Association rule mining of aircraft event causes based on the Apriori algorithm.

To reveal complex causes of aircraft events, this paper aims to mine association rules between the trigger probability and relative strength via a modified Apriori algorithm. Clustering is adopted for data preprocessing and TF-IDF value calculation. Causative item sets of aircraft events are obtained based on the accident causation 2-4 model and are coded to establish code indicators. By avoiding the use of statistical methodologies to resolve not-a-number (NaN) values for altering the interrelations among causes, an enhancement in the Apriori algorithm is proposed by considering frequent items. By extracting frequent patterns, in this paper, all the association rules that satisfy three perspectives (support, confidence and lift) are determined by constantly generating and pruning candidate item sets. A network graph is used to visualize the association rules between different unsafe events and all types of causes. Finally, 9835 representative pieces of data, including general unsafe events, general incidents and serious incidents from the Southwest Air Traffic Management Bureau, are selected for analysis. The results show that improper energy allocation, poor conflict resolution ability, inadequate onsite management duties, adoption of a luck mentality, and occurrence of controller oversight are highly correlated with general unsafe events, and failure to rectify incorrect recitation is notably correlated with general incidents, while inadequate manual promotion, lack of conflict judgement and insufficient safety management are strongly correlated with serious incidents. This study quantitatively reveals the potential patterns and characteristics of mutual interactions among various types of historical aircraft events and highlights directions for controllable prevention and prediction of aircraft events.

Structural analysis and in vitro fermentation characteristics of an Avicennia marina fruit RG-I pectin as a potential prebiotic.

Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. is a highly salt-tolerant mangrove, and its fruit has been traditionally used for treating constipation and dysentery. In this study, a pectin (AMFPs-0-1) was extracted and isolated from this fruit for the first time, its structure was analyzed, and the effects on the human gut microbiota were investigated. The results indicated that AMFPs-0-1 with a molecular weight of 798 kDa had a backbone consisting of alternating →2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→ and →4)-α-D-GalpA-(1→ residues and side chains composed of →3-α-L-Araf-(1→-linked arabinan with a terminal ß-L-Araf, →5-α-L-Araf-(1→-linked arabinan, and →4)-ß-D-Galp-(1→-linked galactan that linked to the C-4 positions of all α-L-Rhap residues in the backbone. It belongs to a type I rhamnogalacturonan (RG-I) pectin but has no arabinogalactosyl chains. AMFPs-0-1 could be consumed by human gut microbiota and increase the abundance of some beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium, Mitsuokella, and Megasphaera, which could help fight digestive disorders. These findings provide a structural basis for the potential application of A. marina fruit RG-I pectic polysaccharides in improving human intestinal health.

Location decision of low-altitude service station for transfer flight based on modified immune algorithm.

The location of Low-Altitude Flight Service Station (LAFSS) is a comprehensive decision work, and it is also a multi-objective optimization problem (MOOP) with constraints. As a swarm intelligence search algorithm for solving constrained MOOP, the Immune Algorithm (IA) retains the excellent characteristics of genetic algorithm. Using some characteristic information or knowledge of the problem selectively and purposefully, the degradation phenomenon in the optimization process can be suppressed and the global optimum can be achieved. However, due to the large range involved in the low-altitude transition flight, the geographical characteristics, economic level and service requirements among the candidate stations in the corridor are quite different, and the operational safety and service efficiency are interrelated and conflict with each other. And all objectives cannot be optimal. Therefore, this article proposes a Modified Immune Algorithm (MIA) with two-layer response to solve the constrained multi-objective location mathematical model of LAFSS. The first layer uses the demand track as the cell membrane positioning pattern recognition service response distance to trigger the innate immunity to achieve the basic requirements of security service coverage. In the second layer, the expansion and upgrading of adjacent candidate sites are compared to the pathogen's effector, and the adaptive immunity is directly or indirectly triggered again through the cloning, mutation and reproduction between candidate sites to realize the multi-objective equilibrium of the scheme. Taking 486,000 km2 of Sichuan Province as an example, MIA for LAFSS is simulated by the MATLAB platform. Based on the Spring open source application framework of Java platform, the cesiumjs map data is called through easyui, and the visualization of site selection scheme is presented with the terrain data of Map World as the background. The experimental results show that, compared with dynamic programming and ordinary immunization, the immune trigger mode of double response and the improved algorithm of operation parameter combination designed by the Taguchi experiment, the total economic cost of location selection is reduced by 26.4%, the service response time is reduced by 25%, the repeat coverage rate is reduced by 29.5% and the effective service area is increased by 17.5%. The security risk, service efficiency and location cost are balanced. The present work is to provide an effective location method for the layout number and location of local transfer flight service stations. For complex scenes with larger scale of low-altitude flight supply and demand and larger terrain changes in the region, the above research methods can be used to effectively split and reduce the dimension.

