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Biofunctionalized conjugated polymers (i.e., carrying enzymes, antibodies, and nucleic acids) are of great interest for many biological applications, yet efficient biofunctionalization of conjugated polymers under biocompatible conditions is challenging. We report a facile strategy to make biofunctionalized conjugated polymers through thiol-ene chemistry with embedded latent disulfide functional groups. This is made possible through the design of a cyclic disulfide-containing dioxythiophene, which can be integrated into a series of conjugated polymers via acid-catalyzed chain-growth polymerization. The utility of such a biofunctionalized polymer with glucose oxidase has been examined in organic electrochemical transistors for the selective sensing of glucose. This work provides a venue for the creation of biofunctional organic semiconductors.
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Objectives: To explore the therapeutic effects of M2 macrophages in diabetic nephropathy (DN) and their mechanism.Methods: We infused M2 macrophages stimulated with IL-4 into 10-week-old db/db mice once a week for 4 weeks through the tail vein as M2 group. Then we investigated the role of M2 macrophages in alleviating the infammation of DN and explored the mechanism.Results: M2 macrophages hindered the progression of DN, reduced the levels of IL-1ß (DN group was 34%, M2 group was 13%, p < 0.01) and MCP-1 (DN group was 49%, M2 group was 16%, p < 0.01) in the glomeruli. It was also proven that M2 macrophages alleviate mesangial cell injury caused by a high glucose environment. M2 macrophage tracking showed that the infused M2 macrophages migrated to the kidney, and the number of M2 macrophages in the kidney reached a maximum on day 3. Moreover, the ratio of M2 to M1 macrophages was 2.3 in the M2 infusion group, while 0.4 in the DN group (p < 0.01). Mechanistically, M2 macrophages downregulated Janus kinase (JAK) 2 and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 in mesangial cells.Conclusions: Multiple infusions of M2 macrophages significantly alleviated inflammation in the kidney and hindered the progression of DN at least partially by abrogating the M1/M2 homeostasis disturbances and suppressing the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in glomerular mesangial cells. M2 macrophage infusion may be a new therapeutic strategy for DN treatment.
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Nefropatías Diabéticas , Janus Quinasa 2 , Macrófagos , Factor de Transcripción STAT3 , Transducción de Señal , Animales , Janus Quinasa 2/metabolismo , Nefropatías Diabéticas/metabolismo , Factor de Transcripción STAT3/metabolismo , Ratones , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Masculino , Células Mesangiales/metabolismo , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Glomérulos Renales/patología , Glomérulos Renales/metabolismo , Quimiocina CCL2/metabolismo , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Interleucina-1beta/metabolismoRESUMEN
Cyanobacteria blooms in aquaculture ponds harm the harvesting of aquatic animals and threaten human health. Therefore, it is crucial to identify key drivers and develop methods to predict cyanobacteria blooms in aquaculture water management. In this study, we analyzed monitoring data from 331 aquaculture ponds in central China and developed two machine learning models - the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model and the random forest (RF) model - to predict cyanobacterial abundance by identifying the key drivers. Simulation results demonstrated that both machine learning models are feasible for predicting cyanobacterial abundance in aquaculture ponds. The LASSO model (R2 = 0.918, MSE = 0.354) outperformed the RF model (R2 = 0.798, MSE = 0.875) in predicting cyanobacteria abundance. Farmers with well-equipped aquaculture ponds that have abundant water monitoring data can use the nine environmental variables identified by the LASSO model as an operational solution to accurately predict cyanobacteria abundance. For crude ponds with limited monitoring data, the three environmental variables identified by the RF model provide a convenient solution for useful cyanobacteria prediction. Our findings revealed that chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC) were the two most important predictors in both models, indicating that organic carbon concentration had a close relationship with cyanobacteria growth and should be considered a key metric in water monitoring and pond management of these aquaculture ponds. We suggest that monitoring of organic carbon coupled with phosphorus reduction in feed usage can be an effective management approach for cyanobacteria prevention and to maintain a healthy ecological state in aquaculture ponds.
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Cianobacterias , Estanques , Animales , Humanos , Estanques/microbiología , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Agua , Acuicultura , CarbonoRESUMEN
Nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs) are intracellular proteins with a central role in innate and adaptive immunity. As a member of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), NLRs sense specific pathogen-associated molecular patterns, trigger numerous signaling pathways and lead to the secretion of various cytokines. In recent years, cumulative studies have revealed the significant impacts of NLRs in gastrointestinal (GI) inflammatory diseases and cancers. Deciphering the role and molecular mechanism of the NLR signaling pathways may provide new opportunities for the development of therapeutic strategies related to GI inflammatory diseases and GI cancers. This review presents the structures and signaling pathways of NLRs, summarizes the recent advances regarding NLR signaling in GI inflammatory diseases and GI cancers and describes comprehensive therapeutic strategies based on this signaling pathway.
