Influence of Methionine Supplementation in Chelation of Lead in Rats1

The influence of methionine supplementation on the efficacy of common antidotes to lead poisoning, calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (CaNa_2EDTA) and D-penicillamine (DPA), was investigated in rats. The animals were given lead acetate (0.1% in drinking water) for 12 weeks and thereafter treated with CaNa_2EDTA, DPA (0.3mmol/kg, intraperitoneally), DL-methionine (1.34 mmol/kg, intragastrically), or the combination of a chelating agent and methionine for 3 days. While chelating agents enhanced the urinary excretion of Pb, methionine increased the fecal excretion of Pb significantly. Treatment with the combination of a chelating agent and methionine did not potentiate the effect of each antidote. However, methionine supplementation increased the efficacy of both chelating agents in reducing the hepatic and renal Pb burden but not the blood Pb level. The Pb-induced inhibition of blood δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity and the increase in urinary excretion of δ-aminolevulinic acid were reversed to a certain extent by CaNa_2EDTA, DPA, and methionine but the combination did not improve their individual performances. The beneficial effects of methionine may be attributed to its ability to increase the bioavailability of glutathione (GSH), useful in chelating Pb and counteracting the toxic effects, as evidenced by restoration of the Pb-induced decrease in hepatic GSH level by treatment with methionine. Methionine may be useful as a supportive therapy in chelation of Pb. (c)1989 Academic Press. Inc.

Outlook of PINK1/Parkin signaling in molecular etiology of Parkinson's disease,with insights into Pink1 knockout models

Parkinson’s disease(PD)relates to defective mitochondrial quality control in the dopaminergic motor network.Genetic studies have revealed that PINK1 and Parkin mutations are indicative of a heightened propensity to PD onset,pinpointing mitophagy and inflammation as the culprit pathways involved in neuronal loss in the substantia nigra(SNpc).In a reciprocal manner,LRRK2 functions in the regulation of basal flux and inflammatory responses responsible for PINK1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy activation.Pharmacological intervention in these diseasemodifying pathways may facilitate the development of novel PD therapeutics,despite the current lack of an established drug evaluation model.As such,we reviewed the feasibility of employing the versatile global Pink1knockout(KO)rat model as a self-sufficient,spontaneous PD model for investigating both disease etiology and drug pharmacology.These rats retain clinical features encompassing basal mitophagic flux changes with PD progression.We demonstrate the versatility of this PD rat model based on the incorporation of additional experimental insults to recapitulate the proinflammatory responses observed in PD patients.

RATSl基因对人食管癌细胞c-myc基因表达的降调节作用

将含有RATSIcDNA的真核表达载体pCDVl与含有neo抗性基因的表达载体pDOR—neo经Lipofectin法共转染人食管癌细胞系EC109细胞。结果发现:转染RATSl基因后的抗性克隆细胞生长受到抑制,形态发生明显改变,并且逐渐脱落死亡。经RT—PCR分析发现,转染后有RATSl基因表达的细胞克隆,c-myc基因表达降低,两者呈反向相关,即RATSl基因表达愈高,c-myc基因表达降低愈明显.这与直接用维甲酸处理细胞后所得结果相类似,说明RATSl基因可能是维甲酸诱发人食管癌细胞终末分化与凋亡的过程中所激活的关键基因之一,同时也提示RATSl基因与c-myc基因两者存在着密切关系。

