[Effect of dexamethasone on expressions of TWEAK and Fn14 in the lung of asthmatic mice].

Aim: To investigate the effect of dexamethasone (Dex) on the expressions of TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) and fibroblast growth factor-inducible immediate-early response protein 14 (Fn14) in the lung of asthmatic mice.

Methods: Ovalbumin (OVA) was used to induce asthma in BALB/c mice. Thirty-six female mice were randomly divided into control group (n=12), asthmatic group (n=12) and Dex treated group (n=12).

Hypersensitivity of lung vagal C fibers induced by acute intermittent hypoxia in rats: role of reactive oxygen species and TRPA1.

Obstructive sleep apnea, manifested by intermittent hypoxia and excess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in airways, is associated with hyperreactive airway diseases, but the mechanism remains unclear. Sensitization of lung vagal C fibers (LVCFs) contributes to the airway hypersensitivity. We investigated the mechanisms underlying the sensitization of LVCFs with acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH), by 10 episodes of exposure to 30 s of hypoxic air (0%, 5%, or 10% O(2)) followed by 30 s of room air in anesthetized, open-chest, and artificially ventilated rats.

PSMA7 inhibits the tumorigenicity of A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells.

The gene for proteasome subunit alpha type-7 (PSMA7) is located in chromosomal 20q13.33, a region frequently amplified in tumor. In this study, we employed A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells and showed that PSMA7 inhibits the proliferation, tumorigenicity and invasion of A549 cells in vitro.

The generation of the endothelial specific cdc42-deficient mice and the effect of cdc42 deletion on the angiogenesis and embryonic development.

Background: High microvascular permeability plays an essential role in pathological process of multiple diseases such as septic shock, acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome, and burns. Inhibiting hyperpermeability is significant for controlling these conditions. Cdc42, as a main member of the small Rho GTPase family, plays a critical role in controlling and regulating the endothelial junctional permeability.

[Change of IL-22R1 expression in human airway smooth muscle cells in response to different stimulating agents].

Objective: To explore the effects of serum of asthmatic patients, dexamethasone, interleukin-4 (IL-4), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) on the expression of interleukin-22 receptor 1 (IL-22R1) mRNA and protein in HASMCs in vitro.

Methods: IL-22R1 mRNA and protein expressions in HASMCs treated with different stimulating agents were measured by real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively.

Results: IL-22R1 mRNA and protein expressions in HASMCs were significantly increased after stimulation by serum from asthmatic patients, but decreased after co-stimulation with dexamethasone.

[Construction of recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pDsRed1-C3/XAPC7 and cellular localization of XAPC7 protein in different cell lines].

Aim: To construct the recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pDsRed1-C3/XAPC7 and to investigate the cellular localization of XAPC7 protein in 786-O and 293T and Chang liver cell lines.

Methods: The cDNA of XAPC7 was amplified from HBE135-E6E7 cell line by RT-PCR method. The aim gene fragment XAPC7 from pMD18-T/XAPC7 was subcloned into eukaryotic expression vector pDsRed1-C3.

[Application of flexirigid thoracoscopy in the diagnosis of pleural disease with unknown etiology].

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of flexirigid thoracoscopy for pleural diseases and the patients' compliance.

Methods: Forty-seven patients with pleural effusion and thickening of unknown etiology underwent examinations with flexirigid thoracoscopy with subsequent pathological examination, and the diagnostic accuracy and the patients' compliance were observed.

Results: Thoracoscopy identified lesions in the pleural and/or diaphragm in 42 patients and no lesions in 5 patients.

[Association of the C3 gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to adult asthma].

Objective: To investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the complement component 3 gene (C3) and adult asthma of Hans in southern China.

Methods: A case-control study was performed. Four hundred and eighty-four adult asthma patients diagnosed in Nanfang Hospital and Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, and 553 healthy subjects were collected from 2006 to 2010 for the study.

[Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms of MD-1 gene with asthma in adults of Han Nationality in Southern China].

Objective: To investigate the correlation between MD-1 gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and bronchial asthma in adults of the Han nationality in Southern China as well as their lung functions.

