Magnesium sulfate reduces vascular endothelial cell apoptosis in rats with preeclampsia via the miR-218-5p/HMGB1 pathway.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the mechanism by which magnesium sulfate regulates the miR-218-5p/HMGB-pathway-mediated apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells (VECs) in rats with preeclampsia (PE). METHODS: Twenty pregnant rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal, PE, MgSO4, and high-mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1)-agomir groups. On the 14th day of each rat's pregnancy, endotoxin was used to establish a PE model in the PE, MgSO4, and HMGB1-agomir groups. Then, the MgSO4 and HMGB1-agomir groups were treated with magnesium sulfate. Finally, HMGB1 overexpression was performed only in the HMGB1-agomir group. The rats' urinary protein content and systolic blood pressure at 24 h were detected on the 11th, 13th, 15th, 17th, and 19th day of pregnancy. RESULTS: Compared with the PE group, 24-h urinary protein content, blood pressure, VEC apoptosis rate, apoptosis marker levels, and HMGB1 expression decreased while miR-218-5p levels increased in the MgSO4 group. The dual-luciferase assay revealed that HMGB1 can be targeted and regulated by miR-218-5p. Compared with the MgSO4 group, 24-h urinary protein content, blood pressure, VEC apoptosis rate, apoptosis marker levels, and HMGB1 expression increased while miR-218-5p levels decreased in the HMGB1-agomir group. CONCLUSION: MgSO4 reduces VEC apoptosis in PE rats via the miR-218-5p/HMGB1 pathway and thus plays a role in treating PE.

A study of Epstein-Barr virus infection in the Chinese tree shrew(Tupaia belangeri chinensis).

BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is closely associated with many human diseases, including a variety of deadly human malignant tumours. However, due to the lack of ideal animal models,the biological characteristics of EBV, particularly its function in tumourigenesis, have not been determined. Chinese tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri chinensis), which are similar to primates, have been used to establish a variety of animal models and have recently received much attention. Here, we established tree shrews as a model for EBV infection by intravenous injection. METHODS: Ten tree shrews were inoculated with EBV by intravenous injection,and blood was collected at regular intervals thereafter from the femoral artery or vein to detect EBV markers. RESULTS: Eight of 10 tree shrews showed evidence of EBV infection. In the 8 EBV-infected tree shrews, EBV copy number increased intermittently or transiently, EBV-related gene expression was detected, and anti-EBV antibodies increased to varying degrees. Macroscopic hepatomegaly was observed in 1 tree shrew, splenomegaly was observed in 4 tree shrews, and enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes were observed in 3 tree shrews. Haematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining showed splenic corpuscle hyperplasia in the spleens of 4 tree shrews and inflammatory cell infiltration of the liver of 1 tree shrew and of the mesenteric lymph nodes of 3 tree shrews. EBER in situ hybridization(ISH) and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining showed that EBER-, LMP1- and EBNA2- positive cells were present in the spleens and mesenteric lymph nodes of some tree shrews. Western blotting (WB) revealed EBNA1-positive cells in the spleens of 4 tree shrews. EBV markers were not detected by HE, EBER-ISH or IHC in the lung or nasopharynx. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that EBV can infect tree shrews via intravenous injection. The presented model offers some advantages for exploring the pathophysiology of EBV infection in humans.

Cyclosporine A induces Epstein-Barr virus reactivation in tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) model.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) usually exists as a latent infection in immunocompetent hosts but immunosuppressed individuals are at risk for developing EBV reactivation that leads to the uncontrolled proliferation of B lymphocytes. In this study, we have mimicked the immunosuppressed microenvironment in the tree shrew model of EBV infection by using cyclosporine A (CsA). The results showed that EBV-cocultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) proliferated vigorously in response to CsA treatment in vitro. However, EBV susceptibility in vivo depended on the timing of CsA administration. Reactivation of EBV occurred in the latently EBV-infected tree shrews after treatment with 25 mg/kg/day CsA (EBV > CsA group), whereas tree shrews were no longer susceptible to infection if CsA was administered for five weeks before EBV injection (CsA > EBV group). RNA-seq analysis of both groups identified a further link between immunosuppression and EBV infection. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed a significant enrichment of viral infection-related pathways in the EBV > CsA group, whereas tumor-related pathways were significantly enriched in the CsA > EBV group. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed using Cytoscape for the purpose of identifying hub genes that were then verified using qRT-PCR. In conclusion, the tree shrew model of EBV infection exhibits certain features of EBV infection in humans and serves as a valuable platform for exploring the underlying mechanisms of EBV infection.

