Multifunctional Composite Scaffold with Nanosilver, Graphene Oxide, and Macrophage Membrane Vesicles for Sequential Treatment of Infected Bone Defects.

The management of infected bone defects poses a significant clinical challenge, and current treatment modalities exhibit various limitations. This study focuses on the development of a multifunctional composite scaffold comprising nanohydroxyapatite/polyethyleneglycol diacrylate matrix, silver nanoparticles, graphene oxide (GO), sodium alginate, and M2-type macrophage membrane vesicles (MVs) to enhance the healing of infected bone defects. The composite scaffold demonstrates several key features: first, it releases sufficient quantities of silver ions to effectively eliminate bacteria; second, the controlled release of MVs leads to a notable increase in M2-type macrophages, thereby significantly mitigating the inflammatory response. Additionally, GO acts synergistically with nanohydroxyapatite to enhance osteoinductive activity, thereby fostering bone regeneration. Through meticulous in vitro and in vivo investigations, the composite scaffold exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects, robust immunomodulatory capabilities, and enhanced osteoinductive activity. This multifaceted composite scaffold presents a promising approach for the sequential treatment of infected bone defects, addressing the antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and osteogenic aspects. This study introduces innovative perspectives and offers new and effective treatment alternatives for managing infected bone defects.

LncRNA DGCR5-encoded polypeptide RIP aggravates SONFH by repressing nuclear localization of ß-catenin in BMSCs.

The differentiation fate of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) affects the progression of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SONFH). We find that lncRNA DGCR5 encodes a 102-amino acid polypeptide, RIP (Rac1 inactivated peptide), which promotes the adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs and aggravates the progression of SONFH. RIP, instead of lncRNA DGCR5, binds to the N-terminal motif of RAC1, and inactivates the RAC1/PAK1 cascade, resulting in decreased Ser675 phosphorylation of ß-catenin. Ultimately, the nuclear localization of ß-catenin decreases, and the differentiation balance of BMSCs tilts toward the adipogenesis lineage. In the femoral head of rats, overexpression of RIP causes trabecular bone disorder and adipocyte accumulation, which can be rescued by overexpressing RAC1. This finding expands the regulatory role of lncRNAs in BMSCs and suggests RIP as a potential therapeutic target.

Stannate-Based Materials as Anodes in Lithium-Ion and Sodium-Ion Batteries: A Review.

Binary metal oxide stannate (M2SnO4; M = Zn, Mn, Co, etc.) structures, with their high theoretical capacity, superior lithium storage mechanism and suitable operating voltage, as well as their dual suitability for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), are strong candidates for next-generation anode materials. However, the capacity deterioration caused by the severe volume expansion problem during the insertion/extraction of lithium or sodium ions during cycling of M2SnO4-based anode materials is difficult to avoid, which greatly affects their practical applications. Strategies often employed by researchers to address this problem include nanosizing the material size, designing suitable structures, doping with carbon materials and heteroatoms, metal-organic framework (MOF) derivation and constructing heterostructures. In this paper, the advantages and issues of M2SnO4-based materials are analyzed, and the strategies to solve the issues are discussed in order to promote the theoretical work and practical application of M2SnO4-based anode materials.

Comprehensive and high-resolution emission inventory of atmospheric pollutants for the northernmost cities agglomeration of Harbin-Changchun, China: Implications for local atmospheric environment management.

Using a bottom-up estimation method, a comprehensive, high-resolution emission inventory of gaseous and particulate atmospheric pollutants for multiple anthropogenic sectors with typical local sources has been developed for the Harbin-Changchun city agglomeration (HCA). The annual emissions for CO, NOx, SO2, NH3, VOCS, PM2.5, PM10, BC and OC during 2017 in the HCA were estimated to be 5.82 Tg, 0.70 Tg, 0.34 Tg, 0.75 Tg, 0.81Tg, 0.67 Tg, 1.59 Tg, 0.12 Tg and 0.26 Tg, respectively. For PM10 and SO2, the emissions from industry processes were the dominant contributors representing 54.7% and 49.5%, respectively, of the total emissions, while 95.3% and 44.5% of the total NH3 and NOx emissions, respectively, were from or associated with agricultural activities and transportation. Spatiotemporal distributions showed that most emissions (except NH3) occurred in November to March and were concentrated in the central cities of Changchun and Harbin and the surrounding cities. Open burning of straw made an important contribution to PM2.5 in the central regions of the northeastern plain during autumn and spring, while domestic coal combustion for heating purposes was significant with respect to SO2 and PM2.5 emissions during autumn and winter. Furthermore, based on Principal Component Analysis and Multivariable Linear Regression model, air temperature, relative humidity, electricity and energy consumption, and the urban and rural population were optimized to be representative indicators for rapidly assessing the magnitude of regional atmospheric pollutants in the HCA. Such indicators and equations were demonstrated to be useful for local atmospheric environment management.