Exhaustive drainage versus fixed-time drainage for chronic subdural hematoma after one-burr hole craniostomy (ECHO): study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Chronic subdural hematomas (CSDHs) are one of the most common neurosurgical conditions. The standard surgical technique includes burr-hole craniostomy, followed by intraoperative irrigation and placement of subdural closed-system drainage. The drainage is generally removed after 48 h, which can be described as fixed-time drainage strategy. According to literature, the recurrence rate is 5-33% with this strategy. In our retrospective study, postoperative hematoma volume was found to significantly increase the risk of recurrence. Based on these results, an exhaustive drainage strategy is conducted to minimize postoperative hematoma volume and achieve a low recurrence rate and good outcomes. METHODS: This is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, blinded endpoint randomized controlled trial designed to include 304 participants over the age of 18-90 years presenting with a symptomatic CSDH verified on cranial computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Participants will be randomly allocated to perform exhaustive drainage (treatment group) or fixed-time drainage (control group) after a one-burr hole craniostomy. The primary endpoint will be recurrence indicating a reoperation within 6 months. DISCUSSION: This study will validate the effect and safety of exhaustive drainage after one-burr hole craniostomy in reducing recurrence rates and provide critical information to improve CSDH surgical management. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04573387. Registered on October 5, 2020.

Intracellular TMEM16A is necessary for myogenesis of skeletal muscle.

Transmembrane protein 16A (TMEM16A) localizes at plasma membrane and controls chloride influx in various type of cells. We here showed an intracellular localization pattern of TMEM16A molecules. In myoblasts, TMEM16A was primarily localized to the cytosolic compartment and partially co-localized with intracellular organelles. The global deletion of TMEM16A led to severe skeletal muscle developmental defect. In vitro observation showed that the proliferation of Tmem16a-/- myoblasts was significantly promoted along with activated ERK1/2 and Cyclin D expression; the myogenic differentiation was impaired accompanied by the enhanced caspase 12/3 activation, implying enhanced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Interestingly, the bradykinin-induced Ca2+ release from ER calcium store was significantly enhanced after TMEM16A deletion. This suggested a suppressing role of intracellular TMEM16A in ER calcium release whereby regulating the flux of chloride ion across the ER membrane. Our findings reveal a unique location pattern of TMEM16A in undifferentiated myoblasts and its role in myogenesis.

HDAC4 depletion ameliorates IL-13-triggered inflammatory response and mucus production in nasal epithelial cells via activation of SIRT1/NF-κB signaling.

INTRODUCTION: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is frequently known as a chronic respiratory disease with a global high prevalence. The pivotal roles of histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) in multiple human diseases have been underlined by numerous studies. Nevertheless, whether HDAC4 is implicated in AR remains to be elaborated. The objective of the current study is to clarify the impacts of HDAC4 on AR. METHODS: First, human nasal epithelial cells (hNECs) were pretreated by interleukin-13 (IL-13). HDAC4 expression in hNECs with the presence or absence of IL-13 treatment was tested by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot. Following, after HDAC4 was depleted, levels of histamine, Immunoglobulin E (IgE) and inflammatory factors were analyzed by ELISA assay. Then, Mucin-5AC (MUC5AC) expression was examined through RT-qPCR, western blot, and IF assay. Western blot was to analyze the expression of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)/nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signaling-related proteins. After IL-13-induced hNECs were cotransfected with HDAC4 interference plasmids and SIRT1 inhibitor EX527, the functional experiments above were conducted again. RESULTS: The experimental data in this study presented that HDAC4 expression was increased in IL-13-induced hNECs. Silencing of HDAC4 cut down the levels of histamine, IgE and inflammatory factors and the expression of MUC5AC. Additionally, knockdown of HDAC4 led to the activation of SIRT1/NF-κB signaling. Further, the downregulated levels of histamine, IgE and inflammatory factors and the expression of MUC5AC imposed by HDAC4 interference were all reversed by EX527. CONCLUSIONS: In short, HDAC4 inhibition activated SIRT1/NF-κB signaling to mitigate inflammatory response and mucus production in IL-13-treated nasal epithelial cells in AR.

