Understanding the cytotoxicity of fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) is crucial for their applications, and various biochemical assays have been used to study the effects of CDs on cells. Knowledge on the effects of CDs from a biophysical perspective is integral to the recognition of their cytotoxicity, however the related information is very limited. Here, we report that atomic force microscopy (AFM) can be used as an effective tool for studying the effects of CDs on cells from the biophysical perspective. We achieve this by integrating AFM-based nanomechanics with AFM-based imaging. We demonstrate the performance of this method by measuring the influence of CDs on living human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells at the single-cell level. We find that high-dose CDs can mechanically induce elevated normalized hysteresis (energy dissipation during the cell deformation) and structurally impair actin skeleton. The nanomechanical change highly correlates with the alteration of actin filaments, indicating that CDs-induced changes in SH-SY5Y cells are revealed in-depth from the AFM-based biophysical aspect. We validate the reliability of the biophysical observations using conventional biological methods including cell viability test, fluorescent microscopy, and western blot assay. Our work contributes new and significant information on the cytotoxicity of CDs from the biophysical perspective.
Carbon , Cell Survival , Microscopy, Atomic Force , Quantum Dots , Humans , Carbon/chemistry , Quantum Dots/chemistry , Cell Survival/drug effects , Neurons/drug effects , Neurons/cytology , Neurons/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Particle Size , Surface Properties , Actin Cytoskeleton/metabolism , Actin Cytoskeleton/drug effects , Actins/metabolism , Actins/chemistry
Development of high-performance metal sulfides anode materials is a great challenge for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). In this work, a cobalt-based imidazolate framework (ZIF-67) were firstly synthesized and applied as precursor. After the successive surface etching, ion exchange and sulfidation processes, the final cobalt-vanadium sulfide yolk-shell nanocages were obtained (CoS2/VS4@NC) with VS4 shell and CoS2 yolk encapsulated into nitrogen doped carbon frameworks. This yolk-shell nanocage structure effectively increases the specific surface area and provides enough space for inhibiting the volume change during charge/discharge processes. Besides, the nitrogen doped carbon skeleton greatly improves the ionic conductivity and facilitates ion transport. When used as the anode materials for SIBs, the yolk-shell nanocages of CoS2/VS4@NC electrode exhibits excellent rate capability and stable cycle performance. Notably, it displays a long-term cycling stability with excellent capacity of 417.28 mA h g-1 after 700 cycles at a high current density of 5 A/g. This developed approach here provides a new route for the design and synthesis of various yolk-shell nanocages nanomaterials from enormous MOFs with multitudinous compositions and morphologies and can be extended to the application into other secondary batteries and energy storage fields.
Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) show considerable potential in next-generation high performance batteries, but the heavy shuttle effect and sluggish redox kinetics of polysulfide hinder their further applications. In this paper, to address these shortcomings of LSBs, Co3Fe7/Co5.47N heterostructure were prepared and constructed from their Fe-Co Prussian blue analogue precursors under the condition of high temperature pyrolysis. The obtained Co3Fe7/Co5.47N display excellent immobilization-diffusion-conversion performance for polysulfides by synergistic effect in successfully hindering the shuttle effect of polysulfides. When the Co3Fe7/Co5.47N heterostructure were applied to modify the commercial polypropylene (PP) separator, the batteries displayed fantastic rate capacity and cycling stability. Specifically, the Co3Fe7/Co5.47N-PP batteries exhibit an extremely satisfactory initial specific capacity of 1430 m Ah/g at 0.5C, wonderful rate capacity of around 780 m Ah/g at 3C and superior per cycle decaying rate of 0.08 % for 500 cycles at 0.5C. When the current density reaches to 2C, the batteries still exhibit 501 m Ah/g after 900 cycles with 0.015 % per cycle decay rate. Besides, even in the high loading of sulfur (3.0 mg cm-2) at 0.5C, the superior cycling stability (0.075 % per cycle decay rate after 200 cycles) and high specific capacity (741 mAh/g after 200 cycles) can still be performed. Thus, this work provides a facile method for high-powered and long-life Li-S batteries with eminent entrapping-conversion processes of polysulfides.