Chemical Composition and Source Apportionment of Wintertime Airborne PM2.5 in Changchun, Northeastern China.

This study presents field observations and laboratory analyses of wintertime airborne particulate matter (PM2.5) and its chemical components in the Changchun metropolitan area, the geographical center of northeastern China. Twenty-four hour PM2.5 filter samples were collected from 23 December 2011 to 31 January 2012 at four sites in the types of traffic, residential, campus, and a near-city rural village, respectively. Daily PM2.5 concentrations ranged from 49 to 466 µg m-3, with an arithmetic average of 143 µg m-3. Laboratory analyses showed that among all measured chemical species, mineral dust contributed the largest proportion (20.7%) to the total PM2.5 mass, followed by secondary inorganic aerosols (SIA, including SO42-, NO3- and NH4+), which constituted 18.8% of PM2.5 mass. Another notable feature of PM2.5 chemical composition was high halogen (Cl- and F-) loadings at all sites, which was likely due to emissions from coal combustion, plastic manufacturing, and glass melting. Among the four sampling sites, the suburban site exhibited the highest PM2.5 levels and extremely high Cl- and F- loadings due to residential wood burning and nearby industrial facilities lacking effective emission controls. Our results report one of the earliest observations of PM2.5 composition in this region, providing a baseline of aerosol profiles of aerosol before PM2.5 was routinely measured by environmental protection agencies in China, which could be useful for assessing long-term trends of air quality and effectiveness of mitigation measures.

[Effect of Biomass Burning on the Light Absorption Properties of Water Soluble Organic Carbon in Atmospheric Particulate Matter in Changchun].

To investigate the effect of biomass burning in Changchun in autumn on the absorbance of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) on PM2.5, PM2.5 samples were collected from October to November 2017. The light absorption characteristics of WSOC, carbonaceous components, and carbohydrate content in PM2.5 were analyzed. The study showed that the average concentrations of WSOC, organic carbon (OC), and elemental carbon (EC) in PM2.5 in Changchun were (10.12±3.47), (17.07±5.64), and (1.34±0.75) µg·m-3, respectively; the average contribution rate of secondary organic carbon (SOC) to OC was 38.93%. The total sugar concentration in Changchun is (1049.39±958.85) ng·m-3, of which the content of anhydroglucose (L-glucan, galactan, and mannan), as a biomass burning tracer in total sugar, was 91.69%. The results of sugar correlation analysis showed that biomass combustion was the main source of contribution to carbohydrates in the autumn of Changchun. The light absorption wavelength index of WSOC in autumn was 5.75±1.06, and the unit mass absorption efficiency was (1.23±0.28) m2·g-1, indicating that biomass combustion has an important influence on WSOC absorbance. The biomass combustion characteristic source parameter was used to quantify the contribution of biomass burning to WSOC concentration, which was found to be 58.82%, while the contribution to total WSOC light absorption was 40.92%.

[Research progress and ecological roles of phytoplankton cysts]. / æµ®æ¸¸æ¤ç‰©å­¢å›Šçš„ç ”ç©¶è¿›å±•ä¸Žç”Ÿæ€æ„ä¹‰.

Phytoplankton have a complex life-cycle. Resting cysts are formed like terrestrial plants. Cysts play important roles in resisting environmental pressure, surviving adverse environment, maintaining physiological homeostasis, and maintaining species reproduction. In some ecological events, cysts were served as "seed bank" for periodical algal blooming. However, compared with the mature cells, the ecophysiological research on cysts is relatively limited. To deepen our understanding on life-cycle and ecological roles of cysts, we reviewed the researches on cysts in the past two decades. Firstly, we outlined the types (resting cysts, zoocysts, mature cysts) and factors that affected the formation of cysts of typical dinoflagellates and diatoms. Secondly, we summarized the formation mechanism, physiological characteristics and germination factors of cysts. Finally, we discussed the significance of cysts in algal evolution and in ocean carbon cycle. This review, summarizing the adaptability and plasticity of cysts, would shed light on ecological mechanism of algae survival strategy.

[Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of Air Quality and Cause Analysis of Heavy Pollution in Northeast China].

Northeastern China experiences severe atmospheric pollution, with an increasing occurrence of heavy haze episodes. Based on ground monitoring data, satellite products and meteorological products of atmospheric pollutants in northeast China from 2013 to 2017, the characteristics of spatial and temporal distribution of air quality and the causes of heavy haze events in northeast China were discussed. It was found that the "Shenyang-Changchun-Harbin" city belt was the most polluted area in the region on an annual scale. The spatial distribution of air quality index (AQI) values had a clear seasonality, with the worst pollution occurring in winter, an approximately oval-shaped polluted area around western Jilin Province in spring, and the best air quality occurring in summer and most of autumn. The three periods that typically experienced intense haze events were Period I from late-October to early-November (i. e., late autumn and early winter), Period Ⅱ from late-December to January (i. e., the coldest time in winter), and Period Ⅲ from April to mid-May (i. e., spring). During Period I, strong PM2.5 emissions from seasonal crop residue burning and coal burning for winter heating were the dominant reasons for the occurrence of extreme haze events (AQI>300). Period Ⅱ had frequent heavy haze events (200 < AQI < 300) in the coldest months of January and February(200 < AQI < 300), which were due to high PM2.5 emissions from coal burning and vehicle fuel consumption, a lower atmospheric boundary layer, and stagnant atmospheric conditions. Haze events in Period Ⅲ, with high PM10 concentrations, were primarily caused by the regional transportation of windblown dust from degraded grassland in central Inner Mongolia and bare soil in western Jilin Province. Local agricultural tilling could also release PM10 and enhance the levels of windblown dust from tilled soil.

[Molecular Composition and Source Apportionment of Fine Organic Aerosols in Autumn in Changchun].

Organic aerosols have attracted increasing attention recently due to their significant contribution to fine particles (PM2.5) and their complex components and sources. In this study, a total of 40 PM2.5 samples were collected simultaneously with high-volume samplers in Changchun from 16th Oct to 29th Nov 2016. Organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), non-polar organic compounds including n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and hopanes, and levoglucosan in atmospheric fine particles were analyzed. The main sources of organic aerosols were identified by molecular markers, diagnostic ratios, and a principal component analysis-multiple liner regression (PCA-MLR) model. The results showed that the average mass concentration of PM2.5 was (79.0±55.7) µg·m-3, and the averaged OC and EC mass concentrations were (20.7±15.6) µg·m-3 and (2.2±1.1) µg·m-3, which accounted for 26.2% and 2.8% of PM2.5, respectively. The total average concentration of the tested non-polar organic compounds was (186.3±104.5) ng·m-3 and, in descending order, this was composed of n-alkane (101.3±67.0) ng·m-3, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (81.4±46.0) ng·m-3, hopanes (3.8±1.9) ng·m-3. The PCA-MLR model results showed that the relative contributions of the main sources of organic aerosols were coal combustion (47.0%), biomass burning (42.6%), and traffic emission (10.4%).

An in situ simultaneous measurement system combining photoelasticity and caustics methods for blast-induced dynamic fracture.

Photoelasticity and caustics methods are extensively used in the history of dynamic fracture mechanics. However, there is little work for the combination of them in the same experiment associated with high loading rate in extreme conditions. In the present work, it is the first time to build a simultaneous measurement system which can use photoelasticity and caustics methods at the same instant for in situ optical investigations of blast-induced dynamic fracture. To illustrate the capability of this system, an explosion experiment using a 2D epoxy plate is conducted, yielding consistent results between two methods. This novel system provides rich experimental data including local-field information for the crack tip and full-field information for blasting waves.

