不同空间排列静电纺丝对RSC96细胞表达NGF及Laminin的研究

目的：研究不同空间排列静电纺丝对雪旺细胞株(RSC96)神经营养因子（NGF）及层粘连蛋白（Laminin，LN）的表达情况。方法根据培养条件不同分3组，即平行静电纺丝培养组（A）、随机静电纺丝培养组（B）及膜上培养组（C）培养3天后用Trizol法提取细胞总RNA，用Oligo(dT)逆转录酶得到cDNA。经特定引物PCR扩增，取相同量的逆转录产物进行qPCR反应,检测NGF及LN的表达差异。结果平行静电纺丝组，随机静电纺丝组，膜上培养组上NGF基因表达依次递增，各组间差异明显；LN基因的表达依次递减，各组间差异明显。结论不同空间排列的静电纺丝对RSC96细胞表达NGF和Laminin影响不同，平行的静电纺丝有促进细胞向成熟分化的可能。     

脂多糖通过PI3K/Akt/mTOR通路调控巨噬细胞自噬*

 目的： 观察脂多糖对巨噬细胞自噬活化的影响及相关信号通路的探讨。方法: 体外培养巨噬细胞株RAW264.7,分为对照组、饥饿状态激活自噬组、单纯脂多糖（LPS）刺激组、LPS+PI3K抑制剂（hVps34）组和LPS+mTOR抑制剂（雷帕霉素）组。构建荧光真核表达载体pcDNA3.1-GFP-LC3,转染巨噬细胞,通过荧光显微镜观察各组细胞中自噬体形成情况。qRT-PCR方法检测各组中与细胞自噬相关的Atg5、Atg7、LC3-II和Bnip3 mRNA表达水平的改变。利用Western blotting检测LC3-II、p-Akt和p-mTOR蛋白在各组中的表达情况,以评价LPS激活巨噬细胞自噬的分子通路。结果: 成功构建稳定表达GFP-LC3的巨噬细胞,在荧光显微镜下可以观察到自噬在饥饿状态组、LPS+hVps34组和LPS+雷帕霉素组均有明显增强;qRT-PCR检测到Atg5、LC3-II和Bnip3 mRNA的表达在饥饿状态组、LPS+hVps34组和LPS+雷帕霉素组均有明显增强,而在LPS组中略微下降;Western blotting 检测发现p-Akt在饥饿状态组、LPS组和LPS+雷帕霉素组中表达明显升高;p-mTOR在饥饿状态组、LPS+hVps34组和LPS+雷帕霉素组表达明显下降;LC3-II的表达在饥饿状态组、LPS+hVps34组和LPS+雷帕霉素组中表达要高于对照组和LPS组。结论: LPS参与巨噬细胞自噬的调控,其可能的信号通路为PI3K/Akt/mTOR通路,但仍存在其它有效的调控通路。     

人参环氧炔醇对体外培养RSC96细胞的实验观察

目的研究人参环氧炔醇(Panaxydol,PND)对体外培养RSC96细胞神经营养因子及髓鞘蛋白表达的影响并探讨其机制。方法用含不同血清浓度的培养基培养RSC96细胞,MTT检测其增殖能力,以获取最适宜RSC96细胞体外生长的血清浓度。在适宜的血清培养基中加入PND(10μmol/L)处理RSC96细胞,以RT-PCR、western blot及ELISA检测RSC96细胞NGF和BDNF的表达。另外,预先在培养基中加入钙离子通道阻滞剂尼非地平探讨PND可能的作用途径。结果培养基血清浓度为4mmol/L时,RSC96细胞生长形态最接近于原代Schwann细胞。PND增强RSC96细胞表达和释放NGF和BDNF(P0.05)。尼非地平的使用,则削弱了PND对RSC96细胞的作用(P0.05)。结论在适宜的血清培养基中,体外培养的RSC96细胞可替代原代Schwann细胞,作为研究药物对它的影响及机制的细胞模型。PND增强RSC96细胞的生物活性的作用机制可能通过Ca2+信号途径介导。     