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Enfermedades Gastrointestinales , Neoplasias , Humanos , Inmunidad Innata , Transducción de Señal , Receptores de Reconocimiento de Patrones , Proteínas NLR/metabolismoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AIMS: The authors aimed to observe ß-cell dedifferentiation in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and investigate the reversal effect of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) on early- and late-stage ß-cell dedifferentiation. METHODS: In high-fat diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T2DM mice, the authors examined the predominant role of ß-cell dedifferentiation over apoptosis in the development of T2DM and observed the reversion of ß-cell dedifferentiation by UC-MSCs. Next, the authors used db/db mice to observe the progress of ß-cell dedifferentiation from early to late stage, after which UC-MSC infusions of the same amount were performed in the early and late stages of dedifferentiation. Improvement in metabolic indices and restoration of ß-cell dedifferentiation markers were examined. RESULTS: In HFD/STZ-induced T2DM mice, the proportion of ß-cell dedifferentiation was much greater than that of apoptosis, demonstrating that ß-cell dedifferentiation was the predominant contributor to T2DM. UC-MSC infusions significantly improved glucose homeostasis and reversed ß-cell dedifferentiation. In db/db mice, UC-MSC infusions in the early stage significantly improved glucose homeostasis and reversed ß-cell dedifferentiation. In the late stage, UC-MSC infusions mildly improved glucose homeostasis and partially reversed ß-cell dedifferentiation. Combining with other studies, the authors found that the reversal effect of UC-MSCs on ß-cell dedifferentiation relied on the simultaneous relief of glucose and lipid metabolic disorders. CONCLUSIONS: UC-MSC therapy is a promising strategy for reversing ß-cell dedifferentiation in T2DM, and the reversal effect is greater in the early stage than in the late stage of ß-cell dedifferentiation.
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Diabetes Mellitus Experimental , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Trasplante de Células Madre Mesenquimatosas , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas , Animales , Desdiferenciación Celular , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/terapia , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/terapia , Humanos , Ratones , Cordón UmbilicalRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia contributes to the pathogenesis of renal dysfunction. Previous research demonstrated that triglycerides (TG), instead of other individual lipid indexes, has a significant link with elevated urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). However, it is unclear whether lipid ratios are superior indicators of increased UACR compared with TG. This research is to determine whether there are close relationships of lipid ratios with UACR in a general population. METHODS: 35,751 participants from seven centers across China were enrolled. UACR equal or higher than 30 mg/g was recognized as increased albuminuria. The associations of TG, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)/ high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), TG/HDL-C and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C)/HDL-C with increased UACR were evaluated by linear and logistic regression analyses in females and males separately. RESULTS: There were 3692 (14.8%) female subjects, and 1307 (12.0%) male subjects characterized as having increased UACR. There were significantly differences in TG/HDL-C and non-HDL-C/HDL-C between the normal UACR group and the increased UACR group, while LDL-C/HDL-C was not. Furthermore, linear regression analysis was implemented and showed that TG and TG/HDL-C were both positively related to UACR even after a variety of potential confounders were adjusted regardless of sexes, while the correlation between non-HDL-C/HDL-C and elevated UACR were only significant in females. Further analyses utilizing logistic regression demonstrated that compared with non-HDL-C/HDL-C and TG, TG/HDL-C showed the strongest association with increased UACR (quartile 1 of TG/HDL-C as a reference; OR [95% CI] of quartile 4: 1.28 [1.13-1.44] in women, 1.24 [1.02-1.50] in men) after fully adjusting for potential confounding factors. Stratified analyses revealed that in males who were overweight and in females who were overweight or over 55 years or had prediabetes or prehypertension, TG/HDL-C had significant associations with abnormal UACR. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with TG and other routine lipid ratios, TG/HDL-C is a superior indicator for increased UACR.
