Prolonged intermittent theta burst stimulation restores the balance between A_(2A)R-and A_(1)R-mediated adenosine signaling in the 6-hydroxidopamine model of Parkinson's disease

An imbalance in adenosine-mediated signaling,particularly the increased A_(2A)R-mediated signaling,plays a role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.Existing therapeutic approaches fail to alter disease progression,demonstrating the need for novel approaches in PD.Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive approach that has been shown to improve motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease.However,the underlying mechanisms of the beneficial effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation remain unknown.The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which the beneficial effects of prolonged intermittent theta burst stimulation in the 6-hydroxydopamine model of experimental parkinsonism are based on modulation of adenosine-mediated signaling.Animals with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions underwent intermittent theta burst stimulation for 3 weeks and were tested for motor skills using the Rotarod test.Immunoblot,quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction,immunohistochemistry,and biochemical analysis of components of adenosine-mediated signaling were performed on the synaptosomal fraction of the lesioned caudate putamen.Prolonged intermittent theta burst stimulation improved motor symptoms in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned animals.A 6-hydroxydopamine lesion resulted in progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the caudate putamen.Treatment with intermittent theta burst stimulation began 7 days after the lesion,coinciding with the onset of motor symptoms.After treatment with prolonged intermittent theta burst stimulation,complete motor recovery was observed.This improvement was accompanied by downregulation of the e N/CD73-A_(2A)R pathway and a return to physiological levels of A_(1)R-adenosine deaminase 1 after 3 weeks of intermittent theta burst stimulation.Our results demonstrated that 6-hydroxydopamine-induced degeneration reduced the expression of A_(1)R and elevated the expression of A_(2A)R.Intermittent theta burst stimulation reversed these effects by restoring the abundances of A_(1)R and A_(2A)R to control levels.The shift in ARs expression likely restored the balance between dopamine-adenosine signaling,ultimately leading to the recovery of motor control.

Salsolinol as an RNA m~6A methylation inducer mediates dopaminergic neuronal death by regulating YAP1 and autophagy

Salsolinol(1-methyl-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline,Sal)is a catechol isoquinoline that causes neurotoxicity and shares structural similarity with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine,an environmental toxin that causes Parkinson's disease.However,the mechanism by which Sal mediates dopaminergic neuronal death remains unclear.In this study,we found that Sal significantly enhanced the global level of N~6-methyladenosine(m~6A)RNA methylation in PC12 cells,mainly by inducing the downregulation of the expression of m~6A demethylases fat mass and obesity-associated protein(FTO)and alk B homolog 5(ALKBH5).RNA sequencing analysis showed that Sal downregulated the Hippo signaling pathway.The m~6A reader YTH domain-containing family protein 2(YTHDF2)promoted the degradation of m~6A-containing Yes-associated protein 1(YAP1)mRNA,which is a downstream key effector in the Hippo signaling pathway.Additionally,downregulation of YAP1 promoted autophagy,indicating that the mutual regulation between YAP1 and autophagy can lead to neurotoxicity.These findings reveal the role of Sal on m~6A RNA methylation and suggest that Sal may act as an RNA methylation inducer mediating dopaminergic neuronal death through YAP1 and autophagy.Our results provide greater insights into the neurotoxic effects of catechol isoquinolines compared with other studies and may be a reference for assessing the involvement of RNA methylation in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.