Chemical characteristics of dicarboxylic acids and related organic compounds in PM2.5 during biomass-burning and non-biomass-burning seasons at a rural site of Northeast China.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) samples were collected using a high-volume air sampler and pre-combusted quartz filters during May 2013 to January 2014 at a background rural site (47∘35 N, 133∘31 E) in Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China. A homologous series of dicarboxylic acids (C2-C11) and related compounds (oxoacids, α-dicarbonyls and fatty acids) were analyzed by using a gas chromatography (GC) and GC-MS method employing a dibutyl ester derivatization technique. Intensively open biomass-burning (BB) episodes during the harvest season in fall were characterized by high mass concentrations of PM2.5, dicarboxylic acids and levoglucosan. During the BB period, mass concentrations of dicarboxylic acids and related compounds were increased by up to >20 times with different factors for different organic compounds (i.e., succinic (C4) acid > oxalic (C2) acid > malonic (C3) acid). High concentrations were also found for their possible precursors such as glyoxylic acid (ωC2), 4-oxobutanoic acid, pyruvic acid, glyoxal, and methylglyoxal as well as fatty acids. Levoglucosan showed strong correlations with carbonaceous aerosols (OC, EC, WSOC) and dicarboxylic acids although such good correlations were not observed during non-biomass-burning seasons. Our results clearly demonstrate biomass burning emissions are very important contributors to dicarboxylic acids and related compounds. The selected ratios (e.g., C3/C4, maleic acid/fumaric acid, C2/ωC2, and C2/levoglucosan) were used as tracers for secondary formation of organic aerosols and their aging process. Our results indicate that organic aerosols from biomass burning in this study are fresh without substantial aging or secondary production. The present chemical characteristics of organic compounds in biomass-burning emissions are very important for better understanding the impacts of biomass burning on the atmosphere aerosols.

Local PM10 and PM2.5 emission inventories from agricultural tillage and harvest in northeastern China.

Mineral particles or particulate matters (PMs) emitted during agricultural activities are major recurring sources of atmospheric aerosol loading. However, precise PM inventory from agricultural tillage and harvest in agricultural regions is challenged by infrequent local emission factor (EF) measurements. To understand PM emissions from these practices in northeastern China, we measured EFs of PM10 and PM2.5 from three field operations (i.e., tilling, planting and harvesting) in major crop production (i.e., corn and soybean), using portable real-time PM analyzers and weather station data. County-level PM10 and PM2.5 emissions from agricultural tillage and harvest were estimated, based on local EFs, crop areas and crop calendars. The EFs averaged (107±27), (17±5) and 26mg/m2 for field tilling, planting and harvesting under relatively dry conditions (i.e., soil moisture <15%), respectively. The EFs of PM from field tillage and planting operations were negatively affected by topsoil moisture. The magnitude of PM10 and PM2.5 emissions from these three activities were estimated to be 35.1 and 9.8 kilotons/yr in northeastern China, respectively, of which Heilongjiang Province accounted for approximately 45%. Spatiotemporal distribution showed that most PM10 emission occurred in April, May and October and were concentrated in the central regions of the northeastern plain, which is dominated by dryland crops. Further work is needed to estimate the contribution of agricultural dust emissions to regional air quality in northeastern China.

Typical atmospheric haze during crop harvest season in northeastern China: A case in the Changchun region.

This study presents the mass concentrations of PM2.5, O3, SO2 and NOx at one urban, one suburban and two rural locations in the Changchun region from September 25 to October 27 2013. Major chemical components of PM2.5 at the four sites were daily sampled and analyzed. Most of daily concentrations of SO2 (7-82µg/m3), O3 (27-171µg/m3) and NOx (14-213µg/m3) were below the limits of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) in China. However, PM2.5 concentrations (143-168µg/m3) were 2-fold higher than NAAQS. Higher PM2.5 concentrations (~150µg/m3) were measured during the pre-harvest and harvest at the urban site, while PM2.5 concentrations significantly increased from 250 to 400µgm-3 at suburban and rural sites with widespread biomass burning. At all sites, PM2.5 components were dominated by organic carbon (OC) and followed by soluble component sulfate (SO42-), ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3-). Compared with rural sites, urban site had a higher mineral contribution and lower potassium (K+ and K) contribution to PM2.5. Severe atmospheric haze events that occurred from October 21 to 23 were attributed to strong source emissions (e.g., biomass burning) and unfavorable air diffusion conditions. Furthermore, coal burning originating from winter heating supply beginning on October 18 increased the atmospheric pollutant emissions. For entire crop harvest period, the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) analysis indicated five important emission contributors in the Changchun region, as follows: secondary aerosol (39%), biomass burning (20%), supply heating (18%), soil/road dust (14%) and traffic (9%).

Neuroprotection of Cilostazol against ischemia/reperfusion-induced cognitive deficits through inhibiting JNK3/caspase-3 by enhancing Akt1.

