Salvianolic Acid B Alleviates High Glucose-Induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Inflammation by Upregulating the miR-486a-5p Expression.

The macrovascular complications of diabetes cause high mortality and disability in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The inflammatory response of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) runs through its pathophysiological process. Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) exhibits beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. However, its role and mechanism in diabetic vascular inflammatory response remain unclear. In this study, we found that Sal B reduced vascular inflammation in diabetic mice and high glucose- (HG-) induced VSMC inflammation. Subsequently, we found that Sal B reduced HG-induced VSMC inflammation by downregulating FOXO1. Furthermore, miR-486a-5p expression was obviously reduced in HG-treated VSMC. Sal B attenuated HG-induced VSMC inflammation by upregulating miR-486a-5p. Loss- and gain-of-function experiments had proven that the transfection of the miR-486a-5p mimic inhibited HG-induced VSMC inflammation whereas that of the miR-486a-5p inhibitor promoted HG-induced VSMC inflammation, thereby leading to the amelioration of vascular inflammation in the diabetic mice. Furthermore, studies had shown that miR-486a-5p inhibited FOXO1 expression by directly targeting its 3'-UTR. In conclusion, Sal B alleviates the inflammatory response of VSMC by upregulating miR-486a-5p and aggravating its inhibition of FOXO1 expression. Sal B exerts a significant anti-inflammatory effect in HG-induced VSMC inflammation by modulating the miR-486a-5p/FOXO1 axis.

Exceptional points enhance sensing in silicon micromechanical resonators.

Exceptional points (EPs) have recently emerged as a new method for engineering the response of open physical systems, that is, systems that interact with the environment. The systems at the EPs exhibit a strong response to a small perturbation. Here, we show a method by which the sensitivity of silicon resonant sensors can be enhanced when operated at EPs. In our experiments, we use a pair of mechanically coupled silicon micromechanical resonators constituting a parity-time (PT)-symmetric dimer. Small perturbations introduced on the mechanically coupled spring cause the frequency to split from the EPs into the PT-symmetric regime without broadening the two spectrum linewidths, and this frequency splitting scales with the square root of the perturbation strength. The overall signal-to-noise ratio is still greatly enhanced, although the measured noise spectral density of the EP sensing scheme has a slight increase comparable to the traditional counterpart. Our results pave the way for resonant sensors with ultrahigh sensitivity.

17ß-estradiol reduces NF-κB expression induced by increased crosstalk between KLF5 and ERα in murine vascular smooth muscle cells.

Pathological vascular remodeling and cell proliferation play vital roles in many proliferative vascular diseases. Estrogen can protect the cardiovascular system, but its exact molecular mechanism is unknown. Here we report that 17ß-estradiol (E2) suppressed vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation and inflammation. qRT-PCR and Western blot demonstrated that E2 decreased NF-κB p50 expression and reduced VSMCs proliferation and inflammation. Mechanistically, a dual luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation suggested that KLF5 promoted NF-κB p50 expression by binding to the NF-κB p50 promoter, whereas E2 reduced the effect of KLF5 binding to the NF-κB p50 promoter and inhibited NF-κB p50 expression. Furthermore, a coimmunoprecipitation assay and immunofluorescence staining showed that the interaction between KLF5 and ERα increased in VSMCs treated with E2, which in turn decreased NF-κB p50 expression levels. Altogether, we reveal that E2 inhibits VSMCs proliferation and inflammation by reducing NF-κB expression induced by an increased interaction between KLF5 and ERα. These data provide further insights into how E2 inhibits vascular proliferation and inflammation.

17ß-Estradiol Attenuates LPS-Induced Macrophage Inflammation In Vitro and Sepsis-Induced Vascular Inflammation In Vivo by Upregulating miR-29a-5p Expression.

Excessive release of cytokines such as IL-1ß and other inflammatory mediators synthesized and secreted by macrophages is the fundamental link of uncontrolled inflammatory response in sepsis. 17ß-Estradiol (E2) plays anti-inflammatory and vascular protective effects by regulating leukocyte infiltration and the expression of chemokines or cytokines induced by injury. However, the role of E2 in the inflammatory response of macrophages in sepsis and its mechanism are still not fully understood. In the present study, we show that E2 alleviates vascular inflammation in sepsis mice induced by cecal ligation puncture (CLP). E2 significantly decreases RAW 264.7 cell inflammation response by downregulating the expression of NLRP3. Furthermore, we found that miR-29a-5p was significantly downregulated in LPS-treated macrophages. Treating RAW 264.7 cells with E2 markedly upregulated the miR-29a-5p expression level. More importantly, we demonstrated that miR-29a-5p repressed NLRP3 expression by directly targeting its 3'-UTR. Loss- and gain-of-function experiments revealed that transfection of the miR-29a-5p mimic abrogates LPS-induced macrophage inflammation. Moreover, depletion of miR-29a-5p by its inhibitor largely promotes LPS-induced macrophage inflammation. In summary, miR-29a-5p upregulation induced by E2 alleviated RAW 264.7 cell inflammation response by aggravating miR-29a-5p repression of NLRP3 expression. E2 exerts significant anti-inflammatory efficacy in macrophages by regulating the miR-29a-5p/NLRP3 axis. Targeting miR-29a-5p may be a novel therapeutic strategy to suppress sepsis-induced vascular inflammation.