Interleukin-17A facilitates tumor progression via upregulating programmed death ligand-1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is an inflammation-associated tumor with a dismal prognosis.Immunotherapy has become an important treatment strategy for HCC,as immunity is closely related to inflammation in the tumor microenvir-onment.Inflammation regulates the expression of programmed death ligand-1(PD-L1)in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and affects im-munotherapy efficacy.Interleukin-17A(IL-17A)is involved in the remodeling of the tumor microenvironment and plays a protumor or antitumor role in different tumors.We hypothesized that IL-17A participates in tumor progression by affe-cting the level of immune checkpoint molecules in HCC.The upregulation of PD-L1 expression in HCC cells by IL-17A was assessed by reverse transcription PCR,western blotting,and flow cytometry.Mechanistic studies were conducted with gene knockout models and pathway inhibitors.The function of IL-17A in immune evasion was explored through coculture of T cells and HCC cells.The effects of IL-17A on the malignant biological behaviors of HCC cells were evaluated in vitro,and the antitumor effects of an IL-17A inhibitor and its synergistic effects with a PD-L1 inhibitor were studied in vivo.RESULTS IL-17A upregulated PD-L1 expression in HCC cells in a dose-dependent manner,whereas IL-17A receptor knockout or treatment with a small mothers against decapentaplegic 2 inhibitor diminished the PD-L1 expression induced by IL-17A.IL-17A enhanced the survival of HCC cells in the coculture system.IL-17A increased the viability,G2/M ratio,and migration of HCC cells and decreased the apoptotic index.Cyclin D1,VEGF,MMP9,and Bcl-1 expression increased after IL-17A treatment,whereas BAX expression decreased.The combination of IL-17A and PD-L1 inhibitors showed synergistic antitumor efficacy and increased cluster of differentiation 8+T lymphocyte infiltration in an HCC mouse model.CONCLUSION IL-17A upregulates PD-L1 expression via the IL-17A receptor/phosphorylation-small mothers against decapenta-plegic 2 signaling pathway in HCC cells.Blocking IL-17A enhances the therapeutic efficacy of PD-L1 antibodies in HCC in vivo.

Small molecule deoxynyboquinone triggers alkylation and ubiquitination of Keap1 at Cys489 on Kelch domain for Nrf2 activation and inflammatory therapy

Activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)by Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1(Keap1)alkylation plays a central role in anti-inflammatory therapy.However,activators of Nrf2 through alkylation of Keap1-Kelch domain have not been identified.Deoxynyboquinone(DNQ)is a natural small molecule discovered from marine actinomycetes.The current study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects and molecular mechanisms of DNQ via alkylation of Keap1.DNQ exhibited significant anti-inflammatory properties both in vitro and in vivo.The pharmacophore responsible for the anti-inflammatory properties of DNQ was determined to be theα,β-unsaturated amides moieties by a chemical reaction between DNQ and N-acetylcysteine.DNQ exerted anti-inflammatory effects through activation of Nrf2/ARE pathway.Keap1 was demonstrated to be the direct target of DNQ and bound with DNQ through conjugate addition reaction involving alkylation.The specific alkylation site of DNQ on Keap1 for Nrf2 activation was elucidated with a synthesized probe in conjunction with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.DNQ triggered the ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of Keap1 by alkylation of the cysteine residue 489(Cys489)on Keap1-Kelch domain,ultimately enabling the activation of Nrf2.Our findings revealed that DNQ exhibited potent anti-inflammatory capacity throughα,β-unsaturated amides moieties active group which specifically activated Nrf2 signal pathway via alkylation/ubiquitination of Keap1-Kelch domain,suggesting the potential values of targeting Cys489 on Keap1-Kelch domain by DNQ-like small molecules in inflammatory therapies.

Bifurcations, Analytical and Non-Analytical Traveling Wave Solutions of (2 + 1)-Dimensional Nonlinear Dispersive Boussinesq Equation

For the (2 + 1)-dimensional nonlinear dispersive Boussinesq equation, by using the bifurcation theory of planar dynamical systems to study its corresponding traveling wave system, the bifurcations and phase portraits of the regular system are obtained. Under different parametric conditions, various sufficient conditions to guarantee the existence of analytical and non-analytical solutions of the singular system are given by using singular traveling wave theory. For certain special cases, some explicit and exact parametric representations of traveling wave solutions are derived such as analytical periodic waves and non-analytical periodic cusp waves. Further, two-dimensional wave plots of analytical periodic solutions and non-analytical periodic cusp wave solutions are drawn to visualize the dynamics of the equation.

Functionalized selenium nanoparticles ameliorated acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity through synergistically triggering PKCδ/Nrf2 signaling pathway and inhibiting CYP 2E1

