The ubiquitin-editing enzyme TNFAIP3 exerts neuroprotective roles in epilepsy rats through repressing inflammation.

The ubiquitin-editing enzyme TNF alpha-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3) emerges protective roles in neurological disorder, such as cerebral trauma. However, the molecular mechanisms of TNFAIP3 in epilepsy are not very clear. Hereon, the epileptic mouse models and BV2 microglial cellular models were established by kainic acid (KA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) respectively. We found that TNFAIP3 was highly expressed in the hippocampus of epileptic mice. Besides, TNFAIP3 overexpression relieved the spatial learning and memory, reduced the hot plate latency, as well as inhibited neuronal apoptosis in KA-treated mice. In vivo and in vitro experiments indicated that inflammation, a key characteristic of epilepsy, was inhibited by TNFAIP3 upregulation, as evidenced by the downregulated expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1ß and inducible NO synthase (iNOS), along with the decreased levels of NLRP3 inflammasome, which could activate inflammation. Collectively, we infer that TNFAIP3 relieves neuronal injury in epilepsy by suppressing inflammation.

[Identification of pathogenic mutation in a Chinese pedigree affected with split hand/split foot malformation].

OBJECTIVE: To detect potential mutation in a Chinese pedigree affected with split hand/split foot malformation (SHFM). METHODS: The patients were screened for genome-wide copy number variations with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray. Copy number variations were verified by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. RESULTS: There were 3 SHFM patients from three generations, which conformed to an autosomal dominant inheritance. SNP microarray assay revealed that all patients have carried a 0.34 Mb duplication in 10q24.31-q24.32 (102 993 649-103 333 271) encompassing the BTRC and DPCD genes. The result was verified by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, confirming that the duplication has co-segregated with the SHFM phenotype in the pedigree. CONCLUSION: The 10q24.31-q24.32 duplication probably underlies the pathogenesis of SHFM in this pedigree. Tiny copy number variations can result in diseases featuring autosomal dominant inheritance.

A Retrospective Study on Clinical Features of Childhood Moyamoya Disease.

BACKGROUND: Childhood moyamoya disease (MMD) can lead to progressive and irreversible neurological impairment. Early age at onset is likely associated with a worst prognosis of the disease. The study aims to summarize the clinical characteristics of childhood MMD for supporting the diagnosis and treatment of early MMD. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on children aged zero to 16 years who were diagnosed with MMD in the Department of Neurology and neurosurgery of our hospital from October 2016 to April 2020. The clinical characteristics of children with MMD were summarized for analysis, and the distribution of sex and initial attack type among different age groups was determined by data comparison. RESULTS: The study surveyed 114 children (male to female sex ratio of 1:1.07) with MMD, and 6.1% of them had family history. The mean age of onset was 7.15 ± 3.30 years, and the peak age of onset was five to eight years. The most common initial attack type was transient ischemic attack (TIA) (62 cases, 54.4%) with limb weakness. The incidence of the initial attack type in the three age groups was varied (P < 0.05). The result of overall prognosis was good in 86 cases (89.6%). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, MMD cases were mainly ischemic type and TIA was the most common initial attack type. Infant group was more prone to have cerebral infarction, whereas preschool and school-age groups tended to have TIA. The treatments and prognosis of the studied MMD cases were achieved with good outcomes.

Ginsenoside Rb1 Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Injury by Downregulating miR-222 in WI-38 Cells.

Pneumonia is a serious respiratory tract infection disease in children, which threatens to the health or life of children patients. Ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1) is a principle active ingredient extracted from the root of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen with anti-inflammatory effect. Our study aimed to determine the effects and molecular mechanisms of Rb1 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory injury of lung fibroblasts WI-38 cells. Cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated by CCK-8 and flow cytometry, respectively. The production of inflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA and RT-qPCR. miR-222 expression was examined by RT-qPCR. The expression levels of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 and phosphorylated p65 were detected by western blot. We found that LPS stimulation induced WI-38 cell inflammatory injury by inhibiting cell viability, and inducing apoptosis and inflammatory cytokine production, while treatment with Rb1 significantly attenuated LPS-induced inflammatory injury in WI-38 cells. Additionally, Rb1 decreased LPS-induced upregulation of miR-222 and activation of the NF-κB pathway in WI-38 cells. Overexpression of miR-222 abolished the inhibitory effects of Rb1 on LPS-induced viability reduction, apoptosis, inflammatory cytokine production and activation of the NF-κB pathway. In conclusion, Rb1 alleviated LPS-induced inflammatory injury in WI-38 cells via downregulating miR-222 and inactivation of the NF-kB pathway.

Selective targeting of MAPK family kinases JNK over p38 by rationally designed peptides as potential therapeutics for neurological disorders and epilepsy.

Human mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family members JNK and p38 are two homologous protein-serine/threonine kinases but play distinct roles in the pathological process of neurological disorders. Selective targeting of JNK over p38 has been established as a potential therapeutic approach to epilepsy and other nervous system diseases. Herein, we describe an integrated in vitro-in silico protocol to rationally design kinase-peptide interaction specificity based on crystal structure data. In the procedure, a simulated annealing (SA) iteration optimization strategy is described to improve peptide selectivity between the two kinases. The optimization accepts moderate compromise in peptide affinity to JNK in order to maximize the affinity difference between peptide interactions with JNK and p38. The structural basis, energetic properties and dynamic behavior of SA-improved peptides bound with the peptide-docking sites of JNK and p38 kinase domains are investigated in detail using atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and post binding free energy analysis. The theoretical findings and computational designs are then confirmed by fluorescence polarization assays. Using the integrated protocol we successfully obtain three decapeptide ligands, namely RLHPSMTDFL, RAKLPTSVDY and KPSRPWNLEI, that exhibit both potent affinity to JNK (K = 8.0, 5.4 and 12.1 µM, respectively) and high selectivity for JNK over p38 (K/K = 9.2, 17.9 and 6.3 fold, respectively). We also demonstrate that a JNK-over-p38 selective peptide should have a positively charged N-terminus, a polar central region and a negatively charged C-terminus, in which a number of hydrophobic residues distribute randomly along the peptide sequence. In particular, the residue positions 1, 6 and 9 play a crucial role in shaping peptide selectivity; the presence of, respectively, Arg, Thr and Asp at the three positions confers high specificity to kinase-peptide interactions.

A case of late-onset riboflavin responsive multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) with a novel mutation in ETFDH gene.

We report a novel mutation in the electron transfer flavoprotein dehydrogenase (EFTDH) gene in an adolescent Chinese patient with late-onset riboflavin-responsive multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) characterized by muscle weakness as early symptom. At the age of 9 years, the patient experienced progressive muscle weakness. Blood creatine kinase level and aminotransferase were higher than normal. The muscle biopsy revealed lipid storage myopathy. Serum acylcarnitine and urine organic acid analyses were consistent with MADD. Genetic mutation analysis revealed a compound heterozygous mutation in EFTDH gene. The patients showed good response to riboflavin and l-carnitine treatment.

Mycoplasma pneumonia combined with pulmonary infarction in a child.

We reported a 9-year-old boy with mycoplasma pneumonia who developed pulmonary infarction. The child first had fever and cough, and then had difficult breathing. But, the signs of his lung were not obvious. Mycoplasma antibody IgM was positive. The child was given intravenous azithromycin for anti-infection, and intravenous low molecular weight heparin and oral warfarin for anti-coagulation. Although difficult breathing was relieved, sudden cardiac arrest occurred. His parents requested to give up treatment.