Construction of a disulfidptosis-related glycolysis gene risk model to predict the prognosis and immune infiltration analysis of gastric adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The pattern of cell death known as disulfidptosis was recently discovered. Disulfidptosis, which may affect the growth of tumor cells, represents a potential new approach to treating tumors. Glycolysis affects tumor proliferation, invasion, chemotherapy resistance, the tumor microenvironment (TME), and immune evasion. However, the efficacy and therapeutic significance of disulfidptosis-related glycolysis genes (DRGGs) in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) remain uncertain. METHODS: STAD clinical data and RNA sequencing data were downloaded from the TCGA database. DRGGs were screened using Cox regression and Lasso regression analysis to construct a prognostic risk model. The accuracy of the model was verified using survival studies, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, column plots, and calibration curves. Additionally, our study investigated the relationships between the risk scores and immune cell infiltration, tumor mutational burden (TMB), and anticancer drug sensitivity. RESULTS: We have successfully developed a prognosis risk model with 4 DRGGs (NT5E, ALG1, ANKZF1, and VCAN). The model showed excellent performance in predicting the overall survival of STAD patients. The DRGGs prognostic model significantly correlated with the TME, immune infiltrating cells, and treatment sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: The risk model developed in this work has significant clinical value in predicting the impact of immunotherapy in STAD patients and assisting in the choice of chemotherapeutic medicines. It can correctly estimate the prognosis of STAD patients.

GATA3 promotes the autophagy and activation of hepatic stellate cell in hepatic fibrosis via regulating miR-370/HMGB1 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is a common result of the repair process of various chronic liver diseases. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation is the central link in the occurrence of HF. METHODS: ELISA and histological analysis were performed to detect the pathological changes of liver tissues. In vitro, HSCs were treated with TGF-ß1 as HF cell model. Combination of GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA3) and miR-370 gene promoter was ensured by ChIP and luciferase reporter assay. Autophagy was monitored by observing the GFP-LC3 puncta formation. The interaction between miR-370 and high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) was verified by luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: CCl4-induced HF mice exhibited an increase of ALT and AST, and severe damage and fibrosis of liver tissues. GATA3 and HMGB1 were up-regulated, and miR-370 was down-regulated in CCl4-induced HF mice and activated HSCs. GATA3 enhanced expression of the autophagy-related proteins and activation markers in the activated HSCs. Inhibition of autophagy partly reversed GATA3-induced activation of HSCs and the promotion of GATA3 to hepatic fibrosis. Moreover, GATA3 suppressed miR-370 expression via binding with its promotor, and enhanced HMGB1 expression in HSCs. Increasing of miR-370 inhibited HMGB1 expression by directly targeting its mRNA 3'-UTR. The promotion of GATA3 to TGF-ß1-induced HSCs autophagy and activation was abrogated by miR-370 up-regulation or HMGB1 knockdown. CONCLUSIONS: This work demonstrates that GATA3 promotes autophagy and activation of HSCs by regulating miR-370/HMGB1 signaling pathway, which contributes to accelerate HF. Thus, this work suggests that GATA3 may be a potential target for prevention and treatment of HF.

COVID-19 hospitalization increases the risk of developing glioblastoma: a bidirectional Mendelian-randomization study.

Background: As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with glioblastoma (GBM) are considered a highly vulnerable population. Despite this, the extent of the causative relationship between GBM and COVID-19 infection is uncertain. Methods: Genetic instruments for SARS-CoV-2 infection (38,984 cases and 1,644,784 control individuals), COVID-19 hospitalization (8,316 cases and 1,549,095 control individuals), and COVID-19 severity (4,792 cases and 1,054,664 control individuals) were obtained from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) from European populations. A total of 6,183 GBM cases and 18,169 controls from GWAS were enrolled in our study. Their associations were evaluated by applying Mendelian randomization (MR) including IVW meta-analysis, MR-Egger regression, and weighted-median analysis. To make the conclusions more robust and reliable, sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: Our results showed that genetically predicted COVID-19 hospitalization increases the risk of GBM (OR = 1.202, 95% CI = 1.035-1.395, p = 0.016). In addition, no increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 hospitalization and severity were observed in patients with any type of genetically predicted GBM. Conclusion: Our MR study indicated for the first time that genetically predicted COVID-19 hospitalization was demonstrated as a risk factor for the development of GBM.