Selenium nanoparticles(SeNPs)have been demonstrated potential for use in diseases associated with oxidative stress.Functionalized SeNPs with lower toxicity and higher biocompatibility could bring better therapeutic activity and clinical application value.Herein,this work was conducted to investigate the protective effect of Pleurotus tuber-regium polysaccharide-protein complex funtionnalized SeNPs(PTR-SeNPs)against acetaminophen(APAP)-induced oxidative injure in HepG2 cells and C57BL/6J mouse liver.Further elucidation of the underlying molecular mechanism,in particular their modulation of Nrf2 signaling pathway was also performed.The results showed that PTR-SeNPs could significantly ameliorate APAP-induced oxidative injury as evidenced by a range of biochemical analysis,histopathological examination and immunoblotting study.PTR-SeNPs could hosphorylate and activate PKCδ,depress Keap1,and increase nuclear accumulation of Nrf2,resulting in upregulation of GCLC,GCLM,HO-1 and NQO-1 expression.Besides,PTR-SeNPs suppressed the biotransformation of APAP to generate intracellular ROS through CYP 2E1 inhibition,restoring the mitochondrial morphology.Furthermore,the protective effect of PTR-SeNPs against APAP induced hepatotoxicity was weakened as Nrf2 was depleted in vivo,indicating the pivotal role of Nrf2 signaling pathway in PTR-SeNPs mediated hepatoprotective efficacy.Being a potential hepatic protectant,PTR-SeNPs could serve as a new source of selenium supplement for health-promoting and biomedical applications.

IDH2 and GLUD1 depletion arrests embryonic development through an H4K20me3 epigenetic barrier in porcine parthenogenetic embryos

Isocitrate dehydrogenase 2(IDH2)and glutamate dehydrogenase 1(GLUD1)are key enzymes involved in the production ofα-ketoglutarate(α-KG),a metabolite central to the tricarboxylic acid cycle and glutamine metabolism.In this study,we investigated the impact of IDH2 and GLUD1 on early porcine embryonic development following IDH2 and GLUD1 knockdown(KD)via doublestranded RNA(dsRNA)microinjection.Results showed that KD reducedα-KG levels,leading to delayed embryonic development,decreased blastocyst formation,increased apoptosis,reduced blastomere proliferation,and pluripotency.Additionally,IDH2 and GLUD1 KD induced abnormally high levels of trimethylation of lysine 20 of histone H4(H4K20me3)at the 4-cell stage,likely resulting in transcriptional repression of embryonic genome activation(EGA)-related genes.Notably,KD of lysine methyltransferase 5C(KMT5C)and supplementation with exogenousα-KG reduced H4K20me3 expression and partially rescued these defects,suggesting a critical role of IDH2 and GLUD1 in the epigenetic regulation and proper development of porcine embryos.Overall,this study highlights the significance of IDH2 and GLUD1 in maintaining normal embryonic development through their influence onα-KG production and subsequent epigenetic modifications.

Superior Mechanical Behavior and Flame Retardancy FRP via a Distribution Controllable 1D/2D Hybrid Nanoclay Synergistic Toughening Strategy

The incorporation of commercial flame retardants into fiber-reinforced polymer(FRP)composites has been proposed as a potential solution to improve the latter’s poor flame resistance.However,this approach often poses a challenge,as it can adversely affect the mechanical properties of the FRP.Thus,balancing the need for improved flame resistance with the preservation of mechanical integrity remains a complex issue in FRP research.Addressing this critical concern,this study introduces a novel additive system featuring a combination of one-dimensional(1D)hollow tubular structured halloysite nanotubes(HNTs)and two-dimensional(2D)polygonal flake-shaped nano kaolinite(NKN).By employing a 1D/2D hybrid kaolinite nanoclay system,this research aims to simultaneously improve the flame retardancy and mechanical properties.This innovative approach offers several advantages.During combustion and pyrolysis processes,the 1D/2D hybrid kaolinite nanoclay system proves effective in reducing heat release and volatile leaching.Furthermore,the system facilitates the formation of reinforcing skeletons through a crosslinking mechanism during pyrolysis,resulting in the development of a compact char layer.This char layer acts as a protective barrier,enhancing the material’s resistance to heat and flames.In terms of mechanical properties,the multilayered polygonal flake-shaped 2D NKN plays a crucial role by impeding the formation of cracks that typically arise from vulnerable areas,such as adhesive phase particles.Simultaneously,the 1D HNT bridges these cracks within the matrix,ensuring the structural integrity of the composite material.In an optimal scenario,the homogeneously distributed 1D/2D hybrid kaolinite nanoclays exhibit remarkable results,with a 51.0%improvement in mode II fracture toughness(GIIC),indicating increased resistance to crack propagation.In addition,there is a 34.5%reduction in total heat release,signifying improved flame retardancy.This study represents a significant step forward in the field of composite materials.The innovative use of hybrid low-dimensional nanomaterials offers a promising avenue for the development of multifunctional composites.By carefully designing and incorporating these nanoclays,researchers can potentially create a new generation of FRP composites that excel in both flame resistance and mechanical strength.