Pioglitazone Use and Risk of Bladder Cancer: an In Vitro Study.

Aims: Whether pioglitazone (PIO), a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonist, increases the risk of developing bladder cancer has been debated for several years. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro effects of PIO on normal urothelial transitional epithelium (NUTE) cells and bladder cancer (J82) cells to further evaluate the risk. Methods: NUTE cells were obtained from Sprague-Dawley rats. NUTE and J82 cells were treated with different concentrations of PIO for various time periods. Cell proliferation was tested by the MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. The expressions of p53, cyclin D1, Bcl-2, and Bax were determined by qRT-PCR and western blots. Results: After 24 hours, the treatment of NUTE cells with 10 µmol/L PIO led to morphological changes, without changes in J82 cells. Moreover, PIO inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis of NUTE cells, but not J82 cells, in a time- and dose-dependent manner. However, PIO did not alter the growth of cells from other tissues. In addition, treatment with PIO for up to 72 hours did not result in changes in the expressions of p53, cyclin D1, Bcl-2, and Bax in NUTE cells and J82 cells. Interestingly, PIO significantly downregulated the protein levels of p53 and cyclin D1 in J82 cells, but not NUTE cells after more than 192 hours of treatment. Conclusions: PIO did not promote malignant alterations of NUTE cells or stimulate proliferation of J82 cells. PIO decreased the expression of p53 and cyclin D1 in J82 cells after long-term culture, which suggested that PIO may be helpful for diabetic patients with bladder cancer.

The effectiveness of zinc supplementation in men with isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

A multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled superiority trial with 18 months of follow-up was conducted to investigate whether oral zinc supplementation could further promote spermatogenesis in males with isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) receiving sequential purified urinary follicular-stimulating hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin (uFSH/hCG) replacement. Sixty-seven Chinese male IHH patients were recruited from the Departments of Endocrinology in eight tertiary hospitals and randomly allocated into the sequential uFSH/hCG group (Group A, n = 34) or the sequential uFSH plus zinc supplementation group (Group B, n = 33). In Group A, patients received sequential uFSH (75 U, three times a week every other 3 months) and hCG (2000 U, twice a week) treatments. In Group B, patients received oral zinc supplementation (40 mg day-1 ) in addition to the sequential uFSH/hCG treatment given to patients in Group A. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with a sperm concentration ≥1.0 × 106 ml-1 during the 18 months. The comparison of efficacy between Groups A and B was analyzed. Nineteen of 34 (55.9%) patients receiving sequential uFSH/hCG and 20 of 33 (60.6%) patients receiving sequential uFSH/hCG plus zinc supplementation achieved sperm concentrations ≥1.0 × 106 ml-1 by intention to treat analyses. No differences between Group A and Group B were observed as far as the efficacy of inducing spermatogenesis (P = 0.69). We concluded that the sequential uFSH/hCG plus zinc supplementation regimen had a similar efficacy to the sequential uFSH/hCG treatment alone. The additional improvement of 40 mg day-1 oral zinc supplementation on spermatogenesis and masculinization in male IHH patients is very subtle.

[Clinical and genetic analysis of 11ß-hydroxylase deficiency].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical and genetic characteristics of two patients with 11 ß-hydroxylase deficiency (11 ß-OHD). METHODS: The clinical features and laboratory data were collected from the patients and their families. All exons of CYP11B1 gene were amplified by PCR. And the PCR product sequences were identified by a DNA analyzer. RESULTS: Two patients presented with juvenile hypertension with bilateral adrenal hyperplasia and congenital hypospadias, hypertension for 17 years and periodic hematuria for 3 months after dexamethasone therapy respectively. Steroid analysis showed the typical pattern of 11 ß-OHD: elevated plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP), 11-deoxycortisol, androstenedione and testosterone and lowered levels of potassium, aldosterone and plasma renin activity (PRA). CT scan revealed the presence of bilateral nodular hyperplasia of adrenal glands. Sequencing analysis showed compound heterozygous mutations of [R453Q]+[R454C] at exon 8 in patient 1 and homozygous mutation of [R454C] at exon 8 in patient 2. CONCLUSION: 11 ß-OHD is the second major cause of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The classic characteristics are hypertension with low a level of PRA, hypokalemia, female pseudohermaphroditism and male sexual precocity. 11 ß-OHD should be screened in the patients with juvenile onset hypertension accompanied by bilateral adrenal hyperplasia.

