bjectiveTo observe the effecacy of immunosuppressive agents on modulation of the disorders of inflammatory and antiinflammatory cytokines in acute pancreatitis, and to investigate the mechanism of treatment of acute pancreatitis with immunosuppressive agents. MethodsSD male rats were divided into 6 groups: group 1, the normal control group (n=6); group 2, acute pancreatitis induced by ductual injection of 5%sodium cholate sulfur at the volume of 1.0 ml/kg without treatment (n=8). After the pancreatitis were induced, the rest rats were injected intravenously with 5Fu 40 mg/kg (group 3, n=6); or methylprednisolone 30 mg/kg (group 4, n=6); or cyclophosphamide 20 mg/kg (group 5, n=6); or methotrexate 1.2 mg/kg (group 6, n=6). Twentyfour hours afteroperation, the animals were killed, the blood samples were taken for measurement of TNFα, IL1, IL6 (by bioassay), and IL10, TGFβ (by ELISA) as well as amylase. ResultsThe inflammatory cytokines (TNFα,IL1,IL6 ) and the antiinflammatory cytokines (IL10 and TGFβ), in blood of acute pancreatitis were increased significantly. After treated with immunosuppressive agents, both the inflammatory and antiinflammatory cytokines were decreased in different degrees. Some indexes of the severity of acute pancreatitis, such as amylase and pancreatic weight were improved obviously.ConclusionImmunosuppressive agents can regulate inflammatoryassociated cytokines increased remarkably in the acute pancreatitis. Therefore, improvement of acute pancreatitis can be achieved through rectifying the abnormal immunity and relieving the pathophysiological disorders of the acute pancreatitis by immunosuppressive agents.
Objective To investigate the effects of methylprednisolone on airway inflammation of chronic bronchitis in rats, and to explore its possible mechanism. Methods Forty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, ie. a blank control group, amethylprednisolone control group, a model group, and two methylprednisolone intervention groups. Chronic bronchitis model was established by cigarette inhalation in the model group and two intervention groups. Methylprednisolone was injected intraperitoneally in the two intervention groups before exposing to cigarette smog ( at the dose of 1 mg/ kg and 10 mg/ kg, qd,respectively) . The protein expression of phosphodiesterase 4D ( PDE4D ) in trachea and lung samples was determined by immunohistochemical staining. The average optical density of positive staining of PDE4D was determined by image analysis technique and gray scale scanning. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( BALF) was collected for total and differential cell counts, and the concentrations of TNF-αand interleukin-8 ( IL-8) in BALF were detected by ELISA. Results Cigarette smoking induced obvious airway inflammation in themodel group, and the inflammation was alleviated in the two methylprednisolone intervention groups.Compared with the two control groups, the expression of PDE4D was obviously elevated in tracheal and lungs in the model group( P lt; 0. 05) . Moreover, the increased expression of PDE4D was positively related with theincreased release of TNF-αand IL-8 in BALF. The expression of PDE4D and the release of TNF-αand IL-8 in BALF were decreased after the treatment with methylprednisolone in a dose-dependent manner ( P lt;0. 05) . Compare with the low dose intervention group, there was no markedly difference related to PMNnumber and TNF-α release in the high dose intervention group ( P gt; 0.05) . Conclusions Methylprednisolone may alleviate airway inflammation of chronic bronchitis by inhibiting the expression of PDE4D in rats. Inhibition of PDE4D may down-regulate TNF-αactivity, which may further reduce IL-8 release and alleviate airway inflammation.
Objective Methylprednisolone (MP) is the only active drug for acute spinal cord injury (SCI), but the molecular mechanism is still further studied. To investigate the pathophysiology of SCI and the molecular mechanism of MP in treating SCI. Methods Nine rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups, weighing (3 100 ± 140) g: sham operation group(group A, n=3), model group (group B, n=3), and drug treatment group (group C, n=3). After laminectomy was performed in3 groups, no treatment was given in group A, and the model of SCI was establ ished with modified Allen’s fall ing strike method in groups B and C at L4; then high-dose MP equivalent with human dose was adopted in group C at 2 hours after SCI and the normal sal ine in group B. All rabbits were sacrificed at 8 hours after SCI, and then the spinal cord tissues about 8 mm long which included the injuried site were obtained. Total RNA was isolated with Trizol one-step method to examine the gene expression profile by using Ogl io technologies with standard operating procedures and qual ity control as recently described respectively. GeneSpring11.0 analyzer software was used to filter potential candidate genes for statistical significance using Welch’s t test, and only genes with P lt; 0.05 and fold change (FC) ≥ 2 were retained for further analysis. Some differentially expressed genes were also verified by RT-PCR to ensure the rel iabil ity of microarray results. Results The SCI model was set up and the samples of spinal cord tissues were acquired successfully at 8 hours after SCI. The qual ify of total RNA from each group met the requirement for the microarray examination and data analysis. These differentially expressed genes involved inflammation, immunity, ion transportation, transcription factors, and so on. The results of genes IL-1α, IL-1β, and defensin 4 (NP-4) by RTPCR were consistent with that of gene-chips. The immuno-related genes included NP-3, NP-4, corticostatin 6, CAP-18, and antimicrobial peptide, which displayed obvious differential expression. Conclusion High-dose MP has protective effects on nervous function by the immunity mechanism, and the main effector may be neutrophil.
