Biomaterial based implants caused remote liver fatty deposition through activated blood-derived macrophages.

Understanding the biocompatibility of biomaterials is a prerequisite for the prediction of its clinical application, and the present assessments mainly rely on in vitro cell culture and in situ histopathology. However, remote organs responses after biomaterials implantation is unclear. Here, by leveraging body-wide-transcriptomics data, we performed in-depth systems analysis of biomaterials - remote organs crosstalk after abdominal implantation of polypropylene and silk fibroin using a rodent model, demonstrating local implantation caused remote organs responses dominated by acute-phase responses, immune system responses and lipid metabolism disorders. Of note, liver function was specially disturbed, defined as hepatic lipid deposition. Combining flow cytometry analyses and liver monocyte recruitment inhibition experiments, we proved that blood derived monocyte-derived macrophages in the liver underlying the mechanism of abnormal lipid deposition induced by local biomaterials implantation. Moreover, from the perspective of temporality, the remote organs responses and liver lipid deposition of silk fibroin group faded away with biomaterial degradation and restored to normal at end, which highlighted its superiority of degradability. These findings were further indirectly evidenced by human blood biochemical ALT and AST examination from 141 clinical cases of hernia repair using silk fibroin mesh and polypropylene mesh. In conclusion, this study provided new insights on the crosstalk between local biomaterial implants and remote organs, which is of help for future selecting and evaluating biomaterial implants with the consideration of whole-body response.

Seasonal variation and ecological risk assessment of microplastics ingested by economic fishes in Lake Chaohu, China.

Microplastic (MP) contaminations in freshwater organisms have attracted substantial attention worldwide. However, seasonal field studies of MPs concentrations in aquatic life are scarce. In this study, we analyzed the seasonal variation and ecological risk of MPs concentrations in economic fish species from Lake Chaohu in China between wet and dry seasons. Within both seasons, MPs in fish were systematically analyzed using methods of KOH digestion, NaCl density floatation and raman spectroscopy. MPs abundance in economic fishes were significantly higher in dry season than that in wet season, which can be ascribed to the MPs' amplification effects in lacustrine ecosystems during dry season. Whereas, our results recorded similar and homogenized characteristic composition of MPs in economic fishes between wet and dry seasons. In both seasons, fiber was the main morphological type, black and blue were the most common MPs color, and MPs ranging from <0.5 mm accounting for the most abundant size. In addition, polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) accounted for the most abundant polymer type detected by economic fishes in both seasons. In terms of feeding groups and habitat preferences, planktivorous and pelagic fish species exhibited sensitive variations of MPs concentrations between wet and dry seasons, thus being highlighted as good bioindicators of MPs contaminants in freshwater ecosystems. Our results revealed higher ecological risks of MPs in wet season than that in dry season when indicating from polymer risk index (H). By providing detailed and direct toxicity information, our study highlights the usage of polymer risk index for ecological risk assessment in aquatic organisms.

Accumulation of microplastics in fish guts and gills from a large natural lake: Selective or non-selective?

In recent years, microplastics (MPs) have become emerging contaminant causing widespread concern about their ecotoxicological effects. However, little is known regarding the accumulation of MPs in different tissues of fishes, especially for freshwater fishes in natural environments. In this study, MPs in guts and gills of 11 fish species from Lake Chao, China were examined to explore the accumulation differences and foraging preferences of MPs. In general, MPs in fish guts varied from 2.85 to 8.38 items/individual, while ranged from 3.06 to 8.90 items/individual in fish gills. In terms of characteristic composition (shape, color, size, and polymer type), our results demonstrate higher occurrence of fibrous, black, small sized (<1 mm), and polypropylene MPs. Meanwhile, MPs concentrations in fish guts differed significantly among various feeding groups, with none significant difference detected in fish gills. In addition, fish guts exhibit more distinct foraging preferences for specific featured MPs in contrast with fish gills. These results indicate selective MPs accumulation in fish guts whereas random MPs accumulation in fish gills. Fish gills, adhering MPs by non-selective water exchange, may be more related to the real-time MPs abundance in water. To some extent, fish gills may be employed as important instruments to reflect MPs contamination in aquatic environments. Influenced by diverse feeding behaviors such as visual cues and sensory systems, MPs accumulation in fish guts reflect intrinsic differences, thus making fish guts sensitive organ in monitoring MPs' ecological risk for their health.

The antifertility effectiveness of copper/low-density polyethylene nanocomposite and its influence on the endometrial environment in rats.