14-3-3σ负调控Akt抑制Rat1-Akt细胞成瘤性

目的:研究腺病毒介导14-3-3.σ(Ad-14-3-.3σ)对Akt过表达Rat1-Akt细胞成瘤性的作用,并探讨其作用是否通过负调控Akt而实现。方法:通过半体内和体内实验观察Ad-14-3-.3σ转染对Rat1-Akt细胞在裸鼠中成瘤性的影响;采用W estern b lotting方法检测转染14-3-.3σ基因后肿瘤组织内14-3-.3σ蛋白及其对Akt蛋白、Akt磷酸化活性和Akt磷酸化底物水平的影响。结果:无论体外用Ad-14-3-3σ处理Rat1-Akt细胞,还是体内经瘤内注射Ad-14-3-3σ,均可见14-3-3.σ可使荷瘤鼠肿瘤体积显著缩小(P<0.05),出现肿瘤的时间推迟,其中以长时间不间断给药疗效最好;转染14-3-.3σ基因治疗组的肿瘤组织中Akt蛋白、Akt-Thr308位点磷酸化活性及Akt磷酸化底物水平低于转染Ad-β-gal或PBS处理的对照组。结论:14-3-3σ可抑制Rat1-Akt细胞在裸鼠中的成瘤性,14-3-3σ通过负性调控Akt蛋白水平和磷酸化活性而抑瘤。

14-3-3σ调控p27抑制Rat1-Akt细胞增殖

目的:研究腺病毒介导14-3-3.σ(Ad-14-3-.3σ)对Akt过表达Rat1-Akt细胞增殖的影响,并探讨其作用是否通过调控p27而实现。方法:通过5-溴-2′脱氧尿嘧啶(B rdU)实验检测Ad-14-3-3.σ对Rat1-Akt细胞增殖的影响,并通过激酶分析法和免疫荧光实验探讨Ad-14-3-3.σ对p27磷酸化水平及其在细胞内定位的影响。结果:Ad-14-3-3σ转染的细胞B rdU阳性率(45%)低于PBS处理组(100%)或Ad-β-gal转染的对照组细胞(98%)。14-3-3σ可降低磷酸化p27的水平和减少Akt介导的p27在胞浆中的定位。结论:转染14-3-3σ基因能抑制Akt过表达细胞株Rat1-Akt增殖,14-3-3σ通过降低Akt激酶磷酸化p27的活性,阻断Akt介导的p27胞浆错位,从而发挥其抑制Rat1-Akt细胞增殖。

人食管癌DNA介导的转化细胞系的建立

本文从人食管癌组织提取高分子量DNA,在体外对大鼠成纤维细胞Rat—1进行转染,建立了人食管癌转化细胞系。经软琼脂培养,分子杂交和裸鼠致瘤性等实验证明,这些转化细胞系具有恶性表型,具有肿瘤形成能力,存在人的DNA序列。本细胞系将为深入研究人食管癌癌基因奠定了基础。

Protective Effects of Ginsenoside Rb1 on Septic Rats and Its Mechanism

This study aims to observe the protective effects of ginsenoside Rbl on liver and lung in rats with septic shock and reveal its mechanism. Rats were randomly divided into three groups： sham, cecal ligation and puncture （CLP）, and CLP with ginsenoside Rb1. Then, the survival rate, arterial blood pressure, TLR4 mRNA, and TNF-α levels were determined. The liver and lung tissues were stained with hematoxylin-eosin （HE）. The overall survival rate of the Rb1 group was significantly higher than that of the CLP group. Mean arterial blood pressure went down in both the CLP and Rb1 groups after CLP, and there was a significant difference both in the sham and Rb1 groups when compared with the CLP group. The Rb1 treatment group had markedly lower TLR4 mRNA expression and TNF-a levels than the CLP group. In the CLP group, pathology showed swelling, degeneration, necrosis, and neutrophii infiltration in the liver and alveolar epithelial cells. However, in the Rb1 group, there was mild degeneration and slight neutrophil infiltration, but no obvious necrosis. Rb1 may improve the survival rate, ameliorate arterial blood pressure, and protect the liver and lung in septic shock rats by downregulating the expression of TLR4 mRNA and inhibiting the production of TNF-α.