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Dislipidemias/sangre , Dislipidemias/orina , Lípidos , Adulto , Anciano , Albúminas/metabolismo , Albuminuria/metabolismo , Biomarcadores/sangre , Biomarcadores/orina , Glucemia , China/epidemiología , Colesterol/sangre , HDL-Colesterol/sangre , LDL-Colesterol/sangre , Creatinina/orina , Estudios Transversales , Dislipidemias/epidemiología , Dislipidemias/patología , Femenino , Humanos , Lípidos/sangre , Lípidos/orina , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Factores de Riesgo , Triglicéridos/sangreRESUMEN
Due to the rapid growth of the population and the development of economies in the Guanzhong district, central China, the river ecosystem is gradually deteriorating, which makes it important to assess the aquatic ecosystem health and take measures to restore the damaged ecosystem. An index of catchment ecosystem health has been developed to assist large-scale management of watersheds by providing an integrated measure of ecosystem health, including aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem. Most researches focus on aquatic ecosystem or terrestrial ecosystem, but little research integrates both of them to assess the catchment ecosystem health. In this paper, we combine these two aspects into catchment ecosystem health. Ecosystem indicators derived from field samples and modeling are identified to integrate into ecosystem health. These included indicators of ecological landscape pattern (based on normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), vegetation cover, dominance index, Shannon's diversity index, Shannon's evenness index, and fragmentation index), hydrology regime (based on 33 hydrological parameters), physical form condition (based on substrate, habitat complexity, velocity/depth regimes, bank stability, channel alteration), water quality (based on electrical conductivity (Cond), dissolved oxygen (DO), NH3_N, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), chemical oxygen demand-permanganate (CODMn)), and biological quality (based on fish abundance). The index of ecosystem health is applied in the Guanzhong district, and the ecosystem health was fair. The ecosystem health in the upstream to Linjiacun (U-L) and Linjiacun to Weijiabao (L-W) reaches was in good situation, while that in Weijiabao to Xianyang (W-X), Xianyang-Weijiabao (X-W), and Weijiabao to Tongguan (W-T) reaches was in fair situation. There is a trend that the ecosystem health in the upstream was better than that in the downstream. The ecosystem health assessment is expected to play a key role in future water and watershed management of the Wei River basin, or even the Yellow River basin.
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Ecología/métodos , Ecosistema , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Nitrógeno/análisis , Fósforo/análisis , Calidad del Agua , Animales , Análisis de la Demanda Biológica de Oxígeno , China , Peces , Geografía , Ríos , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/análisisRESUMEN
The joint toxicity effects of mixtures, particularly reproductive toxicity, one of the main causes of aquatic ecosystem degradation, are often overlooked as it is impractical to test all mixtures. This study developed and evaluated the following models to predict the concentration response curve concerning the joint reproductive toxicity of mixtures of three bisphenol analogues (BPA, BPF, BPAF) on the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus: concentration addition (CA), independent action (IA), and two deep neural network (DNN) models. One applied mixture molecular descriptors as input variables (DNN-QSAR), while the other applied the ratios of chemicals in the mixtures (DNN-Ratio). Descriptors related to molecular mass were found to be of greater importance and exhibited a proportional relationship with toxic effects. The results indicate that the range of correlation coefficients (R2) between predicted and measured values for various mixture rays by CA and IA models is 0.372 to 0.974 and - 0.970 to 0.586, respectively. The R2 values for DNN-Ratio and DNN-QSAR were 0.841 to 0.984 and 0.834 to 0.991, respectively, demonstrating that models developed by DNN significantly outperform traditional models in predicting the joint toxicity of mixtures. Furthermore, DNN-QSAR not only predicts mixture toxicity but also provides accurate toxicity predictions for BPA, BPF, and BPAF, with R2 values of 0.990, 0.616, and 0.887, respectively, while DNN-Ratio yields values of 0.920, 0.355, and - 0.495. The study also found that the joint effects of mixtures are primarily influenced by the total concentration of the mixtures, and an increase in total concentration shifts the joint effects towards addition. This study introduces a novel approach to predict joint toxicity and analyze the influencing factors of joint effects, providing a more comprehensive assessment of the ecological risk posed by mixtures.