Long noncoding RNAs HAND2-AS1 ultrasound microbubbles suppress hepatocellular carcinoma progression by regulating the miR-873-5p/tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 axis

BACKGROUND Increasing data indicated that long noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs)were directly or indirectly involved in the occurrence and development of tumors,including hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Recent studies had found that the expression of lncRNA HAND2-AS1 was downregulated in HCC tissues,but its role in HCC progression is unclear.Ultrasound targeted microbubble destruction mediated gene transfection is a new method to overexpress genes.AIM To study the role of ultrasound microbubbles(UTMBs)mediated HAND2-AS1 in the progression of HCC,in order to provide a new reference for the treatment of HCC.METHODS In vitro,we transfected HAND2-AS1 siRNA into HepG2 cells by UTMBs,and detected cell proliferation,apoptosis,invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)by cell counting kit-8 assay,flow cytometry,Transwell invasion assay and Western blotting,respectively.In addition,we transfected miR-837-5p mimic into UTMBs treated cells and observed the changes of cell behavior.Next,the UTMBs treated HepG2 cells were transfected together with miR-837-5p mimic and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2(TIMP2)overexpression vector,and we detected cell proliferation,apoptosis,invasion and EMT.In vivo,we established a mouse model of subcutaneous transplantation of HepG2 cells and observed the effect of HAND2-AS1 silencing on tumor formation ability.RESULTS We found that UTMBs carrying HAND2-AS1 restricted cell proliferation,invasion,and EMT,encouraged apoptosis,and HAND2-AS1 silencing eliminated the effect of UTMBs.Additionally,miR-873-5p targets the gene HAND2-AS1,which also targets the 3’UTR of TIMP2.And miR-873-5p mimic counteracted the impact of HAND2-AS1.Further,miR-873-5p mimic solely or in combination with pcDNA-TIMP2 had been transformed into HepG2 cells exposed to UTMBs.We discovered that TIMP2 reversed the effect of miR-873-5p mimic caused by the blocked signalling cascade for matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)2/MMP9.In vivo results showed that HAND2-AS1 silencing significantly inhibited tumor formation in mice.CONCLUSION LncRNA HAND2-AS1 promotes TIMP2 expression by targeting miR-873-5p to inhibit HepG2 cell growth and delay HCC progression.

N6-methyladenosine-modified long non-coding RNA KIF9-AS1 promotes stemness and sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma by upregulating SHOX2 expression

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a prevalent and aggressive tumor.Sorafenib is the first-line treatment for patients with advanced HCC,but resistance to sorafenib has become a significant challenge in this therapy.Cancer stem cells play a crucial role in sorafenib resistance in HCC.Our previous study revealed that the long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)KIF9-AS1 is an oncogenic gene in HCC.However,the role of KIF9-AS1 in drug resistance and cancer stemness in HCC remains unclear.Herein,we aimed to investigate the function and mechanism of the lncRNA KIF9-AS1 in cancer stemness and drug resistance in HCC.AIM To describe the role of the lncRNA KIF9-AS1 in cancer stemness and drug resistance in HCC and elucidate the underlying mechanism.METHODS Tumor tissue and adjacent non-cancerous tissue samples were collected from HCC patients.Sphere formation was quantified via a tumor sphere assay.Cell viability,proliferation,and apoptosis were evaluated via Cell Counting Kit-8,flow cytometry,and colony formation assays,respectively.The interactions between the lncRNA KIF9-AS1 and its downstream targets were confirmed via RNA immunoprecipitation and coimmunoprecipitation.The tumorigenic role of KIF9-AS1 was validated in a mouse model.RESULTS Compared with that in normal controls,the expression of the lncRNA KIF9-AS1 was upregulated in HCC tissues.Knockdown of KIF9-AS1 inhibited stemness and attenuated sorafenib resistance in HCC cells.Mechanistically,N6-methyladenosine modification mediated by methyltransferase-like 3/insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 stabilized and increased the expression of KIF9-AS1.Additionally,KIF9-AS1 increased the stability and expression of short stature homeobox 2 by promoting ubiquitin-specific peptidase 1-induced deubiquitination.Furthermore,depletion of KIF9-AS1 alleviated sorafenib resistance in a xenograft mouse model of HCC.CONCLUSION The N6-methyladenosine-modified lncRNA KIF9-AS1 promoted stemness and sorafenib resistance in HCC by upregulating short stature homeobox 2 expression.

