Nestin promotes pulmonary fibrosis via facilitating recycling of TGF-ß receptor I.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrotic lung disease that is characterised by aberrant proliferation of activated myofibroblasts and pathological remodelling of the extracellular matrix. Previous studies have revealed that the intermediate filament protein nestin plays key roles in tissue regeneration and wound healing in different organs. Whether nestin plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of IPF needs to be clarified. METHODS: Nestin expression in lung tissues from bleomycin-treated mice and IPF patients was determined. Transfection with nestin short hairpin RNA vectors in vitro that regulated transcription growth factor (TGF)-ß/Smad signalling was conducted. Biotinylation assays to observe plasma membrane TßRI, TßRI endocytosis and TßRI recycling after nestin knockdown were performed. Adeno-associated virus serotype (AAV)6-mediated nestin knockdown was assessed in vivo. RESULTS: We found that nestin expression was increased in a murine pulmonary fibrosis model and IPF patients, and that the upregulated protein primarily localised in lung α-smooth muscle actin-positive myofibroblasts. Mechanistically, we determined that nestin knockdown inhibited TGF-ß signalling by suppressing recycling of TßRI to the cell surface and that Rab11 was required for the ability of nestin to promote TßRI recycling. In vivo, we found that intratracheal administration of AAV6-mediated nestin knockdown significantly alleviated pulmonary fibrosis in multiple experimental mice models. CONCLUSION: Our findings reveal a pro-fibrotic function of nestin partially through facilitating Rab11-dependent recycling of TßRI and shed new light on pulmonary fibrosis treatment.

Mitochondrial apolipoprotein A-I binding protein alleviates atherosclerosis by regulating mitophagy and macrophage polarization.

Apolipoprotein A-I binding protein (AIBP), a secreted protein, has been shown to play a pivotal role in the development of atherosclerosis. The function of intracellular AIBP, however, is not yet well characterized. Here, we found that AIBP is abundantly expressed within human and mouse atherosclerotic lesions and exhibits a distinct localization in the inner membrane of mitochondria in macrophages. Bone marrow-specific AIBP deficiency promotes the progression of atherosclerosis and increases macrophage infiltration and inflammation in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (LDLR-/-) mice. Specifically, the lack of mitochondrial AIBP leads to mitochondrial metabolic disorders, thereby reducing the formation of mitophagy by promoting the cleavage of PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1). With the reduction in mitochondrial autophagy, macrophages polarize to the M1 proinflammatory phenotype, which further promotes the development of atherosclerosis. Based on these results, mitochondrial AIBP in macrophages performs an antiatherosclerotic role by regulating of PINK1-dependent mitophagy and M1/M2 polarization. Video Abstract.

The impact of awareness and attitudes towards long-action reversible contraceptives on the intention to use: a survey among youth with unintended pregnancies.

PURPOSE: To understand the associations between awareness, attitudes, and intentions to use long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) among youth seeking induced abortion services in Shanghai, China. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 1,215 nulliparous youth with unintented pregnancies in 41 hospitals of Shanghai, China, through a stratified sampling process between January and May 2019. Multivariable logistic regression was used to test the associations between awareness, attitudes and intentions to use LARCs. RESULTS: Around 70% of youth had heard of at least one method of LARCs. About 38% of youth perceived that the copper-bearing intrauterine contraceptive device (Cu-IUD) was safe; the rate was 8% and 7%, respectively, for levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) and subdermal implants. Less than 40% of youth thought Cu-IUD was effective in contraception, and it was around 6% for LNG-IUS and subdermal implants. Overall, less than 8% of youth expressed intentions to use LARCs. Positive attitudes towards LARCs were highly associated with the intentions to use LARCs [adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) 3.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.96-5.42, p < 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Low awareness and negative attitudes towards LARCs were found in this study, and the negative attitudes towards LARCs could contribute to low intentions to use LARCs among youth who had already experienced unintended pregnancies.

Perivascular adipose tissue dysfunction aggravates adventitial remodeling in obese mini pigs via NLRP3 inflammasome/IL-1 signaling pathway.

