Effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on mast cells tryptase in asthmatic guinea pigs.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on the mast cell tryptase (MCT) in asthmatic guinea pigs. METHODS: A total of 60 male or female healthy guinea pigs were randomly divided into control group (group A), asthmatic group (group B), and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 group (group C), with 20 cases in each group. To establish asthmatic guinea pig models, 1 mL peanut oil was filled into stomach in the morning in group A and group B, and 1 mL peanut oil with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was filled into stomach in group C. Airway resistance (Re) of asthmatic guinea pigs was detected, and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cells were counted. Lung tissue with HE and MCT immunohistochemical staining were used to observe the pathological changes in lung tissue and the distribution of MCT. RESULTS: After injection of different concentration of acetylcholine chloride, the Re in group B and group C were increased significantly compared with group A (P < 0.05); compared with group B, the Re in group C were decreased significantly (t = -5.385, -5.761, -6.184, -13.574, P < 0.05); the total number of BALF cells and eosinophils were increased significantly in group B and C (t = 19.618, 9.598, 10.854, 5.388, P < 0.05); compared with group B, the total number of BALF cells and eosinophils in group C was decreased significantly (t = -5.555, -5.392, P < 0.05); the number of tryptase positive cells in group B was increased significantly than that in group A (t = 21.312, P < 0.05), and in addition to the alveolar septum and submucosa, the cells were also distributed around blood vessels and outside the cells; the number of tryptase positive cells in group C was decreased significantly compared with group B, and the difference was statistically significant (t = 5.043, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: After the asthmatic guinea pigs are treated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, their BALF, Re, infiltration degree of inflammatory cells in the trachea and lung tissue and airway inflammatory reaction are reduced significantly. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 has a certain inhibiting effect on the activation of mast cells and the release of MCT granules.

Levels of microRNA-181b and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 are associated with hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy.

The aim of the present study was to explore the association between the expression of microRNA (miRNA)-181b and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in the placental tissue of pregnant females with a hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (HDCP). Placental tissue samples were obtained from 48 patients with HDCP and 40 females with a normal pregnancy. The levels of miRNA-181b and PAI-1 mRNA were determined by the reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The expression of PAI-1 protein was analyzed by western blotting. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were transfected with the pEGP-miRNA-181b plasmid using Lipofectamine® 2000. Transfection efficiency was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis. The levels of miRNA-181b in the placental tissue of patients with HDCP were lower than those in the control group, whereas the levels of PAI-1 mRNA in the placental tissue of patients with HDCP were higher than those in the control group. The expression of the PAI-1 protein in the HDCP group was higher than that in the control group. Following transfection of VSMCs with plasmid pGCMV/EGFP/miRNA-181b, the levels of PAI-1 mRNA were reduced while the levels of miRNA-181 were upregulated. Furthermore, the expression levels of PAI-1 protein were lower than those in the control group. The levels of miRNA-181b and PAI-1 mRNA were strongly associated with HDCP. Thus, miRNA-181b may play an important role in the regulation of PAI-1. PAI-1 and miRNA-181b may be novel biomarkers to be used in HDCP therapy.

Genotype distribution of human papillomavirus in women with abnormal cervical cytology in an esophageal carcinoma high incidence area of China.

Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) could affect genesis of both cervical and esophageal cancers. The type-specific distribution of HPV in cervical cytology abnormalities of women has remained unclear in Shantou, an esophageal cancer high-incidence area of China. Data from 22,617 women who were subjected to cervical HPV DNA testing with simultaneous cervical cytological examination during 2009-2013 were therefore here retrospectively evaluated in a hospital-based study. Overall, 16.2% (3,584/22,114)of women with normal cytology were HR-HPV positive, with HPV-52 (4.07%) as the most common type followed by -16 (3.63%), and -58 (2.46%). Prevalence of HR-HPV was 50.3% (253/503) in women with cervical cytological abnormalities, of which in ASC-H 71.4%, ASC-US 39.1%, HSIL 80.3% and LSIL 73.7%. HPV-58 (14.12%) was the most common type for all cervical cytological abnormalities, followed by HPV-16 (13.72%), and -52 (12.72%), while the more common HPV-16 type in ASC-H (42.9%) and HSIL (36.1%), HPV-52 and -58 were the most common types for ASC-US (10.3%) and LSIL (25%), respectively. Multiple HPV co-infections were identified in 33.2% (84/253) cytology abnormalities with positive HR-HPV, and the highest prevalence of HPV-58/16 combination in HSIL (28.6%, 6/21) was observed. Our data indicated a relative high prevalence of HPV-58 and -52 in women with cervical cytological abnormalities, which should be considered in the development of next-generation vaccines for Shantou.