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Inteligencia Artificial , Compuestos de Bencidrilo , Fenoles , Reproducción , Rotíferos , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua , Animales , Rotíferos/efectos de los fármacos , Fenoles/toxicidad , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/toxicidad , Reproducción/efectos de los fármacos , Compuestos de Bencidrilo/toxicidad , Relación Estructura-Actividad CuantitativaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Infusion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) induces polarization of M2 macrophages in adipose tissue of type 2 diabetes (T2D) mice. Studies have shown that M2 macrophages were divided into four sub-phenotypes (M2a, M2b, M2c and M2d) with different functions, and manuscripts have also confirmed that macrophages co-cultured with MSCs were not matched with known four phenotype macrophages. Therefore, our study explored the phenotype and related gene expressions of macrophages in the adipose tissue of T2D mice with/without MSCs infusion. METHODS: We induced a T2D mouse model by using high-fat diets and streptozotocin (STZ) injection. The mice were divided into three groups: the control group, the T2D group, and the MSCs group. MSCs were systemically injected once a week for 6 weeks. The phenotype of macrophages in adipose tissue was detected via flow cytometric analysis. We also investigated the gene expression of macrophages in different groups via SMART-RNA-sequencing and quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: The present study found that the macrophages of adipose tissue in the MSCs group were polarized to the M2 phenotype mixed with four sub-phenotypes. Besides, M2a and M2c held a dominant position, while M2b and M2d (tumor-associated macrophages, TAMs) exhibited a decreasing trend after infusion of MSCs. Moreover, the MSCs group did not appear to express higher levels of tumor-associated, inflammation-associated, or fibrosis-associated genes in comparison to the T2D group. CONCLUSION: The present results unveiled that the macrophage phenotype was inclined to be present in a hybridity state of four M2 sub-phenotypes and the genes related to tumor-promoting, pro-inflammation and pro-fibrosis were not increased after MSCs injection.
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Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas , Animales , Ratones , Macrófagos , Tejido Adiposo , Inflamación , Fibrosis , Expresión GénicaRESUMEN
Background: Gitelman Syndrome (GS) patients frequently exhibit disrupted glucose metabolism, attributed to hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia and heightened aldosterone. This study delved into the genetic underpinnings linked to insulin resistance and diabetes in a GS patient, contextualized within his family history. Methods: The hydrochlorothiazide and furosemide loading test were performed to ascertain the presence of GS. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) evaluated glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Whole-exome sequencing, validated by Sanger sequencing, was employed to confirm gene mutations, which were then tracked among the patient's relatives. Results: Symptoms and laboratory examination confirmed the clinical diagnosis of GS. Comprehensive whole-exome sequencing, augmented by Sanger sequencing validation, revealed a compound heterozygous mutation within the SLC12A3 gene (c.1108G>C in exon 9, c.676G>A in exon 5 and c.2398G>A in exon 20) in the patient. The OGTT affirmed diabetes and heightened insulin resistance, distinct from previous patients with GS we evaluated. Further genetic analysis identified a missense heterozygous mutation (c.97C>G in exon 1) within the PDX1 gene, inherited from the patient's diabetic mother without GS. Furthermore, the patient's brother, with impaired glucose tolerance but regular potassium levels, also bore this mutation, hinting at additional impacts of the PDX1 gene mutation on glucose metabolism regulation beyond the known impacts of GS. Conclusion: This study unveils unprecedented compound heterozygous mutations in the SLC12A3 and PDX1 genes in a GS patient. These findings illuminate the potential complex genetic factors influencing glucose metabolism disruptions in GS. Take-home message: This research uncovers a novel combination of SLC12A3 and PDX1 gene mutations in a Gitelman Syndrome patient, revealing intricate genetic factors that potentially disrupt glucose metabolism and shedding light on familial diabetes links.
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Diabetes Mellitus , Síndrome de Gitelman , Resistencia a la Insulina , Masculino , Humanos , Síndrome de Gitelman/diagnóstico , Síndrome de Gitelman/genética , Resistencia a la Insulina/genética , Miembro 3 de la Familia de Transportadores de Soluto 12/genética , Mutación , Diabetes Mellitus/genética , GlucosaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exert anti-diabetic effects and improve long-term complications via secretory effects that regulate macrophage polarisation and attenuate inflammation. Enhancing the efficacy of MSCs needs to be explored further. The in vitro culture microenvironment influences the secretory profile of MSCs. Therefore, we hypothesised that a diabetic microenvironment would promote the secretion of cytokines responsible for macrophage polarisation, further attenuating systemic inflammation and enhancing the effects of MSCs on type 2 diabetes (T2D) and long-term diabetic complications. METHODS: Preconditioned adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (pre-ADSCs) were obtained after co-cultivating ADSCs in a diabetic metabolic environment (including high sugar, advanced glycation end-product, and lipopolysaccharides). The regulatory effects of pre-ADSCs on macrophages were observed in vitro. A T2D rat model was induced with a high-fat diet for 32 weeks combined with an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into four groups: normal group, diabetes without treatment group (PBS), ADSC treatment group, and pre-ADSC treatment group. ADSCs and pre-ADSCs were intravenously administered weekly to SD rats for 6 months, and then glucose homeostasis and long-term diabetic complications were evaluated in each group. RESULTS: The secretion of cytokines related to M2 macrophage polarisation (IL-6, MCP-1, etc.) was increased in the pre-ADSC group in the in vitro model. Pre-ADSC treatment significantly maintained blood glucose homeostasis, reduced insulin resistance, promoted islet regeneration, and ameliorated the complications related to diabetes in rats (chronic kidney disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, lung fibrosis, and cataract) compared to the ADSC group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the number of anti-inflammatory M2 macrophage phenotypes was enhanced in tissues following pre-ADSC injections. Moreover, the expression of pro-inflammatory genes (iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1ß) was reduced whereas that of anti-inflammatory genes (Arg1, CD206, and Il-10) was increased after cultivation with pre-ADSCs. CONCLUSION: Diabetic microenvironment-preconditioned ADSCs effectively strengthen the capacity against inflammation and modulate the progress of long-term T2D complications.
