Targeting EFHD2 inhibits interferon-γ signaling and ameliorates non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The precise pathomechanisms underlying the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH, also known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis [MASH]) remain incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated the potential role of EF-hand domain family member D2 (EFHD2), a novel molecule specific to immune cells, in the pathogenesis of NASH. METHODS: Hepatic EFHD2 expression was characterized in patients with NASH and two diet-induced NASH mouse models. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and double-immunohistochemistry were employed to explore EFHD2 expression patterns in NASH livers. The effects of global and myeloid-specific EFHD2 deletion on NASH and NASH-related hepatocellular carcinoma were assessed. Molecular mechanisms underlying EFHD2 function were investigated, while chemical and genetic investigations were performed to assess its potential as a therapeutic target. RESULTS: EFHD2 expression was significantly elevated in hepatic macrophages/monocytes in both patients with NASH and mice. Deletion of EFHD2, either globally or specifically in myeloid cells, improved hepatic steatosis, reduced immune cell infiltration, inhibited lipid peroxidation-induced ferroptosis, and attenuated fibrosis in NASH. Additionally, it hindered the development of NASH-related hepatocellular carcinoma. Specifically, deletion of myeloid EFHD2 prevented the replacement of TIM4+ resident Kupffer cells by infiltrated monocytes and reversed the decreases in patrolling monocytes and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio in NASH. Mechanistically, our investigation revealed that EFHD2 in myeloid cells interacts with cytosolic YWHAZ (14-3-3ζ), facilitating the translocation of IFNγR2 (interferon-γ receptor-2) onto the plasma membrane. This interaction mediates interferon-γ signaling, which triggers immune and inflammatory responses in macrophages during NASH. Finally, a novel stapled α-helical peptide targeting EFHD2 was shown to be effective in protecting against NASH pathology in mice. CONCLUSION: Our study reveals a pivotal immunomodulatory and inflammatory role of EFHD2 in NASH, underscoring EFHD2 as a promising druggable target for NASH treatment. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) represents an advanced stage of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, not all patients with NAFLD progress to NASH. A key challenge is identifying the factors that trigger inflammation, which propels the transition from simple fatty liver to NASH. Our research pinpointed EFHD2 as a pivotal driver of NASH, orchestrating the over-activation of interferon-γ signaling within the liver during NASH progression. A stapled peptide designed to target EFHD2 exhibited therapeutic promise in NASH mice. These findings support the potential of EFHD2 as a therapeutic target in NASH.

Effectiveness evaluation of water-sprinkling in controlling urban fugitive road dust based on TRAKER method: A case study in Baoding, China.

Fugitive road dust (FRD) contributes a great deal to urban rainwater and air pollution and is commonly controlled by water-sprinkling in most Chinese cities. However, there is a lack of information on its effectiveness. We used the Testing Re-entrained Aerosol Kinetic Emissions from Roads (TRAKER) method to monitor different types of roads in Baoding city before and within 1 hr after water-sprinkling and obtained the road dirtiness index (a) and PM concentration in the road environment (TT*), to evaluate the removal efficiency for PM deposited on the road surface (ηa) and the reduction efficiency for the PM concentration in the road environment (ηPM). The results give that the ηa for three types of roads is ranked: branch road (87%--100%) > major arterial road (80%-83%) > minor arterial road (68%-77%), and the ηPM ranked: minor arterial road (70%) > branch road (46%-58%) > major arterial road (37%-53%). The ηa and ηPM varied non-linearly with time and presented a quadratic curve. The average effective control time (ηa> 0) was 62 min on the major and minor arterial roads, and much longer than 1 hr on branch roads. The ηPM values diminished completely by 72 min on average from the end of sprinkling for the three types of roads. Water-sprinkling can remove PM10 particles from the road surface and reduce their concentration in the road environment more thoroughly than PM2.5. Our findings could be helpful for controlling urban FRD emissions more efficiently and precisely.

SnO2@PdAg Core-Shell Nanoarchitecture Promotes Active and Stable Alcohol Electrooxidations.

