Molecular targets and mechanisms involved in the action of Banxia Shumi decoction in insomnia treatment.

Insomnia is a common sleep-wake rhythm disorder, which is closely associated with the occurrence of many serious diseases. Recent researches suggest that circadian rhythms play an important role in regulating sleep duration and sleep quality. Banxia Shumi decoction (BSXM) is a well-known Chinese formula used to treat insomnia in China. However, the overall molecular mechanism behind this therapeutic effect has not yet been fully elucidated. This study aimed to identify the molecular targets and mechanisms involved in the action of BSXM during the treatment of insomnia. Using network pharmacology and molecular docking methods, we investigated the molecular targets and underlying mechanisms of action of BSXM in insomnia therapy. We identified 8 active compounds from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform and the traditional Chinese medicine integrative database that corresponded to 26 target genes involved in insomnia treatment. The compound-differentially expressed genes of the BXSM network indicated that cavidine and gondoic acid could potentially become key components of drugs used for insomnia treatment. Further analysis revealed that GSK3B, MAPK14, IGF1R, CCL5, and BCL2L11 were core targets significantly associated with the circadian clock. Pathway enrichment analysis of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes revealed that epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance was the most prominently enriched pathway for BSXM in the insomnia treatment. The forkhead box O signaling pathway was also found to be significantly enriched. These targets were validated using the Gene Expression Omnibus dataset. Molecular docking studies were performed to confirm the binding of cavidine and gondoic acid to the identified core targets. To our knowledge, our study confirmed for the first time that the multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway characteristics of BXSM may be the potential mechanism for treating insomnia with respect to the circadian clock gene. The results of this study provided theoretical guidance for researchers to further explore its mechanism of action.

Chrysanthemum sporopollenin: A novel vaccine delivery system for nasal mucosal immunity.

Objective: Mucosal immunization was an effective defender against pathogens. Nasal vaccines could activate both systemic and mucosal immunity to trigger protective immune responses. However, due to the weak immunogenicity of nasal vaccines and the lack of appropriate antigen carriers, very few nasal vaccines have been clinically approved for human use, which was a major barrier to the development of nasal vaccines. Plant-derived adjuvants are promising candidates for vaccine delivery systems due to their relatively safe immunogenic properties. In particular, the distinctive structure of pollen was beneficial to the stability and retention of antigen in the nasal mucosa. Methods: Herein, a novel wild-type chrysanthemum sporopollenin vaccine delivery system loaded with a w/o/w emulsion containing squalane and protein antigen was fabricated. The unique internal cavities and the rigid external walls within the sporopollenin skeleton construction could preserve and stabilize the inner proteins. The external morphological characteristics were suitable for nasal mucosal administration with high adhesion and retention. Results: Secretory IgA antibodies in the nasal mucosa can be induced by the w/o/w emulsion with the chrysanthemum sporopollenin vaccine delivery system. Moreover, the nasal adjuvants produce a stronger humoral response (IgA and IgG) compared to squalene emulsion adjuvant. Mucosal adjuvant benefited primarily from prolongation of antigens in the nasal cavity, improvement of antigen penetration in the submucosa and promotion of CD8+ T cells in spleen. Disccusion: Based on effective delivering both the adjuvant and the antigen, the increase of protein antigen stability and the realization of mucosal retention, the chrysanthemum sporopollenin vaccine delivery system has the potential to be a promising adjuvant platform. This work provide a novel idea for the fabrication of protein-mucosal delivery vaccine.

ICAM-1 mediated cell-cell adhesion exerts dual roles on human B cell differentiation and IgG production.

Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) plays prominent roles in mediating cell-cell adhesion which also facilitates B cell activation and differentiation with the help from CD4+ T cells. Here, we have reported a unique phenomenon that increased ICAM-1 on purified human CD4+ T cells upon anti-CD3/CD28 stimulation enhanced CD4+ T-B cell adhesion whereas induced less B cell differentiation and IgG production. This was largely due to increased PD-1 expression on CD19hi B cells after coculturing with hyperactivated CD4+ T cells. Consequently, ICAM-1 blockade during CD4+ T cell-B cell coculture promoted IgG production with the activation of ERK1/2 and Blimp-1/IRF4 upregulation. Consistently, CD4+ T cells from moderate-to-severe SLE patients with high ICAM-1 expression mediated less IgG production after T-B coculture. Therefore, ICAM-1-mediated human CD4+ T-B cell adhesion provides dual roles on B cell differentiation and IgG production partially depending on expression levels of PD-1 on B cells, supporting cell adhesion and subsequent PD-1 induction as an alternative intrinsic checkpoint for B cell differentiation.