Effect of Kaiyu Qingwei Granule (开郁清胃颗粒) on Insulin Receptor in Liver and Skeletal Muscular Cell Membrane in Diabetes Mellitus Rats

Objective: To investigate the effect of Kaiyu Qingwei granule (KYQWG, on the insulin binding capacity of liver and skeletal muscular cell membrane and serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Rats in four experimental groups were investigated: the control group, the model group, the KYQWG group and the Metformin group. The insulin binding rate (IBR) of liver and skeletal muscular cell membrane was detected by receptor-ligand ra-diometric method and changes of serum levels of glucose, insulin and IGF-1 were observed before and after 4 weeks of medication. Results: The KYQWG group had a lower blood glucose level and ffiR of liver and muscular cell membrane, as compared with those in the model group (P<0. 01 or P<0.05), and a higher level of IGF-1 than that in the model group(P<0.01), but had no obvious changes in the serum level of insulin. Conclusion: KYQWG may increase the serum level of IGF-1 in diabetic rats, thus to decrease the insulin resistance at ante-receptor sites and improve the sugar metabolic disturbance in rats with diabetes mellitus.

Baicalin protects neonatal rat brains against hypoxicischemic injury by upregulating glutamate transporter 1 via the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway

Baicalin is a flavonoid compound extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis root.Recent evidence indicates that baicalin is neuroprotective in models of ischemic stroke.Here,we investigate the neuroprotective effect of baicalin in a neonatal rat model of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.Seven-day-old pups underwent left common carotid artery ligation followed by hypoxia（8% oxygen at 37°C） for 2 hours,before being injected with baicalin（120 mg/kg intraperitoneally） and examined 24 hours later.Baicalin effectively reduced cerebral infarct volume and neuronal loss,inhibited apoptosis,and upregulated the expression of p-Akt and glutamate transporter 1.Intracerebroventricular injection of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B（PI3 K/Akt） inhibitor LY294002 30 minutes before injury blocked the effect of baicalin on p-Akt and glutamate transporter 1,and weakened the associated neuroprotective effect.Our findings provide the first evidence,to our knowledge that baicalin can protect neonatal rat brains against hypoxic-ischemic injury by upregulating glutamate transporter 1 via the PI3 K/Akt signaling pathway.

POTENT HYPOTENSIVE EFFECTS OF ORPHANIN FQ IN CONSCIOUS STROKE-PRONE SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

Orphanin FQ（OFQ） or nociceptin is a novel neuropeptide consisting of 17 amino acids. This peptide has a primary structure reminiscent of that of opioid peptide but exhibits an opposite effect to make animals hyperreactive. The effect of this new peptide on cardiovascular function are not completely known. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of intravenous bolus injection of orphanin FQ on mean arterial blood presure （MABP） in conscious stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRsp). Adult male SHRsp and Wistar normotensive rats （250～300 g body weight, 2. 5～3 months old） were used in this study. The MABP was measured in the conscious state by a tail-cuff method. In SHRsp model, intravenous bolus injection of orphanin FQ or Tyr1-orphanin FQ （0. 5 mg/kg） induced a prolonged and marked reduc- tion in MABP. The maximum changes in MABP were -30. 2±4. 2 mmHg by orphanin FQ and -28. 2± 4. 7 mmHg by Tyr1-orphanin FQ at 10 min after administration,and this effect lasted over 30 min. The Phe1→Tyr substitution in orphanin FQ was found to retain almost fully hypotensive activity. Pretreatment of SHRsp with naloxone-HCI（60 μg/kg）, 5 min before the injection of orphanin FQ, did not block the hy- potensive effect of orphanin FQ. Therefore, opioid receptors could not account for the hypotensive effect of orphanin FQ in SHRsp. In Wistar rats, intravenous bolus injection of the same dose of orphanin FQ did not cause a change in MABP. These observations suggest that orphanin FQ is a novel hypotensive peptide and may have some role in the regulation of blood pressure in SHRsp, rather than in normotensive rats. The ex-act underlying mechanisms are waiting to be clarified.

