ROS-NLRP3 signaling pathway induces sterile inflammation after thulium laser resection of the prostate.

The sterile inflammation (SI) of the urinary tract is a common problem requiring serious consideration after prostatectomy. This study mainly focuses on the role of the reactive oxygen species-NLR family, pyrin domain-containing 3 (ROS-NLRP3) signaling pathway in SI after thulium laser resection of the prostate (TmLRP). Urinary cytokines were determined in patients who received TmLRP, and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) was detected in the resected tissues. The involvement of ROS signaling in HSP70-induced inflammation was explored in THP-1 cells with or without N-acetyl- l-cysteine (NAC) pretreatment. The function of NLRP3 and Caspase-1 was determined by Western blot analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and polymerase chain reaction. These phenomena and mechanisms were verified by the beagle models that received TmLRP. Clinical urine samples after TmLRP showed high expression of inflammatory factors and peaked 3-5 days after surgery. The high expression of HSP70 in the resected tissues was observed. After HSP70 stimulation, the expression of ROS, NLRP3, Caspase-1, and interleukin-18 (IL-18) increased significantly and could be reduced by ROS inhibitor NAC. The expression of IL-1ß and IL-18 could be inhibited by NLRP3 or Caspase-1 inhibitors. In beagle models that received TmLRP, HSP70, NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-1ß, and IL-18 were highly expressed in the wound tissue or urine, and could also be reduced by NAC pretreatment. Activation of the ROS-NLRP3 signaling pathway induces SI in the wound after prostatectomy. Inhibition of this pathway may be effective for clinical prevention and treatment of SI and related complications after prostatectomy.

Establishment and characterization of a rare atypical chronic myeloid leukemia cell line NT-1.

Human leukemia cell lines are of great value in leukemia research. In this study, we established and described the biological characteristics of a rare atypical chronic myeloid (aCML) leukemia cell line (NT-1). Mononuclear cells were isolated from the bone marrow of a patient with atypical chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph(-)/bcr(-)/abl(-)), and were passaged by liquid culture. Cells were maintained without any cytokines for over 1 year, and named NT-1. This cell line was extensively characterized using morphological assays, flow cytometry, cytogenetic analysis, clonogenic culture, quantitative fluorescent PCR, short tandem repeating sequence PCR (STR-PCR) and array-CGH. Its tumorigenic capacity was also examined in nude mice. The NT-1 cell line had morphological features of chronic myeloid leukemia and major myeloid markers (CD13, CD33, CD11b). Additionally, NT-1 expressed progenitor cells and natural killer cell-related antigens such as CD34, CD117, CD56. Cytogenetic analysis initially demonstrated two abnormalities: 47, xx, +8 and 47, xx, +8 accompanied by t(5;12)(q31;p13) translocation. The one-year passage process did not alter the karyotype. NT-1 cells maintained the same morphology, immunophenotyping and cytogenetic features as primary leukemia cells, which was strongly supported by STR-PCR results. Neither Epstein-Barr virus nor mycoplasma was detected in the NT-1 line. In addition, NT-1 cells showed high tumorigenic capacity in nude mice. NT-1 is a new atypical chronic myeloid leukemia cell line with the +8 and t(5,12) translocation, and exhibits high tumorigenicity in nude mice. This new cell line provides a useful tool for the study of leukemogenesis.

Statins suppress glucose-induced plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 expression by regulating RhoA and nuclear factor-κB activities in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible proinflammatory signaling pathways involved in statin inhibition of glucose-induced plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs). Primary rat CMECs were grown in the presence of 5.7 or 23 mmol/L glucose. PAI-1 mRNA and protein expression levels were measured by realtime polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. A pull-down assay was performed to determine RhoA activity. IκBα protein expression was measured by Western blotting, nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation was detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and its transcription activity was determined by a dual luciferase reporter gene assay. PAI-1 mRNA and protein expression levels were both increased with high glucose concentrations, but they were significantly suppressed by simvastatin and atorvastatin treatment (P < 0.01) and the effects were reversed by mevalonate (100 µmol/L) and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (10 µmol/L) but not farnesyl pyrophosphate (10 µmol/L). Such effects were similar to those of a RhoA inhibitor, C3 exoenzyme (5 µg/mL), inhibitors of RhoA kinase (ROCK), Y-27632 (10 µmol/L) and hydroxyfasudil (10 µmol/L) and an NF-κB inhibitor, BAY 11-7082 (5 µmol/L). High glucose-induced RhoA and NF-κB activations in CMECs were both significantly inhibited by statins (P < 0.01). Simvastatin and atorvastatin equally suppress high glucose-induced PAI-1 expression. These effects of statins may occur partly by regulating the RhoA/ROCK-NF-κB pathway. The multifunctional roles of statins may be particularly beneficial for patients with metabolic syndrome.