Methods: From 2006 to 2010, 332 adult asthmatic patients of the Han nationality diagnosed in Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, and 276 healthy volunteers were recruited for the study. The SNPs of MD-1 gene loci rs2233128 and rs7740529 were genotyped by using MassARRAY-IPLEX technology and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry platform (MALDI-TOF-MS).

[Alteration of PTEN gene expression affects the migration of human airway smooth muscle cells in vitro].

Objective: To investigate the changes in human airway smooth muscle cell (HASMC) migration and related signaling pathway after interference with PTEN gene expression.

Method: HASMCs were infected with an adenovirus vector and RNA interference vector of human PTEN gene to establish the cell model with PTEN gene over-expression (Ad-GFP-PTEN-HASMC) and one with PTEN gene silencing (Ad-shPTEN-HASMC), using Ad-GFP-infected and a blank cells as the negative controls and LY294002 as the positive control. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometric analysis were used to evaluate the transfection efficiency, and Western blotting was performed to examine the expression of PTEN and the activation of AKT and ERK1/2 signal pathway.

ISO-1, a macrophage migration inhibitory factor antagonist, inhibits airway remodeling in a murine model of chronic asthma.

Airway remodeling is the process of airway structural change that occurs in patients with asthma in response to persistent inflammation and leads to increasing disease severity. Drugs that decrease this persistent inflammation play a crucial role in managing asthma episodes. Mice sensitized (by intraperitoneal administration) and then challenged (by inhalation) with ovalbumin (OVA) develop an extensive eosinophilic inflammatory response, goblet cell hyperplasia, collagen deposition, airway smooth muscle thickening, and airway wall area increase, similar to pathologies observed in human asthma.

[Effects of dexamethasone on expression of Th17 transcription factor RORgammat mRNA in experimental asthma mice.].

Aim: To study the effects of dexamethasone (Dex) on expression of Th17 transcription factor retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gamma t(RORgammat)in asthma.

Methods: The BALB/c mice asthma model was induced by ovalbumin(OVA) with classic method.Thirty female mice were randomly divided into control group, asthmatic group and Dex treated group.

[Effects of dexamethasone on intracellular expression of Th17 cytokine interleukin 17 in asthmatic mice].

Objective: To study the effects of dexamethasone on intracellular expression of Th17 cytokine interleukin 17 and the mechanisms in asthmatic mice.

Methods: Experimental asthma was induced by ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization in 20 in female Balb/c mice with (dexamethasone group, n=10) or without dexamethasone treatment (model group, n=10), with another 10 serving as the control group. The levels of IL-17 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum of the mice were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the airway inflammation was evaluated by HE staining.

[Effect of recombinant adenovirus carrying PTEN gene on the proliferation of human airway smooth muscle cells in vitro and the mechanisms].

Objective: To observe the effect of exogenous phophatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosone 10 (PTEN) gene transfer via recombinant adenoviruses on the proliferation of human airway smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) in vitro and investigate the possible mechanisms.

Methods: With a recombinant adenovirus vector containing PTEN (Ad-PTEN) constructed using the pAdxsi system, PTEN gene was transiently transfected into HASMCs and the transfection efficiency was determined by fluorescence microscope. RT-PCR and Western blotting were performed to detect the expression of PTEN mRNA and protein in the infected cells.

[Construction of a recombinant adenovirus vector containing PTEN and its expression in airway smooth muscle cells].

Objective: To construct a recombinant adenovirus vector containing phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) using the pAdxsi system.

Methods: PTEN cDNA from plasmid pcDNA3-PTEN was cloned into the shuttle plasmid pShuttle-GFP-CMV. The shuttle vector was transformed into competent DH5alpha strain with the vector pAdxsi to achieve the homologous recombination.

[Rho-kinase signaling pathway participates in endothelin-1-induced human airway smooth muscle cell migration and cytoskeletal reorganization].

Objective: To investigate the role of Rho-kinase signaling pathway in human airway smooth muscle cell (ASMCs) migration and cytoskeletal reorganization induced by endothelin-1 (ET-1).