Distribution of phosphorylated Elk-1 in rat brain after Y-maze active avoidance training in a temporal manner

BACKGROUND： Elk-1 mRNA distributes extensively in the neurons of mice, rat and human brains, and the Elk-1 expression may be correlated with the synaptic plasticity, learning and memory. OBJECTIVE： To observe the distribution of phosphorylated Elk-1 （pEIk-1） in whole brain of rats received Y-maze active avoidance training and the changes of pEIk-1 expression at different time points after training. DESIGN ： A randomized controlled study SETTING ： Research Room of Neurobiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University MATERIALS ： Fifty-five male clean-degree SD rats of 3-4 months old, weighing 200-250 g, were provided by the Experimental Animal Center of Southem Medical University. The rabbit anti-monoclonal pEIk-1 antibody was purchased from Cell Signal Transduction Company, and ABC kit from Vector Company. METHODS ： The experiments were carried out in the Research Room of Neurobiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University from September 2004 to February 2005. ① Grouping： The rats were randomly divided into training group （n = 25）, sham-training group （n = 25） and normal control group （n = 5）, and the training and sham-training groups were observed at 0, 1, 3, 6 and 24 hours after training, which represented the five phases in the process of leaming and memory. ② Y-maze training： The rats were preconditioned in the electrical Y-maze apparatus, 20 minutes a day for 3 days continuously, and training began from the 4^th day. In the training group, the rats were trained with the combination of light and electddty. Each rat repeated for 60 times in each training, and the correct times were recorded, those correct for less than 25 times were taken as unqualified, and excluded from the training group, and supplemented by other rats in time. In the sham-training group, there was no fixed correlation between the application of light and electricity. The rats in the normal contrel group were given not any training. ③Detection of pEIk-1 expression： The rats were anesthetized after Y-maze training, brain tissue was removed to prepare coronal freezing sections, and the pEIk-1 expression was detected with routine ABC method. MATN OUTCOME MEASURES： ① Distribution of pEIk-1 immuno-positive neurons in whole brain of rats in the normal control group. ②Comparison of the expression of pEIk-1 immuno-positive neurons in whole brain at different time points after training between the training group and sham-training group. RESULTS ： All the 55 rats were involved in result analysis. ③ Distribution of pEIk-1 immuno-positive neurons in the whole brain of rats in the normal control group： Strong expressions of pEIk-1 immuno-positive neurons were observed in prefrontal lobe, granular layer of olfactory bulbs, Purkinje cell layer and granular layer of cerebellum, whole stdate cortex, temporal cortex, pre-pyriform cortex, hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus, hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and periventricular nucleus, thalamic paraventricular nucleus, pronucleus and postnucleus of amygdala cortex, central nucleus of amygdala, medial amygdaloid nucleus, entorhinal cortex, hippocampal dentate gyros, CA1-4 regions, caudate-putamen, material division, brain stem spinal nucleus of trigeminal nerve, and superior olivary nucleus, and those in hippocampal dentate gyrus and CA1 region were the strongest.② Distribution of pEIk-1 immuno-positive neurons in the whole brain of rats at different time points after training in the training group and sham-training group： In the training group, the expressions were obviously enhanced in caudate-putamen of striatum, material division, most cortexes, hippocampal dentate gyrus, hippocampal CA regions, nucleus amygdalae, thalamic paraventricular nucleus, Purkinje cell layer of cerebellum, entorhinal cortex, hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus, hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, and periventricular nucleus at 0 hour after training, and the enhancement lasted for 6 hours at least, and those at 24 hours were decreased to normal. In the sham-training group, obvious enhanced expressions of pEIk-1 immuno-positive neurons could be observed in most cortexes, nucleus amygdalae, entorhinal cortex, hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus, hypothalamic paraventdoular nucleus and periventricular nucleus, brain stem spinal nucleus of trigeminal nerve, Purkinje cell layer and granular layer of cerebellum at O, 1, 3 and 6 hours, and decreased to normal after 24 hours. The expressions in material division, caudate-putamen of striatum, hippocampus were not obviously enhanced as compared with those in the normal control group, but significantly different from those in the training group （0, 1, 3, 6 hours after training, material division： F= 0.576, 0.023, 0.116, 8.873, P〈 0.01; caudate-putamen： F= 0.157, 0.427, 0.030, 0.001, P〈 0.01; hippocampus： F= 6.716, 2.405, 14.137, 1.416, P 〈 0.05-0.01 ）. CONCLUSION： The expression of activated pEIk-1 can be detected in the learning related brain areas under normal status, and the perk-1 expression in the brain areas dynamically changed in a time-dependent manner after Y-maze training, and it is indicated that pEIk-1 is involved in the learning and memory process in Y-maze related brain areas.

