Expression and role of specificity protein 1 in the sclera remodeling of experimental myopia in guinea pigs

AIM：To study the expression of collagen I and transcription factor specificity protein 1（Sp1）,a transforming growth factor-β1（TGF-β1） downstream target,and reveal the impact of the TGF-β1-Sp1 signaling pathway on collagen remodeling in myopic sclera.METHODS：Seventy-five 1-week-old guinea pigs were randomly divided into normal control,form deprivation myopia（FDM）,and self-control groups.FDM was induced for different times using coverage with translucent latex balloons and FDM recovery was performed for 1wk after 4wk treatment;then,changes in refractive power and axial length were measured.Immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were used to evaluate dynamic changes in collagen I and Sp1 expression in the sclera of guinea pigs with emmetropia and experimental myopia,and the relationship between collagen I and Sp1 levels was analyzed.RESULTS：In the FDM group,the refractive power was gradually changed（from 2.09±0.30 D at week 0 to-1.23±0.69 D,-4.17±0.59 D,-7.07±0.56 D,and-4.30±0.58 D at weeks 2,4,6,and 1wk after 4wk,respectively;P〈0.05）,indicating deepening of myopia.The axial length was increased（from 5.92±0.39 mm at week 0 to 6.62±0.36 mm,7.30±0.34 mm,7.99±0.32 mm,and 7.41±0.36 mm at weeks 2,4,6,and 1wk after 4wk;P〈0.05）.The m RNA and protein expression of Sp1 and collagen I in the sclera of the FDM group was lower than that of the control groups（P〈0.05）,and the reduction was eye-coverage time-dependent.Furthermore,correlation between Sp1 and collagen I down-regulation in the myopic sclera was observed.CONCLUSION：Our data indicate that transcription factor Sp1 may be involved in the regulation of type I collagensynthesis/degradation during myopic sclera remodeling,suggesting that TGF-β1 signaling plays a role in the development and progression of myopia.

Secondary Structure and Neurotrophic Effect of a 33.1 kDa Specific Protein (SSP-33.1) in Spinal Sensory Ganglia

Aim To analyze the secondary structure and neurotrophic effect of a specific protein in sensory neurons. Methods Comparison of the proteins expressed in the rat spinal sensory neurons and motor neurons was made by two dimensional electrophoresis. One specific protein in sensory neurons was isolated and purified by DEAE Sephacel ion exchange chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. A primary analysis of its secondary structure by circular dichroism, and its neurotrophic effects were investigated using the model of dorsal root ganglia(DRG) cultured in vitro . Results The molecular weight and isoelectric point of the protein were 33 1 kDa and 5 52, respectively. Its circular dichroism showed that there were 20 8% α helix, 54 8% β sheet, 7 3% turn, and 17 1% random coil in its secondary structure. Biological experiments showed that the protein could promote the neurite outgrowth of DRG. Conclusion A specific protein in spinal sensory tissue with molecular weight of 33 1 kDa has been purified. There is mainly β sheet in the secondary structure of the protein. And the protein has neurotrophic effects in the model of DRG.

Expression and role of specificity protein 1 and collagenⅠin recurrent pterygial tissues

AIM:To investigate the expression profiles of the transcription factor specificity protein 1(Sp1)and collagenⅠin recurrent pterygial tissues.What is more,to compare the changes of Sp1 and collagen I among primary pterygial tissue,recurrent pterygial tissue and conjunctival tissue.METHODS:In the prospective study,we collected the pterygial tissues of 40 patients who underwent resection of primary pterygial tissue and recurrent pterygial tissue,and the conjunctival tissues of 10 patients with enucleation due to trauma.The relative expression levels of Sp1 and collagen I were analyzed by reverse transcription quantitative-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot.Paired t-test was performed to compare the Sp1 and collagen I of recurrent pterygial tissues,as well as the primary pterygial tissues and conjunctival tissues.In further,Pearson’s hypothesis testing of correlation coefficients was used to compare the correlations of Sp1 and Collagen I.RESULTS:The content of Sp1 and collagen I m RNA and protein was significantly greater in recurrent pterygial tissue than that was in primary and conjunctival tissue(P<0.05).There was a positive correlation between the m RNA and protein levels of Sp1 and collagen I in recurrent pterygial tissues(protein:r=0.913,P<0.05;m RNA:r=0.945,P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Sp1 and collagen I are expressed in normal conjunctival,primary,and recurrent pterygial tissues,but expression is significantly greater in the latter.Sp1 and collagen I may be involved in the regulation of the development of recurrent pterygium.

Sodium selenite promotes neurological function recovery after spinal cord injury by inhibiting ferroptosis

Ferroptosis is a recently discovered form of iron-dependent cell death,which occurs during the pathological process of various central nervous system diseases or injuries,including secondary spinal cord injury.Selenium has been shown to promote neurological function recovery after cerebral hemorrhage by inhibiting ferroptosis.However,whether selenium can promote neurological function recovery after spinal cord injury as well as the underlying mechanism remain poorly understood.In this study,we injected sodium selenite(3μL,2.5μM)into the injury site of a rat model of T10 vertebral contusion injury 10 minutes after spinal cord injury modeling.We found that sodium selenite treatment greatly decreased iron concentration and levels of the lipid peroxidation products malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynonenal.Furthermore,sodium selenite increased the protein and mRNA expression of specificity protein 1 and glutathione peroxidase 4,promoted the survival of neurons and oligodendrocytes,inhibited the proliferation of astrocytes,and promoted the recovery of locomotive function of rats with spinal cord injury.These findings suggest that sodium selenite can improve the locomotive function of rats with spinal cord injury possibly through the inhibition of ferroptosis via the specificity protein 1/glutathione peroxidase 4 pathway.