SHP-2通过ERK和JNK通路调节PC12细胞应对NGF的细胞生存和凋亡

目的：探讨蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶SHP-2在神经生长因子(NGF)作用下大鼠嗜铬细胞瘤PC12细胞生存及NGF撤除后细胞凋亡的过程中的作用及机制。方法：SHP-2 抑制剂NSC87877作用于PC12细胞, MTT测定PC12细胞存活率;流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率。将pIRES-GFP空载体、pIRES-GFP-SHP-2野生型和pIRES-GFP-SHP-2C459S突变体通过脂质体方法转染PC12细胞;加入NGF作用１h和撤除NGF 5 h后分别用Western blotting方法检测细胞外信号调节蛋白激酶(ERK)、磷酸化ERK（p-ERK）、c-Jun氨基末端激酶(JNK)及磷酸化JNK (p-JNK)表达变化。结果：MTT和流式细胞仪检测表明SHP-2 可以促进PC12细胞生存,抑制细胞凋亡。Western blotting结果显示无SHP-2抑制剂组和转染pIRES-SHP-2野生型组p-ERK表达在加入NGF的过程中升高;撤除NGF后,各组p-ERK表达均降低,pIRES-GFP-SHP-2C459S突变体组和pIRES-GFP组p-ERK表达明显低于pIRES-GFP-SHP-2野生型组, NGF去除+ SHP-2抑制剂组的表达水平明显低于NGF去除对照组; NGF去除+SHP-2抑制剂组p-JNK表达高于NGF去除对照组;pIRES-GFP-SHP-2C459S突变体组高于pIRES-GFP空载体组,pIRES-GFP-SHP-2野生型组低于pIRES-GFP空载体组。结论：SHP-2可能通过对ERK的正向激活,抑制JNK的激活,增强NGF作用下PC12细胞生存及抑制NGF撤除后所致细胞凋亡,从而在NGF的信号转导中起到一个中心环节的作用。     

富血小板凝胶上清对施万细胞活性的影响

目的:观察富血小板凝胶上清(PRP-r)对大鼠施万细胞(SCs)增殖和分泌神经再生相关活性物质的影响。方法:实验分为PRP-r组和control组。利用大鼠腹主动脉血制备富血小板血浆(PRP),用CaCl₂激活PRP得到PRP-r。CCK-8检测RSC96的增殖能力,ELISA检测RSC96培养上清中神经生长因子(NGF)、脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)和胶质细胞源性神经营养因子(GDNF)水平,Western Blot检测RSC96细胞中神经细胞黏附分子(NCAM)、p75神经营养因子受体(p75NTR)、胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)和S100钙结合蛋白B(S100B)的表达。结果:RSC96的增殖能力在PRP-r作用下显著提高,与对照组相比,培养上清中NGF、BDNF、GDNF水平增加,细胞中NCAM、p75NTR、GFAP、S100B蛋白表达上调。结论:PRP-r可以促进RSC96细胞增殖,促进神经营养因子分泌及相关蛋白的表达。     

狼疮肾炎PBMC高表达抗ds-DNA抗体和IL-6由MAPKERK1/2通路介导

目的：探讨有丝分裂原激活的蛋白激酶-细胞外调节激酶1/2（MAPKERK1/2）信号通路在系统性红斑狼疮合并肾炎（LN）患者外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）中自发高水平表达白细胞介素6（IL-6）和抗双链DNA抗体（抗ds-DNA抗体）中的作用。 方法： 分离培养患者PBMC，利用蛋白免疫印迹法、逆转录PCR 法和酶联免疫吸附法分别检测MAPKERK1/2磷酸化活化程度、IL-6表达和抗ds-DNA抗体水平，并与正常对照组比较。 结果： 26例LN患者与21例健康对照者比较，体外培养LN患者PBMC MAPKERK1/2信号通路呈高度活化状态，并自发表达高水平IL-6和抗ds-DNA抗体，组间有显著差异(P<0.05)。应用特异性阻断剂PD98059阻断LN患者PBMC MAPKERK1/2信号通路活化可显著抑制IL-6 和抗ds-DNA抗体的自发高表达。 结论： LN患者PBMC中MAPKERK1/2信号通路异常活化，并介导PBMC自发高水平表达IL-6 和抗ds-DNA抗体。     

缬沙坦抑制高糖培养的大鼠肾小球系膜细胞细胞外基质及CTGF的表达

目的　探讨高糖状态下体外培养的肾小球系膜细胞中结缔组织生长因子（CTGF）的表达以及缬沙坦的影响。方法 体外培养大鼠系膜细胞,分别给予高糖和缬沙坦干预,采用Western blot检测CTGF、p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶 （p38 MAPK）、cAMP反应元件结合蛋白1（CREB1）及各自磷酸化蛋白的表达,RT-PCR检测CTGF mRNA和纤维黏连蛋白（FN）mRNA的表达。放免法测定细胞上清液中层黏连蛋白(LN)和IV型胶原的含量。结果 与低糖组相比,高糖组系膜细胞CTGF、p-p38 MAPK、p-CREB1表达明显上调,CTGF mRNA和FN mRNA表达增加,细胞上清中LN和IV型胶原含量增加。缬沙坦组CTGF、p-p38 MAPK、p-CREB1的表达明显下调,CTGF mRNA和FN mRNA表达降低, LN和IV型胶原的含量减少。 结论　缬沙坦抑制高糖状态系膜细胞CTGF表达 和细胞外基质的分泌可能部分是通过影响p38 MAPK及其下游核因子CREB1的激活而实现。     

