Effect and Mechanism of TL1A Expression on Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition during Chronic Colitis-Related Intestinal Fibrosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Recent evidences reveal that epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) exacerbates the process of intestinal fibrosis. Tumor necrosis factor-like ligand 1A (TL1A) is a member of the tumor necrosis family (TNF), which can take part in the development of colonic inflammation and fibrosis by regulating immune response or inflammatory factors. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the possible contribution of TL1A in onset and progression of intestinal inflammation and fibrosis through EMT. METHODS: Colonic specimens were obtained from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and control individuals. The expression levels of TL1A and EMT-related markers in intestinal tissues were evaluated. Furthermore, the human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line, HT-29, was stimulated with TL1A, anti-TL1A antibody, or BMP-7 to assess EMT process. In addition, transgenic mice expressing high levels of TL1A in lymphoid cells were used to further investigate the mechanism of TL1A in intestinal fibrosis. RESULTS: High levels of TL1A expression were detected in the intestinal specimens of patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease and were negatively associated with the expression of an epithelial marker (E-cadherin), while it was positively associated with the expression of interstitial markers (FSP1 and α-SMA). Transgenic mice with high expression of TL1A were more sensitive to dextran sodium sulfate and exhibited severe intestinal inflammation and fibrosis. Additionally, the TGF-ß1/Smad3 pathway may be involved in TL1A-induced EMT, and the expression of IL-13 and EMT-related transcriptional molecules (e.g., ZEB1 and Snail1) was increased in the intestinal specimens of the transgenic mice. Furthermore, TL1A-induced EMT can be influenced by anti-TL1A antibody or BMP-7 in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: TL1A participates in the formation and process of EMT in intestinal fibrosis. This new knowledge enables us to better understand the pathogenesis of intestinal fibrosis and identify new therapeutic targets for its treatment.

Effects of stress-induced protein Sestrin2 on necroptosis of dendritic cells induced by lipopolysaccharide / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective:To investigate the effect of stress-induced protein Sestrin2 (SESN2) on necroptosis of mouse dendritic cell (DC) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) combined with zVAD, a panaspartate-specific cysteine protease (caspase) inhibitor.Methods:The DC2.4 cell line derived from the bone marrow of mouse in the 3rd to 10th generations was cultured. The cells were stimulated with LPS for 0 hour, 6 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours, and grouped according to the stimulation time points. Western blotting was performed to determine the protein expression of SESN2 in each group. Overexpression empty lentivirus (NC), SESN2 gene overexpression RNA sequence lentivirus (SESN2 LV-RNA), small interfering empty lentivirus (NS), and SESN2 gene small interfering RNA sequence lentivirus (SESN2 siRNA) were transfected into DC2.4 cells. After 72 hours of transfection, cell fluorescence expression was observed under the inverted fluorescence microscope. Cells in each transfection group were stimulated with LPS for 24 hours. The blank control groups were set up and cultured with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) for 24 hours. Western blotting was performed to measure SESN2 protein expression. In the same groups as above, cells were stimulated with LPS+zVAD for 24 hours. The blank control groups were set up and cultured with PBS for 24 hours. Western blotting was used to determine the expression of mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) and phosphorylated-MLKL (p-MLKL). The p-MLKL levels and the number of positive cells were observed using laser scanning confocal microscopy. The necroptotic cell ratios were assessed by both flow cytometry and Hoechst staining.Results:Compared to the LPS 0 hour group, the expression of SESN2 in the LPS 24 hours group showed a significant increase. Therefore, 24 hours was chosen as the subsequent stimulation time point. After successful lentivirus transduction and 24 hours of cultivation, the MLKL phosphorylation level in the SESN2 siRNA+LPS+zVAD group was significantly higher than that in the NS+LPS+zVAD group. The MLKL phosphorylation in the SESN2 LV-RNA+LPS+zVAD group was significantly lower than that in the NC+LPS+zVAD group. The MLKL phosphorylation levels in both the NS+LPS+zVAD group and the NC+LPS+zVAD group were obviously higher than those in the NS+PBS group and the NC+PBS group, respectively. Laser scanning confocal microscopy showed that the trends in quantity and fluorescence intensity of p-MLKL protein expressions were consistent with the above results. The results from flow cytometry analysis and Hoechst staining showed that the rates of cell necrotic apoptosis in SESN2 siRNA+LPS+zVAD group were significantly higher than those in NS+LPS+zVAD group [flow cytometry analysis: (30.800±1.153)% vs. (20.800±1.114)%, Hoechst staining: (75.267±0.451)% vs. (46.267±3.371)%, both P < 0.05], indicating that knocking down SESN2 further exacerbated the occurrence of necroptosis. The necrotic apoptosis rates in SESN2 LV-RNA+LPS+zVAD group were significantly lower than those in NC+LPS+zVAD group [flow cytometry analysis: (7.160±0.669)% vs. (19.240±2.322)%, Hoechst staining: (32.433±3.113)% vs. (48.567±4.128)%, both P < 0.05], indicating that overexpressing SESN2 reversed such response and markedly reduced the proportion of necroptotic cells compared to the corresponding empty vector group. Conclusion:SESN2 exhibits an inhibitory effect on necroptosis of DC in sepsis. Targeted SESN2 expression may regulate the process of DC-mediated immune response in sepsis.

