Transcriptomic analysis reveals essential microRNAs after peripheral nerve injury.

Studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) mediate posttranscriptional regulation of target genes and participate in various physiological and pathological processes, including peripheral nerve injury. However, it is hard to select key miRNAs with essential biological functions among a large number of differentially expressed miRNAs. Previously, we collected injured sciatic nerve stumps at multiple time points after nerve crush injury, examined gene changes at different stages (acute, sub-acute, and post-acute), and obtained mRNA expression profiles. Here, we jointly analyzed mRNAs and miRNAs, and investigated upstream miRNAs of differentially expressed mRNAs using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis bioinformatic software. A total of 31, 42, 30, and 23 upstream miRNAs were identified at 1, 4, 7, and 14 days after rat sciatic nerve injury, respectively. Temporal expression patterns and biological involvement of commonly involved upstream miRNAs (miR-21, let-7, miR-223, miR-10b, miR-132, miR-15b, miR-127, miR-29a, miR-29b, and miR-9) were then determined at multiple time points. Expression levels of miR-21, miR-132, miR-29a, and miR-29b were robustly increased after sciatic nerve injury. Biological processes involving these miRNAs include multicellular organismal response to stress, positive regulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway, negative regulation of epithelial cell differentiation, and regulation of myocardial tissue growth. Moreover, we constructed mechanistic networks of let-7, miR-21, and miR-223, the most significantly involved upstream miRNAs. Our findings reveal that multiple upstream miRNAs (i.e., let-7, miR-21, and miR-223) were associated with gene expression changes in rat sciatic nerve stumps after nerve injury, and these miRNAs play an important role in peripheral nerve regeneration. This study was approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Jiangsu Province of China (approval No. 20190303-18) on March 3, 2019.

Biocompatibility and biosafety of butterfly wings for the clinical use of tissue-engineered nerve grafts.

In a previous study, we used natural butterfly wings as a cell growth matrix for tissue engineering materials and found that the surface of different butterfly wings had different ultramicrostructures, which can affect the qualitative growth of cells and regulate cell growth, metabolism, and gene expression. However, the biocompatibility and biosafety of butterfly wings must be studied. In this study, we found that Sprague-Dawley rat dorsal root ganglion neurons could grow along the structural stripes of butterfly wings, and Schwann cells could normally attach to and proliferate on different species of butterfly wings. The biocompatibility and biosafety of butterfly wings were further examined through subcutaneous implantation in Sprague-Dawley rats, intraperitoneal injection in Institute of Cancer Research mice, intradermal injection in rabbits, and external application to guinea pigs. Our results showed that butterfly wings did not induce toxicity, and all examined animals exhibited normal behaviors and no symptoms, such as erythema or edema. These findings suggested that butterfly wings possess excellent biocompatibility and biosafety and can be used as a type of tissue engineering material. This study was approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Jiangsu Province of China (approval No. 20190303-18) on March 3, 2019.

Hyperactive external awareness against hypoactive internal awareness in disorders of consciousness using resting-state functional MRI: highlighting the involvement of visuo-motor modulation.

Resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) has emerged as a valuable tool to characterize the complex states encompassing disorders of consciousness (DOC). Awareness appears to comprise two coexistent, anticorrelated components named the external and internal awareness networks. The present study hypothesizes that DOC interrupts the balance between the internal and external awareness networks. To gain more understanding of this phenomenon, the present study analyzed resting-state fMRI data from 12 patients with DOC versus 12 healthy age-matched controls. The data were explored using independent component analysis and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) analysis. The results indicated that DOC deactivated midline areas associated with internal awareness. In addition, external awareness was strengthened in DOC because of increased activation in the insula, lingual gyrus, paracentral and supplementary motor area. The activity patterns suggested strengthened external awareness against weakened internal awareness in DOC. In particular, increased activity found in the insula, lingual gyrus, paracentral and supplementary motor area of patients with DOC implied possible involvement of augmented visuo-motor modulation in these patients. DOC is probably related to hyperactive external awareness opposing hypoactive internal awareness. This unique pattern of brain activity may potentially be a prognostic marker for DOC.

miR-22 is down-regulated in gastric cancer, and its overexpression inhibits cell migration and invasion via targeting transcription factor Sp1.

Accumulating evidence has shown that microRNAs are involved in multiple processes in cancer development and progression. Recently, miR-22 has been identified as a tumor-suppressing microRNA in many human cancers. However, the specific function of miR-22 in gastric cancer is unclear at this point. In this study, we first measured miR-22 expression level in 30 pairs of gastric cancer and matched normal tissues, two normal and six gastric cancer cell lines by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. We found that the expression of miR-22 in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines was much lower than that in normal control, respectively. Transfection of miR-22 expression plasmid could significantly inhibit the cell migration and invasion in SGC-7901 and NCL-N87 gastric cancer cell lines. Moreover, we also showed that Sp1 was negatively regulated by miR-22 at the posttranscriptional level, via a specific target site within the 3'UTR by luciferase reporter assay. The expression of Sp1 was inversely correlated with miR-22 expression in gastric cancer tissues, and knockdown of Sp1 by siRNA inhibited cell malignant behaviors. Thus, our findings suggest that miR-22 acts as tumor suppressor by targeting the Sp1 gene and inhibiting gastric cancer cell migration and invasion. The findings of this study contribute to current understanding of the functions of miR-22 in gastric cancer.

Decreased expression of ß-nerve growth factor correlated with histological changes in a cryptorchidism rat model.