Tetrandrine Inhibits Skeletal Muscle Differentiation by Blocking Autophagic Flux.

Tetrandrine is well known to act as a calcium channel blocker. It is a potential candidate for a tumor chemotherapy drug without toxicity. Tetrandrine inhibits cancer cell proliferation and induces cell death through apoptosis and autophagy. As cancer patients usually experience complications with sarcopenia or muscle injury, we thus assessed the effects of tetrandrine on skeletal muscle cells. We report in this study that a low dose of tetrandrine (less than 5 µM) does not affect the proliferation of C2C12 myoblasts, but significantly inhibits myogenic differentiation. Consistently, tetrandrine inhibited muscle regeneration after BaCl2-induced injury. Mechanistic experiments showed that tetrandrine decreased the p-mTOR level and increased the levels of LC3 and SQSTM1/p62 during differentiation. Ad-mRFP-GFP-LC3B transfection experiments revealed that the lysosomal quenching of GFP signals was suppressed by tetrandrine. Furthermore, the levels of DNM1L/Drp1, PPARGA1 and cytochrome C (Cyto C), as well as caspase 3 activation and ROS production, were decreased following tetrandrine administration, indicating that the mitochondrial network signaling was inhibited. Our results indicate that tetrandrine has dual effects on autophagic flux in myoblasts during differentiation, activation in the early stage and blockade in the late stage. The ultimate blocking of autophagic flux by tetrandrine led to the disruption of mitochondria remodeling and inhibition of myogenic differentiation. The inhibitory effects of tetrandrine on skeletal muscle differentiation may limit its application in advanced cancer patients. Thus, great attention should be paid to the clinical use of tetrandrine for cancer therapy.

The Protective Effect of Polysaccharide SAFP from Sarcodon aspratus on Water Immersion and Restraint Stress-Induced Gastric Ulcer and Modulatory Effects on Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis.

Sarcodon aspratus is a popular edible fungus for its tasty flavour and can be used as a dietary supplement for its functional substances. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential health benefits of Sarcodon aspratus polysaccharides (SAFP) on water immersion and restraint stress (WIRS)-induced gastric ulcer in rats. The results indicated that SAFP could decrease myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and plasma corticosterone levels, as well as enhance Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and Nitrate/nitrite (NOx) concentration in rats. Furthermore, SAFP significantly attenuated the stress damage, inflammation, pathological changes and gastric mucosal lesion in rats. Moreover, high-throughput pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA suggested that SAFP modulated the dysbiosis of gut microbiota by enhancing the relative abundance of probiotics, decreasing WIRS-triggered bacteria proliferation. In summary, these results provided the evidence that SAFP exerted a beneficial effect on a WIRS-induced gastric ulcer via blocking the TLR4 signaling pathway and activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Notably, SAFP could modulate the WIRS-induced dysbiosis of gut microbiota. Thus, SAFP might be explored as a natural gastric mucosal protective agent in the prevention of gastric ulcers and other related diseases in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Tas2R activation relaxes airway smooth muscle by release of Gαt targeting on AChR signaling.

Both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are severe respiratory diseases. Bitter receptor-mediated bronchodilation is a potential therapy for asthma, but the mechanism underlying the agonistic relaxation of airway smooth muscle (ASM) is not well defined. By exploring the ASM relaxation mechanism of bitter substances, we observed that pretreatment with the bitter substances nearly abolished the methacholine (MCh)-induced increase in the ASM cell (ASMC) calcium concentration, thereby suppressing the calcium-induced contraction release. The ASM relaxation was significantly inhibited by simultaneous deletion of three Gαt proteins, suggesting an interaction between Tas2R and AChR signaling cascades in the relaxation process. Biochemically, the Gαt released by Tas2R activation complexes with AChR and blocks the Gαq cycling of AChR signal transduction. More importantly, a bitter substance, kudinoside A, not only attenuates airway constriction but also significantly inhibits pulmonary inflammation and tissue remodeling in COPD rats, indicating its modulation of additional Gαq-associated pathological processes. Thus, our results suggest that Tas2R activation may be an ideal strategy for halting multiple pathological processes of COPD.