In this manuscript, nickel/cobalt bimetallic nanocrystals confining into three-dimensional interpenetrating dual-carbon conductive structure (NiCo@C/CNTs) were successfully manufactured by annealing its core-shell structure (Ni-ZIF-67@ZIF-8) precursor under the high temperature. The results presented that the bimetallic nickel and cobalt nanocrystals with superior catalytic activity could quickly convert solid Li2S/Li2S2into soluble LiPSs and effectively decrease the energy barrier. While the hierarchical CNT-porous carbon dual frameworks can provide quick electron/ion transport because of their large specific surface area and the exposure of enough active sites. When used as the separator modifier for lithium sulfur batteries, the battery properties were significantly improved with high specific capacity, outstanding rate capability, and long-term cycle stability. Specifically, its initial specific capacity can achieve to 1038.51 mAh g-1 at 0.5C. At the high rate of 3C, it still delivers satisfactory discharge capacity of 555 mAhg-1 and the capacity decay rate is only 0.065% per cycle after 1000 cycles at 1C. Furthermore, even exposed to heavy sulfur loading (3.61 mg/cm2), they still maintain promising cycle stability. Therefore, such kinds of MOFs derivative with powerful chemical immobilization and catalytic conversion for polysulfides provides a novel guidance for the modification separator and the potential application in the field of high-performance Li-S batteries.
Lithium sulfur batteries (LSBs) have been considered as one of the most promising options for next generation high-performance batteries. However, the heavy shuttle effect and inferior redox conversion during the charge/discharge processes of the batteries have greatly hindered their further applications. In this study, to address these disadvantages of LSBs, Fe/Fe3C/FeN0.0324 heterostructured nanocubes were designed and prepared through high temperature carbonization process using Prussian blue precursor. Then the Fe/Fe3C/FeN0.0324 nanocubes were used to modify the commercial polypropylene (PP) separator, which can greatly catalyze the redox transformation of polysulfides and provide sufficient active sites for chemisorption. As result, the modified separator endowed LSBs with excellent rate capacity and cycle stability, delivering a high-capacity of 1025 mAh/g at 0.5 C with nearly 100% coulombic efficiency. It also displayed a superb cycling performance with a per-cycle capacity attenuation rate of 0.09% after 300 cycles. When the current density increased to 1 C with the S loading of 1.73 mg cm-2, Fe/Fe3C/FeN0.0324-PP separator presented a satisfactory capacity decay rate of 0.05% per cycle after 1000 cycles. Besides, it also presented outstanding electrochemical performance even at high sulfur loading of 4.5 mg cm-2. This work has provided a new avenue for the design of nanomaterials with synergistic effect of catalytic conversion and chemisorption of polysulfides for the promotion of high-performance Li-S batteries.
In this work, the fabrication of strengthened triple network hydrogels was successfully achieved based on in-situ polymerization of polyacrylamide by combining both chemical and physical cross-linking methods. The ion conductive phase of lithium chloride (LiCl) and solvent in the hydrogel were regulated through soaking solution. The pressure and temperature sensing behavior and durability of the hydrogel were investigated. The hydrogel containing 1 mol/L LiCl and 30 %v/v glycerol displayed a pressure sensitivity of 4.16 kPa-1 and a temperature sensitivity of 2.04 %/oC ranging from 20 to 50 °C. The durability results reveal that the hydrogel could maintain water retention rate of 69 % after 20 days of ageing. The presence of LiCl disrupted the interactions among water molecules and made it possible for the hydrogel to respond to changes in environment humidity. The dual signal testing revealed that the delay of temperature response over time (about 100 s) is much different from the rapidity of pressure response (in 0.5 s). This leads to the obvious separation of the temperature-pressure dual signal output. The assembled hydrogel sensor was further applied to monitor human motion and skin temperature. The signals can be distinguished by different resistance variation values and curve shapes in the typical temperature-pressure dual signal performance of human breathing. This demonstrates that this ion conductive hydrogel has the potential for application in flexible sensors and human-machine interfaces.
In this work, selenide-doped bismuth sulfides (Bi2S3-xSex) was successfully prepared through Se doping Bi2S3 Se to improve the electronic conductivity and increase the interlayer spacing. Then the anisotropic ReS2 nanosheet arrays were grown on the surface of Bi2S3-xSex to form a hierarchical heterostructure (Bi2S3-xSex@ReS2). The doping and construction of heterostructure processes can greatly improve the electrochemical conductivity of electrode materials and relieve the volume expansion during the continuous charge/discharge processes. While applied as SIBs anode, the specific capacity of 330 mAh g-1 was maintained after 450 cycles at the current density of 1.0 A g-1. It can also keep 200 mAh g-1 specific capacity after 900 cycles at 1.0 A g-1 for the anode of PIBs. This heterogeneous engineering and doping dual strategies could provide a good idea for the synthesis of new bimetallic sulfides with outstanding battery performance for SIBs and PIBs.
Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) have aroused great research interest due to their high theoretical capacity and high energy density. To further develop lithium-sulfur batteries, it has become more and more important to put more efforts in promoting the adsorption and rapid catalytic conversion of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). Herein, Ni/Co bimetallic phosphides were encapsulated into nitrogen-doped dual carbon conductive network (NiCoP@NC) by annealing and phosphorizing Ni-ZIF-67 precursor at high temperature. Due to their numerous co-adsorption/catalytic sites and high conductivity of carbon skeleton, the encapsulated Ni/Co phosphides particles could significantly enhance the anchoring and catalytic conversion of LiPSs and provide ultrafast channels for Li+ transport. When used as a modified separator for LSBs, the cells displayed superior performance with an initial capacity of 1083.4 m Ah g-1 at 0.5 C and outstanding cycle stability with a capacity decay rate of only 0.09% per cycle for 300 cycles. Besides, even at high sulfur loading (3.2 mg cm-2), they still present satisfactory performance. Therefore, this study presents a novel strategy on how to use MOF derived bimetallic phosphides with chemical adsorption and catalytic conversion of polysulfides for high-power advanced lithium-sulfur batteries.
In this work, peony-like structured MoS2 with intercalation of polyaniline and crystal defects was prepared by a simple hydrothermal method. The defect-rich structure and broad interlayer distance can effectively provide vast ion transport paths to enhance the ion diffusion rate. PA-MoS2 can maintain 157.7 mA h g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 after 80 cycles and 77.8 mA h g-1 at 1 A g-1 after 750 cycles.
Purpose: In schistosomiasis-associated hepatic fibrosis, the role of murine UL16-binding protein-like transcript 1 (MULT1), the strongest ligand of natural killer group 2-member D receptor (NKG2D), remains unclear. Here, Schistosoma japonicum-infected mice administered with MULT1-encoding DNA were used to test MULT1 as a potential therapy for schistosomiasis-associated hepatic fibrosis and explore relevant mechanisms. Materials and Methods: A recombinant plasmid encoding MULT1 (p-rMULT1) was constructed and administered to Schistosoma japonicum-infected BALB/c mice via hydrodynamic tail vein injection. Egg granulomas in liver, hepatic fibrosis biomarkers and levels of cytokines were investigated. Comparisons of CD4+ T, CD8+ T, NK and NKT proportions as well as their phenotype were performed not only between Schistosoma infected, p-rMULT1 treated group and Schistosoma infected, backbone plasmid pEGFP-N1 treated group but also between infected, nontreated group and health control group. Results: Reduced area of granuloma formation and fibrosis around single eggs, downregulated expression of collagen I, α-smooth muscle actin, TGF-ß and IL-10, and upregulated expression of IFN-γ, were observed in the livers of p-rMULT1 treated mice. p-rMULT1 treatment improved Schistosoma infection impacted immune microenvironment by modulating proportion of CD4+ T CD8+ T, natural killer (NK) and NKT cells, enhancing expression of NKG2D, in lymphocytes, and augmenting IFN-γ secretion by CD4+ T, CD8+ T, NK and NKT cells, as well as partially reversing some other phenotype changes of lymphocytes. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, we provided the first in vivo evidence that MULT1 is a favorable anti-fibrosis factor in the context of schistosomiasis. The inhibitory effect of MULT1 overexpression on schistosomiasis associated with hepatic fibrosis may result from augmenting the proportion and function of NKG2D-expressing immune cells, and from enhancing NK- and T-cell activation, as well as regulating the helper T (Th)1/Th2 balance.
Recently, aqueous zinc-ion batteries have become a hot research topic in the field of grid-scale application, which can be attributed to their low-cost, aqueous electrolyte and dominant theoretical reversible capacity. Nevertheless, the lack of suitable cathode materials greatly hinders the development of aqueous zinc-ion batteries. In this work, we adopt a simple one-step synthesis strategy to prepare (NH4)2V6O16 with an intercalation of Na+ and H2O, which exhibits a novel crystal structure in which the ammonium ion, crystal water, and sodium ion co-locate in the V3O8 layers. The co-intercalation not only effectively enhances the binding energy between V-O layers to suppress vanadium dissolution but also successfully improves the structural stability to alleviate the structural collapse during the cyclic process. As result, (NH4)2V6O16 with the intercalation of crystal water and Na+ presents a remarkable reversible discharge capacity of 423.9 mA h g-1 after 90 cycles at 0.1 A g-1 with an excellent energy density of 350.3 W h kg-1 and demonstrates an outstanding specific capacity of 182.5 mA h g-1 at the high current density of 5 A g-1 upon 1400 cycles during the ultra-wide voltage window of 0.1-2.0 V.