[Effects of Different Treatment Methods on the Contents of Related Growth Factors Released by Platelet Rich Plasma].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of sonication, repeated freeze-thaw cycles, calcium salt solution and their combination on the content of related growth factors (GFs) released by platelet rich plasma (PRP). METHODS: Twenty PRPs from healthy blood donors were divided into 9 groups, including sonication group, freeze-thaw group, calcium gluconate group, calcium chloride group, sonication + calcium gluconate group, sonication + calcium chloride group, freeze-thaw + calcium gluconate group, freeze-thaw + calcium chloride group, and sonication + freeze-thaw group. After PRP activated by above 9 methods, the content of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: The platelet concentration of the samples was (966.7±202.6)×109/L. The content of TGF-ß1 in sonication + freeze-thaw group was the highest, while the lowest was in freeze-thaw group. The content of VEGF in freeze-thaw + calcium chloride group was the highest, while the lowest was in calcium gluconate group. The content of PDGF-BB in sonication + freeze-thaw group was the highest, while the lowest was in calcium gluconate group. There was no significant differences in the three GFs between calcium gluconate group and calcium chloride group. CONCLUSION: Among the 9 activated methods of PRP, there is no difference between two calcium salt solutions. And the combination of repeated freeze-thaw cycles and sonication may be the best treatment method to promote PRP to release GFs, while calcium gluconate is the weakest way.

CD4+ T Cells Promote IgG Production in MHC-Independent and ICAM-1-Dependent Manners in Pristane-Induced Lupus Mice.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibody production and chronic inflammation. The etiology and pathogenesis of SLE are complicated in which dysfunction of CD4+ T cells is largely engaged. In this study, we investigated the manners of CD4+ T cells in antibody production in a lupus-like mouse model through peritoneal injection of pristane reagent. With the increase in total IgG/IgM and autoantibody production after 6 months, CD4+ T cells exhibited activated phenotypes with the elevated CD44, ICOS, OX40, and PD-1 expression. Pristane injection induced the increase in IgM levels in both wild-type and T cell-deficient TCRα -/- mice whereas IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a production was impaired. When adoptively transferring CD4+ T cells into T cell-deficient mice or coculturing CD4+ T cells and B cells in vitro, it was found that CD4+ T cells derived from pristane-treated mice could help the production of total IgG as well as IgG1/IgG2a in a more efficient manner both in vivo and in vitro. While MHC was dispensable for IgG production, ICAM-1 likely functioned as an attenuating factor for IgG production. Our study thus reveals that CD4+ T cells in pristane-treated mice play important roles in IgG production, which implies the critical roles in the induction of pathological autoantibodies in MHC-independent and ICAM-1-dependent manners.

NLRP4 negatively regulates type I interferon response and influences the outcome in anti-programmed cell death protein (PD)-1/PD-ligand 1 therapy.

The challenge to improve the clinical efficacy and enlarge the population that benefits from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is significant. Based on whole-exosome sequencing analysis of biopsies from NSCLC patients before anti-programmed cell death protein-2 (PD-1) treatment, we identified NLRP4 mutations in the responders with a longer progression-free survival (PFS). Knockdown of NLRP4 in mouse Lewis lung cancer cell line enhanced interferon (IFN)-α/ß production through the cGAS-STING-IRF3/IRF7 axis and promoted the accumulation of intratumoral CD8+ T cells, leading to tumor growth retardation in vivo and a synergistic effect with anti-PD-ligand 1 therapy. This was consistent with clinical observations that more tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells and elevated peripheral IFN-α before receiving nivolumab treatment were associated with a longer PFS in NSCLC patients. Our study highlights the roles of tumor-intrinsic NLRP4 in remodeling the immune contextures in the tumor microenvironment, making regional type I IFN beneficial for ICI treatment.

RNA-sequencing identifies differentially expressed genes in T helper 17 cells in peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis.