胰岛素样生长因子-1对共培养的神经细胞和施万细胞超微结构的影响

目的分析胰岛素样生长因子-1(insulin-like growth factor-1,IGF-1)对体外培养的神经细胞和施万细胞超微结构的影响。方法建立VSC4.1大鼠神经细胞与RSC96大鼠施万细胞共培养模型:将VSC4.1神经细胞与RSC96施万细胞共同培养,通过改善培养条件,使之共同生长。经相差显微镜观察,确定共培养的两种细胞可发生相互作用。透射电镜观察单独培养的神经细胞、施万细胞及共培养时细胞超微结构的变化。观察IGF-1的影响:实验分为共培养对照组和IGF-1组(20 ng/ml)。培养5天后,收集细胞进行扫描电镜和透射电镜观察。结果透射电镜观察单独培养的神经细胞及施万细胞均可见不同的分化状态,其超微结构各异。透射电镜结果:与对照组相比,IGF-1组中细胞表面绒毛状或指状突起明显增多且联系紧密。扫描电镜结果:对照组与IGF-1组中均可见RSC96细胞包绕轴突形成髓鞘(可称之为成髓的施万细胞)。对照组中所有的细胞表面均比较平滑,绒毛样突起不明显。IGF-1组的细胞表面不再光滑,神经细胞和未成髓的施万细胞表面呈明显的绒毛样突起,而包裹轴突的成髓施万细胞表面主要呈片层状突起。结论 IGF-1可引起VSC4.1神经细胞和RSC96施万细胞超微结构及表面形态的改变。这或许是引起其功能改变的外在表现形式。     

大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞培养上清液对RSC96 细胞生物学功能的影响

目的：探讨大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞（BMSC）培养上清液对大鼠RSC96细胞生物学功能的影响。方法：体外培养、纯化SD大鼠BMSC并进行鉴定;收集第3代BMSC培养上清液（BMSC-CM）;采用MTT法检测BMSC-CM对RSC96细胞增殖的影响;平板克隆实验分析BMSC-CM对RSC96单个细胞增殖的影响;划痕实验和TranswellTM小室实验分析BMSC-CM对RSC96细胞迁移的作用,Western blot法检测BMSC-CM对RSC96细胞Bax和Bcl-2蛋白表达的改变。结果：SD大鼠第3代BMSC形态呈长梭形,旋涡样生长;成骨染色为阳性结果;成脂诱导后有脂滴出现;BMSC-CM作用后抑制RSC96细胞的增殖和迁移能力,且作用后的RSC96细胞Bax蛋白水平升高,Bcl-2蛋白表达降低。结论：BMSC-CM促进RSC96细胞凋亡,抑制其增殖和迁移。     

脐带来源间充质干细胞抑制巨噬细胞M1极化

目的：探究人脐带间充质干细胞（hUC-MSCs）对巨噬细胞M1/M2极化的作用。方法：将hUC-MSCs与佛波酯（PMA）诱导分化的巨噬细胞样细胞（pTHP-1巨噬细胞）共培养后进行转录组测序分析,筛选差异表达基因,进一步进行GO及KEGG富集分析。细胞增殖实验（CCK-8和EdU）分析hUC-MSCs对pTHP-1细胞增殖的影响。流式细胞术检测hUC-MSCs对LPS刺激的pTHP-1巨噬细胞炎症因子TNF-α表达及抑炎因子IL-10表达的影响。qRT-PCR及流式细胞术探究hUC-MSCs对pTHP-1巨噬细胞M1/M2相关分子表型的作用。结果：转录组测序数据分析发现hUC-MSCs与pTHP-1细胞共培养后M1相关基因TNF-α(P<0.05)、HLA-DRA(P<0.01)明显下调,M2相关基因ARG1(P<0.05)明显上调,提示hUC-MSCs抑制巨噬细胞向M1表型极化。GO和KEGG富集分析提示这些表达失调的基因参与调控炎症与免疫应答。hUC-MSCs抑制pTHP-1巨噬细胞增殖,且抑制TNF-α表达（P<0.001）,促进IL-10表达（P<...     

