淋巴细胞基因表达谱揭示淫羊藿总黄酮重建衰老免疫稳态的分子机制

Molecular Mechanism of Epimedium Flavonoids in Immune Homeostasis Remodeling in Aged Rats Revealed by Lymphocyte Gene Expression Profile

目的 :探讨淫羊藿总黄酮重建衰老免疫稳态的基因调控模式。方法 :(1)采用流式细胞技术定量分析老年组、年轻组及淫羊藿总黄酮组大鼠脾淋巴细胞凋亡百分率。 (2 )采用基因芯片技术分析各组淋巴细胞基因表达谱。结果 :(1)细胞凋亡百分率 :老年组与年轻组比较 ,淫羊藿总黄酮与老年组比较 ,差异均有显著性 (P <0 0 1)。 (2 )基因表达 :与年轻组比较 ,老年组上调的基因有 116个 ,下调的基因有 2 15个。与老年组比较 ,淫羊藿总黄酮上调的基因有 4 47个 ,下调的基因有 4 5 6个。涉及细胞凋亡、细胞增殖调控等方面。结论 :(1)以促凋亡基因表达上调、抗凋亡基因表达下调为主要特征的表达模式是衰老免疫稳态失衡的重要基因背景。 (2 )淫羊藿总黄酮的作用规律在于逆转功能对立的促凋亡基因与抗凋亡基因、促增殖基因与抗增殖基因在衰老淋巴细胞中表达的异常 ,重塑基因表达的良性平衡 ,重建衰老免疫稳态。

Objective:To elucidate the gene regulatory pattern of Epimedium flavonoids (EF) in immune homeostasis remodeling in the aged rats. Methods:(1)To quantitatively analyse the apoptosis percentage of lymphocyte in spleen of aged, young and EF treated rats using flow cytometry. (2) To analyse the lymphocyte gene expression profiles of different groups using gene chips (Rat Genome U34A). Results:(1)Detection of lymphocyte apoptosis percentage showed that there was significant difference in comparing between aged group and young group, between EF treated group and aged group (P<0.01). (2) As compared with that in the young group, in the aged group, 116 genes were up-regulated and 215 down-regulated. As compared with that in the old group, in the EF treated group, 447 genes were up-regulated and 456 down-regulated, which involved the aspects as cell apoptosis and cell proliferation regulation, etc. Conclusion:(1) The expression pattern characterized by up-regulation of apoptosis promoting genes expression and down-regulation of apoptosis inhibiting genes expression, is the important gene beckground of immuno-homeostasis imbalance in the aged. (2) The role of EF is to reverse the abnormal changes of gene expressions with opposite functions, i.e. the apoptosis promoting and inhibiting, proliferation enhancing and antagonizing genes, to reconstruct a beneficial equilibrium of gene expression and thus to further remodel the immuno-homeostasis in the aged.