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT), a special type of adipose tissue, closely surrounds vascular adventitia and produces numerous bioactive substances to maintain vascular homeostasis. PVAT dysfunction has a crucial role in regulating vascular remodeling, but the exact mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated whether and how obesity-induced PVAT dysfunction affected adventitia remodeling in early vascular injury stages. Mini pigs were fed a high sugar and fat diet for 6 months to induce metabolic syndrome and obesity. In the mini pigs, left carotid vascular injury was then generated using balloon dilation. Compared with normal mini pigs, obese mini pigs displayed significantly enhanced vascular injury-induced adventitial responses, evidenced by adventitia fibroblast (AF) proliferation and differentiation, and adventitia fibrosis, as well as exacerbated PVAT dysfunction characterized by increased accumulation of resident macrophages, particularly the M1 pro-inflammatory phenotype, increased expression of leptin and decreased expression of adiponectin, and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-18. Primary AFs cultured in PVAT-conditioned medium from obese mini pigs also showed significantly increased proliferation and differentiation. We further revealed that activated nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and its downstream products, i.e., IL-1 family members such as IL-1ß and IL-18 were upregulated in the PVAT of obese mini pigs; PVAT dysfunction was also demonstrated in preadipocytes treated with palmitic acid. Finally, we showed that pretreatment with IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) antagonist or IL-1R knockdown blocked AF proliferation and differentiation in AFs cultured in PVAT-conditioned medium. These results demonstrate that obesity-induced PVAT dysfunction aggravates adventitial remodeling after early vascular injury with elevated AF proliferation and differentiation via activating the NLRP3/IL-1 signaling pathway.

Use of Genome-Scale Integrated Analysis to Identify Key Genes and Potential Molecular Mechanisms in Recurrence of Lower-Grade Brain Glioma.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to identify gene signals for lower-grade glioma (LGG) and to assess their potential as recurrence biomarkers. MATERIAL AND METHODS An LGG-related mRNA sequencing dataset was downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Informix. Multiple bioinformatics analysis methods were used to identify key genes and potential molecular mechanisms in recurrence of LGG. RESULTS A total of 326 differentially-expressed genes (DEGs), were identified from 511 primary LGG tumor and 18 recurrent samples. Gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that the DEGs were implicated in cell differentiation, neuron differentiation, negative regulation of neuron differentiation, and cell proliferation in the forebrain. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database suggests that DEGs are associated with proteoglycans in cancer, the Wnt signaling pathway, ECM-receptor interaction, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, transcriptional deregulation in cancer, and the Hippo signaling pathway. The hub DEGs in the protein-protein interaction network are apolipoprotein A2 (APOA2), collagen type III alpha 1 chain (COL3A1), collagen type I alpha 1 chain (COL1A1), tyrosinase (TYR), collagen type I alpha 2 chain (COL1A2), neurotensin (NTS), collagen type V alpha 1 chain (COL5A1), poly(A) polymerase beta (PAPOLB), insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1), and anomalous homeobox (ANHX). GSEA revealed that the following biological processes may associated with LGG recurrence: cell cycle, DNA replication and repair, regulation of apoptosis, neuronal differentiation, and Wnt signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated that hub DEGs may assist in the molecular understanding of LGG recurrence. These findings still need further molecular studies to identify the assignment of DEGs in LGG.

Micro-environment and intracellular metabolism modulation of adipose tissue macrophage polarization in relation to chronic inflammatory diseases.

The accumulation and pro-inflammatory polarization of immune cells, mainly macrophages, in adipose tissue (AT) are considered crucial factors for obesity-induced chronic inflammatory diseases. In this review, we highlighted the role of adipose tissue macrophage (ATM) polarization on AT function in the obese state and the effect of the micro-environment and intracellular metabolism on the dynamic switch of ATMs into their pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory phenotypes, which may have distinct influences on obesity-related chronic inflammatory diseases. Obesity-associated metabolic dysfunctions, including those of glucose, fatty acid, cholesterol, and other nutrient substrates such as vitamin D and iron in AT, promote the pro-inflammatory polarization of ATMs and AT inflammation via regulating the interaction between ATMs and adipocytes and intracellular metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, fatty acid oxidation, and reverse cholesterol transportation. Focusing on the regulation of ATM metabolism will provide a novel target for the treatment of obesity-related chronic inflammatory diseases, including insulin resistance, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers.

Apolipoprotein A1 Inhibits the TGF-ß1-Induced Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition of Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells.

