There is increasing evidence that the gut microbiota affects the incidence and progression of central nervous system diseases via the brain-gut axis.The spinal cord is a vital important part of the central nervous sys...There is increasing evidence that the gut microbiota affects the incidence and progression of central nervous system diseases via the brain-gut axis.The spinal cord is a vital important part of the central nervous system;however,the underlying association between spinal cord injury and gut interactions remains unknown.Recent studies suggest that patients with spinal cord injury frequently experience intestinal dysfunction and gut dysbiosis.Alterations in the gut microbiota can cause disruption in the intestinal barrier and trigger neurogenic inflammatory responses which may impede recovery after spinal cord injury.This review summarizes existing clinical and basic research on the relationship between the gut microbiota and spinal cord injury.Our research identified three key points.First,the gut microbiota in patients with spinal cord injury presents a key characteristic and gut dysbiosis may profoundly influence multiple organs and systems in patients with spinal cord injury.Second,following spinal cord injury,weakened intestinal peristalsis,prolonged intestinal transport time,and immune dysfunction of the intestine caused by abnormal autonomic nerve function,as well as frequent antibiotic treatment,may induce gut dysbiosis.Third,the gut microbiota and associated metabolites may act on central neurons and affect recovery after spinal cord injury;cytokines and the Toll-like receptor ligand pathways have been identified as crucial mechanisms in the communication between the gut microbiota and central nervous system.Fecal microbiota transplantation,probiotics,dietary interventions,and other therapies have been shown to serve a neuroprotective role in spinal cord injury by modulating the gut microbiota.Therapies targeting the gut microbiota or associated metabolites are a promising approach to promote functional recovery and improve the complications of spinal cord injury.展开更多
Spinal cord injury causes accumulation of a large number of leukocytes at the lesion site where they contribute to excessive inflammation.Overproduced chemokines are responsible for the migratory process of the leukoc...Spinal cord injury causes accumulation of a large number of leukocytes at the lesion site where they contribute to excessive inflammation.Overproduced chemokines are responsible for the migratory process of the leukocytes,but the regulatory mechanism underlying the production of chemokines from resident cells of the spinal cord has not been fully elucidated.We examined the protein levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor and chemokine C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 in a spinal cord contusion model at different time points following spinal cord injury.The elevation of macrophage migration inhibitory factor at the lesion site coincided with the increase of chemokine C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 abundance in astrocytes.Stimulation of primary cultured astrocytes with different concentrations of macrophage migration inhibitory factor recombinant protein induced chemokine C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 production from the cells,and the macrophage migration inhibitory factor inhibitor 4-iodo-6-phenylpyrimidine attenuated the stimulatory effect.Further investigation into the underlying mechanism on macrophage migration inhibitory factor-mediated astrocytic production of chemokine C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 revealed that macrophage migration inhibitory factor activated intracellular JNK signaling through binding with CD74 receptor.Administration of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor inhibitor 4-iodo-6-phenylpyrimidine following spinal cord injury resulted in the reduction of chemokine C-C motif chemokine ligand 2-recruited microglia/macrophages at the lesion site and remarkably improved the hindlimb locomotor function of rats.Our results have provided insights into the functions of astrocyte-activated chemokines in the recruitment of leukocytes and may be beneficial to develop interventions targeting chemokine C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 for neuroinflammation after spinal cord injury.展开更多
Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common malignant tumor and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide.Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)is the main histological type of esophageal cancer,and ...Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common malignant tumor and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide.Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)is the main histological type of esophageal cancer,and accounts for 90%of all cancer cases.Despite the progress made in surgery,chemotherapy,and radiotherapy,the mortality rate from esophageal cancer remains high,and the overall 5-year survival rate is less than 20%,even in developed countries.The C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12(CXCL12)is a member of the CXC chemokine subgroup,which is widely expressed in a variety of tissues and cells.CXCL12 participates in the regulation of many physiological and pathological processes by binding to its specific receptor,C-X-C motif chemokine receptor type 4(CXCR4),where it causes embryonic development,immune response,and angiogenesis.In addition,increasing evidence indicates that the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis plays an important role in the biological processes of tumor cells.Studies have shown that CXCL12 and its receptor,CXCR4,are highly expressed in ESCC.This abnormal expression contributes to tumor proliferation,lymph node and distant metastases,and worsening prognosis.At present,antagonists and imaging agents against CXCL12 or CXCR4 have been developed to interfere with the malignant process and monitor metastasis of tumors.This article summarizes the structure,function,and regulatory mechanism of CXCL12/CXCR4 and its role in the malignancy of ESCC.Current results from preclinical research targeting CXCL12/CXCR4 are also summarized to provide a reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of ESCC.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.82105019(to YC),82271218(to CZ)Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin Municipality Foundation,No.20JCZDJC00540(to CZ).
