A novel interleukin-8 polymorphism is associated with severe systemic lupus erythematosus nephritis.

Background: Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a potent neutrophil chemokine that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of renal inflammation in human glomerulonephritis. To explain inter-patient variations in renal inflammation during diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), it was postulated that the promoter region of the IL-8 gene contains polymorphic residues that influence the level of IL-8 expression in response to immune-complex deposition, and thereby affect the severity of renal injury. This study was undertaken to identify polymorphisms in the 5'-flanking region of the IL-8 gene that correlate with the severity of SLE nephritis.

Salvia miltiorrhiza monomer IH764-3 induces hepatic stellate cell apoptosis via caspase-3 activation.

Aim: To investigate the effects of IH764-3 on HSC apoptosis and the expression of caspase-3 protein in HSC apoptotic process.

Methods: HSCs were cultured in medium with different IH764-3 doses(10 microg.mL(-1) 20 microg.