Application effect of head-mounted mixed reality device combined with 3D printing model in neurosurgery ventricular and hematoma puncture training.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to explore the applicability of application effect of head-mounted mixed reality (MR) equipment combined with a three-dimensional (3D) printed model in neurosurgical ventricular and haematoma puncture training. METHODS: Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) format image data of two patients with common neurosurgical diseases (hydrocephalus and basal ganglia haemorrhage) were imported into 3D Slicer software for 3D reconstruction, saved, and printed using 3D printing to produce a 1:1-sized head model with real person characteristics. The required model (brain ventricle, haematoma, puncture path, etc.) was constructed and imported into the head-mounted MR device, HoloLens, and a risk-free, visual, and repeatable system was designed for the training of junior physicians. A total of 16 junior physicians who studied under this specialty from September 2020 to March 2022 were selected as the research participants, and the applicability of the equipment and model during training was evaluated with assessment score sheets and questionnaires after training. RESULTS: According to results of the assessment and questionnaire, the doctors trained by this system are more familiar with the localization of the lateral anterior ventricle horn puncture and the common endoscopic surgery for basal ganglia haemorrhage, as well as more confident in the mastery of these two operations than the traditional training methods. CONCLUSIONS: The use of head-mounted MR equipment combined with 3D printing models can provide an ideal platform for the operation training of young doctors. Through holographic images created from the combination of virtual and real images, operators can be better immersed in the operation process and deepen their understanding of the operation and related anatomical structures. The 3D printed model can be repeatedly reproduced so that doctors can master the technology, learn from mistakes, better achieve the purpose of teaching and training, and improve the effect of training.

SIRT7 affects autophagy and activation of hepatic stellate cells by regulating the acetylation level of high mobility group protein 1.

OBJECTIVE: Preventing the progression of hepatic fibrosis is an important strategy to improve the prognosis of liver disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of sirtuin7 (SIRT7) and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) acetylation in the occurrence and development of hepatic fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hepatic fibrosis mice model was induced by CCl4. TGF-ß1 was used to activated quiescent hepatic stellate cell (qHSC) into activated HSC (aHSC). Hematoxylin-eosin evaluated hepatic fibrosis in vivo, and the distribution of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) or HMGB1 was detected by immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence. The expressions of SIRT7, autophagy related proteins, and HSC activation-related proteins were detected by Western blot. Immunoprecipitation detected the acetylation level of HMGB1. Lysine mutants of HMGB1 were constructed in vitro to explore the acetylation sites of HMGB1. RESULTS: Hepatocyte autophagy and activation levels were enhanced in CCl4 group or aHSC group, and the acetylation level of HMGB1 was increased. Nuclear transfer of HMGB1 occurred in aHSC, and HMGB1was mainly distributed in cytoplasm. The expression of SIRT7 in CCl4 group or aHSC group was most significantly decreased, and knockdown of SIRT7 leads to increased levels of HSCs autophagy and activation. Overexpression of SIRT7 or interference of HMGB1 alone in aHSC can reduce the level of autophagy and activation of aHSC. However, continued overexpression of SIRT7 in shHMGB1-aHSC could not reduce the autophagy and activation levels of aHSC. Among the 11 Flag-HMGB1 mutants, the acetylation level of K86R-Flag-HMGB1 was the lowest. The acetylation level of K86R-Flag-HMGB1 did not change due to SIRT7 downregulation. CONCLUSION: This study proved that SIRT7 can directly target the K86R site of HMGB1 and participate in regulating the expression and distribution of HMGB1, thus affecting the autophagy and activation level of HSCs.

Catalpol inhibits hepatic stellate cell activation by reducing the formation and changing the contents of hepatocyte-derived extracellular vesicles.

Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation is the central event in hepatic fibrosis. The cross-talk between HSCs and hepatocytes, which is mediated by extracellular vesicles (EVs), affects HSC activation. This study aimed to investigate whether Catalpol (CTP) attenuated hepatic fibrosis via modulating EVs. Mice were injected intraperitoneally with CCl4 for 4 weeks to induce hepatic fibrosis. They were gavaged with CTP daily. Mouse serum EVs were isolated and identified using nanoparticle tracking analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Mouse hepatocytes (AML12) and primary HSCs were used to investigate the cell-to-cell crosstalk. The autophagosome-autolysosome fusion was determined using the autophagic flux assay. Hepatic fibrosis was attenuated by CTP, with a decrease of the myofibroblast marker, alpha-smooth muscle actin. The CTP treatment lowered the serum EVs. The co-culture of HSCs and the EVs derived from the CTP-treated mice or hepatocytes reduced HSC proliferation and the expressions of ACTA2 and Col1a1. After the CCl4 treatment, the autophagosomes in AML12 cells were increased, while the autolysosomes were reduced. The decrease of autophagic cargo receptor SQSTM1 in the CTP group suggested that autophagic degradation was sustained. After inhibiting the endogenous Rac1-GTP of hepatocytes, the co-culture of EVs and HSCs reduced Rac1-GTP. The Rac1-GTP level in serum EVs from the CTP-treated mice was reduced in vivo. CTP inhibited autophagy in hepatocytes by reducing Rac1-GTP and thus affect the amount of Rac1-GTP in hepatocyte-derived EVs and the formation of EVs, which attenuated hepatic fibrosis via inhibiting HSC activation.

Implication of lncRNA ZBED3-AS1 downregulation in acquired resistance to Temozolomide and glycolysis in glioblastoma.

Temozolomide (TMZ) is the recommended drug for glioblastoma (GBM) treatment, but its clinical effect is restricted due to drug resistance. This research studies the effects of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) ZBED3-AS1 and its related molecules on acquired TMZ resistance in glioblastoma (GBM). ZBED3-AS1 was identified to be downregulated in TMZ-resistant GBM cells by analyzing GSE113510 and GSE100736 datasets. ZBED3-AS1 downregulation was detected in TMZ-resistant GBM tissues and cell lines (U251/TMZ and U87/TMZ). ZBED3-AS1 knockdown promoted, whereas its overexpression suppressed TMZ resistance, viability and mobility, and glycolytic activity of TMZ-resistant cells. ZBED3-AS1 bound to Spi-1 proto-oncogene (SPI1) but did not affect its expression. Instead, it blocked SPI1-mediated transcriptional activation of thrombomodulin (THBD). SPI1 and THBD increased TMZ resistance and glycolysis in TMZ-resistant cells. Either ZBED3-AS1 overexpression or SPI1 knockdown in U87/TMZ cells blocked the growth of orthotopic and subcutaneous xenograft tumors in nude mice. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that ZBED3-AS1 downregulation and THBD activation is linked to increased TMZ resistance and glycolysis in GBM cells.

Has_circ_0008583 modulates hepatocellular carcinoma progression through the miR-1301-3p/METTL3 pathway.

Has_circ_0008583 is reported to be involved in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), while its biological role in HCC remains unclear. Here, the qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of has_circ_0008583. The CCK-8 kit was performed to measure cell proliferation. The cell migration and invasion were evaluated by Transwell. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to confirm the target combination between the genes in has_circ_0008583/miR-1301-3p/METTL3 axis. The in vivo role of has_circ_0008583 was verified by murine xenograft assay. Our data showed that hsa_circ_0008583 was upregulated in HCC tissues and cells. Hsa_circ_0008583 overexpression promoted Hep3B cell proliferation, migration and invasion, but hsa_circ_0008583 silencing had an opposing influence. MiR-1301-3p is directly bound to hsa_circ_0008583 and METTL3. MiR-1301-3p overexpression or METTL3 knockdown could partially counteract hsa_circ_0008583 overexpression-mediated influence on HCC cell behaviors. In addition, hsa_circ_0008583 depletion inhibits HCC tumor growth in vivo. In conclusion, hsa_circ_0008583 promotes HCC progression through the miR-1301-3p/METTL3 axis.

Finite element modelling of posterior occiput-axis fixation and biomechanical analysis of C2 intralaminar screw fixation with offset connectors.

