Arctigenin from Arctium lappa inhibits interleukin-2 and interferon gene expression in primary human T lymphocytes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Arctium lappa </it>(<it>Niubang</it>), a Chinese herbal medicine, is used to treat tissue inflammation. This study investigates the effects of arctigenin (AC), isolated from <it>A. lappa</it>, on anti-CD3/CD28 Ab-stimulated cell proliferation and cytokine gene expression in primary human T lymphocytes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cell proliferation was determined with enzyme immunoassays and the tritiated thymidine uptake method. Cytokine production and gene expression were analyzed with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>AC inhibited primary human T lymphocytes proliferation activated by anti-CD3/CD28 Ab. Cell viability test indicated that the inhibitory effects of AC on primary human T lymphocyte proliferation were not due to direct cytotoxicity. AC suppressed interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, AC decreased the IL-2 and IFN-γ gene expression in primary human T lymphocytes induced by anti-CD3/CD28 Ab. Reporter gene analyses revealed that AC decreased NF-AT-mediated reporter gene expression.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>AC inhibited T lymphocyte proliferation and decreased the gene expression of IL-2, IFN-γ and NF-AT.</p

Detection of Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein Using a Quartz Crystal Microbalance

Current methods for diagnosing early stage osteoarthritis (OA) based on the magnetic resonance imaging and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods are specific, but require specialized laboratory facilities and highly trained personal to obtain a definitive result. In this work, a user friendly and non-invasive quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) immunosensor method has been developed to detect Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP) for early stage OA diagnosis. This QCM immunosensor was fabricated to immobilize COMP antibodies utilizing the self-assembled monolayer technique. The surface properties of the immunosensor were characterized by its FTIR and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS). The feasibility study was based on urine samples obtained from 41 volunteers. Experiments were carried out in a flow system and the reproducibility of the electrodes was evaluated by the impedance measured by EIS. Its potential dynamically monitored the immunoreaction processes and could increase the efficiency and sensitivity of COMP detection in laboratory-cultured preparations and clinical samples. The frequency responses of the QCM immunosensor changed from 6 kHz when testing 50 ng/mL COMP concentration. The linear regression equation of frequency shift and COMP concentration was determined as: y = 0.0872 x + 1.2138 (R2 = 0.9957). The COMP in urine was also determined by both QCM and EIS for comparison. A highly sensitive, user friendly and cost effective analytical method for the early stage OA diagnosis has thus been successfully developed

Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Primary Dysmenorrhea

Objectives. Dysmenorrhea is a disturbing problem among women of childbearing age. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of high-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on primary dysmenorrhea and to compare the placebo effect by sham TENS in a randomized controlled study. Materials and Methods. Twenty- two women participated in the two-month experiment by using TENS or sham TENS in a random order for their dysmenorrhea. Outcome measures included self- reported pain intensity, symptom and function questionnaire related to dysmenorrhea, quality of life, satisfaction after TENS application, and other pain management agents adapted by the participants. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (two-way ANOVA) was conducted to compare pain intensity between pre- post values and groups (TENS vs. placebo). One -way repeated measures analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) was conducted to compare scores from questionnaire of symptoms and quality of life at baseline, and after placebo or TENS stimulation. Results. Pain intensity in TENS is significantly decreased than in the placebo group (p = 0.018). The decrease of pain intensity after TENS and placebo TENS were both significant, with p < 0.00005 and p < 0.00005 respectively. Furthermore, TENS significantly changed the degree of autonomic symptoms (p = 0.048); but not after placebo TENS. Conclusion. This result supports that women in our country who suffer from primary dysmenorrhea could benefit by using TENS, which is consistent with the previous studies. In addition to pain- relieving effects, relief of the autonomic symptoms associated with dysmenorrhea also indicated that the mechanism of TENS might be different from the placebo effect of the sham TENS stimulation. These findings indicate the immediate effects of TENS in women with primary dysmenorrheal

Spatial Organization of Premotor Neurons Related to Vertical Upward and Downward Saccadic Eye Movements in the Rostral Interstitial Nucleus of the Medial Longitudinal Fasciculus (Rimlf) in the Cat

　　The rostral interstitial nucleus of the medial longitudinal fasciculus (riMLF) contains premotor-neurons that are related to the control of vertical and torsional saccadic eye movements. In the present-study, complimentary light microscopic anterograde biocytin and retrograde horseradish peroxidase experiments have been performed to determine the organization of premotor neurons in the riLF in the cat that are related intimately to the vertical motoneuron populations in the oculomotor and trochlear nuclei. The results indicate a rostral-caudal topographic arrangement of neurons in the riMLF that is related to the target projections to vertical downward(inferior rectus and superior oblique) and vertical upward (superior rectus and inferior oblique) retrograde studies are consistent in demonstrating the tendency for downward and upward riMLF neurons to be spatially separated by a distance of approximately 0.5 mm in the rostral motoneurons, however, are bilateral and presumably provide one means for assuring the conjugacy of vertical saccadic eye movements. Since premotor burst neurons that encode parameters for upward or downward saccades are intermingled within the riMLF, and excitatory and inhibitory premotor neurons also coexist in this region, the findings from this study suggest that subregions of the riMLF contain coexistent populations of excitatory and inhibitory neurons that are related to opposite directions of vertical eye movements. The spatial segregation of excitatory premotor neurons in the riMLF that are related to vertical upward versus downward movements furthermore provides a basis for the interpretation of vertical upward and/or downward gaze palsies that might result from discrete lesions at the mesodiencephalic junction in humans