Zinc inhibited LPS-induced inflammatory responses by upregulating A20 expression in microglia BV2 cells.

BACKGROUND: Our previous studies have proved that zinc supplement effectively alleviate depression symptoms in mice, but the mechanisms are still uncertain. Neuroinflammation is considered as an important aspect in pathogenesis of depression. To elucidate the role of zinc on neuroinflammation, in this study, we investigated effects of zinc on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in BV2 microglia cells, a kind of innate immune cells in central nervous system. METHODS: BV2 cells were treated by 100 ng/ml LPS to induce inflammatory responses and the effects of zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) addition on LPS-induced inflammation were observed. Besides, through culturing HT-22 hippocampus cells by using medium transferred from zinc-intervened BV2 cells, the protective roles of zinc on hippocampus cells were identified. RESULTS: LPS treatment up-regulated expressions of CD11b, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and level of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Meaningfully, zinc was capable of blocking ROS generation and reducing expressions of the above inflammatory cytokines at both 10 µM and 30 µM. In addition, it was proved that zinc intervention to BV2 cells could increase the viabilities of hippocampal HT-22 cells cultured by medium of BV2 cells. Furthermore, the zinc-finger protein A20, an anti-inflammation factor, was increased by zinc supplement, while levels of p65, p-IκB and p-p65 were significantly decreased. LIMITATIONS: More compelling proofs were needed to ensure roles of A20 in anti-inflammatory effects of zinc. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggested that zinc inhibits inflammatory responses mediated by microglia cells via upregulation of zinc-finger A20. It was proposed that this anti-inflammatory action might be underlying mechanism of previously observed anti-depressive effects of zinc.

Effects of ginsenosides extracted from ginseng stem and leaves on glucocorticoid receptor in different viscera in heat-damaged rats / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of ginsenosides (GSS) extracted from ginseng stem and leaves on glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in different viscera in heat-damaged rats, and to find out its action mechanism. METHODS: Thirty-two male SD rats were divided into control group and experimental group, and fed 2 mg/d GSS and equal-quantity of distilled water respectively for 7 days. Eight rats of each group were exposed to (42+/-1) degrees C for one hour. The binding activities of GR in brain, thymus, lung and liver cytosols in rats were detected by radioligand binding assay. The expression levels of GR mRNA in brain and liver cytosols were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. Plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and corticosterone (CS) concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The binding activities of GR in brain, lung and liver cytosols, and the expression levels of GR mRNA in brain and liver cytosols were all higher in the GSS-treated and heat-damaged rats than those in the untreated heat-damaged rats (P<0.05 or P<0.01). There were no significant differences in plasma concentrations of ACTH and CS between the GSS-treated heat-damaged rats and the untreated heat-damaged rats. CONCLUSION: GSS can lessen the descending degree of the binding activity of GR in brain, thymus, lung and liver cytosols, and such efficacy of GSS may be related to improvement of the expression of GR mRNA.

Reform and practice of teaching on public place hygiene / 中华医学教育探索杂志

In teaching the course of Environmental Hygiene to the senior major of the four-year undergraduates of the Department of Public Administration,we have tried to reform the teaching program for the course of Public Place Hygiene.The related theories are taught right on the spot of public places instead of in classrooms.Students are organized to carry out such activities on their own as studying subject matters,consulting related documents and data,working out and implementing programs for on-the-spot monitoring and inspection,and then exchanging and discussing the results of monitoring and inspection,so that their interest in the courses is increased and their understanding of what they have learned is deepened.In this way they are able to apply their knowledge to practice,improve their practical capabilities,and enhance their overall capacity for analyzing and finding solutions to problems they are faced with.

Effects of ginsenosides on glucocorticoid receptor in hemorrhagic shock rats / 中草药

Object To evaluate the effects of ginsenosides (GSS) in stem and leaves of ginseng on glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the hemorrhagic shock rats, and study the mechanism. Methods Rats were divided into hemorrhagic shock group and control group. The rats in hemorrhagic shock groups were ig 200, 100, 50 mg/kg/d GSS, model group and control group were ig distilled water 2 mL for 10 days. The Rs of GR in brain and hepatic cytosol of rats were measured by radioligand binding assay, using [ 3H] dexamethasone as the ligand. The level of GR mRNA expression in hepatic cytosol were determined by RT-PCR. Plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and glucocorticoid (GC) concentrations were determined by the radioimmunoassay. Results Rs of GR in brain and hepatic cytosol were higher in hemorrhagic shock+GSS groups than those in hemorrhagic shock group, and the Rs of GR was the highest in hemorrhagic shock+10 mg/mL GSS group (P