Meta-analysis of ADH1B and ALDH2 polymorphisms and esophageal cancer risk in China.

AIM: To evaluate whether alcohol dehydrogenase-1B (ADH1B) His47Arg and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) Glu487Lys polymorphism is involved in the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) risk in Chinese Han population. METHODS: Seven studies of ADH1B and ALDH2 genotypes in Chinese Han population in 1450 cases and 2459 controls were included for meta-analysis. Stratified analyses were carried out to determine the gene-alcohol and gene-gene interaction with ESCC risk. Potential sources of heterogeneity between studies were explored, and publication bias was also evaluated. RESULTS: Individuals with ADH1B arginine (Arg)/Arg genotype showed 3.95-fold increased ESCC risk in the recessive genetic model [Arg/Arg vs Arg/histidine (His) + His/His: odds ratio (OR) = 3.95, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.76-5.67]. Significant association was found in the dominant model for ALDH2 lysine (Lys) allele [glutamate (Glu)/Lys + Lys/Lys vs Glu/Glu: OR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.54-2.61]. Compared with the non-alcoholics, Arg/Arg (OR = 25.20, 95% CI: 10.87-53.44) and Glu/Lys + Lys/Lys (OR = 21.47, 95% CI: 6.44-71.59) were found to interact with alcohol drinking to increase the ESCC risk. ADH1B Arg+ and ALDH2 Lys+ had a higher risk for ESCC (OR = 7.09, 95% CI: 2.16-23.33). CONCLUSION: The genetic variations of ADH1B His47Arg and ALDH2 Glu487Lys are susceptible loci for ESCC in Chinese Han population and interact substantially with alcohol consumption. The individuals carrying both risky genotypes have a higher baseline risk of ESCC.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha induces the coronary collaterals for coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Marked variability exists in coronary artery collaterals in patients with ischemic heart disease. Multiple factors are thought to play a role in collateral development; however, the contribution of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha), which is a transcriptional activator that functions as a master regulator of oxygen homeostasis, is not completely clear. It could play an important role in modulating collateral development. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate the changes and significance of expression of HIF-1alpha in patients with coronary artery collaterals. METHODS: Collateral vessels were determined in 98 patients with >or=70% narrowing of at least one coronary artery without earlier revascularization, 42 patients with coronary artery collaterals and 56 patients with no coronary artery collaterals. Extent of collaterals was expressed as scores according to the Rentrop scoring system. Another 50 cases with normal coronary arteries were selected as control. The levels of HIF-1alpha protein expression in monocyte and lymphocyte in the participants were tested by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blot; mRNA levels were measured using reverse transcriptase PCR technique. RESULTS: Compared with the control with normal coronary artery, the patients had higher expression of HIF-1alpha protein tested by IHC and western blot (52.6+/-10.2 vs. 13.7+/-6.2 by IHC, 50.8+/-4.5 vs. 6.5+/-1.8 by western blot); furthermore, significantly higher HIF-1alpha expression was observed in patients with collaterals compared with patients with no collaterals (81.5+/-11.8 vs. 20.7+/-9.4 by IHC; 87.2+/-6.5 vs. 9.5+/-1.4 by western blot). On the transcriptional levels of HIF-1alpha, the result was the same as the protein, there was significant difference of HIF-1alpha between the three groups. The patients with collaterals were the highest (127.3+/-23.9), followed by patients with no collaterals (35.7+/-12.3), and the control were the lowest (23.5+/-9.3). A highly positive correlation was observed between the expression/transcription of HIF-1alpha and collateral score (P<0.01, IHC: r1=0.78, reverse transcriptase PCR: r2=0.69, western blot: r3=0.84). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that higher inductions of HIF-1alpha are associated with coronary collaterals, thus implying that HIF-1alpha may promote coronary collateral formation. Detection of HIF-1alpha expression might be helpful to predict prognosis of patients with coronary artery disease.