[Surface markers and functions of human dendritic cells exposed to mobile phone 1800 MHz electromagnetic fields].

Objective: To investigate the effects of mobile phone 1800 MHz electromagnetic fields (EMF) on the surface markers and the functions of human dendritic cells (DC).

Methods: Human DCs were exposed to intermittent 5 min on/10 min off EMF with specific absorption rates (SAR) 4 W/kg for 0 h, 1 h, 12 h or 24 h, respectively. FACS analysis was used to detect the positive percentage of DC surface markers including HLA-DR and co-stimulatory molecules such as CD80, CD86, CD40 and CD11c.

Effects of cryptoporus polysaccharide on rat allergic rhinitis associated with inhibiting eotaxin mRNA expression.

Aqueous extract from the fruiting body of Cryptoporus volvatus has been reported to present anti-tumor, anti-allergy, anti-inflammation and immunomodulatory activities. However, the effect mechanisms of anti-allergy and anti-inflammation are poorly understood. The aim of study is to evaluate whether Cryptoporus polysaccharides (CP) extracted from fruiting body of Cryptoporus volvatus decrease the development of nasal symptoms, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to methacholine (MCh) and the infiltration of eosinophils in nasal mucosa in rat model of allergic rhinitis, and investigate a possible action mechanism of CP by detecting the expression of eotaxin mRNA in nasal mucosa and lung tissues.

[Therapeutic effect of cationic liposome-mediated interleukin-12 gene delivery on murine melanoma in vivo].

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect of cationic liposome-mediated interleukin-12 gene delivery on established murine melanoma in vivo.

Methods: The lipofectin encapsulated pCmIL-12 plasmid was given to C57BL/6 mice on the day 3,5,7,9 after inoculation of B16 melanoma cells. The tumor size, the survival time of mice and the NK cell activity were observed.

[Expression of eotaxin mRNA and TNF-alpha mRNA in lung tissues of sensitized mice and modulation by anti-inflammatory drugs].

Objective: To establish determination methods of eotaxin mRNA and TNF-alpha mRNA expression in the lung tissue of mice.

Methods: Eotaxin mRNA and TNF-alpha mRNA expressions were determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The functional implications of eotaxin mRNA and TNF-alpha mRNA expression were examined by detecting the numbers of total leucocytes and eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF).

[The effect of a mouse IL-12 plasmid on airway inflammation and cytokine production in a mouse asthmatic model].

Objective: To investigate the effect of a mouse IL-12 gene expressive plasmid (mIL-12 plasmid) on the airway inflammation and the cytokine production in asthmatic mice and to study the possible mechanisms.

Methods: A mouse model of asthma was established by sensitization with ovalbumin (OVA). Forty-one BALB/c mice were divided into six groups including an asthmatic model group (group A, eight mice, sensitized with OVA plus challenging with OVA by aerosol), a model control group (group B, six mice, sensitized with OVA plus aerosolizing with normal saline), a mIL-12 plasmid prevention group (group C, eight mice, receiving intramuscularly mIL-12 plasmid 100 micro g on day 1, day 3, and day 5), a mIL-12 plasmid treatment group (group D, eight mice, receiving intramuscularly mIL-12 plasmid 100 micro g on day 14, day 16, and day 18), an empty plasmid prevention group (group E, five mice, receiving intramuscularly empty plasmid 100 micro g on day 1, day 3, and day 5), and an empty plasmid treatment group (group F, six mice, receiving intramuscularly empty plasmid 100 micro g on day 14, day 16 and day 18).

[Enhancement by FK506 of triptolide-induced inhibition of expression of COX-2 and iNOS in human rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts].

To explore the effects of FK506 on the inhibition by triptolide (TP) of cell proliferation and expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and their inducing products PGE2, NO in human rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts (RASF), and to study the mechanisms of combination of FK506 and TP in RA therapy, RASF used in the experiments were obtained from synovial tissue of patients with RA and were cultured. RASF were pretreated with FK506(10-1000 nmol/L)for 2 h, then the cells were stimulated with TNF alpha(20 microg/L) in the presence or absence of TP (10 microg/L). The RASF proliferation was determined by [(3)H]-TdR incorporation, and the productions of PGE2 and NO in culture supernatants of RASF were detected with competitive ELISA and enzyme reduction of nitrate.

[Construction of bi-cistronic co-expression plasmid of mIL-12 and the expression in vitro or in vivo].

OBJECTIVE: To construct a bi-cistronic co-expression plasmid for mouse interleukin-12 and to observe its expression in vitro or in vivo.METHODS: The full-length cDNA encoding p35 and p40 was cloned into eukaryotic cells expression vector pcDNA 3.1 respectively.