Innate and adaptive immune factors play significant roles in the pathophysiology of endometriosis. T helper 17 (Th17) cells, a pro-inflammatory T cell subset, were considered to contribute to the progression of endometriosis lesions. However, the regulatory mechanisms of Th17 cells in endometriosis remain unidentified, partially due to the difficulty in recovering live Th17 cells from endometriosis patients. In this study, by flow cytometry analysis of a set of chemokine receptors including CXCR3, CCR4, CCR10, and CCR6, live RORγt-and-IL-17A-expressing Th17 cells were enriched from peritoneal fluid (PF) of patients with different stages of endometriosis for the first time, RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) of these PF Th17 cells revealed significantly up-regulated genes and down-regulated genes in stage I-II and stage III-IV endometriosis, compared with their counterparts in normal PF. In conclusion, this study provides a novel method to isolate live Th17 cells from endometriosis patients, unveils an array of differentially expressed genes in endometriosis Th17 cells, and offers valuable gene expression profile information for endometriosis clinical research.

In situ regulation of bacterial cellulose networks by starch from different sources or amylose/amylopectin content during fermentation.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a promising biopolymer, but its three-dimensional structure needs to be controllable to be used in multiple fields. BC has some advantages over other types of cellulose, not only in terms of purity and properties but also in terms of modification (in situ modification) during the synthesis process. Here, starches from different sources or with amylose/amylopectin content were added to the growth medium to regulate the structural properties of BC in-situ. The obtained BC membranes were further modified by superhydrophobic treatment for oil-water separation. Starches alter the viscosity of the medium, thus affecting bacterial motility and cellulose synthesis, and adhere to the microfibers, limiting their further polymerization and ultimately altering the membrane porosity, pore size, and mechanical properties perpendicular to the BC fibril layer direction. The average pore diameter of the BC/PS membrane increased by 1.94 times compared to the initial BC membrane. The chemically modified BC/PS membrane exhibited super-hydrophobicity (water contact angle 167°), high oil-water separation flux (dichloromethane, 23,205 Lm-2 h-1 MPa-1), high separation efficiency (>97%). The study provides a foundation for developing methods to regulate the network structure of BC and broaden its application.

Downregulation of DNMT3a expression by RNAi and its effect on NF-κBs expression of thymic epithelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the characteristics of DNA methyltransferase 3a (DNMT3a) in thymoma associated Myasthenia Gravis reveal its transcriptional regulator network as while as analyze the effect of DNMT3a on Rel/ nuclear factor-kappaB family (RelA/RelB) and its downstream autoimmune regulatory factor (Aire). METHODS: Tissues of 30 patients with thymoma, with or without myasthenia gravis (MG), were collected and the DNMT3a protein expression were evaluated through immunohistochemistry. We performed mRNA expression profiling microarray detection and analysis, and integrated the analysis by constructing protein-protein interaction networks and the integration with other database. We identified molecular difference between low and high DNMT3a in the thymoma by heatmap. We also performed PCR validation in thymoma tissues. The DNMT3a-shRNA plasmid was transfected into TEC cells, and these cells were treated with 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine, a blocker of DNMT3a. After the down-regulation of DNMT3a in TEC cells, the transcript and protein levels of RelA, RelB, Aire, and CHRNA3 were evaluated by western blotting. In addition, changes in gene expression profiles were screened through microarray technology. We performed differential gene analysis in the thymoma cohort by heatmap with R (v.4.3.0) software. RESULTS: In 30 matched tissue specimens, the expression of DNMT3a protein in thymoma with MG was lower than that in thymoma. Through mRNA expression profiling analysis, we constructed a co-expression network of DNMT3a and found direct interaction between IKZF1 and DNMT3a, and this co-expression relationship was overlappted with Cistrome DB database. We found up-regulation of 149 mRNAs and repression of 177 mRNAs in thymoma with MG compared with thymoma. Gene ontology and pathway analysis show the involvement of a multitude of genes in the mis-regulation of MG-related pathways. RNA interference significantly reduced the level of mRNA of DNMT3a, which proved that plasmid DNMT3a was effective. In comparison to the control group, the levels of DNMT3a, Aire, and CHRNA3 mRNA and protein in TEC cells transfected with DNMT3a-shRNA interference plasmid were significantly decreased, while the expression level of RelA and RelA/RelB was significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals the DNMT3a-NF-κB pathway has a major effect on MG, and can be used as a marker for diagnosis as well as a target for MG treatment.

