PLK1 protects intestinal barrier function during sepsis by targeting mitochondrial dynamics through TANK-NF-κB signalling.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal barrier integrity in the pathogenesis of sepsis is critical. Despite an abundance of evidence, the molecular mechanism of the intestinal barrier in sepsis pathology remains unclear. Here, we report a protective role of polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) in intestinal barrier integrity during sepsis. METHODS: Mice with PLK1 overexpression (CAG-PLK1 mice) or PLK1 inhibition (BI2536-treated mice) underwent caecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to establish a sepsis model. The intestinal barrier function, apoptosis in the intestinal epithelium, mitochondrial function and NF-κB signalling activity were evaluated. To suppress the activation of NF-κB signalling, the NF-κB inhibitor PDTC, was administered. The Caco-2 cell line was chosen to establish an intestinal epithelial injury model in vitro. RESULTS: Sepsis destroyed intestinal barrier function, induced excessive apoptosis in the intestinal epithelium, and disrupted the balance of mitochondrial dynamics in wild-type mice. PLK1 overexpression alleviated sepsis-induced damage to the intestinal epithelium by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB signalling. PLK1 colocalized and interacted with TANK in Caco-2 cells. Transfecting Caco-2 cells with TANK-SiRNA suppressed NF-κB signalling and ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis and the high permeability of cells induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Furthermore, TANK overexpression impaired the protective effect of PLK1 on LPS-induced injuries in Caco-2 cells. CONCLUSION: Our findings reveal that the PLK1/TANK/NF-κB axis plays a crucial role in sepsis-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction by regulating mitochondrial dynamics and apoptosis in the intestinal epithelium and might be a potential therapeutic target in the clinic.

Effects of electroacupuncture on Golgi apparatus stress in rats with endotoxin-induced acute lung injury / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on Golgi apparatus stress in the rats with endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI).Methods:Twenty clean-grade male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 2 months, weighing 160-185 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=5 each) according to a random number table method: control group (C group), endotoxin group (LPS group), EA plus endotoxin group (EA+ LPS group), and sham EA plus endotoxin group (SEA+ LPS group).The model of endotoxin-induced ALI was developed by intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 5 mg/kg in anesthetized animals.Bilateral Zusanli (ST36) and Neiguan (PC6) acupoints were stimulated with an electric stimulator for 30 min once a day at 1-4 days before and during model preparation in group EA+ LPS.In group SEA+ LPS, acupuncture needles were inserted to the surface of ST36 and PC6 acupoints with no current stimulation, and the other parameters were the same as those previously described in group EA+ LPS.Blood samples were collected from the abdominal aorta at 6 h after development of the model for measurement of concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The animals were sacrificed and lungs were removed for microscopic examination of the pathological changes of lung tissues (with a light microscope) and morphological changes of Golgi apparatus (with a transmission electron microscope) and for determination of wet to dry lung weight (W/D) ratio, cell apoptosis index (by TUNEL), activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (by WST-1 method), content of malondialdehyde (MDA) (by TBA method), and expression of Golgi matrix protein 130 (GM130), Golgin-84 and Golgi phosphoprotein 3 (GOLPH3) protein and mRNA in lung tissues (by Western blot or real-time polymerase chain reaction). Results:Compared with group C, the lung injury score, W/D ratio, cell apoptosis index, serum IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations and MDA content were significantly increased, SOD activity was decreased, the expression of GM130 and Golgin-84 protein and mRNA was down-regulated, the expression of GOLPH3 protein and mRNA was up-regulated ( P<0.05), and Golgi apparatus was swollen and vacuolated in the other three groups.Compared with group LPS, lung injury score, W/D ratio, cell apoptosis index, serum IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations and MDA content were significantly decreased, SOD activity was increased, the expression of GM130 and Golgin-84 protein and mRNA was up-regulated, the expression of GOLPH3 protein and mRNA was down-regulated ( P<0.05), and swelling and vacuolization of Golgi apparatus were reduced in group EA+ LPS, and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group SEA+ LPS ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism by which EA reduces endotoxin-induced ALI may be related to inhibition of Golgi apparatus stress in lung tissues of rats.

Interindividual Variation in Cardiorespiratory Fitness: A Candidate Gene Study in Han Chinese People.

Cardiorespiratory fitness, as assessed through peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), is a powerful health indicator. We aimed to evaluate the influence of several candidate causal genetic variants on VO2peak level in untrained Han Chinese people. A total of 1009 participants (566 women; age [mean ± SD] 40 ± 14 years, VO2peak 29.9 ± 7.1 mL/kg/min) performed a maximal incremental cycling test for VO2peak determination. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral whole blood, and genotyping analysis was performed on 125 gene variants. Using age, sex, and body mass as covariates, and setting a stringent threshold p-value of 0.0004, only one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), located in the gene encoding angiotensin-converting enzyme (rs4295), was associated with VO2peak (ß = 0.87; p < 2.9 × 10-4). Stepwise multiple regression analysis identified a panel of three SNPs (rs4295 = 1.1%, angiotensin II receptor type 1 rs275652 = 0.6%, and myostatin rs7570532 = 0.5%) that together accounted for 2.2% (p = 0.0007) of the interindividual variance in VO2peak. Participants carrying six 'favorable' alleles had a higher VO2peak (32.3 ± 8.1 mL/kg/min) than those carrying only one favorable allele (24.6 ± 5.2 mL/kg/min, p < 0.0001). In summary, VO2peak at the pre-trained state is partly influenced by several polymorphic variations in candidate genes, but they represent a minor portion of the variance.

Effect of ABO blood group factor on anticoagulation with aspirin / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective To evaluate the effect of ABO blood group factor on anticoagulation with aspirin.Methods Seventy-three patients of both sexes,aged 45-70 yr,who did not take aspirin recently,were divided into 4 groups according to the blood group:blood group A group (group A,n=18),blood group B group (group B,n=20),blood group AB group (group AB,n=15),and blood group O group (group O,n =20).Aspirin 100 mg/d was taken orally for 2 weeks.Fasting blood samples were taken from the peripheral vein before administration (T1) and at 2 weeks after administration (T2) for measurement of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT),thrombin time (TT),prothrombin time (PT),fibrinogen (Fib),platelet count (Plt) and platelet aggregation rate.Results There was no significant difference in Plt at T1,2 or platelet aggregation rate at T1 among the four groups (P＞0.05).Compared with A,B and AB groups,PT,APTT and TT were significantly prolonged and Fib was decreased at T1,and platelet aggregation rate was decreased at T2 in group O (P＜0.05).Compared with the baseline at T1,no significant change was found in PT,APTF,TT,Fib or Plt at T2 (P＞0.05),and platelet aggregation rate was significantly decreased at T2 in the four groups (P＜0.05).Conclusion ABO blood group factor is related to the individual variation in anticoagulation with aspirin,patients of A,B and AB blood group have the same sensitivity to anticoagulation with aspirin,and patients of O blood group are more sensitive to anticoagulation with aspirin.