Developing efficient Pd-based electrocatalysts is of vital importance for the application of direct alcohol fuel cells. Designing the core-shell architecture of Pd-based nanomaterials rationally has emerged as an effective strategy to promote the sluggish kinetics of anodic reactions. Herein, the PdAg alloy is reduced on a non-noble metal oxide surface for the formation of a core-shell nanostructure. The optimized SnO2@PdAgh nanospheres deliver the optimal catalytic performance compared with other counterparts and commercial Pd/C. The structural investigation reveals that the introduction of Ag and formation of a PdAg/SnO2 heterointerface effectively regulate the electronic structure of Pd, making SnO2@PdAgh a highly active catalyst for methanol and ethylene glycol oxidation reactions. Impressively, the strong interaction between the PdAg shell and SnO2 core stabilizes the metal-oxide heterointerface, contributing to the improved stability of SnO2@PdAgh in electrocatalytic reactions. This study proposes the use of non-noble metal oxides as the core to suppress the dissolution of the catalysts and highlights the rational design of core@shell nanoarchitectures.

Network pharmacology and molecular docking-based investigation of monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor attenuates traumatic brain injury by regulating aquaporin 4 expression.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant cause of disability and mortality worldwide, and effective treatment options are currently limited. Monocyte locomotion inhibitor factor (MLIF), a small molecular pentapeptide, has demonstrated a protective effect against cerebral ischemia. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of MLIF on TBI and explore its underlying mechanism of action. In animal experiments, we observed that administration of MLIF after TBI reduced brain water content and improved brain edema, suggesting a certain degree of protection against TBI. By utilizing network pharmacology methodologies, we employed target screening techniques to identify the potential targets of MLIF in the context of TBI. As a result, we successfully enriched ten signaling pathways that are closely associated with TBI. Furthermore, using molecular docking techniques, we identified AQP4 as one of the top ten central genes discovered in this study. Eventually, our study demonstrated that MLIF exhibits anti-apoptotic properties and suppresses the expression of AQP4 protein, thus playing a protective role in traumatic brain injury. This conclusion was supported by TUNEL staining and the evaluation of Bcl-2, Bax, and AQP4 protein levels. These discoveries enhance our comprehension of the mechanisms by which MLIF exerts its protective effects and highlight its potential as a promising therapeutic intervention for TBI treatment.

Study on the mechanism of Panax notoginseng-Salvia miltiorrhiza herb pair on invigorating blood circulation and eliminating blood stasis by blocking the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin.

We combined untargeted and targeted metabolomics to explore the mechanism of blood circulation and blood stasis activation in the traditional Chinese herb pair Panax notoginseng-Salvia miltiorrhiza (PS). In this study, the right hind limb of SD rats was struck by a 1 kg weight, causing traumatic blood stasis (TBS) model, then the rats were gavaged with PS (at ratios of 1:0, 0:1, 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3) for 5 consecutive days. At the end of treatment, blood samples were collected for blood rheology and metabolomics analysis, and muscle tissues of injured limbs were used for HE staining and q-PCR analysis. The results showed that different ratios of PS reduced swelling and improved stasis and blood viscosity in the injured limbs of rats, and intervened in metabolism by modulating 11, 11, 17, 15, and 13 differential metabolites, respectively. The PS (3:1) shows the best treatment effect and the most differential metabolites regression. Targeted metabolomics shows that PS (3:1) can increase the content of AA, and reduce the content of PGF2-α by down-regulating the expression of enzymes Ptgs1 and Cbrl12 and up-regulating the expression of enzyme Hpgd. These results suggested that the PS herb pair exerts its blood stasis activating effects by blocking the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins.

I-C-F-6 attenuates chronic cerebral hypoperfusion-induced neurological injury in mice by modulating microglia polarization.