PURPOSE: The occiput-axis crossing translaminar screw (C2LAM) fixation technique can help avoid vertebral injury, while the inclusion of offset connectors can facilitate implantation. This three-dimensional finite element (FE) study compared the stability of C2LAM using offset connectors (C2LAM + OF) with other methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Occipital and cervical spine computed tomography images of a healthy 30-year-old man were selected to build the FE model. Four internal fixation instruments including occiput plate-C2 pedicle (C2P) and pars (C2Pars) screws, as well as C2LAM and C2LAM + OF were applied consecutively to the model respectively to establish four new models, which were subjected to all states of motion and physiological loads to simulate normal movement, including the four kinds of basic activities of human such as flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. Physiological measures and comparison included the range of motion (ROM) and stress distribution in the model. RESULTS: ROM between the fixation techniques was comparable, and the stability of the C2LAM + OF fixation technique was similar to that of C2P. Screw entry points, offset connectors and rods were the main stress distribution regions in the C2LAM + OF system. The mean von Mises stress of the inner wall was significantly smaller than that of the outer wall in flexion, extension, and rotation (p < 0.05); however, lateral bending was comparable, indicating a relatively small risk of damage to the inner wall. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that the C2LAM + OF fusion technique can provide sufficient stability and can be used as an alternative to C2P under special circumstances.

Nuclear translocation of ß-catenin induced by E-cadherin endocytosis causes recurrent erosion of diabetic cornea.

Recurrent epithelial erosion and refractory corneal ulcer are the clinical features of diabetic keratopathy (DK), which eventually lead to corneal scar and visual disturbance. In this study, we sought to determine the abnormalities of cell junction in diabetic corneal epithelial cells and the effect of high glucose on the ß-catenin/E-cadherin complex. Corneal histology showed that corneal epithelial cells of high glucose mice were loosely arranged, and the immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of E-cadherin decreased, the levels of ß-catenin increased in nuclear. High glucose-induced degradation and endocytosis of E-cadherin of corneal epithelial cells reduce the formation of ß-catenin/E-cadherin complex and promote the nuclear translocation of ß-catenin. Moreover, high glucose also activated the transcription and expression of matrix metallopeptidase and snail, which interfered with the adhesion of corneal epithelial cells to the basement membrane. These findings reveal that DK is associated with the dissociation of cell junctions. The maintenance of the stability of the ß-catenin/E-cadherin complex may be a potential therapeutic target of refractory corneal ulcers in patients with diabetes.

Evaluation of the effects of personalized 3D-printed jig plate-assisted puncture in trigeminal balloon compression.

OBJECTIVE: Percutaneous microballoon compression (PMC) is a simple and effective surgical procedure for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. The difficulty with this surgery is related to accurate and quick foramen ovale puncture. In this study, we compared the application of personalized 3D-printed guides and the traditional puncture method in trigeminal PMC surgery. METHOD: Data from 40 patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia treated with PMC between June 2017 and August 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Personalized 3D-printed jigs were used to assist foramen ovale puncture in 20 patients, and Hartel positioning was used for puncture in 20 patients. Three-dimensional reconstruction was performed preoperatively using 3DSlicer software to understand the size of the foramen ovale and positioning of related anatomical structures. Based on the reconstruction, personalized surgical paths were created for the jig plate-assisted treatment group, and the printed jig plate was applied to the surgery through 3D printing to explore the surgical effect. RESULTS: Foramen ovale puncture was successful in all patients. Better results were achieved with guides than with the traditional method in terms of the foramen ovale puncture time (p < 0.01), total operation time (p < 0.01), and number of computed tomography scans (p < 0.01). The efficacy of surgery and postoperative complications did not differ between groups (p = 1). CONCLUSIONS: The use of personalized 3D-printed guides enables accurate puncture positioning in PMC, and improves the success rate of surgery, shortens the operation time, and reduces surgical risk, which has broad prospects in clinical application.

