Background Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is expressed in the heart under inflammatory conditions and plays an important role in atherogenesis. Patients with increased PTX3 levels may suffer from higher rates of cardiac events....Background Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is expressed in the heart under inflammatory conditions and plays an important role in atherogenesis. Patients with increased PTX3 levels may suffer from higher rates of cardiac events. Regulation of specific genes by promoter methylation is important in atherogenesis. The factors influencing PTX3 levels and the association between epigenetics and PTX3 levels have not been investigated. Methods Blood samples were collected from 64 patients admitted to the Department of Cardiology, 35 who had coronary artery disease (CAD), and 29 who were CAD-free. Plasma levels of PTX3 were measured by ELISA. PTX3 promoter methylation was evaluated via methyl-specific PCR. The severity of coronary artery lesion was evaluated by angiography. Results The level of PTX3 promoter methylation in the CAD group was 62.69% ± 20.57%, significantly lower than that of the CAD-free group, which was 72.45% ± 11.84% (P = 0.03). Lower PTX3 promoter methylation levels in the CAD group were associated with higher plasma PTX3 concentrations (r = -0.29, P = 0.02). Furthermore, lower PTX3 promoter methylation levels were associated with higher neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in men (r = -0.58, P = 0.002). Conclusions The present study provides new evidence that methylation of the PTX3 promoter is associated with PTX3 plasma levels and NLR in coronary artery disease. This study also shows that modification of epigenetics by chronic inflamma- tion might be a significant molecular mechanism in the atherosclerotic processes that influence plasma PTX3 concentrations.展开更多
AIM:To identify the novel methylation-silenced gene pentraxin 3(PTX3) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC).METHODS:PTX3 mRNA expression was examined in six human ESCC cell lines,one human immortalized normal es...AIM:To identify the novel methylation-silenced gene pentraxin 3(PTX3) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC).METHODS:PTX3 mRNA expression was examined in six human ESCC cell lines,one human immortalized normal esophageal epithelial cell line,primary ESCC tumor tissue,and paired adjacent nontumor tissue using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RTPCR).Semi-quantitative immunohistochemistry was used to examine cellular localisation and protein levels.Methylation specific PCR and bisulphite genomic sequencing were employed to investigate the methylation of the candidate gene.RESULTS:In the majority of ESCC cell lines,we found that PTX3 expression was down-regulated due to gene promoter hypermethylation,which was further confirmed by bisulphite genomic sequencing.Demethylation treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine restored PTX3 mRNA expression in ESCC cell lines.Methylation was more common in tumor tissues(85%) than in adjacent nontumor tissues(25%)(P < 0.01).CONCLUSION:PTX3 is down-regulated through promoter hypermethylation in ESCC,and could potentially serve as a biomarker of ESCC.展开更多
Objective To determine whether the onset of acute lung injury (ALl) induces the up-regulation of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) expression in mice and whether PTX3 concentration in the biofluid can help recognizing sepsis-ind...Objective To determine whether the onset of acute lung injury (ALl) induces the up-regulation of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) expression in mice and whether PTX3 concentration in the biofluid can help recognizing sepsis-induced ALI. Methods Wild-type C57BL/6 mice (12-14 weeks old) were randomly divided into 3 groups. Mice in the group 1 (n=12) and group 2 (n=12) were instilled with lipopolysaccharide via intratracheal or intraperitoneal routes, respectively. Mice in the group 3 (n=8) were taken as blank controls. Pulmonary morphological and functional alterations were measured to determine the presence of experimental ALl. PTX3 expression in the lung was quantified at both protein and mRNA levels. PTX3 protein concentration in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was measured to evaluate its ability to diagnose sepsis-induced ALI by computing area under receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROCC). Results ALl was commonly confirmed in the group 1 but never in the other groups. PTX3 expression was up-regulated indiscriminately among lipopolysaccharide-challenged mice. PTX3 protein concentration in the biofluid was unable to diagnose sepsis-induced ALl evidenced by its small AUROCC. PTX3 concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid did not correlate with that in serum. Conclusions Lipopolysaccharide challenges induced PTX3 expression in mice regardless of the presence ofALI. PTX3 may act as an indicator of inflammatory response instead of organ injury per se.展开更多
