A MARTINI extension for Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 lipopolysaccharide

We report a course-grained, large scale simulation of the outer membrane from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Using the MARTINI force field approach of 4-to-1 atom mapping, we simulate an asymmetrically constructed bilayer with over 1100 rough lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and 3100 16:0-18:1-phosphatidylethanolamine. We achieve 90-fold improvement in computational efficiency on a system much larger than reasonable for all-atom simulation. We also compare a coarse-grained LPS/LPS bilayer simulation with known parameters determined from neutron diffraction.     

Electrostatic dust collectors compared to inhalable samplers for measuring endotoxin concentrations in farm homes

Paired electrostatic dust collectors (EDCs) and daily, inhalable button samplers (BS) were used concurrently to sample endotoxin in 10 farm homes during 7‐day periods in summer and winter. Winter sampling included an optical particle counter (OPC) to measure PM_2.5 and PM_2.5–10. Electrostatic dust collectors and BS filters were analyzed for endotoxin using the kinetic chromogenic Limulus amebocyte lysate assay. Optical particle counter particulate matter (PM) data were divided into two PM categories. In summer, geometric mean (geometric standard deviation) endotoxin concentrations were 0.82 EU/m³ (2.7) measured with the BS and 737 EU/m² (1.9) measured with the EDC. Winter values were 0.52 EU/m³ (3.1) for BS and 538 EU/m² (3.0) for EDCs. Seven‐day endotoxin values of EDCs were highly correlated with the 7‐day BS sampling averages (r = 0.70; P < 0.001). Analysis of variance indicated a 2.4‐fold increase in EDC endotoxin concentrations for each unit increase of the ratio of PM_2.5 to PM_2.5–10. There was also a significant correlation between BS and EDCs endotoxin concentrations for winter (r = 0.67; P < 0.05) and summer (r = 0.75; P < 0.05). Thus, EDCs sample comparable endotoxin concentrations to BS, making EDCs a feasible, easy to use alternative to BS for endotoxin sampling.     

The presence of endotoxin in powdered infant formula milk and the influence of endotoxin and Enterobacter sakazakii on bacterial translocation in the infant rat

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a heat stable endotoxin that persists during the processing of powdered infant formula milk (IFM). Upon ingestion it may increase the permeability of the neonatal intestinal epithelium and consequently bacterial translocation from the gut. To determine the level of endotoxin present in IFM, 75 samples were collected from seven countries (representing 31 brands) and analysed for endotoxin using the kinetic colorimetric Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) assay. The endotoxin levels ranged from 40 to 5.5 x 10(4) endotoxin units (EU) per gram and did not correlate with the number of viable bacteria. The neonate rat model was used to address the risk of endotoxin-induced bacterial translocation from the gut. Purified Escherichia coli LPS was administered to rat pups followed by inoculation with Enterobacter sakazakii ATCC 12868. Bacteria were isolated from the mesentery, spleen, blood and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) of endotoxin-treated rats due to enhanced gut and blood brain barrier penetration. Histological analysis of the colon showed marked distension of the mucosal and muscular layers. It is plausible that the risk of neonatal bacteraemia and endotoxemia, especially in neonates with immature innate immune systems, may be raised due to ingestion of IFM with high endotoxin levels.     