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) is the leading cause of chronic cerebral dysfunction syndrome with its complex pathological mechanisms involving cortical and hippocampal neuronal loss, white matter lesions, and neuroinflammation. I-C-F-6 is a septapeptide, which has anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of I-C-F-6 in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH)-induced neurological injury. C57BL/6 J mice were subjected to bilateral common carotid artery stenosis (BCAS), and BV2 microglia cells were induced with oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). In vivo, mice were divided randomly into four groups: Sham, BCAS, GBE (30 mg/kg), and I-C-F-6 (0.5 mg/kg). In vitro, microglia were divided randomly into four groups: control, OGD, I-C-F-6 (25 µg/mL), and Shikonin (800 nmol/L). Through LFB, TUNEL, and NeuN staining, we found that I-C-F-6 was able to mitigate myelin pathology and reduce the number of apoptotic neurons. Furthermore, immunofluorescence staining revealed that I-C-F-6 was able to reduce microglia clustering and downregulate NF-κB p65. We also observed a significant downregulation of M1 phenotype microglia signature genes, such as TNF-α, iNOS, and upregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as Arg-1 and IL-10, indicating that I-C-F-6 may mainly reduce polarization towards the M1 phenotype in microglia. Notably, I-C-F-6 downregulated the expression of NF-κB signaling pathway-related proteins IKK-ß and NF-κB p65, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß and iNOS. In conclusion, I-C-F-6 can improve neurological damage, alleviate neuroinflammation, and inhibit microglia polarization to the M1 phenotype via the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Activable Ru-PdRu nanosheets with heterogeneous interface for High-efficiency alcohol oxidation reaction.

Fabricating 2D nanomaterials with heterogeneous structure is a feasible way to improve catalytic performance owing to its large surface area and tunable electron structure. However, such a category has not been widely reported in the field of alcohol oxidation reaction (AOR). In this work, we reported a new type of heterostructure nanosheet with Ru nanoparticles decorated around the edge of PdRu nanosheets (Ru-PdRu HNSs). Particularly, strong electronic interaction and sufficient active sites attributed to the construction of heterogeneous interface, is the key to the superior electrocatalytic behavior of Ru-PdRu HNSs towards methanol oxidation reaction (MOR), ethylene glycol oxidation reaction (EGOR), and glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR). Remarkably, owing to the enhanced electron transfer brought by the introduction of the Ru-PdRu heterogeneous interface, these novel nanosheets are highly durable. Apart from being able to maintain the highest current density after 4000 s chronoamperometry test, Ru-PdRu HNSs can be reactivated with negligible activity loss in MOR and GOR test after four consecutive i-t experiments. Impressively, in the EGOR test, after reactivation, the current density is step-wisely increased, making it one of the best AOR electrocatalysts.

Cyclo (MQCNS) has the potential to treat ischemic stroke.

We previously found that monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor has a neuroprotective effect on ischemic brain injury during the acute phase of stroke. Therefore, we modified the structure of an anti-inflammatory monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor peptide to construct an active cyclic peptide-Cyclo (MQCNS) (LZ-3)-and investigated its effects on ischemic stroke. In this study, we established a rat model of ischemic stroke by occluding the middle cerebral artery and then administered LZ-3 (2 or 4 mg/kg) via the tail vein for 7 consecutive days. Our results showed that LZ-3 (2 or 4 mg/kg) substantially decreased infarct volume, reduced cortical nerve cell death, improved neurological function, reduced cortical and hippocampal injury, and decreased the levels of inflammatory factors in the blood and brain tissues. In a well-differentiated, oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation-induced BV2 cell model of post-stroke, LZ-3 (100 µM) inhibited the JAK1-STAT6 signaling pathway. LZ-3 regulated microglia/macrophage polarization from the M1 to the M2 type and inhibited microglia/macrophage phagocytosis and migration via the JAK1/STAT6 signaling pathway. To conclude, LZ-3 regulates microglial activation by inhibiting the JAK1/STAT6 signaling pathway and improves functional recovery post-stroke.

A pentapeptide monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor protects brain ischemia injury by targeting the eEF1A1/endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Ischemic stroke is a major cause of death worldwide but lacks viable treatment or treatment targets. Monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor (MLIF) is a small heat-stable pentapeptide produced by Entamoeba histolytica in axenic culture, which is supposed to protect the brain from ischemic injury; the mechanism, however, remains unknown. In this study, we further investigated the mechanism underlying the protective role of MLIF in brain ischemia. METHODS: A middle cerebral artery occlusion model in rats was used for detecting the effect of MLIF in the brain ischemia in vivo. To identify targets of MLIF in brain endothelial cells, we performed immunoprecipitation of biotin-conjugated MLIF and mass spectrometry. RESULTS: MLIF can protect the brain from ischemic injury in vivo, yielding decreased ischemic volume, prolonged survival, and improved neurological outcome. In vitro studies showed that MLIF displayed protective effects through inhibition of expression of pathological inflammatory adhesion molecules and enhancing endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression and nitric oxide release in the cerebrovascular endothelium. The target screening experiments demonstrated binding of MLIF to the ribosomal protein translation elongation factor eEF1A1. MLIF enhanced endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression through stabilization of endothelial nitric oxide synthase mRNA, and eEF1A1 was shown to be necessary for this enhanced expression. Knockdown of eEF1A1 or inhibition of endothelial nitric oxide synthase attenuated MLIF-mediated inhibition of adhesion molecule expression. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we identified a new potential pharmacologically targetable mechanism underlying MLIF's protective effects in brain ischemia through the eEF1A1/endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway.

