Antibody to eosinophil cationic protein suppresses dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in rats

AIM： To produce an antibody against rat eosinophil cationic protein （ECP） and to examine the effects of the antibody in rats with dextran sulfate sodium （DSS）-induced colitis. METHODS： An antibody was raised against rat ECP. Rats were treated with 3% DSS in drinking water for 7 d and received the antibody or normal serum. The colons were examined histologically and correlated with clinical symptoms. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were estimated as a grade of inflammation. RESULTS： The ECP antibody stained the activated eosinophils around the injured crypts in the colonic mucosa. Antibody treatment reduced the severity of colonic ulceration and acute clinical symptoms （diarrhea and/or bloodstained stool）. Body weight gain was significantly greater and the colon length was significantly longer in anti-ECPtreated rats than in normal serum-treated rats. Expression of ECP in activated eosinophils was associated with the presence of erosions and inflammation. The number of Ki-67-positive cells in the regenerated surface epithelium increased in anti-ECP-treated rats compared with normal serum-treated rats. Western blot analysis revealed reduced expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor （MIF） in anti-ECP-treated rats. CONCLUSION： Our results indicate that treatment with ECP antibody, improved DSS-induced colitis in rats, possibly by increasing the regenerative activity of the colonic epithelium and downregulation of the immune response, and suggest that anti-ECP may promote intestinal wound healing in patients with ulcerative colitis （UC）.

Steroids reduce local inflammatory mediator secretion and mucosal permeability in collagenous colitis patients

AIM：. To study the effect of oral steroids upon clinical response and rectal mucosa secretion of eosinophil cationic protein （ECP）, myeloperoxidase （NPO）, basic fibroblast growth factor （bFGF）, vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） and albumin in patients with collagenous colitis （CC）. METHODS： A segmental perfusion technique was used to collect perfusates from rectum of CC patients once before and twice （one and four weeks） after the start of steroid treatment. Clinical data was monitored and ECP, MPO, bFGF, VEGF and albumin concentrations were analyzed by immunochemical methods in perfusates and in serum. RESULTS： Steroids reduced the number of bowel movements by more than five times within one week and all patients reported improved subjective wellbeing at wk 1 and 4. At the same time, the median concentrations of ECP, bFGF, VEGF and albumin in rectal perfusates decreased significantly. MPO values were above the detection limit in only 3 patients before treatment and in none during treatment. VEGF, bFGF, ECP and albumin concentrations correlated with each other with the exception of ECP and albumin. A decrease of serum ECP and VEGF concentrations was also seen even if the overtime reduction was not significant.CONCLUSION： Oral steroid treatment in CC patients induced a simultaneous reduction of bowel movements and rectal release of ECP, bFGF, VEGF and albumin, suggesting that these polypeptides and increased mucosal permeability are important components of the pathophysiology in collagenous colitis.

Eosinophil cationic protein in Henoch-Schönlein purpura

Henoch-Schönlein purpura,the most common childhood vasculitis,is often a self-limiting condition,with resolution within 2-8 weeks.Approximately 20%-40%of the patients develop a renal involvement.[1]Eosinophil cationic protein is a secretory ribonuclease which has been associated with cytotoxic,neurotoxic,fibrosis promotion and immuneregulatory functions and has been implicated in various disease conditions.[2]This study was undertaken to clarify a possible role of eosinophil cationic protein in Italian children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

Experimental study on anaphylaxis of Qingkailing injection and its components on Beagle dogs

OBJECTIVE:To study the anaphylaxis of Qingkailing injection(QI) and its components.METHODS:Experimental anaphylactoid and allergic reactions were used.Changes in the behaviors of Beagles and serum levels of histamine,immunoglobulin(Ig)E,IgG,IgM,eosinophil cationic protein(ECP),and interleukin(IL)-4,as well as blood pressure,after injecting QI and its components on the forelimb veins of Beagles were observed.RESULTS:According to comprehensive determination of abnormal behavior scores and changes in serum levels of histamine,IgE,IgG,IgM,ECP,and IL-4,as well as in blood pressure,radix isatidis and hyodeoxycholic acid caused anaphylactoid reactions,and honeysuckle,radix isatidis,hydrolysate,cholic acid and Gardenia jasminoides caused allergic reactions.The anaphylaxis of QI involved anaphylactoid and allergic reactions.CONCLUSION:QI and its components need to be refined further to improve the safety,efficacy,and quality of its use in clinical settings.