BET inhibitors potentiate melanoma ferroptosis and immunotherapy through AKR1C2 inhibition

Dear Editor,Ferroptosis,an iron-dependent form of cell death driven by overwhelming lipid peroxidation,represents a vulnerability in cancers,and therapeutic strategies to further potentiate ferroptosis hold great potential for melanoma treatment.

Microscopic growth mechanism and edge states of monolayer 1T'-MoTe_(2)

Transition metal ditellurides(TMTDs)have versatile physical properties,including non-trivial topology,Weyl semimetal states and unique spin texture.Controlled growth of high-quality and large-scale monolayer TMTDs with preferred crystal phases is crucial for their applications.Here,we demonstrate the epitaxial growth of 1T'-MoTe_(2) on Au(111)and graphitized silicon carbide(Gr/SiC)by molecular beam epitaxy(MBE).We investigate the morphology of the grown1T'-MoTe_(2) at the atomic level by scanning tunnelling microscopy(STM)and reveal the corresponding microscopic growth mechanism.It is found that the unique ordered Te structures preferentially deposited on Au(111)regulate the growth of monolayer single crystal 1T'-MoTe_(2),while the Mo clusters were preferentially deposited on the Gr/SiC substrate,which impedes the ordered growth of monolayer MoTe_(2).We confirm that the size of single crystal 1T'-MoTe_(2) grown on Au(111)is nearly two orders of magnitude larger than that on Gr/SiC.By scanning tunnelling spectroscopy(STS),we observe that the STS spectrum of the monolayer 1T'-MoTe_(2) nano-island at the edge is different from that at the interior,which exhibits enhanced conductivity.

Magnesium cantharidate suppresses PP2A and ERK1/2 pathway to inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Background:Magnesium cantharidate(MC)is a protein phosphatase 2A(PP2A)inhibitor antitumor drug.However,its antitumor mechanism in hepatocellular carcinoma cell(HCC)remains unclear.Methods:PP2A lentiviral vector over expression strategy was utilized both in vivo and in vitro to explore the antitumor effect in MC and okadaic acid(OA).Tumor weight was detected in mice after MC and OA exposure.Cell proliferation,cell cycle,apoptosis rate,and western blotting were detected to explore the effects on MC and OA in human hepatocarcinoma SMMC-7721 cells.Results:In vivo results demonstrated that MC inhibited HCC progression while OA promoted tumor growth.In vitro results demonstrated that MC effectively inhibited the growth of SMMC-7721 cells by arresting the cell cycle at the G2/M phase with inhibiting Cdc25C and activating the phosphorylation of the Cdc2 protein.Flow cytometry results further showed that MC increased apoptosis.Furthermore,the expression of phosphorylated ERK1/2 was lower in the MC group but higher in the OA group.Molecular docking results showed that MC docked well with ERK1/2.Conclusions:MC inhibited HCC progression by suppressing the growth and activating the apoptosis of cancer cells and suppressing the expression of PP2A and ERK1/2.