Comparative proteomics analysis of serum proteins in ulcerative colitis patients.

In the present study, we investigated the differentially expressed proteins associated with ulcerative colitis (UC) using proteomic methods. Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) technology was performed to separate the total proteins of ulcerative tissues from those of the normal tissues of UC patients. PDQuest software was applied to analyze the obtained 2-DE images. Candidate protein spots between the two groups were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and bioinformatics analysis. The well resolution and reproducible 2-DE patterns of UC and normal tissues were established. Of the 12 differentially expressed proteins, 9 were successfully identified, of which 6 proteins were up-regulated including apolipoprotein C-III, haptoglobin, receptor tyrosine kinase, aldehyde reductase, pericentriolar material 1, and heat shock factor protein 2, and 3 were down-regulated including keratin, filamin A-interacting protein 1, and tropomyosin 3. These identified proteins were related to hormonal modulation, immune response, oxidative stress, and signal conduction. The 2-DE protein expression profile of the UC tissues displays an obvious difference from that of the normal controls. Various proteins may be involved in the occurrence of UC.

XMU-MP-1 protects heart from ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice through modulating Mst1/AMPK pathway.

Up to now, there are few therapeutic approaches available to protect heart from ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The present work was designed to examine the protection of XMU-MP-1, an inhibitor of mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 (Mst1), against myocardial I/R injury in mice and investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms. The wild-type and Mst1 (-/-) mice were exposed to I/R injury and treated with XMU-MP-1 immediately after reperfusion. Treatment with XMU-MP-1 reduced infarct size, attenuated apoptosis and necrosis, and preserved cardiac function of I/R mice. XMU-MP-1 mitigated mitochondrial dysfunction in myocardium of I/R mice. In addition, XMU-MP-1 stimulated M2 macrophage polarization and suppressed inflammation in myocardium of I/R mice. Mst1 deficiency had similar benefits on myocardial I/R injury and XMU-MP-1 treatment did not provide further protection against I/R injury in Mst1 (-/-) mice. Both treatment with XMU-MP-1 and Mst1 deficiency promoted the activation of AMPKα in myocardium of I/R mice. More importantly, administration of Compound C (a specific AMPK signaling blocker) blunted the protective effects of XMU-MP-1 on myocardial I/R injury. Collectively, reperfusion therapy with XMU-MP-1 mitigated myocardial I/R injury and preserved myocardial function in mice through modulating Mst1/AMPK pathway.

Cytosolic DNA‒Mediated STING-Dependent Inflammation Contributes to the Progression of Psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by an active dynamic interplay between immune cells and keratinocytes (KCs). STING is a universal receptor that recognizes cytosolic DNA and triggers innate immune activation. This study aims to elucidate the role of STING in the inflammation in psoriasis. STING deficiency alleviated psoriatic symptoms and inflammation in mouse models of psoriasis. Stimulation of macrophages with double-stranded DNA induced STING-dependent release of TNF-α and hydrogen peroxide in vitro. Furthermore, incubation of KCs with TNF-α or hydrogen peroxide increased oxidative DNA damage, induced nuclear DNA release into the cytosol, and inhibited double-stranded DNA‒induced degradation of STING protein. More importantly, transfection of KCs with double-stranded DNA synergized with TNF-α or hydrogen peroxide to induce STING-dependent activation of NF-κB and subsequent expression of Il1b, Ccl20, and Cxcl10. Finally, exposure to 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (a STING agonist) aggravated psoriatic symptoms and inflammation in wild-type mice but not in STING-deficient mice. Collectively, STING functioned as a self-DNA sensor in macrophages and KCs of psoriatic skin. Cytosolic DNA-induced activation of STING in immune cells and KCs acted synergistically and contributed to the inflammation in psoriasis.