Cilostazol(CTL) is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, which has been widely used as anti-platelet agent. It also has preventive effects on various central nervous system (CNS) diseases, including ischemic stroke, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer disease. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the protective effects of CTL is still unclear, and whether CTL can prevent I/R induced cognitive deficit has not been reported. Transient global brain ischemia was induced by 4-vessel occlusion in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. The open field tasks and Morris water maze were used to assess the effect of CTL on anxiety-like behavioral and cognitive impairment after I/R. Western blotting were performed to examine the expression of related proteins, and HE-staining was used to detect the percentage of neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 region. Here we found that CTL significantly improved cognitive deficits and the behavior of rats in Morris water maze and open field tasks (P<0.05). HE staining results showed that CTL could significantly protect CA1 neurons against cerebral I/R (P<0.05). Additionally, Akt1 phosphorylation levels were evidently up-regulated (P<0.05), while the activation of JNK3, which is an important contributor to I/R-induced neuron apoptosis, was reduced by CTL after I/R (P<0.05), and caspase-3 levels were also decreased by CTL treatment. Furthermore, all of CTL's protective effects were reversed by LY294002, which is a PI3K/Akt1 inhibitor. Taken together, our results suggest that CTL could protect hippocampal neurons and ameliorate the impairment of learning/memory abilities and locomotor/ exploratory activities in ischemic stroke via a PI3K-Akt1/JNK3/caspase-3 dependent mechanism.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Fossorochromis rostratus.

The Fossorochromis rostratus is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. In this study, we first reported the complete mitochondrial genome of F. rostratus. The whole mitochondrial genome is 16 581 bp in length, which contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes. The GC content of this mitochondrial genome is 45.96% (27.47% A, 26.57%T, 30.12% C, and 15.84% G), similar to Astatotilapia calliptera (the GC content of 45.90%). We constructed a phylogenetic tree on the complete mitochondrial genomes of these two species and other 10 closely related species to show their phylogenic relationship. The complete mitochondrial genome of F. rostratus and its phylogenic relationship with other related species would facilitate our understanding of the evolution of Cichlidae mitochondrial genome.

Inorganic markers, carbonaceous components and stable carbon isotope from biomass burning aerosols in Northeast China.

To better characterize the chemical compositions and sources of fine particulate matter (i.e. PM2.5) in Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China, total carbon (TC), organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), and inorganic ions as well as stable carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) were measured in this study. Intensively open biomass burning episodes are identified from late September to early October by satellite fire and aerosol optical depth maps. During the biomass-burning episode, concentrations of PM2.5, OC, EC, and WSOC are increased by a factor of 4-12 compared to those during the non-biomass-burning period. Non-sea-salt potassium is strongly correlated with PM2.5, OC, EC and WSOC, demonstrating an important contribution from biomass-burning emissions. The enrichment in both the non-sea-salt potassium and chlorine is significantly larger than other inorganic species, suggesting that biomass-burning aerosols in Sanjiang Plain are mostly fresh and less aged. In addition, the WSOC-to-OC ratio is lower than that reported in biomass-burning aerosols in tropical regions, further supporting that biomass-burning aerosols in Sanjiang Plain are mostly primary and secondary organic aerosols may be not significant. A lower average δ13C value (-26.2‰) is observed during the biomass-burning period, indicating a dominant contribution from combustion of C3 plants in the studied region.

Temporal variability of atmospheric particulate matter and chemical composition during a growing season at an agricultural site in northeastern China.

This study presents the observations of PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations at an agricultural site from April to October 2012 in Dehui city, China. Ambient air was sampled by filter-based samplers and online PM monitors. The filter samples were analyzed to determine the abundance of ionic/inorganic elements, organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC). The daily PM10 concentrations varied significantly over the monitoring period, with an average of 168±63 (in the range of 52-277)µg/m(3) during the land preparation/planting period (26 April-15 June), 85±65 (36-228)µg/m(3) during the growing season (16 June-25 September), and 207±88 (103-310)µg/m(3) during the harvest period (26 September-31 October). PM2.5 accounted for 44%, 56% and 66% of atmospheric PM10 during these periods, respectively. The PM10 diurnal variation showed a distinct peak from 16:00 to 21:00 (LST) during the growing and harvesting seasons, while a gradual increase throughout the daytime until 17:00 was observed during tilling season. Mineral dust elements (Al, Ca, Fe, and Mg) dominated the PM10 chemical composition during the tilling season; OC, NO3(-), SO4(2-) and NH4(+) during the growing season; and carbonaceous species (i.e., OC and EC) during the harvesting season. Our results indicate that the soil particles emitted by farm tillage and organic matter released from straw burning are the two most significant sources of PM10 emissions contributing to the recurring high pollution events in this region. Therefore, development of agricultural PM inventories from soil tillage and straw burning is prioritized to support air quality modeling.

[Purification of the wastewater of quartz processing by mineral-based porous granulation material].

A mineral-based porous granulation material (MPGM) was prepared for absorbing the heavy metal ions from quartz processing wastewater. Analytic results of the MPGM were illustrated by the techniques of BET, SEM and FT-IR, which revealed the excellent properties of multi-aperture distribution, large specific surface area, low loss ratio and so on; the N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm was type-III with H4 hysteresis loop; the functional groups were dominated by groups of layer silicate mineral. A batch adsorption study was carried out with varied adsorbent dosage, initial pH and reaction time. The results showed that the residual ion concentrations of Fe, Zn, Mn and As were decreased from 77.760, 3.700, 2.789 and 0.963 mg x L(-1) to 3.421, 0.574, 0.126 and 0.034 mg x L(-1), respectively. MPGM might be re-utilized after desorption by 1.0 mol x L(-1) NaCl for 12 hours, and the ideal adsorption performance was maintained after 5 recyclings. The adsorption equilibrium and kinetics followed Langmuir and typical pseudo-first-order/pseudo-second-order adsorption models. Thermodynamic parameters of ΔG(θ) < 0, ΔHθ > 0, ΔSθ > 0 showed that the adsorptions were spontaneous and endothermic processes in the temperature range of 15-45 degrees C.

HO-1 attenuates hippocampal neurons injury via the activation of BDNF-TrkB-PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in stroke.

Although recent studies have found that HO-1 plays an important role in neuronal survival, little is known about the precise mechanisms occurring during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective mechanisms of HO-1 against ischemic brain injury induced by cerebral I/R and to explore whether the BDNF-TrkB-PI3K/Akt signaling pathway contributed to the protection provided by HO-1. Over-expressed HO-1 plasmids were employed to induce the overexpression of HO-1 through hippocampi CA1 injection 5 days before the cerebral I/R animal model was induced by four-vessel occlusion for 15 min transient ischemia and followed by reperfusion in Sprague-Dawley rats. Immunoblotting was carried out to examine the expression of the related proteins, and HE-staining was used to detect the percentage of living neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region. The results showed that over-expressed HO-1 could significantly protect neurons against cerebral I/R. Furthermore, the protein expression of BDNF, TrkB and p-Akt also increased in the rats treated with over-expressed HO-1 plasmids. However, treatment with tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) receptor antagonist (K252a) reversed the HO-1-induced increase in BDNF and p-Akt protein levels and decreased the level of cleaved caspase-3 protein in I/R rats. In summary, our results imply that HO-1 can decrease cell apoptosis in the I/R rat brain and that the mechanism may be related to the activation of the BDNF-TrkB-PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

CXCR-7 receptor promotes SDF-1α-induced migration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in the transient cerebral ischemia/reperfusion rat hippocampus.

The stromal cell-derived factor 1/C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (SDF-1/CXCR-4) axis plays an important role during stem cell recruitment. SDF-1 can also bind the more recently described CXCR-7 receptor, but effects of SDF-1/CXCR-7 signaling on stem cell migrating to ischemic brain injury area are little known. In the present study, we investigated the effect of CXCR-7 on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) migration toward SDF-1α in the cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) rat hippocampus. We cultured BMSCs from rats and characterized them using flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, western blotting, and immunofluorescence to detect SDF-1α, CXCR-4, and CXCR-7 expression in third passage BMSCs (P3-BMSCs). We also prepared the model of transient cerebral I/R by four-vessel occlusion (4-VO), and BMSCs were transplanted into I/R rat brain via lateral ventricle (LV) injection (20µl, 1×10(6)/ml). After that, we examined the effect of BMSCs migration in the cerebral I/R rat hippocampus through Transwell chamber assay. Our results show that SDF-1α, CXCR-4, and CXCR-7 were expressed in P3-BMSCs. Moreover, SDF-1α expression was increased in I/R hippocampus. At 48h after transplant, green fluorescent BrdU-BMSCs were observed in transplant groups, but no green fluorescent BrdU-BMSCs were seen in medium group. Among BMSCs transplant groups, the number of BrdU-BMSCs positive cell was the highest in BMSC group. Treatment with AMD3100 and/or CXCR-7 neutralizing antibody decreased the number of BMSC migration. Collectively, these findings indicate that CXCR-4 and -7 receptors were co-expressed in BMSCs and synergistically promoted BMSC migration. The effect of CXCR-7 was stronger than that of CXCR-4. Moreover, BMSCs that migrated to hippocampus promoted the autocrine and paracrine signaling of SDF-1α.