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Complicaciones de la Diabetes , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas , Tejido Adiposo , Animales , Antiinflamatorios/metabolismo , Citocinas/metabolismo , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/complicaciones , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/metabolismo , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/terapia , Inflamación/metabolismo , Inflamación/terapia , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas/metabolismo , Ratas , Ratas Sprague-DawleyRESUMEN
AIMS/INTRODUCTION: The Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance (METS-IR) is a novel non-insulin-based metabolic index used as a substitution marker of insulin resistance. However, whether METS-IR is associated with the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) is not well known. Therefore, we explored the associations between METS-IR and UACR, and compared the discriminative ability of METS-IR and its components for elevated UACR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 37,290 participants. METS-IR was calculated as follows: (Ln[2 × fasting blood glucose + fasting triglyceride level] × body mass index) / (Ln [high-density lipoprotein cholesterol]). Participants were divided into four groups on the basis of METS-IR: <25%, 25-49%, 50-74% and ≥75%. Logistic regression analyses were carried out to determine the associations between METS-IR versus its components (fasting blood glucose, triglyceride level, body mass index and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) with UACR. RESULTS: Participants with the highest quartile METS-IR presented a more significant trend toward elevated UACR than toward its components (odds ratio 1.260, 95% confidence interval 1.152-1.378, P < 0.001 in all participants; odds ratio 1.321, 95% confidence interval 1.104-1.579, P = 0.002 in men; odds ratio 1.201, 95% confidence interval 1.083-1.330, P < 0.001 in women). There were significant associations between METS-IR and UACR in younger participants (aged <65 years for women and aged 55-64 years for men). Increased METS-IR was significantly associated with UACR in men with fasting blood glucose ≥5.6 or postprandial blood glucose ≥7.8 mmol/L and systolic blood pressure ≥120 or diastolic blood pressure ≥80 mmHg. The relationships were significant in women with diabetes and hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Increased METS-IR was significantly associated with elevated UACR, its discriminative power for elevated UACR was superior to that of its components.
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Resistencia a la Insulina , Síndrome Metabólico , Adulto , Albúminas/análisis , Glucemia/análisis , Índice de Masa Corporal , China/epidemiología , HDL-Colesterol , Creatinina/orina , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Síndrome Metabólico/complicaciones , Factores de Riesgo , TriglicéridosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Previous research has demonstrated that the spleen plays an important role in mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-mediated alleviation of acute inflammation, as MSC infusion increases the spleen-derived anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 10 (IL-10) levels. However, studies on splenic involvement in MSC-induced protection against chronic inflammatory diseases are limited. Obesity is characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation, a key driver of insulin resistance. This study aims to evaluate the effects of MSCs on obesity-related insulin resistance and explore the underlying mechanism, particularly regarding splenic involvement. METHODS: We induced obesity in mice by feeding them high-fat diets for 20 weeks. Human umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) were systemically infused into the obese mice once per week for 6 weeks. Systemic glucose metabolic homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in epididymal adipose tissue (EAT) were evaluated. Then, we conducted in vivo blockade of IL-10 during UC-MSC infusion by intraperitoneally administrating an IL-10-neutralizing antibody twice per week. We also investigated the therapeutic effects of UC-MSCs on obese mice after removal of the spleen by splenectomy. RESULTS: UC-MSC infusions improved systemic metabolic homeostasis and alleviated insulin resistance in EAT but elicited no change in weight. Despite rare engraftment of UC-MSCs in EAT, UC-MSC infusions attenuated insulin resistance in EAT by polarizing macrophages into the M2 phenotype, coupled with elevated serum IL-10 levels. In vivo blockade of IL-10 blunted the effects of UC-MSCs on obese mice. Furthermore, UC-MSCs overwhelmingly homed to the spleen, and the ability of UC-MSCs to elevate serum IL-10 levels and alleviate insulin resistance was impaired in the absence of the spleen. Further in vivo and in vitro studies revealed that UC-MSCs promoted the capacity of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) to produce IL-10 in the spleen. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that UC-MSCs elevated serum IL-10 levels and subsequently promoted macrophage polarization, leading to alleviation of insulin resistance in EAT. The underlying mechanism was that UC-MSCs improved the capacity of Treg cells to produce IL-10 in the spleen. Our findings indicated that the spleen played a critical role in amplifying MSC-mediated immunomodulatory effects, which may contribute to maximizing MSC efficacy in clinical applications in the future.