Analysis of the clinical and genetic characteristics of a Chinese family with osteogenesis imperfecta type I.

BACKGROUND: Osteogenesis imperfecta type I (OI-I) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by skeletal deformity, bone fragility, blue sclerae, dentinogenesis imperfecta, and hearing loss. The current study aimed to confirm the clinical diagnosis and genetic cause of OI-I in a four-generation Chinese family. METHODS: Clinical investigation and pedigree analysis were conducted to characterize the phenotypic manifestations of a Chinese family with OI-I. Follow-up audiometry and imaging tests were used to evaluate the postoperative outcomes of stapes surgery in the proband with otosclerosis. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing were used to identify the pathogenic gene variants and for cosegregating analysis. RESULTS: We described in detail the clinical features of the collected family with autosomal dominant OI-I, and firstly identified a pathogenic splicing variant (c.2344-1G>T) in intron 33 of COL1A1 in a Chinese family. The molecular analysis suggested that the mutation might cause splice site changes that result in a loss of gene function. The proband, who suffered from otosclerosis and presented two-side middle-severe conductive hearing loss, benefitted significantly from successive bilateral middle ear surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of OI-I in a Chinese family was established by clinical and genetic investigation. A heterozygous pathogenic splicing variant in COL1A1 was directly responsible for the bone fragility and hearing loss of this family. Otosclerosis surgery should be suggested to rehabilitate conductive hearing impairment in OI patients.

Exosome long non-coding RNA SOX2-OT contributes to ovarian cancer malignant progression by miR-181b-5p/SCD1 signaling.

Ovarian cancer is a common gynecologic cancer with increased mortality and morbidity. Exosome-delivered long non-coding RNAs have been well found in cancer development. However, the function of exosomal SOX2-OT in ovarian cancer development is still unreported. In the present study, we were interested in the investigation of the effect of exosomal SOX2-OT during ovarian cancer pathogenesis. Significantly, we revealed that the SOX2-OT expression levels were up-regulated in the ovarian cancer patients' plasma exosomes. The depletion of exosomal SOX2-OT inhibited migration, invasion, and proliferation and induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. In mechanical exploration, SOX2-OT could sponge miR-181b-5p, and miR-181b-5p was able to target SCD1 in the ovarian cancer cells. The SCD1 overexpression and miR-181b-5p inhibitor could reverse exosomal SOX2-OT-mediated ovarian cancer progression. Functionally, the depletion of exosomal SOX2-OT significantly reduced tumor growth of ovarian cancer cells in vivo. In summary, we concluded that exosomal SOX2-OT enhanced ovarian cancer malignant phenotypes by miR-181b-5p/SCD1 axis. Our finding presents novel insights into the mechanism by which exosomal lncRNA SOX2-OT promotes ovarian cancer progression. SOX2-OT, miR-181b-5p, and SCD1 may serve as potential targets for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

A de novo mutation of the SOX10 gene associated with inner ear malformation in a Guangxi family with Waardenburg syndrome type II.

OBJECTIVE: Waardenburg syndrome type 2 (WS2) is a rare neural-crest disorder, characterized by heterochromic irides or blue eyes and sensorineural hearing loss. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical features and investigate the genetic cause of WS2 in a small family from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region. METHODS: Whole-exome sequencing and mutational analysis were used to identify disease-causing genes in this family. RESULTS: A de novo missense mutation, C.355C > T (p. Arg119Cys), in exon 2 of SOX10 was related to inner ear malformation in the proband and identified by whole exon sequencing, but this mutation was absent in normal controls and any public databases. According to nucleic acid sequence and protein bioinformatic analysis, this mutation is considered the cause of WS2 without neurologic involvement in the proband. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide an accurate genetic diagnosis, counseling, and rehabilitation for family members and may contribute to further genotype-phenotype correlation studies of the SOX10 gene.

Hemogram study of an artificially feeding tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis).

Systematic classification and determination of various cells in normal peripheral blood of artificially feeding Tupaia belangeri chinensis of different ages and genders and evaluation of the effectiveness of an automatic blood cell classification counter for measuring tree shrew blood cells. Child, young and adult tree shrews (forty for each group) were randomly selected, half male and half female. After the animals were stable, the peripheral blood of each group was collected through the femoral vein, and the morphology of various blood cells of the tree shrew was observed and classified by the manual microscopic counting method and by an automatic blood cell classification counter. The Reference intervals of the normal peripheral blood cell absolute count, cell diameter and white blood cell percentage in tree shrews of different ages and genders has been calculated. White blood cell count and neutrophil relative count increased with age, while lymphocyte relative count decreased. The white blood cell count, neutrophil relative count, and lymphocyte relative count in the child group, as well as lymphocyte relative count in the young group, significantly differed according to gender (P<0.05), and the differences in other indicators were not significant. The Bland-Altman plot and the Passing-Bablok scattergram showed that the change trend of each indicator was consistent but exhibited large systematic differences between methods. Differences in peripheral blood cells exist among different age groups and different genders. An automatic blood cell classification counter is not suitable for the absolute count of blood cells in the tree shrew.

Blood Gene Expression Profile Study Revealed the Activation of Apoptosis and p53 Signaling Pathway May Be the Potential Molecular Mechanisms of Ionizing Radiation Damage and Radiation-Induced Bystander Effects.

Radiotherapy is an effective treatment for local solid tumors, but the mechanism of damage to human body caused by radiation therapy needs further study. In this study, gene expression profiles of human peripheral blood samples exposed to different doses and rates of ionizing radiation (IR) were used for bioinformatics analysis to investigate the mechanism of IR damage and radiation-induced bystander effect (RIBE). Differentially expressed genes analysis, weighted gene correlation network analysis, functional enrichment analysis, hypergeometric test, gene set enrichment analysis, and gene set variation analysis were applied to analyze the data. Moreover, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to identify core genes of IR damage. Weighted gene correlation network analysis identified 3 modules associated with IR damage, 2 were positively correlated and 1 was negatively correlated. The analysis showed that the positively correlated modules were significantly involved in apoptosis and p53 signaling pathway, and ESR1, ATM, and MYC were potential transcription factors regulating these modules. Thus, the study suggested that apoptosis and p53 signaling pathway may be the potential molecular mechanisms of IR damage and RIBE, which could be driven by ESR1, ATM, and MYC.

Association of abnormal glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in patients with atypical and typical endometrial cancer.

This study aimed to detect glucose metabolism indicators and insulin resistance index in patients with endometrial cancer, and to explore the clinical significance and correlation between them. A total of 65 patients with endometrial cancer (52 of typical endometrial and 13 cases of atypical endometrial cancer patients, 27 with diabetes mellitus, and 38 cases without diabetes mellitus) were selected at the People's Hospital of Rizhao from June, 2010 to June, 2016 to serve as the observation group. During the same period, 62 patients with endometrial benign lesions (24 with diabetes mellitus and 38 cases without diabetes mellitus) were selected as the control group. General information including height, body weight, body mass index (BMI), abdominal, waist and hip circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was compared between the two groups. Fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting insulin level (FINS), insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), follicle estrogen (FSH), luteinizing hormone and estradiol (estrogen) were detected and compared between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for endometrial cancer. The results showed that there were no significant differences in the height and hip circumference among the typical, atypical and control groups. By contrast, weight, BMI, waist circumference, abdominal circumference and the WHR of the typical group were significantly higher than those of the atypical and control groups (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the atypical and control groups (P>0.05). Levels of the FINS and HOMA-IR typical group were significantly higher than those in the atypical and control groups, and the incidence of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance was significantly higher in the observation than in the control group (P<0.05). Of the patients with diabetes, the levels of FINS, HOMA-IR and estrogen were significantly higher, but the level of FSH was significantly lower in the observation compared to the control group (P<0.05). For patients without diabetes, significant differences in the levels of FINS and HOMA-IR were found between the observation and control groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the levels of FINS and HOMA-IR among endometrial cancer patients with different pathological features (P>0.05). HOMA-IR (OR=1.240), estrogen (OR=1.192) and FSH (OR=1.002) are risk factors for endometrial cancer. The results suggest that hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance are risk factors of endometrial cancer. Insulin may therefore be involved in the development of endometrial cancer by affecting the level of sex hormones.