Objective To investigate the effect of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MP) and mouse nerve growth factor (mNGF) for injection in treating acute spinal cord injury (ASCI) and cauda equina injury. Methods Between December 2004 and December 2007, 43 patients with ASCI and cauda equina injury were treated, including 33 males and 10 females with an average age of 43 years (range, 32-66 years). Injured vertebral columns were C2 in 1 case, C4 in 5 cases, C5 in 7cases, C6 in 3 cases, T8 in 1 case, T10 in 1 case, T11 in 2 cases, T12 in 3 cases, L1 in 9 cases, L2 in 5 cases, L3 in 3 cases, L4 in 1 case, and L5 in 2 cases. All the patients had sensory disturbance and motor dysfunction at admission. The Frankel scale was used for assessment of nerve function, 5 cases were rated as Grade A, 12 as Grade B, 22 as Grade C, and 4 as Grade D before operation. In 43 patients, 23 cases were treated with MP and mNGF (group A), 20 cases with MP only (group B). There was no significant difference in general data between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). All the patients were admitted, received drug treatment within 8 hours of injury, and were given spinal canal decompression, bone transplantation, and internal fixation within 48 hours. The neurological function score systems of American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) were used for neurological scores before treament, at 1 week and 2 years after treatment. The scores of the activity of daily l iving (ADL) were evaluated and compared. Results All the patients achieved heal ing of incision by first intention. Forty-three cases were followed up 24-61 months with an average of 30 months. Bone graft fusion was achieved after 6-17 months, 11 months on average with stable fixation. No death and compl ications of osteonecrosis and central obesity occurred. There was no significant difference in neurological function scores and ADL scores between 2 groups before treatment (P gt; 0.05); however, the neurological function scores and ADL scores at 1 week and 2 years after treatment were higher than those before treatment (P lt; 0.01) in 2 groups. Group A had higher neurological function scores and ADL scores than group B (P lt; 0.01). At 1 week and 2 years after treatment, the improvement rates of neurological function of group A (47.8%, 11/23 and 91.3%, 21/23) were significantly higher (P lt; 0.01) than those of group B (30.0%, 6/20 and 70.0%, 14/20). Conclusion MP and mNGF play an important role in improving the neurological function in patients with ASCI and cauda equina injury.
【Abstract】 Objective To establ ish a stable animal model for glucocorticoid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head in rabbits. Methods Thirty-six adult New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into four groups:ten were injected twice with l i popolysaccharide (group A), ten were treated with a combination of l i popolysaccharideand methylprednisolone (group B), ten were injected three times with methylprednisolone (group C), and six wereinjected normal sal ine as a control (group D). MR imaging was performed in the rabbits before the first injection ofl i popolysaccharide or methylprednisolone, and at 2, 4, and 6 weeks after the last injection of l i popolysaccharide ormethylprednisolone. Histopathological changes in the femoral heads were observed by l ight microscope and transmission electron microscope at the end of six weeks after the injection. Vascular infusion with Chinese ink was made to evaluate the morphological changes of blood vessels in the femoral head. The percentage of trabecular bone area and empty lacunae and microvascular density were measured. According to the histological and MR imaging appearance of the femoral heads in all groups, the incidence of osteonecrosis of every group was calculated. Results Listlessness, blepharal hyperemia,less activity and reduced diet were found in the rabbits of groups A and B after injected with l ipopolysaccharide. At 3 weeks after the final injection, the body weight of groups B and C was decreased. At 4 weeks after the final injection, the body weight of groups A and D was increased. No abnormal signal could be detected on MR images in rabbits of all groupsbefore injection and at 2 weeks after the injection. At 4 weeks and 6 weeks after the last injection, irregular low signal on T1-weighted images and irregular low or high signal on T2-weighted images could be detected on MR images in rabbits of groups B and C, no abnormal signal could be detected on MR images in rabbits of groups A and D. At 6 weeks after the last injection,the trabecular bone of group B became thin and sparse, some were broken. The percentages of empty lacunae were 11.8% ± 4.7%, 34.4% ± 6.2%, 20.0% ± 4.7% and 9.3% ± 4.6%; the percentages of trabecular bone area were 59.2% ± 6.8%, 40.1% ± 6.0%, 51.5% ± 5.6% and 63.2% ± 8.3%; and the microvascular densities were 