Network pharmacology and molecular docking-based analysis of protective mechanism of MLIF in ischemic stroke.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the potential mechanism by which Monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor (MLIF) improves the outcome of ischemic stroke (IS) inflammatory injury. Methods: Potential MLIF-related targets were predicted using Swiss TargetPrediction and PharmMapper, while IS-related targets were found from GeneCards, PharmGKB, and Therapeutic Target Database (TTD). After obtaining the intersection from these two datasets, the Search Tool for Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Protein (STRING11.0) database was used to analyze the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the intersection and candidate genes for MLIF treatment of IS. The candidate genes were imported into the Metascape database for Gene Ontology (GO) functional analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment. The top 20 core genes and the "MLIF-target-pathway" network were mapped using the Cytoscape3.9.1. Using AutoDock Vina1.1.2, the molecular docking validation of the hub targets and MLIF was carried out. In the experimental part, transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) and oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) models were used to evaluate the protective efficacy of MLIF and the expression of inflammatory cytokines and the putative targets. Results: MLIF was expected to have an effect on 370 targets. When these targets were intersected with 1,289 targets for ischemic stroke, 119 candidate therapeutic targets were found. The key enriched pathways were PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway, etc. The GO analysis yielded 1,677 GO entries (P < 0.01), such as hormone stimulation, inflammatory response, etc. The top 20 core genes included AKT1, EGFR, IGF1, MAPK1, MAPK10, MAPK14, etc. The result of molecular docking demonstrated that MLIF had the strong binding capability to JNK (MAPK10). The in vitro and in vivo studies also confirmed that MLIF protected against IS by lowering JNK (MAPK10) and AP-1 levels and decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6). Conclusion: MLIF may exert a cerebral protective effect by inhibiting the inflammatory response through suppressing the JNK/AP-1 signaling pathway.

NDRG2 induced by oxidized LDL in macrophages antagonizes growth factor productions via selectively inhibiting ERK activation.

During atherogenesis, macrophage foam cells produce prodigious growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines, which play the central roles in inflammatory process in atherosclerotic plaque formation. In the present study, we identified a new protein marker, N-Myc downstream-regulated protein 2 (NDRG2), which is significantly up-regulated in oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) treated macrophages and in human atherosclerotic plaques. Over-expression and siRNA knockdown studies showed that NDRG2 is a negative regulator of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) productions in macrophages. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of NDRG2 on MAPK signal activation. Our results showed ERK1/2 activation, but not P38 or JNK1/2 activation, is responsible for regulation of NDRG2 on VEGF and PDGF productions. Consistent with the PDGF levels, the vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation was also regulated by the conditional medium of the oxLDL treated macrophages with NDRG2 knockdown or over-expression. Neutralizing anti-PDGF antibody can significantly inhibit the enhanced VSMC proliferation by macrophage medium with NDRG2 knockdown. Our present results demonstrate that NDRG2 participates in oxLDL-induced macrophage activation and modulates ERK1/2-dependent PDGF and VEGF production, which has potential application in atherogenesis.

Tanshinone IIA Protects Against Cerebral Ischemia Reperfusion Injury by Regulating Microglial Activation and Polarization via NF-κB Pathway.

Tanshinone IIA, a fat-soluble diterpenoid isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, has been shown to attenuate the cerebral ischemic injury. The aim of this study was to examine the effects on neuroprotection and microglia activation of Tanshinone IIA. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). We found that Tanshinone IIA significantly reduced infarction volume, alleviated neuronal injuries, reduced the release of TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6, increased SOD activity, and decrease the content of MDA in MCAO rats. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, Nissl staining, TUNEL staining and immunofluorescence staining showed that Tanshinone IIA improved the distribution and morphology of neurons in brain tissues and reduced apoptosis. In addition, Co-immunofluorescence staining of rat brain tissues and the mRNA expression levels of CD11b, CD32, iNOS, and Arg-1, CD206, IL-10 in BV2 cells indicated that Tanshinone IIA can downregulate M1 microglia and upregulate M2 microglia in MCAO rats. Further, BV2 microglial cells were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation, the protein expression levels were detected by western blot. Tanshinone IIA inhibited the expression levels of NF-κB signaling pathway related proteins. Taken together, this study suggested that Tanshinone IIA modulated microglial M1/M2 polarization via the NF-κB signaling pathway to confer anti-neuroinflammatory effects.