La_(1-x)Ce_(x)MnO_(3)-Ba/Al_(2)O_(3)催化剂对NO选择性生成NH_(3)的影响

为了实现碳中和目标,降低内燃机碳排放,稀薄燃烧技术成为了当前重要的研究方向.该技术不仅能提高发动机燃油热效率,还能有效降低CO_(2)排放.但是稀薄燃烧往往会伴随着大量氮氧化物的产生,为了解决该问题,采用LNT-SCR耦合的NO_(x)净化技术,此时LNT的作用是将排气中部分NO_(x)转化为NH_(3),为下游的SCR提供还原剂.基于此,制备了LNT催化剂,研究催化剂对NO选择性生成NH_(3)的影响.采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了La_(1-x)Ce_(x)MnO_(3)系列钙钛矿氧化物,并通过分步浸渍法得到了La_(1-x)Ce_(x)MnO_(3)-Ba/Al_(2)O_(3)负载型催化剂.利用XRD、H_(2)-TPR、NO-TPD等表征手段研究了钙钛矿氧化物的晶相结构,以及负载型催化剂的还原特性、NO_(x)吸附-脱附性能等物化性质,并且通过H_(2)选择性催化还原NO实验探究了催化剂掺杂Ce对NO转化成NH_(3)的影响.结果表明,Ce掺杂催化剂具有良好的NH_(3)产物选择性,并且显著提高了NO转化率.温度是NO转化和NH_(3)产物选择性生成的决定性因素,而H_(2)和NO体积比是NO转化和NH_(3)产物选择性生成的关键性因素.其中,La_(0.95)Ce_(0.05)MnO_(3)-Ba/Al_(2)O_(3)在低温下催化活性表现最佳,在350℃、H_(2)和NO体积比为5.0时NH_(3)产物选择性为65%,NO转化率为100%.此外,所制备的La_(1-x)Ce_(x)MnO_(3)都形成了钙钛矿型结构,而且Ce掺杂催化剂的大部分Ce离子可以进入到LaMnO_(3)结构中.在催化剂适量掺杂Ce后,H_(2)消耗总面积增大、还原峰的峰值温度降低,表明掺杂Ce改善了催化剂的还原特性;同时NO吸附和脱附面积增大,表明Ce掺杂改变了催化剂的NO_(x)吸附-脱附性能.

梅毒血清固定患者中NOD样受体蛋白3和Toll样受体4表达与Th1/Th2相关细胞因子的相关性研究

目的探究梅毒血清固定患者中NOD样受体蛋白3(NLRP3)、Toll样受体4(TLR4)表达与辅助性T细胞1/辅助性T细胞2(Th1/Th2)相关细胞因子的相关性。方法选取2021年2月至2022年4月川北医学院附属三台医院收治的197例梅毒患者作为研究对象。将进行驱梅治疗后血清转阴者纳入转阴组(n=88),未进行驱梅治疗者纳入梅毒组(n=45),接受驱梅治疗后血清固定者纳入固定组(n=64)。另选取同期进行体检的健康人作为对照组(n=53)。采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应检测外周血单个核细胞(PBMCs)中NLRP3、TLR4 mRNA相对表达水平;采用酶联免疫吸附试验法检测Th1/Th2相关细胞因子的表达水平;采用Pearson法分析TLR4、NLRP3 mRNA与Th1/Th2相关细胞因子的相关性。结果各组PBMCs中TLR4、NLRP3 mRNA表达水平比较,梅毒组>转阴组>对照组>固定组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);各组白介素(IL)-2、γ干扰素(IFN-γ)水平比较,对照组>转阴组>梅毒组>固定组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);各组IL-1β、IL-4、IL-10及IL-18水平比较,对照组<转阴组<梅毒组<固定组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);梅毒血清固定患者TLR4、NLRP3 mRNA表达与IFN-γ、IL-2呈正相关,与IL-1β、IL-4、IL-10、IL-18呈负相关(P<0.05)。结论梅毒血清固定患者NLRP3、TLR4 mRNA表达水平显著降低,且与Th1/Th2相关细胞因子密切相关。

膈下逐瘀汤抑制NOD1/RIP2/NF-κB通路调控EMT大鼠卵巢功能影响病灶修复的机制

目的:分析膈下逐瘀汤抑制NOD1(含核苷酸结合寡聚化域蛋白1)/RIP2(受体相互作用蛋白2)/NF-κB(核因子κB)信号通路继而调控气滞血瘀型子宫内膜异位症(EMT)模型大鼠卵巢功能,并最终影响病灶修复的可能机制。方法:将6只正常大鼠和30只成功造模的气滞血瘀型EMT大鼠进行分组:空白组、模型组、西药干预组,以及中药低、中、高剂量组,连续干预14 d,比较各组大鼠干预后信号通路指标、卵巢功能指标的差异。结果:与空白组相比,气滞血瘀型EMT造模大鼠的NOD1、RIP2、NF-κB均有增加,雌二醇(E2)、促黄体生成素(LH)对应增加、卵泡刺激素(FSH)降低(p<0.05)。与模型组相比,无论西药还是中药干预,NOD1、RIP2、NF-κB均下降,E2和LH对应下降、FSH增加(p<0.05)。中药组随着使用剂量的增加,NOD1、RIP2、NF-κB均有下降,E2和LH对应下降、FSH增加(p<0.05)。结论:膈下逐瘀汤能通过抑制NOD1/RIP2/NF-κB信号通路而导致E2和LH激素下降、FSH激素升高,且随着用药剂量增加,疗效相应增强。

