Intermittent high glucose promotes expression of proinflammatory cytokines in monocytes.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: The aim of this study was to examine expression of proinflammatory cytokines in monocytes under fluctuating glucose conditions. MATERIAL AND TREATMENT: Monocytic cells (THP-1) were divided into four groups and cultured in the presence of 5 or 15 mmol/L glucose or in fluctuating conditions (12 h exposure to 15 mmol/L glucose or mannitol medium followed by 12 h exposure to 5 mmol/L glucose or mannitol medium) respectively. METHODS: Levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the supernatants and surface expression of CD11b in monocytes were measured after 72 h culture. Paired Student's t tests were used to compare two groups and ANOVA for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: Activation of monocytes was most pronounced in the fluctuating glucose conditions, as measured by concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α in cultured supernatants and surface expression of CD11b in monocytes (P < 0.05). Fluctuating mannitol also induced a proinflammatory profile, but to a lesser extent than fluctuating glucose. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that exposure to fluctuating glucose concentrations enhanced activation of monocytes compared with stable elevation of glucose concentrations. The effects were partly attributable to the inherent osmotic changes.

Effect of ginsenoside Rh2 on transplanted-tumor and expression of JAM in mice / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the anti-tumor activity of ginsenoside Rh2, we observed the expressions of the junction adhesion molecul (JAM) in transplanted-tumor in mice.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The models of 40 transplanted-tumor mice that were established by subsequently injecting cancer ascite of mice (S180) with 0.2 mL per mouse into the preepipodite skin were divided into two groups. Experiment group was drenched with 2 mL ginsenoside Rh2 per mouse, equating to a dose 20 mg x kg(-1). Control group was drenched with 2 mL normal saline per mouse. The expression of JAM-1, JAM-2 in the lymphatics, blood vessels and tumours were observed by immunohistochemical staining.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The expression of JAM-1 on the cancer cells was significantly decreased in experiment group (IA 340.55) as compared with control group (IA 549.90, P<0.05). However, JAM-2 weakly expressed in both two groups. The density of blood vessels in which JAM-1, JAM-2 expressed showed 2.33 and 1.34 in control group, and 1.09 and 0.9 in experiment group respectively. Moreove, the density of lymph vessels were respectively 2.23 and 1.88 in control group compared with 0.99 and 0.79 in experiment group. The expression in blood vessels and lymph vessels in control group were significantly higher than those in experiment group, respectively (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ginsenoside Rh2 can affect the tumor growth, further angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis by down-regulating JAM expression in tumor.</p>