[Determination Method and Characteristics of Particle Size Multiplier of PM2.5 in Road Dust].

The particle size multiplier is a valuable parameter for depicting the particle size distribution characteristics of road dust and calculating road dust emissions. In order to realize the localization of the particle size multiplier, the AP-42 and TRAKER methods were used for sampling on typical and different types of roads in Baoding in March 2019. Then, the particle size multiplier of road dust PM2.5 (K2.5) was calculated using the correction formula, and the characteristics were analyzed. The results indicated:① The K2.5 obtained separately by AP-42 and TRAKER were 0.21 g·VKT-1 and 0.23 g·VKT-1 on average, which correlated well, with a high correlation coefficient of 0.6. The PM2.5 emission factors calculated using the K2.5 of the different methods were almost at the same value, indicating that TRAKER method based on a laser sensor could measure and calculate the K2.5 and could be directly used to obtain the particle size multiplier or be converted using the fitting equation. ② The characteristics of the K2.5 in Baoding were ranked as:Expressway

Anti-Inflammatory Dipeptide, a Metabolite from Ambioba Secretion, Protects Cerebral Ischemia Injury by Blocking Apoptosis Via p-JNK/Bax Pathway.

MQ (l-methionyl-l-glutamic acid), anti-inflammatory dipeptide, is one of the metabolites of monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor, a thermostable pentapeptide secreted by Entamoeba histolytica. Monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor injection has been approved as an investigational drug for the potential neural protection in acute ischemic stroke. This study further investigated the neuroprotective effect of MQ in ischemic brain damage. Ischemia-reperfusion injury of the brain was induced in the rat model by middle cerebral artery occlusion. 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining assay was used to measure cerebral infarction areas in rats. Laser Doppler measurement instrument was used to detect blood flow changes in the rat model. Nissl staining and NeuN staining were utilized to observe the numbers and structures of neuron cells, and the pathological changes in the brain tissues were examined by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining was used to assess cell apoptosis. The changes in oxidative stress indexes, superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde (MDA), were measured in serum. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium was used to measure the survival rates of PC12 cells. Flow cytometry assessed the apoptosis rates and the levels of reactive oxygen species. Real-time PCR was used to evaluate the mRNA expression levels, and Western blotting was used to analyze the changes in protein levels of p-JNK, Bax, cleaved Caspase3. We revealed that MQ improved neurobehavior, decreased cerebral infarction areas, altered blood flow volume, and the morphology of the cortex and hippocampus. On the other hand, it decreased the apoptosis of cortical neurons and the levels of MDA, and increased the levels of superoxide dismutase. In vitro studies demonstrated that MQ enhanced the cell survival rates and decreased the levels of reactive oxygen species. Compared to the oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion group, the protein and mRNA expressions of p-JNK, Bax, cleaved Caspase3 was decreased significantly. These findings suggested that MQ exerts a neuroprotective effect in cerebral ischemia by blocking apoptosis via the p-JNK/Bax pathway.

Preparation, Structural Features and in vitro Immunostimulatory Activity of a Glucomannan From Fresh Dendrobium catenatum Stems.

Dendrobium catenatum polysaccharides (DCPs) have attracted attention due to their multiple physiological activities and health benefits. In this study, a novel water-soluble DCP was obtained from fresh D. catenatum stems through three-phase partitioning and ethanol precipitation at room temperature. Its structural characteristics, rheological property, and in vitro immunostimulatory activity were evaluated. Results demonstrated that DCP was a homogenous polysaccharide with a carbohydrate content of 92.75% and a weight-average molecular weight of 2.21 × 105 Da. This polysaccharide is an O-acetylated glucomannan comprised by glucose, mannose, and galacturonic acid in a molar ratio of 30.2:69.5:0.3 and mainly comprises (1→4)-ß-D-mannopyranosyl (Manp), 2-O-acetyl-(1→4)-ß-D-Manp, (1→6)-α-D-glucopyranosyl (Glcp), and (1→4)-α-D-Glcp residues. DCP exhibits an extended rigid chain in an aqueous solution and favorable steady shear fluid and dynamic viscoelastic behaviors. In vitro immunostimulating assays indicated that DCP activates RAW264.7 cells, thus markedly promoting macrophage proliferation and phagocytosis and increasing the levels of nitric oxide, interferon-γ, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1ß. Moreover, the presence of O-acetyl group and high M w in DCP might be responsible for its potent immunostimulatory activity in vitro. Therefore, our data suggested that DCP could be developed as a promising immunostimulant in functional food and pharmaceutical industries.