AAV2-PDE6B restores retinal structure and function in the retinal degeneration 10 mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa by promoting phototransduction and inhibiting apoptosis

Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of inherited diseases that lead to retinal degeneration and photoreceptor cell death.However,there is no effective treatment for retinitis pigmentosa caused by PDE6B mutation.Adeno-associated virus(AAV)-mediated gene therapy is a promising strategy for treating retinitis pigmentosa.The aim of this study was to explore the molecular mechanisms by which AAV2-PDE6B rescues retinal function.To do this,we injected retinal degeneration 10(rd10)mice subretinally with AAV2-PDE6B and assessed the therapeutic effects on retinal function and structure using dark-and light-adapted electroretinogram,optical coherence tomography,and immunofluorescence.Data-independent acquisition-mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis was conducted to investigate protein expression levels and pathway enrichment,and the results from this analysis were verified by real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting.AAV2-PDE6B injection significantly upregulated PDE6βexpression,preserved electroretinogram responses,and preserved outer nuclear layer thickness in rd10 mice.Differentially expressed proteins between wild-type and rd10 mice were closely related to visual perception,and treating rd10 mice with AAV2-PDE6B restored differentially expressed protein expression to levels similar to those seen in wild-type mice.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome analysis showed that the differentially expressed proteins whose expression was most significantly altered by AAV2-PDE6B injection were enriched in phototransduction pathways.Furthermore,the phototransductionrelated proteins Pde6α,Rom1,Rho,Aldh1a1,and Rbp1 exhibited opposite expression patterns in rd10 mice with or without AAV2-PDE6B treatment.Finally,Bax/Bcl-2,p-ERK/ERK,and p-c-Fos/c-Fos expression levels decreased in rd10 mice following AAV2-PDE6B treatment.Our data suggest that AAV2-PDE6B-mediated gene therapy promotes phototransduction and inhibits apoptosis by inhibiting the ERK signaling pathway and upregulating Bcl-2/Bax expression in retinitis pigmentosa.

Recombinant chitinase-3-like protein 1 alleviates learning and memory impairments via M2 microglia polarization in postoperative cognitive dysfunction mice

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is a seve re complication of the central nervous system that occurs after anesthesia and surgery,and has received attention for its high incidence and effect on the quality of life of patients.To date,there are no viable treatment options for postoperative cognitive dysfunction.The identification of postoperative cognitive dysfunction hub genes could provide new research directions and therapeutic targets for future research.To identify the signaling mechanisms contributing to postoperative cognitive dysfunction,we first conducted Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses of the Gene Expression Omnibus GSE95426 dataset,which consists of mRNAs and long non-coding RNAs differentially expressed in mouse hippocampus3 days after tibial fracture.The dataset was enriched in genes associated with the biological process"regulation of immune cells,"of which Chill was identified as a hub gene.Therefore,we investigated the contribution of chitinase-3-like protein 1 protein expression changes to postoperative cognitive dysfunction in the mouse model of tibial fractu re surgery.Mice were intraperitoneally injected with vehicle or recombinant chitinase-3-like protein 124 hours post-surgery,and the injection groups were compared with untreated control mice for learning and memory capacities using the Y-maze and fear conditioning tests.In addition,protein expression levels of proinflammatory factors(interleukin-1βand inducible nitric oxide synthase),M2-type macrophage markers(CD206 and arginase-1),and cognition-related proteins(brain-derived neurotropic factor and phosphorylated NMDA receptor subunit NR2B)were measured in hippocampus by western blotting.Treatment with recombinant chitinase-3-like protein 1 prevented surgery-induced cognitive impairment,downregulated interleukin-1βand nducible nitric oxide synthase expression,and upregulated CD206,arginase-1,pNR2B,and brain-derived neurotropic factor expression compared with vehicle treatment.Intraperitoneal administration of the specific ERK inhibitor PD98059 diminished the effects of recombinant chitinase-3-like protein 1.Collectively,our findings suggest that recombinant chitinase-3-like protein 1 ameliorates surgery-induced cognitive decline by attenuating neuroinflammation via M2 microglial polarization in the hippocampus.Therefore,recombinant chitinase-3-like protein1 may have therapeutic potential fo r postoperative cognitive dysfunction.