BACKGROUND: Osteitis fibrosa cystica is a rare, benign and osteolytic lesion attributed to hyperparathyroidism. The high level of parathyroid hormone cause rapid bone loss. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient is a 50-year-old male complaining of severe and persistent pain in the right knee joint. Imaging studies were suspicious for a benign tumor in the right distal femur. Biopsy under CT guidance showed numerous osteoclast aggregation and hemosiderin deposition around the bone trabeculae. Blood tests disclosed significantly elevated parathyroid hormone, serum calcium, serum alkaline phosphatase. Parathyroid ultrasonography and CT scan showed a solid mass in front of the trachea at the thoracic entrance plane. After resection of the mass, the clinical symptoms were relieved and the radiological results were significantly improved, which further confirmed the diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic diseases-associated bone lesions require a comprehensive diagnosis of multiple inspection items. An interprofessional team approach to the diagnosis and treatment of osteitis fibrosa cystica will provide the best outcome.
Bone Neoplasms , Hyperparathyroidism , Osteitis Fibrosa Cystica , Parathyroid Neoplasms , Bone Neoplasms/diagnosis , Bone Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Femur/diagnostic imaging , Femur/pathology , Femur/surgery , Humans , Hyperparathyroidism/complications , Male , Middle Aged , Osteitis Fibrosa Cystica/diagnostic imaging , Osteitis Fibrosa Cystica/etiology , Parathyroid Neoplasms/diagnosis , Parathyroid Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging
Core-shell structured Ni-ZIF-67@ZIF-8 derived bimetal selenides encapsulating into a 3D interpenetrating dual-carbon framework (Ni3Se4@CoSe2@C/CNTs) have been designed and prepared via carbonization and subsequent selenization processes. In this hierarchical structure, Ni3Se4@CoSe2 nanocrystals were uniformly dispersed into the 3D carbon frameworkstructure/carbon nanotubes networks, which greatly enhanced the electronic conductivity and further enabled ultrafast Na-ion diffusion kinetics. When used as anode materials of sodium ion battery (SIB), The Ni3Se4@CoSe2@C/CNTs electrode delivered the excellent rate capability of 206 mA h g-1 at 3 A g-1 and marvelous cyclic stability with capacity retention of 243 mA h g-1 after 600 cycles at 1 A g-1. This research provides a new way to prepare bimetallic selenide derived from MOF precursor with amazing heterostructure as the advanced anode materials for SIBs.
Temperate-tropical comparisons of avian life history traits are helpful to understand the different selective pressures placed on birds by different climate zones. Although there have been many comparative studies targeting multiple species in different regions, there are few comparative studies on the reproductive successes of the same species between tropical and temperate regions. In this study, we monitored the breeding activities of the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) simultaneously at a single tropical site and a single temperate site in China, compared the breeding performances of the two populations, and investigated the effects of weather conditions on reproductive success separately. The clutch and brood sizes of the Barn Swallow at the topical site were significantly smaller than those at the temperate site. Furthermore, the breeding success of the Barn Swallow at the tropical site was significantly lower than that at the temperate site. The mean daytime temperature had a negative effect on the clutch size and brood size at both sites; it had a negative effect on nestling survival at the tropical site, but not the temperate site. This study will help us understand the adaptation strategies of widely distributed bird species in different environments, and how climate change will affect birds in different climate zones.
Ternary transition metal oxides have attracted increasing attention due to their many merits, and will enhance electrochemical performance via the synergistic effects of the different single metal oxides. Herein, ZnCo2O4 nanoparticles encapsulated in nitrogen-doped carbon (ZnCo2O4@NC) polyhedrons have been successfully prepared through a facile two-step method. The as-prepared products had a uniform size and consisted mainly of interconnected ZnCo2O4 nanoparticles (NPs), which were uniformly distributed in the materials. As a result, the ZnCo2O4@NC polyhedrons of ZnCo-700 show a superb specific capacity of approximately 1601 mA h g-1 over 50 cycles at 0.1 A g-1. A reversible capacity of 1082 mA h g-1 was retained after 300 cycles at 1 A g-1, and a superb reversible capacity of 775 mA h g-1 was attained even when the current density was increased to 5 A g-1. These distinguished electrochemical properties could be ascribed mainly to the uniquely advantageous structural and compositional features.
