Inhibitory Effect of LPS on the Proliferation of Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells through the Notch Signaling Pathway inIntrauterine Infection-induced Rats

Periventricular white matter injury (PWMI)is very common in survivors of premature birth,and the final outcomes are a reduction in myelinated neurons leading to white matter hypomyelination.How and (or) why the oligodendrocyte lineage develops abnormally and myelination is reduced is a hot topic in the field.This study focuses on the effect of intrauterine inflammation on the proliferation of oligodendrocyte lineage cells and the underlying mechanisms.Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)(300μg/kg)was intraperitoneally injected into pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats at embryonic days 19 and 20 to establish a rat model of intrauterine infection-induced white matter injury.Corpus callosum tissues were collected at postnatal day 14(P14)to quantify the number of oligodendrocytes,the number and proliferation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), and the expression of myelin proteins (MBP and PLP).Furthermore,the expression of Writ and Notch signaling-related proteins was analyzed.The results showed that the number of oligodendrocytes in the corpus callosum tissues of LPS-treated rats was reduced,and the expression levels of myelinating proteins were down-regulated.Further analysis showed that the Notch signaling pathway was down-regulated in the LPS-treated group.These results indicate that intrauterine LPS may inhibit the proliferation of OPCs by down-regulating the Notch rather than the Writ signaling pathway,leading to hypomyelination of white matter.

Serum Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis of Chinese X-CGD Children:Case Reports and a Literature Review

Since X-linked chronic granulomatosis disease(X-CGD)exhibits no specific clinical symptoms at an early stage,early diagnosis is difficult and depends predominantly on neonatal screening.Therefore,the aim of this study was to explore routine biomarkers for X-CGD in children and provide clues for early diagnosis.The cases of 10 children with X-CGD diagnosed at Tongji Hospital,Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology from 2013 to 2016 and 122 Chinese children with X-CGD reported in the literature were summarized.Serum biomarkers and clinical symptoms at acute infection were organized.A total of 132 children with X-CGD were enrolled in this study.For 55.8%of the patients,the diagnosis was delayed more than one year after the onset of the first symptoms because no typical clinical symptoms manifested.Children with X-CGD at an acute infection stage showed three recurrent signs in temis of serum biomarkers:(1)the total number of white blood cells(especially N%)was in creased significantly,accompanied by anemia in some cases;(2)C-reactive protein(CRP)levels were increased significantly;and(3)most of the patients exhibited very high serum IgG levels(>12 g/L).Diagnosis of X-CGD at an early age is difficult because of its nonspecific clinical features.Our study suggested children with X-CGD suffering acute infection show increases in three typical serum biomarkers,which can provide clues for early diagnosis.

Early recombinant human growth hormone treatment improves mental development and alleviates deterioration of motor function in infants and young children with Prader–Willi syndrome

Background Recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH)therapy has shown to improve height and body composition in children with Prader–Willi syndrome(PWS),the evidence of early rhGH treatment on motor and mental development is still accumulating.This study explored the time effect on psychomotor development,anthropometric indexes,and safety for infants and young children with PWS.Methods A phase 3,single-arm,multicenter,self-controlled study was conducted in six sites.Patients received rhGH at 0.5 mg/m2/day for first four weeks,and 1 mg/m2/day thereafter for up to 52 weeks.Motor development was measured using Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-second edition,mental development using Griffiths Development Scales-Chinese(GDS-C).Height standard deviation score(SDS),body weight SDS,and body mass index(BMI)SDS were also assessed.Results Thirty-five patients were enrolled totally.Significant improvements were observed in height,body weight,and BMI SDS at week 52;GDS-C score showed significant improvement in general quotient(GQ)and sub-quotients.In a linear regression analysis,total motor quotient(TMQ),gross motor quotient(GMQ),and fine motor quotient were negatively correlated with age;however,treatment may attenuate deterioration of TMQ and GMQ.Changes in GQ and locomotor sub-quotient in<9-month group were significantly higher than≥9-month group.Mild to moderate severity adverse drug reactions were reported in six patients.Conclusion Fifty-two-week treatment with rhGH improved growth,BMI,mental development,and lessened the deterioration of motor function in infants and young children with PWS.Improved mental development was more pronounced when instituted in patients<9 months old.