OBJECTIVE: Transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1) is the major cytokine for stimulating endothelial cells (ECs) to transdifferentiate to mesenchymal cells (MCs) in the process known as endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). Recently, TGF-ß1-induced EndMT has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis (AS). It has been identified that apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA-I) obstructs TGF-ß1-induced endothelial dysfunction, providing a protective effect for ECs and also anti-AS activity. However, the exact role of ApoA-I in TGF-ß1-induced EndMT is not clear. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether ApoA-I can modulate TGF-ß1-induced EndMT in human coronary artery ECs (HCAECs). METHODS AND RESULTS: The HCAECs were treated with TGF-ß1 with or without ApoA-I. Morphological changes in HCAECs and the expression of EndMT-related markers were evaluated. HCAECs treated with TGF-ß1 were found to transform to MC morphology, with inconspicuous expression of EC markers such as vascular endothelial cadherin and CD31, and conspicuous expression of fibroblast-specific protein 1 (FSP-1) and α-smooth muscle actin. The treatment of HCAECs with ApoA-I inhibited the TGF-ß1-induced EndMT, and elevated expression of EC markers was observed but reduced expression of MC markers. Moreover, ApoA-I impeded the expression level of Slug and Snail, crucial transcriptional factors of EndMT, and it inhibited the TGF-ß1-induced phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3 which affected the EC morphology. In addition, the knockdown of ABCA1 by RNA interference eliminated the inhibition effect of ApoA-I on TGF-ß1-induced EndMT. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed a novel mechanism for the ApoA-I protective effect on endothelium function via the inhibition of TGF-ß1-induced EndMT. This might provide new insights for developing strategies for modulating AS and vascular remodeling.

PDGF signalling controls age-dependent proliferation in pancreatic ß-cells.

Determining the signalling pathways that direct tissue expansion is a principal goal of regenerative biology. Vigorous pancreatic ß-cell replication in juvenile mice and humans declines with age, and elucidating the basis for this decay may reveal strategies for inducing ß-cell expansion, a long-sought goal for diabetes therapy. Here we show that platelet-derived growth factor receptor (Pdgfr) signalling controls age-dependent ß-cell proliferation in mouse and human pancreatic islets. With age, declining ß-cell Pdgfr levels were accompanied by reductions in ß-cell enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (Ezh2) levels and ß-cell replication. Conditional inactivation of the Pdgfra gene in ß-cells accelerated these changes, preventing mouse neonatal ß-cell expansion and adult ß-cell regeneration. Targeted human PDGFR-α activation in mouse ß-cells stimulated Erk1/2 phosphorylation, leading to Ezh2-dependent expansion of adult ß-cells. Adult human islets lack PDGF signalling competence, but exposure of juvenile human islets to PDGF-AA stimulated ß-cell proliferation. The discovery of a conserved pathway controlling age-dependent ß-cell proliferation indicates new strategies for ß-cell expansion.

Polycomb protein Ezh2 regulates pancreatic beta-cell Ink4a/Arf expression and regeneration in diabetes mellitus.

Proliferation of pancreatic islet beta cells is an important mechanism for self-renewal and for adaptive islet expansion. Increased expression of the Ink4a/Arf locus, which encodes the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p16(INK4a) and tumor suppressor p19(Arf), limits beta-cell regeneration in aging mice, but the basis of beta-cell Ink4a/Arf regulation is poorly understood. Here we show that Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (Ezh2), a histone methyltransferase and component of a Polycomb group (PcG) protein complex, represses Ink4a/Arf in islet beta cells. Ezh2 levels decline in aging islet beta cells, and this attrition coincides with reduced histone H3 trimethylation at Ink4a/Arf, and increased levels of p16(INK4a) and p19(Arf). Conditional deletion of beta-cell Ezh2 in juvenile mice also reduced H3 trimethylation at the Ink4a/Arf locus, leading to precocious increases of p16(INK4a) and p19(Arf). These mutant mice had reduced beta-cell proliferation and mass, hypoinsulinemia, and mild diabetes, phenotypes rescued by germline deletion of Ink4a/Arf. beta-Cell destruction with streptozotocin in controls led to increased Ezh2 expression that accompanied adaptive beta-cell proliferation and re-establishment of beta-cell mass; in contrast, mutant mice treated similarly failed to regenerate beta cells, resulting in lethal diabetes. Our discovery of Ezh2-dependent beta-cell proliferation revealed unique epigenetic mechanisms underlying normal beta-cell expansion and beta-cell regenerative failure in diabetes pathogenesis.

Fall of PARP3 restrains Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells proliferation and mucosal renovation in intestinal aging.

