To investigate whether estradiol (E2) plays a role in cell-contact-dependent regulatory mechanism of T cell activation, we studied the role of E2 in regulating gene transcription of CTLA-4, ICOS, B7-1, B7-2 and B7h ...To investigate whether estradiol (E2) plays a role in cell-contact-dependent regulatory mechanism of T cell activation, we studied the role of E2 in regulating gene transcription of CTLA-4, ICOS, B7-1, B7-2 and B7h in vitro. The splenic cells of normal female BALB/c mice were activated by ConA. Then the cells were cultured with E2 (100 pg/ml or 50 ng/ml) for 24 h or 48 h, respectively. The cell proliferation was measured by MTF assay and the expression of the co-stimulatory molecules mRNA was examined by RT-PCR analysis. We found that E2 (100 pg/ml, physiological level) stimulated the acti- vated spleen cells proliferation; inhibited CTLA-4, ICOS, TGF-β and IL-10 gene transcription; promoted B7-1 and B7-2 gene transcription. E2 (50 ng/ml, pregnant level) inhibited the proliferation of the activated splenic cells; promoted CTLA-4, B7-1, IL-10 but inhibited B7-2 and TGF-β gene transcription. Therefore, we conclude that the effects of E2 on T cell activation are partially through its regulation on the co-stimulatory molecules. The co-stimulatory molecules are crucial components of the cell-contact dependent regulatory mechanism, and E2 may regulate T cell activation by this mechanism.展开更多
<span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Objective</span></b></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span s...<span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Objective</span></b></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">:</span></b></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Circulating levels of sex hormones vary with age. Moreover, there is emerging evidence supporting that sex hormones have an influence on the immune response of women. Here, we investigated age-associated levels of sex hormones and <i></i></span><i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Mycobacterium</span></i><span> <i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">tuberculosis</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></span></i></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> (<i></i></span><i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Mtb</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></i>) </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">specific cytokines response in women. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Design</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">:</span></b></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Using immunoassay methods, we have measured and compared secretion levels of E2, P4 and <i></i></span><i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Mtb</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></i> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">specific secretion of 11 cytokines including Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), Interferon gamma (IFN-<i></i></span><i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">γ</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></i></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">), Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1<i></i></span><i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">β</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></i></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">), IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, and Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-<i></i></span><i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">α</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">) in forty-two (42) HIV-negative females. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Results</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">:</span></b></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) levels were significantly higher in younger women irrespective of their LTB status (p < [0.0001 - 0.05]). <i></i></span><i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Mtb</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></i></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> IL-8 specific response was significantly higher in women above 40 years old than in women under 40 years old</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">.</span> <b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Conclusion</span></b></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">:</span></b></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> In premenopausal women, there is an increase in the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 secretion in response to <i></i></span><i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Mtb</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></i></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">-antigen. This observation suggests an underlying link between the pro-inflammatory cytokine and age associated hormonal changes, which may have implications on the course of tuberculosis infection women.</span></span></span>展开更多
The effects of khat on the hormonal levels have been established;however, the effects on human beings are controversial. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible effects of khat on the levels of serum thyr...The effects of khat on the hormonal levels have been established;however, the effects on human beings are controversial. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible effects of khat on the levels of serum thyroid hormones, testosterone, estradiol (E2), prolactin and cortisol in men. A total of 50 blood samples were collected from healthy males who referred to chew khat for more than 10 years and analyzed for the above hormones. The results were compared to the hormonal levels of 35 non khat chewers. Chewing khat causes significant increases in the testosterone (P < 0.03), prolactin (P < 0.05), E2 (P < 0.00005), FT3 (P < 0.04), and TSH (P < 0.05) levels. No significant differences were found in the serum level of FT4 between the two groups. The level of cortisol were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in the khat chewers group compared to the control group. This study suggests that khat chewing can cause reduction in the cortisol level, which may cause increases of testosterone, prolactin and E2. In addition, chewing khat increases the level of TSH and FT3 serum levels. Therefore, khat may contribute to the relevant disorders caused by abnormal levels of the studied hormones in the people who are chewing展开更多
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic mechanisms of a breast lump resolution detergent in a rat model of breast hyperplasia. Methods: A rat model of breast hyperplasia was esta...Objective: This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic mechanisms of a breast lump resolution detergent in a rat model of breast hyperplasia. Methods: A rat model of breast hyperplasia was established using injections of estradiol benzoate combined with progesterone. The effects of the breast lump resolution detergent on nipple height and diameter in the rat model were observed, along with its impact on serum levels of estradiol (E2), prolactin (PRL), and progesterone (P). Additionally, the study examined the morphological changes in breast tissue. The impact of the breast nodule detergent on blood rheology parameters was also observed. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory effect of the breast nodule detergent was assessed using the cotton ball granuloma experiment, and the analgesic effect was observed using the writhing test. Results: The breast lump resolution detergent reduced nipple height and diameter in the rat model, decreased serum levels of E2, PRL, and P, and alleviated pathological changes in breast tissue. It also lowered hemorheological parameters including whole blood high, medium, and low shear viscosity, plasma viscosity, red blood cell hematocrit, red blood cell aggregation index, red blood cell deformability index, red blood cell electrophoresis time, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the acute “blood stasis” rat model. The detergent reduced the weight of cotton ball granulomas in mice and decreased the number of writhing episodes caused by acetic acid. Conclusion: The breast lump resolution detergent demonstrates favorable therapeutic effects in treating breast hyperplasia, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, exerting anti-inflammatory properties, and providing analgesic effects. The downregulation of serum E2 and PRL levels and the upregulation of P levels may be critical mechanisms underlying its efficacy.展开更多
文摘To investigate whether estradiol (E2) plays a role in cell-contact-dependent regulatory mechanism of T cell activation, we studied the role of E2 in regulating gene transcription of CTLA-4, ICOS, B7-1, B7-2 and B7h in vitro. The splenic cells of normal female BALB/c mice were activated by ConA. Then the cells were cultured with E2 (100 pg/ml or 50 ng/ml) for 24 h or 48 h, respectively. The cell proliferation was measured by MTF assay and the expression of the co-stimulatory molecules mRNA was examined by RT-PCR analysis. We found that E2 (100 pg/ml, physiological level) stimulated the acti- vated spleen cells proliferation; inhibited CTLA-4, ICOS, TGF-β and IL-10 gene transcription; promoted B7-1 and B7-2 gene transcription. E2 (50 ng/ml, pregnant level) inhibited the proliferation of the activated splenic cells; promoted CTLA-4, B7-1, IL-10 but inhibited B7-2 and TGF-β gene transcription. Therefore, we conclude that the effects of E2 on T cell activation are partially through its regulation on the co-stimulatory molecules. The co-stimulatory molecules are crucial components of the cell-contact dependent regulatory mechanism, and E2 may regulate T cell activation by this mechanism.