壳寡糖通过调控SOCS3/STAT3信号通路改善LPS诱导的小鼠神经炎症

目的 探讨壳寡糖(Chitosan oligosaccharide ,COS)对脂多糖(Lipopolysaccharide ,LPS)诱导小鼠神经炎症的改善作用及机制。方法 通过对10周龄C57BL/6N小鼠腹腔注射LPS建立神经炎症模型。动物随机分为5组,分别是：对照(CON)组、LPS组、LPS+COS低剂量(LPS+COS 50 mg/kg)组、LPS+COS中剂量(LPS+COS 100 mg/kg)组、LPS+COS高剂量(LPS+COS 200 mg/kg)组。LPS注射完毕后进行旷场实验、新物体识别、Morris水迷宫等行为学实验。处死动物后,收集脑组织,ELISA分析脑内促炎因子白细胞介素-2(IL-2)、IL-6、IL-1β、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)和抗炎因子IL-4、IL-10的表达;Western blot分析脑内信号传导及转录激活蛋白(STAT3)、细胞因子信号抑制物(SOCS3)蛋白的表达水平。结果 行为学实验结果表明,COS可以改善LPS诱发的小鼠认知障碍下降等表现。ELISA结果表明,LPS组小鼠的促炎细胞因子的释放量显著增加,抗炎细胞因子的释放量显著降低;而COS灌胃可逆转这一变化趋势。Western blot结果提示,与CON组相比,LPS的STAT3磷酸化水平显著升高,同时也促进SOCS3的蛋白表达升高;而COS则显著下调这两个蛋白的表达。结论 COS可能通过抑制SOCS3/STAT3信号通路改善LPS引起的小鼠神经炎症。     

羟基酪醇对LPS引起的小鼠急性肺损伤的保护作用

探索了羟基酪醇通过调控自噬在小鼠ALI模型中发挥其抗炎作用的潜在分子机制。通过Western印迹和染色方法检测LPS诱导的ALI小鼠细胞因子活性、炎症因子水平、sirtuin(SIRT1/3/6)表达、丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)激活和自噬标志物表达,用Sybyl/Surflex模块研究了HT与SIRT和MAPK之间的分子对接。结果显示,LPS刺激的SIRT抑制、MAPK磷酸化和自噬抑制均被HT给药显著消除。伴随着BAL液中肺W/D比值、蛋白质浓度和炎症细胞水平的降低,HT治疗显著减弱肺水肿和炎症细胞浸润到肺组织中。包括TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6、IL-10和MCP-1等炎症介质的LPS驱动释放,被HT强烈调控。     

激素性兔股骨头坏死的动物模型研究

目的研究内毒素脂多糖(LPS)+甲基强的松龙(MPSL)兔股骨头坏死模型的组织学、Micro-CT及免疫组化特点。方法22只新西兰兔静脉注射LPS10μg/kg,24h后肌注MPSL20mg/kg,1次/d,共3d。存活动物6周观察Micro-CT骨计量学、组织病理学等项目,并与20只未用药新西兰兔对比。结果LPS+MPSL造模后动物死亡2只,存活动物的骨坏死率为80.0%(16/20),骨陷窝空虚率为(33.6±2.4)%;Micro-CT骨计量学各项指标显著低于对照组,组织病理学显示造模组出现明显骨坏死灶。结论LPS与MPSL联合应用可有效建立骨坏死模型。     

Plant-derived polyphenols attenuate lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide and tumour necrosis factor production in murine microglia and macrophages

Lipopolysaccharides released during bacterial infections induce the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and lead to complications such as neuronal damage in the CNS and septic shock in the periphery. While the initial infection is treated by antibiotics, anti-inflammatory agents would be advantageous add-on medications. In order to identify such compounds, we have compared 29 commercially available polyphenol-containing plant extracts and pure compounds for their ability to prevent LPS-induced up-regulation of NO production. Among the botanical extracts, bearberry and grape seed were the most active preparations, exhibiting IC(50) values of around 20 mug/mL. Among the pure compounds, IC(50) values for apigenin, diosmetin and silybin were 15, 19 and 12 muM, in N-11 murine microglia, and 7, 16 and 25 muM, in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages, respectively. In addition, these flavonoids were also able to down-regulate LPS-induced tumour necrosis factor production. Structure-activity relationships of the flavonoids demonstrated three distinct principles: (i) flavonoid-aglycons are more potent than the corresponding glycosides, (ii) flavonoids with a 4'-OH substitution in the B-ring are more potent than those with a 3'-OH-4'-methoxy substitution, (iii) flavonoids of the flavone type (with a C2=C3 double bond) are more potent than those of the flavanone type (with a at C2-C3 single bond).     

