Biomass fuels related-PM2.5 promotes lung fibroblast-myofibroblast transition through PI3K/AKT/TRPC1 pathway.

Emerging evidence has suggested that exposure to PM2.5 is a significant contributing factor to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the underlying biological effects and mechanisms of PM2.5 in COPD pathology remain elusive. In this study, we aimed to investigate the implication and regulatory effect of biomass fuels related-PM2.5 (BRPM2.5) concerning the pathological process of fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition (FMT) in the context of COPD. In vivo experimentation revealed that exposure to biofuel smoke was associated with airway inflammation in rats. After 4 weeks of exposure, there was inflammation in the small airways, but no significant structural changes in the airway walls. However, after 24 weeks, airway remodeling occurred due to increased collagen deposition, myofibroblast proliferation, and tracheal wall thickness. In vitro, cellular immunofluorescence results showed that with stimulation of BRPM2.5 for 72 h, the cell morphology of fibroblasts changed significantly, most of the cells changed from spindle-shaped to star-shaped irregular, α-SMA stress fibers appeared in the cytoplasm and the synthesis of type I collagen increased. The collagen gel contraction experiment showed that the contractility of fibroblasts was enhanced. The expression level of TRPC1 in fibroblasts was increased. Specific siRNA-TRPC1 blocked BRPM2.5-induced FMT and reduced cell contractility. Additionally, specific siRNA-TRPC1 resulted in a decrease in the augment of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) induced by BRPM2.5. Notably, it was found that the PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, inhibited enhancement of AKT phosphorylation level, FMT occurrence, and elevation of TRPC1 protein expression induced by BRPM2.5. The findings indicated that BRPM2.5 is capable of inducing the FMT, with the possibility of mediation by PI3K/AKT/TRPC1. These results hold potential implications for the understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in BRPM2.5-induced COPD and may aid in the development of novel therapeutic strategies for pathological conditions characterized by fibrosis.

Successful treatment of new-onset diabetes mellitus and IgA nephropathy after COVID-19 vaccination: a case report.

De novo glomerular injuries or relapse of nephropathy following COVID-19 vaccine has been reported. Here we present the first case of successful treatment of new-onset diabetes mellitus and biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy after COVID-19 vaccination. A 56-year-old man with no known medical history of renal dysfunction or diabetes mellitus developed both within 3 months after receiving a third dose of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine (Vero cells). His symptoms were characterized by brown urine, severe dry mouth, and excessive thirst. Randomly acquired blood glucose levels exceeded 33.3 mmol/L. A kidney biopsy showed IgA nephropathy. He was started on insulin for glycemic control. After glucocorticoid and cyclophosphamide treatment, oral tablets of repaglinide, combined with acarbose, controlled blood glucose and stabilized kidney function. This case is unique because the kidneys and pancreas were simultaneously affected by the vaccine. Successful treatment of the disease proved that cyclophosphamide combined with glucocorticoids were effective and that blood glucose was successfully controlled. This treatment option could be useful in similar cases in the future.