文摘<span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Objective</span></b></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">:</span></b></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Circulating levels of sex hormones vary with age. Moreover, there is emerging evidence supporting that sex hormones have an influence on the immune response of women. Here, we investigated age-associated levels of sex hormones and <i></i></span><i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Mycobacterium</span></i><span> <i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">tuberculosis</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></span></i></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> (<i></i></span><i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Mtb</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></i>) </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">specific cytokines response in women. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Design</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">:</span></b></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Using immunoassay methods, we have measured and compared secretion levels of E2, P4 and <i></i></span><i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Mtb</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></i> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">specific secretion of 11 cytokines including Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), Interferon gamma (IFN-<i></i></span><i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">γ</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></i></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">), Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1<i></i></span><i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">β</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></i></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">), IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, and Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-<i></i></span><i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">α</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">) in forty-two (42) HIV-negative females. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Results</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">:</span></b></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) levels were significantly higher in younger women irrespective of their LTB status (p < [0.0001 - 0.05]). <i></i></span><i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Mtb</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></i></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> IL-8 specific response was significantly higher in women above 40 years old than in women under 40 years old</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">.</span> <b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Conclusion</span></b></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">:</span></b></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> In premenopausal women, there is an increase in the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 secretion in response to <i></i></span><i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Mtb</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></i></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">-antigen. This observation suggests an underlying link between the pro-inflammatory cytokine and age associated hormonal changes, which may have implications on the course of tuberculosis infection women.</span></span></span>
文摘The effects of khat on the hormonal levels have been established;however, the effects on human beings are controversial. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible effects of khat on the levels of serum thyroid hormones, testosterone, estradiol (E2), prolactin and cortisol in men. A total of 50 blood samples were collected from healthy males who referred to chew khat for more than 10 years and analyzed for the above hormones. The results were compared to the hormonal levels of 35 non khat chewers. Chewing khat causes significant increases in the testosterone (P < 0.03), prolactin (P < 0.05), E2 (P < 0.00005), FT3 (P < 0.04), and TSH (P < 0.05) levels. No significant differences were found in the serum level of FT4 between the two groups. The level of cortisol were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in the khat chewers group compared to the control group. This study suggests that khat chewing can cause reduction in the cortisol level, which may cause increases of testosterone, prolactin and E2. In addition, chewing khat increases the level of TSH and FT3 serum levels. Therefore, khat may contribute to the relevant disorders caused by abnormal levels of the studied hormones in the people who are chewing
文摘Objective: This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic mechanisms of a breast lump resolution detergent in a rat model of breast hyperplasia. Methods: A rat model of breast hyperplasia was established using injections of estradiol benzoate combined with progesterone. The effects of the breast lump resolution detergent on nipple height and diameter in the rat model were observed, along with its impact on serum levels of estradiol (E2), prolactin (PRL), and progesterone (P). Additionally, the study examined the morphological changes in breast tissue. The impact of the breast nodule detergent on blood rheology parameters was also observed. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory effect of the breast nodule detergent was assessed using the cotton ball granuloma experiment, and the analgesic effect was observed using the writhing test. Results: The breast lump resolution detergent reduced nipple height and diameter in the rat model, decreased serum levels of E2, PRL, and P, and alleviated pathological changes in breast tissue. It also lowered hemorheological parameters including whole blood high, medium, and low shear viscosity, plasma viscosity, red blood cell hematocrit, red blood cell aggregation index, red blood cell deformability index, red blood cell electrophoresis time, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the acute “blood stasis” rat model. The detergent reduced the weight of cotton ball granulomas in mice and decreased the number of writhing episodes caused by acetic acid. Conclusion: The breast lump resolution detergent demonstrates favorable therapeutic effects in treating breast hyperplasia, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, exerting anti-inflammatory properties, and providing analgesic effects. The downregulation of serum E2 and PRL levels and the upregulation of P levels may be critical mechanisms underlying its efficacy.