BACKGROUND: Nerve growth factor (NGF) is well-known for its important role in the development and maintenance of the nervous system. Along with its neurotrophic role, NGF has been detected in the testis of mouse, rat and human, suggesting an additional non-neurotrophic effect in the male reproductive system. The expression of ß-NGF in the undescended testes (cryptorchidism) has not been detected at present. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of ß-nerve growth factor mRNA and protein in experimental cryptorchidism. METHODS: A unilateral mechanical cryptorchidism model in the Sprague-Dawley rat was established and the expression of ß-NGF with histologic changes in experimental cryptorchidism were investigated using one step quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization histochemistry, immunofluorescence and hematoxylin-eosin staining. RESULTS: The expression of ß-NGF mRNA and protein were both significantly decreased in the development of unmarred testis and cryptorchidism-induced testis, and the decrease of ß-NGF in cryptorchidism-induced testis was far greater than that in uninjured testis. CONCLUSION: From this investigation, we confirmed a lower expression of ß-NGF in undescended testes than in the development of testis.

Bis[8-ethyl-5-oxo-2-(piperazin-4-ium-1-yl)-5,8-dihydro-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6-carb-oxy-lic acid] 2,5-dicarb-oxy-benzene-1,4-di-carboxyl-ate octa-hydrate.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, 2C(14)H(18)N(5)O(3) (+)·C(10)H(5)O(8) (2-)·8H(2)O, contains one [H(2)ppa](+)cation, one half of an [H(2)btec](2-) anion (H(4)btec = 1,2,4,5-benzene-tetra-carb-oxy-lic acid and Hppa = 8-ethyl-5-oxo-2-piperazin-1-yl-5,8-dihydro-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6-carb-oxy-lic acid) that is completed by inversion symmetry and four water mol-ecules. In the crystal, the mol-ecules are connected by inter-molecular hydrogen-bonding inter-actions and π-π stacking between the benzene rings of the [H(2)btec](2-) anion and the pyrimidine rings of the [H(2)ppa](+) cation [centroid-centroid distance = 3.597 (3) Å], generating a three-dimensional supra-molecular structure.

Bis(2-carboxybenzo-ato-κO)bis-[1-cyclo-propyl-6-fluoro-4-oxo-7-(piperazin-4-ium-1-yl)-1,4-dihydro-quinoline-3-carboxyl-ato-κO,O]manganese(II) dihydrate.

The title compound, [Mn(C(17)H(18)FN(3)O(3))(2)(C(8)H(5)O(4))(2)]·2H(2)O or [Mn(cfH)(2)(1,2-Hbdc)(2)]·2H(2)O (cfH = ciprofloxacin = 1-cyclo-propyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(1-piperazin-yl)-3-quinoline carb-oxy-lic acid, 1,2-bdc = benzene-1,2-dicarboxyl-ate), has been prepared under hydro-thermal conditions. The Mn(2+) atom, located on an inversion centre, exhibits a distorted octa-hedral geometry, coordinated by four O atoms from two symmetry-related zwitterionic ciprofloxacin ligands in the equatorial positions and two O atoms of two 1,2-Hbdc ligands in the axial positions. The complex mol-ecules are linked into a two-dimensional network through N-H⋯O and OW-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. A strong intramolecular hydrogen bond between the carboxyl/carboxylate groups of the 1,2-Hbdc anion is also present. The layers are further extended through off-set aromatic π-π stacking inter-actions of cfH groups [centroid-centroid distance of 3.657 (2) Å] into the final three-dimensional supra-molecular arrays.

Diaqua-bis-[8-ethyl-5-oxo-2-(piperazin-4-ium-1-yl)-5,8-dihydro-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6-carboxyl-ato]copper(II) bis[4-(4-carboxyphenoxy)benzoate].

In the title compound, [Cu(C(14)H(17)N(5)O(3))(2)(H(2)O)(2)](C(14)H(9)O(5))(2), the Cu(2+) atom, located on an inversion centre, exhibits a distorted octa-hedral geometry, coordinated by four O atoms from two pipemidic acid ligands in equatorial positions and two water mol-ecules in axial positions. The pipemidic acid ligand acts a bidentate ligand and the single deprotonated 4,4'-oxydibenzoic acid acts as an anion. Classical N-H⋯O and O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds are present in the crystal structure.

Female hepatology: favorable role of estrogen in chronic liver disease with hepatitis B virus infection.

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the most common cause of hepatic fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), mainly as a result of chronic necroinflammatory liver disease. A characteristic feature of chronic hepatitis B infection, alcoholic liver disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is hepatic steatosis. Hepatic steatosis leads to an increase in lipid peroxidation in hepatocytes, which, in turn, activates hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). HSCs are the primary target cells for inflammatory and oxidative stimuli, and these cells produce extracellular matrix components. Chronic hepatitis B appears to progress more rapidly in males than in females, and NAFLD, cirrhosis and HCC are predominately diseases that tend to occur in men and postmenopausal women. Premenopausal women have lower hepatic iron stores and a decreased production of proinflammatory cytokines. Hepatic steatosis has been observed in aromatase-deficient mice, and has been shown to decrease in animals after estradiol treatment. Estradiol is a potent endogenous antioxidant which suppresses hepatic fibrosis in animal models, and attenuates induction of redox sensitive transcription factors, hepatocyte apoptosis and HSC activation by inhibiting a generation of reactive oxygen species in primary cultures. Variant estrogen receptors are expressed to a greater extent in male patients with chronic liver disease than in females. These lines of evidence suggest that the greater progression of hepatic fibrosis and HCC in men and postmenopausal women may be due, at least in part, to lower production of estradiol and a reduced response to the action of estradiol. A better understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying the sex-associated differences in hepatic fibrogenesis and carciogenesis may open up new avenues for the prevention and treatment of chronic liver disease.