Correlation between endothelia cells activation and imbalance of cytokines in pulmonary hypertension of congenital heart disease

Objective To explore the correlation between endothelia cells activation and cytokines (ET-1, NO) levels in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), and to discuss their roles in the development of PH. Methods Twenty patients with simple ventricular septal defect (VSD) were chosen as controls, and 30 patients with PH were studied. Plasma levels of ET-1 and NO were measured by radioimmunoassay or colorimetric method. Before cardiopulmonary bypass was established, the specimens from right lung were fixed with formaldehyde solution, embedded with paraffin and stained by SP immunohistochemistry. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression was measured through the determination of the light density with computer imaging technology. Results Compared with that of the patients with simple VSD, the light density of ICAM-1 and plasma level of ET-1 increased in patients with PH; but plasma level of NO decreased (P<0.05). Positive correlation was observed between ICAM-1 and ET-1/NO (P<0.05). Conclusion Endothelia cells activation and imbalance of ET-1/NO might play an important role in the development of PH.

Sequential ultrasound molecular imaging for noninvasive identification and assessment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in mouse models

Background and objective:Noninvasive non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)assessment is a clinical challenge to the management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.We aim to develop diagnostic models based on sequential ultrasound molecular imaging(USMI)for the noninvasive identification of NASH in mouse models.Methods:Animal experiments were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of South China Agricultural University.Forty-nine C57BL/6 mice were divided into normal control,non-alcoholic fatty liver,NASH,and hepatitis groups.Sequential USMI was implemented using CD36-targeted microbubbles(MBs-CD36)and intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1)-targeted microbubbles(MBs-ICAM-1)to visualize hepatic steatosis and inflammation.The targeting signal of USMI was quantified as the normalized intensity difference(NID)with the destruction-replenishment method.Correlation analysis was conducted between the NID-MBs-CD36 and pathological steatosis score and between the NID-MBsICAM-1 and pathological inflammation score.Finally,diagnostic models combining NID-MBs-CD36 with NID-MBs-ICAM-1 were established for NASH diagnosis.Results:MBs-CD36 and MBs-ICAM-1 were successfully prepared and used for sequential USMI in all mice.NID-MBs-CD36 values increased with the progression of steatosis,while NID-MBs-ICAM-1 values increased in parallel with the progression of inflammation.A strong positive correlation was identified between NID-MBs-CD36 and pathological steatosis grade(r_(s)=0.9078,P<0.0001)and between NIDMBs-ICAM-1 and pathological inflammation grade(r_(s)=0.9071,P<0.0001).Among various sequential USMI-based diagnostic models,the serial testing model showed high diagnostic performance in detecting NASH,with 95%sensitivity,97%specificity,95%positive predictive values,97%negative predictive values,and 96%accuracy.Conclusions:Sequential USMI using MBs-CD36 and MBs-ICAM-1 allows noninvasive grading of hepatic steatosis and inflammation.Sequential USMI-based diagnostic models hold great potential in the noninvasive identification of NASH.

Allograft rejection-related gene expression in the endothelial cells of renal transplantation recipients after cytomegalovirus infection

Objective： To explore the effects of cytomegalovirus （CMV） infection on rejection-related gene expression in the endothelial cells of renal transplantation recipients. Methods： Endothelial cells （ECs） were cultured and stimulated by a variety of factors： A, normal control group; B, inactivated human cytomegalovirus （HCMV） infection group; C, HCMV infection group; D, HCMV supematant infection group; and E, ganciclovir HCMV group. Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 （ICAM-1） and major histocompability complex （MHC） class I and class II antigens was detected by flow cytometry （FCM） and immuno- histochemistry. Results： We found characteristic CMV-infected ECs in this study. There were no significant differences among groups A, B and D （P〉0.05）. Although the expression levels of ICAM-1 were not significantly different between groups C and E （P〉0.05）, the ICAM-1 expression in these two groups was significantly higher than that in group A （P〈0.05）. ICAM-1 expression was detected in groups C and E, while there was no expression in groups A, B and D. Furthermore, there was no significant difference of ICAM-1 mRNA expression between groups C and E （P〉0.05）. Human leucocyte antigen （HLA）-ABC expression was detected in all the groups, while HLA-DR expression was only detected in groups C and E. There were no significant dif- ferences of HLA-ABC and HLA-DR expression among groups A, B and D （P〉0.05）. However, the HLA-ABC and HLA-DR expression levels in groups C and D were higher than those of the remaining groups previously reported （P〈0.05）. Meanwhile, the HLA-ABC and HLA-DR expression levels in group E were lower than those of group C （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： CMV could up-regulate the expression levels of ICAM-1 and MHC antigens, which was closely related to allograft rejection.