Drosophila models used to simulate human ATP1A1 gene mutations that cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2 disease and refractory seizures

Certain amino acids changes in the human Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase pump,ATPase Na^(+)/K^(+)transporting subunit alpha 1(ATP1A1),cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2(CMT2)disease and refractory seizures.To develop in vivo models to study the role of Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase in these diseases,we modified the Drosophila gene homolog,Atpα,to mimic the human ATP1A1 gene mutations that cause CMT2.Mutations located within the helical linker region of human ATP1A1(I592T,A597T,P600T,and D601F)were simultaneously introduced into endogenous Drosophila Atpαby CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing,generating the Atpα^(TTTF)model.In addition,the same strategy was used to generate the corresponding single point mutations in flies(Atpα^(I571T),Atpα^(A576T),Atpα^(P579T),and Atpα^(D580F)).Moreover,a deletion mutation(Atpα^(mut))that causes premature termination of translation was generated as a positive control.Of these alleles,we found two that could be maintained as homozygotes(Atpα^(I571T)and Atpα^(P579T)).Three alleles(Atpα^(A576T),Atpα^(P579)and Atpα^(D580F))can form heterozygotes with the Atpαmut allele.We found that the Atpαallele carrying these CMT2-associated mutations showed differential phenotypes in Drosophila.Flies heterozygous for Atpα^(TTTF)mutations have motor performance defects,a reduced lifespan,seizures,and an abnormal neuronal morphology.These Drosophila models will provide a new platform for studying the function and regulation of the sodium-potassium pump.

基于NOX5-ERK1/2信号通路探讨健脾祛痰化瘀方对动脉粥样硬化小型猪炎症反应的影响

目的 观察健脾祛痰化瘀方对动脉粥样硬化(AS)小型猪氧化应激和炎症反应的影响,基于NOX5-ERK1/2信号通路探讨其作用机制。方法 将12只巴马小型猪随机分为对照组、模型组和健脾祛痰化瘀方低、高剂量组,每组3只。采用高脂饮食饲养24周构建动脉粥样硬化模型,给药组同时在饲料中添加健脾祛痰化瘀方。分别于给药0、16、24周检测小型猪一般体征(体长、腹围、体质量、食物摄入量和粪便含水量),HE染色观察主动脉形态,油红O染色观察主动脉和心肌组织脂质沉积,透射电镜观察胸主动脉组织超微结构,全自动生化分析仪检测血清总胆固醇(TC)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)含量,ELISA检测血清活性氧(ROS)、白细胞介素(IL)-6、IL-10、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)-α、超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)、血管细胞黏附分子-1(VCAM-1)、细胞间黏附分子-1(ICAM-1)含量,Western blot检测主动脉组织NADPH氧化酶5(NOX5)、细胞外信号调节激酶1/2(ERK1/2)、p-ERK1/2、VCAM-1、增殖细胞核抗原(PCNA)蛋白表达。结果 与正常组比较,模型组小型猪16、24周腹围、体质量、食物摄入量增加(P<0.01),主动脉内膜明显增厚,内皮细胞破坏,脂质沉积,平滑肌细胞水肿,线粒体肿胀明显,血清TC、LDL-C含量及ROS、IL-6、IL-10、TNF-α、hs-CRP、VCAM-1、ICAM-1含量升高,HDL-C含量降低(P<0.01);主动脉组织NOX5、p-ERK1/2、VCAM-1、PCNA蛋白表达升高(P<0.01)。与模型组比较,健脾祛痰化瘀方低、高剂量组16、24周腹围、体质量、食物摄入量减少(P<0.05,P<0.01),斑块面积和脂质沉积减少,内皮细胞破坏减轻,血清TC、LDL-C含量及ROS、IL-6、IL-10、TNF-α、hs-CRP、VCAM-1、ICAM-1含量降低,HDL-C含量升高(P<0.01,P<0.05);主动脉组织NOX5、p-ERK1/2、VCAM-1、PCNA蛋白表达降低(P<0.01,P<0.05)。结论 健脾祛痰化瘀方可减轻小型猪AS,其机制可能与抑制NOX5-ERK1/2信号通路激活、减轻氧化应激诱导的炎症反应有关。