A Shigella species variant is causally linked to intractable functional constipation.

Intractable functional constipation (IFC) is the most severe form of constipation, but its etiology has long been unknown. We hypothesized that IFC is caused by refractory infection by a pathogenic bacterium. Here, we isolated from patients with IFC a Shigella species - peristaltic contraction-inhibiting bacterium (PIB) - that significantly inhibited peristaltic contraction of the colon by production of docosapentenoic acid (DPA). PIB colonized mice for at least 6 months. Oral administration of PIB was sufficient to induce constipation, which was reversed by PIB-specific phages. A mutated PIB with reduced DPA was incapable of inhibiting colonic function and inducing constipation, suggesting that DPA produced by PIB was the key mediator of the genesis of constipation. PIBs were detected in stools of 56% (38 of 68) of the IFC patients, but not in those of non-IFC or healthy individuals (0 of 180). DPA levels in stools were elevated in 44.12% (30 of 68) of the IFC patients but none of the healthy volunteers (0 of 97). Our results suggest that Shigella sp. PIB may be the critical causative pathogen for IFC, and detection of fecal PIB plus DPA may be a reliable method for IFC diagnosis and classification.

Cardiac CIP protein regulates dystrophic cardiomyopathy.

Heart failure is a leading cause of fatality in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients. Previously, we discovered that cardiac and skeletal-muscle-enriched CIP proteins play important roles in cardiac function. Here, we report that CIP, a striated muscle-specific protein, participates in the regulation of dystrophic cardiomyopathy. Using a mouse model of human DMD, we found that deletion of CIP leads to dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure in young, non-syndromic mdx mice. Conversely, transgenic overexpression of CIP reduces pathological dystrophic cardiomyopathy in old, syndromic mdx mice. Genome-wide transcriptome analyses reveal that molecular pathways involving fibrogenesis and oxidative stress are affected in CIP-mediated dystrophic cardiomyopathy. Mechanistically, we found that CIP interacts with dystrophin and calcineurin (CnA) to suppress the CnA-Nuclear Factor of Activated T cells (NFAT) pathway, which results in decreased expression of Nox4, a key component of the oxidative stress pathway. Overexpression of Nox4 accelerates the development of dystrophic cardiomyopathy in mdx mice. Our study indicates CIP is a modifier of dystrophic cardiomyopathy and a potential therapeutic target for this devastating disease.

The thymus regulates skeletal muscle regeneration by directly promoting satellite cell expansion.

The thymus is the central immune organ, but it is known to progressively degenerate with age. As thymus degeneration is paralleled by the wasting of aging skeletal muscle, we speculated that the thymus may play a role in muscle wasting. Here, using thymectomized mice, we show that the thymus is necessary for skeletal muscle regeneration, a process tightly associated with muscle aging. Compared to control mice, the thymectomized mice displayed comparable growth of muscle mass, but decreased muscle regeneration in response to injury, as evidenced by small and sparse regenerative myofibers along with inhibited expression of regeneration-associated genes myh3, myod, and myogenin. Using paired box 7 (Pax7)-immunofluorescence staining and 5-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine-incorporation assay, we determined that the decreased regeneration capacity was caused by a limited satellite cell pool. Interestingly, the conditioned culture medium of isolated thymocytes had a potent capacity to directly stimulate satellite cell expansion in vitro. These expanded cells were enriched in subpopulations of quiescent satellite cells (Pax7highMyoDlowEdUpos) and activated satellite cells (Pax7highMyoDhighEdUpos), which were efficiently incorporated into the regenerative myofibers. We thus propose that the thymus plays an essential role in muscle regeneration by directly promoting satellite cell expansion and may function profoundly in the muscle aging process.

Elevated ZIPK is required for TNF-α-induced cell adhesion molecule expression and leucocyte adhesion in endothelial cells.

Leucocyte adhesion to the vascular endothelium is a critical event in the early inflammatory response to infection and injury. This process is primarily regulated by the expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) in endothelial cells. It has been well documented that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a key regulator of CAM expression within this process, but its regulatory mechanism remains controversial. To investigate the scenario within this process, we assessed the role of zipper-interacting protein kinase (ZIPK), a serine/threonine kinase with multiple substrates, in CAM expression. We used TNF-α as inflammatory stimulator and found that ZIPK was integrated into the signaling regulation of TNF-α-mediated CAM expression. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), TNF-α exposure led to significantly increased expression of both intercellular CAM-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular CAM-1 (VCAM-1), along with an increase in the adhesion of THP-1 monocytes to HUVECs. Simultaneously, ZIPK gene was also up-regulated at the transcription level. These effects were clearly inhibited by the ZIPK-specific inhibitor Tc-DAPK6 or small interfering RNA (siRNA) capable of specifically inhibiting ZIPK expression. We thus suggest that both ZIPK activation and ZIPK gene expression are necessary for TNF-α-mediated CAM expression and leucocyte adhesion. Interestingly, ZIPK inhibition also significantly suppressed TNF-α-induced nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation, indicating that TNF-α-mediated ZIPK expression functions upstream of NF-κB and CAM expression. We thus propose a TNF-α/ZIPK/NF-κB signaling axis for CAM expression that is necessary for leucocyte adhesion to endothelial cells. Our data in this study revealed a potential molecular target for exploring anti-inflammation drugs.

Aldh inhibitor restores auditory function in a mouse model of human deafness.

Genetic hearing loss is a common health problem with no effective therapy currently available. DFNA15, caused by mutations of the transcription factor POU4F3, is one of the most common forms of autosomal dominant non-syndromic deafness. In this study, we established a novel mouse model of the human DFNA15 deafness, with a Pou4f3 gene mutation (Pou4f3Δ) identical to that found in a familial case of DFNA15. The Pou4f3(Δ/+) mice suffered progressive deafness in a similar manner to the DFNA15 patients. Hair cells in the Pou4f3(Δ/+) cochlea displayed significant stereociliary and mitochondrial pathologies, with apparent loss of outer hair cells. Progression of hearing and outer hair cell loss of the Pou4f3(Δ/+) mice was significantly modified by other genetic and environmental factors. Using Pou4f3(-/+) heterozygous knockout mice, we also showed that DFNA15 is likely caused by haploinsufficiency of the Pou4f3 gene. Importantly, inhibition of retinoic acid signaling by the aldehyde dehydrogenase (Aldh) and retinoic acid receptor inhibitors promoted Pou4f3 expression in the cochlear tissue and suppressed the progression of hearing loss in the mutant mice. These data demonstrate Pou4f3 haploinsufficiency as the main underlying cause of human DFNA15 deafness and highlight the therapeutic potential of Aldh inhibitors for treatment of progressive hearing loss.

Regulation of myonuclear positioning and muscle function by the skeletal muscle-specific CIP protein.

The appropriate arrangement of myonuclei within skeletal muscle myofibers is of critical importance for normal muscle function, and improper myonuclear localization has been linked to a variety of skeletal muscle diseases, such as centronuclear myopathy and muscular dystrophies. However, the molecules that govern myonuclear positioning remain elusive. Here, we report that skeletal muscle-specific CIP (sk-CIP) is a regulator of nuclear positioning. Genetic deletion of sk-CIP in mice results in misalignment of myonuclei along the myofibers and at specialized structures such as neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) and myotendinous junctions (MTJs) in vivo, impairing myonuclear positioning after muscle regeneration, leading to severe muscle dystrophy in mdx mice, a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. sk-CIP is localized to the centrosome in myoblasts and relocates to the outer nuclear envelope in myotubes upon differentiation. Mechanistically, we found that sk-CIP interacts with the Linker of Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton (LINC) complex and the centriole Microtubule Organizing Center (MTOC) proteins to coordinately modulate myonuclear positioning and alignment. These findings indicate that sk-CIP may function as a muscle-specific anchoring protein to regulate nuclear position in multinucleated muscle cells.

Nobiletin flavone inhibits the growth and metastasis of human pancreatic cancer cells via induction of autophagy, G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and inhibition of NF-kB signalling pathway.

PURPOSE: The anticancer effects of nobiletin have not been fully explored against the human pancreatic cancer cells. Therefore this study was undertaken to evaluate the anticancer effects of nobiletin against the MIAPaCa-2 human pancreatic cancer cells along with evaluating its effects on autophagy, cell cycle phase distribution, cell migration and invasion and NF-kB signalling pathway. METHODS: Cell proliferation was evaluated by CCK-8 assay while cell cycle analysis was carried out by flow cytometry. Effects on cell migration and invasion were evaluated by wound healing assay and transwell assays respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and western blot were used to study the effects on autophagy and NF-kB signalling pathway. RESULTS: The results revealed that nobiletin restrained the proliferation rate of the MIAPaCa-2 human pancreatic cancer cells and showed an IC50 of 6.12 µM. However, nobiletin exhibited very high IC50 against the normal ms-1 pancreatic cells. TEM showed that nobiletin triggered autophagy in the MIAPaCa-2 cancer cells which was accompanied by enhancement in the expression of LC3B II and LC3-I, and decrease in the expression of p62. Cell cycle analysis showed that nobiletin caused accretion of the MIAPaCa-2 cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle activating G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. The G0/G1 arrest of MIAPaCa-2 cells was also concomitant with depletion of cyclin D1 and CDK4 expression. Nobiletin suppressed the migration of the MIAPaCa-2 cancer cells reminiscent of the anti-metastatic potential of nobiletin. Finally, nobiletin also blocked the NF-kB signalling pathway in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, nobiletin may prove valuable as a promising drug candidate for pancreatic cancer treatment provided further studies are carried out on it, particularly toxicological studies.

The intragenic microRNA miR199A1 in the dynamin 2 gene contributes to the pathology of X-linked centronuclear myopathy.

Mutations in the myotubularin 1 (MTM1) gene can cause the fatal disease X-linked centronuclear myopathy (XLCNM), but the underlying mechanism is incompletely understood. In this report, using an Mtm1-/y disease model, we found that expression of the intragenic microRNA miR-199a-1 is up-regulated along with that of its host gene, dynamin 2 (Dnm2), in XLCNM skeletal muscle. To assess the role of miR-199a-1 in XLCNM, we crossed miR-199a-1-/- with Mtm1-/y mice and found that the resultant miR-199a-1-Mtm1 double-knockout mice display markers of improved health, as evidenced by lifespans prolonged by 30% and improved muscle strength and histology. Mechanistic analyses showed that miR-199a-1 directly targets nonmuscle myosin IIA (NM IIA) expression and, hence, inhibits muscle postnatal development as well as muscle maturation. Further analysis revealed that increased expression and phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) up-regulates Dnm2/miR-199a-1 expression in XLCNM muscle. Our results suggest that miR-199a-1 has a critical role in XLCNM pathology and imply that this microRNA could be targeted in therapies to manage XLCNM.

HSPA12A attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced liver injury through inhibiting caspase-11-mediated hepatocyte pyroptosis via PGC-1α-dependent acyloxyacyl hydrolase expression.

Liver dysfunction is strongly associated with poor survival of sepsis patients. Cytosolic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) sensing by Caspase-4/5/11 for pyroptosis activation is a major driver of the development of sepsis. Studies in macrophages and endothelial cells have demonstrated that LPS is inactivated by acyloxyacyl hydrolase (AOAH) and leading to desensitizing Caspase-4/5/11 to LPS. However, little is known about the cytosolic LPS-induced pyroptosis in hepatocytes during sepsis. Heat shock protein 12A (HSPA12A) is a novel member of the HSP70 family. Here, we report that LPS increased HSPA12A nuclear translocation in hepatocytes, while knockout of HSPA12A (Hspa12a-/-) in mice promoted LPS-induced acute liver injury. We also noticed that the LPS-induced Caspase-11 activation and its cleavage of gasdermin D (GSDMD) to produce the membrane pore-forming GSDMDNterm (markers of pyroptosis) were greater in livers of Hspa12a-/- mice compared with its wild type controls. Loss- and gain-of-function studies showed that HSPA12A deficiency promoted, whereas HSPA12A overexpression inhibited, cytosolic LPS accumulation, Caspase-11 activation and GSDMDNterm generation in primary hepatocytes following LPS incubation. Notably, LPS-induced AOAH expression was suppressed by HSPA12A deficiency, whereas AOAH overexpression reversed the HSPA12A deficiency-induced promotion of LPS-evoked and Caspase-11-mediated pyroptosis of hepatocytes. In-depth molecular analysis showed that HSPA12A interacted directly with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) and increased its nuclear translocation, thereby inducing AOAH expression for cytosolic LPS inactivation, which ultimately leading to inhibition of the Caspase-11 mediated pyroptosis of hepatocytes. Taken together, these findings revealed HSPA12A as a novel player against LPS-induced liver injury by inhibiting cytosolic LPS-induced hepatocyte pyroptosis via PGC-1α-mediated AOAH expression. Therefore, targeting hepatocyte HSPA12A represents a viable strategy for the management of liver injury in sepsis patients.