Relationship of graduate students’ psychological stress and perceived stress with their mental health / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

【Objective】 To explore the relationship of graduate students’ psychological stress and perceived stress with their mental health, and analyze the mediating effect of perceived stress. 【Methods】 We investigated 705 graduate students by Chinese College Student Mental Health Scale (CCSMHS), Chinese College Student Psychological Stress Scale (CCSPSS), and Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS). Correlation and structural equation model analysis was made. 【Results】 The graduate students’ psychological stress and perceived stress had significant correlation with their mental health. SEM analysis showed that perceived stress served as a partial mediation variable between psychological stress and mental health. Psychological stress had direct effects (0.216) for mental health and indirect effects (0.126) through perceived stress. 【Conclusion】 Graduate students’ psychological stress can influence their mental health directly, and can also reduce mental health level by increasing perceived stress. Perceived stress has partial mediating effect between psychological stress and mental health.

Exploration of Mechanism of Xiaonang Tiaojing Decoction in Treating PCOS-IR Model Rats Based on AMH/AMHR ⅡSignaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Xiaonang Tiaojing decoction（XNTJD）in improving polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance（PCOS-IR）model rats based on anti-Müllerian hormone（AMH）/AMH type Ⅱ receptor（AMHRⅡ）signaling pathway. MethodForty-eight adult female SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group， model group， XNTJD group（11.4 g·kg-1·d-1） and Diane-35 group（0.21 g·kg-1·d-1）， PCOS-IR model was established by high-fat and high-sugar diet combined with letrozole in rats of all groups except the blank group， rats in the administration groups were given the corresponding dose of drugs by gavage for 15 days with an interval of 1 d every 4 d， normal saline of the same volume was given to the blank group and the model group. Estrous cycle was recorded daily during treatment. At the end of treatment， body weight and Lee's index were recorded， AMH， luteinizing hormone（LH）， LH/follicle stimulating hormone（FSH）， testosterone（T）and estradiol（E2）levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）， fasting plasma glucose（FPG）was measured by glucometer， fasting insulin（FINS） level was measured by radioimmunoassay（RIA）， and the insulin resistance index（HOMA-IR） and insulin sensitivity index（QUICKI）were calculated， triglyceride（TG）and total cholesterol（TC）levels were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer， hematoxylin-eosin（HE）staining was used to observe the morphological changes of the ovary， the levels of AMHRⅡ， bone morphogenetic protein-15（BMP-15）and Smad5 in ovarian tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry（IHC），Western blot was used to analyze the protein expression levels of AMHRⅡ， BMP-15 and Smad5. ResultCompared with the blank group， a large number of leukocytes were observed in the vaginal exfoliated cells of rats in the model group， mainly in diestrus， the levels of body weight， Lee's index， glucose-lipid metabolism indexes（FPG， FINS， HOMA-IR， TG， TC）， AMH and sex hormones（LH， LH/FSH， T）were significantly increased（P<0.01）， and QUICKI and E2 levels were significantly decreased（P<0.01）， there were more cystic bulges on the ovarian surface， more wet weight， more atretic and cystic dilated follicles in the ovarian tissues， and the thickness of granulosa cell layer was reduced without oocytes， the expression level of AMHRⅡ protein in ovarian tissues was significantly increased（P<0.01）， and the expression levels of BMP-15 and Smad5 proteins were significantly decreased（P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the exfoliated cells in the vagina of rats treated with XNTJD group showed keratinocytes from the 5th to 6th day of treatment， and a stable estrous cycle gradually appeared， body weight， Lee's index， glucose-lipid metabolism indexes（FPG， FINS， HOMA-IR， TG， TC）， AMH and sex hormones（LH， LH/FSH， T）levels were significantly decreased（P<0.05， P<0.01）， QUICKI and E2 levels were significantly increased（P<0.01）， ovarian surface was smoother and lighter in wet weight， oocytes and mature follicles were observed in ovarian tissues， the thickness of granulosa cell layer increased and the morphology was intact， the expression levels of BMP-15 and Smad5 proteins were significantly increased（P<0.01）and the expression level of AMHRⅡ protein was significantly decreased（P<0.01）in ovarian tissues. ConclusionXNTJD may mediate the up-regulation of BMP-15 and Smad5 in ovarian tissues of PCOS-IR rats by down-regulating AMH/AMHRⅡ， thereby improving ovarian function， sex hormones and glucose-lipid metabolism levels in PCOS-IR rats.