Alcoholic Setdb1 suppression promotes hepatosteatosis in mice by strengthening Plin2.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hepatosteatosis is one of the early features of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and pharmaceutical or genetic interfering of the development of hepatosteatosis will efficiently alleviate the progression of ALD. Currently, the role of histone methyltransferase Setdb1 in ALD is not yet well understood. METHOD: Lieber-De Carli diet mice model and NIAAA mice model were constructed to confirm the expression of Setdb1. The hepatocyte-specific Setdb1-knockout (Setdb1-HKO) mice was established to determine the effects of Setdb1 in vivo. Adenovirus-Setdb1 were produced to rescue the hepatic steatosis in both Setdb1-HKO and Lieber-De Carli mice. The enrichment of H3k9me3 in the upstream sequence of Plin2 and the chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) of Plin2 were identified by ChIP and co-IP. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to detect the interaction of Setdb1 3'UTR and miR216b-5p in AML12 or HEK 293 T cells. RESULTS: We found that Setdb1 was downregulated in the liver of alcohol-fed mice. Setdb1 knockdown promoted lipid accumulation in AML12 hepatocytes. Meanwhile, hepatocyte-specific Setdb1-knockout (Setdb1-HKO) mice exhibited significant lipid accumulation in the liver. Overexpression of Setdb1 was performed with an adenoviral vector through tail vein injection, which ameliorated hepatosteatosis in both Setdb1-HKO and alcoholic diet-fed mice. Mechanistically, downregulated Setdb1 promoted the mRNA expression of Plin2 by desuppressing H3K9me3-mediated chromatin silencing in its upstream sequence. Pin2 acts as a critical membrane surface-associated protein to maintain lipid droplet stability and inhibit lipase degradation. The downregulation of Setdb1 also maintained the stability of Plin2 protein through inhibiting Plin2-recruited chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA). To explore the reasons for Setdb1 suppression in ALD, we found that upregulated miR-216b-5p bound to the 3'UTR of Setdb1 mRNA, disturbed its mRNA stability, and eventually aggravated hepatic steatosis. CONCLUSIONS: Setdb1 suppression plays an important role in the progression of alcoholic hepatosteatosis via elevating the expression of Plin2 mRNA and maintaining the stability of Plin2 protein. Targeting hepatic Setdb1 might be a promising diagnostic or therapeutic strategy for ALD.

Super Enhancer-Associated Circular RNA-CircKrt4 Regulates Hypoxic Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cell Dysfunction in Mice.

BACKGROUND: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been implicated in pulmonary hypertension progression through largely unknown mechanisms. Pulmonary artery endothelial cell (PAEC) dysfunction is a hallmark in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension. However, the specific role of circular RNAs in PAEC injury caused by hypoxia remains unclear. METHODS: In this study, using the Western blotting, RNA pull down, Dual-luciferase reporter assay, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence, we identified a novel circular RNA derived from alternative splicing of the keratin 4 gene (circKrt4). RESULTS: CircKrt4 was upregulated in lung tissues and plasma and specifically in PAECs under hypoxic conditions. In the nucleus, circKrt4 induces endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition by interacting with the Pura (transcriptional activator protein Pur-alpha) to promote N-cadherin gene activation. In the cytoplasm, increased circKrt4 leads to mitochondrial dysfunction by inhibiting cytoplasmic-mitochondrial shuttling of mitochondrial-bound Glpk (glycerol kinase). Intriguingly, circKrt4 was identified as a super enhancer-associated circular RNA that is transcriptionally activated by a transcription factor, CEBPA (CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha). Furthermore, RBM25 (RNA-binding-motif protein 25) was found to regulate circKrt4 cyclization by increase the back-splicing of Krt4 gene. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that a super enhancer-associated circular RNA-circKrt4 modulates PAEC injury to promote pulmonary hypertension by targeting Pura and Glpk.

Elevated Urinary IL-6 Predicts the Progression of IgA Nephropathy.

Introduction: Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common glomerulonephritis worldwide. However, biomarkers for predicting the progression or regression of IgAN remain a clinical challenge. In the present study, we aim to identify promising prognostic markers of IgAN. Methods: Using the cytokine antibody array, we detected serum and urinary levels of 9 common cytokines selected from 23 IgAN-related biomarkers in 32 patients with IgAN and 16 healthy controls. The best biomarkers for distinguishing IgAN patients from healthy controls were identified and confirmed in a multicenter cohort with 222 patients with IgAN and 159 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Their associations with IgAN progression were further explored in 762 patients with IgAN with a median follow-up of 65 months. Results: Among the 9 candidate markers, urinary interleukin-6 (IL-6) and transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) levels were the best for distinguishing patients with IgAN from healthy controls. In the diagnostic cohort, both urinary IL-6 and TGF-ß1 levels were elevated in patients with IgAN and showed good discriminatory power, with an area under curve (AUC) of 0.9725 (95% confidence interval: 0.9593-0.9858). Elevated urinary IL-6 level was independently and significantly correlated with the high risk of composite renal outcome (hazard ratio per log-transformed IL-6:1.420 [1.139-1.769]), but no statistical significance was observed between urinary TGF-ß1 level and IgAN progression after adjusting for multiple confounders. Conclusions: Elevated urinary IL-6 and TGF-ß1 levels predict the progression of IgAN. Urinary IL-6 is an independent risk factor and a promising noninvasive predictor for IgAN progression.

Alpha1B-adreneroceptor is involved in norepinephrine-induced pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation via p38 signaling.

The higher norepinephrine (NE) concentration induced by sympathetic nerve hyperactivation participated in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) over-proliferation and led to pulmonary vascular remodeling (PVR), which played an important role in pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). However, the underlying mechanism by which NE induced PASMCs proliferation had not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we found that prazosin, the inhibitor of α1-AR, reversed hypoxia-induced changes in pulmonary circulatory function which were analyzed by echocardiography to measure pulmonary artery acceleration time (PAT) and pulmonary arterial velocity time integral (PAVTI) and right heart catheterization to test right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), respectively. Western blotting analysis showed that the expression of alpha1B-adreneroceptor (α1B-AR) increased under hypoxic conditions both in vivo and in vitro. Antagonism of α1B-AR by chloroethylclonidine dihydrochloride (CEC) reversed the NE-induced proliferation in rat PASMCs, which was confirmed by applying Western blotting to test proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression, CCK8 assay to test cell viability, scratch-wounding cellular migration assay to show cell proliferative capacity and immunofluorescence to show Ki67 expression. Furthermore, we revealed that antagonism of α1B-AR alleviated NE-induced acceleration of cell-cycle progression by Western blotting to detect cell-cycle-related protein. In addition, Western blotting results showed that antagonism of α1B-AR reversed NE-promoted phosphorylation of p38 (p-p38) under hypoxia. SB202190, an inhibitor of p38, reversed NE-induced proliferation and acceleration of cell-cycle progression of PASMCs. These results suggested that α1B-AR was involved in NE-induced PASMCs proliferation via p38 signaling pathway, which might be downstream of α1B-AR.

Ubiquitinated AIF is a major mediator of hypoxia-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation.

BACKGROUND: Excessive proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) is the main cause of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (PH), and mitochondrial homeostasis plays a crucial role. However, the specific molecular regulatory mechanism of mitochondrial function in PASMCs remains unclear. METHODS: In this study, using the CCK8 assay, EdU incorporation, flow cytometry, Western blotting, co-IP, mass spectrometry, electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, Seahorse extracellular flux analysis and echocardiography, we investigated the specific involvement of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), a mitochondrial oxidoreductase in regulating mitochondrial energy metabolism and mitophagy in PASMCs. RESULTS: In vitro, AIF deficiency in hypoxia leads to impaired oxidative phosphorylation and increased glycolysis and ROS release because of the loss of mitochondrial complex I activity. AIF was also downregulated and ubiquitinated under hypoxia leading to the abnormal occurrence of mitophagy and autophagy through its interaction with ubiquitin protein UBA52. In vivo, treatment with the adeno-associated virus vector to overexpress AIF protected pulmonary vascular remodeling from dysfunctional and abnormal proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our results identify AIF as a potential therapeutic target for PH and reveal a novel posttranscriptional regulatory mechanism in hypoxia-induced mitochondrial dysfunction.

Impact of parathyroidectomy on left ventricular function in end stage renal disease patients.

BACKGROUND: Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a common complication in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, and parathyroidectomy (PTX) is an effective treatment intervention of SHPT. However, the curative impact of PTX on left ventricular function still remains incompletely understood. To evaluate the impact of parathyroidectomy on left ventricular function in ESRD patients, we conducted this retrospective study. METHODS: Between Oct 1, 2010 and Oct 1, 2016, ESRD patients presented with SHPT who underwent parathyroidectomy were enrolled. We retrospectively collected the ultrasonic cardiogram parameter pre- and 1-year post-PTX, and analyzed the influence factor for the overturn of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and the improvement of ejection fraction% (EF%). RESULTS: In all the patients (135), the main ultrasonic cardiogram parameter dramatically improved after PTX. Compared with pre-PTX, the left ventricular mass (LVM) (172.82 (135.90, 212.91) g vs. 192.76 (157.56, 237.97) g, p<0.001) and the left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (107.01 (86.79, 128.42) g/m2 vs. 123.54 (105.49, 146.64) g/m2, p<0.001) significantly declined after 1 year of the PTX. Further, 43.75% patients diagnosed with LVH before the PTX have recovered from LVH. In the subgroup analysis of 35 patients with EF% ≤ 60% pre-PTX, EF% and fractional shortening% (FS%) significantly improved after 1 year of the PTX compared with pre-PTX (EF%: 64.90 ± 7.90% vs. 55.71 ± 4.78%, p<0.001; FS% 35.48 ± 6.34% vs. 29.54 ± 2.88%, p<0.001), and 82.86% patients underwent an improvement of left ventricular systolic function post 1year of the PTX. CONCLUSIONS: tPTX+AT is an effective curative intervention of secondary hyperparathyroidism and can significantly overturn the LVH and increase the left ventricular systolic function.

circRNA CDR1as Promotes Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cell Calcification by Upregulating CAMK2D and CNN3 via Sponging miR-7-5p.

Emerging evidence has suggested that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in multiple physiological processes and participate in a variety of human diseases. However, the underlying biological function of circRNAs in pulmonary hypertension (PH) is still ambiguous. Herein, we investigated the implication and regulatory effect of a typical circRNA, CDR1as, in the pathological process of vascular calcification in PH. Human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (HPASMC) calcification was analyzed by western blotting, immunofluorescence, alizarin red S staining, alkaline phosphatase activity analysis, and calcium deposition quantification. CDR1as targets were identified by bioinformatics analysis and validated by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA antisense purification assays. We identified that CDR1as was upregulated in hypoxic conditions and promoted a phenotypic switch of HPASMCs from a contractile to an osteogenic phenotype. Moreover, microRNA (miR)-7-5p was shown to be a target of CDR1as, and calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II-delta (CAMK2D) and calponin 3 (CNN3) were suggested to be the putative target genes and regulated by CDR1as/miR-7-5p. The results showed that the CDR1as/miR-7-5p/CNN3 and CAMK2D regulatory axis mediates HPASMC osteoblastic differentiation and calcification induced by hypoxia. This evidence reveals an approach to the treatment of PH.

Correction: Tacrolimus dose requirement based on the CYP3A5 genotype in renal transplant patients.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.18150.].

Plasma metabolite biomarkers related to secondary hyperparathyroidism and parathyroid hormone.

BACKGROUND: Hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia, and elevation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) are typical abnormalities of uremic patients with Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). However, metabolic imbalance associated with SHPT is not well understood. METHODS: A total of 15 SHPT patients with an intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) level > 600 pg/mL were set as preoperative (PR) group, 15 age- and gender-matched controls who had undergone parathyroidectomy plus forearm transplantation because of hyperparathyroidism and achieved an iPTH level <150 pg/mL were set as postoperative (PO) group. Metabolite profiling of these 30 uremic patients and five healthy controls (HC) was performed using ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Five differential metabolites, including allyl isothiocyanate, L-phenylalanine, D-Aspartic acid, indoleacetaldehyde, and D-galactose correlated with PTH were identified in this study. Taking them as a biomarker signature, PR group can be distinguished from HC group with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.947 (95% CI, 0.76-1) and PO group with an AUC of 0.6 (95% CI, 0.38-0.807). CONCLUSIONS: The serum metabolome correlated with PTH is successfully demonstrated for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of SHPT.

The Mitochondria-Targeted Metabolic Tubular Injury in Diabetic Kidney Disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide, and the importance of tubular injury has been highlighted in recent years. However, the underlying mechanisms and effective therapeutic targets are still unclear. In this study, we investigated mtDNA, mitochondrial dynamics, function and metabolic pathways to determine if mitochondrial damage plays a critical role in the development of tubular injury in DKD patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among healthy controls (HCs, n = 65), diabetes patients without kidney disease (DCs, n = 48) and DKD patients (n = 60). Serum, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and kidney biopsy specimens were obtained from participants. Metabolomics was employed to investigate cellular metabolism. RESULTS: DKD patients had decreased mtDNA copy numbers and increased mtDNA damage compared to DCs. Mitochondrial fragmentation was specifically presented in tubules, but not in podocytes of DKD patients. The accumulation of damaged mtDNA and fragmented mitochondria resulted in increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, activation of apoptosis and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in tubules and PBMCs. Furthermore, glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle was perturbed, and increased dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) and decreased succinyl-CoA synthetase (SCS) respectively in these two metabolic pathways were identified as potential biomarkers for tubular injury in DKD. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that mitochondrial damage could be the hallmark of tubular injury in DKD patients, and this would provide a novel and attractive therapeutic target to improve this disease.

Dacomitinib, a new pan-EGFR inhibitor, is effective in attenuating pulmonary vascular remodeling and pulmonary hypertension.

Accumulating evidence suggests that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a role in the progression of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Clinically-approved epidermal growth factor inhibitors such as gefitinib, erlotinib, and lapatinib have been explored for PAH. However, None of them were able to attenuate PAH. So, we explored the role of dacomitinib, a new pan-EGFR inhibitor, in PAH. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to study hypoxia- or monocrotaline-induced right ventricular remodeling as well as systolic function and hemodynamics using echocardiography and a pressure-volume admittance catheter. Morphometric analyses of lung vasculature and pressure-volume vessels were performed. Immunohistochemical staining, flow cytometry, and viability, as well as scratch-wound, and Boyden chamber migration assays were used to identify the roles of dacomitinib in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). The results revealed that dacomitinib has a significant inhibitory effect on the thickening of the media, adventitial collagen increased. Dacomitinib also has a significant role in attenuating pulmonary artery pressure and right ventricular hypertrophy. Additionally, dacomitinib inhibits hypoxia-induced proliferation, migration, autophagy and cell cycle progression through PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling in PASMCs. Our study indicates that dacomitinib inhibited hypoxia-induced cell cycle progression, proliferation, migration, and autophagy of PASMCs, thereby attenuating pulmonary vascular remodeling and development of PAH via the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway. Overall, dacomitinib may serve as new potential therapeutic for the treatment of PAH.

alpha1A-adrenoceptor is involved in norepinephrine-induced proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells via CaMKII signaling.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease of the pulmonary vasculature characterized by excessive proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Some studies have demonstrated the sympathetic nervous system is activated in PAH and norepinephrine (NE) released is closely linked with its activation. However, the subtypes of adrenoreceptor (AR) and the downstream molecular cascades which are involved in the proliferation of PASMCs are still unclear. In this study, adult male Wistar rats were exposed to chronic hypoxia and PASMCs were cultured in hypoxic condition. Significant upregulation of α1A -AR was identified by Western blot analysis or immunofluorescence in all of the pulmonary arteries, lung tissues, and cell hypoxic models. Western blot analysis, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence were applied to detect the roles of α1A -AR in NE mediated proliferation of PASMCs. We revealed 5-methylurapidil (5-MU) reversed NE-induced upregulation of PCNA, CyclinA and CyclinE, more cells from G0 /G1 phase to G2 /M+S phase, enhancement of the microtubule formation. In addition, we found calcium/calmodulin(CaM)-dependent protein kinase type II (CaMKII) pathway was involved in α1A -AR-mediated cell proliferation. [Ca2+ ]i measurements showed that an increase of [Ca2+ ]i caused by NE or/and hypoxia could be blocked by 5-MU in PASMCs. Western blot analysis results demonstrated the augmentation of CaMKII phosphorylation level was caused by hypoxia or NE in pulmonary arteries, lung tissues, and PASMCs. KN62 attenuated NE-induced proliferation of PASMCs under normoxia and hypoxia. In conclusion, those results suggested NE which stimulated α1A -AR-mediated the proliferation of PASMCs, which may be via the CaMKII pathway, and it could be used as a novel treatment strategy in PAH.

Whole-Genome Analysis of an Extensive Drug-Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii ST195 Isolate from a Recipient After DCD Renal Transplantation in China.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Infection with Acinetobacter baumannii was emerging as one of the leading causes of mortality after donation after cardiac death transpalantion. METHODS: We reported a case of a recipient who underwent DCD renal transplantation and later got infected by A.baumannii. Etests were done to verify the susceptibility test results in clinic. Whole-genome analysis was applied to investigate the resistant mechanism at gene level. RESULTS: The pathogen was isolated from his draining liquid the day after the surgery, and susceptibility test reavealed that it was sensitive to tigecycline. However, the isolate obtained from the draining liquid became tigecycline-resistant after fifteen-day administration of tigecycline. The Susceptibility tests showed that the pathogen recovered from tigecycline resistance and became intermediated to tigecycline. Whole-Genome analysis revealed the genetic level change leading to tigecycline resistance and we identified the location of mutation by comparing the whole genome sequence of the isolates. Three loci were figured out which may contribute to drug resistance, including genes encoding HTH domain protein, MFS transporter and AdeS. CONCLUSION: Understanding the genetic characteristics associated with drug resistance mechanism and antimicrobial profiles of pathogen is important in controlling infection outbreak and preventing serious complications and gives a new insight into the development of antimicrobial agents.

Tacrolimus dose requirement based on the CYP3A5 genotype in renal transplant patients.

Tacrolimus (FK506) and cyclosporine A (CsA) are widely used to protect graft function after renal transplantation. The aim of the present study is to determine whether the single nucleotide polymorphism of CYP3A5 is a predictive index of FK506 dose requirement, and also the selection yardstick of FK506 or CsA treatment.We tested archival peripheral blood of 218 kidney recipients for CYP3A5 genotyping with PCR-SSP. Meanwhile, the dose of FK506 and CsA was recorded, blood concentration of the drugs was measured, and graft outcome was monitored.These results indicate that CYP3A5*AA/AG carriers need higher FK506 dose than CYP3A5*GG homozygote to achieve the target blood concentration. For CYP3A5*GG carriers, taking FK506 or CsA are both advisable. CYP3A5*AA/AG carriers preferred to CsA treatment depending on the graft outcomes and drug costs. CYP3A5 genotyping is a new approach to detecting FK506 dose requirement and a predictive index for the FK506 or CsA treatment selection in kidney recipients.

Evolution of Drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii After DCD Renal Transplantation.

Infection after renal transplantation remains a major cause of morbidity and death, especially infection from the extensively drug-resistant bacteria, A. baumannii. A total of fourteen A. baumannii isolates were isolated from the donors' preserved fluid from DCD (donation after cardiac death) renal transplantation and four isolates in the recipients' draining liquid at the Kidney Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, from March 2013 to November 2014. An outbreak of A. baumannii emerging after DCD renal transplantation was tracked to understand the transmission of the pathogen. PFGE displayed similar DNA patterns between isolates from the same hospital. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests against thirteen antimicrobial agents were determined using the K-B diffusion method and eTest. Whole-genome sequencing was applied to investigate the genetic relationship of the isolates. With the clinical data and research results, we concluded that the A. baumannii isolates 3R1 and 3R2 was probably transmitted from the donor who acquired the bacteria during his stay in the ICU, while isolate 4R1 was transmitted from 3R1 and 3R2 via medical manipulation. This study demonstrated the value of integration of clinical profiles with molecular methods in outbreak investigation and their importance in controlling infection and preventing serious complications after DCD transplantation.

Norepinephrine stimulation of alpha1D-adrenoceptor promotes proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells via ERK-1/2 signaling.

It has been shown that the sympathetic nervous system is activated in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Norepinephrine (NE) levels are increased by chemoreflex-dependent sympathetic overactivation and involved in pulmonary vascular remodeling. However, the underlying mechanisms of the remodeling induced by NE are poorly understood. In this study, we found that, in vivo, the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase and the concentration of plasma NE were increased in PAH rats compared with normal rats. Increases in ventricular hypertrophy and medial width of the pulmonary arteries were reversed by prazosin, α1-adrenoceptor (α1-AR) antagonists, in PAH rats. Elevated expression of α1D-AR was detected in PAH rats. In addition, prazosin reduced the increasing expression of PCNA, CyclinA and CyclinE induced by hypoxia. In vitro, MTT assay, flow cytometry, Western blotting and immunofluorescence were performed to investigate the effects of NE on proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). We revealed that NE promoted PASMCs viability, increased the expression of PCNA, CyclinA and CyclinE, made more cells from G0/G1 phase to G2/M+S phase and enhanced the microtubule formation. Above NE-induced changes could be suppressed by BMY 7378, an inhibitor of α1D-AR. Furthermore, ERK-1/2 pathway was activated by NE. U0126, a specific inhibitor for ERK-1/2, attenuated the NE-induced proliferation of PASMCs under normoxia and hypoxia. Taken together, our results suggest that NE which stimulates α1D-AR promotes proliferation of PASMCs and the effect is, at least in part, mediated via the ERK-1/2 pathway.

The Neuroprotective Effects of Carvacrol on Ethanol-Induced Hippocampal Neurons Impairment via the Antioxidative and Antiapoptotic Pathways.

Chronic alcohol consumption causes hippocampal neuronal impairment, which is associated with oxidative stress and apoptosis. Carvacrol is a major monoterpenic phenol found in essential oils from the family Labiatae and has antioxidative stress and antiapoptosis actions. However, the protective effects of carvacrol in ethanol-induced hippocampal neuronal impairment have not been fully understood. We explored the neuroprotective effects of carvacrol in vivo and in vitro. Male C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 35% ethanol for 4 weeks to establish ethanol model in vivo, and hippocampal neuron injury was simulated by 200 mM ethanol in vitro. Morris water maze test was performed to evaluate the cognitive dysfunction. The oxidative stress injury of hippocampal neurons was evaluated by measuring the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers. Histopathological examinations and western blot were performed to evaluate the apoptosis of neurons. The results showed that carvacrol attenuates the cognitive dysfunction, oxidative stress, and apoptosis of the mice treated with ethanol and decreases hippocampal neurons apoptosis induced by ethanol in vitro. In addition, western blot analysis revealed that carvacrol modulates the protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, and p-ERK, without influence of p-JNK and p-p38. Our results suggest that carvacrol alleviates ethanol-mediated hippocampal neuronal impairment by antioxidative and antiapoptotic effects.

Clinical Significance of the Sympathetic Nervous System in the Development and Progression of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is defined as a complex disease of clinically characterized by elevated pulmonary pressure eventually resulting in right heart failure and premature death. To date, PAH still remains a life-threatening disease. Published evidence suggests that patients with PAH present profound sympathetic nervous system abnormalities and sympathetic activity has been shown to be increased. The mechanism of PAH is still complex and poorly understood. RESULTS: Some data have showed that adrenoceptors are involved in the process of the pathology and have different functions in the progression of PAH followed by heart failure. Alpha-adrenergic receptors mediate most excitatory effects and induce growth of smooth muscle cells and adventitial fibroblasts via complex cellular and molecular mechanisms. However, beta-adrenergic receptor mainly detected in endothelial layer commonly exerts relaxation effects on pulmonary artery. In addition, G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2, the primary G protein-coupled receptor kinase expressed in the heart, has been shown to be increased, resulting in the distinctive loss of inotropic reserve and functional capacity of the failing heart according to the activation of sympathetic nervous system. CONCLUSION: Here, we summarize the relevant available studies describing the roles of sympathetic nervous system in the progression of PAH.