绿原酸对Aβ25-35诱导的大脑皮层细胞损伤的保护作用机制

目的　研究绿原酸(CHA)对淀粉样β蛋白25-35（Aβ25-35）激活巨噬细胞导致大脑皮层细胞损伤的保护作用机制。  方法　采用生后0~3 d左右的Sprague-Dawley(SD)大鼠乳鼠，取出大脑皮层细胞然后做体外培养。培养8 d后与小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞共同培养2 d，再加入10 μmol/L Aβ25-35制作阿尔茨海默病细胞模型。实验分为单独培养组、共同培养组、单独培养Aβ组、共同培养Aβ组和共同培养CHA组分别作用0.5、1、2、4、6 h后检测各组的结果。细胞损伤程度通过观察细胞形态和记数判定。p38分裂原激活蛋白激酶(p38MAPK)、有丝裂原激活蛋白激酶活化的蛋白激酶2 （MAPKAPK-2)和热休克转录因子（HSP27）三种蛋白磷酸化的表达水平由Western blot检测。通过免疫荧光观察微管相关蛋白-2（MAP-2）的表达。  结果　CHA显著抑制Aβ25-35处理所致的颗粒细胞密度的减少并且改善细胞的形态。Aβ25-35可以使p38MAPK的磷酸水平明显增加，在2h的时候磷酸化水平达到最高峰，4h后就逐渐下降，而使MAPKAPK-2和HSP27的磷酸化水平降低，2h降低最明显。  结论　CHA通过抑制Aβ25-35诱导巨噬细胞释放炎症因子激活的p38MAPK信号转导通路，从而可以起到保护神经细胞的作用。     

大鼠透明质酸合成酶-3基因真核表达载体的构建及趋化作用研究

目的:构建透明质酸合成酶-3(hyaluronan synthase-3)真核表达载体, 转染真核细胞并检测重组蛋白酶活性.方法:提取损伤大鼠坐骨神经总RNA, RT-PCR扩增HAS-3编码框cDNA, 构建于真核表达载体pcDNA3.1D中, 并亚克隆到荧光载体pEGFP-N1中.将构建好的质粒转染大鼠施旺细胞RSC96, 检测HAS-3的表达及酶活性.研究转染细胞培养上清对巨噬细胞的趋化作用.结果:HAS-3真核表达载体pcDNA3.1D-HAS3及pEGFP-HAS3测序结果显示片段插入正确, 序列与GenBank公布数据一致, 转染RSC96细胞并检测到重组蛋白的表达和酶活性, 过表达HAS-3细胞的培养上清对巨噬细胞的趋化作用显著高于未转染细胞上清.结论:成功地构建HAS-3真核表达载体且真核表达的重组HAS-3具有合成HA活性, HAS-3过表达培养上清能趋化巨噬细胞, 在体内可能参与到炎症反应中.     

Glycyrrhizic acid promotes sciatic nerves recovery in type 1 diabetic rats and protects Schwann cells from high glucose-induced cytotoxicity

The present study aims to investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). GA significantly mitigated nerve conduction velocity (NCV) deficit and morphological abnormality and reduced high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) expression in the sciatic nerves of diabetic rats independent of blood glucose and body weight. Notably, GA alleviated the increase of HMGB1 and the decrease of cell viability in high glucose-stimulated RSC96 cells. Furthermore, GA obviously reduced the concentration of inflammatory cytokines in the sciatic nerves of diabetic rats and supernatants of high glucose-exposed RSC96 cells, then restored the decreased expression levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) and neuritin-1, and the increased expression levels of cleaved caspase-3 and neuron-specific enolase. Additionally, GA markedly inhibited receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) expression, p38MAPK phosphorylation, and the nuclear translocation of NF-κBp65 in diabetic rats and high glucose-exposed RSC96 cells. The promotional effect of high glucose in RSC96 cells was diminished following Hmgb1 siRNA treatment. Our findings indicate that GA may exert neuroprotection on DPN by suppressing HMGB1, which lead to extenuation of inflammation response, balance of NGF, neuritin-1 and caspase-3, as well as inactivation of RAGE/p38MAPK/NF-κBp65 signaling pathway.     

