matched healthy children were enrolled. The samples of PBMC from FS children were randomized into two groups with or without TNF-α treatment (TNF-α concentration 1.0 ng/mL). PBMC were purified and cultured with a conventional method in vitro. The expression of ICAM-1 and LFA-1 in PBMC was determined by flow cytometry (FCM). RESULTS: ICAM-1ï¼»(20±9)% vs (14±7)%)ï¼½and LFA-1ï¼»(43±16)% vs (30±16)%ï¼½expression in PBMC in the untreated FS group was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (P<0.05). Compared with the untreated FS group, the treatment with TNF-α remarkably increased the ICAM-1 expressionï¼»(27±11)%ï¼½(P<0.05). PBMC LFA-1 expressionï¼»(52±21)%ï¼½in the TNF-α-treated group was higher than that in the untreated FS group, although there were no statistical differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: TNF-α treatment may increase LFA-1 and ICAM-1 expression in PBMC of children with FS.

[Effect and mechanism of emodin on cholestatic hepatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of emodin on cholestatic hepatitis. METHODS: Rats were divided into 5 groups: 1 group was untreated, the other 4 groups were treated with alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT), ANIT and emodin, ANIT and ursodeoxycholic acid, or ANIT and dexamethasone, respectively. At 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after the treatment, NF-kappa B, early growth response factor-1 (Egr-1), cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant 1 (CINC-1), macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1),tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were assayed by immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR , western-blot and ELISA. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide Dismutase(SOD) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were assayed by thiobarbituric acid method, xanthine oxidase method and colorimetric method, respectively. RESULTS: (1) Compared to the controls, emodin had a notable effect on total bilirubin (TB), direct bilirubin (DB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) at all time points (all P less than 0.05). Compared to ursodeoxycholic acid, emodin had a notable effect on TB and DB at 24 h after the treatments, however, after 48 h, emodin had a notable effect only on TB (all P less than 0.05). Compared to Dexamethasone, emodin had a notable effect on TB at 48 h time point, and it had a notable effect on ALT at all time points (all P less than 0.05). (2) The nuclei NF-kappa B p65 staining was significantly increased at 24 h and 48 h after ANIT treatment (all P less than 0.05), and emodin treatment could block the increase (all P less than 0.05). (3) Egr-1 mRNA level was not affected by emodin treatment (P more than 0.05); levels of CINC-1, MIP-2 mRNA and ICAM-1 protein were significantly decreased after emodin treatment (all P less than 0.05). (4) The levels of TNF alpha and IL-6 were decreased after emodin treatment(all P less than 0.05). (5) The levels of MDA at all time points and MPO at 24 h, 48 h time points were notably down-regulated by emodin treatment, while the level of SOD was markedly elevated at all time points after emodin treatment (all P less than 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Emodin treatment can reduce the levels of TB, DB and ALT in ANIT induced-cholestatic hepatitis. The effect may be due to inhibition of NF-kappa B signal pathway.

[SR-XRF analysis of characteristics of heavy element concentration in qingdao algae and application to monitoring oceanic pollution].

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the heavy element concentration characteristics of 14 specimens of 9 kinds of Qingdao algae by synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) are presented. Results show that various algae are quite different in element concentration. Some algae reveal super concentration ability, such as Sargassum pallidum for As and Sr, Symphyocladia latiuscula for Br and Laminaria japonica for I. Changes in the ratio of peak intensities of Mn and Fe in XRF spectrum reflect on the antagonism between elements in algae, relatively to the environment pollution. The minimum detection limit (MDL) of standard specimen, Antarctic mosses, was measured. Quantitative analysis and comparison of 10 specimens of 5 kind algae gathered from the same zone of Qingdao near-sea in 1985 and in 1999 were done. The contents of Mn, Fe, Zn, As, Br and Pb increased in 1999, in which, As in Sargassum pallidum increased 155% and Pb in Codium fragil increased 120%. The results indicated that the pollution in the near-sea of Qingdao is currently tending toward severity.