AIMS: The Schistosoma japonicum (S japonicum)-infected ApoE gene deficiency (ApoE-/- ) mice were used to determine effect of ApoE on hepatic immunopathology. METHODS: Murine activities and appetite, body weight, and ratio of liver weight to its body weight (Hepatic mass index, HMI) were observed. Worm load and liver egg burden were evaluated as the infection intensity. Number and size of liver egg granulomas and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were investigated. We analysed hepatic fibrosis by markers of fibrosis in tissue, detected hepatic Th17 and Treg frequency by flow cytometry, and measured hepatic expressions of RORγt, Foxp3, IL-17A and TGF-ß1 via qPCR. Lipid metabolism was determined by serum levels of cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) as well as hepatic Oil red O staining. RESULTS: In the infected ApoE-/- mice, the increased infection intensity aggravated the hepatic immunopathology (evidenced by increased HMI, elevated egg granulomas and increased ALT levels) and fibrosis (increased hepatic collagen deposition). ApoE deficiency resulted in significantly elevated ratio of hepatic Th17/Treg and higher serum levels of TC and TG, along with higher level of hepatic Oil red O staining. CONCLUSIONS: ApoE deficiency promotes hepatic pathology and fibrosis by exacerbating Th17/Treg imbalance and altering lipid metabolism in murine schistosomiasis japonica.
Apolipoproteins E/deficiency , Schistosomiasis japonica/immunology , Schistosomiasis japonica/pathology , T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/pathology , Th17 Cells/pathology , Animals , Apolipoproteins E/genetics , Female , Lipid Metabolism , Liver Cirrhosis/parasitology , Liver Cirrhosis/pathology , Mice , Parasite Load , Schistosoma japonicum/pathogenicity , Schistosomiasis japonica/metabolism , Schistosomiasis japonica/parasitology
BACKGROUND: The increased activity of regulatory B cells (Breg) is known to be involved in immunosuppression during helminth infection, which is characterized by inducing IL-10-producing Breg cells. However, the current knowledge of B cell subsets differentiation and IL-10-independent immunoregulatory mechanisms of B cells in schistosomiasis is insufficient. METHODS: BALB/c mice were percutaneously infected with cercariae for investigating the profile of B cell subsets during Schistosoma japonicum infection. B cells isolated from the spleen or peritoneal cavity were analyzed for the regulatory phenotype after stimulation with soluble egg antigens (SEA) in vitro. CD4+ T cells were then cocultured with B cells pretreated with or without anti-PD-L1 antibody for investigating the role of B cells from infected mice on regulating CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, the in vivo administration of anti-PD-L1 antibody was conducted to investigate the role of PD-L1 in regulating host immunity during infection. RESULTS: The percentages of peritoneal and splenic B-1a cells, as well as marginal zone B (MZB) cells were decreased at eight and twelve weeks after infection compared to those from uninfected mice. In splenic B cells, TGF-ß expression was increased at eight weeks but declined at twelve weeks of infection, and PD-L1 expression was elevated at both eight and twelve weeks of infection. In addition, SEA stimulation in vitro significantly promoted the expression of IL-10 in peritoneal B cells and CD5 in splenic B cells, and the SEA-stimulated splenic and peritoneal B cells preferentially expressed PD-L1 and TGF-ß. The splenic B cells from infected mice were able to suppress the function of Th1 and Th2 cells in vitro but to expand the expression of Tfh transcription factor Bcl6, which was further enhanced by blocking PD-L1 of B cells before co-cultivation. Moreover, Th2 response and Bcl6 expression in CD4+ T cells were also increased in vivo by blocking PD-L1 after infection, although the hepatic pathology was slightly influenced. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed that S. japonicum infection modulates the differentiation of B cell subsets that have the capability to affect the CD4+ T cell response. This study contributes to a better understanding of B cells immune response during schistosomiasis.
