HDL subfractions determined by microfluidic chip electrophoresis predict the vulnerability of intracranial plaque: A HRMRI study.

AIM: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) can be divided into several subfractions based on density, size and composition. Accumulative evidence strongly suggests that the subfractions of HDL have very different roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to further delineate the relationship between HDL subfractions extracted by microfluidic chip electrophoresis and the vulnerability of plaques in patients with intracranial atherosclerosis with a high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) study. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled patients with single atherosclerotic plaque in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) or basilar artery (BA) between July 2020 and Dec 2022 and performed 3-tesla HRMRI on the relevant artery. The HDL cholesterol concentration and HDL subfractions (HDL-2a, HDL-2b and HDL-3) percentage were analyzed in serum samples from the same patients by electrophoresis on a microfluidics system. RESULTS: A total of 81 MCA or BA plaques [38 (46.9%) symptomatic and 43 (53.1%) asymptomatic] in 81 patients were identified on HRMRI. Patients with symptomatic plaques had a significantly lower HDL-2b level than asymptomatic plaques [symptomatic vs. asymptomatic: 0.16 (0.10-0.18) vs. 0.27(0.21-0.34), p = 0.001]. After adjusting for demographics and vascular risk factors, logistic regression showed that HDL-2b was inversely associated with asymptomatic plaques (B = -0.04, P = 0.017). According to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve model analysis, the cutoff point of HDL-2b in predicting asymptomatic plaques was 0.21 mmol/L (Area under curve: 0.719, specificity: 73.7%, sensitivity: 72.1%). Furthermore, plaque enhancement on HRMRI (P < 0.001), positive remodeling (P < 0.001), plaque load (P < 0.001) and luminal stenosis (P < 0.001) were superior among patients with HDL-2b < 0.21 mmol/L. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that serum HDL-2b levels may serve as a biomarker for predicting vulnerability in intracranial atherosclerotic plaques.

Effect of Tuina along "bladder meridian" alleviating intervertebral disc degeneration by regulating the transforming growth factor-ß1/Smad signaling pathway in a rabbit model.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of Tuina (a traditional Chinese massage therapy) on intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration and the regulatory mechanisms of the transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1)/small mothers against decapentaplegic (Smad) signaling pathway. METHODS: Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were randomized into five groups: the control group, model group, model + Tuina group (Tuina group), model + TGF-ß1 group (TGF-ß1 group), and model + TGF-ß1 inhibitor SB431542 group (SB431542 group). The model was established by posterolateral annulus fibrosus puncturing (AFP). Recombinant TGF-ß1 and inhibitor SB431542 was injected into the TGF-ß1 group and SB431542 group with a microsyringe, respectively. The rabbits in the Tuina group received Tuina treatment along the bladder meridian for 4 weeks. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on rabbits before AFP and after 4 weeks of intervention. Lumbar IVDs (L2-L3 to L4-L5) were harvested after intervention. Histopathological changes in the IVDs were measured by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Type I collagen was analyzed by immunohistochemistry detection. The expression level of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3) was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling and Western blotting. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to analyze the expression of TGF-ß1 and Smad2/3/4 and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5. RESULTS: Posterolateral AFP induced IVD degeneration in rabbits with histopathological damage and noticeable changes in MRI images. Tuina alleviated histo-pathological changes and reversed the expression of extracellular matrix degeneration-related molecules and apoptosis-related proteins. Furthermore, AFP induced the activation of TGF-ß1 and Smad2/3/4, whereas Tuina therapy markedly reduced the protein expression of Smad2/3 and the gene expression of TGF-ß1 and Smad2/3/4. Additionally, the TGF-ß1/Smad signaling pathway was activated in the TGF-ß1 group, while the TGF-ß1/Smad signaling pathway was inhibited in the SB431542 group. CONCLUSION: Posterolateral AFP induced disc degeneration as determined by MRI assessment and histological analysis. Tuina alleviated disc degeneration, possibly by inhibiting the fibrotic response mediated by the TGF-ß1/Smad pathway, thus alleviating extracellular matrix degeneration and reducing cell apoptosis.