Cyclopamine对LN229细胞Nurr1基因表达的影响

目的　探讨环巴胺(Cyclopamine)对恶性胶质瘤细胞株LN229帕金森相关基因Nurr1表达的影响。 方法　在脂多糖(LPS)刺激LN229细胞的条件下,运用实时定量PCR检测SHH通路基因PTCH、Gli1及Nurr1基因 mRNA含量,Western Blotting检测LPS对LN229细胞Nurr1蛋白表达的影响。进一步在Cyclopamine阻断Sonic Hedgehog (SHH)信号通路的条件下,实时定量PCR及Western Blotting检测Nurr1的mRNA含量及其蛋白的表达及下游炎症因子IL-1β mRNA的含量。 结果　LPS刺激下LN229细胞SHH通路相关基因mRNA,及Nurr1 mRNA升高,Western Blot结果进一步证明LPS可以促进Nurr1蛋白表达。Cyclopamine阻断组与对照组比较,在转录水平和翻译水平明显促进了Nurr1基因表达升高,及下游炎症因子IL-1βmRNA的含量。 结论　Cyclopamine对LN229细胞Nurr1表达的影响可能与帕金森发病过程中胶质细胞的活化有关。     

Nerve growth factor regulation and production by macrophages in osteoarthritic synovium

Nerve growth factor (NGF) functions to modulate osteoarthritis (OA)‐associated pain. Although recent studies suggest that tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and interleukin (IL)‐1β mediate NGF activity in human synovial fibroblasts, the regulation of NGF expression in human synovial macrophages remains unclear. Here, we examined the role of macrophages in the production and regulation of synovial (SYN) NGF in osteoarthritic knee joints by examining the mRNA expression of TNF‐α and IL‐1β in freshly isolated CD14‐positive (macrophage‐rich fraction) and CD14‐negative cells (fibroblast‐rich fraction) in synovial tissue from OA patients by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We also examined the effects of IL‐1β and TNF‐α on NGF mRNA expression in cultured CD14‐positive (macrophage‐rich fraction) and CD14‐negative cells (fibroblast‐rich fraction). In addition, to examine the contribution of macrophages to NGF, TNF‐α and IL‐1β expression, we injected clodronate liposomes systemically into STR/Ort mice, an osteoarthritis animal model, to deplete macrophages. TNF‐α and IL‐1β mRNA levels in CD14‐positive cells from the SYN of OA patients was significantly higher than that in CD14‐negative cells, while NGF expression did not differ markedly between the two cell fractions. In addition, treatment of human cultured CD14‐positive and ‐negative cells with IL‐1β and TNF‐α enhanced NGF mRNA and protein levels. Expression of NGF, IL‐1β and TNF‐α was also reduced significantly in STR/Ort mice upon macrophage depletion. These findings suggest that IL‐1β and TNF‐α regulate NGF expression and production in synovial macrophages and fibroblasts in osteoarthritic joints.     

Neurotrophins modulate monocyte chemotaxis without affecting macrophage function

Neurotrophins nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived growth factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) and their high-affinity tyrosine protein kinase receptor (Trk) family, TrkA, TrkB, TrkC, and low-affinity p75(NTR) receptor, are key molecules implicated in the development of the central nervous system. Increasing evidence suggests that they also have physiological and pathological roles outside the nervous system. In this study we examined the expression of neurotrophins and their receptors in human activated macrophages and to what extent neurotrophins themselves modulate macrophage activation, in a model of primary adult monocyte-derived macrophage. Our data indicate that macrophages express neurotrophin and neurotrophin receptor genes differentially, and respond to cell stimulation by specific inductions. Neurotrophins did not modify the antigen-presenting capacities of macrophages or their production of proinflammatory cytokines, but somehow skewed their activation phenotype. In contrast, NGF clearly increased CXCR-4 expression in macrophage and their chemotactic response to low CXCL-12 concentration. The differential effect of specific macrophage stimuli on neurotrophin expression, in particular NGF and NT-3, and the specific enhancement of CXCR-4 expression suggest that neurotrophins might participate in tissue-healing mechanisms that should be investigated further in vivo.     

