Vascular endothelial growth factor-165b protects the blood-retinal barrier from damage after acute high intraocular pressure in rats

AIM:To elucidate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor-165b(VEGF-165b)in blood-retinal barrier(BRB)injury in the rat acute glaucoma model.METHODS:In this study,the rat acute high intraocular pressure(HIOP)model was established before and after intravitreous injection of anti-VEGF-165b antibody.The expression of VEGF-165b and zonula occludens-1(ZO-1)in rat retina was detected by double immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting,and the breakdown of BRB was detected by Evans blue(EB)dye.RESULTS:The intact retina of rats expressed VEGF-165b and ZO-1 protein,which were mainly located in the retinal ganglion cell layer and the inner nuclear layer and were both co-expressed with vascular endothelial cell markers CD31.After acute HIOP,the expression of VEGF-165b was up-regulated;the expression of ZO-1 was down-regulated at 12h and then recovered at 3d;EB leakage increased,peaking at 12h.After intravitreous injection of anti-VEGF-165b antibody,the expression of VEGF-165b protein was no significantly changed;and the down-regulation of the expression of ZO-1 was more obvious;EB leakage became more serious,peaking at 3d.EB analysis also showed that EB leakage in the peripheral retina was greater than that in the central retina.CONCLUSION:The endogenous VEGF-165b protein may protect the BRB from acute HIOP by regulating the expression of ZO-1.The differential destruction of BRB after acute HIOP may be related to the selective loss of retinal ganglion cells.

CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 attenuates colonic damage in mice with experimental colitis

AIM:To investigate the effects of the chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1(CXCL12) receptor(CXCR4) antagonist AMD3100 on colonic inflammation and epithelial barrier in dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced colitis in mice.METHODS:Experimental colitis was induced by administration of 5% DSS for 7 d,and assays performed on intestinal segments from the ileocecal valve to the anus.Colonic morphology was examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining.Colonic cytokines were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Myeloperoxidase(MPO) activity(indicator of inflammatory infiltration) was observed spectrophotometrically.Gut permeability was assessed by mucosal-to-serosal clearance of fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated dextran 4000(FD4) in everted gut sacs.The apoptosis of colonic epithelium was assessed by Hoechst-33342 staining.To further elucidate the role of CXCR4 in colonic inflammation,we also investigated the effect of AMD3100 on migration and cytokine production of isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs).RESULTS:DSS-induced colitis was characterized by morphologic changes,as well as increased colonic cytokines,inflammatory infiltration,epithelial apoptosis,and intestinal permeability in mice.In AMD3100-treated mice,epithelial destruction,inflammatory infiltration,and submucosal edema were markedly reduced;colonic tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6) and interferon-γ(IFN-γ) levels,as well as MPO activity were significantly decreased.Increased intestinal permeability in DSS-treated mice was signif icantly reduced by AMD3100.The number of apoptotic cells in colitis mice was markedly increased after DSS administration,and decreased when treated with the CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100.In pre-activated PBMCs,CXCL12 stimulation signif icantly increased the migration of PBMCs,and was inhibited by AMD3100.Moderately increased TNF-α,IL-6,and IFN-γ from CXCL12-treated PBMCs were also reduced by AMD3100.CONCLUSION:The CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 exerts therapeutic effects on experimental colitis by inhibiting colonic inflammation and enhancing epithelial barrier integrity.

自整合障碍因子1在重症肌无力患者胸腺组织中的表达

目的 观察重症肌无力（MG）患者胸腺组织中自整合障碍因子1（BANF-1）的表达,探讨BANF-1与MG胸腺异常的关系.方法 Trizol法提取增生型（30例）、萎缩型（22例）、胸腺瘤型（20例）及正常胸腺（24例）总RNA,实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应（FQ-PCR）检测BANF-1 mRNA含量;免疫组织化学法分析BANF-1蛋白表达.结果 4种胸腺组织类型之间BANF-1 mRNA含量差异有统计学意义（F=3.627,P＜0.05）.与正常（17.77 ±13.01）、增生型（29.58 ±22.81）和胸腺瘤型（15.99± 16.33）胸腺组织比较,萎缩型胸腺BANF-1基因（54.79 ±35.13）表达增高（P＜0.01）;免疫组织化学结果显示,MG患者3种类型胸腺组织BANF-1均有表达.结论 BANF-1可能与MG患者异常胸腺的发生有关,尤其与MG胸腺萎缩有关.