AIM: To investigate the expression of pentraxin 3(PTX3) in rat corneal epithelium at the early stage of Aspergillus fumigatus(A. fumigatus) infection. METHODS: A total of 50 Wistar rats were randomly divided int...AIM: To investigate the expression of pentraxin 3(PTX3) in rat corneal epithelium at the early stage of Aspergillus fumigatus(A. fumigatus) infection. METHODS: A total of 50 Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, Sham group and experimental group(fungal keratitis group, FK group). The right eye was chosen as the experiment one and infected by A. fumigatus. Rats were executed at 8, 16 and 24 h after the experimental models being established. Corneal epithelia were collected to assess the expression of PTX3 by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(q RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Corneal inflammation scores increased as infection prolonged(P〈0.05, P〈0.001). PTX3 m RNA expression was low in normal and Sham group rats' corneas. Level of PTX3 m RNA in infected rat cornea was elevated at 8 h and peaked at 16 h. The difference was significant compared with control group(P〈0.001). Western blot analysis also showed a significant increase of PTX3 protein in experimental group at 8 h and peaked at 16 h(P〈0.001). The synchronous expression of control group and experimental group were also in significant difference(P〈0.001). CONCLUSION: PTX3 exists in cornea epithelium and is significantly increased after A. fumigatus infection. PTX3 plays an important role in the early stage of cornea innate immunity against A. fumigatus.展开更多
Objective: To investigate the regulatory effects of Shenfu Injection (SFI, 参附注射液) on hemodynamic parameters and serum proteins in rats with post-infarction chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods: Forty-five h...Objective: To investigate the regulatory effects of Shenfu Injection (SFI, 参附注射液) on hemodynamic parameters and serum proteins in rats with post-infarction chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods: Forty-five healthy Wistar rats were randomized into three groups: sham, heart failure (model) and SFI group. The CHF was induced by left coronary artery ligation. Seven days after the surgical operation, animals in the sham group and the model group received saline (6.2 mL/kg/d), while animals in the SFI group received SFI (6.2 mL/kg.d) intraperitoneally. Four weeks later, cardiac hemodynamic parameters were measured via the carotid route. The expression of serum proteins was analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis and matrixassisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF MS). Results: Recording of hemodynamic parameters showed that left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), maximum rate of left ventricular pressure (+dp/dtmax) rise, and maximum rate of left ventricular pressure (-dp/dtmax) decrease, while the left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) rose in the model group compared to those in the sham group (P〈0.05). The results of the MALDI-TOF MS indicated that haptoglobin (HP), pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and alpha-1- antitrypsin were up-regulated, while serum albumin and 40S ribosomal protein were down-regulated in the model group (P〈0.05). Compared with the model group, LVSP, +dp/dtmax and -dp/dtmax were higher, while LVEDP was lower in the SFI group (P〈0.05). Expression levels of HP and PTX3 were lower than in the model group (P〈0.05). Conclusion: SFI could improve hemodynamic function and decrease inflammatory reactions in the pathophysiology of CHF. The serum proteins HP and PTX3 could be potential biomarkers for chronic ischemic heart failure, and they could also be the serum protein targets of SFI.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate five biomarkers(neopterin,vascular endothelial growth factor-A,thrombomodulin,soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and pentraxin 3)in differentiating clinical dengue cases.Methods:A prospect...Objective:To evaluate five biomarkers(neopterin,vascular endothelial growth factor-A,thrombomodulin,soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and pentraxin 3)in differentiating clinical dengue cases.Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted whereby the blood samples were obtained at day of presentation and the final diagnosis were obtained at the end of patients’follow-up.All patients included in the study were 15 years old or older,not pregnant,not infected by dengue previously and did not have cancer,autoimmune or haematological disorder.Median test was performed to compare the biomarker levels.A subgroup Mann-Whitney U test was analysed between severe dengue and non-severe dengue cases.Monte Carlo method was used to estimate the 2-tailed probability(P)value for independent variables with unequal number of patients.Results:All biomarkers except thrombomodulin has P value<0.001 in differentiating among the healthy subjects,non-dengue fever,dengue without warning signs and dengue with warning signs/severe dengue.Subgroup analysis for all the biomarkers between severe dengue and non-severe dengue cases was not statistically significant except vascular endothelial growth factor-A(P<0.05).Conclusions:Certain biomarkers were able to differentiate the clinical dengue cases.This could be potentially useful in classifying and determining the severity of dengue infected patients in the hospital.展开更多
