Down-regulation of long noncoding RNA LINC00472 alleviates sepsis-induced acute hepatic injury by regulating miR-373-3p/TRIM8 axis.

BACKGROUND: The long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been confirmed to be involved in sepsis-induced organ injury. Here, we first investigated the functional role and the underlying mechanism of lncRNA LINC00472 in sepsis-induced acute hepatic injury (AHI). METHODS: Human liver THLE-3 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic sepsis-induced AHI in vitro; intraperitoneal injection of LPS in rats were used as an in vivo model of AHI induced by sepsis. The expressions of LINC00472, miR-373-3p, and TRIM8 mRNA were detected by qRT-PCR. The effects of LINC00472 and miR-373-3p on the viability of THLE-3 cells were assessed by CCK-8 assay. Dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were performed to determine the binding relationship between LINC00472 and miR-373-3p as well as between miR-373-3p and TRIM8. The expressions of apoptosis-related proteins and TRIM8 were detected by Western blot; the levels of ALT, AST, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 in the serum of rats were measured using ELSA assay. RESULTS: LINC00472 and TRIM8 were significantly upregulated in liver tissues and THLE-3 cells in sepsis-induced AHI models, while miR-373-3p was downregulated. Silencing of LINC00472 promoted cell viability and suppressed cell apoptosis in LPS-treated THLE-3 cells, whereas upregulation of LINC00472 had the opposite effect. Moreover, LINC00472 served as a sponge for miR-373-3p and negatively regulated its expression. miR-373-3p mimics could promote THLE-3 cell viability and suppress cell apoptosis. Additionally, TRIM8 was a direct target of miR-373-3p, which was downregulated in LINC00472-silenced cells and upregulated by the miR-373-3p inhibitor. Further, the co-transfection of miR-373-3p inhibitor reversed the effects of LINC00472 knockdown on cell viability and apoptosis. Downregulation of LINC00472 in rats restored the levels of ALT, AST, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α. CONCLUSION: Downregulation of LINC00472 ameliorates sepsis-induced AHI by regulating the miR-373-3p/TRIM8 axis.

[Alterations of peripheral blood T cell subsets in patients with sepsis and the clinical implications].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the dynamic changes of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with sepsis and discuss the clinical significance. METHODS: Sixty-four patients admitted in the Emergency Center and Emergency Intensive Care Unit of the Second Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between August, 2007 and July, 2009 were enrolled in this study. CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry on days 1, 7 and 14 after admission, and the results were compared between the patients with improvement of the condition and those without improvement, with 20 healthy subjects as the control group. RESULTS: On day 1 after admission, CD3+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio were obviously lower in the 2 groups of patients with sepsis than in the control group (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found in CD8+ T lymphocytes. The sepsis patients with clinical improvement showed significant higher CD3+ and CD4+ T lymphocyte percentages and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio than those without improvement on day 1. In the patients with clinical improvement, CD3+ and CD4+T lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio increased gradually with time and till day 14, they were comparable with the control levels; in the patients without improvement, CD3+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio showed no obvious alterations in the course of observation. CONCLUSION: Immune imbalance occurs in patients with sepsis represented by lowered CD3+ and CD4+T lymphocyte percentages and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio in relation to the severity of the condition. CD3+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio can be used as the indicators for assessing the severity of sepsis.

[Seasonal variations of calorific values of Pinus koraiensis-broadleaved mixed forest litters and soil macrofauna in China temperate zone].

In this paper, the calorific values of Pinus koraiensis-broadleaved mixed forest litters and soil microfauna in China temperate zone were determined, with their seasonal variation patterns studied. The results showed that both the calorific values and their seasonal variation patterns were differed with the kinds of tree species litters and soil macrofauna in the mixed forest. The mean gross calorific value (GCV) of P. koraiensis litter was the highest (19.71 kJ x g(-1)), followed by Betula costata (18.22 kJ x g(-1)), Tilia amurensis (18.13 kJ x g(-1)), mixed litter (17.91 kJ x g(-1)), Fraxinus mandshurica (16.94 kJ x g(-1)), and Acer mono (16.25 kJ x g(-1)). With the decomposition of litter, the GCV of P. koraiensis and A. mono litters decreased, while that of F. mandshurica litter had little change. The GCV of T. amurensis and B. costata litters presented an increasing trend in the next year of decomposition. Among the marofauna, scolopendra had the highest GCV (22.07 kJ x g(-1)), followed by earthworm (16.72 kJ x g(-1)) and diplopod (13.28 kJ x g(-1)). Earthworm and diplopod had the identical seasonal variation pattern of GCV, while scolopendra was different from them. There was no significant relationship between the seasonal variation of GCV in litters and soil macrofauna.