青蒿琥酯增加小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞内化内毒素、大肠埃希菌的作用及可能机制

目的: 观察青蒿琥酯(artesunate, AS)对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞内化清除脂多糖/内毒素(lipopolysaccharide/endotoxin, LPS)和吞噬大肠埃希菌的影响,并初步探讨其可能的作用机制。方法: MTT法检测不同浓度网格蛋白抑制剂(monodansylcadaverine, MDC)、内体酸化抑制剂氯喹(chloroquine, CQ)对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞活力的影响,以选择恰当的药物工作浓度;激光共聚焦法检测青蒿琥酯及MDC、CQ对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞内化FITC-LPS的影响;分别采用激光共聚焦和菌落集落形成计数实验观察青蒿琥酯对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞内化大肠埃希菌的影响;逆转录PCR检测青蒿琥酯对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞清道夫受体A(class A scavenger receptor,SR-A) mRNA表达的影响。结果: MDC和CQ浓度分别小于 25 μg/mL 和 20 μg/mL 时对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞活力无影响;MDC、CQ可抑制小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞内化LPS,青蒿琥酯可增加小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞对LPS的内化,而且青蒿琥酯可增加MDC和CQ处理的巨噬细胞内化LPS的功能。激光共聚焦和菌落集落形成计数实验均显示青蒿琥酯可增加小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞对大肠埃希菌的内化能力。逆转录PCR结果显示青蒿琥酯可增强LPS处理或未处理的小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞SR-A mRNA的表达。结论: 青蒿琥酯可增强小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞内化LPS、大肠埃希菌的能力,该作用可能与SR-A mRNA表达升高有关。     

Single-wall carbon nanohorns inhibited activation of microglia induced by lipopolysaccharide through blocking of Sirt3

Single-wall carbon nanohorns (SWNHs) have been demonstrated to accumulate in cytotoxic levels within organs of various animal models and cell types, which emerge as a wide range of promising biomedical imaging. Septic encephalopathy (SE) is an early sign of sepsis and associated with an increased rate of morbidity and mortality. Microglia activation plays an important role in neuroinflammation, which contributes to neuronal damage. Inhibition of microglia activation may have therapeutic benefits, which can alleviate the progression of neurodegeneration. Therefore, we investigated the functional changes of mice microglia cell lines pre-treated with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced by SWNHs. To address this question, the research about direct role of SWNHs on the growth, proliferation, and apoptosis of microglia cell lines in mice (N9 and BV2) pre-treated with or without LPS had been performed. Our results indicate that the particle diameter of SWNHs in water is between 342 to 712 nm. The images in scanning electron microscope showed that SWNHs on polystyrene surface are individual particles. LPS induced activation of mice microglia, promoted its growth and proliferation, and inhibited its apoptosis. SWNHs inhibited proliferation, delayed mitotic entry, and promoted apoptosis of mice microglia cells. The effects followed gradually increasing cultured time and concentrations of SWNHs, especially in cells pre-treated with LPS. SWNHs induced a significantly increase in G1 phase and inhibition of S phase of mice microglia cells in a dose-manner dependent of SWNHs, especially in cells pre-treated with LPS. The transmission electron microscope images showed that individual spherical SWNH particles smaller than 100 nm in diameters were localized inside lysosomes of mice microglia cells. SWNHs inhibited mitotic entry, growth and proliferation of mice microglia cells, and promoted its apoptosis, especially in cells pre-treated with LPS. SWNHs inhibited expression of Sirt3 and energy metabolism related with Sirt3 in mice microglia cells in a dose-dependent manner, especially in cells pre-treated with LPS. The role of SWNHs on mice microglia was implicating Sirt3 and energy metabolism associated with it.