14.3% ± 2.7%, 4.5% ± 2.1%, 10.2% ± 3.1% and 15.4% ± 4.1% in groups A, B, C and D respectively. There were statistically significant differences between group B and groups A, C, D (P lt;0.01). The fatty tamponade accumulated in the medullary cavity and intramedullary vascular sinusoids were pressed by the l ipocytes and became narrow. Limposomes were found in osteocytes and vascular endothel ia of group B and group C. Osteocytes of group B crimpled and pyknosis or karyolysis of chromatin were observed in these osteocytes, nuclearmembrane of the osteocytes was discontinous. Vascular endothel ia became swollen and the cell junctions widened or were destroyed in groups A and B. The incidence of osteonecrosis in group B (88.9%) was higher than that in group C (22.2%, P lt; 0.05). There was no osteonecrosis occurred in groups A and D . Conclusion Methylprednisolone combined with l ipopolysaccharide can induce typical rabbit model for early avascular necrosis of femoral head.
Objective To investigate the effect of methylprednisolone on the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in Müller cells of rats’ retinae injured by laser. Methods Forty SD rats were randomly divided into two groups and inflicted with laser photocoagulation.The rats in treatment group were given methylprednisolone by intraperitoneal injection with a dose of 30 mg/kg for 3 days.At the 3rd,7th,14th,and 28th day after photocoagulation respectively, the eyes were enucleated,fixed and cut into sections.Immunohistochemical examination was used to detect the expression of PCNA and GFAP. Results After photocoagulation the Müller cells expressed PCNA both in the treatment and control group,and the expression of PCNA decreased sharply after 3 days. The expression of PCNA in treatment group was less than that in control group. After photocoagulation the Müller cells also expressed GFAP and the expression of GFAP lasted for at least 28 days ,and the expression of GFAP expression in the treatment group was less than that in the control group. Conclusion Methylprednisolone can reduce the expression of GFAP and PCNA in Müller cells of rats’ retinae injured by laser. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 299-301)
【Abstract】ObjectiveTo investigate the growth effect of methylprednisolone （MP） on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2.Methods Periodic distribution of cells and cellular apoptosis were detected by using cell culture,immunofluorescence staning of Annex Ⅴ and flow cytometric analysis in hepatocellular carcinoma cell.Results Compared with control group, methylprednisolone increased Ｇ0/Ｇ1 phase cell, decreased S phase cell on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 ,which had positive correlation with the time.The apoptosis rate and the necrosis rate of cells had the relation of dose-dependent with the concentration of MP, the cell membrane of early cellular apoptosis was stained green fluorescence. Conclusion Methylprednisolone can induce Ｇ0/Ｇ1 arrest , may play a proliferation-inhibition effect on the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2.
ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy of low-dose methylprednisolone combined with hydroxychloroquine and methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MethodsBetween January 2011 and May 2013, 60 RA patients on their first treatment with a disease course of less than or equal to 2 years were randomly divided to control group and treatment group Ⅰ with 30 patients in each. Patients in both the two groups were given hydroxychloroquine and methotrexate therapy, while the control group was treated with meloxicam (7.5 mg/time, 2 times/d) in addition, and the treatment group one was given methylprednisolone (4 mg/time, 2 times/d) in addition. Another 30 RA patients with a disease course of more than 5 years with no standardized treatment were designated into the treatment group Ⅱ. They accepted the same treatment scheme as treatment group Ⅰ. All the patients were evaluated one week after treatment to assess their clinical symptoms. Twelve weeks before and after treatment, the patients were evaluated on their clinical indicators and immunological indicators. ResultsThe clinical symptoms of patients in treatment group Ⅰ and Ⅱ were rapidly relieved within one week after treatment, and the curative effect was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). Twelve weeks after treatment, the treatment groups were significantly improved compared with the control group in clinical symptoms and DSA28 (P<0.05). The improvement of clinical symptoms and immunological tests in treatment group Ⅰ was more obvious than that in treatment groupⅡ. ConclusionLow-dose methylprednisolone combined with hydroxyl chloroquine and methotrexate can quickly and effectively relieve the clinical symptoms of the patients with RA, and patients with a shorter course of the disease have better clinical efficacy.