Study on PLGA-based nanoparticles in gynecological diseases / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

Polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) has the characteristics of biocompatibility, biodegradability, modifiability, and slow release, which has attracted extensive attention in the treatment of gynecological diseases. This paper summarizes the relevant literature reports at home and abroad in recent years, expounds the research situation of PLGA nanoparticles as drug carriers in gynecological diseases such as ovarian cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer and endometriosis, and looks forward to its great potential in clinical application in gynecological diseases, providing guidance for its prevention and treatment in gynecological diseases.

Emotion and sleep quality of adolescents and youth groups in the period of work and school resumption after COVID-19 / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

【Objective】 To understand the emotion and sleep state of youths and adolescents who returned to school during the mild period of COVID-19. 【Methods】 A total of 1621 subjects were investigated using the self-made information questionnaire， SAS， SDS and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index （PSQI）. Nvivo12.0 and SPSS23.0 were used to analyze the data. 【Results】 The subjects reported boredom， worry， nervousness. There were significant differences in sleep quality index in terms of gender， residence status， time of reading news of COVID-19， and time of communicating with parents （P<0.01）. The sleep quality index （4.67±3.12） of college students was lower than the norm （5.8±2.4） （P<0.001）， the SAS score （42.87±9.94） of teenagers was higher than the norm （29.78±10.07） （P<0.001）， and the SDS score （47.64±11.34） of youths and teenagers was higher than the norm （33.46±8.55） （P<0.001）. During this period， PSQI was significantly positively correlated with SAS score and SDS score， and effectively predicted SAS score and SDS score. 【Conclusion】 During the stage of work and school resumption， the emotional state of youths and teenagers was still affected， but presented positive characteristics， with a variety of positive emotions. Compared with the general state， youths and teenagers showed higher depression and anxiety， but sleep quality of college students was better than that in the general state.

Role and mechanism of tumor necrosis factor ligand-related molecule 1A in chronic experimental colitis associated intestinal fibrosis / 中华消化杂志

Objective To explore the role and mechanism of tumor necrosis factor ligand -related molecule 1A (TL1A) in chronic experimental colitis associated intestinal fibrosis .Methods The model of chronic experimental colitis-associated intestinal fibrosis was induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS).The mice with high TL1A (L-Tg) expression in lymphoid cells and wild -type mice with the same genetic background were divided into wild type control group, wild type DSS group, transgenic control group and transgenic DSS group.The changes of body mass, length of colon, disease activity index (DAI) and colonic pathological score were compared among different groups .The degree of colonic inflammation was evaluated by Hematoxylin -Eosin (H-E) staining.The degree of intestinal fibrosis was assessed by Masson staining and Sirius red staining .The expression of vimentin, αsmooth muscle actin ( α-SMA), type Ⅰ collagen, Ⅲ collagen and transforming growth factor-β1 ( TGF-β1 ) /Smad3 in colon tissue was examined by immunohistochemistry .T test was performed for statistical analysis.Results The body mass of the transgenic DSS group decreased by (9.6 ± 1.8)％, which was more than wild-type DSS group (6.2 ±1.3)％, the difference was statistically significant (t =3.751, P <0.01).The DAI score and colonic pathological score of transgenic DSS group were both higher than those of wild-type DSS group (7.33 ±0.58 vs.6.00 ±1.00, and 14.00 ±1.05 vs.11.75 ±0.50, respectively), and the differences were statistically significant (t =2.818 and 4.739, both P <0.05).The results of Masson staining and Sirius red staining showed aggravation of intestinal fibrosis .The results of immunohistochemical staining showed that the cumulative positive absorbance values of vimentin , α-SMA, TGF-β1 and Smad3 of wild-type DSS group were lower than those of transgenic DSS group (0.650 ±0.050 vs. 0.800 ±0.020, 0.390 ±0.040 vs.0.600 ±0.040, 0.550 ±0.040 vs.0.730 ±0.040, 0.590 ±0.020 vs. 0.830 ±0.040), and the differences were statistically significant (t =6.823, 9.093, 7.794 and 10.390, all P <0.01).Conclusion TL1A may promote the proliferation and activation of fibroblasts through TGF -β1 /Smad3 pathway, leading to the genesis and development of experimental colitis associated intestinal fibrosis .