LncRNA-SNHG7/miR-29b/DNMT3A axis affects activation, autophagy and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells in liver fibrosis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relative expression of long non-coding small nucleolar RNA host gene 7 (lncRNA-SNHG7) in fibrotic liver and hepatic stellate cells, and investigate the biological effects and mechanisms of SNHG7 on liver fibrosis. METHODS: Liver fibrosis model of mice was established, primary hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were cultured from normal mice and induced to activate by TGF-ß. Cell viability, proliferation, and autophagy were detected with MTT, BrdU, and MDC stain, respectively. Liver tissue stained with Masson and Sirius Red. The interaction between SNHG7 and miR-29b was investigated by immunoprecipitation, RNA pull-down and Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. The effects of SNHG7 on the expression of miR-29b, DNMT3A and liver fibrosis related factors were detected in vitro or in vivo transfection experiments. RESULTS: SNHG7 was signally increased in liver tissue and HSCs of liver fibrosis model of mice, and inhibition of SNHG7 expression in liver fibrosis mice can reduce liver fibrosis. We also found that SNHG7 could bind to miR-29b in HSCs and inhibit the expression of miR-29b. In TGF-ß-stimulated normal HSCs, knockdown of SNHG7 expression after shSNHG7 transfection could restrain DNMT3A and HSCs activation factors α-SMA, Collα1 and autophagy-related factors LC3I/II, Beclin1. However, this shSNHG7 effect was reversed by the inhibition of miR-29b. CONCLUSION: Inhibition of lncRNA-SNHG7 can inhibit liver fibrosis. This is partly due to SNHG7 acts as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to affect the expression of DNMT3A, a downstream target gene of miR-29b, by binding to miR-29b, thereby affecting the activation, autophagy and proliferation of HSCs.

Inositol-Requiring Kinase 1 Regulates Apoptosis via Inducing Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Colitis Epithelial Cells.

BACKGROUND: Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) has been studied as critical factor during occurrence and development of ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the role of ERS in inflamed UC remains unclear. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to analyze the role of inositol-requiring kinase 1 (IRE-1), a major regulator of ER, in regulating ERS and cell viability. METHODS: In UC mucosa tissue, IRE-1, BiP, XBP-1s, CHOP caspase-12 and GADD34 mRNA were assayed by qRT-PCR. Then, human normal colon epithelial cell line (NCM-460) and colon fibroblast cell line (CCD-33Co) were cultured, and downregulated or upregulated IRE-1 expression. ERS was induced with 100 ng/mL of Interleukin 6 (IL-6). CCK8 assay was performed to analyze cell proliferation. Flow cytometry analysis was conducted to detect the apoptosis. Western blot assay was used to examine ERS markers. RESULTS: IRE-1, BiP, XBP-1s, caspase-12 and CHOP mRNA were highly expressed in UC mucosa tissue, and the expression of GADD34 mRNA significantly decreased. These results show that ERS-induced unfolded protein response was enhanced in UC mucosa tissue. In cells, silencing the expression of IRE-1 could suppress cell proliferation and promote apoptosis through activating unfolded protein response, while the over-expression of IRE-1 had the opposite effect. IL-6 could induce ERS and cells apoptosis. Furthermore, we demonstrated that shRNA IRE-1 could enhance the inhibition of IL-6 on cells viability. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of IRE-1 enhanced unfolded protein response and cells apoptosis and IL-6-induced ERS and suggested that IRE-1 might be a potential target of UC.

Overexpressing microRNA-34a overcomes ABCG2-mediated drug resistance to 5-FU in side population cells from colon cancer via suppressing DLL1.

Colon cancer side population (SP) cells are a small subset of cancer cells that have cancer stemness capacity and enhanced drug resistance. ABCG2 is a multidrug resistance-related protein in SP cells and has been demonstrated to be regulated by Notch signalling pathway. Recently, microRNAs are reported to play a critical role in SP cell fate. However, their role in ABCG2-mediated drug resistance in colon cancer SP cells remains unclear. In the current study, the different expressions of miR-552, miR-611, miR-34a and miR-5000-3p were compared within SP and non-SP cells, which were separated from human colon cancer cell lines (SW480 and LoVo). We found that miR-34a was significantly down-regulated in SP cells and that overexpressing miR-34a overcame drug resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The luciferase reporter assay indicated that miR-34a negatively regulated DLL1, a ligand of Notch signalling pathway, via binding with 3'-untranslated region of its messenger RNA. In addition, overexpressing miR-34a overcame ABCG2-mediated resistance to 5-FU via DLL1/Notch pathway in vitro, and suppressed tumour growth under 5-FU treatment in vivo. In conclusion, our findings suggest that miR-34a acts as a tumour suppressor via enhancing chemosensitivity to 5-FU in SP cells, which provides a novel therapeutic target in chemotherapy-resistant colon cancer.