Teniposide-intensified hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with acute graft versus host disease prophylaxis with anti-thymocyte globulin provides good results in high-risk or refractory recurrent hematopoietic malignant diseases.

BACKGROUND: Teniposide, as a more potent inhibitor of topoisomerase II compared with etoposide, shows less damage on hematopoietic stem cells. Few data are available on teniposide in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for high-risk or refractory recurrent hematopoietic malignant diseases, particularly for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: A retrospective single arm study was conducted to confirm the feasibility of teniposide (300 mg/m2) -intensified HSCT in the treatment of high-risk or refractory recurrent hematopoietic malignant disease by analysing the outcomes of 32 patients, who received transplantation between January 2016 and December 2018. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate prognostic factors of the endpoints. Statistically significant factors (P<0.05) in multivariate analyses were regarded to be predictive. RESULTS: All patients achieved myeloid engraftment at a median of 13 days (range, 9-28 days), platelet engraftment at 15.5 days (range, 6-142 days), with a cumulative incidence (CI) of platelet engraftment of 93.75%±0.26%. The CI of grade II-IV acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) was 43.75%±0.80% and that of grade III-IV aGVHD 12.50%±0.35%. The CI of chronic (c)GVHD was 74.07%±0.82% and that of extensive cGVHD 33.33%±0.87%. The CI of relapse was 35.03%±0.76%. The one-year probability of overall survival (OS) was 62.50%±0.09%, while 2-year OS was 46.90%±0.09%, and those of 1- and 2-year leukemia-free-survival (LFS) were 56.30%±0.09% and 46.90%±0.09%, respectively. Generally, the OS and LFS until the end of our follow up were 43.50%±0.09% and 34.80%±0.11%, respectively. The probability of GVHD-free and relapse-free survival (GRFS) was 24.60%±0.08%. Multivariate analysis indicated that the probability of OS was significantly lower in patients with a disease duration of more than 280 days before receiving HSCT and in those with fewer mononuclear cells. For LFS, other than the above two factors, failure to achieve complete response (CR) before HSCT was another independent risk factor. Similarly, the probability of GRFS was significantly lower in patients with longer disease duration (≥280 days) and those receiving stem cells from female donors. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with high-risk or refractory recurrent hematopoietic malignant disease, teniposide-based conditioning regimens followed by allo-HSCT can be considered as an alternative therapy with encouraging prognoses.

MLIF Modulates Microglia Polarization in Ischemic Stroke by Targeting eEF1A1.

Monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor (MLIF) is a heat-stable pentapeptide from Entamoeba histolytica. Our previous study found that MLIF protects against ischemic stroke in rats and mice and exerts a neuroprotection effect in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Microglia/macrophage polarization has been proven to be vital in the pathology of ischemic stroke. Nevertheless, whether MLIF is able to modulate microglia/macrophage polarization remains unclear. We performed middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) on C57BL/6J male mice and induced cultured BV2 microglia by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), respectively. Immunfluorescence was utilized to detect the M1/2 markers, such as CD206 and CD16/32. qPCR and ELISA were used to detect the signature gene change of M1/2. The MAPK and NF-κB pathway associated proteins were measured by Western blot. To identify the protein target of MLIF, a pull-down assay was performed. We found that MLIF promoted microglia transferring from a "sick" M1 phenotype to a "healthy" M2 phenotype in vivo or in vitro. Furthermore, we proved that eukaryotic elongation factor 1A1 (eEF1A1) was involved in the modulation of microglia/macrophage polarization. Knocking down eEF1A1 by siRNA exhibited the M1 promotion effect and M2 inhibition effect. Taken together, our results demonstrated MLIF modulated microglia/macrophage polarization by targeting eEF1A1 in ischemic stroke.