The regeneration ability of intestinal epithelium is degenerated in aging. The determining factor is leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5-positive intestinal stem cells (Lgr5+ ISCs). Lgr5-EGFP (enhanced green fluorescence protein) knock-in in transgenic mice at three different ages (young group: 3-6 months; middle group: 12-14 months; old group: 22-24 months) were used to examined Lgr5+ ISCs at three different timepoints. The jejunum samples were collected for histology, immunofluorescence analysis, western blotting and PCR. In tissue, crypt depth, proliferating cells and Lgr5+ ISC numbers were increased in the middle group (12-14 months) and decreased in the old group (22-24 months). The number of proliferating Lgr5+ ISCs gradually decreased as the mice aged. In organoids, the budding number, projected area, and Lgr5+ ISC ratio decreased as the mice aged. The gene expression of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 3 (Parp3) and the protein expression of PARP3 were increased in the middle- and old-aged groups. PARP3 inhibitors slowed organoid growth in the middle group. In conclusion, PARP3 is upregulated in aging, and the inhibition of PARP3 reduces the proliferation of aging Lgr5+ ISCs.

Screening and Identification of Key Biomarkers in Lower Grade Glioma via Bioinformatical Analysis.

Lower-grade glioma (LGG) is a common type of central nervous system tumor. Due to its complicated pathogenesis, the choice and timing of adjuvant therapy after tumor treatment are controversial. This study explored and identified potential therapeutic targets for lower-grade. The bioinformatics method was employed to identify potential biomarkers and LGG molecular mechanisms. Firstly, we selected and downloaded GSE15824, GSE50161, and GSE86574 from the GEO database, which included 40 LGG tissue and 28 normal brain tissue samples. GEO and VENN software identified of 206 codifference expressed genes (DEGs). Secondly, we applied the DAVID online software to investigate the DEG biological function and KEGG pathway enrichment, as well as to build the protein interaction visualization network through Cytoscape and STRING website. Then, the MCODE plug is used in the analysis of 22 core genes. Thirdly, the 22 core genes were analyzed with UNCLA software, of which 18 genes were associated with a worse prognosis. Fourthly, GEPIA was used to analyze the 18 selected genes, and 14 genes were found to be a significantly different expression between LGGs and normal brain tumor samples. Fifthly, hierarchical gene clustering was used to examine the 14 important gene expression differences in different histologies, as well as analysis of the KEGG pathway. Five of these genes were shown to be abundant in the natural killer cell-mediated cytokines (NKCC) and phagosome pathways. The five key genes that may be affected by the immune microenvironment play a crucial role in LGG development.

Expression and Prognostic Value of Melanoma-Associated Antigen D2 in Gliomas.

INTRODUCTION: The melanoma-associated antigen D2 (MAGED2) is one of the melanoma-associated antigen family members. It is commonly overexpressed in a variety of malignancies. However, the mechanism and function of MAGED2 in glioma remain unknown. METHODS: The MAGED2 expression level and the correlations between clinical characteristics were analyzed with the data from the CGGA and TCGA datasets. MAGED2 expression in 98 glioma tissues was measured using RT-qPCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. CCK-8, colony formation, and EdU assays were used to assess the effect of MAGED2 on U251-MG cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to track changes in the cell cycle and cell apoptosis following plasmid transfection with CRISPRi. RESULTS: MAGED2 was shown to be highly expressed in glioma tissues, and high MAGED2 expression predicted poor prognosis. Furthermore, MAGED2 knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation of U251-MG cells by preventing cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and triggering apoptosis. In line with in vitro findings, the results of the xenograft experiment and immunohistochemistry also showed that MAGED2 suppression inhibited tumor development and decreased Ki-67 expression levels. CONCLUSIONS: MAGED2 may be a possible biomarker for glioma and an important prognostic factor for glioma patients.

Identification of an m6A RNA Methylation Regulator Risk Score Model for Prediction of Clinical Prognosis in Astrocytoma.

Astrocytoma (AS) is the most ubiquitous primary malignancy of the central nervous system (CNS). The vital involvement of the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification in the growth of multiple human tumors is known. This study entailed probing m6A regulators with AS prognosis to construct a risk prediction model (RS) for potential clinical use. A total of 579 AS patients' (of the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas,CGGA) data and the expression of 12 published m6A-related genes were included in this study. Cox and selection operator (LASSO) regression analyses for independent prognostic factors and multifactor Cox analysis established an R.S. model to predict the AS patient prognosis. This was subject to verification employing 331 samples from the TCGA data set followed by gene ontology and pathway enrichment study with gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The R.S. constructed with three m6A genes inclusive of WTAP, RBM15, and YTHDF2 emerged as independent prognostic factors in AS patients with vital involvement in the advancement and development of the malignancy. In a nutshell, this work reported an m6A-related gene risk model to predict the prognosis of AS patients to pave the way for discerning diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Further corroboration employing relevant wet-lab assays of this model is warranted.