文摘Background Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is expressed in the heart under inflammatory conditions and plays an important role in atherogenesis. Patients with increased PTX3 levels may suffer from higher rates of cardiac events. Regulation of specific genes by promoter methylation is important in atherogenesis. The factors influencing PTX3 levels and the association between epigenetics and PTX3 levels have not been investigated. Methods Blood samples were collected from 64 patients admitted to the Department of Cardiology, 35 who had coronary artery disease (CAD), and 29 who were CAD-free. Plasma levels of PTX3 were measured by ELISA. PTX3 promoter methylation was evaluated via methyl-specific PCR. The severity of coronary artery lesion was evaluated by angiography. Results The level of PTX3 promoter methylation in the CAD group was 62.69% ± 20.57%, significantly lower than that of the CAD-free group, which was 72.45% ± 11.84% (P = 0.03). Lower PTX3 promoter methylation levels in the CAD group were associated with higher plasma PTX3 concentrations (r = -0.29, P = 0.02). Furthermore, lower PTX3 promoter methylation levels were associated with higher neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in men (r = -0.58, P = 0.002). Conclusions The present study provides new evidence that methylation of the PTX3 promoter is associated with PTX3 plasma levels and NLR in coronary artery disease. This study also shows that modification of epigenetics by chronic inflamma- tion might be a significant molecular mechanism in the atherosclerotic processes that influence plasma PTX3 concentrations.
基金Supported by National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program),No. 2007AA02Z4Z4China Postdoctoral Science Foundation,No. 20090460394Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation,No. 7072022
文摘AIM:To identify the novel methylation-silenced gene pentraxin 3(PTX3) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC).METHODS:PTX3 mRNA expression was examined in six human ESCC cell lines,one human immortalized normal esophageal epithelial cell line,primary ESCC tumor tissue,and paired adjacent nontumor tissue using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RTPCR).Semi-quantitative immunohistochemistry was used to examine cellular localisation and protein levels.Methylation specific PCR and bisulphite genomic sequencing were employed to investigate the methylation of the candidate gene.RESULTS:In the majority of ESCC cell lines,we found that PTX3 expression was down-regulated due to gene promoter hypermethylation,which was further confirmed by bisulphite genomic sequencing.Demethylation treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine restored PTX3 mRNA expression in ESCC cell lines.Methylation was more common in tumor tissues(85%) than in adjacent nontumor tissues(25%)(P < 0.01).CONCLUSION:PTX3 is down-regulated through promoter hypermethylation in ESCC,and could potentially serve as a biomarker of ESCC.
基金Partly supported by a grant from Jie-shou Li Academician Gut Barrier Research Fund
文摘Objective To determine whether the onset of acute lung injury (ALl) induces the up-regulation of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) expression in mice and whether PTX3 concentration in the biofluid can help recognizing sepsis-induced ALI. Methods Wild-type C57BL/6 mice (12-14 weeks old) were randomly divided into 3 groups. Mice in the group 1 (n=12) and group 2 (n=12) were instilled with lipopolysaccharide via intratracheal or intraperitoneal routes, respectively. Mice in the group 3 (n=8) were taken as blank controls. Pulmonary morphological and functional alterations were measured to determine the presence of experimental ALl. PTX3 expression in the lung was quantified at both protein and mRNA levels. PTX3 protein concentration in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was measured to evaluate its ability to diagnose sepsis-induced ALI by computing area under receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROCC). Results ALl was commonly confirmed in the group 1 but never in the other groups. PTX3 expression was up-regulated indiscriminately among lipopolysaccharide-challenged mice. PTX3 protein concentration in the biofluid was unable to diagnose sepsis-induced ALl evidenced by its small AUROCC. PTX3 concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid did not correlate with that in serum. Conclusions Lipopolysaccharide challenges induced PTX3 expression in mice regardless of the presence ofALI. PTX3 may act as an indicator of inflammatory response instead of organ injury per se.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.81170825 No.81470609)+2 种基金Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (No.20123706110003)the Youth Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (No.ZR2013HQ007)the Key Project of Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (No.ZR2012HZ001).
