The peripheral blood FOXP3+ T-cell frequency among CD4+ T cells is altered in SLE patients with the active disease activity. Therefore, the analysis on peripheral blood FOXP3+ T cells may be useful for the evaluation of lupus disease activity.
The neuromodulatory interactions of sex steroids with the opioid system may result in sex differences in pain and analgesia. Dynorphin is an endogenous kappa-opioid peptide that is upregulated in an animal model of peripheral inflammation and hyperalgesia and is possibly regulated by circulating levels of sex steroids. The present study compared behavioral responses of male, cycling female, and gonadectomized Sprague-Dawley rats in a model of persistent pain. Cycling female rats were behaviorally tested over a 14-day period, and their estrous cycles were monitored by daily vaginal smears. Thermal hyperalgesia was measured by paw withdrawal latencies taken prior to and 24-72 h after rats received a unilateral hindpaw injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Prior to CFA administration, there was no significant difference in paw withdrawal latencies between male rats, cycling female rats, and ovariectomized female rats. Following CFA administration, female rats in proestrus exhibited significantly increased hyperalgesia compared with male rats, ovariectomized female rats, and female rats in other estrous stages (P=0.05). Levels of spinal preprodynorphin (PPD) mRNA induction in the L4-L5 segments were assessed by Northern blot analysis. PPD mRNA expression ipsilateral to the injected paw was significantly higher in female rats in diestrus (P=0.05) and proestrus (P=0.01) compared with rats in estrus and intact male rats. Ovariectomized rats had significantly higher levels of PPD mRNA expression compared with intact male rats (P=0.05). However, castrated male rats had significantly lower levels of PPD mRNA expression than intact male rats (P=0.05). PPD mRNA expression was not altered on the contralateral side of the spinal cord in any group. These results suggest a hormonal regulatory influence on the response of spinal cord dynorphin neurons to chronic inflammation and furthermore, that the association of the endocrine and opioid systems have the ability to influence an animal's sensitivity to pain.
This study examined aquaporin 4 (AQP4) and Kir4.1 (a potassium channel subunit) in normal and diabetic adult Sprague-Dawley rats, and determined the effect of minocycline treatment. Retinal expression of the AQP4 and Kir4.1 genes was examined using double immuno fluorescence, Western blot analysis, and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Retinal levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule (Iba)-1 and interleukin (IL)-1β were also ascertained. The blood-retinal barrier (BRB) and retinal oedema were assessed using rhodamine isothiocyanate. AQP4, VEGF, Iba-1, and IL-1β mRNA and protein levels increased, and Kir4.1 mRNA and protein levels decreased, in diabetic rat retinas. Both BRB disruption and retinal oedema were also observed in these retinas. In diabetic rats, minocycline treatment decreased AQP4, VEGF, Iba-1 and IL-1β levels and retinal oedema, and increased Kir4.1 levels. These findings suggest that minocycline might be beneficial for retinal fluid clearance and reduction of retinal oedema in diabetic retinopathy.
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