The dual function of microglial polarization and its treatment targets in ischemic stroke.

Stroke is the leading cause of disability and death worldwide, with ischemic stroke occurring in ~5% of the global population every year. Recently, many studies have been conducted on the inflammatory response after stroke. Microglial/macrophage polarization has a dual function and is critical to the pathology of ischemic stroke. Microglial/macrophage activation is important in reducing neuronal apoptosis, enhancing neurogenesis, and promoting functional recovery after ischemic stroke. In this review, we investigate the physiological characteristics and functions of microglia in the brain, the activation and phenotypic polarization of microglia and macrophages after stroke, the signaling mechanisms of polarization states, and the contribution of microglia to brain pathology and repair. We summarize recent advances in stroke-related microglia research, highlighting breakthroughs in therapeutic strategies for microglial responses after stroke, thereby providing new ideas for the treatment of ischemic stroke.

Pharmacokinetic study of a novel stroke therapeutic, 2-[[(1,1-dimethylethyl)oxidoimino]methyl]-3,5,6-trimethylpyrazine, by a simple HPLC-UV method in rats.

2-[[(1,1-dimethylethyl)oxidoimino]methyl]-3,5,6-trimethylpyrazine (TBN), a novel nitrone derivative of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), was found to be a potent candidate compound for ischemic stroke treatment. It is currently in preclinical development as a stroke therapeutic. To study its pharmacokinetic characteristics, a simple and rapid HPLC-UV method was developed and validated to quantitatively determine TBN concentration in rat plasma. A Purospher C(18) column (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) was used for analysis with a mobile phase containing methanol-potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer solution (50 mM, pH 3.0) (45:55, v/v) and UV detection at 295 nm. The pharmacokinetic study was conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats by intravenous (i.v. 40, 80, and 160 mg/kg) and intragastric (i.g. 80 mg/kg) administration. The concentration-time profiles of TBN in plasma fitted a two-compartment model for both administration routes. The elimination half-life (T (1/2) (ß)) of i.v. administration ranged from 134 to 225 min for low, middle and high dosage, and the area under the concentration-time curve from zero to infinity (AUC((0-∞))) ranged from 7,954 to 49,804 µg min/mL. Compared with the parent compound TMP, TBN showed a longer T (1/2) (ß) (TBN 134.52 min, TMP 91.85 min) and a higher AUC((0-∞)) (TBN 22,687.84 µg min/mL, TMP 7,287.98 µg min/mL) after the same dosage of intravenous administration (80 mg/kg). The intragastric administration of TBN had a peak time of 21.65 min, C (max) of 41.71 µg/mL, and k (a) of 0.19 min(-1). And the absolute bioavailability was 36.02%.

Resveratrol ameliorates the glucose uptake and lipid metabolism in gestational diabetes mellitus mice and insulin-resistant adipocytes via miR-23a-3p/NOV axis.

BACKGROUND: Resveratrol improves insulin-resistance (IR) of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) mice. Low-expressed miR-23a-3p in diabetes patients regulates IR of adipocytes. Hence, we speculated the effect of Res on GDM mice was realized through regulating miR-23a-3p. METHODS: The GDM model was established in mice by high-fat diet, treated with miR-23a-3p antagomiR, and further performed with glucose and insulin tolerance tests. The bodyweight, serum glucose and serum insulin, and the expressions of miR-23a-3p and nephroblastoma overexpressed (NOV) in mouse adipose tissues were detected. MiR-23a-3p target was identified by Starbase and dual-luciferase reporter. Then, an IR adipocyte model was established by dexamethasone-inducing and further treated with Resveratrol or transfected with miR-23a-3p inhibitor or siNOV. The cell glucose intake was detected by radioimmunoassay. The expressions of miR-23a-3p, NOV, Adiponectin, Leptin, p-PI3K, PI3K, p-Akt, and Akt in the adipocytes were determined by qPCR or Western blot. RESULTS: Resveratrol decreased bodyweight, glucose level, insulin level, and the expressions of miR-23a-3p and NOV in the GDM mice, which was reversed by miR-23a-3p antagomiR. MiR-23a-3p targeted NOV. Resveratrol increased the glucose intake and the expressions of miR-23a-3p, Adiponectin, Leptin, p-PI3K, and p-Akt, decreased NOV expression in the IR adipocytes. The effect of the miR-23a-3p inhibitor on adipocytes with IR was opposite to Resveratrol, and the effects siNOV was the same as Resveratrol, except for its effect on miR-23a-3p expression. Effect of Res on the adipocytes with IR was counteracted by miR-23a-3p inhibitor whose effect was reversed by siNOV. CONCLUSION: Resveratrol ameliorated glucose uptake and lipid metabolism of the GDM mice and adipocytes with IR by regulating miR-23a-3p/NOV axis.