B-Lymphocytes/immunology , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Neglected Diseases/immunology , Phenotype , Schistosomiasis japonica/immunology , Animals , B-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology , B7-H1 Antigen/immunology , Cell Differentiation , Disease Models, Animal , Female , Interleukin-10/immunology , Liver/pathology , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Spleen/immunology , Th1 Cells , Th2 Cells/immunology , Transforming Growth Factor beta
HLA-A2 is the most common serological HLA type among all ethnic groups. Through advances in DNA typing, more than 800 subtypes of HLA-A2 have been identified, and the existence of heterogeneity of antigen specificity among the HLA-A2 subtypes has been suggested by retrospective analyses of allogeneic transplantation patients and by studies of antigen amino acid structure. However, prior to this study, the antigenicity of a given subtype or the mismatch extent between two given subtypes could not be studied in vitro. Here, we used a modified autologous lymphocyte-monocyte coculture method to reveal heterogeneity of antigen specificity among HLA-A2 subtypes. The coculture was set up with HLA-A2 (non-A*02:01) lymphocytes and monocytes, and the monocytes were coated with an HLA-A*02:01/IgG1-Fc fusion protein (dimer) by high-affinity binding of the IgG1-Fc to FcgRI. Lymphocyte proliferation following coculture indicated that HLA-A*02:01 showed antigenicity against the HLA-A2 (non-A*02:01) subtype. Among the most frequent HLA-A2 subtypes in the Chinese population (HLA-A*02:01, -A*02:03, -A*02:06 and -A*02:07), we identified significant -A*02:01 antigenicity for T cells from -A*02:03 or -A*02:06 but not -A*02:07 individuals. Our findings were consistent with retrospective studies of allograft patients with a limited number of involved subtypes, indicating that this modified coculture method provides a practical and reliable means to study the antigenicity of HLA allele subtypes in vitro.
Antibody Specificity/immunology , HLA-A2 Antigen/immunology , Monocytes/immunology , T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology , Alleles , Coculture Techniques/methods , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/immunology , Lymphocyte Activation/immunology , Retrospective Studies
Long non-coding RNA heart and neural crest derivatives expressed 2-antisense RNA 1 (lncRNA HAND2-AS1) is a known tumor suppressor gene in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma; however, its function in osteosarcoma is currently unknown. In the present study, HAND2-AS1 expression in the tumor tissues and adjacent healthy tissues of patients with osteosarcoma, and in the serum of patients and heathy controls was detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. lncRNA HAND2-AS1 small interfering RNA was transfected into osteosarcoma cells, and cell proliferation, glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) expression and glucose uptake were detected using the Cell Counting Kit-8, western blotting and glucose uptake assays, respectively. The results revealed that the expression levels of HAND2-AS1 were reduced in cancer tissues compared with those in healthy tissues. Levels of HAND2-AS1 were also reduced in the serum of patients with osteosarcoma compared with those of the control subjects. A significant association was observed between serum levels of HAND2-AS1 and tumor size, but not tumor metastasis. HAND2-AS1-knockdown promoted osteosarcoma cell proliferation, increased glucose uptake and upregulated GLUT1 expression. It was therefore concluded that lncRNA HAND2-AS1 may inhibit the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells by targeting glucose metabolism.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by articular cartilage degradation and joint inflammation. A previous study showed that microRNA (miR)6713p is involved in the development of OA, however, its function and molecular target in chondrocytes during the pathogenesis of OA remain to be fully elucidated. In the present study, miR6713p was significantly downregulated in knee OA cartilage tissues compared with normal cartilage tissues. The expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)1ß, IL6, IL8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α, in the knee OA cartilage tissues were significantly higher than those in the normal cartilage tissues. Through gainoffunction and lossoffunction experiments, miR6713p was shown to significantly affect matrix synthesis gene expression, cell proliferation, apoptosis and inflammation in chondrocytes from patients with OA. Subsequent bioinformatics analysis identified potential target sites of the miR6713p located in the 3'untranslated region of TNF receptorassociated factor (TRAF3). The results of a dualluciferase reporter assay showed that TRAF3 is a target gene of miR6713p. Western blot analysis demonstrated that miR6713p inhibited the gene expression of TRAF3. Furthermore, the restoration of TRAF3 markedly abrogated the effect of miR6713p. Taken together, the present study suggests that miR6713p may be important in the pathogenesis of OA through targeting TRAF3 and regulating chondrocyte apoptosis and inflammation, which may be a potential molecular target for OA treatment.
Chondrocytes/pathology , MicroRNAs/genetics , Osteoarthritis, Knee/genetics , TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 3/genetics , Aged , Apoptosis , Cell Proliferation , Chondrocytes/cytology , Chondrocytes/metabolism , Down-Regulation , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Osteoarthritis, Knee/pathology , Up-Regulation