Diversity analysis of leaf endophytic fungi and rhizosphere soil fungi of Korean Epimedium at different growth stages.

BACKGROUND: Rhizosphere fungi and endophytic fungi play key roles in plant growth and development; however, their role in the growth of Epimedium koreanum Nakai at different stages remains unclear. Here, we used the Illumina MiSeq system, a high-throughput sequencing technology, to study the endophytic fungi and rhizosphere microbiome of Korean Epimedium. RESULTS: Epimedium koreanum Nakai rhizosphere soil and leaves had highly diverse fungal communities during the growth process. The relative abundance of soil fungi in the rhizosphere stage was higher than that of leaf endophytic fungi in the early growth stage, but the overall abundance was basically equal. Sebacina is a significantly divergent fungal genera, and Sebacina sp. are present among leaf fungi species in the rhizosphere soil of Epimedium koreanum Nakai. Sebacina sp. can move to each other in rhizosphere soil fungi and leaf endophytes. VIF (variance inflation factor) analysis showed that soluble salt, whole nitrogen, alkaline lysis nitrogen, whole phosphorus, total potassium, and fast-acting potassium are useful environmental factors for rhizosphere soil and leaf endophytic fungi: potassium, total nitrogen, whole phosphorus, and three environmental factors were significantly and positively associated with the relative abundance of Sebacina sp. CONCLUSIONS: (1) This study is the first to clarify the species diversity of fungi in Epimedium koreanum Nakai leaf and rhizosphere soil. (2) Different fungal communities of rhizosphere soil fungi and leaf endophytic fungi at different growth stages of Epimedium koreanum Nakai were examined. (3) Sebacina sp. can move to each other between rhizosphere soil fungi and leaf endophytic fungi. (4) Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium elements in the environment have a significant positive effect on the relative abundance of Sebacina sp.

Dendritic cells derived exosomes migration to spleen and induction of inflammation are regulated by CCR7.

Mature dendritic cells (DCs) home to secondary lymphoid organs through CC chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7). Exosomes derived from DCs (DC-exos) are reported to migrate to spleen and induce inflammation in vivo. In this study, we demonstrated that mature bone marrow DC-exos can activate immature DC and T cells in vitro. Then we intravenously injected DC-exos into C57BL/6 mice, observing that mature DC-exos accumulated more in spleen than immature DC-exos. These DC-exos in spleen could be uptaken by splenetic DCs and T cells and induce an inflammatory response. We further showed that the increased accumulation of mature DC-exos in spleen was regulated by CCR7, whose reduction led to a decrease of accumulation in spleen and attenuated inflammatory response in serum. These data provide us a new perspective to comprehensively understand exosomes, which might inherit some special functions from their parent cells and exert these functions in vivo.

Effects of protein in wheat flour on retrogradation of wheat starch.

Albumins, globulins, gliadins, and glutenins were isolated from wheat flour and the effects of those proteins on retrogradation of wheat starch were investigated. The results showed that only glutenins retarded retrogradation of wheat starch and other 3 proteins promoted it. The results of IR spectra proved that no S-S linkage formed during retrogradation of wheat starch blended with wheat proteins. Combination of wheat starch and globulins or gliadins through glucosidic bonds hindered the hydrolysis of wheat starch by α-amylase. The melting peak temperatures of retrograded wheat starch attached to different proteins were 128.46, 126.14, 132.03, 121.65, and 134.84 °C for the control with no protein, albumins, glutenins, globulins, gliadins groups, respectively, and there was no second melting temperature for albumins group. Interaction of wheat proteins and starch in retrograded wheat starch greatly decreased the endothermic enthalpy (△H) of retrograded wheat starch. Retrograded wheat starch bound to gliadins might be a new kind of resistant starch based on glycosidic bond between starch and protein.