Interactions between gut microbiota and metabolites modulate cytokine network imbalances in women with unexplained miscarriage.

A dysregulation of cytokine networks has been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of unexplained pregnancy loss. Gut microbiota affects host immune response and induces an imbalance in cytokine levels. However, how gut microbial dysbiosis disturbs cellular immune function in miscarriage remains inconclusive. Here we report that IL-2, IL-17A, IL-17F, TNF-α, and IFN-γ are significantly increased in serum of miscarriage patients. Fecal microbiome analyses indicate that microbial diversity and the relative abundances of Prevotella_1, Prevotellaceae_UCG_003 and Selenomonas_1 are significantly reduced in the cases. Correlation analyses indicate that some microbe-associated metabolites are positively associated with changes in levels of Th1/Th17 cytokines in the miscarriage group. Moreover, we identify that imidazolepropionic acid and 1,4-methylimidazoleacetic acid are associated with subsequent recurrent miscarriage. Our study highlights the network among gut microbiota, fecal metabolites and Th1/Th17-mediated immune response in miscarriage patients and explores the potential predictive values of two fecal metabolites for recurrent miscarriages.

Inhibition of TGFß improves hematopoietic stem cell niche and ameliorates cancer-related anemia.

BACKGROUND: Cancer cachexia is a wasting syndrome that is quite common in terminal-stage cancer patients. Cancer-related anemia is one of the main features of cancer cachexia and mostly results in a poor prognosis. The disadvantages of the current therapies are obvious, but few new treatments have been developed because the pathological mechanism remains unclear. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were subcutaneously injected with Lewis lung carcinoma cells to generate a cancer-related anemia model. The treated group received daily intraperitoneal injections of SB505124. Blood parameters were determined with a routine blood counting analyzer. Erythroid cells and hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The microarchitecture changes of the femurs were determined by micro-computed tomography scans. Smad2/3 phosphorylation was analyzed by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. The changes in the hematopoietic stem cell niche were revealed by qPCR analysis of both fibrosis-related genes and hematopoietic genes, fibroblastic colony-forming unit assays, and lineage differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells. RESULTS: The mouse model exhibited hematopoietic suppression, marked by a decrease of erythrocytes in the peripheral blood, as well as an increase of immature erythroblasts and reduced differentiation of multipotent progenitors in the bone marrow. The ratio of bone volume/total volume, trabecular number, and cortical wall thickness all appeared to decrease, and the increased osteoclast number has led to the release of latent TGFß and TGFß signaling over-activation. Excessive TGFß deteriorated the hematopoietic stem cell niche, inducing fibrosis of the bone marrow as well as the transition of mesenchymal stromal cells. Treatment with SB505124, a small-molecule inhibitor of TGFß signaling, significantly attenuated the symptoms of cancer-related anemia in this model, as evidenced by the increase of erythrocytes in the peripheral blood and the normalized proportion of erythroblast cell clusters. Meanwhile, hindered hematopoiesis and deteriorated hematopoietic stem cell niche were also shown to be restored with SB505124 treatment. CONCLUSION: This study investigated the role of TGFß released by bone remodeling in the progression of cancer-related anemia and revealed a potential therapeutic approach for relieving defects in hematopoiesis.

[Pharmacokinetics studies on tetramethylpyrazine by intravenous administration in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pharmacokinetics behaviour of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) by intravenous administration in rats. METHODS: Methanol-0.05 mol/L acetate buffer solution (50:50,V/V) was used as mobile phase with a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The UV detection wavelength was 280 nm. RESULTS: The profile of TMP in blood fitted a two-compartment model. The half time of drug distribution and elimination was short. The mean residence time MRT 0-infinity was 141.61 min, and the AUC0-infinity was 7521.70 microg x min/ mL. CONCLUSION: After intravenous injection, the pharmacokinetics behaviour of TMP fit a two-compartment model in rats. Both the distribution and the elimination are fast.