Effect of Xiaochuanping powder on the inflammatory response and airway remodeling in asthmatic rats

OBJECTIVE： To observe the effect of Xiaochuanping powder （XP）, a traditional Chinese prescrip- tion for the treatment of cough and asthma, on serum concentrations of eosinophil cationic protein （ECP）, tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-a, and interleu- kin （IL）-4, eosinophil counts, as well as expression of matrix metalloproteinase （MMP）-9, tissue inhibi- tor of metalloproteinase （TIMP）-I in the lung tissues of asthmatic rats. METHODS： Sixty clean-grade Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into six groups： normal control （NC）, asthma model, Guilong Kechuanning （GK） group, as well as high, intermediate-, and lowdose XP groups. Rats were sensitized with ovalbu- min （OVA） to trigger asthma. Serum concentrations of ECP, TNF-a and IL-4, eosinophil counts, as well as expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in lung tissues were evaluated using an immunofluorescence method, mRNA expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was determined using real-time quantitative poly- merase chain reaction. RESULTS： Compared with the asthma-model group, serum concentrations of ECP, TNF-a, and IL-4, and eosinophil counts decreased significantly in the high- and intermediate-dose XP groups and GK group （all P 〈 0.01）. Protein expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 decreased significantly in the high- and intermediate-dose XP groups and GK group （all P 〈 0.01）. Transcription of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 mRNA and the ratio of expression of MMP-9：TIMP-1 in lung tissue were significantly lower （P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： XP can reduce TNF-a secretion, sup- press the infiltration/activation of eosinophils, re- duce serum concentrations of ECP and IL-4, reduce the protein and mRNA expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in lung tissue, and regulate the balance between expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1. In these ways, XP alleviated the inflammation and remodel- ing of the airways.

Role of Combining Spreading Moxibustion and Point Injection in Reducing ECP and LPO Levels and Improving Lung Function

Objective: To observe the effect of combining spreading moxibustion and point injection on serum eosinophil cationic protein(ECP), lipid peroxidase(LPO) and cellular immunity in patients with cough-variant asthma. Methods: A total of 150 cases who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into three groups, 50 in each group. Spreading moxibustion and point injection were employed in the observation group, spreading moxibustion alone in the spreading moxibustion group and point injection alone in the point injection group. Then the therapeutic efficacies were evaluated after one course of treatment. Results: The recovery rate and total effective rate were 50.0% and 98.0% respectively in the observation group, versus 18.0% and 86.0% in the spreading moxibustion group and 14.0% and 82.0% in the point injection group, showing a statistically significant difference(P < 0.01). Before treatment, there were no inter-group statistically significant differences in levels of ECP, LPO, CD3+,CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ and CD8+, forced vital capacity(FCV), forced expiratory volume 1(FEV1), and peak expiratory flow(PEF)(P>0.05). After treatment, the ECP and LPO levels in the observation group were more significantly reduced than those in the other two groups, showing statistically significant difference(P<0.01); the levels of CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ in the observation group were significantly elevated but CD8+ was significantly reduced, showing statistically significant differences compared with those in the other two groups(P<0.01); and the lung function indexes(FVC, FEV1 and PEF) in the observation group were more significantly elevated than those in the other two groups(P<0.05). Conclusion: Combining spreading moxibustion and point injection could remarkably reduce the contents of ECP and LPO in patients with cough-variant asthma, improve cellular immunity, increase the contents of CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+, reduce the content of CD8+ and improve the lung function.