PURPOSE: The study was conducted to investigate the antifertility effectiveness of copper/low-density polyethylene nanocomposite (nano-Cu/LDPE) and its influence on the endometrial environment in rats. METHODS: One hundred and seventy sexually mature female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into five groups: sham-operated control group (SO group, n=10), bulk copper group (Cu group, n=40), LDPE group (n=40), and nano-Cu/LDPE groups I (n=40) and II (n=40). Twenty rats in each group except for the SO group were mated with male rats of proven fertility, from 30 days after insertion, and the antifertility rates (ATs) were observed at Day 11 of pregnancy. The concentrations of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in the endometrium of the remaining rats in each group were measured by using ELISA at the 30th and 60th day after insertion, respectively. RESULTS: ATs in the Cu group and nano-Cu/LDPE groups I and II (100%) were significantly higher than those in the LDPE group (p<.05). Compared with those in the SO group, the concentrations of PGE(2) and tPA in all experimental groups except for PGE(2) levels in the LDPE group were significantly increased at Day 30 after insertion, and these parameters in the nano-Cu/LDPE groups were significantly lower than in the Cu group (p<.05). At Day 60 after insertion, tPA levels were still higher in the Cu and nano-Cu/LDPE groups, but there was no difference in PGE(2) levels in all groups except for the Cu group. CONCLUSION: Nano-Cu/LDPE exhibits satisfactory contraceptive efficacy with less influence on the endometrium PGE(2) and tPA levels.

[The expression and clinical significance of IL-17AR on peripheral blood B cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].

AIM: To investigate the expressions of Interleukin-17A receptor (IL-17AR) on the peripheral blood B lymphocytes of SLE patients and to analyze the correlations between IL-17AR and clinical parameters. METHODS: Expression of IL-17AR on peripheral blood CD19(+);B lymphocytes were analyzed in 60 SLE patients and 33 healthy controls by flow cytometry. The difference of IL-17AR expression levels in two groups were compared. Furthermore, the correlation between IL-17AR expressions and clinical some measures, such as ESR, CRP, complement 3(C3), complement 4(C4), the amount of serum IgG, anti double strands DNA antibody, anti nuclear antibody, SLEDAI score and urine protein excretion were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with healthy subjects, the proportions of B cells expressing IL-17AR were higher among SLE patients. In SLE patients, groups with mouth ulcer, serositis, renal lesions or immunologic abnormality were higher than the negative groups separately. The positive correlations were observed between IL-17AR expression levels and clinical measure of the SLEDAI, CRP and serum triglyceride level. The negative correlation was observed between IL-17AR expression levels and clinical measure of the serum indirect bilirubin level, serum albumin level. CONCLUSION: Interleukin-17A receptor expression increased on peripheral blood B cells of SLE patients, and correlate with clinical measures.

[Regulation of tissue factor expression in brain microvascular endothelial cells by PLA nanoparticles coating NF-kappaB decoy oligonucleotides].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a new strategy of polylactic acid (PLA) nanoparticles delivery system coating nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) decoy oligonucleotides (ODNs) for inhibiting TF expression in cultured brain microvascular endothelial cells(BMECs). METHODS: PLA nanoparticles coating FITC-labeled NF-kappaB decoy ODNs were formulated by nano-deposition method and the characteristics of nanoparticles were detected. BMECs were isolated and cultured in vitro. The cellular uptake and intracellular localization of nanoparticles in BMECs was detected by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Changes in the expressions of TF and nuclear protein P65 were examined by RT-PCR and Western blot in NF-kappaB decoy ODNs transfected BMECs by LPS stimulation. RESULTS: The decoy-nanoparticles obtained were uniform spherical particles with an effective diameter of 162.1 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.118. NF-kappaB decoy ODNs encapsulated in nanoparticles could be released in a controlled manner in phosphate-buffered saline for up to 28 days. It was observed that the cellular uptake of nanoparticles were increased with the time of incubation and the concentration of nanoparticles in the medium. Nanoparticles localized mainly in the BMECs cytoplasm. LPS-induced upregulation of TF transcription was inhibited by NF-kappaB decoy ODNs transfection but not by missense ODNs transfection. Furthermore, changes in the transcription level of TF were paralleled by a reduction of capacity of P65 in nuclear extract of NF-kappaB decoy ODNs transfected cells. CONCLUSIONS: These findings offer a potential therapeutic strategy in the control of TF expression in BMECs in vitro.

[Polylactic acid nanoparticles across the brain-blood barrier observed with analytical electron microscopy].

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a huge obstacle in therapy of brain diseases, for it hinders the delivery of water-soluble molecules and those with molecular weight above 500 from the circulation system to the brain. Polysorbate 80 (Tween 80, T-80)-coated polylactid acid(PLA) nanoparticles represent a tool to transport such drugs across the BBB. Transcytosis is put forward as one mechanism of drug-loaded nanoparticles across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). However little is known about it. Electron microscopy is an important method in the investigation on nanoparticles injected into the experimental mice. In this study it was found by fluorescence microscope that fluorescence existed along the capillary dissepiment. Some nanoparticles distributed in the brain capillary endothelial cells and brain tissue outside the microvaculum, which was observed by transmission electron microscopy. These particles were proved to be the Copper chlorophyll loaded nanoparticles which containing Cu detected by AEM. The in vivo experiments demonstrated directly that the PLA nanoparticles can pass the BBB indeed and transcytosis by microvascular endothelial cells may be the mechanism. The results provided an efficient way of drug-delivery targeting the brain. Copper chlorophyll could be used as a new symbol of nanoparticles in in vivo experiment.