Metabolic disorders in newly diagnosed young adult female patients with simple virilizing 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

Classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is characterized by the defects in cortisol and aldosterone secretion, and accompanied with adrenal hyperandrogenism. It is likely that the impaired adrenocortical function and intermittent treatment-related hypercortisolism may predispose patients to the development of metabolic syndrome in adulthood. Our aim was to assess the impact of hyperandrogenism on metabolic profiles in CAH women without glucocorticosteroid treatment. We evaluated the clinical characteristics and metabolic profiles in 30 untreated Chinese female adults with simple virilizing congenital adrenal hyperplasia (SV-CAH). Mutation analysis was performed by sequencing the entire 21-hydroxylase gene (CYP21A2). As compared with the controls, CAH patients had higher BMI (BMI, 21.5±2.1 vs. 20.0±1.8 kg/m2, P<0.05), higher 2 h post-load plasma glucose levels (6. 35±1.74 vs. 5. 35±1.17 mmol/l, P<0.05), higher serum triglycerides (TG) (1.12±0.64 vs. 0.63±0.15 mmol/l, P<0.01), and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) (1.30±0.39 vs. 1.67±0.29 mmol/l, P<0.01). Moreover, CAH patients had higher fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (1.81±0.99 vs. 1.24±0.50, P<0.05), while ΔIns30/ΔGlu30 showed no statistically significant difference in two groups. In addition, a marked reduction of serum adiponectin levels were observed in CAH patients (7.0±3.3 vs. 13.2±4.8 µg/ml, P<0.001), however, serum CRP levels were not different between patients and the controls. Further regression analysis showed that higher serum testosterone concentrations were associated with metabolic disorder indexes and reduction of serum adiponectin. Our study demonstrates that untreated CAH patients are prone to have metabolic disorders in association with elevated serum testosterone levels and reduced insulin insensitivity.

A novel missense mutation, GGC(Arg454) --> TGC(Cys), of CYP11B1 gene identified in a Chinese family with steroid 11beta-hydroxylase deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Steroid 11beta-hydroxylase deficiency (11beta-OHD), an autosomal recessive inherited disease, accounts for 5% - 8% of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. It was scarcely reported in China. This article reports two Chinese girls with 11beta-OHD. METHODS: The two patients were sisters and presented with hypertrichosis, skin pigmentation, laryngeal prominence and virilization of external genitalia. The patients were followed up for their clinical symptoms and signs, hormone profile, and adrenal image. The genomic deoxyribonucleic acids of the patients and their parents were isolated. 11beta-hydroxylase gene (CYP11B1) was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and directly sequenced. RESULTS: Hormone tests showed that serum cortisol was in the low limit of normal range, whereas the concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone, testosterone and progesterone were much higher than those of normal adult females. There were obvious adrenal hyperplasia and advance of bone age. After 11 months of treatment with dexamethasone, the skin pigment became regressed; the breast, uterus and ovary gradually developed and normal menstrual cycle started while the manifestations of virilization did not change. A single point mutation of CYP11B1 (R454C, GGC --> TGC) in all the members of this family was detected. The sisters were homozygous and their parents were heterozygous. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical manifestation of 11beta-OHD is complicated. The manifestation of virilization could not regress after treatment with dexamethasone. The novel missense mutation of CYP11B1 (R454C, GGC --> TGC) is the pathogenesis of 11beta-OHD at least in some Chinese patients.

Variations in the promoter of CYP21A2 gene identified in a Chinese patient with simple virilizing form of 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

OBJECTIVE: The variations in the transcriptional regulatory regions of CYP21A2 were rarely investigated in patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD). The present study aims to verify that the variations in the promoter of CYP21A2 relate to the classical form of 21OHD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: CYP21A2 was screened for mutations in 20 patients with the simple virilizing form of 21OHD, including the promoter region. The transcriptional activities of the variants in the promoter were investigated using a dual-reporter luciferase assay system and electromobility gel shift assays. RESULTS: The heterozygous variants -447 A > G, -443InsA, -306G > C, -295T > C, -294 A > C, -283 A > G, -281T > G, -210T > C, -199C > T, -196 A > T, -126C > T, -113G > A, -110T > C, -103 A > G and -4C > T in the promoter of CYP21A2 gene were identified in a patient with simple virilizing form of 21OHD. The transcriptional activities of the promoter with the variants were reduced to 50% of the wild type. CONCLUSION: We speculated that the 15 variants in the promoter of CYP21A2 combined with a compound heterozygous mutation Q318X lead to a simple virilizing form of 21OHD.