文摘There is increasing evidence that the gut microbiota affects the incidence and progression of central nervous system diseases via the brain-gut axis.The spinal cord is a vital important part of the central nervous system;however,the underlying association between spinal cord injury and gut interactions remains unknown.Recent studies suggest that patients with spinal cord injury frequently experience intestinal dysfunction and gut dysbiosis.Alterations in the gut microbiota can cause disruption in the intestinal barrier and trigger neurogenic inflammatory responses which may impede recovery after spinal cord injury.This review summarizes existing clinical and basic research on the relationship between the gut microbiota and spinal cord injury.Our research identified three key points.First,the gut microbiota in patients with spinal cord injury presents a key characteristic and gut dysbiosis may profoundly influence multiple organs and systems in patients with spinal cord injury.Second,following spinal cord injury,weakened intestinal peristalsis,prolonged intestinal transport time,and immune dysfunction of the intestine caused by abnormal autonomic nerve function,as well as frequent antibiotic treatment,may induce gut dysbiosis.Third,the gut microbiota and associated metabolites may act on central neurons and affect recovery after spinal cord injury;cytokines and the Toll-like receptor ligand pathways have been identified as crucial mechanisms in the communication between the gut microbiota and central nervous system.Fecal microbiota transplantation,probiotics,dietary interventions,and other therapies have been shown to serve a neuroprotective role in spinal cord injury by modulating the gut microbiota.Therapies targeting the gut microbiota or associated metabolites are a promising approach to promote functional recovery and improve the complications of spinal cord injury.
基金supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation,No.2020M681689(to YMH)the Basic Scientific Research Projects of Nantong,Nos.JC2020015(to HX)and JC2020041(to YMH)。
文摘Spinal cord injury causes accumulation of a large number of leukocytes at the lesion site where they contribute to excessive inflammation.Overproduced chemokines are responsible for the migratory process of the leukocytes,but the regulatory mechanism underlying the production of chemokines from resident cells of the spinal cord has not been fully elucidated.We examined the protein levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor and chemokine C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 in a spinal cord contusion model at different time points following spinal cord injury.The elevation of macrophage migration inhibitory factor at the lesion site coincided with the increase of chemokine C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 abundance in astrocytes.Stimulation of primary cultured astrocytes with different concentrations of macrophage migration inhibitory factor recombinant protein induced chemokine C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 production from the cells,and the macrophage migration inhibitory factor inhibitor 4-iodo-6-phenylpyrimidine attenuated the stimulatory effect.Further investigation into the underlying mechanism on macrophage migration inhibitory factor-mediated astrocytic production of chemokine C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 revealed that macrophage migration inhibitory factor activated intracellular JNK signaling through binding with CD74 receptor.Administration of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor inhibitor 4-iodo-6-phenylpyrimidine following spinal cord injury resulted in the reduction of chemokine C-C motif chemokine ligand 2-recruited microglia/macrophages at the lesion site and remarkably improved the hindlimb locomotor function of rats.Our results have provided insights into the functions of astrocyte-activated chemokines in the recruitment of leukocytes and may be beneficial to develop interventions targeting chemokine C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 for neuroinflammation after spinal cord injury.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.81772619 and 81702405)Wu Jieping Medical Foundation(Grant No.320.6750.17519)+1 种基金Bethune Charitable Foundation(Grant No.HZB-20190528-18)Tianjin Natural Science Foundation for Youth(Grant No.19JCQNJC10800)。
文摘Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common malignant tumor and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide.Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)is the main histological type of esophageal cancer,and accounts for 90%of all cancer cases.Despite the progress made in surgery,chemotherapy,and radiotherapy,the mortality rate from esophageal cancer remains high,and the overall 5-year survival rate is less than 20%,even in developed countries.The C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12(CXCL12)is a member of the CXC chemokine subgroup,which is widely expressed in a variety of tissues and cells.CXCL12 participates in the regulation of many physiological and pathological processes by binding to its specific receptor,C-X-C motif chemokine receptor type 4(CXCR4),where it causes embryonic development,immune response,and angiogenesis.In addition,increasing evidence indicates that the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis plays an important role in the biological processes of tumor cells.Studies have shown that CXCL12 and its receptor,CXCR4,are highly expressed in ESCC.This abnormal expression contributes to tumor proliferation,lymph node and distant metastases,and worsening prognosis.At present,antagonists and imaging agents against CXCL12 or CXCR4 have been developed to interfere with the malignant process and monitor metastasis of tumors.This article summarizes the structure,function,and regulatory mechanism of CXCL12/CXCR4 and its role in the malignancy of ESCC.Current results from preclinical research targeting CXCL12/CXCR4 are also summarized to provide a reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of ESCC.