TB-QUICK: CRISPR-Cas12b-assisted rapid and sensitive detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVES: Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the public health problems worldwide. Rapid, sensitive and cost-effective diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) is critical for TB control. METHODS: We developed a novel M.tb DNA detection platform (nominated as TB-QUICK) which combined loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and CRISPR-Cas12b detection. TB-QUICK was performed on pulmonary or plasma samples collected from 138 pulmonary TB (PTB) patients, 21 non-TB patients and 61 close contacts to TB patients. Acid-fast bacillus (AFB) smear, M.tb culture and GeneXpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) assays were routinely conducted in parallel. RESULTS: By targeting M.tb IS6110, TB-QUICK platform could detect as low as 1.3 copy/µL M.tb DNA within 2 h. In pulmonary TB samples, TB-QUICK exhibited improved overall sensitivity of 86.8% over M.tb culture (66.7%) and Xpert (70.4%), with the specificity of 95.2%. More significantly, TB-QUICK exhibited a superior sensitivity in AFB-negative samples (80.5%) compared to Xpert (57.1%) and M.tb culture (46.2%). In the detection of plasma M.tb DNA by TB-QUICK, 41.2% sensitivity for AFB-positive and 31.7% for AFB-negative patients were achieved. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, TB-QUICK exhibits rapidity and sensitivity for M.tb DNA detection with the superiority in smear-negative paucibacillary TB patients. The clinical application of TB-QUICK in TB diagnosis needs to be further validated in larger cohort.

MicroRNA­214 promotes the EMT process in melanoma by downregulating CADM1 expression.

Melanoma is a malignant skin cancer type associated with a high mortality rate, but its treatment is currently not ideal. Both microRNA (miR)­214 and cell adhesion molecule 1 (CADM1) are differentially expressed in melanoma, but their role in this cancer type remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of CADM1 and miR­214 in melanoma to identify novel targets for its treatment. The expression levels of CADM1 and miR­214 in cells were detected by reverse transcription­quantitative PCR (RT­qPCR). Moreover, cell viability, migration and invasion were measured by MTT, wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively. In addition, the relative expression levels of epithelial­mesenchymal transition (EMT)­related proteins in cells were detected by RT­qPCR and western blotting. It was found that the expression of CADM1 was inhibited in melanoma cells, while miR­214 expression was increased during melanoma tumorigenesis. Furthermore, miR­214 mimics promoted the viability, migration and invasion of melanoma cells. It was also demonstrated that the downregulation of CADM1 reversed the inhibitory effect of the miR­214 inhibitor in melanoma. Moreover, overexpression of CADM1 inhibited the EMT process in melanoma, while the miR­214 inhibitor suppressed the EMT process. The results also indicated that miR­214 promoted the EMT process by downregulating CADM1, which may represent a novel mechanism for the progression of melanoma.

Draft Genome Sequences of Nine Cultivable Heterotrophic Proteobacteria Isolated from Phycosphere Microbiota of Toxic Alexandrium catenella LZT09.

Microscopic interactions between phycosphere microbiota and host algae play crucial roles in aquatic ecosystems. Despite their significance, there is a scarcity of available genome sequences derived from the phycosphere microbiome. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of nine heterotrophic proteobacterial strains isolated from the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella LZT09 during execution of our Phycosphere Microbiome Project. Further exploration of the genomic features of the alga-associated bacterial community will profoundly help in deeply deciphering the processes and mechanisms governing the host-microbe interactome within algal holobionts in the ocean.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on cognitive functions, hippocampal HIF-1α and neurons apoptosis in postoperative cognitive dysfunction rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on learning and memory ability, hippocampal hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α) and apoptosis in postoperative cognitive dysfunction(POCD) rats, and to investigate its mechanism underlying improvement of POCD. METHODS: A total of 90 aged male SD rats were randomized into a sham-operation group, a model group and an EA group, 30 rats in each group, which were further divided into 3 time-point subgroups (1, 3 and 7 days after intevention, 10 rats in each subgroup). In the model group and the EA group, left hepatectomy was adopted to establish the model of POCD. In the sham-operation group, the skin was sectioned and no hepatectomy was operated. In the EA group, EA was applied at "Siguan" ["Hegu" (LI 4) and "Taichong" (LR 3)] with dilatational wave, 2 Hz/100 Hz in frequency, 1 mA in intensity, 20 min each time, once a day. Morris water maze test was adopted to observe the cognitive functions. Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to measure the hippocampal level of HIF-1α. TUNEL method was used to evaluate the hippocampal level of neurons apoptosis. Double immunofluorescence labeling was used to detect the colocalization of HIF-1α and apoptosis in the EA group. RESULTS: Compared with the sham-operation group, the escape latency was prolonged and the frequency of platform leaping was reduced in the model group (P<0.05) after 1, 3, 7 days of intervention. Compared with the model group,the escape latency was shortened and the frequency of platform leaping was increased in the EA group (P<0.05) after 1, 3, 7 days of intervention. After 3 days of intervention, compared with the sham-operation group, the expressions of HIF-1α mRNA and protein, the level of apoptosis were increased in the model group (P<0.05); compared with the model group,the expressions of HIF-1α mRNA and protein, the level of apoptosis were decreased in the EA group (P<0.05). The colocalization of HIF-1α and apoptosis was observed in same cells in the EA group. CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture improves cognitive functions in postoperative cognitive dysfunction rats, which may be related to its effect in down-regulating the expression of hippocampal HIF-1α and inhibiting the neurons apoptosis.