文摘AIM: To investigate the expression of pentraxin 3(PTX3) in rat corneal epithelium at the early stage of Aspergillus fumigatus(A. fumigatus) infection. METHODS: A total of 50 Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, Sham group and experimental group(fungal keratitis group, FK group). The right eye was chosen as the experiment one and infected by A. fumigatus. Rats were executed at 8, 16 and 24 h after the experimental models being established. Corneal epithelia were collected to assess the expression of PTX3 by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(q RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Corneal inflammation scores increased as infection prolonged(P〈0.05, P〈0.001). PTX3 m RNA expression was low in normal and Sham group rats' corneas. Level of PTX3 m RNA in infected rat cornea was elevated at 8 h and peaked at 16 h. The difference was significant compared with control group(P〈0.001). Western blot analysis also showed a significant increase of PTX3 protein in experimental group at 8 h and peaked at 16 h(P〈0.001). The synchronous expression of control group and experimental group were also in significant difference(P〈0.001). CONCLUSION: PTX3 exists in cornea epithelium and is significantly increased after A. fumigatus infection. PTX3 plays an important role in the early stage of cornea innate immunity against A. fumigatus.
基金Supported by the Science and Technology Fund of the Beijing Bureau of Traditional Chinese Medicine(No.JJ2001-37)the National Nature Science Foundation of China(No.81173367)
文摘Objective: To investigate the regulatory effects of Shenfu Injection (SFI, 参附注射液) on hemodynamic parameters and serum proteins in rats with post-infarction chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods: Forty-five healthy Wistar rats were randomized into three groups: sham, heart failure (model) and SFI group. The CHF was induced by left coronary artery ligation. Seven days after the surgical operation, animals in the sham group and the model group received saline (6.2 mL/kg/d), while animals in the SFI group received SFI (6.2 mL/kg.d) intraperitoneally. Four weeks later, cardiac hemodynamic parameters were measured via the carotid route. The expression of serum proteins was analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis and matrixassisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF MS). Results: Recording of hemodynamic parameters showed that left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), maximum rate of left ventricular pressure (+dp/dtmax) rise, and maximum rate of left ventricular pressure (-dp/dtmax) decrease, while the left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) rose in the model group compared to those in the sham group (P〈0.05). The results of the MALDI-TOF MS indicated that haptoglobin (HP), pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and alpha-1- antitrypsin were up-regulated, while serum albumin and 40S ribosomal protein were down-regulated in the model group (P〈0.05). Compared with the model group, LVSP, +dp/dtmax and -dp/dtmax were higher, while LVEDP was lower in the SFI group (P〈0.05). Expression levels of HP and PTX3 were lower than in the model group (P〈0.05). Conclusion: SFI could improve hemodynamic function and decrease inflammatory reactions in the pathophysiology of CHF. The serum proteins HP and PTX3 could be potential biomarkers for chronic ischemic heart failure, and they could also be the serum protein targets of SFI.
基金Supported by Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman Research Fund[IPSR/RMC/UTARRF/2013-C2/G03].
文摘Objective:To evaluate five biomarkers(neopterin,vascular endothelial growth factor-A,thrombomodulin,soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and pentraxin 3)in differentiating clinical dengue cases.Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted whereby the blood samples were obtained at day of presentation and the final diagnosis were obtained at the end of patients’follow-up.All patients included in the study were 15 years old or older,not pregnant,not infected by dengue previously and did not have cancer,autoimmune or haematological disorder.Median test was performed to compare the biomarker levels.A subgroup Mann-Whitney U test was analysed between severe dengue and non-severe dengue cases.Monte Carlo method was used to estimate the 2-tailed probability(P)value for independent variables with unequal number of patients.Results:All biomarkers except thrombomodulin has P value<0.001 in differentiating among the healthy subjects,non-dengue fever,dengue without warning signs and dengue with warning signs/severe dengue.Subgroup analysis for all the biomarkers between severe dengue and non-severe dengue cases was not statistically significant except vascular endothelial growth factor-A(P<0.05).Conclusions:Certain biomarkers were able to differentiate the clinical dengue cases.This could be potentially useful in classifying and determining the severity of dengue infected patients in the hospital.