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Resistencia a la Insulina , Trasplante de Células Madre Mesenquimatosas , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas , Animales , Dieta Alta en Grasa/efectos adversos , Humanos , Trasplante de Células Madre Mesenquimatosas/métodos , Ratones , Ratones Obesos , Bazo , Cordón UmbilicalRESUMEN
In this work, we investigate material design criteria for low-powered/self-powered and efficient organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) to be operated in the faradaic mode (detection at the gate electrode occurs via electron transfer events). To rationalize device design principles, we adopt a Marcus-Gerischer perspective for electrochemical processes at both the gate and channel interfaces. This perspective considers density of states (DOS) for the semiconductor channel, the gate electrode, and the electrolyte. We complement our approach with energy band offsets of relevant electrochemical potentials that can be independently measured from transistor geometry using conventional electrochemical methods as well as an approach to measure electrolyte potential in an operating OECT. By systematically changing the relative redox property offsets between the redox-active electrolyte and semiconducting polymer channel, we demonstrate a first-order design principle that necessary gate voltage is minimized by good DOS overlap of the two redox processes at the gate and channel. Specifically, for p-type turn-on OECTs, the voltage-dependent, electrochemically active semiconductor DOS should overlap with the oxidant form of the electrolyte to minimize the onset voltage for transconductance. A special case where the electrolyte can be used to spontaneously dope the polymer via charge transfer is also considered. Collectively, our results provide material design pathways toward the development of simple, robust, power-saving, and high-throughput OECT biosensors.
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BACKGROUND: The burden of chronic kidney disease is increasing substantially worldwide. Neck circumference (NC), an anthropometric index for upper-body adiposity, has been recognized as an indicator of cardiometabolic diseases. However, the association between NC and renal dysfunction has not been fully disclosed. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between NC and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in the general population in China. METHODS: A total of 8805 participants (3322 men and 5483 women) were enrolled in this study. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between NC and eGFR. The male and female subjects were divided into four groups according to the NC quartiles. The primary outcome was defined as an eGFR ≤ 90 mL/min/1.73 m2. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis revealed that in both sexes, higher NC was significantly associated with a higher risk of decreased eGFR even after fully adjusting for age, other anthropometric indexes, traditional risk factors for chronic kidney diseases, and sociologic risk factors (quartile 1 as a reference; the odds ratios [95% confidence intervals] were as follows: quartile 2, 1.26 [0.99-1.59]; quartile 3, 1.40 [1.07-1.83]; and quartile 4, 1.71 [1.22-2.38], in men; quartile 2, 1.14 [0.95-1.37]; quartile 3, 1.31 [1.03-1.66]; and quartile 4, 1.32 [1.04-1.68], in women). Stratified analyses suggested that the association was significant among subjects with prediabetes or normal serum uric acid levels and those without cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Among subjects with CVD, the association persisted only in males. When the subjects were stratified according to blood pressure or BMI, the association persisted among male subjects with abnormal blood pressure and was strengthened among male subjects who were overweight/obese, while the association disappeared among female subjects. CONCLUSIONS: NC is independently associated with the risk of decreased eGFR in the general population in China, indicating that NC could contribute to renal dysfunction risk assessment.