Effect of Hypertonic Versus Isotonic Saline Resuscitation on Heme Oxygenase-1 Expression in Visceral Organs Following Hemorrhagic Shock in Rats

To compare the early effects of hypertonic and isotonic saline resuscitation on heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1） expression in organs of rats with hemorrhagic shock. Rats were randomly divided into hypertonic saline resuscitation （HTS）, normal saline resuscitation （NS） and sham groups. HO-1 mRNA, protein expression and apoptosis were evaluated in organs. In the HTS group, significant difference was noted in HO-1 protein in small intestinal mucosa and liver compared with the NS and sham groups, and in HO-1 mRNA in liver and kidney compared with the sham group. The apoptosis of small intestinal mucosa, liver, heart, and lung was significantly lower in the HTS group than that in the NS group. In this study, small volume resuscitation with HTS can efficiently up-regulate the expression level of HO-1 in small intestinal mucosa and liver, which may be one of the mechanisms alleviating organ damage.

Progesterone is neuroprotective by inhibiting cerebral edema after ischemia

Ischemic edema can alter the structure and permeability of the blood-brain barrier. Recent studies have reported that progesterone reduces cerebral edema after cerebral ischemia. However, the underlying mechanism of this effect has not yet been elucidated. In the present study, progesterone effectively reduced Evans blue extravasation in the ischemic penumbra, but not in the ischemic core, 48 hours after cerebral ischemia in rats. Progesterone also inhibited the down-regulation of gene and protein levels of occludin and zonula occludens-1 in the penumbra. These results indicate that progesterone may effectively inhibit the down-regulation of tight junctions, thereby maintaining the integrity of the blood-brain barrier and reducing cerebral edema.

The role of ERK1/2 signaling pathway in coronary microembolization-induced rat myocardial inflammation and injury

Objectives In this work,we explore the effect of atorvastatin on myocardial apoptosis and caspase-8 acti- vation after coronary microembolization(CME) in rats. Methods Fifty rats were randomly divided into five groups; the coronary microembolization(CME) group,the sham-operated (sham) control group,the gastric lavage control group, the atorvastatin lavage group,and the caspasse-8 inhibitor (N-acetyl-Ile-Glu-Thr-Asp-CHO,abbreviated as CHO) group,with 10 rats for each group.A microembolization ball was injected through the left ventricle for constructing the CME model.Animals in the sham control group were given an injection of physiological saline instead of the microembolization ball.Seven days before the operation,the atorvastatin group underwent gastric lavage with 20 mg/kg of atorvastatin once a day.Gastric lavage control animals underwent gastric lavage with an equivalent dose of physiological saline instead of the atorvastatin.Animals in the CHO group were given an intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg of CHO 30 min before the operation.Six hours after the operation,cardiac ultrasonic detection was conducted on each group to measure the cardiac function indexes.TUNEL(Terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling) assays were used to measure myocardial apoptosis,and western blots were used to quantify the expression levels of activated caspase-3 and -8.Results(1) The echocardiographic parameters showed that,compared to the sham control animals,the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) of the CME group was significantly decreased(P【0.05).In addition, cardiac sonography revealed a decrease in the left ventricular shortening fraction(FS) and cardiac output(CO), but an increase in the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDd).Compared to the CME group,the atorvastatin and CHO groups exhibited significantly improved cardiac function (P【0.05).(2) When compared with the sham control,the myocardical apoptotic rate of the CME group,as well as the levels of activated caspase-3 and-8,increased significantly (P【0.05).The myocardial apoptotic rate,as well as the levels of activated caspase-3 and caspase-8 in the atorvastatin and CHO groups,decreased significandy(P【0.05) in comparison to the CME group.Conclusions The atorvastatin pretreatment clearly suppressed post-CME myocardial apoptosis and improved cardiac function.The most likely mechanism for these effects is the blockade of the myocardial death receptor -mediated apoptosis pathway.