KHDC3L mutation causes recurrent pregnancy loss by inducing genomic instability of human early embryonic cells.

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is an important complication in reproductive health. About 50% of RPL cases are unexplained, and understanding the genetic basis is essential for its diagnosis and prognosis. Herein, we report causal KH domain containing 3 like (KHDC3L) mutations in RPL. KHDC3L is expressed in human epiblast cells and ensures their genome stability and viability. Mechanistically, KHDC3L binds to poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) to stimulate its activity. In response to DNA damage, KHDC3L also localizes to DNA damage sites and facilitates homologous recombination (HR)-mediated DNA repair. KHDC3L dysfunction causes PARP1 inhibition and HR repair deficiency, which is synthetically lethal. Notably, we identified two critical residues, Thr145 and Thr156, whose phosphorylation by Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) is essential for KHDC3L's functions. Importantly, two deletions of KHDC3L (p.E150_V160del and p.E150_V172del) were detected in female RPL patients, both of which harbor a common loss of Thr156 and are impaired in PARP1 activation and HR repair. In summary, our study reveals both KHDC3L as a new RPL risk gene and its critical function in DNA damage repair pathways.

Long noncoding RNA XIST enhances ethanol-induced hepatic stellate cells autophagy and activation via miR-29b/HMGB1 axis.

Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a prominent driver of liver fibrogenesis, including alcoholic liver fibrosis (ALF). Furthermore, autophagy contributes to HSCs activation. This study aims to investigate the role and the mechanisms of long noncoding RNA XIST in regulating HSCs autophagy and activation. Human HSC cells (LX-2) were treated with 100 mmol/L ethanol to mimic HSCs activation. The HSCs activation was evaluated by determining cell viability and protein levels of fibrosis markers α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen type 1 α1 (CoL1A1). The autophagy was evaluated by measuring autophagy markers Beclin-1 and LC3-II. The interaction among XIST, miR-29b, and high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) were analyzed using luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR, and western blot. Lentiviruses targeting sh-XIST (LV-sh-XIST) were injected into ALF model mice via tail vein to elucidate the in vivo role of XIST in ALF injury. XIST was upregulated in ethanol-activated LX-2 cells. Furthermore, XIST served as a competitive endogenous RNA of miR-29b to facilitate HMGB1 expression, and thus enhanced ethanol-induced HSCs autophagy and activation. Further in vivo assay showed that downregulation of XIST by LV-sh-XIST alleviated ALF injury in ALF model mice. Collectively, XIST enhances ethanol-induced HSCs autophagy and activation via miR-29b/HMGB1 axis.

Eltoprazine prevents levodopa-induced dyskinesias by reducing causal interactions for theta oscillations in the dorsolateral striatum and substantia nigra pars reticulate.

Oscillatory activities within basal ganglia (BG) circuitry in L-DOPA induced dyskinesia (LID), a condition that occurs in patients with Parkinson disease (PD), are not well understood. The aims of this study were firstly to investigate oscillations in main BG input and output structures-the dorsolateral striatum (dStr) and substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr), respectively- including the direction of oscillation information flow, and secondly to investigate the effects of 5-HT1A/B receptor agonism with eltoprazine on oscillatory activities and abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs) characteristic. To this end, we conducted local field potential (LFP) electrophysiology in the dStr and SNr of LID rats simultaneous with AIM scoring. The LFP data were submitted to power spectral density, coherence, and partial Granger causality analyses. AIM data were analyzed relative to simultaneous oscillatory activities, with and without eltoprazine. We obtained four major findings. 1) Theta band (5-8 Hz) oscillations were enhanced in the dStr and SNr of LID rats. 2) Theta power correlated with AIM scores in the 180-min period after the last LID-inducing L-DOPA injection, but not with daily summed AIM scores during LID development. 3) Oscillatory information flowed from the dStr to the SNr. 4) Chronic eltoprazine reduced BG theta activity in LID rats and normalized information flow directionality, relative to that in LID rats not given eltoprazine. These results indicate that dStr activity plays a determinative role in the causal interactions of theta oscillations and that serotonergic inhibition may suppress dyskinesia by reducing dStr-SNr theta activity and restoring theta network information flow.