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Tasa de Filtración Glomerular , Enfermedades Renales/diagnóstico , Enfermedades Renales/patología , Cuello/patología , Anciano , Antropometría , Presión Sanguínea , China/epidemiología , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Pruebas de Función Renal , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Obesidad/fisiopatología , Sobrepeso/fisiopatología , Análisis de Regresión , Medición de Riesgo , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
Cellular senescence is a fundamental aging mechanism leading to tissue dysfunction. Accumulation of senescent cells is observed in the context of diabetes, which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetes and its complications. Macrophages, the most prevalent leucocytes found in diabetic kidney, have been implicated in the modulation of cellular senescence; however, their role and mechanism in cellular senescence of diabetic kidney have not been determined. In this study, we found trends of cellular senescence in the glomeruli of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. The onset of glomerular senescence was confirmed by increased SA-ß-gal staining, the upregulation of p16INK4a, p21, and p53 protein levels and the increased expression of SASP RNA. The senescent cells in the glomeruli were mainly endothelial cells. We next confirmed that M1 macrophages accumulated in the glomeruli, occurred just shortly before glomerular senescence. Therefore, we examined whether M1 macrophage accumulation is associated with glomerular endothelial cell senescence. Thus, an in vitro co-culture model was established using human renal glomerular endothelial cells (HRGECs) and M1-polarized THP-1 macrophages. Indeed, M1 macrophages induced senescence in HRGECs. Furthermore, intracellular ROS levels and p38 MAPK signalling activation were significantly increased in HRGECs and reducing ROS generation significantly abolished M1 macrophage-mediated endothelial senescence and p38 MAPK activation, suggesting that M1 macrophage-mediated endothelial senescence is largely dependent on ROS. Thus, our results demonstrate that kidney M1 macrophage accumulation is in connection with endothelial cell senescence and strategy to modulate M1 macrophages accumulation is promising to be a new target for immunotherapy for diabetic kidney disease and other age-related diseases.
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Diabetes Mellitus/inmunología , Células Endoteliales/patología , Glomérulos Renales/patología , Macrófagos/inmunología , Animales , Diferenciación Celular , Senescencia Celular , Citocinas/metabolismo , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Células Endoteliales/metabolismo , Humanos , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Especies Reactivas de Oxígeno/metabolismo , Estreptozocina , Células TH1/inmunologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Progressive ß-cell dysfunction, a major characteristic of type 2 diabetes (T2D), is closely related to the infiltration of inflammatory macrophages within islets. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been identified to alleviate ß-cell dysfunction by modulating macrophage phenotype in T2D, but the restoration of ß-cells by a single MSC infusion is relatively transient. Decitabine (DAC) has been reported to polarize macrophages towards the anti-inflammatory phenotype at low doses. We therefore investigated whether low-dose decitabine could enhance the antidiabetic effect of MSCs and further promote the restoration of ß-cell function. METHODS: We induced a T2D mice model by high-fat diets and streptozotocin (STZ) injection. Mice were divided into five groups: the normal group, the T2D group, the DAC group, the MSC group, and the MSC plus DAC group (MD group). We examined the blood glucose and serum insulin levels of mice 1, 2, and 4 weeks after MSC and/or DAC treatment. Dynamic changes in islets and the phenotype of intraislet macrophages were detected via immunofluorescence. In vitro, we explored the effect of MSCs and DAC on macrophage polarization. RESULTS: The blood glucose and serum insulin levels revealed that DAC prolonged the antidiabetic effect of MSCs to 4 weeks in T2D mice. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated more sustainable morphological and structural amelioration in islets of the MD group than in the MSC group. Interestingly, further analysis showed more alternatively activated macrophages (M2, anti-inflammatory) and fewer classically activated macrophages (M1, proinflammatory) in islets of the MD group 4 weeks after treatment. An in vitro study demonstrated that DAC together with MSCs further polarized macrophages from the M1 to M2 phenotype via the PI3K/AKT pathway. CONCLUSION: These data unveiled that DAC prolonged the antidiabetic effect of MSCs and promoted sustainable ß-cell restoration, possibly by modulating the macrophage phenotype. Our results offer a preferable therapeutic strategy for T2D.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and poor glycemic control receiving metformin (MET), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are recommended as the adjunctive therapy. However, there are only a few studies involving the comparative effects of exenatide twice a day (EXBID) and exenatide once weekly (EXQW) on HOMA-ß. This meta assessed the comparative effects of EXQW and EXBID on HOMA-ß among T2DM patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Network meta-analysis was performed, and network diagrams were constructed to evaluate the effects. The primary outcome is HOMA-ß, and the secondary outcomes are fasting blood glycose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and weight loss. RESULTS: A total of 8 studies with 3506 subjects were included. Compared with other antidiabetic agents, EXQW has a greater improvement in HOMA-ß than EXBID (weight mean difference (WMD) = -0.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) [-0.64, -0.28], P = 0.001). The effect of EXQW on HbA1c is superior to that of sitagliptin (SITA) (WMD = 0.51, 95% CI [0.03, 0.99], P = 0.037). The significant reduction of weight was detected for EXBID in comparison with EXQW (WMD = -0.73, 95% CI [-1.13, -0.33], P = 0.001), and no significant difference was found between EXQW and MET. CONCLUSIONS: EXQW shows a greater improvement in HOMA-ß than EXBID. Moreover, the efficacy of EXQW on glycemic control is similar to other antidiabetic agents including EXBID. It is an advisable treatment for diabetic patients to improve HOMA-ß and has an advantage of fewer number of injections compared with EXBID, to increase patients' adherence and quality of life.