Rosiglitazone uppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity in rat aortic endothelial cells via rasMEK1/2 signaling

ix metalloproteinase(MMPs) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory disease,such as atherosclerosis.Among MMPs,MMP-2 is regarded as a major proteinase in atherosclerotic plaque lesions.Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma(PPARg) ameliorates oxidative stress and the inflammatory response.The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Rosiglitazone on Lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced MMP-2 activation as well as its possible mechanism.LPS-induced MMP-2 activity was inhibited by Rosiglitazone(PPARg agonist) in the rat aortic endothelial cells(RAEC).LPS-induced MMP-2 activation was diminished no matter exposure to NF-kB Activation Inhibitor II(JSH-23)or Ras inhibitor,farnesylthiosalicylic acid(FTS). Further study shows that LPS-induced activation of Phospho-Rho A and Phospho-MEKl/2 were significantly inhibited by Rosiglitazone.The activation of NF-kB p65 in the nuclear extract of cells was also significantly suppressed by Rosiglitazone, moreover,the expression of NF-κB p65 was partly activated by GW9662(PPARg antagonist).NF-kB DNA binding activity was also demolished by Rosiglitazone.In summary,our data showed that PPARg agonist,Rosiglitazone suppresses LPS-activated MMP-2 secretion via Ras-MEK1/2 signaling pathways and NF-kB activation.PPARg agonist and Ras-MEK1/2 pathway may be another potential therapeutic target for the disease induced by chronic inflammation.

Influence of deferoxamine on hydrocephalus after intraventricular hemorrhage and expressions of Wnt1 and Wnt3a in rat

Objective To observe the effect of deferoxamine on chronic hydrocephalus after intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and the role of Wnt (Wnt1 and Wnt3a) . Methods A total of 130 Sprague Dawley male rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups: normal control group, sham IVH group,IVH group and deferoxamine-treated group.

Wenyang Huazhuo Fang exerts transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily C member-dependent nephroprotection in a rat model of doxorubicin-induced nephropathy

OBJECTIVE:To determine the effect of Wenyang Huazhuo Fang(WHF),a Traditional Chinese Medicine decoction,on renal function in a rat model of doxorubicin-induced nephropathy,and to elucidate the underlying mechanism.METHODS:Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups:control,doxorubicin-nephropathy,and prednisone-treated(6.45 mg·kg^-1·d^-1)doxorubicin nephropathy groups,as well as high-(7.26 g·kg^-1·d^-1),medium-(2.42 g·kg-1·d-),and low-dose(0.81 g·kg^-1·d^-1)WHF-treated doxorubicin-nephropathy groups.The nephropathy rat model was established by two tail vein injections of doxorubicin,followed by prednisone or WHF treatment for 8 weeks.Body weights were monitored and urinary protein was measured every 2 weeks.After the end of the treatment period,the rats were euthanized.Serum biochemical indicators were determined and renal morphological alterations were assessed using histological staining.The expression of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily C member 6(TRPC6),stromal interaction molecule 1(STIM1),and calcium release-activated calcium channel protein 1(Orai1)was detected using western blotting,and their mRNA levels were examined using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.RESULTS:WHF treatment was found to significantly ameliorate weight loss,proteinuria,hypoalbuminemia,and dyslipidemia in doxorubicin-nephropathy rats.The protein and mRNA levels of TRPC6,STIM1,and Orai1 were partially,but significantly suppressed by prednisone or WHF treatment.CONCLUSION:Treatment with WHF significantly ameliorates renal injury in a rat model of doxorubicin-induced nephropathy,which could be at least partially related to repression of the TRPC6 pathway.