ZIPK mediates endothelial cell contraction through myosin light chain phosphorylation and is required for ischemic-reperfusion injury.

The paracellular gap formed by endothelial cell (EC) contraction is fundamental for endothelium permeability, but the mechanism underlying EC contraction has yet to be determined. Here, we identified the zipper-interacting protein kinase (ZIPK) as the kinase for EC contraction and myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation. Inhibition of ZIPK activity by pharmacological inhibitors and small interfering RNAs led to a significant decrease in the mono- and diphosphorylation of MLCs along with a contractile response to thrombin, suggesting an essential role of ZIPK in EC paracellular permeability. To assess the role of ZIPK in vivo, we established mouse lines with conditional deletion of Zipk gene. The endothelium-specific deletion of Zipk led to embryonic lethality, whereas the UBC-CreERT2-mediated deletion of Zipk by tamoxifen induction at adulthood caused no apparent phenotype. The induced deletion of Zipk significantly inhibited ischemia-reperfusion-induced blood-brain barrier dysfunction and neuronal injuries from middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion, as evidenced by reduced infarct and edema volume, attenuated Evans blue dye leakage, and improved neuronal behavior. We thus concluded that ZIPK and its phosphorylation of MLC were required for EC contraction and ischemic neuronal injuries. ZIPK may be a prospective therapeutic target for stroke.-Zhang, Y., Zhang, C., Zhang, H., Zeng, W., Li, S., Chen, C., Song, X., Sun, J., Sun, Z., Cui, C., Cao, X., Zheng, L., Wang, P., Zhao, W., Zhang, Z., Xu, Y., Zhu, M., Chen, H. ZIPK mediates endothelial cell contraction through myosin light chain phosphorylation and is required for ischemic-reperfusion injury.

Inflammatory mediators mediate airway smooth muscle contraction through a G protein-coupled receptor-transmembrane protein 16A-voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel axis and contribute to bronchial hyperresponsiveness in asthma.

BACKGROUND: Allergic inflammation has long been implicated in asthmatic hyperresponsiveness of airway smooth muscle (ASM), but its underlying mechanism remains incompletely understood. Serving as G protein-coupled receptor agonists, several inflammatory mediators can induce membrane depolarization, contract ASM, and augment cholinergic contractile response. We hypothesized that the signal cascade integrating on membrane depolarization by the mediators might involve asthmatic hyperresponsiveness. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the signaling transduction of inflammatory mediators in ASM contraction and assess its contribution in the genesis of hyperresponsiveness. METHODS: We assessed the capacity of inflammatory mediators to induce depolarization currents by electrophysiological analysis. We analyzed the phenotypes of transmembrane protein 16A (TMEM16A) knockout mice, applied pharmacological reagents, and measured the Ca2+ signal during ASM contraction. To study the role of the depolarization signaling in asthmatic hyperresponsiveness, we measured the synergistic contraction by methacholine and inflammatory mediators both ex vivo and in an ovalbumin-induced mouse model. RESULTS: Inflammatory mediators, such as 5-hydroxytryptamin, histamine, U46619, and leukotriene D4, are capable of inducing Ca2+-activated Cl- currents in ASM cells, and these currents are mediated by TMEM16A. A combination of multiple analysis revealed that a G protein-coupled receptor-TMEM16A-voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel signaling axis was required for ASM contraction induced by inflammatory mediators. Block of TMEM16A activity may significantly inhibit the synergistic contraction of acetylcholine and the mediators and hence reduces hypersensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: A G protein-coupled receptor-TMEM16A-voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel axis contributes to inflammatory mediator-induced ASM contraction and synergistically activated TMEM16A by allergic inflammatory mediators with cholinergic stimuli.