Aspirin enhances the sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma side population cells to doxorubicin via miR-491/ABCG2.

Objective: To explore whether aspirin (ASA) enhances the sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) side population (SP) cells to doxorubicin (Doxo) via miR-491/ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 2 (ABCG2).Methods: Non-SP and SP cells were isolated from MHCC-97L cell line using flow cytometry analysis and fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Colony formation assay was performed to determine the colony-formation ability of cells. Cell viability of SP cells was determined with the MTT assay. Luciferase reporter assay was applied in confirming the binding between miR-491 and ABCG2.Results: Although the Doxo treatment lowered the colony-formation ability of both non-SP and SP cells, the colony-formation ability of SP cells was 2-fold higher than that of non-SP cells (P<0.05). Doxo slightly inhibited the cell viability of SP cells in a concentration-dependent manner; the addition of ASA dramatically enhanced the inhibitory effect of Doxo on SP cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.05). Compared with non-SP cells, the miR-491 expression was significantly decreased in SP cells, which was significantly reversed by ASA (P<0.05). miR-491 directly controlled the ABCG2 expression. In the presence of Doxo, miR-491 inhibitor reduced the inhibitory effect of ASA on the cell viability of SP cells, which was significantly reversed by knockdown of ABCG2 (P<0.05).Conclusion: ASA enhanced the sensitivity of SP cells to Doxo via regulating the miR-491/ABCG2 signaling pathway.

Inhibition of autophagy reverses alcohol-induced hepatic stellate cells activation through activation of Nrf2-Keap1-ARE signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Numerous documents have indicated a critical role of autophagy in alcoholic liver fibrosis (ALF), but few papers have reported its function in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation. The current study aimed to investigate the regulation effect of autophagy in HSCs activation, in further to explore the underlying mechanism involved. METHODS: HSC-T6 cells were treated with ethanol, 3-MA (autophagy inhibitor) or rapamycin (autophagy inducer), and cells were also transfected with si-Nrf2 or si-Keap1. Moreover, ALF animal model was established and Nrf-2(-/-), Keap1 (-/-) mice were purchased. The level of autophagy, the expression of α-SMA and CoL1A1, and Nrf2 antioxidant response were evaluated in stellate cells and livers. RESULTS: Ethanol treatment in cultured cells increased autophagy, oxidative stress level and promoted HSCs activation. Inhibition of autophagy reversed alcohol-induced HSCs activation and suppressed HSCs oxidative stress. Nrf2-Keap1-ARE pathway was involved in HSCs activation and oxidative stress regulated by autophagy. In addition, through in vivo study, we found that inhibition of autophagy could alleviate alcoholic fatty liver injury in ALF model mice and Nrf2 signaling was involved in autophagy regulated HSCs activation. CONCLUSION: These data implicated mechanisms underlying autophagy in regulating the fibrogenic response in HSCs activation.

Selective cholinergic depletion of pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus aggravates freezing of gait in parkinsonian rats.

Many patients of advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) suffer from intractable axial symptoms (severe gait and postural impairments), which were recently speculated to be more relevant to cholinergic degeneration in the brainstem than dopaminergic degeneration in the substantia nigra compacta (SNc). To investigate the role of the cholinergic cells of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) on motor deficits, especially the axial motor impairments, we measured and analyzed the gait performance of sham lesion rats, SNc dopaminergic lesion rats, PPTg cholinergic lesion rats, and combined lesion rats by using the CatWalk system. Motor performance of PPTg cholinergic lesion rats was also tested on the rotarod. Independent loss of cholinergic neurons in the PPTg did not induce gait disturbance in CatWalk, but PPTg lesion rats showed motor impairments on the rotarod when the demands of the motor task increased. Both SNc lesion rats and combined lesion rats displayed significant changes in many gait parameters, but the terminal dual stance increased much higher in combined lesion group than SNc lesion group. Furthermore, combined lesion rats showed more severe freezing of gait (FOG) than SNc lesion rats during behavioral re-evaluations after lesion. These results suggest that the PPTg cholinergic neurons play a vital role in the occurrence of FOG in PD.