Blockade of 4-1BB/4-1BB ligand interactions prevents acute rejection in rat liver transplantation

Background Blocking the 4-1BB/4-1BB ligand （4-1BBL） signal may modulate the secretion of Th1/Th2 cytokines and prolong the survival of the grafts, which play a key role in organ transplantation tolerance. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of blockade of the 4-1BB/4-1BBL co-stimulatory pathway with 4-1BBL monoclonal antibody （mAB） in acute rejection of rat orthotopic liver transplantation. Methods The orthotopic liver transplantation model was set up, while male Lewis rats were used as liver donors and Brown-Norway rats as recipients. The recipient rats were intravenously injected with anti 4-1BBL mAB or isotype control antibody. Groups were monitored for graft survival after transplantation. Plasma chemistry, including aspartate transaminase （AST）, alanine aminotransferase （ALT）, and bilirubin （BIL）, was assayed. The concentrations of interleukin （IL）-2, IL-10 and interferon （IFN）-γ in plasma were also measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Allograft histology images were collected under light microscope and electron microscope. Results Isotype antibody treated recipients exhibited elevated plasma levels of liver injury markers including AST, ALT and BIL, progressive portal and venous inflammation and cellular infiltration of the liver ailografts, and a mean graft survival time （MST） of 10.9 days. Administration of anti 4-1BBL mAB resulted in a decrease in plasma levels of liver injury markers and the concentrations of IL-2, IL-10 and IFN-γ. The histological grade of rejection on day 7 decreased and MST （17.3 days） increased substantially. Conclusions These results demonstrate that attenuation of acute rejection follows the blockade of the 4-1BB/4-1BBL co-stimulatory pathway with 4-1BBL monoclonal antibody and strongly suggest it is a promising strategy to prevent progression of graft rejection by suppressing T cell-mediated immunity.

Interelation between nitric oxide and endothelin-1 in an experimental acute hypoxia in rats and its intervention

Objectives To study the interrelation between nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin 1 (ET 1) in experimental acute hypoxic rats, and to evaluate the mechanism of acute hypoxic pulmonary hypertension affected by NO and ET 1 and its intervention.Methods Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) diaphorase histochemical staining method, Griess biochemical assay and radioimmune assay were applied to investigate the changes of nitric oxide syntheses (NOS), NO and ET 1 in normal, hypoxic, and L Arginine (L Arg) and dexamethasone treated hypoxic rats.Results In normal rats, the NOS stain was localized in pulmonary vascular endothelium, and in the hypoxic rats, the activity of NOS was significantly lower. The level of plasma NO was significantly lower during acute hypoxia, but L Arg as well as dexamethasone could prevent the drop of plasma NO. The level of plasma ET 1 rose up significantly in the acute hypoxic rats, but after L Arg therapy, it was significantly reduced, however, dexamethasone could not affect plasma ET 1. The level of plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) was significantly lower in the acute hypoxic rats, and L Arg could prevent the drop of plasma cGMP, but dexamethasone could not prevent the drop of plasma cGMP. Conclusions NO and ET 1 may modulate hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and acute hypoxia can result in acute hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. L Arg can reverse the acute hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Further study is needed if dexamethasone is beneficial in acute hypoxic diseases. NO may play an important role in physiology of the lung and acute hypoxic diseases.