Methods: Primary cultured human ASMCs obtained by tracheal explant culture method were examined for cell migration in response to ET-1 treatment using modified Boyden chambers. The changes in actin cytoskeletal reorganization were observed under confocal laser scanning microscope, and the phosphorylation of myosin-phosphatase target 1 (p-MYPT1) was examined using Western blot analysis.

[Shikonin inhibits the proliferation of human airway smooth muscle cells].

Objective: To study the inhibitory effect of shikonin on the proliferation of human airway smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) in vitro.

Methods: HASMCs from the trachea were obtained by primary culture of the tissue explants and adherent culture. The HASMCs were exposed to shikonin at 0 (control group), 0.

[Peripheral natural killer cell counting and its clinical significance blood in patients with bronchial asthma].

Objective: To investigate the changes in natural killer (NK) cell count in the peripheral blood of asthmatic patients.

Methods: The number of NK cells in the peripheral blood was determined with flow cytometry in 63 asthmatic patients with acute episodes, 65 patients with stable asthma and 62 healthy nonatopic subjects.

Results: A significant decrease in NK cell number was noted in asthmatic patients during acute exacerbation [(13.

3,3'-Dibromo-1,1'-[ethyl-enedioxy-bis(nitrilo-methyl-idyne)]dibenzene.

In the centrosymmetric title compound, C(16)H(14)Br(2)N(2)O(2), the intra-molecular interplanar distance between the parallel benzene rings is 1.305 (3) Å, while the inter-molecular interplanar distance (between neighbouring mol-ecules) is 3.463 (3) Å, exhibiting obvious strong inter-molecular π-π stacking inter-actions.

3,3'-Dibromo-1,1'-[(propane-1,3-diyl-dioxy)-bis(nitrilo-methyl-idyne)]dibenzene.

The mol-ecule of the title compound, C(17)H(16)Br(2)N(2)O(2), lies on a twofold axis that passes through the middle atom of the three-atom trimethyl-ene unit. The two aromatic rings are aligned at an angle of 76.02 (4)°.

[Association of polymorphism of Met764Thr locus allele in ADAM33 gene with bronchial asthma and lung function of asthmatic subjects].

Objective: To analyze the association of the polymorphism of Met764Thr with bronchial asthma and lung function of asthmatic subjects of Han nationality in Southern China.

Methods: In 164 unrelated patients with asthma and 112 unrelated healthy controls, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and DNA sequencing were used to determine polymorphism of Met764Thr locus allele in ADAM33 gene. The clinical indexes associated with lung function (FVC%, FEV(1)%) were compared among the three genotypes (Met764/Met764, Met764/Thr764, Thr764/Thr764) in asthmatic subjects.

[Association between ADAM33 gene polymorphism and bronchial asthma in South China Han population].

Objective: To investigate the association between the polymorphism of T(1) locus allele in ADAM33 gene and bronchial asthma in South China Han population.

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and DNA sequencing were used to determine the polymorphism of T(1) locus allele in ADAM33 gene in 160 unrelated patients with asthma and 95 unrelated healthy controls from South China Han population.

Results: No significant difference was found in T(1) locus allele distribution frequency in populations of UK, US, Germany, Korea, and South China (Chi(2)=9.

[Expression of eosinophil major basic protein mRNA in bronchial asthma].

Objective: To investigate the expression of eosinophil major basic protein (MBP) mRNA in bronchial asthma and explore its significance.

Methods: Peripheral blood eosinophil MBP mRNA levels were measured in 40 patients with asthma and 20 normal controls by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The association of MBP mRNA levels with eosinophil count and pulmonary function was also analyzed.

[Effects of dexamethasone on the expression of muscarinic receptor mRNA in asthmatic guinea pig airway smooth muscle and eosinophil infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid].

Objective: To investigate the effect of dexamethasone on the expression of muscarinic receptor (MR) mRNA in smooth muscle and infiltration of eosinophils (Eos) in the airway of asthmatic guinea pigs.

Methods: Thirty healthy guinea pigs were randomized into 3 equal groups, the control group, asthmatic group and dexamethasone therapy group. Asthma was induced in the latter 2 groups with the asthma-inducing agents and received treatments as indicated.