髓样细胞表达的触发受体1抑制LPS应激下巨噬细胞的自噬

目的　观察髓样细胞表达的触发受体1（TREM-1）对脂多糖（LPS）应激下巨噬细胞自噬相关基因表达的影响。 方法　观察LPS应激下的巨噬细胞TREM-1蛋白的表达。分别选用TREM-1的激动剂（MAB1187）和TREM-1的拮抗剂（LR12）作用于巨噬细胞,利用qPCR检测巨噬细胞自噬相关基因ATG7、ATG5、ATG12及自噬标志蛋白微管相关蛋白1轻链3（LC3）mRNA的表达;采用Western Blot检测巨噬细胞TREM-1、LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ、ATG7蛋白的表达;采用免疫荧光检测在LPS应激与TREM-1激活的情况下,巨噬细胞的自噬标志蛋白LC3表达。 结果　LPS（400 ng/mL、1000 ng/mL）应激下巨噬细胞TREM-1蛋白表达明显增加;LPS（1000 ng/mL）作用巨噬细胞24 h,巨噬细胞TREM-1蛋白表达达到峰值。LPS应激的巨噬细胞自噬基因ATG7、ATG5、ATG12及自噬标志分子LC3 mRNA表达均降低;当给予TREM-1拮抗剂后,巨噬细胞的ATG7、ATG5、ATG12、LC3 mRNA表达均升高,而采用TREM-1激动剂后,自噬基因表达被抑制。Western Blot检测结果显示,TREM-1可抑制LPS应激下巨噬细胞LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ、ATG7蛋白的表达。免疫荧光检测表明TREM-1激动剂可使巨噬细胞胞内的LC3蛋白表达量减少。 结论　巨噬细胞胞膜上TREM-1激活后,可使巨噬细胞自噬减弱,提示LPS应激下的巨噬细胞TREM-1可能通过抑制巨噬细胞的正常自噬从而发挥炎症放大作用。     

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) in human endometrial stromal cells induces macrophage tolerance through interleukin-33 in the progression of endometriosis

In the peritoneal fluid, macrophages and their secretory cytokines are essential for endometriosis, but the factors that favor their involvement in the endometriosis-associated inflammatory response are still elusive. Given the anomalous expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) in endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) and its potentially important roles in immune modulation, we aimed to determine the effects of IDO1 in ESCs on macrophages and the mechanism of those effects. Normal ESCs and ectopic ESCs transfected with the SD11-IDO1 shRNA (short hairpin RNA) or vector-only plasmid SD11 were subsequently co-cultured with peripheral blood (PB)-derived monocytes (PBMC)-driven macrophages directly and indirectly. Cytokine production was determined by analyzing the supernatant of the co-culture unit by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The phenotypes and the phagocytic ability of the macrophages were determined by flow cytometry. Compared to normal ESCs, the PBMC-driven macrophages co-cultured with ectopic ESCs displayed lower phagocytic ability. Additionally, macrophages co-cultured with ectopic ESCs exhibited higher levels of CD163 and CD209 and lower levels of HLA-DR and CD11c. Moreover, both the intracellular expression and extracellular secretion of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were significantly increased, while that of IL-12p70 was decreased in macrophages after being co-cultured with ectopic ESCs. However, there was no significant difference in macrophage phagocytic ability, immunophenotype or cytokine secretion between the direct and indirect co-culture units. Reversely, SD11-IDO1 shRNA transfection of ectopic ESCs could abrogate the decreased phagocytic ability and alternative activation of macrophages in ectopic ESC-macrophage co-culture unit, suggesting that higher IDO1 in ectopic ESCs was indispensable for the induction of macrophage tolerance. Furthermore, the decrease in phagocytic macrophages and alternatively activated macrophages induced by IDO1 in ectopic ESCs was reversed by the addition of an IL-33 inhibitor, that is, soluble ST2 (sST2). Therefore, through the activation of IL-33, the increased expression of IDO1 in ectopic ESCs contributed to the truncated phagocytic ability of macrophages in endometriosis.     

Nerve growth factor regulates TNF-alpha production in mouse macrophages via MAP kinase activation

In this study, we examined the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptors in mouse macrophages and the mechanisms involved in the effect of NGF on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha production. Macrophages expressed NGF and the NGF receptors TrkA and p75. Treatment of J744 cells or peritoneal macrophages with NGF induced a large increase in the production of TNF-alpha. In addition, NGF induced the secretion of nitric oxide in interferon-gamma-treated J774 cells or lipopolysaccharide-treated peritoneal macrophages. The induction of TNF-alpha production by NGF was blocked by K252a, an inhibitor of the TrkA receptor. NGF induced phosphorylation and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, Erk1/Erk2 and c-Jun amino-terminal kinase, whereas it did not induce phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. Inhibition of the MAP kinase-Erk kinase pathway with PD 098059 decreased the secretion of TNF-alpha by NGF. Our results suggest that NGF has an important role in the activation of macrophages during inflammatory responses via activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases.