Molecular mechanisms and functions of pyroptosis in sepsis and sepsis-associated organ dysfunction.

Sepsis, a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, is a leading cause of death in intensive care units. The development of sepsis-associated organ dysfunction (SAOD) poses a threat to the survival of patients with sepsis. Unfortunately, the pathogenesis of sepsis and SAOD is complicated, multifactorial, and has not been completely clarified. Recently, numerous studies have demonstrated that pyroptosis, which is characterized by inflammasome and caspase activation and cell membrane pore formation, is involved in sepsis. Unlike apoptosis, pyroptosis is a pro-inflammatory form of programmed cell death that participates in the regulation of immunity and inflammation. Related studies have shown that in sepsis, moderate pyroptosis promotes the clearance of pathogens, whereas the excessive activation of pyroptosis leads to host immune response disorders and SAOD. Additionally, transcription factors, non-coding RNAs, epigenetic modifications and post-translational modifications can directly or indirectly regulate pyroptosis-related molecules. Pyroptosis also interacts with autophagy, apoptosis, NETosis, and necroptosis. This review summarizes the roles and regulatory mechanisms of pyroptosis in sepsis and SAOD. As our understanding of the functions of pyroptosis improves, the development of new diagnostic biomarkers and targeted therapies associated with pyroptosis to improve clinical outcomes appears promising in the future.

[The influence of the different components of nourishing kidney herbs on osteoporosis rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influent of the different components of nourishing kidney herbs on the main items of bone metabolism in osteoporosis rats induced with Dexamethasona(DXM). METHOD: Models of three-month old SD female rats with osteoporosis here made by being fed with low calcium diet (containing calcium 0.2%) and distilled water, and injected with DXM 0.1 mg/100 g weight intramuscularly, twice a week. Then the osteoporosis rats were treated with different components of nourishing kidney herbs, and the change of calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase(ALP), calcitonin(CT), PTH, CT/PTH, estrogen(E2), testosterone(T), T/E2 and bone section and bone quantitative morphology in these osteoporosis rats were observed. RESULT: The total components of nourishing kidney herbs could improve the general condition of osteoporosis rats, decrease PTH, increase CT, estrogen, testosterone, CT/PTH and T/E2. The total components of nourishing kidney herbs could improve osteoporotic state, promote bone formation, and inhibite bone resorption. But no effect of the A, B, C, D components of nourishing kidney herbs on the main items of bone metabolism in osteoporosis rats induced with DXM was found. CONCLUSION: It is possible that the purification and separation of these herbs weaken or destroy the integrative effect of nourishing kidney herbs or destroy effective components of nourishing kidney herbs during the process of purification and separation.