Asunto(s)
Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/tratamiento farmacológico , Exenatida/administración & dosificación , Hipoglucemiantes/administración & dosificación , Células Secretoras de Insulina/efectos de los fármacos , Glucemia , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/sangre , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/fisiopatología , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Esquema de Medicación , Exenatida/uso terapéutico , Humanos , Hipoglucemiantes/uso terapéutico , Metaanálisis en RedRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Long-term diabetes-associated complications are the major causes of morbidity and mortality in individuals with diabetes. These diabetic complications are closely linked to immune system activation along with chronic, non-resolving inflammation, but therapies to directly reverse these complications are still not available. Our previous study demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) attenuated chronic inflammation in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), resulting in improved insulin sensitivity and islet function. Therefore, we speculated that MSCs might exert anti-inflammatory effects and promote the reversal of diabetes-induced kidney, liver, lung, heart, and lens diseases in T2DM rats. METHODS: We induced a long-term T2DM complication rat model by using a combination of a low dose of streptozotocin (STZ) with a high-fat diet (HFD) for 32 weeks. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) were systemically administered once a week for 24 weeks. Then, we investigated the role of ADSCs in modulating the progress of long-term diabetic complications. RESULTS: Multiple infusions of ADSCs attenuated chronic kidney disease (CKD), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), lung fibrosis, and cataracts; improved cardiac function; and lowered serum lipid levels in T2DM rats. Moreover, the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the serum of each animal group revealed that ADSC infusions were able to not only inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α expression but also increase anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 systematically. Additionally, MSCs reduced the number of iNOS(+) M1 macrophages and restored the number of CD163(+) M2 macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple intravenous infusions of ADSCs produced significant protective effects against long-term T2DM complications by alleviating inflammation and promoting tissue repair. The present study suggests ADSCs may be a novel, alternative cell therapy for long-term diabetic complications.
Asunto(s)
Tejido Adiposo/metabolismo , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Trasplante de Células Madre Mesenquimatosas , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas/metabolismo , Tejido Adiposo/patología , Aloinjertos , Animales , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/metabolismo , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/patología , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/terapia , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/metabolismo , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/patología , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/terapia , Inflamación/metabolismo , Inflamación/patología , Inflamación/terapia , Masculino , Ratas , Ratas Sprague-DawleyRESUMEN
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly common among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The two conditions can act synergistically to produce adverse outcomes. However, the therapeutic options for patients with NAFLD and T2DM are currently limited. Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) have shown therapeutic potential for diabetes and hepatic disorders such as liver cirrhosis and fulminant hepatic failure. The present study is aimed at investigating the effect of human UC-MSCs on a mouse model of NAFLD and T2DM, characterized by obesity-induced hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, hepatic steatosis, and liver dysfunction. Thirty-week-old male C57BL/6 db/db mice were infused with human UC-MSCs or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) via the tail vein once a week for six weeks. Age-matched male C57BL/6 wild-type db/+ mice were used as controls. Body weight and random blood glucose were measured every week. One week after the sixth infusion, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests and insulin tolerance tests were performed and the blood and liver were harvested for biochemical and histopathological examinations. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), immunofluorescence staining, and western blot were performed to monitor the expression of the lipid metabolism- and regulatory pathway-related genes. UC-MSC infusions significantly ameliorated hyperglycaemia, attenuated the elevation of hepatic transaminases, and decreased lipid contents, including triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Moreover, histological lesions in the liver diminished markedly, as evidenced by reduced lipid accumulation and attenuated hepatic steatosis. Mechanistically, UC-MSCs were found to regulate lipid metabolism by increasing the expression of fatty acid oxidation-related genes and inhibiting the expression of lipogenesis-related genes, which were associated with the upregulation of the HNF4α-CES2 pathway. Our results demonstrate that human UC-MSCs can ameliorate NAFLD and reverse metabolic syndrome in db/db mice. Thus, UC-MSCs may serve as a novel therapeutic agent for T2DM patients with NAFLD.