Pullulan biosynthesis in yeast-like fungal cells is regulated by the transcriptional activator Msn2 and cAMP-PKA signaling pathway.

Pullulan is an important polysaccharide. Although its synthetic pathway in Aureobasidium melanogenum has been elucidated, the mechanism underlying its biosynthesis as regulated by signaling pathway and transcriptional regulator is still unknown. In this study, it was found that the expression of the UGP1 gene encoding UDPG-pyrophosphorylase (Ugp1) and other genes which were involved in pullulan biosynthesis was controlled by the transcriptional activator Msn2 in the nuclei of yeast-like fungal cells. The Ugp1 was a rate-limiting enzyme for pullulan biosynthesis. In addition, the activity and subcellular localization of the Msn2 were regulated only by the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway. When the cAMP-PKA activity was low, the Msn2 was localized in the nuclei, the UGP1 gene was highly expressed, and pullulan was actively synthesized. By contrast, when the cAMP-PKA activity was high, the Msn2 was localized in the cytoplasm and the UGP1 gene expression was disabled so that pullulan was stopped, but lipid biosynthesis was actively enhanced. This study was the first to report that pullulan and lipid biosynthesis in yeast-like fungal cells were regulated by the Msn2 and cAMP-PKA signaling pathway. Elucidating the regulation mechanisms was important to understand their functions and enhance pullulan and lipid biosynthesis.

Formation and migration of α-dicarbonyl compounds during storage and reheating of a sugary food simulation system.

BACKGROUND: The thermal processing of food results in the formation of α-dicarbonyl compounds (α-DCs) such as glyoxal (GO), methylglyoxal (MGO), 2,3-butanedione (2,3-BD), and 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG), which are precursors of potentially harmful advanced glycation end products. Some of the α-DCs found in food products might result from chemical deterioration reactions during storage and reheating. A range of sugary food simulation systems were stored at three different temperatures (4, 25, and 37 °C) and reheated using three different processing methods to investigate the formation and migration of α-DCs. RESULTS: During 20 days of storage, the concentration of α-DCs declined, following which the concentration remained approximately constant. Methylglyoxal was the major α-DC affected during storage, its relative content decreasing from 233.71 to 44.12 µg mL-1 in the glucose-lysine system. The concentration of α-DCs decreased with increasing temperature. Microwave reheating increased the formation of α-DC compounds. The largest increases in 3-DG concentrations were observed in the maltose-lysine systems (24.94 to 35.74 µg mL-1 ). The concentration of α-DCs only changed a little in response to reheating at 100 °C, but declined when reheated at 150 °C. CONCLUSION: The concentration of α-DCs following storage and reheating depends on the type of sugar, lysine content, temperature, and method of reheating. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Age-Related Immunoreactivity Profiles to Diverse Mycobacterial Antigens in BCG-Vaccinated Chinese Population.

Long-term immunoreactivity to mycobacterial antigens in Bovis Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-vaccinated population is not well investigated. Herein, 361 volunteer healthy donors (HDs) with neonatal BCG vaccination from Shanghai region (China) were enrolled. They were subdivided into ESAT-6/CFP10- (E6C10-) and ESAT-6/CFP10+ (E6C10+) groups based on gamma-interferon release assays (IGRAs). Three mycobacterial antigens, including Rv0934, Rv3006, and Rv3841, were subjected to the determination of immunoreactivity by ELISPOT assay. The immunoreactivities to three mycobacterial antigens were firstly compared among TB patients (N=39), E6C10+ HDs (N=78, 21.61% of HDs) and E6C10- HDs (N=283, 78.39% of HDs). It was revealed that Rv3006 was dominant upon M.tb infection, while Rv3841 was likely to be more responsive upon latent TB infection. In E6C10- population, the immunoreactivity to Rv3841 maintained along with aging, whereas those to Rv3006 and Rv0934 attenuated in E6C10- HDs older than 45 years old. Our study implies the shift of dominant antigens at different infection statuses, providing the clues for the selection of mycobacterial antigens in vaccine development and precision revaccination in the future.

[Coagulation Properties for Whole Blood Stored at 4℃].

OBJECTIVE: To study the coagulation properties the refrigerated whole blood stored at 4℃. METHODS: Ten units of whole blood were obtained from healthy volunteer donors and stored at 4±2℃ for 21 days. Samples were collected on the day after donation and on days 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14 and 21 for delection including complete blood count, electrolyte, APTT, PT, Fg, blood coagulation factors, and thromboelastography(TEG). RESULTS: The levels of Hb, WBC, Plt, sodium and potassium in each sample accorded with standard of storing whole blood. The level of Hb, WBC, Plt and Na+ decreased along with prolonging of storage time, while the K+ level increased along with prolonging of stored time, APTT and PT prolonged along with prolonging of thored time, PT>17 min at d 21, the Fg level change was no-obvious, The level of factor Ⅴ and Ⅷ decreased more than 50 % of baseline on d 6 and 4 respectively; the levels of factor Ⅱ, Ⅶ, Ⅸ, Ⅹ, Ⅺ, Ⅻ showed decreasing trend, but their levels were less than 40 % of baseline values at d 21. TEG test showed that no abnormalily of R value was found, the abnormal valnes of K and Angle were observed at d 21, the abnormal value of MA was observed at d 14. CONCLUSION: The whole blood stored for 10 days possesses normal coagulation function showing important significance for treatment of hemorrhage from war injury and surgical openation of heart and chest.

Accelerated Glomerular Cell Senescence in Experimental Lupus Nephritis.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine whether senescence in renal glomeruli is involved in lupus nephritis (LN); the expression of senescence-associated ß-galactosidase (SA-ß-Gal) and its association with glomerular lesions were investigated in a mouse model of LN. MATERIAL AND METHODS Eighteen MRL/lpr mice with severe proteinuria were randomly divided into 2 equal groups and intraperitoneally injected with dexamethasone (DEX) or saline; 4 age-matched mice with mild proteinuria served as controls. Serum creatinine and urinary protein levels were analyzed, and kidney histological changes were observed by periodic acid-Schiff and Sirius Red staining. SA-ß-Gal was detected via histochemistry. Glomerular expression of collagen IV, α-SMA, and nephrin was analyzed by immunohistochemistry, and glomerular complement C3 deposition was tested by immunofluorescence. The relationships between SA-ß-Gal expression and renal function or glomerular lesion markers were determined by Spearman's correlation analysis. RESULTS Mice with severe proteinuria exhibited glomerular segmental sclerosis and endothelial cell proliferation. DEX administration suppressed these lesions but had no significant effect on 24-hour urinary protein levels. The elevated glomerular expression of SA-ß-Gal in proteinuric mice was attenuated by DEX treatment. In addition, DEX treatment markedly downregulated glomerular C3 deposition and collagen IV and α-SMA expression, while significantly increasing nephrin expression. Furthermore, SA-ß-Gal expression was positively correlated with urinary protein levels and expression of α-SMA. CONCLUSIONS Accelerated senescence of glomerular cells may contribute to glomerular injury in LN.

[Optimization of method for determination of Forsythia Fructus and discussion on the establishment of quality control standard for green (old) Forsythia Fructus].

In order to obtain the optimum method for content determination of Forsythia Fructus (FF), a variety methods for the sample preparation of FF were evaluated by the content determination methods of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. And an optimum method was screened and as follows: 30 times with 70% ethanol solution in ultrasonic extractor for half an hour. The method can achieve the best effect of simultaneously extracting forsythoside A and forsythin. Then, a HPLC method for simultaneous determination of forsythoside A and forsythin was established by methodology. The HPLC chromatographic conditions: the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile (A)-0.4% acetic acid solution (B) with gradient elution [0-33 min，15%A，33-43 min，15%-25%A，43-60 min，25% A] was at the flow rate of 1 mL·min⁻¹, the column temperature was 25 °C, and the detection wavelength was 330 and 277 nm. Moreover, the contents of forsythoside A and forsythin for 10 Green Forsythia Fructus (GF) and 5 Old Forsythia Fructus (OF) were determined by this method and Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The result not only displayed that the established method is effective, rapid, and simple, but also showed that the contents of forsythoside A and forsythin for GF and OF were significantly different. Which implied that the forsythoside A and forsythin limit standard for GF and OF should be controled by different values. This studies provide an important basis for the establishment of the content determination of FF and the quality control standard for GF and OF.